Environment

May, 2009

• 30 May

  Dominican Republic: Tourism Threatens Natural Treasure

  

  Jaragua National Park, famous for housing the world’s tiniest reptile, will itself be in danger if the green light is given to mega-hotel projects instead of ecotourism and sustainable development initiatives, say Dominican ecologists. Tourism interests, focused on large hotels, stress the white-sand beaches and clear waters of this part …
• 28 May

  Study cites ‘slow-motion’ global-warming threat from permafrost: methane more potent than CO2

  

  Global warming”s “slow-motion time bomb” of trapped greenhouse gases in the Arctic”s thawing tundra may not go off quite as fast as once feared, a new study found. Even so, it remains a problem that in the long run is still likely to worsen global warming in an uncontrollable way, …
• 26 May

  We’ve Been Overfishing for At Least 1,000 Years

  

  On account of the fact that fish stocks from all over the world are currently under threat because of overfishing, a group of experts has conducted a survey focused on analyzing the history of fishing in Europe. The conclusion of their investigation is troubling – the Old Continent has been …
• 23 May

  Herbicide Plan Threatens Endangered Species in New Mexico

  

  The Center for Biological Diversity today filed comments detailing concerns about the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s proposal to apply chemical herbicides for noxious-weed control on nearly 1.5 million acres of public land in eastern New Mexico, including source-water zones that feed groundwater springs in the Bitter Lake National Wildlife …
• 22 May

  Rule proposed to further protect green sturgeon

  

  Federal fisheries regulators are proposing a new rule for stronger protection of the threatened green sturgeon that may also further complicate Central Valley water management. The National Marine Fisheries Service on Thursday proposed the rule, which would prohibit a wide range of harmful activities including hunting, shooting, wounding, trapping or …
• 21 May

  Oyster reefs among hardest-hit ecosystems

  

  Overfishing and unchecked coastal development have resulted in the disappearance of 85 percent of all oyster reefs, making the ecosystem one of the most severely affected marine habitats in the world, according to a study released Thursday. The Nature Conservancy study found that several reefs in China have seen drastic …
• 18 May

  Tourism threatens top diving spot

  

  A tropical island off the coast of Taiwan has become a victim of its own success as pollution caused by a recent spike in tourism threatens its reputation as the best diving spot in East Asia.  The aptly named 15-square-kilometre Green Island, an hour”s ferry ride from Taiwan”s main isle, …
• 14 May

  Dying oceans ‘life and death issue’: Indonesia

  

  The destruction of the world”s oceans due to climate change and overuse is a “life and death issue” for humanity, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Thursday. “We must come to the rescue of the oceans. We must save them from the ravages of abuse and over-exploitation by humankind, from …
• 12 May

  EU calls for revised fishing quotas in 2010

  

  The European Commission on Tuesday proposed substantial cuts in fishing quotas next year, concerned that current levels are too high to sustain fish stocks. EU Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg supported allowable catch cuts of “at least 25 percent” for the most vulnerable species where the commission”s own scientific committee is …
• 12 May

  Threat to bird habitat

  

  The number of migratory birds coming to Vakalapudi on the outskirts of Kakinada is reducing year after year as the wetland is not only turning dry but also being encroached by some companies. The wetland which is having `Typha Reed bed’ and aquatic vegetation attracts 40 species of birds from …
• 8 May

  Merchant ships have been blamed for contributing to littering of the world’s oceans

  

  According to a new report jointly produced by UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and UN Environment Programme (Unep), the ships deposit 5.6 million tonnes of litter annually. This accounts to 88 per cent of the total marine litter.
• 7 May

  Russia Plans a Deadly Mix of Offshore Oil Drilling & Floating Nuclear Reactors in the Arctic

  

  A floating nuclear power plant is being constructed at the SevMash shipyard in Severodvins located in north-east of Russia.The reactors will provide power to drilling platforms of Gazprom, Russia’s leading oil & gas company. The reactors are described to be capable of storing the nuclear waste on board and would …