Green Options

Just a couple of weeks ago, soya traders agreed to extend a moratorium on buying soya linked to Amazon destruction. However, as discussed in January, 80% of Amazon deforestation is from cattle farming. With continued involvement of major international organizations and companies — Greenpeace, McDonald’s, Nike, Wal-Mart, and Carrefour — a giant leap in protection of the Amazon was made a few days ago.

Timberland has announced a new policy agreement with Greenpeace to ensure that leather used in new boots and shoes won’t contribute to deforestation in the Amazon.

The policy will issue a moratorium on purchasing any cattle raised in newly deforested areas within the Amazon Rainforest, and it will force all of its suppliers to do the same.

While the federal government debates adding the black-tailed prairie dog to the endangered species list, ranchers in Wyoming are speaking out against the idea, claiming any protection for the animal would threaten their livelihood.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has concluded that the prairie dog’s population is only 20 percent of its original size. The agency is expected to decide whether the species warrants protection in March, but ranchers are looking to have their voices heard.