New mistletoe species discovered by Kew Gardens experts

Victoria Gill BBC News 20 Dec 10;

A new species of tropical mistletoe has been described by scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London. The research team found the plant on an expedition to Mount Mabu in northern Mozambique in 2008.

Now, just in time for Christmas, they have confirmed that Helixanthera schizocalyx is new to science.

The plant tops a list of Kew's botanical discoveries of 2010, which includes a Vietnamese orchid and an exceptionally rare tree from Cameroon.

Butterfly specialist, Colin Congdon, spotted the mistletoe in the dense foliage near the summit of Mount Mabu.

He realised that it was different from anything he had seen on the mountains in neighbouring Malawi and Tanzania. Closer inspection back at Kew confirmed it as a new species.

Mistletoes are "hemi-parasitic", meaning they take some of the nutrients they need from other plants.

When birds eat the small fleshy white sweet fruits, the seeds are wiped onto branches of trees, where they stick. Once germinated, the root grows into the living tissue of the tree to "suck out" its nutrients.

Giant genome

Another highlight from this year was the discovery of the largest genome of any living species studied so far. This was found in Paris japonica, a subalpine plant endemic to Honshu, Japan.

Its genome is 50 times the size of the human genome - so large that if this line of genetic code was to be stretched out, it would be taller than the tower of Big Ben.

Plants with such large genomes may be at greater risk of extinction as biologists believe they are less able to adapt to environmental changes.

The other plant discovery highlights from 2010 include:

#Lustrous Vietnamese orchid(Dendrobium daklakense).
This beautiful orchid, with white and orange flowers, was first collected in 2009 by a local plant hunter in the Dak Lak province of southern Vietnam. Botanists at Kew suspect it is already endangered.

# Cameroon canopy giant (Magnistipula multinervia). At 41m, the gigantic but critically endangered tree towers above the canopy of the lush green rainforests of Korup National Park, where it was found. The team used alpine climbing equipment to scale its heights and collect specimens of its fruit from which to identify it. Only four of these trees are known to exist.

# New palms in Madagascar.
With the help of local palm expert, Joro Rakotoarinivo, Kew scientist John Dransfield has described no fewer than 14 new species of Madagascan palms this year, all of which are threatened in the wild. Among these are Dypsis metallica, which has thick, steely-blue leaves and Dypsis dracaenoides, which resembles a spiky dragon tree.

# Medicinal aubergine (Solanum phoxocarpum). Commonly known as 'Osigawai' in the local Masai language, the plant was discovered during an expedition to Kenya's Aberdare mountainous cloud forests. It is used medicinally by local people, but Kew scientists say it may be poisonous.

# Wild Irises from the Andes.
Researchers found three new Bolivian iris species from the genus Mastigostyla. One of these (Mastigostyla chuquisacensis) is found in the sandy hollows between rocks on sandstone mountain ridges near Sucre. This species could become an ornamental garden plant.

More Reason for Christmas Kisses: New Mistletoe Found
Wynne Parry, LiveScience 20 Dec 10;

This Christmas, a new tropical cousin joins a traditional evergreen decoration. British researchers announced that they have identified a new species of mistletoe, a partially parasitic plant that grows on stunted trees in the coffee family near the summit of Mount Mabu in northern Mozambique.

"This is truly a completely new discovery," said Bill Baker, senior research botanist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in the United Kingdom.

This tropical mistletoe, dubbed Helixanthera schizocalyx, is a relative of the European and North American varieties, sprigs of which are hung over doorways around Christmas with the expectation that couples passing beneath them will kiss, a tradition that may have pagan roots.

Tropical mistletoes, like this one, can have bright, tubular flowers that are often red, according to Baker. Five specimens of this species have been collected so far, however, flowers have not yet been observed to open in the field.

"Quite often the buds are slightly greenish, and then they color up when they are open. I suspect they will come out yellow," Baker said.

The berries have not yet been observed either, according to Baker.

Most mistletoe are partially parasitic plants, meaning that it in addition to sucking nutrients from a tree, mistletoe has green leaves that use photosynthesis to produce its own energy. Tropical mistletoes collaborate with birds and insects that pollinate them while feeding on the nectar of the flowers. This new species is believed to be pollinated by insects, and it was spotted by a butterfly specialist, Colin Congdon, according to Kew's species description.

And while the plant was collected during an expedition in 2008, it wasn't until this year that scientists identified and determined it to be vulnerable to extinction. This is common for newly discovered species, Baker said.

