High and Low Waters – Video

Posted February 20, 2012 by Guest

Extreme fluctuations in water level along the Volga river and around the city of Nizhny Novgorod in Russia, are affecting the city and surroundings in various degrees. The city ranks seventh in Russia in terms of industrial output, with the processing industry the most important to the local economy.

Gnidin Konstantin Sergeevich, head of the Upper Volga Basin Department of Federal Agency of Water Resources says, “We have developed a plan for the prevention of floods, aimed at zero impact from flooding on the population.” More studies and research are required to mitigate the effect of extreme high and low waters that increase the risks of drought and flooding.

The Environmental Atlas of Europe is a UNEP-EEA-ESA joint project showcasing communities responding to environmental change across Europe. The films present a series of these inspirational stories about how people are responding to climate change and in so doing, transforming their lives for a more sustainable future.

Produced by Ace & Ace, Denmark, in cooperation with the European Environment Agency (EEA), United Nations Environment Programme UNEP and the European Space Agency (ESA).

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Big City Conservation: New York City’s Hidden Biodiversity

Posted February 20, 2012 by Guest

Urban Conservation in New York City

New York Skyline

by Molly Marquand

Originally published on Izilwane

Where every great city stands today, a natural ecosystem once thrived. London was built on a floodplain of the River Thames; New York was set up on great tracts of oak woodland; and Tokyo, the most populous metropolis in the world, once supported a lush and verdant subtropical forest. Since their ambitious beginnings, cities all over the world have sacrificed natural diversity to become the cultural, artistic and economic centers they are today. The very definition of the word urban excludes notions of nature and rurality, instead conjuring images of industry and skyscrapers. But in an increasingly green-minded world, many cities are working to reverse their reputations and are redefining the concept of urbanity altogether.

The Big (Green) Apple

Take New York City, for example. The Big Apple is home to more than eight million people and covers 305 square miles (790 sq.km). The city is the financial powerhouse of the world and a mecca for arts, technology, and cultural diversity. New York is also one of the greenest metropolises in the country: Not only does it boast the highest levels of public transportation use, but its citizens consume less than half the energy of the national per capita average. Compared to San Francisco, where plastic bags are illegal and municipal composting is the norm, New York far out-ranks the ecologically conscious California city, contributing almost 30 percent less per capita in annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Part of what makes New York so green is its size. The confines of Manhattan Island, an area of only 23 square miles (60 sq. km), have directed development upward in the form of skyscrapers that are now recognized all over the world as the city’s trademark skyline. The apartments Gotham residents call home are notoriously small—and expensive—but are far more ecologically responsible than their lawn, dishwasher and central air-equipped suburban equivalents. The demand for limited space in New York continues to escalate as population levels grow and the pace of development maintains its momentum. For the most part, this isn’t anticipated to change New Yorkers’ habits and the city’s claim to green fame. It may, however, disrupt another aspect of the city’s environmentally friendly nature—namely the unprecedented amount of woods, wetlands and meadows that thrive within the boundaries of this formidable metropolis and occupy some of the most desirable real estate in the country.

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Ecology Week in Review | 18-Feb-2012

Posted February 18, 2012 by Casey Petz

This week, we mourned the tragic loss of two talented and dedicated ocean filmmakers, Mike deGruy and Andrew Wight, whose sense of adventure and passion for the world beneath the waves educated, entertained, and inspired us all.

In Ecosystems, Ace & Ace led us on virtual stroll through a rare and incredibly beautiful, untouched forest in Poland. In Urban Issues, we learned of one Dutch municipality’s answer to flooding and rising sea levels – floating cities!

Susan Colby took us to the Kilimanjaro with the premier of “Eco-Docs“, Ecology Global Network’s new, 52-week television series for China Green Channel International. Guest Contributor and housing designer, Andy Erickson shared his big ideas for small homes and sustainable lifestyles.

In Ecology Kids, Discover the Forest and the Ad Council encouraged kids (and their families) to take a break from the digital world to reconnect with nature and themselves.

