View allAll Photos Tagged Ecosystem
see www.farmfoundation.org/webcontent/Farm-Foundation-Forums-... for more details
Held at the National Press Club
The Hoop Pines are the tallest strata in the Mcilwriath's rainforests. Often emergent, they often support heavy loads of epiphytes including ant plants, orchids, ferns, climbers, shrubs and small trees.
Students to see how and why we conduct seagrass surveys. In addition to learning why the seagrasses in Florida are important to the marine environment, students see and touch the gear used for underwater sampling, the seagrasses we study, and even try a little seagrass survey of their own.
A couple of weeks ago, the Kits Beach pool was closed for the season. The pumps were turned: chlorination and filtration ceased. This is what has developed since.
Ecosystem services valued at over US $72 trillion a year.
Yet two thirds are considered degraded from damage, mismanagement and failure to invest and re-invest in productivity, health and sustainability.
Roll the statistics around in your mind, say them out loud and roll them off your tongue. Look out the window and think about them: natural wetlands provide services of nearly US $7 trillion, forest wetlands treat more wastewater per unit of energy and have up to 22 fold higher cost-benefit ratios than traditional sand filtration in treatment plants. Crops including the cup of tea, or coffee that you had this morning rely on pollination and pest control services of birds and insects. Projected loss of ecosystem service could lead up to 25% loss in food production and by 2050 increase the risk of hunger. These are a few of the statistics mentioned in UNEP's report; Dead planet, living planet: Biodiversity and ecosystem restoration for sustainable development.
Read more: www.southafricanbiodiversity.co.za/economy/608-dead-plane...
26 January 2016, European Innovation Ecosystems: Good governance and effective support for smart specialisation
Belgium - Brussels - January 2016
© European Union / Nuno Rodrigues
People burn this important wetland site to hunt indigenous Sitatunga, a swamp-dwelling antelope species.
This picture displays education for me. In the words of Mrs. Frizzle from Magic School Bus "Take chances, make mistakes, and get MESSY!!" While studying a salt march ecosystem the 5th graders use a mud pit for a classroom. I was told it was the best lesson ever.
26 January 2016, European Innovation Ecosystems: Good governance and effective support for smart specialisation
Belgium - Brussels - January 2016
© European Union / Nuno Rodrigues
The North West Coast Academic Health Science Network (NWC AHSN) explored the issues that alcohol abuse poses to the healthcare sector at their quarterly ecosystem event held on 14th July at Select Security Stadium in Widnes.
Attended by more than 100 industry and public sector experts, businesses, and academia, the event discussed the current system for alcohol A&E attendances and the challenges faced by services.
Presenters included Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chairman, Liverpool Health Partners, Professor Mike Pearson, Professor of Clinical Evaluation, University of Liverpool and Ali Wheeler, Director, Drink Wise.
Dr Liz Mear, chief executive of the NWC AHSN, said: “Alcohol abuse is placing increased pressure on our hospitals and emergency services and it’s critical that we target the root of the problem, rather than attempting to come up with short-term reactive solutions. Unfortunately, it is a growing problem and alcohol-related illness currently makes up ten percent of the UK disease burden as well as being the cause of six percent of road causalities and nearly one in five road deaths.
“This event brought together experts in the field, including public sector workers, industry partners, and academics, to share information and explore new, innovative ways in which to collaboratively tackle this critical issue.”
Currently, it is estimated that alcohol-related harm in England costs the health sector over £20 billion each year. Although it is a national concern, alcohol abuse in North West remains a significant problem with 11 out of the 18 areas in the NWC AHSN region displaying higher morbidity and mortality rates compared with the national average.
The event was held as part of the NWC AHSN’s ecosystem events. Hosted every four months, the ecosystem brings together representatives from the NHS, local councils, academic organisations and industry to work together and tackle health challenges by encouraging the uptake of connected technological healthcare solutions.
The Paseo de las Iglesias Phase 1 project has 3 main goals per the Bond: River Park, Ecosystem Restoration and Erosion Protection. Below is a summary of each of the final amenities in each category to be constructed onsite.
The project will provide river park pathway and amenities including 2.7 miles of paved pathway (16’ wide), 2.2 miles of DG pathway (8’ wide) and 10,305 new trees, shrubs and cacti irrigated using permanent irrigation, temporary irrigation and Dri-water irrigation methods. The water sources will be reclaimed water. With the construction of Paseo de las Iglesias the Loop will have an 8 mile continuous section on the Santa Cruz River. Amenities will also include 3 parking areas; the west side paved parking area with restroom, ramada and seating, east side paved parking and ramada, and west side equestrian staging area with dirt parking and mounting block.
The project will provide ecosystem restoration element including a plant pallet comprised of native species local to this part of the Santa Cruz but also sustainable for current conditions, water harvesting basins, preserve in place areas for vegetation and habitat, and special habitat structures like lizard habitat and raptor perches. Additionally, Lizard and amphibian salvage to be performed by RFCD though subcontract to Dr. Rosen at U of A. RFCD contracted with Dr. Rosen to collect and monitor lizards in a fenced off area off Cottonwood Lane south of the Community Garden. The fence has been constructed by Dr. Rosen and lizard catching is in progress. Other amphibians will also be salvaged for later release. This will be treated as a do not disturb area during construction. The focus of the restoration work will be improvement to Mesquite Circle Pond which is home to 9 unique and special interest native species and one of the jewels of urban Tucson herpetological community.
The project will provide erosion protection including 1.4 miles of new soil cement bank protection, 0.4 miles of gabion bank protection, and additional methods such as rip rap, rock plating and terracing.
In addition to the decorative elements designed by the landscape architect there will be Public Art elements. With the assistance of the Tucson Pima Arts Council, we selected public artist Andy Dufford. He has been working on an entry monument and ramada for the project site. We have also been working with Las Artes, a local Arts and Education center, on a tile mural at the restroom.
During the design process our individual Section 404 permit was obtained from the Army Corps of Engineers, cultural resources mitigation was performed and letter of clearance issued from SHPO, Intergovernmental Agreement obtained with from the City of Tucson regarding property within the project area and permits with ADOT applied for. A cultural resources/archeological Phase I, Class III study was completed. The study was conducted to the current standard and determined the extent of archeological resources on site. Based on the results from the study a mitigation plan was created to determine and plan for the extent of the impacts of the project and the necessary remediation. Additionally, a goal of the project is to create signage for a segment the proposed pathway to represent the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail along the west bank of the Santa Cruz River that commemorates the 1775-1776 expedition and the historic Paseo de las Iglesias Trail.