|
BACPS | Bulletin |
| January 2011 |
 |
Mount Roraima with Stewart McPherson |
| Volunteers Needed | |
| Upcoming Events | |
by Stewart McPherson
Redfern Natural History Productions
www.redfernnaturalhistory.com
As you may be aware, Redfern Natural History Productions has raised and
donated over $8,000 to support the work of Meadowview Biological
Research Station in the conservation of the habitat of Sarracenia and other
carnivorous plants. The money has been raised and donated directly from
sales taken through the Redfern website. Please see
www.redfernnaturalhistory.com/conservation
for more information.
In 2010, I also worked with the non-profit organisation Ibex Earth (www.ibexearth.com/), and together we succeeded in raising and donating a further $11,000 for the conservation of Mount Roraima -- the fabled lost world documented in my recent book Lost Worlds of the Guiana Highlands. The money was donated to fund various local conservation projects in Venezuela, one of which involved fixing vehicles for the National Parks authority so they could better patrol and safeguard the Canaima National Park (the land of the Tepuis), and control illegal mining and wildlife poaching.
For those not aware, Mount Roraima is the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's
famed story The Lost World. It is a spectacular plateau (known locally as a
Tepui) that rises up to 1,000 metres above the surrounding rainforest and
savannahs. The mountaintop has remained isolated for millions of years, and
so is home unique plants, animals, and landscapes found nowhere else on
earth. More information is available at
www.redfernnaturalhistory.com/books/name/lost_worlds_of_the_guiana_highlands_-_hardback
I am continuing to assist both conservation causes this year.
2012 will mark exactly 100 years since the publication of Arthur Conan Doyle's story, and so with this in mind, I am working closely with Ibex Earth again to raise further funds and also help increase awareness and understanding of the unique balance of life that exists on top of the lost worlds. To help achieve this, Ibex Earth is launching two non-profit conservation expeditions to Mount Roraima as part of a major drive to raise the profile of the mountain, and to help put funding for sustainable infrastructure in place. My involvement in this non-profit project is as a non-paid volunteer, and I will be acting as expedition guide.
The two expeditions are from Saturday April 2, 2011, to Tuesday April 12, 2011,
and Saturday April 16, 2011, to Tuesday April 26, 2011, each for ten people only.
Both expeditions have identical itinerary and involve a climb up to the
spectacular summit of Mount Roraima, and a three-day exploration of the
extraordinary features of the plateau top -- from the valley of the crystals
to the labyrinth of towering stone pinnacles, and on the way, a visit to the
spectacular Jasper Creek, a waterfall that flows over a bedrock made of
blood-red semiprecious jasper gemstone.
I will be personally guiding both expeditions to the lost world, to show those who come the unique wildlife on the plateau surface, including rare carnivorous plants such as Heliamphora, Drosera, Utricularia, and Genlisea. Visiting Roraima requires only normal physical skill, and despite the dramatic appearance of the mountain, the ascent is actually made by way of a gentle ledge leading up the vertical cliffs to the mountain top. The ledge can be walked up easily to reach the lost world on top of the plateau.
If you are interested in taking part in this non-profit expedition, please don't hesitate to email me for more information (stewart@mcpherson.net).
Wishing you a very Happy 2011!
| 
| 
|
| 
| 
|
| 
| 
|
| 
| 
|
by Tony Gridley
The BACPS has three events coming up that need a few members to volunteer some time as well as volunteer some plants to show to the public. This year we've been offered space for an informational booth at the Pacific Orchid Exposition in San Francisco, March 3-6. And we're going back to the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show, March 23-27 at the San Mateo County Event Center, and Bug Day at the Randall Museum in San Francisco on April 30.
If you can help out in any way, please contact our volunteer coordinators for the various events: Tony Gridley (tgridley@comcast.net) for the POE, Tom Kahl (tomkahl501@hotmail.com) for the SFF&GS, and Katie Taylor (littlegreennut@pacbell.net) for Bug Day at the Randall.
Many thanks for anything you can do to help!
March 3-6, 2011: Pacific Orchid Exposition, Fort Mason, San Francisco.
March 23-27, 2011: San Francisco Flower & Garden Show, San Mateo County Event Center, San Mateo.
April 16, 2011: Spring Meeting. Program: "CP of Sumatra and Borneo." Speakers: Drew Martinez, Gina Morimoto, and Arthur Yin.
University of California Botanical Garden, Berkeley.
April 30, 2011: Bug Day, Randall Museum, San Francisco.
June 25, 2011: Annual Show and Sale, Lakeside Park Garden Center, Oakland.
July 23, 2011: Potluck and presentation, California Carnivores, Sebastopol.
All photos -- Stewart McPherson
The BACPS Bulletin serves as a monthly forum for members to make CP-related
announcements: events, want ads, items for sale, information sought,
growing tips, etc. Submissions must be received by Tony Gridley
(tgridley@comcast.net)
by the 23rd of the month prior to publication.
www.bacps.org