Environment
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The decision to amend national monuments has roots in pro-energy, anti-conservation politics that has been simmering for 40 years
Zinke's strategic plan for the next four years shows no intention of addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our public lands
You may soon be able to change your DNA to optimize performance in your favorite sport
He was the alpha male of the first pack to live in Oregon since 1947. For years, a state biologist tracked him, collared him, counted his pups, weighed him, photographed him, and protected him. But then the animal known as OR4 broke one too many rules.
On Friday, the President told Senator Orrin Hatch that he planned to downsize two Utah national monuments. Here's why nothing's likely to happen soon.
We raise $3 billion every year for conservation, then we go out on those public lands and help manage wildlife populations—for free
Conservationists have just a small voice in the Trump Administration. The Democratic Conservation Alliance wants to buy a bigger one.
A leaked five-year strategic plan has zero mention of “climate change” or “diversity,” marking a major pivot away from its predecessor
From Your Forests Your Future and More Than Just Parks, this animated video illustrates what national forests are and how you can get involved.
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge—one of our most threatened landscapes—may be opened up to drilling, and opponents are taking to Instagram to protest
Over the past week, a series of fires destroyed tens of thousands of acres in and around Sonoma County, burning homes, cars, and wineries in their wake. We sent a photographer to document the aftermath.
One of the most contentious environmental fights of the past 30 years is suddenly back in the news, now that EPA head Scott Pruitt is poised to withdraw measures protecting the bay's storied salmon runs
The longtime DOI employee says he was forced out because he spoke up about the risk climate change poses to Alaskans. We caught up with him to talk the state of the Interior, how his colleagues are faring, and what he'd say to Secretary Ryan Zinke if given the chance.
This past August, Peak Design's program Give a Shot sent a volunteer expedition to Haines to raise awareness of the proposed Constantine mine, giving a voice to the people and ecosystems that would be catastrophically affected by the development.
How a group of young activists changed the conversation at a public-lands conference—and where the outdoor industry goes from here
Okay, maybe freak out a little. But here’s why it’s not quite as dire as it sounds.
Breaking down the numbers behind the catastrophic California fires
The end goal: stop the environment from getting in the way of oil and gas extraction
The renowned expert in high-performance psychology offers up an incredibly simple approach to training your mind
A new photo book shows all the weird and wonderful ways we connect with wild spaces
Overnight, 14 fires rampaged over eight counties in northern California
In honor of Public Lands Day, we picked the places we couldn't live without
Writer and climber Jeff Johnson was near the base of El Cap when a chunk of rock the size of an apartment building broke off above him. Here's what he saw next.
Politicians seem to think so—but it won't help unless it's accompanied by more fire
When Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke's advocates for "traditional uses," what he means is industrialization
Fighting one invasive species with another has led to some famous horror stories. But biocontrol can be done right.
Ryan Zinke's report to Donald Trump recommending alterations to 10 national monuments is based on a pack of falsehoods. Here we break down the worst ones.
We're starting a Facebook group where it's safe to dig deep into politics
Memorable lives combine tough choices, an adventurous spirit, hard work, and luck—and who knows where any of it comes from? For our writer, the wellspring was a Colorado spread that she was barely able to buy in 1993. It became her escape from a violent childhood and the magical ground that changed her life.
Our former editor on Thomas McGuane's almost cinematic contemplation of hunting
If you’re lucky, you encountered nature for the first time by running out the back door. During our writer's boyhood, a suburban forest was a gateway to learning, exploration, and natural splendors that shaped his life and career.
When one looks out over the vast horizon of Kremenchuk reservoir in the Ukraine it’s impossible not to be entranced by its beauty. But the man-made imposition has drastically impacted the local townships and environment.
As the hurricane raged toward Turks and Caicos, our writer desperately looked for a way off the island
These are the people who've been fighting for the land’s preservation for over 30 years—and might see it axed in the scratch of a pen
Our writer sent us a dispatch from the frontlines of the blaze, where the air is thick with smoke and the wildlife is taking shelter
There are 137 large wildfires raging across 7.8 million acres in what might be the worst fire season ever
Wildfires have burned more than a million acres in the northern Rockies—and it could get even worse
We spoke with four lawyers about the four monuments most likely on Zinke’s chopping block
What if you could alter your DNA profile, erase your risk for cancer, or just brew glowing beer? Whether that makes you giddy or terrified, that’s the dream of biohacker Josiah Zayner.
Raiding troops of baboons face off against city employees armed with paintball guns on a regular basis. And it brings into question the very way we coexist with nature.
Mike Olbinski is a dedicated storm chaser and spends weeks at a time on the road chasing mega storms.
