Pets like dogs and cats have a considerable importance for humans and research demonstrate a variety of positive economic and social effects in society due to our pet companions. The presences of pets are increasing on a global scale with correlation to economic development in low- and middle income countries. For example dogs have doubled in India over a five year period. The feed industry for dogs and cats is also the fastest growing sector in the food industry and certain pets have a significant animal protein intake which, depending on the choice of resources may provide a high ecological footprint. Examples of environmental effects with distribution and manufacturing of pet food are increased greenhouse gas emissions, waste, use of water and energy. Pet food producers have an important role to play in terms of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development efforts, especially in their choice of sustainable protein resources as by-products from sustainable fisheries and livestock production. The purpose of this study was to investigate how pet food industry for dogs and cats generally working on sustainable development and CSR from primarily an ecological perspective in terms of ingredients, communication and production process. Ecological sustainability within pet food industry is more or less unexplored, and this study aims to create a broader understanding and interest for further studies in this field. This study was conducted using the multi method research including qualitative and quantitative methods on a global and national scale.   The result is not possible to generalize, but some conclusions can be drawn. In relation to resources, by-products from food industry are a commonly used pet food content. But several companies are also marketing pet food containing “real meat, fish, poultry” with no or less byproducts. This seems to be a consumer driven trend. Indications that resources in pet food partly competes with human food system, give further considerations how to feed a growing human and pet population within planetary boundaries. All national and multinational cooperation’s in this study work more or less with CSR and sustainability from an ecological perspective. Generally there is visibly a weak relationship between companies’ sustainability activities and animal protein which should be a prerequisite in a production that is largely made of this resource, in relation to acute environmental degradation like climate change and depletion of fish stocks. Another conclusion is that corporate communication of environmental CSR and sustainability efforts on different pet food brand websites are almost non-existent. Finally, working with this study gave rise to many further questions and study subjects in relation to ecological sustainability within Pet food industry, not at least it´s relation to food industry and how this may effect global human meat consumption. / Sällskapsdjur i form av hund och katt har stor betydelse för människan och forskning påvisar en mängd positiva ekonomiska och sociala effekter som dessa ger oss. Förekomsten av sällskapsdjur visar en tydlig korrelation med ekonomisk utveckling och hundägandet har exempelvis fördubblats i Indien under en femårs period. Foderindustrin för hund och katt är samtidigt den snabbast växande sektorn inom livsmedelsindustrin. Hund och katt har som regel ett högt intag av animaliskt protein vilket beroende på resursval kan ge ett påtagligt ekologiskt fotavtryck. Själva foderproduktionen samt transporter ger också upphov till miljöpåverkan i form av t.ex. ökade  utsläpp av växthusgaser,  ökad vatten- och energianvändning samt avfall.  Foderproducenterna har en viktig roll att fylla vad gäller sitt företagsansvar (CSR) samt arbete med hållbar utveckling ur ett ekologiskt perspektiv. Exempel på detta kan vara val av proteinresurser som biprodukter ifrån hållbart fiske och animalieproduktion. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur foderindustrin för hund och katt generellt arbetar med hållbar utveckling samt CSR ur framförallt ett ekologiskt perspektiv vad gäller produktionsförfarande, kommunikation samt om foderingredienser kompletterar eller konkurrerar med livsmedelsingredienser. Området är relativt outforskat och studien syftar till att skapa en bredare förståelse samt intresse för djupare studier inom området. Undersökningen har utförts med hjälp av flermetodsforskning i form av kvalitativ samt kvantitativ metod på global och nationell nivå.  Resultatet går inte att generalisera på foderindustrin globalt även om vissa slutsatser kan dras. I relation till resurser är förekomsten av biprodukter ifrån livsmedelsindustrin vanligt foderinnehåll men flera företag marknadsför också foder som innehåller ”riktigt kött, fisk, fågel” med frånvaro av eller lägre innehåll av biprodukter. Detta verkar vara en konsumentdriven trend. Både nationella samt multinationella företag i studien arbetar mer eller mindre med CSR och hållbarhet ur ett ekologiskt perspektiv. Generellt är det dock en svag koppling mellan miljöarbetet och animaliskt protein, vilket borde vara en förutsättning i en produktion som till stor del består av denna resurs i relation till akuta miljöproblem som klimatförändringen samt utfiskning. Ytterligare en slutsats är att företagens kommunikation av miljömässigt CSR- och hållbarhetsarbete på sina varumärkens hemsidor är närmast obefintlig. Slutligen väckte arbetetet med uppsatsen ett antal djupare frågeställningar samt ideér till fortsatta studier i relation till ekologisk hållbarhet inom foderindustrin. Inte minst avseende foderindustrins relation till livsmedelsindustrin och hur detta samband eventuellt kan påverka global köttkonsumtion. Foder för hund och katt konkurrerar dessutom till viss del med livsmedel vilket skapar utmaningen att föda både en ökande befolkning samt population av sällskapsdjur som skall livnära sig inom planetens gränser i framtiden.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 160-168).

