Exploring Timber Trail at Kulgi
Timbers refer to the wood obtained from cluster of trees for building construction and carpentry works. Until this century, timbers were part of human beings’ evolutionary process. Our ancestors first burned wood to ward of the chill and fear of night and later started using it to build house, make boats, tilling tools, chariots, carts, storing containers, pulp etc.. Today timber wood is becoming a symbol of wealth and pride than a symbol of basic need. The costs are skyrocketing as the supplies are diminishing due to over exploitation of timber trees.
Dandeli forest is one such “Veritable Goldmine” endowed with variety of timber trees such as teak, rose wood, sandalwood. These forests supplied timbers for ship building yards of Haider Ali (1761-1782). With the advent of British, the timber of this forest was extracted for various purposes during World War II. After the war, the timbers were supplied to meet the demands for civil use, railway sleepers, transmission and telegraph poles, ship building, building houses in cities, schools, government office buildings. The forests also became a major source for raw material for the Indian Plywood Industry Company set up in Dandeli in 1943 and the Western India Matchwood Company started in 1950. Further damage happened to these forests from Kali Hydel projects such as Supa, Kodsalli and Kadra due to submergence of forest area. In spite of these threats, the Dandeli forest is still considered to the epitome of rich timber forest in the country.
Timber trail near Kulgi Nature Camp:
The timber trail near Kulgi Nature Camping Centre gives you an opportunity to explore some unique timbers of this forest. Details of this trail are detailed below:
|Trail distance||2.8 km|
|Start point||Interpretation Centre Kulgi|
|End point||Kulgi – Ambikanagar Road|
|Latitude & Longitude|
|Interesting features||Sighting of water falls, undulated landscape, distinctive timbers, indirect evidences of wildlife, chirping of birds.|
|Signages||Wayside signages are displayed at each timber tree making your trail enjoyable.|
THE NATURE TRAIL:
The nature trail follows an easy, reasonably flat route. The trail is just 2.8 km long. It should take you about 1 Â½ hours to complete. While on the trek please
⇒ Go slow: Make the trek an enjoyable experience; carry your binoculars, water and a small first aid kit.
⇒ Be sensitive as trekking is about appreciating nature.
⇒ Don’t throw litter and garbage. Bring back litter thrown by others.
⇒ Use a camera to capture the beautiful sights but do not overdo it by intruding into the privacy of the animals.
⇒ Do not make noise.
⇒ No smoking or drinking.
Let’s begin our Timber trail:
Start the trail through the entrance near the interpretation center. Walk for about a 100 mts and you will notice a huge teak tree to your left which is about 30 years old. This tree native to central and south India, Myanmar, Thailand and Java loves a warm, moist tropical climate with plenty of rain. It is also called as Indian Oak. In Sanskrit it is called as Saka, saagun in Hindi, Sagwani in Kannada.
According to Hindu mythology, when the world was divided into dvipas or islands surrounded by the sea of milk, one of them were named shaka after the teak tree that grew there. The Sanskrit word shaka means curiously enough, power, strength and vegetable.
Teak wood contains a resin stopping insects or termites eating from it. Leaves are used as plates and for covering roofs. It has high resistance power against fire. Tender leaves are used for dying cloth. Bhil tribes worship this tree as totem for protection against evil.
- The girls whose lover was a tree( Chongli tribe legend from Nagaland) There was a rich man who had a beautiful daughter. Many men wanted to marry her, but she refused them all. The girl lived in a dormitory with the other marriageable girl. Her heart had been given to a youth who met her secretly at night. She searched for her lover during the day but never found him so finally she told her parents about him. The father was determined to see the lover. One night he hid and followed the boy. As soon as he reached the water his arms turned to branches and transformed into a tall tree. The father was determined to cut this magic tree so he and his friends went to cut it. They cut and cut but it wouldn’t fall. Suddenly it came down with a crash and a chip flew far, killing the girl. The father rejoicing at the tree falling, only came back to find both the lovers had died together.
- Walk fifty meters away from this place, path slopes down slightly bamboo culms seen on both your sides, you find a robust tree called as Indian rosewood. It is a very native tree of South India and is planted as avenue trees.
Do you know? Rose wood tree:
⇒ Mature after 60 years for harvesting.
⇒ Planted as shade tree in coffee plantation.
⇒ Gains a height of 30m tall and attains girth of 1.5 – 2mts.
⇒ The bole is crooked with a dome shaped crown of lush green foliage.
⇒ Considered as the king of tropical timber tree.
The path is a little steep, just before the small stream (during the rainy season) on your left you can spot an underground shelter built by a porcupine. Porcupines are nocturnal creatures. A small bridge is being planned to be built over the stream. As you walk forward the path becomes broader, keep to the main path.
Walk along the winding path and you will come upon a tree of the fig family, Ficus asperima.
Do you know?
⇒ The figs are yellow or purple, yellowish dots when ripe.
⇒ The leaves are used as sandpaper in sandal wood carvings.
Did you know that trees are the longest living organisms on earth???
Figs are keystone species of rainforest ecosystems The flowers are pollinated by very small wasps that crawl through the opening in search of a suitable place to lay eggs without this pollinator service fig trees cannot reproduce by seed The wood of fig trees is often soft.
- Continue walking and you will come upon a tropical ornamental tree called Cassia fistula with a trunk consisting of hard reddish wood, growing up to 40 feet tall.Commonly known as Golden Shower Tree or Golden Shower Cassia. Other names include Indian laburnum, or “golden shower”.
Do you know? The golden shower tree is the state flower of Kerala in India. The flowers are of ritual importance in the Vishu festival of Kerala, and the tree was depicted on a 20 Indian rupees stamp. The golden shower tree is the national flower of Thailand; its yellow leaves symbolize Thai royalty.
There’s a big Culm of dowga bamboo seen and to your left is a climbing vine called neerballi.
These trees have bright, yellow, fragrant flowers and are attractive to bees and butterflies. The fruits have a pungent odour and the seeds are poisonous. Pulp from fruits called “Cassia pulp” is a well known Laxative. The wood is strong and very durable.
Calycopteris floribunda, (neerballi) is a climbing shrub, with vines, commonly known as Ukshi. One can see lots of these flowers in culms on the forest floor.
Did you know? Ukshi is revered as a life-saver by the forest dwellers that regularly depend on this vine during summer when streams dry up. Sections of the vine store water, which people often use to quench their thirst. These are found in “Kavus” or the Sacred Groves of Kerala.
Now to your left is a small dam, where two small streams meet. One can see a wild Forest Brinjal tree growing in between the streams. Take the right and walk up the path. Look out for the languar’s playing on the bamboos. The languar’s are considered to be sacred by the Himalayan people. The face is black and they have a very long tail, which may measure up to 50 cm in length.
Along the path there are 2 trees seen called the Bauhinia trees. One can see the leaves on the floor beneath. The leaves are easily recognized as they look like a camel’s foot.
The leaves and fruits have medicinal properties.
- In Hindi it is called Kachnar and in Kannada Basavanapada. It is a moderate sized evergreen tree, often planted in the avenues. These trees are known as Bauhinia Variegate L. originating in china. Commonly called Mountain ebony or camels foot because the leaves are spit in the center. The Mountain Ebony Tree is a very nice tree that has a rich and stimulating perfume which fills the air of the whole surrounding area. The sight can take persons breath away.
During the cold season the leaves fall and at the same time the large sweetly scented flowers appear. The flowers are large showy,orchid like . The young pods,leaves and buds used as vegetables.
Postal stamp issued in 1981: BAUHINIA To your right is a tree whose fruits are a favorite among the sloth bears.
Did you know? From the leaves of the trees, the wrappings of ‘bidis’ can be made. The bark is used for tanning and colorings. Gum can be obtained from the trees and it can produce oil from its seeds as well. Wood is of very good quality, reddish brown and strong.
- Ziziphus oenoplia is called pargi in Kannada, jackal jujube in English.
Did you know? These fruits are relished by the sloth bears.
Look to the right side and one can see a large deciduous tree with a climber growing on it. This climber runs upto 2-4 km it starts from the tree in the front of you and grows across the path on top.
The roots are astringent bitter, anthelmintic, digestive and antiseptic. They are useful in hyperacidity, ascaris infection, stomachalgia and healing of wounds.
- This tree is scientifically called as Terminalia paniculata and is a tree native to southwest India(including the Western Ghats and Karnataka) Known in the timber trade as kindal, and the “Climbing or scandent shrub” is called ACACIA CONCINNA, native to the warm, plains of central and south India.
