Rainforests In Crisis

Mountaintop Removal: Is It Really Worth The Waste?

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 22:24:00 +0000

The Magic of The Appalachians

The Appalachia is a majestic mountain range named after an Indian village by Spanish explorers. For most people, Appalachia brings to mind beautiful mountainscapes; a peaceful wonderland, lively forests, old-time mountain music, and a simpler way of life. The largest mountain range in North America, the Appalachia spans approximately 1600 miles, north to south, from Quebec to Georgia.

Today, the most popular attraction for hiking and nature enthusiasts is the Appalachian Trail, a hiking trail that winds through wooded peaks from Springer Mountain in Northern Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine. This hike journeys through fourteen states, and could take an adventurer five to six months to traverse, start to finish.

The Appalachians are rich in coal; other resources include iron, petroleum, and natural gas. But that’s not all; the old Appalachian mountain chain has shaped the natural history and biodiversity of this continent. Its forests and treetops, moisture, and latitudinal gradients have helped protect its species during periods of climate change. The diversity in elevations helps to extend the distribution of certain species throughout the region. Species that thrive in the colder northern climate often inhabit the higher elevations of the south as well. The Appalachians are among the richest temperate areas, and includes approximately 255 birds, 78 mammals, 58 reptiles, and 76 amphibians.

Pinpointing the various (and exact) plant species is difficult due to the density and richness within the Appalachians. The count, however, is high. Kartesz and Meacham (1999) list 6,374 plant species in 10 focal states within the mapped area (AL, GA, TN, KY, WV, PA, NY, VT, NH, ME); 1,722 of which are exotic and 76 native endemics, including 6 listed as extinct.

The Southern Appalachians are also a renowned hotspot for a number of aquatic species, in part because the mountain range drains to the south and allows species to escape extermination due to their ice-cold origins. The Appalachian’s fish, mussel, and crayfish richness is extraordinary. Tennessee alone has over 290 fish species.

According to the Nature Conservancy, the mountain region including southwest Virginia, southern West Virginia, eastern Kentucky and northeastern Tennessee contains some of the highest levels of biological diversity in the nation.

The people of Appalachia have helped build its geotourism map by nominating the adventure sites and experiences they thought best represented the beauty and diversity of their homelands.

The Devastation of Mountaintop Removal

It’s hard to believe that one of the most beautiful, immense national treasures of this continent is in danger of absolute distinction. When we think of deforestation, the rainforests of Costa Rica, Belize, Brazil are the first to come to mind and we tend to forget about our own homeland. Figures from the multi-agency environmental impact statement that was completed in 2003 estimated that more than 700,000 acres in West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee had been stripped beyond restoration.

The destruction doesn’t stop on the mountaintop; the waste, also known as overburden or spoil, is pushed down into the valleys below. As a result, 6,700 "valley fills" were approved in central Appalachia between 1985 and 2001. The United States EPA estimates that over 700 miles of healthy streams have been completely buried by mountaintop removal and thousands more have been damaged. Where there once flowed a uniquely integrated system of headwater streams, now a vast circuitry of haul roads winds through the rubble. From the air, the devastation looks as if someone had tried to plot a highway system on the moon.

Mountaintop removal mining is a form of strip mining in which coal companies use explosives to blast as much as 800 to 1000 feet off the tops of mountains order to reach the highly profitable coal seams that lie beneath. The millions of tons of overburden, waste rock, dirt, and vegetation are subsequently dumped into the valleys below, burying hundreds of miles of streams, along with their aquatic life, under the piles of rubble. Mountaintop removal mining harms not only aquatic ecosystems and water quality, but also destroys hundreds of acres of healthy forests and wildlife habitat, including habitat of threatened and endangered species, when the tops of mountains are blasted away.

This practice also devastates Appalachian communities and cultures that have existed in these mountains for centuries. Residents of the surrounding communities are threatened by rockslides, catastrophic floods, poisoned water supplies, constant blasting, destroyed property, and lost culture. Mountaintop removal mining takes place in many states in the Appalachian region, with its highest concentration in West Virginia, Kentucky, southern Virginia, and eastern Tennessee.

In West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee and eastern Kentucky, coal companies blast as much as 600 feet off the top of the mountains, then dump the rock and debris into mountain streams. Over 300,000 acres of the most beautiful hardwood forests in America have already been turned into barren grasslands. Mountaintop removal mining increases flooding, contaminates drinking water supplies, cracks foundations of nearby homes, and showers towns with dust and noise from blasting.

“You could walk through the forest. You could hear the animals. The woods like to talk to you. You could feel a part of Mother Nature. In other words, everywhere you looked there was life. Now you put me on the same ground where I walked, and the only thing you can feel is the vibration of dynamite or heavy machinery. No life, just dust.”
– Larry Gibson (http://www.stopmountaintopremoval.org/larrys-story.com)

Clean Coal Still Requires Coal

According to the Bush administration's own estimates, mountaintop removal mining in this region has already destroyed over 1,200 miles of Appalachian streams. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that at least 2,400 miles of streams will be permanently wiped out by 2013 if additional environmental restrictions are not enforced. Mountaintop removal mining has also leveled over 800 square miles of West Virginia land. If this permit approval continues, by the end of this decade 2,200 square miles of Appalachian land will be lost, an area equal in size to the entire state of Delaware.

