Forest 2011 – Czech Republic

The largest alluvial forest in the Czech Republic grows at the confluence of the Morava and Dyje rivers. Residual alluvial forests can be found in the area of the confluence of the Labe and Cidlina rivers (Libický Alluvial Forest Natural Reserve), and on the banks or in the headwater area of the Morava and Dyje rivers.

This year's PostEurop announced the annual theme  is "Forests". Therefore the Czech Post issued the single stamp depicts the alluvial forest and its environment on May 4, 2011. This stamp was designed by Adolf Absolon.

The presence of a stream or river, or a high level of underground water leads to a lower amount of oxygen in the soil and subsequent reduction processes. The products of the processes contribute to the typical bluish colour and special smell of the so-called gley soil.

Primary trees found include poplar (Populus L.), oak (Quercus L.) , ash (Fraxinus L.) , elm (Ulmus L.) , alder (Alnus L.) , willow (Salix L.) , lime tree (Tilia L.) . Shrubs and small trees, such as cherry (Prunus serotina) , honeysuckle (Lonicera) , cornel (Cornel) , viburnum (Viburnum) , elder (Sambucus) , are present at places with more light.

The 25th Anniversary of The Norfolk Island National Park.

In this issue Norfolk Island Post  issued  4 postage stamps to celebrate 25 years of the Norfolk Island National Park on June 24, 2011. Four endangered endemic plant species are featured in this issue, which recognises the years of hard work by the park rangers and conservation volunteers. The featured species are the Norfolk Abutilon, Hibiscus Insularis, the Popwood, the Broad Leaf Meryta.

 The 25¢ stamp  features the Norfolk Abutilon, Abutilon julianae . This low growing plant was rediscovered on Phillip island in 1985.  Along with other species in imminent danger of extinction the Abutilon plants propagated from this single plant have been actively planted back on Norfolk Island.

In rehabilitation works around the parks and gardens, this Abutilon should not be confused with the Common Abutilon A grandiflorum which also grows on Norfolk but is a weed and grows into a shrub, where this endemic variety is more like a ground cover in habit. 

Protected Landscape Area - Žďárské Hills

 
 

On 16th of June 2010, the Czech Post has issued the nature stamp series depicted the Protected Landscape Area Žďárské Hills. This issue only one postage stamp.

The Protected Landscape Area Žďárské Hills is located on the border of the Pardubice and the Vysočina regions (the latter was established in 1970). 46% of the protected area, sized 70,940 ha, are forests, 44% farming land, 1.9% water areas, and the rest are built-up areas. The elevation above sea level varies from 490m to 836.3m.

 

 

The diverse landscape of the Ždárské Hills is characterized by its frequently changing pattern of meadows, pastures, fields, forests and ponds, the irregular network of field boundaries, narrow-sunken roads, small woods or groups of trees and bushes.

Fishes of Belarus Reservoirs

On August 18, 2011 the Ministry of Communications and Information of the Republic of Belarus issued 2 postage stamps of the series “Fishes of Belarus reservoirs”. The  depicted species  are Burbot, and Pike . 

The burbot (Lota lota) is the only gadiform (cod-like) fish inhabiting freshwaters.The burbot is a tenacious predator, which will sometimes attack other fish that are almost the same size and as such can be a nuisance fish in waters where it is not native.

The burbot is edible.the liver of the burbot has 3 to 4 times the potency in vitamin D, and 4 to 10 times in vitamin A, than “good grades” of cod-liver oil.

Nature of Australia -2002

In year 2002, Australia Post focus designed on the Great Sandy Desert (GSD) located in Western Australia and Northern  Territory. Australia is the driest continent in the world. Thirty five per cent of continent is effectively desert.

The issue of the Nature  series comprised of 4 stamps depicts the Great Sandy Dessert, and flora fauna lived in there such as: desert star flower, bilby, and thorny devil.

The Great Sandy Dessert (GSD)  covers about  395,250 square kilometres or 5.1 per cent of the continent and is the largest desert in Australia.The GSD consist of mainly of red sandy plains; patches of desert oak and spinifex grass are common features.