La préservation des écosystèmes et la performance économique des organisations sont souvent mises en opposition. Ecosystèmes et organisations sont cependant interdépendants et peuvent être appréhendés comme constitutifs d’un même système socio-écologique (SSE). Notre objectif est d’identifier les instruments permettant le respect des contraintes de viabilité environnementales et économiques des SSE que nous proposons : la résilience écologique et la profitabilité des organisations. Après avoir souligné la faiblesse environnementale des instruments de régulation traditionnels néoclassiques, nous évaluons l’efficacité de deux autres catégories d’outils, récents et souvent plébiscités. Les approches volontaires étudiées permettent généralement de garantir la viabilité économique des organisations, mais leurs objectifs environnementaux, dont l’atteinte est variable, ignorent souvent la complexité des écosystèmes. Parmi les comptabilités environnementales, celles qui relèvent d’instruments de régulation néoclassiques poursuivent des objectifs écologiquement inappropriés, alors que les approches hétérodoxes sont plus en phase avec nos contraintes écologiques mais supposent une réforme profonde des conventions comptables. Ces résultats nous incitent à élaborer un modèle de gestion environnementale permettant d’assurer la viabilité des SSE à plus court terme. Il repose, pour son efficacité écologique, sur une démarche de gestion adaptative à l’échelle territoriale. Les désavantages compétitifs susceptibles d’apparaître sont mis en évidence par des comptabilités appropriées, et ces situations sont optimisées via la mise en œuvre de processus redistributifs adaptés. / Ecosystems’ preservation and the economic performance of organisations are often considered to be antagonistic. Nevertheless, ecosystems and organisations are interdependent, and they can be seen as part of the same social-ecological system (SES). The goal of our research is to identify the tools that ensure that the SES environmental and economic viability constraints we provide (i.e. ecological resilience and organisations’ profitability) are observed. After highlighting the ecological weakness of conventional neoclassical regulatory tools, we measure the effectiveness of two other categories of tools that have appeared recently and are often praised. The voluntary approaches analysed generally ensure the economic viability of organisations, but their environmental goals, which are variably reached, often ignore the complexity of ecosystems. Among the environmental accounting approaches, those considered as neoclassical regulatory tools pursue objectives that are ecologically inappropriate, whereas heterodox approaches observe our ecological constraints, but entail a significant reform of accounting policies. These results prompt us to elaborate an environmental management model, set to ensure shorter term SES viability. It lies, for its ecological effectiveness, on an adaptive management approach at the territorial level. The competitive disadvantages which might arise are identified in appropriate accounts, and these situations are addressed with using suitable redistributive processes.

Esta tese visa a construção de uma biografia histórica do engenheiro agrônomo e ambientalista José Lutzenberger (1926-2002). O objetivo é compreender de que maneira a trajetória de Lutzenberger se articula com a construção de uma ética ecológica, em meio às lutas que ele protagonizou ao longo de trinta e um anos de militância ambiental. O fio condutor da narrativa é a ética ecológica, pois foi o elemento central em seu trabalho, que orientava sua própria visão de como o mundo deveria ser se a humanidade adotasse uma postura que priorizasse a ecologia. Utilizou-se, entre outros acervos, principalmente documentação do Arquivo Privado de José Lutzenberger (APJL): correspondência, recortes de jornais e revistas, iconografia, obras de Lutzenberger e de terceiros, documentos pessoais e oficiais, textos de depoimentos, conferências e de entrevistas, charges, textos técnicos. Também fizemos uso de fontes orais. A tese está estruturada em oito capítulos, de acordo com as lutas e posições ocupadas por Lutzenberger, ao longo de sua trajetória, enfocando as principais campanhas ambientalistas em que se envolveu, o cargo de Secretário de Meio Ambiente no governo Collor, sua atuação como empresário de “tecnologias suaves”, seu trabalho com educação ambiental e agricultura ecológica. O trabalho também analisa as redes de relações tecidas pelo personagem e a abordagem teórica em que se embasou para criar sua ética ecológica, de caráter ecocêntrico. Foi possível avançar no entendimento do arcabouço intelectual de Lutzenberger, bem como na dinâmica de sua militância, oferecendo uma sistematização dos princípios do que chamamos a Ética Lutzenbergeriana, ou Ética do convívio ecossustentável. / This dissertation aims at constructing a historical biography of José Lutzenberger, agronomist and environmental engineer (1926-2002). This biography aids in observing how his trajectory is articulated with the construction of an ecological ethics amidst his protagonism in 31 years of environmental militancy. Ecological ethics conduces this narrative as this was the central element in his work, guiding his own view of how the world should be if Humanity adopted a posture that prioritized Ecology. The main documental source was his private archive (Arquivo Privado de José Lutzenberger - APJL). Other sources used were correspondence, news clippings, iconography, works by Lutzenberger and others, personal and official documents, textual testimonials, conferences and interviews, editorial cartoons, and technical texts. Oral sources have also been used. The 8-chapter structure of this dissertation delineates the positions occupied by Lutzenberger and his trajectory of fight, with focus on the main environmentalist campaigns with which he was involved, as well as his position as Secretary of the Environment during the Collor administration, his business in "soft technology", his work with ecological agriculture and environmental education. This study also presents analysis of the networks created around him, as well as the theoretical bases he used to create the ecological ethics with its eco-centric character. Advances in the understanding of Lutzenberger's intellectual outlines and of the dynamics of his militancy in this work offer a systematization of principles named the Lutzenbergerian Ethics, or the Ethics of Eco-sustainable Life.

Unidades de conservação da natureza sofrem historicamente de problemas envolvendo, por exemplo, administração pública e legitimação popular, o que reflete quadros de ineficiência e conflitos locais em vários níveis. Nesse contexto, a Área de Proteção Ambiental de Petrópolis (APA Petrópolis) é abordada, com o objetivo de se prover um quadro analítico sobre a sustentabilidade regional e a percepção popular acerca da proposta de da APA Petrópolis, usando métodos em percepção ambiental focada nos segmentos universitários. A tese se divide em três momentos analíticos: primeiramente, são apresentados os contextos históricos, sociais e políticos locais da paisagem, no âmbito da criação da APA Petrópolis e das contradições acerca do funcionamento do modelo, sob um referencial teórico que engloba políticas locais, manejo de unidades de conservação, conflitos ambientais e participação social. Em segundo lugar, analisou-se a percepção ambiental de 606 alunos universitários (por meio de questionários) e sete professores e gestores das universidades participantes (por meio de entrevistas) na APA Petrópolis, buscando fenômenos e características específicas das subjetividades inerentes a tais grupos. Por fim, apresenta-se concepções úteis para a organização de alternativas teóricas e práticas para uma educação ambiental emancipatória e transformadora voltada para a realidade dos segmentos universitários da APA Petrópolis. Os resultados envolvem a exposição de um complexo contexto histórico e político que traduz a parca funcionalidade deste modelo de conservação da paisagem. O planejamento territorial da cidade, o próprio contexto de criação da unidade e o cenário político regional são aspectos que contribuem para a baixa funcionalidade da APA. Os questionários evidenciam uma percepção superficial dos problemas ambientais de Petrópolis, assim como um baixo reconhecimento da APA. As entrevistas, de