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The Elephant in the Room: How Governance Matters as Much as Funding in Species Conservation

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Wednesday, October 30, 2024

As global leaders gather at the Convention on Biological Diversity COP16 in Cali, Colombia, the world’s attention is focused on the urgent need to protect our planet’s biodiversity. With this backdrop, a crucial question arises: What truly makes or breaks the success of species conservation? While many would instinctively point to funding — and they wouldn’t be wrong — emerging evidence suggests there’s another equally critical factor: governance. What exactly is governance, and how does it impact conservation? Governance refers to the rules, policies, and decision-making processes that guide how conservation projects are managed. It can range from approaches led by Indigenous peoples and local communities to government-led approaches and various hybrid models in between. To be clear, governance is not the management of a project. It’s like the difference between setting the rules of a game and actually going out and playing the game. You can’t do either successfully without the other, but they’re not the same. Governance is also the key that ensures everyone from local communities to national governments works together effectively, and we’re starting to definitively show that governance is just as crucial as funding for the success of conservation efforts. In fact, the 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework finally acknowledges this by highlighting governance explicitly in its targets. You can see that most clearly in its “Target 3: Conserve 30% of Land, Waters, and Seas.” This isn’t theoretical. A study published in Conservation Letters in July 2024 provides a practical example of how governance impacts conservation on the ground. The study focused on African elephants and found that the two factors best predicting whether populations increased or declined were the funding allocated to the site and the effectiveness of governance. The study estimated a staggering $1.5 billion annual deficit needed to stabilize elephant populations across sub-Saharan Africa. Current spending is only about $226 million per year, resulting in an ongoing decline of elephant numbers. Surprisingly the study found that even with insufficient funding, effective governance helped slow the decline in elephant numbers substantially, through stronger law enforcement, better management of resources, and active collaboration with local communities. Photo: Dr. Matt Luizza/USFWS Stories like this demonstrate that when funding and effective governance align, conservation efforts are significantly more successful. However, we often only hear about governance impacts through isolated examples. To determine whether governance truly has substantial influence, we need a comprehensive understanding of how different types of governance affect conservation across all regions, ensuring that success isn’t just seen in snapshots but sustained worldwide. To that end, a collaborative team of researchers — including myself — from World Wildlife Fund, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s International Affairs, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Canadian Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation, and various academic institutions undertook a global study that was released this month. Our research, Challenges in Assessing the Effects of Environmental Governance Systems on Conservation Outcomes, spanned conservation projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, seeking to uncover the relationship between governance and conservation outcomes. The results, published in Conservation Biology, were quite surprising. Despite widespread recognition that governance is vital for driving conservation toward more just, equitable, and legitimate practices, leading to greater societal support and rule compliance, the field of conservation isn’t collecting sufficient empirical research. In fact only a tiny fraction — 3.2% of the more than 1,000 papers we screened — provided direct evidence linking governance to conservation outcomes. We know countries require good governance for prosperity. Measuring and comparing different governance systems helps us evaluate which is most effective for a top-functioning society. Similarly, in conservation, while we know governance is crucial, we currently lack sufficient data to assess which types of governance models — whether community-led, government-managed, or hybrid approaches — are most effective at delivering the best results for species conservation. And it’s not a one-size-fits-all strategy. What works in one part of the world might not be the best option in another. Unfortunately, until we bridge this gap, we’re left with broad assumptions rather than evidence-based decisions. “Effective governance is essential for conservation projects, but our findings show that the current evidence base is remarkably limited,” Matt Luizza, one of the study’s lead authors and staff in the Fish and Wildlife Service’s International Affairs program. “There is a significant gap in our understanding — it’s almost impossible to answer the question, ‘Do different types of governance lead to better or worse conservation outcomes?’ We simply need more empirical research.” Why should we care about how conservation is governed? Because it directly impacts whether efforts to protect endangered species and their habitats actually succeed. As the Convention on Biological Diversity’s COP16 convenes, it’s the perfect time to advocate for increased research funding and stronger commitments to governance. Advocate to increase funding for research that links how conservation is governed to the outcomes it delivers and ensure that this research is shared openly and fairly. Encourage decision-makers to develop better tools to track the success of conservation projects, helping us know what works so we can replicate it. Push for stronger commitments on improved governance research at major events, like the CBD COP16, where global leaders gather to set conservation priorities. Finally, support initiatives that bring local communities, researchers, and policymakers together, ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and that conservation efforts are tailored to the needs of both people and wildlife. Governance might sound like something that only policy insiders worry about, but it plays a huge role in shaping the future of wildlife conservation. Strong governance ensures that every dollar spent on conservation is a dollar well spent. With this new research identifying key gaps in our knowledge base, we have the power to close them — and by doing that, we can elevate conservation efforts globally, securing a brighter future for both wildlife and the human communities that depend on them. The opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Revelator, the Center for Biological Diversity, or their employees. Scroll down to find our “Republish” button Previously in The Revelator: Tree Cutting in Egypt: The Desertification of Governance The post The Elephant in the Room: How Governance Matters as Much as Funding in Species Conservation appeared first on The Revelator.