Palm Seed Industry of Norfolk Island

The Palm Seed industry began on Norfolk Island back in the 1880s when Belgium propagators travelled the world looking for different and exotic plants to grace the conservatories of the Belgium Aristocracy.

To commemorate the Palm Seed Industry, Norfolk Island issued the miniature sheet of stamps depicts the picking of the Kentia palm seeds. This issued was designed by Mary Butterfield, Issued 29th May 2007.

The Palm was extremely popular because it proved to be a hardy indoor and outdoor plant and was aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

The picking of the Kentia palm seeds on Norfolk Island can take several weeks to complete and is very labour intensive. The tall palm trees are picked by hand using ladders and ropes.The local people who still sell the seeds have the option to pick their own crop or have the local exporter and his team of palm seed pickers come to their home and do the picking.

The Kentia Palm seek industry on Norfolk Island began in 1923 and has survived throughout the years. The height of the industry was in the 1980s when a bushel of seed was sold for over $800.00.

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Farming Australia: Native Plant

The stamps issued by Australia Post on May 17th 2011,  represents four of Australia’s largest native horticultural industries: eucalyptus oil, honey, macadamia nuts and tea tree oil. All four commercially cultivated industries have an export market. Designer of these stamps is Wayne Rankin .

Eucalyptus Oil:

The Eucalyptus oil industry, which began in 1852 in Victoria, has been called the first truly Australian industry.

Today Australia accounts for only 10 per cent of the total world production, but it is regaining some of the market share for medicinal oil lost to China.

Australian oil derives from the Blue Mallee, grown mainly in central Victoria with some production in NSW. Eucalyptus oil has a wide range of industrial and medicinal uses.

Australian Honey:

The honey industry is worth about $50 million annually of which around 50 per cent is exported. Bees are declining worldwide and consequently. Australian honey is highly sought after.

While the honey bee Apismellifera is not native to Australia (introduced in 1822) 80 per cent of honey is derived from native flora such as eucalyptus flowers. Honey is produced in every state and territory, with 45 per cent coming from NSW.

Macadamia Nuts:

 

Australia is the world's largest producer of macadamia nuts, with the industry currently worth around $110.7 million.

 

NSW accounts for more than 60 per cent of production and Queensland for around 40 per cent. There is also a tiny industry in Tasmania. Around 75 per cent of Australian macadamia nuts are exported. 

 

 
Tea Tree Oil:

A potent natural compound with antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties.

Tea tree oil is our second most successful native horticultural industry (after macadamias), earning around $30 million annually.

 

The tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia is native to the northern rivers region of NSW. Main Camp in northern NSW is the world's largest tea tree plantation. (Resources: Australia Post)

 

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Australian World Heritage Sites

On 25th of  May 2010, the Australia Post has issued the stamp series  features four UNESCO World Heritage sites in Australia. They are the Purnululu National Park in Western Australia, Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory, Mount Warning in the Gondwana Rainforests, and the Tasmanian Wilderness.

 

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia were first inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1986. They include discontinuous rainforest that occurs in New South Wales and south-east Queensland, surrounded by eucalypt forest and agricultural lands. They contain an almost complete record of the major evolution of plant life on Earth.

 

 
 

The Tasmanian Wilderness is one of three temperate wilderness areas remaining in the southern hemisphere that covering approximately 20 per cent of the state. It contains rocks from almost every geological period and it is recognised as an “International Centre for Plant Diversity”.
 

 

Purnululu National Park in Western Australia was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003 as an outstanding example containing the major stages in the Earth’s evolutionary history, superlative natural phenomena, and areas of exceptional natural beauty. Found in the isolated east Kimberley region, it covers almost 2,400 square kilometres.       Kakadu National Park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in three stages over 11 years, and is included for its natural and cultural values. Kakadu is located in the tropical north of Australia, some 130 kilometres east of Darwin, and covers 19,804 square kilometres.

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