Wildlife Conservation Stamp Act Becomes Law

As of September 30^th, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2010 (H.R. 1454) was signed into law. Sponsored by Rep. Henry Brown (R-SC₁) and strongly supported by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), this Stamp Act “provides for the issuance of a special U.S. Postal Service stamp whose premium price would directly contribute to funding for projects supported by the Multinational Species Conservation Funds (MSCF), which are administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)” (WCS, 2010).

Govtrack.us provides a detailed summary of H.R. 1454:

Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2010 - Requires the United States Postal Service to issue and sell, at a premium, a Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp. Requires the use of such a stamp to be voluntary on the part of postal patrons.

Requires proceeds from the sale of such stamp to be: (1) transferred to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to help fund the operations supported by the Multinational Species Conservation Funds; and (2) divided equally among the African Elephant Conservation Fund, the Asian Elephant Conservation Fund, the Great Ape Conservation Fund, the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund, the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund, and other international wildlife conservation funds authorized by Congress after the date of this Act's enactment. Prohibits such proceeds from being taken into account in any decision relating to the level of appropriations or other federal funding to be furnished to the USFWS or such Funds. Requires the stamp to be made available to the public for at least two years. Prohibits such proceeds from being used to fund or support the Wildlife Without Borders Program or to supplement funds made available for the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. (2009)

The Wildlife Conservation Society has been a longtime supporter of H.R. 1454 and believes that its passage in both the House and Senate “represents a victory for supporters of wildlife and fiscally responsible governance” (WCS, 2010). John Calvelli, WCS Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, says it best when he declares, “I thank Rep. Henry Brown (R-SC) and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) for their leadership in helping pass this very important piece of legislation […] The conservation of imperiled species is greatly enhanced by the infusion of more resources, especially through creative funding mechanisms such as sale of semi-postal stamps that have no impact on the U.S. taxpayer" (WCS, 2010).

Granting the public an opportunity to help protect wildlife and fund conservation projects simply by purchasing postal stamps is an inspired idea. There are many people who care very passionately about both the environment and wildlife conservation but do not know how to help. H.R. 1454 gives those people a hassle-free way to give support to the wildlife conservation projects already in progress. These stamps will be sold nationwide at U.S. post offices, as well as zoos and aquariums. I guarantee that once these stamps are available for purchase I will do my part to help. Who’s with me?

Timeline of H.R. 1454:

Introduced                             March 12, 2009

Referred to Committee           Committee Assignments 

Reported by Committee         June 10, 2009

Passed House                        December 7, 2009

Passed Senate                       July 29, 2010

Signed by President               September 30, 2010

*Govtrack.us

Polar Bear Poinsettia Program

To jumpstart the Polar Bear Poinsettia Program, Polar Bears International and Paul Ecke teamed up with the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas to promote Polar Bear conservation. Paul Ecke created a larger than life Polar Bear sculpture of a mother and cub to display in the luxurious Venetian Hotel Palazzo Waterfall Atrium.

The Polar Bear Poinsettia Program is run by Paul Ecke whose family ranch in California spans four generations. The Paul Ecke Ranch is the world’s largest and most successful poinsettia breeder and more than half of all poinsettias purchased around the world have been bred by the Ecke Ranch.

The Paul Ecke Ranch cleverly asks its consumers, “What does conservation look like in full bloom?” Well, it is time we discover the answer. When you purchase a polar bear (white) poinsettia you not only buy a beautiful holiday flower, you also make a donation to Polar Bears International.

Polar Bears International is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of Polar Bears and their natural habitats through research and education. With the purchase of every “polar bear” poinsettia, Paul Ecke will make a donation to Polar Bears International. And it is the promise of the Paul Ecke Ranch that one hundred percent of all donations go directly to the projects of Polar Bears International.

In times like these when the ice continues to melt and the polar bears’ habitat continues to disappear it is wonderful to make conscientious holiday purchases. If you can help save the Polar Bears while purchasing holiday flowers, then WHY NOT? The Polar Bear Poinsettia Program makes it easy for the holidays to be a time of giving.

  

To learn more about the amazing work of Polar Bears International, visit here.

To learn more about the Paul Ecke Ranch, visit here.

Local Wetlands Restoration Project at VCU Rice Center

Photo by VCU Creative Services

The VCU Rice Center, “a nearly 500-acre field station for environmental research on the historic James River,” will soon participate in what Gary Robertson, VCU Director of Special Projects, refers to as “one of the most significant wetlands restorations on the East Coast.”

Virginia Commonwealth University, located in Richmond, Virginia, has partnered with both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and The Nature Conservancy to restore original wetlands previously known as Kimages Creek.

