YOUTH AND BIODIVERSITY

Rosewood Robbery: The Case for Thailand to List Rosewood on CITES.

2012-02-16T20:19:00.000-05:00

A briefing on illegal and unsustainable rosewood logging, the major threat to Thailand’s limited remaining forests, which calls on the Thai Government to unilaterally list domestic rosewood species on CITES Appendix III in 2012 with a zero quota, and to work with rosewood range states to list key Asian rosewood species on CITES Appendix II at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP) to CITES in Bangkok, in March 2013.

Youcan read and download the full briefing at http://www.eia-international.org/rosewood-robbery-report

We Canada

2012-02-16T19:39:00.000-05:00

We Canada serves as a voice for Canadians who believe sustainable development should be a priority for their country and for the international community. We want the government of Canada to commit to creating a sustainable future and green economy, and to be a leader on the global stage at the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Earth Summit 2012, Rio+20).

We Canada is an initiative of the Canadian Earth Summit Coalition, a self-organized, independent and informal civil society network of non-government, non-profit, academic and research organizations, international leaders in sustainability thinking, activists, cultural workers and individuals, working towards Canadian leadership at the Earth Summit 2012.The Coalition serves as a platform for sharing ideas and building strength for sustainability. We support a diversity of viewpoints and ideas. Partners maintain their independent programs, projects and political stances while promoting Canadian leadership at the Earth Summit 2012 and beyond. See our list of partners. Our not-for-profit group "bioidversitymatters" is an official partner of We Canada.

Cyclone Thane in Auroville, India

2012-02-16T18:48:00.000-05:00

The location of the 3rd InternationalYouth Symposium for Biodiversity this October in Auroville, India was hit by aterrible cyclone. Because of this sad event, the Third International Youth Symposium for Biodiversity will be cancelled at this time. We wish the very best to those affected by this storm.

Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias assumes helm at Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

2012-02-15T19:06:00.000-05:00

Montreal, 15 February 2012

Mr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias todaybegan his tenure as the Executive Secretary to the Convention on BiologicalDiversity (CBD) at the Secretariat’s offices in Montreal, Canada.

Mr. Dias, a Brazilian national, bringsmany years of experience in policy-making and in coordinating the implementationof biodiversity policies, programmes and projects at the national andinternational level. Deeply involvedwith the negotiations and implementation of the Convention on BiologicalDiversity since its beginnings, he participated as a member of the Braziliandelegation in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for theConvention.

Previously the National Secretary for Biodiversityand Forests at the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment, Mr. Dias was directlyresponsible for overseeing several multi-institution programmes and the work offour institutions attached to the Ministry.

Mr. Dias was previously a member of the Scientificand Technical Advisory Panel of the Global Environment Facility, Vice-Presidentof the International Union of Biological Sciences, and Coordinator of theSteering Committee of the Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network.

Trained as a scientist, he holds aBachelor of Science in biological sciences from the University of Brasilia,with a Doctor of Philosophy in zoology from the University of Edinburgh. Bornin 1953, Mr. Dias is married and has one child.

Mr. Dias succeeds Ahmed Djoghlaf, whohad served as Executive Secretary since January 2006.

On assuming his post, Mr. Dias stated:“It gives me great pleasure to succeed those that have successfully led theConvention Secretariat since the beginning – Angela Cropper, Calestous Juma,Hamdallah Zedan and Ahmed Djoghlaf. If you ask what my three priorities are forthe Convention, my answer is implementation, implementation andimplementation.”

Mr. Dias begins his tenure following thestrong success of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to theConvention, held in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010. At that historic meeting,Governments approved a new Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 with itstwenty Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Governments also agreed on the NagoyaProtocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing ofBenefits Arising from Their Utilization to the Convention on BiologicalDiversity and the Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability andRedress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

DECLINE IN MALARIA CASES- BHUTAN

2012-02-13T21:41:00.001-05:00

According toVector borne Disease Control Programme (VDCP) report, there has been atremendous decrease in the cases of malaria infection in last 17 years from40,000 in 1994 to 194 in 2011. Malaria is endemic in 7 districts of southernBhutan which has 42 percent of the country’s total population.
5 February

http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=26441

WATCH OUT! POACHERS ON THE PROWL- INDIA

2012-02-13T21:38:00.001-05:00

In KazirangaNational Park, a sub-adult Royal Bengal tigress carcass was found in the drainwith its legs tied with rope. Post mortem report suggested that the beef foundin the tigress stomach was poisoned with organophosphorus chemical whichpoachers used to kill the tigress. In another report, it has been revealed thatpoachers are moving out of national parks and targeting stray rhinos fromKaziranga.
5, 7 February

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb0512/at08

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120207/jsp/northeast/story_15102184.jsp

24,000 TREES TO BE AXED- NEPAL

2012-02-13T21:35:00.000-05:00

The forestministry has given a green signal to fell over 24,000 trees belonging to 42community forests of Chitwan and Makwanpur districts, central Nepal. Thedeforestation drive is for the upcoming 220 KV transmission line project ofNepal Electricity Authority.
5 February
Kantipur

GOVERNMENT EFFORT TO CURB TIMBER SMUGGLING PAYS OFF- NEPAL

2012-02-13T21:33:00.000-05:00

Deforestationrate in a community forest near Nepal-China border in Rasuwa District, centralNepal, has eased off with timely intervention of Ministry of Home and Ministryof Foreign affairs as the authorities has asked their Chinese counterpart tocheck on the smuggled woods crossing the border.
2 February

Kantipur

After ivory, a legal rhino horn trade will only cause harm

2012-02-11T16:32:00.000-05:00

TheConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is aninternational agreement signed by 175 governments, including one of the world’smajor markets for illegal wildlife products – China.

Theinternational trade in elephant ivory and rhino horn is forbidden under CITESand, after a brief respite from poaching during the 1980s and ’90s, populationsof both species started to recover (some would say because of theinternational ban).

However,poaching has begun to steadily escalate once more across Africa. In 2002, oversix tonnes of illegal ivory – the single largest haul since the 1989 ban wasput in place – was seized in Singapore and marked the beginning of thecontinuing, and increasing, numbers of large seizures of illegal ivory, most ofthem destined for China and the Far East. South Africa, in particular, hasseen an uncontrollable wave of poaching of rhino for their horns, believed tobe the panacea for all manner of ailments (but without a shred scientificproof) in the Far East. In 2011, South Africa lost more than 440 rhino andthe slaughter continues. This year, to date, we’re looking at one being takenevery day.

Staggeringly,in some quarters, the argument is still being made that creating a legal tradein rhino horn is the answer to this appalling situation.

Afterseveral years of polarized discussion and debate, CITES in 2008 granted Chinaapproved buyer status in the controversial sale of stockpiled ivory fromBotswana, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Proponents of sustainable utilizationargue that a legalized, controlled trade in specimens of naturally deceased,managed and culled elephants can be used to flood a market and thereby lowerdemand, so reducing illegal trade and easing pressure on wild populations ofendangered species.

Settingaside for a moment considerations that a ‘legal’ stream of ivory and rhino hornserves only to confuse consumers while also stimulating demand, for such amechanism to work there must be stringent controls in place to regulate thetrade, such as validating the source of any products, strong enforcementagainst illegal trade making poaching a high risk / low return activity, andtransparent corruption-free management of market prices for legal products.China claimed it could implement “rigorous” regulations and controls againstillegal trade and ensure no illegal ivory could enter the market.

Two yearsafter the stockpile sale took place, EIA investigations in 2010 and 2011revealed that, far from flooding the market with legal ivory to reduce demand,up to 90 per cent of ivory on sale came from illegal sources and prices of legalivory had increased to as much as $7,000 per kilo. In effect, the results of EIA’sinvestigations show that instead of stemming the poaching by satisfying thedemand, the sale of the stockpiles has simply fuelled the demand for illegalivory. These findings have subsequently been supported by research andinvestigations conducted by independent consultant Esmond Martin and theInternational Fund for Animal Welfare.

So, in anutshell, the sale has only made matters worse: the demand in China remainshigh and growing, spurring massive increases in the poaching of elephants. Theillegal ivory simply gets laundered onto the market under cover of the ‘legal’ivory.

Turning torhinos, the species that has already teetered on the brink of extinction oncein the past 30 years. and is now in the throes of a new onslaught

The lastserious rhino poaching crisis, in the 1980s and early ’90s, had a devastatingeffect on rhino populations in Africa and Asia but the current crisis has anadded dimension not seen before – the involvement of organised criminalsyndicates in countries which are neither range states nor major consumermarkets. This suggests the demand for rhino horn is currently at an all-timehigh.

All mannerof talks are underway to address this situation, but the killing continues anda country that prides itself on its wildlife resources, enforcement andanti-poaching is at a loss. So the solution being advanced to stop thepoaching is … that’s right, to legalize trade. Unbelievable.

