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Triggered at line # 603 FeedWordPress version: 2009.1112 MagpieRSS version: 2009.0725 WordPress version: 2.9 PHP version: 5.2.42-servage26 SyndicatedPost::insert_new::_wp_id: array(3) { ["$this->_wp_id"]=> int(0) ["$dbpost"]=> array(17) { ["post_title"]=> string(54) "Run-up to Rio bad time for U-turn on forest protection" ["post_content"]=> string(4322) "Humanity is now using 50 per cent more resources than the Earth can provide, according to WWF’s recently released 2012 Living Planet Report. The consequences are seen in ongoing deforestation, increasing water scarcity, rising carbon emissions and crashing fish stocks. They can also be seen starkly in the Living Planet Index, a measure of the changes in the planet’s biodiversity, which shows a decline of 28 per cent since 1970.Yet, amid dire news for the well-being of people and nature, there have been notable conservation successes in recent years that demonstrate alternatives to ‘business as usual.’ Brazil, for example, has made stunning progress over the past decade reducing deforestation in the Amazon. This was achieved while growing the economy, making Brazil an exemplar among emerging economies. Now, just as Brazil prepares to take centre stage at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June, the nation is on the verge of making a u-turn on forest protection. Legislation passed by the Brazilian Congress last month would severely weaken the nation’s long-standing Forest Code, which is meant to protect sensitive forest areas and guard against rampant deforestation in the Amazon and elsewhere. The revisions, backed by powerful agribusiness interests and passed in both Brazil’s House and Senate, aim to dismantle forest protections and offer wide ranging amnesties for past illegal deforestation. Brazil’s Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) has estimated that the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere, making it impossible for Brazil to reach its carbon reduction targets. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has until 25 May to decide whether to veto all or part of the bill, or allow it to become law. “President Dilma faces extraordinary political pressure to side with the wealthy and powerful who support this bill. Surely she stands to gain their favor if she sells out the Amazon. But her citizens have asked her to keep her campaign promises. Scientists have warned of the consequences of a return to runaway deforestation. And it’s hard to imagine how she could speak with any integrity about sustainable development in Rio. Her choice should be clear – issue a full veto,” said Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director of Conservation, WWF International. The findings of the Living Planet Report show that humanity is squandering the very resources we depend on for survival. It offers both the reasons humanity needs to change course, and the steps we can take today to live within the Earth’s ecological limits. One key recommendation is to produce more efficiently. “In Brazil, better land-use planning could bring up to 61 million hectares of underproductive pastures back into cultivation without additional deforestation. This is just one avenue that must be fully explored before Brazil opens up its unique forest landscapes for deforestation and degradation,” said Gustavsson. For further information: Robin Clegg, WWF-UK, tel: +44 7771 818707 email: <a href=\"javascript:void(location.href=\'mailto:\'+String.fromCharCode(114,99,108,101,103,103,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+\'?\')\">rclegg@wwf.org.uk</a> <a href=\"http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/all_publications/living_planet_report/2012_lpr/\">WWF’s 2012 Living Planet Report</a> About WWF WWF is one of the world\'s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF\'s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth\'s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world\'s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. <a href=\"http://panda.org/news\">panda.org/news</a> for latest news and media resources " ["post_excerpt"]=> string(4322) "Humanity is now using 50 per cent more resources than the Earth can provide, according to WWF’s recently released 2012 Living Planet Report. The consequences are seen in ongoing deforestation, increasing water scarcity, rising carbon emissions and crashing fish stocks. They can also be seen starkly in the Living Planet Index, a measure of the changes in the planet’s biodiversity, which shows a decline of 28 per cent since 1970.Yet, amid dire news for the well-being of people and nature, there have been notable conservation successes in recent years that demonstrate alternatives to ‘business as usual.’ Brazil, for example, has made stunning progress over the past decade reducing deforestation in the Amazon. This was achieved while growing the economy, making Brazil an exemplar among emerging economies. Now, just as Brazil prepares to take centre stage at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June, the nation is on the verge of making a u-turn on forest protection. Legislation passed by the Brazilian Congress last month would severely weaken the nation’s long-standing Forest Code, which is meant to protect sensitive forest areas and guard against rampant deforestation in the Amazon and elsewhere. The revisions, backed by powerful agribusiness interests and passed in both Brazil’s House and Senate, aim to dismantle forest protections and offer wide ranging amnesties for past illegal deforestation. Brazil’s Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) has estimated that the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere, making it impossible for Brazil to reach its carbon reduction targets. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has until 25 May to decide whether to veto all or part of the bill, or allow it to become law. “President Dilma faces extraordinary political pressure to side with the wealthy and powerful who support this bill. Surely she stands to gain their favor if she sells out the Amazon. But her citizens have asked her to keep her campaign promises. Scientists have warned of the consequences of a return to runaway deforestation. And it’s hard to imagine how she could speak with any integrity about sustainable development in Rio. Her choice should be clear – issue a full veto,” said Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director of Conservation, WWF International. The findings of the Living Planet Report show that humanity is squandering the very resources we depend on for survival. It offers both the reasons humanity needs to change course, and the steps we can take today to live within the Earth’s ecological limits. One key recommendation is to produce more efficiently. “In Brazil, better land-use planning could bring up to 61 million hectares of underproductive pastures back into cultivation without additional deforestation. This is just one avenue that must be fully explored before Brazil opens up its unique forest landscapes for deforestation and degradation,” said Gustavsson. 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Legislation passed by the Brazilian Congress last month would severely weaken the nation’s long-standing Forest Code, which is meant to protect sensitive forest areas and guard against rampant deforestation in the Amazon and elsewhere. The revisions, backed by powerful agribusiness interests and passed in both Brazil’s House and Senate, aim to dismantle forest protections and offer wide ranging amnesties for past illegal deforestation. Brazil’s Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) has estimated that the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere, making it impossible for Brazil to reach its carbon reduction targets. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has until 25 May to decide whether to veto all or part of the bill, or allow it to become law. “President Dilma faces extraordinary political pressure to side with the wealthy and powerful who support this bill. 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This is just one avenue that must be fully explored before Brazil opens up its unique forest landscapes for deforestation and degradation,” said Gustavsson. For further information: Robin Clegg, WWF-UK, tel: +44 7771 818707 email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(114,99,108,101,103,103,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">rclegg@wwf.org.uk</a> <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/all_publications/living_planet_report/2012_lpr/">WWF’s 2012 Living Planet Report</a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. 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Legislation passed by the Brazilian Congress last month would severely weaken the nation’s long-standing Forest Code, which is meant to protect sensitive forest areas and guard against rampant deforestation in the Amazon and elsewhere. The revisions, backed by powerful agribusiness interests and passed in both Brazil’s House and Senate, aim to dismantle forest protections and offer wide ranging amnesties for past illegal deforestation. Brazil’s Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) has estimated that the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere, making it impossible for Brazil to reach its carbon reduction targets. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has until 25 May to decide whether to veto all or part of the bill, or allow it to become law. “President Dilma faces extraordinary political pressure to side with the wealthy and powerful who support this bill. 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This is just one avenue that must be fully explored before Brazil opens up its unique forest landscapes for deforestation and degradation,” said Gustavsson. For further information: Robin Clegg, WWF-UK, tel: +44 7771 818707 email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(114,99,108,101,103,103,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">rclegg@wwf.org.uk</a> <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/all_publications/living_planet_report/2012_lpr/">WWF’s 2012 Living Planet Report</a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. <a href="http://panda.org/news">panda.org/news</a> for latest news and media resources " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-23" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4308) "Humanity is now using 50 per cent more resources than the Earth can provide, according to WWF’s recently released 2012 Living Planet Report. The consequences are seen in ongoing deforestation, increasing water scarcity, rising carbon emissions and crashing fish stocks. They can also be seen starkly in the Living Planet Index, a measure of the changes in the planet’s biodiversity, which shows a decline of 28 per cent since 1970.Yet, amid dire news for the well-being of people and nature, there have been notable conservation successes in recent years that demonstrate alternatives to ‘business as usual.’ Brazil, for example, has made stunning progress over the past decade reducing deforestation in the Amazon. This was achieved while growing the economy, making Brazil an exemplar among emerging economies. Now, just as Brazil prepares to take centre stage at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June, the nation is on the verge of making a u-turn on forest protection. Legislation passed by the Brazilian Congress last month would severely weaken the nation’s long-standing Forest Code, which is meant to protect sensitive forest areas and guard against rampant deforestation in the Amazon and elsewhere. The revisions, backed by powerful agribusiness interests and passed in both Brazil’s House and Senate, aim to dismantle forest protections and offer wide ranging amnesties for past illegal deforestation. Brazil’s Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) has estimated that the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere, making it impossible for Brazil to reach its carbon reduction targets. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has until 25 May to decide whether to veto all or part of the bill, or allow it to become law. “President Dilma faces extraordinary political pressure to side with the wealthy and powerful who support this bill. Surely she stands to gain their favor if she sells out the Amazon. But her citizens have asked her to keep her campaign promises. Scientists have warned of the consequences of a return to runaway deforestation. And it’s hard to imagine how she could speak with any integrity about sustainable development in Rio. Her choice should be clear – issue a full veto,” said Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director of Conservation, WWF International. The findings of the Living Planet Report show that humanity is squandering the very resources we depend on for survival. It offers both the reasons humanity needs to change course, and the steps we can take today to live within the Earth’s ecological limits. One key recommendation is to produce more efficiently. “In Brazil, better land-use planning could bring up to 61 million hectares of underproductive pastures back into cultivation without additional deforestation. This is just one avenue that must be fully explored before Brazil opens up its unique forest landscapes for deforestation and degradation,” said Gustavsson. For further information: Robin Clegg, WWF-UK, tel: +44 7771 818707 email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(114,99,108,101,103,103,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">rclegg@wwf.org.uk</a> <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/all_publications/living_planet_report/2012_lpr/">WWF’s 2012 Living Planet Report</a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. <a href="http://panda.org/news">panda.org/news</a> for latest news and media resources " } [1]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(94) "WWF receives award for contribution to the conservation of Vietnam’s Tram Chim National Park" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5979" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(6675) "Dong Thap province, Vietnam – The People’s Committee of Dong Thap province has honoured WWF with a medal and certificate of merit in recognition of the organisation’s contribution to the conservation of the wetland habitat in Tram Chim National Park.The award was presented to WWF at an event today in Tram Chim National Park, and marked the official designation of the park as the first Ramsar site in the Mekong Delta. This is Vietnam’s fourth Ramsar site and the 2,000th site to be designated globally. Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance, designated under the Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention. “WWF is honoured to receive this award,” said Kevin Marks, Project Manager with WWF-Vietnam. “We hope the global attention on Tram Chim’s designation as the 2000th Ramsar site will serve to highlight the importance of this site and reinforce protection efforts.” Tram Chim National Park, located in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, is one of the last remnants of the original wetland landscape of the Plain of Reeds, a vast wetland area of about 13,000 km2 in the provinces of Dong Thap, Tien Giang, and Long An (Lang Sen) in Vietnam, and part of Svay Reang in Cambodia. The Park has tremendous biodiversity, including over 230 bird species and 130 fish species. Its most striking visitor, the Sarus Crane, is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List and visits annually from the end of January through to mid-May. Under earlier management efforts, water was permanently stocked in the park in order to suppress fire. However, the wildlife in Tram Chim is adapted to a six-month dry season and a six-month flood season, and year-round water stocking was interrupting the natural rhythm. As a result, habitats dwindled and species disappeared. Importantly, the purple spikerush (Eleocharis atropurpurea), the main food of the Sarus Crane, was reduced significantly due to this regime, thereby reducing the number of these birds at the site. Since 2008, WWF has been working with the park authorities to restore the habitats of Tram Chim and to mimic its natural and historical conditions. The work was delivered as a part of a global partnership between WWF and The Coca-Cola Company in which the two organisations work collaboratively to conserve seven freshwater river basins around the world, including the Mekong River. Tram Chim National Park was the first wetland protected area in Vietnam to adopt an ecosystem based management approach and involves rehabilitating ecosystem processes and providing legal access for communities to wetland resources. This was a major deviation from standard practice at the time and has yielded strong results, including the recovery of many of the bird species at the park, such as the Sarus Crane. “The innovative management approach in Tram Chim has delivered positive results and we encourage other important conservation sites throughout the country to learn from and replicate these efforts,” added Marks. In addition to stocking water permanently, the previous management regime excluded locals from the park. This gave locals little option to legally access the wetland resources on which they depend for their livelihoods, particularly fish. Under the new management approach, local people have been provided with legal and sustainable access to wetland resources. This encourages locals to help manage the resource sustainably and thereby become partners in conservation. “Since the Park was established in 1998, we have worked hard to meet the criteria to secure the Ramsar designation,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Director of Tram Chim National Park. “We are proud to have now achieved this important milestone, with the support from our partners. We hope our success will inspire other wetland sites in Vietnam to pursue Ramsar designation in the near future.” In 2011, WWF and the Biodiversity Conservation Agency (BCA) – the Government focal point for Ramsar under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, signed a MoU to commit support to efforts in five wetland sites in the Mekong Delta to pursue Ramsar designation in the years to come. “Vietnam has many wetland sites that offer high potential for achieving Ramsar site status. The Government is committed to supporting these sites to meet the criteria set by Ramsar. We believe that with the support from WWF and other organizations that care about wetland conservation, the Mekong delta will have not only one but many more Ramsar sites in the future.” Dr. Pham Anh Cuong, the Director of BCA said. Alongside the award ceremony in Tram Chim National Park, experts and authorities from the 13 Mekong Delta provinces gathered at the 4th Mekong Delta Conservation Forum to discuss the importance of wetlands for livelihoods and conservation. The Forum is a WWF initiative that encourages stakeholders from all sectors to discuss concerns and opportunities for sustainable development of the Mekong Delta. After three years of successfully organising the forum, WWF handed over the ownership to the government and the 4th Forum was initiated by the MONRE in co-operation with Dong Thap province’s People Committee and supports from WWF on 21st of May, 2012. For more information, please contact: Nguyen Phuong Ngan, Communications Officer, WWF-Vietnam, tel: 0986 117 600 or email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(110,103,97,110,46,110,103,117,121,101,110,112,104,117,111,110,103,64,119,119,102,46,112,97,110,100,97,46,111,114,103)+'?')">ngan.nguyenphuong@wwf.panda.org</a> Note to editors: Photos, caption and credits are available for download at: <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?vkswccpk33mogm0 ">http://www.mediafire.com/?vkswccpk33mogm0 </a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which human live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. www.panda.org/vietnam for latest news and WWF’s activities in Vietnam. " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-22" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(6675) "Dong Thap province, Vietnam – The People’s Committee of Dong Thap province has honoured WWF with a medal and certificate of merit in recognition of the organisation’s contribution to the conservation of the wetland habitat in Tram Chim National Park.The award was presented to WWF at an event today in Tram Chim National Park, and marked the official designation of the park as the first Ramsar site in the Mekong Delta. This is Vietnam’s fourth Ramsar site and the 2,000th site to be designated globally. Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance, designated under the Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention. “WWF is honoured to receive this award,” said Kevin Marks, Project Manager with WWF-Vietnam. “We hope the global attention on Tram Chim’s designation as the 2000th Ramsar site will serve to highlight the importance of this site and reinforce protection efforts.” Tram Chim National Park, located in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, is one of the last remnants of the original wetland landscape of the Plain of Reeds, a vast wetland area of about 13,000 km2 in the provinces of Dong Thap, Tien Giang, and Long An (Lang Sen) in Vietnam, and part of Svay Reang in Cambodia. The Park has tremendous biodiversity, including over 230 bird species and 130 fish species. Its most striking visitor, the Sarus Crane, is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List and visits annually from the end of January through to mid-May. Under earlier management efforts, water was permanently stocked in the park in order to suppress fire. However, the wildlife in Tram Chim is adapted to a six-month dry season and a six-month flood season, and year-round water stocking was interrupting the natural rhythm. As a result, habitats dwindled and species disappeared. Importantly, the purple spikerush (Eleocharis atropurpurea), the main food of the Sarus Crane, was reduced significantly due to this regime, thereby reducing the number of these birds at the site. Since 2008, WWF has been working with the park authorities to restore the habitats of Tram Chim and to mimic its natural and historical conditions. The work was delivered as a part of a global partnership between WWF and The Coca-Cola Company in which the two organisations work collaboratively to conserve seven freshwater river basins around the world, including the Mekong River. Tram Chim National Park was the first wetland protected area in Vietnam to adopt an ecosystem based management approach and involves rehabilitating ecosystem processes and providing legal access for communities to wetland resources. This was a major deviation from standard practice at the time and has yielded strong results, including the recovery of many of the bird species at the park, such as the Sarus Crane. “The innovative management approach in Tram Chim has delivered positive results and we encourage other important conservation sites throughout the country to learn from and replicate these efforts,” added Marks. In addition to stocking water permanently, the previous management regime excluded locals from the park. This gave locals little option to legally access the wetland resources on which they depend for their livelihoods, particularly fish. Under the new management approach, local people have been provided with legal and sustainable access to wetland resources. This encourages locals to help manage the resource sustainably and thereby become partners in conservation. “Since the Park was established in 1998, we have worked hard to meet the criteria to secure the Ramsar designation,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Director of Tram Chim National Park. “We are proud to have now achieved this important milestone, with the support from our partners. We hope our success will inspire other wetland sites in Vietnam to pursue Ramsar designation in the near future.” In 2011, WWF and the Biodiversity Conservation Agency (BCA) – the Government focal point for Ramsar under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, signed a MoU to commit support to efforts in five wetland sites in the Mekong Delta to pursue Ramsar designation in the years to come. “Vietnam has many wetland sites that offer high potential for achieving Ramsar site status. The Government is committed to supporting these sites to meet the criteria set by Ramsar. We believe that with the support from WWF and other organizations that care about wetland conservation, the Mekong delta will have not only one but many more Ramsar sites in the future.” Dr. Pham Anh Cuong, the Director of BCA said. Alongside the award ceremony in Tram Chim National Park, experts and authorities from the 13 Mekong Delta provinces gathered at the 4th Mekong Delta Conservation Forum to discuss the importance of wetlands for livelihoods and conservation. The Forum is a WWF initiative that encourages stakeholders from all sectors to discuss concerns and opportunities for sustainable development of the Mekong Delta. After three years of successfully organising the forum, WWF handed over the ownership to the government and the 4th Forum was initiated by the MONRE in co-operation with Dong Thap province’s People Committee and supports from WWF on 21st of May, 2012. For more information, please contact: Nguyen Phuong Ngan, Communications Officer, WWF-Vietnam, tel: 0986 117 600 or email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(110,103,97,110,46,110,103,117,121,101,110,112,104,117,111,110,103,64,119,119,102,46,112,97,110,100,97,46,111,114,103)+'?')">ngan.nguyenphuong@wwf.panda.org</a> Note to editors: Photos, caption and credits are available for download at: <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?vkswccpk33mogm0 ">http://www.mediafire.com/?vkswccpk33mogm0 </a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which human live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. www.panda.org/vietnam for latest news and WWF’s activities in Vietnam. " } [2]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(36) "Energy Bill ‘rigged’ for nuclear" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5982" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(5633) "Commenting on the publication of the draft Energy Bill, WWF today reiterated the urgent need for a firm and specific commitment to decarbonise the UK power sector by 2030, describing the Bill as major opportunity to move the UK towards an energy efficient economy powered by renewable energy.However, WWF expressed concern that the electricity market reform process was overly designed to incentivise new nuclear at the expense of other low-carbon technologies despite clear evidence that the costs of nuclear power are soaring. Nick Molho, head of energy policy at WWF-UK, said: “As made clear by the Committee on Climate Change, decarbonising the UK's power sector by 2030 is an absolute necessity if we are to stand any chance of meeting our legally binding commitments under the Climate Change Act. The Energy Bill provides the UK Government with a unique opportunity to do just that. “What’s needed is for the Government to state a clear ambition for renewable energy in the UK beyond 2020 and to provide financial support mechanisms that are specifically designed for the renewables sector. As it is, it looks like the process has been rigged for nuclear." ‘Technology neutral’ doesn’t work The group said that as low-carbon technologies such as renewables, CCS and nuclear are currently all at different stages of maturity and have different technological characteristics, a reliance on the same support mechanisms would be ineffective. WWF expressed concern in particular that the energy market reform (EMR) proposals, especially the Contract for Difference Feed-in Tariff (FiT CfD) as currently proposed, which was mainly designed to support nuclear power, were trying to provide the same type of support scheme to all low-carbon technologies. WWF said that instead, the Energy Bill must provide explicit and targeted support for renewables and urged the Government to reconsider whether the FiT CfD could genuinely be made to work for renewables and failing that to consider other more suitable alternatives. Nick Molho said: "Given the increasing concerns around the economic viability of new nuclear and the repeated delays to the CCS demonstration programme, renewable energy and energy efficiency are our best bets to deliver a secure, cost-effective and low-carbon power sector by 2030. “But renewable energy investors need clear, unequivocal, long-term support from ministers, who must face down sniping from the backbenches and certain sections of the media. The Government must also recognise that a one-size-fits-all approach just doesn’t work in the energy sector and that we need targeted financial support mechanisms for renewables.” Energy efficiency WWF also highlighted a worrying lack of clarity as to whether the EMR will provide incentives for energy efficiency measures in the UK. The group said this was a particular concern given the growing doubt as to whether the Government's flagship Green Deal policy will deliver any energy efficiency savings in the homes sector. Nick Molho said: "Research by the UK Energy Research Centre shows that energy efficiency could reduce the costs of decarbonising the UK's power sector by up to £70bn by 2050 [3]. We’d be mad to do a major reform of our electricity market without ensuring that we're maximising the potential to reduce demand. “The Energy Bill shouldn't be just about incentivising low-carbon generation; it should place just as much importance on encouraging reductions in electricity demand, which is the most cost-effective way of reducing emissions." ENDS Notes to editors 1. The International Energy Agency recently warned in its World Energy Outlook 2011 that unless we see a substantive switch in investment towards energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies such as renewables, the energy infrastructure we will have in place by 2017 will produce all the carbon dioxide that we can afford to see emitted if we want to prevent temperature rises of more than 2C: <a href="http://www.iea.org/weo/docs/weo2011/executive_summary.pdf ">http://www.iea.org/weo/docs/weo2011/executive_summary.pdf </a> 2. There is a major risk that the introduction of a complex CfD contract as currently proposed will increase uncertainty in the renewable energy sector and the cost of financing major renewable energy projects. This is because the CfD is poorly understood by investors, will not be underwritten by Government (as was originally proposed) and as opposed to other forms of feed-in tariffs, introduces a risk that renewable energy projects will need to incur substantial development costs before knowing whether or not they will be awarded a contract. 3. Making the transition to a secure and low-carbon energy system, UK Energy Research Centre, UKERC Energy 2050 Project, April 2009: <a href="http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/Downloads/PDF/U/UKERCEnergy2050/0906UKERC2050.pdf ">http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/Downloads/PDF/U/UKERCEnergy2050/0906UKERC2050.pdf </a> For more information: George Smeeton, Senior Press Officer WWF-UK Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-22" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(5633) "Commenting on the publication of the draft Energy Bill, WWF today reiterated the urgent need for a firm and specific commitment to decarbonise the UK power sector by 2030, describing the Bill as major opportunity to move the UK towards an energy efficient economy powered by renewable energy.However, WWF expressed concern that the electricity market reform process was overly designed to incentivise new nuclear at the expense of other low-carbon technologies despite clear evidence that the costs of nuclear power are soaring. Nick Molho, head of energy policy at WWF-UK, said: “As made clear by the Committee on Climate Change, decarbonising the UK's power sector by 2030 is an absolute necessity if we are to stand any chance of meeting our legally binding commitments under the Climate Change Act. The Energy Bill provides the UK Government with a unique opportunity to do just that. “What’s needed is for the Government to state a clear ambition for renewable energy in the UK beyond 2020 and to provide financial support mechanisms that are specifically designed for the renewables sector. As it is, it looks like the process has been rigged for nuclear." ‘Technology neutral’ doesn’t work The group said that as low-carbon technologies such as renewables, CCS and nuclear are currently all at different stages of maturity and have different technological characteristics, a reliance on the same support mechanisms would be ineffective. WWF expressed concern in particular that the energy market reform (EMR) proposals, especially the Contract for Difference Feed-in Tariff (FiT CfD) as currently proposed, which was mainly designed to support nuclear power, were trying to provide the same type of support scheme to all low-carbon technologies. WWF said that instead, the Energy Bill must provide explicit and targeted support for renewables and urged the Government to reconsider whether the FiT CfD could genuinely be made to work for renewables and failing that to consider other more suitable alternatives. Nick Molho said: "Given the increasing concerns around the economic viability of new nuclear and the repeated delays to the CCS demonstration programme, renewable energy and energy efficiency are our best bets to deliver a secure, cost-effective and low-carbon power sector by 2030. “But renewable energy investors need clear, unequivocal, long-term support from ministers, who must face down sniping from the backbenches and certain sections of the media. The Government must also recognise that a one-size-fits-all approach just doesn’t work in the energy sector and that we need targeted financial support mechanisms for renewables.” Energy efficiency WWF also highlighted a worrying lack of clarity as to whether the EMR will provide incentives for energy efficiency measures in the UK. The group said this was a particular concern given the growing doubt as to whether the Government's flagship Green Deal policy will deliver any energy efficiency savings in the homes sector. Nick Molho said: "Research by the UK Energy Research Centre shows that energy efficiency could reduce the costs of decarbonising the UK's power sector by up to £70bn by 2050 [3]. We’d be mad to do a major reform of our electricity market without ensuring that we're maximising the potential to reduce demand. “The Energy Bill shouldn't be just about incentivising low-carbon generation; it should place just as much importance on encouraging reductions in electricity demand, which is the most cost-effective way of reducing emissions." ENDS Notes to editors 1. The International Energy Agency recently warned in its World Energy Outlook 2011 that unless we see a substantive switch in investment towards energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies such as renewables, the energy infrastructure we will have in place by 2017 will produce all the carbon dioxide that we can afford to see emitted if we want to prevent temperature rises of more than 2C: <a href="http://www.iea.org/weo/docs/weo2011/executive_summary.pdf ">http://www.iea.org/weo/docs/weo2011/executive_summary.pdf </a> 2. There is a major risk that the introduction of a complex CfD contract as currently proposed will increase uncertainty in the renewable energy sector and the cost of financing major renewable energy projects. This is because the CfD is poorly understood by investors, will not be underwritten by Government (as was originally proposed) and as opposed to other forms of feed-in tariffs, introduces a risk that renewable energy projects will need to incur substantial development costs before knowing whether or not they will be awarded a contract. 3. Making the transition to a secure and low-carbon energy system, UK Energy Research Centre, UKERC Energy 2050 Project, April 2009: <a href="http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/Downloads/PDF/U/UKERCEnergy2050/0906UKERC2050.pdf ">http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/Downloads/PDF/U/UKERCEnergy2050/0906UKERC2050.pdf </a> For more information: George Smeeton, Senior Press Officer WWF-UK Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a> " } [3]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(57) "Mysterious Saola may be ‘sliding towards extinction’" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5975" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(9045) "Two decades after the sensational discovery of the saola, the first large mammal new to science in more than 50 years, this rare animal remains as mysterious and elusive as ever. WWF, the Saola Working Group (SWG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) warn the species is sliding towards extinction because of intensive hunting pressure and poor reserve management.A cousin of cattle but resembling an antelope in appearance, the saola was discovered in 1992 by a joint team from Vietnam’s Ministry of Forestry and WWF, while they were surveying the forests of Vu Quang, near Vietnam's border with Laos. The team found a skull with unusual long, straight horns in a hunter's home, which later proved to be the first large mammal new to science in more than 50 years and one of the most spectacular zoological discoveries of the 20th century. Twenty years on, little is still known about the saola’s ecology or behaviour. In 2010, villagers in the central Laos province of Bolikhamxay captured a saola, but the animal died several days later. Prior to that, the last confirmed record of a saola in the wild was in 1999 from camera-trap photos in Bolikhamxay. “Saola are extremely secretive and very seldom seen,” said Nick Cox, Manager of WWF-Greater Mekong’s Species Programme. “While they inhabit a very restricted range, there is still no reported sighting of a saola in the wild by a scientist, and the handful of saola that have been taken into captivity have not survived.” The difficulty in detecting the animal has prevented scientists from making a precise population estimate. “If things are good, there may be a couple of hundred saola out there,” said William Robichaud, Coordinator of the Saola Working Group. “If things are bad, the population could now be down in the tens.” While development is encroaching in the saola’s forest habitat, the greatest threat comes from illegal hunting. Saola are caught in wire snares set by hunters to catch other animals, such as sambar deer, muntjac deer and civets, which are largely destined for the lucrative wildlife trade, driven by traditional medicine demand in China and restaurant and food markets in Vietnam and Laos. “Paradoxically, the saola seems to be one of the few vertebrates in the Annamites without a high price on its head,” added Robichaud. “Saola are caught largely as bycatch – like the tuna and dolphin scenario.” Since the discovery of the saola, Vietnam and Laos have established a network of protected areas in the animal’s core range and some reserves are pursuing innovative approaches to tackle rampant poaching. In the Saola Nature Reserve in Vietnam’s Thua Thien Hue Province, a new approach to forest guard co-management, supported by WWF, is delivering good results. Since February 2011, the newly established team of forest guards patrolling the reserve have removed more than 12,500 snares and close to 200 illegal hunting and logging camps. “The establishment of critical reserves by the governments of Vietnam and Laos is to be commended,” said Dr. Barney Long, Asian species expert for WWF-US. “However, without increasing efforts to adopt new approaches to manage the protection of saola habitat through targeted snare removal, these protected areas will be little more than lines drawn on a map.” “If hunting levels can be significantly reduced, we are optimistic about the species' prospects,” said Chris Hallam, WCS-Laos’ Conservation Planning Advisor. “This will require funds for more patrol boots on the ground in saola areas, developing positive incentives for its conservation, and ultimately reducing consumer demand for wildlife meat and products.” Efforts to save the saola have reached a greater level of urgency since another of Vietnam's iconic species, the Vietnamese Javan rhino, was confirmed extinct in 2011 after the battle to save the last individual was lost to poachers. The saola is an icon for biodiversity in the Annamite mountain range that runs along the border of Vietnam and Laos. This biodiversity hotspot boasts an incredible diversity of rare species, with many found nowhere else on the planet. In addition to the discovery of the saola, two new species of deer, the large-antlered muntjac and the Truong Son muntjac, were uncovered in the Annamite’s rugged, evergreen forests in 1994 and 1997 respectively. “The lack of significant demand for saola in the wildlife trade gives great hope for its conservation,” said Robichaud. “But we still need to act. One of the rarest and most distinctive large animals in the world has been quietly slipping toward extinction through complacency.” For further information: Jo Sargent, Senior Media Relations Manager, WWF-UK 01483 412 375 07867 697 519 Notes to the editor: • Photos, caption and credits are available for download at: <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?164orbnqr8frc">http://www.mediafire.com/?164orbnqr8frc</a> • Saola footage / b-roll can be downloaded at the following yousendit link. © Wildlife Conservation Society  <a href="https://www.yousendit.com/dl?phi_action=app/orchestrateDownload&rurl=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.yousendit.com%252Ftransfer.php%253Faction%253Dbatch_download%2526send_id%253D1503018969%2526email%253Da0698dbdbf21816ca8a02db7a5f8f876&s=19105&cid=tx-02002208350200000000">https://www.yousendit.com/dl?phi_action=app/orchestrateDownload&rurl=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.yousendit.com%252Ftransfer.php%253Faction%253Dbatch_download%2526send_id%253D1503018969%2526email%253Da0698dbdbf21816ca8a02db7a5f8f876&s=19105&cid=tx-02002208350200000000</a> • View the recent 5-minute WWF / SWG film about the saola: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xv8MPOyMfU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xv8MPOyMfU</a> About the IUCN SSC Saola Working Group (SWG) The SWG is a Working Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group. The members of this group are biologists, conservationists, and zoo professionals committed to the dissemination of information, research, and conservation of the saola. They work collaboratively to design and implement the most appropriate conservation measures for the saola across its range in Vietnam and Laos.<a href="http://www.savethesaola.org/">http://www.savethesaola.org/</a>and <a href="http://www.asianwildcattle.org/species.saola.status.php">http://www.asianwildcattle.org/species.saola.status.php</a> About IUCN IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges by supporting scientific research; managing field projects all over the world; and bringing governments, NGOs, the UN, international conventions and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice. The world's oldest and largest global environmental network, IUCN is a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists and experts in some 160 countries. IUCN's work is supported by over 1,000 professional staff in 60 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. <a href="http://www.iucn.org">www.iucn.org</a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. <a href="http://www.panda.org">www.panda.org</a> About the Wildlife Conservation Society The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth. <a href="http://www.wcs.org">http://www.wcs.org </a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-21" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(9045) "Two decades after the sensational discovery of the saola, the first large mammal new to science in more than 50 years, this rare animal remains as mysterious and elusive as ever. WWF, the Saola Working Group (SWG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) warn the species is sliding towards extinction because of intensive hunting pressure and poor reserve management.A cousin of cattle but resembling an antelope in appearance, the saola was discovered in 1992 by a joint team from Vietnam’s Ministry of Forestry and WWF, while they were surveying the forests of Vu Quang, near Vietnam's border with Laos. The team found a skull with unusual long, straight horns in a hunter's home, which later proved to be the first large mammal new to science in more than 50 years and one of the most spectacular zoological discoveries of the 20th century. Twenty years on, little is still known about the saola’s ecology or behaviour. In 2010, villagers in the central Laos province of Bolikhamxay captured a saola, but the animal died several days later. Prior to that, the last confirmed record of a saola in the wild was in 1999 from camera-trap photos in Bolikhamxay. “Saola are extremely secretive and very seldom seen,” said Nick Cox, Manager of WWF-Greater Mekong’s Species Programme. “While they inhabit a very restricted range, there is still no reported sighting of a saola in the wild by a scientist, and the handful of saola that have been taken into captivity have not survived.” The difficulty in detecting the animal has prevented scientists from making a precise population estimate. “If things are good, there may be a couple of hundred saola out there,” said William Robichaud, Coordinator of the Saola Working Group. “If things are bad, the population could now be down in the tens.” While development is encroaching in the saola’s forest habitat, the greatest threat comes from illegal hunting. Saola are caught in wire snares set by hunters to catch other animals, such as sambar deer, muntjac deer and civets, which are largely destined for the lucrative wildlife trade, driven by traditional medicine demand in China and restaurant and food markets in Vietnam and Laos. “Paradoxically, the saola seems to be one of the few vertebrates in the Annamites without a high price on its head,” added Robichaud. “Saola are caught largely as bycatch – like the tuna and dolphin scenario.” Since the discovery of the saola, Vietnam and Laos have established a network of protected areas in the animal’s core range and some reserves are pursuing innovative approaches to tackle rampant poaching. In the Saola Nature Reserve in Vietnam’s Thua Thien Hue Province, a new approach to forest guard co-management, supported by WWF, is delivering good results. Since February 2011, the newly established team of forest guards patrolling the reserve have removed more than 12,500 snares and close to 200 illegal hunting and logging camps. “The establishment of critical reserves by the governments of Vietnam and Laos is to be commended,” said Dr. Barney Long, Asian species expert for WWF-US. “However, without increasing efforts to adopt new approaches to manage the protection of saola habitat through targeted snare removal, these protected areas will be little more than lines drawn on a map.” “If hunting levels can be significantly reduced, we are optimistic about the species' prospects,” said Chris Hallam, WCS-Laos’ Conservation Planning Advisor. “This will require funds for more patrol boots on the ground in saola areas, developing positive incentives for its conservation, and ultimately reducing consumer demand for wildlife meat and products.” Efforts to save the saola have reached a greater level of urgency since another of Vietnam's iconic species, the Vietnamese Javan rhino, was confirmed extinct in 2011 after the battle to save the last individual was lost to poachers. The saola is an icon for biodiversity in the Annamite mountain range that runs along the border of Vietnam and Laos. This biodiversity hotspot boasts an incredible diversity of rare species, with many found nowhere else on the planet. In addition to the discovery of the saola, two new species of deer, the large-antlered muntjac and the Truong Son muntjac, were uncovered in the Annamite’s rugged, evergreen forests in 1994 and 1997 respectively. “The lack of significant demand for saola in the wildlife trade gives great hope for its conservation,” said Robichaud. “But we still need to act. One of the rarest and most distinctive large animals in the world has been quietly slipping toward extinction through complacency.” For further information: Jo Sargent, Senior Media Relations Manager, WWF-UK 01483 412 375 07867 697 519 Notes to the editor: • Photos, caption and credits are available for download at: <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?164orbnqr8frc">http://www.mediafire.com/?164orbnqr8frc</a> • Saola footage / b-roll can be downloaded at the following yousendit link. © Wildlife Conservation Society  <a href="https://www.yousendit.com/dl?phi_action=app/orchestrateDownload&rurl=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.yousendit.com%252Ftransfer.php%253Faction%253Dbatch_download%2526send_id%253D1503018969%2526email%253Da0698dbdbf21816ca8a02db7a5f8f876&s=19105&cid=tx-02002208350200000000">https://www.yousendit.com/dl?phi_action=app/orchestrateDownload&rurl=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.yousendit.com%252Ftransfer.php%253Faction%253Dbatch_download%2526send_id%253D1503018969%2526email%253Da0698dbdbf21816ca8a02db7a5f8f876&s=19105&cid=tx-02002208350200000000</a> • View the recent 5-minute WWF / SWG film about the saola: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xv8MPOyMfU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xv8MPOyMfU</a> About the IUCN SSC Saola Working Group (SWG) The SWG is a Working Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group. The members of this group are biologists, conservationists, and zoo professionals committed to the dissemination of information, research, and conservation of the saola. They work collaboratively to design and implement the most appropriate conservation measures for the saola across its range in Vietnam and Laos.<a href="http://www.savethesaola.org/">http://www.savethesaola.org/</a>and <a href="http://www.asianwildcattle.org/species.saola.status.php">http://www.asianwildcattle.org/species.saola.status.php</a> About IUCN IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges by supporting scientific research; managing field projects all over the world; and bringing governments, NGOs, the UN, international conventions and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice. The world's oldest and largest global environmental network, IUCN is a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists and experts in some 160 countries. IUCN's work is supported by over 1,000 professional staff in 60 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. <a href="http://www.iucn.org">www.iucn.org</a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. <a href="http://www.panda.org">www.panda.org</a> About the Wildlife Conservation Society The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth. <a href="http://www.wcs.org">http://www.wcs.org </a> " } [4]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(51) "Government must stop foot-dragging on green economy" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5978" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(4105) "WWF today (21 May) backed a call by the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) for the Government to show leadership on the green economy, rather than viewing environmental measures as a barrier to growth [1].The group said that a recent Defra-led review of the Habitats Regulations clearly demonstrated that there was no evidence of environmental regulations blocking economic development and that, to the contrary, protection of important wildlife and habitats through sensible legislation contributed a significant amount to the economy in valuable goods and services including tourism [2]. In addition, WWF argued that businesses were demanding leadership and policy certainty from the Government in key areas such as the transition to a low carbon economy and smarter use of increasingly scarce resources. Commenting, Luke Wreford, economic policy officer at WWF-UK, said: "This strong criticism of Government foot-dragging on the green economy comes in the same in the week that it emerged that William Hague himself has written personally to the PM to say exactly the same thing. “The call is now coming from across the party, from inside government and from business to stop the Treasury blocking green growth and get on with policies that our economic competitors have been doing for years. “Far from putting British companies out of business, environmental policies may well be the saving of them. Leading businesses are already crying out for measures such as mandatory carbon reporting [3] and policy certainty for the development of the renewable energy sector.” WWF strongly supported the Committee’s call to quantify the environmental limits that are most affected by economic activity in the UK, and build these into a green economy strategy, led by the Treasury. WWF’s recent Living Planet Report 2012 [4] showed that we are currently consuming over 50 per cent more natural resources than our planet can sustainably produce and this is putting huge pressure on the planet’s biodiversity. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The Environmental Audit Committee report on the green economy is published on Monday 21 May 2012 2. On the EU Habitats Regulations, the Natura 2000 network contributes €200-300 billion per year to the European economy in valuable goods and services including tourism: Estimating the Overall Economic Value of the Benefits provided by the Natura 2000 Network (19 September 2011): <a href="http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/financing_natura/library?l=/benefits_natura_2000/estimating_benefits/project_reports/2000_benefits_main/_EN_1.0_&a=d ">http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/financing_natura/library?l=/benefits_natura_2000/estimating_benefits/project_reports/2000_benefits_main/_EN_1.0_&a=d </a> 3. Unreleased submissions to Defra’s consultation on MCR, obtained by WWF through freedom of information (FOI) requests showed that there was overwhelming business support for mandatory carbon reporting. The results showed that almost 75% of organizations responding supported some form of MCR, and 61% of the organization responses were in support of full mandatory carbon reporting for all large companies. 4. WWF’s Living Planet Report 2012, produced in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Global Footprint Network, was published on 15 May 2012: <a href="http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?5958/Biodiversity-declines-as-global-consumption-reaches-all-time-high ">http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?5958/Biodiversity-declines-as-global-consumption-reaches-all-time-high </a> For more information: George Smeeton, Senior Press Officer WWF-UK Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107,32)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-21" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4105) "WWF today (21 May) backed a call by the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) for the Government to show leadership on the green economy, rather than viewing environmental measures as a barrier to growth [1].The group said that a recent Defra-led review of the Habitats Regulations clearly demonstrated that there was no evidence of environmental regulations blocking economic development and that, to the contrary, protection of important wildlife and habitats through sensible legislation contributed a significant amount to the economy in valuable goods and services including tourism [2]. In addition, WWF argued that businesses were demanding leadership and policy certainty from the Government in key areas such as the transition to a low carbon economy and smarter use of increasingly scarce resources. Commenting, Luke Wreford, economic policy officer at WWF-UK, said: "This strong criticism of Government foot-dragging on the green economy comes in the same in the week that it emerged that William Hague himself has written personally to the PM to say exactly the same thing. “The call is now coming from across the party, from inside government and from business to stop the Treasury blocking green growth and get on with policies that our economic competitors have been doing for years. “Far from putting British companies out of business, environmental policies may well be the saving of them. Leading businesses are already crying out for measures such as mandatory carbon reporting [3] and policy certainty for the development of the renewable energy sector.” WWF strongly supported the Committee’s call to quantify the environmental limits that are most affected by economic activity in the UK, and build these into a green economy strategy, led by the Treasury. WWF’s recent Living Planet Report 2012 [4] showed that we are currently consuming over 50 per cent more natural resources than our planet can sustainably produce and this is putting huge pressure on the planet’s biodiversity. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The Environmental Audit Committee report on the green economy is published on Monday 21 May 2012 2. On the EU Habitats Regulations, the Natura 2000 network contributes €200-300 billion per year to the European economy in valuable goods and services including tourism: Estimating the Overall Economic Value of the Benefits provided by the Natura 2000 Network (19 September 2011): <a href="http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/financing_natura/library?l=/benefits_natura_2000/estimating_benefits/project_reports/2000_benefits_main/_EN_1.0_&a=d ">http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/financing_natura/library?l=/benefits_natura_2000/estimating_benefits/project_reports/2000_benefits_main/_EN_1.0_&a=d </a> 3. Unreleased submissions to Defra’s consultation on MCR, obtained by WWF through freedom of information (FOI) requests showed that there was overwhelming business support for mandatory carbon reporting. The results showed that almost 75% of organizations responding supported some form of MCR, and 61% of the organization responses were in support of full mandatory carbon reporting for all large companies. 4. WWF’s Living Planet Report 2012, produced in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Global Footprint Network, was published on 15 May 2012: <a href="http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?5958/Biodiversity-declines-as-global-consumption-reaches-all-time-high ">http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?5958/Biodiversity-declines-as-global-consumption-reaches-all-time-high </a> For more information: George Smeeton, Senior Press Officer WWF-UK Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107,32)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a> " } [5]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(65) "Biodiversity declines as global consumption reaches all-time high" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5958" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(9210) "• We are consuming 50 per cent more natural resources than our planet can sustainably produce Our ever-growing demand for resources is putting huge pressure on the planet’s biodiversity and threatening our future security and well-being, according to the Living Planet Report 2012, released today by WWF.The biennial survey of the Earth’s health, produced in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Global Footprint Network, was launched today from the International Space Station by WWF Ambassador and Dutch Astronaut, André Kuipers. “We only have one Earth. From up here I can see humanity’s footprint, including forest fires, air pollution and erosion – challenges which are reflected in this edition of the Living Planet Report,” said Kuipers from his European Space Agency mission. “While there are unsustainable pressures on the planet, we have the ability to save our home, not only for our benefit, but for generations to come.” The report measures the health of 9,014 populations of more than 2,600 species – a thousand more populations than have been monitored by previous editions. This data, collated by ZSL, creates the Living Planet Index (LPI), is presented in the report alongside global ecological and water footprint data. Key findings: • The global Living Planet Index has declined by up to 30 per cent since 1970. • It is currently taking 1.5 years for the Earth to absorb the CO2 produced and regenerate the renewable resources that people use within one year • 2.7 Billion people live in areas that experience severe water shortages for at least one month of the year • The per capita Ecological Footprint of a high income country such as the USA is currently six times greater than that of a low income country such as Indonesia • The UK has risen four places from 31st to 27th place in the report’s global consumption ranking, which compares the Ecological Footprint per person, per country • The top 10 countries with the biggest Ecological Footprint per person are: Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, United States of America, Belgium, Australia, Canada, Netherlands and Ireland According to the global Living Planet Index, declines in biodiversity are highest in low income countries, demonstrating how the poorest and most vulnerable nations are suffering the impacts of the lifestyles of wealthier countries. David Nussbaum, CEO of WWF-UK said: "In the UK, rather like the calm at the eye of a storm, we don't yet see much of the impact of our daily lives on the environment. But we can’t ignore the damage being done elsewhere in the world by the whirlwind consumerism of wealthy countries. We're now in the danger zone, exceeding the planetary boundaries for natural capital. If we continue to use up our planet’s resources faster than it can replace them, soon we’ll have exploited every available corner of the Earth. Thankfully it’s not too late for us to reverse this trend, but we need to address this with the same urgency and determination that we tackled the systemic financial crisis globally." Jonathan Baillie, conservation programme director with the Zoological Society of London said: “This report is like a planetary check-up and the results indicate we have a very sick planet. Ignoring this diagnosis will have major implications for humanity. We can restore the planet’s health, but only through addressing the root causes, population growth and over-consumption of resources.” Mathis Wackernagel, President of Global Footprint Network said: “Growing external resource dependencies are putting countries at significant risk. The ecological crisis is becoming a driver for our growing economic pain. Using ever more nature, while having less is a dangerous strategy, yet most countries continue to pursue this path. Until countries begin tracking and managing their biocapacity deficits, they not only put the planet at risk, but more importantly, themselves.” The Living Planet Report: On the Road to Rio This year’s LPR has been released to coincide with the Rio+ 20 Summit (UN Conference on Sustainable Development), taking place in Brazil in June. In 1992, world leaders came together to put in place systems to ensure that we tackled climate change and addressed falling biodiversity levels. Twenty years on from the last Earth Summit, this meeting is a key opportunity for global leaders to renew their commitment to creating a sustainable future. “With every day of inaction, we limit the choices for future generations,” said David Nussbaum. “If we keep running down the stock of natural capital, we'll hand them a world less able to sustain life and absorb environmental shocks. Since the original Earth Summit, we've taken some steps forward, but the pace is glacial. So Rio+20 needs to elevate the urgency of action on the scale needed: now is our chance to reflect whether the future we're creating for our planet is the legacy we want to leave for future generations.” WWF is calling on the public to show that they care about the planet’s future in advance of Rio+20. To join in with the campaign visit: <a href="http://www.earthbook2012.com">www.earthbook2012.com </a> KEY MATERIALS: All materials including the full Living Planet Report, The Living Planet Report’s Executive Summary, WWF’s The Living Planet Report: On the Road to Rio+20, images and b:roll are available for download <a href="https://zslondon.sharefile.com/d/sa61757ad95946319">here</a>. For further information please contact: Jo Sargent |WWF-UK | t: 01483 412 375 | m: 07867 697 519 | <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(106,115,97,114,103,101,110,116,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?subject=Living%20Planet%20Report')">jsargent@wwf.org.uk</a> Smita Chandra| Zoological Society of London| t: 020 7449 6288 | <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(115,109,105,116,97,46,99,104,97,110,100,114,97,64,122,115,108,46,111,114,103)+'?subject=Living%20Planet%20Report')">smita.chandra@zsl.org</a> Notes to Editors: 1. The Living Planet Report outlines a number of solutions needed to reverse the declining Living Planet Index and bring the Ecological footprint down to within planetary limits. These are set out as 16 priority actions and include improved consumption patterns, putting an economic value on natural capital and creating legal and policy frameworks that manage equitable access to food, water and energy. About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. We're working to create solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature can thrive. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, tackling climate change and changing the way we live. Find out more about our work, past and present at <a href="http://www.wwf.org.uk ">www.wwf.org.uk </a> About ZSL Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity: our role is the conservation of animals and their habitats. ZSL runs ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, carries out scientific research in the Institute of Zoology and is actively involved in field conservation in over 50 countries worldwide. <a href="http://www.zsl.org">www.zsl.org </a> About GFN Global Footprint Network promotes a sustainable economy by advancing the Ecological Footprint, a tool that makes sustainability measurable. Together with its partners, the network coordinates research, develops methodological standards and provides decision makers with robust resource accounts to help the human economy operate within the Earth’s ecological limits. <a href="http://www.footprintnetwork.org">www.footprintnetwork.org</a> About ESA The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA is an international organization with 19 member states. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. The Agency’s various programmes are designed to find out more about Earth, its immediate space environment, our solar system and the universe. <a href="http://www.esa.int">www.esa.int</a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-15" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(9210) "• We are consuming 50 per cent more natural resources than our planet can sustainably produce Our ever-growing demand for resources is putting huge pressure on the planet’s biodiversity and threatening our future security and well-being, according to the Living Planet Report 2012, released today by WWF.The biennial survey of the Earth’s health, produced in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Global Footprint Network, was launched today from the International Space Station by WWF Ambassador and Dutch Astronaut, André Kuipers. “We only have one Earth. From up here I can see humanity’s footprint, including forest fires, air pollution and erosion – challenges which are reflected in this edition of the Living Planet Report,” said Kuipers from his European Space Agency mission. “While there are unsustainable pressures on the planet, we have the ability to save our home, not only for our benefit, but for generations to come.” The report measures the health of 9,014 populations of more than 2,600 species – a thousand more populations than have been monitored by previous editions. This data, collated by ZSL, creates the Living Planet Index (LPI), is presented in the report alongside global ecological and water footprint data. Key findings: • The global Living Planet Index has declined by up to 30 per cent since 1970. • It is currently taking 1.5 years for the Earth to absorb the CO2 produced and regenerate the renewable resources that people use within one year • 2.7 Billion people live in areas that experience severe water shortages for at least one month of the year • The per capita Ecological Footprint of a high income country such as the USA is currently six times greater than that of a low income country such as Indonesia • The UK has risen four places from 31st to 27th place in the report’s global consumption ranking, which compares the Ecological Footprint per person, per country • The top 10 countries with the biggest Ecological Footprint per person are: Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, United States of America, Belgium, Australia, Canada, Netherlands and Ireland According to the global Living Planet Index, declines in biodiversity are highest in low income countries, demonstrating how the poorest and most vulnerable nations are suffering the impacts of the lifestyles of wealthier countries. David Nussbaum, CEO of WWF-UK said: "In the UK, rather like the calm at the eye of a storm, we don't yet see much of the impact of our daily lives on the environment. But we can’t ignore the damage being done elsewhere in the world by the whirlwind consumerism of wealthy countries. We're now in the danger zone, exceeding the planetary boundaries for natural capital. If we continue to use up our planet’s resources faster than it can replace them, soon we’ll have exploited every available corner of the Earth. Thankfully it’s not too late for us to reverse this trend, but we need to address this with the same urgency and determination that we tackled the systemic financial crisis globally." Jonathan Baillie, conservation programme director with the Zoological Society of London said: “This report is like a planetary check-up and the results indicate we have a very sick planet. Ignoring this diagnosis will have major implications for humanity. We can restore the planet’s health, but only through addressing the root causes, population growth and over-consumption of resources.” Mathis Wackernagel, President of Global Footprint Network said: “Growing external resource dependencies are putting countries at significant risk. The ecological crisis is becoming a driver for our growing economic pain. Using ever more nature, while having less is a dangerous strategy, yet most countries continue to pursue this path. Until countries begin tracking and managing their biocapacity deficits, they not only put the planet at risk, but more importantly, themselves.” The Living Planet Report: On the Road to Rio This year’s LPR has been released to coincide with the Rio+ 20 Summit (UN Conference on Sustainable Development), taking place in Brazil in June. In 1992, world leaders came together to put in place systems to ensure that we tackled climate change and addressed falling biodiversity levels. Twenty years on from the last Earth Summit, this meeting is a key opportunity for global leaders to renew their commitment to creating a sustainable future. “With every day of inaction, we limit the choices for future generations,” said David Nussbaum. “If we keep running down the stock of natural capital, we'll hand them a world less able to sustain life and absorb environmental shocks. Since the original Earth Summit, we've taken some steps forward, but the pace is glacial. So Rio+20 needs to elevate the urgency of action on the scale needed: now is our chance to reflect whether the future we're creating for our planet is the legacy we want to leave for future generations.” WWF is calling on the public to show that they care about the planet’s future in advance of Rio+20. To join in with the campaign visit: <a href="http://www.earthbook2012.com">www.earthbook2012.com </a> KEY MATERIALS: All materials including the full Living Planet Report, The Living Planet Report’s Executive Summary, WWF’s The Living Planet Report: On the Road to Rio+20, images and b:roll are available for download <a href="https://zslondon.sharefile.com/d/sa61757ad95946319">here</a>. For further information please contact: Jo Sargent |WWF-UK | t: 01483 412 375 | m: 07867 697 519 | <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(106,115,97,114,103,101,110,116,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?subject=Living%20Planet%20Report')">jsargent@wwf.org.uk</a> Smita Chandra| Zoological Society of London| t: 020 7449 6288 | <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(115,109,105,116,97,46,99,104,97,110,100,114,97,64,122,115,108,46,111,114,103)+'?subject=Living%20Planet%20Report')">smita.chandra@zsl.org</a> Notes to Editors: 1. The Living Planet Report outlines a number of solutions needed to reverse the declining Living Planet Index and bring the Ecological footprint down to within planetary limits. These are set out as 16 priority actions and include improved consumption patterns, putting an economic value on natural capital and creating legal and policy frameworks that manage equitable access to food, water and energy. About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. We're working to create solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature can thrive. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, tackling climate change and changing the way we live. Find out more about our work, past and present at <a href="http://www.wwf.org.uk ">www.wwf.org.uk </a> About ZSL Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity: our role is the conservation of animals and their habitats. ZSL runs ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, carries out scientific research in the Institute of Zoology and is actively involved in field conservation in over 50 countries worldwide. <a href="http://www.zsl.org">www.zsl.org </a> About GFN Global Footprint Network promotes a sustainable economy by advancing the Ecological Footprint, a tool that makes sustainability measurable. Together with its partners, the network coordinates research, develops methodological standards and provides decision makers with robust resource accounts to help the human economy operate within the Earth’s ecological limits. <a href="http://www.footprintnetwork.org">www.footprintnetwork.org</a> About ESA The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA is an international organization with 19 member states. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. The Agency’s various programmes are designed to find out more about Earth, its immediate space environment, our solar system and the universe. <a href="http://www.esa.int">www.esa.int</a> " } [6]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(38) "Government must not ignore food crisis" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5953" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(4602) "Responding to the publication today (13 May) by the Environmental Audit Committee of their report on Sustainable Food [1], WWF-UK said that the Government must not ignore the urgent need to develop a joined-up strategy on food.WWF-UK said it would have liked to see the report go further and call for the Government to define a sustainable diet, getting the Department of Health to work with Defra to accomplish this. The group said that the Government should also tackle other complex issues around production, consumption and subsidies that some stakeholders would like brushed under the carpet. Mark Driscoll, head of the one planet food programme at WWF-UK, said: “Around the world we’re seeing the early warning signs of a global food crisis, what the Government’s own chief scientific advisor, John Beddington, has called a "perfect storm" of food shortages, scarce water and insufficient energy resources [2]. How we produce and consume food is also at the heart of many of the key environmental and social challenges we face today, including the biodiversity crisis. “The UK Government needs to demonstrate international leadership on this and put the issue at the heart of its agenda. A food system in which globally 1.5 billion are overweight or obese while another billion people suffer from malnutrition and hunger and at least 30% of all food grown across the globe is wasted, is clearly broken. “A key step towards fixing the system is defining what a sustainable diet is and integrating sustainability criteria into healthy eating advice. There’s also a need to define what we mean by ‘less but better livestock products’, and to work with farmers, retailers and consumer groups to help us move towards a more sustainable food system that’s fair for all.” WWF-UK said there was also a need to look at how livestock is produced and consumed and ensure that is truly sustainable, taking into account direct and indirect costs. In addition, the Government should promote the production of temperate fruit and vegetables which are suited to our climatic conditions and invest much more in the UK horticultural industry. The group said it was vital the food industry adopts targets for GHG emissions reduction accompanied by a route map to achieving these targets. WWF-UK also called on the Government to convene a group that will work towards defining a sustainable diet and overarching food strategy as soon as possible. WWF-UK has already highlighted that the Green Food Project [3] does not cover the whole system and this must be addressed as a matter of urgency. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The Environmental Audit Committee will be publishing it's report on “Sustainable Food” (HC 879) on Sunday 13 May at 00.01am. The EAC launched this inquiry over a year ago, looking at the environmental and social consequences of the way the food we eat is produced, distributed, marketed and sold and how Government policy can be used to promote more sustainable practices in the UK food industry and more sustainable behaviours from the public. 2. The Foresight Report, The Future of Food and Farming (January 2011), is available here: <a href="http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/foresight/docs/food-and-farming/11-546-future-of-food-and-farming-report.pdf ">http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/foresight/docs/food-and-farming/11-546-future-of-food-and-farming-report.pdf  </a> 3. Defra’s Green Food Project is bringing together government, industry and environmental partners to look at how we might reconcile the goals of improving the environment and increasing food production in England: <a href="http://www.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/food/environment/">http://www.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/food/environment/  </a> 4. WWF’s Livewell Report with the Rowett Institute of Nutrition (January 2011) shows what a sustainable and healthy diet might look like, based on the Government’s own healthy eating advice: <a href="http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/livewell_report_corrected.pdf">http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/livewell_report_corrected.pdf</a>   For more information: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a>  " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-13" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4602) "Responding to the publication today (13 May) by the Environmental Audit Committee of their report on Sustainable Food [1], WWF-UK said that the Government must not ignore the urgent need to develop a joined-up strategy on food.WWF-UK said it would have liked to see the report go further and call for the Government to define a sustainable diet, getting the Department of Health to work with Defra to accomplish this. The group said that the Government should also tackle other complex issues around production, consumption and subsidies that some stakeholders would like brushed under the carpet. Mark Driscoll, head of the one planet food programme at WWF-UK, said: “Around the world we’re seeing the early warning signs of a global food crisis, what the Government’s own chief scientific advisor, John Beddington, has called a "perfect storm" of food shortages, scarce water and insufficient energy resources [2]. How we produce and consume food is also at the heart of many of the key environmental and social challenges we face today, including the biodiversity crisis. “The UK Government needs to demonstrate international leadership on this and put the issue at the heart of its agenda. A food system in which globally 1.5 billion are overweight or obese while another billion people suffer from malnutrition and hunger and at least 30% of all food grown across the globe is wasted, is clearly broken. “A key step towards fixing the system is defining what a sustainable diet is and integrating sustainability criteria into healthy eating advice. There’s also a need to define what we mean by ‘less but better livestock products’, and to work with farmers, retailers and consumer groups to help us move towards a more sustainable food system that’s fair for all.” WWF-UK said there was also a need to look at how livestock is produced and consumed and ensure that is truly sustainable, taking into account direct and indirect costs. In addition, the Government should promote the production of temperate fruit and vegetables which are suited to our climatic conditions and invest much more in the UK horticultural industry. The group said it was vital the food industry adopts targets for GHG emissions reduction accompanied by a route map to achieving these targets. WWF-UK also called on the Government to convene a group that will work towards defining a sustainable diet and overarching food strategy as soon as possible. WWF-UK has already highlighted that the Green Food Project [3] does not cover the whole system and this must be addressed as a matter of urgency. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The Environmental Audit Committee will be publishing it's report on “Sustainable Food” (HC 879) on Sunday 13 May at 00.01am. The EAC launched this inquiry over a year ago, looking at the environmental and social consequences of the way the food we eat is produced, distributed, marketed and sold and how Government policy can be used to promote more sustainable practices in the UK food industry and more sustainable behaviours from the public. 2. The Foresight Report, The Future of Food and Farming (January 2011), is available here: <a href="http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/foresight/docs/food-and-farming/11-546-future-of-food-and-farming-report.pdf ">http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/foresight/docs/food-and-farming/11-546-future-of-food-and-farming-report.pdf  </a> 3. Defra’s Green Food Project is bringing together government, industry and environmental partners to look at how we might reconcile the goals of improving the environment and increasing food production in England: <a href="http://www.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/food/environment/">http://www.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/food/environment/  </a> 4. WWF’s Livewell Report with the Rowett Institute of Nutrition (January 2011) shows what a sustainable and healthy diet might look like, based on the Government’s own healthy eating advice: <a href="http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/livewell_report_corrected.pdf">http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/livewell_report_corrected.pdf</a>   For more information: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a>  " } [7]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(65) "Wild tigers remain vulnerable to poaching in most protected areas" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5959" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(5948) "A recent preliminary assessment of 63 legally protected areas in seven tiger range countries shows that only 22, or 35 per cent, maintain WWF’s minimum standards of protection. This indicates that the areas set up to protect tigers and other threatened species are not necessarily the refuge they are designed to be, says WWF.“Poaching is the most immediate threat to tigers and protected areas are the first line of defence against poaching,” says Mike Baltzer, Leader of WWF’s Tigers Alive Initiative. “If this preliminary assessment reflects the full situation on-the-ground, then protected areas are not functioning as an effective safe haven for tigers. Without places tigers can be safer from poaching, there is no hope to meet the target of more than 6,000 tigers by 2022.” In November 2010 at the “Tiger Summit” in St. Petersburg hosted by the Government of Russia and the World Bank, the 13 Tiger Range Governments and partners committed to doubling the number of wild tigers by 2022. From 15-17 May 2012, they will meet again to assess progress and plan the next steps. Poaching of tigers, to meet consumer demand for their body parts and products, is now the main factor reversing the gains made by governments, donors and other partners working towards the 2022 goal. The meeting in New Delhi next week provides a perfect opportunity for the 13 countries to immediately launch an elevated operation to improve the protection of sites critical to tigers and take deliberate action towards Zero Poaching. WWF’s internal preliminary assessment covered 84 locations, 63 of which are legally protected areas, in seven of the 12 countries where WWF currently works on tiger conservation. Scientists, researchers and managers working in the field, have determined these sites to be critical for wild tiger population growth. Each site was evaluated on three critical factors for protecting tigers: the number of protected area staff, the use of law enforcement monitoring tools, and whether the park was officially protected by law. Data for the assessment was collected from published sources and through a survey of WWF field staff and managers of the sites wherever available. Results from the assessment showed that staff and WWF field personnel from 41 of the 63 protected areas, or 65, feel there are not enough staff to protect those areas and achieve Zero Poaching. One example is Malaysia’s Royal Belum State Park, critical for the survival of the Malayan tiger and where considerable poaching activity has been documented. Although occupying an area of over 1,000 km2, the park only has 17 enforcement staff. In contrast, protected areas such as Kaziranga National Park in India, with approximately 800 enforcement staff for about 860 km2, have been able to stem poaching activity. In Nepal, 2011 was recently celebrated as a Zero Poaching year for rhinos, which was largely attributed to the increase of range posts across several protected areas from 7 to 51. The assessment also indicated that only 18 of the protected areas surveyed, or 29 per cent, are currently using computer-based, law enforcement monitoring systems to help them manage their sites more effectively; the majority still rely on manual analysis. The number using computer technology should increase as two new systems, MSTrIPES and SMART, are rolled out in many protected areas in the next few months. “Clearly, a large number of areas important for tigers urgently need increased investment in protection and enforcement,” said Craig Bruce, WWF’s expert on enforcement and protection of wild tigers. “Tiger range governments should immediately and dramatically increase their commitment and investment in securing these sites. They should ensure there are sufficient, effective and dedicated enforcement teams on the ground, working towards Zero Poaching.” WWF has identified three actions tiger range governments can take immediately to launch an elevated operation towards Zero Poaching. These include identifying and delineating the most important sites requiring good protection from poaching, and ensuring these sites have sufficient numbers of enforcement staff who are well trained to monitor and improve their effectiveness by using monitoring systems. WWF also suggests that the police and judiciary need to help to ensure strict punishment on poaching and to actively engage local communities living adjacent to important tiger conservation areas. Note to Editors: A brief on the assessment How vulnerable are wild tigers to poaching in the sites critical for their survival? and its results is available at: <a href="http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_tai_tiger_vulnerability_to_poaching_report_2012.pdf">http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_tai_tiger_vulnerability_to_poaching_report_2012.pdf</a> For further information: Kellie Rollings: 01483 412340 or at <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(107,114,111,108,108,105,110,103,115,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">krollings@wwf.org.uk </a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. <a href="http://www.panda.org/news">www.panda.org/news</a> for latest news and media resources " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-12" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(5948) "A recent preliminary assessment of 63 legally protected areas in seven tiger range countries shows that only 22, or 35 per cent, maintain WWF’s minimum standards of protection. This indicates that the areas set up to protect tigers and other threatened species are not necessarily the refuge they are designed to be, says WWF.“Poaching is the most immediate threat to tigers and protected areas are the first line of defence against poaching,” says Mike Baltzer, Leader of WWF’s Tigers Alive Initiative. “If this preliminary assessment reflects the full situation on-the-ground, then protected areas are not functioning as an effective safe haven for tigers. Without places tigers can be safer from poaching, there is no hope to meet the target of more than 6,000 tigers by 2022.” In November 2010 at the “Tiger Summit” in St. Petersburg hosted by the Government of Russia and the World Bank, the 13 Tiger Range Governments and partners committed to doubling the number of wild tigers by 2022. From 15-17 May 2012, they will meet again to assess progress and plan the next steps. Poaching of tigers, to meet consumer demand for their body parts and products, is now the main factor reversing the gains made by governments, donors and other partners working towards the 2022 goal. The meeting in New Delhi next week provides a perfect opportunity for the 13 countries to immediately launch an elevated operation to improve the protection of sites critical to tigers and take deliberate action towards Zero Poaching. WWF’s internal preliminary assessment covered 84 locations, 63 of which are legally protected areas, in seven of the 12 countries where WWF currently works on tiger conservation. Scientists, researchers and managers working in the field, have determined these sites to be critical for wild tiger population growth. Each site was evaluated on three critical factors for protecting tigers: the number of protected area staff, the use of law enforcement monitoring tools, and whether the park was officially protected by law. Data for the assessment was collected from published sources and through a survey of WWF field staff and managers of the sites wherever available. Results from the assessment showed that staff and WWF field personnel from 41 of the 63 protected areas, or 65, feel there are not enough staff to protect those areas and achieve Zero Poaching. One example is Malaysia’s Royal Belum State Park, critical for the survival of the Malayan tiger and where considerable poaching activity has been documented. Although occupying an area of over 1,000 km2, the park only has 17 enforcement staff. In contrast, protected areas such as Kaziranga National Park in India, with approximately 800 enforcement staff for about 860 km2, have been able to stem poaching activity. In Nepal, 2011 was recently celebrated as a Zero Poaching year for rhinos, which was largely attributed to the increase of range posts across several protected areas from 7 to 51. The assessment also indicated that only 18 of the protected areas surveyed, or 29 per cent, are currently using computer-based, law enforcement monitoring systems to help them manage their sites more effectively; the majority still rely on manual analysis. The number using computer technology should increase as two new systems, MSTrIPES and SMART, are rolled out in many protected areas in the next few months. “Clearly, a large number of areas important for tigers urgently need increased investment in protection and enforcement,” said Craig Bruce, WWF’s expert on enforcement and protection of wild tigers. “Tiger range governments should immediately and dramatically increase their commitment and investment in securing these sites. They should ensure there are sufficient, effective and dedicated enforcement teams on the ground, working towards Zero Poaching.” WWF has identified three actions tiger range governments can take immediately to launch an elevated operation towards Zero Poaching. These include identifying and delineating the most important sites requiring good protection from poaching, and ensuring these sites have sufficient numbers of enforcement staff who are well trained to monitor and improve their effectiveness by using monitoring systems. WWF also suggests that the police and judiciary need to help to ensure strict punishment on poaching and to actively engage local communities living adjacent to important tiger conservation areas. Note to Editors: A brief on the assessment How vulnerable are wild tigers to poaching in the sites critical for their survival? and its results is available at: <a href="http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_tai_tiger_vulnerability_to_poaching_report_2012.pdf">http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_tai_tiger_vulnerability_to_poaching_report_2012.pdf</a> For further information: Kellie Rollings: 01483 412340 or at <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(107,114,111,108,108,105,110,103,115,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">krollings@wwf.org.uk </a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. <a href="http://www.panda.org/news">www.panda.org/news</a> for latest news and media resources " } [8]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(58) "Dilma silent as world calls for veto of Forest Code reform" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5963" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(4694) "Three of the world’s leading conservation and advocacy organizations has begun a mass mobilization of their 22 million supporters to call on Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to veto the Forest Code bill passed by the House of Deputies.WWF, Greenpeace and Avaaz say the proposed changes to the Forest Code would threaten recent successes in reducing forest loss and compromise efforts to tackle corruption in the Amazon region. Already more than 1.3 million people from around the world have signed Avaaz's petition calling on President Rousseff to veto the proposed Forest Code; this number is expected to rise dramatically in the next few days. Likewise, hundreds of thousands of WWF and Greenpeace supporters have echoed the call on social media channels such Twitter, using #SOSBrazil and #VetaTudoDilma, and by posting messages directly to the Facebook page of the president’s political party, Partidodos Trabalhadores. The petition will be bolstered by a campaign by the three groups to have their millions of supporters deluge Brazilian embassies around the world with messages and calls showing global opposition to the bill. President Rousseff has not given public reaction nor indicated whether she intends to fight the measure since it was passed on 25 April. The groups say that only a full veto will safeguard Brazil’s forests and the global climate. President Rousseff received the bill this week and has until 25 May to veto all or part of the bill, or to allow it to become law. “Over the past decade, Brazil has achieved stunning progress in reducing deforestation in the Amazon. We recognize that President Rousseff is under massive political pressure from those who would burn the forest for short-term gain, but we urge her to stand firm for the protection of the forest resources that are so vital to the future of all Brazilians, and the world,” said Jim Leape, WWF International Director General. Brazil’s Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) has estimated that the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares (190 million acres) of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere. This would make it impossible for Brazil to reach its carbon reduction targets. “Thousands of people from all over the world are sounding the alarm and calling Brazilian embassies to urge President Rousseff to save the Amazon. Nearly 80 per cent of Brazilians want this catastrophic bill scrapped, and so far over a million people across the world support them. President Rousseff has a choice – sign the Amazon’s death sentence or protect the planet’s lungs and emerge a public hero,” said Ricken Patel, Avaaz Executive Director. “President Dilma Rousseff stands at a defining moment for her presidency. The choice is clear. She can ignore the Brazilian people and side with 'destruction as usual' as enshrined in the new Forest Code or exercise her veto and support the call for a new Zero Deforestation Law. We urge her to take the visionary path of a leader who understands that with power comes responsibility,” said Kumi Naidoo, Greenpeace International Executive Director. The groups further criticize the bill’s amnesty provisions for past illegal forest clearance. The proposed amnesties would not only free environmental criminals from prosecution, but also forfeit an estimated US$4.8 billion in fines. The groups are urging President Rousseff to listen to her own constituents – 94 per cent of whom say they are concerned about the environment, according to a recent survey conducted for the National Industry Confederation – and to the global movement that is calling for a veto. Ends Note to Editors: the petition can be found here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/veto_dilma_global/?wwf For further information: In UK: Robin Clegg, tel: 07771 818707 email: rclegg@wwf.org.uk In Brazil: Regina Cavini tel: +55 61 8165 6812 email: reginacavini@wwf.org.br About WWF WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-11" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4694) "Three of the world’s leading conservation and advocacy organizations has begun a mass mobilization of their 22 million supporters to call on Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to veto the Forest Code bill passed by the House of Deputies.WWF, Greenpeace and Avaaz say the proposed changes to the Forest Code would threaten recent successes in reducing forest loss and compromise efforts to tackle corruption in the Amazon region. Already more than 1.3 million people from around the world have signed Avaaz's petition calling on President Rousseff to veto the proposed Forest Code; this number is expected to rise dramatically in the next few days. Likewise, hundreds of thousands of WWF and Greenpeace supporters have echoed the call on social media channels such Twitter, using #SOSBrazil and #VetaTudoDilma, and by posting messages directly to the Facebook page of the president’s political party, Partidodos Trabalhadores. The petition will be bolstered by a campaign by the three groups to have their millions of supporters deluge Brazilian embassies around the world with messages and calls showing global opposition to the bill. President Rousseff has not given public reaction nor indicated whether she intends to fight the measure since it was passed on 25 April. The groups say that only a full veto will safeguard Brazil’s forests and the global climate. President Rousseff received the bill this week and has until 25 May to veto all or part of the bill, or to allow it to become law. “Over the past decade, Brazil has achieved stunning progress in reducing deforestation in the Amazon. We recognize that President Rousseff is under massive political pressure from those who would burn the forest for short-term gain, but we urge her to stand firm for the protection of the forest resources that are so vital to the future of all Brazilians, and the world,” said Jim Leape, WWF International Director General. Brazil’s Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) has estimated that the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares (190 million acres) of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere. This would make it impossible for Brazil to reach its carbon reduction targets. “Thousands of people from all over the world are sounding the alarm and calling Brazilian embassies to urge President Rousseff to save the Amazon. Nearly 80 per cent of Brazilians want this catastrophic bill scrapped, and so far over a million people across the world support them. President Rousseff has a choice – sign the Amazon’s death sentence or protect the planet’s lungs and emerge a public hero,” said Ricken Patel, Avaaz Executive Director. “President Dilma Rousseff stands at a defining moment for her presidency. The choice is clear. She can ignore the Brazilian people and side with 'destruction as usual' as enshrined in the new Forest Code or exercise her veto and support the call for a new Zero Deforestation Law. We urge her to take the visionary path of a leader who understands that with power comes responsibility,” said Kumi Naidoo, Greenpeace International Executive Director. The groups further criticize the bill’s amnesty provisions for past illegal forest clearance. The proposed amnesties would not only free environmental criminals from prosecution, but also forfeit an estimated US$4.8 billion in fines. The groups are urging President Rousseff to listen to her own constituents – 94 per cent of whom say they are concerned about the environment, according to a recent survey conducted for the National Industry Confederation – and to the global movement that is calling for a veto. Ends Note to Editors: the petition can be found here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/veto_dilma_global/?wwf For further information: In UK: Robin Clegg, tel: 07771 818707 email: rclegg@wwf.org.uk In Brazil: Regina Cavini tel: +55 61 8165 6812 email: reginacavini@wwf.org.br About WWF WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. " } [9]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(33) "Queen’s Speech needs to deliver" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5947" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(3493) "~ WWF spokespeople are available for comment and interview on the Queen’s Speech. Please call the UK National Press Office on 01483 412383 ~Responding to today’s Queen’s Speech, WWF said that the Government needed to deliver on legislative priorities including energy market reform. Margaret Ounsley, head of public affairs at WWF-UK, said “There is much that is encouraging here, with legislation to help green the power sector, and to protect our precious rivers and streams; we now just need to make sure that what is being suggested will work.” Draft Water Bill [Updated 10/5/12] Commenting on the Draft Water Bill, Rose Timlett, WWF-UK’s freshwater expert, said: “With half the country in drought and aquifer levels still resoundingly low, time is running out for the Government to take action on water. The Water Bill ignored the need to reform the water abstraction system, a system that is currently unfair, out of date and a threat to our rivers and wildlife. “Government also failed to cut through the red tape preventing water companies from installing water meters, a move that would save most consumers money, help save England’s precious environment from drought now and in the future, and save huge amounts of water from being wasted.” Energy Bill Commenting on the Energy Bill, Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF-UK, said: “Reform of the UK energy market should be one of the Government’s highest priorities. Backing jobs and investment in the renewable energy sector is also a golden opportunity for growth that the government should be grabbing with both hands. “Four years ago David Cameron said that we can’t afford not to go green and nowhere is that truer than the energy sector. Energy investors are demanding a strong policy framework in support of renewables and a decisive shift away from fossil fuels – so this Bill simply has to deliver. "While it is great that the Government have accepted the principle of legislating for carbon emissions; the way it is currently drawn up simply won’t work. You are not on a diet if you allow yourself 5000 calories a day. You shouldn't be surprised if it has no effect." Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill Commenting on the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill, Mark Driscoll, One Planet Food Lead at WWF-UK, said: “WWF would like to see the immediate Implementation of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) to police the new Groceries Supply Code of Practice, intended to stamp out abuses in supply chain power. We want to make sure that retailers don’t treat producers unfairly and abuse their power by transferring excessive risks or unexpected costs onto their suppliers. “These sorts of pressures are bad for producers, bad for consumers and ultimately bad for the environment as they can lead to lower quality goods, higher costs for consumers and lower returns for farmers who need to make investment in more sustainable faming technologies.” ENDS For more information: George Smeeton, Senior Press Officer WWF-UK, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a>   " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-09" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(3493) "~ WWF spokespeople are available for comment and interview on the Queen’s Speech. Please call the UK National Press Office on 01483 412383 ~Responding to today’s Queen’s Speech, WWF said that the Government needed to deliver on legislative priorities including energy market reform. Margaret Ounsley, head of public affairs at WWF-UK, said “There is much that is encouraging here, with legislation to help green the power sector, and to protect our precious rivers and streams; we now just need to make sure that what is being suggested will work.” Draft Water Bill [Updated 10/5/12] Commenting on the Draft Water Bill, Rose Timlett, WWF-UK’s freshwater expert, said: “With half the country in drought and aquifer levels still resoundingly low, time is running out for the Government to take action on water. The Water Bill ignored the need to reform the water abstraction system, a system that is currently unfair, out of date and a threat to our rivers and wildlife. “Government also failed to cut through the red tape preventing water companies from installing water meters, a move that would save most consumers money, help save England’s precious environment from drought now and in the future, and save huge amounts of water from being wasted.” Energy Bill Commenting on the Energy Bill, Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF-UK, said: “Reform of the UK energy market should be one of the Government’s highest priorities. Backing jobs and investment in the renewable energy sector is also a golden opportunity for growth that the government should be grabbing with both hands. “Four years ago David Cameron said that we can’t afford not to go green and nowhere is that truer than the energy sector. Energy investors are demanding a strong policy framework in support of renewables and a decisive shift away from fossil fuels – so this Bill simply has to deliver. "While it is great that the Government have accepted the principle of legislating for carbon emissions; the way it is currently drawn up simply won’t work. You are not on a diet if you allow yourself 5000 calories a day. You shouldn't be surprised if it has no effect." Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill Commenting on the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill, Mark Driscoll, One Planet Food Lead at WWF-UK, said: “WWF would like to see the immediate Implementation of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) to police the new Groceries Supply Code of Practice, intended to stamp out abuses in supply chain power. We want to make sure that retailers don’t treat producers unfairly and abuse their power by transferring excessive risks or unexpected costs onto their suppliers. “These sorts of pressures are bad for producers, bad for consumers and ultimately bad for the environment as they can lead to lower quality goods, higher costs for consumers and lower returns for farmers who need to make investment in more sustainable faming technologies.” ENDS For more information: George Smeeton, Senior Press Officer WWF-UK, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a>   " } [10]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(53) "Investors play a crucial role in sustainable palm oil" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5961" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(4988) "Singapore - WWF is urging investors to do more to promote sustainable palm oil, backed by findings from a new survey released during a high-level meeting of investors and producers in Singapore.WWF’s first-of-its-kind Palm Oil Investor Review 2012 surveyed 35 key palm oil sector investors to assess how they are managing the challenges associated with sustainable palm oil and outlines the role they can play in moving the industry toward greater sustainability. “Investors are uniquely placed to influence the growers they invest in to adopt sustainable practices through active engagement and by the exercise of proxy voting rights, as well as through directing their investment capital towards sustainable palm oil producers,” said Adam Harrison, WWF’s Palm Oil Lead who attended the launch of the report. Key recommendations The review recommends that investors incorporate environment, social and governance (ESG) issues into ownership polices and engage more actively with investee companies across the supply chain to get them to make commitments to certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO). Investors and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) should also develop much deeper engagement to realize mutual benefits. In addition, investors should pressure stock exchanges to mandate minimum reporting requirements for high impact sectors like palm oil. “Understanding the dynamics at play is key to harnessing the power of investors to shape the palm oil industry. Given the strong link between sustainability and investment success, investors need to highlight to investee companies that integrating sustainability into the core strategy and operations allows them to derive business benefits, access a broader pool of capital and deliver better investment performance,” said Jeanne Stampe, WWF Finance manager and co-author of the report. The review also calls for the RSPO to support investors that want to act responsibly by educating its financial members about the palm oil sector and the costs and benefits of RSPO certification. This includes helping them develop and share best practice tools as well as publishing uniform data on how palm oil supply chain companies are performing against ESG issues. The sustainable palm oil challenge More than 50 million tonnes of palm oil are used worldwide each year in everyday products including food and cosmetics. From 2010 to 2020, this volume is projected to increase by over 65%. The growing demand for palm oil has resulted in rapid and poorly managed expansion of production, causing deforestation, species loss, greenhouse gas emissions and social conflicts with local communities. Breaking down the barriers Investors can help mitigate these problems. However, the survey shows there are hurdles to overcome as investors face internal organizational and capacity constraints in addressing ESG risks. Investors also need more disclosure, transparency and access to ESG research in order to have productive engagement with their investee companies on sustainability issues. The review recommends potential solutions to these hurdles. WWF support WWF has been active in the palm oil financing arena for the past five years, and will continue to support the financial sector to drive sustainability in palm oil production by providing information and guidance through tools, research updates, and workshops with finance sector partners. “The palm oil sector presents an attractive growth proposition for investors, but ESG issues and the lack of company disclosure still cloud the ability of many to invest,” said Jeanne Stampe. ”If we all – investors, the RSPO and stakeholders such as WWF – work together, we can ensure that the palm oil industry expands in a sustainable way, so that long-term investment returns are enhanced and emerging economies benefit from sustainable development.” ENDS Notes to editors The full version of Palm Oil Investor Review 2012 is available for download at <a href="http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_palmoil_investorreview.pdf ">http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_palmoil_investorreview.pdf </a> For further information: Chris Chaplin - media officer Asia Pacific, WWF International, +86 10 6511 6272, Mobile: +86 13911747472, <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(99,99,104,97,112,108,105,110,64,119,119,102,46,115,103,32)+'?')">cchaplin@wwf.sg </a> George Smeeton – WWF-UK, +44 (0)1483 412 388, M: +44 (0)7917 052 948, <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(103,115,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107,32)+'?')">gsmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-30" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4988) "Singapore - WWF is urging investors to do more to promote sustainable palm oil, backed by findings from a new survey released during a high-level meeting of investors and producers in Singapore.WWF’s first-of-its-kind Palm Oil Investor Review 2012 surveyed 35 key palm oil sector investors to assess how they are managing the challenges associated with sustainable palm oil and outlines the role they can play in moving the industry toward greater sustainability. “Investors are uniquely placed to influence the growers they invest in to adopt sustainable practices through active engagement and by the exercise of proxy voting rights, as well as through directing their investment capital towards sustainable palm oil producers,” said Adam Harrison, WWF’s Palm Oil Lead who attended the launch of the report. Key recommendations The review recommends that investors incorporate environment, social and governance (ESG) issues into ownership polices and engage more actively with investee companies across the supply chain to get them to make commitments to certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO). Investors and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) should also develop much deeper engagement to realize mutual benefits. In addition, investors should pressure stock exchanges to mandate minimum reporting requirements for high impact sectors like palm oil. “Understanding the dynamics at play is key to harnessing the power of investors to shape the palm oil industry. Given the strong link between sustainability and investment success, investors need to highlight to investee companies that integrating sustainability into the core strategy and operations allows them to derive business benefits, access a broader pool of capital and deliver better investment performance,” said Jeanne Stampe, WWF Finance manager and co-author of the report. The review also calls for the RSPO to support investors that want to act responsibly by educating its financial members about the palm oil sector and the costs and benefits of RSPO certification. This includes helping them develop and share best practice tools as well as publishing uniform data on how palm oil supply chain companies are performing against ESG issues. The sustainable palm oil challenge More than 50 million tonnes of palm oil are used worldwide each year in everyday products including food and cosmetics. From 2010 to 2020, this volume is projected to increase by over 65%. The growing demand for palm oil has resulted in rapid and poorly managed expansion of production, causing deforestation, species loss, greenhouse gas emissions and social conflicts with local communities. Breaking down the barriers Investors can help mitigate these problems. However, the survey shows there are hurdles to overcome as investors face internal organizational and capacity constraints in addressing ESG risks. Investors also need more disclosure, transparency and access to ESG research in order to have productive engagement with their investee companies on sustainability issues. The review recommends potential solutions to these hurdles. WWF support WWF has been active in the palm oil financing arena for the past five years, and will continue to support the financial sector to drive sustainability in palm oil production by providing information and guidance through tools, research updates, and workshops with finance sector partners. “The palm oil sector presents an attractive growth proposition for investors, but ESG issues and the lack of company disclosure still cloud the ability of many to invest,” said Jeanne Stampe. ”If we all – investors, the RSPO and stakeholders such as WWF – work together, we can ensure that the palm oil industry expands in a sustainable way, so that long-term investment returns are enhanced and emerging economies benefit from sustainable development.” ENDS Notes to editors The full version of Palm Oil Investor Review 2012 is available for download at <a href="http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_palmoil_investorreview.pdf ">http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_palmoil_investorreview.pdf </a> For further information: Chris Chaplin - media officer Asia Pacific, WWF International, +86 10 6511 6272, Mobile: +86 13911747472, <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(99,99,104,97,112,108,105,110,64,119,119,102,46,115,103,32)+'?')">cchaplin@wwf.sg </a> George Smeeton – WWF-UK, +44 (0)1483 412 388, M: +44 (0)7917 052 948, <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(103,115,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107,32)+'?')">gsmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a> " } [11]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(64) "World's most endangered leopard shows signs of recovery in China" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5962" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(4980) "The critically endangered Amur leopard population is increasing n the wild in Northeast China’s Jilin Province, and now numbers between 8 and 11 individuals, according to findings from a new survey.The results from the first-ever study to exclusively examine Amur leopards, which was a collaborative project carried out by the Jilin Province Department of Forestry, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), shows that traces of the rare big cats are now being found over a much larger area, both in and outside of northeast China’s Hunchun and Wangqing Nature Reserves, covering about 4100km2 “The Amur leopard is critically endangered, and this research into population monitoring, habitat restoration and population migration is key to the survival of the species,” said the head of WWF-China’s Northeast Programme Office, Dr Zhu Jiang. The Amur leopard is incredibly rare in the wild, and is the most endangered feline in the world, surpassing even the Amur tiger in rarity. Less than 50 now live in north eastern China and the Russian Far East. Survey brings clarity Compared to data from a 1998-1999 survey on tigers - which also picked up traces of Amur leopards - the new study found evidence that the leopard’s distribution area in China expanded further to the northwest of Jilin province and towards the Sino-Russian border in the east. This represents an area 3-4 times bigger than previous findings, and a leopard population that’s 1.8 times larger than previously recorded. “The results of this new survey show even more clearly that the Hunchun-Wangqing habitat is an important one for the Amur leopard, and that the nearby Changbai Mountain leopard population is essential to support the continued survival of the Russian Far East population group. The two areas are indispensible to the recovery of the global Amur leopard population, and are the greatest hope for expanding both the population and the habitat of the species,” said Dr. Zhu Jiang. First known survey on China’s wild Amur leopard population This is the first time China has conducted a survey that exclusively focuses on Amur leopard population numbers, habitat location and habitat size in Jilin Province. The next stage, says Jilin Forestry Department’s Senior Engineer and Tiger-Leopard Programme Officer Jiang Jinsong, will cover a larger area, using infrared camera traps and DNA monitoring technology. “Based on the results of this survey, the first trial areas will be the Hunchun and Wangqing reserves, where constant collection of information on individuals as well as monitoring of activity patterns among the general population will serve to build up a core of information on the settled Amur leopard and Siberian tiger populations,” said Jiang Jinsong. WWF’s role WWF will work with the Jilin Forestry Department, Hunchun Nature Reserve and Wangqing Forestry Bureau to continue monitoring population trends, assess habitat quality and the restoration of prey species. WWF will also maintain its contributions to the development of monitoring technology and anti-poaching management to help restore the Amur leopard population in China. -ENDS- Notes to Editors The survey was a collaborative project carried out by the Jilin Province Department of Forestry, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) between 9th February and 27th February in the Hunchun and Wangqing areas of Jilin. It used a 319.4 km2 sample area and employed similar methods to the 1998 – 1999 survey, with the addition of questionnaires and interviews as well as data from infrared monitoring. About Amur leopards The Amur leopard (Pathera pardus orientalis) is native to Northeast Asia, and is also known as the Far Eastern leopard. The Amur leopard is incredibly rare in the wild, and the species is the most endangered feline in the world, surpassing even the Amur tiger in rarity. In addition to the 8-11 individuals in China’s Jilin province, 3 – 5 are thought to be living in neighbouring Heilongjiang province, according to 1999 figures. As few as 35 Amur leopards live in the Russian Far East. Since 2009, WWF has worked with the Wangqing Forestry Bureau and set up two demonstration sites for in-situ conservation of tigers and leopards. In September 2011, a wild Amur leopard was spotted by an automatic infrared camera set up by WWF at Wang Qing Nature Reserve, the first time ever such a photo taken for Amur leopard in China. For more information contact: ________________________________________ Johannah Sargent Senior Media Relations Manager WWF-UK tel: 01483 412 375 mob: 07867 697 519 " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-27" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4980) "The critically endangered Amur leopard population is increasing n the wild in Northeast China’s Jilin Province, and now numbers between 8 and 11 individuals, according to findings from a new survey.The results from the first-ever study to exclusively examine Amur leopards, which was a collaborative project carried out by the Jilin Province Department of Forestry, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), shows that traces of the rare big cats are now being found over a much larger area, both in and outside of northeast China’s Hunchun and Wangqing Nature Reserves, covering about 4100km2 “The Amur leopard is critically endangered, and this research into population monitoring, habitat restoration and population migration is key to the survival of the species,” said the head of WWF-China’s Northeast Programme Office, Dr Zhu Jiang. The Amur leopard is incredibly rare in the wild, and is the most endangered feline in the world, surpassing even the Amur tiger in rarity. Less than 50 now live in north eastern China and the Russian Far East. Survey brings clarity Compared to data from a 1998-1999 survey on tigers - which also picked up traces of Amur leopards - the new study found evidence that the leopard’s distribution area in China expanded further to the northwest of Jilin province and towards the Sino-Russian border in the east. This represents an area 3-4 times bigger than previous findings, and a leopard population that’s 1.8 times larger than previously recorded. “The results of this new survey show even more clearly that the Hunchun-Wangqing habitat is an important one for the Amur leopard, and that the nearby Changbai Mountain leopard population is essential to support the continued survival of the Russian Far East population group. The two areas are indispensible to the recovery of the global Amur leopard population, and are the greatest hope for expanding both the population and the habitat of the species,” said Dr. Zhu Jiang. First known survey on China’s wild Amur leopard population This is the first time China has conducted a survey that exclusively focuses on Amur leopard population numbers, habitat location and habitat size in Jilin Province. The next stage, says Jilin Forestry Department’s Senior Engineer and Tiger-Leopard Programme Officer Jiang Jinsong, will cover a larger area, using infrared camera traps and DNA monitoring technology. “Based on the results of this survey, the first trial areas will be the Hunchun and Wangqing reserves, where constant collection of information on individuals as well as monitoring of activity patterns among the general population will serve to build up a core of information on the settled Amur leopard and Siberian tiger populations,” said Jiang Jinsong. WWF’s role WWF will work with the Jilin Forestry Department, Hunchun Nature Reserve and Wangqing Forestry Bureau to continue monitoring population trends, assess habitat quality and the restoration of prey species. WWF will also maintain its contributions to the development of monitoring technology and anti-poaching management to help restore the Amur leopard population in China. -ENDS- Notes to Editors The survey was a collaborative project carried out by the Jilin Province Department of Forestry, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) between 9th February and 27th February in the Hunchun and Wangqing areas of Jilin. It used a 319.4 km2 sample area and employed similar methods to the 1998 – 1999 survey, with the addition of questionnaires and interviews as well as data from infrared monitoring. About Amur leopards The Amur leopard (Pathera pardus orientalis) is native to Northeast Asia, and is also known as the Far Eastern leopard. The Amur leopard is incredibly rare in the wild, and the species is the most endangered feline in the world, surpassing even the Amur tiger in rarity. In addition to the 8-11 individuals in China’s Jilin province, 3 – 5 are thought to be living in neighbouring Heilongjiang province, according to 1999 figures. As few as 35 Amur leopards live in the Russian Far East. Since 2009, WWF has worked with the Wangqing Forestry Bureau and set up two demonstration sites for in-situ conservation of tigers and leopards. In September 2011, a wild Amur leopard was spotted by an automatic infrared camera set up by WWF at Wang Qing Nature Reserve, the first time ever such a photo taken for Amur leopard in China. For more information contact: ________________________________________ Johannah Sargent Senior Media Relations Manager WWF-UK tel: 01483 412 375 mob: 07867 697 519 " } [12]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(79) "Revised Brazilian Forest Code Good for Environmental Criminals, Bad for Forests" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5934" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(5279) "Brazil’s Congress passed legislation late last night that strips the Amazon and other key regions of critical environmental protections, and grants amnesty to individuals accused of past illegal deforestation.WWF condemns the new Forest Code bill, driven by retrograde sectors of Brazil’s powerful agribusiness industry, for its failure to account for severe social and environmental costs. Since 2006, Brazil has demonstrated that it can dramatically reduce its rate of deforestation while increasing agricultural production and reducing poverty. This bill threatens hard-won gains for both the environment and Brazilian society. The bill now goes before President Dilma Rousseff, who will have 15 days to decide whether or not to sign it into national law or apply veto power to the full text or parts of it. “President Rousseff made a promise that she would not tolerate laws promoting new waves of deforestation or amnesty for past forest crimes. She knows these changes are bad for Brazil and bad for the environment. We ask her to uphold her promises,” said Maria Cecilia Wey de Brito, CEO of WWF-Brazil. The proposed amnesties would not only free environmental criminals from prosecution, but also forfeit an estimated US$4.8 billion in fines. “WWF looks to President Rousseff to resist the short-sighted and senseless reform to the forest law that has been passed by the Brazilian House of Representatives today,” said Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International. “In a year that will see world political, business and civil society leaders gather in Rio de Janeiro for the UN Summit on Sustainable Development, it would be a shame indeed for Brazil to surrender its position as a global leader in forest conservation. I urge the president to vigorously resist the most egregious elements of the new law, for the future of Brazil’s economy, its natural heritage and its people,” said Leape. WWF has highlighted the worst impacts of the proposed forest law reform, as well as viable alternatives – such as smarter land-use planning and compensating landowners for environmental services – that would optimise forest management, while minimising negative repercussions on precious and fragile natural resources. Negative elements of the proposed amendment to the Forest Code: • The draft amendment notably complicates Brazil’s forest legislation, making it nearly impossible to implement and enforce. • Millions of acres illegally cleared prior to 2008 will be legalized through amnesty, resulting in a forfeiture of fines worth an estimated US$4.8 billion. • In the Amazon region, landowners could be allowed to reduce the obligatory required forest cover from 80% to 50%. • Up to 90% of private properties in Brazil could be pardoned from the standing obligation to restore illegally cleared areas. • Large areas of floodplains and other sensitive areas will be opened to cattle ranching and farming. Forecasted consequences • According to Brazil’s government-led research organization IPEA (Institute for Applied Economic Research), the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares (190 million acres) of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere. • Brazil’s economy, and in particular its agribusiness sector, will suffer from damaged global reputation, decreased access to markets for sustainably-sourced goods, and higher production costs as a consequence of increased erosion and greater need for fertilizers and/or pesticides. • Brazil will likely fail to meet its own international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation rates. Alternatives to reduced environmental protections • Land-use planning for up to 61 million hectares (150 million acres) of underproductive pastures, which are readily available for cultivation without additional deforestation. • Increase the efficiency of Brazil’s livestock sector. • Introduction of a strategy for sustainable production in Brazil’s farming and livestock sectors. • Implementation and increase of national and international mechanisms for compensation to landowners for environmental services. For further information: In Brazil: Regina Cavini, Tel: +55 61 3364 7480; Mobile: +55 61 8165 6812; <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(114,101,103,105,110,97,99,97,118,105,110,105,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,98,114)+'?')">reginacavini@wwf.org.br </a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-26" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(5279) "Brazil’s Congress passed legislation late last night that strips the Amazon and other key regions of critical environmental protections, and grants amnesty to individuals accused of past illegal deforestation.WWF condemns the new Forest Code bill, driven by retrograde sectors of Brazil’s powerful agribusiness industry, for its failure to account for severe social and environmental costs. Since 2006, Brazil has demonstrated that it can dramatically reduce its rate of deforestation while increasing agricultural production and reducing poverty. This bill threatens hard-won gains for both the environment and Brazilian society. The bill now goes before President Dilma Rousseff, who will have 15 days to decide whether or not to sign it into national law or apply veto power to the full text or parts of it. “President Rousseff made a promise that she would not tolerate laws promoting new waves of deforestation or amnesty for past forest crimes. She knows these changes are bad for Brazil and bad for the environment. We ask her to uphold her promises,” said Maria Cecilia Wey de Brito, CEO of WWF-Brazil. The proposed amnesties would not only free environmental criminals from prosecution, but also forfeit an estimated US$4.8 billion in fines. “WWF looks to President Rousseff to resist the short-sighted and senseless reform to the forest law that has been passed by the Brazilian House of Representatives today,” said Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International. “In a year that will see world political, business and civil society leaders gather in Rio de Janeiro for the UN Summit on Sustainable Development, it would be a shame indeed for Brazil to surrender its position as a global leader in forest conservation. I urge the president to vigorously resist the most egregious elements of the new law, for the future of Brazil’s economy, its natural heritage and its people,” said Leape. WWF has highlighted the worst impacts of the proposed forest law reform, as well as viable alternatives – such as smarter land-use planning and compensating landowners for environmental services – that would optimise forest management, while minimising negative repercussions on precious and fragile natural resources. Negative elements of the proposed amendment to the Forest Code: • The draft amendment notably complicates Brazil’s forest legislation, making it nearly impossible to implement and enforce. • Millions of acres illegally cleared prior to 2008 will be legalized through amnesty, resulting in a forfeiture of fines worth an estimated US$4.8 billion. • In the Amazon region, landowners could be allowed to reduce the obligatory required forest cover from 80% to 50%. • Up to 90% of private properties in Brazil could be pardoned from the standing obligation to restore illegally cleared areas. • Large areas of floodplains and other sensitive areas will be opened to cattle ranching and farming. Forecasted consequences • According to Brazil’s government-led research organization IPEA (Institute for Applied Economic Research), the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares (190 million acres) of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere. • Brazil’s economy, and in particular its agribusiness sector, will suffer from damaged global reputation, decreased access to markets for sustainably-sourced goods, and higher production costs as a consequence of increased erosion and greater need for fertilizers and/or pesticides. • Brazil will likely fail to meet its own international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation rates. Alternatives to reduced environmental protections • Land-use planning for up to 61 million hectares (150 million acres) of underproductive pastures, which are readily available for cultivation without additional deforestation. • Increase the efficiency of Brazil’s livestock sector. • Introduction of a strategy for sustainable production in Brazil’s farming and livestock sectors. • Implementation and increase of national and international mechanisms for compensation to landowners for environmental services. For further information: In Brazil: Regina Cavini, Tel: +55 61 3364 7480; Mobile: +55 61 8165 6812; <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(114,101,103,105,110,97,99,97,118,105,110,105,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,98,114)+'?')">reginacavini@wwf.org.br </a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. " } [13]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(49) "Cameron comments on renewables a ‘damp squib’" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5928" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(3319) "Responding to comments by David Cameron at the start of the final day of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) in London today, WWF said it was imperative the Prime Minister boosts investor confidence in renewables and provides policy clarity to businesses.Commenting on the Prime Minister's statement, David Nussbaum, chief executive at WWF-UK, said: “We were led to expect a major policy intervention on the environment, a keynote speech, from the Prime Minister this week, only for his speech to be suddenly downgraded; what we got today was a damp squib. "We heard yesterday from ministers in countries like Germany and Denmark who clearly get the scale of the challenge and the opportunity, but it's not clear this government does. They are talking in terms of hundreds of thousands of new jobs in the renewable energy sector, whereas the PM today was only talking about a few hundred. “We agree that renewables must be 'financially sustainable', but businesses and investors need consistent messages from across government, and not the series of ill-judged attacks in recent months, including from the Prime Minister’s own Treasury and some backbenchers." David Nussbaum, who yesterday chaired an event at the start of CEM3 featuring climate change and energy minister Greg Barker and ministers from Germany and Denmark, noted that on a WWF trip to Svalbard in the Arctic six years ago, Cameron had spoken passionately the urgent need to tackle climate change and decarbonise our societies. He said: “Back in 2006 we in WWF were really inspired by David Cameron's commitment to environmental issues in opposition, and struck by his assertion that we couldn't abandon environmental concerns due to austerity. Six years on we’re still waiting for a major speech on the environment from David Cameron, but this wasn't it.” ENDS Notes to editors 1. The third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) is taking place in London on 25–26 April 2012, during which David Cameron was expected to deliver his first major speech on the environment since becoming Prime Minister: <a href="http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/">http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/</a>   2. WWF-UK hosted a press conference on global clean energy at the start of CEM3 on 25 April at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It was chaired by David Nussbaum (WWF-UK) and was attended by UK Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, Leader of WWF-International’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative Samantha Smith, Denmark’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Martin Lidegaard and Germany’s Deputy Director General International Cooperation Dr Karten Sach. 3. DECC: Prime Minister heralds rapid progress of the UK's green economy and outlines his vision for the future (26.04.12): <a href="http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_054/pn12_054.aspx">http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_054/pn12_054.aspx</a>   For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a>   " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-26" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(3319) "Responding to comments by David Cameron at the start of the final day of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) in London today, WWF said it was imperative the Prime Minister boosts investor confidence in renewables and provides policy clarity to businesses.Commenting on the Prime Minister's statement, David Nussbaum, chief executive at WWF-UK, said: “We were led to expect a major policy intervention on the environment, a keynote speech, from the Prime Minister this week, only for his speech to be suddenly downgraded; what we got today was a damp squib. "We heard yesterday from ministers in countries like Germany and Denmark who clearly get the scale of the challenge and the opportunity, but it's not clear this government does. They are talking in terms of hundreds of thousands of new jobs in the renewable energy sector, whereas the PM today was only talking about a few hundred. “We agree that renewables must be 'financially sustainable', but businesses and investors need consistent messages from across government, and not the series of ill-judged attacks in recent months, including from the Prime Minister’s own Treasury and some backbenchers." David Nussbaum, who yesterday chaired an event at the start of CEM3 featuring climate change and energy minister Greg Barker and ministers from Germany and Denmark, noted that on a WWF trip to Svalbard in the Arctic six years ago, Cameron had spoken passionately the urgent need to tackle climate change and decarbonise our societies. He said: “Back in 2006 we in WWF were really inspired by David Cameron's commitment to environmental issues in opposition, and struck by his assertion that we couldn't abandon environmental concerns due to austerity. Six years on we’re still waiting for a major speech on the environment from David Cameron, but this wasn't it.” ENDS Notes to editors 1. The third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) is taking place in London on 25–26 April 2012, during which David Cameron was expected to deliver his first major speech on the environment since becoming Prime Minister: <a href="http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/">http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/</a>   2. WWF-UK hosted a press conference on global clean energy at the start of CEM3 on 25 April at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It was chaired by David Nussbaum (WWF-UK) and was attended by UK Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, Leader of WWF-International’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative Samantha Smith, Denmark’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Martin Lidegaard and Germany’s Deputy Director General International Cooperation Dr Karten Sach. 3. DECC: Prime Minister heralds rapid progress of the UK's green economy and outlines his vision for the future (26.04.12): <a href="http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_054/pn12_054.aspx">http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_054/pn12_054.aspx</a>   For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a>   " } [14]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(41) "Crucial rhino poaching case delayed again" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5924" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(4833) "Eleven people are charged with illegal trade, fraud and the killing of 20 rhinos in South Africa The case against suspected rhino poaching kingpin Dawie Groenewald, his wife and their alleged co-accused has been postponed to October by South African magistrates. The so-called ‘Groenewald Gang’ appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo yesterday. They face hundreds of charges under South Africa’s Biodiversity Act, Medicines and Related Substances Act and the Act on the Prevention of Organized Crime. The eleven suspects are believed to have killed 20 rhinos and are accused of illegal hunting, weapons and permit violations, illegally trading rhino horn, as well as fraud, racketeering and money laundering. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the delay is to give the defence more time to finalise their application on further particulars on the charges. “A high level of criminal sophistication was required to orchestrate the killing of these rhinos, but this case demonstrates that no one is above the law” said the head of WWF’s African Rhino Programme, Dr Joseph Okori. “The world is watching and waiting for justice to be served.” The carcasses of 20 rhinos were found buried on Groenewald’s property in late 2010. The rhinos were missing their horns, which are of high value on black markets in Asia, particularly Vietnam. Groenewald and his wife operate a safari tour company and according to investigators, they are said to be the masterminds behind the killings. Other suspects in the case include veterinarians and veterinary assistants, professional hunters and a helicopter pilot. Rhino poaching in South Africa has spiked in recent years driven by demand for rhino horn in Asia. So far this year 181 rhinos have been killed in the country, according to statistics released last week by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, which also warned that Kruger National Park has already lost 111 rhinos this year. If not curbed, poaching rates could exceed the record 448 rhino deaths that occurred in South Africa in 2011. WWF South Africa chief executive, Morné du Plessis said: “WWF is as impatient as the majority of the public about the delays in the process but we respect that justice has to follow its course.” WWF works with the South African government and the NPA to improve forensic investigation of rhino crime scenes and to improve the knowledge and skills of the people who prosecute rhino crimes. “We will continue to watch this case closely,” du Plessis concluded. - ends - High resolution photos are available here: <a href="https://photos.panda.org/gpn/external?albumId=4171">https://photos.panda.org/gpn/external?albumId=4171</a> For more information and interview requests: Giulia Biasibetti | WWF Press Office | 01483 412490 | <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(103,98,105,97,115,105,98,101,116,116,105,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">gbiasibetti@wwf.org.uk</a> Note to editors: • Historically, rhino horn has been used in traditional medicine to treat fever, and is sometimes carved for ornamental purposes. The use for rhino horn as a purported cancer treatment in Vietnam has further stimulated demand, despite the absence of scientific support for the claim. Rhino horn has never been used as an aphrodisiac. • South Africa is home to about 21,000 of Africa’s 25,000 rhinos, and a quarter of the country’s rhinos are privately owned. WWF supports the creation of a comprehensive rhino registry to track the location and status of all African rhinos. • To help increase the number of critically endangered black rhinos, WWF has invested in range expansion. So far six founder populations of black rhino have been released into new sites through the project. Just in South Africa nearly 100 black rhino have been translocated and more than 30 calves have been born. • World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is one of the world's largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. We're working to create solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature can thrive. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, tacking climate change and changing the way we live. Find out more about our work, past and present at <a href="http://www.wwf.org.uk">www.wwf.org.uk</a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-25" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4833) "Eleven people are charged with illegal trade, fraud and the killing of 20 rhinos in South Africa The case against suspected rhino poaching kingpin Dawie Groenewald, his wife and their alleged co-accused has been postponed to October by South African magistrates. The so-called ‘Groenewald Gang’ appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo yesterday. They face hundreds of charges under South Africa’s Biodiversity Act, Medicines and Related Substances Act and the Act on the Prevention of Organized Crime. The eleven suspects are believed to have killed 20 rhinos and are accused of illegal hunting, weapons and permit violations, illegally trading rhino horn, as well as fraud, racketeering and money laundering. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the delay is to give the defence more time to finalise their application on further particulars on the charges. “A high level of criminal sophistication was required to orchestrate the killing of these rhinos, but this case demonstrates that no one is above the law” said the head of WWF’s African Rhino Programme, Dr Joseph Okori. “The world is watching and waiting for justice to be served.” The carcasses of 20 rhinos were found buried on Groenewald’s property in late 2010. The rhinos were missing their horns, which are of high value on black markets in Asia, particularly Vietnam. Groenewald and his wife operate a safari tour company and according to investigators, they are said to be the masterminds behind the killings. Other suspects in the case include veterinarians and veterinary assistants, professional hunters and a helicopter pilot. Rhino poaching in South Africa has spiked in recent years driven by demand for rhino horn in Asia. So far this year 181 rhinos have been killed in the country, according to statistics released last week by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, which also warned that Kruger National Park has already lost 111 rhinos this year. If not curbed, poaching rates could exceed the record 448 rhino deaths that occurred in South Africa in 2011. WWF South Africa chief executive, Morné du Plessis said: “WWF is as impatient as the majority of the public about the delays in the process but we respect that justice has to follow its course.” WWF works with the South African government and the NPA to improve forensic investigation of rhino crime scenes and to improve the knowledge and skills of the people who prosecute rhino crimes. “We will continue to watch this case closely,” du Plessis concluded. - ends - High resolution photos are available here: <a href="https://photos.panda.org/gpn/external?albumId=4171">https://photos.panda.org/gpn/external?albumId=4171</a> For more information and interview requests: Giulia Biasibetti | WWF Press Office | 01483 412490 | <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(103,98,105,97,115,105,98,101,116,116,105,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">gbiasibetti@wwf.org.uk</a> Note to editors: • Historically, rhino horn has been used in traditional medicine to treat fever, and is sometimes carved for ornamental purposes. The use for rhino horn as a purported cancer treatment in Vietnam has further stimulated demand, despite the absence of scientific support for the claim. Rhino horn has never been used as an aphrodisiac. • South Africa is home to about 21,000 of Africa’s 25,000 rhinos, and a quarter of the country’s rhinos are privately owned. WWF supports the creation of a comprehensive rhino registry to track the location and status of all African rhinos. • To help increase the number of critically endangered black rhinos, WWF has invested in range expansion. So far six founder populations of black rhino have been released into new sites through the project. Just in South Africa nearly 100 black rhino have been translocated and more than 30 calves have been born. • World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is one of the world's largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. We're working to create solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature can thrive. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, tacking climate change and changing the way we live. Find out more about our work, past and present at <a href="http://www.wwf.org.uk">www.wwf.org.uk</a> " } [15]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(47) "Renewable energy is an ‘absolute necessity’" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5918" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(4880) "~ WWF today hosted a press conference at the Foreign Office with Ministers from the UK, Denmark and Germany. Broad cast quality footage and images of this morning's press conference are available on request. WWF spokespeople available in London for interview or comment~Speaking at the start of the Clean Energy Ministerial, taking place in London this week [1], Samantha Smith, leader of the Global Climate and Energy Initiative at WWF-International, who accompanied David Cameron to the Arctic some six years ago to witness the impacts of climate change first hand, said that without major investment in renewable energy the world risked lock-in to high-carbon infrastructure for decades to come. Samantha Smith, who was speaking alongside UK Climate Change Minister Greg Barker and ministers from Denmark and Germany [2], said: “The International Energy Agency warned this morning that failure to invest urgently in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies could lock the world into temperature increases of up to 6˚C, substantially above the global goal to prevent temperature rises of more than 2˚C. To address this threat, decarbonising our energy systems and moving towards renewable forms of energy is an absolute necessity.” “But it is also an opportunity too. WWF research [3] shows that a large-scale transition to renewable energy globally can be done with today’s technology, to provide energy for the entire world’s population. “Countries like Mexico, which recently followed the UK and Scotland’s lead in passing a climate law, can see that ending poverty and growing their economy will be much harder unless the threat of climate change is addressed. What’s needed now is for countries like the US and Canada to follow their lead and embrace renewable energy too.” Ministers from Denmark and Germany stressed the urgency with which investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency had to be made. They also explained that the ambitious national renewable energy and energy efficiency targets set by both countries for 2020 and beyond [4] would help them be early movers in new clean energy technologies and reap the substantial economic growth benefits which come with international leadership. Greg Barker, UK Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: “We are committed to ensuring the UK meets its 2050 climate objective, which has been designed to limit global temperature increases to around 2 degrees. In order to reduce our emissions by 80% by 2050, we need to accelerate progress in the development of clean energy technologies. “This week we will be signing a number of agreements with visiting Ministers, and encouraging the private sector to bring forward investments to help develop renewables, energy efficiency and entrepreneurship at a faster rate”. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) takes place in London on 25–26 April 2012: <a href="http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/">http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/</a> 2. WWF-UK hosted a press conference on global clean energy on Wednesday 25 April, 08.00-08.45, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Media Suite. It was chaired by David Nussbaum (WWF-UK) with UK Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, Leader of WWF-International’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative Samantha Smith, Denmark’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Martin Lidegaard and Germany’s Deputy Director General International Cooperation Dr Karten Sach. 3. WWF’s Energy Report, presents a scenario, set in 2050, of a world run entirely on renewable energy: <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/climate_carbon_energy/energy_solutions/renewable_energy/sustainable_energy_report/">http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/climate_carbon_energy/energy_solutions/renewable_energy/sustainable_energy_report/</a>   4. The Danish Energy Agreement, backed by 95% of Danish MPs, provides for 35% of Denmark’s overall energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020, with a target for 50% of the country’s electricity consumption to come from wind power alone by 2020 and 100% of the country’s energy needs to come from renewable sources by 2035. Germany’s Energy Concept plan provides for 35% of electricity consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020, with a target for 80% of electricity consumption to come from renewables by 2050. For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a>   " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-25" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4880) "~ WWF today hosted a press conference at the Foreign Office with Ministers from the UK, Denmark and Germany. Broad cast quality footage and images of this morning's press conference are available on request. WWF spokespeople available in London for interview or comment~Speaking at the start of the Clean Energy Ministerial, taking place in London this week [1], Samantha Smith, leader of the Global Climate and Energy Initiative at WWF-International, who accompanied David Cameron to the Arctic some six years ago to witness the impacts of climate change first hand, said that without major investment in renewable energy the world risked lock-in to high-carbon infrastructure for decades to come. Samantha Smith, who was speaking alongside UK Climate Change Minister Greg Barker and ministers from Denmark and Germany [2], said: “The International Energy Agency warned this morning that failure to invest urgently in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies could lock the world into temperature increases of up to 6˚C, substantially above the global goal to prevent temperature rises of more than 2˚C. To address this threat, decarbonising our energy systems and moving towards renewable forms of energy is an absolute necessity.” “But it is also an opportunity too. WWF research [3] shows that a large-scale transition to renewable energy globally can be done with today’s technology, to provide energy for the entire world’s population. “Countries like Mexico, which recently followed the UK and Scotland’s lead in passing a climate law, can see that ending poverty and growing their economy will be much harder unless the threat of climate change is addressed. What’s needed now is for countries like the US and Canada to follow their lead and embrace renewable energy too.” Ministers from Denmark and Germany stressed the urgency with which investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency had to be made. They also explained that the ambitious national renewable energy and energy efficiency targets set by both countries for 2020 and beyond [4] would help them be early movers in new clean energy technologies and reap the substantial economic growth benefits which come with international leadership. Greg Barker, UK Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: “We are committed to ensuring the UK meets its 2050 climate objective, which has been designed to limit global temperature increases to around 2 degrees. In order to reduce our emissions by 80% by 2050, we need to accelerate progress in the development of clean energy technologies. “This week we will be signing a number of agreements with visiting Ministers, and encouraging the private sector to bring forward investments to help develop renewables, energy efficiency and entrepreneurship at a faster rate”. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) takes place in London on 25–26 April 2012: <a href="http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/">http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/</a> 2. WWF-UK hosted a press conference on global clean energy on Wednesday 25 April, 08.00-08.45, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Media Suite. It was chaired by David Nussbaum (WWF-UK) with UK Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, Leader of WWF-International’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative Samantha Smith, Denmark’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Martin Lidegaard and Germany’s Deputy Director General International Cooperation Dr Karten Sach. 3. WWF’s Energy Report, presents a scenario, set in 2050, of a world run entirely on renewable energy: <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/climate_carbon_energy/energy_solutions/renewable_energy/sustainable_energy_report/">http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/climate_carbon_energy/energy_solutions/renewable_energy/sustainable_energy_report/</a>   4. The Danish Energy Agreement, backed by 95% of Danish MPs, provides for 35% of Denmark’s overall energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020, with a target for 50% of the country’s electricity consumption to come from wind power alone by 2020 and 100% of the country’s energy needs to come from renewable sources by 2035. Germany’s Energy Concept plan provides for 35% of electricity consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020, with a target for 80% of electricity consumption to come from renewables by 2050. For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a>   " } [16]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(32) "Mexico climate law passes Senate" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5907" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(3355) "WWF-UK today said that the approval of a climate law by the Mexican Senate put the nation at the heart of a small group of innovative countries that are taking firm action against climate change.The unanimous vote of 78 in favour and none against the new law makes Mexico, the UK and Scotland the only three nations to have enacted ambitious and comprehensive approaches to climate change legislation - although others, such as Denmark and Norway, are aiming to follow suit. The new law commits Mexico to cutting its emissions by 50% by 2050 with international support, generating 35% of electricity from clean sources by 2024, making renewables economically competitive, and to a phasing-out of fossil subsidies. Keith Allott, head of climate change, WWF-UK said: “This news from Mexico shows once again the global significance of the UK and Scottish Climate Change Acts. The UK has taken a bold lead on this issue and other countries are now following us, so it is worrying that the UK Government is wobbling on its own climate commitments. Next week, David Cameron must use his first speech on the environment as Prime Minister to steady the ship and ensure that the UK embraces its huge potential to save energy and develop new, clean renewable energy sources.” [1] New law covers deforestation, livelihoods Another key aspect of the Law is its consideration of emissions from deforestation and degradation - the third largest source of greenhouse emissions in the country - and mandating incentives that could improve the conditions of 12 million people living in forested areas across Mexico. The law covers the adaptation of people and ecosystems to climate change, the role natural infrastructure plays in conservation, and seeks to preserve ecosystems as a way to reduce the vulnerability of people to the impacts of climate change. Vanessa Pérez-Cirera, climate director at WWF-Mexico, said: "We are proud of Mexico's legislators from all political parties that looked beyond their party’s interests into the common interest of the Mexicans and Mexico's responsibilities to the world. In the coming six months, legislators must work hard to ensure the most robust regulation for the adequate implementation of the Law. WWF is ready to provide support in this endeavour." ENDS Notes to editors 1. The third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) will take place in London on 25–26 April 2012, during which David Cameron will deliver his first major speech on the environment since becoming Prime Minister: <a href="http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/ ">http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/ </a> For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, senior press officer, WWF-UK, +44 (0)1483 412 388, m: 07917 052 948, <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a> Jatziri Perez, communications director, WWF Mexico: +52 15526990591, <a href="mailto:jperez@wwfmex.org">jperez@wwfmex.org</a>   Jenny Zapata, communications officer, WWF Mexico: + 52 5552865631 ext. 210, <a href="mailto:jzapata@wwfmex.org">jzapata@wwfmex.org</a>   " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-20" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(3355) "WWF-UK today said that the approval of a climate law by the Mexican Senate put the nation at the heart of a small group of innovative countries that are taking firm action against climate change.The unanimous vote of 78 in favour and none against the new law makes Mexico, the UK and Scotland the only three nations to have enacted ambitious and comprehensive approaches to climate change legislation - although others, such as Denmark and Norway, are aiming to follow suit. The new law commits Mexico to cutting its emissions by 50% by 2050 with international support, generating 35% of electricity from clean sources by 2024, making renewables economically competitive, and to a phasing-out of fossil subsidies. Keith Allott, head of climate change, WWF-UK said: “This news from Mexico shows once again the global significance of the UK and Scottish Climate Change Acts. The UK has taken a bold lead on this issue and other countries are now following us, so it is worrying that the UK Government is wobbling on its own climate commitments. Next week, David Cameron must use his first speech on the environment as Prime Minister to steady the ship and ensure that the UK embraces its huge potential to save energy and develop new, clean renewable energy sources.” [1] New law covers deforestation, livelihoods Another key aspect of the Law is its consideration of emissions from deforestation and degradation - the third largest source of greenhouse emissions in the country - and mandating incentives that could improve the conditions of 12 million people living in forested areas across Mexico. The law covers the adaptation of people and ecosystems to climate change, the role natural infrastructure plays in conservation, and seeks to preserve ecosystems as a way to reduce the vulnerability of people to the impacts of climate change. Vanessa Pérez-Cirera, climate director at WWF-Mexico, said: "We are proud of Mexico's legislators from all political parties that looked beyond their party’s interests into the common interest of the Mexicans and Mexico's responsibilities to the world. In the coming six months, legislators must work hard to ensure the most robust regulation for the adequate implementation of the Law. WWF is ready to provide support in this endeavour." ENDS Notes to editors 1. The third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) will take place in London on 25–26 April 2012, during which David Cameron will deliver his first major speech on the environment since becoming Prime Minister: <a href="http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/ ">http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/ </a> For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, senior press officer, WWF-UK, +44 (0)1483 412 388, m: 07917 052 948, <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a> Jatziri Perez, communications director, WWF Mexico: +52 15526990591, <a href="mailto:jperez@wwfmex.org">jperez@wwfmex.org</a>   Jenny Zapata, communications officer, WWF Mexico: + 52 5552865631 ext. 210, <a href="mailto:jzapata@wwfmex.org">jzapata@wwfmex.org</a>   " } [17]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(52) "UK must ‘show leadership’ on emissions reporting" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5899" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(2649) "WWF said today (18 April) that reporting of consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions should sit alongside, but certainly not replace, the existing approach to measuring emissions.Commenting on the Energy and Climate Change Committee’s report on consumption-based emissions reporting, Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF-UK, said have the UK has “a huge responsibility to show leadership” on the issue, arguing that it is “not credible for the UK to claim progress towards a sustainable, green economy” unless the impacts of both UK territorial and consumption emissions were addressed together. Keith Allott said: “However you measure the UK’s emissions, it’s clear that a lot more needs to be done to reduce them – through improving energy efficiency and decarbonising the power sector through renewables, and also by reducing and managing our consumption. “Addressing consumption is the nettle that successive governments, worried about how voters will react, have refused to grasp. The evidence suggests, however, that consumption-based emissions reporting can be used to engage people, to change behaviour, and to help people make better decisions about how we consume." WWF backed the Committee’s finding that there was no evidence that investments in electricity-intensive industries are affected by climate policy. It says that if the government is going to compensate businesses for increases in the cost of electricity - which are being driven primarily by volatility in the fossil fuel market, not climate policy - then strong and transparent commitments on energy efficiency and emission reductions must be sought. WWF also pointed out that the government has an early opportunity to address part of the gap between consumption-based and conventional “territorial” reporting by formally bringing emissions from international aviation and shipping into the UK climate change act (as already takes place under the Scottish climate change act). The committee on climate change has recommended full inclusion of these emissions, and the government has to decide whether to accept this recommendation by the end of 2012. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The Energy and Climate Change Committee publish a report on Consumption-Based Emissions Reporting on Wednesday 18 April 2012 at 00.01 am For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-18" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(2649) "WWF said today (18 April) that reporting of consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions should sit alongside, but certainly not replace, the existing approach to measuring emissions.Commenting on the Energy and Climate Change Committee’s report on consumption-based emissions reporting, Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF-UK, said have the UK has “a huge responsibility to show leadership” on the issue, arguing that it is “not credible for the UK to claim progress towards a sustainable, green economy” unless the impacts of both UK territorial and consumption emissions were addressed together. Keith Allott said: “However you measure the UK’s emissions, it’s clear that a lot more needs to be done to reduce them – through improving energy efficiency and decarbonising the power sector through renewables, and also by reducing and managing our consumption. “Addressing consumption is the nettle that successive governments, worried about how voters will react, have refused to grasp. The evidence suggests, however, that consumption-based emissions reporting can be used to engage people, to change behaviour, and to help people make better decisions about how we consume." WWF backed the Committee’s finding that there was no evidence that investments in electricity-intensive industries are affected by climate policy. It says that if the government is going to compensate businesses for increases in the cost of electricity - which are being driven primarily by volatility in the fossil fuel market, not climate policy - then strong and transparent commitments on energy efficiency and emission reductions must be sought. WWF also pointed out that the government has an early opportunity to address part of the gap between consumption-based and conventional “territorial” reporting by formally bringing emissions from international aviation and shipping into the UK climate change act (as already takes place under the Scottish climate change act). The committee on climate change has recommended full inclusion of these emissions, and the government has to decide whether to accept this recommendation by the end of 2012. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The Energy and Climate Change Committee publish a report on Consumption-Based Emissions Reporting on Wednesday 18 April 2012 at 00.01 am For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk " } [18]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(56) "Government ‘woefully inadequate’ on sustainable food" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5903" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(2254) "Responding to a report by Defra on sustainable livestock production WWF said today that there remains an urgent need to tackle what we eat as well as how we produce it.WWF said that British food and farming industries were reducing their environmental impacts through changes in technology and management practices, but said that production efficiencies alone will not allow us to reach our greenhouse gas reduction targets. Mark Driscoll, head of the one planet food programme at WWF-UK, said: “The Government has made some progress on tackling sustainable livestock production but frankly, their overall approach to tackling issues around what we eat has been woefully inadequate. Livestock production and livestock feedstuffs continue to drive biodiversity loss and land-use change across the globe. The science is clear – we have to tackle both how we produce our food and what we eat if we want a future where both people and nature thrive. “The first step is defining what a sustainable diet is and integrating sustainability criteria into healthy eating advice. There’s also a need to define what we mean by ‘less but better livestock products’, and to work with farmers, retailers and consumer groups to help us move towards a more sustainable food system that’s fair for all.” WWF said there was widespread recognition of the need to change the types of food we eat, focusing on the hot spots. A culture of food consumption that rewards farmers for investing in sustainable production, even while people eat a lower volume of resource intensive foods, could reduce the risk of off‐shoring and help to ensure that the rural economy thrives. ENDS Notes to editors: 1. Defra’s report ‘Progress towards a sustainable future for livestock farming’ is to be published today (17.04.12). For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107,32)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-17" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(2254) "Responding to a report by Defra on sustainable livestock production WWF said today that there remains an urgent need to tackle what we eat as well as how we produce it.WWF said that British food and farming industries were reducing their environmental impacts through changes in technology and management practices, but said that production efficiencies alone will not allow us to reach our greenhouse gas reduction targets. Mark Driscoll, head of the one planet food programme at WWF-UK, said: “The Government has made some progress on tackling sustainable livestock production but frankly, their overall approach to tackling issues around what we eat has been woefully inadequate. Livestock production and livestock feedstuffs continue to drive biodiversity loss and land-use change across the globe. The science is clear – we have to tackle both how we produce our food and what we eat if we want a future where both people and nature thrive. “The first step is defining what a sustainable diet is and integrating sustainability criteria into healthy eating advice. There’s also a need to define what we mean by ‘less but better livestock products’, and to work with farmers, retailers and consumer groups to help us move towards a more sustainable food system that’s fair for all.” WWF said there was widespread recognition of the need to change the types of food we eat, focusing on the hot spots. A culture of food consumption that rewards farmers for investing in sustainable production, even while people eat a lower volume of resource intensive foods, could reduce the risk of off‐shoring and help to ensure that the rural economy thrives. ENDS Notes to editors: 1. Defra’s report ‘Progress towards a sustainable future for livestock farming’ is to be published today (17.04.12). For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107,32)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a> " } [19]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(53) "Shale gas incompatible with addressing climate change" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5898" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(3114) "Responding to the publication today by DECC of a report [1] recommending measures to mitigate the risks of seismic tremors from hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’), WWF said that major extraction of shale gas in the UK was incompatible with addressing climate change.WWF opposes the use of hydraulic fracturing to extract shale gas and other unconventional fuels from the ground. As the International Energy Agency pointed out in its Golden Age of Gas report [2], estimated global conventional gas resources are sufficient for 120 years of current global consumption whilst estimated total recoverable unconventional gas resources are equivalent to 250 years at current consumption rates. The same report found that “An increased share of natural gas in the global energy mix is far from enough on its own to put us on a carbon emissions path consistent with an average global temperature rise of no more than 2˚C”. Jenny Banks, energy policy officer at WWF-UK said “The idea that gas is the solution to climate change is a myth put out by vested interests. What you’ll never hear from industry or government is that replacing all the coal we currently use for power generation with gas would leave greenhouse emissions six times too high.” The government has announced its intention to launch a gas generation strategy in Autumn 2012 focusing on security of supply. WWF said the scope of this strategy should be widened to include detail on exactly how, amidst the recent raft of concessions to the gas industry including a guarantee that emissions from gas will not be curbed before 2045, the government intends to ensure that excess gas does not scupper the UK’s efforts to reduce its emissions in line with the climate change act and specifically the decarbonisation of the power sector by 2030. Jenny Banks said: “The current mentality within government is clearly that we should get every last drop of fossil fuel out the ground. It’s ludicrous to think that this is compatible with addressing climate change. Clearly, reducing emissions means leaving shale gas and other unconventional fuels in the ground." ENDS Notes to editors 1. DECC: Comments sought on recommendations from independent experts on shale gas and fracking (17.04.12): <a href="http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_047/pn12_047.aspx ">http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_047/pn12_047.aspx </a> 2. IEA: IEA special report explores potential for ‘golden age’ of natural gas (06.06.11): <a href="http://www.iea.org/press/pressdetail.asp?PRESS_REL_ID=415 ">http://www.iea.org/press/pressdetail.asp?PRESS_REL_ID=415 </a> For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107,32)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-17" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(3114) "Responding to the publication today by DECC of a report [1] recommending measures to mitigate the risks of seismic tremors from hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’), WWF said that major extraction of shale gas in the UK was incompatible with addressing climate change.WWF opposes the use of hydraulic fracturing to extract shale gas and other unconventional fuels from the ground. As the International Energy Agency pointed out in its Golden Age of Gas report [2], estimated global conventional gas resources are sufficient for 120 years of current global consumption whilst estimated total recoverable unconventional gas resources are equivalent to 250 years at current consumption rates. The same report found that “An increased share of natural gas in the global energy mix is far from enough on its own to put us on a carbon emissions path consistent with an average global temperature rise of no more than 2˚C”. Jenny Banks, energy policy officer at WWF-UK said “The idea that gas is the solution to climate change is a myth put out by vested interests. What you’ll never hear from industry or government is that replacing all the coal we currently use for power generation with gas would leave greenhouse emissions six times too high.” The government has announced its intention to launch a gas generation strategy in Autumn 2012 focusing on security of supply. WWF said the scope of this strategy should be widened to include detail on exactly how, amidst the recent raft of concessions to the gas industry including a guarantee that emissions from gas will not be curbed before 2045, the government intends to ensure that excess gas does not scupper the UK’s efforts to reduce its emissions in line with the climate change act and specifically the decarbonisation of the power sector by 2030. Jenny Banks said: “The current mentality within government is clearly that we should get every last drop of fossil fuel out the ground. It’s ludicrous to think that this is compatible with addressing climate change. Clearly, reducing emissions means leaving shale gas and other unconventional fuels in the ground." ENDS Notes to editors 1. DECC: Comments sought on recommendations from independent experts on shale gas and fracking (17.04.12): <a href="http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_047/pn12_047.aspx ">http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_047/pn12_047.aspx </a> 2. 