scholarly journals Hydropower in the Himalayan Hazardscape: Strategic Ignorance and the Production of Unequal Risk

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelie Huber
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
Northeast India ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Qualitative Empirical Research ◽  
Climatic Hazards ◽  
Hydropower Planning ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Scant Attention ◽  
Citizen Initiatives ◽  
Strategic Ignorance

Rapidly expanding hydropower development in areas prone to geological and hydro-climatic hazards poses multiple environmental and technological risks. Yet, so far these have received scant attention in hydropower planning processes, and even in the campaigns of most citizen initiatives contesting these dams. Based on qualitative empirical research in Northeast India, this paper explores the reasons why dam safety and hazard potential are often marginal topics in hydropower governance and its contestation. Using a political ecology framework analyzing the production of unequal risks, I argue that a blind-eye to environmental risks facilitates the appropriation of economic benefits by powerful interest groups, while increasing the hazardousness of hydropower infrastructure, accelerating processes of social marginalization. More specifically, this paper brings into analytical focus the role of strategic ignorance and manufactured uncertainty in the production of risk, and explores the challenges and opportunities such knowledge politics create for public resistance against hazardous technologies. I posit that influencing the production of knowledge about risk can create a fertile terrain for contesting hazardous hydropower projects, and for promoting alternative popular conceptions of risk. These findings contribute to an emerging body of research about the implications of hydropower expansionism in the Himalayan hazardscape.

scholarly journals Assessing Land Use Planning Tools to Mitigate Odour and Lighting Nuisance Related to Cannabis Production

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessia Pugliese ◽  
Jordan Scholten ◽  
Samantha Yeung
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
Land Owners ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Planning Policies

Cannabis production has expanded significantly across southern Ontario with the legalisation of theindustry. Much of this expansion has occurred within the rural countryside, through the utilisation of existinggreenhouse infrastructure. While the growth of this sector provides economic benefits to rural communities, complaints from adjacent residents related to lighting and odour issues are common and mitigation of such issues is complex. Land use planning policies have been established across southern Ontario to manage the development of cannabis greenhouses; however, policies vary by region and countyand the appropriateness of these policies have not been tested. This study seeks to analyse municipalplanning policies that regulate cannabis production and understand the impacts of these policies on sector,adjacent land owners and rural communities. Planning policies will be analysed at the municipal, regional orcounty level, with the creation of a database to highlight consistency and differences between communities. Case studies will be utilised to gain better insights into the challenges and opportunities related to cannabis production and planning mitigation. This presentation will provide a summary of current research findings, including highlights of a municipal scan of zoning by-law policies and informalinsights into policy appeals in southern Ontario.

scholarly journals Can Multifunctional Landscapes Become Effective Conservation Strategies? Challenges and Opportunities From a Mexican Case Study

Land ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Ros-Cuéllar ◽  
Luciana Porter-Bolland ◽  
Martha Bonilla-Moheno
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Local Conservation ◽  
Coffee Agroforestry ◽  
Multifunctional Landscapes ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities

Protected Areas (PA) are the main strategy for nature conservation. However, PA are not always efficient for ecological conservation and social wellbeing. A possible alternative for conservation in human-dominated landscapes are Multifunctional Landscapes (ML), which allow the coexistence of multiple objectives, such as nature conservation and resource use. Using the activity system framework, we analyzed whether the ML concept was an operative alternative to PA within an area of interest for conservation in Veracruz, Mexico. Activity systems refer to the set of productive strategies that result from the mobilization of resources and which, within particular environmental governance contexts, shape the landscape. To understand the challenges and opportunities of our case study, we: (1) delimited the landscape according to local conservation interests; and (2) analyzed the role of stakeholders in shaping this landscape. The delimited landscape included areas considered wildlife reservoirs and water provisioning zones. Our results suggested that the existence of local conservation areas (private and communal), combined with shaded-coffee agroforestry practices, made this region an example of ML. Although local conservation initiatives are perceived as more legitimate than top-down approaches, agreements amongst stakeholders are essential to strengthen environmental governance. In specific socio-ecological contexts, ML can be effective strategies for conservation through agroecosystems that maintain a high-quality landscape matrix, allowing nature preservation and delivering economic benefits.

Natural Resource Conflict Analysis among Pastoralists in Southern Ethiopia

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fekadu Beyene
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Property Rights ◽  
Political Ecology ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Successful Operation ◽  
Administrative Units ◽  
Cultural Ecological

This paper examines resource-related conflict among pastoralists in southern Ethiopia, specifically the Somali and Oromo ethnic groups. It applies theories of property rights, environmental security and political ecology to discuss the complexity of the conflict, using narrative analysis and conflict mapping. Results reveal that the conflict results from interrelated cultural, ecological and political factors. The systems of governance, including the setting up of regions on an ethnic basis and associated competition for land and control of water-points, have contributed to violent conflict between the two ethnic groups. The creation of new administrative units (kebeles) close to regional boundaries has exacerbated the conflict. Moreover, change in land use, prompted by insecure property rights to communal land, rather than expected increase in economic benefits has caused conflicts among the clans of the Oromo. The findings suggest Ethiopian authorities support the functioning of traditional access options, successful operation of customary courts and penalising opportunistic actors to address inter-ethnic conflicts. Applying land use and administration guidelines and empowering customary authorities would reduce the incidence of inter-clan conflict.