In Inner Ecology, Mikhaila Stettler helped clear the air of the often conflicting and confusing nutritional information that has left many of us in a fog — and no healthier. In Eco Tipping, Lisa Rosen encouraged us to adopt a more eco-friendly laundry routine. In ecoView, Dr. Kristine Kevorkian asked, “Who owns nature?” and discussed the sense of loss some feel in the face of environmental degradation. And in Shop Ecology, Libby Woolems debunked some misconceptions about the vegan lifestyle.

In Oceans, Christopher Bartlett explored the dilemma fishermen face when catches decline, and the differences in adaptability between fishermen in poor countries compared to those in wealthy nations.

On Ecology Campus, we welcomed the newest International Dark Sky Park – one of only 10 in the world. Deborah Harter Williams also filled us in on several upcoming opportunities: a chance to study Tropical and Aquatic Ecosystems in Panama, and a series of regional green-jobs conferences coming up this spring.

Here at Ecology Today, we launched our collaborative effort with China Green Channel International to bring environmental programming to China Educational TV, and announced our featured partnership with the mobile, social news network, Flud.

Fuel-salvage operations at the site of the Costa Concordia shipwreck finally got underway. And using an instrument designed to search for life on Mars, scientists discovered anaerobic organisms beneath the Atacama Desert.

“World Water Monitoring Day” officially became a year-round event, changing its name to “World Water Monitoring Challenge,” and this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count got underway. The count runs through February 22, so there’s still time to grab your field guide and binoculars, and get your citizen-scientist on!

 

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Join the Great Backyard Bird Count: February 17-22

Posted February 17, 2012 by Bob Petz

This weekend, tens of thousands of citizen-scientists will join in The Great Backyard Bird Count, an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the U.S. and Canada.

Carolina Chickadee, 2010 GBBC. Credit: Ken Childs, TN

Carolina Chickadee, 2010 GBBC. Credit: Ken Childs, TN

Participants count birds at any location they wish for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, then enter their tallies at www.birdcount.org. Anyone can participate in the free event, and no registration is required.

Last year, participants submitted more than 92,000 checklists with more than 11 million bird observations. These data capture a picture of how bird populations are changing across the continent year after year–a feat that would be impossible without the help of tens of thousands of participants.

Brown Pelican, 2010 GBBC. Credit: Bob Howdeshell, TN

Brown Pelican, 2010 GBBC. Credit: Bob Howdeshell, TN

“This is a very detailed snapshot of continental bird distribution,” said John Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “Imagine scientists 250 years from now being able to compare these data with their own. Already, with more than a decade of data in hand, the GBBC has documented changes in late-winter bird distributions.”

To learn more about how to join the count, get bird ID tips, downloadable instructions, a how-to video, past results, and more visit www.birdcount.org.

Red-shouldered Hawk, 2010 GBBC. Credit: Shane Conklin, MA

Red-shouldered Hawk, 2010 GBBC. Credit: Shane Conklin, MA

The count also includes a photo contest and a prize drawing for participants who enter at least one bird checklist online.

“This count is so much fun because anyone can take part–we all learn and watch birds together–whether you are an expert, novice, or feeder watcher,” said Gary Langham, Audubon’s Chief Scientist. “I like to invite new birders to join me and share the experience. Get involved, invite your friends, and see how your favorite spot stacks up.”

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“World Water Monitoring Day” is Now the “World Water Monitoring Challenge”

Posted February 16, 2012 by Bob Petz

For more than a decade, World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD) has provided a platform for increasing public awareness of water quality through a citizen science project that monitors local water resources around the globe.

World Water Monitoring Challenge

"World Water Monitoring Day" has been renamed the "World Water Monitoring Challenge" to promote greater involvement and year-round water quality monitoring.

Yet in recent years, WWMD has become something of a misnomer since activities have not been restricted to just one day.

Officially, WWMD is still observed on September 18, but since 2009, the testing and reporting period has been extended from March 22 through December 31. As a result, the program has grown from about 30,000 participants to nearly 340,000 over the past five years.

