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Dogs to sniff out the state of Vietnam's critically endangered rhinos

2009-11-20

Vietnam – Highly trained detection dogs are being used help to determine the population status of the Javan rhino in Vietnam, in an attempt to save one of the world’s rarest mammals from extinction.

WWF researchers have teamed up with national park rangers using two detection dogs from the United States to determine the population status of the Javan rhinos in the forests of southern Vietnam, home to one of the world’s last two remaining populations of the species.

Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) were thought to be extinct on mainland Southeast Asia until hunters in Vietnam killed an individual rhino in 1988. It is believed less than ten remain, but no conclusive survey has ever been conducted to verify this.

“The Javan rhino is possibly the rarest large mammal on Earth,” said Sarah Brook, leader of the WWF rhino project in Vietnam. “This field survey aims to reveal the secrets of Vietnam’s little known Javan rhino population in an effort to save it from extinction.”

Samples of the dung will be sent to Queen’s University in Canada where DNA analysis will detect the sex and number of animals. The Zoological Society of London will carry out a hormone analysis to show the animal’s breeding capability.

After just five days of surveying the area, seven rhino dung samples have been found. These specimens have given the project team confidence that they will be able to gather all the necessary scientific information. The results of these analyses will be used to formulate an urgent rhino conservation plan.

“The rhino is not only a rare animal unique to this country, but protecting the rhino is a flagship for conservation efforts in Vietnam,” said Hien Tran Minh, Country Director for WWF Vietnam. “If we lose the rhino the future does not look good for Vietnam’s other rare and endemic species.”

The Javan rhino is a highly valued commodity in the illegal wildlife trade, with the rhino horn, skin and faeces used for medicinal purposes. Habitat encroachment from agricultural expansion and planned hydropower development also pose increasing threats to this small population.

To improve protection for rhinos and other wildlife threatened by poachers, WWF in collaboration with the Asian Rhino project is supporting local communities to join the Forest Protection Department and national parks staff.

‘Rhinomania’, a blog written by the WWF team, will keep the public up to date on the rhino survey as well as on life in the national park.

Dogs to sniff out the state of Vietnam’s critically endangered rhinos

2009-11-20

Vietnam – Highly trained detection dogs are being used help to determine the population status of the Javan rhino in Vietnam, in an attempt to save one of the world’s rarest mammals from extinction.

WWF researchers have teamed up with national park rangers using two detection dogs from the United States to determine the population status of the Javan rhinos in the forests of southern Vietnam, home to one of the world’s last two remaining populations of the species.

Javan rhino (rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) were thought to be extinct on mainland Southeast Asia until hunters in Vietnam killed an individual rhino in 1988. It is believed less than ten remain, but no conclusive survey has ever been conducted to verify this.

“The Javan rhino is possibly the rarest large mammal on Earth,” said Sarah Brook, leader of the WWF rhino project in Vietnam. “This field survey aims to reveal the secrets of Vietnam’s little known Javan rhino population in an effort to save it from extinction.”

Samples of the dung will be sent to Queen’s University in Canada where DNA analysis will detect the sex and number of animals. The Zoological Society of London will carry out a hormone analysis to show the animal’s breeding capability.

After just five days of surveying the area, seven rhino dung samples have been found. These specimens have given the project team confidence that they will be able to gather all the necessary scientific information. The results of these analyses will be used to formulate an urgent rhino conservation plan.

“The rhino is not only a rare animal unique to this country, but protecting the rhino is a flagship for conservation efforts in Vietnam,” said Hien Tran Minh, Country Director for WWF Vietnam. “If we lose the rhino the future does not look good for Vietnam’s other rare and endemic species.”

The Javan rhino is a highly valued commodity in the illegal wildlife trade, with the rhino horn, skin and faeces used for medicinal purposes. Habitat encroachment from agricultural expansion and planned hydropower development also pose increasing threats to this small population.

To improve protection for rhinos and other wildlife threatened by poachers, WWF in collaboration with the Asian Rhino project is supporting local communities to join the Forest Protection Department and national parks staff.

‘Rhinomania’, a blog written by the WWF team, will keep the public up to date on the rhino survey as well as on life in the national park.

For further information contact:

Julianne Becker, Communications Manager WWF Vietnam
Email: julianne.becker@wwfgreatermekong.org

Nicole Frisina, Communications Officer, WWF Greater Mekong Programme
Email: nicole.frisina@wwfgreatermekong.org

Informe revela que economistas no toman en cuenta el 'capital natural'

2009-11-20

Gland, Suiza (Noviembre, 2009) El informe La Economía de los Ecosistemas y la Biodiversidad para Legisladores Nacionales e Internacionales 2009 (Teeb por su sigla en inglés) publicado esta semana, indica que los gobiernos deben adoptar mejores sistemas para contabilizar el valor real de los recursos naturales, y que integren esta información en la toma de decisiones.

