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 RESTORE is a weekly e-bulletin, published by SER International, linking you to the latest, breaking news stories from around the world keeping you up-to-date on a wide variety of topics related to ecological restoration including the latest funding opportunities. RESTORE is free to SER International members or can be subscribed to for only $20/year by visiting: www.ser.org/content/restoration_network.asp. Please send your news stories and articles to the RESTORE editor at info@ser.org. |
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Get Involved / Community-Based Restoration
Florida: RMCA Students Help 'Fix' Shoreline at Newman Branch Creek
Volunteers are helping to transform the former fish farm south of the Manatee Viewing Center into a lush salt marsh and freshwater pond system that will help protect the coastline and provide habitat for young marine creatures, frogs and other wildlife, said center director Wendy Anastasiou.
http://southshore2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/27/rmca-students-help-fix-shoreline-newman-branch-cre/
Delaware: More Than 900 Volunteers Planting Beach Grass Stems
On Saturday, March 21, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control staff and more than 900 volunteers arrived at Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay public beaches to help plant Cape American Beach Grass on the dunes. In the sunny but chilly weather, 150,000 stems of grass were planted over four miles of coastline between Bethany Beach and Kitts Hummock Beach.
http://outdoornewsdaily.com/index.php/archives/6590
California: Restoring Adobe Creek
A stretch of Adobe Creek that was clear-cut of vegetation by county flood control crews five and a half years ago has gradually been restored and enhanced, thanks to a collaborative effort among governmental agencies, neighbors and Casa Grande High School.
http://www.petaluma360.com/article/20090325/COMMUNITY/903259878/1362?Title=Restoring-Adobe-Creek
Hawaii: Volunteer & Help Restore Heeia
He'eia State Park, over on the Windward side of the island, needs volunteers to help with restoration of Ke Alohi Point every first and third Saturday of the month, and also clean-up of He'eia Stream every fourth Saturday of the month, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. http://honoluluonthecheap.com/2009/03/heeia-state-park-fishpond-ke-alohi-point/
Rhode Island: Waterfront Residents Become Oyster Farmers
Put together bags of baby oysters and an army of local waterfront owners with access to moorings and docks, and poof - a local movement is born to bring back the local oyster population.
http://www.eastbayri.com/detail/127417.html
California: Habitat Restoration through the Seed Ball Project
Kids Korps is helping to make and provide 2,000,000 seed balls in collaboration with the Wildlife Research Institute for the San Diego River Valley Coastal Sage Scrub Restoration Project. It will take this many seed balls to revegetate the coastal sage scrub habitat to effectively cover and restore 200 acres in the Cleveland National Forest, which was burned during the 2007 Which Fire.
http://kidskorps.org/2009/03/27/590/
Idaho: Spring's Here, So Lend a Hand
This spring there are several opportunities for you to help. Volunteerism is a great way to give back to the community, make new friends and accomplish a common goal. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has several upcoming projects.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/outdoors/story/712954.html
Conferences & Workshops
Oregon: Forever Forests Seminar - April 2, 2009
The Mazamas Conservation Committee will host the Forever Forests seminar on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009, 6:30pm. This event is being organized together with CRAG Law Center to provide an opportunity for Mazamas and the public to learn about forest ecosystem health directly from four scientific experts.
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2009/03/388856.shtml
SERCAL & CNGA 2009 Joint Conference April 29 - May 1, 2009
SERCAL is a non-profit membership based organization dedicated to the purpose of bringing about the recovery of damaged California ecosystems. To this end, the organization's activities are focused on the presentation of conferences, symposia, workshops, field trips and other educational activities dealing with the many different aspects involved in restoration of California native habitats.
http://www.sercal.org/
Awards Nominations for SER World Conference in Perth
There is no finer moment at an SER conference than its tribute to individuals and organizations whose exemplary work lead the Restoration movement forward to higher levels of achievement and cultural prominence. The SER Board of Directors, the SER Awards Committee, led by chair Al Unwin, and the SER staff will again be saluting 2009's recipients of the various awards during our Awards Banquet dinner on.... Please join us for a celebration of the excellent work these years recipients have undertaken. Deadline is April 21, 2009.
