 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
Warming threatens Canada's rivers and lakes: WWF
Ottawa (AFP) Oct 15, 2009 Canadian rivers are at risk from a variety of environmental challenges, including global warming, expanding agriculture, the construction of hydro-electric dams and increased urban consumption of water, a study said Thursday. Although Canada holds the world's largest freshwater reserves in thousands of lakes and rivers, this could quickly change as demands for water increase exponentially, warned the authors of the World Wildlife Federation report. The WWF examined 10 Canadian rivers and found some of them are "dangerously close to drying up." It also outlined three main threats: changing precipitation patterns due to global warming, causing drought, flooding and the melting of glaciers; growing demand for water by cities for agriculture and industries; and increased demand for low CO2-emitting hydroelectricity, which could alter river flows and damage ecosystems. "The combined threats of climate change and growing demand for fresh water by cities, agriculture and industry are converging on Canada's rivers," Tony Maas, WWF Canada director of fresh water, said in a statement. "Even seemingly remote northern waters like the Mackenzie (river) are at risk. As temperatures rise, and industrial water withdrawals and interest in hydropower increase, we must start planning now to protect river flows to ensure water security for the communities and economies that depend on them." Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Water News - Science, Technology and Politics
Fight over future of Kashmir's iconic Dal LakeSrinagar (AFP) Oct 14, 2009 "I live here and I will die here," insists Safder Hussain, one of thousands of farmers defying relocation from Kashmir's famed Dal Lake which is slowly choking to death on sewage, silt and weeds. The iconic mountain-ringed oasis that has seduced generations of visitors has shrunk to half its original size in the past two decades - and the government has pointed a finger of blame at Hussain ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2009 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook