Browsing by Author "Christensen, Norman L"
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Item Open Access A restoration, fire, and adaptive management plan for The Nature Conservancy's McLean Savanna Preserve, Pender County, North Carolina(2011-04-29) Coleman, ConnorIn December 2008 the North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy purchased 540 acres adjacent to Holly Shelter Game Lands in Pender County, North Carolina from the William McLean Family. This tract of land is considered by North Carolina Natural Heritage Program to be “one of the best examples of very rare Pine Savanna variant, which is known from a few locations in the world” and houses 14 rare plant species, two of which are federally endangered. However, while components of the historic community types are still present, fire exclusion and forest conversion have resulted in an alteration of biodiversity and structure. The current condition of the site was evaluated through extensive field surveys and compared to presettlement vegetation data to determine the deviation from desired conditions and the efforts necessary for restoration. Management recommendations were devised for twelve different management units based on an exhaustive literature review. The reintroduction of fire and the implementation of an appropriate fire regime is the most critical component for restoration. In some areas additional mechanical, chemical, and manual applications are necessary to meet the desired objectives. Through the adherence to an adaptive management approach this plan will provide the means to restore the composition, structure, and function of health longleaf pine ecosystem.Item Open Access An Adaptive Management Plan for the Restoration of an Outdoor Learning Center(2007-05) Yelton, Charles W.The process of restoring and reconstructing natural communities is complex and full of uncertainty for land managers. When the prospect of using the natural communities for education purposes is added to these challenges, a comprehensive and adaptive approach of land management is necessary. Adaptive management has proven to be a useful approach to dealing with uncertainty when managing natural resources, and has been chosen as the approach for managing the resources of an outdoor education facility in Raleigh, North Carolina. This master’s project is intended as a living document to guide the management of the natural resources at the Prairie Ridge Ecostation for Wildlife and Learning. Prairie Ridge is the educational field station of the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Ecostation hosts students of all backgrounds as they conduct educational field research. These activities can complicate the management and conservation of natural resources. This document is designed to provide a comprehensive plan for the restoration, reconstruction, and management of a variety of natural communities at Prairie Ridge, keeping in mind the need for educational and research use of these resources. These communities include a dry-mesic oak hickory forest, a piedmont bottomland forest, and a piedmont prairie reconstructed from an abandoned pasture. A framework was developed to guide the management of the diverse projects currently underway at Prairie Ridge. Each of these eleven projects is outlined with clear goals, strategies, and prescriptions for their management. Adaptive management is recommended for the majority of the projects for its ability to manage uncertainty and provide a scientific approach to management decisions. Evaluation methods were developed for each project to measure the effectiveness of the management prescriptions. The potentially conflicting uses of Prairie Ridge, including public visitation, field research, and preservation provide many opportunities for the use of decision analysis as an evaluation tool. Multi-attribute utility analysis is recommended for the evaluation of each management treatment. This plan will guide the management of Prairie Ridge’s natural resources and serve as a model for incorporating adaptive management techniques into other educational facilities.Item Open Access An Urban Conservation Strategy to Preserve Cuyahoga County’s Eco-Valued Landscapes(2007-05) Garrity, Lynn M.The land conservancy movement in the United States has increased significantly over the past twenty years. The increased number and activity of local land trusts is especially notable. Rural and suburban land has been the most important conservation targets for these groups. However, there is growing interest in the conservation of urban land, and interest in the values and viability of natural areas in urban environments. To assess these values and viability, Cuyahoga County, Ohio is evaluated on its present and future potential for an urban land conservation program. Cuyahoga County’s human population has declined the past ten years but land development continues to increase. Loss of valuable ecological areas including riparian lands, wetlands and diverse plant communities continues at an alarming pace. An urban land conservation strategy that targets small parcels (<10 acre) is needed to combat the loss of the ecological resources and to provide natural areas to an urbanizing county as a social and economic benefit. To determine the viability of an urban land conservation effort in Cuyahoga County, the following activities were evaluated. 