WWF acogió el informe, instando a los gobiernos a hacer caso al llamado para reformar sus políticas económicas y frenar la destrucción de los recursos naturales.

“Los gobiernos deben prestar atención a este informe y empezar a ver a la naturaleza de manera más integral”, dijo el Director de Política Global y Regional de WWF, Gordon Shepherd. “Con enfoques económicos más inteligentes, esto puede cambiar, pero ahora estamos pagando un alto precio por ignorar este tema.”

Invertir en conservación, manejo y restauración de ecosistemas proveerá utilidades y servicios a la sociedad que superan las utilidades monetarias inmediatas de un uso sin restricción de los recursos naturales, como por ejemplo la deforestación o la sobrepesca, según el informe.

“Estamos agotando nuestro stock de capital natural sin entender el valor de lo que estamos perdiendo” dice el informe.

“La degradación de suelos, aire, agua y recursos biológicos puede tener un impacto negativo sobre la seguridad alimentaria, oportunidades de negocios y decisiones del consumidor. La población rural pobre, que es la más dependiente de los recursos naturales, es muchas veces la más afectada,” recalca el estudio.

“El problema es que los economistas no designan precios de mercado para los servicios ecosistémicos y la biodiversidad. Esto significa que los beneficios que recibimos de estos bienes (muchas veces de manera pública) son normalmente descuidados o subvalorados en la toma de decisiones. Esto, a su vez, nos lleva a acciones que no sólo resultan en una pérdida de la biodiversidad, sino que también tienen un impacto en el bienestar humano.”

El informe también da diversas recomendaciones a los legisladores. Estas incluyen, por ejemplo, que las políticas deben dirigirse a reformar los subsidios ambientales nocivos –de los cuales actualmente hasta un tercio apoya el uso de combustibles fósiles– e invertir en ‘infraestructura ecológica’. Esta última “puede proveer oportunidades rentables para cumplir con los objetivos de políticas, como ser mayor resistencia al cambio climático, reducción de los riesgos naturales y mejor seguridad alimenticia y de agua, como contribución al alivio a la pobreza.”

Adicionalmente, Shepherd indicó que las empresas deben re-evaluar su uso de los recursos naturales, de los cuales dependen para asegurar sus utilidades a largo plazo. Al hacer esto, pueden formar parte de la solución de actuales crisis ambientales, como ser la pérdida de especies y la deforestación.

“Por último, debe haber un esfuerzo amplio para re-evaluar los recursos naturales que involucre a la industria privada, los gobiernos, los acuerdos internacionales como la Convención sobre Diversidad Biológica, y los indígenas y habitantes locales,” dijo Shepherd. “Tendrá que haber un esfuerzo coordinado para hacer que nuestro planeta sea saludable nuevamente.”

El estudio Teeb La Economía de los Ecosistemas y la Biodiversidad fue lanzado por Alemania y la Comisión Europea en respuesta a una propuesta anterior del G8+5 (Ministros de Medio Ambiente) para desarrollar un estudio global sobre la economía de la pérdida de la biodiversidad.

Para mayor información:
-    Copia del Informe Teeb se encuentra en inglés en www.teebweb.org
-    La serie de estudios Argumentos para la Protección de WWF está disponible en inglés en http://www.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_work/protected_areas/arguments_for_protection/

Se deben consolidar las medidas para reducir la deforestación en la Amazonia

2009-11-20

En una ceremonia que contó con la participación del Presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, ministros de estado, gobernantes y alcaldes, se anunció que un área de 7.008 km2 de la Amazonia ha sido desforestada en el periodo indicado. El área es 45% menor en comparación a la deforestada un año antes.

La COP 15 de la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre Cambio Climático que se llevará a cabo en diciembre en Copenhague será una buena oportunidad para que Brasil defienda la adopción de compromisos claros y ambiciosos en cuanto a la reducción de emisiones por parte de los países participantes, dijo Denise Hamú, Directora de WWF Brasil.

"Las cifras de deforestación que compartió hoy el Presidente Lula fortalecen las credenciales de Brasil para liderar las negociaciones climáticas y asumir la vanguardia en la construcción de un nuevo modelo de desarrollo para un mundo en el cual se respeta al ambiente y a las personas", señaló Hamú.

Según Cláudio Maretti, Director de Conservación de WWF Brasil, más allá de reducir las emisiones causadas por la deforestación en la Amazonia, el país necesita trabajar en el logro de reducciones en los sectores de industria y transporte, y especialmente en los procesos de generación y transmisión de energía. "Después de todo, el planeta necesita urgentemente reducciones convincentes en las emisiones de gases del efecto invernadero”.

