Mexican farmers suffer worst drought in 70 years

Mexico is being battered its worst drought in seven decades, which has devastated farm life and is expected to continue into next year. The current drought is the worst to hit Mexico since the drought of 1941.

The lack of rainfall has affected almost 70 percent of the country and northern states like Coahuila, San Luis Potosi, Sonora, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas have suffered the most acute water shortage (see map below).

Due to the drought and a cold snap at the start of the year, the government has cut its forecast for corn production two times in 2011. It now expects a harvest of 20 million tons compared to a previous estimate of 23 million.

Crops that cover tens of thousands of acres have been lost this year and roughly 450,000 cattle have died in arid pastures. Crucial dams, typically full at this time of year, are at 30 to 40 percent of capacity.

"This is very serious," Ignacio Rivera, an official at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated. "Statistics on precipitation in the country show us that this year has been the driest in the last 70 years."

The country has total arable land of 22 million hectares (54.4 million acres) that can be tilled over two planting seasons while the national cattle herd last year was just over 32.6 million.

Mexico is one of the world's five top corn producers and the government expects output to recover to 25 million tons in 2012, aided by reorganization of the cultivated areas.

Rivera said that of the 8.1 million hectares of farmland insured by the government against natural disaster, some 600,000 claims have been lodged to recover losses on 3.8 million hectares. The Mexican government has so far set aside some 1.6 billion pesos ($113 million) to cover the losses.

TROUBLING PICTURE

Forecasts do not signal any near-term relief, but rather more losses ahead as the winter season brings damaging frost.

"It's a troubling situation, and is more worrisome because the rainy season is over... the hope is that by June it starts to rain," said Felipe Arreguin, deputy director of the National Water Commission (Conagua).

The drought has dried up even drinking water supplies for an estimated 2.5 million people in more than 1,500 small communities in northern Mexico. Social Development Secretary Heriberto Felix Guerra says water has to be trucked in, treated on the spot and stored in tanks for many of those towns.

Felix Guerra said Friday that seven Mexican states are suffering from drought while other parts of the country have been troubled by such severe weather as floods or hail.

The secretariat has implemented an emergency water plan, bringing 700 tanks with 10,000 liters of water to “the most remote and vulnerable communities,” Felix Guerra said. All told, water has been distributed via 4,000 tankers to 1,500 communities across 12 Mexican states, benefiting 2.5 million people, the secretariat said.

In the northern state of Durango, where a third of the population lives in the countryside, authorities expect significant losses in grain and seed production as well as bean and corn, which are a staple in the Mexican diet.

"It's a tragedy because there is virtually no harvest. It's a critical situation that we don't even have beans for home consumption," the state governor Jorge Herrera stated.

Official figures show an expected 28 percent loss in production of beans this year, while the recovery to historical levels of 1.2 million tons will depend on the weather.

If the drought does not lift soon, analysts say authorities will be forced to raise its food imports to cover lower domestic production.

Source:
Reuters,"Mexican farmers suffer worst drought in 70 years", by Noe Torres, accessed November 28, 2011

Australia announces plans for world's biggest marine park

Australia has announced plans for the world's biggest marine park, intended to protect vast areas of the Coral Sea off the north-east coast and the site of fierce naval battles during the second world war.

The environment minister, Tony Burke, said the park would cover an area almost the size of France and Germany combined and would help to protect fish, coral reefs and nesting sites for seabirds and the green turtle.

"The environmental significance of the Coral Sea lies in its diverse array of coral reefs, sandy cays, deep sea plains and canyons," Burke said. "It contains more than 20 outstanding examples of isolated tropical reefs, sandy cays and islands."

The park would also cover ships sunk in the Battle of the Coral Sea, a series of naval engagements between Japanese, US and Australian forces in 1942, considered the world's first aircraft carrier battles.

Three US ships were known to have sunk in the north-eastern area of the Coral Sea – the USS Lexington (below left), the USS Sims and the USS Neosho, Burke said.

While tactically the battle was a Japanese victory, strategically, however, Coral Sea was a stunning American victory. The Japanese invasion force was forced to turn back, the first such withdrawal of the war. Japanese expansion effectively ended with the turning back of the invasion force, although the war would continue. Also, for the first time, the United States had sunk a major Japanese ship. (Lower right: crew from USS Lexington being rescued from the ocean by a US carrier - click on image for larger view).

Alter the Battle of the Coral Sea, the carrier became the focus of naval weaponry. Other ships of the fleet now supported the carrier. The carrier became the first true strategic weapons system, fully capable of executing the range of strategic options through the spectrum from establishing a "show the flag" presence to the projection of both surgical, tactical and strategic power on a global basis in support of national policy and military strategy.

