In the past, protected natural areas have excluded local communities from the land and denied them access to valuable natural resources. However, it is becoming accepted practice to ensure that neighbouring communities benefit from the conservation of these areas. In accordance with their neighbour relations programme, the Natal Parks Board initiated a study to establish the need for indigenous wood in the region of the Thukela Biosphere Reserve (TBR), particularly for the woodcarving industry, and to determine sustainable methods and levels of harvesting. Part of this study was to determine the socio-economic issues surrounding the woodcarving industry and other users of indigenous trees, and these are addressed in this thesis. A multidisciplinary approach was adopted to address as many aspects of natural resource use as possible. The principle of sustainable development was employed to explore the nature of the often complex relationships between local communities and protected areas, and local communities and natural resource use. This principle calls for the integration of social, economic and ecological issues, with special attention to the notions of futurity, equity and the environment. The biosphere reserve is considered to be an appropriate vehicle for achieving sustainable development and the sustainable utilisation of resources, both internationally and in the South African context. However, in practice there are many obstacles to overcome as was observed in the case of the TBR, where security of land tenure and the associated control of and access to natural resources are a source of major conflict in the area. In view of this conflict, a flexible and sensitive methodology that promoted rapport-building was selected, namely Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA). Mainly verbal RRA techniques were used to gather information on the use of and demand for indigenous trees by the local communities residing within and surrounding the TBR. This information included species names, species uses, estimations of quantities harvested, perceptions of the resource base, conservation practices and harvesting techniques, economic relations, constraints, and relationships between the resource manager and the resource user. Indigenous trees were found to be an important resource for fuel, construction, medicine, carving, and to a limited degree, food, to local people living within and surrounding the TBR. The predominant uses of wood were for fuel and construction materials. Access to these resources varied, depending on the area or farm where people resided. People living in degraded areas outside of the TBR experienced great difficulty in harvesting wood for fuel or building, and either harvested it illegally off privately-owned land or purchased it at great cost. Generally, it was found that on farms where there were very few families present, residents were allowed greater access to wood compared to those living on farms where many families resided. There were also specialist users living in the area, namely traditional healers and woodcarvers. Limited information was collected on the medicinal use of trees. However, the preliminary data suggests that there is a great need for this resource. It was found that there are very few woodcarvers present in the study area. As the carving industry was the original focus of the study, detailed information was collected from these men. It was found that carved products are largely produced for local markets and included traditional weapons and traditional household implements such as meat trays and spoons. Carvers were finding it increasingly difficult to access wood, and the income they derived from this trade was supplementary. Although it is not perceived possible that the indigenous wood requirements of all local people in the area can be met by the resources within the TBR on an ongoing basis, management of bush encroachment may increase the supply of firewood and construction materials, especially to those farm residents who were experiencing difficulty in this regard at the time of the study. Through partnerships with more specialist users of indigenous trees such as woodcarvers and traditional healers, access to these resources too may be improved. Although more detailed and participative research is needed before substantiated management plans can be formulated, it is hoped that through this study a foundation will be laid to direct future research efforts, dispel misunderstandings, and be part of the effort required to ensure sustainable development of natural resources. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, 1996.

