Short-Term Dynamics in Changing Environments: A Geospatial Analysis of Seasonal Forest Response and Extractive Resource Entitlements at Mt. Kasigau, Kenya

不断变化的环境中的短期动态：肯尼亚卡西高山季节性森林响应和采掘资源权利的地理空间分析

• 批准号: 1061407
• 负责人: Kimberly Medley
• 金额: $ 18.41万
• 依托单位: Miami University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-07-01 至 2015-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1061407&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Short; Term; Dynamics; Changing; Environments

This study builds from ecological and ethnobotanical research at Mt. Kasigau, Southeastern Kenya, where there is a steep gradient in seasonal forest change from deciduous Acacia-Commiphora bushland, through mixed montane woodlands, and to evergreen forest. The overall research thesis is that local, short-term analyses of biophysical changes in plant communities across this ecologically complex landscape should provide a sensitive indicator of livelihood conditions that correspond with dynamic changes in human-resource adaptive capacities. The study focuses on the extraction of woody plant products as one important resource entitlement and relates use practices with ecological patterns of diversity in vegetation types and biophysical dynamics under three project objectives to (1) measure spatio-temporal dynamics in biophysical conditions; (2) investigate spatio-temporal relationships between environmental conditions, vegetative response, and resource extractive activities; and (3) integrate geo-spatial measures and local interpretations of short-term to long-term ecological trends and livelihood responses to those trends. The research applies ecological field data and remote sensing analyses to fine-scale mapping of plant community types and patterns of diversity across the montane landscape. By intensively collecting spatially-explicit data on forest cover, biophysical parameters, and woody plant extraction practices, the study tests how different forest types respond to short-term dynamics in moisture conditions, gains quantitative and qualitative measures on how resource-use practices change in relation to short-term environmental change, and jointly examines with local residents how extractive activities potentially influence forest resources over the long term. Projected research outcomes contribute to applied conservation science by better understanding relationships between short-term ecological dynamics in tropical seasonal forests and the adaptive capacities of local populations in vulnerable landscapes. Inter- and intra-annual variations in rainfall are dominant environmental parameters influencing tropical seasonal forests, and the adaptive behaviors of local residents who rely on these resources for their livelihoods. Short-term variations in when the rains will come, how much rain will come, and where the rains will fall are only predicted to be more unpredictable under projections for global climate change in semi-arid East Africa. As a conservation research project, this study examines the vulnerability of forest resources and human livelihoods under "short-term" climate change scenarios, combines remote sensing and local knowledge when interpreting resource patterns and change, and recognizes the need to better understand and act on the adaptive capacities of local populations. The study promotes collaborative learning opportunities between U.S. and Kenyan students, and with local residents at Mt. Kasigau, Kenya. This project is jointly supported by the NSF Geography and Spatial Sciences Program and the NSF Office of International Science and Engineering.

这项研究建立在生态和民族植物学研究在山。肯尼亚东南部的Kasigau，那里的季节性森林变化很大，从落叶的相思树-没药树林地，经过混合山地林地，到万年青森林。整体研究论文是，当地的，短期的分析，在植物群落的生物物理变化，在这个生态复杂的景观应该提供一个敏感的指标的生计条件，对应于人力资源的适应能力的动态变化。这项研究的重点是提取木本植物产品作为一种重要的资源权利，并根据三个项目目标将使用做法与植被类型多样性的生态模式和生物物理动态联系起来：（1）测量生物物理条件的时空动态;（2）调查环境条件、植被反应和资源提取活动之间的时空关系;以及（3）整合地理空间测量和当地对短期至长期生态趋势的解释以及生计对这些趋势的反应。本研究应用生态实地数据和遥感分析，对整个山地景观的植物群落类型和多样性模式进行精细制图。通过集中收集关于森林覆盖、生物物理参数和木本植物提取做法的空间明确数据，该研究测试了不同森林类型如何对水分条件的短期动态作出反应，获得了关于资源使用做法如何随短期环境变化而变化的定量和定性措施，并与当地居民共同研究采掘活动如何可能对森林资源产生长期影响。预计的研究成果有助于应用养护科学，更好地了解热带季节性森林的短期生态动态与脆弱景观中当地人口的适应能力之间的关系。降雨量的年度间和年度内变化是影响热带季节性森林以及依赖这些资源维持生计的当地居民的适应行为的主要环境参数。根据对东非半干旱地区全球气候变化的预测，降雨时间、降雨量以及降雨地点的短期变化只会更加不可预测。作为一个养护研究项目，这项研究审查了森林资源和人类生计在“短期”气候变化情景下的脆弱性，在解释资源格局和变化时结合了遥感和当地知识，并认识到需要更好地了解当地人口的适应能力并就此采取行动。这项研究促进了美国和肯尼亚学生之间以及与当地居民之间的合作学习机会。肯尼亚，卡西高。该项目由NSF地理和空间科学计划和NSF国际科学与工程办公室共同支持。