Erik Hoffner
@erikhoffner.bsky.social
Editor, photojournalist & award-winning podcast producer for nonprofit news outlet @Mongabay. Member of Society of Envi Journalists & Vermont Center for Photography
Pinned
No, Bill Gates, we don’t have to choose between people & planet (commentary)
Bill Gates has long been a leading voice in the global response to human health and climate change. His climate investments and advocacy have helped drive innovation, expand access to clean energy, an...
news.mongabay.com
Dropped everything to publish this new op-ed to @mongabay.com by former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson
She calls Bill Gates' new essay on #climatechange dangerous & false
“The great challenge of our time is to build a future where every person can thrive on a healthy planet,” Robinson argues:
She calls Bill Gates' new essay on #climatechange dangerous & false
“The great challenge of our time is to build a future where every person can thrive on a healthy planet,” Robinson argues:
Reposted by Erik Hoffner
Please understand: this is Trump confessing he did indeed attempt to overthrow the government of the United States.
The pardon covers 77 people, including members of the president’s former legal team, including John Eastman, Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell.
Trump Pardons Giuliani And Others Allegedly Involved In Bid To Overturn 2020 Elections
The pardon covers 77 people, including members of the president’s former legal team, including John Eastman, Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell.
www.forbes.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Please understand: this is Trump confessing he did indeed attempt to overthrow the government of the United States.
Reposted by Erik Hoffner
Vancouver had 117 people die during the 2021 heat dome climate disaster.
NEW: Councillors and sources inside the City of Vancouver say the city's mayor, Ken Sim, will put forth a budget Wednesday that will eliminate the city's celebrated climate and sustainability department.
Vancouver mayor plans to eliminate city's climate and sustainability department
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is planning to eliminate the city's sustainability and climate department under the guise of a push to prevent increases to property taxes. Canada's National Observer learned a...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Vancouver had 117 people die during the 2021 heat dome climate disaster.
"For philanthropists focused on #climate & #biodiversity, supporting #journalism may seem peripheral" compared w/ the main goals.
"In practice, it is a high-leverage investment that strengthens & multiplies the effectiveness of all the above."
Good thinking via @npquarterly.bsky.social here:
"In practice, it is a high-leverage investment that strengthens & multiplies the effectiveness of all the above."
Good thinking via @npquarterly.bsky.social here:
Journalism Is a Catalyst for Change—and a Critical Investment - Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly
For philanthropists focused on climate and biodiversity, journalism is a high-leverage investment that strengthens all other interventions.
nonprofitquarterly.org
November 10, 2025 at 2:33 PM
"For philanthropists focused on #climate & #biodiversity, supporting #journalism may seem peripheral" compared w/ the main goals.
"In practice, it is a high-leverage investment that strengthens & multiplies the effectiveness of all the above."
Good thinking via @npquarterly.bsky.social here:
"In practice, it is a high-leverage investment that strengthens & multiplies the effectiveness of all the above."
Good thinking via @npquarterly.bsky.social here:
“I get excited about ethnomycology and thinking about which mushrooms have cultural value that maybe haven’t made it into field guides.” northernwoodlands.org/blog/article...
- Maria Pinto, author of “Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless: What Fungi Taught Me about Nourishment, Poison, Ecology, Zombies…”
- Maria Pinto, author of “Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless: What Fungi Taught Me about Nourishment, Poison, Ecology, Zombies…”
November 9, 2025 at 9:11 PM
“I get excited about ethnomycology and thinking about which mushrooms have cultural value that maybe haven’t made it into field guides.” northernwoodlands.org/blog/article...
- Maria Pinto, author of “Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless: What Fungi Taught Me about Nourishment, Poison, Ecology, Zombies…”
- Maria Pinto, author of “Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless: What Fungi Taught Me about Nourishment, Poison, Ecology, Zombies…”
Friends consider me an expert on #mushrooms
But I’m a ‘pot hunter’ & only know choice edibles like this porcini found on my land recently 🏆 👑
Appreciate all others & can ID at least their ‘tribes’ reliably but am so far from expert—points to the wide range/low general knowledge of #fungi in the US
But I’m a ‘pot hunter’ & only know choice edibles like this porcini found on my land recently 🏆 👑
Appreciate all others & can ID at least their ‘tribes’ reliably but am so far from expert—points to the wide range/low general knowledge of #fungi in the US
November 8, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Friends consider me an expert on #mushrooms
But I’m a ‘pot hunter’ & only know choice edibles like this porcini found on my land recently 🏆 👑
Appreciate all others & can ID at least their ‘tribes’ reliably but am so far from expert—points to the wide range/low general knowledge of #fungi in the US
But I’m a ‘pot hunter’ & only know choice edibles like this porcini found on my land recently 🏆 👑
Appreciate all others & can ID at least their ‘tribes’ reliably but am so far from expert—points to the wide range/low general knowledge of #fungi in the US
Reposted by Erik Hoffner
This is so metal 🤘🏽
www.hcn.org/issues/57-11...