1. The success and challenges of current urban land conservation efforts throughout the country and within Cuyahoga County; 2. The similarities and differences of approaches to rural land conservation and urban land conservation; 3. Defining eco-valued landscapes and their presence for conservation opportunities in Cuyahoga County; and 4. Organizational structures in Cuyahoga County that could institute an urban land conservation program. As our human population continues to move into and transform metropolitan areas, an urban land conservation strategy will provide an opportunity to establish natural areas where it is most needed and to lessen the pressure of the unwavering desire to live outside of the City.Item Open Access Analysis of the Clean Development Mechanism As a Vehicle for Achieving Sanitation Objectives of the UN Millennium Goals(2009-04-24T01:12:52Z) Loken, LorraineThe UN Millennium Development Goals identified sanitation objectives as being fundamental to stopping the downward spiral of impoverished nations. This basic improvement is so important to quality of life that it is the foundation for protecting public health, the environment, and building economic stability. Climate change and its disproportionate impact on the poor make achieving the goals more elusive as poor nations struggle to adapt while limiting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) provides market incentives for reducing GHG emissions while investing in sustainable development. This master’s project looks at the feasibility of applying the CDM to provide a financial incentive for improving wastewater treatment facilities in Durban, South Africa. Specifically, it looks at algae based wastewater treatment systems to create biofuel, fertilizers and other useful byproducts. Algae wastewater treatment enhances water quality through nutrient removal and can create certified emission reduction (CER) credits by replacing the secondary treatment process to eliminate N2O emissions and reduce energy and chemical operations costs. Algae research investment and venture capital have grown exponentially to create numerous partnership opportunities for financing. South Africa and eThekwini Municipality are competent in the CDM process, have experience with algae technology, and stand poised to leverage opportunities. A recent carbon market downturn and escalating administrative costs in the CDM make a weak cost-benefit ratio for smaller scale projects. A “Sectoral” approach to include the entire Water and Sanitation unit of eThekwini Municipality is recommended. CDM proposals should consider multiple algae wastewater treatment plant retrofits with production of algae biofuels. The biofuels should be used by the municipality to increase offsets and credits to be more cost effective. This would increase the volume of CERs that can be generated and therefore the economic incentive available to improve sanitation.Item Open Access Assessment of a Regional Community and Conservation Collaborative: The AP3C(2010-04-29T02:09:42Z) Adams, EmilyThe Albemarle-Pamlico region of North Carolina has a unique environmental and social history with vast natural resources. In 2006, several conservation and community groups formed the Albemarle-Pamlico Conservation and Communities Collaborative (AP3C) to protect the region’s natural resources while providing economic opportunities. Since its formation, the group has struggled to create an organizational structure and many members are dissatisfied with its lack of progress. Using individual interviews, this report identifies strengths of the group and region the AP3C can use to achieve its vision, challenges the group must address, and a common vision of the Albemarle-Pamlico region and of the AP3C. From this information, I identified three strategic questions for the steering committee to undertake: 1. What is the AP3C’s mission? 2. Who should be on the Steering Committee? 3. How can the AP3C market itself to potential participants, stakeholders, and members? I recommend using a consensus-based approach to answer these questions.Item Open Access A Multiscale Investigation of Snake Habitat Relationships and Snake Conservation in Illinois(2008-02-11) Cagle, Nicolette Lynn FloccaSnake populations in the North American tallgrass prairie appear to be declining, yet data unavailability impedes the development of enhanced ecological understanding of snake species-habitat relationships and also hinders snake conservation efforts. This study addresses both issues for the snakes of Illinois in two steps. In a two-year mark-recapture study at twenty-two sites within six northern Illinois prairie preserves, I investigated snake species-habitat relationships using habitat variables at three scales: microhabitat (< 100 m), landscape (1 - 10 km), and regional (> 10 km). A total of 120 snakes representing seven species was captured using drift fence arrays associated with funnel traps and sheet metal cover. The low numbers and diversity of snakes captured, when compared to historic evidence, indicate that Illinois snake populations have declined. At the microhabitat scale, non-metric multidimensional scaling and Mantel tests revealed a relationship between snake species composition and elevation. At the landscape-scale, snake species composition varied along an agricultural-urban cover gradient. Classification and regression trees and maximum entropy models (Maxent) were used to identify the scales at which snake species-habitat relationships were strongest. Six of seven regression trees for individual snakes species contained habitat variables at the landscape scale. Important landscape characteristics included patch size, isolation, and land cover, metrics that strongly covary with habitat loss. Microhabitat features only appeared in the regression trees of two species and in three Maxent models. This study indicates that habitat loss has shaped the current distribution of snake species in Illinois's remnant prairies and that snake conservation efforts should emphasize the landscape-scale. Finally, I developed a risk ranking system based on natural and life history characteristics to assess the conservation status of Illinois's 38 snake species. Cluster analysis identified eight groups of snakes, similar in terms of risk factors, with high risk species sharing characteristics such as large body size, long life span, limited habitat breadth, and a high anthropogenic threat ranking. Here, I emphasize the need for basic demographic studies on snakes and suggest that ranking systems be used with population data (when available) and expert opinion to identify snake species of conservation concern in other regions.Item Open Access Cellulosic Ethanol Potential: An Iowa Case Study(2009-04-24T02:20:28Z) Cutsinger, TrevorThe many arguments against corn ethanol in recent years coupled with rising energy prices and concern over greenhouse gas emissions have sparked a surge of interest in cellulosic ethanol. From a simplistic point of view, cellulosic ethanol can be derived from anything containing cellulose. A wide variety of biomass residues and dedicated energy crops are the most likely source of large quantities of feedstock. While none of the feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol contribute directly to the “food versus fuel” debate, the obstacles to the large-scale production of this energy source are significant. Many technologies are being explored for the conversion of the various feedstocks into cellulosic ethanol, with the jury still out on which processes are the most energy and cost efficient. In this masters project, the state of Iowa is analyzed as a case study, in order to understand the relationship between marginal agricultural land, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and potential cellulosic ethanol feedstock production. The sample counties were chosen based on their 2007 CRP enrollment acreage. The ten counties with the highest CRP acreage and the ten counties with the lowest CRP acreage were included in the analysis. The logic behind this decision is based on the fact that higher CRP acreage is generally indicative of poorer quality farmland, including steeply sloping land, highly erodible soils, rocky soils, and riparian areas. The next step was to identify marginal agricultural lands in these counties, which was done using the Land Capability Classification system. This system ranks land on a scale of 1 to 8, with 1 being the best farmland and 8 being the most limited. In this case study, all land in category 4 and higher is considered marginal. The land cover on these marginal lands was then analyzed, with particular attention paid to corn. The primary conclusion reached in this project is that a substantial amount of marginal land in Iowa is planted in corn and other row crops. These lands could be better utilized, both environmentally and economically, by instead planting them in switchgrass or other perennial grasses for cellulosic ethanol production.Item Open Access Central Campus and the Sarah P. Duke Gardens Expansion(2007-05) Kartcheske, PaulWith the development of Central Campus at Duke University the opportunity may exist for one hundred acres of hollows between East and West campus and a greenway swath to be assigned to Sarah P. Duke Gardens for oversight. This Masters project examines one possible scenario for the future of the Central Campus hollows. The Gardens welcomes the opportunity for this addition to the garden footprint and the possible connection that may exist to develop an academic connection to the University. This Central Campus Master Plan is to be developed over the next twenty to fifty years with possible initial construction to begin the summer of 2008. The Gardens would like the opportunity to restore the hollows back to a pine-hardwood forest. This addition would tie in to the current mission of the Gardens – to create and nurture an environment for learning, inspiration and enjoyment. Through a concentrated effort on the removal of invasive plants and the addition of native species the Gardens education programs would be enriched and a new connection to University academics would be established. With the establishment of new partnerships with various Duke Departments within campus service and the academic areas, the development of the hollows will improve Central Campus. The Gardens already functions as storm water control. With the increase of impervious surfaces that Central Campus could add, the amount of storm water runoff that will impact the Gardens and the hollows will increase. The one hundred acres of hollows of pine-hardwood would not only provide opportunities for education and research, but it would provide a mechanism to manage storm water runoff and water quality.Item Open Access Coastal Plain Pond Vegetation Patterns: Tracking Changes Across Space and Time(2010) ODea, ClaireCoastal plain ponds are an understudied and threatened wetland ecosystem with many unique environmental attributes. Research in these ponds can investigate species-environment relationships, while simultaneously providing ecosystem-specific information crucial to their continued conservation and management. This dissertation explores patterns in coastal plain pond vegetation composition and species-environment relationships across space, through time, and in the seed bank and standing vegetation.
