Delete State Authority on Biodiversity via SB 1276? Burton Barnes Testimony

Burton Barnes Testimony SB 1276 9-25-12

Forest Botanist and University of Michigan Emeritus Professor Dr. Burton Barnes's testimony to the Michigan Senate on SB 1267. Barnes explains why SB 1267 should not be passed (at least not with its current articulation of intentions).

The testimony is extremely well-written for explaining the "why" of his position and cites some powerful research too.  However, it's not very pithy for people unfamiliar with the bill and his core arguments might not be very clear to everyone.  

Since his letter doesn't point out the particular parts of the original bill which his testimony engages, I've done my best to interpret and present them here with particular sections of the bill quoted below.

Senate Floor Summary (1 page): http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billanalysis/Senate/pdf/2011-SFA-1276-F.pdf

The bill (10 pages): http://www.legislature...

The Testimony from Dr. Burton Barnes (6 pages): http://www.scribd.com/doc/108581396/Burton-Barnes-Testimony-SB-1276-9-25-12

Dr. Barnes's particular points of contention with the bill include the following points (as best as I can tell):

• Biodiversity management necessitates the scientific and regulatory capacity of state agencies/departments.

Currently, the bill seeks to remove this.

[quoted from Page 7 of the bill, SB 1276--sorry about the strange spacing]

18 (2) This part does not require a state department or agency to 

19 alter DO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: 20 (A) ALTER its regulatory functions.

21 (B) DESIGNATE OR CLASSIFY AN AREA OF LAND SPECIFICALLY FOR THE

22 PURPOSE OF ACHIEVING OR MAINTAINING BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.

• Conservation/natural resource management from a state agency/department is necessary for the well-being of our state's economy because the MDNR is among the few, if not the only, entities which knows the value of natural resources within our state to a fair extent.

[quoted from Page 8 of SB 1276]

23   (iii) Manage SUBJECT TO SECTION 504(7), MANAGE the quality and

24  distribution of wildlife habitats and contribute to the 

25  conservation of biological diversity by developing and implementing  

26  stand and landscape-level CONSIDER measures that promote habitat

27  diversity and the conservation of forest plants and animals
[quote continued Page 9]
1  including aquatic flora and fauna and unique ecosystems.WHILE
2  BALANCING ECONOMIC VALUES.
3   (iv) Protect forests from wildfire, pests, diseases, and other
4  damaging agents.
5   (v) Manage areas of ecologic, geologic, cultural, or historic
6  significance in a manner that recognizes their special qualities.
7   (vi) Manage activities in high conservation value forests by
8  maintaining or enhancing the attributes that define such forests
9  WHILE BALANCING ECONOMIC VALUES. 

• Conservation and conservativism in ecological and political contexts go hand-in-hand.

This claim stands as an ethical argument, but the principles for the origins of true conservativism are shared between economic and environmental practice: we conserve to live well now, and so that others may live well in the future.  Biodiversity management looks to foster well-being for things beyond our own species, but make no mistake, giving proper stewardship to the land we live with does not detract from our own well-being.
Misers aside, we would rarely find issue with an individual, business, or government that strives to save money for the sake of current and future well-being.  Doing conservation for the sake of appropriate, ecologically informed biodiversity ought to do the same.  In this sense, conservation facilitates opportunity through discipline.  In other words, conservation remains a proper priority in fiscal and environmental matters alike, even if we cannot (and ought not) assume everything we live with can be approximated to a dollar value.

We can see similar support for these ideas flesh out with more technical implications within the bill for the argument below.

• Good sustainability/conservation practices are cognizant of economics, and strive to improve or enhance the social, economic, and environmental status of a place while acknowledging its interconnecting impact on the rest of the world. 

