California’s York Fire sweeps across Mojave Desert, threatening wildlife and Joshua trees & more environmental news.

[View this email in your browser]( Wednesday, August 2, 2023 “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” — Rachel Carson California’s York Fire Sweeps Across Mojave Desert, Threatening Wildlife and Joshua Trees The York Fire burning across the [desert]( of southeastern [California]( and Nevada is California’s biggest fire yet this year. It started Friday in the Mojave National Preserve and crossed into Nevada over the weekend as winds picked up over the dry landscape. [Read More]( Related: [Washington State Wildfires Threaten Animals, Homes, Crops, Renewable Energy Farms]( Large Rivers in Ohio Improved Water Quality From 1981 to 2021, Study Finds A survey of nearly 1,400 free-flowing miles of large rivers in Ohio found that most of the rivers had improved water quality in 2021, compared to the 1980s. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) said the amount of miles of rivers with good to excellent water quality increased from 18% in the 1980s to 86% in the 2020-2021 survey. [Read More]( Related: [More Than 800 Tons of Agricultural Pesticides Leach Into World’s Rivers Each Year, Research Finds]( Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Under ‘Serious Threat,’ but Stays Off UNESCO’s ‘In Danger’ List At a [meeting]( earlier this week, the [UNESCO World Heritage Committee]( decided not to list the Great Barrier Reef as “in danger,” noting that it remained under “serious threat” from ocean warming and pollution, reported Reuters. Some scientists were surprised by the decision. [Read More]( Related: [‘Globally Significant Moment for Ocean Conservation’: Australia to Phase Out Gill Net Fishing in Great Barrier Reef]( U.S. Forest Service Plan to Plant More Than a Billion Trees Limited by Lack of Seedlings, Study Finds In order to fulfill the ambition of the United States federal government’s [REPLANT Act]( the U.S. Forest Service has funds available to plant more than a billion [trees]( in the next nine years. The problem is, there aren’t enough trees. Not only that, but U.S. tree nurseries don’t have enough variety of species necessary to meet the goal. [Read More]( Related: [Trees Are Getting Bigger in Response to Climate Change]( Do you get this newsletter daily? If not, [sign up here]( or forward to a friend. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Website]( [Instagram]( Copyright © 2023 EcoWatch, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up for EcoWatch Top News of The Day Our mailing address is: EcoWatch 1122 Oberlin RoadRaleigh, NC 27605 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](. [Mailchimp Email Marketing](