Assessment Of Management Effectiveness Research Articles

Carbon sequestration in managed temperate coniferous forests under climate change

Abstract. Management of temperate forests has the potential to increase carbon sinks and mitigate climate change. However, those opportunities may be confounded by negative climate change impacts. We therefore need a better understanding of climate change alterations to temperate forest carbon dynamics before developing mitigation strategies. The purpose of this project was to investigate the interactions of species composition, fire, management, and climate change in the Copper–Pine Creek valley, a temperate coniferous forest with a wide range of growing conditions. To do so, we used the LANDIS-II modelling framework including the new Forest Carbon Succession extension to simulate forest ecosystems under four different productivity scenarios, with and without climate change effects, until 2050. Significantly, the new extension allowed us to calculate the net sector productivity, a carbon accounting metric that integrates aboveground and belowground carbon dynamics, disturbances, and the eventual fate of forest products. The model output was validated against literature values. The results implied that the species optimum growing conditions relative to current and future conditions strongly influenced future carbon dynamics. Warmer growing conditions led to increased carbon sinks and storage in the colder and wetter ecoregions but not necessarily in the others. Climate change impacts varied among species and site conditions, and this indicates that both of these components need to be taken into account when considering climate change mitigation activities and adaptive management. The introduction of a new carbon indicator, net sector productivity, promises to be useful in assessing management effectiveness and mitigation activities.

Fishery‐Independent Surveys of the Queen Conch Stock in Western Puerto Rico, with an Assessment of Historical Trends and Management Effectiveness

AbstractThe queen conch Lobatus gigas continues to support a commercial fishery in Puerto Rico despite a history of overfishing and low population densities. The goals of this study were to generate density estimates for the queen conch, to assess temporal trends, and to evaluate hypotheses of management interest using generalized linear models. Density data were supplemented by size‐ and age‐class data. Total mean density was 14.1/ha (adults = 7.3/ha; juveniles = 6.6/ha). Year plus habitat and depth (associated effects) were significant factors influencing adult and juvenile density. Lower densities of both juvenile and adult queen conchs were observed in 1997 and 2001 than in 2013, but there have been no differences since 2006. This indicates an improvement in the population, though not recently. A location effect compared sites within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is closed to fishing, with those in local waters, which are open to fishing. The location term was significant for adults, with lower densities inshore regardless of year. For juveniles, both the location and year × location terms were significant; the EEZ had a higher juvenile density and a proportionally greater density increase (from 2.3/h to 10.0/ha) from 1997 to 2013. Length‐frequency diagrams showed an increase in the proportion of adult conchs of 16–20‐cm shell length in 2013 relative to 1997. This suggests an effect of the 22.86‐cm minimum size limit implemented in 2004. Juveniles comprised 50% of the population in 2013, compared with 70% in 1997, and adults were found in the oldest age‐class during the 2013 survey. This suggests an overall decrease in fishing mortality since 1997. Changes in survey methodology are recommended, including but not limited to shortening transects to increase the number of sites, utilizing a two‐stage design, not utilizing scooters, standardizing the areas surveyed, and stratifying by depth and habitat.Received November 30, 2015; accepted July 12, 2016

PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA: A REVIEW

Nigeria like other countries has experienced rapid increase in number and sizes of protected areas in the last century. As a result, a number of policies, agencies and departments were established to ensure proper protection and management of these areas. To ensure management effectiveness, frequent evaluation is necessary. This paper is a review of relevant literatures on protected area management effectiveness and collaboration in management. The findings of the review indicated that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) framework is the most widely used for assessing management effectiveness of protected areas. However, a limitation of the framework is its deficiency to integrate collaboration and motivation. These factors play vital roles in effective management of protected areas through promoting wildlife conservation particularly in developing world. Therefore, this paper proposes a hybrid framework for evaluating protected area management effectiveness, consisting of the IUCN framework, collaboration and motivation to be used in subsequent assessment of protected areas.

