scholarly journals Unlocking and securing ecological infrastructure investments: The needs and willingness to invest and institutional support mechanisms used

2021 ◽  
Vol 117 (9/10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Malukhanye S. Mbopha ◽  
Christo Marais ◽  
Theo Kleynhans ◽  
Karen J. Esler

Ecological infrastructure (EI) is a natural and near-natural functioning ecosystem that delivers a range of essential services to humankind. Examples include mountain catchments, wetlands, coastal dunes, and riparian corridors. In a world where EI is underinvested, rapid degradation and threats such as unsustainable veld-fire regimes, droughts, climate change, and invasive alien plants persist in dominating the ecological landscape. In South Africa, there are government programmes that encourage the restoration, rehabilitation and protection of EI. However, inadequate funding allocations constrain scaling-up and thus necessitate the unlocking of public and private sector investments to augment resources for ecosystem-based management interventions. A systematic literature review was conducted at a global scale to (1) understand the drivers behind EI investments, (2) understand the willingness and desire of private landowners and land users to participate and contribute to EI investments and (3) identify institutional support mechanisms used to encourage investments. Results suggest that the need to invest is driven by growing degradation of EI and the urgency to meet environmental sustainability goals. The willingness to invest is stimulated by the use of economic-based policies and compensatory mechanisms. Public–private partnerships, public policy, and market-based conservation instruments are institutional arrangements executed to protect EI. These include processes and systems used by the institutions to legislate and manage interventions towards fulfilling the conservation objective. Our review contributes to the EI investment research agenda by recommending coordinated efforts to encourage EI investment from both public and private partners. These measures will help to secure financial resources and mobilise investments beyond monetary terms by coordinating planning and developing capacity and reform policies.

Author(s):  
Dr. Ghazal Khalid Siddiqui ◽  
Muhammad Shahid Zulfiqar ◽  
Dr. Mubushra Khalid

The thesis work has been the integral part of the MPhil in Education program. However, it has been observed that students are in a great fix regarding the completion of their thesis work. So, the purpose was to investigate the difficulties encountered by the students during research at MPhil level. Their experiences were further examined on the basis of their gender and university type. The data was collected by the survey. The conveniently selected sample consisted of 300 MPhil students including male and female, studying in public as well as in private universities. The data was collected through a questionnaire which was a 4-point Rating Scale comprising 25 items. It has 3 factors: i) supervisor’ selection, ii) supervisors’ support, iii) institutional support. The descriptive statistics for calculating the percentage of students’ perspectives as well as Inferential Statistics (Mann-Whitney U tests) was used to find out the difference on the basis of students’ gender and university type. The results revealed that majority of students selected their supervisors themselves willingly, but few of them forced to select their supervisor on their teachers’ referrals, research topics were allotted to students by supervisors themselves. Their supervisors were not easily approachable as they were unable to give students the due time because of their academic and administrative burdensome responsibilities, even neither the concerned HOD/ director is available at ease for students nor they are provided the access to paid e-libraries. By keeping in mind, the importance of thesis in accomplishment of degrees of MPhil students, there is need to conduct further studies to explore supervisors’ point of view as some of the problems are concerned with the supervisors’ support too, that will help to minimize the students’ problems.


