The Online Magazine for Sustainable
Seas
April, 2002, Vol.4 No. 4
April, 2002, Vol.4 No. 4
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The Online Magazine for Sustainable
Seas
April, 2002, Vol.4 No. 4 |
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Coastal Alert |
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Philippines World Philippines A Month of the Ocean message: Support municipal
water delineation DAO 17 contains the guidelines for the delineation and delimitation of municipal waters in the Philippines. The Movement for DAO 17, or M-17, called on the secretaries of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) to participate in the implementation of DAO 17. In a press statement, Tambuyog Development Center, a member of M-17, urged specifically the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), a line agency under the DA, to issue a Memorandum to all its regional offices to assist local government units in funding delineation exercises. It called on the DILG to disseminate the Memorandum it promised urging provincial governments to spearhead the delineation of their coastal cities and municipalities. The DSWD and NAPC were also asked to assist grassroots non-governmental and people’s organizations to deliver correct information to coastal communities about the benefits of the DAO 17 to marginal fisherfolks. Under DAO17, coastal LGUs and marginal fishers (municipal fishers) will be able to clearly exercise their preferential rights over municipal waters as provided in the Fisheries Code. With the municipal water boundaries properly delineated, local government units will also be able to effectively manage their coastal and marine resources and improve fishery taxation and revenue generating mechanisms. The law defines municipal waters as including marine waters included between two (2) lines drawn perpendicular to the general coastline from points where the boundary lines of the municipality touch the sea at low tide and a third line parallel with the general coastline including offshore islands and fifteen (15) kilometers from such coastline. DAO 17 provides for a system, by which municipal water boundaries are mapped by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), employing the archipelagic principle, which states that, offshore islands, being an integral part of the administrative and political territory of the municipality, are considered part of the municipal waters. It is a result of a series of consultations spanning two years involving non-governmental and people’s organizations, local government units at all levels, law enforcement agencies and other national government agencies including the NAPC, DILG and DA-BFAR. Other members of the M-17 are the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement, World Wildlife Fund-KKP, Mamamayan-Pakisama, Hayuma Foundation, Tanggol Kalikasan, Environmental Legal Assistance Center, Pamana Ka sa Pilipinas, Ateneo Institute of Social Order, Haribon Foundation, Pamalakaya, Sanlakas, Bohol Integrated Development Foundation, PhilDHRRA, Philippine Center for Marine Affairs, League of Municipalities of the Philippines and the Vice-Governors' League of the Philippines. Tambuyog Executive Director Arsenio Tanchuling said this is the first time that groups coming from a wide range of orientation and local government units at all levels are on the same side of an issue. M-17 lauded Secretary Heherson T. Alvarez of DENR for signing what they described as a progressive and pro-poor order, and called on Secretary Leonardo Montemayor of DA, Secretary Joey Lina of DILG, Secretary Dinky Soliman of DSWD and Secretary Ging Deles of NAPC to publicly support the delineation. The continued silence of these Secretaries on the issue baffle DAO 17 advocates, said Dinna Umengan, Advocacy Officer of Tambuyog. Montemayor was a progressive farmer, Lina a former Governor; and Soliman and Deles were comrades in civil society so there is no reason for them not to support DAO17 unless they have already changed their convictions, she said. May was declared Month of the Ocean in the Philippines in 1999 by then President Joseph Estrada to provide an assured venue for direct beneficiaries to show their support for management initiatives pertaining to the oceans. RP seeks 0 tariff for tuna exports to US Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel A. Roxas said the government has taken on the canned tuna-for-anti-terrorism support slogan to avail itself of similar duty-free perks that the US Congress was planning to extend to tuna exports from South American countries along the Andes Mountain range. Under the proposed Andean Trade Preferences Expansion Act, Roxas said the US government would expand preferential trade treatment granted to countries in the Andean region, including zero duties on their canned tuna exports to the United States, as an incentive to wean these countries away from the production of narcotic crops. Roxas said granting duty-free access to Philippine canned tuna exports to the United States would directly benefit the tuna fishing industry in Zamboanga and General Santos City in Mindanao, where the US military is holding war games with Philippine troops. The United States is currently the biggest market for Philippine canned tuna exports in the world. The country ranks No. 2 among canned tuna exporters to the United States, with an 18% market share behind Thailand (60%) and ahead of Indonesia (12%), Papua New Guinea (4%) and Ecuador (2%). Roxas is worried that the duty-free perks to be given to Andean countries would unduly affect Philippine canned tuna exports, which are slapped duties of 12.5% (tuna in water) and 30% (tuna in olive oil). The Philippines enjoys a 6.5% preferential tariff on its first 200,000 cans of exports to the United States. The Philippines is currently negotiating with the European Community for duty-free perks for its canned tuna exports similar to those being proposed for African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) countries. Philippine canned tuna imports to Europe are charged a 24% tariff. G.C. Cabacungan Jr. in Philippine Daily Inquirer, 04.01.02; PNA in Cebu Daily News, 04.02.02 Bolinao is hit by another fish kill as moratorium
on stocking of milkfish is ignored Worse, the recent fish kill also affected coral fish like Malaga, barangan, sapsap (slipmouth) and bolasi (mullet), which are abundant in the town’s waters. Margaret Celeste, an environmental activist and Bolinao resident, said hundreds of coral fish floated dead near the fish cages and pens in Barangay Pilar and other aquaculture areas in the town. She expressed alarm over the impact of pollution on the town’s traditional fishing industry. Celeste said a complete moratorium on aquaculture operation was needed for the complete recovery of the waters of Bolinao affected by algal bloom and low oxygen level caused by the aquaculture industry. Fishery experts said algal bloom and low level of oxygen in the waters surrounding the aquaculture areas have contributed to the massive fish kill in February. The sea is still sick, Bolinao Mayor Jesus Celeste said, noting that many fish cage operators insisted on restocking their fish culture structures. They said they wanted to recover their losses after the massive fish kill last February. But they are losing their investment instead and the sea is getting sicker, he said, adding that his office could not provide an estimate of the losses as operators no longer report their production losses to the municipal government. Celeste earlier ordered a moratorium on fishery operations in the town following