MAP News Issue 392, June 11, 2016

Why One Man Works to Save the Plants That Fight Climate Disruption

USA – It's not news that anthropogenic climate disruption (ACD) is accelerating at unprecedented rates, according to climate scientists. Fifteen of the 16 hottest years ever recorded have occurred since 2000, and this year is on track to be the hottest year ever recorded — by far. And the pace of planetary warming is only increasing, as is made dramatically clear in this recently published graphic. Hence, the need to do everything possible to work towards mitigating this crisis is obvious. There is no way to completely reverse the trend, but as more and more people acknowledge our shared moral responsibility to mitigate the impacts, some are uncovering creative strategies for fighting planetary warming. For instance, an unlikely epiphany led one man towards an effort to preserve and protect mangrove forests, a tactic that would not necessarily be most folks' first tactic to address climate disruption. In 1992, Alfredo Quarto was in southern Thailand working on an article about fisherfolk when he became aware that mangrove forests were under threat by the shrimping aquaculture industry. READ MORE

AFRICA

Oceans highlighted in Mangroves clean-up
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SOUTH AFRICA – A massive crowd of 120 people collected one ton of waste along the Mangroves beach on World Oceans Day, 8 June. This year, the theme for the annual international day was ‘Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet’. Founder of the Beach Clean-Up KwaZulu-Natal, Jacqueline Jonker, said the aim of the day was to raise awareness regarding pollution. “Every week more and more litter is washed down the river and onto our beaches. Plastic is particularly a major concern as it takes decades to degrade and simply ends up floating in our oceans,” she said. A recent study conducted by oceanographer, Marcus Eriksen, has revealed that the Indian Ocean alone has over one trillion pieces of rubbish floating in it. According to the Mount Edgecombe resident, shoes, metal tobacco tins, plastic, deodorant bottles and polystyrene remain the most common types of litter found on beaches. READ MORE

ASIA

Cleaning coastal communities and encouraging Krabi kids to care for their country

THAILAND – The 2016 World Environment Day weekend was a busy one for the staff at MAP Asia in Thailand with celebrations in Krabi, filming taking place at the EPIC ponds on Koh Klang and a clean-up at Ta-Sanook village, Phang Nga province. Friday the 3rd of June dawned rainy, yet this did not stop thousands of school children descending upon the Krabi Provincial Administrative Organization for World Environment Day celebrations. Teaming up with the Nai Nang village beekeepers, the Global Nature Fund (GNF) of Germany and with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support from Daimler AG, the Asia Office staff readied the display and activities in the inclement weather. The Nai Nang beekeepers brought along a selection of honey and soap, which garnered interest from children and adults alike. The children proved keen to learn about the importance of mangrove ecosystems, recycling, and the dangers of plastic pollution. Their enthusiasm and interest in our stall was evident, and everyone had a wonderful time. We can definitely say that we surprised many of them with our games, particularly when they learned just how long it takes for rubbish to break down (up to 600 years for nylon fishing line and up to 1000 years for polystyrene, just in case you were wondering)! READ MORE

Phuket golf course, prawn farm accused of encroachment
THAILAND – A golf course and prawn farm are among the businesses that authorities are targeting for encroachment of more than 2,000 rai of mangrove forests in Phuket province. Marine and coastal-resources officials and soldiers began inspections of the 2,400-rai in encroachments on Sunday, planning to wrap up their survey in Muang Phuket and Thalang districts. Among the targeted areas are parts of the Mission Hills Golf Resort and 25 prawn ponds operated by Gold Ranger the Third Co in the island province. Part of the golf course allegedly usurped part of the Len Klong Para mangrove forest, while some prawn ponds are believed to be in the Len Klong Tha Rua mangrove forest. Capt Sathaporn Wajarat, director of internal security operations in Phuket, said that some party had reclaimed land in the mangrove forest before selling the plot to the golf course developer. READ MORE