In a two-year field study at 18 coastal plain ponds across the island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, I investigated species-environment relationships within and among ponds. I identified vegetation species presences and abundances within 1 m2 quadrats, which ran continuously along transects established perpendicular to the water's edge. Species data were analyzed against local and landscape-scale environmental data. I also conducted a one-year seed bank study in which sediments from four coastal plain ponds were incubated in growth chambers and composition was compared to the standing vegetation. One hundred and thirty-four plant species were identified during vegetation sampling and 38 species were identified from incubated sediments.
I found significant compositional change across space in response to environmental gradients, with patterns in species composition occurring at both local and landscape scales. Elevation was the only local factor strongly correlated with species composition. Significant landscape-scale environmental factors included surficial geology and pond water salinity. Species composition was significantly correlated with hydrologic regime in 2005 but not in 2006. Overall patterns in vegetation species composition and abundance were more closely related to landscape-scale environmental variables than to local environmental variables.
I also found that coastal plain ponds undergo significant compositional change from one year to the next. Interannual variability disproportionately affected certain ponds and quadrats more than others, highlighting patterns in the relationships between compositional change and environmental attributes. Specifically, ephemeral ponds, ponds located on the moraine, ponds with high specific conductance values, and quadrats located closer to the waterline exhibited greater compositional change from 2005 to 2006 than permanent ponds, ponds located on the outwash plain, ponds with low specific conductance values, and quadrats located further from the waterline.
Finally, I found that coastal plain ponds exhibit a low degree of similarity between composition in sediments and standing vegetation. More species were identified in the standing vegetation than in the seed bank, and in most cases average species richness per quadrat was higher in the standing vegetation than in the seed bank. Seed bank and standing vegetation samples from ponds with different surficial geology were compositionally distinct. Seed bank samples from permanent and ephemeral ponds were compositionally distinct whereas standing vegetation samples were not.
Item Open Access Collaborative Climate Change Communications: An Assessment and Recommendations for the Future(2011-04-28) Tollefson, ChristopherThe threat posed by anthropogenic climate change to the world’s wildlife and natural systems has prompted the conservation community in the United States and across the globe to make communicating about climate change one of their highest, if not the highest, priorities. At one level, these communication efforts seem to be working. Multiple surveys confirm that most Americans believe that climate change is occurring, and that it is caused at least in part by human activities. However, in recurring national surveys, climate change has consistently ranked near the bottom of environmental issues Americans are concerned about. This Master’s Project assesses the current state of climate change communications at federal agencies, conservation organizations and other entities that are working to address the impacts of climate change on wildlife and natural systems, and identifies best practices in climate communications. As part of the project, a survey was conducted of professional communicators from multiple federal agencies, conservation organizations, professional societies and groups representing states and tribes. Data analysis of the survey, as well as a review of current literature on effective climate change communications and public attitudes, has been used to develop recommendations for improved future climate communications efforts. The survey revealed that while nearly all participating organizations place a high priority on addressing climate change – and on climate change communications – most do not have a dedicated and clearly articulated climate change communications strategy. Nearly all recognize the need for a broader climate communications effort, but none have the resources to mount a broad communications campaign. The survey revealed support for a collaborative effort on climate change communications that could leverage the existing resources of participating organizations to communicate more effectively about climate change to a broader public. This effort would of necessity need to be limited in scope and focus on climate specific