the February fish kill, but his order was largely ignored by fish pen and cage operators, who continued to re-stock their structures. The mayor said many operators were affected by the fish kills, with newly stocked milkfish living only for a few days. To hasten the recovery of the sea, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has ordered the dismantling of fish traps and other fishery structures that impede the flow of water in the towns of Bani, Anda, Alaminos and Bolinao. Y. Fuertes in Philippine Daily Inquirer , 04.11.02 Carrageenan market expected to grow 2-4% Bixler said all known applications for carrageenan are almost fully exploited. I don’t foresee any major new applications in the pipeline, unless health concerns about using gelatin in food and pharmaceutical capsules get worse, he added. Although carrageenan can replace a small percentage of the gelatin market, the replacements would be made more to satisfy vegetarian and religious restrictions than to address a substantiated health concern over gelatin, Bixler explained. He projected that the carrageenan market will register between 2% and 4% growth annually. Dairy-based applications account for about half of the total food applications, and meat applications account for the balance. Market prospects for developing countries appear to be particularly bright, said Bixler. For most countries in South and Central America, East Europe and Southeast Asia, the per capita consumption of carrageenan will increase by 50% over the next five years. Meat applications account for about 80% of the carrageenan market in developing countries, and dairy applications account for 20%. The global carrageenan market is estimated to be at between US$500 million to US$600 million a year. Last year, the Philippines exported US$131.6 million worth of raw and processed seaweeds, up slightly from the 2000 exports of US$130.7 million. Semi-refined carrageenan accounts for 58.2% of the total export value, refined carrageenan accounts for 27.9% and raw seaweed 13.9%. I.R. Sino Cruz in Cebu Daily News, 04.10.02 Alternative livelihood is key strategy for Visayan
Sea Project The Visayan Sea Project, to be funded by the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), plans to consult with coastal fishers to discuss, among other issues, overfishing. The project aims at establishing closed fishing grounds and providing alternative livelihood to fisherfolk to reduce their economic dependence on fishing. Visayan Sea borders the provinces of Cebu, Negros Occidental, Masbate, Iloilo, Biliran and Northern Leyte. It is known for its highly diverse aquatic life and the prevalent poverty of coastal communities. A study conducted during project planning has linked poverty to the decreased productivity of fisheries, which resulted from the degradation of marine resources in the area. Key objectives include the establishment of marine protected areas and the adoption of coastal resource management. The project is scheduled to start this year. LAP in Sun.Star Cebu, 04.01.02 Drop in illegal fishing reported in Mactan Of the 50 dynamite fishers identified by barangay (village) officials, 40 attended the meeting called by the local government last February. Warned that they would be arrested if they persisted in using illegal methods of fishing, the fishers explained that blast fishing was the only way by which they can earn enough to feed their families. Local officials promised to provide for them legitimate sources of income, such as seaweed farming, aquaculture, fish cage and other marine-related livelihood projects. Willy Tongco, public relations officer of the multi-sectoral Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council, noted that only one illegal fishing incident has been reported since the meeting. The illegal fisher was not among those who attended the February meeting, he added. Local officials have also met with identified illegal fishermen from Pangan-an Island and Barangays Sabang, San Vicente and Tingo on Olango Island, where a similar positive result was observed. Other barangays have yet to submit the lists of illegal fishermen operating in their area. The Mactan Island Lawyers’ League said they would provide legal assistance to the local government’s 300 fish wardens who may be involved in a legal battle with arrested illegal fishermen. ROV, Sun.Star Cebu, 04.03.02 Manta ray ban: Fishers want proper study People are more concerned about the future of manta rays but [authorities only pay] lip service to the plight of our villagers, said Pamilacan village chief Crispo Valeroso. Pamilacan fishers had been pictured as villains because of their insistence to hunt manta rays despite a ban imposed in 1998 by then Agriculture Secretary Salvador Escudero III through Fisheries Administrative Order 193. Valeroso said they were not consulted, not informed why the catching of manta rays was being prohibited. He said the first time he heard about the ban was when a village council member bought a copy of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, which announced the order prohibiting the hunting of whale sharks and manta rays. A study conducted by Silliman University in the mid-1980s concluded that the country’s manta ray population was threatened, but villagers doubt its accuracy. From what we know, there are only five towns in the entire country where fishermen are known to hunt for manta rays, two in Bohol and three in northern Mindanano, said Valeroso, adding that a trader who has traveled extensively to many Visayan and Mindanao islands has told him that the manta ray populations in those places, if assessed properly and seriously, would allay fears that the species is disappearing. Dried manta ray meat is considered a delicacy in Bohol, but elsewhere, the meat is shunned because of its offensive odor. During an information drive by the manta ray National Resource Assessment Project (NRAP) on March 12, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources director Malcolm Sarmiento Jr. reportedly admitted that the manta ray had been removed from the list of endangered species by the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) several years ago. He explained, however, that the local fishery agency can add but not remove a species from the CITES list. Villagers said many of Pamilacan Island’s children had to quit school as a result of the manta ray ban. The village chief said only eight of the island’s residents were in high school in the last schoolyear. Although conceding that education had not been a priority for them before the ban, villagers contended parents would have wanted to send their children to school if they could afford to. Farming Pamilacan’s predominantly rocky soil is difficult, so the sea remains the villagers’ only source of livelihood. Government efforts to mitigate the impact of the ban were not enough, villagers complained. The village chief said that when the ban was imposed, the village was given four 16-HP pumpboats, some fishing gear, and 21 hogs. They were also promised goats and sheep, but these were never delivered. Valeroso said Pamilacan fishers are law-abiding and even actively join the effort to protect marine resources. Along with Balicasag in Panglao, we were the first to embrace the idea of a fish sanctuary in the province, he noted. Dynamite and cyanide fishing, he claimed, are not practiced in the island, and villagers are actively involved in protecting the sea from destructive fishing activities. Islanders gained notoriety for their practice of hunting whale sharks, but Valeroso said whale shark-hunting around the