A new global study reveals we’re missing the mark on understanding the critical role of governance in species conservation. COP16 is the moment to set us on the right path. The post The Elephant in the Room: How Governance Matters as Much as Funding in Species Conservation appeared first on The Revelator.

As global leaders gather at the Convention on Biological Diversity COP16 in Cali, Colombia, the world’s attention is focused on the urgent need to protect our planet’s biodiversity. With this backdrop, a crucial question arises: What truly makes or breaks the success of species conservation?

While many would instinctively point to funding — and they wouldn’t be wrong — emerging evidence suggests there’s another equally critical factor: governance.

What exactly is governance, and how does it impact conservation? Governance refers to the rules, policies, and decision-making processes that guide how conservation projects are managed. It can range from approaches led by Indigenous peoples and local communities to government-led approaches and various hybrid models in between.

To be clear, governance is not the management of a project. It’s like the difference between setting the rules of a game and actually going out and playing the game. You can’t do either successfully without the other, but they’re not the same.

Governance is also the key that ensures everyone from local communities to national governments works together effectively, and we’re starting to definitively show that governance is just as crucial as funding for the success of conservation efforts. In fact, the 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework finally acknowledges this by highlighting governance explicitly in its targets. You can see that most clearly in its “Target 3: Conserve 30% of Land, Waters, and Seas.”

This isn’t theoretical. A study published in Conservation Letters in July 2024 provides a practical example of how governance impacts conservation on the ground. The study focused on African elephants and found that the two factors best predicting whether populations increased or declined were the funding allocated to the site and the effectiveness of governance. The study estimated a staggering $1.5 billion annual deficit needed to stabilize elephant populations across sub-Saharan Africa. Current spending is only about $226 million per year, resulting in an ongoing decline of elephant numbers.

Surprisingly the study found that even with insufficient funding, effective governance helped slow the decline in elephant numbers substantially, through stronger law enforcement, better management of resources, and active collaboration with local communities.

Two elephants stand under a large tree, while the one on the right stretches its trunk up high to eat the leaves.
Photo: Dr. Matt Luizza/USFWS

Stories like this demonstrate that when funding and effective governance align, conservation efforts are significantly more successful. However, we often only hear about governance impacts through isolated examples. To determine whether governance truly has substantial influence, we need a comprehensive understanding of how different types of governance affect conservation across all regions, ensuring that success isn’t just seen in snapshots but sustained worldwide.

To that end, a collaborative team of researchers — including myself — from World Wildlife Fund, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s International Affairs, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Canadian Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation, and various academic institutions undertook a global study that was released this month. Our research, Challenges in Assessing the Effects of Environmental Governance Systems on Conservation Outcomes, spanned conservation projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, seeking to uncover the relationship between governance and conservation outcomes.

The results, published in Conservation Biology, were quite surprising. Despite widespread recognition that governance is vital for driving conservation toward more just, equitable, and legitimate practices, leading to greater societal support and rule compliance, the field of conservation isn’t collecting sufficient empirical research. In fact only a tiny fraction — 3.2% of the more than 1,000 papers we screened — provided direct evidence linking governance to conservation outcomes.

We know countries require good governance for prosperity. Measuring and comparing different governance systems helps us evaluate which is most effective for a top-functioning society. Similarly, in conservation, while we know governance is crucial, we currently lack sufficient data to assess which types of governance models — whether community-led, government-managed, or hybrid approaches — are most effective at delivering the best results for species conservation. And it’s not a one-size-fits-all strategy. What works in one part of the world might not be the best option in another. Unfortunately, until we bridge this gap, we’re left with broad assumptions rather than evidence-based decisions.

“Effective governance is essential for conservation projects, but our findings show that the current evidence base is remarkably limited,” Matt Luizza, one of the study’s lead authors and staff in the Fish and Wildlife Service’s International Affairs program. “There is a significant gap in our understanding — it’s almost impossible to answer the question, ‘Do different types of governance lead to better or worse conservation outcomes?’ We simply need more empirical research.”

Why should we care about how conservation is governed? Because it directly impacts whether efforts to protect endangered species and their habitats actually succeed. As the Convention on Biological Diversity’s COP16 convenes, it’s the perfect time to advocate for increased research funding and stronger commitments to governance.

