4 February

• The study Education and French Speaking Countries has published a number on environmental education. “Living together, on the Earth”
  This number has been coordinated by Lucie Sauvé, lecturer in the Department of Education and Pedagogy at the University of Quebec in Montreal, and expert on environmental education. Is also Ms. Sauvé the one who wrote in this number editorial, entitled “Living together, on the Earth: contemporary challenges of an environmental education”.
  More information in French: http://www.cursus.edu/?module=document&action=getDoc&uid=71102

3 February

• Uncontacted tribes’ land: ‘most biodiverse’ in South America and threatened by oil
  New research by scientists has found that a vast region of the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazon is the most biodiverse in South America. But this region, home to some of the world’s last uncontacted tribes, is gravely threatened by oil exploration and drilling. The research, published in PLoS ONE, found parts of eastern Ecuador and northern Peru to be uniquely rich in amphibians, birds, mammals and plants. But the scientists also say that oil companies are working, or due to work, in a massive 79% of the region.
  More information: http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/5505

• The International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2Ie) launches its hiring campaing 2010-2011
  The International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2Ie), regular member of AUF since 2006, is launching its hiring campaign 2010-2011 in Paris. This campaign will take place in the Hall of the International Studies and Degrees in January 29th and 30th, and in February 5th and 6th, 2010.
  More information in French: http://www.auf.org/communication-information/actualites/2ie-2010.html?var=lettre56%22

• February Conservation Volunteers e-News
  Conservation Volunteers e-News is the monthly email newsletter that is filled with information about upcoming conservation projects, nature holidays, opportunities to volunteer overseas and special offers. This month:
  • Summer...The Perfect Time to Volunteer!
  • Membership Offer - Join Now
  • Conservation Volunteering Inspires Author!
  • World Conservation Programs
  • Naturewise Conservation Holidays
  • Summer Conservation Projects

  More information: http://www.conservationvolunteers.com.au/

1 February

• The Biological General Inventory of Mercantour Parks
  The Mercantour Parks (France) and delle Alpi Marittime (Italy) launched the Biological Generalized Inventory in association with the National Museum of Natural History under the framework of the EDTI (European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy). Aim: to make an inventory of the groups of species that populate this territory of 2,450 km², an exceptional mountain mass with eight valleys, the last link in the Alpine Range that is submerged in the Mediterranean Sea. The aim is to mobilize the network of regional and European taxonomists and to provide them with the means to show the territory around, in a massive and modern way.
  More information in French: http://inpn.mnhn.fr/isb/infos/fr/articleMercantour.jsp

• Welcome to the INPN website (National Inventory of French Natural Heritage), new version
  This website provides on-line information on the Natural Heritage in France (plant species, animal species, natural habitats and geological heritage) and its recent development from the data available at the French National Museum of Natural History and its network of partner organisations. The National Inventory of Natural Heritage is the result of a lengthy proyect involving scientists, territory collectives, naturalists and nature protection organisations, with the objective of taking stock of the natural heritage of France. The information now available on-line is alive in two senses. On the one hand, because this website is a tool for understanding and managing living creatures, and on the other, because this site develops on the basis of inputs from all its partners.
  More information in French: http://inpn.mnhn.fr/isb/index.jsp

• World Landscape Architecture Month - Call for contributions of research
  Launched in 2006, IFLA’s members associations join to celebrate the landscape profession in April, a month notable for Earth Day (April 22nd) and the birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted (April 27th), founder of the landscape architecture profession in North America. And as every year, we call all our members to share with us the events they have planned on that occasion which will be published on a special issue of our News Brief as well as on IFLA’s website. 2010 was declared UN Year of Biodiversity and IFLA invites its members to use it as the theme of this year’s World LA Month: Landscape and Biodiversity. Please send your examples of contributions of research that would showcase the understanding of biodiversity to prevent its loss to Christine Bavassa at admin@iflaonline.org.
  More information: http://www.iflaonline.org/uploads/File/IFLA%20NEWS%20BRIEF_
  World%20LA%20Month_090317%281%29.pdf

29 January

• All about the environment : portal for environment public resources
  All about the environment is a portal with one main entrance point to access to the French public environment resources. It was created under the auspices of the Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Develoment and the Seas. This is a tool clearly conceived for the user. When we surf the web for information, in particular, on an environmental controversy, we carry out research on a topic rather than on an institution. In a second stage, we want to know who produced the information, above all to determine its veracity.
  More information in French: http://www.cursus.edu/?module=directory&action=getMod&subMod=PROD&uid=14019

