In this issue: Call for Nominations for 2023 ESA Regional Policy Award ESA seeks nominations for its annual Regional Policy Award to recognize a local or regional policymaker who has integrated environmental science and policy in initiatives that foster more sustainable communities. Congress House and Senate leadership announce committee leadership positions. Executive Branch The Invasive Species Advisory Committee will meet…

In this issue: Congressional Leadership Releases Committee Rosters House Science Committee, House Natural Resources and other committees fill out leadership rosters and add freshmen members for the 118th Congress. Congress Bipartisan members of Congress ask White House to provide $425 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in 2024 President’s Budget Request. Executive Branch Biden administration finalizes rule reinstating roadless…

by Morgan Rogers There I was— my first time in Egypt and my first time attending the Convention of the Parties (COP), on a bus hurtling through Sharm El Sheik towards the convention center. Around me sat fellow researchers, diplomats, heads of NGOs, activists, and everyone else you could imagine attending an event like COP27. Crowds stepped off the various…

In this issue: Congress House Republicans name new members and leadership for the House Appropriations Committee, House Science Committee and House Natural Resources Committee with the start of the 118th Congress. Executive Branch Biden administration releases a National Strategy to Develop Statistics for Environmental Economic Decisions. Courts States and industry groups challenge new Biden Waters of the U.S. rule in…

By Tim Nuttle, 2023 Program Chair In 2022, the Meetings Committee recommended changes for the ESA Annual Meeting program to adapt and meet attendees’ needs. The Governing Board approved these changes to go into effect for this year’s meeting in Portland. The goal: To accommodate as many presentation submissions as possible across the range of professional ecological practice. You can…

In this issue: White House Seeks Comments About the Scope of the National Nature Assessment, ESA Seeks Member Input for Comments Join ESA today at 12 noon eastern for a water cooler chat about the National Nature Assessment. Register here. Fiscal Year 2023 Spending Bill Increases Funding for Environmental and Scientific Programs Bill includes a 12% increase for the National…

In this issue: White House Seeks Comments About the Scope of the National Nature Assessment, ESA Seeks Member Input for Comments Submit your input to inform ESA comments by Jan. 23, 2023. Nations Agree to Protect 30% of the Planet by 2030 COP 15 concludes in Montreal. Comments about the draft Fifth National Climate Assessment Due Jan. 27. Webinar recording…

In this issue: ESA to Hold Informational US National Nature Assessment Webinar Dec. 6 Webinar will be Dec. 6 at 12 noon EDT. ESA Holds National Climate Assessment 5 Webinar Webinar recording is available. Apply for the 2023 Katherine S. McArthur Graduate Student Policy Award Applications are due January 1, 2023. Congress Senate passes bill authorizing research in saline lake…

Last month, Ecological Society of America leaders and staff were among the 6,000+ attendees for the National Diversity in STEAM conference, hosted by SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. ESA President Sharon Collinge, Diversity Committee Chair Carmen Cid, Diversity Committee member Conchi Rodriguez Fourquet, Professional Programs Coordinator Sandra Del Rio,…

by Lin Meng, Council Speaker The ESA Governing Board 2022 Fall Meeting was held from Nov. 1 to 2, 2022, at the ESA office in Washington, DC. The board members and ESA staff discussed past ESA activities, decisions to be made, current opportunities and plans for ESA. I was excited to attend the Governing Board meeting for the first time…

In this issue: White House Releases Draft Fifth National Climate Assessment, ESA to Hold Webinar Nov. 30 Comments on the draft must be submitted by Jan. 27, 2023. ESA to Hold National Nature Assessment Webinar Webinar will be Dec. 6 at 12 noon EDT. Countries Agree to Create “Loss and Damage” Fund at COP 27 Final COP 27 agreement was…

ESA Member Claire Williams sent the following update from the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP 27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt from her colleague, Dr. Fatin Samara. Williams and Samara have proposed a climate x health framework for testing anthropogenic pollutant content in desert dust storms in the Arabian Peninsula. Most of these storms originate in Iraq’s Tigris-Eurphatis Basin which…