Now let’s fast-forward to election year 2008, where energy, environment, and economics take front stage and clean coal technology has a leading role. During their recent debates, neither the presidential nor the vice presidential candidates wanted to admit that there really is no such thing as clean coal. Despite years of research and billions of dollars, not a single commercial coal plant in the United States can capture and store its greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, scientists and even coal utility executives agree that this technology is at least a decade away, if not longer. For policymakers and others concerned about climate change, the real question is not whether coal can be made clean, but whether we should even try.

Clean coal holds a different meaning to many different people. Only until recently, the phrase was used to describe various processes to reduce air and water pollution caused by mining and burning coal, such as installing scrubbers on smokestacks to reduce the sulfur dioxide emissions that cause acid rain. But biggest problem here is that coal is this country’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, period. Politicians and lawmakers use the term “clean coal” when they talk about carbon capture and sequestration; an attempt to capture an energy plant’s carbon emissions and store them underground, permanently, rather than releasing them into the atmosphere, which contributes to global climate change.

But you can’t tell the residents of Appalachia that coal is clean. Mountaintop removal coal mining has flattened 450 mountains, buried more than 700 miles of rivers and streams, and has sent hundreds of plant and aquatic species into extinction. One of the country’s most beautiful regions, the Appalachians, is in danger of irreversible deforestation by the process of mountaintop removal.

In our attempts to bring global deforestation to an end, Paradise Earth would like to remind everyone that those same efforts need to made here, in our own great nation, as the environmental damages we are causing today will be left behind for future generations.

Climate Change: Addressing the Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:06:00 +0000

Climate change is any long-term significant change in the “average weather” that a given region experiences. Average weather may include average temperature, precipitation and wind patterns. It involves changes in the variability or average state of the atmosphere over durations ranging from decades to millions of years. These changes can be caused by dynamic processes on Earth, external forces including variations in sunlight intensity, and more recently by human activities.

For over 200 years, the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, and deforestation have caused the concentrations of heat-trapping "greenhouse gases" to increase significantly in our atmosphere. These gases prevent heat from escaping to space, somewhat like the glass panels of a greenhouse. Simply put, global warming is one of the direct causes of this planet’s climate change. According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Earth's surface temperature has risen by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past century, with accelerated warming during the past two decades.

Global warming isn’t the only culprit; deforestation also plays a major role in our climate change. Deforestation has not only changed the amount of water going into and out of a given location, but we can also attribute the change in climate to the extensive human development of the landscape and the loss of plant life - plant life that naturally clears the air of dangerous carbons.

Many countries are working together to reduce, to avoid, and to better understand the risks associated with climate change. On the local front, the EPA and other federal agencies are continuously engaging the private sector and states, in partnerships aimed at addressing the challenge of global warming while, at the same time, strengthening the economy.

The Bush Administration’s current climate change policy has three basic components designed to address both near-term and long-term aspects of climate change:

Slowing the growth of greenhouse gas emissions;
Laying important groundwork for both current and future action through major investments in science and technology, and institutions; and
Promoting international cooperation

But general consensus is that this current policy is severely flawed; US climate change policy relies on corporations voluntarily reducing their greenhouse gas output. Recent research shows that pledging to cut carbon is bad for business, which is why so few firms take such minimal voluntary measures. Reducing carbon emissions will require tough regulation; will our newly elected administration get tough on global warming?

During the Vice-Presidential debate on October 2nd, on climate change, Sarah Palin was quick to say that she isn't one to "attribute every activity of man to the changes in the climate."

"There is something to be said also for man's activities, but also for the cyclical temperature changes on our planet," she said.

Joe Biden disagreed, saying, "I think it {climate change} is man-made. It's clearly man-made. If you don't understand what the cause is, you cannot come up with a solution."

And it is a solution that we need; unfortunately we’ve gotten used to seeing this critical issue downplayed, or blatantly ignored. It seems as if the only time we even hear “climate control” is in the context of McCain’s nuclear power plant development plans. And though Obama claims he will stand firm on global warming and climate change issues, both candidates went soft in their debate about this crisis.

Additionally, neither seemed to make the connection between the climate crisis and global food and water shortages and how this could create more failed states.

Where do these candidates stand on climate control? Well, they both support “cap and trade”, whereas Obama has a more aggressive plan than McCain; and nuclear power is definitely McCain’s passion, as clean coal is Obama’s. Renewable energy, Obama has a clear, well sought after plan, where McCain’s standing is a bit murky. McCain is adamant about fossil fuels, and Obama encourages the use of non-food source biofuels.

More than focusing on the reduction of greenhouse gas through emissions, lawmakers need to also realize that forest conservation can play a critical role in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and alleviate poverty.

John McCain and Barack Obama, however, vary widely in their response to this issue, leaving the American people with a choice of approaches when choosing the next president. The real question is, will either of them make the United States a leader on climate change?

Nuclear Power & Politics: Is Sustainable Living Debatable?

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:17:00 +0000

Energy issues and the environment have taken on a substantial role in the presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain; one of the more heavily debated issues, nuclear power.

Neither McCain nor Obama oppose nuclear power, their differences of opinion aren’t on the background facts of nuclear power, but on impact on the environment. McCain focuses on an aggressive expansion of nuclear power plants, while Obama focuses nuclear power playing a only a part of the overall energy portfolio.