WithChina’s success in gaining approved ivory buyer status at CITES, talks are nowtaking place to discuss the possibility of introducing a similar mechanism for legalizedtrade in rhino horn along the line of the ‘successful’ ivory model.

Becausethe legalized ivory trade has, after all, been such a roaring success – butonly for the illegal traders.

Chinaagain seems to be the principal market yet it has spectacularly failed to fulfillits promises and commitments; implementation of its ivory regulation andcontrol system is, at best, dismal. If China cannot implement a controlsystem designed specifically to address the problem (while at the same timesatisfying demand), how on Earth can it even be considered as a suitablecandidate for introducing a similar system for rhinos?

One areain which China has undoubtedly excelled is in winning agreement at CITES,convincing the parties it has the capacity and will to regulate legal wildlifetrade, in particular of ivory, bears and farmed tigers, without detriment towild populations.

And yetthe evidence speaks to the contrary. China has not remotely demonstratedadequate commitment or investment in the kind of enforcement required to endillegal trade, something which requires an intelligence-led, and inter-agencyapproach to tackling organised, international criminal syndicates.

Opening uptrade has demonstrably not worked for elephants. Who could be so naïve or so willfullyblind as to imagine it will work for rhinos?

Mary Rice
Executive Director
Environmental Investigation Agency

BONOBOS ARE OUR CLOSEST LIVING RELATIVES

2012-02-10T19:49:00.001-05:00

Although bonobos are our closest living relative, we still know very little about them. What we do know is that there aren’t many of them left – as few as 10,000 left in the wild, making them the world’s most endangered ape. Bonobos only live in one country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has seen the bloodiest war since World War II.

For over 15 years, Claudine André has fought for the conservation and welfare of bonobos in Congo. She established Lola ya Bonobo, the world’s only bonobo sanctuary with over 60 orphans from the bushmeat trade, but more than anyone else in the world, Claudine has worked tirelessly to convince everyone from Congolese hunters to politicians that bonobos are a national treasure worth protecting.

How can anyone not want to help these beautiful animals?

Bonobo Handshake is an amazing book that follows a young woman (Vanessa Woods) who follows her fiance to Congo to study these rare apes. Check out http://www.bonobohandshake.com/

A big thank you to Vanessa Woods for the permission to use the above images.

Wetlands are important

2012-02-10T00:36:00.002-05:00

Wetlands are important to me becausethey allow you to learn about different animals and wildlife. They also get youto see nature in a way you can’t see when you look out the window.Wetlands let you explore nature. you canhave a lot of fun enjoying time finding species and observing wildlife.

by: Bianca (Ottawa, Canada)

Beauty and Magic of Biodiversity

2012-02-08T09:47:00.001-05:00

A few years back (year of biodiversity), the Canadian Commission for UNESCO collaborated with a Montreal-based Circus (l’Arsenal) to involve students, particularly from disadvantaged schools, in a creative approach to biodiversity which culminated in their viewing of l’Arche, a circus show on the beauty and magic of biodiversity. http://www.arsenal.ca/en/news/busy-autumn-for-arsenal/

The circus troup is now confirmed to tour in the UK from Sept 20- Nov 4 and they are looking for an individual to accompany them in the tour to speak to the audience (youth target) before the show about environmental issues in order to help the audience maximize their experience and to internalize the issues presented.

We are looking for British citizens who may be interested to take part in this adventure. I can assure that it would be an unforgettable experience.

World Wetlands Day- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

2012-02-08T07:04:00.002-05:00

Here are some wetland birds at Durrell:

Grey crowned crane

Blue crane chick

Black-winged stilt

Images by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

RETURN OF SNOW LEOPARD- PAKISTAN

2012-02-07T08:31:00.000-05:00

A snow leopard has beenspotted in Chitral forests after two years. According to the wildlifedepartment, the big cat descended to the lower altitude due to heavy snowfallin high mountains and in search of food. Earlier, the villagers had installedbulbs around the village to ward off snow leopard. Also leopard killing wasbanned in the area but fearing its attack on livestock, the ban was lifted.
27 January
http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/27/snow-leopard-reemerges-in-chitral-forests.html

PADDY FIELDS TO TURN INTO BIRD SANCTUARY- INDIA

2012-02-07T08:28:00.002-05:00

For almost a decade,farmers in South Sikkim have not been able to benefit from paddy cultivationdue to crop depredation by peacock and wild boar from Kitam bird sanctuary.Considering this, the state forest department is all set to acquire about 1hectare of paddy fields and convert it into bird sanctuary for which theacquired land will act as a buffer zone. Farmers have appreciated the move as theywill be duly compensated.
30 January
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120130/jsp/siliguri/story_15067014.jsp

RAILWAY TRACK THROUGH ELEPHANT CORRIDOR- INDIA

2012-02-07T08:27:00.003-05:00

Construction of new railwaytrack is in full swing between New Mal and New Maynaguri. The track (4 km)passes through forestlands in Apalchand, Kathambari and the buffer zone ofGorumara National Park, the major elephant corridors for more than 150 elephants.
24 January
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-24/kolkata/30658586_1_gauge-conversion-elephants-forest-official

AWARENESS PROGRAMS TOP THE PRIORITY LIST FOR NGOs- NEPAL

2012-02-07T08:26:00.000-05:00

According to Social WelfareCouncil (SWC), major chunk of donation funds are being spent on studies,workshops, seminars, trainings and campaigns. For various developmentalprojects in 2011 and 2010, the nation received NRS 3.062 billion and NRS 5.21billion respectively but only NRS 582 million and NRS 1.1 billion were spentfor physical developments. Interestingly, as per the SWC guidelines at least60% of the total budget should be spent on physical development.
28 January

Republica

DEFORESTATION: POLITICS TAKES CENTRE STAGE, FOREST LOSING OUT- NEPAL

2012-02-07T08:24:00.002-05:00

Excessive felling of treesby Community forest user groups in Dang District, West Nepal, and involvementof user groups in Chure denudation in Udaypur District, East Nepal, remainsunchecked by District forest offices as the communities are backed by politicalparties. Meanwhile, user committees after receiving hush money fromcontractors, have allowed cutting of thousands of trees in Pyuthan District, WestNepal. Amidst all these, Government ofNepal received NRS 4.45 billion for multi stakeholder forestry program, thefirst multi stakeholder project undertaken in Nepal’s forestry sector.
25, 26, 27 January
The Kathmandu Post, TheHimalayan Times,
http://www.nepalnews.com/home/index.php/news/19/16185-switzerland-finland-uk-provide-rs-445-billion-to-support-nepals-forestry-sector.html

LOCAL HAMMERS CHURE CONSERVATION PROGRAM IN NEPAL

2012-02-07T08:23:00.002-05:00

The PresidentChure Conservation Program has come to a standstill for past four months.Despite massive deforestation in Chure forest range, conservation program is ofless interest to the locals and as a result, this years’ budget of NRS 6.2million has been left unspent. Following the arrest of the chairman of thecommunity forest, the locals have refused to support the program, whereas somelocals themselves are involved in the smuggling of timber.

25 January

Republica

The postponement of the Second meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing

2012-02-06T22:26:00.002-05:00

With reference to notification 2012-22 of 3 February 2012 concerning the postponement of the Second meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing, I wish to inform you that the meeting will be held on 2 6 July 2012 at the Vigyan Bhawan Convention Center in New Delhi, India. The capacity-building workshop on access and benefit-sharing will be held on 30 June – 1 July 2012 at the same venue.

With respect to registration for these meetings, please note that participants already registered will be automatically registered for the new dates and therefore do not need to register again. Those who had not yet registered for the meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee and the capacity-building workshop are invited to do so by 30 March 2012.

For more details on the procedure for designating representatives for the meetings, please refer to notifications 2011-233 (Parties) and 2011-232 (International organizations and relevant stakeholders), available on the Secretariat’s website: http://www.cbd.int/notifications/.

Good news for tigers shows we’re on the right path

2012-02-06T09:35:00.000-05:00

February4, 2012
It can bea long week/month/year/decade (delete as appropriate) when you’re constantlyconfronted with bad news and the terrible things that we are doing to life onthis planet. It can often seem like a never-ending uphill battle. And, well,that’s what it is, but every now and again you get some news that gives youa glimmer of hope.

Since lateDecember, there has been a flurry of positive news coming from different partsof India, home to the world’s largest remaining population of wild tigers.Where they are being well protected, where there is a good relationship betweenforest officials, scientists and NGOs, tigers are breeding and, because oflimitations on carrying capacity, tigers are spilling out of protectedareas, returning to the forests from which they once vanished and taking upresidence rather than just being transient.

News ofcubs in Kudremukh National Park, in Karnataka, which has historically beenravaged by iron ore mining, and of 25 tigers residing in the Sathyamangalamforests of Tamil Nadu is further testimony to the emergence of the southernstates as tiger conservation champions.

