Extreme weather events are subject of a UNESCO
workshop from 27 to 29 September
UNESCO and the World Climate Research Programme (WRCP) are jointly
holding a workshop on methods for measuring and forecasting extreme
climate-related events. It will be held at UNESCO (Room II) from
27 to 29 September.
Over the past decades, extreme weather and climate events (e.g.
floods, heat-waves, drought, hurricanes, sea-level changes, etc)
have increased in frequency and intensity. In order to improve our
understanding of these phenomena and our ability to predict them,
reliable data are needed. However, in many cases, either these data
are lacking, or the simulation models are inadequate. This is why
it was decided to bring together international climate experts from
a range of specialisms (e.g. meteorology, hydrology and oceanography),
statisticians and experts in data production (e.g. satellite observation,
climate modelling, weather forecasting, etc) at UNESCO.
More information:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/
extreme_weather_events_are_subject_of_
a_unesco_workshop_from_27_to_29_september/
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND WWF - Your Roar For Tigers
One of the main targets for WWF in 2010 is to get a solid political
deal that will guarantee the survival of tigers in the wild. With
as few as 3,200 still living in their ever decreasing habitat, the
species is on the verge of extinction. But the good news is that
there has never been a better chance to guarantee the tiger's survival!
At the end of November heads of government from the 13 nations that
are home to the remaining wild tiger populations will come together
for a historic meeting: The Tiger Summit.
This is the first of its kind and a unique event, a defining moment
for tiger conservation. And we must make it work! This is why we
have to turn it into a priority issue on the political agenda for
all these countries and we need YOUR help to make that happen. We
need to make some noise. We need you to get in front of your computer
and ROAR for tigers!
More information:
http://nl.panda.org/inxmail?i4710vcfhqe0btq4gq0xgn3a528
TARA OCEANS EXPEDITION - Hunting the Eddy
After exploring the Benguela Current last week, we’ve
been searching since yesterday morning for eddies. Particularly
the eddies in the Aiguilles Current that cross the southern Atlantic
Ocean. Tara Oceans expedition had begun to observe eddies in the
Mozambique Channel where they form. When they reach the level of
the southernmost point of Africa, certain eddies continue to move
in an east-northeasterly direction, and enter a new ocean.
This is what interests our scientists, and there’s nothing
better than finding ourselves in the middle of one of these whirlpools,
called ‘gyres’ in English. But easier said than done!
Our search starts with the help of satellite imaging which detects
gyres in relation to the level of the sea. Then oceanography takes
over.
More information:
http://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/en/hunting-the-eddy.php?id_page=438
Call for candidacies : Master Research
Research-Ecotoxicology, Environment and Water Management (MEEGE).
Quisqueya University (Haiti). Deadline: November 28th, 2010.
The Dean Office from the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Architecture
(FSGA) of the Quisqueya University (UniQ) has informed the university
community and professionals in Environmental Sciences of the fact
that they will welcome entry applications to the French-speaking
university specialty of “Research master-Ecotoxicology, Environment
and Water Management (MEEGE)” on September 1st-November 28th.
More information in French:
http://www.auf.org/communication-information/appels-offres/haiti2010.html?var=lettre_AUF_63
Biodiversity and the Fight against Poverty-pan-African
Conference (Libreveille-Gabon)
Gabon and the Convention Secretariat on biodiversity hosted the
first top conference of the African countries on: “Biodiversity
and the Fight against Poverty: What chances for Africa?”,
from the 6th to the 8th, September 2010.
This Pan-African conference allowed a reflection that will lead
to the consecution of specific activities for the assessment of
biodiversity, the services of ecosystems and natural renewable resources
as contributing factors to the economic growth and the reduction
of poverty.
More information in French:
http://www.cbfp.org/evenements_fr/events/biodiv_librevillesept2010.html
European Union Public Consultation on Protecting our natural
capital: an EU strategy to conserve biodiversity and ensure the
provision of ecosystem services by 2020
Many authoritative reports confirm that global biodiversity
remains under severe threat, with losses occurring at 100 to 1000
times the normal rate. More than a third of species assessed are
facing extinction and an estimated 60% of the Earth’s ecosystems
have been degraded in the last 50 years. In 2001, the EU set itself
the target to halt biodiversity loss in the EU by 2010. Efforts
to tackle biodiversity loss were subsequently stepped up, and an
EU Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) was adopted by the Commission
in 2006 to accelerate progress. Despite the efforts to date, however,
there are clear indications that the EU has not achieved its target.
The objective of this consultation is to gather input from a wide
range of stakeholders on possible policy options for the European
Union's post-2010 EU biodiversity strategy, which will be assessed
by the Commission as part of the process of its development.
More information:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/biodecline.htm
Appointment of IUCN Head of Global Protected Areas Programme
It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of Mr Trevor Sandwith
as IUCN’s new Head of the Global Protected Areas Programme.
This appointment is the result of a comprehensive recruitment process
which included a strong selection of candidates.
