Geographical Landscape Research Articles

Site Suitability Analysis for Road in Mountainous Terrain Region of Papua New Guinea (A Case Study of Salt Noname Karimui District of Simbu Province)

Road infrastructure developments in rural Papua New Guinea (PNG) have not picked up pace due to mountainous and difficult geographical landscape. Hence road accessibility in rural Salt Nomane Karimui (SNK) District of Simbu province is emerged as a serious concern particularly with regard to impact of poor accessibility and mobility on agricultural produce and ability to access public amenities. Governing agencies have plans in place for road connectivity in Karimui region and other parts of SNK district but their attempts remain unsuccessful due to difficult geography and lack of technical data. This study utilized Geographical Information System (GIS) and multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) techniques through Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to develop site suitability model to evaluate mountainous terrain and forest road connectivity in SNK district. The approach looking at in this research is to classify suitability factors into two principle classes’ i.e. Geophysical and Geotechnical influence as principle factors. Relatively important geophysical factors influencing road suitability sites including altitude, slope, river network, road and rainfall data are integrated to generate alternatively suitability map one. Geotechnical factors influencing road suitability sites including Lithology, Soil Texture and Landform are integrated to generate alternatively suitability map two. The final suitability map is produced by integrating the thematic layers of two principle factors and classified into five suitability classes i.e. less suitable, marginally less suitable, moderately suitable, suitable and highly suitable.

Monitoring Urban Expansion and Urban Green Spaces Change in Addis Ababa: Directional and Zonal Analysis Integrated with Landscape Expansion Index

Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is urbanizing very fast. This study aimed to assess urban expansion and Urban Green Spaces (UGS) change in the city from 1989 to 2019. Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) and Landscape Expansion Index (LEI) were used to extract Land Use Land Cover (LULC) data, measure urban expansion and UGS change and analyze urban growth pattern in inner zone, outer zone and eight quadrants. The results showed that urban area in the inner zone increased from 3712 ha to 3716 ha (0.1%), and from 3716 ha to 3874 ha (4.2%) and in the first (1989–1999) and second periods (1999–2009), while it decreased from 3874 ha to 3733 ha (3.6%) in the third period (2009–2019), portraying a non-unidirectional trend of change. Conversely, the UGS in the inner zone decreased from 60 ha to 54 ha (10%), and from 54 ha to 38 ha (29.6%) in the first and second periods, while it increased from 38 ha to 53 ha (39.4%) in the third period, reporting spatial tradeoff between the two land cover types. Meanwhile, urban areas in the outer zone increased from 10,729 ha to 15,112 ha (40%), from 15,112 ha to 21,377 ha (41.4%) and from 21,377 ha to 28,176 ha (31.8%) in the first, second and third periods, respectively, representing frontiers of suburbanization. On the other hand, the UGS in the outer zone decreased from 3624 ha to 3171 ha, from 3127 ha to 2555 ha and from 2555 ha to 1879 ha, with an annual rate of decline of 1.25%, 1.8% and 2.6%, respectively, showing increasing trend of UGS destruction for urban construction. Furthermore, the LEI analysis result showed that urban expansion pattern demonstrated largely an outlying growth characterized by differentiation and isolation of patches, whereas the infill and edge expansion pattern were insignificant and fluctuated over 30 years. Furthermore, the directional analysis showed that urban area predominately expanded in SEE,> SSE,> SSW,> SWW,> and NEE directions with varying magnitude in the first, second and third period, but decreased in third period in NWW, < NNW< and NNE directions. In response to such urban growth pattern, the center of gravity of urban area shifted from north to south during the study period, displaying main direction urbanization in recent years. Conclusively, zonal and directional studies are more effective in characterizing the Spatio-temporal dynamics variabilities of urban expansion and UGS change for informed urban planning towards sustainable urban development.

