Rare Plant The rain forests of the world are estimated by scientists to contain 80% of the green flowering plants in existence and it is estimated that 2.5 acres of tropical rainforest may contain more than 750 types of trees and 1500 species of higher plants. With the loss of each acre of rainforest to farming, logging or other form s of development, hundreds of species disappear forever. The number of endangered rain forest plants is vast and rather than attempt to list every known species of plant that is endangered only two of the better known ones will be presented here. A great resource on this subject is the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Orchids: There are over 25,000 different types of orchids, and many are them are threatened, endangered or extinct. Orchids range in size from microscopic to several feet tall and the bloom can be larger than a human hand. A tragic phase in the history of orchids was during the 1800's, when many European aristocrats began collecting them.
40 Amazing Things You Will Never Forget post written by: Marc Chernoff Email “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. “Today I am celebrating my 90th birthday. Those are the opening lines to an email I received this morning from a reader named Mary Ann. Mary Ann’s words of wisdom remind me that there will always be ups and downs in life, but ultimately, at the end of the day, that’s what makes each of us who we are. So pay attention to your outlook on life. Flowing and working through life’s great challenges. – No matter what happens, do your best and smile. Your turn… Truth be told, talking about our problems is our greatest addiction. What makes life amazing? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. Photo by: Hamish Irvine If you enjoyed this article, check out our new best-selling book. And get inspiring life tips and quotes in your inbox (it's free)...
Helpful Plants Tropical Rainforest Resources Edible Rainforest Plants Allspice: (Pimenta dioica) Berries-- shaped like peppercorns-- of an evergreen tree which can grow up to 100' in height in height in the Latin American Rainforest. The small, aromatic fruits have a subtle flavor like a mixture of clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg, hence the name "allspice." Banana: (Musa paradisiaca) This is the most common Musa, but there are 21 species and subspecies which are edible. Black Pepper: (Piper nigrum) A vine native to the East Indies. Caspicum annum: Cayenne pepper, sweet pepper, paprika, and jalapenos are just four of the many cultivars of this plant. Cardamom: (Elleteria cardamom) Native to India, the third most expensive spice after saffron and vanilla. Cashews: (Anarcardium occidental) Originally from Tropical America, a valuable nut and vitamin rich fruit from the tree. Chocolate/Cocoa: (Theobroma cacao) Native to lowland tropical America, probably first domesticated in Mexico. Cinnamon: (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
L'exportation de déchets dangereux vers les pays en développement bientôt interdite - Déchets - Environnement Les pays en développement ne serviront plus d'exutoire aux déchets dangereux des pays développés. C'est ce qu'ont décidé les représentants des 118 membres de la Convention de Bâle réunis pour la 10ème Conférence des Parties à Carthagène (Colombie) du 17 au 21 octobre 2011. Un « ban amendement » doit en effet interdire aux pays de l'Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques (OCDE) d'exporter leurs déchets dangereux vers des pays non membres de l'organisation. Adopté depuis 1995, cet amendement était resté lettre morte, notamment sous la pression de l'Australie, du Canada et des États-Unis (ces derniers n'ont toujours pas ratifié la Convention). « La division entre pays de l'OCDE et non OCDE est dépassée » Jim Puckett du Basel Action Network (Ban), une ONG ad hoc, salue une décision historique. D'autres voix sont beaucoup plus réservées sur la portée historique d'un tel accord. Les États-Unis exportent 80% de leurs e-déchets en Chine
Rainforest Plants A tropical greenhouse More than two thirds of the world's plant species are found in the tropical rainforests: plants that provide shelter and food for rainforest animals as well as taking part in the gas exchanges which provide much of the world's oxygen supply. Rainforest plants live in a warm humid environment that allows an enormous variation rare in more temperate climates: some like the orchids have beautiful flowers adapted to attract the profusion of forest insects. Competition at ground level for light and food has lead to evolution of plants which live on the branches of other plants, or even strangle large trees to fight for survival. The aerial plants often gather nourishment from the air itself using so-called 'air roots';. The humidity of the rainforest encourages such adaptations which would be impossible in most temperate forests with their much drier conditions.
Pollution Introduction of contaminants that cause adverse change Major forms of pollution include air pollution, light pollution, litter, noise pollution, plastic pollution, soil contamination, radioactive contamination, thermal pollution, visual pollution, and water pollution. Definitions and types Various definitions of pollution exist, which may or may not recognize certain types, such as noise pollution or greenhouse gases. The United States Environmental Protection Administration defines pollution as "Any substances in water, soil, or air that degrade the natural quality of the environment, offend the senses of sight, taste, or smell, or cause a health hazard. The usefulness of the natural resource is usually impaired by the presence of pollutants and contaminants The major forms of pollution are listed below along with the particular contaminants relevant to each of them: Pollutants A pollutant is a waste product that pollutes the environment, such as the air, water, or soil. Natural causes Crime
Medical Plants Rainforest Remedies Daniel Mowrey, Ph.D. Undiscovered Riches The number of potentially useful medicinal plants growing in the world's rainforests is estimated to be in the thousands. Certainly, mankind would benefit from the application of these plants. In future years, we might witness the discovery of cures for many serious diseases in rainforest plants. As much as we would like to see immediate results from rainforest exploration, the rule of thumb must be to go slowly. The only currently obvious trend in rainforest development is the phenomenon of drug companies rushing to South America and South Pacific Islands, usually under sponsorship of the National Cancer Institute, in search of novel compounds. Important Herbs From South American Rainforests The remainder of this article will discuss remedies from the rainforests of South America, since this is the area that is currently of most interest to North Americans. Lapacho (Tabebuia avellandedae, and T. impetiginosa). The Future.
How Oil Harms Animals and Plants in Marine Environments The type of oil spilled matters because different types of oil behave differently in the environment, and animals and birds are affected differently by different types of oil. However, it's not so easy to say which kind is worst. First, we should distinguish between "light" and "heavy" oils. Fuel oils, such as gasoline and diesel fuel, are very "light" oils. Light oils are very volatile (they evaporate relatively quickly), so they usually don't remain for long in the aquatic or marine environment (typically no longer than a few days). If they spread out on the water, as they do when they are accidentally spilled, they will evaporate relatively quickly. However, while they are present, light oils present two significant hazards. In contrast, very "heavy" oils (like bunker oils, which are used to fuel ships) look black and may be sticky for a time until they weather sufficiently, but even then they can persist in the environment for months or even years if not removed.