bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
World Ecological Areas Programme (WEAP): A Proposal
Authors: Goldsmith Edward 
Published: August 2009

The world's remaining tropical forests are being destroyed so rapidly that, if current trends continue, by the end of this century only the most inaccessible relics will survive. This would be a major tragedy as it would mean, inter alia:(i) Destruction of the way of life of the indigenous peoples who inhabit these areas, leading to their systematic pauperization and transformation into a ‘marginal’, largely unemployed and widely unemployable, proletariat having a miserable and precarious existence in the shanty towns surrounding already drastically overcrowded cities.
Zoogeographic Subregions of the Pacific Realm as a Background for Terrestrial Ecological Reserves: Part 1, General Introduction and Northern and Western Pacific Regions
Authors: Curry-Lindahl Kai 
Published: August 2009

This paper deals essentially with ecosystems, biomes, and habitats, of the Pacific realm, that are in need of restoration and conservation programmes for saving endangered vertebrates through the establishment of ‘ecological reserves’. Besides zoogeographic factors, the matter of conservation urgency is reflected in the criteria by taking into account the rate of vertebrate extinction in historic time and the number of vertebrate species and subspecies that are endangered or threatened with extinction in each area.In this paper and its successor (Part 2), twenty-two zoogeographic subregions have been defined in the Pacific realm, to which have been added three others—namely the Australian, North American, and South American coasts of the Pacific Ocean. Table I shows the division of these zoogeographic subregions within each faunal region. The Oceanian or ‘Central’ region is here introduced as a particular faunal region comprising Hawaii, Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia. This complex of islands cannot, in the Author's opinion, be conveniently grouped with any of the continental faunal regions, although it has clear affinities with near-by continents to the west.
The Water-fern Salvinia molesta in the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea
Authors: Mitchell David S. , Petr Tomislav , Viner Anthony B. 
Published: August 2009

Since 1977 the Sepik River backwaters between Pagwi and Angoram in Papua New Guinea have become increasingly covered by the exotic water-fern Salvinia molesta. By May 1979, Salvinia covered about 80 km2. Water chemical analyses for dissolved substances give no evidence that nutrients in the Sepik River and ‘lagoons’ might become limiting enough to affect the Salvinia population. The physical impact of the plant is reflected especially in the decline of the fisheries for Saltfish Tilapia (Sarotherodon mossambicus), crocodile hunting, collection of sago-palm, and in the slowing down or complete elimination of water transport. As a consequence, people in a number of villages are unable to reach markets and children cannot go to schools.A programme of management has been formulated which will involve the United Nations, central and provincial governments, and local inhabitants. However, it should be understood that there is little chance of complete elimination of the weed from Sepik River backwaters.
Environmental Problems, Development, and Agricultural Production Systems
Authors: Clapham W. B. 
Published: August 2009

Environmental problems of agriculture constitute some of the most complex and significant problems of modern times. They are found in all countries, but are most prominent—and tend to be most serious—in Third World countries located in ecologically vulnerable areas. Their roots commonly lie in the culture of the population, the farmers' behaviour, or the economy of the area.In order to assess patterns of agricultural development in general, or to assess the implications of development projects, we must include the environmental, behavioural, and policy, dimensions of the agricultural production system into a single framework, so that we can understand both the problems as narrowly defined and the measures which must be taken in order to solve them.One way of doing this is through a comprehensive, out qualitative, overview of the system. This provides a general framework for any analysis, and it can be so simplified that a particular problem can be treated in a meaningful and adequate fashion.
Potentials and Problems of Hill Areas in Relation to Conservation of Wildlife in India
Authors: Oza G. M. 
Published: August 2009

Basically through population pressures leading to habitat encroachment and commercial slaughter, India is becoming poorer, day be day, in her still-rich heritage of wildlife. Virgin forests on the plains and in the hilly regions are dwindling. Unfortunately, education and research centres have not cared to educate the youth of the country about the importance of nature conservation.The Author's field endeavours, extending over more than a decade, have helped to reveal that 18 of India's 27 threatened mammalian species—lion-tailed Macaque, Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Golden Langur, Snub-nosed Langur, Wolf, Asiatic Wild Dog, Malabar Large-spotted Civet, Clouded Leopard, Indian Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Asian Elephant, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Kashmir Stag, Gaur, Wild Yak, Nilgiri Tahr, and Markhor—have their homes in hilly or montane habitats. Pradoxically, India has the dubious distinction of ranking second in the world, and first among the 15 countries of the Oriental region, in having 27 mammalian species whose world populations are to some extent threatened according to the Red Data Book (IUCN, 1972).
Non-radiological Environmental Implications of Nuclear Energy
Authors: Biswas Asit K. 
Published: August 2009

