Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Conservation management plan'

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document
Dissertation (M Inst Agrar (Sustainable Ecological Development))--University of Pretoria, 2006.
Zoology and Entomology
unrestricted

My master's project is updating the Conservation Plan for the Bishop Peak Natural Reserve (BPNR) in San Luis Obispo, California. It is a professional project for the City of San Luis Obispo, supported by City policy that requires continued management of its open space network through management plans unique to each property. As one of the city's most visited open spaces and one of its most visible natural landmarks, the Bishop Peak Natural Reserve is in need of continued management and oversight. While much of the work in developing the plan focused on identifying issues and developing responsive policy, this background report takes a step back, focusing on the underlying principles and municipal policies which direct those efforts. This paper serves as a background report for the planning process including an overview of methodology and policy development. One of the primary goals set forth in the BPNR update process is to improve of management capacity and increase the potential for successful implementation. To accomplish this, the reports shows how aspects of an Adaptive Management approach can be integrated into plan review and development. This background report is intended to complement the plan itself and therefore issues not covered within this report are covered within the plan.

This paper is an archaeological. resources management plan for a proposed archaeological district in Henry County which encompasses four sites known to be significant: New Castle (12Hn-1), Commissary (12-Hn-2), Van Nuys (12-Hn-25), and Hesher (12Hn-298). Information is provided about previous e::cavations at each of the sites as well as details regarding the location, natural setting, and cultural history of each site. Research questions are outlined. The core of the plan relates to niiariagernent of the resources including suggestions regarding future uses and protection. Finally, completed National Register of Historic Places Registration Forms for the incorporation of the four archaeological sites into a single archaeological district are attached.
Department of Anthropology

Adaptive management is an approach to problem solving that acknowledges uncertainty. Adaptive management involves a systematic and rigorous process of learning from the outcomes of management actions, accommodating change and improving management. Plans, policies or management strategies influenced by new information and learning, are modified. This study examines the implementation of adaptive management for endangered and threatened species covered in Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP). Introduced in 1982 as an amendment to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Habitat Conservation Plans are negotiated agreements that mitigate the incidental "take" (killing, harming) of endangered and threatened species during a development or resource extraction project. However, scholars found the scientific basis of approved HCPs to be inadequate and the efficacy of prescribed mitigation measures untested implying the need for adaptive management during implementation. This case study evaluation investigates HCP landowner compliance and progress within the parameters of the federal 1994 "No Surprises" policy. That policy limits landowner liability and responsibility for additional conservation action due to failed mitigation measures during HCP implementation. "No Surprises" assumes we can predict all the consequences of implementing a HCP. The policy seems to work against the objectives of adaptive management to improve scientific knowledge and modify action. The cases include the Central Cascades HCP implemented in the Central Cascades of Washington and the Orange Central Coastal County HCP implemented within a nature reserve in Orange County, California. The study assesses the strengths and weaknesses of adaptive management implementation for protecting endangered species and their habitat, and 2) recommends mid-course corrections for improving adaptive management before HCP maturity.
Ph. D.

Enligt lagen om kommunal energiplanering ska varje svensk kommun ha en energiplan för tillförsel för tillförsel och användning av energi. Huruvida energiplanering är ett bra sätt att styra det kommunala energisystemet är dock omdebatterat. Denna avhandling studerar innehåll i, och implementering av, ett antal svenska kommunala energiplaner. Energiplanernas effektivitet studeras på två nivåer: uppfyllelse av mål och visioner i planerna, samt hur detta bidrar till att uppfylla de nationella energipolitiska målen.

Forskningen baseras på tre studier: en studie av innehållet i tolv energiplaner från Östergötland, en studie av mål och visioner i sju energiplaner och hur energisystem utvecklats efter energiplanerna antagits, samt en fallstudie av Kungälvs kommun där mål och måluppfyllelse studerats mer utförligt. Innehåll och målformuleringar i energiplanerna har analyserats med avseende på miljö, effektiv energianvändning och systemnivå. Mål och måluppfyllelse har även analyserats med avseende på aktörer.

Resultaten visar på att de studerade energiplanerna har smal systemsyn och att de miljöanalyser som finns i planerna är undermåliga. Energiplaneringen har varit effektiv till viss del. Bäst måluppfyllelse har kommunerna när det gäller mål på en relativt låg systemnivå och när det är kommunen själv som äger frågan, exempelvis fjärrvärmeutbyggnad och energieffektivisering av kommunens lokaler. När det gäller utvecklingens bidrag till de nationella energipolitiska målen är resultaten varierande: användning av biobränslen har ökat avsevärt, medan självförsörjningsgraden på el bara ökat något. Bäst är utvecklingen när det gäller minskade koldioxidutsläpp.

Baserat på bristerna som upptäckts i de studerade energiplanerna och dess implementering förs en diskussion kring möjligheter att öka energiplaneringens effektivitet och vidga systemsynen. Förbättringar som diskuteras är att stärka kopplingen till fysisk planering, och att inkludera medborgarmedverkan och miljöbedömningar. Om kopplingen till energifrågor stärks i översiktlig planering och om även privata aktörer kommer till tals under planeringsprocessen, skulle detta kunna underlätta implementering av energiplanerna. Miljöbedömningar i sin tur kan bidra med en vidare systemsyn om mer relevanta mål i planerna. Slutligen föreslås att ramverket för miljöbedömning av planer och program (2001/42/EC) kan användas vid energiplanering eftersom det framhåller vikten av breda analyser, samråd med privata aktörer och miljöbedömningar.

Swedish municipalities are required to produce a municipal energy plan for energy supply and use. Whether energy planning is suitable to manage local energy systems, however, is subject to debate. This thesis explores municipal energy planning and development of local energy systems after energy plans were adopted to examine whether energy planning is effective. The effectiveness of energy planning is studied on two levels: in terms of whether goals in energy plans were implemented, and whether energy planning contributes to fulfilling national energy policy goals.

The research is based on three studies. In the first, the scope of twelve municipal energy plans from a Swedish region was assessed. In the second study, goals and visions in seven energy plans were analysed and compared to the development of the local energy systems. The third case involved Kungälv municipality, where the implementation of goals in its energy plan was studied more thoroughly. Scopes and goals in the energy plans were analysed from three perspectives: the environment, energy efficiency and the systems level. Goals and development were also analysed from an actor’s perspective.

The results show that the scopes of the studied energy plans have narrow systems boundaries, and that the environmental analyses presented in the plans are very basic. Energy planning was found to have been fairly effective in terms of fulfilment of goals in energy plans. Most positive developments are for goals on a relatively low systems level when the local authority owns the issue, for example district heating expansion and energy efficiency measures in public buildings. When it comes to contributing to national energy policy goals, results vary; use of biomass has increased, but selfsufficiency in electricity supply has increased only slightly. The most favourable development when it comes to energy-related emissions is the reduction of carbon dioxide.