Trevor, of South African nationality, is an educator, biologist
and conservation strategist, having worked in nature conservation
planning and management in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia,
and more recently in the US and Latin America. Initially working
as a wildlife ecologist in and around protected areas in KwaZulu-Natal,
he took up the position of Head of Planning for the Natal Parks
Board, a nature conservation agency in South Africa, focusing on
the role of protected area systems in sustaining economic and social
development. During this phase in his career, he coordinated the
submission of nominations resulting in the listing of the Greater
St Lucia Wetland Park and the Okhahlamba-Drakensberg Park as World
Heritage Sites.
More information:
http://www.iucn.org/
Five Years After Katrina, Big Alien Rodents Return. Louisiana
(USA)
Five years after Hurricane Katrina whacked down the population of
the invasive, wetland-munching rodents in Louisiana, nutria have
bounced back.
At the same time, some coastal marshes are rebounding too, because
of a boom in Louisiana's nutria trappers.
The 2005 to 2006 trapping season, which runs from November 20 to
March 31, yielded 168,843 nutria tails. The 2009 to 2010 season,
by contrast, set a record: 445,963 nutria tails, according to state
figures. Trappers hunt the rodents for money and discard their carcasses.
More information:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/08/100826-hurricane-katrina-gulf-oil-spill-five-years-nutria/
Spinal gap of barbeled dragonfishes mystery solved - NHM
- National History Museum - United Kingdom
The mystery of why a group of deep sea fishes has a gap between
their skull and spine has been solved by an international team of
scientists, including those at the Natural History Museum.
Large sharp teeth, a thread-like skin extension on their chins called
a barbel, and protruding jaws make barbeled dragonfishes striking
enough.
But they also appear to have a number of vertebrae missing that
would normally connect their skulls to their vertebral column, or
backbone, an observation that has puzzled scientists for many years.
More information:
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2010/august/spinal-gap-of-barbeled-dragonfishes-mystery-solved75762.html
TARA OCEANS - A second year of expedition gets underway
On 5 September 2010, exactly one year after setting sail
from the port of Lorient in Brittany, France the Tara Oceans Expedition
will leave Cape Town, South Africa heading east into the second
of its planned three year journey.
During this second year, Tara will cross the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans, from east to west, sailing from Cape Town to arrive in Auckland,
New Zealand in August, 2011.
More information:
http://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/en/a-second-year-of-expedition-gets-underway.php?id_page=429
A Marine Strategy Directive to save Europe's seas and oceans
Find out more about the toll climate change is taking on marine
ecosystems and the work carried out by the Commission to achieve
a healthy marine environment and make ecosystems more resilient
to climate change.
The aim of the European Union's ambitious Marine Strategy Framework
Directive (adopted in June 2008) is to protect more effectively
the marine environment across Europe. It aims to achieve good environmental
status of the EU's marine waters by 2020 and to protect the resource
base upon which marine-related economic and social activities depend.
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive constitutes the vital environmental
component of the Union's future maritime policy, designed to achieve
the full economic potential of oceans and seas in harmony with the
marine environment.
More information:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/marine/index_en.htm
Coal power opposition goes global
Almost 10,000 people from 100 countries have objected to plans for
a new coal-fired power station at Hunterston in Ayrshire, Scotland,
it was revealed today (Friday 13 August) by WWF.
With one week to go before the official public consultation period
ends, approaching 10,000 people have submitted objections by letter,
postcard or via the environmental organisation’s website -
http://wwf.panda.org/action/hunterston
. From Bangladesh and Bulgaria to Uganda and Venezuela, WWF said
that objections are pouring in daily to join the thousands already
received from local residents and other concerned individuals throughout
Scotland.
More information:
http://wwf.panda.org/?194545/Coal-power-opposition-goes-global
Earth's Overdraft Notice: On August 21st, we exceed nature's
budget
It has taken humanity less than nine months to exhaust its ecological
budget for the year, according to data from Global Footprint Network,
a California-based environmental research organization.
Global Footprint Network calculates nature's supply in the form
of biocapacity, the amount of resources the planet regenerates each
year, and compares that to human demand: the amount it takes to
produce all the living resources we consume and absorb our carbon
dioxide emissions. Its data reveal that, as of August 21, humanity
will have demanded all the ecological services – from filtering
CO2 to producing the raw materials for food – that nature
can provide this year. From now until the end of the year, we will
meet our ecological demand by depleting resource stocks and accumulating
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
More information:
http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/news/?194606/Earths-Overdraft-Notice-On-August-21st-we-exceed-natures-budget
Filipino government cracks down on sea turtle poachers
Two years after their arrests, 13 Vietnamese poachers caught with
the corpses of 101 endangered hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata)
near El Nido, northern Palawan, in the Philippines, have been sentenced
to jail time and fines.
On June 22, Puerto Princesa’s Regional Trial Court, Branch
50, ruled that the poachers should face jail time ranging from six
to 18 months, and fines in connection with the incident.
Since the poachers have been in jail since Sept. 2 2008, the court
also ruled that they now will only pay the fines.
More information:
http://wwf.panda.org/?194505/Filipino-government-cracks-down-on-sea-turtle-poachers
Governments must ramp up climate change talks ahead of
Cancun meet - WWF
WWF says governments who participated in the third Bonn climate
change talks this week now must ramp up their negotiations, or they
will waste a crucial opportunity to move forward in Cancun later
this year.
