The general manager of Tacoma’s KBTC Public Television, and TNC in Washington trustee, on the power of storytelling to engage people in conservation and create a better future for the next generation.   By Anya Blaney  An awe-inspiring Northwest event shaped DeAnne Hamilton’s approach to storytelling, community involvement, and the natural world. After working her way from receptionist to producer at KATU, the ABC affiliate in Portland, she had the chance to produce both her first and last show before moving to San Francisco. The story? The eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980, which t ..read more

Welcome to Exploring Nature, an illustrated blog series that (re)discovers the natural world through art, science, and observation. Illustration by Erica Sloniker, Marketing and Visual Communications Transcript: Spring Frogs at Moses Coulee Preserve Tuesday, April 16, 2024 Nestled in the cliffs in Moses Coulee is an import desert water source that every spring attracts thousands of Pacific Tree Frogs. I came to Whisper Lake for a night concert. It was anything but quiet. The chorus of frogs was soothing, calming—the quintessential sound of spring. Pacific Tree Frog Facts: Male tree frogs a ..read more

by Maia Murphy-Williams and Anna Kottkamp-Hoard An American black bear (Ursus americanus) wades into a forested pool fed by a freshwater spring, taking a chance to cool off on a warm September afternoon. This moment of calm is suddenly broken by an unseen force as the bear abruptly scrambles out of the pool and dashes into the surrounding forest, leaving only ripples. A few minutes later, a dog on a hike bounds into the scene, eagerly drinking from the pool that was so recently occupied.   An American black bear (Ursus americanus) cools off in a forested spring and dashes off before ..read more

Although there are many efforts underway to reduce emissions as much as possible to slow climate change, due to the excess emissions we’ve already produced, we will continue to experience the impacts of our changing climate. As we experience more frequent and more intense storms, fires, floods, and other events intensified by climate change, we must collectively take action to support nature and help communities plan ahead. The good news is we know what needs to be done. Talk to your communities and representatives about investing in climate adaptation and supporting community-based solutions ..read more

by Leah Palmer, TNC Writer/Editor   From scientists to burn bosses, lobbyists to land stewards, DEI practitioners to fundraisers, the women and femmes staff at The Nature Conservancy in Washington contribute some of the leading interventions in conservation, while simultaneously facing unique challenges in a field dominated by men.  This Women’s History Month, 2024, we’re exploring the backdrop of our colleagues’ triumphs by turning attention to gender inequity in the conservation field. © Joel Rogers/TNC Gender norms often hold women and girls across the globe responsible ..read more

By Anya Blaney  Maud Daudon has a beautiful vision and an outspoken voice. Whether writing about the impact of clean energy on the economy, the need for immigration reform, or how to connect youth to promising educational and professional opportunities, she can see what’s possible when people work together to create a better future.  As the Executive Leader of Career Connect Washington, she guides efforts to build a statewide learning and apprenticeship system across the state. On The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Washington Board of Trustees, she has utilized her years of leadership, ext ..read more

by Dr. Emily Howe, Ecologist of Aquatic Environments, TNC Washington It hasn’t snowed much this year in the Cascades, and I am wishing I had cameras out at the field sites to capture this year’s dismal snowpack, which is hovering around 50-70% of normal making everyone nervous about the summer to come. The last time we had an El Niño-driven snow drought was 2015, when the notorious “blob”, a mass of warm water, set up in the Pacific Ocean. This year is shaping up to be uncannily similar, following record high ocean temperatures this past summer. New Research Brings Hope to an Increase in Depth ..read more

The 2024 session of the Washington State Legislature has wrapped up, and at The Nature Conservancy in Washington we are celebrating new investments in the transition to a clean energy economy and a climate-resilient future for all Washingtonians. A vast majority of these investments were funded by the state’s landmark climate policy, the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). Yet persistent efforts to undermine the CCA made this session complex and unique. David Mendoza, TNC’s director of policy & government relations, joins Sarah Brady, policy communications director, in a conversation about the l ..read more

In Washington, research shows central and eastern dry forests are vulnerable to wildfire, including mature and old-growth forests. A century of fire suppression combined with the effects of climate change, are increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires, even jeopardizing the species that depend on fire like Ponderosa Pine. Forest management including thinning and prescribed burns, can make a difference. These treatments remove small and dead vegetation, reducing the risk of extreme wildfire that results in carbon-loss and threatens communities.  TNC’s Central Cascades Forest is a ..read more

Welcome to Exploring Nature, an illustrated blog series that (re)discovers the natural world through art, science, and observation. Illustration by Erica Sloniker, Marketing and Visual Communications Specialist Transcript Sandy Beaches at Foulweather Bluff Preserve Thursday 2-22-24 A forest of ferns accompanied by a welcome saltwater breeze instantly hit me like a childhood memory. Today, exploring nature meant quick steps to keep up with two kids under six who were eager to dig in the sand on the other end of the Foulweather Bluff trailhead. Two kids creating their own saltwater memories. La ..read more