http://na.fs.fed.us/pubs/misc/flg/index.cfm

From the USDA Forest Service, this great online resource guide was developed to provide non-industrial private landowners in the 20-state Northeastern Area "with a better understanding of the information and resources available on the internet relating to forest stewardship." Although the guide focuses on Northeastern states, private forest landowners in other parts of the United States will likely find it useful as well. The guide contains over 1,000 annotated links and is divided into two main parts: the first includes links to publications, brochures, and fact sheets; the second includes Internet resources by state. The site's front page features the top five most-visited resources, including a Reference Handbook for Foresters, a Forest Management Update, Rare Plant Fact Sheets, and Forest and Rangeland Birds of the United States. The entire 170-page Forest Landowners Guide is also available for download in portable document format. The site also allows visitors to submit an Internet resource link, and provides information about how to contact forestry offices by state. [NL]

http://www.habitas.org.uk/flora/index.html

Developed by the National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland and the Environment and Heritage Service, the Flora of Northern Ireland is an artful online guide for plant distribution data and species descriptions (many accompanied by beautiful photos). Site visitors can search for plant descriptions by common or scientific name, family name (common or scientific), and plant group. Plant descriptions can be located by browsing the Full Species List as well. The site also organizes plant species by protected plant status, and by habitat. The distribution data is based on 10 x 10 km grid squares, and the site provides a map tool allowing visitors to obtain plant distribution information by specific grids plotted across Northern Ireland. In addition, the Flora website offers links to related organizations and resources. [NL]

http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/resources/atlas/en/

Heart disease and strokes account for numerous deaths annually around the world. This reality prompted the World Health Organization, in partnership with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to produce The Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke. The publication was "launched to coincide with World Heart Day, which is a major driving force for encouraging global heart disease and stroke prevention." The Atlas was "designed for use by policy makers, national and international organizations, health professionals and the general public." The Atlas was also designed to be concise, clear, and accessible to a wide audience. The publication is divided into six sections: Cardiovascular Disease, Risk Factors, The Burden, Action, The Future and the Past, and World Tables. The entire publication is available for download in subsection units, and the website provides links for ordering a hard copy as well. The site also links to a news release for the Atlas, and to information about World Heart Day--recently celebrated on September 26, 2004--at the World Heart Federation site. [NL]

http://www.newfarm.org/index.shtml

Developed by the Rodale Institute--well-known for its role in organic agriculture--the New Farm website works "to inform, encourage, equip and inspire farmers with the support they need to take the important transition steps toward regenerative agriculture." With this mission in mind, the New Farm site provides farmers and others with a bounty of online resources, information, and success stories. The site features sections that address news and research, organic certification, raising hogs, political activism, and more. One notable section of the site is the Farm Locator which provides a searchable Database of Farms, and allows farmers to add a free Web page featuring their farm. Sections of the website, including the Training Center, are still being developed, and New Farm encourages people to send in ideas and suggestions regarding site content such as topics for online courses. [NL]

1. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/influenza.html
2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/influenzaspanish.html

With this year's shortage of flu vaccines, it is more important than ever to keep the public informed about the nature of influenza. This user-friendly online Influenza tutorial was created by MedlinePlus of the National Library of Medicine to educate people about the flu virus. The narrated tutorial incorporates straightforward text and images and "discusses the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of flu." From the front page, visitors can choose to print out a Reference Summary of the module, or to go directly to the module. After selecting Go to Module, visitors may choose to first view module instructions, or to just start the module immediately. The first link listed above will take visitors to the English version of the module, and the second link will take visitors to the Spanish version. [NL]

http://www.savingcranes.org/index.cfm

Located in Baraboo, Wisconsin, the "International Crane Foundation (ICF) works worldwide to conserve cranes and the wetland and grassland ecosystems on which they depend." The ICF website provides a variety of information about the Foundation as well as great resources like the Species Field Guide which contains photos, range maps, and information about all 15 types of crane. The site also includes information about conservation and research projects in North America, Asia, and Africa. For teachers and students, the ICF's Education Department offers several online resources including instructions for making an origami crane; a list of related books; a downloadable six-page Crane Behavior Guide, and information about participating in an International Art Exchange. Be sure not to miss the What's New link for updates regarding the Whooping Cranes ongoing migration from Wisconsin to Florida. [NL]

http://www.fern.org

Created by the World Rainforest Movement in 1995, FERN (Forests and the European Union Resource Network) "promotes the conservation and sustainable use of forests and respect for the rights of forest peoples in the policies and practices of the European Union." Presently, the principal FERN campaign areas include Forest Certification; Climate Change; WTO and Trade Agreements; and Aid and Development Cooperation, to name a few. This website contains summaries of current FERN campaigns as well as links to news articles regarding Poverty and EC Aid, Forest Peoples, EU Forests, Trade, and more. The site also offers access to an extensive assortment of publications including Briefings, NGO Statements, EU Documents, and FERN Reports. The website contains a solid collection of related links as well. [NL]

http://www.irises.org/index.htm

The American Iris Society (AIS) was founded in 1920, "and exists for the sole purpose of promoting the culture and improvement of the Iris." This official AIS website serves as an information resource for iris aficionados and AIS members. The site contains information about AIS awards, membership, upcoming conventions, and the annual Symposium--a "popularity poll of Tall Bearded Iris conducted by the AIS." In addition, the site has sections regarding Iris Registration, Iris Classification, online iris email groups, and related links. Of course the site also contains a small photo gallery featuring beautiful images of award-winning irises, and a brief article on growing and planting irises. The AIS is divided into 24 regions across the U.S. and Canada with local iris organizations in each region. Site visitors will find contact information for numerous AIS regional organizations, and for the AIS region vice presidents. [NL]