    • Advocate to increase funding for research that links how conservation is governed to the outcomes it delivers and ensure that this research is shared openly and fairly.
    • Encourage decision-makers to develop better tools to track the success of conservation projects, helping us know what works so we can replicate it.
    • Push for stronger commitments on improved governance research at major events, like the CBD COP16, where global leaders gather to set conservation priorities.
    • Finally, support initiatives that bring local communities, researchers, and policymakers together, ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and that conservation efforts are tailored to the needs of both people and wildlife.

Governance might sound like something that only policy insiders worry about, but it plays a huge role in shaping the future of wildlife conservation. Strong governance ensures that every dollar spent on conservation is a dollar well spent. With this new research identifying key gaps in our knowledge base, we have the power to close them — and by doing that, we can elevate conservation efforts globally, securing a brighter future for both wildlife and the human communities that depend on them.

The opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Revelator, the Center for Biological Diversity, or their employees.

Scroll down to find our “Republish” button

Previously in The Revelator:

Tree Cutting in Egypt: The Desertification of Governance

The post The Elephant in the Room: How Governance Matters as Much as Funding in Species Conservation appeared first on The Revelator.

Read the full story here.
Photos courtesy of

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‘All the birds returned’: How China led the way in water and soil conservation

The Loess plateau was the most eroded place on Earth until China took action and reversed decades of damage from grazing and farmingIt was one of China’s most ambitious environmental endeavours ever.The Loess plateau, an area spanning more than 245,000 sq miles (640,000 sq km) across three provinces and parts of four others, supports about 100 million people. By the end of the 20th century, however, this land, once fertile and productive, was considered the most eroded place on Earth, according to a documentary by the ecologist John D Liu. Continue reading...

It was one of China’s most ambitious environmental endeavours ever.The Loess plateau, an area spanning more than 245,000 sq miles (640,000 sq km) across three provinces and parts of four others, supports about 100 million people. By the end of the 20th century, however, this land, once fertile and productive, was considered the most eroded place on Earth, according to a documentary by the ecologist John D Liu.Generations of farmers had cleared and cultivated the land, slowly breaking down the soil and destroying the cover. Every year, the dust from the plain jammed the Yellow River with silt (this is how the river gets its name), sending plumes of loess, a fine wind-blown sediment, across Chinese cities – including to the capital, Beijing.And so in 1999 the Chinese government took drastic emergency action with the launch of Grain to Green, a pilot project backed by World Bank funding, to regreen the plateau and reverse the damage done by overgrazing and overcultivation of the once forested hillsides that would become what the bank described in 2004 as “the largest and most successful water and soil conservancy project in the world” (pdf).Eroded valleys and terracing in Loess plateau, Gansu, before the conservation project began. Photograph: Universal Images Group/GettyThe primary focus was to restore agricultural production and incomes in the plateau, but the dust storms descending on already polluted cities, “making people cough even more”, also became a driver, says Peter Bridgewater, an honorary professor at the Australian National University’s Centre for Heritage and Museum Studies.World Bank participants spent more than three years designing the project, working with experts as well as communities, officials and farmers on how to overturn the longstanding but unsustainable grazing and herding of livestock. Tree-cutting, planting on hillsides and uncurbed sheep and goat grazing were banned. The sustainable practices demonstrated in some small villages were scaled up.The project was extraordinarily ambitious, and was powered through by China’s authoritarian system. “If you want major change, the Chinese system is well adapted to making major change,” says Bridgewater wryly.There were grain and cash subsidies for people converting farmland to grassland, economic forest or protected ecological forest. There were tax subsidies and benefits to offset farming losses, long-term land use contracts and conversion to more sustainable farming including orchards and nuts, and widespread tree-planting employment programmes.By 2016, China had converted more than 11,500 sq miles of rain-fed cropland to forest or grassland – a 25% increase in vegetative cover in a decade, according to a study published in Nature Climate Change. Other studies showed large reductions in erosion and positive changes in plant productivity.“When the environment improved, all the birds returned. The forest has developed its ecological system naturally,” the forestry worker Yan Rufeng told the state-run news channel CGTN.Terraces on the Loess plateau covered with layers of green wheat seedlings and dotted with golden rape flowers in Yuncheng, Shanxi province. Photograph: CFoto/Future Publishing/GettyIt wasn’t straightforward, however. There was some community resistance, particularly to demands to plant trees on farming land. “What about the next generation? They can’t eat trees,” said one man interviewed for Liu’s documentary.In the early years there also appeared to be a correlation between the project and a sudden drop in grain yield. Over the years, officials would debate whether the programme was harming China’s food security, although studies found there to be several factors at play, and that yields later improved.In hindsight, the early methods employed to regreen the dusty hills were also problematic. “There was a lot of mass tree planting – not necessarily natives – and in plantation format, in other words, monocultural stands,” says Bridgewater.Mass-species planting eventually began to replace the monoculture plantations, helping to increase wildlife, but there were also issues with water management, with the burgeoning tree cover and agriculture taking more and more water out of the Yellow River system.“It’s looking like there is a point at which the revegetation will become too successful in that it actually then swings the water balance of the landscape, reducing the potential for water to go into the rivers and be available for human use,” says Bridgewater.skip past newsletter promotionThe planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essentialPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotion“So this is another element that was not really thought about at the start, because the aim wasn’t ‘let’s stabilise the system’. But it’s a good lesson as to how all these interconnecting factors need to be thought about very carefully before you launch into these things.”Eroded terraces on the Loess plateau, Shaanxi province, in 2007. Photograph: China Span Keren Su/Sunset/Rex/ShutterstockA big factor in the success and demands of the programme was and remains the changing climate. The plateau sits in a transition zone between arid and semi-humid climates. The varied natural factors of the region, combined with unsustainable human activity, had contributed to the fragility of the plateau, a 2021 study found. “At the same time, the climate in this region has shown warming and wetting, particularly in the south in which precipitation increased by 20-50 mm from 2000 to 2014.”The climate around the Loess plateau is changing, which means what existed, or even thrived, several decades ago can’t necessarily be put back, says Bridgewater. “But we can produce something, a system that will produce ecosystem services at a better range and a better quality and more regularly than the systems that we’ve destabilised.”An aerival view of Loess plateau terraces after wheat harvest in Yuncheng, Shanxi province, in June. Photograph: NurPhoto/GettyBridgewater adds: “Given the speed of climate change, and not just climate but hydrology and all the other associated global changes, we need to be thinking about what we want. What we want out of our ecosystems are actually services.“We need to think actually in multi-dimensions … to develop a whole new way of thinking as to how we manage the landscape. And in a way, the whole Loess plateau project is a good example of that, [even if] that wasn’t the way of thinking at the start.”Lu FuChin, a former farmer, told the official state news outlet Xinhua that the programme had boosted local employment. “I used to cut trees for firewood, but now I grow them instead,” said the 52-year-old forestry worker. “It used to be that people had to go far for work, but now they can find employment by the Yellow River. As the environment is improving, I believe the villagers’ lives will become more prosperous too.”Additional research by Jason Tzu Kuan Lu

