Ecosystems as Natural Assets

Most studies valuation that have been described previously including forest ecosystems do not see the forest ecosystem services as natual capital / natural assets and even the socio-ecological context. The implication is that forest ecosystem services are considered as an economic asset / economic capital. the concept of value used in the valuation is the concept of the value of output. Though the forest ecosystem services has the characteristics of a sustainable dynamic and as part of the life supporting system including the ability resilience and self-terrific capacity. So that the forest ecosystem is no longer seen as economic assets, but with the characteristics of the dynamic and sustainable forest ecosystem is seen as natural or natural capital assets. The current perspective marginalize other forest ecosystem functions, such as socio-economic functions. Whereas the concept of an insurance value of forest ecosystems is not just the case as seen from the perspective as natural capital, but the role of social values in maintaining the sustainability of forest ecosystems is crucial, as reflected by the presence of heritage value, and existence value. So that the insurance value of the forest ecosystem occurs because the forest ecosystem serves as a natural asset / natural and social capital assets / social capital.

Topicality. In crisis external conditions, in particular during the pandemic crisis, the experience economy is not a priority for the development of the national economy, but in the long run, in particular in combination with the use of natural assets, it can become a leitmotif that accelerates sustainable and inclusive development, especially in transition economies such as Ukraine.Aim and tasks. The purpose of the work is to substantiate and generalize the prerequisites and patterns of development of the conceptual relationship between the formation of the experience economy, the use of natural assets and inclusive growth.Research results. In the article the prerequisites and patterns of interconnected development of the experience economy and nature management on the principles of inclusiveness and sustainability are substantiated and summarized, in particular, on the basis of the geometric interpretation analysis of the Hoover Index. In particular, it is substantiated that the general patterns of development of the interrelationship ―experience economy – natural assets – inclusiveness‖ are reflected through the relevant socio-economic and economic-environmental contradictions and are considered within the concept of sustainable development; the studied interconnections are relevant to a comprehensive approach to finding new effects in use of natural assets for society through economic relations in the field of impressions. In accordance with the specific provisions of the interrelationship ―experience economy – natural assets – inclusiveness‖ defined in the article, it contributes to the creation of preconditions for transformation, and thus stimulates environmentally relevant and socially responsible changes in the country's economy.Conclusion. Solving the problematic issues related to the studied interrelationship is possible through the management of natural assets – an important component of well-being as an integral category: managing natural assets, increase the welfare of the population; provided that the element of experience is implemented in the management of natural assets, the appropriate mechanism can be considered in the framework of the interrelationship development ―experience economy – natural assets – inclusiveness‖.

The Fundamental Law of Hungary states that the property of the Hungarian State and of municipal governments shall be considered national assets. National assets shall be managed and protected for the purpose of serving the public interest, satisfying common needs and preserving natural resources, taking also into account the needs of future generations. Economic operators – such as companies - owned by the State or municipal governments shall conduct business prudently and independently, in accordance with the relevant legislation, under the requirements of legality, efficiency and effectiveness. The special requirements regarding the management and safeguarding are laid down in Act CXCVI of 2011 on National Assets (hereinafter: National Assets Act) and Act CVI of 2007 on State Property (hereinafter: State Property Act) also contains a few requirements in its preamble.
 Based on the above, national assets shall be managed and protected in a special way, compared to privately owned assets. Publicly owned enterprises play a very important role in the national economy, since they provide a significant amount of GDP, they employ numerous people, they usually provide public services and last but not least they manage public funds. As a consequence, these companies shall also manage their assets with respect to the special requirements. In our article, we introduce these requirements by examining their content and also their relationship towards each other.
 One of the most important requirements is transparency, since these enterprises manage public funds and according to the Fundamental Law, every organization managing public funds shall publicly account for the management of those funds. Public funds and national assets shall be managed according to the principles of transparency and of corruption-free public life. Data relating to public funds or to national assets shall be recognized as data of public interest. We lay a special emphasis on transparency by introducing the relating regulation and also by summarizing the most prominent statements of court decisions from the last few years. In their judgements the courts interpreted the requirement of transparency in connection with state-owned enterprises and the relationship between transparency and the protection of business secrets and business interests of the companies.