28 January

• On-line launch of the Observatory for the Natural Heritage of the Poitevin Marshland (France)
  The Observatory of the Natural Heritage of the Poitevin Marshland is a tool which has as its aim to federate the group of biological follow-ups carried out in the humid area of the Poitevin Marshland. This project resulted from the willingness of key people from the territory, founders of the association of managers of the natural reserves of the Poitevin Marshland. The reflection on this tool was integrated in the Document of Natura 2000 Objectives in 2003.
  More information in French: http://www.biodiversite.parc-marais-poitevin.fr/-Un-observatoire-.html

• Technical Assistance to Colombia’s Parks
  NPS staff visited Colombia to evaluate potential assistance and exchange programs with Colombia's national natural parks. USAID and the Colombian government recently launched the "Landscape Conservation" initiative, intended to strengthen the capacity of Colombian park staff and provide economic benefits to local communities. NPS staff visited Colombian National Park headquarters staff in Bogota, as well as NGO partners including Fundacion Patrimonio, which will play a key role in implementing the initiative. They subsequently visited three protected areas in northeastern Colombia - Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park, Tayrona National Park, and Los Flamencos Flora and Fauna Sanctuary. NPS, along with USAID and its Colombian partners, is now developing initial technical assistance and training programs, some to be developed and implemented jointly with the U.S. Forest Service. For more details, contact Jon Putnam, at jonathan_putnam@nps.gov
  More information: http://www.nps.gov/oia

27 January

• (in French) Théorie de l’évolution et religions de 1859 à nos jours
  Au cours de cette "année Darwin 2009", le thème des relations entre la théorie de l’évolution et les religions sera au cœur de toutes les discussions, des séminaires et des tables rondes nombreux qui commencent à s’organiser à travers la France. Dans l’ensemble de celles-ci, le colloque "Théorie de l'évolution et religions de 1859 à nos jours" se distingue en abordant la question de fond sur le plan de la recherche sur l’histoire des idées et des systèmes de pensée.
  More information in French: http://www.archivesaudiovisuelles.fr/1958/home.asp?id=1958

• Website: ARKive - Images of life on Earth
  Wildlife films and photos are vital weapons in the battle to save the world's endangered plants and animals from the brink of extinction. So, with the help of the world’s best filmmakers, photographers, conservationists and scientists, ARKive is creating the ultimate multimedia guide to the world's endangered species. By revealing what these species look like, how they behave and what makes them special, we are aiming to shine the spotlight on the many thousands of endangered species, thereby raising their public profile and, ultimately, helping to ensure their conservation.
  More information: http://www.arkive.org/

• A biosphere school for Guinea Bissau
  The Spanish Autonomous Authority for National Parks (OAPN) has decided to devote the full prize-money of US$30,000 from the Sultan Qaboos Prize to setting up a school for the biosphere in Eticoga, a village in the Boloma Bijagos Biosphere Reserve of Guinea Bissau. The school will be the first to receive funding within a new OAPN project on environmental education which is setting up five schools in regions of priority interest for Spanish co-operation in Africa and Latin America.
  More information: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001865/186519E.pdf

• Healthier oceans vital for combating climate change
  A ‘blue carbon’ fund for the maintenance and rehabilitation of key marine ecosystems which act as an effective carbon sink should be considered by governments keen to combat climate change, says a report launched by UNEP, FAO and UNESCO simultaneously in Cape Town (South Africa), Nairobi (Kenya) and Rome (Italy) on 14 October.
  More information: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001865/186519E.pdf

26 January

• TARA EXPEDITION: Coral missions
  In the context of the survey of coral reef ecosystem the projects during Tara Oceans will deal with two research themes in particular.
  • Theme 1 - Biodiversity and biogeography of reef dwelling organisms in the Indo-Pacific
  • Theme 2 – Coral reef bioconstruction and bioerosion in a time of climate change

  More information: http://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/en/coral-missions.php?id_page=269

