"Nice name," said the president of the United States, perhaps deviating from his prepared text.

While announcing his determination to withdraw the United States from the Paris agreement on climate change, Donald Trump was lamentingthat American funds had been committed to help developing countriesmitigate and adapt to the impacts of a warming planet.

"Beyond the severe energy restrictions inflicted by the Paris Accord, it includes yet another scheme to redistribute wealth out of the United States through the so-called Green Climate Fund nice name which calls for developed countries to send $100 billion to developing countries all on top of America's existing and massive foreign aid payments," he explained.

The recent U.S. commitment to international climate financing has been approximately $2.7 billion US per year. To the Green Climate Fund specifically,BarackObama'sadministration had promised $3 billion.(Trump was conflating a general commitment by developed nationsto raise $100 billion US and the Green Climate Fund, which is a specific initiative within that commitment.)

Trump's Paris decision draws global criticism2:15

Canada's pledge to climate financestands at $2.65 billion Cdn over the next five years. And though Conservative MPs voted last week to endorse the Paris Accord, Conservatives have similarly grumbled about the expense.

"The bottom line is the government is nickel-and-diming Canadians to death to pay for the prime minister's out-of-control spending on his own vanity projects, like the $2.65 billion he spent on environmental projects outside of our country when the money could and should have stayed in Canada," Ed Fast, the Conservative environment critic, told the House of Commons in May.

Fast has repeatedly questioned the $2.65-billion commitment. Maxime Bernier criticized it during his leadership campaign as part of a promise to reevaluate all foreign aid.

Butto paraphrase one analyst, however much that money might flatter the prime minister's sense of self-worth, there is a decent case to be made for the spending.

The $100-billion goal a compromise from suggestions that developing nations required or deserved much more emerged during negotiationofthe Copenhagen Accord in 2009.

That amount can be justified as a matter of fairness and moral responsibility.

"If all we say to these countries is that they cannot copy what we have done ourselves when our development history has given us great prosperity while giving them many of its environmental costs there can be no reasonable dialogue on which to build a shared future," former British prime minister Gordon Brown said in pitching the $100-billion target.

Canada to fight climate change without U.S.2:08

Over the last two centuries, the world'srichest nations powered their economic growth by burning fossil fuels, producing the vast majority of historic emissions that are now contributing to climate change. As Dale Marshall of Environmental Defence puts it, the developed countries filled up more than their fair share of the planet's atmospheric space.

Meanwhile, the poorer developing nations, whilebeing asked to forgo those energy sources, are now expected to suffer disproportionately from the droughts, flooding and otherimpacts of global warming.

"Developed countries are ... morally obliged to pay partial compensation to poor and vulnerable countries," Meles Zenawi, the former prime minister of Ethiopia, argued in 2009.

But when the U.S. Treasury department asked Congress to continue supporting the Green Climate Fund this year, it offered practical arguments.

Such funding, the department reported, "advances U.S. interests" in several key areas.

By improving the resilience of vulnerable nations, funding would reduce the likelihood of civil unrest and strife, thus contributingto national and international security. And, in addition to helping to reduce global emissions, financial assistance can develop new markets, reduce the risk of economic shocks from extreme weather and change, and support the expansion of American businesses.

In an analysis published by the Brookings Institution in February, Timmons Roberts and Caroline Jones argued that withdrawing funding could reduce U.S. influence internationally. "To renege on our commitments to climate finance made in support of the Paris Agreement would weaken America's ability to muster enthusiastic support on important international policies we might care about," the two researcherswrote.

Key player in securing the Paris Climate Agreement says the costs of inaction on climate change are enormous for the U.S.5:49

The $100 billion in annual funding is to be provided by both governments and the private sector and can come in the form of loans, grants or insurance. The current Canadian commitment is being divvied up across a number of initiatives, including $300 million for the Green Climate Fund.

But Canada was involved in such aid long before Justin Trudeau was anywhere near the Prime Minister's Office.

Between 2010 and 2012, Canada contributed $1.2 billion in financing, as detailed in a 2013 report. And the commitment of $300 million to the Green Climate Fund was actually made by Stephen Harper's government in 2014.

Fast, a minister in that government, has worried that there will not be enough accountability for how the Trudeau government's commitment will be used, though officials tried to reassure him during committee hearings earlier this year. Canada's current commitments are broadly defined, but the federal government has mapped and detailed previous recipients.

Trump ventured that "nobody even knows where the money is going to," but the Green Climate Fund's websitedetails each of the 43 initiatives that have so far been funded. A project to deal with groundwater and irrigation in a tribal area of India received $166 million. A hydropower facility was installed in the Solomon Islands for $233 million.

Environmentalists also have questions about how the money will be usedand other analystshave argued that the tracking of funds needs to improve, but without saying that climate financing is an unworthy pursuit.

Of course, transparency and accountability are expectedwhenever public funds are spent.

But the main argument for climate financing is that it's justified and has an important purpose and critics have to reckon with that.

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Why Canada will pay to help places like the Solomon Islands fight climate change - CBC.ca

The Hindu

Island on lease The Hindu British Hong Kong was the name given to this island on June 9, 1898 when the British signed a 99 year lease from the Qing Dynasty in China. In the 19th century, Britain developed an insatiable appetite for tea, of which China was the only producer. The ...

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Island on lease - The Hindu

Local News

Jun 12, 2017

Photo by Doug Loyer A Zebra Swollowtail butterfly lands on an Orange Butterfly Milkweed plant near a walking path at the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center.

By planting more milkweed plants, it will help the habitat support more butterflies as they breed and prepare for migration.

According to Monarch Watch, a non-profit organization that works for the conservation of Monarch butterflies, Monarch butterfly populations are declining. That is due to the loss of their habitat. To assure the future of monarchs, they are actively promoting the conservation and restoration of milkweeds and emphasize that it should become a national priority.

Today, we will be planting common milkweed at the refuge. This milkweed was free for us, said Matt Bristol, Wildlife Refuge Specialist. We were able to get the milkweed through Monarch Watch.

The host plant of a Monarch butterfly is milkweed, explained Bristol. The Monarch Watch Organization had grants available where they were giving away free milkweed plants. Bristol applied for a grant last fall and the refuge was awarded over 100 of the milkweed plants. They are small little seedlings.

Photo by Doug Loyer Wildlife Refuge Specialist Matt Bristol, staff and volunteers get milkweed plants ready to be planted.