http://www.ser.org/content/nominations_process.asp
For a complete listing of conferences related to ecological restoration, please visit:
http://www.globalrestorationnetwork.org/conferences/ |
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People in the News
Florida: Swiftmud Recognizes South Shore Volunteers
Their work makes a difference - along the shoreline of Tampa Bay and further inland. Since 1991, volunteers have offered more than $1 million in hourly service to environmental projects in the region. On March 14, the Southwest Florida Water Management District recognized many of these helpers for their volunteer work in 2008.
http://southshore2.tbo.com/content/2009/mar/25/ss-swiftmud-recognizes-volunteers/news/
U.S.: Six Wetland Stewards Win 2009 National Wetlands Awards
Six citizens have been recognized for their on-the-ground wetland conservation efforts and decades-long dedication to protecting these important natural resources. A diverse panel of wetland experts assembled at the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) earlier this month to select the winners of the 20th Anniversary National Wetlands Awards.
http://www.enn.com/press_releases/2869
Massachusetts: New Conservation Administrator Hired
Katuska is a 1978 graduate of Yale University, where he earned a bachelor's in biology and later a master's in forest science, according to a three-page résumé that also lists a host of jobs in the field, a roster of conservation and wetlands-related affiliations and eight published works, including "A Citizens Guide to Wetlands Restoration in Massachusetts," co-authored with C. Foote-Smith and published in 2000.
http://www.nashobapublishing.com/ci_12010070?source=rss |
| New Books & Articles
US: Many bird species in trouble, report says
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar released the first comprehensive report on bird populations in the United States, showing that nearly a third of the nation's 800 bird species are endangered, threatened or in significant decline due to habitat loss, invasive species and other threats. At the same time, the report highlights examples, including many species of waterfowl, where habitat restoration and conservation have reversed previous declines, offering hope that it is not too late to take action to save declining populations.
http://deseretnews.com/article/705293135/Many-bird-species-in-trouble-report-says.html
Tropical Forest Seed Banks: A Blast from the Past
Seeds of some tree species in the Panamanian tropical forest can survive for more than 30 years before germinating. That is 10 times longer than most field botanists had believed. Previous demographic studies of pioneer tree species showed that seed persistence (the ability to survive in soil, awaiting favorable conditions for germination) is short, lasting only for a few years at most. But in the tropical forests of Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama, Brown and Dalling found the seeds of some pioneer trees remain viable for many years.
https://publicaffairs.llnl.gov/news/news_releases/2009/NR-09-04-01.html |
| Restoring Natural Capital (RNC)
Maryland: Stimulus Could Build Green Infrastructure, Create Jobs
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Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)
U.S. Army Corps Seeks Input from Native Americans on Restoration Projects
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| Agro-Ecology
U.S. Growers Foster Wild Bees and Bee-Friendly Gardens
Honeybees across the country are dying by the millions due to colony collapse disorder and other environmental factors, causing many growers of fruits, nuts and vegetables to wonder how their future crops will be pollinated. A study released today shows that wild bees, which are not affected by the deadly disorder, may become a pollination alternative.
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2009/2009-03-24-093.asp |
| Biodiversity & Climate Change
Ocean Seeding Fails on Carbon But Claims a Plus for Plankton
The most determined attempt yet to make the ocean soak up more greenhouse gas has failed to achieve a significant impact, dealing a blow to the controversial science. Despite an international outcry, the "ocean fertilisation" experiment - seeding the ocean with iron to stimulate the growth of microscopic algae and in turn absorb carbon dioxide - went ahead in the South Atlantic this month.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/ocean-seeding-fails-on-carbon-but-claims-a-plus-for-plankton-20090326-9ces.html
'Crunch Year' for World's Forests
Efforts to mitigate climate change could be hampered if nations do not agree to protect the world's forests by the end of the year, warn researchers. "Unless we tackle the question of forests as a mitigation method for climate change, then we will really have lost the battle to keep greenhouse gas concentrations below levels that many people would consider to be dangerous."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7963489.stm
Greenpeace: Forest Credits Would Crash Carbon Markets
Including forest protection measures in carbon markets would cause carbon prices to crash, and could undo efforts to rein in global warming, according to a Greenpeace report released Monday. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090330/sc_afp/unclimatewarmingforests_20090330180159 |
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Oregon: Loggers Try to Adapt to Greener Economy
Some mills that once sought the oldest, tallest evergreens are now producing alternative energy from wood byproducts like bark or brush. Unemployed loggers are looking for work thinning federal forests, a task for which the stimulus package devotes $500 million; the goal is to make forests more resistant to wildfires and disease. Some local officials are betting there is revenue in a forest resource that few appreciated before: the ability of trees to absorb carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping gas that can contribute to global warming.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/business/energy-environment/29forests.html?_r=1
California: Forest Aid Replants Fire Ravaged San Bernardino National Forest
This March, the U.S. Forest Service launched Forest Aid, a partnership with the San Bernardino National Forest Association (SBNFA) and L.A.-based TreePeople to plant 32,000 seedlings and help restore the San Bernardino National Forest. This multi-year, volunteer-led effort will extend from March 7 - May 9 for the 2009 season. As of March 28, nearly 5,100 trees have been planted.
