Perspectives on native maize conservation in Mexico: a public programme analysis

Summary In any conservation programme, a variety of actors participate and interact in its different phases. They commonly have different perspectives and priorities regarding conservation, and diversity in the ensuing perspectives constitutes a barrier to effective conservation. In this paper, we analyse the different perspectives around the Programa de Conservación de Maíz Criollo (Programme for the Conservation of Native Maize in Mexico; PROMAC) in order to understand the possible causes that resulted in the programme not fulfilling its objectives. We used Q methodology and semi-structured interviews with farmers from a natural protected area to analyse the perspectives of the key actors who conceptualized, designed and implemented the programme and of the target population. Our research identified two different perspectives: (1) native maize can only be conserved with the support of community processes; and (2) the government, and not farmers, is responsible for the conservation of native maize. For farmers, native maize is key to their subsistence livelihoods, and they participated in the programme because of government monetary incentives. These differences contributed to dissimilar interpretations throughout the programme’s implementation phase, which, in turn, likely contributed to PROMAC failing to meet its objectives.

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An exploration of government administrative processes in supporting agro-smallholders’ access to municipal markets in eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province

Africa’s Public Service Delivery and Performance Review ◽

10.4102/apsdpr.v9i1.528 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jabulani C. Nyawo ◽

Betty C. Mubangizi

Keyword(s):

Target Population ◽

Exploratory Research ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Government Officials ◽

Department Of Agriculture ◽

Government Institutions ◽

Kwazulu Natal ◽

The Government ◽

Administrative Theory ◽

Smallholder Producers

Background: The government’s inability to ensure that both the local and the national markets adequately accommodate smallholder producers is inhibiting the sector’s ability to grow and expand.Aim: This article explored the influence of the governmental administrative processes on agro-smallholders’ ability to access municipal markets.Setting: The study is based in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), specifically in the eThekwini Municipality. The target population is agricultural (agro-) smallholder producers who are located within the traditional leadership and government officials (KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and eThekwini Municipality).Methods: A qualitative exploratory research methodology using semi-structured interviews was adopted for this study.Results: The results showed that the government structures and municipal markets do not provide substantial support to agro-smallholder producers who are seeking access to markets. The results further showed that there is no integration or relationship between the government institutions on the issues related to the promotion and development of agro-smallholder producers.Conclusion: Through the application of administrative theory, the article posited the recommendations that the government institutions should incorporate stakeholders’ insights, lay a policy foundation for a whole-of-government approach to planning and set the direction for agro-smallholder’s planned future. It is also recommended that the government departments create a single planning and coordination structure or forum that will be beneficial to the smallholder sub-sector and avoid duplication and resource wastage directed to this sub-sector.

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Barriers to the Implementation of Sustainable Construction: Government Perspective

MEDIA KOMUNIKASI TEKNIK SIPIL ◽

10.14710/mkts.v27i1.33764 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 18-28

Author(s):

Debby - Willar ◽

Bambang Trigunarsyah

Keyword(s):

Service Providers ◽

Sustainable Construction ◽

Construction Technology ◽

Cultural Issues ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Implementation Phase ◽

North Sulawesi ◽

Study Results ◽

The Government ◽

Technical Planning

Sustainable construction is a way for the construction industry to achieve sustainable development by considering social, economic, environmental, and cultural issues. Policies for implementing sustainable construction in infrastructure delivery are still not clearly understood, resulting in challenging implementation by planners and contractors. This research study identifies the barriers to implementing sustainable construction in developing infrastructure projects in Bina Marga, Cipta Karya, Sumber Daya Air, and Perumahan Permukiman sectors in North Sulawesi Province. Data collection using semi-structured interviews involved 23 informants from these four sectors. The results of the study found that the barriers evenly occur throughout the life cycle of an infrastructure project in four sectors, namely: (1) the programming phase related to strategic planning documents and identification of barriers, (2) the technical planning phase related to technical understanding and competence service providers, (3) construction implementation phase related to expert consultants, service provider competence, and green construction technology, (4) utilization phase related to socialization, promotion, and education, (5) demolition phase related to mechanisms and availability of resources. The study results provide academic-based information for the government to minimize barriers to implementing sustainable construction policies throughout Indonesia.

