Red-cockaded Woodpeckers prefer longleaf pine—and its disappearance created an avian housing crisis. Fire is key to restoring the forest and the bird. Read about the fire starters who are making that happen. Gabriel Popkin audubon.org/news/meet-fire…

For Thanksgiving, my first new Substack post in several months: a remembrance of William Powell, who dedicated his career to bringing back the American chestnut tree. open.substack.com/pub/gabepopkin…

Honored to be featured by Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ). I have to admit I did this interview so long ago I had forgotten about it, but the insights seem to be as relevant and needed as ever. Journalists, let's do a better job of telling the nature-climate story!

Wondering what I've written in 2023? Feel like you might have missed a few stories? Check out my year-end post: open.substack.com/pub/gabepopkin…

Fascinating essay exploring our changing relationship with the big, bright natural satellite that passes over our heads each night.

My latest newsletter post, on a fascinating study showing that our forests in the eastern U.S. are thriving (so far at least) in the era of climate change. Give it a read and please share or subscribe if you feel moved to do so! open.substack.com/pub/gabepopkin…

Fascinating, beautiful story about a sustainable forest-based industry. My only skepticism is about the headline. For cork to displace a meaningful amount of plastic, cork oak forests would have to expand hugely. Where else could they grow at that scale? washingtonpost.com/climate-soluti…

Question: Does any tree-planting program anywhere - whether it be municipal, restoration, climate/EJ-focused, etc - include two years of followup watering (that is actually done, not just promised) plus structural pruning and maintenance for as long as the trees need it?

If you live in the eastern US, you've probably been told to squash every spotted lanternfly you see. In my latest post for The Nature Beat, I argue that all this squashing of lanternflies is unnecessary and a waste of energy. Give it a read! gabepopkin.substack.com/p/the-spotted-…

Want to know how much carbon is stored in a peat bog? A new model described as "the peatland equivalent of special relativity" might provide the answer! My latest math-meets-ecology story for Quanta Magazine

We know global warming caused by excess greenhouse gases is causing all sorts of problems. But how do we measure the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere? My latest piece, with awesome contributions from the talented graphic artists at National Institute of Standards and Technology nist.gov/how-do-you-mea…

Every time I read about how sad it is that you can't buy pawpaws in the grocery store, I think about writing a counter-piece about why we should keep the pawpaw weird and wild. Now I've finally written that piece. Enjoy! open.substack.com/pub/gabepopkin…