MU Environmental Network News
January 2009
Vol. 15 No. 1

Editor - Jan Weaver
208 Tucker Hall, MU 65211          

Fisheries, Forests, Grain and Water: The State of Critical Resources 2009  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

2009

6.75

1.00%

65

FISHERIES (Inland and Marine, Capture and Aquaculture - but not subsistence fisheries; last update 2006)
Reports every two years: State Of world Fisheries & Aquaculture SOFIA 2006 http://www.fao.org/sof/sofia/index_en.htm
(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
State of the World's Forests 2007: http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/a0773e/a0773e00.htm

Year

Total Forested Area (hectares)

Annual % Change

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

- 7,200,000

2007

3,936,000,000

-0.18%

12,000,000

-7,300,000

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 - dramatic increase in the last two years, but there is concern about non-food demand (biofuels) competing with food needs, and global reserves continue to fall.

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

2008

2.240

5.3%

0.568

INTERNAL RENEWABLE WATER RESOURCES (Rainfall)
http://earthtrends.wri.org/searchable_db/index.php.  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 2008, India with 1.1 billion people, had 1,110 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%

2008

43

818,137,171

+1.9%

 

BioRegional Quiz: What is Missouri's population and population growth rate?
Special Events/Programs/Classes/Talks
January 27 - Business Risks and Costs of New Nuclear Power - 6 to 7 pm, KOPN 89.5 - Craig Severance, CPA - http://climateprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/nuclear-costs-2009.pdf
February 3 - Construction Work in Progress (CWIP) and Nuclear Power - 6 to 7 pm, KOPN 89.5 -  Peter Bradford, former chair of the New York Public Service Commission and former Commissioner on the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission http://climateprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/nuclear-costs-2009.pdf
 February 2 - Master Naturalist Class Orientation - 6 to 8 pm, Boone County MU Extension Center.  Training sessions will be Monday from 6 to 9 pm beginning March 2 and ending May 11. Three Saturday field trips are included.  Enrollment $75.  Kent Shannon at 573-445-9792 ext 310or shannond@missouri.edu
February 3 - Recycling Awareness Day - 10:00- am to 2:00 pm, Missouri State Capitol Rotunda - Green Elvis, Recycling Exhibits, Recycled Fashion Show, and Calendar Award presentations. www.mora.org
February 4-6 2009 - Missouri Natural Resources Conference - Global Trends, Missouri Impacts:Adapting to Climate Change- Lake of the Ozarks, Tan-Tar-A Keynote speakers -Linda Joyce, an ecologist at the USDA Forest Service's Rocky Mountain Research Station., and Dave Gustafson, a senior fellow at Monsanto www.mnrc.org/index.html
February 6 - National Teach-In on Global Warming on MU Campus - 10 am to 3 pm, MU Memorial Union.  Sustainability Fair webcast featuring David Orr, Hunter Lovins, Betsy Taylor, Ray Anderson and other national leaders.  Contact Jan Weaver, weaverjc@missouri.edu, or Marie Steinwachs, moeac@missouri.edu
February 9 - Water Quality Indicating Insects - 7 pm, Friends Room, Daniel Boone Regional Library - 2nd Healthy Watersheds Series Workshops sponsored by Mo River Comm Network, DNR and Stream Teams, presented by Priscilla Stotts. Contact Katrina Thomas at 573-256-2602 or troyofkat@yahoo
February 10 - April 28 - Master Gardener Class - 4:30 to 7:30 pm, Boone County MU Extension Center. $135. Kent Shannon at 573-445-9792 ext 310 or shannond@missouri.edu
February 17 - Conservation Lobby Day - Jefferson City  - Lobby Day brings together concerned citizens from around the state to talk with legislators about environmental issues facing Missouri. - http://www.movotesconservation.org/
March 5 or 7 or 8 - Volunteering at Rock Bridge 101 - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park office - information on the park and roles of park volunteers, - http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge.htm  choose events from the menu
March 7 - Marie Osa Dump Clean-up /Part 2 - Jefferson City - help clean up an historical massive dump site on the Osage River under the 54/63 bridge - www.riverrelief.org/events/index.html
March 13 to 15 - Show MeSustainability Conference - University of Missouri, Columbia - statewide conference for college, university and high school students to "connect, learn and lead" towards a sustainable future - http://showmesustainability.org/
           
 Organization Meetings and Contact Information
AUDUBON SOCIETY: 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed 7:30 pm, Unitarian Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd.
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  3rd Thursdays 7 pm Columbia Public Library
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 for fraternities and sororities at MU sauzp5@mizzou.edu
GREEN SANCTUARY: 1st Fridays, 7:00 pm UU Church 2615 Shepard Blvd alternates green movies and discussions g_baka2002@yahoo.com
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/ first Tuesdays, 7:15, Peace Nook on Broadway
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 population was 5.842 million in 2006, and the annual population growth rate was 0.73%. 
           
NEWSLETTER ALSO AVAILABLE AT    http://www.missouri.edu/~esiwww/news/Jan2009news.htm

MU Environmental Studies
208 Tucker Hall
Columbia MO 65211

 

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