http://www.enn.com/ http://www.enn.com/images/new_logo.gif http://www.enn.com/ Environmental News Network en-us http://enn.com/news/feeds/ewire.xml http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2360 A Penn State collaborative in Philadelphia is helping Latino childcare providers understand pest management issues in their childcare programs and implement integrated pest management (IPM) approaches. A Penn State collaborative in Philadelphia is helping Latino childcare providers understand pest management issues in their childcare programs and implement integrated pest management (IPM) approaches. The goal of the project is to more effectively control pests and reduce the risks of pest and pesticide exposures to young children. Funded in part by a Northeastern IPM Center mini-grant to The Preschool Project in Philadelphia, the project relies heavily on developing targeted training materials about IPM in Spanish. IPM is a safe, effective, and scientific approach to managing pests. IPM uses knowledge of pests’ habits and needs to help implement pest prevention tactics as a first line of defense. Pesticides are used as a last resort, and only pesticide products that pose the least-toxic, least risk of exposure to building occupants are chosen. According to Lyn Garling, project partner and manager of programs for the Pennsylvania IPM program, the Spanish-speaking population in the United States is growing by 12 percent per year. “In Philadelphia, this trend also holds true. The Mexican community in particular is growing rapidly and the population is proportionally young, with many children living in substandard housing conditions in low-income households.” Garling says these types of living conditions are conducive to high pest infestations and Latino children are generally at higher risk for pest and pesticide related health problems. “Asthma can be caused or aggravated by pests and pesticides, with young children under five being the most at-risk. As in many cities, asthma incidence data for Philadelphia show that the Hispanic community suffers the highest rate of asthma of any group. Despite this, very few IPM resources and outreach efforts have been developed for Spanish-speaking urban populations.” PA IPM’s Philadelphia School and Community IPM Partnership (PSCIP) is helping to change that by building upon the IPM outreach efforts of the Penn State Philadelphia Outreach Center. By partnering with The Preschool Project in Philadelphia, the group is spreading the IPM message to Latino families through daycares in targeted Philadelphia neighborhoods. With the help of bilingual consultant Cynthia Kreilick, The Preschool Project and PSCIP have developed four IPM training modules in English and Spanish for community educators and childcare providers serving the Latino community. By developing culturally-appropriate outreach materials to reach the wider community, Kreilick says they will be able to increase the capacity of early care educators and caregivers to implement and teach about IPM and safe pesticide practices. “Topics of the modules include children’s health and pest issues, pesticides and alternatives, developing an IPM program for childcare facilities, and how to create a safe pest free environment,” Kreilick explains. PSCIP has conducted several training sessions for childcare providers, covering much of the material contained in the modules. For more information on PSCIP, including meeting minutes, partners in the initiative, and current and future activities, visit Web site http://www.pscip.org/. Or, you may contact Michelle Niedermeier at the Penn State Philadelphia Outreach Center, phone (215) 471-2200, ext. 109, or e-mail mxn14@psu.edu. The Northeastern Integrated Pest Management Center fosters the development and adoption of IPM, a science-based approach to managing pests in ways that generate economic, environmental, and human health benefits. The Center works in partnership with stakeholders from agricultural, urban, and rural settings to identify and address regional priorities for research, education, and outreach. For more information, visit http://NortheastIPM.org. If you’d like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Kristie Auman-Bauer, call 814-865-2839 or e-mail kma147@psu.edu. Contact Info: Kristie Auman-Bauer, call 814-865-2839 e-mail kma147@psu.edu. Website : The Northeastern Integrated Pest Management Center Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:00:01 EST http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2360 Kristie Auman-Bauer, call 814-865-2839 e-mail kma147@psu.edu. NortheastIPM.org. The PA Integrated Pest Management Program(IPM) 1 92 Philidelphia http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2359 When considering what to give family and friends this holiday season, consider gifts that give back to everyone's favorite family member: Mother Nature. Rainforest Alliance and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified foods and forest products help conserve biodiversity by curbing deforestation and protecting the soil and waterways on which animals depend. When considering what to give family and friends this holiday season, consider gifts that give back to everyone's favorite family member: Mother Nature. Rainforest Alliance and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified foods and forest products help conserve biodiversity by curbing deforestation and protecting the soil and waterways on which