As the tide of chemicals born of the industrial age has arisen to engulf our environment. Today we are concerned with a different kind of hazard that lurks in our environment. Pollution , water smog,volcano smoke, grass and vegetation all represents the native lands we all inhabit. the environment issue faced are of life and preservation to our well being. With out a clean sky birds cannot fly, without clean water animals can't swim, drink or eat; from the plant nets resources neither can we. Man destroys wood and trees for its development for other resources of survival.
poverty is every where we see from the grave to the front door, do we open with respect to our nature or lose, because we fear our progress which will it be. why do we make things to kill ourselves than preserve ourselves. We make cigarettes, grow food & pollute or waters knowing it will kills us. It seems that we are trying to change the population size from growing out of control, or is it's because we are on a faster paste than we need. It may be we can't control our own in order to keep an advantage. Are we running out of room for the populations growth size.
the battle of living things began so long ago that its origin is lost in time. But it must have begun in a natural environment, in which whatever life inhabited the earth was subjected, for good or ill.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
DIFFERENT TYPES OF TURTLES
Turtles are excellent pets. They are one of the few economical exotic pets. Here are details about the different types of turtles.
Enlarge ImageTurtles make good pets. Though dogs and cats are a much more preferred pet, turtles make very good economic exotic pets. One of the main reasons that turtles make good pets is that they are mainly indoor animals and add to the beauty of a home. Here is a list of the various types of turtles.
Chicken Turtle The chicken turtle, scientific name Deirochelys reticularia is a freshwater turtle. It is uncommon and is normally found only in the south east of the United States. These turtles have an unusually long neck which is striped. They also have a yellowish stripe on their forelegs and rear legs. The carapace of the Chicken Turtle, commonly known as the shell of the turtle, is pear shaped. The carapace is either olive or a dark shade of brown. The average lifespan of a Chicken Turtle is twenty to twenty four years. Chicken Turtles are omnivorous, meaning they can eat animal as well as plant matter. Therefore, they eat different kinds of fish, insects, frogs, tadpoles, crayfish, other invertebrates as well as fruits and aquatic plant matter. The subspecies of Chicken Turtles are the 'Eastern Chicken Turtle', scientific name Deirochelys reticularia reticularia, the Western Chicken Turtle, scientific name Deirochelys reticularia miaria and the Florida Chicken Turtle, scientific name Deirochelys reticularia chrysea.Males have a longer and thicker tail than females, though the female Chicken Turtle is larger than the males. Chicken Turtles are commonly found on land and migrate between aquatic habitats and the soil. They normally try to escape dry conditions. They hibernate either in the soft mud or the vegetations in water.
Painted Turtle: This turtle is one of the different types of turtle which is a reptile. It is commonly found in North America. It is a water turtle and is related to other water turtles like the cooters and sliders. The Painted Turtle uses its shell to protect it from other predators. The Painted Turtle also has an exquisite design at its bottom, this is where it gets it name from. The Painted Turtle is an aquatic reptile and therefore is found in lakes, marshes, ponds and sometimes in slow moving rivers. These slow moving rivers have muddy and soft bottoms which make them a perfect habitat for the Painted Turtle. The Painted Turtle may live for up to thirty years. It is a carnivorous. Graptemys: The Graptemys, commonly known as the Map Turtle or Saw Back Turtle are aquatic and commonly found in freshwater. They are found throughout Eastern United States and Southern Canada. They are named 'map turtles' because of the yellow or cream colored markings on their head, neck and legs, which are very similar to a road map.
Graptemys: The Graptemys, commonly known as the Map Turtle or Saw Back Turtle are aquatic and commonly found in freshwater. They are found throughout Eastern United States and Southern Canada. They are named 'map turtles' because of the yellow or cream colored markings on their head, neck and legs, which are very similar to a road map.
Trachemys: The Red Eared Slider belongs to the family Emydidae of turtles. It is commonly found in the southern United States. The Red Eared Slider is a terrapin, meaning it is a semi-aquatic turtle. These turtles are commonly kept as pets. They are omnivores. Young Red Eared Sliders do not eat when the temperature is below fifty degrees Fahrenheit. They can be fed once a day when the temperature is between fifty and sixty eight degrees Fahrenheit. They can be fed almost three times a day when the temperature is between sixty eight to eighty six degrees Fahrenheit.
Trachemys gaigeae The Big Bend Slider, scientific name Trachemys gaigeae, is a native of the states of Texas and New Mexico in the United States. It is a aquatic turtle. It is found mainly in the Rio Conchos and the Rio Grandes river systems. They often bask under rocks and logs in the water. They are omnivorous.
Enlarge ImageTurtles make good pets. Though dogs and cats are a much more preferred pet, turtles make very good economic exotic pets. One of the main reasons that turtles make good pets is that they are mainly indoor animals and add to the beauty of a home. Here is a list of the various types of turtles.
Chicken Turtle The chicken turtle, scientific name Deirochelys reticularia is a freshwater turtle. It is uncommon and is normally found only in the south east of the United States. These turtles have an unusually long neck which is striped. They also have a yellowish stripe on their forelegs and rear legs. The carapace of the Chicken Turtle, commonly known as the shell of the turtle, is pear shaped. The carapace is either olive or a dark shade of brown. The average lifespan of a Chicken Turtle is twenty to twenty four years. Chicken Turtles are omnivorous, meaning they can eat animal as well as plant matter. Therefore, they eat different kinds of fish, insects, frogs, tadpoles, crayfish, other invertebrates as well as fruits and aquatic plant matter. The subspecies of Chicken Turtles are the 'Eastern Chicken Turtle', scientific name Deirochelys reticularia reticularia, the Western Chicken Turtle, scientific name Deirochelys reticularia miaria and the Florida Chicken Turtle, scientific name Deirochelys reticularia chrysea.Males have a longer and thicker tail than females, though the female Chicken Turtle is larger than the males. Chicken Turtles are commonly found on land and migrate between aquatic habitats and the soil. They normally try to escape dry conditions. They hibernate either in the soft mud or the vegetations in water.