island stopped after some residents were arrested for possession of whale shark meat. We are not used to legal cases. We are afraid of them, he said. Villagers said all they want is the truth about the real situation of the manta ray. Told that the ban would be temporarily lifted for six months beginning last March to allow fishery authorities to assess the area’s manta ray population, they said the assessment should also include other places where the manta ray is not being caught, arguing that a study that is limited to Baclayon and four other known manta ray fishing grounds would not be accurate. If, after they have conducted an assessment not only in Bohol and Mindanao but in all known manta ray habitats, they find out that its population is threatened, we cannot do anything. But for now, we ask that the study be made carefully. C.A. Fuentes in Philippine Daily Inquirer , 04.06.02 Hinatuan Bay has 5 sea turtle species study Hinatuan Bay is bounded by the Pacific Ocean and a coastline of white beaches, forested limestone formations and mangrove trees. Thirteen islands and islets dot the bay, which is also home to the dugong, based on a recent sighting by Byrne. Byrne, who works with the Center for Empowerment and Research Development (CERD), called the bay a paradise of marine creatures, and that his study has only scratched the surface of the treasure trove that can be found there. He worked with the Pawikan Conservation Project of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to conduct the study. Byrne said the study has pushed for a need to pursue an in-depth and institutionalized study of the sea turtle here to ensure their survival. There are serious environmental factors that may cause the disappearance of all marine creatures of the bay if nothing is done this early. CERD, a non-governmental organization that assists coastal villages in economic development and environmental protection, and the Pawikan Conservation Project conducted this month a training workshop on the conservation and management of marine turtles and dugong for DENR regional personnel, local government units, non-governmental and people’s organizations, the academe and other sectors. Earlier, CERD started an education campaign to persuade villagers to take care of the sea turtle. Byrne said the response has been positive. In one instance, villagers took a day off to release a number of hatchlings and a few mature sea turtles that were being kept by some families as pets. R.J. Sarabosing in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, 04.14.02 Workshop on Agenda 21 for coastal communities held The forum workshop was held to provide a venue for non-governmental organizations and people’s organizations in coastal areas to discuss and strategize on the possibilities of using the Local Agenda 21 framework as a mechanism for strengthening local campaigns and advocacy for fisheries reform and coastal resource management. It also intended to facilitate the process of defining a sectoral perspective highlighting the comments and concerns of the fisheries sector with regards to existing papers developed for the Rio+10. For inquiries on the workshop, call Jonathan Ronquillo at Tel. 372-4991 and 372-3924 Vacancy announced at NGO
World Earth Day with an aquatic twist: Marine enthusiasts
ask that the underwater world not be forgotten "People don't really think about what happens beneath the surface of the water - out of sight, out of mind," said Leonardo DiCaprio, Dive In Host Committee Member. "Dive In To Earth Day reminds us that what we do on land affects what happens in the sea. Whether you live on the coast or in the Midwest, we can all make a difference for the future health of our oceans." Other Host Committee members include actor William Shatner, National Geographic's Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Sylvia Earle, and conservationists Philippe and Alexandra Cousteau. Tens of thousands of volunteers gathered at beaches, shorelines and underwater dive sites to participate in Dive In activities. Among the many activities were: coral reef surveys in Bangladesh, a webcast underwater costume contest in the Caribbean, a trash cleanup along a Brooklyn canal, an underwater quarry cleanup in Latvia, the creation of a giant peace sign made out of kayaks in Florida, and an environmental disco for fishermen in the Philippines. The Dive In To Earth Day website lists all Dive In activities around the world. For more examples and local events go to: http://divein.coralreefalliance.org/findanactivity. Dive In To Earth Day was launched by the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) in 2000 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Earth Day (held annually on April 22). CORAL, a non-profit coral reef conservation organization, coordinates the event in partnership with the Project AWARE Foundation, West Marine, the Dive Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA), Earth Day Network and the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN). Global trends reshaping business strategy and markets Backed with facts and figures, the new report outlines 19 powerful trends that are reshaping global markets and changing the roles and strategies of corporations. Tomorrow's Markets: Global Trends and Their Implications for Business is the first publication that links global economic, environmental, and social indicators to market development in order to help businesses better respond to future challenges. The report reflects the rising interest in using market solutions to address some of the world's most pressing problems. "This report emphasizes global trends that will help business leaders better understand the inter-relationships between environment and development issues, and, in turn, respond more effectively to the enormous challenges before us," said Klaus Toepfer, UNEP Executive Director. He added, "We need a sound healthy environment for development. It makes business sense." Since the world economy depends on a base of natural resources that is being severely degraded, reducing consumption and waste creates new opportunities for businesses to grow through the innovation of less wasteful process and with life-enhancing goods and services. Tomorrow's Markets says that future markets will favor businesses that partner with government and civil society groups to serve basic needs, enhance human skills, increase economic capacity, and help remedy inequities. "This report will provide companies with information to identify the fundamental signals that influence their success and drive their innovation," said Bjoern Stigson, WBCSD president. He added that developing economies will present companies with new market opportunities to help meet health, education, and nutrition needs. The report stresses that wherever they operate, businesses must meet both increasingly rigorous governmental regulations as well as societal expectations of socially responsible behavior. Tomorrow's Markets highlights the critical importance of democracies and laws that promote ethical behavior in creating the playing field for profitable business competition. "The challenge of the future is to choose a course that satisfies the market requirements for growth, maintains the natural balance that sustains our economies, and meets the needs and rights of global communities awakening to new dreams of health, prosperity, and peace," said Jonathan Lash, WRI president. The topics covered include population, wealth, nutrition, health, education, consumption, energy, emissions, efficiency, ecosystems, agriculture, freshwater, urbanization, mobility, communications, labor, democracy, accountability, and privatization. The global trend for each topic is presented in a concise, lively format that can be easily adapted for business use. Among the trends highlighted in Tomorrow's Markets are:
"In a world where corporations are increasingly engaged to provide solutions, business leaders will find that this report is a key navigational tool for setting their companies on a course of profitable growth that rewards shareholders, serves society, and protects the environment," said Tomorrow's Markets project director Dr. Don Doering of WRI's Sustainable Enterprise Program. Copies of the report are available online at UNEP, WBCSD or WRI First-ever global guidelines adopted on genetic
resources "This conference marks a major turning point for the Convention and has helped move us from policy development to implementation, from dialogue to action," said Geke Faber, President of the meeting and Vice Minister of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries of The Netherlands. In their Declaration Ministers resolved "to strengthen our efforts to put in place measures to halt biodiversity loss, which is taking place at an alarming rate, at the global, regional, sub-regional and national levels by the year 2010". The Guidelines on genetic resources promise to improve the way foreign companies, collectors, researchers and other users gain access to valuable genetic resources in return for sharing the benefits with the countries of origin and with local and indigenous communities. They advise governments on how to set fair and practical conditions for users seeking genetic resources (such as plants that can be used to produce new pharmaceuticals or fragrances). In return, these users must offer benefits such as profits, royalties, scientific collaboration, or training. The guidelines were developed in response to growing concerns in many developing countries that the commercial and scientific gains realized from their genetic resources were being reaped only by bio-prospectors based in foreign countries. "Although voluntary, these new Guidelines establish generally accepted norms that promise a fairer, more collaborative approach to access and benefit-sharing as regards genetic resources," said Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, under whose auspices the Convention was adopted. No-take MPAs ineffective as fishery management
tool? Shipp examined over three hundred and fifty fish stocks and found that MPAs offer no fishery management benefit for 98 percent of those stocks. "As a tool for fisheries management, where the goal is maximum sustainable yield, no-take MPAs are generally not as effective as traditional management measures such as size limits, catch limits and seasons." According to Shipp, no-take MPAs don't work because fish move. Of the many fish species Shipp examined, nearly all ranged over large distances, greater than any proposed no-fishing zone. As fish range outside of the restricted area, they become available to catch and the benefits of the closure disappear. Countering a popular misconception regarding MPAs, Shipp points out that the fishery management benefits of the so-called "spillover" effect don't exist. "The number of fish that spillover from a reserve is always going to be less than that available from a well-managed fishery," says Shipp. "It's wrong to say that commercial and recreational anglers are going to benefit by catching more, larger fish as a result of an MPA because they won't." Further, Shipp points out that many species don't need the severe restrictions put in place by no-take MPAs. According to the National Marine Fisheries Service, 8 percent of marine fish are overfished. "If a fish stock is well managed and healthy, then the need for a no-take MPA is nil." "In most cases, traditional measures are a much more effective method for managing a fishery, even an overfished one," said Shipp. Anglers are governed by rules and regulations that determine minimum size requirements, strict catch limits and even seasonal closures. Shipp points out that MPAs can be useful tools in some cases, such as seasonal closures for particular fish. Some fish species congregate for a short period during spawning and it is during this time that extra protection may make sense. In addition, he notes that there are many positive uses for MPAs other than as a management tool, such as protection of critical habitat, study of ecosystem function and biodiversity, and promotion of ecotourism. Shipp chaired the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council when the Council voted to declare part of the Tortugas sanctuary an MPA, a decision he actively supported. However, Shipp noted that for management purposes, to close down a fishery for all species on a permanent basis is unnecessary. "The suggestion, for example, that as much as 40% of the Channel Islands should be designated a permanent no-take MPA is totally without merit from a fisheries management perspective," said Shipp. "I applaud the work of Dr. Shipp and other respected scientists that are helping to elevate the debate on MPAs," stated Mike Nussman, president of the American Sportfishing Association. "Anglers and the sportfishing industry have embraced science-based management for over 50 years. We strongly oppose any efforts to ban the conservation-minded angler from our public waters when there is no scientifically justifiable reason to do so." Global reporting initiative inaugurated at U.N.
event, a milestone for corporate disclosure and transparency The GRI was established to develop, promote, and disseminate a generally accepted framework for sustainability reporting -- voluntary reporting on the economic, environmental, and social performance of corporations and other organizations. Its mandate as an international standards body is to make sustainability reporting as routine as financial reporting while achieving the highest standards of consistency and rigor. In opening remarks, UN Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette stated, "By offering guidelines that enable companies to report on their work to improve environmental and social conditions, the GRI has a unique contribution to make in fostering corporate transparency and accountability far beyond financial matters. Steps to save the planet Protect Endangered Species. Say "No" to Illegal Souvenirs. As you vacation in certain parts of the world, remember that some souvenirs could end up costing a lot more than you paid for them. Think twice before you buy any products made from any endangered species including animal hides and other body parts, tortoise-shell, ivory, or coral - they could be illegal. Supporting this damaging trade doesn't just add to the pressure on endangered species, you could also risk having your goods seized when you get home. Protect Our Forests. Forests stand as great storehouses of natural life, but nearly two-thirds of the world's original forests are gone. Forests fall to the chainsaw at an accelerating pace, driven by an international timber trade that respects neither national boundaries nor ecological limits. To help save our forests:
Protect Our Oceans. Get the facts and learn if something is "fishy." The crisis in the world's oceans is staggering -- 70 percent of the most valuable marine fisheries are either over-fished or fished to the limit. Marine ecosystems are under further stress from destructive practices, such as cyanide and dynamite-fishing, and from "bycatch" of non-target species that claims as much as 29 million tons of fish, seabirds, turtles, and marine mammals every year.
