Volume 18 Issue 1

The

TRAIL Vol 18 Issue1 March 2024

HELLO SPRING

THE HUMANITY IN THE PASSAIC

LATIN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL

WHY INTERSECTIONALITY IS IMPORTANT IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT

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Contents Meet our Staff The Benefits of Environmental Advocacy

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Ring In Your Spring

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Evan DeAngelis

Kendall Soto

Launching Climate Revolution Action Network New Jersey

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Cassandra Gelston

12 Breaking Boundaries: Youth Plaintiffs Triumph in Milestone Climate Trial Against Montana Emily Yang

Rutger Green Transportation New York’s Zero Waste Initiatives

Dandelies: Blowing away the myths surrounding dandelions

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The Humanity in the Passaic

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Maia Dragowski

Katie Marra

Miranda Ma

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Thirfting: A Cultural Shift Towards Sustainablity

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Aleen Mirza

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Sofia Little

Latin American Film Festival

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Why Intersectionality is Important in the Environmental Movement

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Judy Wu

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Who Let the Wolves Out?

Philip Kim

Amillia Keagle

Flowers are becoming Selfpollinators

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Lindsey Wiessner

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Recently Discovered Oak Tree Could Save Sumatran Orangutans

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Works Cited

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Maya Krauss

Writers' Team

Interested in joining The Trail? Email us at epibtrail@gmail.com Table of Contents

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Meet Our Staff

Aleen Mirza

Amillia Keagle

Writer & Editor

Writer, Editor &, Photographer

Emily Yang

Evan DeAngelis

Writer & Editor

Writer & Editor Table of Contents

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Meet Our Staff

Jason Lei

Judy Wu

Graphic Designer

Writer & Editor

Maia Dragowski

Maya Krauss

Writer & Editor

Writer & Editor Table of Contents

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Meet Our Staff

Miranda Ma

Kailey Purnell

Writer & Editor

Graphic Designer

Katie Marra

Kendall Sotto

Writer & Editor

Writer & Editor Table of Contents

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Meet Our Staff

Lexi Tassone Graphic Designer

Lindsey Wiessner Writer & Editor

Philip Kim

Priyal Patel

Writer & Editor

Editor-in-Chief Table of Contents

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Meet Our Staff

Shan Chen

Sofia Little

Graphic Designer

Writer & Editor

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The Benefits of Environmental Advocacy By: Kendall Soto

A Chance for Rutgers to Mobilize with Climate Action A short train ride away lays the location of the 2024 New York City Climate Reality Leadership Training.

This April, students a part of the international advocacy organization invite the Rutgers community to join them in a three-day climate advocacy training.

Presentation speakers will feature the United States Former Vice President, and Climate Reality founder, Al Gore, the Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnerships at AmeriCorps, the Founder of Earth Uprising International, and more.

This same organization has trained 45,000 renowned Climate Reality Leaders who represent 190 countries, and all 50 U.S. states. This collaboration is made up of activists from all ages around the world, resilient in their fight against climate change, with dependable support from the Head Quarters in Washington D.C..

Since 2020 at Rutgers University New Brunswick, students have mobilized as a part of The Climate Reality Project (CRP) in numerous ways.

The students have collaborated with the Office of Climate Action, Students for Environmental Awareness, RU Primates, and more.

Focused on cultivating a culture of activism, the students of Climate Reality enjoy creating informative presentations on pressing environmental issues, such as methane: a lead lesser known contributor to global warming.

Climate Reality members meet every other Wednesday at 7 pm to learn about the organization-wide campaigns like Net Zero and create events for grassroots activism. If you were to ask some Rutgers campus corps members, they would say they most enjoy informing their peers on global climate affairs, such as the annual Conference of Parties.

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This helped when students pursued meetings with local government officials to vocalize youth support for environmentallyconscious bills, like the Inflation Reduction Act. Analyses on this bill suggest a path to cutting the United States 2003 emission levels by 40% in 2030.

The team in D.C. includes youth coordinators, regional coordinators, public policy experts, and everyone is a seasoned environmentalist.

The club regularly meets once a month for 1 on 1 strategic planning support and a second monthly meeting with other regional chapters to unify the local environmental movement.

As a Climate Reality Campus Corps member, I have felt empowered to continue my advocacy and persevere through nationally low periods of environmental awareness.

Climate Reality’s extensive international network is not out of reach for Rutgers students. They can access the Reality Hub, become friends with each other on LinkedIn, and meet at the conference!

The transition from campus corps to a local chapter is very smooth.

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For an example about how close the next environmental support group actually is, the New Jersey Greater Gateway Chapter meets in New Brunswick. As the Outreach Director for the past two years, I remember this discovery quite well. At the start of our outreach efforts, we looked to other campus corps, such as the University of Miami. Next, we upgraded to an intergenerational approach with the New Jersey Greater Gateway Chapter, helping diversify perspectives to expand our impact. Admirably, the local chapter mentioned the city of New Brunswick as a happy center for all New Jersey activists to travel to and collaborate in. ..

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Why Join Climate Reality?

The system of this organization keeps activists passionate, accountable, and supported. Many people have felt the fevers of ecoanxiety, a modern phenomenon referring to fears of impending climate disasters, irreversible changes, and a lack of control over human-induced climate change. In New York state alone, several chapters joined a coalition called Renewable Heat Now to collaborate with climate organizations working to accelerate a just transition to clean energy. The New York chapters mobilized to develop popular support for three different bills, ultimately succeeding when the New York Senate passed the All Electric Buildings Act in 2023.

Their work stands as a trailblazer for the first statewide ban on fossil fuel in most new buildings by 2026. Grassroot activism is not only possible, but it is empowered by the Climate Reality Project community.

Each member of the Climate Reality Project has access to informational resources on the latest developments in climate science.

Annual clear campaigns guide advocacy leaders.

Training workshop topics include: The latest developments climate science.

How the crisis is the world today.

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impacting

The urgency of shifting from dirty fossil fuels to renewables.

How our newest Leaders can effectively use media outreach to achieve their goals and mobilize their communities for action

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Sign up here: Climate Reality Leadership Training in New York | The Climate Reality Project

Ready to join?

Following the training, numerous Rutgers students will be equipped for action! .

