“FOREST FAUNA AND FLORA” - 2009

Lithuania Post issued the stamp series features the Forest Fauna and Flora from the Red Book of Lithuania on September 11, 2009. The stamps issued comprised of 2 single stamps and depicted Stock Pigeon and Lesser Emperor. Artist designer of stamps is A. Ratkevičienė. 

Stock Pigeon (Columba oenas) is a member of the family of Columbidae, doves and pigeons. The Stock Pigeon constantly inhabits the Curonian Spit and Kazlų Rūda forests in Lithuania. Larger colonies of these birds are distributed in the southern and eastern regions of the country – Dainava, Rūdninkai, Lavoriškės, Labanoras forests where pine trees dominate.
The Stock Pigeon generally inhabit mature pine forests and mixed forests. It nests in a naturally rotten hole in a tree. The eggs (usually 2) are laid in late April/early May. The Stock Pigeon is capable of raising 2–3 broods per season. Most of its food is vegetable.
Cutting down hollow dry trees and mature forests and abundance of pine martens pose the greatest threat to the Stock Pigeon. Since 1970, this species is listed in the Red Data Book of Lithuania, as well as the Berne Convention, Annex III.

Lesser Emperor (Anax parthenope) is a dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae. It is found in Ignalina, Lazdijai, Molėtai, Prienai, Trakai, Ukmergė, Varėna, and Vilkaviškis districts in Lithuania. The Lesser Emperor usually inhabits the surrounding areas of forest lakes and ponds.
The female of the species insert their eggs into water plants’ stems. Larval development depends on water temperature and usually takes 1–2 years. The Lesser Emperor is most commonly seen from May to August. It feeds on insects.
Water pollution and recreational activities in its natural habitats are major threats to the Lesser Emperor. Since 1989, this species is under protection in Lithuania.

 

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Madeira Botanical Garden

 

Portugal Post  released the stamp series feature the Madeira Botanical Garden on April 30th, 2010 .  The issued stamp consist of one set of four single stamp and two souvenir sheet. All stamps depicted the view of beautiful Madeira Botanical Garden.

The Madeira Botanical Garden is a scientific institution devoted to the study and conservation of the exceptionally rich flora and vegetation of the archipelagos of Madeira and Selvagens, but it is also a pleasant place to enjoy and get to know the diversity of the plant kingdom.

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The Botanical Garden, founded on April 30, 1960 by agronomist Rui Vieira, belongs to the Regional Government of Madeira; it covers an area of approximately 8 hectares and has an average of 330 000 visitors annually. It is located in Funchal, on the Quinta do Bom Sucesso or Quinta Reid, which dates back to the middle of the 19th century.

In this scientific institution are implemented systematic studies on vascular and avascular plants, molecular biology, reproductive biology, and conservation biology and vegetation ecology. The research is fundamental to know the diversity of the flora and vegetation of Madeira, in order to establish strategies for the conservation of the species and the vegetal communities.

The occupation of the islands of the archipelagos of Madeira and Selvagens by Man, with the introduction of animals and plants, caused the destruction or changes to many natural habitats. As a consequence, some plant species are presently threatened with extinction or are restricted to slopes and other rather inaccessible places. The Botanical Garden of Madeira plays an active role in this regard, through inventorying and monitoring actions of these species.

In the Seed Bank of the Botanical Garden of Madeira, created in 1994, are stored the seeds of the most endemic species of the archipelagos of Madeira and Selvagens and of other native species. The collection of seed is sometimes extremely difficult since many of the populations appear in almost inaccessible places.

Other actions developed by the Botanical Garden of Madeira are the propagation of indigenous species, especially rare endemism's threatened with extinction. Most of the species are propagated by seeding, in nurseries and greenhouses, but in some cases it is necessary to resort to stalk cuttings and in vitro culture. At a later stage actions are carried out to reintroduce and reinforce the populations in the nature, especially species with a reduced population.

 

Besides being a centre for research and conservation of the flora of Madeira, the Botanical Garden is also an educational activity centre. The institution carries out several divulgation and awareness raising actions concerning the flora and vegetation of Madeira and the need for their conservation. The activities are mainly aimed at students from the different educational levels and include guided visits to the Garden or field trips, actions involving planting native species in the nature, eradicating invading plants in the natural habitats, among other.

The Botanical Garden is also an adequate place for hosting various cultural activities, such as concerts, dance, theatre and painting. (Resources : Portugal Post info)

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Australian Botanic Gardens

Australia Post has issued the stamp  features five of Australia's major botanic gardens on September 12th, 2007. The stamps celebrate the beauty of plants through differing seasons and the diversity of specific garden types.

Botanic gardens can be traced back to the medicinal teaching collections of the 16th century in Europe and flourished with exploration and colonial empire-building. Seeds and plants were sent back to the gardens from all over the world and early Australian governors and settlers viewed the establishment of botanic gardens as a part of civilised living and colonial advancement. It is no surprise then that land was designated for botanic gardens in many regional towns as well as the cities.

