No description available.

Biosphere reserves have evolved out of a responsibility to resolve conflict by reconciling the needs of humans with the need to maintain ecological integrity and biodiversity. Participatory approaches to planning and management are seen as key to linking conservation and sustainable development. The purpose of this research was to investigate participation in planning and management activities in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) located in Uttaranchal, India. Eco-development and microplanning have emerged in India as two government-initiated mechanisms allowing greater opportunity for other sectors to have a role in conservation-related planning and management activities. Although there has been progress in the application of participatory processes, the two case studies in this research illustrate the need to bolster civic and private sector participation in planning and management of the NDBR. One important and positive outcome of the participatory processes that were applied was that relationships had improved between the sectors.

Biosphere reserves have evolved out of a responsibility to resolve conflict by reconciling the needs of humans with the need to maintain ecological integrity and biodiversity. Participatory approaches to planning and management are seen as key to linking conservation and sustainable development. The purpose of this research was to investigate participation in planning and management activities in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) located in Uttaranchal, India. Eco-development and microplanning have emerged in India as two government-initiated mechanisms allowing greater opportunity for other sectors to have a role in conservation-related planning and management activities. Although there has been progress in the application of participatory processes, the two case studies in this research illustrate the need to bolster civic and private sector participation in planning and management of the NDBR. One important and positive outcome of the participatory processes that were applied was that relationships had improved between the sectors.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007. / Dr. Curry, Judy, Committee Member ; Dr. Webster, Peter, Committee Member ; Dr. Weber, Rodney, Committee Member ; Dr. Ingall, Ellery, Committee Member ; Dr. Robert Dickinson, Committee Chair.

Utilizamos um modelo físico-matemático de relações biosfera-atmosfera para estimar a climatologia da evapotranspiração regional (ETR) entre 1980 e 2009 no estado de São Paulo, o modelo SiB2 (Simple Biosphere model). Os cálculos utilizaram dados horários da reanálise CFSR, por meio de etapas de comparação das forçantes com dados observados de superfície, e com dados de fluxos de superfície observados no campo. Os padrões da reanálise mostraram-se satisfatórios no domínio do estado de São Paulo para caracterizar a climatologia de chuva e temperatura da região, com pequenos vieses no ciclo diurno e no total anual de precipitação. Foram utilizados 6 cenários com cobertura de superfície homogênea em todo o estado (floresta de mata atlântica, cerrado, eucalipto, cana-de-açúcar, pastagem, urbanização), além de dois outros cenários (vegetação nativa e vegetação atual), que produziram médias de ETR substancialmente distintas. No cenário de eucalipto obteve-se a maior média anual, de 3,7 mm dia-1, seguido pelos valores calculados para floresta atlântica e vegetação nativa, próximos entre si, e com máximos valores do saldo de radiação e fração evaporativa. O impacto da mudança do uso da terra nos totais de ETR no estado de São Paulo pode ser discutido a partir do cenário de vegetação nativa, com ETR média de 3,3 mm dia-1, ~20% superior à ETR da vegetação atual. Obteve-se uma caracterização da climatologia da ETR real no estado de SP, com média de 930 mm ano-1, comparável com a climatologia do DAEE de 980 mm ano-1 no estado como um todo, e bem comparada com a ETR em várias sub-bacias hidrográficas. / We have used a biosphere-atmosphere relationships physical-mathematical model in order to estimate the regional evapotranspiration (ETR) climatology between 1980 and 2009, the SiB2 model (Simple Biosphere Model). The calculations used hourly data from CFSR reanalysis, through the steps of comparing forcing data with observed surface data, and with surface fluxes data observed in site. The reanalysis patterns proved satisfactory to characterize the climatology of rainfall and temperature in São Paulo state area, with small biases in the diurnal cycle and in total annual precipitation. Six homogeneous coverage surface scenarios throughout the state were used (Atlantic forest, brasilian savannah, eucalyptus, sugar cane, pasture, urbanization), and two other scenarios (native vegetation and nowadays vegetation), which produced substantially different mean ETR. The eucalyptus scenario obtained the highest annual average of 3.7 mm day-1, the greatest values were from eucalyptus, Atlantic forest and nowadays vegetation, close together, and with maximum values of net radiation and evaporative fraction. The land use change impact in the total ETR in São Paulo state can be discussed from the native vegetation scenario, with 3.3 mm day-1 average value, ~20% higher than nowadays vegetation. We obtained a characterization of real ETR climatology in São Paulo state, with an average of 930 mm year-1, comparable to DAEE climatology of 980 mm year-1 statewide, and well compared to ETR in various sub-basins.

A descriptive case study approach and 34 indicators was used to examine the socio-economic impacts of whale watching tourism in the Laguna San Ignacio (LSI) World Heritage Site - located within the El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The framework measured both the socio-economic changes, and the economic viability of the local and regional operators. This approach led to a detailed understanding of the underlying, and often complex, inter-related factors that shaped the ecotourism development in LSI between 1994 and 2002. It identified strengths and weaknesses of current ecotourism development making it a valid tool for evaluating and improving these activities in any biosphere reserve. More specifically the objectives were to examine: 1. How existing ecotourism operations and their activities in the LSI have changed since 1994; 2. Whether these changes have made ecotourism a more viable socio-economic development alternative for the local communities; and 3. Which strategies may be useful in overcoming identified barriers to further socio-economic benefits both from existing and future ecotourism activities. The results strongly suggested that the benefits from ecotourism improved significantly between 1994 and 2002. Economically this was reflected in growth of visitor numbers (50%), employment (100%) and local and regional revenue approximately 70% (or 55% in real terms adjusting for inflation). Social benefits were seen in more cooperation among previous antagonistic stakeholders; a wider distribution of ecotourism benefits; some improvement in living standards and increasing local support for the Reserve. Politically, local stakeholders became more empowered through involvement in tourism related management activities. The viability of the local and regional operators also improved significantly as they became more sophisticated in their product offerings, enhanced their facilities and gained a market share of ecotourism relative to the foreign operators. These improvements were particular true for the operators that sold package tours. However, the analyses also revealed a number of barriers with the most important ones being: • Unresolved historic land use conflicts over rights to land with ecotourism possibilities; • Lack of activities diversification possibilities outside the tourism season; • Stagnating visitor numbers; • Uneven business skills among operators; • Poor marketing and promotional efforts; • Insufficient ecotourism infrastructure; • A proposed ecotourism tax; • Low profit margin of the ecotourism operators; and • Lack of funding for further investments To alleviate these threats and barriers 13 general strategies were identified. An elaboration of these resulted in 39 concrete operational strategies on how potentially to implement them. / Science, Faculty of / Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), Institute for / Graduate

Doctor of Philosophy / Today there is scientific consensus that human activity has significantly altered our planet, a condition often referred to as the Anthropocene. The effects of these changes can be hard to understand or predict, however, due to the size and complexity of Earth's biological, chemical, and geological systems. This dissertation argues that one way to better grasp the complex and uncertain effects of the Anthropocene is through a careful comparison with the outcomes of a smaller-scale human-built environment that was meant to mimic Earth's ecosystems: Biosphere 2 [B2]. B2 was an ambitious "Human Experiment" designed to create a self-sufficient 'mini-Earth' inside a glass dome in Arizona. From 1991 to 1993, eight humans and 3,800 other species inhabited this recreation of Earth's biosphere, where the Biospherians grew all their food, recycled their water, and oversaw the production of their atmosphere, as well as conducting scientific research on this novel ecosystem. While the mission ran into unexpected difficulties that led many to label it a failure, this dissertation argues that the project actually succeeded in many ways, and that even its failures can be instructive for understanding today's environmental challenges. Two aspects of the B2 experiment can help us understand analogous aspects of the Anthropocene. First, B2's attempt to create and maintain an ecosystem that could provide everything needed to support life within a tightly enclosed structure reveals how enclosed environments have their own unique characteristics that can lead to unexpected and even disastrous results. I call these characteristics "Logics of Enclosure," and I argue that these same logics apply to the Anthropocene, as we begin to recognize that we, too, live in a world with limited resources and increasingly tight connections between its ecosystems. The dissertation describes various types of Logics of Enclosure and how they can be used to explain the outcomes of B2 and potentially alert us to similar outcomes within our increasingly 'enclosed' Anthropocene. The second unusual feature of B2 is that the Biospherians combined a number of roles that are normally separate within the fields of science, engineering and architecture. The same group of people helped develop the scientific field of Biospherics, designed B2's structural, technological, and biological contents, and then inhabited the world they had created. I refer to this as the knowledge–design–inhabitation trajectory, and I argue that in the Anthropocene we, too, are living in a world that is increasingly the result of our own design, based on our own imperfect scientific knowledge. These two forms of analysis work together: Logics of Enclosure explain how the hybrid built/natural environment has agency to affect human life, while the knowledge–design–inhabitation trajectory explains how we, the human inhabitants of Earth, have agency to better align our actions and technologies with our planet's life-supporting ecosystems. Ultimately, using these lenses to understand B2's outcomes may inform more successful longduration approaches for living within the Anthropocene.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Table Mountain Group (TMG) Aquifer System is a regional fractured aquifer system with a large potential as a source of future water supplies in the Western and Eastern Cape. This system is currently under consideration for large-scale water abstraction. Many terrestrial ecosystems, however, are dependent on these groundwater resources for survival. Exploitation of ground water resources at a rate exceeding the rate of natural recharge would result in a lowering of the water table and the drying up of seeps. The main objective of this study was to determine if satellite remote sensing data can be used for the detection of groundwater-dependent wetlands, and secondly, to use multi-temporal imagery for estimating seasonal changes experienced in wetland communities in relation to surrounding vegetation. The Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, situated approximately 30km to the east of Cape Point in the Western Cape, South Africa, was selected for investigation. To accomplish the objectives, three Landsat 7 ETM+ images (path/row: 175/84) captured on 22 September 2001, 18 May 2002 and 23 September 2002 were acquired. Image fusion of the multispectral bands (30m resolution) with the panchromatic band (15m resolution) provided 15m multispectral images for analysis purposes. Geometric correction, radiometric normalisation and atmospheric corrections was performed in order to ensure pixel-level comparability between images. Once comparability between images was guaranteed, vegetation indices and tasselled cap components were derived to provide threshold values of moisture stress indicators and productivity estimations of wetland communities in relation to surrounding non-wetland communities. Additionally, change vector analysis on these transformations provided the ability to detect and assess the seasonal changes experienced by these communities during an annual cycle. The results of these transformations were combined in a rule-based image classifier in order to assist in estimating the seasonal dependency of observed wetland communities. The ability to use Landsat 7 images and the abovementioned image processing procedures to identify wetland communities with a high probability of groundwater interaction was demonstrated with a high degree of accuracy (78%). It is recommended that future studies concentrate on increasing classification accuracies, while focusing on incorporating these techniques into a remote monitoring system for assessing the impacts of groundwater extraction on the groundwater-dependent wetland communities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Tafelberg Groep (TBG) Akwifer is 'n regionale verskuiwingsakwifer sisteem met groot potensiaal as toekomstige waterbron vir die Wes- en Oos-Kaap. Grootskaalse grondwateronttrekking uit hierdie sisteem word tans ondersoek. Baie terrestriële ekosisteme is egter vir oorlewing van grondwaterbronne afhanklik. Grondwaterontginning teen 'n tempo hoër as die natuurlike aanvultempo sal die watertafel laat daal en syfersones laat opdroog. Die hoofdoel van die studie was om te bepaal of satellietbeelde gebruik kan word om grondwater-afhanklike vleilande waar te neem, en om 'n tydsreeks van beelde te gebruik om die seisoenale verandering in vleilandgemeenskappe relatief tot omliggende plantegroei te raam. Die Kogelberg Biosfeer Reservaat, ongeveer 30km oos van Kaappunt, is as studiegebied geïdentifiseer. Drie Landsat 7 beelde (baan/ry: 175/84) van 22 September 2001, 18 Mei 2002 en 23 September 2002 is ontleed. Die Landsat 7 multispektrale bande (30m resolusie) is met behulp van beeld-fusietegnieke met die panchromatiese band (15m resolusie) gekombineer om multispektrale beelde te lewer met 15m grondresolusie. Geometriese korreksie, radiometriese normalisering en atmosferiese korreksie is op elk van die beelde toegepas om beeld-selvlak vergelykings tussen beelde 'n moontlikheid te maak. Met beeldvergelykbaarheid verseker, is plantegroei-indekse en 'tassled cap' transformasies gebruik om afsnywaardes vir vleiland-identifikasie te bereken. Verder is veranderingsvektoranalises op die transformasies bereken om die seisoenale veranderinge oor die jaarsiklus in vleilande te bepaal. Die resultate hiervan is vervat in 'n reël-gebaseerde beeldklassifiseerder waarmee vleilande se seisoenale grondwater afhanklikheid geraam is. Die vermoë om vleilande met 'n hol! waarskynlikheid van grondwater interaksie uit Landsat 7 beelde te identifiseer is met 'n hol! vlak van totale akkuraatheid (78%) gedemonstreer. Die aanbeveling is dat toekomstige studies moet fokus op die verhoging van hierdie klassifikasie akkuraathede. Die tegnieke moet toegespits word op die ontwikkeling van 'n afstandswaarnemingstelsel om die

The Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve is located at the southern tip of South America. This large archipelago is considered one of the last pristine areas left on the world. Despite it being an unpopulated area with most of the native forest cover intact, it has not been exempt from biological invasions, one of the major drivers of biodiversity loss. Three species that naturally interact in their native range in North America – American beavers (Castor canadensis), muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus), and American mink (Neovison vison) – were independently introduced in this remote region. In my dissertation, I investigated (i) the hypothesis of niche expansion in the invasive mink population on Navarino Island towards terrestrial habitats; (ii) potential mink impact on breeding success of forest-bird populations; (iii) habitat selection of small-rodent species and their perception on the mink's novel predation risk; and (iv) the dynamics of multiple-species invasions under the hypothesis of an invasional meltdown. Additionally, I worked within the framework of environmental philosophy. I provide an example of combining ecological and cultural dimensions within the International Long-Term Ecological Research network to disentangle the ethical dilemmas that surround the management of invasive species. I finally proposed a management plan based on the idea of multiple invasive species management, discussing potential solutions to overcome the challenges that the control of invasive species represent and to more effectively protect the biological integrity of the native ecosystems.

Les impacts environnementaux sont un défi global. Le programme sur l’Homme et la Biosphère de l’UNESCO (MAB) peut donner un appui international à un de ces défis que l’humanité doit relever : comment arriver à promouvoir un développement économique, social et politique tout en conservant les ressources naturelles limitées dont nous disposons. Cette thèse propose une vision historique du programme afin de comprendre son évolution et de mettre en avant la relation entre les sphères politique et scientifique qui l´ont dirigé. Les cas d´étude du Mexique, du Chili et de la République d´Haïti, mettront en lumière les défis que ces pays doivent relever et la manière dont le Programme a été adapté au niveau national. Deux groupes d´acteurs, scientifiques et instances politiques, ont façonné le programme tout au long de son histoire et maintenu le dialogue pour adapter les principes du Programme MAB dans les Réserves de Biosphère. Par ailleurs, la toute récente création d´une Réserve de Biosphère transfrontalière entre la République d´Haïti et la République Dominicaine est un exemple de la collaboration et du rôle qu´ont joué d´autres instances de l´UNESCO telles que les Commissions Nationales et les Délégations Permanentes. / Environmental challenges have a significant impact. The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO provides international support to one of the challenges facing humanity; that is how to achieve economic, social and political development and to promote the conservation of limited natural resources at the same time.This thesis takes into account a historical vision of the programme at the global level to understand its evolution and to highlight the relationship between the political and scientific spheres of the programme.On the other hand, it presents three study cases in different countries: Mexico, Chile and the Republic of Haiti to demonstrate how the programme has been adapted on the national level and the challenges they face. Two groups of actors have shaped the programme throughout its history, scientists and political bodies. They have maintained dialogues to adopt the principles of the MAB Programme in the Biosphere Reserves. Moreover, the recent creation of a Transboundary Biosphere Reserve between the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic is an example of collaboration, but also it highlights the importance of other bodies of UNESCO such as the National Commissions and Permanent Delegations in policy-making.