animals depend. They also promote sustainable livelihoods around the globe, including access to potable water, proper housing, health care and education. Forest-Friendly Music For those looking to give gifts that rock, Gibson (www.gibson.com ) and Martin Guitar (www.martinguitar.com) create beautiful instruments made with FSC-certified wood. Savvy musicians who care about the environment can strum easily knowing their guitar was made from trees harvested in ways that protect both the land and its people. Also consider CDs with covers printed on Domtar EarthChoice paper like Neil Young's Prairie Wind, Jack Johnson's Sleep through the Static and the Barenaked Ladies' Barenaked Ladies Are Me. Seasons Greetings from Sustainably Managed Forests Send your warmest holiday wishes with FSC-certified Faux Wood Holiday Cards from Night Owl Paper Goods (www.nightowlpapergoods.com). If you prefer sending a family newsletter to loved ones, be sure to have it printed on FSC-certified paper, which you can buy online at Staples (www.staples.com - search for "FSC"). Lip-Smacking Holiday Treats Tasty stocking-stuffers and thank you gifts can help to conserve forests, safeguard wildlife habitat and protect soil and waterways. Coffee roasters including Caribou Coffee (www.cariboucoffee.com), Gloria Jean's Coffees (www.gloriajeans.com ) and Kraft's Yuban brand (www.yuban.com ) all offer Rainforest Alliance Certified blends. For those with a sweet tooth, Plantations Arriba (www.echocolates.com ) sources their cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms in Ecuador. If you're bringing a gift to a dinner party, look for wine from WillametteValley Vineyards (www.wvv.com ), sealed with stoppers from FSC-certified cork oak forests. Gifts to a Worthy Cause Rather than giving another fancy pen or holiday sweater, consider making a donation to Adopt-A-Rainforest (www.rainforest-alliance.org/aar) to support conservation programs run by the Rainforest Alliance's partner organizations in Latin America. Donors can either donate to a specific conservation project in Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras or Nicaragua or they can ask the Rainforest Alliance to choose an organization that is particularly in need of funding. People can give to Adopt-A-Rainforest on behalf of loved ones, for weddings or birthdays, or as part of school fundraising projects. If You're Heading out of Town When traveling during the holidays, choose a sustainable hotel or tour operator. Support tourism businesses that are working with the Rainforest Alliance to mitigate their effects on the land and local people and provide staff with proper wages, health care and more. Visit the Eco-Index of Sustainable Tourism (www.eco-index.org/tourism) to search for businesses that are making a difference. The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org. Contact Info: Abby Ray, 646-452-1939, aray@ra.org Website : Rainforest Alliance Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:00:01 EST http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2359 Abby Ray, 646-452-1939, aray@ra.org www.rainforest-alliance.org/ Rainforest Alliance 1 86 New York http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2358 summary body Contact Info: contact Website : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:00:01 EST http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2358 contact source 1 77 test http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2357 UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The approaching cooler weather means fall is just around the corner, but it can also herald in unwanted pests looking for a warm place to overwinter. UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The approaching cooler weather means fall is just around the corner, but it can also herald in unwanted pests looking for a warm place to overwinter. One pest that is invading homes and other buildings in the northeast at an increasing rate is the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB). Long a pest in its native Asia, BMSB is an invasive agricultural pest of stone fruit, especially peaches, as well as many other plant species. It was first detected in North America in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 2001. The insect is also considered a nuisance pest, especially in the fall, when adult BMSB enter homes looking for a place to over winter. A new project funded by the Northeastern IPM Center will try to determine if mass pheromone trapping is a viable management tactic. According to George Hamilton, professor of entomology at Rutgers University and project coordinator, currently there are no adequate pest management alternatives to prevent overwintering adults from entering buildings, resulting in illegal use of bug bombs and other insecticides, which can be dangerous. The traps Hamilton will be using contain pheromones, which are chemicals produced by insects to communicate with other individuals of their species. Pheromone traps are often used by growers to determine the status of pest populations in the field. Trapping insect pests can be one component of an integrated pest management (IPM) plan. IPM aims to manage pests -- such as insects, diseases, weeds and animals -- by combining physical, biological and chemical tactics that are safe, profitable and environmentally compatible. The project, which is just beginning this fall, will take place in an industrial park in New Jersey. Researchers