Dear Friends,

This is the 243rd Edition of the Mangrove Action Project News, August 7, 2010.

Thanks to all for submitting stories and information about your activities during 2010's Internationl World Mangrove Day on July 26. It is exciting to see the global demonstrations, activities and conferences surrounding mangrove issues and to realize the impact that this raising awareness as on the future of our planet. We hope you will continue to be energized by these activities, and we hope you enjoy this 243rd edition of MAP News.
Cheers,

Alfredo Quarto
Mangrove Action Project

Sign up to receive the MAP News by sending an e-mail to: mapnews@mangroveactionproject.org.

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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:

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.

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

FROM OUR READERS

I think MAP is awesome. I want share my mangrove art, and celebrate International Day for Mangroves. Feel free share with others.  (Artist credit: Nuansi)

AFRICA

GREENCODE Celebrates Mangrove Action Day
NIGERIA- GREENCODE celebrated Mangrove Action Day 2010 in Calabar south, on 26th July, 20101. Participants included Cross River Forestry Commission, Ministry of Environment, Institute of Oceanography, Secondary school students, Teachers, Primary school Pupils, CSOs. The event featured Drama by School students, Poem, video documentary on mangrove, paper presentation on the importance of mangrove and its role in Climate change. For more information, contact GREENCODE at Green Concern for Development  email greencodeinfo@gmail.com

Honko Celebrates Mangrove Action Day
MADAGASCAR - Honko Mangrove Conservation & Education is three years active in SW Madagascar supporting local communities in ecologically restoring their degraded mangroves and creating alternative livelihoods to the destructive charcoaling. For its third celebration of this action day, Honko planted mangroves with all members from the newly appointed mangrove and wetland committee. On July 26, the group planted out the rest of the young mangrove plants still present in the nurseries. In the afternoon there was a competition between the five participating villages of traditional dancing. The celebration showed local communities the benefit of becoming member of this committee and so safeguarding the remaining forests and utilizing its associated resources sustainibly. For more information on Honko contact Benjamin De Ridder  by email at deridder_benjamin@yahoo.com.

Saudi Arabia's National Prawn Co leaders in desert coastal aquaculture
SAUDI ARABIA- The National Prawn Company (NPC) of Saudi Arabiais a world renowned integrated aquaculture  enterprise, and a global leader in sustainable farming. On the pristine shores of the Red Sea, NPC carefully nurtures its popular white prawns, also known as Penaeus indicus, which is famous for its superior quality, texture, colour and succulent taste. Covering an area of approximately 250 square kilometres on the Red Sea Coast in Saudi Arabia, the privately owned NPC is among the largest, fully integrated desert prawn farms in the world. The 10 farms are fed directly from the pristine, crystal clear waters of the Red Sea. Sustainability is an integral part of NPC’s commitment to its customers, employees and shareholders. READ MORE

ASIA

Planete Urgence Celebrates Mangrove Action Day
INDONESIA - Planete Urgence in Indonesia, along wih local partner, Yagasu, an Indonesian NGO, implemented a mangroves reforestation project in North Sumatra and Aceh provinces since 2007 and has already planted 2 millions mangroves in 6 plantations sites, with a survival rate, after 3 years, of 70%. On July 27, in celebration of Mangrove Action Day the group held a workshop in Medan, capital of the North Sumatra Province. This workshop was attended by numerous local institutions: ministry of forestry, environment conservation agency, MPs, Department of Mangroves for Western Indonesia, various institutions of the province and district levels. The organizations conducted a discussion about participation of local populations (mainly at village level) in mangroves management and restoration and rehabilitation. For more information please contact Fabien Garnier : Planete Urgence by email at indonesie@planete-urgence.org

Some 69 pct of Java, Bali mangrove forests damaged
INDONESIA The People`s Coalition for Fishery Justice has appealed to the government on the need to preserve and improve mangrove forests. The mangrove preservation is necessary to prevent them from disappearance from the face of the earth because the forests provide ground for fishes, shrimp, and mollusks for spawning and rearing.  According to data of the People`s Coalition for Fishery Justice (Kiara), damage of mangrove forests in the 1997-2008 period reached 68 percent. Kiara program coordinator Abdul Halim said in Jakarta, damage of the mangrove ecosystem was caused by industrial anthropogenic waste in coastal areas. Besides, the other causes include coastal land conversion for industrial purposes, commercial centers and luxury residential areas. The wastes caused damage of the mangrove ecosystem, and consequently making it difficult for fishermen to earn a living, he said. READ MORE