"Governments can and must make progress on areas such as adaptation,
finance and ending deforestation at COP 16 in Cancun," said
Gordon Shepherd, Leader of WWF's Global Climate Initiative. "But
they will have to increase their efforts now and start seeking areas
of convergence in a much more serious way." Reducing emissions
from deforestation and degradation (REDD) is an example where agreements
already achieved in Copenhagen have been opened up again on such
basic issues as the definition of what it covers.
More information:
http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/news/?194447/Governments-must-ramp-up-climate-change-talks-ahead-of-Cancun-meet---WWF
Malaga Bay declared national park after tough environmental
battle
After months of intense debate and only days before a new government
took office, Colombia announced that a massive swath of its Pacific
coast, also an important spawning ground for humpback whales, has
become the country’s newest national park.
Environment Minister Carlos Costa announced on Aug. 5th that Malaga
Bay Uramba National Natural Park would span 47,094-hectares along
the central part of Colombia’s Pacific coast. The area is
recognized as one of the world’s most important sites for
the reproduction of humpback whales, with 500 to 700 visiting each
year.
It’s also home to some 60 amphibious species, 148 species
of saltwater and freshwater fish, 25 species of sea and beach birds,
141 species of molluscs, 99 species of crustacean, 400 species of
trees, plus swamps and a huge variety of flora.
More information:
http://wwf.panda.org/?194527/Malaga-Bay-declared-national-park-after-tough-environmental-battle
Analysis shows up deadly combination in fire disaster States
Analysis of catastrophic wildfires in Russia and Greece has highlighted
a deadly combination of climate change impacts and the neglect of
forest management, WWF offices in the two fire-prone countries said
today.
In the joint statement, WWF-Russia and WWF-Greece highlighted common
elements of the catastrophic wildfires that hit Russia during the
first two weeks of August and the tragic Greek "black summer"
of 2007.
While the Russian fires have been brought under control, fires are
now flaring up in Greece where the national budgetary crisis has
seen fire defences downgraded.
More information:
http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/news/?uNewsID=194650
September 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:
- 2011 Gallipoli Volunteer Program - Bookings Now Open
- Australian Geographic - Special Members' Offer
- Join Conservation Volunteers in the Mountains of Japan!
- Naturewise Conservation Holidays
- Plant A Virtual Tree!
- WetlandCare Australia National Art and Photography Competition
2011
- Find Your Project Here!
More information:
http://www.conservationvolunteers.com.au/
Tiny, New, Pea-Sized Frog is Old World's Smallest
The smallest frog in the Old World (Asia, Africa and Europe) and
one of the world's tiniest was discovered inside and around pitcher
plants in the heath forests of the Southeast Asian island of Borneo.
The pea-sized amphibian is a species of microhylid, which, as the
name suggests, is composed of miniature frogs under 15 millimeters.
The discovery published in the taxonomy journal Zootaxa was made
by Drs. Indraneil Das and Alexander Haas of the Institute of Biodiversity
and Environmental Conservation at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak,
and Biozentrum Grindel und Zoologisches Museum of Hamburg, respectively,
with support from the Volkswagen Foundation. Dr. Das is also leading
one of the scientific teams that is searching for the world's lost
amphibians, a campaign organized by Conservation International and
IUCN's Amphibians Specialist Group.
More information:
http://www.conservation.org/newsroom/pressreleases/Pages/Pea-Sized-Frog-Old-World-Smallest.aspx
New "Pacific Oceanscape" Makes History
An unprecedented agreement toward the cooperative stewardship of
a vast swath of Pacific Ocean has been reached, and conservationists
are heralding it as among the most ambitious, innovative, and collaborative
marine initiatives on Earth.
Meeting in Port Villa, Vanuatu at the annual Pacific Islands Leadership
Forum, Heads of State and Governments from 15 nations endorsed a
draft framework for the long-term, sustainable, and cooperative
management of 38.5 million km2 (nearly 24 million square miles)
surrounding their collective islands, or comparatively larger than
the land size of Canada, the United States and Mexico – combined.
More information:
http://www.conservation.org/newsroom/pressreleases/Pages/
Pacific_Oceanscape_creation.aspx
A titillating surprise: new species of titi monkey is discovered
in the Amazon
A scientific expedition to the Colombian Amazon has revealed a new
species of titi monkey (Callicebus caquetensis), Conservation International
announced today. However, the exciting news is tinged with concern
as researchers from the National University of Colombia who discovered
the new primate consider it to be critically endangered due to rapid
loss of the forest where it lives and its small population.
More information:
http://www.conservation.org/newsroom/pressreleases/Pages/New-Species-Titi-Monkey-Discovered-Amazon.aspx
In Guatemala, Environmental Awareness Starts on the Farm
In February, Rainforest Alliance communications associate Charlie
Watson visited several coffee farms in Guatemala that are part of
a special initiative developed by Nestlé Nespresso* and the
Rainforest Alliance. Here, Charlie describes the changes he saw
taking place while visiting those farms...
While the journey from my home near Guatemala City to Las Brisas
Cooperative in Guatemala’s Jalapa region can be beautiful
-- rolling hills, steep rocky climbs and diverse natural vegetation
-- it also shows a more unpleasant side of Guatemala. Polluted rivers,
bare and dusty open land, and roadside litter -- these are the realities
of a country still fighting to instil widespread respect for the
environment.
