Killer Slugs and Other Aliens

PRAGUE, January 9 /PRNewswire/ –

– EEA Signals 2009: Eight Environmental Stories for Europe

Translated versions of Signals 2009 are available here:

http://reports.eea.europa.eu/corporate_document_2009_1/en

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090109/333827 )

Is gardening one of your interests? If so and you live in central or
northern Europe the ‘killer slug’ is probably one of your personal enemies.
The slug, which attacks your herbs and vegetables relentlessly, seems immune
to control measures.

The killer slug, suffocating lobster, globe trotting televisions and
dangerous air particles are just some of the topics featured in EEA Signals
2009, a new annual publication from the European Environment Agency, launched
today in Prague by Czech Environment Minister Bursik and Executive Director
of the EEA, Professor Jacqueline McGlade.

The EEA, in partnership with its network of 32 member countries, monitors
the environment across Europe. Finding, reading and understanding the range
of ‘signals’ regarding the health and diversity of our environment is at the
heart of what the Agency does. EEA Signals 2009, which will be published in
all 26 EEA languages, takes a story-based approach to provide a snapshot of
key environmental topics of special relevance to the year ahead.

“2009 offers a remarkable opportunity to engage the global community and
to begin to deal with the environmental challenge proper. We need to move
carefully but quickly. The scale of the challenge should neither paralyse us
into inaction nor stifle valuable debate. In this context, I welcome the EEA
Signals, which is aimed at the broad range of European citizens,” Minister
Bursik said.

The stories in EEA Signals are not exhaustive but have been selected on
the basis of their relevance to the current environmental policy debate in
Europe. They address priority issues of climate change, nature and
biodiversity, the use of natural resources and health and the environment.

“As our need to mitigate and adapt to climate change becomes more urgent,
so our need to communicate effectively with a wide audience also increases in
importance. Before we can motivate people to take action, we need to engage
and empower them, and their governments, to act,” Professor McGlade said.

    Notes to the editor:
    Launch details: Prague, Czech Republic
    Date: January 9
    Venue: European Commission Representation, Jungmannova Street 24
    Time: 11 am
    Eight environmental stories for Europe in 2009

EEA Signals is an annual publication profiling key environmental stories
for the coming twelve months. Signals 2009 includes the following articles:

    - Not just hot air: Global diplomacy and the search for a successor to
      the Kyoto protocol
    - If the well runs dry: Climate change adaptation and water
    - Killer Slugs and other Aliens: The killer slug is just one threat to
      Europe's fragile biodiversity.
    - Every breath you take: Air quality in Europe
    - If bioenergy goes boom: Large scale bioenergy production
      bears considerable environmental risks. How will the great bio debate
      unfold?
    - Fish out of water: Marine management in a changing climate
    - Taking CAP in hand: reform of the Common Agriculture Policy
    - Not in my Backyard: International shipments of waste

SOURCE European Environment Agency