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The MAP News, 226th Ed., 11 December, 2009
Dear Friends,
This is the 226th Edition of the Mangrove Action Project News, December 11, 2009.
For the Mangroves,
Alfredo Quarto
Mangrove Action Project
Sign up to receive the MAP News by sending an e-mail to: mapnews@mangroveactionproject.org.
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.
All news items and notices published in the MAP News can also be accessed directly from our home page www.mangroveactionproject.org, with links to the full story and the original source. New items are posted daily and are available as an RSS feed!
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SHRIMP LESS, THINK MORE:
Learn more about the affects of the shrimp industry on mangroves by visiting our blog.
Sign the Consumer's Pledge to avoid imported shrimp
MAP ACTIVITIES:
2010 MAP Calendar On Sale Now!
MAP’s Martin Keeley and Marvelous Mangroves go to China
Vote for the Worst Corporate Lobbyists in the Angry Mermaid Awards
Alien Mangroves in Florida Article
Join or Support the Mumbai Mangroves Group
MAP ANNOUNCEMENTS
MAP Calendar Release
Dear Friend of the Mangroves,
First, I hope that you are doing well! With this Fall season now in full swing, I am keeping very busy taking on old tasks that are needing attention and initiating new ones. I ask now for your help on a yearly task that you have helped with before, and your help has been important to us then as it is still important now.
Our 2010 Children's Art Calendar has just been proofed, and we are now ready to begin production for printing and distribution. As usual, we can offer the calendars at half price to outlets or for $8 per calendar for those who purchase in bulk (20 or more). Otherwise, we are asking $12 per Calendar.
Note there are two versions, and the difference is that one calendar is for international distribution with certain dates marked that have intl. significance, while the 2nd version has these same dates, but added to them are US holidays so this can be sold here in the US. We decided to print this 2nd US oriented version because we had received suggestions that we include US holidays so the calendars are more useful for the bulk of our calendar buyers who are in the US.
Our plan thus far is to print 250 Intl. ones and 550 US ones. We would like to print more, but without help in distributing these and selling them, we are restricted to this smaller scale for now! Let us know soon if you want any bulk orders for distribution in your area. As you will see from this year's selection of beautiful children's art from the many contributing nations, we are very happy to present this new year to all on our list!
PLEASE SEND US YOUR ADVANCE ORDERS NOW, SO WE CAN BETTER DETERMINE HOW MANY CALENDARS WE SHOULD PRINT THIS YEAR.
Cheers,
Alfredo
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FEATURED NEWS: AFRICA
A New Strategic Programme to Strengthen Coastal and Marine Protection
KENYA - The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today in Mombasa launched discussions on strengthened environmental protection measures that would be implemented through the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) to protect the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), a hotspot for biodiversity that also supports large coastal populations. Read MoreSource: Australia.to 12/11/2009
SE ASIA
Burmese ‘More Aware’ of Climate Change
BURMA - The devastation wrought in Burma by cyclone Nargis last year has made people more aware of the potential for climate change to impact on the country, a Burmese environmentalist said. Read More
Source: Democratic Voice of Burma 12/9/2009
Selling Indonesia's Coast for Cheap Prawns and Profit
INDONESIA - Set against the looming construction cranes and gleaming plastic roofs of the newly built factories, the last remaining fishing village in Jakarta Bay looks increasingly out of place. Read More
Source: Ecologist 11/24/20009
Tree Harvester Offers to Save Indonesian Forest
INDONESIA – From the air, the Kampar Peninsula in Indonesia stretches for mile after mile in dense scrub and trees. One of the world’s largest peat swamp forests, it is also one of its biggest vaults of carbon dioxide, a source of potentially lucrative currency as world governments struggle to hammer out a global climate treaty. The vault, though, is leaking. Read More
Source: NY Times 11/29/2009
Borneo Natives Proclaim Tropical Forest Reserve
INDONESIA - Seventeen indigenous Penan communities have proclaimed a new tropical forest reserve on their native lands in the jungles of Borneo. Read More
Source: World-Wire 11/30/2009
Indonesia to Stop Shrimp Imports
INDONESIA - Minister of fisheries and marine resources Fadel Muhammad said here on Saturday the government planned to stop shrimp imports. "The policy of allowing shrimp imports hurts businessmen and therefore it will be revoked," he said during shrimp harvesting in Pesawaran, Lampung, Sumatra. Read More
Source: Kompas 11/29/2009
First Gas sees Potential Carbon Credits from Mangrove Plantation
PHILIPPINES - Protection from climate change's wrath, a cleaner air, and an alternative livelihood source are among the greatest benefits that energy firm First Gas Power Corp. (FGPC) is seeing in its mangrove reforestation. Read More
Source: Manila Bulletin 12/6/2009
US Blacklists Thailand over Child, Forced Labour
THAILAND - Labour Protection and Welfare Department chief Amporn Nitisiri said the US Labour Department had issued a list of countries, which says that Thailand uses child or forced labour in the productions of shrimps, textiles, sugar cane and pornographic materials. Read More
Source: The Nation 11/27/2009
Joint Effort Needed to Cope with Climate Change
VIETNAM - On December 7, representatives from 192 countries arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference. As one of the countries to suffer the most from climate change, Vietnam is determined to take joint action together with the rest of the world to deal with the challenge. Read More
