Course

Geography 473

Document Type

Student Paper

Publication Date

Winter 2019

Disciplines

Biodiversity | Forest Management | Geography

Description, Abstract, or Artist's Statement

Presently, public land management structure tends to disregard the interconnected nature of the social and ecological systems within managed landscapes. Since these social and ecological systems so heavily influence the identity of landscapes, it is critical that land managers understand the interactions and effects land management has with ecological structure and function. This knowledge helps land managers create more effective, sustainable, and efficient management plans and decisions. This research uses a portion of Upper Mississippi River as a case study for analyzing and discussing public land management on the Mississippi and how its structure may be influencing the ecological identity of floodplain forest habitats. Ecological biodiversity data was collected through historical and modern research methodology. These two types of data sets were analyzed and compared to formulate a comprehensive narrative of the impacts “nested” management imperatives, management structure, land use legacies, and historic management decisions are having on present day measures of floodplain forest biodiversity.

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