Natural Resource Management Systems Research Articles

GaoFen-1 Remote Sensing Image Forest Extraction Using Object-based CNN

As an important natural resource, forest plays a vital role in regulating regional climatic conditions and maintaining the balance of the Earth’s ecosystem. At the same time, the major changes in China’s natural resource management system have put forward new requirements for forest surveys. Efficient and accurate grasp of the spatial distribution of forest resources and the type of forest in China have become an important part of all-weather remote sensing survey and monitoring of natural resources. In recent years, with the strong promotion of the national high-scoring project, the extraction of forest based on high-resolution remote sensing image (HSRI) has become one of the main technical means of forest resource survey in China. However, HSRI contains abundant detailed information and spatial characteristic information, and spectral heterogeneity within the object is increased, which significantly causes difficulties in HSRI processing and information extraction. Therefore, aiming at the problem of extracting forest types from China’s domestic GF-1 satellite image, this paper proposes a classification method based on feature learning using an object-oriented convolution neural network (CNN). First, the study area was under-segmented using the Multi-Resolution Segmentation (MRS) algorithm and referred Estimation of Scale Parameter algorithm to determining the segmented scale. Then, a CNN model was obtained for identifying forest type by parameter adjustment. Finally, the multi-layer feature learning of the CNN and the regional Majority Voting algorithm were combined to classify the forest types within the study region. The overall extraction accuracy of the proposed method in this paper was 0.88. The object-oriented method can avoid the “salt and pepper” phenomenon that exists in the pixel-based classification. CNN can extract the deep features contained in HSRI, which is effectively conductive to category identification. In addition, the method proposed in this paper has a greater applicability to forest extraction from HSRI.

Las enseñanzas de Don Jesús: Una forma yaqui de agroecología

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue realizar una aproximación para comparar el nivel de sustentabilidad entre el sistema monocultivo trigo y un sistema diversificado presentes en el Valle del Yaqui, lugar donde nació la llamada Revolución Verde y se encuentra localizado en el Sur de Sonora, México. Los ejes del análisis son la innovación, el consumo del agua y la rentabilidad. La metodología aplicada para la realización del presente estudio es una modificación al Marco para la Evaluación de Sistemas de Manejo de Recursos Naturales Incorporando Indicadores de Sustentabilidad (MESMIS). Los resultados indican que, de los 13 indicadores de sustentabilidad evaluados, el sistema diversificado presenta más indicios de sustentabilidad.

Towards a pro-community-based water resource management system in Northwest Cameroon: practical evidence and lessons of best practices

This paper examines community-based water supply management (CBWSM) in three rural districts of Northwest Cameroon as well as a review of the literature focusing on some successful community-based natural resource management initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa. Using empirical and secondary data collected through participatory research methods, it is argued that CBWSM has failed to achieve sustainable water supplies in Northwest Cameroon. Findings revealed that centralized control, the prevalence of poverty, passive involvement of public, private and grassroots community has continued to thwart water supplies within these districts. It is important to note that in any natural resource management system, power becomes a crucial factor as it determines who has and does not have access to common-pool resources. This paper argues that argues that strong traditional leadership, resolute devolution, and active participation of rural communities will facilitate and invigorate a platform for capturing the views of diverse user groups and this can bring about a people-centered and community-driven development process. Some aspects of best practice arising from successful case studies in Cameroon can contribute significantly to promoting the development of effective CBWSM in other rural communities with similar characteristics in and out of Cameroon. This will be possible only if rural groups are involved and engaged in the management of their resources while integrating some aspects of best practice.

Characteristics of effective marine protected areas in Hawaiʻi

Abstract Ancient Hawaiians developed sophisticated natural resource management systems that included various forms of spatial management. The state of Hawaiʻi established its first legislated marine protected area (MPA) in 1953, and today there exists a patchwork of spatial marine management strategies along a range of sizes, with varying levels of governance, enforcement, and effectiveness. Approximately 12% of waters within the 50 m depth contour and 5% of waters within state jurisdiction (≤3 nmi) have some form of marine management. No‐take areas make up <0.5% of nearshore waters, and combined with highly protected areas account for 3.4% of this habitat. Most of the existing MPAs are small, with a median area of 1.2 km2 (confidence interval 0.2–8.1). Twenty‐five datasets, representing 1,031 individual surveys conducted throughout Hawaiʻi since 2000, were used to compare fish assemblage characteristics amongst a subset of MPAs using a regulation‐based protection classification scheme. Fully and highly protected areas had significantly greater resource fish biomass than areas with intermediate or low protection did. High human population density adjacent to MPAs had a negative influence on fish trophic structure within MPAs, whereas remote MPAs harboured higher fish biomass. Complex and heterogeneous habitats were important contributors to MPA effectiveness. Long‐term monitoring of select MPAs showed mixed and complex trajectories. Resource fish biomass increased after the establishment of the Hanauma Bay Marine Life Conservation District in 1967 but plateaued after ~15 years, followed by changes in assemblage structure from fish feeding and invasive species. The Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District, established in 1983, was expanded sevenfold in 2003 and showed dramatic increases in resource fish biomass following increased protection. This information is critical to improving effectiveness of existing MPAs, helping inform ongoing efforts to implement a network of MPAs statewide, and aiding in the development of comprehensive statewide marine spatial planning.

