Despite decades of development efforts to combat desertification processes in southern Zimbabwe, a development deadlock occurs. Using the local knowledge systems as a basis, and making an effort to strategically facilitate the revival of their capacity for checks and balances as a development approach, endogenous development could become more realistic. The actor-oriented RAAKS.methodology offers relevant tools for a case study'in which an insight into the processes of innovation is obtained in order to confirm this. The Charurnbira case study shows that many local interfaces hinder development. Although the facilitation of platform processes could enhance endogenous development, the external environment provides a serious constraint. The method employed did ndt permit broad conclusions, but a deeper examination of recent experiences suggested that by giving local people a greater say in natural resource use, local knowledge could be utilized more effectively and better use could be made of traditional management structures. / Development Administration / M.A. (Development Administration)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:29:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseAPGT.pdf: 1749745 bytes, checksum: 8a0e420266544c989b89c5c488b41648 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003-10-09 / Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais / The use of nature by local communities is based in a set of knowledge, practices and believes, developed through human culture and historical experience with the environment. Small-scale commercial fishermen from Upper-Medium São Francisco River, object of this study, are influenced by the dynamics of the environment cycle and by the ecology and biology of fishery resources, maintaining a very close relationship with them, for developing new knowledge and understandings which can provide better conditions of survive. More than that, the small-scale fishermen have self-organized for planning and practicing local management of fishery resources, which include local rules or institutions which define the rights and duties in the access and use of resources. The study of local ecological knowledge and common property systems developed by these communities are the mainly goal of ethnoecology science and of researches in common property systems, which support them as alternatives to the traditional scientific ecology and management of natural resources. This research was carried out between 1999 and 2001 with 7 field trips of 15 days each. Open and structured interviews were carried out, complemented by direct observation of the fishing activity, and the collect of fishery yield. The small-scale fishermen of Upper-Medium São Francisco River have demonstrated to pursue a detailed comprehension about the ecology and biology of the aquatic system and its fishery resources, on which they have based their fishery practices and common property systems, expecting to guarantee efficiency with sustainability. These local ecological knowledge and practices can contribute to develop a new interdisciplinary scientific view about ecology and management, putting together scientific and local experiences to produce a better use of natural resources, for these and the next generations. / A exploração da natureza por comunidades locais se fundamenta num conjunto de conhecimentos, práticas e crenças humanas para o uso dos recursos naturais, fundado nas tradições culturais e na experimentação empírica do ambiente próximo. Pescadores artesanais comerciais do trecho mineiro do Alto-Médio São Francisco, alvos deste estudo, dependem diretamente das variações dos ciclos ambientais e da biologia e ecologia dos recursos pescados. Mantêm uma associação íntima com o sistema aquático e com os peixes, desenvolvendo conhecimentos e compreensões imprescindíveis para a sua sobrevivência através da pesca. Além disso, os pescadores artesanais têm se auto-organizado para o exercício de manejos locais dos recursos pesqueiros, que abrangem regras ou instituições locais definidoras de direitos de acesso e uso dos recursos pesqueiros, assim como, deveres e formas de monitoramento do uso dos recursos estabelecidos pelas próprias comunidades. O levantamento deste saber e manejo local é função da ciência etnoecologia e da teoria da propriedade comum, que defendem o aproveitamento de ambos, conhecimento e manejo local, como práticas alternativas ao manejo convencional dos recursos naturais. Este trabalho foi desenvolvido em quatro comunidades de pescadores do Rio São Francisco, situadas nos municípios de Três Marias, Pirapora, Buritizeiro e Januária, no estado de Minas Gerias. Os dados foram coletados através de entrevistas livres e semi-estruturadas, aplicadas a um número mínimo de 16 e a um número máximo de 30 pescadores em cada comunidade, em visitas quadrimestrais com duração média de 15 dias, entre os meses de fevereiro de 1999 a fevereiro de 2001. Os pescadores do Rio São Francisco em Minas Gerais partilham um modelo percebido de seu ambiente de pesca que contempla os comportamentos biológicos e ecológicos dos peixes e do rio, e que determinam diferentes práticas de pesca e sistemas de propriedade comum dos recursos pesqueiros. Tais compreensões e práticas locais são essenciais para um enfoque interdisciplinar da ecologia, necessário para a implementação de ações de manejo verdaderiamente eficazes e participativas.