Train from Kyoto to Copenhagen to Raise Awareness of Climate Change Ahead of Crucial UN Conference

Paris/Nairobi, 24 September 2009 - The International Union of Railways (UIC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the global conservation organization WWF today launched the symbolic one-month and nearly 9,000 kilometre-long train journey from Kyoto to Copenhagen to document the impacts of climate change and raise awareness of low-carbon transport solutions.

The project is done in partnership with the Seal the Deal! campaign led by the United Nations to galvanize political will and public support for reaching a comprehensive global climate agreement at the UN climate change conference (COP 15) in Copenhagen in December this year.

Train operators from around the world will participate in the Train to Copenhagen campaign with the aim of raising awareness of transport's influence on climate change.

The transport sector is major producer of CO2 emissions, already accounting for over one-fifth of global CO2 emissions. These emissions are projected to double within only 40 years. Railways are crucial in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and in developing sustainable transport systems.

The campaign will kick off on 5 November with the UIC Climate Change and Rail Seminar in the Japanese city of Kyoto - the birthplace of the current Climate Change Protocol, the current commitment period of which is due to end in 2012. The message for COP15 participants will be carried to Copenhagen through a symbolic rail journey from Kyoto to Copenhagen.

During the train journey through Russia, environmental experts and climate change campaigners will send eye-witness accounts of global warming signs underway. Siberia is a global climate change "hotspot", where thawing permafrost and melting peat bogs could slowly release billions of tons of methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere over the coming years.

On 5 December in Brussels, the Climate Express will take on board more than 400 climate change negotiators, campaigners and other high-profile personalities going to Copenhagen to participate in COP 15, for a 12-hour on-track conference focusing on how we can solve the challenges posed by the transport sector with regard to global warming.

On arrival to Copenhagen, the Climate Express, which will be powered by 100% renewable energy, will remain at Copenhagen Central Station throughout the two-week conference, serving as a mobile exhibition open to the public about low-carbon transport solutions.

Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, Director General of UIC, said: "The Train to Copenhagen team has one goal: bringing people to Copenhagen and bringing COP15 to the people. Taking the train is part of the solution in combating global warming. Trains are the most environmentally friendly mode of transport, so why would you travel by any other means to the one event in 2009 that can make a difference to the planet's future."

UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said: "We are on the road to nowhere if existing policies and economic models prevail with their over emphasis on private cars and on shifting shipments of goods to the roads. The Train to Copenhagen project is a showcase of sustainable transport solutions that will be part and parcel of a resource-efficient, low-carbon Green Economy of the 21st Century. By Sealing the Deal on an ambitious climate agreement in Copenhagen, governments will get into gear to propel the world to a low-carbon future so that societies may also finally embark on a journey to more sustainable transport."

Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said: "It is clear that business as usual is not an option if we want to reverse current trends and prevent catastrophic climate change. If we can really integrate the costs of pollution into the price of transportation, rail will be a big winner."

Kim Carstensen, Leader of WWF's Global Climate Initiative, said "The Train to Copenhagen is symbolic of the long journey we have taken in addressing climate change since Kyoto. We know where we are heading, but world leaders need to add much more steam to guarantee a fair, ambitious, and binding climate deal in Copenhagen."

Notes to Editors:

The Climate Express project is launched in conjunction with Global Climate Week (21-25 September) organized by the United Nations (http://www.sealthedeal2009.org/global-climate-week) and the UIC Energy Efficient Days 2009 (23-25 September) in Tours, France (http://www.energy-efficiency-days.org).

A number of UIC members are undertaking local Train to Copenhagen campaigns facilitating transportation to the COP15 for national delegations and other participants, including special fares. Check your local railway company for more information or www.traintocopenhagen.org

For more information contact:

At UIC: Delphine Margot, on tel.: +33 1 44 49 20 55, or email margot@uic.org; or

Liesbeth de Jong, on tel.: +33 1 44 49 20 53, or email dejong@uic.org

At UNEP: Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesperson, on mobile +41 79 596 5737 or email nick.nuttall@unep.org ; or

Xenya Scanlon, Information Officer, on mobile +254 721 847 563 or email xenya.scanlon@unep.org

At WWF Owen Gibbons, Campaign Leader, Global Deal Campaign,

on tel.: +4122364 9075; or email ogibbons@wwfint.org

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Six powerful voices. Four stunning continents. One compelling message.