Based on shortcomings identified in the studied energy plans and implementation, possibilities to increase the effectiveness and widen the scope of energy planning are discussed. Improvements are discussed in terms of urban planning as well as participative planning, and with respect to the environmental assessment of plans. If energy issues are included in urban planning and a participatory planning approach is used, this could facilitate the implementation of energy plans. Including environmental assessment could facilitate wide scopes and more relevant goals. It is also proposed that the EU framework for environmental assessment of plans and programmes (2001/42/EC) can be used for energy planning, since it includes a comprehensive approach, public participation, and environmental assessment.

Ecological research involving habitat studies was conducted on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River in Denton County, Texas, from spring 1985 to spring 1986. Habitat Evaluation Procedures and Habitat Suitability Index Models developed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service were applied to a 1419 hectares study area to determine the quality of habitat for four species: beaver, Castor canadensis, wood duck, Aix sponsa, pileated woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus, and white crappie, Poxomis annularis. Population estimates were generated. A wildlife management plan was developed for the study area. Habitat Suitability Index Models were found to be overly conservative, underestimating the quality of habitat in areas of ecological transition.

This Master’s Professional Project is focused on the development of a draft Vegetation Management Plan for the City of San Luis Obispo Open Space properties. The purpose of the plan is to provide a comprehensive document which identifies how the city is addressing wildfire preparedness in city-owned open space properties. Methods used in plan development include a literature review, content analysis, geographic information systems (GIS), a course audit, and consultation with city staff and other stakeholders. Each open space property is identified in the plan, describing its location, vegetation, topography, assets, access points, water supply, evacuation routes, historical fire data, predominant risk exposure, current wildfire preparedness plan, priority ranking, and a proposed implementation plan.

Heritage conservation has become mainstream practice as conservation professionals discover that so many aging heritage buildings require engineering solutions. This project prepares engineers and heritage practitioners to face this challenge and makes a major step forward by developing a model for a maintenance-focused conservation management of heritage buildings. The thesis examines how the current practices of demolition, reconstruction and destructive repairs would benefit from shifting to a more conservative maintenance approach. Using the important elements of this model; tools and technology, market creation, training and licensing, a workable heritage conservation management plan can be applied to Australia's precious heritage buildings.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior
Jericoacoara is known as one of the prettiest beaches in the world, reason for a great tourist attraction in the northeastern coastal. In 2002 the area around Jericoacoaraâs Village became the National Park of Jericoacoara, conservation for integral protection unit of 8.416ha, where only the indirect use is allow. The morphology of Jericoacoara is less frequent in the coast, it is a promontory supported by a crystalline substratum of a rocky outcrop from the Precambrian Age called popularly âserrateâ. But it is the great charge dunes that point out and dislocate in E - W direction - for the accomplishment of by-pass, that is, the transport of sediments, through the promontory. The main negative environment impact in the Park is the disordered ways, for where they cross the 4x4 vehicles. There are three passages to access the Village; for the beach east, the Track of the PreÃ; for the south part, the Track of the Lagoa Grande; and for the west, the Track of the Mangue Seco. The indiscriminate transit of vehicles, without a determined fixed route, cause many environment damages, mainly to the fragmentation process in the lagoons that are placed between dunes, intervening in the habitat of the local fauna and modifying the fixing vegetation, it increases the eolic sandÂs volume transport process (main morphologic agent). With the accomplishment of the integrated environment diagnosis, a database was elaborated and it should be used to elaborate a managing plan. Actions of tourism order, visitationâs tracks, the characteristics of limitations and vulnerabilities from the environment systems, proposal of the buffer area, recovery and management of the sectors reached for the disordered and random traffic of vehicles had all been defined. With a delimitation of axis routes with points in the GPS and plotted in satellite images, with intermediate sectors for seasons of the bigger precipitations, the impacted areas can be drastically reduced, helping the management in the National Park of Jericoacoara. To identificate the geoenvironments units was the base to understand the processes, the accomplishment of the diagnosis, which subsidized the definition of the zoning for the management and public use for the unit.The zoning have: the intangible zone with 1,751.4ha being 20.7% of the total park areas; the primitive zone with 4,439.4ha, representing most of the park (52.1%); the zone of extensive use, with 1,444ha and 17% of the total park area; zone of recovery, with 920.6ha and 10% of the total park area, and the zone of special use represented by the axis routes. Each zone has defined characteristics and specific norms.
Jericoacoara à conhecida como uma das praias mais bonitas do mundo, motivo de grande atraÃÃo turÃstica no litoral nordestino. Em 2002 todo o entorno da Vila de Jericoacoara passa a ser o Parque Nacional de Jericoacoara, unidade de conservaÃÃo de proteÃÃo integral de 8.416ha, permitido apenas o uso indireto. A morfologia de Jericoacoara à pouco freqÃente na costa, trata-se de um promontÃrio sustentada pelo afloramento rochoso do substrato cristalino do prÃ-cambriano chamado popularmente de serrote. Mas o que chama mais atenÃÃo sÃo as dunas barcanas de grande porte que se deslocam em direÃÃo L â O para a realizaÃÃo do by-pass, ou seja, o transporte de sedimentos, atravÃs do promontÃrio. O presente estudo constata como principal impacto ambiental negativo local as vias desordenadas por onde atravessam os veÃculos tracionados. SÃo trÃs os trajetos de acesso à Vila; pela praia leste, a Trilha do PreÃ; pela parte sul, a Trilha da Lagoa Grande; e pelo oeste, a Trilha do Mangue Seco. O transito indiscriminado de veÃculos, sem um eixo determinado, causa diversos danos ambientais principalmente os ligados ao processo de fragmentaÃÃo das lagoas interdunares, interferindo no habitat da fauna local e alterando a vegetaÃÃo fixadora, incrementando o processo e o volume de areia no transporte eÃlico (principal agente morfolÃgico), entre outros descrito na pesquisa. Com a realizaÃÃo do diagnÃstico ambiental integrado, foi elaborada uma base de dados que deverà ser utilizada no processo de elaboraÃÃo do plano de manejo. O diagnÃstico foi utilizado para fundamentar: aÃÃes de ordenamento do turismo e das trilhas de visitaÃÃo, limitaÃÃes e vulnerabilidades das unidades geoambientais, proposta para Ãrea de amortecimento e para recuperaÃÃo e manejo dos setores atingidos pelo trÃfego desordenado e aleatÃrio de veÃculos. Foram definidas trilhas-eixo bem delimitadas com pontos no GPS e plotadas em imagem satÃlite; e tambÃm com setores intermediÃrios para a Ãpoca de maior precipitaÃÃo. Dessa maneira, podem ser reduzidas drasticamente as Ãreas impactadas, auxiliando assim, na gestÃo do Parque Nacional de Jericoacoara. A identificaÃÃo das unidades geambientais foi a base para compreender os processos, para realizaÃÃo do diagnÃstico, que subsidiou a definiÃÃo e divisÃo das zonas para gerÃncia e uso pÃblico da unidade. As zonas definidas sÃo: a zona intangÃvel com 1.751,4ha representando 20,7% da Ãrea total do parque; a zona primitiva com 4.439,4ha representando a maior parte do parque com 52,1%; a zona de uso extensivo com 1.444ha e 17% d a Ãrea total; a zona de recuperaÃÃo com 920,6ha e 19% da Ãrea do parque, e a zona de uso especial representada pelas trilhas-eixo de acesso ao parque. SÃo caracterizadas em cada zona suas normas especÃficas e suas unidades ambientais presentes.

