Image Source: Flickr. By: Hulivili.

When we think of Ethiopia, our thoughts most likely turn to those television commercials that encourage the adoption or donation to a poor, starving child and their families. While starvation and poverty are certainly troubling things, there is another issue this African country has faced over the years.

Located on the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia is a home to many Threatened, Endangered, and Critically Endangered species. Over the years, these species have fallen in numbers, thanks to problems like: deforestation, civil war, pollution, and of course, poaching. One such animal is the Ethiopian Wolf, which has less than 500 survivors today.

Many of these animals were on the brink of extinction for a long time, but there is some good news to report. Some of these animals have been successfully protected and are making a good (though slow) comeback!

A recent census taken at the Semien National Park shows 3 particular animals in the park have had dramatic population increases: the Gelada Baboon, the Walia Ibex, and the Ethiopian Wolf. Yes, although the Wolf may have less than 500 left in the country, their population within the National Park has leaped from 15 to 84 in the span of 2 decades.

As for the other 2 animals, according to park official, Yohannes Mekuria, the Walias (a type of goat) have gone from 50 to 751 in the span of 18 years and the Gelada Baboons have made the most notable increase, now having 15,000 of these primates in the park. Mekuria added that all of the numbers “have increased beyond expectation” and he attributes their success to “sound park management and education of the local human population”.

Let’s hope these species (and others that live in Ethiopia) continue to make such a great comeback.

By Heidi Marshall

Image Source: Screen capture from Birdlife International.

Yesterday, conservations confirmed the extinction of the Alaotra Grebe: a bird that was only found in the lakes of Madagascar.

The announcement comes 25 years after the last confirmed sighting of the bird, also known as the Rusty Grebe and Delacour’s Little Grebe. The decline and ultimate extinction of this little bird can be contributed to habitat destruction, numerous accidental captures in nylon gill-nets, and the introduction of a predator: the Snakehead Murrel. This is a fish that can grow up to 1 meter (about 3 feet) in length and is native to the southeastern region of Asia.

The status of known animal and plant species around the globe can be found on the IUCN Red List. On that list, you can learn of their status (endangered, threatened, etc.), location, population, threats, conservation action taken, and much more. The bird portion of the list is largely attributed to the work of Birdlife International. Out of the 10,027 bird species recognized by both organizations: 7,751 are Least Concern, 838 are Near-Threatened, 372 are Endangered, 190 are Critically Endangered, 132 are Extinct, 62 are Data Deficient, and 4 are Extinct in the Wild.

Birdlife International science director, Leon Bennun, said:

“No hope now remains for this species. It is another example of how human actions can have unforeseen consequences.” … “Invasive alien species have caused extinctions around the globe and remain one of the major threats to birds and other biodiversity.”

It’s a shame things had to end this way for the Alaotra Grebe and while there is no hope left to save that particular animal, we can at least still do our part to try and save the rest of them.

By Heidi Marshall

photo by Lkruijsw (source: Wikimedia Commons)

The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that solar power will supply 20-25% of energy needs by the year 2050. Half of this will be from photovoltaic solar panels, initially driven by feed-in tariff schemes like the UK government’s controversial FIT plan. The other half will come in the form of Concentrated Solar Power, or CSP, which uses lenses or mirrors to focus large areas of sunlight, ‘concentrating’ it to produce electrical power.

Solar Trade Association CEO David Mathews sees different roles for both types of solar power generation: photovoltaic for northern Europe and CSP in sunnier, southern lands.

From an article in The Ecologist:

In the longer term, Matthews said he expects CSP to have the bigger role in meeting the world’s power needs because of its lower costs per kilowatt, and its ability to store energy overnight as well as transfer it over long distances.

The IEA states in a press release that the major producers of CSP will be North America, India and North Africa:

North Africa would most likely export about half its production to Europe, the second largest consumer.

Algeria already has major plans for CSP projects, as do South Africa, Israel and part of India.

by Graham Land

Additional resources:

Guardian – US could become leader in desert solar, says IEA

On May 24th, HBO will air the documentary ‘The Lazarus Effect’ by director Lance Bangs. The film follows four HIV positive people in Sub-Saharan Africa in an attempt to show the effects of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) on patients with HIV and AIDS.

From a review on Shockya.com:

These people include Bwalya, an 11-year-old orphan; Paul Nsangu, a young man who is married and has a daughter; Concillia Muhau, who has a daughter that is virus-free; and Constance (Connie) Mudenda, an HIV Peer Education Supervisor.

