Biofuels reduce CO2 emissions but not plane performance says Boeing

McClatchy Newspapers reports that according to a Boeing official, biofuels used in airplanes reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also don't affect plane performance.

Initial flight tests have found that jet fuel made partly of camelina, algae or other bio-feed stocks can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from airplanes by more than 50 percent, doesn't affect performance and presents no technical or safety problems, a top Boeing official said Thursday.

"It meets all jet fuel requirements and then some," said Billy Glover, who heads Boeing's environmental strategy group.

Glover said a full report on the test flights would be released next month and aviation biofuel could be approved for use as early as next year. Despite its promise, however, Glover said the real problem is how quickly growers can start producing and refiners processing enough biofuel to make it an alternative to the Jet A fuel used today.

Read the full story: Aviation biofuel proves itself in tests, but is there enough?

Thai zoo panda gives birth

Ecotravel News was pleased to hear that the female panda from the Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand gave birth.

The Huffington Post reports on the new female cub (picture right). The birth was a surprise but the mother is taking care of her cub well. The Thai panda program had been trying to breed the two pandas on loan from China unsuccessfully for years. At one point they even tried showing the animals videos of other pandas breeding to get them in the mood. This cub was born via artificial insemination.

Ecotravel News' "about me" picture is at this panda exhibit and one of the pandas is eating bamboo in the background. We also did a video about how they make paper souvenirs out of the pandas dung.

Read the full story: Surprise panda cub welcomed in Thailand

Americans fall short on Greendex

U.S. News & World Report's Fresh Greens blog breaks down the National Geographic Greendex study; basically showing how different nationalities are environmental.

The U.S. was number 17 on the list falling behind number 1 India and number 3 China. Why are Americans so unenvironmental? We have big houses and cars, don't like to use reusable bags, and don't claim that the American lifestyle is harmful to the environment...

Read the full story: What does the Greendex tell us about America?

Don't log those burned trees

The Sacramento Bee reports on environmentalists' concerns over removal of burned logs in South Tahoe.

Environmental groups are crying foul over a U.S. Forest Service project to remove burned trees along roads and trails in the 3,100-acre fire area.

The Forest Service says the trees were a threat because they could topple on unwary hikers. Backers of the logging say the former burn zone will be better for all the work.

Critics fear the project bodes ill for a bigger plan to thin 68,000 acres of overgrown forest surrounding Lake Tahoe in order to avoid future severe fires.

Read the full story: Environmentalists fear for Tahoe amid logging in burned Angora area

Climate change awareness atop Mt. Everest

The Salt Lake Tribune reports on the 19th successful ascent of resident Apa Sherpa to the top of Mount Everest, but this time under the agenda of climate change.

Apa Sherpa reached the top of the infamous mountain where he laid a sacred vase called a Bhumpa and unfurled a banner with the words: "Stop Climate Change, Let the Himalayas Live!"

"With the Bhumpa at the top of Mount Everest, Mother Goddess of the World, we will once again enhance her protective powers over mankind. The same powers that were diminished by man's selfish and greedy actions," said Dawa Steven Sherpa, who organized the Eco Everest Expedition and asked Apa to become a member for the past two climbing seasons.

Apa Sherpa, 49, has been a resident of Salt Lake since 2006; his hometown is the Sherpa village of Thame. He has summited Everest 19 times in the past 20 years.

Read the full story: Utahn Apa Sherpa tops Everest for 19th time

Try out new Grand Tetons path

National Parks Traveler reports on the new path opening up this weekend in Grand Teton National Park.

The 8-mile multi-use path will open this Saturday, in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

Bikes, skates, and feet will be permitted. Pets won't be.

Read the full story: 8-mile-long multi-use path opens in Grand Teton NP

Take out in CA, but not in styrofoam

Environmental News Network reports that Palo Alto, California will ban polystyrene take out food containers next year.

Palo Alto will join 22 other coastal California cities to enact the styrofoam ban. San Francisco started the plastic container ban trend in 2007.

The ban extends to containers, clam shells, bowls, plates, cartons and cups. However, it does not affect straws, utensils or hot up lids. In January, Palo Alto stopped accepting polystyrene packing peanuts and polystyrene blocks used in consumer goods packaging. But while the ban will reduce Palo Alto’s waste, that’s not the initial intention of the prohibition. The current economic recession carried a lot of weight for lawmakers proposing the ban.

Read the full story: Styrofoam ban grows in California

Seattle has already banned these containers (picture above) as written about in The Seattle Times "All you can eat" blog by Nancy Leson.

Bangladesh river runs black

Reuters reports on the polluted Buriganga river of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

What was once called the lifeline of the capital, now flows in a black gel filled with industrial and human waste.

The river flows by the capital Dhaka, a city of 12 million people, which largely depends on the Buriganga's water for drinking, fishing and carrying merchandise.

"The pollutants have eaten up all oxygen in the Buriganga and we call it biologically dead. It is like a septic tank," said Khawaja Minnatullah, a World Bank specialist on environment and water management.

Read the full story: Bangladesh river pollution threatens millions

and watch the video report below:

Commiting to protect Asia-Pacific coral reefs

Reuters reports on the coral reef protection commitment made by six Asia-Pacific nations at the World Ocean Conference last week.

Indonesia, Malaysia, East Timor, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands border a stretch of reef known as the Coral Triangle, which contains 76 percent of all known coral species and is a vital tuna spawning ground.

