WWF -

Europe's last wild sturgeons threatened by ongoing illegal fishing and caviar trade—WWF and TRAFFIC

2013-06-18

Bucharest, Romania – Ongoing illegal fishing and trade in caviar in Romania and Bulgaria is threatening the survival of sturgeons in the Danube river basin, finds a new report by WWF and TRAFFIC.

The report's findings are based on interviews with caviar retailers and DNA analyses of samples obtained from selected shops, restaurants, markets, street vendors and sturgeon farms in Romania and Bulgaria.

Significant information was also obtained in discussions with fishermen. In both countries, a fishing ban currently is in place until 2015. However, Bulgarian fishermen told researchers they used modern equipment such as sonar and GPS, as well as the forbidden traditional hook lines – "carmaci" – to catch wild sturgeons.

"Romania and Bulgaria are home to the only viable wild sturgeon populations left in the European Union, and unless this sophisticated illegal fishing is stopped, these fish are doomed," said WWF's Jutta Jahrl, author of the new report.

In total, 30 caviar samples were obtained and analysed during the latest study to determine the species of origin (14 in Romania, 14 in Bulgaria and two of Bulgarian farmed caviar in Austria).

Of five samples said by vendors to be from wild-caught sturgeons, four were shown to be from the highly sought-after beluga sturgeon (Huso huso). Five of the six sturgeon species native to the Danube river basin, including the beluga, are critically endangered. Illegal fishing – principally for their caviar – is the main direct threat to their survival.

"The survey demonstrates that caviar allegedly from wild sturgeons is still being offered for sale in Bulgaria and Romania, despite the current ban," said Jahrl.

Although trade in farmed caviar is permitted if containers are specially labeled, eight of the caviar samples bought in fish shops or from street vendors did not have the mandatory labels and codes required under CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) to indicate their legal origin.

Of three samples that did possess CITES labels, DNA analysis indicated they were from species or hybrids other than those declared on the label. Furthermore, five samples were mixtures containing more than one species of sturgeon, which is not permitted under the strict CITES rules (except for so called "pressed caviar"), while a further six samples were shown not to be sturgeon caviar, despite being explicitly sold as such.

"These cases demonstrate that Bulgaria and Romania need to improve significantly their implementation of European Union Wildlife Trade Regulations and CITES labelling provisions," said TRAFFIC's Katalin Kecse-Nagy.

"Consumers should only buy caviar that has authentic CITES labeling, or risk being ripped-off or worse."

In 2011, a TRAFFIC study compiled for WWF revealed illegal caviar from Bulgaria and Romania was regularly being seized elsewhere in the EU.

"Two years ago, attention was drawn to the need for Bulgaria and Romania to implement stronger controls over the caviar trade, but progress seems to be lacking," said Kecse-Nagy.

Researchers also found that vendors in both countries, especially those offering supposedly illegal caviar, only sell to people they trust. The result is a covert chain of custody from poachers to customers involving middlemen and indicating a criminal network.

"The illegal caviar trade is not just a wildlife protection issue. It also involves contraband and organized crime, loss of tax revenue for the countries concerned, and there are health and veterinary issues, too," said Kecse-Nagy.

"Effective enforcement is a vital prerequisite for a successful fight against poaching and illegal wildlife trade. Tight inland and border controls are crucial, especially at the external frontiers of the EU, such as Moldova, Ukraine and Turkey, together with good national and cross border cooperation."

The report also recommends the use of modern technology, such as DNA analysis, to help monitor the caviar trade and for strict control measures to regulate online caviar sales and sturgeon aquaculture operations.

The report, Illegal caviar trade in Bulgaria and Romania, was funded by The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and WWF.

WWF tool measures cumulative impact of hydropower, mining projects in Amazon

2013-05-16

Brasilia — WWF is calling for a widely shared, common vision for Amazonian river basins that are the site of large-scale mining and hydropower projects.

"There should be a qualified debate in the national sphere regarding what kind of Amazon we wish to preserve in the future. That means defining which rivers are to be preserved before the accumulated effects of the innumerable hydroelectric and mining projects – which so far have always been analysed individually – create environmental impacts that could be really disastrous," said Pedro Bara, leader of WWF's Living Amazon Initiative infrastructure strategy.

Bara presented WWF's ecological vision for the Tapajos river basin at an event in Foz de Iguaçu organised by Sustainable Planet and Editora Abril publishers on the theme of Business, Energy and Environment.

The vision is based on an analytical tool known as the Hydrological Information System and Amazon River Assessment (HIS-ARA). The tool integrates hydrological and ecological information to support development of regional ecosystem conservation strategies.

Bara said the overall objective is to mitigate conflicts and boost opportunities generated by projects that are decided on in a participatory and transparent manner, and are capable of contributing to a sustainable and prosperous future for the Tapajos basin.

Cumulative Impacts
HIS-ARA makes it feasible to identify critical areas for biodiversity and for the maintenance of connectivity among the rivers to ensure the integrity of the hydrological networks and the aquatic ecosystems. The same tool takes into consideration the functioning of the ecological systems and all the social and cultural territories in the entire river basin area.

In the specific case of the Tapajos River basin, which occupies 6 per cent of Brazilian territory and is highly relevant in scenic, cultural, ecological and hydropower terms, 42 hydroelectric plants of varying dimensions are planned. The so-called Tapajos Complex alone will consist of seven plants, two of which, the Sao Luiz and Jatoba dams, will be mega-installations. The damming of two more free-flowing rivers in the Amazon, the Tapajos River and the Jamanxim River, will flood an estimated 2,500 km2 of land and fragment ecologically, culturally and socially important ecosystems. Among the major social impacts, it will affect the Munduruku indigenous lands, home to more than 10,000 people.

"The application of science in the form of tools like HIS-ARA can support decision making and streamline the crucial dialogues associated with large-scale infrastructure projects," said WWF-Brazil CEO Maria Cecilia Wey de Brito.

For further information:
Denise Oliveira, Head of Communications, Living Amazon Initiative
doliveira@wwf.org.br / +55 61 3364.7497 or +55 61 8175.2695

Pedro Bara, Infrastructure Strategy leader, Living Amazon Initiative
pedrobara@wwf.org.br / +55 11 3074-4765

About Living Amazon Initiative
The Living Amazon Initiative spearheads WWF's efforts to guarantee an ecologically healthy Amazon Biome that maintains its environmental and cultural contribution to local peoples, the countries of the region and the world, by maintaining ecological processes and services within a framework of that propitiates inclusive economic development with social equity and global responsibility.

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

New forest loss figures highlight need for green growth in the Greater Mekong

2013-05-02

Bangkok, Thailand: The Greater Mekong subregion in Southeast Asia risks losing more than a third of its remaining forest cover within the next two decades if regional governments fail to boost protection, value and restore natural capital, and embrace green growth, warns a new WWF report.

WWF's analysis reveals the Greater Mekong has retained about 98 million hectares of natural forest, just over half of the region's land area, but further rapid loss is expected if current deforestation rates persist.

Between 1973 and 2009, the five countries of the Greater Mekong lost just under one-third of their remaining forest cover. During this period, Cambodia lost 22 per cent of its 1973 forest cover, Laos and Myanmar lost 24 per cent, and Thailand and Vietnam lost 43 per cent.

