WWF Freshwater

Wuhan, China – The number of endangered finless porpoise spotted in an ongoing research expedition along the Wuhan-Yichang section of the Yangtze River has declined drastically with growing evidence pointing to impact of shipping and overfishing pushing the rare animal towards extinction, scientists on the expedition say.   The survey team has visually identified 39 individuals of the Yangtze finless porpoise – endangered on the IUCN Red List – during the 1,252km round-trip voyage on Wuhan-Yichang-Wuhan section of the river. "Based on visual and sonar identification, the number of the Yangtze finless porpoises we've spotted is about one-third of the detected in the area during a similar study six years ago," said Wang Kexiong, deputy head of the research expedition and an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB). Most of the 39 finless porpoises were spotted in the waters close to the Yanshou Dam, near the city of Yichang, Gong'an county, Chenglingji and Luoshan.  The distribution became concentrated and its location moved up stream compared to results in 2006, when the majority of discoveries were made across a wider area. "The changes could be attributed to the comparatively gentle flow and rich fishery resources in waters near Yanshou Dam and Gong'an," said Wang.  The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), which numbers between 1,200 to 1,500 in the wild, lives mainly in the central and lower reaches of the 6300km Yangtze River and two large adjoining lakes, Dongting and Poyang. Recent studies say that the species could become extinct in 15 years if nothing is done to protect them. The expedition team is due to depart Wednesday for Shanghai before heading back to Wuhan late next month when the initial results of the research are expected to be announced.  Calculation of the number of cargo and fishing ships in the Yangtze started from Yichang onward to evaluate the pressure posed by shipping and fishery activities on the endangered species. "Shipping traffic and fishing activities can cast an influence on the survival of the Yangtze finless porpoises. The relatively concentrated distribution and fixed location could possibly result from excessively busy shipping traffic in certain sections of the river that may have severed route of communication of the porpoises," said Zhang Xinqiao, expedition team member and WWF finless porpoise programme officer.  For instance, in the waters off Shijitou in Xianning and Hannan district of Wuhan that have the busiest traffic of fishing and cargo shipping so far, little traces of porpoises were detected, said Zhang.  A total of 80 fishery boats and 697 cargo ships were counted by the team from Yichang-Wuhan. Twenty-seven cargo ships were calculated within 30 minutes in the waters off the Hannan district of Wuhan, while the number in Shijitou stood at six.  Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the IHB, WWF and Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition commenced on November 11 and comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct. For more information please contact: Qiu Wei, Senior Communications Officer, WWF China, wqiu@wwfchina.org, +86 10 6511 6272

Wuhan, China – The number of endangered finless porpoise spotted in an ongoing research expedition along the Wuhan-Yichang section of the Yangtze River has declined drastically with growing evidence pointing to impact of shipping and overfishing pushing the rare animal towards extinction, scientists on the expedition say.   The survey team has visually identified 39 individuals of the Yangtze finless porpoise – endangered on the IUCN Red List – during the 1,252km round-trip voyage on Wuhan-Yichang-Wuhan section of the river. "Based on visual and sonar identification, the number of the Yangtze finless porpoises we've spotted is about one-third of the detected in the area during a similar study six years ago," said Wang Kexiong, deputy head of the research expedition and an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB). Most of the 39 finless porpoises were spotted in the waters close to the Yanshou Dam, near the city of Yichang, Gong'an county, Chenglingji and Luoshan.  The distribution became concentrated and its location moved up stream compared to results in 2006, when the majority of discoveries were made across a wider area. "The changes could be attributed to the comparatively gentle flow and rich fishery resources in waters near Yanshou Dam and Gong'an," said Wang.  The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), which numbers between 1,200 to 1,500 in the wild, lives mainly in the central and lower reaches of the 6300km Yangtze River and two large adjoining lakes, Dongting and Poyang. Recent studies say that the species could become extinct in 15 years if nothing is done to protect them. The expedition team is due to depart Wednesday for Shanghai before heading back to Wuhan late next month when the initial results of the research are expected to be announced.  Calculation of the number of cargo and fishing ships in the Yangtze started from Yichang onward to evaluate the pressure posed by shipping and fishery activities on the endangered species. "Shipping traffic and fishing activities can cast an influence on the survival of the Yangtze finless porpoises. The relatively concentrated distribution and fixed location could possibly result from excessively busy shipping traffic in certain sections of the river that may have severed route of communication of the porpoises," said Zhang Xinqiao, expedition team member and WWF finless porpoise programme officer.  For instance, in the waters off Shijitou in Xianning and Hannan district of Wuhan that have the busiest traffic of fishing and cargo shipping so far, little traces of porpoises were detected, said Zhang.  A total of 80 fishery boats and 697 cargo ships were counted by the team from Yichang-Wuhan. Twenty-seven cargo ships were calculated within 30 minutes in the waters off the Hannan district of Wuhan, while the number in Shijitou stood at six.  Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the IHB, WWF and Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition commenced on November 11 and comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct. For more information please contact: Qiu Wei, Senior Communications Officer, WWF China, wqiu@wwfchina.org, +86 10 6511 6272

Debate over the construction of more dams in the Amazon heats up A decision from the Federal Justice in the Brazilian State of Para that denied a preliminary environmental license to the construction of the newest giant dam in the Brazilian Amazon, the hydropower project Sao Luiz do Tapajos, represents an important step in the growing debate around the stakes, need and urgency of implementing large infrastructure projects in one of the more pristine areas of the Brazilian Amazon, affecting traditional communities and indigenous people. The act, determined by Federal Judge José Airton de Aguiar Portela on November 19th, requires that an integrated environmental assessment to deal with cumulative social and environmental impacts be developed for the Tapajos and Jamanxin basins and that indigenous people living in the area be consulted. According to the Federal Attorney of the State of Para, who has asked for this decision, the construction will affect the Munduruku territory where over 10,000 indigenous people live. "The environmental assessments are very important and should be the result of detailed terms of reference as much as to the methodology, in order to enable a consistent study. More important is the implementation of the recommendations, as well as monitoring by society, "stated the WWF Brazil CEO, Maria Cecilia Wey de Brito. The Tapajos basin represents almost 6% of the Brazilian territory and contains unique ecological, scenic and cultural value. Nevertheless, this basin has been subject to hasty measures aimed to bypass environmental safeguards in order to speed up the construction of the Tapajos complex, a compilation of 7 proposed dams in the ecoregion. Of these proposed dams, the two largest are the Sao Luiz (6.133 MW) and Jatoba (2.336 MW). Among those measures, it is worth mentioning a government decision announced last January and later converted into law that reduces the protected status of four units of land set aside for conservation therefore allowing the massive undertaking of the Tapajos complex to proceed. By easing up on the law protecting these conservation areas, 2 more free-flowing rivers in the Amazon, the Tapajos and Jamanxin rivers, will be dammed, causing the flooding of an estimated 250,000 hectares and the fragmentation of ecosystems of social and ecological significance. According to that legal decision that establishes a limit to the careless project pace, "the public interest cannot ignore rules imposed by itself, even under supposedly urgent demands from the country". WWF has been advocating the development of an integrated regional planning system that supports a serious national debate over how Brazilians want to see the Amazon conserved in the future. The identification of specific rivers designated as "no-go rivers" must be agreed upon before the piling-up of impacts from numerous hydropower projects, treated in an isolated pattern, produce disproportional impacts at the basin scale. "With 150 dams in the Amazon horizon it is essential to define priority areas for fresh water conservation to guarantee the connectivity and integrity of the hydrological system, which represent the interest of life from those that depend on rivers that flow and pulse freely. And the tools to promote this national dialog are available", says Pedro Bara, infrastructure strategy leader of WWF Living Amazon initiative. (With information from Federal Justice of the Pará State)

