From: , Science and Development Network, More from this Affiliate
Published February 18, 2008 09:17 AM

http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/31344 

Two studies have shown that changes in land use to produce crop-based biofuels can actually result in more greenhouse-gasemissions than burning fossil fuels.

The studies, both published in Science last week (8 February), estimate the impact of converting forests and grasslands into cropland for the production of biofuels.

Both conclude that the resulting carbon emissions, released through decomposition or burning of biomass, create a 'carbon debt' that takes decades or even centuries to be paid back through biofuel usage.

This finding undermines previous claims that substituting fossil fuels with biofuels should offset greenhouse-gas emissions because biofuels sequester carbon while they grow.

According to Timothy Searchinger, researcher at Princeton University and the lead author of one of the studies, previous assessments did not include the carbon storage and sequestration sacrificed when diverting land from its existing use.

From: Reuters
Published February 18, 2008 05:50 AM

http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/31272 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union stepped up pressure on Croatia on Monday not to apply a protected fisheries zone to its EU neighbors.

The ecological and fisheries zone came into force on January 1, theoretically excluding fishing vessels from Slovenia, which holds the EU presidency, and Italy from Croatian waters. So far Croatia has done nothing to enforce the zone, aimed at preserving fish stocks and limiting pollution.

EU foreign ministers stopped short of suspending part of Zagreb's accession negotiations but made clear they were keeping the issue under review and asked the European Commission to hold further talks and report back to them at a forthcoming meeting.

"The council recalls its conclusions of December 2007, calling on Croatia to fully respect the agreement of June 4, 2004, and not to apply any aspect of the Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone to the EU member states until a common agreement in the EU spirit is found," ministers said in a statement adopted without discussion at their monthly meeting.

From Sahra News

02/13/2008

The president presides over today's agenda in Mbour

Senegal - A conference of ministers from countries in Africa's Sahel region is taking place in Mbour, Department of Mbour, Senegal. Their goal: to come up with funding strategies to implement an innovative weapon to hold back the Sahara Desert. The "Great Green Wall" was conceived by Nigeria's ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 and has been enthusiastically supported by Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade. It will consist of a strip of trees and shrubs and a series of small irrigation basins stretching across 11 countries, according to Senegal's Minister of the Environment, Djibo Leyti Ka. Mamadou Ibrahima Ouattara of the African Union Commission, along with a group of engineering and water experts, presented the plan to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium two weeks ago. The EU promised to fund a feasibility study.
  - summary by Louise Shaler
Source: Le Soleil by Babacar Bachir Sane
Original Language: French

02/12/2008

Utah - Utah State Engineer Jerry Olds and his staff handle about 6000 cases involving water rights every year, which has prompted State Senator Dennis Stowell of Parowan to introduce SB85, a bill to create a policymaking board intended to speed up the process for individual landowners. Stowell's proposed Water Rights Board would set fees, make rules, review final decisions made by Olds or the Division of Water Rights, and require the governor to appoint a state engineer from a list of nominations submitted by the board. Olds objected that a board would only slow things up more. Other critics said that more lawyers would be needed if individuals had to show the board proof that they were actively developing their water rights for a "beneficial use," as required by state law.

  - summary by Louise Shaler
Source: Deseret Morning News by Stephen Speckman