September 29, 2004
#235
1) Hurricane Ivan Slams Alabama Wildlife
2) Senator Richard Shelby Announces Enviro. Projects
3) Birmingham Ranks 46th In Dangerous Air Report
4) Books for Baghdad Project at Jacksonville State University
5) BEN Notes: Cahaba Lilypaloosa Rescheduled, AUFA Urban Forestry Awards, AUFA Convention, Eco Fest 6, Coastal BirdFest, "Breathing Easier About the Future", LEAF's Environmental Justice Conference, Butler/Cunningham Conference "Rural Design"
Urbanization Impact for Dummies, Jefferson County Sewer Expansion Policy Hearing, CRS Lilypalooza, Moon Over Three Caves Dance, Outdoor Alabama Expo, BAS Fall Bird Count, SEC EcoFest, Shoals Smart Growth Public Forum II, Alabama Organic Vegetable Website, Correction
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Upcoming Events
October 1st - Cahaba River Society's Lilypalooza - http://www.cahabariversociety.org
October 12-15 - Alabama Urban Forestry Association (AUFA) 20th Annual Convention Events - AUFA will be holding a series of events for their statewide convention from October 12-15 to be held in Hoover, Alabama at the Hoover Country Club. Here is the lineup of events:
October 12, 11:30 - 3:30 - Tree Board & Beautification Academy "Sailing the 7 C's to Success" All tree board and city beautification board members are invited. The fee is $39. For more info call 205-226-7760.
October 13-15 - AUFA's Annual Convention "Branching Out: New Perspectives on Urban Forestry" at the Hoover Country Club. If you care about the state and future of Alabama's urban forest, this is the event to attend. For registration info go to http://www.aufa.com/conference.html
October 14th - SEC's EcoFest 6 - Please make plans to attend the Southern Environmental Centers's EcoFest 6, October 14th from 6 until 9:00 pm at the WorkPlay in Birmingham. The SEC is one of the three BEN charities. EcoFest 6 is the organzation's one big fundraiser for the year. Tickets are $50. For ticket info go to http://www.bsc.edu/sec/news/default.html or call 205-226-4934.
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1. Hurricane Ivan Slams Alabama Wildlife - Hurricane Ivan's impact on Alabama's wildlife and habitat, especially for endangered and threatened species has been devastating according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Here are excerpts from a Fish and Wildlife press release describing the damage the hurricane caused to the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and wildlife.
"The worst damage from Hurricane Ivan has occurred in Alabama to Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge located west of Gulf Shores, Alabama along the Fort Morgan Peninsula. The refuge is home to the endangered Alabama beach mouse, which depends on sand dunes along the beach for survival. Major primary dunes at Bon Secour were almost completely destroyed and tons of debris have washed up on the refuge, turning this once pristine area into a landfill. There are propane tanks, jet skis, fishing and other boats, parts of buildings such as walls and roofs, downed trees and many other types of debris inundating the area."
On the wildlife impacts...
"Wildlife impacts are expected to include loss of Alabama, Perdido Key and Choctawhatchee beach mice populations (all endangered species) due to severe impacts to primary dune habitat."
"Sea turtle nests are most likely destroyed or buried due to beach erosion, inundation or deposition of additional sand over the nests."
"Additional impacts will undoubtedly be experienced by other species, such as birds and small mammals from habitat loss from trees and other vegetation damaged from the high winds or erosion on riverbanks and streams. Aquatic species will also be adversely impacted by additional sediment, effluents and contaminants washed into streams, lakes and into the ocean."
To read the entire press release go to http://southeast.fws.gov/news/2004/r04-084.html
2. Senator Richard Shelby Announces Enviro. Projects - Senator Richard Shelby, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, announced last week the approval of several environmental funding requests for Alabama included in the Fiscal Year 2005 Interior Appropriations Bill. The following are the Alabama environmental projects listed in the legislation.
$750,000 - Alabama National Forests - This funding will assist in the purchase of land from willing sellers within the boundaries of Alabama's National Forests.
$1.5 Million - Mobile Tensaw Delta - This bill provides monies for acquisition of a proposed total of 10,000 acres of pristine forest lands in Mobile Tensaw River Delta. This will complement 54,000 acres that have already been secured in the area.
$550,000 - Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge - These funds will allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire approximately 760 acres within the refuge.
