Kuala Selangor Nature Park

The Kuala Selangor Nature Park (KSNP; ) is a park located by the mouth of Selangor River in Kuala Selangor District, Selangor, Malaysia. It was established by the Selangor state government in 1987 and has been managed by the Malaysian Nature Society who have proposed that it be declared a wetland of international importance.
With a total area of , the park is a combination of secondary forest and wetland with a man-made coastal bund separating the wetland from the forest. Inside the park itself is a large pond surrounded by another bund. A water lock connecting the pond with the river controls the water level of the pond.
The park, as part of the Selangor River estuary, is home to a number of large bird species such as milky storks and herons as well as primates, namely silver leaf monkeys and long-tailed macaques. The area was a breeding ground of an endangered milky stork species before the program was suspended. An abandoned aviary still stands in the middle of the park.
History.
There were mangrove virgin forest in Kuala Selangor until the 1940s. However, the land was cleared to make salt plans from 1965 to the 1970s. Furthermore, in 1986, the land clearing started to create a marina, prawn farm and golf course. Sand dredging for the project killed wide range of mangrove forest, and the existing secondary forest was created since then. For these reasons, Malayan Nature Society (now the Malaysian Nature Society) and the Asian Wetlands Bureau (now Wetlands International) made a petition to the government of Selangor state, and the land was established as a park by the government on 27 September 1987. Endangered silvered-leaf monkey was adopted as a logo mark of the park. After that, the park have been managed by Malaysian Nature Society under a cooperative arrangement with the Selangor state government. It became the first park to be managed by a NGO in Malaysia.
In 1997, Kuala Selangor Nature Park was recognised as a nature reserve for conservation and ecotourism, and recognised as Important Bird Area (IBA) by Birdlife International.
Park guide.
Trails.
There are two trails and one walkway in KSNP as of May 2016. They are the Main Trail traversing the secondary forest (550 meters), Bund Trail encircling the lake (1.7 km) and Mangrove Walkway extending into the mangrove forest (1.5 km). These last approximately 15 minutes, 75 minutes and 55 minutes to walk respectively. There are two watch towers that provide views of the area, and birds and other animals can be seen from the top of watch tower platform. Also, there are some gazebos for rest in the park.
Park Interpretive Centre.
Open seven days a week including public holidays, 9 am to 6 pm. Visitors can purchase admission tickets and souvenirs, reserve a room of accommodation, and get information about the park.
Entrance fee: RM4 for adult, RM1 for children or student (7–16 years old), RM2 for senior citizen (above 60 years old) and MNS member and free for kids (under 6 years old).
Accommodation.
Visitors can request to stay in the park. There are A-frame huts (2 persons per hut), chalets (3 persons per chalet), dormitories (6 persons per dorm), and a hostel for large group of people. Camping site for campers is also available here upon advance booking.
Other facilities.
Public toilets, public washrooms, seminar hall, Muslim prayer room etc.
Environmental education activities.
Visitors can make a reservation to participate in educational activities in Kuala Selangor Nature Park. These activities are generally conducted for a group of more than 20 individuals.
Examples: Indoor activities such as nature craft and paper recycling, and outdoor activities such as guided tours, mangrove tree planting, night walk, and bird watching.
Getting to KSNP.
Visitors can board the bus from Kuala Lumpur (Selangor Omnibus 100) and it takes about 2 hours to reach the new bus terminal in Kuala Selangor. Visitors have to take a taxi to this park or change buses for old town. Thereafter, walk along the street on the left side of the slope towards Bukit Melawati. It takes about 5 minutes to walk from the bus stop in old town to KSNP.


Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran

The Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran, located in the West Azerbaijan and East Azerbaijan provinces in Iran, is an ensemble of three Armenian churches that were established during the period between the 7th and 14th centuries A.D. The edifices—the St. Thaddeus Monastery, the Saint Stepanos Monastery, and the Chapel of Dzordzor—have undergone many renovations. These sites were inscribed as cultural heritages in the 32nd session of the World Heritage Committee on 8 July 2008 under the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The three churches lie in a total area of and were inscribed under UNESCO criteria (ii), (iii), and (vi) for their outstanding value in showcasing Armenian architectural and decorative traditions, for being a major centre for diffusion of Armenian culture in the region, and for being a place of pilgrimage of the apostle St. Thaddeus, a key figure in Armenian religious traditions. They represent the last vestiges of old Armenian culture in its southeastern periphery. The ensemble is in a good state of preservation.
Location.
The Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran are located in the West Azerbaijan and East Azerbaijan provinces in Iran. The ensemble consists of three Armenian churches that were established during the period between the 7th and 14th centuries A.D. The edifices—the St. Thaddeus Monastery, the Saint Stepanos Monastery, and the Chapel of Dzordzor—have undergone many renovations. The three churches lie in a total area of .
The St. Thaddeus Monastery also known as "Kara Kelisa" or "Black Church" in West Azerbaijan province is about from Maku. The Saint Stepanos Monastery is to the west of Jolfa city, East Azarbaijan Province in northwest Iran.
History.
The Armenian people are native to Armenian Highlands which is also part of northwestern Iran—known as Iranian Azerbaijan. Armenia converted to Christianity in the early 4th century A.D. A portion of the region forms part of historical Armenia. Some of the oldest Armenian chapels, monasteries and churches in the world are located within this region of Iran, and the Iranian Azerbaijan region in general is home to the oldest churches in Iran.
According to unverified reports it is believed that St. Thaddeus was buried at the site of the St. Thaddeus Monastery in the 1st century A.D., and that St. Gregory was responsible for establishing a monastery here in the 4th century. However, there is recorded proof that St. Thaddeus Monastery dates to the 7th century. It was the second Armenian church to be built, following the Etchmiadzin Cathedral and was the seat of the diocese in the 10th century. It was destroyed in an earthquake in 1319 and was rebuilt due to the efforts of Bishop Zachariah in the 1320s.
During the reign of the Safavid dynasty in the 15th century, the monasteries were preserved. The monasteries were then deserted during the 16th and 17th centuries following a period of attacks by the Ottomans that prompted many Armenians to emigrate to central Iran. Once the Safavids reestablished themselves in the area, the monasteries were reoccupied and renovated. However, during the 18th century the area became a cauldron of conflicts for domination among the Russian, Ottoman, and Persian empires. When the Persians finally gained control, the monasteries were damaged. During the Qajar era, Armenians regained control over the monasteries and they were rebuilt. The existing St. Thaddeus Monastery was rebuilt in 1814 and refurbished in the 1970s.
Similarly, it is recorded that Saint Stepanos Monastery was first established in 649 A.D. and a new building constructed at the same location in the 10th century. It was a major Christian church during the history of Armenian independence and development. After it suffered damages due to earthquake, it was rebuilt by Bishop Zachariah in the 1320s. During the entire 14th century, it was the centre of influence in the region for Christian missionary work. This period marked the creation of literary manuscripts and paintings on religious themes. The monastery was rebuilt during the period from 1819 to 1825 and again became a center of religious activity. It was refurbished in the 1970s, and again during the period from 1983 to 2001.
The Dzordzor Chapel was built on the bank of the Makuchay River at Dzordzor by Bishop Zachariah in 1314 on very modest lines, making use of the vestiges of an earlier religious monument dated between the 10th and 12th centuries. During the period of Ottoman rule, some parts of the building were destroyed. Later, the chapel came under threat of submergence from a proposed dam and had to be shifted to a new location upstream.
World heritage status.
The three monasteries of the ensemble were inscribed on 2008
under UNESCO criteria (ii), (iii), and (vi) for their outstanding value in showcasing Armenian architectural and decorative traditions, for being a major centre for diffusion of Armenian culture in the region, and for being a place of pilgrimage of the apostle St. Thaddeus, a key figure in Armenian religious traditions. They represent the last vestiges of old Armenian culture in its southeastern periphery. The ensemble is in a good state of preservation.
Architecture.
The three monuments represent a blend of architectural styles from the Byzantine, Persian, Eastern Orthodox, Assyrian, Persian, Muslim, and Armenian cultures.
Saint Thaddeus Monastery.
The Saint Thaddeus Monastery ensemble is in two zones, the first of which covers an area of and comprises four chapels and the monastery itself. A compound wall of with towers at the corners encircles the main monastery complex. Adjoining this wall, residential quarters have been built for the monks. In the interior courtyard, the main religious structures are located in a space of . There is a large entrance that is built on four pillars. The main church—the so-called White Church—is built on a Greek cross plan. It has an umbrella-shaped dome and a bell tower. There is also a Black Church, the oldest part of the ensemble, which is also crowned by a dome. The exterior artwork consists of cut-stone fascia of different colours, an Armenian architectural art form. The ornamentation in the interior is a blend of Armenian and Persian themes. There are also three more chapels to the northeast of the main monastery.
The second zone is about away to the southeast of the monastery, occupies an area of , and is the location of a fifth chapel, the Chapel of Sandokt. In one of the two cemeteries next to this chapel there is a sarcophagus.
Saint Stepanos Monastery.
The Saint Stepanos Monastery ensemble is in the gorge of the Araxe River, which borders Azerbaijan. The central zone of the monastery is in an area of . The main chapel is located on a steep slope within an enclosed wall in an area of . There are also residences built for the monks next to the monastery. The length of the church, built in a Greek cross form, is and its height is . A four-pillared entrance is topped by a bell tower built in two levels; the first level is rectangular in shape, and at the second level there are pillars supporting an umbrella-shaped dome. Built in the style of Armenian religious architecture, it has cut-stone fascia. Within the church there are paintings that are based on similar ones at the Echmiatsin Church, which is a blend of Christian and Islamic art forms.
Downstream of the monastery is an area of where the village, the cemetery, and an associated church are located. The village is destroyed except for the church, which is built in the form of a basilica, with four pillars supporting a cupola. The cemetery in the village has tombs dated to 16th century.
Upstream, about away, is the Chupan Chapel (Chupan meaning "shepherd"), located close to the town of Jolfa on the bank of the Araxe River in an area of . It is well preserved and is built to a rectangular plan of . It has a dome that is supported over a tambour, but the rest of the structures next to the chapel are in ruins.
Chapel of Dzordzor.
The old Chapel of Dzordzor lies in the Makuchay River valley, occupying an area of . What is present now is a remnant of the large monastery that once existed there, as the entire chapel has been shifted to a new location away due to submergence resulting from a dam that was built on the river. Before the building was dismantled, detailed plans were made and the dismantled elements numbered so that they could be reassembled to the same design at the new site. Of 1500 stones used at the new site to rebuild the chapel with the dome, only 250 were new stones as all the numbered stones from the old site were able to be reassembled according plan. This reconstruction was carried out during the period 1987–88.


