It’s not you; it’s the planet.
Category: Nature and the City
California has had a wet two years. What does that mean for Oaklanders and their environment?
More groundwater, taller grasses, and a lot of sneezing.
Oakland’s long-awaited Vegetation Management Plan tackles decades of wildfire concerns
Herbicides and prescribed burning are some of the techniques on the table for the new plan, but funding may make implementation difficult.
The bison in the Oakland Zoo are here to right a historical wrong
The zoo has been partnering with the Blackfeet Nation in Montana to restore these culturally significant animals to their ancestral home.
How Bay Area scientists and environmentalists are prepping for future harmful algal blooms
The 2022 “red tide” that devastated Lake Merritt is one of the big talking points at this year’s State of the Estuary Conference.
How to stay safe on Bay Area trails this summer
The region has lots of trails for you to explore–and plenty of perils to avoid. Here’s our guide.
Most Oaklanders live 10 minutes from a park—but those parks are not equitably distributed
Oakland has ranked 52nd out of 100 cities in the Trust for Public Land’s annual ParkScore rating.
Brooklyn Basin: More homes or a bigger park?
Developers say it makes sense to build 90 homes on a waterfront property set to become green space. Estuary Park advocates are incensed.
Kevin the Rockridge peacock is Oakland’s newest iconic bird
Or is his name Bob?
West Oakland metal recycling fire sparks innovative environmental program
Regulators teamed up with the community to create a new fast-acting task force and enforce anti-pollution laws.
Community leaders in deep East Oakland are working to improve air quality
Low-income communities of color are disproportionately harmed by air pollution. East Oakland is embarking on a process that aims to let the community have their say on how to fix it.
Rattlesnake season is here. Here’s how to stay safe
East Bay Regional Park District has issued a rattlesnake advisory.
Local ecologist’s graphic novel comes to life for East Oakland middle schoolers
After reading about author Tiffany Yap’s book in The Oaklandside, a local teacher fundraised to bring it to his classroom in a special way.
‘Adopt a crag’ and ‘leave no trace’: Local climbers are helping protect fragile environments
The Bay Area Climbers Coalition creates local environmental stewards within the climbing community.
Want a tree? Apply to get one for your Oakland property
Trees for Oakland has opened applications for residents to get more trees in their neighborhood. Renters and homeowners are eligible.
Things to do on Earth Day in Oakland
For Earth Day 2024, there are lots of local events and volunteer opportunities to celebrate and nurture our environment.
Melrose Leadership Academy unveils new ‘green schoolyard’
The Maxwell Park dual language school is one of OUSD’s latest campuses to grow its greenspace.
What’s the biggest environmental concern in your Oakland neighborhood?
The Oaklandside wants to know what unique environmental challenges you and your neighbors are facing.
Wildflower season has arrived: here’s where to enjoy the blooms in the East Bay and beyond
California’s wildflower season peaks from mid-March to May and the Bay Area has several notable parks where you can find them.
San Leandro Creek: one of the East Bay’s rare open streams
Stewards work to repair and renew this unique watershed, which is headed by a dam built by Chinese laborers in the 1800s and spans miles in East Oakland and San Leandro.