1440 http://www.islaearth.org/ en-us 2006 Catalina Island Conservancy Isla Earth Exploring Environmental Issues of Global Importance. Isla Earth, a production of the Catalina Island Conservancy, is a radio series exploring environmental issues of local, national, and global importance. Our mission is to increase ecological awareness, deepen understanding, and encourage environmentally sustainable choices. no Catalina Island Conservancy Camping. Fresh air. Stunning vistas. Mountain streams flashing in the sunlight. And the great outdoors offers all kinds of natural conveniences. Like, when you gotta go, there's always the bushes... Uh oh, not so fast. It may be getting itchier out there. According to a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could boost the growth rates of poison ivy and increase the potency of its rash-provoking chemical. Ooo. Keep your eyes peeled for a Port-o-Potty! Researchers grew poison ivy in an environment that simulated carbon dioxide levels predicted for this century. Growth rates increased 149 percent. And concentrations of urushiol -- the "poison" part of poison ivy -- jumped a whopping 153 percent. Just what the Cub Scouts needed. A poisonous vine on steroids. It isn't exactly good news for the world's forests, either. More woody vines like poison ivy could bollix tree regeneration by killing young trees -- mucking up the dynamics of forest ecosystems. What to do about CO2? Well, it's all about...reducing emissions. Time to put poison ivy on a diet. Script by Andrew Porterfield Copyright 2007, Catalina Island Conservancy http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1210575600 Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 01:32 Catalina Island Conservancy Next time you travel, forget renting that gas-guzzler. A few rental car companies are offering hybrids and cars that run on biodiesel. Thanks to consumer demand and rising prices at the pump, the green-car rental business is starting to take off in cities across the country. EV Rental Cars, for example, rents hybrid vehicles exclusively, like Toyota's Prius and Highlander and the Honda Civic Hybrid. And if you wanna drive one home, EV has a fleet of used hybrid vehicles for sale. Bio Beetle rents vehicles that run on 100 percent recycled vegetable oil. On Maui, its cars are powered by used cooking oil, and in Los Angeles, they run on California-grown walnut oil. Amazing! According to company president Shaun Stenshol, demand is revving up, and the company plans to expand into other metro areas across the U.S. You can help fuel this trend by renting greenmobiles whenever you can. And while you're at it, tell your current rental car company that you'd like the option to choose eco-friendly models from their fleets, too. Put the power of your pocketbook to work for the environment. Script by Jennifer Cutraro Copyright 2007, Catalina Island Conservancy http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1210316400 Fri, 9 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 01:32 Catalina Island Conservancy In 1941, there were only fifteen Whooping cranes left in North America -- a flock from Canada that wintered in Texas. In part because of the Endangered Species Act, their numbers slowly increased to 200 by the year 2000. But this is far from enough to guarantee their survival. So a collection of government agencies and individuals called the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership began work to breed a new flock that call the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin home. This is no easy undertaking. Chicks hatched at a captive breeding facility are brought to the refuge in the late Spring. To keep the birds "wild" the handlers never speak, they wear baggy white 'costumes', and play pre-recorded whopping crane brood calls. When it's time to migrate for the winter, biologists in costume fly ultralight aircraft in front of the flock, leading the young chicks to Florida. In the Spring, the cranes will return to Wisconsin all on their own. In 2006 the first wild chick hatched at the refuge, followed by a successful migration to Florida. Operation Migration had come full circle. Hopefully, many more whooping cranes will follow. Script by Mark Chenoweth Copyright 2008, Catalina Island Conservancy http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1210230000 Thu, 8 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 01:32 Catalina Island Conservancy The Ashtabula River in Ohio flows into Lake Erie, one of the four Great Lakes. Generations of kids did their Huckleberry Finn thing down by the Ashtabula, which means "river of many fish" in the Iroquois language. It once teemed with bass, walleye, channel catfish, and yellow bullhead. Kids could just bait a hook, pop in a line, and viola -- supper. But industrial waste contaminated the river with polychlorinated biphenyls, low-level radioactive material, and heavy metals. Not exactly the ideal ingredients for fish stew...unless you're an android. But that may be changing. Under the Great Lake's Legacy Act, $50 million