Painted Turtle: This turtle is one of the different types of turtle which is a reptile. It is commonly found in North America. It is a water turtle and is related to other water turtles like the cooters and sliders. The Painted Turtle uses its shell to protect it from other predators. The Painted Turtle also has an exquisite design at its bottom, this is where it gets it name from. The Painted Turtle is an aquatic reptile and therefore is found in lakes, marshes, ponds and sometimes in slow moving rivers. These slow moving rivers have muddy and soft bottoms which make them a perfect habitat for the Painted Turtle. The Painted Turtle may live for up to thirty years. It is a carnivorous. Graptemys: The Graptemys, commonly known as the Map Turtle or Saw Back Turtle are aquatic and commonly found in freshwater. They are found throughout Eastern United States and Southern Canada. They are named 'map turtles' because of the yellow or cream colored markings on their head, neck and legs, which are very similar to a road map.
Graptemys: The Graptemys, commonly known as the Map Turtle or Saw Back Turtle are aquatic and commonly found in freshwater. They are found throughout Eastern United States and Southern Canada. They are named 'map turtles' because of the yellow or cream colored markings on their head, neck and legs, which are very similar to a road map.
Trachemys: The Red Eared Slider belongs to the family Emydidae of turtles. It is commonly found in the southern United States. The Red Eared Slider is a terrapin, meaning it is a semi-aquatic turtle. These turtles are commonly kept as pets. They are omnivores. Young Red Eared Sliders do not eat when the temperature is below fifty degrees Fahrenheit. They can be fed once a day when the temperature is between fifty and sixty eight degrees Fahrenheit. They can be fed almost three times a day when the temperature is between sixty eight to eighty six degrees Fahrenheit.
Trachemys gaigeae The Big Bend Slider, scientific name Trachemys gaigeae, is a native of the states of Texas and New Mexico in the United States. It is a aquatic turtle. It is found mainly in the Rio Conchos and the Rio Grandes river systems. They often bask under rocks and logs in the water. They are omnivorous.
U.S. CENSUS WEBSITE RECORD OF DEMOGRAPHIC DATA
MINI PROJECT # 7
Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights:
General Characteristics -
number percent U.S
Toatl population 2,706
Male 1,358 50.2 49.1%
Female 1,348 49.8 50.9%
Median age (years) 33.4 (X) 35.3
Under 5 years 179 6.6 6.8%
18 years over 1,878 69.4 74.3%
65 years and over 208 7.7 12.4%
One race 2,576 95.2 97.6%
White 1,484 54.8 75.1%
Black or African American 727 26.9 12.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 9 0.3 0.9%
Asian 62 2.3 3.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 4 0.1 0.1%
Some other race 290 10.7 5.5%
Two or more races 130 4.8 2.4%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,171 43.3 12.5%
Household population 2,706 100.0 97.2%
Group quarters population 0.0 0.0 2.8%
Average household size 3.28 (X) 2.59
Average family size 3 60 (X) 3.14
Total housing units 891
Occupied housing units 825 92.6 91.0%
Owner-occupied housing units 692 83.9 66.2%
Renter-occupied housing units 133 16.1 33.8%
Vacant housing units 66 7.4 9.0%
Social Characteristics -
Number Percent U.S.
Population 25 years and over 1,608
High school graduate or higher 1,012 62.9 80.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher 126 7.8 24.4%
Civilian veterans (civilian population 18 years and over) 161 8.8 12.7%
Disability status (population 5 years and over) 629 26.7 19.3%
Foreign born 1,137 44.1 11.1%
Male, Now married, except separated (population 15 years and over)
462 48.3 56.7%
Female, Now married, except separated (population 15 years and over)
532 54.7 52.1%
Speak a language other than English at home (population 5 years and over)
1,326 56.2 17.9%
Economic Characteristics -
In labor force (population 16 years and over) 1,050 55.0 63.9%
Mean travel time to work in minutes (workers 16 years and over)
30.1 (X) 25.5
Median household income in 1999 (dollars) 36,786 (X) 41,994
Median family income in 1999 (dollars) 37,031 (X) 50,046
Per capita income in 1999 (dollars) 11,688 (X) 21,587
Families below poverty level 63 9.9 9.2%
Individuals below poverty level 362 14.0 12.4%
Housing Characteristics -
Single-family owner-occupied homes 615
Median value (dollars) 78,100 (X) 119,600
Median of selected monthly owner costs (X) (X)
With a mortgage (dollars) 866 (X) 1,088
Not mortgaged (dollars) 312 (X)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Summary File 1, Matrices H11, H12, and H17
The Census 2000 population for Miami Gardens CDP, Florida is 2,706
Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights:
General Characteristics -
number percent U.S
Toatl population 2,706
Male 1,358 50.2 49.1%
Female 1,348 49.8 50.9%
Median age (years) 33.4 (X) 35.3
Under 5 years 179 6.6 6.8%
18 years over 1,878 69.4 74.3%
65 years and over 208 7.7 12.4%
One race 2,576 95.2 97.6%
White 1,484 54.8 75.1%
Black or African American 727 26.9 12.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 9 0.3 0.9%
Asian 62 2.3 3.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 4 0.1 0.1%
Some other race 290 10.7 5.5%
Two or more races 130 4.8 2.4%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,171 43.3 12.5%
Household population 2,706 100.0 97.2%
Group quarters population 0.0 0.0 2.8%
Average household size 3.28 (X) 2.59
Average family size 3 60 (X) 3.14
Total housing units 891
Occupied housing units 825 92.6 91.0%
Owner-occupied housing units 692 83.9 66.2%
Renter-occupied housing units 133 16.1 33.8%
Vacant housing units 66 7.4 9.0%
Social Characteristics -
Number Percent U.S.
