Nitrogen (N) is essential to the survival of all life forms and often limits productivity, decomposition and the long-term accumulation of carbon in terrestrial ecosystems. Soil and vegetation are the respective primary and secondary sinks for N in terrestrial ecosystems. Litter production determines the amount and quality of N returned to the forest floor and mineral soil. Decomposition of litter is crucial for N recycling and is influenced by a number of factors, including litter concentrations of N and lignin.

Book>> The Economics of Biodiversity Conservation

Bhp Billiton, the world's biggest mining company, is planning to raze some of the great apes' rainforest habitat. The company is known to be an ardent supporter of the widely-watched bbc

Five years ago on May 7, 2002

on april 12, three people were killed and eight injured in Uganda over protests against the government's plan to give away part of the country's biggest rainforest land (Mabira forest) to Sugar

brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia recently signed a pact to protect the biodiversity-rich Borneo forests, which spans the three countries. Signed in Bali, the declaration moots measures for conservation

Argentina's biggest oil facility and natural gas producer Pluspetrol has come to a standstill following protests by the indigenous Achuar groups in Peru, who say that crude production is

Bowing to pressure from consumer and environmental groups, Brazilian soy traders have stopped buying soybeans grown in the Amazon basin for the time being. The move is an effort to preserve the

Excerpts from Troubled Islands! by Pankaj Sekhsaria

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