Join the students of Climate Reality at Rutgers University. Learn about hard skills, such as Media Outreach, Tabling, Phone Banking, Email recruitment, and the impact of grassroots organizing.

For future engagements, students meet every other week at the Douglass Student Center from 7 - 8 pm and post updates on Instagram @climaterealityru.

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Launching Climate Revolution Action Network New Jersey By: Cassandra Gelston CRAN recognizes that the climate crisis does not just harm the planet, but has the chance of taking away our generation's future. Better policies for the energy, transportation, investment, and education sectors of New Jersey are going to be possible because of youth minds. Currently, CRAN is beginning our digital organizing campaign, preparing to testify in the Legislature and any Board, Committee, or Commission we can get into to take on New Jersey’s most pressing environmental issues. We realize the severity of what will happen if action is not taken soon and we want to empower GEN-Z to fix what they did not break.

Climate Revolution Action Network is a group of environmental stewards who recognize the urgency for action to save the environment. environmental action to address issues affecting our local New Jersey communities. New Jersey’s diverse ecosystems desperately need help, and we are committed to initiating effective policies that fight against climate change. CRAN will not accept that individuals in our state are being harmed by the climate catastrophe.

Real change starts at the community level. CRAN knows that by building its members to be the best and most successful versions of themselves, everyone wins. We want young environmentalists to know they are seen, and their voices matter. Creating a space for the next generations to lead impactful action will save the planet.

Whether you're a student, an artist, a scientist, or anyone who cares deeply about the planet, you have a place in the Climate Revolution.

Join us in building a resilient New Jersey! https://www.climaterevolutionan.com/join ⟶⟶⟶ Cassandra is a student at Rutgers University studying Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behavior.

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Breaking Boundaries: Youth Plaintiffs Triumph in Milestone Climate Trial Against Montana EMILY YANG In the state of Montana, sixteen young activists, ranging from ages five to twenty-two, had alleged the state’s government had violated their right to a healthy environment.

They claimed the state’s pro-fossil fuel policies contributed to greenhouse gas emissions and therefore exacerbated the effects of climate change.

The lawsuit argued that Montana’s policies violated provisions in the state constitution that guaranteed citizens the right to a clean and healthy environment. One of the policies that was targeted by the plaintiffs was a provision in the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), which did not allow the state to consider how energy generation and

consumption impacted climate change.

In addition, the state was barred from considering greenhouse gas emissions in environmental reviews for energy projects. In a landmark decision, Judge Kathy Seeley declared the state’s fossil-fuelpromoting laws to be unconstitutional, a ruling that has been described as a “gamechanger” and a “sweeping win” for young climate activists in the United States and around the world (Noor 2023).

According to Julia Olson, founder of Our Children’s Trust, which is a nonprofit law firm that brought the case before the court along with Western Environmental Law Center and McGarvey Law, said, “… today’s ruling in Montana is a

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The a turning point in this outcome of this case generation’s efforts to establishes an save the planet from the encouraging precedent devastating effects of for future youth-driven human-caused climate climate litigation and chaos” (Noor 2023). inspires similar legal actions in other states In her ruling, Judge and potentially Seeley blocked another worldwide.In four other state policy, which made states, including Hawaii, it harder for groups and youth-led climate individuals lawsuits supported by to sue government Our Children’s Trust are agencies over decisions pending, with one set to made under the Montana go to trial in June 2024.

Environmental Policy Act, deeming it “I think this is the unconstitutional.

State strongest decision on attorneys argued that climate change ever Montana’s impact on the issued by any court,” said climate crisis was Michael Gerrard, founder insignificant, however, in of Columbia University’s her ruling, Seeley found Sabin that the state’s greenhouse gas emissions were “nationally and globally significant” (Noor 2023).

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The plaintiffs in the nation’s first youth climate change trial pose for a photo outside of Montana’s First Judicial Court on June 12.

William Campbell/Getty Images

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The verdict also underscores the importance of seeking climate justice through the courts as demonstrated by the ongoing cases brought by Our Children’s Trust, for this ruling reinforces the notion that legal avenues can be powerful tools in addressing the climate crisis and holding governments accountable for their actions.

In addition, promoting youth-driven climate solutions is paramount because engaging young people in environmental activism and policymaking harnesses fresh perspectives and fosters empowerment.

As we strive for a more sustainable future, it is essential to prioritize youth involvement and government accountability, ensuring that our actions today pave the way for a healthier and more resilient planet for generations to come.

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Designed by Judy Wu

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Throughout Rutgers, there have been efforts to increase the sustainability of our public transportation systems. Anyone who has used Rutgers transportation would agree that there is much room for improvement, both environmentally and beyond. At such a large university with five different campuses, a majority of students rely on the Rutgers buses to get to classes and extracurriculars. With the vast number of students who need to travel between campuses, it can be difficult to develop a system that satisfies everyone. Because of the many other aspects of the bus system that needed fixing, it did not always seem essential to make sustainability a priority in Rutgers transportation. Ever since COVID, there has been an increase in dissatisfaction with Rutgers busses, leading to priority being placed on other issues like overcrowding and bus malfunctions.

However, student involvement and a focus on sustainability across Rutgers have led to green transportation finally becoming part of the conversation at Rutgers.

Green transportation is slowly but surely becoming implemented at the institutional level. One example of this is the President’s

Task Force on Carbon Neutrality and Climate Resilience, specifically the working group for transportation (Kopp 2021).

Another sustainable initiative at Rutgers is the promotion of biking and electric scooters across campus, by providing opportunities for students to rent bikes and scooters, as well as by updating infrastructure to be more friendly to bikers and pedestrians (Kopp 2021). Bikes on campus can be rented by semester for only $50, and Veo Scooters can be rented at any time at a rate of 37 cents an hour, after an upfront $1 fee (DeFoe 2022). These options provide ways for students to have options other than driving or walking between locations.

In addition, Rutgers provides students, staff, and New Brunswick residents with

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discounts on NJ Transit public transportation. Students who apply for this program will receive a 25% discount on the monthly pass (Rutgers Institutional Planning and Operations 2024). This provides students with the opportunity to have a more affordable way to travel to and from Rutgers, besides driving a car. This is especially helpful for commuters who consistently have to travel for their classes.

Fines on the cars at the commuter lot can also help address the emissions created by commuters.