Editors Note: It appears that climate change and river dams on the Mekong are devastating the aquaculture industry and farming in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam! The drought is most likely damaging the mangroves as well, especially worsened by the many dams built along the river for electrical energy production. This situation can only worsen with climate change.
Shrimp Farms In Mekong Delta hit by worst drought- Climate Change Blamed
VIETNAM – An epochal drought in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam has killed 30 percent of the pangasius growing in ponds along the river’s banks and done serious damage to shrimp farming operations. The drought and other simultaneous disasters affecting the Mekong Delta have resulted in a raw materials shortage for the country’s seafood processors and the situation is so serious that many firms are said to be on the brink of insolvency. The drought is the worst Vietnam has experienced during the past 90 years and has destroyed more than 4,500 hectares of seafood farms, according to a report in Thanh Nien News. In addition, nearly 260,000 hectares of rice and vegetables, and more than 160,000 hectares of orchards and cash crops have been lost, the newspaper said. Eleven out of 13 provinces in the delta region have declared the drought a natural disaster and the country’s Agriculture Ministry has urged the government to provide more than VND 1 trillion (USD 45 million, EUR 40 million) in relief to the affected areas. Meanwhile, the situation is likely to continue until September and spread to the north-central provinces as well. READ MORE

Sundarbans in danger: stop Rampal coal power plant

BANGLADESH – The Sundarbans: thousands of islands dot this unique realm between the dry land of the Subcontinent and the Bay of Bengal, the most extensive mangrove forest on Earth. A dwindling population of Bengal tigers roam the land in the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers. The estuarine crocodile, the Irrawaddy and Ganges dolphins and the Indian python are also at home there. The Sundarbans’ rich biodiversity prompted UNESCO to declare the forest a World Heritage Site. However, this paradise is now in danger: The Rampal coal power plant is to be built in Bangladesh, only 14 kilometers from the mangroves. Preliminary work is already underway. The 1,320 MW plant is a joint venture of the Indian and Bangladeshi governments. Environmentalists are alarmed at the prospect: the plant would have a massive impact on the delicate ecosystem and push numerous species toward extinction. The mangroves are a nursery for aquatic life, and the plant’s emissions into the river Passur would thus threaten the food security of more than two million people. The plant would also release 220 tons of toxic air pollutants daily and wreak havoc on the climate with vast amounts of carbon dioxide. READ MORE

Dealing with the trash problem in Phuket

THAILAND – Hygiene and cleanliness are very personal, and judging by the aroma at the airport and on airplanes, often seem to be an optional affair. But living in our environment is a shared community exercise, and Phuket does suffer from the stresses and strains of tourism, as well as a lack of regard by certain sectors of the community to cleaning up trash and not dumping rubbish. There is a law in Thailand that clearly states littering is illegal: the 'Act of Maintaining Cleanliness and Tidiness of the Country BE 2535 [1992'. I occasionally wonder if people are aware of it, and then I remember that most people don’t actually read legislation in their spare time. Like many laws in many countries, enforcement is difficult and resources are not sufficient to police social responsibility. To ensure we live in a clean environment, cooperation from our fellow inhabitants is necessary, and the best result of any drive to improve the environment is a majority consensus, or a strong and active minority task force dragging the reluctant with them. READ MORE

AMERICAS

Save the Mangroves at Tajamar

MEXICO – On July 30th, 2015 an audio note began to spread on WhatsApp chats of a group of mostly mothers from the city of Cancun. This audio called for help describing devastation of trees and mangroves, while birds tried to save their nests and crocodiles waited to be buried. This brought together about forty women in an area called Malecon Tajamar , located in downtown Cancun, next to the Nichupté Lagoon. Thanks to the social networks, the facebook page Salvemos Manglar Tajamar (SMT), started to gain followers in a couple of hours. Quickly, more locals from Cancun joined the initiative. By August 4th, 2015, a popular claim signed by 4,333 individuals, with names and addresses was presented before the federal authority PROFEPA (Federal Environmental Protection Agency). The result: by August 12th, 2015 PROFEPA instituted an official and provisional stoppage of the works that were taking place in this project. The closure was, among other things, accredited to the lack of compliance of environmental conditions to which 2005 permits granted to FONATUR (the Federal Government's Fund to promote Tourism, and the seller of those lots). READ MORE

It seems like Biminites are raising their voices once again against Bimini Bay World Resort management and they also have the leader: Sherrick Ellis. Obviously the resort is denying residents’ access to a roadway further up in north-east plus there are complaints about dredging and impacts on the fishing.
Biminites picket despite request to cancel protest
BAHAMAS – Frustrated Bimini residents – on Friday, June 3, 2016 (Labour Day) conducted a protest, despite a request to postpone the picket. Originally the protest was to be led by former High Rock Administrator, Sherrick Ellis, who brought their concerns and grievances to The Freeport News regarding Bimini Bay World Resort management’s encroachment on their traditions as well as the Government of The Bahamas’ apparent lackadaisical attitude in trying to rectify the situation. Ellis claimed tensions have been rising between the natives and resort management for quite some time and while he has tried to devise ways to have the issues taken seriously and clarified by all sides, “the pot has boiled over.” The Freeport News spoke to Ellis concerning the protest and he revealed, “Indeed, I was disappointed by the fact that Cable 12 (Our News) did not come to Bimini to capture the story, which resulted in a request I made to the natives to cancel/postpone the scheduled picketing process. READ MORE

Mangrove Action Day 2016 In celebration of 24 years of MAP history
USA – Although once thought of as useless wastelands, careful study and research has revealed that mangroves are among the most important ecosystems on this planet. Valued for anchoring coastal ecosystems as well as providing economic and ecosystem services to humans, mangrove forests are true treasures. The complexities of these systems are enormous, and there is still much to learn. Mangrove forests are highly interconnected within the ecosystem itself, but they also make up a transitional zone between land and ocean, connecting and supporting both. It is no surprise that mangroves are called “roots of the sea.” Founded in 1992, the Mangrove Action Project has spent the past 24 years promoting the rights of traditional and indigenous coastal peoples, including fishers and farmers, to sustainably manage their coastal environs. On Thursday July 21st we are celebrating Mangrove Action Day to raise funds that support education and training for local mangrove communities, empowering them to restore and conserve their own mangrove forests and other coastal resources. READ MORE

In Support of Mangroves
USA – Education and financial support can help in the fight to protect and restore mangrove forests. Currently there are many non-profit organizations conducting training workshops with citizens of coastal communities in tropical regions, particularly in such emerging countries as Cambodia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Consultants are working alongside government officials to create new protection zones and to beef up regulations and penalties. The rest of us can take certain actions. We can sign petitions against polluters, volunteer on planting and clean-up projects, make financial donations. We can voice our support for the creation of more nature parks and the building of above-ground boardwalks so that the public can visit and enjoy these places without disturbing the trees and their roots. We can speak out against over-development and vote for stricter zoning. We can share our concerns with neighbors and friends. There are many organizations dedicated in full or in part to saving the mangroves. One that I personally support and will mention here is called Mangrove Action Project. They are based in the state of Washington, USA. It is worth 5 minutes of your time today to visit their site and learn something new about our friends – the mangroves. READ MORE

Community Groups, Scientists Partner To Restore Saint Lucia Mangroves

JAMAICA – OFFICERS from the departments of forestry and fisheries, together with Saint Lucia National Trust staff and residents of Vieux Fort and Praslin, recently joined regional experts to establish mangrove nurseries to help replenish the island's critically threatened wetlands. "Some persons in Saint Lucia understand the value of healthy mangroves, while others still regard it as swampland. However, with support from the communities and partners in Vieux Fort and Praslin, there is a sense of hope," said Alleyne Regis of PCI Media Impact, who is leading the community engagement. "It is refreshing to see the survival and sustainability of such a valuable plant species be embraced by the communities," he added. An initiative of the Eastern Caribbean Marine Managed Areas Network, the project is to see the establishment of two temporary nurseries, as well as the training of community representatives and more than 10 forestry and fisheries officers. READ MORE

LAST WORD(S)

June 8 was World Oceans Day

"Five trillion pieces of plastic are polluting our oceans."

"Two-thirds of the world’s seabirds have eaten plastic"

Time to clean up the ocean garbage dump

"5.25 trillion tons of floating plastic"

Informal recycling of e-waste a serious problem, expert says

Open borders make way for pollution in Myanmar

The way of the trash