Thursday, December 18, 2014

Loggers cut Down the Oldest Tree in Amazon Forest

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 272-365

On 6 December 2014, World News Daily Report published the sad news that Loggers cut Down the Oldest Tree in Amazon Forest


What can we do to prevent the destruction of the forest in the future?
We need to create a critical mass of people around the globe that have the life of the planet at hearth where the financial benefits of few are not more important that the existence of the forest and the subsistence of animals and other plants that use it.

How can the public opinion change the mind of the governments and other power players that see the profit in logging?
















Illegal loggers at the frontier of the Peruvian and Brazilian border have mistakenly cut down what experts claim is the world’s oldest tree after allegedly not noticing they were logging deeply in Matsés Indigenous 

Reserve, an area where logging is illegal, infuriating local conservation organizations and native indigenous communities. 

The giant Samauma tree that is thought to be over 5,800 years old judging on its concentric rings and estimated to be close to 40 meters in height was a major part of the native tribes cultural landscape, countless generations of natives having witnessed the long duration of the tree and having included it in their own culture. 

«It is the Mother spirit of the rainforest, from this spirit-tree came the life force of all things living. They have destroyed Aotlcp-Awak, they have brought darkness upon not only our people, but the whole world» explains local tribesman leader Tahuactep of the Matsés tribe.

Native communities alarmed local media outlets and conservation groups when Aotlcp-Awak, or Mother tree in local dialects, was reported sawed down by heavy machinery

«For many generations, the Mother tree has brought my people health and good fortune. The roots of the Mother tree spread throughout the rainforest and bring its life spirit to the world. What will be left of the animals, of the plants and of our people now that the Mother spirit is gone» asks Kalahuaptl, a local shaman. «They have murdered the Mother spirit knowingly, they have done this to kill our people and take the spoils of the land» he adds, visibly shaken by the destruction of the millennia-old Samauma tree.

Anna Golding, local researcher for non profit organization and conservancy group Rainforest Protection Coalition (RPC), an initiative stemming from Berkeley University in California, believes the ‘incident’ was intentionnal. « There are large portions of this national reserve that are rich in oil and natural gas. 


There has been committed action by energy corporations to lobby the government to exploit the area for years. The protected zones have been cut in half over the past decade and this is only their latest attempt to get rid of the local populations who are fighting to preserve their cultural heritage and lifestyle» she admits.

«These actions are clearly perpetrated with the consent of local authorities and the government. If this wasn’t the case, why are local enforcement agencies not prosecuting these corporations? Why are these loggers free to keep doing what they are doing? That is the bigger question» she adds.

Between 1991 and 2014, the total area of forest lost in the Amazon has more than tripled, with most of the lost forest becoming pasture for cattle. Rainforests are the richest places on earth holding the majority of the planet’s biodiversity, yet 100 acres of rainforests are cleared every minute, estimates a recent 2014 World Resources Institute report.

Samauma tree 


















In the Amazon forest, there grows a giant tree called Samaúma, referred to by the indigenous people as the "mother of trees". 

Majestic Samauma trees grow between 100 and 160 feet high and to nearly 20 feet in diameter. The local people refer to the tree as the "Queen of the Forest" because of its immense size.
The Samaúma is a very tall tree in the forest, and is very easy to notice high above the surrounding greenery, it´s branches reaching out over the plant life underneath like a mother caring for her children. One of the largest living trees known to the human race, the Samaúma has a special purpose in the natural world. 

The trunk of the Samaúma is hollow, and generally has a bulge in its center as if it were a full belly. Within the trunk is stored a large quantity of water, which in times of drought is released into the ground through its roots, giving life to the surrounding area. In this way the forest is able to survive until the next rainfall.

Conserving water with rain barrels and cisterns has a similar effect to the Samaúma tree within our society. By having these containers ready for rain, we can store water in them until it is needed in dry periods. Like this, we can preserve the lives of our plants as well as cut down on our usage of the water that grows more precious every day.

 The mammoth roots of the trees are used by indigenous people to beat out messages that echo throughout the rainforest. Illegal logging operations have taken thousands of trees from pristine areas of the ancient forest. 

Who is buying?

Timber operators use the trees for a cheap source of plywood for Brazil, Asia, Japan and the United States.




Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Wayfaring Tree Viburnum lantana Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 271-365

Other Name Viburnum lantana















The Viburnum lantana is a medium to large, deciduous shrub that is native to Europe and western Asia. This multi stemmed, spreading shrub grows 10 to 15 feet high and produces a somewhat rounded outline. Its thick, green leaves are opposite, simple oval to lanceolate, and are 2 to 5 inches long with finely serrated margins and white, silky-haired undersides. Clusters of creamy white, 5 inch, flat-topped flowers canvas the shrub from May to June. Berries are green, flushed with red, then turn black in early fall, often showing all three colors at once. The fruit can be eaten either raw or cooked. Common uses of this tree include rootstock and twine.

