Those dire facts, drawn from the latest "Global Coral Reef Status Report," however, are serving as a springboard for devising strategies to save the world’s coral communities and, by extension, the thousands of marine species that rely on them. The best way to do this, many marine ecologists now maintain, is to focus on a reef’s ability to bounce back from hardship. Where ecologists once talked about saving species, habitats, and biodiversity in a tropical reef ecosystem, many now speak of preserving "resilience."

Nowhere is this approach to reef conservation being put through its paces more rigorously than along Australia’s Great Barrier Reef – dubbed by some the largest living thing on Earth. In fact, the GBR is a chain of 2,900 reefs stretching some 1,200 miles along Australia’s east coast. Slowly expanding its reach as sea levels have risen following the last ice age, the network covers just over 135,000 square miles of coastal ocean.

Beyond its immediate biological value, the reef system represents a ringing cash register for the state of Queensland. Tourism and related activities bring in roughly $1.2 billion (Australian; US$950 million) a year to the region. The reef network also serves as a buffer between the mainland and the high seas that accompany tropical cyclones.

The concern: As global warming heats the ocean surface, bleaching events will happen more often, giving reefs less time to recover – all other things being equal, Dr. Berkelmans and others say. Added to that stress, they say, is the destruction that would come from tropical cyclones, which are expected to grow more intense, if not more frequent, as global warming proceeds.

One potential offset to bleaching could be coral’s potential for adapting to warmer waters. Some coral communities have been able to survive warmer waters by embracing algae that are more tolerant of heat than their previous tenants, according to a team of scientists led by Andrew Baker, a researcher with the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation at Columbia University in New York. Their findings were reported in the journal Nature last August.

But there may be limits to how broadly these results apply, others say. Even without pressure from climate change, reefs also face pressure from overfishing, farm and ranch runoff, and soil erosion.

Last July,?after several years of debate and negotiation, Australia’s federal government took a significant step by declaring fully one-third of the reef a no-take zone – no fishing, capturing live fish, or collecting corals. Previously, no-take areas covered only about 5 percent of the reef.

At the same time, the state of Queensland adopted a program for reducing the silt and nutrients that flow onto the reef from rivers in the region. The silt can cut light and smother young coral before they can replenish a bleached area. The nutrients can lead to explosions of algae and Crown of Thorns starfish, which can turn healthy reefs into drab undersea barrens.

Having figured out the historical impact of silt from rivers (see sidebar), an AIMS team is embarking on a five-year project to pin down more precisely the biological effects of the nutrients and soil across broader reaches of the reef system.

As these scientists head to the reef to get a better handle on the factors that determine the GBR’s resilience, others are using those data to build models to forecast resilience.

For example, Scott Wooldridge is developing a "state of the reef" computer model at AIMS that will allow conservation managers to rank the resilience potential for different reefs or reef segments. The model has the potential for use worldwide. So far, he’s included three elements: adequate levels of grazing fish on the reef to keep algae at bay, water quality, and increased heat- tolerance among coral – which he acknowledges is the weakest link in the chain in terms of biological research.

The model points to some disturbing results. Australia – and specifically, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority – may have chosen the wrong approach when it set up its no-take areas, he says.

His preliminary results suggest that the northern third of the reef probably should get the most conservation attention. The park agency, by contrast, set aside ecologically representative areas scattered throughout the reef. That made sense at the time, Dr. Wooldridge says, given what scientists then knew. But the northern segment is more pristine and faces fewer stresses because fewer people live and visit there. While it will likely feel the bleaching effects of climate change more strongly at first than reef sections farther south, it still stands a good chance of surviving. Thus it will be able to provide the larvae that will ride prevailing currents south to reseed portions of the reef that are under greater multiple stresses.

It’s a controversial notion, Wooldridge acknowledges, and calls into question the strategy over which the government spent so much time and political capital.

"With proper management, you can still have a viable reef by 2050," he says. "But the implications are that we need to conserve more in the north."