That said,news of cubs galore in Kanha Tiger Reserve (21-23 cubs) and Pench Tiger Reserve(21 cubs) in Madhya Pradesh, and even in Panna Tiger Reserve where thetranslocated tigers have given birth to seven cubs, suggests the battle forthe title of The Tiger State is not over yet.

Furthernorth, tigers have returned to the Nandhor Valley of Uttarakhand, while Assamis home to 143 tigers, 118 in Kaziranga National Park alone – the highest tigerpopulation density in the country.

To besure, things are far from perfect. Dispersing and transient tigers leave theprotected areas to face forests destroyed for coal, diamonds, sandstone, ironore and bauxite. Roads, dams and river-linking projects carve up the forestcorridors. With forest loss comes the decline in natural prey and theinevitable slide into conflict with people and livestock. Poaching in India thefeed the illegal trade in China continues. So far this year, there have beenfour tiger and nine leopard poaching/trade incidents reported. None of uscan take our foot off the gas when it comes to saving tigers.

But whatthe good news from India tells us is that the tiger’s decline is not anirreversible situation; that with the right set of circumstances, tigerpopulations can recover, and withthem the watershed forests that all our futures depend on. Now is the time toinvest in progressing the strategies that are paying dividends (cubs), tospread the word of what works and what doesn’t, to open up the system ofgovernance so that independent scientists, NGOs and civil society can work withthe government officials.

See http://www.eia-international.org/good-news-for-tigers-shows-were-on-the-right-path

INDONESIA- MASSIVE PLANTATION FIRM WILL COMBINE ASSETS

2012-02-05T21:42:00.002-05:00

The Indonesian government plans to create a massive plantation firm next month when it will combine the assets of state-owned rubber and palm oil companies, reports Reuters.

BIODIVERSITY MENTORSHIP PROGRAM #3- OTTAWA, CANADA

2012-02-04T14:18:00.003-05:00

THEME: POLITICS AND BIODIVERSITY

1. Pauline Thereot (Imagineaction, Canadian Teachers Federation)

2. Brigitte Champaigne-Klassen (Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots)

3. Fred Sherman (2011 PC Candidate for Ottawa, Vanier)

4.Katherine Hobbs (City Councillor - Kitchissippi Ward of Ottawa)

5. Elizabeth Kilvert (Environment Canada)

6. Guiliano Reis (Professor of Education, Universityof Ottawa)

We welcomed youth to discuss biodiversity issues with the participating community leaders. To date, about 60 youth from 14 schools have been involved in this community program.

INTERNATIONAL WETLANDS DAY

2012-02-02T19:33:00.000-05:00

Grade 6 students from St-Laurent Academy in Ottawa, Canada enjoy some marsh time.

I am verythankful that we have the Macoun Marsh as part of our class so we can see allthe different wildlife and be outside. Shaylyn

A message from Mr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the CBD, on the occasion of the World Wetlands Day – 2 February 2012.

2012-02-01T17:44:00.000-05:00

Today we celebrate World Wetlands Day to raise awareness of these extremely valuable ecosystems that continue to be among the most threatened. We now recognize that wetlands provide many benefits to people, including that wetlands and their wildlife are a key part of the global tourism and cultural travel experience. From the stark beauty of Arctic lakes to breath-taking experiences of coral reefs, wetlands provide magnificent landscapes that tourists can appreciate. Behind the beautiful vistas and scenes, wetlands also underpin many services that tourists need, such as the availability of clean water, the recycling of wastes and protection from extreme weather events.

Tourism represents both a threat and an opportunity to wetlands. Unsustainable tourism has been called a “devourer of landscapes” for the extensive changes it causes in land use and to local economies and cultures. At the same time, if planned and implemented according to best practices, it can provide political and financial support for conservation and sustainable (or wise) use of wetlands and related ecosystem services.

Sustainable tourism means putting the principles of sustainable development into practice by ensuring that tourism protects the environment, conserves biodiversity, respects local communities and their cultural heritage and values, and provides equitable socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders, including by contributing to poverty alleviation.

With the ambitious goal (defined through Aichi target 11) of achieving by 2020, through ecologically representative systems of protected areas, the effective conservation of 17 per cent of the world’s terrestrial and inland water areas and 10 per cent of marine and coastal areas (many of which are wetlands), and with tourism already being the largest global market-based contributor to park agencies’ budgets, tourism is slated to play a larger role in the implementation of both the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Ramsar Convention.

In the United States of America, for example, in 2006 more than 31 per cent of adults fed, photographed and observed wildlife, spending US$ 45 billion in the process; 1.5 million waterfowl hunters have funded conservation projects and generated a total of US$ 50 billion annually in economic activity; more than 35 million Americans take part in recreational fishing, almost all of it in wetlands, spending more than US $37 billion each year. The benefits of wetland tourism are not limited to rural or remote areas: some 200,000 visitors per year enjoy the 40-hectare London Wetland Centre alongside the River Thames, right in the heart of one of the world’s major cities. In developing countries, wetlands tourism is equally important: emblematic examples include the Okavango Delta in Botswana, the African Great Lakes, the Pantanal/Chaco region in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay (the world’s largest Ramsar site), the Tonle Sap in Cambodia – one of Asia's largest freshwater lakes, and most coral reefs. Tourism of some sort is invariably associated with most wetlands, large to small, and in most rural and urban areas throughout the world.

In 2010, the number of international tourists reached 940 million, and this is forecast to grow to around 1.6 billion by 2020. This economic activity generated by travel and tourism, also associated with wetlands, represents around 5 per cent of global GDP and up to one in every eight of the world’s jobs. International tourism expenditure linked to wetlands can be estimated at around US$ 925 billion each year, and this does not include the vast numbers of domestic tourists (thought to represent up to seven times the volume of international arrivals) or visitors who do not stay overnight. Economic values of wetlands for tourism are therefore huge.

Sustainable wetlands tourism is about effective partnerships at all levels. Efforts towards this will be enhanced through guidance to be discussed at the eleventh meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands to be held in Bucharest from 6 to 13 July 2012. The Convention on Biological Diversity, through our joint work programme with the Ramsar 3 Convention, is pleased to have contributed to this process through its own general guidance on biodiversity and tourism. The efforts of the Ramsar Convention will also be enhanced through its recent memorandum of understanding with the United Nations World Tourism Organization and both of these are among 27 international agencies, organizations and conventions that signed up to cooperate on the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, in November 2011 in Montreal.

Sustainable tourism can bring strong political attention and economic opportunities to securing wetland wise use and the maintenance of key socio-economic wetland values, both in Ramsar Sites and in other wetlands globally. We join the world community in celebrating today in recognition of the importance of wetlands and tourism and commit to continuing our partnership efforts to achieve sustainability and find the future we want.

BAN ON TOURISM IN TIGER RESERVE IS NO SUCCESS- INDIA

2012-01-31T08:42:00.002-05:00

An ‘illegal’ safari is being operated in thecore area of Buxa Tiger Reserve flouting all norms in spite of a ban imposed onSeptember 2010. All it takes is a connection with forest officials as theoperator works in connivance with the forest department officials.
17 January
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-17/kolkata/30635094_1_night-safari-forest-guard-btr

RHINO KILLED, POACHERS BID FOILED- INDIA

2012-01-31T08:41:00.000-05:00

A female rhino was killed in KazirangaNational Park but the horn remained intact as poachers fled the scene whilesecurity personal stormed in. To trackdown the poachers, a dog has been put into service which has managed to gathersome evidence. The dog has been brought from Slovakia to help park officials.Similarly, forest guards at Kaziranga National Park during operation againstpoachers, gunned down a female rhino. The rhino was shot while the officialswere attempting to scare off the rhino. Meanwhile, a man was arrested who sneaked into the city zoo in Assam tokill rhino for its horns.
17, 18, 20 January

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-17/guwahati/30634600_1_rhino-poaching-bid-rhino-poachers-assam-state-zoo

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120118/jsp/northeast/story_15019212.jsp
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120120/jsp/northeast/story_15026497.jsp

WETLANDS LOOSING GROUND- INDIA

2012-01-31T08:39:00.004-05:00

Wetlands in Jammu are on the verge ofextinction as two of the five wetlands have dried up giving way to humanencroachment as a result few migratory birds visit the area. In addition,villagers scare away migratory birds as they fear that birds damage crops.

