tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65714467805481003662024-02-20T19:02:31.883+05:30Biodiversity Network Advocating Conservation of Biodiversity, Environment and Ecosystems.Promotes Eco-tourism, Outdoor Sports and Sustainable Tourism.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-70635003729492515142015-06-05T11:04:00.000+05:302015-06-05T11:09:20.614+05:30Ways To Understand the Importance Of BiodiversityThe best thing to understand the importance of biodiversity is to visit a forest or a zoo and also a marketplace. Most things natural which are available in the market are derived from the biodiversity resources from the nature.<br />
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You can also understand the importance of biodiversity by visiting a vegetable, fish, fruits or a grain market.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZaRipppRIocCregxrjffhyoIaYWl60Ok5pAl1O2nsZMY4OFaJcRiMyee_xdzQxbe5H_AZIdb8z0CsRLvALcTuEgdBdQyg8ScXbHDmiB3QjnbAylVrteiM3uJ4GrhSYPnwI8T5H7A6BUy/s1600/For+BlogIMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZaRipppRIocCregxrjffhyoIaYWl60Ok5pAl1O2nsZMY4OFaJcRiMyee_xdzQxbe5H_AZIdb8z0CsRLvALcTuEgdBdQyg8ScXbHDmiB3QjnbAylVrteiM3uJ4GrhSYPnwI8T5H7A6BUy/s320/For+BlogIMG_0003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Fruits of <a href="http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/mulberry.html">black mulberry</a> (Morus nigra</i>).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
You find so many types of vegetables in a vegetable market: of different types, colors and value. Some are leaves, others are fruits, stems, roots, seeds that we eat. Those are indispensable foods for us.<br />
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Same is true with a fruit market, fruits of all possible texture and value. Some are juicy and delicious. Others are sour but very colorful and attractive to look at. Now we have fruits imported from all over the worls selling in large stores. Though expensive it is the best bet to try them at least once.<br />
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Visiting a fish market can be a very excition experience to a biodiversity lover. Live fishes are a treat to eyes.Their sizes, shapes, colors and sources are worth experiencing.<br />
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Imagine how life would have been if there were not so many of those around us. Or, if any one of them becomes absent and non-available we will severely miss them!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-46715976690405906902014-11-21T15:33:00.000+05:302015-05-31T15:53:01.431+05:30Relocating Species Found in Development Sites <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The most distinguished event to take place on the
planet Earth was the <a href="http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/IIE2aOriginoflife.shtml">origin of life</a> and its evolution into all forms of living
beings that existed in the past and those which survived to the present. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Even by the most wild of human imagination life on the Earth could not have been what we see it, and take it for granted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Imagine a situation, that you may believe, life could
not have existed under a particularly harsh environment. To your surprise, on an
investigation, it will reveal you that life does exist under that environment, and
is thriving!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The plasticity
of living beings to adapt and evolve over time in any niche is truly amazing
and speaks of the inherent capacities that the living organisms have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sadly, thousands of <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/05/140529-conservation-science-animals-species-endangered-extinction/">species of organisms</a> have been made
extinct by natural events, and continue to be wiped out from the planet due to human
interference with the natural environment and its unique ecosystems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our entire existence on this planet is dependent
upon the biodiversity resources. While material resources are of economic
importance for development related activities, these no substitute to the
services provided by biological resources. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Biological resources provide ecological, environmental,
dietary and energy needs which can’t be replaced by any other natural or
man made resource. Plants fix the energy derived from the Sun in the form of food.
In our food chain all energy derived ultimately comes from the energy fixed by
plants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">During any <a href="http://www3.hants.gov.uk/landscape-and-heritage/biodiversity/development.htm">development activity</a>, while large trees
and water bodies may be seen as those directly affected, there are on the ground,
or under the soil, a plethora of organisms which are uprooted and destroyed.Landscape planning and development needs to consider biodiversity protection.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the soil inhabit large number of microorganisms
such as bacteria and fungi, known and unknown, and small arthropods (insects,
spiders, centipedes, scorpions) that may be destroyed in the land under
development.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How careful are development or other agencies when
the farms are converted into residential colonies to investigate beforehand the biodiversity of the
area, no matter how big or small is the project. This micro-planning is almost
absent everywhere?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">During the development of a site, agencies
occasionally come across a wide variety of worms wriggling out from within the
ground. Most often, there are no means to report, catalogue, identify and preserve
those organisms found during development.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Molecular
Biology <i>versus</i> <a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/business-centre/publishing/journals/systematics-bio/">Systematics</a> and
Classification:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We hear of human research endeavors to the far off virgin
lands and discovery of new species but we ignore the unreported species right
under our feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I had found a
small frog of the size of a housefly which I was unable to identify. Initially,
when I first sighted it, I was not able to identify it because it was tiny, climbing
over the tiles of my bathroom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I could realize it was a frog only when I put on my
glasses. A yellow-colored frog of a very small size. It had a yellow pattern on
its skin. There could be more wonders in our places. What about facilities to
readily identify such new discoveries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The current studies in biology are dominated by a
greater focus on molecular and genetic approaches. We notice that there is ignorance
of what genetics ultimately manifests and empowers: a full blown and thriving organism.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While it is important to know the underlying
molecular functions of a living being, it is equally important to search,
identify, <a href="http://redpath-museum.mcgill.ca/Qbp/3.Conservation/sppvsland.htm">classify and protect</a> species which are under stress and have the least
chances to survive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">During a development activity, therefore, it is
important to keep a vigil by those interested in biodiversity preservation and
protection, about the discovery of a significant population of a species in the
area under development. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">All such displaced organisms must be identified and
</span><a href="http://www.bg-group.com/~/tiles/?tiletype=news&id=619" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">relocated</a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"> in the same area or a similar ecosystem. </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-90770674678463740612014-09-13T21:57:00.004+05:302014-09-16T11:05:35.130+05:30All that Grows In Wild Is Beautiful<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Invariably
advocacy programs for conservation of biodiversity focus on conservation of
animals which have some sort of a celebrity status like tiger, crocodile and
turtles. Some themes like ‘marine biodiversity’ are also used to impress upon
the value of biodiversity. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To me
this is underplaying the importance of the very broad meaning and importance of
the term biodiversity in a holistic context.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To me
we should talk aggressively about the importance of every creature on the
earth, be it a pest or parasite, economically important or not, small or big,
bat or bed bug, bird or bee, crow or owl, bamboo or rose, snake or frog,
elephant or mouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZH2owZPKMSrqd45rW92rsjHXOOO-eVQcdRbSjgdDd0lDipB1rtCp5hz3KeKKMbDYcaH2u1hVxeVRFryiBAbQ0phc8gIiCuuCe4cDMXYm74ewyVe3EgXHk02guoG3k54RS3VdNR-XKIjv/s1600/IMG_0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZH2owZPKMSrqd45rW92rsjHXOOO-eVQcdRbSjgdDd0lDipB1rtCp5hz3KeKKMbDYcaH2u1hVxeVRFryiBAbQ0phc8gIiCuuCe4cDMXYm74ewyVe3EgXHk02guoG3k54RS3VdNR-XKIjv/s1600/IMG_0021.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><i>A <a href="http://biodiversitynet.blogspot.in/p/photos-gallery.html">wild grass</a> in full bloom</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
term biodiversity is more suited to the setting of a wild environment: all that exists in a wild
setting with no or the least human invasion. Everything there grows naturally, sustains in a competitive natural
environment and evolves. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
term biodiversity must give us the feel of the real extent of diversity
existing in the nature, the purpose, its scale or grandness, the value,
ecological, environmental and biological and our responsibility to stop the damage to it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
other day I saw a variety of grass in full bloom growing in the vacant plot of a
residential area. This area was until few years back a field with all its
variety of flora and fauna.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Now the
original flora of this area in under an assault. Very soon, when the house come
up on this plot, and other plots, in the vicinity this flora typical to the
place will vanish and we will have beautiful houses replacing those wild
plants!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And
powerful masters will be sitting in their lawns flaunting some prized species
of ornamental plants.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This
world is some how turning into a world of celebrities, celebrity men and animals as if there is no
importance, place or role for others.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In
fact, what grows in the natural world is far more superior biologically than
those of ornamental value.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What grows in the wild is hardy, it has power to survive in the adverse climates, and thrive
like this <a href="http://www.prairieoriginals.com/grasses.php">wild grass</a> in full bloom. Their natural strength is manifested in their beauty and power to survive!</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-26710291479336143582014-07-06T12:32:00.000+05:302014-07-06T12:51:48.932+05:30Republic of Kiribati Leads The World In Conservation <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Those who like eat fish would not like to see the day
without fish. Much less those who relish the gourmet Tuna fish!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
There are others who may like fish for other reasons. They catch,
sell or trade in fish; it is a multi-million dollar business globally.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But there is yet another class who would
like fish for their importance in biological space (biodiversity) because there are innumerable number of fishes of different sizes, varieties, numbers and their role in fresh water or marine ecosystems.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In this context, this post intends to inform the readers of this blog about <a href="http://www.phoenixislands.org/">Kiribati's</a> recent decision to preserve and protect tuna fish stock in a part of the Pacific ocean as a major international initiative.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGXoGyF9BuyLx6AwFSQ_cMXXZsuIkdb6oZeHzuJg7ju5zb1qZx4Y1r-5mL_XqjON_gmjOheCK_Af2YjjaNHVxeJd2dyl8Pxx-zwvuhQWfLOd32VYtc1o3CFpqL_-uuh4tPSO_bA_rjsuA/s1600/Kiribati+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGXoGyF9BuyLx6AwFSQ_cMXXZsuIkdb6oZeHzuJg7ju5zb1qZx4Y1r-5mL_XqjON_gmjOheCK_Af2YjjaNHVxeJd2dyl8Pxx-zwvuhQWfLOd32VYtc1o3CFpqL_-uuh4tPSO_bA_rjsuA/s1600/Kiribati+1.jpg" height="129" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A view of Kiribati Island</span></i></div>
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Last month (16th June), at the U.S. State Department’s led
‘Our Ocean Conference’ held in Washington, <a href="http://www.president.gov.ki/">Anote Tong</a>, President of the <a href="http://kiribatitourism.gov.ki/index.php/aboutkiribati/aboutkiribatioverview">Republic of Kiribati</a> formally announced that <a href="http://www.phoenixislands.org/">Phoenix Islands Protected Area </a>(PIPA) will
close to all commercial fishing by the end of 2014. The only relaxation was subsistence fishing around <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGbNNO_FsCs">Kanto</a>
Island.</div>
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The decision is part of a larger move to control commercial
fishing and safeguard the world’s most important island and ocean areas. The
decision is a test case for large-scale
conservation of tuna stocks. The decision assumes importance from the point of view
of conservation, interests of future generation and the Kiribati’s future
economy. </div>
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The decision is joint effort of
Kiribati government, the US agency, <a href="http://www.conservation.org/Pages/default.aspx">Conservation International</a>, and <a href="http://www.neaq.org/index.php">New England Aquarium.</a> PIPA’s closure will take effect ahead of the Marine Protected Area s
(MPA) original plan to 28% closure of commercial fishing before 2014 end.</div>
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“This is the boldest action taken by a government I
have seen in my career in terms of protecting natural capital and creating
critically-needed protected areas,” said <a href="http://www.conservation.org/NewsRoom/experts/Pages/ci-experts-list.aspx">Dr.Greg Stone</a>, CI’s chief scientist and chairman of the PIPA Trust Board of
Trustees. The PIPA is 11 percent of Kiribati's Exclusive Economic Zone; it is a significant area to set aside for conservation, food security and sustainable development.</div>
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<a href="http://www.president.gov.ki/">President Tong</a> of Kiribati said, “My people have been custodians of our oceans for
centuries”, while addressing world ocean leaders from 80 countries. He added that solutions must
focus on a united, connected and sustained approach. “Action is our obligation
for our children and our children's children. The closure of the Phoenix Island
Protected Area will have a major contribution for regeneration of tuna stocks,
not only for us but for our global community, and for generations to come.”</div>
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Tuna is an economic mainstay of Kiribati and indeed many
Pacific Island states. It took nearly two decades for MPAs to be recognized as
a valuable approach for coastal fisheries, and the time is now to include MPAs
as a vital part of our sustainable tuna strategy,” President Tong said. “We are
committed to testing this in the heart of the world’s largest tuna fishery.”</div>
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The PIPA is one of the world's most economically important
waters left on the planet, and it houses the largest remaining stocks of tuna fish. About 60% of the world’s tuna catch is dominated
by fleets from China, Europe, Japan and the U.S., comes from this region.</div>
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The UNESCO included PIPA in its World Heritage List in 2010, in recognition of its universally significant ocean wilderness and contribution to ecological and biological processes in the evolution of global marine ecosystems. Its considers increased fishing protection critical to long-term conservation of PIPA's natural value. </div>
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Kiribati government’s action to
close the largest and deepest UNESCO World Heritage site to commercial fishing
is an exemplary move by a developing country in order to safeguard global food
security in the next century.</div>
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Through this conservation effort, Kiribati is investing in its natural resources. This decision is taken in spite of fiscal and political constraints and Kiribati's dependence on
fisheries for more than 40% of its national budget. There is also a big question of survival because of the rising sea levels due to climate change. </div>
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With fish stocks rapidly diminishing worldwide, the
PIPA’s closure, which represents approximately 11% of Kiribati’s Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) and is the size of California, aims to strengthen tuna
stocks that will ultimately be available to commercial fishing outside the
protected area for generations to come.</div>
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The complete closure of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, except an exemption for subsistence fishing in a populated
area, is an important precedence of stewardship for many other World Heritage marine
sites which still struggle with unsustainable fishing practices.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-17712737869738348562014-06-21T13:50:00.001+05:302014-06-21T13:50:55.610+05:30Sustainable Tourism Promotes Conservation<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">World's ecologically sensitive places are always vulnerable to increased number of visits of tourists. In other worlds tourism in general endangers sensitive environments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">However, the fact is that proper planning and management can not only conserve the environment of a ecologically sensitive environment but also generate funds for basic conservation efforts and research which is very important in order to understand a particular ecosystem.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The <a href="http://www.univeur.org/cuebc/downloads/PDF%20carte/65.%20Manila.PDF">World Conference on Tourism</a> held in Manila in 1980 identified in the ‘Manila
Declaration’ </span><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">‘tourism’ </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">as an “activity essential to the life of nations because of its
direct effects on the social, cultural, educational and economic sectors of
national societies and on their international relations” (Technical Manual,
1995). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Tourism has traditionally been defined either in term of activities of
tourists/visitors (the demand side) or in terms of the activities of businesses
supplying tourists/visitors (the supply side). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The 1991 <a href="http://www2.unwto.org/">World Tourism Organisation</a> (WTO) Ottawa Conference
on Travel and Tourism accepted the demand side of the definition as
“the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their
usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business
and other purposes”. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The United Nation’s specialized tourism related agency,
the World Tourism Organization (<a href="http://www2.unwto.org/">UNWTO</a>) is vested with the objective of
promotion of tourism. <a href="http://sdt.unwto.org/en/content/guidelines-policy-making-and-planning">UNEP/UNWTO</a> (2005) defined <a href="http://sdt.unwto.org/en/content/guidelines-policy-making-and-planning">sustainable tourism</a> as tourism
that takes “full account of current and future economic, social and
environmental impacts addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the
environment and host communities”. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The <a href="http://sdt.unwto.org/en/content/guidelines-policy-making-and-planning">UNEP/UNWTO</a> definition is applicable to all forms
of tourism in all types of destinations weather mass tourism or niche tourism,
including eco-tourism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In
1972, the environment becoming an issue was prompted by the </span><a href="http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?documentid=97&articleid=1503" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Conference on Human Environment</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> held at Stockholm in 1972. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The concept of sustainable development
evolved since the time it was dealt in ‘<a href="http://www.un.org/wcm/webdav/site/climatechange/shared/gsp/docs/GSP1-6_Background%20on%20Sustainable%20Devt.pdf">1987 Brundtland report</a>’ and in the
<a href="http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/Agenda21.pdf">Agenda 21</a> in the <a href="http://www.sidsnet.org/about-sids/unced">UNCED</a> held at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueuEF5kQFPM">Rio de Janeiro</a> in 1992. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">By a search of research literature one can find that the concept of tourism, eco-tourism and sustainable tourism evolved over years
in relation to the purpose, place and size. Proper assessment of tourism development of a particular place therefore needs study in the context of sustainable tourism needs assessment in
the background of empirical understanding of the subject in literature. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
concept of sustainability in tourism has developed over the last few decades as
a result of improved understanding of the applied aspects of the concept to
tourism industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Reviewing
literature, <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09669589708667287">Clarke (1997)</a> identified various authors’ approaches to the concept
of sustainable tourism and identified four frameworks which in chronological
order were that of polar opposites, continuum, movement and convergence. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">While
the early debate whether a particular type of tourism fell in this category or
not, it was largely recognized that all form of tourism must move towards
sustainability. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
early literature commonly recognized scale as the distinguishing feature but
<a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09669589708667287">Clarke (1997)</a> considered this as the unifying theme for the proposed framework.