Entre los esfuerzos positivos realizados por el Gobierno de Brasil que requieren ser consolidados se encuentran: creación e implementación de áreas protegidas, promoción del manejo forestal sostenible, restricción de créditos públicos con fines de deforestación o especulación con tierras y promoción de acciones que favorezcan la regularización de la tenencia de la tierra.

Es importante también minimizar los impactos de proyectos de infraestructura de gran escala, como ser las carreteras y represas; mantener el Código Forestal, que actualmente corre el riesgo de ser modificado por el Congreso Brasileño; y es esencial implementar un mecanismo de pago de servicios ambientales consistente –basado en compensar a los productores que preservan el bosque en pie.

Entre tanto, Adolfo Moreno, Director a.i. de WWF Bolivia, acotó que “medidas similares a las planteadas en Brasil podrían fácilmente adoptarse para Bolivia, país que presenta condiciones y potencial similares, aunque en diferente escala, para proyectos de Redd (reducción de emisiones por deforestación y degradación) y otros que involucran generación y transporte de energía”.

France and Spain block measures to reduce fish waste

2009-11-20

Brussels, Belgium – Today’s Council of European Fisheries Ministers are reviewing a technical regulation to address the problem of fish discards (throwing unwanted fish back into the sea to die). This will see the introduction of larger fishing nets, limited fishing seasons and a minimum size for fish caught in the North-East Atlantic, the North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat. However it is rumoured that after strong opposition from France and Spain the proposal was rejected.

WWF strongly criticises the lack of political willingness from Member States to provide immediate solutions to the annual depletion of fish stocks and to significantly improve European fisheries. According to estimates, in 2009 40,000 tonnes of North Sea cod will be landed at port and up to 26,000 tonnes thrown back into the sea dead or dying, because they are too small or not profitable enough. This corresponds to an average loss of about 39 million euros and a waste of marine life.

“Action needs to be taken now to save our seas and the fish in it. There is no reason to wait till 2012 for a new reform of the Common Fisheries Policy to address the problem of fish discards, when something can be done today", says Aaron McLoughlin, Head of European Marine Programme at WWF.

Further information:
Aaron Mc Loughlin, Head of European Marine Programme, WWF European Policy Office
Tel: +32 2 740 09 24
Mob: +32 472 94 83 17
E-mail: AMcLoughlin@wwfepo.org

Stefania Campogianni, Press Officer, WWF European Policy Office
Tel: +32 2 743 88 15
Mob: +32 499 539 736
E-mail: scampogianni@wwfepo.org

A chance to kiss and make up in Copenhagen

2009-11-20

Have we lost trust in each other?

Is there a chance can still kiss and make up?

The upcoming climate change conference in Copenhagen is our best chance to reafirm our love for our one and only, cuddly blue marble.

Share the video and help us fight for our planet’s love!

A chance to kiss and make up in Copenhagen

2009-11-20

Switzerland/London - November 20th 2009 - A new viral video goes live on WWF's Inside COP15 today (Friday) with the message that it's not too late to rekindle our love affair with the planet.

In a humorous message for decision-makers at the Copenhagen climate change talks next month, "A Love Lost" - produced by green.tv for WWF - shows a repentant lover apologising for neglecting his relationship and promising to pay more attention in the future.

"Copenhagen is a great chance for us to rediscover the love we used to have for our world" said Martin Atkin, Executive Producer of Inside COP15. "It's time to kiss and make up."

Inside COP15 at http://cop15.panda.org is an innovative video blog covering all the news and comment from Copenhagen, live and on demand through the talks.

For further information contact
Martin Atkin, Executive Producer, Inside COP15 +41 79698 2985
Ade Thomas, CEO Green TV, +44 7802875710

To see a video trailer of Inside COP15 and to find out how to embed free video news content onto your site go to http://cop15.panda.org
WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.
green.tv is the broadband TV channel for environmental films. green.tv’s URL is www.green.tv

Emerging hope for the critically endangered Mekong dolphins

2009-11-20

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – His Excellency Nao Thuok, Director General of the Cambodian Fisheries Administration, recently hosted an informal meeting of national and international experts to discuss urgent conservation actions for the critically endangered Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphin.

“It is time for all of us to think carefully about how to conserve and recover this increasingly small population of Mekong dolphins. Today is an important step toward building an urgent recovery plan,” said H.E Nao Thuok in his opening statement to the informal meeting at the Fisheries Administration headquarters on October 28.
The Mekong River population of Irrawaddy dolphins has been declining since the mid 1970s. A 2008 Fisheries Administration and WWF study estimates about 70 Irrawaddy dolphins remain in the river, and there is evidence to suggest this population is in danger of extinction.

Recognising the urgency of the situation, in August of this year, the Cambodian Government approved a Sub-decree listing the Mekong dolphin among 58 endangered species protected under Cambodian law. However, despite such progress by the Cambodian Government to conserve and protect the dolphins, additional conservation measures are still urgently needed.