$1.4 million - Cumberland Mountains - This project is an integral part of a comprehensive interstate approach to the conservation and management of a landscape-scale Cumberland forest ecosystem. The funds will be used to protect over 27,000 in Jackson and Madison counties.
For more information about these ecologically important projects, contact Virginia Davis at 202-224-6518.
3. Birmingham Ranks 46th On Dangerous Air Report - A new report released by Environmental Defense ranks the top 50 U.S. cities where air pollution impacts the greatest number of children. Birmingham, Alabama ranked 46th in the "Dangerous Days of Summer" report.
According to the report, percentage of summer days dangerous for kids with asthma in the Birmingham area is 13%. In comparison, Los Angeles, which ranked 1st in the report, places at risk children with asthma for nearly half the days of summer.
For the complete ranking and a copy of the report, visit http://www.dangerousdays.org
4. Books for Baghdad Project at Jacksonville State University - Here is a great recycling/reuse project from Alabama. A faculty member at Jacksonville State University (JSU) and alumnus of Baghdad University, Dr. Safaa Al-Hamdani has founded the 'Books for Baghdad" project. Supported by JSU, the primary purpose of the "Books for Baghdad" project is to gather textbooks (new and used) for use in the academic renewal of the Iraqi capital's university. The group is also seeking medical school equipment and scientific and graphing calculators.
All scientific, technical and medical courses at the University, as well as certain courses in other areas are taught in English, so texts that are used in the U.S. can also be used in Baghdad. According to the group's website, the faculty and students of Baghdad University have not had access to new texts since before 1990, so the need for books is massive and urgent.
If you are interested in sending books, calculators and medical school supplies to this much needed project visit the group's website to access the listing of needed items. Please visit http://www.jsu.edu/booksforbaghdad/. You can also make a monetary donation through the JSU Foundation, 700 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville, Al. 36265.
5. BEN Notes: Cahaba Lilypaloosa Rescheduled, AUFA Urban Forestry Awards, AUFA Convention, Eco Fest 6, Coastal BirdFest, "Breathing Easier About the Future", LEAF's Environmental Justice Conference, Butler/Cunningham Conference "Rural Design"
Cahaba Lilypaloosa Rescheduled - The Cahaba River Society's Lilypaloosa has been rescheduled for this Friday, October 1st in Birmingham at the McWane Center. Tickets are $75 and the event starts at 6:00 PM. For more info about this wonderful benefit, go to : http://www.cahabariversociety.org
AUFA Urban Forestry Awards - Know someone or group that deserves recognition in the area of urban forestry and planting trees. Go to http://www.aufa.com and download an award nomination application. The deadline for nominations is September 30th.
AUFA Convention - While you are on the AUFA website, checkout the Alabama Urban Forestry Association's 20th Annual Convention to be held on October 13-15 in Hoover, Alabama. If you care about our urban forests this meeting is filled with experts and tree planting advocates. To learn more about the convention go to http://www.aufa.com
EcoFest 6 - The Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham Southern College will be holding its 6th Annual EcoFest on Thursday, October 14th at WorkPlay in Birmingham. The SEC is one of BEN's charities. Last year, the center served more than 20,000 people at its hands on museum, and Ecoscapes located in several communities across the region. For more info about the event go to: http://www.bsc.edu/sec/news/default.html
Coastal BirdFest - Make sure to mark your calendars to attend the Alabama Coastal Birdfest, October 14-17 on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Access schedules and programs at http://www.alabamacoastalbirdfest.com
"Breathing Easier About the Future" - The Jefferson County Department of Environmental Protection will be holding an indoor air pollution workshop on October 27th, 7:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Southern Environmental Center. For more information about this event, email or call Mike Higginbotham at higginbotham@jccal.org or 205-325-8712.
LEAF's Environmental Justice Conference - The Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation will be hosting a Southeast Regional Environmental Justice Conference on October 29th in Tallahassee, Florida. Lois Gibbs, Love Canal activist and director of the Center for health, Environment and Justice will be the keynote speaker. For registration information go to http://www.leaflaw.org
Butler/Cunningham Conference "Rural Design" - The 3rd Annual Butler/Cunningham Conference will focus this year on the topic - "Rural Redesign: The Transformation of Alabama's Rural Landscape." The event is scheduled to be held November 8 & 9 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Montgomery. For registration info, go to http://www.ag.auburn.edu/BC/