Office for Environmental Programs - Theses
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ItemHabitat preference and distribution of the Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria( 2013)Identifying the distribution of threatened fauna is fundamental to allocating scant resources for conservation purposes. Predictive habitat modelling based on environmental data from species records is currently used to inform conservation management but research is needed to verify the reliability of those Species Distribution Models (SDMs). This study focused on the threatened Powerful Owl Ninox strenua, in a region that lacked historical records but where SDMs predicted suitable habitat was available. This study was aimed at ground truthing the existing habitat suitability model for the Powerful Owl while providing new data to improve the spatial comprehensiveness of the model. The Victorian state-wide habitat suitability model for the Powerful Owl was used to stratify the study area (Momington Peninsula) into three classifications of habitat suitability (Low, Low- Medium and Medium). Forty sites were randomly selected comprising 13 low suitability, 13 low-medium habitat suitability, and 14 medium habitat suitability sites. Powerful Owl call-playback was undertaken a total of 112 times with each site surveyed at least once. A subset of 6 sites per habitat suitability class were surveyed 5 times to provide an estimate of detection probability. Repeat surveys at the same site were important to improve the probability of determining if Powerful Owls were present at a site (one to four visits increased overall detection from 33 per cent to 80 per cent). A Bayesian state-space modelling approach was used to estimate the occupancy of Powerful Owls as a function of habitat suitability class and prey abundance. Detectability was modelled using survey conditions (wind speed). This study shows that existing state-wide models of Powerful Owl habitat suitability reliably predict the occupancy of this species on the Momington Peninsula. Powerful Owls were found at a higher proportion of Medium (72%) and Low-Medium sites (66%), with lower levels of occupancy in Low habitat suitability sites (24%). This study provides new information regarding the distribution and habitat preference of the Powerful Owl on the Momington Peninsula, while highlighting the value of predictive species distribution modelling for wildlife conservation and management
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ItemAlternative water management in Pretoria, South Africa: an investigation into public perceptions of water recycling( 2013)Growing water resource challenges posed by urbanisation, population growth and climate change necessitate alternative solutions beyond the traditional `once-through' centralised water management system. These pressures, combined with the need to address ageing infrastructure, have catalysed interest in water recycling and reuse around the world. At a local scale, the level of community acceptance of recycled water and perceptions around elements such as cost, risk, and necessity create substantial opportunities or barriers to implementation of water recycling projects. The city of Pretoria, South Africa offers a rare chance to directly investigate these perceptions and associated implementation opportunities due to the existing water situation and current government responses. While South Africa is facing severe water scarcity and equity issues, the country is equipped with well-articulated, globally recognised water policy frameworks as well as stated government desire to pursue prospects for water recycling. This study utilised an online survey to collect responses from South African university students regarding the acceptability of recycled water for various tasks and under different variables. University students represent the future generation of educated decision-makers, therefore their perceptions are considered valuable insight into the potential for water management in Pretoria. The results showed a high degree of acceptability, especially for watering gardens and toilet flushing, which increased with the assurance that the system would benefit the environment or the individual would personally experience a water shortage without it. It is suggested that university campuses provide a valuable opportunity to demonstrate the implementation of water recycling and reuse among a supportive audience. Each future project offers immense benefit through building familiarity and engagement with water reuse which could be extended and locally tailored to communities throughout South Africa.