Bory Tucholskie National Park

Bory Tucholskie National Park () is a national park in Poland, created on July 1, 1996. It covers an area of of forests, lakes, meadows and peatlands. The park is in the northern part of Poland, in Chojnice County in Pomeranian Voivodeship, in the heart of the Tuchola Forest, the largest woodland in Poland. It is surrounded by a larger protected area called Zaborski Landscape Park. The park forms the core of the Tuchola Forest Biosphere Reserve, designated by UNESCO in 2010.
Area.
The first proposal stipulated that the national park would cover 130 square kilometres, but after discussions with local authorities it was decided that the borders would cover only the area of the so-called Seven Lakes Stream (Struga Siedmiu Jezior). The land incorporated into the national park belonged to the state (not to private individuals). Forests, meadows, and peatlands had been part of Forest Preserve Rytel and the lakes had been administered by the State Agency of Agricultural Land.
Features.
The area of the Tuchola Forest was shaped by the Scandinavian Glacier; for the most part, it is covered by sandy plains. These plains are diversified by dunes and lakes. The lakes are long and narrow, creating channels, of which the longest is 17 km. The soil in the park is of poor quality.
There are more than 20 lakes in the park, some of them are pristine, of crystal-clear waters (e.g., Gacno Wielkie and Male, Nierybno, Gluche). Around 25 species of fish can be found here as well as European beavers.
The national park is a heaven for birds — there are 144 species, including crane and eagle owl. The symbol of the park — the wood grouse — until recently was common in the area, especially in the Forest District of Klosnowo. Now, authorities of the national park, plan to reintroduce this bird. A particularly important part of fauna are bats: several species thrive in the park.
Tourism.
Most important tourist centers of Tuchola Forest are by the Charzykowskie and Karsinskie lakes. In recent years agro-tourism has become popular, e.g., in the village of Swornegacie. The Brda river is a kayaking trail.
Charzykowy is famous as the birthplace of Polish inland yachting. Lake Charzykowy offers good yachting conditions in summer and winter. There are bicycle trails that let tourists get acquainted with Tuchola Forest's attractions. Moreover, the Tuchola Forest is crossed by walking trails — among them the Kaszubski Trail from Chojnice to Wiela.


Perth Zoo

Perth Zoo is a zoological park in South Perth, Western Australia. The zoo first opened in 1898 and by 2011 housed 1258 animals of 164 species and an extensive botanical collection.
It is a full institutional member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
History.
The Perth Zoological Gardens were opened on 17 October 1898 by the Governor of Western Australia, Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Gerard Smith. Planning for the zoo had started in 1896 when the Acclimatisation Society first met, the original purpose of which was to introduce European animals to Australia and establish a zoo for conservation purposes. In 1897 this group invited the director of the Melbourne Zoo, Albert Le Souef, to choose a site. His son Ernest was chosen as the first director of the Perth Zoo, and work began in 1897.
The first exhibits built included two bear caves, a monkey house, a mammal house and a model castle for guinea pigs. The first animals on display included an orangutan, two monkeys, four ostriches, a pair of lions, and a tiger. At first there were only six staff members. The zoo had 53,000 visitors in its first nine months, and had not been closed for a single day since it was opened, until it was temporarily closed from 24 March 2020 during the coronavirus outbreak.
From the start Ernest Le Souef worked to create a botanical collection as well as an animal collection to preserve for the future. Work on the gardens started as soon as the site was chosen and finalised. Since the site was mostly sand and lacked nutrients and water, loads of manure needed to be brought in, and a well was bored in 1898 to allow irrigation. The zoo included rose gardens, lupin fields, tropical plants, and palms. The original palm collection still stands and boasts over 61 species including Canary Island date palms that are now over 110 years old. The zoo also grew crops for animals including lettuce, alfalfa, carrots, lucerne and onions. This tradition is still alive, with the zoo producing fodder including hibiscus, bamboo, Fijian fire plant and mirror plant.
In 2010/11, the zoo had a paid staff of about 248 (167 full-time equivalents), plus about 300 volunteer docents.
Exhibits.
Perth Zoo has three main zones - Australian Walkabout, Asian Rainforest and African Savannah - with a few minor exhibit areas (Lesser Primates, South American birds, Main Lake, Galapagos Tortoises). All exhibits are designed to mimic the animals' natural habitats and utilise passive barriers where possible, to improve the wellbeing of the animals.
The Australian Walkabout includes the Australian Wetlands and Penguin Plunge, Reptile Encounter, Australian Bushwalk, aviaries and the Nocturnal House. The Australian Wetlands includes black swan, black-necked stork, brolga, little pied cormorant, blue-billed duck, freckled duck, Australian shelduck, radjah shelduck, Eurasian coot, yellow-billed spoonbill, black-winged stilt, little egret, pied heron, plumed whistling duck, estuarine crocodile, freshwater crocodile, motorbike frog, splendid tree frog, western swamp tortoise, pig-nosed turtle, oblong turtle and Merten's water monitor. The Penguin Plunge is home to little penguins and bridled terns. The exhibit includes a pool of filtered salt water with underwater viewing, a beach, a reef, and a rookery.
The Australia Bushwalk takes visitors on a journey through the Australian landscape where they can see dingoes, emus, koalas, red-legged pademelons, numbats, quokkas, red kangaroos, short-beaked echidnas, southern hairy-nosed wombats, tammar wallabys, Tasmanian devils, western brush wallaby and western grey kangaroos. A detour takes visitors to the Western Australian Black Cockatoo exhibit, planted with cockatoo food trees and home to Baudin's cockatoo, Carnaby's cockatoo, Major Mitchell's cockatoo, Muir's corella, red-tailed black cockatoo, and red-capped parrot. Another detour takes visitors to the Numbats Under Threat exhibit, which showcases the endangered Australian numbat along with rufous whistlers.
The Nocturnal House is designed in a circular viewing layout that lets visitors circumnavigate the Australian mainland while viewing nocturnal animals under simulated moonlight. Vertebrates in this building include banded knob-tailed gecko, bilby, cane toad, chuditch, dibbler, ghost bat, green tree frog, rough-throated leaftail gecko, spinifex hopping mouse, rakali water rat, red-tailed phascogale, southern brown bandicoot, northern sugar glider, long-nosed potoroo, ringtail possum, rough-scaled python, jungle carpet python, olive python Stimson's python, owlet-nightjar, tawny frogmouth, feathertail glider and brush-tailed bettong; as well as the exotic Sunda slow loris. In addition, this exhibit includes some invertebrates, such as the whistling tarantula, sand scorpion,
hairy marron and spiny leaf insect.
The Reptile Encounter was opened on World Environment Day in 1997. It contains 17 exhibits designed to match the animal's natural habitat. The building is climate controlled, and displays reptile species from around the world including examples of the Bell's hinge-back tortoise, black-headed python, dugite, frill-necked lizard, boa constrictor, olive python, perentie, tokay gecko, pygmy python, Burmese python, south-west carpet python, tiger snake, common death adder, Dampier Peninsula monitor, blue-tongued skink, western spiny-tailed skink, inland bearded dragon, pebble-mimic dragon, shingleback skink and woma.
The African Savannah replaced a variety of barred cages, and was the largest construction project undertaken at the zoo when it was created. The exhibit recreates the African savannah, and includes African painted dogs, African lions, cape porcupines, Grant's zebras, hamadryas baboons, meerkats, radiated tortoises, Rothschild's giraffes, spotted hyenas and southern white rhinoceroses. Visitors view the animals from a path that simulates a dry riverbed running through the savannah.
The Asian Rainforest is home to a number of threatened Asian species. These include Asian elephants, Asian small-clawed otters, binturongs, Komodo dragons, red pandas, Sumatran orangutans, Sumatran tigers, sun bears, and two exhibits for northern white-cheeked gibbons. Perth Zoo contributes to the conservation of many of these species in the wild. The zoo's Sumatran orangutan breeding program is the most successful in the world, having bred 27 orangutans since 1970. In 2006 and 2011, zoo-born orangutans were released into the wild in Bukit Tigapuluh National Park in Sumatra as part of an international program to re-establish a wild population of the critically endangered ape.
The Lesser Primates exhibit is home to lemurs and monkeys including ring-tailed lemurs, black-and-white ruffed lemurs, tufted capuchins, cotton-top tamarins, emperor tamarins, common marmosets and pygmy marmosets.
A series of aviary enclosures between the African Savannah and Nocturnal house are home to golden lion tamarins, Bolivian squirrel monkeys and South American coatis.
Next to the African Savannah and opposite the Lesser Primates is an exhibit that is home to two Galapagos tortoises.
Near the entrance to the zoo is the Main Lake which has two islands. One is home to a group of black-and-white ruffed lemurs and the other to a family of Javan gibbons. Next to the Main Lake and opposite the cafe are exhibits which are home to the southern cassowary and the Goodfellow's tree kangaroo. It also includes Australian pelicans that move around in the waters.
The zoo provides a free online service called Talking Zoo which lets visitors download hours of animal information onto their iPod, MP3 player, mobile phone or PDA.
The Heritage Trail (a map of which can be downloaded from the website or collected from the Information Centre) is a self-guided walk that takes visitors around the zoo and shows off its historical buildings. Buildings included in this walk are the bird feed shed, kite cage, bear caves, hay shed, mineral baths from 1898, replicas of tennis shelters from 1903, the Scout Hall built in 1931, the 1947 carousel that is still in use, and the Gate Zoo Residence that was built in the 1960s.
Conservation.
The zoo participates in a number of breeding programs for endangered species, both indigenous Australian and non-native species. Programs include those of the Rothschild's giraffe and white rhinoceros as well as Sumatran tigers and orangutans resulting in several births. Some Australian species are bred for release into managed habitat in Western Australia, whereas the international species are for increasing genetic diversification in zoo populations.
Since 2006, Perth Zoo has made a significant contribution to conservation projects in the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park and the surrounding forested areas which support a rich diversity of life including a new colony of orangutans. These orangutans are part of an international program to reintroduce rescued ex-pet and orphaned Sumatran orangutans into the wild to establish a new population of this critically endangered species. More than 139 orangutans have been released into the area and some have bred.
In November 2006, Perth Zoo released 14-year-old, Perth Zoo-born Sumatran orangutan Temara into Bukit Tigapuluh as part of the reintroduction program. Temara was the first zoo-born orangutan in the world to be released into the wild. This was followed in 2011 with the release of the first male zoo-born orangutan, Semeru, into the wild. Perth Zoo works with the Frankfurt Zoological Society, Indonesian Government and the Australian Orangutan Project on this program and other conservation activities in Bukit Tigapuluh.
Perth Zoo contributes to the conservation of threatened species in the wild through its fundraising program, Wildlife Conservation Action. Started in 2007, funds raised have been used for the conservation of Sumatran orangutan, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran elephant, African painted dog, sun bears, tree kangaroos, Javan gibbons and Australian native species. More than $881,000 has been raised since the program began.
Working with the Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth Zoo breeds threatened Western Australian animal species for release into managed areas of habitat in the wild as part of its Native Species Breeding Program. As of 2011, Perth Zoo breeds numbats, western swamp tortoises, dibblers, woylies and threatened Western Australian frog species.
The numbat ("Myrmecobius fasciatus") Western Australia's mammal emblem and one of only two diurnal marsupials, the numbat is the only Australian mammal to feed exclusively on termites. Despite the establishment of several populations by the Department of Environment and Conservation, it is still classified as endangered by the IUCN. Perth Zoo has been breeding numbats for release into the wild since 1986. The first successful birth was in 1993. By early 2011, 165 numbats had been provided by the zoo for release into protected habitat.
The western swamp tortoise ("Pseudemydura umbrina") is a short-necked freshwater turtle and Australia's most critically endangered reptile. The western swamp tortoise has only been recorded at scattered localities in a narrow, three-to-five kilometre strip of the Swan Coastal Plain. Since 1988, Perth Zoo has bred more than 500 western swamp tortoises. The main barrier to the further recovery of the species is the lack of suitable habitat.
The dibbler ("Paranthechinus apicalis") is a small carnivorous marsupial found on two islands off the coast of Jurien Bay (island dibblers) and on the south coast of Western Australia within the Fitzgerald River National Park (mainland dibblers). It once had a much wider distribution, but is now classified as endangered by the IUCN. Perth-Zoo-bred dibblers were used to establish a new population on Escape Island in Jurien Bay. The focus has now changed to breeding dibblers from Fitzgerald River National Park for release on the mainland. By early 2011, over 500 dibblers had been provided by the zoo for release into protected habitat.
The frog breeding program is seeking to increase populations of threatened species, including those listed as vulnerable, "Spicospina flammocaerulea", Sunset Frog, and "Geocrinia vitellina", Orange-bellied Frog, and the critically endangered "Geocrinia alba", the white-bellied frog.
Previous breeding programs include:
The chuditch ("Dasyurus geoffroi") or western quoll, is one of four quoll species in Australia and is the largest marsupial predator in Western Australia. At the time of European settlement, chuditch occurred in approximately 70% of the continent. By the late 1980s, they had become endangered, with less than 6,000 remaining in the south-west of Western Australia. Perth Zoo has bred more than 300 chuditch for release in the last decade. Since the breeding program began, the status of chuditch has been modified from endangered to vulnerable. This breeding program is now complete.
Shark Bay mouse ("Pseudomys fieldi") also known as djoongari, prior to 1993 the only known population of djoongari was on Bernier Island in the north-west of Western Australia, adjacent to the Shark Bay region and was considered to be one of Australia's most geographically restricted animals. Over 300 Perth-Zoo-bred djoongari have been released to sites on the mainland and on islands in the north-west of Western Australia. This breeding program is now complete.
The central rock-rat ("Zyzomys pedunculatus") is a critically endangered rodent that was presumed extinct until it was rediscovered in the MacDonnell Ranges Northern Territory in 1996. The last of the zoo's central rock rats were sent to Alice Springs Desert Park in 2007 and the breeding program closed.


