Madagascar is often portrayed as a global environmental hotspot with widespread deforestation and environmental degradation. Quantitative and spatially explicit data on ecological change are, however, scarce and current estimates are often based on simplistic representations of deforestation and land use change. Significant uncertainties in current estimates therefore remain. The present study was conducted to assess deforestation and other important complex land use change trajectories in the eastern highlands of Madagascar.

The main objective of our research was to assess the social needs for the forest roles and propose how forest could further contribute to the sustainable development of the Upper Gorenjska region. The sustainability of hitherto development was assessed with the aid of a model, in which environmental, social and economic indicators were included. On the basis of advantages and disadvantages, social needs for the forest roles became evident, which were in continuation compared with the existing forest role.

We studied the ecological characteristics of 45-50-yr-old subtropical dry forest stands in Puerto Rico that were growing on sites that had been deforested and used intensively for up to 128 yr. The study took place in the Guánica Commonwealth Forest. Our objective was to assess the long-term effects of previous land use on this forest--i.e., its species composition, structure, and functioning. Previous land-use types included houses, farmlands, and charcoal pits. Stands with these land uses were compared with a nearby mature forest stand.

The Dadia forest complex, in the Evros prefecture, in north eastern Greece was designated as a nature reserve in 1980 in order to protect the black vulture (Aegypius monachus) and other raptors. In this paper, the impacts of the protection on the forest growth were assessed using geographic information system (GIS) technologies. The major requirement for almost all research needed for sustainable forest management is extensive and intensive monitoring. GIS is a convenient tool for integrating remotely sensed data and various other kinds geo-referenced data.

This study examined the occurrence, relative abundance and condition of platypuses in the upper catchment of the South Esk River, in north-east Tasmania, Australia, and the impact of past forestry activities on the occurrence of platypuses in first order headwater streams. The main trapping sites were in twenty first order streams, eight second-fourth order headwater streams and one fifth order stream reach. Additional trapping was also undertaken in the South Esk River and farm dams. Sites were trapped during late spring/mid summer and early autumn.