change impacts and adaptation strategies, rather than legislative and policy solutions to address greenhouse gas emissions. By articulating a few key shared messages, repeated across multiple channels by the scientific and technical experts of each organization, these entities could take the first step toward a collaborative climate communications effort.Item Open Access Community Perceptions of Wildfire and Controlled Burning(2018-04-27) Gaasch, KathrynCommunity backlash following the western North Carolina wildfires in 2016 revealed patterns of miscommunication and distrust regarding forest management practices. To improve messaging in fire-impacted communities, a pilot survey study was conducted in Morganton, NC. The study explored community perceptions of wildfire and controlled burning threats, the variables that might explain them, and whether perceptions of controlled burning can be affected by messaging. Results show that survey respondents perceived fire to be beneficial for North Carolina forests. Survey respondents generally perceived wildfire to be an overall threat while they generally did not perceive controlled burning to be an overall threat. Political alignment, perceived wildfire risk to personal residence within ten years, and belief that wildfire is a natural part of the ecosystem were found to be statistically significant predictors of wildfire threat perceptions. Political alignment, years lived in Morganton, and the belief that wildfire is a natural part of the ecosystem were found to be statistically significant predictors of controlled burning threat perceptions. Perceptions of controlled burning may also be changed due to effective and targeted messaging.Item Open Access Development of a Land Stewardship Plan Based on Community Values(2011-04-27) Brayley, RobertThere are approximately 1,700 land trusts in America that have conserved about 37 million acres of land. However, land preservation is not just the onetime acquisition of land. It is the responsibility of land trusts to care for the land and preserve its conservation values forever. In the overall scheme of things this stewardship responsibility is the more onerous task, if for no other reason than its duration. Stewardship includes a number of activities intended to ensure that the property remains preserved as intended. These activities must be well documented and carried out with sufficient rigor to withstand legal challenges decades or centuries into the future. Many land trusts are just now beginning to fully understand the challenge of stewardship. This paper focuses on one such land trust, the Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust located in Little Compton, Rhode Island. Since its inception in 1986, as the first municipal land trust in Rhode Island, the Ag Trust has preserved roughly 1,800 acres in over 100 separate transactions. In so doing it has gained national recognition for its outstanding accomplishments. This master’s project investigates the nature and the origins of the Ag Trust’s stewardship responsibilities by looking at the legal basis on which the organization is founded and managed, the Ag Trust’s mission statement, community attitudes as determined by a survey, and best practice as established by the Land Trust Alliance. The survey was distributed to over a thousand Little Compton residents. It requested information regarding the value that preserved land brings to the community and acceptable uses and development of preserved land. There were 172 responses, including 130 written comments. The results of the survey and other investigations indicate that the Ag Trust should consider changes to their mission statement and practices to increase emphasis on stewardship and to more closely conform to best practices. Furthermore, strong public support for passive recreational use of preserved lands should be accommodated when possible to help ensure continued support for land preservation. These recommendations are supported with suggested stewardship principles.Item Open Access Development of a Watershed Action Plan for the Lockwood Folly River, Brunswick County, North Carolina(2008-04-25T16:15:55Z) Batt, LynnetteIncreasing urban and residential growth poses one of the greatest threats to water quality and aquatic resources on the North Carolina coast. The Lockwood Folly River watershed, located within Brunswick County, faces significant water quality issues associated with this growth and development. Future rapid increases in residential development will further degrade water quality if management is not improved. To address this, the North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program and the Lockwood Folly Roundtable, a citizen group in the watershed, began a watershed planning process to protect and restore water quality. The focus of this Masters Project was to continue the watershed planning process by organizing, synthesizing, and expanding this work into a single Watershed Action Plan for the Lockwood Folly River. The purpose of the Plan is to: 1) summarize current conditions and issues, 2) state environmental/water quality goals, 3) develop a set of action strategies to reach these goals, and 4) offer ideas on implementation and evaluation. The six action strategies represent areas where management could be improved to better protect water quality. They include sustainable development, land