Les événements climatiques extrêmes au cœur d’un atelier organisé à l’UNESCO du 27 au 29 septembre
L’UNESCO et le Programme mondial de recherche sur le climat (PMRC) organisent du 27 au 29 septembre au siège de l’Organisation (Salle II) un atelier sur les méthodes de mesure et de prévision des événements extrêmes liés au climat.
Au cours des dernières décennies, les événements climatiques extrêmes (inondations, canicules, sécheresses, cyclones, variations du niveau de la mer…) ont vu leur fréquence et leur intensité augmenter. Seules des données fiables peuvent permettre de mieux appréhender et d’améliorer la prévision de tels phénomènes. Or dans bien des cas, ces données sont insuffisantes ou les modèles de simulation inadéquats. C’est la raison pour laquelle l’atelier organisé à l’UNESCO réunit à la fois des experts internationaux du climat dans différentes spécialités (météorologie, hydrologie et océanographie) et des statisticiens et experts dans la production de données (observation satellitaire, modèles de simulation climatique, prévisions météorologiques…).
Plus information : http://www.unesco.org/new/fr/media-services/single-view/news/
extreme_weather_events_are_subject_of_
a_unesco_workshop_from_27_to_29_september/

(en anglais) 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!
Plus information en anglais : http://nl.panda.org/inxmail?i4710vcfhqe0btq4gq0xgn3a528

TARA OCEANS - A la chasse au tourbillon
Après l’auscultation du courant du Benguela la semaine dernière, depuis hier matin, nous faisons la chasse au tourbillon. Pas n’importe lesquels, les tourbillons du courant des Aiguilles qui traversent l’Océan Atlantique Sud. L’expédition Tara Oceans avait commencé à les observer dans le canal du Mozambique, où ils se forment. Lorsqu’ils arrivent au niveau de la pointe la plus sud de l’Afrique, certains continuent leurs routes sur un axe Est nord-ouest, à la conquête d’un nouvel océan.
C’est ce qui intéresse nos scientifiques, et pour cela, rien de tel que de se retrouver au milieu de l’un de ces tourbillons, ces « gyres » en anglais. Mais c’est plus facile à dire qu’à faire ! Leur traque commence d’abord grâce à l’aide de l’imagerie satellite qui les détecte notamment par rapport aux hauteurs d’eau. Ensuite, c’est l’océanographie qui prend le relais.
Plus information : http://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/fr/a-la-chasse-au-tourbillon.php?id_page=438

Appel à candidatures : Master Recherche - Ecotoxicologie, Environnement et Gestion des Eaux (MEEGE). Université Quisqueya (Haiti) Date limite : 28 novembre 2010
Le Décanat de la Faculté des Sciences, de Génie et d’Architecture (FSGA) de l’Université Quisqueya (UniQ) informe la communauté universitaire haïtienne et les professionnels des sciences de l’environnement qu’il reçoit, du 1er septembre au 28 novembre 2010, les demandes d’admission à la Filière Universitaire Francophone « Master Recherche - Ecotoxicologie, Environnement et Gestion des Eaux (MEEGE) ».
Plus information : http://www.auf.org/communication-information/appels-offres/haiti2010.html?var=lettre_AUF_63

Biodiversité et Lutte Contre La Pauvreté - Conférence Panafricaine (Libreville - Gabon)
Le Gabon et le Secrétariat de la Convention sur la Diversité Biologique accueilleront, du 6 au 8 septembre 2010 à Libreville la Première Conférence de haut niveau des Pays d’Afrique sur le thème : « Biodiversité et lutte contre la pauvreté : quelles opportunités pour l’Afrique ? ».
Cette conférence panafricaine permettra d’entreprendre une réflexion qui devrait aboutir à l’adoption des activités concrètes de valorisation de la biodiversité, des services écosystémiques et des ressources naturelles renouvelables en tant que facteurs de contribution à la croissance économique et à la réduction de la pauvreté.
Plus information : http://www.cbfp.org/evenements_fr/events/biodiv_librevillesept2010.html

Protéger notre capital naturel : une stratégie européenne pour préserver la biodiversité et assurer l’offre de services écosystémiques à l’horizon 2020
(en anglais) 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://ec.europa.eu/environment/consultations/biodecline.htm

[english] Appointment of IUCN Head of Global Protected Areas Programme
It is a pleased 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.iucn.org/

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/08/100826-hurricane-katrina-gulf-oil-spill-five-years-nutria/

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2010/august/spinal-gap-of-barbeled-dragonfishes-mystery-solved75762.html