The first position of polar opposites was conceived when mass tourism was
considered as polar opposite to sustainable tourism.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Alternative tourism
<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278431999000341">(Pearse, 1992)</a> was the popular label for sustainable tourism and it
was pulling away from mass tourism. In this position the two types were
considered as ‘good’ and ‘bad’; the negative social and environmental impacts
at destinations were attributed to mass tourism, a destructive tourism type.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Advocates of alternative tourism even pressed for a total replacement of mass
tourism. In this framework of polar
opposite position, sustainable tourism was considered as a possession of small
scale characteristics, in short small was synonymous with sustainable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
next position in the framework is the position of a continuum between mass
tourism and sustainable tourism. The view held that sustainable tourism
utilized the infrastructure, transport and reservation system of mass tourism and therefore if it was not properly managed it had the
potential of development into mass tourism.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">With
dramatic growth in international tourism from 25 million trips in 1950 (WTO,
1993) to the 531 million in 1994 (WTO, 1995a) and continued predicted growth
(WTO,1995b), replacement of mass tourism with sustainable tourism was not
feasible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sustainable tourism being considered small lacked capability and could neither manage arrival
numbers nor bring the kind of economic returns required. There
were problems with issues such as elitism, local ownership and
control.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Therefore, some researchers believed that mass tourism was not harmful if it progressed towards ‘harmonious’ tourism.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In
the third position, scale became a less emotive issue and became a subject
demanding improvement and alignment to sustainable development. The negative
impact of mass tourism is replaced by large scale tourism. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This position takes a more
objective view to achieve the goal of sustainable tourism by making changes in large
scale tourism. It is industries like mining and manufacturing which damaged the
environment. </span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The large scale tourism possessed several strengths like
marketing, communication and contacts to foster interest in</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> sustainable
tourism; large scale has the strength to influence suppliers and distributors
to persuade them to sustainable policies in supply chain. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It appeared that the large scale tourism had more strength to move to sustainable tourism. On the demand side
consumers showed more interests in green issues. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Financial
institutions were available with funds to support initiatives to move to
sustainable options. Large scale tourism showed signs of proactively
moving to sustainable tourism. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Environment becoming a major concern, it is now evident that initiatives have come from different quarters: British Airways published <a href="http://responsibleflying.ba.com/wp-content/uploads/BA_CRR_Full_Report.pdf">environmental report</a>, the <a href="http://root.ew.eea.europa.eu/sd-online/networks/international-hotels-environment-initiative-ihei">International Hotels Environment Initiative</a> (Van
Praag, 1992); and launch of ‘<a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09669589509510709?journalCode=rsus20#.U6U39ZSSx3M">Green Globe</a>’ programme across the hotel sector.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The
fourth position is the current position of convergence where the objective is to
reach the goal. Here regardless of the scale all tourism must strive for
sustainability. In the current form the tourism is large scale,
it incorporates the dominant view of large size business conforming to
ecological perspectives and a small scale view of sustainability at the level
of destination.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The small scale view of alternative tourism at local level
takes care of local economic, social and cultural aspects. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The current tourism
is environmentally conscious trying to be compliant to international
regulations. It is still evolving at both levels: the large
business caters to the ever growing needs and the destination level taking care
of the economic, social, cultural needs for their preservation and promotion.
There are guidelines for business at all levels for implementation and
follow-up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
evolution of sustainable tourism observed above is a consequence of growing
global concern for deterioration of environment. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The beginning of this concern
started with the <a href="http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?documentid=97&articleid=1503">Stockholm Conference of 1972</a> and a more firm affirmation of
concern was laid with the setting of <a href="http://www.sidsnet.org/about-sids/unced">Agenda 21</a> at the <a href="http://www.sidsnet.org/about-sids/unced">UNCED </a>in 1992. </span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><a href="http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=6&nr=291&menu=1549&template=375">UNWTO</a> described 12 <a href="http://www.grida.no/tourism/about.aspx?id=4794">aims of sustainable tourism</a> as, “ economic
viability, local prosperity, employment quality, social equity, visitor
fulfillment, local control, community well being, cultural richness, physical
integrity, biological diversity, resource efficiency and environmental purity”. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Though UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the main international agency
concerned with sustainable tourism, there are several international
organizations concerned with the formulation of policy, principles, processes,
standards and implementation of the programmes in this field. </span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The <a href="http://www.gstcouncil.org/sustainable-tourism-gstc-criteria.html">Global Sustainable Tourism Council </a>(GSTC) is the main international body involved in
formulation, promotion, standardization and certification of sustainable
tourism principles, procedures and practice. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To
implement 12 aims of sustainable tourism, GSTC developed Global Sustainable
Tourism Criteria for tourism and for destinations. </span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The <a href="http://www.gstcouncil.org/sustainable-tourism-gstc-criteria.html">GSTC criteria</a> developed
as part of tourism sector’s response to the United Nations’
Millennium Development Goals of poverty alleviation and environmental
sustainability and climate change. First released in 2008, these criteria are
revised regularly after consultation. The criteria indicated expectations and
purposes:</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(i) Guidelines for tourism related business chain using global
criteria;</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(ii) Guidance for travel agencies in choosing suppliers and
sustainable tourism programs; </span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(iii) Help consumers in identifying sound
sustainable tourism programs and businesses; </span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(iv) Serve as a label to recognize
sustainable tourism providers and products; (v) Help certification and
voluntary programs ensure that their standards conform to a broadly accepted
baseline; </span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(vi) Offer all agencies (governmental, non-governmental, and private
) a starting point for developing sustainable tourism requirements; </span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(vii) Serve
as basic guidelines for education and training bodies, such as hotel, schools
and universities. For the purpose of providing guidance in measuring of
compliance with the GSTC criteria, the criteria consist of 40 guidelines. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">These
guidelines are for application by hotels, tour operators and destinations.
