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Big Bend Blooms April 13,
2008 Last week
there were few bluebonnets in bloom at the park; this isn’t the best year for
them because of poor winter rains. Instead all across the desert flats from
Panther Junction to Study Butte and south to Santa Elena Canyon and Rio Grande
Village there were plenty of ocotillo blossoms, candelilla flowers and the
beginning buds of a variety of cacti like prickly-pear and pitaya. The blooming season in the park will extend on into summer when the rainy season comes and a whole new set of flowers begin to bloom. Summer flowers will include the majestic flower stalks of the century plant and the elegant red flowers of the mountain sage. To help you identify wildflowers the best book covering the park was just published. Make sure you get a copy of Little Big Bend: Common, Uncommon, and Rare Plants of Big Bend National Park by Roy Morey. Another great title you will want to check into is Northern Chihuahuan Desert Wildflowers by Steve West. Over 1200 species of plants have been identified in Big Bend. Learn more
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New Bill
helps protect Zion National Park
“Senator Bennett and Congressman Matheson have partnered with the community to develop legislation that accommodates the county’s long-term growth while ensuring the lasting protection of local and national treasures, including Zion National Park,” said NPCA Southwest Regional Director David Nimkin. The Washington County Growth and Conservation Act of 2008 will designate 90 percent or 124,000 acres of Zion National Park as Wilderness, ensuring its protection in perpetuity for the benefit of future generations. Revenues from the sale of non-ecologically significant land now managed by the Bureau of Land Management will fund the acquisition of private land within the boundaries of Zion National Park and other conservation projects, while also accommodating Washington County’s rapid growth. The bill also provides enhanced protections for the Virgin River by designating approximately 165 miles of the river and its tributaries across federal lands in Washington County as Wild & Scenic. “This bill was the result of a comprehensive and inclusive planning process,” said Nimkin. “It was consistent with the principles, objectives, and directives of the Vision Dixie process, and as a result, will succeed in ensuring the economic vitality of the region and the preservation its natural assets.” According to The Nature Conservancy, Washington County is the most ecologically diverse county in Utah and one of the most ecologically significant counties in the U.S., supporting a wealth of rare plants and animals, including 12 endangered species. The county is also home to Zion National Park, which was established in 1909 to protect its soaring sandstone cliffs, rich diversity of plants and animals, free-flowing river system, and thousands of years of human history. In 2007, Zion welcomed 2.6 million visitors.
Kenya crisis threatening parks
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