Bulgarian environmental authorities have submitted bills for proposed amendments to the Protected Areas Act and the Biodiversity Act. They would allow construction, privatisation and exclusion of territories from protected areas in the country. Furthermore they provide for exclusion of the public consultation and participation in the process of Natura 2000 establishment and amendment as well as for a considerable limitation of the scope of the national Natura 2000. With the proposed provision the Bulgarian Ministry of the Environment and Water would abdicate from the management of the 5 % of the country area covered by protected areas, and would make the Construction Mministry the leading authority in protected areas.
As an accession country to the EU Bulgaria has committed to transpose EU legislation and adopt EU biodiversity conservation priorities. Bulgaria is also a full member of the Bern Convention which has similar implications as the EU Directives. Being a party of the Convention of the Biological Diversity, and signing the Kiev Declaration of Environmental Ministers the country has also committed to join the global efforts to reduce the loss of biodiversity by 2010. Now that the country has already agreed a secure date for signing the accession agreement with the European Union, the Bulgarian authorities have taken a step backwards in terms of transposition of EU nature conservation commitments. The implications of two bills will in fact increase the loss of biodiversity in two ways: not providing the protection which Natura 2000 and Emerald would provide to 20-60% more of potential sites and by loss of value in protected areas, which the authorities have committed to include in the potential Natura 2000 and Emerald list before their official designation.
The basic principle of democracy, public participation in the decision making on environmental issues required by the Arhus Convention, will be violated if the two bills are adopted. The Convention will be in the near future adopted fully by the EU and again the direction of the planned amendments in the law has contradictory implication to the EU legislation.
Bulgaria is one of the richest countries in Europe with regard to its biological diversity. The recognition of this fact on a national level is still not satisfactory, though. With parliamentary elections coming in less than 6 months time the government has succumbed to interests of big business for large scale construction and expansion of unsustainable tourism business in the most valuable nature areas of the country, violating the very principles of nature protection, and risking to significantly damage the values of wilderness which in fact attract the growing numbers of tourists in the country. Therefore not only the natural heritage is under threat but the very resource for the tourist sector, whose share in the national economy is getting more and more important.
If the amendments come into force Bulgarian protected areas and biodiversity will be put under the following threats:
- Exclusion of territories from three categories of protected areas with decision taken only by the Minister of the Environment and without any opportunities for public consultation. Most affected will be Nature Parks as they cover almost half of the total area of all protected areas in Bulgaria.
The irrevocable canceling of the consultation process from the designation and amendment of Natura 2000 sites contradicts to the context and the provisions of the Arhus Convention and to the recognized good practice of the European Commission which seeks to enhance the transparency of its activities related to the implementation of its policies in all fields. This is also a serious retreat from the good democratic practices of access to information and public participation in discussions on environmental issues established in the last years.
- Serious limitation of the scope of Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
- Legalisation of illegal constructions, which have already been made in protected areas, either because of directly violating the conservation legislation or finding loopholes in it.
- Opportunities for privatisation of forests and lands, thus fragmentation of property, increasing the numbers of owners and reducing the opportunities for actual management of protected areas
- Allowing “refurbishment” and “reconstruction” as well as “investigation and restoration of cultural monuments” in strict and managed reserves will allow encroachment and disruption of nature in territories where only very limited activities are allowed by the current legislation
- Quick building up with hotels and sport facilities in the most appealing lands in the country. Most threatened are protected areas along thе Black Sea coast – Zlatni Pyasatsi Nature Park, Kamchiiski Pyasatsi protected landscape, Strandzha Nature Park, protected dune complexes, Vitosha Nature Park, protected landscapes in the Rhodope Mountain.
- Construction of more than 1000 small hydropower plants throughout the country including inside the protected areas and a number of other potential Natura 2000 sites, thus affecting more than 90% of the national coverage/population of protected habitats and species, such as riparian woods, wet grasslands, freshwater habitats, otter etc.
- Cutting of about 50% of the remaining old growth forests, protected according to the Bern Convention and Habitats Directive, such as old growth beech forests.