• TARA EXPEDITION: Why is the Red Sea red?
  Generally, people -aside from those of us who are color blind- think of the sea as a large extent of blue liquid. Why then, in this case, is it associated with the color red? It seems as though the designation "Red Sea" comes from antiquity. In the Bible, Hebrews were already referring to it as "the Sea of Edom" or "Sea of the Edomites" (Edom meaning 'red'). The Turks also called it "Kizildeniz", where "Kizil" once again is a word for the color red...
  More information: http://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/en/why-is-the-red-sea-blue.php?id_page=271

• Serpentine revealed because of its sismic properties and its anisotrophy
  When the rocks from the upper mantle are altered because of water infiltrations, serpentine is formed. This mineral has reologic properties that make the zones which are rich in altered rocks (small serpentines) less sismogenic. Being able to locate them is useful in better understanding the distribution of earthquakes. Researchers from Lyon (Laboratoire de sciences de la Terre INSU-CNRS/ENS) in colaboration with researchers at the Department of Geology, University of Illinois (USA) and from the Institute for Mineralogy and Petrology, ETH Zurich, (Switzerland) have studied the propagation of sismic waves in the mineral in the laboratory, following various orientations. Serpentine properties make it easily detectable with the use of sismic image techniques (Tomography)
  More information in French: http://www.insu.cnrs.fr/a3347,serpentine-revelee-par-ses-proprietes-sismiques-son-anisotropie.html

• It's time to protect Europe's seabirds
  In the last decade an estimated two million seabirds are thought to have died at the hands of the European fishing industry in the waters around Europe and the Atlantic. This slaughter has to stop, say BirdLife International and the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK), which are urging people to sign a petition to be sent to Maria Damanaki – designate European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries - to bring in long overdue measures to protect these birds.
  More information: http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/01/seabird_petition.html

• Preventing extinction through education
  With an estimated population of not more than 50 birds, the Critically Endangered Chinese Crested Tern Sterna bernsteini is China's most threatened bird and much rarer than the Giant Panda. The greatest threat to the tern's survival is egg collection by fishermen for food, which continues even though the breeding sites are within protected areas.
  More information: http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/01/cct.html

• International action to stop illegal hunting in Malta
  BirdLife Malta (BirdLife Partner) and the BirdLife International Partners in Europe and Africa have launched an international campaign aimed at Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi demanding the proper enforcement of the EU Birds Directive, which has been largely ignored since EU membership. Significant part of this campaign is an international petition, which can be signed here.
  More information: http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/01/malta_petition.html

• Overseas Collections Play Important Role In Controlling Invasive Species
  When melaleuca began invading the Florida Everglades and surrounding areas, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists knew of one place to look for a solution: the ARS Australian Biological Control Laboratory (ABCL).
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100119094257.htm

• Humans Caused Demise of Australia's Megafauna, Evidence Shows
  A new scientific paper co-authored by a University of Adelaide researcher reports strong evidence that humans, not climate change, caused the demise of Australia's megafauna -- giant marsupials, huge reptiles and flightless birds -- at least 40,000 years ago.
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100121141109.htm

• 'World's least known bird' found breeding in Afghanistan
  The breeding site of one of the world's least known birds, Large-billed Reed-warbler Acrocephalus orinus, has been discovered in the remote and rugged Wakhan Corridor of the Pamir Mountains of north-eastern Afghanistan. Using a combination of field observations, museum specimens, DNA sequencing, and the first known audio recording of the species, researchers verified the discovery by capturing and releasing almost 20 birds earlier this year, the largest number ever recorded.
  More information: http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2010/01/warbler_breeding.html

• Indian Premier League to partner with UNEP for a unique green initiative
  The Indian Premier League (IPL) today committed to a strong vision of green growth by launching a partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Under the new initiative, the IPL will green its cricket league and bring environmental awareness to millions of cricket fans around the world. Through this long-term partnership with UNEP, the IPL joins the ranks of global events, such as the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup, which are working with the UN Environment Programme to green their events.
  More information: http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?
  DocumentID=608&ArticleID=6450&l=en