 

Botanic Gardens of Adelaide

The 1837 plan of Adelaide showed an area set aside for a botanic garden which was finally opened in 1857. Many of the trees were planted in the 19th century including those in the Moreton Bay Fig Avenue (1866), Araucaria Avenue (1868), and Plane Tree Ring (1883). The Garden specialises in scientific and educational displays of ornamental plants, both exotic and native.

 

Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt. Coot-tha

These subtropical Gardens cover 52 hectares and are located only seven kilometres from the city centre. They were opened in 1976 and are home to over 20,000 plants. Specialty gardens include the Japanese Garden, the Australian Plant Communities Garden with its lake and totems, and the Tropical Display Dome.
 

Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne

The gardens were established in 1846 but it wasn't until 1857 that the first full time Director, Ferdinand von Mueller was appointed. Mueller was to become one of the most acclaimed botanists of the 19th century. He established the Garden's scientific centre, the National Herbarium of Victoria, and amassed an extraordinary range of plants from every corner of the world.

Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain, Sydney

A 64 hectare oasis sits in the heart of the city and occupies one of Sydney's most spectacular positions on the harbour The Garden was established in 181 Band is the oldest scientific institution in Australia home to an outstanding collection of plants, which include endangered species such as the ancient Wollemi Pine rediscovered in 1994. Only 100 of these adult trees grow in the wild of the Blue Mountains in NSW.

 

Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth

Right on the edge of Perth's city centre, the Garden and Park cover 400 hectares and is notable for its remarkable collection of wildflowers. Nearly two-thirds of the area is natural bushland and has a balance of superb cultivated gardens and open recreational areas. The park was gazetted as a public park in 1872 and renamed Kings Park in 19W in honour of King Edward VII, after a visit to Perth by his son, the Duke of York (later King George V).

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Lake Eyre of Australia

 

Australia Post has issued the stamp series feature Lake Eyre, the unique landscape of  great salt lake of tectonic origin,and its vast and changing environment has been beautifully captured in these stamp designs. The stamps issued in four nominal value on April 4th, 2011.The four stamps in the issue include one domestic rate stamp - The dry (60c) and three international rate stamps - New growth ($1.55), Bird life ($2.25) and In flood ($3.10). 

 

Lake Eyre lies asymmetrically in the south-western corner of the closed inland drainage basin in the heart of the Australian continent. Lake Eyre is the centre of the vast Lake Eyre Basin located 700km north of Adelaide in the deserts of central Australia. With an area of 1,140,000 square kilometres Lake Eyre Basin is one of the largest areas of internal drainage in the world. Some parts of Lake Eyre are 15.2 metres below sea level making it the lowest point in Australia. 

During the dry season there is usually some water, however Lake Eyre is primarily characterised by great salt pans. On the rare occasions that it fills to capacity, Lake Eyre becomes the largest salt lake in Australia. Water covers the lake on average about once every eight years and has filled to capacity only three times in the last 150 years.

 

The Dry:

Lake Eyre is located in the central Australian desert and is characterised by great salt pans. 

New growth:

Desert areas previously ravaged by dust storms are now lush and green. 

 

 
 
 
 


Bird Life:

The higher rainfall has prompted a variety of birds to migrate back to the area. 

 

 
 
 


In Flood:

In strong La Niña years the lake can fill. The rainfall of 2010 sent flood waters into the catchment basin.

The recent high rainfall has filled the vast floodplains around Lake Eyre creating wetlands brimming with life. In drought there is usually no sign of bird life and their return remains a mystery for scientists. Pelicans have returned to rivers and waterholes all around Lake Eyre to breed. (Resources: Australia Post News)

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Dead Sea

 

Israel Post has issued the stamp series features the Dead Sea,  also known as the Sea of Salt, the Valley of Sidim, the Ancient Sea and the Sea of the Arava - is a hypersaline lake that constitutes the eastern gateway into Israel, on 30.06.2010.

The Dead Sea is a home and a way of life and its surroundings also have religious meaning and the historical heritage, pioneer-ship and Zionism that it represents tell the tale of one of the most fascinating and tumultuous periods in the history of Eretz Israel.

The Dead Sea, the world’s largest spa, is key to Israel’s tourism, thanks to the therapeutic and extreme sports opportunities it offers. Its salinity allows for a unique floating experience and the minerals found in the water and in the mud along the shore provide added health benefits while bathing. It is an astoundingly beautiful area hosting wadis, cliffs and a unique zoological and botanical environment.

 

The issued stamp depicts an ibex along a rocky cliff in the Judean Desert, a section of the Dead Sea with salt “sculptures”, a floating tourist, the Dead Sea against the background of the Dragot Cliffs and the Edom Mountains in Jordan .

The sea originally sprawled from Beit HaArava to Sodom, within the area now belonging to the Megilot Dead Sea and Tamar Regional Councils. The current boundaries of the sea run from Masada in the south to Kalia. The Kingdom of Jordan lies along the sea’s Eastern bank.