Devolving people management to the line

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to focus on the different rationales for devolving people management responsibilities to the line and examine their consequences for the HR function and HR’s interactions with line managers and employees.Design/methodology/approach– A model was developed and tested that describes how the rationale for devolving people management to the line influences the HR function, HR’s interactions with line managers and the quality of people management. Survey data were collected from 446 managers who reported that their organisations had devolved people management to the line.Findings– Results indicate that devolution rationales are associated with distinct changes to the HR function’s strategic integration and size. These changes in the HR function are in turn associated with utilisation of line manager focused HR practices, HR’s business partner orientation and people management effectiveness.Practical implications– The HR function should consider changes that refine job descriptions to include a clear statement of people management responsibilities, ensure performance appraisals incorporate an assessment of people management effectiveness and prioritise line manager training and rewards in an environment where line managers may be less than enthusiastic about their newly acquired people management responsibilities.Originality/value– The study contributes to the devolution literature by outlining how the effects of devolution are tied to the rationale underlying devolution efforts. It suggests that the tendency to conceptualise devolution without reference to the reason why it is pursued may be contributing to the controversy over its consequences.

EFFECTIVE ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE CORPORATE RISK MANAGEMENT

While risk management effectiveness assessment problem of the company has been already actual in post crisis period, reasonable risk management organizational structure can be considered as a crucial internal factor of the effective risk management. Due to this aspect is not fully covered in national academic literature, importance of the issue is not correctly understood among the business representatives, the target of that research is to analyze and correct best practice pillars in risk management organization. The theoretical and methodological base of the research includes cumulative theoretical knowledge in riskology (P. Bernstein, F. Knight, V.I. Avdijskij, V.M. Bezdeneznyh, etc.), last analytical reviews about risk management development and surveys of the leading international companies and professional societies (McKinsey, KPMG, Ernst&Young, Institute and Faculty of Actuaries in Great Britain). Using common scientific and specific research methods, the most popular practice of Three Lines of Defence is systemized in frame of ERM for the purpose of risk management organization, hypothesis for the reasonability of that formulated approach is provided in the paper. Findings are also valuable for the practice to improve risk management effectiveness of the company and provide its sustainability.

The Development of Regional Management by Smoothing of Spatial Polarization

The article briefly highlights main theoretical approaches to understanding the uneven of spatial development.The analysis of existing methods of evaluating the effectiveness of management by smoothing of spatialpolarization in the region was made. The methods of evaluating the effectiveness of state and municipaladministrating systems were described. The system of indicators for assessing management effectiveness ofeconomic territory polarization in the region was studied.

Universities of Resources for Sustainable Development: Responding to the Current Challenges

The problem of sustainable development and the role of universities of resources, which is the scientific and educational base of the mining industry is discussed. Assessment of management effectiveness of national total capital leading mining countries in the OECD and BRICS is given. On the basis of the Hartwick-Solow criterion proposed investment areas of mineral rents in natural, produced and human capital. The main tasks of the universities resources for the sustainable development of countries with large reserves of mineral resources updated. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s4p157

Rapid Assessment Of Management Effectiveness Of The Zhangye National Wetland Park, Gansu Province, People’s Republic Of China

A rapid assessment of management effectiveness was undertaken for the Zhangye National Wetland Park, a small, remote protected area in Gansu Province, the People’s Republic of China (PRC). During site visits and a workshop with park personnel in 2011, park management activities were documented and the first baseline score of management effectiveness was derived. The park exhibits similar trends to many other protected areas in the PRC and globally, with legal establishment, design and objectives, and economic benefits reported as management strengths, and budget security, monitoring and evaluation, and law enforcement reported as management weaknesses. Specific challenges for the park include a need to balance the development of tourism infrastructure with biodiversity conservation, and to develop quantitative management targets linked to conservation objectives.

ПІДХОДИ ДО ОБСЛУГОВУВАННЯ ЗАЯВОК В ІНТЕЛЕКТУАЛЬНІЙ НАДБУДОВІ У МЕРЕЖАХ НАСТУПНОГО ПОКОЛІННЯ

У статті розглянуті особливості обслуговування заявок в системі управління інтелектуальними послугами в умовах зростаючого спектра послуг, що надаються телекомунікаційною мережею. Метою даної статті є розробка архітектури інтелектуальної надбудови (ІН) мереж наступного покоління з різними принципами управління послугами (централізоване, децентралізоване і змішане управління) та представлення можливих підходів до виконання послуг при архітектурі ІН зі змішаним принципом управління.