will be spent to dredge contaminated sediment from the river bottom. Then, the fish can go back to being, well...fishy - rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and omega 3 fatty acids -- you know, healthy stuff like that. And by cleaning it up, the project should also make the "river of many fish" an inviting fishin' hole for the Huck Finns of tomorrow. Script by Cole Miller Copyright 2007, Catalina Island Conservancy http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1210143600 Wed, 7 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 01:32 Catalina Island Conservancy When rain refills a dried out pond, life soon returns to normal. Frogs croak, algae grows and dragonflies dart back and forth. But Jonathan Chase of Washington University in St. Louis says that's only part of the story. While a single pond may be full of life, it could hold only a fraction of the species that it used to. Chase built twenty outdoor ponds and stocked them with the same plants and animals. Then he watched as all kinds of species moved in on their own. A passing bird dropped a seed, or a frog preferred one pond to another. Eventually, unique populations arose in each pond. But when Chase drained and refilled his ponds, without restocking them this time, they all began to look alike. And, half of the species from the original twenty-pond ecosystem disappeared, since only hardier species survived to repopulate. This is valuable information for ecologists working to protect and restore wetlands. The loss of a wetlands ecosystem may impact biodiversity within a region, not just one area. You see, it's not a "build it and they will come" project, mother nature has a hand in it as well. Script by Adam Hinterthuer Copyright 2008, Catalina Island Conservancy http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1210057200 Tue, 6 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 01:32 Catalina Island Conservancy "Mother Nature"..."Mother's Day." A coincidence? I think not. Mother gave you life, nurtured and sustained you. The same can be said for Mother Nature. So, as Mother's Day approaches, let's look at some ideas that honor your Mother while honoring nature, too. Flowers are always nice. Choose organically grown blooms - those grown without pesticides or other chemicals. You'll find lots of listings for "organic flowers" on the web. And, try to buy locally grown flowers that haven't been shipped half way across the planet. What mom doesn't like a little bling on her finger or around her neck? But gees, it takes up to 5 tons of water and 20 tons of mine waste to create a single gold ring! Shop for heirloom jewelry instead...or choose pieces made from glass, shells or other organic materials. Clothing, cosmetics, garden utensils and candles are all good Mother's Day gifts. Visit EcoMall dot com and choose from gifts that are all natural and organic. Most are not only environmentally friendly, but paid a living wage to those that manufactured them. See? Moms and Mother Nature really do go hand in hand. Script by Bob Rhein Copyright 2008, Catalina Island Conservancy http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1209970800 Mon, 5 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 01:32 Catalina Island Conservancy Organic food is becoming trendy, and you'll be seeing more of it at your supermarket, it'll probably be cheaper to. That's because major grocery chains have decided to sell more organic food -- and, the big boys can persuade manufacturers and farmers to produce more. Kellogg and Kraft are making organic versions of cereals and other edibles. Even Wal-Mart has jumped on the organic bandwagon. And with larger supplies, the price of organic food may go down. That's great for consumers, but maybe not so good for the quality of organic foods. As organic goes mainstream, some watch groups are worried that organic standards will be undermined. The meaning of "organic" hasn't been firmly established, and federal and state definitions can differ. Mass marketers might demand weaker organic standards. And, some wonder if organic producers will be able to keep up with demand. One consumer gripe about organic food has always been its price. Today, organic foods are becoming more available so prices could drop. The challenge is to scale up organic food production without compromising the standards that consumers expect. Script by Andrew Porterfield Copyrigtht 2007, Catalina Island Conservancy http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1209711600 Fri, 2 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 01:32 Catalina Island Conservancy The common reed looks harmless as it waves in the wind of America's wetlands. But, this exotic plant is one of nature's most effective invasive species, and it's killing the competition. The grass gets a leg up on other aquatic plants by secreting a toxic acid from its roots. That acid eats away the roots of other plants until they topple over. Researcher Harsh Bais at University of Delaware says that because of its chemical warfare capabilities the common