- The territories which are not recognised so far as protected but should be part of NATURA 2000 will loose big part of their nature before their official designation.
The first hearing of the proposal in parliament could be organized in the coming month. Therefore urgent support form the international conservation community will be crucial at this stage.
For more information:
Vesselina Kavrakova
kavrakova@internet-bg.net
WWF International – Danube-Carpathian Programme
Bulgarian Country Office
67/3/3 Tcanko Tcerkovski Str.
1421 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel./Fax: ++359 2964 05 45
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Despite numerous protests of scientists, NGOs, and local communities, the Voivode of Podlasie (provincial governour in north-eastern Poland) and the General Directorate of the State Roads and Highways (GDDKiA) have not changed their decision to build the by-pass road of Augustów through the middle of the most valuable fens in the Rospuda river valley (cf. the IMCG resolution adopted in South Africa 2004). Because of the pressure of people living in Augustów, who did not wish to wait longer for the by-pass road, the local authorities strive to start building the road this year. Some preparatory works have already been launched.
However, the Rospuda valley defenders have not given up. It seems that an inventory of threatened plants, which is planned to be carried out this summer, can help to change the authorities’ decision. The inventory has been demanded by the Nature Conservation Authority of the Podlasie Voivodeship. Its results have to be part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the Augustów by-pass road. Moreover, on the basis of the results of the inventory the conservationists are planning to create a protection zone for Herminium monorchis. According to the recently approved Nature Protection Law, a protection zone for this species should comprise “the whole peatland, where the species occurs.”
However, according to the Polish law, there is also a possibility to make a “nature compensation” for the valuable wildlife areas that suffer from the development of infrastructure. The legacy is very popular among the Voivodeship authorities. The question is now: How will the results of the inventory be interpreted officially...?
Ewa Jablonska
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On 16 November 2004, the Latvian Peat Producers Association awarded the KRASS certificate to one of its members, SIA “Laflora,” the largest peat cutting company in Latvia. This document confirms the high quality of the peat of the company and the “environmentally friendly use of its peatlands.”
Opinions on that may differ; we prefer that evironmentally friendly use of peatlands does not result in pictures like this:
Source: http://www.ltn.lv/~laflora/
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Switzerland has designated three valuable as well as very scenic Wetlands of International Importance as part of its celebration of World Wetlands Day, 2 February. Switzerland now has eleven Ramsar sites totaling 8,676 hectares. “Laubersmad-Salwidili” (1,376 ha) is a subalpine area of transitional and raised bogs on the northern slopes of the Alps, in the north-central canton of Lucerne, and is part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve “Entlebuch.” The “Marge proglaciaire du Glacier du Rhône” consists of the alpine region around the tongue of the Rhône glacier, the source of the Rhône River, and “Vadret da Roseg” includes the alpine alluvial zone at the outflow of two glaciers in the far east of the country.
The site description of the “Laubersmad-Salwidili” (1,376 ha; 46°58'N 007° 59'E) site follows: Biosphere Reserve, Biogenetic Reserve. Several types of mountain swamps with fens, transitional mires, and raised bogs of national importance. Located between 1,060 and 1,900 meters asl, forming a mosaic with wet spruce forests and meadows. It supports rare animal and plant species dependent on these ecosystems and plays an important role in water retention. The presence of the Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus), the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), the Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) and the Lynx (Lynx lynx) is noted on site. A management plan is implemented and work on raised bogs regeneration has been undertaken in 2004. Human activities include pasturage and silviculture, as well as cross-country skiing, hiking, mushroom and berry picking. Ramsar site no. 1444.
In the UK, the golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria), a bird associated with peatland sites, is breeding significantly earlier than it did 20 years ago. The main prey of the chicks, the daddy-long-legs spider (Pholcus phalangioides), does not adapt at the same rate, which could threaten the bird’s existence. It is thought that the warmer springs of recent years have prompted the change, and that other species could be affected. The earliest hatching plover chicks, which normally have the best chance of survival, could in future struggle to find food, reducing their overall breeding success and threatening the population size. The golden plover has been protected by EU law since 1979. There are an estimated 1400 pairs nesting in the North Pennines, making it one of England’s most important areas for the species.