Biosphärenreservate bilden Modelllandschaften, in denen überprüft werden soll, mit welchen Methoden und Mitteln nachhaltige Entwicklung möglich sein kann. Neben dem Schutz, der Pflege und der Entwicklung der geschützten Kulturlandschaften sind gleichrangig sogenannte logistische Funktionen wesentlicher Bestandteil der Aufgaben eines Biosphärenreservates. Innerhalb dieser Funktionen bilden die Umweltbildung und das Umweltmonitoring eine zentrale Rolle. Die Aufgabe dieser Arbeit bestand darin festzustellen, inwieweit der Einsatz von GI-Technologien in der Umweltbildung möglich ist. Dazu wurden Analysen auf unterschiedlichen Ebenen durchgeführt. Der Einsatz solcher Technologien setzt die Bereitschaft der verantwortlichen Mitarbeiter in den einzelnen Biosphärenreservaten voraus. Die Untersuchungen zeigen, dass eine solche Bereitschaft grundsätzlich vorhanden ist. Die dafür notwendigen und derzeit häufig noch einschränkenden Randbedingungen wurden erörtert. Neben den Biosphärenreservaten, die als Anbieter von Bildungsmaßnahmen in Schulen verstanden werden können, ist ebenfalls ein Blick auf die Schulen selbst und die dort tätigen LehrerInnen notwendig, um auch deren Bereitschaft zur Nutzung von GI-Technologien zu analysieren. In diesem Schnittbereich zwischen dem Angebot externer Anbieter von Umweltbildung und der Nachfrage – im Sinne der Bereitschaft an den Schulen, solche Angebote auch zuzulassen – besteht die Möglichkeit des Einsatzes von GI-Technologien. Das Ziel dieses Einsatzes liegt dabei vordergründig nicht in der neuen, interessanteren Ausgestaltung des Unterrichtes. Die Nutzung von GI-Technologien muss sich an den zu vermittelnden Kompetenzen orientieren. Welche Rolle Kompetenzen in diesem Zusammenhang spielen, wird in der Arbeit ausführlich dargestellt. Es werden die Ergebnisse der Analyse der drei Elemente: • Umweltbildung / Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung • Geoinformationen / GI-Technologien • Biosphärenreservate vorgestellt und miteinander in Beziehung gesetzt. Daraus leiten sich sowohl Zielstellungen als auch notwendige Maßnahmen ab. Als Schritt zur Umsetzung der erarbeiteten Vorschläge wurde in den Jahren 2008 bis 2010 an zwei Mittelschulen das Konzept „Umweltmonitoring an Schulen – Kulturlandschaftsentwicklung in Biosphärenreservaten“ realisiert. Dabei stand nicht nur im Vordergrund, die Nutzung von GI-Technologien in den Unterricht von Schulen zu bringen und damit SchülerInnen aktiv an Forschungsarbeit teilhaben zu lassen, es war auch die Aufgabe, diese Bildungsmaßnahmen einer empirischen Forschung zuzuführen. Damit ist es das zentrale Anliegen dieser Initiierungsphase, Forschungsarbeit zum Bildungsgegenstand zu machen und gleichzeitig diese Bildungsarbeit zum Forschungsgegenstand werden zu lassen.

Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Botany, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p.20-24).

Esta dissertação de mestrado tem como objetivo geral fornecer subsídios ao plano de manejo da Reserva Biológica Estadual Mata Paludosa, localizada no município de Itati, no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, integrante da área piloto do litoral norte da Reserva da Biosfera da Mata Atlântica e representante de um dos ecossistemas mais ameaçados: as Florestas Ombrófilas Densas das Terras Baixas, que se configuram, também, como o habitat de várias espécies ameaçadas de extinção. A construção do referencial metodológico foi baseada no Roteiro Metodológico para o Planejamento de Unidades de Conservação fornecido pelo IBAMA (2002) e na categoria de análise geográfica: paisagem. A análise da paisagem foi elaborada através da escolha de autores que percebem a paisagem de forma integradora dos espaços naturais e sociais, ou seja, paisagens que retratam o passado e o presente através das relações entre a sociedade e a natureza, em sua forma, em sua função, em sua estrutura e em sua dinâmica. A partir desta lógica, fez-se uma leitura da paisagem apreendida pelas suas marcas e pelas suas matrizes, interpretando os significados e decifrando os modos de vida e as ações humanas impressas no tempo e no espaço. O uso do Sistema de Informações Geográficas foi importante para a caracterização da área de estudo e da sua área de entorno, proporcionando