Canada’s boreal forests soak up as much as 22 percent of all carbon stored on the Earth’s land surface; making conservation of these forest an environmental necessity.
The creation of a sustainable future will require the development of conservation practitioners with a strong foundation in science, leadership, and management. In addition, these practitioners will need to engage in cross-disciplinary problem solving, to understand cross-cultural and cross-boundary issues, and to be comfortable operating adaptively in an environment of increasing complexity and uncertainty.
Through the Conservation Leadership through Learning (CLTL) initiative, we are pioneering a new model for graduate education that will prepare the next generation of conservation leaders. CLTL merges transdisciplinary University education with real-world action to create on-the-ground benefits for conservation and communities. The result is a highly integrated learning experience developed by Colorado State University’s Warner College of Natural Resources and the School of Global Environmental Sustainability in partnership with El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR) in Mexico.
Accepting Applications Now - Start Date August 23, 2010Conservation at a Crossroads -
The creation of a sustainable future will require... more
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has been working for years to improve the health of the planet's oceans, and today it has announced new collaborations to spread the word through chefs, seafood buyers and others.
The aquarium, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, released a report today on the state of the oceans. Prospects for the oceans are improving with a growing consensus to manage wild and farm fishing, the report says. But it also sets out significant problems that remain for the oceans and cites the human demand for seafood as the primary factor in the oceans' decline.
It also released a "Super Green" list, developed with the Harvard School of Public Health and the Environmental Defense Fund, of seafood that is healthy for people and the planet. On the list are some albacore tuna caught in the U.S. or British Columbia, wild-caught salmon from Alaska and pink shrimp from Oregon, among others.
Another of its efforts is a commitment by some of the country's top chefs -- including Suzanne Goin of Lucques in Los Angeles, Susan Spicer of Bayona in New Orleans, and the Food Network's Alton Brown -- to serve only sustainable seafood and work to persuade other chefs to do the same.
The aquarium is partnering with Santa Monica Seafood, the largest seafood distributor in the region, to help spread the word to its 1,500 chef customers and others, as well as to the people who sell them seafood and to the company's sales force.
The aquarium's report said the world seafood supply was 110 million tons in 2006 -- eight times what it was in 1950, with Asia accounting for more than half the global catch. And in the next year, it said, people will eat more farmed seafood than wild for the first time.
Today's announcement comes a week after California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a sustainable-seafood bill into law to encourage sustainable-fishing practices in the state and help fishermen market their catch.The Monterey Bay Aquarium has been working for years to improve the health of the... more
TOKYO (AP) -- Japan said Monday it has caught 59 whales - one short of the maximum allowed by international guidelines - under a research program that critics say is a cover for commercial whaling.
The annual expedition off the port city of Kushiro ended over the weekend after harvesting 59 minke whales, the Fisheries Agency said in a statement. A maximum of 60 is allowed under the research program authorized by the International Whaling Commission.
The Shark Task Force continues to follow the story of Lemon Sharks in Florida. The state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering prohibiting the take of Lemon Sharks in Florida waters. In October, people on all sides of the issue gathered to speak out.
The Shark Task Force will continue to follow this story as officials consider what to do.
The FWC is scheduled to review the issue in December in Clewiston, FL.The Shark Task Force continues to follow the story of Lemon Sharks in Florida. The... more
Local conservationist and pilot Bruce Gordon gave up on politicians when former Speaker of the House Tom Foley fell asleep in his co-pilot seat.
Gordon had been giving the congressman a bird’s-eye tour of tree stands killed by mountain pine beetles when he nodded off.
“This big fat guy fell asleep right in the airplane,” Gordon said Monday.
So the longtime Aspenite has since turned his attention — and his six-seater Cessna — to a younger, more engaged crowd. On Monday morning, Gordon and two other volunteer pilots took to the sky with 50-some local teenagers, flying above beetle-killed lodgepole pines on the flanks of Mount Sopris.
The sky tours kicked off the fifth annual “Flight Across America” for EcoFlight, a local non-profit conservation tour outfit. It included students from the Colorado Rocky Mountain School along with Basalt, Bridges and Glenwood Springs high schools. This morning, EcoFlight is flying four students to Jackson, Wyo. to tour the forests there infested with the white bark pine beetle.
“There is a debate going on in my plane every day,” Gordon said as he navigated his jet several thousand feet above Thompson Creek.
--excerptLocal conservationist and pilot Bruce Gordon gave up on politicians when former... more
Asian demand for bluefin tuna, sharks' fins and ivory will come under scrutiny when 175 member states of the UN wildlife trade agency meet to consider trade restrictions, according to documents seen by AFP.
Proposals to restrict or ban international trade in those three products are due to be studied when the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) holds its next triennial meeting in Qatar next year.
Monaco has tabled a ban for trade in tuna, while the European Union and the United States have proposed limits on the global trade of several shark species, the documents showed.
