A frequência ideal de pastejo em gramíneas tropicais é aquela associada com a interrupção da rebrotação quando o dossel forrageiro atinge 95% de interceptação da luz incidente (IL). Leguminosas forrageiras tropicais, particularmente o amendoim forrageiro, apresentam elevado potencial de uso, especialmente pela habilidade de fixar N2 atmosférico. Contudo, informações acerca de suas respostas sob condições de pastejo são escassas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as respostas agronômicas, as reservas orgânicas de C e N e a fixação biológica de N do amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte) sob condições de pastejo. No caso das avaliações de fixação biológica de N, foram conduzidos dois experimentos, um sob lotação contínua e outro sob lotação intemitente (pastejo rotativo). Durante o período que antecedeu cada um dos experimentos (entre 60 e 90 dias) os piquetes foram submetidos aos tratamentos de pastejo para adaptação. Para o experimento de lotação intermitente os tratamentos corresponderam a combinações entre duas condições pré- (95% e máxima interceptação de luz durante a rebrotação - IL95% e ILMáx, respectivamente) e duas condições pós-pastejo (alturas pós-pastejo correspondentes a 40 e 60% da altura pré-pastejo) alocados às unidades experimentais segundo arranjo fatorial 2x2 e delineamento de blocos completos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Para o experimento de lotação contínua os tratamentos corresponderam a quatro alturas de manejo (5, 10, 15 e 20 cm) mantidas constantes ao longo de todo o período experimental. As avaliações foram realizadas ao longo de todo o ano, em épocas predeterminadas. Sob lotação intermitente, pastos manejados com a meta IL95% apresentaram menor altura pré-pastejo (13,3 cm) relativamente a pastos manejados com a meta ILMáx (18,5 cm), assim como menor acúmulo de estolão durante a rebrotação, porém sem diferença em acúmulo de forragem. Variações estacionais nas respostas agronômicas estiveram associadas ao ciclo anual de desenvolvimento das plantas e sua estratégia para otimizar recursos energéticos, evento conhecido como segmentação. Ao contrário da maioria dos relatos apresentados na literatura, pastejos frequentes (IL95%) e severos (40% da altura pré-pastejo) sob lotação intermitente ou mais intensos sob lotação contínua (alturas de manejo de 5 e 10 cm) não ocasionaram impactos negativos sobre o sistema radicular e o processo de nodulação. Contudo, maiores valores de nitrogênio oriundo da fixação biológica (%Ndda ) e a FBN (kg ha-1 N) foram obtidos em pastos manejados com estratégias de manejo de intensidade de pastejo moderada a leniente, caracterizadas por valores maiores de biomassa da parte aérea (IAF médio) independente do método de pastejo empregado. As reservas orgânicas de carbono (C) e nitrogênio (N) apresentaram variações ao longo do ano. De forma geral, períodos menos propícios ao crescimento e desenvolvimento da espécie (outono/inverno e início de primavera) apresentaram acúmulo de CHO\'s e nitrogênio solúvel tanto em concentração como em quantidade (pool). Independentemente do método de pastejo considerado, lotação contínua e lotação intermitente, as respostas avaliadas apresentaram como ponto comum a luz e suas relações, uma vez que quando avaliadas em função da biomassa áerea média ou IAF médios seguiram um mesmo continuum de variação. Intensidade de pastejo moderada a leniente parece ser a mais indicada para o manejo do amendoim forrageiro sob pastejo. / The ideal grazing frequency of tropical forage grasses is associated with the interruption of regrowth when sward canopy intercepts 95% of the incident light (LI). Tropical forage legumes, particularly forage peanut, have a high potential of use, specialy due to their ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. However, information about their responses under grazing are scarse. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agromic responses, C and N organic reserves and nitrogen biological fixation (NBF) of forage peanut (Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte) under grazing. For measurements regarding NBF, two experiments were carried out, one under continuous and other under intermitent stocking (rotational grazing). Prior to the beginning of the experiments (between 60 and 90 days), paddocks were subjected to the grazing treatments for adaptation purposes. For the intermitent stocking experiment, treatments corresponded to combinations between two pre- (95% and maximum canopy light interception during grazing - LI95% and LIMax, respectively) and two post-grazing conditions (post-grazing heights equivalent to 40 or 60% of the pre-grazing height). For the continuous stocking experiment, treatments corresponded to four grazing intensities represented for sward management heights of 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm. The experimental design was the same, a randomized complete block with four replications. Measurements were carried out throughout the year, in pre-determined seasons. Under intermitent stocking, swards managed with the LI95% target were shorter (13.3 cm) than those managed with the LIMax target (18.5 cm), and accumulated less stolon during regrowth, although with no difference in herbage accumulation. Seasonal variations in agronomic responses were associated with the annual cycle of plant development and strategy for optimizing energy use, an event known as segmentation. Contratry to the majority of reports in the literature, frequent (LI95%) and severe (post-grazing height equivalente to 40% of the pré-grazing height) grazings under intermitent stocking or intense grazing under continuous stocking (management heights of 5 and 10 cm) did not cause negative impacts on root mass and nodulation. However, greater values of nitrogen originated from biological fixation (%Ndda ) and NBF (kg ha-1 N) were recorded on swards managed with moderate to lenient grazing intensities, characterized by greater values of aerial biomass (average LAI) regardless of the grazing method used. C and N organic reserves varied throughout the year. In general, there was an accumulation of soluble carbohydrates and nitrogen (concentration and pool) during periods of limited availability of climatic growth factors (autumn/winter and early spring). Independent of grazing method, continuous or intermitent stocking, plant responses had their variability well associated with light and its relations, since when ploted against average aerial biomass or LAI followed the same continuum of variation. Moderate to lenient grazing intensity seems to be the most adequate for managing forage peanut under grazing.

As figuras das zonas de entorno e de amortecimento de unidades de conservação foram criadas em lei como áreas submetidas a limitações administrativas, nas quais devem ser impedidas ou regulamentadas atividades que ofereçam ameaça aos recursos naturais dos ecossistemas protegidos. A eficácia desses instrumentos jurídicos, porém, é discutível e foi objeto do presente estudo, tratando de um estudo de caso, na Estação Ecológica de Assis, situada no sudoeste do Estado de São Paulo, enquadrada como unidade de proteção integral, pertencente ao Instituto Florestal, órgão este subordinado à Secretaria de Estado Meio Ambiente. O estudo foi realizado com os seguintes objetivos: 1) proceder análise da legislação que trata do assunto, para tornar clara a natureza jurídica da zona de entorno e zona de amortecimento de unidades de conservação; 2) identificar as atividades humanas impactantes já existentes na zona de entorno da Estação Ecológica de Assis, hierarquizá-las segundo o nível de ameaça que oferecem e apontar possíveis soluções; 3) avaliar a eficácia da norma que estabelece o procedimento licenciatório em, efetivamente, impedir que sejam instaladas novas obras ou atividades impactantes na zona de entorno da EEcA. O levantamento das ameaças baseou-se em diagnóstico pré-existente, desenvolvido quando da elaboração do plano de desenvolvimento sustentável para o entorno da EEcA. No presente estudo, foi desenvolvido um protocolo de avaliação dos diferentes tipos de atividades impactantes, visando hierarquizá-las quanto ao nível de ameaça e possibilidade de solução, como ferramenta para dar suporte à ação dos gestores da unidade. Para as ameaças mais importantes (expansão urbana, aterro sanitário, expansão agrícola, animais exóticos e depósito de entulho) foram analisados os instrumentos jurídicos correlatos e verificou-se que, na maioria dos casos, a falha está, apenas, na aplicação das leis. Analisou-se, ainda, especificamente, a eficácia da Resolução CONAMA 13/90, que dispõe sobre a obrigatoriedade de que os gestores das unidades de conservação sejam ouvidos nos processos de licenciamento ambiental dentro da zona de entorno de unidades de conservação de proteção integral. Foram analisados 155 processos de licenciamento de obras inseridas na zona de entorno da EEcA. Concluiu-se que os pedidos mais freqüentes tratam de corte de árvores isoladas (35,5%) e intervenção em área