This thesis examines the extent to which sugar bush management in Eastern Ontario might contribute to biodiversity maintenance and conservation and therefore be promoted as a form of rural sustainable development. Ontario government policy seeks to actively promote actions that strengthen the province’s rural communities and protect biodiversity. Therefore sustainable development is an important concept to encourage in rural areas. The production of maple syrup on sugar bushes has already been demonstrated to be economically, socially, and in some aspects ecologically sustainable. This study seeks to determine how the operation of sugar bushes might also contribute to ecological sustainability through the maintenance and conservation of forest biodiversity. I identified three documents published by the Eastern Ontario Model Forest (EOMF): a set of management principles for conserving biodiversity on private woodlots, a list of biodiversity indicators, and a manual for monitoring them. I monitored three of the biodiversity indicators (spring ephemerals, birds, and frogs) on three of the larger sugar bushes in the Eastern Ontario and established that the EOMF biodiversity monitoring practices and guidelines were suitable for working sugar bushes. Using the management principles for biodiversity conservation developed by the EOMF, I interviewed 22 sugar bush operators in Eastern Ontario. With these interviews I addressed two objectives: 1. To generate empirical information regarding the management practices of maple sugar bush operators in Eastern Ontario and to compare these with established management principles for forest biodiversity conservation in the region 2. To generate suggestions for woodlot operators and government policymakers alike about future opportunities for research and management decision-making. The results of the study show that although most operators do not have a formal management plan for their sugar bush, many of their management practices are consistent with prescribed biodiversity conservation principles. Sugar bush operators are receptive to conserving biodiversity on their properties. The findings suggest that through sound management and planning, small-scale commercial sugar bush operations generally can be made environmentally sustainable, and become important components in broader rural development strategies. This study provides new insights into how small-scale sugar bush management, when practiced well, is consistent with conservation principles and with sustainable development principles more generally. It shows how sugar bush operators in Eastern Ontario can help the province reach its goals of biodiversity conservation and rural development set out in Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy (2005) and Ontario’s Rural Plan (2004).

Fifty years after declaration of the People's Republic of China in October 1949 and thirty years after U.S. establishment of full diplomatic relations with PRC in January 1979 the question of Taiwan still remains one of the main and sometimes even very explosive topics in Sino-American relations. This fact proves how important the fate of Taiwan is for the USA as well as for the PRC. This paper compares American foreign policy toward China over Taiwan during Clinton administration (1993-2001) and Bush administration (2001-2009). Based upon analysis of historical development of American relations to China the cornerstone for the policy toward the PRC and Taiwan is presented. This cornerstone characterised by strategic ambiguity represents ground for the comparison of both presidents.

Bush meat markets and habitat encroachment are on the increase, and the current demand for crocodilian bush meat is not sustainable. Of the three species of African crocodiles, the dwarf crocodile, Osteolaemus tetraspis, is by far the most heavily hunted. This preference is influenced by its small size and relatively non-aggressive nature, which facilitates easy capture, and further it stays alive while being transported to markets. The location of bush meat markets is determined by human population density and infrastructure. In general, a lack of infrastructure, whether it be a river or a paved road, implies only subsistence hunting. Many officially protected areas, where animals should be safe from depredation by humans, are not actually safe havens for O. tetraspis. There is often a lack of protection inside and around national parks in Central Africa, and when conducting research into this specific species, it was found that often more animals can be found per day in a bush meat market, compared with the same amount of effort in a national park. Crocodile mortality caused by people, both deliberate and inadvertent, must be controlled. However, conservation should be within the realms of politics, economics, ecology and social problems at a local level. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

The topic of the diploma thesis is a comparison of the American activities during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama towards Iran, in regard to the threat of nuclear weapons proliferation. It observes the diplomatic actions in relation to Iran and other actors, who play an important role in this issue, and also some other methods, used by the world's leading superpower to prevent Iran from the development of nuclear weapons. The mentioned topic is situated into the broader context of continuity and change in the US security and foreign policy. The objective of the diploma thesis is to assess what where the differences in the US actions under Obama's administration, compared with the actions during the presidency of his predecessor, as well as how the Obama's administration followed them, and to assess how effective these actions were.

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Atriplex is a genus in the Chenopodiaceae, the perennial members of which are ecologically important in western North America. Seventeen species and one subspecies of perennial Atriplex occur in Utah and the northern deserts. Three of these species and the subspecies were described by the writer in a recent publication as a result of extensive field work leading to this study. These are A. welshii, A. navajoensis, A. bonnevillensis, and A. cuneata ssp. introgressa. This study is an investigation of the systematics and phytogeography of the perennial Atriplex in Utah and the northern deserts, with emphasis on the A. gardneri and A. garrettii groups. Since the publication of the Phylogenetic Method in Taxonomy (Hall and Clements, 1923) little systematic work has been done on North American Atriplex. The results of this study indicate that considerable reorganization of taxa occurring within the northern deserts is necessary. The five species formerly classified within A. "nuttallii" Wats. are considered specifically distinct because they are not only discrete morphologically, but soil analysis indicate they have differing edaphic requirements and do not interbreed when sympatric. Nine hybrids are fully discussed. Of these, only one was previously recognized as a hybrid. In addition, one species (A. bonnevillensis) and the subspecies (A. cuneata ssp. introgressa) were found to be of hybrid origin. Scatter diagram analyses are included for six of these hybrids and their parents and the two taxa of hybrid origin. Each taxon is thoroughly described and collection sites are given. Almost all the northern desert species and their hybrids are figured with photographs, and the newly described species and members of the A. "nyttallii" group are figured with line drawings. As the fruiting bract appears to have the most useful diagnostic value, these are illustrated for all northern desert species and hybrids. An attempt has been made to put the nomenclature in order and all synonyms are given. The epithet A. "nuttallii" Wets. is invalid because it is antedated by A. gardneri (Moq.) Dietr .

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