The World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg South Africa isn't about protecting the environment just for its own sake.Ê It is about protecting the environment because people depend on it for the requirements of life, for food, for water, for shelter and for the refreshment of their souls.

In 1997 ecological economists estimated that nature provides $38 trillion in services annually to the human economy, or nearly twice the value of the annual global economy of $18 trillion.Ê The services include cleansing water and air, protecting human settlements and agriculture from floods and hurricanes, acting as nurseries for important ocean fish stocks and pollinating major food crops (would you want to have to pay someone to pollinate your apple crop by hand?).

Ê These services are part of an interconnected system of biological species and geochemical processes that influence and control the flow of energy and materials across the surface of the planet.Ê When particular species or processes are interfered with or contaminated, then the flow of energy and materials may be affected in ways that can harm people.Ê For example,Ê Hawaii is heavily dependent on groundwater supplies for domestic and industrial use.Ê The rate of recharge of the groundwater depends on its mountain top forests.Ê The plants break the fall of rain, allowing it to percolate into the soil instead of running off, and many species are adapted toÊ harvest water from the clouds that regularly cover the mountain top forests.Ê Unfortunately, native plant species are rapidly being replaced by non-native species introduced as ornamentals or for agriculture.Ê These invasive aliens choke out native plants, but do not have their adaptations for harvesting water and allowing it to percolate into the soil.Ê So loss of the native plants affects groundwater recharge and stream flow, which will seriously affect the over 1 million people that live on the islands.

Biological species are critically important to systems we depend on, but since the role they play isn't always obvious we blithely chip away at their habitat, flush our pollutants into their water and air and soil, hunt them to extinction and introduce alien species we like because they are pretty or might make us money. Aldo Leopold cautioned against this behavior in his essay Round River:

"The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?' If the land mechanism as aÊwhole is good, then every part is good whether we understand it or not.Ê If the biota, in the course of aeons, has builtÊsomething we like but do not understand, then who but a fool would discard seemingly useless parts?Ê To keep every cogÊand wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering."

Even so, over 10% of the world's plants, birds and reptiles, and over 25% of the mammals, amphibians and fish are threatened or endangered.Ê On top of that, critical habitats are disappearing.Ê Approximately 2% of the world's forests disappeared in the last 10 years and some scientists predict the disappearance of 30% of the world's coral reefs in the next few decades.Ê If Leopold's land mechanism were a motor, it is as if we are pulling parts out of the motor as it was running, crossing our fingers that the next piece we discarded wasn't the critical one.

Ê Ê Earth will survive no matter what world leaders decide at Johannesburg (though it may be rotten luck for the species that coexist with us).Ê The real question is whether the decisions made at the summit result in initiatives to preserve the species and processes vital to meeting the real needs of human beings or if the perceived near term cost of change frightens us into staying on the dead end road of business as usual.

To find out more about the summit:
http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/

BioRegional Quiz: Dog Day Cicadas are just finishing up with calling and mating.Ê These largeÊÊinsects, up to 2 inches long are only calling in trees between mid and late summer.Ê Where areÊthey the rest of the time?

Job Opportunity:Ê AmeriCorps: Environmental Education Specialist, Dutchess County Environmental Management Council. Primary Responsibility: DevelopÊ environmental education mentoring program between high school and elementary school students with local school districts, Dutchess County BOCES, and existing 4-H clubs; support watershed education programs with Dutchess County schools. Secondary Responsibilities: Conduct watershed education programs with Dutchess County schools on the Wappinger Creek and other Hudson River tributaries. Required Schedule: 40 hours per week, with occasional evening meetings and possible weekend work. Education Preferred: Bachelor's Degree in natural resource conservation, biology, ecology, education, or a related field. A degree is preferred but is not required. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Preferred: Computer literacy, Excellent written and oral communication skills, Knowledge of environmental issues, and the ability to work independently and good organizational skills. Qualifications: 18-25 years of age; college course work in natural resource planning, policy, or environmental studies; experience teaching aquatic ecology in school and/or outdoor settings is desirable.Ê Commitment / Compensation: Full-time, 10-month commitment (minimum 1700 hours). AmeriCorps provides a $225 per week, health care, childcare, and a $4,725 educational award for tuition or student loans upon completion of a full term of service. The start date is Fall, 2002.Ê To Apply: Please send a cover letter, rŽsumŽ, list of relevant course work, and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of three references to: David Burns, Dutchess County Environmental Management Council, Farm and Home Center, 2715 Route 44Ê Ste 2, Millbrook NYÊ 12545-5566.Ê Fax: 845-677-0708.Ê Electronic mail: dburns@bestweb.net (attached or in body). Please indicate in your correspondence that you are responding to our announcement in www.EcoEmploy.comÊ (see http://www.ecoemploy.com/posts/dutch.html for full description)

