Tag Archives: sustainable living

Indonesia model islands: Finding a balance between sustainability and development

8 Feb
WCS researchers for the Wildlife Conservation Society have found that co-management plans and incentives in Indonesia's Karimunjawa National Park help improve the livelihoods of communities and achieve conservation objectives. For instance, economic incentives to local fishers through assistance with fish mariculture techniques and equipment has helped improve acceptance of conservation strategies in the park. (Photo by: Ripanto/WCS Indonesia Program)

WCS researchers for the Wildlife Conservation Society have found that co-management plans and incentives in Indonesia’s Karimunjawa National Park help improve the livelihoods of communities and achieve conservation objectives. For instance, economic incentives to local fishers through assistance with fish mariculture techniques and equipment has helped improve acceptance of conservation strategies in the park. (Photo by: Ripanto/WCS Indonesia Program)

There is no question that the Earth is changing and that humans are the ones responsible. In the age of the humans, or Anthropocene era, biodiversity has declined, CO2 levels have risen and climate change has the potential to have dire consequences.

Research shows that coastal communities, especially small island countries are most at risk for these effects of climate change such as sea level rise and increased ocean acidity which can result in fishery decline.

But, with the right management, these communities can soften the blow of climate change and keep their fisheries sustainable for future generations. A new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society and the University of Western Australia shows that fishing communities in Indonesia have done just that, and their practices could serve as a potential model to other small island countries. Continue reading

Finding a ‘green’ home takes shopping savvy

22 Jan

By: Rebecca Burton

As published in: The Miami Herald

Like many young couples, Kim Roller and her fiancé Ben Gerber know what they want in their first home. They know where they want it, how big it should be, and how much they can spend.

But after they met Realtor Carlos Ruiz de Quevedo, they added another feature to their wish list: energy-efficiency.

Now the couple has settled on an Energy Star certified home in Coral Gables.

“We fell in love with this home,” Roller said. “When we got down to looking at electricity bills, it really showed that the house had a financial plus. We didn’t start looking for just a green house, but the option weighed out better.”

As more and more home buyers seek “green” houses — to save money on electricity, to help the environment, or for both reasons — they may face a bewildering array of certification programs, each claiming to measure greenness. Buyers looking to purchase one of these homes need to know what each program measures and how authentic it is. Continue reading