MU Environmental Network News

January 2008

Vol. 14 No. 1

Editor - Jan Weaver

208 Tucker Hall, MU 65211

Fisheries, Forests, Grain and Water: The State of Critical Resources 2008

by Jan Weaver

This month's issue features an annual update on population growth and resources critical to human survival. Some data, like population size and grain production, are relatively easy to estimate. For other data the quality of the information is quite uneven, or statistics are only updated every few years. That said, the tables below contain the best guesses of where we are with population, fisheries, forests, cereals and fresh water. For most resources, the amount available per person is trending downwards because population is going up, and the resource is essentially fixed, leveling off or uneven, or it is declining because of over-harvesting, pollution or mismanagement.

 POPULATION

US Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/popclockworld.html Reports updated daily

Year

Population (billions)

Annual Growth Rate

New Lives Added each year (millions)

1980

4.46

1.70%

76

1990

5.28

1.6%

82

2000

6.08

1.26%

76

2005

6.49

1.35%

85

2006

6.57

1.23%

80

2007

6.64

1.06%

70

FISHERIES (Inland and Marine, Capture and Aquaculture - but not subsistence fisheries)

FAO: http://www.fao.org/sof/sofia/index_en.htm Reports every two years: State Of world Fisheries & Aquaculture SOFIA 2006 (fisheries supply 16% of the world's supply of animal protein, 20% for 2.6 billion people). * updated figures

Year

Metric Tons Harvested

Annual Growth Rate

Annual Change in Tonnage

Change in Practices

1980

72,412,450

1.01%

700,732

World fleet doubles

1990

98,586,180

3.61%

2,617,373

subsidies $50 billion

2000

131,100,000*

24.79%

32,500,000

75% exploited

2001

131,000,000*

-0.07%

-100,000

2002

133,700,000*

2.06%

2,700,000

China overreporting

2003

133,200,000*

-0.37%

-500,000

use of bycatch

2004

140,500,000

0.55%

7,300,000

fleet numbers stable

2005

141,600,000

0.78%

1,100,000

still 75% exploited

FORESTS

Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005: http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/28821/en/ "Key Findings" Reports every 5 years

Year

Total Forested Area (hectares)

Annual % Change

Loss /1° Forest Loss (hectares)

Ann Net Loss

1990

4,080,000,000

2000

3,990,000,000

- 2.2%

- 8,900,000

2005

3,950,000,000

-0.18 %

13,000,000 / 6,000,000

- 7,200,000

CEREALS (Wheat, Maize, Rice, Barley, Sorghum, Millet, Oats, Rye, Triticale and other grains)

FAO Global Supply and Demand Brief http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/ah877e/ah877e04.htm

Year

World Grain (billions of metric tons)

Avg. Annual Change

Per Capita Grain (tons/yr/person)

1990

1.951

25.9%

0.369

2000

2.060

0.5%

0.338

2005

2.151

0.9%

0.327

2006

2.091

-2.7%

0.318

2007

2.101

4.6%

0.316

INTERNAL RENEWABLE WATER RESOURCES (Rainfall)

FAO Aquastat: http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/data/query/index.html. Countries and populations with less than 1000 cubic meters of rainfall per capita per year. (1000 m3 is the minimum amount needed to meet one person's food, domestic and industrial needs). In 2007, India with 1.1 billion people, had 1,115 m3 of internal renewable water per person per year. Deficits can be made up by using water from rivers originating in other countries, pumping ground water or purchasing virtual water (food & lumber) from countries with a current excess of rainfall.

 

Year

Number of Countries

Number of People

Ann Change

1990

27

490,787000

2000

27

610,856,000

+24%

2002

29

687,341,000

+6 %

2003

32

1,080,155,000

+57%

2004

43

1,197,000,000

+11%

2005

31

791,646,000

-33%

2007

42

802,263,000

+1.3%

BioRegional Quiz: What is the amount of Missouri's Internal Renewable Water Resources?

 

 

Special Events/Programs/Classes/Talks

NAME & PLAN NEW PARK: Complete an online survey about the new regional park in southeast Columbia (formerly the Philips tract) at https://www.gocolumbiamo.com/phpQ/fillsurvey.php?sid=103

EAST COLUMBIA ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT: Jan 8, 4 - 6 pm, Boone County Government Center 801 E. Walnut. The city is seeking citizen input on more detailed road alignments since presentation of the plan in October. http://www.eastcolumbiaeis.com/

TREEKEEPERS CLASS: Thursdays 6-8:30 pm starting January 17, at the ARC, 1701West Ash . Call 874-7499 or email volunteer AT gocolumbiamo.com for more information.

