Sunday 16 May 2010

Nature in Peril;

I saw this beautiful moth sitting on a leaf of a Bougainvillea; unfortunately I could not find its name. Please click the picture to see its really nice pattern and colour, even with closed wings.


The flower of the Coast Banksia;


Carpenter bees are some of the largest and most spectacular of the native Australian bees. Their name comes from their habit of nesting in soft wood, like dead banksia trees, in which they cut entrance holes with their strong jaws.

I tie dead tree trunks to the trees for the Carpenter bees to make their home. They are very beautiful like huge Bumblebees. There is one ready to come out.

Ants use the leaves of a Golden Penda to make their nest. Do not disturb it or they are quickly all over you!

Clarence River Baeckia is a beautiful, native, weeping shrub or small tree.


Miss Bella the resident Python makes herself comfortable on the Bromeliads to catch the early sun.


Grevillia Banksii is easily propagated from seed.


Third of plants and animals 'at risk of extinction'
One third of plant and animal species are now at risk of extinction, a UN report is expected to conclude this week.
By Matthew Moore


The world's biodiversity is threatened by the economic growth of countries like China, India and Brazil, the study will say.
While Western countries are increasingly aware of the need to protect endangered species, the developing world's appetite for raw materials is destroying vulnerable ecosystems, the report's authors will warn.

Population growth, pollution and the spread of Western-style consumption are also blamed for hitting plant and animal populations.
Species at risk include the fishing cat, as its wetland habitats in India, Pakistan and southeast Asia are converted for agriculture. Maritime ecosystems are under particular threat, with the south Asian river dolphin among the species whose numbers have plummeted due to damming and overfishing.
The latest report – the third edition of the UN's Global Biodiversity Outlook – is based on data obtained from studies in more than 120 countries across the world.
It builds on recent work for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) which showed that 21 per cent of all known mammals, 30 per cent of amphibians and 35 per cent of invertebrates are threatened with extinction.
Speaking in advance of the report, Ahmed Djoghlaf, who heads the Convention on Biological Diversity, said that countries had failed to honour pledges to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss.
He said: “The magnitude of the damage [to ecosystems] is much bigger than previously thought. The rate of extinction is currently running at 1,000 times the natural historical background rate of extinction.”
He added: “It’s a problem if we continue this unsustainable pattern of production and consumption. If the 9 billion people predicted to be with us by 2050 were to have the same lifestyle as Americans, we would need five planets.”


11 comments:

Floridagirl said...

You have the most beautiful natives in your neck of the woods! Love that coast banksia and the grevilla! And a resident python! Oh my. Beautiful creature.

Bill said...

You have a wondrful garden Titania, but not sure about Miss bella, I think I would give her her marching orders.
Cheers,

Bill

diane b said...

That is disturbing news. The story about the bee is interesting. It is an unusual moth too. You can keep Miss Bella.

Ami said...

Titania: Love that Coast Banksia and Grevillia Banksii! Beautiful pictures! As of Miss bella, I know I won't be that brave if I found her in my bromeliad :)

Jim said...

Fascinating shots and info.

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Thank you for your comments; I keep Miss Bella.
Floridagirl, yes, she is a beautiful
snake.
Bill, thanks;no I won't!
Diane, yes, certainly I keep her!
Ami, she is not poisonous and does not bother us.
JBar thank you.

Stone Art's Blog said...

Those carpenter bees are amazing, the flower of the Coast Banksia is amazing too. Ye really have the most amazing and unique plants over there.

Stephanie said...

Coast Banksia flower is so captivating and the snake is too frightening for me. What a post you have here ha ha...

I think the exotic rainforest jungle plants are the ones in danger of extinction most ;-(

BonjourRomance said...

Bonjour Titania,
Thank youf or coming by and following along. You have a beautiful garden, and this is such interesting information. I'm a new follower!
Mimi

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I used to be not frighten of Miss Bella's sisters. That was when I was young. But the first look at Miss Bella gave me a chill.

My nephews on the Gold coast too have a python. They often take it out and play with it. Their Dad have a real big one.

Pietro Brosio said...

All fantastic shots, Titania!
I like the bright Grevillia Banksii very much!
Have a nice Thursday!