Shared planet nips: Atmospheric CO2 is highest on record; solar farms have bee buddies; foraging for a purpose . . .

The 'flashy' American kestrel
(Photo by Bryan Anselm, The New York Times)

Starting with this, from time to time The Rural Blog will have roundups of environmental news.

American kestrel populations are disappearing, and scientists are struggling to understand why, reports Catrin Einhorn of The New York Times. "Scientists estimate that the continent has lost half its kestrels since 1970. . . . Previous raptor disappearances have been cracked like murder mysteries. . . . While some research indicates that declines may be leveling off, scientists are alarmed. . . . In the Anthropocene, one mystery leads to another."

"Carbon dioxide levels in the air are now the highest they've been in more than 4 million years because of the burning of oil, coal and gas," reports Seth Borenstein of The Associated Press. "The last time the air had similar amounts was during a less hospitable hothouse Earth before human civilization took root, scientists said." Carbon dioxide acts as Earth's blanket by trapping heat that would otherwise be released into space. As our planet's carbon dioxide levels increase, so do the Earth's temperatures.

Western Apache forager Twila Cassadore understands the burdens of addiction and mental illness--she once struggled with both, but through foraging, she found "a way out," reports Samual Gilbert for The Guardian. "It allowed her to reconnect to her 'identity, culture and people,' she said. . . . She spent years learning about traditional foodways, gaining the trust of community elders, listening to their stories, and harvesting the foods of her ancestors. . . . This gave her purpose and 'filled this void I had felt most of my life,' said Cassadore, now more than 20 years sober." Cassadore told him: "Foraging healed me."

Courtesy photo from Center for Pollinators in Energy

Let's hope it's sunny and windy. "The world is set to add a record amount of renewable electricity capacity this year as governments and consumers seek to offset high energy prices and take advantage of a boom in solar power, according to a new report Thursday," reports Frank Jordans of The Associated Press. "The International Energy Agency said high fossil fuel prices — resulting from Russia's attack on Ukraine — and concerns about energy security had boosted the rollout of solar and wind power installations, which are expected to reach 440 gigawatts in 2023."

Speaking of the solar boom, who else needs to get on that bandwagon? Bees. "Solar beekeeping is the practice of placing beehives on or near solar sites. While photovoltaic panels are generating energy from the sun, bees are busy making honey and pollinating the native and non-invasive plant species below the panels," reports the Center for Rural Affairs for AgriSolar Clearinghouse. "Beekeeping at solar sites can enhance the value of the land by keeping it in agricultural production, providing new streams of income for local farmers, and adding such environmental benefits as water filtration, reduced erosion, and enhanced soil health due to the presence of native and non-invasive vegetation."