Interpreting Moran Eigenvector Maps with the Getis-Ord Gi* Statistic

Spatial weights matrices used in quantitative geography furnish maps with their individual latent eigenvectors, whose geographic distributions portray distinct spatial autocorrelation (SA) components. These polygon patterns on maps have specific meaning, partially in terms of geographic scale, which this article describes. The goal of this description is to enable spatial analysts to better understand and interpret these maps individually, as well as mixtures of them, when accounting for SA in a spatial analysis. Linear combinations of Moran eigenvector maps supply a powerful and relatively simple tool that can explain SA in regression residuals, with an ability to render reasonably accurate reproductions of empirical geographic distributions with or without the aid of substantive covariates. The focus of this article is positive SA, the most commonly encountered nature of autocorrelation in georeferenced data. The principal innovative contribution of this article is establishing a better clarification of what the synthetic SA variates extracted from spatial weights matrices epitomize with regard to global, regional, and local clusters of similar values on a map. This article shows that the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic provides a useful tool for classifying Moran eigenvector maps into these three qualitative categories, illustrating findings with a range of specimen geographic landscapes.

Across regions: Are most COVID-19 deaths above or below life expectancy?

Life expectancy varies across geographical and political landscapes for a multitude of reasons. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for the 2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and pandemic, is present in 215 countries, and is described as a pathogen that is most deadly to individuals 65 years and older. However, it is unclear if the majority of COVID-19-related deaths are targeting individuals above or below life expectancy. Through seven months of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, an association between life expectancy and COVID-19 related deaths was assessed. The reported age of those suffering from COVID-19-related deaths was evaluated across eight countries (United States, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, and Switzerland), and placed into binary categories depending on whether or not the death occurred above or below the country's life expectancy. Given this dataset, it was observed that there was a greater proportion of COVID related deaths above life expectancy (M=64.58%, SD=6.46) as opposed to below life expectancy (M=35.41%, SD=6.46), as these differences were significant (95%CI [18.518, 42.881], p<0.001). In contrast, an insignificant trend was observed when examining the relationship between deaths above life expectancy and Gini index (Pearson correlation coefficient r= -0.62, n=8, p=0.09). The disparity, or percent difference in death occurring above versus below life expectancy was greatest in the countries with life expectancies of 80+ (Sweden, Switzerland, Germany). Considering life expectancy may be an appropriate approach for reporting COVID-19-related deaths, as well as planning responses to localized COVID-19 outbreaks, prioritizing drug treatment, and assessing ICU capacity.

Diversity and distribution of landscape types in Norway

ABSTRACT Norwegian landscapes are changing at an increasingly rapid rate and therefore systematically structured information about observable landscape variation is required for knowledge-based management of landscape diversity. The purpose of the article is to present the first version of a complete, area covering, evidence-based, landscape type map of Norway, simultaneously addressing geoecological, bioecological and land use related variations. The type system used for the mapping is supported by systematically structured empirical evidence. The results of the mapping procedure, including the geographical distribution and descriptive statistics (abundance and areal coverage), are presented for each of the nine identified major landscape types identified based on coarse-scale landform variation. Within six inland and coastal major types, a large number of minor landscape types are defined based on the composition of geoecological, bioecological, and land use related landscape properties. The results provide new insights into the geography of Norwegian marine, coastal and inland landscapes. The authors discuss potential errors, uncertainties and limitations of the landscape type maps, and address the potential value of the new tool for research, management and planning purposes. They conclude that the results of the study might contribute to knowledge-based spatial planning and management of the unique landscape diversity of Norway.

Develop Critical Spatial Thinking by Utilizing Local Landscapes: Geography Field Laboratory Studies

Geographical skills that need to be shared by each geographic are three categories, including map skills, field skills, and satellite image interpretation skills. To achieve field skills competency, a location is needed to be used as material for practicum studies for each subject. The Geography Education Field Laboratory can be studied in depth based on an analysis of the level of learning needs. The basis of the lab location requirements as a laboratory is seen from the laboratory function as an area to carry out careful and accurate testing and measurement of the phenomenon under study. Local landscape can be used as a field laboratory to improve critical spatial thinking skills. The study was carried out through the identification of local landscapes by delineating the area through the utilization of satellite imagery and identifying potential from each area that was chosen descriptively. Location characteristics to be used as locations for geography learning resources can describe geographical concepts, local landscapes, and regional phenomena.