Sustainable tourism criteria are the guiding principles and are built around
possible socioeconomic impact, cultural impact, and environmental impact
including consumption of resources, reducing pollution, conserving
biodiversity, and preventing landscapes. </span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">GSTC criteria are the minimum which
businesses and destinations should follow to achieve social, environmental,
cultural and economic sustainability. Since tourism destinations have their own
culture, environment, customs and laws, the criteria can be suitably adapted to
local conditions and supplemented with additional criteria for specific
location and activity. </span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">GSTC criteria have been developed for hotels, tour
operators and for destinations. GSTC has developed certain standards and
certification programmes for being designated as ‘GSTC-Recognized’,
‘GSTC-approved’ and ‘.GSTC-Accredited’.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sustainable
tourism offered opportunities for creation of jobs and trade. The member states
had emphasized the importance of sustainable tourism in creating decent job
opportunities and trade opportunities. </span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Following the UN Conference on
Sustainable Development held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June, 2012, the
outcome document emphasized on the need to support sustainable tourism
activities and relevant capacity-building for promotion of environmental
awareness, conservation and protection of the environment, respect wildlife,
flora, biodiversity and ecosystems and cultural diversity and improve the welfare
and livelihoods of local communities. Recommendations very relevant to
countries ecologically sensitive. </span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Conference also encouraged “investment in
sustainable tourism, including ecotourism and cultural tourism, which may
include creating small and medium sized enterprises and facilitating
access to finance, including through microcredit initiatives for the poor,
indigenous peoples and local communities” ( <a href="http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/futurewewant.html">General Assembly resolution 66/288</a>,
annex, paras. 130 and 131). </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">UNWTO, in persuasion of the <a href="http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/2010tourism.pdf">General Assembly resolution 66/196</a>, had taken a lead in preparing a report (UN
General Assembly, 68th Session) on sustainable tourism in seven small countries
of Central American Region.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-90383028774769129692014-06-14T11:03:00.001+05:302014-06-15T09:22:08.783+05:30When Red Ants Became a Menace!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8M4pKnmk0TmwBpszIosxi6ZYGKQ1hMwWnnXjr4P8ptRTgGl0tZr3NbXeo_zwT4X1GbnnuAUF_2sHJs97S43lEXMl91Du815mlhx2s7fDuEmgxkzrs7-E1xGsGgcnIm72FQarMEu3nigq3/s1600/For+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8M4pKnmk0TmwBpszIosxi6ZYGKQ1hMwWnnXjr4P8ptRTgGl0tZr3NbXeo_zwT4X1GbnnuAUF_2sHJs97S43lEXMl91Du815mlhx2s7fDuEmgxkzrs7-E1xGsGgcnIm72FQarMEu3nigq3/s1600/For+Blog.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> Red ants nest of a small size balloon (Right). Cut open nest reveals a colony of mealy bugs.</i></span><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 78.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The little red ants that first appeared on the mango tree in my
garden last year, which I had then welcome as a guest, have now become some kind of a threat. or a hazard.The solitary nest then made by joining three or four leaves is now replaced by about six to eight balloon size nests made by
joining 10 to 30 leaves. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The nests have now been built at the highest peak of a mango tree, which is about 12-13 feet tall. The nests are guarded by alert warriors
which will start jerking their slender bodies on sensing the slightest danger. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In order to find out what was happening inside those nests, I slit
opened some nests. I was amazed that all the nests opened had a large colony of
<a href="http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/INVERT/mealybugs.html">mealy bugs</a> (<i>Dorsicha sp)</i>. Though these nests were perfectly
sealed from all sides, except the small opening through which the ants were moving in and out, it was surprising how the mealy bugs entered the nest.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Such a large number of mealy bugs were not present elsewhere on the
mango tree. It appeared likely the bugs were transported to the nest. There is a strong possibility that as the the larvae of <i>Dorsicha</i>
sp hatched in the soil and approached the stem they were intercepted by red ant workers at some stage and purposely brought to nest to feed the ant
colony through their secretions. There seems to be a very a strong case of a symbiotic relationship the red ants have with mealy bugs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This relationship is proved by a large number of ants moving
around the colony of mealy bugs, even moving on their bodies up and down enjoying every bit of exudation from the mealy bugs’ bodies. </div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are several species of insects which live in <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080324173459.htm">symbiotic</a> relationship with other organisms. For example, some ants are known to rear
fungus to eat on their spores and ants eating the exudes from aphids and helping in aphids infestation across the plants.</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Whatever be the case, these little organisms exemplify the importance of
interdependence for mutual benefit for survival of species.<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-27098026793827049682014-06-14T10:24:00.000+05:302014-06-14T10:24:51.073+05:30Return to My Blog<div style="margin: 0in;">
There has been an unusual delay in updating this blog. The latest post was in the last November. Of course not a very healthy sign for a blog to keep going in its objective. A lot of changes have since taken place all around us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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During this intervening period my engagement with several writing assignments, one after the other, kept me busy burning midnight oil. In the next few posts, I will share the knowledge I acquired doing those assignments which were undoubtedly not unrelated to our concern for environment and conservation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Of late I have also realized that this blog needs to be freed from the tight jacket of hardcore contents related to <a href="http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/biodiversity/biodiversity-monitoring-through-citizen-science">Biodiversity</a> in its posts. After all Biodiversity is a subject that concerns citizens more than the experts because the later are mere custodian of knowledge who research, learn and practice through application of conservation programs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Awareness about Biodiversity conservation is now a subject matter that concerns more the public, because a strong public understanding of its importance alone can take the conservation efforts forward.</div>
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The fascinating view of the diversity of life in surroundings is very pleasing and linked to our natural urge that must be fulfilled even if it is a sparrow or a butterfly flying across the window pane. The more the better!</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-24488126688466166532013-11-18T21:43:00.000+05:302013-11-18T21:43:32.930+05:30Functional Traits For Fish Biodiversity Assessment Offer New Opportunity In Conservation<div class="MsoNormal">
An interesting idea put forward by a<a href="http://www.vims.edu/newsandevents/topstories/functional_diversity.php"> research study</a> has
redefined the ways biodiversity assessment may be taken up in future.</div>
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Traditionally, biodiversity of a place is determined by identifying
number of different species or “species richness” as the basis global diversity
pattern since the times of Darwin and Linnaeus. This has also constituted as
the biological basis for management of threatened ecosystems.</div>
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<br /></div>
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However, a study conducted
by a global team studying reef fishes has revealed that by
considering a species’ role in an ecosystem and the number of individuals
within a species, new hot spots of biodiversity can be identified.</div>
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The study, led by Dr. Rick Stuart-Smith of the <a href="http://www.imas.utas.edu.au/">University ofTasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies</a>, includes researchers,
Jon Lefcheck and Professor Emmett Duffy of the <a href="http://www.vims.edu/">Virginia Institute of MarineSciences</a>, and scientists from Spain, and researchers from other places.</div>
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The study is based on information collected through the Reef
Life Survey program, which is a “citizen science” initiative developed in
Tasmania. The RLS program operates worldwide training recreational SCUBA divers
to survey numbers of reef animals and supporting their research endeavors.</div>
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Over 100 dedicated divers have contributed to the project by
looking at ecological patterns and processes impossible for scientific dive
teams to cover.</div>
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As pointed out by Lefcheck, counting species is a really
coarse way of understanding diversity. Gathering information, instead, on other
animal’s traits—what they eat, how they move, where they live— can provide
understanding of their dissimilarity, the very essence of diversity.</div>
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The study provides a fresh look at biodiversity assessment. Unlike
biodiversity censuses which count species, collecting information on species role
in ecosystems, which needs to know, how abundant they are and what they’re
doing, is difficult to get. </div>
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The study is based on analysis of data from 4,357
standardized surveys, spanned over 133 degrees of latitude finding 2,473
different species of fish by RLS divers at 1,844 coral and rocky reef sites
worldwide. This study is claimed to the first comprehensive study with new
approach, and this undoubtedly offers a
different perspective of global diversity map.</div>
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The research team noted how the members of each of these
species make a living, using a detailed matrix of “functional traits”, which
included what the fishes eat (plankton, invertebrates, algae, other fish, or a
combination), how they eat (browsing, scraping, or predation), where they live
(in, on, or near the bottom or free-swimming), weather active at night or
during the day, and how gregarious they are (solitary, paired, or schooling).</div>
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By determining the biology and ecology of these
fishes—noting what they do and how they do it—alters hotspots of diversity.
Though coral reefs are the most species-rich habitats on earth, the trait-based
view identifies new areas where the diversity of ways in which fishes function
is even higher.</div>
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The study reveals that functional biodiversity is highest in
places like the Galápagos with only moderate species counts, whereas functional
biodiversity is low in many classical hotspots with high species counts, such
as the iconic coral triangle of the west Pacific.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It is interesting to note that in coral reefs having lots of
species, many are doing largely the same thing, whereas in temperate reefs with
many fewer species, species tend to spread individuals out among species doing
different things.</div>
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</div>
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The study findings have important implications for planning
and management, because incorporating information on functional traits into
monitoring programs will add an extra dimension and greater ecological
relevance to global efforts to manage and conserve marine biodiversity.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-18644660992359707402013-11-13T16:09:00.000+05:302013-11-13T16:26:32.228+05:30Protect Spiders:They Are Beautiful And Useful<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are different life forms around us, and our reactions to each of them is different, depending upon their known importance and our understanding and perception about them.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Those forms which serve as our food, are source of medicines, and provide materials of economic importance are always in demand, while other forms according to general perception of people have attached tales of being harmful, dangerous and poisonous. Still others arise feelings of amusement, awe, dislike, even animosity leading to their killing at first sight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is likely that a <a href="http://australianmuseum.net.au/Spiders">spider</a> sighted hopping on the floor, dangling on its web, or hiding behind the door, lead to its smashing with the newspaper roll, or sucking by the vacuum cleaner. Parents instead of inducing fear against spiders may start teaching their children love and respect for spiders as marvellous creatures.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQTTOYDgXL9oj46dUJRA8OFPd9a0WmigBrPPJfefAxV9GoZOWcD4mHx_BUL5nly675aDMJhDjHkbvCOHskmLMKyracBfzdEU___qWA1kEeU6ucDaACofEY9Zmt9g592okDJ4ik-U-I90P/s1600/Spider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQTTOYDgXL9oj46dUJRA8OFPd9a0WmigBrPPJfefAxV9GoZOWcD4mHx_BUL5nly675aDMJhDjHkbvCOHskmLMKyracBfzdEU___qWA1kEeU6ucDaACofEY9Zmt9g592okDJ4ik-U-I90P/s320/Spider.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">An unknown species of spider</span></i></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Spiders are a class of not very much understood creatures, and are important to our ecosystem, for they greatly help in keeping in control insects populations. An unwanted spider in the home is only protecting us from mosquitoes, flies and other pests. But this does not reduce their importance as creatures of great value to the ecosystem. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The most fascinating behaviour of their life is their predatory behaviour and the multiple means to catch their prey. Some spiders jump and catch their prey, others silently attack their prey, still others spin fascinating variety of webs to catch, and then prey on their victims.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNcbmBhBQnvqPa5LlofUoMfdH5ju1EUz89lGIxicNTog0-ebU3Q_5Q65n2A4kGqugQgfZEpAWrzDSYML-7acoH3IwFlDBxZu4aXpzjJpzI2N36x1jnw2jFmYMMUqbSNna_5i8m9SQis-2/s1600/Spider+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNcbmBhBQnvqPa5LlofUoMfdH5ju1EUz89lGIxicNTog0-ebU3Q_5Q65n2A4kGqugQgfZEpAWrzDSYML-7acoH3IwFlDBxZu4aXpzjJpzI2N36x1jnw2jFmYMMUqbSNna_5i8m9SQis-2/s320/Spider+1.jpg" width="320" /></i></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span id="goog_1364720179"></span><span id="goog_1364720180"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a>A variety of Tarantulla sp</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Spiders are a group of Arthropods, invertebrates with jointed legs, but unlike insects which have six legs, spiders belong to the group called arachnids which have eight legs. The other close relatives of spiders are scorpions, ticks and mites.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Spiders are ubiquitous, and are found in all continents except Antarctica. There are some 40000 species of spiders, with high order of diversity as a result of their adaptability to different ecosystems.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A closer look of spiders' body show colourful combination of bright colours. Their bodies are divisible into a head and abdomen, the abdomen is plump. Most spiders have eight eyes, and feel vibrations with the help of tiny hairs on their legs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
Spiders are good jumpers, runners, spinners. <span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">There are web-weaving and non-web weaving spiders. The weaving types are: garden spider, water spider, cobweb spider, brown recluse, black widow, funnel weaver, nursery spider.</span></span><br />
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</div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">The example of non-weaving types are: wolf spider, crab spider, tarantula, jumping spider, trapdoor spider, sac spider.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-indent: 0px;">Some species spin symmetrical orb webs which reflects their great intuitive ability to design and position traps in locations that can fetch better catch.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Spiders blood is light blue and fills all empty spaces in the body to provide it shape, blood provides stiffness to legs to help in walking. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As spiders grow they molt several times, shedding old skin and grow in new one; they molt several times before they become adult. The average life span of a spider is one year, but tarantullas can live longer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Spiders feed on small and large insects depending upon their size; tarantulas can feed on mice, lizards and birds. Most tarantulas pose no risk to humans, the largest tarantula is known as the Goliath Birdeater. The giant Huntsman spiders has total span of legs up to 30 centi meters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-19842764557393966332013-11-12T19:55:00.002+05:302013-11-12T20:06:32.108+05:30APP Released to Promote East Indies Fishes Among Masses<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The US based agency <a href="http://www.conservation.org/Pages/default.aspx">Conservation International</a> (CI) has
announced the release of the “<a href="http://reef-fishes.com/">Reef
Fishes Of The East Indies</a>” mobile app, a digital guide to every known
reef fish species in the most biodiverse region on the planet, based on the
book of the same title.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The objective is sharing knowledge on reef fish of the region which is
of great value to the regions biodiversity. This app will increase motivation
and momentum for conservation to ensure that the region’s species and their
delicate ecosystems are allowed to stay balance. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maintaining this natural capital is key to the region’s
important tourism industry, and other ecosystem services the ocean provides the
people.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The comprehensive guide includes over 2,500 reef fishes of which 25
species are new to science. It summarizes 60 years of research and exploration
and brings greater understanding and valuation of the immense biodiversity of
reef fish in the East Indies. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The scientist authors, <a href="http://www.conservation.org/newsroom/experts/pages/Experts_Detail.aspx?ExpertID=66&name=Dr.%20Mark%20-Erdmann">Mark
Erdmann</a> and Gerry Allen, have spent much of their lives at sea
discovering, studying and conserving some of the most rare and beautiful fish
in the world. The proceeds of this CI produced app will support CI Indonesia’s
marine conservation program.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Designed for iPad and Kindle Fire, the app "Reef Fishes
of the East Indies" enables users to use it at sea,
with no internet connection. The app contains many useful and interactive
features including search, note-taking and drawing features, detailed entries
for each species, and photo-sharing by e-mail and social media.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A perfect digital guide for divers and nature lovers to use
in the office, school, home or out on the open sea, it was originally created as
a book but later made into an app to bring this information to the masses in an
easy to access, transportable format.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The coverage area of the app includes the <a href="http://www.conservation.org/global/marine/initiatives/oceanscapes/cti/pages/overview.aspx">Coral
Triangle</a> (including Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Timor Leste,
Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands) which alone boasts 37% of the
world’s coral reef fish species.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It covers all shallow-water (0-75m) reef-associated fish
species known from the region, including both obligate reef dwellers and those
that are commonly observed passing through reef areas or in the soft bottom
areas just adjacent to reefs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From the majestic manta ray (<i>Manta birostris</i>) to the gorgeous, jewel-like mandarinfish (<i>Synchiropus splendidus</i>), with 2,655
species in over 3,000 Retina Display/High Definition photos, the sheer quantity
of content is split between three volumes for iPad that link together
seamlessly, so you can move instantly between one volume and another. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Organized by Classification, Family, and Species, the app
will be regularly updated to keep up with the scientists’ new discoveries. Scientists
have very recently found a new species of “walking” Bamboo Shark (<i><a href="http://blog.conservation.org/2013/08/newest-walking-shark-heralds-brighter-future-for-indonesias-sharks-and-rays/">Hemiscyllium
halmahera</a></i>) in the waters off the Maluku Islands, Indonesia.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-30222082618752734742013-05-12T14:13:00.001+05:302013-11-12T13:43:22.745+05:30Biotechnology and Biodiversity Conservation <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By Mohd. Haider </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Biotechnological techniques offer wide ranging opportunities for improving the quality and increased productivity of
agriculture, forestry, fisheries and medicine. In context of biodiversity same techniques can be applied for <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11627-010-9337-0#page-1">conservation of biodiversity</a>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genes from plants, animals and
microorganisms are the strategic raw materials for their identification, conservation and conservation, and also for selective commercial development
of new agricultural and industrial products, including medicines.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 115%;"></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Biotechnology already assists the
conservation of plant and animal genetic resources through:</span></div>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Novel methods for collecting and storing genes (as
improved seed and tissue culture)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Detection and elimination of diseases in gene
bank collections</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Identification of useful genes</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Improved techniques for long-term storage</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Biotechnological tools are being employed for conservation of
endangered plant species of economic and medicinal importance.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Tissue culture techniques have been developed for endangered
species. Some major achievements have been made in
conservation of environment and biodiversity. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Modern biotechnology offers new means of improving biodiversity.
