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EcoFest 5 BEN Special

A generous anonymous gift has been given by a BEN reader to the Southern Environmental Center (SEC) to help provide a discount to other BEN readers interested in attending EcoFest 5. The gift enables the SEC to offer 12 tickets to EcoFest at the discounted rate of $30 instead of the $50 donation. If you would like to take advantage of this discount contact Michelle Hampton at mhampton@bsc.edu or 205-226-7740. When you call or email be sure to tell her you are a BEN reader. The discount will be given on a first come, first serve basis.

We look forward to seeing you, October 9th, 6-9 p.m. at WorkPlay in Birmingham. Remember, the SEC is one of the Bama Environmental News' (BEN) chosen charities.

1. Rep. Bachus Promotes Cahaba Wildlife Refuge Expansion Plan - Rep. Spencer Bachus and local environmental advocates are proposing an additional 26,500 acres be added to the Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge in Bibb County.

If enacted, the current Wildlife Refuge boundaries would increase from 3500 acres to 34,000 acres, making it the second largest refuge in Alabama. According to the Nature Conservancy of Alabama, the three major landowners in the expansion area are timber companies who have "conceptually" indicated they would be willing to sell the land for a fair market price. Land will only be bought from willing sellers.

The Cahaba River basin supports 69 rare and imperiled species and 131 fish species, more than any river its size in North America. It is also home to the Cahaba lily. The proposed expansion extends north, south and east from the current refuge area. Once it is completed, the refuge would run from the Bibb/Shelby county line to just north of Centreville and slightly eastward along the Little Cahaba River.

2. Nature Conservancy of Alabama and Forest Service Join Forces - Last week, The Nature Conservancy of Alabama and the USDA Forest Service signed an agreement to work together on issues that are critical to Alabama's National Forests, such as acquiring additional lands, protecting rare and significant species and ecological restoration.

The Nature Conservancy has identified all of the national forests in Alabama as eco-regional portfolio sites, meaning they are priorities for conservation and crucial to protecting the state's biodiversity. The master agreement will cover work done in the forests and on approximately 2,000 acres managed by the Conservancy at 15 sites throughout Alabama. Some of the ongoing efforts that will be conducted by the two groups include expanding the use and understanding of prescribed fire, combating invasive, non-native species and reestablishing native species, increasing public support for biodiversity and restoration of the longleaf pine ecosystem.

For additional information about this important new partnership contact, Keith Tassin, the Nature Conservancy at 205-251-1155 ext. 104.

3. American Forests Study: City of Montgomery Urban Forests Worth Millions - According to an analysis conducted by AMERICAN FORESTS, trees within the city of Montgomery provide an estimated $548,450,836 per year in benefits and services.

Many of the values used in the analysis include air pollution removal, stormwater runoff prevention and control and water quantity (recharge). The analysis also combined landcover data, as well as data about soils, precipitation and elevation. By processing the data in established models developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers, AMERCAN FORESTS can estimate the dollar value of the trees in any area of the United States.

In a related story, AMERICAN FORESTS also reported that U.S. cities have lost more than 20% of their trees in the past 10 years, due primarily to urban sprawl and highway construction.

4. Coastal Cleanup Volunteer Numbers Up - According to the Mobile Register, this year's annual coastal cleanup volunteer participation increased by an estimated 1,300 people.

The numbers are quite impressive. An estimated 4,500 volunteers at 24 sites in Mobile, Baldwin and Escambia counties collected between 90,000 to 95,000 pounds of trash along about 300 miles of Alabama coastline and waterways.

5. BEN Notes - B"Getting Back to Nature", Upper Cahaba Watershed Study Public Involvement, Auntie Litter's Ozone Prevention Musical, Weeks Bay Reserve's 10th Annual Native Plant Sale, Chief Ladiga Benefit, Butler/Cunningham Conference.

"Getting Back to Nature" - TThe Alabama Urban Forestry Association (AUFA) will be holding their 19th Annual Convention "Getting Back to Nature" on November 5-7 in Prattville at the Legends at Capital Hill. Doug Phillips, host of Discovering Alabama and Fred Spicer, director of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens are two of the event's keynote speakers. For information about this exciting conference and how to register, visit the AUFA website at http://www.aufa.com.

Upper Cahaba Watershed Study Public Involvement - f you care about the future of the Cahaba River, the Upper Cahaba Watershed Consortium is inviting the public to attend the 3rd public meeting for the Upper Cahaba Watershed Study on Thursday, October 23rd from 6:00 to 8:30 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The Upper Cahaba Watershed Study is a unique planning process engaging local and regional ideas associated with land use and watershed protection. For more information about the project and meeting, contact Tom Maxwell at 205-251-8139 or visit their website at http://www.cahabastudy.com.

Auntie Litter's Ozone Prevention Musical - Auntie Litter, Inc., a member of the Alabama Partners for Clean Air, has created and produced an original musical play to educate children about the harmful effects of ground level ozone. "Life is a breath of Fresh Air" will be seen by more than 25,000 children by the end of October. For information about future performances contact Ashleigh Henry at 205-879-3009 or visit the Auntie Litter website at http://www.AuntieLitter.org.

Weeks Bay Reserve's 10th Annual Native Plant Sale - Here is a great way to support the Weeks Bay Reserve. On October 10-12 at Safe Harbor RV Park Across Hwy 98 from the Reserve Interpretive Center, the Weeks Bay Native Plant Sale will be held. For information about this great fundraiser call 251-626-6816.

Chief Ladiga Benefit - Come support the Chief Ladiga Trail in East Alabama, by attending a benefit concert featuring Laurence Juber, former lead guitarist with Paul McCartney, Saturday, October 11th at 7:00 p.m. in Anniston at the Alabama Show Palace Banquet Room. Tickets are $15. For more information about this special event, contact the Pete Conroy at 256-782-5681.

Butler/Cunningham Conference - TThe 2nd Annual Butler/Cunningham Conference on Agriculture and the Environment will be held November 3-4 at the Embassy Suites in Montgomery, Alabama. Subjects include, rural land use and preservation, economic issues facing rural Alabama and land use opportunities. To learn more this conference and to register online visit http://www.ag.auburn.edu/BC.