Author(s):  
Wilson Alves de Araújo ◽  
Mônica de Moura Pires

O objetivo geral deste artigo é analisar a sustentabilidade ambiental do turismo na Bahia, sob a ótica do desenvolvimento local, tomando como referência o município de Itacaré que tem vivenciado nos anos 2000 uma “explosão” dessa atividade. Insere-se o aspecto ambiental em função de que o turismo desenvolvido no município está fortemente associado ao meio ambiente local. Parte-se assim dos intensos debates acerca das relações entre desenvolvimento e meio ambiente, propondo-se uma abordagem interdisciplinar baseada na problemática ambiental, especificamente a respeito das externalidades derivadas da atividade econômica exercida pelo homem sobre o meio natural, aqui tratada pela ótica da atividade turística. Em termos metodológicos, faz-se uso da pesquisa descritiva e metodológica, a partir da análise bibliográfica e de pesquisa de campo. Foram entrevistados e solicitados a responder ao questionário estruturado 30 empreendedores, diretores e gerentes das empresas que atuam no setor de hospedagem, no período de 13 a 21 de junho 2016, na localidade de Itacaré, Bahia. Esse destino turístico está inserido na Costa do Cacau, onde prevalece a prática do Ecoturismo. Este se diferencia, dos demais segmentos do turismo, por se apoiar em valores que reforçam o compromisso com a preservação ambiental e a interação com a comunidade local. Para tanto, a pesquisa privilegia dois recortes metodológicos: um recorte quantitativo, denominado Quociente Locacional (QL) e, um recorte analítico, utilizado para a caracterização de aglomerações produtivas em regiões de baixo e médio desenvolvimento, denominado Arranjo Produtivo Local (APL). Diante das análises realizadas, concluiu-se que a localidade estudada pode ser identificada como APL de turismo em fase de consolidação. Na dimensão ambiental constatou-se a necessidade de implementação de ações, públicas e privadas, que direcionem e potencializem medidas que elevem a atividade turística de forma sustentável. Especificamente, relacionadas a redução do consumo de água e energia, aproveitamento da água da chuva, gerenciamento de resíduos sólidos e implementação de coleta seletiva. Espera-se como resultado deste trabalho, subsidiar o desenvolvimento de políticas públicas direcionadas ao desenvolvimento sustentável do turismo. Ecotourism and Local Productive Arrangement: an analysis of environmental sustainability in Itacaré (BA, Brazil) ABSTRACT The general objective of this article is to analyze the environmental sustainability of tourism in Bahia under the perspective of local development, taking as reference the municipality of Itacaré, which has experienced in the year 2000 an "explosion" of this activity. The environmental aspect is inserted because tourism developed in the municipality is strongly associated with the local environment. It is based on the intense debates about the relationship between development and the environment, proposing an interdisciplinary approach based on the environmental issue, specifically on the externalities derived from economic activity carried out by the man on the natural environment, here treated by the view of tourist activity. In methodological terms, descriptive and methodological research is used, from bibliographic analysis and field research. Thirty entrepreneurs, directors and managers of companies operating in the lodging sector were interviewed and asked to respond to the structured questionnaire, from June 13 to 21, 2016, in the city of Itacaré, Bahia. This tourist destination is inserted in the Cacao Coast where the practice of Ecotourism prevails. This is different from other tourism segments, because it relies on values that reinforce the commitment to environmental preservation and interaction with the local community. For this, the research privileges two methodological cuts: a quantitative cut, called Locational Quotient (QL) and, an analytical cut, used for the characterization of productive agglomerations in low and medium development regions, denominated Local Productive Arrangement (APL). In view of the analysis carried out, it was concluded that the studied locality can be identified as APL of tourism in consolidation phase. In the environmental dimension, it was verified the need to implement public and private actions that direct and potentiate measures that increase tourism activity in a sustainable manner. Specifically, related to reduction of water and energy consumption, use of rainwater, solid waste management and implementation of selective collection. As a result of this work, it is hoped to support the development of public policies directed to the sustainable development of tourism. KEYWORDS Tourism; Clusters; Local Development; Sustainability Indicators; Environment.


Webology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-127
Author(s):  
Frederick Sidney Correa ◽  
Pawan Kumar Chand ◽  
Amit Mittal ◽  
Ruchi Mittal

The paper explores the factors that affect proximal and distal employability behavior within the employer satisfaction perspective a vis recruitment of the fresh management graduates. The study undertakes a comprehensive review of the literature and categories the literature as divided across three broad streams: individual preparedness, institutional support mechanisms and organization support to career enhancement. The ‘determinants’ of employer satisfaction in recruiting the fresh management post graduates and their effective operationalization is indeed challenging. The paper attempts to explore and bring together the divergent pieces of literature under the proximal and distal perspectives as shaping ‘employability’ prospects.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle Appleby ◽  
Suzanne Le Mire

The ethical conduct of judicial officers has been traditionally seen as a matter for individual judges to determine for themselves. Today, judges are still frequently left to consider ethical dilemmas with little formal institutional support. They must rely on their own resources or informal advice and counsel from colleagues and the head of jurisdiction. This article will explore whether this arrangement continues to be appropriate. We consider a hypothesis that a number of factors, including the growing numbers and diversity of the judiciary mean that it is less likely that there will be common understandings of the ethical values to be employed in resolving difficult dilemmas. Thus, we further hypothesise, the traditional arrangements are likely to prove insufficient. Drawing on the findings of a survey of judicial officers across Australian jurisdictions conducted in 2016, we test these hypotheses by reference to the perceptions of Australian judicial officers as to the adequacy of the ethical support available to them. Finally, we consider the variety of supports that are available in comparable jurisdictions and also in the legal profession, before turning to possible solutions to the question our hypotheses raise, including the introduction of ‘ethical infrastructures’ in the form of more formal arrangements that provide ethical guidance to judges. We argue that these ethical support mechanisms have the potential to enhance the quality of ethical decision-making and foster an ethical culture within the judiciary.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 4135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olawale Fatoki