Ethnobotanical uses of plants by Brangkuah Community of Moyo Island, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

An ethnobotanical study at Moyo Island, West Nusa Tenggara was carried out to record the traditional knowledge and utilization of plant species there. It is expected that traditional knowledge can play a role in natural resource management systems which can be used in conservation programs. This research was conducted with field observational methods in the Moyo forest and interviews with local people that have knowledge about utilization of plants. There are about 48 species of plants which are utilized by the Brangkuah Community in Moyo Island. Most of them are collected from the forest and 21% (10 species) are cultivated. Local people also use plants for medicine 41% (21 species), food 39% (20 species) and building materials 16% (8 species). The Brangkuah have started to cultivate several plants which are used as building material and food plants which previously collected from the forest. The Brangkuah community has conserved useful plants for their daily life. It is expected that the forest is sustainable.
 J Bangladesh Agril Univ 17(3): 325–337, 2019

Shifting the paradigm in community-based water resource management in North-West Cameroon: A search for an alternative management approach

ABSTRACT This paper examines practical approaches for Community-Based Water Resource Management in North-West Region, Cameroon. Empirical data collected through participatory learning and action revealed that a lesser degree of community involvement and more centralized systems of Natural Resource Management (NRM), is a major cause of unsustainable water management. A fundamental challenge in NRM is how to effectively engage and stimulate public, private and local institutions in policymaking to address resource use conflicts and improve governance. Part of the problem in developing effective management models has been identified through the nature of approaches that inform contemporary methodologies of NRM. Many of these methods have largely been influenced by top-down systems of management that have played a major role in disenfranchising those for whom development is meant for. It is, therefore, imperative to rethink contemporary management approaches and develop more pragmatic models that will promote effective systems of NRM. A focus on and applying a rational System Thinking Analysis could potentially produce reinforcing and self-reinforcing effects to enhance rural water systems and promote sustainable water management in the North-West Region, Cameroon.

Sustainability of mangrove crab (Ucides cordatus) gathering in the southeast Brazil: A MESMIS-based assessment

This study assesses the sustainability of mangrove crab (Ucides cordatus) gathering in the mangrove of the Paraíba do Sul River estuary, located in southeast Brazil. Ethnographic interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire with open- and closed-ended questions were individually conducted with 35 gatherers of U. cordatus. The gatherers' reports and data from the literature were used to measure sustainability of this production system using the Framework for the Evaluation of Natural Resource Management Systems Incorporating Sustainability Indicators (MESMIS, the acronym in Spanish for ‘Marco para la Evaluación de Sistemas de Manejo de Recursos Naturales incorporando Indicadores de Sustentabilidad’). Ten indicators were developed to assess the social, economic and ecological parameters related to the sustainability of this fishing activity. All indicators had below-ideal values, with a 47% relative sustainability index. This finding demonstrates that mangrove crabs are not sustainably gathered in the region. The indicators can be applied to other fishing systems and used by community agents themselves in routine sustainability assessments.

Who Sets the Rules? Institutional Misfits and Bricolage in Hunting Management in Brazil

Hunting management in Brazil in not regulated by a unique legal framework, but by a combination of national environmental legislation and local rules and norms. Therefore, a multidimensional perspective combining structural and procedural analysis of the different institutional arrangements is necessary for better understanding of this local natural resource management system. We combined three analytical approaches in the study case of hunting management in the Piagacu-Purus Sustainable Development Reserve (RDS-PP) in the Brazilian Amazon. The institutional analysis of the rules revealed gaps and inconsistencies between different structures and decision levels. The meta-governance analysis indicated incongruities arising from different perceptions and values among stakeholders. Finally, the bricolage analysis revealed hybrid strategies used by local stakeholders and state agents. We conclude that complementarity of analytical frameworks is necessary in order to understand how multiple perceptions and power asymmetries in co-management arenas may influence the dynamics and porosity of such institutional arrangements.

Towards a Global Natural Resource Management System to Support Sustainable Development

Towards a Global Natural Resource Management System to Support Sustainable Development

Environmental Safety of Modern Kazakhstan: General Legal Analysis

World experience shows that greening the entire socio-economic system of any state is the basis for successful solving of environmental problems and preventing environmental disasters. Environmental safety, as a component of national security, is an indispensable condition for sustainable development and is the basis for the preservation of natural systems and the maintenance of appropriate environmental quality. The Kazakhstan political and legal mechanism for ensuring environmental security against the background of multilateral and dynamically evolving international institutions has not achieved any significant efficiency yet. For many decades, Kazakhstan has developed a predominantly natural resource management system with extremely high technogenic pressure on the environment. Therefore, a fundamental improvement in the ecological situation has not occurred yet, and it is still characterized by the degradation of natural systems, which leads to a destabilization of the biosphere, a loss of its ability to maintain the quality of the environment, which is necessary for the community life. The article presents conclusions on the current list of threats to national security in the environmental field relevant for Kazakhstan. Specific offer has been made to improve the mechanisms for ensuring environmental safety, which includes: improving the efficiency of state control in the environmental protection and environmental management; optimization of licensing system of environmental management and environmental expertise; improvement of the environmental monitoring system; ecologization of legislation; systematization of legislation in the field of protection the environment; expansion of international cooperation.

The ability of community based natural resource management to contribute to development as freedom and the role of access

Abstract Ribot’s access constraints mediate the generation of development benefits from community based natural resource management and co-management systems and programs. Context-specific access constraints also interact with diverse understandings of what constitutes development to create benefits that are non-linear through time, multi or uni-level, prone to hysteresis, socially mediated, vary through space and experienced quite differently by different social actors. In hybridized State-community governance arrangements, this complexity results in ongoing tensions and entanglements as different social actors seek to leverage available opportunities to overcome or circumvent short or longer-term access constraints in pursuit of their understanding of development. In turn, this complexity makes it difficult to understand the full suite of potential development benefits generated by community based natural resource management or co-management structures. Here, we explore potentially competing conceptualisations of development, and the contribution of community based natural resource management to these understandings of development. Using Australia’s Indigenous Land and Sea Management Programs to inform this exploration, we show that development is primarily conceptualised as ‘control, leadership, empowerment and independence,’ in line with Sen’s development as freedom, by the Indigenous groups involved in these programs. State actors understand development in ways that more closely align with Sen’s functionings, or a capability list – for example, the relative uptake of jobs and training. Despite this potential mismatch, some Indigenous groups have been able to leverage opportunities available to them, including those provided by the programs, to overcome access constraints to their understandings of ‘freedom’. We conclude by offering suggestions as to how community based natural resource management programs could be improved.

English

Agroforestry has been defined as a dynamic ecologically based natural resources management system that through the integration of trees on farms and in the agricultural landscape, diversifies and sustains production for increased social, economic and environmental benefits for land users at all levels. This paper highlighted the role of Faidherbia albida tree species in Parkland Agroforestry and its management. Large part of the Ethiopian agricultural landscape is mostly dominant by Parkland Agroforestry practice. These practices are characterized by well grown scattered trees on cultivated land. F. albida is a multipurpose tree grown in addition to its gum production, used in soil fertility improvement as well as fuel and fodder production in rural communities. These trees have been promoted in agroforestry as its characteristic reverse phenology allows satisfactory production of crops under a full stand of the species. Several trials have shown the positive effect of F. albida on crops. In areas where there is too little crop rotation, severe cases of Striga infestation are more noticeable, often resulting in total crop failure. One of the cheapest means of improving his soil fertility, which could effectively reduce or eliminate Strigainfestation, is the use of the F. albida tree in an agroforestry practice on his farm. Socio- economically, F. albida have served as a fodder for livestock and the source of nectar for honey. Key words: Agroforestry, Faidherbia albida, Parkland, management.

