NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Dear Wetland Friends:

A creative approach to conservation caught my eye this month. Apparently,
conservationists in India are saving endangered turtles by telling poachers
that the animals are the living form of a Hindu god. The Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is successfully saving Olive Ridley
turtles. For the full article go to:
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_494593.html?menu=news.quirkies

Best wishes,

Heidi

Heidi Luquer
Wetlands NewsLink Editor

NEWS FROM WETLAND FRIENDS

Ducks Unlimited: Americans Say Environment is Important But Are Unsure How
to Help

Memphis, TN, January 21 – The majority of Americans are outdoors enthusiasts
and participate in activities like birdwatching, camping, and hiking;
however, the vast majority of Americans say they are not members of nor
contribute to organizations that protect and conserve our natural resources.
Large percentages of Americans say they don't know enough to rate the health
of natural resources like forests, wetlands, and grasslands. Highlights of
the study are available online at www.ducks.org

News from IUCN: Journalists Join IUCN in Fight for Lake Victoria
Conservation

February 18, 2002 – Media coverage of environmental issues on Lake Victoria
has received a boost through the newly launched “Network of Environmental
Journalists for Lake Victoria.” With support from the Swedish Agency for
Development Cooperation (SIDA), IUCN Eastern Africa is working with
journalist associations in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to improve the quality
of reporting on one of the world's largest lakes. In a recent meeting in
Nairobi, IUCN brought together journalists and scientists from Kenya,
Tanzania and Uganda to chart a way forward.

News from RAMSAR

The Ramsar Small Grants Fund for Wetland Conservation and Wise Use

The deadline is March 31, 2002. Project proposals for the 2002 cycle must
have an emphasis on the implementation of the Ramsar Strategic Plan
1997-2002, and proposals must demonstrate the potential to assist in
fulfilling specific Strategic Plan objectives. Operational Guidelines,
including forms to be completed, are available in English, French, and
Spanish at http://ramsar.org/key_sgf_index.htm

New Ramsar Sites Listed:

Argentina: the "Lagunas y Esteros del Iberá" - its10th Wetland of
International Importance.
Chad: “Partie tchadienne du lac Tchad” a very large portion of Lake Chad.
China: has tripled its number of Wetlands of International Importance by
designating 14 provincial and national Nature Reserves.
Ecuador: "Refugio de Vida Silvestre Isla Santa Clara" in the Provincia de
El Oro and The "Laguna de Cube" in the Provincia de Esmeraldas.
India: Two new Ramsar sites in Punjab state, Kanjli and Ropar
Kenya: Lake Baringo as its 4th Wetland of International Importance.
Nicaragua: has designated seven new sites: Cayos Miskitos y Franja Costera
Immediata, Deltas del Estero Real y Llanos de Apacunca, Lago de
Apanás-Asturias, Sistema de Humedales de la Bahía de Bluefields, Sistema de
Humedales de San Miguelito, Sistema Lagunar de Tisma, Refugio de Vida
Silvestre Río San Juan.

News from Zambia: Zambia's Major Wetlands Project Hits Snag

An air of controversy surrounds the multi-million dollar wetlands project in
the Kafue flats, Zambia's United Nations Ramsar designated site. This is
barely a few weeks after government, through the Ministry of Tourism,
Environment and Natural Resources, endorsed the project on World Wetlands
day, 2nd February, 2002. Over 350 subjects of local Chief Mwanachingwala
have petitioned the ambitious 47, 000 hectares project funded by the World
Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Zambia. In an urgent petition, the villagers
warn the project implementers of vicious militant action if they do not
discontinue ongoing plans to erect an 85 kilometre wire fence for the
project boundaries. WWF-Netherlands, through the WWF-Partners for Wetlands
in Zambia has committed US$ 200, 000 over a period of two years.
Authorities at WWF-Partners for Wetlands Project, who are initiators, insist
that the ultimate idea of the project is revamp degraded land which once
teemed with wildlife and is still rich in other biodiversity. WWF-Zambia
says : "This is an eco-tourism project designed to protect nature as well
as benefit villagers. For further information about this story contact,
Singy Hanyona, ZIMA Press Centre: E-mail: shanyona@yahoo.co.uk

WETLAND NEWS – IN THE NEWS – FROM AROUND THE GLOBE (by most recent date)

Killer Algae Identified as the Probable Cause of Massive Fish Die-Off in
Kenyan Waters

February 14, 2002, Gland, Switzerland – South African marine expert Dr.
Grant Pitcher has successfully isolated and identified the killer organism,
probably responsible for the deaths of thousands of fish and hundreds of
other ocean dwellers off the Eastern Africa shoreline, WWF said today. The
culprit is a notorious fish-killing algae that produces lethal neuro-toxins,
and is well known to many fisheries world-wide. It belongs to the
Gymnodinium species. For the full article go to:
http://www.panda.org/news/press/news.cfm?id=2725

25 Pacific [USA] Salmon Populations May Lose Protection

Washington, DC, February 12, 2002 (ENS), by Cat Lazaroff – The National
Marine Fisheries Service is reviewing petitions to remove federal protection
for 14 groups of Pacific salmon and steelhead which are now protected under
the Endangered Species Act. The agency's move angered environmentalists and
delighted property rights advocates who have been battling water and land
use restrictions aimed at protecting the fish. For the full story go to:
http://www.ens-news.com/ens/feb2002/2002L-02-12-07.html

