scholarly journals Practical Considerations for Implementing Species Distribution Essential Biodiversity Variables

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Boyd ◽  
Nick Isaac ◽  
Robert Cooke ◽  
Francesca Mancini ◽  
Tom August ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Distribution ◽  
Biodiversity Indicators ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Occupancy Detection ◽  
Essential Biodiversity Variables ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Species Occupancy ◽  
Very High ◽  
The Ideal

Species Distribution Essential Biodiversity Variables (SD EBVs; Pereira et al. 2013, Kissling et al. 2017, Jetz et al. 2019) are defined as measurements or estimates of species’ occupancy along the axes of space, time and taxonomy. In the “ideal” case, additional stipulations have been proposed: occupancy should be characterized contiguously along each axis at grain sizes relevant to policy and process (i.e., fine scale); and the SD EBV should be global in extent, or at least span the entirety of the focal taxa’s geographical range (Jetz et al. 2019). These stipulations set the bar very high and, unsurprisingly, most operational SD EBVs fall short of these ideal criteria. In this presentation, I will discuss the major challenges associated with developing the idealized SD EBV. I will demonstrate these challenges using an operational SD EBV spanning ~6000 species in the United Kingdom (UK) over the period 1970 to 2019 as a case study (Outhwaite et al. 2019). In short, this data product comprises annual estimates of occupancy for each species in all sampled 1 km cells across the UK; these are derived from opportunistically-collected species occurrence data using occupancy-detection models (Kéry et al. 2010). Having discussed which of the “ideal” criteria the case study satisfies, I will then touch on what are, in my view, two underappreciated challenges when constructing SD EBVs: dealing with sampling biases in the underlying data and the difficulty in evaluating the extent to which they bias the final product. These challenges should be addressed as a matter of urgency, as SD EBVs are increasingly applied in important settings such as underpinning national and international biodiversity indicators (see e.g., https://geobon.org/ebvs/indicators/).

scholarly journals Towards an annual species distribution EBV for the United Kingdom

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Isaac ◽  
Tom August ◽  
Charlie Outhwaite
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Species Distribution ◽  
Data Types ◽  
Detection Model ◽  
Data Product ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Occupancy Detection ◽  
Essential Biodiversity Variables ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Occurrence Records

A coherent framework for building Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) is now emerging, but there are few examples of EBVs being produced at large extents. I describe the creation of a species distribution EBV for the United Kingdom, covering 5293 species from 1970-2015. The data product contains an annual occupancy estimate for every species in each year, each with a measure of uncertainty. I will describe the workflow to produce this data product. The data collation step bring togehter different sources of occurrence records; the data standardisation step harmonizes these records to a common spatio-temporal resolution. These data are then converted into a set of 'detection histories' for each species within each taxonomic group, before being passed to the occupancy-detection model. Outputs from this model are then summarised as 1000 samples from the postierior distribution of occupancy estimates for each species:year combination. I will also describe the infrastructure requirements to create the EBV and to update it annually. This endeavour has been made possible because the vast majority of the 34 million species records have been collated and curated by 31 taxon-oriented citizen science groups. I go on to describe the challenges of harmonizing and integrating these occurrence records with other data types, such as from systematic surveys, including count data. Such "integrated models" are statisitcally challenging, but now within reach, thanks to the development of new tools that make it possible to conceive of modelling everything, everywhere. However, a substantial and concerted effort is required to curate biodiversity data in a way that maximises their potential for the next generation of models, and for truly global EBVs.

scholarly journals Renters Rising! Extending the analysis of housing activism in Europe to the UK

Araucaria ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 147-171
Author(s):  
Andrew Mathers
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Direct Action ◽  
Social Democracy ◽  
Party Politics ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Social Backgrounds

The material effects of austerity in the United Kingdom (UK) have generated a resurgence of activist initiatives in the field of housing central to which is ACORN that has developed into a federated organisation contesting housing practices and policies at both local and national levels. ACORN is used to expand the examination of housing activism in Europe beyond the cases in Spain and Germany to the UK (Ordonez et al, 2015). This article also utilises the qualitative methodology of a comparative case study and the framework of ideological and social backgrounds, political repertoires and political logics to present and analyse ACORN. While ACORN displays striking similarities to other cases, it also represents a different trajectory in housing activism that combines direct action with an engagement with party politics as social democracy seeks to return to its roots.

scholarly journals Promotion to Partner in Large Law Firms Operating in the United Kingdom: Tournament Theory and the Monitoring of the Implied Promise

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
David Howell Shufflebotham
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Law Firms ◽  
Law Firm ◽  
Tournament Theory ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Core Elements ◽  
The Uk

