Making Room for Wildlife to Improve Livelihoods

by: NourishingthePlanet

Fri Sep 10, 2010 at 06:15:07 AM PDT

This is the second part in a two-part interview with Steve Osofsky, Director of Wildlife Health Policy for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). In this first part of the interview, Osofsky explains Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) and how small-scale farmers can benefit from the conservation of wildlife. To read the first part of this interview see: Finding Common Ground to Improve Livelihoods and Conserve Wildlife.

What role do Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) play in the relationship between wildlife and food systems?

Let me first just explain what TFCA's are. If you look back at the colonial era when many of the southern African colonies or protectorates were looking for economic traction- one of the obvious sources was the export of beef. And we talked about how foot and mouth disease, a virus that is naturally harbored by the African buffalo, is a constraint to exports. The Europeans don't want foot and mouth getting into their animals. It's happened-you may remember in the UK , the multi-billion dollar losses, the farmers committing suicide, when foot and mouth got in. And actually right now there is an outbreak coming to an end in Japan and they are still not sure where that virus  came in from. But it's an economically important disease.

So from that context, going back to the late 1950's and early 1960's you can understand why fences were put up to separate wildlife and livestock. They were creating disease-free areas so that beef could be exported safely to markets like Europe which were providing good prices for many, many years. At that time, tourism was really not a major activity - there was some trophy hunting by the elite but it wasn't an economic driver.

(Continued below)

What We Can Learn from Cuba about Oil Spill, Conservation

by: Elisa

Wed Jul 07, 2010 at 12:06:02 PM PDT

I was inspired to write this piece because of a conversation I had with a friend, but also I know that Jill has written extensively about her trip to Cuba. I went in 2002, but haven't shared much outside of family and friends. Enjoy! -Elisa

A quick google search tells us that BP has failed to cap the oil spill that has spread to Florida, and by now, possibly the Caribbean. So many barrels of oil have leaked into the ocean that we are looking at long-term damage to our food supply, ecosystems, and air and water quality.

All of this can make even the least-informed parent fret, which is why I don't make it a habit to google oil spill news. But it has had an impact on the way I, and even my children, think. We have been walking to church -- almost a mile away. We make it a point to drive only when absolutely necessary. As for me, the seafood lover that I am, I have kept my crustacean appetite in check. There is nothing to kill the mood at dinner than the thought of crude-covered shrimp.  

Blog Action Day: Conserve money and resources without spending a dime!

by: rossl

Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 13:04:29 PM PDT

I posted this last April, but there's no reason why it isn't still useful.  I decided to re-post it because of Blog Action Day today (the topic is climate change).  The last few items on the list are either new or were added due to suggestions from the first time I posted it.  I'll be taking suggestions and adding to the diary as them come in.

I've got an investment opportunity for you.  It doesn't involve a Nigerian prince, a billionaire investor, or any kind of mortgages.  It is not the kind of thing that will cause another financial crisis - in fact, it could help solve multiple crises that we as a nation are facing.

Whether you've been laid off or you're doing fine and just care about the environment, I've got some answers for your problems.  In this diary, I'll try to compile a list of things you can do to save money and conserve our resources without spending any money.  If you have any good ideas in the comments, I'll be sure to update my diary as they come - this is a collaborative effort because this community knows more than any individual.

So join me below the fold to find out how you can save money and save the environment!

Sampler Platter: 07.03.2009

by: JayinPortland

Fri Jul 03, 2009 at 16:53:25 PM PDT

• So how long until Monsanto or Dow seek to patent all goats?  From state highway departments to vineyards to city governments, an increase is being seen nationwide in using goats and sheep to control invasives, maintain lawns and clear fire-prone grasses.  Maybe Matt Damon was onto something when he told Robin Williams, "I wanna be a shepherd."  So do I, man.  So do I...

• From Indian Country Today, here's a piece on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation's resource management plan that puts First Foods at the center of their conservation efforts.

  "We're using this to develop curriculum for the tribe's community school and also using it as a framework for developing a diabetes prevention program for the tribe's clinic," [Eric] Quaempts, [director of the CTUIR Department of Natural Resources] said. "The first foods themselves are healthy. The act of going out and acquiring them is healthy."

