CEC Notes
Grant writing workshop
CEC will host a grant writing workshop on October 8, from 1pm to 3 pm. Attendees will be trained by Anne Olson, President of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Olson will cover topics like what makes a winning proposal and how to write a stellar cover letter. The workshop will be held at 3015 Richmond. To register, contact Sarah Doss at 713.524.4232 or email at sarah@cechouston.org by October 7. The training fee is $25.

Coalition Notes
Sierra Celebration
The Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club will hold its annual Sierra Celebration this year on October 19 and 20 at Selah, 5,500 acres of Texas hill country that have been restored to a working ranch. The ranch, once neglected, now features large areas of grassland, native trees, a man-made bat cave and a charming country store. Among the weekend activities will be a Saturday afternoon tour of Selah on the open-air trolley, information on grassland and habitat restoration, special guests and presentations and optional hikes to either Pedernales State Park or Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. The event fee is $49 which covers lodging, tours and meals. Lodging is bunkhouse style, with separate quarters for men and women. The registration deadline is October 9. To register, contact Jennifer Walker at the Sierra Club State Conservation Office at 512-477-1729 or e-mail to Lonestar.chapter@sierraclub.org.

EcoNotes
Rain forest future bleak
A leading Brazilian newspaper reported in September that if logging and burning in the Amazon rain forest persist at the current pace, the forest will be completely stripped in 200 years. Some experts say that the situation is even more serious, claiming the forest could disappear within 40 to 50 years.

According to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research, of the total four million square kilometers of Amazon rain forest, about 600,000 square kilometers are estimated to have disappeared by the end of last year due to deforestation.

At the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, the World Bank and two environmental groups announced a plan to extend financial assistance toward the Brazilian government’s initiative to protect 12 percent of the Amazon forest – the largest-ever tropical forest conservation plan.

Deforestation of the Amazon, which accounts for roughly 30 percent of the total rain forest on Earth, is attributed mainly to farmland development and commercial logging.

Towers threaten migratory birds
Three conservation organizations filed a petition in September with the Federal Communications Commission demanding a halt on all plans to construct new communications towers along the Gulf Coast, citing adverse impacts on migratory birds. The petitioners, which include The American Bird Conservancy, Forest Conservation Council and Friends of the Earth, claim the FCC violated the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act by using a loophole in environmental regulations to illegally authorize tower construction. They say no new towers should be built until an environmental impact statement that includes public participation procedures is completed. The Gulf Coast is recognized as a regional stopover for hundreds of species of migratory birds. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Services reported that close to 40 million of these birds, spanning 230 different species, die annually in collisions with the towers. They also estimated that, in the continued absence of environmental documentation or public oversight, 50,000 more towers will be built in the next decade. To support the tower campaign, visit www.abcbirds.org/policy/towers/tower_sign-up.htm.

Helping governments clean up their act
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was selected by the Environmental Protection Agency as one of eight organizations around the country to become Local Resource Centers helping government agencies adopt environmental management systems.

Environmental management systems provide organizations with a structured process for identifying and reducing a broad range of environmental impacts from their operations. This comes as part of an EPA-led effort to encourage government agencies to adopt environmental management systems used more extensively by private industry. Each center will share information on its activities through a publicly available on-line national clearinghouse of environmental management system information for public agencies. This clearinghouse, which also provides more information about the centers and environmental management systems, is available at www.peercenter.net.

Free Park-ing
For the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, The Lone Star Legacy Weekend means serious business – raising money to support conservation and historical preservation. For everyone else, it means enjoying their favorite state parks for free. From October 19 to 20, the TPWD is waving entry fees for all state parks and participating fisheries, trails and wildlife management areas. Special weekend activities will include fishing contests, car shows, concerts, nature tours and living history demonstrations. Fees for overnight camping and certain activities will still apply. While entry is free, donations will be accepted to benefit the Lone Star Legacy Campaign. For more information visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us.

Everything Old is New Again
The Recycling Division of the City of Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department will host its 8th annual Texas Recycles Day Fair on Thursday, October 24 from 10 am to 2 pm around the City Hall Reflection Pool. The focus of this year’s event is to promote reusing as an even better method of solid waste management than recycling. In 2001, more than 400 events promoting recycling and composting took place statewide. Organizers promise this year’s festivities will be bigger and better with reuse drives for things like shoes, eyeglasses and clothing. Highlights will include information booths, food, arts and crafts, entertainment, free prizes and a noonday program featuring celebrity speakers, city and state government officials and business leaders. Back by popular demand will be a fashion show featuring clothing made from recycled material. For additional information, contact Marilyn Leday at 713-837-9138.