US Dept. of Agriculture http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/nri/ Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced that soil erosion on cropland declined by more than 40 percent during the past 25 years, while more than one-third of all development of U.S. land occurred during the same period. The information was contained in the latest National Resource Inventory (NRI) for … Continue reading »
Posted on May 4, 2010 …
Study of Rural Transportation Issues
US Dept. of Agriculture www.ams.usda.gov/RuralTransportationStudy The U.S. Department of Agriculture today released to Congress a comprehensive report on agricultural transportation in the United States, the first ever of this magnitude. The report, Study of Rural Transportation Issues, was mandated by the 2008 Farm Bill and covers the four major modes of transportation commonly used by … Continue reading »
The Role of Natural Gas in a Low-Carbon Energy Economy
Worldwatch Institute / by Christopher Flavin and Saya Kitasei http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6423 Growing estimates of natural gas resources suggest that supplies of this least carbon-intensive fossil fuel may be as abundant as coal, while containing only half as much carbon, according to a new paper released today by the Worldwatch Institute. The new paper, The Role of … Continue reading »
Workshop Proceedings: Assessing the Benefits of Avoided Climate Change : Cost-Benefit Analysis and Beyond
Pew Center on Global Climate Change http://tinyurl.com/27ojolf [Press release] This report conveys the proceedings of an expert workshop on the economic benefits of avoided climate change. Drawing from the environmental economics, impacts and vulnerability, and risk analysis communities, the workshop sought to glean insights on how to better quantify the benefits of reducing greenhouse gas … Continue reading »
List of Critical Sites Most at Risk from Gulf Oil Spill
American Bird Conservancy http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/100430.html [Yale Environment 360] The American Bird Conservancy says the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill will affect bird populations from Canada to South America, with important nesting and migratory stopover sites along the Gulf Coast directly in the path of the spill. The Gulf Coast is a critical region for hundreds … Continue reading »
Manual on Volcanic Ash, Radioactive Material and Toxic Chemical Clouds
International Civil Aviation Organisation http://www.icao.int/icao/en/9691.pdf [UN Pulse] The Manual published in 2007, is available onthe International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) website for free download. It reports the impact of volcanic ash on aviation operational and support services. This manual also reports on the release into the atmosphere of radioactive materials and toxic chemicals and its … Continue reading »
The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill – Putting a Price on the Priceless
Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies http://tinyurl.com/29gfbz9 [Website] Considering the potential area that could be impacted by the Deepwater Horizon spill, as much as $1.6 billion of annual economic activity and services are at risk. This estimate includes ecosystem services of $1.2 billion; recreational fishing ($114 million), commercial fishing ($30.3 million) and tourism … Continue reading »
