World Experts Adcocates Judicious Utilization of Groundwater

The International Symposium on Groundwater Sustainability, which has just been concluded in Alicante, Spain has advocated greater care of groundwater reserves, increasingly threatened by overconsumption. Underground water constitutes about 94% of all accessible fresh water. Two billion people depend directly upon water stored underground for drinking water. Overuse is having detrimental impacts for people, livelihoods and ecosystems. Ground water also provides a critical supply for many ecosystems,ecosystems dependent on groundwater. The upcoming 4th World Water Forum (Mexico, March 2006), will be a forum to discuss the modalities for judicious utilization of groundwater.

WWF and Honda join forces to save Sumatran rhinos

WWF and Honda Motors have decided to work together to protect the endangered Sumatran rhino, the most endangered of all the rhino species found only in Malaysia and Indonesia. Fewer than 300 Sumatran rhinos exist in the world. The project will focus mainly on increasing efforts to protect the Sumatran rhino’s habitat and reduce poaching through close cooperation with local communities and organizations. Honda Malaysia has pledged to contribute about US$1 million to the Rhino Rescue project. The other partners in this noble venture are Malaysian Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Perak State Park Corporation, the Sabah Wildlife Department.

Chimp Antibodies For Fight Against Smallpox

Chimps are helping human beings in the development of new vaccines against small pox. The current vaccine against smallpox blocks infection by the smallpox virus variola by targeting it with another virus, vaccinia. vaccinia can produce severe side effects in a small minority of people and couls even be fatal. A team led by Dr Robert Purcell, at the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has been working on those taken from the bone marrow of chimpanzees because of their close similarity to human forms. Chimps produced particularly powerful antibodies in response. A hybrid human/chimp version that is powerful has been developed. These potent antibodies can also provide instant protection after exposure to the virus. This vaccine also carried a lower risk of complications.
Protecting wildlife has myriad spin-offs, which we are frittering away by failing to protect wildlife and its habitat. We are foreclosing the future benefits in our mad race for development.

Nations with wild populations of Asian elephants back elephant action plan

The three-day gathering of Nations with wild populations of Asian elephants convened by the Malaysian government, and facilitated by IUCN, the World Conservation Union, has come up with agreement on the best way to protect the remaining elephant populations. The consensus was that transboundary cooperation was necessary to protect the creatures' dwindling habitat. It is the first time that all the 13 countries are coming together. Elephants are found in 13 countries, from Bangladesh to Vietnam.The wild population of Asian elephants is estimated at 30,000 to 50,000.There are about 100 in Vietnam and more than 20,000 in India. The need of the hour is to strike a balance between the needs of elephants and burgeoning human population.

Ethiopian Red Fox in Trouble

An endangered species of red fox found only in Ethiopia is in trouble. Dogs accompanying livestock are bringing rabies which is endangering the Fox. Over the past two months five out of a population of 200 red foxes have died in Bale Mountains National Park. There are fewer than 500 red foxes left in Ethipia.

Environmental performance - New Zealand Ranks First

New Zealand ranks first in the world in environmental performance according to the pilot 2006 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) produced by a team of environmental experts at the environment school at Yale University and the Earth Institute at Columbia University. The 16 indicators used to rank nations are: child mortality, indoor air pollution, drinking water, adequate sanitation, urban particulates, regional ozone, nitrogen loading, water consumption, wilderness protection, ecoregion protection, timber harvest rate, agricultural subsidies, overfishing, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and CO2 per Gross Domestic Product. Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom are ranked two to five respectively. The lowest-ranked countries are Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Chad and Niger. Full report is available at http://www.yale.edu/epi

Benefits of Coral Reef Protection

A report, produced by UNEP with the International Coral Reef Action Network and the World Conservation Union says costs of safeguarding the world's fast-disappearing coral reefs and mangroves are small compared to the benefits they provide to humanity. The report estimated that intact coral reefs were worth $100,000-$600,000 per sq km a year and a sq km of mangroves $200,000-$900,000 a year. Benefits from coral reefs and mangroves arise from fisheries, timber and fuelwood, tourism and shore protection. By contrast, the cost of protecting a sq km of coral reef or mangroves in a marine park was just $775 a year. The survey indicated that costs of building a concrete breakwater in the Maldives to replace a damaged reef had been $10 million per km. Time to think about coral reef and mangrove conservation seriously.

World’s Smallest Fish

Maurice Kottelat and Tan Heok Hui, who are researchers at the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research at the National University of Singapore, have discovered the world's tiniest fish. The fish lives in peat wetlands on the Indonesian Island of Sumatra and in the Malaysian part of Borneo.When fully grown, it is the size of a large mosquito. The fish distant cousin of the carp has been given the name Paedocypris progenetica. The previous record holder was a marine fish of the Western Pacific called the dwarf goby (Trimmatom nanus), which comes in at 8mm at sexual maturity. The habitat of this fish is disappearing very fast, and the fate of the species hangs in balance.