outra maneira, evidenciam dois fenômenos: a naturalização das questões sociais e a invisibilização das questões ambientais. As alternativas teóricas e metodológicas apresentadas para abordar as questões ambientais da APA Petrópolis para os universitários envolvem o conceito de alfabetização ecológica e a formação de sujeitos ecológicos, como diretrizes para uma educação voltada para a sustentabilidade regional. / Nature conservation areas historically suffer with problems involving, for example, public administration and popular legitimacy, which reflects inefficiency boards and local conflicts at various levels. In this context, the Environmental Protection Area of Petrópolis (APA Petrópolis) is approached with the aim of providing an analytical framework on regional sustainability and the popular perception about the proposed APA Petrópolis, using methods in environmental perception focusing on university segments. The thesis is divided into three analytical moments: first, we present the historical, social and local political contexts of landscape, in the aim of the creation of APA Petrópolis and contradictions regarding the model, under a theoretical framework that includes local policies, management of conservation units, environmental conflicts and social participation. Second, we analyzed the environmental perception of 606 college students (through questionnaires) and seven teachers and administrators at the participating universities (through interviews) in APA Petrópolis, seeking phenomena and characteristics of subjectivity inherent in such groups. Finally, we present useful concepts to the organization of theoretical and practical alternatives to an environmental education aimed to the emancipation and reality transformation to the university segments at APA Petrópolis. The results involving the exposure of a complex historical and political context that reflects the low functioning of this model of landscape conservation. The territorial planning of the city, the establishment context for the APA, and the regional political scene are aspects that contribute to the low functionality of the APA. The questionnaires showed a superficial perception of the environmental problems of Petropolis, as well as a low recognition of the APA. Interviews, otherwise, show two phenomena: the naturalization of social issues and invisibility of environmental issues. The theoretical and methodological alternatives presented to address environmental issues to university in APA Petrópolis involve the concept of ecological literacy and training of ecological subjects, such as guidelines for an education directed to regional sustainability.

abstract: Landscape restoration is a global priority as evidenced by the United Nations’ 2020 goal to restore 150 million hectares of land worldwide. Restoration is particularly needed in estuaries and their watersheds as society depends on these environments for numerous benefits. Estuary restoration is often undermined by social-ecological scale mismatch, the incongruence between governing units and the bio-physical resources they seek to govern. Despite growing recognition of this fact, few empirical studies focus on scale mismatches in environmental restoration work. Using a sub-basin of Puget Sound, Washington, U.S.A., I analyze scale mismatches in estuary restoration. I take a network science approach because governance networks can bridge scale mismatches. I combine quantitative social network analysis (SNA), geographic information systems (GIS), and qualitative interview analysis. Spatial network analysis reveals several areas with weak scale mismatch bridging networks. These weak social networks are then compared to ecological restoration needs to identify coupled social-ecological restoration concerns. Subsequent study investigates jurisdictional and sectoral network integration because governance siloes contribute to scale mismatch. While the network is fairly well integrated, several sectors do not interact or interact very little. An analysis of collaboration reasons disentangles the idea of generic collaboration. Among three relationship types considered, mandated relationships contribute almost 5.5 times less to perceived collaboration productivity than shared interest relationships, highlighting the benefits of true collaborations in watershed governance. Lastly, the effects of scale mismatch on individual restoration projects and landscape level restoration planning are assessed through qualitative interview analysis. Results illustrate why human-environment processes should be included in landscape restoration planning. Social factors are not considered as constraints to restoration but rather part of the very landscape fabric to be restored. Scale mismatch is conceptualized as a complex social-ecological landscape pattern that affects the flow of financial, human, and natural capital across the landscape. This represents a new way of thinking about scale mismatch and landscape restoration in complex multi-level governance systems. In addition, the maps, network diagnostics, and narratives in this dissertation can help practitioners in Puget Sound and provide proofs of concepts that can be replicated elsewhere for restoration and broader conservation sciences. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Geography 2015

