Composición, diversidad, estructura e importancia de las especies arbóreas y palmas del bosque seco de la Finca "Rosita", Reserva natural estero Padre Ramos, Chinandega, Nicaragua

Se establecieron al azar seis transeptos de Gentry en un bosque seco, ubicado en la Finca Rosita, dentro de la Reserva Natural Estero Padre Ramos, El Viejo Chinandega, con el objetivo de caracterizar la composición, diversidad y estructura de plantas leñosas y palmas, además de conocer la importancia de las mismas. Se determinaron 50 especies agrupadas en 43 géneros y 29 familias. 40 son especies de árboles, 6 arbustos, 2 lianas y 2 palmas. Guazuma ulmifolia, Sabal mexicana, Albizia niopoides, Bravaisia integerrima y Phitecellobium oblongum son las especies con mayor índice de valor de importancia. La distribución diamétrica de las plantas leñosas y palmas en el sitio de estudio es en forma de “j invertida” en donde la regeneración natural es la que repondrá a los árboles maduros. En cuanto a importancia económica, existen siete categorías de uso, entre ellas 41 especies tienen algún tipo de uso como maderables, seis especies con propiedades medicinales, cinco especies comestibles para el hombre, nueve especies usadas como forrajeras, dos especies usadas en artesanía, seis especies ornamentales y siete especies con usos no tradicionales. En cuanto a importancia ecológica, existen cuatro categorías de importancia, entre ellas 15 especies son potenciales como alimento para la fauna silvestre, 13 especies melíferas, 12 especies con importancia como sombra para la fauna silvestre en época seca, y seis son importantes como fijadores de nitrógeno.

Características básicas de Unidades Familiares Productivas en las comunidades de Nueva Esperanza y Buena Vista, en la Reserva Natural Tepec-Xomolth La Patasta, Las Sabanas, Madriz

El presente estudio se realizó en las comunidades de Nueva Esperanza y Buena Vista, que se encuentran dentro del Área protegida Reserva Natural Tepec-Xomolth La Patasta, pertenecientes al municipio de Las Sabanas, departamento de Madriz, con el propósito de evaluar las condiciones de vida de las Unidades Familiares Productivas en ambas comunidades y su relación con los recursos existentes en la reserva natural. La metodología se desarrolló en tres fases: La fase I de selección de los instrumentos y herramientas metodológicas requerida para el diagnóstico rural participativo, diseño de encuestas (etnobotánica, forestal, vegetal y etnozoológica); la fase II de campo consistió en el desarrolló del Diagnóstico Rápido Participativo, recorrido-transecto, elaboración de mapa de la finca y censo de problemas; y en la fase III se analiza toda la información de las encuestas socioeconómicas, índice de calidad de vida de las viviendas, y de las encuestas ambientales, que sirven de base en la elaboración de propuestas básicas para la implementación de un plan de manejo de las unidades familiares productivas. La información recabada de las 164 unidades familiares productivas (61 en Nueva Esperanza y 103 en Buena Vista) indica que el índice de calidad de vida de las viviendas (ICVV) es considerado en el rango de bajo nivel de vida. La edad del 80% de la población en ambas comunidades es inferior a los 40 años y con una tasa promedio de analfabetismo, superior a la media nacional. La mayoría de los pobladores se dedican a la agricultura, siendo el 70% de ellos catalogados como pequeños productores; comercializan en su mayoría maíz (Zea mays L), frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris L) y café (Coffea arabica L), 20 especies frutales y 15 tipos de hortalizas. En la fauna sobresalen aves (34%), reptiles (9%), anfibios (4%) y mamíferos (53%). La vegetación es muy variada, se identificaron 39 especies forestales, 40 especies vegetales silvestres y domesticas de variado usos (madera, leña, medicinales y otros). La propuesta básica de manejo del Área protegida incluye cinco componentes (estudio de línea base, manejo del recurso suelo, recurso agua, priorización de áreas fragmentadas y fincas demostrativas).