Large connected areas of core forest also declined significantly across the region, from over 70 per cent in 1973 to about 20 per cent in 2009.

Core forest is defined as an area of at least 3.2km2 of uninterrupted forest. If current trends continue, WWF predicts that by 2030 only 14 per cent of the Greater Mekong's remaining forest will consist of contiguous habitat capable of sustaining viable populations of many wildlife species.

"The Greater Mekong is at a crossroads," said Peter Cutter, Landscape Conservation Manager with WWF-Greater Mekong. "One path leads to further declines in biodiversity and livelihoods, but if natural resources are managed responsibly, this region can pursue a course that will secure a healthy and prosperous future for its people."

The report, "Ecosystems in the Greater Mekong: past trends, current status, possible futures," provides new analysis on the current status and potential future of the region's principal forest and freshwater ecosystems, and some of the most endangered species these ecosystems support.

The report offers two scenarios for the region's ecosystems, one predicts what will likely happen by 2030 under an unsustainable growth model in which the deforestation and degradation observed over the past decade persists, while the other scenario assumes a 50 per cent cut in the annual deforestation rate and offers a future based on green growth. Under the green economy scenario, core forest areas extant in 2009 across the five Greater Mekong countries would remain intact.

"The green economy approach is the choice for a viable future in the Greater Mekong," added Cutter. "Regional leaders have already affirmed that healthy economic growth goes hand in hand with healthy and productive ecosystems, but fast and effective responses are needed now to avoid permanent environmental degradation."

The report highlights the Xayaburi dam development as a key threat to the health and productivity of the Mekong river and delta.

The Mekong basin hosts 13 unique, yet connected, freshwater ecosystems, but the controversial Xayaburi project will sever the mainstem of the lower Mekong river, blocking migratory fish and sediment flow with devastating consequences for livelihoods and food security for 60 million people.

The report also maps the enormous decline in the range of several important and iconic species of the region, including the tiger, Asian elephant, Irrawaddy dolphin and the endemic saola.

The survival of many species in the Greater Mekong depend on the existence of effectively managed protected area systems, and while protected areas have expanded dramatically since 1970, many are not well managed.

"Many protected areas exist in name only," added Cutter. "Even relatively secure protected areas are under intense pressure from poaching and timber theft, while others have been reduced in size by government's eager to cash in on land concessions to mining companies or plantation owners."

Despite documenting the degradation of ecosystems over the past 50 years, the report also emphasizes the region is still rich in natural resources and the value of its ecosystem services, including food, water and fibre, is among the highest in the world.

The Greater Mekong's vast natural wealth provides a significant opportunity for sustainable development, and WWF believes building greener economies is well within reach.

"Given that the majority of the region's biological heritage and supporting ecosystems occur in landscapes that cross borders, regional collaboration is critical," concluded Cutter. "Increased and more sustainable investment in maintaining ecosystem integrity must also be a priority at landscape, national, and regional scales."

Protection of bird colonies takes flight with creation of three Ramsar wetlands

2013-04-16

Ruse, Bulgaria – The environmental ministers of Bulgaria and Romania officially signed a proposal to create three new transboundary wetland complexes along the Danube River prepared by WWF late last year. The new sites will later be considered and approved by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on the Conservation of Wetlands.

"The new transboundary wetland complexes – Srebarna-Lake Calarasi, Belene Islands Complex-Suhaia and Ibisha Island-Bistret – will allow for the full protection of the bird colonies that nest and feed in Bulgaria and Romania. The two countries will be able to take coordinated, cooperative measures to better protect wetlands and migratory species, which feed, winter, nest and breed on both sides of the river," said Laurice Ereifej, head of WWF Central and Eastern Europe Freshwater Programme.

Monitoring done by WWF in the last three years shows that heron colonies that nest on the Bulgarian island of Ibisha feed in the Romanian lake of Bistret. The same goes for pygmy cormorants and pelicans nesting in the Srebarna Lake in Bulgaria that feed in the Romanian lake of Calarasi.

"The two countries can work on a joint strategy for wetland management that will allow for the full protection of the bird species. Bulgaria and Romania can take coordinated measures by executing common bans on logging and hunting in the region and by not allowing access to the bird colonies during breeding," said Ivan Hristov, head of Freshwater for WWF-Bulgaria.

At the end of 2012, WWF launched a study of Bistret, Suhaia, Calarasi, Srebarna, Ibisha and Belene Islands Complex as part of the Green Borders LIFE+ EU-funded project to propose transboundary conservation measures for bird species and to designate cross-border nature reserves along the Lower Danube.

Wetlands include rivers, lakes, ponds and floodplain forests, among others. They are among the most valuable ecosystems as they preserve a huge amount of biodiversity and ensure ecosystem services for humans. Wetlands play a key role in the water cycle, restore water supplies, can reduce floods, provide habitat for fish and purify surface or groundwater. In the last century, the majority of wetlands in Bulgaria and Romania have been destroyed. Their protection is a priority for WWF.

The Convention on the Conservation of Wetlands was signed on 2 February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. It is the first international agreement for the protection and sustainable use of natural resources. The mission of the Ramsar Convention is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution to sustainable development.

Yangtze finless porpoise population nosedives to 1,000

2013-03-29

Wuhan, China -- The Yangtze finless porpoise population has declined to a mere 1,000 individuals, making the endangered species even more rare than the wild giant panda, the 2012 Yangtze Freshwater Dolphin Survey Report reveals.  

The population in the mainstream of the Yangtze River was less than half of what a similar survey found six years ago, with food shortages and human disturbance such as increased shipping traffic major threats to their survival.

The study also found that the rare species annual rate of decline now stands at 13.7 percent, which means that the Yangtze finless porpoise could be extinct as early as the year 2025.

The report comes after a 44-day and 3,400-kilometer round-trip research expedition on the Yangtze River between Yichang in Hubei Province and Shanghai. Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, WWF and the Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition first set sail on 11 November 2012.  

The crew visually identified 380 individual Yangtze finless porpoise in the river's mainstream during the 2012 survey. Based on this observation, scientists determined through analyses that the population in the Yangtze mainstream is about 500, down from 1,225 in 2006. 

In October 2012, research was carried out in two adjoining lakes, the Poyang and Dongting, where the population was about 450 and 90, respectively, according to the report.  In a sharp contrast, 851 individuals of Yangtze finless porpoise were visually identified in the mainstream of the Yangtze during the 2006 survey. That research, however, did not cover the two lakes. 

"The species is moving fast toward its extinction," said Wang Ding, head of the research expedition and a professor at the IHB.  Attempts to find traces of the Baiji Dolphin, another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise, failed during the 2012 survey. The Baiji dolphin was declared "functionally extinct."

According to data captured by acoustic equipment onboard the observation ships, the largest numbers of finless porpoise were found in the river sections east of Wuhan, with 67 percent recorded between Hukou in Jiangxi Province and Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, the report shows.  

There is a notable sign of scattered distribution pattern which could be the result of "shipping traffic that made migration harder, projects that altered hydrological conditions in the middle and lower reaches and habitat loss," said Wang with the IHB.  

The report also cautions that small groups of Yangtze finless porpoise living in comparative isolation may have a negative impact on their ability to reproduce. 

There are fewer finless porpoise in the mainstream of the Yangtze while more discoveries were made in wharf and port areas, scientists found.  

