Posted on 14 September
2011 An analysis by the University of Bremen
has show that extreme melting has pushed
arctic sea ice levels to the lowest it has
ever been in recorded history - and things
could get worse.
The record of 4.24
square kilometres could be pushed even further.
There is a close link between arctic August
air temperatures and sea ice melting. Temperatures
this August were among the highest recorded,
higher than the previous record year for
arctic sea ice melting, 2007.
A global problem
“We see the symptoms of change in walruses
being forced onshore, and with polar bears
undertaking epic swims between ice and land”,
said WWF arctic climate expert Martin Sommerkorn.
“But this is not just a problem for polar
bears, this is a global problem for people.
The dramatic loss of this amount of sea
ice in the Arctic is likely to further disrupt
world weather systems. The impacts don’t
stay in the Arctic; they’re felt globally
in droughts, floods, and extreme weather.”
The latest record in sea ice loss is not
just an isolated event, but is the latest
peak in a pattern of increasingly severe
ice loss. More than half of the lowest ice
years in the Arctic have been recorded in
the past 10 years, leading scientists to
predict that the summer sea ice could be
effectively gone within a generation.
While it is likely not
possible to reverse the trend of arctic
ice loss in the short term, there is hope
that warming can be contained in the long
term.
Global Arctic Programme
Since 1992, WWF's Global Arctic Programme
has been working across the Arctic to combat
the threat of climate change and preserve
the Arctic's rich biodiversity in a sustainable
way.
Earlier this year, WWF released a report
outlining how it is possible to move to
100% renewable energy by 2050. “A 100% renewable
future is within reach", said Samantha
Smith, Director of WWF’s Climate and Energy
Initiative "We can do it with today's
technology, but governments must lead the
way. They must act, and invest, or be left
behind”
+ More
Nature and religion
come together in Nepal
Posted on 13 September
2011 Lumbini, Nepal: WWF has celebrated
the planting of 108,000 tree saplings in
the Sacred Garden of Lumbini, the holy birthplace
of Lord Buddha.
WWF-Nepal reached its
target of planting 108,000 trees within
2011 as part of a key project to plant a
million trees in Lumbini, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, and surrounding areas over
a period of 10 years.
Organized by WWF-Nepal
and partner organization Lumbini Development
Trust, the event brought together over 300
people from different sectors of society.
Speaking at the event,
Mr Santosh Nepal, Director for Policy &
Support at WWF-Nepal, said that Lumbini
was regarded as the soul of the Terai Arc
given the striking congruence between Buddhist
philosophy and WWF’s conservation principles
in the Terai Arc Landscape - interdependence
and interconnectedness.
“The key objective of
the Terai Arc Landscape program is to build
connectivity across the landscape to facilitate
wildlife movement while promoting harmony
between humans, wildlife and nature”, said
Mr Nepal.
A legacy for future generations
Acharya Karma Sangpo Sherpa, Vice Chairperson
of Lumbini Development Trust, stated that
Lumbini is an important carbon sink and
the plan to plant a million trees in the
sacred site is an attempt towards building
greater adaptive capacity to the effects
of climate change in Nepal. “I am happy
to see a lot of children participating in
this event; these trees are a legacy we
leave for them and for future generations”,
he said.
WWF-Nepal joined hands with Lumbini Development
Trust in September 2010 as part of WWF’s
global efforts to work with faith groups
to further the cause of nature conservation.
This partnership is aimed at promoting responsible
tourism and environmental practices in the
sacred site of Lumbini.
As part of the planting, trees which were
considered to have existed in Lord Buddha’s
era such as Ashoka, Sal, Pipal and Kadam
will be planted in an effort to conserve
the religious and ecological heritage of
Lumbini.
Terai Arc Landscape
Covering 14 protected areas in India and
Nepal, the Terai Arc Landscape is home to
endangered tigers, elephants and vulnerable
rhinos. It is one of the few places where
these three large threatened animals coexist.
The plains of the Terai have seen an immense
change during the past 50 years. Today,
the area faces many challenges affecting
people and wildlife alike including deforestation,
poaching and pollution of rivers.
WWF-Nepal is part of the Terai Arc Landscape
Project which has helped thousands of rural
poor to improve their lives in sustainable
ways and generated a tremendous support
for conservation.