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:31:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3842.pdf: 3560186 bytes, checksum: 87134f6d5b6b16f95954b0d864a13031 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-03-25 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / The approaches of socio-ecological systems, resilience, and adaptive management suggest new forest governance arrangements that include the participation of marginalized rural people in territorial management. These approaches require efforts of scientists and managers to deal with local knowledge and with the social institutions that govern resource access and use by these people. This research was conducted in two communities of the Lower Madeira River (São Carlos and Cuniã) and the objectives were: (i) to characterize the Brazil nut Bertholletia excelsa (Humb. & Bonpl.) harvest based on harvest practices and local knowledge; (ii) to characterize the official land tenure and the customary property rights regimes in the harvest areas within and around the protected areas where co-management between government and local communities is officially assumed; (iii) to determine whether there are discrepancies between official land tenure and customary property rights regimes in those areas; and (iv) to verify the influence of customary property rights regimes on specie's management, and which regime or regime arrangements are more likely to promote the conservation of the harvest areas and the species. Qualitative and ethnographic methods were used with semi-structured and open-ended questionnaires, participatory observation, and mapping with Brazil nut harvesters from the two communities and other stakeholders. The data were interpreted from the perspective of ethnoecology ("etnoecologia abrangente"), human ecology and property rights regimes. The results suggest that: (i) the existing local knowledge in the region is extensive and driven by environmental feedbacks and therefore should be considered for adaptive comanagement; (ii) the organization and dynamics in the harvest areas are complex and differ from the official land tenure; (iii) the management practices that contribute to conservation of B. excelsa are more likely to remain in property regime arrangements between state and community, since these regimes have less conflicts and uncertainty in relation to harvest areas access and use. / A visão dos sistemas socioecológicos como resilientes e cíclicos incita o manejo adaptativo e novos arranjos de governança sobre os recursos florestais que incluem a participação das populações rurais marginalizadas na gestão territorial. Essa abordagem requer esforços de cientistas e gestores para lidar com os conhecimentos locais e visão de mundo desses povos, incluindo o reconhecimento das instituições sociais que regem o acesso e uso à esses recursos. A presente pesquisa foi realizada nas comunidades de São Carlos e Cuniã, no Baixo Rio Madeira e pretendeu: (i) fazer uma caracterização das práticas e conhecimentos locais relacionados a atividade extrativista da castanha-do- Brasil Bertholetia excelsa (Humb. & Bonpl.); (ii) caracterizar a situação fundiária oficial e os regimes de direito de propriedade vigentes em áreas de coleta da espécie dentro e no entorno de áreas florestais protegidas que oficialmente assumem a gestão compartilhada do governo com a comunidade; (iii) verificar se existem discrepâncias entre situação fundiária oficial e os regimes de direito de propriedade vigentes nessas áreas; (iv) verificar se existe influência dos regimes de direito de propriedade no manejo da espécie e qual regime ou combinação de regimes é mais propício para a promoção da conservação de suas áreas. Foi feito um trabalho qualitativo e etnográfico- com questionários semi-estruturados e abertos, observações participantes e elaboração de mapas com extrativistas de castanha-do-Brasil das duas comunidades e stakeholders. Os dados foram interpretados sob a ótica da etnoecologia abrangente, ecologia humana e regimes de direito de propriedade. Os resultados sugerem que (i) o conhecimento local existente na região associado à atividade de extrativismo de castanha e áreas de coleta é extenso e alimentado por feedbacks ambientais cotidianos, devendo ser considerado para o co-manejo adaptativo; (ii) a organização e dinâmica dos territórios de coleta são complexos e divergem da situação fundiária oficial; (iii) as práticas de manejo que contribuem para conservação de B. excelsa são mais propícias de se manter em arranjos de regimes de propriedade mistos entre Estado e comunidade nos quais há menos conflitos e incertezas em relação ao acesso e uso das áreas de extrativismo.