On Saturday, those milkweed plants were added to the refuge with the help of volunteers to enhance the habitat and milkweeds that they already had.

Each butterfly has one or few host species of plants. The butterflies lay their eggs on those plants. The larvae eat the milkweed plant material and turns into a butterfly later. The milkweed is also a good nectar plant for butterflies and bees.

Ive seen some Monarchs moving through already, said Bristol. They are an interesting species because many of them migrate from Mexico through North America, breed and then migrate back. They need good breeding sites and we are in their breeding range. Thats where they would need the milkweed and nectar as well.

Bristol said people can help out the butterflies in their own yards by planting pollinator gardens. You can use a portion of your lawn and plant a wildflower seed mix and this would give you more diversity of plant species. Youd have flowers all summer, its looks nice and also provides nectar for the butterflies plus some milkweed. Theres several companies out there that sell those mixes.

The butterfly to me is like Art on Wings,' said volunteer Judy Parrish, of Vienna, and a member of the Parkersburg Womans Club. The General Federation of Womans Clubs are involved in conservation and ecology, those areas of life that tend to be overlooked.

Photo by Doug Loyer Longtime refuge volunteer Jon Benedetti finds a spot for a milkweed plant.

This is an absolutely beautiful place, said Parrish. I want to make sure we continue to have butterflies and the beauty that they provide.

One long-time refuge volunteer since the late 90s is Jon Benedetti of Vienna.

One of my hobbies is birding and we need to have places like this, said Benedetti. I think its pretty important.

Benedetti has been a birder since 1957 when he was in the Boy Scouts. He found that he really enjoyed it and just kept doing it.

Habitats need to be preserved if theyre going to live, emphasized Benedetti. He said he is appreciative that the government is responsible enough to have the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service and agencies like that which are trying to do something to maintain the environment at healthy level.

Theres a really good effort being made here at this refuge, said Benedetti. The staff here does a really nice job. They really care and do their level best to keep it going.

Birding and enjoying nature is a family passion as Jons wife, Judy Benedetti was also volunteering Saturday. She too, appreciates nature and enjoys what the refuge has to offer and enjoys being part of the effort to maintain and enhance it.

The Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge is fully staffed and this summer even has five SCA (Student Conservation Association) interns helping out. One such intern is Melissa Cannell from Chicago who was helping to plant milkweed Saturday. Cannell is a graduate of Northern Illinois University with a degree in business marketing and is enthusiastic about her intern experience at the refuge.

I really like being outdoors and public spaces and sharing the love of the outdoors with others. Im loving my time here. Its fantastic, said Cannell. Its a nice quiet place and theres lots of nice people. Its really welcoming. It feels great.

Another passionate nature-lover helping out was Virginia Graves of Marietta.

Its a treasure that theyre preserving these areas, said Graves. This is something I really enjoy doing.

Graves said its fun to see the Monarchs. She has some milkweed plants in her yard at home as well, mentioning that she had six caterpillars at one point last year. When she went back out later, she only had two left. She explained that sometimes predators eat them. To protect the caterpillars, some people put them on their sun porches until they hatch and then release them.

The Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1990. The refuge protects and conserves habitat for native wildlife in one of our nations busiest waterways. The refuge covers 22 islands and four mainland tracts that lie along 362 miles of the Ohio River in three states (West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky.)

The refuge and visitors center is open year-round. The visitors center itself is located on Waverly Road, two miles north of Williamstown. The refuge is open to the public for hunting, fishing and wildlife observation.

For information and events throughout the summer, check out their website at fws.gov/refuge/ohioriverislands and their Facebook page, facebook.com/OhioRiverIslandsNWR/ where they post all of their events.

PARKERSBURG WesBancos Trust Department announces the awarding of four full four-year scholarships from the ...

BELPRE Belpre City Council will hold its next regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. today at the Belpre Municipal ...

CHARLESTON West Virginia Auditor J.B. McCuskey says if lawmakers pass a budget by the end of this week, his ...

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Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge works to improve butterfly habitat - Parkersburg News

The Gili Islands, comprising Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air, are situated just off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia.

Motor vehicles arent allowed here, so for transportation you either need to walk, take a bicycle or the cidomo (horse-drawn carriage). Amongst all the activities, the most popular ones are scuba diving, snorkeling, golf, horse riding and free diving. You might want to try snorkeling off the beach as then you shall notice the magnificent green and hawksbill sea turtles.

The most renowned spots for diving are Shark Point, Manta Point and Simons Reef. Shark Point gets its name due to the variety of marine life one gets to see such as Reef sharks, cuttlefish, turtles, stingrays and many more.

As far as staying there is concerned, you have options such as beach shacks, backpacker beach huts and hotels (both high end and budget) and various other options such as bungalows. You might want to visit this paradise on earth before it gets too crowded!

To know different hotel prices for Gili Islands, click HERE.

School of glassy cardinalfish (Rhabdamia spilota) watched by a diver at Gili Air. (Shutterstock)

Couches on the sandy beach at Gili Trawangan. (Shutterstock)

A man with horse in the sea in Gili Trawangan. (Shutterstock)

A woman cycling on Gili Air. (Shutterstock)

Boats on the beach at Gili Trawangan at sunset. (Shutterstock)

Exploring Gili Islands. (Shutterstock)

Mother and her baby on the way to a beach, Gili Trawangan. (Shutterstock)

Sea turtle near Gili Meno. (Shutterstock)

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Gili Islands: Are they truly a vision of paradise on earth? - Hindustan Times

Israeli Defence Minister, Moshe Yaalon, today welcomed the transfer of the Egyptian islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia saying the kingdom had pledged to respect the Egyptian-Israeli peace deal.

Radio Israel reported that Yaalon had said at a press conference that the Saudis, who do not have official relations with Israel, would abide by the peace agreement.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of the Saudi-Egyptian agreement and had not objected.

Read:Egypt removes disputed Red Sea islands from primary education curriculums

Egypt closed the Tiran Strait in 1967, prompting Israel to declare war on Egypt and other Arab states. When Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1979, Cairo pledged to respect freedom of navigation in Aqaba and Eilat, the only Israeli port leading to the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia said it would abide by the treaty when it receives the islands.

During a session of the Egyptian parliament yesterday, the government presented a detailed report on the treaty, stating that Egypt occupied the two islands at the request and blessing of Saudi Arabia to protect them from Israeli threats.