Status of the marine protected area network across the English channel (La Manche): Cross-country similarities and differences in MPA designation, management and monitoring

Recent international policy developments require states to conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas by creating effectively managed and ecologically coherent networks of protected areas in the marine environment. In the framework of the PANACHE project, the current status of designation, management and monitoring of the network of marine protected areas (MPAs) of an important environmental, social and economic marine area: the English Channel (the Channel) was examined. Currently 224 MPAs exist belonging to 12 different designation categories and covering 17440km2, or approximately 20.3% of the project area in the Channel. International protection targets in the marine environment are thus met at this regional scale, although the individual contributions of the UK and France are considerably different, with French MPAs accounting for nearly 80% of the total area protected. Differences between countries are also found regarding MPA designation categories (11 in France, 6 in the UK, 1 in the Channel Islands) and management structures (with more actors involved in the UK) and approach, whereas the monitoring techniques used are similar, although more standardised in the UK. Pending challenges include greater within-country and cross-country MPA designation, monitoring and management simplicity, integration and coordination as well as the assessment of management effectiveness and ecological coherence of the Channel network of MPAs.

Ecological indicators for assessing management effectiveness: A case study of horse riding in an Alpine National Park

SummaryRecreation activities and visitor use often have deleterious ecological impacts in protected areas. Management agencies then face the difficult task of providing recreation and tourism opportunities without compromising environmental values. This study assessed the success of efforts aimed at conserving alpine vegetation along the Mt Bogong Massif in Victoria, Australia, through controlling the use of horses. Vegetation condition was assessed in 2001 to coinciding with restrictions on the use of horse riding on trails and then resurveyed 10 years later. Sampling was undertaken in track plots that included the trail and surrounding vegetation, and control plots located away from the trail. There were significant differences in the amount of bare ground, the height of shrubs and ground layer vegetation, and shrub cover between track and control plots in 2001. Ten years later, track plots were recovering with reductions in bare ground and changes in vegetation, with improved ground layer vegetation height. Results show that vegetation condition has improved with restrictions of horse numbers. The indicators selected were sensitive to changes in vegetation condition and hence should be used for ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of this and similar management interventions.

Mismatches between conservation outcomes and management evaluation in protected areas: A case study in the Brazilian Cerrado

Protected areas are one of the most widely adopted approaches to conservation, and assessment of their management effectiveness has become a widespread way of evaluating their performance. However, few studies examine how well qualitative management effectiveness assessments predict conservation outcomes. We explored this question in a savanna ecosystem under high conversion pressure: the Brazilian Cerrado. We used data on avoided conversion from 2002 to 2009 in 26 protected areas, derived from comparisons of protected and unprotected sites matched for potential covariates of conversion. We tested for correlation between avoided conversion and management effectiveness scores based on RAPPAM (Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management) and found no evidence that the scores predict avoided conversion. We discuss plausible explanations including an insufficient evidence-base for management evaluation, the largely subjective nature of the assessment method and a limited emphasis on tracking results and effects of management actions. Further research of this nature can help the interpretation of management effectiveness scores and improve the assessment of protected areas performance.

Evaluation of the Efficiency of Cash Flow Management in Chaotic Conditions of Economy Structuring

The essence of the concept "cash flow management effectiveness" has been grounded, the method of comprehensive evaluation of the cash flow management effectiveness in the economy has been proposed. Practical implementation of the comprehensive assessment of the cash flow management effectiveness has been described. Three areas of effectiveness evaluation have been defined, they are: positive evaluation area, area of qualified evaluation and negative evaluation area.

