Climate Change

Representatives from eight Great Lakes states and two Canadian provinces met this week to discuss management issues in the region.

A federal proposal aims to conserve existing old-growth forests and allow more mature trees to age peacefully. But the draft policy doesn't put a stop to logging old-growth and mature forests.

An Environmental Working Group report questions the effectiveness of some farming practices that the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently added to its Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which incentives conservation practices. The USDA counters that the practices have gone through “a rigorous science-based evaluation process.”

Michigan's winters are getting shorter and warmer, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These trends can have consequences on Great Lakes ecosystems and lake levels.

A University of Michigan study compared the costs of buying and owning electric, hybrid, and gasoline vehicles in 14 U.S. cities, including Detroit.

State officials, researchers and conservation partners are developing a plan to make the Au Sable River more resilient to increasing threats.

Some conservationists argue a recent Forest Service report will lead to more logging of old trees. They say federal forests should be left alone to soak up carbon emissions. But the Forest Service says in coming decades older trees will absorb less carbon.

Some of the people who worked to draft an international agreement to protect the Great Lakes gathered at the University of Michigan in December to mark the 15th anniversary of the approval of the Great Lakes Compact .

Conservation groups addressed a state senate committee this week on how climate change is threatening Michigan wildlife and the outdoor recreation industry.

It’s a newer consideration for environmentalists, who previously thought that river systems were relatively benign and don’t contribute many greenhouse gas emissions.