Le concept de « réseau écologique » souligne l'importance de la connectivité écologique entre différents espaces naturels. Produit des évolutions historiques des pratiques de conservation et des nouvelles découvertes scientifiques, ce concept propose une nouvelle manière d'appréhender la protection de la nature. De nombreuses initiatives de « réseaux écologiques » ont ainsi lieu à travers le monde, notamment dans les Alpes. Elles témoignent de cette nouvelle conception de la protection de la nature, qui dépasse la simple conservation d'espèces pour s'orienter vers la préservation de systèmes écologiques. L'application de ce concept est étudiée dans trois régions alpines en Allemagne, Suisse et France. Sur ces territoires, de nombreuses initiatives différentes viennent se superposer, engendrant des questionnements quant à la coordination et la coopération entre ces divers échelles, acteurs, actions et les objectifs qui en découlent. En plus de ses impacts purement écologiques, la démarche de réalisation de réseaux écologiques semble également offrir un potentiel particulier allant au-delà des objectifs liés à la protection de la nature. Ce sont également ces autres effets fortuits qui sont au cœur de la recherche : le potentiel mobilisateur de l'outil offrant des possibilités particulières de gouvernance territoriale, les liens existants et potentiels avec l'aménagement du territoire, et les nouvelles logiques d'acteurs. Le concept de réseaux écologiques est venu bouleverser les pratiques de protection de la nature entrainant des modifications de la perception de la nature par la société et transformant ainsi également la relation entre la société et la nature. / The concept of “ecological networks” emphasises the importance of ecological connectivity between different natural areas. As a result of the historical evolutions of nature conservation practices and new scientific evidence this concept provides a new approach to nature protection. Numerous initiatives of “ecological networks” exist worldwide and also in the Alps. They are evidence of this new conception of nature protection going beyond the conservation of single species aiming the protection of functioning ecosystems. The implementation of this concept is analysed in three alpine regions in Germany, Switzerland and France. In these regions various different initiatives are overlapping one another generating interrogations concerning the coordination and cooperation between the different scales, actors, actions and related aims. In addition to the pure ecological impacts the creation of ecological networks seems to offer a particular potential going beyond the general objectives related to nature protection. These additional casual effects are in the centre of this research: the potential of the tool to mobilise various categories of different actors, the particular possibilities of regional governance, the prospective and existing links with spatial planning. The concept of ecological networks has completely changed nature protection practice inducing modifications of the perception of nature by society and therefore of the relation between society and nature.

O número de projetos de restauração de ecossistemas florestais no Brasil aumentou nas últimas décadas e, consequentemente, aumentaram as exigências na avaliação e na busca por indicadores de sucesso. Apesar dos avanços na ecologia da restauração, existem lacunas no conhecimento em relação ao funcionamento e à autossustentabilidade dos ecossistemas restaurados. Esta pesquisa teve o objetivo de responder às seguintes questões: (1) É possível detectar padrões nos atributos de riqueza, estrutura e grupos funcionais nas matas ciliares nativas da Floresta Estacional Semidecidual (FES), que podem ser utilizados como metas da restauração florestal nesta região? (2) Quais as variáveis de biodiversidade, estrutura florestal e grupos funcionais, nas áreas restauradas, que seguem trajetórias previsíveis com o tempo? (3) Quanto tempo é necessário para que estas variáveis atinjam os valores de referência das matas ciliares nativas? (4) Quais são os fatores bióticos, abióticos, de técnica de plantio e de manutenção pós-plantio que influenciam nas trajetórias das matas ciliares restauradas? O estudo foi desenvolvido em região de FES, onde amostramos quatro matas nativas (referências) e 26 plantios de restauração, com idade entre quatro e 53 anos, que utilizamos para modelar as trajetórias em cronoseqüência. Em cada área, dez parcelas de 100 \'M POT.2\' foram aleatoriamente distribuídas, dentro de uma faixa de até 50 m de largura a partir da margem. Identificamos e contabilizamos os indivíduos de espécies arbóreas e arbustivas, plantadas ou regenerantes, a partir de 50 cm de altura e os agrupamos em três classes de tamanho segundo o diâmetro à altura do peito (DAP): DAP < 1 cm, 1 cm \'< ou =\' DAP < 5 cm e DAP \'> ou =\' 5 cm. Na classe de maior tamanho registramos o DAP e estimamos a altura de cada indivíduo. Classificamos as espécies de acordo com a sua síndrome de dispersão, ritmo de crescimento, tolerância à sombra, capacidade de fixar N, grau de ameaça e raridade. Para cada parcela, medimos a abertura do dossel, contabilizamos o número de lianas, pteridófitas e árvores com epífitas e coletamos uma amostra de solo, para formar uma amostra composta para cada local de estudo. Calculamos a biomassa acima do solo para árvores com DAP \'> ou =\' 5 cm, a riqueza total estimada por Jackknife e a riqueza rarefeita para 100 indivíduos. Por meio de entrevistas, observações em campo e análises da paisagem, obtivemos dados representativos de fatores abióticos, bióticos e de manejo que poderiam influenciar as trajetórias das comunidades arbóreas restauradas. Modelamos a trajetória de cada variável relativa à comunidade arbustivo-arbórea em função do tempo e estimamos o tempo que será necessário para igualar os ecossistemas de referência para cada variável. Entre as variáveis analisadas, selecionamos, como indicadores para monitoramento da evolução e sustentabilidade do ecossistema restaurado, as que fossem mais previsíveis (melhor qualidade dos modelos) e que representassem processos ecológicos mais relevantes. Os atributos que não variaram entre florestas nativas e que puderam ser utilizados como referência foram: riqueza observada, riqueza estimada para 100 indivíduos com DAP \'> ou =\' 5 cm, riqueza estimada por Jackknife para indivíduos com DAP \'> ou =\' 1 cm, densidade de indivíduos com DAP \'> ou =\' 1 cm, área basal, biomassa, cobertura de copas, proporção de indivíduos tolerantes à sombra e proporções de espécies zoocóricas, de crescimento lento, tolerantes à sombra, fixadoras de nitrogênio e de distribuição rara. No geral, as trajetórias foram mais bem ajustadas aos modelos logarítmicos, mas a riqueza de regenerantes de maior tamanho (DAP \'> ou =\' 5) ajustou-se melhor ao modelo linear. A riqueza nesta classe de tamanho não atingiu o nível de regenerantes dos ecossistemas de referência no período estudado. As trajetórias seguiram padrões semelhantes, independentes das técnicas de plantio ou do número de espécies plantadas. Variáveis de estrutura florestal foram homogêneas entre as matas nativas. Nos plantios, são facilmente medidas e evoluem rapidamente. Assim, metas da restauração podem ser estabelecidas com base nos parâmetros estruturais das matas nativas e tais variáveis seriam bons indicadores inclusive em plantios de restauração mais jovens. As variáveis que tendem a alcançar mais rapidamente os valores de referência são: área basal (12 anos), biomassa (13 anos), altura média das maiores árvores (26 anos), cobertura de gramíneas (33 anos), cobertura de copas (35 anos), riqueza de regenerantes com DAP \'> ou =\' 1 cm (52 anos), densidade de regenerantes com DAP \'> ou =\' 1 cm (52 anos) e riqueza total (53 anos). A área basal e a biomassa ultrapassaram em muito os valores de referência, o que pode indicar um filtro restritivo para a regeneração natural, caso a densidade dos indivíduos na classe de maior tamanho (geralmente plantados) não diminua naturalmente com o tempo. Para alguns grupos de espécies (zoocóricas, fixadoras de N, espécies raras e ameaçadas), as proporções em termos de riqueza e de densidade não apresentaram trajetórias previsíveis, mas algumas matas ciliares restauradas atingiram e ultrapassam os valores de referência. Excluímos o fator idade para identificar os fatores que influenciaram as trajetórias das variáveis selecionadas como indicadores, calculando um índice de sucesso (proporção entre o dado observado em cada local e o estimado para a mesma variável com base no modelo). Entre as seis variáveis selecionadas como indicadores, uma foi influenciada somente pela distância de fragmento-fonte (riqueza de regenerantes com DAP \'> ou =\' 5) e outra apena pela proporção de partículas finas no solo (área basal). Apesar da proporção do terreno ocupada por gramíneas não influenciar nas trajetórias, o controle da mato-competição com herbicida resultou em maiores valores de riqueza de plantas em regeneração. Independentemente das técnicas de plantio e dos tipos de manejo dos projetos de restauração, a estrutura florestal e os processos funcionais dos ecossistemas restaurados tendem a se tornar mais semelhantes aos ecossistemas de referência com o tempo, desde que haja fontes de propágulos e disponibilidade de água e nutrientes no solo. Os resultados obtidos apontam para uma influência muito pequena ou nula das técnicas de plantio e manejo, se comparados com a influência dos fatores ambientais e da paisagem sobre as trajetórias das matas ciliares em restauração. / A remarkable increase in the number of forest restoration projects has been recorded in Brazil in the last decade. As a consequence of this increase, the demand for monitoring and indicators of restoration success has also increased. Despite the advances in restoration ecology, there are still gaps in knowledge about the functioning and self-sustainability of restored ecosystems. In order to fill some of these gaps, in this study we aimed at to answer the following questions: (1) Are there patterns in the attributes of richness, structure, and functional groups on the native riparian Seasonally Semideciduous Forest (SSF), which may be used as goals to forest restoration in this region? (2) What are the variables representing biodiversity, forest structure and functional groups in the restored areas, which follow predictable paths over time? (3) How long it takes for these variables to achieve the reference values of native riparian forests? (4) Among the biotic, abiotic and technical factors analyzed, which can be considered as drivers of the successional trajectories of the restored forests? We assessed four native forests (as references) and 26 restored forests in the SSF region (a sub-type of the Atlantic Forest) in a chronosequence from four to 53 years since planting. At each site, the sample area comprised ten plots of 100 \'M POT.2\' randomly distributed within a range of 50 m away from the margin. We identified and counted all individuals of tree and shrub species from 50 cm in height, planted or regenerating, categorized in three size classes according to diameter at breast height (DBH): DBH < 1 cm, 1 cm \'< ou =\' DBH < 5 cm DBH \'> ou =\' 5 cm. We measured DBH and estimated the height of each individual from the upper class. We categorized the species according to their dispersion syndrome, growth rate, shade tolerance, Nitrogen-fixing ability, degree of threaten, and rarity. For each plot, we measured the canopy openness, and recorded the number of lianas, pteridophytes and number of trees with epiphytes. We also collected composite soil samples for chemical and physical analyses, from each study site. We estimated the aboveground biomass for trees with DBH \'> ou =\' 5 cm, total richness and richness rarefied to 100 individuals. By interviews, field observations, and landscape studies, we obtained information on other ecological factors and management practices that could affect the paths of the restored plant communities. We modeled the trajectory of each variable of the plant community over time, and estimated the period of time required for the restored forests to reach the reference ecosystems. Amongst the analyzed variables, we selected as indicators for monitoring the evolution and sustainability of the restored ecosystem those that were more predictable (best quality models) and that represent the most relevant ecological processes. The attributes that did not change among the native forests and could be used as references were: observed richness, estimated richness for 100 individuals with DBH \'> ou =\' 5 cm, total richness estimated by Jackknife DBH \'> ou =\' 1 cm, density DBH \'> ou =\' 1 cm, basal area, biomass, canopy cover, proportion of shade-tolerant individuals, and proportion of zoochoric species, slow growing, shade tolerant, nitrogen fixers, and rare distribution. Overall, the trajectories were best fitted to the logarithmic models, but richness (DBH \'> ou =\' 5 cm) was better adjusted to the linear model. In the upper size class, richness did not reach the \"species pool\" of the reference ecosystems in the 53 years period analyzed. The trajectories followed similar patterns, regardless of the planting techniques or the number of planted species. Variables representing forest structure were similar among the native forests and quickly recovered in comparison to those related to biodiversity. Thus, the restoration goals can be established based on native forests parameters and such variables would be good indicators even in young restoration plantings. The variables reaching more quickly the reference values were: basal area (12 years), biomass (13 years), average height of the largest trees (26 years), grass cover (33 years), canopy cover (35 years), richness of regenerants with DBH \'> ou =\' 1 cm (52 years), density of regenerants with DBH 1 cm (52 years), and total richness (53 years). The basal area and biomass greatly exceeded the reference values, which may indicate a restrictive filter for the forest dynamics if the density of individuals in the upper class (most planted) does not decrease naturally over time. For some functional groups (zoochoric, N-fixing, rare, and endangered species), the proportions of species and relative densities did not follow predictable trajectories, but some of the restored riparian areas reached and exceeded the reference values. In order to identify the factors driving the paths of the variables selected as indicators, we excluded the age factor, calculating an index of success (the ratio between observed and estimated values for the variable, the first directly measured for each site and the last obtained by the linear models). Among the six variables selected as indicators, some were influenced only by the distance of the source fragment (seedling richness of DBH \'> ou =\' 5 cm) and others only by the proportion of fine particles in the soil (basal area). While the ground cover by grasses does not influence the trajectories, weed control with herbicides resulted in higher plant richness in regeneration. Regardless of planting techniques and management practices, the forest structure and functional processes of restored ecosystems tend to become more similar to reference ecosystems over time, as long as there are propagule sources in the vicinity and availability of soil water and nutrients. Our findings pointed to a weak, if any, effect from the planting techniques or management and a high influence of environmental and landscape factors on the trajectories of a riparian forest restoration.

