Latest news with #PARC
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Wild Turtle Week offers education, ideas to protect Iowa's native species
Blanding's turtle is a threatened species in Iowa. (Photo courtesy of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources) Iowa is home to 13 wild turtle species, nearly all of which are in need of conservation action, or are endangered due to a loss of habitat and road-related mortalities, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowans can learn about these turtles and how to help conserve the aquatic and semi-aquatic reptiles during Wild Turtle Week, June 9-13. The eastern spiny softshell turtle, which is found throughout Iowa and the central portion of the country, lives mostly in the water and utilizes a method of absorbing oxygen through their skin and throat that is sometimes called 'butt breathing' according to Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, or PARC. Per their name, the turtles do not have a hard shell and rely on their speed for protection. PARC suggests leaving these long-necked and snouted turtles alone if spotted out of the water, as they might be laying eggs. Snapping turtles are also easily recognizable by their long spiny tails, shells and big, sharp beaks. Certain species of snapping turtle are listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service which identified habitat loss, commercial and recreational fishing and nest predation as factors contributing to the population decline. Wood turtles and yellow mud turtles are both listed as endangered in Iowa due to habitat loss and water pollution. Ornate box turtles, and eastern musk turtles are listed as threatened, along with the Blanding's turtle. DNR partnered with Blank Park Zoo and Iowa State University to raise and release nearly 60 Blanding's turtles back into the Iowa landscape. The group released the turtles into the wild June 4. According to U.S. FWS, these turtles can live for up to 70 years and often travel great distances, which exposes them to dangerous road crossings. The western painted turtle, found across the state, is known for its bright red, yellow and black colored undersides. This small turtle, along with the red-eared slider, are two turtles that DNR said are not in need of conservation action. Iowans can help turtles by avoiding them in roadways, and when possible, stopping to help move them across the roads. DNR said to always move turtles the same direction they were headed when helping them across a street. It's also important to never pick up a turtle by its tail, as this can damage the reptile's spine. A press release from DNR said wetland, grassland and forest preservation can also help to save turtle habitat in Iowa. Iowans with a keen eye for turtle identification can submit their observations online to Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa, which charts species populations across the state. The website also has valuable photos and information to help identify turtle varieties. PARC encourages folks across country to celebrate wild turtle week by sharing their turtle photos on social media with #ShellebrateTurtles. The organization also has webinars and other online resources with lots of turtle facts. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
RTÉ News
01-06-2025
- Automotive
- RTÉ News
Over 2,000 driving test no shows so far in 2025
Road Safety Authority figures, up to the end of April 2025, show that 2,397 people who had applied for and paid €85 to sit their driving test did not show up. With approximately 81,000 people currently waiting for a driving test, the number of no shows puts more pressure on the waiting list. Susan Gray, who is the founder and chairperson of road safety group PARC, has highlighted the number of learner licence holders who are on the waiting list but often do not turn up for their appointed test. "These no shows are depriving other learners of sitting the test when they are anxious to get a date and pass their test and not have to be driving accompanied," she said. This year, the RSA has received just over €203,000 in payments for driving tests for which the applicants did not show up. The figures were presented by the RSA to Fine Gael TD Emer Currie under parliamentary questions. In 2024, 8,863 people did not show up for their driving test. The RSA received €753,355 from driving test applicants who did not turn up last year. Brendan Walsh, Chief Operations Officer with the Road Safety Authority, acknowledged that some of those who do not show up for their tests are holders of multiple learner driving permit licences. "We do have people who are running very high levels of multiple learner permits," he told RTÉ's This Week. Mr Walsh said: "We have a programme that once we get through this backlog [driving test waiting list] we're going to kick it off. "We have the legislation almost finalised with the Department of Transport, so we will be making some changes as to how learner drivers stay on the road with a learner permit. "If you hold a learner permit you should be learning to drive. "Last year, we had 8,863 people who failed to show up. "While that sounds like a big number in the context of 253,000 tests, it's around 3.5%." Ms Gray is particularly critical of people who hold a learner permit and who do not complete their test for a full licence. She said: "A learner driver never has to turn up for the test. "They can renew every year by simply sending the RSA €85, getting a booking date, not turning up and using that letter from the RSA to prove that they actually applied to book a test." Chris Curran, an Ennis-based driving instructor, said that from his experience some learner permit holders make a decision not to turn up for their test. "I believe there are a number of people still in the system that are continually not showing up," he said. Mr Curran said the RSA is "actively trying to work on getting those people to sit their test". "They don't want people driving for years on learner permits," he said. "They need to get through the system, sit their test and either pass it or start working on how they might pass it at some stage," he added. However, he noted that there are sometimes genuine reasons why a person does not show up for a driving test. Mr Curran said: "The key one is nerves on the day. Some people are just too nervous. "Other reasons may be that they have suddenly realised that the 10-day window that the RSA gives each candidate to reschedule their test has been exceeded. "That means they have two choices on the day, turn up or don't turn up. "Some people take the second option and don't turn up." Kirsten Falloon has recently applied for a driving test date and was surprised to find how long her wait will be. "When I applied for my test and realised the length of time that I've got to wait I thought that was abominable," she said. "They said it could be up to 26 weeks or longer," she added. Ms Falloon said she cannot understand why people book a driving test and then fail to turn up. "I think it says more about the system than it does about those that are waiting," she said. "I think it's very broken," she added.
