The monument resulted after years of advocacy by the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, which includes representatives of the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes.

“We were given the responsibility to protect and preserve for those who are yet to come. We have a job to do. The rock writing tells us: protect this place, guard this place, this is your home.”

Rex Tilousi, Havasupai Elder

Indigenous People have stewarded these lands since time immemorial and the Tribes have actively gathered, danced and prayed for water and for future generations who will inherit this landscape.

The newly-designated monument includes Marble Canyon, the Echo and Vermilion cliffs, and the Havasupai’s sacred “Wii’i Gdwiisa” (Red Butte) mountain. Prior to the forced restriction of the Tribe into their canyon in the 1800s, the Havasupai hunted and gathered during winter around Red Butte. This is the place of emergence for the Havasupai, and for them, is a lung of Grandmother Canyon. Today, Red Butte is federally recognized as a traditional cultural property, and the summit can be reached by a short but steep trail. 

“For Hopi, it’s our place of emergence, a place that we still hold pilgrimages and offerings. It’s what we consider the heartbeat. Much like a human being, the waterways are arteries and veins carrying that lifeblood, not only to Arizona, but the entire world. It keeps life going. And if we poison that blood, life dies.”

Timothy Nuvangyaoma, chairman of the Hopi Tribe

The Threat of Uranium Mining

Unfortunately, these lands also bear the scars of toxic uranium mining that has plagued Indigenous communities with persistent negative health impacts from that legacy. More than 500 abandoned uranium mines are scattered across the region, impacting freshwater sources for local populations and seeping contaminated water into the Colorado River and other water bodies over great distances. Springs are indicators of aquifer integrity.

According to a recent U.S. Geological Survey report, 15 springs and five wells in Grand Canyon watersheds occur near uranium mines and have dissolved uranium concentrations that exceed safe drinking water standards. Both the ecological importance of springs as keystone ecosystems and the level of ecological impairment of springs are especially great in arid regions, with 70-90% of springs in the lands surrounding the Grand Canyon ecologically impaired or devastated. 

It is the threat of uranium mining that spurred the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, community leaders, conservationists, hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreationists to come together to rally to protect these sacred lands and waters. It was also one of the reasons that I decided two years ago to step away from guiding multiday river expeditions full-time in the Grand Canyon and play a larger role in protecting it. The transition from guiding 250 days a year to rowing a desk 40 hours a week for the National Wildlife Federation has been an adjustment, but on days like the day President Biden named this new national monument, it feels incredibly rewarding and I’m proud of the small role that I helped play in securing these protections.

Our Role in Meetings at the White House

Just two months ago, I flew to Washington, D.C. to join my colleagues at the Arizona Wildlife Federation and other Arizona conservation groups to urge officials with the Biden Administration to permanently protect the critical lands, water supplies, wildlife, and cultural and religious sites that surround the Grand Canyon. We came on behalf of a much larger group of local elected officials, sporting groups, military veterans, recreationists, guides, conservationists, and local and national businesses. It was an honor to officially represent Grand Canyon River Guides Association alongside Grand Canyon Trust, Trout Unlimited, HECHO, Chispa AZ, Coconino County, and the Arizona Faith Network.

We each brought a unique perspective and had the opportunity to elaborate on why we felt strongly about permanent protections. My focus was on the recreational economics and springs hydrology of the Colorado River; I used science-based data, pictures, and tribal art to impress upon the audience the importance of protecting this landscape to the nation. I shared that I have relied on my income from guiding for over a decade, as well as my first-hand knowledge of many small businesses associated with commercial river trips and outfitters.

After several days of back-to-back meetings, our coalition hit our stride when we spoke at the Department of the Interior. After I spoke, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy said she wanted to go rafting with me. I smiled and promptly responded, “Yes, the rapids in the Grand Canyon are RAD, but the springs are the most important destinations we share with river runners, and if they get contaminated, it’s not feasible.” My river guide lingo produced a round of laughter – and it was perhaps the first time the word “rad” had been used at such a formal meeting in the halls of Washington.  