There is a connection between chosen linguistic elements used in national assets, the ruling party and a group understood to be dominant. Within this connection are a series of activities that lead to excluding minority language groups. Such exclusionary practices may lead to perceptions of a devaluation of ethnolinguistic groups that are neither in the majority nor are significantly represented within the ruling party. In this article I present selected examples of what I term ‘national assets’ as evidence of instances where dominant groups in South Africa and Zambia have used their linguistic elements to name national assets. I reason that the manner in which national assets are named endorses the dominance of the dominant groups in national affairs, while at the same time excluding linguistic minorities – a practice that runs against linguistic human rights, to which both countries overtly subscribe. Within a limited space, the article investigates the impacts of dominant languages on the plight of the languages of minority groups in multilingual societies/communities, such as South Africa and Zambia.

Integrating cultural and natural assets in marine spatial planning: A new approach for joint management of cultural and natural assets

Intensification and diversification of human-induced pressures in marine ecosystems have raised concerns over several sustainability-diminishing consequences, such as hypoxia and overexploitation of resources. We present the PlanWise4Blue tool (PW4B), which assesses the cumulative effects of multiple pressures on nature assets. In order to express the sensitivity of different nature assets to a plethora of pressure combinations, a meta-analysis based on published literature and available datasets was performed to calculate a set of standardized effect sizes. These calculations relied mostly on experimental or observational evidence; expert knowledge was used to estimate the impact coefficients only in the absence of impact data. Spatial modelling techniques (machine learning) were used to model the probability of occurrence and abundances of different nature assets in lattice grids with a cell size of 1 km2. Users can use the portal to estimate impacted areas and changes to natural assets caused by any combination of anthropogenic pressure. The PW4B tool can be used to predict individual and synergistic effects — both current and future — of a wide range of human activities and can be used regardless of scientific background. The tool was tested in the Baltic Sea region in coordination with the process of the Estonian Maritime Spatial Planning. This test evaluated the combined effects of human activity such as fisheries, aquaculture, wind energy, mining and maritime transport sectors on nature assets such as selected seaweed, invertebrate, fish habitats as well as bird and mammal species. The analyses showed that current Estonian maritime spatial planning will result in a moderate loss of some nature assets and a significant gain of benthic suspension feeders, although predicted losses in wind park areas can be mitigated if novel aquaculture activities such as mussel or macroalgal farming are established This test demonstrates how the PW4B tool can be used by planners to minimize adverse environmental effects, to suggest effective mitigation strategy, and to attain sustainable planning solutions.

In this paper, I will argue that principles of fairness and equality of opportunity are deeply related in sharing implications for a radical egalitarianism and for a problematic conception of the person. In Section I, I very briefly draw on John Rawls' claims (which I label the anti-desert thesis) inA Theory ofJustice that one deserves his place in the distribution of native endowments and that these differences between persons are arbitrary from a moral point of view. Fairness in turn requires some form of nullification of these differences and/or their effects and supports viewing the pool of natural talents as a common asset. I also note that a common interpretation of equality of opportunity requires nullification of any differences between persons affecting their chances in competitions for scarce goods, including differences in natural assets. It too implies a view of persons as distinct from, and having no moral claim on the particular natural assets they happen to have. Both the anti-desert thesis and the claim for its egalitarian implications when coupled with a conception of fairness have been subject to considerable criticism. In Section II, I defend that thesis and its implications against some of those criticisms. Some critics (e.g. Gauthier, Stell), have rejected the claim that differences in natural assets are undeserved, that is contrary to desert, arguing that they are merely not deserved but also not undeserved. There is no ground or basis for deserving one's natural assets which is either satisfied or unsatisfied. While it is correct that differences in natural assets do not violate claims of desert, I argue that their being not deserved is sufficient for fairness to require some form of nullification of them and/or their effects. A second line of criticism (e.g. Nozick, Zaitchik) of the import of the anti-desert thesis accepts that differences in natural assets are not deserved, but rejects the inference that what are determined by them,

Topicality. Military conflicts significantly affect natural assets and ecosystem services, including water resources, forests and soils. The war in eastern Ukraine is leading to serious environmental impacts, including water pollution, deforestation and soil degradation. Military operations in Ukraine have caused significant damage to natural ecosystems, which has significantly affected the provision of ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are the benefits that people receive from the functioning of natural ecosystems. The loss of these services caused by war has both environmental and economic consequences. This study examines methods for economically assessing the loss of ecosystem services, including forest, water and agricultural resources, which have been destroyed by military operations. Scientists emphasize the need to integrate environmental aspects into post-war recovery processes to minimize losses and restore natural assets. Land is a natural asset, and it should be taken into account that changing landscapes from natural vegetation to any other use can lead to a loss of fertility as a source of ecosystem services. The topic of valuing the loss of ecosystem services is relevant and important for sustainable development. Aim and tasks. The purpose of our study is to study the impact of military actions on the natural assets of Ukraine and assess potential ways to restore ecosystem services after the end of the war. Materials and methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study is institutional, retrospective, systemic analysis and the case method, which is based on real facts and materials about the restoration of natural assets in European countries in the post-war years. The information base of the study was scientific and applied developments and information and analytical materials of Ukrainian and foreign scientists and practitioners. Research results. The topic of restoring natural assets and lost ecosystem services caused by military actions is relevant and important for sustainable development. Research in this area shows that the economic assessment of the loss of ecosystem services should include not only direct economic losses, but also environmental and social consequences. Among the services provided by ecosystems and lost due to war, supply services, regulatory services, supporting, cultural and recreational services should be mentioned. To restore Ukraine's natural assets after the end of military actions, it is necessary to develop an ecological rehabilitation strategy. Soil restoration is an important element of this strategy. Therefore, it is important to study and systematize the losses in order to further search for ways to restore natural assets. The study systematizes the loss of ecosystem services, including the loss of land fertility after military intervention, and considers ways to restore fertility. We also proposed the introduction of a fee for failure to comply with restoration measures, which leads to a decrease in fertility and a decrease in product quality. This fee should contribute to a change in priorities in the choice of crops and increase corporate responsibility of the business. We have created a decision-making algorithm for planning enterprise costs, taking into account environmental risk planning. The introduction of this algorithm should contribute to a change in priorities in decision-making and contribute to the restoration of fertility. Conclusion. Losses of natural assets and ecosystem services as a result of military actions in Ukraine are not only ecological, but also economic in nature. Valuing such losses is an important step in developing effective measures for environmental restoration and sustainable development.

This paper takes a close look at some of the main tenets set out in the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform's Green Paper on Land Reform of 2011, specifically those that have a bearing on the creation of a new framework for land law. The purpose is to advance some suggestions as to how new statutory interventions can avoid being contested for unconstitutionality. The analysis focuses on the Green Paper's notion of land as a national asset, questioning the meaning and implications of such a notion against the debate about nationalisation of important resources. In this context, the paper is critical of the perceived tendency to introduce reforms for the mere sake of political expediency. The guidelines for state interventions with property rights that would pass constitutional muster are deduced from (mainly) the decision of First National Bank of SA Ltd t/a Wesbank v Commissioner, South African Revenue Service; First National Bank of SA Ltd t/a Wesbank v Minister of Finance 2002 4 SA 768 (CC).

This paper takes a close look at some of the main tenets set out in the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform's Green Paper on Land Reform of 2011, specifically those that have a bearing on the creation of a new framework for land law. The purpose is to advance some suggestions as to how new statutory interventions can avoid being contested for unconstitutionality. The analysis focuses on the Green Paper's notion of land as a "national asset", questioning the meaning and implications of such a notion against the debate about nationalisation of important resources. In this context, the paper is critical of the perceived tendency to introduce reforms for the mere sake of political expediency. The guidelines for state interventions with property rights that would pass constitutional muster are deduced from (mainly) the decision of First National Bank of SA Ltd t/a Wesbank v Commissioner, South African Revenue Service; First National Bank of SA Ltd t/a Wesbank v Minister of Finance 2002 4 SA 768 (CC).KEYWORDS: Green Paper on Land Reform; Land Reform; Land as National Asset; Nationalisation; Property Rights; Property Law; Constitutional Law; Political Expediency.

