Introdução. A leishmaniose tegumentar americana (LTA) é uma endemia de importância em saúde pública na Amazônia Brasileira, onde possui diferentes perfis de transmissão com a participação de diversas espécies de vetores e de protozoários do gênero Leishmania. O Estado do Acre apresenta altos índices de LTA e, no ano de 2015, apresentou o mais alto coeficiente de detecção de casos (137,7/100.000 hab.) da doença no Brasil. Objetivo. Analisar aspectos epidemiológicos da LTA no município de Xapuri, Estado do Acre, Brasil, envolvendo população humana, cães domésticos, vetores e identificação de Leishmania. Materiais e Métodos. Para a avaliação epidemiológica, foram analisadas fichas de notificação dos casos humanos no período de 2008 a 2014 obtidas do sistema de vigilância epidemiológica do município. Foram analisadas as variáveis: sexo, grupo etário, escolaridade, forma clínica, diagnóstico, tratamento e evolução clínica. Os dados foram submetidos à análise descritiva e teste estatístico do qui-quadrado de Pearson utilizando o pacote estatístico STATA. Também foram obtidas amostras de material de pacientes (escarificação das lesões fixadas em lâminas) atendidos no centro médico do município, durante o período de novembro de 2014 a janeiro de 2016. As amostras foram submetidas à análise molecular para diagnóstico de Leishmania spp. O inquérito canino foi realizado em áreas urbanas e rurais; nestas, predominantemente, em seringais, onde a doença foi reportada em humanos. Após avaliação clínica dos animais para busca de lesões e sinais característicos de leishmanioses, foram coletadas amostras de sangue venoso por punção jugular ou cefálica, e quando havia lesões sugestivas da doença, foram anestesiados e submetidos à biopsia para colheita do fragmento de lesão. Amostras destes fragmentos foram submetidas a técnicas parasitológicas, inoculação em meio de cultura Neal, Novy e Nicolle, exame direto e técnicas moleculares para detecção do parasita. A identificação de Leishmania spp. foi realizada por técnicas moleculares. Os flebotomíneos foram coletados em ambiente domiciliar e florestal de dois seringais (Floresta e Cachoeira) e na área urbana, com armadilhas luminosas tipo CDC, instaladas mensalmente, no período de agosto de 2013 a julho de 2015. Neste período, apenas no seringal Cachoeira, também foram feitas coletas utilizando armadilhas de Shannon nas cores branca e preta, e de janeiro a maio de 2016, coletas em trocos de árvores com aspiradores manuais. Uma amostra de fêmeas coletadas pelas diferentes técnicas foi dissecada viii para investigação da presença de flagelados. Para a análise do comportamento da fauna flebotomínea foram utilizados índices ecológicos como de Shannon, Pielou e Abundância das Espécies Padronizado, média geométrica de Williams e análise dos componentes principais. Para estimar a atratividade dos flebotomíneos pelas cores branca e preta foi utilizado o teste de Mann-Whitney (p<0,05). Análises morfométricas utilizando o teste de Gabriel (teste F, p <0,05) foram feitas para distinguir alguns táxons. Para as análises moleculares dos parasitas foi empregada a técnica de Nested-PCR SSU rRNA utilizando os iniciadores S4/S12 e S17/S18 e sequenciamento. Resultados. No estudo de casos humanos, constatou-se que a doença ocorre predominantemente em populações rurais e isoladas do município, em indivíduos de ambos os sexos, com as incidências mais elevadas em crianças e adolescentes. Em 33 dos 45 pacientes com clínica positiva para LTA foram detectadas a presença de DNA de Leishmania spp. Nos cães domésticos, verificou-se alta taxa de infecção (20,0 por cento ) por Leishmania (Viannia) sp. Nos estudos de flebotomíneos, foram coletados 21.197 espécimes (14.210 fêmeas e 7.107 machos) com armadilhas CDC, e 6.309 (864 machos e 5.445 fêmeas) com armadilhas de Shannon. As frequências, abundâncias e densidades mais elevadas foram dos gêneros Nyssomyia, Psychodopygus e Trichophoromyia, coletados em ambientes silvestres, peri e intradomiciliares. Em ambiente rural foram coletados 99,9 por cento dos espécimes e no urbano apenas 0,1 por cento . Nyssomyia shawi predominou no Seringal Cachoeira, e Trichophoromyia spp. (Th. auraensis/Th. ruifreitasi) no Seringal Floresta. Espécies do gênero Psychodopygus predominaram no período chuvoso, enquanto as de Nyssomyia, no período seco. Infecções