Debate over the construction of more dams in the Amazon heats up A decision from the Federal Justice in the Brazilian State of Para that denied a preliminary environmental license to the construction of the newest giant dam in the Brazilian Amazon, the hydropower project Sao Luiz do Tapajos, represents an important step in the growing debate around the stakes, need and urgency of implementing large infrastructure projects in one of the more pristine areas of the Brazilian Amazon, affecting traditional communities and indigenous people. The act, determined by Federal Judge José Airton de Aguiar Portela on November 19th, requires that an integrated environmental assessment to deal with cumulative social and environmental impacts be developed for the Tapajos and Jamanxin basins and that indigenous people living in the area be consulted. According to the Federal Attorney of the State of Para, who has asked for this decision, the construction will affect the Munduruku territory where over 10,000 indigenous people live. "The environmental assessments are very important and should be the result of detailed terms of reference as much as to the methodology, in order to enable a consistent study. More important is the implementation of the recommendations, as well as monitoring by society, "stated the WWF Brazil CEO, Maria Cecilia Wey de Brito. The Tapajos basin represents almost 6% of the Brazilian territory and contains unique ecological, scenic and cultural value. Nevertheless, this basin has been subject to hasty measures aimed to bypass environmental safeguards in order to speed up the construction of the Tapajos complex, a compilation of 7 proposed dams in the ecoregion. Of these proposed dams, the two largest are the Sao Luiz (6.133 MW) and Jatoba (2.336 MW). Among those measures, it is worth mentioning a government decision announced last January and later converted into law that reduces the protected status of four units of land set aside for conservation therefore allowing the massive undertaking of the Tapajos complex to proceed. By easing up on the law protecting these conservation areas, 2 more free-flowing rivers in the Amazon, the Tapajos and Jamanxin rivers, will be dammed, causing the flooding of an estimated 250,000 hectares and the fragmentation of ecosystems of social and ecological significance. According to that legal decision that establishes a limit to the careless project pace, "the public interest cannot ignore rules imposed by itself, even under supposedly urgent demands from the country". WWF has been advocating the development of an integrated regional planning system that supports a serious national debate over how Brazilians want to see the Amazon conserved in the future. The identification of specific rivers designated as "no-go rivers" must be agreed upon before the piling-up of impacts from numerous hydropower projects, treated in an isolated pattern, produce disproportional impacts at the basin scale. "With 150 dams in the Amazon horizon it is essential to define priority areas for fresh water conservation to guarantee the connectivity and integrity of the hydrological system, which represent the interest of life from those that depend on rivers that flow and pulse freely. And the tools to promote this national dialog are available", says Pedro Bara, infrastructure strategy leader of WWF Living Amazon initiative. (With information from Federal Justice of the Pará State)

Conservation efforts by WWF and other environmental organizations have continued to forge ahead following Kenya designating the Tana River Delta as a Wetland of International Importance. With the Ramsar Secretariat's announcing that the Tana River Delta is now a Ramsar Site, the 163,600-hectare delta (02°27'S 040°17'E) becomes East Africa's second most important river mouth wetland after the Rufiji Delta in neighbouring Tanzania. Kenya already has 5 designated Ramsar sites in the Great African Rift Valley, namely lakes Naivasha, Elementaita, Nakuru, Bogoria, and Baringo; providing enhanced tourism, employment for Kenya's tourism sector, vibrant horticultural industry around Lake Naivasha, steam geysers in Lake Bogoria, and Kenya's first sanctuary for the critically endangered black rhino in Lake Nakuru National Park. In total, Kenya's 6 Ramsar Sites cover 265,449 hectares. The Tana Delta forms an area of rich biodiversity for sea species including fish and prawns, five species of marine turtles. There are a host of terrestrial animals such as the African Elephant, Tana Mangabey, Tana River Red Colobus, and White Collared monkey. In addition to more than 600 plant species, the Tana Delta is a home for many bird species and is a critical transit point for migratory water birds such as waders, gulls and terns. According to Coastal East Africa Initiative leader Peter Scheren, the importance of the Tana Delta to Coastal East Africa cannot be underscored enough considering the numerous challenges facing the region. "The Tana Delta is an important ecosystem for Coastal East Africa which continues to face several challenges. Statistics indicate that a mere 10% of the original coastal forests of Eastern Africa remain, fragmented into 400 patches that cover 6,250km² in Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique. The fact that the Tana Delta is now the latest Ramsar Site in Africa is a boost in efforts to conserve the remaining forest cover and help secure the livelihoods of communities' dependent upon this important ecosystem," noted Mr. Scheren Currently, over 20 million people live in and along coastal forests and landscapes in eastern Africa. The survival of these people is highly dependent on the availability of basic natural resources such as timber, wood-fuel and charcoal, which are extracted from forests, causing a serious dilemma; their dependency and consequent exploitation of these resources destroying the very basis of their existence. The pressures are rapidly rising as the population is expected to double by 2030 putting a serious and already present strain on the meager natural resources present in Coastal East Africa. WWF implements several conservation projects at the Kenyan coast including the rehabilitation and protection of the Kaya and Boni Dodori forests, the conservation of sea turtles and livelihood enhancing activities. By John Kabubu Communications Officer WWF Coastal East Africa Initiative

Conservation efforts by WWF and other environmental organizations have continued to forge ahead following Kenya designating the Tana River Delta as a Wetland of International Importance. With the Ramsar Secretariat's announcing that the Tana River Delta is now a Ramsar Site, the 163,600-hectare delta (02°27'S 040°17'E) becomes East Africa's second most important river mouth wetland after the Rufiji Delta in neighbouring Tanzania. Kenya already has 5 designated Ramsar sites in the Great African Rift Valley, namely lakes Naivasha, Elementaita, Nakuru, Bogoria, and Baringo; providing enhanced tourism, employment for Kenya's tourism sector, vibrant horticultural industry around Lake Naivasha, steam geysers in Lake Bogoria, and Kenya's first sanctuary for the critically endangered black rhino in Lake Nakuru National Park. In total, Kenya's 6 Ramsar Sites cover 265,449 hectares. The Tana Delta forms an area of rich biodiversity for sea species including fish and prawns, five species of marine turtles. There are a host of terrestrial animals such as the African Elephant, Tana Mangabey, Tana River Red Colobus, and White Collared monkey. In addition to more than 600 plant species, the Tana Delta is a home for many bird species and is a critical transit point for migratory water birds such as waders, gulls and terns. According to Coastal East Africa Initiative leader Peter Scheren, the importance of the Tana Delta to Coastal East Africa cannot be underscored enough considering the numerous challenges facing the region. "The Tana Delta is an important ecosystem for Coastal East Africa which continues to face several challenges. Statistics indicate that a mere 10% of the original coastal forests of Eastern Africa remain, fragmented into 400 patches that cover 6,250km² in Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique. The fact that the Tana Delta is now the latest Ramsar Site in Africa is a boost in efforts to conserve the remaining forest cover and help secure the livelihoods of communities' dependent upon this important ecosystem," noted Mr. Scheren Currently, over 20 million people live in and along coastal forests and landscapes in eastern Africa. The survival of these people is highly dependent on the availability of basic natural resources such as timber, wood-fuel and charcoal, which are extracted from forests, causing a serious dilemma; their dependency and consequent exploitation of these resources destroying the very basis of their existence. The pressures are rapidly rising as the population is expected to double by 2030 putting a serious and already present strain on the meager natural resources present in Coastal East Africa. WWF implements several conservation projects at the Kenyan coast including the rehabilitation and protection of the Kaya and Boni Dodori forests, the conservation of sea turtles and livelihood enhancing activities. By John Kabubu Communications Officer WWF Coastal East Africa Initiative

Yichang, China -- Scientists from a research expedition that is looking to find out how many finless porpoises now live in the Yangtze have spotted 10 individuals in a 630km section of the river, fewer than detected in the area during a similar study six years ago. A combination of visual and sonar identification are being used to guarantee the independence and accuracy of the findings, according to the expedition team, which docked near the city of Yichang Monday afternoon. Initial results suggest a drop in the population of the world's only freshwater finless porpoise but the results are pending until late next month when the evaluation is finalized. "We have spotted 10 finless porpoises from Wuhan to Yichang, the first leg of the survey, mainly in the lower reaches of the Honghu section, upper reaches of the Dongting estuary, upper and lower reaches of the river near Jianli county and the section adjacent to Gong'an county, with few discoveries elsewhere," said Wang Kexiong, deputy head of the research expedition and an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB). Shipping traffic, infrastructure to blame for population decline The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), which numbers between 1,200 to 1,500 in the wild, lives mainly in the central and lower reaches of the 6300km Yangtze River and two large adjoining lakes, Dongting and Poyang. Estimates from the 2006 survey say that the finless porpoise is expected to decline to around 200 by 2035 - Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List – but more recent studies say that the species could become extinct in 15 years if nothing is done to protect them. Scientists on the expedition point to the growth of commercial shipping traffic and the construction of dams and other large-scale infrastructure projects as some of the major reasons behind the decline of the rare species. "In order to study human impacts on finless porpoises in a scientific and comprehensive manner, we will count the number of cargo and fishing ships in the Yangtze from Yichang to Shanghai to evaluate the pressure posed by shipping and fishery activities on the endangered species," said Zhang Xinqiao, expedition team member and WWF finless porpoise programme officer.  The expedition team, which first set sail on 11 November, is scheduled to depart Yichang for Wuhan on 20 November, travelling along the Yangtze through the provinces of Anhui, Jiangxi, and Jiangsu to Shanghai, wrapping up the voyage in late-December when the first research report is to be published. Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the IHB, WWF and Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct. "Statistics will be finalized after we take into consideration the validity of calculation, density of distribution, width of the river, sailing length and areas covered," said Wang Kexiong from the IHB.