I don't have particular section of the bill to point to, this bullet point serves more like a summarizing statement of the content that appears in Barnes's testimony toward the end.  However, contents throughout the bill do suggest some cognizance of sustainability awareness to me:

[quoted from Page 6]

10  Sec. 35502. The legislature finds that:
11  (a) The earth's biological diversity is an important natural
12  resource. Decreasing biological diversity is a concern.
13  (b) Most losses of biological diversity are unintended 
14  consequences of human activity.
15  (B) (c) Humans depend on biological resources, including
16  plants, animals, and microorganisms, for food, medicine, shelter,
17  and other important products.
18  (C) (d) Biological diversity is valuable as a source of
19  intellectual and scientific knowledge, recreation, and aesthetic
20  pleasure.
21  (D) (e) Conserving biological diversity has economic
22  implications.
23  (E) (f) Reduced biological diversity may have potentially
24  serious consequences for human welfare as resources for research
25  and agricultural, medicinal, and industrial development are
26  diminished.
27  (F) (g) Reduced biological diversity may also potentially
02395'11                             TMV 

[quoted from Page 7]

1  impact ecosystems and critical ecosystem processes that moderate
2  climate, govern nutrient cycles and soil conservation and
3  production, control pests and diseases, and degrade wastes and
4  pollutants.
5  (G) (h) Reduced biological diversity may diminish the raw
6  materials available for scientific and technical advancement,
7  including the development of improved varieties of cultivated
8  plants and domesticated animals.
9  (H) (i) Maintaining biological diversity through habitat
10  protection and management is often less costly and more effective
11  than efforts to save species once they become endangered.
12  (I) (j) Because biological resources will be most important
13  for future needs, study by the legislature regarding maintaining
14  the diversity of living organisms in their natural habitats and the
15  costs and benefits of doing so is prudent.
16  Sec. 35503. (1) It is the goal of this state to encourage the
17  lasting conservation of biological diversity. 

[Edited 23:32 7 X 2012 ]



From reading all of the above I can say this:  Details AND the big picture definitely matter.  When I first looked at the bill, I thought it was fine.  Page 7 made a lot of sense at first until I got to line 18 and onward.  The bill contains many contradictory goals.

Personally, I am opposed to SB 1276 at least for the reasons illustrated above, I'll articulate my own commentary in a future post (and letter to my representatives).

November Events with the Dearborn Sustainability Coalition

On behalf of the Dearborn Sustainability Coalition and Student Environmental Association (SEA) at UM-Dearborn, thank you to all who presented or participated in the round table on earth, ethics, and religion!

Ian Tran and Sarai Richter greeting attendees of the Earth Ethics and Religion round table for sustainability.  Photo credit to Michelle Martinez.

Your attendance, insight, and the formative consensus that emerges from these events is an affirmation of our ability to make a difference in the world as engaged citizens.  The diversity of your perspectives and insight adds to the resilience of the greater Southeast Michigan community, and makes it a better place for all.  Approximately 40 people attended this round table, and we look forward to seeing all of you again.

Upcoming November events:

Nov. 15th,  4-5:30pm - Protecting our Health, Protecting the Clean Air Act at UM-Dearborn EIC

Nov 17th,  3:30-5pm -  Beans or Bypass Surgery?  A scientific discussion about food and well-being at HFCC
Nov. 17th,  7-9pm - Privatization of Public Services Roundtable - LWVDDH, Christ Episcopal Church

Nov. 22nd, 4:30-5:45 - Alberta Tar Sands and Keystone Pipeline Overview and Actions - UM-Dearborn

Below you'll find a brief recap of our October "Earth, Ethics, and Religion" round table, and more details of upcoming November events.

Closing notes from the EPA EJ Conference

More details later [this post will be expanded], brief recap from the EPA Environmental Justice conference's recap as of 27 August 2011:

The EPA conference has adjourned with discussion about the efficacy/inefficacy of human and civil rights legal entities--US, how its applicability is unclear for tribal nations, and recommendations to pursue international human rights jurisdiction as an alternative route since current US environmental health protections are insufficient.

