Development Of Human Activities Research Articles

Landslide inventory mapping and landslide susceptibility modeling assessment on the SW flank of Pico de Orizaba volcano, Puebla-Veracruz, Mexico

Volcanic regions with stratovolcanoes and monogenetic fields are very common and have the potential to trigger along their stream systems landslides and debris flows that damage human settlements, industrial development, cattle raising, forestry, and agricultural activities. However, a practical and standardized landslide mapping methodology using GIS for landslides that occur continually along the stream systems in volcanic terrains has not been applied in Mexico. As a result, landslide inventory maps and related geo-databases that support the prediction of future slope instability in volcanic terrains are lacking. Also, little work has been done on the systematic comparison of different models to predict landslide susceptibility. In this study, a landslide inventory map is derived from a representative sample of landslides using multi-temporal aerial-photo-interpretation and field investigations. The stability is modeled using LOGISNET (Multiple Logistic Regression, Geographic Information System, and Neural Network) as a tool to compare and contrasts the advantages and limitations of two landslides susceptibility models: Stability Index MAPping (SINMAP) and Multiple Logistic Regression (MLR). Both models are embedded in LOGISNET to predict landslides and facilitate the analysis. The validations of the resulting susceptibility maps were performed by comparing them with the inventory map in a contingency table. This research uses the stream system of the Rio Chiquito-Barranca del Muerto watershed as a case-study area. The study area is located in the SW flank of Pico de Orizaba, Volcano, Veracruz-Puebla.

Spatial Analysis of Political Capital Citation Using Remote Sensing and GIS; A Case Study of Lokoja

Lokoja town, the Kogi state capital is located at the Niger-Benue confluence in the south central part of Nigeria which is about 170 km from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. The town has experience tremendous urbanization changes in its strait location within the elongated Patti Hill and the River Niger – Benue confluence which is a potential zone of conflict between man and the environment. This study therefore uses the Remote Sensing and GIS technique in assessing the pattern of urbanization growth around the confluence area by generating a land-use/land-cover map from the satellite imageries of Landsat (TM/ETM) of 1987 and 2001 using Arc View 3.3 and Idrisi 32. The study find out that the sandwiching of the town actually support the doctrine of environmental determinism as against the environmental possibilism as new developments are forced toward Kabba and Ganaja roads. River bank encroachment and ecological devastation is also very obvious from the image analysis. Land reclamation for various land uses is on the increase along the Niger River especially along Filele. The image analysis and even visual observation reveal that Patti hill is being eroded by all forms of human development activities with evidences of landslides. This study also shows that peri-urban development is on the increase where agricultural farm stead is becoming urbanized as seen all around Niger barracks. The study therefore recommended that RS and GIS should be a major tool in spatial urbanization management and in the citation of any political capital in the country. Key Words: Confluence Area, Land/Use, Remote Sensing, Terrain, Urbanization.

Erratum to: Groundwater management based on GIS techniques, chemical indicators and vulnerability to seawater intrusion modelling: application to the Mahdia–Ksour Essaf aquifer, Tunisia

In arid and semi-arid countries worldwide, conflicts between human development activities and conservation of groundwater resources are widespread and attract many public debates. This research aims to propose groundwater management alternatives for a coastal aquifer by studying its vulnerability and in particularly the risk of seawater intrusion. An additional objective is to propose some agricultural policies aimed to conserve groundwater resources in Mahdia and Ksour Essaf. Intensive groundwater mining, for irrigation and for water drinking, has caused an overexploitation of the water resources. In addition, the degradation of water quality, caused by septic tanks and intensive agricultural activities, has given rise to notable crucial state of the groundwater resources. With the aim of tackling the groundwater degradation problem, integration into a common platform of vulnerability assessment, seawater intrusion modelling and hydrochemical analysis is proposed. This platform can considerably reflect the water resources state in order to propose some solutions reducing the contamination of the Mahdia–Ksour Essaf aquifer. The groundwater management alternatives, proposed in this study, were prepared within a geographical information system.