[b][i]1. Cand a fost descoperita pestera ? Emil Racovita??[/i][/b]

Pestera ? Emil Racovita? a fost descoperita intamplator, in anii 50, ca rezultat al investigatiilor geologice care se faceau in partea de nord-vest a Republicii Moldova, cu scopul a decoperi zacaminte de gips. in urma unor explozii pe care le faceau geologii, brusc s-a deschis o gaura foarte mare, de unde a rabufnit un rau cu un debit mare. Ea a inceput sa fie cercetata, abia in 1968, de catre un grup de speologi de la Academia de Ştiinte, condus de Verin Nemteanu. Aceasta pestera s-a creat pe parcursul cel putin 10-20 mii de ani in urma

[b][i]2. in ce situatie sa afla pestera ? Emil Racovita? in prezent?[/i][/b]
Din pacate, pestera a avut ghinion, fiindca in apropiere s-a descoperit o cariera de gips. intreprinderea de extragere a zacamintelor de gips – Knauf, a fost una necrutatoare, deoarece functionarii ei nu au tinut cont de faptul ca lucrarile de extragere a gipsului distrug pestera.
Din aceste considerente, Miscarea Ecologista din Moldova, a facut mai multe demersuri catre autoritati si in noiembrie 1991 pestera intra sub protectia legii, obtinand statutul de monument. in 1999, la intrarea in pestera, au decedat doua persoane, in consecinta, intrarea in pestera a fost sigilata. Din 1998- 2005 nimeni nu a intrat in aceasta pestera.
La 1 mai 2004, MEM a gasit intrarea plina cu apa, ceea ce da impresia ca un rau subteran a inundat pestera. Noi am organizat o conferinta de presa, am apelat la toate Institutiile statului, am prezentat un dosar Presedintelui Vladimir Voronin, despre valoarea incontestabila a pesterii ? Emil Racovita?. in 2005, presedintele republicii s-a deplasat la Criva si a oprit lucrarile de extragere a gipsului pe o perioada de trei luni de zile.
Dupa mai multe demersuri, in august 2005, un grup de 7 ecologisti, au gasit pestera intr-o stare relativ buna , cu exceptia intrarii, care este inmlastinata

[b][i]3. Pestera ar putea fi un punct de atractie pentru turistii straini?[/i][/b]
Desigur, pestera are un interior superb, cu niste galerii impresionante. in unele lacuri subterane se reflecta culoarea argilei, care s-a depus la fund pe parcursul a mii de ani. Peretii contin minerale, creand la lumina o gama de culori. Cred ca aceasta pestera poate sa fie un obiectiv turistic, nr.1 in Republica Moldova.
Noi (MEM), am optat ca pestera ? Emil Racovita? sa aiba statut de monument al naturii, dorim sa aducem acest obiectiv natural intr-un circuit ecoturistic.

[b][i]4. in ce perioada a anului poate fi vizitata?[/i][/b]
in general, pestera ar putea fi vizitata oricand, fiindca temperatura in interiorul ei este constanta

[b][i]5. Dispune pestera de ingrijire din partea statului?[/i][/b]
Din punct de vedere natural, pestera are o valoare incontestabila, este o bijuterie a naturii si poate deveni un obiectiv de mare atractivitate pentru turisti. Din pacate statul nu constientizeaza acest lucru. Mai intai trebuie stopate lucrarile de extragere a gipsului si amenajata intrarea in pestera. De asemenea, statul trebuie sa tina cont de parerea MEM-ului, fiindca noi cunoastem cel mai bine situatia in care se afla pestera ?Emil Racovita?

[b][i]6. Cand au fost intreprinse ultimile lucrari de salubrizare?[/i][/b]
Actiunile de salubrizare au fost efectuate de Knauf. in urma vizitei presedintelui, Knauf a fost nevoit sa scoata tot namolul, care probabil nu intamplator a ajuns acolo. Cineva a turnat acest lut ca sa stopeze intrarea in pestera, astfel ca aceasta sa dispara din registrul monumentelor naturii. in cateva luni de zile, ei au scos mii de tone de argila

[b][i]7. La momentul actual, cine este responsabil de situatia in care se afla pestera ?Emil Racovita??[/i][/b]
Responsabili de situatia in care sa afla pestera, sunt cei de la Ministerul Ecologiei si Resurselor Naturale. Ei trebuie sa coordoneze toate procesele care se produc in acest areal. Un rol important il au si autoritatile raionale si locale.
MEM-ul s-a aratat disponibil si in continuare sa apere acest monument al naturii care ar putea deveni cartea de vizita a Moldovei.

