Natural Environment Blog

The Nature Conservancy is continuing to offer green gifts this year, with its Green Gift Guide. You may remember that it launched its Green Corporate Gift-Giving Center last year.

Included in this year’s gift guide are TNC’s “Top 5 Eco-Friendly Holiday Gifts”.

1. Adopt an Acre ($50 per acre)

   Help protect threatened habitats by adopting acres in critical locations around the world at only $50 per acre. Adopt an acre in one of the following places:

   • Africa’s Grasslands and Savannas
   • Austalia’s Gondwana Link
   • Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula
   • The Appalachians in the United States
   • Las Californias in the United States
   • Southern Coastal Plain Forests in the United States
   • Brazil Atlantic Forest
2. Plant a Tree in the Atlantic Forest ($1 per tree)

   One dollar plants one tree and helps support the Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees campaign in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.

   When you give Plant a Billion Trees as a gift, you can select the number of trees you plant and to help save paper, you can set up an e-card to announce your gift on any day you choose.

3. Adopt a Coral Reef

   The Adopt a Coral Reef program raises funds for important coral reef projects in the Dominican Republic, Palau and Papua New Guinea. The program provides critical funds for the permanent protection and restoration of these reefs.

   As some of the most biodiverse and wondrous places in the world, coral reefs need our immediate attention. If the present rate of destruction continues, 70% of the world’s coral reefs will be destroyed by the year 2050.

4. Help Save the Northern Jaguar.

   Deforestation and hunting have led to the decline of the northern jaguar. Your gift helps protect the habitat that northern jaguars need to survive and flourish.

5. Give Clean Water

   Every time a free-flowing river is altered, a lake is fouled by toxic runoff or a wetland is drained, the ability of freshwater systems to sustain life is disrupted and weakened. Your gift will help to finance conservation activities such as restoring riparian forest, setting up environmental education projects, installing equipment that tracks pollution and sedimentation rates in rivers and streams and giving families peace of mind that the water they drink is safe and clean.

So there you have it. The top 5 eco-friendly holiday gifts from The Nature Conservancy. Be sure to check out their other gifts at the Green Gift Guide.

Rescuers help a beached pilot whale in Tasmania, Australia. Photo: Tasmanian Department of Primary Industry and Water.

Australian volunteers have helped save 11 pilot whales from death in a mass stranding on a beach in Tasmania, Australia.

Around 60 volunteers joined 15 government officers to keep the beached whales alive while transporting them to a nearby beach with deeper water. 

The whales were found stranded on Saturday at Anthony’s Beach, near Stanley on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia.

53 Whales Died

In total, 64 mothers and calves were stranded, but only 12 were alive when they were found.

The rescuers spent the night keeping the remaining whales from overheating by splashing water over them. Out of the 12 remaining whales, one died while being returned to the water at Godfreys Beach, around 17 kilometers away. 

An Outstanding Effort

While 11 surviving whales vs 53 dead whales might not sound like an outstanding success, whale rescue efforts are known for their low success rates. Many efforts fail to save even one beached whale.   

“The efforts of the volunteers and the Circular Head community has been outstanding.” said Parks and Wildlife Services manager Chris Arthur, who co-ordinated the rescue effort.

“They gave up a weekend. People got sunburnt. People got engaged with these animals,” he said.

“We used specially built car trailers, which we were able to put up to two whales in each. And we transported those animals 17 kilometres (11 miles) to Godfrey’s Beach,” Arthur said.

Satellite Tracking

Before the whales were released back into the sea, the team attached satellite trackers to their dorsel fins. This will help the team keep track of the whales’ progress.

The satellite trackers can transmit the whales’ location to a datacenter in France. The team is then able to access that information from Australia.  

Great Progress So Far

According to data received from the satellite this morning, the whales’ progress looks good so far. Information from the satellite showed that the whales were swimming east across Bass Strait.

“Even though we released the whales because of the weather conditions over about a three-hour period, it [the satellite data] told us that those whales did regroup at sea.” said Rosemary Gales, a scientist involved in the rescue effort.

“We can’t keep track of the whales in the boats when they power off and they disappear into the distance but we now know from the satellite information that they did regroup and they have been travelling together as a pod - which is absolutely fantastic news because it does make us think that the rescue was a success.” she continued.