Six powerful voices. Four stunning continents. One compelling message.

Let's make 2009 the year the world finds an answer to climate change.
The numbers don’t sound big, but their effects could be cataclysmic. A 2C rise above pre-industrial levels would see 20-40% of the Amazon die off within 100 years. A 3C rise would see 75% of the forest destroyed by drought over the following century, while a 4C rise would kill 85%. (Nature Geoscience).

However – there is good news. The worst of global warming can still be avoided if Greenhouse gases levels are cut substantially.
Look at the inspiring figures here who have joined the Seal the Deal! campaign and given us their time, talent and energy to help make the world a better place.
We look forward to seeing your name here too.
The Seal the Deal campaign team!

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Youth Ecology Gathering at Osaka, Japan, September 19-23, 2009

Youth Ecology Gathering at Osaka, Japan, September 19-23, 2009

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International Youth Supports UN Seal the Deal Campaign

Osaka, Japan, Sept. 23, 2009. Eco-League of Japan holds its Youth
Ecology Gathering 2009. Active Japanese Youth takes part in the event,
sharing their
achievements and activities.

During the gathering, there were also international youth who were invited to join, including active youth from Taiwan, China,
Indonesia, and the Philippines. The participants focused on two main topics, which are Climate Change and Biodiversity.

There were a lot of Japanese speakers who shared the impacts of Climate Change, a lot of lectures from Japan and international
youth as well.

Also
part of the meeting was a brief introduction of the UN-wide Seal the
Deal Campaign, which was introduced by Jessie James L. Marcellones,
where youth supports the call of the United Nations remind world
leaders to negotiate a fair, balanced and effective agreement in Copenhagen, and that they must seal a deal to power green growth, protect our planet and build a
more sustainable, prosperous global economy that will benefit all
nations and people. Jessie James Marcellones

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Tunza Conference Kicks Off!

The Tunza International Children and Youth Conference kicked off with a roar on Monday 17 August with 550 children from 110 countries around the world. The Opening Plenary saw the participants welcomed by Daejeon Mayor Park Seoung-Hyo, Dr Kim Jae Bum, the Secretary-General of the UNEP National Committee for Korea, and Dirk Frenzel representing global sponsor Bayer AG.

The first plenary session, which was on Climate Change and Children, saw several young participants present their original, bold and creative projects, including Cassandra Lin’s project to ‘TGIF’ (‘Turn Grease Into Fuel’) in Rhode Island (USA), Eleanor Sutcliffe’s beach clean-up initiative in Wales (UK) and a group of Korean children who make soap from waste oil.

Tunza Junior Board members also spoke out: Francesco Govender updated the participants on the Tunza African Regional Children’s Conference which took place on 7-10 August in Durban, and Yugratna Srivastava gave a rousing speech which ended with her call: “If not now, then when? If not us, then who?”

The children participants will be joined on 20 August by 250 youth aged 15-24. During the weeklong conference – the biggest-ever youth gathering on climate change – the 800 participants will agree on their message to world leaders on climate change just a few months before the key Copenhagen meeting.

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Seal the Deal! - Youth Action on Climate Change

Seal the Deal! - Youth Action on Climate Change

In September 2009, UNEP with the support of UNICEF and several other UN agencies hope to bring together over one million young people to march across one hundred capitals to deliver to global leaders a petition on behalf of the world’s three billion young people.

The petition will be developed online and finally agreed to in Daejeon, South Korea at a Global Townhall for young people on climate change.

Organized against the backdrop of the world wide campaign on climate change “Seal the Deal”, the petition aims to ensure the voices of youth reach, and hopefully inspire world leaders to sign a definitive climate deal in Copenhagen.

“Seal the Deal” Youth Action includes a number of consolidated activities, that will be given high visibility through the media and online, during the course of the campaign.

* Children and Youth Conferences on Climate Change, Daejeon, South Korea (17 to 23 August 2009)

The Conference will bring together 750 participants comprising 550 children (10 to 14 years) and their chaperones and 200 youth (15 to 24 years). The theme of the conference is "Climate Change - Our Challenge" and will include two high profile events (a global townhall and a Global debate on climate change). The Conference will result in a plan for promoting individual actions on climate change.

1. Global Debate on Climate Change with political and business leaders (20 August 2009)

The participants of the Conference will have an opportunity to discuss climate change in a debate with political and business leaders and explore scenarios for the global community as well as the individual participants to adopt actions to address climate change.

