Rota poachers attack fruit bat colony
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
The Division of Fish and Wildlife has discovered another incident of illegal hunting at another Mariana fruit bat maternity colony on Rota.
In a statement issued yesterday, the division said the poaching incident was discovered during the course of routine bird surveys on the morning of Dec. 24, 2009.
“[About] 25 to 50 fruit bats were witnessed flying overhead. Fruit bats are generally only active at night unless disturbed. Division of Fish and Wildlife biologists conducted a survey of a nearby roost site and found fresh footprints, shotgun shells, and a fresh fruit bat carcass riddled with shotgun pellets, but no live fruit bats remained,” DFW said.
At least 222 adults and 26 juvenile fruit bats were known to inhabit this roost before the poaching incident.
This is the sixth poaching event at a fruit bat colony on Rota in the last year and a half; the previous events occurred in June, October, and November of 2008 and October of 2009.
Maternity colonies are where fruit bats gather for breeding and infant-rearing.
“Hunting at colonies kills many fruit bats at once and severely inhibits the ability of the fruit bat population to recover,” DFW said. “However, research has shown that if the fruit bat population is not hunted, it can begin to recover. Rota has the last viable population of fruit bats in the southern Marianas. The recovery of the species in this region is dependent on recovery and persistence of the population on Rota.”
There has been a moratorium on hunting in the CNMI since the 1990s and in 2005 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Mariana fruit bats in the CNMI as threatened due to an alarming decline in the fruit bat population.
“The only hope for the recovery of the fruit bat population in the CNMI is for the people to become involved and support the ban on hunting. There is still hope for the recovery of the fruit bat if the people of the CNMI work together to stop illegal hunting and trade of fruit bats in the Marianas,” DFW said.
The Mariana fruit bat-a medium-sized bat found only in Guam and the CNMI-is known as “fanihi” in Chamorro.
Currently, fewer than 100 individual Mariana fruit bats remain on Guam and a fluctuating population of 1,100 remains on Rota. In the northern islands (all islands north of Farallon de Medinilla) fewer than 5,000 individuals remain. On Saipan and Tinian, few individuals are known to inhabit or visit these islands.
(DFW)
Showing posts with label Endangered Species. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Endangered Species. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Friday, December 04, 2009
Buildup to impact heritage sites
Buildup to impact heritage sites
Friday, 04 December 2009 04:06
by Jennifer Naylor Gesick and Zita Taitano | Variety News Staff
SEVERAL endangered species of trees endemic to Guam and important to the traditional culture of islanders are under serious threat if plans for militarizing Guam further, as indicated in the draft environmental impact statement, are followed through.
Additionally, significant adverse impacts to archeological and culturally valuable properties, most of which but not all, have been identified on department of defense lands are also at great risk due to military development schemes.
Extensive data collection and surveys examined more than 5,000 acres on Guam, recording more than 100 archaeological sites and architectural resources that would qualify for protection under the National Register of Historic Places.
Rare wood
Construction eyed for Finegayan at Andersen South, and a firing range tentatively sited for lands not under control by the defense department would require the removal of dukduk trees, a traditional resource used by canoe builders and the decimation of critically-endangered ifit, or ifi, trees traditionally used as timber, for fuel wood and craftsman art.
The ifit tree, often called ipil or ifil by locals, is the official tree of Guam. The termite-resistant hardwood has completely disappeared from some parts of southeast Asia already and is increasingly harder to find on Guam.
Saving culture
The military impact report did however outline some potential mitigation measures that might serve to reduce the negative effects of the military buildup and expansion on Guam. The report states that through data recovery, implementation of a preservation plan, public education, signs, brochures and documentation adverse repercussions could be brought to less significant levels.
Apra Harbor, Andersen AFB, Orote Field, and Andersen South and a sizable portion of land south of Route 15 were identified in the impact study as being at-risk of serious disturbance of areas with both a low and high probability of containing important cultural heritage sites.