Resiliencia y sostenibilidad de agroecosistemas tradicionales de México: Totonacapan

En México, la tecnología agrícola tradicional, resultante de la acumulación milenaria de valiosas experiencias pertinentes al manejo, aprovechamiento y selección bajo domesticación de un amplio conjunto de etnorecursos, continúa expresándose en una amplia superficie. Sin embargo, debido a diversos aspectos negativos del proceso de aculturación, sus fundamentos biológicos y culturales se encuentran en grave riesgo. Considerando al agroecosistema la unidad de estudio integral conducente al entendimiento de las interrelaciones involucradas en la dinámica de sus componentes físicos, biológicos y culturales y teniendo como objetivo, contribuir al entendimiento de la dinámica ecológica y cultural evidenciada en agroecosistemas tradicionales del Totonacapan. Mediante experiencias derivadas de más de tres décadas de trabajo en la región, se describen y analizan algunos rasgos distintivos de dichos sistemas de producción agrícola, enfatizando a la milpa y al monte como espacios en los que se genera y transmite conocimientos y actitudes vinculados a la percepción, manejo, aprovechamiento y conservación de los etnorecursos inherentes a éstos. Se proporciona información cuantitativa vinculada a la dinámica de este tipo de sistemas de producción agrícola. Los métodos aplicados se fundamentaron en el marco para la evaluación de sistemas de manejo de recursos naturales incorporando indicadores de sustentabilidad (MESMIS), la evaluación del ciclo de vida (LCA), la exploración etnobotánica, así como en la observación participativa. Con base en la definición y evaluación de 15 índices pertinentes a su resiliencia, se propone un modelo de trabajo transdisciplinario conducente a la mensuración del grado de sostenibilidad evidenciado por los mismos. Los resultados indican que, mientras mayor sea el legado biocultural transmitido por sus ancestros y el apego de las familias campesinas al mismo, mayor será la resiliencia ecológica y cultural de sus agroecosistemas y consecuentemente, la sustentabilidad evidenciada por éstos.
 

Using the systemic-resilience thinking approach to enhance participatory collaborative management of natural resources in tribal communities: Toward inclusive land reform-led outdoor tourism

Community participation is at the heart of environmental governance as it facilitates and promotes a sense of ownership in a society's decision making and social development issues. This paper, using both primary and secondary data collected through methods inspired by participatory research, set out to discuss a methodological approach aimed at understanding how common pool natural resources are managed by multi-actors and stakeholders in a developing country context in an effort to promote inclusive land reform-led outdoor tourism. It combines two ‘soft-systems’ schools of thought, systemic thinking and resilience thinking, to analyse the effectiveness and efficiency of collaborative management of natural resources in tribal communities established through land reform processes in South Africa. It is argued in the paper that the two schools of thought can play key roles in identifying and informing the development of appropriate intervening measures and strategies that can contribute towards the adoption of effective and sustainable systems of community natural resource management and bring about more meaningful community development through community-based tourism. These observations have been made within the broader and contemporary arguments of sustainable environmental management and community development. Management implications•The systemic-resilience approach appears to be critical for increasing stakeholder participation in conservation endeavours aimed at outdoor recreational activities and tourism.•The intervention approach in complex tribal communities is key for establishing accommodations that will enable developing action plans to enhance stakeholder participation in co-managing common pool natural resources earmarked for community-based ecotourism.•The systemic-resilience approach promotes strong and genuine grassroot-grown community participation in environmental management decision making, thereby promoting stakeholder participation of interested actors in outdoor recreation and tourism.•Systemic-resilience facilitates the attainment of social capital elements which are key to the successful co-management of natural resources, i.e. participation, transparency, reciprocity and effective communication.

Toward generating sustainability indicators for agroecological markets

ABSTRACT Agroecological markets are determinants for the success of agroecology because the transition from agroecological production is not enough to make agri-food systems sustainable. The present research was carried out between 2015 and 2016, where a group of indicators were designed to manage the sustainability of the Red de Mercados Agroecológicos de Bogotá Región (RMABR; Spanish for the Agroecological Market Network of the Bogotá Region). The MESMIS (Spanish for Framework for the Evaluation of natural resource Management Systems incorporating Sustainability Indicators) methodology was applied due to its wide use in agroecosystem sustainability assessments. This resulted in the development of twelve indicators classified into four sustainability attribute groups. Each indicator was evaluated on a three-degree scale: target situation or goal, acceptable, and unacceptable. The four markets evaluated evince varied levels of sustainability, with greater socio-economic indicator challenges, such as the number of consumers linked and the income–cost relation of the markets. The results provided a methodology that can be easily employed, and thus guarantee effective use in the management of agroecological markets sustainability.