Biomarkers in surface sediments from the Cross River and estuary system, SE Nigeria: Assessment of organic matter sources of natural and anthropogenic origins

Herein, lipid biomarker analysis is applied to surface sediments from the southeastern Niger Delta region for the quantitative determination of aliphatic lipids, steroids and triterpenoids in order to differentiate between natural (autochthonous vs. allochthonous) and anthropogenic organic matter (OM) inputs to this deltaic environment. This ecosystem, composed of the Cross, Great Kwa and Calabar Rivers, is receiving new attention due to increased human and industrial development activities and the potential effects of these activities impacting its environmental health. While the presence of low molecular weight n-alkanes (<C22) and the fossil biomarkers pristane and phytane in all samples, are indicative of a minor petroleum related input, the total extractable organic component of the surface sediments of these rivers remains predominantly of a natural origin as characterized by the variety and predominance of lipid classes that are mainly derived from the epicuticular waxes of vascular plants and include n-alkanes, n-alkanols, n-alkan-2-ones, n-alkanoic acids, steroids and triterpenoids. In addition, recent OM inputs from microorganisms are indicated by the presence of lower molecular weight n-alkanoic acids (Cmax=16), while the major triterpenoids of the sediments, taraxerol and friedelin, and the major sterol, sitosterol, indicate recent OM inputs from vascular plants. Plankton-derived sterols, such as fucosterol and dinosterol, are also found in sediments from the Cross and Great Kwa Rivers and likely originate from autochthonous primary productivity. Furthermore, the coprosterols coprostanol and 24-ethylcoprostanol are present in most samples and indicate measurable anthropogenic contributions from domestic untreated sewage inputs and agricultural run-off, respectively. Of the three rivers studied, the Cross River system was excessively influenced by human and industrial development activities, including drivers such as urbanization and population center growth, land-use change to support agricultural production and animal husbandry, and petroleum exploration and production. These influences were found to be regionally specific as controlled by point sources of pollution based on the relative distributions measured and on the fact that the molecular characteristics of sedimentary OM were not distributed smoothly along a gradient.

Development of transport infrastructure as precondition of economy and tourism development: Case study municipality of Negotin

Developed transport network is a precondition for economic and tourism development of areas and largely follows and allows the development of human activities. If it is developing without plan, spontaneous and without coordination it may be a limit to the overall development. The aim of research was to define developmental basis for the revitalization, improvement and construction of transport infrastructure in the municipality of Negotin. The paper will present the mutual interaction and functional connectivity of planning solutions for development of transport infrastructure and development of economic and tourism, as well as the impact which planning solutions have on the evolvent of other spatial and city functions.

Spatial investigation of the temporal urban form to assess impact on transit services and public transportation access

The rapid urban growth in developing city increases the requirement of the efficient and sustainable public transportation system. The urban growth affects the urban form, which indicates the change in human and urban development activity. Urban form affects directly and indirectly access to the public transportation system as an assessment of potential riders and proximity to stops increase transit services users. Therefore, access is one of the important aspects for the assessment of transit service efficiency. Public transportation access can be represented by a coverage area and useful to estimate potential riders of public transportation. In this study, a Geographical Information System (GIS)-based spatial statistical analysis method is used to examine the spatial relationship of different urban form indicators with population or riders of transit service in a coverage area and to ascertain how urban form influences public transportation trips in this coverage area. The coverage area is delineated using a GIS-based road/street network distance approach. The spatial analysis results suggested that urban forms have certain impact on trips in coverage area at both ward level and zone level. The statistical analysis implies that significant and positive values of spatial lag coefficient indicate a positive spatial interaction between wards and variable like total coverage area; worker density have shown positive and significant effects on trips of public transportation.

Nutrient presses and pulses differentially impact plants, herbivores, detritivores and their natural enemies.

Anthropogenic nutrient inputs into native ecosystems cause fluctuations in resources that normally limit plant growth, which has important consequences for associated food webs. Such inputs from agricultural and urban habitats into nearby natural systems are increasing globally and can be highly variable, spanning the range from sporadic to continuous. Despite the global increase in anthropogenically-derived nutrient inputs into native ecosystems, the consequences of variation in subsidy duration on native plants and their associated food webs are poorly known. Specifically, while some studies have examined the effects of nutrient subsidies on native ecosystems for a single year (a nutrient pulse), repeated introductions of nutrients across multiple years (a nutrient press) better reflect the persistent nature of anthropogenic nutrient enrichment. We therefore contrasted the effects of a one-year nutrient pulse with a four-year nutrient press on arthropod consumers in two salt marshes. Salt marshes represent an ideal system to address the differential impacts of nutrient pulses and presses on ecosystem and community dynamics because human development and other anthropogenic activities lead to recurrent introductions of nutrients into these natural systems. We found that plant biomass and %N as well as arthropod density fell after the nutrient pulse ended but remained elevated throughout the nutrient press. Notably, higher trophic levels responded more strongly than lower trophic levels to fertilization, and the predator/prey ratio increased each year of the nutrient press, demonstrating that food web responses to anthropogenic nutrient enrichment can take years to fully manifest themselves. Vegetation at the two marshes also exhibited an apparent tradeoff between increasing %N and biomass in response to fertilization. Our research emphasizes the need for long-term, spatially diverse studies of nutrient enrichment in order to understand how variation in the duration of anthropogenic nutrient subsidies affects native ecosystems.

