Office for Environmental Programs - Theses
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ItemUnlocking the poverty-food-environment trilemma in the Loess Plateau, northwest China( 2011)For centuries the Loess Plateau of northwest China has been suffering from pressing environmental, social and economic challenges. The interlinked problems of extensive soil erosion, food deficiency and chronic poverty on the Plateau have posed a devastating threat to local sustainability and an imperilled menace to life and property safety to downstream waterways alongside the Yellow River. In order to understanding and tackling this trilemma, a small catchment basin, Gaoquan Watershed in hinterland of Loess Plateau's gullied hilly region, was chosen as a research site. Long-term multidisciplinary researches and demonstrations have been carried out with focusing on utilising agricultural resources in a holistic manner. Successful practice of integrated resource management strategy has led this marginal semiarid catchment basin to a way towards sustainable development. By reviewing main technological and managerial aspects of Gaoquan Watershed experiences, this study analyses the matrix of incentives and interests of different stake holders, and provides recommendations of coping with the problems of land degradation, food security and related social consequences in the Loess Plateau from a wider and more integrated perspective.
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ItemMultiple use services of water: a South African case study: impact of infrastructure on rural livelihoods: lessons from Strydkraal, Limpopo, South Africa( 2014)This study focused on investigating the provision of improved water sources for both domestic and productive uses and their impact on rural livelihoods. The focus area of this study was Strydkraal, a rural and tribal community to the north of Limpopo province in South Africa. A sample of 50 households was considered with various focus groups and participants. During interviews and field observations, several variables were noted affecting the access to improved water sources and income generating activities. This relationship was further investigated using statistical regression analysis. Community needs were identified and classified according to their productive and domestic use. Indices for both livelihoods and infrastructure were developed. Dependent and independent variables were identified throughout the analysis and correlations have been evaluated. The results showed a strong correlation between the improved sources of water and the number of productive uses. The amount of water consumed whether for domestic or productive use positively increased with household size and income. Illegal connections to bulk water sources showed increased level of food production. However, those connections demonstrated to have a negative impact on other community members through unequal share of resource. Finally, three alternatives have been suggested using a MUS design and composite indicator of poor households were revaluated to find the best option. Findings of this study showed that improved and properly designed infrastructures play a vital role in poverty alleviation and rural livelihoods. Community driven infrastructures should be implemented in order to gain community acceptance and care. This study recommends further investigation in the choice of appropriate technologies and management strategies governing water access in rural areas using the MUS philosophy. The Department of Water Affairs, Sekhukhune District Municipality and Fetagkomo Local Municipality should double their efforts to find suitable strategies for improved sources of water while striking the balance between private and public partnerships. Achieving this goal will break the cycle of poverty for some community members and stretch their income bracket for adequate living conditions.
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ItemWhile the community is waiting for Malai: local lifeways and traditions of change in Tartehi and Lekitehi, Timor-Leste( 2013)Development initiatives in the form of community-based tourism represent for local communities an additional livelihood practice from which they can benefit. As a non-traditional market based economic activity members can generate an additional income to satisfy different needs. But at the same time there can be negative influences in the local life ways and traditions. This research focuses on one of these initiatives in a local ethno-linguistic community in the mountains of Maubisi in Timor-Leste. Specifically it explores if this development initiative has been integrated into traditional rural life ways for the benefit of the community. By employing the metaphorical-analytical notion of 'friction' used by Tsing to explore "interconnections across difference" (Tsing 2005:4), this research examines the ways in which the local communities produce global connections through space, place and time and enhance social bonds. The primary methods for collecting the information for this research were participant observation and informal and key participant semi-structured interviews with members of the community, members of the community-based tourism cooperative and members of the NGO which supported the creation of the initiative. As I argue in this paper, the community-based initiative is allowing the community to reproduce and refashion their social relations and cultural capital through "interconnections across difference" creating possible community benefits. I also argue that in the face of changing forces which may impact their lifeways, the community is already drawing on its own `tradition of change' to reproduce and refashion the social cohesion necessary for preserving their lifeways and 'cultural resources and to engage with the community-based tourism initiative. This thesis does not advocate for tourism initiatives in indigenous communities in Timor-Leste or anywhere else around the world, rather it argues that each situation and case should be regarded as context-specific
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ItemPost-conflict environmental peacebuilding: conceptualisation, application, problems and opportunities in Sierra Leone( 2010)No abstract available
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ItemStand-alone photovoltaic and wind energy conversion systems for Andean South Peru( 2012)Andean South of Peru is one of the poorest regions of Peru. Only 44% of the rural inhabitants of this area have electricity. This research project investigated the technical and financial feasibility of the implementation of stand-alone hybrid photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy conversion systems in this region. The legal aspect of the country was taken into account for the selection of an appropriate business model that makes the system viable to implement. The feasibility study was undertaken in a typical village of Andean South. The village of Churrubamba Alta in the province of Andahuaylas, departamento de Apurimac (department of Apurimac) was selected. TRNSYS software tool was used for technical analysis and identifying the optimal size of the system. The result from technical feasibility study showed that the best option is implementation of a stand-alone system with 13.7 kW PV array and 180 kWh battery bank for the daily supply of 42.2 kWh electricity to 62 households and a community centre. The financial analysis demonstrated a Net Present Value of US$186,918, Internal Rate of Return of 28%, Payback Period of 4.27 years and LCOE of US$0.30 per kWh. It was found that the current legal framework is not supporting the private sector to invest in this type of projects. The only option to implement this type of systems is a hybrid business model that involves the community, NGOs and international donors.