15 January

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120115/j&k.htm#9

SMUGGLERS NABBED- NEPAL

2012-01-31T08:38:00.001-05:00

Around 150 kg of red sandalwood wasconfiscated at Dolalghat in Kavrepalanchowk District, central Nepal, while enroute to China border. Similarly, twosmugglers were apprehended in Kathmandu Valley while trying to smuggle 27 kg oforchids to China. In another incident, smugglers were taken into custody forpossessing 7 kg of Pangolin scales by the security personal in Kathmanduvalley.
18, 19 January

The Himalayan Times

ONLY 10 PERCENT OF DEVELOPMENT FUND REACHES TARGET GROUPS- NEPAL

2012-01-31T08:37:00.000-05:00

A study has revealed that Non GovernmentOrganizations (NGO) working in poverty alleviation, HIV/AIDS and womenempowerment sector in Mid and Far western regions spent 90 percent of theirsocial development funds in staff expenses and only 10 percent reaches out tothe target groups.
18 January

The Himalayan Times

http://www.nepalnews.com/home/index.php/news/19/16078-only-10-pc-of-the-funds-allocated-for-poverty-alleviation-hivaids-reach-target-groups.html

CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD IN BARDIA NATIONAL PARK IN THE OFFING- NEPAL

2012-01-31T08:34:00.002-05:00

Department of roads is all set to constructa 27 km long road in Bardia National Park area and 39 km in Chure forest areain west Nepal and in the process around 16,000 trees are going to be axed. Environmentministry has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for theconstruction. However, forest ministry is not informed about this ordeal.
17 January

Kantipur

CONSERVATION ON THE FRONT LINE – MUARA TAE’S LAST STAND AGAINST BIG PALM OIL

2012-01-30T11:17:00.002-05:00

Dayak community under assault from invading palm oilcompanies

MUARA TAE, EASTKALIMANTAN: The fate of a Dayak community deep in the interior ofEast Kalimantan demonstrates how Indonesia must safeguard the rights ofindigenous people if it is to meet ambitious targets to reduce emissions fromdeforestation.

The Dayak Benuaq of Muara Tae, in West Kutai Kabupaten,today face a two-pronged assault from palm oil companies aggressively expandinginto their ancestral forests. Together with Indonesian NGO Telapak, the communityis manning a forest outpost around the clock in a last ditch attempt to save itfrom destruction.

TheLondon-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has witnessed at first-handthe Dayak Benuaq’s struggle, and how their sustainable use of forests couldhelp Indonesia deliver on its ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gasemissions.

EIAForests Team Leader Faith Doherty said: “There are more than 800 families inMuara Tae relying on the forests for their food, water, medicine, culture andidentity. Put simply, they have to keep this forest in order to survive.

“Therhetoric from the President of Indonesia on curbing emissions by reducingdeforestation is strong but on the front line, where indigenous communities areputting their lives at risk to protect forests, action is sorely missing.

“Givingthese communities, such as the Dayak Benuaq, the rights they deserve is a vitalstep to reduce catastrophic levels of deforestation in Indonesia.”

EIA Forest Campaign team leader Faith Doherty interviewing Muara Tae elders (credit: EIA/Tom Johnson)

PresidentYudhoyono has pledged to reduce carbon emissions across the archipelago by 26per cent by 2020 against a business-as-usual baseline, alongside deliveringsubstantial economic growth.

Plantationexpansion will inevitably be a significant element of growth, but it hashistorically been a major driver of emissions and it is widely acknowledgedthat in order avoid them, expansion must now be directed to ‘degraded’ lands.

Asa result of weak spatial planning, however, the forests of Muara Tae areidentified as ‘APL’, a designation meaning they are not part of the nationalforest area and are open to exploitation. The theft of indigenous forests alsoraises serious questions as to what form of ‘development’ these plantationsoffer.

Forest cleared in October 2011 on Muara Taecustomary land, in a concession issued to PT Munte Wani Jaya Perkasa (credit:EIA/Tom Johnson)

Inindigenous communities such as the Dayak Benuaq of Muara Tae, Indonesia hasperhaps its most valuable forest resource. It is due to their sustainablemethods, honed over generations, that the forest even remains.

Telapakpresident Ambrosius Ruwindrijarto said: “Together with the community, we havenot only been protecting the last forests but also planting new Ulin andMeranti saplings to enhance it. These people are the true guardians of theforest and their fate is entwined with it.”

MuaraTae has lost more than half of its land and forests during the past 20 years tomining companies. The impact has been tangible; the villagers’ water source hasdried up and they must now routinely make a 1km journey to collect clean water.

Theremaining forest is home to a large number of bird species including hornbills,the emblem of Borneo. There are about 20 species of reptiles and it is also ahabitat for both proboscis monkeys and honey bears.

Thelatest land-grabs have taken place since January 2010, when the local Bupati(regional government official), Ismail Thomas, issued plantation permits to twopalm oil companies: Malaysian-owned PT Munte Waniq Jaya Perkasa (PT MWJP) and PT Borneo Surya Mining Jaya, asubsidiary of Sumatran logging, mining and plantation conglomerate Surya Dumai.

Whilethe Norwegian Government has been instrumental in financially backing effortsto reduce deforestation in Indonesia through the REDD+ initiative, it has alsoinvested in the parent company of PT MWJP through its sovereign wealth fund.

PakSingko, a leader of the Dayak Benuaq of Muara Tae, said: “We are calling forhelp from people everywhere in protecting our forests and ancestral land. Weare being squeezed from all sides by mining and plantation companies.

“Thisis the last remaining forests that we have and the only land we have tosurvive. If my forests are gone, our lives will end.”

Ulintree in Muara Tae forest (credit: EIA/Tom Johnson)

Aftermath of Cyclone Thane in Auroville, India

2012-01-29T15:40:00.001-05:00

Location of the 3rd International Youth Symposium for Biodiversity this October, Auroville, India was hit by a terrible cyclone.

Here are some on the clean up efforts - the first in about the general Auroville area, and the next one is on the Auroville Botanical Garden.

Auroville's General Cleanup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_hf7Hz8kQ

Auroville Botanical Garden Cleanup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4auvAvfGiM0

Lesser Antillean iguanas at Durrell Wildlife Park

2012-01-28T09:13:00.003-05:00

Image from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

For the first time in eleven years, the rare Lesser Antillean iguanas at Durrell Wildlife Park have successfully bred, producing two young hatchlings. Increasingly endangered in its wild habitat, the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean, and held by only a handful of zoological institutions worldwide, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust remains the only place to successfully breed this species.
Commenting on this exciting news, Mark Brayshaw, Head of Durrell’s animal collection, said, “We are delighted by the arrival of these new hatchlings. They are feeding and growing well, and we are continuing to monitor them carefully at our herpetology department. We will continue our efforts to breed the iguanas and are encouraged by this recent success.”

MACOUN MARSH UPDATE- OTTAWA, CANADA

2012-01-26T18:42:00.003-05:00

A beautiful pileated woodpecker seen today! It flew right up to our outdoor classroom.

The Grade 6 students from St-Laurent Academy drilled through the ice in search of aquatic invertebrates.

ACID OCEANS: IN SOME AREAS ACIDIFICATION IS A HUNDRED TIMES GREATER THAN THE NATURAL VARATION

2012-01-24T18:06:00.002-05:00

GNU Free Documentation License

CORAL REEFS ARE AT RISK

Emissions of carbon over the last two centuries have raised the acidity of the oceans to the highest levels in 21,000 years and likely beyond, according to a new study in Nature Climate Change. This change threatens marine reefs and a host of aquatic invertebrates.

Check out the following link: http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0124-hance_oceanacid.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

MILLER'S GRIZZLED LANGUR REDISCOVERED

2012-01-23T18:26:00.001-05:00

Public Domain image

Miller's grizzled langur was thought to be extinct, but scientists in Borneo captured images of creature using camera traps. The scientists were baffled to find the Miller's grizzled langur in an area well outside its previously recorded home range. With virtually no photographs of the species in existence, the scientists faced a challenge to confirm their suspicions, Brent Loken, a PhD student at Simon Fraser University in Canada and one of the lead researchers, said. The only images available were museum sketches like the one above.

MACOUN MARSH UPDATE- OTTAWA, CANADA

2012-01-22T11:54:00.003-05:00

While our winter here in Ottawa has been fairly mild, Grade 6 students from St-Laurent Academy have been able to research invertebrates under the marsh ice.

In some drill holes, students have discovered mayfly larvae and phantom midge larvae. Ice thickness has been around 18cm along the shore.

Chickadees are very common, and very tame.

Mustard plants retain their green colouring under the snow.

SECOND ANNUAL GREEN SCHOOLS NATIONAL CONFERENCE

2012-01-21T09:54:00.000-05:00

February 27-29, 2012

Be a part of the largest gathering of K-12 leaders and educators coming together to "green" the nation's schools as the way to save money, improve student health & achievement and save the planet! Register NOW before rates go up February 1.

Durrell undertakes a comprehensive animal audit (UK)

2012-01-18T08:11:00.002-05:00

Image Colm Farrington

Holding a baby panther chameleon

Each New Year at Durrell kicks off with a momentous mathematics exercise, as all zoos, wildlife parks and aquariums are legally required to undertake a comprehensive animal audit.

Durrell’s total headcount for 2011 reached over 1600 individuals of more than 150 species and therefore the audit process proved to be a time consuming job for the keepers tasked with accounting for all of Durrell’s annual arrivals and departures.

