By PETER LEONARD, Associated Press Writer Thu Jun 19, 4:10 PM ET
ALMATY, Kazakhstan - A dam project helped raise water levels and increase fish stocks in the northern part of the depleted Aral Sea, offering hope of some revival in areas of one of the world's worst ecological disasters, the president of the World Bank said Thursday.
The people of the Northern Aral Sea region in Kazakhstan may soon see their economy revitalized and the return of large-scale fishing and farming, said President Robert Zoellick.
"As poor people around the world struggle to keep food on their tables in the face of rising prices, it is gratifying to see that Kazakhstan has found a way to give back fishermen and their families their way of life on the Northern Aral Sea," he said.
Zoellick met with Prime Minister Karim Massimov in a former port town on the shrinking inland sea to review progress on initiatives to improve irrigation.
But as the northern region flourishes, the southern part of the sea, located in Uzbekistan, remains damaged.
What was once the Aral Sea lay on the border between the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and was once the world's fourth-largest lake. But Soviet irrigation projects caused the sea to shrink by almost 70 percent between 1960 and 2004, devastating fisheries as the rate of salinity rose sharply.
Life expectancy in the region also collapsed amid worsening air quality, which resulted in high rates of respiratory diseases.
In the early 1990s, the sea split into two separate bodies of water.
Kazakhstan and the World Bank joined forces in 2001 to build an eight-mile dam between the two sections of the sea and improve management of water resources. The $86 million project was completed in 2005. Improved water quality boosted fish stocks in the Northern Aral Sea, enabling fisherman to increase catches to around 2,000 tons last year, up from a meager 52 tons in 2004, the World Bank said.
Kazakhstan's steps are positive but limited, because most of the shrinking sea lies in Uzbekistan, said Steve Trent, executive director of the Environmental Justice Foundation.
"What the Kazakhs are doing is a good thing, they are making positive developments in restoring what can be called the 'Little Aral,'" he said. "The Aral at large, in the context of a whole ecosystem, is not going to be salvageable at all. The damage has gone too far."
Discussions are continuing between the World Bank and Kazakh authorities over expanding the revitalization project by building a second dam. The bank estimates that by 2015 the project could raise water levels to Aralsk, which was once the largest port in the northern section of the sea. Aralsk now stands 15 miles from the water.
In addition to improving local living standards, experts say the growth of the Northern Aral Sea could also restore the variety of flora and fauna in the region.
"The Aral used to be on a central migratory passage for birds," said professor Trevor Tanton, an environmental engineer from the University of Southampton in England. "Now many of those fish-eating birds will come back."
Growing populations and income levels coupled with poor coordination of water management among Central Asian states have strained water supplies. Almost all countries in the region have been severely affected this year by water shortages, which have ruined vast areas of crops and forced up prices of staple foods.
Zoellick said the renewed health of the Aral Sea suggested Kazakhstan may be saved from shortages in the next few years.
"The return of the Northern Aral Sea shows that man-made disasters can be at least partly reversed, and that food production depends on the sound management of scarce water resources and the environment," he said.
(This version CORRECTS that region that is flourishing is northern Aral region, not southern.)
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ROA MEDIA UPDATE
THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE NEWS
20 June 2008
General Environment News
Africa: Environmental Experts Explore Links Between Climate Change, Water And Health
Commonwealth News and Information Service (London): Climate change briefings organised by the Commonwealth Foundation aim to carry forward momentum following the Lake Victoria Plan of Action agreed by Heads of Government last November Environmental experts have called for greater involvement of young people in global and local programmes aimed at fighting climate change. "Children are key players in all the risk communities; that is one of the key strategies that we need to explore as we implement programmes on climate change," said Professor David Harper, Director General for Health Improvement and Protection, UK Department for Health told the briefing at a briefing on climate change held on 11 June 2008 at Marlborough House in London organised by the Commonwealth Foundation. The fifth in the series, the briefing featured presentations from leading experts, who explored the links between climate change, water and health in Commonwealth countries. Professor Andy Haines, Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, highlighted negative effects of climate change such as weather extremes, food, water, infectious diseases, and noted that the most vulnerable populations are those in low income countries. Adaptation, he observed, would require strengthening of public health systems and combined efforts from everyone. "Climate change is more than just a climate issue. It is one of the most dangerous problems of our age. But the degree will also depend on the regulation," he said. http://allafrica.com/stories/200806190875.html
Zimbabwe’s media environment severely constrained, African media groups charge
PANA (Lusaka): The media and freedom of expression environment in Zimbabwe is severely constrained, African media organisations from a fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe charged in a statement issued at the conclusion of their mission. The media organisations that went on a fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe from 8-13 June included the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ-Africa office), the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), and members of the Network of African Freedom of Expression Organisations (NAFEO), the Southern Africa Editors' Forum (SAEF), and the Southern Africa Journalists Association (SAJA). They also noted that no proper and professional media work could take place in Zimbabwe under the circumstances, to allow for free and fair elections. “The mission takes note and congratulates brave Zimbabwean journalists and independent newspapers who still express interest to continue with their work despite all these daunting challenges,” states a joint statement issued by African media organisations. In the light of the media and freedom of expression environment in Zimbabwe, the mission recommended that the regional and international community should monitor the situation of journalists and independent media and ensure compliance with regional and international standards. They also called for regional and international organisations to prepare to assist Zimbabwean journalists and media outlets who might be forced into either leaving the country or seeking medical or legal assistance. The media organisations said pressure must be maintained on the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) by the regional and international community to resolve the deepening political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe that affects the ability of the media to perform their duties in adequately informing the Zimbabwean people. “The SADC and AU observer missions must prevail on the government of Zimbabwe to allow greater observance and monitoring of the election process by the international community and ensure the security and freedoms of journalists and the media in Zimbabwe,” part of the recommendations read. The mission noted that the accreditation of foreign journalists and media organisations was at the discretion of the Media and Information Commission (MIC) and in this election the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), adding that consequently, a number of local and foreign journalists had been denied accreditation to cover the elections. The mission met a number of Zimbabwean journalists, editors and media owners working in urban and rural areas and a cross section of representatives of local civic organisations working countrywide. The mission expressed shock at the level of fear pervading the Zimbabwe media and society at large.
Kenya: Firms Pledge As Sewage Pollutes River
The Nation (Nairobi): Raw sewer continues to flow into a fresh water stream in Karatina town unabated even as public health officers in Nyeri North district assured the public that remedial measures were being taken. The pollution, which has persisted for nearly six months, threatens the health of more than 15,000 people who use water from Kirigu stream, which cuts through Karatina town, for domestic purposes. Recently the managing director of the Mathira Water and Sanitation Company (Mawasco) Mr John Gitau, whose docket includes the maintenance of the sewerage system in the town, offered little hope for a quick solution to the problem saying it is likely to persist for the next one year unless the government intervenes urgently. But the Nyeri North public health officer, Mr Christopher Wanganga, said he has discussed the matter with Mr Gitau who has assured him that a new sewerage line will be commissioned soon to rectify the situation. The initial sewer line was built when the town's population was small but the users have now overwhelmed it. The sewage thus ends up overflowing into the Kirigu river. "We have been to court and they have been fined and right now I have talked to the MD who assured me that the situation will be rectified," said Mr Wanganga. http://allafrica.com/stories/200806190196.html
Kenya: From Drums to Bags for Planet's Sake
Business Daily (Nairobi): Kenol Kobil has changed its packaging of bitumen to reduce costs and curb environmental hazards caused by use of drums. The oil marketer says it will instead use biodegradable Bitubags to package the material that is mainly used to tarmac roads and for waterproofing. Use of Bitubags is expected to make packaging and transporting of Bitumen more efficient, cost-effective especially during this time when the cost of the product is steadily rising in tandem with crude oil prices in the global market. Oil is the main raw material for the manufacture of bitumen. Edwin Kinyua, the head of Kenol Kobil's corporate affairs department, said use of bags will reduce hazards posed by discarded drums that have been traditionally used to package bitumen. http://allafrica.com/stories/200806191071.html
Eritrea: Country's Efforts in Environmental Protection is Exemplary, Cuban Professor Says
Shabait.com (Asmara): A Cuban professor said that the efforts Eritrea is exerting in environmental management in general and soil and water conservation in particular are exemplary. Prof. Edwardo Agito from the University of Havana made the remarks in a seminar he conducted to students and youths in Massawa city under the theme "Environmental Management and Lasting Development." He explained that a number of countries, especially the industrialized ones are polluting the environment in different methods simply to secure their own interests and temporary benefits. The Professor further underlined that it is high time to introduce technology that does not lead to pollution of the environment. Prof. Edwardo also gave a lecture on different topics, including energy source vis-à-vis utilization and environmental impact on soil and water conservation, biodiversity and environment, the negative effect of the Ozone layer, global climate change and the like. http://allafrica.com/stories/200806191079.html
Madagascar: New Eco-Deals Protect Unique Forests
UN Integrated Regional Information Networks: Madagascar has signed a series of environment agreements to protect unique forests and support local communities as part of a commitment by the government to ramp up environmental protection on the Indian Ocean island. In its largest ever debt-for-nature swap, Madagascar signed a deal with France this month, in which US$20 million of debt owed to the former colonial power was put into a conservation fund, the Foundation for Protected Areas and Biodiversity (FPAB). "Thanks to this, the money will go into the protection of the Malagasy environment instead of to France," Nani Ratsifandrihamanana, the environment director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) told IRIN. Her organisation played a crucial role in brokering the deal that will help protect Madagascar's forests, home to many of the world's most fascinating creatures. Nearly all the island's land mammals, over 90 percent of its reptiles and 80 percent of its plants are found nowhere else. In a separate deal, Madagascar committed itself to selling nine million tons of carbon offsets to help protect its forests. The money will be used to protect the vast Makira forest, one of several under threat as a result of the poverty of the overwhelmingly rural population. http://allafrica.com/stories/200806190973.html
Nigeria: Nass to Establish Framework to Check Land Degradation
Daily Trust (Abuja): A legislative and institutional framework to check land degradation will soon be established by the National Assembly, Senate President David Mark said in Bauchi. Mark made the statement at the 2008 World Desertification Day celebration, hosted by Bauchi State government. The theme of the conference, which opened on Tuesday, is "Combating Land Degradation for Sustainable Agriculture". Mark, represented by Senator Bala Mohammed, said to achieve the objective of the conference, there was a need for collaboration among all tiers of government and the private sector. He said combating environmental issues, especially land degradation, required the co-operation of all stakeholders. The senate president said such partnership was in line with the policy thrust of the present administration. He said the celebration of the 2008 World Desertification Day had highlighted the importance of land as a global heritage, "which nobody can live without.”The international community is fighting food insecurity, it is a welcome develop-mint," Mark said. http://allafrica.com/stories/200806190587.html