“The Mekong River dolphin is a revered species and an important part of the natural heritage of Cambodia. Its disappearance would represent a tragic loss,” said Dr Randall Reeves, Chairman of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Cetacean Specialist Group, and spokesperson for the international expert panel.

“Our best chance of saving this iconic species from extinction is through joint conservation action,” said Seng Teak, Director of WWF Cambodia. “WWF is committed to continuing work with the Fisheries Administration and the Dolphin Commission on an immediate conservation plan.”

During the meeting, local and international experts presented population and mortality studies on the species, in addition to discussing lessons learned from the extinction of the Baiji dolphin in China.

“If you don’t move quick enough your population will be gone,” said Professor Wang Ding from the Institute of Hydrobiology in The Chinese Academy of Sciences during his presentation on the demise of the Baiji dolphin.

The Mekong Irrawaddy dolphin is ranked as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, and CITES Appendix 1, the highest international forms of threat ranking for endangered species.

The panel of national and international experts put forward key recommendations for immediate conservation action these include, improved enforcement of fishery regulations in collaboration with local communities, data sharing and the quick examination of any dolphin carcasses to determine cause of death.

Participants in the informal meeting included representatives from the Fisheries Administration, Kratie and Stung Treng provincial fisheries authorities, The Mekong River Commission, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Zoological Society of London, the California Marine Mammal Centre, the United States National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, IUCN, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and WWF.

Figuras públicas portuguesas dão a cara pela Campanha Vota Planeta

2009-11-19

Camané (fadista), Cristina Cunha (actriz), Joana Seixas (actriz), José Carlos Pereira (actor), Sylvie Dias (manequim e actriz), Quimbé (actor e locutor) e Nuno Gomes (futebolista e capitão de equipa do Sport Lisboa e Benfica) são os embaixadores nacionais que apadrinham esta campanha da WWF, no seguimento do apoio que deram à campanha Hora do Planeta 2009, o apagão de 28 de Março deste ano.

Estas caras juntam-se a outras internacionais como Sasha Vujacic, a estrela do LA Lakers, a actriz Cate Blanchett ou o actor Edward Norton.

Sofia hosts a public showing of the online debate Thriving in the Clean Economy

2009-11-19

The online debate Thriving in the Clean Economy organized by The Economist and WWF’s Climate Savers was watched live by representatives of the business, media and the NGO sector, as well as by members of the public at an event hosted by WWF in Sofia.

Live from The Ronald Reagan Center in Washington D.C. with a number of the panelists joining from around the globe, the audience in Sofia heard the hour-long interactive session that was part of a two-day Carbon Economy Summit hosted by The Economist just two weeks before governments gather in Copenhagen.

The discussion focused on what world-leading companies are doing to address climate change and secure our energy future while increasing their bottom lines. The Climate Savers online panelists discussed specific innovations and demonstrated how economic growth, curbing carbon, and increasing shareholder value can go hand in hand.

Climate Savers partners include 22 world-leading companies including Coca-Cola, HP, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Nike, Nokia, and Sony. By 2010, the group will have collectively reduced their CO2 emissions by 50 million tons.

Participating in the panel were Jay Dietrich, Corporate Environmental Affairs, Climate Stewardship, IBM, Jeff Seabright, VP, Environment and Water Resources, The Coca-Cola Company, Brian Boyd, VP, Environment, Health & Safety, Johnson & Johnson, Esko Aho, EVP, Corporate Relations and Responsibility, Nokia and John Matthews, SVP Corporate Affairs, JohnsonDiversey.

WWF’s Kim Carstensen, Leader of WWF Global Climate Initiative and Matthew Banks, Senior Program Officer, Climate Savers, WWF US also took part in the event that was being moderated by Emma Duncan, deputy editor of The Economist.

“We were pleasantly surprised by the strong media interest in the event”, Vesselina Kavrakova, Program Manager of the WWF Danube - Carpathian Program in Bulgaria, said. “This was an excellent opportunity for our team to actively promote the clean economy concept at home”, she added.

Only recently Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud, WWF International's Head of Business & Industry was the keynote speaker at an industry event, The Green Innovations Forum, taking place in Sofia. "We are facing an unprecedented challenge, the outcome of which will determine the bottom line of business, not to mention the future of humanity", he said in his keynote speech.