Unidades de conservação da natureza sofrem historicamente de problemas envolvendo, por exemplo, administração pública e legitimação popular, o que reflete quadros de ineficiência e conflitos locais em vários níveis. Nesse contexto, a Área de Proteção Ambiental de Petrópolis (APA Petrópolis) é abordada, com o objetivo de se prover um quadro analítico sobre a sustentabilidade regional e a percepção popular acerca da proposta de da APA Petrópolis, usando métodos em percepção ambiental focada nos segmentos universitários. A tese se divide em três momentos analíticos: primeiramente, são apresentados os contextos históricos, sociais e políticos locais da paisagem, no âmbito da criação da APA Petrópolis e das contradições acerca do funcionamento do modelo, sob um referencial teórico que engloba políticas locais, manejo de unidades de conservação, conflitos ambientais e participação social. Em segundo lugar, analisou-se a percepção ambiental de 606 alunos universitários (por meio de questionários) e sete professores e gestores das universidades participantes (por meio de entrevistas) na APA Petrópolis, buscando fenômenos e características específicas das subjetividades inerentes a tais grupos. Por fim, apresenta-se concepções úteis para a organização de alternativas teóricas e práticas para uma educação ambiental emancipatória e transformadora voltada para a realidade dos segmentos universitários da APA Petrópolis. Os resultados envolvem a exposição de um complexo contexto histórico e político que traduz a parca funcionalidade deste modelo de conservação da paisagem. O planejamento territorial da cidade, o próprio contexto de criação da unidade e o cenário político regional são aspectos que contribuem para a baixa funcionalidade da APA. Os questionários evidenciam uma percepção superficial dos problemas ambientais de Petrópolis, assim como um baixo reconhecimento da APA. As entrevistas, de outra maneira, evidenciam dois fenômenos: a naturalização das questões sociais e a invisibilização das questões ambientais. As alternativas teóricas e metodológicas apresentadas para abordar as questões ambientais da APA Petrópolis para os universitários envolvem o conceito de alfabetização ecológica e a formação de sujeitos ecológicos, como diretrizes para uma educação voltada para a sustentabilidade regional. / Nature conservation areas historically suffer with problems involving, for example, public administration and popular legitimacy, which reflects inefficiency boards and local conflicts at various levels. In this context, the Environmental Protection Area of Petrópolis (APA Petrópolis) is approached with the aim of providing an analytical framework on regional sustainability and the popular perception about the proposed APA Petrópolis, using methods in environmental perception focusing on university segments. The thesis is divided into three analytical moments: first, we present the historical, social and local political contexts of landscape, in the aim of the creation of APA Petrópolis and contradictions regarding the model, under a theoretical framework that includes local policies, management of conservation units, environmental conflicts and social participation. Second, we analyzed the environmental perception of 606 college students (through questionnaires) and seven teachers and administrators at the participating universities (through interviews) in APA Petrópolis, seeking phenomena and characteristics of subjectivity inherent in such groups. Finally, we present useful concepts to the organization of theoretical and practical alternatives to an environmental education aimed to the emancipation and reality transformation to the university segments at APA Petrópolis. The results involving the exposure of a complex historical and political context that reflects the low functioning of this model of landscape conservation. The territorial planning of the city, the establishment context for the APA, and the regional political scene are aspects that contribute to the low functionality of the APA. The questionnaires showed a superficial perception of the environmental problems of Petropolis, as well as a low recognition of the APA. Interviews, otherwise, show two phenomena: the naturalization of social issues and invisibility of environmental issues. The theoretical and methodological alternatives presented to address environmental issues to university in APA Petrópolis involve the concept of ecological literacy and training of ecological subjects, such as guidelines for an education directed to regional sustainability.

Countryside is a dynamic system which has been constantly developing. A man may be a factor which speeds up, slows down or completely stops the development. Spoil bank in Podkrušnohoří is an illustration of the violation, where a shut-down of countryside development due to logging operations happened. The goal of every activity, which negatively modifies countryside, should be sequent reparation. In case of Podkrušnohoří spoil bank such a recultivation should be proposed and countryside items, which would increase ecological countryside stability and would help to awaken the countryside into its historical form, should be found.