Marine populations worldwide are in decline due to anthropogenic effects. Spatial management via marine reserves may be an effective conservation method for many species, but the requisite theory is still underdeveloped. Integrodifference equation (IDE) models can be used to determine the critical domain size required for persistence and provide a modelling framework suitable for many marine populations. Here, we develop a novel spatially implicit approximation for the proportion of individuals lost outside the reserve areas which consistently outperforms the most common approximation. We examine how results using this approximation compare to the existing IDE results on the critical domain size for populations in a single reserve, in a network of reserves, in the presence of alongshore currents, and in structured populations. We find that the approximation consistently provides results which are in close agreement with those of an IDE model with the advantage of being simpler to convey to a biological audience while providing insights into the significance of certain model components. We also design a stochastic individual based model (IBM) to explore the probability of extinction for a population within a reserve area. We use our spatially implicit approximation to estimate the proportion of individuals which disperse outside the reserve area. We then use this approximation to obtain results on extinction using two different approaches, which we can compare to the baseline IBM; the first approach is based on the Central Limit Theorem and provides efficient simulation results, and the second modifies a simple Galton-Watson branching process to include loss outside the reserve area. We find that this spatially implicit approximation is also effective in obtaining results similar to those produced by the IBM in the presence of both demographic and environmental variability. Overall, this provides a set of complimentary methods for predicting the reserve area required to sustain a population in the presence of strong fishing pressure in the surrounding waters.

Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))- -University of Stellenbosch, 2011 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The limited water supply and an increasing water demand means that the effective management of water resources becomes much more important than in the past. The implementation of water demand management / water conservation (WDM/WC) projects are usually used as a crisis management tool to reduce immediate water shortage and to allow time for the planning and construction of infrastructure to increase water supply. It is however possible to incorporate WDM/WC into integrated water resource management and to use WDM/WC as an economic viable option for the upgrade of infrastructure to balance supply and demand. Existing economic evaluation methods to compare different options with each other were used to evaluate WDM/WC measures. Literature showed that to perform an economic evaluation of WDM/WC measures, the costs associated with the implementation of the WDM/WC measures, as well as the expected water saving from the implementation of the WDM/WC measure, must be known. Models were developed to estimate the expected water savings from different WDM/WC measures. The economic impacts of specific WDM/WC measures were investigated by using these models. Different economic models were developed to perform an economic evaluation of WDM/WC measures. WDM/WC measures were evaluated in terms of its economic feasibility. Economical evaluations of WDM/WC measures were also done as an alternative to the upgrading of infrastructure. In the last evaluation, the financing of WDM/WC measures through the deferral of capital cost, was investigated. Case studies from literature, where costs as well as water savings were available, were used to evaluate these WDM/WC measures by using the developed economic models. Cost estimates for the upgrading of infrastructure, to supply an equal amount of water as the water saving achieved in each case study, were done. These estimates were used to compare WDM/WC measure with the upgrading of infrastructure. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar word al hoe meer druk op bestaande hulpbronne geplaas om voldoende water te lewer. Die fokus skuif na effektiewe bestuur van hierdie hulpbronne. Wateraanvraagbestuur/ Waterbewaring (WAB/WB) projekte word geïmplementeer om krisisse van water tekorte aan te spreek en tyd te wen om nuwe hulpbronne te ontwikkel. Dit is wel moontlik om WAB/WB in geïntegreerde waterbron bestuur in te sluit en WAB/WB as ʼn ekonomiese alternatief tot kapitale investering aan te wend. Om die ekonomiese aspekte van WAB/WB te ondersoek, is daar op bestaande ekonomiese evaluerings metodes gefokus om verskillende opsies met mekaar te vergelyk. Uit die literatuur is gevind dat die belangrikste aspekte vir die ontleding van WAB/WB alternatiewe i.t.v. hul ekonomiese waarde, die koste van implementering van die WAB/WB alternatief is en die waterbesparing wat deur die implementering van die WAB/WB alternatief verkry word. WAB/WB modelle is ontwikkel om die verwagte water