Source: Hexham Courant
730 tonnes of cut heather and 40 tonnes of geotextile – a degradable matting used to stabilise bare slopes – will be airlifted on to moorland restoration sites in Bleaklow, Kinder and Arnfield. The cut heather is normally spread by hand, but a specially designed helicopter spreader will be used on Arnfield Moor, near Hadfield.
Helicopters will transport the heather from flourishing areas of the Peak District to the degraded peatland areas in other parts of the park. As well as restoring peatlands, this will benefit wildlife living in the area, and help maintain drinking water quality in local reservoirs. The restoration work is expected to take a few weeks. It is part of the £4.7m Moors for the Future project which involves large-scale renovation work in the area.
The restoration work being carried out by The Moors for the Future Partnership aims to reverse erosion and regenerate vegetation. This should bring about long-term improvement in the blanket bog peatlands.
Source: Manchester
A multi million pound plan has been proposed to transform Yorkshire peatlands into a nature reserve. The Humberhead Levels stretch from Selby in North Yorkshire to Retford in Nottinghamshire, covering Thorne, Crowle and Goole Moors, as well as Hatfield Moors near Doncaster, which was for years at the centre of a battle over peat extraction.
It is an area of historical, archaeological and conservation value, encompassing the UK’s largest lowland raised bogs, and cultural heritage sites including the birthplace of Methodism and valuable Bronze Age and Viking sites.
The landscapes and their biodiversity, archaeological, historic, and environmental features will receive major investment and management.
Source: Yorkshire Post Today
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The European Pond Conservation Network was established in Geneva on 30 October 2004, during the 1st European Pond Workshop which was coorganised by the University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland (EIL), the University of Geneva (LEBA), the University of Toulouse III, and the Ponds Conservation Trust.
Ponds are an essential freshwater habitat for plants and animals. They play a central role in maintaining high regional biodiversity. In addition, ponds have many other functions relating to education, recreation, economy, hydrology, culture and aesthetics. Despite their importance, relatively little resources are invested in pond conservation in Europe. Furthermore, the scientific basis for the management and conservation of ponds is currently poor compared to the information available for other freshwater habitats.
These facts motivated the launching of the EPCN with the following mission: “Promoting awareness, understanding and conservation of ponds in a changing European landscape.”
Five main objectives, including scientific, political and practical aims have been set out:
- To exchange information on pond ecology and conservation between researchers, managers, and practitioners.
- To promote understanding of pond ecology by encouraging the development and coordination of fundamental and applied research.
- To raise the profile of ponds and guide national and supra-national policies for their protection.
- To promote effective practical pond conservation.
- To disseminate information on the importance, attractiveness, and conservation of ponds to the people.
Future activities include joint research programmes, joint management of the knowledge, joint training, staff exchange, dissemination and communication. Workshops will also be regularly organised to bring all participants together; the 2nd Workshop is already planned and will be held in Toulouse (France), 23 - 25 February 2006.
The network already unites about 50 participants from many countries such as Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
Website & Contact: http://campus.hesge.ch/epcn/welcome.html
NorBaltWet – that is the suggested abbreviation for the new regional initiative within the Ramsar. The proposal was made by Norway in line of Resolution VIII.30 on regional cooperation. Following the experience of MedWet, which joins efforts of the Mediterranean countries, Norway had suggested Nordic Countries, Baltic Countries, and Russia to focus on wetland conservation problems together as many problems are specific to the region. Ramsar authorities supported the idea and discussed it during a number of meetings.
At a meeting in May 2004 with scientists and NGOs present, the general problems and possible focal areas were discussed. During the European regional Ramsar meeting in Armenia in December 2004 the group discussed political and organisational aspects. In March 2005, the discussion had nearly reached a final decision as formulated in a Memorandum. The text has not been finalized yet, but it contains a description of priority areas and possible means and approaches, initial steps and management, and governance aspects.