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ItemClimatic, demographic and social structural forces contributing to internal migration in Bangladesh( 2012)The key findings of this paper is that even though internal migration is increasingly becoming a common coping mechanism in Bangladesh, it is not solely as a result of climatic factors, as is expected, because of the widely known fact that Bangladesh would be the hardest hit due to climate change. The migration pattern is complex and needs clear understating and methodology to separate climatic and non climatic factors of migration. The migration pattern can significantly vary depending on whether the population is faced with an extreme or sudden onset event such as cyclone, flood etc. or slow onset event such as droughts. Depending on the type of event the migration can be short term or long term, or simply temporary displacement. However this will also depend on non-climatic factors such as government policy, community resilience etc. For example if a disaster struck community receives adequate government support either in terms of post disaster relief n terms of food, shelter or financial help they are less likely to move from their area to a uncertain place where they have to struggle to find a job, shelter etc. Also, if the government has strong policy to provide adequate employment, and other facilities enjoyed by people in a better off places people in vulnerable areas will be less likely to migrate. Also if government and NGOS work together to prepare communities prior to disaster with various alternate livelihood training, building infrastructures such as cyclone shelters this will make the community more resilient to cope with disasters. All these factors need to be understood clearly by involving the community itself, so that a clear picture can be drawn of the migration causes and patterns. This is essential if the country wants to establish a strategic approach to mainstream or at least address the increasing migration and related issues within the country.
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ItemForest tenure: implications for REDD+ design and implementation in Viet Nam( 2014)Despite the increasing importance of forest tenure in forest carbon credit schemes, including reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), empirical evidence shows inadequate efforts have been put forth to address forest tenure issues during REDD+ design and implementation. This paper examines the implications of forest tenure issues in forest carbon credit arrangements, such as the afforestation/reforestation Clean Development Mechanism, Carbon Farming Initiative, New Zealand Emission Trading Scheme, and REDD+ using the case of Lam Dong Province, Viet Nam. It draws on findings from analysis of documents related to forest carbon issues in forest carbon schemes, REDD+ as well as in-depth interviews with policy makers and REDD+ practitioners. The three key forest tenure issues identified from literature review, and supported by interview results include: ambiguity of forest owner tides, weak customary rights and unjust access to forest resources which strongly inform the design and implementation of REDD+. It argues that although these issues are mainly resulted from national level policies, they are more likely to succeed if adequately integrated into a subnational REDD+ approach
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ItemPerceptions affecting agricultural development in Vanuatu: a comparison of two rural communities( 2014)Interviews in two rural communities in Vanuatu, Siviri Village on the Island of Efate and Luli Village on the Island of Paama, sought to explore convergent and divergent attitudes surrounding agricultural practices, in order to better understand relationships between rural ni-Vanuatu and their nation's agricultural development agenda. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed traits which were common between each location and other which were in contrast. Traits were then considered in the light of Vanuatu's national agricultural development strategies, and with respect to the literature of practice change, agricultural innovation, and cultural attributes at play in Vanuatu, including ideas of ni-Vanuatu kastom (indigenous culture). Communities were found to hold unique attitudes towards development, derived partly from their unique geographic and economic circumstances, and partly from localised social attitudes and uniquely evolved kastom. Mutual aspiration for greater participation in Vanuatu's agricultural economy has been undermined by poor strategic level imagining of innovation pathways at odds with community centric learning systems, ideas of risk and vulnerability, and powerful social functions associated attached to semi-subsistent gardening. This research identifies several areas for further investigation, and recommends that Vanuatu's agricultural sector reimagine the roles of rural ni-Vanuatu and revise their approach to innovation.