Population 25 years and over 1,608
High school graduate or higher 1,012 62.9 80.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher 126 7.8 24.4%
Civilian veterans (civilian population 18 years and over) 161 8.8 12.7%
Disability status (population 5 years and over) 629 26.7 19.3%
Foreign born 1,137 44.1 11.1%
Male, Now married, except separated (population 15 years and over)
462 48.3 56.7%
Female, Now married, except separated (population 15 years and over)
532 54.7 52.1%
Speak a language other than English at home (population 5 years and over)
1,326 56.2 17.9%
Economic Characteristics -
In labor force (population 16 years and over) 1,050 55.0 63.9%
Mean travel time to work in minutes (workers 16 years and over)
30.1 (X) 25.5
Median household income in 1999 (dollars) 36,786 (X) 41,994
Median family income in 1999 (dollars) 37,031 (X) 50,046
Per capita income in 1999 (dollars) 11,688 (X) 21,587
Families below poverty level 63 9.9 9.2%
Individuals below poverty level 362 14.0 12.4%
Housing Characteristics -
Single-family owner-occupied homes 615
Median value (dollars) 78,100 (X) 119,600
Median of selected monthly owner costs (X) (X)
With a mortgage (dollars) 866 (X) 1,088
Not mortgaged (dollars) 312 (X)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Summary File 1, Matrices H11, H12, and H17
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
MINI PROJECT # 6
Percations reguarding a biological terrorism attack in florida.
Since the 11 September attacks, much of the literature on terror has focused on the psychology of terrorism rather than on identifying attacks that may occur. While the psychology of terrorists is important, it doesn’t do much to help those responsible for defending against terrorist acts. One thing should be remembered: terrorists, whoever they may be (Middle Eastern, Asian, European, or domestic), will use whatever tools are most suitable that they’re trained to use and are available.
Since the 11 September attacks, much of the literature on terror has focused on the psychology of terrorism rather than on identifying attacks that may occur. While the psychology of terrorists is important, it doesn’t do much to help those responsible for defending against terrorist acts. One thing should be remembered: terrorists, whoever they may be (Middle Eastern, Asian, European, or domestic), will use whatever tools are most suitable that they’re trained to use and are available.
Since 11 September, much has been done to bolster defenses in the United States. These steps have focused on such sites as airports, tunnels, and bridges. Consequently, these types of sites have become hard targets, a fact of which terrorists are well aware. Even so, the question is whether those focusing on these hard targets are focusing on the areas in which we truly are vulnerable.
Methodology
We came to the conclusion that to meaningfully identify potential domestic terrorist attacks, we would need to look at relatively small geographic areas (for example, county by county) rather than at the nation. For this reason we selected Charlotte County, FL, for testing the effectiveness of our Terrorist Target Selection and Prioritization Model. The county is devoid of strategic targets. People who live there, like those in many other areas of the United States, go about their business every day without being particularly concerned about terrorist attacks. Charlotte County3 has approximately 150,000 residents; 35% are age 65 or older. County government and medical and health providers are the leading employment segments, along with the varied retail industry. The county has another interesting and distinguishing feature: it accommodated several of the 11 September terrorists. Mohammed Atta visited restaurants, facilitated overseas cash transfers, and sought aid in a local hospital there. It is reasonable to assume that the county is well known to al-Qaeda planners.
To identify potential terrorist attacks in Charlotte County, we created a team of eight “terror planners” (the authors of this article) with backgrounds in physics-math, psychology, infectious disease, radiation oncology, emergency room medicine, emergency management, environmental health planning, and senior levels of the U.S. military.
For any given terrorist event (such as a biological attack at a shopping mall), terrorists could choose to carry it out in dozens of ways. To provide a look into the thinking of terrorists, we developed three scenarios for carrying out some of the 14 events.
Scenario 1: Vehicle bomb attack, then chemical attack, at a major festival.
Objective: To stage a terrorist attack in Charlotte County, FL, that will kill many and maim many more and thus instill hysteria.
Strategy: A truck bomb attack followed immediately by a chemical attack.
Scenario 2: Vehicle bomb attack, then a chemical attack at a major shopping mall.
Objective: To stage an attack that will convince the American public that government is powerless to protect them.
Objective: To stage an attack that will convince the American public that government is powerless to protect them.
Strategy: A vehicle bomb attack will be used to cover an even more deadly chemical attack.
Scenario 3: Biological attacks in hospitals followed by suicide bomber attacks in a popular shopping mall.
Objective: To paralyze the state of Florida and have an impact on the entire United States.
Strategy: To surreptitiously attack a key industry—health care—and overtly attack the retail industry.
Conclusions
Starting with no a priori beliefs as to what terrorists might undertake, we were able to use the mode to cost-effectively identify and prioritize what terrorists might undertake within the county. By knowing what constitutes high-priority potential targets, those responsible for the at-risk entities (hospitals, festivals, etc.) have the opportunity to implement countermeasures designed to avoid (or reduce the severity of) terrorist attacks.
Not only political or military entities may become targets of terrorist attacks. Consider Illinois State University, with 22-story twin dormitories in which over 2,000 students reside, and State Farm Insurance Company’s national headquarters a mile or so away. It would make sense for planners in such entities to assess their vulnerabilities to terrorist acts but, unfortunately, they probably aren’t doing so. As Joshua Sinai indicated, as a nation, we don’t suffer from intelligence failures so much as from failures in imagination.
Recommendations
Because it is both effective and cost-efficient, the Stungis-Schori Terrorist Target Selection and Prioritization Model should be widely used by federal, state, county, and city governments and other entities to assess vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks.
If the methodology we used in Charlotte County is faithfully followed in assessing other entities, the resulting terrorist alert scores will be useful in comparing the vulnerabilities in one entity with those in another. In Charlotte County, a terrorist alert score of 3.0 is the point at which one should start developing countermeasures, as opposed to ignoring the threats.
citited from:George E. Stungis and Thomas R. Schori, “A Terrorist Target Selection and Prioritization Model,” Journal of Homeland Security, March 2003.
2. Joshua Sinai, “How to Forecast and Preempt al-Qaeda’s Catastrophic Terrorist Warfare,” Journal of Homeland Security, August 2003.
3. Robert Carpenter, Charlotte County, Florida, Statistical Prospectus, 2002-2003 edition, Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, Punta Gorda, FL.
4. G.A.V. Borg and L. E. Marks, “Twelve Meanings of the Measure Constant in Psychological Power Functions,” Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, vol. 21, pp. 73-75, 1983.
2. Joshua Sinai, “How to Forecast and Preempt al-Qaeda’s Catastrophic Terrorist Warfare,” Journal of Homeland Security, August 2003.
3. Robert Carpenter, Charlotte County, Florida, Statistical Prospectus, 2002-2003 edition, Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, Punta Gorda, FL.