Reduce Your Impact on Global Warming. As pollution increases, so does the world's average temperature. Global warming forces rapid changes in human and animal habitats. To help turn down the heat on the planet:
Reduce Your Use of Toxic Chemicals. Toxic chemicals can now be found in trace amounts in virtually all creatures and in all environments. Once in the environment, toxic chemicals can travel great distances, persist for many years, and grow more concentrated in living things as they move through the food web. Make informed consumer decisions:
Take Action! Contact your government officials and business leaders and urge them to support clean energy policies and environmentally sound practices for important issues such as endangered species, global warming and forest protection. Visit World Wildlife Fund's Conservation Action Network at http://takeaction.worldwildlife.org/ to get active on behalf of our environment we all share. Collect Pennies. Schools can get involved by collecting pennies to support conservation projects. Visit the WWF's Pennies for the Planet Web site at http://www.worldwildlife.org/windows/pennies/ to learn more about this year's campaign. Become informed. Visit the WWF Web site http://www.worldwildlife.org/earthday/ to learn more about what you can do this Earth Day to save the planet. Far fewer sperm whales left in the ocean, future
remains uncertain for the biggest brain on earth According to Dr Hal Whitehead's research "the data clearly shows that current and historical abundance found in the literature are seriously inaccurate. While there is still much uncertainty about population levels, it is certain that sperm whales do need continued protection." Whitehead's calculations show a global estimate of as few as 360,000 sperm whales. This contrasts sharply with previous estimates suggesting between 1.5 and 2 million sperm whales. Dr Whitehead's calculations suggest there were likely only 1 million sperm whales across the world's oceans before commercial whaling, a practice that has reduced numbers of the animal with the largest brain on earth to about 32% of its original size. Although sperm whaling stopped in 1988, the Japanese whaling industry resumed the hunt for Moby Dick under the name of 'science' in 2000. Mark Simmonds, Science Director of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) said today "the international community must remember that the hunt peaked in the mid sixties when more than 25,000 sperm whales were killed annually, destroying social structures and with unknown long-term effects on the populations." "The Japanese whaling industry has killed 13 sperm whales in the past two years and plans to continue the hunt" he said. "These animals are so contaminated with mercury that they cannot be sold for human consumption in Japan. Combine pollution with other threats like the escalation of underwater noise, and one conclusion should be reached: sperm whales shouldn't be caught at all." Japan claims that these hunts are legal because the International Whaling Commission (IWC) treaty (Article VIII) makes provision for whales to be killed for scientific research, and permits the by-products to be marketed. However, Sue Fisher, of WDCS confirmed that "the IWC has never accepted that Japan's hunts are legitimate and each year passes a resolution calling on Japan to stop. "Dr Whitehead's new data provide strong evidence that these whales need to be protected. The world can no longer turn a blind eye to the Japanese 'scientific whaling program'. To protect this species the IWC must enforce the ban on whaling" she said. Earth Summit preparations on biodiversity and corporate
responsibility underway For more information about COB6, visit http://iucn.org. Coastal Guide News, 04.19.02 Empty oceans, empty nets: Documentary examines
the race to save marine fisheries Empty Oceans, Empty Nets presents a compelling case that supports what fishermen and scientists are reporting the world over, but the public remains largely unaware of. "Our oceans are rapidly being depleted of fish and, in fact, entire populations of fish are becoming commercially extinct," said Steve Cowan, the documentary's executive producer and director. "We traveled from Indonesia to Boston to the coast of Spain, filming fisheries in decline and interviewing fishermen and scientists, who told us that scores of fish population are on the verge of collapse." According to Regina Eisenberg, KQED's director of station relations and program sales: "Empty Oceans, Empty Nets challenges many of our assumptions about the health and well-being of our oceans. We're delighted to be sponsoring this special to the PBS system, because we think it's an important story that people really need to know and do something about." According to the most comprehensive and recent data published by the United Nations, two-thirds of the major marine fisheries of the world are currently fully exploited, over-exploited or depleted, compared to 5 percent reported only 40 years ago. In recent years, fishers, seafood merchants, and fisheries scientists have reported an alarming decrease in the volume and size of fish being captured. In addition to declining fish stocks, Empty Oceans, Empty Nets investigates a number of other factors that contribute to the decline of ocean fish, including overfishing, bycatch (wasted catch), destructive fishing practices, and a globalized world fish market. "Destructive fishing practices share the blame for declining fish stocks," Cowan said. "In addition to the 100 million tons of seafood brought to the market each year, fishers also catch and discard about 22 million tons of fish and other sea life." Practices such as poisoning coral reefs to harvest reef fish and trawling over the ocean floor to scoop up bottom-dwelling fish destroy fish habitats, making it more difficult for fish populations to restore themselves. Empty Oceans, Empty Nets was underwritten by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation; Oceana; Whole Foods; Marine Conservation Biology Institute; George T. Pfleger Foundation; Gaia Fund; Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation; Unilever; Bullitt Foundation; Compton Foundation; Norcross Wildlife Foundation, Inc.; Project AWARE Foundation; William H. & Mattie Wattis Harris Foundation; Community Foundation of Cape Cod; Jamee and Marshall Field Foundation. Habitat Productions was formed in 1992 as a project of the Tides Center, a non-profit organization in San Francisco. Habitat Media was formed as a multi-media group in 1999 to produce television documentaries and other educational components that complement these documentaries. The mission of the production group is to encourage public involvement in marine conservation efforts. Several of Habitat Media's award-winning productions have encouraged consumer awareness and participation in marine conservation. Global warming triggers glacial lakes flood threat The lakes are rapidly filling with icy water as rising temperatures in the region accelerate the melting of glaciers and snowfields that feed them. In Nepal, for example, data from 49 monitoring stations reveals a clear increase in temperature since the mid-1970s with highest temperatures found at higher altitudes. On average, air temperatures here are one degree C higher than in the 1970s, rising by 0.06 degrees C per year. It is not just people who are at risk but many millions of dollars worth of property, tourism facilities, trekking trails, roads, bridges and hydro-electric plants which are the economic life-blood of many countries in the region. Scientists with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) have found at least 44 glacial lakes that are filling so rapidly they could burst their banks in as little as five years' time. Surendra Shrestha, Regional Coordinator in Asia for UNEP's Division of Early Warning and Assessment, said: "Our findings indicate that 20 glacial lakes in Nepal and 24 in Bhutan have become potentially dangerous as a result of climate change. We have evidence that anyone of these could, unless urgent action is taken, burst its banks in five to 10 years time with potentially catastrophic results for people and property hundreds of kilometers downstream. These are the ones we know about. Who knows how many others, elsewhere in the Himalayas and across the world, are in a similar critical state?" Pradeep Mool, a remote sensing expert with ICIMOD, said work is underway to lower the water levels of one critical glacial lake pinpointed by on the ground surveys and new satellite images. This is the Tsho Rolpa Lake that feeds the Rolwaling and Tama Koshi valleys in the Dolakha District of Nepal. The researchers have found that, as a result of the melting of a nearby glacier, the lake has grown six-fold, from an area of 0.23 square kilometres in the late 1950s to one of 1.4 square kilometres now. A high-tech communications network of sensors and sirens has been linked from the lake to villages at risk from floodwaters. Engineering work is underway to lower the water levels at Tsho Rolpa by 30 metres. Nevertheless, experts say money is needed urgently to carry out similar work on scores of other glacial lakes if catastrophes are to be averted. "The findings from our joint studies in the Himalayas, the roof of the world, reveals the extent of a new, and alarming, threat. It is not just the risk to human lives, agriculture and property that should worry us. Mountains are the world's water towers feeding the rivers and lakes upon which all life depends. If the glaciers continue to retreat at the rates being seen in places like the Himalayas, then many rivers and freshwater systems could run dry, threatening drinking water supplies as well as fisheries and wildlife. We now have another compelling reason to act to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases," said Klaus Toepfer, UNEP executive director. Climate change and other environment and development issues, including those affecting mountains, will be at the heart of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, scheduled to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa later this year. New WWF report says tuna farming will strike deathblow
