Category: Latest from the Blog
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Nature Forward Opposes Project Pipes III
This is a special edition blog post by Sally Winthrop, Conservation Department Volunteer at Nature Forward. In July 2023, Jamoni asked me if I would be interested in joining zoom meetings with Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) on electrification efforts in DC. I’ve been searching for ways to get more involved in climate activities, so…
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For the Love of Muck and Macroinvertebrates: A Former Camper Returns to Conduct Research on Woodend’s Restored Pond
By Meg Jarvis I’m Meg Jarvis (they/them), and this past summer I surveyed the aquatic macroinvertebrate populations in Woodend Sanctuary’s recently restored pond. I attend university in Brighton, England, but I grew up just around the corner from Woodend. I went to camp there throughout my childhood and, when I aged out of camp, I…
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The Power of Partnerships
Working in Washington, DC where generations of my family have lived, worked, and served their community has been a full circle moment for me as Nature Forward’s DC Conservation Advocate. Identity, relationship to community, belief in justice and the desire to build communities of resilience is the superpower Nature Forward, and all our partners bring…
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Act Now to save our parks from budget cuts!
Updated December 13, 2024 Our 2024 fall/winter letter writing campaign is now closed. Thank you to everyone who wrote comments to County Executive Hill! While this letter writing campaign is closed as we await the draft budget, we will continue our advocacy for parks funding in the Spring of 2025. Stay tuned! Fairfax County’s County…
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Take Action on Prince George’s Data Center Bill Before November 19th!
UPDATE AS OF NOVEMBER 19TH: On Tuesday November 19, the Prince George’s County Council unanimously voted to HOLD on CB 52 until next year thanks to your outpouring of letters, and the many advocates who stood up for constituent’s voices. Collectively, we sent 230 letters to the Prince George’s County Council! You can watch the full…
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Data Center Frontiers Summit Recap
Screenshot from the Data Center Frontier Trends Summit 2024 Website – note the sold out sign. Source: https://www.dcftrends.com/2024/home In early September 2024, Nature Forward Conservation Director Lydia Lawrence and I attended the Data Center Frontier Trends Summit in Reston, Virginia. Thankfully, I was on week three of my new role and was fully prepared to…
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Introduction to Maryland Conservation Advocate
Hello, Nature Forward! My name is Angie McCarthy (she/her), and I’m proud to be Nature Forward’s new Maryland Conservation Advocate. Before your heart starts pounding, Denisse Guitarra is still an important part of our Conservation team. She will now be focused on our community outreach events. I am so grateful to be able to learn from…
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Speak up for a stronger Data Center Zoning Ordinance
UPDATED 8/5/24 Join us on September 10 @ 4:30pm: testify for stronger protections! The Data Center ZOA public hearing was held on July 16 and the Board deferred their decision until July 30. On the morning of July 30 however, it was reported that, due to a clerical error regarding a change in state law…
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June Conservation Café: Data Center impacts on National Parks with NPCA
On June 4th, Kyle Hart, Mid-Atlantic Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, spoke about the impact of data centers on our DMV region’s national parks. Failing to reform the data center industry in the region threatens to undermine decades of conservation and environmental efforts in Virginia, Maryland, and beyond. See below for the…