Reforming state-level coastal management and development policies: strategic retreat as an innovative, proactive and equitable coastal environmental management strategy

Atlantic and Gulf Coast shorelines include some of the most unique and biologically rich ecosystems in the United States that provide immeasurable aesthetic, habitat and economic benefits. Natural coastal ecosystems, however, are under increasing threat from rampant and irresponsible growth and development. Once a boon to local economies, complex natural forces – enhanced by global climate change and sea level rise - are now considered hazards and eroding the very foundation upon which coastal development is based. For nearly a century, beach restoration and erosion control structures have been used to artificially stabilize shorelines in an effort to protect structures and infrastructure. Beach restoration, the import and emplacement of sand on an eroding beach, is expensive, unpredictable, inefficient and may result in long-term environmental impacts. The detrimental environmental impacts of erosion control structures such as sea walls, groins, bulkheads and revetments include sediment deficits, accelerated erosion and beach loss. These and other traditional responses to coastal erosion and storm impacts- along with archaic federal and state policies, subsidies and development incentives - are costly, encourage risky development, artificially increase property values of high-risk or environmentally sensitive properties, reduce the post-storm resilience of shorelines, damage coastal ecosystems and are becoming increasingly unsustainable. Although communities, coastal managers and property owners face increasingly complex and difficult challenges, there is an emerging public, social and political awareness that, without meaningful policy reforms, coastal ecosystems and economies are in jeopardy. Strategic retreat is a sustainable, interdisciplinary management strategy that supports the proactive, planned removal of vulnerable coastal development; reduces risk; increases shoreline resiliency and ensures long term protection of coastal systems. Public policies and management strategies that can overcome common economic misperceptions and promote the removal of vulnerable development will provide state and local policy makers and coastal managers with an effective management tool that concomitantly addresses the economic, environmental, legal and political issues along developed shorelines. (PDF contains 4 pages)

Reforming state-level coastal management and development policies: strategic retreat as an innovative, proactive and equitable coastal environmental management strategy

Atlantic and Gulf Coast shorelines include some of the most unique and biologically rich ecosystems in the United States that provide immeasurable aesthetic, habitat and economic benefits. Natural coastal ecosystems, however, are under increasing threat from rampant and irresponsible growth and development. Once a boon to local economies, complex natural forces – enhanced by global climate change and sea level rise - are now considered hazards and eroding the very foundation upon which coastal development is based. For nearly a century, beach restoration and erosion control structures have been used to artificially stabilize shorelines in an effort to protect structures and infrastructure. Beach restoration, the import and emplacement of sand on an eroding beach, is expensive, unpredictable, inefficient and may result in long-term environmental impacts. The detrimental environmental impacts of erosion control structures such as sea walls, groins, bulkheads and revetments include sediment deficits, accelerated erosion and beach loss. These and other traditional responses to coastal erosion and storm impacts- along with archaic federal and state policies, subsidies and development incentives - are costly, encourage risky development, artificially increase property values of high-risk or environmentally sensitive properties, reduce the post-storm resilience of shorelines, damage coastal ecosystems and are becoming increasingly unsustainable. Although communities, coastal managers and property owners face increasingly complex and difficult challenges, there is an emerging public, social and political awareness that, without meaningful policy reforms, coastal ecosystems and economies are in jeopardy. Strategic retreat is a sustainable, interdisciplinary management strategy that supports the proactive, planned removal of vulnerable coastal development; reduces risk; increases shoreline resiliency and ensures long term protection of coastal systems. Public policies and management strategies that can overcome common economic misperceptions and promote the removal of vulnerable development will provide state and local policy makers and coastal managers with an effective management tool that concomitantly addresses the economic, environmental, legal and political issues along developed shorelines. (PDF contains 4 pages)

Variação sazonal nos parâmetros da comunidade de anuros de folhiço (Amphibia; Anura) da Reserva Natural Salto Morato, sul do Brasil