The Family and the Market -- Redux

The relationship between the family and the market has long been an issue of contention in Western societies. Since the 1970s, that relationship has required renegotiation as women, who had performed the great majority of caretaking work, have entered the workforce in increasing numbers. At the same time, women’s movement into the workplace and the changes in public policy that have accompanied it have spurred significant scholarly commentary over how the familymarket relationship should be reconstructed. This Article argues against one possible approach to this reconstruction, in which the state withdraws barriers between the family and the market that support families’ caretaking and human development activities. Under this approach, which by and large has been adopted in public policy in the United States, women’s movement into the role of breadwinner has been accompanied by decreased state support for caretaking and human development, in the belief that market forces should properly determine how these activities are conducted. This Article argues that the market is the wrong tool to use to “distribute” these activities. Doing so is not only resulting in an unjust distribution of these activities among and within families, it is causing serious harm, not only to society’s most vulnerable citizens, but also to the polity as a whole. The proper role of the state, this Article argues, is to buffer caretaking and human development activities from market forces in order to ensure the wellbeing of individuals, families, and society.

GEODIVERSITY IN HATIEN-KIENLUONG

Geodiversity may be defined as the range or diversity of geological (rocks, minerals, fossils), geomorphological (landforms and processes) and soil features, including their assemblages, properties, interpretations and systems. Hatien-Kienluong area contains some of the most important and diverse geological and geomorphological features. There exists the oldest sedimentary formation in the South of Vietnam, almost all types of rocks, various landforms and mineral resources, particularly building materials. Many landscapes here were acknowledged as national beauty spots, for instance, Hon Chong mount, Thach Dong and Da Dung mount. However, we have neither a comprehensive evaluation nor an appropriate conservation and management of geodiversity of this area that leads to degradation and destruction of many geosites by natural impacts and human economic development activities. Therefore, an integrated approach to conserve geodiversity is necessary for sustainable development that ensures the benefit of both present and future generations.

Human Resource Financial Management

Need for this paper for identifying a new dimension beyond Human Resource Management (HRM) and Financial Management (FM), by superimposing the effect of HRM and FM. Human Resource, an asset to the organization, can appreciate with time, only when provided adequate input. Money spends in doing so is now considering as an investment, which was previously considered as expenditure. Commitment from the top management for the investment in the human development activities is increasing continuously, but still sometimes this proposal is questioned. Even till now, this proposal is subjected to the condition of the business, which is being withdrawn considering it as a cost-minimizing strategy, without considering any other factors. This paper is having its prime focus in developing a new discipline which can serve the purpose of strengthening the proposal for investment in human resource and develop a model which can quantify it.

Conservation of the Seychelles sheath-tailed bat Coleura seychellensis on Silhouette Island, Seychelles

The critically endangered Seychelles sheath-tailed bat Coleura seychellensis on Silhou- ette Island has been studied since 1997. The species occupies small caves in boulder fields in lowland woodland. Lepidoptera and Coleoptera dominate the diet, with a strong preference for the latter before and during the breeding season (November to April). Foraging areas change seasonally according to wind direction, and foraging occurs in gaps in the woodland. Mature native woodland is favoured due to the abundance of Coleoptera in this habitat. Habitat management on Silhouette has removed alien plants from around the roosts and improved foraging conditions for the bat. This has been accompanied by increases in foraging activity in managed areas and an increase in breeding activity. The population at La Passe on Silhouette has increased from 14 to 25 ind. in the 1990s to 32 in 2008. The management approach is to be extended to another area of Silhouette where bats have been located and should also be used on Mahe. Increases in human development activity on Mahe and Silhouette may threaten population recovery of this bat, and legal controls on development in appropriate habitat are urgently needed. With effective legal controls and intensive habitat manage- ment recovery of this species is possible.

