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September 2001
This issue:
ON THE WEB
Readers may find http://www.c-span.org
a useful free resource for continous online news coverage including live
Internet TV.
NEWS
HOW TO MEASURE FOREST CARBON
'HOW TO MEASURE FOREST CARBON' is a new 3-day CRC short course to be presented
by senior members of the CRC in Canberra on 14-16 November 2001. The course
is designed around computer-based work as well as a hands-on visit to
a field site in NSW. CRC Course Coordinator: Dr Lindesay via Email to
office@greenhouse.crc.org.au. More information at http://www.greenhouse.crc.org.au
CHANGES TO CRC WEBSITE
Readers are advised that the CRC for Greenhouse Accounting Website is
undergoing major changes until October. The Home Page (and Members Area)
remain online as will notices about current CRC activities but all other
sections are disabled until Tuesday 18 September. New pages are best viewed
through Internet Explorer vers 5 or above. All users are thanked in advance
for their patience whilst the website is revamped. Please contact the
webmaster@greenhouse.crc.org.au if you require further information.
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
DUST, ASBESTOS FROM TRADE CENTER PUT SOME AT RISK (14.09.01)
[Daily Grist - http://www.gristmagazine.com]
The enormous cloud of smoke and grit that spread from the collapsing World
Trade Center towers on Tuesday could lead to attacks of asthma, emphysema
and other lung diseases, even a day or two after people were exposed,
doctors said yesterday. Aside from the smoke, U.S. EPA Administrator Christie
Todd Whitman said the biggest environmental concern right now was asbestos
that was launched into the air from the buildings. One out of the four
air samples taken by the agency found significant levels of the
cancer-causing material. Lucky weather patterns have reduced the threat
of airborne pollution to the
public, but rescue workers are still at risk.
Orange County Register, Associated Press, Malcolm Ritter, 13 Sep 2001<http://www.ocregister.com/news/13lungcci.shtml>
Long Island Newsday, Dan Fagin, 13 Sep
2001 <http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/newyork/ny-hsair132363645sep
13.story?coll=ny%2Dnynews%2Dprint>
EPA SAYS AIR IN NYC POSES ONLY SMALL RISK (15.09.01) [Daily Grist
- http://www.gristmagazine.com]
The smoke and grit in the air in New York City that came from the collapse
of the World Trade Center towers pose only a small health risk, U.S. EPA
officials and some doctors said yesterday. They equated the danger to
a smoggy day in the city, when people with already-weakened immune systems
should be especially cautious. Other independent health experts were gloomier
about the health implications of the Tuesday tragedy, expressing concerns
about the mixture of soot, asbestos and toxic chemicals that was
created as the planes exploded and the buildings fell down.
New York Times, Andrew C. Revkin, 14 Sep 2001 <http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/14/nyregion/14ENVI.html>
Los Angeles Times, Robert Lee Htz and Gary Polakovic, 14 Sep
2001<http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-000074164sep14.story?coll=la%2Dnews%2Dscience>
SEMINARS
(Canberra - Tuesday 18 September)
International Climate Change: A Discussion Session with Michael
Zammit Cutajar, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC.
Time:11.00am to 11.45am, Venue: James O Fairfax Theatre, National Gallery
of Australia, Canberra
Mr Cutajar will present his views on progress with international negotiations
on climate change, and is particularly keen to conduct an interactive
discussion with the audience on achievements and future
challenges in this arena, and issues of interest to the audience. Mr Michael
Zammit Cutajar has held the position of Executive Secretary, United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), since 1991 and is based
in Bonn, Germany. In this role, he provides substantive and technical
support and advice to the intergovernmental negotiations on climate change
within the scope of the UNFCCC, including the Kyoto Protocol. Mr Cutajar
has devoted a large part of his career to work in and around the United
Nations on international cooperation for development and environment.
He has undertaken several assignments with the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development (UNTAD) and was part of the founding secretariat
of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), both based in Geneva.
He
also worked with NGOs in his early and middle career.