www.hcn.org/issues/57-11...
Heavy metal is healing teens on the Blackfeet Nation - High Country News
In response to youth suicides, teachers show students the power of headbanging at Fire in the Mountains festival.
www.hcn.org
November 8, 2025 at 12:01 AM
This is so metal 🤘🏽
www.hcn.org/issues/57-11...
www.hcn.org/issues/57-11...
Reposted by Erik Hoffner
James Watson has died. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:43 PM
James Watson has died. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
Here’s the first known US #landback type land transfer from a Catholic institution to an #Indigenous nation in the name of reparations
It’s an attempt to repair the legacy of colonialism and systemic abuses suffered by kids at federal Indian boarding schools:
It’s an attempt to repair the legacy of colonialism and systemic abuses suffered by kids at federal Indian boarding schools:
Franciscan Sisters transfer land to Lac du Flambeau tribe in bid to repair boarding school legacy
In a historic moment, the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have completed the first known land transfer nationwide from a Catholic instituti...
www.wpr.org
November 7, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Here’s the first known US #landback type land transfer from a Catholic institution to an #Indigenous nation in the name of reparations
It’s an attempt to repair the legacy of colonialism and systemic abuses suffered by kids at federal Indian boarding schools:
It’s an attempt to repair the legacy of colonialism and systemic abuses suffered by kids at federal Indian boarding schools:
Dropped everything to publish this new op-ed to @mongabay.com by former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson
She calls Bill Gates' new essay on #climatechange dangerous & false
“The great challenge of our time is to build a future where every person can thrive on a healthy planet,” Robinson argues:
She calls Bill Gates' new essay on #climatechange dangerous & false
“The great challenge of our time is to build a future where every person can thrive on a healthy planet,” Robinson argues:
No, Bill Gates, we don’t have to choose between people & planet (commentary)
Bill Gates has long been a leading voice in the global response to human health and climate change. His climate investments and advocacy have helped drive innovation, expand access to clean energy, an...
news.mongabay.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Dropped everything to publish this new op-ed to @mongabay.com by former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson
She calls Bill Gates' new essay on #climatechange dangerous & false
“The great challenge of our time is to build a future where every person can thrive on a healthy planet,” Robinson argues:
She calls Bill Gates' new essay on #climatechange dangerous & false
“The great challenge of our time is to build a future where every person can thrive on a healthy planet,” Robinson argues:
Looking for a coffee substitute?
Guayusa is great ('rocket fuel' a friend says) & often grown by Indigenous/local communities & coops via #agroecology #agroforestry, supporting #biodiversity & #climate too
I mail order it but was glad to finally meet this generous tree while traveling in Ecuador:
Guayusa is great ('rocket fuel' a friend says) & often grown by Indigenous/local communities & coops via #agroecology #agroforestry, supporting #biodiversity & #climate too
I mail order it but was glad to finally meet this generous tree while traveling in Ecuador:
November 6, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Looking for a coffee substitute?
