The Macaulay Library is the world's largest archive of animal sounds. The archive includes more than 175,000 audio recordings covering 75 percent of the world's bird species, with an ever increasing numbers of insect, fish, frog, and mammal recordings as well. The more recently established video archive includes over 50,000 clips, representing over 3,500 species.
Visite the Libary in: http://macaulaylibrary.org/
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Tuesday, 18 June 2013
Bank of genetic agroforestry
Vine cloned.
A farmer when thinking about the safety of their products, quickly turns to service an insurance company. And if you could also have a bank to save their species and reproduce them quickly needed? Already exists, to answer this question this bank was born within the University of Coimbra (UC).
Elisa and Monica Figueiredo Zuzarte, founders of QualityPlant - Research and Production in Plant Biotechnology, company spin-off UC, dedicated to culture in vitro (cloning techniques) national agroforestry species. It is intended to "preserve and propagate plants, a much faster and more efficient than conventional methods," says Elisa Figueiredo.
And by "cloning techniques" should not be generated "fears", Elisa Figueiredo explains that, for example, "in our garden we prune a rose bush and decided to plant a stakes. What we just did was cloning. We planted two genetically identical ". This is what, in a way, it makes the QualityPlant without genetic manipulation, ie, introduction of information from an individual's genes in another.
Farmers can provide the meristem of their species, ie the plant tissue with cells in vitro and allow the firm to ensure its continuity. "One of the features of this technique is that in a short time succeeded in producing a large number of plants, because they are conditioned to weather conditions. We artificially controlled conditions. The entire process is done under sterile conditions, ie no presence of bacteria, viruses. There are beings that can negatively influence plant ", detailing Elisa Figueiredo.
The interviewee also emphasizes that this process "not only ensures the production of high quality plant plants, but essentially ensures the reduction of production costs for nursery / farmers associated with the elimination of pests or diseases, and improves your productivity , valuing domestic and stimulating Portuguese economy more competitive products, also worldwide. "
Simultaneously, the two entrepreneurs will create a germplasm bank, designated GermplasmBank, ie go to the conservation of plant genetic heritage. This bank presents itself as a "life insurance" plants where producers can "keep" the germplasm of its most promising varieties, ensuring their preservation and future use. The reproduction of a species in bulk can occur within six months, unlike conventional techniques in which playback is time consuming.
Elisa and Monica have their incubation in the Pedro Nunes Institute in Coimbra, and are already devoted to species of vine and olive, "because they are the two agricultural sectors more competitive," but says Elisa, "the technique applies to any production. "
Retrieved from CiênciaHoje - http://www.cienciahoje.pt/index.php?oid=57925&op=all the 06/18/2013
Evaluation pioneer in Portugal shows positive impact on the environment
"Corticeira Amorim commissioned a study which includes the calculation and independent verification of their carbon footprint, according to ISO 14064, which shows that the company activity benefits the planet in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, sequestering more CO2 than that it emits. The calculation performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers to all Business Units (BU) Company, with independent verification by Deloitte concluded that the activity of Corticeira Amorim results in an annual carbon sequestration of more than 2 million tons of CO2, which exceeds more than 15 times the emissions of greenhouse gases from across the value chain.
According to Nuno Barroca, Amorim Corticeira administrator with responsibility for Sustainability, "The findings of this study position - unsurprisingly - the cork and its applications as excellent green alternatives to non-renewable materials, high-impact, present in many products and applications and Corticeira Amorim as a company that contributes positively to this challenge that the planet is global warming that results from the high concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. "
The cork oak, made possible by extracting the cork, the cork industry that leads the world Corticeira Amorim, plays a key role in carbon sequestration, estimating a capacity retention of CO2 by 14 million tons / year.
In this sense, the carbon footprint of Corticeira Amorim and its products have to be seen in a life cycle perspective, covering the entire value chain and hence impacts the amount of materials used in their processes.
As regards the cork and the company's activity, thus becomes imperative to consider the effect of the cork oak, made possible - in large part - by the action of Corticeira Amorim. Note that in 2011 the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) recognized that the impacts of the use of cork stoppers should be considered holistically, considering the effects of the cork oak.
In this context, reference was taken as the international standard-ISO 14064, considering the direct emissions of greenhouse gases that are controlled by the company - resulting from the activity of the UN - the indirect emissions of greenhouse gases not controlled by the company - related to the purchase of electricity - and other indirect GHG emissions resulting from the company's activity (upstream and downstream).