Did you know? Terminalia paniculata is used as a substitute for teak. The tree is economically important for wood, medicinal uses, and raising silkworms. Shikakai means “fruit for hair” and is a traditional shampoo used in India. It is made from Acacia concinna.
You can spot ukshi growing on different trees. Admire the butterflies; one can see such a variety. Look out for wildlife evidence. Sloth bears feces might be seen on the trail or you can get to hear the calls of the jungle fowl. Beautiful endemic birds can be spotted like the racket tailed drongo and the white- belied treepie.
T.paniculata: Butterflies are attracted to these plants either for nectar or as food plants for their caterpillars Wood used in constructions.
- Continue along the path and one can easily recognize the fig tree growing on a germal tree. Lots of birds visit these trees during the fruiting season. Look up above eye level and you can spot a hole. This is a nest of the Malabar grey hornbill. Hornbills come back to the same tree to nest so one can spot these birds during the breeding season. This fig species is called, the Ficus Asperrima. Common name in English: Sandpaper tree.
Did you know? The juice of the bark and plant are used in enlargement of liver and spleen. The bark is used as a tooth brush to remove the tarter or cleanse the teeth.
The figs are yellow or purple, yellowish dots when ripe. The leaves are used as sandpaper in sandal wood carvings.
Look up at the tops of the trees around; one might spot the Malabar squirrel eating. Continue walking forward and you can’t miss this tree on your left as the flowers are bright red in color seen at branch ends, when the tree is leafless.
ERYTHRINA VARIEGATA (syn. E. indica Lam., E. variegata var. orientalis (L.) Merr.; Tiger’s Claw, Indian Coral Tree and Sunshine Tree) is a species of Erythrina native to the tropical and subtropical regions of eastern Africa, southern Asia, northern Australia, and the islands of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean east to Fiji.
Did you know? People can eat the new leaves in curries and the adult leaves can make useful fodder. The tree is valued as an ornamental tree and is described as the gems of the floral world. It is strongly believed that lord Krishna stole the flowers of the coral tree from indras garden.
The flowers are popular among the birds even though it doesn’t have a fragrance. Planted as a shade tree in coffee plantations and as a support for pepper and betel vines. Several cultivars have been selected, including ‘Alba’ with white flowers.
Fact: Shade trees can make buildings up to 20 degrees cooler in the summer. Walk for about a 100 yard’s and one can easily spot the nandi tree because of its white colored bark.
Lagerstroemia lanceolata known as Ben teak in English and nadir mara, bili nandi in Kannada. Ben teak is a deciduous tree, native to the moist forests of Western Ghats, sometimes addressed as ‘naked maiden’ of forest.
Did you know? Ben teak is considered class 1 timbers. It is often associated with teak.
The flowers are small, white and fragrant.The timber is used in building constructions, boat building and furniture.
- A few feet ahead you come upon a large deciduous tree called Dellinia pentagyna roxb. In Kannada it is known as kadu kanigale.
Did you know? The flower-buds and young fruits have a pleasant, acid flavor and are eaten raw or cooked in Oudh and central India. The ripe fruits are also eaten.
A teak associate in U.Kannada reaching good size IN KULGI. Canopy is covered by brilliant sweet scented yellow flowers, when leafless in summer. Fruits relished by frugivorous birds, wild animalï¿½s monkeys and squirrels. Herbivores feed on the fallen fruits.
Lots of leaf foliage on the path, do watch your step as small creatures can be scurrying around busily. There’s a small patch on the trail which is muddy you can spot the paw prints of several animals like the mouse deer, spotted dear etc.
- We come upon the Terminalia paniculata tree to the left. Can you recall its trade name? One can see an ants nest near it. A fallen tree trunk is seen on the path. Look closely and you can see the termites eating the tree, shavings are seen on the floor.
- Melia azadirach: A small to medium sized deciduous tree reaching a height of 6-15 m or exceptionally up to 30 m with a short bole and a spreading crown.
Common names: Persian Lilac, BAKAYAN in Hindi, Kan: Turukaa Bevu.
Did you know? M. azedarach is often planted as an ornamental shade tree The wood from Melia azadirach is used in making musical instruments.
The tree has handsome clusters of pale purplish fragrant flowers Fruits, flowers, leaves, bark, and roots have medicinal properties. An oil can be extracted fro the berries and used for illumination. The fruits are said to be poisonous to humans and to some other mammals.
- You will see a big and handsome tree about 60-80 feet, called Terminalia bellericais.Commonly known as behera, in Kannada Tare Mara. It is common in the forests of Western Ghats and E .Peninsular in Deccan, carnatic, to 1000 m. It is a large deciduous tree with flowers having a strong honey-smell attracting bees flocking for nectar.
DID YOU KNOW? This tree, called vibhitaki in Sanskrit .meaning fearless, was avoided by Hindus of north India .who would not sit in its shade as it was supposed to be inhabited by demons. Terminalia bellerica fruit is also used in Egyptian folk medicine. Used in ayurvedic,’triphala'(One of the 3 myrobolans) It has great economic and religious importance in India. It is also grown as an avenue tree.
The fruit has medicinal importance and used in making ink, dying and tanning material. The kernel of the stone is edible and yields oil, which is applied to hair. Wood used for several purposes after immersing in water. Herbivores gather to eat fallen fruits.
- A huge jumba tree with ficus seen growing on it. And also a climber called drynera.
It is known as jamba in Hindi, marati and Kannada. A medium tree 20-25m tall, with semi-spreading, shady canopy. The bark is smooth, yellowish grey or brown, often pitted. Pits rounded or horizontal. Flowers are sweetly scented. Fig trees have profoundly influenced culture through several religious traditions.
Did you know?
*Trees renew our air supply by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.
*The amount of oxygen produced by an acre of trees per year equals the amount consumed by 18 people annually. One tree produces nearly 260 pounds of oxygen each year. Now continue walking along the main trail and the path gets rocky.
If you hear a tapping sound on wood it’s the woodpeckers. Now walk along the path and you come onto a small clearing. A tree stump is seen in the center. Look to the immediate right.
- This tree is called nagar kuda.Tabernaemontana alternifolia L. it is a small deciduous tree.
Did you know? Charcoal is prepared from the root. The leaves root and flowers have medicinal properties. The flowers are white and fragrant, fruits orange yellow when ripe.
The acrid bitter root is used as a local anodyne and chewed to relieve tooth ache. The milky juice of the leaves is used as a cooling application on wounds.
- A little forward and you can see a huge jamba tree called, Xylia xylocarpa. ENG: IRUL, HINDI: JAMBU, KAN: JAMBA. The species can be divided into 2 varieties Xylia xylocarpa var. xylocarpa from India and Myanmar and Xylia xylocarpa var. kerrii from Myanmar, Thailand and Indochina. A large deciduous tree with small cream coloured flowers.
DID YOU KNOW? It is one of the chief associates of teak the dark red-brown, hard and durable wood is rarely attacked by termite s and can be used for heavy constructions, furniture, boats etc.
Bark, wood and fruits are used in traditional medicine. The young leaves are edible.
- Along the path there is a huge teak tree with ficus seen growing on it, in a few years the ficus will surround and suffocate the teak tree.
The roots wrap around the host tree, widen, and slowly form a lattice-work that surrounds the host’s trunk. The fig’s crown grows foliage which soon overshadows the tree. Eventually, the host tree dies leaving the fig with a hollow trunk-which is easily climbed thanks to the many openings in the trunk. The hollow trunk provides an important home thousands of invertebrates, rodents, bats, reptiles, amphibians, and birds.
Continue along the path. During the fruiting season you can’t miss the tree. To your left along the path you see a stone, continue walking and a few meters ahead to your left you see an amte tree .One can spot birds on this tree.
- The amte tree is scientifically known as, Spondias mangifera. Commonly seen in the deciduous to semi-evergreen forests of Western Ghats. A large tree with leaves turning bright-yellow before falling.
DID YOU KNOW? Kan: Amatikai, Eng: Indian Hog Plum, Hindi: Amra The fruit is edible known as amte The leaves are eaten as greens; fruit cooked into curries, and pickled. The Indian hog plum is important for its medicinal values.
Fruits fleshy, sour and edible, yellow when ripe. Herbivores gather under the fruiting tree for the fallen fruits. The fruits, leaves, bark are used in various treatments.
Close to the amte tree on your right is a huge jamun tree.
- JAMUN (Nerale mara): The jamun tree (Syzygium cumini (L)) is fast-growing, reaching full size in 40 years.
Did you know? In southern Asia, the tree is venerated by Buddhists, and it is commonly planted near Hindu temples because it is considered sacred to both Krishna and ganesha. The leaves and fruits are employed in worship. The tree is grown as shade for coffee in India. It is wind-resistant and sometimes is closely planted in rows as a windbreak. Valued as an ornamental in Israel. The leaves have served as fodder for livestock and as food for tassar silkworms in India.
