The World Bank is backtracking Bank's first 1985 policy 'on pest ma,n-onearliercommitmentstoreducepes-
agement, which contained an articu-ticide
use in agricultural projects, ac- late definition of '"sound· pest
cording to over 100 environmental, · ·, management" with 22 ope~ational're­consumerand
developmentorganiza- q'uirements.Ove;the past 1 Oyear~, the
tions from the United States and .. Bank has mov~d to downgrade -this
around the world. 'original policy. . . ·
The World Bank recently issued In 1988 and 1989, the Bank con-a
newoperationalpolicywhichoffers vened a panel .of experts, which in-·
only vague guidance to its staff a bout eluded one NGQ rep-resentative, to
whatkindsofpestmanagementprac- advise the Bank on how to upgrade
tices should be ftmded, and says noth- its· existing pest management policy
ing a bout farmer participation in with detailed step-by-step guidelines
projectdesig.n. that .Would enable task managers to
In a letter sent to World Bank implem~ntiPM successfully.
President James Wolfensohn on No- TheBankadoptedthepanel'score
vember 8, 1996, the groups call for the findings in its 1992 directive but an-
Bank to reinstate an earlier policy nounced that detailed recommenda-which
gave specific direction to Bank tions from the' panel's report would
staffonhowtominimizepesticideuse be incorporated into an Agricultuml
andpromotedanecologicallysustain- Pest Management-Handbook· that would
able approach known as Integrated be released, according to Bank offi-
PestManagement(IPM). ·, cials, "fairly soon."
IPM controls . pest problems Four years later, the Handbook
through ~iological controls and other has still not been. publ~shed. Mote•
naturaLmeans. IPM also emphasizes over, the Bank's 1996 IPM strategy pa-ecological
· education, with farmers. per showed that implementation of
taking the lead in developing locally the requirements in the.-1992 policy
appropriate pest control methods, has been virtually nil.
often relying on traditional practices According to a recent internal Op-in
combination with scientific analy- erations Evaluation Department
sis. This insures that agricultural pro- study, only about half of the Bank's
jects actually meet the n~eds of the ·agriculturql projects are satisfactorily
. rural poor whom they are supposed achieving their goals·. The situation is
to help. even more serious since the Opera-
In theirletter, the NGOs state that tions Eval.ua tio'n ·Department has
as the Bank's only current mandatory found that only about a third of ag-policy
on IPM, this new document ricultural research and extension p.ro-representsyetanotherretreatfromthe
jec_ts are satisfactorily implemented,
· BEXAR
·. AUDUBON
SOCIETY
and that the Bank's "Training and
Visit" system does not engage active
participation of fa~mers and fails to
,develop lippropriate farming practices
for local farming systems;
"The World Bank has just taken
a giant step backwards," said Mimi
Kleiner, a policy analyst with the En-·
vironmental Defense Fund (EDF).
The Ba~k appears to be weakening its
policies, be_cause it is under increasing
pressure to actually carry them out,"
said Kleiner. "For years, both NGOs
and internal Bank reports have docu­mented
the World Bank's failure to
implement its own· policies. Now an
independent 'Inspection Panel' exists
· which can actually hold the Bank ac­counta'ble
for how its projects affect
poor farmers around the world."
Along with their.letter, the NGOs
provided as evidence an internal Bank
memorandum wh,ich states, "Our ex­periences
with the Inspection Panel
. are teaching us that we have to be in­creasingly
careful in setting policy that
we are able to implement in practice."
According to Kleiner, "Rather .than
making an effort to live up to its own
guidelines, the Bank appears to be
lowering its standards." ,
-Mimi Kleiner, Environmental
Defense Fund, 1875. Connecticut NW,
Suite 1016,· Washington DC 20009;
Z02-387 -3500; mimi@edf.org.
-Michael Hansen, Consum~r Pol­.
icy Institute, 101 Truman Avenue,
Yonkers, NY 10703; 914-378-2455; fax
914-378-2928; 'hansmi@consumer.org
December 19 M~eting: Annual Holiday Party-Goodies and Slide Show
' '
BEXAR AUDUBON SOCiETY
P. 0. Box 6084, San Antonio, TX 78209
210-822-4503
Chapter of the National Audubon Society
The Chapter's primary goals are to promote
species and habitat conservation, and
environmental education in the community.
