Concession Management Research Articles

Forestry Sector Corruption and Oligarchy: A Case Study of the Laman Kinipan Indigenous People, Central Kalimantan

Corruption is a serious problem in the rule of law development and sustainable development efforts. Law enforcement for weak environmental destroyers. On the other hand, the corruption process that is conducted involves a very strong power network and has impunity. This paper used a socio-legal based legal research method. Corruption in the forestry sector in Indonesia not only harms the state financially, but also creates environmental degradation that has an impact on human rights violations for the Laman Kinipan indigenous people. The Laman Kinipan indigenous people as victims of environmental damage have the right to get a solution from the perspective of being victims of environmental damage, both in the context of criminology, access to responsibility and accountability for environmental damage, then the impact of community sociology recovery, ensuring for perpetrators of environmental damage receive appropriate sanctions, as well as recovery in a collective sense. An effective anti-corruption mechanism with programs and compliance intended for business people and the government in preventing bribery corruption in the licensing sector, especially for PT.SML and the concession management circle at Laman Kinipan. Strengthening the concept of strict liability is a very strategic option in this era of industrialization to prevent environmental damage from corruption in the forestry sector.

Concession use to improve the housing and communal services efficiency

Among the main reasons hindering the housing and communal complex development in Ukraine are the physically and morally outdated material and technical base, inefficient management structure and a significant share of state ownership. The lack of proper control over the tariff policy and the high cost of production make it necessary to find the new approaches to solving the problems related to the housing and communal services functioning. Attracting private investors to the housing and communal services makes it possible to reduce the financial burden on the budget, and also gives a possibility to make the enterprises that make up the housing and communal services profitable and ensure the provision of proper quality public services. Transfer use of housing and communal services enterprises to the concession management is a fairly effective form of public-private cooperation in this area. Housing and communal services are an important tool for improving the living standards of the population. Ensuring the housing and communal services efficiency growth is possible only if it is technically modernized. The solution to this problem can be achieved by attracting private investors to the industry, at the same time, the state should provide favorable conditions for these investors.

СУЧАСНІ АСПЕКТИ ФІНАНСОВОГО ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ ІНВЕСТИЦІЙНОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ НА ЗАСАДАХ ДЕРЖАВНО-ПРИВАТНОГО ПАРТНЕРСТВА

The article considers modern aspects of financial support of investment activities on the basis of public-private partnership. The expediency of using one of the key forms of public-private partnership -concessions in the process of financial support of investment activities of state and communal economic entities is substantiated. The existence of a significant impact of the mechanism of transformation of the movement of financial resources as a result of concession relations, the practical implementationof which allows to obtain a significant economic effect for the national economy and the state budget. Financial support of their investment and innovation development. The extremely important role of the state in the process of financialsupport of investment activities on the basis of public-private partnership is emphasized. Taking into account the existing approaches of scientists and practitioners to the interpretation of the essence of the categories "state regulation", "state regulation of innovation development" the author's interpretation of the definition "state regulation of innovative development of concession activity" is proposed as a component of concession management system. Increasing financial and economic security.The necessity to singleout among the main tasks of the mechanism of state regulation of financial support of investment and innovation development of concession activity such tasks as: development of financial and economic relations of concession subjects is substantiated; providing practical orientation of research works; innovative renewal of production facilities of concession facilities.The existence of a systemic impact of financial support of investment activities on the basis of public-private partnership on the trajectory of future socio-economic development of the country is proved.

Impacts of certification, uncertified concessions, and protected areas on forest loss in Cameroon, 2000 to 2013