Yichang, China -- Scientists from a research expedition that is looking to find out how many finless porpoises now live in the Yangtze have spotted 10 individuals in a 630km section of the river, fewer than detected in the area during a similar study six years ago. A combination of visual and sonar identification are being used to guarantee the independence and accuracy of the findings, according to the expedition team, which docked near the city of Yichang Monday afternoon. Initial results suggest a drop in the population of the world's only freshwater finless porpoise but the results are pending until late next month when the evaluation is finalized. "We have spotted 10 finless porpoises from Wuhan to Yichang, the first leg of the survey, mainly in the lower reaches of the Honghu section, upper reaches of the Dongting estuary, upper and lower reaches of the river near Jianli county and the section adjacent to Gong'an county, with few discoveries elsewhere," said Wang Kexiong, deputy head of the research expedition and an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB). Shipping traffic, infrastructure to blame for population decline The Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), which numbers between 1,200 to 1,500 in the wild, lives mainly in the central and lower reaches of the 6300km Yangtze River and two large adjoining lakes, Dongting and Poyang. Estimates from the 2006 survey say that the finless porpoise is expected to decline to around 200 by 2035 - Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List – but more recent studies say that the species could become extinct in 15 years if nothing is done to protect them. Scientists on the expedition point to the growth of commercial shipping traffic and the construction of dams and other large-scale infrastructure projects as some of the major reasons behind the decline of the rare species. "In order to study human impacts on finless porpoises in a scientific and comprehensive manner, we will count the number of cargo and fishing ships in the Yangtze from Yichang to Shanghai to evaluate the pressure posed by shipping and fishery activities on the endangered species," said Zhang Xinqiao, expedition team member and WWF finless porpoise programme officer.  The expedition team, which first set sail on 11 November, is scheduled to depart Yichang for Wuhan on 20 November, travelling along the Yangtze through the provinces of Anhui, Jiangxi, and Jiangsu to Shanghai, wrapping up the voyage in late-December when the first research report is to be published. Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the IHB, WWF and Wuhan Baiji Dolphin Conservation Fund, the expedition comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct. "Statistics will be finalized after we take into consideration the validity of calculation, density of distribution, width of the river, sailing length and areas covered," said Wang Kexiong from the IHB.

Pasta with tomato sauce – for many it's the taste of home, and the epitome of comfort food. Did you know that this worldwide favorite has a water footprint? Everything we eat does. And it's not just the water we use to cook in our home kitchens. It's the water used to grow the ingredients in the pasta and sauce we savor. WWF has helped Mutti, market leader in the production of tomato purée, pressed tomatoes and tomato pulp, calculate the water footprint of its production, from tomato cultivation to finished product. Mutti is the first Italian company, and one of the few in the world, to undertake such a study. "The world population has reached 7 billion, and our consumption habits are not sustainable," says Gianfranco Bologna, scientific director of WWF-Italy. "This is why WWF supports individual, institutional and business efforts to significantly reduce our footprint on natural systems. We are working to transform the markets, to minimize the impact of the products we enjoy and depend on." The calculation of water footprint for the whole production cycle considered the quantity of water contained in each Mutti product. The water footprint analysis has led Mutti to commit to reduce its water footprint by 3 per cent by 2015. Given that 83 per cent of Mutti's water footprint comes from the cultivation of tomatoes, the company is focusing most of its attention on its producers, with a campaign of awareness and support to improve efficiency of water use in cultivation. This year, thanks to the partnership with the WWF, 20 Mutti suppliers located throughout the Emilia Romagna region have tried an innovative method of irrigation management to limit of the use of water to volumes that are strictly necessary. A team of experts using probes and sensors to measure soil humidity has been able to quantify the minimum effective volume of irrigation water, thus guiding farmers toward an optimal use of resources. A water-savings of up to 30 per cent was shown in "guided" agricultural enterprises, compared with those "not guided". With the right guidelines, producers can easily analyze their own cultivation and irrigation practices to better manage water resources. "The water saving of 30 per cent as a result of simply optimizing field irrigation represents an important step toward achieving the ambitious objective, agreed upon in collaboration with WWF, of reducing the water footprint by 2015 throughout the Mutti business network, from the cultivation of tomatoes to the final product," said Francesco Mutti. As part of its annual Pomodorino d'Oro award for production of exceptional tomatoes, Mutti has introduced the Special Mention "Ideas for Water", to be given to farmers who are demonstrating innovation and commitment to sustainable cultivation. "Mutti is part of the vanguard of companies using water footprint as a tool to measure impact and set challenging reduction targets," said Stuart Orr, Freshwater Manager at WWF International. "It is an innovative project that has identified efficient solutions and shown how the agricultural sector can reduce its environmental impacts."

Pasta with tomato sauce – for many it's the taste of home, and the epitome of comfort food. Did you know that this worldwide favorite has a water footprint? Everything we eat does. And it's not just the water we use to cook in our home kitchens. It's the water used to grow the ingredients in the pasta and sauce we savor. WWF has helped Mutti, market leader in the production of tomato purée, pressed tomatoes and tomato pulp, calculate the water footprint of its production, from tomato cultivation to finished product. Mutti is the first Italian company, and one of the few in the world, to undertake such a study. "The world population has reached 7 billion, and our consumption habits are not sustainable," says Gianfranco Bologna, scientific director of WWF-Italy. "This is why WWF supports individual, institutional and business efforts to significantly reduce our footprint on natural systems. We are working to transform the markets, to minimize the impact of the products we enjoy and depend on." The calculation of water footprint for the whole production cycle considered the quantity of water contained in each Mutti product. The water footprint analysis has led Mutti to commit to reduce its water footprint by 3 per cent by 2015. Given that 83 per cent of Mutti's water footprint comes from the cultivation of tomatoes, the company is focusing most of its attention on its producers, with a campaign of awareness and support to improve efficiency of water use in cultivation. This year, thanks to the partnership with the WWF, 20 Mutti suppliers located throughout the Emilia Romagna region have tried an innovative method of irrigation management to limit of the use of water to volumes that are strictly necessary. A team of experts using probes and sensors to measure soil humidity has been able to quantify the minimum effective volume of irrigation water, thus guiding farmers toward an optimal use of resources. A water-savings of up to 30 per cent was shown in "guided" agricultural enterprises, compared with those "not guided". With the right guidelines, producers can easily analyze their own cultivation and irrigation practices to better manage water resources. "The water saving of 30 per cent as a result of simply optimizing field irrigation represents an important step toward achieving the ambitious objective, agreed upon in collaboration with WWF, of reducing the water footprint by 2015 throughout the Mutti business network, from the cultivation of tomatoes to the final product," said Francesco Mutti. As part of its annual Pomodorino d'Oro award for production of exceptional tomatoes, Mutti has introduced the Special Mention "Ideas for Water", to be given to farmers who are demonstrating innovation and commitment to sustainable cultivation. "Mutti is part of the vanguard of companies using water footprint as a tool to measure impact and set challenging reduction targets," said Stuart Orr, Freshwater Manager at WWF International. "It is an innovative project that has identified efficient solutions and shown how the agricultural sector can reduce its environmental impacts."

