scholarly journals Colonisation models of remote taiga areas by Russian fur hunters and fishermen of the Middle and Lower Irtysh River region in the 20th century

Author(s):  
V.N. Adaev

The Russian colonists, inhabiting southern and mid-taiga regions of Western Siberia since the 17th c., al-ways relied heavily on hunter-gathering in their subsistence. The reasons for this were the obvious difficulties of northern agriculture and the economic benefits that hunting, fishing and gathering brought, including their signifi-cant commercial value. The active development of the commercial harvesting among the Russian Siberians al-ready in the 19th c. was hampered by the inaccessibility of many valuable hunting and fishing areas – first of all, remote taiga territories, which were in patrimonial land tenure of the indigenous inhabitants. The process of set-tlers' penetration into such territories, which unfolded in the 20th c., still has not been considered in detail in his-torical and ethnographic literature. The paper discusses the free colonization of the Demyanka River basin (Uvat-sky District of the Tyumen region, Russia) by Russians in the first half of the 20th c. based on field and archival data, as well as publications of the 1900-1930s. The main research methods include systematic and comparative historical analyses. It has been concluded that migrants from the Middle and Lower Irtysh regions populated the neighboring deep taiga territory using different routes; they presented two noticeably different models of colonization. The migration took place in several waves, but the most significant happened in the 1930s. The majority of the migrants were Russian Siberian old-timers who had the necessary experience and knowledge of the local conditions. For a substantial number of the Russian Irtysh region settlers — peasants, hunters and fishermen — the departure to the taiga became an es-cape from the external social pressure and government control, allowing them to improve their economic well-being. In this regard, surrounded by swamps impassable and vast area of the Demyanka River basin for several decades repre-sented a reliable refuge for fugitives who wanted to be beyond the easy reach of the state.

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-104
Author(s):  
Rosemarie Rusch ◽  
Rick Best

Little consideration has been given to the context of housing in remote areas.  It is important for the economic survival of many remote communities that appropriate and sustainable housing solutions are decided and implemented.This report examines housing at St Pauls, Moa Island in the Torres Strait, using site information, historical research and a review of cultural and geo-political factors to compare the current model with similar studies in self-build housing undertaken in the region between 1986 and 1992. It not only demonstrates tangible economic benefits, but also evaluates the environmental and social improvements which can be achieved with a re-examination of the existing model.  It is important to consider the value of investing in policies and practices of sustainable development that can play a pivotal role in potential capacity building within such communities.Current land tenure policy means that families wishing to own their own homes must leave St Pauls, or build illegally.  Economically they cannot establish businesses so must leave the island or remain on welfare.  The result of this is an exponential increase in the cost of providing community housing and the associated increase in social and health stresses.  Acknowledgement at a policy level of the links between social and emotional well-being, and ‘Closing the Gap’ initiatives, have the potential to offer a wide range of funding opportunities and innovative approaches to solving the housing crisis in remote Australia, if they can be implemented in an open and effective manner.


Author(s):  
Jakub Mészáros ◽  
◽  
Pavol Miklánek ◽  
Pavla Pekárová ◽  
◽  
...  

In this paper the results are presented of estimation of T-year specific discharge of several streams in two regions in Slovakia. The Qmax time series used in the study were observed at water gauges from lowland Slovak part of the Morava River basin, and from the mountainous Belá River basin. For estimating the design values, we have studied the use of only one type of probability distribution, namely the Log-Pearson Type III Distribution (LP3 distribution). The use of only one type of distribution brings several benefits, e.g. possibility of the regionalization of the distribution parameters (in this study skew coefficient). In the first step the design values of the specific discharge series qmax (with historical data) were estimated and regional skew coefficients Gr of the LP3 distribution were computed. Regional skewness coefficient Gr was estimated to be 0.38 in the Morava River region, and 0.73 in the Belá River region. In many cases the estimate of the 1000-year specific discharge is two times higher than the value of the 100-year specific discharge. Then we have derived the empirical relations between station skew coefficient G and the elevation of the water gauge. In the second step we have derived the empirical relationships between 1000-years specific discharge q1000 and the elevation of the water gauge for both regions separately. The derived empirical regional equations can be used to estimate the 1000-years specific discharge of other streams in the region.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fariba Mostajeran ◽  
Jessica Krzikawski ◽  
Frank Steinicke ◽  
Simone Kühn