to Mediterranean tuna The report's launch coincided with a meeting on bluefin tuna to be held in Malta from 15 to 19 April, involving the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT), the organizations responsible for the management of wild tuna in the Mediterranean. WWF called on GFCM and ICCAT as well as the European Union to set up effective regulations for tuna farming, aimed at rebuilding the overfished tuna stock. It recommended that until these regulations are in effect in the region, further development of tuna farming should be stopped. "Tuna-farming in the Mediterranean is not true aquaculture but just an added final step of a standard fishery which relies on the already overexploited wild tuna stock. This new practice is expanding the market for bluefin tuna, resulting in a further increase in fishing effort," said Sergi Tudela, Fisheries' Officer at WWF Mediterranean Programme. Tuna farming in the Mediterranean is a phenomenon driven mainly by Japanese market demands. Farmed tuna is higher in oil content which makes it particularly desirable for sushi. Wild tuna, therefore, are put in cages and fattened to improve the oil content of the flesh in order to meet Japanese market standards. The preference for farmed tuna is evident in their increasing exports to Japan, which shot up from 200 tons to about 4300 tons in just three years. Another part of the problem is that tuna farming falls in between the definitions of a standard fishery involving capture of wild stock, and true aquaculture where fish are bred and reared in captivity. It is considered a post-harvest practice and therefore falls outside the regulations put in place by GFCM and ICCAT. This situation has resulted in an unregulated growth of tuna farming. Last year, the 12 tuna farms operating in the Mediterranean region produced 11,000 tonnes of tuna, compared to almost nothing five years ago. This is more than half of the world's total. Although ICCAT and GFCM are responsible for managing bluefin tuna stock in the Mediterranean, the EU could take action to stop the overfishing of tuna and regulate its farming. Many of the tuna farms operating in the Mediterranean are subsidized under the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). With the CFP due for a once-in-ten years' review this year, WWF urged the European Union (EU) to decrease the fishing effort on the wild tuna stock, and to regulate tuna farming when reforming the CFP. In addition, the conservation organization calls on the EU to put in place a recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean. One-third of EU fishing subsidies not sustainable The report EU subsidies to Italian fisheries: analyzing the impact on marine resources and environment says that EU subsidies cause environmental damage in a range of ways. Italian fishermen are using subsidies to transfer their fishing effort to waters of developing countries where there are more fish - thus dramatically increasing the pressure on fish stocks in these areas. Another type of EU subsidy finances the construction of new boats and the improvement of technical instruments such as motors or radars, as a result of which, the fishing effort in Italy increases by 7 percent every year. WWF is also concerned that in its drive to comply with EU objectives to reduce fishing effort, rather than targeting industrial fishing, the Italian government is targeting artisanal fisheries, a sector that provides extensive employment, and at the same time causes less environmental damage. "Fish and fishermen are two endangered species we want to save. EU subsidies can help to safeguard them, if those subsidies with a negative impact are reallocated to better use," said Paolo Guglielmi, WWF Mediterranean Programme Office Head of Marine Unit. "WWF recognizes that the EU has been aiming for some years to make its fisheries subsidies sustainable. Nevertheless, some of these subsidies are misused and WWF is calling on the EU to reform them or add conditions to their use, to ensure they really support sustainable fishing." 2002 is the year when the European Union's CFP - Common Fisheries Policy - comes up for review. This is the first opportunity in ten years to fundamentally change the CFP, but Italy has been against this reform. WWF is urging the Italian government to support a new "greener" CFP, clearly committed to eliminate the 40 percent over-capacity in the EU fishing fleet, to aid the building of a healthy fishing industry and to take into account environmental and social sustainability criteria. WWF is also calling upon the Italian government to create "fish districts" as zones exclusively for local fishermen as well as "no-take zones" to allow fish stock recovery. Those zones could be implemented with the installation of 'blue boxes' that would register the position of all Italian boats more than 12m long. The largest fishing industry in the Mediterranean, and the 6th largest in Europe - around 17,000 vessels, 200,000 gross tonnes of fishing capacity and 53,000 fishermen - Italy receives the second largest fishing subsidy from the EU. A large part of the subsidy goes to Sicily, with the main centres of the Italian fishing industry being Napoli, Venezia, Bari, Mazara del Vallo, Chioggia, Catania. Stop aquatic hitchhikers! "Most of these aquatic invasive species tag along with people who are some of our best conservation partners," said Service Director Steve Williams. "They are the people who are out there for recreation -- fishing, boating, diving, hunting and a lot more. Their conscientious efforts have already helped in this fight, and that's why it's important we lend a hand." The "Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!" campaign features a long-term educational and outreach effort designed to elevate awareness about the spread of aquatic nuisance species throughout the United States, and offers advice, help and voluntary guidelines for aquatic recreation users. It promotes some simple steps to recreational users every time they leave the water:
Many aquatic invaders entered the United States through the discharge of ballast water from international freighters and by other means. These species are often spread by people -- unknowingly -- as they engage in a number of recreational activities. Many aquatic nuisance species, like the round goby, the zebra mussel or the sea lamprey, have not only reproduced and spread quickly, but have wreaked havoc with native species, have reduced game fish populations, ruined boat engines and industrial water intake systems, fouled water and power plants, made lakes and rivers unusable for boaters and swimmers, cut property values and even affected human health. International Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies presents stewardship award The 6,700-acre ranch is located only 18 miles southwest of downtown Austin in one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. The ranch's owners, the Ayres family, have implemented a successful plan to preserve their land designed to protect water resources, open space and wildlife. In 1999, the family donated to the Nature Conservancy of Texas a 4,700-acre easement on the Shield Ranch, contributing crucial protection to endangered-species habitat. The City of Austin later bought a conservation easement on an adjacent 1,676 acres, leaving only 300 acres of the ranch not in easements. Today, the farm is home not only to the family's herd of Brangus, black baldy and Beefmaster cows, but also to deer, turkey and other wildlife. Nominations for the annual IAFWA Landowners Award come from state fish and wildlife agencies. Judging is conducted by representatives from farm wildlife sections of the agencies and by regional representatives of the Wildlife Management Institute, the Wildlife Society, the America Farm Bureau Federation and the American Fisheries Society. Qualifications for award winners require that:
The award was presented at the annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Dallas.. As whaling fleet returns, Japan launches new PR
campaign While the Japanese Government claims support for whaling among its citizens remains strong, recent Japanese media poll results conflict drastically with the official line - noting that an overwhelming majority of Japanese citizens have either never eaten whale meat or have not eaten it for a very long time. To change this lack of general Japanese appetite for whale meat, the government's new PR campaign involves advertising vans traveling across the country playing recorded messages exhorting the public to eat whale meat. "It's unbelievable,"said Fred O'Regan, President of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), of Japan's new whale meat eating campaign. "The Japanese Fisheries Agency bureaucrats are really on thin ice now. And you'd have to skate as well as Midori Ito to complete the spins and turns in logic they are trying to do here. "Japan's whaling ships return from internationally protected waters full of meat from protected whales that will now be shipped off to market, all in the name of 'science,'" O'Regan said, "Then you have the Fisheries Agency bureaucrats insisting public demand for whale meat is high, even as they are cooking up a desperate effort to sell the public on eating whales." Conservationists and government officials around the world have been sharply critical of Japan's whaling, which has been carried out under the guise of science since an international ban on commercial whaling came into effect in 1986. Scientific research whaling is permitted under the rules of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), though that body has repeatedly passed resolutions calling on Japan to end the practice. The just-completed hunt by the Japanese whaling ships was conducted in the waters of the Southern Ocean Sanctuary, which was established in 1994. Japan was the sole nation to vote against creating the sanctuary. Pristine coral reef ecosystem found at Northern
Hawaiian Islands report "With coral reefs around the world in decline, it is extremely rare to be able to examine a coral reef ecosystem that is relatively free of human influence," said Alan Friedlander, Fisheries Ecologist with the Oceanic Institute and an expedition team member. Second in size only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is the last vast, intact coral reef ecosystem remaining on the planet. Consisting of 10 separate islands and 30 submerged reefs spanning 1,200 nautical miles long, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is a unique marine wilderness filled with large carnivores, a situation not seen in any other large coral reef ecosystem. Initiated by the Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative Research Program, NOWRAMP is a multi-agency collaboration that brought together 50 scientists from the state, federal and research communities. The expeditions in 2000 - 2001 included the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Ocean Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawaii, Bishop Museum, University of California at Santa Cruz and Oceanic Institute. "The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands contribute 69 percent of all the coral reef ecosystems in the U.S. This emphasizes how critical research is in understanding and keeping coral reef ecosystems thriving," said Jim Maragos, NOWRAMP Chief Scientist and Principal Investigator. The expeditions revealed that the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands ecosystem is much more pristine and diverse than anticipated. One-fourth of the reef animals and plant species reported are unique to Hawaii. The Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative Research Program (HCRI-RP) was established in 1998 to support monitoring and research activities to build capacity in managing Hawaii's coral reef ecosystems. The Program is currently in its fourth year of operation and has grown to fund 10 research projects aimed at managing and protecting Hawaii's coral reefs. HCRI-RP is cooperatively managed by the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources and the University of Hawaii. The booklet is available on the Hawai'i Coral Reef Initiative Research Program's web site at http://www.hawaii.edu/ssri/hcri . A limited number of copies are available through the Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative Research Program office at 808-956-7479. Florida has high number of species at risk Florida ranks third in the United States in percentage of reptiles at risk and fourth in percentage of birds at risk, the analysis found. The report, called States of the Union: Ranking America's Biodiversity, is based on the distribution and condition of 21,395 known native plant and animal species in the United States. The results provide new insights into the scale of the nation's conservation challenges and opportunities. Overall, the analysis showed that in one out of four states, more than 10 percent of species are at risk. In Florida, the number of species at risk is much higher than the average -- 14.3 percent or 624 of 4,368 native species are threatened by extinction. Florida ranks about in the middle of all states in both number of freshwater fish species and the overall percentage of fishes that are endangered. However, the Conservancy has documented several highly threatened species such as the Okaloosa darter found only in a few drainages at Eglin Air Force Base and the Lake Eustis pupfish that only lives in a group of interconnected lakes at the headwaters of the Oklawaha River in Lake County. The leading threats to the diversity of species in the United States are habitat destruction and degradation, including that caused by the spread of invasive species. Florida's birds are especially suffering from the loss of habitat - only three other states have a higher percentage of birds at risk. Florida scrub-jays, seaside sparrows, red-cockaded woodpeckers, and Kirtland's warblers are a few of the species in danger. Florida's reptiles at risk, also a high number due to habitat loss, include a host of snakes, several turtles and American crocodiles. Japan, Germany and US expanding cooperation on
certifying biodegradable plastics The agreement comes just 10 months after the three groups reached an accord to harmonize certification efforts with the ultimate goal of mutual recognition of each other’s labeling efforts. "Our shared vision is one set of tests, leading to rapid certification in all parts of the world," stated Ramani Narayan Chairman of ASTM Subcommittee D20.96 Environmentally Degradable Plastics and the BPI's Scientific Chairman. Recognition of each other's laboratory data is a critical first step in this process. "Valid data is the basis for any certification effort," Narayan added. In Japan, the BPS efforts focus on certifying products that are biodegradable and safe. To carry the "GreenPla" mark products must meet the specifications found in ISO 14851, 14852 or 14855. All require that the resin be converted to carbon dioxide by microbial activity. Additionally products must not be harmful to humans, plants or animals. Once certified products, resins and additives are placed on the "positive" list, which is available on the BPS website (www.bpseb.net). Additionally, the BPS is exploring how to certify products as "compostable" as part of its commitment to harmonizing standards on a worldwide basis. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), food scraps and yard trimming are still some of the largest segments of the waste stream that are landfilled or incinerated-behind to paper and paperboard. Also, the EPA has identified the degradation of food scraps in landfills as a significant generator of methane gas, a known contributor to global warming. It estimates that composting of food scraps (vs. landfilling) would have the same global warming benefits taking 2,000,000 cars off the road. However, food scraps can be effectively collected and composted without methane generation, with the aid of biodegradable products, significantly improving recycling and diversion rates. The most recent success is taking place in Kassel, Germany, which is the home to the world's largest demonstration program for biodegradable plastics, incorporating a wide array of packaging. In total, more than a dozen different products have been converted to biodegradable materials, ranging from grocery sacks, to fruit and vegetable bags and even butter packaging. The test is already showing favorable results.
