scholarly journals Spatial Assessment of the Potential Impact of Infrastructure Development on Biodiversity Conservation in Lowland Nepal

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roshan Sharma ◽  
Bhagawat Rimal ◽  
Nigel Stork ◽  
Himlal Baral ◽  
Maheshwar Dhakal
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Remotely Sensed Data ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Ecological Sites ◽  
Key Species ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Anthropogenic Threats ◽  
The Impact

Biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate with infrastructure development being one of the leading causes. New infrastructure, such as roads, provides new access and results in increased land clearing and wildlife hunting. A number of large infrastructure projects, including new roads and rail, are being planned in Nepal. We show the application of readily available remotely sensed data and geospatial tools to assess the potential impact of these future developments on habitat quality under three protection-level scenarios. Our findings reveal that there is currently large spatial heterogeneity in habitat quality across the landscape as a result of current anthropogenic threats, and that three areas in particular could have up to 40% reduction in habitat quality as a result of the planned infrastructure. Further research is required to determine more precisely the impact on key species. Strengthening protected areas and buffer zones will contribute to mitigating degradation to some degree, however, large areas of biologically significant areas outside protected areas will be affected without new controls. Our geographic information systems (GIS) based methodology could be used to conduct studies in data poor developing countries, where rapid infrastructure development across ecological sites are ongoing, in order to make society, policy makers, and development planners aware.

scholarly journals Assessing Habitat Vulnerability and Loss of Naturalness: Applying the GLOBIO3 Model in the Czech Republic

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5355
Author(s):  
Vilém Pechanec ◽  
Ondřej Cudlín ◽  
Miloš Zapletal ◽  
Jan Purkyt ◽  
Lenka Štěrbová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
New Equation ◽  
The Impact

Global and regional biodiversity loss is caused by several drivers including urban development, land use intensification, overexploitation of natural resources, environmental pollution, and climate change. The main aim of our study was to adapt the GLOBIO3 model to the conditions of the Czech Republic (CR) to assess loss of naturalness and biodiversity vulnerability at the habitat level on a detailed scale across the entire CR. An additional aim was to assess the main drivers affecting the biodiversity of habitat types. The GLOBIO3 model was adapted to CZ-GLOBIO by adapting global to local scales and using habitat quality and naturalness data instead of species occurrence data. The total mean species abundance (MSA) index of habitat quality, calculated from the spatial overlay of the four MSA indicators by our new equation, reached the value 0.62. The total value of MSA for natural and near-natural habitats was found to be affected mainly by infrastructure development and fragmentation. Simultaneously, intensity of land use change and atmospheric nitrogen deposition contributed primarily to the low total value of MSA for distant natural habitats. The CZ-GLOBIO model can be an important tool in political decision making to reduce the impact of the main drivers on habitat biodiversity in the CR.

The impact of marine spatial planning legislation on environmental authorisation, permit and licence requirements in Algoa Bay

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 79-121
Author(s):  
Denning Metuge
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Environmental Management ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Spatial Planning ◽  
Marine Spatial Planning ◽  
Marine Area ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
The Impact ◽  
National Environmental

With a focus on Algoa Bay, this article considers the potential conflicts that may arise between South Africa’s marine spatial planning (MSP) legislation and the environmental authorisations, permits and licencing requirements provided under specific environmental management Acts (SEMAs). The legislation for MSP in South Africa is the Marine Spatial Planning Act, 2018 (MSPA). It provides that ‘[a]ny right, permit, permission, licence or any other authorisation issued in terms of any other law must be consistent with the approved marine area plans’. What is more, where there is a conflict between the MSPA and any other legislation ‘specifically relating to marine spatial planning’, the provisions of the MSPA prevail. Particular attention is given to the principle of sustainability that the MSPA incorporates into MSP and its impact on environmental authorisation, permit and licence requirements issued in terms of three SEMAs: the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (NEM:BA), the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (NEM:PAA) and the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (NEM:AQA). The article concludes by summarising the potential impact the MSPA will have on the discussed SEMAs when it comes into operation and makes recommendations to prevent the occurrence of potential conflicts.

scholarly journals Spatial Adaptation of Protected Area Buffer Zones in Urban Setting: Impact on human and conservation agenda

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Che Bon Ahmad ◽  
Jamalunlaili Abdullah ◽  
Jasmee Jaafar ◽  
Ahamad Nazrin Aris Anuar
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Open Access Article

It is considerably challenging task to have a buffer zone (BZ) around protected areas (PA) in the urban area due to the conflict of interest between conservation and development. There is a need for ‘win-win situation’. This research is to identify the impact of a potential buffer zone on human and conservation of natural environment which derived from the stakeholders’ understanding. In-depth interviews with stakeholders of the PA and their surroundings were carried out. The findings suggested that a ‘dual purpose’ BZ – environmental conservation and socio-economic benefits are suitable for the FRIM area.Keywords:; Buffer Zone Concept; Protected Areas; Urban Setting; FRIM, MalaysiaISSN: 2398-4287© 2017. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Pub lishing 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.

