The ecological footprint is a measure that calculates the demand for resources from the environment based on daily people's needs and desires. The study, on which this article is based, used the GFN online calculator to measure the ecological footprint of individual members of the Army Support Base, Eastern Cape. The ecological footprint online survey was used to obtain the quantitative data from the online results of each participant. Statistical analysis was performed using the STATISTICA 14.0 program to calculate the ecological footprints of the individual members of the Army Support Base, Eastern Cape and their combined ecological footprints. Officers recorded the highest ecological footprints in most categories, while NCOs, Private Services Act personnel, and privates in general recorded the lowest scores. Males scored higher than females in almost all categories, suggesting that they have a higher ecological footprint than females, and therefore a larger impact on the environment. The results of this study are significant as it is the first ecological footprint calculation performed for a military base in South Africa and one of only a few global studies similarly targeting the military. These results can be used as a basis for further studies in units of the South African National Defence Force, ultimately leading to more sustainable resource use.

Ecological footprint analysis (EFA) was first described in 1996 as a measure of carrying capacity appropriated by human activities. EFA is a resource and emissions accounting tool designed to track the demand on the biosphere's regenerative capacity. Ecological footprints are increasingly used as indicators of organizational and corporate environmental performance and product sustainability. There is a compelling argument to develop an EFA tool for mining companies. To determine the size of a mine's ecological footprint, land requirements for all categories of consumption and waste discharge must be summed. This land is only made up of the ecologically productive land and water in various classes (cropland, pasture, forests etc.) required on an ongoing basis to provide all energy and material resources consumed and absorb wastes. A challenge in conducting an EFA for a mine is the shortage of accessible data. Undertaking an EFA for a corporation or individual site entails compiling consumption and emissions data (which can be used for other reporting applications). The footprint results themselves highlight the most critical aspects of an organization's impact on the environment and provide a platform for focusing actions and for educating the workforce to improve their contribution to best-practice operations. This paper discusses the benefits and challenges of undertaking an EFA for a mining company, and provides examples of the various components of ecological footprints associated with mines, as well as showing how an EFA can be used to understand and communicate some of the impacts associated with mining activities.

Resumo Pradarias de gramas marinhas e vegetação aquática submersa (VAS) estão entre os ecossistemas mais ameaçados do planeta, gerando preocupação sobre o equilíbrio dos ecossistemas costeiros e a sustentabilidade das pescarias. A presente revisão avaliou o estado do conhecimento sobre as pradarias marinhas e VAS do Brasil, considerando as respostas das plantas às condições ambientais, e o possível papel da geomorfologia costeira e variabilidade climática sobre a distribuição e abundância das populações. Apesar do crescente aumento no número de publicações, a comunicação dos resultados ainda é relativamente limitada e destina-se principalmente ao público nacional ou regional. Como resultado, as pradarias de gramas marinhas da América do Sul raramente são incluídas ou citadas em revisões e modelos globais. A escassez de estudos em larga escala e de longo prazo, permitindo a detecção de mudanças na estrutura, abundância e composição dos habitats e espécies associadas, limita a investigação das comunidades no que diz respeito aos efeitos potenciais das mudanças climáticas. Pradarias marinhas e VAS ocorrem ao longo de toda a costa brasileira, mas a distribuição e abundância das espécies são influenciadas pela oceanografia regional, massas de água costeiras, descarga de rios e geomorfologia costeira. Com base nas características oceanográficas, geomorfológicas, hidrológicas e ecológicas, o estudo discutiu a distribuição e abundância dos habitats vegetados pelas distintas regiões costeiras. O estado de conservação das pradarias marinhas e VAS no Brasil é extremamente crítico. A exploração insustentável e ocupação da zona costeira durante os últimos 100 anos conduziram à rápida degradação e perda de muitos dos habitats bentônicos marinhos e costeiros, outrora favoráveis para a ocupação da vegetação aquática. O conhecimento sobre os padrões e processos que regem a estrutura e o funcionamento destas populações e comunidades é fundamental para prever e compreender os efeitos das mudanças climáticas. A presente avaliação é um primeiro passo, necessário para uma abordagem mais integrada e inclusiva sobre a diversidade de formações vegetais costeiras ao longo do Atlântico Sudoeste, bem como um alerta regional a respeito dos efeitos previstos das mudanças climáticas das mudanças globais sobre os produtos e serviços ecossistêmicos prestados pelas pradarias marinhas.