However, much more still needs to be done to increase sustainability in Rutgers transportation. There are many proposals for improvements that can be made, such as the goal of creating a carbon-neutral transportation system. This works in tandem with the plans set forth by the Rutgers Climate Task Force to reach carbon neutrality before 2041 and limit greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 (Kopp 2021). Another focus is to promote equity and resilience, which would improve the health and well-being of all students at Rutgers (Alan M. Vorhees Transportation Center 2024). Other proposals include a shift of Rutgers infrastructure to prioritize walking and biking, as opposed to the use of buses and cars on campus.

Student involvement also plays an essential role in the development of green infrastructure and much more across the university. Multiple organizations across campus, including Students for Environmental Awareness and Students for Environmental and Energy Development, have put a focus on inspiring and influencing Rutgers to become more environmentally conscious regarding transportation.

Through student involvement, current programs, and future initiatives, Rutgers is making considerable progress in green transportation and sustainable infrastructure all across campus.

Although, much progress still needs to be made to further increase sustainability in transportation and across campus.

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New York’s Zero Waste Initiatives

by Philip Kim As a kid growing up, I visited New York City quite a lot, and even now, I still do. I would enjoy walking around and enjoying the view. But it always caught my eye how dirty it was and the amount of trash just littered everywhere. Even now, it seems it hasn’t improved or gotten worse, and I would always wonder if New York will do anything. I recently found out that the city is trying to implement a plan to improve its waste management situation. New York State, renowned for its energetic cities and varied scenery, faces a significant obstacle: landfill management. Traditional landfill operations are becoming unsustainable due to increasing garbage output and a growing population.

More than 6 million tons of waste are disposed of yearly in New York, and with no local landfills, the city’s current solution of trucking waste to out-of-state landfills not only has negative environmental and social consequences but is extremely costly (CITIES100: New York City, 2022, February 15). As a result, New York has started a broad effort to change landfill management, giving new disposal techniques, recycling, and trash reduction top priority.

The main focus of New York's approach is a deliberate attempt to reduce trash production at its origin. The state works to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills by means of public awareness campaigns, educational efforts, and recycling programs with incentives. Through a combination of waste reduction, reuse and recycling programs, and wastewater treatment plants with anaerobic digestion

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that harness food scraps to create energy, the city aims to achieve a 90% reduction in waste to landfill and render landfills a thing of the past (CITIES100: New York City, 2022, February 15). Strong waste diversion initiatives and regulations requiring recycling encourage citizens and companies to engage in recycling and composting, keeping organic waste out of landfills and reducing environmental damage.

Acknowledging the drawbacks of conventional dumping methods, New York is investing in cutting-edge technologies to streamline garbage management procedures.

Modern sorting and recycling facilities that maximize resource recovery while reducing dependency on landfills are outfitted with robotics and artificial intelligence to efficiently separate and process recyclable materials. The state is also investigating waste-to-energy methods “,” including thermal conversion and anaerobic digestion, which produce renewable energy from organic waste while reducing the amount of waste dumped in landfills.

Community cooperation and engagement are essential components of New York's landfill management plan. Through the development of relationships with industrial stakeholders, environmental organizations, and local governments, the state guarantees

that projects are customized to meet the specific requirements of varied areas. The city is already well on the way to achieving its goal, as initiatives such as expanding the collection of organics, implementing more zero-waste school programs, increasing recycling of textiles and electronics, and reducing the use of non-recyclable materials have led to a 22% drop in emissions from the solid waste sector (CITIES100: New York City, 2022, February 15). In order to accomplish common sustainability goals, public-private partnerships are essential for putting creative waste management ideas into practice. They also help to pool resources and knowledge.

To sum up, New York's all-encompassing strategy for managing landfills highlights its steadfast dedication to resource conservation, sustainable development, and environmental responsibility. The state is paving the way for a more resilient and ecologically responsible future by reducing waste, utilizing innovative technology, investigating landfill options, and working together. New York seeks to reduce the environmental effects of landfills while fostering a sustainable culture for future generations by continuing to place a high priority on innovation and teamwork.

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Latin American Film Festival Amillia Keagle This spring semester, explore narratives of environmental justice, sustainability, resilience, cultural identities, values, beliefs, and indigenous peoples through the medium of film. Join us for the Latin American Film Festival: New Assemblages in Latin America and the Iberian World.

From February 26th to April 29th, each film will be available online, completely free of charge to everyone, for a selective two-week period.

The six films showcased in the festival follow a theme of New Assemblages in Latin American and Iberian Worlds.

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Assemblages, in this context, are defined by their relational nature, challenging the conventional separation of nature and culture.

Through a sociomaterial lens, these films dismantle traditional boundaries, illustrating the interconnectedness between human societies and the environment. Each film contributes to a broader conversation about the complex interplay between human activities and the natural world.

In embracing this perspective, the festival offers audiences a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted challenges facing our planet and the diverse ways in which communities are striving for positive change.

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The film festival is organized by a team led by Mildred López Escudero, a Ph.D. student in the Spanish and Portuguese department whose research interests encompass storytelling, community theater, and environmental justice.

With the support of her advisor, Associate Dean Jorge Marcone from the Humanities Division School of Arts and Science, Mildred secured two grants that facilitated the creation of the film festival.

Alongside her, three undergraduate students, Samantha Carhuayano, Meridian Carsky-Wilson, and myself, Amillia Keagle, are actively involved; all of us are enrolled in Dr. Jorge Marcone's course for the new minor in Creative Expressions and the Environment.

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Dr. Marcone's invitation to Mildred to present in our class provided students with the opportunity to contribute to the organization of the film festival. I pursued this opportunity to extend an invitation to the Rutgers environmental community, encouraging you all to embrace this exceptional learning opportunity.

Meridian, the creative mastermind, channels their artistic prowess to meticulously craft promotional fliers. Sam, an enthusiastic member of Active Minds at Rutgers, a devoted organization committed to supporting students' mental health, is set to host an in-person screening of the film "Oklahoma Mon Amour" on April 9th (further details forthcoming). As the lead for the RU Recycling campaign

with Students for Environmental Awareness (SEA), I am excited to extend this invitation to The Trail's audience.

Additionally, we are organizing an inperson screening of the film "Carretera Cartonera." Stay tuned for more information!

Given The Trail’s audience, I presume we share an awareness of the intersectionality of environmental issues and social justice.

If not, let me clarify it succinctly as ‘damage to the land is damage to the people’.

The history of environmentalism is marked by a growing recognition of environmental degradation and its profound impact on human lives.

People from diverse backgrounds worldwide are coming together to

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advocate for fair and equitable treatment of both humanity and the planet.

The six films featured in the festival offer narratives of environmentalism at a global level, providing insight into how communities across different regions are devising solutions tailored to their respective environments.

Moreover, collaboration is integral to the success and advancement of the environmental movement.

Rutgers' environmentalism has the chance to uphold the movement's collaborative tradition by demonstrating support for the Latin American film festival.

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Explore our website for the film festival here: Film Festival: New Assemblages. The website is designed in both English and Spanish to accommodate New Brunswick's significant Spanish-speaking population.

This bilingual approach provides an opportunity for our neighbors in New Brunswick to enjoy the movies with their families.

The films will be exclusively accessible through the webpage, with access limited to their two-week screening period.

During this time, a QR Code or link will appear on the webpage.

Simply scan the QR code and follow the provided instructions to enjoy the films.

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Why Intersectionality is Important in the Environmental Movement Judy Wu

As climate change becomes more intense and frequent, more and more vulnerable populations are threatened either by natural disasters or man-made oppression. Since the rise of the civil rights movement and the feminist movement, the path of environmental justice has followed a similar approach. An article in Medium defined environmental justice as “ the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies (Allen et al., 2022).” Climate change exacerbates the social, economic, and environmental problems the general population faces, and the complexity of addressing the multidimensional social dilemma becomes more tangled under the systems of oppression such as patriarchy, white supremacy, and capitalism.

The intersectionality framework, introduced

by Kimberly Crenshaw, addresses these complicated social issues by conception oppression experienced by women of color and disadvantaged people depending on their race, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, culture, economic background, and other elements of prejudices they might face.

Influenced by her framework of analysis and considering the multi-sectional oppression faced by individuals, environmental justice essentially addresses the disproportional level of advocacy of environmental protection for marginalized communities who are the most vulnerable yet are ignored or silenced due to social inequity. Only by addressing environmental racism, and how industrial, governmental, and commercial operations or policies have forced marginalized communities to bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental and health impact. Under the systemic social injustice and inequality, those in marginalized communities, such as people living in poverty and or rural areas, people of color, and people with disabilities, particularly women who are black and indigenous and live in rural areas have limited support and voices to address the environmental issues they face.

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The early environmental movements that were mobilized by white suburban women who were worried about the health of their children with the case of Love Canel, expended as the Civil Rights Movement brought awareness to the general public about the disproportional health impact caused by environmental hazards due to the social and economic suppression of racial oppression and segregation. Black women are traditionally excluded from the environmental decision-making process, due to America’s long history of racial discrimination and institutionalized racism, they end up burying the burden of hazardous materials on these communities with little to no concern for their health and safety.

Dr. Skyler Jackson, Associate Research Scientist at the Yale School of Medicine, believes that an intersectionality framework can provide a better understanding of systemic social injustice, “an intersectional lens provides a more complete and honest picture of the multiple factors that shape people’s everyday lives. It can be e difficult and sometimes messy, but

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whether you’re a scientist or an activist, thinking about various forms of oppression in a simultaneous, integrated manner will likely help you arrive at a better and more equitable answer to the problem at hand (Taylor, 2022).”

By analyzing individuals’ unique identities and the systems of power that shaped an individual, and tailoring solutions to achieve equitable outcomes. Compared to traditional research, which only focuses on onedimensional social issues, intersectionally provides a broader point of view and proves the most equitable solutions for each occasion. Involving multi-disciplinary fields of study can help reach solutions that are instrumental in addressing the impact of climate change without creating wider social discrepancy while ensuring transparency and equality. Having conversations with peers outside your field can introduce you to different perspectives and concerns that would not be known to you, as well as insights into different solutions

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Ring In Your Spring A guide to welcome the warm weather with bee-friendly plantings

By Evan DeAngelis Here in the great state of New Jersey, we have a long history of settlement and agriculture, this is truly a fascinating background. This also means that the state is lacking in regions of natural space that are still occupied by naturally occurring biodiverse landscapes and native plants.

Examples, of course, do exist for native and healthy ecosystems that used to exist here commonly prior to extensive colonial and post-colonial human activity.

An excellent way to reduce our footprint and improve the state of pollinator and native-wildlife-friendly habitats is planting native plants and wildflowers that can assist in attracting, housing, and feeding all of these various creatures and plants. As with all sorts of planting, not all plants native to one

region are suited for all landscape types within the boundaries of that region in question. Various regions of the New Jersey area (especially the northern half) vary greatly for such a small area.

The transition from the mountains’ Ridge and valley landscapes and highlands of and around upper Appalachia to the Piedmont belt, Pinelands, and the coastal plains. The area is packed with marshlands, riparian zones, hillsides, marshes, and meadowlands.

All of these areas require different varieties of native vegetation. Depending upon where you reside, you will do the most good by planting in harmony with the earth beneath your feet. There are ways to obtain this information; one great approach is to use state resources or environmental centers.

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There are different approaches as well. If you want to assist pollinators, then you are best off planting flowers. If you want to assist birds and animals as well (and don’t mind a little mess), then native fruiting species are an excellent addition to the garden as well.

Additionally, many plantings can be made to prevent erosion and flooding damage.

For erosion prevention and bank reinforcement, it would be wise to seek natural solutions to the problems we cannot control.

We are better off trying to develop low embankments near the base of any sloped areas with native erosion-reducing plants especially woody, low, densely growing understory hydrophilic plants. Here is a list of some helpful plants that are native or safe in our area, some of which are actually bee and butterfly-friendly: Great blue lobelia, Blackeyed Susan, New Jersey tea, Purple coneflower, Butterflyweed, Dwarf huckleberry, Mountain laurel, Smokebush, Shrub Althea, and Willow trees. Fruiting plants to select for assisting birds and animals in a place starved of native bounty are also many, such as wild grapes, dwarf huckleberry bushes, highbush blueberries, chokeberries, crabapples, and more of the sort. And when planting for pollinators, there are many species that are ideal for the task. Among these are Trumpet creeper, butterfly weed, and Viburnum, among others. All of these have their purpose. And all of them will serve you well in their own ways.

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l l o i n p a f t l o e r s S S elf-reproductive plants are not a new December of 2023, that the insect

thing to this planet; a lot of types of orchids, sunflowers, and smaller flowers have been known to reproduce this way.

What we have not seen until recently, are flowers whose reproduction relied on bees suddenly becoming selfreproductive plants as well.

French scientist Acoca-Pinole and his team at the University of Montpellierr noted recently, in

populations, specifically those that act as pollinators to other flowers, are declining rapidly. The loss of pollinators is going to cause issues for flowers that rely on them to reproduce, and a pattern was found with the decline in pollinators. The more pollinator populations went down, the more scientists saw flowers becoming self-pollinators

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rather than waiting on the pollinator insects.But what does this mean for the pollinators? What does it mean for the flowers, and how did they do it? Does it mean anything for us as human beings?

The answer to the first question is simple: pollinators will sadly continue to decline. As these flowers evolve to give up on their pollinator partners, they will slowly lose part of their vital contribution to the environment. This will also be tough to reverse since plants have already begun a new evolution caused by the lack of pollinators; they will continue to evolve.

Scientists are not hopeful of being able to reverse this evolutionary change, so there must be a focus on simply repopulating the pollinators so no other flowers follow suit.

In terms of the flowers themselves, they’re doing pretty well, even evolving to catch up to their ever-changing environment.

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This evolutionary change was taken upon by them for the simple reason of avoiding a population decline, they are ensuring they continue for generations.

This isn’t the first time selfreproductive flowers have been seen in Europe, but their sudden increase is new. The flowers, at least in Europe, are taking evolutionary measures against the harm caused by human climate change. Many of these flowers will simply decrease their nectar production, which in turn attracts fewer insects to the flower. While this is exciting for people who want to see evolution occurring in real-time, it means less food for insects all around. This loss of insects and gain in self-reproductive plants may not seem like it would affect human beings all too much, but the root cause of this all comes back to us and how we’ve harmed the environment. The initial decline in

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pollinators can be attributed to the harm humans have caused via greenhouse gasses, deforestation, and general maltreatment of the environment. This decline is what led to the nectar decline, and then the pollinator decline, and it will continue in that circle. Humans benefit from highly diverse ecosystems, and with the loss of pollinators and evolving flowers, this benefit will be lost, and we will be losing extremely vital parts of our ecosystems.

Though it doesn’t seem it can be, it’s alarming that flowers evolve this way.

The loss of pollinators will be detrimental, but they are just doing what is natural and preserved under any circumstance. Also, it is kinda cool to see the evolutionary change in real time.

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Dandel es: Blowing Away the Myths Surrounding Dandelions By: Katie Marra

As spring approaches, dandelions will

begin to peek out from the ground. This phenomenon is often met with excessive culling and an array of chemicals from gardeners and lawn owners, treating them as disruptive, nutrient-sucking weeds.

However, dandelions are greatly misunderstood and possess a plethora of benefits for humans and the environment.

Dandelions have been historically a muchloved plant across the world, used in traditional Chinese medicine and planted in gardens across Europe (Sanchez,2007).

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from the picture. Striving for a flawless green carpet across one's property, Americans have labeled all other plants as weeds given their non-aesthetic characteristics, insisting that the biological dead zones that we call “nice” lawns be dandelion-free. While they have been masked as lawn-killers to increase the sale of herbicides, dandelions are beneficial to yards due to their root structures.

Dandelions possess a taproot, a type of root that grows vertically downward deep into the soil and shoots off into small lateral roots. Dandelion taproots loosen the soil, naturally aerating the lawn and reducing erosion. They also pull nutrients from the deeper areas of the soil and make them available for other plants (Sanchez, 2007). These features of dandelions provide nutrients, aeration, and protection to the lawn. Dandelions are full of

potential as beneficial plants which can serve ecosystems as a whole.

Dandelions also have been widely used for their healing properties. Their scientific name, Taraxacum officinalis, translates to “disorder remedy” in Greek (Fotaneg, 2020), proving its significant medicinal use. Dandelions are highly nutritious, containing more vitamin A than spinach and more vitamin C than tomatoes, as well

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as a great deal of iron, calcium, and potassium (Sanchez, 2007). They also have been known to help heal a variety of conditions, such as inflammation, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and liver damage. In addition, dandelions have been known to have anticancer effects, help with weight loss, boost immunity, support healthy bones, and be an effective skincare treatment (Ajmera, 2023). Dandelions are commonly dried and used in tea, but as a root vegetable, they can also be consumed whole. However, be e careful if choosing to consume wild dandelions as they may have been exposed to herbicides. Instead, it is best to purchase them at a local farmers’ market or grocery store. The special qualities of dandelions make them useful to the organisms around them and prove their worth as more than mere weeds.

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Miranda Ma

Humans have always been drawn to water.

Water has shaped the course of civilization, constructing culture around this magnificently necessary resource. But has this hydro-human connection with natural waterways diminished within the rise of industrialization and urbanization?

The Passaic River. Most of the New Jerseyans I have spoken to have a limited knowledge of it. Many are familiar with Passaic County but not the river itself and, unfortunately, if they are aware of its existence, the image in their heads is not a pleasant one. In true Jerseyan fashion, they joke about the toxicity of the river, claiming that the water was so polluted that just looking at it could give you a rash.

Describing the water as murky-brown with a foul smell— it seems no surprise that the general consensus amongst downstream residents is to keep your distance from the Passaic River.

How can such a vital resource be overlooked?

Forgotten or turned into a punch-line. Left to be a menacing presence in the background of Northern New Jersey.

Mercifully, there are still some who care about the Passaic (as locals refer to it). People who have their memories and lives intertwined with the river and fight to bring it back to its former glory. Back to a time before the toxins and muddied reputation, when paintings were drawn and poems were

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written in ode to the Passaic. Mary Bruno is one of them.

Growing up in North Arlington, Bruno was among those who were cautious about the river. It didn’t take much to heed warnings of staying out of the water. It was fact childishly apparent and universally accepted. This perspective mPaade a 180°–shift when she decided to kayak the “ominous” river. It was upclose where she was able to discover its beauty. She documented her journey in her book, An American River: From Paradise to Superfund, A float on New Jersey’s Passaic and with the help of Scott Morris, Bruno’s reintroduction to her childhood river became a film: “American River”.

