Det är allmänt känt att turismen för med sig negativa ekologiska konsekvenser och har gjort det sedan charterturismen på allvar slog igenom under -50 och 60-talet. På senare tid har alternativ turism börjat gro och tagit sig upp. Att massturismen är dominerande råder det inga tvivel om men det är viktigt att alternativ turism såsom ekoturism ser dagens solljus, en nisch i turismen som ska vara ekologiskt hållbar. Vandringen mot toppen är lång och brant för den ekologiskt hållbara turismen, nyligen har den börjat se dagsljuset men massturismen tar åt sig nästan all energi från solljuset. Det innebär att den ekologiskt hållbara turismen måste kämpa i hård konkurrens med de andra aktörerna på marknaden. Aktörer som i dagsläget och även i fortsättningen kommer vara starkare, men det säger inte att det inte finns plats för ekologiskt hållbar turism. Uppsatsen visar att det finns ett bra utbud av litteratur om ekoturism som tar upp både skrämmande exempel där varumärket utnyttjats till skadligare verksamhet och exempel med rätt använd ekoturism som ett verktyg för värnande av biologisk mångfald. Den litterära granskningen redogör för betydelsen av ekologiskt hållbar turism och vad som kan göras för att nå dit. En enkätundersökning gjordes i sydvästra Sverige med syfte att ta reda på hur folket ser på ekologiskt hållbar turism. Vissa intressanta skillnader fanns mellan personer av samma kön och kvinnor gentemot män, men glädjande var att de flesta av dem 136 svarande trodde eller hoppades att den ekologiskt hållbara turismen har en ljus framtid att gå till mötes. I Sverige har vi idag 81 av Naturens Bästa godkända ekoturistarrangörer. Trots skuggan från de större verksamheterna verkar det finnas tillräckligt med ljus och plats för den ekologiskt hållbar turismen att slå sig in på marknaden.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

This diploma thesis was written to analyze and evaluate the changes of the landscape in selected cadastral communities with a finished complex landscape management. The analysis was completed in four time periods. It included a historical time period in 1952, a period before the landscape management, a period during the designing of landscape management and the present condition of the landscape. Changes that appeared in the landscape were evaluated for land use, the permanent landscape structure, the density of the road network and ecotones. According to the results of the diploma thesis it is possible to find out how the complex landscape management project for individual studied areas contributed on the progress of the changes of the landscape.

Abstract Maintaining biodiversity in boreal forest landscapes in conjunction with forestry is a challenging task. This requires ecological understanding that is based on empirical research. In this thesis, I examined spatial and temporal occupancy patterns as well as predictability of the occurrence of the Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans L.) in Finland. I used thematic maps which matched habitat requirements of the flying squirrel in forested landscapes and data on species presence and absence, which were gathered in suitable forest habitats. The results of this thesis provide applications for landscape management. First, the preferred habitat characteristics of the flying squirrel were linked to available forest data. In addition, some predictive habitat models could be used to estimate the distribution of the flying squirrel within a region. Second, based on a five year study the forests were classified as continuously occupied, continuously unoccupied and variable-occupancy patches. The dynamic occupancy pattern emphasizes the need for repeated surveys to also locate the seldom-used suitable habitats in a landscape. Third, a comparison of simulated future scenarios in long-term forest planning suggested that flying squirrel habitat might be maintained without considerable loss of timber in a landscape. Thus, a combination of ecological and economic goals in forestry planning is an encouraging alternative. Fourth, there were more polypore species in forests occupied by the flying squirrel. This suggests that conservation of the flying squirrel habitats would protect other naturally co-occurring species, and thus the flying squirrel could be assigned as an umbrella species in mature spruce-dominated forests. Based on these findings, I suggest that the flying squirrel could be used as one of the target species for forest management in boreal forest landscapes. Further research challenges are related to the examination of habitat thresholds and to the projection of future scenarios where ecological, economic and social aspects are combined to assist in complex decision making processes.