The status of the two islands, Tiran and Sanafir, is unclear pending judicial and legislative decisions. A decision is expected to be issued by the Egyptian Supreme Constitutional Court and another by parliament amid rising public anger over the Egyptian regimes attempts to prove Saudi ownership of the two islands.

In a ruling by Egypts Supreme Administrative Court, Judge Ahmed Al-Shadhli stated: Egyptian sovereignty over the islands of Tiran and Sanafir is beyond doubt. He added that the court had reached a unanimous verdict.

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Israel welcomes 'Saudisation' of Egyptian islands - Middle East Monitor

The following is a list of islands of Michigan. Michigan has the second longest coastline of any state after Alaska. Being bordered by four of the five Great LakesErie, Huron, Michigan, and SuperiorMichigan also has 64,980 inland lakes and ponds, as well as innumerable rivers, that may contain their own islands included in this list. The majority of the islands are within the Great Lakes. Other islands can also be found within other waterways of the Great Lake system, including Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River, Detroit River, and St. Marys River.

The largest of all the islands is Isle Royale in Lake Superior, which, in addition to its waters and other surrounding islands, is organized as Isle Royale National Park. Isle Royale itself is 206 square miles (530km2). The most populated island is Grosse Ile with approximately 10,000 residents, located in the Detroit River about 10 miles (16 kilometres) south of Detroit. The majority of Michigan's islands are uninhabited and very small. Some of these otherwise unusable islands have been used for the large number of Michigan's lighthouses to aid in shipping throughout the Great Lakes, while others have been set aside as nature reserves. Many islands in Michigan have the same name, even some that are in the same municipality and body of water, such as Gull, Long, or Round islands.

Lake Huron is the second largest of the Great Lakes (after Lake Superior) with a surface area of 23,010 square miles (59,600km2). Michigan is the only U.S. state to border Lake Huron, while the portion of the lake on the other side of the international border belongs to the Canadian province of Ontario. The vast majority of Michigan's islands in Lake Huron are centered around Drummond Island in the northernmost portion of the state's lake territory. Drummond Island is the largest of Michigan's islands in Lake Huron and is the second largest Michigan island after Lake Superior's Isle Royale. Another large group of islands is the Les Cheneaux Islands archipelago, which itself contains dozens of small islands. Many of the lake's islands are very small and uninhabited.

As the most popular tourist destination in the state, Mackinac Island is the most well known of Lake Huron's islands. Drummond Island is the most populous of Michigan's islands in Lake Huron, with a population of 992 at the 2000 census. While Mackinac Island had a population of only 553, there are thousands more seasonal workers and tourists during the summer months.

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List of islands of Michigan - Wikipedia

Apaiata Tuihalamaka took the field before a UA football game in 2009 and, together with teammate Lolomana Mikaele, began dancing.

The two Wildcats stomped, thumped their chests and chanted.

This haka dance was a celebration of their Polynesian heritage, a dance that has lived on in different forms in the succeeding seven seasons, even surviving a coaching switch from Mike Stoops to Rich Rodriguez.

The Wildcats connection to the islands and, more specifically, Polynesian players goes back much longer.

Dick Tomeys football teams always had a handful of dynamic islanders on their rosters, the byproduct of the coachs connections to Hawaii.

Tuihalamaka came to Arizona a four-star linebacker recruit under Stoops, and signed with the Wildcats alongside his cousin Vuna, also a four-star linebacker. They were a part of a 2007 recruiting class that included the No. 1 prospect in Hawaii, Kaniela Tuipolutu, and three other Polynesian recruits.

The Tuihalamakas love for all things Arizona paid two years later when Sione, Apaiatas younger brother, signed with the UA.

I wanted to go somewhere I felt comfortable, Sione said after signing. Family was big.

Next seasons haka wont be quite the celebration it used to be. The Wildcats are expected to start just one Polynesian player, offensive lineman Michael Eletise. The program has struggled to recruit the island since 2011, when Stoops was fired and defensive line coach Joe Salavea a native of American Samoa who now recruits the islands for Oregon was allowed to leave.

That may be changing. The Wildcats hosted the first-ever Polynesian College Showcase over the weekend. Players of Polynesian descent traveled from as far away as Hawaii and New Jersey to work out in front of college coaches. Rodriguez hosted a camp that included coaches from Fresno State, Fordham, Illinois and BYU.

BYU currently lists 36 Polynesian players on its roster; Arizona has four.

Recruiting the islands comes with a challenge notably, distance.

That never bothered Tomey, who spent nearly 10 years coaching at Hawaii before he was hired by Arizona in 1987. Tomeys teams at Hawaii and the UA included 120 Polynesian players, according to Sports Illustrated.

Quarterback George Malauulu was one of the players who helped establish the Polynesian culture when he was recruited to Arizona in the early 1990s. He played 36 games in Tomeys option offense between 1989-92.

Slowly but surely, (Polynesian players) started coming in, he said. Just knowing we had a stake in the Desert Swarm era and made it a special time.

In 1997, Malauulu a native of Carson, California, who is of Polynesian descent helped establish the AIGA Foundation. The nonprofit group helps players with Polynesian ethnic backgrounds land scholarships. The foundation has helped players like Marcus Mariota, Juju Smith-Schuster and Anu Solomon get noticed.

Malauulus relationship with the UAs current staff was distant. He and Rodriguez had met in passing but had never worked together.

If he were to look at me, hed probably say whos this guy? Malauulu said. Im just Joe Nobody.

Malauulu did know graduate assistant Davy Gnodle, however; the two worked with Rodriguez to establish the camp. Gnodle is the only UA staffer with Polynesian ties. He hails from California but has relatives in Samoa and American Samoa.

Arizona had an easier time recruiting the islands under Tomey. Former UA assistants Duane Akina, Larry Mac Duff, Dave Fagg and Sam Papalii all coached at Hawaii, and developed relationships with high school coaches on the islands and in Polynesian-heavy communities in California. Those connections helped the Wildcats land players like Brandon Manumaleuna, Pulu Poumele, Van Tuinei, Steven Grace and Manuia Savea.

