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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Integrating Ecology into Natural Resource Management Policy

Traditional natural resource management policy has largely focused on implementing prescriptive solutions to maximize a production function. The fundamental assumptions of this approach were: (1) that ecosystems behaved in a linear, deterministic manner; (2) that there was general community agreement on the value of different ecosystem services; and (3) that land managers would accept and adopt the recommended technology. The result has generally been an unpredictable performance by ecosystems, conflicting expectations among users, and low adoption rates for the outputs of research and development (R&D). We propose that an approach that integrates the fundamentals of nonequilibrium ecology and "soft" systems methodologies to define options, make management decision recommendations, and implement programs will result in improved predictability of ecosystem response, more realistic expectations on the part of users of ecosystem services, and better uptake of technology by land managers.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

The role of animal science in natural resource management: current decision making models and future needs.

Sustainable systems for land and natural resource management must be biologically, economically, and socially sustainable. Scientists and educators have historically viewed their role as developing new knowledge and technology to enhance biological and economic sustainability. Scientists have traditionally viewed sociopolitical sustainability and policy development as beyond our appropriate roles. Changing public values and perceptions on appropriate land use and natural resource protection are forcing land grant universities and their scientists and educators to re-evaluate traditional paradigms. The animal science community, in concert with the social and other biological sciences, must become more proactive in decision making processes on appropriate land use and natural resource management if we are to remain relevant. This paper describes the current situation and outlines approaches for the research and education communities to be important contributors to collaborative decision making processes on land and natural resource management.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2000

FORUM: Hypothesis-Driven Experimental Research Is Necessary for Natural Resource Management.

/ Effective management of natural resources must be grounded in a solid scientific understanding of the ecosystem and its responses to natural and human-induced stress. Such an understanding does not arise easily from observational data and models that are not substantiated by experimental data. Cause-and-effect relationships are more easily documented when observations and/or models are supplemented by hypothesis-driven experimental research. In this paper we present three examples from south Florida where hypothesis-driven experimental research has been combined with observational data collection to address specific resource management questions. These include research to determine: (1) the cause of cattail expansion in the Everglades; (2) a threshold phosphorus concentration for the Everglades; and (3) optimal salinity criteria for Florida estuaries. In each case, the results have led to a better understanding of ecosystem function and more sound guidance for resource managers than was possible without the hypothesis-drive experimental research. Resource managers need to recognize the merits of this holistic approach to environmental science and management if we are to have success in reversing detrimental human impacts on natural ecosystems.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Position of the American Dietetic Association: natural resource conservation and waste management.

ADA members are encouraged to evaluate their personal and professional practices and take action to more effectively conserve natural resources and protect the environment. Dietetics professionals' knowledge of the complexity of the issues associated with environmental concerns should be increased through participation in continuing education activities. Knowledgeable members should be proactive in implementing programs to conserve natural resources and protect the environment and participate in the legislative process within their states and communities. ADA supports programs designed to preserve natural resources and protect the environment. ADA is committed to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1998

Assessing Land-Use Impacts on Natural Resources

/ Much information is available on changes that occur in natural resources from both spatially-explicit data on environmental conditions and models of the interactions of these conditions and resources with human activities. The strategy for assessing land-use impacts on natural resources developed in this paper provides a framework for using relevant data and models to address questions of how management practices can promote both use and protection of resources. This assessment strategy integrates spatially explicit environmental data using geographic information systems (GIS) with computer models that simulate changes in land cover in response to land-use impacts. The computer models also simulate susceptibility of species to changes in habitat suitability and landscape patterns. The approach is applied to management of limestone barrens on the Oak Ridge Reservation in East Tennessee. Potential limestone barrens habitats are identified by overlaying appropriate soils, geology, slope, and land-use/land-cover conditions. Their validity is tested against known sites containing rare species that occur in these habitats. The location of habitats at risk in the aftermath of human activities is determined by using an available area model that identifies the size and proximity of sites that particular types of species can no longer use as habitat. The resulting risk map can be used in land management planning. The approach uses readily available in situ and remotely sensed data and is applicable to a wide range of locations and land-use scenarios. This approach can be refined based on needs identified by land managers and on the sensitivity of the results to the resolution of available resource information.KEY WORDS: Land management; Assessment; Habitat characterization; Limestone barrens; Ecological modeling; Geographic information systems

Journal Article↗
PubMed1980

Breast milk--a natural resource.

As practitioners in obstetrics, we must always concern ourselves with supplying the best care for the mother and her newborn infant. Our concern for good health for both patients must extend beyond the delivery room and the early puerperium. Currently, a large proportion of our patients are electing to bottle-feed and we are losing a valuable natural resource--breast milk. It is important that the patient be educated in the advantages and techniques of breast-feeding and that all false rumors be dispelled.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1999

Towards a Sustainable Natural Resource Management of Tribal Communities: Findings from a Study of Swidden and Wetland Cultivation in Remote Hill Regions of Eastern India.