Disturbance
The Finegayan area marked for military housing and adjacent former Federal Aviation Administration lands, as well as the Harmon Annex, are dotted with historically relevant sites, according to the report.
A variety of construction at NCTS Finegayan and South Finegayan including housing, quality of life facilities, administration, training, and education could be affected by construction and development, too.
The initial planning process considered the locations of notable heritage sites and avoided impacting the majority of the historic properties in the area. Additional efforts would have to be made during the final planning stage to avoid all historic properties, noted the impact study.
However, additional personnel into the area once the community is operational, the impact study warned, could increase site vandalism, especially at the coastal site of Haputo and a latte stone-rich parcel designated as a park.
The perfunctory study goes on to list adverse impacts implications for archaeological sites at Andersen South.
100% disturbia
The air force base is scheduled to see high construction activity during the buildup period as outlined in the impact statement. One construction project at Andersen AFB would occur in an area of low- and high-archaeological probability as artifacts are known to be widely scattered around the entire parcel of land.
Given the level of development in the area, it is assumed that 100 percent of the area would be disturbed, the report concludes.
Other building projects risk several prehistoric Chamorro sites as well also known to military planners from previous studies. However, the impact report claims the ancient heritage sites of the indigenous people would not be impacted by proposed actions.
Friday, 04 December 2009 04:06
by Jennifer Naylor Gesick and Zita Taitano | Variety News Staff
SEVERAL endangered species of trees endemic to Guam and important to the traditional culture of islanders are under serious threat if plans for militarizing Guam further, as indicated in the draft environmental impact statement, are followed through.
Additionally, significant adverse impacts to archeological and culturally valuable properties, most of which but not all, have been identified on department of defense lands are also at great risk due to military development schemes.
Extensive data collection and surveys examined more than 5,000 acres on Guam, recording more than 100 archaeological sites and architectural resources that would qualify for protection under the National Register of Historic Places.
Rare wood
Construction eyed for Finegayan at Andersen South, and a firing range tentatively sited for lands not under control by the defense department would require the removal of dukduk trees, a traditional resource used by canoe builders and the decimation of critically-endangered ifit, or ifi, trees traditionally used as timber, for fuel wood and craftsman art.
The ifit tree, often called ipil or ifil by locals, is the official tree of Guam. The termite-resistant hardwood has completely disappeared from some parts of southeast Asia already and is increasingly harder to find on Guam.
Saving culture
The military impact report did however outline some potential mitigation measures that might serve to reduce the negative effects of the military buildup and expansion on Guam. The report states that through data recovery, implementation of a preservation plan, public education, signs, brochures and documentation adverse repercussions could be brought to less significant levels.
Apra Harbor, Andersen AFB, Orote Field, and Andersen South and a sizable portion of land south of Route 15 were identified in the impact study as being at-risk of serious disturbance of areas with both a low and high probability of containing important cultural heritage sites.
Disturbance
The Finegayan area marked for military housing and adjacent former Federal Aviation Administration lands, as well as the Harmon Annex, are dotted with historically relevant sites, according to the report.
A variety of construction at NCTS Finegayan and South Finegayan including housing, quality of life facilities, administration, training, and education could be affected by construction and development, too.
The initial planning process considered the locations of notable heritage sites and avoided impacting the majority of the historic properties in the area. Additional efforts would have to be made during the final planning stage to avoid all historic properties, noted the impact study.
However, additional personnel into the area once the community is operational, the impact study warned, could increase site vandalism, especially at the coastal site of Haputo and a latte stone-rich parcel designated as a park.
The perfunctory study goes on to list adverse impacts implications for archaeological sites at Andersen South.
100% disturbia
The air force base is scheduled to see high construction activity during the buildup period as outlined in the impact statement. One construction project at Andersen AFB would occur in an area of low- and high-archaeological probability as artifacts are known to be widely scattered around the entire parcel of land.