The entire trip to D.C. was life changing for me. It was inspiring to take part in White House meetings and to observe other U.S. citizens walking the corridors advocating for various issues. I hope all Americans realize that this doesn’t happen in every country, and that participating in the democratic process is part of what makes our nation strong.  It’s also important to realize that our vast public lands are also unique and worthy of protection. I’m proud that President Biden listened to Indigenous leaders, community activists and conservationists to develop a balanced and reasonable designation that assures that the Grand Canyon watershed will be safeguarded for generations to come.

Mandela van Eeden has been an international adventure guide around the world for 18 years. She is the host of the podcast, The Trail Less Traveled, and she is a communications coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation.

Healthy wildlife populations depend on their ability to move freely across the landscape and have access to suitable habitat for food, shelter, mating, and raising their young. Over the past few decades there has been tremendous scientific progress in understanding the movement patterns of wild animals, and the importance of well-connected landscapes for sustaining wildlife populations. Indeed, fragmentation of habitats and barriers to the movement of wildlife are major contributors to the alarming declines seen in many U.S. species.

Barriers, like border walls and highways, can interfere with the ability of animals to meet their daily needs, make seasonal migrations, or disperse to new areas. Obstacles to movement also inhibit the exchange of genes across and among wildlife populations, which can result in inbreeding, declines in vigor, and eventually the extinction of local populations or even demise of entire species. In addition, the capacity of many of our wildlife species to survive in the face of warming temperatures and other climatic changes will hinge on their ability to migrate unimpeded—often northward or to higher, cooler elevations—to track shifts in climate.

TAKE ACTION: Tweet now about the border wall and wildlife conservation!

To assure safe passage for wildlife, enhancing “landscape connectivity” has become one of the most important conservation strategies being pursued by wildlife managers and conservationists across the country, including the National Wildlife Federation.

Given the robust science demonstrating the link between healthy wildlife populations and their freedom to roam, President Trump’s call for a barrier walling off the entire 1,989-mile southern border is cause for grave concern. We have a glimpse at what its impacts would be from portions of the border that already have had fences and other barricades erected, often with legal exemptions from environmental laws and safeguards.

Walls, Fences and Fragmented Habitat

In the biologically rich Rio Grande Valley of Texas, for instance, border fences have fragmented the habitat of the 50 or so ocelots remaining in the United States. These rare cats are now isolated from their more genetically diverse relatives over the border in northern Mexico and facing an increasingly uncertain and risky future. Other wildlife in the region impacted by the barrier include bobcat, deer, javelina and a host of smaller creatures, such as the rare Texas tortoise and indigo snake. The barrier affects as much as 75 percent of the valley’s national wildlife refuge complex, and threatens to undermine more than $150 million of habitat protection and restoration carried out over decades by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and many private conservation organizations.

Building a wall along the entire border would dramatically escalate these types of wildlife impacts. In a 2016 analysis the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that the wall could potentially impact 111 threatened or endangered species from Texas to California. Many other species would be affected as well, especially those with small population sizes, which would be put at increased risk of extinction. Jaguar, desert bighorn, and Sonoran pronghorn are just a few of the wildlife species researchers have determined would suffer from construction of the wall. Even wings don’t necessarily exempt animals from being affected. Researchers examining the potential impact of border barriers in Arizona found that low-flying Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls were also significantly constrained by existing border barriers.

The proposed wall also threatens to undermine the ecological integrity of some crown jewels in the nation’s public conservation estate, such as Big Bend National Park. Apart from disrupting and blocking wildlife movement and migration, such a massive construction project would cause irreparable damage to the wild character of remote and isolated portions of Big Bend. The wall also would cut across four national wildlife refuges, including Cabeza Prieta in Arizona, and be a setback for collaborative private conservation efforts such as the rancher-led Malpais Borderlands effort in New Mexico.