will evaluate tenants’ awareness and concerns, as well as the effectiveness of pheromone traps in an industrial park setting and tenant satisfaction. According to Hamilton, BMSB adults emerge in spring, and then mate and lay eggs from June to August. “BMSB grows to adulthood during July and August with the adults searching for overwintering sites in September until the first frost, often in homes and other human structures.” During the winter, BMSB do not reproduce, and feeding, if any occurs, is minimal. They are plant feeders and will not bite people or pets. The best way to control BMSB is to prevent them from entering the structure. “Place screens over windows, doors and vents, remove window air conditioners and caulk cracks around windows and doorframes,” says Hamilton. “Removing window air conditioners is important, as numerous BMSB will enter this way. Remove any BMSB you find indoors either by hand or by using a vacuum. Be sure to empty the vacuum or remove the bag after using.” For more information about BMSB and its control or to report a sighting, go to web site http://njaes.rutgers.edu/stinkbug/. You can also download a Northeastern IPM Center Regional Pest Alert on BMSB at http://www.hgic.umd.edu/_media/documents/publications/Stink_Bug_Pest_Alert.pdf. For more information about pheromone trapping, contact Hamilton at (732) 932-9774 or email at hamilton@NJAES.rutgers.edu. The Northeastern Integrated Pest Management Center fosters the development and adoption of IPM, a science-based approach to managing pests in ways that generate economic, environmental, and human health benefits. The Center works in partnership with stakeholders from agricultural, urban, and rural settings to identify and address regional priorities for research, education, and outreach. For more information, visit http://NortheastIPM.org. ### If you’d like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Kristie Auman-Bauer, call 814-865-2839 or e-mail kma147@psu.edu. Contact Info: Kristie Auman-Bauer Tel. 814-865-2839 E-mail : kma147@psu.edu Website : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:00:01 EST http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2357 Kristie Auman-Bauer Tel. 814-865-2839 E-mail : kma147@psu.edu Kristie Auman-Bauer 1 92 UNIVERSITY PARK http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2356 OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Greenpeace have reached a partial settlement with the federal government of the conservation groups’ lawsuit that seeks to strengthen protections for the polar bear under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and other laws. The agreement, filed today in federal court, sets deadlines for the Secretary of the Interior to designate “critical habitat” for the polar bear , as well as to issue guidelines on non-lethal strategies to deal with bears that pose a threat to public safety under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. OAKLAND, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Greenpeace have reached a partial settlement with the federal government of the conservation groups’ lawsuit that seeks to strengthen protections for the polar bear under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and other laws. The agreement, filed today in federal court, sets deadlines for the Secretary of the Interior to designate “critical habitat” for the polar bear , as well as to issue guidelines on non-lethal strategies to deal with bears that pose a threat to public safety under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. “If polar bears are to survive in a rapidly melting Arctic, we must protect their critical habitat, as well as protect individual bears stranded on land. This agreement sets us on the path to doing both,” said Kassie Siegel, climate program director at the Center for Biological Diversity and lead author of the 2005 petition seeking the Endangered Species Act listing. Under the Endangered Species Act, critical habitat is supposed to be designated at the same time a species is listed as threatened or endangered. Once designated, federal agencies are prohibited from taking any actions that may “adversely modify” critical habitat in a way that could interfere with the species’ recovery. Species for which critical habitat has been designated have been found to be more than twice as likely to recover, and less than half as likely to decline, than those without. Today’s agreement sets a deadline of June 30, 2010 for a final rule designating critical habitat for the polar bear. A proposed critical habitat rule will be issued next year, and will be subject to public comment and public hearings. “The designation of critical habitat is one of the most powerful and important protections that the Endangered Species Act offers to animals and plants on the brink of extinction,” said Andrew Wetzler, director of Natural Resource Defense Council's Endangered Species Project. “Designation of critical habitat for the polar bear is an essential step towards saving this increasingly imperiled species.” Today’s settlement also resolves the conservation groups’ claim that the Secretary of the Interior violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act by failing to issue guidelines for the non-lethal deterrence of polar bears that pose a threat to public safety. The agreement requires the Secretary to finalize such guidelines by March 31, 2010. As with the critical habitat rule, the guidelines will be preceded by a proposed rule next year, along with public comment and public hearings. “As the ice retreats further from shore and more polar bears are stranded on land, the number of human/bear interactions is increasing. We need guidelines that protect both people and bears,” said Melanie Duchin, Greenpeace global warming campaigner in Alaska. The settlement does not address the conservation groups’ claims that the Secretary of the Interior violated the Endangered Species Act by listing the polar bear as “threatened” rather than “endangered” and by issuing a special rule exempting the bear from many of the protections otherwise provided by the Act. That case is continuing and will be heard early next year in federal district court in Oakland, Calif. In addition to the conservation groups’ lawsuit seeking additional protection for the polar bear, five separate lawsuits have been filed in Washington, D.C., by the State of Alaska and various industry groups seeking to overturn protections for the species. Contact Info: Kassie Siegel, Center for Biological Diversity, cell: (951) 961-7972, ksiegel@biologicaldiversity.org Josh Mogerman, Natural Resources Defense Council, cell: (773) 853-5384; office: (312) 780-7424, jmogerman@nrdc.org Mike Crocker, Greenpeace, office: (202) 319-2471; cell: (202) 215-8989, michael.crocker@greenpeace.org Website : Center for Biological Diversity Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:00:01 EST http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2356 Kassie Siegel, Center for Biological Diversity, cell: (951) 961-7972, ksiegel@biologicaldiversity.org Josh Mogerman, Natural Resources Defense Council, cell: (773) 853-5384; office: (312) 780-7424, jmogerman@nrdc.org Mike Crocker, Greenpeace, office: (202) 319-2471; cell: (202) 215-8989, michael.crocker@greenpeace.org biologicaldiversity.org Center for Biological Diversity 1 58 OAKLAND http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2355 SAN FRANCISCO — The federal government today will publish its finding outlining its intention to consider designating areas in the main Hawaiian Islands as critical habitat for endangered Hawaiian monk seals. The finding, to be published in the Federal Register, comes in response to a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance, and Ocean Conservancy. The petition seeks to have beaches and surrounding waters on the main Hawaiian Islands protected as critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act for Hawaiian monk seals to help one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world avoid extinction SAN FRANCISCO — The federal government today will publish its finding outlining its intention to consider designating areas in the main Hawaiian Islands as critical habitat for endangered Hawaiian monk seals. The finding, to be published in the Federal Register, comes in response to a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance, and Ocean Conservancy. The petition seeks to have beaches and surrounding waters on the main Hawaiian Islands protected as critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act for Hawaiian monk seals to help one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world avoid extinction. The monk seal currently has critical habitat designated only in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, a chain of small islands and atolls northwest of the main islands. In that northwestern area, monk seals are dying of starvation and populations of monk seals are plummeting. Seal pups have only about a one-in-five chance of surviving to adulthood. Other threats include becoming entangled and drowning in abandoned fishing gear, shark predation, and disease. In contrast, monk seals in the main Hawaiian Islands are thriving and giving birth to healthy pups. Hawaiian monk seals are present on each of the main islands, and their numbers are steadily increasing. Thus, the main islands are becoming important habitat for the monk seals. “This government finding that it will consider designating critical habitat for monk seals in the main Hawaiian Islands marks an important step toward preventing the extinction of the Hawaiian monk seal,” said Miyoko Sakashita, a staff attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity and author of the petition. “Habitat in the main Hawaiian Islands is essential for the survival of the imperiled monk seals.” Habitat in the main islands will also provide a refuge for monk seals as sea-level rise floods the low-lying Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Global warming is an overarching threat to the Hawaiian monk seal and its habitat. Already, important beaches where seal pups are born and raised have been lost due to sea-level rise and erosion. “We have already seen the extinction of the Caribbean monk seal – a relative of the Hawaiian monk seal. The threat is real and we must act now,” said Vicki Cornish, vice president of marine wildlife conservation at Ocean Conservancy. “We are greatly encouraged by this consideration to extend critical habitat designation in the main Hawaiian Islands. It is a necessary step in making sure Hawaiian monk seals do not suffer the same fate as their relatives.” Critical habitat designation will mean greater protection of Hawaiian monk seal habitat under the Endangered Species Act. Once designated, any federal activities that may affect the critical habitat must undergo review to ensure that those activities do not harm the Hawaiian monk seal or its habitat. Recent studies have shown that species with critical habitat are twice as likely to recover as species without it. "What happens in the coming few years will determine the survival of this species,” said Marti Townsend, Program Director of KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance. “We cannot afford the extinction of a creature so sacred in Hawaiian culture and endemic to these islands. And we cannot expect to save this species without engaging in the hard task of meaningfully protecting habitat." The Endangered Species Act requires that the government launch a detailed review on the habitat needs of the monk seal and, if warranted, propose a new critical habitat designation by the summer of 2009. The government will accept public comments on the issue for 60 days. A copy of the original petition is available at < a href="http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/">www.biologicaldiversity.org. Contact Info: Miyoko Sakashita, Center for Biological Diversity, (510) 845-6703 Kelly Ricaurte, Ocean Conservancy, (202) 351-0482 Marti Townsend, KAHEA, (808) 372-1314 Website : Center for Biological Diversity Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:00:01 EST http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2355 Miyoko Sakashita, Center for Biological Diversity, (510) 845-6703 Kelly Ricaurte, Ocean Conservancy, (202) 351-0482 Marti Townsend, KAHEA, (808) 372-1314 www.biologicaldiversity.org Miyoko Sakashita, Center for Biological Diversity 1 58 SAN FRANCISCO http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2354 GLOBE-Net - September 26, 2008 - Offshoring - The Wal-Mart effect - Corporate Responsibility - These are some of the drivers behind the trend line towards more green and sustainable purchasing. GLOBE-Net - September 26, 2008 - Offshoring - The Wal-Mart effect - Corporate Responsibility - These are some of the drivers behind the trend line towards more green and sustainable purchasing. More and more organizations are adopting Corporate Responsibility (CR) commitments to integrate environmental, ethical, and social factors in their business strategies, operations, products and services, and in how they relate to their suppliers. The Sustainability Purchasing Network in British Columbia recently published a study on trends and drivers of sustainability purchasing, noting the tendency for firms to adopt sustainable purchasing policies on the heels of adopting sustainability commitments. The study also identified the ripple effect of large purchasers like Wal-Mart, which uses its marketplace influence to persuade its 60,000 suppliers to use less energy and reduce product packaging. Another trend raising the ire of activists concerned about sweatshop conditions overseas is offshoring, which arises from the globalization of the supply chain. In theirGuide to the Business Case and Benefits of Sustainability Purchasing the Sustainability Purchasing Network compiled a number of financial and management benefits to organizations that adopt sustainable purchasing practices. The financial and management benefits include: Cost reductions in material and utility expenditures, waste disposal, health and safety costs, and legal and insurance costs; Attracts customers and helps meet their expectations for sustainably produced goods; Simplifies compliance with environmental, health and safety regulations, and reporting; Improves access to capital; Helps suppliers better understand purchaser needs and promotes product innovation; and Helps attract and retain talent and improve employee productivity. Integrating social and ethical criteria into the purchasing decision can generate benefits such as better wage levels, working conditions, human rights, and health and safety. It can also support vulnerable groups and provide community services, promote a strong local economy and economic opportunity for indigenous people, and improve conditions in the developing world. It’s not just companies that are following this approach. Vancouver’s Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) has adopted a program they call "Buy Smart," which includes goals to: Increase their social, ethical, and environmental performance; Support the growth of Aboriginal and minority-owned businesses and the sustainable enterprise sector; Increase jobs for socially and economically disadvantaged groups; Build higher performance venues and operations to support an excellent Games; Support the local and provincial economy; Increase sustainability purchasing leading to innovation, trade, and investment in the sustainability sector; and Create a best practice model for sustainable purchasing. Lest one think the fascination with sustainable purchasing is going away any time soon, a recent TerraChoice report, EcoMarkets 2008 Summary Report, says otherwise. They surveyed over $78 billion of purchasing power in Canada and the U.S. and found that 68% of North American organizations increased their green purchasing in the past 12 months. They also note 91% of purchasers believe they will become more active green purchasers over the next two years. More retailers are jumping on the bandwagon of ethical sourcing. An AT Kearney 2007 report revealed that over half of U.S. Fortune 100 corporations are addressing the social aspects of their supply chains, with 54% tracing metrics on supplier labour practices and 32% tracking metrics on supplier wages. Most