Happy Groundhog Day, everyone!
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, which means we can expect 6 more weeks of winter. While most of the country may be lamenting this prediction, much of the western US is wondering if winter has even shown up at all!
Think you know everything about The Lands Council? From our education programs to the number of trees we've planted, our work is filled with amazing milestones! Now, you can put your knowledge to the test with our exciting trivia game: By the Numbers, created by our very own Justyce. Whether you're a long-time supporter or new to our mission, this game offers a fun way to celebrate our achievements and learn more about our impact in the Inland Northwest.
By Naghmana Sherazi
The first 12 days of August saw high temperatures globally that were either at par with previous records or beat them. We really need to consider what we are doing to combat climate change. To make a difference today, please bring 5 canned good items to your nearest foodbank. If you want to talk about what you can do as an individual, or as an organization, please reach out to me at nsherazi@landscouncil.org.
By Adam Gebauer
We all enjoy telling stories around a campfire, but what if that campfire was also a tool to improve timber practices and reduce carbon emissions? The Lands Council partnered with the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and others on a pilot project to reduce forest fuels and transform them to beneficial biochar. These pilot burns were a chance for the forest community to come together and look at the many potentials for biochar on the landscape along with some of the limitations to large scale implementation.
By Naghmana Sherazi
When we embarked on the ‘Beat the Heat’ initiative along with partners KXLY Meteorology Dept, City of Spokane Sustainability Dept, Gonzaga Climate Center, 350Spokane, and NOAA earlier in June this year, we knew we were going to get some real input associated with the work that we do on SpoCanopy.
By Amanda Parrish as featured on Range Media
On the last day of July, as afternoon temperatures hit triple digits for the fifth day in a row, I donned a wet one-piece bathing suit under my dress and headed to the Spokane Valley Mall in search of a place to cool off. My East Central home in Spokane is over 100 years old and many of the windows are painted shut, creating a virtual indoor oven during heat waves like the one the Inland Northwest recently experienced. To combat this, I, along with many others, spend my summer weekends at public beaches along the Spokane River and relish swimming in the cold, aquifer-fed waters. While a wet bathing suit is relatively uncomfortable in most climates, I find that it’s a perfect recipe for keeping cool after a swim, especially when coupled with the powerful air conditioning at the mall.
This spring, the Gonzaga Climate Center, in collaboration with The Lands Council, Spokane City Council Sustainability Action Subcommittee, 350 Spokane, and Kris Crocker, was awarded a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organization’s (NOAA) National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) to conduct a community science urban heat island mapping campaign in the summer of 2022.