in acest sens, la initiativa Partidului Ecologic din Moldova ?Alianta Verde?(PEM-AVE), in colaborare cu Ministerul Ecologiei si Resurselor Naturale (MERN), Ministerul Agriculturii si Industriei Alimentare (MAIA), Institutul de Cercetari pentru Protectia Plantelor (ICPP) si cu sustinerea financiara a Centrului Raional de Mediu din Moldova (REC Moldova), au organizat un seminar de lucru ?Agricultura ecologica ? calea de ameliorare si de iesire a Republicii Moldova in piata agro-alimentara europeana?, la rezervatia naturala ?Codrii? din comuna Lozova, raionul Nisporeni. Seminarul a avut ca scop consolidarea capacitatilor autoritatilor publice locale (primari si reprezentanti ai primariilor, specialisti din agricultura, functionari ai consiliilor raionale) in procesul participativ de elaborare si de implementare a politicilor de dezvoltare si integrare europeana in domeniul agriculturii ecologice si protectiei mediului.
Pe ordinea de zi s-au discutat subiectele: agricultura ecologica ? calea sigura de ameliorare a mediului inconjurator si de patrundere a Republicii Moldova pe piata agro – alimentara europeana; solutionarea problemelor de mediu in lumina Planului de Actiuni UE-RM; evaluarea si managementul calitatii solului in contextul practicilor agricole ecologice; cadrul legislativ ce vizeaza promovarea agriculturii ecologice, implicarea societatii civile in promovarea agriculturii ecologice etc.

? Cum apreciati relatiile dintre Ministerul Ecologiei si organizatiile neguvernamentale de mediu, existente in Republica Moldova ?

in Republica Moldova, in prezent exista circa 500 ONG de mediu, asociatii si alte forme obstesti de colaborare in domeniul protectiei mediului ambiant. Ministerul nu poate sa nu tina cont de necesitatea corelarii si interactiunii cu aceste instituitii, mai ales, in virtutea Conventiei de la Aarhus, privind accesul la informatie, justitie si participarea publicului la adoptarea deciziilor in domeniul mediului ( conventie ratificata de catre Republica Moldova la 7 aprilie, 1999). Deci avem multe obligatii, cea mai principala fiind atragerea publicului la procesul decizional de mediu.

? Prin ce mijloace Ministerul Ecologiei atrage publicul in acest proces decizional ?

Ministerul Ecologiei isi coordoneaza activitatile si procesul de elaborare a actelor legislative si normative printr-un memorandum de colaborare cu ONG-le de mediu. Acest memorandum, care reprezinta initiativa Miscarii Ecologiste din Moldova (ONG) si fostul Departament al mediului, prevede implicarea specialistilor de mediu, neantrenati in randul functionarilor publici, in diverse activitati: in comisii, grupuri de lucru, la diferite conferinte, seminare, training-uri etc. Deci ONG-lor de mediu le revine rolul de a asigura o participare cat mai larga a publicului in procesul de imbunatatire a starii mediului ambiant. Recent, la sedinta Consiliului Administrativ al Fondului Ecologic, a participat reprezentantul ONG-lor de mediu, Alecu Renita, sedinta pentru pregatirea perioadei de salubrizare si amenajare pentru primavara a localitatilor. Reprezentantii ONG-lor fac parte din grupurile de lucru pentru implementarea Conventiilor la care Republica Moldova face parte (18 conventii ) sau reprezinta tara la diferite conferinte internationale.
La randul sau, Ministerul participa la diferite seminare si training-uri in localitati. Aceste activitati permit o asigurare a transparentei in activitatile si deciziile Ministerului.

? Care sunt neajunsurile activitatii ONG-lor de mediu ?

in primul rand ele nu sunt dotate cu tehnica necesara. Acest lucru este o piedica in asigurarea unor rezultate calitative. De asemenea, lipseste o colaborare a ONG-lor cu autoritatile locale; unirea eforturilor si coordonarea activitatilor intre acestea ar grabi solutionarea problemelor de mediu. Şi nu in ultimul rand , este ignorat faptul ca problemele ecologice nu au granite. Or, nerezolvarea acestor probleme la nivel local este o piedica pentru solutionarea lor la nivel national si asa mai departe.

