Category: RT Newswire

Climate forces fires, salvage logging makes ’em worse
Lance Olsen

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (US)
PNAS | *June 19, 2007* | vol. 104 | no. 25 | *10743-10748*

*BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES / SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE*
* Reburn severity in managed and unmanaged vegetation in a large wildfire*

* Jonathan R. Thompson^* ^,{dagger} , Thomas A. Spies^{ddagger} , and
Lisa M. Ganio^* *

*Department of Forest Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
97331; and ^{ddagger} Pacific Northwest Research Station, U.S.
Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Corvallis, OR 97331

Edited by Ruth S. DeFries, University of Maryland, College Park, MD,
and approved April 26, 2007 (received for review January 10, 2007)

Debate over the influence of post-wildfire management on future fire
severity is occurring in the absence of empirical studies. We used
satellite data, government agency records, and aerial photography to
examine a forest landscape in southwest Oregon that burned in 1987
and then was subject, in part, to salvage-logging and conifer
planting before it reburned during the 2002 Biscuit Fire. Areas that
burned severely in 1987 tended to reburn at high severity in 2002,
after controlling for the influence of several topographical and
biophysical covariates. Areas unaffected by the initial fire tended
to burn at the lowest severities in 2002. Areas that were
salvage-logged and planted after the initial fire burned more
severely than comparable unmanaged areas, suggesting that fuel
conditions in conifer plantations can increase fire severity despite
removal of large woody fuels. Continue reading

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“Along with environmental groups, this bill is being supported by members of faith and scientific communities, who are joining forces around the moral and practical imperative to help species that are in trouble due to global warming.”
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Earthjustice

Press Release
New Bill Will Help Species Imperiled by Climate Change

Global Warming Wildlife Survival Bill calls for study, solutions

October 17, 2007

Washington, DC — Today, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), announced that they will soon be introducing the Global Warming Wildlife Survival bill, landmark legislation addressing the threat of climate change to wildlife, oceans, and
imperiled species.

The bill dedicates the country’s best scientific minds to identifying species and habitats likely to be harmed by global warming, and calls for a coordinated national strategy to address those threats.

“As we work to mitigate the causes of global warming, we must also take urgent action to address its effects on wildlife, oceans, and other natural systems on which we all depend,” Senator Whitehouse
said in a press release.

The bill is the first of its kind and includes critical components for the nation’s most imperiled plants and animals, convening in-depth regional scientific discussions and a National Academy of Sciences panel to examine the impacts of climate change on endangered, threatened, and otherwise imperiled species and recommend action.

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Maria Gunnoe is a long time activist in the coalfields resisting mountaintop removal coal mining. Her and her family were nearly killed by flooding caused by a nearby strip mine several years ago. The flooding ended up washing away over 5 acres of her land which has been in her family for generations. In the wake of a recent court injunction against a new mine permit near her homestead, Maria has received several death threats. These are to be taken seriously, resistors in the coalfields have had there pets killed, houses burned, and attempts on their lives from coal company thugs. Below is her account of what happened

from Maria:

On September the 19th we (OVEC members) had a meeting on the proposed valley fill that Jupiter Coal company wants to put in Dry Branch hollow in Bim, WV. This meeting was to help to engage local people in legal battle to stop a proposed valley fill in Dry Branch Hollow. The meeting was held in a community building in Wharton WV, near my home, that I had rented for the evening in OVEC’s name. The meeting was due to start at 6:00 and around 5:30 the workers from Jupiter Coal Company started gathering in the parking lot. Within 15 minutes the workers had filled the parking lot blocking any areas for any community members to park so instead of coming to the meeting they had no choice but to pass by.

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BP Executive Pied as Europe’s Largest Biofuels Event Disrupted

From: http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/node/5205

Date: 17th October, 2007
Embargo: Immediate Release
CONTACT: 07880 937 511
Newark Showground, Newark, Nottinghamshire

This morning a group of 15 climate change activists from protest group Food Not Fuel entered the BioFuel Expo & Conference taking place at the Newark Showground and took over the keynote speech. Oliver Mace, CEO of BP Fuels, the lead sponsors of the event received a cream pie in the face. Another campaigner was D-locked to the podium and various alarms were placed around the place. The hall was emptied and talks were cancelled. There were no arrests.

They were protesting against planned expansion of biofuels citing its contribution to deforestation and the fact that it will continue to contribute to climate change. The activists complained that biofuels on a large scale is greenwash and companies such as BP are ignoring its negative impacts on the environment.

Protester Michelle Lynch said, “What they are promoting is a replacement to fossil fuels, but the reality is that they are little better. Large scale plantations are not the solution; reducing our consumption is the only realistic way forward.”

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