AbstractA large number of studies have demonstrated the benefits of natural environments on people’s health and well-being. For people who have limited access to nature (e.g., elderly in nursing homes, hospital patients, or jail inmates), virtual representations may provide an alternative to benefit from the illusion of a natural environment. For this purpose and in most previous studies, conventional photos of nature have been used. Immersive virtual reality (VR) environments, however, can induce a higher sense of presence compared to conventional photos. Whether this higher sense of presence leads to increased positive impacts of virtual nature exposure is the main research question of this study. Therefore, we compared exposure to a forest and an urban virtual environment in terms of their respective impact on mood, stress, physiological reactions, and cognition. The environments were presented via a head-mounted display as (1) conventional photo slideshows or (2) 360$$^{\circ }$$ ∘ videos. The results show that the forest environment had a positive effect on cognition and the urban environment disturbed mood regardless of the mode of presentation. In addition, photos of either urban or forest environment were both more effective in reducing physiological arousal compared to immersive 360$$^{\circ }$$ ∘ videos.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1446
Author(s):  
Min Wang ◽  
Xi Chen ◽  
Ayetiguli Sidike ◽  
Liangzhong Cao ◽  
Philippe DeMaeyer ◽  
...  

Water users in the Amudarya River Basin in Uzbekistan are suffering severe water use competition and uneven water allocation, which seriously threatens ecosystems, as shown, for example, in the well-known Aral Sea catastrophe. This study explores the optimized water allocation schemes in the study area at the provincial level under different incoming flow levels, based on the current water distribution quotas among riparian nations, which are usually ignored in related research. The optimization model of the inexact two-stage stochastic programming method is used, which is characterized by probability distributions and interval values. Results show that (1) water allocation is redistributed among five different sectors. Livestock, industrial, and municipality have the highest water allocation priority, and water competition mainly exists in the other two sectors of irrigation and ecology; (2) water allocation is redistributed among six different provinces, and allocated water only in Bukhara and Khorezm can satisfy the upper bound of water demand; (3) the ecological sector can receive a guaranteed water allocation of 8.237–12.354 km3; (4) under high incoming flow level, compared with the actual water distribution, the total allocated water of four sectors (except for ecology) is reduced by 3.706 km3 and total economic benefits are increased by USD 3.885B.


Author(s):  
Barbara Widera

The paper addresses the topic of nature-based solutions applied in the architectural and urban design. These ideas are analyzed in the context of the opportunities they create for the humanity in terms of the sustainable growth and environmental protection. Nature-based solutions are inherently taken from nature. The first part of the paper presents their tremendous potential to be energy and resource-efficient, and resilient to change. In the second part of the research particular concepts driven from nature (copied form nature or inspired by nature) proposed for the buildings and cities are described and evaluated. The author discusses their functional usefulness, spatial appropriateness, adaptation to local conditions, end-user comfort, environmental benefits and the possibility of duplication. Nature-based solutions applied in urban planning can make cities more climate resilient and contribute to ecosystems restoration. The paper describes how sustainable urbanization can stimulate economic growth, make cities more attractive and enhance well-being of the inhabitants. It is also explained how particular buildings can benefit from the concepts driven from nature e.g. by increasing their energy efficiency and performance in terms of raw material consumption. In purpose to properly response to the climate challenge, humanity has to establish a new kind of partnership with nature. Using nature-based solutions should be considered as an important part of this approach. The concepts presented in this paper show some of the most promising options, such as integration of living systems with built systems and innovative combinations of soft and hard engineering. In conclusion some of the most promising nature-based solutions for climate resilient buildings and cities are indicated


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktoriia Gorbunova ◽  
Natalia Gusak ◽  
Vitalii Klymchuk ◽  
Valeriia Palii ◽  
Vitalina Ustenko ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore senses of powerlessness and empowerment among Romani in Ukraine in relation to such social circles as the extended family, the Romani local community and the whole Ukrainian society. The main research interest is focused on situations and factors that make people feel powerless or empowered. Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted using a semi-structured interview method via telephone. Romani NGO experts approved the interview content. Trained Roma-facilitators were interviewers. Every interview was transcribed for further thematic analysis. Findings The most prominent empowerment factors for Romani people are located within their families and local communities, while the bigger society (Ukrainians themselves and Ukrainian public institutions) is a main source of powerlessness. At the same time, the rigid role of family and community expectations is seen as detrimental for both males and females. Originality/value The paper is original in terms of its topic (senses of powerlessness and empowerment among Romani in Ukraine as social determinants of mental well-being) and research strategy (engagement of Roma-facilitators as interviewers).