Wuhan, China - A research expedition underway on the Yangtze is looking to discover how many of the world's only freshwater finless porpoises can be found in the river - and how to save the remaining population from extinction.   The endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), which numbers less than 1,800 in the wild, lives mainly in the central and lower reaches of the 6300km Yangtze River and two large adjoining lakes, Dongting and Poyang. Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) and WWF, the expedition comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct after a similar Yangtze survey that also looked at porpoise numbers.   "We are not optimistic about the estimated results in the mainstream investigation at this moment," said Wang Ding general director of both the 2006 and 2012 investigations and Research Fellow at the IHB.  "But in addition to the numbers and distribution of the population of Yangtze finless porpoises, we will also investigate the fishery resources and water quality of the Yangtze River."   Estimates from the 2006 survey say that the finless porpoise is expected to decline to around 200 by 2035 - Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List - if no effective protection measures are taken. More recent estimates are even less optimistic, saying that the species could become extinct in 15 years if no action is taken. Recect survey finds stable population in some areas, sharp decline in others   A survey conducted in October 2012 in Dongting and Poyang lakes brought mixed news, with a sharp reduction in the Dongting population while Poyang Lake numbers were mostly stable.   "The initial findings from the 2012 survey in the two lakes show that there are around 450 finless porpoises in Poyang Lake, and 90 in Dongting Lake," said Wang Ding. "Compared with the survey results in 2006, the population in Dongting Lake has sharply declined, and their habitat has also shrunk. This shows their living conditions are getting worse and worse. "   The downturn in porpoise numbers is the result of many different factors including food shortages, accidents with boat engine propellers, pollution and electro-fisihing, where electrical currents are sent into the water to stun fish before they are caught. "As a symbol of the Yangtze ecosystem, the status of the finless porpoise is a reflection of the the health of the Yangtze River. It has already lost the Baiji dolphin, and cannot bear losing Yangtze finless porpoise!" said Wang Kexiong, Research Associate from the IHB. Protection plan Scientists at the Wuhan-based IHB are now formulating an action plan to help conserve the rare porpoise. In addition to existing calls for more research on artificial propagation, scientists and policymakers will integrate data gathered during the expedition and include it in the final plan.   "If we are going to save the Yangtze finless porpoise from the same fate as the Baiji, we must take immediate action to keep the Yangtze River and its lakes healthy," said Lei Gang, Director of WWF China's Freshwater Program. "This means better laws and enforcement - we need to see harmful fishing practices stop, sand dredging better controlled, and new reserves developed."  "But the Yangtze River isn't going to be problem-free overnight. So to ensure the finless porpoise survives, we will also need to better understand where the best places are for this ancient animal to live, and learn a lot more about artificial propagation," Lei Gang added.   The expedition will cover a 1,700km expanse of the Yangtze, taking researchers from Yichang to Shanghai and back again. Preliminary results will be announced from mid to late December, and the complete report will be released in March 2013. High notes: Chinese pop star Zhang Liangying   WWF's Yangtze finless porpoise conservation ambassador Zhang Liangying (Jane Zhang) showed her support before the expedition got underway at a Friday night concert in Shenzhen with a performace of the song "Grateful". Acknowledging that the porpoise is known for its mischievous smile, the pop star said the song will help "keep the smile on Yangtze finless porpoises' face" to a packed house.   The musician also said that the song will be presented to WWF, with all proceeds donated to Yangtze finless porpoise conservation.  "The Yangtze finless porpoise is the symbol of our mother river, the Yangtze River, and to protect them means to protect ourselves." said Jane Zhang. "WWF and the experts from the Institute of Hydrobiology have done a lot to protect Yangtze finless porpoise, and that is worth admiration. I hope that I will have the opportunity to visit Yangtze finless porpoise again in the Yangtze River, and do more for Yangtze finless porpoise, she added.   -ENDS- For more information please contact Zeng Ming, Head of Press, WWF China, mzeng@wwfchina.org, +86 10 6511 6298   Chris Chaplin, Media Relations Manager, WWF International, cchaplin@wwf.sg,  +86 139 117 474 72  

Wuhan, China - A research expedition underway on the Yangtze is looking to discover how many of the world's only freshwater finless porpoises can be found in the river - and how to save the remaining population from extinction.   The endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), which numbers less than 1,800 in the wild, lives mainly in the central and lower reaches of the 6300km Yangtze River and two large adjoining lakes, Dongting and Poyang. Led by China's Ministry of Agriculture and organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) and WWF, the expedition comes only six years after the Baiji dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) - another rare cetacean and close relative of the finless porpoise - was declared functionally extinct after a similar Yangtze survey that also looked at porpoise numbers.   "We are not optimistic about the estimated results in the mainstream investigation at this moment," said Wang Ding general director of both the 2006 and 2012 investigations and Research Fellow at the IHB.  "But in addition to the numbers and distribution of the population of Yangtze finless porpoises, we will also investigate the fishery resources and water quality of the Yangtze River."   Estimates from the 2006 survey say that the finless porpoise is expected to decline to around 200 by 2035 - Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List - if no effective protection measures are taken. More recent estimates are even less optimistic, saying that the species could become extinct in 15 years if no action is taken. Recect survey finds stable population in some areas, sharp decline in others   A survey conducted in October 2012 in Dongting and Poyang lakes brought mixed news, with a sharp reduction in the Dongting population while Poyang Lake numbers were mostly stable.   "The initial findings from the 2012 survey in the two lakes show that there are around 450 finless porpoises in Poyang Lake, and 90 in Dongting Lake," said Wang Ding. "Compared with the survey results in 2006, the population in Dongting Lake has sharply declined, and their habitat has also shrunk. This shows their living conditions are getting worse and worse. "   The downturn in porpoise numbers is the result of many different factors including food shortages, accidents with boat engine propellers, pollution and electro-fisihing, where electrical currents are sent into the water to stun fish before they are caught. "As a symbol of the Yangtze ecosystem, the status of the finless porpoise is a reflection of the the health of the Yangtze River. It has already lost the Baiji dolphin, and cannot bear losing Yangtze finless porpoise!" said Wang Kexiong, Research Associate from the IHB. Protection plan Scientists at the Wuhan-based IHB are now formulating an action plan to help conserve the rare porpoise. In addition to existing calls for more research on artificial propagation, scientists and policymakers will integrate data gathered during the expedition and include it in the final plan.   "If we are going to save the Yangtze finless porpoise from the same fate as the Baiji, we must take immediate action to keep the Yangtze River and its lakes healthy," said Lei Gang, Director of WWF China's Freshwater Program. "This means better laws and enforcement - we need to see harmful fishing practices stop, sand dredging better controlled, and new reserves developed."  "But the Yangtze River isn't going to be problem-free overnight. So to ensure the finless porpoise survives, we will also need to better understand where the best places are for this ancient animal to live, and learn a lot more about artificial propagation," Lei Gang added.   The expedition will cover a 1,700km expanse of the Yangtze, taking researchers from Yichang to Shanghai and back again. Preliminary results will be announced from mid to late December, and the complete report will be released in March 2013. High notes: Chinese pop star Zhang Liangying   WWF's Yangtze finless porpoise conservation ambassador Zhang Liangying (Jane Zhang) showed her support before the expedition got underway at a Friday night concert in Shenzhen with a performace of the song "Grateful". Acknowledging that the porpoise is known for its mischievous smile, the pop star said the song will help "keep the smile on Yangtze finless porpoises' face" to a packed house.   The musician also said that the song will be presented to WWF, with all proceeds donated to Yangtze finless porpoise conservation.  "The Yangtze finless porpoise is the symbol of our mother river, the Yangtze River, and to protect them means to protect ourselves." said Jane Zhang. "WWF and the experts from the Institute of Hydrobiology have done a lot to protect Yangtze finless porpoise, and that is worth admiration. I hope that I will have the opportunity to visit Yangtze finless porpoise again in the Yangtze River, and do more for Yangtze finless porpoise, she added.   -ENDS- For more information please contact Zeng Ming, Head of Press, WWF China, mzeng@wwfchina.org, +86 10 6511 6298   Chris Chaplin, Media Relations Manager, WWF International, cchaplin@wwf.sg,  +86 139 117 474 72  