purchasers find the real value of sustainability purchasing lies in supplier engagement. Purchaser-supplier collaborations are a gold mine of product and service innovation, improved social and environmental conditions, and long-term economic benefits for both parties. Firms that overlook the strategic opportunity of engaging their suppliers in their quest to serve new markets, satisfy growing government regulations, manage diminishing resources, and build their corporate reputations are missing a key business opportunity. By Coro Strandberg Coro Strandberg is an Advisor with the Sustainability Purchasing Network (http://www.buysmartbc.com/) Contact Info: Coro Strandberg Website : GLOBE-Net Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:00:01 EST http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2354 Coro Strandberg www.globe-net.com/ GLOBE-Net 2 106 Vancouver http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2353 PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed five separate lawsuits concerning Bush Administration political interference in designation of critical habitat for six western species, including the western snowy plover, California tiger salamander, southwestern willow flycatcher, Buena Vista Lake shrew and two California plants. The lawsuits represent the latest action in a campaign by the Center to reverse politically tainted decisions concerning dozens of endangered species. PORTLAND, Ore.— The Center for Biological Diversity today filed five separate lawsuits concerning Bush Administration political interference in designation of critical habitat for six western species, including the western snowy plover, California tiger salamander, southwestern willow flycatcher, Buena Vista Lake shrew and two California plants. The lawsuits represent the latest action in a campaign by the Center to reverse politically tainted decisions concerning dozens of endangered species. The campaign was initiated August 28, 2007 with the filing of a notice of intent to sue over decisions involving 55 endangered species in 28 states and 8.7 million acres of critical habitat. "The Bush administration has the worst record protecting endangered species of any administration since passage of the landmark Endangered Species Act," said Noah Greenwald, science director for the Center for Biological Diversity. "In the case of these six species, the administration’s malfeasance resulted in the removal of protection for over 300,000 acres of habitat in seven western states." For each of the six species, the Bush administration engineered drastic reductions in critical habitat. These reductions involved excluding large areas from critical habitat that were identified as "essential" to the survival or recovery of endangered species by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientists. In the case of the California tiger salamander, for example, the administration excluded all of the 74,223 acres of critical habitat identified by agency scientists in Sonoma County, Calif. Cuts for the other species ranged from 23 percent to 100 percent of total acres identified by scientists as essential. "The Bush administration has demonstrated a total disregard for the scientific conclusions of the government’s own scientists," Greenwald said. "This disregard places these six species and numerous others at risk of extinction." The Bush administration’s mismanagement of the Endangered Species Act has come under increasing fire with investigations by the Government Accounting Office, House Natural Resources Committee and the Department of Interior’s own Inspector General. That has resulted in the resignation of high level officials including Julie MacDonald, former deputy assistant secretary of interior. Taken together, these investigations paint a picture of an administration that places the economic interests of industry-backed campaign contributors over the survival of the nation’s wildlife. "The next administration is going to have their work cut out for them to correct the problems with endangered species management created by this administration," Greenwald said. "The endangered species program needs a complete overhaul." Indeed, the next administration will be left with a legacy of 281 candidate species that are recognized as warranting protection, but have yet to be provided protection; a slew of critical habitat designations that the courts have found to be not scientifically based and therefore illegal; and an embattled U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whose scientists feel like they can’t do their jobs. Correcting these problems will require increased funding for the endangered species program, a schedule for providing protection to all candidate species in the next five years, revision of all critical habitat designations in which political interference limited protections, and policies that protect the agency’s scientists from political interference. The Center’s efforts to reverse politically tainted decisions has already met with substantial success. In response to Center lawsuits, the Fish and Wildlife Service agreed to redo critical habitat designations for 15 species, including the California red-legged frog, arroyo toad, vermillion darter, Mississippi gopher frog, four New Mexico invertebrates, and seven plants from California, Oregon, and North Carolina. The newly proposed critical habitat designation for the California red-legged frog alone totals approximately 1.8 