miércoles, 24 de noviembre de 2010

Governments of 13 countries where tigers still live have endorsed a plan to save the big cats from extinction.
Delegates at a summit in St Petersburg, Russia, agreed to double tiger numbers by 2022.
The countries will focus on protecting tiger habitats, addressing poaching, illegal trade and providing the financial resources for the plan.
In the last 100 years, tiger numbers have dropped from about 100,000 to less than 3,500 tigers in the wild today.
There has been a 40% decline in numbers in a decade, and some populations are expected to disappear within the next 20 years.
The United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) says that the St Petersburg Declaration will strengthen international collaboration to protect the majestic Asian wild cat.
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There was clearly a loud roar from St Petersburg this week on behalf of the last remaining tigers on our planet”
John Robinson, WCS
Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, executive-secretary of Unep's Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Secretariat, commented: "Safeguarding international migration corridors and trans-border habitats will be crucial for global efforts to save the tiger."
The declaration sets in motion a strategic plan for tiger recovery; the countries are putting together a roadmap for post-summit action.
They are also discussing the institutional structure which will be set up to implement the aims and objectives of the declaration and its recovery programme.
"There was clearly a loud roar from St Petersburg this week on behalf of the last remaining tigers on our planet," commented John Robinson, chief conservation officer with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
"World leaders rarely find agreements at conferences and summits but the beloved tiger has proven to be a uniting force. And as we save the tiger, we have new hopes to save the world's biodiversity."

lunes, 22 de noviembre de 2010

There are other countries in the world to enjoy the natural landscapes of divine inspiration, but Costa Rica has more biodiversity in Europe and United States combined. Its small size also means that travelers from coast to cloud forest and savanna summit is fast, easy and natural thing. Here are the top 10 natural beauties of Costa Rica.1. MonteverdeThis iconic cloud forest was first settled by a community of Quakers who were trying to protect watersheds and invaluable. Home to rare fauna such as the quetzal, which is the bird of paradise maya, Monteverde is partly responsible for the international reputation of Costa Rica as an ecotourism hot spot where you can be inspired about the possibilities of organic farming alternative sources of energy.2. Manuel AntonioOne of the country's destiny, the original eco-tourism, Manuel Antonio Costa Rica almost put on the international map of the jet-set. While the secret has long been let out, capuchin monkeys bounding through a tropical beach are still an impressive, like iguanas, howler monkeys, sloths and squirrel monkeys, which can be fur balls cutest you've ever seen.Manuel Antonio is a paradise full of coconuts. The park is clearly trail system winds through the jungle of tropical beaches and rocky promontories supported, and the views over the bay of the outer islands virgins are unforgettable.3. ArenalArenal has been producing ash columns threatening, massive explosions and streamers of glowing molten rock almost daily since 1968. Miraculously, the volcano has remained taper dream despite constant volcanic activity, although the slopes are green instead of ash. In the shadow of Arenal, there is something for everyone, including luxury hotels, romantic restaurants and Tabacon Hot Springs, the recreation of man in the Garden of Eden.4. HunchbackFamous labeled by National Geographic as "the most biologically intense place on earth", this national park is the last great original area of tropical rainforest in the Central American Pacific. The bastion of biodiversity is the largest population of Costa Rica of the Scarlet Macaw and a host of other endangered species like the tapir, giant anteater and the world's largest bird of prey arpía.increíble eagle Corcovado biodiversity has attracted a dedicated stream of visitors who descend from Drake Bay and Puerto Jiménez to explore the remote and spy on a wide range of wildlife.
5.
MoctezumaA relaxed beach town with a friendly budget hippie (locals call it "Montefuma"), beautiful beaches, a cold and very good restaurants. It is the ideal base for exploring the southern part of the Nicoya Peninsula.Until late 1990, a traffic jam in Montezuma was dropping his bike to chase cows off the road. Montezuma is still a charming town and foreign visitors are still attracted by the relaxed atmosphere, cheap and extensive beaches. And while nothing remains the same, Moctezuma has managed to hold on to its appeal alone.6. JacóIt is a faithful contingent of surf, foreign residents from North America and international developers Jaco billed as the final destination the central Pacific and one of the fastest developing cities in the country. Truth be told, the surf is excellent, the restaurants and bars are cosmopolitan, and a horizon of future high-rise apartments and luxury hotels under construction quickly. While it can not be classified as "real" Costa Rica is fun. There may be better places to surf and beaches clean, but its bar, restaurant and club is the best you'll find along the entire Pacific coast.7. Cahuita and Puerto Viejo de TalamancaDuring the day, lounge in a hammock, snorkel from the beaches uncrowded and visit remote indigenous territories of the Bribrí and KeköLdi. At night, dip in spicy Caribbean cuisine and mastery of reggaeton in the open air bars, cooled by sea breezes. Nearby, is the tropical forest farm setting to a soundtrack of clucking birds and frogs. The villages of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca seem to have it all.8. TortugueroAdd to endangered sea turtles ancient ritual practice of building a nest and lay their eggs on the wild coast black sand in this charming city in the Caribbean jungle. Tortuguero is more than just turtles, but full of wildlife, and is sloths and howler monkeys in the trees, small green frogs and iguanas scampering between the buttress roots, and shad swimming powerful and endangered manatees in water.9. SundayA people permanently chill-out beach, where time slows to a crawl, Dominical has a way of preventing future plans. But when the waves are blocked and the sun is scorching, the travelers are few who really care.10. Llanos de CortesIf you have time to visit a single waterfall in Costa Rica, make Llanos de Cortés. One of the most spectacular waterfalls in Costa Rica, waterfalls in a tranquil pond with a beach of white sand. Scramble behind the falls with your partner to reach corners romantic evening by water curtains.

CONSECUENCIAS DE LA CAPA DE OZONO

The consequences are already significant and can become tragic. A considerable decrease in the ozone layer means a corresponding increase in the amount of hard ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface.For humans, the immediate consequence is an increase in melanomas or skin cancers. The latest statistics reveal that, for example, in U.S. there was an increase of 5 000 cases per year among a population which is around 220 million inhabitants.

 
The National Academy of Sciences of the United States has forecast a 10% reduction in stratospheric ozone could cause a 20% incidence of skin cancer.Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation is also associated with suffering from cataracts and other eye disorders and the increased occurrence of allergic dermatitis and toxic.It has been shown that the immune system is depressed by exposure to UV radiation of high frequency, making it especially vulnerable children and the elderly to viral and bacterial diseases.With respect to other living beings incidence can be as diverse as the sensitivity of different species in this type of radiation is not uniform.As an example may be mentioned that recent studies in the laboratory show that species such as tomatoes, corn, carrots or beets is exposed to radiation increase the susceptibility to pests.
It is predicted that in the long term will be severely affected phytoplankton which upset the food chain in oceans and seas with disastrous ecological effects, and medium-term population reduction yields significantly decrease the fishing industry.Among animal species, seriously affected the vision of mammals and can kill species such as anchovy, trout and others that are very vulnerable in their larval stage.It has been shown that various materials used in construction, communications, electrical equipment, as well as synthetic fibers, plastics, rubber and rubber experience a significant deterioration of their properties and premature aging from exposure to ultraviolet radiation.