Wayfaring Tree is covered in stunning creamy white flat-top flowers at the ends of the branches in mid spring. It has dark green foliage throughout the season. The large fuzzy pointy leaves turn an outstanding deep purple in the fall. The red fruits are held in abundance in spectacular clusters from late summer to late fall. The smooth gray bark is not particularly outstanding.
Landscape Attributes
Wayfaring Tree is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.
This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Wayfaring Tree is recommended for the following landscape applications;
  • General Garden Use
  • Accent
  • Hedges/Screening
  • Mass Planting
Reforestation


An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils but is ill-adapted for poor soils and for dry situations

Propagation
Propagate by seedsoftwood and semi-hardwood cuttings
Suggested planting locations and garden typesHedging & Screens Low Maintenance Wildlife Gardens

Wildlife


Bees, butterflies and hoverflies visit the flowers. A variety of bird species including blackbirds, fieldfares and waxwings eat the berries, as do the Dormouse and the Wood Mouse.
Medicinal Uses
Gemmotherapy is a modern method of draining the organism. It uses plant bud extract and other embryonic plant tissues to open cellular detoxification pathways. It employs buds, inner bark, rootlets, or very young shoots of plants from various woodland trees and shrubs. They are harvested in the spring, throughout the period of cellular division and plant growth. During this stage they contain the highest concentration of active growth factor hormones, auxins, and gibberllins. These hormonal agents contain valuable informative matter required for the drainage of various organs and tissues at the cellular level.
 
In order to extract the embryonic substance from the fresh buds, fresh plant material is macerated in a solution of 50/50 glycerin and alcohol for three weeks. It is then filtered and diluted. It is prescribed in the fist decimal potency for maximum effect. Gemmotherapy extends the drainage of toxins beyond the excretory organs. It takes in the detoxification of the skin, bones, heart, and nervous system. Gemmotherapy can be used alone or in combination with other modalities.
 
Viburnum lantana is used for :Asthma, chronic spasmodic rhinitis, hyperthyroidism, bronchitis
Viburnum Lantana is a remedy for chronic allergies that are evolving towards asthma, eczema, or chronic spasmodic rhinitis. It is the intermediate remedy between Rosmarinus Officinalis and Ribes Nigrum. This remedy is indicated for conditions such as hyperthyroidism, smoker's cough with blood in sputum and some types of rheumatoid arthritis.

Indications
  • Acute Asthma
  • Asthma
  • Basic Support for Allergies
  • Cigarette Coughs
  • Coughs
  • Eczema
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Rhinitis
  • Support for Symptoms Due to Smoking

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Nitrogen Fixing Plants Prarie Acacia or Acacia Angustissima

By Liliana Usvat
Blog 270-365


















''Acacia angustissima'' is a perennial, deciduous, shrub or tree in the Fabaceae family native to Central America and the United States. It is also found in South America, India and Pakistan. 

Other common names for it include Carboncillo, Timbe, Timbre, Fern Acacia and Prairie wattle. 

It grows 1m to 4m in height having whitish, 1.3 cm diameter spherical flowers from June through September. ''"Angustissima"'' in Latin means "narrowest," describing the look of the shrub's leaves. 

Good for Reforestation


Altitude: 0-2600m
Annual Temperature Mean: 5-30 deg. C.
Annual Rainfall Mean: 895-2870mm
Soil: ''A. angustissima'' is well-suited for acidic, low-nutrient soils and it has very good resistance to drought.


 The flowers are clustered into 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) wide, fuzzy balls of stamens and will open white and age to a pinkish color. The flowers are followed by flat, elongated, brown seedpods. The leaves are green and bipinnate with tiny leaflets. The stems are hairy, reddish, and spineless. The larger stems are ridged and grooved, unlike the similar, but taller and smooth-stemmed Lysiloma watsonii.

PROPAGATION


Propagation Material: Seeds , Softwood Cuttings 
Description: Propagate by scarified seed or softwood cuttings. 
Seed Collection: Collect in late summer to early fall when seeds are firm, filled out, and dark brown.



Butterfly Plant 

The flowers attract butterflies and other insects like bees.

Chewing Gum

Used as a source of chewing gum or gum flavoring.

Medicinal Plant

  • A bitter astringent, sedative herb that improves diegstion
and 
  • cerebral circulation
  • Medicinal Uses. Internally for headaches associated with with debility
and 
  • nervous tension and 
  • for anxiety, 
  • neuralgia, 
  • sinusitis, 
  • excess upper respiratory tract mucus, 
  • gastritis, 
  • poor digestion, 
  • hypertension and
  • menopausal problems.
Excess causes, diarrhoea and vomiting. Not to be given to pregnant women. 

  • Externally for wounds (especially if infected),
  • bruises, 
  • ulcers, sore throat, and 
  • gum inflammation.
Combines well with Scutellaria laterifolia, Verbena officinalis, Lavandula angustifolia or Hypericum perforatum
  • for tension headaches
(although I suspect to much of any of these combinations may be TOO MUCH)

"action: 
  • astringent, 
  • carminative, 
  • diuretic, 
  • expectorant, 
  • nervine, 
  • tonic,
  • vulnerary"
  • "body: bladder, 
  • kidney, 
  • spleen, 
  • stomach"
"used to treat: 
  • asthma, 
  • bladder ailments, 
  • bronchitis, 
  • cancer, 
  • cough,
  • cuts, 
  • excessive sweating, 
  • external ulcers, 
  • heartburn, 
  • kidney ailments,
  • neurasthenia, 
  • sore, 
  • spitting blood, 
  • sprains, 
  • varicose veins,
  • wen, 
  • worms"
use: tea "The infusion is used for neurasthenia, bladder and kidney ailments, spitting blood, and excessive sweating; 
regular use is recommended for
  • varicose veins. 
  • A strong decoction is used against worms. 
  • The juice of the plant can be used to heal cuts, external "