(Adelaide - Wednesday 19 September)
MANAGING ROOT-DISEASE COMPLEXES IN CROP ROTATIONS: MOLECULAR ECOLOGY
OF
PLANT-PATHOGEN INTERACTIONS
by Paul Harvey, Research Scientist, Soil Biological Resource Management
Group, Sustainable Agriculture Program, CSIRO Land and Water, Adelaide
4pm: (3.45 afternoon tea, seminar concludes 5.15) Auditorium, Plant Research
Centre, Waite Road, Urrbrae (via Gate 2, Hartley Grove)
Abstract: The objective of this seminar is to illustrate the effects of
agro-ecological factors on the genetic structure of populations of soil-borne
plant pathogenic fungi and in turn, the epidemiology of root diseases.
This research is enhancing our knowledge of the ecological and genetic
interactions between crop species, their root pathogens and beneficial
rhizosphere microbes. Understanding the population genetics and dynamics
of soil-borne microbes improves our predictive capacity, providing insights
on how to manipulate cropping systems to avoid the build up of deleterious
organisms and increase those that are beneficial. This information is
being used to develop targeted disease control strategies to improve the
sustainability of plant production systems and minimise environmental
impacts in agricultural landscapes.
(Canberra - Tuesday, 25 September)
Repairing the Country: New Science, New Economics, New Challenges
Presented by Graham Harris, Chief of CSIRO Land and Water
National Press Club,16 National Circuit, BARTON ACT
Lunch at 12.00pm : Talk at 1.00pm ? 2.00pm
Bookings: (02) 6273 3644 or npc@npc.org.au
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON FORESTS AND FORESTRY IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES: This workshop will be held from 12-14 September
2001, in Debe, Poland. It is being organized jointly by the Government
of Poland, MCPFE and UN-ECE/FAO. For more information contact: Alexander
Buck, Liaison Unit, MCPFE, Vienna, Austria; tel: +43-1-710-77-02; e-mail:
liaison.unit@lu-vienna.at; Internet: http://www.minconf-forests.net.
THIRD INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON REMOTE SENSING AND FOREST FIRES:
This workshop will convene in Paris from 17-18 September 2001. For more
information contact: Emilio Chuvieco, Department of Geography, University
of Alcalá, Alcalá de Hernares, Spain; e-mail:
emilio.chuvieco@uah.es; Internet: http://www.geogra.alcala.es/EARSeL/EARSeL.htm.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCING COMMUNITY FORESTRY:
This conference will take place from 23-28 September 2001, in Chiang Mai,
Thailand. The
focus will be on "Innovations and Scaling up Experiences." For
more information contact: Somsak Sukwong, Regional Community Forestry
Training Center for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC), Bangkok, Thailand;
e-mail: ftcsss@ku.ac.th; Internet: http://www.recoftc.org.
CONFERENCE ON TROPICAL FORESTRY RESEARCH IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM:
This meeting, entitled "Tropical Forestry Research in the New Millennium
- Meeting Demands and Challenges," will be held from 1-3 October
2001, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For more information contact: Kenanga
Simon, Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute, Selangor Darul Ehsan,
Malaysia; Internet: http://www.frim.gov.my/CFFPR
2001.html.
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON VALUE ACCOUNTING OF THE FORESTRY ENVIRONMENT:
This meeting will convene from 9-12 October 2001, in Beijing, China. For
more information contact: Research Institute of Scientific and Technological
Information on Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry,
Beijing, China; tel: +86-10-6288-8322; e-mail: yuling@isti.forestry.ac.cn;
Internet: http://www.forestry.ac.cn.
31ST SESSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER COUNCIL: This
meeting will take place from 29 October-3 November 2001, in Yokohama,
Japan. For more information contact: ITTO; Yokohama, Japan; tel: +81-45-223-1110;
fax: +81-45-223-3111; e-mail: itto@itto.or.jp; Internet: http://www.itto.or.jp.
SEVENTH MEETING OF THE CBD'S SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL
AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE: CBD SBSTTA-7 will meet from 12-16 November
2001, in Montreal, Canada. For more information contact: CBD Secretariat,
Montreal, Canada: tel: +1-514-288-2220; fax: +1-514-288-6588; e-mail:
secretariat@biodiv.org; Internet: http://www.biodiv.org.