million acres — quadruple the area previously protected. In addition, the Service has agreed to reconsider listing the rare, highly imperiled Mexican garter snake as an endangered species. Learn more about the Center's Litigating Political Corruption Campaign. Background on the species Buena Vista Lake shrew: At the time of listing in 2002, the Buena Vista Lake shrew was known to occupy only four locations in Kern County, Calif., but has since been documented at two additional locations. The shrew’s historic range, the Tulare Basin in the southern Joaquin Valley, once supported three large lakes — interconnected by hundreds of square miles of tule marshes and other permanent and seasonal lakes, wetlands and sloughs, but is now one of the most altered landscapes in North America, with most of the lakes and marshes having been drained and cultivated. This has led to the severe endangerment of the shrew. Critical habitat was reduced by 98 percent, from 4,565 to 84 acres. California tiger salamander (Sonoma County population): The California tiger salamander is an amphibian native to California that was historically distributed throughout most of the Central Valley, adjacent foothills, and the Coast Ranges. The Sonoma County distinct population segment of the salamander occurs only in the Santa Rosa Plain in Sonoma County, in a 6-mile-long-by-4-mile-wide band of habitat that extends roughly from Santa Rosa to Petaluma on the Route 101 corridor. Critical habitat for the Sonoma population was eliminated – from more than 74,000 acres to zero. Munz’s onion: The perennial herb Munz’s onion grows only in the western part of Riverside County, Calif., in open grasslands, coastal scrub, and juniper woodlands. It was listed as an endangered species in 1998 due to habitat loss and degradation caused by clay mining, and it continues to be threatened by increased urbanization, off-road vehicles, competition with nonnative species and other factors. Critical habitat was cut by 23 percent, from 227 to 176 acres. More importantly, however, critical habitat excludes 14 0f 15 population sites of the species and over 1,244 acres of essential habitat, based on unspecified protections provided by a habitat conservation plan developed by western Riverside County. San Jacinto Valley crownscale: The crownscale is restricted to seasonal wetlands, including floodplains and vernal pools and is threatened by habitat destruction from urban sprawl, ORVs, livestock grazing and other factors. The crownscale was listed as an endangered species in 1998. Critical habitat for the crownscale was eliminated – from 3,845 acres to zero. Southwestern willow flycatcher: The flycatcher is a small, neotropical migrant bird that formerly bred in streamside forests of southern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas and extreme northwestern Mexico. Within this range, the flycatcher has lost more than 90 percent of its habitat to dams, water withdrawal, livestock grazing, urban sprawl and other factors. It was listed as an endangered species in 1995. Critical habitat was reduced by 68 percent, from 376,095 acres to 120,824 acres. For this species, the Center is represented by Geoff Hickox of the Western Environmental Law Center. Western snowy plover (Pacific Coast population): The Pacific coast population of the western snowy plover was listed as a threatened species in 1993 because of habitat loss and degradation caused by urban sprawl and other factors and widespread and frequent disturbance of nesting sites by off-road vehicles. At the time of listing, snowy plover breeding sites were reduced by 62 percent in California (from 53 sites to 20), with greatest losses of sites in southern California; by 79 percent in Oregon, to only six breeding sites; and by 60 percent in Washington, to only 2 sites. In 2005, the Bush administration reduced critical habitat by 30 percent, from 17,299 acres to 12,145 acres, allowing off-road vehicles to threaten plover nesting and feeding areas in central California and Oregon and abandoning key areas crucial for recovery. Contact Info: Noah Greenwald, Center for Biological Diversity (503) 484-7495 Website : Center for Biological Diversity Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:00:01 EST http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2353 Noah Greenwald, Center for Biological Diversity (503) 484-7495 www.biologicaldiversity.org/index.html Center for Biological Diversity 1 91 Portland http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2352 WASHINGTON— The U.S. Department of the Interior on Tuesday announced that it would propose adding 48 species found only in Hawaii to the federal endangered species list. The Bush administration has established the worst track record of any administration for listing endangered and threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, so this action is long overdue. WASHINGTON— The U.S. Department of the Interior on Tuesday announced that it would propose adding 48 species found only in Hawaii to the federal endangered species list. The Bush administration has established the worst track record of any administration for listing endangered and threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, so this action is long overdue. Most if not all of these species have been the subject of listing petitions and ongoing litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity to force the Administration to protect hundreds of species