The environment in the news
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_____________________________________________________________________________BBC: Galapagos Islands 'facing crisis' 11/04/2007 Ecuador's President Rafael Correa has declared the Galapagos Islands, home to dozens of endangered species, at risk and a national priority for action. The islands, Ecuador's top tourist draw, were suffering an environmental and social crisis, he said. Mr Correa's call came as a UN delegation was visiting to see if the islands should be declared "in danger". The Galapagos Islands were made a World Heritage Site 30 years ago for their unique plant and animal life. "We are pushing for a series of actions to overcome the huge institutional, environmental and social crises in the islands," Mr Correa said, adding that these problems were the result of years of neglect by previous governments. He did not detail the measures, but indicated Ecuador would consider suspending some tourism permits, Reuters news agency reported.
The islands, located some 1,000km (620 miles) off Ecuador's mainland, are home to an array of species, including giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas. About 20,000 people, working mainly in fishing and tourism, also live there. The Galapagos Islands inspired naturalist Charles Darwin and helped him develop his theory of evolution. Last month, several rangers of the ecological reserve in the islands clashed with members of the Ecuadorean Armed Forces over what the rangers say was illegal fishing in protected waters. The incident provoked an outcry in Ecuador as it illustrated for many the practices which are damaging the site. Mr Correa announced that a number of military officials had been suspended pending an investigation. However, ecologists say the problems in the Galapagos run much deeper than the government has acknowledged. They fear that a rapid increase in the human population and the gradual introduction of external species of flora and fauna are threatening the entire ecosystem on the islands. Representatives of the UN's scientific, educational and cultural body, Unesco, have travelled to its research station on the Galapagos to inspect the state of conservation there. Last month, a senior Unesco official warned of threats to the "fragile and delicate" ecology of the Galapagos.
_____________________________________________________________________________The Independent: Retailers told less waste means more customersBy Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs CorrespondentPublished: 13 April 2007Shoppers are furious about the amount of packaging on everyday food, according to research for the food industry that may encourage companies to reduce waste. The Institute of Grocery Distribution suggests that manufacturers and retailers who reduce wrappers are likely to improve "brand loyalty" from customers. The Independent's Campaign Against Waste has shown how excessive packaging is disliked by shoppers and harms the environment. In Britain, 3.3 million tonnes of food is thrown away every year, according to a recent study. Most goes to landfill sites, where it causes methane emissions that add to global warming. In the institute's study, shoppers admitted they were embarrassed by the amount of rubbish they threw away. Of 1,000 shoppers interviewed, 43 per cent thought they should reduce impulse purchases that led to food being discarded. But 29 per cent also wanted food companies to introduce more resealable packaging, while 23 per cent wished the shelf life of food could be extended and 19 per cent were interested in the development of temperature-sensitive labels to ensure food was chilled correctly. A strong dislike of packaging also came across in diaries kept by eight families for the report, Beyond Packaging: Food Waste in the Home. One participant said: "I try to avoid things that are overpackaged because I have to bring it home and then recycle it. It's just a never-ending cycle." Another expressed anger over an online order of fruit and vegetables: "We would have bought everything loose but it was all in the plastic stuff and in trays, and is just really annoying." Sixty per cent of shoppers said they recycled food, 37 per cent reused carrier bags and 19 per cent said they specifically purchased products with packaging that could be recycled. Pre-packed fruit and vegetables were blamed for the jettisoning of some food, which had come in larger portions than required. The report also highlighted business reasons for reducing waste. "The research finds packaging and labelling innovations that reduce food waste are well received by shoppers, helping to provide a competitive advantage and brand loyalty for retailers and suppliers," said Gerardine Padbury, a consumer analyst."Providing solutions for shoppers that will save them money and reduce the guilt of food waste may actually build brand or retailer loyalty." Doing so "could be a potentially lucrative opportunity for savvy suppliers and retailers." ________________________________________________________________________ The Independent: Listen to the chiffchaff - and prepare for a hot spring By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor Published: 13 April 2007 Never mind the forecast - look at the chiffchaff indicator. The movements of one of Britain's smallest birds confirm this is the best spring for several years. The tiny olive-green warbler migrates to Africa every winter and is usually the earliest migrant bird species to return in March. Its repeated two-note "chiff-chaff" song is regarded by many as the first sound of spring. But for past two years chiffchaffs have been returning later, in smaller numbers, hit by unsettled spring weather on their journey across the Mediterranean and on their return to Britain. This year, however, numbers are back up. The changing pattern of chiffchaff arrival is visible on BirdTrack, the migration-monitoring website run by the British Trust for Ornithology. It shows that the average date for chiffchaff arrival went from 8 March in 2004 to 11 March in 2005 and then 22 March in 2006, but is back down to 10 March this year. The information comes from the daily observations of more than 10,000 birdwatchers. But meteorological observations are also confirming the picture. "We are having a really warm spring," said a Met Office spokesman. For the past week, maximum daytime temperatures in much of Britain have been far above their seasonal average, with some areas seeing the thermometer creeping up to 20C when normally it would be hovering around 12C-13C. This weekend will be even warmer, with temperatures in London likely to hit 24C - that's more than 75F - when normally they would be 13C. Even Aberdeen, on average about 9C-10C at this time of year, will probably reach 19C (66F). A high-pressure system over the British Isles is producing settled weather with clear skies and warm, sunny days, although the nights have been cooler and closer to the seasonal average. Advertiser Links ________________________________________________________________________ |