Life w/o Seafood
According to new research, the fish and seafood population will collapse by 2048. The marine biodiversity is significantly decreaseing with 29% of marine species already in collapse. The collapse that is estimated for 2048 would effect all marine species, including ocean mammals.
Photo Credit: www.wikipedia.com
Why exactly is a collapsing marine biodiversity important? Well, for starters the ocean would be less able to deal with global climate change, pollution and over-explotation, amoungst other major issues. Plus, seafood would no longer be a part of the human diet. The populations would be gone, thus no seafood to eat for us. There being no seafood for us to eat would also hurt the economy. People would loss out on jobs, which translates into losing out on money.
The population is decreasing due to over-fishing and the ruining of the oceans. Marine-life reserves and no fishing zones should be put in place to help prevent the collapse of marine biodivresity.
A No Fishing Zone
Photo credit: http://www.montereybay.noaa.gov/new/news/italia/asinara.html
Something needs to be done quickly about this. It not only effects wildlife, but it also affects humans. Not only the quality of life for humans is affected (not being able to enjoy seafood), but also what humans do for jobs to support themselves and their families. The oceans being less able to handle major changes also would place a burden on humans. If the oceans cannot support the changes of global warming, etc. something is going to have to change. People are going to have to be more consciencious of what they are doing, i.e. driving a SUV, etc.
Information from: http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=11584 Article: Ocean Fish, Seafood Could Collapse by 2048 By: Deborah Zabarenko
Are forest fires good?
It is now being thought that forest fires are not all bad. Some new research indicates that forest fires may actually reduce global warming. Previously, it was thought that forest fires would increase global warming because they released carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Photo Credit: www.wikipedia.com
The fires burn down the trees in the forests, affecting the amount of shading of the ground. More sunlight is reflected back into space for numerous decades after the fire has occured.
The new research shows that the greenhouse gases emitted from the fire and the cooling effect do make a significant difference in global warming because, in effect, they cancel each other out when averaged globally. However, fires in the northern regions may result in cooler temperatures.
Some people are sceptical because this data is only from 1 fire, the Donnelly Flats fire in central Alaska. This fire burned approximately 16,500 acres in 1999. Some of the tests included were: measurements of incoming & outgoing radiation, carbon dioxide being absorbed or emmitted by plants, and wind speed. Some similiar measurements were taken from surrounding land that had been burned by fires in 1987 and in 1920.
With these fires, new trees had to replace the old ones. The newer trees took in more carbon dioxide, resulting in less global warming. It took more than 80 years before the old type of trees took over again.
I don’t really know which side to believe. It makes sense that greenhouse gases and the cooler temperatures would cancel each other out; however, only one place was really studied. I think that it might take a couple more studies before people start to believe this. Plus, I think that more climates and different types of forests need to be studied.
Information from: http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=11681 Article: Forest Fires May Actually Cool Climate By: Randolph E. Schmid
Bears and Leopards Killing
A fence in India that was put up about 3 years ago between the India - Pakistan border is now having some major impacts on the wildlife in the surrounding area. This fencing was put up to stop “guerrilla activity linked to a separatist revolt.” The fence is about 8 feet high and stretches for about 460 miles in the region, dividing Kashmir.
This fence is not allowing for the free movement that the leopards and the black bears in the area are used to. They are now moving into villages and killing people. They are dragging people from their houses and mauling them. At least 12 people have been killed by the wild animals. 5 of those 12 were killed last month and numerous others have been injured.
Photo credit: www.wikipedia.com
The number of bear and leopard populations have been increasing since a ban on hunting them was put in place in 1970; however, the number of pine forests have been decreasing, leaving the wild animals no where to go. There are approximately 8,000 leopards in India. The number of leopards in Kashmir is not known, along with the number of black bears in both places.
Control rooms are being set up and the authorities are educating the local people, cautioning them about the issue.
In approximately the last 10 months, six bears and leopards have been killed by villagers and authorities together.
I understand the concern about the militant groups crossing the border, but I think that a new solution needs to be developed. It is not fair that the wildlife in the area is suffering. Plus not only is the wildlife suffering by not being able to move freely and by being killed, but the people are being hurt. They are being seriously injured and even killed. Another solution needs to be found.
Information from: http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=11708 Article: Fenced in, Kashmir’s Leopards, Bears Stalk Villages By:Ashok Pahalwan
