No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stevens Point, 2009. / Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree Master of Science in Natural Resources (Forestry), College of Natural Resources. Includes bibliographical references (p. 43-50).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 204-228). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 204-228). Also available on the Internet.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University,2009. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.222-226).

The causes of recent episodes of forest decline in Canada have not yet been fully determined. Current explanations include the effects of acid depositon as well as natural causes such as climate stress. This thesis takes a geographic approach and undertakes risk-response comparisons in order to examined the problem of maple forest dieback in the Appalachian region of Quebec. Geographic Information Systems are used to map a series of forest decline risk factors relating to soil characteristics and topography. The individual risk factors, as well as models comprising weighted combinations of risk factors, are compared with actual defoliation patterns. Forest defoliation is determined using areal survey data and satellite imagery. Although statistically significant associations were obtained between defoliation patterns and several risk factors, the amount of association was not strong enough to conclude that these factors are dominant causes of forest decline.

No description available.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study aimed to understand how Dukuduku Forest in Kwa-Zulu Natal has changed from 1960 to 2008 and whether the change in political regimes, during and post apartheid eras might have contributed to changes in forest extent. To achieve the aims, the following analyses were made: - Qualitative and quantitative spatial analyses of forest change; - Analyses of the correspondence of change with political changes in the country; - Assessment of perception of people living in the Dukuduku forest area. The Dukuduku land cover was mapped from aerial photos using ArcGIS 9.3 to determine whether or not there has been a significant change in the area from 1960-2008, in response to resource use pressures and to come up with the strategic sustainable management plan from the results found. Five aerial photographs were used to determine the changes in land cover from the year: 1960, 1970, 1992, 2005 and 2008. The Land cover types were classified into four classes, Indigenous Forests, Plantation Forests, Water Bodies and Other (open areas, cultivated land, and all the human disturbed and transformed land). The percentage of cover per class was compared across the years to determine overall change in land cover and the rate of change per year was also calculated. The results from the study showed that: - Natural Forest increased by 11% (700 ha), at the rate of 20.56 hectares per year between 1960 and 1992, which is the apartheid era. Between 1992 and 2008, the democratic era, the forest decreased by 34.4% (2472.31ha), at the rate of 168 hectares per year. - The Dukuduku forest community gains resources (timber and grass for construction, art, firewood, medicinal plants, grazing of livestock and food) from the forest. The people are willing to contribute in protecting the forest only if the governing authorities would include them in decisions made, as the NFA demands Participatory Forest Management, but which does not currently exist in Dukuduku. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die verandering van die Dukuduku woud in Kwa-Zulu Natal vanaf 1960 tot 2008, en vernaamlik of die verandering in politieke regimes tydens en in die postapartheid eras tot verandering bygedra het in die woud se vorm. Om hierdie doelwitte te breik is die volgende analises gedoen: - Kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe ruimtelike analises van woudverandering; - Analises van die korrelasie tussen hierdie fisiese omgewingsverandering en politieke verandering in die land; - Analise van die persepsie van mense wat in die Dukuduku woudgebied woon. Die Dukuduku gronddekking is gekarteer met behulp van lugfotos, waarvoor ArcGIS 9.3 gebruik is om te bepaal of daar noemenswaardige verandering in die gebied plaasgevind het van 1960 tot 2008, in reaksie op hulpbrongebruike, en om ‘n volhoubare bestuursplan gestel voor wat op die bevindinge gebaseer is. Vyf lugfotos is gebruik om verandering in gronddekking te bepaal vir die jare: 1960, 1970, 1992, 2005 en 2008. Die Gronddekking tipes is geklassifiseer in vier klasse naamlik Inheemse Woude, Plantasiebosse, Waterliggame en Ander (oop gebiede, landerye en al die mens-versteurde en getransfomeerde gebiede). Die persentasie van elke dekkingsklas is oor die jare vergelyk om die verandering in algehele grond-dekking te bepaal, en die tempo van verandering is ook bepaal, asook die tempo van verandering. Die resultate van die studie wys dat: - Die natuurlike woud toegeneem het met 11% (700 ha), teen ‘n tempo van 20.56 hektaar per jaar tussen 1960 en 1992, tgedurende die apartheidsera. Tussen 1992 en 2008, die demokratiese era, het die woude verminder met 34.4% (2472.31 ha), teen ‘n tempo van 168 hektaar per jaar. - Die gemeenskap wat in die Dukuduku woud woon verkry hulpbronne van die woud (hout en gras vir konstruksie, kuns, brandhout, medisinale plante, weiding vir vee, en voedsel). Die mense is gewillig om by te dra tot beskerming van die woud indien die owerhede hulle sou betrek in besluite wat geneem word, veral omdat die nasionale Wet op Bosse voorsiening maak vir Deelnemende Bosbestuur, wat tans nie by Dukuduku gebeur nie.