The Juniper Initiative

04/06/2023

Now showing at The Lyric () in Fort Collins, the new documentary ELEMENTAL: REIMAGINE WILDFIRE.

"Filmed across the West and narrated by Golden Globe and Emmy nominated actor David Oyelowo, ELEMENTAL: REIMAGINE WILDFIRE takes viewers on a journey with the top experts in the nation to better understand fire.

ELEMENTAL: REIMAGINE WILDFIRE includes the voices of climate experts, Indigenous people and fire survivors, and asks us to reimagine our relationship with wildfire as we prepare for an increasingly hotter future.

”Elemental is an outstanding film that deserves the widest possible viewing. In a visually stunning manner, it distills what we’ve learned about wildland fire over the decades and provides a road-map for badly needed changes that will benefit thousands of people, particularly in fire prone communities.”

Find showtimes through

03/20/2023

Happy Spring Equinox! ☀️

Hey Northern Colorado; bird migrations have started! If you put out hummingbird feeders and/or nesting boxes, now is the time. 🐦

For residents in Northern Colorado’s mountainous communities, Mountain Bluebirds have already been spotted, which means they’ll be looking for quality nesting sites soon.

Be sure to keep all feeders & nesting boxes clean (clean seasonally for nesting boxes) and safe from predation, especially from domestic cats.

For more information on wildlife-friendly practices, check out our website!


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03/19/2023

Last year, the Safe Crossings for Colorado Wildlife and Motorists Act was passed in Colorado, creating $5 million in funding in order to establish safe road crossings for wildlife. This is great news for wildlife!

Recent findings have shown a decrease in collisions by 92% with the addition of a corridor. It's believed that roughly 2% of Colorado's big game is killed by vehicle collisions, however other studies suggest this is heavily underestimated and could play a larger role in the loss of biodiversity than currently believed.

Do you have a suggested location for a wildlife corridor? Colorado Department of Transportation's Planning and Environmental division is still seeking opportunities for future highway projects. Visit their website to file a suggestion through their Highway Maintenance portal.

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https://www.codot.gov/news/2022/august/us160-wildlife-overpass-completion

August 1, 2022 - Southwestern Colorado - Mitigation features on U.S. Highway 160 in southwest Colorado could reduce wildlife-vehicle crashes by 80-90%

03/17/2023

It's no secret that pollinators (and most insects) are experiencing alarming declines in population sizes globally. North Forty News recently covered a new Colorado law signed by Gov. Polis aimed at studying native pollinating insects in order to better understand their crucial role on natural resources and ecosystem services, and which management practices can improve to support healthy populations. Research shows that pesticides (mostly in the form of herbicides) have been identified as key drivers of these declines due to their intensive use and ineffective risk assessment, yet remain commonly relied upon in land management practices.

Declines in insect abundance and biomass always precedes species extinctions, with biomass being a measurement of the amount of energy flowing through trophic levels that insects present. This reduction in biomass affects ecosystem functionality and resilience, food web structure, and species interactions, like pollination, decay of organic matter, and many more ecosystem services (Cardoso et al, 2020).

Action to save insect species is paramount, for both ecosystems and human well-being.



https://northfortynews.com/category/life-in-noco/co-dept-of-natural-resources-launches-study-on-native-pollinating-insects/

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01/19/2023

Do you live in Northern Colorado and consider yourself rural? Do you offer services for rural communities? We invite you to join this online community (you will need a free account with Nextdoor to join) to share information, ask questions and learn more about what it means to live in the wildland-urban interface. All are welcome to contribute and participate, we are all students and also have experiences to share!

12/21/2022

Winter Solstice is here! Today marks the start of winter and the longest night of the year in North America. The word solstice come from the Latin words sol, meaning sun, and sistere, to stand still.

In Colorado, the solstice occurs around 2:48pm and technically lasts for just a few minutes, initiating the start for the days to grow increasingly longer once again.

This year, the solstice looks like it will be bringing snow and cold temperatures, as well. Remember to be kind to wildlife during cold snaps. You may find something burrowing in a shed or under a porch to stay out of the elements. These extra cold days are even difficult for wildlife.

Stay warm, enjoy the snow, and let today be a reminder of brighter days ahead! ❄️ ⛄️