Biodiversity
and Climate Change Part 2
WNY Primacy
by Jay Burney
Preserve, Protect, and
Defend, -biodiversity
In
part 1, we explored that the fundamental cause of human created climate change
is the eradication of biodiversity.
Eradication is enriched by the economic exploitation and the
characterization of these resources as commodities. The harvesting of forests and the use of our waterways
as waste repositories have dealt fundamental blows to our planets ability to
support life. The ecological
services provided by ecosystems are marginalized as economic
“externalities”. Ecological and
social contexts have to be woven in to the sustainability equation with the
real bottom line being biodiversity. A purely economic definition of
“sustainable development” remains an oxymoron. We have to change this.
The
potential negative impact on our region’s biodiversity by climate change is
substantial. The positive
contribution to atmospheric stability by biodiversity is fundamental science. We must recognize the overwhelming significance
of habitat destruction and the exploitation of natural resources. This is a
very addressable strategy.
We Can
-Rethink, redefine, and react
to fundamental causes of climate change. This will characterize the value of
our current generations.
-Identify,
catalog and reverse the unprecedented human evisceration of biodiversity.
WNY
is located in one of the most
historically biodiverse regions on the planet. Our Great Lakes, rivers, creeks,
streams, wetlands, forests, uplands, and meadows are vital components of a
rapidly vanishing bioregion of global significance.
Although
most of our natural assets have been urbanized or seriously altered by human
activity there remain significant areas that are ecologically productive. Most areas can return to
ecological productivity with planning and investment.
The Sweetwater Seas
The
Great Lakes contain nearly 1/5th of the world’s fresh surface water.
The Great Lakes Basin is a
bioregion that supports nearly 10% of the US population and 25% of the population
of Canada. Urbanization, industry
and agriculture have diminished our ecologically productive capacity.
Our
waters are a valuable asset. They face growing threats
championed by economic activities with a laser focus on growth and
development. We can enhance our
planets capacity to support life and atmospheric stability if we continue to
provide opportunities for biodiversity.
But only if we engage conservation as a primary first line of defense.
One of the most significant
threats to our waters involves waste treatment and disposal. For example, just
seven sewer authorities throughout the Great Lakes including the Buffalo Sewer
Authority (BSA) discharge almost 20 billion gallons of untreated sewerage and
storm water through Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs). The BSA is responsible for releasing almost 2 billion
gallons per year of our untreated material into the Niagara River, Buffalo
River, Black Rock Canal, Scajaquada Creek and 52 other permitted outfalls.
The good news is that currently the BSA has
a 19 year plan developed in conjunction with RiverKeeper to address CSOs. The BSA is one of the only sewer
authorities in the Great Lakes with a “Green Infrastructure Plan”. It comes with a $500 million plus price
tag.
The
bad news is that the BSA plan is not
enough and there is no guarantee that the money can be raised. Our culture is
in a current suicidal cycle of downplaying infrastructure investments of this
kind. Maybe we will build a new football stadium instead.
The
bad news goes deeper with the BSA.
It is a “self-permitting” Public Authority. The BSA alone determines and monitors what it processes
through its system. This is not a
unique situation. The political and economic underpinnings of a Public
Authority give the BSA extraordinary legal powers and can keep public scrutiny
at arms length. Contentious issues involving permitting disclosures result.
-The
BSA is the sole authority for Buffalo
Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permits (BPDES), issues permits for
“Trucked in Waste” and permits for “Temporary Discharges”.
While
the BSA is on record as saying that it is doing nothing illegal, permit
applicants “self-identify” the materials that they are seeking to discharge
into the lake.
This
means that the potential for deliberate or unintentional misidentification of
materials permitted for release by private entities is there. Public scrutiny
of these permits does not include public review of permit applications prior to
permitting.
We
would be shocked, just shocked if illegal activity takes place, but the
potential is there.
A
recent example of the kinds of problems that exist under this current system
include an investigation of fracking wastewater permits undertaken by ArtVoice
in the late winter of 2011-12.
Hydrofracking
Despite
all the industry hype about the environmental benefits of a transitional
natural gas economy, one of the least reported aspects of hydrofracking is that
the activity releases huge amounts of methane, a less reported but highly
significant greenhouse gas. Coupled with the documented consequences of using
billions of gallons of water, concocting and injecting proprietary chemical soups
that are highly toxic that appear in groundwater, aquifers, and other drinking
water sources, hydrofracking is not the answer. Even on a purely economic basis
hydrofracking does not live up to industry hype. Mix in the development of
landscapes eaten by roads, well heads, lagoons, and other infrastructure
demands, it becomes more clear that this energy strategy does not support
biodiversity and is instead another nail in the coffin of atmospheric
stability.
Land Use
Land
use models that transcend traditional economic factors are being developed
locally. Riverkeeper has
introduced a GIS land use database focusing on watersheds. This
groundbreaking approach to identifying value is transforming our ability to
promote conservation and protection. Other local working groups are focusing on
expanding the concept and identifying areas that have economically quantifiable ecological services values such as
intact or partially intact ecosystems on both public and private lands. County
Forests, parkland, land banks, abandoned farmland, trails, wood lots, and other
areas are strategic places.
A
new database approach could form the basis of quantifiable analysis of critical
habitat and biodiversity generators. The objective is to create a tool to build
upon traditional land use concepts that help citizens and governments determine
planning, zoning, conservation, and land protection. One potential outcome is
incentives that would target keeping public and private land ecologically
productive.
Buffalo Waterfront
We
can recreate an ecologically productive waterfront by avoiding industrial,
commercial or inappropriate mixed use development. Only if we make significant public investments does this
land become valuable land for the developers. Instead of driving profits just
to the developers, lets invest in an economic plan that benefits a broader
spectrum.
By
concentrating development on the downtown side of the river and harbor and we
will build a better city. The outer harbor should remain as open space with
public access. How about a National Marine Sanctuary just off shore? An
economic plan that encourages conservation through recreational and tourism
will make us wealthier as a sustainable community.
Urban Greenscaping
Community
owned lands such as parks and streetscapes can contribute to biodiversity. If
you have a yard you can make a difference. Here is how- Learn about the kinds of beneficial animals
such as pollinators, local birds, and butterflies that depend on native plants,
and then landscape with those plants! There are plenty of local organizations
that promote this kind of gardening. One word of caution, -avoid using native
plants in rain gardens that collect street runoff. Toxic materials from automobiles, lawn chemicals and other
poisons can accumulate in these gardens and if you are using plants that
attract native butterflies, birds, and bees, they will absorb the toxins, which
can be counterproductive.
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