informações de geomorfologia, hidrografia, declividade, altimetria, uso e cobertura da terra, divisão dos municípios e da rede viária. Além disso, realizou-se um levantamento das percepções da comunidade da área de entorno em relação à unidade de conservação. Os resultados evidenciam a necessidade da elaboração e execução de um plano de manejo, por parte dos administradores, de maneira a conservar a biodiversidade e os elementos sócioculturais dos colonizadores da área de entorno, pois a paisagem-marca e a paisagem-matriz se sobrepõem, transformando-se numa paisagem transglóssica. / This research aims to provide elements to the management plan of Mata Paludosa Biological Reserve, located in Itati, Rio Grande do Sul. This reserve is part of the north shore pilot area of Mata Atlântica Biosphere Reserve and it represents one of the most endangered ecosystems: The Lowland Dense Ombrophilious Forests. Besides that, it is the habitat of several species in danger of extinction. The creation of the methodological reference was based on the Methodological Procedures provided by the Ibama Conservation Unit Plan (2002) and on the geographic analysis category: the landscape. The analysis of landscape was elaborated through a choice of authors that perceive the landscape as an integrative form of natural and social spaces, in other words, landscapes that portray the past and the present through their relation to society and nature, in form, function, structure and activity. Therefore, a reading of the landscape’s imprints and matrixes was done, granting the opportunity of interpreting the meanings and deciphering the ways of life and the human actions printed in time and space. The use of the Geographical Information System was important to the characterization of the field of study and its surroundings, presenting information about geomorphology, hydrography, declivity, altimetry, land use and cover, city borders and road maps. Moreover, a research about the conservation unit was done to find out the perception of the surrounding community. The results show the need to elaborate and carry out a management plan in order to preserve the biodiversity and the social-cultural elements of the surrounding colonizers, because the imprint and the matrix landscape overlap each other forming a hybrid landscape.

Recent studies which feature the urban area land use mapping Santa Maria do not have tree-canopy cover differentiation, as Deciduous Atlantic Forest and exotic tree plantations - mostly of Pinus sp. and Eucalyptus sp.. Thus, the study main objective is to carry out a forest fragments analysis of the Santa Maria‟s District Headquarters, seeking a connection proposal to maintain the faunistic genetic flux in a city neighborhood. In order to choose the neighborhood were identified and classified forest fragments in exotic and native, through the manual vectorization a scale of approximately 1: .2000, through Google Earth Pro₢ software with image of Digital Globe₢ satellite, from April 2014. This vectorization was applied to the map of the Headquarters District land use, getting big differences compared to the automatic classification of Maxver₢ in Landsat 8₢, from November, 2014. Through population data provided by the City Hall it was possible calculate a Tree-canopy Cover Index (of Deciduous Forest) per capita. Also, metric parameters as area, circularity and the distance between the fragments were regarded as priorities, respectively, and each one with eliminating character. After tabulating of fragments metrics, through the import of vectorized files for ArcGIS 10.0₢, was established the neighborhood in which the connection proposition was made, and this was carried out another map of use of neighborhood land with Digital Globe₢ image. For connecting proposal of forest fragments were used structural interventions in roads and reforestation areas with native or not invasive exotic species as mitigation measures to fragmentation. These structures are already in use at international, national and state level and most are easy to install or adapt to use of faunal biodiversity. As a result it was found that the city has a tree-canopy cover index per capita reasonably high, with an average of 47.6 m² / inhab. But, dividing the city