"They very often tend to have narrow ranges and are under threat and this is why whenever we talk about new species, we tend to talk about things disappearing before we have even named them and found out what their properties are," Baker told LiveScience.

Although it has only been identified on this particular mountain, the researchers speculate that it may also live on nearby mountains.

The new mistletoe topped the list of the year's top botanical discoveries at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. Other finds included a Vietnamese orchid with glossy, white-and-bright-orange flowers; four individuals of a new species of 135-foot (41-meter) tall canopy tree in Cameroon; 14 species of new Madagascar palms; and a wild, medicinal aubergine (also called an eggplant) in East Africa.

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Biodiversity in Indonesia on the Brink

Shari Nijman Jakarta Globe 20 Dec 10;

As the United Nation’s International Year of Biodiversity draws to a close, Indonesia, home to some of the earth’s richest ecosystems, still struggles to protect some of its most vulnerable creatures.

Indonesia is considered a “megadiverse” country because of its wide variety of ecosystems.

It has the largest number of mammal species in the world and the third-largest number of reptiles.

“There is an amazing concentration of species in Indonesia,” said Endang Sukara, vice chairman of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).

“In some places, we’ve found well over 200 different organisms wider or taller than 10 centimeters wide in an area of only 0.2 hectares.”

However, Endang warned that protecting our biological resources was not high on Indonesia’s list of priorities.

“Biodiversity is not on the national agenda right now, with such a fast developing economy,” he said.

Chris Shepherd, senior program officer at Traffic Southeast Asia, a wildlife trade monitoring network, said the list of animals in Indonesia “that are in big trouble” is becoming pretty long.

“Both of the rhino species in Indonesia will be gone soon, just like the tigers,” he said.

“And many species of snakes, turtles and birds are threatened with extinction in the near future.”

The illegal pet trade is the biggest enemy of many of Indonesia’s animals.

Unfortunately, Indonesian animals are often charming or interesting enough to be popular as pets both within the country and overseas.

“Indonesia is one of the last countries to still have open markets where illegal wildlife is traded,” Shepherd said.

The slow loris, a tiny, innocent-looking primate found in various regions across Indonesia and the rest of Asia, is extremely vulnerable to illegal pet traders because of its enchanting looks.

With its big curious eyes and soft fur, it seems like the perfect pet and is popular with families.

At the International Animal Rescue center in the forests of Ciapus, near Bogor, animal care specialists do their best to repopulate Javanese forests with the endangered primates.

Slow lorises that have been saved from a life in captivity are kept in the wildlife center while being prepared for release into the wild.

Not all of the lorises can be released, said Sharmini Paramasivam, veterinarian at the IAR.

“When lorises are caught, their teeth are usually clipped. This leads to terrible injuries in their mouth and some of the lorises can’t eat their natural food.”

She said that, depending on the state of their teeth, some of them will never be able to return to the wild.

For the slow lorises that do make it back into the Javanese wilderness, their chances of survival are slim.

“We released 11 lorises last year, and only two are still alive,” Paramasivam said.

“We hope to learn from those who didn’t make it, so we have more success in the future.”

Paramasivam said that, despite the high fatality rate, it is still worth trying to get the primates back into the wild.

“Slow lorises are a seriously endangered species and fewer are found in the wild each year. If we don’t put them back, the only remaining lorises will all be living in captivity in a few years.”

Illegally captured animals are traded across Indonesia’s border in large quantities.

One way to get the animals exported is to label wild species as captive-bred and apply for a license to trade them.

According to Shepherd, “This makes it the Indonesian government’s responsibility to look into the licensed traders and see if they’re exporting what they say they are. If someone has one registered turtle and manages to export 400 offspring, you know there is a problem,” he said.

Earlier this month, a man was caught in Abu Dhabi, en route from Jakarta, with two snakes, two parrots and a squirrel in his hand luggage.

The man continued his journey, while the animals were confiscated.

Shepherd explained how the man was able to get through security and board his flight in Indonesia with five live animals in his suitcase.

“Security at airports is simply not set up for wildlife, it isn’t a priority. They are set up to detect metal, explosives and drugs, but not wild animals,” he said.

Animal traffickers and traders often get away with a warning or a “slap on the wrist,” Shepherd said.

At best, the animals are confiscated and the traffickers lose their merchandise.

“It’s not really a loss to them,” Shepherd said. “It wasn’t their animal in the first place.”