Shiretoko National Park

 covers most of the Shiretoko Peninsula at the northeastern tip of the island of Hokkaidō, Japan. The word "Shiretoko" is derived from an Ainu word "sir etok", meaning "the place where the earth protrudes".
One of the most remote regions in Japan, much of the peninsula is only accessible on foot or by boat. Shiretoko is best known as the home of Japan's largest brown bear population and for offering views of Kunashiri Island, ownership of which Japan and Russia dispute. The park has a hot springs waterfall called . "Kamui wakka" means "water of the gods" in Ainu.
The forests of the park are temperate and subalpine mixed forests; the main tree species include Sakhalin fir ("Abies sachalinensis"), Erman's birch ("Betula ermanii") and Mongolian oak ("Quercus mongolica"). Beyond the forest limit there are impenetrable Siberian dwarf pine ("Pinus pumila") thickets.
In 2005, UNESCO designated the area a World Heritage Site, advising to develop the property jointly with the Kuril Islands of Russia as a transboundary "World Heritage Peace Park". Shiretoko's listing as Natural Heritage was seen by the Indigenous Ainu as contradicting the long history of Ainu settlement in the park area.
The Shiretoko Park Nature Center is in Shari. It serves as the visitor center and includes a movie about the park, a restaurant, and a gift shop.


List of protected areas of Peru

This is a list of protected areas in Peru.
Natural heritage.
The Constitution of Peru of 1993 recognized the natural resources and ecosystem variety of its country as a heritage. In 1990, the National System of Natural Areas that are protected by the Government (SINANPE) was created. This entity depends on the National Service of Protected Areas by the State (SERNANP), Ministry of Environment.
Peru has 75 natural protected areas (15.21% of the country surface area) that are preserved by the National Government: 12 national parks, 9 national sanctuaries, 4 historical sanctuaries, 15 national reserves, 3 wildlife refuges, 2 landscape reserves, 8 communal reserves, 6 protected forests, 2 hunting enclosed lands and 14 reserved zones. A map was also created containing the natural protected areas.
Peru is considered to be among 17 of the most megadiverse countries in the world. With over 1,700 species of birds, it has the world's second most diverse avian community, after Colombia.
National Parks are places where the wild flora and fauna are protected and preserved. Natural resources exploitation and human settlements are forbidden.
National System of Natural State Protected Areas.
National sanctuaries.
National sanctuaries are areas of national importance for the protection of the habitat of specific species of flora and fauna, and natural formations of scientific or scenic interest.
Communal reserves.
Communal reserves are conservation areas for flora and fauna, allowing traditional use for the rural populations surrounding the areas. The use and marketing of the natural resources within the communal reserve is conducted by the same rural populations.


Hat Wanakon National Park

Hat Wanakon National Park () is a sand beach and marine national park in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, western Thailand. It overlaps two districts of Prachuap Khiri Khan; Mueang Prachuap Khriri Khan and Thap Sakae, with total area 23,750 rai (38 km2). The beach is located on Petchkasem Road (Highway 4) about 23 km (14 mi) from Prachuap Khiri Khan town towards Thap Sakae, and about 300 km (186 mi) from Bangkok, takes about 4 hr. by car.
History & geography.
This area was originally a forest park. Later on, it was upgraded to a national park in 1992 considered as the 76th national park and the 18th marine national park in Thailand. The landscape here is sparse forests with various kinds of deciduous forests, such as Indian thorny bamboo, Burmese rosewood, Makhamong, crape myrtle, Queen's flower and teak together with the seaside and sandy and rock beach inserted sparsely with seashells.
Sights & tourism activities.
Wanakon Beach is regarded as a lesser known beach than the other beaches and marine attractions of Prachuap Khiri Khan. Therefore, it is peaceful, clean, naturally and undisturbed.
The highlight of the beach is the double isle names Ko Chan (เกาะจาน) and Ko Tai-si (เกาะท้ายทรีย์), they are about 7 km (4 mi) off the shore. It is the most abundant coral reef in the Gulf of Thailand, contains many species of corals, soft corals and other aquatic creatures for a distance of approximately 2 km (1 mi) and a depth of approximately 8-10 m (26.25-32.8 ft). The rare species "Acropora cytherea" can be found here, therefore, it is an ideal place for snorkeling and scuba diving. Fishing boats are not allowed to enter this area.
Besides, the area around the beach is also habitat of a variety of birds. Bird watching is another interesting activity when visiting this place. The national park has a camping area for serving tourists.


Paul Kroegel

Paul Kroegel (January 9, 18641948) was a German immigrant to the United States who helped establish Pelican Island as a bird sanctuary in Florida. Kroegel is listed as a Great Floridian.
Kroegel was born in Chemnitz, Germany. He arrived in Sebastian, Florida in 1881 and homesteaded with his father on a shell midden on the west bank of the Indian River Lagoon overlooking Pelican Island. The island consisted of a five-acres of mangrove where thousands of brown pelicans and other water birds would roost and nest. Kroegel protected the island's avian inhabitants with his shotgun and would stand guard at a time when neither state nor federal laws protected the animals.
Influential naturalists visited and stayed at the nearby Oak Lodge from the 1880s to the early 1900s, including ornithologist Frank Chapman (ornithologist) (curator at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. In 1901, the American Ornithologists' Union and the Florida Audubon Society led efforts to pass legislation in Florida calling for the protection of non-game birds. Kroegel was one of four wardens hired by the Florida Audubon Society to protect water birds from market hunters. Two of the wardens were murdered doing this work.
Additional protections were granted by president Theodore Roosevelt who signed an executive order establishing Pelican Island as the first federal bird reservation, part of a network of 55 bird reservation and national game preserved for wildlife that were forerunners to the national wildlife refuge system. Paul Kroegel was hired as the first national wildlife refuge manager. He was paid $1 a month by the Florida Audubon Society (Congress had not set aside funds for the refuge).
He was a founding member of the St. Lucie County Board of Commissioners in 1905.
He died in Sebastian, Florida in 1948.