in Administrative Regions, there are greater differences into this index, that declines to 0.01 m² / inhab. in western region of the city. Based on data like these, it was found that the agricultural practice deforests more than civil constructions in the city, in moving forward about Permanent Preservation Areas. As well, it was observed within the study area that the more distant the remaining fragments of Atlantic Forest are located of its area source, scarcer and smaller they are. Furthermore, it was statistically demonstrated that in urban areas, larger fragments tend to have a lower circularity. The neighborhood that was chosen by the metric mentioned was the Km 3, which houses a large remaining fragment of the Plateau Escarpment. This presented about half of its area covered by fragments of native species and, by having a low population index of 2,700 inhabitants to more than two million square meters of rainforest, has about 660 square meters of tree-canopy native cover per inhabitant, a very high rate for an embedded area in the urban perimeter. / Estudos recentes que apresentam mapeamento de uso do solo do perímetro urbano de Santa Maria, não apresentam diferenciação de cobertura arbórea entre Floresta Estacional Decidual e plantações arbóreas exóticas - em sua maior parte de Pinus sp. e Eucalyptus sp. Assim, tem-se como objetivo principal deste estudo a análise dos fragmentos florestais do Distrito Sede de Santa Maria, visando uma proposta de conexão para a manutenção do fluxo gênico faunístico em um bairro da cidade. Para a escolha do bairro, foram identificados e classificados fragmentos florestais em exóticos e nativos, através da vetorização manual a uma escala de aproximadamente 1: 2.000, pelo software Google Earth Pro₢ com imagem do satélite Digital Globe₢ de abril de 2014. Esta vetorização foi aplicada ao mapa de uso do solo do Distrito Sede, obtendo grandes diferenças em comparação à classificação automática do Maxver na imagem Landsat 8₢, de novembro de 2014. Através de dados populacionais disponibilizados pela Prefeitura pôde-se calcular um Índice de Cobertura Arbórea (Floresta Estacional Decidual) por habitante. Ainda, características métricas de área, circularidade e a distância entre os fragmentos foram consideradas como prioridades, respectivamente, sendo cada parâmetro de caráter eliminatório. Depois de realizado o tabelamento da métrica dos fragmentos, através de importação dos arquivos vetorizados para o ArcGis 10.0₢, estabeleceu-se o bairro em que foi realizada a proposta de conexão e, deste, foi elaborado outro mapa de uso do solo com imagem Digital Globe₢. Para a proposta de conexão dos fragmentos florestais foram utilizadas intervenções estruturais em rodovias e áreas de reflorestamento com espécies nativas ou exóticas não invasoras como alternativas mitigadoras à fragmentação. Estas intervenções rodoviárias são utilizadas a nível internacional, nacional e estadual, sendo a maioria de fácil instalação ou adaptação para utilização da biodiversidade faunística. Como resultados verificou-se que a cidade possui um índice de cobertura arbórea por habitante razoavelmente alto, tendo média de 47,6 m²/hab. Porém se dividirmos a cidade em Regiões Administrativas, há diferenças discrepantes em que esse índice decai para 0,01 m²/hab., como na zona Oeste da cidade. Através de dados como estes, concluiu-se que a prática agrícola desmata mais que as instalações de construção civil na cidade, avançando mais sobre Áreas de Preservação Permanente. Também observou-se dentro da área deste estudo que, quanto mais distantes os fragmentos remanescentes de Mata Atlântica situam-se de sua área-fonte, mais escassos e menores eles são. Além disso, foi comprovado estatisticamente que em áreas urbanas, maiores fragmentos tendem a ter menor circularidade. O bairro que foi escolhido através da métrica citada foi o Km 3, que abriga um grande fragmento remanescente do Rebordo do Planalto. Este apresentou cerca de metade de sua área coberta por fragmentos de espécies nativas e, por contar com um baixo índice populacional de 2.700 habitantes para mais de dois milhões de m² de mata atlântica, dispõe cerca de 660 m² de cobertura arbórea por habitante, índice altíssimo para uma área inserida do perímetro urbano.

