School of Natural Resources and Environment

News and Research Digest

A SNRE Graduate student measures tree growth

Professor Bradley Cardinale PhD, whose work focuses on the challenges of protecting biodiversity, has been working to point out the far-reaching ramifications of the bill. He, and 133 other PhD-level professors representing 13 Michigan universities, have signed this letter urging Gov. Rick Snyder to veto SB 78 should it reach his desk.

SNRE doctoral candidate Daniel Miller and colleagues at the University of Georgia and elsewhere have identified the most underfunded countries in the world for biodiversity conservation. They found that 40 of the most poorly funded countries harbor 32 percent of all threatened mammalian biodiversity.

SNRE Professor Rosina M. Bierbaum spoke to the Associated Press about climate adaptation strategies in light of a proposal from New York City to keep that city ahead of future climate-related challenges.

"Climate change poses significant risks to New York City’s communities and infrastructure," according to a report released June 11, 2013, by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "Hurricane Sandy has focused attention on the effects that extreme climate events have on New York City, reminding New Yorkers that the city is vulnerable to a range of climate hazards today and in the future.

ANN ARBOR—Making cars more fuel-efficient is great for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but rather than promoting sales of electric and other alternative-fuel vehicles, policymakers should turn their focus to cutting emissions in other energy sectors—from oil wells and power plants to farms and forests affected by biofuels production—says a University of Michigan researcher.

Hybrid and electric cars are sparing the environment. Critics say they’re hurting the roads.

The popularity of these fuel-efficient vehicles is being blamed for a drop in gasoline taxes that pay for local highway and bridge maintenance, with three states enacting rules to make up the losses with added fees on the cars and at least five others weighing similar legislation.

Attendees of the May 10-11, 2013, Conference on Environmental Quality, Schools, and Health

The School of Natural Resources & Environment gathered experts and advocates for a conference this month to lay the groundwork toward developing policies to improve environmental quality around Michigan K-12 schools. SNRE Professor Paul Mohai, a noted scientist on environmental justice and the health-related aspects of school locations, co-organized the “Conference on Environmental Quality, Schools, and Health.”

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