Research Note Srs

Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications

Trans Experiences - A Research Report for Trans Communities and their Allies

Trans communities are in the headlines. Everybody has an opinion on 'what transsexuality is'. But how do trans people themselves describe being trans? This community based study examined this question. Findings include that the diversity and complexity of people's experience by far exceeds what is commonly acknowledged. Physical embodiment and social acceptance are important to trans people, but the most unifying themes are self-finding, self-realization and spirituality. Experiences described cover a wide range. They can in fact be mutually exclusive. This suggests that any simplistic 'one fits all' explanation will be oppressive to at least some trans people. In a sad twist, the research finds that trans people who challenge the clinical model of transsexuality the most, are also the ones who most likely will not participate in clinical studies - thus guaranteeing that much of the diversity within communities remains hidden - except by community based research like the one at hand.

National Forest Inventories of Latin America and the Caribbean

National forest inventories (NFIs) are one of the main sources of forest information. This book describes the importance and history of NFIs in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region that is particularly relevant due to the extension and biodiversity of its forests. Methodologies for data collection and measurement of the most relevant indicators in 21 countries are addressed. In addition, similarities and differences in IFN designs, challenges and opportunities, and prospects for the future are examined. This analysis demonstrates that the information generated by the countries is diverse and must be harmonized to meet the commitments and opportunities for sustainable forest management in the 21st century. This publication represents a milestone in the beginning of the harmonization process towards data transparency within the forestry sector in Latin America and the Caribbean and constitutes the first collaborative effort of a network of NFI experts and collaborators in the region.