The calculation performed in all UN and considering the effect of sink mounted, it appears that the activity of Corticeira Amorim enables a kidnapping annual 2,028,415 ton CO2.
The total emissions of the value chain Corticeira Amorim thus represents less than 6.6% of the value of kidnapping. As regards the origin of the emissions are indirect emissions associated with the value chain that are more important (69%), followed by emissions associated with electricity consumption (27%) and fuel used in the activity (4%) .
Given the computations performed by PwC, thus results a footprint negative (-1.9 Mio Ton CO2), ie the activity of Corticeira Amorim also benefits the planet in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, sequestering more CO2 than that which emits .
The findings of the study can be found in the seventh Sustainability Report Corticeira Amorim, now released, the first company to be awarded level A, in accordance with the G3 guidelines of the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative)."
Retrieved from http://www.sustentabilidade.amorim.com/iniciativas/noticias/Actividade-da-Corticeira-Amorim-viabiliza-sequestro-de-carbono-superior-a-2-milhoes-de-toneladas-de/182/ in 13.06.2013
I've had the opportunity to visit one of the factories of the company and was surprised by environmental concerns taken by their officers, and especially with the use of biomass obtained by production waste to be reused for operation of boilers.
This is a project in which we can associate a word like Sustainability.
According to Nuno Barroca, Amorim Corticeira administrator with responsibility for Sustainability, "The findings of this study position - unsurprisingly - the cork and its applications as excellent green alternatives to non-renewable materials, high-impact, present in many products and applications and Corticeira Amorim as a company that contributes positively to this challenge that the planet is global warming that results from the high concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. "
The cork oak, made possible by extracting the cork, the cork industry that leads the world Corticeira Amorim, plays a key role in carbon sequestration, estimating a capacity retention of CO2 by 14 million tons / year.
In this sense, the carbon footprint of Corticeira Amorim and its products have to be seen in a life cycle perspective, covering the entire value chain and hence impacts the amount of materials used in their processes.
As regards the cork and the company's activity, thus becomes imperative to consider the effect of the cork oak, made possible - in large part - by the action of Corticeira Amorim. Note that in 2011 the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) recognized that the impacts of the use of cork stoppers should be considered holistically, considering the effects of the cork oak.
In this context, reference was taken as the international standard-ISO 14064, considering the direct emissions of greenhouse gases that are controlled by the company - resulting from the activity of the UN - the indirect emissions of greenhouse gases not controlled by the company - related to the purchase of electricity - and other indirect GHG emissions resulting from the company's activity (upstream and downstream).
The calculation performed in all UN and considering the effect of sink mounted, it appears that the activity of Corticeira Amorim enables a kidnapping annual 2,028,415 ton CO2.
The total emissions of the value chain Corticeira Amorim thus represents less than 6.6% of the value of kidnapping. As regards the origin of the emissions are indirect emissions associated with the value chain that are more important (69%), followed by emissions associated with electricity consumption (27%) and fuel used in the activity (4%) .
Given the computations performed by PwC, thus results a footprint negative (-1.9 Mio Ton CO2), ie the activity of Corticeira Amorim also benefits the planet in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, sequestering more CO2 than that which emits .
The findings of the study can be found in the seventh Sustainability Report Corticeira Amorim, now released, the first company to be awarded level A, in accordance with the G3 guidelines of the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative)."
Retrieved from http://www.sustentabilidade.amorim.com/iniciativas/noticias/Actividade-da-Corticeira-Amorim-viabiliza-sequestro-de-carbono-superior-a-2-milhoes-de-toneladas-de/182/ in 13.06.2013
I've had the opportunity to visit one of the factories of the company and was surprised by environmental concerns taken by their officers, and especially with the use of biomass obtained by production waste to be reused for operation of boilers.
This is a project in which we can associate a word like Sustainability.
World Environment Day
On June 5 is celebrated the World Environment Day. It is an event created by the United Nations to mark positive attitudes and actions of sustainability, protection and preservation of the environment and to warn the people and governments of the need to build a sustainable environment in order to recover from the mistakes made in the past.
World Environment Day was established in 1972 and 5 June was chosen because this is the day that began the debate on the environment in the United Nations.
The issue presented to this year of 2013 will be Think.Eat.Save is a campaign about waste and food loss that encourages us to reduce our foodprint. According to the United Nations and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), every year 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted. This is equivalent to the same amount produced in all of sub-Saharan Africa. At the same time, one in seven people in the world go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children under 5 die every day from hunger.
That is why this campaign will make us think before wasting.