The EPA is currently backlogged with 40 complaints

Title VI (on human/civil rights) has been deemed an outstanding potential resource, but is currently ineffective due to lack of enforcement/ enforcement capacity and conflicting systems between the US EPA and US Department of Justice.

Title VII (on civil rights to employment*) has also been deemed a potentially powerful tool--when afflicted communities contribute to becoming the leadership of major companies and organizations, it follows that closer consideration for human rights and sensitivity to environmental quality will be given (stated by Rhode Island environmental lawyer Stephen Fishbach).

Proof of direct causation for harm is a common legal misconception for those suffering health issues from environmental problems (response from the US Gulf of Mexico Enbridge/BP spill fund continue to use direct causation as a way to deny current claims.

Recap on the conference, and next step/future recommendations were also shared--neat idea from Brazillian delegate: Inform consumers about the products they use with an Environmental Justice label.

Potential locations for the next EPA EJ conference? Coal belt Appalachia, First Nations Territory(/ies), First Nation Territory in coal belt Appalachia, North Carolina. Satellite/web/television broadcasting

As an aside, pictures from Thursday's Science Cafe are coming soon too, thank you to everyone who supported the event in their presence or their works unseen!

*I'll have to look at my notes again from the rush transcript of the panel session for more details when I have freer time.

What the Frack!?! Fracking Party: Gasland Screening Wed. April 20th 6:00pm-9:00

What  the  [is] frack!?!

Wed. April 20th 6:00pm-9:00 the SEA will be screening Gasland in the Environmental Interpretive Center at the University of Michigan-Dearborn:

Gasland is a documentary concerning Hydraulic fracturing (fracking)--a means of natural gas extraction within deep natural gas well drilling.  Once a well is drilled, millions of gallons of potable (drinking) water, along with sand and proprietary chemicals are injected under high pressure into a well. The pressure fractures shale rock and props open fissures that enable natural gas to flow more freely out of the well.

Awareness of this process and issue is especially relevant to us because Michigan and the Great Lakes basin are prime locations for natural gas extraction, and several communities have reported affliction  (see USGS/EIA maps below for existing natural gas locations).

 Furthermore, it's ongoing at present within our state. 

Gasland has been subject to several criticisms.  See some from:

1.  Energy In Depth--a blog assembled by a collection of U.S. Natural Gas and Oil producers 
2.  Blogger Kirian Stacey of the Financial Times
3.  Ongoing discussion by insightful folks at the Oil Drum (see comments near the end for people who actually worked in the industry and/or watched the film)--some of whom claim that the criticisms from Energy In Depth can be rebuked

We'll try to make sense of them and weigh out its merits with some geology, environmental science, sensibility, and civility.

Join us to examine the topic at hand, as well as the documentary itself--how are the issues communicated?  What does it mean to all of us as citizens and consumers of media and energy?  Also important to consider: what alternatives can we pursue to minimize our dependence on fossil fuel extraction and consumption altogether?

Trailer:

Please join us at this fracking party, popcorn and beverages will be served at the event, so it's a fine opportunity to stop by and take a break from your studies!!  Please RSVP to greenwolverines (at) ymail (dot) com

The Coffee Connection to Birds and Biodiversity (A Science Cafe!)

Wed. Apr. 6th 5:30-7:00 room 119 of the Environmental Interpretive Center

The Coffee Connection to Birds and Biodiversity science cafe

Even if you're not a coffee drinker, find out how you can:
-Preserve rain forests, birds, and other fauna
-Make a difference in climate change
-Create new economic opportunities for coffee plantation owners and farmers
-Help others drink better quality coffee
Plus, free samples of bird-friendly coffee and a raffle for a hardcover autographed copy of Bridget Stutchbury’s ‘Silence of the Songbirds’ all courtesy of Birds and Beans (Thanks!).

