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How to enhance global biodiversity targets’ achievement – SBI

Sustainable Devpt

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May 8, 2016

How to enhance global biodiversity targets’ achievement – SBI

The first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 1) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) came to a close on 6 May 2016 in Montreal, Canada.

Delegates from around the world advanced attention on national action by recommending tools and approaches for implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and a more effective operation of the decision-making bodies of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI) was established by the Conference of the Parties, at its twelfth meeting (COP 12). It replaces the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention and also provides guidance on the implementation on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation.

Recommendations from SBI 1 will be considered by the Parties to the Convention and its Protocols at all the meetings of the Conference of the Parties and meetings of the Parties to the two Protocols scheduled to take place in Cancun, Mexico from 4 to 17 December 2016. The main issues considered at SBI 1 included:

Mainstreaming: SBI 1 recommended strategic actions on mainstreaming biodiversity within and across sectors with a particular focus on agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, and tourism. There were also recommendations on mainstreaming measures which cut across all sectors, such as the use of economic valuation tools, and environmental assessments which evaluate potential impacts on biodiversity as well as ecosystem services.

Parties recognised the close linkages between the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and urged governments to ensure that biodiversity is included in the implementation of all relevant sustainable development goals. There were also provisions on the role of business and of subnational and local governments for the achievement of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, as well as the role of gender.

Capacity building and technical and scientific cooperation: Parties recommended a more integrated and coherent approach to capacity-building and technical and scientific cooperation in supporting the implementation of the Convention and its Protocols as well as with the other relevant biodiversity-related multilateral environmental agreements. They set up a process to further develop and finalise the web strategy and the action plan with regards to capacity-building.

They recommended that the Secretariat would further streamline and focus the draft short-term action plan on capacity-building in time for consideration by the Parties at COP 13 and commission by 2020 an independent evaluation of the impacts, outcomes and effectiveness of the action plan. They also agreed to further develop the clearing-house mechanism all at the central and national levels and to align the web strategy for the Convention and its Protocols with the communication strategy to be prepared for COP 13.

Review of Progress on the Strategic Plan: Parties reviewed progress towards the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, a globally agreed plan for halting biodiversity loss through the achievement of a set of 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets at the global, regional and national levels. SBI recommended a variety of actions that could be taken by Parties, such as updating National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) as a flexible framework, considering, among others, the resources provided through the strategy for resource mobilisation; involving subnational governments, cities and other local authorities when revising their NBSAPs; undertaking activities regarding full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities; continuing work on the voluntary peer review mechanism; including targets of other relevant conventions and the Sustainable Development Goals; and providing financial support, for the development, implementation and monitoring of NBSAPs.

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: Delegates looked as the results of the third assessment and review of the effectiveness of the Protocol and the mid-term evaluation of the Strategic Plan for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety for the period 2011-2020 and made a number of recommendations to the eighth Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties (COP-MOP 8) to the Cartagena Protocol.

For the remaining period of the Strategic Plan, it was recommended to prioritise operational objectives relating to the development of biosafety legislation, risk assessment, detection and identification of living modified organisms, and public awareness, education and training. It was also recommended that in the follow-up to the current Strategic Plan, indicators should be streamlined to ensure that progress can be easily be tracked and quantified.

Nagoya Protocol: Delegates reviewed progress made towards Aichi Biodiversity Target 16 (the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation is in force and operational, consistent with national legislation). The first part of Target 16 was successfully achieved with the entry into force of the Protocol on 12 October 2014. 74 Parties to the CBD have now ratified the Protocol.

Recognising the efforts made by Parties and non-Parties in implementing the Nagoya Protocol, delegates also called for further progress to make the Nagoya Protocol operational as required by the second part of this Aichi Target, including by establishing institutional structures and legislative, administrative or policy measures; and by making all relevant information available to the Access and Benefit-sharing Clearing-House. The need for capacity-building and financial resources for this purpose was also highlighted.

Synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions: SBI looked at ways to strengthen synergies among the biodiversity-related conventions, including the CBD, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and (CITES), the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the World Heritage Convention (WHC).

