Moanatuatua Scientific Reserve

Moanatuatua scientific reserve is a 140 ha remnant of restiad (Restionaceae) peatland in the North Island of New Zealand. The bog was formerly ~ 7500 ha in size and was one of several large peatlands surrounding the city of Hamilton. Widespread drainage and conversion to agriculture has left only this small remnant of what was formerly the dominant ecosystem in the area.
Moanatuatua is the best studied peatland in New Zealand, with research commencing in 1917 and at least 40 separate investigations during the next 100 years. The site is of international interest with research being carried out by scientists based in the UK and Canada as well as locally in New Zealand. The peat contains well-preserved pollen grains and plant remains dating back 14,000 years, making the site an important palaeoclimatic record for New Zealand and the south pacific.
Conservation value.
Moanatuatua is one of the only three known sites to contain the rare rush-like plant "Sporadanthus ferrugineus" and the endemic moth "Houdinia flexilissima" known as 'Fred the thread', claimed to be the thinnest caterpillar in the world. The bog is also an important regional habitat for the native Fernbird and provides habitat for Swamp harriers which may in turn help minimise crop losses from nearby blueberry farms. Other vegetation at the site includes the fern "Gleichenia dicarpa" and the plant "Empodisma robustum".
History of Moanatuatua bog.
Moanatuatua bog was taken in 1863 from the traditional Kaitiaki during the New Zealand Wars under the New Zealand settlement act. The bog was surveyed in 1868 by Edwin Davey with the peat depth being measured every 10 feet, though unfortunately the map has since been lost. The land was then sold to James Farmer of Epsom who sold it on to the absentee landowner Thomas Grice of Cumberland. The bog was managed by Barnes Walker and Thomas Douglas, who independently acquired tracts of land surrounding the bog. Walker is believed to have played a prominent part in early attempts to drain the bog and was instrumental in digging the main central drain in the summer of 1869-1870. The drain was commented on by the geologist Laurence Cussen in 1893 as the outflow had recently eroded a gully 70ft deep where it flowed into the Waikato river. During the time the drain was being dug the settlers came into conflict with local Māori when they attempted to drain land south of the Aukati or confiscation line, a farm worker, Timothy Sullivan was killed in the ensuing conflict. By 1888, 800 ha had been converted to pastoral land and 225 km of drains had been dug, Despite this, the land owners found themselves in financial trouble and sold the eastern part of the bog to the New Zealand government in 1893. The government re-sold 560 ha of the bog to Richard Reynolds who described his approach to converting the bog to pasture in the following terms: “You cannot burn a peat swamp too deep, dry it as fast as possible and burn it as much as possible”.
Research carried out at Moanatuatua bog.
During the late 19th century observations of the plants at Moanatuatua were carried out by the botanist Thomas Frederic Cheeseman. However research at Moanatuatua peatland did not begin in earnest until 1917 with the early investigations of the peat by Bernard Cracroft Aston. During the 1930s the peat depth, surface contours and vegetation were studied and the site was described by the botanist Lucy Cranwell. In the 1950s and 1960s further botanical work was carried out by Ella Orr Campbell. In 1946 the Rukuhia Soil Fertility Research Station was set up with the main objective of carrying out practical investigations into farming the surrounding peatland, however some limited research was also performed on the natural peat ecosystem including chemical and nutrient analysis prior to water table lowering. Since 2010 research at Moanatuatua bog has been focused on the effect of lower water tables on plants, nutrient cycling, carbon storage and palaeoclimatic reconstructions.


Magura National Park

Magura National Park () is a National Park located in the south-east of Poland, close to Slovakia, on the boundary of Lesser Poland Voivodeship and Subcarpathian Voivodeship. It covers the main part of the upper basin of the Wisłoka river. When the Park was created in 1995 it covered 199.62 km², although it is now only , of which 185.31 km² is forest.
The Park takes its name from the massif known as "Magura Wątkowska", after Wątkowa, its highest peak. "Magura" is also the name of the second-highest peak of this massif.
The landscape.
Magurski National Park's landscape is typical of the Beskid Niski ridge and consists mainly of heavily forested low and medium peaks. The park features fancifully sculpted rocks. The huge Devil's Rock wrapped in mystery is the most prominent among these rock formations. The main part of the park consists of the Magura Wątkowska massif, with its highest peak Wątkowa at above sea level. Other significant hills are Magura (842 m), Wielka Góra (719 m) and Nad Tysowym (713 m).
The Wisłoka river and its tributaries are some of the most important elements of the park. The Wisłoka is a typical mountain river, which creates picturesque ravines and frequently changes its course.
The Kornuty nature reserve is located at the heart of the park, protecting the constellations of its fancifully sculpted sandstones. Their unusual shapes are due to erosion. The rocks conceal numerous fracture caves, including the best known Mroczna [Murky] Cave, whose corridors are 200 metres long.
Flora and fauna.
Plant life is of a transitional character and reflects the park's location - between the Eastern and Western Carpathians. The majority of the Park is forest. Spruce is not frequent here, which means that the woodland is for the most part natural.
Animal life is very rich in the Park - there are 137 species of birds, including several endangered such as the eagle and eagle-owl as well as the stork. There are also 35 endangered mammal species including the brown bear (they roam back and forth between Poland and Slovakia), lynx, wildcat, wolf and otter. One can also find fish, snakes, salamanders and numerous insects. It is estimated that within the Park there are 200 species of endangered animals.
Human settlement.
The oldest trace of human settlement in this area are remains of a stronghold at Brzezowa, on the Walik mountain. It was part of the system of strongholds built by the Wislanie tribe in the 9th century on the Southern border of their lands. Also, one can find small, wooden Orthodox churches, which were built by the eastern Slavic Lemkos. Unfortunately, some of these buildings are ruined. In one of the farmers’ huts, at the village of Kolonia Olchowiec, there is a small, private museum of Lemko culture.
There are also numerous cemeteries from World War I, as this area was for a long time a battleground between the Russian and Austro-German armies. A tragic reminder of World War II is the cemetery of 1250 Jews, who were killed by the Nazis in 1942 at the Halbów pass.
The Park has its headquarters in the village of Krempna.


Umm ar-Rasas

Umm ar-Rasas () (Kastrom Mefa'a, Kastron Mefa'a) is located 30km southeast of Madaba in the Amman Governorate in central Jordan. It was once accessible by branches of the King's Highway, and is situated in the semi-arid steppe region of the Jordanian Desert. The site has been allied to the biblical settlement of Mephaat mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah. The Roman military utilized the site as a strategic garrison, but it was later converted and inhabited by Christian and Islamic communities. In 2004, the site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is valued by archaeologists for its extensive ruins dating to the Roman, Byzantine, and early Muslim periods. The Franciscan academic society in Jerusalem, Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, carried out excavations at the North end of the site in 1986, but much of the area remains buried under debris.
Early history.
Particularly during the epochs of the Early Bronze Age III-IV, Iron Age II, and Roman-Byzantine eras, dense populations inhabited the topographical regions beyond the western banks of the Dead Sea. Among these ancient settlements, the site of Mephaat has been mentioned in biblical texts as one of the cities upon the plateau to be condemned to great destruction (Jeremiah 48:21). Many branches of the King's Highway provided a means for reaching the more remote ancient cities, but the main route served as the forerunner for the Via Traiana Nova built by the Roman Emperor Trajan (53-117 A.D.). This road with its many branches facilitated travel, and Roman military encampments were set in place along the way as a defensive measure against barbarian assaults across the Roman desert frontier known as the Limes Arabicus. Eusebius of Caesarea identified Mephaat as the camp site of a Roman army near the desert in his Onomasticon (K.128:21). Also, the excavation of a Byzantine church here exposed an inscription naming the area as "Castron Mephaa" further supporting the theory that Umm-ar Rasas and the biblical Mephaat are one and the same.
Mosaics.
The most important discovery on the site was the mosaic floor of the Church of St Stephen. It was made in 785 (discovered after 1986). The perfectly preserved mosaic floor is the largest one in Jordan. On the central panel, hunting and fishing scenes are depicted, while another panel illustrates the most important cities of the region including Philadelphia (Amman), Madaba, Esbounta (Heshbon), Belemounta (Ma'an), Areopolis (Ar-Rabba), Charac Moaba (Karak), Jerusalem, Nablus, Caesarea, and Gaza. The frame of the mosaic is especially decorative. Six mosaic masters signed the work: Staurachios from Esbus, Euremios, Elias, Constantinus, Germanus, and Abdela. It overlays another, damaged, mosaic floor of the earlier (587) Church of Bishop Sergius. Another four churches were excavated nearby with traces of mosaic decoration.
Byzantine period.
By the 4th century C.E., the advent of pilgrimage caused Palestine to become the nucleus of the Christian world, and scores of pious men and women traversed the desert seeking sites of scriptural significance as well as communion with their creator. The number of pilgrims intensified by the 5th century C.E., and many Christians chose to settle in the desert establishing monastic communities. Umm ar-Rasas was converted into an ecclesiastical center boasting numerous Byzantine churches. Among the notable finds unearthed at Umm-ar Rasas is the Church of Saint Stephen, which features elaborate and sophisticated mosaics. The discovery of Greek inscriptions within the mosaics confirmed dating to 756-785 C.E. The date range coincides with the Abbasid Caliphate period of Muslim rule, and demonstrates Christian occupation later than surrounding areas. The mosaics illustrate municipal vignettes with explanatory text covering a series of cities in Palestine, Jordan, and along the Nile Delta. Absent from the mosaics at Umm ar-Rasas are portrayals of principal holy places revered by pilgrims such as Bethlehem, Hebron or Nazareth unlike the Madaba Map found nearby.
Muslim conquest.
Muslim armies penetrated Palestine during the summer of 634 C.E., and initially assaulted regions along the Mediterranean coast including the Gaza Strip. Discontented with Byzantine control, local Arab-speaking tribesmen living in the desert expanses willingly aided the Muslim invaders easing their conquest. The efficacious campaign was characterized by limited destruction, and many cities of the Holy Land surrendered on terms to Muslim rule. Byzantine churches were infrequently transformed into mosques, but especially during the Abbasid period, the Muslim government actively enforced restrictive laws against Christian images. Mosaics were defaced by the removal and reassembly of colored tessarrae (Tessera) as shown at the Church of Saint Stephen at Umm ar-Rasas. Following the Muslim victory, Christians continued to make pilgrimages to holy places, however, the numbers declined with the threat of imprisonment by Muslim officials. Many of the monasteries and churches built by Byzantine Christians were ultimately abandoned.
Stylite tower.
The salient feature of Umm ar-Rasas stands about north of the walled ruins. Interpreted to be a Stylite tower, the soaring structure served as a platform for Christian ascetics living in isolation at the top as well as an altar for a call to prayer. Ornamented with carved Christian symbols on all four sides, the square pillar endures in the distance as evidence of the once flourishing community established in the Byzantine era as a center for spiritual enlightenment.