The film follows Mary Bruno and her guide Carl Alderson on their 4-day kayaking trip down the Passaic River. They start their journey at the river’s start: Mendham. In the upper part of the river, the water is shallow and not polluted. Paddling down through the Central Basin and looking at the scenes within the film, it became increasingly apparent how urban vs rural neighborhoods are impacting the water quality. The further downstream they traveled, the more urbanized neighborhoods became and more

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infrastructure waste was found. As Bruno and Alderson continued their journey through polluted water, they came to a sudden oasis, free of civilization or human influence.

Surrounded by giant trees and flourishingly diverse ecosystems, Great Piece Meadows is named by Bruno as the “crown-jewel” of the Passaic. But this Passaic paradise didn’t remain throughout the rest of the journey.

It starts small; a plastic bottle floating here and a discarded sports ball there. Then, it exponentially grows. By the time they reach Paterson Falls the pollution is very much apparent. Paterson was one of the first planned industrialized cities in the country.

Factories of silk and automotive parts made dumping into the falls a norm. The Passaic suffered for the success of a new rapidly growing economy. It is now protected under the umbrella of being deemed a Historical Park, but some of the impacts of generational pollutant activities still remain. Yet it is still a sight to behold. The waterfall is loud and fierce. Constant rapid speed, crashing into its next location.

The Passaic’s final destination is Newark Bay. The water of Bruno’s childhood and its toxicity can be summed up into one word: dioxin. During the Vietnam War, the Diamond Alkali Company produced Agent Orange for agricultural warfare. A major byproduct of this was dioxin (a highly toxic carcinogen) causing cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, and damage to the immune system. Diamond Alkali dumped this fatal chemical into the river, poisoning

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In her book and within the film, Bruno talks about government projects that are in place trying to reverse the situation by dredging the soil. This solution seems like an endless one, but there are no quick fixes with a contamination issue on this scale. Having public officials addressing the issue and actively working to fix it has begun repairing the people’s relationship with the Passaic.

After seeing the end of the river it's hard to remember where it began. The small stream in Mendham. In the middle of the woods; a peaceful nirvana just as one would expect the beginnings of a great river might start. Slow and peaceful; collecting inductee drops and moving them towards a grim fate. The droplets are like children, naive and unaware of the future that is in store for them.

Watching the film, I felt the life of the river.

There is something human about rivers. The way they move and bend; their journeys so simple in its predetermined path yet also complex in uncertainty. Resilient yet fragile.

Loud at times and quiet at others. Powerfully rapid and sometimes stagnant. Pristine and tainted. There is humanity in the Passaic.

This is true from years of being subjected to human activity, and metaphorically in its characteristics and experiences. I empathize with the Passaic. I care about the Passaic.

If you feel equally drawn to this magnificent waterway, there are ways you can get involved and make a positive difference for the Passaic.

The Passaic River Coalition (PRC) is an organization that is dedicated to the preservation and the protection of the Passaic River. On the PRC’s website is a “What You Can Do” tab with ways to get involved and give back to the river (PRC "What You Can Do"). There are trash clean-ups groups who are always in need of volunteers to help with small-scale restoration along the Passaic River.

There are also tasks that can be done from home in the form of social media volunteering. Sending the PRC pictures and/or videos of the river can also be extremely important in spreading awareness of the Passaic’s beauty. Educating others on the Passaic River and its importance makes people care. In order for real change to occur, people need to care. So tell a friend, visit the Falls, hike Great Piece Meadows, and advocate for Newark Bay. And if you find yourself in Mendham, wish the droplets godspeed on their journey to becoming the great Passaic River.

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Over the past few years, there have been exciting plans calling for wolves to be brought back to the wild across various Western states.

While this idea has been in discussion for a while, it is only now that these plans are being actively implemented. Before the new year began, officials at Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) made history when they released a total of 10 majestic gray wolves in both Grand and Summit Counties in Colorado (Reardon, 2023).

This reintroduction plan all started during mid-fall of 2020 when Colorado voters were introduced to Proposition 114, which has since become a state statute. According to the CPW’s website, the main objective of the proposal was to outline the necessary steps needed to “recover and maintain a viable, selfsustaining wolf

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population in Colorado” while simultaneously figuring out ways to reduce “wolf-related conflicts” with other animals and people (Colorado Parks and Wildlife, n.d.). Additionally, the approved statute mandated the Parks and Wildlife Commission to commence the reintroduction of the wolves in the region “west of the Continental Divide” by the end of 2023 (Colorado Parks and Wildlife, n.d.).

However, this deadline was quickly achieved as the wolves were back in their neighborhood in no time! On the days of the release, multiple people gathered to witness the wolves run free into the wilderness. In one PBS interview, Professor Joanna Lambert from the Department of Wildlife Ecology at the University of Colorado expressed the joy of observing this momentous event. Lambert was quoted as saying how this initiative was a response to “stave off the biodiversity extinction crisis we are living in” and that “this is a source of hope not only for all of us standing here but for our younger generations as well” (Blevins, 2023). This win for environmentalists marks a pivotal moment because reintroducing wolf populations is imperative for ecological stability. In other words, wolves play an essential role in helping ensure the functions

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and structures of ecosystems remain intact, balanced, and resilient because of their ability to regulate prey populations.

While many individuals were able to bask in the sheer happiness of watching these magnificent creatures reclaim their crucial spot in the animal kingdom, it makes me question what is next? Should other Western states follow in Colorado’s footsteps in restoring their wolf populations? If they were to go about this process, could other extirpated species also make a comeback in the near future? All of these questions are important to consider when thinking about how conservation efforts can potentially pave the way for other positive environmental initiatives to thrive. Despite all the unknowns of the future, I believe it is iimperative that we relish in the successes of CPW’s endeavors and motivate others to do the same. As environmentalists, many of us can attest that we often dwell on the negative aspects of what is happening worldwide.

While this cycle of being concerned for the future, the planet, and humanity can feel never-ending, it is critical that we also search for the positive in it all. Although it may seem like the world’s negative news takes center stage, I believe embracing the triumphs of the environmental community further fuels our sense of purpose as stewards. By celebrating these victories, we can defy the narrative that the world is indifferent to anything but ourselves and make way for change to no longer be something we daydream about.