COMPARACIÓN DE MARCOS DE EVALUACIÓN DE AGROECOSISTEMAS

<p>The formulation of the concept of sustainability indicates the need to consider in a integral and global way the productive processes, as well as, the obtaining of sustainability measures. In this way lists of indicators and characteristics that they should have were made. Concepts, criteria and methodologies were then proposed to select / derive / build indicators that define the sustainability indexes or that were part of different sustainability evaluation frameworks. In Latin America, systems have been developed to evaluate agroecosystems with an unequal degree of conceptualization and rigor, and also with different criteria. Since these systems have been fairly analyzed in their conceptual phase as well as in their applied phase, in this article we propose to compare the "Framework for the evaluation of natural resource management systems incorporating sustainability indicators" (MESMIS) and the framework "Evaluation of agroecosystems through sustainability indicators", looking for similarities and differences between them, in order to highlight their advantages and limitations. As a general conclusion it is stated that none of the two frameworks presents in general, overcoming characteristics. However, the systemic approach present in the MESMIS framework gives it greater heuristic power.</p>

Еколого-економічні механізми управління природокористуванням в агроекосистемах

Розглянуто важливу роль розроблених нових і використання діючих еколого-економічних механізмів управління в галузях агроекосистем, що сприяють раціональному використанню і відтворенню природних ресурсів. Проведено аналіз діючих механізмів, які становлять основу гармонійного поєднання принципів для природокористування в агроекосистемах. Обґрунтовано особливості дії космічного механізму, який є сукупністю станів і процесів природного походження, та за своєю масштабністю дії він здатний не тільки спричиняти розвитку негативних наслідків, що призводять до непередбачених утрат, але й забезпечувати одержання в окремих фазах циклу сонячної активності економічного ефекту від виробництва сільськогосподарської культури. Наведено основні принципи еколого-економічних механізмів управління використанням та охороною земель. Акцентовано увагу на моніторингу як складу економічного механізму, який всебічно аналізує на макро- і мікрорівні регіонів виробничу сферу за найвагомішими показниками еколого-економічного спрямування. На основі проведених досліджень зроблено висновок, що для забезпечення ефективного ведення сільськогосподарського виробництва структура системи еколого-економічного управління має бути доповнена космічним механізмом, який сприяє вирішенню еколого-економічних і соціальних проблем у суспільному виробництві.

Use of vegetation and natural management of rainwater and grey water resources in the external space of the building

The purpose of the publication is to focus attention on the potential of vegetation application and revitalisation of non-industrial sewage and rainwater in contemporary architectural design. Use of plants, along with the natural water resources management system in the external zone of the building and in the public space, has an ecological justification, characterised by numerous advantages, making it easier for us to live in an urbanised area. These are: simplicity of implementation, thermal and acoustic benefits, energy saving, the possibility of using local plants, health and aesthetic values, as well as low maintenance costs.

A STUDY ON THE INTRODUCTION OF TOTAL NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM USING THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION VALUE ASSESSMENT MAP

Abstract. The environmental impact assessment system and the environmental plan for the preservation of the land environment are carried out with the aim of preventing damage to the environment caused by human activities, improving the quality of life and creating a pleasant environment. However, despite these various systems, the natural resources have been continuously damaged, and the system to cope with them has been advanced, but there has been a limit to fully conserve natural resources from development. The total amount of natural resources is being promoted as a part of the purpose of supplementing the system, but the evaluation method of the total amount of natural resources suitable for domestic situation is not presented yet. Natural resources are diverse and complicated in their categories and elements, and their measurement units are also diverse, making it difficult to synthesize them into one unit. Therefore, in this study, we proposed a method to calculate the total amount by using the evaluation map of the Environmental Conservation Value Assessment Map (ECVAM) which derives the final achievement with 5 grades using 65 evaluation items. However, we consistently applied the weight twice as much as the grade and did not utilize any information other than the map of ECVAM. The results of this study can be applied to the Total Natural Resources Management System through follow-up study such as application of various environmental information and weighting method.

English

This paper investigates the implications of smallholder farming, that is, characteristic of a community based water management system in Oman known as a falaj (pl aflaj). The aflaj are naturally sustainable, and for centuries have provided water in an arid region, supporting agriculture and livelihoods. With over three thousand active aflaj in Oman, the typical falaj is small; conveying enough water to irrigate a relatively small amount of land, and this water and land is further subdivided among many farmers. The implications of these smallholdings on the economic viability of the falaj were investigated by studying one falaj system. It is found the small holdings of water and land imply a typical farmer cannot realize economies of scale in farming, implying average costs are high and farm profits are low. As the aflaj are community managed, the low economic value of the falaj implies there may be insufficient funds for maintenance of the falaj, thus threatening their sustainability. Key words: Traditional agriculture, water management, community based natural resource management system, smallholdings.