Political and business leaders as well as senior UN dignitaries will join 1,000 participants of the Tunza International Children’s and Youth Conferences to discuss climate change and the various scenarios that governments, businesses and individuals should adopt to combat climate change. The children and youth will have an opportunity of debating with the leaders, why serious actions is not being taken by political and business leaders and what young people can do to engage their communities and leaders for serious actions on climate change.

Partnerships with major broadcasters and parallel online events will maximize the reach and impact of the events.

2. Global Townhall (20 August 2009)

The Global Townhall meeting will include all 1,000 participants of the Conference and virtual participants from over 20 cities around the world connected via webcasting. It will be organized with the support of UNICEF.

* UniteforClimate Online Campaign

UniteforClimate is an interactive social networking platform developed by UNICEF in collaboration with UNEP. It provides a platform for young people to learn, interact and share their thoughts about climate change and the action needed to combat global warming.

The soft launch of the platform will take in April 2009 while the main launch scheduled to take place on 20 August 2009 during the Global Townhall.

Young people will be encouraged to interact with scientists and decision-makers in an attempt to build their capacity and knowledge.

* Virtual Climate Wall

A Virtual Climate Wall will allow young people to articulate their concerns on climate change so the world can understand why the next generation feels it’s imperative to reach agreement in Copenhagen. This Climate Wall will be projected at UN headquarters during the General Assembly meeting on 22 September, and at the Climate Conference in Copenhagen in December.

* Global Action Week on Climate Change, 20 to 25 September 2009

Young people from around the world will be invited to join a Global Action Week on Climate Change from 20 to 25 September 2009. The Action Week is being organized in partnership with the world’s leading environmental NGO’s and coincides with the UN General Assembly Summit in New York on 22 September 2009.

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19th Painting Competition Theme: Biodiversity: connecting with Nature

The International Children’s Painting Competition on the Environment is organized every year by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE), Bayer and Nikon Corporation. It has been held since 1991 and has received more than 2.4 million entries from children in over 100 countries. The theme for this years competition is Biodiversity and it will focus on our beautiful earth, full of different life forms and what can we do to protect it.

The children’s paintings will focus on concrete actions to preserve biodiversity such as tree planting, marine and animal conservation, restoration of coral reefs etc

The competition was launched on 20 August 2009. The organizers are inviting children all over the world to submit their paintings to the UNEP office in their regions. Addresses of these offices are indicated on page

Entry Rules and Conditions:

Children between the age of 6 and 14 years.

1) Paintings must be done on A4 OR A3 papers.

2) Full name, age (day, month, and year) and full address including phone and e-mail (in English) must be on the back of the painting.

3) Style of painting is free: crayons, colored pencils, watercolors, etc.

4) Paintings that have been shown or accepted elsewhere will not be accepted in this competition.

5) Paintings that show a particular person, an organization or a brand name will not be accepted.

6) Do not include any words or descriptions in the paintings.

7) Only hard copies of paintings will be accepted. (E-mail entries will only be accepted after by hard copies is received).

8) You can submit more than one entry.

Prizes:

Global winners: The 1st Prize: One entrant - US$ 2,000 with a fully paid trip for the winner and a chaperone to the Tunza International Childrens Conference (date and venue to be confirmed later). The winner will also receive a plaque and supplementary prizes.

The 2nd Prize:

One entrant - US$ 1,000 each and a fully paid trip for winners and chaperones to the Tunza International Childrens Conference (date and venue to be confirmed later). Each winner will also receive a plaque and supplementary prizes.

The 3rd Prize:

Five entrants – A diploma for each winner (No cash)

The 4th Prize:

Ten entrants – A diploma for each winner (No cash)

The 5th Prize:

Forty five entrants – A diploma for each winner (No cash)

Regional winners:

One winner only from each region: Africa; Asia and the Pacific; West Asia; Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean; and North America.

US$ 1,000 and fully paid trip for each winner and chaperones to the Tunza International Childrens Conference (venue and date to be confirmed later).

(Note that by entering the Competition, you have assigned copyright of

your painting(s) to the organizers. The painting(s) will not be returned and will be used to raise environmental awareness through exhibition, websites, posters, publications etc) and -to raise funds to further promote environmental activities by children.

Selection of winners:

Winners will be selected through a fair and impartial selection by the organizers.

