Popular in the CommunitySponsoredSponsoredOrangutan found tortured and decapitated prompts Indonesia probeEMGIES17 Jan, 2018We will never know the full extent of what this poor Orangutan went through before he died, the same must be done to this evil perpetrator(s) they don’t deserve the air that they breathe this has truly upset me and I wonder for the future for these wonderful creatures. So called ‘Mankind’ has a lot to answer for we are the only ones ruining this world I prefer animals to humans any day of the week.What makes community ecotourism succeed? In Madagascar, location, location, locationScissors1dOther countries should also learn and try to incorporateWhy you should care about the current wave of mass extinctions (commentary)Processor1 DecAfter all, there is no infinite anything in the whole galaxy!Infinite stupidity, right here on earth.The wildlife trade threatens people and animals alike (commentary)Anchor3dUnfortunately I feel The Chinese have no compassion for any living animal. They are a cruel country that as we knowneatbeverything that moves and do not humanily kill these poor animals and insects. They have no health and safety on their markets and they then contract these diseases. Maybe its karma maybe they should look at the way they live and stop using animals for all there so called remedies. DisgustingConservationists welcome China’s wildlife trade banThobolo27 JanChina has consistently been the worlds worst, “ Face of Evil “ in regards our planets flora and fauna survival. In some ways, this is nature trying to fight back. This ban is great, but the rest of the world just cannot allow it to be temporary, because history has demonstrated that once this coronavirus passes, they will in all likelihood, simply revert to been the planets worst Ecco Terrorists. Let’s simply not allow this to happen! How and why they have been able to degrade this planets iconic species, rape the planets rivers, oceans and forests, with apparent impunity, is just mind boggling! Please no more.Probing rural poachers in Africa: Why do they poach?Carrot3dOne day I feel like animals will be more scarce, and I agree with one of my friends, they said that poaching will take over the world, but I also hope notUpset about Amazon fires last year? Focus on deforestation this year (commentary)Bullhorn4dLies and more leisSponsoredSponsoredCoke is again the biggest culprit behind plastic waste in the PhilippinesGrapes7 NovOnce again the article blames companies for the actions of individuals. It is individuals that buy these products, it is individuals that dispose of them improperly. If we want to change it, we have to change, not just create bad guys to blame.Brazilian response to Bolsonaro policies and Amazon fires growsCar4 SepThank you for this excellent report. I feel overwhelmed by the ecocidal intent of the Bolsonaro government in the name of ‘developing’ their ‘God-given’ resources.U.S. allocates first of $30M in grants for forest conservation in SumatraPlanet4dcarrot hella thick ;)Melting Arctic sea ice may be altering winds, weather at equator: studyleftylarry30 JanThe Arctic sea ice seems to be recovering this winter as per the last 10-12 years, good news.Malaysia has the world’s highest deforestation rate, reveals Google forest mapBone27 Sep, 2018Who you’re trying to fool with selective data revelation?You can’t hide the truth if you show historical deforestation for all countries, especially in Europe from 1800s to this day. WorldBank has a good wholesome data on this.Mass tree planting along India’s Cauvery River has scientists worriedSurendra Nekkanti23 JanHi Mongabay. Good effort trying to be objective in this article. I would like to give a constructive feedback which could help in clearing things up.1. It is mentioned that planting trees in village common lands will have negative affects socially and ecologically. There is no need to even have to agree or disagree with it, because, you also mentioned the fact that Cauvery Calling aims to plant trees only in the private lands of the farmers. So, plantation in the common lands doesn’t come into the picture.2.I don’t see that the ecologists are totally against this project, but just they they have some concerns, mainly in terms of what species of trees will be planted. And because there was no direct communication between the ecologists and Isha Foundation, it was not possible for them to address the concerns. As you seem to have spoken with an Isha spokesperson, if you could connect the concerned parties, it would be great, because I see that the ecologists are genuinely interested in making sure things are done the right way.May we all come together and make things happen.Rare Amazon bush dogs caught on camera in BoliviaCarrot1 Feba very good iniciative to be fallowed by the ranchers all overSponsored Crews are set to begin construction on a stretch of Malaysia’s Pan Borneo Highway in eastern Sabah state, involving the widening of the road from two lanes to four.The new divided highway will cross the Kinabatangan River and pass through a critical wildlife sanctuary that’s home to orangutans, elephants and proboscis monkeys, along with other wildlife species already hemmed in by the region’s oil palm plantations.Planners and politicians hope the road will stimulate local economies and bring in more tourists.Conservationists and scientists, however, are concerned that the highway could further section off animal populations and damage the current tourism infrastructure, unless certain mitigation measures are introduced. This is the fourth article in our six-part series “Traveling the Pan Borneo Highway.” Read Part One, Part Two and Part Three.BATU PUTEH, Malaysia — They call it the “corridor of life.” Amid a sea of oil palm plantations, narrow strips of forests that fringe the Kinabatangan River in Malaysia teem with iconic wildlife.Established as a wildlife reserve in the 1990s, the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary has become one of the biggest tourist draws in the state of Sabah, in part because there are few places where it’s easier to see some of Southeast Asia’s best-known wild animals. Pot-bellied proboscis monkeys and eight species of hornbills are so easy to spot that tour boats from the outfitters based around the towns of Sukau and Batu Puteh sometimes won’t even slow down for them. And chance encounters with orangutans, crocodiles (observed safely from longboats) and even Borneo’s diminutive variant of the Asian elephant certainly aren’t rare.A map of the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary at the entrance to the town of Batu Puteh in Sabah, where the local tourism cooperative KOPEL is located. Image by John C. Cannon/Mongabay.Still, state and local leaders see the area’s potential for tourism as largely unrealized. Like politicians in other parts of Sabah, they aim to