Conservation
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Democratic Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva of Arizona Dies of Complications From Cancer Treatment

Democratic U.S. Rep. Raúl M

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva of Arizona, who championed environmental protection during his 12 terms in Congress, died Thursday of complications from cancer treatments, his office said.Grijalva, who was 77, had risen to chair the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee and was the top Democrat on the committee until earlier this year. He had been absent from Congress as he underwent cancer treatment in recent months. Grijalva’s office said in a statement, “From permanently protecting the Grand Canyon for future generations to strengthening the Affordable Care Act, his proudest moments in Congress have always been guided by community voices.”Grijalva, the son of a Mexican immigrant, was first elected to the House in 2002. Known as a liberal leader, he led the Congressional Progressive Caucus in 2008 and dedicated much of his career to working on environmental causes on the Natural Resources Committee. He stepped down from that position this year, after announcing that he planned to retire rather than run for reelection in 2026.During his time in Congress, Grijalva championed protections for endangered species and wilderness areas, as well as stronger regulations on the oil and natural gas industries. He played a key role in writing the National Landscape Conservation System Act and the Federal Lands Restoration Act, which were passed and signed by President Barack Obama.Grijalva had announced in April last year that he had been diagnosed with cancer, but would be able to continue his work. He also sought reelection and won easily in the blue-leaning district.Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Photos You Should See - Feb. 2025

Conservation
Resources

Long Island Wildfires Began With Backyard S’mores, Police Say

The wildfires began accidentally when someone in Suffolk County tried to light a fire to make s’mores, officials said. They were fully contained by Monday.

