Natural Resources Bulletin - March 24, 2009

(National Wildlife Federation)

March 24, 2009 - Please view in HTML for proper formatting

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Report details threats to birds in the U.S.

2. House subcommittee to hold first-ever adaptation hearing

3. Bangladesh may benefit from new water-management techniques

4. Holdren and Lubchenco confirmed by Senate

5. Steele joins ranks of global warming deniers

6. Headlines in brief

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1. Almost a third of U.S. bird species at risk

The Department of the Interior released a new report this week examining bird populations in the U.S.  According to the report -- "The State of the Birds" -- 251 out of 800 species are endangered, threatened, or suffering drastic declines.  DOI Secretary Ken Salazar noted that birds are a bellwether for overall ecosystem health; habitat loss, pollution, and other factors pose threats to a wide range of wildlife.  Conservation efforts have been effective in some regions, particularly helping waterfowl rebound, but grasslands, forests, and deserts have seen population crashes.  According to Salazar, "When we talk about birds and we talk about wildlife, we're also talking about the economics of this country" and funding for conservation is vital. 

For more, visit: http://www.stateofthebirds.org/

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE52I72C20090320

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2. House subcommittee to hold first-ever adaptation hearing

Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), chair of the House subcommittee on Energy and Environment, will hold a special hearing on Wednesday focused on adaptation strategies and climate issues.  Larry Schweiger, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, will present the case for natural resources protection.   According to written testimony obtained prior to the hearing, Schweiger will emphasize the need for a two-part strategy of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for the inevitable effects of global warming.  NWF will release more information as it becomes available.

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3. Bangladesh may benefit from new water-management techniques

Bangladesh is one of the world’s poorest countries and a focal point for climate threats.  Its low elevation (much of the land is at sea-level), extensive coastline, and stifling population density mean that even a slight rise in ocean volume will inundate countless communities.  But there is some good news: new techniques have allowed Bangladesh to recapture some of the land it would otherwise lose to the seas.  By diverting the flow of rivers and streams, silt carried from the Himalayas is replenishing low-lying areas.  In Beel Bhaina, 55 miles inland from the Bay of Bengal, residents have been able to convert an inundated basin into fertile rice paddies and shrimp farms.  Though environmental hazards and question marks surround river diversion strategies, the idea has gained credibility as far away as coastal Louisiana, which is looking to overhaul its own system of levees to help fight climate-related land loss. 

Planners and scientists warn that the gains in Bangladesh are fragile – a significant flood could wipe away years of progress – but they offer a glimmer of hope in what seems like an inevitable crisis.  More research and funding is desperately needed to build on the successes of places like Beel Bhaina.  Climate talks are scheduled for December in Copenhagen, and diplomats from first world nations are being urged to help poorer countries fight the threat of global warming, a threat that will surely spill over into issues of international security and human rights.

For more, visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/world/asia/20bangla.html?ref=energy-environment

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4. Holdren and Lubchenco confirmed for Administration slots

Jane Lubchenco was confirmed for the position of NOAA director, and John Holdren was confirmed as White House science advisor last week, ending two months of delays.  The news was hailed by the research and conservation communities as a positive step toward reestablishing scientific integrity in Washington.  Both are strong advocates for greenhouse gas mitigation and species protection, and bring impeccable credentials to their posts.  

For more, visit: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/41977/title/Holdren,_Lubchenco_confirmed_for_Obama_posts

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/lubchencos-goals-on-oceans-climate/

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5. RNC’s Steele: Global warming is a myth

Michael Steele, the embattled head of the Republican National Committee, related his thoughts on climate change in a radio interview on March 6.  Mr. Steele brushed aside the scientific consensus saying, “We are cooling. We are not warming. The warming you see out there, the supposed warming, and I am using my finger quotation marks here, is part of the cooling process.”  President Obama has made reducing global warming a centerpiece of his environmental agenda, a stance many in the opposition party reject. 

For more, visit: http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/03/18/gop-chair-denies-global-warming/

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Headlines in brief:

"The Fall and Rise of the Right Whale" - Population gains boost hopes for a once-imperiled species - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/science/17whal.html

"Deep sea corals may be oldest living marine organism" - Researchers believe they have found a new senior citizen of the oceans: corals clocking in at over 4,000 years old - http://www.physorg.com/news157052167.html

"Rare Reptile Hatchling found on New Zealand mainland" - A lizard-like species dating back to the age of dinosaurs has been rediscovered -- http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_NEW_ZEALAND_RARE_REPTILE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-03-19-07-51-19