TARA OCEANS - Départ du Cap sous le soleil
Julien Daniel, le chef mécanicien a démarré ses deux moteurs de 350 chevaux à 09h15 ce matin. Hier, au dernier briefing, le capitaine Olivier Marien, avait fixé l’heure de départ à 10h00. Une nouvelle photographie prise rapidement sur le pont avec tout l’équipage de cette étape le Cap-Ascencion, et la manœuvre de départ était lancée sans attendre. Les amarres sont larguées, les pare-battages, ces bouées qui empêchent la coque de taper le quai, sont rentrés sur le bord.
Plus information : http://oceans.taraexpeditions.org/fr/depart-du-cap-sous-le-soleil.php?id_page=429

Mers européennes: la Commission définit des critères permettant d'évaluer leur bon état écologique
La décision de la Commission relative aux critères concernant le bon état écologique des eaux marines porte essentiellement sur différents aspects des écosystèmes marins, dont la diversité biologique, les populations de poissons, l'eutrophisation, les contaminants, les déchets et le bruit.
Les critères et les indicateurs associés définis dans la décision ont été élaborés à partir d'avis scientifiques et techniques émis par des experts indépendants et doivent être utilisés par les États membres pour évaluer l'état écologique de l'écosystème marin. Ces critères reposent sur les obligations existantes et les évolutions de la législation de l'Union européenne, et couvrent des éléments de l'environnement marin qui n'ont toujours pas été pris en compte dans les politiques menées à ce jour.
Toutefois, si certains critères sont totalement au point et opérationnels, d'autres doivent être encore affinés. La décision met en lumière la nécessité d'améliorer la compréhension des principes scientifiques permettant d’évaluer le bon état écologique afin de favoriser une gestion des eaux marines européennes fondée sur la notion d’écosystème. Ces critères devront par conséquent être révisés afin de prendre en considération les nouvelles connaissances scientifiques.
Plus information : http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?
reference=IP/10/1084&format=HTML&aged=0&language=FR

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://wwf.panda.org/?194545/Coal-power-opposition-goes-global

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/news/?194606/Earths-Overdraft-Notice-On-August-21st-we-exceed-natures-budget

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://wwf.panda.org/?194505/Filipino-government-cracks-down-on-sea-turtle-poachers

[español] Gobiernos necesitan urgentemente redoblar el esfuerzo en las pláticas de cambio climático hacia Cancún
WWF declara que los gobiernos que participaron en la tercera reunión intersesional de cambio climático en Bonn esta semana necesitan redoblar el esfuerzo de sus negociaciones, o gastarán una oportunidad crucial para avanzar en la Convención de Naciones Unidas sobre Cambio Climático (COP16), que tendrá lugar en Cancún a finales de este año.
“Es muy posible que se concreten acuerdos en las áreas de adaptación, financiamiento y cómo terminar con la deforestación en la COP16 en Cancún”, dijo Gordon Shepherd, Líder de la Iniciativa Global del Clima de WWF. "Pero tendrán que redoblar sus esfuerzos ahora y empezar a buscar áreas de convergencia de un modo mucho más serio”. Reducir emisiones provenientes de la deforestación y degradación (REDD) es un ejemplo donde acuerdos ya alcanzados en Copenhague se han abierto de nuevo por asuntos tan básicos como qué es lo que REDD incluye.
Plus information en espagnol : http://www.wwf.org.mx/wwfmex/archivos/cc/100809-gobiernos-deben-redoblar-esfuerzos-platicas-cambio-climatico.php

[español] Bahía Málaga es, al fin, Parque Nacional Natural
Después de varios meses de intenso debate y faltando tan sólo dos días para el cambio de gobierno, el Ministro de Ambiente Carlos Costa declaró Bahía Málaga –Pacífico colombiano– como área protegida. Hoy, Bahía Málaga es el Parque Nacional Natural número 56 de Colombia en uno de los lugares más biodiversos del Planeta.
El Parque Nacional Natural Uramba Bahía Málaga tiene una extensión de 47.094 hectáreas y está ubicado en la porción media de la costa pacífica colombiana. Alberga una inmensa diversidad de especies de fauna y flora, continental y marina, y ha sido identificado como uno de los sitios prioritarios de conservación en el Pacífico colombiano.
Plus information en espagnol : http://wwf.panda.org/es/sala_redaccion/noticias/?194448/Baha-Mlaga-es-al-fin-Parque-Nacional-Natural

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/news/?uNewsID=194650

Bulletin des Volontaires de la conservation. Septembre 2010
Le Bulletin des Volontaries de la conservation est mensuel et en anglais et contient des information sur des projets de conservation, vacances dans la nature, opportunités pour les volontaires et promotions spéciales. ce mois-ci:

• 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!

