Natural Resources In Area Research Articles

The implicit price of urban public parks and greenways: a spatial-contextual approach

This paper examines the value residents place on public parks in a mid-sized urban area. The analysis makes a direct contribution to the literature by examining the extent to which spatial and neighbourhood context is related to the house price premium or discount associated with public recreational opportunities, natural resource areas and urban greenways. The analysis shows that the value of public parks and greenways varies across space, neighbourhood context and park type. Community area fixed-effects are included to bolster the findings. The findings indicate that park and greenway investment should be planned and managed contextually in urban areas. Park planners can use these findings to inform public policy debates over park investment and, perhaps, support efforts focused on comprehensive neighbourhood planning.

Validating One-On-One GPS Instruction Methodology for Natural Resource Area Assessments Using Forestry Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Forestry (BSF) at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) attend an intensive 6-week residential hands-on instruction in applied field methods. The intensive 6-week instruction includes learning how to use the Global Positioning System (GPS) with a Garmin eTrex HCx GPS unit to accurately calculate area. Students were instructed how to assess the accuracy of their GPS collected waypoints by calculating the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) comparing their GPS collected area measurements with instructor on-screen digitized area. Student’s average area RMSE between digitized and GPS derived area was 0.015 hectares, whereas instructor’s average area RMSE between digitized and GPS derived area was 0.015 hectares. Over 76% of students measured GPS area was within 5% of instructor on-screen digitized area. No difference between the students and instructors area RMSE of 0.015 hectares and high level of agreement between student measured GPS area and instructor on-screen digitized area: (1) indicates students receiving hands-on instruction in GPS applications can record accurate area measurements after only a limited 2 hour introduction; (2) the accuracy of the Garmin eTrex HCx GPS unit is not user dependent; and, (3) validates the interactive hands-on instruction methodology employed at SFA.

A century of science and service

Smith-Lever Act of 1914: An Act to pr colleges in the several States receiving and sixty-two, and of acts suppleme Outlook UC Cooperative Extension history A century of science and service Rose Hayden-Smith, UC Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth, Family and Community Development Advisor, Ventura County Rachel Surls, UC Cooperative Extension Sustainable Food Systems Advisor, Los Angeles County O n a warm Friday, May 8, 1914, in Washington D.C., two pieces of new legislation awaited President Woodrow Wilson’s signature: a proclamation establishing the second Sunday each May as Mother’s Day, and the Smith-Lever Act. The honoring of mothers dominated the news that day, but Wilson recognized the importance of the Smith- Lever Act, calling it “one of the most significant and far-reaching measures for the education of adults ever adopted by government.” Sponsored by Sen. Hoke K. Smith and Rep. Asbury F. Lever, the bill was the result of national efforts to create a new educational model for U.S. agriculture. At that time, land-grant universities ran farmers in- stitutes and short courses taught by lecturers, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offered its own form of Extension work that focused on pest control field demonstrations in the South and farm management in the North. Yet there was no consis- tent or efficient way to deliver important knowledge from the university campuses to the communities that needed it. Passage of Smith-Lever launched a century of innovation in U.S. education that continues to this day. In California, the educational model born out of the legislation is UC Cooperative Extension. For 100 years this statewide network of UC researchers and educators has developed and provided science-based information to solve locally relevant challenges in the areas of economics, agriculture, natural resources, youth development and nutrition. Progressive roots Agriculture has always been vital to America. In 1860, at the outset of the Civil War, farmers made up 58% of the U.S. labor force. It was that demographic that created the impetus behind the 1862 Morrill Act, which gave each state a grant of land to establish a college that would teach practi- cal subjects such as agriculture and engineering (see California Agriculture, April–June 2012, pg. 42). A key role of those Continued on page 10 California milestones Library of Congress Hatch Act establishes federal funding for agricultural research in state land-grant colleges President Lincoln signs Morrill Act, authorizing development of agricultural “land-grant” colleges in each state Andrew Hansen Christiansen named California’s first Extension farm advisor, placed in Humboldt County UC agricultural clubs formed in Ferndale and Fortuna; these early clubs evolved into today’s 4-H program B.H. Crocheron recruited to direct state’s Agricultural Extension Service, which he does for next 35 years First UC Extension specialist , a poultryman, hired with goal to double egg production from 80 eggs per hen per year average 8 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE • VOLUME 68 , NUMBERS 1–2 The Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley University of California founded to teach “agriculture, mining and the mechanical arts” Congress passes the Smith-Lever Act, making federal funds available for extension work UC Agricultural Extension Service (later renamed “Cooperative Extension”) appoints farm advisors in Glenn, Solano, Stanislaus and Placer counties Library of Congress Emergency war appropriations provide growth for UC Agricultural Extension as “food for victory” becomes national priority