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["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(54) "Run-up to Rio bad time for U-turn on forest protection" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5989" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(4308) "Humanity is now using 50 per cent more resources than the Earth can provide, according to WWF’s recently released 2012 Living Planet Report. The consequences are seen in ongoing deforestation, increasing water scarcity, rising carbon emissions and crashing fish stocks. They can also be seen starkly in the Living Planet Index, a measure of the changes in the planet’s biodiversity, which shows a decline of 28 per cent since 1970.Yet, amid dire news for the well-being of people and nature, there have been notable conservation successes in recent years that demonstrate alternatives to ‘business as usual.’ Brazil, for example, has made stunning progress over the past decade reducing deforestation in the Amazon. This was achieved while growing the economy, making Brazil an exemplar among emerging economies. Now, just as Brazil prepares to take centre stage at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June, the nation is on the verge of making a u-turn on forest protection. Legislation passed by the Brazilian Congress last month would severely weaken the nation’s long-standing Forest Code, which is meant to protect sensitive forest areas and guard against rampant deforestation in the Amazon and elsewhere. The revisions, backed by powerful agribusiness interests and passed in both Brazil’s House and Senate, aim to dismantle forest protections and offer wide ranging amnesties for past illegal deforestation. Brazil’s Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) has estimated that the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere, making it impossible for Brazil to reach its carbon reduction targets. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has until 25 May to decide whether to veto all or part of the bill, or allow it to become law. “President Dilma faces extraordinary political pressure to side with the wealthy and powerful who support this bill. Surely she stands to gain their favor if she sells out the Amazon. But her citizens have asked her to keep her campaign promises. Scientists have warned of the consequences of a return to runaway deforestation. And it’s hard to imagine how she could speak with any integrity about sustainable development in Rio. Her choice should be clear – issue a full veto,” said Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director of Conservation, WWF International. The findings of the Living Planet Report show that humanity is squandering the very resources we depend on for survival. It offers both the reasons humanity needs to change course, and the steps we can take today to live within the Earth’s ecological limits. One key recommendation is to produce more efficiently. “In Brazil, better land-use planning could bring up to 61 million hectares of underproductive pastures back into cultivation without additional deforestation. This is just one avenue that must be fully explored before Brazil opens up its unique forest landscapes for deforestation and degradation,” said Gustavsson. For further information: Robin Clegg, WWF-UK, tel: +44 7771 818707 email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(114,99,108,101,103,103,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">rclegg@wwf.org.uk</a> <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/all_publications/living_planet_report/2012_lpr/">WWF’s 2012 Living Planet Report</a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. <a href="http://panda.org/news">panda.org/news</a> for latest news and media resources " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-23" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4308) "Humanity is now using 50 per cent more resources than the Earth can provide, according to WWF’s recently released 2012 Living Planet Report. The consequences are seen in ongoing deforestation, increasing water scarcity, rising carbon emissions and crashing fish stocks. They can also be seen starkly in the Living Planet Index, a measure of the changes in the planet’s biodiversity, which shows a decline of 28 per cent since 1970.Yet, amid dire news for the well-being of people and nature, there have been notable conservation successes in recent years that demonstrate alternatives to ‘business as usual.’ Brazil, for example, has made stunning progress over the past decade reducing deforestation in the Amazon. This was achieved while growing the economy, making Brazil an exemplar among emerging economies. Now, just as Brazil prepares to take centre stage at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June, the nation is on the verge of making a u-turn on forest protection. Legislation passed by the Brazilian Congress last month would severely weaken the nation’s long-standing Forest Code, which is meant to protect sensitive forest areas and guard against rampant deforestation in the Amazon and elsewhere. The revisions, backed by powerful agribusiness interests and passed in both Brazil’s House and Senate, aim to dismantle forest protections and offer wide ranging amnesties for past illegal deforestation. Brazil’s Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) has estimated that the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere, making it impossible for Brazil to reach its carbon reduction targets. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has until 25 May to decide whether to veto all or part of the bill, or allow it to become law. “President Dilma faces extraordinary political pressure to side with the wealthy and powerful who support this bill. Surely she stands to gain their favor if she sells out the Amazon. But her citizens have asked her to keep her campaign promises. Scientists have warned of the consequences of a return to runaway deforestation. And it’s hard to imagine how she could speak with any integrity about sustainable development in Rio. Her choice should be clear – issue a full veto,” said Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director of Conservation, WWF International. The findings of the Living Planet Report show that humanity is squandering the very resources we depend on for survival. It offers both the reasons humanity needs to change course, and the steps we can take today to live within the Earth’s ecological limits. One key recommendation is to produce more efficiently. “In Brazil, better land-use planning could bring up to 61 million hectares of underproductive pastures back into cultivation without additional deforestation. This is just one avenue that must be fully explored before Brazil opens up its unique forest landscapes for deforestation and degradation,” said Gustavsson. For further information: Robin Clegg, WWF-UK, tel: +44 7771 818707 email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(114,99,108,101,103,103,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">rclegg@wwf.org.uk</a> <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/all_publications/living_planet_report/2012_lpr/">WWF’s 2012 Living Planet Report</a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. <a href="http://panda.org/news">panda.org/news</a> for latest news and media resources " } [1]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(94) "WWF receives award for contribution to the conservation of Vietnam’s Tram Chim National Park" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5979" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(6675) "Dong Thap province, Vietnam – The People’s Committee of Dong Thap province has honoured WWF with a medal and certificate of merit in recognition of the organisation’s contribution to the conservation of the wetland habitat in Tram Chim National Park.The award was presented to WWF at an event today in Tram Chim National Park, and marked the official designation of the park as the first Ramsar site in the Mekong Delta. This is Vietnam’s fourth Ramsar site and the 2,000th site to be designated globally. Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance, designated under the Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention. “WWF is honoured to receive this award,” said Kevin Marks, Project Manager with WWF-Vietnam. “We hope the global attention on Tram Chim’s designation as the 2000th Ramsar site will serve to highlight the importance of this site and reinforce protection efforts.” Tram Chim National Park, located in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, is one of the last remnants of the original wetland landscape of the Plain of Reeds, a vast wetland area of about 13,000 km2 in the provinces of Dong Thap, Tien Giang, and Long An (Lang Sen) in Vietnam, and part of Svay Reang in Cambodia. The Park has tremendous biodiversity, including over 230 bird species and 130 fish species. Its most striking visitor, the Sarus Crane, is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List and visits annually from the end of January through to mid-May. Under earlier management efforts, water was permanently stocked in the park in order to suppress fire. However, the wildlife in Tram Chim is adapted to a six-month dry season and a six-month flood season, and year-round water stocking was interrupting the natural rhythm. As a result, habitats dwindled and species disappeared. Importantly, the purple spikerush (Eleocharis atropurpurea), the main food of the Sarus Crane, was reduced significantly due to this regime, thereby reducing the number of these birds at the site. Since 2008, WWF has been working with the park authorities to restore the habitats of Tram Chim and to mimic its natural and historical conditions. The work was delivered as a part of a global partnership between WWF and The Coca-Cola Company in which the two organisations work collaboratively to conserve seven freshwater river basins around the world, including the Mekong River. Tram Chim National Park was the first wetland protected area in Vietnam to adopt an ecosystem based management approach and involves rehabilitating ecosystem processes and providing legal access for communities to wetland resources. This was a major deviation from standard practice at the time and has yielded strong results, including the recovery of many of the bird species at the park, such as the Sarus Crane. “The innovative management approach in Tram Chim has delivered positive results and we encourage other important conservation sites throughout the country to learn from and replicate these efforts,” added Marks. In addition to stocking water permanently, the previous management regime excluded locals from the park. This gave locals little option to legally access the wetland resources on which they depend for their livelihoods, particularly fish. Under the new management approach, local people have been provided with legal and sustainable access to wetland resources. This encourages locals to help manage the resource sustainably and thereby become partners in conservation. “Since the Park was established in 1998, we have worked hard to meet the criteria to secure the Ramsar designation,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Director of Tram Chim National Park. “We are proud to have now achieved this important milestone, with the support from our partners. We hope our success will inspire other wetland sites in Vietnam to pursue Ramsar designation in the near future.” In 2011, WWF and the Biodiversity Conservation Agency (BCA) – the Government focal point for Ramsar under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, signed a MoU to commit support to efforts in five wetland sites in the Mekong Delta to pursue Ramsar designation in the years to come. “Vietnam has many wetland sites that offer high potential for achieving Ramsar site status. The Government is committed to supporting these sites to meet the criteria set by Ramsar. We believe that with the support from WWF and other organizations that care about wetland conservation, the Mekong delta will have not only one but many more Ramsar sites in the future.” Dr. Pham Anh Cuong, the Director of BCA said. Alongside the award ceremony in Tram Chim National Park, experts and authorities from the 13 Mekong Delta provinces gathered at the 4th Mekong Delta Conservation Forum to discuss the importance of wetlands for livelihoods and conservation. The Forum is a WWF initiative that encourages stakeholders from all sectors to discuss concerns and opportunities for sustainable development of the Mekong Delta. After three years of successfully organising the forum, WWF handed over the ownership to the government and the 4th Forum was initiated by the MONRE in co-operation with Dong Thap province’s People Committee and supports from WWF on 21st of May, 2012. For more information, please contact: Nguyen Phuong Ngan, Communications Officer, WWF-Vietnam, tel: 0986 117 600 or email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(110,103,97,110,46,110,103,117,121,101,110,112,104,117,111,110,103,64,119,119,102,46,112,97,110,100,97,46,111,114,103)+'?')">ngan.nguyenphuong@wwf.panda.org</a> Note to editors: Photos, caption and credits are available for download at: <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?vkswccpk33mogm0 ">http://www.mediafire.com/?vkswccpk33mogm0 </a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which human live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. www.panda.org/vietnam for latest news and WWF’s activities in Vietnam. " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-22" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(6675) "Dong Thap province, Vietnam – The People’s Committee of Dong Thap province has honoured WWF with a medal and certificate of merit in recognition of the organisation’s contribution to the conservation of the wetland habitat in Tram Chim National Park.The award was presented to WWF at an event today in Tram Chim National Park, and marked the official designation of the park as the first Ramsar site in the Mekong Delta. This is Vietnam’s fourth Ramsar site and the 2,000th site to be designated globally. Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance, designated under the Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention. “WWF is honoured to receive this award,” said Kevin Marks, Project Manager with WWF-Vietnam. “We hope the global attention on Tram Chim’s designation as the 2000th Ramsar site will serve to highlight the importance of this site and reinforce protection efforts.” Tram Chim National Park, located in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, is one of the last remnants of the original wetland landscape of the Plain of Reeds, a vast wetland area of about 13,000 km2 in the provinces of Dong Thap, Tien Giang, and Long An (Lang Sen) in Vietnam, and part of Svay Reang in Cambodia. The Park has tremendous biodiversity, including over 230 bird species and 130 fish species. Its most striking visitor, the Sarus Crane, is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List and visits annually from the end of January through to mid-May. Under earlier management efforts, water was permanently stocked in the park in order to suppress fire. However, the wildlife in Tram Chim is adapted to a six-month dry season and a six-month flood season, and year-round water stocking was interrupting the natural rhythm. As a result, habitats dwindled and species disappeared. Importantly, the purple spikerush (Eleocharis atropurpurea), the main food of the Sarus Crane, was reduced significantly due to this regime, thereby reducing the number of these birds at the site. Since 2008, WWF has been working with the park authorities to restore the habitats of Tram Chim and to mimic its natural and historical conditions. The work was delivered as a part of a global partnership between WWF and The Coca-Cola Company in which the two organisations work collaboratively to conserve seven freshwater river basins around the world, including the Mekong River. Tram Chim National Park was the first wetland protected area in Vietnam to adopt an ecosystem based management approach and involves rehabilitating ecosystem processes and providing legal access for communities to wetland resources. This was a major deviation from standard practice at the time and has yielded strong results, including the recovery of many of the bird species at the park, such as the Sarus Crane. “The innovative management approach in Tram Chim has delivered positive results and we encourage other important conservation sites throughout the country to learn from and replicate these efforts,” added Marks. In addition to stocking water permanently, the previous management regime excluded locals from the park. This gave locals little option to legally access the wetland resources on which they depend for their livelihoods, particularly fish. Under the new management approach, local people have been provided with legal and sustainable access to wetland resources. This encourages locals to help manage the resource sustainably and thereby become partners in conservation. “Since the Park was established in 1998, we have worked hard to meet the criteria to secure the Ramsar designation,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Director of Tram Chim National Park. “We are proud to have now achieved this important milestone, with the support from our partners. We hope our success will inspire other wetland sites in Vietnam to pursue Ramsar designation in the near future.” In 2011, WWF and the Biodiversity Conservation Agency (BCA) – the Government focal point for Ramsar under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, signed a MoU to commit support to efforts in five wetland sites in the Mekong Delta to pursue Ramsar designation in the years to come. “Vietnam has many wetland sites that offer high potential for achieving Ramsar site status. The Government is committed to supporting these sites to meet the criteria set by Ramsar. We believe that with the support from WWF and other organizations that care about wetland conservation, the Mekong delta will have not only one but many more Ramsar sites in the future.” Dr. Pham Anh Cuong, the Director of BCA said. Alongside the award ceremony in Tram Chim National Park, experts and authorities from the 13 Mekong Delta provinces gathered at the 4th Mekong Delta Conservation Forum to discuss the importance of wetlands for livelihoods and conservation. The Forum is a WWF initiative that encourages stakeholders from all sectors to discuss concerns and opportunities for sustainable development of the Mekong Delta. After three years of successfully organising the forum, WWF handed over the ownership to the government and the 4th Forum was initiated by the MONRE in co-operation with Dong Thap province’s People Committee and supports from WWF on 21st of May, 2012. For more information, please contact: Nguyen Phuong Ngan, Communications Officer, WWF-Vietnam, tel: 0986 117 600 or email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(110,103,97,110,46,110,103,117,121,101,110,112,104,117,111,110,103,64,119,119,102,46,112,97,110,100,97,46,111,114,103)+'?')">ngan.nguyenphuong@wwf.panda.org</a> Note to editors: Photos, caption and credits are available for download at: <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?vkswccpk33mogm0 ">http://www.mediafire.com/?vkswccpk33mogm0 </a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which human live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. www.panda.org/vietnam for latest news and WWF’s activities in Vietnam. " } [2]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(36) "Energy Bill ‘rigged’ for nuclear" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5982" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(5633) "Commenting on the publication of the draft Energy Bill, WWF today reiterated the urgent need for a firm and specific commitment to decarbonise the UK power sector by 2030, describing the Bill as major opportunity to move the UK towards an energy efficient economy powered by renewable energy.However, WWF expressed concern that the electricity market reform process was overly designed to incentivise new nuclear at the expense of other low-carbon technologies despite clear evidence that the costs of nuclear power are soaring. Nick Molho, head of energy policy at WWF-UK, said: “As made clear by the Committee on Climate Change, decarbonising the UK's power sector by 2030 is an absolute necessity if we are to stand any chance of meeting our legally binding commitments under the Climate Change Act. The Energy Bill provides the UK Government with a unique opportunity to do just that. “What’s needed is for the Government to state a clear ambition for renewable energy in the UK beyond 2020 and to provide financial support mechanisms that are specifically designed for the renewables sector. As it is, it looks like the process has been rigged for nuclear." ‘Technology neutral’ doesn’t work The group said that as low-carbon technologies such as renewables, CCS and nuclear are currently all at different stages of maturity and have different technological characteristics, a reliance on the same support mechanisms would be ineffective. WWF expressed concern in particular that the energy market reform (EMR) proposals, especially the Contract for Difference Feed-in Tariff (FiT CfD) as currently proposed, which was mainly designed to support nuclear power, were trying to provide the same type of support scheme to all low-carbon technologies. WWF said that instead, the Energy Bill must provide explicit and targeted support for renewables and urged the Government to reconsider whether the FiT CfD could genuinely be made to work for renewables and failing that to consider other more suitable alternatives. Nick Molho said: "Given the increasing concerns around the economic viability of new nuclear and the repeated delays to the CCS demonstration programme, renewable energy and energy efficiency are our best bets to deliver a secure, cost-effective and low-carbon power sector by 2030. “But renewable energy investors need clear, unequivocal, long-term support from ministers, who must face down sniping from the backbenches and certain sections of the media. The Government must also recognise that a one-size-fits-all approach just doesn’t work in the energy sector and that we need targeted financial support mechanisms for renewables.” Energy efficiency WWF also highlighted a worrying lack of clarity as to whether the EMR will provide incentives for energy efficiency measures in the UK. The group said this was a particular concern given the growing doubt as to whether the Government's flagship Green Deal policy will deliver any energy efficiency savings in the homes sector. Nick Molho said: "Research by the UK Energy Research Centre shows that energy efficiency could reduce the costs of decarbonising the UK's power sector by up to £70bn by 2050 [3]. We’d be mad to do a major reform of our electricity market without ensuring that we're maximising the potential to reduce demand. “The Energy Bill shouldn't be just about incentivising low-carbon generation; it should place just as much importance on encouraging reductions in electricity demand, which is the most cost-effective way of reducing emissions." ENDS Notes to editors 1. The International Energy Agency recently warned in its World Energy Outlook 2011 that unless we see a substantive switch in investment towards energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies such as renewables, the energy infrastructure we will have in place by 2017 will produce all the carbon dioxide that we can afford to see emitted if we want to prevent temperature rises of more than 2C: <a href="http://www.iea.org/weo/docs/weo2011/executive_summary.pdf ">http://www.iea.org/weo/docs/weo2011/executive_summary.pdf </a> 2. There is a major risk that the introduction of a complex CfD contract as currently proposed will increase uncertainty in the renewable energy sector and the cost of financing major renewable energy projects. This is because the CfD is poorly understood by investors, will not be underwritten by Government (as was originally proposed) and as opposed to other forms of feed-in tariffs, introduces a risk that renewable energy projects will need to incur substantial development costs before knowing whether or not they will be awarded a contract. 3. Making the transition to a secure and low-carbon energy system, UK Energy Research Centre, UKERC Energy 2050 Project, April 2009: <a href="http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/Downloads/PDF/U/UKERCEnergy2050/0906UKERC2050.pdf ">http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/Downloads/PDF/U/UKERCEnergy2050/0906UKERC2050.pdf </a> For more information: George Smeeton, Senior Press Officer WWF-UK Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-22" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(5633) "Commenting on the publication of the draft Energy Bill, WWF today reiterated the urgent need for a firm and specific commitment to decarbonise the UK power sector by 2030, describing the Bill as major opportunity to move the UK towards an energy efficient economy powered by renewable energy.However, WWF expressed concern that the electricity market reform process was overly designed to incentivise new nuclear at the expense of other low-carbon technologies despite clear evidence that the costs of nuclear power are soaring. Nick Molho, head of energy policy at WWF-UK, said: “As made clear by the Committee on Climate Change, decarbonising the UK's power sector by 2030 is an absolute necessity if we are to stand any chance of meeting our legally binding commitments under the Climate Change Act. The Energy Bill provides the UK Government with a unique opportunity to do just that. “What’s needed is for the Government to state a clear ambition for renewable energy in the UK beyond 2020 and to provide financial support mechanisms that are specifically designed for the renewables sector. As it is, it looks like the process has been rigged for nuclear." ‘Technology neutral’ doesn’t work The group said that as low-carbon technologies such as renewables, CCS and nuclear are currently all at different stages of maturity and have different technological characteristics, a reliance on the same support mechanisms would be ineffective. WWF expressed concern in particular that the energy market reform (EMR) proposals, especially the Contract for Difference Feed-in Tariff (FiT CfD) as currently proposed, which was mainly designed to support nuclear power, were trying to provide the same type of support scheme to all low-carbon technologies. WWF said that instead, the Energy Bill must provide explicit and targeted support for renewables and urged the Government to reconsider whether the FiT CfD could genuinely be made to work for renewables and failing that to consider other more suitable alternatives. Nick Molho said: "Given the increasing concerns around the economic viability of new nuclear and the repeated delays to the CCS demonstration programme, renewable energy and energy efficiency are our best bets to deliver a secure, cost-effective and low-carbon power sector by 2030. “But renewable energy investors need clear, unequivocal, long-term support from ministers, who must face down sniping from the backbenches and certain sections of the media. The Government must also recognise that a one-size-fits-all approach just doesn’t work in the energy sector and that we need targeted financial support mechanisms for renewables.” Energy efficiency WWF also highlighted a worrying lack of clarity as to whether the EMR will provide incentives for energy efficiency measures in the UK. The group said this was a particular concern given the growing doubt as to whether the Government's flagship Green Deal policy will deliver any energy efficiency savings in the homes sector. Nick Molho said: "Research by the UK Energy Research Centre shows that energy efficiency could reduce the costs of decarbonising the UK's power sector by up to £70bn by 2050 [3]. We’d be mad to do a major reform of our electricity market without ensuring that we're maximising the potential to reduce demand. “The Energy Bill shouldn't be just about incentivising low-carbon generation; it should place just as much importance on encouraging reductions in electricity demand, which is the most cost-effective way of reducing emissions." ENDS Notes to editors 1. The International Energy Agency recently warned in its World Energy Outlook 2011 that unless we see a substantive switch in investment towards energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies such as renewables, the energy infrastructure we will have in place by 2017 will produce all the carbon dioxide that we can afford to see emitted if we want to prevent temperature rises of more than 2C: <a href="http://www.iea.org/weo/docs/weo2011/executive_summary.pdf ">http://www.iea.org/weo/docs/weo2011/executive_summary.pdf </a> 2. There is a major risk that the introduction of a complex CfD contract as currently proposed will increase uncertainty in the renewable energy sector and the cost of financing major renewable energy projects. This is because the CfD is poorly understood by investors, will not be underwritten by Government (as was originally proposed) and as opposed to other forms of feed-in tariffs, introduces a risk that renewable energy projects will need to incur substantial development costs before knowing whether or not they will be awarded a contract. 3. Making the transition to a secure and low-carbon energy system, UK Energy Research Centre, UKERC Energy 2050 Project, April 2009: <a href="http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/Downloads/PDF/U/UKERCEnergy2050/0906UKERC2050.pdf ">http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/Downloads/PDF/U/UKERCEnergy2050/0906UKERC2050.pdf </a> For more information: George Smeeton, Senior Press Officer WWF-UK Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a> " } [3]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(57) "Mysterious Saola may be ‘sliding towards extinction’" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5975" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(9045) "Two decades after the sensational discovery of the saola, the first large mammal new to science in more than 50 years, this rare animal remains as mysterious and elusive as ever. WWF, the Saola Working Group (SWG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) warn the species is sliding towards extinction because of intensive hunting pressure and poor reserve management.A cousin of cattle but resembling an antelope in appearance, the saola was discovered in 1992 by a joint team from Vietnam’s Ministry of Forestry and WWF, while they were surveying the forests of Vu Quang, near Vietnam's border with Laos. The team found a skull with unusual long, straight horns in a hunter's home, which later proved to be the first large mammal new to science in more than 50 years and one of the most spectacular zoological discoveries of the 20th century. Twenty years on, little is still known about the saola’s ecology or behaviour. In 2010, villagers in the central Laos province of Bolikhamxay captured a saola, but the animal died several days later. Prior to that, the last confirmed record of a saola in the wild was in 1999 from camera-trap photos in Bolikhamxay. “Saola are extremely secretive and very seldom seen,” said Nick Cox, Manager of WWF-Greater Mekong’s Species Programme. “While they inhabit a very restricted range, there is still no reported sighting of a saola in the wild by a scientist, and the handful of saola that have been taken into captivity have not survived.” The difficulty in detecting the animal has prevented scientists from making a precise population estimate. “If things are good, there may be a couple of hundred saola out there,” said William Robichaud, Coordinator of the Saola Working Group. “If things are bad, the population could now be down in the tens.” While development is encroaching in the saola’s forest habitat, the greatest threat comes from illegal hunting. Saola are caught in wire snares set by hunters to catch other animals, such as sambar deer, muntjac deer and civets, which are largely destined for the lucrative wildlife trade, driven by traditional medicine demand in China and restaurant and food markets in Vietnam and Laos. “Paradoxically, the saola seems to be one of the few vertebrates in the Annamites without a high price on its head,” added Robichaud. “Saola are caught largely as bycatch – like the tuna and dolphin scenario.” Since the discovery of the saola, Vietnam and Laos have established a network of protected areas in the animal’s core range and some reserves are pursuing innovative approaches to tackle rampant poaching. In the Saola Nature Reserve in Vietnam’s Thua Thien Hue Province, a new approach to forest guard co-management, supported by WWF, is delivering good results. Since February 2011, the newly established team of forest guards patrolling the reserve have removed more than 12,500 snares and close to 200 illegal hunting and logging camps. “The establishment of critical reserves by the governments of Vietnam and Laos is to be commended,” said Dr. Barney Long, Asian species expert for WWF-US. “However, without increasing efforts to adopt new approaches to manage the protection of saola habitat through targeted snare removal, these protected areas will be little more than lines drawn on a map.” “If hunting levels can be significantly reduced, we are optimistic about the species' prospects,” said Chris Hallam, WCS-Laos’ Conservation Planning Advisor. “This will require funds for more patrol boots on the ground in saola areas, developing positive incentives for its conservation, and ultimately reducing consumer demand for wildlife meat and products.” Efforts to save the saola have reached a greater level of urgency since another of Vietnam's iconic species, the Vietnamese Javan rhino, was confirmed extinct in 2011 after the battle to save the last individual was lost to poachers. The saola is an icon for biodiversity in the Annamite mountain range that runs along the border of Vietnam and Laos. This biodiversity hotspot boasts an incredible diversity of rare species, with many found nowhere else on the planet. In addition to the discovery of the saola, two new species of deer, the large-antlered muntjac and the Truong Son muntjac, were uncovered in the Annamite’s rugged, evergreen forests in 1994 and 1997 respectively. “The lack of significant demand for saola in the wildlife trade gives great hope for its conservation,” said Robichaud. “But we still need to act. One of the rarest and most distinctive large animals in the world has been quietly slipping toward extinction through complacency.” For further information: Jo Sargent, Senior Media Relations Manager, WWF-UK 01483 412 375 07867 697 519 Notes to the editor: • Photos, caption and credits are available for download at: <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?164orbnqr8frc">http://www.mediafire.com/?164orbnqr8frc</a> • Saola footage / b-roll can be downloaded at the following yousendit link. © Wildlife Conservation Society  <a href="https://www.yousendit.com/dl?phi_action=app/orchestrateDownload&rurl=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.yousendit.com%252Ftransfer.php%253Faction%253Dbatch_download%2526send_id%253D1503018969%2526email%253Da0698dbdbf21816ca8a02db7a5f8f876&s=19105&cid=tx-02002208350200000000">https://www.yousendit.com/dl?phi_action=app/orchestrateDownload&rurl=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.yousendit.com%252Ftransfer.php%253Faction%253Dbatch_download%2526send_id%253D1503018969%2526email%253Da0698dbdbf21816ca8a02db7a5f8f876&s=19105&cid=tx-02002208350200000000</a> • View the recent 5-minute WWF / SWG film about the saola: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xv8MPOyMfU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xv8MPOyMfU</a> About the IUCN SSC Saola Working Group (SWG) The SWG is a Working Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group. The members of this group are biologists, conservationists, and zoo professionals committed to the dissemination of information, research, and conservation of the saola. They work collaboratively to design and implement the most appropriate conservation measures for the saola across its range in Vietnam and Laos.<a href="http://www.savethesaola.org/">http://www.savethesaola.org/</a>and <a href="http://www.asianwildcattle.org/species.saola.status.php">http://www.asianwildcattle.org/species.saola.status.php</a> About IUCN IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges by supporting scientific research; managing field projects all over the world; and bringing governments, NGOs, the UN, international conventions and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice. The world's oldest and largest global environmental network, IUCN is a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists and experts in some 160 countries. IUCN's work is supported by over 1,000 professional staff in 60 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. <a href="http://www.iucn.org">www.iucn.org</a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. <a href="http://www.panda.org">www.panda.org</a> About the Wildlife Conservation Society The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth. <a href="http://www.wcs.org">http://www.wcs.org </a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-21" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(9045) "Two decades after the sensational discovery of the saola, the first large mammal new to science in more than 50 years, this rare animal remains as mysterious and elusive as ever. WWF, the Saola Working Group (SWG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) warn the species is sliding towards extinction because of intensive hunting pressure and poor reserve management.A cousin of cattle but resembling an antelope in appearance, the saola was discovered in 1992 by a joint team from Vietnam’s Ministry of Forestry and WWF, while they were surveying the forests of Vu Quang, near Vietnam's border with Laos. The team found a skull with unusual long, straight horns in a hunter's home, which later proved to be the first large mammal new to science in more than 50 years and one of the most spectacular zoological discoveries of the 20th century. Twenty years on, little is still known about the saola’s ecology or behaviour. In 2010, villagers in the central Laos province of Bolikhamxay captured a saola, but the animal died several days later. Prior to that, the last confirmed record of a saola in the wild was in 1999 from camera-trap photos in Bolikhamxay. “Saola are extremely secretive and very seldom seen,” said Nick Cox, Manager of WWF-Greater Mekong’s Species Programme. “While they inhabit a very restricted range, there is still no reported sighting of a saola in the wild by a scientist, and the handful of saola that have been taken into captivity have not survived.” The difficulty in detecting the animal has prevented scientists from making a precise population estimate. “If things are good, there may be a couple of hundred saola out there,” said William Robichaud, Coordinator of the Saola Working Group. “If things are bad, the population could now be down in the tens.” While development is encroaching in the saola’s forest habitat, the greatest threat comes from illegal hunting. Saola are caught in wire snares set by hunters to catch other animals, such as sambar deer, muntjac deer and civets, which are largely destined for the lucrative wildlife trade, driven by traditional medicine demand in China and restaurant and food markets in Vietnam and Laos. “Paradoxically, the saola seems to be one of the few vertebrates in the Annamites without a high price on its head,” added Robichaud. “Saola are caught largely as bycatch – like the tuna and dolphin scenario.” Since the discovery of the saola, Vietnam and Laos have established a network of protected areas in the animal’s core range and some reserves are pursuing innovative approaches to tackle rampant poaching. In the Saola Nature Reserve in Vietnam’s Thua Thien Hue Province, a new approach to forest guard co-management, supported by WWF, is delivering good results. Since February 2011, the newly established team of forest guards patrolling the reserve have removed more than 12,500 snares and close to 200 illegal hunting and logging camps. “The establishment of critical reserves by the governments of Vietnam and Laos is to be commended,” said Dr. Barney Long, Asian species expert for WWF-US. “However, without increasing efforts to adopt new approaches to manage the protection of saola habitat through targeted snare removal, these protected areas will be little more than lines drawn on a map.” “If hunting levels can be significantly reduced, we are optimistic about the species' prospects,” said Chris Hallam, WCS-Laos’ Conservation Planning Advisor. “This will require funds for more patrol boots on the ground in saola areas, developing positive incentives for its conservation, and ultimately reducing consumer demand for wildlife meat and products.” Efforts to save the saola have reached a greater level of urgency since another of Vietnam's iconic species, the Vietnamese Javan rhino, was confirmed extinct in 2011 after the battle to save the last individual was lost to poachers. The saola is an icon for biodiversity in the Annamite mountain range that runs along the border of Vietnam and Laos. This biodiversity hotspot boasts an incredible diversity of rare species, with many found nowhere else on the planet. In addition to the discovery of the saola, two new species of deer, the large-antlered muntjac and the Truong Son muntjac, were uncovered in the Annamite’s rugged, evergreen forests in 1994 and 1997 respectively. “The lack of significant demand for saola in the wildlife trade gives great hope for its conservation,” said Robichaud. “But we still need to act. One of the rarest and most distinctive large animals in the world has been quietly slipping toward extinction through complacency.” For further information: Jo Sargent, Senior Media Relations Manager, WWF-UK 01483 412 375 07867 697 519 Notes to the editor: • Photos, caption and credits are available for download at: <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?164orbnqr8frc">http://www.mediafire.com/?164orbnqr8frc</a> • Saola footage / b-roll can be downloaded at the following yousendit link. © Wildlife Conservation Society  <a href="https://www.yousendit.com/dl?phi_action=app/orchestrateDownload&rurl=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.yousendit.com%252Ftransfer.php%253Faction%253Dbatch_download%2526send_id%253D1503018969%2526email%253Da0698dbdbf21816ca8a02db7a5f8f876&s=19105&cid=tx-02002208350200000000">https://www.yousendit.com/dl?phi_action=app/orchestrateDownload&rurl=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.yousendit.com%252Ftransfer.php%253Faction%253Dbatch_download%2526send_id%253D1503018969%2526email%253Da0698dbdbf21816ca8a02db7a5f8f876&s=19105&cid=tx-02002208350200000000</a> • View the recent 5-minute WWF / SWG film about the saola: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xv8MPOyMfU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xv8MPOyMfU</a> About the IUCN SSC Saola Working Group (SWG) The SWG is a Working Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission's Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group. The members of this group are biologists, conservationists, and zoo professionals committed to the dissemination of information, research, and conservation of the saola. They work collaboratively to design and implement the most appropriate conservation measures for the saola across its range in Vietnam and Laos.<a href="http://www.savethesaola.org/">http://www.savethesaola.org/</a>and <a href="http://www.asianwildcattle.org/species.saola.status.php">http://www.asianwildcattle.org/species.saola.status.php</a> About IUCN IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges by supporting scientific research; managing field projects all over the world; and bringing governments, NGOs, the UN, international conventions and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice. The world's oldest and largest global environmental network, IUCN is a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists and experts in some 160 countries. IUCN's work is supported by over 1,000 professional staff in 60 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. <a href="http://www.iucn.org">www.iucn.org</a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. <a href="http://www.panda.org">www.panda.org</a> About the Wildlife Conservation Society The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth. <a href="http://www.wcs.org">http://www.wcs.org </a> " } [4]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(51) "Government must stop foot-dragging on green economy" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5978" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(4105) "WWF today (21 May) backed a call by the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) for the Government to show leadership on the green economy, rather than viewing environmental measures as a barrier to growth [1].The group said that a recent Defra-led review of the Habitats Regulations clearly demonstrated that there was no evidence of environmental regulations blocking economic development and that, to the contrary, protection of important wildlife and habitats through sensible legislation contributed a significant amount to the economy in valuable goods and services including tourism [2]. In addition, WWF argued that businesses were demanding leadership and policy certainty from the Government in key areas such as the transition to a low carbon economy and smarter use of increasingly scarce resources. Commenting, Luke Wreford, economic policy officer at WWF-UK, said: "This strong criticism of Government foot-dragging on the green economy comes in the same in the week that it emerged that William Hague himself has written personally to the PM to say exactly the same thing. “The call is now coming from across the party, from inside government and from business to stop the Treasury blocking green growth and get on with policies that our economic competitors have been doing for years. “Far from putting British companies out of business, environmental policies may well be the saving of them. Leading businesses are already crying out for measures such as mandatory carbon reporting [3] and policy certainty for the development of the renewable energy sector.” WWF strongly supported the Committee’s call to quantify the environmental limits that are most affected by economic activity in the UK, and build these into a green economy strategy, led by the Treasury. WWF’s recent Living Planet Report 2012 [4] showed that we are currently consuming over 50 per cent more natural resources than our planet can sustainably produce and this is putting huge pressure on the planet’s biodiversity. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The Environmental Audit Committee report on the green economy is published on Monday 21 May 2012 2. On the EU Habitats Regulations, the Natura 2000 network contributes €200-300 billion per year to the European economy in valuable goods and services including tourism: Estimating the Overall Economic Value of the Benefits provided by the Natura 2000 Network (19 September 2011): <a href="http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/financing_natura/library?l=/benefits_natura_2000/estimating_benefits/project_reports/2000_benefits_main/_EN_1.0_&a=d ">http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/financing_natura/library?l=/benefits_natura_2000/estimating_benefits/project_reports/2000_benefits_main/_EN_1.0_&a=d </a> 3. Unreleased submissions to Defra’s consultation on MCR, obtained by WWF through freedom of information (FOI) requests showed that there was overwhelming business support for mandatory carbon reporting. The results showed that almost 75% of organizations responding supported some form of MCR, and 61% of the organization responses were in support of full mandatory carbon reporting for all large companies. 4. WWF’s Living Planet Report 2012, produced in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Global Footprint Network, was published on 15 May 2012: <a href="http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?5958/Biodiversity-declines-as-global-consumption-reaches-all-time-high ">http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?5958/Biodiversity-declines-as-global-consumption-reaches-all-time-high </a> For more information: George Smeeton, Senior Press Officer WWF-UK Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107,32)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-21" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4105) "WWF today (21 May) backed a call by the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) for the Government to show leadership on the green economy, rather than viewing environmental measures as a barrier to growth [1].The group said that a recent Defra-led review of the Habitats Regulations clearly demonstrated that there was no evidence of environmental regulations blocking economic development and that, to the contrary, protection of important wildlife and habitats through sensible legislation contributed a significant amount to the economy in valuable goods and services including tourism [2]. In addition, WWF argued that businesses were demanding leadership and policy certainty from the Government in key areas such as the transition to a low carbon economy and smarter use of increasingly scarce resources. Commenting, Luke Wreford, economic policy officer at WWF-UK, said: "This strong criticism of Government foot-dragging on the green economy comes in the same in the week that it emerged that William Hague himself has written personally to the PM to say exactly the same thing. “The call is now coming from across the party, from inside government and from business to stop the Treasury blocking green growth and get on with policies that our economic competitors have been doing for years. “Far from putting British companies out of business, environmental policies may well be the saving of them. Leading businesses are already crying out for measures such as mandatory carbon reporting [3] and policy certainty for the development of the renewable energy sector.” WWF strongly supported the Committee’s call to quantify the environmental limits that are most affected by economic activity in the UK, and build these into a green economy strategy, led by the Treasury. WWF’s recent Living Planet Report 2012 [4] showed that we are currently consuming over 50 per cent more natural resources than our planet can sustainably produce and this is putting huge pressure on the planet’s biodiversity. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The Environmental Audit Committee report on the green economy is published on Monday 21 May 2012 2. On the EU Habitats Regulations, the Natura 2000 network contributes €200-300 billion per year to the European economy in valuable goods and services including tourism: Estimating the Overall Economic Value of the Benefits provided by the Natura 2000 Network (19 September 2011): <a href="http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/financing_natura/library?l=/benefits_natura_2000/estimating_benefits/project_reports/2000_benefits_main/_EN_1.0_&a=d ">http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/financing_natura/library?l=/benefits_natura_2000/estimating_benefits/project_reports/2000_benefits_main/_EN_1.0_&a=d </a> 3. Unreleased submissions to Defra’s consultation on MCR, obtained by WWF through freedom of information (FOI) requests showed that there was overwhelming business support for mandatory carbon reporting. The results showed that almost 75% of organizations responding supported some form of MCR, and 61% of the organization responses were in support of full mandatory carbon reporting for all large companies. 4. WWF’s Living Planet Report 2012, produced in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Global Footprint Network, was published on 15 May 2012: <a href="http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?5958/Biodiversity-declines-as-global-consumption-reaches-all-time-high ">http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?5958/Biodiversity-declines-as-global-consumption-reaches-all-time-high </a> For more information: George Smeeton, Senior Press Officer WWF-UK Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107,32)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a> " } [5]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(65) "Biodiversity declines as global consumption reaches all-time high" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5958" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(9210) "• We are consuming 50 per cent more natural resources than our planet can sustainably produce Our ever-growing demand for resources is putting huge pressure on the planet’s biodiversity and threatening our future security and well-being, according to the Living Planet Report 2012, released today by WWF.The biennial survey of the Earth’s health, produced in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Global Footprint Network, was launched today from the International Space Station by WWF Ambassador and Dutch Astronaut, André Kuipers. “We only have one Earth. From up here I can see humanity’s footprint, including forest fires, air pollution and erosion – challenges which are reflected in this edition of the Living Planet Report,” said Kuipers from his European Space Agency mission. “While there are unsustainable pressures on the planet, we have the ability to save our home, not only for our benefit, but for generations to come.” The report measures the health of 9,014 populations of more than 2,600 species – a thousand more populations than have been monitored by previous editions. This data, collated by ZSL, creates the Living Planet Index (LPI), is presented in the report alongside global ecological and water footprint data. Key findings: • The global Living Planet Index has declined by up to 30 per cent since 1970. • It is currently taking 1.5 years for the Earth to absorb the CO2 produced and regenerate the renewable resources that people use within one year • 2.7 Billion people live in areas that experience severe water shortages for at least one month of the year • The per capita Ecological Footprint of a high income country such as the USA is currently six times greater than that of a low income country such as Indonesia • The UK has risen four places from 31st to 27th place in the report’s global consumption ranking, which compares the Ecological Footprint per person, per country • The top 10 countries with the biggest Ecological Footprint per person are: Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, United States of America, Belgium, Australia, Canada, Netherlands and Ireland According to the global Living Planet Index, declines in biodiversity are highest in low income countries, demonstrating how the poorest and most vulnerable nations are suffering the impacts of the lifestyles of wealthier countries. David Nussbaum, CEO of WWF-UK said: "In the UK, rather like the calm at the eye of a storm, we don't yet see much of the impact of our daily lives on the environment. But we can’t ignore the damage being done elsewhere in the world by the whirlwind consumerism of wealthy countries. We're now in the danger zone, exceeding the planetary boundaries for natural capital. If we continue to use up our planet’s resources faster than it can replace them, soon we’ll have exploited every available corner of the Earth. Thankfully it’s not too late for us to reverse this trend, but we need to address this with the same urgency and determination that we tackled the systemic financial crisis globally." Jonathan Baillie, conservation programme director with the Zoological Society of London said: “This report is like a planetary check-up and the results indicate we have a very sick planet. Ignoring this diagnosis will have major implications for humanity. We can restore the planet’s health, but only through addressing the root causes, population growth and over-consumption of resources.” Mathis Wackernagel, President of Global Footprint Network said: “Growing external resource dependencies are putting countries at significant risk. The ecological crisis is becoming a driver for our growing economic pain. Using ever more nature, while having less is a dangerous strategy, yet most countries continue to pursue this path. Until countries begin tracking and managing their biocapacity deficits, they not only put the planet at risk, but more importantly, themselves.” The Living Planet Report: On the Road to Rio This year’s LPR has been released to coincide with the Rio+ 20 Summit (UN Conference on Sustainable Development), taking place in Brazil in June. In 1992, world leaders came together to put in place systems to ensure that we tackled climate change and addressed falling biodiversity levels. Twenty years on from the last Earth Summit, this meeting is a key opportunity for global leaders to renew their commitment to creating a sustainable future. “With every day of inaction, we limit the choices for future generations,” said David Nussbaum. “If we keep running down the stock of natural capital, we'll hand them a world less able to sustain life and absorb environmental shocks. Since the original Earth Summit, we've taken some steps forward, but the pace is glacial. So Rio+20 needs to elevate the urgency of action on the scale needed: now is our chance to reflect whether the future we're creating for our planet is the legacy we want to leave for future generations.” WWF is calling on the public to show that they care about the planet’s future in advance of Rio+20. To join in with the campaign visit: <a href="http://www.earthbook2012.com">www.earthbook2012.com </a> KEY MATERIALS: All materials including the full Living Planet Report, The Living Planet Report’s Executive Summary, WWF’s The Living Planet Report: On the Road to Rio+20, images and b:roll are available for download <a href="https://zslondon.sharefile.com/d/sa61757ad95946319">here</a>. For further information please contact: Jo Sargent |WWF-UK | t: 01483 412 375 | m: 07867 697 519 | <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(106,115,97,114,103,101,110,116,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?subject=Living%20Planet%20Report')">jsargent@wwf.org.uk</a> Smita Chandra| Zoological Society of London| t: 020 7449 6288 | <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(115,109,105,116,97,46,99,104,97,110,100,114,97,64,122,115,108,46,111,114,103)+'?subject=Living%20Planet%20Report')">smita.chandra@zsl.org</a> Notes to Editors: 1. The Living Planet Report outlines a number of solutions needed to reverse the declining Living Planet Index and bring the Ecological footprint down to within planetary limits. These are set out as 16 priority actions and include improved consumption patterns, putting an economic value on natural capital and creating legal and policy frameworks that manage equitable access to food, water and energy. About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. We're working to create solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature can thrive. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, tackling climate change and changing the way we live. Find out more about our work, past and present at <a href="http://www.wwf.org.uk ">www.wwf.org.uk </a> About ZSL Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity: our role is the conservation of animals and their habitats. ZSL runs ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, carries out scientific research in the Institute of Zoology and is actively involved in field conservation in over 50 countries worldwide. <a href="http://www.zsl.org">www.zsl.org </a> About GFN Global Footprint Network promotes a sustainable economy by advancing the Ecological Footprint, a tool that makes sustainability measurable. Together with its partners, the network coordinates research, develops methodological standards and provides decision makers with robust resource accounts to help the human economy operate within the Earth’s ecological limits. <a href="http://www.footprintnetwork.org">www.footprintnetwork.org</a> About ESA The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA is an international organization with 19 member states. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. The Agency’s various programmes are designed to find out more about Earth, its immediate space environment, our solar system and the universe. <a href="http://www.esa.int">www.esa.int</a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-15" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(9210) "• We are consuming 50 per cent more natural resources than our planet can sustainably produce Our ever-growing demand for resources is putting huge pressure on the planet’s biodiversity and threatening our future security and well-being, according to the Living Planet Report 2012, released today by WWF.The biennial survey of the Earth’s health, produced in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Global Footprint Network, was launched today from the International Space Station by WWF Ambassador and Dutch Astronaut, André Kuipers. “We only have one Earth. From up here I can see humanity’s footprint, including forest fires, air pollution and erosion – challenges which are reflected in this edition of the Living Planet Report,” said Kuipers from his European Space Agency mission. “While there are unsustainable pressures on the planet, we have the ability to save our home, not only for our benefit, but for generations to come.” The report measures the health of 9,014 populations of more than 2,600 species – a thousand more populations than have been monitored by previous editions. This data, collated by ZSL, creates the Living Planet Index (LPI), is presented in the report alongside global ecological and water footprint data. Key findings: • The global Living Planet Index has declined by up to 30 per cent since 1970. • It is currently taking 1.5 years for the Earth to absorb the CO2 produced and regenerate the renewable resources that people use within one year • 2.7 Billion people live in areas that experience severe water shortages for at least one month of the year • The per capita Ecological Footprint of a high income country such as the USA is currently six times greater than that of a low income country such as Indonesia • The UK has risen four places from 31st to 27th place in the report’s global consumption ranking, which compares the Ecological Footprint per person, per country • The top 10 countries with the biggest Ecological Footprint per person are: Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, United States of America, Belgium, Australia, Canada, Netherlands and Ireland According to the global Living Planet Index, declines in biodiversity are highest in low income countries, demonstrating how the poorest and most vulnerable nations are suffering the impacts of the lifestyles of wealthier countries. David Nussbaum, CEO of WWF-UK said: "In the UK, rather like the calm at the eye of a storm, we don't yet see much of the impact of our daily lives on the environment. But we can’t ignore the damage being done elsewhere in the world by the whirlwind consumerism of wealthy countries. We're now in the danger zone, exceeding the planetary boundaries for natural capital. If we continue to use up our planet’s resources faster than it can replace them, soon we’ll have exploited every available corner of the Earth. Thankfully it’s not too late for us to reverse this trend, but we need to address this with the same urgency and determination that we tackled the systemic financial crisis globally." Jonathan Baillie, conservation programme director with the Zoological Society of London said: “This report is like a planetary check-up and the results indicate we have a very sick planet. Ignoring this diagnosis will have major implications for humanity. We can restore the planet’s health, but only through addressing the root causes, population growth and over-consumption of resources.” Mathis Wackernagel, President of Global Footprint Network said: “Growing external resource dependencies are putting countries at significant risk. The ecological crisis is becoming a driver for our growing economic pain. Using ever more nature, while having less is a dangerous strategy, yet most countries continue to pursue this path. Until countries begin tracking and managing their biocapacity deficits, they not only put the planet at risk, but more importantly, themselves.” The Living Planet Report: On the Road to Rio This year’s LPR has been released to coincide with the Rio+ 20 Summit (UN Conference on Sustainable Development), taking place in Brazil in June. In 1992, world leaders came together to put in place systems to ensure that we tackled climate change and addressed falling biodiversity levels. Twenty years on from the last Earth Summit, this meeting is a key opportunity for global leaders to renew their commitment to creating a sustainable future. “With every day of inaction, we limit the choices for future generations,” said David Nussbaum. “If we keep running down the stock of natural capital, we'll hand them a world less able to sustain life and absorb environmental shocks. Since the original Earth Summit, we've taken some steps forward, but the pace is glacial. So Rio+20 needs to elevate the urgency of action on the scale needed: now is our chance to reflect whether the future we're creating for our planet is the legacy we want to leave for future generations.” WWF is calling on the public to show that they care about the planet’s future in advance of Rio+20. To join in with the campaign visit: <a href="http://www.earthbook2012.com">www.earthbook2012.com </a> KEY MATERIALS: All materials including the full Living Planet Report, The Living Planet Report’s Executive Summary, WWF’s The Living Planet Report: On the Road to Rio+20, images and b:roll are available for download <a href="https://zslondon.sharefile.com/d/sa61757ad95946319">here</a>. For further information please contact: Jo Sargent |WWF-UK | t: 01483 412 375 | m: 07867 697 519 | <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(106,115,97,114,103,101,110,116,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?subject=Living%20Planet%20Report')">jsargent@wwf.org.uk</a> Smita Chandra| Zoological Society of London| t: 020 7449 6288 | <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(115,109,105,116,97,46,99,104,97,110,100,114,97,64,122,115,108,46,111,114,103)+'?subject=Living%20Planet%20Report')">smita.chandra@zsl.org</a> Notes to Editors: 1. The Living Planet Report outlines a number of solutions needed to reverse the declining Living Planet Index and bring the Ecological footprint down to within planetary limits. These are set out as 16 priority actions and include improved consumption patterns, putting an economic value on natural capital and creating legal and policy frameworks that manage equitable access to food, water and energy. About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. We're working to create solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature can thrive. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, tackling climate change and changing the way we live. Find out more about our work, past and present at <a href="http://www.wwf.org.uk ">www.wwf.org.uk </a> About ZSL Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity: our role is the conservation of animals and their habitats. ZSL runs ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, carries out scientific research in the Institute of Zoology and is actively involved in field conservation in over 50 countries worldwide. <a href="http://www.zsl.org">www.zsl.org </a> About GFN Global Footprint Network promotes a sustainable economy by advancing the Ecological Footprint, a tool that makes sustainability measurable. Together with its partners, the network coordinates research, develops methodological standards and provides decision makers with robust resource accounts to help the human economy operate within the Earth’s ecological limits. <a href="http://www.footprintnetwork.org">www.footprintnetwork.org</a> About ESA The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA is an international organization with 19 member states. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. The Agency’s various programmes are designed to find out more about Earth, its immediate space environment, our solar system and the universe. <a href="http://www.esa.int">www.esa.int</a> " } [6]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(38) "Government must not ignore food crisis" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5953" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(4602) "Responding to the publication today (13 May) by the Environmental Audit Committee of their report on Sustainable Food [1], WWF-UK said that the Government must not ignore the urgent need to develop a joined-up strategy on food.WWF-UK said it would have liked to see the report go further and call for the Government to define a sustainable diet, getting the Department of Health to work with Defra to accomplish this. The group said that the Government should also tackle other complex issues around production, consumption and subsidies that some stakeholders would like brushed under the carpet. Mark Driscoll, head of the one planet food programme at WWF-UK, said: “Around the world we’re seeing the early warning signs of a global food crisis, what the Government’s own chief scientific advisor, John Beddington, has called a "perfect storm" of food shortages, scarce water and insufficient energy resources [2]. How we produce and consume food is also at the heart of many of the key environmental and social challenges we face today, including the biodiversity crisis. “The UK Government needs to demonstrate international leadership on this and put the issue at the heart of its agenda. A food system in which globally 1.5 billion are overweight or obese while another billion people suffer from malnutrition and hunger and at least 30% of all food grown across the globe is wasted, is clearly broken. “A key step towards fixing the system is defining what a sustainable diet is and integrating sustainability criteria into healthy eating advice. There’s also a need to define what we mean by ‘less but better livestock products’, and to work with farmers, retailers and consumer groups to help us move towards a more sustainable food system that’s fair for all.” WWF-UK said there was also a need to look at how livestock is produced and consumed and ensure that is truly sustainable, taking into account direct and indirect costs. In addition, the Government should promote the production of temperate fruit and vegetables which are suited to our climatic conditions and invest much more in the UK horticultural industry. The group said it was vital the food industry adopts targets for GHG emissions reduction accompanied by a route map to achieving these targets. WWF-UK also called on the Government to convene a group that will work towards defining a sustainable diet and overarching food strategy as soon as possible. WWF-UK has already highlighted that the Green Food Project [3] does not cover the whole system and this must be addressed as a matter of urgency. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The Environmental Audit Committee will be publishing it's report on “Sustainable Food” (HC 879) on Sunday 13 May at 00.01am. The EAC launched this inquiry over a year ago, looking at the environmental and social consequences of the way the food we eat is produced, distributed, marketed and sold and how Government policy can be used to promote more sustainable practices in the UK food industry and more sustainable behaviours from the public. 2. The Foresight Report, The Future of Food and Farming (January 2011), is available here: <a href="http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/foresight/docs/food-and-farming/11-546-future-of-food-and-farming-report.pdf ">http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/foresight/docs/food-and-farming/11-546-future-of-food-and-farming-report.pdf  </a> 3. Defra’s Green Food Project is bringing together government, industry and environmental partners to look at how we might reconcile the goals of improving the environment and increasing food production in England: <a href="http://www.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/food/environment/">http://www.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/food/environment/  </a> 4. WWF’s Livewell Report with the Rowett Institute of Nutrition (January 2011) shows what a sustainable and healthy diet might look like, based on the Government’s own healthy eating advice: <a href="http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/livewell_report_corrected.pdf">http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/livewell_report_corrected.pdf</a>   For more information: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a>  " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-13" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4602) "Responding to the publication today (13 May) by the Environmental Audit Committee of their report on Sustainable Food [1], WWF-UK said that the Government must not ignore the urgent need to develop a joined-up strategy on food.WWF-UK said it would have liked to see the report go further and call for the Government to define a sustainable diet, getting the Department of Health to work with Defra to accomplish this. The group said that the Government should also tackle other complex issues around production, consumption and subsidies that some stakeholders would like brushed under the carpet. Mark Driscoll, head of the one planet food programme at WWF-UK, said: “Around the world we’re seeing the early warning signs of a global food crisis, what the Government’s own chief scientific advisor, John Beddington, has called a "perfect storm" of food shortages, scarce water and insufficient energy resources [2]. How we produce and consume food is also at the heart of many of the key environmental and social challenges we face today, including the biodiversity crisis. “The UK Government needs to demonstrate international leadership on this and put the issue at the heart of its agenda. A food system in which globally 1.5 billion are overweight or obese while another billion people suffer from malnutrition and hunger and at least 30% of all food grown across the globe is wasted, is clearly broken. “A key step towards fixing the system is defining what a sustainable diet is and integrating sustainability criteria into healthy eating advice. There’s also a need to define what we mean by ‘less but better livestock products’, and to work with farmers, retailers and consumer groups to help us move towards a more sustainable food system that’s fair for all.” WWF-UK said there was also a need to look at how livestock is produced and consumed and ensure that is truly sustainable, taking into account direct and indirect costs. In addition, the Government should promote the production of temperate fruit and vegetables which are suited to our climatic conditions and invest much more in the UK horticultural industry. The group said it was vital the food industry adopts targets for GHG emissions reduction accompanied by a route map to achieving these targets. WWF-UK also called on the Government to convene a group that will work towards defining a sustainable diet and overarching food strategy as soon as possible. WWF-UK has already highlighted that the Green Food Project [3] does not cover the whole system and this must be addressed as a matter of urgency. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The Environmental Audit Committee will be publishing it's report on “Sustainable Food” (HC 879) on Sunday 13 May at 00.01am. The EAC launched this inquiry over a year ago, looking at the environmental and social consequences of the way the food we eat is produced, distributed, marketed and sold and how Government policy can be used to promote more sustainable practices in the UK food industry and more sustainable behaviours from the public. 2. The Foresight Report, The Future of Food and Farming (January 2011), is available here: <a href="http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/foresight/docs/food-and-farming/11-546-future-of-food-and-farming-report.pdf ">http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/foresight/docs/food-and-farming/11-546-future-of-food-and-farming-report.pdf  </a> 3. Defra’s Green Food Project is bringing together government, industry and environmental partners to look at how we might reconcile the goals of improving the environment and increasing food production in England: <a href="http://www.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/food/environment/">http://www.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/food/environment/  </a> 4. WWF’s Livewell Report with the Rowett Institute of Nutrition (January 2011) shows what a sustainable and healthy diet might look like, based on the Government’s own healthy eating advice: <a href="http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/livewell_report_corrected.pdf">http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/livewell_report_corrected.pdf</a>   For more information: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a>  " } [7]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(65) "Wild tigers remain vulnerable to poaching in most protected areas" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5959" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(5948) "A recent preliminary assessment of 63 legally protected areas in seven tiger range countries shows that only 22, or 35 per cent, maintain WWF’s minimum standards of protection. This indicates that the areas set up to protect tigers and other threatened species are not necessarily the refuge they are designed to be, says WWF.“Poaching is the most immediate threat to tigers and protected areas are the first line of defence against poaching,” says Mike Baltzer, Leader of WWF’s Tigers Alive Initiative. “If this preliminary assessment reflects the full situation on-the-ground, then protected areas are not functioning as an effective safe haven for tigers. Without places tigers can be safer from poaching, there is no hope to meet the target of more than 6,000 tigers by 2022.” In November 2010 at the “Tiger Summit” in St. Petersburg hosted by the Government of Russia and the World Bank, the 13 Tiger Range Governments and partners committed to doubling the number of wild tigers by 2022. From 15-17 May 2012, they will meet again to assess progress and plan the next steps. Poaching of tigers, to meet consumer demand for their body parts and products, is now the main factor reversing the gains made by governments, donors and other partners working towards the 2022 goal. The meeting in New Delhi next week provides a perfect opportunity for the 13 countries to immediately launch an elevated operation to improve the protection of sites critical to tigers and take deliberate action towards Zero Poaching. WWF’s internal preliminary assessment covered 84 locations, 63 of which are legally protected areas, in seven of the 12 countries where WWF currently works on tiger conservation. Scientists, researchers and managers working in the field, have determined these sites to be critical for wild tiger population growth. Each site was evaluated on three critical factors for protecting tigers: the number of protected area staff, the use of law enforcement monitoring tools, and whether the park was officially protected by law. Data for the assessment was collected from published sources and through a survey of WWF field staff and managers of the sites wherever available. Results from the assessment showed that staff and WWF field personnel from 41 of the 63 protected areas, or 65, feel there are not enough staff to protect those areas and achieve Zero Poaching. One example is Malaysia’s Royal Belum State Park, critical for the survival of the Malayan tiger and where considerable poaching activity has been documented. Although occupying an area of over 1,000 km2, the park only has 17 enforcement staff. In contrast, protected areas such as Kaziranga National Park in India, with approximately 800 enforcement staff for about 860 km2, have been able to stem poaching activity. In Nepal, 2011 was recently celebrated as a Zero Poaching year for rhinos, which was largely attributed to the increase of range posts across several protected areas from 7 to 51. The assessment also indicated that only 18 of the protected areas surveyed, or 29 per cent, are currently using computer-based, law enforcement monitoring systems to help them manage their sites more effectively; the majority still rely on manual analysis. The number using computer technology should increase as two new systems, MSTrIPES and SMART, are rolled out in many protected areas in the next few months. “Clearly, a large number of areas important for tigers urgently need increased investment in protection and enforcement,” said Craig Bruce, WWF’s expert on enforcement and protection of wild tigers. “Tiger range governments should immediately and dramatically increase their commitment and investment in securing these sites. They should ensure there are sufficient, effective and dedicated enforcement teams on the ground, working towards Zero Poaching.” WWF has identified three actions tiger range governments can take immediately to launch an elevated operation towards Zero Poaching. These include identifying and delineating the most important sites requiring good protection from poaching, and ensuring these sites have sufficient numbers of enforcement staff who are well trained to monitor and improve their effectiveness by using monitoring systems. WWF also suggests that the police and judiciary need to help to ensure strict punishment on poaching and to actively engage local communities living adjacent to important tiger conservation areas. Note to Editors: A brief on the assessment How vulnerable are wild tigers to poaching in the sites critical for their survival? and its results is available at: <a href="http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_tai_tiger_vulnerability_to_poaching_report_2012.pdf">http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_tai_tiger_vulnerability_to_poaching_report_2012.pdf</a> For further information: Kellie Rollings: 01483 412340 or at <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(107,114,111,108,108,105,110,103,115,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">krollings@wwf.org.uk </a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. <a href="http://www.panda.org/news">www.panda.org/news</a> for latest news and media resources " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-12" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(5948) "A recent preliminary assessment of 63 legally protected areas in seven tiger range countries shows that only 22, or 35 per cent, maintain WWF’s minimum standards of protection. This indicates that the areas set up to protect tigers and other threatened species are not necessarily the refuge they are designed to be, says WWF.“Poaching is the most immediate threat to tigers and protected areas are the first line of defence against poaching,” says Mike Baltzer, Leader of WWF’s Tigers Alive Initiative. “If this preliminary assessment reflects the full situation on-the-ground, then protected areas are not functioning as an effective safe haven for tigers. Without places tigers can be safer from poaching, there is no hope to meet the target of more than 6,000 tigers by 2022.” In November 2010 at the “Tiger Summit” in St. Petersburg hosted by the Government of Russia and the World Bank, the 13 Tiger Range Governments and partners committed to doubling the number of wild tigers by 2022. From 15-17 May 2012, they will meet again to assess progress and plan the next steps. Poaching of tigers, to meet consumer demand for their body parts and products, is now the main factor reversing the gains made by governments, donors and other partners working towards the 2022 goal. The meeting in New Delhi next week provides a perfect opportunity for the 13 countries to immediately launch an elevated operation to improve the protection of sites critical to tigers and take deliberate action towards Zero Poaching. WWF’s internal preliminary assessment covered 84 locations, 63 of which are legally protected areas, in seven of the 12 countries where WWF currently works on tiger conservation. Scientists, researchers and managers working in the field, have determined these sites to be critical for wild tiger population growth. Each site was evaluated on three critical factors for protecting tigers: the number of protected area staff, the use of law enforcement monitoring tools, and whether the park was officially protected by law. Data for the assessment was collected from published sources and through a survey of WWF field staff and managers of the sites wherever available. Results from the assessment showed that staff and WWF field personnel from 41 of the 63 protected areas, or 65, feel there are not enough staff to protect those areas and achieve Zero Poaching. One example is Malaysia’s Royal Belum State Park, critical for the survival of the Malayan tiger and where considerable poaching activity has been documented. Although occupying an area of over 1,000 km2, the park only has 17 enforcement staff. In contrast, protected areas such as Kaziranga National Park in India, with approximately 800 enforcement staff for about 860 km2, have been able to stem poaching activity. In Nepal, 2011 was recently celebrated as a Zero Poaching year for rhinos, which was largely attributed to the increase of range posts across several protected areas from 7 to 51. The assessment also indicated that only 18 of the protected areas surveyed, or 29 per cent, are currently using computer-based, law enforcement monitoring systems to help them manage their sites more effectively; the majority still rely on manual analysis. The number using computer technology should increase as two new systems, MSTrIPES and SMART, are rolled out in many protected areas in the next few months. “Clearly, a large number of areas important for tigers urgently need increased investment in protection and enforcement,” said Craig Bruce, WWF’s expert on enforcement and protection of wild tigers. “Tiger range governments should immediately and dramatically increase their commitment and investment in securing these sites. They should ensure there are sufficient, effective and dedicated enforcement teams on the ground, working towards Zero Poaching.” WWF has identified three actions tiger range governments can take immediately to launch an elevated operation towards Zero Poaching. These include identifying and delineating the most important sites requiring good protection from poaching, and ensuring these sites have sufficient numbers of enforcement staff who are well trained to monitor and improve their effectiveness by using monitoring systems. WWF also suggests that the police and judiciary need to help to ensure strict punishment on poaching and to actively engage local communities living adjacent to important tiger conservation areas. Note to Editors: A brief on the assessment How vulnerable are wild tigers to poaching in the sites critical for their survival? and its results is available at: <a href="http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_tai_tiger_vulnerability_to_poaching_report_2012.pdf">http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_tai_tiger_vulnerability_to_poaching_report_2012.pdf</a> For further information: Kellie Rollings: 01483 412340 or at <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(107,114,111,108,108,105,110,103,115,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">krollings@wwf.org.uk </a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. <a href="http://www.panda.org/news">www.panda.org/news</a> for latest news and media resources " } [8]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(58) "Dilma silent as world calls for veto of Forest Code reform" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5963" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(4694) "Three of the world’s leading conservation and advocacy organizations has begun a mass mobilization of their 22 million supporters to call on Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to veto the Forest Code bill passed by the House of Deputies.WWF, Greenpeace and Avaaz say the proposed changes to the Forest Code would threaten recent successes in reducing forest loss and compromise efforts to tackle corruption in the Amazon region. Already more than 1.3 million people from around the world have signed Avaaz's petition calling on President Rousseff to veto the proposed Forest Code; this number is expected to rise dramatically in the next few days. Likewise, hundreds of thousands of WWF and Greenpeace supporters have echoed the call on social media channels such Twitter, using #SOSBrazil and #VetaTudoDilma, and by posting messages directly to the Facebook page of the president’s political party, Partidodos Trabalhadores. The petition will be bolstered by a campaign by the three groups to have their millions of supporters deluge Brazilian embassies around the world with messages and calls showing global opposition to the bill. President Rousseff has not given public reaction nor indicated whether she intends to fight the measure since it was passed on 25 April. The groups say that only a full veto will safeguard Brazil’s forests and the global climate. President Rousseff received the bill this week and has until 25 May to veto all or part of the bill, or to allow it to become law. “Over the past decade, Brazil has achieved stunning progress in reducing deforestation in the Amazon. We recognize that President Rousseff is under massive political pressure from those who would burn the forest for short-term gain, but we urge her to stand firm for the protection of the forest resources that are so vital to the future of all Brazilians, and the world,” said Jim Leape, WWF International Director General. Brazil’s Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) has estimated that the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares (190 million acres) of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere. This would make it impossible for Brazil to reach its carbon reduction targets. “Thousands of people from all over the world are sounding the alarm and calling Brazilian embassies to urge President Rousseff to save the Amazon. Nearly 80 per cent of Brazilians want this catastrophic bill scrapped, and so far over a million people across the world support them. President Rousseff has a choice – sign the Amazon’s death sentence or protect the planet’s lungs and emerge a public hero,” said Ricken Patel, Avaaz Executive Director. “President Dilma Rousseff stands at a defining moment for her presidency. The choice is