In recognition of the extended timeframe and to promote year-round involvement, World Water Monitoring Day will now be known as the World Water Monitoring Challenge. Along with the name change, organizers have updated their website with interactive reporting features and support materials for educators and civic groups.

According to the initiative’s 2011 Year in Review, 338,959 people monitored water quality across 77 countries and six continents last year, representing a 62 percent increase in involvement over 2010. Leading all countries by number of participating individuals was Malaysia, with 82,000 while the U.S. led in number of sites monitored with 1,754. In all, 19,400 WWMD test kits were distributed in 2011 — 2,836 more than in 2010.

The World Water Monitoring Challenge is coordinated by The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the International Water Association (IWA). The program receives financial and in-kind support from primary sponsors, including the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Xylem Inc., and Smithfield Foods.

 

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Ecology Global Network Now Featured on Flud’s Social News Network for Mobile Devices

Posted February 13, 2012 by Bob Petz
Keep up with the latest from the Ecology Global Network on Flud.

Keep up with the latest from the Ecology Global Network on Flud -- the new, social news network for mobile devices.

The Ecology Global Network is pleased to announce that EGN is now a featured, environmental news source on Flud, the mobile social news reader for iPhone and iPad that allows you to curate your own news and share the content you find most interesting among friends and followers.

Flud converts EGN — along with your other favorite web content — into news streams that you personalize, then browse, share or mark for reading later. Sharing feeds within the Flud network enables users to create content communities with like-minded interests.

Flud can be easily integrated with your Tumblr, Google Reader, Twitter, Facebook, Read It Later, Instapaper and email accounts. And perhaps best of all, the award-winning Flud app is free!

 

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Deep Sea Brothers: Mike deGruy and Andrew Wight

Posted February 12, 2012 by Susan Colby

The Adventurers

mike-wight-cameron

From left: Mike deGruy, Andrew Wight and James Cameron

The film world mourns the loss of two of their own, renowned filmmaker Michael deGruy and Australian writer-producer Andrew Wight. Both men were known for their love of, and documentation of, the ocean. They died on February 4, 2012 in a helicopter crash in Jaspers Brush, New South Wales, Australia. They were working together on a James Cameron feature film and were due to continue the work in Papua New Guinea.

Mike and Andrew, known as Wighty, had much in common, but primarily their love of the oceans of the world. Both shared their love through filmmaking and conservation efforts, bringing the undersea world into focus through vivid imagery and storytelling.

Mike deGruy

mike degruyMike was born in Alabama, on December 29, 1951. From his early years, the ocean fascinated him, and his journey to become one of the world’s leading underwater documentarian is filled with adventure.

He dived under the ice at both poles, visited all the continents, became a submersible pilot, made multiple dives in different kinds of submersibles, filmed the hydrothermal vents in both the Atlantic and the Pacific and, as noted on his website, “had more meals on the Titanic, now resting at 12,500 feet deep, than did the doomed passengers.”

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Ecology Week in Review | 11-Feb-2012

Posted February 11, 2012 by Casey Petz

This week in EcoArts, Deborah Harter Williams introduced us to a new, literary genre with  two ecological thrillers, while Bridget Terry reviewed 3 eco-documentaries making their debut at Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

In Ecosystems, we learned about Africa’s peace parks –parks that cross national borders, serving as both animal conservatories and places for visitors to enjoy nature’s beauty.

In Species, we once again marveled at the intelligence of animals, watching as dolphins showed a playful ability to blow complete rings of air underwater – and Anne-Marie Hodge shared insights into how marine mammals use bubbles in the wild.

This week’s installment of Ace & Ace videos took us to Rheinelbe, Germany, where the government has transformed retired coal mining sites into urban public parks. From there, it was on to Cloughjordan, Ireland, where a 41-acre village with 130 low-energy homes functions solely on sustainable practices.

We learned that everyone’s favorite cookies are getting an environmental makeover as part of the Girl Scouts new Forever Green initiative. We pondered the tradeoffs involved in developing renewable solar energy where it threatens an endangered tortoises’ habitat, and met future scientists at the second annual White House science fair. And for those who need reminding that February 14 is fast approaching, Lisa Rosen gave us some tips on environmentally conscious gifts for this Valentine’s Day

At Ecology Campus, we visited George Washington University, in Washington DC, where sustainable practices such as community gardens, solar panels on roofs and trash compactors are being implemented.  And in India and Thailand, “toilet paper” got literal thanks to a new process that converts elephant dung into paper.