Given the level of development in the area, it is assumed that 100 percent of the area would be disturbed, the report concludes.
Other building projects risk several prehistoric Chamorro sites as well also known to military planners from previous studies. However, the impact report claims the ancient heritage sites of the indigenous people would not be impacted by proposed actions.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Sea turtles in peril
Sea turtles in peril
Friday, 27 November 2009 04:04 by Jennifer Naylor Gesick | Variety News Staff
THE Navy is still doing a marine resources biological assessment to address the potential affects of the proposed creation of a new wharf at Polaris Point to house an aircraft carrier on threatened and endangered species, according to the draft environmental impact statement.
There are three special status species associated with Apra Harbor. The green sea turtle is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the Hawksbill sea turtle listed as endangered and the Spinner dolphin which is protected under the Endangered Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The Navy expects the potential impacts to sea turtles to be "temporary disruption of normal behavior patterns (swimming, resting or foraging behaviors at Sasa Bay and Big Blue Reef)," states the study.
The temporary activities include dredging for the wharf and turning basin anticipated to last four to 78 months. The entire dredging process is expected to last eight to 18 months, but the Navy does not anticipate work to widen and deepen the existing channels to affect sea turtles.
Pile-driving and wharf construction is expected to last from six to 18 months with a total of 3.5 year duration to be estimated for all in-water construction activities. The draft study does expect the sea turtle nesting activities to be impacted by the lights from the barges used for dredging activities.
The work is expected to go on 24 hours per day for up to 18 months. Sea Turtles have been observed nesting during all months of the year on Guam with peak activity from April to July. Dangkolo, Dikiki and Kilo Wharf are the most active locations. "In general sea turtles nest and hatch at night.
They use natural light cues to orient toward the ocean. However, bright lights from the dredging platforms may confuse nesting turtles and hatchlings and result in them orienting away from the ocean," says the statement. The Navy promises that the final impact study will contain a revised sea turtle impact analysis based on ongoing and recent past studies of potential noise exposures to sea turtles and other marine species from pile driving actions.
Friday, 27 November 2009 04:04 by Jennifer Naylor Gesick | Variety News Staff
THE Navy is still doing a marine resources biological assessment to address the potential affects of the proposed creation of a new wharf at Polaris Point to house an aircraft carrier on threatened and endangered species, according to the draft environmental impact statement.
There are three special status species associated with Apra Harbor. The green sea turtle is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the Hawksbill sea turtle listed as endangered and the Spinner dolphin which is protected under the Endangered Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The Navy expects the potential impacts to sea turtles to be "temporary disruption of normal behavior patterns (swimming, resting or foraging behaviors at Sasa Bay and Big Blue Reef)," states the study.
The temporary activities include dredging for the wharf and turning basin anticipated to last four to 78 months. The entire dredging process is expected to last eight to 18 months, but the Navy does not anticipate work to widen and deepen the existing channels to affect sea turtles.
Pile-driving and wharf construction is expected to last from six to 18 months with a total of 3.5 year duration to be estimated for all in-water construction activities. The draft study does expect the sea turtle nesting activities to be impacted by the lights from the barges used for dredging activities.
The work is expected to go on 24 hours per day for up to 18 months. Sea Turtles have been observed nesting during all months of the year on Guam with peak activity from April to July. Dangkolo, Dikiki and Kilo Wharf are the most active locations. "In general sea turtles nest and hatch at night.
They use natural light cues to orient toward the ocean. However, bright lights from the dredging platforms may confuse nesting turtles and hatchlings and result in them orienting away from the ocean," says the statement. The Navy promises that the final impact study will contain a revised sea turtle impact analysis based on ongoing and recent past studies of potential noise exposures to sea turtles and other marine species from pile driving actions.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
BREAKING NEWS: Guam Wildlife Threatened By Andersen Air force Base
Written by Patti Arroyo, Pacific News Center - Guam, Saipan, CNMI, Asia-Pacific
Guam - Scathing allegations have been lodged against Andersen Air Force Base today:
A complaint filed with the Department of Defense Inspector General says Andersen Air Force Base for years has turned a blind eye to poaching of deer by base "volunteers", and are sponsoring questionable construction projects that are harming rare bats, birds and sea turtles, among other native species.
