Projects

An overview of the laws that grant protection to Bald Eagles.

This is the Final Environmental Assessment for the MDC Bat Habitat Conservation Plan, which was developed in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 

In order to explore the effect of forest bathing on human immune function, we investigated natural killer (NK) activity; the number of NK cells, and perforin, granzymes and granulysin-expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) during a visit to forest fields. Twelve healthy male subjects, age 37-55 years, were selected with informed consent from three large companies in Tokyo, Japan. The subjects experienced a three-day/two-night trip in three different forest fields. On the first day, subjects walked for two hours in the afternoon in a forest field; and on the second day, they walked for two hours in the morning and afternoon, respectively, in two different forest fields. Blood was sampled on the second and third days, and NK activity; proportions of NK, T cells, granulysin, perforin, and granzymes AlB-expressing cells in PBL were measured. Similar measurements were made before the trip on a normal working day as the control. Almost all of the subjects (11/12) showed higher NK activity after the trip (about 50% increased) compared with before. There are significant differences both before and after the trip and between days 1 and 2 in NK activity. The forest bathing trip also significantly increased the numbers of NK, perforin, granulysin, and granzymes AlB-expressing cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that a forest bathing trip can increase NK activity, and that this effect at least partially mediated by increasing the number of NK cells and by the induction of intracellular anti-cancer proteins.

Almost all of the subjects (11/12) showed higher NK activity after the trip (about 50% increased) compared with before. There are significant differences both before and after the trip and between days 1 and 2 in NK activity. The forest bathing trip also significantly increased the numbers of NK, perforin, granulysin, and granzymes AlB-expressing cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that a forest bathing trip can increase NK activity, and that this effect at least partially mediated by increasing the number of NK cells and by the induction of intracellular anti-cancer proteins.

Missouri Conservationist Article by Keith Moser. 

This annual report is provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to meet the annual reporting requirement as described in HCP Section 6.3.3. The report describes MDC’s Bat Habitat Conservation Plan planning and implementation activities conducted during the second reporting timeframe (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023), compliance and effectiveness monitoring activities, and the results of the compliance and effectiveness monitoring during the initial reporting timeframe.

The goals of the annual report are to demonstrate to the USFWS and citizens of Missouri that the MDC Bat HCP is being implemented properly, and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the conservation plan. If any implementation problems have occurred, they are disclosed with a description of corrective measures planned or measures that have been taken to address the problems. This report also identifies any responses to changed circumstances and adaptive management during the reporting period.

This report describes progress towards each of the Biological Goals and Objectives outlined in the Bat HCP. Implementation progress updates of particularly note during the FY23 reporting period include:

• Developed and implemented Regional HCP Implementation Workshops (see Staff Implementation Training in Section 1).
• Completion of Priority Bat Management Zone (PBMZ) Management Plan templates specific to each covered tree-roosting species, to facilitate development of PBMZ Management Plans for each PBMZ by June 30, 2024 (see Objective 3.3 in Section 5).
• Initiated PBMZ Monitoring: Acoustic surveys were conducted in 5 of the 6 northern long-eared bat PBMZs during summer 2023 (see Status and Trend Monitoring in Section 5).

Contemporary ecological models of health prominently feature the natural environment as fundamental to the ecosystem services that support human life, health, and well-being. This survey of the literature aims to provide a more comprehensive picture—in the form of a primer—of the many simultaneously acting health co-benefits of green infrastructure.

Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) area managers and administrators have noted a lack of usable information about horse trails and horseback riders on MDC lands. Managers need to know what horseback riders want and what they would accept regarding trail development and maintenance, facility needs, and conflict management with other types of users. Managers also need more information on who the riders are, how often they recreate, and what they require for a quality recreational experience.

This study suggests that going for a walk in nature can have health promoting effects on stress-related brain regions, and consequently, it may act as a preventive measure against mental strain and potentially disease. Living in cities is associated with increased mental health risks. This study is causal in design and is an intervention study that investigates changes in the brain. This is the first study that we know to demonstrate the causal effects of acute exposure to natural vs. urban environment on stress-related brain regions, disentangling positive effects of nature from negative effects of city.

Biodiversity and biodiversity-based ecosystems services are intrinsically dependent on the climate. As biodiversity underlies all goods and services provided by ecosystems that are crucial for human survival and well-being, this paper synthesizes and discusses observed and anticipated impacts of climate change on biodiversity and biodiversity-based ecosystem service provision and livelihoods, and what strategies might be employed to decrease current and future risks on the well-being of human in Africa.