The paper determines the natural assets of territorial communities and reveals their components in the context of domestic legislation. Scientific approaches to the specified problem in domestic and western scientific thought are developed. The essence of the concept «natural assets» is revealed and their main features – the presence of the identified owner, active manager and user; cost; Legal Status; economic return are defined. The relationship between the categories «natural assets», «natural resources» and «natural resource potential» are established. The main difference between natural resources as the asset of territorial community and other types of assets – the need for dual approach to their management: to generate income, ensure community development and in the interests of all stakeholder groups; in order to preserve the natural environment is revealed. The scientific approach to natural resource management with the participation of local communities, which is based on the principles of subsidiarity, sustainability, fairness, accountability, efficiency, activity, adaptability, environmental responsibility, inclusiveness is analyzed. This approach has the following common features: decentralization of powers to manage natural assets; reconciling the interests of stakeholders and opportunities for efficient of natural resources use; combination of environmental and socio-economic goals in the process of natural asset management; development of institutions for increasing decision-making efficiency in the field of natural asset management at the community level; stakeholders education and notification. Scientific approaches to the systematization of natural assets of territorial communities in terms of stakeholders groups (by ownership of the asset, the possibility of access to the asset and competition in their use) are studied. The expediency of classifying stakeholders as natural assets of territorial communities by their interests is substantiated. The peculiarities of the use/utilization and possession of natural resources in accordance with the legislative acts regulating natural resource relations in Ukraine are revealed.

We have neglected our past and present, so that the future of our natural and built heritage is uncertain. Recent and current work, including an EU-supported joint project between the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos National Trust and UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum, are providing a future for natural and historical assets. We can now contemplate our future with a sense of optimism. We can imagine grandparents walking with their grandchildren, telling them tales of how their ancestors built forts with only their hands; school teachers leading trails of excited children through forests that have provided ecosystem services to generations. The approach is to improve facilities for conducting ecologically sustainable visitor tours, with trained staff generating self-sustaining income; to provide and implement environmental educational and public awareness material, involving local consultations and designed to provide information to decision-makers, developers and planning authorities; and to implement conservation measures to provide increased protection for key vulnerable ecosystems. In Cayman, one can send a postcard from a town called Hell. The preservation and sustainability generated through these projects is bringing the natural and built heritage a future, perhaps on a route to Hell and Back.

This paper takes a close look at some of the main tenets set out in the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform's Green Paper on Land Reform of 2011, specifically those that have a bearing on the creation of a new framework for land law. The purpose is to advance some suggestions as to how new statutory interventions can avoid being contested for unconstitutionality. The analysis focuses on the Green Paper's notion of land as a "national asset", questioning the meaning and implications of such a notion against the debate about nationalisation of important resources. In this context, the paper is critical of the perceived tendency to introduce reforms for the mere sake of political expediency. The guidelines for state interventions with property rights that would pass constitutional muster are deduced from (mainly) the decision of First National Bank of SA Ltd t/a Wesbank v Commissioner, South African Revenue Service; First National Bank of SA Ltd t/a Wesbank v Minister of Finance 2002 4 SA 768 (CC).

