Sunday, September 30, 2012

SEARCH FOR THE PINK GRASSHOPPERS

 Red-legged Grasshopper - Melanoplus femurrubrum (Pink Morph)  

Grade 5-6 students at St-Laurent Academy are studying grasshopper populations at Macoun Marsh.  Since last year, pink varieties of the Melanoplus grasshopper have been found.  We are trying to find out how common they are within their population.   

Of 31 specimens caught on Friday, only 2 exhibited the pink colours.  We cooled down their body temperature so we could observe them, then we released the insects.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

One-day Colloquium on the role of ICCAs in achieving the Aichi Targets

As you may know, Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ conserved territories and areas (ICCAs) provide multiple ecological, cultural and biodiversity values, contributing greatly to food and water security, other ecosystem services and towards reaching several Aichi Targets and implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. 
In its decision IX/18 paragraph 6 (a), the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) invited Parties to improve and, where necessary, diversify and strengthen protected-area governance types, including recognizing and taking into account, where appropriate, indigenous and local communities (ILCs).  In paragraph 6 (b) of the same decision, the COP invited Parties to recognize the contribution of, where appropriate, ICCAs within the national protected area system through acknowledgement in national legislation or other effective means.  Further, in paragraph 31 (b) of decision X/31, the COP invited Parties to recognize the role of ICCAs in biodiversity conservation, collaborative management and diversification of governance types.  Finally, in decision X/43, the COP initiated a component of work on customary sustainable use (CSU) of biodiversity.  ICCAs play a critical role in ensuring access and respecting rights to CSU and facilitating inter-generational communication of traditional environmental knowledge, innovations and practices.  It is increasingly recognised that ICCAs can be the living embodiment of both Articles 8(j) and 10(c) of the Convention.
In an effort to support implementation of these decisions and Articles, a one-day Colloquium on the role of ICCAs in achieving the Aichi Targets comprising a series of regional roundtable discussions will be co-hosted by the CBD Secretariat, the governments of Brazil, India, Mexico, the Philippines, Senegal and South Africa, the ICCA Consortium, the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity and Conservation International.  The Colloquium will be held on the margins of the eleventh meeting of the COP on 13 October 2012, in rooms 1.03 and 1.04 of the Hyderabad International Convention Centre, with the following objectives:
•               to understand the extent of ICCAs and their potential values and benefits;
•               to discuss the contribution of ICCAs toward reaching multiple Aichi Targets and implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020; and
•               to foster discussion, and to share experiences, best practices and lessons learned of governments and ILCs in the recognition of ICCAs.

RAMSAR SITES- BHUTAN



Bumdeling in Tashiyangtse Dzongkhag and Khotokha in Wangduephodrang have been listed as a Ramsar site. Both the wetlands are wintering grounds for 160 black necked cranes.
15 September

670 MILLION YUAN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FUND- CHINA



The Pulan County in north Tibet's Ngari Prefecture along with public welfare foundations, will establish a fund of 670 million Yuan for environmental protection of holy mountains and sacred lakes. Every year thousands of tourists visit the county which is home to Mt. Kangrinboqe, Mt Namnani, Mapham Yutso Lake and Lannga Co Lake.
17 September

POACHERS KILLED 2 RHINOS WHILE OTHER DIED DURING COURTSHIP- INDIA



In the past two weeks, two carcasses (male and female) of dehorned rhinos were found in Bagori forest range of Kaziranga National Park. In another incident, an adult male rhino was killed in infighting with another over the possession of a female rhino in the east range of Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. A recent rhino census in the sanctuary has revealed that the number of male rhinos is almost equal to that of the number of females and this has posed a survival threat to the species.
16, 20 September

226 of BIRD SPECIES IN GHODAGHODI LAKE- NEPAL



Recent bird census in Ghodaghodi lake area has recorded 226 species including 18 globally threatened bird species. The first census was carried out in 1992 which recorded 144 species. Since, its first census several conservation activities have been initiated. GLA was declared an Important Bird Area of Nepal in 2005.


20 September
The Himalayan Times