Environment and Nature

N.C. Zoo projects, budget go to vote (Asheboro Courier-Tribune)

7 Jul 2008

ASHEBORO — Funding for two N.C. Zoo projects, the polar bear exhibit and planning for replacement of the African Pavilion, are part of the budget bill expected to be acted on by the General Assembly this week.

Nature Reserves Attract Humans, But At A Cost To Biodiversity (Science Daily)

7 Jul 2008

Countering a perception that establishing nature reserves in developing nations drives away local communities, a new study finds that human settlements are actually drawn to protected areas in Africa and Latin America. Unfortunately, the researchers also found a link between high rates of human population growth and illegal harvesting of timber, bushmeat hunting and species extinction.

Hardwired for fat: scientists identify obesity gene (AFP via Yahoo! News)

7 Jul 2008

British and French scientists have identified several variants of a single gene that boost the risk of obesity, according to a study published Sunday in the British journal Nature.