Mystery

Whale beachings occur periodically across Australia and New Zealand. The reason why whales beach themselves remains a mystery. Some scientists believe that it’s due to acoustic smog - human made noise that can disorientate whales and other marine life.

More than 200 local farmers have expressed interest in growing Industrial hemp, which has now been legalized in the NSW state of Australia. Photo: Hendrike

While the United States still struggles with the idea of growing industrial hemp, Australia is pushing ahead with the environmentally friendly “super fiber”.

The New South Wales (NSW) state government has now passed a law that allows farmers to grow industrial hemp. The government had agreed to introduce the new legislation back in April this year.

The state government has already been inundated with farmers wanting to grow industrial hemp. 

“Already we’ve had over 200 farmers express interest in growing hemp across the state,” said Ian Macdonald, Primary Industries Minister.

Enormous Potential

Industrial hemp has long been known for its enormous versatility, and Mr Macdonald envisages a promising future for the crop. 

“It could become quite a significant crop in a very short period of time, particularly as various companies utilise the products of it for that broad range of products that can be created using industrial hemp as a base.” said Mr Macdonald.

But Barry Dugan, a hemp advocate, is concerned about the scarcity of hemp processing facilities.

“There’s not much point growing the stuff if there’s nowhere to have it treated,’’ he said.

“According to my research, a huge amount of energy and water is required to get all the good things out of hemp.” he continued.

Hemp vs Marijuana

One thing that had concerned the government was the potential for farmers to use their hemp plantations as a way of hiding (illegal) marijuana plants, which look very similar to hemp plants.  

But Mr Macdonald says that measures have now been put in place to prevent hemp crops from camouflaging marijuana crops.

5 Year Licences

The licences are renewable for 5 years under the new legislation.

“The licensing scheme is authorised by our Act of Parliament,” said Mr Macdonald.

“It’ll require farmers who wish to grow industrial hemp to register to get a licence.” he explained.

“That’ll mean that their properties will be then audited and inspected regularly to ensure compliance with the Act.”

The Hemp Industry Act 2008

The act that Mr Macdonald is referring to is the Hemp industry Act 2008, which allows a person to cultivate or supply low-THC hemp for any one or more of the following purposes:

• for commercial production
• for use in any manufacturing process
• for scientific research, instruction, analysis or study
• for any other purpose prescribed by the regulations

Further, the act explicitly states that “The possession of low-THC hemp is not an offence under the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 if it is cultivated or supplied under the authority of this Act”.

This dolphin is a new species of bottlenose dolphin, which was discovered off the coast of Australia. Photo: Kerstin Bilgmann.

Scientists have discovered a new species of bottlenose dolphin swimming in the southern waters of Australia.

Researchers from the Macquarie and Monash university made the discovery while collecting genetic samples from what they thought were coastal bottlenose dolphins. After DNA testing 200 dolphins, they realized that these weren’t coastal bottlenose dolphins after all. 

“They look alike but they are genetically quite different,” said Luciana Moller, of Macquarie University. ”We were surprised.”

The discovery, which was reported in Molecular Phylogenetics And Evolution, is quite significant. It’s not often that a new species of large mammal is discovered.

“Large mammals are not discovered very often. It shows we still have a lot to learn about how many marine species are out there.” said Dr Moller.

Special Protection

Dr Moller believes the new dolphin species will need protection because of its limited range.

“Due to their coastal habitat, these dolphins are also more likely to face threats such as pollution, overfishing and entanglement in nets” she said.

Previously Known Bottlenose Dolphin Species

Until now, only two species of bottlenose dolphins were known. These are:

• Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), also known as the Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin, Bottlenosed Dolphin. Lives in most tropical to temperate oceans. Its colour is grey, with the shade of grey varying among populations; can be bluish-grey, brownish-grey, or even nearly black; often darker on the back from the rostrum to behind the dorsal fin.
• Indo-pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), also known as the Indian Ocean Bottlenose Dolphin. Lives in the waters around India, northern Australia, South China, the Red Sea, and the eastern coast of Africa; back is dark-grey and belly is lighter grey or nearly white with grey spots.

