harveyc

Scot just e-mailed (and some others) from China to tell us about this article, thought others would be interested.

Restoring paradise - GlobalTimes

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Jack Daw

A very nice story. From Scot's words I presumed that he was in some sort of subtropical area, but that city (xishuang...) seems to be a full-blown tropical city. Or at least very well beyond the line. Stable rainforests are difficult to create in subtropical areas (but there are exceptions - like the one near Brisbane).

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Thnx to Marcel, Ante, Dr. Chiranjit Parmar and Francesco for the plants I've received.



Zeitgeist - Corporatocracy 101 (~2hrs)

Zeitgeist - Moving Forward (~2.5hrs)

Markku Hakkinen

In my article in Fruit Gardener 41(1): 18-21.2009. “How I became acquainted with Xishuangbanna, China” I wrote from Xishuangbanna as follows:
"The Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture is located in the southwestern tip of Yunnan province on the northern edge of the tropical zone, in southwestern China. It is situated along the upper Mekong River, contiguous to Myanmar (Burma) and Laos. The climate of Xishuangbanna is dominated by southwest monsoons with heavy rainfall from May to October and a dry season from November to April. The plains and river valleys whose elevation is less than 800 meters have a tropical monsoon climate, while places higher than 800 meters have a subtropical monsoon climate. The annual mean temperature of the whole prefecture is 21C. It is usually free of frost year-round, but records of frost indicate temperatures of –2C occurring every 25 years at elevations below 800 m, and regular brief frosts at higher altitudes. Yearly rainfall ranges from 1200 to 1900 mm. In comparison with typical rainforest zones, Xishuangbanna is cooler in the dry season and has less rain, but averages 100 foggy days, which increase air humidity and compensate for the rainfall shortage. The tropical rainforest of Xishuangbanna provides favorable and extremely rich environments for flora and fauna".
Markku.

Markku Hakkinen

I made expeditions to China in 2005, 2006 and 2007 followed an expedition to Vietnam in 2008.
Markku.
Fruit Gardener Vol. 42, No. 5 - September & October 2010:
"Exploring for Wild Bananas of Vietnam
Our friend from Finland, Markku Häkkinen, is a determined and diligent man
when it comes to Musa species. In this, his thirteenth wildland expedition in search
of obscure and unclassified wild bananas, he once again produces results despite
considerable arduousness of jungle travel and the varmints that must be endured".

51st state

I did send my condolences to the family earlier this year. It would seem that the dream that they tried to realise is subsiding. A great shame on many levels, not least that they were unable to sustainably commercialise rainforest products. The Chinese government are (as usual) complicit in the destruction of the natural environment.

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