Exploitation Of Environmental Resources Research Articles

Institutions and environmental resource extraction within local communities in Mozambique

Scholars contend that governance structure, whether community-facilitated or state-facilitated natural resource management, shape environmental resource use. However, the complex manifestations of institutions and governance structure suggest the need for a continual application of mixed-method analytical approaches to understand the environmental resource use outcomes linked to individual effects and the interaction of both state- and community-based governance structure. This paper addresses the current lacunae, by quantitatively analyzing the effects of community-facilitated and state-facilitated natural resource management on the exploitation of environmental resources in rural Mozambique. The common pool resource literature holds that community-based institutions either countervail or complement state institutions. We examine this hypothesis by introducing an interaction term to test for the dominance of one type of institution over another. We use heteroscedasticity-based instrumental variables estimation and data collected from 238 households in seven villages of the Mangalane community, located in the Gaza province. These data were complemented by key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The results reveal the following: (i) both the community-facilitated natural resource management and the interaction term play a significant role in constraining participation in environmental resource extraction; (ii) community-facilitated natural resource management are among the important drivers of relative environmental income; and (iii) although community-facilitated natural resource management show a positive and highly significant influence in shaping environmental resource extraction, state-facilitated natural resource management dominance is prevalent in this context. This paper not only sheds light on the relative influence of both community-facilitated and state-facilitated natural resource management, it also provides useful insights for future studies on institutional change in resource management settings of Africa.

PECULIARITY OF THE LEGAL RELATIONSHIP OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

The possibilities of man to turn natural resources into sources of profit have led the legislator and the right, in general, to resort to much tougher regulations in the field of environmental protection, this could not be possible without knowing precisely the nature of the legal relationship that would lay the basis for subsequent regulations, and in the doctrinal plan it and today suffers from numerous criticisms, debates and controversies. However, one thing is for certain, the relationship of the environment is one of the particular, double-side, where, on the one hand, it regulates the relations between people are established on the occasion of the use, protection, conservation and development, environmental factors, and by the other hand, it requires the modeling of the principles of the other areas of the law with which they come in contact with, and this is asked for a better connectivity and efficiency in the plan for the defense of the values of the environment, the most valuable in the world is on the verge of collapse, natural. In this sense, the realities of today show that the twentieth century is the time of the greatest discoveries and transformations of civilization, but also the most complex and sometimes unintended effects on life. Not long ago, renewable natural resources of the Earth, would be sufficient for the needs of humanity, but for now, as a result of the population explosion, and the unprecedented development of all areas of the business, the demand for raw materials and energy for the production of goods has increased greatly, and the intensive exploitation of natural resources show more obviously, an ecological imbalance. In the context of large-scale changes that can jeopardize the quality of the environment, it is necessary to consider the intentions underlying the exploitation of environmental resources, emerging from the alarming situation that can no longer be tolerated, risking the survival and existence of the human species.

When creation is sacred: restoring the indigenous Jesus

This article argues that the dominant culture perception of indigenous peoples remains intimately woven with dominant culture beliefs about the environment. Taber-Hamilton asserts that if the environment is viewed as expendable within a model of colonial consumerism, then indigenous peoples who inhabit colonized spaces are viewed as expendable, as part of the cooptation and exploitation of environmental resources. Taber-Hamilton provides case examples that emphasize the critical need for establishing collaborative partnerships with indigenous communities for effective environmental justice advocacy. Providing a perspective of Christian theology through the lens of the indigenous environmental context, Taber-Hamilton concludes with advances in relationships between the Episcopal Church and indigenous peoples. She advocates that effective relationships with indigenous communities require a decolonized Christian faith that restores the indigenous Jesus to the landscape of theological reflection, a restoration that benefits both faith-based environmental advocacy and the Church’s relationship with indigenous peoples.