Perhaps the most memorable departure during 2011 was that of Silverback gorilla Ya Kwanza who had been a popular resident at the conservation charity’s wildlife park in Trinity since 1993. Significant arrivals included 22 orange tailed skinks rescued following the invasion of Flat Island, Mauritius by the predatory Indian musk shrew; and of course Ya Kwanza’s replacement Badongo who arrived from France in July and is who is now settling in well.

The Green Wave to support forest rehabilitation in the devastated region of Tohoku, Japan

2012-01-17T18:17:00.004-05:00

Montreal, 16 January 2012 – At the 13th editionof Eco Products 2011, an environmental exhibition that attracts 60,000 visitorsa day, including children, and held in Tokyo in December 2011, the Executive Secretaryof the Convention on Biological Diversity, Mr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, participated on16 December in the launch of the new initiative, “The Green Wave forSupporting Reconstruction of Tsunami Stricken Tohoku Region”. Titled Project-D,the project aims to involve 100,000 children from across Japan in growingseedlings of indigenous tree species and rehabilitating 40 hectares of degradedforests in Tohoku, Japan, a region devastated by the Great East JapanEarthquake and its tsunamis on 11 March 2011.

Specifically, the Project-D: Dream for a DevastatedRegion, together with the Dongri (acorns) project, aims to restorecoastal forests by involving children, who receive an experiential environmentaleducation while planting Dongri saplings with the help of differentsectors in Japan and The Green Wave global campaign.

The project is a collaborative project organized by severalorganizations including the National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization(NALAPO), the Japan Environment Association, the Japan Nurseryman’s Associationand the Executive Committee of the Biodiversity and Children's Forest Campaign.Supported by the Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and CulturalAdvancement (OISCA) International and several other organizations with anextensive network of close collaborators and major organizations, Project-D isexpected to unfold as an emergent national movement in Japan.

Launched in May 2008, at the margins of the ninth meeting ofthe Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity inBonn, The Green Wave initiative aims at reconnecting children and youthwith nature and engaging tomorrow’s citizens in sharing their green future.Launched with 50 schools in 2008, The Green Wave has since mobilizedmore than 3,500 groups of participants in over 70 countries. In the comingweeks, the honorary ambassador of The Green Wave, Mr. Jean Lemire, willlaunch 1000 Days for the Planet, a three-year expedition on board theschooner Sedna IV. The expedition is a major contribution to thecelebration of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (UNDB) 2011-2020.

One of the aims of the Decade, officially launched in Japanon 17 December 2011, is to help ensure that, by 2020 at the latest, citizens ofthe world, and in particular youth and children, are made aware of, value, andprotect biodiversity. Through Project-D, The Green Wave and 1000Days for the Planet, children, youth, their parents, teachers andcommunities are invited to take action and make a difference, and thus directlycontribute to the biodiversity-related objectives set by the internationalcommunity. One of the core agencies driving Project-D, NALAPO, led locallevel actions during the International Year of Forests 2011 through promotingthe nation-wide Fund-raising for Greenery campaign, which originally startedover 60 years ago. Mr. Tatuya Kajiya, NALAPO Senior Managing Director, said: “Westrongly expect that awareness on the importance of forests and intention tojoin forest-related actions, developed 2 through various campaigns related tothe International Year of Forests, will be broadly spread to generations,especially children, by implementation of Project-D.”

A leading organization of the Biodiversity and Children'sForest Campaign-EXCO, OISCA, is a long time supporter of The Green Wave.Over 14,000 children and adults at 105 OISCA sites in 13 countries participatedin 2011 celebrations of The Green Wave through their experientialenvironmental education initiative, the Children’s Forest Program. On 20December, Mr. Yasuaki Nagaishi, Secretary-General of OISCA and Mr. AhmedDjoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention, took part in a live Web TV programmeduring which they answered questions from the public about the United NationsDecade on Biodiversity and The Green Wave, as a contribution to theimplementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between OISCA and theConvention Secretariat, signed at the margins of the tenth meeting of theConference of the Parties to the Convention, held in Nagoya, Japan, in October2010. OISCA celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in October 2011, in thepresence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan and Prime MinisterYoshihiko Noda.

In reference to the joint OISCA and CBD initiative, Mr.Nagaishi, OISCA Secretary-General, said: “The Green Wave empathizes withour ‘FURUSATO Movement’ which can guide children in action that contributes tothe protection of our Mother Earth. It is also instrumental in linking childrento other parts of the world beyond their own localities. Project-D will,I am sure, enable them to have the feeling of oneness with those in thestricken area hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.”

Mr. Djoghlaf said: “It is heartening the see hundreds ofthousands of Japanese children mobilized for Project D and The GreenWave to contribute to the rehabilitation of the devastated region ofTohoku. This initiative represents the very spirit and letter of The GreenWave and I am pleased to support its mission, as a fantastic intra- andinter-generational movement of solidarity for a future in harmony with nature.”

BIODIVERSITY YOUTH MENTORSHIP MODULE #2- OTTAWA, CANADA

2012-01-14T18:04:00.000-05:00

THEME: OUR HUMAN NEED FOR BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity is used in medical research and in our food industry. It is directly connected to the purification of the air and water, decomposition of wastes, recycling of nutrients, the pollination of crops, and the regulation of our climate. Many cultural services are to be considered here. Our global economy cannot function without biodiversity.

The students were involved in various activities that connected seemingly unrelated everyday products to their biological sources. A 5 Kingdom picnic was included!

Cocoa beans were available to taste!

Module 3: Political Action (2 hours) Saturday, February 4, 2012- 10:00 to noon at St-Laurent Academy (641 Sladen Ave., Ottawa, Ontario). Reserve your attendance at lmleveille@rogers.com

Galapagos a few Photos

2012-01-14T12:49:00.000-05:00

A masked booby chick

A very playful and inquisitive sea lion pup

A large group of marine iguanas

A moulting albatros chick

A blow hole not a geyser caused only by pressure of the waves from the ocean.

A land iguana munching on a piece of cactus

The moon in the pitch black sky off our boat

Mr. Panamá

WRONG CLAIM OF NO RHINO POACHING IN 2011- NEPAL

2012-01-12T19:55:00.000-05:00

GNU Free Documentation License Image

According to Department ofNational Park and Wildlife Conservation and WWF Nepal, no rhino was poached in2011. This report doesn’t seem to have grounds, as the 141^stissue of Headlines Himalayareported killing of Male rhino in Chitwan earlier in 2011. The department also claimed that this year 235arrests were made against wildlife criminals and handing over of 141 guns tothe park officials by the communities near the park area.
1 January

The Himalayan Times, Headlines Himalaya, 141^stIssue

COMMUNITY FORESTS CHANGING LIVES- BHUTAN

2012-01-12T19:27:00.001-05:00

Community ForestManagement (CFM) has helped rural communities to meet their timber needs andbenefitted them monetarily with the sale of forest products. Under this scheme,about 328 CFM groups involving over 15,000 families manage over 30,000 hectaresforestland (2% of total). Community forest division receives Nu 5 million fromForest department as its annual budget. Around 1500 people are engaged inproviding capacity building, guidelines and awareness to the ruralcommunities.
15 December
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/forests-people

3.2 BILLION YUAN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION- CHINA

2012-01-12T19:25:00.001-05:00

Last year, about3.2 billion Yuan was spent for the conservation of pastureland and wetland,measures to prevent forest fires and pests, wildlife protection and environmentmonitoring. Out of this total, 692 million Yuan was spent for transfer ofpayments for national-level ecological areas, 764 million Yuan for forestecology compensation and 2 billion Yuan for grassland preservation.
6 January
http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/96069/7697594.html

HYDROPOWER CONSTRUCTION TRIGGERS PUBLIC OUTCRY- INDIA

2012-01-12T19:22:00.002-05:00

The construction of 330 MegawattKishen Ganga Hydroelectric Power Project in North Kashmir district is facing apublic criticism as construction debris are being dumped in the forest area andthe open defecation by its laborers is polluting the water source. Also roadhas been damaged due to heavy vehicles.

6 January

http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Jan/6/hcc-pollutes-water-bodies-damaging-forests-in-bandipora-49.asp

BLACK NECKED STORK- INDIA

2012-01-12T19:18:00.002-05:00

GNU Free Documentation License Image

For the first time, Black neckedstork was spotted in a paddy field in Kashmir valley. Over the last decadethere has been a decline of 65% in the population of Black necked storks thatvisit India. Similarly, a first photographic evidence of Black necked crane hasbeen reported in Zemithang valley of Arunachal Pradesh.
2, 6 January
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Jan/2/rare-migratory-bird-spotted-in-pulwama-36.asp
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-05/guwahati/30592299_1_necked-cranes-bird-species

ALL IS NOT WELL WITH FOREST MINISTRY- NEPAL

2012-01-12T19:15:00.002-05:00

In a report given to Ministry offorest and soil conservation, Commission for the Investigation of the Abuse ofAuthority (CIAA) has underlined involvement of ministers, forest officers indeforestation and their nexus with timber smugglers. CIAA has also emphasized the need foreffective monitoring of community forests across the country. Similarly, fourassistant forest officers have been suspended for their involvement in rampantdeforestation in the five community forests in Kanchanpur and Dadeldhuradistricts.