McCain is campaigning for “cheap, clean, secure energy for America” and the need to “transform electricity” through nuclear power. Nuclear power is a proven, reliable, zero-emission source of energy, and he is campaigning that it is time to recommit to advancing our use of nuclear power. McCain also supports the idea that nuclear power is a major contender in climate control.

Obama on the other hand, is adamant about the fact that nuclear energy is not optimal. He has stated that, “there are no silver bullet solutions to our energy crises. Our economy, security and environment will be best served through a sustained effort to diversify our energy sources.” Obama has not ruled nuclear power out, but only as long as its clean and safe.

The researchers at Paradise Earth decided to take a closer look at the impact that nuclear power generation will have on, not only our economy, but also our environment. How would constructing these nuclear power plants benefit our troubled nation?

Nuclear power technology is already in the works and operating throughout the world, so an investment in research and development won’t be necessary.

Nuclear power generation emits somewhat low levels of carbon dioxide; the contribution of nuclear power plants to global warming is minimal.

One single plant can produce high levels of electrical energy.

But at what cost?

Radioactive waste is still an unsolved problem. The waste from nuclear energy is extremely dangerous and it has to be carefully looked after for several thousand years (10,000 years according to United States Environmental Protection Agency standards). And what happens if nuclear waste falls into the wrong hands?

Despite extremely high security standards, it is technically impossible to build a facility that is 100% secure and accidents can still happen. The consequences of an accident would be absolutely devastating both for human beings as for the environment. The more nuclear power plants (and nuclear waste storage shelters) that are built, the higher the probability of a disastrous failure (and/or terrorist attack) somewhere in the world.

The energy source for nuclear energy is Uranium, which is a scarce resource; its supply is estimated to last only for the next 30 to 60 years depending on the actual demand.

It is equally important to look seriously at sustainability; is nuclear energy sustainable? For several reasons, nuclear power is neither {green} nor sustainable:

Both nuclear waste and retired nuclear plants are a life-threatening legacy for future generations. Sustainability is blatantly contradicted if generations to come have to deal with dangerous waste generated from preceding generations.

Uranium, the source of energy for nuclear power, is available on earth only in limited quantities. Uranium is being consumed during the operation of the nuclear power plant so it won't be available any more for future generations. This again contradicts the principle of sustainability.

The debate over nuclear power plants has been going on for decades, worldwide. Politicians, activists, environmentalists and the average citizen cannot longer turn a blind eye to the consequences of our existence on Planet Earth. Our future and the survival of our natural resources depend solely on our ability to support sustainable living.

The Human Element of Environmentalism

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:12:00 +0000

One of the most controversial topics today is the environment; it doesn’t matter what you read or what you watch on television, the condition of our environment is being discussed everywhere. We are so focused on the deteriorating ozone layer, the heightened carbon emissions, offshore oil drilling and cross-country pipelines that we forget the human element of environmentalism.

The researchers at Paradise Earth agree that there is a need for stronger environmental policies, but also recognize that we need to find a way to help the environment without forgetting about the impact on the vast population whose survival is based on Earth’s commodities. Restrictions placed on the land and natural resources have direct impact on indigenous peoples’ lives, but not always for the better. We have forgotten that these same people have defended the land and the environment in rural areas and also in the cities throughout history.

In today’s society, environmental preservation and protection only develop after the material necessities {luxuries} of life are abundantly covered. The conflict between economy and environment does not only exist in the assault on the remaining unspoiled lands, but on the survival of its’ people.

Though a myriad of such conflicts exist, Paradise Earth has chosen three prevalent conflicts as a sampling of environmentalism versus the poor.

Environmental Solution: Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions may be obtained through local nuclear hydroelectric energy projects.

Impact on poverty and the people: Just the thought of reducing carbon dioxide emissions is exciting and legislative bodies throughout the world jumped on board. But what they didn’t consider is this; where are we to build these nuclear energy plants? They thought that the logical placement for these energy plants was in the indigenous or rural lands like the rainforests; so in our enthusiasm to save the environment we cleared tree plantations (which, by the way have been proven to naturally rid the environment of carbon emissions) placing the people who inhabit the land at risk – and taking away one of their major commodities. The native tribes of the rain forests’ survival are dependent on this land and its raw materials. What they also did not realize is just how much destructive pollution and poverty we were creating by improving the environment for other countries.

Environmental Solution: The production of Ethanol as a fuel alternative. Ethanol has become more and more popular as an alternative fuel in the United States and elsewhere due to destructive pollution and high oil prices.

Impact on poverty and the people: Mexico is in the grip of the worst tortilla crisis in its modern history. Ethanol is generally made with yellow corn…but the price of white corn, which is used to make tortillas, is indexed in Mexico to the international price of yellow corn. The dramatic rise in international corn prices, spurred by the demand for the grain-based fuel ethanol, has led to expensive tortilla production in an already poverty-stricken country. The spike in corn prices has in turn created lower sales for vendors and angry protests by customers; and if that isn’t enough, the impact that this has had on an entire country’s number one nutritional staple has been enormous. The increasingly higher demand for Ethanol fuel is directly affecting this country’s poverty level and contributing to the overall danger of malnutrition and hunger.

