THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF BIG THICKET GO TO HIGHEST BIDDERS
by Sarah Morgan

This week, 7,740 acres in 84 tracts of land in and around the Big Thicket National Preserve were put up for sale at public auction.

Schrader/Westchester Real Estate and Auction Company advertised the sale on its Web site as "a rare opportunity to assemble exactly the acreage that you are looking for."

Interested parties could bid on any or all of the 84 tracts offered, which Schrader said range from "tracts with merchantable timber, which are excellent for investors and 1031 exchange buyers," to land appropriate for residential and recreational development, including hunting, fishing, and skiing.

According to the National Park Service, the Big Thicket Preserve consists of nine land units and six water corridors encompassing more than 97,000 acres. Big Thicket, established in 1974, was the first preserve in the National Park System. It offers a wide array of ecosystems, bringing together the eastern hardwood forests, the Gulf coastal plains, and the midwest prairies.

In 1981, the Preserve was designated an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations and, in 2001, the American Bird Conservancy recognized the Preserve as a Globally Important Bird Area.

But the National Parks Conservation Association, a Washington DC parks advocacy group, has listed the Big Thicket Preserve as one of the ten most endangered national parks, as of 2004. One reason the park made the list, according the NPCA, is the high potential for private land development. The group said the future of the forest depends on responsible stewardship by those buying and selling in land sales such as this.

Several tracts up for auction were advertised as being located within a few minutes of the Sam Rayburn Reservoir, while others were said to contain spring-fed creeks. Other tracts are located within the boundaries of the Sabine National Forest, a 160,656-acre area that is part of the east Texas Pineywoods.

It is unclear exactly who the sellers are, though a Schrader spokeswoman said it was several individual landowners. The Texas General Land Office had no information on the sale, and winning bids are expected to be posted within the next two to three days at http://www.schraderauction.com.

US GREENHOUSE GAS 2003 INVENTORY SUBMITTED TO UN
by Sarah Morgan

An Environmental Protection Agency report, "Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2003" showing a 13 percent overall increase in emissions from 1990 to 2003 was submitted the to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change this week.

Though overall emissions increased 13 percent, the EPA pointed out that the US economy grew by 46 percent over the same period.

The report is generated annually as part of the United States' commitment under the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Under the commitment, all countries are required periodically to publish and make available inventories of certain emissions.

Among the major findings in this year's report is that overall emissions increased by 0.6 percent from 2002 to 2003, though emission levels in 2003 still remained below 2000 emission levels. The EPA has attributed this increase primarily to moderate economic growth in 2003, which increased demand for electricity and fossil fuels. The price of natural gas escalated dramatically in 2003, causing some electric power producers to switch to coal, which led to a higher carbon intensity in the fuels used to produce electricity. Greenhouse gas intensity is a ratio that relates emissions to gross domestic product. Also, according to the EPA, colder winter conditions brought on more demand for heating fuels.

Total emissions of the six main greenhouse gases were 6,900 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent in 2003. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. Fossil fuel combustion was the largest source of emissions, accounting for 80 percent of the total.

The "Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2003" is prepared annually by the EPA, in collaboration with experts from a dozen other federal agencies, and is one of the most comprehensive analyses of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. To read the full report, visit this website.

TCEQ MEETING TO ADDRESS AIR QUALITY ENFORCEMENT TODAY
From the Texas Public Interest Research Group

Clean air issues remain an environmental hotspot, particularly for Houstonians who've been promised action since the Houston Chronicle's special report, "In Harms Way," and the subsequent city council and community wide meetings.

In an effort to keep the issue in the spotlight and to continue pushing for enforcement of clean air laws, the Texas Public Interest Research Group is encouraging anyone concerned with the issue to attend a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality stakeholder meeting Friday, May 13, from 3 to 7 pm at the Houston-Galveston Area Council, 3555 Timmons, second floor. The TCEQ is still working to revise enforcement policies, and they have posed the following question to be discussed at the meeting: Should the rule require that all of the realized economic benefit gained through the violation(s) be recovered through the administrative penalty?

TexPIRG and others maintain that under current legislation, industries profit from breaking clean air laws, as the fines assessed represent only a fraction of the profit the company actually makes. In its report of 2003, the State Auditor reviewed 80 enforcement cases from FY 2001 to FY 2003 and found that polluters derived an economic benefit from noncompliance of $8.6 million. The same polluters were assessed penalties of only $1.7 million.

