Resource Users Research Articles

Проблемные вопросы возмещения экологического вреда: замечания на полях Обзора судебной практики Верховного Суда РФ

Author analyses some positions of the Review of judicial practice on the application of environmental legislation, approved by the Presidium of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation on 24 June 2022. This review is the first dedicated entirely to environmental issues, and prepared as a result of the seminar of the Supreme Court on the practice of courts in the field of environmental protection. The author notes the presence of disputable interpretations in this review, and also highlights the various facets of the views taken by the Supreme Court and the problems of their practical implementation. Among such problems, there is a lack of uniformity in understanding the harm to the environment, the absence of many environmental quality standards as an obstacle to fair compensation for damage to nature, compensation for environmental damage for lawful activities on general terms with illegal users of natural resources, an extremely high standard of proof in cases of environmental compensation for users of natural resources, the difficulty of holding state bodies accountable, etc. The author also highlights the trends in legal regulation and law enforcement practice in the field of nature management and environmental protection outlined by the Supreme Court (“pro-state” bias in resolving disputes, strengthening the priority of monetary compensation over in-kind compensation for harm and the fiscal function of the compensation, etc.).

Effect of slaughterhouse waste on sewage channel

The meat producing sector are among primary users of global freshwater resources within the sector of agriculture and livestock. Processing of meat facilities known as MPP’s generate substantial volumes of wastewater during both the slaughtering process and facility cleaning. This wastewater, referred to as slaughterhouse wastewater (SWW), requires substantial treatment to ensure safe and environmentally friendly discharge because it contains high levels of organic materials and proteins. As a result, SWW treatment and disposal are crucial for maintaining public health. In that chapter, we study about the regulatory system pertinent management of slaughterhouse wastewater (SWW), its environmental ramifications, health implications, and the distinctive attributes of slaughterhouse waste. Due to the varying pollutant levels resulting from the type and quantity of killed flora and fauna, which can change within the meat industry, SWWs are typically assessed through bulk parameters. The characteristics of SWW, such as Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), and Total Suspended Solids (TSS), are key pollutant affecting sewage system. When SWW combines with the sewage system, it adds to the burden on both the sewage network and sewage treatment plants (STP). Therefore, employing on-site treatment utilizing integrated processes emerges as the optimal approach for treating and disinfecting slaughterhouse effluents, ensuring their safe discharge into receiving waters.

Thousands of domestic and public supply wells face failure despite groundwater sustainability reform in California’s Central Valley

Across the world, declining groundwater levels cause wells to run dry, increase water and food insecurity, and often acutely impact groundwater-dependent communities. Despite the ubiquity and severity of these impacts, groundwater research has primarily focused on economic policy instruments for sustainable management or the quantification of groundwater depletion, rather than assessing the impacts of management decisions. In particular, how definitions of groundwater sustainability shape the fate of resource users remains unexplored. Here, we examine one of the world’s largest-scale environmental sustainability reforms, the California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), and estimate the impact of sustainability definitions proposed in groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs) on well failure. We show that locally-proposed sustainability criteria are consistent with business as usual groundwater level decline, and if reached, could impact over 9000 domestic wells and around 1000 public supply wells. These findings highlight the necessity of careful and critical evaluation of locally-developed sustainability definitions and their implementation to prevent detrimental impacts, such as threats to household and municipal water supply.

Institutional Repositories of Higher Education Institutions in Ukraine for Training Specialists in the Field of Information, Li-Brary and Archive Studies as a Component of Academic Communica-Tion Quality in Modern Educational Space