• At last count (1990) there were over 200,000 Pacific Walruses.  There is some controversy over last week's estimate, but either way it seems their numbers have diminished significantly.  Maybe to as low as 15,164.  As Brendan Cummings, spokesman for the Center for Biological Diversity, says - "You don't need to know if there are 500 passenger or 1,000 passengers on the Titanic. When it hits an iceberg, they're all endangered ".  The final assessment is due in January.

• Are wolverines establishing themselves further south than thought?  Researchers have now caught pictures of a second wolverine on Mount Adams in Southwest Washington, from where the last known wolverine populations were wiped out by trapping in the 1800s.

• A piece from NPR looks at the City of Seattle's decision to stop using soybean-based biofuels for its vehicle fleet.  Also, The Oregonian brings us a piece on how Southern Oregon's Klamath County is adapting for a changing future.

• The feedlot fight is still on in Eastern Washington, where environmental groups and family farmers are suing to prevent a proposed new 30,000-head cattle feedlot from taking advantage of a state law that would allow the operation to draw unlimited water from wells in one of the driest regions of America.

Action Alert in Pennsylvania: They'll take my state parks from my cold, dead hands!

by: rossl

Fri Jun 05, 2009 at 15:43:18 PM PDT

The Pennsylvania Senate's proposed budget, SB 850, would cut the Department of Conservation and Natural Resource's budget so much that they might have to close about 35 state parks.  With 117 state parks in PA, that's a huge chunk, and chances are there would be a state park near you closing if you live in Pennsylvania.

Go below the fold to see how you can take action.

USDA Uses Conservation Funds Inefficiently (And Congress Underfunds Conservation)

by: Jill Richardson

Wed Jun 03, 2009 at 10:00:00 AM PDT

So why isn't the government doing more about it? First, because Congress chronically underfunds our conservation programs (and continues to do so under Democratic leadership). Second, because the USDA doesn't target conservation funding at the areas most responsible for the pollution. I believe it was only recently that the Dept of Interior analyzed which areas are most responsible for the dead zone, but still - you'd think this would be a no-brainer! Why can't we use this money (what little Congress bothers to appropriate, anyway) where it will do the most good?

Obama's Budget Shortchanges Conservation Programs

by: Jill Richardson

Tue May 12, 2009 at 15:42:14 PM PDT

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the shortfall is $700 million. My question is: How many days in Iraq is that money worth? And how many banks received more than that in bailout money?

Details are below in a press release from Environmental Working Group.

Conservation Action Alert (EQIP: Environmental Quality Incentives Program)

by: Jill Richardson

Tue Mar 17, 2009 at 10:00:00 AM PDT

Instructions for action and talking points from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition are below.

Conservation Money to Factory Farms? Outrage!!!! (ACTION)

by: Jill Richardson

Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 19:00:00 PM PST

A report (Industrial Livestock at the Taxpayer Trough by Elanor Starmer and Timothy A. Wise, Dec 2008) found that nationally, factory hog farms comprise 10.7% of all hog operations - but get 37% of all of the EQIP contracts. Factory farm dairies make up 3.9% of all dairy farms - but they get 54% of EQIP contracts. All in all, between 2003 and 2007, 1000 factory hog and dairy farms ate up $35 million in EQIP conservation funding.

This happened at the expense of smaller farms that COULD HAVE gotten the money. Mid-sized hog farms make up 15% of hog operations but got 5.4% of EQIP contracts. Mid-sized dairy farms make up 13% of dairies - and got 7% of contracts.

THIS SUCKS. And we've got til March 16 to take action.

Is Obama's Budget Answering My Loftiest Hopes and Dreams?

by: Jill Richardson

Thu Feb 26, 2009 at 12:19:29 PM PST

In the past, Obama has supported capping subsidies at $250,000 per farm and closing all of the existing loopholes. But what does he mean about direct payments? We've had two days to speculate, and today he delivered his budget that fills in the details.