The swift parrot (Lathamus discolor, Psittacidae) is an endangered, austral migrant that inhabits forests and woodlands of south-eastern Australia. With a small population size (2500 birds), broad winter distribution (1 250 000 km2) and often cryptic nature, the swift parrot is a challenging species to study. In autumn they migrate north from their Tasmanian breeding grounds in search of suitable food resources throughout their winter range on mainland Australia. They are therefore dependent on a combination of suitable wintering, migration and breeding habitats. Although they spend a large proportion of their lives within winter habitats, the spatial and temporal dynamics of habitat use in this part of their range is poorly understood. This thesis aims to provide a greater understanding of large-scale winter habitat use by swift parrots, in both historic and current contexts, and provide a basis for future conservation management. ¶ Swift parrots, or red-shouldered paroquets as they were previously known, were among the first Australian birds to be scientifically described and illustrated following European settlement in 1788. However, within 60 years of settlement, habitats throughout the range of the species were being impacted upon. An important aspect of this habitat loss is the speed and spatial extent with which it occurred throughout the parrots’ broad distribution. Although the most extensive habitat loss in some areas occurred during colonial times, habitats continue to be lost as a result of various land management practices. Such impacts are also likely to be exacerbated by the ongoing cumulative impact with rapid climate change. As a result the swift parrot is an endangered species and is the subject of an ongoing national recovery program, to which this thesis contributes. ¶ Conserving habitat for the swift parrot, and other wide-ranging fauna species, is challenging since impacts in one area tend to be dismissed based on the assumption that there is sufficient habitat in other areas. These conservation challenges are discussed in regard to the national swift parrot recovery program. Although recovery program implementation for this species has been successful in identifying and protecting some important habitats, there are still many gaps in our knowledge that need to be addressed through a continuing and adaptive recovery effort, including an understanding of variable habitat use throughout their winter range. ¶ A study of swift parrot winter habitat use was therefore conducted at 53 sites across New South Wales over five years (2001-2005). Swift parrots used a diversity of winter foraging habitats in coastal and/or western slopes regions of New South Wales each year, including several habitats that occur in endangered ecological communities. Landscapes containing winter foraging habitat included scattered trees, remnant vegetation and continuous forests, and swift parrots foraged extensively on lerp and nectar from a diversity of tree species within these. The occurrence of swift parrots at foraging sites was primarily associated with the abundance of lerp, nectar and non-aggressive competitors. Although swift parrot abundance fluctuated significantly between years and regions, over half of all foraging sites were used repeatedly, highlighting their likely importance for conservation. ¶ Patterns of habitat use throughout the species’ winter range were also studied across five states/territories using volunteer data from 4140 surveys. These surveys were conducted by up to 300 volunteers twice a year, for seven years (1998-2004) with swift parrots detected in 19% of surveys. As a result, this study provided the first demonstration of large-scale drought related movements by a migratory population throughout their winter range. It also demonstrated the dynamic spatial and temporal patterns of winter habitat use, including repeated use of sites, by an austral migrant. Four regions in central Victoria were used most consistently, although the birds also visited other regions each year. ¶ During drought swift parrot abundance was significantly correlated with rainfall, whereby most of the population either concentrated in a few regions or migrated longer distances (up to 1000km) to drought refuges in wetter coastal areas. However, swift parrot abundance was not associated with specific climate variables during years of average to high rainfall throughout most of their range. Instead they appeared to prefer habitats within particular regions. Importantly this study emphasises that conservation measures need to be implemented throughout the distribution of migratory species, including drought refuge habitats and areas outside conservation reserves.

The objective of this thesis is to provide the Delaware County Historical Alliance with a maintenance program that will help to preserve the Moore-Youse House Museum. The fundamental steps of inspection, diagnosis, maintenance/treatment, and documentation are discussed and emphasized. These steps provide the basis which underlies the maintenance program.An inspection of the house was conducted. Construction materials and the condition of the building fabric were documented and recommendations made about treatment. Maintenance techniques were discussed and a maintenance schedule was provided to assist in implementing the program. A method for documenting and recording conservation and maintenance work on the structure was also developed.
Department of Architecture

This thesis tries to define &lsquo
landscape archaeology&rsquo
as a concept
it describes and analyzes the key landscape archaeology types, dynamics, and approaches. Then, it aims to define the landscape archaeological characteristics of the Troad Region in this context. The archaeological landscape character of the Troad Region shapes the importance of the area, not only for the Anatolian culture, but also for the European cultures and for archaeology discipline. Hence, the necessity of conservation works for the area with the horizon of this concept gains importance. Thesis defines what had been done for the area in terms of conservation and reviews the Long Term Development Plan prepared for the Troia Historical National Park Area. With a critical view of what has been done and what has not been done, it tries to emphasize the importance of grasping the landscape archaeological character of the area in conservation and management plan works. It gives a general guideline to ensure a sustainable future for the historic, cultural, social, economic and environmental nature and qualities of these kinds of areas.

The conflict in the Pacific Northwest between competing visions of how federal forests should be managed resulted in a political stalemate in the early 1990s. The Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) was initiated to resolve the demands for maintaining ecosystem processes and biological diversity with the social and economic needs for timber harvest. The foundation for the plan rested with the development of ecosystem management. The intent of this research is to explore the events which led up to the adoption of the NWFP, how it was implemented by the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management and the subsequent reactions to and consequences of the plan.

The primary research consisted of thirty-eight semi-structured interviews with individuals responsible for the development of the initial plan, those tasked with implementing the plan and current federal agency personnel from the land management agencies and regulatory agencies. With the use of thematic analysis, key meanings were captured as expressed by the interviewees. The data was analyzed using institutional theory, capturing the organizational relations within the organizational field of the land management agencies.

Research findings suggest that the NWFP was unsuccessful in meeting the goal of addressing the social and economic issues as well as the goals for ecosystem management. This dissertation explores the organizational practices and cultural meanings that led to the final instantiation of the plan. It seeks to shed light on the reasons why these goals were not met and how future forest plans can move beyond the current stalemate between conservation and preservation.