S&T&I priorities for the Russian natural resources sector

PurposeThis paper aims to analyse three individual foresight projects referring to the natural resources sector in Russia, their interconnection and influence on policy decision making.Design/methodology/approachThe three foresight studies used different methodologies depending on the project's goal. First the projects' interconnections are explained. Second, each of the studies is characterised from different viewpoints, including their aims, structures, methodologies and results. Finally their influence on policy‐making is evaluated.FindingsThe paper concludes that implementation of these three interrelated studies allows identification of S&T&I priorities that have a strong connection with policy decision making. Therefore, on the basis of this experience, it is suggested that a widespread national Delphi survey for the identification of science and technology (S&T) priorities should be complemented by the identification of key long‐term demand for resources and reshaped management systems.Originality/valueFor the first time the paper presents an analysis of Russian foresight projects connected to the natural resources area and an evaluation of their influence on policy decision making.

NRR, Moving on: Editorial

In the preceding issue of NRR (vol. 21, no. 4, p. 413),Jerry Jensen introduced the transfer of editorialresponsibilities to me. In view of the achievementsof my predecessors—Richard McCammon, DanielMerriam, Jerry Jensen and Keith Long—as Editors-in-Chief of NRR, I humbly take on this functionwith some trepidation. It is a daunting chore, but Iwill do my best to maintain, if not improve, NRRsrole as a leader of publishing results of research andapplications in the natural resources area. In fact,because NRR is not recognised yet by the Institutefor Scientific Information (ISI), it is my humbleambition to change that.When I did my PhD on mineral prospectivitymapping 10–15 years ago in TU Delft, I publishedmost of my papers in NRR, and I was not awarethen that it was not ISI-indexed. I only knew thenand I still know now that NRR is an importantmedium for publishing results of my works inquantitative modelling of mineral prospectivity,which is by the way only a part of NRRs aim andscope:

Restoration of the lower reaches of the Tarim River in China

The middle and lower reaches of the Tarim River are areas of rich biodiversity and natural resources in the inland arid region of China. However, the Tarim River and its associated wetlands have been severely damaged and fragmented during the past several decades. To restore the deteriorated ecosystem and preserve the endangered riverine vegetation along the Tarim River, a project for releasing water from upper dams to the lower reaches of the Tarim River was initiated by China’s government in 2000. Between 2000 and 2005, we monitored the responses of groundwater levels and vegetation to this mitigation along nine transects spaced at mean intervals of 45 km along the river from Daxihaizi Reservoir, the source of water conveyance, to the Lake Taitema, the mouth of the Tarim River. We found that average groundwater levels rose significantly from 8 to 4 m below ground surface. Species diversity did not change during the 5-year period, but the total vegetation coverage and canopy size of some species significantly increased. The endangered tree species, Populus euphratica, started to regenerate. Our results indicated that species diversity might recover very slowly, even if the trial water release program became a permanent river management practice. Management decisions about allocating limited water supplies among competing uses in arid regions will ultimately determine whether degraded river ecosystems, such as the Tarim River, can be restored.

Ethnic and institutional aspects of natural resources of the North

In this paper questions of social and economic development of the indigenous small-numbered peoples of the North in their traditional places of living and traditional business activities are considered. Influence of the process of commercial development on a natural complex and indigenous people owing to negative consequences of policy of use of raw material resources is shown. Problems of interaction of representatives of indigenous ethnicities and subsoil users while developing mineral deposits and implementation of infrastructure projects in northern areas in an existing institutional framework are revealed. The issue in the definition of damage to territories of traditional environmental management because of the absence of approved at the Federal Level and the regulations adapted in regions is noted. The directions on the preservation of the environment and conditions for a habitation of indigenous people and development of branches of traditional environmental management in the conditions of proceeding process of exploitation of natural resources in areas of their accommodation are offered.

