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Daniel Herten

Medicinal Treasures of the Rainforest: Discover the healing resources of the Amazon - 1 views

www.adventure-life.com/...rainforest-medicine-78

scientist

shared by Daniel Herten on 22 May 12 - No Cached
  • A look at the botanical treasures, both known and undiscovered, that exist within tropical rainforests.
  • The abundant botanical resources of tropical forests have already provided tangible medical advances; yet only 1 percent of the known plant and animal species have been thoroughly examined for their medicinal potentials.
  • 20 or 25 percent of the world's plant species will be extinct by the year 2000.
  • ...9 more annotations...
  • Approximately 7,000 medical compounds prescribed by Western doctors are derived from plants
  • These drugs had an estimated retail value of US$43 billion in 1985
  • For maladies ranging from nagging headaches to lethal contagions such as malaria, rainforest medicines have provided modern society with a variety of cures and pain relievers.
  • • Quinine, an aid in the cure of malaria, is an alkaloid extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree found in Latin America and Africa. • From the deadly poisonous bark of various curare lianas, used by generations of indigenous peoples in Latin America, has been isolated the alkaloid d-turbocuarine, which is used to treat such diseases as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and other muscular disorders. It also permits tonsillectomies, eye, abdominal and other kinds of surgery due to its anesthetic qualities. • From Africa, Madagascar's rosy periwinkle provides two important anti-tumor agents. One provides for a 99 percent chance of remission in cases of lymphocytic leukemia. The other offers a life in remission to 58 percent of Hodgkin's Disease sufferers. In 1960, only 19 percent had a chance for survival. Commercial sales of drugs derived from this one plant are about US$160 million a year. • Without wild yams from Mexico and Guatemala, society would be without diosgenin and cortisone, the active ingredients in birth control pills. Until recently this plant provided the world with its entire supply of diosgenin.
  • Finally, rainforest plants provide aids for research.
  • testing agents for potentially harmful food and drug products
  • Tropical forests offer hope for safer contraceptives for both women and men. The exponential growth of world population clearly demonstrates the need for more reliable and effectiv
  • e birth control methods. Worldwide, approximately 4,000 plant species have been shown to offer contraceptive possibilities.
  • The chemical components of plants that medicine men use in healing rites could conceivably be building blocks for new drugs or even cures for such scourges as cancer or AIDS.
Aries Wangbunyen

Rainforest Concern - Why are rainforests important? - 0 views

www.rainforestconcern.org/...why_the_importance

WWF Aries

shared by Aries Wangbunyen on 04 Jun 12 - No Cached
  • They provide a habitat for plants and animals Tropical rainforests took between 60 and 100 million years to evolve and are believed to be the oldest and most complex land-based ecosystem on earth, containing over 30 million species of plants and animals. That's half of the Earth's wildlife and at least two-thirds of its plant species!
  • contain 1000 trees with up to 300 species.
  • There are many more thousands of rainforest plants and animals species still waiting to be discovered.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • Without rainforests continually recycling huge quantities of water, feeding the rivers, lakes and irrigation systems, droughts would become more common, potentially leading to widespread famine and disease.
  • Did you know that we also depend on trees to cleanse our atmosphere? They absorb the carbon dioxide that we exhale, and provide the oxygen we need to breathe. When rainforest trees are burnt they release carbon dioxide, which pollutes the atmosphere and contributes to global warming. Deforestation is in fact considered the second major driver of climate change (more than the entire global transport sector), responsible for 18-25% of global annual carbon dioxide emissions.
Namsai Sethpornpong

Anthurium bonplandii, Anthurium bonplandii subsp. guayanum, Anthurium bonplandii (G.S. ... - 0 views

www.exoticrainforest.com/thurium%20bonplandii%20pc.html

scientist cosmetics

shared by Namsai Sethpornpong on 22 May 12 - No Cached
  • Namsai Sethpornpong on 22 May 12
     
    This is a website that sells exotic plants for their own benefit. 
Namsai Sethpornpong

Uses of trees - 1 views

www.botanical-online.com/usesoftrees.htm

scientist cosmetics CEO Eco-Tour Eco-Tourism WWF furniture

shared by Namsai Sethpornpong on 22 May 12 - No Cached
    • Namsai Sethpornpong
      Namsai Sethpornpong on 22 May 12
       
      Trees for Obtention of Medicines and Natural Remedies: This is going to be my point about why I need to keep the Rainforest. I need to use this exotic plants to help me to come up with more medicines to benefit for us. 
  • Namsai Sethpornpong on 22 May 12
     
    This is about the uses of the trees and plants in the rain forest. 
dodo8140

Rainforest Plants Used for Medicine - 1 views

www.buzzle.com/...-plants-used-for-medicine.html

rainforest plants medicine scientist

shared by dodo8140 on 02 Jun 12 - Cached
  • dodo8140 on 02 Jun 12
     
    This is the some things the scientists uses
spunk9

Rainforest Facts - 0 views

www.savetherainforest.org/savetherainforest_007.htm

WWF

shared by spunk9 on 22 May 12 - Cached
  • Often described as the Earth’s lungs, only in reverse, the tropical rainforests
  • What’s truly amazing, however, is that while the tropical rainforests cover just 2% of the Earth's land surface, they are home to two-thirds of all the living species on the planet. Additionally, "nearly half the medicinal compounds we use every day come from plants endemic to the tropical rainforest." If a cure for cancer or AIDS is to be found, it’ll almost certainly come from the tropical rainforests.
  • The Primary Source, writes that "tropical rainforests are the Earth’s oldest continuous ecosystems.
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  • The largest rainforests are found in the Amazon Basin of South America, in Western African countries that skirt the equator, as well as South Pacific countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines.
  • Often described as the Earth’s lungs, only in reverse, the tropical rainforests, take in vast quantities of carbon dioxide (a poisonous gas which mammals exhale) and through the process of photosynthesis, converts it into clean, breathable air. In fact, the tropical rainforests are the single greatest terrestrial source of air that we breathe.
  • tropical rainforests cover just 2% of the Earth's land surface
    • spunk9
      spunk9 on 04 Jun 12
       
      The rain forest has really less space but it is home of two thirds of the living species which mean that if we destroy just a little bit it effects alot of species
  • they are home to two-thirds of all the living species on the planet.
  • Fossil records show that the forests of Southeast Asia have existed in more or less their present form for 70 to 100 million years
  • Circling the Earth’s equator like a belt, the tropical rainforests maintain a near constant temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit and receive anywhere from 160 to 400 inches of rain per year.
  • a typical four-mile square mile patch of rainforest contains as many as 1,500 species of flowering plants, 750 species of trees, 125 mammal species, 400 species of birds, 100 species of reptiles, 60 species of amphibians, and 150 different species of butterflies."
Vishuka Mathur

Interesting Facts & Information: tourism, travel, culture, language, business... - 1 views

www.kwintessential.co.uk/...61

Brazil information facts tourism Eco-Tour Eco-Tourism

shared by Vishuka Mathur on 22 May 12 - No Cached
  • When on an ecotour the holiday makers will usually be under the guidance on a naturalist or an expert on the area to help people observe, understand and appreciate the wildlife, fauna and flora. Ecotourism has become an ethical alternative in the tourism industry and is growing in popularity.
    • Vishuka Mathur
      Vishuka Mathur on 22 May 12
       
      This is referring to how Eco tourism attracts tourism in a country, giving a chance for the people to understand and experience the wild life.  
  • Amazon is home to 20% of the world's bird species, 20% of its plant species, 10% of its mammal species and 3000 species of fish. As a result it is a great place to go on holiday or vacation for an ecotour.
    • Vishuka Mathur
      Vishuka Mathur on 22 May 12
       
      Here we can see why is it good to live there and some statistics on the population of plants and more wild life.
  • A genuine ecotour should however offer the tourist the following elements: education, conservation, sustainable development and benefit to local people. If any of these elements are missing from a potential ecotourism operator then possibly think again.
    • Vishuka Mathur
      Vishuka Mathur on 22 May 12
       
      Here we can see how Eco tourism is done, and what all the Eco tour should cover up, including how it benefits the local people with education about wild life and its conservation, & how it's sustainable.
Aylie Fucella