OFFICERS AND BOARD
President
Vice President
lreasurer
Secretary
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Past President
Harriet Wiygul 534-7505: fax 534-7319
Katie Nava-Ragazzi 804-112 6
Bill S11in 408-7731
Joyce Pipes 281-2452
Claire Drenowatz 599-4168
Chris Dullnig 828-40 I 7
John Langan 491-0692
Richard Pipes 281 -2452
Bill Woller 696-3186
Susan K. Hughes 532-2332: fax 532-2013
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Adopt-a-Park Bill Woller 12 3-3281
Aud. Adventures Betty Minyard 344-6128
Birdarhon Kim Fluetsch 655-0543
Conservation Richard Pipes 281-2452
Earth Day Dana Bohne 738-1342
Education Katie Nava-Ragazzi 804-1126
Hospitality Nancy Johnson 655-1 338
Membership Susan Hughes 5 32-2332
Natural Initiatives Debbie Reid · 698-1 05 7
Outings Patty leslie Pasztor 824-1235
Programs Chris Dullnig 828-40 I 7
Publicity Susan K. Hughes 532-2332
SAEN Coordinator Russell Smith 733-7639
Ways S Means Bill Sa in 408-77 3 I
Rexar Tracks Editor Claire Drenowatz 590-1 381; fax590-1383
seedy@txdirect .liet
Bexar Tracks is your newsletter. We welcome
your contributions. Next paper (hard copy,
fax) deadline 12/23, electronic (diskette,
email) deadline 12/27. Please send fax or
email to Claire Drenowatz, as above; diskettes
and hard copy shopld . be sent to Claire at
16407 Crested Butte, San Antonio, TX 78247.
Bexar ,Audubon Society general meetings are
held on 3rd Thursdays at 7:00 pm, at the
Ruble Center, 419 East Magnolia; board
meetings 2nd Thursdays at 7:00.
Introductory memberships to NAS, including
AUDUBON Magazine, cost only $20. Send
check to BAS (payable to N AS) at address
above. Note chapter code W19, and name,
address, and phone number of new member.
USEFUL NUMBERS:
210-733-8306 Local bird siglitings ·
210-698-1709 Wildlife Rescue & Rehab
210-22'7-6143 To report local water waste. ·
800-453-SMOG To report smoking vehicles
- • ·(License #~ date, time & location
of sighting are requested).
December 1996
December Meeting: Holiday Party & Slide Show
The December meeting will feature our annual holiday slide show
and treat exchange. The date is· Thursday, December 19, at 7pm. The
location, as usual, is the Ruble Center, at 419 East Magnolia.
'Members and visitors are encouraged to bring a selection of slides
from your travels, bird photos, or other wildlife photography. Ten' to ,
fifteen slides are recommended. A carousel projector will be available.
We also ask those who are able to do so to bring a holiday treat
to share-but don't let the lack of slides or treats keep you away.
Everyone's welcome for this annual enjoyable event.
If you have any questions about what you should bring, call Chris
Dullnig at 828-4017. If you have time, please call Chris to let him
know if you. intend !O bring slides, so he'll have some idea of how
much time to allot.
lp. addition to the slide show, we will h'llVe a very brief update on
the Mayor's Committee on Water Policy and Planning. The report of
the Committee is scheduled to be presented to Council the afternoon
of the 19th, so it will be hot off the press.
See you there, and Happy Holidays.
Meeting Specifics: Monthly meeting of the Bex::_~r Audubon Society,
Thursday, December 19, 1996, 7 pm. Free and open to the public.
For more information, call 822-4503.
Location: ~uble Center, 410 East Magnolia (between McCullough
and IH-37, Hwy 281). Nearest freeway exit is North St. Mary's, off
Hwy 281. ·
Public Transportation: VIA Route 5 (St'. Mary's-McCullough­Nqrth
Star ·Mall) to Magnolia Street.
Happy
Holidays
To All
December Outing: McAllister Park
Sunday, December 15
Nature Hi]!;,e at Mcallister Park
10 am to Noon
Join us for a leisurely plant & bird walk at this city park just
north of the airport. We should see some common winter visitors
such as rufous-sided towhee (now called spotted towhee), white
throated sparrows, kinglets and more. We'll also identify some of
our wildlife's favorite plant foods.
Bring your binoculars and dress for the weather. We willll).eet
at the first restroom/picnic. area you come to when driving in.
Call Patty Leslie Pasztor at 824-1235 for further information
and to let her know you are coming.
Bexar Tracks
BffiDING TRIPS PLANNED
Some great birding trips are being
planned as a way to support Audubon's
programs in Texas and elsewhere.
Texas Panhandle with Ed Kutac
Jan. 30 • Feb. 1. 1997, Amarillo
Join Ed Kutac, the author of
Birder's Guide to Texas and other books
to bird the plains of the Panhandle.
Thursday evening will be an introduc- ­tion
in Amarillo.
Friday and Saturday will be spent
visiting Palo Duro Canyon, playa lakes
and other habitats in search of the
long-eared owl, red-naped sapsucker,
· Townsend's solitaire, longspurs and
huge flocks of geese and ducks.
Attwater's Prairie Chicken Recov­ery
Efforts, March 1-2, 1997
We'll start at the Housion Zoo on
a behind the scenes look at their
Attwater's Prairie Chicken captiv!!
breeding program with' Chelle Plasse,
Curator of Birds and Houston
Audubon Society board member.
We'll be on the Attwater's Prairie
Chicken Refuge at daybreak on Sun­day
to look for booming males and last
year's released birds.
Contact ·Mary Dickerson,
Audubon Foundation of Texas Travel
Coordinator (972) 547-0747, fo-r more
information or to make reservations
for the two Texas trips.
Panama
Panama· Audubon Society?s sister
chapter, Golden Gate Audubon Society
is offering a one or two week tour in
Panama February 15 - March 2 as a
fund raiser for Panama Audubon's
programs. The itinerary was designed
by Panama Audubon Society for peo­ple
who want to get to know Panama
. rather than serious listers.
