Dear Friends,

This is the 245th Edition of the Mangrove Action Project News, September 4, 2010.

For the Mangroves,

Alfredo Quarto
Mangrove Action Project

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MAP's Mission

Partnering with mangrove forest communities, grassroots NGOs, researchers and local governments to conserve and restore mangrove forests and related coastal ecosystems, while promoting community-based, sustainable management of coastal resources.

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SHRIMP LESS, THINK MORE campaign has changed it's name to QUESTION YOUR SHRIMP:
Learn more about the affects of the shrimp industry on mangroves by visiting our blog.
Join MAP on Facebook
Sign the Consumer's Pledge to avoid imported shrimp

Action Alerts:

World Atlas of Mangroves donates 10% of purchase price to Mangrove Action Project

LEARN MORE

International Day against Monoculture Tree Plantations is coming SEPTEMBER 21.
LEARN MORE & TAKE ACTION

Urgent Appeal to all wildlife and nature protection organizations in the world Stop Saudi destruction of mangroves and tideflats. WRITE TO OFFICIALS

Urgent Appeal For African Wildlife
Stop Kenya's 2nd Port from Devastating Sea Turtles & Dugongs! SIGN THE PETITION

Borneo: Stop the company from stealing our forests!
The indigenous people of Western Kalimantan(Borneo) are fighting against deforestation for four years. The Indonesian government as well as the company clearing their forest have ignored the demands of the Dayak communities so far. Now, they need international support. Please help by TAKING ACTION NOW

Papua New Guinea
Prime Minister Sells Out Democracy, Local Peoples and Resources to Red China's Mining Agency TAKE ACTION HERE NOW

TATA sues NGO over turtle game
TATA has filed a law suit against Greenpeace because of our TATA v/s Turtles game, highlighting the threat the Dhamra port poses to the turtles and other wildlife. Greenpeace stands by its actions and will present its case in court on August 12. TATA is desperately trying to silence all opposition to their port in Dhamra, Orissa. Write to Jairam Ramesh asking him to protect India’s coasts.
SIGN OUR PETITION

SAVE THE MANGROVE COCKLE! and the mangrove ecosystem.
This year  for the celebration of the 26th of July, International Mangrove Action Day we have launched the campaign "SAVE THE MANGROVE BLACK COCKLE". One of the activities of this campaign is an online cockle photo exposition at http://www.ccondem.org.ec/26dejulio/new

Papua New Guinea - Don’t Dump Poisons into the Sea!
The government of Papua New Guinea doesn't want to hear from us. It has authorized a Chinese mining company to dump toxic waste into the sea, and it is determined to stifle dissent from every quarter.

Sign Petition to Protect India’s Coastline
The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification was issued in 1991 to protect India's coasts. In the 19 years since then, it has been progressively weakened to suit industrial and political interests, and most violations have never been punished.

Stop Offshore Drilling and Demand a Clean Energy Future.
Let's put an end to offshore drilling. It’s been over a month since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Eleven people were killed in the explosion and millions of gallons of oil have been dumped into the Gulf of Mexico in what has become the largest oil spill in U.S. history.

Please call Taco Bell's Customer Service at 1-800-TACO-BELL to make your request that they do not serve imported shrimp in their tacos, but serve only shrimp produced in N. America! READ MORE

Draft Daryl Hannah as Mangroves Spokesperson
This is a petition needing your supportive signature to 'draft' Daryl Hannah into being the voice of the mangroves! Ms. Hannah as the mermaid from the movie "Splash" has that coastal wetland connection making her the ideal candidate to speak for the mangroves.

JAMAICA'S FONT HILL
Save Font Hill Nature Preserve from development. Please Sign our Petition

STOP MEXICO'S DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL TURTLE HABITAT Sign Letter Here

BIMINI'S MARINE PROTECTED AREA
In December of 2008, the Honorable Dr. Earl Deveaux proclaimed that Bimini's long-awaited Marine Protected Area had been made official. Local Biminites, as well as legions of people around the globe who care about Bimini, were elated with the news.