25 January

• Paleoclimate in the Andes, back to the time when lakes and glaciers were connected
  Even when it was thought that the main continental caps (Antartic, Scandinavean-Siberian and Laurentide) had reached their biggest size around 21,000 years ago, the behaviour of the small mountain glaciers is much more varied and complex. Some may have reached their maximum advance several thousand years after the maximum global glacier, as a recently published study carried out by researchers from the CRPG (CNRS-INSU) has confirmed. These findings can be found in the Quaternary Science Reviews journal, and they result from the joint effort of scientists from the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (Unice, France), from Caltech (United States and from the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (Bolivia). This article provides a new chronology of the glacial fluctuations that have taken place in the slopes of the extinguished volcan Tunupa, which is located near the Salar de Uyuni in the Central Altiplane (Latin America).
  More information in French: http://www.insu.cnrs.fr/a3346,paleoclimat-andes-quand-lacs-glaciers-etaient-connectes.html

• Glaciers are melting in Alaska, but at a slower pace than expected
  Experts in glaciers at the Laboratory for Space Studies in Geophysics and Oceanography (LEGOS) together with their Canadian colleagues have stated that previous studies have largely overestimated mass loss from glaciers over the past 40 years, what questions the results published in 2002. Recent data from the SPOT 5 and ASTER have enabled researchers to entierely map mass loss in these glaciers, which contributed 0.12 mm/year to sea-level rise between 1962 and 2006, rather than 0.17 mm/year as initially estimated.
  More information in French: http://www.insu.cnrs.fr/a3349,glaciers-fondent-alaska-mais-moins-vite-que-prevu.html

22 January

• Support For Seascapes
  For a fisherman whose livelihood depends on the size of his daily catch, the establishment of a nearby “no-take zone” would seem to be a very unwelcome development, yet thanks to extensive consultations, children’s books, a theatre group and increased fishing yields, the recent expansion of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape has seen widespread local support.
  More information: http://www.conservation.org/FMG/Articles/Pages/
  support_for_seascapes_sulu_sulawesi_philippines.aspx

• 'Survival of the Cutest' Proves Darwin Right
  Domestic dogs have followed their own evolutionary path, twisting Darwin's directive 'survival of the fittest' to their own needs -- and have proved him right in the process, according to a new study by biologists Chris Klingenberg, of The University of Manchester and Abby Drake, of the College of the Holy Cross in the US.
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100120093525.htm

• Cave Reveals Southwest's Abrupt Climate Swings During Ice Age
  Ice Age climate records from an Arizona stalagmite link the Southwest's winter precipitation to temperatures in the North Atlantic, according to new research. The finding is the first to document that the abrupt changes in Ice Age climate known from Greenland also occurred in the southwestern U.S., said co-author Julia E. Cole of the University of Arizona in Tucson.
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100120161243.htm

• Fleet of High-Tech Robot 'Gliders' to Explore Oceans
  The Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences (IFM-GEOMAR) in Kiel, Germany, recently obtained the biggest fleet of so-called gliders in Europe. These instruments can explore the oceans like sailplanes up to a depth of 1000 metres. In doing so they only consume as much energy as a bike light. In the next years up to ten of these high-tech instruments will take measurements to better understand many processes in the oceans. Currently scientists and technicians prepare the devices for their first mission as a 'swarm' in the tropical Atlantic.
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100114162345.htm

• Mountain Plants Unable to Withstand Onslaught from Invasive Species
  An international research team has studied the distribution of plant species in mountainous environments. The study shows that mountain plant communities are not particularly resistant to invasion by exotic species. The scientists also warn that these may become more aggressive as global warming gets a grip.
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100121083404.htm

21 January

• Pennsylvania – Forests: Nature’s Water Purifier
  Next time you walk through a forest, imagine that the trees are affixed to the end of your kitchen faucet like a large green purifier, cleaning the water before it splashes, crystal-clear and cool, into your drinking glass. It’s hard to think of it that way; a natural forest is a messy thing, a chaotic jumble of plants and animals blanketed by leaf litter or pine needles. But the civil engineers who are responsible for safe drinking water have known for years that source water flowing from forested watersheds is easier and cheaper to treat than the water that runs off city streets or agricultural fields.
  More information: http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/pennsylvania/
  howwework/art30444.html?src=news

• Offering economic alternatives to protect coral reefs in Indonesia’s largest marine park
  Every day fishers secretly enter the waters of Wakatobi Island National Marine Park and collect at least two canoes full of coral reef matter. Sold as building materials in local and regional markets, the amount earned from this catch is equivalent to a day’s wages.
  More information: http://rareconservation.org/news/article.php?id=102