Deforestation and forest fragmentation are leading drivers of biodiversity loss. Protected areas have been the leading conservation policy response, yet their scale and scope remain inadequate to meet biodiversity conservation targets. Managed forest concessions increasingly have been recognized as a complement to protected areas in meeting conservation targets. Similarly, programs for voluntary third-party certification of concession management aim to create incentives for logging companies to manage forests more sustainably. Rigorous evidence on the impacts from large-scale certification programs is thereby critical, yet detailed field observations are limited, temporally and spatially. Remotely-sensed data, in contrast, can provide repeated observations over time and at a fine spatial scale, albeit with less detail. Using the Global Forest Change dataset, we examine annual forest loss in Cameroon during 2000–2013 to assess the impact of Forest Stewardship Council certification, as well as uncertified logging concessions and national parks. We use panel regressions that control for the effects of unobserved factors that vary across space or time. We find low forest loss inside the boundaries of each management intervention, with <1% lost over the study period. Yet those low levels of loss appear to be influenced more by a site's proximity to drivers of deforestation, such as distances to population centers or roads, than by national parks, uncertified concessions, or certification. The exception is that if a site faces high deforestation pressure, uncertified logging concessions appear to reduce forest loss. This may reflect private companies' incentives to protect rights to forest use. Such an influence of private logging companies could provide a foundation for future impacts from certification upon rates of forest loss, at least within areas that are facing elevated deforestation pressures.

Planning and concession management under port co-operation schemes: A multiple case study of Italian port mergers

Recent governance reforms have driven many ports to introduce innovative co-operation schemes, including the merger of Port Authorities (PAs). Port merger is generally characterized by a certain level of complexity due to the challenges that ports must face within the most critical management processes affected by port amalgamation.This paper aims to identify and analyse the main challenges that might emerge within two of these critical processes: port planning and concession management. This study undertakes a multiple case study analysis of two newly merged PAs: Genoa-Savona, as the major multi-site gateway port in Italy, and Naples-Salerno, which was renamed as the PA of the Central Tyrrhenian Sea.The main findings of both case studies emphasize the existence of challenging areas that may result in either opportunities or threats, which can also depend on the managerial skills of PA organizations.

Assessment of Passengers’ Satisfaction and Service Quality in Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA2), Lagos, Nigeria: Application of SERVQUAL Model

SERVQUAL model was used to assess passengers’ satisfaction and service quality in the domestic terminal of Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA2), Lagos, Nigeria. This airport is the only concessioned airport terminal in Nigeria, and it facilitates major domestic air travel in Nigeria. The study adopts primary data collected with questionnaire instrument through purposive sampling technique. One hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires were distributed to domestic passengers in MMA2 and 114 questionnaires were returned valid for data analysis and reporting. The most prioritized airport services were encapsulated in the reliability service quality attribute. The study reveals that there is need to improve the standard of facilities for the physically impaired at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2). The respondents of MMA2 were satisfied with the reliability service attribute; however, respondents were not satisfied with other service attributes. This might be as a result of the fact that there is high expectation on the quality of service in MMA2 being managed under concession management strategy which is referred to as expectancy disconfirmation model. The respondents were satisfied with the overall level of service quality delivered in MMA2.

Enforcing the rules in timber concessions: Performance bonding in the presence of corruption risk

Performance bonding is a common method to enforce logging standards and timber contract rules, yet their applications in tropical concessions are still uncommon, with prohibitively high cost of capital, imperfect enforcement, risk of corruption, and long payback periods cited as reasons. In the face of these factors, we derive conditions for a feasible bond scheme and the amount of additional insurance a landowner can ask from a harvester in the form of a higher than strictly needed bond payment. We then determine the effect of confiscation risk on the feasibility of bond schemes, with this risk stemming from the presence of a corrupt inspector and taking the form of either collusive or non-collusive corruption. We show that confiscation risk can seriously limit the range of possible bond payments and the effects differ between the corruption types. An empirical example evaluates these results in the context of enforcement of reduced impact logging techniques in tropical concession management. The results will help governments better apply bond schemes and in particular adjust them in the presence of risks and external constraints.