Among the priorities the implementation of the Global Guidlines on Peatlands was listed, including a report on peatland conservation activity in the countries covered in the regional initiative (volunteered to be prepared by IMCG, guaranteed by Tatiana!). Among the first steps a training focusing among others on peatland restoration and management is planned in Sweden next spring. It was suggested to use the IMCG congress in Finland to promote cooperation within the regional initiative.
We will keep you informed on the development.
Climate change is happening. Over the past century the average temperature has risen by more than 0.6° Celsius globally and by almost 1°C in Europe. An overwhelming majority of the world’s climate experts believe most of the warming is caused by human activities which emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Green Week 2005 will look at all aspects of climate change and in particular at the human factor. Our way of life, production, consumption and transport need to change if we want to halt global warming.
Green Week encourages everyone to “think aloud” about how we can all change our environmental behaviour. It is aimed at local, regional and national decision-makers, businesses, non-governmental organisations and the general public. EU DG Environment will bring stakeholders and experts together to provide the Commission with the knowledge and views to help us further develop effective climate change policies.
In addition to a programme of conferences Green Week also has an exhibition with stands featuring best practices, projects and partnerships.
This year the intention is to make Green Week a carbon-neutral event, meaning that the activities associated with it will not contribute to climate change. As in previous years, efforts to minimise Green Week’s other environmental impacts will continue.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/greenweek
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From 6 to 17 December, representatives of some 200 countries got together in Argntina for the tenth meeting of the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The meeting made only modest steps towards cutting future greenhouse-gas emissions. Delegates from many nations complained that the United States and its allies, such as Saudi Arabia, obstructed progress.
Russia’s recent ratification of the Kyoto agreement on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions brought the protocol into force, so many delegates were keen to talk about what might happen after 2012, when Kyoto obligations expire. But the United States opposed such discussions, saying that they needed to absorb and analyse lessons learned before committing to new actions.
In future, the United States may have less influence. The 2005 conference will be split into two sections, one of which will be for Kyoto parties only: US delegates may not be able to take part in these sessions.
Saudi Arabia also caused dissent at the meeting, by asking for money from the ‘adaptation fund’ to offset the economic losses it will suffer when petroleum exports are reduced. By 2010, the country expects lost fossil-fuel exports to cost billions of dollars annually. But the adaptation fund is meant predominantly to compensate developing countries and vulnerable island nations.
The European Union and other nations renewed a pledge to deposit $420 million annually, beginning in 2005, to fund developing countries’ efforts. And, following Russia’s lead, Indonesia and Nigeria have ratified the Kyoto Protocol.
Source: Nature
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In February 2005, over 50 government representatives, NGOs, and researchers from all Andean countries (Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia) met in Salta, Argentina for the first International High Andean Wetlands symposium. This symposium was organized as one of the actions to give body to the Ramsar resolution on High Andean Wetlands (CoPVIII 39) and was organized by the interinstitutional consortium Grupo de Conservacion de Flamencos Andinos, in collaboration with the International Paramo Working Group and the Contact Group on Andean Wetlands (IUCN, Birdlife International, Wetlands International, WWF, focal points). Ramsar and some local institutions financed the meeting.
In several dozens of presentations, the present situation of the High Andean wetlands (that are mostly peatlands) was analysed, and similarities and differences were discussed among the participants. As a major result, a technical document including management guidelines was produced, that will be presented at the next CoP of Ramsar.
For more information, contact Robert Hofstede: robert@paramo.org
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To keep a green election promise to reduce pollution, the Ontario Liberals are committed to closing five coal-fired power plants, which supply 25 per cent of the province’s electricity. Ontario is committed to subsidizing alternative energy production to make up for the closing of these coal-fired power plants. Wind, solar, biomass, and other renewable energy sources are being promoted to help solve the energy crisis. Until now, peat fuel is not one of the green alternatives mentioned. The Canadian lobby for the use of peat as a green and renewable alternative to fossil fuels continues, however, stating that “sustainable development of this important natural resource could establish a thriving industry and provide thousands of jobs in the northwestern Ontario economy,” and that “converting Ontario’s coal-powered plants to peat would save the taxpayers billions of dollars, ensure energy security for the economic engine of the country, reduce pollution, and provide much needed employment in northern Ontario.” They are even resorting to such perverse reasonings that bogs produce large amounts of methane, “a gas that has 21 times the negative greenhouse impact of carbon dioxide,” suggesting that cutting the bogs up and setting free the stored carbon is not such a bad idea after all.