Source: National Assembly of Vietnam 12/12/2009
SOUTH ASIA
Greedy Grabbers Devour “Green Barrier”
BANGLADESH - Salt evaporation lakes, vast stretches of shrimp cultivation and fields of Shutki drying in the sun stretch as far as the eye can see. Once in a while, two or three young screw pines break the otherwise monotonous view. Read MoreSource: BDNews24 12/2/2009
Mangroves Paint Gujarat Green
INDIA - The country has recorded an increase in mangrove cover by 58 sq km, of which Gujarat alone showed an increase of about 55 sq km! The 2009 data recently released by the forest survey of India (FSI) has shown that most other states saw either none or negligible change in mangrove cover. Read More
Source: Times of India 12/7/2009
Buying Up Mangrove Forests to Conserve
INDIA - I am a ‘pranthan kandal’, mad mangrove tree, says K. Pokkudan, an agricultural laborer in Payangadi. This is a man whose name is now identified with mangrove conservation in Kerala. Read More
Source: Tip of India 11/17/2009
26/11 and Illegal Slums on Mangroves
INDIA - The images below speak for themselves. This post has been possible due to the recent timeline feature of Google Earth and much thanks to them. This is not an isolated incidence but more the norm. In 2007 Mangrove Society of India (Mumbai Chapter) started an exercise to document all such imagery but unfortunately due to the perpetual shortage of resource the exercise did not progress much. Read More
Source: Mumbai Mangroves 11/26/2009
Illegal Dumping Kills 500 Acres of Mangroves
INDIA - Despite being barred by the Supreme Court, dumping of mud and debris to create land for construction projects has resumed at the 500-acre mangrove plot opposite Millat Nagar, Andheri (W). Read More
Source: DNA 12/11/2009
For Maldives, Climate Deal is a Survival Issue
MALDIVES – For Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, the cold scientific numbers of the climate debate add up to the very survival of his tropical Indian Ocean state. If global temperatures rise just 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), "we won't be around, we will be underwater." Read More
Source: Reuters 11/28/2009
MIDDLE EAST
FNC Warns of Threat to Fishing Industry
UNITED ARABA EMIRATES - The Government has not done enough to protect the nation’s dwindling fish stocks and fishing industry, the Federal National Council says in a new report. Read More
Source: The National 12/10/2009
LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN
Controversy Surrounds New Fisheries Law
BRAZIL - The head of the Ministry of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Altemir Gregolin, defended the Fisheries Law, currently in proceedings in the Legislative Assembly of Mato Grosso do Sul, describing it as fair. “We have accompanied the debate over the last three years. It is not right that artisanal fishers are harmed by the reduction of fisheries stocks,” the minister pointed out in an interview with Bom Dia MS. Read More
Source: FIS 12/4/2009
New Report Cites Hotel as Environmental Culprit
COSTA RICA - An inspection by the Costa Rican National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) regional office in Tempisque has confirmed that thousands of square meters of vegetation have been illegally removed from the shoreline in front of the recently opened Hotel Riu in Matapalo de Sardinal in the northwest province of Guanacaste. Read More
Source: Daily News 12/4/2009
Miracle in the Mangrove Forest
HONDURAS - The beating sun in southern Honduras doesn't stop a group of women from throwing themselves into the task of protecting and recuperating a mangrove forest on the Pacific coast. Read More
Source: IPS 11/27/2009
NORTH AMERICA
President to Attend Copenhagen Climate Talks
UNITED STATES - The White House announced today that President Obama will travel to Copenhagen on Dec. 9 to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference, where he is eager to work with the international community to drive progress toward a comprehensive and operational Copenhagen accord. Read More
Source: WhiteHouse.gov 11/25/2009
Cape Resident Wins National Gardening Award
UNITED STATES - Combining his dedication to teaching and his passion for the environment, Joe Mallon led a team of students to restore an area of a local beach. In recognition of his ability to motivate high schoolers to make a difference outside of the classroom, Mallon has been honored as a third place winner in the Restoration category of the 2009 Garden Crusader Awards. Read More
Source: Cape Coral Daily Breeze 12/11/2009
AUSTRALIA/OCEANIA
Mangroves Motion
FIJI - There is a lack of knowledge in our community about the importance of mangrove trees, says Pacific island biogeography expert Professor Randy Thaman. He said mangroves were being destroyed without people fully understanding their purpose at the seafront. Read More
Source: Fiji Times 12/7/2009
ISSUES ARTICLES
Healthy Oceans Can Help Save Us From Climate Change
UNITED STATES - A large international coalition today urged the United States to support marine conservation options that will help mitigate climate change. The 'Blue Climate Coalition,' comprised of sixty-six conservation groups and interests and over 150 marine scientists and professionals, from 33 countries, issued communications today addressed to President Obama and the United States Senate. Read More
Source: PR Newswire 11/18/2009
The Shrimp Effect: Does Eating Shrimp in Canada Kill People in Myanmar?
After the dead are finally counted in Myanmar, the cyclone that hit on May 2nd will go down as one of the deadliest cyclones of all time. Currently seventh on that list is the 1991 cyclone that killed 138,866 people in Bangladesh. Some estimate the Burmese death toll will be around 100,000. Read More
Source: 13.7 Billion Years 5/8/2008