That allegations are listed in a whistleblower disclosure filed by “PEER”, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility that was released today through the website Common Dreams.org.
Nancy Mitton has been the Natural Resources Specialist at Andersen since 2006 and filed that disclosure with the DOD Inspector General. Mitton wants the I-G to immediately review widespread environmental violations at the base and the complicity of base command.
She cites rampant poaching by base Volunteer Conservation Officers, including illegal trapping of coconut crabs and resale of trophy deer. She complains that half of the endangered fruit bats on the base have recently disappeared. A flock of extremely rare Mariana crows has been virtually wiped out by hunters. Yet, in both cases base command refused to take recommended protective steps; and she also says the Andersen is paving beaches and stripping vegetation used for nesting by endangered hawksbill turtles and threatened green sea turtles. Among the questionable shoreline projects pushed by base officers are dog trails to allow their pets to run unleashed on sensitive wildlife tracts.
"The air force program for protecting Guam's natural resources has utterly broken down" stated PEER Senior Counsel Paula Dinerstein, who today filed Mitton's complaint with the Defense Inspector General. "Officers are treating sensitive wildlife habitat like their personal beach resort."
Many of the issues identified by Mitton involve unrestricted hunting by local volunteers who are allowed to enter and leave the Air Force Base without their vehicles being searched, in violation of security rules. In addition, the disclosure describes a variety of unsafe ordnance detonation practices.
"Andersen is so remote that there is a feeling of invulnerability reported by staff about the command - a sense that rules do not apply on the island," Dinerstein added. "Until our Defense agencies start holding officers to account for environmental violations, the vast trove of vital natural resources in military custody can never be secure."
Guam - Scathing allegations have been lodged against Andersen Air Force Base today:
A complaint filed with the Department of Defense Inspector General says Andersen Air Force Base for years has turned a blind eye to poaching of deer by base "volunteers", and are sponsoring questionable construction projects that are harming rare bats, birds and sea turtles, among other native species.
That allegations are listed in a whistleblower disclosure filed by “PEER”, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility that was released today through the website Common Dreams.org.
Nancy Mitton has been the Natural Resources Specialist at Andersen since 2006 and filed that disclosure with the DOD Inspector General. Mitton wants the I-G to immediately review widespread environmental violations at the base and the complicity of base command.
She cites rampant poaching by base Volunteer Conservation Officers, including illegal trapping of coconut crabs and resale of trophy deer. She complains that half of the endangered fruit bats on the base have recently disappeared. A flock of extremely rare Mariana crows has been virtually wiped out by hunters. Yet, in both cases base command refused to take recommended protective steps; and she also says the Andersen is paving beaches and stripping vegetation used for nesting by endangered hawksbill turtles and threatened green sea turtles. Among the questionable shoreline projects pushed by base officers are dog trails to allow their pets to run unleashed on sensitive wildlife tracts.
"The air force program for protecting Guam's natural resources has utterly broken down" stated PEER Senior Counsel Paula Dinerstein, who today filed Mitton's complaint with the Defense Inspector General. "Officers are treating sensitive wildlife habitat like their personal beach resort."
Many of the issues identified by Mitton involve unrestricted hunting by local volunteers who are allowed to enter and leave the Air Force Base without their vehicles being searched, in violation of security rules. In addition, the disclosure describes a variety of unsafe ordnance detonation practices.
"Andersen is so remote that there is a feeling of invulnerability reported by staff about the command - a sense that rules do not apply on the island," Dinerstein added. "Until our Defense agencies start holding officers to account for environmental violations, the vast trove of vital natural resources in military custody can never be secure."
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