Learning History Through Flora & Fauna
Part II of a Series
Why am I writing this article to you?
Hi, would you like to help us write/collaborate on an article or two about the history of the flora and fauna of Afghanistan? We would love to feature your thoughts and work in our educational News Room. A quote from Hindukush Trails: Afghanistan Flora & Fauna*:
More than 380 bird species are found in Afghanistan, with more than 200 breeding there. About a 100 species of wildfowl and birds besides Siberian crane, flamingos and falcons cross over from the Siberian route over Afghanistan in their migration to India.
Below is a list of topics that can be approached singularly or combined:
Flora and fauna of Afghanistan
subcategories:
Birds
Butterflies
Butterflies
Insects
Indigenous plants
Mammals
Agriculture & farming in Afghanistan
subcategories:
Herbs
Food plants, irrigation techniques
Food and Economy, food customs at ceremonial occasions
Land Tenure and property
Farm animals
Food plants, irrigation techniques
Food and Economy, food customs at ceremonial occasions
Land Tenure and property
Farm animals
If you are interested and would like to submit a document, you and your group will be credited and promoted. There is room for several individuals to work on these topics. Through the Gestalt Group, there will be assistance with gathering information and photographs/illustrations. Please contact me at your earliest convenience and we can work out the details of this incredible project! Be a part of the education process.
Who am I?
My name is Cathi L.** and I have been a Gather member since February 2006. I own a Gather group called Michael Yon Dispatches*** which includes articles from an independent war correspondent named Michael Yon, who embeds with troops, both US and our allies, and writes about his experiences. There are other articles within the group, all relating to support of our military or information on current situations. Allow me to share a little bit from the Michael Yon Dispatches Mission Statement****:
The Michael Yon Dispatches group was formed to provide a unique perspective to the general population of what is happening during a time of war. Following the mainstream media's newsfeeds, watching the television reports and specials, I have come away with a total disbelief of not only the misinformation, but the lack of information about our military, who fights by our side and the countries in which we are fighting.
Secondly, I wanted to share a visual panorama of where we are fighting and who we are fighting with or against. Where in the world, what is the history, what are the people like, how do they live, how are we affected, and how are we affecting them. What other countries are our allies and why are they participating? What do they see their involvement will accomplish? What do we see our involvement will accomplish.
What am I looking for?
That being said, I am developing ideas for a series of articles regarding Afghanistan and its history. One way to explore history would be to write about traditional Afghani life which reflects the diverse nature of the country itself. Afghanistan has been a cultural crossroads and a political battlefield for a long time, with centuries of invasions and migrations. All of these have created a great ethnic variety within the country, as well as adding to its troubled history.
From the website, Afghanistan Flora & Fauna*:
The country has been at war for many years and has suffered tremendous environmental damage and destruction. Afghanistan has an extreme continental, arid climate where plant life is sparse , in the north it is dry treeless steppes in the south desert.
With low rainfall, the monsoon rains depleting by the time they reach Afghanistan a major part of the precipitation is snow. Common trees in the mountains are deodar, oaks and wild olive in Kunar, Nuristan and Paktia provinces, with poplars, wild hazelnuts, almonds, and pistachios is different areas. Common plants in the arid regions are camel thorn, locoweed, spiny restharrow, mimosa, and wormwood, a variety of sagebrush. There are a number of medicinal plants like rue, wormwood, and asafetida.
The survival of the human race since earliest times has depended on its exploitation of the land through agriculture. Mark Tauger looks at farming in early civilizations – from ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt to early China and India – and asks how it is that since farmers have played a critical role in the fate of the species that they have never enjoyed high social status.
Following medieval farming through to imperialism, agricultural revolution, then to decolonisation, the Depression and the Cold War, this wide-ranging survey brings the story of farming right up to the present day. It examines contentious current issues such as contrasting aspects of overproduction and famine, the role of the World Bank and the IMF, environmental issues and GMO.
**Cathi L.
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