National parks and protected areas in African countries

There are two primary options for the successful preservation of national resources in African national parks: centralized government management and decentralized privatized management. In this article we argue that a free market environmentalism approach to the management of national parks in Africa is preferable to centralized government management. We begin by discussing social, economic, and biophysical trends related to the operations of national parks in Africa. Next, we describe the institutional and political structures of management options, including the conventional centralized planning model, and present alternatives such as co-management and privatization. We then identify current conflicts and controversies regarding national park management in the African context, which include land tenure and expropriation, poverty, and the protection of large mammalian endangered species. Finally, we apply the free market environmentalism approach to African national park management and make a case for why this approach would allow for better protection of endangered large mammal species, benefit African citizens in the surrounding communities, eliminate the free-rider incentive which can lead to acts such as poaching, and create incentives that are necessary for the preservation of African national resources. We conclude that this market-based system is effective in protecting natural resources in areas of Africa where the private owners are willing to pay for the preservation of the environment, and on privatized and which can be successfully profitable through the aid of competition in the market.
 
 Keywords: national parks; Africa; free market environmentalism; sustainability (environmental, social)

Modernization and rural health in Mexico: the case of the Tepalcatepec Commission

Mexican policymakers instituted community-based health programs in the 1940s and 1950s to encourage rural participation in state-sponsored health and economic development initiatives. The Tepalcatepec Commission (1947-1961) united previously independent government programs into a multi-tiered collaboration that addressed regional development through national, state, and local networks. While national policymakers and state officials designed plans to improve agricultural production, promote industrialization, utilize the area's natural resources, and expand communication channels, health workers established unprecedented relationships with indigenous community members by introducing the Commission's projects in culturally relevant ways. They used their on-the-ground experiences to learn local languages, customs, and beliefs, and incorporated these factors into their health education and disease treatment campaigns. The result serves as an example of short-term cooperative relationships between healthcare workers and indigenous groups that not only reduced the major health risks in the area, but also paved the way for collective economic development.

El camino al infierno está empedrado de buenas intenciones: urbanismo, medio ambiente y deberes constitucionales

This paper wants to analyze the reform introduced to the General Ordinance of Urbanism and Building on matter of Protected Areas of Natural Value Resources from two perspectives: the effectiveness to obey the constitutional duty of safeguard the preservation of nature, and the implementation of constitutional provisions that allows to restrict or limit the exercise of Rights in order to protect the environment and the natural heritage.

Exotic Plant Inventory, Landscape Survey, and Invasiveness Assessment: Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites, Hyde Park, NY

An exotic plant cultural landscape inventory, area wide survey, and natural resource area invasiveness assessment was conducted in 2002 at the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt (ROVA) National Historic Sites (NHS) in Hyde Park, NY. At the species level, 40% of 90 assessed landscape species had not escaped cultivation, 44% had escaped and invaded natural resource areas, and 16% were categorized as migratory invaders. The most prolific introduced woody trees and vines at ROVA are members of the trumpetvine, bittersweet, pea, buckthorn, quassia, and grape families (Bignoniaceae, Celastraceae, Fabaceae, Rhamnaceae, Simaroubaceae, and Vitaceae, respectively). Shrub species occurring with more frequency in the natural areas than other escapes are the introduced native atlantic nine bark (Physocarpus opulifolius), burning bush (Euonymus alatus), forsythia (Forsythia sp.), japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii), morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii), tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), and mock orange (Philadelphus sp.). For the subset of assessed woody vines, shrubs, and tree species found in cultivation for at least 50 to 67 years (the “50 plus club species”), slightly more had escaped from cultivation for the Vanderbilt Mansion (VAMA) and Eleanor Roosevelt (ELRO) estates but for the Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) collection the numbers were equivalent. The approach used in this study illustrates with data the “movement” of exotics over a significant period of time and underscores the importance of site-specific and species-specific assessments. This assessment also emphasizes the value of understanding the history (e.g., cultivated, cultivated escaped, or migratory invaders), purpose (e.g., aquatic, crop garden forb, groundcover, ornamental, or weed), and management over time (e.g., long since abandoned, recently abandoned, or still maintained, etc.) of the geographic area under consideration and the use of available exotic invasive plant lists to conduct such assessments.