Here at Ecology Today, there was good news for Asia’s mountain glaciers, which are losing mass much more slowly than previously estimated. The rest of the cryosphere isn’t faring so well, however, as land ice continues to decline and sea levels continue to rise. Meanwhile, fossil fuel giant BP reported record profits for 2011, just as the company prepares to face hundreds of lawsuits from last year’s Deepwater Horizon disaster.

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Two Mysteries For The Eco-Reader

Posted February 10, 2012 by Bridget Terry

Detectives and the environment appear to be a potent combination for a mystery novel. In fact, there’s a fast evolving mini-genre among eco-readers who like their crime investigations splattered with consciousness-raising motives and clues. Here, Ecology Campus’ Senior Editor, Deborah Harter Williams, reviews two new novels where murder and mayhem are set within a web of ecological issues that have a huge impact on the victims and their killers. – BT

Desert Wind by Betty Webb (Poisoned Pen Press)

Reviewed by Deborah Harter Williams

Nothing pleases me more than when I read a book and I’m still thinking about it two days later. Betty Webb’s Desert Wind is that kind of book. She also manages to get John Wayne into the first scene, so I was hooked from the get-go. The Duke has a recurring role in the story as a ghost, but his movie portrayal of Genghis Kahn provides a key plot point.

It all started when Webb watched a movie on TV called “The Conqueror” which was shot in Snow Canyon, Utah. The TV host mentioned the story about a mysterious illness and deaths incurred by the cast, the film crew and many of the Paiute Indians who had worked as extras. Many argued that the Hollywood lifestyle was to blame. But the deaths of the local ranchers and farmers went unexplained.

Webb’s story reveals surprising and disturbing facts about uranium mining and the ongoing effects of nuclear bomb testing in Arizona in the 1950s. If you think you know something about these topics, you may be challenged by what she presents. Indeed the argument goes on some sixty years later.

The facts are as compelling as the fiction – a twisty plot with distinctive characters. Lena Jones, (Webb’s serial detective) is a PI from Scottsdale who gets involved when her partner, Jimmy Sisiwan and his brother are arrested on the Indian reservation where they grew up. Other well-drawn characters in the investigation range from a blowsy trophy wife to a Goth New York reporter, their outer guises hiding history and mystery that Lena has to uncover if she wants to keep Jimmy and his family out of jail.

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Girl Scouts Go Green

Posted February 9, 2012 by Susan Colby

Girl Scouts Forever Green

girl scouts

Girl Scouts of Nassau County at the 100 Trees for 100 Years event at Camp Blue Bay to celebrate the 100th. Photo GSNC

Girl Scouts Forever Green Take Action Project is the signature project of Girl Scouts USA’s 100th year anniversary, and aims to provide a positive direction for the more than 3 million girls in the organization. Recent research found that an overwhelming number of girls said protecting the environment is top priority for them.

There are three elements to the project:

  1. Participate in Earth Hour with the goal of encouraging sustainable behavior change, reduce a person’s CO2 footprint to save energy and money.
  2. Reduce waste by reducing the number of discarded single use plastic bottles and increase aluminum recycling.
  3. Build Rain Gardens to increase green space and wildlife habitats and improve water quality.

Earth Hour

A key element of the program is participation in Earth Hour, a worldwide movement organized by the World Wildlife Fund, during which millions of people around the world switch off non-essential lights to raise awareness of the need to take action on climate change. This event takes place annually on the last Saturday of March from 8:30 – 9:30 pm, local time.

“Earth Hour and the Girl Scouts USA have a common purpose – to create a better environment for future generations,” said Andy Ridley, Earth Hour co-founder and executive director. “Girl Scouts USA’s participation in Earth Hour illustrates without question what can be achieved when people unite with a common purpose and rally to action.”

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