News - January



	ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS January 2005 February 2005 Mac 2005 April 2005 31 January 2005: China Swan Lake on Loess Plateau Every year thousands of swans come to Shengtian Lake in Richeng County, Shanxi Province to pass the winter, turning the Loess Plateau into a "Swan Lake". ¤ Read News Philippines Nature's beauty harnessed to promote wellness OSEWA, which means "caring for you" in Japanese, is one of the Cancer Institute's frontline support groups. Now that the Healing Garden established by the institute (at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital) is three years old, Osewa is more active than ever. ¤ Read News Philippines Protecting our endangered wildlife In the book "Animal Farm", George Orwell depicted the Russian Revolution in metaphor using animals as characters. The humans running Manor Farm were dictatorial and brutal, eventually forcing the animals to rebel and take revenge. One theme that runs through the novel is that man ‘serves the interest of no creature except himself’. ¤ Read News Philippines Pangasinan farmers get training on seaweed culture, production' BOLINAO, Pangasinan — The North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Commission (NLGQC) has initiated a seaweed culture and production training program in collaboration with the regional office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). ¤ Read News Thailand Asian nations debate Tsunami warning system Hundreds of farmers in Bunsur village located on Padang Island, Riau province have since August been complaining about damage that has been done to millions of their mangrove seedlings. ¤ Read News General Scientific gathering to assess global warming World experts are expected to come to a depressing conclusion when they gather next week for the biggest scientific assessment in four years of Earth's global warming crisis. ¤ Read News General New Report Details Status of Coral Reefs Worldwide Twenty per cent of coral reefs worldwide have been effectively destroyed and show no immediate prospects for recovery. Twenty-four percent of the world’s reefs are under imminent risk of collapse through human pressures, and a further 26% are under longer-term threat of collapse. Coral reefs in the Caribbean are undergoing major declines, with coral cover on many Caribbean reefs having declined by up to 80%. These are among the findings of Status of Coral Reefs 2004, compiled by more than 240 contributors from 98 countries and published by the multinational Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN). ¤ Read News General Census of Marine Life Adds Species to Ocean Count The Census of Marine Life (CoML) project has now mapped the distribution of 38,000 species in the marine environment, the result of compiling a marine life database that now tops 5 million records. This is an exponential increase over the twelve months since the end of 2003, when the database stood at 1.1 million records and 25,000 species. ¤ Read News General Sharks Kill Surfer, Reigniting Net Debate in Australia Last month two great white sharks killed an 18-year-old surfer several hundred yards from a crowded beach near Adelaide, in South Australia' ¤ Read News 19 January 2005: Tsunami TSUNAMI IMPACT: Reef Relief in Aftermath of Killer Waves BANGKOK, Jan 18 (Tierramérica) - As rescue teams frantically search for people who survived the killer waves that lashed the coastlines of South and South-east Asia the day after Christmas, marine biologists, divers and government officials in the region are trying to estimate the damage done to the Andaman Sea ecosystems. ¤ Read More New partnership for infrastructure in Indonesia The terrible tragedy in Aceh has shown us the power of people uniting to work together to overcome and rebuild. We should use this lesson to address another, less obvious crisis that is affecting the lives of many poor people in Indonesia: The growing shortage of quality infrastructure services. Over 40 percent of Indonesians do not have access to electricity. Only 14 percent of the people are connected to a regional water utility and access to proper sanitation is shockingly low. ¤ Read More Work starts on early warning system after tsunami disaster More than 150 countries got to work Tuesday on drafting a global action plan to save lives during disasters, with the United Nations saying the effort needed to be quicker and better funded in the wake of the Asian tsunamis. ¤ Read More WWF says tsunami rebuilding should not overlook nature BASEL, Switzerland. - Poorly planned coastal development compounded the impact of Asia's tsunami and rebuilding efforts should use natural protection provided by reefs and forests, conservation group WWF said early this week. ¤ Read More Mangroves as tsunami barriers in Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR. - Malaysia wants its mangrove forests protected from development, saying they are needed as a natural coastal barrier against tsunamis. ¤ Read More S. Lankan turtles even rarer after tsunami BENTOTA, Sri Lanka. - Sri Lankan conservationist Kithsiri Kannangara wipes a tear as he stands over a patch of sand and broken wire mesh, the only surviving incubation pit of his hatchery for endangered sea turtles. ¤ Read More Tsunami Clouds Future of Marine