The monetisation of assets through concession and applicability in the sector of energy in Bosnia and Herzegovina

IntroductionDue to the lack of investment funds the economies of many countries are often in unfavorable and seemingly hopeless situations, where incomes are insufficient for necessary new investment, which slows the growth of capital and production and finally results in slowing of the income growth. Such economic situation is very difficult and depressing, and the way out of this situation is not easy and requires adequate knowledge and hard work.One of the possible way-outs is through new investments, which can change and direct a vicious circle of this situation towards the revival and development of the economy and overall society. The question is how to acquire new investments, i.e. how to ensure the necessary funds for this purpose?In this regard, the governments have an important task, especially in providing funds, which is not easy.Public infrastructure in many countries, because of their high value, may be the basis for new investments, because this potential can be exploited so that the existing resources and assets available in the network industries can provide fresh money. This can be achieved by of assets through concessions. The government's funding source of increased importance is the monetization or insuring the cash flow from existing public assets. Revenues made by the may be used for: new infrastructure funds directly, or for other purposes. On the other hand, this process is a good opportunity for the government to gain the capacity of new technologies, increase production and exports, achieve stability in the energy system, and to avoid possible risks of worn out and technologically obsolete capacities or losses, etc. A new concession management structures, in partnership with the public sector, with an agreed concession fee, receive infrastructure to manage, which in long-term involves: investment, exploitation, maintenance, sale of services and all other that is related to the specific activity and agreement.The process of has to take in account large interests of stakeholders, this is especially true for the public sector, concessionaires, financial institutions and service users. Their interests are different, but they are strongly connected to each other. The implemented project which presented in this paper (page 4.) and experiences of countries show different interests of stakeholders and main reason for 44 Journal of Economic and Social Studies through concessions in network industries. These practical examples of projects and results of research presented in book Achievement in Finance of Infrastructure, PFI/PPP, Izet Bajrambasic, 2004, (chapter: Participants and the interest of the participants in the PPP Projects) give very clear explanation of stakeholders different interests.The interests of the public sector are: new financial resources, continuous provision of public services, faster development of infrastructure and economy, allocation of risks, safety in the delivery of public services, quality of services, market competition and others.Interests of concessionaires are: long-term investments, an increase in the volume of business, applying experience and knowledge in the field of work, protection of property and copyright, freedom of financial transfers and alike.The interests of financial institutions are: long-term borrowings, safety in money return (guarantees for the return of money) and to ensure the priorities of payments compared to other costs in the operational work of the concessionaire.The interests of service users are: to have developed network industry (infrastructure) and services, to have adequate service quality and price, to have the option of investing in these industries and alike.Interests of all stakeholders must be met, achieved and to be sustainable for a longer period of time, because it is the greatest guarantee for the success of the project. …

The Development of the Concession Project Management Mechanisms in Regions

The article reviews the main issues and perspectives of the public-private partnerships in the Russian Federation. The aim of the work is to optimize the region concession project management system for the subject of the Russian federation on basis of the instantiation of concession procedure. The authors suggest the algorithm of concession organization in Perm Krai (region of Russia), taking into account the main components of the concession project management system such as: the objectives, the concept, the objects, the subjects, the factors and the toolset. The main attention is paid on the methodical recommendations on the integral efficiency of the concession project management in the conditions of the economic and social region development. The suggested approach to the region concession management mechanism can be used by the region government to work out the management strategies of concession projects and make out the normative methodical base.

Using the regression estimator with Landsat data to estimate proportion forest cover and net proportion deforestation in Gabon

Forest cover maps were produced for the Gabonese Agency for Space Studies and Observations (AGEOS) for 1990, 2000 and 2010 for an area of approximately 102,000km2 corresponding to 38% of the total area of Gabon and representative of the range of human pressure on forest resources. The maps were constructed using a combination of a semi-automated classification procedure and manual enhancements to ensure the greatest possible accuracy. A two-stage area frame sampling approach was adopted to collect reference data for assessing the accuracy of the forest cover maps and to estimate proportion forest cover and net proportion deforestation. A total of 251 2×2km segments or primary sample units (PSUs) were visually interpreted by a team of photo-interpreters independently from the map production team to produce a reference dataset representing about 1% of the study area. Paired observations were extracted from the forest cover map and the reference data for a random selection of 50 secondary sample units (SSUs) in the form of pixels within each PSU. Overall map accuracies were greater than 95%. PSU and SSU outputs were used to estimate proportion forest cover and net proportion deforestation using both direct expansion and model-assisted regression (MAR) estimators. All proportion forest cover estimates were similar, but the variances of the MAR estimates were smaller than variances for the direct expansion estimates by factors as great as 50. In addition, SSU-level estimates had standard errors slightly greater than those of PSU-level estimates, but the differences were small, particularly when auxiliary variables were obtained from forest cover maps. Therefore, a two-stage sampling approach was justified for collecting a reliable forest cover reference dataset for estimating proportion forest cover area and net proportion deforestation. Finally, despite large overall map accuracies, net proportion deforestation estimates obtained from the maps alone can be misleading as indicated by the finding that the MAR estimates, which included adjustment for bias estimates, were twice the non-adjusted map estimates for the periods 1990–2000 and 1990–2010. The results confirmed the expected generally small level of net deforestation for Gabon. However, loss of forest cover appears to have almost stopped in the last 10years. One explanation could be the creation of national parks and the implementation of forest concession management plans from 2000 onward, but this should be further explored.