Abstract Seagrass meadows are among the most threatened ecosystems on earth, raising concerns about the equilibrium of coastal ecosystems and the sustainability of local fisheries. The present review evaluated the current status of the research on seagrasses and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) habitats off the coast of Brazil in terms of plant responses to environmental conditions, changes in distribution and abundance, and the possible role of climate change and variability. Despite an increase in the number of studies, the communication of the results is still relatively limited and is mainly addressed to a national or regional public; thus, South American seagrasses are rarely included or cited in global reviews and models. The scarcity of large-scale and long-term studies allowing the detection of changes in the structure, abundance and composition of seagrass habitats and associated species still hinders the investigation of such communities with respect to the potential effects of climate change. Seagrass meadows and SAV occur all along the Brazilian coast, with species distribution and abundance being strongly influenced by regional oceanography, coastal water masses, river runoff and coastal geomorphology. Based on these geomorphological, hydrological and ecological features, we characterised the distribution of seagrass habitats and abundances within the major coastal compartments. The current conservation status of Brazilian seagrasses and SAV is critical. The unsustainable exploitation and occupation of coastal areas and the multifold anthropogenic footprints left during the last 100 years led to the loss and degradation of shoreline habitats potentially suitable for seagrass occupation. Knowledge of the prevailing patterns and processes governing seagrass structure and functioning along the Brazilian coast is necessary for the global discussion on climate change. Our review is a first and much-needed step toward a more integrated and inclusive approach to understanding the diversity of coastal plant formations along the Southwestern Atlantic coast as well as a regional alert the projected or predicted effects of global changes on the goods and services provided by regional seagrasses and SAV.

Throughout church history, the subject of ecology has assumed prominence in church circles with resolutions constantly being reached on how the church can and has responded to the ecological crisis. For example, the early church fathers' experiences of connectedness to nature created another approach to the Christian concept of ecology of that time. A feminist approach to ecology shows that there has been a good amount of research on the subject matter, especially from an interventional perspective. Despite this positive response, this article argues that if ecofeminism is to be effective in responding to issues of ecology, discourses around African women's embedded ecological spiritualties need to be retrieved and transformed for the liberation of both women and nature. The article uses ecomatemalistic theory to argue for a need to promote the conceptualisation of the interconnectedness between women and nature. The article concludes by showing that discussions on ecofeminism can take different forms in different contexts. Thus in some African contexts this dualistic approach between women and nature also carries positive aspects that need to be identified as a tool for dialogue on African ecofeminism.

O veado-catingueiro, Mazama gouazoubira (Fischer, 1814) é a espécie mais abundante de cervídeo do Brasil e suas populações têm resistido a alterações antrópicas consideráveis e ocupam regularmente áreas modificadas. Pouco se sabe sobre o uso de ambientes agrícolas pela espécie, portanto, este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar a preferência de uso do hábitat por M. gouazoubira em um agrossistema dedicado à produção de cana-de-açúcar. O trabalho foi desenvolvido na Fazenda Santa Cecília, município de Jaboticabal, região nordeste do estado de São Paulo, entre fevereiro de 2011 e janeiro de 2012. A área de estudo abrange cerca de 185 ha, cujas formações podem ser classificadas em plantios de cana-de-açúcar nos estágios (i) adulto (1 a 3 m altura), (ii) jovem (até 1 m) e sem cana (pós-safra), além de (iii) eucalipto e (iv) remanescentes de mata ciliar. Os registros foram obtidos percorrendo-se a pé os aceiros entre os talhões cultivados e o perímetro da área, totalizando 204 km percorridos em busca de pegadas e visualizações. A amostragem foi realizada mensalmente, com duração de dois dias consecutivos, entre 6h e 9h, e para cada registro obteve-se a coordenada geográfica e o tipo de vegetação do entorno. Considerando a rotatividade das culturas anuais, foi estimada a disponibilidade total, em hectares, de cada formação vegetacional ao longo do período de amostragem. Foram obtidos 44 registros, sendo que M. gouazoubira evitou o uso das áreas com cana jovem e sem cana e preferiu ambientes próximos à mata ciliar e aos plantios de eucalipto. Estes resultados sugerem que, embora M. gouazoubira apresente grande plasticidade ecológica, existe preferência por ambientes florestais, sugerindo que um mosaico como o encontrado no presente projeto pode sustentar populações da espécie.

Brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira, Fischer 1814) is a species with widespread distribution in different biomes in Brazil, however little is known about habitat use in landscapes with high presence of agriculture. This research project aims to analyze the preference of habitat used by brown brocket deer in an agrosystem dedicated to production of sugarcane. Our study was carried out in northeaster portion of state of Sao Paulo in municipality of Jaboticabal at Santa Cecília farm. Our study area has about 185 ha with different formations which were classified as (i) adult sugarcane (1-3 m height), (ii) young sugarcane (up to 1m) and without sugarcane (post crop), (iii) eucalyptus and (iv) remnant native vegetation. We actively searched for signs (footprint) or visualizations in unpaved roads among cultivated plots and in perimeter of study area. Sampling was carried out monthly during two consecutive days between February 2011 and January 2012 with total effort of 204 km. Geographic coordinates and type of the surrounding vegetation was obtained for each record. Considering the rotation of annual crops, the total availability was estimated for each vegetation formation throughout the sampling period. Our results (forty four records) show that brown brocket deer avoids use open areas (young sugarcane and without sugarcane) and preferred environments near to native forests and eucalyptus. It is known that brown brocket deer presents great ecological plasticity, however the species prefers environments pervaded by remnants of native or regenerating forest, suggesting a mosaic as found in the present project can sustain populations of the species.

Considerando que os roedores possuem diversas formas de locomoção, o presente estudo apresenta e discute variações na forma das pegadas anteriores e posteriores de sete espécies [Akodon cursor (Winge, 1887), Necromys lasiurus (Lund, 1840), Oecomys bicolor (Tomes, 1860), Oecomys concolor (Wagner, 1845), Oligoryzomys nigripes (Olfers, 1818), Hylaeamys megacephalus (Fischer, 1814) e Rhipidomys macrurus (Gervais, 1855)], utilizando técnicas de morfometria geométrica e análises discriminantes. As variáveis de forma das pegadas foram relacionadas com a topologia filogenética e os modos de locomoção das espécies para verificar a influência de fatores históricos e ecológicos na morfologia das pegadas. A forma das pegadas dos roedores arborícolas (curtas e largas) foi claramente distinta dos cursoriais (estreitas e alongadas). As reclassificações das pegadas anteriores (Kappa = 0,72) e posteriores (Kappa = 0,88) das espécies foram consideradas substanciais e quase perfeitas, respectivamente. As pegadas posteriores discriminaram melhor as espécies além de indicarem os níveis de atividade arborícola e cursorial dos roedores. Efeitos alométricos foram observados nas análises das pegadas anteriores (13%) e posteriores (3%). O modo de locomoção explicou 90,3% da variação na forma nas pegadas dos roedores (p = 0,02), indicando convergência nos padrões morfológicos nas pegadas das espécies de roedores arborícolas e cursoriais.

Considering that species of rodents have different means of locomotion, this study presents and discusses variations on the anterior and posterior footprints shape of seven species [Akodon cursor (Winge, 1887), Necromys lasiurus (Lund, 1840), Oecomys bicolor (Tomes, 1860), Oecomys concolor (Wagner, 1845), Oligoryzomys nigripes (Olfers, 1818), Hylaeamys megacephalus (Fischer, 1814) and Rhipidomys macrurus (Gervais, 1855)], using geometric morphometrics and discriminant analyses. Shape variables were related to phylogenetic topology and means of locomotion of the species to verify the influence of historical or ecological factors on footprints morphology. Footprints shape of the arboreal rodents (short and wide) was clearly distinct of cursorial ones (narrow and elongated). The anterior (Kappa = 0,72) and posterior (Kappa = 0,88) footprint reclassification was considered substantial and almost perfect, respectively. The posterior footprints presented better results of species discrimination and set the levels of arboreal and cursorial activity of rodents. Allometric effects were observed in anterior (13%) and posterior (3%) footprint analysis. The means of locomotion explained 90.3% of footprint rodents shape variation (p = 0.02), indicating convergence on footprint morphological patterns of arboreal and cursorial rodents.

El bienestar de la población asentada en un territorio (un país, una ciudad, un pueblo) está íntimamente ligado a la capacidad de oferta de bienes y servicios ambientales. Conocer los requerimientos de la población y la capacidad del espacio disponible para la satisfacción de sus necesidades, es fundamental para garantizar la sustentabilidad ambiental. La Economía Ecológica nos permite, a través del cálculo de la Huella Ecológica HE y la Biocapacidad BC estimar el déficit ambiental de un territorio determinado. Aunque a nivel global la utilidad práctica de estos indicadores para la toma de decisiones es limitada, en los ámbitos nacional, regional o local son instrumentos útiles para la toma de decisiones en la planificación y la gestión ambiental. Aportan elementos para la planificación del uso del suelo, en aspectos relacionados con la provisión de alimentos, energía, agua, disposición de residuos de una ciudad determinada, como es el caso de Manizales. En este texto, se presenta, en la primera parte, el cálculo de la Huella Ecológica de la ciudad de Manizales y la Biocapacidad BC del departamento de Caldas. En segundo lugar, se estima el déficit o superávit ambiental. Y por último, a manera de conclusiones, se proponen lineamientos de política para mejorar la gestión del territorio del departamento de Caldas y la calidad de vida de la población de Manizales para garantizar la sustentabilidad ambiental en la región.