Special Events/Classes/Programs/Talks
LOWER MISSOURI FLOODPLAIN SONGBIRDS:Ê Friday Sept 13, 3:30 pm AG Building 2-6 MU Campus Hitt and Rollins.Ê
SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR STORMWATER CONTROL: Saturday Sept 14, 9 am to noon with optional field trip in the afternoon.Ê Boone County Commission Chambers in Roger Wilson Govt Building (next to courthouse).Ê Intro to Stormwater Control, Stream Biological Health, Construction Site Stormwater Control, Effectiveness of BMPs, Compatibility of Existing Ordinances with Stormwater Control.Ê Free and Open to the Public. Contact 874-1637 or www.gocolumbiamo.com/dept/pubw/storm.htm for info
ECONOMICS FOR VALUING NATURE'S SERVICES: Thursday Sept 19, 4 pm 112 Lefevre - MU Campus University and College.Ê Conservation Biology Seminar Series
2ND ANNUAL MISSOURI RIVER CLEAN UP: Saturday Sept 28, 10 am to 5 pm, Jefferson City to Hartsburg.Ê Meet at Bush Landing, Hartsburg.Ê River and shore crews will clean up river and banks on 25 mi stretch between Hartsburg and Jeff City then gather at Bush Landing for celebration when done.Ê Go to http://www.riverrelief.org/about.html for more info.
MARK TWAIN NATIONAL FOREST HIKE: Sunday Sept 29, afternoon. Starting from Rutherford Bridge up Smith Creek to see the bluffs and Pinnacles.Ê Call 882-3691 for more information
ELEVEN POINT RIVER FLOAT TRIP AND CAMPOUT: Friday, October 11 - Sunday, October 13.Ê Call 573-395-4267 for info
MARCH FOR ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: Saturday Oct 5, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park - upper lot.Ê Bike (9 am), Run (9:15 am), Walk (9:30 am), Orienteering (9:30 am), and Nature Challenge.Ê Check in/Registration 8:30 am. Individual $15 (1 t-shirt or patch), Family $25 (2 t-shirts or patches).Ê Call 874-0171 or email weaverjc@missouri.edu for registration form (walk-ins welcome, but advance registration guarantees t-shirt choice). Prizes for biggest team and most pledges.

Ê MU Organization Meetings and Contact InformationÊ ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COUNCILÊ 882-7116; envstudy@missouri.eduÊ
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES EXEC COM 882-7116; envstudy@missouri.eduÊ
RECYCLING COMMITTEE 882-3091Ê 125 General Services Building

Ê Organization Meetings and Contact Information
AUDUBON SOCIETY; 874-3904 or columbia-audubon.missouri.orgÊ Meet 3rd Wed 7:30 pm, USGS, 4200 New Haven
BONNE FEMME WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP; 874-1637 or email phoeniwolf@yahoo.com
CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING; 875-0539 or http://peaceworks.missouri.org/
CHOUTEAU GROTTO; http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm, Community Room of the Boone Electric Coop COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE;Ê 882-7463 or email hendricksonm@missouri.edu for information.
COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS; 874-6271 or http://www.ci.columbia.mo.us/dept/pubw/ÊÊ
FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE STATE PARK; 474-7429 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org/Ê Meet 4th Tuesdays, 7 pm
GREENBELT COALITION; 442-4789 or http://greenbelt.missouri.orgÊ Meet 1st Tuesdays,Ê 7 pm, Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
MISSOURI HEARTWOOD; 443-6832 or http://www.heartwood.org/MO/ÊÊ Meet Tuesdays, 7:30 pm -1027 E. Walnut.
MISSOURI NATIVE PLANT SOC; 474-4225 or http://digmo.com/~npsboco Meet 2nd Mon 7 pm USGS Ctr, 4200 New Haven
MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK; 443-0292 or http://mrcn.missouri.org/ÊÊ
PEDNET COALITION; email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org
ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK; 449-7402 or http://rockbridge.missouri.orgÊÊ
SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION;Ê (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 orÊ www.mostreamteam.orgÊÊÊÊÊ
SIERRA CLUB; 443-4401 or http://sierra.osage.missouri.orgÊ Meet 3rd Tuesdays 7:30 pmÊ Hillel Foundation, 1107 University Ave
SMART GROWTH COALITION; tomvmoran@yahoo.comÊ Meet 1st Wednesdays, 7:15 pm, Boone County Government Bldg.ÊÊ
WILD ONES; 499-3749 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com, http://wildones.missouri.orgÊ Meetings 2nd Saturdays.Ê Call for location

Answer to BioRegional Quiz:Ê The Dog Day Cicada males call for females in mid to late summer, with a buzz that can get as loud as a lawn mower.Ê Once the female mates, she will lay her eggs in slits in twigs of oaks and maples.Ê When the eggs hatch, the tiny nymphs will drop to the soil and burrow underground.Ê There they will feed on the xylem in tree roots for two to five years.Ê Once they are grown, they will dig their way out to the surface, climb up a tree, attach themselves to the trunk and molt into the adult form. It is common to find their shed skins attached to the bark of trees.Ê For pictures and songs of the Dog Day Cicada and its near relative the Periodical Cicada check out these sites.
http://stephenville.tamu.edu/~fmitchel/insects/locust.htm,
http://www.gpnc.org/dogday.htm,
http://mindell.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/Magicicada/Michigan/Index.html

Ê Feedback - Got an opinion? IfÊ we have space, we will consider publishing it.Ê 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).Ê MU Environmental Network News is published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative.Ê All opinions expressedÊ are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.

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