Animals The depth of human tragedy resulting from the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster is incalculable, even though the scale of visible devastation to coastal towns is now shockingly clear. ¤ Read More Tsunami Family Saved by Schoolgirl's Geography Lesson On December 26 British schoolgirl Tilly Smith, ten, sensed something was wrong while on the beach with her family. Her mind kept going back to the geography lesson Mr. Kearney gave just two weeks before she flew out to a Thai resort with her family. ¤ Read More Tsunami affects turtle conservation programmes Marine turtle conservation programmes surrounding the Indian Ocean suffered considerable damage from the giant ocean waves, severely undermining regional plans to save the highly endangered marine reptile. ¤ Read More Change in coastal ecosystems after the tragedy WHILE a comprehensive assessment of the full impact of the tsunami disaster on natural ecosystems will take weeks or even months, conservationists are predicting that the effect is likely to be very severe ecologically as well as economically. ¤ Read More Indonesia Residents demand compensation for damage to mangrove seedlings Hundreds of farmers in Bunsur village located on Padang Island, Riau province have since August been complaining about damage that has been done to millions of their mangrove seedlings. ¤ Read More Malaysia Efforts made to save Sipadan It is just after 6am, the sun is slowly rising on yet another spectacular day on Pulau Sipadan. A group of divers have already started preparing for their first dive. ¤ Read More Philippines Conservation group uses satellite to track turtles Too often technology is used to conquer the discomforts of nature, sometimes with unforeseen results, like the greenhouse gases released by the burning of fossil fuels. ¤ Read More Bohol’s tarsiers live on borrowed time CORELLA, Bohol (AFP) — The tiny, furry tree-climber with the outsize, owl-like eyes pricked its ears and swiveled its head as a rustle on the forest floor ended its midday slumber. ¤ Read More PCA to plant ‘new seeds of hope’ "New seeds of hope, a better future for coconut farmers and their families." This was how Philippine Coconut Authority Administrator Evangeline S. Valbuena envisioned the agency’s intervention in typhoon ravaged coconut areas in Aurora, Quezon and Camarines Norte provinces. ¤ Read More NGOs, POs join effort to save Samar park Several non-government organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (Pos) are now actively involved in the conservation and management of Samar Island National Park (SINP) Prominent among them are the Tandaya Samar People’s Economic Council Foundation Inc., Action for Community Empowerment, Samahan Gudti nga mag Parag uma ha Sinirangan Bisaya, Bangkaton de Salvacion Foundation Inc., UEP Research and Development Foundation Inc., and Eastern Samar Development Foundation. ¤ Read More Things not to buy in 2005 COMMERCIAL trade of natural products has been recognized as a powerful pressure on the exploitation of natural resources. Uncontrolled consumption of certain natural products that appeal to our fancy can drive certain plant or animal species to extinction. On a worldwide scene, the World Wildlife Fund has identified 10 things, from tigers to turtle shells, not to buy for Christmas. These are made from endangered species that are illegally killed to serve as items of commerce. ¤ Read More 17 January 2005: China Tree-planting Paying off as 18% Growth Recorded The nation's massive tree-planting campaign is starting to pay dividends as the coverage area and survival rate of new forests are increasing, according to the State Forestry Administration. ¤ Read News Environmental Campaign Kicks Off A public campaign to increase awareness of environmental protection has just kicked off in China. ¤ Read News Giant Pandas Increase in Gansu Nature Reserve The number of giant pandas has increased to 102 in the Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve in the northwestern China's Gansu Province, according to the latest survey conducted by the reserve authority. ¤ Read News Philippines Asian migratory birds back at Candaba Swamp The Candaba Swamp, one of the three most important wetlands in the Philippines, is back on the Asian bird map. ¤ Read News Penguin Summit draws attention to fragile ecosystem Japan-based Ecos Environmental Foundation Inc. has launched last week a global environmental advocacy in the Philippines with an educational campaign using six young penguins from Korea in a Japanese machine-made snow setting and pool sat at the annex building of Harrizon Plaza in Pasay City. ¤ Read News NGO network backs total logging ban for 25 years The Philippine Partnership for Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA) declared recently its position on logging and mining: total logging ban for 25 years. It also expressed disappointment over the change of heart of the country’s Supreme Court to rule in favor of foreign corporations to mine the country’s forests even as Infanta, General Nakar, Real and Dingalan in Quezon were ravaged by flood and landslides because of deteriorating conditions of Sierra Madre. ¤ Read News General Iceberg collision could be good news for penguins A 150-kilometre-long iceberg is due to collide with