Genetically engineered fish used to assess health
hazards in the environment "Fish are particularly sensitive indicators of contaminants in water and make ideal models for this type of research," said Winn. "Beyond that, fish are finally being recognized for their comparative value as an animal model in environmental and biomedical research." After exposure of the fish to a chemical, researchers look for changes in the target gene's DNA. The research, supported by the National Institutes of Health, shows remarkably similar responses in fish when compared to studies in mice and rats. "A small mutation in the DNA can have serious or even devastating effects, regardless of the species," said Winn. "For example, one deviation in one DNA sequence could lead to something as serious as cancer. Fish are showing us that what critter you use as a model becomes less important than the questions you ask." In a collaborative study with the Environmental Protection Agency, researchers are using Winn's fish to help determine whether the chemical byproducts created in the disinfection of drinking water could cause cancer. After exposure to the byproducts for nine months, the fish are analyzed for genetic mutations on the target gene. The scientists are also testing the effectiveness of chemicals that claim to reduce mutations or prevent cancer, such as green tea. They're also investigating whether juveniles are more sensitive to chemical toxicants. Winn says preliminary studies shows that young, developing fish are far more susceptible than adults to genetic damage from exposure to chemical contaminants. All female mission launches Aquarius Undersea Lab
Research season The Aquarius sealab - about the size of a school bus - is located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, where it rests 60 feet underwater and 3.5 miles offshore next to deep coral reefs. Owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and operated by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) , Aquarius is the only undersea research platform of its kind in the world. The lab's season opener this year runs from April 15 to 24 and includes an all female science team led by State University of New York at Buffalo biologist Dr. Mary Alice Coffroth. Coffroth will be joined by her doctoral candidate Tonya Shearer, Leanne Rutten a master's student at Florida International University, and Dione Swanson, a doctoral candidate at the University of Miami. Saturating with the science team are UNCW station operators Jim Buckley and Russell Lounsbury. During their 10 days beneath the sea, the scientists will measure the size and condition of corals. They will also collect tiny coral samples for DNA fingerprinting, which will help the scientists determine how coral populations grow and sustain themselves, providing important information useful to manage and preserve delicate coral reefs in Florida. After the mission, Shearer and Coffroth will spend months in their laboratory using state-of-the-art genetic techniques uncovering secrets of coral genetics and biology. Throughout each Aquarius mission, expedition journals, photos, and live undersea webcam views of the lab and surrounding area along with detailed program information will be available on the Aquarius web site at: http://www.uncwil.edu/nurc/aquarius. Ozone good for seafood preservation "We found that treating raw fish as well as processing equipment with ozone greatly reduced the bacteria that can spoil seafood," says Barry Nash, North Carolina Sea Grant seafood technology and marketing specialist. During the study, researchers also found that ozone seemed to improve the shelf life of uncooked fish while not impacting the appearance, color, or aroma of the treated fresh fish. The ozone research showed further benefits in that by treating the air and water used in the processing plants, bacterial cross-contamination in the workplace environment was reduced as well. Robb Mairs, general manager of Hanover Sea Products, finds the results promising for dealers noting, "This will result in increased profitability in the seafood processing industry." Cuttlefish featured in conservation message at
New Oregon Coast Aquarium Exhibit The common cuttlefish are not found in North America, but are related to the octopuses found along the Oregon coast, having eight arms and two tentacles. Cuttlefish use their tentacles to capture their prey and their arms to hold it when it's caught. They have a parrotlike beak and a radula to tear and rasp their prey, in the same way that octopuses eat. They are bottom dwellers that eat snails, clams and crabs and also swim for shrimp and other small fishes. Cuttlefish hover in the water when not sitting on the bottom, using jet propulsion to move. They will squirt dark ink when scared in an effort to confuse pursuing predators and to change color to hide, or to send signals to predators or other cuttlefish. While the common cuttlefish has grey lines along its arms and some orange behind its eyes, its main color scheme ranges from very dark browns to white. For additional information about the Oregon Coast Aquarium, surf www.aquarium.org or call 541-867-FISH. New training kits available from UNEP The "Urban Environmental Management: Environmental Management System Training Resource Kit" helps municipal managers take a systematic approach to integrating environmental considerations into all aspects of their activities. For example when scrap cars are abandoned at roadsides dripping oil and gasoline pose an environmental hassle to the local community. Dealing with such issues is a case study of urban environmental management. The kit, which costs USD390 (including shipping), is presented in a "train the trainer" format, which provides tools to integrate sustainable development into city management. The EMS is based on ISO 14001 requirements. It contains case studies; methods for training and organizing workshops and for handling feedback and, tools to help local authorities disseminate the EMS concept. "UNEP/FIDIC/ICC Environmental Management System Training Resource Kit 2nd Edition" goes beyond the standard and also gives instructions on how to report about a company's environmental performance and how to integrate Environmental Management Systems (EMS) with other systems such as Health and Safety and Chemicals Management. The kit, which sells for USD350 plus shipping, is a practical guide to environmental management system (EMS) designed as a "train the trainer" tool to give trainers and company managers the elements necessary to conduct courses in EMS for companies. To order, visit EarthPrint Wide-ranging world map released and available for
Earth Day Breaking with tradition, this map replaces elevation with the rendition of terrain (deserts, forests, savanna). In addition to displaying all countries, active border disputes and key cities, the map notes cultural regions (Kashmir, Scotland, Transylvania) and prominent indigenous nations (Kurds, Palestinians, Inuit). Daniel Rirdan, Director of The Exploration Company and producer of the map, explained, "If conventional political maps are the story of governments, the Wide Ranging World Map is the story of the people and the earth. People will not remember the actual extent of rainforest destruction or names of indigenous nations that make up Indonesia. But it matters not. By the sheer inclusion of these features on a map, they acquire a reality in people's eyes.'' The map indicates population density and where natural vegetation has been replaced with cropland, along with marine pollution, radioactive contamination, and destroyed rainforests. This is the first time any of these features has been shown on a wall map of the world. The map comes in a number of sizes and prices, ranging from $15.95 (40" x 27) to $132 (60" x 37 on a spring roller, for schools) and is available for purchase at www.theexplorationcompany.com , select teacher-supply stores (Learning is Fun), nature stores (The Nature of Things), and map stores around the United States. |
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