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Considering the importance of maintenance and continuity of Conservation Units (UCs) and the adoption of strategies for biodiversity conservation in the regional landscape, this study proposes the physical environment characterization associated with the environmental fragility identification of the Passo Fundo National Forest (FLONA-PF), Mato Castelhano municipality, RS, from the perspective of identifying changes in the functions of Management Plan environmental zoning (2012). The physical environment characterization was based on the thematic maps of slope, hypsometry, geomorphology, soils, drainage network and land uses types in 2011, using a GeoEye-1 image with a spatial resolution of 0.5 m and MapInfo 8.5 and Idrisi 32 softwares for data analysis and georeferencing. It was performed a comparative analysis between land use types through 2011 and 2008, to identify the conflicts resulting from land uses changing related to the functions of the National Forest Management Plan enviromental zoning areas, subsidizing decision-making and strategies for their management. The land use classification for 2011, at a hierarchical primary level allowed to quantify and spatialize three typologies: Natural Uses, representing 42.11 % of the National Forest total area, represented by areas occupied by Araucaria Forest (FOM ) in multiple associations that are in various stages of succession and development; Anthropogenic Uses, representing 57.70% of the National Forest total area, whose original features have been modified by human activities, mainly related to araucaria (35.59 %) and Pinus (22.41 %) cultives; and, Aquatic Environments, with 0.19 % of National Forest total area. The analyzes and correlations between inventories in 2011 and 2008, for each area defined in the management plan, revealed diverse typologies in 2011 as a result of image classification methodology used in inventories than by socio- economic influences. About 283.99 ha (22.17%) of National Forest total area presents a scenario of land use conflicts, distributed among the different zones defined in the Management Plan. The use changes for each zone do not compromise the objectives and tasks set out in the Management Plan. Areas with medium environmental fragility predominated (63.22 %), followed by high fragile class (20.42 %). Areas with low fragility occupy only 15.01% of the National Forest. The classes of very low and very high fragility represent less than 1.5 % of the study area. The environmental fragility map with the inclusion of the variable Management Plan zones and the quantification of fragility classes in the areas defined in the Management Plan (2012) indicate that the proposed zoning is consistent with the needs for conservation and recovery in areas of greatest environmental fragility. Comparisons between land use types in 2008 and 2011, along with the environmental fragility to the zones defined in the Management Plan have highlighted new spatial arrangements for FLONA-PF, setting up a study of fundamental importance to reorient meet the goals of the management plan, in addition to supporting environmental planning actions of the regional landscape.
Considerando a importância da manutenção e continuidade das Unidades de Conservação (UCs) e a adoção de estratégias para a conservação da biodiversidade no contexto da paisagem regional, este estudo propõe a caracterização do ambiente físico associada à determinação da fragilidade ambiental da Floresta Nacional de Passo Fundo (FLONAPF), Mato Castelhano, RS, na perspectiva de identificar mudanças que comprometam a continuidade das funções do zoneamento ambiental estabelecido pelo Plano de Manejo vigente (2012). A caracterização do ambiente físico foi realizada com base nas cartas de declividade, hipsometria, geomorfologia, solos, rede de drenagem e tipologias de usos da terra em 2011, utilizando uma imagem GeoEye-1, com resolução espacial de 0,5m, e os programas MapInfo 8.5 e Idrisi 32 para análise de dados e georreferenciamento. Foi realizada uma análise comparativa entre as tipologias de usos e ocupação da terra de 2011 e 2008, para a identificação dos conflitos resultantes das mudanças de usos da terra relacionadas às funções das zonas estabelecidas no Plano de Manejo da FLONA-PF, subsidiando a tomada de decisões e estratégias para o seu manejo. A classificação dos usos da terra em 2011, em um nível hierárquico primário, permitiu quantificar e espacializar três tipologias: Uso Natural, equivalente a 42,11% da área total da FLONA-PF, representado por áreas ocupadas pela Floresta Ombrófila Mista (FOM) em múltiplas associações, que se encontram em vários estágios de sucessão e desenvolvimento; Usos Antropizados, representando 57,70% da área da FLONA-PF, contemplando áreas cujas características originais foram alteradas por atividades humanas, principalmente, relacionadas aos plantios de araucária (35,59%) e pinus (22,41%); e Ambientes Aquáticos, com 0,19% da área total da FLONA-PF. As análises e correlações entre os inventários realizados em 2011 e 2008, para cada zona definida no Plano de Manejo, identificaram tipologias mais diversificadas em 2011, resultantes muito mais das metodologias de classificação das imagens utilizadas nos inventários do que por influências socioeconômicas. Cerca de 283,99 ha (22,17%) da área total da FLONA-PF apresentam um cenário de conflito de usos, distribuídos entre as diversas zonas definidas no Plano de Manejo, embora não evidenciem o comprometimento dos objetivos e das funções estabelecidas para elas no Plano de Manejo. As áreas de média fragilidade ambiental predominaram (63,22%), seguidas da classe com alta fragilidade ambiental (20,42%). Áreas com baixa fragilidade ambiental ocupam somente 15,01% da FLONA-PF. As classes de muito baixa e muito alta fragilidade ambiental representam menos de 1,5% da área de estudo. A carta temática de fragilidade ambiental, sobreposta às zonas do Plano de Manejo, e a quantificação das classes de fragilidade ambiental nas zonas do Plano de Manejo (2012) indicam que o zoneamento proposto está coerente com as necessidades de conservação e recuperação em relação às áreas de maior fragilidade ambiental. As comparações entre tipologias de usos em 2008 e 2011, juntamente com a condição da fragilidade ambiental para as zonas definidas no Plano de Manejo, permitiram evidenciar novos arranjos espaciais para a FLONA-PF, configurando um estudo de importância fundamental para reorientar o atendimento dos objetivos do plano de manejo vigente, além de subsidiar ações de planejamento ambiental da paisagem regional.

Heritage conservation and management has its own challenges and opportunities. If done correctly, it has the potential to re-establish the thread of continuity with a previous time. Most prominently, heritage conservation and management has the ability to facilitate legislative change, promote reconciliation and social reconstruction in a sustainable manner. It is this research papers intention to re-imagine the conservation and management process at a postcolonial heritage site with a shared history and meaning. Keeping this objective in mind, Cockatoo Island is discussed as a suitable heritage site and case study for the paper. The investigation into the case study will be undertaken by taking inspiration from Roha W. Khalaf’s publication of Cultural Heritage Reconstruction after Armed Conflict: Continuity, Change, and Sustainability. The study will reframe Khalaf’s concepts of cultural continuity, change and sustainability, by investigating its application to the discussed heritage site’s conservation and management processes. The synergies between Khalaf’s conceptual ideas could strengthen the connections between indigenous communities and their heritage sites. Further, these synergies could also facilitate for the social reconciliation of post-colonial communities, especially in the context of shared history and meaning.
Mini Dissertation (MSocSci)--University of Pretoria, 2020.
Andrew Mellon Foundation
Tangible Heritage Conservation
MSocSci (Tangible Heritage Conservation)
Unrestricted

A pesquisa consiste na analise geográfica com ênfase ao Patrimônio Geomorfológico da Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins e entorno localizada entre a porção leste do Estado do Tocantins e a porção oeste do Estado da Bahia, região conhecida como Jalapão. Além da analise geográfica, a pesquisa tem como objetivo principal verificar a importância do seu “Patrimônio Geomorfológico” na gestão e preservação desta Unidade de Conservação da Natureza bem como subsidiar a elaboração de seu Plano de Manejo. Para atingir o objetivo proposto adotou-se como procedimento metodológico o uso do Geoprocessamento com a organização de um banco de dados via Sistema de Informação Geográfica (SIG) utilizando o software Sistema de Processamento de Informações Georreferenciadas (SPRING) e as imagens de satélites (Cbers e Landsat) e de radar Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), além de cartas topográficas, mapas e arquivos digitais. Também foram realizados diversos trabalhos de campo apoiados pelo uso de receptores do Sistema de Posicionamento Global (GPS). O estudo apresenta informações e organização de mapas temáticos sobre aspectos do clima, relevo, hidrografia, geologia, solos, geomorfologia e uso e ocupação da terra, além de uma descrição detalhada das feições geomorfológicas da área de pesquisa, com ênfase nos seus aspectos morfogenéticos, morfoestruturais e morfométricos. Os resultados demonstram que a abordagem geográfica e o Patrimônio Geomorfológico da área de pesquisa são de suma importância para o melhor entendimento do valor ecológicoambiental dos aspectos abióticos, e devem ser considerados na gestão e conservação ambiental da Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins, bem como no fornecimento de subsídios a elaboração do seu Plano de Manejo.
This research consists of the geographic analysis emphasizing the Geomorphologic Heritage of the Ecological Station Serra Geral do Tocantins and surroundings, located between the eastern portion of Tocantins State and western portion of Bahia State, region that is known as Jalapão. Besides the geografic analysis, the main objective of the research is to chek the importance of its "Geomorphologic Heritage" in the management and preservation of Nature Conservation Unit as well as the elaboration of its Management Plan. To achieve the proposed objective a methodological procedure was adopted by using GIS with the organization of a database via Geographic Information System (GIS) using the System Georeferenced Information Processing software (SPRING) and the images of satellites (CBERS and Landsat) and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), besides topographic letters, maps and digital files. Many field works have also been performed by the use of receptors Global Positioning System (GPS). The study presents information and organization of thematic maps on climate aspects, topography, hydrology, geology, soils, geomorphology and the use and occupation of land, plus a detailed description of the geomorphological features of the area of research, emphasizing their morphogenetic aspects, morphostructural and morphometric. The results demonstrate that the geographical approach and the Geomorphological Heritage area of the research is very importance for a better understanding of the ecological and environmental aspects abiotic value, and should be considered in the management and conservation of the Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins in addition to provide information to prepare its Management Plan.

Esta dissertação de mestrado tem como objetivo geral fornecer subsídios ao plano de manejo da Reserva Biológica Estadual Mata Paludosa, localizada no município de Itati, no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, integrante da área piloto do litoral norte da Reserva da Biosfera da Mata Atlântica e representante de um dos ecossistemas mais ameaçados: as Florestas Ombrófilas Densas das Terras Baixas, que se configuram, também, como o habitat de várias espécies ameaçadas de extinção. A construção do referencial metodológico foi baseada no Roteiro Metodológico para o Planejamento de Unidades de Conservação fornecido pelo IBAMA (2002) e na categoria de análise geográfica: paisagem. A análise da paisagem foi elaborada através da escolha de autores que percebem a paisagem de forma integradora dos espaços naturais e sociais, ou seja, paisagens que retratam o passado e o presente através das relações entre a sociedade e a natureza, em sua forma, em sua função, em sua estrutura e em sua dinâmica. A partir desta lógica, fez-se uma leitura da paisagem apreendida pelas suas marcas e pelas suas matrizes, interpretando os significados e decifrando os modos de vida e as ações humanas impressas no tempo e no espaço. O uso do Sistema de Informações Geográficas foi importante para a caracterização da área de estudo e da sua área de entorno, proporcionando informações de geomorfologia, hidrografia, declividade, altimetria, uso e cobertura da terra, divisão dos municípios e da rede viária. Além disso, realizou-se um levantamento das percepções da comunidade da área de entorno em relação à unidade de conservação. Os resultados evidenciam a necessidade da elaboração e execução de um plano de manejo, por parte dos administradores, de maneira a conservar a biodiversidade e os elementos sócioculturais dos colonizadores da área de entorno, pois a paisagem-marca e a paisagem-matriz se sobrepõem, transformando-se numa paisagem transglóssica.
This research aims to provide elements to the management plan of Mata Paludosa Biological Reserve, located in Itati, Rio Grande do Sul. This reserve is part of the north shore pilot area of Mata Atlântica Biosphere Reserve and it represents one of the most endangered ecosystems: The Lowland Dense Ombrophilious Forests. Besides that, it is the habitat of several species in danger of extinction. The creation of the methodological reference was based on the Methodological Procedures provided by the Ibama Conservation Unit Plan (2002) and on the geographic analysis category: the landscape. The analysis of landscape was elaborated through a choice of authors that perceive the landscape as an integrative form of natural and social spaces, in other words, landscapes that portray the past and the present through their relation to society and nature, in form, function, structure and activity. Therefore, a reading of the landscape’s imprints and matrixes was done, granting the opportunity of interpreting the meanings and deciphering the ways of life and the human actions printed in time and space. The use of the Geographical Information System was important to the characterization of the field of study and its surroundings, presenting information about geomorphology, hydrography, declivity, altimetry, land use and cover, city borders and road maps. Moreover, a research about the conservation unit was done to find out the perception of the surrounding community. The results show the need to elaborate and carry out a management plan in order to preserve the biodiversity and the social-cultural elements of the surrounding colonizers, because the imprint and the matrix landscape overlap each other forming a hybrid landscape.