People of the Amazon | Greenpeace International - 0 views

www.greenpeace.org/...people-of-the-amazon

amazon people greenpeace indigenous

shared by Aylie Fucella on 22 May 12 - No Cached
  • The Brazilian Amazon alone is home to 20 million people including 400 different indigenous groups and the future of the Amazon depends on the future of those that call the forest home.
  • It provides almost everything from food and shelter to tools and medicines, as well as playing a crucial role in people's spiritual and cultural life.
  • use 32 plant species in the construction of hunting equipment alone. Each plant has a specific role according to its physical and chemical properties.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • As logging companies move in, indigenous people are losing their traditional territory. Some indigenous people, such as the Deni living in a remote area of Brazil's Amazonas state, are working not only to protect their culture, but the forest and the diversity of life upon which they depend.
  • Manaus is the commercial centre of the Amazon region with a population of almost two million.
  • Aylie Fucella on 05 Jun 12
     
    looks cool ANGUS
Aries Wangbunyen

The Effects of Destroying the Tropical Rainforests - 0 views

www.scalloway.org.uk/phye2.htm

rainforest amazon tropical WWF

shared by Aries Wangbunyen on 22 May 12 - No Cached
  • When the trees are cut down it takes away the habitat of the plants and animals. It also reduces the space for the indigenous people who have lived there for thousands of years.
  • This way of life has died out with contact from incomers.
  • Some native groups suffered greatly from diseases which they had no resistance to.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • Deforestation has led to the loss of thousands of species of insects, animals and plants. It means that important chemicals that could be used for medical purposes have not been found and will be lost.
  • Without the branches and leaves to break its fall, heavy tropical storms can quickly wash the soil from even an gentle slope.
  • The climate of the area becomes drier with the loss of the vegetation which acts as a "sponge" to hold on to the moisture. Having less cloud cover means the increase in temperatures. Both the burning of the trees and their reduced number increases the concentration of carbon dioxide. The extra carbon dioxide is believed to contribute to global warming, which in turn is blamed for the rise in sea level.
Taikan Ueoka

http://www.sae.gov.br/site/wp-content/uploads/td_0455.pdf - 0 views

www.sae.gov.br/...td_0455.pdf

government

shared by Taikan Ueoka on 04 Jun 12 - No Cached
    • Taikan Ueoka
      Taikan Ueoka on 04 Jun 12
       
      Earning more money and investing on the country's infrastructure seems to be important to the Brazilian government, and data shows that the best development option is to cut down the trees in the amazon rain forest and plant perennial plants for more sustainable logging. 
Aries Wangbunyen

Why are rainforests important? - 0 views

kids.mongabay.com/...401.html

WWF Aries

shared by Aries Wangbunyen on 04 Jun 12 - Cached
  • Rainforest in Honduras WHY ARE RAINFORESTS IMPORTANT? Flying over the heart of the Amazon is like flying over an ocean of green: an expanse of trees broken only by rivers. Even more amazing than their size is the role the Amazon and other rainforests around the world play in our everyday lives. While rainforests may seem like a distant concern, these ecosystems are critically important for our well-being.
  • Rainforests are often called the lungs of the planet for their role in absorbing carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and producing oxygen, upon which all animals depend for survival. Rainforests also stabilize climate, house incredible amounts of plants and wildlife, and produce nourishing rainfall all around the planet. Rainforests: help stabilize the world’s climate; provide a home to many plants and animals; maintain the water cycle protect against flood, drought, and erosion; are a source for medicines and foods; support tribal people; and are an interesting place to visit
spunk9

Endangered Species - humans, body, water, Earth, plants, animals, oxygen, air, plant, c... - 0 views

