Issue 42
All issues can be found at: https://geocraic.com/
World
Finding yourself. Here’s an article on the history of location.
Rewilding; BioGeography
Good story from HCN on Rewilding using Indigenous science, elder knowledge, and natural regeneration. Natural regeneration takes more time but is more adapted to the landscape and improves genetic diversity rather than reducing it. It’s a long story and the part about sage restoration after the Soda Fire in the Owyhee to help sage grouse is particularly illuminating because the BLM planted, by helicopter, the wrong kind of sage - which is not eaten by sage grouse. Good intentions but lousy science and execution.
- Underground seed banks hold promise for ecological restoration: https://www.hcn.org/issues/56-3/underground-seed-banks-hold-promise-for-ecological-restoration/
- BLM’s 2016 Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation of the Soda Fire area status report: https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/Program_FishandWildlife_WildllifeIdahoSodaFireESR_StatusReport.pdf
Monitoring BioDiversity from Space
- Taking the pulse of the planet: could we monitor biodiversity from space as we do the weather? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/22/taking-the-pulse-of-the-planet-how-monitoring-nature-from-space-could-keep-earth-healthy
- Journal article: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adj1448
Removing European Dams
Scotland
- Using 300 year old maps to guide rewilding efforts: https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/blog/rewilding-scottish-highlands/
- Affric Highlands site: https://treesforlife.org.uk/about-us/affric-highlands/
US
Demographics
Evangelical Mapping
To borrow a phrase from Corey Doctorow, is further evidence of the “entshitification” of norms by evangelicals and may be coming to your neighborhood. GIS and Mapping are just tools but those tools are in the hands of what we used to derisively call “Bible Thumpers” in the US and they may show up in your neighborhood. Someone knocking at your door for their own proselytizing need is an old story. But now they are targeting you with data and recording information about you.
the app’s training and promotional videos are suggestions to undertake the controversial practice of “prayerwalking.” An idea becoming increasingly popular among Christian supremacist groups, prayerwalking involves believers flooding so-called “un-Christian” territories in order to combat “demonic strongholds.” In practice, it varies from blessing new neighbors to gathering groups to pray in front of everything from mosques to drag bars in service of “spiritual warfare.”
- Evangelical Mapping App: https://newrepublic.com/article/179397/evangelical-app-targeting-immigrants-surveillance
- Ironically, a Pew Research Center Survey says 8 in 10 Americans say Religion is losing influence in Public Life. With the rise of Christian Nationalism and when the US House Speaker brazenly has a Dominionist flag outside his office, I beg to differ. To me it has exponentially grown in influence, much to the detriment of democracy since they openly advocate for Theocracy. If you’re into charts and tables - this report is for you. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2024/03/15/8-in-10-americans-say-religion-is-losing-influence-in-public-life/
PNW
Rewiliding
Washington
Boldt Decision This year is the 50 year anniversary of the Boldt Decision in Washington State which re-constituted tribal fishing rights.
Oregon
Springfield Map from the Simpsons!