• Tropical Deforestation Monitored by Satellite
  
• Clean Coal Technology Installed at Florida Plant
  
• Ohio Savings Bank Will Buy Hybrid Vehicles
  
• Mauna Loa Could be Headed for Eruption
  
• Closely Linked Ecosystems Vulnerable to Change
  
• California Grants Fund Parks Projects
  
• New York Protects Watershed Acres
  
• Organic Roses Headed for Store Shelves
  

Tropical Deforestation Monitored by Satellite

A research team led by the University of Maryland is the first to provide measures of how much tropical deforestation occurred during the past 20 years based on remote sensing data covering all the world's tropical forests. The team, whose research was supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), evaluated weather satellite data using computer models they developed for the study.

The researchers estimate that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from tropical deforestation were less than half of previous estimates based on deforestation reports from the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization. But they also found that CO2 emissions from tropical deforestation increased by about 30 percent from the 1980s to the 1990s, contradicting the UN report again.

In southeast Asia, forest loss increased by as much as 68 percent, the researchers estimated.

"These findings give us important information for determining the amount of greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere from the destruction of forests and the amount that is taken up by re-growing forests in tropical areas of the world," said lead researcher Ruth DeFries, an associate professor in the University of Maryland's department of geography and Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center.

"It is gratifying to find that more forest remains than we had once thought," DeFries said, noting that less forest destruction means less CO2, a greenhouse gas, has entered the atmosphere from burning and decaying vegetation.

"But this finding should not confuse the fact that tropical forest continues to disappear at an alarming rate with enormous implications, not only for greenhouse gas emissions, but for diversity of plant and animal species found there," she added.

The new findings are important because scientists have not been able to balance the carbon budget. There is less carbon dioxide stored in the atmosphere than researchers estimate is emitted from fossil fuel burning or tropical deforestation or absorbed by the ocean.

Scientists have been working to unravel whether this missing carbon is being absorbed by re-growing forests in the northern hemisphere, by increased plant activity, or by some other mechanisms. Based on the results of the DeFries study, less carbon enters the atmosphere from tropical deforestation than previously estimated, so less missing carbon needs to be accounted for.

The study is scheduled for publication this week in the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

Clean Coal Technology Installed at Florida Plant

Officials from the U.S. Department of Energy and JEA, Jacksonville's municipal utility, unveiled the results of a $630 million, five year effort to install clean coal technology at the Northside Generating Station during a ceremony on Monday.

The plant has been equipped with state of the art circulating fluidized bed combustors, making the station one of the cleanest burning coal plants in the world. Its two advanced combustors - the largest ever installed in a power plant - each generates 300 megawatts of power, enough to light more than 250,000 average households.

The plant now generates two and a half times more power than before the new installations. Using coal instead of the more expensive oil and gas the plant has been burning is expected to help keep electric rates low and stable in the Jacksonville area.

"Coal supplies more than half of our nation's electricity and is one of the reasons why American consumers benefit from some of the lowest electricity rates of any free market economy," said Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham. "The clean coal technology in the JEA plant shows that we can continue to benefit from coal's economic advantages while we continue to clean our air."

In 1996, JEA committed to reducing pollutants from the Northside Station by at least 10 percent when it replaced two of the plant's obsolete and inefficient oil and gas fired units. The Energy Department contributed more than $74 million to the project as one of the first initiatives under its Clean Coal Technology Program.

The federal funding went to install one of the two combustors. JEA converted the second boiler with its own funding.

Circulating fluidized bed combustors reduce pollution inside the furnace as the coal burns instead of waiting to clean or scrub escaping emissions. Crushed limestone added to the coal as it enters the combustor captures 90 percent of the sulfur pollutants.

The fluid motion of the coal as it burns - accounting for the name fluidized bed - also allows a slow burn that prevents the formation of nitrogen oxides, another air pollutant that can cause smog. The Northside Station's 12 story circulating fluidized bed combustors, supplied by Foster Wheeler Energy Corp., are the largest of their type in the world.

Nitrogen oxides are reduced even more by a chemical reaction with ammonia in the upper portions of the boiler. Exhaust gases pass through a polishing scrubber to cut total sulfur dioxide pollutants by almost 98 percent. The flue gas is then sent through fabric filters to remove solid fly ash particles.

The Northside Station will be one of the world's most fuel flexible power plants. While many older plants were designed for a narrow range of coals, the circulating fluidized bed technology burns a much wider variety of fuels. In addition to coal, JEA plans to fuel the Northside Station with petroleum coke, a low cost solid that oil refineries discard as waste.

The utility installed a totally enclosed conveyor system to transport coal and coke from barges docked on the St. Johns River to the two largest fuel storage domes in North America. The contained system prevents dust particles from escaping into the environment.