Stoops employed coaches Mike Tuiasosopo, Robert Anae and Salavea. They helped the Wildcats land, among others, Aiulua Fanene from American Samoa and Sani Fuimaono from Hawaii. Willie Tuitama, Taimi Tutogi and the tackling Tuihalamakas, all from California, committed to the Cats. So did Keola Antolin, who grew up in Las Vegas.

The Wildcats made inroads in Hawaii, too. Stoops said in 2011 that the UA had a great chance to own that part of the country.

But Stoops was fired that season. The UA replaced him with Rodriguez, who had never coached in the West before and didnt have any coaching connections to the Polynesian community. Rodriguez kept Anae on staff, but he left after one season for a job at BYU.

Salavea went to Washington State, leaving earlier this off-season for Oregon. He promptly flipped defensive lineman Austin Faoliu from UA to the Ducks, and secured a commitment from linebacker Isaac Slade-Matautia, a former UA target.

I was hoping Joe would come back to Bear Down red and blue, but Oregon stole him, Malauulu said. I was like, Come on, Joe!

Arizonas current roster has just four players of Polynesian descent redshirt freshmen Eletise and Kahi Neves, junior college transfer Sione Taufamahema and true freshman Anthony Pandy. None has played a collegiate snap. Freddie Tagaloa finished his UA career without making a large impact on the offensive line. Derrick Turituri and Anthony Fotu were kicked off the team. Solomon transferred to Baylor, and Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea transferred home to Hawaii.

After Coach Tomey, the philosophy of recruiting took it in that direction, Malauulu said. But everyone has their own mindset of what theyre going to do and how theyre going to go about doing this.

Arizonas camp bodes well for the Wildcats, and this is where Malauulus foundation comes in helps those players aching for exposure.

Stephen Barber Jr. of Honolulus Punahou High School holds offers from just Hawaii and Navy despite being the top-rated quarterback in Hawaii. Barber spent Thursday at a camp in San Diego, then promptly made the trek to Tucson for Arizonas camp.

He called it a lot of fun.

Especially coming up here and just seeing how I stack up against the mainland competition, getting some exposure that I dont really get on the island, he said.

Arizona looked how (college) looks in movies, Barber added.

Denaylan Fuimaono is a three-star safety from Carson, California, who holds offers from Washington State, Utah State and Navy, among others. Arizona has shown interest, too.

Fuimaono is aware of the history of Polynesian standouts at all of those schools, including Arizona. When camp ended Saturday, the UA had offered scholarships to quarterback DJ Uiagaleilei of Bellflower, California, and wide receiver Puka Nacu from Orem, Utah.

Thats something big, thats something Polynesians care about, Fuimaono said. We cant forget about that, where we came from and our roots. Thats something we carry around with us we have to.

Contact:zrosenblatt@tucson.com or 573-4145. On Twitter: @ZackBlatt

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Arizona Wildcats get second chance to recruit islands, Polynesian ... - Arizona Daily Star

A rain-soaked springfuelledflooding across the city's waterfront and low-lying areas. Long after the storms passed, high lake levels still threatenhomes and businesses on the Toronto islands. Andmany of the city's summer staples likewarm days on the beach, kids' camps and long weekend celebrations are going to be a little different this year.

In early May, a multi-day storm swooped in over the GTA. It's estimated between 70 and 90 mm of rain fell in less than 48 hours.

(Lauren Pelley/CBC)

The rain threatened to shut down major arteries into the downtown core andflood basements across the waterfront and surrounding neighbourhoods.

(Ali Chiasson/CBC)

The potential for flooding is not new for residents of the Toronto islands.Many were hoping the high water levels were only a temporary inconvenience. Jimmy Jones told CBC Toronto he'd seen worse flooding in his decades on the islands.

(CBC)

But as it poured, it became clear things could get worse for island residents. An intense sandbagging effort began.

(Chris Glover/CBC)

Ferry service to the islands was restricted to locals, city crews and emergency personnel. Ships were kept on standby in case the particularly vulnerable Ward's Island would need to be evacuated overnight. It's home to about 700 residents.

(Lauren Pelley/CBC)

Even when the storm ended, the lake loomed large. Island residents were told that despite the blue skies, Lake Ontario could still rise another 25 centimetres before it reached its peak. More than 15,000 sandbags went down in strategic zones.

(Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

Large parts of the islands were alreadya wetland, however.

(Courtesy of the City of Toronto)

Carp found a new hole to call home on a baseball diamond.

(Courtesy of Dominic Matte)

People tried to enjoy usual islands delights. But it was, uh, difficult.

(Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

Businessesthat rely on summer tourism, like the Island Cafe on Ward's Island, are wondering if there's any hope. Owner Peter Freeman told CBC Toronto that business fell of a cliff. The Rectory Cafe just down the road has already decided to close in the fall.

(Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

Weddings, kids' camps and special events are summer staples on the islands. Not so much this year.

Permits were originally suspended until the end of June. That deadline was quickly amended to the end of July. Three hundred permits, affecting 90 groups and 350 would-be summer campers, have all been put on hold until water levels recede.

(Courtesy of Anna Prodanou)

After a delayed opening, all 11 of the city's beaches are open to the public. However, most don't have lifeguards and haven't been tended by city crews yet.E.coli may also be a lingering problem in some swimming zones.

(Gary Morton/CBC)

(Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

It may not be ideal, but Torontoniansare still trying to have fun. Pamela Fox said her walks along Cherry Beach have been "messy," but the dogs didn't seem to mind.

(Adrian Cheung/CBC)

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The ups and downs of life on the islands after a rain-soaked spring - CBC.ca

JUPITER

After 30 years working Jupiter beach, lifeguard Rob Rogerson retired June 9 and is moving to the Virgin Islands to operate a charter sailboat.

Im leaving paradise for paradise, said the 56-year-old who grew up in Palm Beach Gardens.

Rogerson plans on buying a 25-foot sailboat. Over the years, he has vacationed in the islands and gotten to know the owners of the boat.

Whenever I visited the island, I would always rent that boat. Now, Im buying it. Its a dream come true, said Rogerson, a Jupiter resident.

Rogerson started as a lifeguard when he was 26. His title now is ocean lifeguard rescue boat operator and emergency medical technician.

Training other lifeguards and reaching out to the public have been Rogersons best assets, said Eric Call, executive director of Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation.

(Rob) loves teaching, educating and communicating with the public. Hes been an excellent lifeguard. He always stayed in great shape. Hes a dedicated employee. Hell be sorely missed, said Call.