"They may risk their lives for rich fish bait resources there. But busy shipping traffic close to the port areas poses a threat to the survival of finless porpoise," said Wang.  

"Lack of fishery resources and human disturbances including shipping traffic are among the key threats to the Yangtze finless porpoise survival," Lei Gang, director of freshwater programme at WWF-China, said. 

Researchers found dense distributions of finless porpoise in waters that are not open to navigation and attribute this to less human disturbance. Less optimistic was the discovery of illegal fishing practices in these areas, including traps that could affect finless porpoise.  

A set of enhanced measures that include in-situ conservation and ex-situ conservation approaches are essential for efforts of saving the species from its distinction, said Lei.  Given that, the report calls for all-year-round fishing ban for all river dolphin reserves, establishment of a national reserve in Poyang Lake and ex-situ conservation reserves along the Yangtze.

For further information:

Qiu Wei, WWF China, +86 10 6511 6272, WQiu@wwfchina.org

WWF exposes seven sins of dam building

2013-03-22

Gland/Berlin - On World Water Day, WWF criticizes dam projects worldwide that continue to violate fundamental sustainability criteria.

In the WWF report, "Seven Sins of Dam Building," numerous dam projects under construction or planned are given a failing review by the conservation organization. Aside from the internationally controversial Belo Monte (Brazil) and Xayaburi (Laos) dams, European projects, such as in Austria and Turkey, are also on the list..

The 'seven sins' outlined in the report include issues with dam location, neglecting biodiversity, environmental flows, social and economic factors, and risk analysis. WWF also notes that dam decisions often blindly follow "a bias to build" without considering better, cheaper, and less damaging alternatives.

"Properly planned, built, and operated dams can contribute to food and energy security. Unfortunately, short-term interests are too often the focus of decision-making," says Dr. Jian-hua Meng, Water Security Specialist for WWF.

"In order to guarantee acceptable levels of social and environmental sustainability, dam installations and operations should be stringently checked against sustainability criteria as formulated under the World Commission on Dams or the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol. If necessary, insufficiently performing projects must be modified or halted," added Meng.

No sustainable outcomes can be expected when dam proponents rely on superior financial strength and political connections rather than on dialogue, transparency, and reason, says WWF.

Additionally, some governments lack the capacity or independence to protect public interests.

Successful and overall long-term beneficial dam projects need more than just the legal regulator's approval, according to the report.

"For large-scale projects, operators must also obtain the 'social license to operate'. Acceptance of the project by the population is fundamental to sustainable management," says Meng. "Negative effects, such as relocation, destruction of cultural sites, or the collapse of local fisheries are still too often dismissed as somebody else's problem."

Scientific evidence and risk assessments too frequently lose out to one-sided political or economic agendas, according to the report.

Subsequently, dams are still planned and built in ecologically high value areas and biodiversity loss is still too often not accounted for. Serious impacts, caused by a change in the natural water flow dynamics or the disappearance of wetlands, are still not given consideration.

Moreover, the size of a dam is not necessarily a deciding factor. Though numerous mega-projects can be found in the report's case studies, the cumulative impact of many small hydro projects, like for instance in Romania, cannot be underestimated.

The problems are not limited to developing and emerging countries. G7 companies and engineers continue to not only push projects forward in emerging markets that are unacceptable by global standards, but also in the heart of the EU and North America, reproaches WWF.

For example, heavy ecological deterioration looms for three alpine valleys in the Ötztal Alps in Austria, if the extension of the Kaunertal hydroelectric power plants is implemented with the current plans, the report cites.

"WWF reviewed nine dams and we found that many projects commit not just one, but many grave sins of dam building. However, these errors are avoidable. Lack of capacity, economic pressure, or specific regional circumstances can no longer be presented as excuses," Meng stated.

WWF exposes seven sins of dam building

2013-03-22

Rare turtle sets Japanese precedent

2013-03-08

Japan is asking the world's governments to help protect the Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle, a rare turtle found on only three small islands in the Okinawa group.

The turtle was proposed by the Japanese Government for listing in Appendix II of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, following the discovery of it on the international trade scene in mainland China, Hong Kong and online. It is the first time Japan has submitted a proposal to CITES, which is currently meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.

At home, under Japanese law, the Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle is designated as a "natural monument" and cannot be captured, transferred or traded without permission from the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs.

But the appearance of the species in the pet trade outside Japan strongly suggests illegal activity is taking place. Governments at CITES chose to accept the Japanese listing proposal, which will see this unique turtle gain better protection against illegal international trade.

#cites Japan asks world's govts to protect rare Ryukyu Black-breasted Leaf #Turtle. First +ve ask fr Japan at Citestraffic.org/home/2013/3/8/...
— Damian Carrington (@dpcarrington) March 8, 2013

The proposal arose after TRAFFIC market surveys raised the alarm following the discovery of small numbers of protected Japanese reptiles in the Asian pet trade. They included 31 Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtles in two shops in Hong Kong, while two further shops plus one in neighbouring Guangzhou, southern China, told TRAFFIC that they received orders for the species.

TRAFFIC has released a new report at CITES, Trade in Japanese Endemic Reptiles in China and Recommendations for Species Conservation, recommending that the Japanese government propose the listing of the turtle.

"The proposal to list the Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle is a small but significant step for Japan," said Kahoru Kanari, Senior Programme Officer with TRAFFIC and an author of the report. "We hope it signals Japan's intention to place more importance on the conservation of wild species found in international trade."

In total 11 proposals were submitted to CITES for listings of freshwater turtles from around the world.

Bolivia designates world's largest protected wetland

2013-02-04

Trinidad, Bolivia — To mark the annual World Wetlands Day, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance has designated the Bolivian Llanos De Moxos wetland its largest site ever.

At more than 6.9 million hectares, the site is equivalent to the size of the Netherlands and Belgium together, and is prized for its rich natural diversity, as well as cultural value.

"WWF applauds the government of Bolivia for taking bold action to protect these vital ecosystems," said Jim Leape, WWF International Director General.

"The Amazon basin, covering nine countries, supports native species and the millions of people who live there – and plays an essential role in regulating the climate we all depend on. Healthy wetlands support the proper functioning of the whole Amazon," Leape added.

The Llanos de Moxos, located near the borders of Bolivia, Peru and Brazil, consists of tropical savannas with cyclical droughts and floods.

These wetlands are especially prized for their rich natural diversity: 131 species of mammals have been identified to date, 568 different birds, 102 reptiles, 62 amphibians, 625 fish and at least 1,000 plant species. Several species – including the giant otter and the Bolivian river dolphin – have been identified as vulnerable, endangered or at critical risk of extinction.

The region is traversed by three major rivers, the Beni in the west, the Iténez or Guaporé to the east, and the Mamoré in the central region. These rivers converge to form the Madeira River, the major southern tributary of the Amazon River.

The Llanos de Moxos wetlands are important to avoid floods, maintain minimum flows in the rivers during the dry season and regulate the region's hydrological cycle.

The area is sparsely populated, comprising seven indigenous territories and eight protected areas. Peasant communities and private properties also exist in the region, both mainly dedicated to farming.

The region was inhabited by pre-Columbian cultures from 800 B.C. to 1200 A.D. These together formed the "Moxos water-based cultures" typified by the clever use of hydraulic infrastructure for water management of the vast territory covered by the llanos, or plains, which sustained intensive agricultural production on which these ancient peoples survived.