The government will finalize the limits that will be imposed on the Coral Sea (left) marine park, which will be within Australia's economic zone, in 90 days.

The world's current largest reserve was established by Britain last year around the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, which includes coral atoll The Great Chagos Bank.


Source:
The Guardian,"Australia announces plans for world's biggest marine park", accessed November 27, 2011
Reuters,"Coral Sea to be home to world's largest marine park",reported by James Grubel, accessed November 27, 2011
USS Coral Sea Tribute Site, "The Battle of the Coral Sea", by Bob Dorais, accessed November 27, 2011

Kenya seizes container with 87 elephant tusks

Kenyan authorities have seized a container loaded with 87 elephant tusks and disguised as soapstone carvings destined for Hong Kong, a customs official said.

The 20-foot container was impounded at a depot in Nairobi. As it was being inspected for clearance for shipment, officials scanning its contents became suspicious.

"It was declared as assorted handicrafts destined for Hong Kong. Upon scanning, our customs officers discovered that the images were suspect and a decision was made to subject the container to a 100 percent verification," said Ezekiel Maru, communications and marketing officer at the Kenya Revenue.

"We found 11 wooden crates containing 25 pieces of elephant tusks and 15 cartons containing 61 pieces of tusks. The other cartons that had been used to camouflage had assorted soapstone and wood carvings. Some had tiles and other stuffings," he said, as other officers unpacked the container in the background.

Maru, speaking to reporters on Friday, said a total of 87 tusks were recovered. He did not say where the tusks came from or if any arrests had been made.

Poaching has declined significantly in Kenya from the 1980s and 1990s when gangs decimated its elephants (left) and hunted its rhinos almost to extinction, the Kenya Wildlife Service says.

Ivory from African elephants is typically smuggled to Asia where it is carved into ornaments, while rhino horn is used in traditional Chinese medicines.

Kenya opposes any lifting of a nine-year ban on ivory sales agreed in 2007 under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Authorities fear such a move would revive the market for ivory and lead to increased poaching.


Source:
Reuters,"Kenya seizes container with 87 elephant tusks", by George Obululsa, accessed November 27, 2011

From the Inbox - Endangered Critters Beware: Pipeline X-ing

TAKE ACTION! Endangered Critters Beware: Pipeline X-ing
	The oil and gas industry has already written itself loopholes into the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act and many other laws. Now they’re gunning for the Endangered Species Act. Take Action Today!
Dear Friend, The country is in the midst of an unprecedented oil and gas rush — brought on by a toxic and controversial technology known as hydraulic fracturing or "fracking." And if polluting our air and water weren’t enough, now the oil and gas industry looks willing to run right over any animals that get in the way of their latest pipeline expansion plans. NiSource, a big gas pipeline company, is pressuring the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) to issue a permit that would allow NiSource to hurt and kill endangered species anywhere along a mile-wide, 15,000-mile-long pipeline corridor. And to top it off, NiSource wants the permit to last for fifty years! We’ve seen a lot of oil and gas industry over-reaching in recent years. But the scope of this latest demand is, quite simply, shocking. This nearly 10-million acre swath of land, covering 14 states from Louisiana to New York, is home to the Eastern bog turtle (pictured), the Louisiana black bear, and the Virginia flying squirrel and over 70 other threatened and endangered species. The oil and gas industry has already written itself loopholes into the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act and many other laws. Now they’re gunning for the Endangered Species Act. The beleaguered officials at FWS just might cave into industry’s latest demand — unless they hear from you. FWS is giving members of the public until December 13 to weigh in with their concerns. Tell the Fish & Wildlife Service that NiSource’s request is too big and puts too many endangered animals at risk for too many years to be approved. Thank you, Earthjustice

From the Inbox - Indigenous Peoples Protecting Rainforests

		Tour Protect-An-Acre projects around the world. Dear Friend, Indigenous peoples are the best stewards of the world’s rainforests and Rainforest Action Network believes frontline communities organizing against the extraction and burning of dirty fossil fuels deserve the strongest support we can offer. Over the past two decades, RAN's Protect-An-Acre (PAA) program has distributed over one million dollars in small grants to traditionally under-funded organizations and communities in forest regions across the globe. Take a look at the many inspiring Protect-An-Acre projects we've supported over the years on our new (very cool) interactive map. Indigenous and frontline communities suffer disproportionate impacts to health, livelihood and culture from industrial mega-projects, as well as the resulting effects of global climate change. Learn more about Protect-an-Acre's support of land title initiatives, capacity building trainings, mobilizations, protests and more. The Protect-an-Acre program is an integral part of our commitment to preserve the world’s forests and halt climate destabilization while also supporting the livelihoods and right to self-determination of forest peoples worldwide. Thank you for supporting RAN’s ongoing efforts to stop deforestation and protect human rights. For the forests, Tracy Solum Small Grants Manager