La gestion agroécologique durable des paysages agricoles constitue un très fort enjeu social, écologique et économique. Favoriser les différents services écosystémiques que fournissent ces systèmes complexes, caractérisés par une forte variabilité spatio-temporelle liée aux activités anthropiques, est désormais crucial. Le travail développé dans cette thèse s’est focalisé sur les services de régulation des populations de ravageurs, en développant des modèles spatialisés destinés à identifier les interactions entre paysage et populations dans l’optique d’une gestion intégrée du paysage agricole. L’approche conceptuelle utilisée s’est appuyée sur une réflexion sur les choix de niveaux d’organisation et d’échelles spatio-temporelles pertinentes qui a conduit au développement de deux modèles imbriqués : un simulateur de paysages agricoles (ATLAS) reproduisant la variabilité spatio-temporelle des habitats et un automate cellulaire décrivant les dynamiques pluriannuelles d’un puceron des céréales : Rhopalosiphum padi. Une analyse statistique des résultats a permis d’identifier l’effet des différents paramètres du paysage (composition et climat) sur les densités de pucerons à différentes échelles spatiales au cours des saisons. Ont également été évalués les effets potentiels de différents scénarios de gestion plausibles au sein du paysage agricole étudié. Parmi nos résultats, nous identifions que le remplacement du maïs par le sorgho dans le sud-ouest de la France pourrait conduire à une augmentation des densités de R.padi au sein du paysage au printemps, période particulièrement sensible aux infestations. Nous replaçons ce travail dans le cadre plus large de la favorisation des services écosystémiques et apportons des premiers éléments de réflexion pour une gestion durable du paysage agricole; / Sustainable management of agricultural landscapes is a strong social, ecological and economic challenge. Favouring the different ecosystem services provided by these complex systems, characterized by a strong spatio-temporal variability linked to human activity, is by now crucial. The work developed in this thesis has focused on pest population regulation services, by developing spatialized models in order to identify the interactions between the landscape and populations in the context of an integrated management of the agricultural landscape. The conceptual approach we used is based on careful selection of the levels of organization and spatio-temporal scales which lead to the development of two embedded models: an agricultural landscape simulator (ATLAS) reproducing the spatial-temporal variability of habitats and a cellular automaton describing thepluriannual dynamics of a cereal aphid: Rhopalosiphum padi. A statistical analysis of the results highlighted the effects of different landscape parameters (composition and climate) on aphid densities at different spatial scales throughout the seasons. The potential effects of plausible management scenarios were also evaluated. Amongst our results, we identify the replacement of corn by sorghum in the south-western part of France to potentially lead to higher aphid densities within the landscape in spring, which is a season specifically sensible to infestations. We replace this work in the larger context of favouring ecosystem services and propose new ideas for a sustainable management of agricultural landscapes;

The island of Gotland is associated with a distinctive nature, high biodiversity and a rich cultural history. However, these values have generated landscape management challenges due to shifting land use. The thesis proceeds from the peninsula of Östergarnslandet which has been recognized as one the most exposed areas to current changes. Simultaneously, Östergarnslandet has been acknowledged to sustain a traditional expression to a greater degree than other highly exposed places. By external recognition and ambition to preserve landscape values, this thesis suggests that there is a venture in altering the identity of the landscape when preserving the tangible. The purpose of this thesis was to show that safeguarding landscapes are far more than just biology but also about recognizing the people living within them. By using the methodology of the EU-horizon project RURITAGE the aim was to understand the area of research and find potential future approaches. By proceeding from Östergarnslandet, the main objective was to explore mental and factual landscapes with an aim to understand current landscape management of the area. Through this, the thesis has also aimed to answer how to safeguard landscape identity in changing landscapes. This was conducted by studying three different Nature 2000 and policy documents in relation to theoretical literature. The study suggests that there is an authorial division recognizing different values within the same landscape. At the same time, locality and the social impact is sometimes overlooked. To find sustainable approaches for safeguarding the landscape identity of Östergarnslandet, this thesis has looked at areas of recognized successful redevelopment. The areas are Southern Öland and Bråbygden. Gathered lessons were discussed in relation to the current landscape management of Östergarnslandet. In this part, two models were presented. The first model shows how transparency of the different sectors’ valuation of the landscape can be a tool to gain understanding and bridge different perception of value. The second model suggest how landscape identity can be sustained through external recognition generating pride and increased local participation.

