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  • From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <london>
  • To: permaculture-mg@ces.ncsu.edu
  • Subject: BEN # 84 (fwd)
  • Date: Sat, 17 Dec 1994 11:24:20 -0500 (EST)


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 9 Dec 1994 06:08:18 -0800
>From: Adolf Ceska <aceska@cue.bc.ca>
To: ben@cue.bc.ca
Subject: BEN # 84


BBBBB EEEEEE NN N ISSN 1188-603X
BB B EE NNN N
BBBBB EEEEE NN N N BOTANICAL
BB B EE NN NN ELECTRONIC
BBBBB EEEEEE NN N NEWS

No. 84 December 9, 1994

aceska@freenet.victoria.bc.ca Victoria, B.C.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Dr. A. Ceska, P.O.Box 8546, Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 3S2
-----------------------------------------------------------

BOTANY BC 1994 - FINALLY ON BEN
>From : Ted Lea <tlea@fwhdept.env.gov.bc.ca>

I finally got around to completing the writeup on Botany BC for
BEN. ... Sorry this took so long.

BOTANY BC took place June 20 to June 25, 1994 in the Haida Gwaii
(the Queen Charlotte Islands) and was one of the finest meetings
ever, comparable to the earlier Bamfield meeting of 1989. The
organizing committee of Ros Pojar, Jim Pojar, Trudy Chatwin and
Evelyn Hamilton should be congratulated for a well organized and
excellent program of both botanical and non-botanical activities

Highlights included:

A short morning session of informative talks by Jim Pojar,
Leslie Goertzen, Alvin Yanchuk, and Mike Hawkes, followed by
field tours of tidal wetlands, coastal forests and sand dunes.
The expertise of Jim Pojar, Hans Roemer, Wilf Schofield and many
others was greatly utilized by participants. We saw some inter-
esting sand dune plants: beach peavine (Lathyrus littoralis),
beach lupine (Lupinus littoralis), seashore bluegrass (Poa
douglasii var. macrantha) and beach glehnia (Glehnia
littoralis). An evening salmon feast in the sun at Tlell, was
followed by Woodhenge on the beach, celebrating summer solstice.
The site was blessed by an eagle feather which assured no rain
for the remaining days. This was also the scene for a variety of
bizarre botanical rituals. Some botanists also took the oppor-
tunity to visit the famed Golden Spruce.

The following day consisted of field tours visiting an amazing
array of bogs, including the blanket bogs with their sundew,
yellow waterlily, and natural bonsai of hemlock and yellow-
cedar, as well walks up Tow Hill and to the blow hole. That
evening incredible Hors d'oeuvres in Masset were followed by a
Haida feast in Old Masset (Haida) where botanical and piscerian
products were consumed with great relish. This was followed by
native dancing, including a male only dance for botanical
guests.

A highlight of the whole tour was the boat trip through
Skidegate Inlet to the west coast aboard the Anvil Cove, hosted
by Barbara and Keith Rowsell. Meals were again to high standard-
s, and camping in the forest was a wonderful experience without
the usual Queen Charlotte rain. Early morning sessions on marine
plants by Mike Hawkes led to the search for the elusive Sea Palm
(never found). Tidal pools teamed with interesting sea life such
as, sea cucumbers, sea anemones, starfish, many species of
marine algae and much, much more.

Unfortunately, the helicopter trip to the alpine limestone areas
and endemics, was cancelled due to low cloud, however, hearty
souls hiked as close as they could get and were treated by
seeing filmy fern, Mecodium wrightii and the Queen Charlotte
endemics: Newcombe's butterweed (Senecio newcombei), Queen
Charlotte butterweed (S. moresbiensis), curly-hair moss-heather
(Cassiope lycopodioides ssp. crista-pilosa), Queen Charlotte
violet (Viola biflora subsp. carlotae), Calder's lovage (Ligus-
ticum calderi) and Taylor's saxifrage (Saxifraga taylori). Many
people took the boat tour to Gudal Bay, and Marble Island to see
the Horned Puffin nesting sites and the speedy Peregrine Falcon.
No whales were seen, assuring a return to the Misty Isles in the
future.