Join us for this informal discussion featuring UM-Dearborn Environmental Studies senior, Sara Yearout!

Please rsvp to greenwolverines (at) ymail (dot) com or on our facebook event page so we can better plan the event.

The Vegan Sub Sandwich Option

Do you like healthier, affordable, environmentally and ethically responsible food options?

If yes, then we're pleased to inform you that Dr. Skrbina's vegan sub sandwich proposal to the campus Subway as a viable way to make it happen sooner.  These arguments are applicable to campuses everywhere, but you may have to check the prices.  Our campus subway charges a bit more across the board than most other subways do.  Here's a bit from Dr. Skrbina:

At present there is only one way to buy a vegan sub: the Veggie Delight (all fresh vegetables), with vinegar and oil dressing. This sells for $5.29, the same price as if the customer included cheese, egg-product, and dairy
dressing. By comparison, the ham sub is $5.89—just $0.60 more. Subway’s (and Aramark’s) profit margin on such a ‘vegan sub’ is undoubtedly huge—surpassing every other product they sell, given that the ingredients are the lowest-cost. And given that a ‘$5 footlong’ is a viable product, and 3 for $12, we should expect a sub-$5
price on the vegan alternative.

In effect, buyers of a vegan sub are subsidizing the non-vegan and meat subs. Based on the above facts, it should be the other way around: vegan subs should be the cheapest, and the cost burden placed on the meat.

 Full paper below:

Dearborn Sustainability Round Table II

The next Sustainability Round Table is Wed. August 25th 6:00-8:00 pm at the University of Michigan-Dearborn's Environmental Interpretive Center, hosted by the Sierra Club Cool Cities Dearborn Group.

The immediate objectives of this meeting are:

1. Envision the benefits from current sustainability initiatives for individuals
2. Envision the benefits from current initiatives in sustainability for the community as a whole

Longstanding objectives of these round table meetings are to:

1. Increase sustainability awareness
2. Organize interest in sustainability
3. Foster informed coalition building and network development in the city
4. Cultivate a more vibrant and sustainable community in the Metro Detroit area

Once again:

Come when you can and go when you must.


Feel free to bring informational materials about your organization, its programs and initiatives, as well as a dish to share (it's also a potluck for sustainability).
We hope attendees will have a clear understanding of the local groups
currently at work, as well as the regional initiatives which may
influence events happening within the Dearborn area.

The first round table was focused on organizing interest and
perspectives in sustainability--essentially to establish principles of
sustainability through broad community input.  Attendees, interested individuals, and organizations shared their individual initiatives and interests.

Please RSVP to Mary Ann Baier (313) 561-7351 email maturtle (at) gmail (dot) com


Meeting Preview:

The meeting will start with an interpretive walk of the natural area
and mushroom farm led by members of the Student Environmental
Association at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, introductions from
the Sierra Club Cool Cities Group and David Norwood, the
Sustainability Coordinator of the City of Dearborn will be a featured
guest speaker.  Round robin introductions of individuals and
organizations will be followed by a break out discussion on how
everyone's initiatives enrich individuals and the community as a
whole.

We intend to document the findings from this discussion, and
there is potential for them to be integrated into future proposals and
plans for the city or University.


Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Ian D. Tran
President, The Student Environmental Association at the University of
Michigan-Dearborn

What's up at the University thusfar in sustainability...

There's a lot of stuff going on under the radar, so I thought I'd let you all know about some of it here as it pertains to the SEA and UM-Dearborn:

• Campus food reform

In response to Provost Davy's Urban Farming summit, a food panel was formed to examine and guide action on changing our campus food system and impacts. 

One agreed upon goal was to offer healthier food options, and to ensure ethical/responsible/sustainable food system practices.  This has also on Student Government's platform of agenda items, but both the panel and vice versa didn't know that they were working on the same thing.