The problem is “good laws, bad enforcement,” said Paramasivam, adding that animal traffickers in Indonesia often face no consequences for their actions.

“It’s illegal to catch and sell slow lorises in Indonesia, but if you go to a pet market, you’ll find them any day of the week.”

Shepherd also thinks that Indonesia has good laws, at least on paper.

But the enforcement of those laws is an issue of political will.

“We have never met a dealer who didn’t know that the animals he was trading were illegal,” he said.

“The key is improved and increased enforcement and prosecution levels. Serious jail time, not a slap on the wrist or a warning every time.”

Just last week, researchers at the IAR discovered 18 slow lorises held captive at the Jatinegara bird and pet market in Jakarta, according to Paramasivam.

Shepherd said this was not an exceptional case. “There have been countless reports about illegal animals being held at these markets. I’m completely at a loss why they don’t just shut them down.”

Endang said Indonesia should not only try to protect its natural biodiversity, but “link it to the prosperity and livelihood of the people.”

He said that Indonesia’s biodiversity can teach people a lot about sustainable development.

“What an orangutan eats, we can often eat as well, or use for medication or as a source of carbohydrates. Their eating habits are a valuable source of information.”

Endang believes that, with increased research, over 40 percent of plants found in Indonesia could be used as food sources.

“But don’t ever convert a forest into something like a monoculture. When forests are lost, they are lost forever. There isn’t a technology in the world that can replace the biodiversity of a forest.”

The same could perhaps be said of all of our nation’s fragile biodiversity.

It’s irreplaceable.

Read more!

US gets tough on shark fins

Yahoo News 21 Dec 10;

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The US Senate on Monday toughened laws against shark finning, hoping to save the ancient fish which experts fear is on the brink of extinction due to growing demand in Chinese restaurants.

The removal of sharks' fins -- a delicacy in Chinese cuisine -- was already illegal in the United States. The new rules close a key loophole that permitted trade in the Pacific so long as sharks were not finned onboard the vessel.

The legislation cruised through the House of Representatives in early 2009 but had languished in the Senate, which approved the measure without objection on one of the last days of its session.

"Shark finning has fueled massive population declines and irreversible disruption of our oceans," said Senator John Kerry, who championed the bill.

"Finally we've come through with a tough approach to tackle this serious threat to our marine life," the Democrat from Massachusetts said.

The bill does not ban imported shark fin, which is readily available in many upscale Chinese restaurants in the United States.

But conservationists welcomed the bill, saying it would curb a burgeoning but largely undocumented US trade in shark fins.

"This legislation will help address not only an unspeakably cruel practice of removing fins from live animals and then releasing them to suffer a slow death," said Nancy Perry, vice president for government affairs at The Humane Society of the United States.

"It will also help address on the macro level the rapid decline of shark populations," she said.

Environmental groups estimate that up to 73 million sharks are killed each year around the world for fins, leading to declines of up to 90 percent of some species of sharks -- which have swum the oceans since the age of the dinosaurs.

Despite campaigns from activists, demand for shark fins is seen as growing as China becomes increasingly prosperous.

Matt Rand, director of the shark conservation campaign at the Pew Environmental Group, said he recently heard of shark fins selling in California for an unprecedented 800 dollars a pound, or about 360 dollars a kilogram.

"The United States is a major shark exporter," Rand said. "I think this legislation sends a big signal that the United States is concerned about the decline of shark populations, not just in its own waters but in international waters as well."

Sharks are caught almost exclusively for fins, with little meat in the rest of the fish. While the law does not ban trade in fins, all shark fins entering the United States must have an accompanying carcass.

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Without intervention, Mariana crow to become extinct in 75 years

University of Washington EurekAlert 20 Dec 10;

Researchers from the University of Washington say the Mariana crow, a forest crow living on Rota Island in the western Pacific Ocean, will go extinct in 75 years. The extinction could happen almost twice as soon as previously believed.

The crow's extinction can be prevented with a bird management program that focuses on helping fledgling birds reach their first birthday, said James Ha, UW research associate professor in psychology.

Ha examined survival rates in 97 Mariana crows – Corvus kubaryi – that had been tracked between 1990 and 2010 by researchers. He found that 40 percent of fledgling crows made it to their first birthday.

The rapid decline of young birds is twice what researchers previously estimated.

"It's the first year of survival that's the most crucial," said Ha, lead author of a report on the research. "If only 40 percent of fledglings survive their first year, then we predict the species will go extinct in 75 years."