Pro-environmental behaviours (PEB) depict behaviours that cause minimal harm to or even benefit the environment. Employees are an important stakeholder in organisational environmental initiatives; however, there is little understanding of the leadership mechanisms and workplace support that can nurture these behaviours. In addition, empirical studies on the effect of workplace spirituality on employees’ PEB are limited. Understanding the factors that can influence employees’ workplace PEB is of significance in improving environmental sustainability in the hospitality industry. This study investigated the effect of leadership behaviour, institutional support and workplace spirituality on hotel employees’ PEB in South Africa. This study utilised a quantitative research approach and a causal research design. The cross-sectional survey method was used for data collection. Convenience sampling method was used to identify the participants in the survey. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and structural equation modelling. The results of this study showed significant positive relationships between leadership behaviour, institutional support and workplace spirituality and hotel employees’ PEB. Theoretically, the study linked spirituality to employees’ workplace PEB as spiritual discourses have been marginalised in tourism research. Empirically, the study adds to the literature on the determinants of employees’ workplace PEB in the hospitality sector. Practically, the study makes recommendations that can improve the workplace PEB of hotel employees.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 814-836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinjuan Gao ◽  
David M Kennedy ◽  
Teresa M Konlechner

The mobility of coastal dunes is characterised by bio-geomorphological responses related to change in boundary conditions, particularly sediment supply, wind and vegetation cover, as well as human activities. There remains uncertainty regarding the relative importance of these drivers on dune mobility at a global scale. In this study, trends and dominant drivers of coastal dune mobility are synthesised through the literature review focusing on shifts in dune mobility over the last century (1870–2018). In total, 176 individual dunes, with 55 dunes from the Europe-Mediterranean area, 23 from Africa, 30 from North America, 23 from South America, 20 from Oceania and 23 from Asia, are reviewed in this work. The results show that there is a worldwide trend of dune stabilisation, with 93% (164 out of 176) of the reviewed sites showing a loss of bare sand area due to an increase in vegetation cover and urbanisation expansion. Multiple factors have contributed to the stabilisation process, including (a) land-use change such as the change of traditional farming practises, coastal urbanisation and tourism development; (b) dune stabilisation projects; (c) sediment decline caused by the riverine and coastal constructions; and (d) change in climate (i.e. the decrease in windiness, and the increase in temperature and rainfall) and storms. Our results suggest human intervention played a dominant role in altering dune mobility for most dunes during the past century, while climate and storms are also important drivers, especially for dune sites with limited human activities.


2015 ◽  
Vol 73 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. i115-i126 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Roland Pitcher ◽  
Nick Ellis ◽  
William N. Venables ◽  
Ted J. Wassenberg ◽  
Charis Y. Burridge ◽  
...  

Abstract A series of related research studies over 15 years assessed the effects of prawn trawling on sessile megabenthos in the Great Barrier Reef, to support management for sustainable use in the World Heritage Area. These large-scale studies estimated impacts on benthos (particularly removal rates per trawl pass), monitored subsequent recovery rates, measured natural dynamics of tagged megabenthos, mapped the regional distribution of seabed habitats and benthic species, and integrated these results in a dynamic modelling framework together with spatio-temporal fishery effort data and simulated management. Typical impact rates were between 5 and 25% per trawl, recovery times ranged from several years to several decades, and most sessile megabenthos were naturally distributed in areas where little or no trawling occurred and so had low exposure to trawling. The model simulated trawl impact and recovery on the mapped species distributions, and estimated the regional scale cumulative changes due to trawling as a time series of status for megabenthos species. The regional status of these taxa at time of greatest depletion ranged from ∼77% relative to pre-trawl abundance for the worst case species, having slow recovery with moderate exposure to trawling, to ∼97% for the least affected taxon. The model also evaluated the expected outcomes for sessile megabenthos in response to major management interventions implemented between 1999 and 2006, including closures, effort reductions, and protected areas. As a result of these interventions, all taxa were predicted to recover (by 2–14% at 2025); the most affected species having relatively greater recovery. Effort reductions made the biggest positive contributions to benthos status for all taxa, with closures making smaller contributions for some taxa. The results demonstrated that management actions have arrested and reversed previous unsustainable trends for all taxa assessed, and have led to a prawn trawl fishery with improved environmental sustainability.


