After a judge issued a tentative ruling on a legal challenge Tuesday, the Catalina Island Conservancy said that it would begin the first phase of its plan to kill nearly all of the 2,000 deer on the California island.

© Sinna Nasseri for The New York Times

Rising sea temperatures mean reefs don’t have enough time to bounce back between intense heat waves, a new report warns.

© Jason Gulley for The New York Times

The proposed land swap would allow easy access to the crown jewel of the national park system. Democrats and former Park Service officials are incensed.

© Mike Kai Chen for The New York Times

Caroline Kennedy and her family sold more than 330 acres of coastal land on Martha’s Vineyard to conservation groups. It comes with some caveats.

© Gabriela Herman for The New York Times

The insects, revered in local culture, are disappearing for many reasons, including rapid development to cater to tourists.

© Ulet Ifansasti for The New York Times