Batu Cave: Prehistoric Occupation Of Meratus Mountains, South Kalimantan

Preliminary studies in the karst hills of the Meratus Mountains in Kotabaru Regency found rock-shelters and caves that were indicated to have traces of prehistoric dwellings. One of them is Batu Cave which is in Batangkulur village, Kelumpang Barat district. This article discusses the results of excavations carried out in Batu Cave in 2018. The problems raised on proof of occupancy and how human life in the past in Batu Cave. Archaeological data were obtained from excavations by using test-pit at two different locations. The excavation findings analyses are quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative analysis was carried out to find out the quantity of findings. The qualitative analysis includes an initial classification, which divides archeological data according to the type, form and style. The results show that Batu Cave are cave dwelling with living activities that rely on the surrounding resources. Exploitation of environmental resources is seen in the use of several types of terrestrial fauna and water as one of the main food sources. Various types of tools were made using rocks, as well as bones and shells.

ICT-based Strategies for Environmental Conflicts

The special issue on ICT-based strategies for environmental conflicts contains four peer-reviewed articles devoted to the analysis of multi-agents decision problems arising from the exploitation of environmental resources, and where Information and Communications Technologies are crucial for the design and the implementation of environmental policies. In this short presentation of the special issue, the Guest Editors provide a brief summary of the contributed papers, together with some insights gained from their original motivations and main results.

EXPLOITATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND RURAL COMMUNITIES BY GLOBAL FOOD COMPANIES

Globalization is determined by creation and growth of global capital markets for goods and services at international trade and environment level. In year 2013, the total food sales of the top 100 food companies in the world amounted to US$ 1,332,070 million. The headquarters of these companies are established in 20 different countries in 6 different geographical areas. The food sales comprised of 39 % from North America, 32 % from Europe, 21 % from Eastern Asia, % 3 from South America, 3 % from Nordic, and 2 % from Oceania. Globalization potentially creates monopolies. Most of the literatures on environmental issues indicate that these companies increase their profits in three ways: cheap labour, unethical policies, exploitation of environmental resources.

Perspectivas Teóricas dos Conflitos Socioambientais no Campo do Desenvolvimento

O contexto atual, marcado pela inspiração econômica desenvolvimentista no discurso do Estado e pela disputa corporativa empresarial em torno da exploração dos recursos ambientais, impõe a necessidade da discussão acerca da interação sociedade-natureza. A partir dessa constatação, este artigo tem como objetivo discutir as principais perspectivas teóricas em relação à dualidade entre o conflito pelos recursos e o argumento desenvolvimentista.

Describing avifaunal richness with functional and structural bioindicators derived from advanced airborne remotely sensed data

We investigate whether the richness of distinct avian guilds (species grouped together based on similar exploitation of environmental resources) can be described using indicators of ecosystem function and tree species diversity derived from hyperspectral data and/or aspects of vegetation structure derived from lidar. Bird surveys facilitated discriminant analyses to establish which variables best differentiated between guilds. Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) and generalized linear models (GLMs) were then utilized to develop predictive models. Bioindicators representing foliar water content and tree species diversity were the most useful hyperspectrally derived variables for differentiating between guilds (p < 0.01) and were most often selected for describing richness. Using ecosystem function bioindicators alone, the adjusted coefficient of determination (R 2 adj) of GLMs ranged from 0.32 (generalist) to 0.58 (forest). In contrast, mean under-, mid-, and overstorey cover and mean surface elevation were the most useful structural bioindicators for guild differentiation (p < 0.05) and were most often selected for describing richness. R 2 adj of GLMs built from structural bioindicators alone ranged from 0.19 (generalist) to 0.64 (forest). Overall, structural bioindicators described more variance for open country and forest guilds, whereas functional bioindicators explained more variance for generalist bird species and all guilds considered concurrently. Simultaneously considering functional and structural bioindicators accounted for the most variance in richness (59%) for open country birds; however, combining bioindicator types did not improve upon the best models for generalist and/or forest guilds.

Recovery or decline of the northwestern Black Sea: A societal choice revealed by socio-ecological modelling

During recent decades anthropogenic activities have dramatically impacted the Black Sea ecosystem. High levels of riverine nutrient input during the 1970s and 1980s caused eutrophic conditions including intense algal blooms resulting in hypoxia and the subsequent collapse of benthic habitats on the northwestern shelf. Intense fishing pressure also depleted stocks of many apex predators, contributing to an increase in planktivorous fish that are now the focus of fishing efforts. Additionally, the Black Sea's ecosystem changed even further with the introduction of exotic species. Economic collapse of the surrounding socialist republics in the early 1990s resulted in decreased nutrient loading which has allowed the Black Sea ecosystem to start to recover, but under rapidly changing economic and political conditions, future recovery is uncertain. In this study we use a multidisciplinary approach to integrate information from socio-economic and ecological systems to model the effects of future development scenarios on the marine environment of the northwestern Black Sea shelf. The Driver–Pressure–State-Impact-Response framework was used to construct conceptual models, explicitly mapping impacts of socio-economic Drivers on the marine ecosystem. Bayesian belief networks (BBNs), a stochastic modelling technique, were used to quantify these causal relationships, operationalise models and assess the effects of alternative development paths on the Black Sea ecosystem. BBNs use probabilistic dependencies as a common metric, allowing the integration of quantitative and qualitative information. Under the Baseline Scenario, recovery of the Black Sea appears tenuous as the exploitation of environmental resources (agriculture, fishing and shipping) increases with continued economic development of post-Soviet countries. This results in the loss of wetlands through drainage and reclamation. Water transparency decreases as phytoplankton bloom and this deterioration in water quality leads to the degradation of coastal plant communities ( Cystoseira, seagrass) and also Phyllophora habitat on the shelf. Decomposition of benthic plants results in hypoxia killing flora and fauna associated with these habitats. Ecological pressure from these factors along with constant levels of fishing activity results in target stocks remaining depleted. Of the four Alternative Scenarios, two show improvements on the Baseline ecosystem condition, with improved waste water treatment and reduced fishing pressure, while the other two show a worsening, due to increased natural resource exploitation leading to rapid reversal of any recent ecosystem recovery. From this we conclude that variations in economic policy have significant consequences for the health of the Black Sea, and ecosystem recovery is directly linked to social–economic choices.

Comparative advantages and the exploitation of environmental resources

This article analyses five types of international trade based on the competitive advantages afforded to under-developed countries by their environmental resources endowment. First of all, specialization of such countries in the production of highly polluting goods and services is studied, recalling the conventional specialization in the production and export of goods making intensive use of natural resources. The commercial exploitation of the recreational services of natural parks and the exploitation of biodiversity in pharmaceutical research is then referred to. The use for profit of some environmental services involving these resources which are in the nature of public goods and which would require some type of bilateral or multilateral international agreement is addressed. The access of these countries on an equal footing to a number of global and common resources is then considered, and finally some conclusions are presented. According to these conclusions, it is hard for trade relations between developing and developed countries, based on specialization in the use of the endowment of environmental and natural resources, to provide any solution to the problems of poverty and environmental degradation. However, more efficient, more imaginative and, in the final analysis, more equitable exploitation of these resources could make a much bigger contribution to the solution of these two serious problems. In this case, in order to attain economic and social efficiency it is necessary to receive the collaboration of the advanced countries, in view of the fact that environmental resources are in the nature of public goods.

Reed Canarygrass Binary Mixtures with Alfalfa and Birdsfoot Trefoil in Comparison to Monocultures