2019 ◽  
pp. 145-155
Author(s):  
Nykola Lakhyzha ◽  
Svitlana Yehorycheva

The experience of the institutional support of public-private partnership in the Republic of Poland has been analyzed. It is noted that Poland was one of the first among the post-communist countries to implement a mechanism of public-private partnership. The peculiarities of the practice of realization of public-private partnership in Poland during the 1990s and its legal support were determined. The possibility of its development on the basis of general norms of civil, economic, administrative and other branches of law is emphasized. The process of development and adoption of separate laws on public-private partnership and their specific features are described. The essence of discussions about the need for creation of a special authorized body for regulation of public-private partnership, which was caused by the problems that arose from public and private partners during the conclusion and implementation of the relevant agreements, was disclosed. The modern components of organizational support for supporting the development of public-private partnership in Poland, their role and their inherent functions are revealed: the Department for Public-Private Partnerships of the Ministry of Investment and Development, similar departments in public administration bodies of different levels, the Public-Private Partnership Platform, Polish Entrepreneurship Development Agency, Institute of Public Private Partnership, private law firms, scientific and educational institutions. The necessity to improve the institutional support of public-private partnership, which is realized by the government of Poland as well, is stated. The content and significance of the latest program documents in this area that are intended to improve the process of administration the development of public-private partnership — the concept «The vision of sustainable development for Polish business 2050» and «Government policy in the field of development of public-private partnership» are characterized. The importance of using the experience of the Republic of Poland in the practice of public administration of the Ukrainian system of public-private partnership is emphasized.


2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Segura Camacho ◽  
Sara Posada Gómez ◽  
Mary Luz Ospina ◽  
Hugo Alexander Ospina Gomez

This study is descriptive, analytic and transversal. It is a directive to the Children Depresion Inventory CDI for the diagnosis of depresion in children and adolescents, between 12 and 17 years old, scholarized in public and private school of the Municipality of Sabaneta In the Metropolitan Area of the Antioquia Department- Colombia. The Size Of the population was of 1450 people with a total of aplplied test in 583 children and youngsters. The phycometric instrument used was the CDI and realized a pilot test, this test was made indicating that the instrument is reliable and valid to evaluate and infere depression problems. These items has a high reliabety level for each of the variables and global scale; finding an ALFA of 0.7949 which indicates that the reactives are really designed to measure symtoms of children depression with in the studied population.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Raymond John Mullan

<p>Tourism in New Zealand depends heavily on the quality of the environment yet at the same time holds the potential of destroying the very environment on which it relies upon if not managed properly. Therefore, concerted actions must be taken to ensure New Zealand's '100% Pure' image is maintained. According to the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015, the tourism sector's ability to take a leading role in protecting and enhancing the environment is a key priority. While most tourism studies on environmental management tend to focus on rural or protected areas there is a need to investigate environmental management within urban settings. This research takes a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews to investigate and examine the nature of environmental management approaches taken by tourism organisations in the urban setting of Wellington. It also aims to identify the factors influencing the adoption of environmentally-friendly practices, barriers which may hinder the adoption of such practices, and the role of public and private sector agencies in environmental management for tourism businesses. The research found that tourism organisations in Wellington mainly took an informal approach towards environmental management. However, a qualitative method of enquiry revealed that tourism businesses were slowly moving towards change. This was evident from the number of businesses that indicated they were adopting environmental practices related to supply chain management, employee awareness and training, and interpretation. The main factors influencing adoption have also provided reasons for this change. Though, the barriers and difficulties faced by tourism businesses continue to affect the pace of change. As with businesses, public and private sector organisations have an important role to play in urban environmental management. The responses of interviewees indicate that these 'bigger' organisations such as the RTO need to take on a much more proactive role. The need for greater cooperation and communication between key stakeholders of tourism is essential to the success of urban environmental sustainability.</p>


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