Parties welcomed the outcomes of a recent workshop on synergies that brought together 32 Party representatives of these seven global biodiversity-related conventions. They agreed to refine these outcomes through further collaborative work in order to provide voluntary guidelines for actions at the national level and a road map for the period 2017-2020 for actions at the international level that could be initiated by the CBD COP at its thirteenth meeting.

Resource Mobilisation: COP 12 adopted targets for the mobilization of resources for the effective
implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, and also adopted a reporting framework for monitoring progress against these targets. SBI 1 noted the limited number of completed financial reporting frameworks received in time, and urged Parties that have not yet done so to report by 31 August 2016, in time for consideration of progress by COP 13.

SBI 1 also recommended Parties that have finalised the revision and update of their national biodiversity strategy and action plans to identify their funding needs, gaps, and priorities and to develop their national finance plans for the effective implementation of revised national biodiversity strategy and action plans, as a matter of priority.

Financial mechanism: The Global Environment Facility is the financial mechanism of the CBD. Parties took note of the progress made in GEF 7 funding-needs assessment and urged relevant Parties to respond to a questionnaire on GEF 7 funding needs in order for the expert team to finalise a report. Parties also agreed to take decisions at COP 13 on a four-year framework for programme priorities for GEF 7, and the fifth review of the effectiveness of the financial mechanism.

National reporting: The meeting recommended agreed guidelines for the sixth national reports, including a voluntary online reporting tool with the reporting templates by 31 March 2017 and for Parties to submit their sixth national report preferably by 31 December 2018. The meeting also agreed to enhance the alignment in national reporting under the Convention and its Protocols, including synchronised activities with common deadlines for submissions, formats and integration of the central clearing-house mechanism.

Integration among the Convention and its Protocols: Further integration of meetings and ways of working among Convention and its Protocols, was recommended. Parties recognized the need to better integrate cross-cutting activities, such as capacity-building and development across the CBD and its Protocols to avoid duplication and reduce costs while respecting and upholding the legal integrity of each treaty. A list of criteria that concurrent meetings should meet was recommended, including ways to ensure the full and effective participation of smaller delegations from developing country Parties, small island developing states and Parties with economies in transition.

Administration of the Convention, including the Functional Review: SBI 1 noted the functional review submitted by the Secretariat, and recommended that further work should ensure that the main functions of the Secretariat of the Convention and its Protocols remain at the core of the functional review and are reflected in the structure of the Secretariat; and improve its communications with Parties on progress and results of functional review through the Bureau.

Modus operandi of the SBI: The meeting agreed to adopt a modus operandi of the SBI, including a mechanism for the review of the implementation under the SBI and the procedures regarding the election of the Chair. Parties also welcomed the development of a decision-tracking tool.

Fedotov to Buhari: UN supports your anti-corruption, terrorism battle

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May 8, 2016

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Fedotov to Buhari: UN supports your anti-corruption, terrorism battle

Rounding off a three-day mission to Nigeria, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov, met with President Muhammadu Buhari and emphasised his organisation’s unwavering support for the country.

Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov, with President Muhammadu Buhari

“There can be no doubt that Nigeria has suffered from the ravages of corruption, terrorism, piracy and other crimes; but it remains fully committed to working with international organisations such as the UN and the European Union to counter these threats,” said Mr. Fedotov.

“Such dedication calls for the international community to continue to display similar resoluteness and to redouble efforts to assist the country,” he said.

In a statement endorsed by Sylvester Atere, the Outreach and Communications Officer of UNODC, Mr. Fedotov reportedly informed President Buhari that Nigeria could play an active role in encouraging every African country to fully implement the Doha Declaration, endorsed at the 13th Crime Congress, as well as the Joint Commitment adopted at the UN General Assembly special session on the world drug problem in April this year.

To help, UNODC was working with partners on an integrated approach to achieving the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and urging countries to support security, justice, good governance and the rule of law as part of the promotion of development.

“UNODC is ready and eager to work together with partners within and outside the UN system, including Nigeria, to offer firm support to implement the 2030 agenda,” said the UNODC Chief.

Mr. Fedotov also praised President Buhari’s personal commitment against corruption and thanked him for Nigeria’s participation in the review mechanism of the landmark UN Convention against Corruption which calls for states to be reviewed by two peers.

During his mission to Nigeria, the UNODC Executive Director held a series of meetings with government officials including the Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, as well as the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Agboola Gambari.