Australian protected areas and adaptive management: contributions by visitor planning frameworks and management effectiveness assessments

Protected areas are recognised as crucial for conserving biodiversity and supporting the ecological processes that benefit humans, as well as providing recreational and wellbeing benefits. The complexities and uncertainties associated with their management make adaptive management an appealing ideal. This paper examines how two well-developed management methodologies – visitor planning frameworks (e.g. limits of acceptable change) and management effectiveness assessments – contribute to the adaptive management of visitor use of protected areas. A set of principles was developed from the literature by the authors and used to analyse the performance of these methodologies in facilitating adaptive management of visitor use in such areas in Australia. The analysis revealed both methodologies as contributing to institutionalising monitoring and the development of shared understandings. Effectiveness assessments are facilitating adaptation, with systematic evaluation and feedback of results into management evident. Performance of the visitor frameworks was impeded by a lack of commitment to implementation. Identifying and evaluating future options was a weakness of both frameworks. In sum, however, both provide practical, much-needed means for progressing the institutionalisation of adaptive management and hence contributing to innovative solutions to the complex problems facing protected areas.

Online appendix 1:How objective are protected area management effectiveness assessments? A case study from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park

The assessment of protected area management effectiveness was developed out of a genuine desire to improve the way protected areas are managed and reported on, in relation to a formalised set of conservation objectives. For monitoring and reporting purposes, a number of participatory methods of rapidly assessing management effectiveness were developed. Most rapid assessment methods rely on scoring a range of protected area-related activities against an objective set of criteria documented in a formal questionnaire. This study evaluated the results of two applications of the same management effectiveness assessment tool applied to the same protected area, namely the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa. The manner in which the assessments were undertaken differed considerably and, not unexpectedly, so did the results, with the national assessment scoring significantly higher than the provincial assessment. Therefore, a further aim was to evaluate the operating conditions applied to each assessment, with a view to determining which assessment was more closely aligned with best practice and hence which score was more credible. The application of the tool differed mainly with respect to the level of spatial detail entered into for the evaluation, the depth and breadth of the management hierarchy that was consulted, the time in which the assessment was undertaken and the degree of peer review applied. Disparate scores such as those obtained in the assessments documented here are likely to bring the discipline of management effectiveness assessment into disrepute unless an acceptable and standardised set of operating procedures is developed and adopted. Recommendations for such a set of ‘indispensable constants’ were made in this article to ensure that management effectiveness assessments remain robust and reputable, thereby ensuring an honest picture of what is happening on the ground. Conservation implications: We proposed that standard operating procedures should be in place when protected area management effectiveness assessments are undertaken, in order for the results to be credible. This involves ensuring that the right people participate and that each participant is allowed sufficient time to peer review each other.

Management Effectiveness of Southeast Aru Islands Marine Conservation Area

Southeast Aru Islands Marine Conservation Area (SE Aru MCA) has been existed for nearly 21 years, a period that long enough for a timely evaluation about how far improvement of management has been made in the area in question, i.e. whether management has improved situation of local communities and marine resources availability in the area. This study, therefore, aims at assessing management effectiveness and impacts of SE Aru MCA. Results suggest that the MCA, which was originally established as a marine nature reserve (Cagar Alam Laut, CAL) in 1991 and changed status into marine sanctuary in 2009, has not yet produced the expected positive impacts. Assessment using available tools indicated that the management level of SE Aru MCA is at level 1, with percentage of 34.12%, meaning it is still at initiation stage and less effective in terms of management outcomes. Index of conservation area effectiveness with a value of 0.387 shows that the overall conservation area in the 3 categories mentioned above is less effective, therefore conservation effect has not been able to solve area problems. It is concluded that, after more than 20 years exists in the area, few benefits have been produced by SE Aru MCA for local people associated with it and biological resources in it.

Environmental Effectiveness of Swine Sewage Management: A Multicriteria AHP-Based Model for a Reliable Quick Assessment

Environmental issues related to swine production are still a major concern for the general public and represent a key challenge for the swine industry. The environmental impact of higher livestock concentration is particularly significant where it coincides with weaker policy standards and poor manure management. Effective tools for environmental monitoring of the swine sewage management process become essential for verifying the environmental compatibility of farming facilities and for defining suitable policies aimed at increasing swine production sustainability. This research aims at the development and application of a model for a quick assessment of the environmental effectiveness of the pig farming sewage management process. In order to define the model, multicriteria techniques, and in particular, Saaty's analytic hierarchy process, were used to develop an iterative process in which the various key factors influencing the process under investigation were analyzed. The model, named EASE (Environmental Assessment of Sewages management Effectiveness), was optimized and applied to the Lake Trasimeno basin (Umbria, Italy), an area of high natural, environmental and aesthetic value. In this context, inadequate disposal of pig sewage represents a potential source of very considerable pollution. The results have demonstrated how the multicriteria model can represent a very effective and adaptable tool also in those decision-making processes aimed at the sustainable management of livestock production.