Neste estudo nós fornecemos os primeiros dados acerca dos parâmetros da comunidade de anuros de folhiço de uma floresta no estado do Paraná, sul do Brasil, incluindo informações sobre riqueza de espécies, densidades específicas e biomassa. Nosso estudo foi realizado na Reserva Natural Salto Morato entre julho de 2009 e abril de 2010. Para amostrar a comunidade de anuros de folhiço usamos 40 parcelas de 4 x 4 m em cada estação do ano (inverno, primavera, verão e outono), totalizando 2.560 m2 de chão de floresta amostrados. Nós amostramos um total de 96 anuros habitando o chão da floresta, pertencentes a sete espécies: Brachycephalus hermogenesi, Ischnocnema guentheri, Haddadus binotatus, Leptodactylus gr. marmoratus, Physalaemus spiniger, Proceratophrys boiei e Rhinella abei. A densidade total de anuros vivendo no chão da floresta foi de 3,73 ind/100m2, sendo I. guentheri (1,37 ind/100m2) a espécie mais numerosa e R. abei (0,19 ind/100m2), a mais rara. A estimativa da biomassa total na comunidade de anuros de folhiço foi de 3,290g. A temperatura foi um fator ambiental significativo para a abundância de anuros de folhiço, enquanto a umidade não foi importante na estruturação da comunidade na área estudada. A abundância, riqueza e densidade variaram consistentemente entre as quatro estações do ano amostradas, com os maiores valores ocorrendo nos meses mais quentes da primavera e verão. Esse estudo aumenta a distribuição geográfica de Brachycephalus hermogenesi.

Reserva Natural Parcial de la r??a de Villaviciosa : itinerarios did??cticos en la naturaleza. Gu??a del profesor

Dentro de los programas de Educaci??n Ambiental que desarrolla el Principado de Asturias se incluyen una serie de itinerarios did??cticos por espacios naturales protegidos de Asturias. Esta gu??a del profesor tiene los contenidos correspondientes a los alumnos de 11 a 18 a??os, recogiendo una colecci??n de material did??ctico de variadas disciplinas al objeto de enfatizar la comprensi??n del car??cter multidisciplinar de la naturaleza y evidenciar la ??ntima relaci??n entre todas ellas. Para que el profesor, previamente a la salida pueda adaptar los contenidos en funci??n del grupo, la gu??a ofrece informaci??n sobre la costa asturiana, los ecosistemas costeros: acantilados, playas, dunas y estuarios, la fauna de los fondos del estuario y las aves de la r??a. Propone una serie de actividades previas a la salida con el fin de prepararse concienzudamente en el aula y asegurar un aprovechamiento ??ptimo. Finalmente presenta como alternativa en caso de lluvia, un recorrido en autob??s en torno al estuario, con una serie de paradas rese??adas en la gu??a.

Reserva Natural Parcial de la r??a de Villaviciosa : itinerarios did??cticos en la naturaleza. Gu??a del alumno nivel I

Los itinerarios en la naturaleza constituyen una de las herramientas fundamentales de la Educaci??n Ambiental. El trabajo en el campo permite combinar actividades de observaci??n, investigaci??n, interpretaci??n, etc. integrando y poniendo en pr??ctica los conocimientos te??ricos adquiridos en el aula a trav??s de diferentes ??reas formales de conocimiento; por ello se plantea este material para conocer la Reserva Natural Parcial de la r??a de Villaviciosa. La gu??a adem??s de informaci??n plantea una serie de cuestiones a responder agrupadas en cap??tulos que se refieren a las distintas etapas descritas en el itinerario: la playa, un puntal de arena, las dunas, el canal y un dique. A trav??s de ilustraciones, cuadros, listas a relacionar, etc. se van conociendo los aspectos geol??gicos, la flora y fauna de este espacio natural; la gu??a concluye con un espacio para anotaciones y orientaciones para observaciones al estilo de un cuaderno de campo.

