Political transition and emergent forest‐conservation issues in Myanmar

Political and economic transitions have had substantial impacts on forest conservation. Where transitions are underway or anticipated, historical precedent and methods for systematically assessing future trends should be used to anticipate likely threats to forest conservation and design appropriate and prescient policy measures to counteract them. Myanmar is transitioning from an authoritarian, centralized state with a highly regulated economy to a more decentralized and economically liberal democracy and is working to end a long‐running civil war. With these transitions in mind, we used a horizon‐scanning approach to assess the 40 emerging issues most affecting Myanmar's forests, including internal conflict, land‐tenure insecurity, large‐scale agricultural development, demise of state timber enterprises, shortfalls in government revenue and capacity, and opening of new deforestation frontiers with new roads, mines, and hydroelectric dams. Averting these threats will require, for example, overhauling governance models, building capacity, improving infrastructure‐ and energy‐project planning, and reforming land‐tenure and environmental‐protection laws. Although challenges to conservation in Myanmar are daunting, the political transition offers an opportunity for conservationists and researchers to help shape a future that enhances Myanmar's social, economic, and environmental potential while learning and applying lessons from other countries. Our approach and results are relevant to other countries undergoing similar transitions.     

Effect of ectomycorrhizae and ammonium on 134Cs and 85Sr uptake into Picea abies seedlings

Microorganisms play an important role in the fixation of radionuclides in forest soils. In particular, fungi have the capacity to absorb and translocate radionuclides. The role of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma crustuliniforme in the uptake of radiocaesium (134Cs) and radiostrontium (85Sr) into seedlings of Norway spruce (Picea abies) was investigated in a pouch test system. Inoculated and non-inoculated seedlings; seedlings inoculated during 8 and 15 weeks; seedlings exposed during 2 and 3 weeks to the radioactive solution; and seedlings grown under low and high ammonium conditions prior to the application of the radionuclides were compared. The final 134Cs and 85Sr activity was determined in fine-roots, main-roots, stems and needles. The results showed that ectomycorrhizae reduced the uptake of 134Cs and 85Sr. The degree of ectomycorrhization was of crucial importance and seemed to be governed by the period during which ectomycorrhizae were allowed to develop and by the ammonium concentration in the nutrient solution. The radionuclide uptake increased with increasing exposure time. Both radionuclides were predominantly accumulated in fine-roots. However, needles proved to describe best the result of net root uptake and translocation to the shoot. The uptake-and and translocation-rates of 85Sr were smaller than those of 134Cs. It is assumed that the translocation is coupled with the intensity of water fluxes through the xylem and that 85Sr is more readily adsorbed into mycelium or plant tissue relative to 134Cs. The effect of high ammonium growth conditions was overcome by the effect of ectomycorrhization, except in needles with a very large biomass which behaved as a strong sink and led to a high accumulation of 134Cs.     

Biologische Detektionsverfahren in der Dünnschichtchromatographie

The goal of this work is to make ecotoxicologically-relevant substance bands visible on thin-layer chromatographic plates. Bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Vibrio fischeri, Salmonella typhimurium), fungi (Aspergillus niger), algi (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata) and pollen (Impatiens walleriana) were used as test organisms. With the aid of these organisms, it has been possible to identify bactericide, fungicide, algicide, phytotoxic and genotoxic bands.     

Toward understanding the human dimensions of the rapidly changing arctic system: insights and approaches from five HARC projects

Human dimensions research focuses on the interrelationships between humans and the environment. To date, human dimensions research in arctic regions has concentrated primarily on local events and contexts. As such, it complements analysis elsewhere of adaptation and sustainable development within broad institutional, social, and environmental contexts. This paper reviews five projects from the Human Dimensions of the Arctic System (HARC) initiative, established by the US National Science Foundation in 1997. Common themes and findings are highlighted: climatic variations or change affect societies through interactions with human activities; population dynamics provide key quantitative indicators of social impacts and well being; and specific impacts and responses are the result of complex, context-sensitive interactions. Congruent approaches to the challenges of interdisciplinary research are also identified: multivariate time plots aid the integration of data, retrospective and prospective studies are part of a continuum and reinforce one another, comparative studies are essential for understanding general principles of human dimensions, and arctic residents can play a vital role in research and action.