bring in more visitors, and provide locals with better access to services and markets, by improving connections to other parts of Sabah — specifically with the Pan Borneo Highway project. It calls for crews to widen the two-lane road that crosses the Kinabatangan River on its way from Lahad Datu to Sandakan into a four-lane, divided highway. The project plans also include a four-lane bridge over the Kinabatangan River where it crosses at the town of Batu Puteh. Currently, a two-lane, steel trestle bridge spans the river, clanking and shuddering under the weight of passing traffic, especially the ubiquitous palm oil-toting tankers.Scientists and conservation groups, however, have raised concerns about expanding the existing road, which they say could further carve up already fragmented wildlife populations. Even at two lanes, the road has proven an insurmountable impediment to elephants crossing back and forth. All of the tracking data from teams at WWF-Malaysia and the Danau Girang Field Centre just downriver show that elephants remain on one side of the road and that they won’t cross.Tourists frequently spot Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) on the Kinabatangan River. Image by John C. Cannon/Mongabay.There’s even some evidence that the noise from the road — or perhaps, more accurately, the vibration of the bridge — keeps crocodiles from swimming underneath it, so its construction in the late 1990s likely split the river’s crocodile population in two.Experts fear that a wider, divided road would further hinder the passage of wildlife, hemming them into even smaller patches of habitat. It also increases the chances that frustrated animals will come into contact with local residents and oil palm plantation workers. They caution that the frequency of roadkill could spike, with disastrous consequences for both animals and people. One video shows a panicked and confused baby elephant bumping into cars in other parts of Sabah. In Thailand, passers-by recorded a devastating nighttime crash involving a bus and an elephant — a scene that those concerned about the arrival of the Pan Borneo Highway believe could happen in Sabah.Under the existing bridge on the north bank of the river in Batu Puteh sits the headquarters of KOPEL, an internationally recognized tourism cooperative. Households throughout the community participate, hosting travelers in homestays and benefiting financially, while the tourists have easy access to the river’s wildlife delights. KOPEL also runs an “Eco Camp” downriver for more adventurous visitors, anchored by a steady stream of school groups, looking to spend their nights in the forest. There, they also have the chance to participate in the restoration of forest throughout the wildlife sanctuary. The organization’s leaders are concerned, however, that any realignment of the existing bridge could force KOPEL to make a costly move.Expansion and realignment of the Batu Puteh bridge for the Pan Borneo Highway could force KOPEL, a local tourism cooperative, to move its headquarters. Image by John C. Cannon/Mongabay.Downriver, plans for a bridge linking the town of Sukau with more remote communities east of the river have been revived, even though the previous state government abandoned a similar project in 2017. The Sukau bridge project isn’t part of the Pan Borneo Highway, though longtime proponents echo similar claims that it would bring development, tourism and better access to health care for local residents. Curiously, though, the environmental impact assessment for the project only includes plans for road construction, not a bridge, according to several sources, even though the word “bridge” remains in the title.WWF-Malaysia has also had a chance to review the assessment. The group cautions that, “A road built in this area will cause further fragmentation and open up access to illegal wildlife hunting.” As a result, WWF-Malaysia has called for the assessment to include a study on how road construction in this area will affect wildlife.Minister of Works Baru Bian said that his office backs the construction of wildlife crossings, pointing to their inclusion in parts of Peninsular Malaysia’s Central Spine Road. Baru said that eco-viaducts there allow large animals to pass underneath the roads without posing a danger to them or to motorists.Young trees grow at a forest restoration site, providing a buffer between the oil palm plantation behind and the Kinabatangan River. Image by John C. Cannon/Mongabay.But research in Peninsular Malaysia has shown that these pinch points serve as ideal spots for natural predators as well as poachers to hang out in search of their prey. To deal with that threat, more wildlife rangers will be needed to keep poachers at bay, Sheelasheena Damian, a policy analyst at WWF-Malaysia, told Mongabay.“The development of roads in Kinabatangan can have detrimental effects to wildlife as it creates access for poachers to enter forest reserves,” Damian said. “The government must take this into consideration when planning development in biodiversity hotspots such as Kinabatangan.”Just recently, the tusks of five Bornean elephants, almost certainly victims of poaching in Sabah, turned up across the border in the Indonesian province of North Kalimantan.The proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) is one of several threatened species protected by the wildlife sanctuary. Image by John C. Cannon/Mongabay.Biologist Benoît Goossens, who directs the Danau Girang Field Centre, agrees that wildlife viaducts aren’t a panacea.He and his colleagues have been using drones to map potential sites for the pathways once the road is in place. Imperative, he says, is that they link sections of good forest on both sides of the road, as prior research has shown. He also posits that ecobridges made to be as natural as possible might be more successful than underpasses, which are typically just dirt pathways without vegetation running under the road.Any connectivity in wildlife populations rests on the contingency that animals actually use such corridors, which is by no means guaranteed.Long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) feeding along the Kinabatangan River. Image by John C. Cannon/Mongabay.Still, at this point, with construction set to move forward, Goossens acknowledged that including some sort of wildlife crossing is the best they can hope for in terms of minimizing the impacts of the highway.“It’s that or nothing,” he said. The alternative — a four-lane, divided highway that cuts through this critical slice of habitat in Sabah without any concessions for the region’s animals — is stark.“You can say goodbye to the ‘corridor of life’ in the Kinabatangan,” Goossens said.Continue to Part Five.Banner image of a saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) in the Kinabatangan River by John C. Cannon/Mongabay.John Cannon is a staff writer at Mongabay. Find him on Twitter: @johnccannonFEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post. If you want to post a public comment, you can do that at the bottom of the page. Animals, Anti-poaching, Biodiversity, Conservation, Deforestation, Endangered Species, Environment, Extinction, Forest Destruction, Forest Fragmentation, Forest People, Forestry, Forests, Fragmentation, Green, Hunting, Illegal Logging, Infrastructure, Monkeys, Oil Palm, Palm Oil, Palm Oil And Biodiversity, Poaching, Primates, Protected Areas, Rainforest Animals, Rainforest Biodiversity, Rainforest Conservation, Rainforest People, Rainforests, Roads, Saving Rainforests, Threats To Rainforests, Tropical Forests, Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Trade Article published by John Cannon read more