The Dead Sea, the lowest place on the face of the Earth, is a national and global natural treasure, currently situated 422.22 meters below sea level (as of May 2009). This level decreases daily, with an annual cumulative reduction of up to 1.20 meters each year over the last 30 years. Receding water levels are due mainly to the damming of the Jordan River at the Degania Dam, with the Dead Sea Works operations playing a minor role as well.

(Resources from Head of Megilot Dead Sea Tamar )
 

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Forest–Aland

This year 2011 Europa stamp theme is Forest. Therefore Aland Post through Artist Anette Gustafsson painted the picturesque edge of a forest. The stamps issued only one piece on May 09, 2011.The stamp have logo of Europa 2011.

Around 60 % of Åland is covered by forest.  More than 40 varieties of trees and shrubs can be found in the Åland forests.Pine-forests dominate the northern parts of Åland, whereas the southern parts consist of deciduous forests. On the main Åland mostly found mixed forest.

Spruce, pine and yew are three types of conifers native to Åland. Pine is the most common type of tree, both in dense forests and on bare cliffs. Spruce, on the other hand, needs nutritious soil to thrive.

Common juniper, a shrub more than a tree, is also common in Åland. In the outer archipelago, junipers grow low, trailing along the cliffs, whereas the ones found in fertile soil are often tall and lofty. 

Noble trees such as ash, oak, elm, maple and lime tree are relatively common, ash being the most common species native to Åland.

Other common types of deciduous trees are birch, alder, aspen, rowan, Swedish white beam, bird cherry and Finnish white beam. 

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The České středohoří uplands - tertiary volcanic region

 

The České středohoří uplands is located in the northwest Bohemia nearby the lower reach of the Labe river which is divided between two geomorphological sub-units - the Verneřické uplands on the right bank and the Milešovské uplands on the left bank.

The České středohoří uplands are the most massive sign of volcanic activity in the Czech Republic even though due to its size of 1,266 km2 it belongs only to lesser orographic units. Its characteristic features are volcanic conical hills which began rising from the sandstone seat in the late Tertiary as a Miocene formation approximately 23 million years ago
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The dominant of the České středohoří uplands is the Milešovka hill (837 m), one of the most windy hills in the Czech Republic. Passing through the region is the Litoměřice deep fault, the geological partition between the Krušné Hory and the Central Bohemian regions. Water streams exposing the solid subsurface magma and deepening valleys made the České středohoří uplands into a majestic landscape. The present volcanic rocks include the prevalent basalts and sound-stones and the less frequent trachytes. Sandstones and marls are the representatives of sediments.

In 1976 the České středohoří uplands were proclaimed a protected land area of 1,063.17 km2 and in terms of botany it seems to be the richest area in the Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic has been issued  the  stamps features a view from the southern bank of the Ohře river at the Brníkov village on the early Baroque chateau in Libochovice and the basalt hill with the ruined castle Hazmburk and the surrounding hills. The stamps issued on September 2, 2009. Starting from the left they are the Solanská, the Hrádek, the Lipská, the Hazmburk, the Milešovka, the Košťál, the Kletečná and the Lovoš hills. This picturesque panorama enchanted the painter Emil Filla who in the period of 1950-52 created panoramic paintings of the České středohoří uplands.

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Anegada Flamingo

The Flamingo Pond, Anegada is home to the Flamingos which are the second largest of its species, often growing to 5 feet tall. The Flamingo Pond, Anegada is located in the central area of Anegada Island and now become as one of the most popular spots of sightseeing in the area. The flamingos and other sea birds have been re-established at this protected pond area and hence the name.

The Flamingo Pond in Anegada is the largest of the four salt ponds that occupies approximately one quarter of Anegada's total land mass. This fragile ecosystem maintains a small but growing population of Caribbean Flamingos which were successfully reintroduced to Anegada in the year 1992.

Due to unrestricted hunting, the native flamingos in the British Virgin Islands were wiped out. The Biologists reintroduced a flock of 20 flamingos from Bermuda to Anegada in the year 1992. This project has proved successful as the flock has grown to more than 50 birds since they were introduced.

The project also aimed at attracting the other migrating species in hopes of increasing the gene pool in the area. These vertebrates do not reach sexual maturity until they are three to six years of age and generally only lay one or two eggs in a one year period after mating. The Female lots usually only reproduce every other year. Flamingos frequently mate for life and both male and female take turns in incubating their egg.

Western Anegada is actually famous for the Flamingo Pond Bird Sanctuary, which is a salt pond and mangrove area. This area is home to the various species of birds like waterfowl, a variety of herons, terns, osprey, and snowy plovers.

 

The British Virgin Island National Parks Trust has accepted Flamingo Pond as a bird sanctuary. The other bird species such as terns, ospreys and egrets can be seen nesting and feeding in the area. Whenever you come here with your family or friends you can spot the flamingos wading on the far north side of the pond.