Echo
Conservation criminology program focuses on environmental injustices
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Kirk Heinze speaks with Meredith Gore on the new conservation criminology program at MSU.
Echo
Photo Friday: Lake Erie photographs compete in NASA’s Tournament Earth
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Two satellite images from the Great Lakes region are competing in a March Madness style NASA competition this month.
Echo
Fungal diseases threaten Great Lakes walnut, butternuts
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The fungus has wiped out about 90 percent of Michigan’s butternut trees.
Recreation
North Trail hikers set 100-mile centennial goal
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Hikers plan to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.
Echo
Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings nominated as a world heritage site
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Ten buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright have the chance to be internationally recognized as world heritage sites. Three other Great Lakes sites are working toward recognition as well.
Wildlife
High schoolers harness high tech to teach world about biodiversity
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The National Bio-Diversity Teach-In run by a Great Lakes school in Illinois connects students nationwide with environmental experts.
Land
Above average number of wildfires predicted by summer’s end
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The increased fire incidence is expected in August and September as a long winter and late spring delayed the fire season.
Echo
PSA: Mercury – It’s in the fish
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Mercury has found its way not only into our households, but also into our aquatic environment, according to this public service announcement from the Michigan Department of Community Health. “A person’s susceptibility to being harmed by the mercury in fish depends on their age, current health status, genetics, and chemical exposure history,” said Christina Bush, a health department toxicologist. “Given this complex set of factors, it is not known how much mercury it would take to harm any given individual. MDCH issues Fish Consumption Guidelines to help people choose fish that are low in mercury and safer for consumption by everyone, including pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and young children.” The state hosts a website where these guidelines are available.
Wildlife
Local policy revision spares non-aggressive mute swans
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Residents of a small west Michigan lake recently limited a policy on killing invasive mute swans to only those that are aggressive. State officials say the bird can displace native trumpeter swans, eat and destroy wetland vegetation and chase wildlife and even people.
Wildlife
Michigan offers hunting information on cell phone app
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Have any spring hunting plans in Michigan? Well, there’s an app for that. In 2010, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, launched the Mi-HUNT website,www.michigan.gov/mihunt, that allows hunters and outdoor lovers to view about 10 million acres of land available for hunting and other outdoor recreation. Now, just in time for the spring turkey hunting season, you can get the same information on your cell phone or tablet. It works directly with a device’s global positioning system, allowing users to view maps of 10 million acres of public and private land open for public hunting.