In the Philippines and goa wine is made from the fermented fruit. The jaunt tree is of real value in apiculture. The flowers have abundant nectar, and the honey is of fine quality. Jamun fruit can be eaten raw and can be made into tarts, sauces and jams. Wood used in well-works, house-buildings etc., bark used in local medicines.
The essential oil distilled from the leaves is used to scent soap and is blended with other materials in making inexpensive perfume.
A little further to your left is medium sized tree; its fruits relished by the hornbills especially the Malabar pied hornbill.
- Strychnos nux vomica: A medium sized tree, with woody spines. Common names: Eng: Snake wood Hindi and Kannada: kajra.
Did you know? Flowers are fragrant and have strong odor of turmeric. The fruits are of a small orange size, orange red in colour and are among a favorite of the hornbills. The seeds yield alkaloids (1) Strychnine and (2) Brucine, strong poisons and stimulants in small doses largely exported to Europe. Native tribes in Central and South America have used extracts from this plant for centuries as a medicine to inhibit muscle contractions and as a poison for the tips of arrows.
It is used to treat cold, fever and headaches. Wood is hard, durable and the root is very bitter. Wood is used to make axe-handles, cart wheels, cots etc. They are also used in the preparation of medicated product for the hair and scalp.
Continue along the path until it divides. Take the right and you find scattered trees. The ground beneath has lots of dead leaves. From here you will come to the edge. The sight in front is breath taking. The Nagajhari valley point inside the forest offers a beautiful view of the hills and the valley. You can hear the sathkhand waterfalls which are seen right across from where you’re standing. Lots of tree stumps so rest and enjoy the scenic beauty. Come back on the main trail to continue the trek.
- On the trail to your right you will spot a deciduous tree called, Careya arborea. It is known as Kumbhi in Hindi AND Kannada, and Ceylon Oak in English. It is a deciduous fire resistant tree, whose leaves turn red in the cold season and grows up to 15m high. Flowers are yellowish-white in color and are like water-pots and produce large green berries.
Interesting facts: The fruit is edible but the seeds are reported as slightly poisonous. In India the tussar silkworm is fed on the leaves. C. arborea makes a good shade tree. The wood is durable, especially under water.
The wood of C. arborea is used, mainly in India and Burma (Myanmar), for general construction (house posts, planking), furniture and cabinet work, carts, mouldings, turnery, piling and Agricultural implements. The bark of the tree and the calyxes of the flowers are often used for curing coughs and colds.
- Continue walking and you can see shikkakai climbers on your sides.
- You see a tree of the Ziziphus family. It is a genus of about 40 species of spiny shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae, distributed in the warm-temperate and subtropical regions throughout the world. Walk along the path till it divides .take the path to the left. A dead fallen tree to the left of the path.
- RANDIA DUMETORUM : A large deciduous thorny shrub grows up to 5 meters of height. Flowers white, fragrant, solitary, seen on at the end of short branches. Fruits smooth berries and are yellow when ripe.
English: Emetic nut tree.
Hindi: Mainphal, Madan.
Malayalam: Malankara, Karachulli.
Did you know? The shrub is used by the natives as a fish poison, and is said to act in man as an irritating emetic. This tree is also cultivated for medicinal purpose. Wood is used to make walking sticks.
Their wood is burnt as fuel. It is widely used as a medicine for emesis therapy in ayurveda.
Path goes slight upward. Eucalyptus tree on your left. The smell is strong and fragrant.
- A few feet ahead on your right are a medium sized tree about 10 years old. Albizia odoratissima – Tea Shade Tree is a medium sized tree. Flowers are pale yellowish white, fragrant, and generally appear from March to June. Fruits appear in early August and start ripening at the end of October.
Did you know? Albizia odoratissima has been extensively planted as a shade tree in tea and coffee plantations. The shade extends the productive life of crop plants and increases annual yields. It helps in soil improvement in tea plantations of the Asian subcontinent Dead and defective branches from shade trees are a major source of fuel for plantation laborers.
The pods of Albizia odoratissima are eaten by monkeys. The leaves are an excellent green manure and cattle fodder. The heartwood of mature trees is a beautiful dark brown color.
Just before the bamboo culms, a tall tree commonly called nellikai is seen.
- PHYLLANTHUS EMBLICA LINN(nelli,amla) is a 10-15 m tall tree, common in tropical deciduous forests of south Asia. It flowers during march-April and has an extended fruiting period from oct- march. The fruits are greenish yellow in color and tastes sour. The fruit is fibrous in nature. The fruit is sometimes eaten along with salt.
Did you know? Fruits are rich natural source of Vitamin C. In Hinduism, Alma is regarded as a sacred tree worshipped as Mother Earth. The leaves, fruit and flowers are used in worship in India. In Himachal Pradesh the tree is worshipped in Kartik as propitious and chaste. Alma contains minerals such as chromium, zinc, and copper.
The fresh juice is cooling, refrigerant, diuretic and laxative. The dried fruits are astringent and useful in hemorrhage. Alma has cell rejuvenating properties and therefore used in maintaining good health of skin and hair. I t is widely used in preparation of hair shampoos. Alma helps to keep the hair glossy and shining. It also helps to prevent dandruff. Alma is also known to have anti aging properties.
The fruit Alma is pickled and made in curries.
Interesting facts: Trees grow from the top, not from the bottom as is commonly believed. A branch’s location on a tree will only move up the trunk a few inches in 1000 years. A little further on the hilly trail to your right is a species of bamboo called chivari bamboo.
- Oxytenanthera stocksii: The Culm up to 10 m tall, straight at the top, yellowish green, erect. Confined and endemic to southern peninsular India. Local names Konda, Oor-shema KARNATAKA | Uyi, Mula KERALA | Chivari, Mes MAHARASHTRA.
Did you know? BAMBOO is known as the poor mans timber. Confined and endemic to southern peninsular India This bamboo is in high demand among craftsman. Bamboo is eco friendly.
Suited for construction purposes. Also used for making furniture, ladders and supports. Bamboo shoots are good in fiber and have optimum amount of other nutrients. They are said to be anti-cancerous and antimicrobial in nature.
1) The fastest growing plant on this planet.
2) A critical element in the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
3) A viable replacement for wood.
The path is winding keep to the left. Continue on the path and take the right. The path is uneven keep on the trail till you see a large number of bamboo plants. This is a bamboo grove. This bamboo species is called bambus bamboo locally known as dowga.
- Bambusa bamboo: this tree attains the best growth in moist deciduous forests up to an altitude of 1000 meters. Prefers rich and moist soil, and thrives near perennial rivers and valleys. Found almost throughout India, and is common in Central and South India.
Did you know? Flowers at long intervals 40-60 years and the clump/plant die after flowering. Bamboo shoots are used as food in various ways. They are used in preparation such as bamboo candy, bamboo chutney and canning of bamboo in syrups.
It is used as raw material for pulp and paper, to make panel products and handicrafts, and for thatching and roofing.
FACT: There are almost 130 species in India, spread across 18 genera
The death of one 70-year old tree would return over three tons of carbon to the atmosphere. The racket tailed drongo is easily spotted here. Along the trail you will see a groove of macaranga trees.
- Macaranga trees are small to medium sized trees. Trees up to 12 m tall. The bark is brownish or blaze red.
Did you know? These trees have hollow stems that can serve as nesting space and occasionally provide nectar. The trees benefit because the ants attack herbivorous insects and either drives them away or feed on them.
These plants are noted for being re colonizers.
One acre of trees removes up to 2.6 tons of carbon dioxide each year.
- M. azedarach is described as a small to medium-sized shrub or tree in the mahogany family.
- Do you recognize seeing this tree earlier? Well it’s none other than the Jamun tree.
- Om tree: fragrant leaves.
There is an old teak plantation since 1970.Lots of teak trees around. Continue along the trail for 5 minutes and to your right you will see a tree with an unusual bark.
- Terminalia tomentosa Common names are Asna, Indian-laurel’, Taukkyan (Burma), Sadar, Matti, Marda (India), and casually “crocodile bark” due to the characteristic bark pattern. It is a tree growing to 30 m tall.
Did you know? Terminalia tomentosa has a remarkable attribute. Some members of the species store water in the dry season. Water stored in the stem is often tapped and used as a source of potable water in the summer by forest folk. It is also thought to have curative value for stomach pain. The leaves are used as food for silkworms . The bark is fire-resistant.