The wildfires that broke out on Long Island Saturday afternoon and spread over hundreds of acres appeared to be accidental, caused by a failed attempt to make s’mores in a backyard, local officials said on Monday.The preliminary determination came after detectives with the Suffolk County Police Department conducted an investigation into the cause of the fires, interviewing 911 callers and using drones and helicopters to determine whether arson had played a role.What started as a backyard fire in Manorville, near Sunrise Highway on Long Island’s South Shore, became several blazes as strong winds contributed to the embers’ spread, officials said at a news conference on Monday. The fires were under control by Sunday morning and were 100 percent contained on Monday, said Amanda Lefton, the acting commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.Kevin Catalina, the Suffolk County police commissioner, said that around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, a person in Manorville was trying to make s’mores but was initially unable to light a fire because of the wind. The person used cardboard to light the fire, he said, and soon the backyard area went up in flames.That fire was put out within an hour, the commissioner said, but a few hours later, another fire was reported less than a quarter mile southeast of the initial fire. “The wind was blowing very strongly from the northwest, so that path makes perfect sense,” he said, adding that two additional fires were reported later.“It is believed that the embers from each fire traveled and continuously started more fires,” he said.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

Conservation

US lost a fifth of its butterflies within two decades

However the researchers say butterflies may be able to recover if urgent conservation measures are taken.

US lost a fifth of its butterflies within two decades Maddie MolloyBBC Climate & ScienceJack CochranThe Danaus eresimus, commonly known as the soldier butterfly, is among the 20 butterfly species experiencing the steepest declineButterfly populations in the US shrank by more than a fifth within the space of two decades, according to a new study.Numbers fell by 22% between 2000 and 2020, according to research by Binghamton University in New York.A third of species saw serious decline, with some, like Julia's Skipper, losing more than 90% of their populations.However, the researchers say butterflies may be able to recover if urgent conservation measures are taken.The study published in the journal Science measured butterfly "abundance" - the number of individuals of a species within a specific area. It analysed 12.6 million butterfly sightings from 76,000 surveys across 35 monitoring programmes.This included data from citizen science programmes like the North American Butterfly Association's Fourth of July counts.Using statistical models, they estimated population trends for 342 species.The results showed that 33% were in significant decline, with many exhibiting extreme losses - 107 species declined by more than 50%."While the results aligned with global trends, seeing the extent of the decline at such a large spatial scale was sobering," said Prof Eliza Grames, an assistant professor of biological sciences at Binghamton University.Randy BodkinsThe West Virginia White (Pieris virginiensis) - a woodland butterfly - has declined in abundance by more than 98%Some of the most affected species include the Florida white, Hermes copper, tailed orange, Mitchell's satyr, and West Virginia white, all of which have declined in abundance by more than 98% within the US.The West Coast lady, once a common backyard butterfly, has declined by 80%, raising alarm as even this highly adaptable species struggled."That's alarming because it suggests even common butterflies aren't safe," Prof Grames said.Habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change are key causes of this decline, according to the researchers.Butterflies are crucial pollinators, supporting plants and crops. Experts say their decline could disrupt food production and entire ecosystems.They also serve as indicators of environmental health - when butterfly numbers fall, it signals trouble for other species.Southwest US most affectedSpecies are declining most severely in the US Southwest, one of the hottest and driest regions, researchers say. They believe drought may be a major contributor to these losses."Drought is a double threat - it harms butterflies directly and also affects their food and host plants," Prof Grames explained.The results could help drive important conservation efforts, such as prioritising species for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species and Endangered Species Act protection.Despite the decline, there is hope for recovery."Butterflies can recover quickly because they have short generation times. Small actions like planting wildflowers, reducing pesticide use, or even leaving part of a backyard unmowed can significantly improve their chances," Prof Grames said.She also stressed the need for government action."Insects are fundamental to life on earth, and we need conservation actions and policies that support insects."

Conservation
Climate
Government

Prep for spring with Oregon gardening workshops on pruning, beekeeping and more

Learn about conservation and wildlife or order native plants with one of these late winter events