Discussions on environmental implications of nuclear energy have so far been concentrated on radiological aspects: disposal of radioactive wastes, safety of nuclear power production, safe handling of plutonium, and problems associated with uranium mining. There are, however, several environmental issues associated with nuclear power production that are non-radiological in nature: thermal pollution and attendant effects on aquatic life, problems associated with land-use requirements, aesthetic considerations, habitat alterations, and atmospheric effects. These different non-radiological environmental implications of nuclear energy are reviewed.The paper concludes that, while there are some environmental problems which exist at present, and a few more could emerge in the future, all these problems appear to be solvable with the present state of technological development. The extent of environmental degradation can be significantly reduced by appropriate design and planning.
The World's Conservation Strategy
Authors: Talbot Lee M. 
Published: August 2009

Rational use and conservation of living resources must be the active concern of all of us, rich and poor alike, if the world is to continue to develop in any reasonable degree of harmony with Nature. Accordingly it is necessary to recognize that industrial—and even some degree of demographic—development is not necessarily incompatible with environmental protection, and indeed that, in the world to come, conservation and development will have to be widely interlinked.Cognizant of this and of the fundamental need to protect and perpetuate living, renewable resources in the face of ever-mounting and demanding human populations, and stressing the imperative of preserving a holistic approach to these problems of Man's and Nature's ‘only one Earth’, IUCN, with the support of UNEP and WWF, and the endorsement of some other bodies, launched, early in 1980, after several laborious redraftings, a ‘World Conservation Strategy’, in the manner described in the last part of this paper. It sets a policy for all to follow, taking mankind well away from the merely reactionist basis of conservation.
Suggested Actions for the Forthcoming ‘World Decade of The Biosphere’
Authors: Polunin Nicholas 
Published: August 2009

A new thrust will be needed if the environment of Man and Nature throughout the world is to be preserved for posterity in anything like its present form. The required change in attitude and concomitant action should concern all peoples, involve most resources, and underlie many future developments—which last could well be in line with environmental conservation. It is believed that much benefit could accrue in this worthy direction through global exhortation of The Biosphere as mankind's planetary life-support system, which needs widespread understanding to allay increasing threats due basically to burgeoning human populations and the demands which they make on the limited resources of our planet.The Biosphere may be defined as the Earth's peripheral envelope, together with the oceans and the atmosphere as far up as living things exist in it naturally, and thus ranges from the deepest layers of soils and ocean floors upwards to the highest levels of the stratosphere in which any form of life persists. This includes Man, with his unique intelligence and cognate capabilities that have enabled him to evolve latterly as the world's undisputed pandominant, change the surface of the Earth very considerably, and even alter the composition and content of The Biosphere quite appreciably.
Pollution Effects on Plant Distribution
Authors: Treshow Michael 
Published: August 2009

Since Man's earliest dominion of the Earth, he has depended on the land and its plants for his survival, and he has often altered the forest and field to enhance his success. He has removed some species, planted others, and encouraged growth of still others, both intentionally and inadvertently, to the extent that few areas of the Earth still remain covered by large expanses of totally undisturbed plant communities.Among the inadvertent changes that have been wrought by Man in natural systems are those resulting from the input of the pollutants of technology: sulphur dioxide, herbicides, photochemical pollutants, pesticides, radiation, and much more. The presence of each provides a selective force favouring some genotypes, discouraging others, and eliminating species that lack sufficient genetic diversity to survive. Thus the occurrence and distribution of plants is influenced, and community composition is changed—usually for the worse. Where large numbers of species are killed and the land is laid bare to erosion, the impact is highly undesirable. In other instances, tolerant genotypes existed of a sufficiency of species to allow them to reproduce and fill vacated niches. In the occasional instance where only a few plant species are damaged, the character of the change will depend on the nature of the tolerant individuals and species. A shift from forest to more tolerant grasses and forbs is common.
Environmental Implications of the Use of Fusion Power
Authors: Holdren John P. 
Published: August 2009

Long-term limits to growth in energy-use will be imposed not by inability to expand supply but by the rising environmental and social costs of doing so. These costs will therefore be central issues in choosing long-term energy options. Energy from nuclear fusion, like solar energy, is not one technology but many. Some of the fusion possibilities seem likely to have very attractive environmental characteristics; others may be little better in these regards than nuclear fission.Issues in fusion-reactor design that are crucial from the environmental standpoint include: size of tritium inventory and pathways for its release; nature and configuration of materials that are subject to neutron activation; forms and quantities of the stored energy that are internal to the reactor, and the nature of potential links between fusion technology and nuclear weaponry.
Wildlife Conservation in the Line Islands, Republic of Kiribati (formerly Gilbert Islands)
Authors: Perry Roger 
Published: August 2009