More information:
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/blog/entry.cfm?number=116
A Paper Trail That Leads to Well-Managed Forests
A blog may seem like a strange place to talk about paper -- after
all, these words were written on a computer, uploaded to a server
and are probably being read on a desktop, smartphone or laptop --
but even in this age of virtual communication, paper still plays
a big role in our daily lives. The United States remains the largest
consumer of paper in the world, using approximately 650 pounds of
paper per person each year.
Nearly half of the trees that are cut down in the US every year
are used to produce pulp and paper. Many of these trees are harvested
from intensively managed plantations that took the place of healthy,
biodiversity-rich forests. In addition, poorly managed paper production
can contaminate natural environments through the improper use and
disposal of bleaches and the creation of sludge byproducts.
More information:
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/blog/entry.cfm?number=114
The Rainforest Alliance Releases New Verification Mark
to Recognize Achievements in Sustainability
The Rainforest Alliance today released its new verification
mark to recognize businesses and projects that have achieved significant
and measurable sustainability milestones. The new mark is awarded
to forest carbon projects and tourism and certain forestry enterprises
that meet standards developed by the Rainforest Alliance itself
or by other organizations with which the Rainforest Alliance is
aligned.
More information:
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/news.cfm?id=verification_marks
A New Way of Life
In Guatemala's Petén region -- where deforestation is destroying
some 111,000 acres (45,000 hectares) of rainforest each year --
a transformation is taking place. A community who once relied on
slash-and-burn agriculture now works as highly skilled carpenters.
The staggering statistic: working as farmers, each village member
used, on average, 12 acres (5 hectares) of forest per year for what
was, in the end, a low income. Now, community members use just one
tree per year, earn a better income, conserve vital forestland and
protect local biodiversity...
More information:
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/news.cfm?id=peten_woodcrafts
UK Ruddy Duck population continues to fall - 200 adults
remaining
The UK's Food and Environment Research Agency (fera) has just circulated
an update on the UK Ruddy Duck Eradication Programme. Since the
start of the eradication programme in September 2005, the UK Ruddy
Duck population continues to fall, from an estimated 4,400 to around
200 adults by July 2010.
The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) is a North American bird introduced
to the UK over 50 years ago. A small number escaped from captivity
and formed a feral population which numbered around 6,000 by January
2000.
More information:
http://www.unep-aewa.org/news/news_elements/2010/ruddy_duck_update_2010.htm
Search for lost amphibians
Teams of scientists around the world have launched an unprecedented
search in the hope of rediscovering 100 species of "lost"
amphibians – animals considered potentially extinct but that
may be holding on in a few remote places – Conservation International
and the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group announced today.
This search, which is taking place in 14 countries on five continents,
is the first ever coordinated effort to find such a large number
of "lost" creatures and comes as global amphibian
populations are suffering a shocking decline – with more than
30 per cent of all species threatened with extinction.
More information:
http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5858/Search-for-lost-amphibians
Ghost Forest art project praised by IUCN Director General
IUCN Director General, Julia Marton-Lefevre, has accepted the role
of ambassador for a major art installation called “Ghost
Forest”, by British artist Angela Palmer.
Ghost Forest consists of 10 primary rainforest tree stumps which
were brought to Europe from a commercially logged forest in Western
Africa. The work is intended “…to highlight the
alarming depletion of the world’s natural resources, and in
particular the continued rate of deforestation, …which impacts
upon climate, biodiversity and the livelihoods of indigenous people”,
Palmer explains.
More information:
http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5857/ghostforest
IUCN welcomes Tonga as new State Member
The Government of the Kingdom of Tonga has officially announced
its decision to join IUCN by endorsing the Union’s Statutes,
becoming the 84th State Member of the world’s largest and
oldest environmental network. The Ministry of Environment and Climate
Change has been designated by the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga
as its liaison with the IUCN Secretariat.
IUCN extends its warmest welcome to Tonga, widely known as the “friendly
islands” and the last remaining Polynesian monarchy. An archipelago
in the South Pacific Ocean, Tonga comprises a scattered distribution
of 169 islands with a total land area of 747 square kilometres.
Endowed with tropical beaches, native rainforests and active volcanoes,
the Kingdom hosts a wealth of unique species of plants and animals.
Owning an Exclusive Economic Zone of 200 nautical miles, the greatest
variety of fauna for the island Kingdom lies in its marine environment
- with a wide variety of fish and crustaceans. Tongans are undoubtedly
intimately connected to nature and have over the years certainly
placed their stand in the region in the fight against climate change.
The diversity of Tonga’s natural resources, its history, its
cultural diversity, and its commitments to a sustainable, healthy
environment, make us proud to welcome this island Kingdom as a new
State Member of our Union.
More information:
http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5765/IUCN-welcomes-new-State-Member-Tonga
African freshwater species threatened - livelihoods at
stake
Twenty-one per cent of freshwater species in continental Africa
are threatened with extinction, putting the livelihoods of millions
of people at risk. With so much to lose, inland waters must be managed
not just for their supply of freshwater but also to sustain the
abundant life within.
