Weekly Highlights
MEMORANDUM
From: Gabrielle Boudreaux Bodin
Subject: Weekly Highlights, USGS National Wetlands Research
Center, July 30, 2009
Departmental/Bureau News - Upcoming
- NWRC Scientists To Participate in USFWS Meeting Focused on Changing Landscapes for Fish and Wildlife Resources: Five USGS National Wetlands Research Center scientists will participate in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-sponsored meeting Climate Change: The Western Gulf Coast and Southern Plains Changing Landscapes for Fish and Wildlife Resources in Austin, Texas on August 10 – 12, 2009. Branch Chief Tom Doyle, who served as one of the organizers of the meeting, will be accompanied by NWRC scientists Hardin Waddle, Nicole Cormier, Larry Allain, and Richard Day. The NWRC scientists will present information about coastal swamps and plains as well as amphibian communities through poster sessions. (Thomas Doyle, Lafayette, La., 337-266-8647)
Departmental/Bureau News - Current
- NWRC Scientists Attend National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration: USGS National Wetlands Research Center scientists Gregory Steyer and Craig Conzelmann attended the 3rd National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration (NCER 09) in Los Angeles, Calif., July 20 – 24, 2009. The purpose of NCER 09 is to provide an interactive forum for physical, biological and social scientists, engineers, resource managers, planners and policy makers to share their experiences and research results concerning large-scale ecosystem restoration on both national and international levels. (Gregory Steyer, Baton Rouge, La., 504-578-7201)
- NWRC Provides Educational Programming to Local Students: USGS National Wetlands Research Center contractor Gabrielle Bodin provided educational programming to students at the St. Christopher Daycare and Training Center in Carencro, La., July 28, 2009. The 180 students ranging in age from 2 to 12 were shown animals such as a turtle and a quail provided by NWRC scientist Clint Jeske, as well as several biofacts from Louisiana’s wetlands including moss, a turtle shell, nutria pelt, and other items. The children were told about other animals living in the wetlands and the importance of these animals and plants to people who lived in the wetlands in the past and in the present. (Gabrielle B. Bodin, Lafayette, La., 337-266-8655)
- NWRC Provides Wetland Program and Center Tour to Local Students: USGS National Wetlands Research Center contractor Gabrielle Bodin provided a presentation about Louisiana’s coastal wetlands and then a tour of NWRC to 30 students from the Volunteers of America Juvenile Day Program, a local alternative school, on July 30, 2009. Students learned about mapping, greenhouse studies, amphibians, and invasive species. (Gabrielle B. Bodin, Lafayette, La., 337-266-8655)
- NWRC Scientist Provides Keynote Address at SC-EPPC Annual Conference: USGS National Wetlands Research Center scientist Randy Westbrooks served as the keynote speaker at the 2009 annual conference of the South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council on August 4. The conference, hosted by the Congaree National Park near Columbia, S.C., was attended by federal, state, and local personnel who are involved in invasive species management across the Southeast. Westbrooks’ presentation focused on strategies for early detection and rapid response to newly introduced invasive species at international ports of entry such as the Rasberry Crazy Ant (Paratrechina sp. Nr. Pubens). This new invader, which has become a serious pest around the port city of Houston, Texas, in recent years, is not generally regarded as an agricultural pest. However, large numbers of the ants do accumulate in electrical equipment, causing short circuits and clogging of switching mechanisms and equipment failure. Detection of such new species that escape from imported cargo and get established around ports of entry is clearly the most effective way to address them. Learn more about the Rasberry Crazy Ant at: http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/ants/exotic_tx.cfm. (Randy G. Westbrooks, Whiteville, N.C., 910-648-6762)
- NWRC Staff Participates in GOMA Annual “All Hands” Meeting: USGS National Wetlands Research Center staff participated in the Gulf of Mexico Alliance Action Plan II Implementation and Integration Workshop “All Hands” Meeting in Mobile, Ala., August 3 – 7, 2009. Besides participating in the plenary meetings, NWRC librarians Linda Broussard and Cassie Thibodeaux and contractors Courtney Schaneville and Gabrielle Bodin participated in the Environmental Education Network priority issue team meetings and contractor Kate Spear participated in the Ecosystem Integration and Assessment team meetings. Broussard also gave a presentation, “USGS NWRC Action Plan I Contributions.” (Linda Broussard, Lafayette, La., 337-266-8692)
Press Inquiries/Media - Newspapers/magazines/wires, etc.