The following dolphins are sometimes recognized as a subspecies of the T. truncatus:

• Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (T. gillii or T. truncatus gillii), living in the Pacific; has a black line from the eye to the forehead
• Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphin (T. truncatus ponticus), living in the Black Sea.

The Researchers

The Macquarie University researchers are from the Marine Mammal Research Group, Graduate School of the Environment, and the Molecular Ecology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences.

The Monash University researchers are from the Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research (CESAR) and Australian Centre for Biodiversity: Analysis, Policy and Management, School of Biological Sciences.

Satellite tracking has revealed that Great White Sharks travel large distances to unlikely places. Photo: Terry Goss.

Two great white sharks have traveled 4,000 kilometers from the cold waters of southern New Zealand to the tropical waters of North East Australia.

The sharks began their journey in Stewart Island - 30 kilometers south of New Zealand’s South Island, and made their way to the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of the Australian state of Queensland.

The journey, of which one shark dived 1,000 meters, has surprised scientists who were studying the sharks. 

“We used to think great white sharks were shallow-water coastal species that lived in cold areas, where there were lots of seals to eat,” said Malcolm Francis, of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in Wellington.

“Now we have changed our impression of what they do.”

Possible World Record

Dr Francis added that the 1,000 meter dive could even be a world record for a great white shark.

Although various reports on the Internet claim that great whites have been known to dive to as much as 1,280 meters, great whites, which are known for swimming close to the surface, rarely dive to more than 800 meters below the surface. 

It’s likely that the shark was chasing a giant squid or phosphorescent fish at the time. Dr Francis says that at those depths, it would have been pitch black, and the shark would have been guided by the glow of the fish.

Great Whites “Know Where They’re Going”

National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and the Conservation Department have been attaching satellite tracking devices to great white sharks to measure position, depth and water temperature. After several months, the devices eventually detach themselves from the shark and float to the surface, where data is transmitted to a satellite.

Dr Francis was also surprised to learn that the sharks traveled in a straight line, and covered up to 120 kilometers per day. 

“They seem to know where they are going,” he said.

Thousands of people attended Australia Zoo today for Steve Irwin Day - a day for celebrating the life of Steve Irwin, also famously known as the Crocodile Hunter.

The event, which was also streamed live on the Internet, was also an opportunity to raise money for Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors to help continue Steve’s conservation work and the preservation of wildlife. 

All money rasied on the day will go towards whale research equipment. Specifically:

• Satellite Tags $3000 each (24 tags needed)
• Data Recovery $18,000
• Research Vessel $18,000
• Use of research vessel $1500 (per day for 15 days)

Today’s event also marked the opening of the new Australian Wildlife Hospital at Australia Zoo. The hospital, which cost $5 million to build, is expected to treat 6,000 patients per year. Terri Irwin says that the hospital was built in memory of Steve’s mother. 

In the foyer of the new wildlife hospital presents Steve’s words about his mother. 

She was the greatest wildlife rehabilitator in the world, a true pioneer. She was my legend and in my heart she will live forever.

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.

Tasmanian Devil could be extinct within 10 to 20 years. Photo Menna Jones.

Australian scientists have joined forces in an attempt to save the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) - a carnivorous marsupial -  from extinction.   

Previous research has found that the Tasmanian Devil is likely to be extinct within 10 to 20 years due to an infectious facial cancer.

Devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) is a parasitic cancer that appears to be affecting the majority of Tasmanian Devils, was first discovered in 1995. Since then, over 60% of the Tasmanian Devil population has been wiped out. In some areas, DFTD killed as much as 90% of the Tasmanian Devil population within 10 years.

The project, led by University of Adelaide zoologist Jeremy Austin, will spend the next three years developing a conservation program to save the Tasmanian Devil the deadly disease.

“We have lost over half our devils in the past 10 years, with an estimated population of 20,000 to 50,000 mature devils left. Extinction within the next 20 years is a real possibility unless we find a vaccine, eradicate the disease and establish captive colonies,” Dr Austin said.

This Tasmanian Devil has Devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), a disease that threatens to wipe out the Tasmanian Devil population within 20 years. Photo: Wayne McLean.

Dr Austin’s team will analyse genetic material from devil populations to understand the origin, spread and impact of the facial cancer.