Protected areas of Panama

Protected areas of Panama include:
National parks.
National parks in Panama (List of national parks of Panama) include:


Lion Rock Country Park

Lion Rock Country Park (established 24 June 1977) is a country park, located in the New Territories, Hong Kong. It consists of approximately of land, including Lion Rock and Mong Fu Shek (Amah Rock) and their surrounding scenic hillsides, of which is forestry plantation.
Landmarks.
The dominant topographical feature of the park is the Lion Rock, which from some angles resembles a lion perching on a hill ridge.
Another topographical feature of the park is the Mong Fu Shek (Amah Rock). The legend is that of a faithful wife who climbed the hills every day, carrying her son, to watch for the return of her husband, not knowing he had been drowned at sea. In reward for her faithfulness she was turned into a rock by the Goddess of the Sea so that her spirit could unite with that of her husband.
Beacon Hill is another landscape feature of the park. Its Chinese name derives from the warning fire signals which were lit during the Qing Dynasty on the hill top, which was one of the many "lookouts" guarded by soldiers to alert surrounding areas to danger from pirates or hostile intruders. Today a radar station and a police transmitter occupy the top of the hill.
Sightseeing.
From the slopes of Golden Hill and several places along the western ridge at the park, magnificent panoramic views can be enjoyed. From these localities the whole length of Smuggler's Ridge, Tai Mo Shan (the highest peak in Hong Kong), Needle Hill, Sha Tin New Town, Lion Rock and Beacon Hill can be seen. The northern part of Kowloon, the western anchorage of the harbour, and Stonecutters Island, the housing estates of Kwai Chung, the container port, the industrial parts of Tsing Yi Island and the town of Tsuen Wan can also be viewed from these vantage points.
The Lion Rock area has long been a favourite for picnickers, hikers and tourists because it includes scenic spots such as Lion Rock, Beacon Hill and Mong Fu Shek.
Vegetation.
The more common species in the area include "Pinus elliottii" (Slash Pine), "Myrica rubra" (the Strawberry Tree), "Schefflera octophylla" (the Ivy Tree), "Reevesia thyrsoidea" (Reevesia), "Phyllostachys aurea" (Fishpole Bamboo), "Enkianthus quinqueflorus" (the Lunar New Year Bellflower) and species of Melastoma.
Wildlife.
The area is specially noted for two species of wildlife, the black-eared kite and the long-tailed macaque.
The black-eared kite is a migratory bird found in Asia and Australia. It is a scavenger, feeding on offal, carrion, refuse and dead fish in the harbour. Eagle's Nest, a well wooded ridge in the park, is one of the popular nesting areas near the harbour, probably because of the presence of tall pine trees.
The long-tailed macaques present in this area are not local wildstock but are descendants of monkeys released in 1920. Their food includes leaves, fruits, insects and small animals. It is illegal to feed monkeys. They can attack and inflict painful bites on human being, especially in their mating season or when they have their young with them.
Geology.
Varieties of granite which occur include Sung Kong, Cheung Chau and Ma On Shan Granites. In some places the granites are cut by quartz veins containing, amongst other minerals, wolframite, which is tungsten-bearing.
Attractions.
Lion Rock has long been a favorite crag for multi-pitch rock climbers in Hong Kong: in fact, the first modern rock climbs in the territory were completed by RAF personnel stationed at Kai Tak Airport in the 1950s.
Owing to the most convenient transport, people enjoy themselves in the parks with different kinds of activities, such as morning walking and hiking. Particularly on Sunday and Public Holiday, it is very busy in the parks. There are jogging trails, morning walker gardens and barbecue sites etc. provided in the parks.
An extensive network of footpaths has been laid out in the park providing access to almost every part or the park. MacLehose Trail - Stages 5 and 6 starts from Sha Tin Pass to Shing Mun Reservoir. Wilson Trail - Stage 6 begins from Tai Po Road to Shing Mun Reservoir Main Dam via Smugglers Ridge (Ma Tse Keng).
Within the park there is a waymarked family walk provided for family users.
Surrounding the Reception and Shek Lei Pui reservoirs are two jogging trails specially designed for visitors who enjoy morning exercises and keeping fit.
Moreover, there is a tree walk to guide visitors who wish to know more about trees in the park.
A 15-station fitness trail, with specially designed equipment, is located on the catchwater track leading eastwards from the Tai Po Road near 51 milestone. In the western part of the park there is a nature trail which provides an opportunity for studying the natural history and geography of the area.
Transportation.
There is no road access to the Lion Rock Country Park; walkers may enter by footpaths via Hung Mui Kuk, Tsok Pok Hang from Sha Tin, or via Wang Tau Hom from Kowloon and from Tai Po Road via the catchwater footpath near Kowloon Reservoir.


Environmental Conservation Acreage Reserve Program

The Environmental Conservation Acreage Reserve Program (ECARP) was a United States umbrella program authorized by the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-624) that includes the Conservation Reserve Program, and the Wetland Reserve Program. The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-127) continued the CRP and WRP and created the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
The goal of the ECARP was to provide long-term protection of environmentally sensitive land. Contracts, easements, and cost-share payments were used to assist landowners and operators of farms and ranches to conserve and enhance soil, water, and related natural resources, including grazing land, wetland, and wildlife habitat. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 2006) replaced ECARP with the Comprehensive Conservation Enhancement Program (CCHP).


Coiba

Coiba is the largest island in Central America, with an area of , off the Pacific coast of the Panamanian province of Veraguas. It is part of the Montijo District of that province.
History.
Coiba separated from continental Panama about 12,000 to 18,000 years ago when sea levels rose. Plants and animals on the new island became isolated from mainland populations and over the millennia most animals have diverged in appearance and behaviour from their mainland counterparts. The island is home to many endemic subspecies, including the Coiba Island howler monkey, the Coiba agouti and the Coiba spinetail.
Coiba was home to the indigenous Coiba Cacique people until about 1560, when they were conquered by the Spanish and forced into slavery.
In 1919 a penal colony was built on the island and during the years that Panama was under the dictatorships of Omar Torrijos and Manuel Noriega, the prison on Coiba was a feared place with a reputation for brutal conditions, extreme tortures, executions and political murder. Nobody knows exactly how many people were killed in the prison during this period, but sources claim that the number could be close to three hundred. As such, the island was avoided by locals, and other than the prison, was completely undeveloped.
After the prison was closed down in 2004, the island's pristine condition made it ideal as a reserve. It is now said that the prison is haunted by the ghosts of prisoners. One story is that a guard was chasing a prisoner, but the prisoner was a ghost. The guard was so scared that he shot himself. It is also one of the last places in Central America where the scarlet macaw can be found in large numbers in the wild. The island is about 75% forested with a large fraction standing ancient forest. Coiba Island is home to rare flora and fauna found only on the island. The island also harbours tree species that have long disappeared from the mainland due to deforestation and overharvesting.
Coiba National Park.
In 1992, Panama created Coiba National Park, encompassing over 1,042 square miles of islands, forests, beaches, mangroves and coral reefs, and in July 2005, Unesco declared it a World Heritage Site.
The park includes Coiba island, 38 smaller islands off the southwest coast of Panama, and the surrounding marine areas within the Gulf of Chiriquí
providing protection for coral reefs, humpback whales, pilot whales, killer whales, dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays, marlins and other marine creatures.
Due to the Gulf of Chiriquí's capacity to buffer against the effects of El Niño temperature swings, the marine ecosystems within Coiba National Park harbor a high degree of biodiversity. The park harbors 760 species of marine fishes, 33 species of sharks and 20 species of cetaceans.
Climate.
Coiba has a tropical monsoon climate (Am) with moderate to little rainfall from January to April and heavy to very heavy rainfall from May to December.


Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh primeval beech forest

The protected forest area, Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh, is located in the Trancarpathian region of Ukraine and belongs to the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. It is the largest primeval beech forest worldwide with an area of 8800 ha. Since 1920, some parts of this forest have been protected. In 1992, Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh primeval beech forest was designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later, several other primeval and old-growth beech forests in Europe were included (in 2007 and 2011) in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe as well.<br>
As a primeval beech forest, Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh is an important research hotspot. In 2001, a 10 ha (200 x 500 m) research sample plot was installed in Mala Uholka as part of a Swiss-Ukrainian research project, and in 2010 a full statistical inventory of the primeval forest was carried out. The next inventory is planned in 2019 to detect any changes.
Results of the 2010 forest inventory.
The forest inventory took place on a forest area of 10 300 ha, 8800 ha of which are primeval forests. The rest is considered to be natural forest. During the fieldwork, 314 sample plots, each 500 m2 in area, were surveyed. Within each plot, all trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 6 cm and more were measured. 97% of all the 6779 trees measured were European beech ("Fagus sylvatica" L.). The oldest beech trees were nearly 500 years. The largest tree was a wych elm ("Ulmus glabra" Huds.) with a DBH of 150 cm, whereas the largest beech tree had a DBH of 140 cm. 10 beech trees per hectare had a DBH of at least 80 cm. The number of living trees consisted of 435 trees per hectare with a basal area of 36.6 m2/ha and volume of 582 m3/ha. In addition, the volume of standing and lying deadwood was 163 m3/ha. The vertical structure of this forest consisted of mainly three layers. Most gaps in the canopy cover were not larger than the crown of a canopy tree.
Ecotourism.
Two ecological hiking trails have been created for visitors to the primeval beech forest of Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh:


Songnisan National Park

Songnisan National Park (, sometimes spelled "Sokrisan") is located in the center of the Sobaek Mountains range, on the border between the provinces of Chungcheongbuk-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. The area comprises the valleys of Hwayang, Seonyu, and Ssanggok and the mountain Songnisan, which has given the park its name. It was designated as the country's sixth national park in 1970. The park's most popular attraction is one of Korea's largest temples, the Buddhist temple Beopjusa, initially constructed in 653.
Songnisan (the Korean letters spell out "Sokrisan" but the name is actually pronounced "Songnisan") became a national park in 1970. It is the sixth-largest of Korea’s mountain parks with an area of 275 km2. The name means “Remote from the Ordinary World”—a reference to its somewhat isolated position in the very center of South Korea. The mountains belong to the southern arm of the greater Sobaek Range, and the park lies on the border between North Chungcheong and North Gyeongsong Provinces.
In 1999, someone decided to cash in on the name of a famous set of mountains in Europe by dubbing the ridge that connects Gubyeongsan, Songnisan, Gwaneumbong and Sanhakbong the Chungbuk Alps. The name is a little misleading, as the highest mountain here is only a humble 1,058 meters. On the English brochure available at the tourist center in the Songni-dong Bus Terminal building, it states: “A hiking path was opened and transformed into a commercial product.” This perhaps says something about how Koreans view their mountains and is a hint that hiking here might not always be peaceful and relaxing. The park gets about 1.5 million visitors a year.
Songnisan is very scenic. On wet days clouds often catch in the valleys between the mountains, creating a dramatic layered effect. In the spring, the area is known for the brilliant pink azaleas that bloom on the mountainsides. The mountains have a craggy look, with many interesting granite outcroppings and cliffs.
Songnisan National Park was designated as the sixth national park in Korea in 1970 and was called “Second Geumgang” or “Sogeumgang (Small Geumgang)” because of its spectacular beauty.
This rocky mountain is located across many areas in Chungbuk and Gyeongbuk provinces and spans across a total area of 274.541 km2. The main peaks Cheonwangbong, Birobong, and Munjangdae are connected along the baekdudaegan mountain ranges (Backbone of Korea) with well developed stone peaks and ridges.
Songnisan is connected to other adjacent mountains, and based around Cheonwangbong (1,058 m) in the south, eight peaks are stretched out like a bow including Birobong, Munjangdae, and Gwaneumbong.
Songnisan has natural treasures such as the Jeongipumsong (a pine tree that, in Korean legend, was awarded the rank of minister by King Sejo), otter, flying squirrel, and mandarin duck. In addition, there are many bird species that are designated for the purpose of protection by the Ministry of Environment as well as endangered animals such as the small-eared cat and marten. Moreover, a variety of native fish species live in the streams flowing into Geumgang, Nakdonggang, and Hangang.