Guayusa is great ('rocket fuel' a friend says) & often grown by Indigenous/local communities & coops via #agroecology #agroforestry, supporting #biodiversity & #climate too
I mail order it but was glad to finally meet this generous tree while traveling in Ecuador:
Guayusa is great ('rocket fuel' a friend says) & often grown by Indigenous/local communities & coops via #agroecology #agroforestry, supporting #biodiversity & #climate too
I mail order it but was glad to finally meet this generous tree while traveling in Ecuador:
Reposted by Erik Hoffner
Canada makes pitch for US researchers to relocate with $1.7bn in new funding. My story for @science.org 🧪
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Canada’s new budget aims to lure U.S. researchers to relocate
Spending plan also calls for smaller research spending cut than feared
www.science.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Canada makes pitch for US researchers to relocate with $1.7bn in new funding. My story for @science.org 🧪
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Rio Tinto & the EU hope to convert farms & natural areas into lithium mines in Serbia & Bosnia to build devices & electric vehicles, #EVs
But what started as resistance to this in Serbia has morphed into a transnational movement for the Jadar Valley & Mount Majevica & against extractive industries:
But what started as resistance to this in Serbia has morphed into a transnational movement for the Jadar Valley & Mount Majevica & against extractive industries:
Serbs and Bosnians join forces to fight lithium mining – DW – 11/04/2025
Serbia's Jadar Valley and Bosnia's Mount Majevica have become the front lines of defense in the fight against lithium mining. What started out as resistance in Serbia has now morphed into a transnatio...
www.dw.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Rio Tinto & the EU hope to convert farms & natural areas into lithium mines in Serbia & Bosnia to build devices & electric vehicles, #EVs
But what started as resistance to this in Serbia has morphed into a transnational movement for the Jadar Valley & Mount Majevica & against extractive industries:
But what started as resistance to this in Serbia has morphed into a transnational movement for the Jadar Valley & Mount Majevica & against extractive industries:
Love this impact of our India bureau's reporting 💗
Tibetan Buddhist gatherers of rare/special Himalayan star anise are usually outcompeted by cultivated anise from China & Vietnam
But after her report aired the villages got a historic order from an excited new buyer & gained key gov't recognition:
Tibetan Buddhist gatherers of rare/special Himalayan star anise are usually outcompeted by cultivated anise from China & Vietnam
But after her report aired the villages got a historic order from an excited new buyer & gained key gov't recognition:
Coverage of endangered Himalayan star anise trade sparks direct market link in India - Environmental Journalism and Education
In February 2025, Mongabay India published a video on the Monpa community in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, who harvest the endangered Himalayan star anise (Illicium griffithii), locally calle...
mongabay.org
November 4, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Love this impact of our India bureau's reporting 💗
Tibetan Buddhist gatherers of rare/special Himalayan star anise are usually outcompeted by cultivated anise from China & Vietnam
But after her report aired the villages got a historic order from an excited new buyer & gained key gov't recognition:
Tibetan Buddhist gatherers of rare/special Himalayan star anise are usually outcompeted by cultivated anise from China & Vietnam
But after her report aired the villages got a historic order from an excited new buyer & gained key gov't recognition:
30 artists spent a year documenting a #rewilding project in the UK with fine #biodiversity & #climate angles
The land had been converted for crops during the World War II ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign & now is going back to the care of wild things:
The land had been converted for crops during the World War II ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign & now is going back to the care of wild things:
Norfolk rewilding project takes centre stage at London exhibition of wildlife art
A spectacular collection of artwork depicting a Norfolk rewilding project at Massingham Heath will take centre stage at the Society of Wildlife…
www.edp24.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 1:45 PM
30 artists spent a year documenting a #rewilding project in the UK with fine #biodiversity & #climate angles
The land had been converted for crops during the World War II ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign & now is going back to the care of wild things:
The land had been converted for crops during the World War II ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign & now is going back to the care of wild things:
Today's interesting task was editing & publishing this op-ed by Fred Pearce to @mongabay.com
Ghana became the 1st African country w/ a Forest Law Enforcement, Governance & Trade (FLEGT) license, the “gold standard” in sustainable timber
But will it be the last?
Ghana became the 1st African country w/ a Forest Law Enforcement, Governance & Trade (FLEGT) license, the “gold standard” in sustainable timber
But will it be the last?
As Ghana ships first ‘gold standard’ timber to EU, questions about FLEGT’s future remain (commentary)
Ghana has become the first African country to win fast-lane access to European Union markets for its timber. A trading license negotiated with the European Commission over 16 years means all logging i...
news.mongabay.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Today's interesting task was editing & publishing this op-ed by Fred Pearce to @mongabay.com
Ghana became the 1st African country w/ a Forest Law Enforcement, Governance & Trade (FLEGT) license, the “gold standard” in sustainable timber
But will it be the last?
