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Disappearing seagrass threatening future of coastal ecosystems
Published Jul 3, 2009 - 7:43:24 AM
In the first study of its kind, Florida International University scientists, along with an international team of researchers, have discovered a troubling acceleration of seagrass loss across the globe, threatening the immediate health and long-term sustainability of coastal ecosystems.
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Climate change and the mystery of the shrinking sheep
Published Jul 3, 2009 - 7:27:40 AM
Milder winters are causing Scotland's wild breed of Soay sheep to get smaller, despite the evolutionary benefits of possessing a large body, according to new research due to be published in this week's Science Express (2 July).
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Permafrost melt poses major climate change threat
Published Jul 2, 2009 - 6:52:47 AM
New research shows that the amount of carbon stored in frozen soils at high latitudes is double previous estimates and could, if emitted as carbon dioxide and methane, lead to a significant increase in global temperatures by the end of this century.
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The environmental toll of plastics
Full story: Environmental Health News
Who wants to pay more for green electricity?
Published Jul 1, 2009 - 11:55:27 AM
A research report in the International Journal of Environment and Pollution suggests that individuals prefer to be involved in a collective contribution to green electricity that involve everyone paying more, rather than having individual higher bills.
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Green Electronics: Companies backtrack on toxics phase-out
Published Jul 1, 2009 - 8:20:45 AM
The latest edition of Greenpeace's 'Guide to Greener Electronics' (1) ranking, released today, reveals that the world's biggest PC makers -- Hewlett Packard (HP), Dell and Lenovo -- have failed to improve their low scores. All three maintain a penalty point for backtracking on their commitments to eliminate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from their products by the end of 2009. (2)
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US to forgive $30m debt to protect Sumatra's forests
Published Jul 1, 2009 - 6:00:32 AM
The U.S. Government will announce today that it will forgive nearly $30 million of debt payments owed by Indonesia in return for increased protection of Sumatra's forests, in a deal supported financially by and negotiated with the help of Conservation International.
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Warmer climate can direct flow of tourists northwards
Published Jun 30, 2009 - 4:07:36 PM
For over half a century, we Northern Europeans have been heading south for our holidays. A warmer climate may reverse the flow of tourists and encourage more Southern Europeans to head north. But how will future changes in climate affect tourism in Gothenburg? This is the subject of a new, European research project at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Peer pressure plays major role in environmental behavior
Published Jun 30, 2009 - 3:39:48 PM
People are more likely to enroll in conservation programs if their neighbors do -- a tendency that should be exploited when it comes to protecting the environment, according to results of a new study.
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Desert dust alters ecology of Colorado alpine meadows
Published Jun 30, 2009 - 2:42:43 PM
Accelerated snowmelt -- precipitated by desert dust blowing into the mountains -- changes how alpine plants respond to seasonal climate cues that regulate their life cycles, according to results of a new study reported this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). These results indicate that global warming may have a greater influence on plants' annual growth cycles than previously thought.
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NPCA Commends UNESCO Action to Protect Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park
Published Jun 29, 2009 - 7:35:41 AM
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee today affirmed the concerns described in an international petition submitted by 12 United States and Canadian conservation organizations, including the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). The organizations had asked the World Heritage Committee to list Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park as a World Heritage site "In Danger" due to proposed mining activities in headwaters of the British Columbian Flathead River Valley in Canada. The Flathead River flows through the Peace Park.
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UNESCO Votes to Send Mission to Investigate Threats to Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park on US-Canadian Border
Published Jun 27, 2009 - 8:39:06 AM
The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations voted today to promptly send a mission to Canada to investigate threats to Glacier National Park (Montana) and Waterton Lakes National Park (Alberta) posed by coal mining and gas drilling proposals in British Columbia's adjacent Flathead River Valley.
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Belize barrier reef and Los Katios park in danger
Published Jun 27, 2009 - 3:22:31 AM
The Belize Barrier Reef System and Los Katios National Park in Columbia are the two natural sites added to the List of World Heritage in Danger, following the advice of IUCN.
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Europe dodges the carbon pollution issue
Published Jun 26, 2009 - 6:41:52 AM
European environment ministers have sidestepped the key emissions reduction strategy of classifying carbon dioxide as a pollutant during consideration of new laws to limit industrial pollution. The move further questions Europe's claim to be a leader in climate action, with California requiring carbon pollution mitigation for the last two years and reclassification under consideration elsewhere.
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Bio-acoustic recorders could answer question: Do wind farms pose risks to migratory birds?
Published Jun 25, 2009 - 7:00:29 AM
Are wind turbines dangerous to migrating birds? Nobody really knows for sure because two-thirds of migrating bird species fly at night, making direct study of their habits and potential hazards a challenge, said Cornell researchers at the Cornell Workshop on Large-Scale Wind-Generated Power, June 13.
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Study finds DNA barcoding requires caution without closer examination
Published Jun 25, 2009 - 6:41:51 AM
The goal of DNA barcoding is to find a simple, cheap, and rapid DNA assay that can be converted to a readily accessible technical skill that bypasses the need to rely on highly trained taxonomic specialists for identifications of the world's biota. This is driven by a desire to open taxonomic identifications to all user groups and by the short supply of taxonomists that do not even exist in many groups. Although DNA barcoding is being rapidly accepted in the scientific literature and popular press, some scientists warn that we are being too hasty in wholeheartedly embracing this technique. Dr. David Spooner, a researcher with the USDA and an expert in the potato and tomato family (Solanaceae), offers just such a cautionary note against accepting this technique without closer examination in his recent article, "DNA Barcoding will Frequently Fail in Complicated Groups: An example in Wild Potatoes" in the June 2009 issue of the American Journal of Botany.
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The first global map of ammonia emissions measured from space
Published Jun 24, 2009 - 8:51:19 AM
The first complete map of global ammonia emissions has recently been achieved using to satellite data. It reveals an underestimation of some of the ammonia concentrations detected by current inventories, and identifies new hotspots.
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Disappearing dolphins clamour for attention at whale summit
Published Jun 24, 2009 - 7:42:12 AM
Small whales are disappearing from the world's oceans and waterways as they fall victim to fishing gear, pollution, and habitat loss - compounded by a lack of conservation measures such as those developed for great whales, according to a new WWF report.
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International Efforts Emphasize Migratory Bird Conservation and Environmental Education Activities
Published Jun 24, 2009 - 7:36:06 AM
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) actively collaborates with government and non-government partners across the Middle East to address natural resource management challenges. As Forest Service supported activities take root at the local level, this network of partners fosters the expansion and implementation of activities into multi-lateral initiatives across the Middle East. The USFS is focused on strengthening this network and building the capacity of non-governmental organizations, communities, and land managers to take part and engage in migratory bird conservation and environmental education activities.
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Cancer's a threat to wildlife, too
Published Jun 24, 2009 - 7:19:08 AM
While cancer touches the lives of many humans, it is also a major threat to wild animal populations as well, according to a recent study by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
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