Biodiversity Storehouses and Showcases of Sacred Natural Sites for Nature Conservation and Climate Change Mitigation
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 2, April 2019
Pages:
38-46
Received:
8 May 2019
Accepted:
4 June 2019
Published:
29 June 2019
Abstract: Sacred Natural Sites (SNS) are parts of land or water that have spiritual significance for specific communities which are often hotspots of cultural, and biological diversity. Using various indigenous means, SNS provide cheap and effective protection of natural resources. It represent the world’s oldest protected areas. SNS have served as important reservoirs or storehouses of biological diversity, preserving unique and/or rare plants and animal species. They tend to harbour rich in species of biodiversity, and occasionally provide more effective conservation than formal protected areas. So SNS are considered showcases for the conservation of biological and cultural diversity in nature. These lead to their role in biodiversity conservation and provide ecosystem services, conservation d and sources of medicinal plant, water and climate regulation, support nutrient cycling and soil formation, and cultural services like spiritual, religious and sense of place. Beyond conservation, SNS as nodes of resilience, restoration and adaptation to climate change. Moreover they are a paradigmatic example of community-based conservation that relies upon local people’s understanding and involvement of natural resources. Despite the effectiveness of many community managed SNS, their values have until recently largely been ignored by conservation practitioners. Because of the increasing human activities pressure on natural resources including within them, it is a race against time to secure them before they disappear.
Abstract: Sacred Natural Sites (SNS) are parts of land or water that have spiritual significance for specific communities which are often hotspots of cultural, and biological diversity. Using various indigenous means, SNS provide cheap and effective protection of natural resources. It represent the world’s oldest protected areas. SNS have served as important...
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Use of CT Scanning and Radiography as Legal Expert Evidence in Paleontology (Trilobites of Morocco)
Joan Corbacho,
Scott Morrison,
Sergio Llácer,
Keith Hammond
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 2, April 2019
Pages:
47-53
Received:
16 June 2019
Accepted:
11 July 2019
Published:
23 July 2019
Abstract: This study presents CT Scanning and radiography techniques applied to invertebrate paleontology, specifically to the detection of trilobites forgeries in Morocco. A well-known technique uses ultraviolet rays to detect falsified resin elements in trilobites. This technique is very effective for the trilobites of the Ordovician of Russia, although it is also used in specimens from other regions as we can see in figure 1: a topotype of the Upper Ordovician of Morocco, Uralichas hispanicus tardus Vela & Corbacho, 2009. This technique is not entirely reliable since it only detects the resin but not the density difference of different broken pieces that can be present in an authentic trilobite and its matrix, so these parts could belong to different specimens. This problem is solved with the utilization of a CT Scanning and in some cases with simple radiography. This paper presents mainly holotypes, paratypes and other specimens included in scientific articles, belonging to the Lower Ordovician, Upper Ordovician and Middle Devonian. The authenticity of the figured specimens are further substantiated and demonstrate that they retain the necessary characters to make an accurate description of the designated new species.
Abstract: This study presents CT Scanning and radiography techniques applied to invertebrate paleontology, specifically to the detection of trilobites forgeries in Morocco. A well-known technique uses ultraviolet rays to detect falsified resin elements in trilobites. This technique is very effective for the trilobites of the Ordovician of Russia, although it...
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