Use Of Natural Capital Research Articles

Benefits, costs, and livelihood implications of a regional payment for ecosystem service program

Despite broad interest in using payment for ecosystem services to promote changes in the use of natural capital, there are few expost assessments of impacts of payment for ecosystem services programs on ecosystem service provision, program cost, and changes in livelihoods resulting from program participation. In this paper, we evaluate the Paddy Land-to-Dry Land (PLDL) program in Beijing, China, and associated changes in service providers' livelihood activities. The PLDL is a land use conversion program that aims to protect water quality and quantity for the only surface water reservoir that serves Beijing, China's capital city with nearly 20 million residents. Our analysis integrates hydrologic data with household survey data and shows that the PLDL generates benefits of improved water quantity and quality that exceed the costs of reduced agricultural output. The PLDL has an overall benefit-cost ratio of 1.5, and both downstream beneficiaries and upstream providers gain from the program. Household data show that changes in livelihood activities may offset some of the desired effects of the program through increased expenditures on agricultural fertilizers. Overall, however, reductions in fertilizer leaching from land use change dominate so that the program still has a positive net impact on water quality. This program is a successful example of water users paying upstream landholders to improve water quantity and quality through land use change. Program evaluation also highlights the importance of considering behavioral changes by program participants.

Rural livelihoods and access to natural capital: Differences between migrants and non-migrants in Madagascar.

Although natural resources play a central role in rural livelihoods across the globe, little research has explored the relationship between migration and natural capital use, particularly in combination with other livelihood capitals (i.e., human, social, financial and physical). Grounded in the rural livelihood framework, this paper explores the association between the livelihood capital availability, especially natural capital, for migrants and non-migrants in rural Madagascar. Data from the 2008/2009 Demographic and Health Survey are used in combination with satellite imagery of vegetation coverage (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI) to proxy natural resources. Hierarchical multilevel models allow for inclusion of cross-level interactions between migrant status and proximate natural resources as determinants of the status of livelihood assets. Three key findings emerge. First, higher levels of proximate natural resources are associated with greater financial, human, and social capital for both migrants and non-migrants. Second, migrants have, on average, greater financial, physical, human, and social capital than non-migrants, and urban-to-rural migrants do exceptionally well on all capital asset categories. Third, migrants residing in areas with higher levels of natural capital tend to have significantly higher levels of human capital (education). Although we cannot examine livelihood strategies per se, the results suggest variation in livelihood potential among migrants and non-migrants in rural Madagascar, with migrants tending to have greater capital assets. In addition, access to natural resources is a central livelihood strategy.

Sustainability, natural capital, engineering, and geology: a case study of Coles County, IL, USA

If sustainable development planning for Coles County, IL, USA, had been done in 1830, planners would not have been able to predict changing technology allowing more efficient use of existing natural capital. Planning for sustainability should include the geology, current and historic uses of natural capital, and consideration of changing population and technology. Coles County has glacial and alluvial deposits underlain by bedrock of the Illinois Basin. Discussion with local experts and inspection of current and historic records determined the current and historic use of natural capital of Coles County. Land initially attracted humans to water and fertile soil supporting plants and animals. Fertile soil and water continue to support agricultural activity today. The two largest communities rely on surface water for water supply. Sand, gravel, and limestone are quarried. Coal has been mined in the past. Petroleum drilling is on the third pass as technology and demand have changed. Technologic changes have allowed the county to develop new and more efficient ways of using natural capital leading to continued use of resources in the county.

Políticas de ordenamento territorial, desmatamento e dinâmicas de fronteira

Concerning the Amazonia State action, in the federal and state government, this article analysis if the territorial ordainment politics may generated social efficacious and best use of natural capital, considering the socioeconomics dynamics in course. In the empiric plan, the research which has been given to this work was realized in the region crossed by the BR-163, Cuiabá-Santarém Road, in the Pará State. The social reality is composed of both logical diversity and rationalities that determinate the social practices. Being In this perspective that examines the State action e its politics both territorial ordainment and fundiary, as a counterpoint to the predatory dynamic of the frontier expansion and deforestation, being understanding that the rationalities of actors and its motivations, both individual and collectives, are important in the definition of the State socialspatial strategies.

Exploring cultural capital and its importance in sustainable development

This paper explores the concept of cultural capital and suggests a framework for assessing its influence in the management and use of natural capital. Cultural capital has been described as the underlying factors that provide human societies with the means and adaptations to maintain themselves in their environment. Sustainable development calls for a shift in the way in which natural capital is managed and used and much effort has gone into discussing and analysing the sustainable development process and mechanisms by which natural capital levels can be maintained. Cultural capital is an important, but much neglected, element in this process. There have been attempts to analyse the role of culture in development, but these have been few and isolated. This paper identifies three key areas in which cultural capital has influence: ‘management objectives’, ‘efficiency of process’ and ‘demand’. These three areas form the basis of an analysis framework, designed to assess the presence of various cultural traits with regard to the main functions of natural capital—the provision of: raw materials, sinks, environmental services and amenity services.

Natural capital and sustainability

This paper develops and rigorously analyses a model describing the optimal use of natural capital in a utilitarian framework. Natural capital is treated as an aggregate including exhaustibles, renewables and ‘environmentals’, performing several functions. It is found that it converges to a steady-state in which it is kept constant by simultaneous investments and use.

LEASING THE ENVIRONMENT

The idea of an environmental lease is examined. It is acknowledged that the recognition of environmental concerns by the accounting profession is still very much in its infancy, but a mechanism is proposed that helps to address some of these concerns. Various components of such a lease are considered, such as an element for the depletion of natural capital, an insurance premium payable to future generations and a return for the use of natural capital. The method of collecting lease payments and the role of government in this process is also examined. Leasing aims to help achieve the goal of inter-generational equity which is fundamental to the whole concept of sustainability. It is concluded that leasing appears to offer a way forward, but much work still needs to be done.

LEASING THE ENVIRONMENT

The idea of an environmental lease is examined. It is acknowledged that the recognition of environmental concerns by the accounting profession is still very much in its infancy, but a mechanism is proposed that helps to address some of these concerns. Various components of such a lease are considered, such as an element for the depletion of natural capital, an insurance premium payable to future generations and a return for the use of natural capital. The method of collecting lease payments and the role of government in this process is also examined. Leasing aims to help achieve the goal of inter-generational equity which is fundamental to the whole concept of sustainability. It is concluded that leasing appears to offer a way forward, but much work still needs to be done.

NATURAL AND REPRODUCIBLE CAPITAL AND THE SUSTAINABILITY OF LAND USE IN THE UK

The article reviews the relevant concepts in assessing sustainability at the sector level for British agriculture and forestry. It notes that the use of reproducible capital is not sustainable in the sector as depreciation has exceeded gross fixed capital formation for some years, although that retrenchment may, however, be an appropriate response to expected lower farm prices and increased efficiency in the use of capital. It then exemplifies the problems of measuring the sustainability of use of natural capital by reference to specific problems, namely the release of global pollutants from agriculture and forestry, the economic cost of soil erosion and the economic cost associated with damage to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). On the basis of a wider review of the context of these changes, it is concluded that the sustainability of primary land use, as currently practised, must await substantial research before positive claims can be made for its overall sustainability.

Common Patterns in Home Range-Body Size Relationships of Birds and Mammals

Common Patterns in Home Range-Body Size Relationships of Birds and Mammals