Ha and his co-authors published the report in the current issue of Bird Conservation International.

The 75-year extinction estimate is according to a population model that factors in the estimated number of existing Mariana crows – 330 – with the 40 percent first-year survival rate, average number of fledglings per nest and fertility of female birds. Using this model, Ha found that 91 birds would exist in 20 years and that in 75 years the species would be extinct.

Previously, biologists believed that the first-year survival rate of Mariana crows was higher, around 60 to 80 percent.

When Ha used those estimates in his population model, the outlook was not as grim for the birds. At 60 percent first-year survival rate, Mariana crows would dwindle to 218 birds in 20 years and become extinct in 133 years. And an 80 percent first-year survival rate projects that in 20 years there would be 453 birds, a growing population that would avoid extinction.

"According to the population model, if we can boost fledgling survival from 40 percent to 70 percent, the Mariana crows will be fine," Ha said.

Of the about 35 crow species, Mariana crows are considered rare and classified as critically endangered. Weighing about a half of a pound, Mariana crows are 40 percent smaller than other crows, such as the Northwest crow.

Monogamously-mating, Mariana crows live exclusively on Rota Island, populated by about 1,200 people and located 56 miles northeast of Guam. Rota is a U.S. territory and is up for consideration as a U.S. national park.

Ha and Renee Ha, co-author of the report and UW research scientist in psychology, fear that Rota faces the same avian demise as Guam, which has no forest birds.

Brown tree snakes introduced to the island after World War II wiped out native birds, such as the Guam flycatcher and the Rufous fantail.

The Has suspect that the uncontrolled increase of feral cats on Rota is leading to the decrease of Mariana crows, much like brown tree snakes led to the disappearance of forest birds on Guam.

The researchers say that a captive rearing program could save the Mariana crows. They hope to set up a rearing facility where they could incubate eggs from the wild, raise the fledglings until their first birthday and then release the grown birds into nesting sites on the island.

###

The study was funded by the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Co-author Alyssa Butler graduated from UW with a bachelor's degree in biology and is now a staff member at the Pali Institute, a science education camp in California.

Learn more about UW's Rota Avian Behavioral Ecology Program: http://depts.washington.edu/rabep/index.html

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Invasive Species Lie In Wait, Strike After Decades

Alister Doyle PlanetArk 21 Dec 10;

Animals and plants introduced from foreign habitats may not reveal themselves to be harmful 'invasive' species for decades, according to a European study published on Monday.

Species that are moved away from their natural predators back home can displace native species in their new habitats, and scientists say the problem already costs Europe 12 billion euros ($16 billion) a year.

The study, which is likely to hold true for other continents too, means that the seeds of future, perhaps bigger, problems have literally already been sown.

The study compared the effects of "alien species" such as American ragweed, Canada geese or Japanese deer in 28 European countries.

The study's findings indicated that it can take decades to figure out which alien species will be disruptive, and looking at those that arrived in 1900 was a better indicator of current problems than looking at those from 2000.

"This lag in the cause-and-effect relationship would mean that ... the seeds of future invasion problems have already been sown," said the study, published in the U.S. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Birds and insects were quickest to get established in new habitats, helped by their mobility. Others took far longer to reach the critical numbers to become invasive.

Introductions to Europe from the 19th century included ragweed, whose pollen is blamed for some hay fever, and the black locust tree, also from North America, which can damage European grassland with its ability to store nitrogen.

Increasing trade and travel during the 20th and 21st centuries means that the problems are likely to worsen unless checks on everything from the ballast tanks of ships to coffee or grain imports are tightened.

"We should do more about this problem now," said Stefan Dullinger, of the University of Vienna, Austria, who was among authors of the study from institutes in New Zealand, the Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy and France.

"Otherwise, things can become even much worse than they are in a few decades," he said. The findings for Europe were likely to be mirrored elsewhere in the world.

The study also recommended that Europe should target controls at animal and plant species that were so far causing no damage but were known to be invasive in other habitats.

Climate change could also add to the spread. "Warmer temperatures could trigger the spread of invasive species that are limited by climate now," Dullinger said.

(Editing by Kevin Liffey)

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Huge hydro plant starts operation in Vietnam, says official

Yahoo News 20 Dec 10;

HANOI (AFP) – Southeast Asia's largest hydroelectric power station has begun operating to help ease an electricity shortage in fast-growing Vietnam, an official said Monday.