Thesis (MScConsEcol (Conservation Ecology and Entomology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
134, 43 p. : ill.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Agulhas Plain is a constituent of the Cape Floristic Region, internationally known as a global biodiversity hotspot. The species-rich Agulhas Plain consists mainly of fire-prone fynbos shrublands of which sandstone fynbos covers a significant surface area. This lowland region is characterised by mostly infertile soils yet has unique floristic complexity and contains a high amount of threatened lowland species. Natural vegetation on the Agulhas Plain has been prone to large scale land transformation activities, mainly attributed to the extent of alien plant invasions, urbanisation and agricultural expansion. Fynbos wildflower farming, specifically from natural vegetation, is an important economic activity and contributes to the region‟s agricultural sector. Farmers harvest large quantities of commercial fynbos species and supply these to the market in an attempt to sustain a livelihood. Certain wildflower farming practices (burning, ploughing and broadcast sowing) are applied to natural vegetation in an attempt to increase the abundance of commercial species (i.e. augmentation). Numerous farming practices are used in the industry and the application of these methods can be dynamic and divergent. Furthermore, the implementation of farming practices manifest as anthropogenically induced disturbance events and are a concern for conservation. Previous investigations suggest that farming practices could establish monocultures of commercial wildflower species by reducing species richness and plant diversity of wildflower vegetation. Although the impact of natural disturbance regimes (e.g. fire) and flower harvesting activities have been researched, the impact of farming practices on fynbos structure and composition remains largely unknown. This thesis reports on various aspects related to wildflower farming on the Agulhas Plain. Firstly, by administering a questionnaire, the extent and application of farming practices was investigated. Additionally, the opinion of wildflower farmers (referred to as landholders) about the impact of farming practices on wildflower populations was explored. Secondly, a vegetation survey aimed to assess the impact of farming practices on various structural (regeneration mode and growth form) and compositional attributes (plant family, dominant and rare species) of fynbos. Results from the questionnaire indicate that the application of farming methods are seasonally restricted, often used in varying combinations and relatively small in spatial extent. Furthermore, results show that wildflower farmers have an ecologically acceptable knowledge base and awareness of fynbos management and conservation. Secondly results, obtained from the vegetation survey, imply that natural vegetation subjected to particular farming practices differ from pristine fynbos vegetation by having both altered structural and compositional attributes. However, the impact of farming practices on rare species was less apparent. The conflict between commercial and conservation objectives are apparent from consultation with landholders. Nonetheless, landholders are optimistic about fynbos conservation and conservation can build upon these positive sentiments. Importantly, there is a need to communicate locally with landholders if a sustainable wildflower industry is a priority to stakeholders on the Agulhas Plain. Furthermore, fynbos ecosystems naturally entail complex ecological interactions. Wildflower farming practices reduce the ecological integrity (i.e. altered plant diversity, growth form and plant composition) of wildflower vegetation, at least at the local scale. These farming practices ultimately result both in distorted competitive interactions and disturbance regimes. Therefore, from a conservation perspective, the implementation of these farming practices (ploughing and broadcast sowing) should be cautioned against.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Agulhas-vlakte vorm deel van die Kaapse Blommeryk; „n gebied wat internasionale bekendheid verwerf het as „n biodiversiteits-brandpunt. Die spesieryke Agulhas-vlakte bestaan hoofsaaklik uit fynbosstruiklande wat geneig is tot veldbrande. Sandsteenfynbos beslaan „n beduidende oppervlak van die gebied (Agulhas-vlakte). Hierdie laagliggende area (Agulhas-vlakte) word meestal deur onvrugbare grondtipes gekenmerk maar beskik nogtans oor unieke fynbos kompleksiteit wat „n aantal bedreigde laagland spesies insluit. Natuurlike plantegroei op die Agulhas-vlakte is onderworpe aan grootskaalse grondgebruik transformasie; hoofsaaklik toe te skryf aan indringer plantegroei, verstedeliking en uitbreiding van landbou. Fynbos veldblomboerdery, spesifiek van natuurlike plantegroei, is „n belangrike ekonomiese aktiwiteit en lewer „n bydrae tot die Agulhas-vlakte se landbou sektor. Boere oes en lewer groot hoeveelhede kommersiële fynbos spesies aan die mark. Sekere veldblom-boerderypraktyke (brand, ploeg en saadstrooi) word ingespan op fynbosveld ten einde die opbrengs en afwisseling van kommersiële spesies te verhoog. „n Verskeidenheid boerderypraktyke word gevolg en die toepassing van hierdie boerderypraktyke is dinamies en uiteenlopend. Voorts manifesteer die implementering van hierdie boerderypraktyke as mensgemaakte versteurings wat kommerwekkend is vanuit „n bewaringsperspektief. Vorige ondersoeke dui moontlik daarop dat boerderypraktyke monokulture van kommersiële veldblomspesies kan vestig deur die veelheid van spesies en diversiteit van veldblomplantegroei te verminder. Ten spyte daarvan dat die impak van natuurlike versteuringsregimes (bv. vuur) en veldblompluk-aktiwiteite reeds nagevors is, bly die impak van veldblomboerderypraktyke op fynbosstruktuur en -samestelling grotendeels onbekend. Hierdie tesis doen verslag oor verskeie aspekte van veldblomboerdery op die Agulhas-vlakte. Eerstens, deur middel van „n vraelys, is die omvang en aanwending van verskillende boerderypraktyke nagevors. Verder is die menings van veldblomboere (na wie verwys word as grondeienaars) ondersoek met die klem op die impak van boerderypraktyke op veldblombevolkings. Tweedens, is „n plantegroei-opname met die doelwit om die impak van landboupraktyke op verskeie strukturele- (regenerasiemodus en groeivorm) en samestellende eienskappe (plantfamilie, dominante- en seldsame spesies) van fynbos vas te stel gedoen. Die resultate van die vraelys dui daarop dat die aanwending van boerderypraktyke seisoenaal beperk word, dikwels in wisselende kombinasies gebruik word en in ruimtelike omvang redelik klein is. Boonop toon die resultate dat veldblomboere oor „n ekologies-aanvaarbare kennisgrondslag en bewustheid van fynbosbestuur en –bewaring beskik. Tweedens, impliseer die resultate, vanuit die plantegroei-opname, dat fynbosveld wat onderwerp word aan sekere boerderypraktyke van natuurlike fynbosplantegroei verskil deurdat dit gewysigde strukturele- sowel as samestellende eienskappe toon. Die impak van die boerderypraktyke op seldsame spesies was egter minder waarneembaar. Die botsing tussen kommersiële- en bewaringsoogmerke blyk duidelik uit konsultasie met grondeienaars. Nietemin is die grondeienaars optimisties oor fynbosbewaring en bewaring kan op hierdie positiewe sentimente staatmaak en voortbou. Dit is belangrik om daarop te let dat dit noodsaaklik is om plaaslik met grondeienaars oorleg te pleeg indien „n volhoubare veldblomindustrie „n prioriteit vir belanghebbendes op die Agulhas-vlakte is. Verder, aangesien fynbos ekosisteme natuurlik komplekse ekologiese wisselwerkings behels, verminder veldblom-boerderypraktyke die ekologiese integriteit (m.a.w. gewysigde plantdiversiteit, groeivorm en plantsamestelling) van fynbosveld, ten minste op kleinskaal (plaaslik). Hierdie landboupraktyke het uiteindelik beide verwronge kompeterende wisselwerkinge asook versteuringsregimes tot gevolg. Vanuit „n bewaringsperspektief moet daar dus teen hierdie boerderypraktyke gewaarsku word.

European floodplain grasslands are characterized by periodic flooding and regular management, usually cutting and grazing as part of an agricultural system. Past losses and ecological degradation have been due largely to river regulation and either agricultural intensification or abandonment and have resulted in a substantial reduction in area across Europe. Nevertheless, the remaining resource supports considerable biodiversity and a high level of biological production. A better quantitative understanding of the functioning of these grasslands is required in order to establish effective conservation management within a sustainable land use system. The thesis examines the impact of key management factors on three important functional characteristics of the biodiversity of floodplain plant communities, namely plant diversity (measured by species diversity), cover (%) and primary production (above-ground biomass), on two floodplain grasslands of the River Trent, UK and a third on the the Luznice river, the Czech Republic. Field investigations of the effects of cutting, grazing, cessation of management, the influence of floodborne litter, and the impact of fertilizer nitrogen were undertaken over periods of between one and three seasons. These demonstrated that floodplain grassland plant communities are sensitive to variations in management and that impacts on communities are mediated particularly through effects on plant competition. Productive competitive species were encouraged both by abandonment and fertilizer application whereas cutting and grazing management, and the imposition of litter, favoured stress-tolerating perennials. Species diversity decreased both with high inputs of litter and additions of fertilizer. Plant community responses and competitive strategies of key species are discussed in the context of biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration and management of European floodplain grasslands.