Ian Player

Ian Cedric Audley Player DMS (15 March 1927 – 30 November 2014) was a South African international conservationist.
Biography.
Born in Johannesburg, Player was educated at St. John’s College, Johannesburg, South Africa and served in the 6th Armoured Division attached to the American 5th Army in Italy 1944–46.
Player's conservation career started with the Natal Parks Board in 1952 and whilst Warden of the Umfolozi Game Reserve, he spearheaded two key initiatives:
Player was the Founder of the Wilderness Leadership School, which still runs the original wilderness trails to this day.
 This led to the formation of the Wild Foundation, the Wilderness Foundation SA, Wilderness Foundation UK, Magqubu Ntombela Foundation not to mention the World Wilderness Congresses, first convened in 1977.
Amongst many orders and awards, Player was awarded the Knight of the Order of the Golden Ark and the Decoration for Meritorious Service (the highest Republic of South African civilian award). He was the recipient of two honorary doctorates:
Player died on 30 November 2014 of a stroke. He was the brother of professional golfer Gary Player.
Player's archives and legacy are owned and managed by his nephew Marc Player, who has initiated several projects including books (Into the River of Life) a feature-length movie, a TV series built around Operation Rhino and the PLAYER INDABA which seeks global "PLAYERS' to raise funds to fight the extension of various threatened animal species.
Popular culture.
The famous movie director and producer Howard Hawks, wanted a movie about people who catch animals in Africa for zoos, a dangerous profession with exciting scenes the likes of which had never been seen on-screen before. The name of his blockbuster movie is Hatari!, starring John Wayne. Hawks increased his knowledge in catching animals from Player's humane work. In 1952 South Africa was disastrously embarked to eliminate all large wild animals to protect livestock, and only 300 white rhinos survived. Player then started his famed rhino catching technique to relocate and save the white rhinos. Player’s humane project was called Operation Rhino and the renowned film documentary named Operation Rhino was produced. Hawks studied this film documentary repeatedly to help incorporate aspects of it into his film Hatari!.
In June 1964, Player appeared on the panel show To Tell the Truth as himself, highlighting his role as warden of Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park and his work protecting white rhinos. Host Bud Collyer noted that scenes of white rhinos shown at the beginning of the episode were from Ivan Tors' movie Rhino!, released a few weeks earlier, and for which Player acted as a technical advisor.


Nansha Wetland Park

Nansha Wetland Park is a man-made public park in Wanqingsha () in the Nansha District of Guangzhou, China.
Names.
Nansha Wetland Park is sometimes known as the "Kidney of Guangzhou" and as the "Paradise of Birds".
Grounds.
The tourist area of the park is located on an estuary on the west bank of the Pearl River. The "Wetlands Singing at Night" is currently one of the city's Eight Sights. 141 known species of migrant birds visit the wetlands each year. In the summer, water lilies cover the entire surface of the area. In addition, fish, shrimp, and crabs live throughout the park, as do lotus, bananas, and sugarcane. To avoid disturbing the birds, visitors by boat are limited to 150 per day.
The park abuts the city's port and industries including steel, shipbuilding, and petrochemicals. The people of Guangzhou once swam in the Pearl River but at its worst pollution has turned its waters black and putrid. In 2009–10, municipal leaders spent $6,000,000,000 on treatment and a massive refinery (a joint venture between Sinopec and the Kuwait Petroleum Co.) was relocated out of Nansha District, which municipal planners aim to make 50% forest, grass, or wetlands.
Transportation.
The nearest Guangzhou Metro station is Jiaomen Station.


Teide National Park

Teide National Park (, ) is a national park located in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain).
The national park is centered on Mount Teide, the highest mountain of Spain (3,718 meters high) in addition, the highest volcano in the Atlantic Ocean islands and the third highest volcano in the world from its base in the ocean floor (7.500 meters high). Pico Viejo, also included within the national park limits, is the second highest volcano in the Canary Islands with its 3,135 m peak. Mount Teide and Pico Viejo are the only two peaks in the Canary islands rising above the 3,000 m level.
The park has an area of 18,990 hectares located in the municipality of La Orotava. It was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on June 28, 2007. Since the end of 2007, it has also been one of the 12 Treasures of Spain. On a ridge, to the east of Teide, are the telescopes of the Observatorio del Teide.
Teide is the most visited national park in Spain and −by 2015− the eighth most visited in the world, with some 3 million visitors yearly. In 2016, it was visited by 4,079,823 visitors and tourists reaching a historical record.
There are morning and afternoon coach trips through the park, departing from selected areas in the south of Tenerife's tourist towns. Access to the peak requires a free permit that needs to be booked in advance.
History.
The Teide National Park has a large historical value. This place had an important spiritual significance to aboriginal Guanches and important archaeological sites have been discovered in the park. For the Guanches the Teide was a place of worship, they thought it was the gate of hell ("Echeyde").
National park status was declared on January 22, 1954, which was one of the third in Spain. In 1981 the park was reclassified and established as a special legal regime. In 1989, the Council of Europe awarded the European Diploma of Protected Areas, in its highest category. This recognition and conservation management has been subsequently renewed in 1994, 1999 and 2004.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of its transformation into a national park, in 2002 the paperwork was begun to declare the park a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On June 28, 2007, after five years of work and effort, UNESCO decided to declare the Teide National Park, World Heritage Site in the World Heritage Convention of UNESCO held in Christchurch, New Zealand. Teide National Park is also at the end of 2007, one of the 12 Treasures of Spain.
Teide National Park is complementary to the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, this is mainly due to being in each of them represented the volcanic structures and forms less evolved magmas of such islands (Hawaii) and more evolved and differentiated (Teide). Moreover, Teide National Park shares similar scenic characteristics with the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, United States.
Flora and fauna.
The lava flows on the flanks of Teide weather to a very thin, but nutrient and mineral rich soil that supports a diverse number of plant species. Vascular flora consists of 168 plant species, 33 of which are endemic to Tenerife.
Forests of Canary Island pine ("Pinus canariensis") occur from 1000–2100 m, covering the middle slopes of the volcano, and having an alpine timberline 1000 m lower than that of continental mountains of similar latitude. At higher altitudes, the Las Cañadas caldera provides sufficient shelter for more fragile species such as the Canary Island cedar ("Juniperus cedrus"), and the Canary Island pine ("Pinus canariensis") to grow.
The most dominant plant species in the Teide National Park are the Teide white broom ("Spartocytisus supranubius"), which has a white and pink flower; the Canary Island wallflower ("Erysimum scoparium"), which has white and violet flowers; and the Teide bugloss ("Echium wildpretii"), whose red flowers form a pyramid up to 3m in height. The Teide daisy ("Argyranthemum teneriffae") can be found at altitudes close to 3,600m above sea level. The Teide violet ("Viola cheiranthifolia") can be found right up to the summit of the volcano, making it the highest flowering plant in Spain.
These plants are adapted to the tough environmental conditions on the volcano such as high altitude, intense sunlight, extreme temperature variations, and lack of moisture. Adaptations include acquiring semi-spherical forms, acquiring a downy or waxy cover, reducing the exposed leaf area, and having a high flower production. Flowering takes place in the late spring or early summer, in the months of May and June.
The Teide National Park contains a huge range of invertebrate fauna, over 40% of which are endemic species, with 70 species only being found in the national park. The invertebrate fauna include spiders, beetles, dipterans, hemipterans, and hymenopterae.
In contrast, Teide national park has only a limited variety of vertebrate fauna. Ten species of bird nest in the park. These include the blue chaffinch ("Fringilla teydea teydea"); Berthelot's pipit ("Anthus berthelotii berthelotii"); the Atlantic canary ("Serinus canaria"); and a subspecies of kestrel ("Falco tinnunculus canariensis").
Three endemic reptile species are also found in the park – the Canary Island lizard ("Gallotia galloti galloti"), the Canary Island wall gecko ("Tarentola delalandii"), and the Canary Island skink ("Chalcides viridanus viridanus").
The only mammals native to the park are bats, the most common species of which is Leisler's bat ("Nyctalus leisleri"). Other mammals such as the mouflon, the rabbit, the house mouse, the black rat, the feral cat, and the Algerian hedgehog have all been introduced to the park.
Scientific landmark.
The similarity between environmental and geological conditions in the Teide National Park and the planet Mars have turned this spot into a volcanic reference point for studies related to the red planet.
The similarity between environmental and geological conditions of Teide National Park and the planet Mars have made the park the ideal place for testing instruments that will travel to Mars and reveal past or present life on Mars. In 2010 a research team tested at Las Cañadas del Teide the Raman instrument that was to be used in the ESA-NASA ExoMars expedition to Mars.
In 2017, ESA tested planetary rovers in an area of the park known as Las Minas de San José.
Sister parks.
Besides the Teide National Park participates in different international programs and exchange advice with other national parks in the world, especially Central America, South America and Europe. In regard to international cooperation, the Teide National Park has provided technical support to the Souss-Massa National Park located in southwestern of Morocco.


Loch Turret

Loch Turret is a large freshwater reservoir on a north-east to south-west orientation, that is located at the head of Glen Turret and northwest of Crieff in Perth and Kinross.
At the north end of the loch, some , is the small lochan of Lochan Uaine, that drains in Loch Turret through the Turret Burn. The route is a popular walking spot. Below the loch, the Turret Burn continues, and further down hosts Glenturret distillery, that was built in 1775.