The first of six turbines at the Son La station was connected to the national power grid on Friday, said Hoang Trong Nam, director of the plant's management board.

He said the two-billion-dollar plant with a capacity of 2,400 megawatts is expected to be fully operational in 2012, three years ahead of a target set by the National Assembly.

Nam said about 100,000 people -- mostly from ethnic minority groups -- were relocated to make way for the reservoir, which stretches across the three provinces of Son La, Lai Chau and Dien Bien in northwestern Vietnam.

Initial plans called for an even larger dam but it was scaled down after deputies in the National Assembly raised concerns about the human and environmental costs of the project, including its safety in an earthquake-prone mountainous region.

Construction finally began in December 2005.

"It's a strategic project for Vietnam's energy security in the years to come," Nam said.

The European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (Eurocham) has cited estimates that the fast-growing country needs infrastructure investment of 120 billion dollars over the next five to 10 years, much of it in the energy sector.

Vietnam draws more than one-third of its electricity from hydropower but suffers periodic blackouts and is trying to diversify its power sources.

Electricity demand is growing by 14 percent annually, the state Vietnam News Agency said.

In October the country signed a deal worth an estimated 5.6 billion dollars with Russia for Vietnam's first nuclear power facility.

Some power is purchased from neighbouring China.

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Timor Sea Oil Blowout to be Investigated — Again

Fidelis E. Satriastanti The Jakarta Globe 20 Dec 10;

The Indonesian government and the company responsible for last year’s oil spill in the Timor Sea have agreed to carry out a joint survey to assess the impact of the disaster on Indonesian fisheries, a company official said on Monday.

The spill was the result of a blowout at the Montara platform off the northwest coast of Australia on Aug. 21, 2009. The well was operated by PTTEP Australasia, a subsidiary of Thailand’s PTT Exploration and Production.

Luechai Wongsirasawad, a spokesman for PTTEP in Bangkok, said the agreement had been reached at a meeting in Singapore last Friday.

“It was agreed by the parties that we will now give urgent priority to resolving the economic and social impacts of the incident regarding the fisheries sector,” he said.

“This will also include a joint survey between the Indonesian government and the company to verify the data, to visit fishing locations which have been identified by the Indonesian government as having been impacted by the oil,” he said.

Luechai added the company had requested to conduct its own survey in Indonesian waters and compare it with the findings made by the government earlier this year.

“We requested to send a team by ourselves, but they said why not go together,” Luechai said.

“My guess is that the government might not do it [run an assessment] again, but just accompany the team,” Luechai said.

He explained that the assessment would take place in the East Nusa Tenggara areas of West Timor, Rote Island and Savu Island, which the government has highlighted as the areas worst affected by the spill.

Despite the decision to carry out the joint exercise, Luechai said both sides were still not seeing eye to eye on the key issue of how much of the slick actually entered Indonesian waters.

“We’ve acknowledged that it entered Indonesian waters, but there are differences on how far it entered or whether it even reached Indonesian shores,” he said.

A recent study conducted by the Australian government and funded by the company said the slick had not reached Australian or Indonesian shorelines.

“Three studies have been published and they are very comprehensive studies, that’s why we are confident about the findings,” Luechai said.

“Secondly, 98 percent of the oil spilled into Australian waters, so only a couple of percent entered Indonesian waters,” Luechai added.

He stressed the company would not discuss any compensation figure until the joint assessment was complete.

Indonesia claims the slick covered 78,000 square kilometers of its waters, and is seeking up to Rp 23 trillion ($2.5 billion) in damages.

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Reducing emissions from shipping: Commission's Joint Research Centre sets out some options

European Commission Joint Research Centre EurekAlert 20 Dec 10;

Maritime transport causes about 4% of global man-made CO2 emissions which makes its carbon footprint approximately as high as Germany's. There is no regulation of international maritime transport emissions yet, but this is currently under discussion in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

In respect of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, shipping is the most environmentally-friendly mode of transport. However, if no action is taken, it is estimated that emissions from ships will increase by 150-200% by 2050. At present, around 50,000 merchant ships transport 90% of global goods and make maritime transport indispensable for the world economy.

A report published today by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), provides the first comprehensive overview of methodologies for estimating air emissions from shipping, describes technological solutions and analyses policy options for reducing carbon emissions and air pollution in this sector.

Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner Máire-Geoghegan-Quinn said: "This JRC report underlines why pollution from shipping, like that from many other sources, needs to be reduced both to help tackle climate change and to prevent severe damage to human health. It also discusses options for how a combination of technological innovation and market-based policies could deliver the reductions needed. This study is also a perfect example of how the scientific work done by the Commission's Joint Research Centre can help drive political progress towards the EU's Innovation Union and Europe 2020 goals."

Although maritime transport has the lowest ratio of CO2 emissions per ton-kilometre transported compared to other modes of transport, its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are expected to increase from the current level of around 1 giga-tonne per year, by an estimated 150-200% over the next four decades.

Moreover, the shipping sector is a source of air pollution. Unless measures are taken, air pollution over the main shipping routes will increase due to an estimated 10-20% rise in sulphur dioxide emissions in the next two years. Marine fuel oil has a very high sulphur content which ranges from a global average of 27,000 ppm (parts per million) to 10,000 ppm in Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs). However, with the new agreement in IMO ships in the Baltic and North Sea SECAS will have to use fuel with only 0.1% of Sulphur content by 2015, as is already the case in the EU ports due to EU legislation.

There is significant potential for abating emissions from the shipping sector. Technical solutions to reduce fuel consumption, air pollutants and greenhouse gases are readily available and range from better ship design, propulsion and machinery to optimised operation.

This new JRC Reference Report contributes to raising awareness of the environmental impacts, including on health, of world-wide shipping. It analyses the methodological issues raised within the scientific community about assessing the impacts of the maritime sector on the environment, and identifies shortcomings in reliable and comprehensive sources of information. A detailed assessment of the cost efficiency and abatement potential of each technological option described in the report is also provided.

However, to achieve significant improvements in the reduction of carbon emissions and air pollution, technological (fuel- and engine-related) solutions should be supplemented with other measures. Market-based options addressing both regional and global measures must also be investigated. The report analyses how the introduction of market-based policies, such as a GHG Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) for the shipping sector at international level, could be used.

In summary, this JRC Reference Report provides the first comprehensive framework in which to define a strategy to abate air emissions from ships, and provides the analytical tools to assist in paving the way towards effective policies.

JRC Reference Reports

JRC Reference Reports represent a JRC view on a subject for which the JRC has recognised expertise. They provide a reference for political decision-makers, the research community, stakeholders and an informed but non-specialist audience. JRC Reference Reports aim to establish the current state of knowledge in specific areas of scientific investigations or in policy assessments.

The legal position on shipping emissions

The Europe 2020 Strategy includes, as a headline target for 2020, the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% compared to 1990 levels or by 30%, if the conditions are right. The scope of this commitment is set out in the EU's climate and energy legislation. According to this legislation, all sectors of the economy should contribute to achieving these emission reductions, including international maritime shipping and aviation. In the event that no international agreement which includes international maritime emissions in its reduction targets has been approved by the Community by 2011, the Commission should include international maritime emissions in the Community reduction commitment, with the aim of the proposed act entering into force by 2013.

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http://ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/planned_ia/docs/2012_clima_001_greenhouse_maritime_transport_en.pdf

http://ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/planned_ia/roadmaps_2011_en.htm#clim_act

For further information: To download the JRC Reference Report "Regulating air emissions from ships: the state of the art on methodologies, technologies and policy options", please go to: http://www.jrc.ec.europa.eu/rr

For more information on JRC activities related to air quality and climate change, please visit: http://ies.jrc.ec.europa.eu/

For more information on the EU policy on ship emissions, please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/transport/ships_directive.htm

For more information on the EU maritime transport policy please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/maritime/index_en.htm

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U.N. Urges More Climate Cuts To Match Cancun Pledges

PlanetArk 21 Dec 10;

The United Nations urged governments on Monday to make deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions quickly, saying the world will otherwise overshoot a ceiling for global warming agreed this month in Mexico.

The U.N. Climate Change Secretariat also called on countries to work out the details of new institutions, such as a "Green Climate Fund" to help poor nations, agreed on December 11 at the 190-nation talks.

"All countries, but particularly industrialized nations, need to deepen their emission reduction efforts and to do so quickly," Christiana Figueres, head of the Secretariat, said in a statement.

She said existing pledges for curbs on greenhouse gas emissions were only 60 percent of those needed to limit a rise in temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), the level agreed in Mexico to avert dangerous change.

The Mexico talks asked nations formally to list their emissions curbs, many of them already made under a non-binding accord in 2009 at a summit in Copenhagen.

