the Monongahela National Forest (MNF), situated in the Allegheny Highlands of West Virginia, extensive logging and mining practices have significantly altered the structure and composition of flora and fauna over the past two centuries. Of particular concern to MNF land...

The expansion of the global population in conjunction with rapid industrialization has caused an increase in artificial light pollution, also known as artificial sky glow. Anthropogenic light pollution disturbs the world's ecosystems by interfering with the interconnected life of flora and fauna, degrading night sky...

California’s Central Valley is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the United States, producing a fourth of the nation’s food supply. The water demand in this region is heavily dependent on groundwater resources, resulting in over pumping of...

The islands of Negros and Panay in the Philippines contain the last existing habitat for the critically endangered Visayan spotted deer (Rusa alfredi) and Visayan warty pig (Sus cebifrons). NASA DEVELOP partnered with the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation –...

The City of Lawrence and Douglas County, Kansas, are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve 100 percent renewable energy. The NASA DEVELOP team used Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and LiDAR elevation data along with Landsat 8 Operational...

Seven percent of all scientifically known life forms lie within the 202,230 square miles of Central America, making this area ecologically unique and increasing the need for environmental management. The Mesoamerican Biological Corridor forms a conservation partnership throughout Central America...

Bromus tectorum, otherwise known as cheatgrass, is an invasive grass from Europe that has increased its presence all over the world by out-competing native grasses due to its adaptability and lifecycle. During the end of its life cycle, typically occurring in the summer, its flammable...

Variable climate, anomalous weather conditions, and other environmental stressors impact sugar maples (Acer saccharum), the main source of maple syrup in the Northern Forest region. Maintaining sugar maple health and current syrup production levels is vital for the region’s cultural...

The rapid expansion of the solar industry across the state of Georgia has a detrimental effect on the habitats of keystone and threatened species, such as the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) and the American black bear (Ursus...

Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) with a lifetime of less than 10 years and a global warming potential that is 25 times greater than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 100 year time period. Between the energy, industrial processes and product use, agriculture...