Urban Forest Values of the Citizenry in Three Colombian Cities

Urban forests are an integral part of urban ecosystems and quality of life. With an overwhelmingly urban population, Latin American countries benefit considerably from their urban forests. However, little is known about the values that make such forests important. The goal of this study was to provide an overview of urban forest values in Colombia. Exploratory research was undertaken in the cities of Bogotá, Cali, and Pereira, with the use of field tours based on visits to five urban forest types, personal diaries, and focus groups. Recruitment was based on voluntary self-selection. Data were captured from 72 participants and analyzed via coding and theme extraction. The data demonstrate that Colombian urban dwellers value the urban forest in terms of a rich array of psychological, aesthetic, sociocultural, ecological, environmental, and economic themes. This study is a primer for eliciting urban forest values and developing typologies in a novel and effective way.     

The Influence of Culture on Wildfire Mitigation at Peavine Métis Settlement,Alberta, Canada

This article presents findings of a study that explored how culture influenced support for wildfire mitigation in Peavine Métis Settlement, an Aboriginal community located in Alberta, Canada. Community-based research was completed using interviews, focus groups, and participant observation. The results show that cultural factors appeared to influence wildfire mitigation preferences. Participants indicated the current state of the forest was not natural, and that mitigation activities would likely improve forest health. Participants supported Settlement Council-led wildfire mitigation activities at both the residential and community level due to a preference for communal action and collective problem solving. Participants also were found to distrust “outsiders” and preferred programs developed by members of their own community. The results of this study show that wildfire mitigation programs based on local culture can be well supported in an Aboriginal community.     

近红外光谱分析技术在蚀变矿物鉴定中的应用

近年来,我国近红外光谱测量技术取得了长足发展,它广泛应用在农业、化工、地质、医药测量等领域。利用近红外光谱对C-H(甲基、亚甲基、甲氧基、羧基、芳基等),羟基O-H,巯基S-H,氨基N-H等敏感的特性,可以区分层状硅酸盐中单矿物(粘土矿物、绿泥石、蛇纹石等),含羟基之硅酸盐矿物(绿帘石、闪石等),硫酸盐矿物(明矾石、黄铁钾矾、石膏等),碳酸盐矿物(方解石、白云石等)及这些矿物的不同结晶度。这一原理的应用,为开发野外用小型便携式近红外矿物分析仪及其快速、准确的鉴定岩石标本提供了重要的保障。本文重点介绍低温蚀变矿物的近红外光谱特征、识别方法和定量分析;同时介绍便携式近红外光谱仪原理及指标,最后介绍如何利用矿物特征峰对钻孔、探槽和剖面样品所测数据进行地质建模,从中总结成矿规律,指导找矿。