Local Income Generation Research Articles

Advances, challenges, and opportunities of forest concessions in the brazilian Amazon

The Public Forest Management Law (PFML), enacted in 2006, establishes the foundation for sustainable management of these areas through forest concessions. This study aims to analyze the advances, challenges, and opportunities of forest concessions in the Brazilian Amazon after 18 years of the PFML. Using a bibliographic and documentary review, the research explored various academic databases and sources of grey literature, as well as official documents and relevant legislation. The results indicate that the total area under forest concession in Brazil is approximately 188 million hectares, mainly concentrated in the state of Pará. However, this area represents only 14% of the established goal of 13 million hectares by 2020, highlighting a slow implementation of concessions. Extensive federal and state forest areas that are not designated can be accessed through forest concessions, helping to reduce illegal activities identified in these territories. Forest concessions are an alternative for the conservation of public areas, contributing to job creation and local income generation, as well as reducing deforestation and illegal logging. However, significant challenges persist, including bureaucratic complexity, high initial costs, legal uncertainty, and unfair competition with illegal wood. To overcome these challenges and maximize the benefits of forest concessions, it is recommended to simplify bidding processes and reduce bureaucracy, ensure a stable and predictable regulatory environment, diversify forest products by adopting multiple-use management, and strengthen governance and capacity building of local communities. Finally, it is urgent to conduct an evaluation of forest concessions as public policy to gain a clear understanding of the economic, social, and environmental benefits generated by the concessions compared to the financial and operational costs involved.

Assessing the Awareness of Different Management Practices Among Apple Growers in Ziarat

Apple is the third largest fruit crop in the country, following citrus and mango, covering a significant area in Baluchistan and playing a crucial role in local income generation and the national economy. This study aimed to assess the awareness levels of respondents regarding management practices. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed, with tehsil Ziarat purposively selected. Four randomly chosen union councils and 12 villages within these councils were included, totaling 120 apple growers interviewed for data collection. The results revealed limited awareness among respondents about mechanical land preparation and the hexagon or triangular planting systems for apple cultivation. Red delicious variety dominated due to market demand, with lesser-known varieties like Mashadi and Amri being less cultivated. Awareness about irrigation methods such as furrow and drip irrigation, and fertigation practices, was also low. Similarly, knowledge about equipment like backpacks and compressed air sprayers was lacking, with manual picking being the most common method. There is a critical need to enhance the knowledge of apple growers through organized extension activities. Additionally, government subsidies on inputs are necessary to equip farmers with the latest agricultural technologies.

Evaluating the Economic and Environmental Impacts of Carbon Credit Projects in Developing Countries

This master's thesis explores the impact of carbon credit projects on the economy and the environment in developing countries. By focusing on initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable practices, the research aims to understand how these projects influence both economic development and environmental well-being. The study investigates the economic aspects by assessing the projects' contribution to local income generation, employment opportunities, and entrepreneurship. Simultaneously, it examines their environmental effectiveness in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving biodiversity. The research also explores the socio-economic implications of these projects, emphasizing the equitable distribution of benefits and their impact on local communities, including vulnerable populations. Additionally, factors influencing the success or failure of these projects, such as stakeholder engagement and policy frameworks are analyzed. Through this evaluation, the thesis wants to provide insights into achieving a balanced approach between economic development and environmental conservation in the context of carbon credit projects in developing countries. The findings may contribute to informed decision-making for policymakers, stakeholders, and the wider community involved in sustainable development initiatives.

PARQUE NACIONAL DA SERRA DA CAPIVARA/PI E A PRÁXIS DA ATIVIDADE ECOTURÍSTICA

Ecotourism faces the challenge of balancing environmental and cultural preservation with sustainable development and local income generation. Since the Stockholm Conference in 1972, environmental conservation has gained relevance on government schedule. The establishment of Conservation Units (CUs) has led to the implementation of administrative and political mechanisms to safeguard specific ecosystems. These spaces not only protect the environment but also enable indirect use through tourism, with an emphasis on ecotourism. This study aims to evaluate whether the ecotourism practices adopted in the Serra da Capivara National Park (PNSC), located in Piauí, align with the theoretical framework that underpins this tourism segment. Using a Case Study methodology, which includes visits to PNSC, literature review, and photographic documentation, it was found that this Integral Conservation Unit is in line with the guidelines advocated by ecotourism. Keywords: Conservation Unit; Serra da Capivara National Park; Ecotourism.