4. G.A.V. Borg and L. E. Marks, “Twelve Meanings of the Measure Constant in Psychological Power Functions,” Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, vol. 21, pp. 73-75, 1983.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Bahamas - Global Studies of Forestry Country Profiles
Forests and the forestry sector
Resources The forest resources of the Bahamas have been classified into three distinct types, namely pine forests (~200 000 ha), coppice forests (= secondary hardwood forests, ~200 000 ha) and mangrove forest (~400 000 ha). These figures are rather rough estimates since there are no inventory data available for coppice and mangrove forests. Approximately 80 percent of the forest resources are on State lands (Crown land), with the remaining 20 percent in private holdings. The pine forests (Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis) are considered the most productive and commercially viable forest resources, found on four of the most northerly islands. The commercial utilization of the pine forests started in 1906 and continued unabated until the early 1970s, when the resource was completely exploited and all licenses and concessions were relinquished to the government. The current stock, last inventoried in 1986, is the result of natural regeneration after the exploitation. The coppice hardwood forests are found predominantly in the central and southern Bahamas and have never been inventoried. They comprise various hardwood species harvested in the past for sawlogs. Some noted valuable species include buttonwood, mahogany, gum elemi, ratwood, black ebony and red cedar.The mangrove forest ecosystems occur predominantly on the lee shores of most Bahamian Islands. Most mangrove forest is under 5 m in height and would have to be classified as other wooded land and not as closed forest. There has been no attempt to quantify the extent of coastal deforestation or changes in forest cover.Until the 1970s the forest sector in the Bahamas relied primarily on the exploitation of natural forest resources for wood products, such as timber for construction, boat building, furniture and fuel and pulpwood to produce paper. The activity contributed significantly to the national economy in terms of employment and the development of infrastructure in the Family Island communities. Many of the more valuable hardwoods were exported, depleting the forests to such a degree that mature specimens are now extremely rare. Since the late 1980s the focus of the forestry sector has shifted from one of forest exploitation to that of the multipurpose functions of the Bahamian forests. Forest management is not actively practised in the Bahamas and it is accepted that the main value of the forests lies in the conservation and protection of freshwater resources, maintenance of the hydrological cycle, soil conservation, conservation of biological diversity and climate and microclimate regulation. This is particularly significant on the larger northern islands where groundwater beneath the natural pine forests is the major source of freshwater. Additional functions of these forests include recreation and ecotourism, aesthetics and natural scenery, opportunities for agricultural and agroforestry development, and the establishment of national park and protected areas. There are currently no formal primary forest industries in the Bahamas since forest exploitation ceased in the late 1970s. Consequently the Bahamas relies heavily on imports of forest products to sustain the demand for goods and services. The sector contributes little to GDP. Nevertheless, the naturally regenerating pine forests on State lands promise a renewed asset for sustainable forest utilization for small local industries. Economic and environmental contribution The local production of woodfuel and the use of wood for energy has not been quantified. There is a small but significant number of illegal charcoal operations in the country. Due to the relative high standard of living in the Bahamas the demand for fuelwood and charcoal is rather low. There has been no effort to quantify the extent of trees outside forests in the urban centres. The passage of Hurricane Floyd in September 1999 severely damaged and destroyed native and introduced trees in the urban areas of New Providence Island. To address the destruction the government embarked on an island-wide plant beautification programme with the importation of 10 000 exotic trees (coconut palms, royal palms, etc.) to be planted in rural, urban and coastal areas, complemented by trees purchased from local growers. The attempt to salvage the wind blown trees in the pine forests never materialized. The forest resources offer some opportunities for game hunting of wild animals (quail, wild hogs and pigeons) by tourists and locals alike. There is also a potential of the local forest to provide non-wood forest products. The indigenous forest resource offers opportunities for agriculture and agroforestry development. The best arable lands for agroforestry are those under natural pine forests, particularly in the northern Bahamas. Large areas of this arable land are currently under citrus cultivation and other cash crops for domestic and export markets. Small farmers are encouraged to cultivate cash crops intermixed with forest trees and to adopt other agroforestry systems. The natural forest which fringes these agricultural developments provide much needed shelter from strong winds and assists in reducing the effects of catastrophic storms and hurricanes that the country may experience during the summer months. In addition, the unique features of the Bahamian forests, including the multiform vegetation, flowers, fruits, medicinal plants, rich and varied bird life (including the rare and endangered Bahama parrot, endemic only to the Bahamas) and plentiful wildlife, offer potential with respect to the conservation of biodiversity and ecotourism. Selected areas of forest have been designated as conservation forest to achieve this purpose. The Ministry of tourism has formulated a National Ecotourism Strategy for the Bahamas.
