scholarly journals A renewed framework for urban biodiversity governance: urban pigeons as a case-study

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 280-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zina Skandrani ◽  
Marion Desquilbet ◽  
Anne-Caroline Prévot

In a globally urbanizing world, interactions between individuals and nature are progressively decreasing. In this context, it is not uncommon that the presence of some remaining animal species in cities causes problems to urban citizens and results in conflicts among stakeholders. Here, we propose a novel vision of the relations between urban citizens, local authorities and urban nature, taking the example of urban pigeons. We combined ecological and sociological concepts as well as data to propose a new working framework to build an integrative governance of urban nature. We showed how effective it is to change the focus on elements of nature only by including the interrelations between humans and nature. We highlighted the importance of institutional messages when dealing with biodiversity issues. We conclude by calling for a holistic vision in the implementation of policy on urban nature.

2018 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-79
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Nikorowicz-Zatorska

Abstract The present paper focuses on spatial management regulations in order to carry out investment in the field of airport facilities. The construction, upgrades, and maintenance of airports falls within the area of responsibility of local authorities. This task poses a great challenge in terms of organisation and finances. On the one hand, an active airport is a municipal landmark and drives local economic, social and cultural development, and on the other, the scale of investment often exceeds the capabilities of local authorities. The immediate environment of the airport determines its final use and prosperity. The objective of the paper is to review legislation that affects airports and the surrounding communities. The process of urban planning in Lodz and surrounding areas will be presented as a background to the problem of land use management in the vicinity of the airport. This paper seeks to address the following questions: if and how airports have affected urban planning in Lodz, does the land use around the airport prevent the development of Lodz Airport, and how has the situation changed over the time? It can be assumed that as a result of lack of experience, land resources and size of investments on one hand and legislative dissonance and peculiar practices on the other, aviation infrastructure in Lodz is designed to meet temporary needs and is characterised by achieving short-term goals. Cyclical problems are solved in an intermittent manner and involve all the municipal resources, so there’s little left to secure long-term investments.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (13) ◽  
pp. 223
Author(s):  
Norainiratna Badrulhisham ◽  
Noriah Othman

Pruning is one of the most crucial tree maintenance activities which give an impact on the tree's health and structure. Besides, improper pruning will contribute to the risk of injury to property and the public. This study aims to assess pruning knowledge among four Local authorities in Malaysia. Results found that 69.3 percent of tree pruning workers have a Good pruning knowledge level. However, Topping, pruning types and pruning cut dimension shows the lowest mean percentage of the correct answer. The findings also show that there is a significant positive relationship between pruning knowledge and education level and frequency attending pruning courses.Keywords: Tree pruning; knowledge; sustainable practices; urban treeseISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v5i13.2054 


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6478
Author(s):  
Amemarlita Matos ◽  
Laura Barraza ◽  
Isabel Ruiz-Mallén

This study is based on ethnographic research that analyzes how traditional knowledge and local beliefs on biodiversity conservation relates to the local ability to adapt and be resilient to climatic changes in two communities around Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique: Nhanfisse in the buffer zone and Muanandimae in the core area. A total of 78 semi-structured interviews with heads of households were conducted. We found that both communities carried out practices and held beliefs associated with conservation, such as protecting trees and animal species considered sacred or perceived as beneficial for human life in terms of water provision and agricultural production. In addition to traditional ceremonies that respond to extreme climatic events such as drought and flood, other adaptation strategies used by the communities include moving to neighboring areas in search of better living conditions and using forest products in times of scarcity. We discuss that the management of the park should be agreed on, in a shared way, between local communities and conservation agents to ensure that these areas continue to perform the ecological, subsistence, and spiritual functions required. Our research results contribute to a better understanding of local adaptation dynamics towards extreme climatic events and improvement of management strategies.