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Management of Records in Adapted Buildings as Records Centres in Zimbabwe

Mousaion ◽

10.25159/0027-2639/2675 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Samson Mutsagondo ◽

Getrude Maduyu ◽

Godfrey Tsvuura

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Research ◽

Case Study Research ◽

Research Approach ◽

Records Management ◽

Personal Observation ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Design Data ◽

Professional Management ◽

The Government

This paper discusses the challenges of records management that arise from the use of adapted buildings as records centres in Zimbabwe, despite the advantages of using such buildings. A qualitative research approach was used as well as a case study research design. Data were collected from seven officers of the Gweru Records Centre through semi-structured interviews. Personal observation was used to triangulate findings from interviews. It was found that the use of adapted buildings as records centres was a cheaper and quicker way of establishing records centres throughout the country. However, a number of preservation, security and management challenges cropped up as the conditions of the buildings and the environment of the adapted buildings were not conducive to the proper and professional management of records. This study is important in that it explores the prospects and challenges of using adapted buildings as records centres in Zimbabwe, an area that has not been researched by many authors. This provokes archival authorities and the government to seriously consider establishing purpose-built records and archival centres.

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Conservation Debates: People’s Perceptions and Values towards a Privately Protected Area in Southern Ecuador

Land ◽

10.3390/land10030233 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 233

Author(s):

Verónica Iñiguez-Gallardo ◽

Fabián Reyes-Bueno ◽

Olga Peñaranda

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Land Tenure ◽

Protected Area ◽

Planning Process ◽

Social Needs ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Key Stakeholders ◽

Southern Ecuador ◽

Negative Perceptions ◽

Land Tenure System

The perceptions and values that local communities have towards protected areas are of great value for the improvement of these territories’ management. Such perceptions and values are often absent in the conservation planning process, particularly in those privately protected areas that are established in areas where the land tenure system is based not only on ownership but also on customary uses. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative data obtained through semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and members of communities surrounding a privately protected area in southern Ecuador, we identify that the level of collaboration with the managers, the distance to the protected area, the percentage of untitled land, and the dependence on the resources (customary uses) are among the variables affecting these perceptions and values. Positive perceptions towards protected areas and naturalistic values are developed among those who collaborate with the protected area managers, whereas negative perceptions, and a mix of naturalistic and biospheric values are developed among those who have a sense of a lack of attention to social needs although supporting nature conservation at the same time. The evidence presented shows the importance of matching local peoples’ expectations with conservation goals during the establishment of a protected area.

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Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Brazilian Community Restaurants for the Dimension of Low-Income People Access to Food

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13082671 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 2671

Author(s):

Mateus Santana Sousa ◽

Camila Silveira Silva Teixeira ◽

Jamacy Costa Souza ◽

Priscila Ribas de Farias Costa ◽

Renata Puppin Zandonadi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Formal Education ◽

Average Energy ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Target Population ◽

Service Capacity ◽

The Public ◽

The Government ◽

Access To Food

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of community restaurants (CRs), managed by the Government of the State of Bahia/Brazil, for the dimension of access to food. The study used secondary data obtained from the public opinion survey Profile of users of community restaurants in Salvador. The nutritional information was accessed through the analysis of CRs’ menus. Adequate effectiveness of access to food was considered when the CR served meals to 50% to 70% of the users considered the target audience (individuals served by the two CRs located in the city of Salvador/Bahia/Brazil). The participants (n = 1464; 778 as low-income individuals) were adult CR users from Salvador/Brazil. Most of the respondents were male, 40 to 54 years old, not white, had up to 9 years of formal education, without a partner, and living in the municipality of Salvador. The evaluated CRs are effective in serving 53.1% of the target population in their total service capacity. Meal provision only reached an estimated 0.7% of the socially vulnerable community in the district. The average energy value of the meal served by the CR units was 853.05 kcal/meal, with a mean energy density composition classified as average (1.15 kcal/g). The effectiveness of the evaluated community restaurants showed that these instruments were minimally effective in promoting access to food for the low-income population within their total daily service capacity, and the current quantity of these facilities was insufficient. However, these instruments stand out in the fundamental role of promoting the daily distribution of meals to the Brazilian population with the highest social vulnerability levels.

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4580 Development of a play-based coaching intervention to improve quality of life and wellbeing for mothers with cancer and their young children

Journal of Clinical and Translational Science ◽

10.1017/cts.2020.121 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (s1) ◽

pp. 27-27

Author(s):

Rosa Roman-Oyola ◽

Anita Bundy ◽

Eida Castro ◽

Osiris Castrillo

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Young Children ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Improve Quality ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Yield Data ◽