- USGS Regional Executive Stan Ponce and National Wetlands Research Center Director Gregory Smith traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, the week of July 20 to meet with the Secretary of State and other State Department officials as well as representatives from the nations of the Mekong Basin regarding Forecast Mekong. Forecast Mekong is a framework for creating different development scenarios and the resulting outcomes as related to the impacts of climate change. Forecast Mekong is part of the DRAGON (Delta Research and Global Observation Network) partnership. The meeting generated articles in several international publications:
- SISTER RIVERS
- Earth Times
Mississippi-Mekong rivers sisterhood mooted
Posted : Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:38:40 GMT
Author : DPA
Category : Nature (Environment)
- TopNews
Mississippi-Mekong rivers sisterhood mooted
Submitted by Mohit Joshi on Fri, 07/24/2009 - 09:36.
- Gulf Times
Mississippi-Mekong rivers sisterhood mooted
Latest Update: Saturday 25/7/2009 July, 2009, 12:04 AM Doha Time
- The Brunei Times
Mississippi-Mekong 'sister rivers' mulled
PHUKET
Saturday, July 25, 2009
- ENVIRONMENT
- Mother Nature Network
U.S., Mekong basin countries hold key environment meeting
Secretary of State Clinton met with representatives from several countries to discuss commitments to water, health and the environment.
By Agence France-Presse
Wed, Jul 22 2009 at 8:00 PM EST
- Grist
Forging Thais
U.S. holds environment meeting with Southeast Asian countries
Posted 9:35 AM on 23 Jul 2009
by Agence France-Presse
- TerraDaily
US in key environment meeting with Mekong countries
by Staff Writers
Phuket, Thailand (AFP) July 23, 2009
- Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper
International
Saturday ,Jul 25,2009, Posted at: 18:56(GMT+7)
Mekong countries, US meet for environment
- US in key environment meeting with Mekong countries
(AFP) – 4 days ago
[Site accessed July 27, 2009]
- ROLE OF THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM (ARF)
- Viet Nam News
ARF crucial to development of region, says Deputy PM
(24-07-2009)
- Nhan Dan
Last updated: 16:42 - July 24, 2009
Vietnam appreciates ARF’s role in regional issues
- VOV News VN
Vietnam appreciates ARF's role in regional issues
July 24, 2009
- U.S. INFLUENCE
- Breitbart.com
U.S. may seek new influence in lower Mekong region+
Jul 19 05:31 AM US/Eastern
- The Nation
On Sidelines of Summit
US moves to boost role in region
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
Published on July 22, 2009
- Breitbart.com
U.S. consolidates ties with Lower Mekong countries+
Jul 23 09:16 AM US/Eastern
- Asia Times
Clinton Talks Tough in Thailand
July 26, 2009
- AID AND SUPPORT
- INTERVIEWS/STATEMENTS
- COLLABORATION/PARTNERSHIP
- The Nation
Mekong region ministers to meet Clinton Thursday
- The Nation
US, lower Mekong countries agree on development project
- The Nation
ASEAN Meeting
Mekong-Mississippi Cooperation agreed
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
Published on July 24, 2009
- International Water Power & Dam Construction
News
Mississippi, Mekong commissions' plan to share experience welcomed
24 July 2009
- Radio Australia News
Nations meet to discuss Mekong basin
Last Updated: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:02:00 +1000
- Bangkok Post
Softer tone welcome, but US must deliver
Writer: ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT
Published: 25/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
- The Nation
As superpowers eye the Mekong, Thailand should act
Published on July 30, 2009
- Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper
Mekong, Mississippi river bodies state cooperation intention
Thursday, July 30, 2009, Posted at: 16:21 (GMT+7)
- MISCELLANEOUS
- The Epoch Times
Dams in China Turn the Mekong into a River of Discord
Rivers know no borders, but dams do
By Michael Richardson
July 23, 2009
- Bangkok Post
Labour skills group to tackle green ills
Writer: THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Published: 24/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
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