• Successful campaign completed! Brooke Nevitt focuses on Northern Mariana Islands
  Pride campaign manager, Brooke Nevitt launched a Pride campaign to protect coral reefs on the tiny island of Saipan, in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
  More information: http://rareconservation.org/news/article.php?id=99

• Big Plant-Eating Birds That Dwell With Others on Islands Live Longest
  Large, social, vegetarian, island-dwelling birds live longer than other birds, reports a new Cornell study that examined the relationships between evolution and life spans in birds. Some of the longest-living birds include flamingos, parrots, petrels and shearwaters, all of which can live 30 years and more, while many perching birds, grebes and woodpeckers have the shortest life spans of under 10 years, the researchers found.
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100118231148.htm

• Measuring Carbon Dioxide Over the Ocean
  Reliable measurements of the air-sea flux of carbon dioxide -- an important greenhouse gas -- are needed for a better understanding of the impact of ocean-atmosphere interactions on climate. A new method developed by researchers at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS) working in collaboration with colleagues at the Bjerknes Center for Climate Research (Bergen, Norway) promises to make this task considerably easier.
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100119103555.htm

• New Theory on the Origin of Primates
  A new model for primate origins is presented in Zoologica Scripta, published by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The paper argues that the distributions of the major primate groups are correlated with Mesozoic tectonic features and that their respective ranges are congruent with each evolving locally from a widespread ancestor on the supercontinent of Pangea about 185 million years ago.
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100119154710.htm

• Gardeners Must Unite to Save Britain's Wildlife
  To encourage urban biodiversity, neighbours should co-ordinate their gardening efforts to create a network of interlinking habitats where birds, bees and mammals can flourish. "Gardens don't exist in isolation, they link together to form interconnected habitat networks that should be planned and managed in conjunction with parks, nature reserves and the surrounding countryside," said Mark Goddard, PhD student in the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the University of Leeds and lead author of the paper. "One person may plant a tree or create a pond in their own back garden, but the survival of many of the mobile species that live in towns and cities, such as birds and mammals, is dependent on the provision of larger areas of habitat."
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100120093527.htm

• From the Ancient Amazonian Indians: 'Biochar' as a Modern Weapon Against Global Warming
  Scientists are reporting that "biochar" -- a material that the Amazonian Indians used to enhance soil fertility centuries ago -- has potential in the modern world to help slow global climate change. Mass production of biochar could capture and sock away carbon that otherwise would wind up in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas. Their report appears in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology, a bi-weekly journal.
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100113172252.htm

20 January

• Red Grouper to Be 'Frank Lloyd Wrights of the Sea'
  To the casual observer in the Gulf of Mexico, the seemingly sluggish red grouper is more of a couch potato than a busy beaver. But a new study led by researchers at The Florida State University reveals the fish to be both architect and ecosystem engineer. Most abundant along Florida's west coast but also found on watery ledges and in crevices and caverns from North Carolina to Brazil, the red grouper excavates and maintains complex, three-dimensional structures that provide critical habitats for the spiny lobster and many other commercially important species in the Gulf of Mexico. The researchers watched it work hard to remove sand from the sea floor, exposing hard rocks crucial to corals and sponges and the animals they shelter.
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100119172843.htm

• Why Hasn't Earth Warmed as Much as Expected? New Report on Climate Change Explores the Reasons
  Planet Earth has warmed much less than expected during the industrial era based on current best estimates of Earth's "climate sensitivity" -- the amount of global temperature increase expected in response to a given rise in atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2). In a study to be published in the Journal of Climate, a publication of the American Meteorological Society, Stephen Schwartz, of Brookhaven National Laboratory, and colleagues examine the reasons for this discrepancy.
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100119112050.htm

• Scientists Identify Ecuador's Yasuni National Park as One of Most Biodiverse Places on Earth
  A team of scientists has documented that Yasuní National Park, in the core of the Ecuadorian Amazon, shatters world records for a wide array of plant and animal groups, from amphibians to trees to insects. The authors also conclude that proposed oil development projects represent the greatest threat to Yasuní and its biodiversity. "This study demonstrates that Yasuní is the most diverse area in South America, and possibly the world," said Dr. Peter English of The University of Texas at Austin. "Amphibians, birds, mammals and vascular plants all reach maximum diversity in Yasuní." The study is published in the open-access scientific journal PLoS ONE.
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100119133510.htm