Visits were also made to the UNODC office in Abuja, as well as Kuje Prison to launch a new UNODC supported drug treatment counselling facility.

In a meeting with the Vice President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Edward Singhatey, both parties underlined the excellent relationship existing between the two organisations in combating drugs and promoting a balanced approach. Both are strongly committed to ensure the completion and adoption of the ECOWAS action plan 2016-2020 and the UNODC regional Programme for West Africa for the same period.

Nigeria is one of UNODC’s most important strategic priorities. The country has UNODC’s largest portfolio in Africa, and is one of its largest in the world.

Funding is provided by the European Union, as well as Japan, Switzerland and Germany. Projects deliver a broad range of activities designed to counter corruption, drugs, terrorism, human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, as well as uphold the rule of law and enhance criminal justice.

Ogun unveils 160-unit housing estate for workers

Real Estate

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May 5, 2016

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Ogun unveils 160-unit housing estate for workers

The Ogun State Government has commissioned a total of 160 units of two- and three-bedroom detached and semi-detached bungalows and storey-building apartments, presumably as part of efforts aimed at providing affordable housing for its workforce.

Ibikunle Amosun, Governor of Ogun State. Photo credit: premiumtimesng.com

Wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, while commissioning the Phase 1 of the estate, named after the first Head of Service in the State, Chief Adedotun Adedeji Kayode Degun, lauded government for making life comfortable for the workers.

Located in Laderin, Abeokuta, the estate has been christened the AAK Degun MITROS Estate.

Hajia Aisha Buhari, who was represented by Minister for Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, while unveiling the plague, commended the vision of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration in providing standard housing units for civil servants, urging the workers to continue in supporting the mission to rebuild the state.

Hajia Buhari described the construction of the estate as a remarkable achievement for the present administration, noting that the initiative would greatly impact the socio-economic development of the state in particular and the country at large.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun, on his part, said that the workers’ estate would reduce the hardship of civil servants in the course of having home of their own, adding that the gesture would avail them the opportunity to access decent homes at affordable cost.

He added that the project was part of his mandate on home ownership, which seeks to deliver fully serviced homes to a hundred families within its workforce.

“The commissioning of AAK Degun Workers’ Estate that we are witnessing is just a tip of the iceberg; we are still moving and determined to deliver more of this to workers in the state before our tenure ends in 2019,” Amosun assured.

The governor said the houses, which are fully serviced, have been subsidised. He explaining that the first phase comprises 68 units of two-bedroom semi-detached flats and 92 units of three-bedroom semi-detached units, totalling 160 units.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Housing Development and General Manager of Ogun State Housing Corporation, Arch. Jumoke Akinwunmi, expressed appreciation to those that contributed to the success of the construction of the estate, adding that 30 percent of the project was subsidised by government. According to her, all the housing units are ready with modern facilities.

Mrs. Akinwunmi described the achievement as an affirmation that the Corporation could build houses that are affordable for the civil servants.

Four former Heads of Service in the state – Chief Babatunde Osokoya, Surv. Godwin Ogun, Princess Iyabo Odulate-Yusuf and Mrs. Modupe Adekunle – who also witnessed the commissioning, commended the efforts of the state government on its home ownership scheme.

The Heads of Service, in their separate remarks, lauded the development, while the current Head of Service, Elder Sola Adeyemi, applauded government for the gesture, saying that the civil servants would be encouraged to always put in their best to help the present administration deliver more dividends of democracy to the people.

In a related development, a total number of 650 ultra-modern open stalls have been commissioned for traders whose shops were affected by the road expansion projects carried out by the state government at the Itoku market.

Governor Amosun assured the traders that his administration would not relent at providing the needed social amenities that would improve their fortunes.

The traders including market women trooped out in large numbers with dancing and singing, appreciating the governor for his commitment to the rebuilding mission across the state, especially for the new open shops which they said would improve their livelihood in no small measure.

Palm oil cartel: End to human rights abuses, land grabbing sought

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May 5, 2016

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At a recent event in London, indigenous and civil society leaders call for an end to human rights violations and land grabbing linked to millions of tons of palm oil imported into Europe every year

Ethnic Dayak villagers in Indonesia discuss encroachment by palm oil companies on their land. Photo credit: Dana MacLean/Al Jazeera

Indigenous, community and civil society leaders visiting Europe from across the world on Wednesday in London issued a call for urgent action in the EU to respond to the human rights abuses directly or indirectly linked to palm oil supply chains.

