Study: hurricane season longer, big storms sooner.
| CCI’s Mexican Partner Photographs Rare Wild Cats Three rare wild cat species were recently photographed on Mexican ranches by Pronatura Noreste, a Mexican conservation group and CCI partner. Motion sensor cameras employed on nine ranches between December 2007 and March 2008 revealed the presence of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis albescens), jaguars (Panthera onca) and jagaurundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi cacomitli)–findings that underscore the importance of private ranches in protecting these endangered cats. The good news may also offer new options for boosting the tiny U.S. ocelot population.In south Texas, CCI is working with landowners to restore habitat corridors and write conservation plans that will benefit the federally and state endangered ocelot. However, due to its small population size and reduced genetic variability, it is likely that this lone U.S. population will also need an infusion of genetic material from outside the region to strengthen its ability to withstand diseases and improve its chances of survival.  The small Texas population of ocelots has limited genetic diversity. (Photo: Tom Smylie/USFWS) So CCI is looking to Mexico and Pronatura Noreste to help study the northeastern population of Mexican ocelots and test their genetics, distribution and population density. If this population is genetically strong and large enough to withstand the removal of a few ocelots, Texas wildlife officials might have some options such as translocation—taking an ocelot from the Mexican population and introducing it into the U.S. population. Another option might be to re-vegetate habitat corridors between Texas and its southern neighbor state of Tamaulipas, but having the right information about the northeastern Mexican population is the first step.  Dense vegetation on Mexican ranches provides valuable habitat for endangered ocelots. (Photo: Pronatura Noreste) The studies CCI funded in Mexico concentrated on nine private ranches in the state of Tamaulipas, located some 200 to 250 miles south of the Texas border and some 50 miles inland from the coast. All of the participating ranchers are volunteering their land for the study and have expressed a desire to contribute to ocelot conservation. The ranches have good ocelot habitat, varying between a semi-arid type of thornscrub and a more tropical thornscrub–thicket-forming, thorny plant varieties that form dense cover for these secretive cats. Motion sensor cameras recorded ten different ocelots, three jaguars, and three jaguarundis, as well as two mountain lions. Researchers are writing up detailed reports of this successful study, while Pronatura Noreste is working to execute conservation agreements with the ranch owners. Potential followup studies could help to determine population density and distribution in this area, as well as reveal where possible vegetative corridors might boost northward dispersal of the ocelot.Karen Chapman |
| Environmental Working Group Names Safest Sunscreens Looking for a safer sunscreen? It’s not easy to find.The Environmental Working Group looked at almost 1,000 brand-name sunscreen products and found that the majority contain chemicals that either potentially pose health hazards or inadequately protect skin from damaging sun rays. Here’s their list of the top safe sunscreens. |
| Study: hurricane season longer, big storms sooner. Hurricane seasons are arriving early and hanging around longer during the past century, and the big storms are forming earlier, some climate scientists say. |
| Alternative Energy Leads Green Gold Rush! We all are familiar with the current scenario of the conventional sources of energy. Oil prices are rising and sources of conventional energy are depleting fast. They are not going to last forever. Conventional energy sources come with heinous side effects. We are paying dearly for playing with the eco-balance and situation will not [.] |
| China to urgently boost GM crop development China has said it must urgently step up the development of genetically modified crops as it faces mounting challenges to feed its 1.3 billion people due to shrinking arable land and climate change. |
| Eight years of inaction on global warming. George W. Bush entered the White House expressing doubts about whether global warming is real or whether human activity is contributing to it. |
| EU Considers Dumping Biofuels While U.S. Continues to Bully Global South to Adopt Gene-Altered Crops European Union energy ministers said at an informal meeting Saturday they had been labouring for 18 months under the false impression that an EU plan to fight global warming included an obligation to develop controversial biofuels.What seems to be a stunning misreading on the part of policymakers in Brussels comes at a time when the image of biofuels has shifted over a matter of a months from climate saviour to climate pariah. |
| Press Release: NC Senate Creates Loophole for Polluting Hog Farms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Dr. Joe Rudek, 919-881-2913
Georgette Shepherd, 919-880-8033
(Raleigh, NC - July 10, 2008) The NC Senate today passed H 822, a bill that guts 1995 set back requirements for hog houses that were adopted to protect neighbors from odor and air and water pollution. Earlier this week the bill was rushed though a Senate committee without sufficient opportunity for the public to comment. The bill now goes to the NC House. Among other measures, H 822 would bypass the requirement that hog producers must have the consent of neighboring property owners or a new permit before fundamentally changing the nature of their hog operation.