Events are free unless noted. Please email calendar submissions at least three weeks in advance to events@oregonian.com.ONGOINGMetro Parks and Nature Winter 2025: Various times and locations through March 15. Connect with nature this winter and learn more about wildlife, explore a new hobby or volunteer in your community. Individuals, families and groups are welcome to register for a guided class, walk, stewardship activity or hands-on experience at a Metro park or natural area. Free to $6 registration at oregonmetro.gov/calendar or 503-220-2782; oregonmetro.gov/GuidedActivities.Portland Rose Society Pruning Demonstrations: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. (demo at noon) various dates and locations through March 23. Representatives from the Portland Rose Society will be demonstrating how and when to cut back different classes of roses, including hybrid teas, floribundas and shrubs. The society will also offer free pruner sharpening and soil pH testing. Visit portlandrosesociety.org, call 503-201-7847 or email bboehne@gmail.com.Spring Native Plant Sale: Order through March 30 from a selection of more than 115 species of native plants to be picked up in April or May at choice locations. sparrowhawknativeplants.com.East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District free webinars: Discover how to care for land in ways that benefit people, water and wildlife. From stormwater solutions to biochar to water conservation, these workshops will help you save time, money and energy. Register at emswcd.org/workshops-and-events/upcoming-workshops.Greater Portland Iris Society meeting: 7 p.m. first Tuesday of the month in March, April, September, October and November. Enjoy discussions of irises with guest speakers. Ainsworth House, 19130 Lot Whitcomb Drive, Oregon City; greaterportlandirissociety.org.Walk With a Friend at Tualatin Hills Nature Park: 9 a.m. first Wednesday and third Sunday of the month. Take a guided walk and learn about the plants, wildlife and history of the park. Tualatin Hills Nature Park, 15655 S.W. Millikan Way, Beaverton; thprd.org.Happy Valley Garden Club monthly meeting: 9 a.m.-noon second Tuesday of the month. Happy Valley Baptist Church, 14095 S.E. King Road, Happy Valley.Canby Garden Club monthly meeting: 1 p.m. second Tuesday of the month. Canby Public Library, 220 N.E. Second St.; canbygardenclub.com.Ikebana for Every Season: 1-3 p.m. second Tuesday of the month. Become knowledgeable about basic concepts, techniques, tools, equipment and care for ikebana. $50 includes instruction, plant material and containers to practice with. The Resource Center, 219 S. Main Ave., Gresham; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.Portland Dahlia Society monthly meeting: 7 p.m. second Tuesday of the month February through November. Take part in a discussion of seasonal topics. Oaks Park Dance Pavilion, 7805 S.E. Oaks Park Way; portlanddahlia.com.Oregon Fuchsia Society monthly meeting: 7 p.m. third Tuesday of the month. Western Seminary (Bueermann Hall), 5511 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd.; oregonfuchsiasociety.com.Estacada Garden Club monthly meeting: 1-3 p.m. second Thursday of the month. Estacada Public Library, 825 N.W. Wade St.The Art of Bonsai: 1-3 p.m. third Thursday and third Saturday of the month. Instructor Mark Vossbrink will guide you through the creation of a bonsai project. $40 includes instruction, plant, container, soil and all materials. The Resource Center, 219 S. Main Ave., Gresham; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5Introduction to Residential Beekeeping: 6:30-8 p.m. Learn about the differences between beekeeping in a rural versus urban setting, types of bees, flow hives and more. Gresham Japanese Garden, 219 S. Main Ave., Gresham; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.THURSDAY, MARCH 6Wildlife and Water Friendly Garden Series: (online with an option for in-person screenings) noon-1 p.m. The Clackamas Community College Environmental Learning Center is hosting free weekly workshops with industry professionals that will discuss gardening for wildlife and water quality, with a theme on climate resilience and impacts of climate change on wildlife. bit.ly/ELCgardenseries2025.Introduction to the Aesthetic Pruning Approach: (online via Zoom) 6-8 p.m. Instructor Maryann Lewis will discuss how to apply the aesthetic pruning approach to trees and shrubs, including how to assess plant material, identifying the role they play and developing a pruning plan to achieve your goals. $30; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.FRIDAY, MARCH 7Lane County Home & Garden Show: Noon-9 p.m. March 7, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. March 8 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 9. Explore, shop and compare more than 300 exhibits featuring experts and new products and services for homes, gardens and yards. $5 or free with three cans of food; Lane Events Center, 796 W. 13th Ave., Eugene; EugeneHomeShow.com.TUESDAY, MARCH 11Webinar: Journey Down the Clackamas: Thermal Habitat Across Time and Space: 6-7:30 p.m. Join a virtual seminar series about the watershed and its natural resources. Register at clackamasriver.org; email Dakota@ClackamasRiver.org.SATURDAY, MARCH 15Garden Discovery Day: 9 a.m.-noon. Join the Clackamas County Master Gardener Association for in-person workshops, discussions, demonstrations, free soil testing and more. Milwaukie Community Center, 5440 S.E. Kellogg Creek Drive; clackamascountymastergardeners.org.Blueberry Pruning: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn best practices for pruning blueberry plants with guided instruction and hands-on practice. Sliding scale starts at $40; registration required at homeorchardeducationcenter.org; Home Orchard Education Center Community Orchard, 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City; email info@homeorchardeducationcenter.org.TUESDAY, MARCH 18Pruning Small Fruits: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. This session will cover best practices for pruning small fruiting shrubs, including how to encourage growth and abundant harvests. Sliding scale starts at $40; registration required at homeorchardeducationcenter.org; Home Orchard Education Center Community Orchard, 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City; email info@homeorchardeducationcenter.org.WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19Weed Wranglin' Workshop: 6-7:30 p.m. Join this workshop and jump into some tips to help get those pesky weeds under control. Metzger Park, 8400 S.W. Hemlock St.; tualatinswcd.org.FRIDAY, MARCH 21Deepwood Plant Sale & Horticultural Tours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 21-22. Shop a variety of Oregon native and companion plants, pottery, botanical art and more. Deepwood Museum & Gardens, 1116 Mission Street S.E., Salem; DeepwoodMuseum.org.Plant Spirit Journey: 6:30 p.m. Take part in a plant sit and learn about practical uses of