Esta dissertação de mestrado tem como objetivo geral fornecer subsídios ao plano de manejo da Reserva Biológica Estadual Mata Paludosa, localizada no município de Itati, no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, integrante da área piloto do litoral norte da Reserva da Biosfera da Mata Atlântica e representante de um dos ecossistemas mais ameaçados: as Florestas Ombrófilas Densas das Terras Baixas, que se configuram, também, como o habitat de várias espécies ameaçadas de extinção. A construção do referencial metodológico foi baseada no Roteiro Metodológico para o Planejamento de Unidades de Conservação fornecido pelo IBAMA (2002) e na categoria de análise geográfica: paisagem. A análise da paisagem foi elaborada através da escolha de autores que percebem a paisagem de forma integradora dos espaços naturais e sociais, ou seja, paisagens que retratam o passado e o presente através das relações entre a sociedade e a natureza, em sua forma, em sua função, em sua estrutura e em sua dinâmica. A partir desta lógica, fez-se uma leitura da paisagem apreendida pelas suas marcas e pelas suas matrizes, interpretando os significados e decifrando os modos de vida e as ações humanas impressas no tempo e no espaço. O uso do Sistema de Informações Geográficas foi importante para a caracterização da área de estudo e da sua área de entorno, proporcionando informações de geomorfologia, hidrografia, declividade, altimetria, uso e cobertura da terra, divisão dos municípios e da rede viária. Além disso, realizou-se um levantamento das percepções da comunidade da área de entorno em relação à unidade de conservação. Os resultados evidenciam a necessidade da elaboração e execução de um plano de manejo, por parte dos administradores, de maneira a conservar a biodiversidade e os elementos sócioculturais dos colonizadores da área de entorno, pois a paisagem-marca e a paisagem-matriz se sobrepõem, transformando-se numa paisagem transglóssica. / This research aims to provide elements to the management plan of Mata Paludosa Biological Reserve, located in Itati, Rio Grande do Sul. This reserve is part of the north shore pilot area of Mata Atlântica Biosphere Reserve and it represents one of the most endangered ecosystems: The Lowland Dense Ombrophilious Forests. Besides that, it is the habitat of several species in danger of extinction. The creation of the methodological reference was based on the Methodological Procedures provided by the Ibama Conservation Unit Plan (2002) and on the geographic analysis category: the landscape. The analysis of landscape was elaborated through a choice of authors that perceive the landscape as an integrative form of natural and social spaces, in other words, landscapes that portray the past and the present through their relation to society and nature, in form, function, structure and activity. Therefore, a reading of the landscape’s imprints and matrixes was done, granting the opportunity of interpreting the meanings and deciphering the ways of life and the human actions printed in time and space. The use of the Geographical Information System was important to the characterization of the field of study and its surroundings, presenting information about geomorphology, hydrography, declivity, altimetry, land use and cover, city borders and road maps. Moreover, a research about the conservation unit was done to find out the perception of the surrounding community. The results show the need to elaborate and carry out a management plan in order to preserve the biodiversity and the social-cultural elements of the surrounding colonizers, because the imprint and the matrix landscape overlap each other forming a hybrid landscape.