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ItemTechnical and financial feasibility of composting harvested seagrass( 2013)The aim of this project was to investigate the feasibility of composting seagrass Ruppia as an alternative to land filling. Harvested seagrass Ruppia was composted in a commercially available in-vessel unit. Experiments were conducted using controls (0% seagrass, 100% green waste), 50% mixture of seagrass and green waste and 100% seagrass. Static piles of seagrass waiting to be composted reached the thermophilic range (>50C) after 3-4 days. Before composting seagrass had a bulk density of 0.28kg/m3 (wet basis) and 63% moisture content by weight. Temperature profiles of the 50% mixture reached 62C after 3-4 days of composting. Preliminary test conducted on raw seagrass showed conductivity of 2,400 uS/cm, 2,600mg/kg nitrogen, 140mg/kg phosphorus and 8,3000mg/kg carbon. This nutrient levels provide a C:N ratio of 31:1. Based on these preliminary results, it can be suggested that seagrass Ruppia can be composted but due to low bulk density, it may be more effective as a bulking agent. A preliminary financial evaluation f a proposed composting facility to treat harvested was also undertaken as part of this study. Using rough estimates and just one alternative facility, capital costs were estimated to be $778, 189.00, operational costs $128,675.00 and benefits in the form of revenue and cost saving were $112, 400.00. Using a 20 year project timeframe and 8% discount rate, the total net present value was ($703, 427.84). Total NPV was less than zero so the proposal was not financially viable. Joshua
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ItemNature relatedness, dispositional empathy with nature and pro-conservation behaviours among young Vietnamese urban residents: applying conservation psychology approach for human dimensions of wildlife conservation and management in Vietnam( 2013)Conservation psychology aims to bridge the gap between psychological researches on human behaviours and practical environmental issues. In Vietnam, wildlife is in state of crisis. The bourgeoning demands of wild animal products from increasing prosperous urban residents in Vietnam have contributed to the over exploitation of wild species. Applying the theories and methods from conservation psychology, particularly nature relatedness and dispositional empathy with nature, a web survey was conducted to measure the motivations of the young Vietnamese urban residents in Hanoi and Danang cities. The findings lent support to studies showing a relationship among nature relatedness, dispositional empathy with nature and pro-conservation behaviours. A mediating mechanism of dispositional empathy with nature in the relationship between nature relatedness and pro-conservation behaviours were supported. In addition, the association between self-efficacy and pro conservation behaviours was also found. The study provided important implications for conservation practitioners in using empathy - arousal appeal, efficacy-enhancing information, and normative messages for engaging the young people in wildlife conservation activities. For long-term positive effect, designing environmental education for building connection to nature and empathy with nature as enduring traits will be preferred. Finally, for human dimensions of wildlife conservation and management professionals in Vietnam, implications about insights regarding the visions of the urban biodiversity and the positive and negative effects on human and natural well-beings were discussed
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ItemAllometric equations of Dicksonia antarctica for estimating aboveground biomass and its associated contribution to forest carbon stocks in Victoria( 2013)The use of forests as carbon sinks is increasingly recognised as a way to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Driven by the need to estimate carbon stocks for national greenhouse gas balance Inventories, regional and species-specific biomass data sets and allometric equations need to be developed to enable accurate prediction of aboveground carbon. Within Australian temperate moist forests, tree ferns are known to form a large component of the under storey; Dicksonia Antarctica in particular has been known to form large single-species stands excluding all other vegetation. Beets et aL (2012) recently conducted a study to develop mixed-species allometric equations for estimating carbon stocks of 4 New Zealand tree fern species in natural forests. However, there are currently no allometric models for Australian tree fern species and uncertainty remains regarding their quantitative contribution to the total carbon pool within these forests, and the application of allometrics developed for New Zealand tree fern species. The new allometric equations developed from this study are specific to D. Antarctica and have made it possible to predict total biomass for both the caudex and frond component to calculate the total stored carbon from 2 parameters; height and base diameter. Diameter at base was consistently found to be the best predictor of other parameters including: height, number of fronds, frond radius, caudex biomass, frond biomass and total tree fern biomass. The addition of height to allometrics also resulted in further improvements of biomass estimations. Aboveground carbon predictions were on average 50% higher than New Zealand allometric estimates with approximately 1937 tonnes of carbon per hectare stored in D. Antarctica demonstrating the importance of allometric equations developed through direct methods (destructive harvesting) that are species-specific. This significant contribution of D. Antarctica in the wet and temperate rain forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria have a number of implications for management in relation to the major drivers of carbon stock change predicted to occur in these forests including; frequent planned and unplanned bush fires, harvesting operations within publicly managed land, as well as future climate Change predictions for South-eastern Australia which could adversely impact on tree ferns and their associated contribution to forest carbon pools. The establishment of allometric relationships between parameters of Ii Antarctica can be coupled with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) prediction models so that it can be applied at a larger scale and allow for rapid estimation of available biomass and thus aid in planning for sustainable management of D. Antarctica.
