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Going So Yasuni?
No cash yet offered to save Ecuador rainforest as deadline looms |
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09 Oct 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 12:05 PM on 09 Oct 2008 In June 2007, Ecuador offered to avoid oil development in a tract of biodiverse rainforest if other nations and green groups were able to pony up $350 million a year for a decade. Reaction to the pay-to-protect idea was positive, but a twice-bumped-back deadline is coming up in Dec. 2008, and still no funding is in place. The oil field in question lies within Yasuni National Park, ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, Ecuador, energy, habitat protection, innovation, news, oil, oil and gas drilling, rainforests (all these topics) |
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Go For the Boobies, Stay ... No, Don't Stay
Overrun by humans, Galapagos Islands crack down |
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08 Oct 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 12:08 PM on 08 Oct 2008 The Galapagos Islands are totally hot right now. To tourists, the island chain 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador offers stunning biodiversity (blue-footed boobies!) that infamously inspired Charles Darwin to write The Origin of Species. To residents, the tourism-driven economy offers high wages, top-notch public schools, and a dearth of violent crime. But as more and mor ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, habitat loss, news, population (all these topics) |
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Have You Hugged Your Monkey Today?
Nearly a quarter of wild mammal species are in danger of extinction |
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06 Oct 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:52 AM on 06 Oct 2008 Some 21 percent of the world's 5,487 known wild mammal species are in danger of extinction, according to the updated Red List maintained by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. (Steller sea lions and tigers and giant pandas, oh no!) "Our results paint a bleak picture of the global status of mammals worldwide," say researchers, notin ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, endangered species, lists, news, wildlife, World Conservation Union (all these topics) |
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Chirp Thrills
Farmland birds don't seem to mind wind turbines, says study |
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01 Oct 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:50 AM on 01 Oct 2008 The sights and sounds of wind turbines don't seem to bother farmland birds, according to research published in the Journal of Applied Ecology. Scientists studied the effects of two wind farms in eastern England on 3,000 birds of 23 species, and found that only pheasants seemed to be disgruntled enough to move farther away from the turbines. (Incidentally, if we had a band, we'd call oursel ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, energy, England, news, renewable energy, scientific research, wildlife, wind power (all these topics) |
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Urban hawk attacks
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biodiversivist |
24 Sep 2008 |
Gristmill |
| I received a strange phone call yesterday from my youngest daughter. 'Dad, a hawk is eating Pinkfoot!' Pinkfoot was my daughter's Bantam hen, which won Best in Show at the fair this summer. I raced home to find a fairly large hawk making short work of said hen and it had no intention of leaving until finished with its meal. I don't know what species it is. Maybe someone can identify it in the comments. My daughter was upset but not unduly so. She wants to be a farme ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, Seattle, wildlife (all these topics) |
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Common Baby, Light My Ire
Many of world's common birds are taking a population dive |
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23 Sep 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:21 AM on 23 Sep 2008 Some of the world's most common bird species have suffered big population declines in the last few decades due to habitat loss, invasive species, industrial agriculture, and logging, says a new report from BirdLife International. The report found that in the last 25 years, some 45 percent of Europe's common bird species have been in decline, as have over 80 percent of Australia's ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, news, scientific research, wildlife (all these topics) |
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Alien invaders: More to the story, part 2
NYT critiques alien biology |
Erik Hoffner |
10 Sep 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Last year, I posted an argument that not all alien species are bad, based on a study of the invasive aquatic plant Hydrilla; I got pretty bloodied, not only because it's an unpopular notion in enviro circles, but also because of my clumsy presentation and defense of the idea. Yesterday's New York Times ran a feature called 'Friendly Invaders' that says rather well what I was angling on, and then it goes a lot further. The scientists profiled make the case that very few ... |
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| Topics: climate, biodiversity, scientific research (all these topics) |
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The Invasion Equation
Could invasive species be a good thing? |
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09 Sep 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:58 AM on 09 Sep 2008 Could invasive species' bad reputation be undeserved? Bucking conventional wisdom, new research suggests that if exotic species aren't predators of natives, competition by nonnative species can actually improve biodiversity. A recent study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences notes that just three of New Zealand's 2,065 native plants have gone extinct, despite introduction of 22,000 ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, news, scientific research (all these topics) |
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Mark His Words