The Bolivian Government Commitment

"We recognize the significant role of these wetlands in the conservation of Mother Earth, as well as the importance of the declaration confirming the Llanos de Moxos as internationally protected wetlands. We are proud to confirm to the world that the government of Bolivia is committed, in collaboration with social actors, to assuming the preservation of these areas as evidence of our efforts to achieve development for all our citizens," stated Juan Pablo Cardozo Arnez, Bolivian Deputy Minister for the Environment.

"This is an important step as we continue to forge a truly harmonious relationship between our peoples and Mother Earth," Arnez added.

The Deputy Minister went on to say: "Echoing the words of our President Evo Morales, we call upon all countries to incorporate [environmental] rights into their legislation and to comply with existing international agreements in this respect, so that human beings can begin to live in complete harmony and equilibrium with Mother Earth."

Ramsar Convention

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance is an intergovernmental treaty, signed by 160 countries in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. The Ramsar Convention's mission is the conservation and wise use of wetlands, with the goal of achieving sustainable development.

The designation of Llanos de Moxos is the product of a cooperative effort led by the government of of Beni Department, and Bolivia's Environment and Water Ministry and Vice-Ministry of the Environment. WWF did the technical studies under the Ramsar Convention framework to qualify for designation as a wetland of international importance.

Bolivia acceded to the Ramsar Convention in 1990 and ratified it on 7 May 2002. It has eight other Ramsar sites: Los Lípez in south western Potosi Department; Lake Titicaca (La Paz Department), the Taczara basin in Tarija Department, Lakes Poopó and Uru Uru (Oruro Department), the Bolivian Pantanal, the Izozog Marshes and the Parapetí River in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

"The Moxos' declaration is a victory for wetlands conservation in the Amazon region. It will help protect different ecosystems and landscapes, guarantee a balanced provision of goods and services for Amazonian inhabitants and secure the future of this rich but fragile area," said Luis Pabón, WWF-Bolivia Country Director.

"But most important is the challenge the Bolivian government and society are assuming, committing to protect the Llanos de Moxos in the long term. This declaration is clear evidence of how, here in Latin America and especially in Bolivia, supporting government conservation processes and policies can lead to important achievements," he added.

Global fashion company H&M tackles business and environmental risk with cutting-edge water strategy

2013-01-24

Stockholm — Fashion retailer H&M says its new water strategy will minimize water impacts throughout its operations and supply chain, and create positive change in key river basins with major garment production. The strategy was created in partnership with conservation organization WWF, which will work with H&M to implement it over the next three years.

"Water is a key resource for H&M, and we are committed to ensuring water is used responsibly throughout our value chain. We do this to minimize risks in our operations, protect the environment and secure availability of water for present and future generations. We are proud of the partnership with WWF, which we hope will inspire others to follow," says Karl-Johan Persson, CEO of H&M.

During 2012, WWF and H&M performed a comprehensive evaluation of all H&M's efforts and challenges related to water. These include agricultural production of fibers, as well as dyeing and washing processes. The review guided development of the new H&M water strategy, which WWF and H&M will implement together starting this year. According to WWF, no other fashion company has such a comprehensive global water strategy.

"This partnership marks an evolution in the corporate approach to water. H&M understands that its long-term success depends on access to adequate water supplies. It also understands that its social license to operate depends on being a good neighbour and good steward of shared resources. H&M's water strategy is an integral part of its business plan. We hope other companies will be inspired to take the same approach," says Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International.

To embed sustainability from the beginning, H&M designers and buyers will receive additional training on water impacts of raw material production, as well as wet processes for different styles. H&M will also improve its internal water efficiency, minimize its suppliers' impact on water, and educate staff and customers about water issues.

WWF and H&M will work in collaboration with policymakers, NGOs, water institutions and other companies to support better management of particular river basins in China and Bangladesh – key production hubs for the company. In addition, H&M will support WWF freshwater conservation projects in the Yangtze river basin in China.

Currently, 2.7 billion people – roughly 40 per cent of the world's population – live in river basins that experience severe water scarcity during at least one month of the year, according to WWF's 2012 Living Planet Report. About a third of the factories that make clothes for H&M using wet processes are already located in extreme water scarce areas, or will be by 2025. This partnership builds on 10 years of H&M's work to reduce negative water impacts in different parts of the value chain.

Regional cooperation on Mekong River in tatters

2013-01-11

Gland, Switzerland – Ministers from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam meeting next week in the Lao city of Luang Prabang must put derailed decision-making on Mekong River mainstream dams back on track or risk sabotaging management of one of the world's great rivers, warns WWF.

Environment and water ministers had agreed in 2011 to delay a decision on building the US$3.5-billion Xayaburi dam pending further studies on its environmental impacts. This agreement was swept aside last November when Laos decided to forge ahead with construction of the controversial dam.

The 16-17 January Ministerial-level meeting of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) – an inter-governmental agency made up of representatives from the four lower Mekong countries – will put transboundary cooperation to the test and the fate of the Mekong River, vital to the livelihoods of 60 million people.

"The Xayaburi dam experiment threatens the health and productivity of the Mekong River and Delta, and could leave millions of people facing critical food insecurity," said Dr. Jian-hua Meng, WWF's Sustainable Hydropower Specialist. "Ministers must take a stand against Xayaburi-style diplomacy or it will be the dangerous precedent for the future."

Xayaburi dam is a crucial test case

As the first dam to enter the MRC's consultation process, the Xayaburi project is a crucial test case for 10 other dams proposed for the lower mainstream of the river. The MRC process requires countries to jointly review development projects proposed for the Mekong mainstream with an aim to reach consensus on whether or not they should proceed. Laos is now constructing Xayaburi dam without consensus among its neighbours or notifying the MRC.

In November last year, the MRC delivered the much anticipated concept note for a joint study aimed at filling critical data gaps and guiding sustainable development of the Mekong River, including mainstream hydropower projects. The study was requested by Ministers at the 2011 MRC meeting.

"Without the results of the study, dam development on the lower Mekong mainstream is now largely guesswork," added Dr. Meng. "A fix it as you go approach with Xayaburi dam, and throwing money at problems as they inevitably arise, is not sound engineering nor smart development."

Thai banks back dam despite severe risks

Thailand is slated to be the prime consumer of the electricity produced by Xayaburi dam, and at least four Thai banks have confirmed their interest in financing the project, despite the acute environmental and social costs, and the uncertainties surrounding the financial return of the project.

"Thailand must act responsibly and cancel its premature power purchase agreement until there is regional consensus on dams," added Dr. Meng. "And if the Thai banks do their risk assessment homework well, and value their international reputation and financial returns, they'd do well to reconsider and to pull out of this project."

WWF urges Mekong ministers to defer a decision on the dam for 10 years to ensure critical data can be gathered and a decision can be reached using sound science and analysis.

Future of MRC hangs in the balance

"If decision-making continues to occur outside of the MRC, the institution will soon lose its legitimacy and US$300 million of international donor support to the Commission will be wasted," added Dr. Meng. "Mekong countries need to stop wasting time picking apart the MRC process, and start using common sense and sound science again to reach joint decisions that are to the benefit of all."