<p>This research is a study of the promotion to partner process in large law firms in the United Kingdom (UK). It is concerned with the application of tournament theory to such firms. In particular it is an examination of the ability of associate lawyers to monitor the implied promise that, in prescribed circumstances, they will have the opportunity of becoming a partner at their firms. In order to identify whether or not the rules of tournament theory on promotion to partnership hold true when set against the experiences of lawyers in large law firms operating in the UK, I established a theoretical framework based on a review of the relevant literature. I then tested that theoretical framework with data from two sources: case study interviews with partners at a large UK law firm; and a questionnaire distributed to a wider sample group of partners across a number of large UK law firms. The research found strong evidence to support the application of the core elements of tournament theory to large law firms in the UK. The research also found, however, that the implied promise envisaged by tournament theory was not the promise monitored by the individuals who took part in the research project.</p>

The Importance of Convention Status: A Case Study of the UK

2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Bloch
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Economic Rights ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers ◽  
Social And Economic Rights

Convention status accords refugees social and economic rights and security of residence in European countries of asylum. However, the trend in Europe has been to prevent asylum seekers reaching its borders, to reduce the rights of asylum seekers in countries of asylum and to use temporary protection as a means of circumventing the responsibility of long-term resettlement. This paper will provide a case study of the United Kingdom. It will examine the social and economic rights afforded to different statuses in the areas of social security, housing, employment and family reunion. It will explore the interaction of social and economic rights and security of residence on the experiences of those seeking protection. Drawing on responses to the crisis in Kosovo and on data from a survey of 180 refugees and asylum seekers in London it will show the importance of Convention status and the rights and security the status brings.

Horizontal Process Integration in E-Government

2011 ◽  
pp. 2177-2194
Author(s):  
Jyoti Choudrie ◽  
Vishanth Weerrakody
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Research Methodology ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Process Integration ◽  
Horizontal Integration ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Archival Documents ◽  
The Uk

This article examines how horizontal integration between the various departments of a local authority in the United Kingdom (UK) occurs. Following that the aim of this article is to extract the “success factors” in government intervention that support horizontal and vertical integration based on the strategies pursued in the UK in order to render favourable results if applied elsewhere. The research methodology consisted of an in-depth case study that used the research tools of interviews and referring to archival documents. This research is timely as the maturity of e-government increases the issues of integrating processes and systems across various government departments becomes pertinent. The conclusion and lessons that can be learnt from this research is that e-government integration on a horizontal level obtains significant ef- ficiency and effectiveness as more and more public services are being centralized.

COVID-19 IMPACTS ON DESTITUTION IN THE UK

2020 ◽  
Vol 253 ◽  
pp. R77-R85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnab Bhattacharjee ◽  
Elena Lisauskaite
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Aggregate Level ◽  
Multiple Impacts ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Unemployed ◽  
Very High

We use microsimulation combined with a model of the COVID-19 impacts on individuals and households to obtain projections of households in destitution in the United Kingdom. The projections are estimated at two levels: aggregate quarterly for the UK, for all quarters of 2020; and annual for 2020 differentiated by region, sector and household demographics. At the aggregate level, destitution is projected to be about three times higher than the non-COVID counterfactual level in 2020Q2, as well as substantially higher than the non-COVID case for the remainder of the year. This increased destitution is initially largely due to the effect on the self-employed, and as the Furlough scheme is drawn down, also on the unemployed. Impacts upon different regions and sectors vary widely, and so do variations across different household types. The sectors particularly affected are construction and manufacturing, while London and its closely connected regions (South East and the Midlands) are most severely affected. Single adult households suffer the most, and the adverse effects increase with number of children in the household. That the effects upon youth remain high is a particularly worrying sign, and very high increases in destitution are also projected for 25–54 year olds and the elderly (75 years and older). Further, severe adverse effects are projected for sections of society and the economy where multiple impacts are coincident. Robust and sustained mitigation measures are therefore required.

scholarly journals Multiculturalism is Dead: Long Live Community Cohesion? A Case Study of an Educational Methodology to Empower Young People as Global Citizens

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilary Cremin ◽  
Paul Warwick
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Young People ◽  
Educational Outcome ◽  
Community Cohesion ◽  
Global Citizens ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Diverse Community ◽  
The Uk ◽  
College Setting

This article explores the theme of the ‘two faces of education’ by reviewing new policy directives in the United Kingdom to strengthen community cohesion in schools and their communities. These directives have resulted from growing disaffection with the aims and outcomes of multiculturalism. This article will investigate the ways in which this disaffection has resulted in both ‘quick fix’ politicised solutions, and in more genuine attempts to support young people to develop positive relationships with people from different ethnic backgrounds. It will suggest that whilst inequalities of educational outcome for different ethnic groups persist, schools will continue to be part of the problem, hence the second link with the theme of two (or more?) faces of education. In order to become part of the solution, schools internationally will need to adopt much more creative and complex approaches to the reduction of racism and inequality than those currently being proposed by the UK Government. A case study of an approach that has been used in many countries of the world, including Brazil and Canada, to engage young people in open dialogue, and to develop empathy and critical thinking is provided. The case study from a multi-ethnic college setting within the Midlands, United Kingdom, will illustrate how young people can be enskilled and empowered to consider key debates that have relevance to their lives as global citizens living in a culturally diverse community.

