Human Nature

The research-based Danish therapy garden Nacadia, which opened in 2011, can be viewed as a holistically oriented realization of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) broad definition of health from 1948: health is not just the absence of disease, but a state of both physical, mental and social well-being in which individuals may develop their abilities, deal with everyday challenges and stress, as well as socialize with other people. Nacadia’s raison d’être and relevance are indisputable. But the questions this article addresses are what perception of nature the therapy forest garden promotes and what social diagnosis it springs from and reproduces. Nacadia’s interdisciplinary research team provides no explanation, but these questions inform my analysis. Based on Nacadia’s concept manual and the therapy garden itself, as well as some literary accounts of engaging with nature, I develop two answers: First, that the researchers behind Nacadia operate with both a discourse and a physical-aesthetic presentation of nature as a peaceful and accessible place for both self-immersion and connection with ‘something greater’. Secondly, the implementation of such a sanctuary encourages romantically tinted modes of experience which certainly seem invigorating but may also evoke an element of alienation for people in a modern society.

Overview of the impact of forest habitats quality and landscape disturbances on the ecology and conservation of dormice species

Arboreal mammals are a group of special concern. We reviewed the available literature to summarize the overall potential effects of forest habitat disturbances on dormice ecology and population parameters. We took into consideration the influence of forest structure, area size and fragmentation, vegetation biodiversity, forestry treatments, and the development of road networks. The vast majority of studies have only examined two species, hazel and edible dormouse, while the ecological requirements and conservation priorities of forest, garden, and Japanese dormice have rarely been studied. There has been a substantial increase in the number of dormice studies; however, many aspects of their ecology are still unknown. The current state of knowledge points to the essential role of the complex vertical structure of forest vegetation in providing arboreal movement corridors and safe nesting places for dormice species. Moreover, dormice species are cavity dwellers that depend on the presence of old trees and nest boxes, which could have ambiguous effects.

Forest gardens increase the financial viability of farming enterprises in Sri Lanka

Forest gardens (FGs) are tree-dominant land uses in Sri Lankan farming enterprises. Although FG financial performance has been described, their overall contributions to farming enterprises remain unclear. This information is critical given the global quest for financially viable, sustainable agricultural models. Farming enterprises include On-farm (land uses: FGs, paddy, cash crops, plantations, swidden/chena plots, livestock), Off-farm (employment, trading, grants, welfare) and household components. Forest garden financial performance was compared with other enterprise components in short-(reference year, 2012–2013) and long-terms (beyond 2013). Financial data were collected for 85 farming enterprises in nine locations of the Intermediate zone using Household Income and Expenditure surveys and quantified using accounting procedures. In the short-term, 49% of On-farm income was the value of household consumption while 54% of On-farm expense the value of household contributions. FGs contributed 29% to food and fuelwood self-sufficiency, generated the highest profit, were the most financially efficient land use, and average FG profit (Current assets) was greater than enterprise profit. In the long-term, FGs had the highest number of timber and fuelwood species (biological assets). Their average net realisable value (NRV) was 90% of total NRV for biological assets from all land uses. Since FGs occupied 68% of the study area, their substantial biological and land assets had high Non-Current asset values. Average FG Non-Current asset values accounted for 79% of Total Equity and were farmers' core ownership interest in enterprises. Forest gardens increase the financial viability of farming enterprises. Their financial contributions warrant recognition in national economic performance assessments.

THE MULTI-TECH PROTECTIVE MONITORING OF THE LION FOREST GARDEN STONY ARTIFICIAL HILLS (SUZHOU, CHINA)

The Lion Forest Garden was originally built in 1342, during Yuan Dynasty, and became one of the most famous gardens in Suzhou. In 2000, it was inscribed in the World Heritage List as an extensive property of the Classical Gardens of Suzhou. The Lion Forest Garden is famous for its stony artificial hills covering more than 4,000 square meters, which were continually built during Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasty. However, as a long time passed, stony artificial hills appear damaged showing stone cracking - which could be seen in many places-, gaping, weathering, water erosion, and subsidence. Besides, a new underground line will pass through the road west to the Garden. In 2018 and 2019, the Landscape Architecture Engineering Lab of the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture collaborated with the Lion Forest Garden Administration on a research to define the strategy to monitor these stony artificial hills. Multiple technologies were used, such as 3D Scanning, Ultrasonic Testing, Side-Scan Sonar, sensors, and so forth. During the monitoring, some technologies worked well while others did not. The paper, based on the mentioned research, will discuss the strategy and technologies used in monitoring historical rockeries, describe the procedure, analyse the outcomes, and find out the reasons causing the unsuccess of some technologies.

Different Ways of Knowing and a Different Ways of Being: On a Path to Reawakening Legacy of the Maya Forest

Archaeological projects are in a special position to create unique partnerships, with shared goals and intentions, to development Maya anthropological archaeology. This narrative presents an education outreach project in archaeology invigorated with local collaboration. When priorities of active archaeological projects formally include resident community participation, new horizons and accomplishments are achieved. Local and international interests in heritage and cultural traditions create the platform for interactive relationships and identification of common ground. Together, our experience recognizes four educational pillars that revolve around ancient Maya heritage and the fundamental Maya forest garden. Centered on the protected area of the El Pilar Archaeological Reserve for Maya Flora and Fauna, El Pilar and forest gardens are celebrated at the urban Cayo Welcome Center, practiced at the active outfield Chak Ha Col forest garden, and taught at the rural Känan K’aax School Garden. As our experience demonstrates, community partnerships require specific elements of acknowledgment including a valued tangible heritage, a formal information outlet, an education link, and an honored cultural tradition. Together, these provide fertile ground for cultivating collaborations in the Maya region and across the world.

NATURAL SPACE Conceptual sphere in Ukrainian poetry of the early 21st Century

The article explores the features of the embodiment of the conceptual sphere NATURAL SPACE in Ukrainian poetry of the early XXI century. defines its composition, describes the semantic structure of conceptual components, characterizes the means of their artistic embodiment in terms of the Ukrainian poetic word usage traditions and highlighting authorship origins. Source for this article was poetry of the modern Ukrainian authors, in particular L. Beley, Y. Izdryk, V. Kalashnyk, M. Kiyanovska, S. Osoka, S. Tatchyn, H. Yanovska and many others. It is emphasized that the composition and structure of artistic conceptual spheres are related to the nature of poetry: artists use common cultural language codes, but try to go beyond them, so the author's forms are recognizable, but not the same as commonly used (forms). SPACE conceptual sphere is one of the main ones in the Ukrainian poetry of the beginning of the XXI century. Its component is NATURAL SPACE conceptual sphere. In Ukrainian poetry of the early XXI century represented by concepts that embody horizontal, vertical and water space, the main among which are FOREST, GARDEN, FIELD, STEPPE, RIVER, SKY. Their verbalizers reflect both traditional associations and encoded authorial meanings. The word forest, on the one hand, as the embodiment of alien space acquires a negative assessment, on the other is positive, has the life meaning. The garden is personal space, so it’s image appears as positive to convey the meaning of the living space of the lyrical hero. This semantics is expressed by Biblical allusions to the Garden of Eden. Similarly, the form of the field, mostly contain the ‘own’ meaning, but at the same time are able to develop the semantics of death. The traditional form of the steppe as freedom is also able to express anxious emotional conditions through a sign of infinity. The sky is a sacred space, an inaccessible place and at the same time a living space of a person, freedom, a sign of “borderline”, embodied, in particular, in the forms of the horizon, is relevant for the expression of temporal semantics. Concepts that embody water space convey the traditional ambivalent meanings of vitality, timeline and danger.

Identifikasi Model Pengelolaan Lahan Kering Dataran Tinggi Berbasis Agroforestri Tradisional di Pulau Timor

Tujuan diadakannya penelitian ini untuk; (i) mengidentifikasi model pengelolaan lahan kering dataran tinggi berbasis agroforestri tradisional; (ii) mengukur seberapa besar kontribusi pendapatan rumah tangga masyarakat yang diperoleh pada masing-masing model pengelolaan lahan kering dataran tinggi berbasis agroforestri tradisional. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Pulau Timor khususnya di kecamatan Miomaffo Barat, Kabupaten Timor Tengah Utara, Nusa Tenggara Timur pada bulan Oktober-Desember 2016 menggunakan metode deskriptif eksploratif dengan teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan teknik observasi, kuesioner, dan wawancara langsung pada tokoh kunci (Qey person). Penentuan sampel dalam penelitian ini berdasarkan peta existing conditions penggunaan lahan yang merupakan hasil overlay data Citra landsat serta data persebaran ekologi agroforestri di pulau Timor. Penentuan responden guna mengetahui kontribusi ekonomi masyarakat ditentukan secara snowball sampling. Hasil penelitian diketahui bahwa terdapat tiga model agroforestri tradisional yang dikembangkan masyarakat di lokasi penelitian yaitu; (a) model agrosilvicultur Kono yang merupakan praktik perladangan menetap dengan komposisi jenis tanaman berkayu (Kehutanan), tahunan dan tanaman semusim; (b) model agrosilvopasture Poan yang merupakan praktik kebun hutan tetap dengan variasi jenis tanaman yang tinggi (Polycultur) serta bentuk pengelolaan yang menyerupai bentuk kebun hutan (Forest Garden) dengan stratifikasi tajuk yang beragam; (c) model silvopastural Suf, merupakan praktik penggembalaan alam pada kawasan padang savana, yang dimanfaatkan sebagai ranch peternakan alami. Analisis kontribusi pendapatan rumah tangga masyarakat diketahui di atas 50%. Artinya bahwa secara kontribusi ketiga model agroforestri tradisional yang ditemukan berpeluang untuk dikembangkan dengan perlu adanya intervensi intensif dalam hal pengelolaan yang berkelanjutan dengan pertimbangan pada aspek ekologi wilayah, sosial ekonomi serta budaya atau kearifan lokal masyarakat setempat.

Fatal Parasitic Gastroenteritis and Pneumonia In A Captive African Civet (Civettictis civetta)

The African civet cat (Civetticus civetta) is native to Ethiopia, Guinea, Senegal, and other places in equatorial Africa. Civet cats are grouped under order Carnivora and family Viverridae and are wild viverids of the tropics. They are nocturnal and solitary animals that only mix during mating. Though, civet cats are primarily carnivorous, they are opportunistic omnivores, but feeds on a mixture of fruits and vegetables, maize meal and meat (1kg/civet), eggs, insects, rodents, invertebrates and birds. Parasitic and infectious diseases have become a major concern in the conservation of endangered species as they can cause mortality, dramatic population declines, and even contribute to local extinction events. This report concern is about a Civet which was acquired in May, 2016 by the private forest garden. It showed no previous sign of illness prior to its death in July. The carcass weighed approximately 4kg and was in good bodily condition. Congestion of the lungs were evident, while the stomach was empty, but the duodenum contained cream-coloured mucoid exudates admixed with two long cestodes, measuring up to 52cm and numerous short segments of this worm, (up to 2 cm in length) within the lumen of the proximal 1/3rd of the duodenum and extending to the jejunum and ileum. Parasitological examination revealed that the cestodes was Dipylidium spp. It was concluded that, the Civet could have died as a result of parasitic gastroenteritis and pneumonia 53 days after it was introduced into the forest garden. It is most likely that the infection was acquired from the wild before the animal was introduced into the forest garden.