Agriculture, Agrochemicals, Animals, Bees, Biodiversity, Biodiversity Crisis, Biodiversity Hotspots, Chemicals, Conservation, Ecology, Ecosystems, Environment, Environmental Law, Forests, Green, Health, Industrial Agriculture, Insects, Mammals, Pesticides, Public Health, Regulations, Research, Tapirs, Wildlife Article published by Glenn Scherer Popular in the CommunitySponsoredSponsoredOrangutan found tortured and decapitated prompts Indonesia probeEMGIES17 Jan, 2018We will never know the full extent of what this poor Orangutan went through before he died, the same must be done to this evil perpetrator(s) they don’t deserve the air that they breathe this has truly upset me and I wonder for the future for these wonderful creatures. So called ‘Mankind’ has a lot to answer for we are the only ones ruining this world I prefer animals to humans any day of the week.What makes community ecotourism succeed? In Madagascar, location, location, locationScissors1dOther countries should also learn and try to incorporateWhy you should care about the current wave of mass extinctions (commentary)Processor1 DecAfter all, there is no infinite anything in the whole galaxy!Infinite stupidity, right here on earth.The wildlife trade threatens people and animals alike (commentary)Anchor3dUnfortunately I feel The Chinese have no compassion for any living animal. They are a cruel country that as we knowneatbeverything that moves and do not humanily kill these poor animals and insects. They have no health and safety on their markets and they then contract these diseases. Maybe its karma maybe they should look at the way they live and stop using animals for all there so called remedies. DisgustingConservationists welcome China’s wildlife trade banThobolo27 JanChina has consistently been the worlds worst, “ Face of Evil “ in regards our planets flora and fauna survival. In some ways, this is nature trying to fight back. This ban is great, but the rest of the world just cannot allow it to be temporary, because history has demonstrated that once this coronavirus passes, they will in all likelihood, simply revert to been the planets worst Ecco Terrorists. Let’s simply not allow this to happen! How and why they have been able to degrade this planets iconic species, rape the planets rivers, oceans and forests, with apparent impunity, is just mind boggling! Please no more.Probing rural poachers in Africa: Why do they poach?Carrot3dOne day I feel like animals will be more scarce, and I agree with one of my friends, they said that poaching will take over the world, but I also hope notUpset about Amazon fires last year? Focus on deforestation this year (commentary)Bullhorn4dLies and more leisSponsoredSponsoredCoke is again the biggest culprit behind plastic waste in the PhilippinesGrapes7 NovOnce again the article blames companies for the actions of individuals. It is individuals that buy these products, it is individuals that dispose of them improperly. If we want to change it, we have to change, not just create bad guys to blame.Brazilian response to Bolsonaro policies and Amazon fires growsCar4 SepThank you for this excellent report. I feel overwhelmed by the ecocidal intent of the Bolsonaro government in the name of ‘developing’ their ‘God-given’ resources.U.S. allocates first of $30M in grants for forest conservation in SumatraPlanet4dcarrot hella thick ;)Melting Arctic sea ice may be altering winds, weather at equator: studyleftylarry30 JanThe Arctic sea ice seems to be recovering this winter as per the last 10-12 years, good news.Malaysia has the world’s highest deforestation rate, reveals Google forest mapBone27 Sep, 2018Who you’re trying to fool with selective data revelation?You can’t hide the truth if you show historical deforestation for all countries, especially in Europe from 1800s to this day. WorldBank has a good wholesome data on this.Mass tree planting along India’s Cauvery River has scientists worriedSurendra Nekkanti23 JanHi Mongabay. Good effort trying to be objective in this article. I would like to give a constructive feedback which could help in clearing things up.1. It is mentioned that planting trees in village common lands will have negative affects socially and ecologically. There is no need to even have to agree or disagree with it, because, you also mentioned the fact that Cauvery Calling aims to plant trees only in the private lands of the farmers. So, plantation in the common lands doesn’t come into the picture.2.I don’t see that the ecologists are totally against this project, but just they they have some concerns, mainly in terms of what species of trees will be planted. And because there was no direct communication between the ecologists and Isha Foundation, it was not possible for them to address the concerns. As you seem to have spoken with an Isha spokesperson, if you could connect the concerned parties, it would be great, because I see that the ecologists are genuinely interested in making sure things are done the right way.May we all come together and make things happen.Rare Amazon bush dogs caught on camera in BoliviaCarrot1 Feba very good iniciative to be fallowed by the ranchers all overSponsored Brazil has been recognized as the world’s largest pesticide consumer since 2008, which has resulted in widespread application and in significant environmental contamination. Since then there has been an explosion of new pesticide registrations, first under President Michel Temer, now under Jair Bolsonaro.While research is scant, evidence points toward pesticide harm to Brazil’s wildlife, including the death of 500 million bees in four Brazilian states between December 2018 and February 2019. Another report found that 40 percent of samples collected from 116 tapirs were contaminated with insecticides, herbicides and heavy metals.High concentrations of the insecticide carbamate aldicarb were detected in 10 of 26 stomach content samples. Because the animals much prefer native vegetation to crops, this suggests that aerial spraying — with residue carried by