Almost a Quarter of the Forested Areas in National Parks are Diseased or Dead.

24.3 percent of the forests in Spain's National Parks are diseased (23.8 percent) or dead (0.5 percent), as is clearly detailed in the first Report on the Situation of the National Parks Network through January 1, 2007. This report was analyzed today by the Council of Ministers and sent to the Senate. Seven years ago, in these natural areas 14% of the trees were either sick or had disappeared, that is 10 percent less than today.  

"One of the problems that must be confronted in these areas is the condition of their forests--explains Antonio Serrano, Secretary General for Land Management and Biodiversity of the Environmental Ministry. Healthy woodlands are tending to form a smaller part of the Network because  the trees are very old and due to the effects of global warming and pollution."

Madrid, Europa Press March 28, 2008

Cuba

Cuban Wetlands in Danger

If the worst predictions come true concerning the impact of climate change in Cuba, an important part of the Zapata Marsh, the largest and best preserved wetland in the island Caribbean, could disappear by the second half of this century.

The Zapata Marsh provides habitat for birds that are only found here, such as the Zapata wren (Ferminia cerverai), the Zapata Sparrow (Torreornis inexpectata), and the Zapata Rail (Cyanolimnas cerverai), among others. It is estimated that this wetland is home to over 65 per cent of Cuban birds, in addition to some 1,000 species of plants.

Not only the wetlands themselves, but people who live near them are threatened by more intense hurricanes and forest fires.

Some experts believe that the greater intensity of the hurricanes is a consequence of climate change.  "The ocean is warmer now than before, consequently it is more conducive to the formation and intensification of tropical hurricanes asserts Tomás Gutiérrrez, managing director of Cuba's Meteorological Institute.

According to Pedro Bouza, manager of the Zapata Marsh National Park:

"Hurricanes leave a lot of vegetation accumulated on the ground that dries out due to a lack of rain, becoming fuel for the flames.  The fire spreads rapidly when the wetlands dry out.... We are proactively studying strategies to minimize the impact of fire in these new circumstances."

A series of lectures and films has been planned to inform local residents of the dangers of global warming and encouraging them to treat the wetlands sustainably.

According to scientific estimates, sea level in the Cuban archipelago  could rise from between 8 and 44 centimeters by 2050 and from between 20 to 95 centimeters by 2100.  Such rises would cause a one fifth reduction in the land area of the Zapata Marsh located between 1.5 and 4 meters from the coastline. Moreover, a barely 30 cm rise in sea level would damage fresh water supplies as saltwater intrusion would contaminate the area's fresh water reserves as well as seriously harm the fauna and flora of the areas affected by the invading salt water.

Tierramérica, Ciénaga de Zapata May 5, 2008

Colombia

PAU-20, A Giant Lung Invented by Limeños  Makes it Possible to Clean 200 Thousand Cubic Meters of Air.

That figure is the same achieved by the respiration of 20 thousand people in a day.  The device takes in particulates and noxious gases from the environment and in exchange releases oxygen.

The large blue box has sides that measure 3.5 x 2.5 meters. Additionally, it has a breathing grille on all four side that runs from 65 centimeters  (the height of automobile exhaust pipes) up to the top of the box.

One of these urban purifiers has already been installed in front of the Production Ministry in a downtown area of the city.

Jorge Gutiérrez, one of the engineers responsible for creating it, indicates, nevertheless, that until large scale production is undertaken and we have a number of these lungs, it is not possible to quantify what the benefits might be for the city.

The super tree "also processes nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide and captures particulates such as charcoal, fine sand, asbestos from automobile brake pads, and even rubber produced by tire wear.

Inside the machine pollutants are removed from the air thermodynamically and suspended in water, which can be released into storm drains leaving behind a sterile mud, Gutiérrez explained. The PAU-20 units requires only 2.8 KW per hour, "a little more than an industrial vaccuum cleaner." Gutiérrez said that his company has had inquiries from Spain, the US, Chile y South Korea.

El Tiempo, Bogotá April 12, 2008

Colombia names 11 New Protected Areas in Celebration of Earth Day  

Colombia has announced that it will protect another 150,000 hectares of its territory in 11 areas.  Some of the protected areas are new, others are extensions of already existing preserves. Colombia already ranks 9th in the world for its environmental policies according to one study. The government has declared that it will undertake negotiations with indigenous and Afro-Colombian peoples before any areas are officially protected and that such status will not be granted if agreement cannot be reached.

Although pleased with the government's intentions, Colombian environmentalists expressed concern about whether the government was investing sufficient resources in enforcing protection of parks and preserves.

Roberto Ariano, a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature travel around the Katios National Park and confirmed illegal logging and timber sales were common.

Likewise, Luis Rueda, a biologist at the University of Magdalena, who does field research in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, told EL TIEMPO  that the headwaters of some rivers like the Frío and the Sevilla, which supply water to the provincial, are being affected by agricultural burns.

Government appropriations for the environment, despite being increased are still insufficient.

Although the budget for the National Park System increased between 2007 and 2008 from 6.7 billion pesos to 50 billion, the funding of research, the construction of shelters and hotels for visitors, and most of all control of the illegal wildlife trade and logging require greater investment.

The same Park Service employees explained that, on average, each forest ranger is responsible for protecting 37 thousand hectares of land.

El Tiempo, Bogotá April 22, 2008

Government to Penalize Enterprises that Release 10 Types of Polluting Gases

Until yesterday, according to regulations that had become obsolete, only four substances were monitored, many of which contribute to global warming.

Besides having to keep emissions below 550 milligrams per cubic meter of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide, national industry may not emit more than 8 milligrams per cubic meter of hydrofluoric acid, 60 of volatile organic compounds (those released during the manufacturing and use of solvents), 40 of hydrochloric acid, 8 of lead, 1 of cadmium, 8 of copper, and .5 of dioxins.

The measuring of particulate matter also has changed and 30% of businesses will have to reduce their emissions, especially those that operate coal boilers, cement factories, the metallurgical industries and asphalt-producing plants including those that mix the materials.

All businesses, regardless of size, must set up an Office of Environmental Management to monitor their emissions. These offices, in turn, must be accredited by Ideam, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies.

El Tiempo, Bogotá April 23, 2008

National University Opens the first Caribbean Botanic Garden on San Andres

It has 400 species of flora, some of which are endemic to the island. It also has an 11 meter high tower from which one can see the "Seven-Colored Sea" and an island forest.

The seed from which grew this new garden grew, described by Foreign Minister, Fernando Araújo as a "Natural Park", was planted by Peter Lovy, a biologist who fought for more than 10 years to create it and to preserve the region's vegetation, which, as he explains, has been changed by the close proximity to the continent, specifically Central America.

The Garden which will open to the public in approximately 20 days, is a mixture of forest, sea, ecological trails and birds.

The garden is divided into 3 parts: an introductory section where guides provide an elementary lesson in botany illustrated with plants whose lineages go back to the time of the dinosaur; a second section devoted to orchids, a great many species of which can be found in Colombia and  finally a section of indigenous plants such as the mango and the mamoncillo, which according to local tradition must be planted in every house on the island.

El Tiempo, Bogotá April 27,2008

Chile

Chile is being hit very hard by the energy crisis and global warming.  The rise in Chilean energy costs due the spike in petroleum prices and the collapse of the Chilean hydropower system due to drought have caused sharp rises in the cost of energy in the country. Now add to all that a major volcanic eruption.

The Matte Group Transfers Investment to Peru Owing to High Cost of Energy in Chile

The Board of Directors of La Papelera [the Paper Mill] has decided not to build a plant in [Chile] worth 30 million US dollars.

The high energy costs caused by the strong increase in petroleum prices and the almost complete absence of Argentine natural gas is affecting the budgets of even the largest firms. The Board of Directors of Empresas CMPC (la Papelera) decided yesterday not to invest30 million US dollars in a new plant in Chile. Because of costs, the project will be built in Peru.

The CEO of the firm controlled by the Matte Group, Gonzalo García  said that current conditions in the energy and electrical sectors of the country "make it very difficult to make a profit manufacturing in Chile".

Two other large companies have ceased production in Chile in the last year because of energy costs.

El Mercurio, Santiago May 8, 2008

State of Agricultural Emergency declared in Two Thirds of the Country's Counties due to drought.

From January through today, the government has declared 223 counties, out of a total of 346, to be in this condition. Four regions have been completely affected.  The authorities have had to increase the resources allocated to confront the water crisis to 55 million US dollars.

Nearly all of the money has gone to benefit small farms (under 12 hectares) in the government's INDAP (Institute for the Development of Agriculture and Fisheries) program, which has sparked protests from the owners of larger farms still reeling from the effects of the killer frosts that hit the country last July.

El Mercurio, Santiago May 8, 2008

Efforts to Save Agriculture after the Chaitén Eruption

Ash cloud blowing towards the Atlantic  from May 2, 2008 Chaitén eruption in Chilean Patagonia

The Chilean government has set aside 40 meadows for cattle and sheep threatened by the Chaitén eruption and is working to provide transportation for them via truck and barge. The animals cannot find forage in their home meadows because they have been covered with ash from the eruption.

In Palena province there about one thousand farmers--300 in Palena, 250 in Futaleufú and 450 in Chaitén- and 47 thousand head of livestock of which 22 thousand are sheep. Thirteen of them are the most at risk and will be transferred by barge from Puerto Cisnes to Puerto Montt to be sold if that is what their owners wish to do.

Residents of the area are naturally concerned about how long it will take the soil and water to recover.

Todo depende del grosor de la capa de cenizas que se forme. Si es menor a los 25 milímetros el suelo se recupera fácilmente, pero si es mayor, el tiempo para recuperar la fertilidad es mayor. Se puede acelerar con maquinaria de arado que mezcle el material sedimentado con la tierra, pero conlleva elevados costos.

According to Alfredo Lahson, of the Geology Department of the University of Chile:

... up until now there has only been an ash shower that will seriously affect the residents and economic activity in the zone as they will not have their land and fodder at their disposal for at least two years, but nature will seek out its own mechanisms for recovery.  For example, in the cultivated areas or where the land is plowed, the ash can be worked into the existing earth and, with time, will be converted into clay and form part of the soil.

In the meantime the government will pay the farmers a bonus for their lost animals, which agriculture minister, Marigen Hornkohl, calculates at about 60% of the total herd. At the same time she discouraged the farmers from selling off all of their "in order not to lose their genetic qualities".

El Mercurio, Santiago May 8, 2008

Argentina

For background to this section see this recent article in the New York Times

In Full-Blown Strike, Rural Leaders Prepare a Massive Demonstration in Chaco.

After a breakdown in talks with the government over the controversial agricultural export tax, Argentina's farmers are once again taking to the highways in large numbers, setting up road blocks with their trucks and tractors and staging demonstrations around the country in order to block the transportation of foodstuffs.

The organizers are promising to halt all vehicles carrying grain "for several hours" as well as those carrying cattle in certain areas. All vehicles carrying agricultural products for export will be stopped. The farmers say they are heartened by pledges of support from truckers carrying grain and citrus products.

Clarín, Buenos Aires May 8, 2008

crossposted at Daily Kos