They'll cover the canal, including
areas threatened with development;
Western Highlands, and highlands
and cloud forest in the Darien re­gion.
For details, contact Golden Gate
Audubon Society's Panama Commit­tee
Chairman Miles McKey, 510-652-
5854, or e-mail Top Guides at
top4adven((i)aol.com.
Bexar Tracks
BRIEFS
KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS
I've been presenting birding field
classes since 85 and my love for work­ing
with beginners is nearly as great
as my love for those birds. Beginners
are filled with enthusiasm and lots of
oooos and aaahs.
I remember when a large group
was viewing ducks at some popular lo­cal
waters. I had been trying to point
out as many species as possible to any­one
who was interested. The activity
around my scope had diminished a bit
when someone came up and said, "I
saw the scaup and the ruddy ducks,
now show me one of those· bu(falo­heads."
Another time my friend and bird­ing
mentor got a me·ssage relayed by
his 14 year old daughter. She had taken
it on the phone. "Daddy," she said,
"Mr Jones called and said that the Up­land
Plovers are in at the airport-but
I'm sorry, I ,forgot to get the flight
number:"
Beginners ask lots of questions and
sometimes they're funny, but they're ·
·d. So keep asking the ,~ques-tions.-
J t. ,
-·
- Don Richardson
J~M -1 fm!ouston
1997 BIRDATHON PLEDGE
CARD PHOTO CONTEST
The same black apd white . pic­tures,
of people with up-turned bin­oculars
and a pelican, have graced our
pledge card for years.
Please send me your entries for the
1997 Birdathon pledge card BY JANU"
ARY 1. High quality, black and white
pictures of birders (perhaps children?)
a·nd birds are, of course, preferred.
Remember to include the name
and phone number of the photogra­pher.
The winning entry will receive
two Audubon videos and books and a
pair of binoculars. May the best pic­tures
win!
-Susan Mun·ay, Birdathon Photo
Contest, National Audubon Society,
1901 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington, D.C. 20006
EDUCATION NOTES!
On Nov. 15, our chapter sent sev­eral
volunteers to the first annual City
of San Antonio "Texas Recycles Day
Fair," held in the South Bank area of
downtown. Admirably organized by
Edna Ortiz of SA Recycling Program
and sponsored by the Hard Rock' Cafe,
the event targeted elementary schools
from around the city.
Our booth featured our ever-popu­lar
bird feeder project, using recycled
plastic bottles donated by BFI. Kids
and teachers alike flocked to our booth
to learn about recycling, bird habitat
and Bexar Audubon.
Special thanks to our intrepid vol­unteers,
who braved a (much needed
but inconveniently timed) rainstorm:
Paul Harper, Betty Minyard, Victoria
Wing, and Pablo Ragazzi, and to our
corporate sponsor for the event, Cheryl
Landman of Pro Specialty, Inc.!!!!
Also this month, our committee
held a very promising meeting with
members of the Brackenridge High
School Environmental Club and their
energetic sponsor, Melton Guerra~ We
look forward to collaborating!
-Katie Nava-Ragazzi
Education Chair
TEXAS A&M PLANS
JUNIPER MEETING
A special symposium} anuary 9/10,
sponsored by Texas A&M University,
will address the pros and cons of ju­niper
on West Texas rangeland. Texas
A&M's Research and Extension Cen­ter
located at 7887 U.S. Hwy. 87 N.
will host the event.
The program's purpose is to make
available to the public the most current
information available on juniper.
Pre-registration is $25 per person.
The fee includes lunch on Thursday
and refreshments during breaks.
Registration at the door is $30 with
no lunch guarantee.
Pre-registration is due by Jan. 1,
1997.
For further information contact
Dr. Charles Taylor by phone at 915-
387-3i68; by fax 915-387-5045; or by
e-mail c-taylor7@tamu.edu.
December 1996
Bexar Audubon Society, Inc.
P. 0. Box 6084
San Antonio. TX 78109
Address Correction Requested
Tired of Elections?
Non-profit
Organization
U. S. Postage Paid
San Antonio, TX
Permit #590
Sorry, but we're going to have. to one of our own soon. Members of the Board of
Directors who have come up against term limits (sound familiar?) will need to be
replaced, as will our Treasurer and President.
Meetings are the second Thursday (a week before the general me~ting). Basically,
the board. takes care of the business end of running BAS-planning programs,
outings, what issues to get involved in, what other groups to work with, and how.
Last meeting, for instance, we made a little more progress on putting together a
birding map of the area; and a little more progress on planning speakers for the
first six months of next year; decided that we could end our fiduciary responsibility
for Natural Initiatives, a spinoff that appears well enough along to stand on its
own and become its own 50 I (c)3 organization.
A board can always use new blood, particularly from people who DON'T have a lot
of experience. They bring fresh ideas. new areas of expertise, and different ways
of looking at things.
Please consider volunteering to run for one of these open positions. Your chapter
needs you. Call Bill Sa in at 408-7 7 3 I for more information.
! I r