Natural Environment Blog

Two North Dakota farmers fighting for the right to grow industrial hemp, have had their case heard in the United States court of appeals. 

The farmers sued the DEA in June last year because it was preventing them from planting hemp, despite the fact that they had received state licences to grow the plant. 

Although the state of North Dakota has granted the farmers with licences to grow hemp, the federal law claims that industrial hemp is a drug and therefore prohibits them from doing so.

Initial Ruling

The U.S. District Court of North Dakota had initially dismissed the farmers’ case in June 2007, ruling that that hemp and marijuana are the same.

Contrary to this ruling, scientific evidence actually shows that not only are oilseed and fiber varieties of Cannabis genetically distinct from drug varieties, but there are absolutely no psychoactive effects gained from eating it.

Wednesday’s Hearing

The farmers, represented by attorneys Joe Sandler and Tim Purdon, argued to the court that there is no possibility the hemp crop could be diverted into the market for drugs.

“Given North Dakota’s unique regulatory regime, nothing leaves the farmer’s property except those parts of the plant Congress has already decided should be exempt from regulation: hemp stalk, fiber seed and oil. The question is whether there is any rational basis for Congressional regulation of the plant itself growing on the farmer’s property. The answer is no — because industrial hemp is useless as drug marijuana and there’s no danger of diversion, so there’s no possible impact on the market for drug marijuana.” Mr Sandler argued to the court.

The government argued that the plaintiffs should apply to the DEA for permission to grow hemp and that the court didn’t have jurisdiction over the issues raised by the farmers.

Melissa Patterson, representative for the Justice Department, said “The plaintiffs should await the DEA’s decision on their application,”

In response, Judge Michael Milloy asked, “Isn’t it true the DEA will not rule on the farmer’s applications to grow hemp, you’ve had eleven months?”

Ms. Patterson answered, “The DEA has not replied out of respect to the pending proceedings.”

In response to the jurisdictional objections made by the DEA, Judge Lavenski Smith said, “When there is a legitimate constitutional issue brought before us we can hear the case.”

The court is expected to make a written decision next year.

Benefits of Hemp

Hemp is an environmentally friendly fiber, often referred to as a “super fiber” due to it’s enormous versatility.

More than 120 local businesses have donated more than $280,000 to The Nature Conservancy this year, in order to help protect and conserve Hawaii’s natural environment.

The donations come as part of the Conservancy’s Corporate Council for the Environment.

The Corporate Council for the Environment was launched in 1987 by The Nature Conservancy to provide an avenue for local companies to help care for the environment.

Since then, more than 120 businesses have contributed more than $3 million dollars to the council, hence helping Hawaii’s natural environment.

Contributions

Companies that donated more than $10,000 each were:

• Alexander & Baldwin 
• Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.
• Maui Land & Pineapple
• Monsanto Fund
• Outrigger Enterprises
• The Shidler Family Foundation
• Skyline Eco-Adventures

Other significant contriubtions came from:

• ABC Stores
• AES Hawai‘i
• Atlantis Submarines
• Bank of Hawai‘i
• Blue Planet Software
• Dowling Company
• First Hawaiian Bank
• Hula Grill
• First Insurance Company of Hawai‘i
• Goodfellow Brothers
• Haleakalā Ranch Company
• Kūki‘o
• Macy’s West

“We are very grateful to our local companies for their continued generous support,” said Suzanne Case, The Conservancy’s Hawai‘i Executive Director. “In uncertain economic times, protecting the environment can get deferred, but these companies know that in Hawai‘i the economy is the environment. Their vision and commitment helps us ensure a sustainable Hawai‘i – for us and for our children.”

The Nature Conservancy in Hawaii

The Nature Conservancy has been protecting native habitats and ecosystems in Hawaii for the past 28 years. It currently protects 40,000 acres of critical habitat across Hawaii. 

During that time, the Conservancy has extended it’s work from just protecting forests, to also protecting the coral reefs and marine life.

According to The Nature Conservancy, nearly one quarter of the plants and animals on the U.S. Endangered Species List are from Hawai‘i. Furthermore, more than half of the Islands’ original native habitat has already been lost

The Corporate Council for the Environment has enabled local businesses to assist The Nature Conservancy in taking their conservation efforts to the next level.

A Rhino Rat Snake hatches from an egg at a London zoo. Photo: Ferry van Stralen.

