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Northland radio station WRNC looks at climate change and freshwater on Ecotopia

November 11, 2011

Northland College radio station 97.7 WRNC examines how climate change may affect Northwoods forests, as well as ongoing efforts to protect freshwater on the next Ecotopia. Ecotopia is a monthly radio program produced by WRNC that looks at a topic or series of subjects related to the environment. The program will air Monday, Nov. 14, at 9 a.m. on 97.7 WRNC and again at 7 p.m. on Wisconsin Public Radio stations 91.3 KUWS in Superior and 90.9 WUWS in Ashland.

For November, WRNC's Danielle Kaeding talks with Climate Change Specialist Patricia Butler with the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science (NIACS) in Houghton, Michigan. Butler discusses how the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest may change in the next 50 years and ongoing efforts to prepare and respond to potential impacts.

"We've looked extensively at the state of Northwoods forests and what we've found is that there are some species that are already declining. These species include hemlock, yellow birch and spruce among others," says Butler. Butler notes that the most common tree species, such as sugar maples, are likely to see a decline in habitat, according to research through the NIACS Climate Change Response Framework project. Butler spoke about the project's findings at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland on Nov. 2.

Also, WRNC talks with Lissa Radke, U.S. Coordinator of the Lake Superior Binational Forum housed on the Northland College campus. Radke discusses ongoing efforts to protect and restore freshwater in Lake Superior through a lakewide management plan and development of a new aquatic invasives species prevention plan. Meanwhile, environmental educators Mike Link and Kate Crowley speak about their efforts to raise awareness of the need to protect freshwater through their 1,550-mile journey around Lake Superior.

"Air and water, we just don't feel should be compromised," says Link. "We shouldn't accept a degradation of those two anymore than we should lose the ability to have access to the water and air as a public ownership. It was very important to us through this journey to make a statement to people to act on their values and beliefs and to do something for the future."

Link and Crowley visited Northland in September as the first speakers in the 2011 William P. Van Evera Endowed Lectureship series, another offering in the Northland College Community Connections series.

Ecotopia is a WRNC program produced in collaboration with Northland College and the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland. People may visit the WRNC website to hear extended interviews with guests and past programs at www.wrnclp.org.