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The conservation of biodiversity is closely linked to the maintenance of the natural resources and the strategies for protection of these natural assets. Among the Brazilian biodiversity protection mechanisms there are the Conservation Units (UCs), established by Law 9.985/ 2000, which regulates the National System of Protected Areas of Nature (SNUC). However, only the implementation of these are as does not guarantee its maintenance, it is necessary the effective and representative participation of the social actors that are embedded within its management, i.e. the managing council, given the purposes that subsidized the creation of such protected areas. The Wildlife Refuge Mata do Junco (RVSMJ) is a Conservation Unit administered by the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources of Sergipe (SEMARH / SE), in the municipality of Capela, state of Sergipe, with the objective of protect the headwaters, vegetation, and shelter animal species, including the Callicebus coimbrai (titi monkey) an endangered species. In addition to this UC has as its major management tools the management plan and the consultative council. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the monitoring of the strategic actions identified by the Socio-Environmental Indicator System for Conservation Units (SISUC), through its consultative council, to contribute for the adaptive management of the RVSMJ. And also understand the level of social representation that the council has on the UC and on their management by verifying what are the consensus and conflict components, aided by the Social Representation Theory. The use of this tool SISUC UC pointed out two indicators that are in alarming situation and two underun satisfactory situation, which unfolded in six actions proposed by the Council members so that these indicators could be monitored and improved. Of the six proposed actions, four have being carried out and two did not succeed. However, the implementation of this tool can be considered valid since it was successful in the majority of actions as well as the use of this tool provided the empowerment and autonomy of the social actors. Thus, it can be considered that the evidence presented by the directors in relation to their social representations about the RVSMJ, the advisory board and the management of this Conservation Unit encourage their participation and thus contributes to the improvement in the process of management and consequently foster governance processes that permeate this course, and in turn contributes to the maintenance and conservation of biodiversity. / A conservação da biodiversidade está diretamente ligada à manutenção dos recursos naturais e às estratégias de proteção desses bens naturais. Dentre os mecanismos brasileiros de proteção da biodiversidade encontram-se as Unidades de Conservação (UCs), instituídas pela Lei 9.985/2000 que dispõe sobre o Sistema Nacional de Unidades de Conservação da Natureza (SNUC). Entretanto, somente a implementação dessas áreas não garante sua manutenção, faz-se necessário a participação efetiva e representativa dos atores sociais que estão inseridos em sua gestão, isto é, o seu conselho gestor (deliberativo ou consultivo), tendo em vista os propósitos que subsidiaram a criação de tais áreas protegidas. O Refúgio de Vida Silvestre Mata do Junco (RVSMJ) é uma Unidade de Conservação administrada pela Secretaria de Estado do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Hídricos de Sergipe (SEMARH/SE), localizada no município de Capela, estado de Sergipe, com os objetivos de proteger as nascentes, a vegetação, e para abrigar espécies da fauna, entre elas o Callicebus coimbrai (macaco-guigó) espécie ameaçada de extinção. Além disso, a referida UC possui como principais instrumentos de gestão o plano de manejo e o conselho consultivo. Nesse contexto, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o monitoramento estratégico das ações apontadas pelo Sistema de Indicadores Socioambientais para Unidades de Conservação (SISUC) através de seu conselho consultivo, visando contribuir para gestão adaptativa do RVSMJ, e ainda compreender as representações sociais que o conselho possui sobre esta UC e sobre sua gestão verificando quais são seus elementos de consenso e conflitos, auxiliados pela Teoria das Representações Sociais. Com o uso da ferramenta do SISUC nesta UC apontaram-se dois indicadores que se encontraram em situação Alarmante e dois em situação Insatisfatória, dos quais se desdobraram em seis ações propostas pelos conselheiros a fim de que estes indicadores pudessem ser monitorados e melhorados. Das seis ações propostas, quatro foram realizadas e duas não obtiveram sucesso. Contudo, a aplicação desta ferramenta pode ser considerada válida, uma vez que houve sucesso na maioria das ações, assim como o uso desta ferramenta proporcionou o empoderamento e a autonomia desses atores sociais. Por sua vez, em relação à representação que os conselheiros possuem sobre RVSMJ e sobre sua gestão foi possível constatar que para o RVSMJ essa representação está voltada à sua preservação enquanto que para a gestão obteve-se como representação a responsabilidade e a organização dos conselheiros para com a UC em questão. Desta forma, pode-se considerar que os elementos apresentados pelos conselheiros em relação às suas representações sociais sobre o RVSMJ, o conselho consultivo e a gestão desta Unidade de Conservação fomentam a sua participação e consequentemente contribui para a melhoria no processo de sua gestão e consequentemente fomentam os processos de governança que permeiam esta UC, e por sua vez contribui para a manutenção e conservação da biodiversidade.