If properly tested for both risk and benefits to human and the environment,
transgenic crops are more likely to increase agricultural biodiversity. In the context, there are two quite different applications of
biotechnology or of molecular biology that are relevant. The first is to use
biotechnology as a tool for acquiring knowledge, whilst the second is to use
biotechnology to directly intervene in plant and animal breeding, in particular
to transfer genetic information from one sort of organism to a particular crop
or farm animal to make it transgenic.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In taxonomy molecular markers are used to identify individual
strains of organisms or to identify species. This is useful<i> in ex-situ</i>
conservation of plants, animals and microorganisms. Biotechnology is useful for following genetic markers in
plant and animal breeding, animal or plant varieties are crossed by
conventional or sexual means. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By analyzing a few cells of the newly born calf or the newly sprouted crops, one can predict some of the
expected properties of the progeny, by looking at the presence or absence of
certain forms of genes. This enables to predict the phonetic property which
will only show’s up later in life, for instance certain characteristics of a
cow’s milk or the crops expected resistance to infectious diseases.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">The availability of genome sequences is a boost to
research. The first two complete plant genome sequences determined were those
of <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Arabidopsis </span>and <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">rice</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.</b></span> <span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">The 120 million base pair of Arabidopsis sequenced by
International academic consortium. The 430 million base pair of rice was
completed by Syngenta.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As we know all genes consist of DNA, and information
present in DNA molecule is read in the same way in all organisms in order to make
proteins. With the help of biotechnological tools it is possible to
transfer gene from any organism into another organism so that the recipient
should produce protein that were only produced in donor.The resulting organisms, called <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">transgenic.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>(This article is primarily a guest note written by Mohd. Haider) </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
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<![endif]-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-84424845633969986402013-04-28T11:30:00.002+05:302013-04-28T11:30:55.781+05:30Protect the Western Ghat's ‘Natural Landscape’: High Level Report <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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When the question of preserving India's biodiversity comes
to mind, it draws attention to the <a href="http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/critical_regions/western_ghats/">Western Ghats</a> which stretch along the west coast of India from the river Tapti in the north to the southern tip of India.<br /><br />Undoubtedly the <a href="http://thewesternghats.indiabiodiversity.org/">Western Ghats </a>are a biological treasure trove and it is seriously endangered. And for this
reason it calls for protection and regeneration of its enormous wealth of
endemic species and natural beauty. The Union Ministry of
Environment and Forest’s High Level Working Group report presented on 17th of
April 2013 to Jayanthi Natarajan, India's <a href="http://envfor.nic.in/modules/others/?f=western-ghats">Minister of State for Environment& Forests,</a> is a welcome move in the direction of conservation of this hotspot.<br /><br />The report has been prepared by 10-member Working Group
headed by Dr. K. Kasturirangan, Member, Planning Commission and environmental
experts and other professionals as its members. The Group was constituted to
advise the Government on the recommendations of an earlier report prepared by
an expert panel led by the ecologist Madhav Gadgil.<br /><br />The Gadgil panel had recommended that the entire Western
Ghats should be declared as an ecologically sensitive area, and had suggested
three levels of categorization for imposition of regulatory measures for
protection, and establishment of the Western Ghats Ecology Authority for
management. Following public responses received to the recommendations of the
Gadgil report, the Environment ministry constituted in August 2012, a High
Level Working Group to examine the large numbers of public responses and
to suggest the way ahead. <br /><br />Dr K Kasturirangan, points out that the issue is serious, alarming and
urgent and there is need to protect, manage and regenerate the lands now
remaining in the Western Ghats as biologically rich, diverse, natural
landscapes. He cautions that the damage has reached a threshold which does not
allow to, and calls for planning and regulation in this recognized centre of
biodiversity. Though Jayanthi Natarajan has assured action on the
recommendations of the Working Group report, it has to be seen when and how it
is implemented at the ground level. <br /><br />The Working Group report draws upon the basic framework
suggested by Gadgil report to use remote sensing technologies to demarcate the
ecologically sensitive areas of the Western Ghats but with two key differences.
First; it used satellite data, down to 24 m resolution, as against 9 km used by
Gadgil report, made possible because of the collaboration with <a href="http://www.nrsc.gov.in/">NRSC/ISRO</a>, which
used data sets to distinguish vegetation types over the landscape of the entire
Western Ghats. Second, it distinguishes between the cultural and the natural
landscape of the region. <br /><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By using remote
sensing technology, it has been found that the cultural landscape, which comprises
human settlements, agricultural fields and plantations, is greater (58.44 % of
the region), as compared to the natural landscape (41.56 %). The methodology
adopted by NRSC/ISRO combined spatial information on vegetation types at
species level; biological richness and disturbance regimes to identify
biologically diverse and contiguous regions of the Western Ghats.<br /><br />Based on the methodology used, roughly 37 per cent of the
total area defined as the boundary of the Western Ghats has been found to be
ecologically sensitive. In this sensitive area of about 60,000 sq km, spread over
the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the Working
Group has recommended a prohibitory regime on those activities which cause
maximum destructive impact on the environment. <br /><br />The recommendations made by the Working Group aim to “incentivize green growth
in the Western Ghats”. The needs felt are towards managing forests, and
improving their productivity to ensure inclusive growth and economic benefits
for local communities: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>integrating
forest accounts into state and national economic assessments; initiating an
ecosystem service fund to help villages around the forests; promoting
sustainable agriculture, and encouraging eco-tourism for local benefits.<br /><br />As part of the governance of ecologically sensitive areas,
the Working Group has proposed to set up a Decision Support and Monitoring
Centre for Geo spatial Analysis and Policy Support in the Western Ghats, which
will monitor changes and advise state government on policy reforms. But it has
made it clear that all these reports must be in the public domain. It has also
recommended that the high-resolution map, which demarcates ecologically
sensitive areas, down to each village settlement, must be put in the public
domain so that people can be involved in taking decisions about environment,
which is first and foremost their concern. <br /><br />The report notes, “environmentally sound development cannot preclude livelihood
and economic options for this region… the answer (to the question of how to
manage and conserve the Ghats) will not lie in removing these economic options,
but in providing better incentives to move them towards greener and more
sustainable practices”. In doing this, the Working Group has moved away from
the suggestions of the Gadgil report, which had recommended a blanket approach consisting
of guidelines for sector-wise activities, which would be permitted in the
ecologically sensitive zones.<br /><br />However, we will know the effects of the recommendations only after these are implemented. And it is going to take time. Come what may the biodiversity of the Western Ghats must be preserved with its prestine beauty. If local people are educated and motivated to conserve nature it is all the more a desirable move.</div>
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<![endif]-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-28347789900975122712013-04-19T17:37:00.000+05:302013-04-19T17:37:36.924+05:30I am back after a gap !Birds never miss a chance. They are indeed very hardworking. This is why the proverb 'early bird catches the worm'. There are several bird species which, like this one, work till late evening to find their last prey. It was seen before sunset with its large insect prey.<br />
<br />
I am wanted on the above note. I had a long gap away from my blogging
activity. However, I am back to the business of blogging. and in this
intervening period I have made several friends on Twitter, and
otherwise. Those friends are passionate about conservation of
biodiversity, and most of them are involved in hard-core research and
fieldwork.<br />
<br />
Shortly, I will now start reporting about some
very devoted organizations,their scientists and researchers engaged in
really admirable work. So bear for a few more days! <br />
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmrALQ-BeI_Eg9kcRfdj6f_wdkQwiBmdGRtN8BH046gv93h5OdO2gL7l74bnif4NiGWZJ2Sczlc_iZGVGS2ClOJdUyOMN6qCoFpHD15G7Hdegnp5PYjT4uGDeYks1ISRunK_-K7Tf6JG3/s1600/Bird+with+its+prey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmrALQ-BeI_Eg9kcRfdj6f_wdkQwiBmdGRtN8BH046gv93h5OdO2gL7l74bnif4NiGWZJ2Sczlc_iZGVGS2ClOJdUyOMN6qCoFpHD15G7Hdegnp5PYjT4uGDeYks1ISRunK_-K7Tf6JG3/s320/Bird+with+its+prey.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A catch for my nestlings!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-51311255337691269562013-02-27T12:17:00.001+05:302013-02-28T10:10:04.332+05:30Education and Awareness Necessary to Protect Biodiversity in India <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">This article from Mr. Mohd. Haider, who is by education M.Sc in Biotechnology and holds a bachelor degree in education. He is interested in pursuing a career in environment, conservation and teaching. We invite similar articles from other interested readers. The article by Mr. Haider is reproduced below, along with his contact e-mail at the end:</span></i></span></span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtfG_wWmgeYSbygT4JPa4wu7VVwSP9bv9I90beNtBbzbSZq3kfyqzKzS3Az3BCZ8yZ1KhC7TW3aEDHGtlNdksH_hVC7Zxi5_bcqulZ5gs4TCZln82HLFN4d0i6nmyG5ghltXG1vZZuSBg/s1600/Mohd+Haider.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtfG_wWmgeYSbygT4JPa4wu7VVwSP9bv9I90beNtBbzbSZq3kfyqzKzS3Az3BCZ8yZ1KhC7TW3aEDHGtlNdksH_hVC7Zxi5_bcqulZ5gs4TCZln82HLFN4d0i6nmyG5ghltXG1vZZuSBg/s320/Mohd+Haider.JPG" height="200" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"> Mohd. Haider</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">India is
one of the very important regions in the world as for as biodiversity on planet Earth is concerned. There are 18 “biodiversity hotspots” in Western
Ghats and Eastern Himalayas. Forest found in these regions are highly dense and
there exists incredible biodiversity. Overall, India is
estimated to have over 45,000 plant species and 80,000 animal species
representing 7% of world’s flora and 6.5 % of fauna.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Biodiversity refers to the variation of
life forms including <span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;">species</span></span> diversity and species richness<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;"> </span>on the entire planet.<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;"> The term biological diversity was used
first by wildlife scientist and conservationist Raymond F. Dasmann in the 1968<span class="apple-converted-space">.</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">Biodiversity is not evenly distributed; rather it
varies greatly across the globe as well as within regions. The diversity
depends upon temperature, altitude, soil, geographical location etc., it also
depends upon the ecosystem.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">Biodiversity
in the tropics is of special interest since the richness of species found there
is so great. According to some estimates, 90 percent of all plant, animal, and
insect species exist in tropical regions. At the same time, surveys of
organisms in the tropics have been very limited.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">As an example, one study of a 108-square
kilometer (42-square mile) reserve of dry forest in Costa Rica found about 700
plant species, 400 vertebrate species, and 13,000 species of insects. Included
among the latter group were 3,140 species of moth and butterflies alone.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">One
reason for the growing interest in biodiversity is the threat that human
activities may pose for plant and animal species. As humans take over more land
for agriculture, cities, highways, and other uses, natural habitats are
seriously disrupted. Whole populations may be destroyed, upsetting the balance
of nature that exists in an area. The loss of a single plant, for example, may
result in the loss of animals that depend on that plant for food. The loss of
those animals may, in turn, result in the loss of predators that prey on those
animals.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">A recent
discovered method put the total number of species on Earth at 8.7 million of
which 2.1 million were estimated to live in the ocean.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">
Brazil’s forest<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;"> </span></span><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;">is
considered one such hot spot, containing roughly 20,000 plant species, 1,350
vertebrates, and millions of insects, about half of which occur nowhere else.
The island of </span>Madagascar<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;">
particularly the unique<span class="apple-converted-space"> Madagascar dry
deciduous forests</span> and lowland rain forests, possess a high ratio of<span class="apple-converted-space"> endemism</span>. Since the island separated
from mainland<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">Africa<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">65 million
years ago, many species and ecosystems have evolved independently.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">Indonesia<span style="color: black;">'s 17,000 islands cover 735,355 square miles
(1,904,560 km<sup>2</sup>) contain 10% of the world's flowering plants,
12% of mammals and 17% of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>reptiles<span style="color: black;">,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>amphibians<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>birds<span style="color: black;">—along with nearly 240 million people. Many regions of high
biodiversity and/or endemism arise from specialized<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>habitats<span style="color: black;"> which require unusual adaptations, for example<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>alpine<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">environments in high mountains.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">Terrestrial
biodiversity is up to 25 times greater than ocean biodiversity; biodiversity
supports ecosystem services including air quality,<span class="Heading1Char"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span>climate,<span class="Heading1Char"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="apple-converted-space">water</span>
purification, pollination and prevention of soil erosion. Biodiversity</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">supports many<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 115%;">ecosystem</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"> services<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;"> </span></span><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;">that are often not readily visible</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">Biodiversity enriches
leisure activities such as<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 115%;">hiking<span style="color: black;">,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>bird watching</span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">
etc.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">Popular
activities such as<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 115%;">gardening<span style="color: black;">,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>fish keeping<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">and specimen collecting strongly depend on biodiversity. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">The number of species involved in such pursuits is in the tens of thousands.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">During the last
century, decreases in biodiversity have been increasingly observed. According to some estimates up to 30% of all species will be extinct by 2050.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;">
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">Of these, about one
eighth of known plant species are threatened with<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 115%;">extinction<span style="color: black;">.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Estimates reach as high as 140,000
species per year (based on<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Species-area
theory)<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black;">. These figures are a cause of concern and indicate prevalence of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">unsustainable<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">ecological practices.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">In 2006
many species were formally classified as<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">rare<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>endangered<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>threatened<span style="color: black;">; moreover, scientists have estimated that millions more
species are at risks which have not been formally recognized. About 40 percent
of the 40,177 species assessed using the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>IUCN
Red List<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;">criteria are now listed as threatened with<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>extinction<span style="color: black;">—a total of 16,119. </span>As human
populations grow, the threat to biodiversity will continue to grow with it. And
as more people place greater stress on the natural environment, greater will be
the loss of resources plant and animal communities need to survive.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">Biodiversity has special importance in India because the traditional communities have been closely associated with the conservation of our fauna and flora. We need to educate and make our communities aware of the scientific importance of biodiversity and encourage communities to conserve biodiversity. It is heartening India has strong conservation laws and regulations. But their implementation is lacking. Education and awareness at every level right from the grassroots to the policy making is essential to achieve the objective of sustainable development<span style="font-size: small;">!</span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">References:</span></span></i></b></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">1. </span></span><span class="citation" style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">Raup, D. M.