por Leishmania spp. foram detectadas em Brumptomyia sp., Nyssomyia antunesi, Ny. shawi, Lutzomyia sherlocki, Psathyromyia aragaoi, Psychodopygus carrerai carrerai, Ps. davisi, Ps. hirsutus hisutus, Ps. llanosmartinsi, Ps. lainsoni, Thrichophoromyia ubiquitalis e Trichophoromyia spp. Por meio de análises morfológicas e morfométricas das fêmeas de Trichophoromyia sugeriu-se a distinção de Th. octavioi de Trichophoromyia spp. (Th. auraensis/Th. ruifreitasi) e descreveu-se, Psathyromyia elizabethdorvalae sp. n. Conclusões. A LTA em Xapuri apresenta um perfil de transmissão silvestre e outro domiciliar. As populações humanas e caninas que frequentam ambientes florestais estão expostas a uma alta diversidade de vetores e de agentes etiológicos, o que aumenta o risco de infecção de LTA. As informações aqui apresentadas podem nortear as medidas de controle, planejamento das ações e definição de prioridades dos órgãos de vigilância epidemiológica do Estado do Acre, visando o diagnóstico precoce e tratamento adequado dos casos de leishmanioses da população humana de Xapuri / Introduction. American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is an endemic disease that deserves the attention of public health in the Brazilian Amazon, where it has various transmission profiles with the participation of several species of vectors and protozoa of the genus Leishmania. The state of Acre registers high rates of ACL, having in 2015 the highest coefficient of detection of cases (137.7 / 100,000 inhab.) in Brazil. Objective. To analyze the epidemiological aspects of LTA in the municipality of Xapuri, State of Acre, Brazil, involving the human population, domestic dogs, vectors and the identification of Leishmania ssp. Materials and Methods. For the epidemiological evaluation, records of the human cases notified between 2008 and 2014 obtained from the epidemiological surveillance system of the municipality, were analyzed. The following variables were selected for analysis: sex, age group, schooling, clinical form, diagnosis, treatment and clinical evolution. The data were submitted to descriptive analysis and the Pearson chi-squared statistical test using the statistical package STATA. Samples of patient material (scarification of lesions fixed on slides) were also obtained from the medical center of the city during the period from November 2014 to January 2016. These samples were submitted to molecular analysis for the diagnosis of Leishmania spp. The canine survey was carried out in both urban and rural areas, in the latter rubber plantations where the disease had been reported in humans predominated. After a clinical evaluation to search for lesions and characteristic signs of leishmaniasis, samples of venous blood were collected by jugular or cephalic puncture, and when the animals presented lesions suggestive of cutaneous leishmaniasis, they were anesthetized and submitted to biopsy to harvest the lesion fragment. Samples of these fragments were submitted to parasitological techniques, inoculation in Neal, Novy and Nicolle culture medium, direct examination and molecular techniques to detect Leishmania spp. The samples were submitted to molecular analysis for the diagnosis of Leishmania spp. The phlebotomine survey was carried out in forest and the domiciliary environment of the city and in two rubber plantation areas (Seringal Cachoeira and Seringal Floresta), monthly using CDC light traps, from August 2013 to July 2015. In this period, only in the Seringal Cachoeira were collections also made using black and white Shannon traps. Collections in tree trunks and among tree roots with manual aspirators were also undertaken from January to May 2016. xi Samples of females collected by different techniques were dissected to investigate the presence of flagellates. For the analysis of the behavior of the phlebotomine fauna, ecological indexes such as Shannon, Pielou, and Standardized Species Abundance, Williams geometric mean and main component analysis were used. The Mann-Whitney test (p <0.05) was used to estimate the attractiveness of the black and white colors to sandflies. Morphometric analyses using the Gabriel test (test F, p <0.05) were made to distinguish between some taxa. For the molecular analyses of the parasites the Nested-PCR SSU rRNA technique was used using primers S4 / S12 and