5, 6 January

The Himalayan Times

COUNTRY’S FIRST CONSERVED FOREST- NEPAL

2012-01-12T19:12:00.001-05:00

Madane Forest, with an area of13,761 hectares spread in 11 Villages in Gulmi District, west Nepal, has beenregistered as the nation’s first conserved forest. The forest also includes alarge pasture area.

2 January

Kantipur

ENCROACHERS IN, FOREST OUT- NEPAL

2012-01-12T18:58:00.001-05:00

Around 75 hectare land of acommunity forest has been encroached in Baridya District, west Nepal. More than 800 shelters have been built in thename of landless and bonded laborers. No stern action has been taken againstencroachers as they are politically influenced.
2 January

Kantipur

WOMEN IN CONSERVATION- NEPAL

2012-01-12T18:56:00.005-05:00

Women have been patrolling theforest area spread over 896 hectare in chure range of Parsa Wildlife Reserve inMakwanpur District, central Nepal. It all started with 23 women two years agoafter rise in illegal felling of trees and poaching activity in the forestarea.
2 January
Kantipur

BIODIVERSITY CLASSES- OTTAWA, CANADA

2012-01-11T11:22:00.001-05:00

Module 2: Our Human Need for Biodiversity (2 hours) Saturday, January 14, 2012- 10:00 to noon at St-Laurent Academy (641Sladen Ave., Ottawa, Ontario)

Biodiversity is used in medical research and in ourfood industry. It is directly connected tothe purification of the air and water, decomposition of wastes, recycling ofnutrients, the pollination of crops, and the regulation of our climate. Many cultural services are to be consideredhere. Our global economy cannot functionwithout biodiversity.

We need more protected areas, not justoutside human cities, but inside as well. We need connections between protected spaces so species can move fromone area to the next. We need to learnhow to live with wildlife in our backyards.

The students will partake in variousactivities that connect seemingly unrelated everyday products to their biologicalsources. A 5 Kingdom picnic is included! Reserve your attendance at lmleveille@rogers.com

THE LONG HISTORY OF STUDYING NATURE AT THE MACOUN MARSH

2012-01-09T16:11:00.000-05:00

Cephas Guillet, Boys' School Activities, Ottawa (series), 1903/04, Gelatin silver prints, Bytown Museum, P3000b.

The Macoun Marsh Project was not the first nature initiative at this unique location. One hundred years ago a teacher from Cobourg, Ontario used Beechwood for nature studies with youth. Cephas Guillet (c.1865–1948) founded experimental schools in Ottawa and Washington, D.C, and blended educational principals from the sloyd system based on “the study of nature and human history,” and Tadd’s which emphasised design, memory, and ambidextrous skill. Mr. L.

IMAGES FROM MACOUN MARSH (OTTAWA, CANADA)

2012-01-06T15:43:00.000-05:00

Northern Cardinal

Chickadee

Junco

American Robin

PROTECT OUR ANIMALS!

2012-01-06T12:16:00.001-05:00

By Nyssa Haynes-Holder (Youth delegate from Barbados)

Galapagos a few Photos

2012-01-05T12:29:00.001-05:00

The Swallow-tailed gull has red rimmed eyes these rings help them see and fish at night

Yawning frigate bird chick

Male frigate bird with his gular sac inflated as a mating display

A shark swimming off the side of our boat

A blue footed booby with its chick

A yawning juvenile blue footed booby

Mr. Panamá

VILLAGERS ARRESTED FOR PROTESTING AGAINST TREE FELLING- PAKISTAN

2012-01-05T10:53:00.000-05:00

In a village in Peshawar, people were arrested for belching out against the forest authorities for cutting of trees in the forest area. The protesting villagers were demanding the district administration to stop felling of trees on commercial basis or include their village in the development projects. Those arrested have been booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
27 December

http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=84334&Cat=7&dt=12/27/2011

RESTORATION THROUGH AFFORESTATION- CHINA

2012-01-05T10:50:00.003-05:00

In an effort to increase the vegetation cover, an area of 1646.73 hectares in Dagze country has been afforestated. It includes key areas, complementary planting, shelter forests, hills and desert land.
28 December
http://eng.tibet.cn/2010hb/xw/003201112/t20111228_1421300.html

TOURIST GALORE IN TIBET

2012-01-05T10:49:00.000-05:00

Influx of tourists in Tibet continues to rise with 8.43 million tourists in the first 11 months of the year and revenue marked as 9.3 billion Yuan (US$ 1.5 billion). Number of visitors has increased by 27.7% compared to that of last year.
26 December
http://eng.tibet.cn/2010home/news/201112/t20111226_1406321.html

14 TIGERS CAUGHT ON CAMERA

2012-01-05T10:47:00.000-05:00

Fourteen tigers have been captured in the Manas, a trans-boundary conservation area straddling India and Bhutan. Of the 14 tigers, seven are male, six female while the gender of one has not been ascertained. Four tigers have been identified as “common”, meaning they were spotted in both countries.
27 December
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111228/jsp/northeast/story_14935178.jsp

TEA ESTATE PUTS ELEPHANT CORRIDOR AT STAKE- NEPAL

2012-01-05T10:46:00.000-05:00

Threat looms large on the elephant corridor located inside Neoli proposed reserve forest (PRF) following an allotment of 60 hectares of forest land to an organization by the government authorities. A tea garden along with crop plantations and construction activities has been established in the area. The corridor links Barnadi-Neoli-Khalingduar complex, and also connects Manas Tiger Reserve and Ripu-Chirang Elephant Reserve.
25 December
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=dec2611/at09

SOUVENIRS MADE FROM ELEPHANT DUNG- NEPAL

2012-01-05T10:43:00.003-05:00

As part of livelihood improvement program, a village in Chitwan District, central Nepal, has been producing diaries, envelopes, boxes and notepads by processing elephant dung. The dung is collected from the 43 private owned tuskers in Chitwan National park.
25 December

The Kathmandu Post

WOMEN BEHIND TIMBER SMUGGLING AND RHINO CONSERVATION- NEPAL

2012-01-05T10:42:00.001-05:00

In two separate incidents, women involvement in timber smuggling have been reported from a community forest in Hetauda District, central Nepal, and from Sukhlaphanta wildlife reserve, west Nepal. In contrast, to curb poaching of rhinos and smuggling of timber, women in Nawalparasi District, west Nepal, patrol the community forest area. The community forest is spread over 530 hectares and is home to 18 rhinos.
21, 23, 27 December
Nepal Samacharpatra, Gorkhapatra, Kantipur

Mysterious new sea creatures found in Antarctica

2012-01-04T23:17:00.002-05:00

Public Domain image form the United States National Science Foundation

Strange new species have been discribed from a dark and remote region of the Southern Ocean near hydrothermal vents. The temperatures here are up to 382 degrees Celsius. These creatures are found nowhere else on earth! Some of the creatures seen include a seven-pronged starfish, a pale coloured octopus, and a new form of yeti crab. Mike Leveille

Smugglers built the 11-km road for smuggling timber

2012-01-03T05:42:00.001-05:00

The Government of Nepal launched The Rs. 15 million worth President Chure Conservation Program with a view to conserving the Chure range and control deforestation in the area. The Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation designed the program but the government made delay in endorsing it and releasing the budget in time. It is now evident that all efforts at sustainable development of the Chure range have failed.
Wildlife officials, including director-general of the Forest Department Bajra Kishor Yadav, today visited Chure forests on the border of Kanchanpur and Dadeldhura districts in the wake of reports that deforestation has been going on unabated in the area.

During the inspection of the Baijanath community forest, Uddhav Bahadur Khadka, chairman of the forest, told the team that more than 55 Sal trees have been felled in the forest.

The inspecting team suspected that members of the community forest are hand in glove with timber smugglers. When the team was inspecting the illegal road connecting the Ganesh community forest in

Dadeldhura with the Bhairab community forest, about 200 locals of Jogbudha thronged to the forest in a bid to bar the team from inspecting the road. The locals claimed to have built the road to ease travel, though the Kanchanpur District Forest Office says smugglers have built the 11-km road for smuggling timber and other forest resources.