MAP ISSUES 

Marvellous Mangroves – A Curriculum-Based Teachers Guide
By Martin A. Keeley, Education Director, Mangrove Action Project
Read this 10 page history of the development of MAP’s educational curriculum VIEW DOCUMENT

Mangrove Atlas available at discount
World Atlas of Mangroves has just been published by Earthscan through a joint initiative. Visit Earthscan at http://www.earthscan.co.uk/isbn/9781844076574  (20% discount voucher code:  AF20).

MAP 2011 CALENDAR NEEDS ARTISTS
READ MORE

FEATURED STORY

80% of tropical agricultural expansion between 1980-2000 came at expense of forests

 
Image Courtesy Gibbs et al
More than 80 percent of agricultural expansion in the tropics between 1980 and 2000 came at the expense of forests, reports research published last week in the early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The study, based on analysis satellite images collected by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and led by Holly Gibbs of Stanford University, found that 55 percent of new agricultural land came at the expense of intact forests, while 28 percent came from disturbed forests. The remainder came from shrub lands. "This finding confirms that agricultural expansion did not arise largely from previously cleared land and that agricultural expansion indeed has been a major driver of deforestation and the associated carbon emissions," write the authors. "This study confirms that rainforests were the primary source for new agricultural land throughout the tropics during the 1980s and 1990s." READ MORE

Also see the related article below Satellite Imagery

BP GULF OIL SPILL UPDATE

The Gulf oil disaster truth
From environmentalists and wildlife specialists to fisherman and businessmen along the Gulf Coast the message is the same: BP is not only strangling the news of what is actually occurring in the Gulf of Mexico with the oil disaster but has co-opted key federal regulatory and oversight agencies to advance its agenda and that of its oil partners, including Halliburton, Anadarko, and Transocean. The logistics of the oil clean-up is being criticized because of the over-dependence on deepwater oil skimmer boats. No procedures are in place for using skimmers that can operate in shallower waters of 1 1/2 to 2 feet. There are a number of boats that could be used for shallow water skimming being tied up in port and not being used by BP. Fishermen who have experience in rescuing sea turtles enmeshed in fishing nets are not being used in turtle rescue operations. In fact, they face arrest if they even touch an endangered turtle. READ MORE

As Mangroves Die from Oil, U.S. Public Yawns
USA- What if, instead of a nasty oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. public was now confronted with a natural catastrophe in the Grand Canyon or in California Redwood forests? Within the popular imagination, certain types of ecosystems elicit more sympathy than others, and very low on the totem pole are mangrove forests. While oil spills are devastating for the environment in general, they are particularly damaging for mangroves. That’s because oil persists far longer within such ecosystems. One mangrove expert has remarked, “Never, ever let oil get into a mangrove coast. You'll never get it out. It's like a sponge you rub on a greasy bacon pan. You need very hot water and a lot of soap, and you still might just give up and throw away the sponge.” READ MORE

AFRICA

Group urges Government to end persistent crude oil spillages
NIGERIA- Mangrove Forest Conservation Society Of Nigeria (MFCSN) has made special appeal to urge President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to put an end to the persistent oils leakages occurring throughout Nigeria, particularly in the Bonny Local Government area. Citing dozens of impacts these spills have on the economic and environment of Nigeria, MFCSN condemns the Government’s and the Oil Companies' lack of action. READ MORE

Mangroves offer win-win opportunity

ZIMBABWE- Mangroves offer win-win opportunity. Mangroves shelter some unique wildlife Healthy mangrove forests provide a huge range of environmental benefits and need to be protected, says Mark Huxham of VIEWPOINT. In this week's Green Room, he argues that schemes such as REDD offer a vital lifeline to the important ecosystems. Like smoke from a bush fire, a pall of black pessimism permeates news from tropical forests. Conserving and restoring these forests must form part of a comprehensive climate change deal. READ MORE

Huge potential in Africa's fisheries and aquaculture sectors
Editor’s Note: This push for aquaculture expansion in Africa spells trouble as shrimp aquaculture surely plays into this plan, and the same problems affecting other Developing nations with shrimp farming and natural resource depletion will undoubtedly become prevalent in Africaas well. Lack of coastal management plans and proper enforcement of regulatory measures will plague the aquaculture industries in Africa, and it is doubtful if the aquaculture production will be for local consumption, but instead most likely will be mainly for export to the wealthier nations.
SOUTH AFRICA- Booming business out of aquaculture is happening elsewhere in the world, compared to Africa where the sector is still at its infancy. But there is a wind of change blowing on the continent as African governments implement policies that are opening lucrative investment opportunities in the sector. A few years ago the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) issued a declaration stating that fish farming in Africa   will have to expand by 250% in the next 10 years just to maintain the present per capita consumption of fish in the continent. READ MORE

ASIA

Govenment assessing damage due to oil spill
INDIA- Describing as "significant" the impact of the oil spill caused by collision between two cargo ships off Mumbai coast, environment and forest Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said the Centre is in the process of assessing the extent of ecological damage to tropical forests there. The government is also planning to compensate the fishermen who lost their livelihood due to this mishap, he said. "We have asked the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) along with the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) to study the impact of the oil spill on mangroves in the Navi Mumbai and Raigad areas. We are expecting a preliminary report within 2-3-weeks and a detailed report in the next 2-3 months," the minister said. READ MORE

China-Guam fisheries institutes collaborate on shrimp research
In 2008, the University of Guam College of Natural and Applied Sciences signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Guangxi Institute of Fisheries (GXIF), China, to collaborate on research regarding a shrimp selective breeding program. In July a group from Guangxi Institute of Fisheries visited the University of Guam to meet President Robert A. Underwood, Lee Yudin, Dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Board of Regents member Andrew Laguana, and other administrators and faculty members. READ MORE

Preserving wetlands is critical for our future
TAIWAN- The wetlands on the west coast of Changhua County are much larger than Zhuwei, measuring several thousand hectares. They provide an ideal habitat for the Chinese white dolphin (Sousa chinensis), also called the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. They are also a paradise for seafood production and are Taiwan’s main source of clams and oysters. If, as now proposed, this wetland is developed into a heavy industrial zone, farmers and fishermen will be driven out, and Taiwanese will find it hard to get unpolluted seafood. If the proposed eighth naphtha cracker is built, it will emit pollution and cause water shortages, harming agricultural production in Yunlin and Changhua counties. READ MORE

Invitation to nature’s fury in man-made disaster

Editor's Note: This article simply reinforces our view that EMR must become a necessary component of future mangrove restoration plans. The mention of the failed attempt to regenerate 2500 ha of coast where only 250 ha succeeded is sobering proof that much time, money and energy continues to be shamefully wasted as old, disproved methods of "restoration" are tried without lessons being learned from previous mistakes. This enforced inertia to meaningful change is being unfortunately encouraged by those who should by now know better, should have learned from prior failed attempts, but who seem bent or driven to repeat the same mistakes. We need to alter this dangerous paradigm and usher in a new era in restoration that emulates nature not attempts to force our will upon her before the next "super-cyclone" again proves that mangroves are not some luxury we can afford to lose!
INDIA- Unabated conversion of swampy inundated patches into paddy cultivation and prawn farms have all contributed to the disappearance of mangrove cover from the Mahanadidelta region in Jagatsinghpur district. The mangroves — the much-acclaimed lifeline for vulnerable coastal zones — is getting systematically decimated, enhancing the vulnerability of coastal pockets in Jagatsinghpur to recurring natural calamities like cyclone and tidal waves. READ MORE

Indonesia may cancel permits to save forest
INDONESIA - Indonesia's planned moratorium on the clearing of natural forest from 2011 may lead to the revocation of some firms' existing permits and will slash the size of a giant food estate, said the official in charge of the scheme. The two-year moratorium, agreed under a $1 billion deal with Norway to curb greenhouse gases from deforestation, has created uncertainty among investors in plantations, timber and mining, who fear their expansion could be stymied. Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, head of the presidential delivery unit, told Reuters the moratorium could also extend beyond two years, given that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was determined to protect the country's extensive tropical forests. READ MORE

