WRI Digest
August 2006, Volume 2, Number 8

Gabon to Create Forest Resource Database
July 5 - In a bold move to improve forest management, the Gabonese Ministry of Forest Economy, Water, Fishery, and National Parks has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with WRI for the creation of a forest resource database and atlas, and dissemination of all collected information.
Gabon is home to some of the most culturally, biologically, and economically important forest resources in Central Africa. However, the extent of actual forest cover and depletion is not accurately known. This new partnership demonstrates a significant attempt to curtail further forest degradation in Central Africa by incorporating on-the-ground knowledge with systematic satellite technology, to provide an accurate base of forest information.
This initiative follows a similar process initiated in 2002 with the Cameroonian government, as well as in the Republic of the Congo earlier this year, which has led to a much greater understanding of the causes and effects of logging in multiple African countries, and also helped the forest industry to plan future activities. (more)

Watershed Analysis of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Released
July - Analysis of watersheds in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands by the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and WRI has identified those areas where land changes most threaten coastal waters with increased sediment and pollutant delivery. The threat associated with land clearing is higher in areas of steep relief, intense precipitation, and where soils are more erosive in nature. Alteration of the natural landscape for development, road construction, or agriculture can have adverse impacts on coral reef ecosystems through increased delivery of sediment and pollution to coastal waters. (more) (WRI Research Report) (Reefs at Risk)

Cameroon: MPs Pledge to Protect the Environment
June 27 - Members of Parliament (MPs) in the National Assembly of Cameroon launched a Caucus of Parliamentarians for Environmental Protection, which has as a goal increasing the flow of information about the environment, including the performance of MPs on environmental matters, to the public. WRI and partner Network for Environmental and Sustainable Development - Central Africa (NESDA-CA) were instrumental in the development and launch of the Caucus: efforts included conducting analyses of incentives and disincentives of legislators in representing their constituencies, reviewing the environmental component of political party manifestoes, and hosting meetings with legislators to educate them about key environmental issues. (related story, "Assessment," below) (more) (WRI's Equity, Poverty, and the Environment progam)

Indonesia Makes PP10 Commitments
August 8 - Following on its initial commitment in late April, the government of Indonesia has submitted specific commitments to the Partnership for Principle 10 (PP10), a partnership of NGOs, governments and international organizations working together to promote transparent, inclusive and accountable decision-making for sustainable development. Indonesian commitments include legal and regulatory reforms to increase public involvement in the environmental impact assessment process in sectors including forestry and energy, after years of poor implementation and public criticism. The government has also promised to continue funding and staffing efforts to provide environmental information on the internet. (PowerPoint presentation)

WRI's Minnemeyer Honored for Innovative GIS Work
July 21 - Software company and geographic information systems (GIS)-industry leader ESRI has honored WRI's Susan Minnemeyer, GIS Laboratory Manager for Global Forest Watch, for making "a difference in the world by applying a GIS solution to challenges or needs within conservation or their communities." ESRI cited Minnemeyer's work in scaling up GIS work in Cameroon, and for her efforts with WRI partner Imazon to map human pressures on Brazilian Amazon forests. (more) (Global Forest Watch) (staff profile)

Power Tools for India
July 17 - WRI worked with partners The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), US EPA, and the Central Pollution Control Board of India to hold a stakeholder briefing in Calcutta to review a new calculation tool that measures the GHG emissions of power sector companies in India. More than forty participants attended, including representatives of Central and State pollution control boards, public and private power producers, and research institutes. This follows the testing of a draft version of the power sector tool for India at four facilities of the Calcutta Electricity Supply Corporation (one of the foremost private sector power companies in India). The final tool, based on the WRI/WBCSD GHG Protocol, will be released in late 2006. (more)

Fairer Water Quality Trades
July 27 - Many U.S. farmers who receive cost-share funds from the government to implement best management practices (BMPs) also want to participate in water quality trading markets. A new WRI Policy Note recommends that water quality trading markets should encourage the participation of such farmers, but that the allowable nutrient and/or sediment reduction sold should be proportional to a farmer's contribution to the cost of implementing the BMP. (more)

Climate Change Threatens Mangroves
August 9 - Rising sea levels, linked to climate change, are threatening Pacific mangroves, according to a recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The report claims that projected sea-level increases of 9-88cm over this century could lead to the loss of 13 percent of mangrove area in 16 pacific island countries or territories studied, with losses as high as 50 percent on some islands. (more) Image Credit: Mangrove Action Project

Cameroon Launches Assessment of Environmental Governance
July 27 - The Access Initiative has formally launched an assessment of environmental governance in Cameroon. Led by WRI partners Foundation for Environment and Development; Bio-resources Development and Conservation Programme Cameroon; the Network for Environment and Sustainable Development, Central Africa; and the Minister of the Environment and Nature Protection, the assessment will analyze the state of public access to information, participation, and justice in environmental decision-making. The assessment is supported by the British High Commission in Cameroon. The government of Cameroon has been involved from the start in the hopes of fostering dialogue between NGOs and the government. (coverage by Cameroon Radio and Television here and here)

WRI In the News
NPR's Living on Earth on Cameroon's Rainforests
The Nation cover story on the modern green movement
The New York Times Magazine on the Chicago Climate Exchange
Business Week on hybrid cars in developing countries
NPR's Living on Earth on Water Supply in Mexico City
Wired.com on MIT's Energy "Manhattan Project"
Barron's on ethanol*
National Journal cover story on energy production and climate change
*subscription may be required to access

The Last Becomes First
August 11 - People who work the land, particularly in poorer areas, have to be patient. They often have to wait for rain. They also have to wait for broadband.Yet tens of thousands of residents of rural areas in Cambodia and India already have access to web searches, email, SMS text messages, even voicemail, thanks to technology developed by the company First Mile Solutions. The tech firm believes it can break even if just 5 percent of residents of India's 220,000 villages join their network. Progess is happening, bit by bit. (more)

EarthTrends Update - World Population Growth
August 1 - The world's population is growing by 1.1 percent annually, with nearly all this growth occurring within developing countries. As a result, roughly 9 in 10 children (1.6 billion children) under the age of 15 currently reside in developing parts of the world, up from 7 in 10 in 1950. Major growth is expected to occur in developing countries' urban populations; if current trends continue, poor countries will have to build the equivalent of a city of more than one million people each week for the next 45 years. (more)

WRI Digest is published monthly by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and sent to subscribers who have opted in. WRI is an independent non-profit organization with a staff of more than 100 scientists, economists, policy experts, business analysts, statistical analysts, mapmakers, and communicators working to protect the Earth and improve people's lives.

Did a friend forward this email to you and you want to subscribe? Please click here.
Know someone else who should subscribe? Send them here.