In the most comprehensive assessment of its kind, 5,167 African
freshwater species were evaluated by 200 scientists over a five-year
period for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, including
all known freshwater fish, molluscs, crabs, dragonflies and damselflies,
and selected families of aquatic plants. Some of the biggest threats
to African freshwater species come from agriculture, water abstraction,
dams and invasive alien species.
More information:
http://www.iucn.org/fr/presse/communiques/?5898/1/African-freshwater-species-threatened---livelihoods-at-stake
A sea of celebrations to protect the Caspian
Renowned for its caviar among the world's epicureans, the Caspian
Sea boasts much more wildlife than its famous sturgeon fish. The
world's largest enclosed body of water is a unique ecosystem and
home to over 400 endemic species. But for the last two decades,
the Caspian Sea is increasingly exposed to the threat of pollution
from agricultural run-off, oil and gas exploitation and industrial
waste.
Today, five countries are celebrating "Caspian Day"
to highlight the environmental risks faced by the sea and their
effect on the wider region.
More information:
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?
DocumentID=646&ArticleID=6716
Young Olympic athletes carry the torch for the environment
Over 3,600 athletes aged 14-18 from across the world will have a
chance to calculate the carbon emissions generated by their training
sessions, showers and travel as part of a United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) social responsibility initiative at the inaugural
Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.
The talented young athletes at the Games will not only assess the
environmental impact of their daily activities, they will also learn
how they can contribute positively to sustainable development in
their communities.
More information:
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?
DocumentID=646&ArticleID=6725
Old practices, new solutions: indigenous groups sign up
for conservation
Although thousands of miles apart, the lush Kaya Kinondo forest
on Kenya's eastern coast and the sprawling Cerro Chango reserve
in the hills of southern Mexico have more in common than one might
think. Both are exceptionally diverse habitats, teeming with plant
and animal species, but, more unusually, the two areas are also
administered by indigenous communities (the Digo-Mijikenda and Chinanteco
peoples), whose traditional practices dictate how these rich habitats
are managed. In some cases, local customs take precedence over the
laws of national governments.
More information:
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?
DocumentID=646&ArticleID=6712
United Nations decade for deserts and the fight against
desertification
With more lands around the world facing increasing deterioration
and degradation, the United Nations General Assembly declared the
United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight Against Desertification,
which will run from January 2010 to December 2020 to promote action
that will protect the drylands. The Decade is an opportunity to
make critical changes to secure the long-term ability of drylands
to provide value for humanity's well being.
More information:
http://unddd.unccd.int/
Sea Education Association's decades of plastics research
in the western North Atlantic Ocean published in the prestigious
scientific journal, Science
Despite growing awareness of the problem of plastic pollution
in the world's oceans, little solid scientific information existed
to illustrate the nature and scope of the issue. This week, a team
of researchers from Sea Education Association (SEA), Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and the University of Hawaii (UH)
published a study of plastic marine debris based on data collected
over 22 years by SEA undergraduate students in the latest issue
of the journal Science.
A previously undefined expanse of the western North Atlantic has
been found to contain high concentrations of plastic debris, comparable
to those observed in the region of the Pacific commonly referred
to as the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch".
More information:
http://www.sea.edu/press/index.html
Canadian Prime Minister announces High Arctic Research
Station coming to Cambridge Bay
“Through our Northern Strategy our Government is committed
to realizing the full potential of Canada’s North”
said Prime Minister Harper. “By building this leading-edge
research station, we are advancing Canada’s knowledge of the
Arctic’s resources and climate while at the same time ensuring
that Northern communities are prosperous, vibrant and secure.”
The Canadian High Arctic Research Station will be a world-class,
year-round, multidisciplinary facility exploring the cutting-edge
of Arctic science and technology issues. It will create jobs, strengthen
Canada’s Arctic sovereignty, promote economic and social development
and it will help protect and understand the northern environment,
contributing to the overall quality of life for Northerners and
all Canadians.
More information:
http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=3599
WOODLAND TRUST (united Kingdom) - More Trees More Good
Campaign
The UK is one of the least wooded countries in Europe with only
4% native woodland cover. But we need at least twice as many native
trees and woods for the sake of wildlife and people, to combat climate
change and improve our environment. Though ambitious, this aim is
ultimately achievable – but only if we work together. From
farmers and communities to schools and companies, we all have a
role to play.
If you have land, we can help you plant trees on it. If you’d
prefer to support our cause financially, we’ll make sure your
money goes towards creating more places rich in woods and trees.
Let’s form a vast nationwide tree-planting movement that everyone
can join – and work alongside each other to create a well-wooded
and greener UK.
More information:
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/more-trees-more-good/Pages/campaign.aspx
Europe's coasts: reconciling development and conservation
Europe’s coastal zones are under increasing pressure from
erosion, pollution, climate change, urbanisation and tourism. Such
pressures threaten entire ecosystems — vital not only for
wildlife but also for the economy and human well-being. The European
Environment Agency (EEA) takes a closer look at the state of coastal
ecosystems and policy responses to the pressures affecting them.
More information:
http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/europe2019s-coasts-reconciling-development-and-conservation
Himalaya: what happened during the collision of India and
Asia?