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THIRIFTING: A CULTURAL SHIFT TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY Sofia Little Thrifting clothing and buying used houseware items have gained popularity in recent years, and attitudes towards secondhand have changed drastically. When I talked about thrifting clothes in the past year, the conversation went one of a few ways. Some people think buying used items symbolizes status- either higher or lower, depending on your upbringing and social background. I asked a family friend if she had or would ever thrift clothing, and she retorted, “Do I look like somebody who thrifts? I don’t want to buy someone else’s used stuff”. My mother and I went to the Goodwill Outlet in Hackensack, NJ, over winter break, and my uncle heard about this and asked if we also bought used underwear, which we didn’t, as he took buying used clothing as a sign of financial struggle. On the other hand, when talking with people at Rutgers about thrifted clothing, people proudly state that they thrifted their leather jackets, took a trip to the Goodwill Outlet in Brooklyn, or promote their favorite thrift store. The generational difference in how society views used items hints at a broader cultural shift in values, with younger generations placing greater value on the environment.

Numerous statistics demonstrate Gen Z’s taking to secondhand. According to the 2019 State of Fashion Report, which reports global fashion industry trends, young consumers prioritize environmental sustainability significantly (Sicurella, 2021). Gen Z, which accounts for 40% of the global market, has taken to thrifting faster than any other generation, such as (Sicurella, 2021). 62% of Gen Z also report looking to buy items secondhand before looking to buy them new (US Census, 2023). Younger people are more open to experimenting with fashion, and second-hand clothing provides a way for them to hunt for unique pieces of clothing at cheaper prices. This cultural shift has impacted the global market greatly, with clothing sales “expected to exceed $77 billion by 2025” and more than 120 retailers now reselling their clothes (Glenn, 2023). Right now, in the United States, there are over “25,000 resale, consignment and Not For Profit resale shops”, and e-commerce companies are expected to make up 20% of the fashion industry by 2030 (US Census, 2023). It is inspiring and hopeful that younger generations want to make a difference in the environment and that personal buying habits make a significant change.

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The TRAIL I even see this desire for change in my interactions with college students outside of Rutgers. I was visiting a friend at New York University, and NYU film students were excited to engage in discussions about the environment. We discussed the significance of individual habits on the environment and how to create positive change. It excites me that my peers who are Additionally, there are many ways to buy less engaged in environmental studies still used clothing and homeware locally. For care about making a positive impact. I take instance, many towns in New Jersey are part their passion for making a positive impact of a Facebook group called “Buy Nothing,” as a sign that we as a society are heading in a where people post things they no longer more sustainable direction. Buying want and offer them up to others to pick up secondhand clothing and furniture is a way for free. As a member of the group, you have we can make a positive impact, and it is no obligation to post anything for free, but inspiring to see that, slowly but surely, you can use it to get rid of unwanted items things are changing for the better. or find new goods for yourself at no cost.

Personally, I have gotten things like a Coach bag, a toaster, and a lamp from Buy Nothing, which has saved me money and created less production waste. Additionally, many towns have local thrift stores, Goodwills, or MyUnique stores nearby, and visiting these stores before buying from a conventional store reduces your carbon footprint. Even buying clothing from online used clothing sites such as ThredUp, Depop, and Poshmark helps! The concept of a “Depop Girl” being trendy shows how much culture has shifted towards sustainability. Also, college kids buying furniture from one another is another simple way waste is reduced all the time, and reducing the amount of new furniture circulated is convenient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly.

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Recently Discovered Oak Tree Could Save Sumatran Orangutans Maya Krauss The Tapanuli orangutan is the most threatened species of great ape, and the newly discovered stone oak variety appears to be a significant food source for them. A new species of stone oak, the first of its kind to be documented in the region in over a decade, has been discovered in northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

The peat swamp forests of Borneo and Sumatra are home to some of the largest orangutan populations.

In 2017, the two trees resided in the Batang Toru forest, which is home to the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan first encountered.

The acorns of this tree species have been found to be a crucial aspect of the orangutan diet.

However, due to habitat destruction, this species is forecast to be under threat in the near future, thereby making this food source scarce and the tree species critically endangered as well (Kimbrough, 2023).

To protect the newest kind of stone oak tree species and, in turn, the orangutan

populations of Sumatra, it is essential to combat the kinds of unsustainable practices that strip the region of its natural resources.

This stone oak species is known as Lithocarpus Tanuliensis and was found in the Pilar Forest, which is part of the biodiverse Batang Toru ecosystem.

Orangutans rely on stone oak species both for nest building and food. Stone oaks are native to Asia and only grow in the subtropic and tropic regions.

Although they are related to the Querus genus of oaks, they have a unique evolutionary history with almost as many species as the Querus variety.

The Batang ecosystem is threatened by habitat fragmentation and loss due to large-scale infrastructure projects, including mining, agroforestry plantations, and hydropower in the surrounding forest.

Compared to other Indonesian islands, Sumatra’s plant populations lack documentation. More unknown tree species could be discovered with further surveying, which is essential to

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conduct before species are lost permanently.

One recommendation that Harapan provides is growing rare tree species outside of the forest in botanical gardens. Applying both strategies gives the tree species a better chance at survival (Kimbrough, 2023).

There are five types of forest found in Indonesia: Dipterocarp forests, Peat Swamps, Mangroves, Heath Forests, and Montane forests.

Evergreen dipterocarp forests are the major tropical forest variety found across Indonesia, and they provide habitat for numerous animal species, including orangutans.

Widespread land clearing, chiefly in Borneo, has led to a considerable decrease in dipterocarp forests. However, they face a mounting threat from the expansion of estate farming as well as plantation forest areas that have been converted into pulp production (Kittie et al.).

While converting this land

over the past twenty years has elicited short-term economic gains, it poses environmental and economic risks in the long term for Indonesia. Mangrove forests are occasionally home to orangutans as well. The heath forests of Indonesia also boast large populations of orangutans, most noticeably in the Tanjung Puting National Park in Borneo.

Although orangutans predominantly thrive in lowland forests, populations are also found at higher elevations in montane forests (Orang Utan Republik Foundation).

Land clearing for infrastructure projects and plantation agriculture will make the orangutans extinct if not curbed. Therefore, efforts to stop the spread of deforestation in Sumatra are essential to the future growth of endangered orangutans and tree species such as the Lithocarpus Tanuliensis.

Therefore, in understanding the threats to Sumatran orangutan populations, it is crucial to note the importance of maintaining the habitat and food sources that they thrive on to expand their populations. Only then can this tree species solve the issue of curbing the dwindling of Sumatra’s orangutan population.

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Works Cited

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A Chance for Rutgers To Mobilize with Climate Reality The Climate Reality Project. (2022, August 8). The Inflation Reduction Act Will Transform America. The Climate Reality Project. Retrieved March 24, 2024, from https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/inflation-reduction-act-will-transformamerica The Climate Reality Project. (2023, July 24). Climate Reality New York Coalition Helps Pass Landmark Building Electrification Legislation. The Climate Reality Project. Retrieved March 24, 2024, from https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/climate-reality-new-york-coalition-helps-pass-landmark-building-electrificationlegislation

Breaking Boundaries: Youth Plaintiffs Triumph in Milestone Climate Trial Against Montana Campell, W. (2023, August 14). The plaintiffs in the nation’s first youth climate change trial pose for a photo outside of Montana’s First Judicial Court on June 12. Vox. https://cdn.voxcdn.com/thumbor/wdRhV69G9suZ4h8zZonQDdKV6BM=/0x0:6048x4024/1520x1013/filters:focal(2541x1529:3507x2495):form at(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72362063/GettyImages_1258644270.7.jpg Noor, D. (2023, August 14). ‘Gamechanger’: judge rules in favor of young activists in US climate trial. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/14/montana-climate-trial-young-activists-judge-order

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CITIES100: New York City - Zero waste plan to eliminate waste to landfill. C40 Cities. (2022, February 15). https://www.c40.org/case-studies/cities100-new-york-city-zero-waste-plan-to-eliminate-waste-to-landfill/ Zero waste challenge. Zero Waste Challenge - Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. (n.d.). https://www.nyc.gov/site/sustainability/initiatives/zero-waste-challenge.page Table of Contents

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Why Intersectionality is Important in the Environmental Movement

Allen, S., Lewis, H., & Morgan, N. (2022, June 5). Intersectionality of Environmental Justice and Women of Color | Spark: Elevating Scholarship on Social Issues. Medium. Retrieved February 20, 2024, from https://medium.com/national-center-for-institutional-diversity/the-intersectionality-of-environmental-justice-andwomen-of-color-e17d1a2b34d6 Kimberlé Crenshaw: The urgency of intersectionality | TED Talk. (2016, November 14). TED Talks. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality?language=en Taylor, D. (2022, July 28). Yale Experts Explain Intersectionality and Climate Change | Yale Sustainability. Yale Sustainability. Retrieved February 20, 2024, from https://sustainability.yale.edu/explainers/yale-experts-explainintersectionality-and-climate-change What Is Climate Feminism? (2021, March 18). NRDC. Retrieved February 20, 2024, from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/what-climate-feminism

“Ring in Your Spring”

Lrichmond. (n.d.). Vines and Shrubs. The Official Web Site for The State of New Jersey. https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/pdf/10_Vines%20and%20Shrubs%202011.pdf

“Flowers Are Becoming Self-Pollinators” Butler, Stuart. “Flowers adapting to a world without insects.” Geographical, 23 December 2023, https://geographical.co.uk/news/flowers-adapting-to-a-world-without-insects. Accessed 18 March 2024.

Horn, Ayurella. “Flowers are evolving in ways that could spell further trouble for the planet’s pollinators.” CNN, 23 January 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/23/world/flower-self-fertilization-pollinator-decline-scn/index.html. Accessed 18 March 2024.

“Dandelies: Blowing Away the Myths Surrounding Dandelions”

de Vere, N. (2020, April 29). The importance of dandelions – are they really a weed? |. National Botanic Garden of Wales. Retrieved February 29, 2024, from https://botanicgarden.wales/2020/04/the-importance-of-dandelions-are-they-really-a-weed/ Marengo, K. (n.d.). Dandelion: Health Benefits and Side Effects. Healthline. Retrieved February 29, 2024, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dandelion-benefits Sanchez, A., & Jobson, J. (n.d.). Ten Things You Might Not Know About Dandelions - Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners.

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“Who Let the Wolves Out?”

Blevins, J. (2023, December 19). Wildlife officials release 5 wolves from Oregon into Colorado as reintroduction begins. RMPBS. https://www.rmpbs.org/blogs/news/colorado-wolf-reintroduction/ Colorado parks and wildlife. (n.d.). Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved February 13, 2024, from https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/Wolves-in-Colorado-FAQ.aspx Reardon, S. (2023, December 22). Wolves released in Summit County, bringing total to 10 in Colorado. Summit Daily News. https://www.summitdaily.com/news/5-more-wolves-released-in-colorado-bringing-total-to-10/

“Thrifting: A Cultural Shift Towards Sustainability”

Glenn, C. (2023, December 3). Thrift shopping increasing in popularity as people look to stretch their holiday budget. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/thrift-shopping-increasing-in-popularity-as-people-look-to-stretch-their-holidaybudget/ Sicurella, S. (2021, June 18). When second hand becomes vintage: Gen Z has made thrifting a big business. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2021/06/18/1006207991/when-second-hand-becomes-vintage-gen-z-has-made-thrifting-a-big-business ​US Census Bureau. (2023, August 17). National Thrift Store Day: August 17, 2023. Census.gov. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/thrift-store-day.html

Recently Discovered Oak Tree Could Save Sumatran Orangutans Kimbrough , L. (2024, January 3). Newly described tree species from Sumatra could be vital for threatened orangutans. Mongabay Environmental News. https://news.mongabay.com/2023/12/newly-described-oak-from-sumatra-could-be-vital-for-threatenedorangutans/ Republik Foundation, O. U. (2024). Rainforest Ecology. ourf.info. https://www.ourf.info/become-aware/biodiversity/rainforestecology Uda, S. K., Hein, L., & Sumarga, E. (2017, April 1). Towards Sustainable Management of Indonesian tropical peatlands.

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