Canny Choices

10/09/2021

The 2020’s, Decade of Extreme Wildfires?

The worlds heating climate, droughts and a century of fire suppression have combined to cause a backdrop for more potentially devastating mega-fires this decade.

2021 is set to be of the hottest years on record, increasing temperatures are creating warmer, drier conditions and more extreme weather events with both droughts and floods in the mix.

The fire season has increased in length, in other words the conditions in which wildfires burn are increasing and occurring much longer throughout the year.

As things change in the climate feedback loops occur which perpetuate the situation. This article by Global Forest Watch does an excellent job of visualizing and explaining some of these climate feedback loops and how they relate to wildfires.
https://globalforestwatch.org/blog/fires/us-fires-climate-emissions/

What Action is Needed Going Forward?

👩‍💼 Awareness of Risk and a Culture of Preparedness and Prevention.

Heightened awareness will need to be at the forefront of prevention strategy, making sure people understand the risks factors including man made and natural factors.

Education in both schools and the community focusing on a broad range of issues. Including using vehicles and machinery during the fire season and in times of elevated risk. Having the ability to extinguish fires if they start by being prepared with fire extinguisher, shovel or sand. Training around campfires and properly extinguishing them.

Vegetation management and fire prevention strategies on peoples properties and land making communities more fire resistant.

🌍 Broad Earth System Studies

Broad Earth System Studies can help by looking and gaining a deeper understanding into how earth systems including humanity interact together. Faster and smarter management of land and forests which are tailored geographically and to different socio-economic scenarios. Looking at the different types of forests, different types of fuels and landscapes and how communities are interacting with the land on a regional, national and international scale.

☎️ A strong Response to Wildfires will be Needed to Prevent Loss of Life

As wildfire ferocity increases our response must be quick and smarter. Route management for evacuations with identification of bottlenecks is essential. Communication from multiple sources including non traditional sources like social media need to be utilized and honed to insure successful outcomes.

👨‍🚒 Investment in Technology

New technology will be essential to help fire fighting personnel. Advancement in personal protective equipment for people on the ground and technology enabling night operations to fight fires will both be of great benefit. Developing robust early warning systems and fast tracking aerial means for both detection and targeting of wildfires should also be in focus.

🌲 Working With Nature

We must look to nature and work with it to bring new solutions for both biodiversity and fire prevention. Wildfires are unique and function differently in different environments across the world so different strategies will be needed. Utilizing indigenous knowledge and local knowledge will also be of great benefit. We must look at restoration and adaption including post fire restoration solutions for fire damaged eco-systems.

Photo by Issy Bailey on unsplash

27/08/2021

Families in Afghanistan Need Support as Humanitarian Crisis Worsens

STANDUP TO SUPPORT

Islamic Worldwide Relief is mobilizing to provide an emergency response to families in Kabul, Balkh, Herat and Nangarhar with essential items.

If you can donate show your support here https://www.islamic-relief.org/we-urgently-need-your-help-to-support-vulnerable-families-in-afghanistan/

Food and fuel prices have already been rising in Afghanistan with the impact of Covid-19. As the security situation worsens border closures and disruptions are expected to push prices higher and essential items out of reach for families and vulnerable people in need.

Internal displacement has seen many flee to major cities, living in makeshift accommodation and in need of basic essential items and food.

Drought, conflict and the pandemic have seen the crisis in food spiral.

Islamic Relief Worldwide has been working within Afghanistan since 1999 and is on the ground now and reacting to the major food crisis. Lets help support their work.

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is rapidly worsening, as many have been forced to flee their homes amid the escalation of conflict. This has left many

23/08/2021

Innovative Fishing Practises Needed to Ensure North Atlantic Right Whales Survival

🐳 The North Atlantic Right Whale is fighting for survival and at present the death rate is outstripping the birth rate.

🐋The free Whale Alert App🐋

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/tool-app/whale-alert

The App displays whale safety zones and also allows users to report live, dead or distressed whales to the appropriate response agency. This technology helps reduce vessel strikes and gathers data to help better understand whale feeding and migration patterns.

UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT DECLARED

Since 2017 NOAA Fisheries has declared an Unusual Mortality Event amongst North Atlantic Right Whales. Current numbers suggest there are only about 400 individuals left in this population with around 100 breeding females.

Known colloquially as the urban whale as they often spend time close too shore these beautiful creatures face many threats to their survival.

🌎 Their small population size, climate change and the distribution and availability of prey. Coupled with habitat degradation, vessel strikes and entanglements from fishing gear are all stacking the odds against a positive outcome for these Baleen Whales.

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩 2021 has brought some good news with 19 live calves being identified this calving season, to put this in perspective only 22 live calves were identified in the combined last 4 calving seasons previous to 2021.

🚢 Ongoing action is needed in regard to vessel strikes, including mandatory regulation on vessel speed and upto date monitoring on areas used by the whales as this changes due to altered migratory patterns and feeding grounds on account of changing climates.

⚓️ Innovation in fishing practices are needed as currently fixed line fishing with vertical buoy ropes are contributing to a severe hazard for whales. It's estimated that around 80 percent of North Atlantic Right Whales experience at least one instance of entanglement in their lives.

Entanglement can cause death, infection but also problems feeding, an increase in energy use as they drag the fishing gear along which leads to poorer health and also poorer breeding outcomes with smaller calves.

For a more detailed look at current research into entanglements see the petition submitted by The Centre for Biodiversity. Submitted in 2020 to the National Marine Fisheries Service under The Marine Mammal Protection Act and The Admistrative Procedure Act.

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/emergency-petition-seeks-protect-endangered-north-atlantic-right-whales-fishing-gear-2020-12-02/

As a direct result of the petition and subsequent federal court ruling NOAA has introduced a 600 page opinion which includes a four stage framework for conservation.

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/feds-propose-rule-reduce-north-atlantic-right-whale-entanglements-fishing-gear-2020-12-30/

COULD ROPELESS FISHING TECHNOLOGY BE THE FUTURE

Investment and design in ropeless fishing technology is under way. However ropeless fishing technology is still in its infancy and not yet a widespread workable solution. However with further innovation and research this could become a way forward.

Support research, legislation and innovation to save Right Whales, for more information on ropless fishing see https://ropeless.org/background/

20/08/2021