Resources The forest resources of the Bahamas have been classified into three distinct types, namely pine forests (~200 000 ha), coppice forests (= secondary hardwood forests, ~200 000 ha) and mangrove forest (~400 000 ha). These figures are rather rough estimates since there are no inventory data available for coppice and mangrove forests. Approximately 80 percent of the forest resources are on State lands (Crown land), with the remaining 20 percent in private holdings. The pine forests (Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis) are considered the most productive and commercially viable forest resources, found on four of the most northerly islands. The commercial utilization of the pine forests started in 1906 and continued unabated until the early 1970s, when the resource was completely exploited and all licenses and concessions were relinquished to the government. The current stock, last inventoried in 1986, is the result of natural regeneration after the exploitation. The coppice hardwood forests are found predominantly in the central and southern Bahamas and have never been inventoried. They comprise various hardwood species harvested in the past for sawlogs. Some noted valuable species include buttonwood, mahogany, gum elemi, ratwood, black ebony and red cedar.The mangrove forest ecosystems occur predominantly on the lee shores of most Bahamian Islands. Most mangrove forest is under 5 m in height and would have to be classified as other wooded land and not as closed forest. There has been no attempt to quantify the extent of coastal deforestation or changes in forest cover.Until the 1970s the forest sector in the Bahamas relied primarily on the exploitation of natural forest resources for wood products, such as timber for construction, boat building, furniture and fuel and pulpwood to produce paper. The activity contributed significantly to the national economy in terms of employment and the development of infrastructure in the Family Island communities. Many of the more valuable hardwoods were exported, depleting the forests to such a degree that mature specimens are now extremely rare. Since the late 1980s the focus of the forestry sector has shifted from one of forest exploitation to that of the multipurpose functions of the Bahamian forests. Forest management is not actively practised in the Bahamas and it is accepted that the main value of the forests lies in the conservation and protection of freshwater resources, maintenance of the hydrological cycle, soil conservation, conservation of biological diversity and climate and microclimate regulation. This is particularly significant on the larger northern islands where groundwater beneath the natural pine forests is the major source of freshwater. Additional functions of these forests include recreation and ecotourism, aesthetics and natural scenery, opportunities for agricultural and agroforestry development, and the establishment of national park and protected areas. There are currently no formal primary forest industries in the Bahamas since forest exploitation ceased in the late 1970s. Consequently the Bahamas relies heavily on imports of forest products to sustain the demand for goods and services. The sector contributes little to GDP. Nevertheless, the naturally regenerating pine forests on State lands promise a renewed asset for sustainable forest utilization for small local industries. Economic and environmental contribution The local production of woodfuel and the use of wood for energy has not been quantified. There is a small but significant number of illegal charcoal operations in the country. Due to the relative high standard of living in the Bahamas the demand for fuelwood and charcoal is rather low. There has been no effort to quantify the extent of trees outside forests in the urban centres. The passage of Hurricane Floyd in September 1999 severely damaged and destroyed native and introduced trees in the urban areas of New Providence Island. To address the destruction the government embarked on an island-wide plant beautification programme with the importation of 10 000 exotic trees (coconut palms, royal palms, etc.) to be planted in rural, urban and coastal areas, complemented by trees purchased from local growers. The attempt to salvage the wind blown trees in the pine forests never materialized. The forest resources offer some opportunities for game hunting of wild animals (quail, wild hogs and pigeons) by tourists and locals alike. There is also a potential of the local forest to provide non-wood forest products. The indigenous forest resource offers opportunities for agriculture and agroforestry development. The best arable lands for agroforestry are those under natural pine forests, particularly in the northern Bahamas. Large areas of this arable land are currently under citrus cultivation and other cash crops for domestic and export markets. Small farmers are encouraged to cultivate cash crops intermixed with forest trees and to adopt other agroforestry systems. The natural forest which fringes these agricultural developments provide much needed shelter from strong winds and assists in reducing the effects of catastrophic storms and hurricanes that the country may experience during the summer months. In addition, the unique features of the Bahamian forests, including the multiform vegetation, flowers, fruits, medicinal plants, rich and varied bird life (including the rare and endangered Bahama parrot, endemic only to the Bahamas) and plentiful wildlife, offer potential with respect to the conservation of biodiversity and ecotourism. Selected areas of forest have been designated as conservation forest to achieve this purpose. The Ministry of tourism has formulated a National Ecotourism Strategy for the Bahamas.
project # 5 BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity Issues in Drylands
Since the word biodiversity metamorphosized from a term of scientific discourse to a popular code word for environmental crisis, it has also come to be equated with the tropical rainforest, earth's great engine of species creation. While less diverse (and less studied), the world's drylands contain significant numbers of species, including several of the largest land animals on the planet. Humanity itself is a product of the drylands, as are many of the things we eat. Of most immediate interest are the genetic reservoirs of crucial staple crops such as maize, wheat, and barley, upon which a good portion of earth's 6 billion people depend for sustenance. Within various land races of these staple crops are adaptations to disease and drought that will prove vital as threats to wheat, corn and other endemic dryland crops emerge. If overall dryland species diversity is not as great as the rainforest, within species diversity is far greater as flora and fauna adapt to widely diverse dryland habitats with steep ecological gradients. The genes of species in very arid lands contain myriad ingenious adaptations to harsh conditions ranging from water deprivation to extreme heat, which may prove increasingly important should climate continue to warm.
citation from : Food and agricultural organazation of the united nations
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
THE KITCHEN PHYSICIAN
Feeding Organic Foods Affordably
MINI PROJECT # 4
You may be surprised at how affordably we can feed pesticide-free foods to our parrots. It is much easier now to select foods that promote health and longevity by minimizing the exposure of our birds to toxic pesticide residues, thanks to a report by the Environmental Working Group on the toxicity of produce. This report outlined the most toxic and least toxic fruits and vegetables, as detailed in my last article, The Kitchen Physician III.
Eating organic food and drinking pure water can have profoundly beneficial effects on the health and longevity of parrots. If your parrot became ill due to the ingestion of pesticide residues, how much money would you spend to restore it to health? The cost of feeding organic foods is minimal in comparison to the cost of illness, and there are several favorite foods of parrots that are safe to buy even when not grown organically.
According to Consumer Reports, January 1998, there are 9,700 pesticides in existence, and in 1995, U.S. farmers applied 566 million pounds of pesticides to major fiber and food crops. Last summer, the U.S. Geological Survey announced the first results of a massive study of pesticides in 5,000 water samples from wells and rivers. Half the wells--and nearly all streams--contained at least one pesticide. Almost every pesticide legal for use in the United States, even when applied according to label directions, will kill birds. Carbamates and organophosphates kill insects (or birds) by disrupting the organism's nervous system. Although eating pesticide residues on foods will not kill a parrot instantly, long-term exposure will result in a slow but sure toxic buildup in the bird's system. Knowing the magnitude of the problem, it is imperative that we give our parrots the purest possible water and the least contaminated food that is available.
A recent article in the Journal of Applied Nutrition gave credence to the notion that organic foods have higher nutrient levels than non-organically grown food. In this study the mineral content of organic apples, pears, potatoes, wheat, and sweet corn were compared to commercial varieties. Overall the organic foods showed higher levels of nutrient minerals and lower levels of heavy metals.
Here are a few of the minerals that were found in higher levels in organic foods: CHROMIUM is a micro-nutrient that was found to be higher in organic foods by an average of 78%. SELENIUM is one of the antioxidant nutrients that protects us from damage by environmental chemicals. It was found to be an average of 390% higher in organic foods. CALCIUM averaged 63% higher in organic foods. BORON, which works along with calcium to keep bones strong, averaged 70% more. MAGNESIUM averaged 138% more.
