** Saving nature to protect public health
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Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Organ Mountains Wilderness Study Area in New Mexico, Bureau of Land Management ([link removed])

The coronavirus crisis highlights the need to protect nature as a safeguard against future pandemics. A new report ([link removed]) from the Center for American Progress addresses the importance of protecting land and wildlife as a preventative action against infectious diseases such as COVID-19. "It is not a coincidence that the rise in wildlife-borne diseases has occurred alongside increasing human encroachment on nature and a rapidly changing climate," the report states. "Three-quarters of the earth’s land area is now heavily altered by human use, and species extinctions is occurring at almost 1,000 times the natural rate... Habitat loss and overexploitation of wildlife—compounded by climate change—are driving factors in the disease boom."

Scientists agree that protecting 30 percent of the world's land and waters by 2030 is necessary to address the nature and climate crises. In the U.S., Senator Tom Udall has spearheaded this effort, introducing a resolution in the Senate to protect 30 percent of American lands and oceans over the next decade. Currently, about 12 percent ([link removed]) of land and 20 percent of oceans are protected in the U.S., and this ambitious but achievable goal will increase access to the outdoors, strengthen local economies, and benefit public health.


** Oil prices go negative
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The price of oil dropped below zero yesterday, hitting the lowest price ever at -$37.63 per barrel ([link removed]) . A glut in global oil supply, combined with decreased demand as a result of the coronavirus, has hit oil companies hard, many of which were already operating ([link removed]) with debt. Despite a recent deal with OPEC to cut production last week, prices continued to plummet this week as storage becomes increasingly scarce.
Quick hits


** Corporations could get half of tribal coronavirus relief
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Mother Jones ([link removed])


** Oil prices plunge below zero for the first time
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Bloomberg Environment ([link removed]) | Washington Post ([link removed]) | Politico ([link removed]) | NPR ([link removed]) | Forbes ([link removed]) | CNN ([link removed]) | USA Today ([link removed]) | Slate
([link removed])


** Oil and gas industry steps up lobbying for emergency aid
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Reuters ([link removed])


** When confronting a pandemic, we must save nature and ourselves
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Center for American Progress ([link removed])


** Deepwater Horizon anniversary report criticizes administration's offshore drilling policies
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The Hill ([link removed])


** Land managers try to keep public lands safe as people continue to visit during coronavirus
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Wyoming News Exchange ([link removed])


** With public meetings cancelled, agencies offer varying guidance for weighing in on environmental issues
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Nevada Independent ([link removed])


** Opinion: Interior must put Chaco planning on hold
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Santa Fe New Mexican ([link removed])
Quote of the day
The Trump administration has prioritized 'energy dominance,' which means less focus on worker safety and environmental protection and more emphasis on ensuring higher profits and lower costs for the oil and gas industry.”
—House Committee on Natural Resources Report on Deepwater Horizon spill, The Hill ([link removed])
Picture this


** @Interior ([link removed])
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A great memory from visiting national parks is getting the whole family to line up for a photo. It looks like these bighorn sheep
@BadlandsNPS ([link removed])
have got it down. Pic courtesy of Kevin Griffith #SouthDakota ([link removed]) #VirtualVisit ([link removed]) #NationalParkWeek ([link removed])

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