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A day after reporting that the rate of deforestation in the world’s largest rain forest jumped nearly 30 percent last year (6500 square miles), Brazil suspended all new permits for clearing land in the Amazon River basin. An official from the Environment Ministry indicated this action might slow the deforestation rate “depending on how long the suspension lasts and whether the government really brings people breaking the law to book.” Over the last few years, the Brazilian government has made a number of bold pronouncements which would halt deforestation, but most have yielded disappointing results. Jose Sarney Filho, the new head of the Environment Ministry, promises to get his arms around the situation. “There’s no point in the environment minister flying about in a helicopter to crack down on deforestation if the land reform minister is settling landless people right in the middle of the jungle,” he said. And last year Brazil relaxed rules on the use of fire to clear land and reduced the amount of land farmers must keep as nature preserves. The 1998 deforestation figures do not include damage from massive fires on Brazil’s border with Venezuela, destroying as much as 4,250 square miles of forest and […]
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Information officers in the EU environment ministries and agencies are working to make their work more visible and accessible through the Green Spider website. It links to national environmental information organizations in EU countries and EU applicant states in Central and Eastern Europe. [sorry this link is no longer available]
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The Ecological Society of America (ESA) is a scientific, non-profit, 7800-member organization founded in 1915 to promote responsible application of ecological data and principles to the solution of environmental problems. It presents its Corporate Award to a corporation or division, program or individual of a company for demonstrated accomplishments in incorporating sound ecological concepts, knowledge, and/or practices into its planning and operating procedures. The first award was presented in 1988. Eight ESA Corporate Awards and two Special Recognition Awards have presented since then to a wide range of companies. Some of the companies which have received awards are: Norcal Solid Waste Systems, Inc. of San Francisco, Tampa Electric Company, and Precious Woods, Ltd. To be eligible, an organization must have a primary mission other than the accomplishment for which the award is given. It emphasizes innovation and significant results. The award is a certificate presented at the ESA annual meeting. A subcommittee reviews nominations from members throughout the year in six categories: — environmental education — stewardship of land resources — resource recycling — amelioration of risks from hazardous and toxic substances — sustainability of biological resources in terrestrial environments — sustainability of biological resources in aquatic environments. For 1999, […]
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Over 100 delegates at the Rome meeting of the UN Food & Agriculture (FAO) Committee on Fisheries agreed to control the size of their distant-water fleets by 2005. The countries will determine whether their national fishing fleets are too big – in terms of the amount of fish available now, and if fish stocks are allowed to recover – and reduce those that are. Nations agreed to reduce government subsidies that foster overcapacity as a key part of implementing the plan. Delegates also agreed to develop national plans to prevent shark and seabirds (such as the endangered albatross) from being accidentally caught by longline fisheries. Simple, inexpensive techniques such as setting lines under water, can reduce seabird bycatch by as much as 90 percent. It’s more complicated to develop regional fisheries management agreements, and deal with “pirate vessels” that ignore international norms for responsible fishing practices. Environment News Service: [sorry this link is no longer available]
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An Eco-Industrial Design Competition is underway for students and professionals. It opened March 1 and entries are due by April 12. The design challenge is to create a site design for an eco-park and second, to design a flexible “green” light industrial/office building. Sponsored by Londonderry, New Hampshire (the site of the eco-industrial park) and Cornell’s Work & Environment Institute, $10,000 in prize money will be awarded for winning entries. A collection of the best entries will be exhibited at the National Town Meeting for a Sustainable America in May and also in Cornell galleries. [sorry this link is no longer available]
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21 members (11 Democrats, 10 Republicans) of the U.S. Senate recently launched the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, chaired by Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO). Membership in the House Renewable Energy Caucus, chaired by Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ), is at an all-time high of almost a third of all members in the House (77 Democrats, 62 Republicans). The Caucuses serve as a bi-partisan forum for the exchange of information on the status and potential of solar, wind, geothermal, bioenergy, and hydroelectric technologies as well as energy efficiency. Members attend periodic briefings and stage an annual “Expo” at which dozens of energy companies, government laboratories, and trade associations demonstrate their latest technologies. Almost 3000 people attended last year’s expo. The 1999 show will be held April 21. For a list of House and Senate Caucus members, and further details: [sorry this link is no longer available]
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U.S. DoD is the first government agency to make it policy to demanufacture its used electronic equipment into component metal, plastic and other reusable/recyclable parts. The decision will save on hazardous waste landfill costs, as well as contribute to the recycling economy. According to its contract, the DoD must deliver between 5-15 million pounds per year of electronic scrap. The Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and NASA may follow suit. [sorry this link is no longer available]
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A new study calls into question the widely accepted principle that gaps in forests caused by tree falls are largely responsible for patterns in tree diversity. Regardless of whether this finding holds up, the point is made abundantly clear that much remains to be known about tropical forest ecology. Princeton professor of ecology and evolutionary biology Stephen Hubbell, has been painstakingly tracking every square inch of plant life in large patches of tropical forests for the past 20 years, in an attempt to understand what causes biodiversity. In the latest issue of Science he reported a finding which overturns one of the bedrock beliefs among ecologists about what allows tropical forests to maintain biodiversity. The commonly accepted theory is that infusion of direct sunlight, called a light gap, makes room for new species. This line of thinking has been used to justify selective tree cutting and even clear cuts. Hubbell found no such correlation, however. He showed that areas with many light gaps are no richer in species than areas with few pockets of sunlight. In fact, roads and development isolate one section of forest from another, making it difficult for seed dispersal. Another finding is that tropical forests are […]
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A Guide to Cleaner Electricity is free from the Center for Resource Solutions, the people behind Green-e power supplier certification. It makes it easy for individuals and businesses to choose green power through its five step plan and contacts for providers. mmurphy@igc.org http://www.green-e.org
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1999 is a pivotal year for residential energy codes in the United States. The International Code Council, which develops model codes for states and localities to adopt, is trying to resolve a conflict between its energy code and a new residential code. The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is used as a model by dozens of states, but the new International Residential Code (IRC) has its own energy standards which are weaker than the IECC. If states start using the IRC, new homes will be less energy efficient. A contentious set of hearings are set for March and September. In general, energy codes are too weak. If you’d like to get involved, contact the Alliance to Save Energy. Bill Prindle: brindle@ase.org http://www.ase.org David Eisenberg, at the Development Center for Appropriate Technology is also working on greening building codes: DCAT@azstarnet.com
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