When organic foods were tested for mineral levels, the researchers also looked for the amount of heavy metals--aluminum, cadmium, lead and mercury. ALUMINUM has been implicated for years in the development of Alzheimer's disease in humans. Its content in organic food averaged 40% less that in commercial foods. LEAD toxicity often is a problem in parrots. It averaged 29% lower in organic foods. MERCURY, which can cause neurological damage, averaged 25% lower in organic foods.
Other studies have looked at vitamin levels of food plants treated with certain pesticides. They showed that application of some pesticides lowered the vitamin levels in the plants they were applied to. This is not the same theory as that of plants raised with chemicals being low in nutrients because of soil depletion. Not all studies on the differences between organically-grown foods and conventionally-grown foods agree on the varying levels of vitamins, minerals, and even taste. Although some researchers have concluded that there is no difference in taste between food grown organically and conventionally, many gourmet chefs seek out organic ingredients for their special dishes because they believe the tastes to be more intense. This of course could have to do with the type of soil or other factors.
A more important question is whether or not the accumulation of pesticide residues in non-organically grown foods is a real health concern. Studies have never been able to conclusively show a direct correlation between residues in food and a decline in human health, but there are numerous problems in doing any such study. The first is that you would need a population of people who are free of chemical residues to compare to, and no one has been able to find such a group! According to an ongoing EPA study of fat samples taken from surgeries and autopsies across the country, we are all loaded with chemical residues. Similar studies done in other countries all show the same results.
The clearest studies that we have about pesticide residues and disease are those looking at breast cancer in humans. In the last few years there have been a series of studies looking at the level of DDT, DDE, and PCB in women. They have very clearly shown chemical residues of DDT in the serum and fat cells of women, and since we no longer use DDT to spray for mosquitoes, the only known route of exposure to DDT in this country is on foods that we have imported. We still manufacture DDT in the U.S. even though its use has been banned here. We export the DDT to other countries who use it on their produce and then we import their produce with the DDT, hence exposing ourselves and our parrots to its toxicity. We know from the lesson learned from the Bald Eagle problem years ago that DDT is devastating to the successful reproduction of some birds. It is imperative that we at least give our endangered parrots in captive breeding programs every advantage in the attempt to prevent their extinction, and that would include the elimination of hormone-altering pesticides from their diet.
Here is what the Consumer Report has to say about the effect of pesticides on children, which can be compared in some ways to the effects on parrots: "Whatever the health effects, children--with their fast-growing, small bodies, speedy metabolisms, and less varied diets--are especially vulnerable". This same report states: "Organic food guarantees you a diet as low in pesticide residues as possible".
Many of us are aware that like children, our parrots are especially sensitive to pesticides. But we like to provide our birds with a smorgasbord of fresh foods in hopes of covering all the bases of their nutritional needs. Unfortunately, produce is the food group with the highest incidence of pesticide and chemical residues which are linked with potential cancer, neurological problems, and hormonal imbalances.
Listed here are some foods that we can buy in our local markets and health food stores, secure in the knowledge that they are relatively free of pesticide residues. TOFU-In our supermarkets and in Asian specialty markets, much of the compressed soybean
curd food called tofu is organic, and yet inexpensive, costing around two dollars per
pound. Tofu is an excellent vegetarian source of protein, B vitamins, and it contains
anti-cancer phytochemicals called isoflavones. You may be surprised at how much parrots
enjoy the texture of tofu. It has very little taste but will take on the flavor of whatever
food you choose to soak it in, such as fruit juice. If soaked in hot water with melted
organic almond butter, it takes on an entirely different flavor with additional calcium and
other nutrients. It can be crumbled into a soak and cook dish or a "mash" of fruits,
vegetables, and other foods. FAETHOR-POOF-->
BABY FOODS--Recently, even the big brand name manufacturers of baby foods, like Gerber and Beechnut, began marketing certified organic baby foods. There are dried mixes of whole grains and fruits and berries. Also there are many jar foods of tasty tropical fruit mixes, as well as vegetables, rice, and pasta. One jar of organic tropical fruit tossed with any one of the many shapes of pasta creates a healthy and tempting taste treat for parrots. Fettucini-style pasta with Gerber's Apple & Strawberry or Pear & Blueberry is one of many tasty "pastabilities".
SPROUTS--When you "grow your own", you can be sure that there is no pesticide contamination. Sprouting is as easy as buying a package of mung beans from your health food store, soaking a cupful overnight, spreading them in a colander, covering them with a paper towel, rinsing several times a day for a couple days, and voila! You have a food that is as fresh and alive as you possibly can get. Once you see how easy it is to make mung bean sprouts, you may want to try lentils, alfalfa, sunflower seeds, wheatberries, and other beans and peas. There are sprouting jars and mixes and anti-fungal preparations available, but it can be done very simply without any special equipment. If you fear that fungus will grow on the sprouts, you can purchase Nutribiotic Citricidal at your health food store and add it to the soak water of the sprouting food.
HEALTH FOOD STORE ITEMS--As any parrot lover who shops in health food stores will tell you, bring your check book! Although some items purchased in natural foods markets are a little more expensive, there is a virtual smorgasbord of items to tempt your feathered friends. One can purchase many organic items, including fresh produce, in the larger stores. One of my favorites items is the various flavored "nut butters", including almond, cashew, pistachio, and hazelnut butter. These are high in natural fats but can be utilized to make other dishes more taste tempting . Most weaning babies find a sandwich made of nut butter on whole grain bread irresistible. There are many whole grain breads available in health food stores, including those made from sprouted grains. The different types of whole grain pastas, including spelt, and other non-wheat grains, can be used for parrots with allergy problems. Organic juices of many flavors are a treat for parrots as well as humans. Some will be found in the freezer and can be defrosted one slice at a time as needed. Nearly all health food stores sell sprouts, mixes for sprouting, and sprouting jars and other types of equipment that one can use for growing their own sprouts. Also available is the Nutribiotic Citricidal mentioned earlier to prevent bacteria and molds from growing on the sprouting seeds, nuts and grains. Many herbal preparations that are used for parrots are available in health food stores, such as Echinacea which is sometimes used as an immune system stimulator, Aloe Detox which can be a lifesaver in treating ill parrots, St. John's Wort, Pycnogenol, and other feather plucking remedies. At the direction of a naturopathic veterinarian, many homeopathic remedies from health food stores can be used with no danger of toxicity.