seasonal species. From $25; Hedgerow Herb Co., 811 E. Burnside St., Suite 116; hedgerowherbco.com.SATURDAY, MARCH 22Tree School Clackamas: Opens at 7:15 a.m. Attend any of 73 classes covering forestry and tree grower topics key to the support of successful management of small woodlands. Participants will learn about forest management, tools and techniques, wildfire preparedness, marketing and business, forest health, wildlife habitat, weed management, forest fungi and more. $70 Clackamas County resident, $85 out of county, $35 ages 14-18 with adult; registration required at beav.es/tree-school-clackamas; Clackamas Community College, 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City.Grow Your Own Kiwifruit: It’s Easier Than You Think Workshop: 10-11:30 a.m. Join the WSU Extension Clark County Master Gardener program for an experiential workshop on getting started on your own growing adventure at a kiwi demonstration site in Vancouver. $10 registration at eventbrite.com; visit extension.wsu.edu, call 564-397-5738 or email Erika.d.johnson@wsu.edu.Gardening With Pacific Northwest Native Plants: 10 a.m.-noon. Join the Washington County Master Gardener Association to learn about native plants that thrive in the region, how to naturescape in support of wildlife and pollinators, and consider the possibilities the Backyard Habitat Certification Program offers through its customized yard assessment. PCC Rock Creek (Building 4, Room 103), 17705 N.W. Springville Road; washingtoncountymastergardeners.org.TUESDAY, MARCH 25Growing and Caring for Blueberries: 6-7:30 p.m. This seminar will review the main parts of a blueberry plant, soil conditions, how and when to fertilize, varieties, harvest times and more. Gresham Japanese Garden, 219 S. Main Ave., Gresham; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.SATURDAY, MARCH 29Yamhill County Master Gardeners and OSU Spring into Gardening: 8:45 a.m.-4 p.m. Sign up for gardening classes on flowers, healthy gardens and climate resilience, talk to garden experts, enter the annual raffle and more. $40, add lunch for $17; Linfield University, Keck Science Center, 356 Linfield Ave., McMinnville; register at YCMGA.org.Perennials: How to Choose, Plant and Maintain for Year-round Flowers: 10 a.m.-noon. This class will provide an overview on types of perennials, how to best care for them in terms of planting, pruning, fertilizing, pest control and maintenance, plus tips to extend blooming time for year-round color. PCC Rock Creek (Building 7, Room 105), 17705 N.W. Springville Road; washingtoncountymastergardeners.org.SATURDAY, APRIL 5Soil School 2025: 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. This event offers eight sessions led by experts discussing how improving soil health improves plant, garden and habitat health. $35 registration includes breakfast and lunch; Portland Community College, Rock Creek Event Center, 17705 N.W. Springville Road; wmswcd.org.SATURDAY, APRIL 12Top-working Fruit Trees: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Top-working is a term used to describe the process of adding new varieties to an existing tree. This hands-on workshop will teach you about grafting tools, compatibility and methods for top-working. Sliding scale starts at $30; registration required at homeorchardeducationcenter.org; Home Orchard Education Center Community Orchard, 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City; email info@homeorchardeducationcenter.org.SATURDAY, APRIL 19Earth Day Trash Cleanup: 10 a.m.-noon. Volunteer and help with trash cleanup on a Clackamas River Basin Council restoration site. Beebe Island (exact location TBD); register at clackamasriver.org; email Dakota@ClackamasRiver.org.SATURDAY, APRIL 26Pub Talk: Mussels & Macroinvertebrates: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Learn about and discuss mussels, macroinvertebrates (bugs) and freshwater ecology. Ruzzo’s Retreat, 15252 OR-224, Damascus; register at clackamasriver.org; email Dakota@ClackamasRiver.org.SATURDAY, MAY 3Gardenfest Plant Sale 2025: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Choose from more than 5,000 plants selected for the Pacific Northwest, including natives, perennials, shrubs, vegetables, houseplants and more. PCC Rock Creek, 17705 N.W. Springville Road; washingtoncountymastergardeners.org.Spring Candling and Maintenance on Pines: 1-3 p.m. Instructor Laura Dufala will candle, needle and prune pines while discussing the whys and hows of the process. $45; Gresham Japanese Garden, 219 S. Main Ave., Gresham; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.SATURDAY, MAY 17Creating Pollinator Habitat for Your Garden and Home: 10-11:30 a.m. Learn how to preserve and protect certain types of native butterflies and the best ways to provide valuable nectar to all pollinators including bees, moths and hummingbirds. Gresham Japanese Garden, 219 S. Main Ave., Gresham; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.Gathering in the Garden: Celebrating Gardening and the Appreciation of Community Green Spaces: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Enjoy live music and a silent auction while shopping for organic tomato starts, shrubs, plants, garden art, ceramics, accessories and more. Children can learn how to pot plants, and the Portland Rose Society will sharpen hand pruners for free. Eastmoreland Garden, Southeast 27th Avenue and Bybee Boulevard; eastmorelandpdx.org.Work Party: Garlic Mustard Pull: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Grab your favorite hand tool and head out to a springtime work party to help pull invasive and noxious garlic mustard. Milo McIver State Park, 24401 S. Entrance Road, Estacada; register at clackamasriver.org; email Dakota@ClackamasRiver.org.SUNDAY, MAY 18Pub Talk: An Invader Among Us — The Emerald Ash Borer: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Take part in an evening of learning and discussion on invasive insects including the emerald ash borer. Oregon City Brewing, 1401 Washington St., Oregon City; register at clackamasriver.org; email Dakota@ClackamasRiver.org.SATURDAY, MAY 31Pruning Flowering Shrubs: 1-2:30 p.m. Learn the basic cuts through a hands-on demonstration of pruning rhododendrons and azaleas. Garden Director Jim Card will speak about flowering shrubs and when and how to prune. Gresham Japanese Garden, 219 S. Main Ave., Gresham; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.SATURDAY, JUNE 7Propagating Broadleaf Shrubs: 1-3 p.m. Learn how to successfully propagate deciduous and evergreen plants and other suitable woody plants from cuttings. Instructor Norm Jacobs will explain plant physiology as it pertains to propagation, selection of containers and soil mixes, and the role of rooting compounds. $55 includes all materials; Gresham Japanese Garden, 219 S. Main Ave., Gresham; GreshamJapaneseGarden.org.-- Corey SheldonStay in the loop. Sign up to receive a weekly newsletter and join the conversation at the Homes & Gardens of the Northwest on Facebook