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

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.conservation.org/newsroom/pressreleases/Pages/Pea-Sized-Frog-Old-World-Smallest.aspx

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.conservation.org/newsroom/pressreleases/Pages/
Pacific_Oceanscape_creation.aspx

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.conservation.org/newsroom/pressreleases/Pages/New-Species-Titi-Monkey-Discovered-Amazon.aspx

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/blog/entry.cfm?number=116

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/blog/entry.cfm?number=114

[español] Rainforest Alliance Lanza Nueva Marca de Verificación para Reconocer Logros en Sostenibilidad
Rainforest Alliance lanzó hoy su nueva marca de verificación para distinguir a las empresas y los proyectos que han alcanzado avances significativos y mesurables en sostenibilidad. La nueva marca es otorgada a proyectos de carbono forestal y empresas turísticas y forestales que cumplen con las normas desarrolladas por Rainforest Alliance o por otras organizaciones con las cuales Rainforest Alliance está alineada.
Plus information en espagnol : http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/news.cfm?id=verification_marks_esp

[español] Un solo árbol, un gran futuro
La región de El Petén, en Guatemala, es testigo silencioso de un cambio muy beneficioso. Los miembros de una comunidad que dependía de la agricultura de roza y quema para sobrevivir trabajan ahora como carpinteros altamente calificados, dejando resultados impresionantes en esta zona devastada por la deforestación. Mientras que en el pasado cada agricultor utilizaba en promedio cinco hectáreas de bosque por año –y a cambio de muy bajos ingresos–, actualmente usan un solo árbol por año, reciben mayores ingresos, conservan las tierras forestales vitales y además protegen la biodiversidad local...
Plus information en espagnol : http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/news.cfm?id=peten_woodcrafts_spa

[english] 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

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5858/Search-for-lost-amphibians

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5857/ghostforest

L’UICN accueille Tonga, nouvel État Membre
Le gouvernement du Royaume de Tonga a officiellement annoncé sa décision de rejoindre l’UICN et d’adhérer aux Statuts de l’Union, devenant ainsi le 84ème État Membre du plus vaste et du plus ancien réseau environnemental au monde. Le Ministère de l’environnement et du changement climatique a été désigné par le gouvernement du Royaume de Tonga comme organe de liaison avec le Secrétariat de l’UICN.
L’UICN souhaite chaleureusement la bienvenue à Tonga, dernière monarchie Polynésienne que l’on surnomme souvent « les îles amicales ». Situé dans l’océan Pacifique sud, l’archipel de Tonga rassemble 169 îles sur une superficie de 747 kilomètres carrés. Avec ses plages tropicales, ses forêts natives et ses volcans actifs, le Royaume abrite une richesse unique de plantes et d’animaux. Grâce à une zone économique exclusive de 200 miles nautiques, la majeure partie de la diversité animalière du Royaume insulaire se situe dans son environnement marin, avec une grande variété de poissons et de crustacés. Les Tongans sont intimement connectés à la nature et ont, au cours des années, axé leur action régionale sur la lutte contre le réchauffement climatique. Grâce à la diversité des ressources naturelles de Tonga, à son histoire, à sa diversité culturelle et à ses engagements envers un environnement sain et durable, nous sommes fiers d’accueillir ce Royaume insulaire comme nouvel État Membre de l’Union.
Plus information : http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5765/2/French-version

Menaces sur les espèces africaines d’eau douce: moyens de subsistance en péril
21% des espèces d’eau douce d’Afrique continentale sont menacées d’extinction, ce qui met en péril les moyens de subsistance de millions de personnes. Compte tenu de l’importance de l’enjeu, les eaux intérieures doivent être gérées non seulement en vue de l’approvisionnement en eau douce, mais aussi pour préserver la richesse biologique qu’elles abritent.
Dans le cadre de l’étude la plus complète réalisée jusqu’à présent sur le sujet, 5 167 espèces africaines d’eau douce ont évaluées par 200 scientifiques sur une période de cinq ans pour la Liste rouge UICN des espèces menacées™, dont tous les poissons d’eau douce, mollusques, crabes, libellules et demoiselles connus, ainsi que quelques familles de plantes aquatiques. L’agriculture, l’extraction d’eau, les barrages et les espèces exotiques envahissantes sont les principales menaces qui pèsent sur ces espèces.
Plus information : http://www.iucn.org/fr/presse/communiques/?5898/Menaces-sur-les-especes-africaines-deau-douce-moyens-de-subsistance-en-peril