If you have only one or two parrots, you can easily afford to make your own organically-grown seed mix from the health food store by choosing shelled or unshelled sunflower seeds, whole millet, wheat berries, oats, buckwheat groats, unshelled sesame seeds, and many other nuts, grains and seeds tailored to the tastes and nutritional needs of your birds. For birds with obesity problems, one can choose from the products with lower levels of fats. By determining the protein levels of the available products, one can adjust this level for the breeding and molting phases of their birds. If you haven't yet visited your local health food market with your parrot friends in mind, you're in for a very special treat.
Other foods that we can buy from our local markets without concern for high levels of pesticides are: CORN, SWEET POTATOES, BROCCOLI, BRUSSEL SPROUTS, CAULIFLOWER, U.S. GRAPES, BANANAS, PLUMS, IMPORTED CHERRIES, and WATERMELON
Here is a list of foods that NEVER should be given to our parrots unless they have been organically grown:
STRAWBERRIES, RED AND GREEN BELL PEPPERS, SPINACH, U.S. CHERRIES, PEACHES, MEXICAN CANTALOUPES, CELERY, APPLES, APRICOTS, GREEN BEANS, CHILEAN GRAPES, AND CUCUMBERS
A new set of nationwide organic standards is making its way over the final set of bureaucratic hurdles in Washington, D.C. at this writing. Once these rules are in place, the plethora of organic labels that we now see will be reduced to one: that of the U.S.D.A. The new national standards are not expected to vary much from the existing ones. Consumers can trust labels indicating that a food is organically-grown. Contrary to rumor, there has been only one recent major incident of known or suspected fraud: a Minnesota food company that repackaged conventional foods and sold them as organic. Organic farmers cannot take the risk of mis-labeling foods and losing their designation as a Certified Organic Farmer.
citation: by Carolyn Swicegood
MINI PROJECT # 4
You may be surprised at how affordably we can feed pesticide-free foods to our parrots. It is much easier now to select foods that promote health and longevity by minimizing the exposure of our birds to toxic pesticide residues, thanks to a report by the Environmental Working Group on the toxicity of produce. This report outlined the most toxic and least toxic fruits and vegetables, as detailed in my last article, The Kitchen Physician III.
Eating organic food and drinking pure water can have profoundly beneficial effects on the health and longevity of parrots. If your parrot became ill due to the ingestion of pesticide residues, how much money would you spend to restore it to health? The cost of feeding organic foods is minimal in comparison to the cost of illness, and there are several favorite foods of parrots that are safe to buy even when not grown organically.
According to Consumer Reports, January 1998, there are 9,700 pesticides in existence, and in 1995, U.S. farmers applied 566 million pounds of pesticides to major fiber and food crops. Last summer, the U.S. Geological Survey announced the first results of a massive study of pesticides in 5,000 water samples from wells and rivers. Half the wells--and nearly all streams--contained at least one pesticide. Almost every pesticide legal for use in the United States, even when applied according to label directions, will kill birds. Carbamates and organophosphates kill insects (or birds) by disrupting the organism's nervous system. Although eating pesticide residues on foods will not kill a parrot instantly, long-term exposure will result in a slow but sure toxic buildup in the bird's system. Knowing the magnitude of the problem, it is imperative that we give our parrots the purest possible water and the least contaminated food that is available.
A recent article in the Journal of Applied Nutrition gave credence to the notion that organic foods have higher nutrient levels than non-organically grown food. In this study the mineral content of organic apples, pears, potatoes, wheat, and sweet corn were compared to commercial varieties. Overall the organic foods showed higher levels of nutrient minerals and lower levels of heavy metals.
Here are a few of the minerals that were found in higher levels in organic foods: CHROMIUM is a micro-nutrient that was found to be higher in organic foods by an average of 78%. SELENIUM is one of the antioxidant nutrients that protects us from damage by environmental chemicals. It was found to be an average of 390% higher in organic foods. CALCIUM averaged 63% higher in organic foods. BORON, which works along with calcium to keep bones strong, averaged 70% more. MAGNESIUM averaged 138% more.
When organic foods were tested for mineral levels, the researchers also looked for the amount of heavy metals--aluminum, cadmium, lead and mercury. ALUMINUM has been implicated for years in the development of Alzheimer's disease in humans. Its content in organic food averaged 40% less that in commercial foods. LEAD toxicity often is a problem in parrots. It averaged 29% lower in organic foods. MERCURY, which can cause neurological damage, averaged 25% lower in organic foods.
Other studies have looked at vitamin levels of food plants treated with certain pesticides. They showed that application of some pesticides lowered the vitamin levels in the plants they were applied to. This is not the same theory as that of plants raised with chemicals being low in nutrients because of soil depletion. Not all studies on the differences between organically-grown foods and conventionally-grown foods agree on the varying levels of vitamins, minerals, and even taste. Although some researchers have concluded that there is no difference in taste between food grown organically and conventionally, many gourmet chefs seek out organic ingredients for their special dishes because they believe the tastes to be more intense. This of course could have to do with the type of soil or other factors.
A more important question is whether or not the accumulation of pesticide residues in non-organically grown foods is a real health concern. Studies have never been able to conclusively show a direct correlation between residues in food and a decline in human health, but there are numerous problems in doing any such study. The first is that you would need a population of people who are free of chemical residues to compare to, and no one has been able to find such a group! According to an ongoing EPA study of fat samples taken from surgeries and autopsies across the country, we are all loaded with chemical residues. Similar studies done in other countries all show the same results.
The clearest studies that we have about pesticide residues and disease are those looking at breast cancer in humans. In the last few years there have been a series of studies looking at the level of DDT, DDE, and PCB in women. They have very clearly shown chemical residues of DDT in the serum and fat cells of women, and since we no longer use DDT to spray for mosquitoes, the only known route of exposure to DDT in this country is on foods that we have imported. We still manufacture DDT in the U.S. even though its use has been banned here. We export the DDT to other countries who use it on their produce and then we import their produce with the DDT, hence exposing ourselves and our parrots to its toxicity. We know from the lesson learned from the Bald Eagle problem years ago that DDT is devastating to the successful reproduction of some birds. It is imperative that we at least give our endangered parrots in captive breeding programs every advantage in the attempt to prevent their extinction, and that would include the elimination of hormone-altering pesticides from their diet.
