Challenges in Community Participation in Management of Nature Reserves

The management and protection of protected areas such as nature reserves remains a primary concern for the different stakeholders involved especially the marginalised rural communities that are deprived of genuine ownership of the natural resources. Therefore, the representation of the marginalised rural communities adjacent to the protected areas has become significant in the control and utilisation of natural resources in protected areas. Community Property Associations (CPAs) have been tasked with the mandate to ensure community representation in the management of natural resources. However, their participation in the management of natural resources have been questioned and under scrutiny. The aim of this study is to investigate the challenges in communal participation in management of nature reserves. A qualitative research method was used for collecting data. Semi-structured interviews were utilised to collect data from a sample constituting n=10 respondents. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The data from this study revealed that there is limited participation by the CPA members in the management of Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve. The ownership and participation in the management of natural resources by local communities is important in ensuring meaningful development. Received: 21 July 2021 / Accepted: 20 September 2021 / Published: 5 November 2021

INTERNET GOVERNANCE FOR WHOM? CIVIL SOCIETY, REPRESENTATION, AND DIGITAL RIGHTS

Internet governance institutions embrace a multistakeholder approach, which calls for civil society organizations (CSOs) to represent community interests. How well do digital rights CSOs fulfill these expectations of “community representation”? Through a case study of the Internet Freedom Foundation, an Indian digital rights organization, this paper evaluates community engagement mechanisms through the lens of equity and democratization, and identifies a gap between expectations and observed practices. It concludes that evaluating representation in digital-native CSOs should account for both socioeconomic and technological dynamics in both transnational and national contexts. This paper offers a contribution to an emergent understanding of civil society’s role in internet governance, grounded in a postcolonial critique of representation and legitimacy, in order to understand whose voices are heard, and whose are still excluded, from internet governance processes.

Environmental Genomics Applications for Environmental Management Activities in the Oil and Gas Industry - State of the Art Review and Future Research Needs

The International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) Environmental Genomics Joint Industry Program (JIP) was formed in June 2019. The aim of the JIP is to facilitate the development of guidelines for the application of environmental genomics to support environmental management activities in the oil and gas industry. Towards this goal, a white paper summarizing the state-of-the-art in environmental genomics research and how it may be used to advance technology development opportunities for the oil and gas industry was drafted. More specifically, a series of applications and focus areas of primary interest to oil and gas companies were covered including: baseline assessments; detection of key species; rapid assessment of invasive species; population status and dynamics; monitoring of environmental effects of oil and gas activities; remediation and restoration; sampling design; data analysis and interpretation; community representation; species abundance, distribution and viability; and real-time on-site measurement and analysis. baseline assessments; detection of key species; rapid assessment of invasive species; population status and dynamics; monitoring of environmental effects of oil and gas activities; remediation and restoration; sampling design; data analysis and interpretation; community representation; species abundance, distribution and viability; and real-time on-site measurement and analysis. In addition to the literature review, consultation of professionals from academic, regulatory, and industrial backgrounds with expertise on these topics was conducted. While there was a consensus that the application of environmental genomics has advanced greatly in a short period of time with demonstrable benefit potential, there was acknowledgement that key aspects of best management practices are still lacking. Furthermore, while the majority of regulators interviewed were aware to varying degrees of the methodological limitations which restrict the present use of environmental genomics in regulatory affairs, it transpired that there is considerable appetite and capacity amongst the regulatory community to engage in collaborative research initiatives with the oil and gas industry and academia. Through these academic, regulatory, and industrial consultation, specific environmental genomics study areas and applications requiring further development and refinement were identified. These include: methodological standardization, persistence and dispersal of eDNA; eDNA data integration with various other data types; improvement of reference databases; and refinement of molecular indices. methodological standardization, persistence and dispersal of eDNA; eDNA data integration with various other data types; improvement of reference databases; and refinement of molecular indices. Based on the above and considering the most efficient path to greater regulatory uptake for environmental genomic approaches for the oil and gas industry, the JIP’s recommendation is to pursue a Common-Garden Experiment. Such experiment should seek the involvement and ultimately endorsement from the Regulators marking the path towards wider regulatory acceptance and uptake of eDNA-based approaches.

Hispanic Male Recruitment into Obesity-Related Research: Evaluating Content Messaging Strategies, Experimental Findings, and Practical Implications

Hispanic men have the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity among men in the U.S. Current research is lacking to inform best practices to engage Hispanic men in obesity-related research. The purpose of this work was to evaluate messaging strategies to engage Hispanic men in obesity-related research. Outreach took place in an outdoor marketplace in Southern Arizona, US. Messaging strategies (fear appeal/arousal, positive masculinity, and spousal convergence) identified in formative research were utilized. Two six-foot standing banners displayed content messages and infographics in both English and Spanish. Trained bilingual and bicultural staff collected health information survey cards that elicited self-reported demographic information and health concerns. Four aspects of recruitment were evaluated: volume, efficiency, community representation, and primary health concerns. A comparative analysis was conducted in the fall of 2016 to determine the effectiveness of each messaging strategy. 387 survey cards were collected, 221 were from Hispanic men. Obesity, diabetes, and cancer were identified as the most pertinent health concerns. Fear appeal yielded 209 completed surveys, followed by 110 for positive masculinity, and 68 for spousal convergence. Fear appeal/arousal and positive masculinity content messaging were effective approaches to engage Hispanic males in research, preventive and treatment efforts. Findings warrant replication as there is potential for confounding seasonal effects.

Attempts at City Self-Empowerment

This chapter examines efforts by constitutionally voiceless cities and mayors to expand cities’ quasi-constitutional powers through urban citizenship schemes or, more frequently, through international networking and collaboration based on notions such as “the right to the city,” “sustainable cities,” “solidarity cities,” and “human rights cities.” For the most part, such initiatives have a socially progressive undercurrent to them. They address policy areas such as air quality and energy efficient construction, “smart cities,” affordable housing, enhanced community representation, or accommodating policies toward refugees and asylum seekers. Such experimentation with city self-emancipation is increasing in popularity and possesses significant potential in policy areas not directly addressed or hermetically foreclosed by statist constitutional law.

The Idea of Customary Law Community Representation in the Regional Representative Council

The Customary Law Community (Masyarakat Hukum Adat, MHA) as part of the Customary Law System is recognized for its existence and its implementation in the National Land Law (Hukum Tanah Nasional, HTN). In the Explanation of the Basic Agrarian Law (UUPA) it is stated that the function of Customary Law as the main source in the development of HTN, although such recognition is accompanied by conditions as long as in reality they still exist and in accordance with national and state interests. This paper analyses and examines the problems of MHA in the concept of regional representative council. The problem on this paper come up from various problems concerning to ulayat land and its conflict between indigenous people and government. The research emphasized that the main problem is the inequality of perception between the Executive, Judiciary and Legislative institutions in the consistency of compensation payments resulting in the re-claim of Tanah Ulayat (Adat), there is no basis for a multi-dimensional approach (anthropology, sociology and others besides the juridical approach). This means that the formal juridical approach alone does not achieve effective results. The question is whether the constitutional MHA can have representation in the Regional Representative Council (DPD) and what forms of democracy are appropriate and can channel the aspirations of the MHA.