Saadani National Park

Saadani National Park is Tanzania's 13th National Park. Tourists can view animals basking along the Indian Ocean shores. It has an area of 1062 km2 and was officially gazetted in 2005, from a game reserve which had existed from 1969. It is the only wildlife sanctuary in Tanzania bordering the sea.
Wildlife.
Saadani's wildlife population is increasing during recent years after it has been gazetted as a National Park and was a hunting block beforehand.
Wildlife in Saadani includes four of the Big Five, namely lions, African bush elephants, Cape buffaloes and leopards. Masai giraffes, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, waterbucks, blue wildebeests, bohor reedbucks, common and red duikers, Dik-Diks, yellow baboons, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, Colobus monkeys, mongooses, genets, porcupines, sable antelopes, warthogs, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, nile monitors are also found in the park.
Since 2005, the protected area is considered a Lion Conservation Unit.
History.
Gazetted in 2005, it encompasses a preserved ecosystem including the former Saadani game reserve, the former Mkwaja ranch area, the Wami River as well as the Zaraninge Forest. In the late 1960s Saadani Village – the village after which the park has been named – and particularly its sub-village Uvinje, invited the Tanzania Wildlife Division (WD) to help them to prevent the indiscriminate killing of wildlife prevalent in the area. From this partnership Saadani village and the Wildlife Division established the Saadani Game Reserve (SGR), with the agreement to respect the land rights of the coastal sub-villages of Saadani, including Uvinje and Porokanya sub-villages, while also addressing the needs of wildlife.
As such, conservation interventions in the Saadani landscape have taken place since the mid-1960s and have been supported by villagers traditionally inhabiting the Saadani landscape, but it is only recently that state-managed conservation has become a growing concern among the villages adjacent to the park.
In the late 1990s, Mr. Domician Njao, from Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) came in to "upgrade" the reserve to a National Park, and create the first and only coastal national park of Tanzania. In doing so, park authorities redrew the boundaries of the reserve to include Uvinje’s and Porokanya’s prime coastal lands as if they have always been a part of the reserve [in so doing changing the agreement with those villagers]. Compelling research shows how after this TANAPA proceeded to gazette most of Saadani’s coastal lands as part of the Saadani National Park in 2005, arguing that they have always being a part of the former reserve and belonged to the Park. Spatial analysis on the area of the former Saadani Game reserve, illustrates TANAPA's strategy to gazette Saadani's prime coastal lands as if they have always been a part of the SGR (See various maps of the SGR)
The total extent of SGR is said to have been approximately 209 km², however, the SGR official gazette document states that it comprised approximately 300 km², while some of TANAPA’s official documents indicate it was 260 km² . Spatial analysis conducted as part of the present research suggest that the total game reserve area was of about 200Km2
The vagueness of the language used in the reserve’s official gazette, but also TANAPA’s early interventions to develop its own map of the reserve, and its interests in Saadani’s sub-villages’ prime coastal lands have come to challenge Saadani’s coastal sub-villages’ rights to lawfully inhabit their traditional territories, and have led to chronic political and other battles to demand presently gazetted park lands rescinded, the reestablishment of land rights to traditional inhabitants, and to demand from TANAPA to honour commitments made earlier by Wildlife Division.
The Current Status of Saadani National Park.
By law, setting aside areas for conservation has to be consulted on, at least to some extent, with affected villages. However, it was not until late in 2005 that the village of Saadani and leaders of its Uvinje sub-village realized that the full extent of Uvinje’s lands were gazetted as part of the park. This despite numerous communications taking place since the early 2000s where village leaders continuously reiterate that Uvinje lands have never been a part of the reserve and that they will not vacate their lands . Important park establishment documents illustrate that TANAPA’s argument for gazetting lands from two Saadani coastal sub-villages is that they have always being part of the former game reserve, an argument that seem to have allowed them to move forward gazetting the coastal lands without coming to an agreement with the leaders at that time, who have reiterated that they did not agree to giving coastal lands to TANAPA.
In summary, the SNP boundaries and lands have been officially contested by District authorities and no less than 6 villages, while at least 4 adjacent villages are engaged in higher level advocacy to have park boundaries reassessed. However, of all the villages, it is Saadani which faces the greatest challenges on the gazetting of a large part of its coastal territory which, by all accounts, has been done unilaterally. Saadani is also the village with the largest strip of coastal land.
At present, and after more than a decade of institutional struggles, Saadani village has resisted TANAPA’s various approaches to take possession of the now sub-village’s gazetted territory and have consistently demanded that their land rights be restored, and continue to reiterate that they are not going to give their traditional territory for any amount of compensation money. Such community assertions and actions certainly challenge traditional conceptions of economic gain as the central motivation in park community-conflicts, and suggest that deeply rooted spatial-cultural territorial connections are as essential as and perhaps even more important to people's collective welfare than material benefits.
To this day, park governance and management approaches have been unable to gain the support of surrounding villages, which traditionally have been very conservation minded, for addressing poaching and for collaboratively sustaining landscape level conservation efforts. All of which are desperately needed to combat the sevenfold increase in poaching activity being faced by the park in the last seven years. No less than 10 of the 17 villages adjacent to the park have their own community-conserved areas, equivalent to no less than 20% of area identified as park lands. Despite the level of environmental awareness of these adjacent villages and the importance of corridors and ecosystem connectivity to successful ecological conservation, the villages’ conservation efforts have not been linked to park efforts but at present represent a threat to park authorities. For park authorities, it is within villages’ conserved areas where more often than not poaching is seen to be taking place.
Climate.
The Park experiences an Eastern African coastal climate with bimodal rainfall, which ranges 800 – 1200mm annually. Long rains fall from March to June and short ones from October to December. February and July are the best driest months with peak temperatures reaching up to 29C. The best period for visits is the dry season, although the Park remains attractive year-round.