The bark is used medicinally against diarrhoea. The heartwood is moderately durable and the sapwood is liable to powder-post beetle attack. The wood is used for furniture, cabinetwork, joinery, paneling, specialty items, boatbuilding,
Did you know? Tree rings provide precise information about environmental events, including volcanic eruptions.
Now you come unto the main road cross the road and a little to the left is a medium sized tree called muttal and scientifically as Butea monosperma.
- Butea monosperma it is a medium sized dry season-deciduous tree, growing to 15 m tall.This tree gets up to 50 ft high, with stunning flower clusters. It loses its leaves as the flowers develop, January – March.
Did you know? It is also called the Flame of the Forest. The flowers are bright orange-red. The gum from the tree, called kamarkas in Hindi, is used in certain food dishes. The gum is also known as Bengal Kino, and is considered valuable by druggists because of its astringent qualities, and by leather workers because of its tannin. Good charcoal can be made from it. It is a sacred tree, referred to as a treasurer of the gods, and used in sacrifice related rituals. The flowers are offered as in place of blood in sacrifice rituals to goddess Kali. The dry stem pieces are used to make sacred fire.
From its wood, sacred utensils are made It is used for timber, resin, fodder, medicine, and dye. The wood is dirty white and soft and, being durable under water, is used for well-curbs and water scoops.
A Hindu superstition has it that if the root of a Palasa tree is collected when the Ashvini constellation rules the season (mid-September to mid-October) and tied to a man’s arm, any woman he touches will fall in love with him.
Indian Mythology: This tree is mentioned frequently in the Vedas its trifoliate leaves represent Hindu triad, with Brahma on the left, Vishnu in the middle and Shiva to the right. Devotees of Shiva and Vishnu paint their foreheads with it .The tree is considered sacred to the moon. Buddists also revere it as for legends has it that Queen Mahamaya seized a branch of this tree at the very moment to the birth of her son Gautham Buddha.
How the Palasa cam,e on earth (an Indo-Aryan tale) one day the chief gods Indra ,felt a great thrist. The gods of his court asked the goddess Gayatri to go to the celestial mountain Mujavana where the Soma creeper grew and bring it back so that Indra could have an uninterrupted supply of water. Gayatri disguised herself as an eagle and flew to the mountail to find it guarded by the sentries of the Moon. She flew down and seized the creeper in her beak. One of the sentries let an arrow fly at the bird and it missed Gayatri but struck a vine. One of the leaves fell off and grew into the palasa tree.
The Two lovers (A Koraput tribal legend) The tribes had a leader called Chaitu Bhattra.he married his daughter against her wishes. Soon after marriage she fell in love with a dark ,handsome Muria boy. They met secretly. The villagers saw this, who told the husband. The husband wanted proof so he lied to his wife saying he was going away to meet his sister . he only went as far as the forest and hid there during the day. He returned at night to find the Muria boy in his hut. He was furious and beat them to death. He threw the bodies in the forest. Blood from their bodies flowed and met a single stream. From this stream grew a tree. The flowers were red for the girl and black for the boy.
DID YOU KNOW THAT? Arab horse dealers put one seed into each feed of corn to keep their horses in condition. This is the end of the timber nature trail. Take the left on the main road and walk towards the kulgi nature camp.
These forests are treasure troves of biological biodiversity. They harbor millions of species of plants, birds, mammals, insects, amphibians and reptiles.
What you can do:
-> Buy only timber that’s certified.
-> Recycle wood based products, use recycled wood and paper.
-> Buy wood products, such as furniture made only from replaceable trees.
-> Hope the trek gave some insight on these beautiful trees and it has helped in appreciating them more.
Try doing the following?
Q. Teak: What is the height of the tree?
Q. Measure the girth of the tree?
Q. What is the cost of 1 cubic feet of this timber?
Q. Which is the tree of the ficus species that Buddha sat under?
Q. What is Alma famously called in English?


The U.S. House of Representatives approved a plan to remove wolves from endangered species status. This act could put management of the predators back into the hands of states.
Republican Representative Greg Walden, Oregon, indicated that the U.S. House of Representatives approved his amendment to remove wolves from the national endangered species list. The measure was approved by a vote of 223 to 201.
Walden was joined by Washington Reps. Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers in presenting the amendment to the House. The amendment blocks funds used for treating wolves in the lower 48 states as endangered or threatened, under the Endangered Species Act.
Walden’s wolf plan was part of a larger bill that sets the annual budget for the Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service and other agencies.
In a 231-196 vote on July 14, the House approved the full $32-billion legislation, Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017.
Andrew Malcolm, spokesman for Rep. Walden, indicated that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had already proposed delisting wolves, but that proposal was in 2013. This amendment would speed that up, and adding the proposal to the larger funding bill would get it into legislation and help to withstand any legal challenges.
But this amendment is only one step in the process. It would also require companion legislation to be passed in the U.S. Senate before going to the President’s desk for final approval.
Oregon wolves are already delisted as endangered species according to the state endangered species act. But federally the wolves in Central and Western Oregon remain under endangered species status. Eastern Oregon wolves have been removed from the federal ESA listing.
Walden suggests that his amendment would streamline things and make for more efficient management of wolves by placing them under the state’s management system.
“Oregon’s wolf population has grown by more than 40 percent, and yet we have this divided management strategy in the federal government where in part of the state wolves are still listed and part of the state they’re not. We need a single management strategy where we have local control under the Oregon state plan,” said Walden. “That’s why this amendment is so important. We need to repeal the endangered species listing for the gray wolf, and get it under state management where we’ve got the most local control so Oregonians can make the decisions.”
Democrat Representative Peter DeFazio, Oregon, voted against Walden’s amendment. DeFazio suggested that “It’s borne of some ancestral, irrational fear of wolves, which permeates the agricultural community and the Republican Party here in Washington, D.C..”
Like what you see here? You can read more great articles by David Smith at his Facebook page, Stumpjack Outdoors.


Case Study on Business Environment
Business Environment Case Study:
Business environment is the complex of factors which influence the financial condition and performance of the firm. The factors are formally divided into the internal and external ones.The internal factors contain the employer and employees or different levels, managers and head of departments who cooperate between one another and train novice employees and the staff which requires the improvement of its experience. Moreover, internal business environment includes all the problems which occur within the company, all the conflicts, their resolution, decision making, creation of business plans, etc.
It also includes machinery, technologies and equipment which are used in the process of production. So, in simple words, the internal factors of business environment are the factors which exist within the wall of the company. Here one can also mention the corporate secrets, strategies of development, accounting and other elements. The external factors of business environment are the market, competition on the market, the government and its policy, suppliers, clients, trends, etc. Obviously, external factors are very important for business, because they dictate the rules of management of one’s business. Without the right laws and governmental facilitation and favourable situation on the market it is fairly impossible to start business and develop it considerably.
Moreover, one will need to think about the outer support of the company and supply with the resources, materials, energy, transportation and other elements. It is also important to attract clients and persuade them in the quality and usefulness of the product developing the sector of marketing. The businessman should pay attention to all the internal and external factors of business environment if he wants to develop and improve the company and receive solid revenue.Business environment is the great amount of various internal and external factors which can influence the prosperity and development of the firm. The student who has decided to research the issue on business environment can observe the problem on the example of the definite case which has occurred with the suggested company.
first of all the student will need to observe the case site and evaluate the internal and external factors of the business environment and analyze the problem, its cause and effect. Finally, after the detailed analysis of the issue one will need to solve the problem on business environment in order to demonstrate one’s knowledge and experience.The student who does not have knowledge about the appropriate analysis and composition of the paper can find the answer in the Internet following the instructions provided by the well-educated writers in the free example case study on business environment in India. The young professional can learn about the proper approach towards the research of the case and logical construction of the text through the free sample case study on business environment with solutions found online.


Parts of this article (those related to Mexican earthquakes following significant land subsidence - see talk page) need to be updated.September 2017)(
Subsidence is the sudden sinking or gradual downward settling of the ground's surface with little or no horizontal motion. The definition of subsidence is not restricted by the rate, magnitude, or area involved in the downward movement. It may be caused by natural processes or by human activities. The former include various karst phenomena, thawing of permafrost, consolidation, oxidation of organic soils, slow crustal warping (isostatic adjustment), normal faulting, caldera subsidence, or withdrawal of fluid lava from beneath a solid crust. The human activities include sub-surface mining or extraction of underground fluids, e. g. petroleum, natural gas, or groundwater. Ground subsidence is of global concern to geologists, geotechnical engineers, surveyors, engineers, urban planners, landowners, and the public in general.