wind — may be resulting in the spread of the pesticide from croplands into unsprayed natural areas.The Bolsonaro administration and bancada ruralista agribusiness lobby in Congress are moving rapidly to deregulate pesticides, especially pushing for passage of amendment 6299/2002, dubbed “The Poison Bill” by critics. It would transfer pesticide regulation to the Agriculture Ministry, a move that analysts decry as a serious conflict of interest. Monsanto Lasso herbicide to be sprayed on food crops showing proper protective gear. Photo courtesy of the USDAThe number and rate of pesticides registered for use in Brazil rose rapidly in the first year of the Bolsonaro government. In 2019, 474 new products were approved, the highest rate since the Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) started documenting the registrations, in 2005.The explosion of pesticide approvals arrived during Michel Temer’s presidency in 2016, when the ruralist agribusiness lobby gained great influence within his administration. In that year the number jumped to 277 registrations, compared to 91 in 2005, for example. In 2017, a total of 405 pesticides were approved, and in 2018, another 451, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA).According to a survey by the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, of the 96 active ingredients that make up the pesticides released this year up to September, 28 are not available or registered in the European Union (29 percent) and 36 are not available in Australia (37 percent). Among the active ingredients approved this year in Brazil is dinotefuram, an insecticide classified as extremely toxic. It is not registered in the European Union, but it is marketed in the United States.Generic pesticides represent the majority of approvals so far under Bolsonaro. According to MAPA, the purpose of their approval is to lower the price of the products, which in turn lowers the cost of production. In Mato Grosso, the largest producing state, pesticides account for 22 percent of the spending on the soybean crop.Last year, Brazilian agriculture used 549,200 tons of pesticides, according to IBAMA, the nation’s environmental agency. Of that total, 195,000 tons were glyphosate, more commonly known as the herbicide Roundup, produced by Bayer/Monsanto. The herbicide was banned in Austria this year and will be banned in Germany in 2023.Last February, Brazil reached a controversial conclusion. After completing a toxicological re-evaluation of the product, Brazilian regulators said that the glyphosate, while it presents “a greater risk to workers working with crops and to people living near [agricultural] areas,” it does not harm those who consume products treated with the herbicide in acceptable doses.Glyphosate is the most widely used pesticide in Brazil, but is classified by the World Health Organization’s IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) as category 2, or “probably carcinogenic in humans.” At the end of March, a U.S. federal court awarded an $80 million settlement to a man who said that Bayer/Monsanto’s Roundup had caused his cancer, in what the judge described as a “bellwether” case.The death of millions of bees was recently recorded in Brazil, likely as a result of pesticide use by agribusiness. Image by paparutzi is licensed under CC BY 2.0.Pesticide harm to wildlifeWhile the approval of pesticides in Brazil has far outstripped the ability of scientists to study their impacts on Brazil’s people, habitats and wildlife, there is disturbing evidence that is raising red flags.Exposure to pesticides containing neonicotinoids and fipronil caused the deaths of more than 500 million bees in four Brazilian states between December 2018 and February 2019, according to an investigation by Agência Pública and Repórter Brasil.A technical report released earlier this year revealed that 40 percent of Brazilian tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) in the Cerrado savanna region of Mato Grosso do Sul state suffer from a variety of types of pesticide contamination. That state is a locale for booming agribusiness plantations producing huge amounts of soy, corn, and sugarcane.The research, carried out over a two year period between 2015 and 2017 in a 2,200 square kilometer (849 square mile) area in the municipalities of Nova Alvorada do Sul and Nova Andradina was conducted by the National Initiative for the Brazilian Tapir Conservation (INCAB) of the Institute of Ecological Research (Ipê).Scientists found that 40 percent of the 242 samples collected from 116 live and dead tapirs (killed by road accidents within the study area) were contaminated with residues of 13 toxic products — including nine insecticides and herbicides, plus four heavy metals used in formulations for agricultural soil correction and for other purposes.Toxic residues were found on the animals’ paw pads, within the proboscis (snout), stomach, liver, blood, bone and nails. According to researchers, the detection of these agents indicates that the tapirs are being exposed to toxic substances via direct contact with contaminated plants, soil and water.“In normal conditions, the tapir does not usually leave its natural habitat, usually an area covering about 500 hectares (1.9 square miles). Since the Cerrado no longer has large areas of [native] vegetation due to deforestation, the mammal needs to travel… and cross plantations to look for food,” Patrícia Medici, coordinator of INCAB/Ipê told Mongabay.A radio collared Brazilian tapir, or South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris), in Mato Grosso do Sul state where many of the animals analyzed contained high levels of insecticides and herbicides, plus four heavy metals used in formulations for agricultural soil correction and for other purposes. Image by Patrícia Medici / Institute of Ecological Research (Ipê)Tapirs prefer to eat native plant leaves and fruits, but in the absence of their normal diet, they will sometimes eat soy and corn — though they greatly prefer not to. “So much so that of the 33 tapirs evaluated by autopsy, only three [showed proof of] ingestion of items from agricultural crops,” said the study’s lead researcher.However, high concentrations of the insecticide carbamate aldicarb a Union Carbide product, were detected in 10 of the 26 stomach content samples (with a concentration between 5.32 to 15.17 mg/g). This suggests that the tapirs are getting contaminated via the consumption of native vegetation, likely due to carelessly aerially applied pesticides that fall not on croplands but in natural areas.Interestingly, aldicarb, which is very toxic to animals and people, has been prohibited in Brazil since 2012. “That product… continues to enter the country via smuggling,” said Medici.Immunological tests also found that 90 percent of the tapirs presented significant macroscopic alterations in the liver and/or kidneys, and 60 percent showed alterations in the stomach mucosa, such as ulcers and hyperemia (an excess of blood in the vessels supplying an organ or other part of the body).