[env-trinity] Findings on plummeting salmon populations at 8th World Wilderness Congress

[Josh Allen]

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-09/ci-fop090105.php 

Findings on plummeting salmon populations at 8th World Wilderness
Congress

First congress in United States since 1987 begins this month

September 1, 2005 (Washington, DC) - Close to 25 percent of all Pacific
salmon species studied are at risk of extinction, according to the Atlas
of the Pacific Salmon, released by State of the Salmon, a joint project
between The Wild Salmon Center and Ecotrust. 

The study represents the first map-based measurement of the condition of
North Pacific salmon through their entire lifespan. 

The book's findings show that Pacific salmon appear to be headed in the
same direction as their Atlantic counterparts. Half of all wild Atlantic
salmon stocks are either extinct or in great decline. But although
biologists, fishery managers and conservationists know a fair amount
about the reasons for the decline in Atlantic salmon, they lack similar
information for Pacific salmon. 

"We know we are losing Pacific salmon species at an alarming rate, but
we've been driving blind in our efforts to save them," said Dr.
Xanthippe Augerot, co-director of State of the Salmon. "The Atlas will
help remedy the chronic lack of information that's been hampering our
efforts." 

The conclusions published in the Atlas are the result of ten years of
research undertaken by Dr. Augerot and her colleagues. The book proposes
four approaches to solving these large-scale challenges: an
international monitoring system; more effective fisheries management;
increased conservation efforts; and improved partnerships to protect
salmon throughout the entire Pacific Rim. 

The Atlas also details threats to salmon populations, which include
climate change, water diversions for hydro and agriculture needs, and
habitat loss. 

On Wednesday, October 8, Dr. Augerot will moderate a session at the
World Wilderness Congress with five of the world's leaders on Pacific
salmon conservation. Reporters are welcome to attend. 

###

ABOUT THE CONGRESS: 

The 8th World Wilderness Congress (WWC) will be held from September 30 -
October 6, 2005 at the Egan Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska, 

The Congress is expected to attract more than 1,000 experts from 55
countries, including numerous high-profile and senior-level political
and corporate speakers. 

Confirmed speakers include: leaders and representatives of indigenous
and tribal communities from close to 30 nations on six continents; David
Rockefeller Jr.; Governor Walter Hickel; Len Good, CEO, The Global
Environmental Facility; Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, Minister of
Environment, Costa Rica; David Quammen, author; Grand Chief Herb
Norwegian, Deh Cho Nation, Canada; Dr. Michael Fay, Wildlife
Conservation Society; Dale Bosworth, Chief, USDA Forest Service; Dr.
Willem van Reit, President, Peace Parks Foundation, South Africa; Bittu
Sahgal, President, Sanctuary Asia; and Dr. Sylvia Earle, Executive
Director, Marine Conservation, Conservation International. 

The theme for the 8th WWC is Wilderness, Wildlands and People: A
Partnership for the Planet. It will generate the most up-to-date and
accurate information on the benefits of wilderness and wildlands to
contemporary and traditional societies, and will review the best models
for balancing wilderness and wildlands conservation with human needs. 

The Congress, founded in 1977, was the first international environmental
gathering to include indigenous people and always focuses on wilderness
and people. 

The Congress has already issued four news releases detailing expected
news highlights, available at http://www.8wwc.org/press.htm. 

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR JOURNALISTS:
Journalists interested in registering for the Congress should send an
e-mail to media at 8wwc.org. More information about the Congress is
available at www.8wwc.org. 

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 15, JOURNALISTS MAY CONTACT BRAD PHILLIPS AT
Brad at PhillipsMediaRelations.com or 202-776-0640. 

AFTER SEPTEMBER 15, JOURNALISTS MAY CONTACT KATHY DAY AT
kathyday at gci.net or (907) 868-4884. 

 

 

 

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