Environmental Solution: The increase of national consumption and demand for shrimp has brought on the introduction of shrimp farming for export. This will keep the supply-and-demand down and the prices at a lower national average.

Impact on poverty and the people: At the time, what seemed the perfect solution has now been found to be a detriment to not only the environment itself, but to the people dependant on aquaculture as a means of survival. Mangrove forests are being sacrificed for commercial shrimp farms, putting the artisanal fisherman essentially out of business. Shrimp farms not only put the fisherman out of business, but other natives who live sustainably near the mangrove forests; their livelihood depends on collecting shellfish, fishing and by making use of mangrove wood for charcoal and building materials. In addition to the livelihood of the indigenous people, the destruction of the mangrove forests for shrimp farms are threatening the ecological balance and the coastal defense against sea level rise, the loss of breeding grounds for fish, essential carbon sinks. The biodiversity of mangroves has been lost, possibly forever.

For many activists, politicians and concerned individuals, saving the environment is not only a conflict of interest, but also represents a conflict of values. We need to realize that our obligation to saving and protecting the environment should extend far beyond to protect those who have and continue to live of the lands that we have depredated.

MPG vs. GPM: Which is the Mighty Contender?

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:00:00 +0000

There’s been quite a strong debate this summer over our traditional fuel efficiency measurement, MPG. It’s been our trusted friend when we are shopping for a new car. A higher MPG means higher fuel efficiency and less carbon emissions…right?

Before I answer “wrong” I want to share some figures with you; below is the fuel efficiency measurement used everywhere in the world, (except the U.S.) and is a great demonstration of MPG’s mighty counterpart, GPM:

15 mpg = 660 gallons per 10,000 miles
20 mpg = 500 gallons per 10,000 miles
30 mpg = 330 gallons per 10,000 miles
45 mpg = 220 gallons per 10,000 miles
60 mpg = 160 gallons per 10,000 miles

Okay – looking at this scale, you would think that the most fuel-efficient car here is still the 60 mpg car. Wow…great gas mileage! But increasing the mileage of a 15 mpg car to 20 mpg, saves as much gasoline (and carbon) as doubling the mileage of a 30 mpg car to 60 mpg.

I know you are thinking that this is great information, but is it useful given that in the U.S. gallons per mile is not readily available? It doesn’t have to be – the calculation is simple: just divide the distance traveled (10,000 miles) by MPG.

Using “gallons per 10,000 mile” system is a far more accurate way of measuring fuel-efficiency and it so much better for the consumer. But we can’t make the mistake of overlooking true value of this unit of measure – GPM is the most accurate calculation of how many gallons of gas we are burning and the amount of carbons we emit into our fragile atmosphere.

Choosing a fuel-efficient vehicle is only half the battle in the war for a sustainable environment; the other half - becoming more conscious about carbon emissions and encouraging research on the effect that specific vehicles have on the environment. Discussions about protecting our environment and natural resources always come full circle to education and research. When it comes to protecting our environment and the world that we live in, ignorance is definitely not bliss!

4 Steps to Saving the Rainforests

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:03:00 +0000

Tropical rainforests, whose true worth and unrealized global treasure has been so blatantly been ignored, are being destroyed at a disastrous speed. Every year during the dry season, thousands of fires set by ranchers and nomad farmers light up the tropical sky. Today roughly 1.5 acres of rainforest are destroyed every second.

It’s hard to imagine that we would knowingly destroy something so valuable; could it be that we are destroying them before we realize their worth? Before we truly understand their biodiversity? And even before we fully understand the life and the ecosystems they support?

Massive deforestation brings with it many horrifying consequences – air and water pollution, soil erosion, the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the eviction and decimation of indigenous Indian tribes, and the extinction of many plants, animals and creatures. Fewer rainforests mean less rain, less oxygen for us to breathe, and an increased threat of global warming.

Confucius said, “A man who has committed a mistake and doesn’t correct it, is committing another mistake.” Clearly deforestation is man’s mistake. So how do we correct this mistake? Can we correct this mistake? If deforestation ceased today, it would help immensely, but unfortunately would not be enough. We have lost complete species, both in plant and animal life; however, all is not lost. What we can hope for in bringing deforestation to an end is a new beginning; new species to evolving and the rebirth of this diminishing treasure.

With the rapid loss of Earth’s rainforests, it’s time to correct our mistake. There is no simple solution or quick fix, but there are definitely steps that can be taken to stop the deforestation and restore not only the damaged ecosystems, but the beauty of life that’s been lost.

Four Invaluable Steps to Saving Our Rainforests:

Step #1: Education

In the last 20 years, deforestation has claimed millions of square miles of tropical rainforests, and to protect their future we need to develop sound educational initiatives. Education programs and curricula for each grade level is vital as children of today are our future. Encouraging good global citizenship in school aged children will help them develop a deeper understanding of conservation challenges, as well as a healthy respect for the environment. Education cannot, however, stop with school-aged kids; adults need the same education about deforestation and preventative measures.

Educational resources are now becoming widely available to educators. For example, Paradise Earth Scholastic is Paradise Earth's academic service and the Internet's premier source for rainforest education, replete with educational curricula for first and secondary education, multimedia educational features, and resources for research and teaching. Paradise Earth Scholastic will be available online at www.paradiseearth.com by January 2009.