Emerging cities and sustainable global environmental management: Livelihood implications in the OIC countries

It is a fact that the majority of the world’s settlements are burgeoning into cities; especially at the turn of the 21st century, an era witnessing the emergence of new economies. Undoubtedly, cities play a pivotal role in the socio-economic, cultural and scientific development of all nations as chunk of global human development activities is planned and executed in the cities. In the same vein, deteriorated living conditions in the history of human habitat are conventionally noted to be largely associated with cities where grave environmental ‘atrocities’ are committed. Examples include urban sprawl, air and noise pollution, contaminated water sources, solid and liquid waste generation, environmentally related ill health, etc. Many cities exist with their attendant environmental woes. Many more are emerging. What considerations (global partnership in forward planning, forecasting, concerted global social responsibility, etc) should be taken into account in order to sustain livelihoods in a somewhat healthy global environment? The paper explores this area with particular reference to the Organization of Islamic Conference member countries (OIC). Key words: Emerging cities, sustainable global environment, livelihood, OIC countries.

The Economic Value of Wetland Conservation and Creation: A Meta-Analysis

The rationale for conservation and creation of wetlands stems from the recognition of both their ecological and economic values. This paper examines the welfare impacts of goods and services provided by wetlands. We collected 385 estimates of the economic value of 181 natural and man-made wetlands from 167 studies worldwide. The resulting database is less biased towards North America than previous reviews of the literature. The relative importance of characteristics of the valuation study, of the wetland site, and of the socio-economic and geographical context is estimated by means of a meta-regression analysis of wetland values. Provision of amenities, flood control and storm buffering, and water quality improvement are the most highly valued wetland services. The relevance of the socio-economic and geographical context clearly emerges from the analysis and, in particular, the proximity to other wetland sites is negatively correlated with valuations. An analysis of the effect of environmental stress on wetland value shows that the latter increases with stress from human development activities and uses. In addition to the basic meta-regression model, the influence of authorship effects and of the geographic regions is examined by means of a multi-level approach. A second extended meta-regression model including cross-effects shows that the valuations of specific services vary according to the type of wetland producing them.

Is commercial Protea farming causing a change in the seasonal range of Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, South Africa?

Species worldwide are threatened due to various factors including habitat transformation and degradation. The Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi is a bird species endemic to southern Africa. It is a nectarivorous species that is highly dependent on Protea woodland areas in the eastern parts of southern Africa and makes seasonal migrations between these localities. Although many of these habitats have been destroyed by human development activities, the start of commercial Protea farms in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands may provide alternative habitat and year-round food resources for sugarbirds. Presence/absence of Gurney's Sugarbird on seven KwaZulu-Natal Protea farms were recorded monthly for one year (2006–2007) and compared to past distributions from 1980 and 1992. Sugarbirds were found to be resident for the entire year on some farms and breeding. The total distribution of Gurney's Sugarbird has extended with the development of Protea farms, as has its seasonal distribution and its breeding range. Our results also highlight the reliance that sugarbirds have on Protea whether indigenous or exotic species. More research on the interactions between Gurney's Sugarbirds and the commercial Protea farms is needed.

Beneficiary Perceptions of Women NGO activities in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

The study attempted to document beneficiaries' perceptions on Women NGO (WNGOs) activities in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study included: an assessment of beneficiaries' perceptions on factors influencing their participation in WNGOs activities, WNGOs contributions to improvements' in beneficiaries' socio-economic activities and constraints affecting beneficiaries' participation in WNGOs activities. A sample size of 120 respondents from 24 Local Women Groups (LWGs), which are affiliated to three active WNGOs in the study area, were utilized for the study. Findings revealed that rural women will participate in the activities of recognized, viable WNGOs, that are managed by a responsive leadership structure and are involved in activities that satisfy their felt needs. WNGOs were revealed to affect beneficiaries' socio-economic statuses through increased income generation, health awareness and acquisition of food processing skills. Constraints affecting beneficiaries' participation in WNGOs activities include: inadequate credit facilities, and poor utilization of credit advances, resulting in poor loan repayment levels. It is believed that WNGOs are capable of more effective inputs into human and community development activities. Recommendations are proffered in this respect Gender and Behaviour Vol. 5 (2) 2007: pp. 1360-1375

Women NGOs and rural women empowerment activities in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