The WWF Has Warned of a Possible Ecological Disaster if Shipping Routes
Along the River Danube are Developed

January 31, 2002, Vienna Austria – The environmental group, formerly known
as the World Wildlife Fund, says "vital wetland ecosystems" will be
threatened if plans are approved to construct new canals, dams and the
deepening of parts of the river. "We're saying: `Don't adapt the rivers to
the ships, adapt the ships to the rivers,"' said Markus Schneidergruber, a
WWF spokesman in Vienna. For the full article go to:
http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/01/31/danube.environment/index.html

First North American International Wildlife Refuge Created

January 15, 2002, Environmental News Network – In December, the first
international refuge in North America was established to conserve habitat
along the Lower Detroit River. A partnership of the national governments of
the United States and Canada together with state, county, and local
governments; private industry; conservation groups; and citizens worked to
delineate and secure the refuge. For the full article go to:
http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2002/01/01152002/s_46043.asp

Giant Icebergs, Sea Ice Too Much for Antarctic Penguins

January 10, 2002, Environmental News Network – A combination of massive
grounded icebergs and a record amount of sea ice in Antarctica's Ross Sea
has blocked entire colonies of penguins who are trying to return from their
feeding grounds in the open sea to their breeding areas. The result is
expected to be a significant reduction in regional penguin populations; one
colony is in danger of extinction. For the full article go to:
http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2002/01/01102002/s_46027.asp

WETLAND MIGRATORY BIRD NEWS

In Celebrating World Wetlands Day South Korea Makes a Splash

Wetlands and Birds Korea, a small NGO specialising in wetland and bird
conservation organized a nationwide birdwatching marathon to celebrate World
Wetlands Day. This was the largest such event ever organised in Korea. The
Ministry of Environment offered small but highly significant (and much
appreciated) financial support for the event. For more information contact
Nial Moores, International Liaison Wetlands and Birds Korea, e-mail:
wetlandfriends@hotmail.com

PUBLICATIONS

Announcing the Enlarged & Updated Edition of "Silenced Rivers: The Ecology
and Politics of Large Dams," by Patrick McCully

International Rivers Network in association with Zed Books/St Martin's Press
has just published an expanded edition of "Silenced Rivers: The Ecology and
Politics of Large Dams." Called "a truly dazzling book," by celebrated
writer Arundhati Roy, this new edition of McCully's now classic study shows
why large dams have become such a controversial technology in both
industrialized and developing countries. The book explores the wide-ranging
ecological impacts of large dams, their human consequences, the organization
of the dam-building industry, and the role played by international banks and
aid agencies in promoting large dams. The book is now available for $25 plus
shipping and handling from IRN (see www.irn.org), and from bookshops.

The Out-of-print 2nd edition of "Waterfowl Population Estimates" is On-line

Adobe's Free Acrobat Reader is needed for accessing the main chapters which
are in PDF format. It is available from the link below. One of the most
readily applicable and widely used of the criteria employed to identify
Wetlands of International Importance designated under the Ramsar Convention
on Wetlands, is the so-called 1% criterion. This states that any site which
regularly holds 1% or more of a population of waterbirds qualifies as a
wetland of international importance. Download it here:
http://www.wetlands.org/IWC/WPEnote.htm

WETLAND PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST [USA only]

March 1 Deadline!!!!
The Wetlands Division is seeking high quality photographs of wetlands in
different regions of the United States and at different seasons of the year.
The theme of the photo contest is "the Functions and Values of Wetlands."
The winning photographs will be used to produce an EPA wetlands poster and
will be prominently displayed at the National Wetland Awards ceremony in
Washington, DC in May 2002, and at EPA Headquarters. For more details go
to: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/photocontest.html

MIGRATORY BIRD GRANT OPPORTUNITY

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is soliciting proposals for the grants
program of the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. This new
program provides funding for the conservation of migrants and their habitats
in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Proposals will be
accepted for management of bird populations and their habitats, research and
monitoring, law enforcement and community outreach and education.
Applications in English, Spanish and Portuguese and instructions are
attached below. Please note that the Department of the Interior is
currently without Internet and e-mail access. Therefore, please contact us
by telephone or facsimile with any questions. Do NOT respond or rely to
this e-mail address. All applications must be postmarked by April 5, 2002.
For U.S. Proposals, contact Doug Ryan at 703-358-1784 or by fax: (703)
358-2282.

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Position of Director of International Programs – American Bird Conservancy
[ABC]

The Director of International Programs works to provide direction and
oversight for ABC programs for Latin America and the Caribbean; helps Latin
American and Caribbean non-governmental organizations build capacity and
attain funding for their bird conservation programs and projects; and
assists the President of ABC in other matters as requested, among other
duties. The successful candidate for this position will possess an advanced
degree in biological sciences or related field with knowledge of
conservation, ornithology, and management needs of birds in the Americas; at
least five years experience in Latin American or Caribbean conservation;
demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively; experience in
fundraising for conservation programs. Fluency in English and Spanish is
required, and fluency in Portuguese is desirable. The deadline was February
15th but contact Merrie Morrison to see if a late submission is possible.
E-mail: mmorr@abcbirds.org; or visit: http://www.abcbirds.org

THE END
February 18, 2002