besparing van bepaalde WAB/WB alternatiewe te beraam. Die moontlike ekonomiese impak van bepaalde WAB/WB alternatiewe is deur die gebruik van hierdie modelle ondersoek. Ekonomiese evaluerings modelle is opgestel om WAB/WB alternatiewe te ontleed. WAB/WB alternatiewe kan as ʼn ekonomiese haalbare projek geïmplementeer word waar die kostes van die waterbesparings meer as die kapitale koste van die projek is. WAB/WB alternatiewe kan ook meer ekonomies as die ontwikkeling van nuwe bronne of opgradering van ʼn bestaande netwerk wees. Laastens is die moontlikheid om WAB/WB as ʼn alternatief te finansier deur die besparing wat bereik kan word deur ʼn kapitale projek uit te stel, ondersoek. Gevalle studies uit die literatuur, waar die kostes en waterbesparings bekend is, is ontleed deur van hierdie ekonomiese evaluerings modelle gebruik te maak. Vir elk van die gevalle studies is ʼn koste vir die opgradering van die infrastruktuur beraam om die ekwivalente hoeveelheid water te voorsien as wat deur die WAB/WB alternatief bespaar is.

Os desmatamentos ocorridos no Brasil ampliaram a percepção da sociedade quanto aos problemas ambientais deles advindos. Em virtude dessa conscientiação, as empresas madereiras têm enfrentado o desafio de demonstrar aos consumidores como vêm reduzindo os impactos socioambientais de suas operações. Como meio de marketing, muitas empresas fornecedoras de madeira certificada divulgam serem praticantes da responsabilidade socioambiental. O objetivo deste trabalho é a análise dos indicadores da certificação florestal do tipo plantação do Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), utilizados no Brasil para verificar as possibilidades de certificação florestal na atenuação dos impactos sociais e ambientais do setor madeireiro. Foi realizada uma leitura prévia de indicadores de diferentes sistemas de certificação florestal de plantações. Cento e dezessete indicadores do sistema de certificação de plantação FSC foram selecionados por serem considerados mais relevantes. Esses indicadores foram enviados em forma de um questionário para 244 atores sociais envolvidos na certificação. Cada ator social deveria atribuir a cada indicador uma nota de um a dez. Caso não soubesse de sua importância, deveria assinalar a coluna não sabe. Vinte e duas pessoas responderam ao questionário. Os atores sociais foram divididos em dois grupos: 10 atores sociais diretamente ligados à certificação florestal e indiretamente 12 ligados a certificação florestal. Os indicadores foram enfocados em 4 grupos: legal e administrativo; trabalhador florestal; comunidade do entorno da unidade de manejo florestal; e ambiental. Foi realizada uma análise separada para cada grupo social. Duas empresas do setor florestal foram avaliadas, na forma de estudo de casos, para averiguação de como as empresas com certificação florestal de plantação vêm implantando seus programas de responsabilidade social. Foi verificado que os atores sociais ligados diretamente à certificação florestal valorizam os indicadores com enfoque legal e administrativo e os com enfoque no trabalhador florestal. Os atores ligados indiretamente à certificação florestal valorizam os indicadores com enfoque legal e administrativo, com enfoque na comunidade e com enfoque ambiental. Os estudos de caso indicaram que a certificação de manejo florestal trouxe avanços em relação à mitigação dos impactos das operações florestais sobre o meio ambiente, trabalhadores florestais e a comunidade local. / The deforestations done in Brazil have amplified the perception of society to environmental problems and their results. Because of this awareness, the firms in the lumber sector have been challenged to show the consumers how they have been reducing the social and environmental impacts in their activities. As a form of marketing, many firms, which furnish certified wood, advertise that they are firms that practice social and environmental responsibility. The objective of this dissertation is the analysis of the indicators of the system for forest certification, model plantation forests, of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) used in Brazil; to verify the possibilities of forest certification in the attenuation of the social and environmental impacts in the lumbering sector. A prior reading of the different systems of indicators used for forest certification plantations was done. One hundred and seventeen indicators of the system for the certification of forests of the FSC were selected as being the most relevant. These indicators were sent, in the form of a questionnaire, to 244 stakeholders involved in certification. Each stakeholder was to attribute a note from 1 to 10 for each indicator. In the event that he was not certain of its importance, he would mark the column "Don't know". Twenty two persons responded to the questionnaire. The stakeholders were divided into two groups: 10 stakeholders directly connected to forest certification and 12 indirectly connected to forest certification. The indicators were divided into 4 groups: legal and administrative subjects, forest workers, the community living in the areas surrounding the forest management projects, and