Dissolution of limestone
Subsidence frequently causes major problems in karst terrains, where dissolution of limestone by fluid flow in the subsurface creates voids (i.e., caves). If the roof of a void becomes too weak, it can collapse and the overlying rock and earth will fall into the space, causing subsidence at the surface. This type of subsidence can cause sinkholes which can be many hundreds of meters deep.
Several types of sub-surface mining, and specifically methods which intentionally cause the extracted void to collapse (such as pillar extraction, longwall mining and any metalliferous mining method which uses "caving" such as "block caving" or "sub-level caving") will result in surface subsidence. Mining-induced subsidence is relatively predictable in its magnitude, manifestation and extent, except where a sudden pillar or near-surface tunnel collapse occurs (usually very old workings). Mining-induced subsidence is nearly always very localized to the surface above the mined area, plus a margin around the outside. The vertical magnitude of the subsidence itself typically does not cause problems, except in the case of drainage (including natural drainage)–rather, it is the associated surface compressive and tensile strains, curvature, tilts and horizontal displacement that are the cause of the worst damage to the natural environment, buildings and infrastructure.
Where mining activity is planned, mining-induced subsidence can be successfully managed if there is co-operation from all of the stakeholders. This is accomplished through a combination of careful mine planning, the taking of preventive measures, and the carrying out of repairs post-mining.
Extraction of natural gas
If natural gas is extracted from a natural gas field the initial pressure (up to 60 MPa (600 bar)) in the field will drop over the years. The pressure helps support the soil layers above the field. If the gas is extracted, the overburden pressure sediment compacts and may lead to earthquakes and subsidence at the ground level.
Land subsidence can occur in various ways during an earthquake. Large areas of land can subside drastically during an earthquake because of offset along fault lines. Land subsidence can also occur as a result of settling and compacting of unconsolidated sediment from the shaking of an earthquake.
The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan reported immediate subsidence caused by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake. In Northern Japan, subsidence of 0.50 m (1.64 ft) was observed on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Miyako, Tōhoku, while Rikuzentakata, Iwate measured 0.84 m (2.75 ft). In the south at Sōma, Fukushima, 0.29 m (0.95 ft) was observed. The maximum amount of subsidence was 1.2 m (3.93 ft), coupled with horizontal diastrophism of up to 5.3 m (17.3 ft) on the Oshika Peninsula in Miyagi Prefecture.
Groundwater-related subsidence is the subsidence (or the sinking) of land resulting from groundwater extraction. It is a growing problem in the developing world as cities increase in population and water use, without adequate pumping regulation and enforcement. One estimate has 80% of serious land subsidence problems associated with the excessive extraction of groundwater, making it a growing problem throughout the world.
Groundwater fluctuations can also indirectly affect the decay of organic material. The habitation of lowlands, such as coastal or delta plains, requires drainage. The resulting aeration of the soil leads to the oxidation of its organic components, such as peat, and this decomposition process may cause significant land subsidence. This applies especially when groundwater levels are periodically adapted to subsidence, in order to maintain desired unsaturated zone depths, exposing more and more peat to oxygen. In addition to this, drained soils consolidate as a result of increased effective stress. In this way, land subsidence has the potential of becoming self-perpetuating, having rates up to 5 cm/yr. Water management used to be tuned primarily to factors such as crop optimization but, to varying extents, avoiding subsidence has come to be taken into account as well.
When differential stresses exist in the Earth, these can be accommodated either by geological faulting in the brittle crust, or by ductile flow in the hotter and more fluid mantle. Where faults occur, absolute subsidence may occur in the hanging wall of normal faults. In reverse, or thrust, faults, relative subsidence may be measured in the footwall.
The crust floats buoyantly in the asthenosphere, with a ratio of mass below the "surface" in proportion to its own density and the density of the asthenosphere. If mass is added to a local area of the crust (e.g., through deposition), the crust subsides to compensate and maintain isostatic balance.
The opposite of isostatic subsidence is known as isostatic rebound—the action of the crust returning (sometimes over periods of thousands of years) to a state of isostacy, such as after the melting of large ice sheets or the drying-up of large lakes after the last ice age. Lake Bonneville is a famous example of isostatic rebound. Due to the weight of the water once held in the lake, the earth's crust subsided nearly 200 feet (61 m) to maintain equilibrium. When the lake dried up, the crust rebounded. Today at Lake Bonneville, the center of the former lake is about 200 feet (61 m) higher than the former lake edges.
Many soils contain significant proportions of clay. Because of the very small particle size, they are affected by changes in soil moisture content. Seasonal drying of the soil results in a lowering of both the volume and the surface of the soil. If building foundations are above the level reached by seasonal drying, they move, possibly resulting in damage to the building in the form of tapering cracks.
Trees and other vegetation can have a significant local effect on seasonal drying of soils. Over a number of years, a cumulative drying occurs as the tree grows. That can lead to the opposite of subsidence, known as heave or swelling of the soil, when the tree declines or is felled. As the cumulative moisture deficit is reversed, which can last up to 25 years, the surface level around the tree will rise and expand laterally. That often damages buildings unless the foundations have been strengthened or designed to cope with the effect.
- Lateral and subjacent support, a related concept in property law
- Settlement (structural)
- Soil liquefaction
- UNESCO Working Group on Land Subsidence
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|Look up subsidence in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.|
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- Neuendorf, K. K. E., J. P. Mehl, Jr., and J. A. Jackson, eds. (205) Glossary of Geology (5th ed.) Alexandria, Virginia, American Geological Institute. 779 pp. ISBN 0-922152-76-4
- Galloway, D.L., Jones, D. R. and Ingebritsen, S. E., 1999. Land subsidence in the United States. Circular 1182. US Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia. 177 pp.
- National Research Council, 1991. Mitigating losses from land subsidence in the United States. National Academies Press. 58 p.
- Herrera, G.; Tomás, R.; López-Sánchez, J.M.; Delgado, J.; Mallorquí, J.; Duque, S.; Mulas, J. Advanced DInSAR analysis on mining areas: La Union case study (Murcia, SE Spain). Engineering Geology, 90, 148-159, 2007.
- "Graduated Guidelines for Residential Construction (New South Wales) Volume 1" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-11-19.
- G. Herrera, M.I. Álvarez Fernández, R. Tomás, C. González-Nicieza, J. M. Lopez-Sanchez, A.E. Álvarez Vigil. Forensic analysis of buildings affected by mining subsidence based on Differential Interferometry (Part III). Engineering Failure Analysis 24, 67-76, 2012.
- Subsidence lecture Archived 2004-10-30 at the Wayback Machine
- "Earthquake Induced Land Subsidence". Retrieved 2018-06-25.
- 平成23年(2011年)東北地方太平洋沖地震に伴う地盤沈下調査 [Land subsidence caused by 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami] (in Japanese). Geospatial Information Authority of Japan. 2011-04-14. Retrieved 2011-04-17.
- Report date on 19 March 2011,  Diastrophism in Oshika Peninsula on 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Diastrophism in vertical 2011-03-11 M9.0, Diastrophism in horizontal 2011-03-11 M9.0 Geospatial Information Authority of Japan
- USGS Fact Sheet-165-00 December 2000
- Tomás, R.; Márquez, Y.; Lopez-Sanchez, J.M.; Delgado, J.; Blanco, P.; Mallorquí, J.J.; Martínez, M.; Herrera, M.; Mulas, J. Mapping ground subsidence induced by aquifer overexploitation using advanced Differential SAR interferometry: Vega Media of the Segura river (SE Spain) case study. Remote Sensing of Environment, 98, 269-283, 2005
- R. Tomás, G. Herrera, J.M. Lopez-Sanchez, F. Vicente, A. Cuenca, J.J. Mallorquí. Study of the land subsidence in the Orihuela city (SE Spain) using PSI data: distribution, evolution, and correlation with conditioning and triggering factors. Engineering Geology, 115, 105-121, 2010.


DARMSTADT, Germany — Europe’s Philae lander radioed home Thursday, sending the first picture from the surface of a comet hours after a dramatic descent that apparently culminated in bouncing hundreds of meters across the distant world before coming to rest.
The first image from the lander’s CIVA instrument system — a set of seven micro-cameras designed to take panoramic and 3D images — was released Thursday by the European Space Agency. Composed of two individual image frames, it shows the dark, rocky surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and one of Philae’s three landing legs.
Ground controllers received signals from Philae on Thursday after the probe went silent overnight while the mission’s Rosetta mothership repositioned itself to relay lander data back to Earth.
Mission officials said it was not clear where the lander ended up on the comet, but evidence shows the probe is tilting and at least one of its legs appears to be off the comet’s surface. Officials speaking in a press briefing on the status of Philae from CNES — the French space agency — said the craft’s solar panels appear to only be generating electricity about 90 minutes every 12 hours.