“Those changes may be due to a variety of pathological and/or physiological processes, and an in-depth investigation of potential factors involved and possible differential diagnoses would be highly recommended,” said the researchers. “However, the liver and kidneys are the organs responsible for the metabolism of most of the toxic substances detected in the study, and the hypothesis that acute and/or chronic exposure to pesticides and heavy metals may be related to such alterations should be considered.”“The tapirs in the Cerrado region live with high levels of stress due to constant threats, including deforestation, fires, lack of food, contamination, as well as being hunted and run over on the road,” said Medici.Ipê researchers examine a tapir. Image by Patrícia Medici / Ipê.The problem with aerial sprayingThe most widely used pesticide application technique in Mato Grosso do Sul is aerial spraying. That method is also most related to environmental contamination, with wind easily causing toxins to drift away from agribusiness lands and out over native vegetation.In November 2017, 48 airplanes were cited for criminal practices involving irregular spraying in Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso and Paraná — all major agricultural states. One common infraction cited by the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC): the spraying of pesticides prohibited by law.“The pesticides problem is widespread, with toxic substances now present in the water, soil and air. In the case of the study region, the tapir acts as a ‘sentinel animal,’ as a warning sign of what is occurring in the environment,” said the Ipê scientist. Clearly, if these animals are contaminated, it is probable that people who live where these pesticides are used, and those who consume sprayed crops, may also be in danger.The tapir technical study readied last spring is still awaiting a response for publication from a scientific journal.When questioned about the presence of aldicarb in tapir stomach samples, the Ministry of Agriculture (MAPA) told Mongabay via email that it could not comment because “environmental monitoring of pesticides is the responsibility of [the Ministry] of Environment.” They added that, “We would like to have access to the chromatogram results of the laboratory analysis and of the methodology used by the laboratory where the research was carried out. Only after a technical study of the specific life conditions of the animals can the origin of the residues detected be concluded.”According to MAPA, Aldicarb, manufactured by Bayer S/A, saw its Brazilian registration canceled in 2012, when it was withdrawn from the Brazilian market. “Until then, the product was sold only to registered producers and certified farms for potato, coffee, sugar cane, and citrus [application] in the states of Bahia, Minas Gerais and São Paulo.”Ipê researchers collect samples from a road killed tapir. Image by Patrícia Medici / Ipê.Brazil’s push to deregulate pesticidesExplosive agribusiness growth in the 1990s and early 2000s resulted in Brazil achieving a dubious record by 2008, when it became the largest pesticide consumer in the world, according to a Kleffmann Group study commissioned by the National Association of Plant Defense (Andef), representing Brazil’s pesticide manufacturers.According to IBAMA, Brazil’s environmental protection agency, and other data, chemical pesticide active ingredient sales grew countrywide by 313 percent between 2000 and 2014, rising from 162,461 tons to 508,566 tons. São Paulo, Mato Grosso and Paraná became the major trading states over that period, though other states, including many in Amazonia, saw use escalate too.Today, the Bolsonaro administration and the bancada ruralista agribusiness lobby in Congress are pushing for the passage of amendment 6299/2002, dubbed “The Poison Bill” by critics. That bill is currently under active consideration in the federal House of Deputies. The legislation would remove two authorities, ANVISA (Brazil’s health protection agency) and IBAMA, from the process of analyzing and licensing pesticides. And it would transfer that regulation to the Agriculture Ministry, already responsible for the authorization of the sale of these products.Environmentalists strongly oppose the shift in regulatory responsibility, seeing it is a significant conflict of interest. “PL 6299 is ready to be voted on in the House at any moment, but even without the ‘Poison Bill’ the Minister of Agriculture Tereza Cristina is managing to release new pesticides at an astounding speed and to dismantle ANVISA and IBAMA,” Marina Lacôrte told Mongabay. She is a specialist on agriculture and food at Greenpeace.FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post. If you want to post a public comment, you can do that at the bottom of the page.A tapir in the Cerrado is released after being examined for toxic contamination by Ipê researchers. Image by Patrícia Medici / Ipê.Leia a matéria em português aqui. read more

Partager Fabien Surmonne/RL C’est un projet extrêmement ambitieux que le président du FC Metz, Bernard Serin, a dévoilé lundi à Amnéville. Le niveau de l’investissement consenti et les dimensions du stade une fois rénové sont bien plus élevés que ce qui était pressenti initialement. Les explications en chiffres.60Le projet initial de rénovation de Saint-Symphorien était estimé à 30 millions d’euros. Avec ce projet, beaucoup plus ambitieux, la facture va monter à 60 millions d’euros. Quel en sera le plan de financement? Le club en prend un peu plus de 75% à sa charge (45,5 millions d’euros), les trois collectivités partenaires le reste. En combien d’années le club pense pouvoir payer son nouvel écrin haut de gamme? C’est encore trop tôt pour le dire, a répondu Bernard Serin en substance. Mais ce qui est sûr, c’est que la hausse spectaculaire des droits TV pour la Ligue 1 à compter de la saison 2020/2021 – chaque club de Ligue 1 sera assuré de percevoir a minima quelque 35 millions d’euros selon certaines estimations – incite les clubs français, a fortiori le FC Metz, à voir un peu plus grand que ce qu’ils avaient prévu…14,514,5 millions d’euros. C’est le montant des subventions apporté par les collectivités territoriales dans ce projet ambitieux de rénovation évalué à 60 millions d’euros par le président Serin. Dans le détail, la Ville de Metz s’est engagée à hauteur de 5 millions d’euros tout comme le Conseil départemental de la Moselle. La contribution de la région Grand Est s’élèvera elle à 4,5 millions d’euros… mais pourrait être revue à la hausse au cours des prochaines semaines comme l’a laissé entendre le Monsieur Sports de la collectivité, Thierry