Step #2: Conservation Policies

Saving tropical rainforests is a worldwide responsibility, not just the responsibility of the country the forests are home to. Stronger policies prohibiting deforestation need to be written and enforced; our responsibility lies quite a bit deeper. If the international community wants to provide a higher level of protection of these forests, financial resources have to be a major part of the conservation strategy.

Historically, world governments have been willing to grant loans to tropical nations, and in some cases even cancel debts owed by them in exchange for environmental protection. For example, the British government recently assigned $150 million to preservation and sustainable development of tropical forests around the globe. Germany cleared Kenya of its $400 million debt when Kenya agreed to pass environmental legislation.

In 2001, President Clinton proposed $150 million in funds to assist developing countries preserve their tropical forests while strengthening their economies. Under the budget, $100 million would go towards conservation programs (through the U.S. Agency for International Development—USAID), while $37 million would be slated for debt-for-nature swaps under the Tropical Forest Conservation Act.

In addition to financial support, developed nations can also provide their conservation expertise to developing countries and assist in the planning of new protected areas.

Step #3: Restore & Re-grow

Though fully restoring our lost rainforests seems impossible, a myriad of studies and rebirth projects have been conducted worldwide.

In September 2008 the announcement came that the first Kihansi spray toadlet was born at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo. This little creature was last seen in the wild May of 2005. The birth of the Kihansi toadlet has renewed hopes that the species can someday be successfully reintroduced to its natural habitat in a remote gorge in Tanzania.

In other news, researchers from the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Sciences (BTI) on the Cornell campus are attempting what many thought was impossible -- restoring a tropical rain forest ecosystem. Ten years after the tree plantings, Cornell graduate student Jackeline Salazar counted the species of plants that took up residence in the shade of the new-planted areas. She found remarkably high numbers of species -- more than 100 in each plot. And many of the new arrivals were also to be found in nearby remnants of the original forests.

It may take hundreds of years to regain what has been lost, but every year we see evidence that the “impossible” is actually quite possible.

Step #4: Support Ecotourism

According to United Nations World Tourism Organization (http://www.unwto.org/sdt/mission/en/mission.php), sustainable tourism is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems.

Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment while enhancing the cultural integrity of local people and their economy. From 1993 to 2003 alone, tourism to 23 countries harboring biodiversity hotspots grew by 100 percent.

At first glance, it seems that ecotourism was designed for the traveler, but its intent is much greater. Ecotourism creates jobs in food and beverage service, hotel and resort industry, transportation, and many other industries. Because Ecotourism relies on healthy ecosystems, it provides a powerful incentive to protect our rainforests. People who earn their living from ecotourism are more likely to protect local natural resources and support conservation efforts.

Correcting the “mistake” of deforestation could still be probable; but not without an overdose of human effort to finally bring an end to the demise of tropical rainforests. No matter how unreachable this goal may seem, our mistake still has a chance of being corrected.

Rebuilding a Species...One Tiny Toad at a Time!

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:56:00 +0000

Not all news about the tropical rainforests is bad news. Paradise Earth stumbled across some encouraging news that we just had to share. It's been reported over the last twenty years or so that amphibian life are threatened with extinction ... at least 200 species have gone extinct. Just yesterday, a Kihansi spray toadlet was born at the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo. This little creature was last seen in the wild May of 2005. The birth of the Kihansi toadlet has renewed hopes that the species can someday be successfully reintroduced to its natural habitat in a remote gorge in Tanzania.

RAINFOREST FACTS

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:12:00 +0000

Here are some interesting rainforest facts, brought to you by Paradise Earth.

Collectively rainforests harbor the single greatest repository of biological diversity: plants, animals and microorganisms.
Rainforests effect climate change, are a source of useful medicine, and provide a living library with untold numbers of species with the potential to advance the life sciences.
There are two major types of rainforest: temperate rainforests and tropical rainforests.
Fifty-Seven percent of the world’s forests, including most tropical forests, are located in developing countries.
Rainforests require a minimum of 100 inches of rain a year!
Rainforests act as the world’s thermostat and weather patterns.
One-Fifth of the world’s fresh water is found in the Amazon Basin. Rainforests are critical in maintaining the earth’s limited supply of drinking and fresh water.
Rainforest trees are about 100-ft tall, but there are taller trees known as “emergents” that can easily reach an additional 30 ft above the canopy.
A typical four-square mile patch of rainforest contains as many as 1,500 flowering plants, 750 species of trees, 400 species of birds, and 150 species of butterflies.
Rainforests are teeming with species unknown to science. New species are being discovered all time; not just small organisms like insects but also birds and monkeys.
Rainforest provide many important products for people: timber, coffee, cocoa and many medicinal products, including those used in the treatment of cancer.
Seventy percent of the plants identified by the U.S. National Cancer Institute as useful in the treatment of cancer are found only in rainforests. More than 2,000 tropical forest plants have been identified by scientists as having anti-cancer properties. Less than one percent of the tropical rainforest species have been analyzed for their medicinal value.
Rainforests are threatened by unsustainable agricultural, ranching, mining, and logging practices.
Originally, 6 million square miles of tropical rainforest existed worldwide. But as a result of deforestation, only 2.6 million square miles remain.
At the current rate of tropical forest loss, 5-10 percent of tropical rainforest species will be lost per decade.
Nearly 90 percent o f the 1.2 billion people living in extreme poverty worldwide depend on forests for their livelihood.
Every second, a slice of rainforest the size of a football field is mowed down. That’s 86,400 football fields of rainforest per day, or over 31 million football fields of rainforest each year. More than 56,000 square miles of natural forest are lost each year.
The extinction of a large number of plant and animal species looms if the trends are not stopped and reforestation instituted.
As a consequence of the Convention of Biological Diversity, Many rainforest countries now have active programs in rainforest protection. Rainforest protected areas and indigenous areas that protect native peoples and their forests have made significant progress.

