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“A Complex Equipment Project of Šiauliai City Dainai Park. The plan of Dainai Park . Small-scale architecture of the park . Information system of the park. A playing-field for extreme sports I. A playing-field for extreme sports II” an author of this master thesis is a student of Šiauliai University, Art Faculty, Design department Aurelija Žalalytė. Profesor Giedrius Šiukščius. This Master thesis is about Šiauliai City Dainai Park reconstruction project. Here is an offer how it is possible to manage this park in a different, modern way. The idea of the work:minimalism in the park for a maximum of comfort for the people. Here solved the questions about importance and function of contemporary park, the esthetical side of park in a public urban space. All solutions, given in a project is real and possible to use.

Kaunas sea contains more than 500 mln. m3 of Nemunas water. The Kaunas' sea Regional park was established at 1992. The purpose - to retain ecosystem, landscape, and inheritance of culture. Water molluscs - invertebrate organisms. They are very important in such ecosystem. Outspread of water molluscs is interconnected with climatic and edafical factors and is not influenced by such factors as competition.

Gražutės regioninis parkas yra šiaurrytinėje Lietuvos dalyje – Zarasų ir Ignalinos savivaldybių teritorijose. Regioninio parko plotas pagal patikslintas (naudojant skaitmenines technologijas) ribas yra 29 471 ha. Šio darbo tikslas - ištirti Gražutės regioninio parko savaiminės dendrofloros botaninę įvairovę, sudaryti rūšių sistematinį spektrą, pateikti jų chorologinį įvertinimą, išsiaiškinti vyraujančius medynus ir įvertinti jų būklę, aprašyti retąsias rūšis bei gamtos paminklais paskelbtus medžius, apžvelgti kertines miško buveines ir Natura 2000 teritorijas, genetinius ir sėklinius draustinius, etaloninius medynus, supažindinti su pažintiniais takais. Tyrimų metu nustatyta, kad Gražutės regioniniame parke auga 70 savaiminių sumedėjusių augalų rūšių iš 94, žinomų Lietuvoje (Navasaitis ir kt., 2003), o tai sudaro 74 procentus visų Lietuvoje augančių savaiminės dendrofloros rūšių. Iš jų yra 4 pušūnų ( Pinophyta) skyriaus augalų rūšys, priklausančios 4 gentims ir 3 šeimoms (6 proc. nuo visų parke augančių savaiminių rūšių), kitos – magnolijūnų (Magnoliophyta) skyriaus augalų rūšys, priklausančios 36 gentims ir 20 šeimų. Atlikus parko savaiminių sumedėjusių augalų rūšių chorologinio spektro analizę, nustatyta, kad zoniniu požiūriu vyrauja boreotemperatinės rūšys (31), regioniniu – europinės rūšys (24), okeaniniu – euriokeaninės rūšys (28). Biogeocenotiniu požiūriu miškai skirstomi į 4 miško tipų kompleksus, iš kurių šilai GRP užima 8841,3 ha (55,0%) medynų ploto, girios... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Gražutė Regional Park is located in the northeast of Lithuania in the territories of Zarasai and Ignalina municipalities. The area of the regional park according to the revised borders (calculated using digital technologies) makes 29 471 ha. The aim of this thesis is to examine the botanical diversity of spontaneous dendroflora of Gražutė Regional Park, design the systematic spectrum of the species, present their chorologic evaluation, identify the prevailing woods and assess their condition, describe the rare species and trees that have been declared as the monuments of nature, make an overview of foundation forest seats and Natura 2000 territories, genetic and seminal reserves, standard woods, introduce to cognitive walkways. The research allowed finding out that Gražutė Regional Park hosts 70 species of spontaneous woody plants out of 94 known in Lithuania (Navasaitis and others, 2003) what makes 74 percent of all the species of spontaneous dendroflora growing in Lithuania. Out of them, there are 4 species of Pinophyta division belonging to 4 genuses and 3 families (6 percent of all the spontaneous species growing in the park), among others there are species of Magnoliophyta division belonging to 36 genuses and 20 families. After the chorologic spectrum analysis of the species of spontaneous woody plants growing in the park has been carried out, it has been found out in the areal terms that boreotemperate species are prevailing (31), in regional terms – European... [to full text]

Urban and industrial settings represent potential areas for increased carbon (C) sequestration and storage through intensified tree growth. Consisting of an estimated 1270 ha of land once entirely forested, Burnside Industrial Park (BIP) in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Our study examines the degree to which intensified urban tree planting within the BIP ecosystem could enhance C sequestration and storage. This was achieved by conducting a geospatial analysis in combination with construction of a C model. Three scenarios urban forest development were examined. If all potential planting spots are filled with trees by 2020, an estimated 26,368 tC, at a sequestration rate of 635 tC/yr, could be achieved by 2050. Next, we explored the challenges and opportunities associated with pursuing C offset markets as a means for funding urban forest development within BIP. A basic framework from which a community?based C offset market could potentially be established was recommended.

Participatory design is often linked to community development, but studies seldom explore the ongoing effects the built design can have on a community. This study examined whether a participatory design process and the resulting public space acted as catalysts of community development. A case study was conducted in Barrio Grenada, Nicaragua, where a park was designed and built with community participation in 2010. The study explored participation in the design process, use of the park, and perceptions of subsequent development in Barrio Grenada. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews of external agents and local residents who participated in the park design and construction. Results suggest the design process and park each catalyzed development in distinct ways. Contacts made through the design process aided infrastructure development through financial and logistical support, while use of the park enabled social development through increased communication among neighbours, and recreation opportunities for children and youth. / Estate of Richard and Sophia Hungerford

Through examples of ecological or living systems this research project introduced selected systems concepts to a purposely-selected sample of environmental communicators within Banff National Park. Participants’ individual reflections and collective discussions of the systems concepts led them to develop an expanded understanding of what constitutes effective environmental communication. Subsequent changes occurred to the system within which the project took place, including changes to participants, between participants, between participants and their environment, and to the researcher. Research project design reflected the systems concepts being discussed and encouraged participants to freely construct their own experiences. Content analysis enabled examination of qualitative data collected through web-based questions and discussion. Conclusions support that a systems thinking approach can enhance understandings of effective environmental communication, including increasing awareness of looping processes such as feedback, promoting collective action and a sense of community, and developing understandings of connections between ecological systems and social systems.

Providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and maintaining ecological integrity are primary management objectives for protected spaces in the public domain, but as visitation and visitor expectations change, a balance must be maintained between environmental and visitor use that is consistent with management goals. There is an increasing dependence on public participation in protected area management to compensate for an increasing budgetary gap between desired and actual management states. The Investigator explores how science, public perception, and collaborative relationships with stakeholders influence management planning and what the effect has been on management action. How has that balance between visitor use and environmental preservation objectives been affected? Three case study sites were selected in eastern Ontario: a national park, a provincial park, and a municipal forest. For each site, semi-structured interviews with staff and stakeholders were conducted, guiding legislation and supporting documents were analysed, and site observational evidence was collected. The data was analyzed using methodological triangulation and McCracken’s (1988) four-part method of inquiry. The results identified each site’s management goals and the management planning and action utilized to achieve those goals. The integration of environmental science and the role of public perception and participation are described as well as the nature of the management response. The discussion identifies management trends across the three governmental levels, characterising how ecological integrity and visitor use are managed, the impact of funding on management action, and the role and influence stakeholders have achieved at each site. Findings revealed trends from federal to municipal governance, principally: i) operational funding decreases; ii) the influence and dependence on public participation and stakeholder collaboration increases; iii) the importance of environmental preservation objectives decrease while ‘use’ associated objectives increase. Critically however, it was observed that when funding levels are below the threshold required to comply with stated management goals, protected area management becomes more reactive and tends to favour ‘use’ related objectives over environmental preservation objectives despite land managers’ best intentions. / Thesis (Master, Environmental Studies) -- Queen's University, 2012-09-25 08:55:09.118

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The ecological role of large herbivores is increasingly recognized due to their ability to influence ecosystem functioning and their impacts on faunal and floral assemblages. Knowledge on the determinants of spatial utilization is crucial towards the successful management of these species according to objectives set for the conservation of biodiversity. While numerous studies have investigated the factors influencing the movements and habitat preferences of large northern hemisphere herbivores, few have focused on members of the African megaherbivore guild. In the context of fenced reserves, elephants have been implicated in the degradation of habitat resulting in negative impacts on biodiversity. Using a kernel analysis approach, I calculated home range size and utilization distributions for five separate herds from an elephant population in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and examined possible determinants. I explored differences in utilization intensity between herds and seasons by comparing the rugosity of utilization distributions. I used a utilization distribution-weighted composition analysis to determine seasonal habitat preferences within the home range and examined the factors influencing daily movement characteristics within different habitats in different seasons. Substantial variation in home range size and location, utilization intensity, habitat preferences and movement responses was evident between herds. Spatial and temporal variation in resource distribution and intra-specific competition explained differences in home range size and utilization intensity. Larger herds underwent more fission-fusion events than small herds, possibly due to resource scarcity and greater competitive interactions. Elephants preferred greener habitats during the dry season and appeared to conform to optimal foraging principles. They utilized forest habitats more than others, selected larger patches with high densities of favoured food items and included greater proportions of common woody species in their diet. Large groups foraged close to rivers in the wet season and appeared to broaden foraging choices in the dry season by moving further away. Restricted displacements in the early morning and evening suggested crepuscular foraging activity while greater displacements at midday could not be explained by the need for water. This study highlights the importance of considering variation in animal movements and habitat utilization in overall conservation planning and when evaluating threats to sensitive habitats, particularly in fenced protected areas. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.