Visiting delegate Agus Sutomo, director of the Pontianak-based NGO LinkAR-Borneo, in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, said, “We need the global community to understand that when they are consuming palm oil and biofuels they are consuming the blood of our peoples in Indonesia, Liberia, Colombia and Peru. Human rights violations are being committed by an industry that is expanding due to the EU demand for palm oil and bioenergy.”

Despite efforts to regulate the palm oil industry with initiatives such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and controversial climate standards like the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC), testimonies from the delegates reveal the industry is failing to be accountable to affected communities.

“What do we mean by the term sustainability? The palm oil industry has not dealt with many of the past and present violations of community rights by agribusiness developments. It is not enough to create voluntary certification schemes, while we continue to suffer land grabs and the on-going violation of human rights” said Franky Samperante from Sulawesi and the founder-director of the indigenous peoples’ organisation Pusaka.

He adds, “The uncontrolled expansion of palm oil plantations is creating land rights conflicts, leading to social and cultural upheaval and unprecedented environmental damage.”

From April 25th to May 4th the delegates from Indonesia, Peru, Colombia and Liberia gave personal testimonies of the impacts of the palm oil industry to members of the European Parliament and Director-Generals of the Environment, Trade, Energy, Climate and Development Aid at the European Commission as well as Commissioners’ cabinet members, to press for stronger EU regulation of palm oil supply chains. They also shared with high-level decision makers their grave concerns about the rapid expansion and projected increase in the area of land slated for palm oil plantations and production of biofuels, which is set to double in the coming years in countries such as Indonesia.

Delegation activities also included visits to a palm oil refinery installation in the Port of Rotterdam and to Canary Wharf, the heart of the international finance industry in the City of London. These actions were taken to inform decision makers and to allow delegates to witness first-hand the extent of the palm oil supply chain in Europe.

“Since much of the global demand for palm oil based commodities is being driven by EU consumption, we need strong binding regulations of supply chains bringing palm oil and other agricultural commodities to Europe, not voluntary schemes” said Ali Kaba, programme coordinator and senior researcher at the Sustainable Development Institute, a Liberian civil society organisation. “When you have palm plantations in the absence of secure rights to customary land or indigenous lands in reality it can often lead to land rights violations and human rights abuses, environmental damages and poverty for the communities affected by that industry.”

Progressive certification schemes like the RSPO can sometimes be useful to communities as they are often the only immediate means to challenge corporate abuses and destructive plantation development. In order to be more effective, certification complaints systems like that of the RSPO must be strengthened and better equipped to respond and investigate community complaints, disclosed participants.

However, testimonies from communities on the ground highlight that green labelling and voluntary approaches are not adequate to properly provide redress for community grievances, and are insufficient to ensure protection for land rights and full compliance with national and international human rights laws.

“We have travelled to Europe with an urgent message from our communities. When listening to people from across South East Asia, Latin America and Africa, we are hearing the same problems: land rights are not being respected by the palm oil industry and other agribusinesses. We have been left with no choice as the representatives of our communities but to come to the EU to elevate our call for the recognition of our territories in Peru,” said Sedequías Ancón Chávez, representative of the Shipibo people and leader affiliated to the Inter-Ethnic Development Association of the Peruvian Amazon.

He added: “those working to protect the environment and mitigate climate change need to understand that the most effective way to protect the remaining standing forests is to support our demands for collective legal titles over 20 million hectares of our land belonging to 1240 of our communities that still lack secure tenure rights.”

Delegates unanimously call for the EU and its member states to strengthen regulation of financial institutions and private sector involved in the agribusiness sector to ensure legality, including compliance with national and international human rights and environmental protection laws.

“Our Mother Earth is weeping for the violation of our peoples’ rights and the destruction of our environment. We visited an oil palm refinery on our mission to the EU. The smoke from this refinery represents the blood of our families first split at the hands of the paramilitaries and also the suffering that is now being inflicted by the palm oil industry.” stated Willian Aljure, land and human rights defender and representative of Communities Constructing Peace in Territories (CONPAZ) from the Mapiripan area in the plains region of Colombia. “Together we are calling for international solidarity in demanding that harmful investments and plantation operations in the palm oil sector affecting indigenous and local communities are investigated and properly sanctioned, including for historical injustices. You cannot separate human rights from environmental damage.”