Au fil des siècles, de nombreux cours d’eau ont été régulés par des barrages pour assurer différents besoins tels que la gestion des inondations, la production d’énergie hydro-électrique, l’irrigation, l’approvisionnement en eau potable, etc. Aujourd’hui, dans le tiers nord de la planète, 77% des cours d’eau sont concernés par la présence de ces ouvrages et de très nombreux ouvrages sont en cours de construction ou prévus dans les prochaines décennies. Les impacts des barrages, notamment ceux dont les réservoirs sont les plus volumineux, sont aujourd’hui bien connus. Leur influence, plus ou moins prononcée, peut notamment affecter les crues (débits, fréquence, pointe et durée), ce qui entraine de facto une modification de l’occurrence du « débit morphogène » naturel dans les tronçons situés en aval. Il en résulte une morphologie et une dynamique fluviales modifiées, avec des Incidences sur la biologie et les usages. Afin d’améliorer, voire de restaurer le bon fonctionnement des milieux aquatiques et rivulaires, il est de plus en plus souvent demandé aux gestionnaires de barrages de générer des débits élevés, dits « morphogènes », depuis leurs ouvrages. Ce travail de thèse s’est attaché dans un premier temps à clarifier les concepts de débits, lâchers et écoulements « morphogènes ». Il a été proposé une nouvelle terminologie s’intégrant dans le contexte plus large des débits environnementaux et des débits écologiques (environmental et ecological flows). Dans un second temps, les précédents travaux et les expérimentations menées sur la Durance, la Selves et l’Isère, ont fourni des éléments pour construire une méthodologie de mise en œuvre de lâchers morphogènes dans le cadre d’une gestion adaptative. Cette méthodologie opérationnelle repose sur une série d’étapes successives découlant d’un diagnostic préalable. Elle permet de déterminer les paramètres nécessaires au dimensionnement, d’identifier les contraintes et de définir les résultats attendus (compartiments visés, ordres de grandeurs des processus, etc.) pour évaluer l’efficience de l’opération. Enfin, grâce à la mise en œuvre d’indicateurs de déclenchement, elle fournit des éléments d’évaluation pour décider de renouveler, d’améliorer ou non le lâcher. / Over the centuries, many rivers have been regulated by dams to meet various needs such as flood management, hydropower production, irrigation, drinking water supply, etc. Today, in the northern third of the planet, 77% of watercourses are affected by dams and a very large number are under construction or planned in the coming decades. The impacts of dams, particularly those with the largest reservoirs, are now well-known. Their influence, more or less pronounced, can affect floods (flow, frequency, peak and duration), which results in a change of the occurrence of the natural "channel morphing discharge" in the downstream reaches. The result is a modified river morphology and dynamics, with impacts on biological communities and uses. In order to improve/restore aquatic and riparian environments, dam managers are increasingly being asked to generate high flows, known as "flushing flows” or “ecomorphogenic flows”, from their dams.This thesis focuses initially on clarifying the concepts of discharge, water release, and "ecomorphogenic flows”. A new terminology has been proposed that fits into the broader context of “environmental flows” and “ecological flows”. In a second step, previous works and experiments carried out on the Durance River, the Selves River and the Isère River provided elements to build a methodology for implementing ecomorphogenic flow releases as part of adaptive management. This operational methodology is based on a series of successive steps resulting from a preliminary diagnosis. It makes it possible to determine the parameters necessary for designing releases, identifying constraints and defining expected results (target compartments, orders of magnitude of process, etc.) to evaluate the efficiency of the operation. Finally, through the implementation of trigger indicators, it provides evaluation information to decide whether to renew, or improve releases or to replace them with other management actions.

Our daily lives depend on the provision of services by different ecosystems in which an important contribution is made by groundwater. To balance competing demands placed on groundwater for socioeconomic and ecological benefits constitute major challenges for water managers. At the policy-science interface the ecosystem service concept represents an appropriate approach to communicate management challenges in which researchers and politicians must take into account human and biophysical characteristics as intertwined systems. This study investigated the complexity of groundwater governance, and linkages between management and corresponding effects on ecosystem services. Empirical insights were derived from case studies in South Africa, Spain and Germany. The analytical focus includes (a) the degree of vertical (multi-level) and horizontal (cross-sectoral) integration which frame crucial characteristics of an adaptive governance regime and (b) the role of formal and informal institutions governing groundwater. In doing so, an conceptual and analytical approach was applied, especially developed to support a systematic and consistent investigation of policy and management processes. Evidence highlights that higher degrees of integration: (i) opens up the political arena for environmental perspectives, (ii) increases the quality of management plans, (iii) accelerates the implementation of measurements, (iv) mitigates conflicts between different groundwater users, and (v) increases the awareness of various ecosystem services. Further the results indicate that having well-crafted institutions in place does not automatically indicate successful groundwater management in the sense of bringing about positive results for socioeconomic or ecological sustainability. This work made a significant contribution to interdisciplinary research in the field of groundwater governance and ecosystem service management that builds the foundations for improving the policy-science interface.