The restoration project will go as follows:

“A 70-acre artificial lake created in the 1920s to attract ducks for duck hunters will be drained, and VCU will team with The Nature Conservancy to create a blanket of native wetland vegetation where the lake once stood.

Blueback Herring

American Eel

Alewife Herring

Kimages Creek, a stream that was blocked by the dam that created the lake, will flow freely again. That, in turn, will create a watery passage that will encourage the return of blueback herring and alewife, which once entered Kimages Creek to spawn before returning to the sea.

American eels – which Americans have both consumed and kept as pets -- are also expected to return.”

Leonard Smock, Ph.D., director of the VCU Rice Center, disclosed that this restoration project has been three years in the making. He foresees that the restoration project will cause a research boom at the wetlands due to an influx of scientists from varying disciplines and students doing specialized research for the Graduate program.

Smock goes on to express the hope that “Forty years from now, this area will still be evolving …scientists and students will still be coming to study the wetland.”

In addition to the escalation in research that the Rice Center will have access to, another important aspect to remember is the return of animal species, such as the blue herring and alewife, which helped to support local commercial fisheries in the past. However, Greg Garman, Ph.D., director of the Center for Environmental Studies at the Rice Center, is quick to remind everyone that “…these populations have declined to critical levels over the past several decades, in large part to the construction of dams, like the one at the Rice Center,  that block upstream migration for spawning.” Therefore, the Project’s true test will be whether or not the indigenous wetland species return to the place they once flourished.

The funding for such a large undertaking as this is provided by The Virginia Aquatic Resources Trust Fund who will be “paying the costs of removing the dam that blocks Kimages Creek and for replanting the wetland at the Rice Center” (Robertson). And the trust will be administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in a joint venture with The Nature Conservancy.

Robertson further reports that “The Rice Center also will receive $455,000 from the trust fund stemming from a conservation easement on 217 acres of its property. The payment will go toward construction of a major research building on the site. In addition, VCU will be paid by the trust to monitor the development of the wetland restoration over the next 10 years.”

Smock refers to the funding as “very important” due to its ability to provide the Rice Center with new research facilities to measure the Wetlands Restoration Project’s success in the long term.

And finally, Smock understands the importance of this project to the Rice Center and Virginia Commonwealth University as a whole, but more than anything, he wants all onlookers to realize that “we’re doing the right thing for the environment.”

The amount of effort it takes to undo what man has done to the environment is unbelievable, but the fact is with enough passion and enough determination…it can be done. 

All quoted material from VCU News Center

Happy Big Cat Halloween!

Big Cat Rescue is a nonprofit educational sanctuary devoted to the care and protection of big cats. To give their big cats the Halloween experience, Big Cat Rescue receives donated pumpkins left over after Halloween each year from Wal-Mart and local churches. Then, the big cats are each given a delicious pumpkin to enjoy as they wish; some eat the pumpkins while others simply play with them. Enjoy!

According to Big Cat Rescue, their Mission Statement is as follows:

“Big Cat Rescue, a non profit educational sanctuary, is devoted to rescuing and providing a permanent home for exotic (i.e. wild, not domestic) cats who have been abused, abandoned, bred to be pets, retired from performing acts, or saved from being slaughtered for fur coats, and to educating the public about these animals and the issues facing them in captivity and in the wild. 

The sanctuary is home to the most diverse population of exotic cats in the world, with 16 species and subspecies of wild cat represented among more than 100 residents.  These include tigers, lions, liger, leopards, cougars, bobcats, lynx, ocelots, servals, caracals and others, many of whom are threatened, endangered, or now extinct in the wild.”

To learn more about what you can do to help the big cats you care about, visit Big Cat Rescue and take action. The options are endless; donate either your time or money, become a sponsor, purchase merchandise from the Big Cat Store, or donate materials listed on the Big Cat Rescue Wish List. 

Temporary Wetlands for Migrating Birds: Flooded Farmlands

For a full, unedited transcript of the above video, visit National Geographic

The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico caused irreparable damage to the surrounding wetlands and its inhabitants; however, there seems to be hope on the horizon for numerous migratory birds heading south for the winter. In the wake of such a disaster, there is a plan in place to create temporary wetlands for migrating birds by flooding farmlands not currently in use. The ultimate objective is to keep the migratory birds away from the oil polluted wetlands of the Gulf while cleanup efforts continue.

This project is the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative established by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. According to the NRCS, the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative was created specifically “to improve habitat conditions and safeguard food sources for the migratory birds that could be impacted by the Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill.” And in order to create enough available wetlands for any migrating birds wishing to take advantage of the clean water, NRCS is working with “private landowners, U. S. Coast Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other conservation partners to establish habitat and food sources on participating lands for the migrating birds.” It is the hard work and devotion of the numerous people and agencies that make this Initiative a success.