The plan is to rent out the boat, which fits about six people. Hell take visitors out to nearby islands for day trips.

Well go out snorkeling, watch the sunsets, said, Rogerson, who plans on leaving in August.

In the meantime, Rogerson plans on stand-up paddling 50 miles on June 17 from Bimini to Florida toraise money for cystic fibrosis.

Hell take with him happy memories of Jupiter, he said.

No matter how many times I come in the Jupiter Inlet and Im guided by the lighthouse, it makes my heart jump when I see those home waters. It tells me that Im home, said Rogerson.

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After 30 years, retiring Jupiter lifeguard says he's leaving 'paradise' - Palm Beach Post

If President Trump's decision to withdraw the U.Sfrom the Paris climate deal leads to increased emissions, it could pull the plug on island nations thatface an existential threat from rising sea levels.

Whilefar-flung islands like the Maldives and the Marshall Islands might seem far removed from the U.S. economic interests championed by President Trump, this threat will also strike close to home. U.S. island states and territories like Guam, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii house important U.S. military assets and support valuable U.S. industries like tourism. People are talking about the fate of small island states as if it has nothing to do with the rest of the world, said Thomas Lovejoy, the renowned U.S. ecologist. What happens to islands happens to all of us.

This move is particularly galling to the island leaders of the High Ambition Coalition, a group of rich, poor and emerging economies that included Pacific islands, African and Caribbean governments, EU members, the United States, Mexico, Canada and Brazil, who pushed in Paris for higher targets on moral grounds. Islands always punch well above their weight on this issue, said Jainey Bavishi, formerly at the White House Council on Environmental Policy, at the Wilson Center in 2016.

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The reactions from island leaders were strong and swift. The president of the Maldives, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, was especially disappointed that the worlds largest economy and biggest historic emitter abdicated its responsibility on such a critical issue. The economic impacts for many islands will be harshest for those that rely on tourism. In its statement reacting to Trumps decision, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association said that the Paris agreement is important to the Caribbean's own self-interests and also those of the world, with millions of visitors enjoying the incredible natural beauty the region offers.

Read more: North Korea says U.S. is on an ego trip after making the 'ignorant decision' to quit Paris climate deal

The United States own island states and territories have a long history of shared trust and direct dialogwith island nations. The Pacific Islands Environmental Conference, which begins on June 13 in Saipanthe largest island in the U.S. commonwealth of the NorthernMariana Islandsis just one example of these joint efforts. At the conference, representatives of Pacific Islands will discuss how to manage environmental changes while maintaining their well-being and economic prosperity, including more innovative island-to-island collaborations. If the withdrawal from Paris cuts these ties, U.S. citizens of island states and territories will lose the connections and collaborations with other leaders that best understand the unique challenges they face.

An aerial view of the Maldives capital Male on December 9, 2009. The island nation is one of those most threatened by rising sea levels. Reinhard Krause/Reuters

Islands are not just victims of climate change; they are also champions of change, striving to find new ways to increase their economic and physical resilience in face of future storms. The restricted scale, isolation, and sharp boundaries of islands create unique selective pressures, often to dramatic effect, said Maxine Burkett, a professor of law at the University of Hawaii and Wilson Center Global Fellow, making them living laboratories. Coastal areas of the continental United States could benefit from working with island experts to pilot innovative methods to bolster their shorelines, protect valuable infrastructure, and find new sources of revenues as water levels rise.

Can island nations move from being Paris moral compass to its hubs of innovation without the support of the United States? Other members of the global communitysuch as China, India, and the European Unionwill need to fill the gap and support islands in their fight for survival. U.S. island territories and coastal communities should push to keep lines of communication open outside of the agreement, by finding some way to participate in the international dialog, including the next Climate Conference of Parties, which will be organized by Fiji and take place in Bonn in November.

At the same time, island nations should seek meaningful collaboration with U.S. cities and states. Fijis Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said this week at the U.N. Oceans Conference in New York: You had Hurricane Sandy in 2012. We had Cyclone Winston last year. And it has bound us together as a people Fijians and New Yorkers in our determination to work with the rest of the world to tackle the threat of climate change."

Ultimately, the agreements fate will not rest on the United States. Islands will face the threat of extinction head on. "Our own commitment will never waiver. Our existence is at stake, said Guyanas president, David Granger, in the statement from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads of state.

The United States will survive, but its national security and economic interests could suffer, its coastal infrastructure will be probably damaged, and its innovation squandered, while U.S. citizens that live next to the rising seas may be forced to move to higher ground. We may all be islanders, but no man is an island.

Roger-Mark De Souza is the director of population, environmental security, and resilience at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC. The views expressed above do not necessarily reflect the views of the Center staff, fellows, trustees, advisory groups, or any individuals or organizations that provide financial support to the Center.

Originally posted here:

Paris Climate Deal: Island Nations Face Extinction From Rising Sea Levels - Newsweek

SmartNews Keeping you current So. Many. Islands. (NASA World Wind/Wikimedia Commons)

smithsonian.com June 9, 2017 2:50PM

How many islands are in Indonesia? You might think that the answer a lot is a bit glib, but it turns out that the Republic of Indonesia itself doesnt really know, either. The nation of many islands consists of so many small land masses that they have never been officially counted. Until now: As the BBC reports, Indonesia is embarking on an ambitious island census.

The census isa bid to mark Indonesian territory by registering the islands with the United Nations, the BBC reports. As the Financial Times Ben Bland explains, Indonesia fought hard for the legal concept of an archipelagic statea country that controls not just the waters inside it, but around it. The concept led to a long definitionin the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, an international treaty that establishes how UN member nations deal with oceans.

That treaty contains another key definition, the BBC notes: one that describes an island. According to the treaty, an island is a natural land mass that is surrounded by water and that is not obscured by water during a high tide. Indonesia certainly doesnt lack for thosebut it cant seem to keep its numbers straight. Its submitted varying estimates of its number of islands over the years, perhaps because the definition of island doesnt depend on whether its inhabited, above a certain size, or even named.

But the estimates are just that: estimates. With satellite technology, Indonesiaupped its estimate from 17,508 in 1996to over 18,000in 2003.As the Indonesian news agency reported earlier this year, the hope is to bring the official UN count up to at least 14,572 named islands. But even that wont take all of the countrys manyunnamedislands into consideration.

Still, not all islands Indonesia claims are willing to stay there. In 2002, the International Court of Justice forcedIndonesia to cede Ligitan and Sipadan, two tiny islands, to Malaysia, and after a 24-year occupationEast Timor became an independent nationfrom Indonesia (also in 2002).

The total number of islands in Indonesia has big geopolitical implications. Voice of Americas Pete Cobus notesthat the area is one of the worlds most important waterways,home to a third of the worlds maritime traffic and up to $5 trillion in trade. Indonesian vessels recently clashed with Vietnamese ones in the area, and questions of sovereignty continue to roil the waterway.

With maritime tensions in Asia on the rise, fueled by controversy over island ownership in the South China Sea, not to mention climate concernsthousands of Indonesias islands are threatened by rising seasand fears of private companies taking over small islands, there's no doubt thatnumerical drama will play out at the UN Conference on the Standardization of Geographic Names this summer when the conference decides which names go on official maps.

But first, Indonesia must finish its own big taskcounting all of those islands.

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Indonesia's Trying to Figure Out How Many Islands It Contains - Smithsonian

[From an official press release of the Polynesian Voyaging Society.]

(Hawaii) At 12:30 p.m. this afternoon, the crew of Hokulea sited the sacred mountain of Haleakala, signifying that the legendary canoe is officially back home after sailing for 37 months, 40,000 nautical miles and visiting more than 150 ports in 19 countries around the world. After spending 400 days at sea and 700 days on foreign soil, Hokulea will be bringing home wisdom, lessons, and ideas as gifts to share with Hawaiis children from this voyage of rich learning.

I also want to express our gratitude to the crews of the 30 other legs and the thousands of people in Hawaii, the Pacific, and around the world for allowing this voyage to happen. We are grateful for all that they have given to the success of the voyage, Thompson added.

Although Hokulea and Hikianalia are in home waters, the canoes are still under kapu until the arrival ceremony at Magic Island on June 17.

We will be spending the next week slowly making our way towards Oahu, said Thompson. We appreciate the aloha and support of friends and families eager to greet our canoes and crew, and we ask for your patience and understanding as we direct all those interested in greeting Hokulea, Hikianalia and our crew to our June 17 arrival at Kalia (Magic Island), Oahu, he added.

After returning to Oahu, Hokolea and Hikianalia will begin the most important leg of the voyage, which will be an eight-month sail to 30 ports throughout the Hawaiian islands.

When we sail throughout the Hawaiian Islands, we will go to as many as 70 communities and 100 schools to thank Hawaiis people and share what we have learned with their children. We are also looking forward to hearing Hawaii stories of Malama Honua, said Thompson. Kalia (Magic Island) is the first stop of a year-long homecoming, he added.

See the rest here:

Hokulea Sights the Hawaiian Islands After Incredible 3-Year Voyage - National Geographic

After a slow winter, the Faroe Islands' Vagar Airport reported a 25 percent increase in visitors in May and is set to break more visitor records this summer.

May has proven to be very satisfying indeed. Normally we have some 20,000 25,000 travelers in May, Jkup Sverri Kass, CEO at Vagar Airport said in a statement. We had some 32,500 passengers through the terminal.

And its no wonder that the Faroe Islands have become increasingly attractive to tourists. WOW Air and other budget European airlines have increased their direct routes not only to the Faroe Islands but also to the United States and Canada recently, and have been offering travelers huge travel deals to other Nordic destinations like Iceland and Copenhagen, which are mere hops, skips and jumps away from the previously overlooked archipelago.

The prices of tickets have decreased and there has been an increased awareness on the Faroe Islands as a tourism destination, said Kass.

Going to the Faroe Islands is a great vacation even without the added benefit of seeing a metropolitan city like Copenhagen along the way. The islands, which are an independent nation under Denmark, offer some of the most gorgeous views in nothern Europe and the summers boast days with 22 hours of sunlight during which tourists can take in the area's food festivals and outdoor concerts.

Also, the wildlife is pretty unique. For example, the sheep on Faroe Islands have adapted to the tough, rocky conditions of their landscape. Locals even used the livestock as a way of documenting the islands for Google Street View. They, of course called it, Sheep View 360. And on the island of Mykines, youll find a thriving puffin colony by a beautiful lighthouse nestled by the cliffs.

Throughout the islands, there are also plenty of opportunities and places to sample local foods like fermented lamb and fish, and pine-smoked langoustine. While theres plenty of outdoor activities to do the capital of Trshavn has dozens of shops, cafes, museums and restaurants to visit as well.

The peak season for the Faroe Islands is between June and August, when the weather is warmest and the days are longest. The way trends are going, this remote European treasure isnt going to stay remote much longer.

Read the rest here:

Why the Faroe Islands are hot with travelers this summer - Travel+Leisure

The San Juan Sheriffs Office responded to the following calls.

May 31

A deputy initiated a traffic stop in Friday Harbor and issued a ticket for failure to wear a seatbelt.

A deputy was dispatched in Friday Harbor to a report of a vehicle prowl. An investigation was conducted. There is no further information at this time.

A deputy spoke with a Lopez Island resident about an anti-harassment order violation.The reporting party received a social media message that the party on the court order had posted an obscene comment about him. There is an investigation to determine whether a crime was committed.

A deputy in Friday Harbor received a report of a hit and run. It is unknown at this time who hit the vehicle.

June 1

An Orcas Island deputy responded to a report of an Eastsound resident receiving threatening text messages on his phone. After reading the text messages the deputy observed that no crime had occurred and gathered the necessary information for an information report.

A deputy was dispatched to a suspicious circumstance in Friday Harbor. An informational report was completed.

A deputy initiated a traffic stop in Friday Harbor and cited the driver for driving with a suspended license in the third degree, failure to wear a seatbelt and not having car insurance.

An Orcas Island deputy conducted a traffic stop for having a defective tail light and expired vehicle registration. Further investigation revealed the drivers license was suspended. The driver was cited for driving with a suspended license and having expired vehicle registration past two months.

June 2

An Orcas Island deputy responded to a report of a hit and run collision on private property. Upon investigation, the deputy found there was no suspect or suspect vehicle information. There was only minor damage to the vehicle that was struck. Information was gathered and a collision report was made.

An Orcas resident came to the sheriffs office to turn himself in on multiple local warrants. The subject was processed and booked into jail, pending a court hearing.