that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service previously had determined warranted protection under the Endangered Species Act. In 2004, the Center petitioned the Interior Department to add 225 species to the list of endangered and threatened species that the department itself had already found warranted protection under the Endangered Species Act. Of these, 79 percent had been officially recognized as candidates for listing for at least 10 years. “While we welcome this action to protect these incredibly rare and imperiled species, in no way does it make up for the Administration’s abysmal track-record of listing and protecting endangered and threatened species,” said Mike Senatore, the Center’s Biodiversity Program director and senior counsel. “This action also does nothing for the hundreds of additional species that have languished for years awaiting protection under the Endangered Species Act. In fact, the proposal even falls short of the Interior Department’s announcement earlier this year that it would propose adding 71 species to the list of endangered and threatened species.” In announcing this action, Interior Department officials claimed that the agency was using a “newly developed, ecosystem-based approach to species conservation.” But it was the Clinton administration that developed and implemented an ecosystem-based approach to species conservation – an approach that the Bush administration all but disregarded. Contact Info: Mike Senatore, (301) 466-0774 Website : Center for Biological Diversity Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:00:01 EST http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2352 Mike Senatore, (301) 466-0774 www.biologicaldiversity.org/ Center for Biological Diversity 1 226 WASHINGTON http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2351 PORTLAND, OR., October 1, 2008 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- Meeting Strategies Worldwide announces the launch of its latest website tool, “Best Places to MeetGreen&reg;.” The website provides two innovative resources, the Best Places to MeetGreen&reg; Scorecard and Calculator, for helping meeting and event planners to select the best green destination for their group. The site is free to use and is located at http://www.bestplacestomeetgreen.com. PORTLAND, OR., October 1, 2008 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- Meeting Strategies Worldwide announces the launch of its latest website tool, “Best Places to MeetGreen&reg;.” The website provides two innovative resources, the Best Places to MeetGreen&reg; Scorecard and Calculator, for helping meeting and event planners to select the best green destination for their group. The site is free to use and is located at http://www.bestplacestomeetgreen.com. The Scorecard feature ranks cities according to the green programs implemented by the destination’s convention and visitor’s bureau, convention center and hotels in the city’s conference package. The practices are third-party verified by Meeting Strategies Worldwide and entered into a scoring rubric for each of the areas listed above. Visitors to the site may sort cities by total score, city name and city size. Listings for each city include their respective section and total green scores, brief descriptions of the city and its green practices, as well as URL and contact information. Cities interested in becoming verified should contact Meeting Strategies Worldwide at operations@meetingstrategiesworldwide.com. The Calculator feature allows visitors to evaluate which potential destinations have lower estimated emissions footprints relative to their attendee travel. Visitors enter how many attendees they have from each region around the world, and then select destinations where they are interested in holding their event. The Calculator provides a report comparing the attendee travel footprint for each of the cities they are considering. “This tool is the first of its kind offering easy-to-use information about sustainability practices and destination selection for the environmentally-minded planner. We hope planners will return again and again for the newest information as our list of verified cities grows. We applaud all the verified cities for being progressive and taking the initiative in their journey towards sustainability and supporting a greener meetings industry,” says Amy Spatrisano, CMP, principal of Meeting Strategies Worldwide. Meeting Strategies Worldwide is an award-winning, environmental consulting firm specializing in the meetings and hospitality industries. The firm has provided expertise on green meetings to international organizations such as Live Earth, CB Richard Ellis, American Express and U.S. Green Building Council. Principals Nancy J. Wilson, CMP and Amy Spatrisano, CMP are co-founders of the Green Meeting Industry Council and were recently named among the 25 Most Powerful people and trends in the meetings industry by MeetingNews. For more information regarding Meeting Strategies Worldwide please call +1 503.252.5458 or visit www.meetingstrategiesworldwide.com. Contact Info: Amy Spatrisano, CMP 503.252.5458 amy@meetingstrategiesworldwide.com Website : Meeting Strategies Worldwide Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:00:01 EST http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2351 Amy Spatrisano, CMP 503.252.5458 amy@meetingstrategiesworldwide.com www.meetingstrategiesworldwide.com Meeting Strategies Worldwide 1 91 Portland