Here is what the Consumer Report has to say about the effect of pesticides on children, which can be compared in some ways to the effects on parrots: "Whatever the health effects, children--with their fast-growing, small bodies, speedy metabolisms, and less varied diets--are especially vulnerable". This same report states: "Organic food guarantees you a diet as low in pesticide residues as possible".
Many of us are aware that like children, our parrots are especially sensitive to pesticides. But we like to provide our birds with a smorgasbord of fresh foods in hopes of covering all the bases of their nutritional needs. Unfortunately, produce is the food group with the highest incidence of pesticide and chemical residues which are linked with potential cancer, neurological problems, and hormonal imbalances.
Listed here are some foods that we can buy in our local markets and health food stores, secure in the knowledge that they are relatively free of pesticide residues. TOFU-In our supermarkets and in Asian specialty markets, much of the compressed soybean
curd food called tofu is organic, and yet inexpensive, costing around two dollars per
pound. Tofu is an excellent vegetarian source of protein, B vitamins, and it contains
anti-cancer phytochemicals called isoflavones. You may be surprised at how much parrots
enjoy the texture of tofu. It has very little taste but will take on the flavor of whatever
food you choose to soak it in, such as fruit juice. If soaked in hot water with melted
organic almond butter, it takes on an entirely different flavor with additional calcium and
other nutrients. It can be crumbled into a soak and cook dish or a "mash" of fruits,
vegetables, and other foods. FAETHOR-POOF-->
BABY FOODS--Recently, even the big brand name manufacturers of baby foods, like Gerber and Beechnut, began marketing certified organic baby foods. There are dried mixes of whole grains and fruits and berries. Also there are many jar foods of tasty tropical fruit mixes, as well as vegetables, rice, and pasta. One jar of organic tropical fruit tossed with any one of the many shapes of pasta creates a healthy and tempting taste treat for parrots. Fettucini-style pasta with Gerber's Apple & Strawberry or Pear & Blueberry is one of many tasty "pastabilities".
SPROUTS--When you "grow your own", you can be sure that there is no pesticide contamination. Sprouting is as easy as buying a package of mung beans from your health food store, soaking a cupful overnight, spreading them in a colander, covering them with a paper towel, rinsing several times a day for a couple days, and voila! You have a food that is as fresh and alive as you possibly can get. Once you see how easy it is to make mung bean sprouts, you may want to try lentils, alfalfa, sunflower seeds, wheatberries, and other beans and peas. There are sprouting jars and mixes and anti-fungal preparations available, but it can be done very simply without any special equipment. If you fear that fungus will grow on the sprouts, you can purchase Nutribiotic Citricidal at your health food store and add it to the soak water of the sprouting food.
HEALTH FOOD STORE ITEMS--As any parrot lover who shops in health food stores will tell you, bring your check book! Although some items purchased in natural foods markets are a little more expensive, there is a virtual smorgasbord of items to tempt your feathered friends. One can purchase many organic items, including fresh produce, in the larger stores. One of my favorites items is the various flavored "nut butters", including almond, cashew, pistachio, and hazelnut butter. These are high in natural fats but can be utilized to make other dishes more taste tempting . Most weaning babies find a sandwich made of nut butter on whole grain bread irresistible. There are many whole grain breads available in health food stores, including those made from sprouted grains. The different types of whole grain pastas, including spelt, and other non-wheat grains, can be used for parrots with allergy problems. Organic juices of many flavors are a treat for parrots as well as humans. Some will be found in the freezer and can be defrosted one slice at a time as needed. Nearly all health food stores sell sprouts, mixes for sprouting, and sprouting jars and other types of equipment that one can use for growing their own sprouts. Also available is the Nutribiotic Citricidal mentioned earlier to prevent bacteria and molds from growing on the sprouting seeds, nuts and grains. Many herbal preparations that are used for parrots are available in health food stores, such as Echinacea which is sometimes used as an immune system stimulator, Aloe Detox which can be a lifesaver in treating ill parrots, St. John's Wort, Pycnogenol, and other feather plucking remedies. At the direction of a naturopathic veterinarian, many homeopathic remedies from health food stores can be used with no danger of toxicity.
If you have only one or two parrots, you can easily afford to make your own organically-grown seed mix from the health food store by choosing shelled or unshelled sunflower seeds, whole millet, wheat berries, oats, buckwheat groats, unshelled sesame seeds, and many other nuts, grains and seeds tailored to the tastes and nutritional needs of your birds. For birds with obesity problems, one can choose from the products with lower levels of fats. By determining the protein levels of the available products, one can adjust this level for the breeding and molting phases of their birds. If you haven't yet visited your local health food market with your parrot friends in mind, you're in for a very special treat.
Other foods that we can buy from our local markets without concern for high levels of pesticides are: CORN, SWEET POTATOES, BROCCOLI, BRUSSEL SPROUTS, CAULIFLOWER, U.S. GRAPES, BANANAS, PLUMS, IMPORTED CHERRIES, and WATERMELON
Here is a list of foods that NEVER should be given to our parrots unless they have been organically grown:
STRAWBERRIES, RED AND GREEN BELL PEPPERS, SPINACH, U.S. CHERRIES, PEACHES, MEXICAN CANTALOUPES, CELERY, APPLES, APRICOTS, GREEN BEANS, CHILEAN GRAPES, AND CUCUMBERS
A new set of nationwide organic standards is making its way over the final set of bureaucratic hurdles in Washington, D.C. at this writing. Once these rules are in place, the plethora of organic labels that we now see will be reduced to one: that of the U.S.D.A. The new national standards are not expected to vary much from the existing ones. Consumers can trust labels indicating that a food is organically-grown. Contrary to rumor, there has been only one recent major incident of known or suspected fraud: a Minnesota food company that repackaged conventional foods and sold them as organic. Organic farmers cannot take the risk of mis-labeling foods and losing their designation as a Certified Organic Farmer.
citation: by Carolyn Swicegood
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