The following statement may be attributed to Joe Rudek, senior scientist with Environmental Defense Fund:
"This bill fails to respect the rights and health and well being of citizens living close to hog farms. The public should have the same opportunity as pork producers and senators to study this bill and comment on the implications for rural communities. This bill will create a loophole that will perpetuate outmoded ways of hog farming on the oldest hog farms, rather than transitioning swine production facilities to technologies more protective of public health."
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| Press Release: Groups Plan Lawsuit to Force Cleanup of Air Pollution in National Parks
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
David Baron/Kathleen Sutcliffe, Earthjustice, (202) 667-4500
Vickie Patton, Environmental Defense Fund, (720) 837-6239, vpatton@edf.org
Kevin Lynch, Environmental Defense Fund, (832) 524-4814, klynch@edf.org
Mark Wenzler, National Parks Conservation Association, (202) 255-9013
Washington, DC – As summer vacation season enters full swing, clean air advocates are fighting to make sure visitors to national parks can enjoy scenic vistas free of the yellowish haze caused by industrial pollution.
The 1977 Clean Air Act set a national goal of cleaning up dirty air in major national parks and wilderness areas. Decades later, only a small handful of states have submitted legally required plans to comply. The result: power plant and factory emissions continue to obscure views of beloved landmarks in national parks across the country including Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains, Glacier, Big Bend, Acadia, Sequoia, and Yosemite.
The nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice today filed formal legal notice of intent to sue on behalf of Environmental Defense Fund and National Parks Conservation Association over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s failure to enforce deadlines for the states to adopt these clean air plans.
"The millions of Americans visiting our national parks expect clean air and clear views," said Kevin Lynch, attorney for Environmental Defense Fund. "Today’s legal action will jumpstart real world solutions to address the industrial air pollution at our national treasures."
According to the National Park Service, human-caused air pollution reduces visibility in most national parks throughout the country. Average visual range — the farthest a person can see on a given day — in most of the western United States is now about one-half to two-thirds of what it would be without man-made air pollution (about 140 miles). In most of the east, the average visual range is about one-fifth of what it would be under natural conditions (about 90 miles).
The Clean Air Act required states to submit enforceable plans to EPA by last December to clean up hazy skies in parks and wilderness areas. Today, more than six months later, only five have submitted plans. The Earthjustice letter gives notice of intent to sue EPA unless the agency enforces the deadline against delinquent states within 60 days.
"Millions of Americans visit national parks each year to breathe clean, fresh air and enjoy the majestic vistas," said Earthjustice attorney David Baron. "When you can’t see the mountains and canyons under all the filthy haze, it’s time for EPA to enforce the Clean Air Act."
Much of the pollution problem comes from old power plants and factories with outdated pollution controls. Emissions from these plants can travel hundreds of miles, contributing to regional haze that obscures scenic vistas over large areas. Each state’s clean air plan must include rules to limit these emissions, limits that will not only reduce haze in scenic areas but also improve overall air quality.
"Family memories of our national parks shouldn’t be clouded by polluted haze" said Mark Wenzler, director of Clean Air and Climate Programs at National Parks Conservation Association. "EPA needs to take seriously its obligation to ensure clear skies for all Americans who seek out our national parks for healthy summer vacations."
Instead of moving to clean up dirty air in the parks, the Bush administration has proposed to weaken pollution rules for new factories and power plants seeking to build upwind of national parks. According to a report by the National Parks Conservation Association, these rules would make it easier for developers to build at least two dozen new plants that would threaten air quality in at least 10 national parks, including Virginia’s Shenandoah, Colorado’s Mesa Verde and North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt national parks. For more information, see NPCA’s report at www.npca.org/darkhorizons.
For a map of national parks with links to air quality data and photos of visibility conditions at parks nationwide, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/air/visibility/monitor.html
A copy of the notice of intent to sue filed today is available here: http://www.earthjustice.org/library/legal_docs/sixty-day-notice-final-6-25-08.pdf
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Earthjustice (www.earthjustice.org), is the nation’s leading non-profit environmental law firm. Representing hundreds of communities and organizations free of charge, Earthjustice works through the courts to safeguard public lands, national forests, parks and wilderness areas; to reduce air and water pollution; to prevent toxic contamination; to preserve endangered species and wildlife habitat; and to achieve environmental justice.
Environmental Defense Fund (www.edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems.
Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (www.npca.org) has been the leading voice of the American people in protecting and enhancing our National Park System. NPCA, its members, and partners work together to protect our National Park System and preserve our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for our children and grandchildren.
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| Solar Speedboat Gets 30 Knots Here’s another flashy concept that uses solar energy for transportation: the solar speedboat! Unlike the solar sailor we talked about earlier, the Dutch MK1 prototype is designed to travel at speeds up to 30 knots! In 2006 the Delft Technical University Solarboat Team raced the speedboat to first place in the Nuon Frisian Solar [.] |