the end of an Antarctic glacier later today. ¤ Read News Tsunami Rising seas threaten ports, islands It sounds insignificant alongside the Indian Ocean tsunami, yet an almost imperceptible annual rise in the world's oceans may pose a huge threat to ports, coasts and islands by 2100. ¤ Read News Tsunami: The impact will last for decades THREE weeks on from the tsunami that battered 12 Asian countries, the extent of the destruction is well documented. But as families, aid agencies and governments struggle to repair shattered lives, it is clear that the waves have redrawn more than coastlines. Settlements in the worst affected regions will be transformed, and the survivors will be dealing with the fallout for years or decades to come. ¤ Read News 14 January 2005 Inventory on mangroves PETALING JAYA: A three-month study has been ordered by the Government to draw up an inventory of the country’s mangrove forests distribution. Read More Science and Technology 1: Effects of Earthquakes You probably know that earthquakes cause the ground to shake, sometimes damaging buildings and tearing up trees. But did you know that earthquakes can affect the size of the Earth? Read More Thailand seeks divers to pick up fallen reefs A Thai environmentalist says up to 200 volunteer divers are needed to help save coral reefs damaged by the December 26 tsunami. Read More Tsunami Redraws Indian Ocean Maps In addition to its massive death toll, December's tsunami also rearranged geographic features of the Indian Ocean on a gargantuan scale—above and below the water's surface. Read More Tsunami: Will we be ready for the next one? AS SURVIVORS along the coasts devastated by the tsunami on 26 December start to clear the debris, the world's attention is turning to how these communities are going to rebuild their towns and villages. When the unthinkable happens again, will they be any better prepared? Read More Glowing Coral Proteins Aid Medical Research Tiny proteins that give coral reefs a mysterious glow may be key to keeping coral species alive, according to scientists. Those same proteins, they say, may also help blaze trails to new health cures Read More Signs of recovery on shores battered by tsunami Signs grew on Thursday that towns and villages on the battered shores of the Indian Ocean were beginning to recover from the tsunami which all but swept them off the map. Read More Turning disaster into opportunity Last December's apocalyptic tsunami claimed the lives of tens of thousands in Indonesia's Aceh Province- which accounts for more than half of the dead - Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Malaysia and the Maldives. Although the most affected are Asian countries, the tsunami was perhaps the first truly "global" catastrophe of its kind. Read More 06 January 2005: C h i n a Climate Change May Lead to Tsunamis Chinese meteorologists say the rise of the sea surface in the Indian Ocean resulting from global climate changes may potentially lead to deadly tsunamis similar to the one that ravaged eight southern Asian countries. ¤Read News M a l a y s i a Najib: Fishermen can return to sea PENANG: Fishermen can now go out to sea but they must be vigilant, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. ¤Read News Words to inspire victims to stay strong PETALING JAYA: Words urging the thousands of tsunami victims to remain strong again dominated the 210 messages received for the “From the Heart” campaign. ¤Read News Tech scrutiny in green projects THE Natural Resources and Environment Ministry will set up a clearing house to examine the technologies transferred here in green projects, to prevent the country from receiving “redundant” know-how. ¤Read News G e n e r a l / E n v i r o n m e n t Coastal ‘green belts' protect against sea surges Barriers such as coastal mangrove forests and coral reefs saved lives by deflecting Asia's tsunami and governments should protect such natural bulwarks against the wrath of the sea, a leading environmental group says. ¤Read News Did Animals Sense Tsunami Was Coming? Before giant waves slammed into Sri Lanka and India coastlines ten days ago, wild and domestic animals seemed to know what was about to happen and fled to safety. ¤Read News 04 January 2005 Coral reefs may take years to recover from tsunami MELBOURNE. - Precious coral reefs and mangrove areas would have been crushed by the huge tsunami waves that have devastated southern Asia, an environmental and economic setback that could take years to reverse, experts say ¤Read News Tsunamis: Facts About Killer Waves The Indian Ocean tsunami generated by the most powerful earthquake in decades on December 26 is believed to have killed more than 150,000 people and made millions homeless, making it perhaps the most destructive tsunami in history ¤Read News Global Warming, Pollution Add to Coastal Threats OSLO -- A creeping rise in sea levels tied to global warming, pollution and damage to coral reefs may make coastlines even more vulnerable to disasters like tsunamis or storms in future, experts said on Monday. ¤Read News SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2: Undocumented Species Discovered Scientists in India announced the discovery of an undocumented species of primates living in the Himalayas in a press release on December 11. ¤Read News