Cuenca, Spain

Cuenca () is a city in the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha in central Spain. It is the capital of the province of Cuenca.
Etymology.
Its name may derive from the Latin "conca" meaning "river basin", referring to the gorge of the rivers Júcar and Huécar. It may also be derived from the now-ruined Arab castle, Kunka. Other alternative original names have been suggested, including "Anitorgis", "Sucro" or "Concava". The city of Cuenca is also known as the "Eagle's Nest" because of its precarious position on the edge of a gorge.
History.
When the Iberian peninsula was part of the Roman Empire, there were several important settlements in the province, such as Segobriga, Ercavica and Gran Valeria. However, the place where Cuenca is located today was uninhabited at that time.
When the Muslims captured the area in 714, they soon realized the value of this strategic location and they built a fortress (called Kunka) between two gorges dug between the Júcar and Huécar rivers, surrounded by a 1 km-long wall. Cuenca soon became an agricultural and textile manufacturing city, enjoying growing prosperity.
Around the 12th century the Christians, living in northern Spain during the Muslim presence, started to slowly recover the Iberian peninsula. Castile took over western and central areas of Spain, while Aragon enlarged along the Mediterranean area. The Muslim Kingdom, Al-Andalus, started to break into small provinces ("Reinos de taifas") under Christian pressure, Cuenca being part of the taifa of Toledo. In 1076 it was besieged by Sancho Ramírez of Aragon, but not conquered. In 1080 King Yahya al-Qadir of Toledo lost his taifa, and his vizier signed in Cuenca a treaty with Alfonso VI of León and Castile by which he ceded him some fortresses in exchange for military help.
After Alfonso's defeat in the battle of Sagrajas (1086), Cuenca was captured by the king of Seville, Al-Mu'tamid ibn Abbad. However, when his lands were attacked by the Almoravids, he sent his daughter-in-law Zaida to Alfonso, offering him Cuenca in exchange for military support. The first Christian troops entered the city in 1093. However, the Almoravids captured it in 1108. Their governor in the city declared independence in 1144, followed by the whole of Murcia the following year. In 1147 Muhammad ibn Mardanis was elected King of Cuenca, Murcia and Valencia. He had to defend his lands from the Almohad invasion until his death 1172, after which his son had to sign a pact of tributes with the newcomers. A 17-year-old Alfonso VIII of Castile tried to conquer the city, but after five months of siege, he had to retreat after the arrival of troops sent by the Almohad caliph Abu Yaqub Yusuf. Alfonso signed a seven-year truce but when, in 1176 the Cuencans occupied some Christian lands in Huete and Uclés, Alfonso intervened at the head of a coalition including also Ferdinand II of León, Alfonso II of Aragon and the Military Orders of Calatrava, Santiago and Montegaudio, besieging Cuenca for months starting from 1177's Epiphany. The city's commander, Abu Bakr, again sought the support of Yaqub Yusuf, but the latter was in Africa and did not send any help. After an unsuccessful Cuenca sortie against the Christian camp on 27 July, the besieged city was conquered by Alfonso's troops on 21 September 1177, while the Muslim garrison took refuge in the citadel.
The latter fell in October, putting an end to Arab domination in Cuenca. Alfonso VIII granted the city a title, and it was considered to be "Muy noble y muy leal" (Very noble and very loyal). It was given a set of laws, the Fuero, written in Latin, that ruled Cuenca's citizens, and it was considered one of the most perfectly written at that time. The diocese of Cuenca was established in 1183; its second bishop was St. Julian of Cuenca, who became patron saint of the city.
During the next few centuries Cuenca enjoyed prosperity, thanks to textile manufacturing and livestock exploitation. The cathedral started to be built at that time, in an Anglo-Norman style, with many French workers, since Alfonso VIII's wife, Eleanor, had French cultural affinity.
During the 18th century the textile industry declined, especially when Carlos IV forbade this activity in Cuenca in order to prevent competition with the Real Fábrica de Tapices (Royal Tapestry Factory), and Cuenca's economy declined, thus losing population dramatically (5,000 inhabitants). During the independence war against Napoleon's troops the city suffered great destruction, and it made the crisis worse. The city lost population, with only around 6,000 inhabitants, and only the arrival of railroads in the 19th century, together with the timber industry, were able to boost Cuenca moderately, and population increased as a result to reach 10,000 inhabitants. In 1874, during the Third Carlist War, Cuenca was taken over by Carlist troops, supporters of Carlos María Isidro as king instead of the ruling Isabel II, and the city suffered great damage once more.
The 20th century began with the collapse of the Giraldo cathedral's tower in 1902, which affected also the façade. It had to be rebuilt by Vicente Lámperez, with two new twin towers at both ends of the façade, which have remained unfinished without the upper part of them.
The first decades of the 20th century were as turbulent as in other regions of Spain. There was poverty in rural areas, and the Catholic Church was attacked, with monks, nuns, priests and a bishop of Cuenca, Cruz Laplana y Laguna, being murdered. During the Spanish Civil War Cuenca was part of the republican zone ("Zona roja" or: "the red zone"). It was taken in 1938 by General Franco's troops. During the post-war period the area suffered a major economic decline, causing many people to migrate to more prosperous regions, mainly the Basque Country and Catalonia, but also to other countries such as Germany. The city started to recover slowly from 1960 to 1970, and the town limits went far beyond the gorge to the flat surroundings.
In recent decades the city has experienced a moderate growth in population and economy, the latter especially due to the growing tourism sector, and both of them fuelled by improvements in road and train communications. Cuenca has strongly bet on culture and as a result of this it was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996. In recent years, new cultural infrastructure such as the municipal Concert Hall and the Science Museum saw Cuenca unsuccessfully apply for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2016.
Geography and climate.
Cuenca is located across a steep spur, whose slopes descend into deep gorges of the Júcar and Huécar rivers. It is divided into two separate settlements: the "new" city is situated south-west of the old one, which is divided by the Huécar course.
The climate of Cuenca is the typical continental mediterranean climate of Spain's "Meseta" (inner plateau). Winters are relatively cold, but summers are quite hot during the day with occasional cool nights. Spring and autumn seasons are short, with pleasant temperatures during the day but with rather cold nights due to its altitude from above sea level up to in the old town.
Main sights.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Grace and Saint Julian.
Cuenca Cathedral was built from 1182 to 1270. The façade was rebuilt after it crumbled down in 1902. It is the first gothic style Cathedral in Spain (together with Avila's one), because of the influence of Alfonso VIII's wife, Eleanor, daughter of King Henry II of England and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, who introduced the Anglo-Norman style.
From that date the cathedral has undergone some changes. An apse-aisle (doble girola) was added in the 15th century, while the Renaissance Esteban Jamete's Arch was erected in the 16th century. The main altar was redesigned during the 18th century by famous architect Ventura Rodríguez: it features a precious iron-work gate. The façade was rebuilt in 1902 from ruins due to the collapse of the former bell tower, the Giraldo. In the early 1990s modern coloured windows were installed, and in 2006 one of the two old baroque organs from Julián de la Orden was recovered. The other organ has also been restored, and on 4 April 2009 an inauguration ceremony was held.
The naves do not follow exactly a straight line. The "San Julián" altar, dedicated to Saint Julian of Cuenca, at the apse-aisle, consists of columns made of green marble.
Another curiosity are the "Unum ex septem" signs at some chapels. It is said that if one prays looking at these signs one would obtain a five-year forgiveness for one's sins, and seven years if one prays during the patron saint's day.
Church of Saint Peter.
With Romanesque origins, the church of St. Peter ("San Pedro" in Spanish) was rebuilt by Jose Martin de la Aldehuela during the 18th century and displays since that time a Baroque façade. It shows an octagonal shape outdoors but it is circular inside, and it is located at Plaza del Trabuco.
This church can be reached by going up along San Pedro Street from Plaza Mayor.
Church of Saint Michael.
The Church of Saint Michael ("Iglesia de San Miguel" in Spanish) was erected during the 13th Century, with only one nave and an apse. In the 15th Century, a second nave at the north side was added. The dome was built by Esteban Jamete in the 16th Century, and finally the wooden ceiling of the two naves was replaced with stone vaults during the 18th Century.
Saint Michael was restored in the 20th Century, and its management was transferred to Cuenca's municipality from Cuenca's Diocese, so that this church could be used to hold classical music concerts. In fact, Saint Michael is home of the Religious Music Week ("Semana de Musica Religiosa") together with other places within the city and its province.
It is located at San Miguel street, next to Plaza Mayor. Saint Michael is accessed through a descending narrow passage which starts at Plaza Mayor left lateral (looking from the Town Hall).
Church of Our Savior ("Iglesia del Salvador").
Built in Neo-Gothic style during the 18th century, with only one nave and a high tower. It shows a modest baroque façade and some remarkable baroque altars indoors. The door is however quiet modern, added in the late 1990s.
The famous religious procession "Las Turbas", held on Good Friday morning, starts at this location, since the image of "Jesús el Nazareno", which is at the forefront of the procession, is kept within "El Salvador".
Bridge of Saint Paul.
The bridge of Saint Paul ("Puente de San Pablo") was built from 1533 to 1589, a construction driven by the canon Juan del Pozo, over the gorge of the River Huecar, aiming at connecting the old town with St Paul convent.
The original bridge collapsed, and the current one was built in 1902, made of wood and iron according to the style dominating at the beginning of the 20th century. It is up to 40 metres high and supported by the remains of the old bridge.
Seminary.
The Seminary (Seminario), a rectangular building stretching from Plaza de la Merced to Mangana Square, was established under the rule of José Flores y Osorio, the Bishop of Cuenca (1738–1759), and built by Vicente Sevill, around 1745. The Baroque façade at Plaza de la Merced was erected in 1748.
It holds a library with numerous ancient books, some of them "incunables" (previous to 1501). There is also a Rococo meeting room inside and a Gothic altarpiece at the chapel, but visits are not allowed.
In 2004 some books from this library were stolen, but the suspect of the robbery was caught and the books recovered before entering on an auction process.
Now an average of 10–15 future priests are trained there, according to statistics of the Spanish Episcopal Conference.[1]
Old convent of Saint Paul.
The convent of Saint Paul was built in the 16th century by command of the canon priest Juan del Pozo, a monk belonging to the Dominican Order. Brothers Juan and Pedro de Alviz were in charge of the building project; Pedro worked on the convent and the cloister and Juan on the church.
The church was finished in the 18th century, in rococo style.
The convent was ruled by Dominican friars, but during the 19th century was handed over to the Pauline Fathers, who were based here until 1975, when they left due to the possible collapse of the building. In the 1990s the convent was restored to house the Parador Nacional de Turismo in Cuenca, a hotel which allows the visit to the convent as well as the access to the church.
The cloister has an ornamental source of water, and the cafeteria is the old chapel. From the convent the old town can be reached easily by crossing St Paul bridge.
Bishop's Palace.
The bishop's palace features, on three of its museums, the Diocese's Museum, which has a remarkable collection of religious art. It can be easily accessed from the cathedral.
The rooms where the collection is shown were remodeled by architect Fernando Barja Noguerol, and Gustavo Torner selected the art pieces from an inventory made by some priests of the Diocese in 1977. Some of the diocese's artistic patrimony was lost during the Peninsular War, the confiscation of ecclesiastical property by Juan Álvarez Mendizábal, and the Spanish Civil War.
Masterpieces like The Byzantine Diptych (book-like silver work whose origin is dated around 1370, containing saints' relics), paintings by El Greco, and handcrafted carpets from Cuenca's school, can be seen at the museum.
The Castle.
"El Castillo" is the name for the remains of an ancient Arab fortress, representing the older structures of Cuenca. Only a tower, two stone blocks, the arch which allows to enter/leave the old town from the Barrio del Castillo and a fragment of the walls have been left. The arch ("arco de Bezudo") is named after Gutierre Rodriguez Bezudo, from Segovia, who fought the Arabs with King Alfonso VIII to conquer Cuenca.
The castle was home of the Holy Inquisition after 1583, and it was finally destroyed during the 19th century by French soldiers during the Spanish War of Independence.
Nearby are the small chapel and cemetery of San Isidro.
Mangana Tower.
The origins of the Mangana Tower remain unclear. In 1565 it was painted by Anton van den Wyngaerde, which indicates that at that time Mangana had already been built up, and after the attacks by French soldiers during the Spanish War of Independence war – at the beginning of the 19th century – and having been hit previously by a thunderbolt in the 18th century, it became badly destroyed. Mangana Tower was rebuilt by Fernando Alcántara in Neomudejar style – inspired on Arab decorative motifs – in 1926. Finally Victor Caballero gave Mangana its current look in a fortress-like style in 1968.
It has a clock on one of its walls and a recording of bell chimes can be heard in the old town at certain times (every quarter of an hour).
There are views from the near viewpoints over the river Jucar's gorge and the modern neighborhoods. Mangana can be reached on foot from Plaza Mayor.
Town Hall.
The Town Hall is a building in baroque style built up during the ruling period of King Carlos III and supported over three Roman arches. It was finished in 1762, as it can be read on the façade. Nevertheless, in the 18th century Mateo Lopez was the architect in charge of the extension of the building since it was necessary to amply the building for the oratory as well as the archive.
The central arch is the only one giving access to vehicles to Plaza Mayor.
Hanging Houses.
Built over a rock above the Huecar River gorge in the 15th century, "Las Casas Colgadas" are the only remaining samples of this type of building which was common in this city a long time ago.
Hanging Houses can be considered the most famous civil buildings in Cuenca. They house a restaurant and the Museum of Abstract Arts and they serve as the background of millions of photos made from the bridge of San Pablo.
Monument devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
On top of the Cerro del Socorro you can find the monument devoted to the Holy Heart of Jesus, whose materials were transported on donkeys in the mid-20th century. This place is a magnificent viewpoint over the city. It can be accessed by taking the road to Palomera / Buenache de la Sierra (Huecar river gorge) and turn right after , approx.
Cuenca Province Council.
The provincial council's seat ("Diputación provincial de Cuenca") is a building with 2 floors built at the early 20th century according to a project conceived by provincial architect Rafael Alfaro. Cuenca's coat of arms at the façade is made of Carrara marble.
Others.
Other notable buildings in Cuenca include the "San Felipe Neri" church, the "Our Lady of Light" church ("Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de La Luz") and the "Las Petras" convent.
Transportation.
The city is served by the Cuenca railway station. It is a popular day or weekend trip from Madrid, to which it is very well connected. On 2010 December 19 a new AVE (high-speed rail) link was established between Madrid – Atocha and Valencia and some of them stops at the Cuenca–Fernando Zóbel railway station, providing travellers with frequent connections every day with both Madrid and Valencia, reducing the journey time to only 50 minutes to/from Madrid and one hour to/from Valencia. RENFE also operates a non-high-speed service taking 3 hours going from Madrid. Auto Res, a bus operator, links Madrid to Cuenca with a 2-hour or 2½-hour trip duration. The A-40 motorway, recently completed, connects the city with the A-3 at Tarancón, away from Madrid, thus totalling to Spain's capital, and far from Valencia, via the A-3 in the opposite sense.
Twin towns – sister cities.
Cuenca is twinned with:
Gastronomy.
The following are typical dishes from the Cuenca area, being basically the result of combining those of Serranía and Mancha areas:
For dessert, the "Alajú" is an Arab cake made of honey, almonds, nuts and grated orange rind.
"Resoli" is a typical drink, served in a glass with ice cubes or directly drunk from a "porrón" after a meal.