Ghana became the 1st African country w/ a Forest Law Enforcement, Governance & Trade (FLEGT) license, the “gold standard” in sustainable timber
But will it be the last?
“It is easy for me to imagine that the next great division of the world
will be between people who wish to live as creatures
& people who wish to live as machines.”
― Wendell Berry, "Life is a Miracle"
will be between people who wish to live as creatures
& people who wish to live as machines.”
― Wendell Berry, "Life is a Miracle"
November 2, 2025 at 4:01 PM
“It is easy for me to imagine that the next great division of the world
will be between people who wish to live as creatures
& people who wish to live as machines.”
― Wendell Berry, "Life is a Miracle"
will be between people who wish to live as creatures
& people who wish to live as machines.”
― Wendell Berry, "Life is a Miracle"
Dunes & fishing dogs shot on infrared #35mmfilm loaded in an analog camera w/ fisheye lens while surfcasting this fall
Red filter added extra drama to these
See the whole #blackandwhite #photography set @ Insta: www.instagram.com/erikhoffner
Red filter added extra drama to these
See the whole #blackandwhite #photography set @ Insta: www.instagram.com/erikhoffner
November 1, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Dunes & fishing dogs shot on infrared #35mmfilm loaded in an analog camera w/ fisheye lens while surfcasting this fall
Red filter added extra drama to these
See the whole #blackandwhite #photography set @ Insta: www.instagram.com/erikhoffner
Red filter added extra drama to these
See the whole #blackandwhite #photography set @ Insta: www.instagram.com/erikhoffner
Last weekend to see @mongabay.com's #photography exhibit
"Biophilia" is in a gallery in the woods near #Boston 👀 📷
Summer Star's gallery is open Saturday–Tuesday, 11am–3pm summerstarwildlife.wordpress.com
Video tour features myself & another of our exhibiting photogs, plus a couple staff:
"Biophilia" is in a gallery in the woods near #Boston 👀 📷
Summer Star's gallery is open Saturday–Tuesday, 11am–3pm summerstarwildlife.wordpress.com
Video tour features myself & another of our exhibiting photogs, plus a couple staff:
Inside Mongabay’s Photo Exhibit
YouTube video by Mongabay
www.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Last weekend to see @mongabay.com's #photography exhibit
"Biophilia" is in a gallery in the woods near #Boston 👀 📷
Summer Star's gallery is open Saturday–Tuesday, 11am–3pm summerstarwildlife.wordpress.com
Video tour features myself & another of our exhibiting photogs, plus a couple staff:
"Biophilia" is in a gallery in the woods near #Boston 👀 📷
Summer Star's gallery is open Saturday–Tuesday, 11am–3pm summerstarwildlife.wordpress.com
Video tour features myself & another of our exhibiting photogs, plus a couple staff:
Reposted by Erik Hoffner
After a 14-year saga, Nlaka’pamux Nation Tribal Council has brought B.C.'s first grid-scale solar project online 💡 and they're already thinking bigger. A collaboration with @indiginews.bsky.social, written by @zoeyunker.bsky.social with photos by Aaron Hemens.
thenarwhal.ca/nlakapamux-q...
thenarwhal.ca/nlakapamux-q...
Nlaka’pamux solar project offers lessons for B.C. | The Narwhal
Led by the Nlaka’pamux Nation, the quA-ymn solar project is the first major solar power facility in B.C. It came online well ahead of schedule
thenarwhal.ca
October 30, 2025 at 6:16 PM
After a 14-year saga, Nlaka’pamux Nation Tribal Council has brought B.C.'s first grid-scale solar project online 💡 and they're already thinking bigger. A collaboration with @indiginews.bsky.social, written by @zoeyunker.bsky.social with photos by Aaron Hemens.
thenarwhal.ca/nlakapamux-q...
thenarwhal.ca/nlakapamux-q...