scholarly journals Why understanding stakeholder perspectives and emotions is important in upland woodland creation – a case study from Cumbria, UK

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Vangerschov Iversen ◽  
Claire Holt ◽  
Naomi van der Velden ◽  
Lois Mansfield ◽  
Ian Convery
Keyword(s):  
Q Methodology ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
International Policy ◽  
Stakeholder Perspectives ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Woodland Creation ◽  
Understanding Emotions ◽  
The Uk

Upland regions in the United Kingdom (UK) are increasingly under consideration as potential areas for the creation of woodlands. This is driven by a combination of factors, including the aims of UK forestry and environmental policy to increase woodland cover, meeting international greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, agro-environment schemes in national and international policy, and an increasing public awareness of the ecosystem service benefits landscapes can deliver for society. Creating new woodlands in upland areas is challenging, partly due to concerns of the potential impacts from a change in land use and also due to stakeholder perspectives. In the UK, the upland landscape is in multiple ownership and currently managed by multiple land managers and stakeholders with contrasting aims and objectives. This research adds a much needed qualitative element to the overall understanding of this complex topic, by carrying out a Q-methodology investigation of stakeholder perspectives of upland woodland creation. Three characteristic groups of stakeholders are identified as 1. ‘Not enough is done to protect the environment’, 2. ‘Changing the landscape is changing us’ and 3. ‘let’s not let our emotions get in the – seeing the bigger picture’. The clear potential for antagonism, and even conflict, in ideologies and approaches between these groups highlights the importance of engaging with stakeholders and employing approaches rooted in mutual understanding, participation and collaboration. Stakeholder perspectives are a powerful influence on if, and how, woodlands are created and maintained, thus understanding emotions and attitudes is a vitally important part of the challenge of creating new woodlands in the uplands of Cumbria.

scholarly journals Promotion to Partner in Large Law Firms Operating in the United Kingdom: Tournament Theory and the Monitoring of the Implied Promise

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
David Howell Shufflebotham
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Law Firms ◽  
Law Firm ◽  
Tournament Theory ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Core Elements ◽  
The Uk

<p>This research is a study of the promotion to partner process in large law firms in the United Kingdom (UK). It is concerned with the application of tournament theory to such firms. In particular it is an examination of the ability of associate lawyers to monitor the implied promise that, in prescribed circumstances, they will have the opportunity of becoming a partner at their firms. In order to identify whether or not the rules of tournament theory on promotion to partnership hold true when set against the experiences of lawyers in large law firms operating in the UK, I established a theoretical framework based on a review of the relevant literature. I then tested that theoretical framework with data from two sources: case study interviews with partners at a large UK law firm; and a questionnaire distributed to a wider sample group of partners across a number of large UK law firms. The research found strong evidence to support the application of the core elements of tournament theory to large law firms in the UK. The research also found, however, that the implied promise envisaged by tournament theory was not the promise monitored by the individuals who took part in the research project.</p>

Carbon Emissions Embodied in India–United Kingdom Trade: A Case Study on North–South Debate

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suvajit Banerjee
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Bilateral Trade ◽  
Carbon Leakage ◽  
Emission Mitigation ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Carbon Emission Mitigation ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Trade Partners

This study is an appraisal of North–South trade and environmental debate on the context of ‘carbon leakage hypothesis’. This article attempts to quantify the CO2 emissions embodied in the bilateral trade between India and the United Kingdom (hereafter mentioned as the UK) using an input–output model-based analysis for the year 2015. It further proposes a hypothetical situation of no trade between India and UK in order to calculate and analyse the contribution of this bilateral trade in global CO2 emissions. The results from this study confirm the possibility of ‘carbon leakage’ from Indian commodity production sectors and find that among two trade partners, the UK is able to avoid more carbon emissions than India through trade which helps the UK to reach their carbon emission mitigation targets. On the average, manufacturing of commodities in India those are to be exported to the UK generates 1.053 kilo-tonnes of CO2 emission per million dollars of export annually and manufacturing of commodities in the UK which are imported to India generates only 0.141 kilo-tonnes of CO2 emission per million dollars of import from the UK annually for the years 2011, 2013 and 2015. This is because of the proportionately higher consumption of more emission-intensive energy items, like coal, and coal products by India in industrial production than the UK. At the end of the article, this study proposes a few suggestions to ensure a decent level of emission imbalance in the trade flows for the anticipation of increasing India–UK bilateral trade in coming days due to post-BREXIT eventualities to reduce the pressure on the global environment. JEL Codes: C67, F64, Q37, Q42

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