From the Inbox - NRDC Save the BioGems movement

Join Us! "This is where I want to be." -- from our Facebook wall BioGems Update A BIG thank you to BioGems Defenders who sent more than 55,000 messages in support of wilderness designation for the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. » See the timeline of victories we've won. To Do Even More You can support NRDC's BioGems campaign to save these and other threatened wild places. » Donate

Stop the Montanore Mine from Destroying Grizzly Habitat The Cabinet-Yaak ecosystem in northwest Montana is one of the last sanctuaries in the lower 48 states for the imperiled grizzly bear. It's estimated that only 20 to 40 grizzly bears remain in this isolated area, but their survival is now threatened by a proposal for a copper and silver mine in the Kootenai National Forest. If built, the mine would generate 13 million gallons of polluted mine water each year and would destroy approximately 27,000 acres of grizzly habitat -- enough to push this population to the brink of extinction. We need your help to send a strong message to the Forest Service to reject the Montanore mine permit. » Take action to stop the Montanore mine today. In the News RARE PORPOISE SPOTTED IN BAJA CALIFORNIA Nine vaquita marinas were recently spotted in the Upper Gulf of California, home to as few as 150 of these small porpoises. The sighting highlights the importance of our years of work to protect the last remaining habitat of the vaquita marina, which is rarely seen in the wild. Back in 2009, the Mexican government agreed to place protections on vaquita habitat -- due in part to an outpouring of 30,000 letters from BioGems Defenders. The government also limited fishing in the Upper Gulf. Those conservation efforts have led to the removal of 247 fishing boats and 329 fishing permits from vaquita habitat. COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF PATAGONIA DAMS In a disappointing setback, the Court of Appeals in Chile has ruled to uphold the environmental approval of HidroAysen’s proposal to build five mega-dams on Patagonia’s Baker and Pascua Rivers. The project was approved by regional authorities in May and immediately appealed by citizen groups, local mayors and members of Parliament, claiming that the environmental impact assessment was deficient and flawed. The Court of Appeals' ruling means that construction on the dams can proceed while the case goes to the Supreme Court. We’ll continue to keep you updated. GLOBAL EFFORT AIMS TO STOP TRADE IN POLAR BEAR PARTS NRDC has launched an intensive two-year global effort to permanently ban the commercial trafficking of polar bear parts. Scientists fear that two-thirds of the world's polar bears may become extinct by 2050 due to climate change, but some countries continue to allow the hunting of polar bears for sport and their parts to be sold on the international market. To add insult to injury, the trophy hunting lobby is appealing a victory we won in June when a federal court ruled that polar bears deserve life-saving protections under the Endangered Species Act. NRDC is heading back to court to defend that decision. We also celebrated a victory last month when a judge ruled against Safari Club International -- a trophy hunting organization -- and its claim that the polar bear's threatened species listing should not automatically ban the import of polar bear parts. The Fish and Wildlife Service listed polar bears as a "threatened" species in 2008. MORE BAD NEWS FOR WOLVES The Interior Department has proposed removing wolves in Wyoming from the endangered species list. The federal agency's decision to remove Wyoming’s wolves from the list will give the state wide authority to manage wolves, even though Wyoming’s wolf management plan is weak. Following their removal from the endangered species list, for example, wolves in most of Wyoming will receive "predator" status, which means they can be shot, trapped or killed by anyone at any time. Wolves in the northwest corner of the state, however, will receive more protections. NRDC opposes giving Wyoming management authority with such a terrible management plan in place. Throughout the rest of the Northern Rockies, wolves are not faring much better -- public hunts in Montana and Idaho have killed more than 100 wolves so far this fall. Action Insider SAVE THE SPIRIT BEAR COAST We're ramping up our campaign to protect some of the world’s last Spirit Bears in the coastal rainforest of Canada’s British Columbia. A proposal to build a pipeline to transport 500,000 barrels a day of dirty tar sands oil would cut through the heart of Spirit Bear habitat. Take action here. CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH NRDC'S GREEN GIFTS This holiday season, send gifts to all your loved ones that bring joy AND save the environment! Visit our Green Gifts store.

Photo credits: Florian Schulz (grizzly bear). Getty Images (Baja). Charlie Russell (spirit bear).

From the Inbox - Stop the brutal slaughter of wild bison!