Conservation
Business
Education

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Clear Day Thunder: Rescuing the American Chestnut

This is the story of a tree. A mighty wonder that graced the forests of Appalachia and sustained all forms of life. Embraced us, from cradle to grave. At the turn of the 20th century, a deadly blight accidentally imported into the U.S. from Asia devastated the American Chestnut. Within a span of only two generations, the tree was nearly extinct. This is the story of people. The new documentary film CLEAR DAY THUNDER: RESCUING THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT tells the story of passionate citizen scientists and researchers working to restore this ecologically and economically important species, during this pivotal moment. This is the story of promise. The tree that forged a connection with humankind has been embraced in turn by humans who, invigorated by hope, are working tirelessly to revive this magnificent tree -- so that it can once again help shape the future.

Conservation

Crisis

The state of water in the world is critical, but the relationship between a man and a fish that are in story is more critical.

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Fish With A Story

Hear the voices of five resolute fisherwomen – mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, nurturers, feeders, providers, leaders – tell their Story of resilience in the face of social and environmental injustice. Stand in solidarity and join them in the fight to affirm their role as ocean custodians and protectors ...

Social Justice
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Kaziranga

Nestled in India’s northeastern Assam district, Kaziranga National Park contains the world’s highest density of the endangered Asian one horned rhino. Long plagued by civil unrest, this park is also ground zero for poaching and illegal trade of rhhorn. The film focuses on the efforts of journalist Uttam Saikia, who begins to serve as a mediator between the park and local poachers.

Animals
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Karibu Nyumbani

“Karibu Nyumbani” translates as “Welcome to my Home” in Swahili. Guides in the Maasai Mara have a deep-rooted pride, knowledge, and love for wildlife. This film encapsulates that passion from the perspective of George Osono, a guide in Mara North Conservancy, who completely embodies this spirit of caring for nature. Throughout the film, you meet Half Tail, Lola's cubs and the other iconic members of the Marsh Pride, Kweli the Cheetah and her three cubs as they prepare for adulthood, and an impressive elephant named Edwin. This film is visual portrait of the Maasai Mara's majestic wildlife, and the stories of the extraordinary animals that call it home. The film encourages people to see the beauty of these animals, recognise how fragile their existence is and in turn care more about protecting them.

Conservation
Animals
Nature

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