reed is a "natural killer" that it is overrunning marsh ecosystems around the world. He calls the situation a "horticultural disaster." The reed replaces native plants that provide necessary habitat for wildlife. And it can even change the hydrology of an area, drying up pools and creeks and replacing them with nothing but thickets of reeds. But there is hope for wetlands. The more we learn about this invasive grass, the easier we can fight it. Researchers are trying to pin down how the reed infiltrates ecosystems in the first place, and find native plants that can resist its toxins. Their findings will help conservationists slow the march of this aggressive weed. Script by Adam Hinterthuer Copyright 2008, Catalina Island Conservancy http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1209625200 Thu, 1 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 01:32 Catalina Island Conservancy When it comes to committing to wind power, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, blows the rest of the country away. In 2004, it received the Green Power Partner of the Year Award for buying five percent of the electricity for county buildings from wind generation sources. In 2007, it upped the ante by converting all its electrical purchases to wind generation. In 2008, it will cost the county two hundred thousand dollars more than it did in 2007. But, according to County Commissioner Jim Matthews, their action adds capital to the industry which in the end could lower the cost for this alternative energy source. With the latest move, Montgomery will rank number ten among government entities that use at least some wind credits to pay for electricity. But it's the first county of its size in the country to do so exclusively. Doing so will reduce greenhouse emissions from entering the atmosphere equal to taking 3,700 vehicles off the road each year or planting 16,000 acres of trees. Which is enough to give it bragging rights. As well as the right to set an example for others to follow. By Steve Webb Copyright 2008, Catalina Island Conservancy http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1209538800 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 01:30 Catalina Island Conservancy The Soap and Detergent Association is cleaning up its act. A recent conference that included officials from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Trade Commission, provided industry leaders with information about the latest -- and greenest -- cleaning products. Representing manufacturers for more than 90 percent of the cleaning products sold in the United States, the Association says it is committed to "enhancing health and the quality of life through cleaning products and practices." This includes a commitment to reducing the environmental impact of cleaning products without sacrificing effectiveness. You can get in the act, too, by switching to environmentally friendly cleaning products. But with so many products claiming to be green, you'll have to be careful which ones you choose. Here are a few tips from Ecomall and Care2. • Make sure products are biodegradable and non-toxic. • Select products that are concentrated and will work in cold water. • Purchase products sold in recycled, recyclable and refillable containers. • Avoid products derived from petroleum or containing chlorine bleach. By carefully selecting the products you use, you can make sure your home stays clean -- and green. Script by Stephen Webb Copyright 2008, Catalina Island Conservancy http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1209452400 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 01:32 Catalina Island Conservancy In 1900, America used eighty million acres of grassland to feed the thirty million or so horses and mules pulling America's wagons, buggies, and carriages. You could say those eighty million acres delivered the horsepower. And soon, that might be the case once again. But this time, the grass will end up as ethanol in our fuel tanks, not in some horse's mouth. So the race is on. Who can find or create the perfect grass? Surprisingly, switchgrass is gaining ground. Two hundred years ago, switchgrass covered America's prairies. It was a giant of a grass -- reaching heights of eight feet or more -- swallowing up people, horses, and covered wagons. As a potential fuel source, switchgrass offers many advantages. It grows fast, and it grows just about anywhere - even in places where the soil's not so good. But best of all, switchgrass creates a lot of biomass. That's organic material that can be turned into energy. The record so far is fifteen tons of bio-mass from a single acre! Hey, that's a lot of "giddie up" for the horse power under the hood. Script by Dan Maxwell Copyright 2008, Catalina Island Conservancy http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1209366000 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 01:32 Catalina Island Conservancy Golf balls away, my boys, golf balls away... For sailors at sea, seems there's nothing more relaxing than hitting a few golf balls off the deck of a ship. And the same can be said for vacationers on a cruise. It's a great way to keep your swing in shape while at sea. But in 1991, the practice was outlawed. The reason? Plastic from ships, including golf-balls, was showing up everywhere, damaging marine habitats and wildlife. A few years later, Todd Baker found himself in a Target store, bouncing raw-hide dog chew toys off the floor. Then inspiration struck. Why not make an eco-friendly golf ball out of the same stuff! So he took his idea and a couple of the doggy toys to a manufacturer. Two years, and a lot of tests later, he had his golf ball. Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Coast Guard have tested and approved Todd's golf ball. Within 96 hours of hitting the water, these eco-friendly golf balls are nothing more than fish food. Micro-organisms turn whatever's left into oxygen and water. So, sea-goers can now return topside and sink a few into the deep blue -- four! Script by Dan Maxwell Copyright 2008, Catalina Island Conservancy http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1209106800 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 01:32 Catalina Island Conservancy Ever been told you have feet of clay? How about feet of a beetle? Well now you can take that one as a compliment. That's because beetle feet are incredibly well designed, and might even inspire a new type of adhesive that could work underwater and make it easier to perform some surgeries. As you've probably seen in your house, beetles have an amazing ability to walk up walls or your refrigerator. Turns out if you look at beetle feet under a microscope, they resemble tiny suction cups. And researchers at Germany's Max Planck Institute found a way to remake the same shape in the lab. The researchers created a patch of beetle-feet-like suction cups and found they can boost bonding power by more than 25 percent. And that's with no glue. Smooth walls weren't a problem. Neither was glass. And the patch outperformed chemical glues and could stick no matter how wet the patch got. Beetle feet are specialwho knew! One more reason to protect the natural world. You never know what important discovery it'll yield for the good of us all. Script by Andrew Porterfield Copyright 2008, Catalina Island Conservancy http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1209020400 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 01:32 Catalina Island Conservancy Here's a question for you aspiring ornithologists out there. Why does the Spoon-billed Sandpiper have a spoon-shaped bill? Give up? Actually, that was a trick question. Nobody knows for certain why the Spoon-billed Sandpiper's bill looks like a spoon -- perhaps it's an adaptive advantage. But we'll never know for sure unless something is done soon to save it. Currently, the World Conservation Union estimates there are only two- to three-hundred Spoon-billed Sandpipers left. Which represents a dramatic 70 percent reduction from the number that existed just a few years ago. The rapid decline is attributed to a loss of breeding grounds in a remote Russian province, predation by foxes, harassment by humans and dogs. And, conversion of habitat along the migratory route to where they winter in South and Southeast Asia. In response to the crisis, Birdlife International has launched the Preventing Extinctions Initiative to save the Spoon-billed Sandpiper. With it, they hope to find companies, institutions and individuals willing to help by becoming BirdLife Species Champions. Care to join them? Script by Stephen Webb Copyright 2008, Catalina Island Conservancy Image courtesy of Christoph Zoekler http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1208934000 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 01:32 Catalina Island Conservancy The planting of trees on Arbor Day has become a cherished environmental tradition. It all began in the barren plains of Nebraska, where early pioneers couldn't find enough trees to build their homes. J. Sterling Morton was one of those early pioneers. He moved to Nebraska in the 1850s, and became the editor of Nebraska's first newspaper, publishing many editorials about the benefits of planting trees. Later, as the secretary of the Board of Agriculture, Morton came up with the idea of establishing a holiday to encourage tree planting. The first Arbor Day was held in 1882, and was a rousing success -- more than a million trees were planted that day and prizes were awarded to the communities that planted the most trees. Today, Arbor Day is celebrated in every state in the nation, and the tradition has spread around the world. The trees that are planted every year on Arbor Day benefit the global environment and enhance our quality of life. The Arbor Day Foundation has been established to help inspire us all to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees for a healthy, sustainable environment. Script by Bob Rhein Copyright 2008, Catalina Island Conservancy http://www.islaearth.org/radio/show.php?_sid=1208847600 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 01:32