Earthjustice is heading to court to help stop the brutal hazing, capture and slaughter of some of our last remaining wild American bison.
Help us save these iconic animals with an emergency gift today!

Stop the slaughter of the Yellowstone bison! A critical court case in Montana will decide the fate of hundreds of Yellowstone bison. Help us win in court to help protect this iconic species with an emergency gift today! Dear Friend, If our attorneys don’t win in court, hundreds of wild bison will be brutally hazed, captured and slaughtered this winter when they stray from the safety of Yellowstone National Park in search of food. Help us win in court to protect these iconic animals with an urgent gift today. In past years, thousands of bison who wandered outside Yellowstone National Park to find food after harsh winters were met with a brutal onslaught of helicopters and four-wheelers. These terrified animals were violently corralled and sent to slaughter. Ranchers fear that bison could spread brucellosis to their cattle, but no transmission of this disease has ever been documented from bison to cattle in the wild. A recent decision to spare these Yellowstone bison from slaughter is now being challenged in court by local ranchers. And we need your support today to fight back. Please make an emergency gift to help us protect these wild bison before the winter conditions get too harsh. Like other wild animals, these bison should be allowed to occupy suitable habitat within areas of Montana adjacent to Yellowstone Park without brutal and deadly harassment. To be absolutely clear, if Earthjustice doesn’t win in court, hundreds of our country's last remaining wild bison could soon be brutally killed. We need to win. And these bison need your support now more than ever. Give now to help protect some of our last remaining wild American bison from unnecessary and brutal hazing, capture, and slaughter. With your support, Earthjustice will continue to fight tooth and nail to protect this and other wild animals. Thank you, Trip Van Noppen President, Earthjustice

Extreme weather to worsen with climate change: IPCC

An increase in heat waves is almost certain, while heavier rainfall, more floods, stronger cyclones, landslides and more intense droughts are likely across the globe this century as the Earth's climate warms, U.N. scientists said on Friday.

The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) urged countries to come up with disaster management plans to adapt to the growing risk of extreme weather events linked to human-induced climate change, in a report released in Uganda on Friday.

The report gives differing probabilities for extreme weather events based on future greenhouse gas emissions scenarios, but the thrust is that extreme weather is likely to increase.

"It is virtually certain that increases in the frequency and magnitude of warm daily temperature extremes ... will occur in the 21st century on the global scale," the IPCC report said.

"It is very likely that the length, frequency and/or intensity of warm spells, or heat waves, will increase," it added.

"A 1-in-20 year hottest day is likely to become a 1-in-2 year event by the end of the 21st century in most regions," under one emissions scenario.

An exception is in very high latitudes, it said. Heat waves would likely get hotter by "1 degrees C to 3 degrees C by mid-21st century and by about 2 degrees C to 5 degrees C by late-21st century, depending on region and emissions scenario."

Delegates from nearly 200 countries will meet in South Africa from November 28 for climate talks with the most likely outcome modest steps toward a broader deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions to fight climate change.

CARBON EMISSIONS UP

The United Nations, the International Energy Agency and others say global pledges to curb emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases are not enough to prevent the planet heating up beyond 2 degrees Celsius, a threshold scientists say risks an unstable climate in which weather extremes become more common and food production more difficult.

Global carbon emissions rose by a record amount last year, rebounding on the heels of recession.

"It is likely that the frequency of heavy precipitation or the proportion of heavy rainfall from heavy falls will increase in the 21st century over many areas of the globe," especially in "high latitudes and tropical regions."

For the IPCC, "likely" means a two-thirds chance or more.

It said there was "medium confidence" that this would lead to "increases in local flooding in some regions", but that this could not be determined for river floods, whose causes are complicated.

The report said tropical cyclones were likely to become less frequent or stay the same, but the ones that do form are expected to be nastier.

"Heavy rainfalls associated with tropical cyclones are likely to increase with continued warming. Average tropical cyclone maximum wind speed is likely," the report said. That, coupled with rising sea levels were a concern for small island states, the report said.

Droughts, perhaps the biggest worry for a world with a surging population to feed, were also expected to worsen.

The global population reached 7 billion last month and is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, according to U.N. figures.

"There is medium confidence that droughts will intensify in the 21st century ... due to reduced precipitation and/or increased evapo-transpiration," including in "southern Europe and the Mediterranean region, central Europe, central North America, Central America and Mexico, northeast Brazil and southern Africa."

There is a high chance that landslides would be triggered by shrinking glaciers and permafrost linked to climate change, it said.

Extreme weather tied to climate change

Source:
Reuters,,"Extreme weather to worsen with climate change: IPCC", by Elias Biryabarema, accessed November 19, 2011