Eight Rhino Rat Snakes have hatched in a London zoo, making it the first time a Rhino Rat Snake has bred in a European Zoo.

The snakes, which were born in the Zoological Society of London’s Reptile House, were captured on camera as they hatched. 

Three of the eight snakes have already been moved to other zoos in Europe as part of an exchange program to increase the captive population in Europe.

Appearance

Although the snakes are brownish gray in color, as they mature, they will turn into a steel gray and later into bluish green. Once they have fully matured (after about 2 years), they will turn green. There have been known cases where a specimen has remained at the subadult color (steel gray), but this is very rare.

Hatchlings start at between 300 to 350 mm in total length. Rhino Rat Snakes typically grow to between 100-120 cm in total size but sometimes up to 150 cm.

Distribution In The Wild

In the wild, the Rhino Rat Snake, is found in Northern Vietnam and southern China. The snake lives in subtropical rainforests between 300 and 1100 m elevation and has often been seen in stream valleys.

Common Names

The scientific name for the Rhino Rat Snake is Rhynchophis boulengeri. It is also commonly known as Rhinoceros Snake, Rhinoceros Snake, and Vietnamese Longnose Snake.

More than 7,000 live monitor lizards were seized during recent raids in southern Malaysia. In this photo, Wildlife and National Parks department personnel Othman Mohammad Yatim and deputy director Celescoriano Razond (right) hold up the seized monitor lizards, while the frozen parts are in the plastic bags. Photo: The Star Online.

More than 8,000 animals have been seized by authorities after a raid on two houses in the southern Malaysian state of Johar. 

The raids, which were carried out by eight members of Malaysia’s Wildlife and National Parks Department (commonly known as PERHILITAN), resulted in both live and dead animals being found. 

Animals Found

Between the two raids, the Wildlife Crime Unit seized the following animals. 

First Raid
During the first raid in Muar on November 4, the Wildlife Crime Unit seized 13 species of protected wildlife. The dead animals were found in freezers, the live animals were found in the back yard.

The seizure included the following:

• Barred eagle owl
• Spotted wood owl
• Buffy fish owl
• Crested serpent eagle
• Reticulated python
• Greater mousedeer
• Malayan porcupine
• Pangolin 
• Wild boar meat
• Bones
• Scales

Second Raid
The second raid took place three days after the first raid. The officials raided another location, this time in Segamat, where they found 7,093 clouded monitor lizards - mostly alive. The total weight of the lizards came to 35 tonnes.

Mr Rashid said that the live monitor lizards would be released into the wild.

Protected Species Destined For Restaurants

Illegal wildlife trade has been keeping authorities busy. A recent survey of restaurants and markets in southern China revealed that wildlife consumption is on the rise.

Wildlife typically fetches high prices at restaurants and markets in Vietnam, Hong Kong and China. 

“Most of these animals are sold to restaurants serving exotic animals as delicacies and some are also used for making traditional medicines,” said Mr Rashid.

One Man Arrested

Following the seizures, a 49-year-old man was charged in a magistrate’s court in Tangkak on Nov 7. The man, who is a repeat offender, is currently out on RM19,000 bail.

Datuk Abd Rasid Samsudin, PERHILITAN director general said this is the second time the man had been detained. In 2004, he was fined RM7,500 for having 182 pangolins and 1.3kg of pangolin scales.

The court hearing is due for February 20 next year.

Caspian Seal numbers have plummeted 90% over the last 100 years. The species is now officially classified as Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The Caspian Seal was recently reclassified from “Vulnerable” to “Endangered” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The reclassification occurred after scientists found that the Caspian Seal population had dropped 90 percent in the past 100 years. 

The scientists, from the University of Leeds, worked together with international partners to discover that the seal’s population has plummeted from 1 million at the start of the 20th century, to approximately 100,000 today.  

The Main Causes

The main causes of the Caspian Seal population decline is:

• Commercial hunting
• Habitat degradation
• Disease
• Pollution
• Drowning in fishing nets

Low Breeding Cycle 

Seals are known for their long breeding cycle, which will not help with reviving the population of the species.

“Each female has just one pup a year, so with numbers at such a low levels, every fertile female that dies is a nail in the coffin of the species,” said Dr Simon Goodman of Leeds’ Faculty of Biological Sciences.