For more information, contact Luke Metzger at TexPIRG at (512) 479-7287 or luke@texpirg.org or visit http://www.texpirg.org.

PULITZER PRIZE WINNER TO SPEAK AT GHPA LUNCHEON

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas Hylton will be the keynote speaker when the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance hosts its annual National Preservation Month Luncheon at noon, Thursday, May 19, in the ballroom of The Magnolia Hotel, 1100 Texas Avenue. Hylton will discuss the need to rediscover and rebuild our traditional cities and towns to house people of all ages, races and incomes. Hylton has communicated the principles of land use and community building to more than 300 organizations in 30 states and was the keynote speaker for the National Governors Association Conference. He also hosted the public television documentary "Save Our Land, Save Our Towns" and is the author of an accompanying book. His editorials in the Pottstown, Pennsylvania Mercury advocating the preservation of farmlands and open space won the Pulitzer Prize in 1990. He conceived and organized the nonprofit corporation, Trees, Inc., and is president of Save Our Land, Save Our Towns, a nonpro fit organization promoting responsible redevelopment of America's traditional communities. Admission to the luncheon is $40 for GHPA members, $50 for non-members. A reservation form is available online at http://ghpa.org/pw/. The deadline for reservations is Monday, May 16. For more information, call (713) 216-5000.

SUNSET TOUR AT NELSON FARMS PRESERVE

Join the Katy Prairie Conservancy on Saturday, May 21, 5 pm to 9 pm, on a tour of the Nelson Farms Preserve, a working rice farm. When the rice is planted, it creats a wonderful habitat for many birds. We will also tour a large wetland area that is alive with birds, frogs, dragonflies, and butterflies. There is always a variety of raptors circling the fields. There is a good chance we will be treated to a beautiful sunset. If you choose to stay after sunset, we will search for and listen to such nocturnal critters as frogs, owls, and coyotes. Kids are welcome. For more information, visit http://www.katyprairie.org/events.html.

URBAN HARVEST CLASS: SELL WHAT YOU GROW AT A GREEN MARKET

Ray Sher, owner of Westbury Seeds, a garden that grows produce for sale at the Bayou City Farmers' Market will be teaching gardeners techniques and strategies for selling produce at local green markets. Topics to be covered including selecting vegetables for market, transportation, packaging, pricing, enticing displays, set-up, regulations and certifications. Pre-registration and pre-payment of the $30 fee is required. The class will be at Urban Harvest, 1900 Kane on May 18 from 4 to 6 pm. For more information or to register, call (713) 880-5540 or visit http://www.urbanharvest.org.

TWO FULL-TIME, SALARIED POSITIONS OPEN AT HOUSTON ARBORETUM

School Programs Naturalist: The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center seeks a naturalist to create, implement, and evaluate multi-disciplinary, inquiry-based, and standards-based programs for school audiences, to increase students' understanding of and appreciation for the natural world. Responsibilities include developing, implementing, marketing, scheduling, and coordinating school programs and activities, summer, outreach, and other programs as needed; assisting with the evaluation of school curriculum for appropriateness, effectiveness, and support of the Arboretum's mission and conservation messages; and overseeing and supporting coordination of appropriate curriculum with national and state education standards. A bachelor's degree and a credential as a primary or secondary school teacher is preferred. Two years' experience in a formal or informal educational setting is required. Ability to read, write, and speak Spanish desired. The candidate must have considerable inter personal skills and an appreciation of customer service.

Interpretive Naturalist: The arboretum also seeks a naturalist to participate in and plan, develop, evaluate, and support the implementation of interpretive, conservation, and educational programs for schools, youth and adult groups, as well as the general public. The successful candidate will coordinate Scout Badge Programs, design and develop displays, exhibits, and interpretive facilities, as well as newsletters, marketing, promotional, or interpretive materials, such as flyers, brochures, event calendars, and training materials. Responsibilities will also include assisting in designing and implementing conservation projects on Arboretum grounds, and training and supervising volunteers. This position calls for extensive interaction with the public, requiring an appreciation of customer service and excellent teaching skills. A bachelor's degree in education, environmental education, science or related field, experience working with children in an educational or camp envi ronment, knowledge of principles of natural interpretation and of local flora and fauna are desired. Also, a minimum of two years' experience in program planning and implementation, recruiting and working with volunteers, and environmental/outdoor education with varying audiences is required.

To view full position descriptions and the application process, visit http://www.houstonarboretum.org.

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