The purpose of the article is to conduct a comparative analysis of institutional repositories of higher education institutions of Ukraine for training specialists in the field of information, library, and archival studies as a component of the quality of academic communication in the modern educational space. The research methodology is based on the application of the theory of scientific communication, general scientific and special methods of cognition, including analysis, synthesis, monitoring, and comparison. The scientific novelty of the study is to expand the understanding of the current situation of demand among users of scientific and educational resources of institutional repositories of higher education institutions for the training of specialists in the field of information, library, and archival studies. Conclusions. The article analyses the institutional repositories of ten higher education institutions for training of specialists in the field of information, library, and archival studies using Webometrics, QS World University Rankings, and SimilarWeb. Despite the high-ranking positions of the leading higher education institutions in Webometrics and QS World University Rankings, user access to institutional repositories remains at an insufficient level. A study based on web analytics by SimilarWeb has identified four leading HEIs by the number of visits to their repositories by users: Western Ukrainian National University (WUNU), Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (TSNU), National Aviation University (NAU), and Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University (VNU). The level of use of the main communication channels (direct access, regular (standard) search, referrals, e-mail, social networks) for the use of repositories by each higher education institution is also determined, and recommendations are given on the promotion of scientific and educational resources of repositories and the use of PR and advertising technologies by librarians and all participants of scientific communication of higher education institutions to improve its quality in the modern educational space. Key words: institutional repository, higher education institution, electronic archive, training of specialists in the field of information, library, and archive studies, communication channels, scientific communication.

Economic valuation of seagrass ecosystem in Maribojoc Bay, Bohol, Philippines

Abstract. Mascari?as HJC, Otadoy JB. 2023. Economic valuation of seagrass ecosystem in Maribojoc Bay, Bohol, Philippines. Biodiversitas 24: 4427-4435. The seagrass ecosystem is one of the most productive and precious ecosystems. In the Philippines, however, more data on the economic valuation of all seagrass ecosystem services must be collected. The study estimated the total economic value of the seagrass ecosystem, including use and non-use values. Resource user groups include municipal ?shers, gleaners, and tourism business operators. The sample size was determined based on the total number of resource users in Maribojoc Bay, Bohol, Philippines and using a confidence coefficient of 95% (P = 0.05). The total economic value of the seagrass ecosystem in Maribojoc Bay is PhP 52.8 million (US$ 1.1 million). Direct use values, or market benefits, are PhP 35.4 million (US$ 708 thousand), accounting for 67% of the total economic value. Indirect and non-use values, are PhP 17.3 million (US$ 346 thousand), accounting for 33% of the total economic value. On a per hectare basis, the economic value of the seagrass ecosystem in Maribojoc Bay is PhP 46,722 (US$ 934). The results of this valuation can be an input in decision-making to manage and conserve the seagrass ecosystem as well as maintain the economic security of Maribojoc Bay. The findings of this study are valuable for developing a comprehensive information management and decision-support system for the management and protection of the seagrass ecosystem. However, more research is required to evaluate the range of ecosystem services provided by seagrass ecosystems across the country, focusing on qualitative value attributions linked to the social-ecological dynamics of seagrass systems.

Critical Review of the Increasing Complexity of Access and Benefit-Sharing Policies of Genetic Resources for Genebank Curators and Plant Breeders-A Public and Private Sector Perspective.

Plant breeders develop competitive, high-yielding, resistant crop varieties that can cope with the challenges of biotic stresses and tolerate abiotic stresses, resulting in nutritious food for consumers worldwide. To achieve this, plant breeders need continuous and easy access to plant genetic resources (PGR) for trait screening, to generate new diversity that can be built into newly improved varieties. International agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) and the Nagoya Protocol recognised the sovereign rights of countries over their genetic resources. Under the CBD/Nagoya Protocol, countries are free to establish specific national legislations regulating germplasm access and benefit-sharing to be negotiated bilaterally. Consequently, access to PGR became increasingly restricted and cumbersome, resulting in a decrease in germplasm exchange. The ITPGRFA attempted to ease this situation by establishing a globally harmonised multilateral system (MLS). Unfortunately, the MLS is (still) restricted to a limited number of food and forage crops, with very few vegetable crops. Easy and continuous access to genetic diversity combined with equitable and fair sharing of derived benefits is a prerequisite to breeding new varieties. Facilitated access contributes to sustainable crop production and food and nutrition security; therefore, access to and, consequently, use of PGRFA needs to be improved. Thus, the authors recommend, among others, expanding the scope of the ITPGRFA to include all PGRFA and making them and all related information accessible under a Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA) combined, if necessary, with a subscription system or a seed sales tax. Such a transparent, functional and efficient system would erase legal uncertainties and minimise transaction costs for conservers, curators and users of genetic resources, thus aiding plant breeders to fulfil their mission.