Hory, au nom du président Rottner. En résumé, la Région pourrait accorder une rallonge pour la seconde phase du projet de rénovation (la fermeture des angles et la pose de l’enveloppe) ainsi que pour la construction du nouveau centre de formation à Frescaty.7 9557 955 spectateurs. C’est la capacité précise de la future tribune Sud, la capacité totale de Saint-Symphorien passant à 30000 places une fois les deux angles fermés.Cette nouvelle tribune aux dimensions impressionnantes (160 mètres de long et 40 mètres de large), sera composée de cinq niveaux qui seront desservis par des ascenseurs. L’accessibilité du stade, l’un des points noirs actuellement, sera améliorée puisque 136 places pour les personnes en situation de handicap vont être aménagées dans cette nouvelle tribune.La nouvelle tribune Sud comprendra quelque 8000 places.15 40015 400 mètres carrés de surface de plancher vont être créés à Saint-Symphorien. Comme l’a détaillé Bernard Serin, l’idée est de faire vivre le stade tout au long de l’année et pas seulement lors des 19 rencontres de championnat. Un espace de coworking va ainsi être créé, un club affaires, inspiré de ce que l’on trouve en Allemagne et en Angleterre mis en place, et près de 8000 mètres carrés aménagés pour accueillir congrès et séminaires.L’ambition du club est également d’y accueillir des commerces (restauration notamment) pour faire de Saint-Symphorien un véritable espace de loisirs pour les familles et un véritable pôle d’activités économiques. Bref, de s’inspirer de ce qu’ont pu faire l’Olympique lyonnais ou certains clubs allemands mais à l’échelle d’une agglomération de 250000 habitants.Le raccordement avec la tribune Ouest. read more

L’entraîneur luxembourgeois, parti de Bielefeld en automne dernier, s’est engagé pour les deux saisons à venir avec le FC Ingolstadt, ancien club de Bundesliga, tombé en 3e division. Partager L’entraîneur luxembourgeois va donc affronter lors de la nouvelle saison le FC Kaiserslautern, nouveau club de l’argentier Flavio Becca. Lors de son passage à Bielefeld, Jeff Saibene avait en 2e Bundesliga remporté son duel avec Jeff Strasser, alors entraîneur de Kaiserslautern. Il va affronter le Kaiserslautern de Becca Mission : remontée en 2e Bundesliga La confirmation officielle est tombée mercredi en fin de matinée. Jeff Saibene prend les rênes de Ingolstadt, club allemand proche du constructeur automobile Audi. « Nous devons tirer sur la même corde et affronter dès le premier jour cette 3e Liga », a déclaré l’entraîneur luxembourgeois lors de sa présentation. Après avoir travaillé avec succès en Suisse et ensuite à Bielefeld, en 2e Bundesliga, la nouvelle mission de Jeff Saibene consiste à faire remonter les Schanzer, surnom du FC Ingolstadt. Entre 2015 et 2017, le club bavarois faisait partie de l’élite allemande. Relégué en 2e Bundesliga pour la saison 2017/2018, Ingolstadt a chuté en 3e division en mai de cette année. Le directeur sportif, Michael Henke, ancien adjoint d’Ottmar Hitzfeld, deux fois vainqueur de la Ligue des champions avec Dortmund et le Bayern, a souligné ce mercredi la capacité de Jeff Saibene pour former une équipe. David Marques read more

L’Atlético contre-attaque LQ/AFP Le FC Barcelone a officialisé vendredi l’arrivée de l’attaquant vedette des Bleus Antoine Griezmann pour les cinq prochaines saisons en échange du paiement de sa clause libératoire de 120 millions d’euros à son ancien club de l’Atlético de Madrid. Partager L’Atlético Madrid a d’ailleurs annoncé vendredi le lancement de “procédures” pour défendre ses “intérêts” estimant que “Grizou” a rompu son contrat de manière “unilatérale”. Considérant que l’international français et le Barça ont scellé leur accord bien avant le 1er juillet, jour où la clause libératoire de l’attaquant-vedette des Bleus est passée de 200 millions à 120 millions, le club “colchonero” juge la somme versée vendredi “insuffisante” pour libérer le joueur, sous contrat avec l’Atlético jusqu’en 2023. Griezmann, qui avait déjà eu l’occasion de signer au Barça la saison dernière et avait finalement décidé de rester à Madrid, l’annonçant avec une mise en scène qui avait fait grincer des dents en Catalogne, rejoint Barcelone une saison plus tard après être allé au clash avec le club qui l’a vu exploser. Son ambition est de renforcer son palmarès en club, pour l’instant garni d’un seul trophée majeur, la Ligue Europa 2018. Il sera en concurrence avec les stars mondiales du Barça, l’Argentin Lionel Messi, l’Uruguayen Luis Suarez et peut-être le Brésilien Neymar, des rumeurs persistantes faisant état d’un retour à Barcelone de l’actuel joueur du Paris SG. La destination du Français champion du monde, qui avait annoncé dès le mois de mai qu’il quitterait l’Atlético à la fin de la saison, ne faisait guère de doute. Mais le sort de l’attaquant de 28 ans a mis le feu aux poudres entre l’Atlético et le Barça, le club madrilène dénonçant la semaine dernière un “manque de respect” du joueur et du club catalan pour avoir secrètement négocié son arrivée dès le mois de mars. “Antoine Griezmann est un nouveau joueur du FC Barcelone”, a indiqué le Barça dans un communiqué en précisant que la clause libératoire du Français avait été fixée à 800 millions d’euros. Le club ne détaille pour l’heure pas la date de sa présentation officielle aux supporters. Vous l’attendiez. pic.twitter.com/o9snhC6kWP— FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona_fra) July 12, 2019 En concurrence avec Neymar ? read more

Après quatre journées de championnat, Dudelange est leader d’Axa League au moment de recevoir Käerjeng qui compte un match de moins. Cette position ne fait pas de vous un candidat au titre?Pour l’instant, avec quatre victoires en autant de matches, le bilan est bon. De là à dire qu’on joue le titre… Je pense que ça aurait pu être le cas, malheureusement, Pauline (Roussel), lors d’un match de préparation contre Longwy, et Sindi (Kryeziu), lors de la Supercup, se sont “faites” les croisés. Deux joueuses importantes sur lesquelles je ne peux pas m’appuyer à la base arrière.Svetlana est d’une humilité…Dans vos bagages, vous êtes venu avec Svetlana Ognjenovic, quadruple championne de France, vice-championne du monde avec la Serbie (2013). Comment l’avez-vous convaincue de rejoindre Dudelange?