บาร์เซโลนา Climate Change Talks 2009

2009-11-19

ความคาดหวังของหลายฝ่ายกับการเจรจาระดับโลกเพื่อสรุปข้อตกลงที่เมืองบาร์เซโลนาก็ผ่านพ้นไปเมื่อวันที่ 2-6 พฤศจิกายน 2522 โดยยังคงประเด็นในเรื่องกลไกการปรับตัวเพื่อรับมือกับเปลี่ยนแปลงสภาพภูมิอากาศ ความร่วมมือทางด้านเทคโนโลยี และแนวทางการลดการปล่อยก๊าซจากการลดการทำลายป่า รวมถึงกลไลการให้ทุนกับประเทศกำลังพัฒนาและการกระบวนการที่ชัดเจนมากขึ้น ทั้งนี้ กลไกดังกล่าวควรจะถูกปฏิบัติทันทีหลังจากที่ได้สรุปเป็นข้อตกลงฉบับใหม่ที่เมืองโคเปนเฮเกนในเดือนธันวาคมนี้ สำหรับเรื่องเป้าหมายการลดการปล่อยก๊าซของประเทศพัฒนาแล้ว และงบประมาณสนับสนุนประเทศกำลังพัฒนาเพื่อจำกัดการปล่อยก๊าซและการปรับตัว ยังคงไม่สามารถหาข้อสรุปได้

สำหรับประเทศพัฒนาแล้วจำเป็นต้องสนับสนุนงบประมาณให้ประเทศกำลังพัฒนา เพื่อให้มีอัตราการปล่อยก๊าซลดลง และการสร้างศักยภาพในการปรับตัวนั้นจำเป็นต้องใช้ทุนอย่างน้อย 10,000 ล้านดอลลาร์สหรัฐ โดยเป้าหมายภายในปี 2563 ของการปล่อยก๊าซของประเทศอุตสาหกรรมนั้นจะต้องลดลงต่ำกว่าปริมาณการปล่อยก๊าซในปี 2533 ประมาณ 25-40% และปริมาณการปล่อยก๊าซทั่วโลกจะต้องลดลงกว่า 50% ภายในปี 2593 ถึงแม้ว่าจะสามารถลดอัตราการปล่อยก๊าซได้ตามเกณฑ์ เรายังมีโอกาสเพียงแค่ 50% ที่จะหลีกเลี่ยงกับผลกระทบที่จะเกิดขึ้นจากการเปลี่ยนแปลงสภาพภูมิอากาศ

WWF เห็นว่าการหาข้อตกลงร่วมกันโดยพยายามลดแผนงานของประเทศสหรัฐอเมริกา และกลุ่มประเทศพัฒนาแล้วร่วมลงนามในข้อตกลงด้วยนั้นไม่ใช่สิ่งที่ทั่วโลกต้องการ แต่ข้อตกลงที่สามารถแก้ไขปัญหาจากการเปลี่ยนแปลงสภาพภูมิอากาศ หรือสามารถลดผลกระทบที่จะเกิดขึ้นมีความต้องการมากกว่าแค่คำลงนามในสัญญานี้

ในการประชุมครั้งนี้รัฐบาลของประเทศสเปนได้ซื้อโควต้าการปล่อยก๊าซสำหรับการจัดประชุม โดยมีการประเมินว่าจะมีการปล่อยก๊าซคาร์บอนไดออกไซด์ในงานนี้ประมาณ 500 ตัน (การประเมินเริ่มตั้งแต่เตรียมงาน การเดินทางเข้าร่วมประชุม การใช้พลังงานในการประชุม และหลังจากเสร็จสิ้นการประชุม)

http://www.bcn.cat/climatechange/en/welcome.html
http://unfccc.int/2860.php
http://www.panda.org/wwf_news/news/?179841

WWF Disappointed by Poor Energy Efficiency in Buildings Directive

2009-11-18

Brussels, Belgium – Yesterday, the new Energy Efficiency in Buildings Directive (EPBD) was finalised with a highly disappointing outcome. The agreed text reflects neither the ambitions nor the urgency required to put a stop to the waste of energy in European buildings, responsible for 40% final EU energy use and 36% greenhouse gas emissions.

The new EPBD was presented as a breakthrough. Indeed, new buildings will be at nearly zero energy consumption under the new EPBD, and this energy should be supplied by renewables to a very significant level. However, the deadline for nearly zero energy consumption is not until 2021, and new construction accounts for just a very small percentage of all buildings (1% per year).

Contrary to the previous text, this Directive covers all buildings irrespective of size, starting in 2013. Still missing are clear targets requiring Member States to renovate their existing building stock in a specific time frame. Also, no additional financing was foreseen either from EU or from national budgets to speed up renovations.

“Unfortunately there is no provision at all which ensures that laggard Member States will improve their building regulations. As a consequence, citizens will continue to spend a lot of money to warm the climate instead of their homes”, says Arianna Vitali, Energy Policy Officer at WWF.