It asked for ideas about how listings could be done by March 28, 2011, but set no firm deadline for completion. A problem is that many countries have unclear strings attached to their national pledges for fighting global warming.

Japan is offering a 25 percent reduction in emissions from 1990 levels by 2020, for instance, as part of a future deal involving what it says must be "ambitious" targets by all major economies such as China or India.

And Washington has promised cuts in U.S. emissions of 3-4 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, in line with anticipated U.S. legislation. That is not possible after gains by Republicans, who are skeptical of tougher action, in mid-term elections.

The talks in Cancun helped put U.N. negotiations back on track after Copenhagen fell short of agreeing a new U.N. treaty meant to avert more floods, droughts, heatwaves, mudslides or rising ocean levels.

Figueres praised the deal in Cancun but said it "needs to be implemented as fast as possible, and it needs to be accompanied by credible accountability systems that will help in measuring real progress."

In Cancun, governments agreed measures such as a new fund to help oversee $100 billion in annual aid to developing nations from 2020, a new mechanism to slow deforestation and ways to help poor countries adapt to the impacts of climate change.

The agreement widens many of the elements of a non-binding Copenhagen Accord among 140 nations in 2009 into a broader-based U.N. deal. Bolivia was alone in bitterly criticizing the Cancun agreements, saying they were inadequate to slow climate change.

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Best of our wild blogs: 20 Dec 10

Another seacil regurgitated at Labrador Nature Reserve 19Dec2010
from sgbeachbum

Nesting Grey Herons: 4. Incubation
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Lower Peirce Costus Trail
from Singapore Nature

Creepy Kranji
from wild shores of singapore

十二月华语导游Mandarin guide walk@SBWR,December(XIV)
from PurpleMangrove

Monday Morgue: 20th December 2010
from The Lazy Lizard's Tales

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Resorts World Sentosa urged to make 'moral decision' on dolphins

Wildlife-rescue group ACRES wants resort to abort plans to house dolphins
Today Online 20 Dec 10;

SINGAPORE - Wildlife-rescue group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) is urging Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) to "make a moral decision rather than a business-minded, profit-making one" - by aborting its plans to house dolphins as entertainers following the death of two bottlenose dolphins which were bound for RWS' Marine Life Park.

Last Saturday, MediaCorp reported that the dolphins - out of seven that were caught in the Soloman Islands and kept at a holding area in Langkawi - had died from an acute bacterial infection of Melioidosis in October.

ACRES executive director Louis Ng said in a letter to this newspaper that the non-profit group was "disappointed" that RWS are proceeding with its plans.

RWS had noted, in response to MediaCorp's queries, that the Marine Life Park was "part of the bid" when RWS was awarded the integrated resort licence. An RWS spokesman added that it was "committed to delivering the bid and the Marine Life Park that will not only boost tourism but research, conservation and education in marine mammals in this part of the region".

But Mr Ng described these reasons as "appalling". Mr Ng reiterated:

"Our economy and tourism sector must grow, but it is time for us to ask, 'At what cost?'. We must remember that the two dolphins who died were sentient individuals who only a year ago swam freely in the vast open oceans. They died despite the team of marine experts and best care that RWS promised."

Citing the example of dolphin trader Chris Porter - who decided to give up his business of capturing dolphins in the Solomon Islands and selling them to aquariums - Mr Ng said RWS "must rethink their decision urgently".

According to Mr Ng, Mr Porter was inspired by the film The Cove and the recent death of a trainer caused by a captive orca.

Said Mr Ng: "If Mr Chris Porter, a dolphin trader, can have a change of heart, then surely RWS can as well."

Mr Ng added: "What can RWS really teach its visitors about dolphin protection? Would it not be an irony and contradiction for RWS to ask their visitors to protect dolphins when they themselves obtained 25 individual dolphins from the wild and two have now passed away."

Full letter by Acres on facebook.

Dolphin exhibit still part of RWS' plan
Straits Times 20 Dec 10;

RESORTS World Sentosa (RWS) will proceed with its plan to have a dolphin exhibition in its oceanarium, despite the recent death of two of the seven bottlenose dolphins it has in holding.

The news has drawn flak from animal welfare groups, which are asking the integrated resort to rethink its decision to keep dolphins in its upcoming Marine Life Park.

The two female dolphins - caught from the wild in the Solomon Islands - died after they were infected by the melioidosis bacteria while in a holding area in Langkawi two months ago.

Melioidosis is a soil-borne disease, with infections occurring primarily during the rainy season.