Sainte Anne Marine National Park

Sainte Anne Marine National Park lies about 5 km from Victoria, the capital city of the Seychelles, and encompasses eight small islands.
History.
The Marine Park was created in 1973 for the preservation of wildlife, the first of its kind in the Indian Ocean. Fishing and water-skiing are forbidden within the Marine Park area.
in 2005 used as picnic islands for the local population is too expensive and approved opening them to hotels and resorts.
Tourism.
Today the islands are known as one of the prime tourist locations in the Indian Ocean for scuba-diving, glass-bottom boat excursions and snorkeling among the coral reefs. The colorful underwater world attracts tourists from around the world who are watching here the magnificent coral gardens, reef sharks and colorful tropical fish. The main island of Ste Anne is an 87-villa resort while Cerf Island and Round Island have Creole-style restaurants.
It also has one of the largest areas of "seagrass meadows" in the Seychelles. It is very beautiful.
Local tour operators offer day trips to the Marine Park.
Geography.
The national park is made up of the following islands, with areas in km²:
The aggregate land area of the islands of the marine national park is 3.887 km². The total marine national park area is 14.43 km².
Administration.
All islands belong to Mont Fleuri District.
Because of the small population, there are not any government buildings or services, so people who live on the islands have to go to Victoria.


Doi Phu Nang National Park

Doi Phu Nang National Park () is a national park in Dok Khamtai, Pong and Chiang Muan Districts, Phayao Province, Thailand.
Description.
It is located in two mountain chains of the Phi Pan Nam Range, Mae Yom and Nampi, with a not-protected area in between. There are both mixed evergreen forests, dipterocarp forest and dry deciduous forests in the park area.
Doi Phu Nang, the mountain that gives its name to the park, with an altitude of 1,202 m, is the highest peak in the area. The sources of two tributaries of the Yom River are in this mountain. The park also has scenic rock formations and two impressive waterfalls, Namtok Than Sawan and Namtok Huai Ton Phueng.
Flora and fauna.
Trees in the protected area include Malabar ironwood, "Afzelia xylocarpa", "Lagerstroemia calyculata", "Mangifera caloneura", "Ailanthus triphysa", "Michelia alba", "Berrya ammonilla", "Schleichera oleosa", "Vitex pinnata" and "Pterocarpus macrocarpus".
A variety of birds are found, especially the rare green peafowls, threatened by habitat destruction, which come to the park area for breeding from January to March. Among the other animals, the fishing cat, Asiatic black bear, muntjac, masked palm civet, bamboo rat, tree shrews, the Asiatic softshell turtle and the Bengal monitor deserve mention.


Wayne Lotter

Wayne Lotter (4 December 1965 – 16 August 2017) was a South African wildlife conservationist. Lotter was one of the co-founders of the PAMS Foundation, a not for profit conservation organisation based in Tanzania. Lotter also previously served as Vice President of the International Ranger Federation.
Biography.
Having obtained a master's degree in nature conservation in the 1990s, Lotter began working in the non-profit and government wildlife protection sectors. He worked initially as a ranger in South Africa. He was a co-founder of the PAMS Foundation which trained thousands of young Africans in conservation. Lotter was involved in funding the National and Transnational Serious Crimes Investigation Unit in Tanzania which had successfully pursued a number of high-profile ivory traffickers.
In a 2015 interview with "Newsweek" Lotter was described as "enthusiastic and charismatic".
Lotter was asked to take part in the 2016 Netflix documentary "The Ivory Game" but requested that rangers employed by the foundation be featured instead.
Death.
Lotter, who had regularly received death threats, was shot dead on Wednesday, 16 August 2017, while travelling in a taxi in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
His death attracted international attention, with an obituary being published in "The Times of London" and "The Economist".
Jane Goodall, a British primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace paid tribute to Lotter, whom she described as a "hero of mine" and "courageous". Tributes were also paid by other wildlife protection organisations.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge also condemned the "violent and apparently targeted murder" of Lotter and expressed his "deepest condolences to Wayne's family and all those at PAMS Foundation for this senseless loss."


List of national parks of Namibia

This is a list of national parks in Namibia, operated by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.


Catherine Kerr (environmentalist)

Catherine "Kay" Kerr (1911 – 2010) was a pioneer in environmentalism. She, along with friends Sylvia McLaughlin and Esther Gulick, founded the Save San Francisco Bay Association in 1961 which eventually became Save The Bay. The three friends also founded the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the first coastal protection agency in America. Their efforts helped spark the environmental movement in the United States.
Throughout her life, Kerr fought to protect the San Francisco Bay from development and landfill and to restore wetlands and estuarine habitat.
Personal life.
Kay Kerr was born in Los Angeles and attended Stanford University, where she majored in journalism. At a peace conference in 1934 she met and later married Clark Kerr, who went on to become an economics professor and chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley.


Johann Rupert

Johann Peter Rupert (born 1 June 1950) is a South African-born entrepreneur, who is the eldest son of business tycoon Anton Rupert and his wife Huberte. He is the chairman of the Swiss-based luxury-goods company Richemont and the South Africa-based company Remgro. As of 1 April 2010, he assumed the CEO position of Compagnie Financiere Richemont. Together with his family, he was estimated to be worth $5.9 billion , and was ranked as the second wealthiest person in South Africa on the "Forbes" list of The World's Billionaires of 2019, with his fortune reported as having declined from US$7.3 billion. Rupert and family were ranked as the second-richest in South Africa on the 2020 "Forbes" list, with a fortune reported as US$5.4 billion.
Personal life.
Rupert grew up in Stellenbosch, where he attended Paul Roos Gymnasium and the University of Stellenbosch, studying economics and company law. He dropped out of the university to pursue a career in business, however, in 2004, the university awarded him an honorary doctorate in Economics.
In 2008, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in Commerce from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Described as "reclusive" by the "Financial Times" and "Barron's", Rupert rarely gives interviews and shuns public events. In 2006 the same newspaper also called him "Rupert the Bear" for predicting a world economic crisis.
Business career.
Rupert served his business apprenticeship in New York City, where he worked for Chase Manhattan for two years and for Lazard Freres for three years. He then returned to South Africa in 1979 and founded Rand Merchant Bank of which he was CEO.
Views on economics and politics.
Rupert has declared his sympathy for and belief in the idea of a universal basic income.
Other interests.
Rupert is a former cricketer and founded the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation in 1990. Laureus funds 65 projects globally, with the goal of using sport to tackle social issues, having a particular emphasis on underprivileged children. He co-founded the Sports Science Institute with his friends Morne du Plessis and Tim Noakes.
Rupert also developed the Gary Player designed, Leopard Creek Golf Club in Mpumalanga, South Africa which is one of South Africa's top three golf courses, and rated number 25 outside the United States of America (Golf Digest). He has also played in the annual Gary Player Invitational golf tournament to assist fellow South African and friend Gary Player raise funds for various children's charities. He serves as Chairman of the South African PGA Tour and Chairman of the South African Golf Development Board. In 2007 he was elected into South African Sports Hall of Fame and in 2009 was inducted into South African Golf Hall of Fame.
Following his younger brother Anthonij's death in a car accident in 2001 he took over the L'Ormarins wine estate. Anthonij, was head of Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons. Rupert initiated a project to enhance the farm in memory of his late brother.
He was council member of The South Africa Foundation and trustee of the Southern African Nature Foundation, The Institute of Directors in Southern Africa, Business South Africa and Die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns and Managing Trustee and member of the investment committee, Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. He served on the Daimler Chrysler International Advisory Board.
Following in the footsteps of his father, Anton, Johann Rupert is also a committed conservationist. In addition to conserving about 25,000 hectares in the Graaff Reinet area, he is also Chairman of the Peace Parks Foundation.
Controversies.
When the British design magazine "Wallpaper*" described the Afrikaans language as "one of the ugliest languages in the world" in its September 2005 edition (in reference to the Afrikaans Language Monument), Rupert responded by withdrawing advertising for his companies' brands such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Montblanc and Alfred Dunhill from the magazine.
In December 2016, it was reported that Rupert had dropped Bell Pottinger as the PR agency of Richemont, accusing Bell Pottinger of running a social media campaign against him, to divert attention away from persistent 'state capture' allegations levelled at the Gupta family.
In September 2017, Rupert, during Richemont’s annual general meeting in Geneva, described the use of the term "Radical Economic Transformation" by Bell Pottinger as "just a code word for theft”, in order to cover up the "State Capture" by their clients, the notorious Gupta family. Radical Economic Transformation is a policy championed by President Jacob Zuma to reduce racial inequality in South Africa.
In 2018 Rupert caused some controversy in South Africa for comments he made during an interview with PowerFM. He was criticised for denying the alleged existence of white monopoly capital, his account of the process of Afrikaner economic-upliftment, and for comments he made regarding the saving habits of black South Africans. Following the incident Rupert issued an apology for his comments. The controversial leader of the Black First Land First party Andile Mngxitama stated afterwards that Rupert's comments were a reason to commit violence against white South Africans.


Winegar Hole Wilderness

The Winegar Hole Wilderness is located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Designated wilderness by Congress in 1984, the wilderness is within Caribou-Targhee National Forest and borders Yellowstone National Park. The wilderness was created to further protect what is considered to be prime grizzly bear habitat. The wilderness is an integral part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
U.S. Wilderness Areas do not allow motorized or mechanized vehicles, including bicycles. Although camping and fishing are allowed with proper permit, no roads or buildings are constructed and there is also no logging or mining, in compliance with the 1964 Wilderness Act. Wilderness areas within National Forests and Bureau of Land Management areas also allow hunting in season.
The Winegar Hole is between Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park, along the Wyoming / Idaho border. The Fremont County (Idaho) history says:
"The same Egin Bench was the first settlement when Stephen Winegar and his four sons, George, Willis, Leonard and John, put up the first log shelter during the summer of 1879 when they cut and stacked the wild hay in the river bottoms. Winegar Hole and "Gideon Winegar June, 1882," carved on the cliff beside the Snake River, are reminders of these early settlers."