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?
DocumentID=646&ArticleID=6716

Le PNUE sensibilise les jeunes à l'environnement
Plus de 3.600 jeunes athlètes venus du monde entier pour participer aux premiers Jeux olympique de la jeunesse, organisés du 20 au 26 août à Singapour, profitent d'une initiative lancée par le Programme des Nations Unies pour l'environnement (PNUE), visant à les sensibiliser à la protection de l'environnement, au travers d'activités qui se déroulent en marge des compétitions.
Agés de 14 à 18 ans, les sportifs peuvent non seulement calculer les émissions de carbone générées par leurs séances d'entrainement ou leurs activités personnelles, mais aussi apprendre à contribuer positivement à la protection de l'environnement et au développement durable dans leurs propres communautés.
Plus information : http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?
DocumentID=646&ArticleID=6725&l=fr

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?
DocumentID=646&ArticleID=6712

L'ONU lance la Décennie des déserts et de la lutte contre la désertification
L'ONU a lancé lundi la « Décennie des déserts et de la lutte contre la désertification », un effort de dix ans destiné à accroître la sensibilisation et les actions menées par la communauté internationale pour améliorer la protection et la gestion des terres arides de la planète, où un tiers de la population mondiale est confrontée à de graves menaces économiques et environnementales.
« La dégradation continue des terres - qu'elle soit la conséquence de changements climatiques, d'une agriculture non pérenne ou d'une mauvaise gestion des ressources en eau - est une menace pour la sécurité alimentaire. Elle expose les communautés, qui sont déjà parmi les plus affectées, à de nouvelles famines », a déclaré le Secrétaire général, Ban Ki-moon, pour le lancement de cette décennie.
Plus information : http://www.un.org/apps/newsFr/storyF.asp?NewsID=22712&Cr=climatique&Cr1=

[english] 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".
Plus information en anglais : http://www.sea.edu/press/index.html

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=3599

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/more-trees-more-good/Pages/campaign.aspx

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/europe2019s-coasts-reconciling-development-and-conservation

Himalaya, que s'est-il passé lors de la collision Inde-Asie ?
Depuis les années soixante dix, les spécialistes attribuent l'origine de la chaîne Himalayenne à la collision entre l'Inde et l'Eurasie, toutefois, les modalités précises de la formation de l'Himalaya sont encore sujettes à débat. S'agit-il d'un empilement d'écailles continentales ou de l'expulsion de roches partiellement fondues? Des travaux publiés dans les revues Earth and Planetary Science Letters et Tectonics portant sur l'analyse des roches du massif de l'Ama Drime, au sud du Tibet, par une équipe de chercheurs de l'INSU-CNRS (Laboratoire des Sciences de la Terre de Lyon, Institut de Physique du Globe de Strasbourg, Géosciences Montpellier) et de l'Institut de Géologie et de l'Académie des Sciences de Chine (Pekin), confirme le modèle d'écailles continentales.
Plus information : http://www.insu.cnrs.fr/a3476,himalaya-que-s-est-il-passe-lors-collision-inde-asie.html

Une teinture bleue peut-elle venir au secours de la mer d’Aral ?
Indigo. Le terme peut paraître exotique, mais notre vie quotidienne baigne dans l’indigo.
Peut-être en portez-vous en ce moment même. Pour beaucoup d’entre nous, notre première rencontre avec l’indigo s’est passée il y a longtemps, le jour où nous avons acheté notre premier blue jeans. L’indigo est la teinture naturelle la plus ancienne du monde. Il y a 4 000 ans, les feuilles de l’Indigofera tinctoria servaient déjà à teindre les tissus en bleu.
Aujourd’hui, les méthodes naturelles de production de la teinture indigo ont cédé la place aux procédés chimiques partout sauf en Inde du Sud-est.
Cependant, si le projet de l’UNESCo en ouzbékistan se réalise comme prévu, l’indigo naturel pourrait bientôt être produit dans l’une des régions du monde les plus ravagées, au plan écologique, le bassin de la mer d’Aral.
Plus information : http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001865/186519F.pdf

Bulletin des Volontaires de la conservation. Août 2010
Le Bulletin des Volontaries de la conservation est mensuel et en anglais et contient des information sur des projets de conservation, vacances dans la nature, opportunités pour les volontaires et promotions spéciales. ce mois-ci:

• 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

Plus information en anglais : http://www.conservationvolunteers.com.au/

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.humanesociety.org/news/news/2010/07/jane_goodall_50_anniversary.html

