WILD

Winners of 2010 Tyler Environmental Prize Announced

Re-posted from Tyler Environmental Prize Announcement.

Laurie Marker of the Cheetah Conservation Fund and Stuart Pimm of Duke University recognized for scientific and management contributions to the understanding and restoration of ecosystems.

Two conservationists whose careers have centered on understanding ecosystem functions as the essential foundation for ecosystem restoration will share the 2010 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. The award, consisting of a $200,000 cash prize and gold medals, will go to Dr. Laurie Marker, the co-founder and executive director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Otjiwarongo, Namibia, and Professor Stuart Pimm, the Doris Duke Professor of Conservation Ecology at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

International League of Conservation Writers site now live

The International League of Conservation Writers is a forum to bring writers together from all over the world who are writing to promote wilderness, nature, conservation, and other means to protect and restore the natural areas, habitats, animals, and plants of our planet. ILCW will present periodic writing awards to authors who excel in this field.

Formed at WILD9, the 9th World Wilderness Congress (Merida, Mexico 6-13 November 2009) during the Writer’s Seminars, the ILCW has a growing list of founding fellow and members.  There are 3 levels for membership:

Yale report shows Youth less concerned about global warming than their elders

On March 3rd, the Yale Project on Climate Change released a report entitled, “The Climate Change Generation?: Survey Analysis of the Perceptions and Beliefs of Young Americans.” Below is an excerpt from the Executive Summary. I look forward to hearing your comments!

American adults under the age of 35 have come of age in the decades since the “discovery” of man-made climate change as a major societal problem. The oldest of this cohort was twelve in 1988, when NASA climate scientist James Hansen testified at a Senate Energy Committee hearing that global temperature rise was underway and that human-produced greenhouse gases were almost certainly responsible. For this reason, the conventional wisdom holds that young Americans, growing up in a world of ever more certain scientific evidence, increasing news attention, alarming entertainment portrayals, and school-based curricula, should be more engaged with and concerned about the issue of climate change than older Americans.

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Placing Wilderness in Focus

Below is the introduction to Pan Park’s “As Nature Intended” document, written by Ladislav Miko, Director for Nature, DG Environment, European Commission – former Environment Minister of the Czech Republic.  “As Nature Intended” provides 11 case studies, with best-practice management techniques for wilderness in Europe and is one of many resources available from  Pan Park’s Resource page.

Even though being one of the most densely populated continents, Europe is at the forefront of nature conservation. Recent years have seen an increasing public interest in the protection of our natural heritage, and especially of the precious areas where wilderness in Europe still exists. Accordingly, it is environmental professionals’ and policy-makers’ key responsibility to promote recognition and fulfillment of nature’s needs today, so that wild landscapes and habitats can continue to amaze coming generations in their most natural possible form.

The Aftermath

Since the dismal conclusion of the Copenhagen talks, experts following the UN climate change negotiations have been trying to sort out whether the Copenhagen Accord was a step forward or not. Some have begun calling it the Copenhagen Discord. Some have taken a gentler view, saying that even if it is not the solution, at least it helps build consensus. Reading the tea leaves on the issue of forests and wilderness is similarly difficult.

Toasting to Wilderness in Africa with Mexican Tequila

The WILD Foundation was born in the African wilderness. Last month I was in Southern Africa to review a few of our projects, attend board meetings, and to be with our network of colleagues and friends who form the backbone of our work there for wilderness, wildlife and people. It was a productive, warm, and enjoyable rainy season.

Among many projects visited, for the first time in several years I went to the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia. CCF was within WILD for 11 years, I am still a Trustee, and we remain good and close partners. Laurie Marker, Bruce Brewer, dedicated staff and volunteers keep CCF at the top rank of effective wildlife conservation, globally.

Nomkhubulwane’s North American Tour

This past week, Nomhubulwane went on parade through Juarez, Mexico, a city with a violent reputation.  There was a lively parade with music, dancing and general good spirits and much celebration and discussion along with her visit.

Juarez, Mexico is just a short drive from El Paso, Texas — but there are two checkpoints to get through the US, dogs sniffing for arms and drugs and a constant line at the border-crossing.  The weekend before Nomkhubulwane arrived, 20 people were killed including an 18 month old.  This is clearly a city in need of some positive energy, inspiration and citizen stewardship — which is exactly what Nomkhubulwane brought.

New WILD9 Videos!

This week we posted another great chunk of WILD9 presentations on connectivity and wilderness and people — social issues and conservation solutions and agriculture and climate change.  Check out the links below to view these presentations:

Connectivity in the Americas: US – Mexico Connectivity – The Borderlands of Arizona, New Mexico, Mexico

Diana Hadley, Executive Director, Northern Jaguar Project, English & Spanish
Oscar Moctezuma, Executive Director, Naturalia, English (Spanish coming soon!)
Melanie Emerson, Executive Director, Sky Island Alliance, English & Spanish

Breaking News – Save the Elephants Camp Hit by Floods

Save the Elephants Research Camp Hit by Floods Early this morning Save the Elephants (STE) research facility and Elephant Watch Safari Camp located in Samburu National Reserve, Kenya, were completely destroyed by unexpected flooding of the Ewaso Ng’iro River, along with seven other neighbouring lodges.

At approximately 5am this morning, a wall of water akin to a Tsunami surged through Elephant Watch Camp, catching tourists and staff unawares and sweeping away tents and facilities. It has been confirmed that camp owner Oria Douglas-Hamilton and guests managed to escape to safety by climbing to higher ground. Several members of staff were trapped in trees until the water subsided later today.

Ivory Sell-Off Proposal Raises Concern for African Elephant Herds

The Republic of Tanzania and Zambia have submitted a controversial proposal to CITES, the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species, for a one time sell-off of over 80 tons of ivory.  The 15th CITES conference will convene from March 13-25th in Doha, Qatar and these two countries will need 66% of the 175 country votes in order to proceed.  Some other African countries support lifting the ban on sales, notably South Africa, Namibia and Botswana.

Kenya, the Republic of Congo, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Rwanda and Sierra Leone are offering a counter proposal, calling for a 20 year moratorium on one-off sales and lobbying other countries to join them.  These countries are upset because of the potential implications of the sale -  the elephants don’t follow the borders and the sale could impact these shared elephants populations.  The proposal is seen to have “betrayed the spirit of conservation in the…