To listen to some of these facts is quite upsetting. To hear that our society, our world that we live in is destroying large numbers of rainforest each year with no intention of stopping is just cold. But on the other hand these facts talk about how large in numbers of species there are in the rainforest. So again why would anybody want to destroy that?

Saving our World

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:57:00 +0000

My name is Holly Mandarich, I'm just a normal 17 year old teenager in a world full of people. I believe paradise earth has a greater goal then just preserving the rain forests. I believe that the program as a whole is designed to save us from ourselves, from the destruction of our planet, from global warming. The rainforest's have many grave wealth's to our planet. The Amazon rain forest alone provides more than 20% of our worlds oxygen. The things we would be without. If deforestation continues experts say that within the next 40 years we could see the extinction of rain forests! It is not only bad news for us but more so for the animals and plants that grow, live and thrive there. It is said the more than half of the of the 10 million plants, animals and insects live in the rain forest. To add to all that one fifth of the worlds freshwater comes from the Amazon basin. From how I look at it still after all these years America along with the rest of the world, doesn't care. I mean sure we say we do but we don't, because its not in the here and now its not really affecting us. Well in a sense it is in the hear and now. You see climate changes, weird weather patterns, glaciers melting and what not. One day it will be something like, so guess what California broke off. When something like that happens then society may come together and start caring. People are fictitious and aren't who you think they are. Even though they may say they care. They most likely don't. Humans as a species I think carry a trait of living in the here and now. Not everybody is like that but having a Gandhi is rare. People like him don't come around everyday. Those kind of people are leaders. I guess what I'm saying is we need a leader. We need another Gandhi or Jesus. Somebody who can give the world hope. Somebody to show people that things can change. We all want to believe but if nobodies there to show us how it is all going to go down then we chose to ignore. Whats going to happen when the rain forests are gone? They say that 137 plants, animal and insect species are being lost everyday that rain forest deforestation. The world is not just going to magically be like okay and fix everything. There are no second chances with our planet and our ecosystem. Its now or never. With paradise earth, I think things will change. I honestly think its going to be huge. To personally know the owner of the company and some of the team, and to see there devotion to such a program to see how much they really care. To care about the the world and those who are in it. To be selfless is huge. I don't know many people like that. Paradise Earth is going to provide and show people a rain forest. Show them a sample of what were destroying. Just taking a second from life. To look at how beautiful our planet really is. If you can get somebody to do that as I think Paradise Earth will and has done is quite utterly and great accomplishment. All people have to do is change there lives for the better is that really to much to ask of anybody. Go Green as they say. From what Ive heard its actually more efficient to buy a high mileage vehicle rather than a hybrid because the batteries in the hybrids have to be replaced more often and are very hard to dispose of. General Motors apparently has had a engine sense the 1950's that can get eighty miles to the gallon EIGHTY, but our government has made it illegal to produce it because it would mess up our economy. America is to dependent on oil. America along with the rest of the world does not want to change. People need to learn to step out of there comfort zone and do something to help the world, to be selfless. We all know whats going to happen if we don't do something to change it, but yet we still chose to ignore the truth. Paradise Earth is going to change the world and how people feel and care about it.

Finca Dracula Orchid Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:21:00 +0000

This video showcases some of the beautiful orchids that the Paradise Earth team filmed while they were in Panama at Finca Dracula. Enjoy!

Paradise Earth in Panama, Video Diary of Day 7

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:00:00 +0000

In this diary entry, David Calvin talks about the trip that the Paradise Earth Team made to visit the Kuna Indians. The Kuna live on a series of islands off the coast of Panama, called collectively the San Blas Islands. Although not originally islanders, the Kuna were moved to this 'reservation' after the Spanish invasion of Panama. This matriarchal society was extremely interesting, colorful, and welcoming. For more beautiful images of the Kuna, be sure to check out our previous post on the San Blas Islands, which features images of the Kuna Indians.

Willie Mazu Slideshow

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:04:00 +0000

This photo slideshow contains some of our favorite images from our 5 days at Willie Mazu in Panama. Willie Mazu is owned and run by Wilberto Martinez and his family, and is located in the highlands of Bocas del Toro. The Paradise Earth Team truly could not have asked for a better, more experienced environmental guide than Willie! We highly recommend him and his services. For more info on Willie, visit his website at www.natturpanama.com

Our adventures at Willie Mazu included hiking to a remote waterfall, birding, an encounter with a deadly viper (see our previous post on the Jumping Pit Viper), and visiting nearby native tribes. Willie also shared some of the local flavor from Chiriqui Grande, the largest neighboring city.

