Electric bikes growing eco-vehicle market in Japan

Reuters reports on the growing popularity of electric bikes in Japan.

Japan's motor-assisted bicycles use a small electric motor and battery pack mounted inconspicuously on the bicycle to propel the rider, constantly adjusting the motor's force to the speed and resistance of the pedaling.

That makes cycling up a hill or while carrying a heavy load a cinch, winning over a growing number of elderly and housewives in Japan. Sales of electric bicycles more than doubled from 2000 to 315,000 last year, as they became more affordable and practical.

Read the full story: Electric bicycles ride "green" demand in Japan

NYC High Line park; reusing old train tracks

The New York Times reports on one of the newest New York City parks, the High Line.

The park - made from old elevated train tracks - is the epitomization of reusing old to make new.

It's located in Manhattan's West Side near the Hudson River and winds up from the West Village through Chelsea.

Read the full story: For High Line visitors, park is a railway out of Manhattan

Beautiful white dunes of New Mexico

Here's a beautiful shot of New Mexico's white sand dunes from Discovery News. The dunes are part of the Chihuanhuan Desert and the aptly named White Sands National Monument.

Some 250 million years ago, this area was home to a shallow sea. As the sea level began to drop, thick layers of gypsum settled on the sea floor, eventually forming a field. Then about 70 million years ago, plate tectonic activity increased. During this time, the Rocky Mountains shot up, taking the giant gypsum field with it.

Read the full story: White sand dunes for miles

NYC cops taking a bite out of eco-crime

Reuters video reports on the eco-police of New York.

The job of officers Matthew Clemens and Eric Dowling is to patrol their beat of the Bronx in New York City and find people who are overstepping environmental laws.

Watch the full video below:

Exploring New Zealand by camper van

The Los Angeles Times reports on writer Mary Engel's and her husband Nolan Hester's 19-day a camper van trip through New Zealand's South Island.

Since they'd explored much of the world by trusty VW pop-up wagons, they wound up with an orange rental for their trip.

My husband, Nolan, and I had pulled in next to a train station to make coffee in our rented Volkswagen Vanagon camper when a wiry, red-haired man ambled over and knocked on our sliding door. It was our first morning in New Zealand, and we assumed he was going to tell us we couldn't park there.

Hands in the pockets of his fleece jacket, he smiled apologetically at interrupting our breakfast, and leaned in.

"What year is it?" he asked, meaning our bright orange van (a 1982). We'd hired it the day before in Christchurch from Classic Campers, which we'd found on the Web as renting "stylish retro campervans."

It was then that we noticed an almost identical orange Vanagon across the parking lot.

Read the full story: Rolling and roaming in New Zealand

Alaska mystery blob is algae

McClatchy Newspapers reports on the scientific findings of a mystery blob appearing in Alaska's Chukchi Sea.

The black substance, some thought to be oozing oil from a sunken tanker, turned out to be... algae.

Miles of the thick, dark gunk had been spotted floating between Barrow and Wainwright, prompting North Slope Borough officials and the Coast Guard to investigate last week. A sample was sent to a Department of Environmental Conservation lab in Palmer, where workers looked at it under a microscope and declared it some kind of simple plant — an algae, said Ed Meggert, of the Department of Environmental Conservation in Fairbanks.

Read the full story: Mystery solved: Alaska's mystery blob is identified as algae

Ride a bike, power a bus, get paid

The Christian Science Monitor reports on the new conception bike-sharing program that the designer hopes will create energy to power a hybrid-bus system.

Chiyu Chen, a design student at the Royal College of Art, has conceived of an urban bike sharing program that not only provides riders utility, but also powers the local bus system – and pays them to do so.

Users check out specially designed bikes from a locking station using an ID card. Inside the bikes is a system that stores kinetic energy generated from braking. Riders go where they need to, and when they’re finished, bring the bike back to the locking station. Locking up the bike transfers the energy generated by the trip into the city grid – or, as Chen envisions, into a hybrid bus system.

Ride enough – and generate enough energy – and bike sharers can earn a bus pass. Completing the trifecta: the locking stations would be placed near bus stations, both to make renting a bike convenient and to facilitate easy bike-to-bus recharging.

Read the full story: Bike sharing that creates energy - and pays you to ride?

How to catch horse-cart dung?

National Parks Traveler reports on the controversy in an Irish park about horse cart "dung-catchers."

For some reason that isn't made clear, the cart drivers or jarveys, are opposed to driving carts with the dung-catchers. The Irish National Parks and Wildlife Service installed a rule proclaiming that all carts driven in Killarney NP must have the catchers.

Here in New York City's Central Park, all the horse carts have these dung-catchers attached to the front of the carts and positioned strategically under the horses behind. The catchers aren't perfect though and some horse "apples" manage to escape and carpet the southeastern road with the smelly excrement.

Read the full story: International park news: "nappies" for horses

Bike through WA State's San Juans, spot whales

The Seattle Times reports on biking through Washington State's San Juan Islands.