Phillipe Gaudon, head of the Philae lander team at CNES, told reporters in Toulouse around midday Thursday that he estimates the lander has between 50 and 55 hours of battery life left.
Engineers are studying whether they can order Philae to use deployable mechanisms — such as a drilling system or harpoon anchors that did not fire during Wednesday’s descent — to upright and stabilize the lander. But officials cautioned using such devices to move Philae could damage the lander or nudge it from its position.
Data from Philae’s instruments — and possibly imagery from Rosetta still in orbit around the comet — could help ground teams locate the lander, according to Marc Pircher, head of the CNES space center in Toulouse.
Philae’s science, operations and navigation center is in Toulouse, and the lander control center is operated by DLR — the German Aerospace Center — in Cologne, Germany. ESA’s Rosetta mission control, which disseminates all data from the mission, is based in Darmstadt, Germany.
Pircher said scientists likely do not have details of the terrain in Philae’s current location because it was not deemed a safe landing site.
Philae’s initial landing site was right on target, scientists said.
Measurements from the lander’s magnetometer instrument detected Philae bounced twice and touched down on the comet three times, finally settling down about two hours after the initial landing, according to a blog post on the European Space Agency’s website.
The magnetometer data also show the lander rotated on its vertical axis after the first touchdown, ESA said.
Officials in Toulouse said the age of Philae’s pyrotechnics — the mission launched more than 10 years ago — may have caused the trouble activating the lander’s harpoon anchors.
“The lander remains unanchored to the surface, but the instruments are running and are delivering images and data,” ESA wrote in a blog post Thursday.
Follow Stephen Clark on Twitter: @StephenClark1.


Our mission is to encourage simple behaviour change, to eat less or better quality meat, which in turn will benefit the planet and our health, as consumers eat a more sustainable diet.
If 10 million people swap the meat in just one of their meals for a plant based protein on one day, the impact would be extraordinary. Take a look at this:
- Reduction in CO2 emissions is the equivalent to driving around the world 2,438 times**
- It would save 885 million calories and 48 tonnes of saturated fat – the weight of 3.5 Big Bens
- With less land needed for farms, it would save up to 5,700 acres of land – the equivalent of 89,000 tennis courts
- Water usage would be reduced by 13 million tonnes – equivalent to 5,000 Olympic swimming pools
**vs plant based proteins
Frequently Asked Questions
I want to try and eat more sustainably and eat less meat, where can I find out more?
Eating Better Alliance supports individuals and organisations to move towards eating less and better quality meat, for health and sustainability reasons.Find Out More
What’s World Meat Free Day and when’s it happening?
World Meat Free Day is on June 13th 2016, when people across the world will come together and pledge to refrain from eating meat, to raise awareness of global sustainability and health issues with meat consumption.Find Out More
If I am buying meat, how do I know which labels to trust?
Compassion in World Farming recommends making sure the label says organic (in the UK the Soil Association’s standards are highest) or free range. Secondary to this are RSPCA Assured and supermarkets’ own free range labels.Find Out More
What does ‘food ethics’ actually mean?
The Food Ethics Council explains that food ethics relates to animal welfare, saving the planet, healthy eating, fair trade and many more factors.Find Out More
In order to live more sustainably, do I have to reduce my carbon footprint? How do I do that?
The Carbon Trust encourages people to eat a greater variety of protein-rich main ingredients, including a plant based diet, which can be a big step towards reducing the carbon footprint of current eating patterns.Find Out More
Is anyone calling on the Government to do more about these issues?
Friends of the Earth is one of the organisations calling on the Government to do more about sustainable eating.Find Out More
How can I make small changes to what I eat to make a difference to the environment, without changing my lifestyle?
Skipping meat, even one day a week, can massively affect your environment impact. Meat Free Mondays encourages people to go meat free at least one day a week to make a difference.Find Out More
Meat tax debate: Public receptive to meat tax, but experts say the answer is even simpler
Government urged to do more to promote less and better quality approach to meatRead More
The Caveman diet: Why we're getting it wrong
Prehistoric diet rarely featured meat and we were healthier for itRead More
Generation Moderation is leading the great meat retreat
Switched on young consumers are changing the way we eat and drink and the high street is respondingRead More
Food sustainability education: Older is not necessarily wiser
Younger generation show an appetite to learn more about the connection between the planet and what they eatRead More


What is regenerative braking?
If you know anything about electric cars or you are considering making the switch to one, you have probably come across the term regenerative braking. But what exactly is it, and how does it work in electric cars? Continue reading to find out exactly that!
- Electric cars are fitted with regenerative braking to help conserve energy and increase the driving range
- It works by converting kinetic energy used by braking into electricity which is stored in the car’s battery
What is regenerative braking?
Regenerative braking is a technology developed in the 60’s which converts waste kinetic energy lost during braking (i.e heat) and transforms it into electricity. It’s now commonly used in hybrid and electric cars and in most modern ICE (internal combustion engines).
How does it work?
In conventional petrol or diesel cars, when the brakes are applied the car slows down and heat is generated because of the friction on the brake pads. Traditionally, most of this energy is lost.
In most modern cars, this heat is instead directed to the electric motor which converts the energy into electricity. In electric and hybrid vehicles, this is stored in the car’s battery pack and helps to increase the driving range.
What are the advantages of regenerative braking?
- It can help to conserve battery and extend the driving range of electric and hybrid vehicles
- If used with one-pedal driving systems, it can make driving easier as the brakes will rarely need to be applied
- Regenerative braking can help to reduce tyre wear and tear (caused by friction on the brake pads) as the brakes are used less
- It can help to reduce the carbon emissions associated with electric car charging (from fossil fuel energy sources) – since the car can be charged less frequently. Though, if you charge your electric car using renewable sources, then this isn’t an issue anyway!
What are the disadvantages of regenerative braking?
- It can take some time to get used to a new way of driving, particularly with one-pedal driving
- The sensitivity of the braking system can vary car to car
- It doesn’t work as well in stop start traffic or steady motorway driving
How do you drive with regenerative braking?
In the same way as any other car! However, it can take time to get used to it as you can feel the car braking by itself. As soon as you stop accelerating, the car will start slowing down. In addition to this, some cars also have one-pedal driving functionality. When this is activated, as soon as the driver releases the acceleration, the car will slow down and it will come to an eventual stop. This is extremely useful for city driving, since there is no need to switch between pedals.
Is regenerative braking only found in electric cars?
No, it’s also used in modern conventional combustion engine (petrol/diesel) vehicles. The energy generated is used to power systems like air conditioning, or power steering.
Can regenerative braking stop a car?
Yes! Many regenerative braking systems include ‘one pedal driving’ mode. When activated, the car will come to a smooth stop without the need for the driver to press the brake pedal.
Can you turn regenerative braking off?
That really depends on the make and model of you car. Some cars, like Tesla give you the ability to adjust the strength of the regenerative braking or turn it off completely. But for the majority of electric cars, it cannot be turned off.
What is one-pedal driving?
One-pedal driving allows drivers to use the acceleration pedal almost exclusively to control the car. As soon as the acceleration pedal is released by the driver, the car will start to slow down and come to a full stop.
We explain the environmental impact of electric cars and if they are good for the planet.
Call us on 0330 165 4945
Email us at email@example.com
Try our suitability tool
Browse our electric cars


Facebook: A Tool for Nursing Education Research
The Journal of nursing education 2011 Jul; 50(7): 414-6
Facebook is an online social networking Web site that allows users to connect with other users. Nurse educators can use this technology to advance nursing research. Social networks provide new opportunities for locating potential research participants and maintaining contact during the research process. The purpose of this article is to explain how the researcher used Facebook to locate previous nursing students to ask them to participate in a qualitative study. Between 2006 and 2008, 22 nursing students had participated in international trips over a 3-year period. Because the students had graduated and moved to other geographical areas, the researcher had little or no contact information to use to follow-up with them. The researcher used Facebook to locate 18 of the 22 nursing graduates and invite them to participate in a qualitative research study. A discussion of the process and the potential ethical issues are provided.
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.


Indoor Localization with RFID
RFID (radio-frequency identification), which uses radio waves to wirelessly transmit the identity (e.g. serial number) and other characteristics of an object, is an emerging positioning technology that allows for mobility tracking of objects or people. As it offers a limited range of less than a meter, RFID is not suitable for exhaustive localization, but rather for a selective object identification. It is cost-effective, easy of maintenance and provides both identification and location. This makes localization via RFID particularly suitable for tracking solutions in industrial environments (e.g. asset management).
How Does Object Identification with RFID Work?