No description available.

This practicum is a reference for vertical gardeners in cold climates. Winnipeg, Manitoba is explored, however findings may be applied to other cities in similar climates. First, the history of vertical gardening is discussed, then the types of vertical gardens currently on the market are described. These can be classified into two categories: soil bearing or non-soil bearing. Most designs are modular pre-planted systems that can be attached to any wall, as long as it satisfies the structural requirements recommended by the manufacturer. The benefits of vertical gardening have been shown to be rather extensive, covering a wide range of areas. Aesthetic improvement, reduction of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, improvement of air quality, stormwater absorption, noise reduction, native habitat integration, reduction of heating and cooling costs for buildings, food production, marketing, and biophilia are all benefits explored in detail. Difficulties associated with vertical gardening are discussed, specifically the lack of knowledge and awareness of vertical gardens, lack of empirical evidence (or missing details in existing research), overall cost and lack of financial incentives, lack of industry codes, and various associated risks. Design framework exists within microclimate conditions unique to vertical gardens, as well as neighbourhood and regional (micro)climates. Theories relating to the study of green walls covered include the human ecosystem model, urban reconciliation ecology, habitat templating, the urban cliff hypothesis, and wall ecology. Suitable habitat templates identified for vertical gardens in Winnipeg are cliffs, sand dunes, alvars, mixed grass prairie and prairie potholes. Design parameters to be followed for vertical garden design in Winnipeg are to ensure that lightweight materials are used, to provide insulation to protect plants from sudden temperature changes, to choose plants that grow in the region and are adapted to grow in areas with limited soil, increased wind, varying degrees of sunlight (depending on orientation), and increased pollution and salt spray depending on location. / October 2015

Les changements environnementaux globaux (CEG) menacent les écosystèmes marins et les populations humaines qui en dépendent. Une recherche scientifique croissante tente d’évaluer les impacts des changements environnementaux sur les écosystèmes et les services écosystémiques, notamment pour guider les politiques publiques. Focalisée sur les systèmes socio-écologiques (SSE) des récifs coralliens, cette thèse analyse les approches proposées dans la littérature et conçoit de nouvelles méthodologies, évaluations et indicateurs pour guider la science et l’action publique. Nous montrons qu’une stratégie de recherche régionale doit prendre en compte la complexité et produire de meilleures projections des impacts des CEG sur les récifs coralliens et les services associés. Nous cartographions des indicateurs à l’échelle globale pour évaluer où la dépendance des sociétés aux récifs coralliens sera affectée par les menaces globales dues à un niveau de CO2 élevé. Nous analysons comment la science répond aux impacts des CEG sur les récifs coralliens et nous identifions des pistes pour la recherche. Enfin, nous opérationnalisons une facette de la vulnérabilité, la capacité d’adaptation écologique, pour servir d’outil pour évaluer l’effectivité des actions locales dans un contexte de CEG. Ce manuscrit contribue à des avancées théoriques et méthodologiques sur l’évaluation des impacts, de la vulnérabilité et de l’adaptation aux CEG. Il développe des approches interdisciplinaires pour l’étude des SSE et des services écosystémiques, ciblant les récifs coralliens comme étude de cas. Enfin, il analyse l’émergence d’un champ scientifique sur les solutions aux GEC pour les récifs coralliens. / Global environmental change (GEC) in the ocean threatens marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them. A growing scientific effort is attempting to evaluate the impacts of environmental changes on ecosystems and ecosystem services and guide policy-making to respond to this global issue. Focusing on social-ecological systems of coral reefs, this thesis critically reviews the approaches put forward in the literature to understand gaps and to design new methodologies, assessments, and indicators to guide science and policy. Our findings show that a regionally targeted strategy of research should address complexity and provide more realistic projections about the impacts of GEC on coral reefs ecosystems and ecosystem services. We map global-scale indicators to understand where human dependence on coral reef ecosystems will be affected by globally-driven threats expected in a high-CO2 world. We then analyze how science is responding to the challenge posed by GEC on coral reefs and to identify gaps in research.Finally, we attempt to operationalize an overlooked component of vulnerability assessments, ecological adaptive capacity, to serve as a tool to help assess where local actions can be effective in the context of climate change. This manuscript contributes to theoretical and methodological advances to evaluate impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to GEC. It develops interdisciplinary approaches for the study of social-ecological systems and ecosystem services, targeting coral reefs as a case study. Finally, it synthesizes critically the emergence of a scientific field on solutions to GEC for coral reef social-ecological systems.

No description available.