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Archive for May 12th, 2015
California Resident Poll Expresses Wide Concern Over Drought
Posted by Environmental News Network: Chris Sosa on May 12th, 2015
Environmental News Network: A recent Care2 poll has found that slightly over 90 percent of respondents express major concern over the current drought engulfing the state, despite the fact that only 60 percent of respondents consider themselves strong environmentalists. Fewer than 1 percent expressed no concern about the drought. Nearly 75 percent of respondents cited fears about the fate of wildlife. Concern for humans came in second at 71 percent and agriculture at 61 percent. Gov. Jerry Brown failed to include agriculture...
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Focus on the regional impact of climate change
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on May 12th, 2015
ScienceDaily: The recently published Second Assessment of Climate Change for the Baltic Sea Basin makes an important contribution to understanding variations in the climate. The report also captures the most important changes to the regional climate in the Kattegat and Baltic Sea areas, home to 90 million people. No fewer than 141 scientists from 12 countries have contributed studies covering various aspects of climate research. Among other things, the report shows that the region is growing warmer and that this...
Unique Stretch Marks Show Acceleration of Greenland Ice Sheet Toward Sea
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on May 12th, 2015
Yale Environment 360: The Greenland ice sheet is accelerating as it flows toward the ocean, and the unique markings visible in this photograph are one piece of evidence demonstrating its rapid movement. Captured as part of NASA's Operation IceBridge, which is wrapping up its seventh season of Arctic observations, this image details heavy crevassing near the coast of Melville Bay in northwestern Greenland. These fissures are essentially stretch marks on the ice, NASA researchers say. Ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica...
WHO findings on weed killer will not speed up EU safety review
Posted by Reuters: Barbara Lewis on May 12th, 2015
Reuters: EU regulators will not accelerate a decision on whether to restrict use of the world's most widely used weed killer, even though it has been linked to cancer by the World Health Organization (WHO), officials said on Tuesday.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the WHO, said in March that glyphosate was "probably carcinogenic to humans".
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, made by Monsanto, the world's biggest seed company.
In response to the IARC findings,...
Mega-Dam Projects Will Force Tens Thousands of People From Their Land
Posted by EcoWatch: None Given on May 12th, 2015
EcoWatch: On a 20-minute walk through the rainforest of Borneo, you will encounter more tree species than exist on the entire North American continent. The distinctive biodiversity of the area attracts tourists and researchers from all over the world, in spite of the intense destruction of the rainforest from logging and palm oil plantations in the past few decades. Now, there’s a new threat to the people and the wildlife of Borneo: mega-dams. In the Malaysian state of Sarawak in the north of the island, mega-hydro...
Brazilian beef industry moves reduce its destruction rain forests
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on May 12th, 2015
ScienceDaily: Expansion of cattle pastures has led to the destruction of huge swaths of rain forest in Brazil, home to the world's largest herd of commercial beef cattle. But a new study led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Holly Gibbs shows that market-driven "zero deforestation agreements" have dramatically influenced the behavior of ranchers and the slaughterhouses to which they sell.
Publishing in the journal Conservation Letters, the research team -- including other UW-Madison scientists, the National...
New study assesses risks of extreme weather to North Texas roads, runways
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on May 12th, 2015
ScienceDaily: A new study by researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington finds a high likelihood that extreme storms and higher precipitation will lead to transportation disruption and widespread damage to roads, railways and airport runways in the Dallas-Fort Worth region by the end of the 21st century.
The assessment found the risks to transportation infrastructure from storms are more likely to happen during the spring season. Researchers found a higher likelihood of heat-related risks for infrastructure,...
What does the future hold for Oregon’s family-owned forests?
Posted by INVW: Robert McClure and Ben DeJarnette on May 12th, 2015
INVW: Cary Renzema interrupts a stroll around his 50-acre forest to point out tiny purple petals peeking out from the forest floor. “Beautiful little orchids,” Renzema says. “Once you start looking, there are hundreds of those things around here.” For 13 years Renzema has studied this forest’s quirks and charms, explored its groves of cedar trees and patches of vine maple and wild rose about 25 miles west of Portland. Today, though, those sights are bittersweet. As part of a divorce settlement, he may...
Sri Lanka first nation promise full protection of mangroves
Posted by New Scientist: Fred Pearce on May 12th, 2015
New Scientist: Sri Lanka has become the first nation to promise the comprehensive protection of all of its mangroves, as it launches a major replanting programme.
Hundreds of Sri Lankan coastal communities have been recruited for their conservation by the Small Fishers Federation - a local non-governmental organisation - with money from an NGO in California called Seacology.
The Sri Lankan government has promised to give all mangroves legal protection and provide rangers for coastal patrols, says Seacology's...
Wisconsin Sen. Tom Tiffany says asked governor DNR job cuts
Posted by Capital Times: Steven Elbow on May 12th, 2015
Capital Times: State Sen. Tom Tiffany has owned up to asking for job cuts to DNR scientists, who he has said focus too much on climate change.
On Friday’s Devil’s Advocate radio show, the Hazelhurst Republican said he asked Gov. Scott Walker and his staff to include a provision in the state budget axing approximately 17 positions from the Department of Natural Resources’ Science Services Bureau.
“Yes,” he said in responding to a question asking him if he requested the cuts.
Some observers believed Tiffany...