Important colonies of seabirds occur on all eight islands comprising the Line group of the Republic of Kiribati, the former Gilbert Islands. The greatest density and diversity is reached on Christmas Island, the principal island of the group, with 18 regularly nesting species. Climatic factors and the extent of human activities in the past, however, have led to widely differing conditions prevailing on the different islands. Christmas (which came to prominence as a post-war atomic testing-base), Fanning, and Washington, Islands have permanent settlements; the five southern Line Islands are totally uninhabited.Wildlife generally is threatened by introduced animals, especially cats, and additionally on inhabited islands by environmental changes and the direct impact of human disturbance. A Wildlife Conservation Unit, set up in 1977, administers five reserves on Christmas Island and is responsible for the islands of Malden, Starbuck, and Vostok, which are wildlife sanctuaries. Wildlife laws give protection to the Green Turtle and to 31 resident and regularly-occurring migratory species of birds. Naturalist-orientated tours to the Line Islands constitute a key development project which provides some optimism for the future.
Land-use and Threats to Parks in the Neotropics
Authors: Neumann Roderick P. , Machlis Gary E. 
Published: August 2009

The ecological consequences of contemporary land-use in the neotropics have important influences on national park management in the region. Historical patterns suggest that major land-use changes have occurred regularly, and that these patterns have recently intensified. Is there a relationship between specific land-uses and specific threats to protected areas? Can this relationship be detected in a population of parks?In a survey of managers of 183 national parks, 122 returned questionnaires from 19 countries in the neotropics. We found that a range of land-uses, from livestock grazing to quarrying, are occurring in and around the parks. The results of our statistical analysis indicate that many of these activities are associated with specific threats to park resources: for example, poaching for subsistence was statistically associated with each of the ten most-reported threats.We offer two suggestions for improving our understanding of environmental degradation within parks. First, that research and park management be expanded to acquire a regional focus, namely that the land-transforming activities which threaten park resources can best be understood by incorporating the regional-social and political-economic contexts in the analysis. Second, that the influences of the global economic system be increasingly considered in conceptual frameworks of conservation biology.
The Future of Animal Wildlife and Its Habitat in Botswana
Authors: Mordi A. Richard 
Published: August 2009

To conserve its wildlife, Botswana has set aside more than 17% of its total land area as game reserves, national parks, and wildlife management areas. Despite this generous allocation to wildlife, the fauna of the country is declining in both absolute numbers and species diversity. Lack of permanent water-sources in some game reserves, obstruction of fauna migration routes by cattle fences, and a poorly-developed tourist industry, are partly responsible for this decline.In a developing country such as Botswana, tourism should yield sufficient funds for the maintenance of game reserves and national parks. But currently the tourist industry accounts for less than 2% of the gross national product. Unless the industry is encouraged to flourish and expand into dormant reserves such as the Gemsbok National Park and Mabuasehube Game Reserve, animals in those sanctuaries are likely to be driven by drought into South Africa.
The Volcanic Island of Surtsey, Iceland, a Quarter-century After it ‘Rose from the Sea’
Authors: Fridriksson Sturla 
Published: August 2009

An account is given of the island of Surtsey, which rose out of the sea near the Westman Islands off the south coast of Iceland as the result of a submarine volcanic eruption in November 1963. In the nearly twenty-six years since it emerged, the surface of Surtsey has undergone rapid–on the geological time-scale–transformation especially by the actions of wind and water. Indeed the changes have been far more rapid and considerable than had been expected.Despite the harsh conditions for colonization by biota, a fair amount of vascular-plant-dominated vegetation now covers an estimated 1–2% of the surface of the island, aided particularly by winds and birds bringing in disseminules. These and other features are being studied so far as possible without disturbance. Despite a general shortage of water, as rain seeps rapidly into the surface lava, sand, or tuff, a total of 25 species of vascular plants (including one fern) have been identified as having attained ecesis on the island, but not all have persisted. Five species of birds have so far colonized Surtsey, and now nest there, in addition to which there are numerous migrants coming and going, and the overall conclusion is that, despite the generally difficult environmental conditions, ‘a flourishing growth of vegetation can be expected to develop’ eventually.These studies and their implications could be useful indicators for the possibilities of rehabilitation of land areas that have been devastated by human conflict or other abuse.
Rapid Population Growth and Environmental Degradation: Ultimate versus Proximate Factors
Authors: Shaw R. Paul 
Published: August 2009

