The Chesapeake Bay & Watershed were in moderate condition in 2021
On June 6, we released the 2021 Chesapeake Bay & Watershed Report Card. The event was held in-person at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology in downtown Baltimore, MD. A small crowd of Maryland government officials, local sustainability leaders, Congress members, and interested scientists gathered to hear the results of this year's report card. The 2021 Chesapeake Bay & Watershed Report Card is unique because it includes, for the first time, economic data in its suite of indicators. Economic information is vital to understanding the relationship between humanity and the environment in the Chesapeake Bay region.
Similarly, we are committed to better representing environmental justice in our annual Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Cards. In addition to the social vulnerability index, heat vulnerability index, and walkability indicators, this year’s report card also includes two new economic indicators with environmental justice implications: income inequality and housing affordability.
The full report card can be viewed here.
The Cuando River Basin Report Card is in moderate conditioin
The first-ever Cuando River Basin Report Card is now available! There is also a short video summarizing the project and its importance. Overall, the basin is in moderate health. More information and work is needed to improve understanding of the basin and improve the score.
The Cuando (or Kwando) River Basin spans parts of four countries--Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia--in south-central Africa. The basin is home to fewer than 200,000 people but shelters half of Africa's remaining savnnah elephant population and is critical habitat for many other wildlife species.
This report card is part of a larger project entitled “Water Partnerships for a Resilient Cuando Basin,” funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and supported by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) Zambia, the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM), and the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA).
Welcome, Ann!
Ann Foo is a new Science Communicator at IAN. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a B.S. in Cell Biology and Genetics and a B.A. in Classical Languages and Literatures. Ann previously did research on foodborne pathogens and on the gut microbiome. Ann has a cat named Toast and enjoys cooking, listening to podcasts, and going to museums.
Global Sustainability Scholars Arrive
From May to June, we will be joined by four Global Sustainability Scholars and Fellows: Lawren Caldwell, Anna Calderon, Nick An, and Pheng Lor. Global Sustainability Scholars are undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds researching sustainability challenges facing communities and environments. In collaboration with COAST Card, these students will work to enhance stakeholder engagement and evaluation and work to generate the Potomac COAST Card.