Marijuana causes drought, endangered species are expensive, and wetlands store carbon… who knew? Now you do, thanks to this morning’s round-up of Cool Green News links.

1. New data suggest that wetlands could store six times more carbon per acre than forests, leading some scientists and companies to consider wetlands restoration as the next shining hope for carbon offsets.
2. How much does it cost to save an endangered species? A lot. A new report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the United States spent $1.5 billion on efforts to protect endangered species in 2007. The most expensive species that year? Chinook salmon.
3. Marijuana growers in California get blamed for a lot of nefarious activities, and a new one has just been added to the list: worsening the state’s drought. Officials in Mendocino County say illicit pot growers have a huge impact on water resources.
4. Do you ever use your phonebook? Has the thought crossed your mind that phonebooks are a colossal waste of paper? A new campaign is trying to put a stop to the waste by making phone books optional.
5. Using an infrared camera, Terry Gosney spots gas leaks that can’t be seen with the naked eye – thereby helping companies save energy and money and reduce climate change impacts.

Posted: October 15th, 2009 under Animals, Carbon Markets, Climate Change, Conservation Issues, Cool Green Morning, Energy, Fish, Green Living, United States, Water Conservation.
Tags: California drought, carbon offsets, carbon sink, Chinook salmon, conservation spending, endangered species, gas leaks, say no to phonebooks, Terry Gosney, USFWS, wetlands restoration