December 2007

Sand sanctuary
In November the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County announced its intention to buy 189 acres of sandhills between Scotts Valley and Felton. This rare habitat is home to plants and animals found only in Santa Cruz County. The Land Trust is tracking fundraising for this property with an hourglass on their website, www.landtrustsantacruz.org.

Another solar installation
The Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center has become the first downtown business to go solar in Santa Cruz. The new solar panels will offset enough CO2 each year to equal the annual running of two average U.S. households. Plans are to add more panels as budget permits.

Safer for condors
Beginning in July 2008, hunters must use lead-free ammunition for big game and coyotes in condor country in central and southern California. This new law is a good first step. The next is to get the lead out of ammunition used for small game. Since 1992 at least 12 condor deaths in California have been caused by lead poisoning.

Coal plan settlement
In a landmark settlement this October with Sierra Club and other environmental and government organizations, American Electric Power agreed to markedly reduce hazardous emissions from its coal-burning plants by installing extensive pollution controls. The company agreed to spend $4.6 billion on clean up and an additional $60 million on mitigation as well as pay a $15 million fine. For more information visit www.sierraclub.org/coal.

Ethiopia, Mexico plant trees
Inspired by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Wangari Maathai, Ethiopia and Mexico are leading the movement to plant trees to combat climate change. A recent UN report noted that Ethiopia had planted 700 million new trees and Mexico had planted 217 million. Once forested, Ethiopia was reduced to only 4% forest cover in 2000. The UN Environment Program has received pledges to plant 2.24 billion trees worldwide.

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