Announcement of winners:

(1) Regional winners will be announced on April 30 2010

(2) Global winners will be announced at the venue of the next Tunza International Children’s Conference (venue and dates to be confirmed later)

Regional Office for Africa
P.O. Box 30552 00100 Room A-120 Nairobi-Kenya
Tel: (254 20) 762 4292, Fax: (254 20) 762 3928
Email: Angele.Luh@unep.org

UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
2nd Floor, United Nations Building
Rajdamnern Avenue, Bangok 10200 Thailand
Tel :( 66-2) 288-2314, Fax; (66-2) 280- 3829
Email: sarabuddhi@un.org

UNEP Regional Office for Europe
11-13 chemin des Anémones
CH-1219 Châtelaine-Genève
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 8279, Fax: +41 (0) 22 797 3420
E-mail: Kristin.ebbesen@unep.ch

UNEP Regional Office for Latin America & the Caribbean
Clayton, Ciudad del Saber - Avenida Morse, Edificio 132
Corregimiento de Ancón - Ciudad de Panamá,
Tel.: (507) 305-3164 (directo), Fax: (507)305-3105
E-mail: elizabeth.osorio@mail.pnuma.org

UNEP Regional Office for North America
1707 H Street, NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006, USA
Tel: 1 (202) 974.13.09, Fax: 1 (202) 785-2096
E-mail: tcieux@rona.unep.org

UNEP Regional Office for West Asia
Marie Daher Corthay
Information and Outreach Officer,
UNEP/ROWA
00973 36 955 988
E-mail: marie. daher@unep.org

Deadline: Entries must reach the relevant UNEP regional office by April 15 2010 at the latest.

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Young People Step Up Pressure on World Leaders to Clinch a Crucial Climate Deal in Copenhagen

Young People Step Up Pressure on World Leaders to Clinch a Crucial Climate Deal in Copenhagen

Daejeon/Nairobi, 23 August 2009 - Rallies in 100 cities will be organized by young people across the world as part of a major push to persuade governments to Seal a meaningful Deal at the crucial UN climate convention meeting in Copenhagen in just under 110 days time.

Youth delegates pledged to keep global warming high on the international agenda as the Tunza International Youth Conference on Climate Change ended today in Daejeon, Republic of Korea.

"Climate change is the greatest threat we are facing in the 21st century, and many countries are vulnerable. If we the children and youth don't act now, we cannot be sure there will be a future for us, for future generations. We want to make sure that future generations will inherit a better place to live in," outgoing Tunza Youth Advisory Board member, 22-year old Jessie James Marcellones from the Philippines, said.

Regional Action Plans, agreed during the conference and covering Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, and West Asia include:

* Mobilizing youth for the upcoming UN climate change meeting that opens on 7 December in the Danish capital;

* Reaching out to other environmental groups, especially during the September 21-25 Climate Week;

* Educating others about the Copenhagen meeting on campuses, in school and among churches, sports teams and more;

* Letter-writing, phone banking, visiting officials to 'Seal the Deal';

* Social Networking through the Unite for Climate, Facebook, Twitter and other e-fora;

* College campaigns and tree planting initiatives.

The 220 youths, aged 15-24, were joined by 580 children in Daejeon City in South Korea. It has been the largest truly global conference of young people on climate change ever.

Seventeen-year-old Yaiguili Alvarado Garcia, from the Kuna indigenous group in Panama, expressed the need for adults to hear and listen and understand why the young need their support.

"There are a lot of indigenous cultures that are losing, because nobody wants to hear what we want to say, what we know about Mother Earth, and it is frustrating for us because we have so many things to share and the world doesn't listen to us," she said. "There are many things we asked the governments to do and we know it is hard, but we want to work with them, we just want to make a better place for the children, for the animals and plants. It is about time we stop thinking just for us and think also for other beings that cannot speak for themselves. It is time to stop being selfish."

Yaiguili Alvarado Garcia is among the 13 newly elected Tunza Youth Advisory Council members. The Tunza Youth Advisory Council has two Youth Advisors for each of the six regions, and two representing indigenous groups. The Council advises UNEP on better ways of engaging young people in its work and represents youth in international environmental negotiations.

"This global Youth and Children gathering under Seal the Deal Campaign is the largest international gathering of young people this year advocating for climate change action. Their voices will and must be heard because they will inherit the outcomes of our actions," said the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon.