Under its funding agreement, the Energy Department will collect data from plant operations through April 2004. The plant will continue to operate as a commercial facility.

Ohio Savings Bank Will Buy Hybrid Vehicles

The bank, one of the top ten mortgage lenders in the U.S., estimates that it will purchase 24 hybrid electric vehicles in the next two years.

"Our objective in making the switch (to hybrids) is to do our part to reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil," said Gerald Goldberg, co-chair of the board of Ohio Savings Bank. "Though individually it may seem like it won't make a difference, imagine what would happen if all of the companies in Cleveland, or in the state of Ohio, or even better, across the country, did the same."

"In the past few months, two of our senior executives in Cleveland have started driving hybrids, we have a third hybrid based at our Boca Raton, Florida branch office, and we plan to covert many company issued cars over to the hybrids within the next two years," Goldberg added. "While we've had standards in place regarding company owned vehicles in the past, such as a minimum fuel economy, adopting the policy of purchasing only hybrids makes a much stronger statement."

Environmentalists have applauded the decision and have called for other corporate fleets to follow the Ohio Savings Bank's lead.

"This decision shows that businesses can make a real difference to reduce dependence on imported oil and address global warming. We hope that other corporations follow this lead," said Darden Rice of the Sierra Club.

Hybrid electric vehicles combine gasoline and electric drive systems to achieve 50 percent greater fuel economy compared to standard vehicles. Based on the typical annual miles driven for these vehicles, the Ohio Saving Bank will be saving more than $1,000 per year, per vehicle, on fuel costs.

Hybrid electric vehicles also qualify for a variety of state and federal incentives, including a $1,500 clean fuel vehicle tax deduction. Hybrid electric vehicles now available today include the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight and Civic. In 2003 Ford will begin selling a hybrid electric version of its Escape.

"At this crucial time in our world history, we need innovative leadership from all sectors of our economy to both strengthen our national security and safeguard our environment for future generations," noted Jeff Gearhart of the Ecology Center, a regional environmental organization that helps coordinate the national Clean Car Campaign.

For more information on hybrid electric vehicles, available tax deductions and other incentives, visit: http://www.cleancarcampaign.org/hybrids.shtml

Mauna Loa Could be Headed for Eruption

Recent geophysical data collected on the surface of the 13,500 foot volcano revealed that Mauna Loa's summit caldera has begun to swell and stretch at a rate of two to 2.5 inches a year, say scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Stanford University. Surface inflation can be a precursor of a volcanic eruption, the scientists warn.

"Inflation means that magma is accumulating below the surface, but at this point we don't have the kinds of sophisticated models that would be required to tell us if or when an eruption will occur," said Paul Segall, a professor of geophysics at Stanford who has collaborated with USGS volcanologists in Hawaii since 1990.

Lava pours from Mauna Loa in March 1984. (Photo by R.W. Decker, courtesy USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory)

"After the 1984 eruption, Mauna Loa went through nearly a decade of inflation, followed by almost 10 years of deflation," said Peter Cervelli, a geophysicist with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO).

But around May 12, HVO's global positioning system (GPS) network revealed that the summit had begun to rise and swell. May 12 was the same day that Kilauea's most recent active lava flow began - a discovery that scientists say is not coincidental.

"This clearly indicates that there is a connection between the two magma systems," Segall noted. "That's the great thing about Hawaii: It's so incredibly active that just about every year we learn something new."

Four new GPS stations have now been installed on Mauna Loa to help scientists get an early warning of any increase in the volcano's activity. Each station can cost up to $20,000 to install.

"We are holding four more Stanford instruments in reserve to be deployed as conditions warrant," Cervelli explained. "We see this as an opportunity to watch the volcano evolve through an entire eruptive period - from early awakening to actual eruption. If the recent activity does culminate in an eruption, this will be the first time that a Mauna Loa eruption is imaged with precise clarity."

If the volcano does erupt, it could threaten the $2.3 billion in new construction installed along Mauna Loa's slopes since the 1984 eruption. The volcano is considered more of a hazard than Kilauea because of its history of producing massive, fast moving eruptions.

For more information, visit the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory at: http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/

Closely Linked Ecosystems Vulnerable to Change

A team of scientists led by researchers at San Francisco State University's (SFSU) Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies has demonstrated that natural habitats are more connected, and more fragile, than researchers have thought.

Led by SFSU's Dr. Neo Martinez, assistant professor of biology, Dr. Richard Williams, adjunct professor of biology, and Dr. Jennifer Dunne, postdoctoral fellow in collaboration with the Santa Fe Institute for complexity studies, the scientists combined computer network models with ecological data to analyze food webs - the prey/predator relationships - in a variety of land and water ecosystems.