Nearly 30 million Sub-Saharan Africans live with HIV/AIDS, many of whom cannot afford antiretroviral drugs. ARVs are provided by several organizations for a cost of as little as $0.40 per day (€0.30/ ₤0.26).

Check out this video spot from Bono’s Product Red campaign (by HBO via AP), which is being shown prior to the airing of ‘The Lazarus Effect’. The public service spot features celebrities such as Penelope Cruz, Hugh Jackman, Lucy Liu and Don Cheadle.

Bono Gathers Celebs for AIDS Campaign

by Graham Land

Additional resources:

HBO – The Lazarus Effect homepage

Join(RED) – Designed to help eliminate AIDS in Africa

cholera contaminated river in Kenya; photo by The Advocacy Project (source: Flickr Creative Commons)

Diarrhea related illnesses are generally preventable and easily treatable, yet 1.5 million children in Africa still die every year from diarrhoeal diseases. 85 children die every day from such diseases in Kenya alone, according to the below video report from Al Jazeera English.

Diarrhoeal illnesses are easily treated with rehydration salts and fluids. The diseases are often water-borne and usually associated with poor sanitation. Many of the victims are children of poor families in the developing world, where many parents aren’t informed about the symptoms of dehydration or how to treat diarrhea.

Simple and inexpensive water treatment with bleach along with safe water storage have proven to be successful methods for preventing diarrhea, according to a study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

From the project study:

In the developing world, poor access to safe drinking water and inadequate sanitation are important contributors to the risk of diarrheal diseases, which cause an estimated two million deaths per year in children under 5 years old. The World Health Organization estimates that over 1 billion people lack access to improved water supply worldwide.

Al Jazeera English – Diarrhoea afflicts Kenya’s young

Diarrhoeal diseases like cholera are the kind of maladies exacerbated by warming temperatures, especially in developing countries already vulnerable to flooding. Read more about the connection between climate and health in this BBC News article.

by Graham Land

Image Source: Flickr. By: Jacob.D.Sutton.

I absolutely love to go hiking. The great outdoors is a wonderful place to explore and to go to for some peace of mind. There are so many spectacular views, vistas, scenic areas and landscapes around the world; all of which are definitely worth seeing. Unfortunately, it may be impossible to hike all those trails in one lifetime. So, I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 hiking trails around the world. This list comes from many sources and much research. The trails that have ended up on the list are ones that have been favored the most.

10. The Appalachian Trail
If you live along the eastern side of the US, you’ve probably heard of this trail (or at least the Appalachian Mountains). The Appalachian Trail spans 2,178 miles (3,505 km) from the state of Georgia all the way up to Maine. The nice part about this trail is you don’t have to walk the entire thing. There are many breaks throughout the trail, so if you only want to go several miles instead of the whole grueling trek, you can. It is the first national scenic trail and also one of the three greatest long-distance trails of the US. Throughout your journey on the trail, you will take over 5 million steps, cross through 14 states, and see 8 National Forests and 6 National Parks. Many say it’s the best way to see the eastern states, and I couldn’t agree more.

9. Tour du Mont Blanc
This is one of the most popular trails in Europe; passing through France, Italy and Switzerland. It goes around the Mont Blanc Massif and is about 106 miles (170 km) long with a 6 mile (10 km) ascent. Typically, people walk the trail in an anti-clockwise direction and the walk takes about 7-10 days. Along the trail, you will pass through 7 valleys. There are also numerous stopping and starting areas, plus accommodations available along the trail. The trail also offers several options for hiking—different paths are available for those who want more of a challenge and for those who want to take it easy. This trail is definitely worth checking out if you ever find yourself in Europe.

8. Torres del Paine
This is actually a National Park located in the Patagonia region of Chile (at least 2,500 km–1553 miles–south of Santiago). On this trek, you will see fields of wildflowers, beautiful panoramas, mountains, valleys, and glacial views as far as the eye can see. Andean Condors, guanacos, and foxes are among the many animals that can be seen throughout the park and trail. As with the previous hikes, this one also offers several starting and stopping points. It’s certainly a trek you don’t want to miss.

Image Source: Flickr. By: Rupert Taylor-Price.

7. Mount Everest Base Camp
If you enjoy the cold, this trail is perfect for you. Lukla, Nepal, is your starting point on this journey and the total trek can take about 2 weeks. There are a number of strenuous ways to travel about Mount Everest, though most seem to prefer the “easier” routes, which provide food and rest along the way. As you travel on your journey, you’ll see mountain peaks lost to the clouds above, while wildflowers and homes are scattered about below. Sherpa guides are available if you desire one; though if you go it alone, you can always ask for direction along the way. If you decide to take on this challenge, be prepared for cold temperatures and high altitudes.