Taipei Beautiful: How Does Government Policy Affect Architectural Engineering?

2012 ◽  
Vol 461 ◽  
pp. 725-732
Author(s):  
Yi Kai Juan ◽  
Fan Sheng Kuo ◽  
Yeng Horng Perng
Keyword(s):  
Open Space ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
City Government ◽  
Urban Systems ◽  
Architectural Engineering ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
New Guidelines ◽  
The City

Globalization and urbanization encourage city policymakers to deal with more challenges and opportunities for the sustainable future. Creating an attractive cityscape surly can increase urban competitiveness. Taipei City is now composed of complex urban systems chaotically enclosed by existing and new urban environments. The city government is attempting to re-shape its cityscape by implementing a series of city regeneration plans and provide new guidelines for architectural engineering, namely “Taipei Beautiful”, considering the improvement of urban landscape, greenery open space, built environments, sustainable campuses and public facilities. Although Taipei Beautiful is an ongoing project, achievements of the current stage have revealed potentials to significantly increase the number of tourists, decrease energy consumption, and promote economic benefits. This study presents an overall review of policies and engineering actions enacted by the city government. Difficulties, challenges, and the role of the city government in affecting architectural engineering are also discussed.

scholarly journals Policy Forum: Establishing an Urban Reserve—Property Tax Challenges and Opportunities

2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 835-855
Author(s):  
Mike Icton ◽  
Devan Mescall
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Property Tax ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
First Nation ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
Municipal Governments ◽  
Development Tool ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Provision Of Services

Urban reserves offer a unique economic development tool for First Nation governments by providing access to markets and infrastructure unavailable on most reserve lands in Canada. Asimakiniseekan Askiy is Canada's first urban reserve established on land previously owned by a city. The urban reserve was established in Saskatoon by the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in 1988. Asimakiniseekan Askiy provides an example of the economic potential of urban reserves for First Nations and their members, as well as municipal governments and their citizens. The urban reserve is currently home to 60 First Nation and non-First Nation businesses and their 700 employees. In 2020, the urban reserve contributed $465,662 to the city of Saskatoon in service fee payments. However, before this economic potential could be realized, property taxation presented a sizable barrier in the path of taking Asimakiniseekan Askiy from an innovative idea to a successful reality. Establishing an urban reserve has significant property tax implications, since the process requires the transfer of property from the taxing authority of a municipal jurisdiction to the tax jurisdiction of a First Nation government. Agreements providing for the transfer of tax authority also include negotiations relating to the continued provision of services to the urban reserve by the municipality. This article first provides a summary of the statutory environment surrounding the formation and taxation of an urban reserve. A case study of the establishment and 33 years of operation of Asimakiniseekan Askiy is then provided, to illustrate the property tax implications and municipal service agreement process necessary for Canadian communities to achieve the economic benefits of urban reserves. The authors identify property tax challenges inherent in the establishment of an urban reserve and offer recommendations to improve access to urban reserves as an innovative economic development tool.

scholarly journals Promoting Forage Legume–Pollinator Interactions: Integrating Crop Pollination Management, Native Beekeeping and Silvopastoral Systems in Tropical Latin America

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Ernesto Narjes Sanchez ◽  
Juan Andrés Cardoso Arango ◽  
Stefan Burkart
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Forage Legume ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Insect Pollinator ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Pollinator Ecology

Major declines of insect pollinators are a worldwide concern. Such losses threaten human food supplies and ecosystem functions. Monocultures of pastures used to feed cattle are among the drivers of insect pollinator declines in Tropical Latin America. Plants of the legume family (fabaceae) are mostly pollinated by insects, in particular by bees. The inclusion of legumes in pastures (grass-legume system), as forage banks or the development of silvo-pastoral systems (SPS) with tree legumes, has been widely promoted to improve livestock production and soil fertility, but not to enhance ecosystem services from pollinators. Shortages of seed for the establishment of legumes as forage banks or within pastures or SPS remain a bottleneck for the improvement of ecosystem services brought about by pollinators within these systems and beyond. In this perspective paper, we provide an overview of forage legumes, their interplay with pollinators, and the ecological and socio-economic benefits of pollinator–forage legume interactions, at different scales (farm and landscape level). We further discuss the challenges and opportunities of scaling sustainably intensified cattle production systems that integrate legume forage-seed production with principles of pollinator ecology and native beekeeping. Finally, we provide interested stakeholders, policy-and decision-makers with a perspective on how such agroecosystems may be designed and scaled into multifunctional landscapes.