Implementation Phase ◽

Coaching Intervention ◽

Phase 1B

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Mothers with cancer who have young children experience life disruptions when treatment procedures limit mother-child interactions. This study proposes the development of an intervention combining the Coaching approach with the Model of Playfulness to improve Quality of Life (QoL) and wellbeing of these patients and their young children. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This embedded mixed method study will be guided by the two initial phases of the ORBIT Model for the development of behavioral interventions for patients with chronic diseases. Participants will be mothers in the post-acute treatment stage of cancer (n = 6) and their children who are between 2 years and a half and 6 years, 11 months. Phase 1A, Definition, builds on qualitative data from a concurrent study exploring the experiences of mothers with cancer playing with their young children. As part of this phase, we will develop a play-based coaching intervention. In Phase 1B, Refinement, we will employ in-depth semi-structured interviews and standardized tools to evaluate acceptability of the intervention and preliminary outcomes. This will serve to further refine the intervention. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Phase 1A will yield a plan for the intervention and data to enhance its initial implementation. Phase 1B will yield data, from the perspective of the mothers, about acceptability of the intervention procedures (e.g., delivery strategy, place for the intervention, time devoted, and outcome measures). This will enable modifications to the intervention. Additionally, Phase IB will yield preliminary data from specific QoL and wellbeing measures. For the mother, data about anxiety and depression symptoms, stress levels, and parental self-efficacy; for the child, emotional and behavioral indicators; for both: playfulness. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: This study entails the development of an intervention to enhance QoL and wellbeing of mothers with cancer and their children. Play moments as the centerpiece of the intervention, represent an innovative approach. Findings will guide the design of future feasibility studies to advance the development of this outcome driven intervention.

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Urban and Spatial Planning: Pragmatic Considerations for Plan Implementation Improvements (A Case Study of the City of Bor)

SAGE Open ◽

10.1177/2158244021994554 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 215824402199455

Author(s):

Dragana S. Nikolić ◽

Marijana D. Pantić ◽

Vesna T. Jokić

Keyword(s):

Planning Process ◽

Local Level ◽

Annual Reports ◽

Main Task ◽

Territorial Development ◽

Plan Implementation ◽

Implementation Phase ◽

Legislative Framework ◽

The Government ◽

Local Government Budget

The main task of planning documents is to achieve maximal rationality in the use of space, spatial resources, and balanced territorial development. The preparation of plans is regulated by a legislative framework, which embraces multiple phases and stakeholders. In a perfect planning process, it would be expected that all the elements are well coordinated and brought to common understanding, but in reality, obstacles and challenges can occur in any of these steps, especially in the implementation phase. Although a plan is fully prepared to be practiced, its implementation might be omitted. Therefore, this article analyzes the full process of spatial and urban planning from the perspective of plan implementation. The methodology is based on a combination of different data collection methods (interviews, fieldwork, direct observation) with the analysis of plans and the particular mention of those plans that picture the implementation issues the most. Also, legislative acts and semi-annual and annual reports on the achievements of the local government budget are analyzed. The approach indicates that plan implementation depends the most on the willingness of the government to perform changes in the system and to peruse punitive policy comprehensively. Although it is about implementation at the local level, the success primarily depends on clear definitions given in the legislative acts, freedom of the local communities to make their own decisions, and financial decentralization, side by side with the regional and local circumstances, institutional technical and staff capacities, and application of participatory planning that involves actors from various sectors.

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Ethnobotanical biocultural diversity by rural communities in the Cuatrociénegas Valley, Coahuila; Mexico

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine ◽

10.1186/s13002-021-00445-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Eduardo Estrada-Castillón ◽

José Ángel Villarreal-Quintanilla ◽

Juan Antonio Encina-Domínguez ◽

Enrique Jurado-Ybarra ◽

Luis Gerardo Cuéllar-Rodríguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Exotic Species ◽

Protected Area ◽

Indigenous Communities ◽

Larrea Tridentata ◽

Biocultural Diversity ◽

Ethnobotanical Knowledge ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Biosphere Reserves ◽