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ItemUrban regeneration in South Africa: the role of a story( 2013)This research examines the role of stories in urban regeneration projects through an exploratory study of a redevelopment in the Central Business District (Pretoria) of the City of Tshwane, South Africa. This study posits that when stakeholder groups have different views as to what a space should be used for regeneration cannot occur. This study explores the points of view of street vendors in the redevelopment site and contrasts these with national and local governmental perspectives. This research uses two research approaches: (1) semi-structured interviews with street vendors and (2) document analysis of government development plans and newspaper articles to ascertain the story that the vendors and government. Results from the study indicate that the street vendors view the space predominantly through a business lens, seeing little in the way of direct social attachment to the area through relationships with customers and other vendors. From the governmental perspective the space holds potential for economic regeneration in an effort to achieve a state of excellence of for the city. These two differing views can be reconciled through frameworks such as the Law of Three Forces that allow for a positive path forward. By positively reconciling rather than compromising these differences regenerative outcomes for cities such as Pretoria are possible. These outcomes will potentially allow for governmental priorities for the future to be met without sacrificing the needs of those in the present in a manner that is positive and inclusionary.
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ItemSmarter ways to change: learning from innovative practice in road space reallocation( 2013)With an increasing focus on creating more compact, sustainable and liveable cites, the use of one particular part of our cities is being rethought - the use of roads. The dominance of cars for much of the last century has fixed attitudes and practices around road space use and management. It is likely therefore that policies seeking to reallocate road space to new, more sustainable and liveable uses will face barriers. Innovation is therefore not only required in thinking about how we use roads, but also about the processes by which changes to road space use are implemented. The current research examines five case studies which temporarily change the use of roads, and analyses the ways in which the use of temporary projects provides an innovative process to implement reallocation of to road space to new uses. The research findings reveal a number of innovative features of the process of change associated with using temporary projects. By nature, temporary projects create a test environment for new road uses. This enables greater risk-taking, as the change is not 'locked in'. It is argued that these conditions alter attitudes to proposed change, making the community, planners and politicians less apprehensive and open to exploring possibilities. Interestingly, this experimental and less risky environment allows new players to contribute to changing the use of roads: the community, including businesses, and also people from non-transport disciplines, such as urban designers and architects. Allowing for involvement of new contributors fosters innovation; new ideas are born as new viewpoints are brought to bear on changing the use of roads. Inherent in taking a 'temporary' approach is seeing if a change to road use actually works and finding out what the community thinks about it. This supports improved community engagement as well as stronger participation in government decision-making and active involvement with urban change. Designs made of temporary materials enhance flexibility and responsiveness, as designs can be tweaked in response to feedback and monitoring. In addition, interviewees experimenting with this approach describe a number of unanticipated advantages for government related to the process. These findings should spark more debate, research and experimentation with 'temporary' processes
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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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ItemIrresistible future for Tonga: the role of the built environment( 2013)Tonga's built environment has been a system of unsustainable and obsolete design. The rise in environmental degradation and the vulnerability of Tonga to future climate change impacts has initiated the author to develop a guide that will inspire Tonga to design their buildings in a way that is sustainable to tackle future challenges. This thesis focuses on how to develop a guide that will help change the course of action of Tonga's unsustainable built environment into a sustainable one. The developed guide will be tested in order to determine its effectiveness for Tonga. To meet the aim of the thesis, there was an extensive study of literature reviews and implementation of practical community consultation and meetings. The purpose of the field study was to obtain data to determine the best ecological design principles for the guide. The result produced from the method used by the thesis shows that a lack of sustainable guidelines for the built environment, misinterpretation of the term sustainability and attachment to the current reductionist system of operation is the barrier to the sustainable built environment. The thesis adopts the concept of `regenerative design' as the foundation of the study. Hence, ecological design principles were then developed to alleviate these barriers, which becomes "The six wonders of regenerative design" of the guide. The guide was then distributed locally, regionally and internationally for reviews. The main conclusion drawn from this research shows that the developed guide is a powerful tool for Tonga to shift their way of design into a sustainable one. Despite the guide being in its infant stage, it is recommended the there should be further study into how to improve the guide and develop it further to help Tonga's built environment.
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