An amazing walk in a (mangrove) park
PHILIPPINES: Nestled and kept largely hidden in Barangays Bugtongbato and Naisud in Ibajay town in Aklan is a vast and rare mangrove forest that has enchanted residents and mystified scientists and conservationists. The mangroves have drawn hundreds of tourists since the Katunggan It Ibajay (Mangrove Forest of Ibajay) Eco-Park or KIT was launched on Jan. 19. The 44.22-hectare park, 36 kilometers north of the capital town of Kalibo and 30 km from Caticlan, the jump-off point to Boracay Island, is home to one of the most diverse mangrove forests in the Philippines. READ MORE

Conference demands protection of coastal livelihoods and environment

BANGLADESH- A South-Western Coastal Conference has demanded implementation of the '11-point Khulna Declaration' including renovation of the Aila-hit embankments. Khulna University's Environment Science Department and Humanity Watch on Saturday jointly organised the conference which made the call. The demands include formulation of a separate policy on coastal embankment management, prevention of saline water flow through embankments and special measures for conservation of coastal agriculture. READ NEWS ARTICLE

READ FULL KHULNA DECLARATION

Celebrating International Mangrove Action Day -2010
BANGLADESH - The Centre for Coastal Environmental Conservation (CCEC), an NGO in Bangladesh, celebrated the International Mangrove Action Day (26th July) -2010 at Burigoalini Union adjoining Burigoalini Forest Range Office at Shyamnagar UPZ under Satkhira District of Bangladesh. The CCEC organized a rally with the active participation of Mangroves Protection Society (MPS) members and Sundarbans stakeholders i.e. bouali (wood and thatch cutter), mouali (honey extractor), jellay(fish and crab catcher) cooperative society members. READ MORE

Tatas sue NGO over turtle game
INDIA- The Tatas filed a defamation suit against the international environmental NGO, Greenpeace, in the Delhi High Court on Friday for promoting an online video game called Turtle vs Tata. The suit demands damages of Rs10 crore from Greenpeace for defamation and wrongful use of the Tata trademark in their game. Greenpeace’s Pac-Man-style video game was inspired by the conflict in coastal Orissa between the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles and Tata Steel’s deep water port in the area. In the game, which was launched by the NGO about a month ago to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Pac-Man, the player is a turtle that has to eat as much healthy food as it can while avoiding the ‘Tata demons’ that threaten its home. Justice Ravindra Bhatt, while admitting the plea, issued a notice to the NGO and asked them to file their reply by July 27. The description of the online game reads, “With Turtle vs Tata, Greenpeace India hopes to transform online gamers into concerned citizens. The Pac-Man-style video game is based on a real-life tussle involving endangered Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.” READ MORE

Wildlife Activists Move Supreme Court
INDIA- Three renowned wildlife activists have moved the Supreme Court, alleging that that the private Dhamra port was being built on forest land. The petitioners alleged that this was in defiance of the stipulated law and also the apex court, which had earlier acknowledged the status of the land. The petitioners are Bittu Sahgal, former member of the Indian Board for Wildlife and the Expert Appraisal Committee for Infrastructure (including ports) of the environment and forest ministry; Shekar Dattatri, who made two famous films, The Ridleys' Last Stand and The Killing Fields; and Romulus Whitaker, founder of the Madras Crocodile Bank, Madras Snake Park and host of other wildlife-related organization. The upcoming port is close to defence establishments like the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, and Wheeler Islands. READ MORE

World Bank to support Bangladesh's Sundarbans, world's largest mangrove forest
BANGLADESH- The World Bank has extended its support for conservation and sustainable development of world's largest mangrove forest of Sundarbans. In this regard the Bank is helping in the preparation of various studies to enable the Government of Bangladesh to develop a holistic programme for Sundarbans. The studies are expected to be completed by September 2011, says a bank press release. Bangladesh and India share the Sundarbans of which sixty two per cent falls in Bangladesh. Due to its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystem, the ecological importance Sundarban Reserve Forest (SRF) is immense. The Sundarbans is home to an estimated 425 species of wildlife, including 300 species of birds and 42 species of mammals, as well as the Royal Bengal Tiger. READ MORE

Myanmar's ‘successful’ aquaculture project enters second year
Editorial Comment: The attempt by JICA to introduce the more traditional extensive system similar to Indonesia's"tambok" culture of shrimp and/or fish in rice paddies is noteworthy, as it is aimed at helping to supplement local family income rather than meant for export. The one big fault with this plan by JICA is that they are sending the wrong message in encouraging the raising of non-native species in the open system of aquaculture thus allowing these farmed introduced varieties a probability of escape into surrounding waterways if a flood or other natural event occurs. Why JICA is not limiting this to native species only must be for some interest in survivability and marketability, but this is a double-edged sword if bio-invasion is taken into account.
MYANMAR- Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has declared the first 12 months of a three-year paddy aquaculture project in Myanmara success. Under the project, farmers are provided with fish that are raised in rice paddies and later eaten or sold to supplement income. Mr Katsuyoshi Saito, JICA’s deputy chief representative in Myanmar, said most farmers participating in the program exceeded JICA’s expectations, with between 15 and 30 percent of all fish provided to farmers surviving – to make it onto the dinner plate or into market stores. Mr Saito said JICA had anticipated an average survival rate of about 20pc. As well as providing a tasty meal for farmers, the fish also reduce pesticide and fertiliser costs, Mr Saito said. The fish eat nine of 13 insects that are known to have a negative effect on paddy harvests, while their feces also acts as a natural fertiliser. READ MORE 

Scientists condemn current development plan in Kalimantan
INDONESIA - Scientists with the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) have released a resolution opposing the current development plan for a road and bridge crossing Balikpapan Bay in the Indonesian state of Kalimantan. The resolution states that the plan threatens not only the fragile ecosystems within the bay, but of the nearby mangroves as well as the Sungai Wain forest and its watershed, vital for local industry and people. According to ATBC, the plan could be easily remedied by officials picking an alternate route, which is also favored by locals since it would be 80 kilometers shorter. READ MORE

NORTH AMERICA

Indoor shrimp farming in the US makes a splash in suffering industry
USA- The art of indoor shrimp farming is one few have mastered, but it may be more important than ever in the wake of the BP oil spill in the United States Gulf of Mexico, which has demolished shrimp populations and the shrimping industry. A shrimp farmer in Maryland is looking to change the future of the industry, by moving things indoors. READ MORE

Ecological Mangrove Restoration: Re-establishing an ecosystem with community participation
USA- Very few organisations so far have dealt effectively with mangrove restoration and relatively few experiences exist on successful, long-term mangrove rehabilitation, partly because these have not corrected the problem(s) which caused the mangrove loss in the first place. Too often, due to economic reasons and traditional forestry practices favouring charcoal production, single species mangrove plantations are established. However, these plantations are often established in mud flats, salt flats and even sea grass beds, thus converting one viable and important ecosystem into another, which is not a wise solution when attempting to “restore” ecosystem functions, even if these projects do successfully establish some mangroves. In search of a compromise between economic value and biodiversity, Mangrove Action Project (MAP) promotes the concept and practice of Ecological Mangrove Restoration (EMR). READ MORE

SOUTH AMERICA

Guatuba Celebrates Mangrove Action Day

BRAZIL- July 26 commemorated the International Day for the Defense of Mangrove Ecosystem. The date was established in 1998, when Ecuador's grassroots organizations supported by Greenpeace International conducted a large share of social mobilization against illegal shrimp farms in Ecuador that has achieved worldwide repercussions. In Guaratuba, the Municipal Department of Environment organized the commemoration date of the inauguration of the Mangrove Pond, through the project on the dissemination of the importance of mangroves in the preservation of marine biodiversity in the garden city. READ MORE

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