S17 / S18 and sequencing. Results. In the study of human cases, it was found that the disease occurs in rural and isolated populations and in individuals of both sexes, especially in children and adolescents. In 33 of the 45 patients with positive ACL, the presence of Leishmania spp DNA was detected. The domestic dogs have shown a high infection rate (20.0 per cent ) attributed to Leishmania (Viannia) sp. In the sandfly studies, 21,197 specimens (14,210 females and 7,107 males) were collected in CDC traps, and 6,309 (864 males and 5,445 females) were collected in Shannon traps. The highest frequencies, abundances and densities were of the genera Nyssomyia, Psychodopygus and Trichophoromyia collected in wild, peri and intradomiciliary environments. Nyssomyia shawi predominated in the Seringal Cachoeira, and the Trichophoromyia spp. (Th. auraensis/Th. ruifreitasi) in the Seringal Floresta. Species of the genus Psychodopygus predominated in the rainy season while those of Nyssomyia in the dry period. Natural infections by Leishmania spp were detected in Brumptomyia sp., Nyssomyia antunesi, Ny. shawi, Lutzomyia sherlocki, Psathyromyia aragaoi, Psychodopygus carrerai carrerai, Ps. davisi, Ps. hirsutus hirsutus, Ps. llanosmartinsi, Ps. lainsoni, Trichophoromyia ubiquitalis and Trichophoromyia sp. Morphological and morphometric analyses of Trichophoromyia females were suggested to distinguish Th. octavioi from Trichophoromyia spp (Th. auraensis/Th. ruifreitasi), Pa. elizabethdorvalae being described for the first time. Conclusions. ACL in Xapuri presents one profile of wild transmission and another of domiciliar transmission. Both populations, human and canine, because they live in forest environments are exposed to a high diversity of vectors and etiological agents, which increases the risk of ACL infection. The information presented here may guide the measures of control, planning of actions and definition of priorities taken by the organs of surveillance and epidemiology of the State of Acre, aiming at the early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of the human cases in Xapuri

The replacement of the native vegetation by pastures and silviculture can result in clear changes on the carbon and nitrogen pools, stocks and dynamics. We aimed to assess the impact of the woodland cerrado (cerradão) conversion into pastures and Eucalyptus plantations on the soil organic carbon (SOC) labile pools and dynamics, on the concentrations of N variables and on the potential for nitrogen mineralization (PMN) in the first 200 cm of the soil profile. We also assessed the seasonal variation on the overall variability in soil C and N pools and dynamics. Finally, we investigated the C and N stocks belowground (up to 50 cm depth) and C stocks aboveground. We had three sampling sites in a region originally covered by cerradão physiognomy. Each sampling included a control area (Cerrado) and two land uses (Pasture, Eucalyptus). Soil samples were taken at 0-10, 10-30, 30-50, 50-100 and 100-200 cm depths during the dry and wet climate seasons, from which we used the first three depths for stocks calculation. We also collected litter and herbs+shrubs biomass, and measured the tree biomass for C stocks calculation. Our results showed ~50% reduction of the microbial biomass (MBC) and MBC:SOC for pastures and Eucalyptus plantations, indicating lower SOC stability. Reduction in the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and DOC:SOC, and increment on the metabolic quotient were also registered for both land uses along the soil profile up to 30 or 50 cm depth. Higher SBR and qCO2 rates are associated to a microbial community under stress. Land use effect on SOC labile pools and dynamics was more marked in the dry season. The inorganic forms of nitrogen (NH4-N and NO3-N) and PMN were significantly affected by land use conversion, with decreases in both land uses compared to native Cerrado, with lower values found in Eucalyptus. Urease activity also decreased with land conversion. The N variables all decreased with depth from 10 to 50 cm depth. Land conversion also resulted in C and N stock losses, and in redistribution among the system compartments. Pastures showed 53% less overall C stock, and Eucalyptus plantations had 20% more. Carbon was mostly stored belowground in pastures, and aboveground