Border security is an important issue that requires a serious and well-conceived response. Unfortunately, despite the massive wildlife impacts President Trump’s wall would impose on America’s wildlife, many security experts question its effectiveness for stemming illegal immigration, quite apart from issues related to its astronomical cost, construction feasibility, and social/cultural impacts. Reducing illegal border crossings requires multiple approaches, including physical barriers, enhanced surveillance, enforcement, and cross-border collaboration. A one-size fits all wall, though, is entirely inappropriate in many ecologically sensitive areas based on both security and wildlife considerations. The bottom line is that the proposed border wall, is very bad news for America’s already struggling wildlife!

As border policies are pursued, wildlife conservation must be a key part of the calculus. Rather than sacrificing the nation’s wildlife for the sake of a costly and likely ineffective campaign promise, we call on the President to embrace the conservation values of fellow Republican Teddy Roosevelt and work to protect and restore America’s wildlife heritage. America’s sportsmen and wildlife advocates will be watching.

Who We Are

Arizona is one of the most biologically diverse states in the country. Ranging from sea level deserts to lofty mountain peaks, this extraordinary ecological range provides the habitat for more than 800 wildlife species, from Gambel’s quail to bighorn sheep. These natural habitats are increasingly at risk from a host of threats including expanding cities, record setting wild fires, and increasing demands on a limited water supply.

At its outset, the AWF’s goal was to take the politics out of fish and game management and to promote the management of Arizona’s natural resources on a scientific basis. In its first year, the AWF led the establishment of the Arizona’s Game and Fish Commission which is a Commission/Department form of wildlife administration, and has led the fight to maintain that system to this day. The Commission is made up five citizen volunteers that are diverse politically and geographically within the state. This group is responsible for setting the policies of Arizona Game and Fish Department which is staffed with scientifically trained career personnel.

What We Do

The AWF is a leading wildlife conservation advocate in Arizona. It has a long list of proud accomplishments, and continues to:

• Lead sportsmen voices in the effort to push back against state efforts to take over public lands. They have testified numerous times, submitted letters to the editor and Op-Eds, placed hundreds of calls to state legislators and met with state elected officials.
• Represent wildlife interests in a nationally recognized collaborative effort known as the Four Forest Restoration Initiative. This ecosystem planning effort will determine the management of 2 million acres of four National Forests.
• Participate in statewide discussions and alternative development for the Mexican Grey Wolf Recovery.
• Publish Arizona Wildlife News magazines quarterly to highlight conservation and habitat issues.
• Represent sportsmen on the Catalina Bighorn Sheep Restoration Committee. The goal of this working group in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department is to restore a herd of at least 125 Desert bighorn sheep to the Catalina Mountains. To date, some 90 animals have been trans-located and released.
• Graduate more than 200 women from the Becoming An Outdoor Woman (BOW) Program. This program provides for recruitment and retention of women to outdoor recreational activities and conservation ethics.

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Making a National Impact

The AWF has worked extensively on key conservation issues with the Arizona Congressional representatives, including the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act, Land and Water Conservation Fund, and Waters of the USA.

In Arizona, wildlife enthusiasts and sportsmen and women depend on federal public lands for hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing. These public lands, including our national forests, wildlife refuges, and Bureau of Land Management lands, are the strongholds for fish and wildlife. They provide clean water and the foundation for a vibrant, outdoor-based recreation economy.

Right now, a century-old tradition of hunting, fishing, and other outdoor pursuits on public lands is at risk of being taken from us. The push to transfer control of federally managed public lands to state governments will surely result in privatization, reduced public access, and rampant commercial exploitation at the expense of wildlife and outdoor recreation.