The geography of phylogenetic paleoecology: integrating data and methods to better understand biotic response to climate change

AbstractDeeper knowledge about how species and communities respond to climate change and environmental gradients should be supported by evidence from the past, especially as modern responses are influenced by anthropogenic pressures, including human population growth, habitat destruction and fragmentation, and intensifying land use. There have been great advances in modeling species’ geographic distributions over shallow time, where consideration of evolutionary change is likely less important due to shorter time for evolution and speciation to occur. Over these shallow time periods, we have more resources for paleoclimate interpretation across large geographic landscapes. We can also gain insight into species and community changes by studying deep records of temporal changes. However, modeling species geographic distributions in deep time remains challenging, because for many species there is sparse coverage of spatial and temporal occurrences and there are fewer paleoclimate general circulation models (GCMs) to help interpret the geographic distribution of climate availability. In addition, at deeper time periods, it is essential to consider evolutionary change within lineages of species. I will discuss a framework that integrates evolutionary information in the form of phylogenetic relatedness from clades of extant closely related species, where and when there are associated fossil occurrences, and the geographic distribution of paleoclimate in deep time to infer species past geographic response to climate change and to estimate where and when there were hotspots of ancient diversification. More work is needed to better understand the evolution of physiological tolerances and how physiological tolerances relate to the climate space in which species occur.

PARK OF ARCHITECTURAL MINIATURES AS AN ACTIVATOR OF THE PROCESSES OF REVITALIZATION OF HISTORICAL CITY PARKS

The article is devoted to the study of parks of architectural miniatures, as an important component of historical city parks. The article analyses scientific works devoted to the study of various aspects of historical parks and their role in the sustainable development of cities. Identified the need to create a layout exposition. The expositions of park - exhibition may be different, but it is the “mock-up” way of presenting the expositions that is attractive for attracting tourist flows. The miniature park can be created as a separate park or as an exhibition part in one of city parks. There are several dozen architectural miniatures park in the world. Small cities with amazing accuracy reproduce the architecture and geographical landscapes of a country, or even several countries at once. In fact, these unique complexes allow you to see hundreds of monuments of world culture in a few hours, get a closer look at the monuments of different cities and make a short excursion into history.

A Critical Review of Water Resources and Their Management in Bhutan

Bhutan is a small yet water-abundant country. The country suffers from frequent flooding and is lately experiencing a growing risk of localized droughts due to inappropriate water resource management and climate change. Such a situation calls for much more efficient use and management of water in Bhutan. This paper undertakes an extensive analysis of the country’s water resources for better planning and management of the available water resources. Bhutan can be divided into three zones, the Southern Foothills, the Central Inner Himalayas, and the Higher Himalayas. The top four leading industries of Bhutan are related to water, either directly or indirectly. The country at present is at a very early stage of development. The government has prioritized water resources management over recent years. Water for hydropower in Bhutan has been in focus as compared to that allocated for irrigation, industries, and environmental demand. The demand for water in Bhutan has also increased in the last decade due to population increase, changes in lifestyle, and economic advancements through tourism and hydropower projects. Climate variation, deteriorating water quality, frequent floods, and increasing urbanization threaten the sustainability of water resources. Water accessibility issues for settlements due to the country’s harsh geographical landscape is leading towards localized water scarcity. Serious attention to rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge is required to address localized water scarcity issues.

Predicting the spread of Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) in the southeastern United States forestland: Mechanism and risk factors at the regional scale

In this study, we analyzed the regional spread patterns of Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) and associated factors using the remeasured U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data. Each mapped FIA plot was classified into one of the four categories based on its invasion status during the two consecutive inventory cycles (2000–2009 and 2006–2015): a non-invaded plot in both cycles, a newly invaded plot in the second cycle, a previously invaded plot in the first cycle, but tallow disappeared in the second cycle, and a previously invaded plot with tallow existence in the second measurement cycle. The smoothed presence probability and rate of spread (annual invasion probability) were strongly linearly correlated (r = 0.90, p = 0.001). Risk factors contributing to Chinese tallow spread varied among the three sub-regions (invasion stages) of varying propagule pressure levels, however, elevation and distance to the nearest road were the two variables statistically significant across all sub-regions (the entire region), indicating the pivotal role of the interplay between geographic characteristics and landscape (dispersal) factors in the regional spread of Chinese tallow. Natural disturbances including hurricanes and tropical storms significantly facilitated the spread of Chinese tallow from lower coastal areas to the inland. Among all forest type groups, bottomland oak-gum-cypress forests were more susceptible to Chinese tallow invasion in the low and moderate propagule pressure sub-regions, while oak-pine forests had higher Chinese tallow coverage (degree of invasion) in the high propagule pressure sub-regions.

Species–genetic diversity correlation in phyllostomid bats of the Bodoquena plateau, Brazil

Recent theories suggest that processes shaping species diversity are the same shaping genetic diversity, leading to a correlation between the two levels of diversity. Using Neotropical bat assemblages, and considering the genetic diversity of two co-distributed Chiroptera species with distinct life-history traits, Artibeus planirostris and Carollia perspicillata, we evaluated the correlation between metrics of taxonomic (species richness, evenness, and community divergence) and genetic diversity (number of haplotypes, haplotype diversity, allelic richness, expected heterozygosity and genetic divergence) in these two species. Landscape variables potentially affecting those correlations (distance to the nearest conservation unit, forest area, forest border length and number of forest fragments) were also analysed. For A. planirostris, we found a negative correlation between evenness and expected heterozygosity and also between mean presence-absence assemblage divergence and mean genetic divergence based on microsatellites. Our results indicate that the genetic diversity in A. planirostris is not explained by the landscape variables considered. For C. perspicillata, we found a positive correlation between species richness and haplotype richness and between evenness and expected heterozygosity. Genetic differentiation based on microsatellites in C. perspicillata was positively related to geographic distance and landscape differentiation. Allelic richness and expected heterozygosity in C. perspicillata were negatively related to distance from the conservation unit and forest area, but significance changed according to the spatial scale. We conclude that species-genetic diversity correlations may vary according to the species under study. Thus, A. planirostris appears to be ecologically different to other species in assemblages, while C. perspicillata seems to be ecologically similar.

Reflections on Afrika Bambaataa’s Universal Zulu Nation: horizons, hip hop, and hybridity

ABSTRACT Using Hans-Georg Gadamer’s famous discourse on horizons and modern postcolonial theories on black religious pluralism, this article examines Afrika Bambaataa, along with the organization he founded, the Universal Zulu Nation. The emphasis of the analysis is on his overcoming of material borderlands, interventions in cultural knowing, and forming of hybrid identities with reference to the vitality of religion. This methodology not only intimates pragmatic epistemologies that elucidate transmissions of knowledge and ethics across geographic landscapes but also fosters a more general framework of social analysis regarding shared human heritages. An evaluation of how Zulu horizons operate between local communities and global cultures demonstrates how interreligious dialogue and polyethnic belongings that extend across transnational spiritualties and societies signify ways of transgressing difference and sameness within ideological systems. After a discussion of cultural hermeneutics as a mode of interpreting the histories of ontology and Otherness to obtain a basis for understanding peripheral societies and faiths, the article then investigates how the Zulu Nation belongs to an Afrocentric pluralist tradition within those constellations of ideas and ideals, before the conclusion focuses on the way recent allegations of Bambaataa’s sexual assault affect his legacy of social consciousness for scholars of contemporary religion.

The (digital) medium of mobility is the message: Examining the influence of e-scooter mobile app perceptions on e-scooter use intent

The present research examines how perceptions of e-scooter mobile apps (i.e., a communication technology) influence intent to use e-scooters (i.e., a transportation technology) while considering other perceptions specific to e-scooters (ease of use, usefulness, safety, environmental impact, and enjoyment), context of use (geographic landscape), and demographic factors (age and sex). Results suggest mobile app perceived ease of use is associated with e-scooter use intent and this effect is mediated by e-scooter perceived usefulness, even when controlling for e-scooter perceived ease of use as well as other influential elements of e-scooter use. In addition to illustrating the importance of user experiences with mobile apps within the e-scooter context, this interdisciplinary research furthers a fundamental argument that media technologies are an integral factor in the adoption of transportation technologies.

Analysing the Differential Performances of Indian States in the Tourism Sector

Tourism is an ever evolving and a dynamic industry which can play a crucial role in increasing income and in providing employment opportunities in an economy. India especially with its rich heritage, culture and geographical landscapes has always had immense potential to become a leading tourist destination. Presently the major types of tourism prevalent in India are Medical Tourism, Rural/ Natural Tourism, Religious Tourism and Historical&amp; Educational Tourism. In 2018-19, the tourism sector contributed around 5% to India’s GDP. However with the health shock of Covid-19, the tourism sector has taken a major hit since early 2020, with several people losing their jobs in the tourism and hospitality sector when different states imposed lockdowns and took various measures to curb the pandemic. As restrictions in each state eased during the first wave of the pandemic, different states in India adopted various policies to revive the tourism industry. But to understand the effectiveness of these policies in each state/ UT, one needs to investigate the baseline at which the Tourism industry was before the pandemic hit the country. This paper attempts to look at the differential performances of states and UTs of India in tourism by categorizing them into various types of tourism between 1947 until March 2020.This paper aims to act as a base for further analysing the impact of this pandemic on Tourism across states in India.

Gradient analysis of landscape pattern in the core area of the "Zhengzhou and Kaifeng Integration" at the landscape level.

The analysis of landscape pattern change is an effective way to understand urbanization. Research area is the core area of urbanization, which is between Zhengzhou city and Kaifeng city in China. Geographic information system (GIS) and landscape metrics method are used to quantify the gradient landscape pattern changes in the study area. The results show an obvious gradient change of landscape pattern from 2005 to 2015. The landscape pattern in the eastern and western of the study area experienced larger changes than the middle area. The western end mainly changed in terms of the patch number, patch shape and anthropogenic influence, but the patch types in the east changed more rapidly than those in the west. Landscape pattern change is influenced by policy and location, and human influence is the main driving force. Unlike previous study areas, in which urbanization expanded from the center of a city to its surroundings, our study area spread from two ends (Zhengzhou and Kaifeng cities) to the center of the study area. This study could be used as a typical case for the gradient analysis of landscape pattern changes during urbanization.

Названия берега и форм берегового рельефа в говорах Костромской области: ландшафтно-географический аспект

One of the most detailed systems of terms in regional dialect systems of the language is the terminology of rivers and river valleys, lakes and lake basins. We explore the repertoire of folk geographical terms used in the patois of the Kostroma Region, which are associated with such part of the river valley as the coast. We analyze language units, on the one hand, in the coordinates of the lexical and semantic group, on the other, in relation to the designated objects. We identify the correspondence of terms and their semantics to the nominated forms of coastal relief. In the plan “Program of collecting information for the lexical atlas of Russian folk patois” we consider the general names of the coast and the names that actualize its morphological characteristics – the names of low, low-level and high steep coast, the names of coastal relief forms, such as a cape and a sandbank. At the lexical and semantic level, we trace the connection of local names with the terminological system of the geographical landscape. The repertoire of the terms group under consideration includes mainly words with a transparent inner form, their semantics reflect the features of the coastal relief. At the same time, in the Kostroma Region’s patois, words of obscure origin are encountered, which can be attributed to the substrate vocabulary. In general, the nomenclature of the terms under consideration fits into the concept of the vocabulary continuity of the Kostroma patois.