Energy access investment, agricultural profitability, and rural development: time for an integrated approach

Abstract In rural sub-Saharan Africa, the global poverty hotspot, smallholder farmers account for 80% of agricultural production, with 90% of cropland being exclusively rainfed. A key obstacle to rural development and poverty elimination is the lack of electricity access: less than one in three dwellers have electricity at home. The main barrier to rural electrification is the capital-intensiveness of energy supply infrastructure among sparse communities with low demand density and insecurity of payment. While public governments have largely been unable to channel the required resources, private players are often unwilling to pursue risky and unprofitable household electrification programs. In this context, this perspective argues that the paradigm of rural electrification should be centred around an integrated approach aiming at increasing agricultural productivity and profitability. These bear the necessary potential to enable local income generation and thus also provide an incentive for private energy investment, including in the residential sector. A framework for the integrated approach is proposed and the crucial synergetic role of data modelling and business and policy research to pursue this paradigm is discussed.

Immediate social and economic impacts of a major oil spill on Brazilian coastal fishing communities

In August 2019, a major oil spill hit nine Brazilian coastal states, affecting marine ecosystems and fishing communities. In this study, we assess the immediate social and economic impacts of this oil spill on fishing communities of the northeast coast. We conducted semi-structured interviews and focal meetings with 381 fishers and shellfish gatherers to understand the perceived socioeconomic impacts on different types of fishing. We also obtained information on fish consumption after the oil spill, which we compared with data prior to the oil spill from the same communities. Sales decreased by more than 50% for all types of fishing, strongly impacting local income generation. These communities, which are already social-ecologically vulnerable, have had their subsistence, food security and cultural maintenance strongly compromised. We argue that there is a clear need for coordinated state interventions to mitigation the impacts, considering it's environmental, social, economic, human health and political dimensions.

The process of rural electrification in developing countries: systemic analysis based on the understanding of policies of Brazil and China

The present article, based on a systemic approach, analyzed rural electrification policies and programs in China and Brazil, two countries that have already reached 99% of the population receiving electricity in rural areas. This analysis was focused on four macro-factors (governance, funding, implementation and monitoring and technological available), which together collaborated in a positive or negative way for the evolutionary process of rural electrification policy. The study allowed to conclude that a clear priority was given to macro-factors funding (mainly public) and available technologies, which made possible the advances in rural electrification but undermined the reliability of the system and its relationship with local income generation processes. In the case of China local participation (utilities, energy and population) was observed, but with negative points for governance and monitoring. In the Brazilian case, the bottleneck remains the Amazon region, which requires structures based on the macro factors that are dimensioned for the region. Finally, a decision-making framework was set up based on scenarios for rural electrification in developing countries, showing that it is possible to maintain the rural electrification process from the strong funding structures and available technologies, but the deadline for universalization will have no set term if there are no solid structures of governance and management at the local level.

Influences of Land use type and Dendrometric Variables on fruit production of Garcinia kola Heckel in Nigeria

Garcinia kola is a multipurpose tree tropical forest species commonly found in West and Central Africa. The species is known as a miracle plant because of the of all its parts and the potentials to improve local income generation of the farmers. Nonetheless, limited information is available on the productivity of the species. This study investigated the influence of land use type and tree dendrometrics on fruit production of G. kola in Nigeria. The study compared fruit and seed production at different land use types (protected and unprotected area). Data on dendrometric variables and fruit yields were collected in two fruiting seasons using 30 trees in each land use type. The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result shows land use type had significant influence on fruits production. The mean number of fruits recorded for protected and non-protected areas were 969.43 and 630.76, respectively. The results on the dendromatrics variable on fruit production indicated that crown diameter was a significant factor that influenced G. kola fruit production. The results from a principal component analysis shows that an increase in plants height, seed weight, DBH, seed number, fruits number and leaf area tend to be associated with each other. The study concluded that protected area is more appropriate for cultivation the species while crown diameter produced more fruits and seeds than those with small crown diameter. Domestication of G. kola should be encouraged in protected areas if increase fruits production of G. kola in is desired.