CITES lance un outil en ligne pour surveiller le commerce des espèces en danger
Le secrétariat de la Convention sur le commerce international des espèces sauvages menacées d'extinction a annoncé mercredi le lancement d'un nouvel outil interactif sur le web permettant aux utilisateurs de consulter les données commerciales concernant la faune et la flore qui ont été soumises par les 175 Etats parties à l'accord international.
Les tableaux des données commerciales de CITES, qui sont gérés par le Programme des Nations Unies sur l'environnement (PNUE), sont conçus pour surveiller le commerce mondial de la faune et de la flore sauvages alors que de plus en plus d'espèces terrestres et aquatiques sont utilisées, parfois de manière excessive, dans le cadre des activités humaines.
Plus information : http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=646&ArticleID=6730

[english] 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?"
Plus information en anglais : http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=646&ArticleID=6695

[english] 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).
Plus information en anglais : http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=630&ArticleID=6660

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/blog/entry.cfm?number=109

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v466/n7304/full/nature09180.html

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/greatlakes/press/press4610.html

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.wcs.org/new-and-noteworthy/wcs-gulf-response.aspx

[english] 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...
Plus information en anglais : http://www.wcs.org/where-we-work/africa/southern-sudan.aspx

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://nl.panda.org/inxmail/d.cfm?i4710vxvd0e0btq4gqboj63a528

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5510/Offshore-wind-farms--green-energy-or-biodiversity-threat

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5650/IUCN-and-Rio-Tinto-announce-three-year-relationship--focus-on-enhanced-sustainable-development

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5461/Decision-made-to-establish-an-Intergovernmental-Science-Policy-Platform-on-Biodiversity-and-Ecosystem-Services

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5428/Coasts-of-life-helping-tropical-seaside-communities-cope-with-climate-change

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5426/Authoritative-platform-on-biodiversity-and-ecosystems-to-be-established

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.iucn.org/knowledge/news/?5486/96-of-chimpanzees-could-be-saved-by-African-action-plan

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.archdaily.com/70657/adelaide-zoo-giant-panda-forest-hassell/

[english] 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."
Plus information en anglais : http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100722205624.htm

[english] 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?
Plus information en anglais : http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100725170454.htm

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.unesco.org/en/venice/natural-sciences/water/h2ooooh/

[english] 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://ptes.org/?news=34

(en anglais) 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.nps.gov/oia/new/quarterly_bulletin.htm

(en anglais) 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.europarc.org/uploaded/documents/418.pdf

(en anglais) 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.
Plus information en anglais : http://www.europarc.org/uploaded/documents/408.pdf

Linking Conservation and Poverty Alleviation: the case of Great Apes - An overview of current policy and practice in Africa
This report is the third PCLG output supported by the Arcus Foundation grant.1 The purpose of this report is to document current efforts to link great ape conservation and poverty reduction in the African, ape range states. It is intended to provide a quick inventory of which organisations are working in which countries and using which approaches in order to highlight potential areas of collaboration and/or potential sources of experience and lessons learned. It is also intended to highlight other initiatives that are intended to link environmental management with social concerns - poverty reduction, governance, economic development - with a view to encouraging greater linkages between these initiatives and those that are focussed on conservation.
http://www.povertyandconservation.info/docs/20100808-Linking_Ape_Conservation_and_Poverty_Alleviation.pdf

New EUROPARC Publications
We would like to inform you of some new publications and forms that have recently been produced by EUROPARC or within projects that we are currently working on.

• Collecting important data for lobbying: New membership application form and online questionnaire
• Exploring Europe's experience in management effectiveness evaluation
• Promoting cross-border cooperation in nature conservation
• On tour to the natural treasures around the Baltic Sea – PARKS & BENEFITS
• New documents for the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism

http://www.europarc.org/library/europarc-publication

The Economics of Ecosystems & Biodiversity (TEEB) - A quick guide to TEEB for local & regional policy makers
“TEEB for Local and Regional Policy Makers” highlights the enormous potential for securing and enhancing human well-being by taking nature’s benefits into account. It provides orientation, guidance and inspiration for those who want to include these benefits in their policies.
“TEEB for Local and Regional Policy Makers” is a free 200 page sourcebook. It hopes to inspire further thinking – to provide a starting point for adopting ways to make your natural capital flourish. It will soon also be available in different languages.
In addition to the report, http://www.teebweb.org hosts a collection of short case studies which illustrate how a focus on ecosystem services has helped to improve well-being and prosperity in different settings around the world.
http://www.teebweb.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=
DIO9E4Q1zB0%3d&tabid=1278&mid=2357