California has one highly-coveted possession: the Bay-Delta, which is the second largest estuary in the United States. Today, tensions are higher than ever as Southern California continues to grow and demand water from the Delta, agriculture suffers from drought and less-than-promised water allocations, and aquatic life diminishes due to environmentally damaging processes like pumping and exporting of water elsewhere. This paper will examine the historic policies that have shaped how the Delta has been managed, their successes and failures, and current plans in discussion for continuing improvement of the Delta. The Bay-Delta Conservation Plan and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act (HR 1837) are the specific current plans presented and analyzed for potential effectiveness. Despite some of the promising suggestions in HR 1837 and the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan, the Delta will remain a problem in the 21st century until stakeholders from all perspectives compromise enough to enact a single, clear-cut solution.

O estabelecimento e manejo de áreas protegidas constituem importantes estratégias para a conservação e proteção da biodiversidade. Para as Áreas de Proteção Ambiental (APAs), os planos de manejo são essenciais para a consecução dos objetivos. Para melhorar os resultados, alguns países utilizam a Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica (AAE) na elaboração dos planos de manejo. Esta estratégia tem apresentado bons resultados, com a melhora do planejamento e da gestão da área protegida da categoria V da IUCN (equivalente à APA). No Brasil, a AAE não tem regulamentação e os planos de manejo não são submetidos a uma AAE. Para orientar a elaboração dos planos de manejo no Brasil, roteiros metodológicos são utilizados. Contudo, os planos de manejo das APAs têm apresentado uma baixa taxa de implementação. Ao constatar esse cenário, a presente pesquisa propõe diretrizes e procedimentos para a elaboração de planos de manejo de APAs a partir das contribuições da AAE. Para alcançar este objetivo, em um primeiro capítulo, as contribuições da AAE para os planos de manejo da categoria V da IUCN são avaliadas. Este cenário internacional é composto por uma avaliação de oito casos de dois Parques localizados na Escócia, onde os respectivos planos de manejo são submetidos a AAE. Para avaliar as contribuições da AAE para estes planos de manejo, critérios baseados nas diretrizes da IUCN para elaboração dos planos de manejo da categoria V e nas boas práticas da AAE (Diretiva Europeia (2001/42/CE), no Protocolo da UNECE e Therivel (2004) são utilizados. Um segundo capítulo avalia o cenário nacional do planejamento de 17 APAs localizadas nos Estados do Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Pernambuco e no Distrito Federal. Para a avaliação do planejamento destas APAs, a metodologia proposta por Faria (2004), que avalia a eficácia da gestão das unidades de conservação, é adaptada para o contexto do planejamento das APAs por meio das recomendações da IUCN. Os resultados do Capítulo I mostram importantes contribuições da AAE para os planos de manejo, a saber: a compatibilização dos objetivos das dimensões ambiental, social e econômica com a minimização dos conflitos entre estas dimensões; a promoção do acompanhamento da qualidade do estoque ambiental; a identificação e a avaliação do impacto do plano de manejo sobre os objetivos e a base de dados da AAE, com a avaliação de como as ações propostas podem afetar o estoque ambiental; e outros. O segundo capítulo apontou os pontos fracos e os fortes do planejamento das APAs avaliadas, como, por exemplo: a baixa execução dos planos de manejo; os planos de manejo apresentam-se com pouca utilidade prática para o dia a dia da gestão; e o monitoramento e a gestão adaptativa são precários. Em contra partida a estes pontos fracos, o zoneamento apresentou-se como uma ferramenta essencial para a gestão e como suporte às tomadas de decisão. A partir da análise do cenário nacional foi possível verificar de que maneira a AAE pode potencializar os pontos fortes e minimizar os pontos fracos. Com isso, verificou-se que a AAE apresenta potenciais contribuições para o planejamento das APAs no Brasil, como: a articulação e minimização dos conflitos entre os objetivos dos planos de manejo com outras ações estratégicas; a inserção da variável ambiental no planejamento do uso do solo; a avaliação de outras alternativas para alcançar os objetivos do plano de manejo; entre outras. Assim, ao considerar o potencial da AAE para os planos de manejo das APAs, verifica-se que a aplicação da AAE para a elaboração dos planos de manejo das APAs é necessária para otimizar potencialidades e minimizar fraquezas. Sendo assim, com base nos resultados e discussões obtidas no capítulo I e II, um terceiro capítulo é apresentado com as diretrizes e os procedimentos para uma base metodológica para a elaboração de planos de manejo de APAs com a avaliação da AAE.
The plans establishment and management for protected areas are key strategies for biodiversity protection and conservation. The management plans are essential to achieving the goals for Environmental Protected Areas (EPA), one of the conservation areas types in Brazil (equivalent to IUCN category V). Some countries use Strategic Environmental Assessment to make management plans and they are getting good results. On the other hand, in Brazil, the management plans preparation applied in EPAs follow a specific methodological guide and the SEA is not applied in the context of protected areas in Brazil. However, the management plan of EPA have shown low implementation rate. In this context, the present research proposes guidelines and procedures for the preparation of EPAs management plans from the contribution of SEA. To achieve this goal, the first chapter evaluates the SEA contribution to management plans of IUCN category V protected areas. This international scenario consists of an evaluation of eight case studies of two parks of the Scotland, where theses management plans are subject to SEA. To evaluate the contributions of SEA for theses management plans, criteria based on the management guidelines for IUCN category V protected areas and on the best practice of SEA (European Directive (2001/42/EC) in the UNECE Protocol and the Therivel author (2004)) are used. The second chapter evaluated the planning of 17 EPAs in Brazil located in the States of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Pernambuco and Distrito Federal. The method used to evaluate the planning of these 17 EPAs was proposed by Faria (2004) and adapted for planning context of EPAs in accordance with the recommendations of IUCN. The results show SEA important contributions for plans management, namely: the compatibility of the objectives of environmental, social and economical and the minimizing conflicts between these dimensions; the monitoring the quality of the environment stock; the impact assessment of the management plans on the objectives and baseline SEA, with the evaluation of how the management plan\'s actions can affect the environment stock. As a result of the second chapter showed the weaknesses and the strengths of the planning of the evaluated 17 APAs, such as: the low implementation of management plans; management plans present with little practical use for day to day management; and monitoring and adaptive management are precarious. In contrast to these weaknesses, the zoning is a good tool for the management and support decision-making. Based on these analyzes it observed how SEA can maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses. Thus, it was found that the SEA has potential contributions to the EPAs planning in Brazil, as an example: reconcile conflicts between the objectives of the management plan with other strategic actions; the integration of the environmental issue in land use planning; and the evaluation of other alternatives for achieving the objectives of the management plan. Considering the potential of SEA to EPAs management plans, it is found that the application of the SEA for the preparation of the APAs management plans is needed to optimize strengths and minimize weaknesses. Therefore, based on the results obtained and discussions in the first and second chapter, a methodology basis with guidelines and procedures for the preparation of EPAs management plans with the evaluation of SEA is presented.