Farmers\u2019 perceptions on cultivation and the impacts of climate change on goods and services provided by Garcinia kola in Nigeria

BackgroundGarcinia kola is an indigenous multipurpose tree species commonly found in the tropical rain forest zone of West and Central Africa. Providing economic, ecological, and socio-cultural benefits for people, they have potentials to improve the regional and local income generation to the farmers but the cultivation of the species is very limited in Nigeria.MethodsThe study investigated cultivation and farmers’ perceptions on the impacts of climate change on goods and services provided by G. kola in Nigeria. Structured questioners and interviews were used. The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistic such as frequency, percentage, chi-square, and multinomial logit regressions with SPSS Version 20 and R software Version 3.1.0.ResultsThe results show that farmers are presently not cultivating G. kola, and most of the available stands were inherited from grandparents. The farmers still believe it is only God that can make G. kola to germinate; however, information about the new improved methods of raising G. kola was not spread across farmers’ communities. Over 93% of these farmers were not aware of these new methods, and the only means they raise the species is by picking the wildlings that regenerate naturally close to mother tree and are rarely found. The finding also shows that farmers are well aware of climate change and its impact on crop productivity is not clear to them. The result shows that five explanatory variables (age, gender, marital status, education level, household size and primary occupation) are the main factors significantly influencing farmers’ perception of climate change and the cultivation of the G. kola. During interview section, the farmers reported variability of Harmattan season influences fruit production of the species; according to them, increase in Harmattan season usually leads to increase in fruiting of G. kola.ConclusionsBased on our findings, all the 215 respondent interviewed agree that climatic variability influences the availability of G. kola which will in turn have significant effects on the goods and services provided to the people. Efforts should be made at educating the rural farmers on propagation possibilities, potential ecosystem services, and the impact of climate change on multiple-purpose agroforestry species.

Rentabilidade econômica de propriedades rurais em Paragominas (PA) com o suporte de geoprocessamento

A dinâmica produtiva do setor agropecuário promove a criação de empregos/ocupações em suas várias atividades, tanto nos segmentos ligados à agricultura, quanto nos inerentes à pecuária. Paragominas, município localizado na mesorregião do nordeste do estado do Pará, destaca-se quanto ao seu crescimento no setor agropecuário, mantendo vigoroso crescimento econômico e melhora nos indicadores sociais, o que pode ser resultado de uma combinação de investimentos na intensificação do uso da terra. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo é analisar a rentabilidade, levando em consideração a área do imóvel rural e o valor bruto de produção (VBP), oriundo das diferentes classes produtivas do setor agrícola no município. Para a realização deste trabalho, utilizou-se informações vetoriais e trabalhos de campo em 143 propriedades. Os principais tipos de atividade produtiva considerados foram os que obtiveram um valor de produção mais significativo que as demais. As propriedades rurais analisadas têm sua produção majoritária distribuída em oito classes, que são: criação de animais de pequeno, médio e grande porte; cultura permanente e temporária; horticultura e extração madeireira e não madeireira, que juntas somam um VBP de R$51.708.600,00. Dessas classes, a criação de animais de grande porte foi a que obteve maior predominância, ocupando 48% do total de propriedades, sendo a pecuária a atividade que mais se destacou nessa classe. A criação de animais de pequeno porte foi a que obteve a maior rentabilidade e uma das menores áreas. Outra classe que obteve alta rentabilidade foi a criação de animais de médio porte. Podemos notar que as duas classes de produção que necessitam das menores áreas foram as que obtiveram a maior rentabilidade, pois sua produção é adensada. Desse modo, observa-se a importância de estudos a respeito da eficiência e sustentabilidade das atividades rurais, devido a diversidade de atividades desenvolvidas, bem como, a rotatividade econômica advinda da produção rural. Espera-se que cada propriedade cumpra sua função social, assim, contribuindo para a geração de renda local e servindo de base para estudos que visam o melhor conhecimento das ocupações na região Amazônica.

Social and economic importance of textile reuse and recycling in Brazil

Brazil is an important world producer of textiles. However, this industrial activity, combined with additional import and trade, generates millions of tons of textile scraps, unsold clothing and discarded post-consumption garments. There is a great potential for the recycling and reuse industry in the context of solidarity and circular economy. The present study aimed to present examples in Brazil related to waste reduction, reuse and recycling of textiles in the context of solidary economy. In this way, some representative initiatives, from Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro states are presented and discussed based on these principles and approaching responsible lifestyles and environmental awareness and the refusal to waste resources in general. The main socioenvironmental benefits are related to the training of labor and local income generation, the population’s awareness of consumption patterns, saving of natural resources and raw materials, and mitigation of environmental impacts.