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Giovannini ◽  
V.R.M. Lo Verso ◽  
F. Favoino ◽  
V. Serra ◽  
A. Pellegrino

The new HIEQ Lab (Health, well-being and Indoor Environmental Quality Laboratory) is presented. It is a living lab, primarily intended for research on human performance, comfort, and well-being, integrated with the energy performance in a completely controlled real space. Users are involved as active players in controlling and assessing building components and design strategies for health, well-being and IEQ requirements. Experimental activities will be addressed through a multi-domain approach that combines lighting, acoustic, air quality and thermal issues. For what concerns lighting, the laboratory is conceived to study the performance of daylighting and electric lighting systems and control solutions, focusing on the relationship between lighting conditions and human performance, comfort, and well-being. The paper reports the results of a literature review on existing lighting research facilities, and then describes the features of the new HIEQ Lab and its main research objectives, with a focus on lighting and daylighting research opportunities.


2009 ◽  
pp. 87-106
Author(s):  
Elisa Fiora Belgrado

- "From ancient times, fishing has been a major source of food for humanity and a provider of employment and economic benefits to those engaged in this activity. The wealth of aquatic resources was assumed to be an unlimited gift of nature. However, with increased knowledge and the dynamic development of fisheries after the Second World War, this myth has faded in face of the realization that aquatic resources, although renewable, are not infinite and need to be properly managed, if their contribution to the nutritional, economic and social well-being of the growing world's population is to be sustained" (Fao Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries - Preface). Thus fishing has to be conducted in a responsible and sustainable manner because fish provides a vital source of food and, at the same time, fishing is closely connected to the environment because, if it is not properly practised can it cause irreparable damage. This work analyses the principle of precaution which was recognized as principle no. 15 in the Declaration of Rio on Environment and Development in 1992 and mentioned at the Conference on Biological Diversity. It represents one of the fundamental principles of the Fao Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and Common Fisheries Policy (Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002). States should apply a precautionary approach choosing the best measures and policy, taking into account the latest scientific evidence available. The aim is «to protect and conserve living aquatic resources, to provide for their sustainable exploitation and to minimise the impact of fishing activities on marine eco-systems.» (article 2 Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002).Parole chiave: scienza, protezione, precauzione, pesca, sviluppo.Key words: Science, Protection, Precaution, Fishing, Development.


Author(s):  
Ramesh Dahal ◽  
Pradeep Adhikari

Nepal is a mountainous country sandwiched between China and India that extends along the Hind Kush Himalayan range. The entire country sits on a geological formation that has witnessed massive transformation in the past several decades. Land degradation is active in Nepal. This study reviews the causes of land degradation in Nepal based on publicly available reports, books, journal articles, and government policy and regulations. The review also uses publicly available global datasets to contextualize local conditions. The review shows that topography; land use and cover change driven by population growth and urbanization; traditional agricultural practice in steep slope; soil erodibility due to unscientific ways of farming; use of chemical fertilizers and, pest and disease control techniques; unsustainable land management by the government; unscientific infrastructure development has been the proximate causes of land degradation in the majority of the cases. While underlying causes include population and poverty; out migration; deforestation; land tenure and property rights, non-farm employment; and technological change. The situation when combined with the Landslide Susceptibility Index and Land Cover data shows that the country needs to make concerted effort to stop and minimize the damage of land degradation in the country.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariwan Jamal ◽  
Wanawsha Khasraw ◽  
Shaey Khabat ◽  
Rozhen K. Mohammed-Amin

Walkable cities, neighborhoods, and streets promote good health. A growing number of research show compelling evidence about the positive impacts of walkable neighborhoods and streets on everything from real-estate values to health, mental well-being, crime rate, safety feeling, creativity, and even making cities more democratic. Walkability has health, environmental, and economic benefits. For example, several studies found that people in walkable neighborhoods have a higher amount of physical activity and were substantially less likely to be overweight or obese than those living in low-walkable neighborhoods. Walkable neighborhoods and streets incorporate features that promote regular walking, cycling and public transit use. While the city of Sulaimani in general suffers from lack of walkable neighborhoods and streets, due to many factors including incomplete streets, some of the city’s neighborhoods and streets have potential for becoming effective walkable neighborhoods and streets. The recent mixed use developments and re-developments in some of the areas and streets in the city have attracted a large number of people and increased the necessity of making those areas and streets more pedestrian-friendly and walkable. This research aims at investigating walkability characters in Sulaimani city’s recently developed mixed-use streets through closely examining a representing case study, Jamal Irfan street. The research then proposes strategies, guidelines, and urban design interventions that make those streets more pedestrian friendly according to urban design standards.


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