In addition to a general call to action addressed to the EU, governments, the private sector, certification bodies and investors, the delegates together with a wide coalition of indigenous and civil society organisations from Peru, Europe and North America have issued a specific public demand that financial regulatory bodies remove AIM-listed United Cacao Ltd SEZC from trading on the London Stock Exchange due to the reported illegal deforestation of at least 11,100 hectares and related rights violations in the Peruvian Amazon. United Cacao’s project is being supported by financing raised on the London Stock Exchange’s junior market, the Alternative Investments Market (AIM).

“We are demanding that the London Stock Exchange immediately halt trading services and cancel registration of companies that act outside of the law.” said Robert Guimaraes Vasquez, member of the Shipibo-Conibo indigenous people of the Peruvian Amazon, “Peru has the fourth highest rate of murders of human rights and land defenders in the world. We are alerting the international community to protect the community leaders who are speaking out against the deadly palm oil industry and who now face grave dangers to their security.”

The delegates’ call to action did not fall on deaf ears with EU decision-makers, who have invited them to submit further testimonies. Reflecting a growing movement among the citizens of EU member states concerned about the potentially shattered communities and devastated forests that the palm oil in their groceries may have caused, there is an increasingly loud call for EU and member state regulators to take decisive regulatory action that does justice to this demonstration of solidarity between European citizens and the communities calling for the clean-up of global agribusiness supply chains linking Indonesia, Liberia, Colombia, Peru and other producer countries to European markets.

Government sues Shell over spill, ERA/FoEN applauds

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May 5, 2016

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Government sues Shell over spill, ERA/FoEN applauds

The Federal Government has dragged Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, claiming N1.3 trillion against the oil firm for the December 20, 2011, Bonga oil spill.

Bonga oil spill site. Photo: Courtesy punchng.com

The spill, which caused massive pollution in coastal communities in Delta and Bayelsa states, occurred in Shell’s Bonga Field located about 120 kilometres off the Nigerian coastline. The project itself was allegedly linked to a scam involving Vetco International Limited whose officials were said to have paid $2.1 million bribe to Nigerian officials to undercut customs regulations, following which a US court fined Vetco International $26 million fine for violating the U.S Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The bribes were paid between September 2002 and April 2005 when Vetco International was providing engineering and procurement services and subsea construction equipment for the Bonga project.

The suit is protecting the interest of fishermen and persons, numbering about 285,000 from 350 communities and satellite villages, affected by the crude oil spillage. The government is demanding N884 billion as compensation for the impacted communities and another N495 billion as restitution and restoration of the devastation of the economic zone of the Nigeria’s territorial waters. It is also asking for N50 million as cost of the legal action.

Co-defendants in suit are Shell Petroleum N.V, B.V Netherlands International Indusrie-E Handel Maatschappij, Shell Transport and Trading Company Plc, and Royal Dutch Shell Plc, who are all allied companies of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company. In an affidavit sworn to by a Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment Department of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Mr. Akindele Olubunmi in the suit, counsel to the plaintiffs, Awosika Adekunle, averred that he had the consent and the authority of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. A. Mallam (SAN), Attorney General of the Federation and Director General of NOSDRA, to depose to this affidavit.

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), in a reaction, has commended government action.

In a statement issued in Lagos, ERA/FoEN Executive Director, Godwin Ojo, was quoted as saying: “This is cheery news no doubt. The days of impunity by Shell in Nigeria is nearing its end. The Nigerian government has by this decision taken a giant leap in siding with the people against a corporate bully. It is commendable.”

Ojo explained that it was however sad that the road to justice for the impacted communities is only coming now, more than five years after their lives and livelihoods were rudely obfuscated, even as he noted that justice cannot be denied ultimately.