The eight states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas) participating in the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative are all located in “in major North American flyways, the primary routes shorebirds and waterfowl follow in their annual migration to and through the Gulf region.”

The Initiative’s popularity came as a surprise to the NRCS; interest in getting involved in the effort exceeded any preconceived expectations and there is now a waiting list for farmers wanting to join the cause.

To see photographs of migrating waterfowl, visit NRCS Bird Images

*all quoted material from NRCS

Worldwide Panda Competition

China recently held a worldwide competition for a lucky few to become “Pambassadors” (Panda Ambassadors). 62,000 people from 50 countries submitted online applications for the once in a lifetime chance to both work with Giant Pandas and help promote their cause.

On September 25, China chose 12 semi-finalists to come to Chengdu in South West China for one week of intense training before the 6 winners are chosen. Throughout this first week, the prospective “Pambassadors” will learn about threats to the Panda’s existence, study their habitats, prepare their food, and even clean the Panda’s enclosures. The final test to determine the winners will consist of a question and answer session, building a Panda Ladder (a favorite of those in captivity), and a creative presentation to show the semi-finalists’ personalities.

The six winners will spend one month learning even more skills through the nursing of Panda cubs before returning to their home countries to educate their country on Panda conservation. Furthermore, Bernama.com, the Malaysian National News Agency, writes that “The six ‘pambassadors’ will spend a month working as panda keepers in Chengdu, China and blog about their experiences at pandahome.com in an effort to raise awareness of the endangered animals’ plight.”

This worldwide panda competition is titled “Project Panda” and was “launched by Chengdu research base in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature,” (Bernama.com) also known as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the United States.

According to the WWF, there has been recent success in the fight to save the Panda. For example, WWF highlights three major areas that have seen recent improvement:

• Panda habitat is increasing with the development of new reserves and green corridors.
• Some threats to panda survival such as poaching and illegal logging have been significantly reduced.
• Community development projects to help people sustainably coexist with pandas have been very positive.

However, despite recent success, the Panda remains on the ICUN’s Red List as an endangered species.

Maybe these six chosen Panda Ambassadors can take their love of the species and transform it into education and awareness. As “Pambassadors,” it will be their responsibility to note the various problems facing the Panda and go even further to offer possible solutions to the world audience.

If each “Pambassador” can inspire their own country to fight just a bit harder for the restoration of the Panda then maybe the world can look beyond political agendas in the name of conservation and operate for a united purpose: To Save the Giant Panda!

To view news footage of this story reported by Clarissa Ward, see Good Morning America. 

Shark Fin Soup: Delicacy VS Animal Cruelty

Shark Fin Soup

Shark fin soup is a delicacy most commonly found in Asian countries such as China and others in the Far East.  The soup is made up of shark fin and chicken (or other) stock; the shark fin itself is essentially tasteless so the stock is added to bring flavor, whereas the fin adds only texture. This delicacy costs about $100 per bowl and is usually served at special occasions like weddings to demonstrate one’s wealth. However, weddings alone do not support the shark finning trade; it is the restaurants that have the most to gain from selling such high-end food.

Sharks returned without fins

On the less glamorous side of shark fin soup is the devilish act that allows the soup to exist: shark finning. Shark finning occurs when fishermen hook a shark, brutally chop off all its fins, then dispose of the body since it holds no value. Most of the time, sharks are returned to the ocean alive in this painful condition. Unable to swim, the sharks immediately sink to the bottom and later die of starvation, are eaten by other fish, or drown due to the lack of water flowing through their gills for oxygen.

Shark Finning in action

Even with the alarming consequences of shark finning, shark fin soup remains in high demand. John Platt, on the Scientific American blog Extinction Countdown, writes that shark fin soup is actually “extinction in a bowl.” Evidence of the impending “extinction,” as Platt puts it, is clearly visible in the dissipating shark populations.  

"According to a recent report by the marine conservation organization Oceana, Hong Kong imports up to 10 million kilograms of shark fins, representing up to 73 million sharks, every year. The fins, imported by fishermen from 87 different countries, can fetch more than $1,300 each."

Sharks are beginning to reach emergency status because with all of the overfishing they are not given enough time to even attempt repopulation. Sharks as a species take at least seven years to reach maturity and only raise one or two pups at one time any given year. Moreover, shark extinction will have an adverse effect on the ocean’s ecosystem as a whole; without the presence of such a top predator the entire food chain will suffer.

Ultimately, it does not matter how much fear man has toward a species, no animal deserves to be treated with such malice.  So what is it going to take for shark fin soup to become extinct and for sharks to thrive naturally once more? In order for conservation efforts to succeed, the work can never stop. We need to put more sharks on the Endangered Species List and promote harsher punishments for illegal fishing activities.

