Scientist warns the earth may be absorbing less gas

Carbon Dioxide is accumulating in the atmosphere much faster than scientists expected; raising fears that humankind may have less time to tackle climate change than previously thought. New figures from dozens of measuring stations across the world reveal that CO2 the main green house gas ,rose at record levels during 2006- the fourth year in the last five to show a sharp increase At its more far reaching ,the finding could indicate that global temperature are making forests, soils  and oceans less able to absorb CO2 a shift that would make it harder to tackle global warming. At the moment around half of the human carbon emission is reabsorbed by the nature but the fear among the scientist is that temperatures will work to reduce this effect.

 

                        According to the latest figures, last year   saw a rise of 2.6ppm.. If the current trend continues, this Year's means the carbon dioxide level has risen by an average 2.2ppm each year since 2001. Above average annual rises in carbon dioxide levels have been explained by natural events such as the El Nino weather pattern, centered on the Pacific Ocean. But the last El Nino was on 1998, when it resulted  in a record annual increase in carbon dioxide of 2.9ppm. If the current trend continues, this year's predicted El Nino could see the annual rise in carbon dioxide of 2.9ppm. If the current trend continues, this year's predicted El Nino could see the annual rise in carbon dioxide pass the 3ppm level for the first time. The intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change is expected to announce more robust emissions data when it reports early next month.

   

(The Hindu,20/01/07)

Disaster management plan in limbo

Toug talk and muscle –flexing apart, the State Government has done next to nothing to frame a Comprehensive Disaster management Plan for the 112 year-old Mullaperiyar dam. That such a plan would be framed in three months was a promise made by revenue Minister K.P.Rajendran on November 16, when the dam and the inter-state dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over raising its water –level were hot news.

 

But two months after the promise, the Disaster Management Division of the School of Environment Studies,MG University which was the plan, is to receive a government order that effect.

 

The Diaster management Division had tabled a proposal for conducting potential loss mapping and hazard zonation mapping in the regions around the dam two months ago. The plan was to cover Idukki,Kottayam,Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta, the four districts which would suffer the most if the dam break.

 

 

(The New Indian Express,20/01/07)

Habitat loss looms over Athirapally birds

As many as 125 species of birds. 90 species of butterflies and 20 species of amphibious creatures have been spotted in theh Athirapally – Vazhachal forest area during a bird and butterfly survey conducted in the first week of January by ornithologist C.Susanth and S.Anooj. The survey conducted with the assistance of the Forest Department. The team was able to spot 70 species of birds within a span of 30 minutes. Among the prized sightings were those of the Malabar pied Hornbill, Great Indian Hornbill, Great Black Woodpecker, Malabar Trogon, Blue beared bea eater, Grean Imperial pigeon, Crested goshwk, Black napped oriole, Drongo Cuckoo, Wayanad laughing thrush, Forest eagle owl and the Eurasian black bird. Birds endemic to the Western ghats, the Malabar grey Hornbill, Malabar Parakeet, White bellied blue fly catcher, Small sunbird, Nilgiri pipit, Nilhiri wood pigeon, Grey Headed bulbul, and the Nilgiri Fly catcher were also seen. The presence of two birds not previously seen in this rregion, the Lesser fish eagle and the Large hawk cuckoo, were also sighted in the region.  Among the butterflies, Malabar banded swallowtail, The Tawny rajah, Malabar banded peacock, Five bar Swordtail, Cruiser, Fluffy titt, Malabar raven, Red helan, Golder tree flitter, Lesser albatross, and Arbarent oak blur were also sighted in the area. The proposed Athirapally hydal project might case serious damage to the Vazhachal Athirapally reserve forest. The last remaining habitat of the Malabar pied hornbill, the rarest of birds in the state, would vanish forever. The biodiversity of the reserve forest particularly the avi-fauna would be adversely affected by the hydel project .

 

(The Hindu, 20^th January, 2007)

Karnataka gets its fourth Project Tiger Sanctuary

Dandeli Wildlife sanctuary and the adjoining Anshi National park have been granted the specials status of 'Project Tiger'. By this Karnataka got fourth of its kind, they already boasts three. The central and state government will implement this jointly. The Dandeli sanctuary and the Anshi national park together have around 40 tigers. The center gave the "in-principle clearance" for the fourth 'Project Tiger' I the state in 2006. The Dandeli Project Tiger is spread over 825sq.km, and along with the Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary of Goa covers an area of over 2,000sq.km.

(The Hindu, 17th January, 2007)