“The Buhari administration has shown the way. If British Petroleum (BP) was made to pay for the Gulf of Mexico spill, why Should Shell not pay double for its shameful impunity all these years? Nigeria’s sovereignty over oil companies cannot be compromised. Corporate capture of the state and resources has led to untold hardships for the local fishermen who were stopped from fishing while the spill wreaked havoc on marine life and fishing in the Nigeria’s coastal communities,” Ojo stressed, adding:

“ERA/FoEN pledges to support the case and provide technical support that will ensure justice is done. We want to add that however that while environmental remediation is important, compensation for the impoverished fisher men and women was not mentioned in the suit and this should immediately be a part of the suit. The time of Shell’s impunity is over.”

US presidential election: Global warming is happening, say voters

Climate Change

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May 5, 2016

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With the exception of Ted Cruz voters, most supporters of the Democratic and Republican candidates think global warming is happening, according to a recent national survey conducted by the George Mason University’s Centre for Climate Change Communication.

The report, titled Global Warming and the U.S. Presidential Election, reveals the level of support thus: Sanders: 93%, Clinton: 92%, Kasich: 71%, Trump: 56%.

By contrast, fewer than half of Ted Cruz supporters – 38% – think global warming is happening. Now that Cruz has suspended his campaign – and Trump is the presumptive nominee – it will be interesting to see if Cruz backers decide to support Trump or sit this election out.

Other findings include:

Registered voters support a broad array of energy policies, including many designed to reduce carbon pollution and dependence on fossil fuels, and to promote clean energy. The Democratic candidates’ backers are the most likely to strongly or somewhat support such policies, but backers of the Republican candidates do as well, including:

Funding more research into renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power (Sanders: 93%, Clinton: 91%, Kasich: 86%, Trump: 76%, Cruz: 64%).
Providing tax rebates to people who purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels (Sanders: 94%, Clinton: 92%, Kasich: 80%, Trump: 70%, Cruz: 59%).

At least half the supporters of all candidates except Cruz would also support:

Regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant (Clinton: 91%, Sanders: 87%, Kasich: 74%, Trump: 62%, Cruz: 47%).
Requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and using the money to reduce other taxes such as income taxes by an equal amount (Sanders: 88%, Clinton: 85%, Kasich: 53%, Trump: 51%, Cruz: 27%).

The report also provides the demographic characteristics of each candidate’s supporters. For example, Clinton supporters are more likely to be African-American, women, Catholics, and Baby Boomers than supporters of the other candidates.

Trump supporters are more likely to be white, male, Baby Boomers with a high school education.

Cruz supporters are more likely to be southern, older, white, evangelical, men, and very conservative.

According to the George Mason University, the report includes more results on how each candidate’s backers are similar to and different from one another demographically and on the issue of climate change.

FRSC to educate motorists on tyres

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May 5, 2016

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Following series of road crashes in Nigeria resulting from tyre blow-outs, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is organising a stakeholders’ forum on tyres where issues relating with the use and safety of tyres are to be discussed.

The tyre is considered a very important component of a vehicle

The FRSC’s Head of Media Relations and Strategy, Bisi Kazeem, in a statement said that the summit is aimed at re-educating Nigerians on the general knowledge of tyres, types of tyres, how to care for tyres, and useful tips in the case of a blow out or tyre burst.

According to him, issues such as standards, important tyre markings for the different types of tyres, sizes, lifespan from date of manufacture to expiry date, tyre pressure, storage, and other essential safety issues will be addressed such that Nigerians will understand that tyre is a very important component of a vehicle.

The summit, which is scheduled to hold on 9th May 2016 at Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, has the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal as Special Guest of Honour, while the Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Dr. Paul Angya, will present the lead paper.

Other special guests expected at the Occasion are: Minister of the FCT Administration, Muhammad Musa Bello; Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah; and Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola.

Notable contributors in the forum are; Engr. Aminu Jalal DG Nigerian Automobile Design and Development Council (NADDC), Senator Tijajani Kaura (Chairman, Committee Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs), Senator Shehu Sani (Chairman Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts), and Engr. Yunusa Abubakar (Chairman, Committee on Federal Road Safety Corps).

Others are: Engr. G.A Lawal (Consultant, Tyre/Transport Fleet Operation Support), Nigerian Custom Service, President Nigerian Labour Congress, Engr. Toluhi Ayobami Olusegun (Deputy Director/Head, Monitoring and Strategy, FERMA), President NARTO, President RTEAN, President NURTW, and the National Chairman of NUPENG-PTD.