Among twenty-one representatives of as many nations comprising the World Commission on Environment and Development, there was unanimous agreement on all issues concerning the environment, except two—the causal significance of population growth, and what to do with Antarctica. The lack of consensus on population is symptomatic of widespread confusion not only in the theoretical and empirical literature, but also among advocates of population control.This paper argues that confusion stems from insufficient attention to the nature of the causes involved. Broadly speaking, there are two kinds—ultimate and proximate. Ultimate causes include polluting technologies, affluence-related wastes, environmental consequences of warfare, land and urban mismanagement policies, and so on. In contrast, proximate causes such as rapid population growth are shown to be more situation-specific, contemporary, and of a confounding nature.
Insect Conservation and Landscape Ecology: A Case-history of Bush Crickets (Tettigoniidae) in Southern France
Authors: Samways Michael J. 
Published: August 2009

Insect species etc. comprise about 80% of the specific and subspecific taxa of the animal kingdom, and their conservation is an important, integral, and contemporary, aspect of the conservation of biological diversity. The species richness of this vast group makes detailed studies of all components insurmountable relative to the urgency for diversity conservation solutions. Landscape ecology offers a way of conceptualizing the situation, and is a tool for management. This approach is explored in the present paper, using the extensive data available on decticine bush crickets in the Montpellier region of southern France. Corridors, patches, and matrices, are considered, with special reference to the bush crickets' distributions at the boundaries of these elements.As well as movement across the boundaries and resident interpenetration of these elements by those insects the ecotones are also important ecological entities in their own right. Additionally, vertical, as well as horizontal, aspects of landscape elements are important for these small animals with small home-ranges.
Environmental Security for the Danube Basin
Authors: Westing Arthur H. 
Published: August 2009

This paper examines the level of environmental security in the Danube River drainage basin: an ecogeographical region covering 800 thousand square kilometres, supporting some 86 million inhabitants, and occupying greater or lesser portions of 12 nations—especially of the 8 riparian nations. The waters of the basin are important, if not indispensable, to the basin inhabitants for various purposes, among them: household, municipal, agricultural, industrial, waste disposal, transportation, power generation, fishing, and aesthetic.Despite a flow at the mouth of some 6,500 cubic metres per second, the Danube basin waters do not suffice for all of these diverse and sometimes conflicting demands that are placed upon them, this paper outlines the resulting environmental problems—especially those associated with Danubian pollution, habitat disruption, and the generation of hydropower. It refers to the existing legal instruments that address environmental vandalism (especially in time of war), pollution (of both air and water), habitat disruption, and resource utilization (both non-extractive and extractive), noting their levels of acceptance and their lacunae.
The Political Ecology of Fisheries Depletion in Amazonia
Authors: Chapman Margaret D. 
Published: August 2009

Because fish populations are the classical examples of common-property resources, Garrett Hardin's ‘tragedy of the commons’ is frequently cited as the cause of their decline. However, it has now been shown that many small community fisheries, as well as a number of larger commercial fisheries, are not managed according to the ‘commons’ model but rather are subject to internal limitedentry restrictions which prevent resource overexploitation. Further, Hardin's model ignores critical relationships which exist between common-property and private resources in many Third World rural societies. Changes in these relationships have significant implications for sustained yield management of common-property resources, such as fisheries, in these societies.In Amazonia, the current changing relationship between common-property and private resources on theterra firmeuplands profoundly affects the degree of exploitation that is experienced by the region's fisheries. It also has important implications for the survival of Amazonia's flood-forests which play a critical role in the region's fisheries ecology.
Physical Soil-properties Associated with Recreational Use of a Forested Reserve Area in Malaysia
Authors: Jusoff Kamaruzaman 
Published: August 2009

Forested areas of Kanching Recreation Forest exposed to concentrated recreational use tend to show signs of deterioration as indicated by soil parameters related to soil compaction. The results of the present study clearly indicate that such a deterioration of soil conditions has already occurred, though not on an alarming scale. Indeed the status of these soils remains favourable, as the figures for saturated hydraulic conductivity and plant-available water are still ‘satisfactory’, or at least were so during the period of study (1989). Surface runoff and sheet-erosion in intensively-used recreational sites must not, however, be looked upon in isolation when advising on recreational forest land-management.A recent study in Kanching Forest Reserve, Malaysia, showed that recreational use of forested areas could adversely affect soil conditions. Soil bulk density and micropore space were significantly increased, but total porespace and macropore space were significantly decreased. Available water-holding capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and particle-size distribution, were not significantly affected by recreational use on such sites, indicating that the status of Kanching Recreation Forest soil is still favourable for plant growth, or at least it was during the period of this study.