Ribeiro Frio - Balcões
Beginning in Ribeiro Frio, this little tour follows the Levada da Serra do Faial, giving access to the viewpoint of the Balcões.
This little tour begins and ends in the regional road ER103 in Ribeiro Frio a total length of 3 km (split between 1.5 and 1.5 for one side to another side), with a duration of about 30-45 minutes (each way) . The course is made following the Levada da Ribeira do Faial which feeds the surrounding farmland and a hydraulic station.
In this path we can see a great diversity of indigenous forest and some exotic species introduced too, so before performing the way it should be borne in mind the following species: Til Vinhático, Loureiro, Folhado, Uveira Serra, Urze vassouras, Urze Molar , Orquidea da Serra (which you can find two different colors), and may also find some wildlife species such as Tentilhão, Lavadeira, Melro Preto, Papinho, the Manta, the fiPombo Trocaz latter two are rarer species but can be spotted with some regularity.
Upon arriving to the viewpoint will have a breathtaking view of the hydroelectric power plant Faja da Nogueira and will have a great view that in days open can see from the Porto da Cruz to Pico do Ariero.
It should be some time in the gazebo because it is often flown by Mantas or Francelhos.
(FALCO Tinnunculus canariensis)
(Manta Buteo buteo buteo)
Faial beach
Situated in Ribeira do Faial this beach offers excellent conditions for whom there goes, it has access to an area of catering, showers, first aid and a large sunbathing area.
For children have a playground area and a small children's pool which is situated in the solarium to provide greater security to those same children.
For grownups area offers a wide variety of activities, from a karting track a few feet above the beach and also an area with a skating rink and a skateboard park, with other sporting activities.
For children have a playground area and a small children's pool which is situated in the solarium to provide greater security to those same children.
For grownups area offers a wide variety of activities, from a karting track a few feet above the beach and also an area with a skating rink and a skateboard park, with other sporting activities.
Geologically this area is greatly appreciated by those who visit it, because it presents a large area prismatic disjunctions.
The Ribeira do Faial, gives the idea of geological activity that happened on the island.
The view of the coastline of the island is stunning, something we can keep forever in our memories.
Parcul NATURAL BUCEGI
Parcul NATURAL BUCEGI
In a presentation about Bucegi Natural Park, we heard about the various monuments and geological monuments, such as Bran Castle and Peles, also speaking on protected species such as the crow and the bear, and also about protected plantsin the area. This park has a total of 32663 hectares, with an altitude ranging between 600 and 2505 meters and has about 3500 species of flora and 3000 of fauna, many of them protected.
Despite various campaigns is amazing the amount of trash that we find in this mountains but that was supposedly left there by tourists. The illegal logging is also a problem, but the trash is the biggest problem because the park rangers have only a administrative management and Romanian law says that it is the responsibility of the landowner to clean the same, which makes the hard to clean because some land is state and other private.
Note that this is an area classified as Natura2000 space, and is at risk of losing such a classification because of the trash that we find in the mountains. What is a shame because the mountains have a great potential to be used as a natural park and tourism.
The placement of bins is not made but the mountains due to the behavior of bears (subject to talk about later). Hear a project to special bins which was abandoned due to theft of the same, which led the government to withdraw financial support for the placement of bins.
It was talked about environmental education in schools focused Bucharest because large percentage of tourists visiting the mountains come from this major Romanian city, then we should focus on environmental education in these centers is one of the ways of fighting to have a good environmental management, but then comes another problem is that funding for such training.
Which I have noticed is that the government currently does very little for the parks, because the training would be mandatory and associated classes in biology, geology, geography and also using posters on environmental behavior in schools and local universities.
Over the last week we had several presentations and discussions on various environmental issues and about which I will write soon, but I've noticed a lot of negativity on the part of the speakers, as is noted too that the support given either by private or even government are very tiny, which ultimately bring a negativity point of view to these speakers, and without being positive will be very difficult to start up projects.
Man behavior impact of hiking trails and ski resorts, has been monitored through the vegetation index Bucegi plateau which lies at an altitude of 2000 meters with the highest point at 2505 meters altitude, and there roads hotels up to 2000 meters.
This has caused the dwarf pine (Pinus mugo) has almost disappeared from this area, since many of them were removed to the opening of the ski slopes at the beginning of sec. XX, which has led to the plateau is being a big target erosion. Since 1947 appears the first chairlift transporting tourists to the plateau to carry ski in the winter and hiking in summer which has also led to a large increase in erosion linear, along the tracks, and increased waste together with hotels and restaurants installed there.
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