Megaherbivores Gardeners of the Forest

The journal Biotropica has published a report which shows that the progressive disappearance of seed-dispersing animals like elephants and rhinoceroses is putting the structural integrity and biodiversity of the tropical forest of South-East Asia at risk. 

"Megaherbivores act as the "gardeners" of humid tropical forests: They are vital to forest regeneration and maintain its structure and biodiversity," Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, the lead author of the study, explained. Thick forest growth means little space for trees to germinate and grow and scarce light. Seed dispersion is made more complicated by the lack of wind due to the trees that are up to 90 m high. Plant life is then limited to seeds dispersed by those animals that eat pulp. They either scatter seeds by dropping their food, regurgitating it or by defecating later on.

        

In the case of large seeds, "plants need a large animal capable of eating, transporting and defecating the seeds in good conditions," said Luis SantamarIa, co-author and researcher at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA) of Spain's CSIC Scientific Research Agency. This is where elephants and rhinoceroses come into play because they can scatter large quantities of seeds thanks to the fact that they slowly digest very little of their food.

       

However, habitat loss, poaching, and the conflict between elephant and man has caused a 95 percent loss in Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) historical distribution range and has left the rhinoceros just a step away from extinction: there are less than 50 Java rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros sondaicus) and 200 Sumatra rhinoceroses (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis).

        

"If these megaherbivores disappear from the ecosystem, their contribution to ecological processes will too be lost and the path of the ecosystem will change irreversibly," explained the lead author, who goes on to state that "the most probable consequences are the change in the structure of the undergrowth and the forest and the loss of certain species."

   

For full story, please see: http://zeenews.india.com/news/eco-news/elephants-and-rhinos-act-as-gardeners-of-forests_774917.html

Joe Pye Weed, Eupatorium spp.

Fanghui 1082

Climb Yellow Tower

Gaze to Huangzhou;
To Huangzhou you gaze but cannot see,
below the Tower water eastward flows,
Water Flows, how can it be stayed? 

Floating clouds, even more far reaching.
Wounded at heart, a traveler by the marshes,
haggard in Chu Eupatorium autumn.

From Stuart Howard Sargent's "Poetry of He Zhu (1052-1125)"

90 seconds to Connect the Dots

350.org has released a 90 second video of people all around the world in 'Connect the Dots' last weekend. www.climatedots.org/watch

They have also developed two tools for transmission of the climate change story:

One is a project to help people everywhere share their stories about how climate change is impacting them. If you have been directly impacted by climate change, please take a photo with your personal dot, or submit your story to their new Tumblr http://act.350.org/go/1575?akid=1884.210235.q4e96C&t=4

Another is a presentation of photos from the 'Connect the Dots' weekend to download and share with your community http://act.350.org/go/1484?akid=1884.210235.q4e96C&t=5

Organic in Hanoi, Vietnam

Anyone traveling or living in Hanoi, Vietnam will find it difficult to locate Organic food here. I recently gave an interview to Thien Nhien News on Organic in Vietnam and the challenges that it faces here, which are many.

To folks who are new in the city, or new to Organic, Thanh Xuan Organics is the best place to start. They are selling Organic vegetables from groups of PGS farmers in Soc Son about 40km northwest along the Thang Long Highway near Noi Bai International Airport. It is run by a group called Action for the City. The Weekend Market off of To Ngoc Van also has some organic produce, and is run by the people at ASVELIS who sell the brand Naturally Vietnam chicken and eggs. These animals are being raised in great conditions and are the best available meat and eggs in the city.

Here is a short poem by Walt Whitman called A Farm-Picture:

   

Through the ample open door of the peaceful country barn,  

A sun-lit pasture field, with cattle and horses feeding;  

And haze, and vista, and the far horizon, fading away.

Local Food and Community Self-Governance Ordinance

BAck in March 2011 the town of Sedgwick, Maine passed a Local Food and Community Self-Governance Ordinance, since then six towns in Hancock County have passed the ordinance, Blue Hill is one of those towns. But now a farmer in Blue Hill, who sells fresh milk and other prepared foods is being sued by the Department of Agriculture and State of Maine for working without State licenses - selling without the use of state licenses is part of what the ordinance is all about and why it is catching on all across the country.

Recent rule changes by the Maine Department of Agriculture is set to make criminals out of farmers who are growing and processing food to share in their communities. This lawsuit is a serious threat to Maine's growing local food movement. It is very important that we make a stand on the side of small farmers, local food sovereignty and the Maine Constitution.

People are getting organized to protect the farmer Dan Brown and defend both Gravelwood Farm and the  Local Food and Community Self-Governance Ordinance. On April 17 the We Are All Farmer Brown Campaign will deliver a petition in Augusta, signed by thousands of people to Gov. Paul LePage asking him to drop the lawsuit against Dan Brown and Gravelwood Farm.

Sign here: http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-lepage-drop-the-lawsuit-against-farmer-dan-brown

Climate Change? 350.org will connect the Dots

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) just published 'Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters, to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX)' a report on climate change and weather extremes. The work includes evidence of past and future changes and the impacts at global and regional scales. It also has an extensive discussion about managing weather-related risks with guidance for policy makers and change-makers in general.

The activist community will support this work with an action day on May 5. 350.org is calling it a day of global witness, which will connect groups (each with a giant dot) around the planet suffering from the effects of global climate change.  The ideas is to make the pattern of Global climate change visible by connecting the dots, to refute climate change deniers and to find hope that the world will choose to take action.

The day will also feature hopeful projects like sustainable energy and community gardens. Either way Start or join an event near you www.climatedots.org 350.org has even offered to help figure out some of the logistics...

Check out the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 'Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters, to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX)' http://ipcc-wg2.gov/SREX/press-events/launch-of-the-full-ipcc-special-report

Finally, a poem: I think it is appropriate to revisit the poem from the Greenhorns and the Irresistible Fleet of Bicycles: 

Progress:

       less slavery
       less diesel
       less hunger+ obesity
       less cronyism and chemicals and corporate control

       (in the form of a brisk, conversion of our economy towards healthier mix).

       more jobs
       more rural prosperity, and dancing
       more layers on the land
       more soil biota
       more resilient economies based in places, in buildings, in relationships
       more entrepreneurship
       more faith in a more functional democracy

it may be hard, but it will not be boring.

A Dissapointed Mainer

Somehow the Maine Senate seems to have lost it's mind. York County Republican Senator Courtney introduced a Joint Resolution Memorializing the President and the Congress of the United States to Support the Completion of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The resolution suggested a number of falsehoods including that the pipeline would create a substantial number of jobs - certainly we would not get any jobs in Maine with from this pipeline.

Along with nearly 2,000 other Mainers, I signed a petition last week asking the the senate to oppose the resolution. Sadly, somehow, the vote was passed 17-15.

Tar sands oil and its acquisition, production, transportation, and usage is one of the dirtiest fossil fuels on the planet. I had a feeling that Maine was ready to move forward in support of environmentally-supportive energy choices.

Amid my disappointment, I am left asking myself what the legislature is even doing wasting time on this issue. With only a few weeks left in this session Maine legislators should be focused on improving Maine's economy and environment.

The only thing left to do is to contact the Senators who supported this Resolution and contact Representatives to make sure they know our minds on this issue and keep working at home.