CARPE DIEM - ASIAN CARP IN MISSOURI: Jan 8, 7 pm, Bryant Cabin, Overton Bottoms (across from Rocheport) http://www.friendsofbigmuddy.org/program.htm

LITTLE DIXIE HIKE: Jan 27, Little Dixie Conservation Area http://missouri.sierraclub.org/osage/events.htm

"CLIMATE CHALLENGE - COLUMBIA'S RESPONSE": Fed 13, 7 pm, Friends Room Public Library. Panel: Mayor Darwin Hindman, Council Member Barbara Hoppe, Energy & Environment Commission Chair Frank Cunningham, Environmental Design Specialist Barbara Buffaloe, Assistant City Manager Tony St Romaine. Refreshments 6:30 pm. LWV and Columbia Public Library

MASTER NATURALIST TRAINING: Feb 25, March 3, 10, 17, 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12 with field trips March 15, April 12 and May 3 . visit http://extension.missouri.edu/masternaturalist/columbia/ for information on registering.

COLUMBIA AQUATIC RESTORATION PROJECT- CARP: Classes March 3, 10, 17 at the Parks Management Center at 1507 Business Loop 70 West, with projects on Saturdays.

PARKAPALOOZA: Sunday March 9, 3-7 pm, Unitarian Church 2615 Shepard Boulevard. A benefit for Friends of Rock Bridge Mem St Park Outdoor Education Programs. ParXperts - Single elimination tournament to find out who knows the most about the park; ParXploration - Hands on nature activities for families; Parktion - Silent auction of nature-themed items; Parkateers - Volunteer Recognition. $10 adults, $15 couples, $25 families, $45 ParXperts team of 3. weaverjc@missouri.edu

CLEAN UP COLUMBIA DAY: April 12. Call 874-7499 for details on registering

NATIVE PLANT SALE: April 12, 9-Noon, Bradford Farm http://aes.missouri.edu/bradford/events/

 

Organization Meetings and Contact Information

AUDUBON SOCIETY: 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed 7:30 pm, Unitarian Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd.

BIG CANOE: 573-875-8590 / bryce_crispies@yahoo.com / http://www.bigcanoemo.org/ - Saturday workdays 10-1 at 406 Sanford

BOONE COUNTY SMART GROWTH COALITION: http://smartgrowth.missouri.org/, 1st Weds 7:15 Boone Co Govt Ctr.

CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING: 875-0539 or http://www.midmopeaceworks.org/sustainableliving.php

CHOUTEAU GROTTO: http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm, The Casteel Building, 1518 Business Loop 70 East

COLUMBIA CLIMATE CHANGE COALITION: 573-529-9273, Meet 3rd Thu http://www.columbiaclimatechangecoalition.org/

COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE: 882-7463 or http://foodcircles.missouri.edu/sources.htm

COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOL. PROGRAMS: 874-6271 or http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/#PW

COMMUNITY GARDEN COALITION: 875-5995 or cgardenc@yahoo.com or http://cgc.missouri.org

ENV EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/teacher/workshops/

FRIENDS OF BIG MUDDY: friends@friendsofbigmuddy.org or www.friendsofbigmuddy.org 2nd Tues, 7 pm, Bryant Cabin

FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE M. S. P.: 815-9255 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org/ Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.

GET ABOUT COLUMBIA: http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/GetAbout_Columbia/index.php

GREEKS GOING GREEN: new group

GREENBELT LAND TRUST OF MID-MISSOURI: 442-4789, greenbelt.land.trust @gmail.com or http://greenbelt.missouri.org

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE: 815-9836, drop off/ buy 1906 Monroe St. Columbia Mon to Fri 8:30 to 3:30, Sat 8-1 1pm,

MISSOURI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: www.meea.org

MO NATIVE PLANT SOC.: http://columbianativeplants.missouri.org/, 2nd Mon, odd months, 7 p.m., UU Church, 2615 Shepard

MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK: 573-256-2602 or www.moriver.org or moriver@coin.org

MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE ENERGY: http://www.mosafeenergy.org/Content/

PEDNET COALITION: email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org

RIVER RELIEF: http://www.riverrelief.org/

ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: 449-7402 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org

SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION: (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 or www.mostreamteam.org

SIERRA CLUB: 875-2916, http://missouri.sierraclub.org/osage/index.htm 3rd Tuesdays 7:30 pm Hillel Found., 1107 University Ave

SUSTAIN MIZZOU: http://students.missouri.edu/~sustainmizzou/

WILD ONES: 573 882-9909, ext 3257 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com, http://wildones.missouri.org Meetings 2nd Saturdays.

 

Feedback - Got an opinion? If we have space, we will consider publishing it. Submit it by email (envstudy@missouri.edu), snail mail (Environmental Studies, 211 Lowry , MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan Weaver to talk about it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.

 

Answer to BioRegional Quiz: Missouri's area is 68,886 square miles or 178,550,000,000 square meters. The average annual rainfall is 33.91 inches or 0.86 meters. 178,550,000,000 x 0.86 yields 153,790,000,000 cubic meters of rain falling on the state. Divided by Missouri's population of 5,842,713 that yields 26,321 cubic meters per person per year.

 

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