2021 ◽  
pp. 127100
Author(s):  
Hongxiao Liu ◽  
Ren Hai ◽  
Roy P. Remme ◽  
Huifu Nong ◽  
Chunhua Sui
Keyword(s):  

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-44
Author(s):  
Emilia KORKEA-AHO ◽  
Martin SCHEININ

In the coronavirus pandemic that has swept the world, the Finnish Government, like many of its peers, has issued policy measures to combat the virus. Many of these measures have been implemented in law, including measures taken under the Emergency Powers Act, or by ministries and regional and local authorities exercising their legal powers. However, some governmental policy measures have been implemented using non-binding guidelines and recommendations. Using border travel recommendations as a case study, this article critically evaluates governmental soft law-making. The debacle over the use of soft law to fight the pandemic in Finland revealed fundamental misunderstandings about the processes and circumstances under which instruments conceived as soft law can be issued, as well as a lack of attention to their effects from a fundamental rights perspective.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1270
Author(s):  
Minyoung Kwon ◽  
Erwin Mlecnik

Web portals have the potential to promote sustainable environmental ideas due to the capacity of digital media, such as easy accessibility, openness, and networking. Local authorities (LAs) are responsible for activating carbon savings in homes, and they are key actors when it comes to providing neutral information to their citizens. Local authority web portals may thus create environmental awareness, particularly regarding owner-occupied single-family home renovation. Nevertheless, the experiences of LAs developing web portals have rarely been studied. Therefore, this paper analyses the development process of various LA web modules and investigates how LAs foster modular web portals to stimulate the adoption of home renovation with parameters to assess LAs’ actions in terms of the management of web-modules development. A homeowner renovation journey model is applied to map current local authority developments. Case study research and interviews were done to analyse and evaluate the adoption of modular web portals developed and tested by six local authorities in four countries in Europe. Based on the development and use of the modular web portal, lessons have been derived emphasising the importance of co-creation, integrating with offline activities, and a strategic management plan.


2012 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 87-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iraklis Argyriou ◽  
Paul Fleming ◽  
Andrew Wright

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-89
Author(s):  
Lachlan Penninkilampi

Urbanization is arguably the most severe and irreversible driver of environmental change, particularly with respect to biodiversity. This is the case even in Australia, a megadiverse country with a sophisticated federal regime of biodiversity governance. Yet, life persists in urban worlds. In the context of global climate and ecological crises, this article endeavours to illustrate how law and policy can grapple with the complexities of urban biodiversity and enable it to flourish. First, the article outlines the current approaches to urban biodiversity: what is it, what is it like, why does it matter and how do humans think of it? Second, the article analyses the current state of biodiversity governance in Australia, focusing particularly on the laws and policies of the Commonwealth, New South Wales, and local governments in Greater Sydney. Finally, the article details a program of reform which revisits the original guiding principles of ecologically sustainable development, illustrating how they could be unleashed for the better governance of urban biodiversity with respect to decision-making, the administration of law, issues at scale, the economy, valuation techniques and community participation. The program includes not only systemic and multi-scalar reforms, but also local-level reforms which have significant yet often overlooked potential to encourage pro-biodiversity behaviours in everyday life. The aim is to reveal just some of the many ways in which hope can be creatively transformed into action for a biodiverse urban future – that is, to reveal the possibilities of law and policy to enable urban biodiversity to be better recognized, understood, valued, protected and enhanced as Australia develops in the twenty-first century.


Author(s):  
Manisha KC ◽  
Nanda Bahadur Singh

In the context of depleting indigenous knowledge and their values in the Kisan Community, they seem unaware of their culturally rich traditional practices of using animals and plants for medicinal purpose. It has been essential to document those knowledge of practices for future references. The paper tried to explore and document those knowledge and practices by the Kisan community of Mechinagar 9 and 11 of Jhapa, Nepal. For this purpose, the data were collected through interviews with key informants including conjurer (Dhami/Jhakri), elders of the society and also focal group discussions with the local people. Analysis of the data has shown that 29 animal species belonging to 24 families are used to treat 29 ailments and 57 plant species belonging to 37 families are used for treating 39 different ailments. The commonly treated ailments were common cold, cuts, wounds, diarrhoea, dysentery, etc.


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