 NOTICIAS – NEWS PLAYA FLAMENCO
Primera Hora, lunes, 5 de diciembre de 2011
(Online Google Translation)
Primera Hora, jueves, 8 de diciembre de 2011
DRNA investigarla supuesto movimiento ilegal de terreno en Culebra
English (Online Google Translation) DNER investigate alleged illegal movement of land on Culebra
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Edwin Muñiz, Field Supervisor United States Fish and Wildlife Service Boqueron Field Office P.O. Box 491, Boquerón, Puerto Rico 00622
Jack Arnold Deputy Assistant Regional Director United States Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office 1975 Century Boulevard, Suite 400 Atlanta, Georgia 30345-3319 Lisamarie Carrubba National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Protected Resources Caribbean Field Office Cabo Rojo, PR 00622
Erik Hawk National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Protected Resources Southeast Regional Office St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Carl Soderberg, Director U.S. EPA Region II Caribbean Environmental Protection Division Edif Centro Europa Apt 417 1492 Avenida Ponce de Leon San Juan PR 00907-4127
Judith Enck Regional Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA Region 2 290 Broadway New York, NY 10007-1866 |
Seeking Your Input on the U.S. Open Government National Action Plan
The Guardian: Australia announces plans for world’s largest marine park
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28.11.11 Updated 22.55 |
The Guardian, Fri 25 Nov 2011 15.32 GMT
Center for Biologic Diversity: Gas-mileage Rules Small Step Forward; Fall Short of What’s Needed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2011
3:41 PM
CONTACT: Center for Biological Diversity
Vera Pardee, (858) 717-1448
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2011/11/16-11
I post this story here in Reef News because the effects of ocean acidification are destroying coral reefs. It is one of the effects of global climate change that can be diminished through greater reductions in fuel emissions. DeeVon
WASHINGTON – November 16 – The Obama administration proposed new vehicle fuel-emission standards today that fall far short of what is needed to make significant reductions in greenhouse gas pollution — and also short of what is achievable. The standards announced today, for tailpipe emissions and gas mileage for passenger vehicles and light trucks in 2025, are below the European Union’s proposed standards for 2020. Gas mileage would reach a maximum of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025; the Center for Biological Diversity advocated for standards exceeding 60 miles per gallon.
“While we applaud progress, these weak standards simply don’t reflect the urgency of the climate crisis,” said Vera Pardee, an attorney at the Center’s Climate Law Institute. “The United States has long had some of the weakest fuel-economy standards in the industrialized world, and today’s announcement does little to change that.”
Earlier this month, a sobering report from the highly respected International Energy Agency warned that the door is closing on our ability to avert the worst impacts of climate change. The IEA concluded that “[t]here are few signs that the urgently needed change in direction in global energy trends is underway.” Today’s announcement does little to improve the status quo.
Current laws require the government to set fuel-efficiency standards at the “maximum feasible” level and are designed to spur technological innovation by requiring that standards be set beyond what is achievable today. Despite these requirements, the administration’s rulemaking, driven by negotiations with the industry being regulated, would lock the nation into an inadequate pace of progress for the next 14 years.
The transportation sector accounts for about a third of total U.S. greenhouse emissions — and passenger vehicles account for about two-thirds of transportation emissions, spewing nearly 1.2 billion metric tons of “carbon dioxide equivalent” emissions each year. Technologies are available today to make significant reductions, including more efficient and less-polluting engines and transmissions, strong but lightweight materials, improved aerodynamics, and hybrid and electric vehicles.
“Setting fuel-economy standards for 14 years from now that are lower than what we can achieve with technology on the road today is not the kind of progress we urgently need,” said Pardee.
At the Center for Biological Diversity, we believe that the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature – to the existence in our world of a vast diversity of wild animals and plants. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law, and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters, and climate that species need to survive.
NOAA: U.S. residents say Hawaii’s coral reef ecosystems worth $33.57 billion per year
A peer-reviewed study, commissioned by NOAA, reveals the estimated total economic value the American people hold for the coral reefs of the main Hawaiian Islands is $33.57 billion.
Report Executive Summary
Report Chapters
Study Background
Summary of Values
Socioeconomic Factors
“Hawaiians, as well as residents from across the United States, treasure Hawaii’s coral reefs, even those citizens who never get to visit,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “This study illustrates the economic value of coral reefs to all Americans, and how important it is to conserve these ecosystems for future generations,”
“We are pleased that research is being done to look at the value of Hawaii’s coral reefs, but before we consider any potential applications of the study we will consult closely with local communities,” said William J. Aila, Jr., chairperson of the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The study employed a scientifically developed national Internet survey of more than 3,200 households – a representative sample of all U.S. residents, not just Hawaiians or coastal dwellers. From June through October 2009, the survey allowed the public to express its preferences and values for protection and restoration of the coral reef ecosystems around the main Hawaiian Islands. In this study, total economic value includes passive use values, such as the willingness to pay to protect the coral reef ecosystem for future generations, and direct use values– snorkeling over a coral reef or consuming fish supported by coral reef ecosystems.
To estimate the public’s underlying values of coral reef ecosystems, the study team presented survey participants with two specific measures to protect and restore coral reef ecosystems. One measure aimed at reducing effects to coral ecosystems from fishing, and another to repair reefs damaged by ships.
A panel of independent university and private scientists, from both Hawaii and the continental US, provided facts to the survey design team about the Hawaiian coral reef ecosystems and provided estimates of how the coral reef ecosystems would change in response to the two possible management options. The descriptions, including illustrations, of improvement to coral ecosystems gave survey respondents a clear understanding of what they were being asked to value and how the ecosystems would change as a result of the protection measures.
The main Hawaiian Islands consist of eight volcanic islands that range in age from active lava flows on the east side of the Big Island to seven million-year-old Kauai. Despite their economic significance, reefs near urbanized areas, such as Honolulu, Wailuku, and Kahului, have experienced increasing stress from ever-increasing population pressures.
The national survey was funded by NOAA and the National Science Foundation, and was designed to address the issue of Internet bias. The survey was conducted through two Internet panels; one recruited participants using controlled random digit dialing telephone surveys and the other using standard U.S. Bureau of the Census methods of randomly selecting households and going to each household to recruit participants via face-to-face interviewing.
News media inquiries: Ben Sherman, (301) 713-3066, Ben.Sherman@noaa.gov