| Owl Be Seeing You Plan for northern spotted owl's recovery in question The future of the infamous northern spotted owl in the Pacific Northwest may be in further jeopardy if some U.S. federal agencies carry out their plans to restructure its recovery. Perhaps most potentially destructive is the Bureau of Land Management's recently announced plan to essentially opt out of the Northwest Forest Plan -- a truce of sorts between loggers and environmentalists that has managed the actions of a number of federal agencies as they pertain to the owls and their habitat. Part of the BLM's plan includes tripling logging on 2.2 million acres of forest it manages in western Oregon, with an even greater increase in logging in old-growth areas crucial for the northern spotted owl's recovery. The plan also wouldn't set aside any territory for the owl on the BLM land, putting the overall Northwest Forest Plan in question. The BLM's scheme has been aided by a much-criticized draft plan from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service -- the agency that oversees Endangered Species Act protections -- that emphasizes threats to the spotted owl from the barred owl and plays down the importance of old-growth forest habitat. Meanwhile, the U.S. EPA, in letters to the FWS this summer, questioned the wisdom of the revised owl-recovery plan and the BLM's increased logging plan, saying they could harm water quality and fish. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: The Register-Guard, The New York Times |
TODAY'S NEWS
| They're High, and Dry Georgia lawmakers propose suspending endangered-species protections during drought Lawmakers in Georgia have introduced a bill in the U.S. Congress to suspend Endangered Species Act protections in times of extreme drought, arguing it would help average folks and businesses cope with the serious water woes now plaguing parts of the U.S. Southeast. Georgia's congressional delegation rallied around the proposal, calling it a "common sense" solution to the state's plight. However, if passed, the bill would apply nationwide, allowing states across the country to seek exemptions from the ESA when their governor or the secretary of the army declares that a drought is threatening human health, welfare, and safety. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] |
| Way Down South Britain wades into battle for sea-floor mineral rights in Southern Ocean The World Wildlife Fund has been trying to gather support to establish a network of marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean in an attempt to mitigate increasing ecological pressures in the area from climate change, invasive species, and commercial fishing. The plight of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean has often been overlooked compared to the rapidly melting Arctic on the other side of the world. But recently the Antarctic has been getting increased attention -- not just for its melty future, but the predicted bonanza of ocean-floor mining and other exploration that the melt could open up. Britain's Foreign Office has confirmed it's preparing to submit claims to the United Nations for rights to some 385,000 square miles of sea floor in the Southern Ocean under the U.N. Law of the Sea Treaty. Britain hopes to convince the U.N. to declare the area an extension of its territories, including the British Antarctic Territory as well as the Falkland Islands and South Georgia off the southeast coast of Argentina. New Zealand and Australia have also claimed parts of the Southern Ocean; Argentina and Chile will likely do the same. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] |
| How Green Was Myanmar's Valley? Myanmar quickly being deforested for world timber trade, quick cash Ever wonder what the military government of Myanmar is up to when it's not quashing peaceful, pro-democracy protests? According to environmental groups, the regime has allegedly been profiting from large-scale illegal logging operations that feed sawmills across the border in China. Green group Global Witness estimates that up to 95 percent of Myanmar's timber exports to China are illegal. Trade in imperiled-species body parts and extensive mining for precious metals and gems are also lucrative deals allegedly supported or aided by the military junta. In the past 10 years, over 20 dams have either been built in Myanmar or been planned; at least a few dams in the works would provide electricity to China and Thailand. A dam planned for the Irrawaddy River is expected to displace some 10,000 residents and also harm fish. "This region is one of the world's biodiversity hot spots," said environmentalist Naw La. "If this dam is built on the Irrawaddy, the fish populations will decrease. A lot of people will be suffering because their livelihoods will disappear." All of which points to a catchy bumper-sticker slogan: If you want biodiversity, work for justice. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: Associated Press, Agence France-Presse |
| Knock That Junk Off New anti-junk-mail service stops unwanted catalogs for free A new service set up by the Natural Resources Defense Council, National Wildlife Federation, and the Ecology Center called Catalog Choice can put a stop to all those unwanted catalogs clogging your mailbox. Since its debut last week, some 20,000 people have signed up for the service, already halting over 50,000 unwanted catalogs. That's a small fraction of the 19 billion catalogs mailed in the U.S. each year (made out of 53 million trees), but it's a start. Did we mention it's free? [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: Boston Herald, The New York Times see also, in Gristmill: Like a spam filter for your mailbox |
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GRIST COLUMNS AND FEATURES
 Girls Just Wanna Have Farm On accepting invitations from strangers, and a harvest festival What's it like to be a farmer just starting out? How is farming like a love affair, and what happens when the first frost comes early? Roz Cummins talks with Laura Meister of Farm Girl Farm to find out this and more, in today's installment in our food and farming series. And Roz also offers a Nightshade Stew that'll knock your stalks off. (Forgive us, it's been a long series.) [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] new in Grist: On accepting invitations from strangers, and a harvest festival see also, in Grist: An introduction to Sow What?: A special series on food and farming |
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