They demonstrated that species within large communities are on average just two links apart, with greater than 95 percent of species within three links of each other.

Prior to this research, ecologists believed that many, if not most, species were four or more links away from each other and much less likely to impact one another in the event of extinction, invasion by predatory species or changes in population.

"Our findings show that invasions by other species, loss of biodiversity and other changes in populations have the potential to affect many more of the species in the same habitat than was previously believed," said Martinez. "These ongoing analyses are a powerful tool for exploring how robust or fragile ecosystems are, and can help us determine what aspects of a system contribute to robustness."

The research appears in the current issue of the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

In a second report in the same issue of the journal, the SFSU researchers demonstrate that, while food webs have some patterns consistent with small world networks such as Internet e-mail groups, in general they are not as cliquish or clustered as most small world networks. Instead, food web connections are more widespread and interdependent.

California Grants Fund Parks Projects

The grants are the first ever competitive parks bond grants to be allocated for this part of the state.

"These grants mark a new era in the state's support for parks and recreational opportunities in communities in the Sierra-Cascade region," said Davis. "Thanks to this funding these mountain communities will have more local parks and better facilities. We are helping to save important habitats, while also protecting vital working landscapes and rangeland."

The projects are located throughout the region in 11 counties, from Shasta and Siskiyou in the north, to Kern and Madera in the south. Grants include funding for acquisition of parkland and habitat, creation of trails, improvement of local park facilities including picnic and restroom facilities, and the purchase of a conservation easement to protect natural resources and working landscapes.

The funds come from Proposition 12 - The Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000 - and were reviewed by a committee under Mary Nichols, the state's secretary for resources. An additional $5 million for river parkway programs in this same region are available through Proposition 40, the 2002 Resources Bond Act.

The grants will fund, among other things, the purchase of a conservation easement on the 6,755 acre Hathaway Ranch in Shasta County's Cow Creek watershed. In Placer County, a grant will help buy 961 acres at the Spears Ranch along Coon Creek, which is under pressure from development.

And in Madera County, 241 acres will be developed into the Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park, providing picnic, hiking and recreational opportunities.

New York Protects Watershed Acres

The nonprofit Trust for Public Land negotiated the $3.9 million acquisition using funds allocated to Putnam County from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection from a fund established to enable municipalities in the city's watershed to invest in projects that will protect the water supply.

Tilly Foster Farm is a scenic complex of pastures and historic farm buildings once used to operate a dairy and thoroughbred farm. The preservation of the farm in the town of Southeast, which was targeted by developers for 600 condominiums, protects the parcel and will provide opportunities for environmental education programs.

Situated along the busy and fast developing Route 312/Interstate 84 corridor, Tilly Foster Farm is in one of Putnam County's most scenic and historic viewsheds.

"This partnership of New York City, Putnam County and the conservation community is a model that should be replicated for future protection efforts," said Kate Garrett, project manager for the Trust for Public Land. "The purchase of Tilly Foster Farm protects the drinking water of millions of New York City residents and makes a historic rural resource available to future generations for environmental education."

The Trust for Public Land and its joint venture partner, the nonprofit Open Space Institue (OSI) are working together to protect more land in this area. OSI was given a property neighboring Tilly Foster Farm that it will donate to Putnam County.

"The Trust for Public Land made it possible for the county to own this farm, which will become an integral part of the Tilly Foster Conservation Area," said Putnam County executive Bob Bondi.

Organic Roses Headed for Store Shelves

Initial shipments of the roses, which aim to provide an environmental choice to concerned consumers, are slated to be in selected upscale natural food retail stores in early November. Consumers can also order online at: http://www.OrganicBouquet.com

"Growing flowers organically is important because it reduces toxic chemical usage, is safer for farmers and farmworkers, and encourages healthy stewardship of the earth," said Organic Bouquet co-founder Gerald Prolman.

"Organic flowers say 'I care about you, and I care about the earth'," added company co-founder Dave Smith.

The organic roses are imported from Ecuador and are certified organic by the Guaranteed Organic Certification Agency (GOCA), an organic certification agency accredited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Organic Bouquet's primary organic flower growers are located in California and Oregon. The company has also organized a diverse network of growers in several countries to assure year round supplies for this growing new market.

Twenty new rose varieties in a variety of colors will be available year round and priced competitively with non-organic, high-quality roses. In general, the organic flowers will cost a bit more than conventionally grown roses.

"Price is always a question of supply and demand, but the big picture answer is that, beyond the price tag, there are hidden costs associated with non-organic production, specifically the potential negative impact to the environment and to the health of farmworkers," said Smith. "So, whether or not organic is a bit higher in price, as a true value, it is always a much better deal any way you look at it."