Kyambura Game Reserve

Kyambura Game Reserve or Chambura Game Reserve, which includes the Kyambura Gorge, adjoins the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. It is home to a variety of wildlife. The area is an important water source for many animals and is surrounded by savanna, but is generally noted for its high concentration of primate life located in the gorge.
History.
Kyambura Game Reserve was formed as the Kyambura Controlled Hunting Area in 1962, and upgraded to game reserve status in 1965. In the 1980s the southern area was colonised, but these people were evicted in 1990, and the land rented out to a private concessionaire called Zwilling. After the Uganda Wildlife Statute of 1996 changed the name of all game reserves to wildlife reserves, the reserve became formally known as the Kyambura Wildlife Reserve. The hunting concession was terminated in 1999 due to illegal hunting.
It serves as a buffer zone to the Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP).
Geography.
Kyambura is located on north-eastern side of QENP, approximately 30 km from QENP Headquarters. Kyambura Gorge spans a distance of 11 km and links to the Kazinga Channel, which forms the northern boundary of the reserve. Village and plantations lie to the south. The reserve's mean altitude is 1100 m.a.s.l. The total area of the reserve is 156 sq. km.
Kyambura and QENP, together with Maramagambo Forest and Kigezi Game Reserve, all adjoin, and are referred to as the Queen Elizabeth Protected Area (QEPA), this borders Parc National des Virunga (Virunga National Park) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and together these areas completely encircle Lake Edward. Other nearby protected areas are Kibale National Park to the northeast and Rwenzori Mountains National Park to the northwest.
The landscape is gentle rolling savanna grassland, but is deeply cut by the 16km Kyambura Gorge, which supports a thick riverine forest and the Kyambura River.
Dominic Johnson classifies the bird communities of the game reserve according to thirteen habitat types.
Wildlife.
Kyambura is the only place in QEPA where habituated chimpanzees are seen. Other types of primates include red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus, baboons and vervet monkeys. The park is also known for its variety of avian species including various falcons, the blue-headed bee-eater and the African finfoot. The chimpanzees in Kyambura Gorge were isolated after the forests connecting it to larger forests like Kalinzu and Maramagambo were cleared. Conservationists are worried that this could lead to inbreeding and mutations. While tracking chimps, visitors are treated to views of the "underground forest" (the forest growing in the gorge), birds and smaller primates.


Guatemala Biodiversity

According to Parkswatch and the IUCN, Guatemala is considered the fifth biodiversity hotspot in the world. The country has 14 ecoregions ranging from mangrove forest (4 species), in both ocean littorals, dry forests and scrublands in the eastern highlands, subtropical and tropical rain forests, wetlands, cloud forests in the Verapaz region, mixed forests and pine forests in the highlands.
Over one third of Guatemala (36.3% or about 39,380 km²) is forested (2005). About half of the forests (49.7% or roughly 19,570 km²) is classified as primary forest which is considered the most biodiverse forest type. Tree species include 17 conifers (pines, cypress, including the endemic "Abies guatemalensis"), the most in any tropical region of the world.
Guatemala has 7 wetlands of international importance that were included in the Ramsar List.
Guatemala has some 1246 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 6.7% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 8.1% are threatened species. It is also home to at least 8681 species of vascular plants, of which 13.5% are endemic. 5.4% of the country is protected under IUCN categories I-V.
With a total of 123 protected areas and more than 29% of the territory declared a protected area, Guatemala has the largest percentage of protected areas in Central America. Tikal National Park, which was created in 1955, was the first mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world.


People Resources and Conservation Foundation

People Resources and Conservation Foundation (PRCF) is an international non-governmental organization that helps local people in developing countries protect their natural environment. Its headquarters are in the United States but its conservation fieldwork is carried out in a number of Southeast Asian countries. PRCF has joined collaborative research projects on new animal species in Southeast Asia, such as the Myanmar/Burmese snub-nosed monkey. The organization also sets up programs to help native cultures retain their cultural identity through projects such as basket and fabric weaving.
Mission.
PRCF’s stated mission is to ‘conserve biodiversity, ecosystem services and local cultural identities through participatory solutions that protect and promote the wise use of natural resources, support socioeconomic development of communities and enable effective adaptation to climate change’. The organization is concerned with endangered species (species assigned an IUCN category of threat) and loss of their critical habitat, land degradation and climate change. It also works with local communities to promote sustainable livelihoods, participatory land use planning and the revitalization of traditional cultural arts.
History.
The organization was founded in 1995 by two biologists-cum-conservationists from the United States and Colombia, Marla and Fernando Potess. In 1995 the first of the PRCF country programs – PRCF Indonesia – was established, with conservation and community development projects based in West Kalimantan, an Indonesian province on the island of Borneo. Other country programs were later established in Cambodia, Myanmar/Burma, Vietnam and Thailand.
Funding.
PRCF is a nonprofit foundation, receiving gifts and donations from individuals as well as grants from private and government organizations. In 2010, PRCF derived funding as follows: 15% from the public, 63% from private sources (such as the McKnight Foundation) and 22% from government sources (such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS]). Major donors to PRCF during 2010 were the Arcus Foundation and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF).
Conservation work.
PRCF works collaboratively with local communities and government authorities at field sites. It also partners with national and international conservation organizations in the countries of operation.
In 2010 PRCF was a member of a joint survey team that discovered a new primate species in northern Myanmar: the Burmese Snub-nosed Monkey ("Rhinopithecus strykeri"). The species was named in honor of Jon Stryker, President and Founder of the Arcus Foundation. His organization's grant to PRCF helped lead to the discovery of the species.
As of June 2012, PRCF and partners have worked to protect 16 endangered or threatened species in Southeast Asia. These include the critically endangered White-shouldered Ibis ("Pseudibis davisoni") and Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey ("Rhinopithecus avunculus") plus the endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon ("Hoolock hoolock") and Francois’ Langur ("Trachypithecus francoisi").


Save the Dunes

Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, originally known as Save the Dunes Council, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization out of Northwest Indiana. Save the Dunes' mission is to preserve, protect and restore the Indiana dunes and all natural resources in Northwest Indiana’s Lake Michigan Watershed for an enhanced quality of life.
History.
Save the Dunes council was established in June 1952 by Dorothy Richardson Buell when 21 women met at her home to create what would become the campaign to establish the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Their credo became, "We are prepared to spend the rest of our lives, if necessary, to save the Dunes.". Indiana Representative, Charles A. Halleck aggressively challenged Save the Dunes Council and their ally, Illinois Senator, Paul Douglas. Halleck carried an unwavering support for creating a port on the Lakeshore. The port would removed the large central dunes of the Indiana Dunes. The battle between Douglas and Halleck ended with a compromise with the Port of Indiana being created and the authorization of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
As a result of the more than century long advocacy effort, on February 15, 2019, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore became the Indiana Dunes National Park. It is the first national park in Indiana, and the 61st national park in the country.
Today.
In partnership with Hitchcock Design Group, Save the Dunes published a homeowner's guide to landscaping in the Dunes called "Living in the Dunes" to help landowners protect their part of the landscape"." The guide won a 2018 Honor Award from the American Society for Landscape Architects.


George Waterston

George Waterston OBE FRSE FZS LLD (1911–1980) was a 20th-century Scottish stationer remembered as an ornithologist and conservationist. For seven years after World War II he owned the remote island of Fair Isle.
He founded the Inverleith Field Club in 1929 and co-founded what was the Midlothian Ornithologists' Club and is now the Scottish Ornithologists' Club. He was their President, Secretary, Treasurer and Hon. President at various times.
He was also one of the founders of the Scottish Arctic Club with its Waterston Arctic Library, now held by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. He was Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Scotland.
Early life.
Waterston was born in Edinburgh on 10 April 1911, the eldest son of Robert Waterston and his wife, Winifred Sandeman. He was part of the firm of George Waterson & Sons, a long-established family firm of Edinburgh printers and stationers. Whilst the main family lived at 10 Claremont Crescent in the northeast of the New Town, Robert and Winifred do not appear to have lived in the city.
George was educated at Edinburgh Academy from 1918 to 1929. He then entered the family firm as a junior partner. This position afforded him both wealth and free time to pursue his main hobby of ornithology. On the death of his father and uncle George he became Director of the company.
The Midlothian Ornithologists' Club were keen to maintain ornithological work on the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth and a migratory study centre was established. Waterston was influenced by Ronald Lockley's work on Skokholm specifically the use of Heligoland trap which Waterston and others erected in 1934 assisted by Lockley and others.
George Waterston is probably best known for his interest in Fair Isle which he first visited in 1935 as a young man. He had great plans for the island, but these were interrupted by World War II. The Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust was set up and founded in a POW camp. George was appointed secretary and remained so until his death. He bought the island in 1947 and sold it for the same sum of money to the National Trust for Scotland in 1954.
Second World War.
As a lieutenant in the Royal Artillery, he was involved in the Battle of Crete, and was captured in 1941. Whilst a prisoner of war, he laid plans for a bird observatory and birdwatchers' hostel, but also for other aspects of island life, e.g. a marketing scheme for the island's products, including Fair Isle knitwear.
In addition, he, along with John Buxton, Peter Conder, John Barrett and others, conducted ornithological work in Oflag VI-B in Dössel (now part of Warburg) and Oflag VII-B prisoner-of-war camps. Waterston was the only serving British officer to contribute a paper to a German scientific journal in wartime. Erwin Stresemann published his paper "A survey of the birds of Crete and bird migration in the Aegean" in the "Journal für Ornithologie", based on ornithological observations made on Crete during the spring of 1941. He was repatriated in October 1943.
Later life.
Waterston joined James Fisher on the Agricultural Research Council's Rook Survey before rejoining the family business.
In 1955, Waterston was appointed half-time salaried secretary to the Scottish Ornithologists' Club but he had a vision for an ornithological centre. This became reality in 1959 with the purchase of 21 Regents Terrace, Edinburgh. His energies had so broadened the field of bird protection in Scotland that a full-time RSPB Director was required – a post he held for 13 years.
Waterston was largely responsible for the protection of newly returned ospreys in the 1950s. He organised a large team of observers who mounted a round-the-clock guard and placed barbed wire around the base of the nesting site.
He purchased Fair Isle in Shetland and founded the Bird Observatory in 1948 but sold it to the National Trust for Scotland in 1954. The latter continued to maintain the Observatory.
In the mid-sixties, his attention turned to Greenland and the Canadian Arctic where he joined several scientific expeditions. He died on 30 September 1980 and is buried in Humbie Parish Churchyard.
Family.
His first marriage to Nancy Ritchie was dissolved and in 1958 he married Irene Kinnear (d.1984).
George was survived by his son William Waterston (d.2016) from his first marriage. Both are survived by William's son Matthew Waterston. He was also cousin to Charles Dewar Waterston FRSE.
Tributes.
1949 - elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
1964 - appointed an OBE for services to ornithology and conservation.
1972 - awarded the RSPB Gold Medal.
1974 - Dundee University conferred a degree of LLD for his outstanding contribution.
George Waterston tried to encourage other conservationists, among them Donald Watson, the wildlife artist; the Art Gallery at Waterston House is named after him.
Two bird-related centres bear George Waterston's name:
A wildlife viewing hide at RSPB Scotland Loch Leven also bears his name: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/find-a-reserve/reserves-a-z/reserves-by-name/l/lochleven/index.aspx
Books.
Brown, P and Waterston, G. (1962). "The Return of the Osprey". Collins.