Last week, the United States was treated to a total solar eclipse.
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is creating a dream team to save our oceans
Making it through a catastrophic event is just the first step. Presenting five true case studies in survival.
Despite overwhelming public support for preserving public lands, the Secretary of the Interior is still recommending Trump trim "a handful" of national monuments. He just won't publicly say which ones—or by how much.
In our ongoing Weekly Escape series, we aim to transport you from your desk to an incredible place in two minutes or less.
The people have spoken. In a study released Tuesday, over 99 percent of people said they support the 27 monuments up for review. President Donald Trump, are you listening?
The Park Service says they’re doing their best but no one wins when America’s most iconic valley becomes an endless, exhaust-choked loop of creeping traffic. Can anything be done to prevent bumper-to-bumper traffic from becoming the new normal in Yosemite Valley?
A lot of assumptions have been made about the national-monuments review. Many of them aren't true.
The GOP's war on public lands threatens to alienate a key part of its voting base—sport hunters
A new group of movers and shakers, aptly named Artemis, could be just what we need to get more politicians to care about conservation
American cowboy or posturing Trump enforcer?
Nomadic herders have brought guns and hundreds of thousands of livestock into the green expanses of Laikipia County, starving out wildlife and shooting the area's megafauna. As police burn homesteads and shoot civilians in response, the future of one of the most iconic regions on the planet hangs in the balance.
Making your favorite tree or flower reproduce itself is easier than you think
The Outdoor Industry Association estimates that Americans spend $887 billion on recreation each year. Here's how much each of the 50 states contributes.
The iconic brand has long been the conscience of the outdoor industry, forsaking hefty profits to do the right thing. Now the company is going to war against the Trump administration over protections for public land in a bid to become a serious political player—which happens to be very good for sales.
To the protectors of Alabama’s swamps, the vanishing of an iconic river creature posses terrifying questions about the water we swim in and fish in and drink.
Idaho is the first Western state to take some action on dangerous cyanide traps, but it's not enough
Nicky Fitzgerald loves tourists, doesn't believe in work-life balance, and has a controversial approach to conservation that just might work
A team of scientists are drilling into some of the world’s highest glaciers to learn about our planet’s past before the ice disappears forever
You have through today to tell the government what you think of its plan to steal your public land
The inside story of how the state’s outdoor recreation czar Luis Benitez landed the tradeshow—and how he plans to save it
When Bob Sturtz had a stroke in the Boundary Waters, his friend Scott Pirsig had only one choice: get out and get help as fast as possible.
Congressman Rob Bishop of Utah wants to transfer federal land to the states, gut the Endangered Species Act, and eliminate the Antiquities Act—and D.C. is starting to listen
Recently released public comments from Utah residents show an overwhelming majority—88 percent—support preserving the monument's status
For the first time, a new study from the Ocean Cleanup quantifies how much plastic the world’s rivers are pumping into the sea
After a 45-day review period, the Secretary of the Interior advised President Trump to redraw the boundary of the controversial national monument—a decision that will almost definitely be tested in court
In the 1990s, thousands of bones and bone fragments mysteriously went missing from Effigy Mounds National Monument in Iowa, the continental epicenter of Native American burial remains. In December 2015, a detective with the National Park Service tracked down the artifacts—and the man who stole them.
If the budget is a political document that reflects a president’s priorities, Trump’s priorities are clear—and the environment, wildlife, and the Great Outdoors don’t rank particularly high
Upon entering UC Merced, Jessica Rivas applied for the Yosemite Leadership Program. What she experienced during that summer changed the course of her entire life.
For a week in March, photographer Ben Kraushaar shadowed the WMI folks as they captured and collared 35 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and 220 mule deer throughout Wyoming. From the Red Desert to eastern Greater Yellowstone, Kraushaar documented the steps involved in WMI’s efforts to better understand the migrations and health of these animals.
Unplugging Lake Powell is a beautiful dream, but it would hurt the river more than it would help
Atlantic bluefin tuna are among the most hunted species on the planet and one of the best ways to see the effects of an increasingly industrialized food chain. But for a few short weeks during early summer on Spain’s southern coast, an ancient ritual known as the almadraba still plays out—an intense, intimate, and violent tradition that strives to harvest some of the world's most valuable seafood in a sustainable manner.
NOAA’s new satellite will make forecasting devastating storms (and epic powder days) more accurate than ever
The folks at Bivy documented a recent trip to Bears Ears and produced this film, 'Bears Ears Is a Place, Not an Opinion.'
A Canadian company is suing Greenpeace for $220 million—and it might have a case
Lula Lake has served many used including a sanctuary for Union soldiers, a dumping zone for people's trash, and most recently a protected natural area.