• The Nature Conservancy Completes New Drainage Ditches in Steuben County
  Folks in Steuben County could be seeing something different along the many agricultural fields in the landscape. A different kind of ditch, that is. The Nature Conservancy recently completed over 3.5 miles of alternative ditch design in Steuben County. Known as the two-stage ditch, the design incorporates a floodplain into the ditch. This allows the water more area to spread out and decreases velocity. This increases stability of the ditch and improves ecological or natural function.
  More information: http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/indiana/press/press4355.html

19 January

• The Yacht Club of Monaco and Monaco scientists comit to Tara Oceans
  In this international year of biodiversity as declared by the UNO, it is under the presidency of H.S.H. Prince Albert II and in the presence of numerous personalities among whom HEM Odile Remik-Adim, Ambassador of France in Monaco, HEM Bernard Fautrier, Vice-president of the Foundation Albert II, Mr Laurent Stefanini, French Ambassador delegated to the Environment, Mr Jean-Charles Sacotte, Chairman of the Board of the INDEMER, Professor Patrick Rampal and Mr Denis Allemand respectively President and Director of the Scientific Centre of Monaco, Professor Raoul Caruba, President of the Water Symposium, that the Yacht Club de Monaco invited its members to a new maritime conference.
  More information: http://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/en/the-yacht-club-of-monaco-and-monaco-scientists-comit-to-tara-oceans.php?id_page=262

• Results of 2009 urban mammals survey
  International Year Biodiversity partner, the People’s Trust for Endangered Species has published the results of their annual survey of urban mammals, Living with Mammals. In 2009, volunteers surveyed mammals across 500 urban sites in the UK. The results of the survey, the conservation charity’s eighth, reinforce the fact that urban sites provide important habitats for encouraging biodiversity. The survey records the public’s observations of mammals and their telltale signs in the built environment, helping provide a picture of how towns and cities can support our native wildlife.
  More information: http://www.biodiversityislife.net/?q=node/249

• Protecting global biodiversity beyond 2010
  A three day workshop began today in London to agree post-2010 biodiversity targets ahead of the Nagoya Biodiversity Summit in October. The meeting, attended by over 50 countries, is being jointly hosted by the Convention on Biological Diversity, the UK and Brazil, who is seen as leading developing countries in terms of biodiversity issues. The event is being co-chaired by Huw Irranca-Davis, Minister for Marine and Natural Environment, Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra), and Maria Cecilia Wey de Brito, Brazilian Secretary for Biodiversity and Forests.
  More information: http://www.biodiversityislife.net/?q=node/250

• Seafood ecolabels under the spotlight in new WWF report
  The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) comes out on top in a new report commissioned by WWF that reveals poor performance among other assessed seafood ecolabelling schemes and calls for improvements across the board to strengthen their effectiveness. Accenture’s non-profit practice, Accenture Development Partnerships (ADP) compared and ranked seven fishery certification schemes that use ecolabels on seafood products against a set of WWF criteria that focus on the schemes’ effectiveness in addressing the health of fisheries and oceans. The MSC is ranked the highest in the ADP report, Assessment of On-Pack, Wild-Capture Seafood Sustainability Certification Programmes and Seafood Ecolabels, with a score of just over 95 percent compliance to the assessment’s criteria requirements.
  More information: http://www.panda.org/wwf_news/?186062/Seafood-ecolabels-under-the-spotlight-in-new-WWF-report

• Tree planting in Kenya's Mau Complex signals new beginnings for a critical ecosystem
  Kenya took a step to restore its diminishing water towers and address rapid environmental degradation when it launched a tree planting drive in the Kiptunga area of the Mau Forest Complex on Friday. 20,000 tree seedlings were planted on 20 hectares at a ceremony attended by Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Deputy Executive Director, Angela Cropper.
  More information: http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=
  608&ArticleID=6447&l=en

• Encouraging biodiversity in brands, labels and certifications of agro-products
  Biodiversity is not much accounted for in the of recognition signals for agro-products, that is, in brands, labels, AOC or other certifications awarded to wine, cheese, meat, fruits, legumes, and cereal productions. However, there are favourable ways to foster biodiversity that are claiming to be encouraged. This is the result of a study published today by the French UICN Committee, in cooperation with the Federation of Regional Natural Parks of France. This study is based on the analysis of around fifty recognition signals in France.
  More information in French: http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?4517/Encourager-la-biodiversite-dans-les-marques-labels-et-certifications-de-productions-agricoles