Mercury Island

Mercury Island is a small rocky island off The Diamond Coast, Namibia. Despite its small size it is recognised by BirdLife International and other global conservation groups as an Important Bird Area (IBA) for its important coastal seabird breeding.
Situation.
Mercury Island is situated 800 metres offshore in Spencer Bay, 110 kilometres north of Lüderitz. The island is only 750 metres long (North-South) and about 270 metres wide, reaching a height of 38 metres above the sea. Steep, rocky, without vegetation, covered in a thick layer of bird guano, and riddled with a number of caves (one of which completely bisects the island), Mercury Island's name comes from the shaking that reverberates through the island during westerly wave action. Its nearest neighbour and like bird habitat is Ichaboe Island, about 65 kilometres to the south. Ichaboe and Mercury are the two most important island seabird breeding sites along the Namibian coast. Today the island has a permanent population in the form of a two-person bird research station. The station sits on the remains of a bird guano mining dock on the northeast side of the island.
Mercury Island's three hectares are home to 16000 penguins, 1200 gannets, and 5000 cormorants, which range tens of kilometres out to sea, and return to the island to breed.
Importance to wildlife.
BirdLife International considers Mercury Island as an Important Bird Area (IBA). Indeed the four Namibian islands of Mercury, Ichaboe, Halifax and Possession are critical for the breeding of a number of rare or endangered species of birds including the Cape gannets "Morus capensis", the endangered African penguin "Spheniscus demersus", and the crowned cormorants "Microcarbo coronatus".
Approximately 80% of the global population of the endangered bank cormorant "Phalacrocorax neglectus" breeds on Mercury Island and in the Ichaboe Islands. Migrating whales such as humpback whales and recovering southern right whales also visit the island during wintering seasons.
There is a dwelling on Mercury Island, which is frequented by scientists and conservationists monitoring wildlife in the area.
History.
An American sealing captain, Captain , in 1832 wrote in his (ghost-written) memoirs, "A Narrative of Four Voyages", that the guano deposits on Ichaboe Island were 25 feet deep. He averred that a $30,000 investment would produce in two years a profit of "from ten to fifteen hundred per cent."
Liverpool businessman Andrew Livingston investigated the claim, with the result that a guano rush developed. Exploitation began in 1841, and between 1843 and 1845 some 450 boats lay off Ichiboe as their crews retrieved over 300,000 tons of guano. The rush extended to Mercury and other Namibian islands. The guano extraction destroyed the habitat that had drawn breeding seabirds that had created the deposits.
Captain Owen Owens and 19 crew members from SS "Point Pleasant Park" landed on Mercury on 2 March 1945 after a German submarine had sunk their vessel on 23 February. The fishing vessel "Boy Russell" rescued them, taking them to Luderitz, South West Africa.


Mshinskoye Boloto Zakaznik

Mshinskoye Boloto Zakaznik () is a federal zakaznik, a nature protected area, in the northwest of Russia, located in Gatchinsky and Luzhsky Districts of Leningrad Oblast, in the basin of the Luga River. It was established in 1982 to protect the swampy ecosystems including pine forests. From 1994, it is a Ramsar Wetland.
Geography.
Mshinskoye Boloto is located at the divide of the Oredezh River (east) and the Yashchera River (west), both being tributaries of the Luga River. In the center of the area there are Lake Vyalye, Lake Strechno (which are connected with each other) and Lake Mochalishche. The whole area is a wetland and hardly accessible. Swamps occupy about 40% of the area of the zakaznik. Woods occupy 49% of the area, 26% are coniferous forests.
History.
In 1972, the area was designated as an important natural landscape. The federal zakaznik was created on August 30, 1982. In 1994, Mshinskoye Boloto Zakaznik, together with the adjacent regional North of Mshinskoye Boloto Zakaznik was classified as a Ramsar wetland (Mshinskaya Wetland).
Fauna.
The wetland is a bird sanctuary. Rare species of birds include osprey, golden eagle, white stork, black stork, black-throated loon, whooper swan, Eurasian curlew, Eurasian eagle-owl, and Eurasian bittern.


Cango Wildlife Ranch

The Cango Wildlife Ranch is a wildlife ranch 3 kilometres north of the town of Oudtshoorn in South Africa.
It was established in 1977 as a crocodile show farm.


Mervyn Cowie

Mervyn Hugh Cowie CBE (13 April 1909 – 19 July 1996) was a conservationist who pioneered wildlife protection and the development of tourism throughout East Africa.
Personal life.
Cowie was a descendant of Scottish farmers who migrated to South Africa. Cowie's father resigned as Chief Magistrate of Johannesburg, South Africa to settle in Kenya. Cowie was born in Nairobi on 13 April 1909. He grew up in a thatched mud hut 30 miles from Nairobi. He had one brother. He was first educated in Nairobi, then moved to England to study at Brighton College and the University of Oxford. He qualified as a chartered accountant and returned to Kenya in 1932.
Cowie married Molly Beaty in 1934. They had two sons and one daughter. Beaty died in 1956. He married Valori Hare Duke in 1957. They had one son and one daughter. He retired to Suffolk in England in 1979. Cowie died on 19 July 1996.
Career.
On his return to Kenya in 1932, Cowie was alarmed how the amount of game animals had depleted during his nine-year absence. The complete lack of government policies on conservation was the principal cause of this depletion. Cowie was concerned about human pressure on wilderness areas. He thought that there should be special areas where wild animals could exist without interference from people. He realised that only tourism could generate the revenues needed to establish the infrastructure, including parks, needed to protect animals. He envisioned a series of national parks and an efficiently run system for the preservation of game. However, the governments of the British colonial territories opposed the establishment of national parks.
Between 1932 and the start of World War II in 1939, Cowie was a district councillor in Nairobi and trained as a reserve with the King's African Rifles. He also campaigned tirelessly for the protection of wildlife. He was frustrated by the government's lack of action on this issue, so he used the ploy of anonymously advocating the destruction of all East Africa's wildlife to improve agriculture. Playing devil's advocate to push public opinion against hunting, he wrote a letter to the "East African Standard" signed "Old Settler" which proposed the slaughter of all of Kenya's wild animals. There was public outcry against this suggestion, and the government was forced to act. The government formed a committee to examine the matter. A national parks board was eventually established with Cowie as its chairman. Nairobi National Park, Kenya's first national park, was opened in 1946. Cowie was its executive director. He opened a series of parks throughout East Africa. He assisted and advised on the formation of parks in Tanganyika and Uganda. Serengeti National Park in Tanganyika was gazetted in 1951. Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park were established in Uganda in 1952. He was a hands-on administrator. He learned how to fly an aircraft so that he could patrol the parks he was responsible for. His aircraft was once chased by a rhinoceros when he attempted to land it at a park outpost. He chased an elephant away from Princess Elizabeth's party when they visited the Treetops Hotel in Aberdare National Park in 1952. (This is not so; Jim Corbett records this incident in his book 'Treetops', with introduction by Lord Hailey, and no mention is made of Mr. Cowie. Hard to explain the detailed story in the obituary, crediting Cowie with distracting the elephant. If this happened, why did Corbett not mention it in his account?)
Cowie sat on the Kenya Legislative Council for ten years. He was Director of Manpower during the 1953 Mau Mau Uprising. He was the East African representative for the Alliance Internationale de Turisme. He organised and managed extensive anti-poaching operations. Cowie was the founder of Royal National Parks of Kenya. He was director of Royal National Parks of Kenya from 1946 to 1966. He was vice-president of the East African Tourist Travel Association from 1950 to 1965. He became a CBE in 1960. He resigned from the Royal National Parks of Kenya in 1966. By 1970 he was a Senior Consultant to the World Wildlife Fund. In 1972 he joined the African Medical and Research Foundation in Nairobi as the financial director.
Cowie wrote the books "Fly Vulture" (1961), "I Walk with Lions" (1964), and "African Lion" (1965). The 1951 British-made film "Where No Vultures Fly" (renamed "Ivory Hunter" in the United States) was a fictionalised account of Cowie's work.


