Ecosystem restoration was designated as a primary mission area for the Corps in 1986, but the Corps has been involved in improving the environment since the passing of the National Environmental Policy Act in 1969. Corps ecosystem restoration projects have taken the form of dam removals and modifications, fish-ladder installation, wetlands creation, and improvements along riparian corridors.

ecosystem is a community of plants and animals living and interacting with one another sharing their available resources. An ecosystem encompasses all aspects and elements of this environment. It includes what we normally think of as the living, such as plants and animals, as well as more subtle components, such as air, water, and the sun's energy. Ponds are ecosystems because they host birds, fish, frogs, plants, and microscopic organisms.

Depending on the condition, our craftsmen repair or restore items with little to no evidence that repairs have been made. All items are evaluated to determine whether they can be repaired.

When restoring an ecosystem, we help the land to regain the balance of native plants that were originally found on the site prior to European settlement. With restoration, we are not expecting everything to be exactly as it was 150 years ago since we don't have all of the pieces. By removing exotic plants that have moved in and sometimes taken over an area, we allow for the conditions that let the variety of native plants, and the birds and animals which depend on them, flourish in balance.

Panama's ecosystem is very diverse, and a large number of plant, animal and bird species can be found. In fact, Panama is home to over 900 species of birds, making it a bird watcher's paradise, and there are numerous mammals, amphibians, reptiles and marine life to be found, not to mention its rainforests, that will be the delight for all nature lovers.

A species is a group or population of similar organisms that reproduce among themselves but do not naturally reproduce with any other kinds of organisms. Examples of species include this splashback poison dart frog (right), monarch butterflies, red oak trees, and humans. According to the scientists of the Ecological Society of America, an ecosystem is any geographic area, including the living organisms that live there and the nonliving parts of the physical environment.

Today's technique is much different from transplant procedures of the past. Most physician's employ a similiar technique: a strip of tissue is removed, cut into follicular unit grafts or 1-3 hair grafts cut to size and transplanted into the area of loss. The most important aspect then becomes the surgeons philosophy on hair transplantation and the technicians training. Trained technicians are invaluabe to the transplant surgery.

The post-operative course will depend on adherence to the instructions given after surgery. Small scabs will form on the scalp at the graft sites. Generally speaking, these scabs disappear in 4-7days. Shampooing can be resumed 24 hours after surgery. The suture (stitch) used in the donor area is undetectable as it is completely covered by your existing hair. An appointment will be made for the suture to be removed one week after surgery.

The most important decision in restoring your hair is the physician you choose. The skill, talent, and experience of hair restoration physicians vary widely, as do the end results. Who you choose will determine how natural and full your new hair will be for the rest of your life.

By far most conservation and restoration projects both on land and in the sea have been disappointing or failed altogether. Scientists have begun to recognise the common causes of such failures, and some have had extraordinary courage to speak out [1].

The most common types of hair loss treatment options include hair transplantation, hair systems (toupees), topical solutions such as Rogaine (or Monoxodil), medications such as Propecia, and laser hair therapy, which relies on the use of low level lasers on the scalp. Other than hair transplantation, all other methods can only, at best, stop hair loss from continuing. None has been known to significantly regrow hair or create a new hairline.

Joining the Medical Reserve Corps could not be easier! If you have Internet access, log onto www.fairfaxmrc.org, click on New User and the system will lead you through the registration process. If you would prefer, contact the Medical Reserve Corps office by phone at 703-246-2433, TTY 703-591-6435, and staff will assist you.

The effects of fire can retard or accelerate the natural development of plant communities, alter species diversity, change nutrient flows, and interact with other physical, chemical, and biological systems. Thus, for most North American ecosystems, fire sustains functional ecosystems. For other fire related questions see the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) FAQ Web site at http://www.nifc.gov/faq.html.

To see how different elements of the project (fish, plants, snail, etc) interact with each other like in nature. Plants give off oxygen for the fish and feed the fish somewhat, fish respire carbon dioxide and produce waste for the plants, and the snail and the algae also interact in that cycle.