Consistent Risk Management in a Changing World: Risk Equivalence in Fisheries and Other Human Activities Affecting Marine Resources and Ecosystems

A changing climate makes the evaluation of human impacts on natural systems increasingly uncertain and affects the risk associated with management decisions. This influences both the achievability and meaning of marine conservation and resource management objectives. A risk-based framework that includes a risk equivalence approach in the evaluation of the potential consequences from human activity, can be a powerful tool for timely and consistent handling of environmental considerations in management advice. Risk equivalence permits a formal treatment of all sources of uncertainty, such that objectives-based management decisions can be maintained within acceptable risk levels and deliver outcomes consistent with expectations. There are two pathways to risk equivalence that can be used to account for the short-term and longer-term impacts of a changing environment: adjusting the degree of exposure to human pressure and adjusting the reference levels used to measure the risk. The first uses existing data and knowledge to derive risk conditioning factors applied to condition management advice on environmental departures from baseline conditions. The second is used to formalise the review and update of management objectives, reference levels and risk tolerances, so they remain consistent with potential consequences from human activity under new biological, ecological and socio-economic realities. A risk equivalence approach is about adapting existing practice to frame environmental considerations within objectives-based risk frameworks, systematically exploring alternative scenarios and assumptions, and conditioning management advice on environmental status. It is applicable to the management of all human activities impacting biological and ecological systems. Concepts of risk, risk conditioning factors, and incremental changes in risk, provide a common currency for the inclusion and communication of environmental effects into advice. Risk equivalence can ensure timely delivery of robust management advice accounting for demonstrated, anticipated or projected environmental effects. This can guide management decisions in a changing world, and greatly facilitate the implementation of an ecosystem approach for the management of human activities.

Conservation of carbon resources and values on public lands: A case study from the National Wildlife Refuge System

Public lands in the United States are those land areas managed by federal, state, and county governments for public purposes such as preservation and recreation. Protecting carbon resources and increasing carbon sequestration capacity are compatible with public land management objectives for healthy and resilient habitats, i.e., managing habitats for the benefit of wildlife and ecosystem services can simultaneously capture and store carbon. To evaluate the effect of public land management on carbon storage and review carbon management as part of the land management objectives, we used existing data of carbon stock and net ecosystem carbon balance in a study of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), a public land management program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). Total carbon storage of the 364 refuges studied was 16.6 PgC, with a mean value 42,981 gCm-2. We used mixed modeling with Bonferroni adjustment techniques to analyze the effect of time since refuge designation on carbon storage. In general, older refuges store more carbon per unit area than younger refuges. In addition to the age factor, carbon resources are variable by regions and habitat types protected in the refuges. Mean carbon stock and the rate of sequestration are higher within refuges than outside refuges, but the statistical comparison of 364 refuges analyzed in this study was not significant. We also used the social cost of carbon to analyze the annual benefits of sequestrating carbon in these publicly managed lands in the United States, which is over $976 million per year in avoided CO2 emissions via specific conservation management actions. We examine case studies of management, particularly with respect to Service cooperation activities with The Conservation Fund (TCF) Go Zero® Program, Trust for Public Land (TPL) and individuals. Additional opportunities exist in improving techniques to maximize carbon resources in refuges, while continuing to meet the core purpose and need of the NWRS.

Student’s Learning Profile as a Tool of Personal Learning Logistics

Increase of complexity and uncertainty as well as demand for personalization (including in education) urges universities to pay attention to educational subjectivity and its development; to transfer towards individual / collective-individual educational navigation and flexible systems of educational programs management (including formation of temporary learning groups, supply of required educational resources in due time, protocols of appraisal and mutual offset of educational results), what determines the relevance of the research. Usage of logistic approach enables to distinguish the pedagogical and management objectives of educational activity organization as well as to facilitate personalization of education. The article considers an educational profile as an instrument of personal educational logistics in digital educational environment, presents the preliminary terms “digital track”, “portfolio”, “profile”. The authors also dwell on the requirements to educational profiles development and scenarios of handling them in digital educational environment taking into account domestic and global experience of educational profiles’ implementation.

Temporal performance of the management effectiveness of a protected area in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, São Paulo, Brazil

This work presents the monitoring of the effectiveness of the management of the Morro do Diabo State Park, Sao Paulo, Brazil, during fourteen years (2002-2016), divided into six-time cuts for which management effectiveness indices were obtained. This protected area (PA) of category II of the World Conservation Union is responsible for the conservation of important species of Brazilian biodiversity, especially the leonthopitecus chrysopygus, which until the 1980s was considered the most endangered primate of the planet and which this park has its largest free population in nature. The methodological procedure used was an adaptation of the one proposed by Cifuentes, Izurieta, and Faria (2000), commonly denominated EMAP, an acronym of the initials in Spanish. The results indicate that at the beginning of the analyzed period the AP had reasonable conditions for its management, although it presented difficulties related to planning and administration, problems solved from a joint organizational and local effort, prioritizing actions for results. The management quality standard gradually increased, with a greater perception of the scope of the area's management objectives, since in addition to the ecosystem services resulting from its existence, the PA started to offer real benefits to the community by improving and increasing public use and environmental education, for example. However, the effectiveness of management has decreased to previous levels, having as main factors endogenous aspects of the management system linked to indicators limited to management, with repercussions on other management components.

A Review of Groundwater Management Models with a Focus on IoT-Based Systems

Globally, groundwater is the largest distributed storage of freshwater and plays an important role in an ecosystem’s sustainability in addition to aiding human adaptation to both climatic change and variability. However, groundwater resources are dynamic and often change as a result of land usage, abstraction, as well as variation in climate. To solve these challenges, many conventional solutions, such as certain numerical techniques, have been proffered for groundwater modelling. The global evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT) has enhanced the culture of data gathering for the management of groundwater resources. In addition, efficient data-driven groundwater resource management relies hugely on information relating to changes in groundwater resources as well as their availability. At the moment, some studies in the literature reveal that groundwater managers lack an efficient and real-time groundwater management system that is needed to gather the required data. Additionally, the literature reveals that the existing methods of collecting data lack the required efficiency to meet computational model requirements and meet management objectives. Unlike previous surveys, which solely focussed on particular groundwater issues related to simulation and optimisation management methods, this paper seeks to highlight the current groundwater management models as well as the IoT contributions.

Principles of strategic financial management and their implementation in the information economy

Subject. This article discusses the general principles of strategic management in relation to strategic financial management. Objectives. The article aims to substantiate and formulate the principles of strategic financial management applicable in the conditions of the Russian version of the information economy, corresponding to the current documents of strategic planning and to the current state of the financial and legal doctrine. Methods. For the study, I used a systems approach, functional and structural analysis, retrospection, forecasting, observation, and classification. Results. The article reveals significant shortcomings of the current strategic planning documents, the lack of doctrinal development, as well as the normative consolidation of general and special principles, which could contribute to solving tasks by strategic financial management effectively. Conclusions. The general principles of strategic management in the economy as a whole are applicable and can be used as the basis for strategic financial management.

Systematic Map of Human–Raptor Interaction and Coexistence Research

Global raptor conservation relies on humans to establish and improve interaction and coexistence. Human–wildlife interaction research is well-established, but tends to focus on large-bodied, terrestrial mammals. The scope and characteristics of research that explores human–raptor interactions are relatively unknown. As an initial step toward quantifying and characterizing the state of applied, cross-disciplinary literature on human–raptor interactions, we use established systematic map (scoping reviews) protocols to catalog literature and describe trends, identify gaps and biases, and critically reflect on the scope of research. We focus on the peer-reviewed (refereed) literature germane to human–raptor interaction, conflict, tolerance, acceptance, persecution and coexistence. Based on 383 papers retrieved that fit our criteria, we identified trends, biases, and gaps. These include a majority of research taking place within North America and Europe; disproportionately few interdisciplinary and social research studies; interactions focused on indirect anthropogenic mortality; and vague calls for human behavior changes, with few concrete steps suggested, when management objectives are discussed. Overall, we note a predominant focus on the study of ecological effects from human–raptor interactions rather than sociocultural causes, and suggest (as others have in various conservation contexts) the imperative of human behavioral, cultural, and political inquiry to conserve raptor species.