The immense boreal bogs of northwestern Ontario contain approximately 7 billion tonnes of peat. Coal-fired power plants at Thunder Bay and Atikokan, scheduled to close by 2007, are relatively close to the peat deposits. Both of these power plants import 1.4 million tonnes of coal annually.
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The White House budget proposal for 2006 is counting on income from opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil drilling. The White House is projecting that the federal government will take in up to $1.2 billion over the next two years from oil companies paying for the right to lease oil drilling permits within ANWR.
Such revenues have been part of each previous Bush administration budget proposal, but were blocked by Democrats in Congress. This year, Senate Republicans may have enough votes to override.
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) argues that oil from the Arctic Refuge will not mean lower gas or heating-oil prices, and doesn’t promise any relief from dependence on foreign oil. NRDC concludes that increased energy efficiency is cheaper, faster and cleaner than drilling the Arctic.
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Hundreds of firemen are fighting peatland fires in Selangor, Pahang and also Riau in Sumatra. Near Kuala Selangor, 150 firemen have been fighting a major peatland fire at the Raja Musa Forest Reserve. Another fire is burning adjacent to the KLIA in Sepang. Drainage of peatlands is the root cause of many of the current forest and ground fires and they could have been prevented by better water management.
Since January 2005, Indonesia has been facing a drought linked to a regional El Nino event. The drought, combined with the over-drainage of peatlands creates a situation conducive for peatland fires. The majority of forest fires in Malaysia over the past 10 years have been in peatland areas and most of these fires were located in areas in which the peat had been drained for agriculture or forestry purposes.
The Raja Musa Forest Reserve has been experiencing regular fires over the last ten years. The most recent large scale fire was in August 2004 near Ladang Hopeful. In February-March 2002, a major blaze burnt for more than three weeks and destroyed parts of the forest reserve as well as an oil palm estate owned by Selangor state Agriculture Development Corporation (PKPS). PKPS abandoned the plantation but immediately blocked all the drains on its land and this has prevented fires on its land for the past 3 years – although fires burnt on adjacent land in subsequent years. Other landowners have not followed suit and the current fires are linked to large drains constructed for earlier logging operations and agriculture.
In nearby Sumatra Island, approximately 10,000ha of peatland have already been destroyed in Riau province by the fires in the past week. Not only are the fires a major threat to peatlands in the Riau province, if the wind direction changes, the smoke will also blow towards Singapore and Peninsula Malaysia.
Active measures must be taken to prevent these fires before they cause major socio-economic, ecological, and economic damage. Special guidelines for development of peatlands need to be developed that take into consideration the complexity and sensitivity of their nature. Where peat swamp forests are concerned, the existing outflow of water from ex-logging canals should be blocked to prevent drying up of peat in the reserves. Water levels in adjacent agricultural land should also be strictly regulated. Steps should also be taken by the district authorities and forest department to prevent inappropriate activities in the forest reserves and adjacent lands.
Furthermore, regular monitoring of water levels should be implemented for early warning signs of fire danger and burnt sites should be rehabilitated to prevent recurrence of fire incidents.
According to the Singapore Meteorological Service, as a result of the current mild El-Nino fires can be expected in Sumatra, Borneo and Peninsula Malaysia during February to March as well as May to October.
ASEAN governments have so far responded to the threat of peatland fires by establishing the ASEAN Peatland Management Initiative (APMI) in February 2003. The APMI aims at promoting the sustainable management of peat to reduce the risk of peat fire. An ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (APMS) is currently being prepared to guide country actions in the period 2006-2020. Malaysia is planning to host the 2nd Regional Meeting on the APMI 18-20th April to review and finalise the APMS.