? Cu ce ONG-uri colaborati mai activ ?

in general ne straduim sa fim impartiali cu toate ONG-le. Doar este necesar ca activitatile acestora sa corespunda cu legislatia in vigoare si sa duca la imbunatatirea starii mediului ambiant.

? Apropo de accesul publicului la informatie, ce ofera Ministerul Ecologiei in acest sens ?

Centrul Informational de Mediu al Ministerului Ecologiei pe langa publicatiile ?Mediul Ambiant? si ?Buletin Infomativ?, ofera orice informatie care tine de ecologie, cu conditia ca aceasta sa fie corecta si verificata. Anual avem peste 2500 de vizitatori, inclusiv printre elevi si studenti.

? Transmiteti un mesaj pentru vizitatorii [url=http://www.test1.ru]www.test1.ru[/url]

Vreau sa-i indemn pe toti, indiferent de varsta, sa se implice in solutionarea problemelor ecologice. Cu cat vor fi mai multi prieteni ai naturii cu atat viata ne va fi mai sanatoasa si respectiv mai frumoasa.
? Va multumesc.
Interviu realizat de Mariana Cazac

Tetra Pak is picking up after itself, as it were, by recycling waste from its own packaging materials.

The revolutionary cartons produced by packaging giant Tetra Pak were used as containers fo? a broad range of products such as milk, juice, tomato sauce, and wine, and have now been converted into tables, chairs, trays, and even key holders. A few low-cost houses built by Habitat for Humanity in the Philippines are also sporting Tetra Pak "carton" doors.

The Philippines is the latest in a growing list of countries where the packaging giant Tetra Pak is using recycling technology developed in Germany to clean up the "mess" it is making. Quietly, it has started a recycling program that links up students, consumers, the physically handicapped and street children.

"Care and Share," the recycling program, has two components. A collection/retrieval campaign represents the "Care" part. Launched in 2002 with only eight schools initially participating, the campaign now involves 50 private schools. Special bins have been installed in the schools where faculty and students can put the empty Tetra Pak cartons, including those from their homes. The campaign hopes to teach students to care for the environment by recycling starting with the Tetra Pak packages.

The program’s other component, "Share with the Less Fortunate," has provided jobs to former street children cared for and trained by the non-governmental organization Tuloy sa Don Bosco ("Welcome to Don Bosco," a Catholic vocational school). The Tetra Pak program has also given new money-earning opportunities for the disabled workers at the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc. (Home without Stairs), another NGO that trains and employs the physically handicapped. The workers have substituted the Tetra Pak carton boards for plywood, using them for items like picture frames, desk organizers and small furniture, the sale of which helps sustain the institution’s operations.

Tetra Pak’s partner in breathing new life into discarded packages – and in providing gainful employment to street children – is the Trans-National Paper Corporation, formerly a publishing house, which is now in the paper recycling business. Trans-National uses a machine made by the Tetra Pak office in India in its manufacturing plant in Tanza, Cavite, some two hours southwest of the capital city of Manila.

Trans-National easily accommodated the recycling of used Tetra Pak cartons without a lengthy training or retraining for its workers. The process begins with the shredding of the packages. Shredded pieces are soaked in water then placed in a mold the size of a full-length board before passing through the machine that dries the board.

Lorenzo P. Ligot of the Tanza plant said boards from the packages contained exactly the same elements that the original cartons had. No chemicals were added during the process. The shreds were bound together by the plastic that was already a component of the original package. When heated, the plastic melted and spread, binding the other components.

Ligot said the board had already been used in a few houses built by Habitat volunteers. He added that the material was "cheaper than plywood, would not warp and was resistant to termites." It may not even be necessary to paint the board as it retains the colors of the packages used; giving the finished product built-in designs and colors. Ligot said the board might also be a suitable substitute for wallpaper because, aside from already having its own patterns and color, it was very flat when installed, eliminating the problem of bumps.

Tahanan workers substituted the boards for many of their products that would otherwise have used wood. At the moment, they are making picture frames, trays, key chains, desk organizers and clocks, pen holders, magazine racks, tables and chairs, among others, out of the Tetra Pak carton boards. Joy Cevallos-Garcia, Tahanan’s chief executive officer, said she was drawn to the Tetra Pak initiative because "it helped clean the environment."