Those of us that care about wildlife need to make our voices heard. We need to let our federal and state legislators know that state’s controlling public lands will result in higher taxes, the sale of important fish and wildlife habitats, reduced public access for outdoor recreation, and significant budget deficits for the state. Please join the AWF in pushing back against this bad idea.

Connect with AWF

Connect with the Arizona Wildlife Federation to get their latest news and keep up with their conservation efforts on Facebook or by visiting their website.

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A solution to this public access problem is pending before Congress. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) established 50 years ago is a bipartisan conservation delivery system that is financed by off-shore oil and gas revenues. This program, which conserves irreplaceable lands and improves outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the nation, is up for reauthorization and it’s important that LWCF be fully funded to provide the unmet conservation needs of the sportsmen and conservation community.

Additionally, LWCF must also continue supporting the Coconino National Forest which includes the 56,000-acre Sycamore Canyon Wilderness area. The Forest Service uses funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA) to protect an area known as the Packard Ranch property where two important streams, the Verde River and Sycamore Creek meet. These waters are home to threatened and endangered fish species such as the Gila trout and must be preserved.

Urge your member of Congress to support the Land and Water Conservation Fund!

 Tweet and ask for congressional support of the Land and Water Conservation Fund! Find a list of verified US Congress Twitter accounts here.

About the Author: Ben Alteneder is an avid angler and board member of the Arizona Wildlife Federation, the oldest conservation organization in Arizona. Most recently he served as the Congressional Relations Manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department representing the Game and Fish Commission. Previously Ben served as the Legislative Liaison for the Arizona State Land Department managing their government relations and public affairs. Ben is managing partner at backcountry consulting a public policy and advocacy firm.

With an eye towards the future, a series of ponds was filled with plants native to Arizona’s naturally occurring riparian areas.  The original plan was to provide a habitat that would be attractive to native and migratory birds.  By providing food, water, cover and places to raise young, this municipal center was designed to be a self-sustaining ecosystem with its own well-established wildlife population.

It also  made the preserve eligible to become a Certified Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation.

The plan has succeeded and now supports a thriving community of plants and animals.  Recreational opportunities for people include bird watching, nature walks, photography, urban fishing, and an observatory. These features have attracted a segment of the population interested in nature. The citizens are very involved in many aspects of the preserve’s use and maintenance.

For example, recently, a series of forums and meetings have been held regarding the urban fishing that has long been a feature of the Water Ranch. Now that the wildlife has flourished, the amount of fishing lines and hooks left behind is being addressed. A compromise has been proposed that will attempt to reduce the numbers of wildlife being injured by discarded fishing materials. A broad cross section of citizens was very active as changes were considered. Many lively discussions resulted in a plan that allows urban fishing to continue while reducing negative consequences for the established wildlife.

With a healthy population of cottontails, waterfowl, songbirds, and reptiles, there is much to see.  The animals were invited and they here to stay! The Gilbert Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch is an excellent example of how following the recommendations of NWF’s Garden for Wildlife program and providing food, water, cover and places to raise young will attract a wildlife population. Even when done on a large scale, these principles work and nature will flourish.

Be a Wildlife Gardener

Help wildlife in your community by becoming a wildlife gardener.

Lisa Limbert is a licensed rehabilitator and educator in Gilbert, Arizona.

It’s unclear exactly what happened in the firefighters’ final moments. But with temperatures well above 100 degrees, low humidity and winds gusting to 24 miles an hour, authorities say neither planned escape routes nor emergency shelters could save the elite “hotshot” firefighters from disaster:

“One of the last fail safe methods that a firefighter can do under those conditions is literally to dig as much as they can down and cover themselves with a protective — kinda looks like a foil type — fire-resistant material — with the desire, the hope at least, is that the fire will burn over the top of them and they can survive it,” [Prescott Fire Chief Dan] Fraijo said.

“Under certain conditions there’s usually only sometimes a 50 percent chance that they survive,” he said. “It’s an extreme measure that’s taken under the absolute worst conditions.” […]

The National Fire Protection Association website lists the last wildland fire to kill more firefighters as the 1933 Griffith Park fire of Los Angeles, which killed 29. The biggest loss of firefighters in U.S. history was 343, killed in the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York.

The fire has already destroyed 50 homes and threatens 250 others. Our hearts go out to all of the victims and their families as we try to understand this terrible tragedy.

Climate Connection

As Dr. Amanda Staudt, National Wildlife Federation climate scientist, has reported, global warming is fueling more intense wildfires. These wildfires are covered in climate change’s fingerprints:

• Intense heat. Death Valley just tied the record for hottest June temperature ever recorded in the United States, and before the week is out it’s expected to challenge the global record for highest temperature ever.
• Extreme drought. Almost the entire southwestern United States is under severe, extreme or exceptional drought conditions.
• Climate invaders. Climate change has left southwestern trees more susceptible to pine bark beetles. The weakened forests become prime targets for wildfires.

President Obama unveiled a plan last week to cut climate pollution and help speed adaptation to the changes we’re already seeing. But for some areas, it may already be too late.

Habitats Forever Changed?

According to a new report from researchers at Oregon State University, the combination of intense fire and changing climate means some areas may never fully recover:

On a global scale, the effects of climate change manifest gradually—oceans rise by millimeters a year, carbon concentrations edge upward in increments of parts per million. But sometimes, when conditions in a certain area reach and breach a climatic “tipping point,” the effects can be abrupt, and transformations can occur rapidly.

If a region has warmed—and dried—above a certain level, fire can act as such a tipping point. Because of overgrowth and drought, many of the fires seen today are larger and more intense than those observed a decade or two ago. Sometimes, rather than simply clearing canopies, underbrush and the older, less healthy trees, these fires wipe out entire sections of forest.

After trees have been cleared, other, more drought-adapted species are able to outcompete new ponderosa seeds and saplings.

Extremely intense wildfires can also cause long-term damage. “Very hot, long-burning fires damage soils by burning organic matter, breaking down soil structure, and reducing water  retention,” writes Dr. Doug Inkley, National Wildlife Federation Senior Scientist.

Wildlife in Peril

The area is home to Tonto National Forest, America’s 5th-largest national forest where dozens of endangered, threatened and sensitive species live, including Bald Eagles, Mexican Gray Wolves and Desert Bighorn Sheep. Some large birds and animals can outrun a fire, while small mammals and reptiles often try to burrow down to escape the flames.

But this wildfire spun into a monster so fast that even some of America’s best firefighters couldn’t escape it. Even if birds and animals can escape the flames, they face long-term threats to their habitat and food sources, which can take decades to recover.

Water Worries

Even when these fires are extinguished, they can leave a long-term threat to the clean water that people, fish and wildlife depend on. Especially when the soil itself is charred in particularly intense fires, erosion is a constant concern. After New Mexico’s Las Conchas Fire in 2011, intense rainstorms led to major flooding and heavy erosion. Sediment and ash were washed downstream into the Rio Grande, affecting drinking water for Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico.

Tell President Obama you support his plan to protect our communities and wildlife from the worst impacts of climate change.

Photo by Flickr member troupial

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There’s compelling evidence that talking about western wildfires without mentioning climate change is like talking about lung cancer without mentioning cigarettes. I want to walk you through what’s happening out west right now, what the latest science tells us about why it’s happening, how it’s affecting people and wildlife in the region, and what we can do about it.

The Latest Major Fires

The consequences of carbon pollution are immediately apparent to residents of Colorado this week. More than 52,000 acres of forest have burned since lightning started the High Park Fire on June 9. Smoke has been wafting over Fort Collins, as stands of pines have been going up in dramatic blazes. The fire is already the second largest in the state’s history, exceeded only by the 2002 Hayman Fire. Of course, the High Park Fire is only 15% contained, so it may well take the leader spot in the days to come.