He added, “We’re hoping that the seal’s change in Red List status will help raise awareness about their plight, and the many important conservation issues facing the whole Caspian ecosystem.”

Furthermore, results of 2005 and 2006 surveys published recently in the scientific journal Ambio, reveal that there are only 17,000 breeding females. Given the low survival rate of pups, this is barely enough to keep the Caspian Seal population alive.  

Also, more recent surveys in 2007 and 2008 show that since 2005, the number of pups being born has dropped 60 percent to between 6,000 or 7,000. And as if that isn’t bad enough, the surveys found that there were 30 percent less adults on the breeding ground than in 2005.

Commercial Hunters Killing Pups

Caspian Seal Pup. Commercial hunters continue to slaughter pups like this evey year. Photo: Caspian Seal Conservation Network.

The team say that commercial hunters from Dagestan in the Russian Federation are responsible for the killing of 8,000 Caspian Seal pups in recent years.

“Without a suite of conservation measures there is a very high risk the species will become extinct, and possibly within our lifetime,” says Dr Goodman.

The team is developing a conservation action plan, which will prioritise a ban on hunting the seal and establish protected areas with the countries bordering the Caspian Sea.

TripAdvisor has announced the results of the $1 million dollar giveaway to charity that I mentioned a few weeks ago. 

As you might recall, the travel company was getting its website visitors to vote how the $1 million was going to be split between five charity organizations.

Now, voting has closed, the results have been released, and TripAdvisor say that they received more than 1 million votes!

Result

Here’s the result: 

• Doctors Without Borders: $392,000
• Save the Children: $347,000
• The Nature Conservancy: $137,000
• Conservation International: $70,000
• National Geographic Society: $54,000

It’s great to see companies spending their advertising dollars in these kinds of promotions rather than traditional advertising. Hotels Combined is another company donating to charity based on its website visitors’ votes.

Source: TripAdvisor ‘Causes’ page

Consumption of wildlife in China is on the increase according to a new report released by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network. 

It is also revealed that many of the wildlife species being consumed are threatened species. 

The report, entitled State of Wildlife Trade in China 2007, is the second in an annual series produced by TRAFFIC on emerging trends in China’s wildlife trade. TRAFFIC works to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.

Although wildlife consumption dropped following the SARS virus scare in 2003, it has since picked up again.

Wildlife For Sale

Dried plants and animals used for traditional Chinese medicine. Included are dried lingzhi, snake, turtle plastron, Luo han fruit, and ginseng.

TRAFFIC surveyed markets and restaurants in five cities in southern China. The survey revealed that 52 percent of markets and 40 percent of restaurants had wild animals for sale. 

A total of 56 species were found and, of these, eight are protected under Chinese law and 17 are protected under CITES, which prohibits or strictly controls international trade.

Wildlife found at the markets and restaurants included giant lizards, snakes, freshwater turtles, hawks, geckos, pangolin, bear paw. 

The wildlife consisted of:

• 39 reptiles (accounting for 70%)
• 4 mammals (7%) 
• 10 birds (18%) 
• 2 amphibians (4%)
• 1 fish (2%)

Most Popular Animals

The majority of illegal wild animal trade was in freshwater turtles and snakes. In particular, the report mentions the following:

• 600 freshwater turtles were found on sale at Qingping market (excluding those in warehouses) in Guangzhou, including the Malayan Box Turtle (Cuora amboinensis), Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) and Black Marsh Turtle (Siebenrockiella crassicollis)
• Almost 3,000 snakes were recorded in the survey, including the Taiwan beauty snake (Elaphe taeniura), Rat snake (Ptyas korros) and Tri-rope beauty snake (Elaphe radiata). The snake market was concentrated in Dongwang Frozen Product market (also known as the Chatou Wild Animal market) in Guangzhou.

Breakdown By City

The following table shows how many markets and restaurants were surveyed, along with the number of wild animals traded.

As mentioned previously, 52 percent of markets had wildlife for sale, as did 40 percent of restaurants surveyed.

Traditional Medicines

Although wildlife is often eaten from a dinner plate, it is also used in traditional medicines. 

The international trade in Chinese traditional medicine is growing at any annual rate of 10%. This, together with habitat loss, has impacted medicinal plant and animal populations, which have shrunk rapidly, with 15% to 20% of medicinal plants and animals now considered endangered.

