DSpace Collection:
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12253/194
2024-03-28T08:52:15ZAn Integrated approach to understand territory dynamics. The coastal alentejo (Portugal)
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12253/353
Title: An Integrated approach to understand territory dynamics. The coastal alentejo (Portugal)
Authors: Lourenço, Nelson; Jorge, Rosário; Russo Machado, Carlos; Rodrigues, Luís
Abstract: This paper aims at presenting an integrated framework for the study of territorial dynamics in coastal areas. The use of Geographic Information Systems made possible the association of land cover data and socio-economic data using different levels of spatial analysis. The Coastal Alentejo (Portugal) was used as case study to identify these territorial dynamics.2002-01-01T00:00:00ZTropical Rainforests Bibliographic Review
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12253/326
Title: Tropical Rainforests Bibliographic Review
Authors: Lourenço, Nelson; Russo Machado, Carlos
Abstract: Preindustrial societies used forests as a source of energy and of construction materials and for recreation, being the hunt preserves (of European aristocracy) one of the first actions taken to, in somehow, safeguard the forests. The expansion of European colonial potencies and the overseas trade led to a valuation of timber, which was crucial in ship-building, and to a widespread clearance of temperate forests. The process of industrialisation converted forests in the source of charcoal to the emergent steam engines. Nowadays, the forests of developed countries, although very reduced when measured against its “original” extension, seem to have started to increase. Although the regrowth of forestlands, which seems to result from more efficient forest management policies, a decrease of biodiversity has been felt.
At the present time in developing countries, forests are performing an analogous function in the development of these countries. Forests are, in these regions, under great pressures resulting from the fact that they are the support for the activities of very poor rural communities. Forestlands are being converted to agricultural land and cash crops and forest fragmentation is being the result of activities such as: mining, logging, and roads building.
However, post-industrial societies, especially the wealthier ones, are valuing other goods and services provided by forests: hiking, bird-watching, ecotourism, survival training courses, but also the services in protecting watersheds, in regulating the climate and in conserving biodiversity.
This report aims at presenting a literature review on the issues of tropical rainforests. It is structured in four main points: tropical rainforests characteristics, structure and distribution; tropical rain forests, goods, services and values; deforestation in tropical rainforests; sustainable strategies for management of tropical rainforests.2003-01-01T00:00:00ZTypology of the main socio-economic pressures, factors and agents of change in Cachoeira catchment and Central Costa Rica
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12253/325
Title: Typology of the main socio-economic pressures, factors and agents of change in Cachoeira catchment and Central Costa Rica
Authors: Lourenço, Nelson; Russo Machado, Carlos; Jacinto, José João
Abstract: The present report aims at presenting the typology of main pressures for the two study areas of ECOMAN: Cachoeira Catchment (Bahia), in Brazil; and Central Volcanic Mountain Range Conservation Area, in Costa Rica.
In both study areas tropical deforestation drives land cover and land use changes, migratory processes, biodiversity changes, erosion processes. Nevertheless, the two case-studies are somewhat different. In the Cachoeira Catchment, the decrease of cocoa production in the last decades, without sustainable socio-economic alternatives, produced significant human pressures both on rural areas (land use changes and forest fragmentation) and urban areas (increase of built-up areas with few measures of territorial planning). On the other hand, the Conservation Area of Central Volcanic Range (Costa Rica) reflects the implementation of a solid forest conservation policy, which faced the strong deforestation rates felt in this country since the middle of the 20th century.
This analysis is structured in three parts. The first two chapters concern some socio economic variables (Population, Households and Agrarian Structures) for both case studies. The third chapter presents a typology of administrative units according with the main socio-economic pressures identified in the previous chapters.2004-01-01T00:00:00ZSocial Issues in Water Management in the Mediterranean Countries
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12253/324
Title: Social Issues in Water Management in the Mediterranean Countries
Authors: Lourenço, Nelson; Russo Machado, Carlos; Rodrigues, Luís
Abstract: Water resources are a societal issue. Considered frequently as a common good, water is essential to life and to numerous human activities, and suffers their negative impacts. In the Mediterranean region, the significance of irrigated agriculture, the intense urbanisation, and the tourism are increasing their demands for water, requiring therefore important efforts to find new strategies to better manage this scarce resource.
The Mediterranean region has a key common environmental feature that is related with the existence of a more or less longer dry and hot season. This creates important stress on water resources due to irrigation needs. In fact, in this region, irrigation cannot be seen as a way to increase and improve agricultural productivity. Irrigation in the Mediterranean region is essential to ensure agricultural productivity. Furthermore, there is a clear contrast between northern areas (receiving abundant water resources from temperate regions) and southern areas that are adjacent to semi-arid regions, with very scarce water resources.
This report has three main chapters: section 2 refers to the current situation in terms of planning and participation in water resource management in the Mediterranean countries. It also describes the institutional setting and decisional context for water management in the Mediterranean countries; section 3 outlines the key actors and stakeholders involved in water management in the Mediterranean Countries as a means to illustrate the importance of social networks in water management and in decision-making processes; section 4 highlights the use of DSS tools in each country.2006-01-01T00:00:00Z