The new book Plants of Coastal British Columbia was put to many
uses during the field sessions. Many keen botanist were busily
seen keying out plants, while others were seen using it as a
fine seat cushion or sun block.

For those who missed this year's BOTANY B.C., many of the magi-
cal moments were recorded by John Parminter on his camcorder and
will be shown at next year's 10th annual meeting which will be
held in the Chilcotin area.


CONSERVATION OF NORTH AMERICAN FUNGI
>From: Amy Rossman
(originally posted on the Biological Conservation News-
letter No. 138 - distributed by CONSLINK@SIVM.SI.EDU)

The number of fungal species estimated to exist on earth is
approximately 1.5 million, yet little is known about the rela-
tive abundance of these species, or if any are endangered.
Nevertheless, many species of fungi appear to be declining in
Europe and in the Netherlands. Eef Arnolds points to nitrate
deposition as being responsible for the decline of many mycor-
rhizal species, which are necessary for the health of their tree
hosts. Some mycologists are also concerned about the effects of
mushroom harvest on fungal populations. The decline of these
fungi could directly affect the health of the forest, and
Europeans are taking steps to safeguard populations of
threatened fungal species by creating "red lists," which regu-
late the collection of selected species.

There are no "red lists" for fungi in North America, but recent
reports indicate that many fungi may be endangered in the
Pacific Northwest due to habitat loss. The Forest Ecosystem
Management Assessment Team (FEMAT), commissioned by President
Clinton to examine forestry practices in the Pacific Northwest,
lists 527 fungal species which are closely associated with late
successional forest ecosystems. Of these, 80 are endemic, and
destruction of their habitat could result in their extinction.
One example is Oxyporus nobilissimus, which is a polypore
restricted to old growth Abies; it is known from only 12 loca-
tions. A less dramatic but equally notable example is Tuber
rufum, a truffle which has a beneficial association with the
roots of oak. Western oak habitat is being lost to agricultural
and residential development, and as the oak goes, so goes the
truffle. The FEMAT report calls for inventory and monitoring of
western oak habitat.

The inclusion of fungi in federal ecosystem assessments is a
landmark in the history of mycology and conservation. Management
agencies are starting to acknowledge that good stewardship
includes consideration of all species, and that microbes such as
fungi occupy important ecosystem niches and require protection.

The FEMAT report can be obtained by calling (503) 326-2877.


NITROGEN, ENVIRONMENT, AND PEOPLE: AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
>From: Craig MacConnell <cbmac@coopext.cahe.wsu.edu>

February 23 & 24, 1995
Everett, WA

A conference focusing on nitrogen in our environment:

What role does it play ?
What are the health concerns ?
How do we manage it successfully ?

Nitrogen, Environment, and People is a two-day conference focus-
ing on the effects and management of nitrogen in our environ-
ment. The conference is intended to provide a comprehensive view
of nitrogen to gain a better and broader understanding of its
effect on our natural resources - particularly water.

Conference topics will include the sources and movement of
nitrogen in our environment, potential health concerns, and
successful management tools for reducing nitrate contamination.
The goal: to provide the tools and understanding needed to help
achieve sustainability of our natural resources.

The conference will provide valuable information to anyone
dealing with resource sustainability issues - health officers,
land use planners, public policy makers, agricultural commodity
groups, environmental organizations, Tribes, local governments,
conservation districts, and agriculture and water quality
professionals. Those who see nitrogen as a pollutant and those
who see it as a benefit will want to attend this conference to
learn more.

The conference is designed with three concurrent sessions under
the broad categories of:

Big Picture
Health
Management
Physical Processes

The conference has scheduled 74 speakers on a wide range of
topics.

Registration is $80 before January 10, 1995. Conference
registration includes: Continental breakfast, refreshments, and
lunch both days plus all conference proceedings (including
abstracts).

For a complete electronic version of the conference brochure and
registration form send an e-mail request to:

Craig MacConnell
Washington State University Cooperative Extension
Whatcom County, Bellingham, WA
(206)676-6736/Fax(206)738-2458
Internet: cbmac@coopext.cahe.wsu.edu




  • BEN # 84 (fwd), Lawrence F. London, Jr., 12/17/1994

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