Rural Landscapes

Abstract Background Cuatrociénegas, part of the Chihuahuan Desert, is a region of unique biological, geological, geographical, and evolutionary importance. Its current population is mestizo; nevertheless, it has high national historical, cultural, and touristic relevance in Mexico. It has been cataloged as nationally significant for its flora and fauna by Mexican law, as well as being designated a High Protection site by the World Wildlife Fund and UNESCO. Because of its diverse and complex biological and sociocultural characteristics, we considered it important to determine, identify, and analyze various aspects of the traditional ethnobotanical knowledge and practices in this region. Methods Between 2016 and 2019, seven field trips were made to document the knowledge and use of flora. Cuatrociénegas is a protected area, collecting botanical material is regulated, so specimens were photographed and collected in neighboring communities, and in public and private gardens. Later permission was obtained to complete the collection of specimens (2019–2020). The plants were identified and entered into the flora database of the state of Coahuila, and deposited in the Herbarium of the Faculty of Forest Sciences, Autonomous University of Nuevo León, Mexico. One hundred ten local residents (50 men and 60 women), aged between 27 and 91 years, were interviewed (semi-structured interviews). The cultural importance of ethnobotanical resources (cultural significance index) and its significance with respect to ethnobotanical richness in other Biosphere Reserves in Mexico (Mann-Whitney test), and similarities in the diversity of exotic species (Sørensen index) were studied. Results and discussion The ethnobotanical information registers 158 species and 132 genera in 57 vascular and non-vascular families, documenting a greater knowledge and use of cultivated species (84) with respect to wild species (74). The diversity of plants reported is compared to other ethnobotanical studies carried out in Mexican Biosphere Reserves. These results are highly relevant, in spite of unique exotic species. The people local pay special attention to medicinal and ornamental plants. The species that presented the highest use values are Larrea tridentata, Jatropha dioica, and Machaeranthera pinnatifida, three species characteristic of the desert region. Conclusions The particular diversity of wild flora in Cuatrociénegas Valley, combined with the varied introduced flora, is an important multifunctional resource. Special attention to introduced species is associated with harvesting use restrictions in the protected area as well as the high value of ornamental species that are difficult to maintain in desert areas. The extensive use of ethnobotanical knowledge is an example that biocultural diversity (at the conceptual level) is also strongly associated with socio-ecological systems incorporating mestizo groups and semi-urban rural landscapes, thus ceasing to be an exclusive focus of indigenous communities and regions.

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Survey of iodine deficiency and intestinal parasitic infections in school-going children: Bie Province, Angola

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980010000510 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 1314-1318 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mark Tomlinson ◽

Vera Adams ◽

Mickey Chopra ◽

Pieter Jooste ◽

Emmerentia Strydom ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Iodine Deficiency ◽

International Health ◽

Target Population ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Intestinal Protozoa ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Helminth Infections ◽

Stool Samples ◽

The Government

AbstractObjectiveTo obtain baseline pre-intervention prevalence levels of iodine deficiency and parasitic and helminth infections in school-going children in Bie Province, Angola.DesignA cross-sectional study conducted in randomly selected schools. The target population was children aged 6–10 years.SettingBie Province, Angola.SubjectsA total of 1029 children sampled, with 791 stool samples and 826 urine samples collected from twenty-four schools.ResultsWidespread severe and moderate deficiencies in iodine. Children in five schools were severely iodine deficient. All sampled schoolchildren were iodine deficient to a greater or lesser extent. In all, 80 % of all children across the twenty-four schools were infected with one or a combination of intestinal helminths and intestinal protozoa.ConclusionsThese findings have serious implications for the cognitive development of Angolan children, as well as for Angola’s development in terms of productivity and economic potential. It is strongly recommended that the provincial and national Ministries of Health, in collaboration with international health agencies, immediately plan and implement a strategy to provide sufficient iodine through iodised oil capsules and iodised salt to the iodine-deficient population. National coalitions need to be strengthened among the government, partners and salt producers. It is also recommended that all the children in schools be de-wormed for multiple helminth species at least twice a year.

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Successful collaboration between smart city consortium and Hong Kong Government in Covid-19 dashboard: the case of leadership in practice

International Journal of Organizational Analysis ◽

10.1108/ijoa-01-2021-2604 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Daniel Jung Yue Chun ◽

Wahid Abdul Nabsiah ◽

Cheng Ling Tan

Keyword(s):

Hong Kong ◽

Smart City ◽

Third Party ◽

City Development ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Content Type ◽

Non Profit ◽

Mass Collaboration ◽

The Government

Purpose This paper aims to discover why such a public partnership project had been successful with a non-profit third-party alliance such as a smart city consortium (SCC) promoting smart city development. Design/methodology/approach This descriptive case study is primarily based on analysing data collected from various texts, public statements, media interviews and three semi-structured interviews with key members involved in the Covid-19 dashboard project. Findings The data and analysis reviews that both interpersonal and interorganisational trust, dedication and proactiveness of the leaders at SCC were major contributing factors to why SCC was able to partner with the Hong Kong Government in the Covid-19 dashboard in the first place and that the success was also a direct outcome of effective mass collaborative knowledge management activities. Research limitations/implications The research in leadership attributes and activities in the non-profit alliance has been few and this collaborative partnership between the alliance and the government is an example of the importance of further research in smart city leadership. Practical implications In deploying projects for mass collaboration and knowledge sharing in smart city development (which is multi-disciplinary in nature). there are still many new and evolving organisational practices and leadership matters that many business leaders and city managers can learn from. Social implications Smart city development projects involve the notion of sharing data in an open environment enabled by software and mediating tools. Successful projects such as this Hong Kong Covid-19 dashboard which serves a diverse audience can further promote the importance of an open data policy regime for the benefit of the public. Originality/value This case study covers a highly original and unique case study with the leaders at the SCC and representatives from the Hong Kong Government.

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