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• High altitude forest composition diversity and its component in a part of Ganga Chotti and Bedori Hills District Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

  31-40

  Malik Hussain

  Nafeesa Malik

  Views:

  132

  The effect of altitude on species diversity and its components was recorded in Ganga Chotti and Bedori Hills District Bagh Azad Jammu and Kashmir during 1999-2000. There were 30 plant communities merged in to four plant associations on the basis of cluster analysis. The highest average species diversity was 2.70 at the base (Alt1700 m) in woodland temperate association. Then the diversity declined. At the top (Altitude 3000 m) species diversity was 1.71, while in monsoon diversity was 2.48 at the base and 1.72 at the top. Average species richness was highest at the base (4.06) then decreased with the increase in altitude. Equitability increases from 1700-3350 m (0.71- 1.07) while at the top it decreases (0.77). Species maturity in winter and monsoon was highest at the base and lowest at the top (3000 m).

• Measuring connectivity - A new approach for the geometrization of the landscape and for the enhancement of cost-effectiveness in landuse planning

  41-55

  Gábor Demeter

  Views:

  31

  The study aims to introduce a new method and approach for measuring the diversity of connectivity with the help of the landscape geometrization, in order to create a new variable useful in landscape metrics and to decrease the costs of landscape planning if its main goal is the enhancement of connectivity. Using induction we identify the landscape elements with geometric elements, calculating the theoretical maximum line, section, intersection point (node) number and compare these values of the idealistic landscape to the values of the real landscape.

• Agricultural sector, rural environment and biodiversity in the Central and Eastern European EU member states

  46-64

  Jaan Liira

  Tsipe Aavik

  Oliver Parrest

  Martin Zobel

  Views:

  27

  During the second half of the 20th century, agriculture and the rural environment diverged in Western and Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC). CEE countries itself are heterogeneous in the respect of land use intensity and history. In the current review we focus on the comparison of the agricultural sector and threats on biodiversities of EU new-member countries from Central and Eastern Europe and the old EU(15) member states. The clustering of countries revealed groups distinguished according to the level of their economic productivity, discriminating mostly among eastern and western European countries. CEE countries sub-divided according to geographic region, including also some old members of the EU. Within the western cluster, two large sub-clusters became evident according to economy affected by altitudinal and climatic differences. Partly because there are still areas where the intensity of land use remained low, the biological diversity in many regions of Central and Eastern Europe has remained high. However, loss of extensively used habitats, the restoration on intensive agriculture, reforestation with exotic species and urbanization are major threats to nature in CEE countries. The estimated variability among CEE countries is caused by different historical and cultural backgrounds of those countries. Due to the complexity and geographical diversity of driving forces, there remains much uncertainty in the possible impacts of particular factors on land use. This complexity and diversity have to be considered when planning economic as well as ecological means for developing the agricultural sector and conserving biodiversity in the future of CEE countries.