Send in links for your favorite Environmental Organization, articles involving Rhode Island, or other related information.)
In New England we are fascinated with early Colonial times, but what about the environment before Colonial times? “Ever wondered what New York [was] like before it was a city? Welcome to Mannahatta, 1609...It turns out that the concrete jungle of New York City was once a vast deciduous forest, home to bears, wolves, songbirds, and salamanders, with clear, clean waters jumping with fish.” The Mannahatta Project has been featured in the latest issue of the National Geographic Society magazine. (Sept.2009) In case you don't get the NGS Magazine (shame on you) here is a link to the project on the Web. (Dial up users beware, Google Earth is used for the maps , so it will be tedious to view map pages, if even possible.) The interactive maps show what any location on the Island of Manhattan probably looked like 400 years ago. As a side note, the book “1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus” is also a recommended read of precolonial people and the environment.
While this book is not totally about conservation and the environment, it does have some interesting and rational chapters on energy and global warming. Richard A. Muller is a professor of physics at University of California, Berkeley and writes in a clear manner that is understandable for lay persons. The other chapters on terrorism, nuclear problems, and space exploration are also good reading and illuminate what the real issues are.
Providence Journal Environmental Section (daily)
Environmentalists decry Black Pt. turbine plan, October 21, 2009
National Grid rejects power offer from Deepwater Wind, October 17, 2009
With little precedent, cost of wind power up in the air, October 17, 2009
R.I. officials work to stop invasion of Asian longhorned beetle. April 27, 2009
Financial crisis stymies wind farm backers, Dec. 24, 2008
Wave-energy towers proposed off Block Island, Dec. 5, 2008
Asian Beetle Spells Death for Maples in Worcester. Nov. 27, 2008
Rain christens opening of sewage overflow tunnel, Nov. 14, 2008
Developer seeks deals with towns for wind energy, Nov. 5, 2008
Carcieri proposes wind farm off Block Island, April 3, 2008
Energy developer plans solar farm in Coventry, March 24, 2008
Wind Farm Update, November 28, 2007
Barbara Polichetti: Too many trees are being cut down, November 16, 2007
Wind Farms of Rhode Island Shore, November 16, 2007
A Storm in the Port, September 24, 2007
Narragansett Bay Estuary Program - The Narragansett Bay Estuary Program is part of the National Estuary Program (NEP), a national network of 28 programs working for collaborative solutions for estuaries designated by Congress as of critical importance.
ecoRI - ecoRI Inc. is a nonprofit journalistic initiative devoted to educating readers about the causes, consequences and solutions to local environmental issues and problems. It is a professionally staffed, nonprofit Web-based news agency focused on environmental/social justice news and issues that impact Rhode Island. It includes job listings, event listings and eco-friendly Rhode Island businesses. You can subscribe to their weekly newsletter.
New England Light Pollution Advisory Group (NELPAG) - The New England Light Pollution Advisory Group (NELPAG) is a volunteer group founded in 1993 to educate the public on the benefits of using efficient, glare-free outdoor night lighting — and understanding what to light, when (and when not) to light it, and how much light is needed.
Natural News Network - NNN is Rhode Island's own on line magazine about your environment -- the news and info you need to explore it, have fun outside, keep up with local issues, live greener, and get involved.
Who Fish – Funny name but a large site that list local events and activities (including outdoor activities) in all the New England States.
"Green" Events and Activities Listing Calendar - 'What Grows On in Rhode Island' is a comprehensive calendar listing of "green" and environment-related events events in Rhode Island. The Providential Gardener is finding ways to streamline timely access to meeting notices and is building calendar and agenda views that makes it easy to see what fits in your personal schedule.
Sierra
Club - Rhode Island Chapter - The Rhode Island Chapter of the Sierra Club represents one of 63 chapters across the U.S. and Canada.
Audubon Society of
Rhode Island - Audubon Society of Rhode Island is an independent, nonprofit, state organization dedicated to the conservation of wildlife habitat, the education of young and old about natural ecosystems and the need to preserve them, and advocacy in order to promote continued efforts at preserving our natural heritage.
The
Norman Bird Sanctuary - The Norman Bird Sanctuary is a non-profit wildlife refuge and environmental education center located
in Middletown, Rhode Island.
Save The Bay - Save The Bay is committed to fostering a personal connection between people and Narragansett Bay and encouraging investment in the Bay’s future.
Wood-Pawcatuck
Watershed Association – Formed to promote and protect the integrity of the lands and waters of the Pawcatuck Watershed.
Metro Bay Special Area Management Plan - SAMPs refine the state coastal program by taking a regional integrated approach in setting coastal management goals and policies.
Rhode Island Environmental Monitoring Collaborative - The Mission of the Coastal Institute is to Advance Knowledge and Develop Solutions to Environmental Problems in Coastal Ecosystems.
RI Department of Environmental Management, Bureau of Natural Resources – With links to other departments including coastal and forestry.
Apeiron Institute for Environmental Living - The Apeiron Institute for Environmental Living works to create ecologically healthy communities by bringing sustainable living practices from around the world to Southeastern New England.
Environmental
Data Center (EDC) - The Environmental Data Center (EDC) is a geographic information system (GIS) laboratory in the URI Department
of Natural Resources Science, College of Environmental and Life Sciences. It also contains the Rhode Island Environmental Sensitivity Index - (Which consists entirely of very large pdf files.)
Environment Council of Rhode Island - The Environment Council of Rhode Island is a coalition of organizations and individuals whose mission is to serve as an effective voice for developing and advocating policies and laws that protect and enhance the environment.
Eco-USA.net- A Source for Environmental Information. (RI
organizations)
Narragansett Bay
Estuary Program – An organization devoted to protect and preserve Narragansett Bay and its watershed through partnerships
that conserve and restore natural resources, enhance water quality and promote community involvement.
Rhode Island
Blueways and Greenways - The Rhode Island Rivers Council, with support from the National Park Service Rivers & Trails
Program, is working on developing a network of water trails or "Blueways" in the state of Rhode Island.
Rhode Island Land and Water Partnership - Was formed in 2003 to improve networking among the leaders of Rhode Island's land trusts, watershed organizations and numerous conservation commissions and to enhance the capacity of these organizations.
Tick Encounter Resource Center - at the University of Rhode Island. Providing information regarding ticks and tick-transmitted diseases, also giving effective actions that you can take to prevent ticks from biting you, your family and your pets.
Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful- The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council is an official Keep America Beautiful affiliate. We are implementing its goals and principles into the Blackstone Valley by working with cities and towns to understand their specific needs and to create programs that will enhance their landscapes. They also sponsor recycling days for computers
and other
items.
Rhode Island
Resource Recovery Facilities - The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation is the state environmental agency dedicated to
providing the public with environmentally sound programs and facilities to manage solid waste. The agency funds and manages the state's recycling program, and owns and operates the Central Landfill and Materials Recycling Facility in Johnston, Rhode Island.
*(Derived from http://muller.lbl.gov)