(Bali - SEPTEMBER, 2001)
SUMMARY REPORT OF THE FOREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNANCE EAST ASIA
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
On-Line at: http://www.iisd.ca/linkages/sd/sdfle/
(THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT info@iisd.ca)
The Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) East Asia Ministerial
Conference took place in Bali, Indonesia, from 11-13 September 2001. The
Conference brought together nearly 150 participants from 20 countries,
representing government, international organizations, non-governmental
organizations
(NGOs), and the private sector. The event is co-hosted by the World Bank
and the Government of Indonesia and facilitated by the World Bank Institute,
with financial support from the Governments of the United Kingdom (UK)
and the United States (US).
The first two days of the meeting comprised a technical segment, during
which participants met in nine thematic sessions to hear panel presentations
and discuss forest law enforcement in relation to governance, forest policy,
forest management, and operational aspects. On the final day of the Conference,
ministers and ministerial level officials from Cambodia, China, Indonesia,
Laos, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam as well as from Congo-Brazzaville
and Ghana participated in the ministerial segment. The Ministerial Conference
set out to exchange views, disseminate technical knowledge and foster
strong political support and commitment at the national, regional and
international levels. The Conference's primary aims were to: share and
explore the best current thinking on forest law
enforcement; conduct further deliberations on the previously identified
priority issues of forest law enforcement, including illegal logging in
the East Asia region, among senior officials from forest and related ministries,
NGOs and industry representatives; and concur on a statement expressing
political commitment for action at the national and regional level. The
meeting resulted in the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration, which commits
participating countries to, inter alia, intensify national efforts and
strengthen bilateral, regional and multilateral collaboration to address
violations of forest law and forest crime, and create a regional task
force on forest law enforcement and governance to advance the
Declaration's objectives.
PRESS RELEASES OF INTEREST
(WA Govt 29.08.01)
WA Premier Geoff Gallop today announced the Government's plans for a landmark
Greenhouse strategy.
Dr Gallop today told Parliament that the State must act sooner rather
than later if it was to protect and preserve its unique environment, quality
of life and economic development. The Government recognises the need to
seize the opportunity and formulate a long-term strategy that will ensure
the future good health of our community and industries. Scientists (CSIRO)
are already predicting reduced rainfall in the South-West and a rise in
temperatures of up to six degrees Celsius over the next 70 years. Western
Australians know too well the devastating effect these changes could have
on our environment with the State still battling to recover from drought
and facing the toughest water restrictions this summer in recent history.
(More at : http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/media/media.nsf/recentreleases/Geoff+Gallop?opendocument
)
National Climate Centre (Media Release issued 13th September 2001)
THREE-MONTH SEASONAL CLIMATE OUTLOOK SUMMARY
Rainfall probabilities for October to December 2001: Wet in the north,
drier in the southeast
Rainfall odds for October to December 2001 show a contrasting picture
with above average falls favoured in the north, and below average falls
more likely in the southeast (see rain.gif attached). Over the three months,
the chances of above average falls are 60 to 65% over large areas of Queensland
and the N.T., and some parts of Western Australia. So under the current
climate pattern, about 6 seasons out of 10 are expected to be wetter than
usual in these regions, whilst about 4 out of 10 are drier. In addition,
the outlook scheme has moderate to high levels of skill for this period.
In contrast, rainfall odds have shifted towards drier than average conditions
in the southeast of the country. In southern Victoria, Tasmania and parts
of far southeast S.A., the outlook shows chances of 60 to 70% for below
average falls to occur over the October to December period. So in the
current climate situation about 6 or 7 seasons out of 10 are expected
to be drier than usual in these regions, with about 3 or 4 out of 10 wetter.
However, the outlook scheme has only low to moderate skill in these regions.
There continues to be speculation about an El Niño developing soon
and affecting Australia during the summer. However, while the possibility
cannot be ruled out entirely, the National Climate Centre believes the
chance of this occurring is quite low. For a full wrap-up see http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/
.
The above text, and a colour map, are on the WEB at http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/rain_ahead.shtml
An online Seasonal Climate Outlook subscription service is available at
http://www.bom.gov.au/silo
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