Syndication of sink-source and area-based resource management as a remedy to sustain a small-scale fishery: The case study of blue swimming crab fishery from Sri Lanka

Tropical small-scale fisheries (SSF) have become more vulnerable to over-exploitation due to: delayed alarming stock status, consequences of implementing deprived management strategies, data-poor scenarios, ambiguous assessment approaches and failures in a comprehensive understanding of the context of specific resource users. Hence, the current study on the blue swimming crab (BSC) fishery off the northern coast of Sri Lanka (September 2017 to November 2018), reveals the evidence of the SSF's requirement for a precise management and decision approach for sustainability. Therefore, here we intended, to evaluate The TropfishR package of the electronic length frequency (ELEFAN) method with new optimization techniques for data-limited fisheries analysis with length frequency (LFQ) data. Further multivariate techniques were used for the follow-up analysis. Results of LFQ data obtained through scrutinized ELEFAN methods and followed-up analysis showed that all studied fishing grounds are overexploited (E > 0.5) due to the “effort-creep” in post-war context and higher economic demand of BSC, which were collectively drive the prevailing behaviour of fishers. Further, due to cultural constraints such as caste-based gear choices and fishing ground choices, the small and immature stages of BSC become more susceptible to gears with low selectivity, which frequently operated in the estuary (ES) and shallow coast (SC). So under this multi-gear, complex SSF scenario banning or restricting the harmful gears becomes socially impossible. Hence, area-based management through a sink-source approach that characterizes the fishing ground with respect to the gear, seems to be promising. Therefore, we conclude that through a such robust approach, we could able to replenish a similarly overfished fishery scenario in the SSF.

Inland Fisheries: Challenging Issues & Management Strategies in Indian Context

Inland capture and culture fisheries is an important sector of Indian agriculture, providing employment, food and nutritional security, particularly to the rural poor and better access to protein-rich food for all. The country has shown continuous and sustained increments in fish production, since independence. The inland fisheries are composed of mainly three components i.e. fisheries resources, fish & fishers. The sector has vast production potential, particularly for inland aquaculture and culture-based fisheries resources. But nowadays, the sector is facing various challenging issues like environmental pressures, overexploitation, inadequate database & catch information, unequal gender participation, lack of sufficient infrastructure and inadequate governance systems. In order to overcome these issues, a holistic approach is required to manage the inland fisheries by involving its major components which are fisheries resources, fish & fishers. This is the need of the hour to take action in a collaborative manner by government, scientists, fishery managers, fishers and multiple resource users for sustainable management of inland fisheries resources by encompassing the concept of Ecosystem-based fisheries management. We all need to be responsible for our duties towards the conservation and management of aquatic resources, not only for conserving the wealth of inland fisheries for the present but for future generations also.

The Role of Integrated Coastal Management Approach in the Protection of Coastal and Marine Resources in the Eastern Coast of Tanzania

Abstract This scientific paper examines the role of Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) approach in the protection of coastal and marine resources in Tanzania. It engages coastal resource users and practitioners in focus group discussions and interviews, and complements the data obtained with documented sources. A modified version of the Benefit Analysis Framework is adopted from Wenger et al. (2011) to analyze the extent to which ICM yields a wide range of benefits that may potentially promote the protection of coastal ecosystem and enhance the commitment of communities that live adjacent to the coastal strip to manage mangroves, fisheries, coral reefs, and coastal land in a sustainable manner.

Healthcare resource utilization and costs associated with generalized myasthenia gravis: a retrospective matched cohort study using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan.