Didymo in New Zealand

In 2004 Didymosphenia geminata, a diatom commonly known as didymo or rock snot, was discovered in New Zealand, the first time it was found in the Southern Hemisphere. To restrict its spread, the whole of the South Island of New Zealand was declared a controlled area in December 2005. All items, such as boats, fishing gear, clothing, and vehicles, that have been in a stream, river or lake, must be cleaned before they enter another waterway. Biosecurity New Zealand working with Environment Southland, AgriQuality and Fish and Game New Zealand launched an extensive public awareness campaign to encourage river users to clean their equipment after use in affected waterways. This campaign was highly successful, with 99% of freshwater users surveyed in 2008 in the South Island being aware of didymo.
Adverse effects.
Didymo can have a notable impact on the insects that are a food source for many species of fish. It can form massive algal blooms. It makes riverbeds slippery posing a danger to waders and swimmers. Didymo blooms also pose a hazard for: hydroelectric power generation, irrigation and recreational water usage.
Spread.
In October 2004, an unusual algal growth was found in the lower Waiau River in Southland. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research identified the algae as "Didymosphenia geminata" and confirmed that it is New Zealand's first documented detection.
In October 2005, populations of didymo were discovered in the Hawea, Buller, Oreti and Upper Clutha rivers. Delimiting testing is being undertaken in North Island waterways and other South Island river systems to find out how far didymo has spread in New Zealand.
In October 2007, dead didymo cells were found in routine water samples from the Whanganui, Tongariro, Whakapapa rivers, and the Mangatepopo Stream in the central North Island, with MAF suspecting further contamination.
In October 2009, didymo was detected in the Upper Rangitata River in Canterbury. The Upper Rangitata River is known as one of the most important braided river habitats for the endangered black-fronted tern, the wrybill and the endangered upland longjawed galaxias.
In February 2010, didymo was detected in the Waimakariri River.
In May 2010, didymo was detected in the Riwaka River, the Pearse River and the Maruia River in the Nelson-Tasman region in the top of the South Island.
Preventing the spread.
The following methods are recommended by MAF Biosecurity New Zealand to prevent the spread of didymo in New Zealand:
Check: Before leaving the river, remove all obvious clumps of algae and look for hidden clumps. Leave them at the site. If you find clumps later don't wash them down the drain, treat them with the approved methods below, dry them and put them in a rubbish bin.
Clean: Soak and scrub all items for at least one minute in either hot (60°C) water, a 2% solution of household bleach or a 5% solution of salt, antiseptic hand cleaner or dishwashing detergent.
Dry: If cleaning is not practical (e.g. livestock, pets), after the item is completely dry wait an additional 48 hours before contact or use in any other waterway.


Trees For Life (Australia)

Trees For Life is a registered charity that protects and restores land in the bush, farms, and urban areas of South Australia. It runs many programs, the oldest involving volunteers growing seeds into small plants for planting by farmers and other landholders. It was formed in 1981 and now has 2000 volunteers.
Activities.
The oldest and flagship Trees For Life program is the Tree Scheme. Landholders and farmers willing to plant trees, shrubs and grasses to revegetate their properties are matched with volunteers who grow the plants from seeds. There are around 500 such volunteers as of 2020. Seeds are collected from 42 zones around South Australia and tracked so that the seedlings can be planted near where the seeds were collected, maintaining genetic diversity. Plantations may expand remnants of native vegetation, as well as create new forests, form windbreaks and control erosion.
Since 1994, the Bush For Life program has focused on protecting and restoring existing bushland. Volunteers are trained to identify and remove weeds, conserving over 300 sites covering more than .
Other Trees For Life programs involve direct seeding of large land areas, protecting the south-eastern red-tailed black cockatoo and silver daisy, helping people connect with local natural areas, offsetting carbon, and running the Westwood Nursery.
History.
Trees For Life was established in 1981 two weeks after a visit from Richard St. Barbe Baker, the founder of the International Tree Foundation, then known as Men of the Trees. It was originally the South Australian branch of Men of the Trees, and became Trees For Life two years later. The first tree was planted in 1982 at One Tree Hill.
By 2001, Trees For Life was one of the largest volunteer producers of native seedlings in the world, having grown 20 million seedlings; 1.5 million small trees were being grown by almost 2000 volunteers each year. 201 species were being grown including melaleucas, acacias, she-oaks, and all major eucalypts. Over half the species were understory plants such as shrubs and ground covers.
Trees For Life was granted registered charity status on 3 December 2012.
The number of seedlings produced reached 32 million by 2015. That year, 850 landholders placed orders, and had to pay around 15c per plant tube, compared to the retail price of A$2.50.
In 2018, Trees For Life had sustained a 30 percent reduction in federal government funding from the Natural Heritage Trust via the National Landcare Program, and state government funding had also been reduced. This threatened projects such as the Paddock Trees Project which, in partnership with the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Natural Resources Management Board and under advice from ornithologists, was revegetating land from Strathalbyn to Gawler.
In 2020, it was announced that Trees For Life will co-ordinate and deliver all 6,500 tree plantings of the A$1.2 million Bushfire Recovery Paddock Tree Project. This would restore areas of the Adelaide Hills damaged by bushfire in December 2019, providing habitat for the brown treecreeper and diamond firetail birds, as well as benefiting agriculture. Also in 2020, it was announced that Trees For Life would be a partner in a $3 million Revitalising Private Conservation in South Australia program, which provides grants to landholders with a Heritage Agreement.


San Guillermo National Park

San Guillermo National Park () is a national park in Argentina, in the Iglesia Department of San Juan Province. It was established in 1998 and is part of the San Guillermo Biosphere Reserve. Elevations in the biosphere range from to . Vegetation in the National Park and biosphere consists of barren desert, grasslands, and a few wetlands, all located in the high, arid Andes. The animals include vicuña, guanaco, culpeo fox, Andean mountain cat, cougar, and Andean condor.
The park.
The San Guillermo National Park is located in the northern part of San Juan Province, Argentina near the town of Rodeo. The park was established on January 13, 1999. It has an area of 166,000 hectares in the high Andes, and includes puna grassland and mountain summits. It was originally set up as a provincial reserve in 1972 and became the San Guillermo Biosphere Reserve in 1980. Its main objective is to preserve the natural habitat of vicuñas, and at the same time protect the other plants and animals of this mountain area.
Ecology.
The biosphere has an area of . The core area is the National Park and consists of arid mountain ranges with no permanent water courses. The soils are mostly rocky and coarse, but some areas with favorable conditions, mostly above , support steppe grassland. The flora consists of scattered dwarf shrubs, interspersed with coarse grasses and herbaceous plants, and much bare ground. The shrubs include "Adesmia", "Patrastrephia", "Fabiana", "Azorella" and "Ephedra". Grasses present include "Stipa", "Calamagrostis" and "Festuca" and flowering plants include "Astragalus", "Tropaeolum", "Phacelia" and "Glandularia".
The main reason for setting up the biosphere reserve was to protect vicuñas. Also present in the reserve are the guanaco, the culpeo fox, the Andean mountain cat, the cougar, the southern viscacha, the short-tailed chinchilla, the Darwin's rhea, various ducks and geese, and the Andean condor.
Research.
A research project involves fitting cougars, the top predator in the park, with GPS radio collars and tracking their movements. Simultaneously vicuñas, one of their main prey animals, are being fitted with collars to monitor their behaviour. It has been found that in areas of the park with plenty of cover, such as canyons and wetlands, the vicuñas are much more alert to danger and consequently spend less time feeding than they do on open plains. This alters the composition of the plant species present with a resulting increase in invertebrates and in biodiversity. There are plans to fit some condors with collars to find out to what extent they benefit from an increase in the frequency of vicuña kills.


List of aquaria in India

This is a list of public aquariums in India. Aquariums are facilities where aquatic animals are confined within tanks and displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred. Such facilities include public aquariums, oceanariums, marine mammal parks, and dolphinariums


Beckhead Plantation

Beckhead Plantation is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and nature reserve in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is located close to the village of Great Givendale on the Yorkshire Wolds. The site, which was designated a SSSI in 1968, is managed as a nature reserve by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. It lies on chalk land in Given Dale. The site is important because it demonstrates many of the characteristic features of a northern ash woodland on chalk. The tree canopy is dominated by ash with some wych elm, field maple and rowan while the understorey contains shrub species including hazel, guelder rose, elder, gooseberry and fly honeysuckle.


Pinchot Institute for Conservation

The Pinchot Institute for Conservation is a conservation organization based in Washington, DC. It is named after Gifford Pinchot, the founding Chief of the United States Forest Service and two-time Pennsylvania Governor. The Pinchot Institute for Conservation works for sustainable environment, clean water, clean air and healthy habitat through conservation thought, policy and action.
As Gifford Pinchot wrote in his book, "Breaking New Ground", "Conservation is the foresighted utilization, preservation and/or renewal of forests, waters, lands and minerals for the greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time."
Mission.
The mission of the Pinchot Institute is to contribute to the conservation and sustainability of natural resource management through thought, policy and action. Through their policy initiatives, the Pinchot Institute seeks to solve conservation challenges through nonpartisan education and research. Their focus’ include Climate and energy, Water, Forests, Community Forestry and Policy.
They follow in Pinchot's footsteps, and follow his belief that "World-wide practice of conservation and the fair and continued access by all nations to the resources they need are the two indispensable foundations of continuous plenty and of permanent peace."
History.
The idea for the Pinchot Institute came about in 1961 when Gifford Bryce Pinchot proposed to donate the Pinchot estate at Grey Towers to serve as the home of a new center for education and studies in environmental and natural resource policy. The Pinchot Institute was dedicated by President John F. Kennedy on September 24, 1963.
In 1966, the U.S. Department of Interior designated Grey Towers as a National Historic Landmark. Grey Towers needed significant renovation to bring the historic home to its new role as a world-class conference center. In 1980, more than $16 million in federal, state, and private funds were raised to do so. The restoration was completed in 2001 and Grey Towers reopened to the public on August 11, 2001--the 115th anniversary of the original completion of Grey Towers. It further strengthened the shared mission of the Pinchot Institute and Grey Towers to continue Gifford Pinchot’s philosophy that in order to be effective, natural resource conservation must be not only ecologically sound, but economically viable and socially responsible.
With the heads of the developing environmental movement appointed to the board—including Gifford Bryce Pinchot, Forest Service Chief Ed Cliff, Laurence Rockefeller, Fairfield Osborne—the Institute undertook the development of a national conservation education curriculum. After twenty years serving on the Senate staff, Jim Giltmier was selected as the first executive of the Institute. He helped to develop key statutes governing the conservation, management, and research of natural resources in the United States.
Today the Pinchot Institute has grown to be an internationally recognized organization with programs and projects both nationally and abroad. Starting in 2002, the Pinchot Institute partnered with rural communities to sustainably manage tropical forests in Ecuador through their Ecomadera project. In addition to protecting tropical forests and privately owned buffer forests adjacent to globally significant biodiversity reserves, the Institute is working to provide living wages to impoverished communities.