Since the 60s, specialists have attributed the origin of the Himalayan
chain to the collision between India and Eurasia; however, the exact
modalities of the Himalaya formation are still a subject t of debate.
Is it the result of the overlapping of continental layers or of
the ejection of partly meted rocks? The research published in the
journals Earth and Planetary Science Letters and Tectonics on the
analysis of rocks from the massif of Ama Drime, in the South of
Tibet, by a research team of INSU-CNRS (Laboratoire des Sciences
de la Terre de Lyon, Institut de Physique du Globe de Strasbourg,
Géosciences Montepellier) and of the Institute of Geology
from the Academy of Sciences of China (Beijing), confirms the model
of continental layers.
More information in French:
http://www.insu.cnrs.fr/a3476,himalaya-que-s-est-il-passe-lors-collision-inde-asie.html
Can a blue dye help save the Aral Sea?
Indigo. The word may sound exotic but this herb permeates our daily
lives.
You may even be wearing it. Many of us had our first encounter with
indigo long ago, the day we bought our first pair of blue jeans.
Indigo is the most ancient natural dye in the world. Four thousand
years ago, the leaves of Indigofera tinctoria were already being
used to dye cloth blue.
Today, natural methods of producing indigo dye have given way to
chemical manufacturing processes in all but southeast India.
If a UNESCO project in Uzbekistan goes ahead as planned, however,
natural indigo may soon also be produced in one of the most ecologically
ravaged regions in the world, the Aral Sea Basin.
More information:
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001865/186519E.pdf
August 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:
- Amazing Youth Development and Conservation Training in California
- Support Conservation Volunteers and Win a Year-Long Global Adventure
- Naturewise Conservation Holidays
- World Conservation Programs
- Winter Conservation Projects
More information: http://www.conservationvolunteers.com.au/
Jane Goodall Marks 50 Years of Protecting Chimpanzees
Fifty years ago this week, at the age of 26, renowned primatologist
Jane Goodall traveled to Tanzania for the first time to study chimpanzees
in the wild.
The six-month trip marked the start of what would become her life's
work: studying and protecting chimpanzees.
More information:
http://www.humanesociety.org/news/news/2010/07/jane_goodall_50_anniversary.html
New conservation tool to track trade in wild animals and
plants
What do the Amazon peccaries, the African hippos and the
North American bobcats have in common? According to a new web-based,
research tool of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), they are among the top
ten mammal species being sustainably traded around the world for
their skins.
The Trade Data Dashboards, that were launched to mark the 35th anniversary
of CITES, are a new, interactive way of viewing the wildlife trade
data submitted by the governments of the 175 member countries of
CITES.
More information:
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=646&ArticleID=6730
Where on earth is biodiversity?
New biodiversity tool to encourage conservation-driven decision
making
Mount Kenya, the second-highest peak in Africa, is renowned for
its rich tableau of animal and plant life.
But according to a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
database, animal and plant species living on the 5,199 meter peak
are globally threatened.
In collaboration with leading conservation organisations, the UNEP
World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) has devised Integrated
Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) for governments, development
banks and private sector organisations to access accurate and reliable
information on biodiversity and critical natural habitats on a worldwide
scale - to answer the seemingly simple question "Where on earth
is biodiversity?"
More information:
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=646&ArticleID=6695
Next generation of green leaders meet at UNEP youth conference
Hip hop performances, an eco-friendly dance floor and dinner aboard
a hybrid ferry were among the more unusual highlights of the Tunza
North American (Tunzana) Youth Network Conference, held from July
23-25 in California.
The Tunzana Network, established in 2008, provides an opportunity
for North American youth to showcase their environmental work on
a regional and international platform, while also connecting them
to UNEP and the global Tunza Network. This year, a select group
of seventeen young environmental leaders from the United States
and Canada met at the University of California at Berkeley to participate
in the event, which was organised by UNEP's Regional Office for
North America (UNEP RONA).
More information:
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=630&ArticleID=6660
RAINFOREST ALLIANCE - Connecting Students Across Continents
Through our friends at Creative Connections, students from our partner
schools are able to personally interact with students living in
the forests of Guatemala, sharing stories about their lives and
the environment that surrounds them.
Child Learning
Newark students were fascinated by the unique species that inhabit
the forests of the Petén, while Guatemalan students were
fascinated by the cultural diversity of the students in New Jersey.
Throughout these exchanges one thing is clear -- a love of nature
transcends cultural boundaries.
More information:
http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/blog/entry.cfm?number=109
Replacing underperforming protected areas achieves better
conservation outcomes
Protected areas vary enormously in their contribution to conserving
biodiversity, and the inefficiency of protected area systems is
widely acknowledged1, 2, 3. However, conservation plans focus overwhelmingly
on adding new sites to current protected area estates4. Here we
show that the conservation performance of a protected area system
can be radically improved, without extra expenditure, by replacing
a small number of protected areas with new ones that achieve more
for conservation. Replacing the least cost-effective 1% of Australia’s
6,990 strictly protected areas could increase the number of vegetation
types that have 15% or more of their original extent protected from
18 to 54, of a maximum possible of 58. Moreover, it increases markedly
the area that can be protected, with no increase in overall spending.