Meanwhile, Tanzania and Zambia are asking for a trade embargo on ivory to be lifted, allowing them to sell controlled quantities of elephants' tusks.
The consumption of sharks' fins -- a Chinese culinary delicacy -- is expected to be among key issues on the table at the Qatar meeting, officials said.
The United States and Palau had put in proposals to restrict international trade in white tip sharks and hammerhead sharks, while the European Union has proposed protecting porbeagle sharks, also known as Lamna nasus.
White tips and hammerheads have been "over-exploited" for their fins, said Washington in its submission.
Likewise, the EU warned: "Unsustainable target fisheries for Lamna nasus in parts of its range have been driven by international trade demand for its high value meat."
For environmental group Oceana, the moves marked a "realistic first step" in the promotion of sustainable trade in sharks.
"This could be the turning point for sharks. If countries join together now we can promote the sustainable trade of sharks worldwide," Courtney Sakai, Oceana senior campaign director told AFP.
Oceana also pointed to Monaco's request for a ban in bluefin tuna trade.
"This is the last chance for fisheries managers to show they are competent to manage these magnificent and valuable fish. If they fail, Asia may see its supply cut off, perhaps for years," said Michael Hirshfield, Oceana?s chief scientist.
According to the proposal put to CITES, bluefin tuna stocks are so fragile that the species should be classified as being at threat of extinction.
Monaco argued that tuna spawning stock in the Mediterranean has declined by more than 74 percent between 1957 to 2007, the bulk of it in the last decade.
Tuna stock in the west Atlantic has also plunged by 83 percent between 1970 to 2007, it added.Asian demand for bluefin tuna, sharks' fins and ivory will come under scrutiny when... more
Ian Shive left his cushy marketing job to pursue photography as a platform to introduce different ideas about conservation in the US.
This is one of 4 videos that Ian is sharing with Current TV that documents his trip photographing national parks across the country, as he presents viewers with the good, the bad and the ugly of life as a nature photographer. This video focuses on Yellowstone Country.
Ian's environmental photography has appeared in Time Magazine, on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, National Geographic, Outside Magazine and many other publications. His book, "The National Parks: Our American Landscapes" will be released on August 1, 2009.Ian Shive left his cushy marketing job to pursue photography as a platform to... more
It was only a matter of time, but Aleksandr Orlov will be made into a cuddly talking toy in time for Christmas. The meerkat who fronts the comparethemarket.com ads will be going on sale in Harrods in December.
The toys will be sold at £19.95 each, and the London Zoo will receive a donation to support their conservation work with each sale.
SimplesIt was only a matter of time, but Aleksandr Orlov will be made into a cuddly talking... more
The state of Florida is reaching out to protect Lemon Sharks. The Shark Task Force reports that's because there's a lot at risk. If not protected - experts say the population of Lemon Sharks could be devastated in just two years - and that could have a very bad impact. To find out more check out www.sharktaskforce.com, or sign the petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/551674949The state of Florida is reaching out to protect Lemon Sharks. The Shark Task Force... more
Don't be fooled by their cuteness, the kitties are out to get us...and our water. Fortunately, Jason Mraz has a great water conservation tip to save us all!Don't be fooled by their cuteness, the kitties are out to get us...and our water.... more
The Cross-Country Bicycle Ride that's collecting different environmental perspective along the Southern Tier of the United States finds itself leaving Tempe, AZ heading for New Mexico.
First stop is at the San Carlos Apache tribe reservation, home of the 10th largest Indian reservation in the United States. There is something about a Native American perspective that will be crucial to a documentary series collecting environmental perspective. Meet the Tribal Chairman on the Apache Rez and hear what he thinks and where we are headed environmentally.
After 1 month on the road the bike ride that left from Newport Beach arrives at the New Mexico State Border. Jeff and Mike meet up with an old friend for a day of riding. Luckily their friend Zain is a Doctor of Pain Management and he came prepared to heal the aching bodies that are pulling 75 pounds of weight on a trailer attached to a bicycle across the country.
After crossing an 8000 foot peak in freezing conditions the bicyclists meet up with two people who show them 2 different approaches to building an environmentally friendly home.
Nestled in the hills of the Gila National Forrest is the Black Range Lodge a cozy bed and breakfast where aside from the beautiful setting guests come hear to learn about building a house out of Straw Bales. Catherine Wanek, the owner of the Black Range Lodge shows us how people can build with straw bales and tells us why this approach could be so beneficial to people, communities and the planet.The Cross-Country Bicycle Ride that's collecting different environmental perspective... more
Episode 2-2 wraps up the straw bale segment and heads to Las Cruces NM to learn about building with another environmentally friendly material, Adobe. Just like a straw bale Adobe's homes are super insulators. Pat Taylor who restores historical Adobe buildings, teaches us some simple approaches to making adobe.