ECO & RESPONSIBLE SAFARIS IN RWANDA

2012-01-03T00:34:00.000-05:00

Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

Gorillas in Rwanda

Eco and responsible safaris are being offered in Rwanda that directly benefit the local community around the National Parks. Find out more at http://rwandaecotours.com/

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-01T23:58:00.000-05:00

From Biodiversitymatters.org

New species discovered in 2011

2011-12-31T18:14:00.006-05:00

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 France license

Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis)

Every year scientists describe thousands of species for the first time. 2011 was an amazing year. Here is a look at some of the significant new species discoveries for the year. A Xenophyophore is a one celled-organism the size of a mango, very big of this kind of thing! Some other species discovered include a “SpongeBob” mushroom in Borneo, a long-tongued bee, new mice in the Philippines, seabirds, several bats, a new monkey species and even a dolphin off the coast of Australia! Imagine discovering a species the size of a dolphin- what more do we not know!

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

“SpongeBob”mushroom in Borneo

(Spongiforma squarepantsii)

From NOAA's Ocean Explorer (Public Domain image)
A Xenophyophore- A one celled-organism the size of a mango!

Invitation for project submission for the Third International Youth Symposium for Biodiversity- India

2011-12-30T18:33:00.005-05:00

Image with the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

In October 2012, the Third International Youth Symposium for Biodiversity will be held in Auroville, Tamil Nadu, India. The purpose of the symposium is to welcome students from around the world, and to celebrate the local biodiversity work they are doing in their home countries. The Auroville symposium will take place prior to the 11^th Conference on Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity, which will be held in Hyderabad, India from October 8 – 19, 2012.

The Auroville Biodiversity Youth Symposium is open to students from around the world. In order to participate in this symposium, students are required to carry out a biodiversity study project in their respective home countries. In line with the key issues that will be discussed at the Conference in Hyderabad, student biodiversity proposals can be on any of the following themes:

1. Local biodiversity – Terrestrial or Aquatic

2. Biodiversity and Livelihoods
3. Role of cultural practices and tradition on biodiversity
4. Effect of non-indigenous species on local biodiversity
5. Cycle of cause and effect between human activity and biodiversity
6. Urban biodiversity

All biodiversity study projects should ideally incorporate the following elements:

1. Field work and/or practical data collection – please visit the website:
http://www.sprise.com/shs/habitatnet.aspx?id=5386 for help
2. Scientific/theoretical approach
3. Creativity and personal expression

Guidelines for participation

The overall guidelines for participation/submission of projects for the Auroville Biodiversity Youth Symposium are:
u Eligibility: students from Grades 8 to 12 (ages 14-19)
u The proposal should include:
u A 150-250 word abstract that includes information regarding the project and how it relates to conserving “Global Biodiversity”.
u How the project will be implemented (techniques to be used)
u General time line over 6 months
u The location of the project
u The email address of the project
u Proposals must include: names of students and ages, teachers/ leaders, schools or group name, and contact information (phone & email or postal address).
u The deadline for the submission of proposals is February 20th, 2012.

General Information:

1) Submissions by conventional mail or email are to be sent to:
Chali Grinnel, Symposium for Biodiversity Coordinator

Future School
Auroville 605101
Tamil Nadu
India
EMAIL: futureschool@auroville.org.in

2) All proposals will be reviewed by a panel of experts. Students will be notified of their acceptance to the symposium by March 10, 2012.

3) Information regarding any available funding to participate as well as logistics will be provided to all ACCEPTED proposals.

4). For QUESTIONS contact any of the coordinators at their emails below:

Chali Grinnel- chali@auroville.org.in

Erin Kenny- enkenny@hotmail.com

Once the applications have been processed, and the delegates determined for the symposium, team leaders will be asked to process their payments.

MY FAVOURITE NATURE PHOTOS OF 2011

2011-12-29T18:56:00.002-05:00

Here are my favourite images of 2011:

Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) NWT

Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) Ottawa, Ontario

STRANGE FRIENDS! Mouse and Treefrog- Ottawa, Ontario

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) Macoun Marsh- Ottawa, Canada

Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) Macoun Marsh- Ottawa, Canada

Meandering River (NWT)

Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) Macoun Marsh- Ottawa, Canada

Dandelion seedhead- Macoun Marsh- Ottawa, Canada

Dead man's fingers (Xylaria polymorpha) Macoun Marsh- Ottawa, Canada

Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) Macoun Marsh- Ottawa, Canada

Images by Michael Leveille

Biodiversitymatters.org

SMALLEST FROG YET DISCOVERED THE SIZE OF A TIC TAC!

2011-12-27T23:42:00.002-05:00

Creative commons Attribution 3:0 License

Paedophryne dekot—dekot means "very small" in the local Daga language—is about 8.5 to 9 millimeters long. It was found in a Papua New Guinea forest!

MORE MACOUN MARSH IMAGES FROM TODAY (OTTAWA, CANADA)

2011-12-26T21:12:00.000-05:00

American Goldfinch

Chickadee

Junco

MACOUN MARSH UPDATE (OTTAWA, CANADA)

2011-12-24T12:29:00.000-05:00

American Robin

Mustard plant is still green!

Hungry chickadees

DRY SPELL IRKS FARMERS- PAKISTAN

2011-12-23T11:35:00.000-05:00

Most of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa areas have not received rainfall putting wheat growers into misery. For the first time after 2002, the area is facing dry spell at this time of the year. If this persists for a couple of weeks, the farmers will have to incur huge financial loses. In 2010, wheat was cultivated on around 370,000 hectares in the arid area of the province
17 December
http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/17/dry-spell-worries-wheat-growers.html

PAYMENT FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES- BHUTAN

2011-12-23T11:33:00.000-05:00

In Bhutan’s first ever payment for environmental service (PES) scheme, a three-year contract has been signed between the Municipal Corporation Mongar town and the Yakpugang Community Forest Management Group. The community will preserve drinking water source and in return will get paid Nu 52,000 a year.

19 December

http://www.businessbhutan.bt/?p=8631

BLACK-NECKED CRANE- BHUTAN

2011-12-23T11:30:00.003-05:00

A black-necked crane was spotted in Kangpara for the first time. No sighting has been recorded in the area before.

15 December

http://www.rspnbhutan.org/news/black-necked-cranes-in-kangpara-trashigang

RHINO KILLED AND HORN SEIZED- INDIA

2011-12-23T11:29:00.002-05:00

A de-horned rhino carcass was found in Kaziranga National Park. It was shot dead two to three days ago according to park officials. In a separate incident, forest guards of have seized a rhino horn from a group of smugglers.
15, 20 December

bit.ly/rB9I9R, bit.ly/v0AauH

UP FOR GRABS- INDIA

2011-12-23T11:28:00.000-05:00

More than 900 ha of forests and wetland areas have been forcefully occupied by the land mafia in Guwahati and they are being sold to the corporate giants. For the past two years, Land grabbing has been going on unabatedly by the land mafias. Similarly, in Jammu construction business is booming up at the expense of agriculture land.
15, 17 December

bit.ly/vFWx3B, bit.ly/tuCMX9

ILLEGAL GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION- NEPAL

2011-12-23T11:27:00.002-05:00

In Kathmandu valley, around 700 million litres of ground water is extracted daily illegally. There are more than 500 drinking water supply companies involved in groundwater extraction and their activities are left unchecked by the authorities.
21 December

The Kathmandu Post

OF TUSKERS- NEPAL

2011-12-23T11:26:00.003-05:00

Government decision to allow the entry of private tuskers in Chitwan National Park has been withheld, a day before they were all set to move into the park, after the disagreement shown by the political parties. Meanwhile, an electric fence has been constructed in Shuklaphanta wildlife reserve in west Nepal to keep reserve elephants at bay from wild tuskers attack.

18, 20 December

Republica, The Himalayan Times

FIRST RENEWABLE ENERGY VILLAGE- NEPAL

2011-12-23T11:24:00.002-05:00

Mini wind-solar hybrid power system has been installed in Dhaubadi village of Nawalparasi District, west Nepal. With this, the village has been dubbed as the Asia's first 'renewable energy village'. The installed system generates 43.6 KWh per day and lights up 46 households.
16, 17 December

bit.ly/sXAMud

bit.ly/uD798R

NO MIGRATORY BIRDS THIS WINTER- NEPAL

2011-12-23T11:23:00.001-05:00

Winter is already here but there is no sign of migratory birds in Koshi Tappu wildlife reserve unlike previous years. Earlier, their arrival would start by late September. A large chunk of bird habitat was buried under heaps of sand after the flooding Koshi River breached its banks, earlier this year.
15 December
The Rising Nepal

Durrell celebrates 25 years conserving the ploughshare tortoise in Madagascar

2011-12-21T12:22:00.001-05:00

As 2011 comes to a close Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust is celebrating 25 successful years of saving species from extinction in Madagascar with the reintroduction into the wild of 20 captive-bred ploughshare tortoises, or angonoka, the world’s most threatened tortoise and the first species Durrell worked with in Madagascar.

Recently 20 tortoises were moved from the breeding centre at Ankarafantsika National Park to a secure site within their natural habitat in preparation for their release into the wild. The animals are marked and fitted with microchips and radio transmitters for close monitoring.

