Category: Planet

The amount of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere has raised about 35% since the Industrial Age, which would be just another boring statistic if it wasn’t for the fact that the gas plays a crucial role in climate change. The levels of CO₂ have been climbing, due in large part to what is often unnecessary human activity, and raising the global temperature all the while. In addition to these emissions, we’re also responsible for producing mass amounts of wasteful electricity and the burning of other fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. But whereas these actions once had practically imperceptible effects on our environment, our Earth is now starting to tell us otherwise, and it may not be too late to undo some of the damage. And fortunately for all of us, there are people out there that can help us do just that, whether you’re 20 years young, 80 years old, or somewhere in-between. Continued

Since 1954, The Cylburn Arboretum Association has been working to protect the Cylburn Arboretum, a nature preserve and city park of over 200 acres located in Baltimore City. The association is a volunteer organization whose mission in part is to work with the city to preserve Cylburn’s historic grounds and buildings through its horticultural and educational activities. They work cooperatively with the city of Baltimore Department of Recreation and Parks - Horticultural Division to sponsor year-round events for children and adults.

Community and Environmental Defense Services (CEDS) is a nationwide group of attorneys, planners, environmental scientists, academics, and political strategists that works with citizens to prevent zoning infractions, sprawl, and other negatively-affecting development projects. Their website features a detailed “fact sheet” with subtopics such as “annexation” and “landfills” which potential clients can peruse before requesting CEDS services.

MARAMA: “The Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association, Inc. is a voluntary, non-profit association of ten state and local air pollution control agencies. MARAMA’s mission is to strengthen the skills and capabilities of member agencies and to help them work together to prevent and reduce air pollution in the Mid-Atlantic Region.” The group currently has their headquarters in Towson, MD.

“The Environmental Fund for Maryland is a federation of twenty-one non-profit organizations dedicated to preserving, protecting, and sustaining Maryland’s natural heritage.” Donations to EFM help to resolve issues such as polluted air and water, declining wildlife habitat, depleted Chesapeake Bay harvests, and vanishing farmland, forests, and open spaces.

The Center for Watershed Protection is a non-profit corporation that provides local governments, activists, and watershed organizations around the country with the technical tools for protecting the nation’s streams, lakes, and rivers. The center has developed and disseminated a multi-disciplinary strategy to watershed protection that encompasses watershed planning, watershed restoration, storm water management, watershed research, better site design, education and outreach, and watershed training.

“Partners for Open Space is a statewide coalition of groups seeking to secure, save, and protect Maryland’s land conservation programs. They are leading an effort to educate citizens, mobilize conservation groups and their members, and expand the coalition to influence Maryland decision makers to restore funding for land conservation and park development.” “Polls show 89% of Marylanders support Open Space” but since “2002 over $480 million has been diverted from Program Open Space”. Go to their resource page and find tools for grass roots organizing. Write to your legislators, find out how you can help, and read and exchange stories.