Tibet is been considered as one of the highest region in the world as its average elevation is about 4,500 meters. Tibet is quite often called as the Roof of the World because this country is located in the Himalayas which is one of the highest peaks in the world. With its excellent clear atmosphere, bright sunlight, natural beauty, geographic features and metrologies and mysteries of Tibetan culture. Tibet is also a great place for all the scientists, adventures and nature lovers. Besides deserts and snowfields in the region one can also find luxurious forests, bloomed meadows, beautiful lichen on trees and rocks and also swamps with cranes. The young geological and broad topological history of the region is in fact unique and rich with the botanical kingdom that exists in the region. The nature of this region has granted several beautiful wild flowers, most of these precious flowers are widespread in the Himalayas and Tibetan region. These flowers were produced in order adapt special environment of the region. This region possesses around 6,000 different species of vascular plants which include 110 species of Gentiana, 120 species of Primula and 190 species of Rhododendron. Calanthe metoensis, Mussaenda dicipiens, Omphalogramma tibeticium, Cypripedium elegans and Paeonia ludlowli are some of the other rare plants found in Tibet. Gentiana, a popular mountain plant is a type of flower that belongs to the Gentianaceae family. This particular flower has trumpet-shaped deep blue colored flowers, however may vary from yellow, creamy, red and white color. Primula, is a type of flower which belongs to the Primulaceae family and include oxlip, cowslip, primrose and auricular. These flowers are usually found in white, red, pink, yellow and purple colors. Few of the Primula flowers are frequently know as polyanthus. Rhododendron is a type of flower that belongs to the Ericaceae family. These rhododendrons are actually referred to as the king of shrubs. The spectacular spring flower of rhododendron makes one of the most famous garden shrubs. For several years Tibetans have adhered to environmental and spiritual values to preserve the fragile stability of life across the high plateaus on which they live. The Tibetan government passes strict laws to protect and preserve plant life and wild life. Preserving the plant life generally contributed to the know-how of ecosystem conservation and biodiversity science. The exploitation of natural resources was carefully regulated and manufacturing & testing of weapons was prohibited. The Tanaduk Institute of Tibet created a Tibetan Medical Plant Conservation Program in the mid 70’s. The researchers of this institute started botanical studies of those endangered plants. They also ensured the security of several endangered botanicals and continued to encourage studies of endangered plant cultivation & conversation and Tibetan medicines. Several countries have implemented new laws in order to protect endangered species or habitats for instance restricting land developments, stopping deforestation and planting new trees. Even the increasing level of atmospheric carbon dioxide is believed to worsen the capacity of several plants to survive freezing. So, several researchers suggest that global warming may lead to extra freezing in the near future. This particular pattern is actually dangerous for all the plants as several species must become accustomed to cold. Getting accustomed to the colder condition cam help these plants to withstand freezing, but extraordinary warmth early on in the year averts this process. Conservation of plants helps to maintain and enhance products valued by the people of the region like animals, native plants and habitats.Conservation actions even offer cultural advantages like opportunities for appreciation of historic heritage and landscapes.Natural areas and public conservation lands also contribute which are quiteoften ignored products like clean and clear water supply, benefits of regulating effects of erosion, climate change and flooding.Together, the environmental benefits and products are in fact referred to as ecosystem services which are underlain by ecological procedures like evolution, nutrient cycling, pollination and soil formation. The study of consumption, distribution and production of ecosystem services is known as environmental economics. Recently governments have more gradually analyzed ecosystem services as principal assets which enhance and sustain human lives. And as a result, there has been significant effort taken in charging ecosystem services across the region in order to promote efficient usage of ecosystem services.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
