Posted by
Sheikh Gulzaar
on
November 22, 2013
Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction
Centre “ where I am working andhave to collect the data and if at this time the Government of Jammu andKashmir will cooperate than I will meet the ends of success. We must note itthat
in future we will have clothes, homes but the food and medicine s will beshort as such shortage has to fulfill. We are living under the open sky that isright but living without food and medicine is IMPOSSIABLE.
More details:-
The JK Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre
"Ginkgo House" Aziz Abad, Nambalbal, Pampore PPR JK 192121
Mob:09858986794
Ph: 01933-223705
e-mail: jkmpic@gmail.com
home: http://jkmpic.blogspot.in
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Posted by
salil sharma
on
November 11, 2013
Losing Habitat of Migratory Birds : Mote Majra
Mote Majra is a small village near Mohali which boasts of having a rich fauna and flora too especially a great variety of birds. Last week there
was a photograph with a caption
“ Winged Guests Are Here; Migratory Birds At Mote Majra in Mohali” by Vicky Gharu in The Tribune. These migratory birds are not here for the entire
winter but for a halt on their great migratory leap. So we planned to visit the visitors this weekend. To our utter surprise we could not locate even a single out of the flock despite waiting patiently for a long time. Yes there were some other birds of course
like the common kingfisher, red wattle lapwing, Intermediate egret; Black winged Kite,Crow Pheasants and cormorants.
After a long wait we finally approached a local villager who told us that a person has hired the local pond on a contract for fishing and has put
some people to work for him to put a net all over the pond so that the migratory birds are unable to catch the fish. This labour has been hired for an amount of 30000/. Now with no food on arrival, the migratory birds have no option but to carry on their migration
path ahead. It’s really disheartening to see such human interference.
Water Bodies are providing the habitat to the local and migratory bird species and playing key role in maintaining the balance in natural environmental
parameters. The human activities and interference are destroying the natural water bodies' characteristics thereby depriving the migratory birds of their natural habitat
at many places. There is a need to study such aquatic ecosystems for understanding the gravity of environmental problems and to find solutions to improve the habitat of migratory birds which directly help
in protecting the bird species. The governments of such places should come forward to save the natural environment.
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Posted by
Harikrishnanbhaskaran
on
July 19, 2012
Western Ghats, the ancient mountain range in the southern India which is older than Himalayas is a new entrant to the league of Word Heritage sites for its rich biodiversity. However, new studies show that incidence of foreign type of organisms in these
riverine environments is a main hazard for this World Heritage site. These non-native organisms introduced in the rivers of Western Ghats for agricultural purposes or as biological controllers, are gradually wiping away organisms found in these rivers, according
to certain research outcomes.
Plants like Eichhornia crassipes and
Pistia stratiotes serve as good examples of alien plants in these rivers. Similarly,
Salvinia molesta, Hydrilla and
Ipomea fistulosa were first introduced as ornamental plants in aquariums but later became major weeds in these rivers. They cover the water surface, often increasing the rate of sedimentation. They also hinder the daylight which is essential for the
underwater plants for photosynthesis. Mikania macarantha, is a similar plant now
threatening biodiversity in the area. It forms a thick layer over the river surface and the connected riparian forest, blocking the sunlight.
Exotic fishes add one more name to the list of foreign organisms causing
threat to innate organisms in the Western Ghats Rivers. Introduced to control mosquito and diseases caused by them, these aquatic organisms have turned out to be enemies in course of time.
Gambusia affinis, was widely introduced as a biological agent to control mosquitos. But now they have entered Western Ghats streams, raising stiff competition for resources with native species, wiping away them locally.
This is dangerous when for the endemic fishes in Western Ghats Rivers.
Clarias gariepinus, was brought in by farmers who wanted a fast growing fish which eats up everything including waste from slaughter houses,
to increase fish production. But the fish known for its ability to survive in drastic conditions has turned out to be a serious threat to native species of fishes and other organisms when invaded main stream rivers.
Unlike other threats which destruct a river ecosystem, foreign species and the extent of the damage caused by them are often invisible for the naked eye for a long time if detailed research is not being carried out. So the current studies show that there is
a need to conduct more in-depth studies and take up conservation efforts to help the world heritage site from degrading further.there is also an urgent need for the government to formulate and implement a policy for the management of the invasive species in
India.