Reviews of the dam development have identified serious gaps in data and weaknesses with the proposed fish passes for the mega dam, and confirmed the Xayaburi project will block part of the sediment flow, destabilising the river's ecosystem upon which farmers, fishers and many other economic sectors depend.

WWF advises lower Mekong countries considering hydropower projects to prioritise dams on some Mekong tributaries that are easier to assess and are considered to have a much lower impact and risk.

About the mighty Mekong

TEDxWWF talk by WWF-Greater Mekong Interim Representative, Stuart Chapman, on hydropower development on the Mekong River.

Drava-Mura confluence will remain unspoilt

2013-01-10

Zagreb, Croatia – A highly controversial river regulation project that would have turned the Drava-Mura confluence on the Hungarian-Croatian border into little more than a lifeless canal, has been rejected by the Croatian Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection.

This important step comes after four years of campaigning against the project by WWF, EuroNatur and the Drava League. The demise of the project would in effect protect the core zone of the recently designated Croatian-Hungarian part of the future 5-country UNESCO Biosphere reserve "Mura-Drava-Danube".

The Mura-Drava confluence has some of Europe's best preserved wetlands and is home to endangered species such as the White-tailed eagle, Black stork and Otter. All species rely on the natural shifting of the riverbeds as well as on habitats such as floodplain forests, sand and gravel banks.

In October, a comprehensive monitoring report issued by the European Commission on Croatia's state of preparedness for EU membership detected significant gaps in the implementation of EU environmental law. In particular, the report criticized the insufficient quality of Environmental Impact Assessment studies (EIAs) and found that they were not in line with EU standards.

WWF, EuroNatur and Croatian NGOs had repeatedly warned that more than 500 kilometres of Croatia's natural rivers are at risk of being turned into canals. They had argued that the EIA's did not assess the projects' environmental impact properly and the projects contradicted EU law. Nevertheless, five out of seven projects had already gained approval by the Croatian Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection.

Still pending a decision is the regulation of 53 kilometres of the Danube River in the transboundary area of Croatia and Serbia.

"The ministerial decision against the destruction of the Drava-Mura confluence is an important signal for the better protection of unique natural areas in Croatia", said Arno Mohl, International Freshwater Officer at WWF. "We trust that Minister Zmajlović will now also stop the rest of the projects".

Croatia's unique rivers provide free ecosystem services like flood protection, water purification and climate change mitigation and, hence, are of extreme importance for the wellbeing of people. Straightening and channelling the natural river would massively harm the already vulnerable river landscapes and lead to irreversible loss of nature and wildlife.

Yangtze finless porpoise population declines

2012-12-24

Wuhan, China -- A total of 380 Yangtze finless porpoise have been visually identified during a survey expedition along the Yangtze River, marking a significant decline from a previous research in 2006, according to initial results.

Meanwhile, acoustic equipment identified 172 finless porpoise during the expedition.

"There is a notable downtrend in the population size of the finless porpoise based on our observation," said Wang Kexiong, deputy head of the research expedition and an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB).

Two survey ships docked at IHB's wharf in Wuhan of Hubei on Monday, concluding a 44-day and 3,400km round-trip voyage between the Chinese cities of Yichang and Shanghai.

Results of the expedition, including the population of the finless porpoise in the Yangtze River, are to be made available in about two months after sufficient analysis, said Wang.

"Compared with the 2006 survey, the distribution areas of finless porpoise remains roughly the same, with signs of scattering in some parts," said Wang.

There are fewer finless porpoise in the mainstream of the Yangtze while more discoveries have been made in wharf and port areas.

"That could be attributed to rich fish bait resources there. Busy shipping traffic in the mainstream, especially in port regions, poses a threat to the survival of finless porpoise," said Wang.

Shipping traffic in the mainstream of Yangtze River -- the lower reaches in particular – has increased considerably, with an average of 100 cargo ships per hour passing through. Rates were even higher in the Zhenjiang-Jiangyin section of the Yangtze, with an average of 105 cargo ships passing every half hour.

"Such shipping traffic volumes would become a potential threat to the finless porpoise who rely on their sonar system to survive," said Zhang Xinqiao, expedition team member and WWF finless porpoise programme officer.

The team encountered 9,643 cargo ships and 736 fishery ships during voyage, which ran from 11 November – 23 December 2012.
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Researchers found dense distributions of finless porpoise in waters that are not open to navigation, such as the Jiajiang River, and attribute this to less human disturbance.

Less optimistic was the discovery of illegal fishing practices in these areas, including traps that could affect finless porpoise. .

"Generally, the finless porpoise are scattered in the Yangtze mainstream, with a small group of them living in a comparatively narrow area. Such an isolation is not necessarily a positive thing for their reproduction," cautioned Wang.

The scattered distribution pattern could be the result of shipping traffic that made migration harder, projects that altered hydrological conditions in the middle and lower reaches and habit loss, said Wang.

The findings on the number of population and variation trend are to be finalized according to a model that takes validity of calculation, density of distribution, width of the river, sailing length and areas covered into consideration.

The results are to contribute to the drafting of Action Plan for the Yangtze Finless Porpoise Conservation by the Ministry of Agriculture and proposals concerning the conservation areas.

Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the IHB, WWF and Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition first set sail on 11 November and comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct.

For further information:

Qiu Wei, Senior Communications Officer, WWF China, wqiu@wwfchina.org, +86 10 6511 6272

In the Mekong, science – not guesswork – must prevail บทบาทของไทย กับอนาคตบนเส้นด้ายของแม่น้ำโขง

2012-11-30

บทบาทของไทย กับอนาคตบนเส้นด้ายของแม่น้ำโขง -

จิม ลิป ผู้อำนวยการใหญ่ WWF เขียนจดหมายเปิดผนึกทวงถามรัฐบาลในภูมิภาคลุ่มน้ำโขง รวมทั้งผู้นำทางฝั่งยุโรปและอเมริกาที่เงียบเฉยต่อโครงการก่อสร้างเขื่อนไซยะบุรี ที่รัฐบาลลาวประกาศเดินหน้าเต็มตัวเมื่อต้นเดือนพ.ย.ที่ผ่านมา

จิมบอกว่าเดิมพันครั้งนี้คืออนาคตของคนในลุ่มน้ำโขงตอนล่างราว60ล้านคน ซึ่งร้อยละ80 พึ่งพาทรัพยากรธรรมชาติโดยตรงจากสายเลือดหลักเส้นนี้ หากเขื่อนไซยะบุรีสร้างได้ เขื่อนที่อยู่ในแผนอีกกว่า 10 แห่งก็อาจจะเกิดขึ้นตามมา และนั่นจะส่งผลกระทบอย่างใหญ่หลวงต่อความมั่งคงด้านอาหารและวิถีชีวิตของผู้คนในภูมิภาค

เขื่อนไซยะบุรีเป็นบททดสอบสำคัญถึงหัวใจของ 'การพัฒนาอย่างยั่งยืน' ที่่บรรดารัฐบาลและองค์กรที่สนับสนุนการพัฒนาพร่ำพูดถึง ประเทศในลุ่มน้ำโขงตอนล่างมีโอกาสที่จะพิสูจน์แนวคิดดังกล่าวโดยการพิจารณาอย่างรอบคอบถึงสมดุลระหว่างความมั่งคงด้านอาหาร น้ำ และพลังงาน ที่ไม่จำเป็นต้องคุกคามทำลายระบบนิเวศที่เป็นรากฐานสำคัญของทุกสิ่ง