de preservação permanente (31%), ambos relacionados com a expansão agrícola, sendo que os gestores da unidade foram ouvidos em apenas 8% desses processos. A lei não é clara quanto à especificação do que venha a ser atividade potencialmente impactante para efeito da Resolução CONAMA 13/90 e este é o pressuposto para que o órgão gestor tenha de ser ouvido nos processos. Esta indicação deveria ser feita pelo órgão gestor, mas, no caso da Estação Ecológica de Assis é inexistente, ficando a decisão por conta do órgão licenciador. Conclui-se que, no caso da EEcA, os instrumentos jurídicos vigentes não têm sido suficientes para conter os impactos oriundos da vizinhança sobre os recursos naturais da unidade de conservação. A zona de entorno, para funcionar, de fato, como um anteparo às atividades que ofereçam ameaça aos ecossistemas naturais e ao desenvolvimento sustentável, depende de providências que transcendem a esfera jurídica, passando pela conscientização das comunidades do entorno e, sobretudo, pela consolidação da sua existência perante os órgãos que atuam no licenciamento e fiscalização ambiental ou na tomada de decisões sobre o ordenamento territorial do município. / Buffer zones of the natural reserves have been considered as the most powerful instrument to prevent environmental impacts to the ecosystems coming from the neighboring areas. Their efficacy, however, is controvertible and that was the subject of the present case study, concerning to Assis Ecological Station, an integrally protected reserve from the Forestry Institute (Environment Secretary of São Paulo State). The aims of the study were: 1) to analyze the existing juridical tools concerning to the buffer zone of natural reserves; 2) to diagnose the anthropic activities already existing in the buffer zone of Assis Ecological Station, and to hierarchize them according to their threat level and possibility of solution; 3) to analyze the legal instruments dealing with these threats, searching for possible gaps and conflicts; 4) to evaluate the efficacy of Resolution CONAMA 13/90 in preventing new impactant activities to be installed in the buffer zone of Assis Ecological Station. Impactant activities already existing, which had been previously diagnosed by the sustainable development plan for Assis Ecological Station buffer zone, were hierarchized according to their threat level and possibility of solution by means of management actions. To the five more important threats (urban expansion, landfill, agriculture expansion, animal invaders and refuse material disposal), the correlated legislation was analyzed. For most cases the existing lows are just not executed. To verify the efficacy of Resolution CONAMA 13/90, a total of 155 lawsuits were analyzed. The most frequent impact to the natural resources has been related to the conversion of pastures into agriculture (35.5% cutting trees requested and 31% concerning the riparian zone reforestation, which is obliged). Against the law, only 8% of the lawsuits were submitted to the managers of the protected area and, from those which were submitted, in most cases, the opinion of the managers did not change the final sentence. The law is not clear in classifying a required undertaking as potentially impactant or not and that is supposed to be the prime condition to be mandatory the manager\'s opinion. We consider that the existing juridical instruments stating the buffer zone have not been sufficient to prevent environmental impacts to the natural resources of the protected areas. Prevention depends on environmental education of the neighboring communities, and also reinforcement of the buffer zone existence before environmental licensing and inspection agents or decision makers working on territorial ordainment in the municipalities.

Topic of this master thesis is the characterization of the relationship between private oil companies and the state. Ambition is to render this co-existence based on historical case studies and practical examples. Case studies show a transparent variety of state approaches and relations with private oil companies. Practical examples are characterized by three major oil states and demonstrate their efforts to prioritize "national champions" and to maximize their income from oil. Based on results of this work, it is clear that private companies and the state in most cases need each other, altough their relations are often tense. There are also a far-reaching legislative changes that are making actions of private oil companies more difficult.

Um dos maiores desafios para a mineração no Novo Milênio é a integração da Pequena Mineração no sistema ativo e sustentável de exploração dos recursos minerais. A Pequena Mineração (PM) é uma atividade de mineração definida por baixas despesas e receitas de capital e baixa produtividade. A Mineração Artesanal (MA) é apenas um subconjunto de PM, caracterizada pela mecanização rudimentar, recuperação ineficiente, condições operacionais inseguras e exploração do trabalho. Essa tese pretende demonstrar as seguintes questões de pesquisa: 1) A PM pode ser sustentável? 2) Se sim, como pode ser avaliada? 3) Como a PM sustentável pode ser conseguida na prática? Ao longo da tese é mostrado como a PM pode ser sustentável só saindo da dimensão artesanal. Tal processo depende da sua própria capacidade para operar de forma eficiente. Quando a eficiência operacional é alcançada, a sustentabilidade vem como consequência. Através da eficiência operacional, uma operação de SSM sai da condição artesanal, torna-se sustentável e a sustentabilidade dos meios de subsistência e ambiente circundante é estritamente consequente. Esta tese aborda a questão da PM, de forma quantitativa e não qualitativa. Indicadores básicos são individualizados especificamente para medir as características peculiares de minas artesanais, que as diferenciam das minas industriais. O objetivo desses indicadores é a padronização da avaliação de mina artesanal em termos quantitativos, uma importante ferramenta de pesquisa que não era disponível até agora. A análise desses indicadores permite medir a sustentabilidade potencial de uma mina artesanal, bem como sua atualização ao longo da transformação em uma pequena unidade de mineração industrial. Propõe-se uma nova abordagem para a gestão dos recursos minerais e reservas especificamente para a mineração em pequena escala, a fim de atualizar as minas artesanais em pequenas minas industriais. A abordagem proposta para o cálculo dessa reserva contém dois conceitos principais: uma \"reserva mínima\" necessária para o início do projeto, e a \"replicação\" da operação. A metodologia proposta, aplicada a uma operação de mineração subterrânea de ouro real, mostrou que, no caso em análise, as reservas necessárias para viabilizar a operação de pequena escala são da ordem de grandeza de 1/1000 de que as necessárias para a mineração em grande escala. Este trabalho mostra como uma forma responsável e sustentável de PM é possível e viável, ajudando o desenvolvimento econômico da região onde atua, e criando externalidades positivas, como educação, capacitação, cultura da eficiência e consciência ambiental. / One of the biggest challenges for Mining in the New Millennium is the integration of small-scale mining in the active and sustainable system of exploitation of mineral resources. Small-Scale Mining (SSM) is a mining activity defined by low productivity low capital expenditure and revenues. Artisanal Mining (AM) is just a subset of SSM, characterized by rudimentary mechanization, inefficient recovery, unsafe working conditions and labor exploitation. This thesis intends to answer the following research questions: 1) Can SSM can be sustainable? 2) If so, how can it be evaluated as such? 3) How can sustainable SSM be put into practice? Along the thesis is shown how SSM can be sustainable only coming out of the artisanal dimension. Such a process depends on its own ability to operate efficiently. When operational efficiency is achieved, sustainability comes as a consequence. Through operational efficiency, an operation of SSM comes out of the artisanal condition, it becomes sustainable, and sustainability of surrounding livelihood and environment is strictly consequent. This thesis approaches the issue of SSM in a quantitative and not qualitative way. Basic indicators are individuated specifically to measure the peculiar characteristics of artisanal mines, which differentiate the latter from industrial mines. The purpose of these indicators is the standardization of artisanal mine evaluation on a quantitative basis, an important yet currently unavailable research tool. The analysis of such indicators enables the potential sustainability of an underground artisanal mine to be measured, as well as its upgrade over time towards classification as an industrial small-scale mining unit. It is proposed a new approach for the management of mineral resources and reserves specifically for small-scale mining, in order to upgrade artisanal mines into small-scale industrial mines. The proposed approach to calculate this reserve contains two main concepts: a minimum reserve required for the project start-up and replication to confirm the feasibility of continued operation. The proposed methodology, applied to an actual underground gold mining operation, proved that, in the case analyzed, the reserves required for the small-scale operation are in the order of magnitude of 1/1000 of that required for large-scale mining, when both businesses possess the same level of feasibility. This work shows how a responsible and sustainable form of SSM is possible, achievable and viable, helping the economical development of the area where it operates, and creating positive externalities such as education, capacity building, culture of efficiency and environmental awareness.

This thesis examines community structure of cliff-top coastal heathlands in Botany Bay National Park, Sydney. Community properties of floristic composition, structure and species richness are investigated. This investigation is made in order to assess the justification for contemporary pre-emphasis in local studies on individual community properties. It is also made in order to assess the relative and independent contributions of individual properties to variance in overall community structure. It is also made in order to assess the relative utility of multi-property classifications in summarising community structure of cliff-top coastal heathlands. First, the presence of determinable structure in each property is assessed through multivariate classification of respective data sets. Secondly, a new model of community structure is developed in which the hypothesis that community structure is a function of common (shared) and independent (unique) variance in each of the three properties is assessed. This is achieved through application of variance partitioning using correspondence analysis techniques. Thirdly, a matrix combining variance in all three properties is classified. This classification is compared with those of individual properties in order to assess the hypothesis that more ecologically cohesive classifications than those of single properties are obtainable. The ecological significance (environmental relativity) of all classifications and variance components is assessed through examination of relationships with variance in 20 environmental factors which encompass variation in maritime factors, soil physical factors, soil nutrition factors and effects of time since fire. Classifications of individual properties showed the presence of determinable structure in each. Eleven floristic complexes, nine structural complexes and eighteen species richness complexes were recognised. Nineteen community complexes were recognised from the classification of the combined property matrix. All complexes were shown to differ significantly with respect to multiple environmental factors. Variance partitioning showed the presence of both independent and common variance components with respect to properties compared pairwise. These were all shown to differ in magnitude. Examination of environmental correlates showed ecological differentiation of all properties and most variance components. Maritime and fire factors provide a major axis of environmental differentiation for most properties and variance components. A second major axis was resolved with respect to physical soil factors. With the exception of variance in species richness, major soil nutrients were generally of secondary importance to community structure. Low soil nutrients may demarcate heathlands from other vegetation types. However, this study shows elevated importance of other major areas of environment for community structure within cliff-top coastal heathlands. Comparisons of environmental homogeneity characteristics between all classification systems showed the classification of the combined property matrix to be more ecologically robust than those of structure or species richness. Homogeneity characteristics of the combined classification remained statistically inseparable from that of floristic composition. However, studies provided some evidence suggesting greater robustness of the combined classification with regard to fine-scale variance in community structure. This thesis shows that variance in all major community properties of the studied vegetation to be of ecological significance. It also shows that this significance is differential with respect to properties and their variance components. Pre-emphasis on individual properties in syntheses of local systems thus involves the loss of ecological information. I thus conclude that if adequate ecological syntheses of cliff-top coastal heathlands are to be obtained which are appropriate to their scale of distribution and functioning in the Sydney area then inclusion of attributes of multiple properties is required. Equally, multiple sources of environmental variation need to be examined.

Throughout the Pacific, many species of echinoderms and molluscs have cultural value and are harvested extensively in subsistence fisheries. Many of these species are sedentary and often associated with distinct reef-top habitats. Despite the significance of reef habitats and their fauna for fisheries and biodiversity etc, little information has been available on the distribution of habitats and their influence on the reef-top fauna in the Cook Islands. This thesis developed a novel approach to assess the status of the shallow-water reef-tops of Rarotonga, Cook Islands, to provide critical information to fisheries and conservation managers. The approach used remote sensing (aerial photography with ground truthing) to map the spatial arrangement and extent of the entire reef-top habitats accurately, and historical wind data and coastline shape to determine the windward and leeward sides of the island. The benthic habitat maps and degree of wind exposure were used to design and undertake a stratified sampling programme to assess the distribution and abundance of the epibenthic macroinvertebrate fauna of the reef-top. I quantified the distribution and abundance of the epibenthic macroinvertebrates and how they varied with habitat, assessed the effectiveness of a traditional ra�ui (marine protected area) for conserving stocks of Trochus niloticus and other invertebrates, and investigated the reproductive biology and impacts of traditional gonad harvesting on Holothuria leucospilota. There were four major habitat types (rubble/rock, sand/coral matrix, algal rim and sand) identified, the most extensive being rubble/rock (45%) and sand/coral matrix (35%). The degree of exposure to winds was found to correlate with the reef development and habitat distribution. The assemblage composition of each major habitat type differed significantly from every other habitat. The rubble/rock habitat had the greatest substratum heterogeneity and structural complexity, and the highest number of species and individuals. The overall abundance of the fauna was dominated by holothurians (68%) and echinoids (30%), while Trochus niloticus and Tridacna maxima accounted for the remaining 2% of the total invertebrate assemblage. Clear habitat partitioning was also found for adult and juvenile Trochus niloticus and Tridacna maxima. In the traditional fishery for Holothuria leucospilota, the mature gonads of males are harvested by making an incision in the body-wall of the animal, removing the gonads and then returning the animal to the reef to allow regeneration. Monthly collections of H. leucospilota were used to describe the reproductive biology of this species. Gametogenesis and spawning were synchronous between the sexes and spawning occurred annually during summer, when water temperature and photoperiod were at their highest. Although the incision in the body-wall and gonad removal had no impact on the survival of H.leucospilota in experimental cages, their body weight, and general sheltering and feeding behaviors were affected. Gonads took at least 41 days to start regenerating, suggesting a considerable delay in the spawning of fished individuals. In 1998, five Rarotongan communities re-introduced the traditional ra�ui system of resource management, prohibiting all fishing and gathering from their reefs. The performance of the Nikao ra�ui, which had been put in place to allow trochus stocks to increase, was investigated. Comparisons of macroinvertebrate assemblage composition and species density were made between three fishing treatments, i.e. fished areas adjacent to the ra�ui, within the ra�ui after two years of protection, and in the ra�ui after it had been lifted for three weeks to allow a commercial trochus harvest. Analysis of variance on the count data for the twelve most abundant species, and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling indicated that there were no differences in the microhabitat or the invertebrate assemblage composition between the three fishing treatments. However, there were significant differences between the rubble/rock and sand/coral matrix habitat types. The results on the effectiveness of the Nikao ra�ui are equivocal, due to the small sample size, and the variability between samples which was highlighted by the wide confidence intervals. This study highlights the importance of habitat to the macroinvertebrate fauna of the reef-top and the need for accurate habitat maps to increase the cost-effectiveness of future resource surveys, to provide information to management, and for the design of Marine Protected Areas. The mapping and survey methods must be reliable and repeatable in terms of the limitations of time, and the availability of expertise, funding and resources. The results provide important information for fisheries and conservation managers of Rarotonga and other Pacific Islands to better design rigorous sampling programmes for monitoring the status of reef-top resources, and for evaluating and planning Marine Protected Areas.

<p>The loss of biodiversity is recognised as a tremendous threat to ecosystems, but its maintenance is challenging. One important issue is seen as decisive for its success: the integration of sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity that means to reconcile protective measures with different kinds of use. This study investigated management areas that explicitly emphasise this issue: UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) Reserves that shall contribute to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use and an initiative from the Swedish government called Regional Landscape Strategies that aims to find a balance between sustainable use and conservation on a landscape level. In three MAB Reserves in Germany and one Swedish county testing Regional Landscape Strategies semi-structured interviews were conducted. They aimed to detect the values and factors steering the decisions of biodiversity management and conservation as well as to identify obstacles for sustainable use, conservation and their integration in general. The interviews reveal that the connected terms and concepts can be interpreted in different ways and this exacerbates the work. Furthermore, the study detects some issues that can facilitate the integration of sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity in the respective areas and discussed their applicability on a larger scale. Examples are the establishment of a kind of forum involving local affected stakeholders and the creation of a connection point mediating the different sectors within the administration. These aspects could help to design the management of biodiversity more sustainable if they would be part of the mainstream management practises. Regarding the state of biodiversity that shall be achieved or maintained it can be mentioned that different factors and values steer the decisions; intrinsic values are underlying, but further issues seem crucial: practicability of the respective land use, aesthetic values, a high resilience of the system as well as the near-natural states.</p>

This study analyses the culture, knowledge and resource use patterns of the Karang tribe in Phong-Luk village, which is located at the Kaengkrachan National Park. The goal of this project is to reveal the culture-based local wisdom of the Karang tribe that is consistent with sustainable environmental resource management and to recommend guidelines for governments to revise existing policies related to the tribe that are relevant with their cultural ways of life. This project is expected to enhance awareness of local wisdom and offer a strategy to relieve the pressure of resource use between the tribe and the national park. The specific objectives of this research were to 1) analyze the local production practices, land utilization practices and belief, and 2) identify and analyze the key issues of local wisdom that are consistent with the conservation and sustainable management of the local natural resources and the environment. Finally, the analysis explored the affects of the existing policies (e.g., national park and development promotion policies) on the tribe's livelihood and the expected impact on the natural environments due to the shift in practices of the tribe. analysis explored the affects of the existing policies (e.g., national park and development promotion policies) on the tribe's livelihood and the expected impact on the natural environments due to the shift in practices of the tribe. This research utilized a qualitative research methodology to study and understand the overall picture of the community. Interview and observation techniques were used to identify the important issues, which included the history and settlement of the community, production patterns, land utilization patterns, belief systems, relationships within the community and government policies. The research indicates that traditional production practices, traditional land tenure arrangements and cultural beliefs provide the tribe a means of self-reliance and environmental sustainability. However, these customary practices and beliefs are being threatened by government policies. Therefore, the recommendations are provided to guide policymakers in ways to incorporate the wisdom of the tribe in future decisions. / Graduation date: 2002

In response to anthropogenic pressures that have degraded habitat and put marine resources at risk (Leslie et al., 2003; Mumby et al., 2001; Puniwai et al., 2003), there has been a growing interest in the use of marine protected areas (MPAs) as a management tool to help slow, prevent or reverse negative anthropogenic changes. Recent studies have shown that the most effective MPAs are those which represent a full range of habitat types (Leslie et al., 2003; Carr et al., 2003). Yet, available scientific research has not evaluated the near-shore marine habitat utilization along the West Coast of Hawaii at the large-scales utilized by resource managers. Thus, this study focused on identifying the regional habitat utilization patterns for selected Hawaiian reef fish species to determine the most effective combination of habitat types. In addition, the habitat utilization analysis was used as one of several case studies to test the ArcGIS Marine Data Model���s (MDM) (Wright et al., 2001) adaptability to work with real-world data and perform real-world analyses, as well as meet the five goals outlined by the MDM Working Group (Wright et al., 2001). Created in 2001, by researchers from Oregon State University, Duke University, NOAA, the Danish Hydrologic Institute and ESRI, the MDM is a geodatabase template tailored to meet the needs of the marine GIS user community. Ultimately, this analysis will aid marine managers as it establishes correlations between small and large-scale habitat information, which provides a regional look at habitat utilization. Also, by testing the functionality of the MDM, its strengths and weaknesses will be identified so that it can be improved to better serve the marine GIS user community. / Presentation date: 2004-06-08 / Graduation date: 2005

The loss of biodiversity is recognised as a tremendous threat to ecosystems, but its maintenance is challenging. One important issue is seen as decisive for its success: the integration of sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity that means to reconcile protective measures with different kinds of use. This study investigated management areas that explicitly emphasise this issue: UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) Reserves that shall contribute to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use and an initiative from the Swedish government called Regional Landscape Strategies that aims to find a balance between sustainable use and conservation on a landscape level. In three MAB Reserves in Germany and one Swedish county testing Regional Landscape Strategies semi-structured interviews were conducted. They aimed to detect the values and factors steering the decisions of biodiversity management and conservation as well as to identify obstacles for sustainable use, conservation and their integration in general. The interviews reveal that the connected terms and concepts can be interpreted in different ways and this exacerbates the work. Furthermore, the study detects some issues that can facilitate the integration of sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity in the respective areas and discussed their applicability on a larger scale. Examples are the establishment of a kind of forum involving local affected stakeholders and the creation of a connection point mediating the different sectors within the administration. These aspects could help to design the management of biodiversity more sustainable if they would be part of the mainstream management practises. Regarding the state of biodiversity that shall be achieved or maintained it can be mentioned that different factors and values steer the decisions; intrinsic values are underlying, but further issues seem crucial: practicability of the respective land use, aesthetic values, a high resilience of the system as well as the near-natural states.