environment subjects. A separate analysis was done for each social group. Two firms, active in the forestry section, were evaluated, in a form of case studies, to see how firms with the forest certification of plantation are implanting their programs of social responsibility. It was verified that the stakeholders directly connected with forest certification valorize the indicators for legal and administrative aspects and forest workers. Those indirectly involved with forest certification valorize the legal and administrative approaches, the communities, and ecological aspects. The case studies indicate that the certification of forest management brought improvements in relation to the mitigation of the impacts of the forest operations on the environment, forest workers, and the local communities.

Os desmatamentos ocorridos no Brasil ampliaram a percepção da sociedade quanto aos problemas ambientais deles advindos. Em virtude dessa conscientiação, as empresas madereiras têm enfrentado o desafio de demonstrar aos consumidores como vêm reduzindo os impactos socioambientais de suas operações. Como meio de marketing, muitas empresas fornecedoras de madeira certificada divulgam serem praticantes da responsabilidade socioambiental. O objetivo deste trabalho é a análise dos indicadores da certificação florestal do tipo plantação do Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), utilizados no Brasil para verificar as possibilidades de certificação florestal na atenuação dos impactos sociais e ambientais do setor madeireiro. Foi realizada uma leitura prévia de indicadores de diferentes sistemas de certificação florestal de plantações. Cento e dezessete indicadores do sistema de certificação de plantação FSC foram selecionados por serem considerados mais relevantes. Esses indicadores foram enviados em forma de um questionário para 244 atores sociais envolvidos na certificação. Cada ator social deveria atribuir a cada indicador uma nota de um a dez. Caso não soubesse de sua importância, deveria assinalar a coluna não sabe. Vinte e duas pessoas responderam ao questionário. Os atores sociais foram divididos em dois grupos: 10 atores sociais diretamente ligados à certificação florestal e indiretamente 12 ligados a certificação florestal. Os indicadores foram enfocados em 4 grupos: legal e administrativo; trabalhador florestal; comunidade do entorno da unidade de manejo florestal; e ambiental. Foi realizada uma análise separada para cada grupo social. Duas empresas do setor florestal foram avaliadas, na forma de estudo de casos, para averiguação de como as empresas com certificação florestal de plantação vêm implantando seus programas de responsabilidade social. Foi verificado que os atores sociais ligados diretamente à certificação florestal valorizam os indicadores com enfoque legal e administrativo e os com enfoque no trabalhador florestal. Os atores ligados indiretamente à certificação florestal valorizam os indicadores com enfoque legal e administrativo, com enfoque na comunidade e com enfoque ambiental. Os estudos de caso indicaram que a certificação de manejo florestal trouxe avanços em relação à mitigação dos impactos das operações florestais sobre o meio ambiente, trabalhadores florestais e a comunidade local. / The deforestations done in Brazil have amplified the perception of society to environmental problems and their results. Because of this awareness, the firms in the lumber sector have been challenged to show the consumers how they have been reducing the social and environmental impacts in their activities. As a form of marketing, many firms, which furnish certified wood, advertise that they are firms that practice social and environmental responsibility. The objective of this dissertation is the analysis of the indicators of the system for forest certification, model plantation forests, of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) used in Brazil; to verify the possibilities of forest certification in the attenuation of the social and environmental impacts in the lumbering sector. A prior reading of the different systems of indicators used for forest certification plantations was done. One hundred and seventeen indicators of the system for the certification of forests of the FSC were selected as being the most relevant. These indicators were sent, in the form of a questionnaire, to 244 stakeholders involved in certification. Each stakeholder was to attribute a note from 1 to 10 for each indicator. In the event that he was not certain of its importance, he would mark the column "Don't know". Twenty two persons responded to the questionnaire. The stakeholders were divided into two groups: 10 stakeholders directly connected to forest certification and 12 indirectly connected to forest certification. The indicators were divided into 4 groups: legal and administrative subjects, forest workers, the community living in the areas surrounding the forest management projects, and environment subjects. A separate analysis was done for each social group. Two firms, active in the forestry section, were evaluated, in a form of case studies, to see how firms with the forest certification of plantation are implanting their programs of social responsibility. It was verified that the stakeholders directly connected with forest certification valorize the indicators for legal and administrative aspects and forest workers. Those indirectly involved with forest certification valorize the legal and administrative approaches, the communities, and ecological aspects. The case studies indicate that the certification of forest management brought improvements in relation to the mitigation of the impacts of the forest operations on the environment, forest workers, and the local communities.