We estimated healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) in Taiwan. This retrospective population-based, matched cohort study used the National Health Insurance Research Database to identify prevalent patients with gMG (cases) in 2019. In total, 2537 cases were matched (1:4) by age, sex, and urbanization level to 10148 randomly selected patients without gMG (comparators). A generalized linear regression model predicted the frequency of HRU and costs among service users. Costs attributable to gMG were obtained by subtracting all-cause HRU costs incurred by comparators from cases. The mean age of all patients was 54.99 years and 55.97% were female. Compared with comparators, cases had significantly higher rates of hypertension (33.03%/24.26%), diabetes mellitus (18.92%/11.37%), malignancies (16.00%/4.08%), cardiovascular disease (11.35%/8.12%), thyroid-related conditions (5.99%/1.16%), respiratory illness/disorders (4.38%/1.22%), and neurotic disorders (4.65%/2.6%). Amongst users of healthcare resources, cases had a mean 10 additional outpatient visits, 0.62 inpatient stays, and 0.49 emergency room visits in 2019 compared with comparators (p < 0.0001 for all). The mean (standard deviation) difference in all-cause healthcare costs between cases and comparators was NT$ 94997 (76431) [US$ 3133 (2521)], and was significantly higher for all categories (outpatient, inpatient, emergency room, drugs; p < 0.0001 for all). Among employed persons, 13.18%/7.59% of cases/comparators changed employment status during the study (p < 0.0001). gMG presents a substantial burden on HRU and healthcare costs in Taiwan. A high attrition rate from full-time employment suggests additional societal costs. Improved treatments are needed to alleviate the burden of disease on individuals, healthcare systems, and economies.

Implications of socio-cultural practices on fisheries management: a case of the bottom-set gillnet fishery in the central region of Ghana

The study was conducted to examine the effect of some socio-cultural practices on fisheries management in Ghana. A case study was done on the bottom set gillnet fishery at Apam and Egyaa No.1 in the Central Region of Ghana. Data were collected through field observations and interviews. The study revealed that male children in fishing communities in Ghana were introduced to fishing at younger ages to ensure continuation of the family trade. Fishing partnership systems practiced had the potential to cause underestimation of fishing effort, while exceptions to the fishing holiday practiced in Ghana served as a loophole for violation of the taboo. Some socio-cultural practices hinder the success of some fisheries management strategies. The study recommended that natural resource managers should understand the objectives of the socio-cultural practices of resource users to guide them in the development of their management strategies. Also, alternative livelihood programmes aimed at reducing fishing effort should target the younger age group in fishing households as well, to expose them to other livelihood choices other than fishing. Again, estimation of fishing effort in Ghanaian marine small-scale fisheries should be based on number of fishing gears to ensure reliable estimates.

Predictive risk modelling of high resource users under different prescription drug coverage policies in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada

IntroductionStudying high resource users (HRUs) across jurisdictions is a challenge due to variation in data availability and health services coverage. In Canada, coverage for pharmaceuticals varies across provinces under a mix of public and private plans, which has implications for ascertaining HRUs. We examined sociodemographic and behavioural predictors of HRUs in the presence of different prescription drug coverages in the provinces of Manitoba and Ontario.MethodsLinked Canadian Community Health Surveys were used to create two cohorts of respondents from Ontario (n = 58,617, cycles 2005–2008) and Manitoba (n = 10,504, cycles 2007–2010). HRUs (top 5%) were identified by calculating health care utilization 5 years following interview date and computing all costs in the linked administrative databases, with three approaches used to include drug costs: (1) costs paid for by the provincial payer under age-based coverage; (2) costs paid for by the provincial payer under income-based coverage; (3) total costs regardless of the payer (publicly insured, privately insured, and out-of-pocket). Logistic regression estimated the association between sociodemographic, health, and behavioral predictors on HRU risk.ResultsThe strength of the association between age (≥ 80 vs. <30) and becoming an HRU were attenuated with the inclusion of broader drug data (age based: OR 37.29, CI: 30.08–46.24; income based: OR 27.34, CI: 18.53–40.33; all drug payees: OR 29.08, CI: 19.64–43.08). With broader drug coverage, the association between heavy smokers vs. non-smokers on odds of becoming an HRU strengthened (age based: OR 1.58, CI: 1.32–1.90; income based: OR 2.97, CI: 2.18–4.05; all drug payees: OR 3.12, CI: 2.29–4.25). Across the different drug coverage policies, there was persistence in higher odds of becoming an HRU in low income households vs. high income households and in those with a reported chronic condition vs. no chronic conditions.ConclusionsThe study illustrates that jurisdictional differences in how HRUs are ascertained based on drug coverage policies can influence the relative importance of some behavioural risk factors on HRU status, but most observed associations with health and sociodemographic risk factors were persistent, demonstrating that predictive risk modelling of HRUs can occur effectively across jurisdictions, even with some differences in public drug coverage policies.