clear. She can ignore the Brazilian people and side with 'destruction as usual' as enshrined in the new Forest Code or exercise her veto and support the call for a new Zero Deforestation Law. We urge her to take the visionary path of a leader who understands that with power comes responsibility,” said Kumi Naidoo, Greenpeace International Executive Director. The groups further criticize the bill’s amnesty provisions for past illegal forest clearance. The proposed amnesties would not only free environmental criminals from prosecution, but also forfeit an estimated US$4.8 billion in fines. The groups are urging President Rousseff to listen to her own constituents – 94 per cent of whom say they are concerned about the environment, according to a recent survey conducted for the National Industry Confederation – and to the global movement that is calling for a veto. Ends Note to Editors: the petition can be found here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/veto_dilma_global/?wwf For further information: In UK: Robin Clegg, tel: 07771 818707 email: rclegg@wwf.org.uk In Brazil: Regina Cavini tel: +55 61 8165 6812 email: reginacavini@wwf.org.br About WWF WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-11" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4694) "Three of the world’s leading conservation and advocacy organizations has begun a mass mobilization of their 22 million supporters to call on Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff to veto the Forest Code bill passed by the House of Deputies.WWF, Greenpeace and Avaaz say the proposed changes to the Forest Code would threaten recent successes in reducing forest loss and compromise efforts to tackle corruption in the Amazon region. Already more than 1.3 million people from around the world have signed Avaaz's petition calling on President Rousseff to veto the proposed Forest Code; this number is expected to rise dramatically in the next few days. Likewise, hundreds of thousands of WWF and Greenpeace supporters have echoed the call on social media channels such Twitter, using #SOSBrazil and #VetaTudoDilma, and by posting messages directly to the Facebook page of the president’s political party, Partidodos Trabalhadores. The petition will be bolstered by a campaign by the three groups to have their millions of supporters deluge Brazilian embassies around the world with messages and calls showing global opposition to the bill. President Rousseff has not given public reaction nor indicated whether she intends to fight the measure since it was passed on 25 April. The groups say that only a full veto will safeguard Brazil’s forests and the global climate. President Rousseff received the bill this week and has until 25 May to veto all or part of the bill, or to allow it to become law. “Over the past decade, Brazil has achieved stunning progress in reducing deforestation in the Amazon. We recognize that President Rousseff is under massive political pressure from those who would burn the forest for short-term gain, but we urge her to stand firm for the protection of the forest resources that are so vital to the future of all Brazilians, and the world,” said Jim Leape, WWF International Director General. Brazil’s Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) has estimated that the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares (190 million acres) of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere. This would make it impossible for Brazil to reach its carbon reduction targets. “Thousands of people from all over the world are sounding the alarm and calling Brazilian embassies to urge President Rousseff to save the Amazon. Nearly 80 per cent of Brazilians want this catastrophic bill scrapped, and so far over a million people across the world support them. President Rousseff has a choice – sign the Amazon’s death sentence or protect the planet’s lungs and emerge a public hero,” said Ricken Patel, Avaaz Executive Director. “President Dilma Rousseff stands at a defining moment for her presidency. The choice is clear. She can ignore the Brazilian people and side with 'destruction as usual' as enshrined in the new Forest Code or exercise her veto and support the call for a new Zero Deforestation Law. We urge her to take the visionary path of a leader who understands that with power comes responsibility,” said Kumi Naidoo, Greenpeace International Executive Director. The groups further criticize the bill’s amnesty provisions for past illegal forest clearance. The proposed amnesties would not only free environmental criminals from prosecution, but also forfeit an estimated US$4.8 billion in fines. The groups are urging President Rousseff to listen to her own constituents – 94 per cent of whom say they are concerned about the environment, according to a recent survey conducted for the National Industry Confederation – and to the global movement that is calling for a veto. Ends Note to Editors: the petition can be found here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/veto_dilma_global/?wwf For further information: In UK: Robin Clegg, tel: 07771 818707 email: rclegg@wwf.org.uk In Brazil: Regina Cavini tel: +55 61 8165 6812 email: reginacavini@wwf.org.br About WWF WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. " } [9]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(33) "Queen’s Speech needs to deliver" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5947" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(3493) "~ WWF spokespeople are available for comment and interview on the Queen’s Speech. Please call the UK National Press Office on 01483 412383 ~Responding to today’s Queen’s Speech, WWF said that the Government needed to deliver on legislative priorities including energy market reform. Margaret Ounsley, head of public affairs at WWF-UK, said “There is much that is encouraging here, with legislation to help green the power sector, and to protect our precious rivers and streams; we now just need to make sure that what is being suggested will work.” Draft Water Bill [Updated 10/5/12] Commenting on the Draft Water Bill, Rose Timlett, WWF-UK’s freshwater expert, said: “With half the country in drought and aquifer levels still resoundingly low, time is running out for the Government to take action on water. The Water Bill ignored the need to reform the water abstraction system, a system that is currently unfair, out of date and a threat to our rivers and wildlife. “Government also failed to cut through the red tape preventing water companies from installing water meters, a move that would save most consumers money, help save England’s precious environment from drought now and in the future, and save huge amounts of water from being wasted.” Energy Bill Commenting on the Energy Bill, Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF-UK, said: “Reform of the UK energy market should be one of the Government’s highest priorities. Backing jobs and investment in the renewable energy sector is also a golden opportunity for growth that the government should be grabbing with both hands. “Four years ago David Cameron said that we can’t afford not to go green and nowhere is that truer than the energy sector. Energy investors are demanding a strong policy framework in support of renewables and a decisive shift away from fossil fuels – so this Bill simply has to deliver. "While it is great that the Government have accepted the principle of legislating for carbon emissions; the way it is currently drawn up simply won’t work. You are not on a diet if you allow yourself 5000 calories a day. You shouldn't be surprised if it has no effect." Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill Commenting on the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill, Mark Driscoll, One Planet Food Lead at WWF-UK, said: “WWF would like to see the immediate Implementation of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) to police the new Groceries Supply Code of Practice, intended to stamp out abuses in supply chain power. We want to make sure that retailers don’t treat producers unfairly and abuse their power by transferring excessive risks or unexpected costs onto their suppliers. “These sorts of pressures are bad for producers, bad for consumers and ultimately bad for the environment as they can lead to lower quality goods, higher costs for consumers and lower returns for farmers who need to make investment in more sustainable faming technologies.” ENDS For more information: George Smeeton, Senior Press Officer WWF-UK, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a>   " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-05-09" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(3493) "~ WWF spokespeople are available for comment and interview on the Queen’s Speech. Please call the UK National Press Office on 01483 412383 ~Responding to today’s Queen’s Speech, WWF said that the Government needed to deliver on legislative priorities including energy market reform. Margaret Ounsley, head of public affairs at WWF-UK, said “There is much that is encouraging here, with legislation to help green the power sector, and to protect our precious rivers and streams; we now just need to make sure that what is being suggested will work.” Draft Water Bill [Updated 10/5/12] Commenting on the Draft Water Bill, Rose Timlett, WWF-UK’s freshwater expert, said: “With half the country in drought and aquifer levels still resoundingly low, time is running out for the Government to take action on water. The Water Bill ignored the need to reform the water abstraction system, a system that is currently unfair, out of date and a threat to our rivers and wildlife. “Government also failed to cut through the red tape preventing water companies from installing water meters, a move that would save most consumers money, help save England’s precious environment from drought now and in the future, and save huge amounts of water from being wasted.” Energy Bill Commenting on the Energy Bill, Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF-UK, said: “Reform of the UK energy market should be one of the Government’s highest priorities. Backing jobs and investment in the renewable energy sector is also a golden opportunity for growth that the government should be grabbing with both hands. “Four years ago David Cameron said that we can’t afford not to go green and nowhere is that truer than the energy sector. Energy investors are demanding a strong policy framework in support of renewables and a decisive shift away from fossil fuels – so this Bill simply has to deliver. "While it is great that the Government have accepted the principle of legislating for carbon emissions; the way it is currently drawn up simply won’t work. You are not on a diet if you allow yourself 5000 calories a day. You shouldn't be surprised if it has no effect." Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill Commenting on the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill, Mark Driscoll, One Planet Food Lead at WWF-UK, said: “WWF would like to see the immediate Implementation of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) to police the new Groceries Supply Code of Practice, intended to stamp out abuses in supply chain power. We want to make sure that retailers don’t treat producers unfairly and abuse their power by transferring excessive risks or unexpected costs onto their suppliers. “These sorts of pressures are bad for producers, bad for consumers and ultimately bad for the environment as they can lead to lower quality goods, higher costs for consumers and lower returns for farmers who need to make investment in more sustainable faming technologies.” ENDS For more information: George Smeeton, Senior Press Officer WWF-UK, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a>   " } [10]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(53) "Investors play a crucial role in sustainable palm oil" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5961" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(4988) "Singapore - WWF is urging investors to do more to promote sustainable palm oil, backed by findings from a new survey released during a high-level meeting of investors and producers in Singapore.WWF’s first-of-its-kind Palm Oil Investor Review 2012 surveyed 35 key palm oil sector investors to assess how they are managing the challenges associated with sustainable palm oil and outlines the role they can play in moving the industry toward greater sustainability. “Investors are uniquely placed to influence the growers they invest in to adopt sustainable practices through active engagement and by the exercise of proxy voting rights, as well as through directing their investment capital towards sustainable palm oil producers,” said Adam Harrison, WWF’s Palm Oil Lead who attended the launch of the report. Key recommendations The review recommends that investors incorporate environment, social and governance (ESG) issues into ownership polices and engage more actively with investee companies across the supply chain to get them to make commitments to certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO). Investors and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) should also develop much deeper engagement to realize mutual benefits. In addition, investors should pressure stock exchanges to mandate minimum reporting requirements for high impact sectors like palm oil. “Understanding the dynamics at play is key to harnessing the power of investors to shape the palm oil industry. Given the strong link between sustainability and investment success, investors need to highlight to investee companies that integrating sustainability into the core strategy and operations allows them to derive business benefits, access a broader pool of capital and deliver better investment performance,” said Jeanne Stampe, WWF Finance manager and co-author of the report. The review also calls for the RSPO to support investors that want to act responsibly by educating its financial members about the palm oil sector and the costs and benefits of RSPO certification. This includes helping them develop and share best practice tools as well as publishing uniform data on how palm oil supply chain companies are performing against ESG issues. The sustainable palm oil challenge More than 50 million tonnes of palm oil are used worldwide each year in everyday products including food and cosmetics. From 2010 to 2020, this volume is projected to increase by over 65%. The growing demand for palm oil has resulted in rapid and poorly managed expansion of production, causing deforestation, species loss, greenhouse gas emissions and social conflicts with local communities. Breaking down the barriers Investors can help mitigate these problems. However, the survey shows there are hurdles to overcome as investors face internal organizational and capacity constraints in addressing ESG risks. Investors also need more disclosure, transparency and access to ESG research in order to have productive engagement with their investee companies on sustainability issues. The review recommends potential solutions to these hurdles. WWF support WWF has been active in the palm oil financing arena for the past five years, and will continue to support the financial sector to drive sustainability in palm oil production by providing information and guidance through tools, research updates, and workshops with finance sector partners. “The palm oil sector presents an attractive growth proposition for investors, but ESG issues and the lack of company disclosure still cloud the ability of many to invest,” said Jeanne Stampe. ”If we all – investors, the RSPO and stakeholders such as WWF – work together, we can ensure that the palm oil industry expands in a sustainable way, so that long-term investment returns are enhanced and emerging economies benefit from sustainable development.” ENDS Notes to editors The full version of Palm Oil Investor Review 2012 is available for download at <a href="http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_palmoil_investorreview.pdf ">http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_palmoil_investorreview.pdf </a> For further information: Chris Chaplin - media officer Asia Pacific, WWF International, +86 10 6511 6272, Mobile: +86 13911747472, <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(99,99,104,97,112,108,105,110,64,119,119,102,46,115,103,32)+'?')">cchaplin@wwf.sg </a> George Smeeton – WWF-UK, +44 (0)1483 412 388, M: +44 (0)7917 052 948, <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(103,115,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107,32)+'?')">gsmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-30" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4988) "Singapore - WWF is urging investors to do more to promote sustainable palm oil, backed by findings from a new survey released during a high-level meeting of investors and producers in Singapore.WWF’s first-of-its-kind Palm Oil Investor Review 2012 surveyed 35 key palm oil sector investors to assess how they are managing the challenges associated with sustainable palm oil and outlines the role they can play in moving the industry toward greater sustainability. “Investors are uniquely placed to influence the growers they invest in to adopt sustainable practices through active engagement and by the exercise of proxy voting rights, as well as through directing their investment capital towards sustainable palm oil producers,” said Adam Harrison, WWF’s Palm Oil Lead who attended the launch of the report. Key recommendations The review recommends that investors incorporate environment, social and governance (ESG) issues into ownership polices and engage more actively with investee companies across the supply chain to get them to make commitments to certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO). Investors and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) should also develop much deeper engagement to realize mutual benefits. In addition, investors should pressure stock exchanges to mandate minimum reporting requirements for high impact sectors like palm oil. “Understanding the dynamics at play is key to harnessing the power of investors to shape the palm oil industry. Given the strong link between sustainability and investment success, investors need to highlight to investee companies that integrating sustainability into the core strategy and operations allows them to derive business benefits, access a broader pool of capital and deliver better investment performance,” said Jeanne Stampe, WWF Finance manager and co-author of the report. The review also calls for the RSPO to support investors that want to act responsibly by educating its financial members about the palm oil sector and the costs and benefits of RSPO certification. This includes helping them develop and share best practice tools as well as publishing uniform data on how palm oil supply chain companies are performing against ESG issues. The sustainable palm oil challenge More than 50 million tonnes of palm oil are used worldwide each year in everyday products including food and cosmetics. From 2010 to 2020, this volume is projected to increase by over 65%. The growing demand for palm oil has resulted in rapid and poorly managed expansion of production, causing deforestation, species loss, greenhouse gas emissions and social conflicts with local communities. Breaking down the barriers Investors can help mitigate these problems. However, the survey shows there are hurdles to overcome as investors face internal organizational and capacity constraints in addressing ESG risks. Investors also need more disclosure, transparency and access to ESG research in order to have productive engagement with their investee companies on sustainability issues. The review recommends potential solutions to these hurdles. WWF support WWF has been active in the palm oil financing arena for the past five years, and will continue to support the financial sector to drive sustainability in palm oil production by providing information and guidance through tools, research updates, and workshops with finance sector partners. “The palm oil sector presents an attractive growth proposition for investors, but ESG issues and the lack of company disclosure still cloud the ability of many to invest,” said Jeanne Stampe. ”If we all – investors, the RSPO and stakeholders such as WWF – work together, we can ensure that the palm oil industry expands in a sustainable way, so that long-term investment returns are enhanced and emerging economies benefit from sustainable development.” ENDS Notes to editors The full version of Palm Oil Investor Review 2012 is available for download at <a href="http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_palmoil_investorreview.pdf ">http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_palmoil_investorreview.pdf </a> For further information: Chris Chaplin - media officer Asia Pacific, WWF International, +86 10 6511 6272, Mobile: +86 13911747472, <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(99,99,104,97,112,108,105,110,64,119,119,102,46,115,103,32)+'?')">cchaplin@wwf.sg </a> George Smeeton – WWF-UK, +44 (0)1483 412 388, M: +44 (0)7917 052 948, <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(103,115,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107,32)+'?')">gsmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a> " } [11]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(64) "World's most endangered leopard shows signs of recovery in China" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5962" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(4980) "The critically endangered Amur leopard population is increasing n the wild in Northeast China’s Jilin Province, and now numbers between 8 and 11 individuals, according to findings from a new survey.The results from the first-ever study to exclusively examine Amur leopards, which was a collaborative project carried out by the Jilin Province Department of Forestry, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), shows that traces of the rare big cats are now being found over a much larger area, both in and outside of northeast China’s Hunchun and Wangqing Nature Reserves, covering about 4100km2 “The Amur leopard is critically endangered, and this research into population monitoring, habitat restoration and population migration is key to the survival of the species,” said the head of WWF-China’s Northeast Programme Office, Dr Zhu Jiang. The Amur leopard is incredibly rare in the wild, and is the most endangered feline in the world, surpassing even the Amur tiger in rarity. Less than 50 now live in north eastern China and the Russian Far East. Survey brings clarity Compared to data from a 1998-1999 survey on tigers - which also picked up traces of Amur leopards - the new study found evidence that the leopard’s distribution area in China expanded further to the northwest of Jilin province and towards the Sino-Russian border in the east. This represents an area 3-4 times bigger than previous findings, and a leopard population that’s 1.8 times larger than previously recorded. “The results of this new survey show even more clearly that the Hunchun-Wangqing habitat is an important one for the Amur leopard, and that the nearby Changbai Mountain leopard population is essential to support the continued survival of the Russian Far East population group. The two areas are indispensible to the recovery of the global Amur leopard population, and are the greatest hope for expanding both the population and the habitat of the species,” said Dr. Zhu Jiang. First known survey on China’s wild Amur leopard population This is the first time China has conducted a survey that exclusively focuses on Amur leopard population numbers, habitat location and habitat size in Jilin Province. The next stage, says Jilin Forestry Department’s Senior Engineer and Tiger-Leopard Programme Officer Jiang Jinsong, will cover a larger area, using infrared camera traps and DNA monitoring technology. “Based on the results of this survey, the first trial areas will be the Hunchun and Wangqing reserves, where constant collection of information on individuals as well as monitoring of activity patterns among the general population will serve to build up a core of information on the settled Amur leopard and Siberian tiger populations,” said Jiang Jinsong. WWF’s role WWF will work with the Jilin Forestry Department, Hunchun Nature Reserve and Wangqing Forestry Bureau to continue monitoring population trends, assess habitat quality and the restoration of prey species. WWF will also maintain its contributions to the development of monitoring technology and anti-poaching management to help restore the Amur leopard population in China. -ENDS- Notes to Editors The survey was a collaborative project carried out by the Jilin Province Department of Forestry, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) between 9th February and 27th February in the Hunchun and Wangqing areas of Jilin. It used a 319.4 km2 sample area and employed similar methods to the 1998 – 1999 survey, with the addition of questionnaires and interviews as well as data from infrared monitoring. About Amur leopards The Amur leopard (Pathera pardus orientalis) is native to Northeast Asia, and is also known as the Far Eastern leopard. The Amur leopard is incredibly rare in the wild, and the species is the most endangered feline in the world, surpassing even the Amur tiger in rarity. In addition to the 8-11 individuals in China’s Jilin province, 3 – 5 are thought to be living in neighbouring Heilongjiang province, according to 1999 figures. As few as 35 Amur leopards live in the Russian Far East. Since 2009, WWF has worked with the Wangqing Forestry Bureau and set up two demonstration sites for in-situ conservation of tigers and leopards. In September 2011, a wild Amur leopard was spotted by an automatic infrared camera set up by WWF at Wang Qing Nature Reserve, the first time ever such a photo taken for Amur leopard in China. For more information contact: ________________________________________ Johannah Sargent Senior Media Relations Manager WWF-UK tel: 01483 412 375 mob: 07867 697 519 " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-27" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4980) "The critically endangered Amur leopard population is increasing n the wild in Northeast China’s Jilin Province, and now numbers between 8 and 11 individuals, according to findings from a new survey.The results from the first-ever study to exclusively examine Amur leopards, which was a collaborative project carried out by the Jilin Province Department of Forestry, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), shows that traces of the rare big cats are now being found over a much larger area, both in and outside of northeast China’s Hunchun and Wangqing Nature Reserves, covering about 4100km2 “The Amur leopard is critically endangered, and this research into population monitoring, habitat restoration and population migration is key to the survival of the species,” said the head of WWF-China’s Northeast Programme Office, Dr Zhu Jiang. The Amur leopard is incredibly rare in the wild, and is the most endangered feline in the world, surpassing even the Amur tiger in rarity. Less than 50 now live in north eastern China and the Russian Far East. Survey brings clarity Compared to data from a 1998-1999 survey on tigers - which also picked up traces of Amur leopards - the new study found evidence that the leopard’s distribution area in China expanded further to the northwest of Jilin province and towards the Sino-Russian border in the east. This represents an area 3-4 times bigger than previous findings, and a leopard population that’s 1.8 times larger than previously recorded. “The results of this new survey show even more clearly that the Hunchun-Wangqing habitat is an important one for the Amur leopard, and that the nearby Changbai Mountain leopard population is essential to support the continued survival of the Russian Far East population group. The two areas are indispensible to the recovery of the global Amur leopard population, and are the greatest hope for expanding both the population and the habitat of the species,” said Dr. Zhu Jiang. First known survey on China’s wild Amur leopard population This is the first time China has conducted a survey that exclusively focuses on Amur leopard population numbers, habitat location and habitat size in Jilin Province. The next stage, says Jilin Forestry Department’s Senior Engineer and Tiger-Leopard Programme Officer Jiang Jinsong, will cover a larger area, using infrared camera traps and DNA monitoring technology. “Based on the results of this survey, the first trial areas will be the Hunchun and Wangqing reserves, where constant collection of information on individuals as well as monitoring of activity patterns among the general population will serve to build up a core of information on the settled Amur leopard and Siberian tiger populations,” said Jiang Jinsong. WWF’s role WWF will work with the Jilin Forestry Department, Hunchun Nature Reserve and Wangqing Forestry Bureau to continue monitoring population trends, assess habitat quality and the restoration of prey species. WWF will also maintain its contributions to the development of monitoring technology and anti-poaching management to help restore the Amur leopard population in China. -ENDS- Notes to Editors The survey was a collaborative project carried out by the Jilin Province Department of Forestry, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) between 9th February and 27th February in the Hunchun and Wangqing areas of Jilin. It used a 319.4 km2 sample area and employed similar methods to the 1998 – 1999 survey, with the addition of questionnaires and interviews as well as data from infrared monitoring. About Amur leopards The Amur leopard (Pathera pardus orientalis) is native to Northeast Asia, and is also known as the Far Eastern leopard. The Amur leopard is incredibly rare in the wild, and the species is the most endangered feline in the world, surpassing even the Amur tiger in rarity. In addition to the 8-11 individuals in China’s Jilin province, 3 – 5 are thought to be living in neighbouring Heilongjiang province, according to 1999 figures. As few as 35 Amur leopards live in the Russian Far East. Since 2009, WWF has worked with the Wangqing Forestry Bureau and set up two demonstration sites for in-situ conservation of tigers and leopards. In September 2011, a wild Amur leopard was spotted by an automatic infrared camera set up by WWF at Wang Qing Nature Reserve, the first time ever such a photo taken for Amur leopard in China. For more information contact: ________________________________________ Johannah Sargent Senior Media Relations Manager WWF-UK tel: 01483 412 375 mob: 07867 697 519 " } [12]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(79) "Revised Brazilian Forest Code Good for Environmental Criminals, Bad for Forests" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5934" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(5279) "Brazil’s Congress passed legislation late last night that strips the Amazon and other key regions of critical environmental protections, and grants amnesty to individuals accused of past illegal deforestation.WWF condemns the new Forest Code bill, driven by retrograde sectors of Brazil’s powerful agribusiness industry, for its failure to account for severe social and environmental costs. Since 2006, Brazil has demonstrated that it can dramatically reduce its rate of deforestation while increasing agricultural production and reducing poverty. This bill threatens hard-won gains for both the environment and Brazilian society. The bill now goes before President Dilma Rousseff, who will have 15 days to decide whether or not to sign it into national law or apply veto power to the full text or parts of it. “President Rousseff made a promise that she would not tolerate laws promoting new waves of deforestation or amnesty for past forest crimes. She knows these changes are bad for Brazil and bad for the environment. We ask her to uphold her promises,” said Maria Cecilia Wey de Brito, CEO of WWF-Brazil. The proposed amnesties would not only free environmental criminals from prosecution, but also forfeit an estimated US$4.8 billion in fines. “WWF looks to President Rousseff to resist the short-sighted and senseless reform to the forest law that has been passed by the Brazilian House of Representatives today,” said Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International. “In a year that will see world political, business and civil society leaders gather in Rio de Janeiro for the UN Summit on Sustainable Development, it would be a shame indeed for Brazil to surrender its position as a global leader in forest conservation. I urge the president to vigorously resist the most egregious elements of the new law, for the future of Brazil’s economy, its natural heritage and its people,” said Leape. WWF has highlighted the worst impacts of the proposed forest law reform, as well as viable alternatives – such as smarter land-use planning and compensating landowners for environmental services – that would optimise forest management, while minimising negative repercussions on precious and fragile natural resources. Negative elements of the proposed amendment to the Forest Code: • The draft amendment notably complicates Brazil’s forest legislation, making it nearly impossible to implement and enforce. • Millions of acres illegally cleared prior to 2008 will be legalized through amnesty, resulting in a forfeiture of fines worth an estimated US$4.8 billion. • In the Amazon region, landowners could be allowed to reduce the obligatory required forest cover from 80% to 50%. • Up to 90% of private properties in Brazil could be pardoned from the standing obligation to restore illegally cleared areas. • Large areas of floodplains and other sensitive areas will be opened to cattle ranching and farming. Forecasted consequences • According to Brazil’s government-led research organization IPEA (Institute for Applied Economic Research), the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares (190 million acres) of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere. • Brazil’s economy, and in particular its agribusiness sector, will suffer from damaged global reputation, decreased access to markets for sustainably-sourced goods, and higher production costs as a consequence of increased erosion and greater need for fertilizers and/or pesticides. • Brazil will likely fail to meet its own international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation rates. Alternatives to reduced environmental protections • Land-use planning for up to 61 million hectares (150 million acres) of underproductive pastures, which are readily available for cultivation without additional deforestation. • Increase the efficiency of Brazil’s livestock sector. • Introduction of a strategy for sustainable production in Brazil’s farming and livestock sectors. • Implementation and increase of national and international mechanisms for compensation to landowners for environmental services. For further information: In Brazil: Regina Cavini, Tel: +55 61 3364 7480; Mobile: +55 61 8165 6812; <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(114,101,103,105,110,97,99,97,118,105,110,105,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,98,114)+'?')">reginacavini@wwf.org.br </a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-26" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(5279) "Brazil’s Congress passed legislation late last night that strips the Amazon and other key regions of critical environmental protections, and grants amnesty to individuals accused of past illegal deforestation.WWF condemns the new Forest Code bill, driven by retrograde sectors of Brazil’s powerful agribusiness industry, for its failure to account for severe social and environmental costs. Since 2006, Brazil has demonstrated that it can dramatically reduce its rate of deforestation while increasing agricultural production and reducing poverty. This bill threatens hard-won gains for both the environment and Brazilian society. The bill now goes before President Dilma Rousseff, who will have 15 days to decide whether or not to sign it into national law or apply veto power to the full text or parts of it. “President Rousseff made a promise that she would not tolerate laws promoting new waves of deforestation or amnesty for past forest crimes. She knows these changes are bad for Brazil and bad for the environment. We ask her to uphold her promises,” said Maria Cecilia Wey de Brito, CEO of WWF-Brazil. The proposed amnesties would not only free environmental criminals from prosecution, but also forfeit an estimated US$4.8 billion in fines. “WWF looks to President Rousseff to resist the short-sighted and senseless reform to the forest law that has been passed by the Brazilian House of Representatives today,” said Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International. “In a year that will see world political, business and civil society leaders gather in Rio de Janeiro for the UN Summit on Sustainable Development, it would be a shame indeed for Brazil to surrender its position as a global leader in forest conservation. I urge the president to vigorously resist the most egregious elements of the new law, for the future of Brazil’s economy, its natural heritage and its people,” said Leape. WWF has highlighted the worst impacts of the proposed forest law reform, as well as viable alternatives – such as smarter land-use planning and compensating landowners for environmental services – that would optimise forest management, while minimising negative repercussions on precious and fragile natural resources. Negative elements of the proposed amendment to the Forest Code: • The draft amendment notably complicates Brazil’s forest legislation, making it nearly impossible to implement and enforce. • Millions of acres illegally cleared prior to 2008 will be legalized through amnesty, resulting in a forfeiture of fines worth an estimated US$4.8 billion. • In the Amazon region, landowners could be allowed to reduce the obligatory required forest cover from 80% to 50%. • Up to 90% of private properties in Brazil could be pardoned from the standing obligation to restore illegally cleared areas. • Large areas of floodplains and other sensitive areas will be opened to cattle ranching and farming. Forecasted consequences • According to Brazil’s government-led research organization IPEA (Institute for Applied Economic Research), the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares (190 million acres) of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere. • Brazil’s economy, and in particular its agribusiness sector, will suffer from damaged global reputation, decreased access to markets for sustainably-sourced goods, and higher production costs as a consequence of increased erosion and greater need for fertilizers and/or pesticides. • Brazil will likely fail to meet its own international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation rates. Alternatives to reduced environmental protections • Land-use planning for up to 61 million hectares (150 million acres) of underproductive pastures, which are readily available for cultivation without additional deforestation. • Increase the efficiency of Brazil’s livestock sector. • Introduction of a strategy for sustainable production in Brazil’s farming and livestock sectors. • Implementation and increase of national and international mechanisms for compensation to landowners for environmental services. For further information: In Brazil: Regina Cavini, Tel: +55 61 3364 7480; Mobile: +55 61 8165 6812; <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(114,101,103,105,110,97,99,97,118,105,110,105,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,98,114)+'?')">reginacavini@wwf.org.br </a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. " } [13]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(49) "Cameron comments on renewables a ‘damp squib’" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5928" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(3319) "Responding to comments by David Cameron at the start of the final day of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) in London today, WWF said it was imperative the Prime Minister boosts investor confidence in renewables and provides policy clarity to businesses.Commenting on the Prime Minister's statement, David Nussbaum, chief executive at WWF-UK, said: “We were led to expect a major policy intervention on the environment, a keynote speech, from the Prime Minister this week, only for his speech to be suddenly downgraded; what we got today was a damp squib. "We heard yesterday from ministers in countries like Germany and Denmark who clearly get the scale of the challenge and the opportunity, but it's not clear this government does. They are talking in terms of hundreds of thousands of new jobs in the renewable energy sector, whereas the PM today was only talking about a few hundred. “We agree that renewables must be 'financially sustainable', but businesses and investors need consistent messages from across government, and not the series of ill-judged attacks in recent months, including from the Prime Minister’s own Treasury and some backbenchers." David Nussbaum, who yesterday chaired an event at the start of CEM3 featuring climate change and energy minister Greg Barker and ministers from Germany and Denmark, noted that on a WWF trip to Svalbard in the Arctic six years ago, Cameron had spoken passionately the urgent need to tackle climate change and decarbonise our societies. He said: “Back in 2006 we in WWF were really inspired by David Cameron's commitment to environmental issues in opposition, and struck by his assertion that we couldn't abandon environmental concerns due to austerity. Six years on we’re still waiting for a major speech on the environment from David Cameron, but this wasn't it.” ENDS Notes to editors 1. The third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) is taking place in London on 25–26 April 2012, during which David Cameron was expected to deliver his first major speech on the environment since becoming Prime Minister: <a href="http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/">http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/</a>   2. WWF-UK hosted a press conference on global clean energy at the start of CEM3 on 25 April at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It was chaired by David Nussbaum (WWF-UK) and was attended by UK Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, Leader of WWF-International’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative Samantha Smith, Denmark’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Martin Lidegaard and Germany’s Deputy Director General International Cooperation Dr Karten Sach. 3. DECC: Prime Minister heralds rapid progress of the UK's green economy and outlines his vision for the future (26.04.12): <a href="http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_054/pn12_054.aspx">http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_054/pn12_054.aspx</a>   For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a>   " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-26" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(3319) "Responding to comments by David Cameron at the start of the final day of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) in London today, WWF said it was imperative the Prime Minister boosts investor confidence in renewables and provides policy clarity to businesses.Commenting on the Prime Minister's statement, David Nussbaum, chief executive at WWF-UK, said: “We were led to expect a major policy intervention on the environment, a keynote speech, from the Prime Minister this week, only for his speech to be suddenly downgraded; what we got today was a damp squib. "We heard yesterday from ministers in countries like Germany and Denmark who clearly get the scale of the challenge and the opportunity, but it's not clear this government does. They are talking in terms of hundreds of thousands of new jobs in the renewable energy sector, whereas the PM today was only talking about a few hundred. “We agree that renewables must be 'financially sustainable', but businesses and investors need consistent messages from across government, and not the series of ill-judged attacks in recent months, including from the Prime Minister’s own Treasury and some backbenchers." David Nussbaum, who yesterday chaired an event at the start of CEM3 featuring climate change and energy minister Greg Barker and ministers from Germany and Denmark, noted that on a WWF trip to Svalbard in the Arctic six years ago, Cameron had spoken passionately the urgent need to tackle climate change and decarbonise our societies. He said: “Back in 2006 we in WWF were really inspired by David Cameron's commitment to environmental issues in opposition, and struck by his assertion that we couldn't abandon environmental concerns due to austerity. Six years on we’re still waiting for a major speech on the environment from David Cameron, but this wasn't it.” ENDS Notes to editors 1. The third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) is taking place in London on 25–26 April 2012, during which David Cameron was expected to deliver his first major speech on the environment since becoming Prime Minister: <a href="http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/">http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/</a>   2. WWF-UK hosted a press conference on global clean energy at the start of CEM3 on 25 April at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It was chaired by David Nussbaum (WWF-UK) and was attended by UK Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, Leader of WWF-International’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative Samantha Smith, Denmark’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Martin Lidegaard and Germany’s Deputy Director General International Cooperation Dr Karten Sach. 3. DECC: Prime Minister heralds rapid progress of the UK's green economy and outlines his vision for the future (26.04.12): <a href="http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_054/pn12_054.aspx">http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_054/pn12_054.aspx</a>   For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a>   " } [14]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(41) "Crucial rhino poaching case delayed again" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5924" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(4833) "Eleven people are charged with illegal trade, fraud and the killing of 20 rhinos in South Africa The case against suspected rhino poaching kingpin Dawie Groenewald, his wife and their alleged co-accused has been postponed to October by South African magistrates. The so-called ‘Groenewald Gang’ appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo yesterday. They face hundreds of charges under South Africa’s Biodiversity Act, Medicines and Related Substances Act and the Act on the Prevention of Organized Crime. The eleven suspects are believed to have killed 20 rhinos and are accused of illegal hunting, weapons and permit violations, illegally trading rhino horn, as well as fraud, racketeering and money laundering. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the delay is to give the defence more time to finalise their application on further particulars on the charges. “A high level of criminal sophistication was required to orchestrate the killing of these rhinos, but this case demonstrates that no one is above the law” said the head of WWF’s African Rhino Programme, Dr Joseph Okori. “The world is watching and waiting for justice to be served.” The carcasses of 20 rhinos were found buried on Groenewald’s property in late 2010. The rhinos were missing their horns, which are of high value on black markets in Asia, particularly Vietnam. Groenewald and his wife operate a safari tour company and according to investigators, they are said to be the masterminds behind the killings. Other suspects in the case include veterinarians and veterinary assistants, professional hunters and a helicopter pilot. Rhino poaching in South Africa has spiked in recent years driven by demand for rhino horn in Asia. So far this year 181 rhinos have been killed in the country, according to statistics released last week by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, which also warned that Kruger National Park has already lost 111 rhinos this year. If not curbed, poaching rates could exceed the record 448 rhino deaths that occurred in South Africa in 2011. WWF South Africa chief executive, Morné du Plessis said: “WWF is as impatient as the majority of the public about the delays in the process but we respect that justice has to follow its course.” WWF works with the South African government and the NPA to improve forensic investigation of rhino crime scenes and to improve the knowledge and skills of the people who prosecute rhino crimes. “We will continue to watch this case closely,” du Plessis concluded. - ends - High resolution photos are available here: <a href="https://photos.panda.org/gpn/external?albumId=4171">https://photos.panda.org/gpn/external?albumId=4171</a> For more information and interview requests: Giulia Biasibetti | WWF Press Office | 01483 412490 | <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(103,98,105,97,115,105,98,101,116,116,105,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">gbiasibetti@wwf.org.uk</a> Note to editors: • Historically, rhino horn has been used in traditional medicine to treat fever, and is sometimes carved for ornamental purposes. The use for rhino horn as a purported cancer treatment in Vietnam has further stimulated demand, despite the absence of scientific support for the claim. Rhino horn has never been used as an aphrodisiac. • South Africa is home to about 21,000 of Africa’s 25,000 rhinos, and a quarter of the country’s rhinos are privately owned. WWF supports the creation of a comprehensive rhino registry to track the location and status of all African rhinos. • To help increase the number of critically endangered black rhinos, WWF has invested in range expansion. So far six founder populations of black rhino have been released into new sites through the project. Just in South Africa nearly 100 black rhino have been translocated and more than 30 calves have been born. • World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is one of the world's largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. We're working to create solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature can thrive. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, tacking climate change and changing the way we live. Find out more about our work, past and present at <a href="http://www.wwf.org.uk">www.wwf.org.uk</a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-25" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4833) "Eleven people are charged with illegal trade, fraud and the killing of 20 rhinos in South Africa The case against suspected rhino poaching kingpin Dawie Groenewald, his wife and their alleged co-accused has been postponed to October by South African magistrates. The so-called ‘Groenewald Gang’ appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo yesterday. They face hundreds of charges under South Africa’s Biodiversity Act, Medicines and Related Substances Act and the Act on the Prevention of Organized Crime. The eleven suspects are believed to have killed 20 rhinos and are accused of illegal hunting, weapons and permit violations, illegally trading rhino horn, as well as fraud, racketeering and money laundering. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the delay is to give the defence more time to finalise their application on further particulars on the charges. “A high level of criminal sophistication was required to orchestrate the killing of these rhinos, but this case demonstrates that no one is above the law” said the head of WWF’s African Rhino Programme, Dr Joseph Okori. “The world is watching and waiting for justice to be served.” The carcasses of 20 rhinos were found buried on Groenewald’s property in late 2010. The rhinos were missing their horns, which are of high value on black markets in Asia, particularly Vietnam. Groenewald and his wife operate a safari tour company and according to investigators, they are said to be the masterminds behind the killings. Other suspects in the case include veterinarians and veterinary assistants, professional hunters and a helicopter pilot. Rhino poaching in South Africa has spiked in recent years driven by demand for rhino horn in Asia. So far this year 181 rhinos have been killed in the country, according to statistics released last week by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, which also warned that Kruger National Park has already lost 111 rhinos this year. If not curbed, poaching rates could exceed the record 448 rhino deaths that occurred in South Africa in 2011. WWF South Africa chief executive, Morné du Plessis said: “WWF is as impatient as the majority of the public about the delays in the process but we respect that justice has to follow its course.” WWF works with the South African government and the NPA to improve forensic investigation of rhino crime scenes and to improve the knowledge and skills of the people who prosecute rhino crimes. “We will continue to watch this case closely,” du Plessis concluded. - ends - High resolution photos are available here: <a href="https://photos.panda.org/gpn/external?albumId=4171">https://photos.panda.org/gpn/external?albumId=4171</a> For more information and interview requests: Giulia Biasibetti | WWF Press Office | 01483 412490 | <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(103,98,105,97,115,105,98,101,116,116,105,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">gbiasibetti@wwf.org.uk</a> Note to editors: • Historically, rhino horn has been used in traditional medicine to treat fever, and is sometimes carved for ornamental purposes. The use for rhino horn as a purported cancer treatment in Vietnam has further stimulated demand, despite the absence of scientific support for the claim. Rhino horn has never been used as an aphrodisiac. • South Africa is home to about 21,000 of Africa’s 25,000 rhinos, and a quarter of the country’s rhinos are privately owned. WWF supports the creation of a comprehensive rhino registry to track the location and status of all African rhinos. • To help increase the number of critically endangered black rhinos, WWF has invested in range expansion. So far six founder populations of black rhino have been released into new sites through the project. Just in South Africa nearly 100 black rhino have been translocated and more than 30 calves have been born. • World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is one of the world's largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. We're working to create solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature can thrive. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, tacking climate change and changing the way we live. Find out more about our work, past and present at <a href="http://www.wwf.org.uk">www.wwf.org.uk</a> " } [15]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(47) "Renewable energy is an ‘absolute necessity’" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5918" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(4880) "~ WWF today hosted a press conference at the Foreign Office with Ministers from the UK, Denmark and Germany. Broad cast quality footage and images of this morning's press conference are available on request. WWF spokespeople available in London for interview or comment~Speaking at the start of the Clean Energy Ministerial, taking place in London this week [1], Samantha Smith, leader of the Global Climate and Energy Initiative at WWF-International, who accompanied David Cameron to the Arctic some six years ago to witness the impacts of climate change first hand, said that without major investment in renewable energy the world risked lock-in to high-carbon infrastructure for decades to come. Samantha Smith, who was speaking alongside UK Climate Change Minister Greg Barker and ministers from Denmark and Germany [2], said: “The International Energy Agency warned this morning that failure to invest urgently in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies could lock the world into temperature increases of up to 6˚C, substantially above the global goal to prevent temperature rises of more than 2˚C. To address this threat, decarbonising our energy systems and moving towards renewable forms of energy is an absolute necessity.” “But it is also an opportunity too. WWF research [3] shows that a large-scale transition to renewable energy globally can be done with today’s technology, to provide energy for the entire world’s population. “Countries like Mexico, which recently followed the UK and Scotland’s lead in passing a climate law, can see that ending poverty and growing their economy will be much harder unless the threat of climate change is addressed. What’s needed now is for countries like the US and Canada to follow their lead and embrace renewable energy too.” Ministers from Denmark and Germany stressed the urgency with which investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency had to be made. They also explained that the ambitious national renewable energy and energy efficiency targets set by both countries for 2020 and beyond [4] would help them be early movers in new clean energy technologies and reap the substantial economic growth benefits which come with international leadership. Greg Barker, UK Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: “We are committed to ensuring the UK meets its 2050 climate objective, which has been designed to limit global temperature increases to around 2 degrees. In order to reduce our emissions by 80% by 2050, we need to accelerate progress in the development of clean energy technologies. “This week we will be signing a number of agreements with visiting Ministers, and encouraging the private sector to bring forward investments to help develop renewables, energy efficiency and entrepreneurship at a faster rate”. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) takes place in London on 25–26 April 2012: <a href="http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/">http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/</a> 2. WWF-UK hosted a press conference on global clean energy on Wednesday 25 April, 08.00-08.45, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Media Suite. It was chaired by David Nussbaum (WWF-UK) with UK Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, Leader of WWF-International’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative Samantha Smith, Denmark’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Martin Lidegaard and Germany’s Deputy Director General International Cooperation Dr Karten Sach. 3. WWF’s Energy Report, presents a scenario, set in 2050, of a world run entirely on renewable energy: <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/climate_carbon_energy/energy_solutions/renewable_energy/sustainable_energy_report/">http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/climate_carbon_energy/energy_solutions/renewable_energy/sustainable_energy_report/</a>   4. The Danish Energy Agreement, backed by 95% of Danish MPs, provides for 35% of Denmark’s overall energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020, with a target for 50% of the country’s electricity consumption to come from wind power alone by 2020 and 100% of the country’s energy needs to come from renewable sources by 2035. Germany’s Energy Concept plan provides for 35% of electricity consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020, with a target for 80% of electricity consumption to come from renewables by 2050. For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a>   " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-25" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(4880) "~ WWF today hosted a press conference at the Foreign Office with Ministers from the UK, Denmark and Germany. Broad cast quality footage and images of this morning's press conference are available on request. WWF spokespeople available in London for interview or comment~Speaking at the start of the Clean Energy Ministerial, taking place in London this week [1], Samantha Smith, leader of the Global Climate and Energy Initiative at WWF-International, who accompanied David Cameron to the Arctic some six years ago to witness the impacts of climate change first hand, said that without major investment in renewable energy the world risked lock-in to high-carbon infrastructure for decades to come. Samantha Smith, who was speaking alongside UK Climate Change Minister Greg Barker and ministers from Denmark and Germany [2], said: “The International Energy Agency warned this morning that failure to invest urgently in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies could lock the world into temperature increases of up to 6˚C, substantially above the global goal to prevent temperature rises of more than 2˚C. To address this threat, decarbonising our energy systems and moving towards renewable forms of energy is an absolute necessity.” “But it is also an opportunity too. WWF research [3] shows that a large-scale transition to renewable energy globally can be done with today’s technology, to provide energy for the entire world’s population. “Countries like Mexico, which recently followed the UK and Scotland’s lead in passing a climate law, can see that ending poverty and growing their economy will be much harder unless the threat of climate change is addressed. What’s needed now is for countries like the US and Canada to follow their lead and embrace renewable energy too.” Ministers from Denmark and Germany stressed the urgency with which investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency had to be made. They also explained that the ambitious national renewable energy and energy efficiency targets set by both countries for 2020 and beyond [4] would help them be early movers in new clean energy technologies and reap the substantial economic growth benefits which come with international leadership. Greg Barker, UK Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: “We are committed to ensuring the UK meets its 2050 climate objective, which has been designed to limit global temperature increases to around 2 degrees. In order to reduce our emissions by 80% by 2050, we need to accelerate progress in the development of clean energy technologies. “This week we will be signing a number of agreements with visiting Ministers, and encouraging the private sector to bring forward investments to help develop renewables, energy efficiency and entrepreneurship at a faster rate”. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) takes place in London on 25–26 April 2012: <a href="http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/">http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/</a> 2. WWF-UK hosted a press conference on global clean energy on Wednesday 25 April, 08.00-08.45, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Media Suite. It was chaired by David Nussbaum (WWF-UK) with UK Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, Leader of WWF-International’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative Samantha Smith, Denmark’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Martin Lidegaard and Germany’s Deputy Director General International Cooperation Dr Karten Sach. 3. WWF’s Energy Report, presents a scenario, set in 2050, of a world run entirely on renewable energy: <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/climate_carbon_energy/energy_solutions/renewable_energy/sustainable_energy_report/">http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/climate_carbon_energy/energy_solutions/renewable_energy/sustainable_energy_report/</a>   4. The Danish Energy Agreement, backed by 95% of Danish MPs, provides for 35% of Denmark’s overall energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020, with a target for 50% of the country’s electricity consumption to come from wind power alone by 2020 and 100% of the country’s energy needs to come from renewable sources by 2035. Germany’s Energy Concept plan provides for 35% of electricity consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020, with a target for 80% of electricity consumption to come from renewables by 2050. For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a>   " } [16]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(32) "Mexico climate law passes Senate" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5907" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(3355) "WWF-UK today said that the approval of a climate law by the Mexican Senate put the nation at the heart of a small group of innovative countries that are taking firm action against climate change.The unanimous vote of 78 in favour and none against the new law makes Mexico, the UK and Scotland the only three nations to have enacted ambitious and comprehensive approaches to climate change legislation - although others, such as Denmark and Norway, are aiming to follow suit. The new law commits Mexico to cutting its emissions by 50% by 2050 with international support, generating 35% of electricity from clean sources by 2024, making renewables economically competitive, and to a phasing-out of fossil subsidies. Keith Allott, head of climate change, WWF-UK said: “This news from Mexico shows once again the global significance of the UK and Scottish Climate Change Acts. The UK has taken a bold lead on this issue and other countries are now following us, so it is worrying that the UK Government is wobbling on its own climate commitments. Next week, David Cameron must use his first speech on the environment as Prime Minister to steady the ship and ensure that the UK embraces its huge potential to save energy and develop new, clean renewable energy sources.” [1] New law covers deforestation, livelihoods Another key aspect of the Law is its consideration of emissions from deforestation and degradation - the third largest source of greenhouse emissions in the country - and mandating incentives that could improve the conditions of 12 million people living in forested areas across Mexico. The law covers the adaptation of people and ecosystems to climate change, the role natural infrastructure plays in conservation, and seeks to preserve ecosystems as a way to reduce the vulnerability of people to the impacts of climate change. Vanessa Pérez-Cirera, climate director at WWF-Mexico, said: "We are proud of Mexico's legislators from all political parties that looked beyond their party’s interests into the common interest of the Mexicans and Mexico's responsibilities to the world. In the coming six months, legislators must work hard to ensure the most robust regulation for the adequate implementation of the Law. WWF is ready to provide support in this endeavour." ENDS Notes to editors 1. The third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) will take place in London on 25–26 April 2012, during which David Cameron will deliver his first major speech on the environment since becoming Prime Minister: <a href="http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/ ">http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/ </a> For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, senior press officer, WWF-UK, +44 (0)1483 412 388, m: 07917 052 948, <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a> Jatziri Perez, communications director, WWF Mexico: +52 15526990591, <a href="mailto:jperez@wwfmex.org">jperez@wwfmex.org</a>   Jenny Zapata, communications officer, WWF Mexico: + 52 5552865631 ext. 210, <a href="mailto:jzapata@wwfmex.org">jzapata@wwfmex.org</a>   " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-20" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(3355) "WWF-UK today said that the approval of a climate law by the Mexican Senate put the nation at the heart of a small group of innovative countries that are taking firm action against climate change.The unanimous vote of 78 in favour and none against the new law makes Mexico, the UK and Scotland the only three nations to have enacted ambitious and comprehensive approaches to climate change legislation - although others, such as Denmark and Norway, are aiming to follow suit. The new law commits Mexico to cutting its emissions by 50% by 2050 with international support, generating 35% of electricity from clean sources by 2024, making renewables economically competitive, and to a phasing-out of fossil subsidies. Keith Allott, head of climate change, WWF-UK said: “This news from Mexico shows once again the global significance of the UK and Scottish Climate Change Acts. The UK has taken a bold lead on this issue and other countries are now following us, so it is worrying that the UK Government is wobbling on its own climate commitments. Next week, David Cameron must use his first speech on the environment as Prime Minister to steady the ship and ensure that the UK embraces its huge potential to save energy and develop new, clean renewable energy sources.” [1] New law covers deforestation, livelihoods Another key aspect of the Law is its consideration of emissions from deforestation and degradation - the third largest source of greenhouse emissions in the country - and mandating incentives that could improve the conditions of 12 million people living in forested areas across Mexico. The law covers the adaptation of people and ecosystems to climate change, the role natural infrastructure plays in conservation, and seeks to preserve ecosystems as a way to reduce the vulnerability of people to the impacts of climate change. Vanessa Pérez-Cirera, climate director at WWF-Mexico, said: "We are proud of Mexico's legislators from all political parties that looked beyond their party’s interests into the common interest of the Mexicans and Mexico's responsibilities to the world. In the coming six months, legislators must work hard to ensure the most robust regulation for the adequate implementation of the Law. WWF is ready to provide support in this endeavour." ENDS Notes to editors 1. The third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) will take place in London on 25–26 April 2012, during which David Cameron will deliver his first major speech on the environment since becoming Prime Minister: <a href="http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/ ">http://www.cleanenergyministerial.org/events/cem3/ </a> For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, senior press officer, WWF-UK, +44 (0)1483 412 388, m: 07917 052 948, <a href="mailto:GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk</a> Jatziri Perez, communications director, WWF Mexico: +52 15526990591, <a href="mailto:jperez@wwfmex.org">jperez@wwfmex.org</a>   Jenny Zapata, communications officer, WWF Mexico: + 52 5552865631 ext. 210, <a href="mailto:jzapata@wwfmex.org">jzapata@wwfmex.org</a>   " } [17]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(52) "UK must ‘show leadership’ on emissions reporting" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5899" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(2649) "WWF said today (18 April) that reporting of consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions should sit alongside, but certainly not replace, the existing approach to measuring emissions.Commenting on the Energy and Climate Change Committee’s report on consumption-based emissions reporting, Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF-UK, said have the UK has “a huge responsibility to show leadership” on the issue, arguing that it is “not credible for the UK to claim progress towards a sustainable, green economy” unless the impacts of both UK territorial and consumption emissions were addressed together. Keith Allott said: “However you measure the UK’s emissions, it’s clear that a lot more needs to be done to reduce them – through improving energy efficiency and decarbonising the power sector through renewables, and also by reducing and managing our consumption. “Addressing consumption is the nettle that successive governments, worried about how voters will react, have refused to grasp. The evidence suggests, however, that consumption-based emissions reporting can be used to engage people, to change behaviour, and to help people make better decisions about how we consume." WWF backed the Committee’s finding that there was no evidence that investments in electricity-intensive industries are affected by climate policy. It says that if the government is going to compensate businesses for increases in the cost of electricity - which are being driven primarily by volatility in the fossil fuel market, not climate policy - then strong and transparent commitments on energy efficiency and emission reductions must be sought. WWF also pointed out that the government has an early opportunity to address part of the gap between consumption-based and conventional “territorial” reporting by formally bringing emissions from international aviation and shipping into the UK climate change act (as already takes place under the Scottish climate change act). The committee on climate change has recommended full inclusion of these emissions, and the government has to decide whether to accept this recommendation by the end of 2012. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The Energy and Climate Change Committee publish a report on Consumption-Based Emissions Reporting on Wednesday 18 April 2012 at 00.01 am For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-18" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(2649) "WWF said today (18 April) that reporting of consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions should sit alongside, but certainly not replace, the existing approach to measuring emissions.Commenting on the Energy and Climate Change Committee’s report on consumption-based emissions reporting, Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF-UK, said have the UK has “a huge responsibility to show leadership” on the issue, arguing that it is “not credible for the UK to claim progress towards a sustainable, green economy” unless the impacts of both UK territorial and consumption emissions were addressed together. Keith Allott said: “However you measure the UK’s emissions, it’s clear that a lot more needs to be done to reduce them – through improving energy efficiency and decarbonising the power sector through renewables, and also by reducing and managing our consumption. “Addressing consumption is the nettle that successive governments, worried about how voters will react, have refused to grasp. The evidence suggests, however, that consumption-based emissions reporting can be used to engage people, to change behaviour, and to help people make better decisions about how we consume." WWF backed the Committee’s finding that there was no evidence that investments in electricity-intensive industries are affected by climate policy. It says that if the government is going to compensate businesses for increases in the cost of electricity - which are being driven primarily by volatility in the fossil fuel market, not climate policy - then strong and transparent commitments on energy efficiency and emission reductions must be sought. WWF also pointed out that the government has an early opportunity to address part of the gap between consumption-based and conventional “territorial” reporting by formally bringing emissions from international aviation and shipping into the UK climate change act (as already takes place under the Scottish climate change act). The committee on climate change has recommended full inclusion of these emissions, and the government has to decide whether to accept this recommendation by the end of 2012. ENDS Notes to editors 1. The Energy and Climate Change Committee publish a report on Consumption-Based Emissions Reporting on Wednesday 18 April 2012 at 00.01 am For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk " } [18]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(56) "Government ‘woefully inadequate’ on sustainable food" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5903" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(2254) "Responding to a report by Defra on sustainable livestock production WWF said today that there remains an urgent need to tackle what we eat as well as how we produce it.WWF said that British food and farming industries were reducing their environmental impacts through changes in technology and management practices, but said that production efficiencies alone will not allow us to reach our greenhouse gas reduction targets. Mark Driscoll, head of the one planet food programme at WWF-UK, said: “The Government has made some progress on tackling sustainable livestock production but frankly, their overall approach to tackling issues around what we eat has been woefully inadequate. Livestock production and livestock feedstuffs continue to drive biodiversity loss and land-use change across the globe. The science is clear – we have to tackle both how we produce our food and what we eat if we want a future where both people and nature thrive. “The first step is defining what a sustainable diet is and integrating sustainability criteria into healthy eating advice. There’s also a need to define what we mean by ‘less but better livestock products’, and to work with farmers, retailers and consumer groups to help us move towards a more sustainable food system that’s fair for all.” WWF said there was widespread recognition of the need to change the types of food we eat, focusing on the hot spots. A culture of food consumption that rewards farmers for investing in sustainable production, even while people eat a lower volume of resource intensive foods, could reduce the risk of off‐shoring and help to ensure that the rural economy thrives. ENDS Notes to editors: 1. Defra’s report ‘Progress towards a sustainable future for livestock farming’ is to be published today (17.04.12). For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107,32)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-17" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(2254) "Responding to a report by Defra on sustainable livestock production WWF said today that there remains an urgent need to tackle what we eat as well as how we produce it.WWF said that British food and farming industries were reducing their environmental impacts through changes in technology and management practices, but said that production efficiencies alone will not allow us to reach our greenhouse gas reduction targets. Mark Driscoll, head of the one planet food programme at WWF-UK, said: “The Government has made some progress on tackling sustainable livestock production but frankly, their overall approach to tackling issues around what we eat has been woefully inadequate. Livestock production and livestock feedstuffs continue to drive biodiversity loss and land-use change across the globe. The science is clear – we have to tackle both how we produce our food and what we eat if we want a future where both people and nature thrive. “The first step is defining what a sustainable diet is and integrating sustainability criteria into healthy eating advice. There’s also a need to define what we mean by ‘less but better livestock products’, and to work with farmers, retailers and consumer groups to help us move towards a more sustainable food system that’s fair for all.” WWF said there was widespread recognition of the need to change the types of food we eat, focusing on the hot spots. A culture of food consumption that rewards farmers for investing in sustainable production, even while people eat a lower volume of resource intensive foods, could reduce the risk of off‐shoring and help to ensure that the rural economy thrives. ENDS Notes to editors: 1. Defra’s report ‘Progress towards a sustainable future for livestock farming’ is to be published today (17.04.12). For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107,32)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a> " } [19]=> array(9) { ["title#"]=> int(1) ["title"]=> string(53) "Shale gas incompatible with addressing climate change" ["link#"]=> int(1) ["link"]=> string(59) "http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/press_centre/?uNewsID=5898" ["description#"]=> int(1) ["description"]=> string(3114) "Responding to the publication today by DECC of a report [1] recommending measures to mitigate the risks of seismic tremors from hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’), WWF said that major extraction of shale gas in the UK was incompatible with addressing climate change.WWF opposes the use of hydraulic fracturing to extract shale gas and other unconventional fuels from the ground. As the International Energy Agency pointed out in its Golden Age of Gas report [2], estimated global conventional gas resources are sufficient for 120 years of current global consumption whilst estimated total recoverable unconventional gas resources are equivalent to 250 years at current consumption rates. The same report found that “An increased share of natural gas in the global energy mix is far from enough on its own to put us on a carbon emissions path consistent with an average global temperature rise of no more than 2˚C”. Jenny Banks, energy policy officer at WWF-UK said “The idea that gas is the solution to climate change is a myth put out by vested interests. What you’ll never hear from industry or government is that replacing all the coal we currently use for power generation with gas would leave greenhouse emissions six times too high.” The government has announced its intention to launch a gas generation strategy in Autumn 2012 focusing on security of supply. WWF said the scope of this strategy should be widened to include detail on exactly how, amidst the recent raft of concessions to the gas industry including a guarantee that emissions from gas will not be curbed before 2045, the government intends to ensure that excess gas does not scupper the UK’s efforts to reduce its emissions in line with the climate change act and specifically the decarbonisation of the power sector by 2030. Jenny Banks said: “The current mentality within government is clearly that we should get every last drop of fossil fuel out the ground. It’s ludicrous to think that this is compatible with addressing climate change. Clearly, reducing emissions means leaving shale gas and other unconventional fuels in the ground." ENDS Notes to editors 1. DECC: Comments sought on recommendations from independent experts on shale gas and fracking (17.04.12): <a href="http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_047/pn12_047.aspx ">http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_047/pn12_047.aspx </a> 2. IEA: IEA special report explores potential for ‘golden age’ of natural gas (06.06.11): <a href="http://www.iea.org/press/pressdetail.asp?PRESS_REL_ID=415 ">http://www.iea.org/press/pressdetail.asp?PRESS_REL_ID=415 </a> For further information, please contact: George Smeeton, Tel: 01483 412 388, Mob: 07917 052 948, email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(71,83,109,101,101,116,111,110,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107,32)+'?')">GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk </a> " ["dc"]=> array(2) { ["date#"]=> int(1) ["date"]=> string(10) "2012-04-17" } ["summary#"]=> int(1) ["summary"]=> string(3114) "Responding to the publication today by DECC of a report [1] recommending measures to mitigate the risks of seismic tremors from hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’), WWF said that major extraction of shale gas in the UK was incompatible with addressing climate change.WWF opposes the use of hydraulic fracturing to extract shale gas and other unconventional fuels from the ground. As the International Energy Agency pointed out in its Golden Age of Gas report [2], estimated global conventional gas resources are sufficient for 120 years of current global consumption whilst estimated total recoverable unconventional gas resources are equivalent to 250 years at current consumption rates. The same report found that “An increased share of natural gas in the global energy mix is far from enough on its own to put us on a carbon emissions path consistent with an average global temperature rise of no more than 2˚C”. Jenny Banks, energy policy officer at WWF-UK said “The idea that gas is the solution to climate change is a myth put out by vested interests. What you’ll never hear from industry or government is that replacing all the coal we currently use for power generation with gas would leave greenhouse emissions six times too high.” The government has announced its intention to launch a gas generation strategy in Autumn 2012 focusing on security of supply. WWF said the scope of this strategy should be widened to include detail on exactly how, amidst the recent raft of concessions to the gas industry including a guarantee that emissions from gas will not be curbed before 2045, the government intends to ensure that excess gas does not scupper the UK’s efforts to reduce its emissions in line with the climate change act and specifically the decarbonisation of the power sector by 2030. Jenny Banks said: “The current mentality within government is clearly that we should get every last drop of fossil fuel out the ground. It’s ludicrous to think that this is compatible with addressing climate change. Clearly, reducing emissions means leaving shale gas and other unconventional fuels in the ground." ENDS Notes to editors 1. DECC: Comments sought on recommendations from independent experts on shale gas and fracking (17.04.12): <a href="http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_047/pn12_047.aspx ">http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_047/pn12_047.aspx </a> 2. 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The consequences are seen in ongoing deforestation, increasing water scarcity, rising carbon emissions and crashing fish stocks. They can also be seen starkly in the Living Planet Index, a measure of the changes in the planet’s biodiversity, which shows a decline of 28 per cent since 1970.Yet, amid dire news for the well-being of people and nature, there have been notable conservation successes in recent years that demonstrate alternatives to ‘business as usual.’ Brazil, for example, has made stunning progress over the past decade reducing deforestation in the Amazon. This was achieved while growing the economy, making Brazil an exemplar among emerging economies. Now, just as Brazil prepares to take centre stage at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June, the nation is on the verge of making a u-turn on forest protection. Legislation passed by the Brazilian Congress last month would severely weaken the nation’s long-standing Forest Code, which is meant to protect sensitive forest areas and guard against rampant deforestation in the Amazon and elsewhere. The revisions, backed by powerful agribusiness interests and passed in both Brazil’s House and Senate, aim to dismantle forest protections and offer wide ranging amnesties for past illegal deforestation. Brazil’s Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) has estimated that the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere, making it impossible for Brazil to reach its carbon reduction targets. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has until 25 May to decide whether to veto all or part of the bill, or allow it to become law. “President Dilma faces extraordinary political pressure to side with the wealthy and powerful who support this bill. Surely she stands to gain their favor if she sells out the Amazon. But her citizens have asked her to keep her campaign promises. Scientists have warned of the consequences of a return to runaway deforestation. And it’s hard to imagine how she could speak with any integrity about sustainable development in Rio. Her choice should be clear – issue a full veto,” said Lasse Gustavsson, Executive Director of Conservation, WWF International. The findings of the Living Planet Report show that humanity is squandering the very resources we depend on for survival. It offers both the reasons humanity needs to change course, and the steps we can take today to live within the Earth’s ecological limits. One key recommendation is to produce more efficiently. “In Brazil, better land-use planning could bring up to 61 million hectares of underproductive pastures back into cultivation without additional deforestation. This is just one avenue that must be fully explored before Brazil opens up its unique forest landscapes for deforestation and degradation,” said Gustavsson. For further information: Robin Clegg, WWF-UK, tel: +44 7771 818707 email: <a href="javascript:void(location.href='mailto:'+String.fromCharCode(114,99,108,101,103,103,64,119,119,102,46,111,114,103,46,117,107)+'?')">rclegg@wwf.org.uk</a> <a href="http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/all_publications/living_planet_report/2012_lpr/">WWF’s 2012 Living Planet Report</a> About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. <a href="http://panda.org/news">panda.org/news</a> for latest news and media resources " ["post_excerpt"]=> string(4308) "Humanity is now using 50 per cent more resources than the Earth can provide, according to WWF’s recently released 2012 Living Planet Report. The consequences are seen in ongoing deforestation, increasing water scarcity, rising carbon emissions and crashing fish stocks. They can also be seen starkly in the Living Planet Index, a measure of the changes in the planet’s biodiversity, which shows a decline of 28 per cent since 1970.Yet, amid dire news for the well-being of people and nature, there have been notable conservation successes in recent years that demonstrate alternatives to ‘business as usual.’ Brazil, for example, has made stunning progress over the past decade reducing deforestation in the Amazon. This was achieved while growing the economy, making Brazil an exemplar among emerging economies. Now, just as Brazil prepares to take centre stage at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June, the nation is on the verge of making a u-turn on forest protection. Legislation passed by the Brazilian Congress last month would severely weaken the nation’s long-standing Forest Code, which is meant to protect sensitive forest areas and guard against rampant deforestation in the Amazon and elsewhere. The revisions, backed by powerful agribusiness interests and passed in both Brazil’s House and Senate, aim to dismantle forest protections and offer wide ranging amnesties for past illegal deforestation. Brazil’s Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) has estimated that the new legislation could lead to the loss of up to 76.5 million hectares of forest, which translates to 28 billion tonnes of added CO2 in the atmosphere, making it impossible for Brazil to reach its carbon reduction targets. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has until 25 May to decide whether to veto all or part of the bill, or allow it to become law. “President Dilma faces extraordinary political pressure to side with the wealthy and powerful who support this bill. Surely she stands to gain their favor if she sells out the Amazon. But her citizens have asked her to keep her campaign promises. Scientists have warned of the consequences of a return to runaway deforestation. 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