PRESENTATION BY GROUP 5Done by: Gordon Koh Ivan Yeo Roystan Ang Hong Kit

Importance of Biodiveristy

CASE STUDY 1: TOXIC GROUNDWATER - INDIA Organochlorine pesticides are insecticides

composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine. They break down slowly and can remain in the environment long after application and in organisms long after exposure.

Organochlorines are associated with many acute and chronic diseases such as cancer as well as Parkinson's disease, birth defects, respiratory illness, and abnormal immune system function.

Many organochlorines are known or suspected hormone disruptors, and recent studies show that extremely low levels of exposure in the womb can cause irreversible damage to the reproductive and immune systems of the developing foetus.

CONTINUATION: In the United States as well as in other countries,

many of these organochlorine pesticides are being banned because of these environmental and health concerns.

India can follow these countries lead and ban these insecticides

Some organochlorines have been targeted for global elimination under the recently signed Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The treaty is an international effort to phase out harmful chemicals that persist in the environment and can be transported around the world. Many organochlorines fall into this category.

CASE STUDY 2: CHANNELS OF FILTH - CHINA This pollution is mainly due to the corruption

and inefficiency of the Chinese government. Ma Xiancong, a researcher at the Chinese

Academy of Social Sciences Institute of Law, identified these areas where the government failed to act: Land appropriation, pollution, excessive mining and the failure to carry out environmental impact assessments.

CONTINUATION: For example, in 2006, the State

Environmental Protection Administration revealed that over a dozen hydroelectric projects in China had broken the Environmental Impact Assessment Law.

Therefore, the only probable way to solve this problem is for the China to have a government where there is no form of corruption and inefficiency.

CASE STUDY 3 SOLUTION” Increase the resources needed to treat the

sewage Increase awareness about the importance of

the Jordan River and the need to keep it clean

Rally support and maybe donations to clean up the river

Remove the dams that divert water away from the Jordan River

CASE STUDY 4 SOLUTION: Try to find other sources of energy Try to find other sources of water to cool

down the condensers Introduce substances to kill off the

cyanobacteria Introduce cooling devices into the water

SPECIAL USES OF PLANTS

ASPECTS OF A PLANT Medicine/cures Food Benefits(e.g. Fuel, Building Material etc.)

Common name usesGarlic Used as an antibiotic

that stops infectionGinger can help ease nausea

from chemotherapyAllamanda • Induce vomit

• Treat juandice, complications against malaria

Aloe Vera •Control bleeding, itching of piles and relief of arthritic piles•Treat colic, burns, wounds, swellings, constipation and dysentery•Taken for asthma•Increase menstrual flow•Used as mild laxative

Bird nest fern •Ease labour pains

Common name usesCoconut palm •Treat poisoning,

fever•Stop vomiting•Relieve diarrhoea•laxative

Spider lily •Good for inflamed joints and injury•Treat wounds caused by poisoned arrows, swellings and swollen joints

Hibiscus •Treat sores, headaches and irregular periods•Induce labour or cause abortion•Treat diarrhoea

Morning glory •Treat fish stings, injured feet and rheumatism•Treat hemorrhages with rusted iron

Ixora •Treat hypertension•Treat rheumatism, bruises and wounds

Common name usesChinese juniper •Treat bleeding

resulting from coughs•Treat burns, scars and scalds

Noni •Treat coughs and colic•Good for asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease

Yellow flame Treat sprains and muscular aches

PLANT PARTS WHICH WE CAN EAT: ROOTS

carrots beets turnips rutabagas

SEEDS

lima beanspeasgreen beanssunflower seedsblack-eyed peaspinto beans

FRUITS tomato apple cucumber strawberries blueberries

FLOWERS

broccolicauliflowersquash blossomsnasturtiums

CONTINUATION: LEAVES kale lettuce spinach cabbage collards mustard

STEMS

celeryrhubarbonions

BENEFITS OF PLANTS: Plants filter the air, removing carbon dioxide and some

of the harmful toxins given off by modern office equipment and synthetic materials. It has been determined that one plant per 100 square feet of floor spacecan effectively clean the air in an average office or home.

