Conservative Public Policy Research Articles

Factors of influences in legal reserve areas in the brazilian Amazon

This work aims to analyze future trends through influence factors on the areas of Legal Reserve (RL). The modeling of the data was using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) based on Multiple Linear Regression analysis (RML) using a time series 2003-20023 between variables generating explanatory factors of future influences the area RL. The results of the coefficient of determination (R²) showed 60%, demonstrating the existence of a relationship between the independent variables X1 to X25 with the variables A_RL response and analysis of variance with F = 76.519 with significance value of 0.000, indicating that ANOVA rejects the event there is no regression. Thus each factor of influence or explanatory acted in association with the variables and produced a RML equation with the response variable A_RL = 3.277 to 0.207 (p-0.023) use of traditional land - 0.346 (p-0.000) income / credit + 0 , 43 (p-0.000) occupation time + 2.007 (p-0.000) Hand effective work + 0.109 education (p-0.230 ** not significant) - 0.727 (p-0.000) area - 0.207 (p-0.024) agroecological practices + 0.343 (p-0.000) ownership. We conclude that most of the factors was significant indicating the need for improving the socioeconomic nature of factors, mainly the education, income / credit and titration which resulted in the adoption of more appropriate environmental conservation public policies combined with agricultural production more sustainable.

Mapping Cerrado remnants in an anthropized landscape in southeast Brazil

In the eastern São Paulo state, Brazil, a disjoint tropical savanna (Cerrado) site occurs in Vale do Paraíba Paulista. Considering the degradation of Cerrado in the region and that currently LULC mapping is not accurate enough to properly map Cerrado vegetation in an anthropized landscape, we aimed to locate Cerrado remnants in the region and to evaluate the conservation status of these remnants and its main anthropic pressures. We hypothesized that Cerrado pacthes in Vale do Paraíba Paulista were small, irregular in shape, disconnected from each other, and threatened by agriculture and urban expansion, which we found. We also expected that woody formations of Cerrado would predominate in the region, what we observed. Different Cerrado formations covered an area of 3153.35 ha in Vale do Paraíba Paulista, only about 1.5% of original extension, and remnants located within private properties. This study highlighted Cerrado occurrence in Vale do Paraíba Paulista and the need for conservation public policies for this biome in the region.

Do media reports reflect the real threats to wildlife?

The media generates public consensus, acting as a driver of public policies. In the Anthropocene biodiversity crisis, the role of the media is critical in generating public engagement on conservation public policies. In this study, we aimed to compare the frequency of threats to deer species in media reports with the threats' relevance indicated by experts in the IUCN assessments. For this purpose, we created a ranking of threats importance based on IUCN assessments. In addition, we created a ranking of threats frequency on reports from media, obtained through the “news” tool from Google from 2011 to 2021. We compared both rankings with a kappa agreement test and found different levels of agreement from non-significant agreement to moderate to high agreement, according to the taxonomic group analyzed. With some exceptions, we were able to observe that the main threats described at IUCN assessments coincide with what is reported by the media. However, threats associated with diseases, low reproductive efficiency and population sustainability are underreported. As these threats are somehow invisible to the general public, it may lead to deficiencies in conservation actions that prevent or mitigate the impact of epidemics, inbreeding depression and genetic drift. These specific gaps between the rankings should be the focus of future conservation science popularization activities and cooperation between academics and journalists.

Architectural Heritage at Estacion Central Commune (Chile): Towards a Sustainable Conservation

Under a neoliberal policy established since the seventies, Santiago de Chile has faced the huge consequences of an accelerated urban sprawl, related to population increase and unlimited horizontal and vertical growth. In recent decades, architectural heritage has not been considered as a central factor in Santiago’s urban development. The lack of attention towards heritage can be observed in this capital city. Estación Central commune is located at Santiago’s central area, attached to the city’s historical center. This commune reflects the recent effects of Santiago’s urban transformations, with no consideration regarding constructed memory. The origin of this neighborhood, is related to the location of the first capital city train station, in the middle of the 19th century. Local heritage is composed, in consequence, by residential and industrial buildings of that time. Nowadays, this heritage can be seen in a complex conservation state, abandoned and neglected. In recent years, several non-listed historical sites of this commune, have been demolished. Non-strong legal preservation framework was established, and construction regulations were permissive. In recent months the explosive construction of high density buildings in this commune has reached local authorities opinion and national press. Non-quality apartments of reduced surfaces are progressively replacing and erasing the historical tissue of this area. The lack of an adequate heritage policy is related to this process: in fact, Estación Central commune has only 12 listed buildings in its whole territory of 1 550 hectares. Chilean preservation policy works around a monumental heritage concept. Lower scale architecture remains, often, outside the preservation framework. Also, monumental, but not yet identified historical buildings remain out of legal protection. The absence of a sustainable urban policy in Chile related to architectural heritage conservation, has led to historical buildings’ deterioration and demolition. Linking cultural heritage with urban planning, is nowadays a pending challenge. Conservation public policies should start from the knowledge of local cities urban memory. Understanding the past, could lead us to project its future. New ways of dealing with constructed memory should be proposed, in order to reach a new equilibrium related to our collective memory. This article analyses the amnesic phenomenon in progress at Estación Central, and identifies non-listed heritage existing in this commune, as a first step for its valorization.