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RONA MEDIA UPDATE
THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE NEWS
Thursday June 19, 2008
UNEP or UN in the News
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Reuters: Scientific sleuths find seas warming, rising faster
General Environment News
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Wall Street Journal: Forget the Planet, Retrofit the Earth
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Wall Street Journal: Bush’s Drill Bit
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Wall Street Journal: Judge Ahab and the Whales
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Wall Street Journal: Midwest Floods Dredge Up Dispute
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Reuters: Biotech crops seen helping to feed hungry world
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New York Times: Tons of PCBs May Come Calling at a Down-at-the-Heels Texas City
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New York Times: Idea of Offshore Drilling Seems to Be Spreading
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New York Times: McCain Sets Goal of 45 New Nuclear Reactors by
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2030
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New York Times: Will $4 Gasoline Trump a 27-Year-Old Ban?
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Globe & Mail: Pipeline opens new front in Afghan war
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Los Angeles Times: Interior Department sued over Wyoming drilling
Scientific sleuths find seas warming, rising faster
June 19, 2008
By David Fogarty
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Scientific detective work has uncovered a decades-old glitch in ocean temperature measurements and revealed that the world's seas are warming and rising faster than previously reported.
An international team of scientists, reporting their findings on Thursday in the journal Nature, looked at millions of ship-based measurements taken since 1950, but particularly from 1960, and revealed an error in data from a common probe called an XBT.
Correcting the error in data running over decades as well as applying a complex statistical analysis to sea temperature data, the team came up with a global estimate of ocean warming in the top layers down to 700 meters (2,300 feet) as well as how fast oceans are rising.
"We show that the rate of ocean warming from 1961 to 2003 is about 50 percent larger than previously reported," said team member Catia Domingues, from the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research.
Fellow report author John Church said he had long been suspicious about the historical data because it did not match results from computer models of the world's climate and oceans.
"We've realigned the observations and as a result the models agree with the observations much better than previously," said Church, a senior research scientist with the climate centre.
"And so by comparing many XBT observations with research ship observations in a statistical way, you can estimate what the errors associated with the XBTs are."
This was crucial because the oceans store more than 90 percent of the heat in the planet's climate system and can act as a buffer against the effects of climate change, Domingues said.
Water also expands the warmer it becomes, pushing up sea levels, in addition from run-off from melting glaciers and ice sheets in Greenland and parts of Antarctica.
Church said the global average surface warming between 1961 to 2003 was about 0.4 degrees Celsius according to his team's estimates and that seas rose on average 1.6 millimeters a year during this period.
RISING SEAS
But Church said that since 1993, sea levels had been rising more than 3 mm a year as the world consumes ever greater amounts of fossil fuels.
XBTs were widely used by commercial vessels but have since been largely replaced by satellites and permanent probes in the ocean. The disposable XBTs were thrown over the side with a wire attached to measure temperatures as it sank.
"If you miscalculate how quickly the instrument falls through the water column, you miscalculate the depth and therefore the temperature at that depth and that's the prime source of error," said Church.
So a colleague, Susan Wijffels and other associates, figured out a mathematical formula to correct the error.
That, combined with a wider statistical analysis of global ocean temperature data, revealed a clearer picture that better matched widely used computer models that project how the climate and oceans behave because of global warming.
"Now we see a more steady rate of warming and an increased trend in that warming," Church told Reuters.
"It builds confidence in the models that we use for projecting the future," adding that observations also indicated that the actual sea level rise was tracking on the upper end of those projections.
The U.N. Climate Panel's latest global assessment last year estimated sea levels could rise by up to 80 cm by the end of 2100 unless carbon dioxide levels were reined in.
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSSP19507720080619?sp=true
General Environmental News
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