An Orcas Island deputy located a subject who had a warrant. The subject was arrested and transported to jail to await arraignment.

A Lopez Island deputy stopped a vehicle in the 2200 block of Fisherman Bay Road after he saw the driver traveling over the posted speed limit. The deputy issued the driver a ticket for speeding.

June 3

A Friday Harbor cement mixer was northbound on Roche Harbor Road. Vehicles in front of him stopped abruptly forcing him to swerve to the right. The mixer over balanced and rolled down the embankment. The driver was not injured and the mixer was righted and towed from the scene.

The sheriffs office was contacted by the United States Coast Guard. The coast guard requested assistance with a boating violation investigation. Orcas Island deputies located and interviewed the individual in question. The report was sent to the coast guard.

A Lopez Island deputy stopped a motorist for speeding in the 2100 block of Fisherman Bay Road. The driver was issued a ticket for speeding.

Deputies responded to a disturbance in Eastsound. An investigation was conducted and everything was found to be fine and all parties checked okay.

A Lopez deputy was dispatched for a hit and run collision involving a parked vehicle. Upon investigation, a note was found on the victims vehicle identifying the other driver.

June 4

A Lopez Island deputy was sent to a downed tree blocking MacKaye Harbor Road. The road was cleared by a public works crew.

A Lopez Island deputy located a vulnerable adult who had wandered off from their caregiver. The subject was returned home safely without incident. A report was taken.

A deputy responded to a vandalism call near Eastsound. An investigation was conducted. The case is ongoing.

An Orcas Island deputy responded to the Eastsound area for a report of an unsecured premise. No forced entry was observed. A report was taken.

June 5

A deputy received a call about a verbal argument a woman had with her spouse. No crime occurred and she declined a law enforcement response. A report was taken.

A Lopez Island deputy was called to a residence regarding an unwanted subject. Upon contact with the deputy, the subject left willingly without incident.

An Orcas Island deputy responded to a report of a theft in the Olga area. The resident stated her air compressor was stolen from the storage room attached to her garage. The deputy observed no signs of forced entry or evidence of a burglary. Information was gathered and a report was made.

A deputy was dispatched to an animal at large in Friday Harbor. The owner of the dog was issued a dog at large warning letter.

June 6

Two Orcas Island deputies responded by patrol boat to Shaw Island in regards to a domestic assault. No one wished to press criminal charges against one another. A report was taken.

An Eastsound business owner found three power tools hidden on their property. Those items were recovered and the owner has been contacted to determine if they are stolen. A report was taken.

An Orcas deputy received a call about a found wallet. The deputy received the wallet from a good Samaritan who had recovered it off a park bench. Attempts to contact the owner are being made.

Deputies responded to a residence on San Juan Island to investigate a domestic disturbance. No assault took place and no further enforcement action was taken.

Read more from the original source:

Threatening texts, cement slide and tree topples | Sheriff's Log - Islands' Sounder

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Vineyard Tours One of the most renowned attractions on Long Island has been the vast expanse of vineyards

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Things To Do Whether you're looking for indoor or outdoor fun, there is always something to do no matter where on Long Island

Nassau County Neighborhoods City of Glen Cove City of Long Beach Town of Hempstead Atlantic Beach Baldwin Bellerose Terrace Bellmore Bethpage Cedarhurst East Meadow East Rockaway Elmont Floral Park Franklin Square Freeport Garden City Hempstead Hewlett Inwood Island Park Lawrence Levittown Lynbrook Malverne Merrick Mineola New Hyde Park North Lynbrook North Valley Stream North Woodmere Oceanside Point Lookout Rockville Centre Roosevelt Seaford South Hempstead Uniondale Valley Stream Wantagh West Hempstead Woodmere Town of North Hempstead Albertson Carle Place Floral Park Glenwood Landing Great Neck Greenvale Kings Point Manhasset Mineola New Hyde Park North New Hyde Park Old Westbury Port Washington Roslyn Roslyn Heights Westbury Williston Park Town of Oyster Bay Bayville Bethpage East Norwich Farmingdale Glen Head Glenwood Landing Greenvale Hicksville Jericho Locust Valley Massapequa Massapequa Park Mill Neck Old Bethpage Old Westbury Oyster Bay Plainview Sea Cliff Syosset Woodbury Suffolk County Neighborhoods Town of Babylon Amityville Babylon Copiague Deer Park Lindenhurst North Amityville North Babylon West Babylon West Islip Wyandanch Town of Brookhaven Bellport Blue Point Brookhaven Calverton Centereach Center Moriches Coram East Moriches East Patchogue Eastport East Setauket Farmingville Holbrook Holtsville Lake Grove Manorville Mastic Mastic Beach Medford Middle Island Miller Place Moriches Mount Sinai North Patchogue Patchogue Port Jefferson Port Jefferson Station Ridge Rocky Point Ronkonkoma Selden Shirley Shoreham Sound Beach Stony Brook Upton Wading River Yaphank Town of East Hampton Amagansett East Hampton Montauk Sag Harbor Wainscott Town of Huntington Centerport Cold Spring Harbor Commack East Northport Greenlawn Huntington Huntington Station Lloyd Harbor Melville Northport Town of Islip Bayport Bay Shore Bohemia Brentwood Brightwaters Central Islip East Islip Great River Hauppauge Holbrook Holtsville Islandia Islip Islip Terrace Oakdale Ocean Beach Ronkonkoma Sayville West Islip West Sayville Town of Riverhead Aquebogue Calverton Jamesport Laurel Manorville Riverhead South Jamesport Wading River Town of Shelter Island Shelter Island Shelter Island Heights Town of Smithtown Commack Hauppauge Kings Park Nesconset Saint James Smithtown Town of Southampton Bridgehampton Eastport East Quogue Hampton Bays Quogue Remsenburg Sagaponack Sag Harbor Southampton Speonk Water Mill Westhampton Westhampton Beach Town of Southold Cutchogue East Marion Fishers Island Greenport Laurel Mattituck New Suffolk Orient Peconic Southold

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Check the status of an existing NYC311 Service Request

You can check the status of your Service Request using your confirmation number. Most confirmation numbers begin with C1-1 and you should enter them using the format C1-1-XXXXXXXXX. If your confirmation number does not begin with C1-1, enter it without spaces or dashes.

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What if I get a Service Request Not Found message?