Mr Robin Goh, assistant director of communications at RWS, said the pair were in perfect health before the infection set in. The rest of the animals in holding have not shown any signs of infection, he added.

The 8ha oceanarium - the world's largest aquarium - was part of its proposal when Genting International won the bid to build the Sentosa integrated resort in 2006. It is expected to open next year.

In May last year, RWS scrapped another controversial plan to exhibit whale sharks. It said it might not be able to care for the animals, which can grow to more than 12m long and weigh up to 15 tonnes.

Asked if it would similarly scrap plans to exhibit the dolphins, Mr Goh would say only that the resort was 'committed' to delivering the bid and the Marine Life Park.

RWS to continue with dolphin exhibit
AsiaOne 20 Dec 10;

The two mammals died in Langkawi from a bacterial infection that arose from contact with contaminated soil and surface waters.

They were caught in the wild in the Solomon Islands.

Five dolphins remain in captivity, awaiting exhibition at RWS' Marine Life Park.

Robin Goh, assistant director of communications of RWS, said the dolphins had been in perfect health before the bacteria set in.

RWS have been under constant pressure from animal activists to relook its marine life exhibition. It scrapped plans to exhibit whale sharks last year.


RESORTS World Sentosa will continue with its dolphin exhibit despite the recent death of two its purchased bottlenose dolphins.

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Singapore: Study on facility to breed large animals for tests

Such a centre could lure more drug firms here
Goh Chin Lian Straits Times 20 Dec 10;

SINGAPORE is studying the feasibility of building a facility to breed large animals like pigs and monkeys, for scientists to test important advances on.

The building of such a facility has been discussed for some years, but research requirements have given new urgency to the proposal.

Researchers who base their studies on mice and rabbits must validate their results on larger creatures before moving on to human beings.

They said such a facility would allow sharing of X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment.

It would support more sophisticated research on drugs, vaccines and surgical procedures, with a suite of services available, from quarantine to monitoring and surgery.

The availability of such a facility could also draw big pharmaceutical companies to test drugs here, instead of in Vietnam or Indonesia, as Singapore ramps up its 10-year-old push to make biomedical research a pillar of its economic growth.

Professor Roger Beuerman, senior scientific director of the Singapore Eye Research Institute, told The Straits Times that Singapore has a lot more experience and better-qualified researchers than these countries.

'But we haven't had the facilities that would make the big pharmaceutical companies feel comfortable coming here,' he said.

The Government has promised to set aside $3.7 billion for biomedical science research over the next five years - 12 per cent more than in the preceding five years until this year.

The Straits Times understands that up to $10 million, for a start, could be set aside to set up the animal research facility for academic and commercial research.

A spokesman for the National Medical Research Council would only confirm the feasibility study, saying it was premature to go into specifics.

The study is a recognition that, as Singapore moves forward in trying to discover new cures, safe research facilities that are properly equipped are needed, said the spokesman.

Prof Beuerman said: 'Initial data can be exciting with rodents, but these findings often do not pan out when you go up the scale to monkeys or pigs.'

Research on vaccines and diseases like glaucoma and myopia also needs to be carried out on monkeys, because their anatomy and physiology are closer to those of human beings, he explained.

Pigs are used to test new drugs and medical devices, such as artificial knee joints and dental implants.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) has conducted some studies using a small number of pigs. They are a good model for some heart and joint diseases, said a spokesman, adding that computer models, cell cultures and research methods that minimise the use of animals are also widely adopted at the university.

Animal research is also done at 26 facilities licensed by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), including laboratories run by health-care group SingHealth, NUS and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research.

The labs are inspected every year by the AVA, and they are required to meet national guidelines for the proper care and use of animals.

The SingHealth Experimental Medicine Centre is a key publicly run source for large animals bred for research here, said its spokesman. A few private companies here, like Maccine and PWG Genetics, also supply such animals.

While the AVA would not reveal the number of large animals used in research here, it said about 350 pigs and primates were imported last year for research purposes.

SingHealth Experimental Medicine Centre director Bryan Ogden said a centralised national animal research facility will support efforts to develop Singapore as a regional leader in translating biomedical science research from bench to bedside, and advancing the care of patients.

While doctors use the animals to hone their skills in treating patients, scientists use them for research in areas like dentistry, ophthalmology and oncology.

He said: 'This has led to advances in care for patients who have bone defects from dental surgery, patients suffering from blinding eye diseases and patients with liver cancer, to name a few.'

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