Two visible action items are growing out of this:
-a comprehensive sustainability policy (I think I'm the only one looking into it right now, feel free to prove me wrong)
-a proposal for a cheap vegan sub sandwich to offset environmental and health impacts (a brilliant brainchild of Dr. Skrbina's)

After unsuccessful attempts to reach and join the United Students or Fair Trade via SEA (I'm guessing spotty internet connection when I pressed submit--I'd try again, but it was a detailed form to fill out so maybe later), we have reached out to food justice groups like the Coalition of Imokalee Workers to see what's going on with our current food contracts and food service's operations.  Aramark is at the table with the CIW and recently made an agreement to pay more for tomatoes as of January, so we can move on to watch for Kroger (the grocery store) some time on the horizon.

Through a very helpful person named Meghan from the Student Farworkers Alliance/CIW, I recently came across the Real Food Challenge's resources and was delighted to find a plethora of useful things:  We can find out about all of UM-Dearborn's contracts via FOIA requests (here's a useful guide for food services)  and add them to the contract database!  Plus, there were examples for Sustainable University Policy (Huzzah!!!), which brings us to the next point...

• University Sustainability Policy

We've joined the University of Michigan Student Sustainability Initiative and are waiting to catch up by phone with what's going on at the big campus in A^2.

To strengthen our actions in the food initiatives and other activities in the community, we're proposing that the University passes a sustainable charter that would be used to hold all future contractors to the University's standards of ethical operations within sensible time frames.

The great news is that we don't have to reinvent the wheel--The University of California and Brown University already passed comprehensive Sustainable University Policies and Student Government resolutions!

Eventually, things like sustainability and civic minded curriculum will be at the forefront of the agenda for the University, but one thing at a time...

• Community outreach and engagement

As part of the University sustainability policy and per the discussion at the "End of Suburbia" screening this past month, dissemination of credible education (aka science, and ways to civilly discern and communicate credible information) are key to enriching the community at and around campus.

The Sierra Club Dearborn Cool Cities group is looking to ask the mayor to formalize a sustainability panel for the city (in accordance with the city's proposal for comprehensive sustainable education and outreach) and at the same time, UM-Dearborn's EverGreen Team have been waiting to do the same with the university.  The Detroit Regional Chapter U.S. Green Building Council Green Schools committee is also checking out Dearborn to offer educational consulting services... might I add that the word "coalition" is under discussion?


In other things, SEA's being promoted in several places:  you can find us on the Engineering Society of Detroit's Affiliate Council (we're an affiliate society, which has really nice benefits like meeting lots of non-profit groups in the region, tasty discounts, and other stuff), at idealist.org under the affinity groups, at greeningdetroit.com next to MSU's sustainability group, and the blogs page of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
I've also found a few articles in The Reporter mentioning our events and activities (Thanks Jennifer Thelen!).

• Habitat restoration/preservation (invasive species removal right now, native plantings June 5th--assuming we have a landscape plan in place)

The past two weeks were all about Garlic Mustard removal, and it's an ongoing challenge.  Six people have removed over 300 pounds of the invasive plant in a beautiful nature preserve nestled inside of Livonia MI--ferns, trillium, spicbush, jack in the pulpit, and some very old elm trees are a mere smattering of the wonders to be found there.  We've been reporting our "harvests" to the Stewardship Network's Garlic Mustard Removal Challenge.

Henry Ford Estate (yes, the one on our campus) is also looking for help--and it's not too late!  They plan to remove more Garlic Mustard this Friday, and are.

JUNE 5th:  SEA and Volunteer Dearborn are hosting UM-Dearborn's Rouge Rescue Day (and all are invited to join!).  Before then, we're figuring out how we could squeeze in some bioswale site surveying and are looking for some landscape architects who'd be willing to contribute some time in coaching us on how to make a viable remediation plan so that we can propose the bioswale to campus Facilities Planning and Management.

That's all for now I think...

Hooray, Sustainable Seeds Microloan recouped!