Esta dissertação de mestrado tem como objetivo geral fornecer subsídios ao plano de manejo da Reserva Biológica Estadual Mata Paludosa, localizada no município de Itati, no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, integrante da área piloto do litoral norte da Reserva da Biosfera da Mata Atlântica e representante de um dos ecossistemas mais ameaçados: as Florestas Ombrófilas Densas das Terras Baixas, que se configuram, também, como o habitat de várias espécies ameaçadas de extinção. A construção do referencial metodológico foi baseada no Roteiro Metodológico para o Planejamento de Unidades de Conservação fornecido pelo IBAMA (2002) e na categoria de análise geográfica: paisagem. A análise da paisagem foi elaborada através da escolha de autores que percebem a paisagem de forma integradora dos espaços naturais e sociais, ou seja, paisagens que retratam o passado e o presente através das relações entre a sociedade e a natureza, em sua forma, em sua função, em sua estrutura e em sua dinâmica. A partir desta lógica, fez-se uma leitura da paisagem apreendida pelas suas marcas e pelas suas matrizes, interpretando os significados e decifrando os modos de vida e as ações humanas impressas no tempo e no espaço. O uso do Sistema de Informações Geográficas foi importante para a caracterização da área de estudo e da sua área de entorno, proporcionando informações de geomorfologia, hidrografia, declividade, altimetria, uso e cobertura da terra, divisão dos municípios e da rede viária. Além disso, realizou-se um levantamento das percepções da comunidade da área de entorno em relação à unidade de conservação. Os resultados evidenciam a necessidade da elaboração e execução de um plano de manejo, por parte dos administradores, de maneira a conservar a biodiversidade e os elementos sócioculturais dos colonizadores da área de entorno, pois a paisagem-marca e a paisagem-matriz se sobrepõem, transformando-se numa paisagem transglóssica. / This research aims to provide elements to the management plan of Mata Paludosa Biological Reserve, located in Itati, Rio Grande do Sul. This reserve is part of the north shore pilot area of Mata Atlântica Biosphere Reserve and it represents one of the most endangered ecosystems: The Lowland Dense Ombrophilious Forests. Besides that, it is the habitat of several species in danger of extinction. The creation of the methodological reference was based on the Methodological Procedures provided by the Ibama Conservation Unit Plan (2002) and on the geographic analysis category: the landscape. The analysis of landscape was elaborated through a choice of authors that perceive the landscape as an integrative form of natural and social spaces, in other words, landscapes that portray the past and the present through their relation to society and nature, in form, function, structure and activity. Therefore, a reading of the landscape’s imprints and matrixes was done, granting the opportunity of interpreting the meanings and deciphering the ways of life and the human actions printed in time and space. The use of the Geographical Information System was important to the characterization of the field of study and its surroundings, presenting information about geomorphology, hydrography, declivity, altimetry, land use and cover, city borders and road maps. Moreover, a research about the conservation unit was done to find out the perception of the surrounding community. The results show the need to elaborate and carry out a management plan in order to preserve the biodiversity and the social-cultural elements of the surrounding colonizers, because the imprint and the matrix landscape overlap each other forming a hybrid landscape.

We live in a world that faces several social and environmental problems and achieving sustainable development in contexts where it is necessary to alleviate poverty without eroding the capacity of the ecosystems to support future generations is challenging. Therefore, fostering sustainable development requires enabling both society and environment to cope with disturbances, adapt to and shape change (resilience). Literature suggests that adaptive co-management practices are appropriate for building resilience and fostering sustainable development. Additionally, studies have highlighted the role of bridging organizations in coordinating and facilitating adaptive co-management. However, adaptive co-management has not been studied in poverty contexts. This thesis aims to understand what the main tasks of bridging organizations are, and how they facilitate and stimulate adaptive co-management in poverty contexts and their role in nurturing sustainability. The Environmental Monitors Programme of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve was chosen as a case-study. Biosphere reserves are considered learning sites for sustainable development. The programme was studied through the lenses of a bridging organization. Semi-structured interviews and participatory observation with stakeholders identified: 1) the importance of existing networks and collaborations; 2) monitoring contribution to the identification of social and environmental issues, experimentation contribution to the implementation of sustainable harvesting practices; 3) environmental education combined with social learning lead to community empowerment and adaptive responses that e.g. address erosion; 4) environmental monitors have a crucial role in linking organizations and communities; 5) challenges related to low income settings include communities’ basic needs. This study illustrates the need to address both social and ecological problems in a concerted manner, by capacitating and empowering communities while conserving the environment. Additionally, points out the need of studying alternative co-management strategies that give focus on different priorities regarding stakeholders’ interests and the influence of power in decision-making in poverty contexts.