Exogenous Determinants for Renegotiating Public Infrastructure Concessions: Evidence from Portugal

Renegotiations are frequently perceived as the Achilles’ heel of concessions. After two decades of concessions development, empirical evidence suggests a recurrent need to renegotiate contracts. What drives renegotiation? Why does it occur? What are the results? The literature still lacks data on renegotiation patterns and on its main causes and results, thus not answering these questions. This paper intends to fulfill this gap by identifying some of the key determinants of renegotiations and presenting the main results. Using an econometric analysis on a real database of 87 Portuguese concessions, the research identified some variables that help explaining the high probability of renegotiation, such as the concession duration and investment, or the existence of a regulator when the contract was signed. The research also found empirical evidence of the high costs involved in renegotiations, as well as of poor control and poor management of concessions by the government.

Towards more equitable terms of cooperation: local people's contribution to commercial timber concessions

The mixed outcomes of seemingly well-intentioned partnerships that try to create mutually beneficial agreements between local communities and private firms remain a puzzle. This study looks for answers to this puzzle by reviewing a large number of empirical studies in a wide variety of contexts. The kinds of local skills and expertise that are important for good timber concession management, how local people and concession managers can construct mutually profitable relationships, the most effective strategies used by communities to defend their claims in conflicts with private firms, and the types of public policies that are supportive of more equitable terms of cooperation in forest concession management are issues that were examined in the review. Institutional arrangements that regulate the relationship between local communities and forest concessionaires, and particularly the distribution of de jure property rights, help explain the mixed results. Less conclusive evidence exists with regards to community perspectives on concession-community relationships. The study concludes by suggesting future directions for research and discusses the implications of the findings for public policy.

The Strategic Planning Level Annual Allowable Cut for the Cambodian Forest Concession Management: a case study in the Northern Part, Preah Vihear province

The Strategic Planning Level Annual Allowable Cut for the Cambodian Forest Concession Management: a case study in the Northern Part, Preah Vihear province

The persistence and conservation of Borneo's mammals in lowland rain forests managed for timber: observations, overviews and opportunities

AbstractLowland rainforests on Borneo are being degraded and lost at an alarming rate. Studies on mammals report species responding in various ways to habitat changes that occur in commercial forestry concessions. Here we draw together information on the relationship between the ecological, evolutionary, and biogeographic characteristics of selected Bornean non‐volant mammals, and their response to timber harvesting and related impacts. Only a minority of species show markedly reduced densities after timber harvesting. Nonetheless there are many grounds for concern as various processes can, and often do, reduce the viability of wildlife populations. Our review of what we know, and of current understanding, helps predict mammalian dynamics and subsequent mammal‐induced ecosystem changes in logged forests. We identify groups of mammal species that, although largely unstudied, are unlikely to tolerate the impacts associated with timber harvesting. On a positive note we find and suggest many relatively simple and low‐cost ways in which concession management practices might be modified so as to improve the value of managed forests for wildlife conservation. Improving forest management can play a vital role in maintaining the rich biodiversity of Borneo's tropical rain forests.

