Search

Herbaceous ground vegetation in artificially-created gaps was studied in a managed beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest over a period of eight years in Northern Hungary, Central Europe. These gaps were being used as an alternative to the regular shelterwood system to create uneven-aged stands. The effects of gap size (15 and 40 m diameter) and canopy openness on herbaceous species colonization and persistence were assessed in a systematic grid of 5 5 m. Overall, herbaceous cover was low before gap creation, increased soon afterwards, and continued to rise over time. The number of herb species increased in the gaps and, to a lesser extent, in adjacent areas under the remaining tree canopy. Colonization of gaps was rapid and there was substantial turnover of species i.e. various species disappeared from the gaps over time whilst others colonized. Species with both long-term persistent seed banks and long distance dispersal abilities were the most successful types colonizing gaps. Six species occurred preferentially in large gaps, while only one species was found to prefer small gaps. Species present before gap creation survived in both gap sizes. Smaller gaps with a diameter of half the height of canopy trees also tended to remain free of common weed species, whereas large cover of Rubus fruticosus L. and Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth could hamper natural regeneration in larger gaps. For the successful regeneration of beech we recommend the use of small gaps complemented by few large gaps.

Understanding disability as a social phenomenon opened up the way for disability studies and social justice theories to mutually benefit from each other. One of the most significant recent advancements in the field of social justice has been the capability approach (CA) of Amartya Sen. The present paper builds on the CA to analyse disability form a social justice perspective. We argue that the CA provides several advantages when conceptualizing disability and furthering justice for disabled people. The objective of the paper is to develop a framework for analysis on the basis of the CA and to apply it through the case of D/deaf and hardof- hearing children and their carers in Szeged, Hungary. We demonstrate that the advancement of justice occurs through the scrutiny and comparison of feasible alternatives instead of arguing for principles or institutional guarantees of perfectly just societies.

Nemzetközi felmérések, valamint hazai kutatások egyaránt rámutatnak arra, hogy az európai és a hazai cigány lakosság zöme a társadalom leghátrányosabb helyzetű csoportjai közé tartozik. A cigányság esetében a társadalmi hátrányok és a térbeli szegregáció sok esetben összekapcsolódnak. Tanulmányunk középpontjában a fenti problémához kapcsolódó szegedi esettanulmány áll. 2011 eleje óta részvételi akciókutatási folyamat keretében együttműködünk helyi roma vezetőkkel és helyi szegregátumokban élő családokkal. Együttműködésünk célja kettős: kutatóként egyrészt érvényes tudást szeretnénk létrehozni a cigányság (helyi szintű) társadalmi integrációjáról, másrészt e tudást a gyakorlatban is tesztelve szeretnénk közösen hozzájárulni az integrációhoz. Az elmúlt bő három év során számos kutatási eredménnyel, tapasztalattal gazdagodtunk a helyi társadalmi kirekesztéssel és integrációval, annak területi-térbeli vetületeivel, valamint a helyi politikai döntések és a társadalomtudomány viszonyával kapcsolatban. Tanulmányunkban néhány, a témát érintő általános kutatás-módszertani és -etikai kérdés mellett kitérünk arra, hogyan függ össze a térbeli szegregáció a társadalmi hátrányokkal, hogyan befolyásolják azt a helyi politikai folyamatok, valamint írunk a társadalomkutatással szembeni követelményekről, amennyiben az a részvételi akciókutatás megközelítése mentén a társadalmi integráció kérdésével foglalkozik. Következtetésünk, hogy a részvételi akciókutatás megközelítése a társadalomkutatást új kihívások elé állítja, és a társadalmi integrációval foglalkozó részvételi akciókutatás könnyen azt eredményezheti, hogy a kutató „objektív”, „kívülálló”, „független” szakértőből helyi politikai szereplővé válik. Ez azonban nem a szakértői-kutatói szerep megváltozását, pusztán a kutatói szerep mögött szükségszerűen megjelenő érdek- és értéktartalom nyílttá tételét jelenti.

This article reflects on a participatory action research process in partnership with segregated Roma communities in Hungary. It will focus on the "non-positivist good theory"-building capacity of participatory action research in situations where social distance between participants is high and where action-oriented cooperation involves numerous actors, continuously extends to new stakeholders and areas, and aims to contribute to long-term and general social goals. Special attention will be paid to the effects of three phenomena: extreme poverty, extreme egalitarianism, and community hierarchy. We show that as cooperation shifts from discussions to actions and theories-in-use start dominating the process, PAR might become a complex and fuzzy process, characterized by numerous pragmatic and ethical challenges and contradictions. Thus, in a setting described above, it is a rather challenging task for PAR to create a "non-positivist good theory": one which enables and empowers community members to make pragmatic and sustainable changes in their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates changes in the composition of part of Wytham Woods (southern England), between the 1960s and 2007. The study focussed on an area of ∼4 ha shown on a 1961 aerial photograph, part former open common, part ancient woodland. Changes in the canopy appearance were considered using a recent (1999) aerial photograph. Trees and shrubs were recorded in a 200 × 10 m transect to illustrate current stand structure across the historic management division. In the north-east corner of the area, tree diameters and understorey abundance from 1968 were compared with the current stand structure. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Investigation of gap characteristics and tree regeneration patterns is central for our understanding of forest dynamics. By integrating aerial photograph analyses and ground surveys, we provide a study of long-term canopy gap dynamics and tree regeneration patterns in a Hungarian beech forest reserve. We found (1) that in spite of the overall increase of gap area during the investigated 30-years (from 2.5 to 7.7 per cent), total gap area and average gap size (40-93 m²) were remarkably similar to those found in other temperate and tropical forests, (2) if the fate of individual gaps was followed, two to three times more intensive canopy dynamics (gap creation, closure and expansion) could be recognized than simple change of gap area indicated, and (3) average seedling density was considered to be sufficient for natural regeneration. However, it was apparent that recent increased deer browsing had prevented establishment of younger trees of 1-2 m in height, as taller saplings were recorded only in old gaps. Our results not only provide useful information on forest dynamics but can also contribute to understanding the potential roles that small forest reserves can play in providing essential reference data for nature-based forest management of this forest type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]