Gland, Switzerland – The Lao government's determination to plow ahead with construction of the controversial US$3.5-billion Xayaburi hydropower dam in northern Laos puts the mighty Mekong River's spectacular biodiversity, rich fisheries and livelihoods - vital to nearly 60 million people - in grave danger, warns WWF. Despite fierce opposition from neighbouring countries, and some concerns raised this week by delegates attending the Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM 9) in the Lao capital, Vientiane, Laos' Deputy Minister of Energy and Mining, Mr Viraphonh Viravong, announced that Laos will hold a ground-breaking ceremony at the dam site on Wednesday, 7 November. Mr. Viravong also told a group of journalists, "It [Xayaburi dam] has been assessed, it has been discussed the last two years. We have addressed most of the concerns." Criticism of the Xayaburi project has been mounting over the past year, with concerns centred on the serious gaps in data and failures to fully account for the impacts of the dam, particularly concerning fisheries and sediment flows. "Laos appears to be recklessly intent on forging ahead with construction before the agreed impact studies have been completed," said Dr Li Lifeng, Director of WWF's Freshwater Programme. "If the region's governments fail now to reaffirm their concerns on Xayaburi, they risk resting the future of the Mekong on flawed analysis and gaps in critical data that could have dire consequences for millions of people living in the Mekong River basin." In June 2010, Thailand's electricity utility, EGAT, signed an initial agreement with Ch. Karnchang to purchase over 95 per cent of the Xayaburi dam's electricity, and at least four Thai banks have expressed their interest in providing loans to the project, despite the acute environmental and social costs, and the uncertainties surrounding the financial return of the project. "Thailand has a huge stake in the project and should not turn a blind eye to the potentially devastating consequences the project will wreak on their neighbours, and their own people," added Li. "Thailand must take responsibility and join calls to stop the dam construction and cancel its power purchase agreement until there is regional consensus to build the dam." Laos' actions fly in the face of the decision last December by Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam to delay building the dam on the Mekong mainstream pending further studies on the sustainable management of the Mekong River, including impacts from mainstream hydropower development projects. However, no timeline has yet been set for when the further studies will be completed. Fisheries and sediment impacts A recent review of the dam development identified uncertainties and weaknesses with the proposed fish passes, and confirmed the Xayaburi project will block part of the sediment flow and that important gaps in knowledge concerning the sediment aspects remain. The Lao government and Ch. Karnchang agreed to spend an additional US$100 million on modifications to the dam design in an attempt to mitigate the adverse impacts, but experts warn this will fail to solve the problems given the remaining gaps in key data and science, and the clear risks associated with using unproven technologies. "Laos expects its neighbours to trust that the clear risks associated with this project will somehow be resolved while construction moves ahead," added Li. "In pushing ahead with their Mekong dam experiment, Laos is jeopardizing the sustainability of one of the world's great river systems, and all future transboundary cooperation." An important precedent for 10 other dams As the first dam project to enter the Mekong River Commission's (MRC) formal consultation process, the Xayaburi project will set an important precedent for 10 other dams proposed for the lower mainstream of the river. "The Asia-Europe meeting brought together about 50 Asian and European leaders in Laos this week under an umbrella of "Friends for Peace, Partners for Prosperity." But few voices of concern were raised about a project set to spread instability throughout the region and undermine development goals. The international community must not remain silent on Xayaburi," added Li. WWF urges Mekong ministers to defer a decision on the dam for 10 years to ensure critical data can be gathered and a decision can be reached using sound science and analysis. WWF advises lower Mekong countries considering hydropower projects to prioritise dams on some Mekong tributaries that are easier to assess and are considered to have a much lower impact and risk. About the mighty Mekong TEDxWWF talk by WWF-Greater Mekong Interim Representative, Stuart Chapman, on hydropower development on the Mekong River.

Gland, Switzerland – The Lao government's determination to plow ahead with construction of the controversial US$3.5-billion Xayaburi hydropower dam in northern Laos puts the mighty Mekong River's spectacular biodiversity, rich fisheries and livelihoods - vital to nearly 60 million people - in grave danger, warns WWF. Despite fierce opposition from neighbouring countries, and some concerns raised this week by delegates attending the Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM 9) in the Lao capital, Vientiane, Laos' Deputy Minister of Energy and Mining, Mr Viraphonh Viravong, announced that Laos will hold a ground-breaking ceremony at the dam site on Wednesday, 7 November. Mr. Viravong also told a group of journalists, "It [Xayaburi dam] has been assessed, it has been discussed the last two years. We have addressed most of the concerns." Criticism of the Xayaburi project has been mounting over the past year, with concerns centred on the serious gaps in data and failures to fully account for the impacts of the dam, particularly concerning fisheries and sediment flows. "Laos appears to be recklessly intent on forging ahead with construction before the agreed impact studies have been completed," said Dr Li Lifeng, Director of WWF's Freshwater Programme. "If the region's governments fail now to reaffirm their concerns on Xayaburi, they risk resting the future of the Mekong on flawed analysis and gaps in critical data that could have dire consequences for millions of people living in the Mekong River basin." In June 2010, Thailand's electricity utility, EGAT, signed an initial agreement with Ch. Karnchang to purchase over 95 per cent of the Xayaburi dam's electricity, and at least four Thai banks have expressed their interest in providing loans to the project, despite the acute environmental and social costs, and the uncertainties surrounding the financial return of the project. "Thailand has a huge stake in the project and should not turn a blind eye to the potentially devastating consequences the project will wreak on their neighbours, and their own people," added Li. "Thailand must take responsibility and join calls to stop the dam construction and cancel its power purchase agreement until there is regional consensus to build the dam." Laos' actions fly in the face of the decision last December by Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam to delay building the dam on the Mekong mainstream pending further studies on the sustainable management of the Mekong River, including impacts from mainstream hydropower development projects. However, no timeline has yet been set for when the further studies will be completed. Fisheries and sediment impacts A recent review of the dam development identified uncertainties and weaknesses with the proposed fish passes, and confirmed the Xayaburi project will block part of the sediment flow and that important gaps in knowledge concerning the sediment aspects remain. The Lao government and Ch. Karnchang agreed to spend an additional US$100 million on modifications to the dam design in an attempt to mitigate the adverse impacts, but experts warn this will fail to solve the problems given the remaining gaps in key data and science, and the clear risks associated with using unproven technologies. "Laos expects its neighbours to trust that the clear risks associated with this project will somehow be resolved while construction moves ahead," added Li. "In pushing ahead with their Mekong dam experiment, Laos is jeopardizing the sustainability of one of the world's great river systems, and all future transboundary cooperation." An important precedent for 10 other dams As the first dam project to enter the Mekong River Commission's (MRC) formal consultation process, the Xayaburi project will set an important precedent for 10 other dams proposed for the lower mainstream of the river. "The Asia-Europe meeting brought together about 50 Asian and European leaders in Laos this week under an umbrella of "Friends for Peace, Partners for Prosperity." But few voices of concern were raised about a project set to spread instability throughout the region and undermine development goals. The international community must not remain silent on Xayaburi," added Li. WWF urges Mekong ministers to defer a decision on the dam for 10 years to ensure critical data can be gathered and a decision can be reached using sound science and analysis. WWF advises lower Mekong countries considering hydropower projects to prioritise dams on some Mekong tributaries that are easier to assess and are considered to have a much lower impact and risk. About the mighty Mekong TEDxWWF talk by WWF-Greater Mekong Interim Representative, Stuart Chapman, on hydropower development on the Mekong River.

Analysis of hydrological monitoring activity by Equitable Payment for Watershed Services (EPWS) Program in West Kalimantan PONTIANAK (18/10) - The four years analysis on water quality of Mendalam River, Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan since 2009 until 2012, done by WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program in collaboration with ICRAF, LIPI and PDAM Tirta Dharma (state tap-water company), showed a significant decrease in water turbidity and sediment concentration in Mendalam River. "This study showed a decrease in the average concentration of turbidity, from 13.2 NTU in July 2009 to 8.4 NTU (36.4%) in the measurement from June to July 2012. Trend of sediment concentration indicated a decrease approximately 41.6%, from 26.4 mg / liter (2009) to 15.4 mg / liter in 2012," said Iwan Ridwansyah, MSc, researcher from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI). "To address the quality problem of the river in West Kalimantan Province, WWF-Indonesia, CARE and IIED, supported by WWF Netherlands DGIS, started since 2006, have been working together through implementation of EPWS Program in Mendalam River, Kapuas Hulu," said M. Hermayani Putera, West Kalimantan Program Manager of WWF-Indonesia. Emanuel Haraan Ryanto, Director of PDAM Tirta Dharma Kapuas Hulu said that the study conducted in Mendalam River since 2007-2009 has informed that around 4-15 tons / year of sediment resulted from the river. At least 37 landslide areas with more than 100 meters depth occurred on the banks of the river, as well as more than 76 other landslide locations that are less than 100 meters. Forest cover in the Mendalam currently remains only about 40%. "The river supplies water for the PDAM Tirta Dharma in Putussibau. Turbidity of the water in this river is now reaching up to 16 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit), far above the minimal score for drinking water standards according to the regulation of the Indonesia Ministry of Health, which is 5 NTU. If this trend maintains, it will have an impact on improving the quality of tap water treatment, eventually processed tap water distributed by PDAM will be safe for consumption and meet the minimum standards set by the Ministry of Health. We thank you for the efforts made by the WWF to improve the environment, particularly in Mendalam sub-watershed. This will be very useful for people who use tap water," added Emanuel. During the implementation of EPWS program, restoration has been done in the area of landslides along the banks of the Mendalam River. Mapping of critical areas, planting 140,000 cultivated tree types such as cocoa, rubber (local and superior quality), and also other types of useful local plants such as belian, tengkawang and gaharu. Restoration covered 5 villages totalling approximately 212 hectares. In addition, the program also helps to improve the capacity of the community through several activities such as comparative study on rubber management to one state-owned plantation company in Indonesia (PTPN XIII) in Sintang, training for plantation (nursery to planting), training on measuring water discharge, water sampling, and measurement of the landslides volume. The program has also installed three units of automatic rain gauge and 2 units of automatic water level recorder. All activities of monitoring and assessment involved local communities in 5 villages on the banks of Mendalam River. Zainal AM, the Head Village of Nanga Sambus, said that people in Mendalam sub-watershed area have hope that the PES program can be successfully realised, which will motivate them to continue to maintaining the river quality, particularly Mendalam River, and can improve revenue of communities who lives near the river. "Let's protect together. If the people who live in the upper stream protect the area, this will yield good impact to people downstream. They will appreciate the restoration effort done by upper stream people," he added. "We welcome the cooperation of the parties in integrating the whole comprehensive aspects involving economic, environmental and social development in the development of the sub-watershed. Hopefully this can be an example for other regions, "said Drs. Suparman, Head of Kapuas Hulu Local Planning Agency. "With the decrease in water turbidity and sediment concentration, it has indicated that there is a positive impact of the activities carried out by EPWS Program in Mendalam River. To enhance the broader impacts, we recommend this work to be extended in two other rivers, the Sibau River and Kapuas River," said Hermayani. ---- end ---- For more information, please contact: WWF Indonesia Albertus Tjiu HP: 08125624019 Email: albertus@wwf.or.id   Puslit Limnologi-LIPI Iwan Ridwansyah, MSc. HP: 0816635801 Email: iwanridwansyah@gmail.com PDAM Tirta Dharma Kapuas Hulu Slamet Sugianto, Amd HP. 081257846888 Email: tirtauncakkapuas@yahoo.com Notes for Editors: Forest ecosystems provide a wide range of environmental services benefiting public. Services include the services of water, carbon, biodiversity and landscape beauty. Report of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) stated 60% of the world's ecosystem services have been degraded more rapidly than the ability to fix it. Particularly in Indonesia, with 62 watersheds covering an area of 18.5 million hectares, now are in critical condition. Conditions that cause a decrease in reserves of water resources, fluctuations in water discharge, as well as increasing the rate of sedimentation and erosion. The impact of these conditions will increase the cost of drinking water treatment and worsen the quality of water services and such a disadvantage for river transportation users. About EPWS Program In 2006, a partnership was established between the three international agencies to explore the business aspects of PWS (Payment for Watershed Services). The project is called "Equitable Payments for Watershed Services". Activities implemented through two phases. Phase I: Building the Business Case (2006 - 2009) Phase I goal is to prepare and build a real business case for buyers and sellers of PWS that are suitable for targeted project sites. This approach is essential to convince potential buyers and sellers that PWS mechanism that will be implemented is based on ecological and economical condition. At the end of Phase I, it is considered a successful business between buyers and sellers if agreement of cooperation in each location is signed. Activities in Phase I include baseline studies on: hydrology, institutions, livelihood and the business case (cost-benefit). Phase II: Implementing Equitable Payments for Watershed Services (2010 - present) Implementation phase will deal with relevant partners at the local, national and international, private sector, and government agencies. Expected result in Phase II is successful implementations of PWS mechanism in all targeted project locations, sustainable nature resource management, and improvement of community livelihoods. Activities in Phase II include restoration, Tembawang local tree enhancement and hydrology. WWF-Indonesia WWF is an independent global conservation organization, established in 1961 in Switzerland, with almost 5 million supporters and networks in more than 100 countries. WWF has been present in Indonesia since 1962 for one-horned rhinoceros project in Ujung Kulon, became a foundation in 1998 and present in more than 25 working areas in 17 provinces. WWF-Indonesia's mission is to save biodiversity and reduce the ecology impacts from human activities through: promoting strong conservation ethics, knowledge and conservation efforts in Indonesian people; facilitating multi-stakeholders efforts in biodiversity protection and ecological process at the eco-regional scale; policy advocacy, law enforcement to support conservation; and encouraging conservation for human welfare through sustainable utilization of natural resources. For further information, visit www.wwf.or.id or www.panda.org Heart of Borneo (HoB) The Heart of Borneo covers more than 22 million hectares (220,000 km2) of equatorial rainforest across the countries of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia. One of Asia's last great rainforests, it includes some of the most biologically diverse habitats on earth, and is one of only two places on earth where elephants, orangutans, rhinoceros and clouded leopards share the same territory. In the past 15 years, more than 500 new flora or fauna species have been discovered, at a rate of more than three per month. Borneo's cultural diversity is as distinct and varied as the island's animal and plant life. In Kalimantan (Indonesia) alone, 142 different languages are believed still to be in use today. Many people depend directly on the forest for edible and medicinal plants; fish; meat; construction materials and water. As the headwaters of the island's major rivers lie in Borneo's central highlands, protection is critical to ensuring reliable clean water supplies to a large number of human settlements, and the thriving industries that have developed in coastal urban centres. Heart of Borneo Declaration In February 2007, the governments of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia signed the Heart of Borneo Declaration to protect an area of more than 220,000 square kilometres in the centre of the island and bordering all three countries. Together they emphasised the fact that these tropical rainforests have strategic, global, national and local functions, not only for citizens of these three countries but for the global human race. The declaration is supported under important regional and international agreements such as Association of East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD).   For more information visit: www.panda.org/heartofborneo