Water scarcity and support for costly institutions in public goods: Experimental evidence from Cambodia

Voluntary contributions to public goods are vulnerable to free riding. A potential solution is the implementation of a costly institutional arrangement that deters free riding behavior. In this paper, we analyze to what extent resource users are willing to bear those costs and vote in favor of costly institutions. We carried out lab-in-the-field experiments with Cambodian farmers in the Kampong Chhnang province. In the first experiment, the subjects played public goods games, with an option to vote for a costly institution with a minimum contribution level. In the second experiment, subjects voted between a costless weak enforcement mechanism and a costly strict enforcement mechanism. We find broad support for both costly institutions, and even more so if players had been exposed to resource scarcity in the past. This finding suggests that even though effects of climate change tend to exacerbate scarcity, it may also trigger institutional responses that can ameliorate those climate impacts.

Wave climate characteristics and effects of tropical cyclones on high wave occurrences in Indonesian waters: Strengthening sea transportation safety management

Tropical cyclones can cause bad weather and high waves that can endanger maritime activities, especially in the waters of Indonesia, which is a maritime country. Understanding ocean wave climate characteristics and the effect of Tropical Cyclones (TCs) on high wave occurrences is important, particularly to ensure the safety of fisheries activities in Indonesian seas. We aim to do so by focusing on Indonesia's 11 Fisheries Management Areas (IFMAs) using descriptive and inferential statistics. Wind and wave data were taken from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF), namely ECMWF Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) within the range of 42 years (1979–2020), whereas the TC data were from the International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS). We found that significant wave heights (SWHs) in the inner seas are strongly related to monsoonal wind fields. The maximum SWH occurred in northern Indonesian seas during December–February (DJF), while occurring in southern and inner seas between June–August (JJA). The highest extreme SWH and probability of exceedance (PE) for SWH >2 m were found in IFMAs facing the open ocean, such as Malacca Strait, Western Sumatra waters, Southern Java waters, Natuna Sea, Sulawesi Sea, and Northern Papua waters. We found that TCs activity in adjacent Indonesian waters could increase anomalous SWH occurrences. Positive SWH anomalies ranged from 0.1 to 0.4 m and varied depending on TC location and season. TC that forms in the following areas increase the PE for SWH >2 m: (1) Bay of Bengal: Western Sumatra waters (March–May, MAM) around 20%; (2) Western Pacific Ocean: Northern Papua waters (DJF) around 5%; (3) Northeastern Indian Ocean: Western Sumatra waters (DJF) about 3%; and (4) Western and Northern Australian waters: Southern Java waters (DJF) about 20%. The results of this study can serve as an early assessment for investigating wave climate characteristics and identifying the areas in Indonesian waters that are most susceptible to the impact of TCs, particularly in IFMAs. These findings hold significant value for managers and policy authorities, such as the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia. They can utilize this information to develop measures aimed at reducing vulnerabilities among marine resource users, specifically fishers, and improving fishing vessel safety. Additionally, these findings can be utilized to enhance advance warnings and forecasts, enabling marine managers to implement strategies that minimize the impact of extreme events and increase resilience in the face of ocean and coastal disasters.