conservation, stream and wetland management, regulatory program coordination, working waterfronts, and public education and participation. The Plan will be presented to Brunswick County staff and commissioners for potential adoption and use in decision-making, and will be made available to the public.Item Open Access Ecological Footprint Analysis for Military Healthcare Facility Design and Construction - Case Study(2009-04-24T16:00:28Z) Berger, LidiaThe world’s rapid economic expansion demands the construction of many new buildings annually. Nearly 4.7 million office buildings existed in 1999, and each year since then approximately 170,000 commercial buildings have been constructed and nearly 44,000 demolished. This level of expansion creates an unprecedented demand for land and natural resources. Furthermore, buildings are prominent energy users. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, buildings in the United States account for 70% of total energy consumption. For the healthcare industry; one of the fastest growing sectors in the US economy, the situation is even more acute. Hospitals are among the most energy-intensive commercial buildings, rated as the second highest energy users in the nation. This study explores strategies that help the healthcare industry to embrace sustainable development by understanding the impacts that building design and construction have on the natural environments. This research compares the ecological footprint of a sustainable approach to healthcare construction to a baseline level or code compliance design. The relative impacts of energy use reduction, waste management and land use serve as a basis for defining the carrying capacity of the case study. One of the focal elements of the study is an assessment of the impact of carbon emissions that is related specifically to energy reduction practices. An ecological footprint assessment helps to establish a common language for defining sustainability and provides a strategic management tool to help prioritize decisions made in building construction and aid in the policy-making process. Such analysis can also be used to inform future hospital designs by encouraging restorative site planning developed to maximize the ecological capacity of a site and ensure proper selection of construction methods. Consequently, future healthcare-related building design and construction should focus on long-range impact planning and mitigation strategies to further energy efficiency and reduce the impact of carbon emissions.Item Open Access Environmental Factors Correlated with Changes in Riparian Plant Composition along the Santa Clara River Floodplain, California(2011-04-25) Holly, BrianRiparian habitat supports a diverse array of species and is maintained by complex environmental processes. Changes in habitat composition can be an indicator of the health of an ecosystem, which is based on the assumption that an ecosystem, with a diverse suite of plant communities, can support a diverse set of animal species because of the complexity of microhabitats created by the layering of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous and aquatic vegetation (Nautilus Environmental 2005). The aim of this study was to provide an analysis of habitat conditions and vegetation dynamics in relation to environmental factors and invasive species establishment to discern what changes, if any, occur to a nine-acre southern willow scrub riparian community as a result of the cessation 2.5 million GPD of wastewater. The study began in January of 2009 and ended in February of 2011. Cessation of treated effluent water occurred in May, 2010. A total of 119 plant species of 82 genera was observed. Absolute percent cover values for each species were collected at 19 plots over 16 events. Willow (Salix spp.), giant reed (Arundo donax) and mulefat (B. salicifolia) were the most abundant and dominant species. Change in mean absolute percent cover values for dominant species was analyzed for overall and seasonal trends. Overall willow percent cover values declined sharply during the post cessation study while overall variation with other plants occurred more or less sporadically. Species richness declined and variation in percent cover and nativity occurred at several plots. Ordination techniques as non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to examine the relationship between changes in vegetation and environmental parameters. CCA analysis revealed that axis 1 is strongly correlated with willow percent cover while axis 2 is strongly correlated with Arundo percent cover. These gradients were closely related to the first 2 canonical axes and accounted for approximately 30% of the species-environment relationship in the study plots. The results suggest that variation in species composition is related to percent cover change in willow and Arundo. Other environmental variables that were correlated included distance of the study site to the center of effluent channel and the presence or absence of surface water. Understanding relationships between environmental variables and vegetation dynamics is helpful in applying these findings to management and conservation of southern California riparian ecosystems.Item Open Access Estuarine Shoreline Change: An Analysis of Hyde County, North Carolina(2010-04-29T21:45:02Z) Patel, MonicaHyde County lies southeast on the flat coastal plain of North Carolina, part