Aside from actual recycling of used cartons, Tetra Pak is also involved in advocating for environmental protection. Marily C. Gutierrez, communications and environment manager, said the company was organ?zing puppet shows in schools that brought the message of recycling to kids in an entertaining manner. "We also have videos on environment/recycling Tetra Pak packages (and will be distributing) a teacher’s guide (teaching material for teachers about recycling, environment etc.)," she said.

The company, a consistent supporter of the Museo Pambata (Children’s Museum), has set up a Tetra Pak Craft Room at the museum. For several years now, it has co-sponsored with the children’s museum art contests for kids using Tetra Pak packages.

Aside from the Philippines, Tetra Pak has recycling programs in Germany (paper and boards that are made into furniture), Chile (boards), Thailand (paper and boards), India (boards), Pakistan (boards), China (boards), and Italy (paper).

Researchers from Vector, the State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology in Novosibirsk, showed in an unpublished study that children in areas of Siberia where the fuel is sprayed during take-off suffer serious health problems.

"The level of some diseases such as endocrine and blood disorders in polluted areas is more than twice the regional average, they say," according to the journal Nature.

Baikonur, which is used by the Russian space agency, Rosaviakosmos, the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, is the launch pad for many missions to the International Space Station and?a source of income for the Russian government.

An unnamed expert on the country’s space industry told the journal that profit from an individual commercial launch could be as much as $25 million.

Nature, a peer-review journal, said it published the report as a news story because it has important implications.

"The first detailed epidemiological study of people living under the flight path suggests that the rocket fuel is indeed causing health problems," it said in an editorial.

Vector scientist Sergey Zykov estimates dozens of litres of unburned fuel from spent rocket stages containing toxic substances are sprayed over several kilometres during a launch.

"Most other major bases used by NASA and ESA, such as Cape Canaveral in Florida, send rockets out over the ocean," the journal said.

When Nature approached Rosaviakosmos about the study, it rejected the findings. Other scientists who have raised the issue told the journal they had been arrested or harassed. Local environmental groups have also campaigned against the pollution.

"Despite using Baikonur for launches, neither NASA nor ESA accepts responsibility for the problems associated with the site," the journal said.

NASA admitted it was aware of the pollution but said Rosaviakosmos has made "positive progress" in reducing the quantity of fuel released. ESA said it is not responsible for the rockets because it is only buying the service of the cosmodrome.

The Vector scientists discovered the increased rate of illness when they compared the health records of 1,000 children from the Altai Republic, a region in southern Siberia, in 1998-2000 with 330 records from an unpolluted region nearby.

"Grouping all cases of disease together, Zykov’s team concluded that children from the worst affected area were up to twice as likely to require medical attention during the three years studied and needed to be treated twice as long," Nature added.

No integrated federal body of control over the system of SPNA, as well as a continual series of reforms of state environmental bodies during recent years resulted in the situation when reserves’ development in Russia has sunk in the swamp of bureaucracy and official red tape. Actually, nature reserves and parks, which are the national patrimony of Russia, are left by the government to the mercy of fate.

As a result cases of illegal withdrawal of territories out of SPNAs for aims of economic use became more frequent in recent years. Local authorities, managers and criminal groups often put pressure upon the directors and employees of reserves and national parks.

"In Russia there are 135 state nature reserves and national parks, -says the corresponding member of the RAS Danilov-Danilian, who has been managing the wh?le state environmental system of Russia for many years. – In recent years 13 of them (10 % of the total number) experienced the attempts of illegal withdrawal of their territories and their transfer for economic use. Unfortunately, the state bodies in charge of SPNA are not able and often don’t want to take measures to protect the territories, as well as people who work there".

As a result non-governmental environmental organizations and individuals have to fight to protect state environmental interests.

"During last year non-governmental environmental organization have many times had to address to the prosecutor’s offices and courts with a demand to reverse resolutions of various authorities (including the RF government) about illegal withdrawal of lands of SPNA, – comments Greenpeace Russia forest campaign expert Mikhail Kreindlin. – Most suits brought by ecologists were sustained. Almost in all cases the Ministry of Natural Resources, in whose jurisdiction most reserves and all national parks are, was either neutral, or, as in case of Sochi national park, openly supported illegal actions of the RF government".

