A proposed California bill, the “Room to Roam Act,” would mandate that general plans include considerations for “fish, wildlife, and habitat connectivity,” marking a shift toward more conservation-focused development.

According to a blog post by Nossaman LLP, Assembly Bill 1889 requires cities and counties to update their general plans by January 1, 2026. The bill mandates local jurisdictions to “consider and implement measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to fish, wildlife, and habitat connectivity from existing and planned land uses within their jurisdictions.”

The updated conservation element must:

• Identify and analyze connectivity, permeability, and natural landscape areas within the jurisdiction

• Identify and analyze wildlife passage features

• Consider impacts of wildlife barriers caused by development and avoid, minimize, and mitigate these impacts

• Analyze and consider options to remediate barriers to wildlife connectivity and restore degraded habitat and open landscape

While the bill aims to balance conservation, housing, and climate resilience, it may also extend the development approval process.

Utah’s aerospace and defense association has partnered with other state entities to form the Air Logistics Transportation Alliance (ALTA), aiming to establish an advanced air mobility (AAM) system, reports PR Newswire.

Project ALTA seeks to integrate an air transportation system with Utah's ground transportation network. The alliance plans to expand drone package delivery, use drones for cargo transport, and establish regional air taxi services by 2034.

Utah stands out as one of the few states to implement a statewide air mobility policy. Legislators have created a regulatory framework to support advanced air mobility technologies, including laws enabling air mobility systems and directing UDOT to create an "AAM sandbox" for safe testing. To date, over $3 million has been appropriated for AAM initiatives.

The American Climate Corps (ACC), a new federal program, is inspired by the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which created numerous jobs and infrastructure projects across the U.S.

The ACC will focus on climate resilience, reports Brooke Larsen in High Country News. Jobs will range from wildland firefighters and urban farm fellows to traditional ecological knowledge stewards. Some roles will address food security and energy conservation in cities, while others will manage invasive species and restore streams on public lands. 

Positions are typically staffed through state and local non-profits partnering with federal agencies. For example, in New Mexico, Conservation Legacy’s Ecological Monitoring Crew will assist the Bureau of Land Management in collecting soil and vegetation data.

Larsen notes criticisms of AmeriCorps and conservation corps programs for offering low wages and limited benefits, often excluding people of color and low-income communities. 

While the administration aims for all positions to pay at least $15 an hour, the lowest-paid position in the West currently offers $11 an hour. Benefits vary widely but generally include education benefits, and in some cases, health care, child care, and housing.

The goldspotted oak borer (GSOB) is devastating Southern California's oak trees, with confirmed presence in parts of Los Angeles County, including East Canyon, Rice Canyon, Whitney Canyon, and Silverado Canyon. Ron Durbin, forestry division chief for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, likens the beetle's spread to stage-four cancer, noting its deadly impact since being discovered in San Diego County in 2008.

• Trees Killed: Over 80,000 since 2008 in San Diego County

• Targeted Oaks: Coast live oak, canyon live oak, and California black oak

• Potential Spread: Risk to approximately 600,000 oak trees in the Santa Monica Mountains

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors is considering a state of emergency declaration and seeking additional resources to combat the infestation. While eradicating the beetle is not feasible, efforts focus on slowing its spread through:

Volunteers and organizations like Earthroots Field School are actively involved in mitigating the beetle's impact. Researchers are exploring management techniques, including indigenous cultural burning practices and heat-treating firewood, to prevent further infestations.

These efforts aim to buy time and develop better treatment methods, highlighting the urgent need for proactive measures to protect California's oak forests from invasive pests exacerbated by climate change. The fight against the GSOB underscores the broader importance of coordinated responses to invasive species threatening ecosystems statewide.