(1994).</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="citation" style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">"The role of extinction in evolution”.<i>
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.</i></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="citation" style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">91</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="citation" style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">(15)</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> 6758–6763.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">2.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">“<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">The Cambrian Period"<span style="color: black;">.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span>University of California Museum
of Paleontology<span class="reference-accessdate"><span style="color: black;">.
Retrieved May 17, 2012</span></span><span style="color: black;">.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">3.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">Sahney, S. and Benton, M.J. (2008).<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 115%;">"Recovery from the most profound mass extinction of all
time"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">4.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">Bambach, R.K.; Knoll, A.H.; Wang, S.C. (December
2004).</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 115%;">"Origination,
extinction, and mass depletions of marine diversity".</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="reference-text"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">5.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="reference-text"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">Dasmann, R. F. 1968. A Different Kind of Country.
MacMillan Company, New York.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="citation"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">6.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="citation"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">"Robert E. Jenkins". Nature.org.
2011-08-18</span></span><span class="reference-accessdate"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">. Retrieved 2011-09-24</span></span><span class="citation"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">7.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">Ramanujan, Krishna (2 December 2010).<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 115%;">"Study: Loss of species is bad for your health"<span style="color: black;">.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">8.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">Water and Development: An Evaluation of World
Bank Support, 1997-2007. Vol.I., p.79.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">9.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;">http://www.scienceclarified.com/As-Bi/Biodiversity.html</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><i>Contact mail:</i> mohdhaiderbt@gmail.com </span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-65195586588302272522013-01-25T17:07:00.000+05:302013-02-27T21:46:40.796+05:30Frog & Toad Species?The winter is already there, and this year it is unusually cold, may be the fault is in my feeling it much more that it really is! Anyway what I am reporting is from the weather gone by, that is the rainy season. It was a pleasant time for taking photos of birds, insects, trees etc for the sky after rains was clear from dust; trees were washed after heavy rain: they appeared in their green in abundance.<br />
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Winter is more challenging for life-forms to survive; almost every creature is affected by winter, more or less. Birds of warmer climate are under threat of cold and <a href="http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/image_galleries/ir_zoo/coldwarm.html">cold-blooded</a> animals go in hiding. For example, the ubiquitous wall lizard appears in homes as temperatures rise and and go in hiding (hibernation) as temperatures go down.<br />
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This <a href="http://biodiversitynet.blogspot.in/2012/09/the-rainy-season-treat-for-all-species.html">rainy season</a> just gone by, I had taken shots of two amphibians I wanted to find out their species. And I have not been able to ascertain their species. A large <a href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_a_frog_and_a_toad">frog/toad</a> of the size of an orange with a rough skin will appear at my gate with definite regularity every night. The lights at the gate attracted insects which served as its food. I was fascinated with the roughness of its skin, the large mouth, and the compose with which it sat on my entrance. This orange-size amphibian is definitely a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toad">toad</a>.This reminded me of story how scientists from <a href="http://www.conservation.org/Pages/default.aspx">Conservation International</a> had to travel to <a href="http://biodiversitynet.blogspot.in/2012/02/ci-expedition-to-suriname-finds-new.html">Suriname</a> and discovered some new frog species. Look at the picture of this toad, and if someone can identify its species:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVhAdDTjtMrPcNAh6DVAghCgGu9Id_BrYXkmXySseVl2zPyRECwKUqg4oNei_RebRdKRhWjFN80CEwe9aJKO4nDKF9hHRboaFcGPVYvSIjtDkv06iGzk_qPiX3RpqKJrUj-sXeg7R5UEq/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVhAdDTjtMrPcNAh6DVAghCgGu9Id_BrYXkmXySseVl2zPyRECwKUqg4oNei_RebRdKRhWjFN80CEwe9aJKO4nDKF9hHRboaFcGPVYvSIjtDkv06iGzk_qPiX3RpqKJrUj-sXeg7R5UEq/s320/IMG_0028.JPG" height="299" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">A toad (species not known) with a very rough skin. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">©</span>Photograph by: Zaka Imam</span></span></i></td></tr>
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Another small creature climbing on the tile of bathroom in the evening! I thought it was some worm. I reach for my glasses and to my dismay I find it is a very tiny frog climbing on the tile of bathroom, it was about one foot above from the ground. Its size was lesser than a housefly, <a href="http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/flies/house_fly.htm"><i>Musca domestica</i></a>, I take its photographs. I wonder if it is a tadpole just metamorphosed to tiny little frog or <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.co.in/news/2012/01/120111-smallest-frogs-vertebrates-new-species-science-animals/">some new species</a> of frog than can climb on tiles. The earlier reported world's tiniest frog is <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.co.in/news/2012/01/120111-smallest-frogs-vertebrates-new-species-science-animals/"><i>Paedophryne amaurensis</i></a> of the size of housefly. Can anyone help identify this tiny frog that can climb on bathroom tiles. I reproduce the two photographs that I had taken in May 2012.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EwZpLEbr_FepNxddK4aVMfohBxUB2GT1M2V7LioeSujOidDiMzOCTOjMXkHwX3XSJ3rgzm4ghHaLRN-1rSqXpBPUVjRmX1gJpddgmIAP4J3OFZIS-rpR13MuLD-axQ8CL69lQCVH9Nd2/s1600/Desktop1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EwZpLEbr_FepNxddK4aVMfohBxUB2GT1M2V7LioeSujOidDiMzOCTOjMXkHwX3XSJ3rgzm4ghHaLRN-1rSqXpBPUVjRmX1gJpddgmIAP4J3OFZIS-rpR13MuLD-axQ8CL69lQCVH9Nd2/s320/Desktop1.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">Tiny frog about a foot above from ground walking on
bathroom's tile ( Left); closer view of frog walking on bathroom tile (Right).© Photographs by:<b>
</b>Zaka Imam </span></i></span></div>
</td></tr>
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<br />
I will look for details of these frogs when I find them again next rainy season!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-32810123144343451632013-01-10T07:04:00.000+05:302013-01-23T16:52:14.016+05:30Cambodia Cares for its Pangolins: Rehabilitation Center Establshed<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">According
to the <a href="http://www.conservation.org/Pages/default.aspx">Conservation
International</a>, a new facility, the Pangolin Rehabilitation Center
(PRC) has opened in Cambodia to provide specialist care to the kingdom’s
endangered pangolins. The facility was established to rehabilitate injured
pangolins rescued from hunters throughout Cambodia – an increasing and serious
threat to the survival of this magnificent and little known species.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Opened
with a Buddhist blessing and ceremony, the PRC was created through a joint
initiative between Conservation International (CI) and the Forestry
Administration, (within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
Royal Government of Cambodia to bolster conservation efforts for this species.
The PRC is located at the Phnom Tamao Zoological Park and Wildlife Rescue
Center (PTWRC) in Takeo Province and staffed by a well-trained and dedicated
team who care for the pangolins until they are ready for release back into the
wild.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
center also aims to raise awareness of the plight of the pangolin and to do so
have been fitted with information signs about the species, the wildlife trade
and how the public can help. There are already six pangolins under its
care, which are all victims of the wildlife trade and are receiving treatment
for a range of injuries. These animals were rescued by FA rangers working in
the Cardamom Mountains with support from local communities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Annette
Olsson, Scientific Technical Advisor of CI’s Greater Mekong program said, ‘The
launch of this facility today gives rescued pangolins hope. Pangolins are often
transported in very cruel ways by traffickers to avoid detection by
authorities. Sometimes they are kept for days in plastic bags, without food or
water, hidden in small spaces. It’s common for the animals to die in
transit, or after rescue, due to these terrible practices.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In
Cambodia trafficked pangolins are typically kept alive as they fetch the best
price on the market live. But as they are hunted using snares and hunting dogs,
many confiscated pangolins have severe injuries that require professional
medical treatment before they can be released back to the wild. The Cambodian
government cares deeply for the kingdom’s wildlife and have partnered with CI
to create this facility to help to conserve this important species so that they
remain in our forests now and forever as a special part of our unique
biodiversity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
PRC represents one part of the initiative to conserve pangolins in Cambodia.
The FA also employs rangers to carry out forest patrols and enforce forestry
law in areas known to be inhabited by pangolins. FA, in collaboration with CI,
also has had a community engagement program in place for over a decade with
various communities who live near the pangolin’s habitat. We are working to
provide sustainable, alternative livelihoods in return for the communities’
assistance in forest and species protection.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Pangolins,
or "scaly ant-eaters," are covered with protective, overlapping
scales, and can quickly roll up into a tight ball when threatened. They are
nocturnal and sleep in hollow trees or burrows emerging at night to forage for
ants and termites, using their extraordinarily long and sticky tongue. Half of
the world’s species of pangolins are found in Asia where they have been hunted
heavily to very low numbers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
Sunda pangolin, Manis javanica, is the only species found in Cambodia and is
now very rare due to hunting pressures to supply the international illegal
market. ‘The greatest threat to the survival of Asian pangolins in the wild is
illegal hunting for meat and scales used for luxury food, tonics and
traditional medicines. Hundreds and thousands of pangolins are hunted
throughout the region. The price for a live pangolin is high, often more than
$100 USD, and is often an irresistible incentive for poor hunters and farmers
in spite of the international and national ban on hunting of this species.’
Said Mr. Ratanapich. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The
Sunda pangolin is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and in CITES
Appendix II, with a ‘zero’ trade quota, which bans all commercial trade in
specimens removed from the wild. In Cambodia, the species is currently
protected as a ‘Rare’ species under the Forestry Law, 2002 (MAFF Prakas 20 on
Classification and List of Wildlife Species from 2007). The PRC is the second
such official and formally recognized pangolin rehabilitation facility in Cambodia.
