scholarly journals Mobilizing values: using perceptions of barachois ponds in Nova Scotia to advance informed management

FACETS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 215-239
Author(s):  
Lydia Ross ◽  
Lucia Fanning
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Q Methodology ◽  
Coastal Lagoons ◽  
Wetland Management ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Management Decision

Meaningful engagement is increasingly used as a management tool for understanding the multitude of complex values and potential conflicts around marine conservation and the production of conservation strategies deemed acceptable by local communities. Barachois ponds, akin to coastal lagoons, are recognized coastal wetlands in Nova Scotia, Canada, given their distinct ecosystem services, including provisioning, regulating, and cultural services. This study examines the current discourses around the management of barachois ponds and how an increased understanding of these perceptions held by stakeholders and managers might be used to better inform integrated management of these wetland ecosystems. A mixed-methods research design using Q methodology was employed to acquire data on social perceptions surrounding the management of barachois ponds fringing the Bras d’Or Lake in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. Four dominant perspectives were identified: the leave-them-be conservationists, the sustainable developers, the management reformists, and the science-based conservationists. Six key issue themes emerged based on an in-depth examination of these different perspectives and Q sort data. This study found that an increased awareness of the ecological, social, and cultural values attributed to barachois ponds by key stakeholders could play a critical role in better informing wetland management decision-making in Nova Scotia and elsewhere.

scholarly journals Neotropical coastal lagoons: an appraisal of their biodiversity, functioning, threats and conservation management

2008 ◽  
Vol 68 (4 suppl) ◽  
pp. 967-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
FA. Esteves ◽  
A. Caliman ◽  
JM. Santangelo ◽  
RD. Guariento ◽  
VF. Farjalla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Coastal Lagoons ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Human Occupation ◽  
Species Introduction ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Private Companies ◽  
Aquatic Biodiversity ◽  
Scenic Beauty ◽  
Functional Regulation

Neotropical coastal lagoons (NCL) are human-dominated ecosystems. Their distribution along densely populated coastal areas of developing countries makes these systems among the most threatened in the world. Here, we summarize some aspects of the causes and consequences of NCL biodiversity, their functioning, their importance to the surrounding populations, their fragility, and their responses to local and global anthropogenic impacts and the challenges that Neotropical countries face in conserving these systems. Although still scarce and geographically concentrated, a growing body of studies has shown that NCLs are physiographically diversified systems, which harbor a considerable and particular proportion of the Neotropical inland aquatic biodiversity. Despite the fact that coastal lagoons are ecotones that are intricately connected to surrounding environments, they develop mechanisms for structural and functional regulation, which confer to these systems higher productivity and carrying capacities than surrounding ecosystems. Such traits attract residential developments and subsidize local traditional populations with important economic and aesthetic ecosystem revenues such as fisheries and scenic beauty. However, the disorganized human occupation around NCLs are causing profound impacts such as eutrophication, salinization, exotic species introduction, as well as other effects, which are ultimately imposing major habitat degradations and biodiversity extirpations in NCLs. We argue that interdisciplinary conservation strategies, which integrate scientific expertise, government officials, private companies and the general public, are the most likely to overcome the geographic and economic obstacles to NCL conservation.

Successful Cases in Technology-Enabled Active Teaching and Metacognitive Learning Strategies in Blended Learning for Globalization

2014 ◽  
pp. 283-301
Author(s):  
Mohan Gurubatham
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Fluid Intelligence ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Higher Order Thinking ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Online Discussion Forums

This chapter draws from actual accredited graduate programs. It is essentially a reflection piece drawn from actual experience of successful teaching and blended action learning practices and principles that utilized online discussion forums. The classes were in Malaysia, the USA, and South Africa. The experience of teaching and learning involving metacognition and active online discussion internationally is described in terms of the cognitive literacy value chain developed by the author. Active discussion was seen as part and parcel of the process to nudge insights, critical thinking, and other expressions of higher order thinking that also facilitated peer bonding in very short, six-week semesters. The critical role of fluid intelligence in higher order thinking in a globalized knowledge economy is discussed in terms of the development of wisdom through the experience of transcending conventional thinking while sustaining refined thought processes and cultural values through metacognition. Sample comments and reflection journals are presented.