Try again later. It may take several hours for your status to be available. If you cannot get your status online, call 311.

What if I am not satisfied with my Service Request status or the agency's response?

You can contact the agency directly through their website. Go to the Agencies list under NYC Resources to find links to agency websites.

You can also submit another Service Request.

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Welcome to NYC.gov | City of New York

There is a reason that families choose islands over the mainland when they seek their summer sun.

Of course, the beaches running from the Costa del Sol to the Cte d'Azur, curving around Puglia and along the miles of Croatian and Greek coastline, have their charms. But a family escape to an island offers something different.

First, theres the sense of physical separation from the mundanities of work and school life. Then theres the fact that the island is finite: you can cross its main attractions and activities off your list at a leisurely pace - travel time to and from these events will be minimal.

Then, just gaze out at the sea, happily marooned and safe in the knowledge that nothing else is visible on the horizon. But which is the right island for your family?

Let our experts be your guides through the five stages of family travel to find the perfect island for you...

Read more here:

The 25 greatest Mediterranean islands for a family holiday - Telegraph.co.uk

China is no long making more artificial islands to bolster its territorial claims in the South China Seait has moved on to developing them, adding aircraft hangars, communications equipment, and weapons positions. That's one conclusion of the Pentagon's annual report on the Chinese military, and it's a finding that contradicts Chinese leader Xi Jinping's pledge to not militarize the contested region, which is also claimed by many of China's neighbors.

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In 2009, Beijing set off alarm bells by circulating a map in which it appeared to claim up to 90 percent of the South China Sea. The territorial claim intruded on competing claims by neighbors including Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia. Starting in 2014, China began using dredging equipment to expand existing reefs and shoals in the region into full-fledged "islands," adding 2,300 acres of new "land" to the Spratly Islands.

Satellite photo of Chinese occupied Subi Reef showing new runaway. Subi Reef has added 976 acres of new dry land.

Getty NASA/USGS photo.

In early 2015, Chinese leader Xi Jinping vowed not to militarize the islands, saying, "Relevant construction activities that China are undertaking in the island of South Nansha [Spratly] Islands do not target or impact any country, and China does not intend to pursue militarization." China has claimed its activities in the South China Sea are strictly limited to safety, tourism, and scientific research.

Despite this pledge, outside observers have noted several military facilities, including anti-ship missile systems, surface to air missiles, and communications facilities. The new Department of Defense report (available here) states China has built advanced runways and 24 fighter-sized hangars on three of the "islands." That's enough for a regiment of People's Liberation Army Air Force fighters, an organization broadly comparable to a U.S. Air Force wing of 48 to 72 aircraft. China has said the aircraft runaways are in part necessary for tourism flightsbut it is unclear why a single island would need 24 hangars too small for civilian airline aircraft.

Woody Island -- known as Yongxing Island to China. China has deployed advanced surface to air missiles and J-11BH fighters to the island.

Getty Visual China Group

China claims that while it has pledged not to militarize the South China Sea, it does reserve the right to maintain enough military facilities to guard the territory. Whether or not China has any right to this territory to begin aside, China's statement begs the question as to what exactly constitutes "defensive military facilities." The United States, Australia, and Japan have all conducted so-called "freedom of navigation" operations in the South China Sea in defiance of China's claims, sailing warships there in a gesture of defiance. Beijing promptly uses those incidents as justification to increase the level of military forces it maintains in the islands.

Source: DefenseOne

Read more from the original source:

China Breaks Promise, Starts Arming Its Fake "Islands" - Popular Mechanics

BBC News

SNP holds and Lib Dem gain in Highlands and Islands BBC News The SNP have held all but one of their four Highlands and Islands seats in the election. Angus MacNeil was re-elected in the Western Isles' constituency Na h-Eileanan an Iar. Drew Hendry was returned as MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey ... and more »

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SNP holds and Lib Dem gain in Highlands and Islands - BBC News

Marine protected areas, set up to conserve marine ecosystems and species, accumulate pollutants swept in from mainland shores by ocean currents.

It would be natural to assume that remote and sparsely inhabited islands in the middle of the ocean are surrounded by crystal clear, clean waters. Unfortunately, such locations can be affected by marine pollution originating from thousands of kilometers away.

Human populations living at or near the coast are the main source of pollution in the oceans, particularly plastic debris. Once at sea, floating, suspended, and dissolved pollutants are carried by ocean currents and can move great distances over months, years, and decades. Robinson et al. introduce the concept of the connectivity footprint to demonstrate how remote oceanic areas are connected to continental coastlines via a flow of pollutants.

Their research focuses on marine protected areas (MPAs), a form of designation used internationally that seeks to conserve important ecosystems and protect threatened marine species, particularly by restricting human activities in the area.

The MPAs around four island groups (all of them British Overseas Territories) were selected for the study: Pitcairn Island in the South Pacific, South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands in the Southern Ocean, Ascension Island in the South Atlantic, and British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT, also called the Chagos Islands) in the Indian Ocean.

Using a global ocean general circulation model, the researchers released virtual particles from within the borders of the MPAs. The particles were released into the model at fixed time intervals and at a grid of locations (horizontal and vertical) over the period 2000 to 2009. Then, researchers followed the particles backward in time to assess their upstream origins to assess if, where, and when they had previously come into contact with land.

The researchers gathered data on human population density at those coastal locations to use as a proxy measure of the quantity of pollutants released into the ocean. Put together and taking into account seasonal and interannual variability in ocean currents, the data were used to calculate the annual connectivity footprint for each MPA.

The results show that the Pitcairn MPA has very low connectivity to land (0.06%) through ocean currents and faces no discernable risk from pollutants originating on the mainland. The South Georgia MPA has a low (2%) connectivity to land and a low exposure to pollutants. The Ascension MPA has medium connectivity (34%) to land and faces a significant risk. The BIOT MPA has high connectivity (71%) to land and faces high risk.

Marine protected areas represent a concerted effort to conserve valuable marine habitats and biodiversity. This study shows that granting protection from harmful human activities being carried out within the boundaries of a zone does not prevent the waters being polluted from upstream locations often many thousands of kilometers away. The connectivity footprint has the potential to be a useful tool in managing MPAs and in planning new ones. (Earths Future, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016EF000516, 2017)

Jenny Lunn, Contributing Writer

Read more here:

Ocean Currents Push Mainland Pollution to Remote Islands - Eos