Decline of Orangutan populations linked to human activity

New genetic evidence indicates that the collapse of Orangutan populations is linked to human activity. The crash during the past 200 years, coincides with deforestation in the area. The study was conducted in the forests of Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Malaysia. By collecting the Orangutans' hair and faeces, the researchers were able to extract DNA to create genetic profiles.Professor Bruford a conservation biologist at Cardiff University says it may even be necessary to move Orangutans around to prevent inbreeding.

UK- Massive Culling of Grey Squirrels Planned

A massive cull of grey squirrels has been planned across Britain in an attempt to halt declining numbers of the endangered native red population. Grey squirrels were introduced to Britain from North America in the 19th Century. Grey squirrels seriously threaten woodland management through damage to trees and by squeezing out red squirrels. Biodiversity minister Jim Knight said the aim was not to completely eradicate the greys, which have a population estimated at more than two million - outnumbering red squirrels by 66 to one, but to reduce numbers over the next three years.

Sad News - Thames Whale Does Not Survive Rescue Attempt

All attempts to save the Thames whale failed. It died as marine specialists escorted it on a barge down the Thames toward the sea. The mammal suffered breathing problems and muscle spasms when it convulsed and died. Tony Woodley, a director of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) group said that despite the sad outcome, the decision to move the whale - costing the group about £100,000 - was correct and they had given it their "best shot".

Whale spotted in central London

A Northern Bottle-nosed Whale(Hyperoodon ampullatus),which is usually found in deep-sea waters, has been seen in upstream Thames. The Whale has crashed into an empty boat causing slight bleeding. Rescuers have been trying to keep the seven-tonne whale away from the riverbanks. Specialist equipments like inflatable tubes are in place to help the stranded animal. All efforts are concentrated on to persuade it to swim back in to the sea.

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment publishes full technical reports

The four “foundation” reports of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) have been released. These 500-800 page reports examine Current State and Trends; Scenarios; Policy Responses; and Multi-Scale Assessments. A summary report was also released. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) was a four-year long global assessment of the consequences of ecosystem change for human well being and the options for responding to those changes, which involved 1,300 leading international scientists from 95 nations.

Greenpeace Leaves Dead Whale At Embassy

The Japanese embassy in Berlin has received a 20-ton dead fin whale, compliments of Greenpeace. Greenpeace was protesting against whale hunting by Japan in the name of animal research. "We want to show Japan how nonsensical whale-hunting is, and show them they must stop killing whales", said a Greenpeace spokesman. Environmentalists have been blocking Japanese whale hunters in the Antarctic since December.

New Animal Species Found in California Caves

Twenty-seven new species of spiders, centipedes and scorpion-like creatures have been discovered in the dark, damp Cavesin Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks of California. The species are yet to be named. While it is extremely rare to find new mammal or bird species on the surface, caves still have a bonanza for the scientists. Jean Krejca, a consulting biologist with Austin, Texas-based Zara Environmental led the three-year exploration. Park officials are framing appropriate conservation policies.

Canada Forges Ahead to Protect its Rich Natural Heritage

Canada’s protected area agenda had three major achievements this past three months. The protection of the world’s largest freshwater lake, the doubling in size of Canada’s smallest national park, and the creation of a new national park, supported by the Inuit people. Lake Superior, the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area, will be the first area protected under Canada’s 2002 National Marine Conservation Areas Act. St. Lawrence Island National Park, Canada’s smallest national park will be doubling in size, through the acquisition of new lands. The third major achievement is the creation of Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve. - The first national park to be established in Labrador (Eastern Canada).

Drought - Kenya’s Wildlife at Risk

A severe drought is threatening Kenya's wildlife, which is straying out of protected areas in search of water, risking conflict with villagers. Kenya has 59 sanctuaries, reserves and national parks. The worst affected parks were Tsavo National Park in the southeast and the popular Maasai Mara National Reserve in the southwest. According to the United Nations lack of rains in many parts of East Africa, including Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia has left around 6 million people on the brink of starvation.

Kenya - British environmentalist shot dead in Rift Valley

Well-known British environmentalist and wildlife photographer Joan Wenn Root was shot and killed on Friday at her home in Kenya's central Rift Valley.Nothing has been stolen and the motive for the killing is not yet known. She made several acclaimed films in the 1960s, 70s and 80s documenting Kenya's stunning wildlife and landscape. She was also very active in trying to preserve Lake Naivasha, the Rift Valley's only freshwater lake.

World's biggest fish getting smaller

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), the world's largest fish are getting smaller according to researchers of Australian Institute of Marine Science. Whale sharks are caught for food in some East Asian countries and Australian researchers suspect the unbridled fishing is causing a decline. In the last decade the average size of shark is down from seven metres to five metres. Under the IUCN Red List of threatened species, Whale sharks are categorised as "vulnerable" to extinction and they have been added to CITES list of species threatened by international trade. Efforts are on to ensure better protection to this threatened species.

Periyar Tiger Reserve

I had a wonderful time in Periyar Tiger Reserve. Park - people interface through Ecodevelopment Committees is working wonders for the overall development of the Park. People residing on the periphery who once used to view the park authorities with Suspicions are now partners in the management of the Park. Periyar Foundation the apex body of the Ecodevelopment Committees is taking deep roots after the initial hiccups. The entire scenario is emerging as a worthwhile model worth emulating for other parks in India.