ประเทศไทยในฐานะผู้นำในภูมิภาคมีบทบาทสำคัญยิ่งต่อการพัฒนาโครงการเขื่อนไซยะบุรี เพราะประเทศไทยเป็นผู้รับซื้อไฟฟ้าหลัก และธนาคารของไทยอย่างน้อยสี่แห่งยังแสดงเจตจำนงค์ที่จะสนับสนุนเงินกู้ให้โครงการก่อสร้างเขื่อนไซยะบุรี แม้อาจจะมีผลกระทบด้านสังคมและสิ่งแวดล้อมที่สูงมาก

WWF ขอเรียกร้องให้ประเทศไทยแสดงบทบาทที่ชัดเจนและรับผิดชอบต่อการพัฒนาพลังงานในลุ่มน้ำโขงตอนล่าง โดยการยกเลิกข้อตกลงท่ีจะรับซื้อพลังงานจากโครงการจนกว่าโครงการนี้จะได้รับการเห็นชอบจากคณะกรรมาธิการแม่น้ำโขง และขอเรียกร้องให้ธนาคารในประเทศไทยล้มเลิกเจตนารมณ์ที่จะให้เงินกู้กับโครงการที่ยังเป็นที่ถกเถียงอย่างกว้างขวาง
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The Xayaburi dam would be the first dam on the lower Mekong mainstream, and could well open the way for 10 more dams currently proposed. It threatens economic development prospects and basic food security for 60 million people, 80 percent of whom depend directly on the river for their food and livelihoods.

WWF International Director General Jim Leape

With the livelihoods of 60 million people on the line, science – not guesswork – must prevail.

On November 7, the government of Laos held a ground-breaking ceremony to launch construction of the Xayaburi dam. If built, this massive dam would be the first dam on the lower Mekong mainstream, and could well open the way for 10 more dams currently proposed. It threatens economic development prospects and basic food security for 60 million people, 80 percent of whom depend directly on the river for their food and livelihoods.

The fish that migrate up and down the free-flowing lower Mekong are the principal source of protein for those 60 million people, and are the basis for a fishing industry with an estimated value as high as $7.6 billion annually. And the river's natural flooding cycles feed agriculture that brings in another $4.6 billion. So the stakes are high.

The governments of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have acknowledged the need for additional research into the unique functioning of the lower Mekong. In December 2011, the Mekong River Commission agreed to conduct further studies on the effects of the Xayaburi dam and 10 other proposed mainstream dams. To date, no studies have been conducted, leaving significant questions unanswered about how mainstream dams will affect migratory fish populations and the flow of sediment that nourishes farmland downstream.

These are not merely questions for biologists and hydrologists. They are questions for ministers of agriculture, health and finance. They are questions for banks and donors, including Australia, the European Union and the US, which have invested an estimated $1 billion in development aid in Laos and downstream countries over the past 25 years. Economic growth gained at the expense of food security is no development victory.

The curious lack of opposition to the Xayaburi dam at the recent Asia-Europe Meeting or the East Asia Summit could be read as tacit support for the project. This would call into question European and U.S. rhetoric about sustainable development. Support, whether tacit or explicit, for a project this risky and blatantly shortsighted is incompatible with an agenda that promotes food security, economic opportunity, energy access and a stable climate.

Indeed, the Xayaburi dam is a crucial test case. Are recent discussions about the trade-offs required to achieve food, water and energy security just talk? Or are governments and investors willing to go beyond buzzwords like "nexus thinking" where it truly matters? The nations of the lower Mekong have an opportunity to turn concept into reality by taking a balanced approach to meeting food, water and energy needs, while conserving the natural resources that underpin all of these.

As a regional leader, Thailand also plays an important role. Thailand is slated to be the prime consumer of the electricity produced, and at least four Thai banks have expressed their interest in providing loans to the project, despite the acute environmental and social costs, and the uncertainties surrounding the financial return of the project. WWF calls on Thailand to act responsibly and cancel its power purchase agreement until there is regional consensus on dams.

On complex issues of conservation and poverty-reduction, "clearly right" answers are rare. This is one of the few instances when all the governments and scientists have agreed: It's too risky to build a dam across the lower Mekong. There's too much we don't know, and the stakes are too high.

If the project goes ahead, the history of the lower Mekong will be divided into before and after Xayaburi. This will set the precedent, making it harder to oppose the 10 additional proposed dams. How many times must we look back in hindsight before we understand the magnitude and permanence of such decisions?

The groundbreaking ceremony at Xayaburi might make the dam seem like a fait accompli. On the contrary. There is still time to reconsider. There are options to develop hydropower along Mekong tributaries – options that research shows would have far less impact on migratory fish, and therefore food security and livelihoods. Let's listen to the science and chart a sustainable path for development along the lower Mekong.

Shipping, overfishing pushing Yangtze finless porpoise towards extinction

2012-11-28

Wuhan, China – The number of endangered finless porpoise spotted in an ongoing research expedition along the Wuhan-Yichang section of the Yangtze River has declined drastically with growing evidence pointing to impact of shipping and overfishing pushing the rare animal towards extinction, scientists on the expedition say.

The survey team has visually identified 39 individuals of the Yangtze finless porpoise – endangered on the IUCN Red List – during the 1,252km round-trip voyage on Wuhan-Yichang-Wuhan section of the river.

"Based on visual and sonar identification, the number of the Yangtze finless porpoises we've spotted is about one-third of the detected in the area during a similar study six years ago," said Wang Kexiong, deputy head of the research expedition and an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB).

Most of the 39 finless porpoises were spotted in the waters close to the Yanshou Dam, near the city of Yichang, Gong'an county, Chenglingji and Luoshan.

The distribution became concentrated and its location moved up stream compared to results in 2006, when the majority of discoveries were made across a wider area.

"The changes could be attributed to the comparatively gentle flow and rich fishery resources in waters near Yanshou Dam and Gong'an," said Wang.

The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), which numbers between 1,200 to 1,500 in the wild, lives mainly in the central and lower reaches of the 6300km Yangtze River and two large adjoining lakes, Dongting and Poyang. Recent studies say that the species could become extinct in 15 years if nothing is done to protect them.

The expedition team is due to depart Wednesday for Shanghai before heading back to Wuhan late next month when the initial results of the research are expected to be announced.

Calculation of the number of cargo and fishing ships in the Yangtze started from Yichang onward to evaluate the pressure posed by shipping and fishery activities on the endangered species.

"Shipping traffic and fishing activities can cast an influence on the survival of the Yangtze finless porpoises. The relatively concentrated distribution and fixed location could possibly result from excessively busy shipping traffic in certain sections of the river that may have severed route of communication of the porpoises," said Zhang Xinqiao, expedition team member and WWF finless porpoise programme officer.

For instance, in the waters off Shijitou in Xianning and Hannan district of Wuhan that have the busiest traffic of fishing and cargo shipping so far, little traces of porpoises were detected, said Zhang.

A total of 80 fishery boats and 697 cargo ships were counted by the team from Yichang-Wuhan. Twenty-seven cargo ships were calculated within 30 minutes in the waters off the Hannan district of Wuhan, while the number in Shijitou stood at six.

Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the IHB, WWF and Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition commenced on November 11 and comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct.

For more information please contact:

Qiu Wei, Senior Communications Officer, WWF China, wqiu@wwfchina.org, +86 10 6511 6272

Legal decision gives a break for conservation of the Tapajos basin in the Brazilian Amazon

2012-11-26

Debate over the construction of more dams in the Amazon heats up

A decision from the Federal Justice in the Brazilian State of Para that denied a preliminary environmental license to the construction of the newest giant dam in the Brazilian Amazon, the hydropower project Sao Luiz do Tapajos, represents an important step in the growing debate around the stakes, need and urgency of implementing large infrastructure projects in one of the more pristine areas of the Brazilian Amazon, affecting traditional communities and indigenous people.

The act, determined by Federal Judge José Airton de Aguiar Portela on November 19th, requires that an integrated environmental assessment to deal with cumulative social and environmental impacts be developed for the Tapajos and Jamanxin basins and that indigenous people living in the area be consulted.

According to the Federal Attorney of the State of Para, who has asked for this decision, the construction will affect the Munduruku territory where over 10,000 indigenous people live.

"The environmental assessments are very important and should be the result of detailed terms of reference as much as to the methodology, in order to enable a consistent study. More important is the implementation of the recommendations, as well as monitoring by society, "stated the WWF Brazil CEO, Maria Cecilia Wey de Brito.

The Tapajos basin represents almost 6% of the Brazilian territory and contains unique ecological, scenic and cultural value. Nevertheless, this basin has been subject to hasty measures aimed to bypass environmental safeguards in order to speed up the construction of the Tapajos complex, a compilation of 7 proposed dams in the ecoregion. Of these proposed dams, the two largest are the Sao Luiz (6.133 MW) and Jatoba (2.336 MW).

Among those measures, it is worth mentioning a government decision announced last January and later converted into law that reduces the protected status of four units of land set aside for conservation therefore allowing the massive undertaking of the Tapajos complex to proceed. By easing up on the law protecting these conservation areas, 2 more free-flowing rivers in the Amazon, the Tapajos and Jamanxin rivers, will be dammed, causing the flooding of an estimated 250,000 hectares and the fragmentation of ecosystems of social and ecological significance.

According to that legal decision that establishes a limit to the careless project pace, "the public interest cannot ignore rules imposed by itself, even under supposedly urgent demands from the country".

WWF has been advocating the development of an integrated regional planning system that supports a serious national debate over how Brazilians want to see the Amazon conserved in the future. The identification of specific rivers designated as "no-go rivers" must be agreed upon before the piling-up of impacts from numerous hydropower projects, treated in an isolated pattern, produce disproportional impacts at the basin scale.

"With 150 dams in the Amazon horizon it is essential to define priority areas for fresh water conservation to guarantee the connectivity and integrity of the hydrological system, which represent the interest of life from those that depend on rivers that flow and pulse freely. And the tools to promote this national dialog are available", says Pedro Bara, infrastructure strategy leader of WWF Living Amazon initiative.

(With information from Federal Justice of the Pará State)

Tana River Delta Ramsar Site Status a Plus for Coastal East Africa

2012-11-23

Conservation efforts by WWF and other environmental organizations have continued to forge ahead following Kenya designating the Tana River Delta as a Wetland of International Importance. With the Ramsar Secretariat's announcing that the Tana River Delta is now a Ramsar Site, the 163,600-hectare delta (02°27'S 040°17'E) becomes East Africa's second most important river mouth wetland after the Rufiji Delta in neighbouring Tanzania.

Kenya already has 5 designated Ramsar sites in the Great African Rift Valley, namely lakes Naivasha, Elementaita, Nakuru, Bogoria, and Baringo; providing enhanced tourism, employment for Kenya's tourism sector, vibrant horticultural industry around Lake Naivasha, steam geysers in Lake Bogoria, and Kenya's first sanctuary for the critically endangered black rhino in Lake Nakuru National Park. In total, Kenya's 6 Ramsar Sites cover 265,449 hectares.

The Tana Delta forms an area of rich biodiversity for sea species including fish and prawns, five species of marine turtles. There are a host of terrestrial animals such as the African Elephant, Tana Mangabey, Tana River Red Colobus, and White Collared monkey. In addition to more than 600 plant species, the Tana Delta is a home for many bird species and is a critical transit point for migratory water birds such as waders, gulls and terns.

According to Coastal East Africa Initiative leader Peter Scheren, the importance of the Tana Delta to Coastal East Africa cannot be underscored enough considering the numerous challenges facing the region.

"The Tana Delta is an important ecosystem for Coastal East Africa which continues to face several challenges. Statistics indicate that a mere 10% of the original coastal forests of Eastern Africa remain, fragmented into 400 patches that cover 6,250km² in Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique. The fact that the Tana Delta is now the latest Ramsar Site in Africa is a boost in efforts to conserve the remaining forest cover and help secure the livelihoods of communities' dependent upon this important ecosystem," noted Mr. Scheren

Currently, over 20 million people live in and along coastal forests and landscapes in eastern Africa. The survival of these people is highly dependent on the availability of basic natural resources such as timber, wood-fuel and charcoal, which are extracted from forests, causing a serious dilemma; their dependency and consequent exploitation of these resources destroying the very basis of their existence. The pressures are rapidly rising as the population is expected to double by 2030 putting a serious and already present strain on the meager natural resources present in Coastal East Africa.

WWF implements several conservation projects at the Kenyan coast including the rehabilitation and protection of the Kaya and Boni Dodori forests, the conservation of sea turtles and livelihood enhancing activities.

By John Kabubu
Communications Officer
WWF Coastal East Africa Initiative

Yangtze River expedition points to decline of endangered finless porpoise

2012-11-20

Yichang, China -- Scientists from a research expedition that is looking to find out how many finless porpoises now live in the Yangtze have spotted 10 individuals in a 630km section of the river, fewer than detected in the area during a similar study six years ago.

A combination of visual and sonar identification are being used to guarantee the independence and accuracy of the findings, according to the expedition team, which docked near the city of Yichang Monday afternoon.

Initial results suggest a drop in the population of the world's only freshwater finless porpoise but the results are pending until late next month when the evaluation is finalized.

"We have spotted 10 finless porpoises from Wuhan to Yichang, the first leg of the survey, mainly in the lower reaches of the Honghu section, upper reaches of the Dongting estuary, upper and lower reaches of the river near Jianli county and the section adjacent to Gong'an county, with few discoveries elsewhere," said Wang Kexiong, deputy head of the research expedition and an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB).

Shipping traffic, infrastructure to blame for population decline

The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), which numbers between 1,200 to 1,500 in the wild, lives mainly in the central and lower reaches of the 6300km Yangtze River and two large adjoining lakes, Dongting and Poyang.

Estimates from the 2006 survey say that the finless porpoise is expected to decline to around 200 by 2035 - Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List – but more recent studies say that the species could become extinct in 15 years if nothing is done to protect them.

Scientists on the expedition point to the growth of commercial shipping traffic and the construction of dams and other large-scale infrastructure projects as some of the major reasons behind the decline of the rare species.

