BEN - February 11, 2010 #330

Bama Environmental News - BEN

http://www.Bamanews.com

February 11, 2010

Links/Publications/Op-ed

Forever Wild 1992-2009 - Check out this colorful and information packed 40 page document about the Forever Wild Program

http://www.outdoorsalabama.com/public-lands/stateLands/foreverWild/ForeverWildReport.pdf

Birmingham News Op-ed "Recalling Alabama's Natural History" by BEN Publisher Pat Byington

http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-commentary/2009/12/viewpoints_recalling_alabamas.html

Birmingham Weekly Op-ed "Light Rail in Birmingham" by BEN Publisher Pat Byington

http://www.bamanews.com/2010/01/birmingham-weekly-commentary-transit.html

Mississippi-Alabama Habitats Tools

http://habitats.disl.org/

News

The 2009 Green Report - The Green Resource Center for Alabama released their Annual Green Report highlighting this year's important developments toward making Alabama a greener place to live.

http://www.bamanews.com/GreenReport09.pdf

Mary Burks Named to the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame - An incredible honor. Two years ago, Mary Burks, the "mother of the Sipsey Wilderness" and founder of the Alabama Conservancy passed away. On March 4th, at Judson College, she will be inducted into the Women's Hall of Fame. Here is the story about this special and well deserved honor. http://blog.al.com/live/2010/02/mary_ivy_burks_of_birmingham_m.html

Environmental Groups Ask EPA to Remove State Water Program - Fourteen Alabama environmental groups have called upon the EPA to revoke the Alabama Department of Environmental Management's water program. Here is the story from the Mobile Press-Register:

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/01/groups_want_epa_to_revoke_adem.html

Here is the 77 page petition to EPA:

http://www.alabamarivers.org/epa-petition

Southern Environmental Law Center Names Black Warrior River "Endangered Place" in 2010 - The Southern Environmental Center has released their annual report on the South's "Endangered Places." This year Alabama's Black Warrior River made the group's 2010 "Endangered" list. Here is a link to the SELC list: http://www.southernenvironment.org/about/top_10_2010/

Forever Wild Adds Two New Tracts in Barbour County and Tallapoosa River - According to recent Department of Conservation press releases, Forever Wild has completed the purchase of more than 6800 acres in Barbour County and along the Tallapoosa River. Here is a description of the two newest additions to the Forever Wild Program:

http://www.outdoorsalabama.com/news/release.cfm?ID=767

http://www.outdoorsalabama.com/news/release.cfm?ID=771

Mobile Bay Loses Over 1300 Acres of Seagrasses - According to aerial surveys conducted by the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, Alabama lost 1371 acres of seagrasses between 2002 and 2009. That leaves the state with 5,248 acres of underwater vegetation, about 66 percent of it in the Mobile -Tensaw Delta. Check out the entire Mobile Press-Register story here:

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/02/1300_acres_of_grass_beds_lost.html

Events

Friends of Shades Creek - Learn more about the re-authorization of the Forever Wild Program at the Friends of Shades Creek - February 11th, 7:00 at the Homewood Library

Alabama River Alliance's Watershed Leadership Conference Deadline February 12th - Don't miss the February 12th deadline to register for this year's Watershed Leadership Conference. Author Janisse Ray will be speaking at the event, along with several numerous events during the week. Go to http://www.alabamarivers.org for details.

Wild About Chocolate - The Alabama Wildlife Center will be holding their annual "Wild About Chocolate" fundraiser on February 13th at the Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham. Check out the details at : http://www.awrc.org

Smart Coast & the Bay Bears Host Sustainability Session - On February 23rd (Noon to 2:00) Smart Coast and the Mobile Bay Bears Baseball team will be hosting the "3Es of Sustainability Green Initiatives Session. Visit http://www.smartcoast.org for registration details.

Frank and Audrey Peterman Booksigning - Frank & Audrey Peterman will be having a Booksigning at the Little Professor Bookstore in Homewood on February 23rd, 6:30. They will be discussing and signing their book "Legacy on the Land." For details about the book visit http://www.legacyontheland.org

Environmental Education Association of Alabama Conference - Please register for EEAA's annual conference to be held March 4-5 in Guntersville, Alabama. For registration info, visit: http://www.eeaa.us//content/view/89/1/

Alabama Hiking Annual Conference - The Alabama Hiking Trails Society will be holding their 8th Annual conference on March 19-21 at Camp McDowell. For details, visit http://www.hikealabama.org