FEATURED STORY
Sunderbans Mangrove Trees Losing Capacity to Absorb CO2

BANGLADESH – The vast mangrove forest in the Sunderbans is fast losing its capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, one of the main greenhouse gases, from the atmosphere due to rise in the salinity of water, rampant deforestation and pollution, a study has found. The mangrove forest, marsh grass, phytoplanktons, molluscus and other coastal vegetation in the world's largest delta are the natural absorbers of carbon dioxide (CO2), according to the study. The stored carbon in the plants is known as "Blue Carbons". The absorption of CO2 is a process which contributes to reduction of the warming of the earth and other ill effects of climate change. The research study, "Blue Carbon Estimation in Coastal Zone of Eastern India – Sunderbans", was financed by the Union government and headed by noted marine scientist Abhijit Mitra. READ MORE
 
AFRICA
 
Oil production in Nigeria is causing an environmental tragedy

NIGERIA – Nigeria is the biggest oil producer on the continent of Africa. The country is also a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). However, many communities residing around oil production in the Niger Delta remain underdeveloped. All Africa reports that oil companies blame gangs breaking into pipelines to steal crude oil as the main causes of oil spills in the region. Nonetheless, the largest oil company operating in Nigeria, Shell Petroleum, is now in the midst of a lawsuit from fishermen in the Niger Delta who are being represented by in the UK based law firm, Leigh Day. They argue that the company isn’t doing enough to maintain and protect its pipelines from being sabotaged by oil thieves. But Shell insists it’s following international best practice in its operations in the West African country. While the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has not reacted to the issue, Shell has stated that no stakeholder is in a position to implement the UNEP report on the clean-up of Ogoniland unilaterally. READ MORE
 
Flooding made worse by mangrove loss
CAMEROON – Extreme weather has severely damaged infrastructure on Cameroon’s Bakassi Peninsula, threatening the intense development efforts undertaken since the long-contested area was ceded to the country. Weeks of rainfall, accompanied by high tides near the coastal border with Nigeria, have triggered heavy floods in virtually all villages on the peninsula, submerging houses and forcing the population to flee for safety. Environmentalists blame the flooding not only on the weather but also on the destruction of mangrove forests – crucial to shoreline protection – by the area’s growing population. READ MORE
 
ASIA
 
Group marks Mangrove Action Day in Odisha

INDIA – Every year, APOWA (Action for Protection of Wild Animals) has been observing Mangrove Action Day in Odisha. This year too, APOWA observed the same in association with District Environment Society, Kendrapara and Mangrove Forest Division (WL), Rajnagar, Govt. of Odisha at Madanpur High School, Madanpur, Rajnagar on 26th July, 2014. Inaugurating the program, Mr. Gadadhar Patra, Asst. conservator of forest of Mangrove Forest (WL) Division and Bhitarkanika National Park, said that more awareness and required to be raised about conserving mangrove resources in coastal areas. ‘Measures must be taken to create an awareness of the importance role playing mangroves. Mr. Abhimanyu Rout, Head master of the school was presided over the meeting. Totally, 105 students and 20 teachers from the school along with local forest staff participated in this conservation program. READ MORE
 
Mangroves planted to protect new airport from coastal erosion

INDONESIA – Dozens of schoolchildren and hundreds of university students and soldiers helped to protect Ahmad Yani International Airport in Semarang, Central Java, from coastal erosion by planting 10,000 mangroves on Maron Beach on Saturday. Medicine producer PT Phapros donated the mangroves being planted. “We launched the ‘Go Green’ program by planting mangroves on Maron Beach, Semarang, in 2011. We have so far planted 380,000 mangroves in the area,” Phapros’ president director Iswanto said. He said the program had been conducted in cooperation with Diponegoro University’s student community KeSEMaT who shared the company’s concern about mangrove preservation. The planting, according to Iswanto, was also an attempt to educate younger generations to love nature and to develop their support for mangrove conservation. READ MORE
 
Mangroves ‘choked’ by illegal dams constructed for fishing
INDIA – Environmentalists and forest officials are disturbed about the gradual 'choking' and destruction of mangroves along Thane Creek in Airoli, Diva, Ghansoli and Koparkhairane due to illegal construction of dams. Locals built illegal concrete dams to carry out crab farming and fishing there, said sources. "Some locals illegally construct concrete dams around a patch of mangroves, which completely cut its supply of fresh tidal waters, to create an artificial pond where they do crab farming and fishing. But the dam slowly kills the mangroves, as they don't get continuous water supply," said environmentalist D Stalin of NGO Vanashakti. READ MORE
 
New mangroves planted in Eastern Visayas
PHILIPPINES – More than 23 million new mangrove trees have been planted to shield coastal communities in Eastern Visayas from sea level rise, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported.
As of end of June, 38,221 hectares have been covered by the P38-million coastal reforestation project under the National Greening Program. DENR Regional Executive Director Leonardo Sibbaluca said they are targeting to plant 41.59 million seedlings in coastal areas along Leyte Gulf by the end of the year. “We have seen the protection given by mangroves. In Hernani, Eastern Samar, for instance, the entire town center could have been swept away had there been no mangroves planted in the area. In one village in Tacloban, six people survived by clinging to a mangrove tree,” Mr. Sibbaluca said. In addition, some 9,300 hectares will be planted with a mix of mangroves and beach tree species. “We hope to complete the planting by 2015. READ MORE
 