An Evaluation of the Influence of Environmental, Social and Cultural factors on the Socialization of Traditional Urban Spaces (Case Study: Iranian Markets)

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-296
Author(s):  
Jamaloddin Mahdinezhad ◽  
Bahram Saleh Sedghpour ◽  
Rana Najjari Nabi
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Q Methodology ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Influential Factor ◽  
Effective Parameters ◽  
Future Design ◽  
Social And Cultural Factors

The ‘bazaar’, or the marketplace has been one of the most influential bases of the city in terms of social, political and economic development, and is considered as an active public space for initiating fundamental changes in society. Across Islamic cultures and civilizations, as well as their historical precedents, the marketplace has occupied a broad and complex social meaning, especially in Iran. In this research, the marketplace is considered from a socio-commercial point of view. In order to improve the efficiency of public spaces, it is necessary to identify their effective parameters of socialization, and utilize them towards the future design or improvement of built environments. While the socio-cultural influence of a bazaar determines the development of human relationships around it, its environmental components are also effective in responding to ‘physical needs’ of a populace, that is, the provision of necessities such as food and clothing as well as repair services. The relationship between environmental, social and cultural elements is found to be the most influential factor in increasing the sociality of the public space. In order to analyze bazaar socialization, the research methodology employed in this article comprises a descriptive survey that uses Delphi and Q methodology. According to the results, six key factors were identified: activity-behavioural-movement (ABM) components, physical-functional qualities, enviornmental impacts, physical components (PCs), cultural values (CVs), social cohesion and integration, diversity and spatial attraction. Crucially, the study also finds that the socialization of space is formed through the interaction between human experiences in place and the prevailing cultural forms within it, that is, the regional customs, traditions and overall ‘way of life’ of the native populace. Therefore, the cultural features of urban spaces are another important factor in their development. Studying these factors opens the possibility for facilitating greater levels of interaction and participation in public spaces in a manner that also accommodates different groups of people and their varying subcultures.

The influence of food availability, quality and body size on patch selection of coexisting grazer ungulates in western Serengeti National Park

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Bukombe ◽  
Andrew Kittle ◽  
Ramadhan B. Senzota ◽  
Hamza Kija ◽  
Simon Mduma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Patch Selection ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Serengeti Ecosystem ◽  
Dietary Niche

Context Differences in body size and mouth morphologies influence dietary resource separation among savanna ungulates, and this influences their distribution across landscape. Aim The aim was to understand the influence of body size and mouth morphology differences on both diet and patch selection by ungulate species in western Serengeti. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) for ungulate species, the relative body sizes and muzzle widths (mean muzzle width range: 3.1- 9.85) relate directly to food biomass, and to quality of diets selected in the wet season when food is abundant; (2) in the wet season, if food is not limiting, similar-sized species should exhibit greater dietary niche overlap than ungulate species that differ greatly in body size and muzzle width; moreover, similar-sized species exhibit less dietary niche overlap than ungulate species that differ greatly in body size. Methods In the western Serengeti ecosystem, road transects and direct observation were used to obtain data on the distribution and diet of five ungulate species namely buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, topi and impala; which have of varying sizes (range: 70–630kg) feeding in three different vegetation types. Grassland biomass, structure, nutrient content and ungulate use were measured at sites along transects. Key Results Results indicated that large-bodied ungulates utilised patches of greater food abundance compared with those of smaller ungulates. Body mass was also negatively correlated with diet quality, so that smaller animals ate higher protein and lower-fibre foods, as predicted. Diet niche overlap (niche similarity) showed a strong positive relationship with body mass differences among ungulate species, in support of the second of the two predictions from this hypothesis, namely that dissimilarly sized species could eat the same food. Conclusion Overall, the results suggest that in this savanna system, variation in ungulate body size influences resource separation even in the food-abundant wet season, and that this helps multiple species to co-exist. Implications Implementing more focused conservation strategies will improve wildlife habitat quality by integrating fire as a forage management tool with grazing preferences to promote forage heterogeneity in protected areas.

scholarly journals Ocean Optimism: Moving Beyond the Obituaries in Marine Conservation

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 479-499
Author(s):  
Nancy Knowlton
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
Single Solution ◽  
Important Progress ◽  
Made In