The entire Paradise Earth Team was honored to be a part of this amazing journey!

Paradise Earth Press Release

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:34:00 +0000

For Immediate Release

Paradise Earth Team Visits Belize and Panama and Offers Free Video and Photos Online

The team behind the Paradise Earth rainforest habitat project in the greater Phoenix area recently traveled to Belize and Panama on an information-gathering mission. The results, including photo slideshows and video, are being offered for free to the public online at www.ParadiseEarth.com.

Phoenix, Arizona – April 8, 2008 – David Calvin’s Paradise Earth team recently traveled to Belize and Panama to gather information for the three-phase Paradise Earth project: the website (www.ParadiseEarth.com), the 165,000 square foot rainforest habitat and educational center being built in Arizona, and the Paradise Earth TV series. In line with the Paradise Earth mission of both conservation and education, the team has published video footage and photo slideshows of their travels on the website, freely available to the public.
“Educating the public about the world’s rainforests is really the first step to encouraging conservation,” says Char Mandarich of the Paradise Earth Media Team and the Mandarich Media Group. “We had the opportunity to document species that most people won’t ever see for themselves. The team wants to share these images with the public to help raise awareness as well as to simply share some of the Earth’s most beautiful creatures.”
Rainforests are disappearing across the globe, despite the growing popularity of living “greener” lives. The Paradise Earth team is making this photo and video collection available to educate the public about what they’re actually losing. Available resources from the recent trips to Panama and Belize include photo slideshows of the butterflies of Panama and the Kuna Indians of the San Blas Islands, and a video diary filmed daily by Calvin in Panama.
While in Panama, Calvin visited with Bill Laurance of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Laurance participated in a video interview, which is also now available on the Paradise Earth website.
The site is also currently featuring “The Story of the Rainforest,” a collection of articles about how rainforests work, the biological richness and diversity of rainforests, and more from pre-eminent rainforest expert Thomas Lovejoy.
The team’s website videographer, former NFL player Tony Mandarich, will offer site visitors a rare glimpse at a species of bird very rarely seen – the Cock of the Rock. The video will soon be added to the Paradise Earth website.

The Paradise Earth team includes:
David Calvin – Founder and TV show co-host
Craig Allison – TV show co-host
Glenda Skalitzky-Zaborski – TV show producer, Goodwitch Productions
Char and Tony Mandarich – Paradise Earth Media Team, Mandarich Media Group
Jason Shane – Bird expert
The Paradise Earth film crew

About Paradise Earth
Paradise Earth is a 165,000 square foot rainforest habitat, aviary, educational center, and conference facility in the greater Phoenix area founded by David Calvin, owner of development firm Calvin Enterprises. Paradise Earth is expected to open in the next two years with a mission of both education and conservation, and the habitat will be home to thousands of species of birds, trees, and other plants indigenous to the world’s rainforests. Educational materials on issues such as ecology, rainforest conservation, environmental protection, and recycling will be available to the public. The facility will house a 10,000 square foot conference center with event catering, educational, interactive exhibit space, movie theater, and café and gift shop. The rainforest habitat alone will span over 75,000 square feet.
For additional information on Paradise Earth of the recent excursions of the Paradise Earth team to Belize and Panama, please visit www.ParadiseEarth.com or contact the Paradise Earth office at 480-621-7530.
High resolution photos and videos are available by contacting Char Mandarich of Mandarich Media Group at 480-277-7888.

Contact:
David Calvin
Paradise Earth, LLC
Phone: 480-621-7530
Web: www.ParadiseEarth.com
Email: info@paradiseearth.com

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PANAMA CANAL Diary Day #6

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:49:00 +0000

This Panama Video Diary entry by David Calvin reviews our day, which primarily consisted of a behind-the-scenes tour of the Panama Canal. Video footage includes 'Panamax' freighters passing through the locks of the canal.

One of the most interesting facts we learned at the Canal was that the rainforest provides all the water that it takes to move ships through the Panama Canal. All of the passages are possible only through gravity - water coming from the rainforest, filling the locks, and letting the ships rise and move forward. Conceivable, one of the tragedies of rainforest destruction could mean the eventual return of the nearly 8000 mile trips around Cape Horn, if total rain amounts fall and passage through the Panama Canal is no longer possible.

Interview with Lider Sucre, international Biodiversity Expert

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:26:00 +0000

While visiting Panama, the Paradise Earth Team was given the opportunity to interview Lider Sucre. Mr. Sucre is the Director of the Biodiversity Museum currently under construction in Panama City. In this interview, Mr. Sucre explains the experience visitors will have to the Museum, and also expands on the overall importance of biodiversity in our changing world.

For more on our interview with rainforest authority Lider Sucre, visit our website at www.paradiseearth.com

Panama Diary, Day 5

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:54:00 +0000

This diary entry logs our Paradise Earth Team's hike of the Quetzal Trail, over Volcan Baru. The physical toll that this strenuous journey took is apparent on the face of David Calvin as he retraces our day. Video footage of the trail and many of its amazing vistas is included. Enjoy!

Fer-de-lance Viper Video from Paradise Earth Kids TV

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:32:00 +0000

This video features David Calvin, one of our newest KidsTV reporters. The fer-de-lance vipers in the video were filmed during our expedition to Belize. Got an idea for a kids tv spot? Email or comment us!