Canola integration into semi-arid wheat cropping systems of the inland Pacific Northwestern USA

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 253 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. L. Pan ◽  
F. L. Young ◽  
T. M. Maaz ◽  
D. R. Huggins
Keyword(s):  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Seedling Morphology ◽  
Winter Canola ◽  
Spring Canola ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Agroecological Zones ◽  
Oilseed Processing ◽  
Semi Arid

The inland Pacific Northwestern USA (iPNW) wheat-producing region has a diversity of environments and soils, yet it lacks crop diversity and is one of the few semi-arid wheat-growing regions without significant integration of oilseeds. Four major agroecological zones, primarily characterised by water availability, feature distinctly different fallowed and annually cropped systems, each presenting different challenges and opportunities to integrate winter and spring canola. Although major interests in regional energy crops and rotational diversification spurred feasibility research on iPNW canola food, feed and fuel production in the 1970s, commercial canola adaptation has lagged behind other semi-arid wheat regions for various socioeconomic, ecophysiological and agronomic reasons. New federal crop insurance policies will reduce economic risks in new crop adaptation, and oilseed processing facilities are creating new local markets. Although canola management largely relies on wheat farm equipment, agronomic approaches require strategic adjustments to account for physiological differences between canola and cereals including seed size, seedling morphology and responses to temperature extremes. Climate change predictions for the region threaten to exacerbate current hot and dry summers and research aims to develop and adapt flexible winter and spring canola-based systems to regional water and temperature stressors in each zone. Adaptation will require novel planting, fertilisation and weed control strategies to successfully establish improved winter canola cultivars in hot dry summers that survive cold winters, and spring canola cultivars direct-seeded in cool wet springs. The adaptation of winter and spring canola will somewhat mirror the rotational placement of winter and spring cereals within each zone. Economic analysis of oilseed break crop benefits such as weed and disease control will help to demonstrate the medium-term economic benefits of crop diversification to support the growth of a regional canola industry in the iPNW.

scholarly journals Political ecology, privation and sustainable livelihoods in northern Thailand's national parks

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 360-377
Author(s):  
Aurathai Phongchiewboon ◽  
Trisia Farrelly ◽  
Karen Hytten ◽  
John Holland
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
Indigenous People ◽  
National Parks ◽  
Sustainable Livelihoods ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Community Empowerment ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Northern Thailand ◽  
Wide Range

National parks provide a wide range of ecological, social and economic benefits. However, in some cases the establishment of national parks has also lead to the displacement of indigenous people, the disruption of their livelihoods, and ongoing social conflict. Northern Thailand's national parks are home to approximately one million indigenous people. Balancing the interests and needs of national park authorities with those of indigenous communities within and adjacent to these parks poses significant challenges. This article employs qualitative research methods to assess the livelihood strategies of six indigenous hill tribe communities residing within three national parks in Northern Thailand. Due to the criminalization of the traditional farming systems and restrictions imposed on land use, these communities have had to adapt their livelihood practices to survive. Our findings suggest that communities remain in a state of flux and are continually adapting to changing circumstances. It is argued that greater community empowerment and participation in collaborative decision making is crucial to strengthen both sustainable livelihoods and environmental conservation efforts within Northern Thailand's national parks.Keywords: Sustainable livelihoods, co-management, Northern Thailand, national parks, social justice

Australia: Regulatory, Human Rights and Economic Challenges and Opportunities of Large-Scale Mining Projects: A Case Study of the Carmichael Coal Mine

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Sandra Cassotta ◽  
Vladimir Pacheco Cueva ◽  
Malayna Raftopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Coal Mine ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Regulatory Framework ◽  
Global Perspectives ◽  
Legal Challenges ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Mining Projects

Using the Carmichael coal mine as a case study, this paper explores and analyses the current challenges and potentials of the Australian regulatory framework in designing policies that balance the direct local economic benefits with global environmental concerns and a global common vision about how to manage mining development and energy security challenges. In this effort, it evaluates the current Australian regulatory framework for mining projects, based on two hypotheses: 1) the development of large-scale mining energy projects linked to fossil-fuel resources creates legal challenges; 2) these legal challenges should be analysed in an interdisciplinary approach from both local and global perspectives on law, economics and socio-politics.

scholarly journals Engaging with carbon markets: the Libya case

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Thomas ◽  
Paul Dargusch
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
Kyoto Protocol ◽  
Clean Development Mechanism ◽  
Carbon Markets ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Economic Forces ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Policy Dynamics ◽  
Reconstruction Strategy ◽  
Development Mechanism

Climate change and the emerging carbon-constrained economy of the 21st Century present new challenges and opportunities for countries of the Middle East and North Africa. This paper discusses the potential for Libya to participate in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the main flexibility mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, which is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development. The paper considers the interaction of Libya's history and socio-cultural characteristics with global policy dynamics and economic forces. Libya's geography presents considerable potential in terms of CDM project opportunities, yet key developments would be required before these could be exploited. The nature of Libya's political system and social structures suggest that these developments are unlikely to occur while the Qadhafi regime endures, and therefore that Libya will not be able to engage successfully with the CDM and international mitigation activities in the short term. However, the CDM represents a means to implement capacity building and technical development programs, which will be integral components of reconstruction strategy in the aftermath of the dramatic events of early 2011.Keywords: Libyan energy policy; Clean Development Mechanism; political ecology; socio-economic reform; Kyoto Protocol.

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