Increasing Demand, Dimishing Supply

WWF, the global conservation organization, are calling on the Chinese to step up their efforts against illegal wildlife trade.

Dr. Susan Lieberman, Director of WWF International’s Species Programme says ”The trends seen in this report that show increasing demand in wildlife products and diminishing supply should be a wake up call for law enforcement, policy makers and consumers,”

She added, “We call upon Chinese authorities to enhance enforcement and public education efforts, to stop illegal trade and reduce consumption of threatened species from around the world.”

Illegal Ivory Trade

The survey, which also looked at the Chinese ivory trade, found that the illegal ivory trade is actually declining.  

While this is good news, TRAFFIC does point out that, due to increased enforecement, the illegal ivory trade is being pushed underground. Illegal ivory trade is more likely to take place in a hotel or via an online or offline auction.   

“The reduction in the illegal ivory trade is very welcome, but we urge the authorities to remain vigilant, particularly to ensure there is no laundering of illegal ivory,” said Professor Xu Hongfa, co-ordinator of TRAFFIC’s China Programme.

The World’s Second Largest Wood Importer

The report also looked into supply of wood, with China being the world’s second largest wood importer.

While Russia China’s largest wood supplier, are growing percentage of the nation’s wood comes from Africa. This increased demand is stimulting illegal timber trade in Africa.

“Chinese companies buying African timber must ensure the benefits of the timber trade are equitably shared, right down to the African rural communities on whose land the trees are growing,” said Professor Xu.

The Report

• View the TRAFFIC press release regarding the report (Word 332 KB)
• View the full report (PDF 2,311 KB)

Rabies threatens the Ethiopian Wolf with extinction. Photo Source: EWCP.

A rabies outbreak could fast track the extinction of the Ethiopian Wolf - the world’s rarest wolf.

With only 500 remaining, the Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis) was already threatened with extinction. But now, there’s a real danger that extinction could come faster than previously thought. 

The rabies threat comes from the dogs the Oromo people use to herd livestock. In the Bale Mountains National Park, the Ethipian Wolves live in close contact with these people and their dogs, and the virus has emerged once again. 

Rabies is the major killer of Ethiopian wolves in Bale.

In 1990 and 1991, it killed off whole wolf packs and accounted for a population decline of up to 75%. Again in 2003-04 the virus spread across this same local population, leading to a 76% decline.

“These preciously rare wolves can ill-afford it another massive die-off.” said Dr Claudio Sillero of Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU).

Vaccinating the Wolves and Dogs

The Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP) has been protecting the wolves in the Bale Mountains for 20 years. Unfortunately, despite efforts to vaccinate the wolves and dogs, the rabies virus continues to emerge every so often.

“Despite the efforts of our veterinary team, who vaccinate thousands of dogs in Bale’s villages every year, the virus has raised its ugly head again and jumped into the wolf population,” said Dr Claudio, who is also Director of EWCP.

“Fifteen wolves have died to date, and laboratory tests have confirmed our worst fears that we are facing another potentially devastating outbreak. If left unchecked, rabies is likely to kill over two-thirds of all wolves in Bale’s Web Valley, and spread further, with wolves dying horrible deaths and numbers dwindling to perilously low levels.” he continued.

Vaccination - A Difficult Task

An Ethiopian Wolf being released following vaccination. Photo Source: EWCP.

Vaccinating the Ethiopian Wolf is a difficult task, according to Dr Sillero.

“Tracking and vaccinating these animals is a far from easy task,” he said. 

“Our veterinary team are travelling on horse-back and camping out in remote mountains above 12,000 feet with temperatures falling as low as -15°C. But the first three weeks of the intervention have gone well with the team vaccinating to date forty-eight wolves in eleven vital packs that connect the Web Valley population with other wolves in Bale. The objective is to secure a ‘cordon sanitaire‘ of safely vaccinated wolf packs which will prevent the virus reaching other packs living further afield in the Bale Mountains” he continued.

Threats to the Ethiopian Wolf

Rabies is just one of the many threats to the Ethiopian Wolf. According to EWCP, the major threats to the wolf are:

• Loss and fragmentation of the Afroalpine habitat: High-altitude subsistence agriculture and overgrazing; road construction and sheep farming
• Diseases: Particularly rabies, transmitted by domestic dogs
• Conflicts with humans: Poisoning and persecution in reprisal for livestock losses; road kills
• Hybridisation with domestic dogs

The Ethiopian Wolf (scientific name: Canis simensis) is also known as Abyssinian wolf, red jackal, red fox, Simien fox or Simien jackal, due to the previous uncertainty about its taxonomic position. It is currently thought that the species belongs to the genus Canis, even though it looks superficially like a fox.