The other is the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB) in Siem
Reap Province which has been in place for a several years, which cares for
injured pangolins from the northern part of Cambodia. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A government taskforce, the Wildlife Rapid
Rescue Team has been created to crack down on illegal wildlife activities and
trade. Wildlife is protected throughout Cambodia and it is illegal to eat, kill
or sell wild animals in any way. Pangolins conservation is on the agenda of the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival
Commission (SSC) Pangolin Specialist Group. SavePangolins is a non-profit
website that serves as a resource for the general public to learn about
pangolins.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> According to the Conservation International, a new facility, the
Pangolin Rehabilitation Center (PRC) opened earlier in Cambodia to provide
specialist care to the kingdom’s endangered pangolins. The facility was
established to rehabilitate injured pangolins rescued from hunters throughout
Cambodia – an increasing and serious threat to the survival of this magnificent
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-30422496325117295322012-11-04T11:11:00.001+05:302012-11-04T15:25:50.248+05:30Sign the Pledge to Protect NatureReproduced below is the mail from none other than Dr. Peter Seligman, Chairman & CEO of <a href="http://www.conservation.org/Pages/default.aspx">Conservation International</a>, USA. It is about signing of the 'pledge to protect the planet that provides'. <br />
<br />
Conservation of nature is not only an issue, instead it is the absolute necessity. In this perspective, then, what Seligman and his colleagues do and say, and similar other experts working in the area of conservation say, all their views are important, in fact, most important !!! Because they are talking about the only place ,the Earth, we have to live. <br />
<br />
We ought to have been protecting the Earth with seriousness, and very fast. Alas! we are not, and the nature suffers greatly at our hands, and we need to check it. The masses have to rise to the need of conserving nature! <br />
<br />
That is why the letter of Dr. Seligman is important to everyone of us!<br />
<br />
And I reproduce it for every word of it is important. <a href="http://www.conservation.org/Pages/default.aspx">Conservation International</a> is one of the few global organisations known for its multiple approach to conservation involving scientific research, explorations through expeditions, cultural interactions, etc.<br />
<br />
I request everyone else who reads this post to read Dr Seligman's letter below and sign the pledge on the link below:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fgetinvolved.conservation.org%2Fsite%2FR%3Fi%3DYgZL2b0zG4Pl39nWmZewHQ&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFFGpOrVAkaum8Qq-VurucD8jRVBA" target="_blank">http://getinvolved.<wbr></wbr>conservation.org/site/R?i=<wbr></wbr>YgZL2b0zG4Pl39nWmZewHQ</a><br />
<br />
**************<br />
<br />
Dear Zaka,<br />
<br />
It doesn't matter where you come from, what you do for a living, or<br />
what you love most in life - you need nature.<br />
<br />
I know you already understand this. That's why you are engaged with<br />
Conservation International. Our challenge is to convince others of<br />
this simple, vital truth - and I am writing today to ask you, if<br />
you are willing, to join me in doing so. We need your help and your<br />
voice.<br />
<br />
Our planet provides us with everything. But poll after poll shows that<br />
people do not understand that protecting nature isn't "just another<br />
issue" - it's the defining challenge of our time. And if we fail<br />
to rise to the challenge . . . well, we're pretty much cooked. Can you<br />
help us turn the tide? I am convinced WE NEED to launch a movement.<br />
<br />
It's simple: Go to PlanetThatProvides.org and sign the pledge to<br />
protect the planet that provides. Then ask your friends, family and<br />
neighbors to join you. Let's get the ball rolling.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fgetinvolved.conservation.org%2Fsite%2FR%3Fi%3DYgZL2b0zG4Pl39nWmZewHQ&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFFGpOrVAkaum8Qq-VurucD8jRVBA" target="_blank">http://getinvolved.<wbr></wbr>conservation.org/site/R?i=<wbr></wbr>YgZL2b0zG4Pl39nWmZewHQ</a><br />
<br />
If we do nothing - if we fail to make nature a central issue in<br />
our development decisions - our families and our descendants<br />
will not inherit the beautiful and vibrant earth that has sustained<br />
all of us. The numbers are stark: Each year, we are adding 80 million<br />
people. We will reach 9 billion in 40 years. We will need twice the<br />
clean water, twice the food. And our planet is already stressed with<br />
challenged fisheries. Depleted water supplies. Disappearing species<br />
and changing weather patterns.<br />
<br />
If we do not come together, we will mow down the forests that serve as<br />
our water factories. We will destroy the wetlands and mangroves that<br />
shelter us from storms. The fisheries that feed billions will dwindle.<br />
The sense of peace and place that we get from our natural world will<br />
slowly slip away.<br />
<br />
This is why today, more than at any time in the past, we need a<br />
movement, a commitment, to work hand in hand with people everywhere to<br />
value and to protect what nature provides.<br />
<br />
I signed the pledge. Please join me. Together, we can shift the tide.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fgetinvolved.conservation.org%2Fsite%2FR%3Fi%3DHmQ7c3k9Vi2U47duJPTDlQ&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGdaSWwB2q6niNpOoBi4UdavtgkJg" target="_blank">http://getinvolved.<wbr></wbr>conservation.org/site/R?i=<wbr></wbr>HmQ7c3k9Vi2U47duJPTDlQ</a><br />
<br />
Thank you so much for your support.<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
<br />
Peter Seligmann<br />
Chairman and CEOAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-5951795199011889992012-09-30T10:37:00.000+05:302012-09-30T19:11:34.380+05:30India Hosts Conference of Parties Under Convention of Biodiversity<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">India
is hosting the eleventh Conference of the Parties (CoP-11) to the Convention of Bodiversity in
Hyderabad on 1-19 October, 2012, at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Hyderabad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There will be three components of CoP-11:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(i) the
sixth Conference of the Parties serving as Meeting of the Parties (CoP/MoP-6)
to the CBD’s Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to be held from 1-5 October 2012;
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(ii) the CoP-11 to the CBD from 8-19 October 2012; </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(iii) the High Level Segment of
CoP-11 from 16-19 October 2012. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CoP-11 is expected to be the largest
such conference to be held in India with participation of thousands of
delegates from all countries of the world, including Ministers/Vice-Ministers,
Ambassadors, senior Government officials, heads and senior officers of UN and
multilateral agencies, private sector, academia, civil society organizations
etc.<br />
<br />
India is a recognised megadiverse country rich in biodiversity and associated
traditional knowledge. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With just 2.4% of the land area, India accounts for
nearly 7% of the recorded species even while supporting almost 18% of human
population as well as cattle population. The biotic pressure on Indian
biodiversity is therefore immense. <br />
<br />
For India, conservation of its biodiversity is crucial not only because it
provides several goods and services necessary for human survival, but also
because it is directly linked with providing livelihoods to and improving
socio-economic conditions of millions of our local people, thereby contributing
to sustainable development and poverty alleviation. <br />
<br />
India is a Party to the CBD; the the three objectives of the Convention are:
conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components, and the fair
and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.cbd.int/convention/">CBD </a>is the first comprehensive global agreement addressing all aspects relating
to biodiversity. It is a framework agreement that provides for flexible
country-driven approach to its implementation. The Convention has near
universal membership with 193 Parties. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The USA is the only major country which is
not a Party to the CBD. <br />
<br />
Two Protocols have so far been adopted under the aegis of CBD: the <a href="http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/">CartagenaProtocol</a> on Biosafety (CPB) adopted in 2000, and the <a href="http://www.cbd.int/abs/">Nagoya Protocol</a> on Access
and Benefit Sharing adopted in 2010. <br />
<br />
Despite intense biotic pressure, India has been able to harbour 7-8% of the
world’s biodiversity. While most developing countries have lost forest cover,
India has added around 3 million hectares of forests and tree cover in the last
three decades. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In India, with a strong legal and policy framework on biodiversity in place, some
recent positive initiatives relevant to biodiversity taken up include: Forests
Rights Act, MG NREGA. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Globally, India is recognized as a pioneer and
trendsetter on biodiversity issues, and is a major player. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On biodiversity,
India speaks from a position of strength. Advancing biodiversity agenda
contributes to equity as well as development agenda. This cannot the said of
any other environmental issue under discussion in international fora. <br />
<br />
Hosting of CoP-11 in India is a culmination of the biodiversity agenda being
pursued by India during last few years. The event provides India with an
opportunity to consolidate, scale-up and showcase our initiatives and strengths
on biodiversity. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">India with a strong institutional, legal and policy framework,
has the potential and capability to emerge as the world leader in conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity, and also to set the global agenda on
biodiversity in the context of sustainable livelihoods during the UN Decade on
Biodiversity 2011-2020.<br />
<br />
Hosting of CoP-11 would also bring in focus the need for balancing economic
development, demographic pressures and environmental conservation in developing
countries like India, and the need to spread awareness for better use and
management of biological resources among different stakeholders.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CoP-11 would
provide a unique platform to display, promote, interact, learn and network from
each other experiences and knowledge relating to biodiversity. <br />
<br />
At the opening of <a href="http://cbdcop11india.in/">CoP-11</a>, the Presidency of CoP will be handed over by Japan
(as the host of CoP-10) to the Indian Minister for Environment and Forests.
India will be the President of CoP-11 for a two year period ending at the
opening of the next CoP. <br />
<br />
CoP-10 held in Nagoya in October 2010 had adopted the Strategic Plan for
Biodiversity 2011-2020 alongwith twenty Aichi biodiversity targets. These inter
alia included: </span></div>
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By 2020, atleast 17% of terrestrial and inland water (from the
present 13%), and 10% of coastal and marine areas (from the present 1.6%) are
conserved; </span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including
forests, is atleast halved;</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By 2020 areas under agriculture, aquaculture and
forestry are managed sustainably. </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While adopting the ambitious Strategic Plan,
CoP-10 could not agree on the targets for funding as the means to implement
Strategic Plan and achieve <a href="http://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/">Aichi targets</a>. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
CoP-11 is expected to come out with a road map for operationalisation of the
Strategic Plan and Aichi targets; facilitation of early entry into force of
Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing; and determine targets for
mobilizing resources for implementing the Strategic Plan. </div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
On resource mobilization, presently, the international flows for biodiversity
directly and indirectly are approximately USD 6 billion, which is about 4.7% of
the global ODA of USD 127 billion. To enable CoP-11 to agree on targets for
resource mobilization for implementation of the Strategic Plan, an assessment
of the requirement of funding to meet the Aichi targets at the global level is
necessary. Towards this, a number of activities have been undertaken in the
intersessional period. </div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
India with Sweden, Ecuador and others co-sponsored a Dialogue seminar on
finance in Quito in March 2012, the outcomes of which resulted in an improved
understanding between the developed and developing countries. </div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
Thereafter, India
alongwith UK have sponsored a High Level Panel for assessing the resources
required globally to implement the Strategic Plan. An interim report of this
Panel will be presented to CoP-11. </div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
The Panel has estimated that the costs for
implementing the Aichi targets is between USD 150 billion to 430 billion
annually, though coordinated action on the targets is expected to substantially
reduce the total estimate.</div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
Parallely, a team of five experts commissioned by
the CBD Secretariat have undertaken an assessment of the amount of funds that
are necessary to assist developing countries in achieving Aichi targets, over
the period 2014-2018. </div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
As per this assessment, the total funding needs for
developing countries for the period 2014-2018 works out to be between USD 74
billion and 191 billion. </div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
The outcome of these intersessional activities will be considered by CoP-11,
for facilitating a decision on some interim commitments on resource
mobilization, alongwith a road map that would include review by CoP-12 when
more information is expected to become available.</div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
India has also hosted and supported a number of workshops and meetings for
capacity building on Protected Areas, national biodiversity strategies and
biosafety. These efforts made by India have been well appreciated by the global
community. </div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
The CoP-MoP-6 will discuss and adopt further decisions for safe transfer,
handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern
biotechnology. The discussions will inter alia focus on risk assessment and
management of LMOs, socio-economic considerations, capacity building,
information sharing, cooperation among countries, and resource mobilization to
assist developing countries in meeting their global commitments towards safe
use of LMOs. </div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
The outcomes of CoP-MoP-6 and CoP-11 are in the form of decisions agreed to by
consensus among all Parties to the CBD, which are binding on the Parties. </div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
The High Level Segment will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan
Singh in the afternoon of 16 October 2012. Several Ministers, Vice-Ministers
and Ambassadors are likely to attend the High level Segment. There will be four
Panel discussions on the following topics during the High Level Segment:</div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
Panel I: Implementation of the Strategic Plan on Biodiversity 2011-2020</div>
<div align="justify">
Panel II: Biodiversity for Livelihoods and Poverty Reduction </div>
<div align="justify">
Panel III: Coastal and Marine Biodiversity</div>
<div align="justify">
Panel IV: Implementation of Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and
Benefit Sharing. </div>
<div align="justify">
</div>
<div align="justify">
The outcome of High Level Segment will be in the form of Chair’s summary
statement by the <a href="http://envfor.nic.in/">Minister for Environment and Forests. </a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="display: none; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;"><a href="http://envfor.nic.in/">Top of Form<o:p></o:p></a></span></div>