The pact signed during the World Ocean Conference in Manado, Sulawesi, last week includes a commitment to crack down on illegal fishing and pollution, and enforcing new tuna fishing regulations to protect spawning grounds.

Read the full story: Asia coral protection pact seen as important step

Old Faithful is not a toilet

The Huffington Post's Green blog reports on the firing of two Yellowstone National Park workers for using the iconic Old Faithful geyser as a urinal.

The seasonal concession workers were caught relieving themselves into the geyser on webcam and were subsequently dismissed and barred from the park.

Read the full story: 2 Yellowstone workers fired

By train, car, or bus?

The Associated Press via USA Today compiled a list to answer the question of "what's the greenest way to travel?"

It explains how to determine which form of transport leaves the smallest carbon footprint depending on distance, vehicle size and class.

Read the full story: What's the greenest way to travel?

content note: the AP now only allows subscribers to view and use their content; so that's why most of the AP stories we use here have been printed elsewhere.

Blue whales return to old migration waters

New Scientist reports that the blue whale have been reappearing in Pacific Ocean waters off Alaska and Canada.

These whales have been slowly migrating and reappearing in the area since 1997; the most since a 1965 whaling ban.

Whalers formerly caught hundreds of blue whales in the northern zones, landing 1300 between 1908 and 1965. Yet despite the ban, they seemed not to recover there, suggesting to some researchers that the cultural knowledge of the area had been lost.

Read the full story: Migrating blue whales rediscover "forgotten" waters

Protecting mountain gorillas

The Christian Science Monitor reports on the Congalese rangers who put their lives on the line to protect some of the last remaining mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park.

Ecotravel News has followed this story closely with previous posts on closer monitoring of gorillas against poaching, Congalese gorillas in rebels' hands, and Environmentalists killed in DRC gorilla park.

Read and watch fascinating video of the Monitor's full report: The last mountain gorillas and their protectors

Visit Montana, pitch in for conservation

USA Today reports on a Montana hotel initiative where guests can help pay for conservation efforts.

A new program invites innkeepers to make ever-so-subtle pitches for small sums that will help pay landowners who agree to sign conservation easements, which are binding agreements that limit development of property. In some cases, easements may make it financially workable for a ranch to remain in agricultural use rather than being sold for residential lots or other development.

Read the full story: Montana hotel guests asked to contribute to conservation efforts

Obama cuts funds for hydrogen vehicles

The Wall Street Journal's Environmental Capital blog reports that among President Obama's budget cuts is $100 million funding for hydrogen vehicle technology.

I never thought I would write anything positive about the Bush administration but they were the ones back in 2003 to call for funding of research into hydrogen fuel technology.

But it looks like it's very expensive when alternatives like electric cars are cheaper:

But lately, enthusiasm among auto makers and politicians has been shifting away from hydrogen toward electric vehicles. One reason: the enormous projected cost of developing an infrastructure of hydrogen filling stations. The National Research Council, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, said last year that the total cost of deploying a national hydrogen network could be as high as $200 billion, including $55 billion in government aid through 2023. And that amount, the council said, would be enough to put only two million hydrogen cars on the road - a small fraction of the total U.S. vehicle population of about 300 million cars and trucks.

Read the full story: Running on empty

A sustainable farm tour

The Washington Post reports on a sustainable farm tour in Virginia.

Polyface [Farm] has been widely praised by sustainable-farming advocates and foodies for its commitment to Earth- and animal-friendly practices, including rotational grass grazing, humane treatment of animals and local processing. With an annual average population of 6,500 laying hens (for eggs), 24,000 broilers (for meat), 1,000 head of cattle, 200 hogs, 500 turkeys and 250 rabbits, Polyface is classified as a commercial farm, but it's on the smaller side, defiantly spurning one-size-fits-all USDA regulations.

Read the full story: For locavores, a new breed of farm

Florida Sea Turtle nesting season

Blog the Beach reports on the Florida Sea Turtle nesting season.

Sea turtles come back to the same beach where they hatched to lay their eggs. I found this nest [picture left]on Caladesi Island several years ago. It is a good example of the hard work that goes into protecting the turtle nests from predators and vandals. If you are walking down the beach and you see a yellow sign like the one in the photo next to some wire on the ground or if you see wooden stakes connected with yellow tape, you’ll recognize that as a sea turtle nest.

Read the full story: Sea Turtle nests in Florida

Most fuel-efficient vehicles

The Daily Green.com reports on this year's 10 most fuel-efficient cars and SUVs in an informative slide show.

Topping the list is the ever popular Toyota Prius (pic right)

Read the full story: 10 most fuel-efficient cars

Panda's exam could help others

Reuters reports on the condition of Washington D.C. National Zoo panda Tai Shan; whose examination could help diagnose and treat other pandas worldwide. Tai Shan, almost 4-years-old, lost 30 pounds last summer from irritated intestines and veterinarians needed to do a follow-up exam. Tai Shan is the only offspring of pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian on loan from China.

Watch the report below:

Inland Northwest animal spotting

The Idaho Statesman has a nice set of photos of wildlife seen around the inland-northwest.

Statesman photographer Pete Zimowsky shot this picture of a baby yellow-bellied marmot near the Boise Foothills.

See the full set of pictures here: 2009 Natural Wonders