Business Recorder
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
SAU, PARC organise seminar on production of palm oil on coastal areas
HYDERABAD: National and provincial agricultural experts and researchers expressed deep concern over Pakistan's rising edible oil import bill, exceeding $5 billion annually, and the unusually high per capita consumption of over 24 kilograms of oil. They emphasized that the lack of marketing, oil extraction, and processing units for palm oil remains a major obstacle in attracting local farmers to cultivate this important crop. They shared these views while addressing a seminar titled 'From Nursery to Field – Best Practices for Oil Palm Seedling Transplanting and Management,' jointly organized by Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam, and the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) under the Agriculture Linkages Program (ALP), held at the Senate Hall on Tuesday. Dr. Inayatullah Rajper, Dean of the Faculty of Crop Production at SAU, emphasized that palm oil is an important crop for Pakistan. He stated that alongside ongoing research, there is a crucial need to generate market demand to ensure farmers recognize its significance and are encouraged to cultivate it. Dr. Rajper highlighted that the challenges facing palm oil cultivation must be addressed promptly. He pointed out that, similar to castor oil—which is widely used in the global aviation industry but often overlooked domestically—palm oil also requires greater attention and acceptance among consumers. Dr. Mazharuddin Keerio also urged policymakers, government, and industrialists to invest in and establish oil palm processing units. He emphasized the need to launch promotional campaigns for this purpose, conduct research on new hybrid varieties, and called on research institutions to advance work on tissue culture varieties. Dr. Zakir Hussain Dahri, Director General of PARC's Southern Zone Agricultural Research Centre (SARC), stated that so far, the habit of using soybean and palm oil for food has not been developed; these oils are primarily used in detergents and soaps for industrial purposes. He noted that an average person consumes 24 kilograms of oil, 26 kilograms of sugar, and 3 kilograms of salt annually, while in other countries, consumption is less than half of these amounts. He further added that Pakistan imports edible oil worth 5 billion dollars annually. Dr. Allah Wadhayo Gandahi, Principal Investigator of the project, stated that farmers show little interest in cultivating palm oil due to the absence of dedicated oil processing mills and the lack of market demand. He emphasized that if coordinated efforts are made in research, policy, and infrastructure, palm oil cultivation in the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan could become a key pillar of Pakistan's agricultural development. He recommended promoting public-private partnerships, ensuring policy and institutional support, and integrating palm oil into national oilseed development programs. Dr. Nizamuddin Depar, Head of Soil Sciences at the Nuclear Institute of Agriculture, declared that Sindh's agro-climatic conditions are conducive to oil palm cultivation. He advocated for collaborations with Khairpur's Date Palm Institute to boost research in tissue culture. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Govt set to energise farming sector
Listen to article Minister of State for National Food Security and Research Malik Rasheed Ahmed Khan visited the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) in Islamabad on Thursday. This visit provided an essential platform for discussions regarding the crucial role of Pakistan's agricultural sector in the national economy. During the visit, the Chairman of PARC and senior scientists from various technical divisions gave the Minister a comprehensive briefing on PARC's operations and its significant contributions through its outstations across the country. The briefing highlighted PARC's pivotal role in enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring food security. In his remarks, the Minister strongly condemned India's recent attack on Pakistani territory. He reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering commitment to defending its sovereignty and declared that Pakistan will respond decisively to any Indian hostilities. He stated, "Pakistan's armed forces are fully prepared to defend our nation." The Minister's visit also underscored the importance of national food security. He highlighted the vital role that research and development play in strengthening Pakistan's agricultural sector. He reiterated, "In line with the Prime Minister's vision and the Green Pakistan initiative, our Ministry is fully committed to advancing the agricultural sector through robust research and innovation." He emphasised, "While the nation stands united in confronting this aggression, we must also remain focused on enhancing our agricultural infrastructure. PARC's work is essential to securing a stable and resilient food supply for our people."
Business Recorder
04-05-2025
- Science
- Business Recorder
Clarification by PARC
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) has strongly denied allegations questioning the merit of its recent scientific recruitments, calling them baseless and misleading. A PARC spokesperson stated that scientists were hired purely on merit from across all provinces, with many being gold medalists and experts in modern agricultural technologies. The council clarified that converting non-scientific roles to scientific positions was within the Chairman's authority and aimed at enhancing research capacity. Under Chairman Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, PARC has secured over Rs. 10 billion in international grants and received global recognition, including awards from Pakistan and South Korea. The council is actively collaborating with countries like China, the US, Japan, and Korea to bring advanced technologies to Pakistan. With 40 research centers nationwide, PARC is leading work in crops, fisheries, livestock, biotechnology, and seed conservation. The spokesperson said corruption claims are being spread by dismissed employees and assured legal action will be taken. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