http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/view/96403
Mississippi: Landowners Help with Pine Forest Recovery
A heavily damaged area of forest was the site of the opening of an Interpretive Nature Trail in Hancock County on Saturday and will be used to show post-Katrina landowners that forest recovery is possible. The trail in Brookewood Family Forest near Necaise, the privately owned forestland of Judd Brooke, will be used to educate landowners in a hands-on way how to replant forests using longleaf-pine restoration. http://www.sunherald.com/local/story/1238929.html |
| Wetland Restoration
Florida: Gov. Charlie Crist to Downsize Everglades-U.S. Sugar Deal
The new agreement with the U.S. Sugar Corp., which Crist hinted Wednesday could come within days, is intended to salvage a massive land purchase the governor and environmentalists call essential to restoring the struggling River of Grass. But it will come in a smaller size and at a cheaper price that won't bankrupt the state agency footing the bill.
http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/968142.html
Texas: DU And Partners Receive $1 Million For Texas Wetlands Restoration
Ducks Unlimited was awarded a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant to enhance over 5,728 acres of wetland habitat in Chambers and Jefferson counties along the Texas coast. Partners contributed more than $2 million to match the $1 million received from the federal grant. The project will restore high priority wintering habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds within the Chenier Plain of Texas.
http://www.ammoland.com/2009/03/30/du-receive-1-million-texas-wetlands-restoration/
California: Birds Flock to New Wetland Area in Del Mar
Migrating shorebirds fill the mudflats. Droves of ducks paddle about in the waterways. And a bald eagle even rested briefly on a fence post earlier this week before a dog scared it away. It's evident that both wild creatures and local birdwatchers adore conditions in the nearly completed San Dieguito wetlands restoration area near the Del Mar fairgrounds, said people associated with the project as they gave tours Tuesday.
http://www.northcountytimes.com/articles/2009/03/31/news/coastal/del_mar/z4c44d10740d460418825758a0064dbae.txt
Maryland: Growing Grasses for Good
For hours on a recent Monday, greenhouses at the Providence Center in Arnold were abuzz with the work necessary to start off the latest order of plants: 75,000 plugs of wetlands grasses, Spartina patens and Spartina alterniflora. All told, that's 1,520 trays of grasses - all bound for the Poplar Island environmental-restoration site in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay. http://www.hometownglenburnie.com/news/mdgazette/2009/03/25-05/Growing+grasses+for+good.html |
River & Watershed Restoration
UK: Group to Revive Fortunes of North Wales River
Plans to clean up a polluted river are underway in a bid to restore wildlife. Community groups and national organisations such as the Countryside Council for Wales, the Environment Agency and Keep Wales Tidy have joined forces to form the River Barlwyd Partnership with the goal of saving the polluted river in Blaenau Ffestiniog.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2009/03/26/group-to-revive-fortunes-of-north-wales-river-55578-23234983/
Arizona: Fossil Creek Protected as Wild and Scenic River; Omnibus Public Lands Bill Heads to President's Desk
The House of Representatives today voted 285-140 to approve the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, which grants a federal "wild and scenic river" designation for Arizona's restored Fossil Creek. The Senate approved the bill last week, and it now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature. The bipartisan H.R. 146 safeguards more than 1,100 miles of rivers in Arizona, Utah, California, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Massachusetts, and includes important protections for 350,000 acres of land along 86 new wild and scenic rivers.