scholarly journals Buffer zone use by mammals in a Cerrado protected area

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Montanheiro Paolino ◽  
Natalia Fraguas Versiani ◽  
Nielson Pasqualotto ◽  
Thiago Ferreira Rodrigues ◽  
Victor Gasperotto Krepschi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Imperfect Detection ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
External Threats ◽  
The Impact

Habitat loss and degradation is threatening mammals worldwide. Therefore, Protected Areas (PA) are of utmost importance to preserve biodiversity. Their effectiveness, however, depends on some management strategies such as buffer zones, which prevent/mitigate the impact of external threats and might increase the amount of available habitat for wildlife existing within reserves. Nevertheless, how intensively terrestrial mammals use buffer zones remains little studied, particularly in the Neotropical region. Aiming to analyse the use of a buffer zone (5 km wide) by medium and large-sized mammals, we modelled the occupancy probabilities of five species of conservation concern including local (interior and buffer zone) as a site covariate, simultaneously controlling for imperfect detection. Data collection was made with camera traps from April to September 2013 in a 9000 ha Cerrado PA (“interior”) and in its surrounding area (39721.41 ha; “buffer zone”). This PA (Jataí Ecological Station) is immersed in a landscape where sugarcane plantations predominate in the northeastern of the state of São Paulo. We also conducted an inventory to compare the number and composition of species between interior and buffer zone. A total of 31 mammal species (26 natives) was recorded via camera traps and active search for sightings, vocalizations, tracks and signs. Occupancy estimates for Myrmecophaga tridactyla, Leopardus pardalis and Pecari tajacu were numerically higher in interior. On the other hand, Chrysocyon brachyurus had the highest occupancy in buffer zone, while the largest predator, Puma concolor, used both areas similarly. However, as the confidence intervals (95%) overlapped, the differences in occupancy probabilities between interior and buffer were weak for all these species. Additionally, regarding only the species recorded by cameras, the observed and estimated richness were similar between interior and buffer zone of the PA. Our data demonstrated that the buffer zone is indeed used by medium and large-sized mammals, including conservation-dependent ones. The lack of enforcement of current legislation regarding buffer zones is therefore a real threat for mammals, even when protection is guaranteed in the interior of protected areas.

Protected areas, people and incentives in the search for sustainable forest conservation in Honduras

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Richards
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
National Level ◽  
Participatory Approach ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
The Impact

SummaryAttitudes and incentives of people living around protected areas are widely considered to constrain successful management of these areas. Two contrasting protected areas in Honduras, a Biosphere Reserve of high biodiversity rainforest, and a cloud forest providing essential environmental services to the capital city, are analyzed in terms of their management problems and the strategies used for their protection. The response at the national level to the issues raised in these case studies is then assessed, focusing on the impact of government policies, legal changes affecting land tenure and use, and the role of state institutions in protected area management. The case studies indicate that while the non-government organizations (NGOs) have tried to promote a more participatory approach to conservation (with mixed success), the Honduras Government has tried to follow a more regulatory approach but without the resources and political will to implement it effectively. Opportunities have been missed to provide positive incentives for protection, for example in the area of eco-tourism and community-based natural forest management in situations where this would appear to be a viable option. The participatory approach has also been complicated by policies and land legislation which have sent out negative or ambiguous signals to local communities. Above all the case studies show how critical local attitudes are to the achievement of conservation objectives, and demonstrate the need for positive economic incentives that link development with conservation in buffer zones and surrounding areas.

scholarly journals Chinese FDI for Infrastructure Development in Africa – Assessing the Impact of Cooperation

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shujaa Waqar ◽  
Saira Ahmed ◽  
Iftikhar Badshah
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
Empirical Analysis ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Empirical Analysis

Globalization today is quite effectively governed by patterns defined by China’s dominance in global trade and commerce. China has started to correspond with numerous countries in order to build economic corridors. Historically, China has a keen interest in African countries where cheap workers and plentiful resources are available. This opportunity has been favourably received by the African countries. However, it has been observed from various sources that Chinese investment in Africa has been intended for exploiting the resources and the countries in Africa.  This study aims to investigate the potential impact of unprecedented Chinese FDI on infrastructure development in selected African countries. The empirical analysis is conducted by using a panel data approach for 28 African countries spanning from 2003-15. These empirical estimations have been carried out through fixed effects technique.  The findings of the study reveal that Chinese investment has a positive impact on infrastructure development in the sample countries. Based on study findings, it is safely concluded that Chinese investment and infrastructure development move parallel in the sample countries.

scholarly journals The impact of habitat quality inside protected areas on distribution of the Dominican Republic’s last endemic non-volant land mammals

2019 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalind J Kennerley ◽  
Malcolm A C Nicoll ◽  
Richard P Young ◽  
Samuel T Turvey ◽  
Jose M Nuñez-Miño ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Population size, density, and ranging behaviour in a key leopard population in the Western Cape, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lana Müller ◽  
Willem Daniel Briers-Louw ◽  
Barbara Seele ◽  
Christiaan Lochner ◽  
Raj Amin
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Camera Trapping ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
The Core ◽  
Core Study ◽  
Anthropogenic Threats

