Join host Chris Clarke, a longtime desert environmental journalist, as he explores the challenges and opportunities of the American Southwest's fragile ecosystems. Engaging interviews with experts, activists, and advocates on conservation, land management, and environmental justice. Science and sentiment, politics and philosophy, hiking and history, culture and creativity all go into defending the desert.
About Chris
Chris Clarke is a writer, environmental journalist, and desert activist with a deep passion for the landscapes and ecosystems of the American Southwest. He has spent decades advocating for the protection of deserts, particularly the Mojave and Sonoran, through storytelling, investigative journalism, and direct activism.
Clarke has written extensively about desert ecology, conservation, and the threats facing these fragile environments, including climate change, urban sprawl, and industrial-scale renewable energy projects that disrupt wildlands. His work has appeared in numerous publications around the world, and he has been a key voice in highlighting the cultural and ecological importance of desert landscapes.
Beyond writing, Clarke has been involved in environmental advocacy organizations, working to protect public lands and endangered species. His efforts have contributed to raising awareness about the unique beauty and biodiversity of the desert and the need for sustainable conservation policies.
He is also a key figure in the Desert Advocacy Media Network, which includes the podcast 90 Miles from Needles, where he discusses desert conservation issues, interviews experts, and shares stories about life in arid lands.
Chris Clarke has had a diverse career in environmental journalism, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership, focusing on desert conservation and ecology. His employment history includes roles in both media and environmental organizations. Here are some key positions he has held:
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Environment Editor – KCET
Clarke served as Environment Editor for KCET, a Los Angeles-based public television station with a strong digital presence. He wrote and edited articles on desert ecology, public lands, and environmental issues in California and the Southwest.
Clarke's' work at KCET included numerous investigative pieces and deep dives into specific projects, such as:
- The Ivanpah Solar Project and its impact on desert wildlife
- Conflicts between wind farms and migratory bird populations
- The Bureau of Land Management’s role in fast-tracking large energy developments
His reporting played a crucial role in informing the public and conservation advocates about the complexities of renewable energy development in the desert.
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Publications Director – Earth Island Institute
At Earth Island Institute, Clarke oversaw editorial content, including Earth Island Journal, a publication covering global environmental issues. His leadership contributed to investigative reporting and in-depth storytelling on conservation and ecological justice. During his tenure, EIJ broke several stories worldwide that were later picked up my other media, such as the New York TImes and The Guardian. -
Associate Director, California Desert Program – National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA)
Clarke worked to protect national parks and public lands in the California desert, advocating for conservation policies, engaging in public outreach, and fighting threats such as industrial development and habitat destruction. -
Editor and Journalist
Clarke has written extensively about desert ecology, climate change, and related issues for various publications, including KCET, Earth Island Journal, Orion, His work often highlights the environmental and cultural significance of the desert. -
Blogger – Coyote Crossing
Clarke ran Coyote Crossing, a widely respected blog focusing on nature writing, desert conservation, and personal reflections on the environment. Before moving to the desert in 2008, his blog — then named Creek Running North — was frequently described as containing "the best writing on the internet." -
Founder, Desert Advocacy Media Network
He founded this nonprofit media organization, which produces 90 Miles from Needles, a podcast dedicated to desert protection and storytelling.
Chris has had a long and varied career in environmental journalism, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership, particularly focused on desert conservation.
About the Desert Advocacy Media Network
DAMN is the only nonprofit media company focusing on the North American deserts, their environmental issues, and the people who work to protect them. You can learn more at thedamn.org.