Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Agroforests are model systems for ecological conservation in tropical agricultural landscapes because they integrate biodiversity conservation and rural livelihoods. Whether agroforests are long-term solutions for conserving biodiversity in agricultural landscapes may depend sapling regeneration of native forest trees in agroforests. In this dissertation, I ask two main questions: are native forest trees regenerating in agroforests and if so, what are the ecological and social drivers? I tested the influence of potential seed sources from both the landscape and parent trees found in the agroforest. I also examined how a set of social factors affected native forest tree regeneration. The social drivers I tested include tree management and use, land tenure and state-restricted rights to harvest native timber. I found that a number of native pioneer species are regenerating at relatively high frequencies and abundances. I also found that many secondary native forest tree species are also regenerating although their sapling are found less frequently and at lower abundances. Most primary forest tree species present as adults are not regenerating and lacked sapling in the agroforests. The influence of the ecological factors was limited. The main drivers of native forest tree regeneration on farms are the understorey management and the rural extension services that assisted farms obtain state-restricted rights.

This research determines whether and how an equitable geographic distribution of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects can be achieved. In particular, it examines whether the CDM legal regime can achieve an equitable geographic distribution of projects, or whether the issues that contribute to the inequitable distribution are fundamental to the design of the regime. The two main questions answered by this research are: how should CDM projects be distributed among countries, that is, what is the meaning of equitable geographic distribution of CDM projects; and can the CDM regime achieve this distribution? The answer to the first question defines equitable geographic distribution and outlines the factors that should be considered to help achieve this distribution, which are: greenhouse gas emission reduction potential, need (or sustainable development potential) and preferential treatment. The answer to the second question is that although the CDM regime can achieve a slightly more equitable geographic distribution than is currently the case, a truly equitable geographic distribution cannot be achieved under the regime, primarily because of the market nature of the CDM. The thesis then makes recommendations on how to achieve a distribution of CDM projects among countries that can be regarded as more equitable than the current distribution.

No description available.

This thesis is concerned with the role of fairness in international environmental law and, by way of example, focuses specifically on the perspective of developing countries in the context of the climate change regime. A brief analysis of underlying conceptions of fairness in general international law serves as the backdrop for an evaluation of both procedural and substantive aspects of fairness within the climate change regime. This evaluation includes a detailed consideration of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol to that Convention. The thesis concludes that the role of fairness in the climate change regime, and in international environmental law more generally, has become significant in recent years. It is likely that this trend will continue through further articulation of claims, by developing countries and others, in the context of an ongoing fairness debate. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

This thesis presents an assessment of the effectiveness of the compliance mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol in promoting compliance with the obligations under the Protocol. First, theoretical approaches to compliance are explored in order to understand the reasons for which states comply, using both international legal and international relations theory. This not only contributes to a greater understanding of compliance, but also helps to establish a framework of criteria for the assessment. Second, practical experience with the compliance mechanisms of the Montreal Protocol is used to develop further assessment criteria. Following a detailed description and analysis of the compliance mechanisms, the insights from theory and practice are applied. The results show that the Kyoto Protocol's compliance mechanisms present an innovative balance of managerial and incentive strategies and integrate important elements emphasised by constructivist approaches to international law. They are thus designed effectively to promote compliance with the Kyoto Protocol.