Weekly News Roundup- Oct. 18, 2013

What’s happening at National Wildlife Federation this week?

hoto by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Kerrie Best.

 

Call for Entries for National Wildlife Federation’s Young Reporters for the Environment USA Competition

Young Reporters for the Environment USA

Oct 18- The National Wildlife Federation (NWF), the U.S. host of the international Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) program, announces a call for entries for the Young Reporters for the Environment USA (YRE USA) competition.  Youth between the ages of 13 and 21 are invited to enter by March 15, 2014, at: www.yre-usa.org/join.

Young people may enter as individuals or as part of a class or group. Participants investigate an environmental issue and report on it in writing, photography, or video. Entries are due by March 15, 2014, and must be relevant to participants’ local community, connect to a global perspective, include possible solutions, and be disseminated to an appropriate target audience.

Last year’s first place video winner, Zachary Korff, had this to say about his experience with YRE USA, “The YRE contest is more than a competition. The YRE competition is a way for you to positively impact the environment, help people understand your viewpoint on an issue, and to have fun. One of the best things that I figured out was that the only limit to what you can do is what you can think of. I would recommend this competition to anyone who thinks that they see a problem in the environment that needs to be solved.”

For a blog post about Zachary, please click here.

 

Shutdown’s End is Progress, but Pernicious Effects of Sequester Remain

Charles M. Russell Wildlife Refuge

Oct 17- Congressional leaders have reportedly reached a deal to end the government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling.

Adam Kolton, executive director of the National Wildlife Federation’s National Advocacy Center, said today:

“We welcome the bipartisan agreement in the Senate that will reopen the government and avert a catastrophic default. These past days when our National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges and other public lands have been shuttered has reminded us all of the values these cherished landscapes have not only for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and outdoor recreation but as engines for local economies and communities.

Take Action! Tell your member of Congress that they need to pass a funding bill so that vital wildlife conservation, environmental protection and many other vital services can continue.

 

Map Highlights 100 Great Lakes Restoration Success Stories

Great Lakes

Oct 16- Fish and wildlife are returning to rivers after decades-long absences. Businesses are sprouting along revitalized waterfronts. People are fishing, boating and swimming in harbors and rivers once deemed toxic hot-spots. These are some of the powerful stories about how federal efforts to restore the Great Lakes are producing results for people, communities, businesses, and fish and wildlife.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is announcing that its interactive map illustrating how federal investments are restoring the Great Lakes now features 100 projects that have cleaned up toxic hot spots, restored wetlands, reduced runoff from cities and farms and advanced efforts to keep new invasive species out of the lakes.

The success stories are spread across the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania. Additional restoration success stories will be added to the map as more projects are completed.

View the map at: http://healthylakes.org/map 

 

And now here are highlights from NWF in the news:

National Geographic: Five Animals with Weird Noses

And, like their human sisters, female mandrills don’t mind a flashy-looking guy. In fact the National Wildlife Federation reports that though vocalization, size, and the ability to fight count in mating success, paternity studies show that it’s the males with the brightest colors who sire more offspring.

Yahoo! News: North American moose population continues to decline

The warming climate also requires that moose use more energy to stay cool, which can lead to exhaustion and death, according to the National Wildlife Federation:

Heat affects moose directly, as summer heat stress leads to dropping weights, a fall in pregnancy rates, and increased vulnerability to predators and disease. When it gets too warm, moose typically seek shelter rather than foraging for nutritious foods needed to keep them healthy.

Fox News: 18-foot-long oarfish found off California coast

NWF Naturalist David Mizejewski speaks about the oarfish found off the California coast on Fox News.

Post- Tribune: Farmers increasingly turning to ‘cover crops’

Not only the federal government but also environmental groups like the National Resources Defense Council and National Wildlife Federation champion cover crops and no-till.

NUVO.com: Toxic algae problems increasing nationwide

“Normal algae is bad enough. It gums up your boat motor. It’s yucky to swim in and it’s unpleasant, but this toxic algae actually threatens people’s health, and threatens the health of animals and pets that go in the water,” Buchsbaum warned. “So it’s really something to be alarmed about, that we’re experiencing this many across the country.”

The Journal: National Wildlife Federation to sponsor family nature event

National Wildlife Federation, America’s largest conservation organization, recently announced the Hike and Seek event at the Seneca Creek State Park on Saturday in Gaithersburg, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C.

Naples News Daily: Tree giveaway planned; Weiss gets state honor

National Planting Day celebrates the value of native species in restoring ecological balance to the environment while creating greener, more beautiful communities. The free tree giveaway is part of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) ‘Trees For Wildlife’ program.