Meanwhile, the Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, will flag off a special National Campaign on tyres which will involve free safety checks on tyres, as well as consulting on safe use of tyres.

Group expands smallholder farmer services to Malawi, Uganda

Agric & Biotech

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May 5, 2016

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Group expands smallholder farmer services to Malawi, Uganda

One Acre Foundation, a non-profit agriculture organisation that supplies smallholder farmers with the financing and training they need to increase their incomes and food security, has announced the official opening of its Malawi and Uganda operations. Malawi and Uganda began as pilots in 2013 and 2014 respectively. One Acre Fund now serves 400,000 smallholder farmers – with an estimated two million people in those households – across East and Southern Africa.

Elumuka Margaret,who operates a maize plantation at Busota village in Uganda, is a beneficiary of the programme. Photo credit: Kelvin Owino

“The majority of the world’s poor are hard-working smallholder farmers who can reach their full potential with access to finance, training, and services,” said Andrew Youn, One Acre Fund’s founder and executive director. “I’m thrilled to announce that One Acre Fund is now able to serve smallholder farmers in Malawi and Uganda and we will continue to grow our program until no farmer goes hungry.”

Participating farmers in the One Acre Fund programme receive a complete bundle of agricultural inputs and services on credit, including the delivery of high-quality seeds and fertilizer, training on how to maximise crop yields, and education on how to minimise post-harvest losses. To accommodate clients, One Acre Fund offers a flexible repayment system: Farmers may make payments toward loans in any amount and at any time during the growing season as long as they complete repayment by the season’s end. In 2015, 99 percent of One Acre Fund farmers repaid their loans in full and on time.

One Acre Fund is currently working with 2,600 farmers in the Zomba, Mulanje and Chiradzulu districts of Malawi and 3,700 farmers in the Jinja and Kamuli districts of Uganda. Loan packages vary depending on the size of land registered; farmers may enrol as little as half an acre of land. To be eligible for a loan, farmers are required to submit a small down payment of the total loan, meet regularly with a local One Acre Fund field officer, and attend in-person agricultural trainings.

Founded in 2006 in western Kenya, One Acre Fund works with more than 400,000 smallholder farmers in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, and Uganda, and anticipates it will serve one million farmers by 2020.

Only three Saharan Addax antelopes alive, survey finds

Conservation

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May 5, 2016

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Only three Saharan Addax antelopes alive, survey finds

Regional insecurity and oil industry activities in the Sahara Desert have pushed the Addax – a migratory species of desert-adapted antelope – to the very knife-edge of extinction, according to a recent survey which found only three surviving in the wild.

An extensive survey in March across key Addax habitat identified just three remaining individuals, report experts from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); two of its Members working in the region – the Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF) and the NGO Noé, as well as the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

National legislation in Niger fully protects the Addax, meaning hunting and the removal of live Addax for any reason are strictly forbidden. It is also protected under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) because historical habitat extends into neighbouring Chad. Yet the Addax has suffered massive disturbance from oil installations in Niger operated by the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and associated encroachment of desert-going lorries and bulldozers.

Moreover, the assignment of military personnel to protect the oil industry means illegal hunting by soldiers has increased poaching levels considerably in its last remaining haven, and Africa’s largest protected area, the Termit & Tin-Toumma National Nature Reserve in eastern Niger.

Dr Jean-Christophe Vié, Deputy Director of IUCN Global Species Programme says, “We are witnessing in real time the extinction of this iconic and once plentiful species – without immediate intervention, the Addax will lose its battle for survival in the face of illegal, uncontrolled poaching and the loss of its habitat. On behalf of all concerned parties we are recommending a set of emergency measures to help save the Addax from imminent extinction.”

The measures proposed by the experts from the conservation groups* include securing the remaining population of Addax; stopping poaching by soldiers and engaging with CNPC to cooperate on preventing the extinction of the Addax; as well as reinforcing the existing population through the introduction of captive-bred stock.

The increase in poaching also comes against a backdrop of escalating insecurity across the region. The collapse of Libya in 2011 saw an exodus of militia with arms and 4×4 vehicles to neighbouring countries into areas harbouring important wildlife populations. This also fuelled subsequent insurgencies in Mali and northern Nigeria which have added to the instability, and the formerly remote habitats of the Addax have become major crossroads for the illicit trade of wildlife, arms, drugs and migrants.

Dr Thomas Rabeil of the Sahara Conservation Fund says, “Those with commercial interests in the desert could make important contributions to the protection of the Addax by cooperating with the wildlife authorities and by adopting more sensitive practices, becoming stakeholders in the management of protected areas and by sharing sightings of these elusive animals with conservationists.”

The situation for the Addax has deteriorated precipitously since 2010 when an initial round of surveys estimated the population at 200 animals. Since then, conservationists have designed a three-pronged action plan to stabilise the situation by locating the remaining Addax and assessing their status. The plan aims to boost ongoing efforts to build the capacity of Niger’s wildlife service to protect the Addax and manage the Termit & Tin Toumma Reserve in close collaboration with the local population. The third, critical part of the plan is to engage with the Niger authorities and Chinese business interests to bring poaching under control and minimise the impact of oil-related activities, especially on prime Addax habitat.

Arnaud Greth, Chaiman of Noé, says, “Working in coordination with the Ministry of Environment, Noé has focused on reinforcing the capacities of the Management Unit in the Termit & Tin Toumma Protected Area and supporting Niger’s conservation policy to strengthen Addax conservation in the field. But human pressures are increasing faster than we can adapt given the current level of resource support for the Addax and the large distribution range of the Addax in the largest terrestrial protected area in Africa.”

Dr David Mallon, Chair of the IUCN Antelope Specialist Group says, “We are gravely concerned about this unfolding wildlife disaster in the desert. This species is simply unable to cope with the current levels of disturbance and illegal killing. Without urgent coordinated action at all levels we will very soon witness its demise.”

Dr Jean-Christophe Vié, Deputy Director of IUCN’s Species Programme and Director of its SOS initiative, adds, “We have prioritised funding for emergency intervention with the Addax because of the crisis engulfing it. Unfortunately, it is not the only species in the Sahara and Sahel regions under threat from human disturbance, habitat degradation and hunting: Cheetahs, Dama Gazelles and the Slender-horned gazelle are all hot on the heels of this desert icon.

Dr Bradnee Chambers of CMS adds, “The prospect of losing the Addax from the wild is most disturbing. CMS has long been engaged in efforts to conserve Sahelo-Saharan antelopes in cooperation with others such as the European Commission and the Fonds français pour l’environnement mondial. CMS is therefore calling for the support of the leaders of both Niger and Chad to increase the presence of wildlife rangers in key areas and to use their convening powers to bring all stakeholders- including oil companies- together to adopt meaningful action plans to halt the decline of the Addax and associated species before it is too late.”

Images: Manual flower pollination in China as bees disappear

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May 3, 2016

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Images: Manual flower pollination in China as bees disappear

In parts of rural China, humans are doing the work bees once did.

Striking new photos show farm workers in Hanyuan county, in China’s Sichuan province, painstakingly applying pollen to flowers by hand.

Hanyuan county is known as the “world’s pear capital.” But pesticide use has led to a drastic reduction in the area’s bee population, threatening the fruit crop. Workers now pollinate fruit trees artificially, carefully transferring pollen from male flowers to female flowers to fertilise them.

For photographer Kevin Frayer, the images of human pollinators tell a story of both loss and human creativity.

“On the one hand it’s a story about the human toll on the environment, while on the other it shows our ability to be more efficient in spite of it all,” Frayer told The Huffington Post.

Bee populations are declining worldwide, according to a February report from the United Nations. Shrinking numbers of bees could result in the loss of “hundreds of billions of dollars” worth of crops every year.

The UN biodiversity report warned that populations of bees, butterflies and other pollinating species could face extinction due to habitat loss, pollution, pesticides and climate change. It noted that animal pollination is responsible for 5 to 8 percent of global agricultural production, meaning declines pose potential risks to the world’s food supply.

But, in some parts of China, hand pollination can actually cost less than renting bees to pollinate crops. Farmers in Hanyuan began pollinating by hand because human labour was cheap, Frayer said. But rising labour costs and declining fruit yields are calling the long-term viability of hand pollination into question.

As bees rush toward extinction, Frayer’s photos might portend a not-so-distant future — one in which human ingenuity must replace what human nearsightedness has wiped out.

“It is entirely possible than in our lifetime this practice could become the norm all over the world,” Frayer said.