www.scienceclarified.com/...Endangered-Species.html

WWF

shared by spunk9 on 04 Jun 12 - No Cached
  • spunk9 on 04 Jun 12
     
    basic information about extinct species
Aries Wangbunyen

WWF - Amazon - World's largest tropical rain forest and river basin - 0 views

www.worldwildlife.org/...index.html

rainforest amazon tropical WWF

shared by Aries Wangbunyen on 22 May 12 - Cached
  • The landscape contains:One in ten known species on Earth1.4 billion acres of dense forests, half of the planet’s remaining tropical forests4,100 miles of winding rivers
  • Basin
  • 2.6 million square miles, about 40 percent of South America, in the Amazon
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • There is a clear link between the health of the Amazon and the health of the planet. The rain forests, which contain 90-140 billion metric tons of carbon, help stabilize local and global climate.Unfortunately, deforestation may release significant amounts of this carbon, which could have catastrophic consequences around the world.
  • Amazon, a place two-thirds the size of the U.S.,
  • Unfortunately, deforestation may release significant amounts of this carbon, which could have catastrophic consequences around the world.
  • There is a clear link between the health of the Amazon and the health of the planet. The rain forests, which contain 90-140 billion metric tons of carbon, help stabilize local and global climate.
  • WWF has been working in the Amazon for 40 years
  • construction of roads and dams, and extractive activities including illegal logging and climate change are the biggest drivers of deforestation and river degradation. At current deforestation rates, 55% of the Amazon's rainforests could be gone by 2030
  • 40,000 plant species, 3,000 freshwater fish species and more than 370 reptile species exist in the Amazon. It is one of the world’s last refuges for jaguars, harpy eagles and pink dolphins and home to many birds and butterflies. Thousands of tree-dwelling species including southern two-toed sloths, pygmy marmosets, saddleback and emperor tamarins and Goeldi’s monkeys are found here too.
  • More than 30 million people from 350 indigenous and ethnic groups live in the Amazon and depend on nature for agriculture, clothing and traditional medicines. Most live in large urban centers, but all residents rely on the Amazon’s natural bounty for food, shelter and livelihoods.
Tulsi Jipp

WWF - Tropical Forests - 0 views

wwf.panda.org/...tropical_forests

rainforest amazon tropical WWF

shared by Tulsi Jipp on 22 May 12 - No Cached
  • For biologists, tropical rainforests are some of the richest, most exciting areas on earth! They are home to gigantic trees, colourful birds, millions of brightly hued insects, and a variety of fascinating mammals. There are 3 main regions of tropical rainforest: in Central and South America, in West and Central Africa, and in Southeast Asia.
  • ropical rainforests have more kinds of trees than any other forests in the world. The richest in plant species are Amazon forests, but in general all tropical forests have an incredible variety of trees
shubha ghogar

Indigenous Peoples' Literature - 0 views

www.indigenouspeople.net/sidemenu.html

indigenous

shared by shubha ghogar on 22 May 12 - No Cached
    • shubha ghogar
      shubha ghogar on 22 May 12
       
      Indigenous people are very important portion of humanity. Their heritage, and they ways they live in this plant is an invaluable treasure house for us all. Indigenous people in every region of the world many cultures they live together and interact. Indigenous people they live in climates from arctic cold to like amazon heat, and indigenous people the natural world is a valued source of food, health 
Kajsa Oltorp

Project Amazonia: Threats - Agriculture and Cattle Ranching - 0 views

web.mit.edu/...threat_agg.html

rancher

shared by Kajsa Oltorp on 24 May 12 - Cached
  • Kajsa Oltorp on 24 May 12
     
    Cattle For reasons similar to agriculture, ranching is not very adaptable to the land of the Amazon Rainforest. The grasses required to feed cattle, like the crops maintained in agriculture, are not resistant to the natural forces of the Amazon Basin and quickly deplete the nutrients of the surrounding soil. The nutrients that were once in the soil are removed from the ecosystem, shipped away as ground beef. Studies on land use have also suggested that the continuous movement of cattle on the unprotected land results in soil compacting, which increases the density of the soil material, resulting in decreased root penetration, water infiltration, and gas exchange.3 This means that larger flora, requiring a more extensive root system, are unable to grow under the compacted soil conditions, leaving the land for grass and woody shrub encroachment. The possible solutions to preventing nutrient loss are similar to those suggested for agricultural systems. Cattle ranching remains a very important industry in Brazil and is becoming even more vital to the Brazilian economy. The Brazilian commercial cattle herd is the largest in the world.4 Beef and milk are the two top livestock products in Brazil5 and exports of Brazilian beef grew to $1 billion (USD) in 2001. By 2003, Brazilian beef output is expected to reach 7.4 million tons, with exports of 925,000 tons. One problem in Brazilian beef exporting has been the existence of foot and mouth disease in some Brazilian states. This has caused the United States to be very stringent with Brazilian beef imports. However, the United States and Europe are still major importers of Brazilian beef.6 For every 1/4 lb hamburger consumed in the US from rainforest beef, about 55 square feet of rainforest was cleared. Although many fast food chains claim not to use rainforest beef, this claim is simply not valid. The USDA doesn't have an adequate system of labeling where beef is from. Thus beef grown in the rainforest can pass th
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