This new paradigm for protected area system expansion could yield
huge improvements to global conservation at a time when competition
for land is increasingly intense.
More information:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v466/n7304/full/nature09180.html
The Nature Conservancy Applauds Executive Order Protecting
the Oceans, Great Lakes
The Nature Conservancy congratulates President Obama today for his
bold executive order that sets forth a new and more effective way
of managing our oceans and the Great Lakes for people and nature.
The order creates a national policy for ocean stewardship and directs
the federal government to make regional plans for ocean and coastal
resources and the Great Lakes.
More information:
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/greatlakes/press/press4610.html
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY - An Action
Plan for the Gulf: WCS Looks Ahead
In the wake of one of the world’s greatest ecological catastrophes,
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, threats have grown for the Gulf
of Mexico’s wildlife, sensitive habitats, productive fisheries,
and the livelihoods they support. Long-term recovery efforts are
likely to last for decades. And for some of the affected wildlife,
the crisis will persist for generations. As part of a global program
for ocean conservation, WCS has been committed to conserving several
threatened species that use Gulf waters. We are taking steps to
mitigate the impact of the crisis to these species and their ecosystems,
and to contribute to long-term rehabilitation efforts.
More information:
http://www.wcs.org/new-and-noteworthy/wcs-gulf-response.aspx
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY - Were we work: Southern
Sudan
Before Southern Sudan descended into civil war in 1983, the country's
protected areas supported some of the most spectacular and important
wildlife populations in Africa, and hosted the second largest wildlife
migration in the world. Surveys in the preceding years revealed
that Boma National Park, west of the Ethiopian border, as well as
the Sudd wetland and Southern National Park near the border with
Congo, provided habitat for large populations of kob and topis (two
types of antelope), buffalo, elephants, giraffes, hartebeests (another
antelope), and lions. Sudan's forest reserves also provided habitat
for bongo (also an antelope), giant forest hogs, red river hogs,
forest elephants, chimpanzees, and forest monkeys...
More information:
http://www.wcs.org/where-we-work/africa/southern-sudan.aspx
WWF - Last chance for Tigers?
In the last decade alone, tiger numbers in the wild have fallen
by almost half.
With as few as 3,200 left in the wild, spread thinly over 13 countries,
we have come to the point of no return. This is it.
This is when we must really, truly and sustainably make the efforts
needed to save the world’s most iconic species.
Critical to these efforts is a meeting during September. This is
when the 13 Heads of Government from those countries that still
have tigers in their forests will meet to decide what can be done
to give tigers possibly that last chance of their fabled 9th life.
We need your support in encouraging these Leaders to act decisively.
To get them to commit to doubling the number of wild tigers by the
2022.
More information:
http://nl.panda.org/inxmail/d.cfm?i4710vxvd0e0btq4gqboj63a528
Offshore wind farms – green energy or biodiversity
threat?
In the rush to find new sources of energy and reduce our dependency
on fossil fuels, offshore wind farms are increasingly seen as an
attractive solution, but their potential impact on marine biodiversity
should not be overlooked.
Greening blue energy, written in collaboration with E.ON
and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, is
the most comprehensive guide to date for assessing the impact of
offshore wind energy installations on marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
It gives governments, policy makers and industry the tools to enhance
the environmental performance of offshore renewable energy.
More information:
http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5510/Offshore-wind-farms--green-energy-or-biodiversity-threat
IUCN and Rio Tinto announce three-year relationship –
focus on enhanced sustainable development
IUCN and Rio Tinto today entered into a formal collaboration
agreement, committing to work together over a three-year period.
The relationship aims to help Rio Tinto strengthen its sustainable
development efforts, environmental management and delivery of conservation
outcomes, while enabling IUCN to increase its awareness and understanding
of the conservation and business challenges facing the resources
sector.
More information:
http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5650/IUCN-and-Rio-Tinto-announce-three-year-relationship--focus-on-enhanced-sustainable-development
Go-ahead for Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and
Ecosystem Services
After a week of intense negotiations, governments have agreed to
establish a new mechanism, which will strengthen the dialogue between
the scientific community and policymakers on biodiversity and ecosystem
services. The so-called 'IPBES' - the Intergovernmental Platform
on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services - will be a leading body
in making scientifically sound and relevant information available
to support more informed decisions on how biodiversity and ecosystem
services are conserved and used around the world.
More information:
http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5461/Decision-made-to-establish-an-Intergovernmental-Science-Policy-Platform-on-Biodiversity-and-Ecosystem-Services
Coasts of life: helping tropical seaside communities cope
with climate change
Climate change is hitting coastal areas hard: rises in sea levels,
ocean acidification, extreme events, bleaching and death of coral
are all climate impacts which will require adjustments socially
and economically. A new IUCN report, published today, provides practical
guidance for coastal communities and industries to adapt to climate
change.
More information:
http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5428/Coasts-of-life-helping-tropical-seaside-communities-cope-with-climate-change
Authoritative platform on biodiversity and ecosystems to
be established
IUCN and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development
(WBSCD) have today announced their support for the establishment
of an overarching platform to provide independent policy-relevant
information on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
More information:
http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5426/Authoritative-platform-on-biodiversity-and-ecosystems-to-be-established
96% of chimpanzees could be saved by African action plan
Ninety-six per cent of known populations of eastern chimpanzees,
that’s an estimated 50,000 individuals, could be protected
with a new action plan, which puts stamping out illegal hunting
and trafficking as key to saving one of man’s closest relatives.