Also, watch for our next KidsTv clip to be released soon, which features great footage of some amazing jaguars!

A lasting impression...

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:44:00 +0000

David Calvin forwarded an email to me yesterday. It was from Josue Chami, one of the young Embera men we met in the village in Panama. The subject line was 'he men', which I assume meant 'hey man'... in broken English, Josue was asking about how David was doing, and where on the Paradise Earth website he may be able to find the images, video, and information we had gathered about his village.

I found Josue's email fascinating for many reasons. First, he had taken the time and trouble during one of his infrequent visits to the city to get access to the Paradise Earth site and email David. Second, we had made enough of an impression that Josue cared to keep in touch (the thought of being on the web and tv is very motivating, even to a remote Indian tribe!) Mostly, though, I was moved by the last line of his email, "I miss you". David, as an individual, is an amazing human being. The wonderful thing he is able to do with this Paradise Earth project is touch the lives of people whom, a few months ago, we didn't even know existed. We are finding ways to directly aid the economy of the Embera, who have learned how to live in the rainforest without harming their environment. The overwhelming lesson I learned in Panama, and especially among the Embera, is that we can aid in rain forest preservation by spending our dollars wisely. Rest assured, many of my friends and family will be receiving handmade Embera baskets as gifts this year!

Char Mandarich, for Paradise Earth
Mandarich Media Group

The Embera Indians of Panama

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:07:00 +0000

One of the most interesting days we spent in Panama was with the Embera Indians. We traveled by bus from Panama City to a dock, where we were picked up by two Embera men in their dugout canoe. We traveled over an hour up the river to their village, where we were greeted with open arms by the entire village. The people were incredibly warm and friendly, and eager to share their culture with us. We were treated to demonstrations of dancing, basket-weaving, and one of the best meals we had on the entire trip (fresh fish, served in dishes made of large leaves).

David Calvin and the entire Paradise Earth team were extremely moved by these people. We recognized that they live in harmony with the rainforest, taking its fruits without destroying the land. David realized that he could have a direct impact on these peoples' economy by using Paradise Earth as an outlet to sell their beautiful, world-renowned baskets. He selected baskets and handgoods from every family in the village to sell on the Paradise Earth website, and promised the villagers that he would continue to do so as the Paradise Earth Project develops. Paradise Earth is proud to be able to contribute to a rainforest economy that promotes harmony instead of destruction!

** the music that accompanies the following slideshow was recorded in the Embera Village, as they welcomed us when we arrived **

Video Diary: Day 4 in Panama

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 23:28:00 +0000

This Video Diary entry chronicles the Paradise Earth Team's 4th day in Panama. David Calvin discusses our chance encounter with a Panamanian farming family; video highlights include footage of hillside farming and the startling visual of rainforest destruction for subsistence farming.

Diary Day 3

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:29:00 +0000

Panama, Day 3! Video highlights include gorgeous footage of a waterfall to which the Paradise Earth team hiked. See the raw power of the water as 4 members of the team venture underneath the fall!

Panama Diary Day 2

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:26:00 +0000

This is David Calvin's video diary from the Paradise Earth Team's second day in Panama. Highlights include video and images from our visit with the Gnobe Indians on their island off the coast from Chiriqui Grande.

Panama Diary

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:15:00 +0000

David Calvin, the founder of the Paradise Earth Project and the co-host of the Paradise Earth TV series, created a nightly video diary while we were filming in Panama. This is the first evening of the diary entries.

The snake in the video was identified as a jumping pit viper. Our guides were extremely excited to find this snake in the area where we did, because it had never been sighted there before. This snake was carefully transported back to a large, well-constructed habitat at Willie Mazu (the nature center where we stayed). We were lucky enough to be able to get additional photos of this viper before we left for the next phase of our trip. Willie Martinez, the owner of Willie Mazu, called the University in Panama to let them know that the snake had been found in the area. The last we heard, a researcher from the University was coming to get the snake for further study. We were grateful that he had been found by Willie, who was more interested in studying him than killing him!

The Quetzal Trail

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:10:00 +0000

One of the longest and most difficult days that the Paradise Earth team spent in Panama was hiking the Quetzal Trail to Boquete. The Quetzal Trail has been the focus of a lot of controversy in Panama; the former President wanted to pave the trail over Volcan Baru in order to facilitiate travel for economic reasons, but the conservationists were vehemently opposed to such an idea. Aside from destroying a major habit for endangered Queztals, cutting a road where only a footpath currently traverses the volcano would effectively isolate many ground-dwelling species. There are dozens of animals that will not cross a paved road, and the species diversity around Volcan Baru would suffer greatly if the Quetzal Trail were to be paved.

Enjoy this slideshow of images from along the Quetzal Trail; hiking over the top of the volcano made us keenly aware of what we would lose if the Panamanian government were allowed to pave this important piece of the rain forest.

The Kuna Indians & San Blas, Panama

noreply@blogger.com (Paradise Earth Project) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:31:00 +0000

During our trip to Panama, we were lucky enough to be able to spend 2 days on the San Blas Islands. The Kuna Indians now inhabit these islands, and we were invited to visit two of their communities. Enjoy this slideshow of images from our visit... the accompanying music was an original piece they played as they danced a traditional dance for the Paradise Earth Team.