Exploratory Analysis of the Correlation between Local Income and Internal Revenue Allotment: Focus on Municipalities that Converted to Cities from 1994 to 2009

This study seeks to explore the correlation between internal revenue allotment (IRA), on one hand, and local income generation on the other. It builds on, and seeks to contribute to, the existing literature that describes the dynamics between the level of IRA receipts of a local government unit (LGU) and the level of income it generates internally through local revenue measures and efforts. Specifically, this study seeks to weigh in on the still-unresolved debate on whether IRA has a stimulative effect or a substitutive effect on an LGU’s local income.The units of analysis used in this study are municipalities that have converted to cities from 1994 to 2009, during which period a new regime of central-to-local fiscal transfer, as embodied in the IRA system, was adopted under Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 (LGC).Since conversion to cityhood carries with it an immediate and very significant increase in IRA receipts for an LGU, the conversion can be considered a naturally-occurring “intervention.” By isolating and analyzing local income trends prior to and after the said “intervention,” inferences can be drawn as to how an LGU’s local income-generation efforts correlate with changes in the amount of IRA it receives. The findings of this study can contribute to the on-going theoretical and empirical debate between the adherents of the “substitutive effect” and the “stimulative effect” hypotheses. Ultimately, this study aims to provide additional insight on how the system of central-to-local fiscal transfers in the country should be configured for optimal public benefit.

Sustainability assessment of renewable power and heat generation technologies

Rationalisation of consumption, more efficient energy usage and a new energy structure are needed to be achieved in order to shift the structure of energy system towards sustainability. The required energy system is among others characterised by intensive utilisation of renewable energy sources (RES). RES technologies have their own advantages and disadvantages. Nevertheless, for the strategic planning there is a great demand for the comparison of RES technologies. Furthermore, there are additional functions of RES utilisation expected beyond climate change mitigation, e.g. increment of employment, economic growth and rural development. The aim of the study was to reveal the most beneficial RES technologies with special respect to sustainability. Ten technologies of power generation and seven technologies of heat supply were examined in a multi-criteria sustainability assessment frame of seven attributes which were evaluated based on a choice experiment (CE) survey. According to experts the most important characteristics of RES utilisation technologies are land demand and social impacts i.e. increase in employment and local income generation. Concentrated solar power (CSP), hydropower and geothermal power plants are favourable technologies for power generation, while geothermal district heating, pellet-based non-grid heating and solar thermal heating can offer significant advantages in case of heat supply.

Cultural Routes as a Source for New Kind of Tourism Development: Evidence from the Council of Europe's Programme

Europe offers a wide variety of cultural itineraries that, crossing several regions or countries, provide a living example of the rich and impressive European common heritage. For more than two decades 24 of such itineraries have been jointly collaborating under the Council of Europe's (CoE) Cultural Routes Programme aimed at preserving the diversity of European culture and heritage, and to promote understanding of Europe's history. Today, when cultural heritage is more and more often viewed as a new form of good -cultural good, - methods of heritage management are changing to incorporate new elements, which could help local communities to draw more obvious benefits from their cultural legacy while preserving and maintaining its uniqueness. Often these elements come from tourism: a new kind of tourism, which is respectful of the environment, of the natural and cultural heritage and of the local traditions. This article offers an overview of the Study on the CoE Cultural Routes Impact on Tourism SMEs (Khovanova et al., 2011) that demonstrated how the need for implementing sustainable tourism management practices is growing within the CoE cultural routes. One of the breaking findings of the Study was that, even though founded on social and cultural principles, CoE routes today serve as a source of innovation, small business creation, local income generation, and cultural tourism products development. These potentials are now been reinforced by building in sustainable tourism elements in cultural routes management practices, and by bringing the benefits of ICT and digitalization, following the Study recommendations. The findings of the Study could also help cultural heritage managers and policy makers around the globe to better understand tourism potential of cultural heritage sites, while encouraging respectful and sustainable management approaches.