世界自然遗产地陆生藻类物种多样性比较研究

藻类是真核生物进化、植物起源与进化、生物地理学研究的良好材料，研究藻类物种多样性对理解生命起源与早期进化，探明地球地质地貌演化有着非常重要的意义。以两世界自然遗产地施秉云台山白云岩喀斯特、赤水丹霞的陆生藻类为研究对象，通过G-F多样性指数、Jaccard相似性系数、Bray-Curtis矩阵比较分析了不同地质地貌的两世界自然遗产地陆生藻类的物种多样性及种组特征，结果如下：（1）两地陆生藻类丰富，均以蓝藻为优势，共有优势科为色球藻科Chroococcaceae、颤藻科Oscillatoriaceae，施秉云台山还具伪枝藻科Scytonemataceae、念珠藻科Nostocaceae优势，优势属为粘球藻属Gloeocapsa、色球藻属Chroococcus，赤水丹霞仅以粘球藻属Gloeocapsa为优势。（2）施秉云台山G-F多样性指数高于赤水丹霞。（3）两地陆生藻类泛热带成分明显，施秉云台山中国特有成分较赤水丹霞丰富；两地科、属、种相似性系数依次为：56.25%、44.05%、37.62%，科的相似性达到中度水平，与同纬度范围其它地区的Bray-Curtis矩阵聚类结果显示不同地质地貌的两地首先聚为一类。从陆生藻类多样性组成上，初步反映两世界自然遗产地的地质历史、地层岩性及地理位置的异同。;Algae have been regarded as very useful materials for the research of eukaryote evolution, plant origin and evolution, and biogeographic changes. Thus, their diversity profiles are essential in understanding life's origin and early evolutionary development and exploring the earth's geology and geomorphology structure. We studied the terrestrial algae of Shibing Yuntai Mountain (SYM) and Chishui Danxia (CD) in Guizhou, the two world natural heritage sites in China representing dolomite karst and danxia landforms, respectively. G-F diversity index, similarity index, and Bray Curtis were used to compare their species composition. The results indicate that:(1) the algae are abundant in both heritage sites, featured with dominant cyanobacteria species, especially the families of Chroococcaceae and Oscillatoriaceae. The SYM, however, is rich in Scytonemataceae and Nostocaceae, with more abundance of Gloeocapsa and Chroococcus, which is different from CD with abundant genus Gloeocapsa. (2) SYM's G-F diversity indices are greater than CD's. Thus, the species diversity of SYM is higher than that of CD. This phenomenon may be related to the factor that the alga-promoting effect of the dolomite soil and the alga-suppressing effect of the red layer soil containing rich Fe and Mn. The predominance of nitrogen-fixed cyanobacteria in Scytonemataceae and Nostocaceae reflects the dolomite karst's environmental characteristics:rich in calcium and magnesium but poor nutrition. The species of Gloeocapsa in CD are more abundant, which are related to the silicate minerals in sandstone, besides the dry and hot climate. (3) The algae analyzed in both sites have significantly tropical and subtropical compositions and are endemic to China, especially regarding SYM. The similarity coefficients of families, genera, and species between the two sites are 56.25%, 44.05%, and 37.62%. Family similarity reaches a moderate level. The Bray-Curtis results show that the two sites are clustered into the same category despite their different geological and geomorphological features. The shared similarity at family and genus levels of the algae implies that the two sites maybe have diverged from the same aquatic environments. However, the heterogeneity at the species level between the sites maybe have resulted from their different terrestrial geographic landscapes, which shaped the algae alternatively under natural selection and environmental adaptation principles. We find the characteristic algae that can prove the landform's development from different compositions of the existing algae at the two sites. Thus, this preliminary study integrally and systematically analyzes terrestrial algae's diversity, heterogeneity, and similarity, and geographic varieties in evolutionary development, stratigraphic lithology, and structure of the two heritage sites in China.

New Record of Civets at Bharatpur, Chitwan and a Review of the Species Diversity in Nepal

Civets are alluring nocturnal carnivores having variant external features with different coat colors, stripes and spots, carpal and metatarsal pads, closed or open peri-anal scent glands in both sexes which have great taxonomic value and make these animals acclimatize in a wide range of geographical landscapes from hilly areas to patchy gardens and thin forests of the low land (Terai) located in or near the human settlement areas. The range of Head Body Length (HBL) and Tail Length (TL) in Paradoxurus spp. and Viverricula spp. distinguishes civets from felids. The study of civets was carried out by direct observation and videos and/or photographs were taken in the sighted places with the record of geological coordinates as evidence. For the record of civets, four wards (i.e. 7, 10, 11 and 12) were selected from Bharatpur Metropolitan City by lottery methods from the purposively selected 15 wards out of 29. These selected wards were visited randomly once or upon call in a month riding on a motorbike at the speed of 10 to 20 kilometer per hour in average speed and was crossed 2400 kilometers during four years beginning from January, 2016 to December, 2019. As a result, 11 civets of three Species, six Subspecies and two genera (i.e. Paradoxurus spp. and Viverricula spp.) were recorded. Among these animals, four subspecies were from Paradoxurinae and two were from Viverrinae subfamilies. Likewise, Paradoxurus jerdoni caniscus were reported, 9.09% (n = 1); Paradoxurus hermaphroditus minor, 9.09% (n = 1); Paradoxurus hermaphtoditus pallasii, 54.55% (n = 6); Paradoxurus hermaphroditus hermaphroditus, 9.09% (n = 1); Viverricula indica baptistae, 9.09% (n = 1); and Viverricula indica mayori, 9.09% (n = 1). Conclusively, the first records of the civet Species and Subspecies from thin gardens of fruiting trees and human houses or settlement areas in the city of Bharatpur, Chitwan, have created a great field to explore ecology and population status. However, human-civet conflicts have been created by the potential harm to poultry and pets as well as possible reservoir hosts of parasitic zoonoses and Covid-19 Viruses. Consequently, the population of civets is declining in an alarming rate due to the threats of vehicle and electric accidents, snaring and random killing by the people.

