ECO & RESPONSIBLE SAFARIS IN RWANDA

Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

Gorillas in Rwanda

Eco and responsible safaris are being offered in Rwanda that directly benefit the local community around the National Parks.  Find out more at http://rwandaecotours.com/

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

From Biodiversitymatters.org

New species discovered in 2011

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 France license

Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis)

Every year scientists describe thousands of species for the first time. 2011 was an amazing year.  Here is a look at some of the significant new species discoveries for the year.   A Xenophyophore is a one celled-organism the size of a mango, very big of this kind of thing!  Some other species discovered include a “SpongeBob” mushroom in Borneo, a long-tongued bee, new mice in the Philippines, seabirds, several bats, a new monkey species and even a dolphin off the coast of Australia! Imagine discovering a species the size of a dolphin- what more do we not know!    

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

“SpongeBob”mushroom in Borneo

(Spongiforma squarepantsii)

From NOAA's Ocean Explorer (Public Domain image)
A Xenophyophore- A one celled-organism the size of a mango!

Invitation for project submission for the Third International Youth Symposium for Biodiversity- India

Image with the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

In October 2012, the Third International Youth Symposium for Biodiversity will be held in Auroville, Tamil Nadu, India. The purpose of the symposium is to welcome students from around the world, and to celebrate the local biodiversity work they are doing in their home countries. The Auroville symposium will take place prior to the 11^th Conference on Parties to the Convention of Biological Diversity, which will be held in Hyderabad, India from October 8 – 19, 2012.

The Auroville Biodiversity Youth Symposium is open to students from around the world. In order to participate in this symposium, students are required to carry out a biodiversity study project in their respective home countries. In line with the key issues that will be discussed at the Conference in Hyderabad, student biodiversity proposals can be on any of the following themes:

1. Local biodiversity – Terrestrial or Aquatic

2. Biodiversity and Livelihoods
3. Role of cultural practices and tradition on biodiversity
4. Effect of non-indigenous species on local biodiversity
5. Cycle of cause and effect between human activity and biodiversity
6. Urban biodiversity

All biodiversity study projects should ideally incorporate the following elements:

1. Field work and/or practical data collection – please visit the website:
http://www.sprise.com/shs/habitatnet.aspx?id=5386 for help
2. Scientific/theoretical approach
3. Creativity and personal expression

Guidelines for participation

The overall guidelines for participation/submission of projects for the Auroville Biodiversity Youth Symposium are:
u Eligibility: students from Grades 8 to 12 (ages 14-19)
u The proposal should include:
u A 150-250 word abstract that includes information regarding the project and how it relates to conserving “Global Biodiversity”.
u How the project will be implemented (techniques to be used)
u General time line over 6 months
u The location of the project
u The email address of the project
u Proposals must include: names of students and ages, teachers/ leaders, schools or group name, and contact information (phone & email or postal address).
u The deadline for the submission of proposals is February 20th, 2012.

General Information:

1) Submissions by conventional mail or email are to be sent to:
Chali Grinnel, Symposium for Biodiversity Coordinator

Future School
Auroville 605101
Tamil Nadu
India
EMAIL: futureschool@auroville.org.in

2) All proposals will be reviewed by a panel of experts. Students will be notified of their acceptance to the symposium by March 10, 2012.

3) Information regarding any available funding to participate as well as logistics will be provided to all ACCEPTED proposals.

4). For QUESTIONS contact any of the coordinators at their emails below:

Chali Grinnel- chali@auroville.org.in

Erin Kenny- enkenny@hotmail.com

Once the applications have been processed, and the delegates determined for the symposium, team leaders will be asked to process their payments.

MY FAVOURITE NATURE PHOTOS OF 2011

Here are my favourite images of 2011:

Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) NWT

Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) Ottawa, Ontario

STRANGE FRIENDS! Mouse and Treefrog- Ottawa, Ontario

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) Macoun Marsh- Ottawa, Canada

Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) Macoun Marsh- Ottawa, Canada

Meandering River (NWT)

Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) Macoun Marsh- Ottawa, Canada

Dandelion seedhead- Macoun Marsh- Ottawa, Canada

Dead man's fingers (Xylaria polymorpha) Macoun Marsh- Ottawa, Canada

Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) Macoun Marsh- Ottawa, Canada

Images by Michael Leveille

Biodiversitymatters.org

SMALLEST FROG YET DISCOVERED THE SIZE OF A TIC TAC!

Creative commons Attribution 3:0 License 

Paedophryne dekot—dekot means "very small" in the local Daga language—is about 8.5 to 9 millimeters long. It was found in a Papua New Guinea forest! 

MORE MACOUN MARSH IMAGES FROM TODAY (OTTAWA, CANADA)

American Goldfinch

Chickadee

Junco