“We will be looking to develop rapid genetic testing techniques to pick devils that are resistant to the disease and can be used for breeding in captivity,” he said.

Dr Austin said that Tasmanian Devils are more prone to the infectious cancer because they have low levels of genetic diversity and a chromosomal mutation unique among carnivorous mammals.

“We need to establish whether the low levels of genetic diversity are due to recent human impacts or a long-term historical pattern. We also need to look at how the cancer is affecting surviving populations and identify individuals that may be resistant to the disease,” he said.

About the Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian Devil is a carnivorous marsupial endemic to Australia. It has been extinct from the mainland for over 400 years, and is now only found in the state of Tasmania - an island 240 kilometers off the south eastern side of the mainland.

In the 1990s, the Tasmanian Devil population stood at between 130,000 and 150,000. Now, current estimates place the population at between 20,000 and 50,000 (including 10,000-25,000 mature individuals).

Given the recent mortality rate, this figure is likely to decline substantially over the coming years, until the disease is eradicated or a vacinne is developed.

The Tasmanian Devil is currently listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Endangered.

Plastic bags have been blamed for the death of a crocodile that was recently captured off Magnetic Island,  near the Australian city of Townsville.  

The crocodile died of starvation after 25 plastic shopping and garbage bags, a plastic wine cooler bag and a rubber float found in his stomach prevented him digesting food.

Relocation

The crocodile, dubbed ‘Whitey’, which had initially been relocated from 1,000 km away, was captured again  because it had moved too close to Magnetic Island where it forced the closure of a popular tourist beach.

Magnetic Island, which is a popular tourist destination in itself, is also a popular launching pad to the Great Barrier Reef - the world’s largest coral reef system. 

In April, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had relocated the crocodile from Bamaga, Cape York to an area south of Townsville as part of a scientific experiment to see whether it would establish a new home range.

The Impact of Plastic Bags on WIldlife

The impact of plastic bags on the environment has been well documented, and research has found that plastic bags cause the death of hundreds of thousands of marine creatures each year. But it’s not often that you hear of plastic bags causing the death of crocodiles.

Russell Reicheldt chairman of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) said “I didn’t know it was a problem for crocodiles specifically, you tend to hear it more as a problem for turtles,”

“But it … reinforces our general view that the amount of marine debris in the ocean is too much and it’s damaging wildlife” he continued.

Alan Feely executive director of Queensland Parks and Wildlife said that Whitey had probably been digesting plastic bags long before he was relocated to Townsville. 

“When we got him he was pretty emaciated and there was evidence before then that he had not been acting normally” he said.

He added that the death should be a reminder to all about the impact rubbish had on animals.

Australian Seabird Rescue spokesman Keith Williams said wildlife living near built-up areas had a heightened risk from plastic but the damaging material was in all the world’s oceans.

Outrage

Magnetic Island residents are outraged that the crocodile was moved from Cape York in the first place. Tourism activities - such as diving/snorkelling tours - account for the majority of the island’s income, and residents claim that the presence of the crocodile had put many out of business. 

But State Tourism Minister Desley Boyle claimed that crocodiles in urban areas are an attraction rather than a deterrent and can give cheap thrills to international tourists. 

Ms Boyle told Parliament in Cairns that crocodiles in waters close to populated areas lured tourists and provided them with photo opportunities.

Between 10 and 14 new species of land snail have been discovered in Northern Australia in the Katherine and Victoria River District (VRD).

The discovery was part of a project that involved scientists from the Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport (NRETAS) along with rangers from the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Service spending 12 days searching for snails in the area. 

A total of 61 sites, mostly in remote areas, were surveyed between Katherine and Kununurra.

The findings will help determine the snails’ distribution and habitat preferences and will identify potential threats. The scientists will now be able to develop recovery plans, monitoring programs and conservation management.  

“Although we won’t know the exact number of species sampled for some time, there are somewhere between 10 and 14 species new to science and many species appearing to have only very small distributions” said Dr Michael Braby, NRETAS Biodiversity Conservation research scientist.

“Land snails are an important part of a complex food chain – they provide food for other animals such as birds and other vertebrates – and cycle nutrients such as nitrates and calcium back into the soil” he added.