Spatial Justice—Decolonising Our Cities and Settlements

In my recently published book Rebuilding the Kāinga, I championed the idea of kāinga in a contemporary sense: integrated housing; cultural and communal facilities; sustainable use and management of whenua, awa, and moana; and sustainable economic activities. If implemented widely, the kāinga model will also have profound impacts on how we in Aotearoa New Zealand (Māori, Pākehā, and Tauiwi—all of us) plan our homes, towns, and cities. In this intervention, I expand on, and seek to further develop, this idea in relation to current discourse regarding economics, decolonisation, and, in particular, urban planning in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Achievable sustainable use and management of water resources for irrigation in Nigeria

Water resource is available in Nigeria to meet demand for domestic, agricultural and industrial use, if well enhanced and protected from various source of pollution. However, less information is available on suitability of water resources for irrigation in Nigeria. This article reviews literature of past few years with regards to influence of geogenic and anthropogenic activities on water resource for irrigation purpose in Nigeria and also to explain the current state of suitability of water resource for irrigation studies in Nigeria and gaps in studies. It also summarizes future ways on water resource management and preventive measure for water resource pollution for irrigation. Related articles were downloaded from Google scholar in water-related issues. This paper tends to review previous article on water resource in Nigeria, and its suitability for irrigation. The primary aim of this paper is to produce a synoptic overview of the water resources in Nigeria and its suitability for irrigation. From paper reviewed it was observed that 89 % of water resources were considered suitable for irrigation.

REAPPROPRIATION OF ELEVATED HIGHWAY RESIDUAL SPACE THROUGH GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING

Kuala Lumpur City’s demand for a better connectivity has led to the vast development of elevated highways. This has caused the formation of residual spaces underneath megastructures. Previous studies indicated that these residual spaces triggered issues from dumping of debris to crimes. Aimed at exploring the typologies and reappropriation of these spaces through green infrastructure planning, three methods were utilised in this study: site observation, document analysis and expert interview. Results from the study showed that there were two main typologies of residual spaces, namely: (1) easily accessible and (2) hard to access spaces. The interview sessions with the experts suggested that suitable green infrastructure elements, such as play lots, recreational lots and community gardens were regarded as suitable for Typology 1. However, semi-natural areas and functional landscapes were viewed as suitable for Typology 2. It is hoped that the understanding of the typologies of residual spaces underneath elevated highways and its appropriation through green infrastructure planning could lead to a more sustainable use and management of urban space thus viewing it as an important urban resource.

Problems and Countermeasures of River Management in the Process of Rapid Urbanization in China

The rapid process of urbanization has led to water pollution, reduction of space areas and channel deposition. However, current river protection and management levels are not suitable for city development level and human demand. Therefore, these problems have not yet been solved. China is still in an era of rapid urbanization, which means that the influence of urbanization in rivers will increase in the future—and the task of river protection and management will be more arduous. In order to meet the challenges and opportunities brought by urbanization and promote the sustainable use and management of river, this study puts forward relevant suggestions on river protection and management, such as river management mechanisms, economic incentive instruments, technical support, transformation of development concepts, improving laws, regulations and policies and stimulating public participation.

Biodiversity in Thar Desert and its Role in Sustainable Agriculture

The country has both hot and cold deserts. The Thar Desert, seventh largest desert in the world, harbors several species that have adapted themselves to survive in the harsh desert conditions. The floral diversity includes 682 species (63 introduced species), belonging to 352 genera and 87 families. The degree of endemism of plant species in the Thar Desert is 6.4 percent, which is relatively higher than the degree of endemism in the world famous Sahara desert. The faunal diversity represents 755 invertebrate and 440 vertebrate species, including 140 bird and 41 mammalian species and the only known population of the Asiatic wild ass. It is highlighted that sustainable use and management of this biodiversity is necessary to support human and livestock needs besides conservation. The strategy should be such that it is supported by public.

Monitoring and Managing Human Stressors to Coastal Cultural Heritage in Svalbard

Svalbard’s cultural heritage sites are important remnants of an international history in the High North. Cultural heritage in the Arctic is being impacted by climate and environmental change as well as increased human activity. Tourism is a potential cause of transformation in cultural heritage sites, such as increased wear and tear, creation of paths and traces as people walk through cultural environments. Cultural heritage management is therefore an increasingly challenging endeavor as management authorities must take under consideration multiple impacts and threats to cultural heritage sites in a changing environment. Based on research conducted in Svalbard from 2014 to 2016 on methods for long-term systematic cultural heritage monitoring, this paper will discuss dilemmas for a sustainable use and management of vulnerable cultural heritage sites in the Arctic.