On Friday 27th July 2012 the conference on the "Green Paper on Land Reform: Challenges and Opportunities" was held at the Hakunamatata Estate in Muldersdrift. The conference was a joint project by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) and the Faculty of Law, North-West University. While the main focus of the conference was on the specific issues raised by the Green Paper on Land Reform of 2011, it also addressed current and contemporary issues relating to the Land Reform issue as experienced in South Africa. Papers were delivered on various aspects of land reform relating to or arising from the Green Paper on Land Reform, 2011. The programme included a large number of excellent and thought provoking papers as well as a number of panel discussions that resulted in enthusiastic audience participation. Of these, the following papers and presentations were collected, evaluated and published in this special edition of PER. The first contribution by Wian Erlank (North-West University) gives an overview and discusses the challenges the Green Paper on Land Reform bring to the fore. It sets the stage for the publication at large. This is followed by Juanita Pienaar (University of Stellenbosch) who deliberates on what she calles the “mechanics of intervention” and the Green Paper on Land Reform. Henk Kloppers and Gerrit Pienaar (North West University) gives a historical context of land reform in South Africa and early policies; and Henk Kloppers then considers Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the context of land reform. He is followed by Hanri Mostert's (University of Cape Town) contribution on land as a 'National Asset' under the Constitution and what this system change envisaged by the 2011 Green Paper on Land Policy means for property under the Constitution. Elmien du Plessis (University of Johannesburg) article on the lack of direction on compensation for expropriation in the 2011 Green Paper on Land Reform. This special edition ends with Motsepe Matlala, the President of the National African Farmers Union gave an illuminating oratio on the opportunities and challenges of the 2011 Green Paper on Land Reform for the National African Farmers Union (NAFU SA). The timing of this edition is fortuitous, since a follow-up to this conference was held at Hakunamatata, Muldersdrift on 19 and 20 June 2014 with the specific focus on Land Reform and Food Security. More on the theme. The contributions contained in this special edition provide an extensive overview of land reform, especially in their introductory sections - before delving into the more technical aspects. However, a very brief note on the issue of Land Reform in South Africa might be beneficial for foreign readers. As in most other areas of the world, ownership of and access to land is an important issue in South Africa. This is especially topical in South Africa due to the fact that the racial segregation policies and laws of the past had the effect of removing people from their land, of restricting their access to land, and also in most instances of prohibiting their ownership of land. Ever since the abolition of "apartheid" and the introduction of the new, democratic dispensation, the initiative of "land reform" has been identified as requiring actively promotion in order to address these injustices of the past. Mandated by the Constitution and implemented through legislation, the South African Land Reform Programme has seen many developments over the past few years. While it is clear that much has been done to address these issues, it is also clear that current land reform strategies have not have the intended effect and would need to be adapted before this important programme is resumed. The Green Paper on Land Reform of 2011 is one of the instruments that has been used to create new interest and public engagement both in Land Reform, the development of better public policy and - eventually – of legislation. In the context of this brief description of the existing situation, this issue focusses on the most pressing aspects of land reform at the moment.

Introduction. For the coastal regions of Ukraine, the conceptual provisions and principles of the blue economy, which define the main approaches to the functioning of maritime industries in the context of sustainable development, have recently become particularly relevant. Harmonious development of coastal regions is impossible without considering the main components of nature management and their connection with the concept of blue growth. One of the important directions of natural use within the city, particularly on the seaside, is recreation in city parks and related activities of related sectors of the economy. Therefore, this study substantiates conceptual approaches and defines the role and place of city parks in the economy of nature use based on blue growth. Aim and tasks. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the conceptual provisions of the use of natural resources of city parks as natural assets in order to form effective strategies of sustainable development, in particular, on the principles of blue growth of city parks in accordance with their condition and the degree of influence on the development of urban space and society. Results. In the context of the study, the differences of such concepts as: “natural capital”, “natural resources”, “natural assets”, “ecosystem functions”, and “ecosystem services” are substantiated, which is revealed by taking into account the conceptual and systemic features according to the presence of the consumer and involvement in economic and social processes. Based on this, the essence of the natural resources of urban parks as assets was analysed and substantiated using the GE/McKinsey matrix. It was determined that different city parks are unequal in terms of availability of natural assets and their contribution to urban improvement and economic development. In the matrix analysis process, urban parks were typified according to the degree of involvement of their natural assets in economic and social processes, which allowed for the prediction of differences in risks that arise in the process of decision-making and organizational and economic measures regarding the functioning of parks. Conclusions. Thus, based on the improvement of conceptual provisions regarding the use of the natural assets of city parks, a conceptual basis for the study was developed in the context of sustainable development, and the peculiarities of the understanding of city parks as natural assets were determined. Based on the matrix analysis results, the types of city parks were determined according to the quality of their resources and their importance (role) to the city, and the risks that arise in their functioning were substantiated. It has been proven that tasks and priorities regarding the development of city parks should be based on natural, economic, and social factors, and that their functional dependence on the effectiveness of decision-making is substantiated.