The Meseta Purepecha, a volcanic plateau in the Mexican state of Michoacan, is home to one of the most species-rich pine forests in the world. Recent increases in demand for forest products has put added pressure on these resources. Though existing research has suggested significant deforestation in the Meseta, there is little information identifying specific areas of decline. This study focuses on two indigenous communities in the Meseta-Pichataro and Sevina. Both communities have long relied on wood as an economic resource. However, the two communities have reacted differently to increased demand for forest resources. The purpose of this study is to identify the differences in the rate and extent of forest change between Pichataro and Sevina. Three dates of Landsat satellite images - 1976, 1986, and 2000-were used to identify changes in the Meseta's forests. Supervised classification was used to classify the 2000 image into forested and non-forested areas. Change detection was performed on the 1976 through 2000 images to identify areas of forest clearing and forest regrowth. The 2000 image was then used as a reference for generating maps of historic forest extent based on the change detection results. Results show that between 1986 and 2000, Sevina cleared approximately 16% of its forested land between while Pichataro experienced a net gain of 7%. In the same period, 93% of the deforestation in the combined study area occurred within the community boundary of Sevina, which manages only 35% of the study area forests. Sevina's remaining forests are also more isolated and fragmented than the forests of Pichataro. The differences between the two communities appear related to management practices. Sevina has relied on larger-scale timber harvesting to derive economic benefits from its forests. Pichataro has focused on local harvesting and value-added production.

Indigenous landscape management has transformed ecosystems for millennia, with long-lasting impacts on the productivity and abundance of plant species. While western science based ecological research is beginning to investigate these impacts, less abundant species of cultural importance remain understudied. Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia Nutt.), an uncommon understory conifer found in old-growth forests of the Northwest Coast of North America, has not received sustained ecological interest despite its importance to Indigenous Peoples throughout its range. In the first chapter, I synthesize the current ethnobotanical and ecological literature discussing Pacific yew to identify knowledge gaps and dominant paradigms that have shaped the study of the species. I find that many mechanisms behind Pacific yew’s habitat selection and ecosystem functions are unknown to western science and that the impacts of Indigenous landscape management are largely unacknowledged within the western scientific literature. In the following chapter, in partnership with the Heiltsuk First Nation, I examine the growth and abundance of Pacific yew on sites that were inhabited intensively by First Nations on the Central Coast of British Columbia for over 10,000 years. I find that habitation histories are not a strong driver of patterns of tree size and that Pacific yew abundance is largely driven by site aspect. These findings shed light on the habitat preferences of Pacific yew, which have rarely been studied in this region. They also illustrate variation in the response of culturally important species to landscape modification and highlight the need for nuanced understanding of the diversity of plant management strategies employed by Indigenous Peoples. This work is part of a broader attempt to incorporate cultural histories and questions into ecological study and to recognize the continuing ecological influences of Indigenous Peoples, who have stewarded their homelands for millennia. / Graduate

Artificial brightness of the night sky caused by the backscatter of artificial light in the atmosphere is a consequence of ongoing urbanization. Skyglow covers 88 % of Europe’s surface and poses significant threats to biodiversity. Extensive research on responses of bats to direct light pollution already revealed significant impacts. However, evidence for the influence of skyglow is scarce. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of skyglow on bat activity patterns, namely Pipistrellus pygmaeus and Myotis species, in a rural area outside of Stockholm, Sweden. Additionally, the analysis includes the role of local habitat structures and landscape composition at multiple scales for both activity rate and timing of emergence.The two focal species showed diverging behaviour in their main habitat on the local scale. While Myotis spp. emergence was delayed by about half an hour above the water surface, P. pygmaeus appeared about 20 minutes earlier in forest edges under brighter night skies. Landscape-level skyglow significantly delays the emergence of Myotis spp. above water surfaces by 18 minutes, but P. pygmaeus did not respond to skyglow at the landscape-level. Both, Myotis species and P. pygmaeus, appeared earlier in forest edges than above water surfaces. Evidence on skyglow affecting bat activity rates was weak. Here, local habitat and landscape structure were more important for both species. The total length of all forest edges decreased bat activity at most scales, while activity was lower with the proportion of water and open land at different scales. In conclusion, bat conservation programmes need to consider the effect of skyglow as well as landscape characteristics.

No description available.