<div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-88667542238485634992012-09-20T14:20:00.001+05:302012-09-20T14:42:21.746+05:30Career News: How true is: "There is no hope for doing perfect r...<a href="http://international-career-news.blogspot.com/2012/09/how-true-is-there-is-no-hope-for-doing.html?spref=bl">Career News: How true is: "There is no hope for doing perfect r...</a>: (Recently, I wrote a piece on Morwenna Griffith's statement, "There is no hope for doing perfect research". It has given me an opportunity...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-44456192816672181152012-09-19T13:13:00.000+05:302012-09-30T19:14:56.805+05:30 I am Water<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYBHtukib_91ilomt0v6-n-QiCTOcGhJN5J5KBi2_qD3LEf1E_S3nS0JodmJAyA3jq-wUL3M8wKk5iHN1In4A0yyQFrNSp-AjvmLsIzCJMIjuucD1ZT2UMtGTQwBcCyq538zds3zuJdH2/s1600/Water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYBHtukib_91ilomt0v6-n-QiCTOcGhJN5J5KBi2_qD3LEf1E_S3nS0JodmJAyA3jq-wUL3M8wKk5iHN1In4A0yyQFrNSp-AjvmLsIzCJMIjuucD1ZT2UMtGTQwBcCyq538zds3zuJdH2/s320/Water.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small;"><em>When gentle water forms froth under high pressure and speed!</em></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Each
drop of me</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In rivers, oceans and seas</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In
birds, flowers, and in bees!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I
am life to livings<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In
livings, I live<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I
am water, I am life<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Life
is me!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p>***** </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I
sail in clouds<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Winds
show me the way<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lightening
and thunder<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tell
the world, I’m on the way!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When
I arrive<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Drops of me, fall on ground<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shower
the trees, beasts and ground</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Quench
thirst of parched lands<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fill
every land lying in low <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I
am water, I am life<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Life
is me!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> *****</o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On
the wings of air<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I
wander in the star-studded sky <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Settle on leaves, under rocks on a cool night<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As
drops, in dew, sparkle like gems<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In nectar, I am, breakfast for butterflies</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Winged
queens suck nectar, flowers are blessed </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
seeds, I live in, wake them<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">from slumber!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ensure next summer comes bloom again </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I
am water<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I
am life<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Life
is me!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">*****</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><strong>©</strong> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>By Zaka Imam</em></span> </o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-58683245576355929422012-09-03T21:34:00.003+05:302012-09-19T12:55:52.795+05:30The Rainy Season Treat For All Species!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">With
the rainy season on in this part of India, it has been a relief from the
scorching heat, but comes with it the humidity and sultry weather. The
moment it rains and immediately following one can see a variety of life
forms out in open, some due to the good reasons for it is time for them to feed
on their prey available in plenty, for breeding season call bell to tie nuptial
knots, or for bad reasons that their hideouts are flooded with water.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7ydBlxernDR8Vkm-p_FkLrSjz02CF0T_1P1GaK8sloFvktqmqaXCAUuP55WVf9X8HOXlpktK9Ho5cNBB2ucYmNjdgxBkYIaXUEY_fO8Ooi8YxCS6skaZlAbwwPNuC1A4SGNDMgIoVXNZ/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7ydBlxernDR8Vkm-p_FkLrSjz02CF0T_1P1GaK8sloFvktqmqaXCAUuP55WVf9X8HOXlpktK9Ho5cNBB2ucYmNjdgxBkYIaXUEY_fO8Ooi8YxCS6skaZlAbwwPNuC1A4SGNDMgIoVXNZ/s320/IMG_0013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em></em></span></o:p></span> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Indian bullfrog (Rana tigrina). </em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">© <em>P</em></span><em>hoto by Dr. Zaka Imam </em></span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small;"><o:p><em></em></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJI-JXx1GLXiXIQaB3dIWxf4IhIYdDfE8CySubH_vNdos1EGQuzUAGgvGM852_NdNfdZoUvw-pP-ix3-E52kIKvGc9HPwZ5PrxqPtSoTb3lknqC4g5JWPz_1y5a3v7h0dKDNhTFaldyvvb/s1600/Frog-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJI-JXx1GLXiXIQaB3dIWxf4IhIYdDfE8CySubH_vNdos1EGQuzUAGgvGM852_NdNfdZoUvw-pP-ix3-E52kIKvGc9HPwZ5PrxqPtSoTb3lknqC4g5JWPz_1y5a3v7h0dKDNhTFaldyvvb/s320/Frog-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Indian bullfrog (Rana tigrina). </em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">© <em>P</em></span><em>hoto by Dr. Zaka Imam</em></span></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Whatever
the reason, for someone who wants to see life forms croaking, tweeting,
buzzing, humming, etc and registering their presence that they are there,
but come out only in such pleasant weather, is great satisfaction. I was particularly
pleased to see the <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indian%20bullfrog">Indian bull frog</a> (Rana tigrina ) in large numbers croaking in
small water bodies filled with rain water.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1N69np8MtGVYtZMwlVjdg3aOTJ14KAauNFY2_a36NDdOwTFDGwUbuZdg0xkpl16y6ZoHnvz0VriPH9kaNjgz9OjhBJjKTFNOzC6Xdog6932l4mBizSBbAaNKgTNMZfjfZ_rAaHIb5Ezgx/s1600/Toads-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1N69np8MtGVYtZMwlVjdg3aOTJ14KAauNFY2_a36NDdOwTFDGwUbuZdg0xkpl16y6ZoHnvz0VriPH9kaNjgz9OjhBJjKTFNOzC6Xdog6932l4mBizSBbAaNKgTNMZfjfZ_rAaHIb5Ezgx/s320/Toads-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Toads mating. </em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">© <em><span style="font-size: x-small;">P</span></em></span><em>hotos by Dr.Zaka Imam</em></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></em> </div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></em> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V6aa3oXsTPLC44T3aO4oGbenjDkdj9HIjj-u3WsaYtaNKENjOuflXkito0fo9ep0X2tmRgmI0cD4f8UZI9oRLZ4RG84aGa7TE_P2JVhi3Z8o38DCzt-AmaDrq0HgooUWZu6pPqodpHtS/s1600/Toads-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_V6aa3oXsTPLC44T3aO4oGbenjDkdj9HIjj-u3WsaYtaNKENjOuflXkito0fo9ep0X2tmRgmI0cD4f8UZI9oRLZ4RG84aGa7TE_P2JVhi3Z8o38DCzt-AmaDrq0HgooUWZu6pPqodpHtS/s320/Toads-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em></em></span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Toads mating. </em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">© <span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>P</em></span></span><em>hotos by Dr.Zaka Imam</em></span></o:p></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></em> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuJINiE8co1DNEAHYC2ApXwzIUyrKmuJk769rko76fXBYvJl2_Ph7llNrKG8zDOD5fKBdQsT_-V7_HOAJ97wzDceZ6yb07GDMNyIHPDK5HCcgq6AD6LsU1lTMoNXa1oH7ICQ6-JVBH0Qc/s1600/Toads-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuJINiE8co1DNEAHYC2ApXwzIUyrKmuJk769rko76fXBYvJl2_Ph7llNrKG8zDOD5fKBdQsT_-V7_HOAJ97wzDceZ6yb07GDMNyIHPDK5HCcgq6AD6LsU1lTMoNXa1oH7ICQ6-JVBH0Qc/s320/Toads-3.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Toads mating. </em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">© </span><em>Photos by Dr.Zaka Imam</em></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></em> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What
surprised me was the aggressive mating of toads: the yellow coloured male
comparatively smaller in size was aggressively in hold of a larger size female, and
this went on for quite sometime, presumably, as I left them alone after taking a few photographs.
I was more than delighted after having taken shots of crows, some birds looking
for insects, and frogs and toads. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeoXHr-1c6yuQWwufcFXaVrpE8AwwxTwFRl8Fhk1IgIoeCM3x_qS8wBtSj5jpH4oGn6ab5BRLBCB99cCLnlAPnTilJu5sr4qsFPGCxgpmDlpM-JMJgMnIZqSFXof9B9y9XcG8d8bC2mpE/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeoXHr-1c6yuQWwufcFXaVrpE8AwwxTwFRl8Fhk1IgIoeCM3x_qS8wBtSj5jpH4oGn6ab5BRLBCB99cCLnlAPnTilJu5sr4qsFPGCxgpmDlpM-JMJgMnIZqSFXof9B9y9XcG8d8bC2mpE/s320/IMG_0026.JPG" width="201" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em></em></span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Bird holding insect in beak. </em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">© </span><em>Photo by Dr.Zaka Imam</em></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></em></o:p></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZIphQk5AtzvGS8PursUA2P8ZMdHl_ttOhoKc_bzzh1jRfVMWNMMb7IZXstPc9D8aM4d4fAdz83Q8Kxr5OOhNDRYinnKWBEoYVzKSU67V97pbMwfaD6YGphEPKwaFmpbApdJ9kBn_qi8l/s1600/Birds-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZIphQk5AtzvGS8PursUA2P8ZMdHl_ttOhoKc_bzzh1jRfVMWNMMb7IZXstPc9D8aM4d4fAdz83Q8Kxr5OOhNDRYinnKWBEoYVzKSU67V97pbMwfaD6YGphEPKwaFmpbApdJ9kBn_qi8l/s320/Birds-1.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Bird searching for insects. </em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">© </span><em>Photo by Dr.Zaka Imam</em></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></em> </div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqfCg88sCOexw4TgWIrRIHjcGLoiLIkhzrBlARzcRg5yOf90yf7-MvjNxg8l1LY8hTWmfrbh191ySdBI9G11_fDl3z0YBAQQEV54_5iIc_7x_uajsSCNi9HiFvujI8SKsPYcgq0KjkIAO/s1600/IMG_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqfCg88sCOexw4TgWIrRIHjcGLoiLIkhzrBlARzcRg5yOf90yf7-MvjNxg8l1LY8hTWmfrbh191ySdBI9G11_fDl3z0YBAQQEV54_5iIc_7x_uajsSCNi9HiFvujI8SKsPYcgq0KjkIAO/s320/IMG_0056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;"></span></em></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;"><em>Bird searching for insects. </em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">©</span><em> Photo by Dr.Zaka Imam</em></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjjrV6egYe2FXFATgFnRui0pK97zQCnHLXLwIyC7tiFBsDcPYYWKpW2O4oUl43s0Q8AiRFZ37TP18vNe6_qhmKEMXzqf6L4UjWnmA1exHCNgZeCBza0LHGdTimHg5e8C0xmajWz9-f_5i/s1600/IMG_0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjjrV6egYe2FXFATgFnRui0pK97zQCnHLXLwIyC7tiFBsDcPYYWKpW2O4oUl43s0Q8AiRFZ37TP18vNe6_qhmKEMXzqf6L4UjWnmA1exHCNgZeCBza0LHGdTimHg5e8C0xmajWz9-f_5i/s320/IMG_0049.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;"></span></em></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: x-small;"><em>Crows lineup to feast on termites and mollusks. </em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">© </span><em>Photo by Dr.Zaka Imam</em></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">However,
I have not been able to identify most of the species shot, for I do not want to guess and report inaccurate species names. If someone helps me
in this task I will be obliged and delighted to receive the help. Though, I am happy
the life is kicking and there are more species around, though they are visible rarely.
Their photographs though will remind us of their presence around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-39168060972552643302012-09-03T19:46:00.000+05:302012-09-03T19:53:35.104+05:30One-fifth of World’s Invertebrates Face Extinction: Cautions ‘Spineless’<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According
to the report ‘Spineless,’ published by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
in conjunction with IUCN, the invertebrates are under serious threat. The book
was made public on 31<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>st</sup> August, 2012.</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Earthworms,
butterflies, honey bees, houseflies, dragonflies, garden worms, etc. all have
their roles in their ecosystems. What a pleasant pastime it will be if we spare some time to understand about invertebrates, their roles in ecosystem services, and indulge in reading about them and photograph their beautiful, adaptable, magnificent forms and sizes.</span></span><br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If we do so it will certainly strike
out at our deeper inner and we will not be able to resist our bondage to them, for what they are, and for our evolutionary relationship to them. The beauty of a ladybird beetle,
a butterfly, a colorful centipede and dragonfly and many more is irresistible!</span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tiny insects have a role like pollination of our crops and our orchards: a
service that they do free in one-to-one relationship with plants and trees which
provide them nectar and pollens to eat, in return. Others like earthworms
recycle waste nutrients and coral reefs support a myriad of life forms. Imagine
if this all vanishes. Here is the deadly caution: several invertebrates are now on verge of extinction. And if
they disappear, will follow the extinction of humans.</span></span><br />
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhRRIJO_ZZDRDoTKacnc4Zer4MK21qGxKbyhrnVgvXhZ8TQRxT-7_-6nMP0zWHc2jQAoviurpGvD43_vXIpSgyxPegX2WoGwFz5OIQmD-72xzASmYQmK_syB49T6NP4pmre0Mhvy_1GNJ/s1600/Slug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhRRIJO_ZZDRDoTKacnc4Zer4MK21qGxKbyhrnVgvXhZ8TQRxT-7_-6nMP0zWHc2jQAoviurpGvD43_vXIpSgyxPegX2WoGwFz5OIQmD-72xzASmYQmK_syB49T6NP4pmre0Mhvy_1GNJ/s320/Slug.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em></em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>A slug (Mollusk): Photo by Dr.Zaka Imam</em></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>The IUCN report, 'Spineless' cautions against invertebrates' extinction<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“The
IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) is currently trying to expand the number
of invertebrates species assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species™,” says Dr Simon Stuart, SSC Chair. “The early results of this
work are included in the book, Spineless. I very much hope that the expansion
of conservation-related information on invertebrates will give these species a
much higher conservation profile in future.”</span></span><br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Conservation
scientists have reviewed more than 12,000 invertebrates from The IUCN Red List;
scientists have also discovered freshwater species to be under the highest risk
of extinction, followed closely by terrestrial and marine invertebrates. These initial
findings from<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>global, regional and
national assessments provide important insight into the overall status of
invertebrates. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Scientists indicate that the threat status of invertebrates
is very likely similar to that of vertebrates and plants. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Invertebrates
are at risk from a variety of threats: pollution from agricultural sources, dam
construction, impact of invasive species and diseases.</span></span><br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Invertebrates
constitute almost 80% of the world’s species, and a staggering one in five
species could be at risk of extinction,” says Dr Ben Collen, Head of the
Indicators and Assessments unit at ZSL. “While the cost of saving them will
be expensive, the cost of ignorance to their plight appears to be even
greater.”</span></span><br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The
highest risk of extinction tends to be associated with species that are less
mobile and are only found in small geographical areas. For example, vertebrate
amphibians and invertebrate freshwater mollusks both face high levels of
threat– around one-third of species are at risk. In contrast, invertebrate
species like dragonflies and butterflies, which are more mobile, face a similar
threat to that of birds, and around one-tenth of species are at risk.</span></span><br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">“The
ecology of vertebrates and the threats posed to them are reasonably well
documented, and there is often more effort to conserve them—but the
conservation attention paid to creepy crawlies lags far behind that of
charismatic and well known animals like tigers, elephants and gorillas,” says
Professor Jonathan Baillie, ZSL’s Director of Conservation. “We ignore the
loss of invertebrates at our peril, as they provide many of the ecosystem
services from which humans benefit.”</span></span><br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Invertebrates
are the engineers of the many benefits which humans accumulate from an intact
and fully functioning environment; however human demand for resources is