Assessment of Nature Reserve Management Effectiveness - A Case Study of Huihe Nature Reserve

To protect natural resources and biodiversity, nature reserves have been established worldwide. However, the inadequate management is becoming a widespread problem in the development of nature reserves. Therefore, assessing management effectiveness of nature reserve is not only one of the important means to improve and promote the sustainable management level of nature reserve, but also a hotspot in recent research of biodiversity conservation. But until now, there isnt a quantitative assessment approach accepted widely. According to literature survey and the Delphi method, this study set up an index system, including (A) management behavior, (B) protective effect and (C) social influence. Based on this, Huhe nature reserve was selected to verify the applicability of this index system. The results showed that various problems and prioritization of nature reserve management could be identified effectively using this index system, which offers policy makers a tool for a rapid assessment of management effectiveness. In addition, this study will provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for nature reserve management in China.

How objective are protected area management effectiveness assessments? A case study from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park

The assessment of protected area management effectiveness was developed out of a genuine desire to improve the way protected areas are managed and reported on, in relation to a formalised set of conservation objectives. For monitoring and reporting purposes, a number of participatory methods of rapidly assessing management effectiveness were developed. Most rapid assessment methods rely on scoring a range of protected area-related activities against an objective set of criteria documented in a formal questionnaire. This study evaluated the results of two applications of the same management effectiveness assessment tool applied to the same protected area, namely the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa. The manner in which the assessments were undertaken differed considerably and, not unexpectedly, so did the results, with the national assessment scoring significantly higher than the provincial assessment. Therefore, a further aim was to evaluate the operating conditions applied to each assessment, with a view to determining which assessment was more closely aligned with best practice and hence which score was more credible. The application of the tool differed mainly with respect to the level of spatial detail entered into for the evaluation, the depth and breadth of the management hierarchy that was consulted, the time in which the assessment was undertaken and the degree of peer review applied. Disparate scores such as those obtained in the assessments documented here are likely to bring the discipline of management effectiveness assessment into disrepute unless an acceptable and standardised set of operating procedures is developed and adopted. Recommendations for such a set of ‘indispensable constants’ were made in this article to ensure that management effectiveness assessments remain robust and reputable, thereby ensuring an honest picture of what is happening on the ground. Conservation implications: We proposed that standard operating procedures should be in place when protected area management effectiveness assessments are undertaken, in order for the results to be credible. This involves ensuring that the right people participate and that each participant is allowed sufficient time to peer review each other.

An effective regional Marine Protected Area network for the ROPME Sea Area: Unrealistic vision or realistic possibility?

Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) targets aim to encourage the establishment of an effective global network of MPAs covering 10% of coastal and marine ecoregions by 2020. This paper presents findings from the first ever regional assessment of MPA management effectiveness in the ROPME (Regional Organisation for the Protection of the Marine Environment) Sea Area (RSA). The RSA, extends from the Gulf to the Arabian Sea coast of Oman, and is bordered by 8 member states, including some of the world’s richest and fastest growing global economies. There are 173 MPAs covering 7.8% of the RSA (36,182.03 km2). Progress towards CBD MPA targets is lower as: (i) stated area coverages often include a terrestrial component; (ii) only 37% are legally ‘Designated’ (5.4% RSA), while 73% remain ‘Proposed’ (2.4% RSA) and; (iii) assessment of management effectiveness revealed variable levels of performance (11% to 58%, with an average of 34%). Underlying causes for low performance are discussed and recommendations are offered to help RSA member states meet CBD MPA targets by 2020.