Factors controlling shrub encroachment in subtropical montane systems

AbstractAimWe aimed to assess the effects of temperature rise and neighbour removal on growth and performance of juvenile individuals of Baccharis uncinella shrubs in a montane grassland. We hypothesized that removal of neighbouring grasses and increased air temperature would enhance B. uncinella growth.LocationHigh‐elevation forest–grassland patches, southern Brazil.MethodsAn experiment with factorial design was carried out from Aug 2014 to Sept 2015 using air temperature and neighbour removal as factors with two levels each. Air temperature was increased using acrylic open‐top chambers (OTC). For the neighbour removal treatment we removed neighbouring grasses from 30 cm around randomly selected B. uncinella juveniles. Survival, growth and plant physiological status were assessed at the end of the experiment.ResultsPlants with OTCs grew more than plants without them. Neighbour removal did not have a significant effect on plant growth. These data suggest that an increase in temperature may enhance encroachment of B. uncinella in the studied grasslands, and that neighbour grasses may act as facilitators for B. uncinella shrubs by improving water balance.ConclusionsConsidering the capacity of B. uncinella to expand from forest edges towards grasslands, it is likely that montane grasslands in southern Brazil will be subject to B. uncinella encroachment within the next decades. The potential synergistic – negative – effects of global warming and habitat loss might jeopardize the high biodiversity of this ecosystem. Specific management actions and conservation public policies are needed to protect this already threatened montane system.

Desigualdad de género y políticas públicas en áreas naturales protegidas

Este trabajo discute la forma en que se visualiza ladesigualdad de género en los procesos de desarrolloen el Ejido Luis Encinas Johnson localizado dentrodel municipio de San Luis Río Colorado Sonora,en la parte sureste del Valle Agrícola de Mexicali,área natural protegida caracterizada por políticaspúblicas en contradicción, una de conservación yotra de desarrollo humano. Se reflexiona sobre losimpactos sociales, económicos y ambientales que lazona de estudio ha presentado como consecuenciade su declaración como área natural protegida, reconocimientoque vino a transformar la visión de laspolíticas públicas de conservación y el papel quedeben cumplir los ejidatarios que viven en ella, especialmentelas mujeres cabeza de familia, que sesienten excluidas por los programas públicos queallí se desarrollan por su condición de mujeres.

Medicinal plants at Rio Jauaperi, Brazilian Amazon: Ethnobotanical survey and environmental conservation

Study backgroundThe Amazon basin is a mosaic of different environments. Flooded riparian and upland forests play a significant role for the establishment of human settlements. Riparian communities in the Amazon have evolved depending on the use of plants applied for therapeutic purposes, thus developing important knowledge about their management and preparation. Aim of the studyThis paper describes and analyzes the use and management of medicinal plants in order to establish links to environmental conservation. The categorization of habitats of occurrence and categories of diseases were held in five riparian communities at Rio Jauaperi, in the border between Roraima and Amazonas states in Brazil. The study sight is poorly investigated in terms of scientific research. Materials and methodsQuantitative and qualitative ethnobotanical field inquiries and analytical methods including observations, individual and focus group discussions, individual interviews, preference ranking by free listing tasks, guided tours and community mapping were applied. Sutrop's cognitive salience index was applied in order to check the most important ethnospecies and diseases. The survey was conducted from February to December 2012. ResultsA total of 62 informants were interviewed, resulting in 119 botanical species documented. The most salient medicinal species are usually wide distributed and recognized transculturally. Arboreal habit was the most important corresponding to 47% of total species used. The most frequent accessed environments were terra-firme (upland forest), vargeado (flooded forest), poultry (regenerating forest) and restinga (seasonally flooded forest) which together provides 59% of the total medicinal plant species. Exotic species played a secondary role with only 20% of the total. Thirty seven percent of the species were cultivated. Plants at homegardens are usually associated with children's or women's disease. Xixuaú is the community with improved ability to environmental preservation using more forestry species. The most worrying disease was malaria. Biomedical assistance is precarious in the region and many diseases and healing rituals are culturally built. ConclusionsEthnobotanical surveys of medicinal plants can indicate the level of biodiversity conservation and human health by integrating social and ecological analytical elements. Considering a predominance of management for subsistence, the higher richness of native medicinal species availability indicates that biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge are better preserved. The methods applied here might contribute for the decision-making process regarding conservation public policies and medical assistance in remote areas of the Amazon basin.

Investigaciones científicas en el Parque Nacional Isla del Coco y aguas adyacentes del Pacífico de Costa Rica

<p>This Special Issue of the Revista de Biología Tropical, “Scientific Research at Isla del Coco National Park and Adjacent Waters, Pacific Costa Rica” (Volume 64, Supplement 1, 2016) contains 20 papers, with topics ranging from atmospheric sciences to an analysis of conservation public policies, including also papers on physical oceanography, chemistry, botany and marine biodiversity of Isla del Coco National Park, its adjacent waters and regions between the continent and the island. The 20 papers were written by 54 authors, including 15 students, from 13 national and international institutions. The manuscripts were reviewed by more than 75 researchers to whom I am greatly thankful. (The list of reviewers is presented at the end; several requested to remain anonymous.) Their corrections, suggestions and comments greatly contributed to improve the papers. Most of the publications are the product of research projects funded by the Vice-rectory for Research of the University of Costa Rica, the French Fund for the World Environment, the National Council of Rectors of the Public Universities of Costa Rica (CONARE), Conservation International, the Undersea Hunter Group, and other funding agencies. I acknowledge the unconditional support, once more, of the Revista de Biología Tropical. The publication of this Special Issue was possible thanks to the financial contributions by the Costa Rican National Academy of Science, the Undersea Hunter Group, the Pristine Seas Project (National Geographic Society, thanks to Enric Sala), and Conservation International (CI). Finally, I want to thank each and every one of the authors for contributing with their manuscripts for this new Special Issue on scientific research at Isla del Coco National Park and its surrounding waters. I hope that this Special Issue, as well as the previous ones, contributes to increase awareness of the importance of Isla del Coco for Costa Rica and the entire world.</p><div> </div>

Aceptación de políticas de conservación ambiental: el caso de la Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca

Este artículo analiza, con base en el ejemplo de la Reserva de las Biosfera Mariposa Monarca, las razones de los resultados de las iniciativas para promover la aceptación de políticas públicas de conservación ambiental. Se describen los problemas y se ofrece un marco de análisis de los conflictos entre los actores interesados en los recursos naturales. Finalmente se presenta la evaluación de dos intentos por establecer plataformas de coordinación y negociación.

White Nationalism, Black Interests: Conservative Public Policy and the Black Community

White Nationalism, Black Interests: Conservative Public Policy and the Black Community. By Ronald W. Walters. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2003. 360p. 26.95 paper.Ronald W. Walters dislikes the direction that race relations have taken in the present-day United States. In his book, he portrays race relations as a war between the radical conservative wing of the Republican Party and blacks. It goes without saying which group has been losing. It is a story told quite starkly with few nuances or nagging caveats—as the title suggests. The reader feels immediately the depth of Walters's anguish, and the strength of his argument builds as he lays out example after example.

White nationalists, black interests: conservative public policy and the black community

White nationalists, black interests: conservative public policy and the black community

Why did they do it?: The Conservatives and mass higher education, 1979–97

UK higher education was transformed in several respects during the 18 years of the last Conservative government (1979–97). The authors analyse the key changes in terms of the shift from a ‘post-Robbins’ to a ‘post-Baker’ system, the latter based upon dramatic expansion, modified patterns of participation, and the ending of the ‘binary line’. They then demonstrate that progress towards this end was neither linear nor uniform, and that the government entered office with a set of priorities (termed Policy A - reaching its height in the mid-1980s) which were rapidly overturned in the period 1987–1992. The revised approach (Policy B) is examined from the point of view of legislation, the motives of the key actors, and its fit with other aspects of Conservative public policy (on markets, accountability, state control and public expenditure). The anxieties and ambivalence of the ‘Conservative mind’ on higher education is connected with wider ideological inconsistencies, and offered as a part-explanation of both the retrospective doubts of policy-makers and the break-down of their relationship with representatives of the sector.