The tortoises’ arrival in their native land coincided with the annual Festival Angonoky on 24th and 25th November in Soalala, a two-day festival celebrating the communities’ commitment to conserving the ploughshare tortoise.

Image by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

Partnership forged between Japan Committee for the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

2011-12-20T20:07:00.000-05:00

Kanazawa, Japan, 20 December 2011– The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Japan Committee for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCNJ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a view to promoting greater awareness amongst civil society organisations in Japan and abroad and join forces for the successful implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Targets.

The MoU, which was signed in Kanazawa City, Japan, on 19 December 2011 at the margins of the official launch of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, was also endorsed by Communication, Education and Public Awareness Japan (CEPA Japan) and the Japan Civil Network for the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (JCN-UNDB).

The agreement highlights the crucial role civil society plays in implementing the Nagoya Biodiversity Compact, and contributes to the success of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity and the Aichi Targets. It also stresses the importance of working together with international partners in order to raise awareness of civil society and to better support conservation and biodiversity action at the local level. It must be noted that the very idea of a United Nations Decade on Biodiversity was generated by the Japan civil society.

Through the MoU, the signatories—Mr. Masahito Yoshida, Chair of IUCNJ, Mr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Mr. Masahiro Kawatei, Representative of CEPA Japan, and Mr. Susumu Takayama, Representative of JCN-UNDB—agreed to cooperate in several areas, including in the development and global dissemination of communication and outreach materials on biodiversity and in mobilizing the commitment of local government, private sector, youth, academia and civil society organizations through, inter alia, the Niju-maru campaign.

The Niju-maru is a campaign led by the Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement International, in close collaboration with CEPA Japan, which encourages commitment by Japan-based stakeholders to the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. “Commitment of all sectors is required in order to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Targets by 2020. I believe that the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the CBD Secretariat and Japan Committee for IUCN today will mobilize the participation of all sectors through outreach programme including the Niju-maru project and CEPA,” said Masahito Yoshida.

Ahmed Djoghlaf said: “The Japan Civil Network played a key role in supporting the designation by the United Nations General Assembly of 2011-2020 as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity. By reiterating their commitment today and by coordinating their efforts, IUCNJ and its partners are demonstrating the sincere will of civil society to take action to reach the goals set by the international community.”

Invitation for project submission for the Third International Youth Symposium for Biodiversity

2011-12-19T08:27:00.000-05:00

1. Local biodiversity – Terrestrial or Aquatic

2.      Biodiversity and Livelihoods
3.      Role of cultural practices and tradition on biodiversity
4.      Effect of non-indigenous species on local biodiversity
5.      Cycle of cause and effect between human activity and biodiversity
6.      Urban biodiversity

All biodiversity study projects should ideally incorporate the following elements:

Guidelines for participation

General Information:

1) Submissions by conventional mail or email are to be sent to:

Chali Grinnel, Symposium for Biodiversity Coordinator

Future School
Auroville 605101
Tamil Nadu
India
EMAIL: futureschool@auroville.org.in

2) All proposals will be reviewed by a panel of experts. Students will be notified of their acceptance to the symposium by March 10, 2012.

3) Information regarding any available funding to participate as well as logistics will be provided to all ACCEPTED proposals.

4). For QUESTIONS contact any of the coordinators at their emails below:

Chali Grinnel- chali@auroville.org.in

Erin Kenny- enkenny@hotmail.com

Once the applications have been processed, and the delegates determined for the symposium, team leaders will be asked to process their payments.

“Turn your back on Canada,” by 6 Canadian Youth in South Africa

2011-12-16T22:50:00.000-05:00

On Nov. 28, international climate-change negotiations began in Durban, South Africa, as the 17th annual Conference of Parties (COP17) got underway. This is the third in a series of blog posts from Amara Possian, who is the co-ordinator of the Canadian Youth Delegation to this conference. Today, Amara shares a letter signed in support of the actions taken by Canadian youth while Environment Minister Peter Kent addressed the United Nations conference on Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning, six young Canadians stood up during Environment Minister Peter Kent’s plenary address to the United Nations climate negotiations. The six Canadian youth stood silently and turned their back on Kent for several minutes, wearing shirts that read “People before Polluters” and “Turn your back on Canada,” before being escorted out by UN security.

A message from Mr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the CBD, on the occasion of the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation

2011-12-16T19:30:00.000-05:00

The global South comprises more than 70 per cent of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Developing countries face tremendous challenges in halting the loss of biodiversity and mitigating the risks of biodiversity losses. For the least developed countries, the landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and Africa in general, the requirements for capacity-development require not only North-South cooperation for sustainable development. South-South cooperation, as a complement to North-South cooperation, remains an important force for the successful preservation of biodiversity.

Hence, South-South cooperation is one of the key modalities for enhancing the implementation of this vital Convention at the service of the legitimate development needs of the developing countries Parties.

As developing and emerging countries consolidate their achievements in the implementation of the Convention, and as their capacity to assist other partners grows, the Convention needs South-South and triangular cooperation as cornerstones of its strategy to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. South-South cooperation should be encouraged, within the Convention, and in the broader context of scientific and technical cooperation, as defined by articles 16, 17 and 18 of the Convention. It can also be linked to biodiversity technology transfer and the discussions towards a Biodiversity Technology Initiative.

Last year in Nagoya, just prior to the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, a South-South Cooperation Forum on Biodiversity for Development was convened by the G-77 and China, adopting a Multi-Year Plan of Action for South-South Cooperation on Biodiversity for Development as a complement to the G-77 Development Platform for the South launched in June 2008 at the twelfth session of the Intergovernmental Follow-up and Coordination Committee on Economic Cooperation among Developing Countries in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire. Subsequently, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention adopted decision X/23, which encourages Parties and other Governments to further contribute to the development of the Plan and calls on regional organizations, United Nations and development agencies, non-governmental organizations and other donors to support the finalization of the Plan of Action for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its eleventh meeting, to be held in Hyderabad, India, in October next year.

In this sense, I also welcome the proactive support of the Government of the Republic of Korea, through its National Institute for Biological Resources (NIBR), hosting the Third Expert Meeting for South-South Cooperation on Biodiversity for Development from 18 to 20 May 2011 in Incheon City. The meeting’s output and recommendations will be considered at the next meeting of the Working Group on the Review of Implementation in May 2012 in Montreal, where Parties will also consider the Plan of Action proposed by the Group of 77 and China.

Since 2006, the Group of 77 and China have attached fundamental importance to cooperating with the Secretariat of the Convention in promoting economic and technical cooperation among developing countries through South-South initiatives. As Africa is poised to become the Chair of the Group of 77 for 2012, it is now up to Parties to the Convention to continue to work together to ensure that progress made to date in South-South cooperation can be advanced in the years to come in the arena of sustainable development. I look forward to an active support from Parties to the further development and eventual adoption of a Plan of Action on South-South Cooperation on Biodiversity for Development as a key component of the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. I also look forward to the organization of regular meetings of the South-South forum on biodiversity for development, in partnership with the Group of 77 and China, at the margins of future meetings of the Conference of the Parties to exchange experiences and best practices.

VILLAGES RUNNING DRY- BHUTAN

2011-12-16T16:09:00.003-05:00

Villages in Mongar district are reeling under water crisis for past one year. The only water source is drying up and farmers are giving up farming. New water supply scheme in the village is a far cry as the village is not entitled for another scheme for the next 10 years.
12 December
http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=22826

WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT SEEKS HUNTERS HELP- INDIA

2011-12-16T16:07:00.001-05:00

In Bandipora district of Kashmir, Department of wildlife has hired local hunters to ease human animal conflict. The department is ill equipped to capture animals and as a last resort they opted for hunters.
10 December

http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2011/Dec/10/ill-equipped-wildlife-deptt-hires-hunters-to-catch-animals-51.asp

DEVELOPMENT AT ANY COST- NEPAL

2011-12-16T16:06:00.002-05:00

Over a dozen community forest and several rhododendron forests have been obliterated while constructing a 28 km road in Terathum District, east Nepal. Similar incident has been reported from Kanchanpur District, west Nepal, where a 9 km track has been built in the community forest area by the users committee but with an intention of smuggling timber.

12, 14 December

Kantipur, The Rising Nepal

OF CEREALS AND MEDICINAL HERBS- NEPAL

2011-12-16T16:04:00.002-05:00

Last fiscal year, cereals worth NRS 5.3 billion was imported to Nepal from India and other parts of the world whereas medicinal herbs worth NRS 3 billion was exported. Compared to previous year, the numbers have sharply increased in both the cases.

8, 11 December

Nagrik, Republica

CHECK THIS OUT!

2011-12-13T23:39:00.000-05:00

Check this out- I really like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XQIxr4gRQM

Mike Leveille (Biodiversitymatters Director)

Recent sightings

2011-12-11T14:19:00.000-05:00

Praying mantis eggs

A nut chewed on by an agouti

Agouti chewing on nut or seed.

Mr. Panamá