An RFID indoor positioning system typically contains of transponders (attached to objects/people) and a reader (infsoft Locator Node 1100). In a passive RFID system, the Locator Node functions as a power source and transfers radio-frequency energy to the transponder at a short distance (remote-coupling). ID and data from the transponder are then captured by the Locator Node and forwarded to the infsoft LocAware platform®, where the data is processed.
In contrast to area-wide localization technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons, or Ultra-wideband (UWB), RFID tracking only enables spot localization due to its highly limited range of less than a meter. This means that objects equipped with RFID tags can only be located at specific checkpoints – wherever RFID hardware (e.g. infsoft Locator Node) has been installed. Possible applications thus include systems for access control, time recording, or inventory control in logistics, but not continuous route tracking or seamless tracking over larger areas.
Since passive transponders do not have their own energy source, they are almost maintenance-free. RFID tags do not require visual contact with the reader and are also highly durable against impact and environmental factors.


Author: Kate H. Gamble, Senior Editor
Adolescents and girls in particular are at an increased risk of developing headaches after suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI), according to new research published in Pediatrics
In the study
, Heidi Blume, MD, MPH, and principal investigator Fred Rivara, MD, MPH, of Seattle Children’s Research Institute analyzed the prevalence of headaches 3 and 12 months after mild, moderate or severe TBI in children ages 5 to 17.
They found that headache can be a significant problem for children aged 5 to 12 years following TBI. Three months after a mild TBI, 43% of children reported headaches, compared to 37% of children who had a moderate to severe TBI, and 26% of children in the control group. The risk was determined to be higher in adolescents aged 13 to 17 and in girls.
It is estimated that more than half a million children in the United States sustain a TBI every year. Although it had been established that adults who suffer TBI often report headaches afterward, little is known about how often children suffer headaches after similar injuries.
Drs. Rivera and Blume’s research confirmed that the response to and recovery from TBI is different for children, adolescents and adults, and that males and females are likely to have different symptoms and recovery. The risk of headache was higher in adolescents and in girls, mirroring a pattern seen in other headache disorders such as migraine. Because of the high number of children suffering TBI every year, the study findings indicate that many children and adolescents suffer from TBI-associated headaches each year.
“Little research has focused on chronic headache post-TBI in children,” said Dr. Blume in a statement
. “Our findings indicate that many children and adolescents suffer from TBI-associated headaches yearly. In addition, the prevalence of headache following mild TBI appears to follow a pattern we see in primary headache disorders such as a migraine. With future research, we can begin to examine whether there are similarities in the cause of migraine and post-traumatic headache, and if migraine therapies will work for post-traumatic headaches.”
Researchers were not able to detect significant differences in the percentage of children with headache after TBI one year after injury compared to children in the control group, who had suffered arm fractures. The study concluded that adolescents and girls appear to be at the highest risk for headache after mild TBI, and that the course of recovery from TBI is likely affected by age at injury, injury severity and gender.
“What parents need to know is that some children with TBI may have headaches for several weeks or months after TBI, but that most recover with time,” said Dr. Blume. “And significantly, girls and teenagers appear to be at particular risk for headaches after mild TBI. Parents should be aware of what to expect after mild TBI, which may come from a sports-related injury.”
If parents suspect that a child has suffered a concussion, it is critical to consult a medical care provider before allowing them to resume vigorous physical activity or play sports. If a child experiences repeated vomiting or severe new headache, is confused, off balance, or has new weakness, numbness or trouble speaking following a head injury, emergency care should be sought.


The Family Compact developed after the War of 1812 and lasted until Upper and Lower Canada were united in 1841. In Lower Canada, its equivalent was the Château Clique. Members of the Family Compact were described as adherents of "rabid Toryism" by Charles Dickens during his visit to North America.
The Family Compact controlled the government through the Executive Council, the advisors to the Lieutenant Governor, leaving the popularly elected Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly with little real power. Members of the Family Compact ensured their conservative friends held the important positions in the colony through political patronage.
The Family Compact was centred in Toronto, then called York. Its most important member was Bishop John Strachan; in fact, many of the other members were his former students, or people who were in some way related to him. The rest of the members were mostly descendants of United Empire Loyalists or recent upper-class British settlers. With this Loyalist background and under the leadership of Strachan, they were strong royalists, and supported the Church of England over not only Catholicism but other Protestant churches. They especially interpreted the Constitutional Act of 1791, which gave land grants to build Protestant churches, to refer to Anglican churches alone. This was opposed by the large numbers of Presbyterian Scottish settlers, as well as smaller groups of Methodists.
The influence of the Family Compact was one of the chief concerns of radical reformer William Lyon Mackenzie. Mackenzie's frustration with their control of the government was one of the catalysts for the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837. Their hold on the government was eliminated with the creation of the united Province of Canada under Lord Durham, who replaced Sir Francis Bond Head (a supporter of the Family Compact) as Lieutenant-Governor in 1838.


A new, non-invasive method for measuring arterial stiffness is able to interpret standard oscillometric measurements to quantify both arterial stiffness and blood pressure simultaneously, according to research published recently in BioMedical Engineering OnLine.1
Arterial stiffness is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD) but is very difficult to measure. It also can influence blood pressure readings since these rely on the time taken for arteries to return to normal volume and flow after compression.
Researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan, determined arterial stiffness using the relationship between cuff pressure and arterial volume. This was calculated using pulse pressure (systolic – diastolic) and the amplitude of cuff oscillations. Readings were combined to produce an arterial stiffness index (API). To test the validity of this new method, API results from over 100 volunteers were compared to arterial stiffness determined by pulse wave velocity (tonomography) and carotid arterial compliance (ultrasound).
Dr Hidehiko Komine explained, “Interpreting oscillating blood pressure provided the same accuracy of measurement for arterial stiffness as either of the established methods. Not only did API match brachial arterial stiffness measured by tomography but it also correlated with ultrasound measurement of the stiffness of arteries supplying the heart. This means that, using the oscillating cuffs already in place in many clinical settings, API could provide an early indicator of cardiovascular disease”.
1. Komine H, Asai Y, Yokoi T, Yoshizawa M. Non-invasive assessment of arterial stiffness using oscillometric blood pressure measurement. BioMedical Engineering OnLine 2012;11:6. doi:10.1186/1475-925X-11-6
Published on: March 9, 2012
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Pharaoh Khufu must be rolling in his monumental grave. Since its construction in 2560 BC, the Great Pyramid of Giza stood as the largest man-made pyramid ever built*. For 3800 years, it held the title of the tallest man-made structure of any kind. It wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution that our buildings began dwarfing this wonder of the ancient world. Even still, the Great Pyramid is massive, with a volume of 2,580,000 cubic meters. But there is another pyramid, more massive than Giza, and it wasn’t built to entomb a mighty king. It’s not a monument of any kind. The largest (by volume) pyramid in the world resides in Alberta, Canada and it’s made entirely of sulfur.
Alberta is home to two major oil companies, Syncrude and Suncor, who rule the Alberta oil sands from Fort McMurray. Oil sands are petroleum deposits rich in bitumin, a tar like substance, that can be processed into bituminous oil. Alberta is the world’s leading producer of bituminous oil. Among the byproducts of bitumin mining is sulfur. Unfortunately, sulfur is produced in such massive quantities that the refining process has completely tanked the market for it. With nowhere for the sulfur to go, at least one company, Syncrude, has developed a truly novel solution–build pyramids.
Technically, they’re ziggurats, for now. These structure are built from blocks of liquid elemental sulfur that are poured and solidified. The image below shows three of the great pyramids of Alberta–and yes the Google satellite images are washed out around the tar sands facilities (see for yourself).
So how do they stack up against other legendary pyramids? According to the recently published Visit Sunny Chernobyl, an excellent book about pollution tourism, the largest of these pyramids has a quarter-mile long base and stands almost 60 feet tall. Here, for scale, is the largest sulfur pyramid compared against Khufu’s tomb:
So the sulfur pyramid is shorter, with a much bigger base. How does its volume compare to that of the Great Pyramid? The Great Pyramid is 2,580,000 cubic meters. The Sulfur Pyramid of Alberta? 2,840,000** cubic meters and still growing! One expert suggests that at the current rate, the total area needed for sulfur storage in Alberta in the next hundred years will be 150 square kilometers of 50 foot stacks. That’s 405,000,000,000*** cubic meters, which means, if built as a single structure, the sulfur stacks are on track to become the most massive man-made structure, ever.
The Sulfur Pyramids of Alberta are quite possibly the greatest wonder of the industrial world.