Ça faisait quatre ans qu’elle avait raccroché. Mère de famille, elle entraînait l’équipes seniors 2 de Metz. Mais elle avait envie de reprendre, de se faire plaisir. Je ne sais pas si les gens s’en rendent compte mais une fille du calibre de Svetlana, il n’y en aura peut-être plus jamais au Luxembourg…. Ceci étant, c’est une fille d’une humilité…Vous évoquiez l’intégration des jeunes éléments, comment cela se passe-t-il?Déjà, je tiens à dire que le club m’offre vraiment de belles conditions de travail. Concernant l’équipe, celle-ci est jeune. Elle travaille bien, les filles sont investies. Ceci étant, il y a un retard au niveau du savoir-faire individuel. Je m’explique : il y a le jeu en lecture et le jeu programmé. Le premier consiste à être capable de prendre une décision sur une situation donnée. Le second, c’est tout simplement répéter des enclenchements travaillés à l’entraînement. Les filles maîtrisent le second mais pas le premier. Or, normalement, tu as recours au jeu programmé lorsque ton jeu en lecture est en échec.Le jeu, le collectif, on a l’impression que c’est important dans votre discours…Oui. Parfois, les équipes s’appuient sur une joueuse en particulier, c’est le cas de Diekirch avec (Alina) Molkova (NDLR : auteure de 54 buts en 4 matches). Chez nous, il n’y a pas de star, la star c’est l’équipe.N’est-ce pas facile à dire quand on a Svetlana Ognjenovic dans ses rangs?Svetlana était l’une des meilleures ailières du monde, mais le jeu ne repose pas sur elle. C’est justement ce que j’ai dit aux filles : chez nous, le danger doit venir de partout.Quelles ambitions avez-vous au moment de recevoir, samedi, Käerjeng?Aujourd’hui, nous sommes leaders et si on peut le rester encore un peu, j’en serais très heureux. Maintenant, si ce n’est pas le cas, ce n’est pas grave. Pour Dudelange, c’est une année de transition alors, une défaite n’entraînerait pas une remise en question.Que vous inspire cette équipe de Käerjeng qui reste sur une grosse défaite à Diekirch (34-24)?J’ai été assez surpris. Après, il faut rappeler que (Emilia) Rogucka, leur meilleure joueuse, a été expulsée après 24 minutes de jeu. Forcément, ça leur a fait mal. Si contre nous, elle pouvait ne pas rester trop longtemps sur le terrain, ce serait bien (il rit)… Mais je ne compte pas là-dessus, mes filles sont encore jeunes et manquent de vice.Le handball dégage une image d’un sport dépourvu de vice justement…Mais il y en a, et dans tous les matches. Ça fait aussi partie du jeu. De l’expérience.Recueilli par Charles Michel Auteur d’un sans-faute, Dudelange reçoit samedi (18h30) Käerjeng. Stéphane Mina, son entraîneur, parle  d’un collectif où évolue l’ex-quadruple championne de France et vice-championne du monde, Svetlana Ognjenovic.Cet été, vous êtes arrivé à Dudelange. Pour quelles raisons?Stéphane Mina : J’étais à Metz où j’entraînais les moins de 18 ans masculin. Dudelange est venu me proposer un nouveau projet dans lequel il y a beaucoup de jeunes joueuses à intégrer mais qui n’ont pas encore le niveau suffisant.Cela ressemble à un travail de formation, non?Il y a de ça puisque le projet est de pouvoir permettre à un maximum de joueuses luxembourgeoises d’intégrer l’équipe première tout en étant en mesure de se mêler à la course au titre la saison prochaine. Partager read more

Bishop Baylon encourages faithful in Albay to help Taal evacuees National Historical team rescues Amorsolos, artifacts from Taal “There’s never been an indication that I wouldn’t be back, and there’s never been an indication that this is something messing up my career,” Thomas told ESPN.“Maybe I am not going to be back as soon this season as everyone wants me to be, but I’m going to be back, and I’m going to be the same player again. No doctor has told me anything different than that.”Thomas said he had remained in touch with Cleveland since a physical on Friday but was in the dark about the team’s plans.“I don’t know what [the organization] is doing,” Thomas told ESPN. “It’s out of my control. I just want to talk about what I can control, and I know that this (hip) won’t be a problem into the future.”ADVERTISEMENT NBA player Isaiah Thomas attends the super welterweight boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor on August 26, 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFPLos Angeles, United States — Isaiah Thomas insisted Tuesday that he would return to fitness from a hip injury as concern over his condition threatened to stall his move from the Boston Celtics to the Cleveland Cavaliers.Thomas is poised to join Cleveland with several teammates in a blockbuster trade that saw Cavs star Kyrie Irving head to Boston.ADVERTISEMENT Jake says relationship with Shaina ‘goes beyond physical attraction’ Police seize P68-M worth of ‘shabu’ in Pasay MOST READ Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to give up royal titles Kerber goes from champ to 1st-round loser at rainy US Open Search on for 5 Indonesians snatched anew in Lahad Datu Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next LATEST STORIES Hotdog’s Dennis Garcia dies Marcosian mode: Duterte threatens to arrest water execs ‘one night’ Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to give up royal titles Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks PLAY LIST 01:40Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks01:32Taal Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite View comments However, final confirmation of the trade has been delayed amid ongoing questions surrounding Thomas’ injury, which forced him to miss the end of the Eastern Conference finals last season.Thomas told ESPN on Tuesday that there was no question he would come back from his injury.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSEnd of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legendSPORTSRedemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie ThompsonSPORTSMayweather beats Pacquiao, Canelo for ‘Fighter of the Decade’“I am not damaged,” Thomas said. “I’ll be back, and I’ll be the same player.”Thomas insisted that medical professionals had assured him he would recover his fitness. read more

Wages dispute…threatens to take Govt to court for punishing striking teachersThe Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) on Wednesday called on its members to be on standby as it gears for another round of strike action; this time on a larger scale, if the imposed chairman for the arbitration panel – for the wages dispute between Government and the Union – is not withdrawn. The Chairman of theGTU’s President Mark Lyte along with union executives during a press conference on Wednesdayarbitration panel, Dr Leyland Lucas of the University of Guyana. He was named arbitrator last week and according to the GTU, they did not agree to the nomination but rather Lucas was imposed on them by the Labour Department.According to the Union, it is also prepared to take the Education Ministry, and more so, the Government to court, if any action is taken against teachers who will be going on strike.This was related by the President of the Union, Mark Lyte. He told media operatives that he believes the ministers – both Education and Labour – have literacy issues, since at all times, in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the Education Ministry has made reference to, the word “nominate”.Additionally, Lyte also said the Union has not taken lightly the threat by the Education Ministry to penalise teachers, who are prepared