New sign at the nat’l wildlife refuge on Plum Island, MA
Fiddler crabs are cool but if they move north in big numbers into this giant marsh favored by shorebirds it won’t be positive
Their tunneling is a wetland threat, wonder if the info about #climatechange being a driver of migration will stay
Fiddler crabs are cool but if they move north in big numbers into this giant marsh favored by shorebirds it won’t be positive
Their tunneling is a wetland threat, wonder if the info about #climatechange being a driver of migration will stay
October 30, 2025 at 6:08 PM
New sign at the nat’l wildlife refuge on Plum Island, MA
Fiddler crabs are cool but if they move north in big numbers into this giant marsh favored by shorebirds it won’t be positive
Their tunneling is a wetland threat, wonder if the info about #climatechange being a driver of migration will stay
Fiddler crabs are cool but if they move north in big numbers into this giant marsh favored by shorebirds it won’t be positive
Their tunneling is a wetland threat, wonder if the info about #climatechange being a driver of migration will stay
Reposted by Erik Hoffner
After 263 African elephants were moved from one national park to another, the animals began wandering out - destroying property and killing people. My latest for @biographic.bsky.social, on the complexities of conservation in an increasingly crowded continent.
www.biographic.com/the-wild-ele...
www.biographic.com/the-wild-ele...
The Wild Elephant in the Room
Conservationists seeking to restore elephant populations in a Malawian national park inadvertently upended human lives, revealing the risks of large-mammal translocations.
www.biographic.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:58 PM
After 263 African elephants were moved from one national park to another, the animals began wandering out - destroying property and killing people. My latest for @biographic.bsky.social, on the complexities of conservation in an increasingly crowded continent.
www.biographic.com/the-wild-ele...
www.biographic.com/the-wild-ele...
Reposted by Erik Hoffner
Australia’s “humpback comeback” is making waves globally. Numbers of whales on the east coast have rebounded to an estimated 50,000 from a historic low. Wildlife scientist and whale expert @drvanessapirotta.bsky.social joins me on the podcast this week @mongabay.com to chat about this achievement:
Australia celebrates ‘humpback comeback,’ but a main food source is under threat
News of Australia’s “humpback comeback” is making waves globally. Numbers of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on the nation’s east coast have rebounded to an estimated 50,000 from a historic l...
news.mongabay.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Australia’s “humpback comeback” is making waves globally. Numbers of whales on the east coast have rebounded to an estimated 50,000 from a historic low. Wildlife scientist and whale expert @drvanessapirotta.bsky.social joins me on the podcast this week @mongabay.com to chat about this achievement:
Reposted by Erik Hoffner
Restrictions on civil society means rare earth mining in Laos has garnered less attention than Myanmar, but @stimsoncenter.bsky.social data show 27 new (likely illegal) mines opened along Mekong River tributaries since 2022.
Latest @mongabay.com report details the threat to freshwater ecosystems.
Latest @mongabay.com report details the threat to freshwater ecosystems.
Rare earth mining expands into Laos, threatening entire Mekong River
BANGKOK — New data show a recent proliferation of rare earth mines across river basins in Laos, potentially posing a transboundary water pollution threat to Vietnam and the entire Mekong River system....
news.mongabay.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Restrictions on civil society means rare earth mining in Laos has garnered less attention than Myanmar, but @stimsoncenter.bsky.social data show 27 new (likely illegal) mines opened along Mekong River tributaries since 2022.
Latest @mongabay.com report details the threat to freshwater ecosystems.
Latest @mongabay.com report details the threat to freshwater ecosystems.
“The findings did add evidence for the belief that psilocybin was not an evolutionary accident, but rather a “solution to a particular challenge faced by mushroom-forming fungi” that helped them thrive.”
How Psychedelic Mushrooms Evolved Their Magic
www.nytimes.com
October 26, 2025 at 7:32 PM
“The findings did add evidence for the belief that psilocybin was not an evolutionary accident, but rather a “solution to a particular challenge faced by mushroom-forming fungi” that helped them thrive.”
Reposted by Erik Hoffner
Possibly the day's most important news story: A US-Israeli startup has raised $60M to offset climate change by spraying tiny reflective droplets into the stratosphere. Proponents of "solar radiation management" say it's inevitably coming. For better or worse, this may be evidence that they're right.
Exclusive: Stardust Solutions Raises $60 Million to Build a Solar Geoengineering System by 2030
A U.S. firm led by former Israeli government physicists, Stardust seeks to patent its proprietary sunlight-scattering particle — but it won’t deploy its technology until global governments authorize s...
heatmap.news
October 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Possibly the day's most important news story: A US-Israeli startup has raised $60M to offset climate change by spraying tiny reflective droplets into the stratosphere. Proponents of "solar radiation management" say it's inevitably coming. For better or worse, this may be evidence that they're right.