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2009/fossil-creek-03-25-2009.html
Nevada: River Restoration Funds Won't Be Diverted to Whitewater Park
Not wanting to do an "end run" on the way state money is divvied up for the Truckee River, the Washoe County Commission agreed Tuesday not to divert $1.5 million in river restoration funds to expanding the whitewater park in downtown Reno.
http://www.rgj.com/article/20090325/NEIGHBORHOODS06/903250411/1247/neighborhoods
Washington: Washington's Lake Cushman Gets Water Accord
After nearly eight decades as more or less a creek, the North Fork of the Skokomish River -- a branch of the Hood Canal tributary all but wiped out by the construction of the Cushman Hydroelectric Project in the 1920s -- has water flowing through it once more. "The river will experience significantly more flow than it's had for the last 80 years," said Pat McCarty, Tacoma Power generation manager.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/terryrichard/2009/03/washingtons_lake_cushman_gets.html |
| Grassland Restoration
Canada: Community Trust Restores Columbia Valley Grasslands
The workers will remove young trees from previously harvested sites that are now overstocked with small trees, near the Dutch-Findlay and Wolf-Sheep Creek areas, south of Invermere. The tree removal, combined with prescribed burns, will mimic wildfire patterns and help restore the area to open rangelands comprised of natural grasses and vegetation. The rangeland will support cattle and wildlife including elk, deer, and bighorn sheep.
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2009FOR0047-000543.htm
Texas: Prairie Grass Takes on Global Warming
"One of the things about prairie is: It's important for our own health," said Simmons. "It creates oxygen; it cools things down; it infiltrates water; it cleans water, and in this day and age, it even does things really well like fixes carbon below ground. In these days of concern about carbon dioxide, prairie is one of the best ways to actually get CO2 from the air, down into the soil and lock it up there for hundreds of thousands of years."
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/Prairie_grass_takes_on_global_warming |
| Lake Restoration
Virginia: Forest Hill Park Set for $1.7 Million Lake Cleanup Effort
The lake, created more than a century ago when the park was part of an imposing estate, has disappeared under tons of silt carried by the creek from upstream construction sites for two decades or more. The process of removing an estimated 40,000 cubic yards of sediment is scheduled to begin late next month, after the city approves erosion and sediment control plans, and take six months to complete.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/LAKE28_20090327-223313/242995/ |
| Coastal & Marine Restoration
UAE: Marine Sanctuary to be Expanded
A marine sanctuary that is home to several endangered species is to become six times its current size, a government official has revealed. The Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi plans to increase Al Yasat Marine Protected Area from 482 square kilometres to about 3,000 by bringing a fifth island within its boundaries, said Dr Thabit Zahran al Abdessalaam, the director of marine biodiversity management.
http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090326/NATIONAL/679204911/1138
America's Largest Estuary in Poor Health
Despite a 25-year effort to restore it, the watershed is still severely degraded, according to the new report. Chesapeake Bay Program Director Jeffrey Lape says that is reflected in key indicators like water quality, wildlife habitat and fish population.
http://www.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2009-03-26-voa21.cfm
Australia: Garrett Promises Great Barrier Reef Restoration
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett says the Government will take any necessary steps to restore parts of the Great Barrier Reef damaged by severe weather. Mr. Garrett says cyclone Hamish caused significant damage when it moved down Queensland's east coast two weeks ago.
http://cfdmarket.wordpress.com/2009/03/28/garrett-promises-great-barrier-reef-restoration/ |
Wildlife Restoration
India: More Centuries than Tigers?