FINANCING MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOL OPERATIONAL FUND (BOS) IN IMPROVING LEARNING AT BABAHROT STATE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS (SMPN) OF SOUTHWEST ACEH REGENCY

In achieving the management objectives used and the resources that run them, this research objectives are: knowing the planning, use, supervision, control, and obstacle of BOS fund management to improve the quality of learning. The data collection method used qualitative method and data collection techniques through: observation, interviews and documentation studies. The research subjects were the principal, vice principal, treasurer, school committee, vice curriculum, and teachers. The results showed that the planning was formulated through RAPBS or RKAS by involving the deputy head, treasurer and committee, the use of funds in accordance with technical guidelines, supervision carried out by schools and agencies, accountability in the form of reports reported by the treasurer, and the obstacles faced were the procurement of school necessities that are not as desired. This means that when procuring high-quality school needs, it must adjust to standard quality, then there will be no BOS fund overrun.Abstrak:Dalam mencapai tujuan organisasi dipengaruhi manajemen yang diterapkan dan sumber daya yang menjalankannya, sesuai dengan itu tujuan penelitian ini adalah: untuk mengetahui perencanaan, penggunaan, pengawasan, pertanggungjawaban serta kendala dalam pengelolaan dana BOS untuk meningkatkan kualitas pembelajaran. Metode pengumpulan data menggunakan metode kualitatif dan teknik pengumpulan data melalui: observasi, wawancara dan studi dokumentasi. Subjek penelitian adalah kepala sekolah, wakil kepala sekolah, bendahara, komite sekolah, wakilkurikulum, dan guru. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa perencanaan dirumuskan melalui RAPBS atau RKAS dengan melibatkan Wakil Kepala, bendahara serta komite, penggunaan dana sesuai dengan juknis, pengawasan dilaksanakan oleh pihak sekolah dan dinas, pertanggungjawaban berupa laporan yang dilaporkan oleh bendahara, dan kendala yang dihadapi adalah pengadaan barang kebutuhan sekolah yang terkadang tidak sesuai dengan yang diinginkan. Artinya pada saat pengadaan kebutuhan sekolah dengan kualitas tinggi harus menyesuaikan kualitas yang standar tidak terjadi pembengkakan dana BOS.

A Review of Groundwater Management Models with a Focus on IoT-Based Systems

Globally, groundwater is the largest distributed storage of freshwater and plays an important role in an ecosystem’s sustainability in addition to aiding human adaptation to both climatic change and variability. However, groundwater resources are dynamic and often change as a result of land usage, abstraction, as well as variation in climate. To solve these challenges, many conventional solutions, such as certain numerical techniques, have been proffered for groundwater modelling. The global evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT) has enhanced the culture of data gathering for the management of groundwater resources. In addition, efficient data-driven groundwater resource management relies hugely on information relating to changes in groundwater resources as well as their availability. At the moment, some studies in the literature reveal that groundwater managers lack an efficient and real-time groundwater management system which is needed to gather the required data. Additionally, the literature reveals that the existing methods of collecting data lack the required efficiency to meet computational model requirements and meet management objectives. Unlike previous surveys, which solely focussed on particular groundwater issues related to simulation and optimisation management methods, this paper seeks to highlight the current groundwater management models as well as the IoT contributions.

Systematic map of human-raptor interaction and coexistence research

Global raptor conservation relies on humans to establish and improve interaction and coexistence with raptor species. Human-wildlife interaction research is well-established, but tends to focus on large-bodied, terrestrial mammals. The scope and characteristics of research that explores human-raptor interactions is relatively unknown. As an initial step toward quantifying and characterizing the state of applied, cross-disciplinary literature in human-raptor interactions, we use established systematic map protocols to catalog the literature and describe trends, identify gaps and biases, and critically reflect on the state of the literature. We focus on peer-reviewed literature germane to human-raptor interaction, conflict, tolerance, acceptance, and coexistence. Based on the 383 papers retrieved from the literature that fit our criteria, we identified trends, biases, and gaps. These include a majority of research taking place within North America and Europe; disproportionately few interdisciplinary and social research studies; interactions focused on indirect anthropogenic mortality (poisons and wind turbine collisions); and vague calls for human behavior changes, with few concrete steps suggested, when management objectives are discussed. Overall, we note a predominant focus on the study of ecological effects from human-raptor interactions rather than sociocultural causes and suggest (as others have in various conservation contexts) the imperative of human behavioral, cultural, and political inquiry to conserve raptor species.