"In order to study human impacts on finless porpoises in a scientific and comprehensive manner, we will count the number of cargo and fishing ships in the Yangtze from Yichang to Shanghai to evaluate the pressure posed by shipping and fishery activities on the endangered species," said Zhang Xinqiao, expedition team member and WWF finless porpoise programme officer.

The expedition team, which first set sail on 11 November, is scheduled to depart Yichang for Wuhan on 20 November, travelling along the Yangtze through the provinces of Anhui, Jiangxi, and Jiangsu to Shanghai, wrapping up the voyage in late-December when the first research report is to be published.

Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the IHB, WWF and Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct.

"Statistics will be finalized after we take into consideration the validity of calculation, density of distribution, width of the river, sailing length and areas covered," said Wang Kexiong from the IHB.

Planet-friendly tomatoes

2012-11-16

Pasta with tomato sauce – for many it's the taste of home, and the epitome of comfort food. Did you know that this worldwide favorite has a water footprint? Everything we eat does. And it's not just the water we use to cook in our home kitchens. It's the water used to grow the ingredients in the pasta and sauce we savor.

WWF has helped Mutti, market leader in the production of tomato purée, pressed tomatoes and tomato pulp, calculate the water footprint of its production, from tomato cultivation to finished product. Mutti is the first Italian company, and one of the few in the world, to undertake such a study.

"The world population has reached 7 billion, and our consumption habits are not sustainable," says Gianfranco Bologna, scientific director of WWF-Italy. "This is why WWF supports individual, institutional and business efforts to significantly reduce our footprint on natural systems. We are working to transform the markets, to minimize the impact of the products we enjoy and depend on."

The calculation of water footprint for the whole production cycle considered the quantity of water contained in each Mutti product. The water footprint analysis has led Mutti to commit to reduce its water footprint by 3 per cent by 2015.

Given that 83 per cent of Mutti's water footprint comes from the cultivation of tomatoes, the company is focusing most of its attention on its producers, with a campaign of awareness and support to improve efficiency of water use in cultivation.

This year, thanks to the partnership with the WWF, 20 Mutti suppliers located throughout the Emilia Romagna region have tried an innovative method of irrigation management to limit of the use of water to volumes that are strictly necessary.

A team of experts using probes and sensors to measure soil humidity has been able to quantify the minimum effective volume of irrigation water, thus guiding farmers toward an optimal use of resources. A water-savings of up to 30 per cent was shown in "guided" agricultural enterprises, compared with those "not guided". With the right guidelines, producers can easily analyze their own cultivation and irrigation practices to better manage water resources.

"The water saving of 30 per cent as a result of simply optimizing field irrigation represents an important step toward achieving the ambitious objective, agreed upon in collaboration with WWF, of reducing the water footprint by 2015 throughout the Mutti business network, from the cultivation of tomatoes to the final product," said Francesco Mutti.

As part of its annual Pomodorino d'Oro award for production of exceptional tomatoes, Mutti has introduced the Special Mention "Ideas for Water", to be given to farmers who are demonstrating innovation and commitment to sustainable cultivation.

"Mutti is part of the vanguard of companies using water footprint as a tool to measure impact and set challenging reduction targets," said Stuart Orr, Freshwater Manager at WWF International. "It is an innovative project that has identified efficient solutions and shown how the agricultural sector can reduce its environmental impacts."

Troubled times for endangered Yangtze finless porpoise

2012-11-11

Wuhan, China - A research expedition underway on the Yangtze is looking to discover how many of the world's only freshwater finless porpoises can be found in the river - and how to save the remaining population from extinction.

The endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), which numbers less than 1,800 in the wild, lives mainly in the central and lower reaches of the 6300km Yangtze River and two large adjoining lakes, Dongting and Poyang.

Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) and WWF, the expedition comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct after a similar Yangtze survey that also looked at porpoise numbers.

"We are not optimistic about the estimated results in the mainstream investigation at this moment," said Wang Ding general director of both the 2006 and 2012 investigations and Research Fellow at the IHB. "But in addition to the numbers and distribution of the population of Yangtze finless porpoises, we will also investigate the fishery resources and water quality of the Yangtze River."

Estimates from the 2006 survey say that the finless porpoise is expected to decline to around 200 by 2035 - Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List - if no effective protection measures are taken. More recent estimates are even less optimistic, saying that the species could become extinct in 15 years if no action is taken.

Recect survey finds stable population in some areas, sharp decline in others

A survey conducted in October 2012 in Dongting and Poyang lakes brought mixed news, with a sharp reduction in the Dongting population while Poyang Lake numbers were mostly stable.

"The initial findings from the 2012 survey in the two lakes show that there are around 450 finless porpoises in Poyang Lake, and 90 in Dongting Lake," said Wang Ding. "Compared with the survey results in 2006, the population in Dongting Lake has sharply declined, and their habitat has also shrunk. This shows their living conditions are getting worse and worse. "

The downturn in porpoise numbers is the result of many different factors including food shortages, accidents with boat engine propellers, pollution and electro-fisihing, where electrical currents are sent into the water to stun fish before they are caught.

"As a symbol of the Yangtze ecosystem, the status of the finless porpoise is a reflection of the the health of the Yangtze River. It has already lost the Baiji dolphin, and cannot bear losing Yangtze finless porpoise!" said Wang Kexiong, Research Associate from the IHB.

Protection plan

Scientists at the Wuhan-based IHB are now formulating an action plan to help conserve the rare porpoise. In addition to existing calls for more research on artificial propagation, scientists and policymakers will integrate data gathered during the expedition and include it in the final plan.

"If we are going to save the Yangtze finless porpoise from the same fate as the Baiji, we must take immediate action to keep the Yangtze River and its lakes healthy," said Lei Gang, Director of WWF China's Freshwater Program. "This means better laws and enforcement - we need to see harmful fishing practices stop, sand dredging better controlled, and new reserves developed."

"But the Yangtze River isn't going to be problem-free overnight. So to ensure the finless porpoise survives, we will also need to better understand where the best places are for this ancient animal to live, and learn a lot more about artificial propagation," Lei Gang added.

The expedition will cover a 1,700km expanse of the Yangtze, taking researchers from Yichang to Shanghai and back again. Preliminary results will be announced from mid to late December, and the complete report will be released in March 2013.

High notes: Chinese pop star Zhang Liangying

WWF's Yangtze finless porpoise conservation ambassador Zhang Liangying (Jane Zhang) showed her support before the expedition got underway at a Friday night concert in Shenzhen with a performace of the song "Grateful". Acknowledging that the porpoise is known for its mischievous smile, the pop star said the song will help "keep the smile on Yangtze finless porpoises' face" to a packed house.

The musician also said that the song will be presented to WWF, with all proceeds donated to Yangtze finless porpoise conservation.

"The Yangtze finless porpoise is the symbol of our mother river, the Yangtze River, and to protect them means to protect ourselves." said Jane Zhang. "WWF and the experts from the Institute of Hydrobiology have done a lot to protect Yangtze finless porpoise, and that is worth admiration. I hope that I will have the opportunity to visit Yangtze finless porpoise again in the Yangtze River, and do more for Yangtze finless porpoise, she added.

-ENDS-

For more information please contact

Zeng Ming, Head of Press, WWF China, mzeng@wwfchina.org, +86 10 6511 6298

Chris Chaplin, Media Relations Manager, WWF International, cchaplin@wwf.sg, +86 139 117 474 72