Proposals for improvement of Annex I of Directive 92/43/EEC: Central Italy

The main purpose of the 92/43/EEC Habitats Directive is to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, understood as habitat types and species of the flora and fauna of the European Union. To achieve this goal, natural and semi-natural biodiversity as a whole must be recognized and included in its annexes. As for the conservation of biotopes, named habitat types, Italy is unfortunately lacking as it the Annex I does not include important ecosystems that are typical of its territory, rare for biogeographical reasons or threatened. Therefore, the opportunity to identify a first list of significant habitats for central Italy is discussed here. For each of the new proposed types (new habitats or new subtypes) a sheet has been prepared to highlight their salient characteristics. The new proposals concern seven habitat types and one subtype: sedge and reeds formations (Freshwater large sedge and reed beds), willow shrublands (Shrubby willow formations of river banks and fens), Apennine garrigues (Apennine hilly and montane garrigues), a new subtype of Annex I Habitat 6130 (Communities of herbaceous and dwarf shrub-suffrutescent plants of Italian ultramafic substrates), ancient olive groves ("Centuries-old olive groves" with evergreen Quercus spp. and arborescent matorral), secondary meadows (Italian submontane and montane pastured meadows dominated by Cynosurus cristatus), badlands (Pioneer halophilous and sub-halophilous communities of “calanchi” and “biancane” badlands) and hop-hornbeam woods (Italian-Balkan hop-hornbeam woods).

Some alien species of aquatic invertebrates in the water bodies of the nature reserve fund of the Kyiv metropolis

The invasion of alien species of freshwater invertebrates and the associated changes in the faunistic composi- tion of local ecosystems are a serious threat to the conservation of biodiversity. In this work, we supplement the existing list of alien species with information about three more species of non-native freshwater invertebrates, which have formed stable populations in water bodies of Ukraine. These are two representatives of flatworms: Girardia tigrina (Girard, 1850) and Stenostomum saliens Kepner & Carter, 1931, as well as a representative of copepods, Eucyclops roseus Ishida, 1997.

The biopolitics of private conservation: jeopardizing labor and rhino to optimize capital?

The conservation of biodiversity has increasingly been analyzed as biopolitical. That is, conservation initiatives such as breeding programs and protected areas seek to optimize some nonhuman life forms while exposing others to harm or degradation. Biopolitical conservation studies have looked at the implications of how human and non-human lives have been valued differently. Wildlife has received more attention than the lives of conservation laborers in studies of private conservation. The article builds on Foucault's conceptualization of biopolitics to dissect the responses of the eco-tourism and wildlife breeding industries to rhino poaching in the Lowveld, South Africa. There are two central arguments. First, their responses hinge on creating new, and re-instating old, avenues of capital accumulation that ironically prioritize the optimization of the wildlife economy over the lives of rhino. Second, I show that private conservation disproportionately exposes black laborers to harm while attempting to protect rhino from poachers, a function of how conservation labor has been governed since the onset of poaching in 2008. I conclude that private conservationists in South Africa make value judgments to construct a hierarchy of life with whiteness at its apex, rhinos following closely behind, with laborers, and finally poachers at the bottom.

Conservation of Biodiversity and Protection of Forest and Water Resources: a Strategy for Boreal Zone

The article introduces a new system of boreal forest management that aims at preserving the biodiversity, resources, and ecological potential. The research results can help to develop regional strategies for large forest regions that experience significant man-made impact. Antropogenic factors destroy the resource potential of forests, as well as their biological diversity, not to mention the hydrological regime of rivers. The paper features various measures that make it possible to avoid risks and ensure sustainable long-term use of forests.

Comparación del ACV de 2 estibas construidas con madera natural y madera plástica en Simapro 8.4.0

Se realizó una comparación del análisis de ciclo de vida conceptual para 2 estibas construidas con madera natural (melinna) y madera plástica (100% polietileno) respectivamente, usando el software SIMAPRO 8.4.0.0 en su versión DEMO 2017 la cual usa como norma la UNE EN ISO 14040. Se determinó el alcance del estudio de cada estiba y su análisis de inventario teniendo en cuenta la disponibilidad de actividades en SIMAPRO 8. Se analizaron diferentes factores para cada estiba, los cuales fueron: caracterización y evaluación de daño, y de manera comparativa los factores: salud humana, ecosistemas y recursos. Los resultados arrojados del análisis comparativo afirmaron que las estibas de madera natural afectan en un 100% a la salud humana, y que por el contrario las estibas de madera plástica afectan un 2%, hablando de los ecosistemas, las estibas naturales afectan un 100% y las construidas con madera plástica un 2%, y por último, en el componente de recursos, las estibas naturales afectan en un 100% y las estibas plásticas un 47%. The objective of the study reflects a comparison of the conceptual life cycle analysis for 2.00 pallets built with natural wood (melinna) and plastic wood (100% PET), using the SIMAPRO 8.4.0 software in its DEMO 2017 version under the UNE standard -EN ISO 14040. The methodology used was experimental and descriptive where there was manipulation of variables such as: flexural strength, moisture content and natural durability to degrading agents for the determination of social, economic and environmental aspects. The results of the comparative analysis affirmed that the pallets of natural wood affect human health by 100%, unlike the pallets of plastic wood, which affect life in ecosystems by 2%. For the conservation of Biodiversity, natural pallets affect 100% and plastic pallets 47%. Plastic wood, compared to natural wood, has several benefits such as greater impermeability, easy cleaning, greater safety (due to chipping), low moisture absorption.

The potential, utilization and management of forest biodiversity for the livelihood of local communities in Ratah Watershed, East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia

Forest biodiversity is crucial for the survival of local communities in Mahakam Ulu District, East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia, especially for the Punan Dayak, Bahau Bateq Hwang Lung Gelawang, and Bakumpai Dayak tribes who live in the Ratah Watershed area. For generations, local communities in the Ratah Watershed have had local wisdom to protect the resources in the forest around them. Unfortunately, various problems threaten the existence of forest biodiversity in the Ratah Watershed. The purpose of this study is to show the identification results of the potential, utilization, and management of biodiversity according to local communities in Mahakam Ulu District, East Kalimantan Province, and the threats faced. The data was obtained through interviews with key informants, FGDs, participatory mapping, and field observations with the people of Nyari Bungan Village, Long Gelawang Village, Danum Paroy Village, and Muara Ratah Village. The result of the study indicated that local communities in the Ratah Watershed find it more inconvenient to utilize forest resources because of the diminishing potential for biodiversity. The low level of welfare, unclear village boundaries, overlapping village areas with private companies (timber companies, oil palm) are the main problems. Conservation of biodiversity from forests in the Ratah Watershed requires the cooperation of various parties, especially in increasing community capacity in managing forest resources for better environment.

Eponyms as scientific recognition to Queen Astrid and King Leopold III of Belgium

This contribution provides an annotated list of taxa named after Queen Astrid and King Leopold III of Belgium, including the time they were Crown Prince Leopold and Princess Astrid of Belgium. The list was compiled by searching online nomenclators as well as ‘logical’ publications in which taxonomists would have published taxa named in honour of Leopold III and Astrid. In total, we discovered 144 scientific names that are based on the name of Leopold III and 26 that honour Astrid. Moreover, serendipitously we found several eponyms given to cultivars which we document only in an incidental way. The compiled impressive number of eponyms demonstrates the recognition of members of the scientific community towards the efforts of the Belgian Royal Household in the exploration and conservation of biodiversity. The legacy of Leopold III lives on in the King Leopold III Fund for Nature Exploration and Conservation. The workings and achievements of the latter organization are here also briefly detailed.

Can Deliberative Democracy Favor a Flourishing Relationship Between Humans and Carnivores?

There is considerable interest in improving participatory governance in decision-making processes for the conservation of biodiversity and management of conflicts between humans and wildlife. Among the various modes of participatory governance, deliberative democracy has received virtually no attention for decisions focused on conserving biodiversity. This is surprising given that deliberative democracy is an important branch of democratic theory and is associated with decision-making processes that have been successfully applied to a wide range of complicated decisions across diverse cultural settings. Moreover, deliberative democracy has several distinctive properties that would seem to make it well-suited for many conservation decisions. First, deliberative democracy is better-designed than other processes to handle cases where the object of conservation appears to be insufficiently valued by those who have the most detrimental impacts on its conservation. Second, deliberative democracy engenders a rich kind of representation and impartiality that is nearly impossible to achieve with participatory governance focused on managing conflicts among hyper-engaged stakeholders. Here, we review the principles of deliberative democracy, outline procedures for its application to carnivore conservation, and consider its likelihood to favor carnivore conservation.