Monday, February 4, 2013

San Francisco Bay, Marin wetlands get international designation aimed at protection


The San Francisco Bay estuary and many associated wetlands in Marin have been added to a list of protected areas under a 1971 international treaty among 163 countries meant to limit damaging development along ecologically important waterways.

Ramsar Convention officials on Friday announced the U.S. government had added the bay as the nation's 35th "wetland of importance" under the treaty. The designation takes effect Saturday, World Wetlands Day.
While the designation will not result in new legally-binding protections for wildlife and habitat in the bay, it does focus international pressure on agencies to step up conservation efforts and may lead to additional funding for wetland restoration. The designation also means the country is committed to not promoting projects that alter designated ecosystems.

"This designation should be a point of pride for anyone living in the larger San Francisco Bay Area," said Beth Huning, coordinator of the Marin-based San Francisco Bay Joint Venture. "Despite intense urban pressures, San Francisco Bay nonetheless endures as one of our country's great natural treasures."

There are a number of waterways and wetlands in Marin that are part of the designation: Richardson Bay, Corte Madera Marsh Ecological Reserve, Marin Islands, Petaluma Marsh (which includes Bahia), Angel Island, China Camp, parts of Olampali, Bel Marin Keys, Simmons Slough, Tiscornia Marsh, Triangle Marsh, San Rafael tidelands, Beach Park, Gallinas Marsh, Pickleweed Park and a number of other smaller sites.

San Francisco Bay is the largest estuary — about 400,000 acres — on the Pacific Coast and it is widely recognized as one of North America's most ecologically important estuaries. It accounts for 77 percent of California's remaining wetlands, providing key habitat for a broad suite of flora and fauna — over 1,000 species of animals, including native and conservation status species, including wintering shorebirds.

It also provides a range of ecological services such as flood protection, water quality maintenance, nutrient filtration and cycling, and carbon sequestration.

Melissa Pitkin, spokeswoman for PRBO Conservation Science — the former Point Reyes Bird Observatory — said decades of research led to this designation.

In 1998 the Bolinas Lagoon was given a similar designation. That body of water is home to 23 rare, threatened and endangered species and 50,000 migratory birds that come though every year.

"It is a great day for the bay and a gesture of promise for its future protection," Hunning said of the designation of San Francisco Bay. "We have entered an era of restoration, a renaissance of the bay."

http://www.marinij.com/ci_22502765/san-francisco-bay-marin-wetlands-get-inter...

Saturday, February 2, 2013

For Mental Game Coaching for Athletes, Sports Teams, Coaches, Families and Sporting Organizations come to Protex Sports.

What is Sport Psychology?

 

The study of behavior factors that influence and are influenced by active participation in sport, exercise, and physical activity is called sports psychology.

 

Psychology in sport works with the mental aspects of sport performance such as improving mental toughness, regaining composure, increasing confidence or refining focus. Coaches focus on the strategic and physical components of competition and technical skills, however, sports psychology professionals strive to enhance the minds of athletes to help identify triggers that negatively impact performance. As a result athletes are more equipped to handle the pressures of competition, overcome negative thoughts or beliefs, enter the zone more easily and remain focused for longer periods of time. All of these skills lead to improved performance and a stronger, champion mindset!

 

What services are provided by a sport psychology professional?

Mental Game professionals work with individuals, groups and organizations on the psychological factors which performance such as:

  •              Confidence Development
  •              Focus/Concentration Skills
  •              Composure in Competitive Environments
  •              Goal Setting
  •              Pre-Game Routine Development
  •              Positive Self Talk
  •              Distraction Control
  •              Tool for Relaxation
  •              Solutions to Burnout
  •              Parent Education

 

Mission:

 

The mission of the Protex Sports Psychology Programs is to promote the student and professional athlete’s mental game learning and development. Consistent with Protex Sports mission to “educate the whole person”, our sport psychology program promotes the academic, social, emotional, spiritual, athletic and personal development of all athletes using applied sport psychology principles in a sport performance setting. Through a process of identifying the fears, mental barriers and other mental skills challenges, we are able to develop strategies to find and build on success. We believe that a healthy, mentally tough mindset is the key element to improving performance and creating confidence. This unique approach is the very core of our mental skills training program and is used to assist athletes to achieve new heights in their athletic performance, and personal lives.


About John Ellsworth

 

John Ellsworth holds a Master’s Degree in counseling psychology with a specialization in sports psychology and is presently a doctoral candidate in the field. John brings a multifaceted approach to the mental aspects of sports and health. Combined with his expertise in clinical and applied sports psychology, John has extensive experience coaching, teaching, and consulting with professional, elite, college, high school, and middle school athletes. In addition, John’s personal success in professional and amateur sports is testament to his ability to apply the concepts he teaches: goal setting, perseverance, life balance, belief in self, and mastery of the mental game.  John is available to consult and counsel with athletes at all levels, sports teams, coaches, families, and organizations. John is also available for workshops and seminars. 

 

COACHING SERVICES

 

Sports Psychology for Individuals, Teams, Coaches, Kids, and Sports Parents

 

                One-On-One Mental Game Coaching

                Team Mental Game Coaching

                Coaching Consultation/Educational Services

                One-One Coaching for Sports Parents/Parents & Athletes Coaching

                Sports Specific Mental Game Coaching

                Sports Mechanics for Baseball and Golf

                Triathlon and Multi Sport Training

 

For sports psychology and mental game consulting and coaching services call ProtexSports at (800) 608-1120 or visit http://protexsports.com