Thesis (MScConsEcol (Conservation Ecology and Entomology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
Medicinal plants represent an important asset to the livelihoods of many people in developing countries. This is the case for South Africa where most of the rural and also urban communities rely on medicinal plants for their primary healthcare needs and income generation. Harvesting for domestic usage is not generally detrimental to the wild populations of medicinal plants. However, the shift from subsistence to commercial harvesting is posing unprecedented extinction threat to the wild populations of medicinal plants. The purpose of this investigation was to: (1) document the most traded/used species of medicinal plants in the Cape Peninsula, including parts used, sourcing regions, harvesting frequencies and seasons as well as the conservation status of these species; (2) to profile and investigate the rationales for the involvement of stakeholders in medicinal plants related-activities; and to (3) assess constraints and opportunities for sustainable management of medicinal plants in the Cape Peninsula. Triangulation techniques such as semi-structured questionnaires, formal and informal interactions with key informants from the Cape Peninsula and surroundings, personal observations and field visits were used to gather relevant data for this investigation. Accordingly, about 170 medicinal plant species were found to be actively traded or used in the study area. These species were mostly traded/used for their underground parts; shoot, barks and in many cases the whole plant is uprooted. The bulk of traded/used species were from the wild populations, harvested on monthly basis and the Western and Eastern Cape provinces acted as the main source regions. Some of the traded/used species are rare, vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered and are declining from the wild. Nonetheless, there are subtitutes for some of these medicinal plant species. Traders and collectors were mainly men in the Cape Peninsula. Cultural considerations, economic conditions and the burden imposed by the number of dependents were the factors influencing local communities to engage in medicinal plants related-activities. Despite the fact that the majority of the informants acknowledged the decline of medicinal plants from wild stocks, an overwhelming number of them expected an upsurge in the future demand for natural remedy due to its popularity among South Africans. Similarly, the majority of the respondents were aware of the conservation status of the plants that they were using, but this did not prevent them from trading/using some protected species. Encouragingly, an overwhelming number of the informants were willing to use cultivated species and cultivate some of the most used medicinal plant species if seeds and land were freely provided. It is noteworthy that these results were influenced by the gender, age, category and time of involvement in medicinal plants, ethnicity and residence status of the respondents as well as the source of supply of medicinal plants. It is recommended that species that have been identified of concern should be prevented from further commercial harvesting. Competent conservation organizations like CapeNature should focus on practical skills development of people who have expressed willingness to cultivate medicinal plants or are already doing so, especially in plant propagation and basic gardening techniques.

Interest in renewable energy and governmental mandates has motivated land managers to consider cellulosic feedstocks for bioenergy. I investigated plant community response to a system including switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum) as a feedstock intercropped with loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). I estimated plant species evenness, richness, and diversity and biomass production, with emphasis on white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) forages. I detected 225 species in 2,220 1-m² quadrats, and 7,495 biomass samples (96.4 kg dry weight) from 960 quadrats. Intercropping reduced plant species diversity, total non-pine tree biomass, and biomass of deer forages during switchgrass establishment. These effects were no longer apparent at treatment level two years after switchgrass establishment, except that deer browse and total deer forage biomass remained less in intercropped interbeds. Intercropping in managed pines may temporarily effect plant communities but further studies are needed to examine longer term effects and to quantify effects on nutritional carrying capacity for deer.

I investigated percent coverage, plant height, species richness, and woody stem density in plant communities in ten study plots during spring and fall (2010–2012) within 3 different treatments (continual mowings, one fall mowing, and one fall mowing with native wildflower seeds) on Highway 25 right-of-way in Oktibbeha and Winston counties, Mississippi. I recorded 277 plant species including native and non-native forbs, legumes, grasses, rushes/sedges, and woody plants. Non-native agronomic grasses exhibited greatest coverage greater than 90 percent occurring in all treatments. Percent coverage of plants less than 0.46m height category exceeded 100 while, greater than 0.46m plant height categories averaged 55 percent. Woody stem density ranged from 7,772 year 1 to 10,025 stems/hectare year 2. I detected no significant differences in plant height or woody stems among treatments. One mowing per year retained agronomic plant cover for erosion control and annual cost savings up to 75 percent for roadside maintenance.

A flora of the 3800 ha Rocky Fork Tract in northeast Tennessee produced 749 species of which 19 were on the Tennessee Rare Plant List and 34 were on the Cherokee National Forest Species Viability List with 87 county records from Greene County and 217 from Unicoi County. Rare species were particularly numerous in the Cyperaceae and Orchidaceae. The tract serves as a refuge for several regionally uncommon species by supporting either large populations or metapopulations of these species. Exotic species comprised 15% of the flora and were most common in the Fabaceae and Poaceae. The most unique habitat was a heath bald dominated by Rhododendron catawbiense with abundant Xerophyllum asphodeloides in the herbaceous layer. While species richness was relatively high compared to regional sites of comparable area, diversity was limited by the absence of high elevation spruce-fir communities and the paucity of wetlands.

Conservation of endangered Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis) requires knowledge of regional habitat use patterns. I radio-tracked Indiana bats to roosts and foraging areas to document summer habitat use. Sexes selected different roost trees: reproductive females selected maples, whereas males selected elms and other species, but did not use maples. Distribution models based on environmental correlates revealed that soil series was the strongest contributor to niche models. Females selected roosts in silt loams; males selected roosts in muck, silt loam and fine sandy loams. All bats foraged in habitats over fine sandy and gravelly loams. Male roosts and female foraging areas were found near local water body elevations, though males foraged at higher elevations. The niche models suggest that sexes roost and forage separately, but that ranges for these activities overlap. My findings identify habitats selected by Indiana bats thereby enabling more effective conservation for this endangered species.

Thesis (doctoral)--Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2004.
Appendix includes reprints of four papers and manuscripts co-authored with others. Also issued electronically via World Wide Web in PDF format.

In an effort to highlight best practices in the management of wild eastern brook trout, an examination was performed of brook trout management plans and stocking habits for seven randomly selected states within the species native range. Additionally, surveys were distributed to these state’s members of Trout Unlimited (TU) in an effort to understand angler motivations, awareness of and attitudes about their state’s stocking practices and protection of wild brook trout fisheries. The states selected were within the eastern brook trout’s native range and included West Virginia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Maine, Vermont, Maryland, and North Carolina. While each state differs in its efforts to either restore or protect existing wild brook trout populations, all seven states continue to stock hatchery-raised brook trout to maintain a viable sport fishery. However, regarding stocking dynamics, each state has unique policies regarding where the stocking occurs in relation to how these efforts potentially impacts wild populations. Survey results indicated that, while the majority of TU members expressed a strong understanding of their states stocking practices, they were still strongly interested in gaining additional information, indicating a need for more transparency regarding stocking habits and practices. Furthermore, survey results indicated that a large percentage of TU members still enjoy fishing for popular, nonnative, sport fish such as bass and brown trout. Additionally, support for policies protecting wild brook trout diminished as opportunities for catching larger fish diminished along with the removal of popular, nonnative sport fish. Overall, results indicated a need for fisheries managers to work more closely with cold-water conservation organizations, such as Trout Unlimited, and their members to assist in the crafting of policies that benefit both the sport fishing industry and wild brook trout populations.