The Great Barrier Reef is benefiting from a strong US dollar and weak Australian dollar. Photo: Copyright (C) 2004 Richard Ling (rling.com)

The Great Barrier Reef tourism appears to be benefiting from a strong US dollar and weak Australian dollar.

Amidst the global financial turmoil, the U.S. dollar has continued to strengthen while other currencies have struggled to keep up. The Australian dollar has taken a huge hit, and recently plunged to its lowest in 5 years.

While this is not normally something for Aussies to celebrate, it has made Australia a more attractive place for overseas visitors. In particular, $1 USD will currently buy you around $1.50 AUD. In other words, if you’re American, your dollar goes 50 percent further in Australia. If you’re Canadian you’ll gain around 25 percent.

“No Barrier to the Great Barrier Reef”

A recent campaign - “No Barrier to the Great Barrier Reef” - has brought in over $1 million dollars in bookings and quotes in the six weeks since it launched, and it’s likely that the low Aussie dollar has given the campaign an extra boost. 

The campaign included an email to 260,000 North American frequent flyers, inviting them to visit Queensland - the home of the Great Barrier Reef.

The email offers packages such as:

• Eight days to the Whitsundays from $US1999 including return airfares from the US, accommodation, transfers, some meals and activit ies
• A Great Barrier Reef Air Pass from $US1199 which includes return airfares from the US and three domestic Australian flights including Cairns
• A $US599 Aussie Wildlife package which includes two nights in Brisbane, two nights on Fraser Island, entry to Australia Zoo and transfers 

Tough Times for Australian Tourism

The campaign follows a particularly destressing time for the Australain tourism industry - particularly in the Far North.   

“Destinations such as Tropical North Queensland have been hard hit by a combination of flight cuts, high fuel costs and a downturn in the global economy so our aim is to hit our key international markets with a range of value-for-money package deals that are too good to refuse” said Queensland tourism Minister Desley Boyle.

“Tourism Queensland invested $200,000 of the $4 million assistance package funding into five US campaigns, but thanks to buy-in from travel partners in North America, we have been able to increase the campaign spend to $1.9 million,” she continued.

Great Barrier Reef a “Must See”

Ms Boyle stressed the importance of visiting the Great Barrier Reef while holidaying in Australia.

“The Great Barrier Reef is one of American travellers’ must-see Australian destinations and because these special packages are only available for a short period of time, our aim is to turn their ‘one day’ dream into ‘let’s book today’ reality,” she said.

About the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system and the largest natural feature on Earth. It is under threat from climate change and water pollution, and unless urgent measures are put in place to prevent this, it could die out within three decades.

The Nature Conservancy has just announced its corporate giving center, allowing companies to recognize their staff, clients and customers in an environmentally friendly way this holiday season.

“By giving a gift through The Nature Conservancy’s corporate giving center, companies can be environmentally conscious, leave a smaller carbon footprint and make a lasting difference this holiday season,” said Valerie Dorian, Director of Marketing Programs at The Nature Conservancy.

“Some companies are donating $1 to plant a tree in honor of each of their customers, others are adopting an acre of forest in the United States or abroad.”

The Gifts

Gifts in the corporate giving center include:

• Holiday Gift Cards—One tree is planted for every holiday gift card you buy
• The Adopt an Acre Program—Adopt an acre in the United States, Africa, Australia or Costa Rica
• The Plant a Billion Trees Campaign—Plant a tree for only $1 in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest
• The Rescue the Reef Program—Protect the coral reefs of Palau
• Nature Conservancy Gift Membership—Recipients will receive all of the Conservancy’s exclusive membership benefits, including a 1-year subscription to its award-winning magazine
• Employee Matching Gifts—Match your employees’ donations to The Nature Conservancy
• Nature Conservancy Merchandise—Choose from a wide array of nature-themed gifts

Some donations qualify for your recipient to receive a special holiday package that includes a personalized certificate, fact sheet about the selected project, magnet set, world map and one-year subscription to Nature Conservancy magazine.

To find out more, visit The Nature Conservancy’s corporate giving center.