When Sachin Tendulkar dedicated his 42nd Test century, in the first India-New Zealand Test match at Hamilton two weeks ago, to tiger conservation, he seemed to be drawing attention to the unabated threat of extinction faced by this magnificent big cat. Tendulkar's publicly stated concern is not misplaced, as can be seen from the alarming number of deaths of tigers that are still taking place in India's wildlife reserves, notwithstanding the revamping of 'Project Tiger', the key tiger conservation programme.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/more-centuries-than-tigers/353204/
Canada: Trumpeter swans making a comeback in Ontario
Then along came Harry Lumsden. For nearly three decades the self-taught biologist, now 86 and retired from the Ministry of Natural Resources, with the help of dozens of volunteers has brought the swans back to Ontario. There are well over 1,000 trumpeters in the south-central part of the province now - that from none when he started the restoration program in 1982. Another victory: the population is self-sustaining.
http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/610108
California: Restored Island Offers Hope for Other Trouble Spots
The collar helped explain why the Santa Cruz Island fox, along with several other species scattered across Southern California's Channel Islands, are recovering from the brink of extinction. Even as habitat destruction and other pressures threaten plant and animal species across the United States, a concerted restoration effort is demonstrating that it is possible to rebuild an ancient ecosystem that had disintegrated because of human habitation. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/29/AR2009032902459.html?hpid=sec-nation |
| Invasive Species
Oregon: Keeping Elk Rock Island Pristine
Elk Rock Island is a "special place - a gem," Rachel Rigg told a group of about 20 people on March 14, when she led a work party to remove English ivy from the 15-acre site near Milwaukie's Jefferson Street boat ramp.
http://www.clackamasreview.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=123793550888607900
Virginia: Asian Oysters Not Headed for Chesapeake Bay
Citing insurmountable government roadblocks, the Virginia Seafood Council on Tuesday abandoned its effort to introduce Asian oysters into the Chesapeake Bay. The council began introducing Asian oysters - under rigidly controlled conditions - eight years ago. Several groups, including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, oppose the idea. They worry about unforeseen consequences of introducing the alien species.
http://www.wtkr.com/news/dp-local_oysters_0325mar25,0,7146809.story |
| Urban Restoration
Washington: Kirkland Named "Tree City" 7th Year Running
The City's comprehensive tree regulations provide for the protection, preservation, replacement, proper maintenance and use of significant trees located in the City. Last year the City Council adopted a 20-Year Forest Restoration Plan that calls for the restoration of Kirkland's natural areas. Much of the restoration is happening through the City's volunteer network, the Green Kirkland Partnership.
http://eastsidebusinessjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3017&Itemid=2 |
| Funding Opportunities
Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Projects Funding Announcement - Closes April 6, 2009
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is seeking applications for projects that will restore coastal and marine habitats under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, in an unprecedented effort to jumpstart the economy, create save several thousand jobs, and restore valuable coastal and marine habitat. Congress has entrusted NOAA with up to $170 million for habitat restoration in coastal areas including the Great Lakes. NOAA is accepting applications for a variety of habitat restoration projects - including wetlands restoration, dam removals, shellfish restoration, and coral reef restoration.
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/recovery/
World Bank Grant - Closes April 6, 2009
The Development Marketplace is a competitive grant program administered by the World Bank. The 2009 global competition is funded by various partners and it aims to identify 20 to 25 innovative, early-stage projects addressing climate adaptation. The DM is a unique opportunity to turn your idea into reality; if selected your project could receive up to US$200,000 in grant funding for implementation over two years.
http://pgpblog.worldbank.org/development-marketplace-grant-competition-2009-climate-adaptation
Washington: Watershed Mini-Grants - Closes April 10, 2009
The Kitsap County Department of Community Development announced this week the availability of the Watershed Mini-Grant Program for 2009. This year, the Watershed Mini-Grant program will offer grants up to $1,500 to local groups for local environmental education, habitat restoration and monitoring projects. A total of $6,000 is available for 2009.
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/ckr/news/41693022.html
New Jersey: Assistance Available for Wetland Restoration - Closes June 1, 2009
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that applications will be accepted through Monday, June 1 for 2009 funding of wetland restoration projects on active or previously-farmed lands in New Jersey.
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20090221/NEWS/90219061/1010/newsfront
National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program - Closes June 26, 2009
The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program provides States with a means of protecting and restoring these valuable resources. Projects can include (1) acquisition of a real property interest (e.g., easement or fee title) in coastal lands or waters from willing sellers or partners (coastal wetlands ecosystems) for long-term conservation or (2) restoration, enhancement, or management of coastal wetlands ecosystems for long-term conservation.
http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=44928 | |
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