In the meantime, New Mexico is in the midst of fighting the largest wildfire in its history. The Whitewater-Baldy Complex Fire has already burned nearly 300,000 acres, mostly in the Gila National Forest. This fire comes on the heels of the Las Conchas Fire last summer, which ranked as the largest New Mexico wildfire at the time. What’s worse, heavy rainstorms after the fire was extinguished led to major flooding and erosion. Sediment and ash were washed downstream into the Rio Grande, affecting drinking water for Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico.

Climate change is literally fueling these and other major fires in western states. In fact, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas have all had fires since last year that ranked as one of the two largest in their histories (see table). The frequency and extent of fires in recent decades is unlikely to happen under natural conditions. With one catastrophic fire after another, it is clear that something quite different is happening to our forests.

Climate Trends and Forest Fires

Climate scientists have identified several ways that a warming planet will increase forest fire risk. Not surprisingly, all of these factors are fanning the fires we’ve been seeing recently in the western United States.

• Longer fire seasons: Western forests typically become combustible within a month of the snowpack melting, which is happening 1 to 4 weeks earlier than it did 50 years ago. This year, an unusually warm and dry winter resulted in one of the smallest snowpacks in Colorado history. As of June 1, the snowpack was only 2% of its normal extent.
• Drier conditions: Climate change is expected to bring more frequent and more intense droughts to the Southwest, perhaps shifting the area to a more arid climate. As of the end of May, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas all had areas in the grip of severe and extreme drought.
• More fuel for forest fires: Widespread beetle infestations have left broad swaths of dead and highly combustible trees in their wake. Higher temperatures enhance winter survival of mountain pine beetles and allow for a more rapid lifecycle. Ecologists in Colorado recently confirmed that beetle populations are able to complete two generations during longer, warmer summers, leading to a possible 60-fold increase in the number of beetles.
• Increased frequency of lightning is expected as thunderstorms become more severe. In the western United States lightning strikes could increase by 12 to 30 percent by mid-century. Both the High Park fire in Colorado and the Whitewater-Baldy Complex Fire in New Mexico were ignited by lightning.

Communities, Firefighters, Taxpayers & Wildlife Bearing the Costs

Communities can be rocked by wildfires. During the last decade, property losses in the US have averaged $1 billion annually. Take the town of Bastrop, Texas, home to just over 7,000 people who braved the most catastrophic wildfire that state had ever seen last fall. More than 1,600 homes were destroyed and two people lost their lives. Insured property losses for the fire totaled $325 million, and clean up cost another $25 million. That’s on top of the millions spent to put out the fire in the first place.  Dealing with these sorts of disasters also takes an emotional toll on people, as discussed in a recent NWF report on the psychological impacts of climate change.

Firefighters are having to adapt to the new wildfire realities. They are struggling to keep up with these longer fire seasons, which in some places are now effectively year round, leaving little time to regroup and prepare for the next incident. Moreover, they are finding it harder to control fires, in part because fires are less likely to quiet down at night like they used to. Nighttime conditions are hotter and drier, meaning that fires can stay active around the clock.

Taxpayers are footing the bill for fighting these fires. The cost of wildfire suppression—about $3 billion a year—has tripled in the United States since the late 1990’s. The majority of these expenses are borne by the U.S. Forest Service, which now spends around half of its annual budget on fighting fires.

Wildlife is not immune to the impacts of increasing fire frequency and intensity. Many ecosystems have evolved so that episodic fires are part of their natural rhythms, but are struggling to cope with the new fire patterns. These mega-fires are trapping animals that would otherwise be able to flee, causing widespread habitat destruction, and even causing wholesale landscape conversion. 

Cutting Carbon Pollution Can Reduce Future Fire Risks

To prevent wildfires from getting much worse and to limit the risks communities and wildlife, we must reduce carbon pollution. Just this week a new climate study came out making projections that many areas of the world, including the western United States, should expect even more fires if we continue spewing carbon pollution into the atmosphere.