Jeff and Mike cross the border into the massive state of Texas. They take a deep breath and take an in depth look at Air Quality. That should be easy to do in El Paso, TX because 2008 marked the first year that they hit the air quality goals set by the EPA. El Paso and it's border city Juarez have worked together to clean up the air quality. How did they do it? You'll meet Jesus Reynoso and Bob Curry to learn about Air Quality and Health, major contributors to bad air pollution, and what you can do to clean up the air that we are all helping to pollute.
Episode 2 closes with a segment about the Poo Poo Choo Choo rolling into Sierra Blanca, TX. That's Right! In the 1990's the Clinton Administration banned dumping toxic waste in the Ocean. The unintended consequences of this good action was that the toxic waste had to go somewhere. As a result this meant that states could now transport toxic waste domestically.
Nearly 2100 miles away from Sierra Blanca, TX a train carrying toxic poop left on a journey to deliver its load into the backyards of the residents of Sierra Blanca. Hear from 2 local people that tell us how things were for them back in the 90's when Poo Poo Choo Choo dumped 250 tons on them per day.Adobe, Air Quality and the Poo Poo Choo Choo
Episode 2-2 wraps up the straw bale... more
Winnipeg, October 13, 2009 –Today, in his final days in office before becoming Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Manitoba’s Premier Gary Doer announced a $10 million trust fund for conservation. The fund will support the on-going work of several First Nations involved in designating their Boreal homelands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spanning an area larger than Vancouver Island, this 40,000 square kilometre region straddling the Manitoba-Ontario border is one of the most ecologically intact Boreal forest ecosystems in the world.Winnipeg, October 13, 2009 –Today, in his final days in office before becoming... more
The sun had just crested the distant ridge of the Rocky Mountains, but already it was producing enough power for the electric meter on the side of the Smiley Building to spin backward.
For the Shaw brothers, who converted the downtown arts building and community center into a miniature solar power plant two years ago, each reverse rotation subtracts from their monthly electric bill. It also means the building at that moment is producing more electricity from the sun than it needs.
"Backward is good," said John Shaw, who now runs Shaw Solar and Energy Conservation, a local solar installation company.
Good for whom?
As La Plata County in southwestern Colorado looks to shift to cleaner sources of energy, solar is becoming the power source of choice even though it still produces only a small fraction of the region's electricity. It's being nudged along by tax credits and rebates, a growing concern about the gases heating up the planet, and the region's plentiful sunshine.
The natural gas industry, which produces more gas here than nearly every other county in Colorado, has been relegated to the shadows.The sun had just crested the distant ridge of the Rocky Mountains, but already it was... more
Salazar said at a media briefing that 17 parcels were approved for drilling and eight rejected. But no decision has been made on the fate of the majority of the disputed lands – 52 parcels totaling 69,373 acres. He said more work needs to be done to determine if those lands qualify for oil and gas leasing.
The Bush administration's decision to offer the land for drilling drew fire from environmentalists and historic preservationists who said drilling might harm nearby parks and other protected lands.
Story continues below
Salazar was condemned by the oil industry for scrapping the leases weeks after taking office, but all the drilling parcels had already been delayed by a federal lawsuit that still is not fully resolved.Salazar said at a media briefing that 17 parcels were approved for drilling and eight... more
Cheetahs are the fastest land mammal! Capable of reaching speeds in excess of 70mph they are an amazing animal, unfortunately we are not working fast enough to save them in the wild. It is estimated their numbers globally have declined by over 90% in the last 100 years!
Namibia is one of the last refuges of the remaining world Cheetah population. A quarter of all the remaining cats are found in Nambia. A local thorn bush species is invading the savannah in the country, causing over US$90 million each year in lost revenue to Namibian farmers, whilst also destroying the native habitat of the fastest of the cats. Now the Cheetah Conservation Fund has pioneered a scheme to clear the thorn bush and turn it into cheap fuel briquettes. The project is creating jobs at the same time as helping to restore the hunting ground of the endangered cheetah.
Leaders of different Peruvian Indian tribes have joined together to protest against the government as it plans to sell 75% of the rain forest to oil, gas, and mining companies.
"Some groups have already begun the battle. Protests have turned deadly, with scores of clashes and rallies erupting across the country this year. Oil operations and airports were besieged and shut down, culminating in a mass demonstration of more than 3,000 Indians, mainly from the Awajun tribe, blockading a road in the sweltering jungle town of Bagua in June. More than 30 people were killed, including 20 policemen, after special forces, airlifted to the scene, opened fire on the protesters.'Leaders of different Peruvian Indian tribes have joined together to protest against... more
What can scientists learn about the world by knowing how all living things are related to each other?What can scientists learn about the world by knowing how all living things are related... more
Another issue of the online newsletter that collects international news stories about birds for you to read and enjoy, featuring a gorgeous bird paintingAnother issue of the online newsletter that collects international news stories about... more
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