Associated Press reporter Carey J. Williams along with biking pal Ross Jonak (pic left) took a week to bike 269-miles around the islands. The relatively traffic-free and scenic area is perfect for cyclists.

One of the many highlights: Carey had the opportunity to spot a pod of whales.

Read the full story: Biking in the San Juan Islands

Explore Maine's woods

USA Today reports on the new Maine woods campaign to get travelers to explore the states green interior.

A new website at mainewoodsdiscovery.com offers seven moderately priced vacation packages to make outdoor, recreational and cultural experiences around the state more accessible.

Read the full story: Vacation packages make the Maine woods more accessible

Rhinos driven to extinction by poaching: report

Reuters reports that rhino horn poachers are leading the species to extinction.

Several nature protection groups claim in a report that rampant poaching of once thriving rhino populations in Africa and Asia could lead the species to extinction.

While between 2000 and 2005 a relatively low total of three rhinos were estimated to have been illegally killed each month in Africa out of a total population of some 18,000, 12 were now being slaughtered monthly in [South Africa and Zimbabwe] alone.

Rhinoceros spotting is a highlight of many who go on a safari in Africa.

The horn is thought to have medicinal qualities and is used in folk cures in many Asian countries.

Read the full story: Poachers pushing rhinos to extinction: nature groups

LA farmers market to celebrate 75th year

The Los Angeles Farmers Market celebrates its 75th year this month.

The iconic market at Third and Fairfax in L.A. will mark its birthday with a weeklong celebration in the middle of the month.

Events include a July 14 "Taste of Farmers Market," 5-9 p.m. (tickets are $20 or with drinks, $25); a July 15 karaoke contest on the West Patio stage; and a "Big Birthday Bash" party for the public July 16 beginning at 8 a.m., including free cupcakes and a huge cake shaped like the market's clock tower. Live music will be offered July 16-19, and programs for kids will be available July 18-19. Details: www.farmersmarketla.com.

Read the full story: Farmers Market in Los Angeles celebrates 75th year

Tell me about what's rolling by my window

MSNBC reports on the free Rails & Trails programs offered to Amtrak riders this summer.

National Park Service volunteers will be on board the trains giving historical context to what's rolling by the windows.

“Riding the train without the guides is like watching the Travel Channel with the sound off,” says NPS Programs Coordinator Jim Miculka. “If you turn on the volume, you can learn what that mountain or river or historic site is.”

Read the full story: Free interpretive programs for Amtrak riders

Swimming deer related to whales

Yesterday's post was about a white whale; today's post is about the discovery of a swimming deer that could be related to whales.

The BBC Earth News reports on the swimming mouse deer that escapes predators by submerging itself in water for minutes at a time.

Two Asian mouse deer species and one African species have been found to swim.

[This] new discovery suggests all ruminants (cattle, goats, sheep, deer and antelope) may once have had an affinity with water.

It also lends support to the idea that whales evolved from water-loving creatures that looked like small deer.

Read the full story: Aquatic deer and ancient whales

White humpback spotted with mate?

Migaloo, the world's only known white humpback whale has been recently spotted off the coast of Australia, to the delight of whale watchers.

The white whale was spotted with an unknown grey whale who scientists hope is a female mate.

The male whale, now in his twenties, was first spotted in 1991 off Byron Bay, the eastern most part of Australia according to Reuters. He has returned every year since "on his annual migration north to warmer waters for mating season."

Watch the rough cut video below:

Mountain hut hiking in USA

USA Today reports on hut-to-hut hiking gaining popularity in the U.S.

Although it's easy and economical to put together a self-guided hut-to-hut hiking trip, many don't want to tote their own bags or food so tour companies have traditionally done these things for their travelers. Tour companies have been putting together mountain hut hiking tours in Europe for years and have recently started the same for hikes here at home.

Brad Niva, owner of Rogue Wilderness Adventures, operator of this [Rogue River, Oregon] raft-supported hike (pic above), chalks up the popularity to a glut of active Baby Boomers whose roughing-it years are behind them.

"People want to feel like they're getting out of the hubbub. But they don't want to sleep in a tent and eat freeze-dried food," says Niva. "On this trip, you can bring the kitchen sink — or a case of wine. We'll carry it down the river for you."

Read the full story: 'Hut-to-hut' hiking offers comfort between daily treks

Note: Ecotravel News will be away until July 6

Family camping on the rise

MSNBC reports that camping is becoming a popular family vacation alternative because it is cheap and gets the kids back to nature.

Without the iPods and text messages, kids will make up their own games with rocks and sticks, compose songs on the hiking trail and entertain everyone with a skit around the campfire after dinner.

Read the full story: Taking the kids - camping

British hydrogen fuel-cell car

New Scientist reports on the new hydrogen fuel-cell car unveiled in London this week.

The Riversimple Urban Car is so far only a concept car that runs on the energy created by combining hydrogen and oxygen.