6. John Muir Trail
Who is John Muir? He was a naturalist, author, and advocate of wilderness preservation in the US. He saved a number of well-known areas, including the Yosemite Valley and Sequoia National Park, and he also founded the Sierra Club (Hawaii getaway, anyone?). Given his devotion to nature and conservation, not to mention all the things he wrote about them, it’s no wonder one of the best western US trails would be named after him. The trail starts in Yosemite National Park. This 215 mile (346 km) journey will pass through a number of national parks and natural areas. Your destination is the highest peak in the continental US: Mount Whitney, which stands at 14,196 feet (4327 m). Expect to see forests, glaciers, mountains, fields, lakes and even wild animals along the hike. The trail is divided into segments, so you can walk a little bit at a time or do it all in one go (which will take about a week).

5. Monte Fitzroy
This trek is another located in the Patagonia region of South America and also a nice alternative to the Torres del Paine. Located in Los Glaciares National Park, this is one trek you don’t want to pass up on. The distance traveled may vary, as there are a number of routes you can take, but expect an average of 40 miles (64 km) and nearly a week to complete the whole thing. Along the way you will see lakes, mountains, glaciers, spires, and of course, the awesome Monte Fitzroy. Although it may look a bleak, dull, grey color during the day time, when sunset hits you will see a beautiful tinge of red and orange instead—definitely a great photo opportunity!

Image Source: Flickr. By: H2O Alchemist.

4. West Coast Trail
Now we travel north, all the way to Vancouver, Canada. While you may remember this as the location of the 2010 Winter Olympics, it’s also the location of one of the top rated hiking trails in the world. The 75 mile (121 km) long West Coast Trail is part of the Pacific Rim National Park. You will start at Bamfield and travel all the way to Port Renfrew. Along the way, you will see a diverse range of ecosystems, from forests to beaches, and waterfalls to bogs. Designated camping areas are available along this rugged path, and you will be required to cross a few areas by boat, bridge, and even fallen logs. Stopping and starting points are available along the trail if you do not wish to hike the entire way. There are also many wild animals that can be encountered, including bears, wolves and cougars, so be careful! Tidal pools with fish, mollusks and sea anemones can be found at the beach portions of the trail, plus you may catch a glimpse of an orca or sea lion! The trail is only open from May 1st until September 30th, so plan your adventure accordingly!

3. Annapurna Circuit
We are heading back over to Nepal and the Himalayas for this little adventure. The Annapurna is the 10th highest mountain in the world. On this hike, you will pass through 4 regions: Lamjung, Manang, Mustang, and Myagdi. The first and last regions consist of lush subtropical valleys and terraced farming; while in the Manang and Mustang regions you’ll find yourself amongst higher elevations and colder climes. You will pass through the world’s deepest gorge and you’ll also have the opportunity to visit Buddhist villages and Hindu holy sites on the way. The journey can go for about 3 weeks and parts of it are rather grueling. Fortunately, there are lodges and restaurants along this great trail.

2. Mount Kilimanjaro
Although this inactive volcano is located in Tanzania, it is known for its snow-covered peak. Mount Kilimanjaro is the world’s tallest free-standing mountain and you have 6 options for hiking about it: Machame, Marangu, Rongai, Lemosho, Umbwe and Shira. There is also the Mweka route, but that is only for descending the mountain. Each of the 6 routes vary in distance and difficulty. If you are up for an adventure and some beautiful scenery, then check out the Machame route. If you wish to go the more popular way and stay in huts overnight, then the Marangu route is your trail. And if you’re up for a bit of danger and excitement, you’ll definitely want to go by way of the Lemosho route, where an armed ranger will accompany you on the first day. It’s on this route where you may encounter elephants, buffalo, and other big game animals. Whichever path you take, this hiking adventure is sure to be a great experience.

Image Source: Flickr. By: Kudumomo.

1. Inca Trail
Finally, we come to the number one hiking trail in the world: The Inca Trail of Peru. While there are many different Inca Trails you can take your journey on, the most popular by far are those that lead to Machu Picchu. The most traveled of these trails is the “Classic”, which starts in Cuzco. On this trail, you will see the ruins of Patallacta, the Incan tambo of Runkuraqay, and a view of Sayaqmarka. Expect to see a river, lakes, and much jungle vegetation on this trek. You will also see an Incan tunnel, mountains and drop offs, and there may be some steep climbs in some areas. Generally, this trek takes several days to complete, though there is also a One Day trek and also the Mollepata—the longest of the 3 main routes. If you plan on doing the number one trail in the world, be aware that going in February is out of the question—the trail is closed every year at that time for cleaning. Also, booking reservations in advance for this trail is mandatory. Why? Only 500 people—including guides and porters—are allowed to be on it per day.