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

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2008. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Sept. 15, 2009). Thesis advisor: Donald G. Hodges. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:00:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3940.pdf: 14099586 bytes, checksum: 40f029f8c7a6e57cab29bee652d4a996 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-31 / Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais / When we analyze the basic needs of human beings, the quantity and quality of available water determines the life quality of a family or community. This research brings to light the importance of access to water to ensure the basic needs of rural communities based on social inclusion and self-sufficiency. A unique case study, based on Martin (2008), was proposed to study water management in the Rural Settlement Horto Vergel in Mogi Mirim-SP. The proposal aims to bring up the strategies and analyze the conditions and obstacles to implement more sustainable techniques in water management in rural settlements. A diagnosis of the settlement was developed based on a survey of existing documents, interviews with settlers, leaders, agents and Technical Assistance and Rural Extension (Ater) institutions working on site, as well as practical activities for implementation and evaluation of participatory methodologies developed during the research. It was found that sustainability in management and conservation of water in the settlement is directly linked to its historical development (camping, entering the lot, opening the water hole wells, installation of the power grid, semi artesian wells, opening of wells, installation of network distribution system, and creation of the rural district), forms of public investment and organizational models used. The institutions of Ater should systematize the adapted technologies for family agriculture already charted and/or tested related to water management and conservation, and develop instruments that will ensure the continuity and transfer of information between entities and teams. The existence of structural and organizational problems within the settlement, in addition to insufficient financial resources, lack of alternative methods and technologies, and research on water management and conservation by the Ater specialists, have interfered and still complicate the development process of the settlement. / Quando analisamos as necessidades básicas dos seres humanos, a quantidade e a qualidade da água disponível se apresentam como fatores determinantes da qualidade de vida de uma família ou comunidade. A presente pesquisa traz à tona a importância do acesso à água para garantir o atendimento das necessidades básicas de comunidades rurais, com base na inclusão social e a autossuficiência. Foi selecionada uma proposta de Estudo de Caso único, baseado em Martins (2008), no Assentamento Rural Horto Vergel em Mogi Mirim-SP, onde foi delimitado o tema manejo da água. A proposta visa levantar as estratégias e analisar as condições e obstáculos para implantação de técnicas mais sustentáveis no manejo da água em assentamentos rurais. Foi realizado um diagnóstico do assentamento a partir de levantamento de documentos já existentes, realização de entrevistas com assentados, lideranças, agentes de Ater e órgãos reguladores atuantes no local, além de atividades práticas para aplicação e avaliação das metodologias participativas desenvolvidas durante a pesquisa. A existência de problemas estruturais e organizacionais dentro do assentamento, somados aos recursos financeiros insuficientes, a ausência de métodos e tecnologias alternativas, e a falta de pesquisas na área de manejo e conservação da água nos órgãos de Ater dificultaram e ainda dificultam o processo de desenvolvimento do assentamento. É necessária a sistematização pelos órgãos de Ater das tecnologias adaptadas à agricultura familiar relacionas com o manejo e conservação da água já mapeadas e/ou testadas, além da implantação de instrumentais que garantam a permanência e o repasse das informações entre as instituições e seus técnicos. Verificou-se que a sustentabilidade no manejo e conservação da água no assentamento está diretamente ligada ao seu histórico de desenvolvimento (acampamento, entrada no lote, abertura dos poços cacimba, instalação da rede de energia elétrica, abertura dos poços semiartesianos, instalação da rede de distribuição, e criação do bairro rural), às formas de investimento do dinheiro público e aos modelos de organização utilizados.