Jubho Lagoon

Jubho Lagoon is a large shallow brackish lagoon located in Sindh, Pakistan. In May 2011 Jubhoo lagoon was inducted into the list of Ramsar sites, consisting of wetlands of international importance.
Location and geography.
The lagoon is located about 138 km south-east of Karachi in Jati, a subdivision of Sujawal District, in Sindh province of Pakistan. The site is located at an altitude of 50 m and has a total area of . The natural wetland features brackish coastal and inland lagoons with associated marshes and mudflats. The site is also linked with other wetlands in the region through a tidal link canal. The region has a maritime climate with the monsoon period starting in June every year.
Wildlife.
The site is an important habitat for waterbirds and supports around 60 to 100 thousand migratory birds annually. According to a 1997 census by the Zoological Survey Department of Pakistan, around 40 to 50 thousand American flamingos and "Paradisaea minor" (lesser birds-of-paradise) were recorded in the region. The lagoon is also home to around six thousand Dalmatian pelicans, which are listed as vulnerable by IUCN. This is the largest concentration of these birds found in Pakistan. In the high-lying areas around the lagoon, "Tamarix" and other salt-tolerant bushes can be found. Low-lying areas, which receive fresh water inputs from outfall drains, are covered with "Typha" plants. Aside from this, due to shallow lagoons, very little vegetation is present in the area.
Conservation.
The land in the area is owned privately by locals whose primary sources of income are fishing and raising livestock. During winter, illegal hunting takes place on a large scale, which has reduced the numbers of migratory birds and local fauna. Moreover, due to the construction of the tidal link canal coupled with an increase in industrial and agricultural pollution, salt water intrusion is taking place, which is stunting the growth of freshwater vegetation. However, the site is still not protected under any environmental legislation or site-specific conservation programme. Few research projects to study the flora and fauna of the region have been undertaken by the Zoological Survey Department of Pakistan and the National Institute of Oceanography. The Coastal Ecosystem Unit of IUCN, Sindh Wildlife Department, and Sindh Environment Protection Agency conduct awareness and conservation activities in the region.


Edinburgh World Heritage

Edinburgh World Heritage is an independent charity in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Old Town Renewal Trust and the New Town Conservation Committee amalgamated to form Edinburgh World Heritage in 1999. It was created through donations from the City of Edinburgh Council and Historic Scotland. It has the role of conserving, enhancing and promoting Edinburgh's World Heritage Site "Old and New Towns of Edinburgh", which was designated in 1995.
Melville monument.
In 2008 the Melville Monument, St Andrew Square. was restored as part of the Twelve Monuments Project, a joint initiative of Edinburgh World Heritage and the City of Edinburgh Council.
In August 2020 EWH were the Agents in a planning application to erect a plaque on the monument. The plaque was intended to honour victims of slavery whose enslavement was connected to Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville.
A descendant criticised the characterisation of Dundas as ‘biased’, ‘defamatory’ and ‘historically inaccurate’.


Conservation Roundtable

The Conservation Roundtable is a collation of executives representing America's top hunting, fishing and environmental organizations, who meet annually to discuss opportunities for collaboration and conservation. The organizations of this Roundtable collectively represent ten million Americans, tens of millions of acres conserved, and hundreds of years of conservation experience.”
Founded by Simon C Roosevelt, the Conservation Roundtable Conferences are sponsored by The Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and hosted each year by Mr. Roosevelt and Allison Whipple Rockefeller at the Pocantico Conference Center on the Rockefeller Family estate. According to Dale Hall, CEO of Ducks Unlimited, "The primary purpose is to bring together the leadership of major non-government organizations to see how we can focus on substantive issues that we all share."
Former efforts include the publishing of an open letter to President Obama, Congressman John Boehner and Senator Harry Reid in Politico to encourage government “to find practical ways to make stewardship today more inclusive, concerted, and effective.”
While the Conservation Roundtable consists of non-government organizations, the group works alongside politicians and government offices. Most recently, a meeting of the Conservation Roundtable convened at the Department of the Interior under the auspices of the Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, co-hosted by Roosevelt, bringing together an even larger group of private conservation organizations and the senior most officials in the Department. The purpose of the meeting was to advance collaborative thought and action on both the interior department’s agenda and priorities of the NGOs.


Valdobbiadene

Valdobbiadene () is a town in the province of Treviso, Veneto, Italy.
Valdobbiadene is a wine growing area. Just below the Alpine-Dolomite areas of Veneto, it provides a climate for a cool variety of grape (Glera).
The Conegliano Valdobbiadene area is the home of the best Prosecco, an extra dry sparkling white wine. Prosecco brands that derive from this area include Altaneve, Bisol, Mionetto, Col Vetoraz, Valdo and others.
On 7 July 2019, Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Twin towns.
Valdobbiadene is twinned with:


Znesinnia Regional Landscape Park

Znesinnya Regional Landscape Park () is the largest park in Lviv, Ukraine. It is located in the north-east part of the city and reachable within a 20-minute walk from the Ratusha (City Hall) and the Rynok Square (Market Square). Together with the Vysokyi Zamok (High Castle) the hills of Park Znesinnya form Lviv's distinctive city skyline, known from drawings going back to the 16th century.
The park is located on green hilly parts of the historical village Znesinnya which was named after the Christian holiday of Ascension. Therefore, it is one of the first areas settled by men inside the present boundaries of Lviv. Being commenced due to a public initiative in 1993, Park Znesinnya is one of the first Regional Landscape Parks in Ukraine founded within the territory of a large city. The NGO "Regional Foundation Znesinnya" started to claim for the protection of the area informally in 1990, getting registered in 1991 as a non-governmental, non-profit organization.
The park is managed by the park administration as a subunit of the city department of urban development and supported by „Regional Foundation Znesinnya”. Following Ukrainian legislation on natural environment protected areas the park provides not only typical recreational park functions with tourism, but also environmental protection and environmental education.
Park Znesinnya covers a total area of 312 hectares and includes rare specimens of plants, as well as sandstones, limestones containing fossils, hills covered by forests and picturesque valleys with ponds and streams. Regional Landscape Park Znesinnya is located on the main European watershed that separates the Baltic and the Black Sea. Therefore, the green hills of Znesinnya are a part of Roztochia, a mountain range connecting Poland and Ukraine. Parts of Roztochia are under protection, in Poland as a National Park and in Ukraine as a Biosphere Reserve.
Including the Open-Air Museum of Folk Architecture in Shevchenkivskyi Hay (Shevchenkivskyi Grove) it contains one of the most famous tourist attractions of Lviv. Located close to the old town and the area under UNESCO protection, Znesinnya has several entrances from various streets, free for one's choice to walk.
Natural points of interest.
The highest point of the park is Leva (Lion's) Mountain (389 m above sea level) and is declared a geological monument of nature. As traces of the sea covered the landscape 20-25 million years ago, marks of shells of extinct mollusc can be found in the limestone. A well-maintained path to the top of Leva Mountain starts at Dovbusha Street. It is also easy to reach by feet coming from the High Castle (Vysokyi Zamok) and Kryvonosa Street.
In the eastern part of the park Khomec' Mountain (306 m above sea level) is situated – a unique monument of steppe and rock vegetation, as sleep-grass dev'yasyl, tarragon and flax can be found here.
Further interesting natural spots are
A part of the park's forest carries the name “Kaiserwald”. It was established during rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and dedicated the Austrian emperor who was visiting the place. Park visitors can cross it on the so-called Kaiser-Pass. It is widely vegetated by pine and spruce as well as birch and red oak. In spring the colourful blossoms on pear, cherry and apple trees can be observed here.
Historical points of interest.
Park Znesinnya contains a huge variety of traces of the past, such as relics of old settlements, churches, monasteries, sacral objects and an old cemetery. Furthermore, one can find examples of industrial construction from the beginning of the 20th century, former sandpits, stone quarries as well as traditional cottages.
Important archaeological sites inside Park Znesinnya are:
An important historical place is the old Znesinnya cemetery (19th century) with the common military grave of the Ukrainian Sitchovi Stril’ci (Sitch Riflemen), unique in Lviv as the only military one being not destroyed after World War II, the grave of the Talerhof concentration camp prisoners and other historical graves as well.
One of Lviv's most popular tourist spot is the Museum of Folk Architecture in Shevchenkivskyi Hay (Shevchenkivskyi Grove). Here examples of 17th – 20th century Ukrainian architecture as well as some rich ethnographic collection are shown. St. Mykola Church from the 18th century is as well located here.
Further architectural and religious points of interest are:
Moreover, examples of housing and industrial buildings – an alcohol and pharmaceutical factory from the beginning of the 20th century – can be found inside Park Znesinnya.
Activities.
The park area is having a convenient microclimate and is a suitable choice of options for ecotourism as it provides various opportunities for recreation. It has numerous natural facilities as well as picturesque forest round tracks and excellent viewpoints. People use Znesinnya area for a huge variety of sports such as running, hiking, cycling, skate-boarding, gymnastics and fishing. Providing a ski slope Znesinnya is Lviv's top spot for skiing and sledging in wintertime.
There are historical railways placed inside the park's territory which are unsteadily used for historical tourist trains.
Education.
The park contains an educational center that offers trainings in natural environment monitoring and environmental-friendly management of natural resources to pupils and students. In summer international environmental youth camps are organized.
Threats to the park.
Besides erosion of the soil and trash on the area Park Znesinnya is currently threatened by illegal logging and illegal construction sites inside the park boundaries.