in Eucalyptus, as the native Cerrado showed a balanced distribution. Aboveground, C was 94% reduced in pastures compared to Cerrado, and 80% increased in Eucalyptus plantations; belowground, pastures had 19% and 25% reductions in the overall C and N stocks respectively, with significant decreases for the stocks of arboreal C, MBC, coarse root C and N, NO3-N and PMN. Eucalyptus plantations had 23% decrease in C and 19% in N stocks, with significant reductions in the stocks of herbs+shrubs C, MBC, fine and coarse root C, fine root N, NH4-N and PMN. Both land uses had similar overall losses of C and N belowground, which were evident until 50 cm depth, but higher at the 10-30 cm layer. Our results show negative impacts on carbon and nitrogen pools, cycling processes and stocks due to Cerrado conversion to pastures and Eucalyptus plantations / A substituição da vegetação nativa por pastagem e silvicultura pode resultar em mudanças nas concentrações, estoques e dinâmica do carbono e nitrogênio. O objetivo do trabalho foi analisar o impacto da conversão de cerradão em pastagens de braquiária e plantações de eucalipto na dinâmica e na concentração de variáveis da fração lábil do carbono orgânico do solo (SOC), nas concentrações das variáveis de nitrogênio e no seu potencial de mineralização (PMN), para os primeiros 200 cm de profundidade do solo. Foi ainda avaliada a variação sazonal na variabilidade das concentrações e dinâmicas de C e N no solo. Além disso, investigamos os estoques de C e N abaixo do solo (até 50 cm de profundidade) e os estoques de C acima do solo. Nossas amostragens foram realizadas em três áreas de pesquisa, numa região originalmente coberta por cerradão. Cada área de pesquisa era constituída por um sítio controle (Cerrado) e dois usos das terras (pastagem, eucalipto). Amostras de solo foram coletadas nas profundidades de 0-10, 10-30, 30-50, 50-100 e 100-200 cm durante as estações seca e chuvosa, para as análises das frações de C e N; para o cálculo dos estoques de C e N, foram utilizadas somente as três primeiras profundidades. Também coletamos serapilheira e biomassa de herbáceas + arbustos, assim como tiramos medidas das árvores para o cálculo do estoque de C acima do solo. Nossos resultados mostraram uma redução de aproximadamente 50% da biomassa microbiana (MBC) e da taxa MBC:SOC para pastagens e plantios de eucalipto, indicando menor estabilidade do carbono orgânico do solo. Também foram registrados decréscimos para o carbono orgânico dissolvido (DOC) e para as taxas DOC:SOC, além de aumentos para o quociente metabólico em ambos os usos, ao longo do perfil do solo até 30 ou 50 cm de profundidade. Taxas mais altas de respiração edáfica e do quociente metabólico estão associadas a uma comunidade microbiana sob estresse. O efeito do uso das terras nas concentrações e na dinâmica das variáveis lábeis do C orgânico do solo foi mais acentuado na estação seca. As formas inorgânicas de nitrogênio (NH4-N e NO3-N) e PMN foram significativamente afetados pela conversão do uso da terra, com decréscimos em ambos os usos em comparação ao Cerrado nativo, sendo menores os valores encontrados no Eucalipto. A atividade da urese também decresceu com a mudança de uso. Todas as variáveis de N diminuíram com a profundidade de 10 a 50 cm. A conversão de uso também resultou em perdas nos estoques de C e N e em sua redistribuição entre os compartimentos acima e abaixo do solo. O estoque total de C em pastagens reduziu em 53% e nas plantações de eucalipto ocorreu aumento de 20%. O carbono foi armazenado principalmente abaixo do solo em pastagens e acima do solo nos plantios de eucaliptos, enquanto que o Cerrado nativo apresentou uma distribuição equilibrada entre esses dois grandes compartimentos. Na pastagem, foi registrada uma redução de 94% no estoque da biomassa aérea, em comparação com o Cerrado, enquanto que as plantações de eucalipto apresentaram um aumento de 80%; abaixo do solo, as pastagens tiveram reduções de 19% e 25% nos estoques totais de C e N, respectivamente, com decréscimos significativos para o estoque C de árvores, de MBC, de C e N de raizes grossas, de NO3-N e de PMN. As plantações de eucalipto tiveram redução de 23% para o estoque total de C abaixo do solo e de 19% para o estoque de N (abaixo do solo), com reduções significativas para estoque C da biomassa de ervas + arbustos, de MBC, de C de raízes finas e grossas, bem como para os estoque de N de raízes finas, de NH4-N e de PMN. Ambos os usos da terra tiveram perdas totais semelhantes para os estoques de C e N abaixo do solo, que ficaram evidentes até 50 cm de profundidade, porém, mais significativos na camada de 10-30 cm. Nossos resultados demonstraram impactos negativos da conversão do cerrado em pastagens e plantações de eucalipto para as concentrações de carbono e nitrogênio, assim como em seus processos de ciclagem e estoques