Faizal Parish, Global Environment Centre
fparish@genet.po.my
Eight environmentally sensitive areas including forests located 1,000m above sea level have been identified as crucial areas for protection under the National Physical Plan.
The areas are the peat swamps in Kuala Selangor and Kuala Langat in Selangor, several islands off Klang, parts of the Matang Forest Reserve in Perak, Templer Park in Selangor, Ulu Muda Forest Reserve in Kedah, South-east Pahang Peat Swamp Forest and Tasik Chini in Pahang.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting announced that a nationwide plan to protect and preserve the country’s mangroves and wetlands had been drafted and would be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.
Under the plan, development in areas gazetted as protected mangrove and wetlands is banned.
Source: The Star Online
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The recent IMCG Congress had numerous positive spin-offs. These include raised awareness amongst the wetland community in South Africa on the importance of wetlands and peatlands. Some others are:
- A hive of activity in terms of international mire and peatland research in southern Africa covering aspects such as the geneses of South African mires, global climatic change, and the impact on conservation and management, and restoration. The encouraging aspect of this interest is that it involves universities from Europe and Canada working together with their counterparts in southern Africa.
- The raised level of awareness has resulted in the distribution of peatland eco regions in South Africa being identified as an important criterion to prioritise catchments in this country for wetland restoration.
- The peat industry realising the critical nature of South African mires are supporting the formation of a self regulating forum with the peat users, promoting wise use of the resource in supporting the use of alternatives and investing in the research to investigate biomass harvesting in reed/sedge mires rather than peat mining.
Some significant changes are taking place at present with respect to the mining of peat. South Africa is in the process of amending its National Environmental Management Act. The mining of peat is a listed activity in terms of the new amendments. The commisioning of an Environmental Impact assessment will thus be compulsory with any application to mine peat. The new regulations will come into effect in 2005.
The North West Province, the only province in South Africa, where peat is being mined at present is following in the footsteps of the Gauteng Province and is developing a peatland policy. The same process has lead to a no peat mining policy in Gauteng. The province of Mpumalanga (another region where major peatlands occur in our country) are at present also drafting peatland related legislation that discourages peat mining and promotes peatland conservation.
The peat industry has in the mean time reported a decline of more than 40% in output from local mines. This could be ascribed to the closure of 2 peat mines in Gauteng, the use of bark products as alternatives, and the import of foreign peat (mainly via Germany) into our coastal provinces due to high internal transport costs.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation is at present filming a programme on peat use in South African. “Nurse” Rehana Dada, for those of you who were on the southern African IMCG Congres in 2004, is the producer. In the filming of the programme a new mire was discovered in the Kgwasane Mountain Nature Reserve. This pristine mire of about a 100ha has got a peat layer in excess of 2 m and is classified as valley bottom reed/sedge fen. This is a major discovery for us in a semi arid South Africa where mires are not that common. The other bonus is that the wetland is within a proclaimed nature reserve and that the provincial authority is busy with an application to designate it as a Ramsar site. South Africa’s wetland restoration programme is also involved in this reserve rehabilitation of an other wetland in the catchment of this mire.
The next COP will be held in November 2005 in Uganda. The Coordinating Committee for Global Action Peatlands has requested the IMCG to support the organisation of a side event to raise peatland and mire awareness. Anyone interested to support and have some could ideas could please contact Piet-Louis.
Hamba Kahle from Afrika (Go well!)
For more on South African wetlands, contact Piet-Louis Grundling: peatland@mweb.co.za
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Floating Island International is sponsoring a worldwide photo contest! You are invited to submit a series of four to eight photographs showing the growth progression of any floating island—natural or manufactured—in any setting. Judging will be based on how well the photographs illustrate the development of the island’s aesthetics and its contribution to the biodiversity of the immediate environment.
http://floatingislandinternational.com/contest.htm
Lord, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, Courage to change the things we can, and the Wisdom to know the difference...
Traudl Sliva has left us on 6. March 2005.
Our hearts are with Jan and his family.