CONGRATULATIONS!!! This statement reveals that, unlike many organizations, ESA is not stifled by an hierarchy of elites, but is actually able to retain intellectual integrity and social resilience. Quite an accomplishment!
I hope that ESA will continue to hammer away at this issue, as fantasy is preferred to reality by far more people in the dominant elements of our culture and among those whom they have duped, than those capable of integrated thinking. However, I suspect it will require far more than press releases to capture media attention beyond the "science" sections of a few newspapers. While it is greatly to their credit that ESA refuses to put on nose-glasses to get attention, there need be no sacrifice of dignity in persevering in the pursuit of healing the earth as a necessity for "the good life" rather than its enemy (as so many have been led to believe). This kind of mature statement is essential for bridging that gap, as opposed to the very destructive finger-wagging practiced by so many well-intentioned organizations and individuals. I also hope that ESA considers this an excellent beginning of a trend toward exercising a voice of reason in what appears to be a monolithically dominant obsession with power, control, dominance and deception as a route toward survival of the species, but actually is a house of cards, the collapse of which appears increasingly imminent. Through its emphasis upon integrated systems, and patient restraint with respect to all, it can set an example for all organizations. WT At 06:28 AM 1/10/2008, Nadine Lymn wrote: >For Immediate Release: 10 January 2008 > > >Biofuels Sustainability >Nation's ecological scientists weigh in on biofuels > > >The Ecological Society of America, the nation's professional >organization of 10,000 ecological scientists, today released a position >statement (www.esa.org/pao/policyStatements/#energy) that offers the >ecological principles necessary for biofuels to help decrease dependence >on fossil fuels and reduce carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to >global climate change. The Society warns that the current mode of >biofuels production will degrade the nation's natural resources and will >keep biofuels from becoming a viable energy option. > >"Current grain-based ethanol production systems damage soil and water >resources in the U.S. and are only profitable in the context of tax >breaks and tariffs," says ESA. "Future systems based on a combination >of cellulosic materials and grain could be equally degrading to the >environment, with potentially little carbon savings, unless steps are >taken now that incorporate principles of ecological sustainability." > >Three ecological principles are necessary: > >1) SYSTEMS THINKING: Looking at the complete picture of how much >energy is produced versus how much is consumed by extracting and >transporting the crops used for biofuels. A systems approach seeks to >avoid or minimize undesirable production side effects such as soil >erosion and contamination of groundwater. Consistent monitoring is >critical to ensure that biofuel production is sustainable. > > >2) CONSERVATION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: Maximizing crop yield >without regard to negative side effects is easy. On the other hand, >growing crops and retaining the other services provided by the land is >far more challenging, but very much worth the effort. For example, >lower yields from an unfertilized native prairie may be acceptable in >light of the other benefits, such as minimized flooding, fewer pests, >groundwater recharge, and improved water quality because no fertilizer >is needed. > > >3) SCALE ALIGNMENT: How agriculture is managed matters at the >individual farm, regional, and global level. Policies must provide >incentives for managing land in a sustainable way. They should also >encourage the development of biofuels from various sources. > >"The current focus on ethanol from corn illustrates the risks of >exploiting a single source of biomass for biofuel production," says ESA. > > >Continuously-grown corn leads to heavy use of fertilizers, early return >of land in conservation programs to production, and the conversion of >marginal lands to high-intensity cropping. All of these bring with them >well-known environmental problems associated with intensive farming: >persistent pest insects and weeds, pollution of groundwater, greater >irrigation demands, less wildlife diversity, and the release of more >carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to >global climate change. Ironically, one of the touted benefits of >biofuels is to help alleviate global climate change, a benefit that is >considerably diluted under a high-intensity agriculture scenario. > >The Ecological Society of America will contribute more to this timely >issue in a few months when it convenes a conference >(www.esa.org/biofuels) devoted to the ecological dimensions of biofuels. >The conference, which will be held on March 10, 2008 in Washington, DC, >will bring together a wide variety of experts in the biofuels arena. >The conference will cover the various sources of biofuels-agriculture >and grasslands, rangelands, and forests-and will encompass the private >sector and socioeconomic perspectives. Jose Goldemberg, Global Energy >Assessment Council & Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, will give the >keynote address. > >Like other organizations, ESA is also concerned about the hardship on >the nation's poor communities as higher crop prices drive up the cost of >food. > >It has been said that biofuels have achieved cult-like status and in the >rush it is only too easy to overlook the big picture of environmental >implications. Iowa alone has planted more than a third of its land >surface with corn and, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, the >federal government has some 20 laws and incentives to boost ethanol use. > >A biofuels infrastructure that incorporates systems thinking, conserves >ecosystem services, and encompasses multiple scales can best serve U.S. >citizens, the economy, and the environment. > > >***** > >The Ecological Society of America is the country's primary professional >organization of ecologists, representing 10,000 scientists in the United >States and around the world. Since its founding in 1915, ESA has >pursued the promotion of the responsible application of ecological >principles to the solution of environmental problems through ESA >reports, journals, research, and expert testimony to Congress. For more >information about the Society and its activities, visit the ESA website >at http://www.esa.org.