MENGENAL SIRIH-SIRIH HEBAT
Tanaman dengan ciri khas daun berbentuk hati dan tumbuh merambat ini mengandung segudang khasiat. Mulai gatal pada kulit sampai yang terbilang menakutkan seperti diabetes dan kanker. Sirih (Piper betle) termasuk tanaman “bandel” karena kemampuannya bertahan dalam kondisi lingkungan yang kurang optimal. Diletakkan di dalam rumah atau kepanasan di halaman tak jadi masalah baginya. Perbanyakannya pun cukup dengan menggunakan setek, potong tangkainya lalu ditanam. Hal terpenting bagi pertumbuhan sirih hanyalah kecukupan air. Di sisi lain, sirih ternyata mempunyai banyak kerabat. Seperti yang diungkapkan Harini Bambang Wahono, pecinta tanaman obat di bilangan Cilandak, Jakarta. Bila sebagian orang kebanyakan hanya mengenal sirih hijau, maka ia mengoleksi beragam sirih, seperti sirih merah, sirih hitam, sirih kuning, sirih kedaton, sirih hutan, sirih manila, sirih belanda, dan sirih liar atau suruan. Rupa dan Manfaat Berbeda Bukan saja rupa yang berbeda, manfaatnya pun berlainan. Ambil contoh sirih hijau dengan ciri daun berwarna hijau dan permukaan daun licin. Umumnya masyarakat merebus beberapa helai daun sirih hijau dan memanfaatkan air rebusannya untuk mengatasi gangguan jerawat, sariawan, sakit gigi, sakit mata sampai masalah kewanitaan. Sirih hijau juga biasa digunakan langsung untuk mengatasi mimisan, bisul, eksim, dan luka bakar. Lain halnya dengan sirih merah. Menurut Harini, sirih yang daunnya berwarna merah ini mampu menjinakkan keluhan yang lebih berat, seperti diabetes, kanker, hipertensi, batu ginjal, hepatitis, dan ambeien. Caranya, “Ambil satu genggam daun sirih merah, lalu rebus dengan dua gelas air. Minum pagi dan malam dengan telaten,” ujar penerima Kalpataru 2002 atas dedikasinya terhadap lingkungan hidup ini. Hari ini menambahkan, selain sebagai tanaman obat, sirih merah juga diburu para hobiis tanaman hias. Maklum, daunnya yang tersusun atas kombinasi warna hijau dan merah dengan motif putih di setiap tulang daunnya terlihat cantik. Sedangkan pada bagian bawah daun seluruh sisi terisi warna merah. “Harganya cukup mahal, sekitar Rp10.000 per helai. Mahal karena indah dan khasiatnya hebat,” komentarnya. Berbeda lagi sirih hitam. Dengan warna daun hijau tua kehitaman, sejumlah literatur menyebutkan sirih ini berkhasiat lima kali lebih dahsyat dibandingkan sirih merah. Namun, pernyataan tersebut masih sebatas kesaksian empiris dan perlu pendalaman medis lebih lanjut. Selain itu, sirih hitam sering dikaitkan dengan dunia klenik. Para dukun menggunakannya untuk melengkapi sesajen saat mereka berpraktik. “Taruh sirih hitam di depan rumah, jika ada roh jahat masuk dia akan berbelok dan nggak jadi masuk kerena takut sama sirih hitam,” canda Hartini Pembina Kelompok Tani Perkotaan “Dahlia” itu punya pengalaman unik dengan sirih hitam. Suatu saat di kawasan rumahnya hujan deras dan petir saling bergantian bersambaran. Kebetulan rumah salah satu anggota kelompoknya tampak tersambar petir. Namun anehnya rumah tersebut tidak rusak sedikit pun, tapi tanaman sirih hitam yang berada di depan rumahnya mendadak mati. Saat dilihat, tangkainya patah dan gosong terbakar. Aneh tapi nyata,” ungkap nenek 77 tahun ini Sedangkan sirih belanda dipercaya sebagai sirkulator udara dalam ruangan. Beberapa penelitian menyebutkan, sirih dengan ukuran daun lebih besar dari jenis lainnya ini efektif menyerap formalin dan benzena. Dalam sehari, sirih belanda mampu menyerap 54% dari total benzena 0,156 ppm. Untuk formalin, dari 18 ppm dapat dihilangkan sebesar 67%. Selain itu, karbon monoksida sebesar 113 ppm dapat dilenyapkan hingga 75%. Hebat ya, manfaat tanaman sirih ini. Anda tertarik memeliharanya? Selamet Riyanto/AGRINA
Vascular Streak Dieback disease of cocoa (II) Diagnosis on cutting
Diagnosis to identify VSD fungus (Oncobasidium theobromae) on cocoa plants is indispensable. An experiment to identify the fungus on cuttings derived from infected twig and leaves has been rarried out at hte Research Institute for Estate Crops in Jember, Indonesia. The results showed that the VSD fungus could be identified only on cuttings prepared from infected twig. The mycelium grew out from the injured parts, i.e. leaf scar and cut sides of twigs and leaves. The fungus has covered all of the cuttings on the third day of incubation. The growth of fungus on leaf cuttings was slower than that on twig cuttings with trimmed leaves. It is concluded that cuttings prepared from infected twig could be used to identify O. Theobromae. Sri Sukamto, Yohanes Djoko Junianto; Balai Penelitian Perkebunan Jember
