Scottish golf resort Trump-ed

This past February, Ecotravel News posted a video about environmental protestations over the proposed Trump golf course/resort near Aberdeen, Scotland.

Environmentalists claimed that part of the golf course would encompass and disturb delicate sand dunes that house numerous wildlife species.

Now in a follow-up, The Economist examines the implications of the golf resort.

Trump prevailed in a public inquiry with the backing of Scotland's first minister (and avid golfer) Alex Salmond. But the question now is just how profitable can this resort be especially now that global economies have plunged?

"Recovering the investment depends on selling the [resort's] houses [950 holiday apartments, 36 golf villas, 500 houses]. This autumn, after five years of steadily rising, Aberdeen house prices suddenly dropped by 7% and sales volumes halved.

Golf is no longer a sure-fire winner either. The American owner of the ultra-posh Loch Lomond club, which counts Prince Andrew as a member and hosts the Scottish Open, is having to sell it to repay loans."

Read the full story: Trump's Scottish venture, birdie or bogey?

Database warns against wildlife threating activities

The Economist reports on a new database that warns companies if their business practices pose threats to wildlife.

Conservation International created the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) to "bring together as much data on biodiversity as it could in a single database."

IBAT will be "unveiled at the forthcoming World Conservation Congress in Barcelona."

"Big oil and agro-industrial firms such as BP and Cargill helped with the design, as did several banks. The idea is to make it easier for businesses to incorporate concerns about conservation into their planning from the beginning of a project, and not simply when protesters show up at their offices."

Read the full story: Where the wild things are

Green towns to be built in UK, locals unhappy

The Economist reports on the controversy surrounding the British government's seemingly earthy-friendly decision to build 13 eco-towns (see above map).



The government claims the eco-towns will bring new residents to small communities in order to stem a housing shortage. Local residents feel they are being "frozen out of the planning process, which is being led by the central government."



Critics of the plan point out that all houses built after 2016 will be required to be carbon-neutral, regardless of having an "eco" label or not.



Read the full story: Eco-towns: green, with hint of Brown

Americans favor urban density over nature

The Economist reports that less people are getting out to enjoy national parks such as Yosemite, and conservationists are partly to blame.

California's population has grown to 38 million from 31.5 million in 1994. More people are living near national parks but less of those inhabitants are actually visiting nature.

Visitors to national parks peaked in 1987 and the numbers have fallen since. Instead people are going to cleaned-up cities and theme-park like casinos, that have seen a rise in visitors.

Conservationists, according to the magazine, are trying to preserve the environment and thereby limiting the number of visitors let in to national parks:

"Earlier this year a federal court ruled that the National Park Service must limit human use of Yosemite Valley. That may mean a daily cap on visitor numbers. If the park imposes one, the example is likely to spread across America. This will create pressure to solve environmental problems by turning more people away."

Read the full story: Out of the wilderness

Asia and global warming

China and India are both high-population and fast-emerging economies that are also altering their climates drastically by emitting some of the highest amounts of carbon dioxide worldwide.

The Economist reports how the effect of these greenhouse gases is changing the climate, melting the Himalayan glaciers and shifting weather patterns - all things that are affecting the health and livelihoods of their citizens. Both countries are realizing their contributions to the problem and are beginning to work on solutions.

Read the full story: Melting Asia

Los Angeles the green city

A recent Brookings Institution study found that Los Angeles is one of the top greenest cities in the U.S., reports the Economist.

The study focused on carbon emissions through household energy use and highway traffic.

The top four greenest cities are:
1) Honolulu, Hawaii
2) Los Angeles, California
3) Portland, Oregon
4) New York, New York

Los Angeles has a temperate climate that doesn't require a lot of heating or cooling, so even though Angelenos drive everywhere, their weather helps lessen their energy use.

Read the full story: And the winner is...

Electric vehicles made in Canada not allowed in Canada

The Economist magazine reports on the ban of electric vehicles (EVs) on Canadian roads... even though there are three EV manufacturers in Canada.

The cars produced by ZENN Motor Company, Dynasty Electric Car and the third company (an unnamed yet-to-be-produced-EV) are all exported to the United States. These cars are all low-speed-vehicles meant for urban use, not long-haul.

Canada's road regulatory agency, Transport Canada, says EVs are not safe enough to be driven amongst larger gas vehicles:

"It is true that the [electric] cars are made from lightweight metals and plastics. But the manufacturers allege political bias: Stephen Harper's conservative government has much support in oil-rich Alberta.

Backed by thousands of would-be buyers, [EV manufacturers] are campaigning to reverse the agency's decision.

'It's a ludicrous regulatory situation. All you can point to is oil and the big guys and think there's a conspiracy somewhere,' says Danny Epp of Dynasty."

Read the full story: Not on our roads

For more on electric vehicles in Canada check out evcanada.org

For-profit ecotourism in Peru reaps many rewards

The Economist magazine highlights how a for-profit ecotourism outfit in Peru has the best interests of the Amazonian rain forest in mind... something that NGOs or non-profits have struggled with.

The area of the Amazon in Peru is fast becoming an eco-tourist destination with a reported 20-times increase in the past 15 years.

Rainforest Expeditions operates Posada Amazonas the largest tourism outfit in the area. Its goal has always been conservation through tourism, which has been successful, but it has also enriched the local families in the area as well. RE has actively involved the local community in the tourism projects, the locals get most of the profits and eventually will take over entire control. The peoples literacy, health and nutrition levels have benefited greatly while the forest has remained intact.

But the future of Peru's rain forest is still up in the air because of a newly paved road straight through it leading directly to Brazil. Past statistics of paved roads leading into Brazil's Amazon have shown that an increase in damaging development has occurred.

Read the full story: Rumble in the jungle