Farmer typology, future scenarios and the implications for ecosystem service provision: a case study from south-eastern Spain

Farming communities are increasingly expected to manage their agricultural activities in ways that ensure sustainable flows of a wide range of ecosystem services for society. The land use and management choices that farmers make are dependent upon their socio-economic characteristics and background, and in turn have important implications for the landscape and associated ecosystem services. Thus, a better understanding about the linkages between the characteristics of farmers, farm management and land use is important for managing multifunctional agro-ecosystems. In this paper, we first develop a typology of farmers for Torrealvilla catchment in Murcia, Spain, according to the characteristics of their households and farm management (e.g. the farmer’s age, household income, water access, land tenure and farm labour). This analysis distinguishes six types of farmers. Secondly, we analyse the link between farmer typology and the farmers’ responses to a number of scenarios. The scenarios describe different likely changes to agriculture in the catchment in terms of environmental constraints (irrigation water availability and rainfall pattern) and environmental policy regulation (water taxation and subsidies). This exercise enables us to explore the range of future land use changes that are likely to occur in the study area. The results indicate that: rain-fed agriculture is expected to experience gradual but extensive abandonment; vegetable/fruit farming and pig/animal rearing are likely to stagnate or even decline; and growing of grapes is likely to expand. Thirdly, we qualitatively evaluate how future land use changes are likely to affect key ecosystem services in the study area including future agricultural production and associated local income generation, erosion control, maintenance of the groundwater table and various cultural services associated with a heterogeneous agro-ecosystem. Particular changes such as expansion of grape production will increase food production and local income at the cost of further depletion of the aquifer and increased risk of salinisation. The outcomes of the study highlight that, to be effective, the design of agri-environmental schemes and other government interventions (e.g. specific compulsory regulations on farming practices and associated water use) should carefully take into account the characteristics of the farmers within the area of interest, their land uses and the possible diversity of responses to policy and environmental drivers. Opportunities exist for future studies quantifying the extent of the impacts of ecosystem service provision through formal models combining farmers’ land use decision-making and spatially explicit modelling of landscape processes.

Ecotourism and economic incentives — an empirical approach

Within the new array of ‘green’ products and services, ecotourism claims to combine environmental responsibility with the generation of local economic benefits that will have both a development impact and serve as conservation incentives. Economic incentives are imperative for nature conservation, particularly in remote and ill-monitored regions where a weak presence of the state hinders the use of alternative tools of environmental regulation. In the following, the link between tourism, local benefits and conservation is conceptualised and analysed empirically, using data from the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve in the Ecuadorian Amazon region, near the border of Colombia and Peru. Three Cuyabeno indigenous groups have developed different modes of tourism participation, ranging from autonomous operations to pure salary employment. A quantification of local cash flows from tourism allows for a comparative analysis of income structure, spending, and the impacts on local development and on conservation attitudes. It is concluded that in the whole study area, tourism has actually provided significant additional income. Counter to common belief, the mode of participation is less decisive for local income generation than the tourist attraction of the natural site, the degree of tourism specialisation and the level of local organisation. However, as a conservation incentive, the effectiveness of tourism income depends on the incentive structure inherent in the mode of participation, and on the substitution versus complementarity of other productive activities: only if tourism changes labour and land allocation decisions, will it have a local conservation impact. It is discussed under which circumstances the conjectured link between tourism, local incomes and conservation is likely to be effective. This leads to some general lessons for government policies, for the design of integrated conservation and development projects (ICDPs), and to a number of site-specific recommendations for improving incentive structures.

Truncated income multipliers and local income generation over time

Truncated income multipliers and local income generation over time

Local Income Generation and Regional Income Redistribution in a System of Public Higher Education

In the past fifteen years or so considerable attention has been focused on the application of regional multiplier analysis to the estimation of regional economic parameters, i.e., regional economic impacts. With some variations, two general approaches have emerged in the literature-the input-output approach and the economic base approach. It has generally been concluded that the input-output approach is more sophisticated and comprehensive, since it requires the development of a complete interindustry model. The majority of regional economic impact studies still employ the economic base approach, however, because input-output studies typically entail prohibitive costs and data problems.1 More recently, conventional regional multiplier methods have been used in the analysis of two specific questions: (1) the economic impact of public sector institutions or projects [7, 8]; and (2) the distribution of economic benefits from public programs among incidence groups [6, 1 1]. The former has often become essential in project evaluation, and the latter has received more emphasis as governmental developmental planning has emerged as a policy priority. One important outgrowth of these questions has been the recent attention given to estimating local economic impacts of institutions of higher education, fostered in large part by the American Council on Education's development in 1971 of a comprehensive methodology for estimating such impacts [3].2

Local Income Generation and Regional Income Redistribution in a System of Public Higher Education

Local Income Generation and Regional Income Redistribution in a System of Public Higher Education