Sunday, August 31, 2014

100 YEARS AGO TODAY!

The Passenger Pigeon, once probably the most numerous bird on the planet, died alone at the Cincinnati Zoo at about 1:00 pm on September 1, 1914It was estimated to number in the few billions of individuals before relentless commercial hunting reduced its numbers in the wild to nothing by the turn of the 20th Century.

Friday, August 29, 2014

RUN FOR BIODIVERSITY! CANADA

Rain's "4 Biodiversity" Blog
Walk or Run (or Sing) for Biodiversity this fall! 
   
Warm late-summer greetings to all our supporters from the USC Canada team here at 56 Sparks Street in Ottawa! 

It's been such an inspiring first half of the year for our Run for Biodiversity fundraising campaigns across Canada.  

From Clarenville in Newfoundland, to Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver, our teams of R4B volunteers have been setting all kinds of records.

They've mobilized an amazing total of 245 participants - young and old alike - who have walked, run, skied, snowshoed, cycled and swum for Biodiversity!

Together, they've raised over $25,000 this year to support USC's work with seed-saving farmers in West Africa, Ethiopia, Timor Leste, Nepal and Canada. 

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (#SIDS2014)

As you may already know the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States (#SIDS2014) will be held from 1st to 4th September 2014 in Apia, Samoa under the theme "The sustainable development of small island developing states through genuine and durable partnerships". The Conference will focus the world’s attention on a group of countries that remain a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique and particular vulnerabilities.
 
In this context, the Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network (CYCN) has put together six priorities for action for the SIDS 2014 Conference to consider the voice of young people and also the needed action to address climate change and small states resilience. These key messages and proposed priorities for action address most of the sub-themes of the SIDS Conference in addition to other priorities for youth development and empowerment. 

Read our input and contribution to the #SIDS2014 attached and also at the following link : http://www.mediafire.com/view/8yy65ru6j7r7z7a/Key_Message_&_Priorities_of_the_CYCN_for_the_Third_SIDS_Conference_August_2014.pdf

Nominations open now for CSO Observers to UN-REDD Programme and the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF)

For those that are not aware, the nomination process for selecting four (4) civil society observers for the UN-REDD Programme (representing Asia, Africa, Latin America and developed countries) and three (3) civil society observers for the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) (representing Asia, Africa, and Latin America) has opened this week.  Information on the process and how to nominate and apply is available in English, Spanish and French at the following link: http://www.bicusa.org/selection-process-for-un-redd-and-fcpf-observers/#sthash.0iYykTOO.dpuf

Please note that this is a process for civil society observers only, wherein Indigenous Peoples observers are selected through other means.  Also, to note, the Northern civil society observer for the FCPF has  already been selected and as such, is not included in this process.  Last day nominations are accepted for both the UN-REDD Programme and FCPF is 5 September 2014.

METAL TOXICITY IN CITY VEGETABLES- Pakistan



Vegetables in Peshawar, northern Pakistan are found to be contaminated with nickel, lead, cadmium and chromium with concentrations of 30.14, 27.49, 27.67 and 7.56 mg per kg, respectively which are more than the standard level and pose threat to human health. Farmers are using wastewater for irrigation which makes the soil more fertile but also makes polluted.
August 23

SOLAR FENCING- Bhutan



Solar fencing has become effective to halt movement and destruction caused by elephants in Samrang Gewog of Bhutan. Protection of life and property has been ensured from tusker attack as they get an electric shock if trespassing.
August 23

CLIMATE CHANGE AND BHUTAN’S ECONOMY- Bhutan



Studies have shown that glacier melt and climate extremes have posed serious threat to Bhutan’s economy. Around 24 glacier lakes are in risk of overflow with potential for landslide and flood. Dependency on glacier-fed lakes for agriculture, hydropower, and tourism projects will cause heavy loss to the overall economy of the country.
August 19


WARMER AND WETTER TIBET- China



Tibet is getting warmer and wetter along with increasing pollution as a result of climate change and population growth. Temperature of Tibetan plateau has increased by 0.4 C per decade and precipitation increased by 12 per cent since 1960.
August 20

RAINFALL INFLUENCES WATER PROJECT- India



Rainfall in Mussoorie, northern India has affected water project providing water to around 46 villages of 21 Gram Panchayats amounting to Rs 16 crore. The pipeline of around 3 km laid in the first phase along with the three chambers of treatment plant has been completely swept away by the incessant rains.
August 23