LEARNING FROM PALU: REBUILDING A BETTER CITY IN THE AFTERMATH OF NATURAL DISASTER

&lt;p&gt;Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country located in the ring of fire, which puts it at a high risk of natural disasters. Earthquakes, tsunami, and liquefaction that occurred in Palu in 2018 that resulted in significant material and immaterial losses were some of the examples. The earthquake and tsunami resulted in a total casualty of 1.347 people and caused the loss of access to clean water and electricity, as well as a change in the geographical structure and landscape of the city of Palu. Thus, the purpose of this study is to analyze the implementation of post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction in the city of Palu using a qualitative research methodology. In addition to that, this study also discusses the relationship between Palu disaster, human security, and national defense. Qualitative research in a descriptive manner that offers a complete description and analysis regarding Palu disaster was held to answer the research question presented in this paper. The results show that the natural disasters that occurred in Palu in 2018 brought about an impact on people's lives and all aspects of human security. This is because, in each phase of the disaster that occurred, the Government of Indonesia failed to protect the community from the risk of such a disaster. Furthermore, based on the Disaster Risk Reduction criteria, the rehabilitation and reconstruction that have been carried out are relatively adequate. However, non-structural aspects of mitigation, which is one of the important aspects of disaster risk reduction, have not been carried out. Disaster training and simulations so far have only been done once and not regularly, therefore jeopardizing the community's preparedness for future occurrences of natural disasters. Therefore, improvements in disaster management need to be done in Indonesia&lt;/p&gt;

LANDSCAPE-ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND CONSERVATION VALUE OF FORESTS IN THE KOSTOMUKSHSKY STRICT NATURE RESERVE AND KALEVALSKY NATIONAL PARK (A SUMMARY OF RESEARCH FINDINGS)

This paper recapitulates very briefly on the results on many years of landscape-based research into the structure and change of forests in the Kostomukshsky Strict Nature Reserve (Zapovednik) and the Kalevalsky National Park, which has been administratively merged with the former (occupying nearly 1240 km2 in total). Forests cover, respectively, 90 and 80 % of land in these protected areas. They are the key biotic component that shapes and maintains the environment of these ecosystems. The studies were based on an original classification and map of landscapes designed according to the zonal-typological principle. Both areas lie within a tectonic-denudation, hilly-ridge (with a complex of glacial landforms) moderately paludified landscape, with a prevalence of pine habitats. Within this landscape we have distinguished, mapped and described geographical localities (or local landscapes) – its largest morphological units (several thousands of hectares on average). As opposed to geographical landscape, geographical locality features not just a prevalence but a predominance (> 90 % of the area) of certain landforms, of the same genesis, with very narrow variation in open mire and paludal forest percentage, as well as an obvious prevalence of pine or spruce stands. Three and four types of localities have been identified and described for the strict nature reserve and the national park, respectively. Their descriptions are roughly structured as follows: 1) general landscape characteristics of the area (geological-geomorphological features, paludification, soil cover); 2) forest massif structure (dominant composition and types of forest, their ratios and spatial arrangement); 3) genesis and natural dynamics of forests. We specifically highlight the conservation significance of the zapovednik’s and park’s forests inside the protected areas network. Overall, the structural dynamic organization of the massifs constituting the forest cover has been demonstrated to vary substantially, and in some types of localities even strikingly. Almost all the forests have emerged in the sites burnt by forest fires of varying intensities at different times in the past. We argue that the forest cover can only continue to develop in a natural way if the natural fire regime is maintained or lightning-ignited fires are allowed to propagate. This way, the forest cover can exist in a steady dynamic equilibrium, governed only by global climate fluctuations. The zapovednik and the park have preserved within their territories pristine, chiefly pine, forests, which constitute the largest massif in the west of the Eurasian boreal zone. Hardy any of such forest has survived in the extensive land span west of this area and to Norwegian fjords. These forests have formed in Fennoscandia’s most common and widespread type of geographical landscape. The significance of these areas as components of the protected areas network and a key element of the Green Belt of Fennoscandia is demonstrated.