Moira Donovan
@moiradonovan.bsky.social
190 followers 340 following 14 posts
Environment and climate change journalist based on Canada's east coast. http://moira-donovan.com
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moiradonovan.bsky.social
Very grateful to the survivors who were willing to share their insight and experiences for this story, and to @michellecyca.com for the thoughtful edits (not to mention Darren Calabrese for the stunning images)
moiradonovan.bsky.social
Across Canada, remnants of the residential school era — former school sites and buildings — stand as a painful testament to the past. For @thenarwhal.ca I spoke to survivors leading the complex work to reckon with those remnants, and preserve a record of that history thenarwhal.ca/truth-reconc...
What should happen to residential school sites? | The Narwhal
Across Canada, Indigenous communities are deciding how to commemorate these residential school histories on the land
thenarwhal.ca
moiradonovan.bsky.social
For Offrange, I dug into a hidden hurdle in adapting our forests to climate change: tree seedlings. We need billions of seedlings to restore forests being lost to fire and other impacts - and nurseries are nowhere close to that number. I heard about the ways people are trying to fill the gap.
jessehirsch.bsky.social
In the wake of the last decade's devastating wildfires, there's an urgent effort underway to grow our forests back. The problem? We don't have nearly enough tree seedlings.

@moiradonovan.bsky.social looks into what's being done:
ambrook.com/offrange/env...
The Problem with Growing a Forest - Offrange
We need trees more than ever — but seedlings are in short supply.
ambrook.com
moiradonovan.bsky.social
Until recently, tools for tracking fish were too big for small swimmers, limiting our ability to understand the lives of diminutive species.

New technology is changing that - a potential boost for conservation. My story for @biographic.bsky.social (with edits from @colinschultz.bsky.social!)
moiradonovan.bsky.social
So grateful to be one of the journalists selected for this year's program - and very excited for the opportunity to dig into the scientific process with a group of fellow nerds 🤓https://www.mbl.edu/education/logan-science-journalism-program/2025-sjp-fellows
moiradonovan.bsky.social
The Atlantic whitefish is one of Canada's most endangered species; after 14 million years, its range has shrunk to three small lakes, and a set of tanks in a university basement. For @thenarwhal.ca I explored the race to save the species thenarwhal.ca/atlantic-whi...
Can we save the Atlantic whitefish? | The Narwhal
In Nova Scotia, scientists are racing to save an ancient species
thenarwhal.ca
Reposted by Moira Donovan
wired.com
WIRED @wired.com · Mar 18
They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.
Wired is dropping paywalls for FOIA-based reporting. Others should follow
As the administration does its best to hide public records from the public, Wired magazine is stepping up to help stem the secrecy
freedom.press
moiradonovan.bsky.social
Climate change is reshuffling ecosystems in complex ways. In the Gulf of Maine, this includes baby lobster and their prey dropping out of sync - a shift that could have dire consequences for a lucrative fishery. My first story for @biographic.bsky.social
moiradonovan.bsky.social
Pesticides come with a host of problems, from biodiversity loss to human illnesses. Scientists are looking to plants' innate defences for alternatives, with 'plant vaccines' that boost natural immunity. My story for Ambrook Research
jessehirsch.bsky.social
Our food crops have had their natural immune systems whittled down over years of breeding for high yields. There's now a movement underway to revive these defenses, a way to reduce pesticide dependence.

New from Moira Donovan:
ambrook.com/research/stu...
In Praise of “Plant Vaccines” - Ambrook Research
Scientists are harnessing the natural immune systems of our crops, an attempt to cut down on pesticide use.
ambrook.com
Reposted by Moira Donovan
moiradonovan.bsky.social
Many thanks to @judeisabella.bsky.social for the astute edits, and for supporting this project. Hakai's willingness to invest in stories like these is a testament to what a special publication it was - and will be, as bioGraphic 🐟