That’s it for the list! I am personally surprised at the number of other great trails around the world that did not make the list, though that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit them, too! However, there are a few honorable mentions also worth mentioning here: The Overland Track of Australia, Ausangate Circuit of Peru, Mount Kenya of Kenya, Tongariro Northern Circuit of New Zealand, and the Haute Route of France and Switzerland are all awesome trails worth traveling, as well. My personal favorite hiking areas thus far (apart from local trails) have been the Grand Canyon and the Red Rocks area of Sedona, Arizona. Both of those places offer amazing desert views that you won’t want to miss!

If you decide to venture out on any of these great hikes (or any others on the planet), remember to leave only footprints and take only photographs!

By Heidi Marshall

Image Source: Flickr. By: John & Mel Kots

About a month ago it was reported that Congo soldiers based in Virunga National Park were suspected of poaching a number of animals, including: 7 hippos, 5 elephants, 5 antelopes, 4 baboons, 3 chimpanzees, and 2 buffalo.

Those suspicions were correct.

According to the commander of the army’s 15th Brigade (which is behind most of the killings), the soldiers have resorted to poaching because of the inadequacy of their food rations. On top of the poaching for food, soldiers have also developed an illegal ivory business in Nord-Kivu province, where the National Park is located. Traders purchase ivory from the troops in Goma and Butembo and then they ship the ivory to either China or Dubai.

IDPE (Innovation for the Development and Protection of the Environment) have been involved in the case. They claim that soldiers “use their wives and cousins to sell the meat” in villages near the park. Virunga National Park is the oldest in Africa and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hunting and fishing is completely banned in the park, though what punishment lies ahead for the soldiers remains to be seen.

At the very least, the military may be removed from the park altogether, as proposed by IDPE. More updates will be posted as they happen.

By Heidi Marshall

With its history of funding mega-dams that displace entire villages, and development projects that destroy rainforests, the World Bank has some work to do to improve its environmental and human rights image.  Helping to finance one of the world’s largest carbon pollution projects would not exactly be a step in the right direction, and would cast serious doubt over whether the World Bank’s recent statements on climate change are anything more than empty talk.  This is a project the World Bank needs to pull out of, and the United States must exert its influence to make that happen.

The mainstream media is likely to frame this as an issue of environmentalists from developed countries trying to deprive the population in a developing nation of cheap electricity.  Yet the truth is that Eskom, the South African utility proposing the mega-coal plant, plans to triple electricity prices for its ratepayers in order to pay back the World Bank loan.  South African residents have been protesting outside Eskom’s offices, while more than 50 South African faith, justice, and environmental organizations have denounced the coal plant project. 

Yet the US may refrain from taking a stand on the issue.  It looks like the US, under the leadership of the Obama administration, is likely to abstain from voting on the loan to Eskom this Thursday.  That could amount to letting the proposal roll forward, negating much of Obama’s work to limit greenhouse emissions so far. 

The World Bank vote on this will come in less than a week, and the need for action could hardly be less urgent.  Please urge US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to vote “no” on a World Bank loan to Eskom.

Filed under: Africa, Coal, Coal Campaign, global warming, Impacted Communities

source: apopo.org

APOPO is an organization that uses specially trained African Pouched Rats to detect landmines in Mozambique. It was founded by Belgian Bart Weetjens, who is both a Buddhist monk and a rodent enthusiast. A business and registered charity in Belgium that is headquartered in Tanzania, APOPO’s self-described vision ‘is to develop appropriate detection technologies, to empower vulnerable communities.’ It does this with the help of ‘Hero Rats.’

From a BBC News report:

Rats, according to Apopo, are much faster than men using metal detectors and are not distracted by metal contaminants. They are much cheaper to maintain than dogs and are easily passed between different handlers.

After a ten-year war for independence from Portugal followed by an even longer civil war, Mozambique was littered with deadly mines which lay in every conceivable place. These mines affect all aspects of life in Mozambique.

From a UN source:

“Perhaps the most devastating use of land mines was the random dissection of mines in fields and along access paths to stop peasants from producing food,” notes Human Rights Watch Africa in a report entitled “Land Mines and Economic Life”.

The rats are too light to detonate landmines and are not in danger.