Despite the fact that the MNR is officially responsible for the development of reserves in the country, pseudo-economic arguments of its officials about the impossibility to create new reserves in Russia, as well as the atmosphere of bureaucracy and irresponsibility in the ministry became the obstacle for further increase in number of SPNAs.

"Since 2000 in Russia no new reserve or national park has been created, – says Vsevolod Stepanitsky, honourable ecologist of the RF. – It’s the longest break in the process of SPNA system development for 50 years, which demonstrates the attitude of the government to these issues".

Complete inefficiency of the current model of SPNA management in Russia forced the leaders of non-governmental environmental organizations to address the RF President in December 2004 with a proposal to create a special Federal Agency for Specially Protected Natural Territories authorized to carry out state control in the field and working under immediate direction of the RF government.

Additional information

Development of the network of specially protected natural areas (SPNA) that were fully or partly withdrawn from the economic use is one of the most important forms of biodiversity conservation. This is provided for by the UN Convention on Biodiversity, ratified by Russia. The system of Russian SNPAs is one of the most developed and world-wide recognized. Many reserves and national parks of Russia are under protection of international conventions and agreements and they are of international importance.

At present in our country there are 100 state nature reserves with the total area of 33.5 million hectares (more then 1.57% of the total territory of Russia) and 35 national parks with the area of 7 million hectares (0.41% of the Russian territory). 95 reserves and all national parks are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation.

We are inviting all NGOs, especially studying on such topics like environmental protection, researching and advertising natural, cultural or historical inheritance, ancient origins of Europa, intercultural dialogue, mobility of youth, youth policies and also onother issues.

We are looking for partner organizations from all EU25 countries, Romania and Bulgaria as canditate countries and Eastern European and Caucasian countries; but following countries have the priority for us:
Greece, France, Romania, Ytalia, Spain, Hungary, Malta, Belgium,Germany, Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraina, Moldova. (One or two participant fromone organization; two or three organization from one country)