Analysis of hydrological monitoring activity by Equitable Payment for Watershed Services (EPWS) Program in West Kalimantan PONTIANAK (18/10) - The four years analysis on water quality of Mendalam River, Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan since 2009 until 2012, done by WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program in collaboration with ICRAF, LIPI and PDAM Tirta Dharma (state tap-water company), showed a significant decrease in water turbidity and sediment concentration in Mendalam River. "This study showed a decrease in the average concentration of turbidity, from 13.2 NTU in July 2009 to 8.4 NTU (36.4%) in the measurement from June to July 2012. Trend of sediment concentration indicated a decrease approximately 41.6%, from 26.4 mg / liter (2009) to 15.4 mg / liter in 2012," said Iwan Ridwansyah, MSc, researcher from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI). "To address the quality problem of the river in West Kalimantan Province, WWF-Indonesia, CARE and IIED, supported by WWF Netherlands DGIS, started since 2006, have been working together through implementation of EPWS Program in Mendalam River, Kapuas Hulu," said M. Hermayani Putera, West Kalimantan Program Manager of WWF-Indonesia. Emanuel Haraan Ryanto, Director of PDAM Tirta Dharma Kapuas Hulu said that the study conducted in Mendalam River since 2007-2009 has informed that around 4-15 tons / year of sediment resulted from the river. At least 37 landslide areas with more than 100 meters depth occurred on the banks of the river, as well as more than 76 other landslide locations that are less than 100 meters. Forest cover in the Mendalam currently remains only about 40%. "The river supplies water for the PDAM Tirta Dharma in Putussibau. Turbidity of the water in this river is now reaching up to 16 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Unit), far above the minimal score for drinking water standards according to the regulation of the Indonesia Ministry of Health, which is 5 NTU. If this trend maintains, it will have an impact on improving the quality of tap water treatment, eventually processed tap water distributed by PDAM will be safe for consumption and meet the minimum standards set by the Ministry of Health. We thank you for the efforts made by the WWF to improve the environment, particularly in Mendalam sub-watershed. This will be very useful for people who use tap water," added Emanuel. During the implementation of EPWS program, restoration has been done in the area of landslides along the banks of the Mendalam River. Mapping of critical areas, planting 140,000 cultivated tree types such as cocoa, rubber (local and superior quality), and also other types of useful local plants such as belian, tengkawang and gaharu. Restoration covered 5 villages totalling approximately 212 hectares. In addition, the program also helps to improve the capacity of the community through several activities such as comparative study on rubber management to one state-owned plantation company in Indonesia (PTPN XIII) in Sintang, training for plantation (nursery to planting), training on measuring water discharge, water sampling, and measurement of the landslides volume. The program has also installed three units of automatic rain gauge and 2 units of automatic water level recorder. All activities of monitoring and assessment involved local communities in 5 villages on the banks of Mendalam River. Zainal AM, the Head Village of Nanga Sambus, said that people in Mendalam sub-watershed area have hope that the PES program can be successfully realised, which will motivate them to continue to maintaining the river quality, particularly Mendalam River, and can improve revenue of communities who lives near the river. "Let's protect together. If the people who live in the upper stream protect the area, this will yield good impact to people downstream. They will appreciate the restoration effort done by upper stream people," he added. "We welcome the cooperation of the parties in integrating the whole comprehensive aspects involving economic, environmental and social development in the development of the sub-watershed. Hopefully this can be an example for other regions, "said Drs. Suparman, Head of Kapuas Hulu Local Planning Agency. "With the decrease in water turbidity and sediment concentration, it has indicated that there is a positive impact of the activities carried out by EPWS Program in Mendalam River. To enhance the broader impacts, we recommend this work to be extended in two other rivers, the Sibau River and Kapuas River," said Hermayani. ---- end ---- For more information, please contact: WWF Indonesia Albertus Tjiu HP: 08125624019 Email: albertus@wwf.or.id   Puslit Limnologi-LIPI Iwan Ridwansyah, MSc. HP: 0816635801 Email: iwanridwansyah@gmail.com PDAM Tirta Dharma Kapuas Hulu Slamet Sugianto, Amd HP. 081257846888 Email: tirtauncakkapuas@yahoo.com Notes for Editors: Forest ecosystems provide a wide range of environmental services benefiting public. Services include the services of water, carbon, biodiversity and landscape beauty. Report of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) stated 60% of the world's ecosystem services have been degraded more rapidly than the ability to fix it. Particularly in Indonesia, with 62 watersheds covering an area of 18.5 million hectares, now are in critical condition. Conditions that cause a decrease in reserves of water resources, fluctuations in water discharge, as well as increasing the rate of sedimentation and erosion. The impact of these conditions will increase the cost of drinking water treatment and worsen the quality of water services and such a disadvantage for river transportation users. About EPWS Program In 2006, a partnership was established between the three international agencies to explore the business aspects of PWS (Payment for Watershed Services). The project is called "Equitable Payments for Watershed Services". Activities implemented through two phases. Phase I: Building the Business Case (2006 - 2009) Phase I goal is to prepare and build a real business case for buyers and sellers of PWS that are suitable for targeted project sites. This approach is essential to convince potential buyers and sellers that PWS mechanism that will be implemented is based on ecological and economical condition. At the end of Phase I, it is considered a successful business between buyers and sellers if agreement of cooperation in each location is signed. Activities in Phase I include baseline studies on: hydrology, institutions, livelihood and the business case (cost-benefit). Phase II: Implementing Equitable Payments for Watershed Services (2010 - present) Implementation phase will deal with relevant partners at the local, national and international, private sector, and government agencies. Expected result in Phase II is successful implementations of PWS mechanism in all targeted project locations, sustainable nature resource management, and improvement of community livelihoods. Activities in Phase II include restoration, Tembawang local tree enhancement and hydrology. WWF-Indonesia WWF is an independent global conservation organization, established in 1961 in Switzerland, with almost 5 million supporters and networks in more than 100 countries. WWF has been present in Indonesia since 1962 for one-horned rhinoceros project in Ujung Kulon, became a foundation in 1998 and present in more than 25 working areas in 17 provinces. WWF-Indonesia's mission is to save biodiversity and reduce the ecology impacts from human activities through: promoting strong conservation ethics, knowledge and conservation efforts in Indonesian people; facilitating multi-stakeholders efforts in biodiversity protection and ecological process at the eco-regional scale; policy advocacy, law enforcement to support conservation; and encouraging conservation for human welfare through sustainable utilization of natural resources. For further information, visit www.wwf.or.id or www.panda.org Heart of Borneo (HoB) The Heart of Borneo covers more than 22 million hectares (220,000 km2) of equatorial rainforest across the countries of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia. One of Asia's last great rainforests, it includes some of the most biologically diverse habitats on earth, and is one of only two places on earth where elephants, orangutans, rhinoceros and clouded leopards share the same territory. In the past 15 years, more than 500 new flora or fauna species have been discovered, at a rate of more than three per month. Borneo's cultural diversity is as distinct and varied as the island's animal and plant life. In Kalimantan (Indonesia) alone, 142 different languages are believed still to be in use today. Many people depend directly on the forest for edible and medicinal plants; fish; meat; construction materials and water. As the headwaters of the island's major rivers lie in Borneo's central highlands, protection is critical to ensuring reliable clean water supplies to a large number of human settlements, and the thriving industries that have developed in coastal urban centres. Heart of Borneo Declaration In February 2007, the governments of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia signed the Heart of Borneo Declaration to protect an area of more than 220,000 square kilometres in the centre of the island and bordering all three countries. Together they emphasised the fact that these tropical rainforests have strategic, global, national and local functions, not only for citizens of these three countries but for the global human race. The declaration is supported under important regional and international agreements such as Association of East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD).   For more information visit: www.panda.org/heartofborneo

Hyderabad, India  - The first week of negotiations at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Hyderabad closed with governments from developed and developing nations locked in difficult discussions on critical issues including setting clear finance targets, conserving valuable ocean areas and its relationship with the UN climate convention, the UNFCCC. 

 Summarizing the key challenges facing the CBD in the week ahead, WWF International's Coordinator for Biodiversity Policy Rolf Hogan said: "So far, the biggest hurdle we've seen emerge are differences of opinion between developed and developing nations on finance issues. Developed countries do not want to commit more money to reach resource mobilization targets, and developing countries are saying that if no money is made available, then they will 'walk away' from their Nagoya commitments." "We need countries to agree on how to increase financing for biodiversity. This means agreeing to increasing public biodiversity funding by 20% as well as increasing national budgets and developing new and additional financing mechanisms that can support the achievement of the 20 Targets of the CBD's masterplan up to 2020."

 "We also need to engage the private sector and ensure development and foreign direct investments do not destroy biodiversity." "An agreement on finance is the key to success of COP 11. The stakes are high: if counties don't find a way to move beyond the hurdles they encountered in the first week, it could derail the commitments made in Nagoya two years ago." 

 Encouraging signs
 "In spite of the challenges in some areas, WWF is encouraged to see signs of progress, and believes that success can still be attained if nations step up to match the level of ambition we saw two years ago in Nagoya." "There are also positive signs that many countries, including emerging economies, will commit to new funding, but only if other nations reciprocate."   "It is important for Parties to get things right at Hyderabad. Success here means a clear path forward to the 2020 Aichi Targets."

 Conserving ocean biodiversity 

 Negotiations on protecting important ocean areas are also facing difficulties, with a block of nations opposing the 'endorsement' of reports that identify important areas for conservation in ocean areas beyond national jurisdictions. "Over 50 percent of the world's oceans fall outside of national boundaries. WWF encourages delegates to commit to clearly identifying ocean areas of value that fall beyond national jurisdictions," said Nanie Ratsifandrihamanana, Conservation Director of WWF Madagascar. 

 "Establishing marine protected areas are part of the broader package of solutions that can help governments and businesses safeguard our oceans' enormous ecological, social, and economic benefits," she added. 

Climate and REDD+

 Negotiations on REDD+ are becoming root bound with some countries pushing to maintain a clear separation between the CBD and UNFCCC. Meanwhile, other countries are fighting to avoid any additional burden for monitoring and reporting under REDD+ programmes. "Deforestation is a major cause of biodiversity loss – it is also responsible for up to a fifth of global carbon emissions. It is extremely important that all nations recognize and work to better integrate REDD+'s massive biodiversity benefits," said Rolf Hogan. 

 For further information: Chris Chaplin, WWF-International, cchaplin@wwf.sg, Hyderabad: +91 96522 36722 or Singapore: +65-9826-3802 Aarti Khosla, WWF-India, akhosla@wwfindia.net, +91 98 1119 9288

Hyderabad, India  - The first week of negotiations at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Hyderabad closed with governments from developed and developing nations locked in difficult discussions on critical issues including setting clear finance targets, conserving valuable ocean areas and its relationship with the UN climate convention, the UNFCCC. 

 Summarizing the key challenges facing the CBD in the week ahead, WWF International's Coordinator for Biodiversity Policy Rolf Hogan said: "So far, the biggest hurdle we've seen emerge are differences of opinion between developed and developing nations on finance issues. Developed countries do not want to commit more money to reach resource mobilization targets, and developing countries are saying that if no money is made available, then they will 'walk away' from their Nagoya commitments." "We need countries to agree on how to increase financing for biodiversity. This means agreeing to increasing public biodiversity funding by 20% as well as increasing national budgets and developing new and additional financing mechanisms that can support the achievement of the 20 Targets of the CBD's masterplan up to 2020."

 "We also need to engage the private sector and ensure development and foreign direct investments do not destroy biodiversity." "An agreement on finance is the key to success of COP 11. The stakes are high: if counties don't find a way to move beyond the hurdles they encountered in the first week, it could derail the commitments made in Nagoya two years ago." 

 Encouraging signs
 "In spite of the challenges in some areas, WWF is encouraged to see signs of progress, and believes that success can still be attained if nations step up to match the level of ambition we saw two years ago in Nagoya." "There are also positive signs that many countries, including emerging economies, will commit to new funding, but only if other nations reciprocate."   "It is important for Parties to get things right at Hyderabad. Success here means a clear path forward to the 2020 Aichi Targets."

 Conserving ocean biodiversity 

 Negotiations on protecting important ocean areas are also facing difficulties, with a block of nations opposing the 'endorsement' of reports that identify important areas for conservation in ocean areas beyond national jurisdictions. "Over 50 percent of the world's oceans fall outside of national boundaries. WWF encourages delegates to commit to clearly identifying ocean areas of value that fall beyond national jurisdictions," said Nanie Ratsifandrihamanana, Conservation Director of WWF Madagascar. 

 "Establishing marine protected areas are part of the broader package of solutions that can help governments and businesses safeguard our oceans' enormous ecological, social, and economic benefits," she added. 

Climate and REDD+

 Negotiations on REDD+ are becoming root bound with some countries pushing to maintain a clear separation between the CBD and UNFCCC. Meanwhile, other countries are fighting to avoid any additional burden for monitoring and reporting under REDD+ programmes. "Deforestation is a major cause of biodiversity loss – it is also responsible for up to a fifth of global carbon emissions. It is extremely important that all nations recognize and work to better integrate REDD+'s massive biodiversity benefits," said Rolf Hogan. 

 For further information: Chris Chaplin, WWF-International, cchaplin@wwf.sg, Hyderabad: +91 96522 36722 or Singapore: +65-9826-3802 Aarti Khosla, WWF-India, akhosla@wwfindia.net, +91 98 1119 9288

Gland, Switzerland — More than 3 million hectares of newly designated Ramsar sites in the Republic of Congo will provide vital habitat to endangered species and support the livelihoods of surrounding communities. Congo now counts 10 Wetlands of International Importance, totalling 11.7 million hectares.  Anada Tiega, Secretary General of the International Convention on Wetlands, congratulated the Republic of Congo for this major conservation milestone achieved with WWF's support. Tiega said these new designations come at an opportune time, as nations meet in Hyderabad, India, to shore up commitments to protecting biological diversity. "During the last meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the 193 member nations set a target to protect at least 17 per cent of their terrestrial and inland water ecosystems by 2020. This move by the Republic of Congo demonstrates how protecting wetlands through Ramsar can help countries meet their commitments," said Tiega. The new sites harbour a wealth of plant and animal species, including several IUCN Red-Listed species such as hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), African elephant (Loxodonta africana), western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes). They are also home to hundreds of fish species, which are both a source of nutrition and income for surrounding communities. The marshes, ponds, lakes and flooded forests are part of the migration path of more than 200 species of bird. The sites are: •Odzala Kokoua: 1,300,000ha, West Basin Division •Ntokou Pikounda: 427,200ha, Sangha Basin Division •Vallée du Niari: 1,581,000ha, South of the Republic of Congo Protecting habitat for charismatic species could enhance tourism opportunities in the Republic of Congo, with potential economic, environmental and social benefits. Sustainable tourism practiced in and around wetlands can contribute to poverty alleviation through the improvement of livelihoods, regional and national economies and support to local cultures. For further information: Gretchen Lyons, Conservation Communications Manager, glyons@wwfint.org +41 79 916 0136 About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. panda.org/news for latest news and media resources About Ramsar The Convention on Wetlands – called the "Ramsar Convention" – is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories. Ramsar.org

Gland, Switzerland — More than 3 million hectares of newly designated Ramsar sites in the Republic of Congo will provide vital habitat to endangered species and support the livelihoods of surrounding communities. Congo now counts 10 Wetlands of International Importance, totalling 11.7 million hectares.  Anada Tiega, Secretary General of the International Convention on Wetlands, congratulated the Republic of Congo for this major conservation milestone achieved with WWF's support. Tiega said these new designations come at an opportune time, as nations meet in Hyderabad, India, to shore up commitments to protecting biological diversity. "During the last meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the 193 member nations set a target to protect at least 17 per cent of their terrestrial and inland water ecosystems by 2020. This move by the Republic of Congo demonstrates how protecting wetlands through Ramsar can help countries meet their commitments," said Tiega. The new sites harbour a wealth of plant and animal species, including several IUCN Red-Listed species such as hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), African elephant (Loxodonta africana), western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes). They are also home to hundreds of fish species, which are both a source of nutrition and income for surrounding communities. The marshes, ponds, lakes and flooded forests are part of the migration path of more than 200 species of bird. The sites are: •Odzala Kokoua: 1,300,000ha, West Basin Division •Ntokou Pikounda: 427,200ha, Sangha Basin Division •Vallée du Niari: 1,581,000ha, South of the Republic of Congo Protecting habitat for charismatic species could enhance tourism opportunities in the Republic of Congo, with potential economic, environmental and social benefits. Sustainable tourism practiced in and around wetlands can contribute to poverty alleviation through the improvement of livelihoods, regional and national economies and support to local cultures. For further information: Gretchen Lyons, Conservation Communications Manager, glyons@wwfint.org +41 79 916 0136 About WWF WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. panda.org/news for latest news and media resources About Ramsar The Convention on Wetlands – called the "Ramsar Convention" – is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories. Ramsar.org