Aboveground and belowground ectomycorrhizal (ECM) communities associated with different age classes of the exotic plantation species Pinus radiata were investigated over the course of two years in the North Island of New Zealand. ECM species were identified with a combined approach of morphological and molecular (restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and DNA sequencing) analysis. ECM species richness and diversity of a nursery in Rotorua, and stands of different ages (1, 2, 8, 15 and 26 yrs of age at time of final assessment) in Kaingaroa Forest, were assessed above- and belowground; furthermore, the correlation between the above- and belowground ECM communities was assessed. It was found that the overall and stand specific species richness and diversity of ECM fungi associated with the exotic host tree in New Zealand were low compared to similar forests in the Northern Hemisphere but similar to other exotic plantations in the Southern Hemisphere. Over the course of this study, 18 ECM species were observed aboveground and 19 ECM species belowground. With the aid of molecular analysis the identities of Laccaria proxima and Inocybe sindonia were clarified. In the aboveground study, five species were found associated with P. radiata that were previously not reported with this host in New Zealand (Inocybe sindonia, Lactarius rufus, Lycoperdon gunii, Rhizopogon pseudoroseolus and Wilcoxina mikolae). Belowground, the species Psudotomentella sp., P. tristis, R. luteorubescens, Tomentella sp., Wilcoxina mikolae were found as new associates of P. radiata in New Zealand, additionally nine ECM types were found that could not be identified with molecular analysis. There was little correlation between the species fruiting and the species colonising root tips. Only seven species were found in common between the above- and belowground communities, furthermore the dominant species aboveground were not observed in the belowground ECM communities. The influence of host age on the above- and belowground ECM communities of different age classes of P. radiata plantations was investigated. The aboveground species richness increased from the nursery to the oldest age group investigated (26 yrs), while diversity increased to the 15 yr old age group and decreased slightly to the oldest stand. A clear sequence of ECM species changes was observed to be related to stand age with a growing complexity over the chronosequence. The belowground ECM communities showed a different picture and richness and diversity initially decreased from the nursery to the outplanting but increased thereafter. Belowground no change in ECM composition that was directly related to the age of the host was observed, but two distinct groups of ECM species were found – a 'young' and a 'plantation forest' group, with the respective discriminating species being Rhizopogon rubescens and Type unknown Basidiomycete/Amanita muscaria. Another aspect of the study was the fate of the nursery ECM species in the outplanting and the arrival of non-nursery species. The ECM communities of seedlings in the nursery were investigated in 2006 and these seedlings were followed up over eight assessments in the field for one year, furthermore data from the 1-, 2 and 8 yr old plantation stands was analysed. It was found that the nursery species do survive the first year of outplanting and are dominant in the first year. The first non-nursery species occurred six months after outplanting but was only in minor abundance. Nursery ECM were dominant for two years after the seedlings were planted, and were completely replaced after seven years. Rhizopogon rubescens was found to be the most persistent and dominant species in the outplanting, facilitating the successful establishment of the seedlings in the plantation forest.

