The EarthEchoes blog has gone carbon neutral

EarthEchoes has gone carbon neutral and so can you. Carbonfund.org is a nonprofit organization that helps individuals and organizations go carbon neutral/free. It is a great way to make your mark on the environment and it does not cost a lot. Check out their website and join them today!

Carbonfund.org has this to say about themselves:

Carbonfund.org is a nonprofit organization that educates the public about the dangers of climate change and makes it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact. We are reducing the threat of climate change by promoting low-cost carbon reductions and supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects that reduce and offset carbon dioxide emissions.

Our Goals:

• a cleaner, safer and more prosperous world for our generation and future generations
• to promote easy, cost effective solutions to climate change, encouraging people to “reduce what you can, offset what you can not”
• to help make carbon offsets, green power and Zero Carbon a normal way of life for every individual and business

Please join them today!
Carbonfund.org

Online Activism, it works!

Anbarasi has recently sent me an e-mail telling me about her experiences with online activism and how YOU can also help influence decision makers to take a pro-environment view by going online. She writes:

"Online activism quite works, recently I got a very positive letter from one of the governments, a very personalised letter as I personalised my petition. Infact I am glad that it WORKS".

WWF has some very good suggestions on how to be effective with online activism. Please check out this link for some good suggestions: Tips for effective activism

And do keep in mind that nature conservation and the environment are no longer local issues only, but rather global concerns. What happens to the environment in India, Norway or Russia concerns YOU whether you are from these countries or a completely different part of the world. Therefore, if there is something that you feel strongly about in another country you should get involved regardless and petition the government to change its policies. WWF has several online campaigns going that you can take part in. Have a look at their website and pick at least one campaign that you want to help out by petitioning online. WWF Worldwide Campaigns

Also check out 1-EARTH's "Action Alert of the Month" at the top right corner of the blog for ongoing online environmental campaigns featured by 1-EARTH.

Link of the Month: "Bio Da Versity Code"

Help Robert Penguin and Sophie Minnow crack the Bio Da Versity Code. The latest animated movie from Free Range Studios (the makers of The Meatrix series).




This is one of the most entertaining ways of getting the message of biodiversity and nature conservation across that I have seen anywhere. To learn more about the movie and how to take action visit: The Bio Da Versity Code.

China: The Environmental Challenge

I have just recently read a very interesting article on China's environmental crisis in the Independent titled: China Crisis: threat to the global environment. This article really clearly demonstrates that as a global community our consumption patterns are driving us to oblivion at a nerve-wrecking pace.

In the article the writer Michael McCarthy (Environment Editor) postulates that China's growth cannot continue at its present course for too long. He writes: "If growth continues at 8 per cent a year, Mr Brown said, by 2031 China's population, likely to be 1.45 billion on current UN predictions, will have an income per person equivalent to that of the US today. He said: "China's grain consumption will then be two-thirds of the current grain consumption for the entire world. If it consumes oil at the same rate as the US today, the Chinese will be consuming 99 million barrels a day - and the whole world is currently producing 84 million barrels a day, and will probably not produce much more. If it consumes paper at the same rate we do, it will consume twice as much paper as the world is now producing. There go the world's forests. If the Chinese then have three cars for every four people - as the US does today - they would have a fleet of 1.1 billion cars, compared to the current world fleet of 800 million. They would have to pave over an area equivalent to the area they have planted with rice today, just to drive and park them."

"The bottom line of this analysis is that we're going to have to develop a new economic model [editor's own highlighting in bold]. Instead of a fossil-fuel based, automobile-centred, throw-away economy we will have to have a renewable-energy based, diversified transport system, and comprehensive reuse and recycle economies. "If we want civilisation to survive, we will have to have that. Otherwise civilisation will collapse."

The example of China's future growth more than any other example I have come across shows that in terms of the global environment and consuming earth's resources we are really off course. Now this example is just talking about China's future consumption, there are other huge nations such as India (who soon will have a population higher than China's) who also will soon experience a similar development pattern. Earth's resources simply does not come even close to being able to support such consumption as will then be demanded if existing consumption levels are maintained. This clearly shows that in order to be successful the international environmental community and world leaders must engage the developing world and especially China and India in finding acceptable solutions to stop this consumption trend. And it must be done soon as time is quickly running out.

World Watch Releases 2006 State of the Environment Report

To get a copy of the report go here: Global Footprint Network

"The dramatic rise of China and India presents one of the gravest threats - and greatest opportunities - facing the world today, says the WorldWatch Institute in its State of the World 2006 report. The choices these countries make in the next few years will lead the world either towards a future of growing ecological and political instability - or down a development path based on efficient technologies and better stewardship of resources."

"Rising demand for energy, food, and raw materials by 2.5 billion Chinese and Indians is already having ripple effects worldwide," says Worldwatch President Christopher Flavin.

NOTE: We as individuals must also do our share in changing our consumption pattern to a much more environmentally friendly pattern. THINK GREEN in everything you do and especially when making purchasing decisions (in most cases simply ask yourself: do I really need it?)

Happy New Year of the (Wild) Boar to All

I would like to wish everyone a big Happy Lunar New Year! The year of the boar (pig) is supposed to be a year of wealth and happiness for most Chinese animal signs. Maybe this year we can share this wealth with Earth and spend some of it on charities and volunteer organizations working towards a better and healthier planet. Or even better yet, make a decision to give some of your time to these organizations as many of them are looking for volunteers. One organization I personally would like to highlight is Acres in Singapore. They are doing a lot of valuable work drawing attention to the plight of animals, the illegal wildlife trade and animal welfare in general. Acres works to raise awareness on a variety of animal welfare issues and, as of May 2006 Acres had conducted more than 120 roadshows and/or educational talks throughout Singapore.

Acres aims are to:
- Foster respect and compassion for all animals.
- Improve the living conditions and welfare of animals in captivity.
- Educate people on lifestyle choices which do not involve the abuse of animals and which are environment-friendly.

You can visit their website at: http://acres.org.sg/

Group Photo From Hun Chun Nature Reserve

The official group photo from the training and survey trip to Hun Chun Nature Reserve. I am second from the left on the front row. The director, Dale Miquelle, is 4th from the left.

The whole experience from this 11 days endeavour was incredibly interesting to me, not only from a conservation viewpoint, but also from a political viewpoint. It was very interesting to observe how the Chinese approached conservation from a very different political angle to that of the Russians. It gave me some very useful insights into Chinese thinking on nature conservation and the management of nature reserves.

Tracking and Survey Training, China

The second part of the tiger and ungulate survey and tracking training took part in Hun Chun Nature Reserve in Northeast China from February 1 to 10, 2007. About 20 participants from both the reserve and WCS China took part in the training and surveys. Hun Chun NR is a long and thin nature reserve stretching along the Russian border all the way down to the North Korean border. It is in a beautiful area with many hills, creeks and rivers. The first picture is a view of North Korea just a short way from the border. The border goes along a river which can be seen to the right and center of the photo. The picture is taken from a hill just inside China looking southward. The second photo below shows me with China to the north on the exact same ridge. This specific transect along the N. Korean borde was done on the last day of the training and surveying. By that time we had finished about 30 transects in all for Hun Chun NR. On this transect we saw several fresh hare and Sikha deer tracks, but unfortunately no tiger or leopard tracks. Another important aspect of the work done along these transects was to mark by GPS and on the map any snares that were found. The snares were then removed. It is a sad fact that much of the wildlife in Northeast China is disappearing due to illegal snares. Along one transect a group of four people removed as many as 80 snares.

The transects were often as long as 15 km so it was a lot of hiking, often in deep snow. Although it was quite cumbersome it nevertheless was really worth the hard work as the participants learned a great deal about tracking and tiger and ungulate surveying methods, not to mention experiencing the great scenery and nature.