Though technically a business, APOPO is reliant on grants and charitable contributions, as there is not much money to be made clearing poor communities of dangerous landmines. Donations can be made via APOPO’s Hero Rat website, which also features media including a BBC documentary on APOPO’s Hero Rat business.

In the future, Bart Weetjens hopes that APOPO’s rats will also be used to detect tuberculosis (TB) and other diseases as well as illegally smuggled drugs.

Check out this video report from the DW TV on Hero Rats:

by Graham Land

Additional resources:

Time magazine – The Landmine-Sniffing Rats of Mozambique

“If you gave me only one wish for the next 50 years,” declared the world’s wealthiest man during last week’s TED 2010 conference, “I can pick who is president, I can pick a vaccine… or I can pick that [an energy technology] at half the cost with no CO2 emissions gets invented, this is the wish I would pick. This is the one with the greatest impact.”

Bill Gates is right. And he is not just talking about the impact on climate change, which does of course present a major threat. He is also talking about one of the most critical global imperatives to make poverty history: making clean energy cheap.

“If you could pick just one thing to lower the price of to reduce poverty, by far you would pick energy,” said Gates in his introduction. Gates should know as well as any development expert, since the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – the world’s largest transparent private foundation – has invested billions of dollars in extreme poverty alleviation since 1994.

Nearly 1.6 billion of our fellow human beings have no access to electricity, and around 2.4 billion people – over one third of global population – meet their basic cooking and heating needs by burning biomass, such as wood, crop waste, and dung. “Without access to modern, commercial energy, poor countries can be trapped in a vicious circle of poverty, social instability and underdevelopment,” concludes the International Energy Agency.

The direct health consequences of using primitive solid fuels like biomass and coal are severe. According to the World Health Organization, solid fuel use causes 1.6 million excess deaths per year globally, especially among women and children — the fourth largest risk factor in developing countries after malnutrition, waterborne disease, and unsafe sex, and the second greatest environmental cause of disease overall.

These numbers are staggering. Energy poverty is an extreme and dangerous condition, and its elimination must be one of the highest development priorities for the 21st century. Nobody on this planet should be forced to burn dung to feed their family and heat their home, and access to modern energy sources should be considered a basic human right.

The implication is that energy technology innovation today should be considered one of the world’s most important social and economic justice movements. The growing movement to make clean energy cheap, and to deliver that energy globally, has the potential to alleviate as much human suffering and injustice as some of the largest, concerted social movements in history.

Of course, driving down the price of clean energy technologies is also essential for reducing global carbon emissions. Until the price gap between low-carbon and high-carbon energy is bridged, poor and rich nations alike will continue relying upon coal and other fossil fuels to power their development. This would virtually assure climate destabilization.

The task is clear: to eliminate energy poverty and avoid climate catastrophe, we must unleash our forces of innovation – namely, scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs – to develop a portfolio of truly scalable clean energy technologies, bring these technologies to market, and ensure they are affordable enough to deploy throughout the world.

If you gave me only one wish, then, it would be for the United States to launch a major public-private project to make clean energy cheap (or as Google puts it, “renewable energy cheaper than coal“).  This requires the development of a comprehensive, strategic roadmap for technology development and deployment, including the identification of specific technical hurdles and the various financial and human resources needed to overcome them. It will then require large-scale public-private investment in each stage of the energy innovation pipeline – from basic research and development, to applied R&D, demonstration, direct deployment, infrastructure, and education – eventually on the scale of $50-80 billion per year of federal investment.

The clean energy investments in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act were an important first step. Congress should take the next step today with a bipartisan plan to increase the federal energy R&D budget to $15-30 billion per year, on par with the National Institutes of Health, and to develop a comprehensive federal energy education program. If these investments are funded by a modest carbon price, then all the better, but we can no longer make energy technology policy dependent on the carbon pricing agenda. Clean energy innovation is an economic, national security, and human development imperative, and these public investments should be made with or without cap and trade.

The United States was a driving force behind the worldwide expansion of prosperity and security in the 20th century. Today, a new American project to make clean energy cheap can alleviate untold human suffering and injustice, develop the world’s strongest clean energy industry, and help save the world from climate destabilization. In short, it may be our generation’s single greatest opportunity to advance global prosperity in the 21st century and secure the lives of future generations. As Bill Gates put it, “This is the one with the greatest impact.”

Teryn Norris is Director of Americans for Energy Leadership, Public Policy major at Stanford University, and Senior Advisor at the Breakthrough Institute.

Filed under: Africa, Climate Challenge, Climate Justice, Impacted Communities, Poverty, Renewable Energy, United States