"The young people of the world are the generation that will inherit the transformational decisions governments need to take in less than 110 days time. If their passion, commitment and ideas can be embraced by world leaders and governments over the coming days and weeks, then a climate agreement that can put the world on track to a low carbon, resource efficient Green Economy can be secured," said Achim Steiner, Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

UNEP organized the conference with the support of the UNEP National Committee for Korea, the Daejeon Metropolitan Government, and Tunza global programme partner, Bayer AG, as well as UNICEF, UNFPA, FAO, WMO, the World Organization of the Scout Movement, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and 350.org. Other private sector sponsors include Hyundai-Kia Automotive group and Samsung Engineering. Nickelodeon TV Asia is the media partner for the event.

For more information and for interviews, please contact:

Satwant Kaur at Korea number (+82) 1055502463, E-mail: satwant.kaur@unep.org

Jang Jun-young at (+82) 1090963497, E-mail: jyjang@unep.or.kr

About Tunza

The Tunza Youth Strategy, adopted in February this year by UNEP's Governing Council, is a long-term strategy to engage young people in environmental activities and in the work of UNEP. The word 'Tunza' means 'to treat with care or affection' in Kiswahili. The Tunza initiative aims to develop activities in the areas of environmental awareness and information exchange on the environment for children and youth. For more information, please visit www.unep.org/Tunza/

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Less Talk, More Action on Climate Change, Young People urge World Leaders

Less Talk, More Action on Climate Change, Young People urge World Leaders

Daejeon (Republic of Korea), 20 August 2009 - Young people from around the globe today called on world leaders to take radical measures against climate change.

At the largest-ever truly global youth gathering on climate change, some 700 young people, ranging from 10 to 24 years of age, honed in on their governments' track record in addressing climate change, emphasizing the need for strong vision and leadership.

In a statement, the young delegates - representing three billion of the world's population - expressed their "concern and frustration that their governments are not doing enough to combat climate change", adding that "we now need more actions and less talking".

The declaration was finalized and adopted by the young participants at the Tunza Children and Youth Conference in Daejeon (Republic of Korea), as part of the global UN-wide 'Seal the Deal!' campaign spearheaded by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to galvanize political will and public support for a comprehensive global climate agreement.

"It is very important to include the voice of children and youth in every environmental decision. It is our request to all politicians that they please take this statement into consideration in Copenhagen," said 13-year-old Yugratna Srivastava from India.

The children and youth also addressed the citizens of the planet and urged them to push their governments to create a global green economy. Other recommendations included a call to pressure businesses, producers and governments to promote environmentally friendly products and eco-labeling policies.

"We are the generation of tomorrow. The decisions that are made today will define our future and the world we have to live in. So we young people of the world urge governments to commit to a strong post-Kyoto climate regime. It is our lives we are talking about," said youth delegate, 23-year-old Anne Walraven from the Netherlands.

The statement is the culmination of eight-week-long discussions between young people across the planet using the power of the worldwide web. It was finalized at a Global Town Hall on 20 August in Daejeon, where the 600 participants were joined by over 200 young people in 15 cities around the world including Cuernavaca (Mexico), Nairobi (Kenya), Canberra (Australia), Bangkok (Thailand), Vancouver (Canada) and Athens (Greece), among others.

The Climate Change Statement, entitled 'Listen to Our Voices: The Future Needs Strong Vision and Leadership', comes just four months before the critical climate talks that will take place in Copenhagen in December this year, and just four weeks ahead of the High-Level Summit on Climate Change convened by the UN Secretary-General at the end of September in New York City.

"This global Youth and Children gathering under the Seal the Deal! Campaign is the largest international gathering of young people this year advocating for climate change action. Their voices will and must be heard because they will inherit the outcomes of our actions," said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The children and youth are asking governments around the world to:

* Agree on a more fair, just and action oriented post-Kyoto agreement adopted and implemented by all countries

* Have strict laws and enforcement against those who pollute and degrade the environment, coupled with education and incentives to protect the environment

* Develop and implement clearly defined carbon action plans and climate response strategies, which can be monitored and reviewed by an independent multi-national climate facility

* Transition toward a green economy based on renewable energies and offer more incentives for people to buy affordable energy efficient products

* Reduce the number of vehicles and traffic density on our roads, including improved and affordable public and pedestrian transport systems

* Make engaging environmental education mandatory in schools and universities and promote community environmental awareness - an informed public is a powerful public

* Pay attention to the conflicts that have developed throughout the world and the negative impact it has had on the environment and develop conflict resolution strategies

* Make it mandatory to include carbon and ecological footprint information in products

* Implement green energy and industry, including sustainable food production

* Support youth efforts to make a change in the world

The young delegates at the conference pledged they would soon stage large rallies across 100 capitals to urge global leaders to take action on climate change under the banner of the Seal the Deal! campaign.

"In many ways this process of coming to an agreement on this final text mirrors what will take place in December in Copenhagen. This statement is the fruit of a diversity of views and voices from young people of different ages and cultures. We very much hope the spirit set by these young people will be reflected in the negotiations that will take place in December," said Achim Steiner, Under Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme.

All the worlds leaders, from President Barack Obama Chinese premier Wen Jia Bao will over the coming days receive a personal letter from representatives of the globe's three billion young people urging them to Seal a meaningful Deal on climate change in just over 100 days time. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia were on the delegates' mailing list, along with leaders in countries like Zimbabwe, Colombia, Venezuela, Lebanon, Haiti, Pakistan, Georgia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Mongolia, Japan and Germany.

Notes to Editors:

For photos and graphics from the Tunza conference, please visit: http://www.unep.org/downloads/Daejeon_Conference/HighRes_Photos_Korea.zip

For more information on the Tunza conference, please visit: http://www.unep.org/tunza/Downloads/tabid/870/language/en-US/Default.aspx

The Tunza Youth and Children's Conference on the Environment in Daejeon (Republic of Korea) on 17-23 August is the largest-ever gathering of young people on climate change.

The Tunza International Youth Conference was organized by UNEP with the support of the UNEP National Committee for Korea, the Daejeon Metropolitan Government, and Tunza global programme partner, Bayer AG, as well as UNICEF, UNFPA, FAO, WMO, the World Organization of the Scout Movement, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and 350.org. Other private sector sponsors include Hyundai-Kia Automotive group and Samsung Engineering. Nickelodeon TV Asia is the media partner for the event.

For more information and for interviews, please contact:

Satwant Kaur at Korea number (+82) 1055502463, or email: satwant.kaur@unep.org

Anne-France White at (+82) 1058494805, or e-mail: anne-france.white@unep.org

Jang Jun-young at (+82) 1090963497, or email: jyjang@unep.or.kr

About Tunza

The Tunza Youth Strategy, adopted in February this year by UNEP's Governing Council, is a long-term strategy to engage young people in environmental activities and in the work of UNEP. The word 'Tunza' means 'to treat with care or affection' in Kiswahili. The Tunza initiative aims to develop activities in the areas of environmental awareness and information exchange on the environment for children and youth. For more information, please visit www.unep.org/Tunza/

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Batangas Mangroves Help Fight Against Global Warming

Besides coastline protectors, mangrove forests are one of the most promising carbon sequesters, having the highest carbon net productivity among all ecosystems.


By capturing carbon dioxide and storing it in its biomass, mangrove species are able to reduce the amount of excess carbon in the air, thereby lessening the greenhouse gas' contribution to global warming.

Forest researchers Dixon T. Gevana, Florencia B. Pulhin and Nelson M. Pampolina of the UPLB College Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR) recently assessed the capability of mangrove forests to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas which contributes as much as 26% to the greenhouse effect.

In an article entitled “Carbon Stock Assessment of a Mangrove Ecosystem in San Juan, Batangas” published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Management (JESAM) in June 2008, the UPLB researchers mentioned two mangrove systems in San Juan, Batangas: in Barangays Potcol and Catmon, where 100 hectares are planted to mangroves. In these sites, the Bakawan (Rhizophora sp.), Tabigi (Xylocarpus granatum), and Bungalon (Avicennia marina) are dominant mangrove species planted.

According to the report, San Juan's mangrove forests can store about 13,000 tons of carbon- already a huge quantity absorbed and not trapped in the atmosphere.

San Juan's mangrove forests serve as very good “carbon sinks”, thus the local government unit should continue to preserve and protect the forests. The researchers estimated that if one-third of San Juan's coastal area is converted to mangrove forests, the carbon that may be mitigated can reach up to 25,652 tons.

# # #

UP Los Baños is the Philippines premier research university in the areas of agriculture, biotechnology, engineering, environment, alternative energy and climate change.

Source: http://www.prlog.org/10310880-batangas-mangroves-help-fight-against-global-warming.html

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