Blacktip Reef Shark

After all, the most beautiful sight in the world is an animal living safely in its natural habitat. 

For more information, go to:

Stop Shark Finning

The Pew Charitable Trusts

Humane Society International

Coral Reef Gardening

Coral Gardening from Jonathan Clay on Vimeo.

What started off as an inspired scheme to save the coral reefs has now become a full fledged rescue mission. The organization Corals for Conservation began this amazing project in 1999 in Fiji where effects of over-fishing and coral destruction for tourism and commerce had begun to chase away prospective inhabitants.

It is well known that a coral reef is not simply a beautiful piece of living art on the ocean floor but that it is home to thousands of species of marine life. And without the opportunity for food and shelter that the coral reefs provide, many fish go elsewhere. With the fish gone, the coral reefs that were once teaming with life and color are left barren landscapes of coral skeletons. Coral destruction leaves a previously healthy coral reef dead, turned white as snow. Fish are fickle creatures, just like women, they are attracted to beautiful colors and prefer socialization. Therefore, without the bright color or crowds to attract the fish to the coral, the local community’s fishing industry also suffers due to lack of supplies.

So, to bring help to all, Corals for Conservation began “The Coral Gardening Initiative” to bring back the coral reefs and fish as well as help improve the local economy. This initiative would not be as successful as it is without the dedication of the local community. Ultimately, the Coral Gardening Initiative

“focuses at restoring degraded coral reef ecosystems by working in partnership with marine resource owners to develop community-based marine management plans and to implement strategies to rectify problems such as over-fishing and coral reef decline.”

There are two ways the Coral Gardening Initiative works:

1. Marine scientists trim bits and pieces off of rare or endangered corals and grow them for two years to about one hundred times the size of the trim to create what they call “Mother corals.” Next, small trimmings from the “Mother corals” are used as seeds in dead and dying coral reefs. Over time, those small bits from the “Mother corals” become what scientists refers to as second and third-generation corals that become part of the appropriately named coral gardens. The habitual trimming and re-planting eventually bring corals that were on the brink of destruction back to life. Once the coral begins to grow again, the fish follow almost immediately.
2. If there is an extremely degraded coral reef, scientists may decide to build a coral castle rather than a coral garden. A coral castle is the result of gluing stones together with cement and then transplanting coral on top of the stones to create a makeshift fish house.

• According to Corals for Conservation, a “Majority of the Hotels or Resorts that the project works with, is using this as a recreational/restoration activity for tourists (International and local) as part of effective management of their Marine Park.”

If the Coral Gardening Initiative sounds like a small amount of work, keep in mind that the Marine scientists and the local communities care for these coral gardens and castles on a daily basis to ensure their health and safety. Transplanting coral is only the beginning because participants in the Coral Gardening Initiative must work to

“remove overabundant coral-killing predators, to weed excessive seaweeds that are smothering corals, to dust sand kicked up by snorkeler's off of massive corals, and to replant corals broken by careless divers and storms to dead reef areas."

I am extremely proud of Corals for Conservation for bringing so much success to such a massive undertaking and I urge my readers to visit the Corals for Conservation website to learn even more about this amazing conservation project. 

Desensitized to Human Rights Footage?

On the EarthRights International blog, Brad Weikel writes about the official YouTube blog and how Steve Grove of YouTube and Sameer Padania of WITNESS have been writing a series of blog posts all summer long about the impact of online videos in human rights advocacy campaigns. It turns out that Grove and Padania asked their readers to respond to questions posed on the YouTube blog; there was quite a large response. To see the full blog post go to it here. I, however, only wish to answer one of the three questions posed to the world audience. 

When referring to digital human rights advocacy:

How can we stay alert to human rights footage without getting de-sensitized to it?

This is a vital question that can be rephrased for any important cause. For example, it could also be asked about gun violence in video games; yet, the one way people never get de-sensitized to human rights footage is the fact that it is happening everywhere. No matter where a person lives, he/she is never far from someone in need, whether it be a homeless man around the corner or a veteran home from war who can no longer work to support his/her family. It may seem that human rights issues surround the continental United States, but the fact is they exist here at home too. And, the phrase “human rights” does not simply refer to the rights of humans; it refers to animal rights as well. As long as people comprehend that human rights issues are not just images on a screen located millions of miles away but that they are somewhere close to home, the world’s eyes will remain alert. 

The easiest way to make a difference in the world is to find one cause that speaks directly to you and your life. Whatever cause awakens emotion in your heart, volunteer your time, donate any amount of money, or simply advocate for the cause on social media sites to reach a wider audience. Any amount of effort put toward your chosen cause, whether it be large or small, can help immensely.