Depuis que la Communauté européenne a interdit la mise en décharge des déchets non ultimes, la recherche de nouveaux débouchés pour les boues d'épuration devient cruciale. En région méditerranéenne, les feux récurrents et les précipitations parfois violentes favorisent l'érosion et induisent l'appauvrissement des sols. Les sols calcaires dégradés sont souvent colonisés par des formations végétales stables à Quercus coccifera, adaptées à un faible niveau de ressources, ce qui ralentit l'installation naturelle des arbres. Dans de tels milieux, un amendement organique pourrait améliorer la fertilité du sol, modifier la dynamique et les relations de dominance de la végétation, et favoriser les processus de succession et de résilience, ainsi que la reforestation. Deux expérimentations ont été menées en Provence pour étudier les effets d'apports de compost de boues d'épuration urbaines et de déchets verts sur la dynamique d'un écosystème de garrigue. Premièrement, 0, 50, et 100 t.ha-1 de compost brut ont été épandues en surface dans le biotope naturel de garrigue, et les conséquences sur le fonctionnement de l'écosystème ont été étudiées. Les compartiments sol, végétation et microorganismes de la litière ont été suivis pendant deux ans après amendement (2002-2004). Deuxièmement, nous avons incorporé au sol trois doses de compost brut (0, 20, et 40 kg.ha-1) au pied de jeunes plants d'arbres. L'évolution des propriétés édaphiques et du développement des arbres a été suivie respectivement pendant trois ans (2001-2003) et deux ans (2002-2003). L'amendement a durablement (2 ans) et efficacement amélioré la fertilité du sol. Cependant, le sol a été fortement enrichi en P et Zn, ce qui pourrait entraîner des problèmes sérieux de pollution des eaux et de toxicité sur les microorganismes. Ces deux éléments limitent l'utilisation de compost de boues dans les milieux naturels, et des amendements répétés aux doses étudiées sont inenvisageables. Dans la plantation, l'amendement a globalement favorisé le processus de reforestation en améliorant la nutrition et la croissance des plants, et surtout en augmentant leur survie en période de sécheresse. En outre, l'apport de compost en surface a généré l'apparition d'îlots fertiles dans le biotope garrigue, au sein desquels les processus de succession végétale pourraient être localement optimisés, ce qui pourrait favoriser à terme la colonisation par la strate arborée, notamment par Pinus halepensis. Par ailleurs, l'amendement augmente la diversité fonctionnelle en garrigue du fait de son effet bénéfique sur les espèces semencières, ce qui pourrait améliorer la résilience de l'écosystème après incendie. Ces effets bénéfiques du compost se produisent surtout pour les doses intermédiaires. L'utilisation de compost aux doses maximales testées devrait être abandonnée, du fait d'une dépréciation de la colonisation fongique de la litière de Quercus coccifera observée pour 100t.ha-1, et du fait d'une augmentation des risques de pollution par le P et le Zn proportionnellement au taux d'apport. Cependant, la nature calcaire du sol expérimental et la maturité élevée du compost ont limité les phénomènes d'exportation vers les eaux et la contamination des plantes par les éléments potentiellement toxiques. L'apport de compost en surface a plutôt augmenté la sensibilité des plantes à la sécheresse, alors que celle-ci a diminué lorsque le compost a été apporté en mélange au sol. Enfin, l'apport de compost en garrigue a eu des effets multiples (fertilisation, écrasement, dépôt d'une couche fertile) et a permis de mettre en évidence les stratégies spécifiques des plantes dans la gestion des nutriments et de la productivité. Ce travail montre l'importance relative des espèces végétales sur le fonctionnement de l'écosystème, identifie les espèces clef pour le recyclage des éléments, et illustre la complémentarité d'utilisation des ressources qui existe au sein de l'écosystème naturel de garrigue.

<p><strong>Background</strong></p><p>This thesis is conducted for Husqvarna AB with the aim to map the Laotian market for them in terms of market potential for forestry power equipment. In order to provide decision material for further action I was asked to give a description of the Laotian forestry sector; research potential harvesting volumes; analyze the competitive situation; describe the general business conditions in Laos; and provide some insight as to how Husqvarna can enter the Laotian market.</p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Method</strong></p><p>The method I have used for collection of information is two-fold. The empirical data has mostly been derived via interviews with forestry officials and companies involved in forestry. The theoretical review and collection of secondary data has been performed by research of books, journals, reports, newspapers and online sources. The research methodology can accordingly be labelled "the actor approach" which methodology is based on understanding social entireties. An important element in this approach is a process referred to as the hermeneutic circle - a process in which new knowledge is continuously incorporated into the understanding and used as base for further research. An important part of the method is my personal experience of Laos, from which I consider myself being able to base some conclusions.</p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Theoretical Review</strong></p><p>Foreign market entry can generally be made in four modes: Exporting, licensing, joint ventures, or sole ventures. Foreign market entry strategies may involve adapting the marketing strategy. It may also necessitate product adaption.