*A reasonable argument could be made for The Great Pyramid of Cholula as largest. Cholula is a massive complex of successive structure, built by several groups over 600 years. When accounting for the base of the main pyramid structure, rather than the entire complex, Cholula tops out at a very respectable 1,800,000 cubic meters. The total volume of the complex is approximately 4,450,000 cubic meters, making Cholula the largest monument in the world.
**Based on photographs of these mounds (see here, here, and here), the sides range from shear to slightly sloped, so I am using an estimated angle of 15 degrees for the side. If anyone has more accurate measurements (perhaps a Syncrude rep would like to chime in), I would greatly appreciate that information.
***Assuming the walls are all shear.


How to evaluate websites
Information is all around us and it becomes a challenge to find relevant information issued from reliable websites.
Using the following criteria can help you to critically evaluate what you find before you use it.
Who What When Where Why How
is responsible for the information?
o Can you locate the author’s name?
o Is the author well known in his field?
o Are the author’s qualifications listed (education, occupation, experience…).
o Who actually published the page? Is there contact information?
Some attention should be paid to the following points:
- How detailed is the information?
- Is the language free of emotion or highly emotional?
- The document refers to different points of view?
What does the information included? (Accuracy and Reliability)
o Is the information accurate based on what you already know?
o Has the information been reviewed or refereed?
o Charts and Graphs are easy to read and are clearly labelled?
o Is the content free of typographical and grammar errors?
When was the site created? (CURRENCY)
o Can you find the date the site was created or last updated?
o All sites suggested works without linking problems (Links Moved, blended…)?
o Does the page open easily and quickly?
From Where are you getting your information? (Purpose and Domain)_
o What is the URL extension?
.com is usually used for commercial purposes;. Gov and .edu are usually reliable to present accurate information
o Why was the page put on the web? Is the purpose to inform, persuade, sell, satire or parody, other?
Check the URL domain:
.com = Commercial sites (vary in their credibility)
.gov = Government site (The best internet source)
.org = organization, often non-profit
.edu = School or university site
= Personal site (use with careful analysis)
How is the site put together? (Appearance and navigation of the website)
The design quality of a website is an important field when determining whether to trust information on that site and decide what you can easily access:
1- Is the site well organized?
2- Is the layout easy to follow?
3- Are there spelling & grammatical errors?
4- Do the graphics and the colors enhance the content?
5- Are links clearly visible?
Why should I use this info? (Usefulness of the information)
o Does the information on this site meet all my needs?
o Is the information up to date?
o Is this website is better than other websites that I’ve visited? Why?
Citations and Bibliography
Across all IB programmes, students must behave honestly and with integrity. According to the IB Guide, “Academic Honesty must be seen as a set of values and skills that promote personal integrity and good practice in teaching, learning and assessment” (IB Academic Honesty Guide).
Thus any malpractice or academic dishonesty will lead to the consequences outlined in the Wellspring Learning Community Academic Honesty Policy, 2014.
Why and when should we cite?
- Proper citing is a key element to avoid plagiarism and to show respect for the work of others (IB Effective citing and referencing 2014)
- It allows the readers to track down the original work.
- When we use other people’s words, work and ideas, it is essential to distinguish between your work and the work of others. Any reader would benefit from seeing just how the other person’s work contributes to yours.
- When using someone else’s work in your own –whether you’re quoting, summarizing or paraphrasing, you need to give credit where credit is due.
- Basic and common knowledge within a field or subject does not need to be acknowledged. However, if we are in doubt whether the source material is common knowledge or not, we should cite!
You can inspire from the work of others by using these three strategies’. In all these strategies you have to cite!
- Quoting is the using of another writer’s words, even when using only a short phrase. For direct quotations, the quoted material in quotation marks should enclose citations.
- Paraphrasing is rephrasing the words of an author. When you paraphrase, you rework the source’s ideas, words, phrases and sentence structures with your own. Like quotations, paraphrased material must be followed with in-text documentation and cited on your Works-Cited page.
- Summarizing is putting the main idea(s) of one or several writers into your own words. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original material. Again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to their original sources. Any of the author’s key terms must be put in “quotation marks” or italics.
How to cite?
There are different ways of referencing styles: APA, Chicago, MLA…
The consistency in using one citation style is an extremely important element to consider.
Wellspring Learning Community has been adopted the MLA for all assignments made by the students and all the students are required to cite accordingly.
Each piece of material is described differently as the bibliographic information are different upon the source of information: Citing books is different than citing videos or articles etc.
Checklist for preparing the Final Draft of the Research Paper
1. Title reveals the content of the assignment and fosters the curiosity of the reader.
2. The introduction proceeds clearly from the opening of the thesis.
3. I have evaluated the sources adequately.
4. To avoid plagiarism, I have given credit to others by citing the sources, summarizing, quoting and by paraphrasing properly.
5. I have consistently used MLA citation style.
6. My ideas are clear and my paper shows an organized progression of thoughts.
7. My writing is coherent
8. I have used concrete and concise and straightforward language.
9. I have avoided using first-person pronouns and the passive voice.
10. Spelling, punctuation and other writing mistakes have been eliminated
11. The visual form of the paper makes my research paper readable and organized.
I have given my paper a final proofreading.
Brookshear, J. Glenn and Dennis Brylow. Computer Science: An Overview. 3rd ed. USA: Pearson Education, 2015.
Bredes, Bonnie. “Website Evaluation: How do I know if the information I found is good enough.” Web. 12 January 2015.
“Evaluating websites.” International college. Web. 12 January 2015. <http://www.ic.edu.lb/page.cfm?p=566>.
“Evaluating Web Sites: Criteria and Tools.” Cornell University Library. Web. 12 January 2015. <https://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/research/webeval.html>.
Evaluating Wikipedia: Tracing the evolution and evaluating the quality of articles.” Wikimedia foundation. Web. 15 January 2015. <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Evaluating_Wikipedia_brochure.pdf>.
“Help searching Library databases & online resources.” University of Edinburgh. Web. 12. January 2016. <http://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/library-museum-gallery/finding-resources/library-databases/databases-overview/databases-search>
“How to evaluate information found on the internet.” LAU Libraries. Web. 9 January 2015. <http://libraries.lau.edu.lb/ help/evaluating-info.php>.
“How to evaluate a Wikipedia article.” Web. 9 January 2015.
IB. “Effective citing and Referencing.” http://www.ibo.org/globalassets/digital-tookit/brochures/effective-citing-and-referencing-en.pdf
Laberta, Catherine. Computers are your Future. USA: Pearson Education International, 2012.
Kemper, Dave, Patrick Sebranek, and Verne. Write Source. USA:
“MLA Formatting and Style Guide.” Purdue Online Writing Lab, /,https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/>
University of Illinois Library ‘Academic Integrity and Plagiarism’ University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. http://www.library.illinois.edu/learn/research/academicintegrity.html [Las Accessed 29/05/2014] Web
Vester, Maggie. “Evaluating websites for learners.” Web.12 january 2015. <http://www.slideshare.net/maggiev/evaluating-websites-for-learners?qid=b407940f-430e-4bfe-8d72-1de8653c78de&v=default&b=&from_search=1>.
“Web Research Guide: Evaluating a Web Site.” Web. 9 January 2015. <https://www.classzone.com/books/research_guide/evaluating_web_sites_guide.pdf
Winkler, Anthony C. Writing the research paper: A Handbook. 8th ed. USA: Cengage Learning, 2012.
“9steps writing guide!” Questia Database.


Legal Resources Freedom of Information Act Guide
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), outlined in Title 5 of the United States Code, Section 552 , as amended in 2007, was enacted in 1966 and became law on July 4, 1967.
Under FOIA any person has the right to request public access to federal agency records or information. The agency must release the records upon receiving a written request unless the records fall within the nine exemptions and three exclusions outlined in the Act. This right of access is enforceable in court.
- Classified national defense and foreign relations information;
- Internal agency rules and practices;
- Information that is prohibited from disclosure by another federal law;
- Trade secrets and other confidential business information;
- Inter-agency or intra-agency communications that are protected by legal privileges;
- Information involving matters of personal privacy;
- Certain types of information compiled for law enforcement purposes;
- Information relating to the supervision of financial institutions; and
- Geological information on wells.
The three exclusions pertain to especially sensitive law enforcement and national security matters. Even if the information may be withheld under FOIA, the Commission still may disclose it as a matter of administrative discretion under some circumstances. However, the Commission is not legally obligated to do so.
FOIA does not provide a right of access to the following records:
- Records held by Congress;
- The Federal courts;
- State or local government agencies; and
- Private businesses, organizations or individuals.
Contact state authorities for further information regarding
their own laws governing public access to state and local government