The nations of East and Central Africa have developed a 10-year
plan to save the eastern chimpanzee from hunting, habitat loss,
disease, the capture of infants for the pet trade and other threats,
IUCN and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced today.
More information:
http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5486/96-of-chimpanzees-could-be-saved-by-African-action-plan
Adelaide Zoo Giant Panda Forest (Australia)
The Adelaide Zoo Giant Panda Forest, designed by HASSELL, is one
of the world’s leading exhibits for the iconic and endangered
giant panda species. The design of the Panda Forest embodies the
Zoo’s core principles of environment, education, conservation
and research and redefines the concept of a zoo in the 21st century
– as a contemporary conservation organisation with vital breeding
and research programs.
In 2007, Adelaide Zoo was entrusted with the care of two giant pandas
– Wang Wang and Funi – for a period of 10 years.
More information:
http://www.archdaily.com/70657/adelaide-zoo-giant-panda-forest-hassell/
Giant Pandas: Landscape Has Big Effect on Movement of Genes
Within Population
Genetic analysis of giant pandas has shown that features of
their landscape have a profound effect on the movement of genes
within their population.
Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Genetics
found that physical barriers, such as areas lacking bamboo plants
and other forest foliage, can separate giant pandas into isolated
genetic groups.
Fuwen Wei, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, worked with a team
of researchers to study giant pandas in the Xiaoxiangling and Daxiangling
mountains. He said, "These results suggest that gene flow
will be enhanced if the connectivity between the currently fragmented
bamboo forests is increased. This may be of importance to conservation
efforts as gene flow is one of the most important factors for maintaining
genetic diversity within a species and counteracting the negative
effects of habitat fragmentation."
More information:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100722205624.htm
A Plane That Lands Like a Bird
Everyone knows what it's like for an airplane to land: the slow
maneuvering into an approach pattern, the long descent, and the
brakes slamming on as soon as the plane touches down, which seems
to just barely bring it to a rest a mile later. Birds, however,
can switch from barreling forward at full speed to lightly touching
down on a target as narrow as a telephone wire. Why can't an airplane
be more like a bird?
More information:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100725170454.htm
H2Ooooh! Water project - Pet Pals TV Series
An estimated 884 million people worldwide do not have access
to safe water. Almost 1.5 million children die every year from water-borne
diseases. Population growth and increasing urbanization, chemical
pollution and invasive species are the main factors contributing
to the deterioration of water quality. The consequences for the
environment and for mankind are considerable.
In the frame of H2Ooooh! Water project, Gruppo Alcuni in collaboration
with UNESCO and RAI Fiction has developed this 3-D animated television
series with the six Pet Pals as protagonists focusing on the issue
of water protection.
More information:
http://www.unesco.org/en/venice/natural-sciences/water/h2ooooh/
People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) - free e-Newsletter
In a constantly changing world where wildlife is under threat, many
species are declining at an alarming rate. Since 1977 People’s
Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) has been helping to ensure a
future for many endangered species throughout the world. PTES is
a registered charity with a board of trustees and fifteen employed
staff members.
The scale of actual and potential loss of wildlife can seem overwhelming.
How can we make a difference? At the Trust we focus on specific
problems and work to preserve endangered species in their natural
habitats. We believe that successful conservation is based on sound
scientific evidence and advice with practical outcomes.
More information:
http://ptes.org/?news=34
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS) - International Programs Quarterly
Bulletin: April-June 2010
The National Park Service is dedicated to conserving unimpaired
the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park
System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and
future generations. The Service is also responsible for managing
a great variety of national and international programs designed
to help extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation
and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
More information:
http://www.nps.gov/oia/new/quarterly_bulletin.htm
EUROPARCS Newsletter August 2010
We can hardly believe that the next EUROPARC Conference is only
a month and a bit away and final preparations are currently underway
in Italy. We have prolonged the regular fee for registration until
31st August.
In this edition you can read a PAME and PARKS & BENEFITS projects,
read about the new guidelines for use of the EUROPARC logos and
get to know Krkonoše National Park in the Czech Republic. We
also bring you current funding news, some interesting publications
from the LIFE communications team and much more.
More information:
http://www.europarc.org/uploaded/documents/418.pdf
EUROPARCS Newsletter July 2010
Welcome to the July issue of our E-News! In July we saw the successful
realisation of the pilot EUROPARC Siggen Seminar, had some help
in the office from Lara Nordström, started preparations for
the General Assembly on 30th September, networked in the area of
transboundary parks and attended the kick-off meeting for the new
Charter orientated project ‘STEPPA’. Our sections were
also very busy this month and you can read about some of their achievements
or up-coming events on the last page.
In this issue amongst other articles we also bring you funding information
for July/August, ask you why Natura 2000 matters and tell you about
some great e-blogs for keeping up-to-date with nature protection
across Europe.
More information:
http://www.europarc.org/uploaded/documents/408.pdf |
