Eliza Cava is the Nature Forward Director of Conservation, where she supervises our policy, advocacy, watershed community science, and conservation outreach work, and supports Woodend restoration as a demonstration landscape for the region.

ANS comments in support of closing Rock Creek Park’s Upper Beach Drive to cars

Beginning in April 2020 with the onset of the covid-19 pandemic, the National Park Service extended the typical weekend-only car closures of portions of Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park to the weekdays as well. The closures provided DC and Montgomery County residents with a wonderful new, safe, urban oasis… Continue reading

In response to devastating IPCC report, ANS pushes for “All we can save!”

Statement by Eliza Cava, Conservation Director for the Audubon Naturalist Society on the new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):  “We might get horribly sad and mad about the news in the IPCC’s report out today. And that’s okay. In our grief, though, we have an opportunity to… Continue reading

Housing and the Environment: Habitats for Humans

This article ran as the Partners Profile in the Summer, 2021 Naturalist Quarterly What do environmental advocates need to know about housing? It turns out the answer is: quite a lot. At ANS, we have been educating ourselves about the ways that housing needs, development plans, affordability, and transit intersect… Continue reading

Environmental Justice Takes Center Stage

The new Biden Administration is prioritizing environmental justice (EJ) in its policy making. From important new Executive Orders, to key EJ provisions included in the proposed budget and other spending bills, the federal government now has an opportunity to marry environmental protection, human health, and economic opportunity in new and… Continue reading

Switching from Fossil Gas to Induction Electric Cooking: Part 3: Cooking without gas

As I’ve been working with our DC Conservation Advocate Ari Eisenstadt on the Beyond Gas campaign, I’ve been learning more and more about the drawbacks of methane/fossil gas (formerly known as “natural gas”) in our cities and homes. I’ve learned enough, and had enough experiences of danger in my home… Continue reading

Switching from Fossil Gas to Induction Electric Cooking: Part 2: Choosing & Installing the Range

As I’ve been working with our DC Conservation Advocate Ari Eisenstadt on the Beyond Gas campaign, I’ve been learning more and more about the drawbacks of methane/fossil gas (formerly known as “natural gas”) in our cities and homes. I’ve learned enough, and had enough experiences of danger in my home… Continue reading

Switching from Fossil Gas to Induction Electric Cooking: Part 1: Why?

This is going to be an unusually personal post (and long – find parts two and three to come!). As I’ve been working with our DC Conservation Advocate Ari Eisenstadt on the Beyond Gas campaign, I’ve been learning more and more about the drawbacks of methane/fossil gas (formerly known as… Continue reading

Environmental Advocates Release “Best Smart Growth Plan” for American Legion Bridge and Capital Beltway

houses near to body of water

Sustainable, Equitable, and Effective  Today, in advance of pending decisions in Virginia and Maryland, leading environmental  organizations released a “Best Smart Growth Plan” for the American Legion Bridge and Capital  Beltway. The document reviews the current situation and summarizes the consensus  recommendations of the groups.  Citing the rush by Governor… Continue reading

Conservation Policy & Advocacy News – Spring 2021

Regional/National Turning the Page on the Trump Administration: Depending on how you count, the Trump Administration has rolled back, weakened, or attempted to roll back 80 to 100 or more environmental rules and regulations. One of the very last rollbacks finalized was one threatening the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, one… Continue reading