The July ECONEWS is out!

Pick up your copy at your favorite outlet and and read up on the latest local environmental news. Or read stories soon to be posted online.

Or - you can view the PDF here .

Advertise in ECONEWS! Grow your business and support the NEC at the same time. Details here.

Mark Your Calendars: Coastal Cleanup and All Species Ball Coming This Fall

Coastal Cleanup is the NEC program that went global!

It all started 30 years ago, when the Northcoast Environmental Center was awarded federal funding for its Humboldt Beach Beautification and Restoration project.

The goal was to develop a program combining beach cleanup with community education, out of which came the NEC’s “Adopt-a-Beach” campaign.

The NEC organized and ran the beach cleanup effort on the North Coast for the next several years. The project became known simply as Coastal Cleanup Day, and this was adopted as the program’s official name in 1985 when the California Coastal Commission took it over.

What started with three people and a budget of $1,850 a month, eventually turned into a globally reocgnized program. Volunteers in countries all over the world now participate in Coastal Cleanup Day.

In Humboldt County last year, 720 people turned out to clean more than 60 miles of beaches and waterways, picking up more than 6,000 pounds of trash and recycling.

This year, in honor of the 25th annual California Coastal Cleanup Day, the NEC wants to sign up more than 1,000 volunteers.

It won’t be a success without YOUR help. Volunteer efforts and sponsorships keep the program growing – and our local beaches and waterways clean.

Join the fun on September 19, and help us meet our goal of 1,000 volunteers. Bring the whole family. To volunteer, call the NEC at 822-6918 and sign up for a beach or waterway near or far. Thank you for your support.

Start sewing your costume for the revival of the popular NEC fundraiser - The All Species Ball!

After a long hiatus, the Ball is back! We invite everyone to come dressed as your favorite species on September 18. Dance the night away as a prelude to Coastal Cleanup and the North Country Fair. More information coming soon!

NEC withdraws from Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement

Full story from the May issue of ECONEWS here.

Click here or in-depth background information about the KBRA and the NEC's withdrawal from the agreement, including graphs.

Highlights from previous issues of ECONEWS

How Green Is Green Diamond? by Sarah O'Leary

What is the company formerly known as Simpson Timber up to in Humboldt County?

Will Rails Trump Trails? by Sarah O'Leary

The debate around whether to rebuild the old railroad or convert the right of way to a comprehensive trail system has raged in Humboldt County for years.

Recession Recycling by Jocelyn Orr

As the economic crisis deepens, the recycling industry continues to feel the pinch.

Humboldt County Acts on Climate Protection by Jennifer Berman

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in December, 2007, to join the Cities for Climate Protection campaign. Now, a year later, the county is making progress in implementing climate change strategies.

Kin to the Earth: Joseph Bower, by Sarah O'Leary

When Joseph Bower and his wife Susan moved to Trinity County in 1973, they dreamed of a back-to-the-land lifestyle, while surrounded by the majesty of the ancient forests and its creatures.

Affordable Housing Makes Environmental Sense, by Chris Rall

A practice known as “inclusionary zoning” is one strategy that local governments can include in their Housing Elements to ensure that enough affordable housing is built in their jurisdictions.