Outdoor cats kill between 1.4 billion and 3.7 billion birds a year
Great Job Opening: Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita
Job Title: Division Supervisor – Naturalist
Closing Date/Time: Mon. 02/25/13 5:00 PM CST
Salary: $45,191.00 – $80,349.00 Annually
Job Type: Full-time
Location: Great Plains Nature Center, 6232 E. 29th Street North, Wichita, Kansas
URL: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/wichita/default.cfm?action=viewjob&JobID=589118
This is supervisory and professional work directing the WICHITAWILD program. This program involves preserving natural areas, providing nature education programs and activities, and maintaining the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit. Work is directed and reviewed through the establishment of goals and subsequent evaluation of progress toward goal attainment.
Required Experience and Training:
Graduation from a four-year college with a degree in biology, botany or a related natural science, plus one year of experience as a naturalist or environmental educator, plus three years supervisory experience. Two or more years experience as a naturalist or environmental educator is preferred. An equivalent combination of education, experience and training may be considered. Offers of employment are contingent upon passing a pre-employment physical, which includes drug screening, and upon satisfactory evaluation of the results of a criminal record check.
Examples of Work Performed:
Develops, implements, and supervises wildlife information/education materials.
Coordinates the schedules and activities of specialized nature workers.
Coordinates planning, development and maintenance of habitat areas, nature trails, and new nature facilities.
Promotes, develops, and presents special programs and other activities at the various habitat areas and nature trails.
Oversees design and development of interpretive displays as needed.
Provides information on natural areas, wildlife, and nature.
Coordinates projects and programs with appropriate agencies and organizations.
Monitors natural history features in the local area.
“This latest report provides important information for protecting America’s most vulnerable – our children. It shows good progress on some issues, such as reducing children’s blood lead levels and exposure to tobacco smoke in the home, and points to the need for continued focus on other issues”, said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Although we are encouraged by these findings, there is still much work to be done. By monitoring trends, identifying successes, and shedding light on areas that need further evaluation, we can continue to improve the health of our children and all Americans.”
Among the contaminants clearly linked to health conditions in children, key findings include:
In the case of asthma, researchers do not fully understand why children develop the condition. However, substantial evidence shows exposure to certain air pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, can trigger symptoms in children who already have asthma. Although the report found the percentage of children reported to currently have asthma increased from 8.7 percent in 2001 to 9.4 percent in 2010 and that minority populations are particularly affected by asthma, the severity of children’s asthma and respiratory symptoms has declined. The rate of emergency room visits for asthma decreased from 114 visits per 10,000 children in 1996 to 103 visits per 10,000 children in 2008. Between 1996 and 2008, hospitalizations for asthma and for all other respiratory causes decreased from 90 hospitalizations per 10,000 children to 56 hospitalizations per 10,000 children.
The report also looks at trends in other health conditions, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and preterm births, for which rates have increased. There is no conclusive information on the role of environmental contaminants in ADHD or preterm births, and additional research is ongoing.
The national indicators presented in this comprehensive report are important for informing future research related to children’s health. Children may be more vulnerable to environmental exposures than adults because children’s bodies are still developing. Children eat more, drink more, and breathe more in proportion to their body size; and their behavior can expose them more to chemicals and organisms.
This report includes 37 indicators of children’s environmental health to address 23 important topics. The expanded content reflects the latest research on children’s health issues and the availability of data for more topics. Each indicator and its supporting text were peer reviewed by independent external experts and made available for review and comment by the public.
More on “America’s Children and the Environment, Third Edition”:
http://www.epa.gov/ace/R015