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Suspect held after woman set on fire in NY subway car dies; Trump threatens to take back Panama Canal over 'ridiculous' fees; A year of growth for juvenile diversion programs in SD; The ups and downs of combating rural grocery deserts in ND; Report: AZ one of eight Western states that could improve conservation policies.

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Congress passes a last-minute budget stopgap. Trump's second-term tariffs could harm farmers, and future budget cuts could reduce much-needed federal programs.

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Rural folks could soon be shut out of loans for natural disasters if Project 2025 has its way, Taos, New Mexico weighs options for its housing shortage, and the top states providing America's Christmas trees revealed.

Survey: North Idahoans Support Forests as Climate Solution

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Monday, December 13, 2021   

COER D'ALENE, Idaho - A new poll finds north Idahoans believe they have one important solution to climate change in their back yard: the forest.

The Nature Conservancy in Idaho surveyed 400 likely voters in the region and found two-thirds see the state's forest as an opportunity to help solve climate change.

Kari Kostka - director of external affairs with The Nature Conservancy in Idaho - said 87% of respondents also support prescribed burns, where fires are lit in a specific area under controlled conditions.

"It's a tool that has many climate benefits for our forests because not only do prescribed burns help prevent catastrophic wildfire," said Kostka, "but it also restores healthier forests that are better able to sequester carbon."

The vast majority of north Idahoans in the survey agree catastrophic wildfires are a problem and getting worse. Climate scientists have linked the warming planet to longer and more devastating wildfire seasons.

The poll also shows support for methods like mechanical thinning. Kostka noted The Nature Conservancy in Idaho is using this and prescribed burns in a pilot program in eastern Idaho through a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, with the aim of expanding it in coming years.

"This type of partnership-based model is one way we're hoping to help break the cycle of fuel buildup that's leading to some of these more intense wildfires," said Kostka. "So we're trying to restore some of the more natural regimes to these landscapes."

Kostka said she believes this survey proves people in north Idaho want climate action now.

"There's still this sense that climate change is a risky topic politically, especially in north Idaho," said Kostka. "But our polling has really shown this isn't the case, and the numbers are actually in line with national trends as well."


Disclosure: The Nature Conservancy of Idaho contributes to our fund for reporting on Environment. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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