Plants have psychological benefits. We are happier, less stressed and more productive in a greener, more natural environment.

CONTINUATION: Hemp is the name of the soft, durable fibre that is

cultivated from plants of the Cannabis genus, cultivated for industrial and commercial (non-drug) use.

provide shade, modify temperatures, reduce wind, abate noise, provide privacy, and prevent soil erosion

buildings, furniture, paper, cardboard, musical instruments and sports equipment

SUMMARY OF WHAT WE HAVE LEARNT: 1) Names of some Heritage Trees 2) Information on the tree 3) How the government is helping to

accommodate Heritage Trees.

GUTTIFERAECALOPHYLLUM INOPHYLLUM PENAGA LAUT

This tree is typically founded on sandy beaches and lowland forests, in tropical regions of the world from East Africa to the West Pacific, which includes Singapore. It is low-branching and slow-growing. It has massive branches and a broad dense crown. It is characterised by dark fissured bark, thick glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers. Various part of the tree are used in traditional medicine.

GUTTIFERAECALOPHYLLUM INOPHYLLUM PENAGA LAUT

There is one of this tree in the Singapore Botanical Garden. It is over 100 years old, and the designs of the buildings in the Garden are taken into account the needs of this tree. The walkway was ade narrower to accommodate the large roots of this tree and on the second level, a void was created to allow the tree to spread its large branches.

PURPLE MILLETIA It is a tall and beautiful tree when it is well-

grown. It has a distinctive crown that is dense and dome-shaped. The dark shiny leaves and dark purple flowers are highly attractive. The species is native to South-East Asia.

TEMBUSUFAGREA FRAGRAMS

This tree is perhaps the best-known tree in Singapore as it is featured in the $5 dollar note. This tree in the botanical garden has been there since 1859. This tree is very native to Singapore. It is very hard-wooded, and it thrives on very poor soils. If left unpruned, the trees often develop large low branches with upsweat ends. It bear creamy fragrant flowers that attracts moths in the evening and the fruits are small orange berries.

SAGAADENANTHERA PAVONINA This tree is best known for its brilliant red

seeds. From the middle East to South-East Asia, the seeds were traditionally used as standard weights. The name “saga” might be derived from the arabic word for a goldsmith.

KAPOKCEIBA PENTANDRA The kapok tree which we saw had been planted in

1933. Kapok is one of the few species that is native to both tropical Africa and America. It occurs from dry savanas to wet rain forests where it can grow to huge size. Kapok is the tallest native tree in Africa, exceeding 70 metres in height. The fibres around the seeds were formerly used for stuffing mattresses.

SOURCES: http://www.google.com.sg/imglanding?q=plant&imgurl=http://

library.thinkquest.org/3715/plant1.gif&imgrefurl=http://library.thinkquest.org/3715/&h=405&w=388&sz=7&tbnid=R43FNPD3UnQhOM:&tbnh=229&tbnw=220&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dplant&hl=en&usg=__xy3dd15GsamVMNDSBMTaQAnXynU=&ei=sCH1S92kDY61rAfIu_WwCg&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&ved=0CCMQ9QEwAA&start=0#tbnid=gahBJxK8rlB9YM&start=2

http://www.google.com.sg/imglanding?q=plant&imgurl=http://library.thinkquest.org/3715/plant1.gif&imgrefurl=http://library.thinkquest.org/3715/&h=405&w=388&sz=7&tbnid=R43FNPD3UnQhOM:&tbnh=229&tbnw=220&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dplant&hl=en&usg=__xy3dd15GsamVMNDSBMTaQAnXynU=&ei=sCH1S92kDY61rAfIu_WwCg&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&ved=0CCMQ9QEwAA&start=0#tbnid=R43FNPD3UnQhOM&start=0

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/gpe/case1/c1f-ans.html http://www.urbanplanters.co.uk/benefits-of-plants/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant#Importance Google images

Thank you for your attention!