• Northern Forests Do Not Benefit from Lengthening Growing Season, Study Finds
  Forests in northern areas are stunted, verging on the edge of survival. It has been anticipated that climate change improves their growth conditions. A study published in Forest Ecology and Management journal shows that due to their genetic characteristics trees are unable to properly benefit from the lengthening growing season. Furthermore, the researchers were surprised to find that the mortality of established trees considerably promotes the adaptation of forests to the changing environment.
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100112121940.htm

• Wilder Weather Exerts a Stronger Influence on Biodiversity Than Steadily Changing Conditions
  An increase in the variability of local conditions could do more to harm biodiversity than slower shifts in climate, a new study has found. Climate scientists predict more frequent storms, droughts, floods and heat waves as the Earth warms. Although extreme weather would seem to challenge ecosystems, the effect of fluctuating conditions on biodiversity actually could go either way. Species able to tolerate only a narrow range of temperatures, for example, may be eliminated, but instability in the environment can also prevent dominant species from squeezing out competitors.
  More information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100115182629.htm

15 January

• Flyer on UNESCO and the International Year of Biodiversity
  Biodiversity conservation, on which every aspect of human well-being and the achievement of the international development goals depends, can only be tackled by taking into account the multidisciplinary dimension of the challenge it represents. This is where UNESCO can effectively contribute to building and fi lling the gaps in the scientifi c knowledge base on biodiversity, by taking the cultural dimensions of biodiversity use into account and by raisingawareness, educating and communicating on the vital importance of its sustainable use.
  More information: http://www.unesco.org/mab/doc/iyb/UNESCOandIYB.pdf

• Island & Coastal Biosphere Reserves in the Mediterranean. Models for Sustainable Development
  The international seminar on “Island & Coastal Biosphere Reserves in the Mediterranean; Models for Sustainable Development” took place in Syracuse, Italy from 10-12 November 2009. The event was jointly organised by the Venice Office and the MAB Secretariat, in cooperation with the Italian Ministry for Environment, Territory and Sea (Rome), Consorzio Plemmirio – Marine Protected Area in Syracuse (Sicily) and Italian National Commission for UN ESCO. Special emphasis was given to the integrated biodiversity conservation of natural resources and sustainable development. Building on experiences developed in insular and coastal BRs of the Mediterranean, the Seminar explored a new coordinated experimental programme so to develop management guidelines and models.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46497&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

• Worsening North Sea conditions could be increasing Atlantic puffins mortality in winter
  A recent increase in winter mortality in Atlantic puffins could be due to worsening conditions within the North Sea, according to new findings published in the scientific journal Marine Biology. The study used geolocation technology to track puffins from the Isle of May National Nature Reserve, home to the largest colony of puffins in the North Sea. The puffin population on the Isle of May has declined by 30% in recent years. The research team included scientists from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the British Antarctic Survey and was led by Professor Mike Harris, Emeritus Research Fellow at CEH, who has studied puffins for 37 years.
  More information: http://www.ceh.ac.uk/news/news_archive/2010_news_item_01.html

• UNESCO organizing two events to launch International Year of Biodiversity
  This year, 2010, has been proclaimed International Biodiversity Year by the United Nations and kicks off with an inaugural event (21-22 January) and a scientific conference (25-29 January) organized by UNESCO at headquarters. These activities aim to present an overview of what we know about biodiversity and to boost awareness of the alarming rate of biodiversity loss.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=47217&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

A World of Science (January–March 2010)
IN FOCUS
Wildlife in a warming world
NEWS
Science must be a priority, says new UNESCO head
Concern over budget for science
Colombia hosts Year’s largest space marathon
Launch of consortium for science in the South
Three science prizes awarded
A biosphere school for Guinea Bissau
Healthier oceans vital for combating climate change
Collapse of karez forces Iraqis to abandon homes
Sustainable development needs cultural dimension
Two Nobel Prizes for L’ORÉAL–UNESCO laureates
18 countries test tsunami system
INTERVIEW
Farouk El-Baz returns to the Moon
HORIZONS
The Bushbuckridge healers’ path to justice
Can a blue dye help save the Aral Sea?
IN BRIEF
Diary
New releases
http://portal.unesco.org/science/en/ev.php-URL_ID=8188&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html