Globally, leopards are the most widespread large felid. However, mounting anthropogenic threats are rapidly reducing viable leopard populations and their range. Despite the clear pressures facing this species, there is a dearth of robust and reliable population and density estimates for leopards across their range, which is particularly important in landscapes that consist of protected and non-protected areas. We conducted a camera trapping survey between 2017 and 2018 in the Western Cape, South Africa to estimate the occupancy, density, and population size of a leopard population. Leopards were recorded at 95% of camera trapping sites, which resulted in a high occupancy that showed no significant variation between seasons, habitat types, or along an altitudinal gradient. Our results indicated a low leopard density in the study area, with an estimated 1.53 leopards/100 km 2 in summer and 1.62 leopards/100 km 2 in winter. Mean leopard population size was therefore estimated at 107 and 113 individuals in the winter and summer respectively. Leopard activity centres for female ranges were centred in the core study area and could be predicted with good certainty, while males appeared to move out of the study area during winter which resulted in a higher uncertainty in locations of activity centres. Interestingly, livestock depredation events in the surrounding farmlands were significantly higher in winter, which coincides with male leopards moving outside the core protected area into the surrounding farmlands. To reduce livestock losses and retaliatory leopard killings, we suggest that human-carnivore conflict mitigation measures be intensely monitored during the winter months in the study area. We also suggest that future leopard conservation efforts should focus on privately-owned land as these non-protected areas contain the majority of the remaining suitable leopard habitat and may provide important dispersal corridors and buffer zones on which the long-term sustainability of leopard populations depends.

Long-term population dynamics of the red deer and European roe deer at the protected and not-protected areas in Mountain Crimea

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 65-72
Author(s):  
V. N. Shmagol' ◽  
V. L. Yarysh ◽  
S. P. Ivanov ◽  
V. I. Maltsev
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Precipitation Amount ◽  
Annual Precipitation ◽  
Population Number ◽  
The Impact

<p>The long-term population dynamics of the red deer (<em>Cervus elaphus</em> L.) and European roe deer (<em>Capreolus</em> <em>capreolus</em> L.) at the mountain and forest zone of Crimea during 1980-2017 is presented. Fluctuations in numbers of both species are cyclical and partly synchronous. Period of oscillations in the population of red deer is about 25 years, the average duration of the oscillation period of number of roe deer is 12.3 years. During the fluctuations in the number the increasing and fall in population number of the red deer had been as 26-47 %, and roe deer – as 22-34 %. Basing on the dada obtained we have assumed that together with large-scale cycles of fluctuations in population number of both red deer and roe deer the short cycles of fluctuations in the number of these species with period from 3.5 to 7.5 years take place. Significant differences of the parameters of cyclical fluctuations in the number of roe deer at some sites of the Mountainous Crimea: breaches of synchronicity, as well as significant differences in the duration of cycles are revealed. The greatest deviations from the average values of parameters of long-term dynamics of the number of roe deer in Crimea are noted for groups of this species at two protected areas. At the Crimean Nature Reserve the cycle time of fluctuations of the numbers of roe deer was 18 years. At the Karadag Nature Reserve since 1976 we can see an exponential growth in number of roe deer that is continued up to the present time. By 2016 the number of roe deer reached 750 individuals at a density of 437 animals per 1 thousand ha. Peculiarity of dynamics of number of roe deer at some sites proves the existence in the mountain forest of Crimea several relatively isolated groups of deer. We assumed that "island" location of the Crimean populations of red deer and European roe deer, their relatively little number and influence of permanent extreme factors of both natural and anthropogenic origination have contributed to a mechanism of survival of these populations. The elements of such a mechanism include the following features of long-term dynamics of the population: the reduction in the period of cyclic population fluctuations, while maintaining their amplitude and the appearance of additional small cycles, providing more flexible response of the population to the impact of both negative and positive environmental factors. From the totality of the weather conditions for the Crimean population of roe deer the recurring periods of increases and downs in the annual precipitation amount may have relevance. There was a trend of increase in the roe deer population during periods of increasing annual precipitation.</p>

Some reflections on social structure: Theoretical and practical aspects

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1063-1078
Author(s):  
T.N. Skorobogatova ◽  
I.Yu. Marakhovskaya
Keyword(s):  
Service Industry ◽  
External Factors ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Social Infrastructure ◽  
Social Sphere ◽  
The Social ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Internal And External Factors ◽  
The Impact

Subject. This article discusses the role of social infrastructure in the national economy and analyzes the relationship between the notions of Infrastructure, Service Industry and Non-Productive Sphere. Objectives. The article aims to outline a methodology for development of the social infrastructure of Russia's regions. Methods. For the study, we used the methods of statistical and comparative analyses. The Republic of Crimea and Rostov Oblast's social infrastructure development was considered as a case study. Results. The article finds that the level of social infrastructure is determined by a number of internal and external factors. By analyzing and assessing such factors, it is possible to develop promising areas for the social sphere advancement. Conclusions. Assessment and analysis of internal factors largely determined by the region's characteristics, as well as a comprehensive consideration of the impact of external factors will help ensure the competitiveness of the region's economy.

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