Los territorios migratorios como espacios de articulación de migraciones nacionales e internacionales. Cuatro casos del contexto mexicano

The production of flowers, fruits and vegetables in Mexico configure a highly dynamic sector in terms of performance, value of exports and jobs. This is a sector that operates in a predatory way, both of natural resources in areas where it is situated, and of the labor force used, resulting in around a high mobility among workers involved in these crops. This situation is paradoxical because, on the one hand, it shows the existence of an advanced agriculture, highly modernized, comparable to that available in developed countries and, on the other hand, this agriculture is inserted in a national context of rural poverty and of general degradation living conditions of workers. This article examines four cases in the Mexican context that reflect the very development of modern agriculture is in the hands of large companies connected to global capital. This connection to local agriculture and the global capital is generating strong mobility processes and circuits of different types and spaces with a high relational density in which different groups involved (local and migrant, indigenous and mestizos, return migrants, circular or settled population). The aim of this paper is to see, at the level of these areas of intensive agriculture, how mobilities are generated and how chains of national and international migration are produced, the way they connect with the labor markets at several scales, the mechanisms favoring the creation of small clusters of settlements that serve as stepping stone to reach new destinations and/or new markets, and how each group give a meaning to those areas of intensive agriculture and make them a part of its territory migration or its movement.

An Ecosystem Approach to Recreation Location Quotients

Despite the widespread agreement on the importance of preserving ecological integrity in conservation and outdoor recreation decision-making processes, traditional metrics analyzing the supply of and demand for conservation and recreation resources have focused on geographical and population-centric units of measurement rather than ecological ones. One tool past researchers have used to inform recreation resource planning is the recreation location quotient (RLQ). While simple park-to-population ratios or acres-per-capita metrics provide a base measure of carrying capacity and are often useful to set broad recreation supply standards, the RLQ offers a more nuanced snapshot of supply and demand by comparing regional ratios to a standardized reference region. The RLQ is thus able to provide a statistic or quotient that highlights regions where recreation resources are particularly abundant and/or scarce relative to a reference area. This project expands the past RLQ analyses by investigating the distribution of recreation resources across the 10 ecological sections found within the US state of Minnesota. RLQs were calculated using recreation trail mileage, natural resource and recreation area acreage data, and recreation facility data from federal, state, and local agencies. Results found notable differences in supply of recreation resources across ecological sections. Some sections were considerably underrepresented in recreation resources-per area (e.g., Red River Valley and North Central Glaciated Plains) while others were underrepresented in recreation resources-per capita (e.g., Minnesota and Northeast Iowa Morainal). The RLQ statistics and resulting maps illustrating relative surplus or deficiencies can inform future land acquisition decisions and highlight the need for cross-jurisdictional planning in order to ensure outdoor recreation systems are ecologically representative. Possible implications and recommendations for future planning decisions are discussed.

Historic Coastal Morphological Landscape Characterization & Assessment (HCMLC&A) to Understand the Coastal Evolution in the State of Kuwait

The Arabian Gulf has seen a lot of coastal development along its shores since the discovery of oil and rise in oil based economy. Kuwait too, for the last five decades (from 1960s), has seen a tremendous alteration of the coastal morphological landscape (CML) from what existed 50 years ago. The study shows that the physiognomy of the coastal landscape created by geological, geomorphologic, biological factors and coastal process was greatly shaped by oil based development. This tremendous change in coastal edge from natural morphology to build up morphology was brought about due to coastal migration, construction, private and public establishments, landscaping, coastal fronts, man-made beaches, ports, marine facilities for petroleum industries, power stations, distillation plants, coastal defensive structures, beach houses, structures of hospitality, etc. Remarkably it is interesting to note that till 2011 certain zone of coast in Kuwait showed priority in encroaching and occupying more than any other parts. These coastal areas have reached to a saturation level thus tempting and forcing humans to invade the virgin coastal areas which were untouched earlier. These limited natural coastal resource areas in Kuwait hold high significance values. The Master Plan of Kuwait show promising coastal land use but it does not seem to protect significantly the valuable natural CML of Kuwait which is seen in this study. Historic Coastal Morphological Landscape Characterization & Assessment (HCMLC&A) represent a new way of historically characterizing the landscape and understanding the coastal evolution.

Investigation of Deforestation of Environmental Protection Areas of Madeira River Permanent Preservation Areas in Rondônia Amazon, Brazil

The deforestation of the Amazon protected areas involves a series of deleterious environmental factors, such as social conflicts, loss of biodiversity, soil degradation, deterioration of watersheds, and environmental services offered, that still are not considered in studies of environmental impacts and when studied, are not valued economically or end up being undersized, resulting in loss of economic opportunities associated to the sustainable use of natural resources in areas of interest for conservation. This study had as objective to point out illegal activities in and around the area of special environmental protection (APA) of the Madeira River in Rondonia in accordance with the provisions of the Terms of Reference, No. 001/CAO-AMB/MP/2006, with action and support of interagency bodies BPM / PM, SEDAM, SIPAM, INCRA, IBAMA, EMBRAGEO in order to understand the dynamics of deforestation in protected areas and indigenous lands of the state.

Contributors

Contributors

Toward Establishing a Spratly Islands International Marine Peace Park: Ecological Importance and Supportive Collaborative Activities with an Emphasis on the Role of Taiwan

The Spratly Islands constitute one of the earth's most ecologically significant areas, hosting a high diversity of marine species, providing critical habitats for endangered species, and providing marine larvae to reestablish depleted stocks among the heavily overfished and degraded coastal ecosystems of the South China Sea. Territorial disputes have led to the establishment of environmentally destructive, socially and economically costly military outposts on many of the islands. Given the rapid proliferation of international peace parks around the world, it is time to take positive steps toward the establishment of a Spratly Islands Marine Peace Park. Its purpose would be to manage the area's natural resources and alleviate regional tensions via a freeze on claims and claim supportive actions.

Does the General Public Know the Extension Service? A Survey of Ohio Residents

This article presents results of an assessment of the familiarity of the general public of Ohio with OSU Extension and the means of contact with OSU Extension. One-fifth of respondents were familiar with programs and services OSU Extension provides. Agriculture and Natural Resources area programs were most popular among those Ohio residents familiar with OSU Extension. Reading a publication was the most likely way of knowing about OSU Extension. Ohio residents reported a positive, above-average value for their satisfaction with OSU Extension's programs and services, and indicated that they would recommend OSU Extension to others.

Plant Community Structure and Conservation of a Northern Peru Sclerophyllous Forest

ABSTRACTThe vegetation near El Bosque Petrificado Piedra Chamana, in the northern Peruvian Andes, is evergreen sclerophyllous forest with significant shrub, epiphyte, and mat components. Important/characteristic genera include Dodonaea, Polylepis, Oreopanax, Oreocallis, Myrcianthes, and the mat‐forming orchid Pleurothallis. A vegetation survey including 12 transects and 240 plots in high‐ and low‐grazed areas documented 96 plant species. Compared with low‐grazed areas, high‐grazed areas had significantly fewer tree species, more herbs, and higher density of individuals. Both grazing categories exhibited high connectedness (as seen in network metrics) and positive biotic associations (nestedness), suggesting facilitation of some species by others, but high‐grazed areas showed greater indications of positive associations (as seen in the C‐score and V‐ratio). These positive biotic associations may relate to the harsh environment and the role of keystone taxa such as Dodonaea viscosa, canopy trees, and mat‐forming elements in moderating conditions and promoting species establishment. Only in the low‐grazed areas was there any indication of competitive interactions (negative C‐score/ less than expected species‐pair occurrence). The shift in sign of the C‐score, from negative in low‐grazed areas to positive in high‐grazed areas, indicates a loss of competitive interactions as a factor influencing community structure where grazing pressure is higher. Conservation of the area's natural resources would be advanced by protection of areas where the vegetation structure is more intact, better controls on grazing animals, and identification of development alternatives that would reduce pressure on the area's unique vegetation.

Hypsipyla grandella em Mogno (Swietenia macrophylla): Situação Atual e Perspectivas

The mahogany wood, Swietenia macrophylla King, is valued in the international trade market for its beauty and durability for noble uses like furniture and decoration. Any attempt of commercial plantation of this specie to diminish the pressure made by its selective exploration fail due to the incidence of the mahogany shoot borer, Hypsipyla grandella (Zeller). Although some works have had relative success in presenting control techniques over the punctual aspects, a strategy of economic, an economic strategy for efficient and integrated management practice was not established yet for H. grandella in Brazil. This study objective is to update data about the insect and its host based in the most recent studies made in Brazil, besides to indicate the most prominent research areas for its control in S. macrophylla plantations in the Country. The most recommended control’s strategies for H. grandella are the host plant resistance use, silvicultural management, semiochemicals and biological control, in which exist the need of income to the long term researches. Natural resistance tests of S. macrophylla procedences must be encouraged due to Brazil’s wide natural resource areas.