AbstractMaintenance of both components in a grass‐legume mixture is an important objective of temperate perennial grassland management, yet one species is often lost from the stand within a few growing seasons. Our objective was to study factors that influence the persistence of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinucea L.) in binary mixture with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.). Two divergent cycle‐2 specific leaf weight (SLW) populations of reed canarygrass were grown in binary alternate‐row mixture under a three‐cut‐per‐year management with each of four legume cultivars: Olympic and Baker alfalfa and Norcen and Dawn birdsfoot trefoil. By the eighth harvest, alfalfa had competitively excluded reed canarygrass. Calculations of relative yield total indicated that competition between alfalfa and reed canarygrass was for de Wit's different space (the two species limited by different factors to at least some extent and therefore at least somewhat complementary in their exploitation of environmental resources) at early harvests. Birdsfoot trefoil mixtures reached equilibrium by the spring after establishment, with botanical composition thereafter varying from 67 to 81% legume. In contrast to alfalfa‐reed canarygrass mixtures, competition between birdsfoot trefoil and reed canarygrass was for the same space (the two species strictly limited by and competing for the same factors) at early harvests and for different space at late harvests. No yield differences between SLW populations were found in mixture, although high SLW yielded 19% more than low SLW in monoculture over eight harvests. Reed canarygrass had higher in vitro digestible dry matter concentration in mixture than in monoculture as long as reed canarygrass yields in mixture did not exceed yields in monoculture. Legumes were taller and more mature in mixture than in monoculture at early harvests. Increased height and advanced maturity may be mechanisms responsible for the legume's dominance. Performance of forage species for agronomic and quality traits in monoculture, however, did not predict their performance in mixture.

The problem of vigilance in animal life.

Vigilance is an important facet of animal life andparticularly so in relation to three areas: external danger, the exploitation of environmental resources, and intraspecific communication. The second of these involves, in addition to vigilance, an active search of the environment. The organization of the nervous system, however, imposes certain limitations on the effectiveness of vigilance and these are described, with particular reference to experimental studies of vigilance in man. Three types of strategy are then described which function to offset the neural limitations on vigilance. These are: neural mechanisms, individual behavioural strategies, and social strategies. These are considered in relation to those areas of life already defined as requiring a watchkeeping function.

Plant density and yield of shoot dry material in maize in England

SummaryYields of shoot dry material of maize at harvest in September or October are reported for 19 experiments involving differing plant densities within the range 3–36 pl/m2. The experiments were conducted at the Oxford University Field Station on a freely drained clay loam soil, adequately supplied with nutrients, in the years 1953–55, 1957–60, 1962–70.In one experiment, in the very dry season of 1964, yield/unit area recorded at a density of 14 pl/m2 was significantly higher than that obtained with a density of 31 pl/m3, but in all other experiments a satisfactory fit to the data was obtained with the asymptotic relationship between yield/unit area and density given by the equation w-1 = α+βρ, where w = weight per plant and ρ = density/unit area. The values of the parameters in this model give an indication of asymptotic yield (β-l) and of potential yield per plant when free from competitive stress (α-1). The estimated values of the parameters are given for the individual experiments, and comparisons are then made between the estimates obtained for contrasting varieties in seven experiments and for relatively early flowering European hybrids (Foliant &amp; Inra 200) in ten different seasons.In direct comparisons between varieties, similar estimates of β were obtained for a very late variety (White Horsetooth) and much earlier flowering varieties of American (Wis. 275A) or European (Foliant) origin, but estimated values of α for White Horsetooth were lower than for Foliant and much lower than for Wis. 275A. Mean parameter values have been used to predict yield response to density in the differing varieties and the practical implications discussed.Estimated values of β in the model fitted to data for early European hybrids in differing seasons indicate that asymptotic yield of shoot dry material will be sharply lower in dry seasons, averaging 142 hkg/ha, than in seasons of more adequate rainfall, with an average of 187 hkg/ha. Values of a, however, were lower in the drier seasons, and it is suggested that this reflects the fact that drier seasons in Britain are normally warmer.Differences in spatial arrangement of plants were obtained by variations in row width, between 30 and 100 cm, or by changes in rectangularity – the ratio of the distances between rows and between plants in the row – from 1 to 9. Within these limits the pattern of yield response to density was not significantly affected, and at densities of 10–15 pl/m2 the average increment in yield associated with more even spacing was less than 5%.From the viewpoint of productivity, the predicted yield/density response curves show that a density of at least 10 pl/m2 is required for maize grown for fodder or silage in this country and, under irrigation or in areas where rainfall is less likely to be limiting, a density of 15 pl/m2 is preferable. Information on the effect of plant density on quality components in maize forage is surprisingly limited, but it is suggested that the fear of serious lodging at very high plant populations, rather than any possible decline in quality, is the main deterrent to further exploitation of environmental resources by increasing density.