continually increasing the pressure on invertebrate populations. This book
paints a clear picture of how biodiversity is changing, and will enable experts
to implement successful conservation plans for those invertebrates which are
struggling to survive.</span></span><br />
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">ZSL
will be presenting ‘Spineless: Status and Trends of the World’s Invertebrates’
at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Jaju on 7 September.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-14144589575118116642012-07-17T19:06:00.001+05:302012-07-19T11:53:13.608+05:30Madagascar's Lemurs:The Most Threatened Mammals<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-transform: uppercase;">
</span></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">According to a <a href="http://www.conservation.org/newsroom/pressreleases/Pages/New-Finding-Lemurs-Most-Threatened-Mammal-Species.aspx">press release</a> of</span> <a href="http://www.conservation.org/Pages/default.aspx">Conservation International</a>, l<span style="color: black; display: none; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all;">ntentAccording to</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">eading conservationists
gathered at a workshop of the <a href="http://www.iucn.org/">International Union for Conservation of Nature</a>
(IUCN) Species Survival Commission recently to review the conservation status
of the world’s 103 lemur species which is the most endangered primate group in the
world. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The results of the conference announced,
highlight that many lemur species are on the very brink of extinction due
primarily to habitat loss, and are in need of urgent and effective protection
measures. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHcAZE7ZzLAYxr8FalEjfoQWiehA8U0xQcGdt9TsAGSeUoyUlIVGNGZXa9xZqwqGzueXfObN0A33PtXAJ4-VsSGWe1iUIOGkzgwWrD5FsKKbaqhea54Wc6iDkgdDBqp_ExsNFyslEEUMK/s1600/madagascar-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHcAZE7ZzLAYxr8FalEjfoQWiehA8U0xQcGdt9TsAGSeUoyUlIVGNGZXa9xZqwqGzueXfObN0A33PtXAJ4-VsSGWe1iUIOGkzgwWrD5FsKKbaqhea54Wc6iDkgdDBqp_ExsNFyslEEUMK/s320/madagascar-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Black-and-white lemur (Varecia variegata). Copyright: Conservation International. Photo by: Sterling Zumbrunn</span></em>. </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The conservation status of 91 per cent of the world’s lemur species
have now been upgraded to either ‘Critically Endangered’, ‘Endangered’ or
‘Vulnerable’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red
List of Threatened Species — an indicator of rampant forest loss which
additionally endangers vital ecosystem services that support Madagascar’s
people. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of the world’s 103 different species of lemurs, 23 are now
considered ‘Critically Endangered’, 52 are ‘Endangered, 19 are ‘Vulnerable’ and
two are ‘Near Threatened’. Just three lemur species are listed as ‘Least
Concern’. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A previous assessment carried out in 2005 as part of a Global Mammal
Assessment identified 8 species as ‘Critically Endangered’, 18 as ‘Endangered’,
and 15 as ‘Vulnerable’, already a very high number. Given the recent
increases in the number of new species and the fact that the level of threat
has increased over the past three years, the experts decided to carry out a
reassessment of Madagascar’s lemur fauna. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lemurs are in danger of becoming extinct by destruction of their
tropical forest habitat on their native island of Madagascar, off Africa's
Indian Ocean coast, where political uncertainty has increased poverty and
accelerated illegal logging. Hunting of these animals has also emerged as a
more serious threat than previously imagined. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dr Christoph Schwitzer, Head of Research at <a href="http://visitbristol.co.uk/things-to-do/bristol-zoo-gardens-p24341">Bristol Zoo Gardens</a>,
is a world leading primatologist and is on the organising committee for the
conference in his role as advisor on Madagascar’s primates and the Red List
authority for the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s (SSC) Primate Specialist
Group.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTz9C5tLx4mWTI7zbMfI46rVoPhk76EI3SA-wILs0lLOYomvva_11OTmb53gXVymSfZEYGAZtnWgwYKRsGsmG6eMIK-FztVGKV2ALfqmnHH9V3vLo0afa6x7b_V1G0ZC_f2dSUZgCp-u0/s1600/Madagascar-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTz9C5tLx4mWTI7zbMfI46rVoPhk76EI3SA-wILs0lLOYomvva_11OTmb53gXVymSfZEYGAZtnWgwYKRsGsmG6eMIK-FztVGKV2ALfqmnHH9V3vLo0afa6x7b_V1G0ZC_f2dSUZgCp-u0/s320/Madagascar-3.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur simus). Copyright: Conservation International. Photo by: Russell A. Mittermeier</span></em></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Explaining the significance of the lemur assessments,Dr Christoph Schwitzer said : “The results of
our review workshop this week have been quite a shock as they show that
Madagascar has, by far, the highest proportion of threatened species of any
primate habitat region or any one country in the world. As a result, we now
believe that lemurs are probably the most endangered of any group of
vertebrates.” </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Among the most spectacular species of lemurs assessed as
‘Critically Endangered’ is the indri, the largest of the living
lemurs and a species of symbolic value comparable to that of China’s giant
panda, Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur, at 30 grams the world’s smallest primate,
and the blue-eyed black lemur, the only primate species other than humans that
has blue eyes. Probably the rarest lemur is the northern sportive lemur (<i>Lepilemur
septentrionalis</i>), of which there are only 18 known individuals left. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dr. Russell Mittermeier, President of Conservation International
and Chair of IUCN/SSC’s Primate Specialist Group</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, said: “This new assessment highlights
the very high extinction risk faced by Madagascar’s unique lemur fauna and it
is indicative of the grave threats to Madagascar biodiversity as a whole, which
is vital to supporting its people. As the forests go, so do lemurs and a host of
benefits derived from them.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Madagascar’s unique and wonderful species are its greatest asset
and its most distinctive brand and the basis for a major tourism industry that
continues to grow in spite of the current political problems."</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The workshop, held in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar,
included a welcome speech by British entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson, who is
a great fan of lemurs and welcomed the work being done by conservationists to
protect these rare creatures. The workshop also had the support of the Ambatovy
Nickel Mining Project, the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and the
Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Delegates who attended the conference were from the UK,
Madagascar, the United States, Canada, India, Germany, Italy and France; they are
now working together to establish a Conservation Action Plan to protect the
most threatened lemurs over the coming decade. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dr Schwitzer said: “This conference is a good example of the
growing importance of collaboration between the international conservation,
research and zoo communities in the protection of species and habitats. At
Bristol Zoo Gardens, we will continue our conservation and research with the
aim of increasing the effectiveness of the conservation activities, as well as
increasing our understanding of these, and other, critically endangered
species.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A more positive outcome of the conference has been the discovery
of a previously unknown species of lemur — a type of mouse lemur — discovered
by Peter Kappeler and his team at the <a href="http://www.dpz.gwdg.de/index.php?id=7&L=1">German Primate Center</a>. The new species is
found in the Marolambo area of eastern Madagascar. A formal description of the
species has not yet been published, meaning it has not yet been given a name.
This is the 103rd taxon of lemur known to man. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In Madagascar, Bristol Zoo is working with other European zoos to
protect the last remaining populations of two critically endangered lemur
species, the blue-eyed black lemur and the Sahamalaza sportive lemur. Both are
only found on the Sahamalaza Peninsula in the northwest of the island and are
threatened by habitat destruction and hunting. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bristol Zoo’s work in the field
is carried out through the <a href="https://www.google.co.in/#hl=en&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=Bristol+Conservation+%26+Science+Foundation&oq=Bristol+Conservation+%26+Science+Foundation&gs_l=hp.12..0i30l2.6772.21898.0.30587.41.36.0.0.0.0.4994.18772.6-1j2j1j3.7.0...0.0...1c.UudBAit5EsM&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=abf60b3493b6e911&biw=1280&bih=705">Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation</a> (BCSF),
which is based at Bristol Zoo Gardens which </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">is a conservation and education charity and
relies on the generous support of the public not only to fund its important
work in the zoo, but also its vital conservation and research projects spanning
five continents.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Slash and burning for burning forest
for farmland in <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-64874912921930239392012-07-17T17:48:00.000+05:302012-07-19T12:24:58.431+05:30The Wonderworld of Biological Diversity Called Madagascar<br />
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-spacerun: yes;">If felling of a tree hurts you, then cutting of a forest is going to hurt you more, and similarly cutting of rare trees will definitely sadden you. What, if the forests of a place are unique to not a country but the whole world, and those forests are destroyed ruthlessly. Forests are home to wildlife and innumerable species of flora and fauna. Destroying forests means destroying homes of wildlife, flora and fauna, common, rare and unique. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-spacerun: yes;">The nature put <em><a href="http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/homo-sapiens">Homo sapiens</a></em> on the highest position in evolutionary ladder, as a highly evolved intelligent being. But his willful destruction of the same resources which sustain him puts a question mark on the very intelligence that he claims. Interestingly, the trend to destroy forests is a trend set after industrial revolution. The primitive human societies respected nature, and lived in greater harmony with forests and natural resources. Several societies even worshipped trees, animals, etc as manifestation of God or incarnation. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On Earth there is one place which is unique for its forests and biodiversity and this is the island of <a href="http://www.madagascar.co.uk/projectwork/environment.htm?gclid=CJG1rajcoLECFUR76wod_WpIXw">Madagascar</a>, located some 400 miles away from the east coast of Africa. It is among the highest priority biodiversity hot spot on Earth. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Covering nearly 600,000 square kilometers, which means slightly larger than France, Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, but the largest oceanic island. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Separated from the rest of the world for at least 90 million years, imply that most of the plant and animal species found on Madagascar shall be unique to the island and found no where else.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Madagascar's geographic location in the tropics and subtropics and its unusual geological history and topography has led to very high levels of species diversity. The Island is also an example of extremely high endemism which means that species found here are found nowhere else on the planet.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sadly, Madagascar is one of the most heavily impacted countries on Earth in terms of recent habitat destruction.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to <a href="http://www.conservation.org/Pages/default.aspx">Conservation International</a> (USA) nearly 90 percent of its natural vegetation has already been lost and erosion is as extreme as anywhere on the planet.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Currently a major cause for ongoing massive destruction reported in Madagascar is taking place due to considerable political instability there since a coup in March, 2009, and the current government is not recognized by any other country. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Following the coup, there is a serious breakdown of protective measures, and the two key protected areas in northern Madagascar, Masoala National Park and Marojejy National Park, both being part of a UNESCO complex of <a href="http://www.world-heritage-tour.org/">World Heritage Sites</a>, have been invaded for extraction of valuable timbers, especially rosewood. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There has also been a recent upsurge in hunting for bush meat, which has impacted rare species of lemurs, tortoises, and many other species. The world must rise to educate and convince people not only in Madagascar but every where else to protect forests, wildlife, flora and fauna far more vigorously and not ritually! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6571446780548100366.post-12905487066102266342012-07-04T18:22:00.000+05:302012-07-05T11:28:43.918+05:30My New Neighbours: Red Ants<div style="text-align: justify;">
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As a child I had witnessed red ants (<em>Oecophylla sp.)</em> making nests by joining leaves on mango tree. They were fearsome, in hundreds and thousands, moving from one leaf to another, on thick stems of several decades old mango trees. Slight danger will alert them and they will move forward and backward to get on the enemy. They sting and it is really painful.</div>
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My childhood memories of maternal grandfather's mango orchard had just flashed on my mind, when I saw a nest of twisted leaf on the lone mango tree in my garden. I looked around the nest and saw a few red ants in alert. I thought of removing the nest with care so that more nests do not come up over there. The thought of my youngest daughter and grand children getting stung by red ants was in my mind.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeWdaiIREC3RW8NPgOKUhwq6KqOZntGkdOcGO0j0FuJ90k35VExNjIs8I1ec9_V_SDoja_CJ_R_KpDrj9ZD7H1Jb4IE3ywJMJyJ1LuQKDO5IitKs6MXVLRCZpDFXzfIAYnHuDonHprzeD/s1600/Red+ants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeWdaiIREC3RW8NPgOKUhwq6KqOZntGkdOcGO0j0FuJ90k35VExNjIs8I1ec9_V_SDoja_CJ_R_KpDrj9ZD7H1Jb4IE3ywJMJyJ1LuQKDO5IitKs6MXVLRCZpDFXzfIAYnHuDonHprzeD/s320/Red+ants.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Almost transparent red ants (Oecophylla sp.) seen in highly alert position on their nest.</span></em></div>
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I gently pick up a scissor and tried removing the nest from its base. Half done, I notice movements on my hand but there was nothing visible there. I got panicked, and tried to see more carefully! About half a dozen orange red colour ants were moving on my right hand's skin, they were almost transparent. I jerked my hand to remove them, and ran for a wash. Luckily none had applied their sting. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4GHQA61SWXD4tosf4LCISQpUR-MD83K6QxDJHyTsnuvIV95qBjEKq7OQfHVS9VdEopC7oMPi7tJI52CF4GB0oOh6vX1qMFTBIFpWCx7Y42H_P2mFaGm2XZNnOrsiF4qGRQf4uXayskmy/s1600/Red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4GHQA61SWXD4tosf4LCISQpUR-MD83K6QxDJHyTsnuvIV95qBjEKq7OQfHVS9VdEopC7oMPi7tJI52CF4GB0oOh6vX1qMFTBIFpWCx7Y42H_P2mFaGm2XZNnOrsiF4qGRQf4uXayskmy/s1600/Red.jpg" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">A red ant (magnified view).</span></em></div>
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But their look was terrific, their body I can not ignore to admire. What a creation of nature, slender, light coloured and transparent, long legs, dignified, self-respectful, marching on leaves and stem, the march excelling a women fashion parade in the best of attire. What I see more prominent are a pair of eyes on upright face with mandibles open to serve a bite on the intruder.</div>
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My love for them gets an upper hand, and I decide not to remove their nest: I take few photos of those alerted red ants and decide not to remove their lone nest on the young mango tree in my garden. I make a promise to them: They can live there, until of course their number does not multiply beyond a couple of nests! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14450196877745254474noreply@blogger.com0