FYI, as of last month at the EIC's Ice Cream Social SEA has earned a total of $57 for its Native Seeds Project.  That mean's we made a $6.50 profit (now $9.50 as of 12 IV 2010--3 packets were sold to the USGBC's Detroit Regional Chapter Green Schools committee chair!) on top of the grant (which we've yet to really put to use)!


We've got more prairie plant seed packets remaining:
Wild nodding onion (yes it's edible)
Black Eyed Susan (member of the Echinacea)
Wild Bergamot/Bee Balm
Rough Blazing Star

If you'd like to help out, we've got the following seeds which would be happy to find a package (and soon a habitat):

Lots of aster and golden rod spiecies (to be a mix)
Wild Mountain Mint
Thimbleweed (the seed's papus is really fluffy!)
Wild Nodding Onion (a little bit left, most were given away during the Urban Farming Summit or sold at the EIC ice cream social--I'm calling dibs on at least one packet)

Thanks for all of your help so far, especially to Rob Schubert, Dana Wloch, Mike Perrin, and Dr. Susko.

Posted career opportunitities

For those of you looking for internships or summer placement, there are several resources I've seen so far. Don't forget to ask your concentration advisor, and be sure to investigate the resources available on campus too. Career services (in the UC), the co-op office (in CASL for environmental science/studies majors), and several department offices can direct you to people to ask about internships and other placement opportunities.

Here are a few more that might be worthy of investigation:

Native Seeds project in brief, and a challenge to the community

I'd argue that most plants are an ultimate example of sustainability (but maybe not in this post). Instead, I think it's time that we officially start answering ongoing questions:

What is the Native Seeds Project?
Also, why might it matter to you and I?
How can planting some seeds make a difference in the world around us?

It's one of our ways to illustrate different aspects of sustainability in a tangible product: native plant seeds plus the packaging and an educational insert.

EPA et al. Public Meeting on Asian Carp this Wednesday

You can earn credit for ESCI 395 by attending:


Public meeting on Asian carp control efforts Feb. 17 in Ypsilanti, Mich.

Release date: 02/08/2010

Contact Information: (EPA) Phillippa Cannon, 312-353-6218, cannon.phillippa@epa.gov (EPA) Mick Hans, 312-353-5050, hans.mick@epa.gov (IJC) Frank Bevacqua, 202-412-1017, bevacquaf@washington.ijc.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 10-OPA011

CHICAGO (Feb. 8, 2010) - The International Joint Commission, in cooperation with the participating agencies listed below, is hosting a public meeting in Ypsilanti, Mich., on Feb. 17 to discuss plans and get recommendations on Asian carp control efforts. This will be the second public meeting in the Great Lakes region.

Who: Senior representatives from

* International Joint Commission;
* U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
* U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
* U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
* U.S. Coast Guard;
* Great Lakes states, provinces, municipalities and tribes (invited);
* White House Council on Environmental Quality; and
* Scientific experts


When: 3:00 - 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 17

Where: Marriott Ann Arbor Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest
1275 S. Huron
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

The meeting also will be available via live web stream at: http://epa.gov/greatlakes/live
Those who cannot attend the meeting in person can submit questions on the Web site.

When available, the framework and a transcript of the meeting will be posted on http://www.asiancarp.org/regionalcoordination
Comments on the framework may also be submitted online at the above Web site.
# # #

SEC Issues Corporate Climate Change Disclosure Standards

Sunday 31Jan2010
SEC Issues Corporate Climate Change Disclosure Standards
From the Environmental Law Blog igreenlaw:

2009 Campus Sustainability Fest Overview and Events

Festival overview:
Topics of people, planet, and profit are everywhere you go. Find out how they’re relevant to your campus during Sustainability Fest 2009 Mon Oct. 19th-Fri Oct. 23rd at U of M-Dearborn. This year's theme is on "Sustainable Food Systems".

All events are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.