</p><p> </p><p>Market entry in developing countries will most likely mean being exposed to unfamiliar environments. The general business conditions might be very different from the home market and constitute higher levels of trade barriers and sociocultural distance may be difficult to deal with.</p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Case Study, Conclusions and Reflections</strong></p><p>The highlights from these two chapters include:</p><ul type="disc"><li>Laos offers foreign investors to use any of the four market entry modes.</li><li>Doing business in Laos receives a low international rating, especially in terms of labor restrictions. It also has rather high trade barriers.</li><li>Laos is developing its commercial tree plantation sector and estimates suggest that the harvesting volumes will be increasing rapidly in the coming 10-15 years.</li><li>Importing and selling forestry power equipment is restricted. Laos does not yet have any authorized dealer for chainsaws. This provides for interesting opportunities.</li><li>The market is flooded with cheap, illegally imported, Chinese chainsaws, but it is questionable whether this actually constitutes any competition to Husqvarna, being a high quality brand. The Chinese chainsaws might however soon increase in terms of quality and be more competitive.</li><li>Obtaining an import and sales license for outdoor power products may be a rather lengthy procedure but once in place would mean being the first authorized dealer - which might be advantageous.</li></ul><p> </p><p><strong>Recommendation</strong></p><p>Due to Laos making efforts to increase the commercial tree plantation area, the harvesting volumes will increase rapidly the coming years. The sales potential for forestry equipment will hence increase in the years to come.</p><p> </p><p>My recommendation to Husqvarna, if they have resources, is therefore to locate a dealer and enter the Laotian market. Plantations are however still mostly in the development phase. It is therefore doubtful that early entry is profitable enough to be motivated if there are other markets with higher potential that Husqvarna wants to enter.</p><p> </p>

Background This thesis is conducted for Husqvarna AB with the aim to map the Laotian market for them in terms of market potential for forestry power equipment. In order to provide decision material for further action I was asked to give a description of the Laotian forestry sector; research potential harvesting volumes; analyze the competitive situation; describe the general business conditions in Laos; and provide some insight as to how Husqvarna can enter the Laotian market. Method The method I have used for collection of information is two-fold. The empirical data has mostly been derived via interviews with forestry officials and companies involved in forestry. The theoretical review and collection of secondary data has been performed by research of books, journals, reports, newspapers and online sources. The research methodology can accordingly be labelled "the actor approach" which methodology is based on understanding social entireties. An important element in this approach is a process referred to as the hermeneutic circle - a process in which new knowledge is continuously incorporated into the understanding and used as base for further research. An important part of the method is my personal experience of Laos, from which I consider myself being able to base some conclusions. Theoretical Review Foreign market entry can generally be made in four modes: Exporting, licensing, joint ventures, or sole ventures. Foreign market entry strategies may involve adapting the marketing strategy. It may also necessitate product adaption.   Market entry in developing countries will most likely mean being exposed to unfamiliar environments. The general business conditions might be very different from the home market and constitute higher levels of trade barriers and sociocultural distance may be difficult to deal with. Case Study, Conclusions and Reflections The highlights from these two chapters include: <ul type="disc">Laos offers foreign investors to use any of the four market entry modes. Doing business in Laos receives a low international rating, especially in terms of labor restrictions. It also has rather high trade barriers. Laos is developing its commercial tree plantation sector and estimates suggest that the harvesting volumes will be increasing rapidly in the coming 10-15 years. Importing and selling forestry power equipment is restricted. Laos does not yet have any authorized dealer for chainsaws. This provides for interesting opportunities. The market is flooded with cheap, illegally imported, Chinese chainsaws, but it is questionable whether this actually constitutes any competition to Husqvarna, being a high quality brand. The Chinese chainsaws might however soon increase in terms of quality and be more competitive. Obtaining an import and sales license for outdoor power products may be a rather lengthy procedure but once in place would mean being the first authorized dealer - which might be advantageous.   Recommendation Due to Laos making efforts to increase the commercial tree plantation area, the harvesting volumes will increase rapidly the coming years. The sales potential for forestry equipment will hence increase in the years to come.   My recommendation to Husqvarna, if they have resources, is therefore to locate a dealer and enter the Laotian market. Plantations are however still mostly in the development phase. It is therefore doubtful that early entry is profitable enough to be motivated if there are other markets with higher potential that Husqvarna wants to enter.