Further information:
Arianna Vitali, Policy Officer, Energy Efficiency in Buildings, WWF European Policy Office
Tel: +32 (0)2 743 88 16
E-mail: avitali@wwfepo.org

Stephanie Rhomberg, Communications and Press Officer Climate & Energy, WWF European Policy Office Tel: +32 (0)2 743 88 06
E-mail: srhomberg@wwfepo.org

EU legislation will promote green homes, green economy

2009-11-18

The new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive agreed Novemer 18, 2009 by the European Council and Parliament represents a crucial step in efforts to limit climate change, enhance energy security and generate jobs as well as a green economy in Central and Southeastern Europe.

The new legislation, which aims at realising the up to 40% in energy savings associated with the way buildings are constructed and managed, comes just weeks before the crucial global talks on climate change that are set to take place in Copenhagen in December and amidst efforts by governments in the region to stimulate job creation and flagging economies.

The recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive will require the public sector to take the lead by owning buildings with "nearly zero" energy standards by the end of 2018. The legislation requires all new buildings to have low energy standards by 2020.

EU member states will also be required to take measures to bring existing housing stock in line with the directives, though no firm standards for this have been laid down. Member states will have to develop national plans to encourage owners to take the opportunity to install smart meters, heat pumps and heating and cooling systems using renewables.

“We are disappointed that the recast Energy Performance and Buildings Directive is weaker than the version that had been agreed by the EU Parliament, which included firm standards for renovating housing stock and tighter deadlines for implementation,” said Andreas Beckmann, Director of the WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme. “That said, this legislation represents a step in the right direction for our region – for jobs, a new economy as well as for climate and the environment,” Beckmann added.

Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and other countries of the region are among the most wasteful users of energy in Europe, with an intensity of energy use that is twice or more that of their Western European neighbours. The housing stock in the region is a particular problem in this respect, with old and inefficient buildings and still limited incentives for households to implement energy saving measures.

WWF and other organisations such as the Romanian Green Building Council have been promoting energy efficiency in buildings as a golden opportunity for cutting costs and climate change while promoting the creation of green jobs and a green economy.

“The costs of implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy measures are minimal as they are not cash expenditures but rather investments paid back by future, continuous energy savings,” says Steven Borncamp, who heads the Romanian Green Building Council, an industry group dedicated to promoting energy and resource-efficient construction. “With proven and technologies currently available in Romania, the energy consumption in both new and old buildings can be cut by an estimated 30-50 percent without significantly increasing the upfront investment cost.”

Constructing and retro-fitting energy efficient buildings is relatively low-tech but labour intensive, making it one of the leading opportunities for stimulating job creation.

“The pressure is now on the governments of Central and Southeastern Europe to transpose and implement the new EU legislation, “ WWF’s Beckmann said. “The sooner they get serious about this, the sooner we will begin realising the multiple benefits of energy efficiency in buildings”.

Brazil sets example on halting forest loss

2009-11-18

Brasilia, Brazil: The recent announcement by Brazil – one of the world’s top emitters of greenhouse gases from deforestation - that it is adopting new emissions reduction targets could help steer negotiators in Copenhagen toward a stronger climate change deal.

Brazil’s top environment ministers said late last week the country is committing to an emission reduction target of between 36.1 and 38.9 percent by 2020. Brazil announced those figures only a day after saying new data showed the lowest deforestation rates in the Amazon in the past 21 years.

The new commitment can help unblock and steer climate negotiations toward a new global agreement in Copenhagen, which will be considered next month, said WWF-Brazil CEO Denise Hamú.

"As Brazil announces these figures, it moves from a situation where it merely holds developed countries to account to a situation where it can be a role model in the establishment of a new low-carbon development model for the world," Hamú said.

"It should be noted, however, that the data needs to be more detailed,” she said. “We are not sure which baseline scenario was used, that is, how the Brazilian government estimated Brazil's emission growth trends by the end of the next decade. Neither do we know how we will reach those targets.”

“No detailed information is available on all actions across the various industries and on our low-carbon plan of action. It is fundamental that all government policies be consistent with the announcement made today," Hamú said.

As far as international climate negotiations are concerned, Brazil now has a more legitimate case to demand a clearer financial support commitment from the developed nations for the establishment of adequate actions to adapt to the effects of global warming, according to WWF.

Data released by the Brazilian government earlier this month showed that the deforestation rate in the Amazon fell between August 2008 and July 2009. Overall, the deforested region is a 45 percent smaller than Amazon land cleared the previous year, or between August 2007 and July 2008.

This is the lowest rate of deforestation in the Amazon since record-keeping began in 2000, and down from a high of more than 27,000 square kms in 2004.

However, deforestation also must be reduced in other damaged forest areas in Brazil, such as in the Cerrado, according to WWF:

Despite conservation efforts, global deforestation continues at an alarming rate – 13 million hectares per year, or 36 football fields a minute. It generates almost 20 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and halting forest loss has been identified as one of the most cost-effective ways to keep the world out of the danger zone of runaway climate change.