The Black Griffon (Aegypius monachus)

On January 31, 2007 on our way to the training in Northeast China while still on the Russian side of the border we came across a huge flock of Black Griffons. This vulture is becoming increasingly rare in Russia Far East and to see such a huge flock was indeed a sight to behold. I am an avid bird watcher, but have had few opportunities here in Russia so far. So this was doubly up exciting for me. Fortunately I had my camera with me and got several shots from the roadside. We counted at least 40 individuals. There were also a few eagles joining this huge party, but I have not as of yet been able to identify what specie(s) they were. When (if) I have identified the specie(s) I will post a follow up comment to this post.

UPDATE March 23, 2007:
The Black Griffon is a rare and endangered species included in the IUCN Red List and CITES II. A local nature organization here in Russia Far East, Phoenix Fund, has been working to conserve the dwindling population that is wintering in the southern portion of Primorskyi Krai. To learn more about their efforst check out this link: Black vultures conservation. Thanks for the information Alex.

For more information on the species refer to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Aegypius monachus

Tracking and Survey Training, Russia

WCS Russia have just completed a training course for representatives from China in how to conduct tiger and ungulate monitoring and tracking. Eight Chinese attended the training. The training was given to WCS China staff and representatives from Hun Chun Nature Reserve. Here John Goodrich is showing the group how WCS is tracking radio collared tigers and how to get an approximate location of the animal (in this case an adult female tiger). It was a very enthusiastic group that took part in the 3 day training program in Sikhote Allin Nature Reserve.

In the second picture my group is taking a lunch break after we have walked for about 6 km to track animals (I am the person closest to the tree). This day we found many tracks from various ungulates and even a set of relative fresh tiger tracks, probably a young male tiger. The next training session was held in China where we conducted tiger, leopard and ungulate monitoring and surveys along with the training for about 20 staff from WCS and Hun Chun Nature Reserve.

Evidence is now ‘unequivocal’ that humans are causing global warming – UN report

"2 February 2007 – Changes in the atmosphere, the oceans and glaciers and ice caps now show unequivocally that the world is warming due to human activities, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said in new report released today in Paris".

Can the message to the world's leaders get any clearer than this? To see the full press release click here: UN Press Release: Evidence is now ‘unequivocal’ that humans are causing global warming – UN report

Link of the Month: Professional Association for China's Environment

As some of you may have noticed I recently posted an article about the challenges (and potentially unique opportunities) to the global environment currently posed by China's strong economic development. One excellent website that I have been following for quite some time now for news on China's environment and sustainability issues is the Professional Association for China's Environment. On their website they write: "It is our belief that China on a path of green development is the greatest contribution to the global sustainability." I could not agree more.

Here one can find the latest news articles related to environmental issues in China. They also have updates on various related events taking place in China. One can also become a member and thus be able to take part in their forums. I can highly recommend this website for anyone interested in the green movement and environmentalism related to China.

Climate Change Impacts in Africa

We all know about Katrina and the deadly floodings and storms in Europe. In two previous postings (11 October 06 and 12 August 06) 1-Earth featured video clips showing how climate change has caused droughts in Asia and South America. Now it is time to look at how climate change is impacting another impoverished region of the world: Africa.

We need no more proof, global climate change is happening now and everywhere and impacting the already impoverished regions to a much higher extent than the rich regions. The videoclips below illustrates what is happening right now in Africa as a result of climate change induced by our unsustainable living and extraction of earth's resources.

Climate Change & Africa:


One World - No Second Chance

Link of the month: Climate Change News Digest

I have recently come across this great internet news portal on climate change called Climate Change News Digest and I want to share it with as many of 1-earth blog readers as possible. It is one of the most comprehensive online news portals I have come across concerning climate change issues.

Climate Change News Digest has this to say about themselves:

"Climate Change News is an internet news portal that provides constantly updated links to the latest news on climate change. All articles are filtered to remove the repetition and rubbish and leave only the relevant. The aim of Climate Change News is to promote a broader view of climate change and to show how inherently it is linked to political, economic, ethical and even philosophical issues", and

"Currently the mainstream media is not presenting a broad coherent view of what is going on; it is up to us to join the dots. Here's an example: Leaked drafts of the 2007 IPCC report have revised upwards the lowest limits of temperature rise to 3°C. Scientists have already said that a 2°C rise will lead to runaway global warming. Come to your own conclusion, then visit the action and links pages to see examples of what can be done".