of the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula. It encompasses nationally recognized wildlife refuges and provides vital habitat for endangered, threatened, and sensitive species and natural communities. The low topography makes it extremely vulnerable to sea level rise, especially as the isostatic rates are double the global average at 0.2 - 0.4 cm per year. Climatic changes have impacted the ecosystems through rapid erosion rates. Here I measured the estuarine shoreline rate-of-change and identify priority areas, and investigated environmental predicator variables potentially explaining the erosion variability. By delineating the estuarine shorelines of 1999, 2006, and 2009 from aerial photographs in ArcMap, I was able to measure the rate-of-change for the entire study shoreline area. Three distinct areas experienced relatively higher average erosion rates, -2 m yr-1 to -3 m yr-1. Forty percent of the total shoreline length experienced moderate rates, -1 m yr-1 to -1.9 m yr-1, and 50% experienced low rates, 0 m yr-1 to -0.9 m yr-1. Classification and regression tree (CART) analysis selected directional orientation and ditch variables as influencing variables for 1999-2009 interval and 1999-2006 sub-interval. In particular, northeast and east facing shorelines with ditches exhibited the highest erosion rates. In comparison, directional orientation and percent land cultivated were selected for the 2006-2009 sub-interval. Northeast and east and southeast and south facing shorelines with associated greater than 15% cultivated land exhibited relative highest erosion rates. The CART results only explained 10% of the variance within the dataset, which suggests additional environment factors are influencing erosion rates. The most influential predictor variables varied during the latter time period, which suggests changes in landscape interactions greatly determine erosion vulnerability. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate additional environmental variables. Together, these findings and the spatial distribution of vulnerable areas allow The Nature Conservancy to prioritize shoreline areas and focus adaptation strategies to reach overall Climate Change Adaptation Project goals.Item Open Access Evaluation of Marine Resource Programs In US Peace Corps Micronesia(2007-05) Clements, KimberlyOver the last two decades US Peace Corps has implemented programs to assist Micronesia in the management and conservation of its marine resources. Most of these programs were heavily focused on building capacity and providing technical assistance at government and agency level. Programs focused on monitoring resources, developing aqua-culture and eco-tourism opportunities, drafting policy and management plans, promoting traditional fishing practices and educational outreach. These programs have since been terminated, and the Peace Corps has consolidated its efforts into communitybased programs (education and youth development). In some cases, volunteers have been assigned secondary projects in marine resource education. A survey was administered to volunteers who served in two of these terminated marine resources programs to identify challenges in building capacity at the government and agency level. These volunteers determined that training prior to Peace Corps service (technical, cultural, and language) was adequate in preparing them for their two year assignments. They implemented projects with their host agency assignments to satisfy program goals. However some host agencies insisted volunteers worked on projects more suited to the agency’s agenda. Programs were developed to be compatible with Micronesian culture and applicable to its developing economy and society. However several challenges hindered the ability of these programs to achieve long term sustainability beyond two year term of the volunteer. These challenges included: lack of community integration, lack of host agency volunteer-counterpart partnerships, and grant funding dependence. Several volunteers also described that Peace Corps administration and local agency and/or community leadership were not dedicated to program specifics and that this leadership was crucial to program success. A list of recommended program improvement areas was constructed from these volunteers’ survey responses, which the Peace Corps could consider in choosing secondary projects in marine resource management. These recommendations included that projects should focus on primary education and in community based (managed) areas with cultural practices integrated. They should incorporate assertive community leadership that motivates local program counterparts to be more dedicated to implementing program goals. Projects should not be heavily dependent on volunteer ability to gain grant funding for project survival. Peace Corps administration should increase efficiency in communication and commitment to each volunteer’s personal assignment, when financially feasible. These recommendations were then compared to the goals of a current secondary marine resource education and management project in a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. It was determined that several of the recommendations were in keeping with the goals of this project. Based on this discovery, a list of additional community based marine protected areas was identified which would be appropriate for Peace Corps