The well-being of people located in a territory (a country, a city, a town) is intimately bound to the capacity of goods and environmental services available. Knowing the population's requirements and the capacity of the available space for the satisfaction of their necessities is fundamental to guarantee environmental sustainability. Ecological Economy allows us, by calculating the Ecological Footprint EF and Biocapacity BC, to estimate the environmental deficit of the territory. Although at a global level the practical utility of these indicators for decision-making is limited, in the national, regional or local environments, they are useful instruments for decision-making in environmental planning and management; since they offer elements for the planning of land use, in aspects related to the provision of food, energy, water, housing and disposition of wastes of a city, like Manizales. This text presents in the first part, the calculation of Manizales' Ecological Footprint and Caldas' Biocapacity BC. In second place, the city's environmental deficit is considered. And finally, policies to improve the territorial management of Caldas and the well-being of Manizales' population are proposed in order to guarantee the environmental sustainability in the region.

Sustainability and the environment are important and topical themes currently. There is a generally growing awareness of resource consumption, possible resource depletion, and the polluting effects of indiscriminate dumping at the end of the useful life of an item, as well as of the pollution caused by producing items and making them available to the end user. The issues are complex and interlinked. In order to improve understanding, it is important to obtain holistic and quantitative perspectives. To help in quantification, concepts such as the ecological and carbon footprints have been defined and are in common use. This paper introduces the concept of a material footprint to help quantify the material resource usage in an item, in terms of globally available resources. It allows comparison of various items to one another in terms of their use of material resources. Thus the types of items available for recycling can be ranked to determine recycling priorities. The material footprint can also help in determining recycling priorities for the various materials in the items. Several examples are used as illustration. It is shown that recycling of printed circuit boards is especially worthwhile. Printed circuit boards are complex and heterogeneous from a materials recycling perspective. The paper describes the complexities of recycling these boards, but also points out the benefits. An overview is given of currently available metallurgical technologies for such recycling. It is shown that in these processes there are many factors that affect the environment. It thus remains difficult to determine the total impact of recycling on the environment holistically. Possibly some benefits are to be gained in the Southern African context by better integration between secondary material processors and primary metal producers.

Um método alternativo de identificação e inventário de roedores e marsupiais de florestas e áreas abertas do Cerrado é apresentado e discutido. Os tubos de pegadas foram projetados de acordo com o tamanho das espécies alvo e usados para construir uma coleção de referência de pegadas de pequenos mamíferos formada por 1408 pegadas pertencentes a 251 indivíduos de 30 espécies (21 roedores e nove marsupiais). Armadilhas Sherman e tubos de pegadas foram usados para conduzir inventários em matas de galeria. As pegadas obtidas nos tubos foram digitalizadas e comparadas com as da coleção de referência usando Análise Discriminante (DFA). Essas análises produziram boa diferenciação de pegadas, mesmo entre espécies congenéricas. Na análise DFA, os dois eixos foram relacionados a tamanho e arborealidade. A eficiência dos tubos de pegadas foi maior (sucesso dos tubos de pegadas = 31%) que a armadilhagem convencional (sucesso das armadilhas = 14%) nos inventários. Os tubos de pegadas forneceram boa descrição da comunidade de pequenos mamíferos em matas de galeria, detectando roedores e marsupiais de diferentes hábitos, incluindo espécies que dificilmente são capturadas. Este trabalho também discute vantagens e limitações do uso dos tubos de pegadas em inventários e estudos ecológicos e conclui que esta técnica pode ser eficiente na realização de estudos de longo prazo e de inventários rápidos, como uma técnica complementar à armadilhagem.

An alternative method for identifying and inventorying rodents and marsupials inhabiting forests and grasslands of Brazilian Cerrado is presented and discussed. Ink tracking tunnels were designed according to the size of target species and used to build a reference collection of small mammal footprints composed of 1408 footprints belonging to 251 individuals from 30 species (21 rodents and nine marsupials). Sherman traps and ink tracking tunnels were used to conduct inventories in gallery forests. Footprints obtained in ink tracking tunnels were digitalized and compared with those in reference collection using Discriminant Analysis (DFA). DFA allowed good footprint differentiation, even among congeneric species. In DFA analysis, the first two axis were related to size and arboreality. The efficiency of ink tracking tunnels was higher (track-success = 31%) than conventional trapping (trap-success = 14%) in inventories. Ink tracking tunnels gave a good description of the small mammal community of gallery forest by detecting rodents and marsupials of different habits, including trap-shy species. This paper also discusses advantages and limitations of ink tracking tunnels use in inventories and ecological studies, and concludes that this technique can be efficient in long-term studies and in rapid inventories as a complementary technique for trapping.