Boost for Thai carbon credit
A vast mangrove area will soon be part of the first carbon credit project in Thailand- expected to generate large revenues, the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation (TGO) said recently. Under the clean development mechanism, carbon credit agreements in association with mangrove and forestry areas are currently accepted only in China and Brazil. Thailand will be the third country to follow suit under a United Nations framework convention on climate change protocol, TGO director Sirithan Phairojborriboon said. The 10,000-rai mangrove area is in the Welu River basin in Chanthaburi province. Mangroves can reduce carbon dioxide at the highest rate compared with other types of forest - meaning a large amount of revenue generated within the five-year agreement period. READ MORE

NORTH AMERICA

Consumers need to be better educated about shrimp
USA- Worried about gulf seafood? Imports may be a bigger health risk. Consumers are caught in the middle as food safety experts ponder the potential risks from shrimp, crab and fish from the Gulf of Mexico while mostly ignoring the frightening evidence of years of foreign seafood arriving at U.S. ports tainted with drugs, chemicals, and bacteria. READ MORE

Coalition demands FDA deny approval of engineered salmon
USA- A coalition of 31 consumer, animal welfare and environmental groups, along with commercial and recreational fisheries associations and food retailers submitted a joint statement criticizing an announcement this week by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it will potentially approve the long-shelved AquAdvantage transgenic salmon as the first genetically engineered (GE) animal intended for human consumption. READ MORE

Satellite imagery show mangrove forest loss even worse than estimated
 
Mangroves replaced by rice fields in Indonesia. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.

USA- New satellite data shows that human actions are wiping out mangrove forests even faster than previous bleak estimates. Conducted by the US Geological Survey and NASA, the researchers found that mangroves comprise 12.3 percent less area than previously estimated. In total, satellites reveal that mangrove forests cover approximately 53,290 square miles (137,760 square kilometers). "Our assessment shows, for the first time, the exact extent and distribution of mangrove forests of the world at 30 meters spatial resolution, the highest resolution ever," said Dr Chandra Giri from USGS. Providing the best picture yet of mangrove placement, the study found Asia has most of the world's mangroves with 42 percent, followed by Africa with 21 percent, North and Central America with 15 percent, Oceania with 12 percent, and South America with 11 percent. READ MORE

FINAL WORD - A Comment From Our Readers
This email came from one of our readers telling of the strange but true story of fate of tigers in the Sundarban confronting human settlements that now infringe more into their remaining territory. This is a deadly mixture where eventually there will be no place left for the tigers, who will lose out in the end.
SUBJ: BREAKING NEWS-The Tiger went Back to the Sundarbans, But.....
Dear All,
Last night I mail you about one tiger enters into the locality. Very early in this morning, it was went back to the Sundarbans. It has eaten 1 goat, 1 dog and killed another 2 goats. Since from the mid-night, the Forest department, Local Tiger Response team present there. Though the tiger went back, but people of that area are afraid and it may come tonight. It has been coming human inhabitant last 8 days. It entered to the community 5-7 times in eight days. People of this area are so annoyed and terrified. It will be difficult to safe this tiger if interns again. Thousand of people gathered there and demanding that we could not move and normal work even in the very evening (even 6.30 pm). We have to stay in side the house. It is not a human life. If Government not taken any protection measure like catch the tiger and send to the Zoo or Safari Part or in deep forest we must kill her. In May 2010, One tiger was disturbing in the same area, and it was secret murder. If Government do not take any immediate action, it is become same though we have some new law of tiger conservation. Please create pressure to the relevant department to take immediate action.
Look forward your action.
Best regards,
Mohon

Village: Munshigonj Upazila-Shyamnagar, District- Satkhira, Bangladesh

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