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NASA invests in U of I doctoral student’s grassland research By HANNAH SPANGLER - FarmWeek A University of Illinois doctoral candidate received a $150,000 investment from NASA to create a detailed grassland map using remote sensing. Wendy Dorman, the recipient of the prestigious threeyear research grant, plans to map grassland habitats across Illinois — where 99% of the prairies have vanished. Her goals include finding out which habitat features are most important for endangered birds to maximize best practices to protect them in the small amount of grassland available. “I’ve been really frustrated by the lack of available data to use when trying to understand what’s happening to birds,” Dorman said, adding that current research is not at the level needed for making management decisions and conducting effective modeling. Dorman will use remote sensing, which involves using satellite imagery to collect information, to produce a high-quality map of the cold and warm season grasses in grasslands across the state. She believes this will help provide targeted support to individual bird species based on their survival needs. “It’s important for conservation and for management and wildlife or other environmental reasons that we have a good idea of where grasslands are and what their qualities are,” said Mike Ward, U of I professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES). The research can also benefit farmers enrolling in conservation programs and help enhance habitats for birds like quail and pheasants, Ward explained. The detailed
maps can show where to place grasslands to maximize agricultural and new environmental benefits. Ward told FarmWeek that the use of remote sensing in grasslands is a lot like the use of precision technology in agriculture. They are working with small amounts of grassland and using technology to optimize conservation practices. “A strategic placement of habitat can go a long way,” he said. “Right now, it’s kind of overwhelming to have so much information and so much data. But as we go on, all this information will keep on coming in and we’ll be able to do a better job of managing our resources.” Research has already started on a small scale, and Dorman and her team are preparing to ramp things up. This semester, she will work with students from natural resources and environmental sciences, computer science and physics to bring together the different disciplines needed for the project. She hopes to have preliminary results around March or April before moving into fieldwork throughout the spring and summer. The fieldwork will help compare satellite data with real-life observations. “You need to actually physically go into the field and see what is on the ground,” Dorman said. “We don’t just trust the models that we produce, we compare them against what’s actually in the field.” This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.
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Easy, Fun and Good for the Environment How to make every day recycling day Family Features With so many mixed messages, recycling can feel confusing, but the truth is simpler than you might think. Recycling isn’t just for today - it’s a year-round commitment to a healthier planet. In honor of National Recycling Day, consider these facts about recycling from the experts and tips to make a difference. Recycling Is Real Americans recycle more than 6 billion pounds of plastic every year. Among the plastics recycled, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) remains a responsible material choice. PET is the world’s most recycled plastic, with more than 1.8 billion pounds of PET bottles and containers recovered in the U.S. annually. Since PET bottles can be made from 100% post-consumer recycled content, each recycled bottle contributes to a circular economy where materials are continuously reused
instead of wasted. Recycling PET Plastic is Better for the Environment Countless others from academics, researchers and industry experts show plastics, such as PET specifically, often have a lower environmental impact. In fact, glass bottles produce three times the greenhouse gas emissions compared to PET bottles, and making an aluminum can produces twice the emissions, according to Life Cycle Assessment studies. Producing PET also uses less energy and water and lowers acid rain and smog potential. Using and recycling PET is a more responsible, more ecofriendly choice than banning plastic outright. Recycling Saves Energy Recycling PET bottles requires less energy than producing new glass bottles or aluminum cans. Every PET bottle you recycle helps conserve resources and supports a more responsible production cycle. Not All Plastics are Created Equal PET is a superstar among plastics because it can be recycled repeatedly without losing strength or quality. It’s also an inexpensive, lightweight and shatterresistant package that preserves and protects the food and medicine people place in their bodies. Recycling Can be Easy Recycling services can be accessible, with many communities across the U.S. offering easy ways to recycle. Today more than 73% of all U.S. households have access
to recycling, according to The Recycling Partnership. By staying informed, choosing packaging that’s easily recyclable and recycling consistently, you can help build a more sustainable future every day. Visit recyclecheck.org to find out where you can recycle in your community. 5 Recycling Tips 1. Know your plastics. Look for the No. 1 recycling symbol - inside three arrows forming a triangular shape - to identify polyethylene terephthalate (PET), helping ensure your recycling efforts are impactful. 2. Recycle PET plastic packaging over bans. Choose products packaged in PET bottles where possible, as recycling PET reduces reliance on resource-heavy materials and greenhouse gas emissions. 3. See recycling as energy conservation. PET bottle recycling uses significantly less energy compared to producing new glass bottles or aluminum cans. 4. Think of recycling as an investment. Every PET container you recycle contributes to a circular economy and more sustainable world. 5. Get involved within your community. Connect with local recycling programs and stay updated on your area’s recycling guidelines by visiting recyclecheck.org.