Year: 2008

Chinese Research: Forests, Weather, and Eco-Restoration

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This is a critical aspect of the climate-ecosystem relationship that receives very little attention. There is much more to the equation than carbon sequestration/release: forests (& vegetative ecosystems in general) have direct impacts on temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation. Eco-restoration is vital to both surviving and mitigating anthropogenic climate change!

ASW

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” … could lead to an increase in precipitation by up to 20 percent …”

“The results show that, in addition to precipitation and temperature
changes, the project also will improve relative humidity, soil moisture
and reduce prevailing winds and air temperature.”
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Public release date: 24-Nov-2008
Journal of the American Water Resources Association

Contact: Sean Wagner
swagner@wiley.com
781-388-8550

Chinese forest project could reduce number of environmental disasters
‘Great Green Wall’ may be a model for worldwide conservation

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Upcoming Climate Talks: Where Is The Indigenous Perspective?

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—–Original Message—–
From: First Peoples Human Rights Coalition
[mailto:info@firstpeoplesrights.org]
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 7:25 AM
Subject: Talks Could Learn from Indigenous Groups

From the article below: “Governments think of indigenous communities, who may face displacement or even the eradication of their homelands, as being part of the problem, when in reality they should be seen as part of the solution,” he [Mark Lattimer, Executive Director of Minority Rights Group] added.”
_______________________
[Article forwarded by Jack Hicks-<mailto:arcticnews@jackhicks.com>]

IPS
CLIMATE CHANGE: Talks Could Learn From Indigenous Groups
At: http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=44810
Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 21 (IPS)-As the United Nations readies for a key climate change meeting in Poland next month, a London-based human rights group warns that any new deal on global warming would be seriously compromised if the most vulnerable groups, specifically indigenous peoples, are shut out of the negotiations.

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Nitrogen & Rapid Rise of CO2

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“… atmospheric CO2 may increase more rapidly in the future than
carbon-only models predict. ”
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Nature Geoscience
VOL 1 | OCTOBER 2008 |

CARBON CYCLE
Fertilizing change

Carbon cycle-climate feedbacks are expected to diminish the size of
the terrestrial carbon sink over the next century. Model simulations
suggest that nitrogen availability is likely to play a key role in
mediating this response

First paragraph

“Undisturbed terrestrial ecosystems soak up 2.8 Gt of carbon per year,
equivalent to 30% of total anthropogenic CO2 emissions. However, this
carbon sink is expected to weaken with global warming: climate
simulations that incorporate carbon cycle-climate feedbacks predict
significant decreases in terrestrial uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide
over the next century, and thus a positive feedback between the carbon
cycle and climate. Importantly, however, these coupled carbon cycle-climate
models have ignored the impacts of nitrogen on the terrestrial carbon
sink. In a recent article published in the Journal of Climate, Sokolov and
co-workers use a climate model to show that carbon-nitrogen interactions
significantly reduce netterrestrial carbon uptake, even though, at least for
small to moderate climate warming, enhanced nitrogen availability stimulates
plant growth and changes the sign of the carbon cycle-climate feedback. This
suggests that atmospheric CO2 may increase more rapidly in the future than
carbon-only models predict. ”

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Release: Restraining Order Requested-Shoshone Grandmothers Plan Resistance Day on Proposed Mine Site

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For Immediate Release

Release: Restraining Order Requested-Shoshone Grandmothers Plan Resistance Day on Proposed Mine Site

Contacts:

Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone grandmother, 775-468-0230
Dan Randolph, Great Basin Resource Watch, 775-722-4056
Julie Cavanaugh-Bill, Western Shoshone Defense Project, 775-744-2565 or
wsdp@igc.org

Restraining Order Requested-Shoshone Grandmothers Plan Resistance Day on
Proposed Mine Site

November 25, 2008, Crescent Valley, Newe Sogobi (Nevada).

As the holidays approach and the world watches President-elect Obama and the
bailouts; back in Nevada, home state of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,
it’s business as usual. Late yesterday, attorneys for several Western
Shoshone tribes and non-profit indigenous and environmental organizations
filed a request in the federal District Court in Reno, NV seeking a
restraining order against the construction of one of the country’s largest
open pit gold mines on the flank of spiritual Mt. Tenabo. The mine company
has already begun demolition of the pinyon forest with heavy machinery on
the site ripping out trees at a reported rate of 30 acres per day. As they
await a Court hearing and feeling compelled to take immediate action,
tomorrow, a group of Shoshone grandmothers will travel to the proposed mine
site to conduct a Day of Resistance to the destruction of the area and the
approval of the mine by the United States. Mt. Tenabo is a well-known home
to local Shoshone creation stories, spirit life, medicinal, food and
ceremonial plants and rocks and continues to be used to this day by Shoshone
for spiritual ceremonies and cultural practices. Over the years, tens of
thousands of individuals and organizations from across the United States and
around the world have joined with the Shoshone and voiced their opposition
to this mine-in fact, the mine is being referred to as the “most opposed
mine in the world”.

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