Increased afforestation and protective legislation in the latter half of the 20th Century allowed the British pine marten Martes martes population to recover from near extinction. Although still largely confined to northern Scotland, the marten population is expanding its size and range by utlising coniferous plantation forests which have become increasingly available. However, little is known about the marten’s ecology in plantation forestry, and less about how they may adapt to changing silvicultural trends. This study investigated aspects of pine marten ecology within Morangie forest, a managed plantation in NE Scotland, with the ultimate aim of formulating management guidelines for modern plantation forests. During the course of the study 11 pine marten were radiotracked and their home ranges mapped to examine marten-habitat associations at several spatial scales. Compositional analysis of habitat based on dominant vegetation type showed that martens established their home ranges in areas dominated by mature forest, whilst showing relative avoidance for open heath moor and grazed pasture. Within home ranges, foraging martens utilised patches of graminoid vegetation, such as those typically associated with Microtus voles, in areas with little or no tree canopy cover. These findings provide unequivocal evidence that fine-scale patches of non-forested habitat provide crucial foraging resources for marten, and therefore ought to be provisioned for in forest management plans. To assist the implementation of these requirements in forest planning, a model was developed to predict the fine scale distribution of Microtus-rich foraging habitat for marten using GIS-based habitat variables that are routinely available to forest managers: topographic wetness index, stand tree height and stand basal area. Management recommendations of ways to improve wind-firm plantation forests as habitats for pine marten are provided. To augment the investigation of marten spatial ecology, the diet of martens was examined seasonally through the analysis of contents from c. 2450 scats, 86 % of which were genetically identified as being pine marten in origin. Marten diets displayed marked seasonality, but small mammals, berries and small birds were the principal foods consumed based on both frequency of occurrence and estimated weight of biomass ingested. Comparison of the relative composition of small mammal species in the diet with those available in the environment revealed that marten displayed an indisputable preference for Microtus voles. Such habits demonstrate that the niche of Scottish martens has diverged from those in mainland populations which predominantly prey upon Clethrionomys voles. A comparison of the marten’s winter diet with those found in studies at similar latitudes (58°N) demonstrated that the Scottish diet was more similar to diets at more southerly latitudes as they contained more fruit and fewer large mammals than typically boreal diets. Investigation of inter-annual variation of the marten’s spring diet from five successive years revealed that Microtus were consistently the most important prey species in the diet each year. Indirect evidence of the relative abundance of Microtus suggested that Microtus populations were non-cyclic. Findings are discussed with reference to the unique ecological circumstances confronting marten in the Scotland; typical of insular populations the UK has a depauperate native fauna in comparison with mainland Europe, in addition to this, mild climatic conditions, particularly over winter, and a historically fragmented landscape appear to have allowed the niche of the Scottish marten to diverge from that considered typical elsewhere in its range. The Scottish marten is dependent on both forested and open habitats, and is both a Microtus specialist and trophic generalist.

No description available.

This dissertation examines how honor was fashioned in the New South by examining the masculine roles performed by William Greene Raoul, Jr. Raoul wrote his autobiography in the mid-1930s and in it he reflected on his life on the New South's frontier at the turn of the century as change came to the region in all aspects of life: politically, economically, socially, sexually, and racially. Raoul was an elite son of the New South whose memoirs, "The Proletarian Aristocrat," reveals a man of multiple masculinities, each with particular ways of retrieving his past(s). The paradox of his title suggests the parallel organization of Raoul's recollections. The "aristocrat" framed the events of a lifetime through a lens of honor, sustained by southern gentlemen who restrained masculine impulses on the one hand and avoided dependency on the other. Raoul the "proletarian" cast honor through an ideological retrospective whereby traumatic memories of disappointment and failure were re-fashioned through a distinctly politicized view constructed rather than recalled. Raoul's business failures led him to re-conceptualize masculine honor as a quality possessed more by the emerging working class than the rising commercial class. Memory operates in this project as more than mere methodology as assumptions about access to the past through memory are subordinated to an examination of the meaning of the memories rehearsed by Raoul. Raoul wrote his autobiography at a bittersweet moment in his life. While his personal fortune had been nearly wiped out by the stock market crash of October 1929, he clearly looked back on his career in the New South as a committed radical with delight as the Great Depression called into question the legitimacy of the capitalist system that he had long held responsible for his own professional failures in a variety of endeavors, from the cotton-mill industry to box-car building and from saw manufacturing to a practicing accountant. Raoul converted to Socialism in part to join what he regarded as society's most progressive and virile force. It is these two voices, the proletarian and the aristocrat, that are under examination here.

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