Financial Details:%70 per cent of arrivals and %100 per cent of accomodation and all other needs will be paid by host NGO. Not any application fee is wanted. e-mail: [url=http://www.buyuktepe@hotmail.com]www.buyuktepe@hotmail.com[/url]
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Am fost la razboi si am trecut prin mai multe uragane, tornade si operatiuni de salvare, dar nu am mai vazut niciodata asa ceva. Nu pot sa-mi inchipui groaza prin care au trecut familiile si oamenii acestia cand au auzit zgomotul produs de apropierea valurilor si ale caror vieti au fost distruse de apa", a marturisit, socat, Colin Powell, dupa ce a vizitat Thailanda si Indonezia. Dupa ce a survolat in elicopter ruinele provinciei Aceh, secretarul de stat american a descoperit intreaga oroare a distrugerilor provocate de valurile uriase. Sate intregi au fost decimate, iar supravietuitorii la care ajutoarele nu au reusit sa ajunga se hranesc de mai bine de o saptamana numai cu nuci de cocos. Numai in orasul Meubolah si in jurul lui au murit aproximativ 40 de mii de oameni, iar participantii la operatiunile umanitare aver?izeaza ca alte zeci de mii au nevoie urgenta de ajutor. Dincolo de zecile de mii de corpuri neinsufletite, dintre care multe ramase neidentificate, si spectrul epidemiilor ce ii ameninta pe cei ramasi in viata, la orizont se profileaza si o alta drama: cea a copiilor ramasi orfani. Unicef a indicat ca se subestimeaza impactul tragediei asupra copiilor si ca se poate vorbi deja de "generatia tsunami". O treime dintre cei aproximativ o suta cincizeci de mii de morti sunt copii, iar supravietuitorii sunt in stare de soc si trebuie sa infrunte pierderea parintilor, dar si lipsa apei si a hranei. Mai mult decat atat, din ce in ce mai multi cad victime traficantilor de carne vie, ceea ce a determinat autoritatile indoneziene sa le interzica parasirea tarii. Interdictia va ramane valabila pana cand se vor afla suficiente informatii despre soarta copiilor care au fost separati de familii in urma dezastrului. Milioane de persoane ce au scapat de valuri au fost inghesuite intre timp in tabere de refugiati (in Sri Lanka 800.000, iar in insula Sumatra 500.000) in conditii greu de imaginat, complet inadecvate numarului de persoane care le populeaza. Spre exemplu, in taberele organizate in Banda Aceh si in jurul orasului, sinistratilor le sunt asigurate hrana, apa si medicamentele necesare, dar expertii au semnalat ca unele dintre acestea sunt suprapopulate si dispun de prea putine facilitati, cum ar fi grupurile sanitare. Induiosat de drama considerata cea mai grava din ultimul deceniu, secretarul de stat american Colin Powell a promis intregul sprijin al Americii pentru eforturile umanitare. La randul sau, senatul american a adoptat marti, in unanimitate, o rezolutie prin care isi exprima tristetea si se angajeaza sa deblocheze rapid fonduri destinate ajutorarii sinistratilor. Intr-adevar, comunitatea internationala s-a mobilizat exemplar, nu atat la nivel organizatoric (in mai multe zone accesul fiind practic imposibil), cat la nivelul colectarii de fonduri. In topul statelor donatoare se afla Japonia, ce a anuntat ca intentioneaza sa suplimenteze cele 500 de milioane de dolari alocate victimelor, Germania, care a avansat suma generoasa de 500 de milioane de euro, si Statele Unite – 350 de milioane de dolari. Desi ajutorul oferit de Statele Unite ofera lumii musulmane, din perspectiva lui Colin Powell, oportunitatea de a vedea generozitatea si valorile americane, se pare ca suma impresionanta promisa nu a fost bine primita acasa. In special Pentagonul si-a manifestat nemultumirea fata de aceasta desfasurare de forte, care costa zilnic numai fortele navale in jur de 2,5 milioane de dolari. Neasteptata si costisitoarea misiune intervine exact dupa ce Donald Rumsfeld anuntase ca va reduce bugetul Marinei, analistii avertizand ca, astfel, in cazul unor viitoare operatiuni urgente nu vor mai putea fi gasite resursele necesare. Impresionant este insa ca tari mai mici si mai stramtorate la buget au reusit sa stranga din acest putin ceva si pentru victimele tsunami-ului. Astfel, Coreea de Nord, o tara care nu reuseste sa-si hraneasca propria populatie decat gratie ajutoarelor internationale, a oferit miercuri 150.000 de dolari statelor asiatice afectate, iar Afganistanul a anuntat ca intentioneaza sa trimita o echipa de medici si un avion cu ajutoare in India si Sri Lanka. Surprinzator, in timp ce ajutoarele financiare curg din toate partile, asociatia Medicilor fara Frontiere a socat opinia publica prin decizia de a-si suspenda colecta de urgenta. Explicatia este ca organizatia non-guvernamentala estimeaza ca a primit deja mai multe fonduri decat poate sa utilizeze.

The high-position forestry bureaucrat follows with statement that necessary amount of fuel and food was supplied timely, as well as repair of equipment and fire prevention activities were done.

"It seems that it was a long time ago since chief forest managers, seated in Moscow, were in forest, otherwise they would not have been so optimistic, – comments Vladimir Zakharov, ISEU Forest Campaign coordinator. – The easiest way to learn about the real situation would be to ask directly those working on location".

Aviation Service of Forest Protection (AviaLesookhrana) experts have their own opinion on the issue. Even is the number of forest fires is lower this year, this does not necessarily mean positive assessment of the work done. Absolute assessment, with favorable weather conditions impact taken in account, gives different understanding of the year results. With such favorable weather, number of fires might have been much less, forest fire experts say.

True situation with funding was not also as optimistic as painted by Mr.Kasparov. Forest firemen calculations show that money was enough for only a month of work. Only weather conditions allowed to "stretch" the funds until August. After that there was a silent order – to fly out to location that are closer to the airports. The situation was saved only due to the absence of the autumn peaks of the fires. All this helped to cover up lags in the funding policy.

Indirectly, mr.Kasparov confirms these comments. He admits, that the worst fire situation was in Ural Federal region due to weather conditions – high temperature, no rain, and strong wind. This leads to conclusion that overall situation with forest fires in Russia is a matter of luck and weather.