So check out CCND for the latest news on climate change for your daily dose of climate reality and rationale for cutting back on consumption and more reasons to get involved in or support the environmental movement.

Link of the month: Trees for the Future

This is a great initiative undertaken worldwide by some very committed individuals. This is action at its best and shows what a few dedicated individuals can do to help regenerate our depleted earth and help global warming while at the same time help improve impoverished local communities. This is a great illustration of sustainable development and environmentalism helping earth heal itself. Visit their website at: Trees for the Future and help them plant a new forest and sow the seeds for sustainable development worldwide.

My First Sighting of a Tiger in the Wild

We were on the way to have a look at a feeding site for ungulates that WCS is supporting in Khabarovskyi Krai. It was quite late in the afternoon and we had been driving on this bumpy dirt road used mainly by logging trucks for more than an hour when all of a sudden I saw this dark brown (looked like that in the twilight) animal running about 200 meters in front of the car. Then suddenly I noticed the long tail and before I could say anything to the others the Russian game warden that was in the back of the car cried out loudly Tigr! Tigr!. Unfortunately the tiger ran quickly off the road and into the forest. Although it was not a very good sighting as the tiger was quite far away and it was getting dark I am nevertheless very excited about it. I had been told not to expect to see any tigers in the wild as they are not only very rare but also in general do what they can to avoid humans.

WCS Russia has a Small Grants Program that supports Wildlife Management Organizations in Primorskyi and Khabarovskyi krais to fund projects that help improve tiger and ungulate populations. The project may relate to salt and feeding grounds for ungulates, improving anti-poaching activities, building game warden cabins, etc. It was one of these projects we were going to visit when we came across the tiger. In the picture above we are checking out a different ungulate feeding site in the same county as where we came across the tiger. (Thanks for the photo Anton).

Link of the Month: Naturewatch

Naturewatch is a non-profit animal welfare campaigning organisation. They have a lot of campaigns aimed at animal welfare worldwide. These include:

- Cruelty-free shopping
- Animal experiments & the 3Rs
- Badger cruelty & wildlife crime
- Live transport across Europe and in Australia
- Animal welfare in Eastern Europe
- The need for animal welfare organisations to work within the democratic system

Please visit their website and if you can help sponsor them in any way possible please do so. Their website can be found at: Naturewatch

South East Asia Drought - Climate Change

In a previous posting (August) I posted a video by Greenpeace on severe drought in the Amazon river basin. Here we have yet another reality check on how global climate change is impacting earth's climate. No areas are untouched.



"Greenpeace links rising global temperatures and climate change to the onset of one of the worst droughts to have struck Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia in recent memory. Severe water shortage and damage to agriculture has affected millions".

Link of the Month: Wildlife Conservation Society

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is the organization I found work with after finishing my MSc. degree in Environmental Management. It is an incredibly interesting organization to work for and my work as a Manager for the Tiger Friendly Certification Program is multi-faceted as it touches on aspects of biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, community development and poverty alleviation. It has received a grant of US$ 97,000 from the World Bank. To read more about the project please visit: World Bank Development Marketplace: Tiger Friendly Certification in Russia Far East

Below is a short clip on the Amur Tiger and its current condition. This is the sub-specie of Tigers that live in Russia Far East. The Hornocker Foundation was one of the first orgainzations outside of Russia to conduct scientific research on the Amur Tiger. It merged later with WCS.

ABC News Story on Global Climate Change

This is an excellent news report by ABC News on the dire threat of Global Climate Change. The report is in two parts. Remember, One life - Live it! One earth - Protect it! (Think about it).

PART 1



PART 2

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve: Volunteers

To anyone that has been following this blog it must by now be apparant that that I have an affinity for volunteering as a nature guide or nature interpreter. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in Singapore is one such place that I have volunteered as a nature guide. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve has its own newsletter called Wetlands. This year Sungei Buloh celebrates the Volunteer Programme’s 10th Anniversary and have dedicated a whole issue (Vol. 10, No 8, 2006) to its volunteer programme.


"Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (SBWR), to this day, is fortunate to have a group of dedicated and committed volunteers, who have a keen heart for SBWR and for nature. We appreciate all the work that the volunteers have done tirelessly, and their efforts and time. We look forward to see the volunteer group grow together with us, and always staying together as one happy 'Sungei Buloh family'!" -- Chan Su Hoi, Outreach Officer

For anyone thinking about volunteering as a nature guide please read this issue. It can tell you a lot about how grateful Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is for your time and dedication as well as what you as a volunteer will gain from this experience.

Link of the Month: Coral Reef Multimedia Project

I have just finished my Master of Science degree in Environmental Management from National University of Singapore. I wrote my dissertation on the topic of Marine Resources Management, with Singapore as a case study. It is titled: The Case for a Marine Protected Area in Singapore - A Future Catalyst for Singapore’s Integrated Marine and Coastal Management. I have just come across this great project called Coral Reef Multimedia Project. There are several video there that you can download that tells the story of the importantance of the world's coral reefs to biodiversity and our global climate. Please visit them at: http://www.coralreefmultimedia.org/

Amazon drought! Climate change

How can it be? Severe drought in the Amazon region, where the world's largest river runs. This is a scary example of how climate change is already effecting our planet at accelerating speed. Scientists thought that this region would not be effected by global warming for several more decades, but it is already happening!

See this video by Greenpeace:




And also watch: Shocking images from Amazon jungle

New job as Manager for Tiger Friendly Certification

In July 2006 I was offered the position of Tiger Friendly Certification Manager with Wildlife Conservation Society (Russia). I will now be based in Vladivostok, Russia Far East where I will be working on helping conserve the Amur (Siberian) tiger by reducing human-tiger conflicts. We do this through economic incentives to hunters and community members in tiger territories via the Tiger Friendly Certification Scheme. The idea is that these economic incentives will be strong enough to stop poachers from killing tigers and its prey (ungulates). My contract with WCS is until June, 2007 so I have nearly a year to help make a difference in Amur tiger conservation efforts. The project has received about US$ 97,000 in funding from the World Bank. To read more about the WCS project I will be managing please visit: World Bank Development Marketplace: Tiger Friendly Certification in Russia Far East

WCS also has some information about the project on its website: WCS - Tigers and Hunters

This project is also very interesting because it deals with issues at the intersection of development, business, and conservation. Tiger conservation is the ultimate goal of the project, but it is understood that to be effective in addressing the issue of tiger conservation one must also address the issue of development, poverty alleviation and local capacity building as these issues are all interlinked.

I will also in all likelihood be involved in transboundary tiger conservation co-operation between Russia and China due to my background from China (work and masters degree in Chinese politics) and this will also be og great interest to me.

This will be a huge change in my life as I now will be moving to Russia, something which I previously have never considered. However, I feel that this is a unique opportunity for me to get some valuable wildlife conservation experience and to help conserve one of the rarest sub-species of tigers in the world. I am therefore looking very much forward to take up my position with WCS and I sincerely hope that I can make a difference helping reduce human-tiger conflicts and thus help conserve the rare Amur tiger.

Tracking the Amur Tiger

I have just returned from a five day visit to Russia Far East (RFE). I went there for a job interview with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). It was a very interesting experience and I learned a great deal not only about WCS, but also about the environment and working conditions in RFE. On the first day I wnt straight to Nezhinsky Nature Reserve to meet with the game wardens and NR staff. Stayed over night there and got to try the famous Russian banya (sauna) with an accompanying dip in the cold lake next to it. Then next it was visiting the office in Vladivostok for meetings and interviews there. The last two days was spent in beautiful Lazo NR where Dale Miquelle (the Russia Program Director) and I tracked a tiger for nearly three km along beaches and ridges. We were accompanies by the reserve's "guard" dog that I named Drog (friend in Russian) as he was very friendly. The picture is of me and Drog next to the tiger tracks on one of the beaches.