Take Action

Fortunately, we know what steps to take to and have the tools to start taking action now. The Environmental Protection Agency is creating the first limits on carbon pollution emitted from power plants. Please take a moment right now to tell the EPA you support limits on industrial carbon pollution.

One of the least-controversial impacts of the climate crisis is more frequent, severe and damaging wildfires in America’s West. Why won’t reporters say so?

As my National Wildlife Federation colleague Aislinn Maestas detailed last week, it’s been a scary spring for wildfires in Arizona, Texas, and her home state of New Mexico. Global warming caused by man-made carbon pollution is fueling perfect conditions, with longer fire seasons, drier conditions and more lightning strikes.

But a search of Google News over the last week shows very few reporters are connecting the dots for their readers. I did a search for stories that mentioned both wildfires and climate or global warming. I found very few stories in mainstream news outlets that mentioned climate and wildfires together at all, and the ones that did were just as likely to wrongly downplay the connection as correctly draw the scientifically-documented tie. (Note that Google News is a crude tool, not covering every print outlet and including very little of what’s said on TV and radio. If you know a story I missed, please add it in comments.)

First, the reporters that made the right scientific connection between wildfires and global warming:

• ABC News directly connects global warming and extreme weather
• Public Radio International doesn’t just connect carbon pollution and changes in weather patterns – it asks if enough is being done to prepare communities for future disasters
• NPR’s Science Friday had as a guest Joel Achenbach, who recently predicted that the 2100s will be the Century of Disasters
• Reuters asks if the insurance industry can survive the new era

That’s it. Four stories that accurately connected wildfires and global warming based on the best science available. That’s all I could find.

Now for the stories that mentioned climate and wildfires but failed to correctly connect the dots:

• PBS downplays the link by quoting AccuWeather, which until recently employed climate science denier Joe  Bastardi
• USA Today baldly states its disinterest in delving into any link, saying, “Never mind the debate over global warming, its possible causes and effects.”
• A New York Times/Greenwire article ignores the evidence supporting a link, instead going into extensive detail on what we don’t know (Joe Romm analyzes this article in more depth at Climate Progress)
• The Arizona Republic makes only a passing reference to the climate link while making the wildfires sound strictly like a forest management issue

CNN.com didn’t connect climate and wildfires in America that I could see. However, it does have story noting that thanks to global warming Siberia, once frozen, is now on fire.

What’s so strange about reporters’ reticence is that the connection between global warming and wildfires isn’t controversial in the climate science community. While scientists are always eager to learn more and shine light in every possible corner, the basics are straightforward and established: More heat + more droughts = more wildfires. Don’t believe me? Ask NASA. Or the Environmental Protection Agency.

How established? Dr. Amanda Staudt, the National Wildlife Federation’s climate scientist, made this video on the climate-wildfire connection a full three years ago:

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So why doesn’t the line get drawn? Polluter-funded front groups and their allies in the media stand ready to attack anyone who reports scientific fact on climate change. For both reporters and the government officials they’re quoting, it takes courage to stand up to that.

Most ironic about the New York Times/Greenwire article: Just last week, the Times’ Leslie Kaufman wrote this about a recent climate poll:

Scientists at the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration [NOAA] drew a relatively high approval rating, with 76 percent of respondents saying they strongly or somewhat trusted them.

Of course, the agency states unequivocally that the earth is warming and that human activity is a leading cause. So if 76 percent of the American public trusts NOAA scientists strongly or somewhat, why don’t more people accept their conclusions?

NOAA wrote about Climate Enhanced Wildfires … in 1998. But here we are 13 years later and the New York Times is still reporting to the controversy on the climate-wildfires link. Is it any wonder some Americans are still uncertain?

To learn more about the connection between global warming and extreme weather, visit NWF.org/ExtremeWeather.