to strike.He was at the time making reference to the threat issued by the Ministry, after the Union announced its plans to head to industrial action for a second time.The Ministry pointed to the section of that agreement which stated, “during the consideration of the matter in dispute under the grievance procedure, there shall be no strike, stoppage of work whether of a partial or general nature, go slow, boycott, picketing, retardation of production or any other interference with the Ministry’s operations by the Union, nor shall there be any lock out or any other form of interference by the Ministry. Both parties shall endeavour to maintain a state of normal industrial relations”. This agreement was signed back in July 1983.No breachHowever, Lyte on Wednesday explained, “we do not see any breach as being committed if we call our members out because as far as we’re concerned, the arbitration panel and the Terms of Reference are the first two steps to setting arbitration… but arbitration, in our view, hasn’t started as yet so if that is to happen, the GTU would have no other course but to walk the steps of the court with them (Education Ministry) because we are prepared to ensure that ourFiled photo: Teachers protesting outside the Education Ministry on September 4, 2018members do not suffer in any way, so we will be prepared to go to court as well”.The Union on Wednesday gave the Ministry seven days to withdraw Lucas as the Chairman of the arbitration panel.Lyte also noted that he believes Government has no intentions to address the issue at hand. It is because of this, he promised that this round of strike action would be much “bigger”, due to the support of its sister Unions, who sat beside them in Wednesday’s meeting.The Union’s head said it believes Government has sinister plans, as it remains reluctant to appoint a neutral Chairman to head the arbitration panel.“I am of the view that there is some sinister plan afoot to thwart the process and not to allow fairness and equity to prevail… we take note of the fact that strike action is always a last resort and we thought having given the Administration an ultimatum of seven days that we would have had a favourable response instead the Minister with responsibility for Labour would have issued appointment letters to the nominee from the Ministry of Education and the Chairperson in the form of Dr Leyland Lucas,” Lyte said.‘Imposed’ ChairmanLast Tuesday, Labour Minister Keith Scott, who is still currently acting in the capacity of a conciliator, took it upon himself to introduce the Chairman for the arbitration panel to address the ongoing teachers’ salary impasse.The move was highly condemned by the Union as they did not get a chance to introduce their nominee for a Chairman to the panel.The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) as well as the Guyana Trade Unions Congress (GTUC) has since vocalised its support for the Union’s call for better wages of its teachers. The GTU have in fact called for Minister Scott to apologise for his unilateral appointment for a Chairman to the arbitration panel and for humiliating the Professor.The last nationwide teachers strike took effect on August 27 during schools’ pre-term activities and lasted for a little under two weeks, as the Ministry gave into the pressure and agreed to arbitration on September 6.A 40 per cent salary increase for public school teachers was proposed for the year 2016. Over time, the percentage would be increased for all categories of represented teachers.For the year 2017, the Union was hoping to have bargained for a 45 per cent increase, which would then increase to 50 per cent for the remainder of the years indicated in the agreement (2018-2020).They recently changed their demands and said they were willing to accept a ‘substantial’ pay-out from the Government even after the GTU rejected Government’s request for teachers to agree to a debunching payoff of $200 million for 2018/19. read more

Man United players celebrate ending Arsenal’s 49-game unbeaten It may have been 10 years ago, but some Arsenal fans are still unhappy about the day Man United ended the Gunners’ 49 Premier League game unbeaten run.A 2-0 victory at Old Trafford, thanks to a Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty and a Wayne Rooney effort (on his 19th birthday), earned all three points for United and saw tears shed in the away end.Van Nistelrooy exacted revenge for the taunts directed at him from Arsenal players following his missed penalty in the same fixture the previous season.However, it is Rooney’s display and referee Mike Riley that seems to irk Gooners the most. The England striker was accused of diving to win the spot kick and Riley is lambasted for awarding it.Check out the comments below and, if you’re a Gooner, read Sport magazine’s excellent Arsenal special – the inside tale of Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles. 1 read more

A YEAR ago Co Donegal fitness guru Michael Black introduced the Urban Gym to the county.Now 12 months on, it’s back – and it’s meaner and leaner than ever!For his urban gym is now…..the Ultimate Bootcamp Experience. Said Michael: “It starts next Tuesday 12th June. We have three instructors with three different Camps in the one session.“You choose whether you want to spend more time on CAMP CARDIO/CAMP CORE/CAMP STRENGTH. Or mix it up throughout the hour, the choice is yours. Unrivaled attention to ensure you get the ultimate workout. Choice of 3 classes a week.“This camp is designed to be fun every step of the way to achieving your chosen goal, weight loss, muscle tone or super aerobic fitness. We guarantee you will not forget your Urban Gym experience!”Boot Camp has become increasingly popular over the past 5 years with a number of celebrities around the world using this type of training to sculpt their body for upcoming movies or appearances. A typical bootcamp class would consist of a circuit based workout comprising of a wide variety of exercises and games to ensure you are working hard on every part. This will include, strength training, core exercise, interval training, boxercise, walking/running, skipping, jumping, throwing and loads loads more.Added Michael: “In addition we can advise you on how best to achieve your results though proper nutrition and training outside of the bootcamp. Anyone who signs up for our bootcamp will receive 10% discount on all our Personal Training Packages in our purpose built Fitness Studio.”So what are you waiting for???? Get that summer fitness and body you always wanted and contact us today.Book your place NOW!!!Call 087 660 3090 GET READY TO FLIGHT THE FLAB! FITNESS GURU BRINGS BACK THE URBAN GYM! was last modified: June 7th, 2012 by BrendaShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:GET READY TO FLIGHT THE FLAB! FITNESS GURU BRINGS BACK THE URBAN GYM! read more