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Posted by
Susan Sharma
on
October 04, 2011
The subcontinent has approximately 1,300 of more than 20,000 butterfly species known, said Kishen Das, a US-based lepidopterist. That’s about 6.5% of the global butterfly diversity.
However, the problem is that around 100 of the butterfly species found in India are nearing extinction, according to Surya Prakash, a professor at the department of life sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru University. “Few are aware of the crucial pollination role
the butterfly plays, which is second only to the honeybee,” he adds.
There’s bad news on that front too.
Read more at
http://www.livemint.com/2011/09/29222646/Lower-pollinator-numbers-heral.html
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Posted by
Chinmaya Dunster
on
September 07, 2011
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Posted by
Susan Sharma
on
September 06, 2011
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Posted by
Susan Sharma
on
September 02, 2011
........."This is where policy gets practice fundamentally and fatally wrong. This is not useless wasteland as the revenue office described it when it gave it to the thermal power company at a pittance. This is highly productive land, both in terms of
its ecological functions and economic uses. But we cannot see it or won’t because it is not in our interest.
Just consider. This dead swamp is a living sponge, which soaks water, reducing the intensity of floods; the delicately maintained freshwater balance reduces the advance of salinity, which would infiltrate groundwater and ruin drinking water sources. This is
a living ecosystem. It plays critical life functions...................
-Sunita Narain
Read more at the link
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/lessons-kakarapalli
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Posted by
Susan Sharma
on
August 24, 2011
Sounds in a National park
............The impact of noise on wildlife ranging from birds to whales to elk has been a growing focus of scientific study. Increasing evidence suggests that animals in natural settings modify their behavior, though sometimes only briefly, in response
to human commotion..........
One of the first things that a visitor to Muir Woods National Monument sees is a monitor that measures sound levels.....
Once the diesel engines had been stilled, visitors began falling into line, heeding a subtle signal that human noises are superfluous here.
But some of the signals are hardly subtle: signs posted near Cathedral Grove in the heart of the park call for silence. Near the entrance to the food and gift shop close to the park’s entrance, a decibel meter measures the sound of a visitor’s voice.
Read more at the link http://tinyurl.com/3h4qn2o
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/science/earth/22sound.html?_r=1&ref=nationalparkservice
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Posted by
Susan Sharma
on
August 04, 2011
Read Nirmal's Kulkarni's Blog on Nag Panchami at
http://goawildwatch.blogspot.com/2011/08/nagpanchami-and-snake-bite-protocol.html
Here is a useful quote
......
The recommended First Aid protocol for Snake bite as practiced today follows the below mentioned points
• Reassure the victim who may be very anxious and scared.
• Immobilize the bitten limb with a splint or sling (any movement or muscular contraction increases absorption of venom into the bloodstream.
• Consider Pressure immobilization for bites by elapid snakes only like the Indian Cobra and the Indian krait including sea snakes but should not be used for viper bites because of the danger of increasing the local effects of the necrotic venom. There is considerable
debate of which technique to be used and I have personally found the use of a local compression pad applied over the wound pressure bandaging of the entire limb to be very effective.
• Avoid any interference with the bite wound as this may introduce infection, increase absorption of the venom and increase local bleeding.
· The patient must be transported to a place where they can receive medical care (dispensary or hospital) as quickly, but as safely and comfortably as possible. Any movement, especially of the bitten limb, must be reduced to an absolute minimum to avoid increasing
the systemic absorption of venom. If possible the patient should not be allowed to walk and carried with the help of a stretcher or bed or sitting on a chair, etc.
And lastly remember, Polyvalent Anti Snake venom Serum is the only effective remedy for a venomous snakebite in India........
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Posted by
Tulip Das
on
February 22, 2011
Bacteria and other micro organisms are responsible for decomposing organic waste. When organic matterials
like dead plants, leaves, manure, sewage or food waste are present in water supply, bacteria started to break them. By that time, much of the available Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.) is consumed by bacteria from other aquatic organisms of the oxygen they need to
live.
Biological Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.) is one of the most common measures of the oxygen used by micro
organisms to decompose the waste. If there
is a large amount of organic waste is present in the water supply, there will also be a lot of bacteria present which decompose the waste. In this case, the demand for oxygen will be high. As a result, Biological Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.) level will be
high.
A high B.O.D. value indicates pollution, i.e; water containing higher level of organic wastes that
consumed the Dissolved oxygen (D.O.) and is thus unsafe for human consumption.
Tulip Das
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