While the ocean has suffered many losses, there is increasing evidence that important progress is being made in marine conservation. Examples include striking recoveries of once-threatened species, increasing rates of protection of marine habitats, more sustainably managed fisheries and aquaculture, reductions in some forms of pollution, accelerating restoration of degraded habitats, and use of the ocean and its habitats to sequester carbon and provide clean energy. Many of these achievements have multiple benefits, including improved human well-being. Moreover, better understanding of how to implement conservation strategies effectively, new technologies and databases, increased integration of the natural and social sciences, and use of indigenous knowledge promise continued progress. Enormous challenges remain, and there is no single solution; successful efforts typically are neither quick nor cheap and require trust and collaboration. Nevertheless, a greater focus on solutions and successes will help them to become the norm rather than the exception.

scholarly journals Theoretical Developments In Environmental Management Accounting And The Role And Importance Of MFCA

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mishelle Doorasamy
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Management Accounting ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Theoretical Studies ◽  
Company Performance ◽  
Management Decision Making ◽  
Environmental Management Accounting

Abstract Environmental Management Accounting (EMA) is a broader concept of accounting which uses accounting tools and practices to support company-internal management decision making on environmental issues and its impact on company performance. Research on EMA can be divided into two broad categories: theoretical and empirical studies. The theoretical studies based on framework that aim to explain the nature of the relationship between economic and environmental performance and the adoption of Environmental Management Accounting in a business environment. The empirical studies follow two lines of research, instrumental studies aim to empirically test the relationships hypothesized in theoretical studies; descriptive studies are intended to examine the factors that encourage the adoption of EMA. This review paper examined the role of MFCA in identifying non-product output (waste) and its impact on an organisations profitability. Various case studies are examined in this article that demonstrates MFCA to an important environmental management tool to ensure future sustainability of an organisation.

The influence of national cultural values on the use of rewards alignment to improve sales collaboration

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Magnusson ◽  
Robert Peterson ◽  
Stanford A. Westjohn
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Hierarchical Linear Modeling ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Reward Structure ◽  
Linear Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sales Organizations ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how national cultural values affect sales collaboration directly and how it interacts with the firm's reward structure. The results are linked with firm performance. Design/methodology/approach – The conceptual framework is tested on a large sample of sales organizations across 26 countries. Due to the nested nature of the data, hierarchical linear modeling is used to test the hypothesized framework. Findings – Sales collaboration is positively related to firm performance, while individualism and masculinity are negatively related to sales collaboration. Rewards alignment leads to greater sales collaboration and is particularly important in highly individualistic and masculine societies. Practical implications – The study identifies rewards alignment as an actionable management tool to foster greater sales collaboration and, in turn, enhanced firm performance. The study suggests that this is particularly important in cultures associated with high individualism and masculinity. These two values can hinder sales collaboration within the firm, but firm practices (rewards alignment) can counter societal tendencies. Originality/value – The effects of cultural values have been neglected in prior research on sales collaboration and firm performance. The findings in this study suggest that culture is important and, at times, it can be beneficial for the organizational culture to counter the dominant national cultural values.

CEO duality and bribery: the roles of gender and national culture

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 218-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine Velasquez Tuliao ◽  
Chung-wen Chen
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
National Culture ◽  
Hierarchical Linear Modeling ◽  
Future Orientation ◽  
Cultural Analysis ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Ceo Duality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the cross-cultural impact of CEO-Chair’s gender to the likelihood of CEO duality firm’s bribery. Design/methodology/approach Hierarchical linear modeling was used to analyze data of 5,837 CEO duality firms from 21 countries. Findings Firms with male CEO-Chairs were found to have higher propensity to bribe than their female counterparts. Moreover, cultural values of institutional collectivism and performance orientation strengthened gender’s impact to bribery. In contrast, future orientation weakened the gender-bribery relationship, as opposed to the proposed effect. Practical implications Key findings of this study can be utilized to increase awareness and widen perspective on the roles of CEO-Chair’s gender and national culture on bribery. These can also be useful in the selection of CEO-Chair, design of educational programs on ethics as well as government and non-governments’ programs and policies to minimize incidents of bribery. Originality/value There are no existing studies on CEO duality firm’s bribery which performed cross-cultural analysis on the impact of CEO-Chair’s gender, making the study a novel contribution to business ethics, organizational structure, corporate governance, management decision, transparency, and accountability.

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