GIS Methodologies for Developing Conservation Strategies

GIS Methodologies for Developing Conservation Strategies
Author: Basil G. Savitsky
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Total Pages: 290
Release: 1998-04-28
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9780231505017

Tropical habitats may contain more than a third of the world's plant and animal species; Costa Rica alone is home to one of the highest levels of biodiversity per unit area in the world, and stands at center stage in worldwide conservation efforts. Within such regions, the use of state-of-the-art digital mapping technologies—sophisticated techniques that are relatively inexpensive and accessible—represents the future of conservation planning and policy. These methods, which employ satellites to obtain visual data on landscapes, allow environmental scientists to monitor encroachment on indigenous territories, trace park boundaries through unmarked wilderness, and identify wildlife habitats in regions where humans have limited access. Focusing on the rich biodiversity of Costa Rica, the contributors demonstrate the use of geographic information systems (GIS) to enhance conservation efforts. They give an overview of the spatial nature of conservation and management and the current status of digital mapping in Costa Rica; a review of the basic principles behind digital mapping technologies; a series of case studies using these technologies at a variety of scales and for a range of conservation and management activities; and the results of the Costa Rican gap analysis project. GIS Methodologies for Developing Conservation Strategies provides powerful tools for those involved in decision-making about the natural environment, particularly in developing nations like Costa Rica where such technologies have not yet been widely adopted. For specialists in such areas as geography, conservation biology, and wildlife and natural resource management, the combination of conceptual background and case examples make the book a crucial addition to the literature.

Spatial Conservation Prioritization

Spatial Conservation Prioritization
Author: Atte Moilanen
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 336
Release: 2009-05-28
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN:

In a coherent and comprehensive set of chapters, a team of leading scientists describe the present state-of-the-art in spatial conservation planning methodology with a focus on operational definitions and methods, supported by the latest technological details and applications of publicly available software.

Tourism Research Methods

Tourism Research Methods
Author: Brent W. Ritchie
Publisher: CABI
Total Pages: 244
Release: 2005-01-01
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 0851999964

This book aims to move beyond the business/social science debate by highlighting the diversity and richness of tourism research via case studies that cross the quantitative and qualitative divide. A key feature of the book is the integration of theory with practice. It considers a wide range of research issues, approaches and techniques, and includes contributions from both experienced and new researchers.

Sustainable Practices: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications

Sustainable Practices: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications
Author: Management Association, Information Resources
Publisher: IGI Global
Total Pages: 1798
Release: 2013-12-31
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1466648538

"This reference explores some of the most recent developments in sustainability, delving into topics beyond environmental science to cover issues of sustainable economic, political, and social development"--Provided by publisher.

Encyclopedia of GIS

Encyclopedia of GIS
Author: Shashi Shekhar
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 1392
Release: 2007-12-12
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 038730858X

The Encyclopedia of GIS provides a comprehensive and authoritative guide, contributed by experts and peer-reviewed for accuracy, and alphabetically arranged for convenient access. The entries explain key software and processes used by geographers and computational scientists. Major overviews are provided for nearly 200 topics: Geoinformatics, Spatial Cognition, and Location-Based Services and more. Shorter entries define specific terms and concepts. The reference will be published as a print volume with abundant black and white art, and simultaneously as an XML online reference with hyperlinked citations, cross-references, four-color art, links to web-based maps, and other interactive features.

Connectivity Conservation Management

Connectivity Conservation Management
Author: Graeme L. Worboys
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 411
Release: 2010-02-09
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1136544054

In an era of climate change, deforestation and massive habitat loss, we can no longer rely on parks and protected areas as isolated 'islands of wilderness' to conserve and protect vital biodiversity. Increasing connections are being considered and made between protected areas and 'connectivity' thinking has started to expand to the regional and even the continental scale to match the challenges of conserving biodiversity in the face of global environmental change. This groundbreaking book is the first guide to connectivity conservation management at local, regional and continental scales. Written by leading conservation and protected area management specialists under the auspices of the World Commission on Protected Areas of IUCN, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, this guide brings together a decade and a half of practice and covers all aspects of connectivity planning and management The book establishes a context for managing connectivity conservation and identifies large scale naturally interconnected areas as critical strategic and adaptive responses to climate change. The second section presents 25 rich and varied case studies from six of the eight biogeographic realms of Earth, including the Cape Floristic Region of Africa, the Maloti-Drakensberg Mountains, the Australian Alps to Atherton Corridor, and the Sacred Himalayan Landscape connectivity area (featuring Mount Everest.) The remarkable 3200 kilometre long Yellowstone to Yukon corridor of Canada and the United States of America is described in detail. The third section introduces a model for managing connectivity areas, shaped by input from IUCN workshops held in 2006 and 2008 and additional research. The final chapter identifies broad guidelines that need to be considered in undertaking connectivity conservation management prior to reinforcing the importance and urgency of this work. This handbook is a must have for all professionals in protected area management, conservation, land management and resource management from the field through senior management and policy. It is also an ideal reference for students and academics in geography, protected area management and from across the environmental and natural sciences, social sciences and landuse planning. Published with Wilburforce Foundation, WWF, ICIMOD, IUCN, WCPA, Australian Alps and The Nature Conservancy.

Models for Planning Wildlife Conservation in Large Landscapes

Models for Planning Wildlife Conservation in Large Landscapes
Author: Joshua Millspaugh
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 736
Release: 2011-04-28
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0080920160

A single-resource volume of information on the most current and effective techniques of wildlife modeling, Models for Planning Wildlife Conservation in Large Landscapes is appropriate for students and researchers alike. The unique blend of conceptual, methodological, and application chapters discusses research, applications and concepts of modeling and presents new ideas and strategies for wildlife habitat models used in conservation planning. The book makes important contributions to wildlife conservation of animals in several ways: (1) it highlights historical and contemporary advancements in the development of wildlife habitat models and their implementation in conservation planning; (2) it provides practical advice for the ecologist conducting such studies; and (3) it supplies directions for future research including new strategies for successful studies.Intended to provide a recipe for successful development of wildlife habitat models and their implementation in conservation planning, the book could be used in studying wildlife habitat models, conservation planning, and management techniques. Additionally it may be a supplemental text in courses dealing with quantitative assessment of wildlife populations. Additionally, the length of the book would be ideal for graduate student seminar course.Using wildlife habitat models in conservation planning is of considerable interest to wildlife biologists. With ever tightening budgets for wildlife research and planning activities, there is a growing need to use computer methods. Use of simulation models represents the single best alternative. However, it is imperative that these techniques be described in a single source. Moreover, biologists should be made aware of alternative modeling techniques. It is also important that practical guidance be provided to biologists along with a demonstration of utility of these procedures. Currently there is little guidance in the wildlife or natural resource planning literature on how best to incorporate wildlife planning activities, particularly community-based approaches. Now is the perfect time for a synthestic publication that clearly outlines the concepts and available methods, and illustrates them. - Only single resource book of information not only on various wildlife modeling techniques, but also with practical guidance on the demonstrated utility of each based on real-world conditions. - Provides concepts, methods and applications for wildlife ecologists and others within a GIS context. - Written by a team of subject-area experts

GIS Applications in Agriculture, Volume Four

GIS Applications in Agriculture, Volume Four
Author: Tom Mueller
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2015-03-02
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1439867240

Conservation planning involves targeted management practices and land use decision-making based on careful analysis of landscape limitations in order to protect soil and water resources. Developing solutions to conservation planning is of worldwide interest due to anticipated population growth, growing demand of feedstocks for biofuels, decreasing

Reader's Guide to the Social Sciences

Reader's Guide to the Social Sciences
Author: Jonathan Michie
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 2166
Release: 2014-02-03
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1135932263

This 2-volume work includes approximately 1,200 entries in A-Z order, critically reviewing the literature on specific topics from abortion to world systems theory. In addition, nine major entries cover each of the major disciplines (political economy; management and business; human geography; politics; sociology; law; psychology; organizational behavior) and the history and development of the social sciences in a broader sense.

GIS Research Methods

GIS Research Methods
Author: Sheila L. Steinberg
Publisher: ESRI Press
Total Pages: 409
Release: 2015
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781589483781

This book presents a spatially-based multiple methods approach to research serving academic and organizational researchers from across a wide variety of disciplines. For many, consideration of spatial relationships is an important component of their research questions, including those who may not have yet recognized GIS as a valuable tool. The book will provide readers essential steps to conceptualize and implement research and analysis, develop meaningful quantitative and qualitative geographic results and to communicate their findings using the visualization capabilities of GIS to assist decision-makers and affect policy. Furthermore it offers researchers a deeper understanding of social, economic and environmental questions considering spatial relationships in their data.The broad subject area of the project is the integration of spatial analysis as a research methodology. More specifically the book provides practical guidance for the identification, collection and analysis of appropriate research data for analysis in an Esri/ArcGIS context without being specific to a particular version of the software. The objective is to present ArcGIS with an eye towards incorporating spatial analysis as a fundamental component of mixed methods research. Because GIS is, by nature, an integrative technology which can draw together multiple data sources via a common spatial attribute, it is a natural fit for mixed-methods research. GIS provides the researcher an unparalleled ability to enhance their research incorporating a geographic perspective.