1,030-ha mangroves to be developed

INDIA – Officials of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), in association with Rural Development Department, will develop Mangroves (Mada forests) in island villages in Krishna district. The authorities have prepared estimations for developing mada forests and forest lands in around 1,030 hectares, according to Manepalli V.V. Satyanarayana Murty, Mahatma Gandhi Vana Adhikari and Divisional Forest Officer of Krishna, Guntur, West and East Godavari districts. Speaking to the newsmen here on Monday, Mr. Murty said that lands had already been identified in Nagayalanka, Koduru and Palakayatippa areas in the district under Eluru and Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary. The forest lands and mangroves would be developed in the next five years by laying channels. READ MORE
 
Editor’s Note : The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is the civic body that governs the city of Mumbai, Maharashtra and is India's richest municipal organization.
BMC Tree Authority wants control of mangroves
INDIA – During a meeting with the state government officials, members of the Authority demanded that mangroves be handed over to the BMC, as the state forest department is unable to control rampant encroachment. Rampant encroachment and debris dumping on lands with mangroves has made it difficult for authorities to protect them at a local level. A member of the Tree Authority has, therefore, suggested that mangroves should now be brought under their jurisdiction as well. At the Tree Authority meeting recently, forest department representatives of the state highlighted the issue of mangroves and members agreed that the need to maintain and preserve these trees has now become necessary. In the past, the BMC has received various proposals to maintain mangroves; presently, the controlling power is with the state forest department. READ MORE
 
AMERICAS

Demens Landing residents angered by mangrove's severe cutting

U.S.A. – An investigation is under way to determine who improperly trimmed a large mangrove tree down to its roots last week at Demens Landing. The problem isn't so much that someone tried to trim the mangrove as much as the way they trimmed it. "That wasn't really trimming, what they did, it was an alteration," said Conor Petren, an environmental specialist for Pinellas County. "Which means, you change the basic nature of the tree by cutting it down to a stub, pretty much." The responsible party will be fined between $100 and $10,000 and will need to propose a method of "mitigation" for the damage, he said. Petren examined the tree on Monday after receiving complaints from residents at the downtown St. Petersburg marina. The tree, which is actually a collection of several trunks, was cut to below 6 feet tall and a large portion of its leaves were removed, against code. The county has strict rules that govern how and when a mangrove can be trimmed or removed. READ MORE
 
EUROPE
 
Turning the tide on mangrove loss

U.K. – Mangrove forests are one of the most severely threatened and undervalued ecosystems on earth and are being lost at an alarming rate. On November 6 and 7, this topic will be thoroughly discussed during a two-day symposium on mangrove loss. Speakers from around the world (including MAP’s executive director Alfredo Quarto, and former MAP Board member Robin Lewis) will present a series of talks on improving conservation success and influencing policy. The event will showcase initiatives that are being developed around the world to conserve mangrove forests, including the use of mangroves for blue carbon and climate change mitigation.  The symposium will also provide the context for a call to arms for researchers and conservationists to align research objectives and discuss future initiatives. To find out more or to buy tickets. Please visit the website. READ MORE
 
OCEANA
 
Winning artwork depicts mangroves: amazing ecosystems where the land meets the sea.

AUSTRALIA – A Queenslander, Carole King beat 600 international entrants, with a collage picture of mangroves. As well as being beautiful, this art work educates the viewer about the scientific importance of mangroves, and subtly highlights the danger that human intervention presents for these delicate ecosystems. The mangroves at our respite centre at Laguna Quays near the Whitsundays in Queensland remind me of the wonder I felt as a child when I noticed that the mangrove trees grew differently from those in the paddocks on our farm. I used to be amazed also at the variety of wildlife (including the insects!!!! ) Australia has 11,000 square kilometres of mangrove forests stretching all the way around the vast coastline (except in Tasmania).  There is a growing awareness of the importance of mangroves to the environment, the economy and our overall health. Nowadays, many of the remaining mangrove forests are protected under conservation policies of the various states. There are also grass-roots activities (excuse the Dad-pun) where people can get involved in helping to preserve what we can of our various mangrove forests. READ MORE
 
LAST WORD(S)
 
Dear Alfredo
 
As you know we have waited a long time to get the THE GREEN DISC: NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR A NEW FUTURE 2nd Edition out, and now it is suddenly happening in a rush!
 
We will launch this next month at the UN Conference on Small Island Developing States in Apia Samoa. Although we will be circulating discs of the 2nd Edition there, we are primarily publishing as a free web resource for people seeking innovative, cost-effective solutions to major energy, environment, and climate change problems, written mainly by the inventors and developers themselves.
 
But we will need YOUR help to do so. PLEASE ask YOUR OWN non-profit or company if they can be a sponsor to help the world-wide dissemination of your own and many other cutting-edge problem-solving technologies that need to be more widely applied. The Global Coral Reef Alliance and the Soil Carbon Alliance, two groups I head, will both use some of their scarce funds to do so.
 
Thanks again for your involvement in this important project.
 
Best wishes,
The Editors: Tom Goreau, Lon Gibby, Kevin Hill, Al Binger, Mallika Naguran, and Delroy Green.
THE GREEN DISC: NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR A NEW FUTURE

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