Managing tourism for the benefit of nature

2009-11-18

Pichreada district, Mondulkiri province November 19th – Attended by around 100 people from government authorities, communities, private sector and WWF, the today’s inauguration of the community homestay within the Mondulkiri Protected Forest is celebrated to promote wildlife ecotourism in the dry forests of North-eastern Cambodia. The aim being to co-finance the protected area and help communities protect their wildlife while developing sustainable livelihoods.

In his speech at the inauguration, his Excellency Svay Sam Eang, deputy-governor of Mondulkiri province, said that ecotourism helps the community members generate additional income and hopefully reduce the community’s dependence on forest-based livelihoods.

“The establishment of this community homestay project increases the understanding of local communities about the importance of ecotourism to their environment and livelihoods and therefore promotes their participation in natural resource protection,” he added.

In the long term, the future of Cambodia’s protected areas depends on their ability to be financially self-sustaining. Funds are needed for the management of the habitats of plant and animal species, as well as for ensuring the well-being of the communities living around the protected areas. In 2007, the Forestry Administration, provincial government and WWF embarked on a strategy to develop ecotourism projects to serve as a financial mechanism to support on-site management of protected areas and provide incentives for landscape level conservation.

According to Mr Seng Teak, Country Director of WWF Cambodia, population growth puts an increased pressure on the natural resources adjacent to and within the protected areas; these natural resources support the livelihoods of local people and are also vital in maintaining the integrity of protected areas.

“The community-based ecotourism is believed as a strategy to provide incentives for local communities to support conservation, and therefore help reduce pressure on natural resources,” he said.

The community homestay is a pilot project involving 13 community members from Dei Ey of Chong Phang village and serves as a start to establish an ecotourism mosaic within the country’s Eastern Plains dry forests landscape. This project will provide accommodation, traditional food and a diversity of entertaining activities, including forest and elephant trekking, animal observation from hides, mountain biking and gaining insight into local culture and traditions in nearby villages.

“While this is a WWF-supported project, it is very important, for the long-term aim, to promote community ownership over the development and management of ecotourism,” said Mr Craig Bruce, WWF’s Eastern Plains Landscape Project Manager.

The WWF ecotourism team is now training the community ecotourism group for tourism planning skills and assisting them in developing a business plan that respects the principle of environmentally-friendly tourism.

Finally, an Agreement for the EU Energy Labelling Directive - for now

2009-11-17

Brussels, Belgium - It took many months of negotiations, but finally an agreement on the new Energy Labelling Directive has been found - which might very well be the only positive thing to say about the outcome. The Trialogue parties decided for a new scale with an upper limit of A+++, at least until the Energy Labelling Directive is revised again in 2014.

“No matter how we look at it, there is nothing positive about introducing three additional A-grades. Our goal should be to make energy efficiency an easy choice for consumers. Instead, decision makers are buying time until the next revision of the Directive in 2014“, says Mariangiola Fabbri, Energy Policy Officer at WWF.

“Already now, the text introduces a possibility of reclassifying the labels during the next revision – which clearly shows a lack of confidence in the new system. We can only hope that despite all the back and forth on labelling, consumers will learn to identify the most efficient products and even more so, buy them.“

The same hope can not be maintained when it comes to the purchases of Member States. The European Parliament tried to introduce an obligation to buy only the most efficient products in public procurement procedures – in vain.

For further information:
Mariangiola Fabbri, Energy Policy Officer, WWF European Policy Office
Tel: +32 2 743 09 36
E-mail: mfabbri@wwfepo.org

Stephanie Rhomberg, Communications and Press Officer Climate & Energy, WWF European Policy Office
Tel: +32 2 743 88 06
Mob: +32 495 273 319
E-mail: srhomberg@wwfepo.org

España y Colombia, unidas por la liberación de Sara

2009-11-17

Bogotá, D.C., Colombia (Noviembre, 2009) Sara, un joven jaguar hembra, rescatado de sus precarias condiciones de cautiverio en un hotel de la capital del Vichada, se ha convertido en la imagen de la campaña Yáhui, travesía a la libertad, cuyo propósito es combatir el tráfico ilegal de especies animales en nuestro país.

La campaña en favor de la libertad de Sara y de protección de nuestra diversidad animal, ha contado desde hace más de un año con el apoyo del ayuntamiento español de Vila-real, de la cantante ibérica Virginia Maestro (www.labuat.com), ganadora de Operación Triunfo el pasado año, quién será la imagen de la campaña en Europa y del reconocido fotógrafo de la naturaleza, Julio García Robles. Así mismo, el proceso de liberación ha sido documentado por la Radio Televisión Valenciana, que desplazó un equipo a nuestro país para cubrir el regreso de Sara a su hábitat natural.