New Nature Conservancy prez chats about jumping from Goldman Sachs to the green scene |
Amanda Griscom Little |
17 Jul 2008 |
Grist Feature |
| The stereotypes of biz-begrudging enviros and planet-pillaging business leaders were upended years ago. These days, green groups and corporations team up on everything from preserving land to pushing for climate regulations. Now, in the latest example of cross-pollination, they're even swapping executives. Mark Tercek Photo: Mark Godfrey/The Nature Conservan ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, business, climate, economy, environmental movement, Nature Conservancy, wilderness, wildlife (all these topics) |
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Forty with nature
Car camping with a Prius |
biodiversivist |
15 Jul 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Just returned from the annual five-day camping trip with about a dozen other families. This is a photo of a fully mature male Western fence lizard, also known as a blue belly because of the blue spot under the male's throat (my youngest daughter is the hand model). The spot is used to impress the ladies and as a warning to other guys trying to horn in. It only works for lizards, young male Gristmill readers, so don't get any ideas. The propensity for chickens, liza ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, green living, hybrids, travel (all these topics) |
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Club Medusae
Jellyfish are everywhere, and that's not a good thing |
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18 Jun 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 11:33 AM on 18 Jun 2008 Photo: Neil Harmon The natural cycle of Mediterranean jellyfish populations is to swell every 12 years, plateau for four to six years, then subside. But massive groups of gelatinous jellies have been showing up for the past eight years, and they show no sign of flagging. In fact, jellies are proliferating worldwide, and that makes scientists nervous. "Jellyfish are an excellent bellwether fo ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, fishing, news, oceans, wildlife (all these topics) |
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Maybe there's hope after all
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David Roberts |
11 Jun 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Unicorns! |
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| Topics: biodiversity, funnies, green living (all these topics) |
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Ready to Chirac
Former French prez launches foundation to preserve biodiversity |
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10 Jun 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:24 AM on 10 Jun 2008 Former French President Jacques Chirac has launched a foundation aimed at preserving cultural and natural diversity that humans seem intent upon obliterating. The Chirac Foundation will provide funds to improve access to water and medicines in developing countries, fight deforestation and desertification, and preserve languages and cultures that are on the verge of dying out. "I ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, France, habitat protection, news (all these topics) |
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It's Only Biological
Ocean seeding banned at U.N. biodiversity conference |
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30 May 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:08 AM on 30 May 2008 A 12-day United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity ended Friday with just a wee bit of progress toward salvaging the world's rapidly disappearing flora and fauna. Perhaps most encouraging: The 191 countries present agreed to ban the controversial practice of seeding the ocean with nutrients to encourage growth of carbon-sucking algae. In addition, Germany, which hosted the conferen ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, Bosnia, Congo, geoengineering, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, news, United Nations (all these topics) |
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Remember Wren?
One in eight bird species may go extinct |
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19 May 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 3:04 PM on 19 May 2008 One in eight bird species is threatened with extinction, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. In the latest update of the IUCN's Red List of threatened species, 190 birds are designated "critically endangered"; eight of those were added this year. Sixteen other bird species were also moved to a higher level of threat on the list, while only two found their prospects ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, endangered species, lists, news, wildlife, World Conservation Union (all these topics) |
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A friend for Mr. SquarePants
Greenpeace discovers new sponge species |
Glenn Hurowitz |
29 Apr 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Greenpeace recently announced the discovery of a new species of sponge, Aaptos kanuux, as a result of its deep explorations of the Bering Sea last summer. Here's a video of the sponge from Greenpeace, and more info from my fellow Green Corps alum, Greenpeace Oceans Campaigner John Hocevar: Last summer, while I was descending 2,000 feet below the surface of the ocean in a submarine exploring canyons in the Bering Sea -- I had no idea what we would find in areas tha ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, Greenpeace, oceans (all these topics) |
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Strangers in the backyard
Why save the planet if you don't know who lives here? |
Miles Grant |
23 Apr 2008 |
Gristmill |
| There were plenty of depressing numbers out there this Earth Day, from dwindling numbers of moose in Minnesota to ongoing honey bee decline. But to me, this takes the Prozac-frosted cake: a study found that while young people could identify a thousand corporate logos, they couldn't identify even a handful of plants and animals in their backyards. Will future generations care about protecting the planet if they can't even pick a starling out of a lineup? How can we ... |
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| Topics: advertising, biodiversity, education, green living, messaging, parenting (all these topics) |