Plans for leasing of this vehicle should be underway by 2011 in the UK claim the company.

Read the full story: New hydrogen-powered city car takes to the road

Plastic waste becomes fashion

Reuters video reports on plastic bag restructuring into fashion handbags in Manila, Philippines.

Watch below:

From The Daily Green, Artic Circle comic strip:

Pondering the sins of eco-travelers

World Hum's Joanna Kakissis ponders the habits of so-called eco-travelers in a recent blog post.

I’m still cringing over a former friend (and self-proclaimed environmentalist) with whom I traveled to the mountains of northwestern Greece in 2004. He had a majorly acidic meltdown when I accidentally stepped on a wildflower (“It’s a native species!”) to avoid falling off a cliff—but not five minutes later threw a candy wrapper into the tangle of purple flowers and tall grass. Nice!

Read the full story: When (so-called) eco-travelers sin

African rainforest found via Google Earth

BBC video reports on an newly discovered rainforest in Mozambique found through Google Earth.

Watch the report below:

National park poacher convicted and sentenced

National Parks Traveler reports on the conviction and sentencing of illegal poacher Stephen Slavinsky.

Montana resident Slavinsky, 43, hunted and poached animals illegally, some even in protected Yellowstone National Park. He was convicted of four state felony counts of illegal poaching, sentenced to 20 years in prison (15 years suspended), stripped of all rights to own or possess a gun, and banned from hunting worldwide.

Read the full story: Yellowstone poacher loses hunting privileges for life

Celebrate Adirondacks at new museum

The Wall Street Journal reviews the new upstate New York Wild Center.

The museum celebrates the natural world of the Adirondacks.

But calling it just a museum would be rash since there are live animals and interactive exhibits.

"We're part aquarium, part natural history museum and part science center," says Stephanie Ratcliffe, executive director of the Wild Center.

The location is Tupper Lake, NY about six hours from New York City.

Read the full story: Where the wild things are

Airlines to be carbon neutral by 2020?

Reuters reports that the world's airlines have committed to be carbon-neutral by 2020.

The head of the International Airline Transport Association gave this news at their annual meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today.

Giovanni Bisignani said wide cooperation was needed from allied industries and governments. "Air navigation service providers must make it possible to fly even more effectively. Fuel companies must supply eco-friendly fuels and governments must give us access to credits in global carbon markets."

Aviation is responsible for about 2 percent of global greenhouse gas pollution and that share is expected to rise.

Read the full story: Airlines to achieve CO2 neutral-growth by 2020: IATA

French compressed-air car

Reuters video reports on a compressed-air car that will most likely go on sale in France in 2010.

Watch below:

D.C. could tax bags, plastic and paper

US News & World Report's Fresh Greens blog reports that the D.C. city council voted to approve a 5 cent tax on plastic and paper bags.

If [this tax is] approved in a second vote later this month, [that] would make the District the first city in the U.S. to institute a bag fee.

San Francisco banned plastic bags outright in 2007, and Los Angeles' ban will go into effect in 2010. Several other cities have tried to assess bag taxes, but have not yet been successful: Seattle residents will vote on a 20-cent tax in August, and a measure in New York was blocked. Last month, the Philadelphia City Council a 20-cent tax on bags, citing the recession.

So what does this mean for consumers in D.C., and other cities that may follow suit? Those who choose not to buy reusable bags can look at an additional $7-$15 dollars spent per year, depending on how frequently they shop.

Proceeds will benefit the notoriously polluted Anacostia River in D.C.

Read the full story: D.C. council approves plastic bag fee

Visit these ten places before they disappear

The Daily Green.com reports on 10 vacation spots to view or enjoy before the attraction dies away.

Among their recommendations is seeing the bats over Austin, Texas Congress Bridge (pic right). Bats in the U.S. are being afflicted by a deadly white fungus called white nose syndrome. So although it hasn't show up in these Austin bridge bats yet, the disease is spreading from the east gradually westward.

Among the other recommendations are a drive through Appalachia scenery, fishing for salmon on the Snake River, and taking photos of glaciers in Glacier National Park.

Read the full story: Endangered vacations

Mayans ruined environment that led to demise

New Scientist reports on evidence that vast deforestation led to the downfall of the Mayan people, not war or disease as previously thought.

Mayan ruins such as in Tikal, Guatemala (pic left) and Mexico are visited by millions of people each year interested in learning more about this disappeared culture.

The builders of the ancient Mayan temples at Tikal in Guatemala switched to inferior wood a few decades before they suddenly abandoned the city in the 9th century AD. The shift is the strongest evidence yet that Mayan civilisation collapsed because they ran out of resources, rather than, say, disease or warfare.

Read the full story: Temple timbers trace collapse of Mayan culture

Smallest primate under threat

Reuters reports on the threat to the world's smallest monkey, the tarsier. The habitat of this tiny primate, the size of a human fist, in Indonesia's Sulawesi forest is being destroyed by logging. There are an estimated 1,000 left in the world.

Watch the report below: