Mangrove conversion takes huge environmental toll

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

New policy brief outlines benefits of mangrove conservation

A tidal mangrove forest in Belize. Bob Berwyn photo.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Conversion of mangrove forests is taking a huge toll on coastal ecosystems, an international team of researchers said, warning that replacing tidal forest with shrimp farms and other forms of development is a bad economic tradeoff both short and long-term.

“The benefits of this industry have too often been short lived due to poor planning with ponds being abandoned when pollution or disease take hold, leaving unproductive saline pools and depleted coastal fisheries,” said Hanneke Van Lavieren, a United Nations University scientist who was the lead author of the recent policy brief. (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, Environment | Tagged: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Climate: Large scale carbon-capture tried in Illinois

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

There are about 150 carbon-sequestration projects under way across the U.S.

Ethanol byproducts to be pumped deep into a sandstone formation

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Carbon dioxide byproducts from an Archer Daniels Midland Company ethanol plant will be injected 7,000 feet deep into an Illinois sandstone formation in the first million-ton carbon sequestration demonstration in the U.S.

Although geo-engineering is not without controversy, top administration officials say geologic storage of CO2 could be an important part of climate mitigation strategies.

The CO2 will be captured during the ethanol fermentation process and compressed into a dense liquid for permanent storage beneath several layers of shale that are dense enough to cap the greenhouse gas. (more…)

Filed under: agriculture, climate and weather, global warming | Tagged: , , , , , | 5 Comments »

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