Hikes, Green Leaves and Broken Systems
How a rainy hike with my kids reminds me of why dismantling parts of the EPA endangers us all.
The hike started as one of those things that make a parent question their life choices.
We were attempting for the second time that day to hike the Skyline Trail on Cape Breton Island. This is a winding ridge path with views of trees, cliffs, ocean and beautiful foliage up in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Unfortunately, that morning was rather wet. When we first pulled into the parking lot, it promptly started to downpour. So we pivoted and went down the road to do a shorter bog walk instead (and saw carnivorous plants). After a few hours, the rain slowed down so we decided to try again.
Back to the Skyline trail we went. Rain still fell, fog clung to the trees around us and my backpack was damp. Yet, it was still so beautiful. But my son (then 4) was not having it.
“This is the worst day ever,” he muttered as he stomped through mud puddles on the trail.
My husband and I met eyes and had that universal silent parental exchange of “well what the heck do we do now?” We could’ve turned back. But the whole week looked rainy and we saw hints of sunlight peeking through the clouds.
My husband was carrying our then 1 year old, so I was next to our son, running hundreds of ideas through my head for things to distract him.
“Let’s play a game,” I told him. “Let’s see who can point out the most shades of green they see.”
He looked at me skeptically, but by some miracle went along with it (there may also have been some prize incentives mentioned) . “This one’s like grass. This one kind of looks like someone's boogers,” he told me as he ran ahead to look for more.
As we walked and searched, I started telling him a story about how all these green plants were getting the energy they needed to survive. I made up stories to explain how the leaves were turning light into energy. How they took in carbon dioxide, made sugar and let out oxygen. How they helped cool the planet. How this process, officially known as photosynthesis, is kind of like magic, but it is actually science.
That moment stuck with me and with my son. He still asks me to revisit the photosynthesis story from time to time on our hikes. But I am mentioning it to you all now for a specific reason. While standing on a trail above the Atlantic Ocean that day, I was also actually introducing my son to a core piece of something we call One Health. This is the idea that the health of people, animals, and ecosystems is all connected. What happens in a forest can impact climate, animal movement, public health clinics, global disease and can even start new pandemics.
It’s also why I’m so upset by what has recently transpired at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA Just Dismantled Its Scientific Research Arm
Last week, the current administration officially shut down the EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD). This is the branch responsible for studying how air, water, chemicals, and climate affect human health.
This means scientists at the EPA are being laid off or reassigned, scientists outside the EPA who were funded for their work may not get those funds. This means even studies in progress may be shuttered, resulting in a waste of all the time and money already invested into those projects.
Let’s be clear here. This isn’t budget efficiency. This isn’t going to Make America Healthy Again. It's the next step in a deliberate dismantling of the scientific work that helps us understand how the world works, helps fuel our economy and helps us protect public health (more on benefits here). This includes learning how to protect us from environmental threats tied to climate change, pollution and more.
For some, it is easy to write off environmental research as not important or just efforts to harm profit. This is why the one heath concept matters so much. Some can try to pretend these things are not related, but it’s a lie. Our health is directly linked to the health of both the environment and other animals.
One Health in Action
The health of our environment and animals directly impact us. Here are some examples.
Spread of infectious diseases.
Some diseases are called zoonotic. This means the pathogen (e.g. a bacterium or virus) is normally found in an animal population. But when a human encounters that animal they can become infected. Some examples are diseases like rabies or Ebola. As climates change, or forests are damaged/cut down, this drives animals into new spaces. This means they may encounter humans in ways they haven’t before, increasing our risk of getting a known or new pathogen from them. This also increases our risk of future pandemics. Studying ways to preserve the environment and reduce these encounters is important for also protecting us.
Air Pollution and Water Safety
The air we breathe and the water we drink have a huge impact on our health. Many research studies show the risks of both air pollution and contaminated water. For example, in many areas of the US, including here in Maine, people can have concerning levels of arsenic in their wells. A friend and mentor of mine studies this problem in really innovative ways. This is important work that helps protect our health. I also have discussed some canceled projects related to this in a prior newsletter here.
While at the science fair of cancelled grants (mentioned in this newsletter) I also got to talk to a researcher – Dr. Tala Navab-Daneshmand. Her work was funded by the EPA (and subsequently canceled) and was studying the presence of antibiotic resistance in the environment, specifically in wastewater. This is critically important work, as antibiotic resistant bacterial infections are happening in about 2.8 million people in the U.S. and causing about 35,000 deaths. But this is a global issue. By understanding the presence and spread of these antibiotic resistant microbes in our environment we can better define the problem and develop solutions.
Normally, the EPA helps regulate levels of water and air pollution, but we see some of those regulations being rolled back by this administration. This means these research cuts are happening at the same time where we may start seeing an increase in harmful exposures. None of these things will make us healthier.
A better future
Being outside in nature is good for my soul, it is something I gravitate to in all moments of life. I have thousands of photos and memories from hikes done alone, with my husband or with my whole family (around this time next year I will be hiking 100 miles in Scotland with dear friends).
All of these memories are filled with songs we made up (“these shoes were made for hiking” to the tune of these “These Boots Are Made for Walkin“ is a favorite), muddy boots, jokes and complaints, and an endless supply of trail snacks. We're about to head out on another camping and hiking trip. I know I’ll return with more stories, more stunning views in my memory, and more reminders of my why.
For me, it all comes down to the fact that science is everywhere.
It’s in the sunlight that leaks down through the trees to the forest floor.
It’s in the air we breathe while carrying out the simple and big moments or life.
It’s in the water we drink to keep us alive.
It’s in the questions our kids ask while observing the world around them
It’s in the future we hope they inherit.
We need to understand how the world works, how it affects our health and how we can protect it. This is a fundamental foundation to building a healthier and more resilient future for everyone.
I’ve written before about the contradictions I see in the MAHA movement based on my personal experience. It frustrates me that it claims to protect health and freedom while dismantling the systems that fuel our economy and safeguard our health and environment. What’s happening at the EPA right now is yet another example of this contradiction. Science is being stripped away just when we need it most, this won’t make us healthier.
In 30 years, I hope to walk that Skyline Trail again—maybe I’ll have my kids and maybe some grandkids beside me. I imagine that I will still be telling stories about the magic of green things and handing out lots of snacks. But what I really hope is that the future is better. I want them to be living in a world that understands that we are all connected and that science helps us get a better future.
Until then, I’ll keep fighting for that future.
What You Can Do
Contact your representatives. Ask them to protect funding for research into all of these areas.
Share this story. Help others connect the dots between nature, health, and science.
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Thanks for all the hard work you're doing to fight for science.