/ Environmental degradation in many hill forest regions of Asia, inhabited by indigenous/tribal communities is growing at an unprecedented rate. The case of Orissa State in eastern India is no exception. The government is of the view that the local population is responsible for forest degradation as they practice swidden cultivation and forest gathering indiscriminately to sustain their livelihoods. Based on economic merit alone, the government has undertaken some policy initiatives. Such initiatives that are meant to stop swidden cultivation have not been successful. This study recommends an integrated framework for developing a sustainable natural resource management practice for tribal communities. The framework has taken into consideration both economic and noneconomic factors in evaluating various alternatives. Furthermore, it has been applied to two tribal communities in Orissa (Juang and Saora). Based on an economic analysis comparing returns from swidden as well as wetland cultivation, it is observed that where forest degradation is not serious, wetland cultivation does not have a significant economic merit vis-à-vis swidden cultivation. However, in view of the long-term sustainability issue within ecological limits, swidden cultivation may be phased out in favor of wetland cultivation with an appropriate transition period. During this transition, government must adopt suitable policy initiatives to provide tribals tenurial rights to land, help financially in creating settled lands through terracing, introduce certain improved agroforestry techniques and train tribal people in other income-generating activities. Furthermore, all such interventions made by the government should have a strong sociocultural component in order to attract the tribal people to give up swidden cultivation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Public land and natural resource issues confronting animal scientists and livestock producers.

Livestock producers using public lands in the West were once concerned primarily with efficient systems for livestock production. Historically, this concept began in 1934 with the passage of the Taylor Grazing Act. Management activities on public lands continued to focus on sustainable livestock production until the 1970s, when the public began to demand enforcement of the Multiple Use Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. During this time, species listing under the Endangered Species Act became more active. Unfortunately, so many species are listed or are being considered for listing that it becomes impossible to develop biological information on causative factors for listing or recovery plans for each one. Peer-reviewed science that addresses management needs is often unavailable, and articles from the gray literature have been used in management plans for both threatened and endangered species and for public land. Personal biases of both scientists and land managers can influence the development of land management plans, especially in cases in which scientific information is minimal. The Land Grant System is well positioned to develop research applicable for public lands. Animal scientists need to be involved in interdisciplinary teams. Livestock producers need to overcome the stigma that livestock grazing is not a sustainable use. Rangeland in poor condition, whether public or private, should be improved if livestock managers are to change the public perception that grazing degrades rangeland. To accomplish this, education and peer pressure should be used. Another approach needed is activism on the part of producers and animal scientists. The public is demanding a voice in public land management. Working groups seem to be the emerging pathway to cooperatively develop management plans.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1992

The cellulose paradox: pollutant par excellence and/or a reclaimable natural resource?

The various aspects of cellulose as a pollutant are considered in view of its lack of toxicity on the one hand and its recalcitrant durable nature on the other. The microbial degradation of cellulosics is discussed, and the contrast between its success in handling natural cellulosic wastes versus its failure to cope with man-made refuse is described. Research carried out in the past decade has demonstrated that cellulolytic organisms are provided with cell surface multifunctional multienzyme conglomerates, called cellulosomes, which are capable of solubilizing solid cellulosic substrates. The intriguing properties of such complexes include their cohesive nature, their many enzymatic components, and a characteristic glycosylated cellulose-binding, 'scaffolding' component. The latter appears to serve as a substrate-targeting carrier, which delivers the other (hydrolytic) components to the cellulose. Progress in establishing efficient model systems for in vitro solubilization of purified cellulose or natural cellulosic substrates has been achieved using purified cellulosome preparations, fortified with beta-glucosidase and pectinase. The latter enzymes were required in order to alleviate the phenomenon of product inhibition which reduces the efficiency of the free cellulosome. Such combined enzyme systems are proposed as examples of future tailor-made cellulolytic systems for the degradation of natural cellulosics.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed1997

Application of physiologically active substances isolated from natural resources to pharmacological studies.

Numerous neurotoxins that alter Na(+)-channel function have been shown to be useful tools for characterizing Na+ channels. Polypeptide blockers of voltage-dependent K+ channels (dendrotoxins, etc.) and Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels (apamine, etc.) have been studied extensively by numerous investigators. Peptide toxins, calciseptine and omega-conotoxins have been attracting much attention as inhibitors of L-type and N-type Ca2+ channels, respectively, while omega-conotoxins-MVIIC and omega-agatoxin IVA have been used as new types of Ca(2+)-channel blockers. Ryanodine and bromoeudistomin D analogues have been extensively used to elucidate Ca(2+)-release-channel functions and to purify its target protein. Polypeptide toxins (myotoxin alpha, etc.) and macrolides (FK 506, etc.) are useful Ca2+ releasers with a novel mechanism, while natural products such as thapsigargin and gingerol have been used as modulators of Ca(2+)-pumping ATPase. Some modulators of the function of myosin (purealin, etc.) and actin (goniodomin A, etc.) have been demonstrated to be important chemical probes for understanding the physiological roles of the contractile proteins in structural changes and their interaction in muscle contraction. A large number of protein kinase inhibitors (staurosporine, etc.) and phosphatase inhibitors (okadaic acid, etc.) are widely used as first-choice reagents for studying protein phosphorylation. These natural products have become essential tools for studying the regulatory mechanism of cellular ion movements, muscle contraction and protein phosphorylation.

Alkaloids↗