support. The Peace Corps should consider expanding into these secondary project opportunities should they meet current program guidelines for education and youth development in Micronesia.Item Open Access Examining conservation attitudes, perspectives, and challenges in India(Biological Conservation, 2008-09-01) Karanth, Krithi K; Kramer, Randall A; Qian, Song S; Christensen, Norman LBiodiversity conservation issues are often contentious and complex. Polarized debates on the effectiveness of protected areas and role of people inside them, charismatic species as conservation foci, and on specific policy initiatives are common among Indian and global conservationists. We surveyed Indian conservationists about the conservation effectiveness of protected areas and charismatic species, as well as status of conservation and research efforts. We expected differences among people based on professional affiliation, and educational background. We examined participants' opinions on conservation policies like Project Tiger and Elephant, the Forest Rights Act, and the Tiger Task Force Report. Participants ranked Indian research efforts as average, and identified a bias towards terrestrial species and ecosystems. Ninety-percent of participants considered reserves to be effective, many (61%) participants felt that the situation of people living inside reserves is unsustainable, and many (76%) felt the use of force to protect reserves from illegal human activities is acceptable. Classification and regression tree models for these questions suggested that non-academics were more likely than academics to agree with these positions. On the success of Project Tiger and Elephant, older participants were more likely to think these initiatives were a success. Many (63%) participants felt the Forest Rights Act needed revision, particularly if they had doctoral degrees. Sixty-two percent of participants did not think Tiger Task Force was effective. Overall, participants' professional affiliation, age, and academic degree were important predictors of participants attitudes towards conservation initiatives. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Item Open Access Expected impacts from construction of Road PR-22 on the cattle and dairy farms of Puerto Rico(2014-04-25) Guzmán, Mildred M.; Guzman, MildredThe dairy industry is the most important economic sector of Puerto Rico’s Agriculture. Statistics indicate that during the 2010-2011 fiscal year it had a gross income of $235.1 MM, corresponding to a total of 29.8% of the total agriculture market. It employees some 25,000 people and supports other businesses such as cheese, hay sale and meat production. The industry is upheld by the dairy cattle ranchers, many of which are family-owned businesses. A threat to the industry was declared by the Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas (DTOP) when in 2010 it re-issued its intent to construct a road through areas on the northwest of the island. These areas are known for being the island’s top milk-producers. The objective of this Masters Project was to identify the expected impacts the road construction can have on the dairy cattle industry. This objective is pursued by understanding the current state of the industry, review DTOP’s stated need for construction, evaluate direct and indirect impacts to the industry, and review interviews to stakeholders provided by “Transecto Socio-Ecologico del Karso Norteño”. The result of the research leads to an industry whose production volumes, pasture areas, and amount of farms are already in decline. Stakeholders interviewed by Transecto foresee an industry weakened by parcel segregation that would make them impracticable for cattle grazing. As a result many milking facilities and ranches may have to close. For an industry in decline and with many operational complications, this project will likely have a big impact and may push it to the verge of collapse.Item Open Access Guidelines for Ecotourism and Community-based Management in Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan(2010-04-30T12:23:39Z) Kissick, AmeliaBhutan is a small land-locked country between India and China with a landscape ranging from subtropical plains in the south to high Himalayan peaks in the North. The country has generally isolated itself and continues to conserve its culture and environment through restricted tourism and a development policy that revolves around Gross National Happiness instead of Gross Domestic Product. At 4,349 Km2, Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP) covers about 11% of the total area of Bhutan and has some of the highest biodiversity in the country. Given that there are also over 6,000 inhabitants in the park and increasing human-wildlife conflicts, the Royal Government of Bhutan sees ecotourism as a way to incentivize the conservation of the environment while addressing issues of poverty and unemployment. While true ecotourism is hindered by Bhutan’s tourism policy, improved collaboration among tour operators, park management, government, and community members living in JDNP will lead to more authentic ecotourism and increased benefits to stakeholders in the park. Policy recommendations and ecotourism guidelines provided are based on site visits, interviews, and the results of surveys measuring tourist and tour operator practices and preferences in Bhutan and Jigme Dorji National Park.