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 News
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 Jan.1, 2012
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Studies highlight growing urgency of preserving biodiversity.
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A
review of eight studies conducted by 30 scientists from Australia, New
Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, published in the scientific journal
Pacific Conservation Biology, has found that climate change is worsening
the situation for flora and fauna in the Oceanian region, which is
already severely impacted by intensive agriculture,
habitat loss, and other problems.
Land,
marine, and freshwater environments are all affected. Recently, US
scientists at the University of Miami in Florida also drew attention to
the danger of ever-enlarging dead zones in the ocean, which are
shrinking the habitat of all marine species, including fish. Their study
evaluated the survival of blue marlin, billfish,
and tropical tuna, whose size and active movements necessitate large amounts of dissolved oxygen.
The
researchers found that not only are the fish being deprived by dead
zones of habitable regions, they are also being forced into waters
closer to the surface where they are more vulnerable to fishing.
University
of Miami researcher Dr. Jiangang Luo noted, (PhD) “In human terms, you
might describe it as if you were in a house on fire with ... only one
exit, then discovering you have a robber inside the house at the same
time.” Despite a commitment made in 2002 by governments across the globe
to protect 10% of the world's oceans and their inhabitants by 2012, the
agreements created so far cover only a little more than １%.
Lead
author of the Oceania study, Australian Professor Richard Kingsford of
the University of New South Wales, spoke of the urgency of addressing
these issues as he stated, "There are opportunities to mitigate some of
these impacts but it requires planning now, not when future generations
inherit the problem."
Many thanks, international scientists, for your efforts to inform the public of this alarming imbalance on our planet.
May
we join in acting now to implement Earth-saving practices that protect
and preserve all lives. Speaking with deep concern for the alarming loss
of biodiversity, Supreme Master Ching Hai during an August 2009
videoconference in Thailand reminded of what humanity must do in order
to ensure the continuation
of life on Earth.
Supreme Master Ching Hai :
It’s a very sad thing because our animal friends are suffering terribly
due to the effects of global warming. Many of the animals are dying or
at the brink of extinction or already gone due to unbearable
temperatures or they are being forced out of their habitats, just like
human climate refugees, except they are not nearly as equipped as we are
at adapting to new environments.
To ensure the peace and
comfort of all our animal co-inhabitants, we really should first cease
to consume them, any animals at all. Then, the wild areas and habitats
will be restored as will be the animals’ natural lives. That’s the best
way to protect them, to show our love to them.
http://www.pbl.nl/en/publications/2010/Rethinking_Global_Biodiversity_Strategies
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2011/12/14/Fish-under-threat-in-ocean-dead-zones/UPI-95851323899140/#ixzz1gdl8CAv5
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/TechandScience/Story/STIStory_702598.html
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/08/16/3294532.htm
Extra News
UK-based
BBC news reported on December 23, 2011 that the nation's endangered
fairy shrimp, a tiny beautiful crustacean that normally hatches around
Christmas, faces increasing threats to its survival, as noted by
scientists at the wildlife charity Pond Conservation, due to extended
drought leaving many of its pools at risk of drying out completely.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/16303086
The
US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated on
December 20, 2011 that 60 Ringed seals in the Arctic and Bering Strait
regions of Alaska had perished, with 75 found still alive but suffering
from skin lesions, and the cause still unknown.
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/dec2011/2011-12-20-094.html
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/１4f１5９a8１d6645f0acda９546cf１7２２aa/AK--Sick-Ringed-Seals/
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/scientists-still-unsure-whats-causing-arctic-alaska-ringed-seals-die
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