Seasonal variations in black‐faced black spider monkey (Ateles chamek) habitat use and ranging behavior in a southern Amazonian tropical forest

Data are presented regarding the habitat use and ranging behavior of a spider monkey (Ateles chamek) community at Lago Caiman in northeastern Bolivia. Habitat use was driven primarily by fruit availability and distribution across the community home range. Strong seasonal variations occurred in fruit availability within all five of the floristically and phenologically distinct habitat types identified within the study site, and the spider monkeys dramatically shifted their ranging according to which habitat was richest in fleshy fruits. This use of local habitat diversity resulted in an unusually elongated shape for the home range that was otherwise typical of previous Ateles studies in terms of size. Ranging behavior was clumped and community core areas shifted seasonally across the focal community home range. Individual core areas were not relevant to the study due to dramatic community-wide shifts in ranging patterns. Day journey lengths were highly variable (460-5,690 m) and the distribution and abundance of fleshy fruit resources explained 81% of the monthly variations in mean day journey length. Keystone habitats for forest frugivores are identified and results are discussed with reference to previous studies on this genus, and the importance of considering keystone habitats and local habitat diversity within the management of forestry concessions in the region. Results are also discussed with reference to the behavioral ecology of the genus Ateles.

Seasonal Variations in Diet and Foraging Behavior of Ateles chamek in a Southern Amazonian Tropical Forest

I present data regarding the diet and feeding ecology of a spider monkey community at Lago Caiman in northeastern Bolivia. The community was highly frugivorous, only consuming significant amounts of folivorous material during times of relative fruit resource scarcity. Spider monkeys fed on parts of 86 plant species, but the majority of the diet comprised a few dominant fleshy fruit species that were available at temporally distinct periods across the year. Accordingly, I identified candidate keystone resources for the region and discuss the results with reference to previous studies on Ateles and the importance of considering keystone fruit resources in the management of forestry concessions.

FORESTRY SECTOR REFORM AND DISTRIBUTIONAL CHANGE OF NATURAL RESOURCE RENT IN INDONESIA

After the collapse of the centralized Soeharto regime, deforestation caused by over-logging accelerated. To tackle this problem, an IMF/World Bank-led forestry sector reform program adopted a market-friendly approach involving the resumption of round wood exports and raising of the resource rent fee, with the aim to stop rent accumulation by plywood companies, which had enjoyed a supply of round wood at privileged prices. The Indonesian government, for its part, decentralized the forest concession management system to provide incentives for local governments and communities to carry out sustainable forest management. However, neither policy reform worked effectively. The round wood export ban was reimposed and the forest management system centralized again with cooperation from a newly funded industry-led institution. In the midst of the confusion surrounding the policy reversal, the gap between the price of round wood in international and domestic markets failed to contract, although rent allocations to plywood companies were reduced during 1998–2003. The rents were not collected properly by the government, but accumulated unexpectedly in the hands of players in the black market for round wood.

A contextual investigation of the operation and management of airport concessions

Effective management of airport concessions has recently been considered an important variable for better performance of airports. This study examines the airport concession sector, the important attributes of concession for the increase of profit and customer satisfaction, effective methods of concession management, and various components of contracts between lessee (concessionaire) and lessor (airport authority). A small group survey of 12 experts in airport concessions reveals that location, price level, brand name and image, product quality, and service level are the most important characteristics of concession operation for both profit maximization and customer satisfaction. The master-concessionaire approach is found to be the most appropriate method of managing airport concessions, and related implications for contracts are discussed.

Underpricing and Overexploitation of Tropical Forests

Abstract Forest pricing policies for tropical timber and forest concessions can play an important role in the management, conservation, and preservation of tropical forests. The paper draws on regional studies of forest revenue systems and forest concession arrangements, country case studies, and studies in individual countries of West and Central Africa and South East Asia (Grut, Gray, and Egli, 1991; Gray and Hadi, 1989; Gray and Hadi, 1990; and Gray, 1983). Forest pricing and concession management policies, problems, and experiences in individual countries are examined, common problems and experiences highlighted, and alternatives identified. From these, the elements of a forest pricing and concession management system which supports sustainable management, efficient utilization, and forest renewal are developed.

Golf Tournament Concession Management

Golf Tournament Concession Management