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FEATURED STORY

MANGROVES: The Ecosystem Disappearing Faster Than Any Other on Earth

USA – Mangroves–the uniquely salt-adapted trees and shrubs that line our tropical and subtropical coasts, the critical membrane between land and sea–are disappearing at faster rates than virtually any other ecosystem on Earth. Mangroves are some of the most productive, complex, and beneficial natural wonders of our planet. They act as filters for our water supply, reduce erosion, serve as nurseries for commercial fisheries, provide opportunities for recreation, nurture vital marine biodiversity, and can act as "carbon sinks," which reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The destruction and degradation of these natural systems–because of factors such as climate change, development, tourism, wood extraction, and non-sustainable farming–bring about tremendous ecological, social, and economic losses, the extent of which we are only now just realizing. But there is hope for mangroves. The world is starting to notice just how important they are and is beginning to take steps to prevent further loss. READ MORE
 
AFRICA
 
Full Economic Potential of Carbon-Rich Mangroves Remains Untapped

KENYA – The economic and social benefits of mangroves – which are estimated to run into the hundreds of billions worldwide – remain largely untapped due to a lack of carbon finance mechanisms, appropriate policy interventions, and rapid mangrove deforestation, according to a new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report. UNEP estimates the economic cost of the destruction of carbon-rich mangroves, which are being cleared 3 – 5 times faster than terrestrial forests, at $42 billion in economic damages annually. The Guiding Principles for Delivering Coastal Wetland Carbon Projects finds that the potential economic, social and environmental gains from conserving mangroves – 90 per cent of which are found in developing countries and many of which are under threat – including from mangrove inclusion in Reducing Emissions from Deforestations and forest Degradation (REDD+) strategies and protecting and enhancing mangrove stores of carbon, still remain largely under-exploited. READ MORE
 
ASIA
 
Phulbari Stands its Ground Against Dirty Coal

BANGLADESH – London-based multinational company, GCM Resources Plc, is desperately moving to implement an immense open pit coal mine in northwest Bangladesh, forcibly displacing an estimated 130,000 people and destroying the homes, lands, and water sources of as many as 220,000 people.  On November 26, 2014, the company’s CEO, Gary Lye, attempted to conduct consultation with locals in Phulbari and was met with angry crowds.  “He had to leave the town in two hours. Locals have attacked his car and ransacked his office,” related Anu Muhammad, Member Secretary of Bangladesh National Committee.  “The whole self of Phulbari is fighting for their land, homes and lives. People of all classes including farmers, business entrepreneurs, rikshaw-pullers, teachers and house wives have taken to the street… The Mayor of the Phulbari Borough, the Chairman of Phulbari Upazilla and the Business Entrepreneurs have all come to consensus that they will fight against GCM’s proposed project… [this] suggests that Asia Energy’s [GCM’s local subsidiary] day has ended in true terms. Phulbari has embraced to resist open pit mine,” he continued. READ MORE
 
The Sundarbans in big trouble

BANGLADESH – The Sundarbans is now facing a major environmental disaster, after a vessel carrying over 350,000 litres of furnace oil capsized in Sela River, as spill particularly jeopardises a dolphin sanctuary, the local food chain and the entire local ecology. With various authorities, who neither have the experience nor the capability to handle such a case, trying to pass the responsibility on to each other instead of making a move, the situation is getting worse by the minute since the capsize took place in the early hours yesterday. As of filing of this report around 15 hours after the incident, no sign of a rescue operation was reported in the area. “Oil tanker Southern Star Seven was anchored in the river because of dense fog. It capsized around 6am at a place inside the Chandpai Range under West Zone when another empty tanker named MT Southern hit it because of poor visibility,” Amir Hossain Chowdhury, divisional forest officer of the Sundarbans, told the Dhaka Tribune READ MORE
 
Call to close Sundarbans river route
BANGLADESH – The river route through the Sundarbans must be closed permanently. There is no guarantee that a worse accident won't take place in future and more oil will be spilled in the forest. Also, the government bodies had no preparation to deal the accident that occurred on Tuesday. Short term and long term preparations must be taken from now to ensure their failure is not repeated. This was stated by Sundarban researchers and environmental experts at a roundtable on 'Sundarbans in great danger: immediate measures'. Prothom Alo arranged the roundtable at its Kawran Bazar office yesterday, Sunday.The speakers criticised shipping minister Shahjahan Khan for his contention that the oil spill would not harm the Sundarbans. They said that already crabs, dolphins and other animals have begun to die. The accident will have a long term impact on Sundarbans' biodiversity and genetic resources. Integrated efforts are needed to ensure the Sundarbans does not face any such danger again. They advised the government to take stock of the damages done to the world heritage site by this accident. READ MORE
 
The Mekong River means life: stop the Don Sahong Dam

VIETNAM – The Mekong River is the mother of all Southeast Asian rivers, providing life-sustaining resources to millions of people. The future of the Mekong and her people are in jeopardy, however. The government of Laos plans to build the Don Sahong Dam – the second dam proposed for construction on the Lower Mekong mainstream – on the main pathway in the Mekong that allows for year-round fish migration. If built, the Don Sahong Dam will entirely block the Hou Sahong Channel, endangering fish migration throughout the region, with far-reaching consequences for food and livelihood security in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. Lives in this area and throughout the Mekong are intricately entwined with the river that provides an identity and rich history, as well as a source of income and food security. The planned site of the Don Sahong Dam is a unique section of the Mekong River, home to one of the last remaining populations of critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins as well as the iconic Khone Phapheng waterfalls, and near an internationally protected Ramsar wetland site in downstream Cambodia. READ MORE
 
AMERICAS
 
Study warns of the dangers of ignoring rights in climate change negotiations

PERU – Against the backdrop of the twentieth Conference of the Parties (CoP20) underway in Lima, Peru this week, the new report provides alarming evidence of serious rights violations associated with deforestation, and first-hand community testimony of the impact of environmental destruction on the wellbeing and cultural survival of forest-dependent communities. It highlights recommendations from indigenous peoples to support community-led initiatives to address deforestation in their own territories. ‘Securing Forests, Securing Rights’, released here for the first time, was compiled following research and investigations conducted by more than sixty indigenous and forest communities from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Convening in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, in March 2014, rights holders themselves spoke independently of the direct and indirect drivers of forest loss and shared their own assessments of the grave human rights violations and atrocities facing their communities and lands. READ MORE
 
 
Coral communities in mangrove habitats suggest a novel refuge from climate change
USA – Risk analyses indicate that more than 90% of the world's reefs will be threatened by climate change and local anthropogenic impacts by the year 2030 under "business-as-usual" climate scenarios. Increasing temperatures and solar radiation cause coral bleaching that has resulted in extensive coral mortality. Increasing carbon dioxide reduces seawater pH, slows coral growth, and may cause loss of reef structure. Management strategies include establishment of marine protected areas with environmental conditions that promote reef resiliency. However, few resilient reefs have been identified, and resiliency factors are poorly defined. READ MORE

LAST WORD(S)

Dear Colleagues,
 
The UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are excited to announce the launch of the first Unit of a unique 10-Unit open access, self-paced online course all about mangrove ecosystems and their management.
 
Unit 1 consists of 5 lessons and introduces students to mangroves and provides a brief description of their basic characteristics, evolution, distribution, importance and status.
 
The following 9 units will be launched over the coming months and cover topics such as mangrove ecology, diversity of flora and fauna, climate change, ecosystem-based adaptation and risk reduction, restoration and management tools, economic valuation tools, and policies and laws.
 
Unit 1 can be accessed at Conservation Training and is open access. It only requires registration with the Conservation Training platform.  For more information, also to enroll please CLICK HERE
 
Hanneke Van LavierenÂ
Consultant
Hogebiezendijk 31
3401 RS IJsselstein
The Netherlands
Email: hanvanlav@gmail.com
Mobile: +1-(0)6-57802410 or +1-(0)6-57819621

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