Engaging artisanal fishers and processors from coastal states into RFMO discussions lead to agenda shifts toward science-based management. The case of the Jumbo Flying Squid fishery and the role of CALAMASUR

Artisanal and small-scale fisheries and the livelihoods of entire fishery dependent communities often rely on the catch and processing of straddling fish stocks. These stocks, as they expand to Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ), are usually subject to different management regimes —within Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) by coastal states and by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) in the high seas. While RFMO decisions can impact the livelihoods of entire coastal communities, artisanal and small-scale fishers are rarely engaged in regional decision-making fora. The South Pacific Jumbo Flying Squid (JFS), is mainly fished by artisanal operators in Chile, Peru and Ecuador, along with a growing Distant Water Fleet operating within ABNJ. In view of the lack of attention placed by the South Pacific RFMO (SPRFMO) to JFS management in the high seas, in 2018, the most important artisanal fishing cooperatives and processors from Chile, Peru and Ecuador, joined together to promote improvements in RFMO policies towards a sustainable use of the resource. In this paper we review the impact of the Committee for the Sustainable Management of the JFS in the South Pacific (CALAMASUR) in influencing the RFMO agenda. We conclude that CALAMASUR has influenced the SPRFMO agenda by triggering an increased focus on squid as well as by driving attention to the group's 5 priority improvement areas. Results suggests that resource users' engagement in RFMO governance can help advance RFMOs towards meeting the objectives set in their founding arrangements. The paper calls for improving RFMO governance by developing co-management mechanisms that enable effective participation of artisanal and small-scale fishers from coastal states in decisions affecting their livelihoods.

Identifying important plant areas for useful plant species in Colombia

While area-based approaches continue to dominate biodiversity conservation, there is growing recognition of the importance of the human dimensions of biodiversity. We applied the Important Plant Areas (IPA) approach in Colombia to identify key sites for the conservation of plant species with reported human uses. Drawing on the Checklist of Useful Plants of Colombia, we collated 1,045,889 clean occurrence records for 5400 native species from global data repositories and digitized herbaria. Through analysis based on regionalized grid cells, we identified 980 sites meeting IPA thresholds. These are primarily located in forest habitats, with only 19.8 % within existing national natural parks or internationally designated conservation areas. Grid cells were transformed to polygons based on overlapping ecosystems and administrative boundaries to form more meaningful site boundaries. A subsequent two-stage ranking procedure based on conservation value and richness found 46 sites to be of high priority, with 10 selected as top priorities for further investigation and conservation action. These 10 sites support significant populations of 33 threatened useful plant species and represent six of the 13 bioregions of Colombia in just 0.27 % of its land area. To progress from potential to confirmed IPAs, targeted fieldwork is required alongside stakeholder engagement and consultation, crucially involving local resource users. As a megadiverse country ranked second in the world for its botanical richness, effective IPA management would not only contribute to Colombian targets for sustainable development and conservation but would also support global targets to recover biodiversity for both planet and people.

Articulating Indigenous Futures: Using Target Seeking Scenario Planning in Support of Inuit-led Fisheries Governance

Futures thinking is an increasingly popular approach to solving complex environmental problems because it offers a framework to consider potential and desirable futures. It is also possible to create highly participatory future planning processes that incorporate the perspectives, beliefs, and values of resource users. In 2019, a group of fisheries stakeholders in Nunatsiavut, an Inuit land claim region in northern Labrador, began a target seeking scenario planning process to help them create a vision for the future of commercial fisheries in the region. Through this process, the group hoped to not only create a vision of Inuit-led fisheries but also to advance communication, collaboration, and learning for the group. In this paper, we reflect on the process we underwent over the past few years, including the research design, data collection and analysis, and the results of the project to broadly consider the strengths and weaknesses of participatory scenario planning for Indigenous governance. Reflecting on the process that we undertook provides important, experience-based knowledge for future projects. The elevation of Inuit voices makes this vision specific to the region and reframes fisheries as a tool for cultural and political rejuvenation in the region.

