GYBN outreach and communications working group

The GYBN outreach and communications working group is currently accepting original photographs (taken by you!) of the biodiversity in your country.

By sending us these photos, you agree to allow them to be used on the GYBN website, Facebook page, and other media.

Please email them to shailyn.drukis@gmail.com and include the name of the species, what country the photo was taken, and any other cool facts about the species.

Thank you!

Internship opportunity at UNEPMAP Athens

The Barcelona Convention Secretariat of the United Nations Environment Programme (Athens, Greece) is looking for a dedicated intern to assist the Secretariat's Ecosystem Approach related work, and its related preparations for its upcoming 18th Conference of the Parties meeting. This unpaid internship is a unique opportunity for interested students to get to know the UN system from inside, see international environmental policy development, COP preparations and learn more about the marine environment and issues related to the Mediterranean sea.

More information is available at: http://www.unepmap.org/index.php?module=content2&catid=001025

MACOUN MARSH UPDATE, OTTAWA, CANADA

 Silver-spotted skipper enjoying the sun

 Painted turtle

Ant tug-o-war

Tadpoles of toads evolving before my eyes!

 Cedar waxwing

Goat's beard plant

WIDER ROADS COST TREES- BHUTAN

In Thimpu-Lobesa highway section, over thousands of matured trees have been cut as part of a road widening campaign. Mainly the species were of mixed conifer, cypress, pine, walnut and oak. Natural Resources Development Corporation Limited (NRDCL) was the lumberjack.

June 17

http://www.kuenselonline.com/trees-felled-for-a-better-wider-road/

TEA PRODUCTION AFFECTED BY HOT WEATHER: INDIA

Scorching heat has affected the tea leaves in Assam resulting in 40% decrease in its production than normal. Exposure to ambient temperature of 35 to 38 Degree Celsius during six to seven hours of the day has resulted in leaf temperature of 37 to 40 Degree Celsius in well-shaded areas of tea estates and 47 to 50 degree celsius in un-shaded areas.

June 16

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1713/state07

NO DEPENDENCY ON GOVERNMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT- NEPAL

Basudevpur village of Banke district, Western Nepal; has become a model village with the facility of improved cooking stoves, toilets, health, water and other facilities led by women. Sixteen cemented and 15 mud toilets have been constructed to discourage open defecation, which is banned in the village. Most households have taken up  farming fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants as well as rearing pigs allowing them to earn a total of around 1 million rupees a year. The villagers have also constructed roads on their own.

June 17

Kantipur Daily

PADDY PLANTATION IN THE ROAD- NEPAL

People in Khotang in Eastern Nepal, have come up with a novel way of protest. To draw the government’s attention towards the need of repairing dilapidated roads, they carried out paddy plantation on the Diktel road section as a symbolic protest. If there is no response, they plan to plant trees in the road.

June 17

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Paddy+on+road+&NewsID=380448

CHITWAN: CONFLICT CONTINUES- NEPAL

Last four years of data from Chitwan National Park, in Central Nepal, show high human wildlife conflict in its buffer zone. Altogether 41 people have died because of wildlife attacks (17: Elephants; 17: Tiger, 5: Rhino, 1: Bear, 1: Leopard), while 64 people have sustained injuries (12: Tiger, 26: Rhino, 14: Bear, 12: Wild Boar). To reduce the conflict, buffer zone users have been demanding the amendment of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, while the Buffer Zone Management Committee has been facing budget crunch. 

June 15

http://www.ekantipur.com/2013/06/04/development/man-beast-battle-bodes-ill-for-conservation/372704.html