The study attempted to document beneficiaries’ perceptions on the contributions of Women NGOs (WNGOs) to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study included: an assessment of WNGOs contributions to improvements’ in beneficiaries’ socio-economic activities and constraints affecting beneficiaries’ participation in WNGOs activities. An attempt was also made to determine the existence of a significant relationship between the pre and post-participation income of WNGOs beneficiaries. A sample size of 240 respondents from 48 Local Women Groups (LWGs), which are affiliated to three active WNGOs in four states of the Niger Delta were utilized for the study. Findings revealed that WNGOs cater for a broad spectrum of rural women. WNGOs were revealed to affect beneficiaries’ socio-economic statuses through increased income generation, health awareness and acquisition of food processing skills. Constraints affecting beneficiaries’ participation in WNGOs activities include: inadequate credit facilities, and poor utilization of credit advances, resulting in poor loan repayment levels. A direct relationship was also revealed to exist between increased beneficiary exposures to WNGOs credit facilities and increased beneficiary income. It is believed that WNGOs are capable of more effective inputs into human and community development activities. Recommendations are proffered in this respect.

In search of a critical habitat concept for woodland caribou, boreal population

A hierarchical approach to critical habitat identification has been proposed in the draft National Recovery Strategy for the Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), Boreal Population. This approach proposes that critical habitat for boreal caribou be identified as equivalent with caribou ranges and their composite range components, and that it be consistent with the biological needs of a wild, self-sustaining local population of woodland caribou. These components include seasonal ranges, high use areas and calving sites, each of which provide for important ecological functions and are subject to specific risks from human development activities. Protection of critical habitat is accomplished through management of the amount and type of human developments and potential natural disturbances, not by prohibiting all activity. This approach to critical habitat sets the stage for management and monitoring of habitat at spatial and temporal scales appropriate for conservation of a wide ranging species such as woodland caribou.

Population Growth, Human Development, and Deforestation in Biodiversity Hotspots

Human population and development activities affect the rate of deforestation in biodiversity hotspots. We quantified the effect of human population growth and development on rates of deforestation and analyzed the relationship between these causal factors in the 1980s and 1990s. We compared the averages of population growth, human development index (HDI, which measures income, health, and education), and deforestation rate and computed correlations among these variables for countries that contain biodiversity hotspots. When population growth was high and HDI was low there was a high rate of deforestation, but when HDI was high, rate of deforestation was low, despite high population growth. The correlation among variables was significant for the 1990s but not for the 1980s. The relationship between population growth and HDI had a regional pattern that reflected the historical process of development. Based on the changes in HDI and deforestation rate over time, we identified two drivers of deforestation: policy choice and human-development constraints. Policy choices that disregard conservation may cause the loss of forests even in countries that are relatively developed. Lack of development in other countries, on the other hand, may increase the pressure on forests to meet the basic needs of the human population. Deforestation resulting from policy choices may be easier to fix than deforestation arising from human development constraints. To prevent deforestation in the countries that have such constraints, transfer of material and intellectual resources from developed countries may be needed. Popular interest in sustainable development in developed countries can facilitate the transfer of these resources.

Effectiveness of government's occupational skills development strategies for small- and medium-scale enterprises: A case study of Korea

In many developing countries, small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) account for a large part of national employment and income. Therefore, governments have used various strategies/policy instruments to develop human resources for SMEs and improve their productivity and national welfare. In the literature, however, there has been little effort to assess their effectiveness. The government of Korea has adopted various policies including financial incentives to encourage private enterprises in general and SMEs specifically to undertake training of their workers voluntarily. It has been proved, however, that various financial incentives alone did not make much impact on SMEs, and only large enterprises benefited from them. To redress this regressive situation in human resources development, the private sector, in collaboration with the government and non-governmental organizations, undertook a pilot SME training consortium project, which resulted in successful achievements. The pilot project provided SMEs with, in addition to the financial incentives, institutional and technical assistance for their human resources development activities. SMEs actively participated in training of their workers and benefited from productivity increases. The pilot project has already been replicated on a national scale, and many other developing countries would also be able to benefit from the lessons learned.

Implementing workforce development in health care: A conceptual framework to guide and evaluate health service reform

The term ‘workforce development’ is increasingly popular in the health-care field. It appears to encompass a range of human and organizational development activity. However, there has been limited explication of the concept of workforce development in Australian health care at area health service levels. It is timely to develop a framework for workforce development and processes to guide any evaluation of the implementation of workforce development strategies. This paper presents a framework that has been developed through consultative processes in an area health service and an associated review of literature.