Vrancea Mountains

The Vrancea Mountains () are a mountain range in the Curvature Carpathians of eastern Vrancea County in Romania. The 1977 Vrancea earthquake had its epicentre there.


Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society

The Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society (HKDCS) (Traditional Chinese: 香港海豚保育學會) is a non-governmental organisation that is dedicated to the conservation of whales, and dolphins and porpoises in Hong Kong. Founded in December 2003, its mission is to protect whales and dolphins through scientific research and public education.
To promote concern and increase awareness of the unfortunate circumstances of whales and dolphins, the HKDCS has been involved in various fields including carrying out research, offering related education to school children, providing volunteers a chance to join as research interns, and organising forums for dolphin-lovers which also serves as a social gathering for like-minded individuals. HKDCS has an ongoing member recruitment programme since 2003.
Mission.
To protect local cetaceans residing in Hong Kong waters, through scientific research and public education.
As the general public in Hong Kong knows little about these creatures, the HKDCS believes local cetaceans have not received sufficient protection from the locals yet. The HKDCS deems that in order for local cetaceans to be relieved from this quandary and to be effectively protected in the long run, the knowledge of the general public on cetaceans in Hong Kong and around the world should be raised.
The HKDCS aims to:
Research work.
The HKDCS carries out extensive research to better understand and monitor the situation of dolphins and their habitats within the vicinity of Hong Kong. The society stresses that research should be conducted on a yearly basis at least, so that information about the dolphin population can be updated regularly. Decisions based on these information can then be made with confidence.
Research projects include:
Monitoring Chinese white dolphins and finless porpoises.
The main targets of HKDCS's monitoring work are the Chinese white dolphins ("Sousa chinensis"), and the finless porpoises ("Neophocaena phocaenoides"). At least 1,400 Chinese white dolphins are said to be living in this region, with about 300 alone in Hong Kong waters; but their population, temporal and spatial distribution, their use of habitat places and ranging patterns have not yet been studied adequately. This is especially so for finless porpoises as they are known to be more elusive, and therefore harder to spot at sea.
HKDCS is one organisation that carries out research on Chinese white dolphins in Hong Kong waters. Monitoring work of Chinese white dolphins and finless porpoises are normally carried out by vessel surveys, helicopter surveys and the use of photo-identification.
Vessel surveys are used mainly for the routine monitoring of the distribution and abundance of the local dolphin population.
Helicopter surveys are used mainly to search for dolphins in a large area within a relatively short period of time. When researchers sight a group of dolphins, the time, location and abundance are recorded.
Helicopter surveys can provide better and more comprehensive information on the distribution of dolphins in Hong Kong as compared to vessel survey and land-based observation.
Photo-identification is used to identify individual cetaceans. The identifying features include permanent external characteristics on the body, such as nicks, dorsal scars or marks. Currently, over 260 individual dolphins have been identified in Hong Kong waters and the Pearl River Estuary. The photographic documentations of individual humpback dolphins will be used to study their home range and movement patterns. The data are also used to clarify some life history parameters to estimate dolphin population through mark/recapture analysis.
Executing joint conservation of Chinese white dolphins in Taiwan.
The HKDCS plans to work with the FormosaCetus Research and Conservation Group to conduct a joint conservation programme on Chinese white dolphins in Taiwanese waters. Until 2002, there was little evidence that the coastal waters of Taiwan were populated with any Chinese white dolphin. A discovery that year revealed a sizeable population of these creatures. As a result of the discovery, the Chinese white dolphin is now placed at the highest level of protection under Taiwan's Wildlife Conservation Law.
Coastal pollution accruing from industrial and human sewage waste and the cumulative impacts of coastal development would mean tainting the water which the dolphins live in. Before issuing protection measures and drawing up conservation programmes, the impacts that these threats on dolphins have to be first addressed and understood.
Performing land-based observation on dolphin-watching activities.
Most land-based observations in Hong Kong take place in Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park. This type of far-off observation is useful as it provides an elevated pedestal with which to view and survey the entire study area. This allows an unobstructed view of the whole scene and environment, which gives the observer the chance to observe interactions between dolphins, and also between dolphins and passing boats. Furthermore, this observation does not disturb the dolphins in any way and therefore will not affect their usual behaviour.
Conducting exploratory surveys along the Guangdong province coastline.
Despite having intensive research efforts conducted in Hong Kong's territorial portion of the Pearl River Estuary in the preceding seven years, only a years' worth of effort was dedicated to acquiring data about the rest of the estuary. The contrasting surveillance effort between the Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese waters has hindered the general understanding of the entire Pearl River Estuary population of Chinese white dolphins.
The long term aims of the exploratory surveys are to estimate the population of the Chinese white dolphin in the PRE and to study the spatial and temporal patterns of their distribution and habitats. The HKDCS also wishes to assess the threats faced by dolphins within the area, and to provide suggestions on the conservation and management of the Chinese white dolphin to the Guangdong authorities.
The HKDCS maintains that additional dolphin surveys in the rest of the Guangdong coastline is urgently needed. Data concerning their trends in abundance, distribution, habitat use, social organisation, life history, mortality rates and causes of Chinese white dolphins are to be acquired.
Studying cetaceans in Matzu Island with FormosaCetus.
The Matzu Islands, a small group island off Taiwan in the East China Sea, has found to be home to some cetaceans as well. Little is known about their distribution and population characteristics, hence sparking off HKDCS' research programme with Formosa Cetus.
Researching internship programme.
The HKDCS also holds an internship programme for local tertiary students, who are majoring in general biology, environmental science and/or other relevant fields, during the summer and also all year round. Student interns will be able to help in a variety of research aspects; including the observation of impacts on Chinese white dolphins brought about by dolphin-watching activities, conducting boat surveys as well as studying about vessel effects on finless porpoises.
Activities.
Past activities.
The HKDCS organises a wide range of activities that can be categorised into the following two groups:
Latest activities.
The HKDCS financed the "Environmental & Conservation Fund" and "Environmental Campaign Committee", and worked hand-in-hand with the Parent-Teacher Associations of participating schools, resulting in the latest creation of workshops for primary school students which will be held from September 2006 to December 2007. The HKDCS hopes to convey the message of the conservation of dolphins, through tailor-made activities for the primary school kids and their parents, such as distributing educational booklets and chessboards with the theme of Hong Kong dolphins and making paper-clay models of dolphins etc.
The large scale exhibition "Get close with Chinese White Dolphin", was jointly held by the HKDCS and the Cityplaza.
There has recently been a protest against the slaughtering of dolphins and small whales within Japanese waters. It is estimated that more than a total of 400,000 cetaceans have been killed. The HKDCS called upon the public to support and join the campaign protesting against this massacre. The society also sent a letter to the Consulate-General of Japan regarding the issue.
Dolphin-conservation-related societies or organisations in Hong Kong.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.
AFCD – This government department provides services with agriculture and fisheries, as well as offering help in the conservation and regulation of animals, plants and fisheries. With regard to dolphins, the department carries out different projects, such as the conservation programme for Chinese white dolphins and the organising of various exhibitions.


Loch Garten

Loch Garten (Scots Gaelic: "Loch a' Ghartain") is a large Highland freshwater loch near Boat of Garten, in the Strathspey area of the Cairngorms National Park, in Scotland. It is surrounded by the tall pine trees of the Abernethy Forest, a large area (adjacent to the loch) of which is an RSPB nature reserve. The loch is renowned for its breeding population of ospreys, which lend Boat of Garten its nickname "The Osprey Village".
Careless behaviour towards the osprey in Britain throughout the 19th century meant that it became extinct as a breeding bird by the early 20th. However, in 1954 two Scandinavian breeding birds came to Garten completely of their own accord and set up a nest in the forest by the loch. Slowly the species recolonised Scotland (for more information see ospreys in Britain), and the RSPB and other organisations helped them along the way (not an easy task due to the illegal activities of egg collectors and other irresponsible people). The reserve was purchased by the charity and since then the nest has always been closely monitored. Recently a viewing hide was built relatively near to the nest so that visitors may come and see these birds of prey easily. The hide has telescopes and other optical devices inside, as well as television screens showing close-up views of the fledglings and their parents. Live video and still pictures of the nest can be viewed on the RSPB Loch Garten Reserve web-site.
Ospreys are not the only creatures to be found at Loch Garten. Capercaillies, though difficult to see, do inhabit the remoter parts of the reserve and can be seen performing their annual lek via the spring "Caperwatch". Red squirrels can be seen very easily around the hide, especially on the feeders put out for them. Smaller birds such as the siskin, common chaffinch (in very large numbers) and great spotted woodpecker are also present and easy to spot on the feeders. The crested tit and Scottish crossbill are more reserved in their behaviour and more difficult to find. Wigeon live by and swim on the loch.
Loch Garten Osprey Centre.
The Loch Garten Osprey Centre is a bird-watching facility on Loch Garten that focuses on the nest of two ospreys. It is an RSPB facility located in the Caledonian pine forest.
The birds return to the nesting site every year and the numerous binoculars and telescopes within the centre allow for effective bird watching. Visitors can also see red squirrels and other small birds feeding in front of the bird hide. A pair of ospreys have been nesting at the site every year since 1959. The tree which houses the nest died due to the droppings and remains of prey from the nesting birds. To protect the site, the remaining tree trunk is supported by a strut and helps form a sturdy platform for the nest.
The surrounding forest includes walking different paths passing by a large loch which is also known as Loch Mallachie. Some of the trails link up with the Speyside way. The Abernethy Forest RSPB reserve where the centre is located is among the largest in nature reserves Europe.


List of national parks in Albania

This is a list of national parks in Albania which includes 14 national parks and a marine park. They cover a surface area of or roughly 6.7% of the overall territory. The national policy for governing and management of the national parks is implemented by the Ministry of Environment of Albania.


