** Biden to restore Tongass protections
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Thursday, July 15, 2021
Aerial view of Tongass National Forest | A ([link removed]) rabani, Flickr ([link removed])

The Biden administration is expected to announce today ([link removed]) that it will move forward with its plan to restore environmental protections to Alaska's Tongass National Forest that were removed by former President Trump.

As one of the world's largest intact temperate rain forests ([link removed]) , the Tongass is also one of the world's largest carbon sinks ([link removed]) , storing the equivalent of about 8% ([link removed]) of the carbon stored in all the forests of the lower 48 combined. Protecting the region will ensure that this carbon remains safely captured, making an important step for the country toward reaching ambitious climate goals.

The Biden administration's new plan will fully reinstitute all protections ([link removed]) removed by President Trump, in addition to ending large scale logging of old growth timber ([link removed]) across the forest's entire extent. The plan is also expected to include $25 million ([link removed]) in federal funds for local sustainable development in Alaska, which will help support local communities and improve forest health.


** 2021 Western states legislative summary
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The Center for Western Priorities has released a new analysis of conservation accomplishments during the 2021 legislative session in Western states ([link removed]) .

The analysis finds that despite significant disruptions and budget shortfalls caused or exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, states across the West continued to invest in conservation, renewable energy, and improve access to the outdoors during the 2021 legislative session ([link removed]) . In some cases, the ability and the necessity to conduct hearings and testimony over Zoom actually led to improvements for democratic participation.

Highlights include ([link removed]) substantial funding for state parks and trails in Arizona, a new source of sustainable revenue for parks and wildlife in Colorado, new state parks in Utah, a resolution to protect 30% of Nevada's land and waters by 2030, and much more! Read the overview ([link removed]) .
Quick hits


** Editorial: Country should take its cue from Colorado leaders on orphaned oil and gas well solutions
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Durango Herald ([link removed])


** Wildfires are ravaging the West, and research shows the people in their paths vastly underestimate the risk
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Colorado Public Radio ([link removed])


** Numbers explain how and why West bakes, burns, and dries out
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Associated Press ([link removed])


** We mapped the West 200 years ago, and we're still living with the mistakes
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Outside ([link removed])


** As Wyoming oil and gas wells declared abandoned, bonds are revoked... but unlikely to cover remediation costs
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Casper Star-Tribune ([link removed])


** An opinion from 3 spiritual leaders: Destroying natural sacred places goes against our faith—and makes no financial sense
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The Hill ([link removed])


** Wildfire Tracker: See where wildfires are burning across the West
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New York Times ([link removed])


** The Bureau of Land Management turns 75 this month! Take a quiz to test your BLM knowledge
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Pew ([link removed])
Quote of the day
Every month, there’s going to be more and more [oil and gas] operators where this is an issue, because the boom and bust nature of the oil and gas industry is just such that companies are always going bankrupt, and there’s not a good way to actually get the money for plugging and reclamation right now.”

—Lottie Mitchell, organizer with the Powder River Basin Resource Council, C ([link removed]) asper Star-Tribune ([link removed])
Picture this


** @Interior ([link removed])
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Nature is essential to the health, well-being, and prosperity of every family and community in America. Learn more about the America the Beautiful challenge and our collaborative effort to conserve at least 30% of lands and waters by 2030. [link removed] ([link removed])

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