The public lands of the United States administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are used for multiple purposes, like conservation, recreation, grazing, mining, logging, and oil and gas development. Many of these activities have the potential to disturb the surface of the landscape, which can negatively impact scenic values. While the BLM has a system for managing visual resources and mitigating the potential impacts of development on visual quality, it does not adequately consider cumulative visual effects, which are the combined impacts of the same type of activity on the environment over space and time. This paper studies the challenges and opportunities faced by managers of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in southwestern Colorado, a landscape particularly affected by oil and gas development, at measuring and managing cumulative visual effects. This paper also reviews the results of a series of interviews conducted with experts in the field of cumulative visual effects and of a visual preference survey that highlight the strengths and limitations of existing methods for assessing cumulative visual effects. This research paper concludes with a list of recommendations for the BLM to incorporate cumulative visual effects into its existing visual resource management system and details directions for future research on this subject.

Tropical forests have existed for up to one hundred million years, and today provide many ecosystem services vital for human well-being. They also harbour great biodiversity, which, in addition to its intrinsic value, plays a key role in the functioning of these ecosystems. Despite their local to global significance, there are still many knowledge gaps concerning the dynamic processes that govern the functioning of tropical forests. Rapid rates of deforestation and landscape conversion, predominantly for logging and industrial agriculture, are limiting the time and opportunity available to collect the information needed to fill these gaps. This research aims to shed light on the long-term ecological functioning of tropical forests, specifically investigating the history of disturbance in these ecosystems and the response of forest vegetation to past perturbations. The carbon-rich tropical peat swamp forests found along the coast of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, are a central focus of this study. For these forests in particular, a large deficit of knowledge surrounding their history and unique ecological functioning is coupled with some of the highest conversion rates of all tropical forest ecosystems across the world. In this thesis, palaeoecological data has been used to reconstruct temporal variability in forest vegetation coincident with external perturbations in order to identify changes in the resilience of these ecosystems through time, via indicators such as slowing rates of recovery and reduced regeneration of forest vegetation. Results suggest that tropical forest ecosystems have, for the most part, shown resilience to natural disturbances in the past, ranging from instantaneous localised tree-fall to longer-term regional climatic change; but that recent anthropogenic disturbances, of novel forms and greater intensities, are jeopardizing the potential for forest recovery and thus compromising ecosystem resilience. These findings enhance our understanding of the ecology of tropical peat swamp forests, and tropical forests more broadly. They also provide a context for contemporary tropical forest management, allowing for predictions on future responses to disturbance and enabling more ecologically sustainable landscape planning.

The thesis concerns studies on habitats utilized by insects associated with deadwood. It presents a review of current issues in the conservation of saproxylic biodiversity. The effects of active intervention on temperate lowland woodland habitats, such as pollarding or coppicing, are evaluated in terms of their suitability for saproxylic communities and other groups. Further, the importance of open-grown trees for saproxylic diversity is assessed.