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Betting on the future
Private equity firm buys rights to rainforest reserve's environmental services |
biodiversivist |
21 Apr 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Photo: Smccann via Flickr This picture of what appears to be an insect with rainbows flying out its butt was taken in Guyana. There are untold, untapped, unknown chemistries created by millions of years of evolution harbored in what remains of the planet's biodiversity. This is a vast storehouse of information, which would provide humanity with centuries of medicines and other benefits if we can just find ways to preserve it. We can't let our biodiversity ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, biofuels, business, Guyana, investing, rainforests (all these topics) |
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Cane, You Hear Me Now
Animal-welfare group backs toad-killing in Australia |
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03 Apr 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 4:48 PM on 03 Apr 2008 Australian politician Shane Knuth has proposed a special "Toad Day Out" for residents of the state of Queensland to kill cane toads, a poisonous invasive species that Knuth calls "the greatest environmental vermin and probably the most disgusting creature known to man." The plan even has the backing of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals -- with ... |
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| Topics: animal welfare, Australia, biodiversity, news, wildlife (all these topics) |
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Law & Order: Species Victims Unit
Green group files lawsuit to protect 681 species |
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25 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 6:00 AM on 25 Mar 2008 Environmentalists filed suit last week against the U.S. Interior Department, seeking to force the agency to review and issue findings on the status of 681 species vulnerable to extinction. WildEarth Guardians, which filed the suit, contends that the Bush administration has deliberately stalled Endangered Species Act listing decisions to appease developers and other interests; ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, Department of Interior, endangered species, litigation, news, United States (all these topics) |
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Ecosystem for sale
On the oddity of privatizing nature |
Erik Hoffner |
18 Mar 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Given the uncertainty accruing to traditional investments in today's economy, here's a trend to consider: the monetizing of ecosystem services. One of the first public discussions of this, the Biodiversity & Ecosystem Finance Summit taking place in New York this weekend, aims to answer this question: how can financiers and corporations take a lead in biodiversity and ecosystem conservation? (I can think of a few ways, yes.) Welcome to the developing area of 'biod ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, business, Virginia, wetlands (all these topics) |
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That's Crazy Talk!
Fixing environmental problems necessary and doable, says OECD |
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05 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 4:20 PM on 05 Mar 2008 It is not only highly necessary but entirely affordable to tackle climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and other environmental problems, according to a report released Wednesday by some wacko environmentalists the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Summed up OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria: Solutions "are available, they are achi ... |
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| Topics: air pollution, biodiversity, climate, climate change mitigation, news, water crisis, water pollution (all these topics) |
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At this rate, extinctions may be outpacing postings
Encyclopedia of Life up, but empty |
biodiversivist |
04 Mar 2008 |
Gristmill |
| A tip from Canis sent me to the Encyclopedia of Life, which came online last week. I posted on this project about nine months ago. I was skeptical that it would amount to much back then, so I was curious to see if I had missed the mark (as usual). I typed in a bunch of species and found nothing but placeholders for them. The site is still an empty shell, about 99.999 percent short of its goal. They have the categories in place, ready for armies of professional, hand-s ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, websites (all these topics) |
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That's Life
Massive database of species goes online |
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26 Feb 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 12:38 PM on 26 Feb 2008 An online Encyclopedia of Life that aims to eventually include every living organism on the planet has unveiled its first detailed pages. Read up on the 24 species that have entries complete with text, pictures, and video, or sift through 30,000 others with preliminary information. Those involved with the encyclopedia, which got its start from a 2003 paper written by famed biologist E.O. Wilson, hope it will he ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, endangered species, news, wildlife (all these topics) |
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Swan Ache
Swans a nuisance in Connecticut |
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28 Dec 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 3:04 PM on 28 Dec 2007 To many, swans are a picture of beauty and grace -- but to others, they're miscreants hell-bent on environmental destruction. In Connecticut, mute swans -- considered an invasive species -- can eat eight pounds of shoreline plants per day and, in the process, uproot an additional 20 pounds of vegetation. Their gluttony can disrupt ecosystems, displacing crabs, oysters, and native birds. Conservationists, including the st ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, Connecticut, news, wildlife (all these topics) |
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