Tejas Thackeray

Tejas Thackeray is an Indian conservationist and wildlife researcher. He is the son of Uddhav Thackeray, an Indian politician serving as the 19th and current Chief Minister of Maharashtra, leader of the Shiv Sena, and grandson of Bal Thackeray.
Early life.
Thackeray was born to Rashmi Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai. His elder brother Aditya Thackeray is an Indian Politician serving as Cabinet Minister of Tourism and Environment Government of Maharashtra.
Career.
Along with Dr. S.K. Pati of ZSI and Anil Khaire, he was a part of the naming and description of Ghatiana atropurpurea and Ghatiana splendida. The three Gubernatorianas ( alcocki, thackerayi and waghi) were described and named by Dr. Pati.
In October 2020, Thackeray was part of a team that discovered a new type of fish named "Schistura hiranyakeshi".


List of national parks of Argentina

The National Parks of Argentina make up a network of 35 national parks in Argentina. The parks cover a very varied set of terrains and biotopes, from Baritú National Park on the northern border with Bolivia to Tierra del Fuego National Park in the far south of the continent. The Administración de Parques Nacionales (National Parks Administration) is the agency that preserves and manages these national parks along with Natural monuments and National Reserves within the country.
The headquarters of the National Service are in downtown Buenos Aires, on Santa Fe Avenue. A library and information centre are open to the public. The administration also covers the national monuments, such as the Jaramillo Petrified Forest, and natural and educational reserves.
History.
The creation of the National Parks dates back to the 1903 donation of of land in the Lake District in the Andes foothills by Francisco Moreno. This formed the nucleus of a larger protected area in Patagonia around San Carlos de Bariloche. In 1934, a law was passed creating the National Parks system, formalising the protected area as the Nahuel Huapi National Park and creating the Iguazú National Park. Thus, Argentina was the third country in the Americas, after United States and Canada to establish a national parks system. The National Park Police Force was born, enforcing the new laws preventing tree-felling and hunting. Their early task was largely to establish national sovereignty over these disputed areas and to protect borders. Five further national parks were declared in 1937 in Patagonia and the service planned new towns and facilities to promote tourism and education. Six more were declared by 1970.
In 1970 a new law established new categories of protection: National Parks, National Monuments, Educational Reserves, and Natural Reserves. Three national parks were designated in the 1970s. In 1980, another new law affirmed the status of national parks - this law is still in place. The 1980s saw the service reaching out to local communities and local government to help in the running and development of the national parks. Ten more national parks were created with local co-operation, sometimes at local instigation. In 2000, Mburucuyá and Copo National Parks were declared, and El Leoncito natural reserve was upgraded to a national park. Currently, there are 41 protected areas in Argentina, which cover an area of or about 1.5% of the total land area in Argentina.


Monte Pascoal National Park

Monte Pascoal National Park () is a national park in the state of Bahia, Brazil.
Location.
The National and Historical park is in the Atlantic Forest biome.
It covers an area of , of which overlaps with the Barra Velha indigenous land.
It was created by decree 242 of 29 November 1961, modified by decree 3.421 of 20 April 2000, and is administered by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.
It became part of the Central Atlantic Forest Ecological Corridor, created in 2002.
The reserve covers parts of the municipalities of Porto Seguro and Prado in the state of Bahia.
It is part of the Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves, a group of eight protected areas holding of the Atlantic Forest biome, that has been designated a World Heritage Site.
The park contains and takes its name from Monte Pascoal, the first land seen by the Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral.
Conservation.
The park is classified as IUCN protected area category II (national park).
It has the objectives of preserving natural ecosystems of great ecological relevance and scenic beauty, enabling scientific research, environmental education, outdoors recreation and eco-tourism.
Protected birds in the reserve include red-browed amazon ("Amazona rhodocorytha"), white-necked hawk ("Buteogallus lacernulatus"), ringed woodpecker ("Celeus torquatus"), black-headed berryeater ("Carpornis melanocephala"), red-billed curassow ("Crax blumenbachii"), banded cotinga ("Cotinga maculata"), band-tailed antwren ("Myrmotherula urosticta") and the ochre-marked parakeet ("Pyrrhura cruentata").
Other protected species include the jaguar ("Panthera onca"), cougar ("Puma concolor"), giant armadillo ("Priodontes maximus"), the fish "Mimagoniates sylvicola" and the ant "Dinoponera lucida".


Sai Kung West Country Park (Wan Tsai Extension)

Sai Kung West Country Park (Wan Tsai Extension) () is a country park on the Sai Kung Peninsula in northeast Hong Kong. Opened in 1996 the park's sights include:


Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary

Khlong Saeng () is a wildlife sanctuary in southern Thailand, in western Surat Thani Province. The wildlife sanctuary is named after the river ("khlong") "Saeng", a tributary of the Phum Duang River.
The sanctuary includes an area of 1,155 km2 of Khiri Rat Nikhom District and Ban Ta Khun District, north of Khao Sok National Park and Ratchaprapha Dam. Most lowland areas in the Khlong Saeng valley were flooded with the construction of the dam and the creation of Cheow Lan Reservoir. This now flooded area was the only site in Thailand where Storm's stork ("Ciconia stormi") was confirmed to breed in 1986. Khlong Saeng is believed to be the habitat of about 200 wild elephants and 400 gaur. The population of clouded leopards and Asian golden cats is thought to have increased. In 2019, cameras were installed in the sanctuary to take pictures of endangered and protected animals in a 750,000-rai area north of the Ratchaprapha Dam. Photos captured rare animals such as clouded leopards and Asian golden cats. Traces of other rare animals such as black tigers and leopards were also found.


Henry S. Harper

Henry Sleeper Harper (11 March 1864 – 1 March 1944) was an American businessman. He was an "incorporator of Harper & Brothers when the firm became a corporation in 1896." Harper is remembered as a passenger on the RMS "Titanic" when it sank on April 15, 1912, and also for his work to save the Adirondack forests from logging, and for the fact that his Pekingese called Sun Yat-sen was one of three dogs to survive the sinking of the "Titanic."
Early life and education.
The son of Joseph Wesley Harper, Jr. (1839–1896) and Abigail Payson Sleeper (1829–1866), Henry graduated from Columbia University.
Career.
Henry was a director of the Harper & Brothers Publishing House. Henry's grandfather had founded the firm Harper & Brothers, which gave way in 1900 to the publishing house.
Personal life.
He was married to Myra Raymond Haxtun on February 28, 1889. They had one child who died in infancy. In 1911, he purchased a home at 133 E. 21st St., overlooking Gramercy Park from the north. After Myra’s death on November 27, 1923, he was remarried to Anne Waterman Hopson (1884–1976), a niece of his first wife, and they had a son, Henry Sleeper Harper, Jr.
Harper was a guest at Mark Twain's 67th birthday, held November 28, 1902, at the Metropolitan Club in New York.
He was a member of the University Club of New York and the Century Association. Additionally, he owned a camp at Buck Mountain Point, on Long Lake, in the Adirondacks, and served as secretary for The Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks.
R.M.S. "Titanic".
Henry and his wife Myra boarded the "Titanic" at Cherbourg, occupying First-Class Suite D33. Accompanying the Harpers was Hamad Hassab Bureik (an Egyptian dragoman, or interpreter, whom Henry had hired in and befriended in Egypt), and Henry's prized Pekinese dog, "Sun Yat Sen".
On the night of the sinking, Henry and Myra were having dinner. They were then told to go back to their cabin, get dressed warmly, put on their lifebelts, and go up to the boat deck. Henry put on an overcoat over his dinner tuxedo, and Myra put on a black fur coat over her sparkly dinner dress. She grabbed a pair of gloves, a fur muff, and her mother's pearl necklace that had been given her. Then, the wealthy couple boarded Lifeboat 3 along with Henry's dragoman and Sun Yat Sen. All four survived the sinking.
For the documentary "Ghosts of the Abyss " (2001), James Cameron sent a robot into the Harper's cabin and found Henry's bowler hat sitting on top of the remains of the wardrobe.


Nazinga Game Ranch

Nazinga Game Ranch is a game ranch in southern Burkina Faso.
History.
It was established in 1979 by Canadian brothers who grew up in the country, Robert and Clark Lungren. After years of observing the devastating impact of cyclical drought on domesticated livestock as well as the effects of poor resource management (deforestation, overgrazing, burning, soil fatigue, etc.) Clark believed that the key to saving the African people from famine and its wildlife from extinction was found in resource development. He set out to prove that when human prosperity can be generated through sustainable management of its natural resources, both people and environment win.
After several years of research and raising funds, Clark focused on a relatively unsettled region of Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso). Nazinga offered a topologically-varied environment, but endemic poaching was rapidly decimating the wildlife. He and Rob set up a conservation project with their families: using local labor they constructed dams, developed some 600 km of roads, built test paddocks and an administrative base, negotiated local subsistence farmers to abandon fields within the ranch boundaries, and banned all livestock from its land. They hired local poachers as game keepers in order to give them an incentive to protect it, established a fishing management program, and invited biologists from several countries to help them carry out wildlife and ecological studies. They also reintroduced native wildlife species which had been eradicated from the region.
The results exceeded all expectations. The studies found that wildlife has a far higher tolerance to drought, thrived on varieties of grasses and leaves that cattle derived little nutrition from, and did not cause erosion by overgrazing. They also produced far more meat per kilogram of animal than livestock. Studies found that culling adult animals by a certain percentage per species actually increased their reproduction rates and replenished the population, while not culling only maintained the reproduction rate at a constant level. As a result, they developed a stringent program of culling wildlife by night and processing the meat under controlled circumstances. This employed a growing number of local people, hugely increased the local protein intake (from the poorest in the country to the highest), and provided a quality and highly marketable meat which was sold in supermarkets in the capital city. Poachers were no longer able to compete with the quantity and quality of legally marketed wild meat. And the Nazinga Game Ranch became a significant source of tax revenue to the national government.
Their success became part of the projects' downfall. The interest of international development funders wanting to get behind the project and the healthy cash flow were too much to resist. In 1989, a year before the project was to be officially turned over to national management, corrupt officials spread the rumour that the Lungrens were revolutionaries... a coup had recently taken place and the political climate was strained. The Lungrens were forcibly moved to the capital where they spent the next years completing the project studies in hopes that the ranch would nevertheless succeed.
Under national management, the Nazinga Game Ranch reverted to a national wildlife park catering to foreign tourists. Poaching and poor management are once more huge problems, and the project no longer stands as a revolutionary and successful innovation in tying grass-root ownership to effective environmental management.


Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi

Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to environmental education and the care of sick, mistreated and abandoned wildlife. Based and operated in Bolivia, it is the country's largest single destination for confiscated wildlife, though due to space limitations they are unable to accept all. The organization also carries out environmental activism and educational roles, focusing on animal rights and conservation. The name comprises words from three indigenous languages meaning sun, star and moon in the Quechua, Aymara and Chiriguano Guaraní languages.
The organization is supported by international volunteers that stay for a minimum of two weeks. Volunteers care for animals, clean and build cages and prepare food.
History.
In 1986, Juan Carlos Antezana and Tania "Nena" Baltazar began working with impoverished youth in a small neighborhood in El Alto, La Paz. They worked to support the needs of miners' children who had relocated to the area, providing alternative education including carpentry workshops, tailoring, horticulture in greenhouses and other activities.
As part of the education program, the children were taken on field trips to the Yungas region of La Paz. During one such trip, the children witnessed the effect of man's impact on the environment and the effect that slash-and-burn agriculture has on wildlife. This deeply affected the children, and they agreed to create an environmental movement with the aim of showing the public the negative effect of destroying the rainforest and other activities that cause damage to nature. Marches were held in La Paz, Oruro, Santa Cruz, Sucre and Cochabamba. These youth formed an integral part in CIWY's early attempts to raise awareness of environmental destruction.
During another field trip, the children witnessed blatant abuse of wildlife: they found a spider monkey in the city of Rurrenabaque kept in a local bar. Antezana and Baltazar rescued, treated and released the monkey. However, the monkey returned to Rurrenabaque and was again captured. Antezana and Baltazar realized a wildlife sanctuary would be necessary to protect these animals. CIWY was formally organized in 1992. The organization worked with and cared for rescued animals in a Japanese garden in La Paz until 1996, when the mayor of Villa Tunari granted conditional use of Parque Machía for the organization's rescue efforts.
Wildlife centers.
Parque Machía.
Parque Machía is situated in Villa Tunari in Chapare Province, in the department of Cochabamba. In 1996 the municipal council of Villa Tunari granted CIWY use of the park's land under the condition that CIWY looked after it, as it was under threat from deforestation and poaching. The center specializes in the care of spider monkeys and capuchin monkeys.
The center is directed by head vet Dr. Luis Morales and run by several permanent staff. Their work is supported by mainly foreign volunteers who work for a minimum of two weeks. Volunteers help to build and maintain cages, prepare food, provide enrichment programs, take animals for walks in the jungle and create new trails.
Animals that are cared for include pumas, ocelots, capuchin monkeys, spider monkeys, an Andean bear, coati, parrots and toucans.
Road construction.
In 2009, the municipal council of Villa Tunari approved the construction of a road that would cut through the park in order to improve access to communities. Despite an international campaign against the road, construction began in 2010. The road has loosened ground soil, causing landslides during the heavy rainy seasons, not only making the road impassable for much of the year, but also contributing to further loss of habitat for CIWY's efforts. In 2009, Jane Goodall visited Villa Tunari to speak against the destruction of the road. In 2010, four pumas were relocated to Parque Jacj Cuisi as a result of land loss due to the road's construction.
Parque Ambue Ari.
Parque Ambue Ari is an 800-hectare wildlife center located in the department of Santa Cruz between the cities of Santa Cruz and Trinidad. Unlike the land used in Parque Machia, Parque Ambue Ari's land is owned by CIWY, purchased in 2002 from a local cacao farmer. The center was opened in order to work more independently and to house an increasing number of rescued wildlife. The words "ambue ari" mean "new day" in the native language Guarayo.
The natural habitat within Parque Ambue Ari is an ideal location to care for jaguars, pumas, ocelots, exotic birds, tapirs, coati and red howler monkeys; however, local farmers have encroached on the center's land and hunters have been found within its territory.
The organization is in charge of the medical aspects of all animals while volunteers help by cleaning cages, feeding the animals, providing enrichment and assisting in construction or maintenance.
Parque Jacj Cuisi.
During the final months of 2008, the land where Parque Jacj Cuisi is based on was acquired. Jacj Cuisi, which is the newest of CIWY's wildlife centers, encompasses a 300 hectare area located approximately 35 km from the village of San Buenaventura, opposite the town of Rurrenabaque, and in the department of La Paz. Its location is important for the development of CIWY's work, as it is linked to the Madidi National Park, a 1.8 million hectare reserve and an ideal land for potential reintroduction programs. 'Jacj Cuisi' means 'Land of Dreams' in the native language Mosetan Tacana.
Jacj Cuisi is currently in the initial phases of construction and cares for four pumas that have been transferred from Parque Machía due to the loss of habitat caused by the 2010 road construction. Current priorities include completing the large veterinary clinic and a quarantine.
Education.
CIWY's beginnings were in educating poor children of El Alto, La Paz. Through the years, as CIWY's work began to encompass wildlife care and environmentalism, the type of education provided changed to focus on these topics. Today, CIWY visits cities and villages throughout Bolivia, putting on educational programs for youth.
International partnerships.
CIWY today has branches in England, Switzerland and Israel, all founded and run by past volunteers.
CIWY has the support of Jane Goodall and the Jane Goodall Institute. In October 2009, Jane Goodall visited Parque Machía and Parque Ambue Ari. CIWY is also supported by One Voice, a French animal rights organization; and The Monkey Sanctuary, a British organization that cares for rescued monkeys. In 2011, Luis Morales visited and assisted The Monkey Sanctuary.
In 1998, Baltazar was recognized by the Women's World Summit Foundation for her work with CIWY, being awarded their Prize for Women's Creativity in Rural Life. In 2010, she was again recognized, this time by , a French animal rights organization. After participating with One Voice in a silent protest for animal rights below the Eiffel Tower, One Voice offered Baltazar a donation to be used for the purchase of a vehicle. In 2011, the funds were used to purchase CIWY's first vehicle.


Duns Castle nature reserve

Duns Castle nature reserve is a nature reserve near Duns, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, in the former Berwickshire.
The reserve is one of eight reserves in the Scottish Borders, maintained by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. It consists of two man-made lakes, Hen Poo and Mill Dam; apart from the wetland, there are extensive woodland areas.
Places nearby include Abbey St Bathans, Chirnside, Ednam, Fogo, Gavinton, Polwarth, Preston.


Kerinci Seblat National Park

Kerinci Seblat National Park is the largest national park on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. It has a total area of 13,791 km2, and spans four provinces: West Sumatra, Jambi, Bengkulu, and South Sumatra.
Geography.
It is located between 100°31'18"E - 102°44'01"E and 1°07'13"S - 3°26'14"S.
The park area includes a large part of the Barisan mountain range, which form the western spine of Sumatra island and includes the highest peak in Sumatra, Mount Kerinci (3,805 m), one of more than five active volcanoes in the national park. This mainly montane park includes hot springs, rivers with rapids, caves, scenic waterfalls, and the highest caldera lake in Southeast Asia - Lake Gunung Tujuh, while the Great Sumatran fault runs through the national park making the area of great interest to geologists. The park completely encircles the populated Kerinci valley.
Flora and fauna.
The park is home to diverse flora and fauna. Over 4,000 plant species have been identified to date in the park area, including the world's largest flower, "Rafflesia arnoldi", and the plant with the largest unbranched inflorescence, the titan arum.
The fauna include Sumatran tigers, and the park is recognised under the Global Tiger Initiative as one of the 12 most important protected areas in the world for tiger conservation. A recent study shows that the Kerinci Seblat National Park in central Sumatra has the highest population of tigers on the island, estimated to be at 165-190 individuals. The park also was shown to have the highest tiger occupancy rate of the protected areas, with 83% of the park showing signs of tigers. More tigers are in the Kerinci Seblat National Park than in all of Nepal, and more than in China, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam combined.
The national park is home for other kinds of big, medium, and small cats, clouded leopard/"macan dahan" ("Neofelis nebulosa"), marbled cat/"kucing batu" ("Pardofelis marmorata"), leopard cat/"kucing hutan" ("Prionailurus bengalensis"), and Asian golden cat/"kucing emas" ("Catopuma temminckii"). The Asian golden cats can be found everywhere in the national park, as they adapt well to various kinds of habitat, both forested and open spaces. One camera trap image gave a rare photo of a golden cat mother moving a cub to another location with her mouth.
Other highly endangered species include Sumatran dhole, Sumatran elephants, Sunda clouded leopard, Malayan tapir, and Malayan sun bear. In 2008, the International Union for Conservation of Nature added a second species of muntjak deer to the Sumatran list of fauna with the rediscovery of the Sumatran muntjac, a deer not recorded since the late 1920s and now concluded as a new species and not subspecies. The park also protects more than 370 bird species, including the Sumatran ground-cuckoo rediscovered in the park in 2002.
The Kerinci area is home to more than 300 bird species, including 17 of Sumatra's 20 endemic birds, making it of particular importance to ornithologists and bird-watching enthusiasts.
The population of Sumatran rhinoceros in the park was estimated to number around 500 in the 1980s, but due to poaching, the Kerinci Seblat population is now considered extinct.
Conservation and threats.
The national park was declared in 1982, formed from numerous watershed protection forests or "hutan lindung" and small nature reserves, although its borders were only legally confirmed in the late 1990s.
Together with Bukit Barisan Selatan and Gunung Leuser National Parks, it forms a World Heritage Site, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra. Since 2011 the UNESCO also lists this world heritage as World Heritage in Danger.
Kerinci Seblat National Park is also recognised as an ASEAN Heritage Site.
Wildlife conservation program.
To practicing personal relations with Sumatran elephants, Seblat Elephant Conservation Center in Bengkulu Province is the sole center which receives local and foreign students. Until June 2012, the students (volunteers) came from France, Russia, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Belgium, and from within the country. At the 7-day course, they learn how an elephant tamer takes care of the elephants. They also help feeding and bathing the 19 elephants at the center feeding milk to a two-year-old elephant calf. The students make a report once they return to their respective home countries.