A spawning Coho Salmon in Washington State. Cohos returned to spawn in Oregon and Washington in abundant numbers this year, but others, like California”s Sacramento River Chinooks and British Columbia”s Fraser River Sockeyes returned in near-record low numbers. Experts say reasons for the decline include diversions of river water for farming, pollution, the intermingling of wild salmon with weaker, disease-ridden hatchery fish, and global warming -­ which creates some problems and exacerbates others.Dan Bennett, courtesy Flickr

Some larger whale species have been recovering since the dark days before the whaling industry was regulated, but the majority of cetaceans—that is, the distinct order of marine mammals consisting of whales, dolphins and porpoises—are in decline, with some likely headed for extinction in the near term.

An Earthship in Taos, New Mexico, where the concept took root.© Annie & John, courtesy Flickr
An Earthship is a kind of passive solar home—or community of homes—typically made of natural and recycled materials such as old tires and recycled cans.