Un calificado equipo técnico estuvo tras la causa de la liberación de Sara conformado, entre otros, por: Vicente Urios Moliner, de la Universidad de Alicante, Julio García Robles, presidente de EDC Natura Fundación Omacha España, Fernando Trujillo, Director Científico de la Fundación Omacha en Colombia, Robín Poches de la Asociación de Veterinarios de Vida Silvestre y funcionarios adscritos a la Unidad de Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, con su Directora, Julia Miranda Londoño, a la cabeza.

“Yáhui, travesía a la libertad”, es una iniciativa de las Fundaciones Palmarito y Omacha, el Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia que además, cuenta con el apoyo de organizaciones medioambientales de talla mundial como la WWF y Conservación Internacional. A la campaña, cuya imagen son los colombianos Jesica Cediel y Juan Pablo Raba, se han unidos medios de comunicación y personalidades que trabajan por la conservación del medio ambiente quienes buscan que en el país se tome conciencia sobre las consecuencias que conlleva para nuestra biodiversidad, el tráfico ilegal de especies animales.

FORO “CAMBIO CLIMÁTICO: EFECTOS, IMPACTOS, OPORTUNIDADES Y DESAFÍOS PARA BOLIVIA”

2009-11-17

La FUNDACIÓN AMIGOS DE LA NATURALEZA (FAN) y el INSTITUTO BOLIVIANO DE COMERCIO EXTERIOR (IBCE) en su condición de co-organizadores, invitan a Ud. a participar del Foro “Cambio Climático: Efectos, Impactos, Oportunidades y Desafíos para Bolivia”, que se desarrollará el próximo miércoles 25 de noviembre de 2009, de 9:00 a 12:00 horas en el Salón “Roble” del Hotel Plaza (Paseo “El Prado” en la ciudad de La Paz). El Foro cuenta con el respaldo de la organización mundial de conservación WWF Bolivia.

Las exposiciones de dos Especialistas de FAN a realizarse durante el Foro mostrarán la importancia que reviste el cambio climático para el planeta -particularmente para Bolivia- desde el punto de vista de los impactos medioambientales y socioeconómicos que podrían derivar de varios escenarios posibles, además de explorar las oportunidades y desafíos para nuestro país, ante el cambio estructural del régimen climático mundial a partir de las discusiones a llevarse a cabo en la Reunión de las Partes de la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático que se dará en Copenhague, en diciembre.

FAN e IBCE consideran que el Foro servirá no solo para compartir información técnica respecto al cambio climático, sino también para recoger expresiones y preocupaciones de la sociedad civil a fin de enriquecer el debate, para lo cual se está invitando a participar también a representantes de entidades públicas que tienen que ver con la referida temática.

Para efectos de programación, agradeceremos confirmar su asistencia a los teléfonos de la Oficina del IBCE en La Paz (2900424 – 2152229) ó al e-mail ibce-lpz@ibce.org.bo.

Leaders Vote Earth in support of good deal in Copenhagen

2009-11-17

WWF ви кани на онлайн дискусия на тема "Преуспяваща чиста икономика"

2009-11-16

Международната природозащитна организация WWF и The Economist, с любезната подкрепа на Център за култура и дебат "Червената къща", представят онлайн дискусия на тема "Преуспяваща чиста икономика".

Разберете защо 22 от водещите световни компании са обединени в инициативата на WWF Climate Savers (Пазители на климата). До 2010 г. тези компании ще са намалили въглеродните си емисии с общо 50 млн. тона.

Какво правят те, за да изпълнят поетия ангажимент да намалят въглеродните си емисии?
Как големи мултинационални компании като Coca Cola, HP, IBM, Nike, Nokia, Sony и Lafarge се адаптират към условията на чиста икономика?
Какви решения взимат, за да остават конкурентно-способни и да просперират, и същевременно да намаляват въглеродните си емисии?
Как е възможно икономическият растеж и грижата за околната среда да вървят ръка за ръка?
Какво мислят тези компании за предстоящата среща на високо равнище в Копенхаген?

В тази уникална дискусия ще участват представители на IBM, Nokia, Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola и WWF. Дискусията ще бъде модерирана от заместник главния редактор на „The Economist” Ема Дънкън.

Събитието ще се излъчи на живо от Вашингтон в сряда, 18.11.2009 г. от 20:00 до 21:30 в зала "Пеша Николова" на Център за култура и дебат "Червената къща", ул. "Любен Каравелов" № 15, София 1142, тел/факс: + 359 2 988 8188.

Дискусията е на английски език. Вход свободен.

Дебатът може да бъде проследен и индивидуално. Всичко, което трябва да направите, е да се регистрирате безплатно ето тук.

За контакти:

- Олга Апостолова, WWF, 0885 727 862