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TRACT S
<br />Americans gave a record $6.41 billion to en-
<br />vironmental charities in 2001, up 4.17o from
<br />2000, according to Giving USA 2002 ($65,.
<br />aafrc.org, 888 / 544 - 8464), published by the
<br />AAFRC Trust for Philanthropy. Total giving
<br />reached a record $212 billion, dispelling
<br />fears that recession and terrorism severely
<br />dampened giving. "Americans' commitment
<br />to philanthropy remained strong even in the
<br />face of downward economic pressures," said
<br />John Glier, chair of the American Associa-
<br />tion of Fundraising Counsel ( AAFRC). Total
<br />giving eked out a 0.57o increase over 2000,
<br />down from a 6% hike the previous year and
<br />over 107o increases in the previous four
<br />years. Individuals donated $160.7 billion last
<br />year ( +1.17o), noncorporate foundation
<br />grants increased 5.4% to $25.9 billion, be-
<br />quests dropped 4.57o to $16.3 billion and
<br />corporate gifts fell 12.17o to $9 billion.
<br />The Sustainable Forestry Board has chosen
<br />new leaders for 2002 and three new mem-
<br />bers. Colin Moseley, chairman of Simpson
<br />Investment Co., is chairman; Larry Selzer,
<br />president of The Conservation Fund, is vice
<br />chairman and secretary; and Bill Banzhaf,
<br />executive director of the Society of American
<br />Foresters, is second vice chairman and trea-
<br />surer. New members are James Speth, dean
<br />of Yale University's School of Forestry and
<br />Environmental Studies; Paul Portney, presi-
<br />dent of Resources for the Future and John
<br />Luke Jr., president of MeadWestvaco Corp.
<br />Chemicals released into the environment
<br />decreased to 7.1 billion lbs. in 2000, an 8%
<br />drop from 1999 and 487o drop from 1988,
<br />according to the Toxics Release Inventory
<br />(epa.gov / tri) issued in May by the Environ-
<br />mental Protection Agency. About 697o of the
<br />chemicals were released to land, 277o to air
<br />and 47o to water. Releases from the metal
<br />mining industry dropped 14% from 1999,
<br />but still accounted for 477o of all releases
<br />(3.4 billion lbs.). Manufacturers accounted
<br />for 327o of releases (2.3 billion lbs.), a 2.67o
<br />decrease from 1999. Electric utilities gener-
<br />ated 167o (1.15 billion lbs.), a 37o decrease
<br />from 1999. The inventory includes data on
<br />releases and waste management methods for
<br />650 toxic chemicals and chemical categories.
<br />This year's data are based on reports from
<br />23,484 facilities. Data can be analyzed by
<br />facility, chemical or industry; and at the
<br />county, state or national level.
<br />COMMON GROUND VOL. 13 NO. 3 JULY- SEPTEMBER 2002
<br />State departments of transportation com-
<br />mitted a record $586 million in fiscal 2001
<br />for transportation enhancement projects, re-
<br />ports the National Transportation Clearing-
<br />house (enhancements.org). Over 10 years,
<br />$3.66 billion has been committed to such
<br />projects, with the most popular ranging
<br />from bicycle and pedestrian facilities and
<br />rail - trails to historic preservation and preser-
<br />vation of historic transportation facilities.
<br />Alaska (1007o), Minnesota (100 %), Wyoming
<br />(99.87o), Florida (89.5 %) and Vermont
<br />(89.37o) had the highest rate of committed
<br />funds while Massachusetts (38.6 %), Louisi-
<br />ana (43.97o), Wisconsin (44.1 %), Texas
<br />(48.3 %) and Virginia (48.4 %o) had the lowest.
<br />Current land use trends show that one -
<br />fourth of the nation's coastal area will be
<br />developed by 2025, up from 147o in 1997,
<br />according to a new report from the Pew
<br />Oceans Commission (pewoceans.org, 703 /
<br />516- 0624). The development pressure will
<br />come as more than half of the U.S. popula-
<br />tion increase over the next 15 years -27 mil-
<br />lion people —will occur along the nation's
<br />coasts. Land use reform based on regional
<br />watershed - protection plans will be key in
<br />protecting the coasts, concludes Dana Beach
<br />of the South Carolina Coastal Conservation
<br />League (843/723-8035, scccl.org), who wrote
<br />"Coastal Sprawl: The Effects of Urban De-
<br />sign on Aquatic EcoSystems in the United
<br />States," for the commission.
<br />Vast improvements in land use manage-
<br />ment in the Washington, D.C. /Baltimore
<br />region could save 550,000 acres from devel-
<br />opment by 2030. Land use trends gathered
<br />from 15 years of satellite data show that
<br />817,000 acres — mostly forests, farms and
<br />wetlands —could be developed over 28 years
<br />in the 5.2 million acre region in the lower
<br />Chesapeake Bay watershed. The acreage rep-
<br />resents an 80% hike over currently devel-
<br />oped land. Without better land management,
<br />outer -ring counties in Maryland and Virginia
<br />will absorb up to 150% increases in devel-
<br />oped land by 2030, according to "Future
<br />Growth in the Washington, D.C. Region," a
<br />joint project of the Chesapeake Bay Founda-
<br />tion (save theb ay. org /land), University of
<br />Maryland (geog.umd.edu / resac) and the
<br />U.S. Geological Survey. Under an aggressive
<br />growth management scenario, developed
<br />land would increase only 20% by 2030.
<br />Alaska, Minnesota,
<br />Wyoming, Florida
<br />and Vermont has
<br />the highest rates
<br />Of committed fiends
<br />for transportation
<br />enhancement
<br />projects.
<br />Land use reform
<br />based on regional
<br />zvatershed-protec-
<br />tion plans will be
<br />key in protecting
<br />the coasts.
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