Environmental training and environmental management maturity of Brazilian companies with ISO14001: empirical evidence

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of different management intensities on natural and human-induced carbon fluxes in a golf course in northern Italy

Turfgrasses are ubiquitous in urban landscape and their role on carbon (C) cycle is increasing important also due to the considerable footprint related to their management practices. It is crucial to understand the mechanisms driving the C assimilation potential of these terrestrial ecosystems Several approaches have been proposed to assess C dynamics: micro-meteorological methods, small-chamber enclosure system (SC), chrono-sequence approach and various models. Natural and human-induced variables influence turfgrasses C fluxes. Species composition, environmental conditions, site characteristics, former land use and agronomic management are the most important factors considered in literature driving C sequestration potential. At the same time different approaches seem to influence C budget estimates. In order to study the effect of different management intensities on turfgrass, we estimated net ecosystem exchange (NEE) through a SC approach in a hole of a golf course in the province of Verona (Italy) for one year. The SC approach presented several advantages but also limits related to the measurement frequency, timing and duration overtime, and to the methodological errors connected to the measuring system. Daily CO2 fluxes changed according to the intensity of maintenance, likely due to different inputs and disturbances affecting biogeochemical cycles, combined also to the different leaf area index (LAI). The annual cumulative NEE decreased with the increase of the intensity of management. NEE was related to the seasonality of turfgrass, following temperatures and physiological activity. Generally on the growing season CO2 fluxes towards atmosphere exceeded C sequestered. The cumulative NEE showed a system near to a steady state for C dynamics. In the final part greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions due to fossil fuel consumption for turfgrass upkeep were estimated, pinpointing that turfgrass may result a considerable C source. The C potential of trees and shrubs needs to be considered to obtain a complete budget.

Analysing factors determining the adoption of environmental management measures on the highlands of Ethiopia

A study was conducted on the highlands of Ethiopia to identify and analyse the factors determining the adoption of environmental management measures. In 1985, Ethiopia was classified into low –and high-potential areas based on the suitability of the natural environment for rain-fed agriculture. To address these objectives, case study areas were selected from low-potential and high-potential areas randomly. Data were collected through face-to-face interview and key informants, focus group discussion and field observation. In the low-potential areas, the physical environment ‒ particularly soil and forest environments have shown substantial recovery. Similarly, the water environment has improved. However, in the high-potential areas sampled, these resources are still being degraded. Clear understanding of the benefits of soil conservation structures by farmers, active involvement and technical support from the government and full and genuine participation of farmers in communal environmental resources management activities were found to be main factors in the adoption of environmental management measures.

Contractual Difficulties in Environmental Management and the Protection of Biodiversity: The Case of Conservation and Mitigation Banking

This paper offers a principal-agent model of feasible private contracting in mitigation and conservation banking aimed at the protection of natural habitat and bio-diversity of US wetlands and uplands. It is shown that while it is straightforward to design an incentive contract, such a contract may not achieve the federally mandated objective of no net loss of habitat. This is because the minimum payment required as an economic incentive to private agents may be greater than what they should receive for the habitat values that they actually created in the field. This possible problem is shown to derive from nonconvexity in the production possibility set between the biological value of land as natural habitat and in non-habitat uses such as in urban development. The paper concludes with a consideration of several institutional devises that may promote the convergence of private contracting and the attainment of no net loss. These include the payment of subsidies, greater accuracy in the identification of actual quality by the principal, and the use of several incentive alignment devises.

Baseline environmental management report.

The Baseline Environmental Management Report (Baseline Report) is an analytical tool to help guide the Departmental decisions and provide an accounting of the Department's progress, spending, and plans. In addition to illustrating the assumed path forward, the 1996 Baseline Report presents policy analyses that examine the consequences of modifying key program assumptions.

Annual report, Division of Environmental Management.

Mode of access: Internet.

Environmental Management Accounting - Estimating the Benefit Side

The presentation focuses on estimating benefits of environmental projects and achievements like image improvement, gaining an environmental award, profit from environmentally benign products, risk reduction benefits, etc. The paper integrates the results and experience gained in three different fields: EMA, evaluation of natural resources and working as a consultant

A educação ambiental no ensino básico: aplicação prática à área envolvente da Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim e Vila Real de Santo Antònio

Dissertação de mest. em Gestão e Conservação da Natureza, Faculdade de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Univ. do Algarve, 2006