The thesis is based on the idea of extension the Krkonoše/Karkonosze transboundary biosphere reserve by Jizera Mountains territory. Biosphere reserves are established within the Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO. According to the Madrid Action Plan it is necessary for the sake of appropriate functioning of biosphere reserve to involve all the stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations. Using semi-structured interviews with the representatives of the Jizera Mountains non-governmental organizations I therefor asked them about their opinion of the extension of the Krkonoše/Karkonosze transboundary biosphere reserve by this area and their willingness to participate in cooperation within the biosphere reserve as well. I investigated their sustainable development capacity, which in the same time represents their possible contribution to the biosphere reserve. The research shows that non-governmental organizations accepts the idea of the extension of the Krkonoše/Karkonosze transboundary biosphere reserve by Jizera Mountains. Together with it their potential for backing the appropriate functioning of biosphere reserve in this territory was proven. Keywords Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO, biosphere reserve, sustainable development, non-governmental organizations, Jizera...

Biosphärenreservate bilden Modelllandschaften, in denen überprüft werden soll, mit welchen Methoden und Mitteln nachhaltige Entwicklung möglich sein kann. Neben dem Schutz, der Pflege und der Entwicklung der geschützten Kulturlandschaften sind gleichrangig sogenannte logistische Funktionen wesentlicher Bestandteil der Aufgaben eines Biosphärenreservates. Innerhalb dieser Funktionen bilden die Umweltbildung und das Umweltmonitoring eine zentrale Rolle. Die Aufgabe dieser Arbeit bestand darin festzustellen, inwieweit der Einsatz von GI-Technologien in der Umweltbildung möglich ist. Dazu wurden Analysen auf unterschiedlichen Ebenen durchgeführt. Der Einsatz solcher Technologien setzt die Bereitschaft der verantwortlichen Mitarbeiter in den einzelnen Biosphärenreservaten voraus. Die Untersuchungen zeigen, dass eine solche Bereitschaft grundsätzlich vorhanden ist. Die dafür notwendigen und derzeit häufig noch einschränkenden Randbedingungen wurden erörtert. Neben den Biosphärenreservaten, die als Anbieter von Bildungsmaßnahmen in Schulen verstanden werden können, ist ebenfalls ein Blick auf die Schulen selbst und die dort tätigen LehrerInnen notwendig, um auch deren Bereitschaft zur Nutzung von GI-Technologien zu analysieren. In diesem Schnittbereich zwischen dem Angebot externer Anbieter von Umweltbildung und der Nachfrage – im Sinne der Bereitschaft an den Schulen, solche Angebote auch zuzulassen – besteht die Möglichkeit des Einsatzes von GI-Technologien. Das Ziel dieses Einsatzes liegt dabei vordergründig nicht in der neuen, interessanteren Ausgestaltung des Unterrichtes. Die Nutzung von GI-Technologien muss sich an den zu vermittelnden Kompetenzen orientieren. Welche Rolle Kompetenzen in diesem Zusammenhang spielen, wird in der Arbeit ausführlich dargestellt. Es werden die Ergebnisse der Analyse der drei Elemente: • Umweltbildung / Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung • Geoinformationen / GI-Technologien • Biosphärenreservate vorgestellt und miteinander in Beziehung gesetzt. Daraus leiten sich sowohl Zielstellungen als auch notwendige Maßnahmen ab. Als Schritt zur Umsetzung der erarbeiteten Vorschläge wurde in den Jahren 2008 bis 2010 an zwei Mittelschulen das Konzept „Umweltmonitoring an Schulen – Kulturlandschaftsentwicklung in Biosphärenreservaten“ realisiert. Dabei stand nicht nur im Vordergrund, die Nutzung von GI-Technologien in den Unterricht von Schulen zu bringen und damit SchülerInnen aktiv an Forschungsarbeit teilhaben zu lassen, es war auch die Aufgabe, diese Bildungsmaßnahmen einer empirischen Forschung zuzuführen. Damit ist es das zentrale Anliegen dieser Initiierungsphase, Forschungsarbeit zum Bildungsgegenstand zu machen und gleichzeitig diese Bildungsarbeit zum Forschungsgegenstand werden zu lassen.