Palliative care utilization across health sectors for patients with gynecologic malignancies in Ontario, Canada from 2006 to 2018

ObjectiveEarly palliative care (PC) is associated with improved patient quality of life, less aggressive end-of-life care, and prolonged survival. We evaluated patterns of PC delivery in gynecologic oncology. MethodsWe conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study of gynecologic cancer decedents in Ontario from 2006 to 2018 using linked administrative health care data. ResultsThe cohort included 16,237 decedents; 51.1% died of ovarian cancer, 30.3% uterine cancer, 12.1% cervical cancer, and 6.5% vulvar/vaginal cancers. Palliative care was most often delivered in the hospital inpatient setting in 81%, and 53% received specialist PC. PC was first received during hospital admission in 53%, and by outpatient physician care in only 23%. Palliative care was initiated a median 193 days prior to death, with the lowest two quintiles initiating care ≤70 days before death. The average user of PC resources (third quintile) received 68 days of PC. While cumulative use of community PC gradually increased over the final year of life, institutional palliative care use exponentially rose from 12 weeks until death. On multivariable analyses, predictors of initiating palliative care during a hospital admission included age ≥70 years at death, ≤3 month cancer survival, having cervical or uterine cancer, not having a primary care provider, or being in the lowest 3 income quintiles. ConclusionMost palliative care is initiated and delivered during hospital admission, and is initiated late in a significant proportion. Strategies to increase access to anticipatory and integrated palliative care may improve the quality of the disease course and the end of life.

Indigenous rights and underwater cultural heritage: (de)constructing international conventions

People, ideas and products of all civilisations have been moved by ships, making oceans one of the major drivers for the divergence and convergence of human societies. Furthermore, human beings have interacted and lived on and around oceans, so their heritage provides testimony to many periods and aspects of our shared history. The marine policies to protect underwater and coastal heritage are complex, since this heritage has an intricate two-way relationship with anthropology and law. The legal instruments to specifically protect underwater cultural heritage do not include the consideration of Indigenous communities, although there are nearly 2000 coastal Indigenous communities in 87 countries with coastal heritage and maritime-based traditions. Since it is the law of Coastal States (emphasis on States) that directs how submerged lands and waters that belonged to Indigenous communities are used, the international legal instruments offer little actual leverage to these communities over the management of their cultural resources. This article studies Indigenous rights over their underwater cultural heritage, exploring the legal issues, anthropological arguments and ethical dilemmas. It will also show the complexity of the language and the interpretation of international treaties for these communities. Finally, the article encourages inclusion of the Indigenous concept of intangible cultural heritage, arguing that Indigenous peoples have been, and are, innovative users of natural resources, and their traditional activities can benefit not only their own members but also the international community.

Ecosystem services profiles for communities benefitting from estuarine habitats along the Massachusetts coast, USA

The Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Partnership is one of 28 programs in the United States Environmental Protection Agency's National Estuary Program (NEP) charged with developing and implementing comprehensive plans for protecting and restoring the biological integrity and beneficial uses of their estuarine systems. The Partnership has recently updated their comprehensive management plan to include restoration targets for coastal habitats, and as part of this effort, the program explored how to better demonstrate that recovery of ecological integrity of degraded ecosystems also provides ecosystem services that humans want and need. An essential step was to identify key stakeholders and understand the benefits important to them. The primary objective of the study presented here was to evaluate variability in beneficial uses of estuarine habitats across coastal communities in Massachusetts Bays. We applied a text mining approach to extract ecosystem services concepts from over 1400 community planning documents. We leveraged a Final Ecosystem Goods and Services (FEGS) classification framework and related scoping tool to identify and prioritize the suite of natural resource users and ecosystem services those users care about, based on the relative frequency of mentions in documents. Top beneficiaries included residents, experiencers and viewers, property owners, educators and students, and commercial or recreational fishers. Beneficiaries had a surprising degree of shared interests, with top ecosystem services of broad relevance including for naturalness, fish and shellfish, water movement and navigability, water quality and quantity, aesthetic viewscapes, availability of land for development, flood mitigation, and birds. Community-level priorities that emerged were primarily related to regional differences, the local job industry, and local demographics. Identifying priority ecosystem services from community planning documents provides a starting point for setting locally-relevant restoration goals, designing projects that reflect what stakeholders care about, and supporting post-restoration monitoring in terms of accruing relevant benefits to local communities.