Rural communities in the western U.S. and Alaska are highly dependent upon surrounding publicly-owned forests for various economic and non-economic values. Historically, limited data has hampered the understanding of such community-resource linkages. As a result, community interests may not be adequately considered in forest management plan development and policy formulation. Addressing this imbalance is an important issue for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), particularly as it shifts from timberdominated goals to a more holistic ecosystem-based form of management. This study seeks to understand community-resource use linkages, dependency, and vulnerability surrounding the Chugach and Tongass NFs using place-level socioeconomic data from the 2000 U.S. Census in combination with permit data from the USFS’s Timber Information Management Data System (TIM) and Special Use Data System (SUDS). Information on permittees’ activities on forestland and socioeconomic profiles of permittee’s community-of-origin are found to be valuable, not only for forest management and planning purposes, but also for community-level social assessment. An examination of 2007 permit data found that a majority of permit holders were local residents. These communities are found to be dependent on the two forests for various types of activities and are thus more likely to be vulnerable to changes in forest management and policies. The analysis also identified some limitations that may affect the quality of permit data and its potential use in community impact assessments. Despite these limitations of permit data, the methodologies utilized here demonstrate how TIM and SUDS data, in combination with U.S. Census data, could be used to describe Alaska residents’ socioeconomic profiles for communities located in close proximity to the Tongass and Chugach NFs. Such information can assist USFS managers in deriving community-level estimates of forest resource use, degree of dependency, and vulnerability to the likely impacts of alternatives management approaches. Finally, recommendations are given to improve data recording, maintenance, and use in order to better understand communities that are dependent on forest resources in both the Chugach and Tongass NFs, and to specifically identify those communities potentially vulnerable to changes in forest management policies.

L’information génétique est rarement appréhendée directement par le droit, bien que certaines catégories du droit de la propriété intellectuelle, telles que le brevet d’invention ou le certificat d’obtention végétale, en soient des réceptacles privilégiés. De plus, si les Etats ont réaffirmé leur souveraineté sur les ressources génétiques dans le cadre de la Convention sur la diversité biologique et du Protocole de Nagoya, il en résulte un principe de partage juste et équitable des avantages entre fournisseurs et utilisateurs, qui a favorisé la reconnaissance d’un nouveau bien : l’information génétique. Effectivement, selon une approche néocapitaliste de la conservation, la maîtrise de l’information génétique constitue un levier pour la conservation de la biodiversité et un rééquilibrage des relations Nord/Sud. Toutefois, la propriété de la ressource physique s’est révélée déterminante dans les échanges afin de contrôler l’accès à l’information génétique à travers les utilités de la chose.Ce principe d’accès et de partage des avantages entérine un lien spécial entre l’information et son support biologique en ce sens que l’information génétique étudiée par le chercheur demeure le fruit d’un territoire, voire d’un travail de conservation ancestrale d’agriculteurs ou de communautés locales. Il s’agit donc d’une forme atypique de dépendance entre l’information génétique et l’origine géographique de la ressource, devant être articulée avec les droits de propriété intellectuelle qui ne peuvent poursuivre la seule logique de l’innovation, au risque de contourner les engagements internationaux en matière d’accès et de partage des avantages. Par ailleurs, un partage juste et équitable des avantages se comprend largement et n’est pas circonscrit aux avantages découlant du dépôt d’un titre de propriété intellectuelle. La révolution numérique connue par les activités de biotechnologie au travers notamment de la bio-informatique permet la création de nouvelles valeurs, souvent non-appropriables mais largement réservées par les pays du Nord, et auquel l’accès se révèle indispensable dans une véritable perspective de développement des capacités de recherche au Sud. En effet, au-delà des avantages monétaires et du transfert de technologie, ces avantages non monétaires sont essentiels afin de perpétuer les objectifs initiaux de la Convention sur la diversité biologique, malmenés par l’évolution des techniques. Pourtant, le règlement de l’Union européenne du 16 avril 2014 relatif aux mesures concernant le respect par les utilisateurs dans l'Union du protocole de Nagoya sur l'accès aux ressources génétiques et le partage juste et équitable des avantages découlant de leur utilisation et de la loi française pour la reconquête de la biodiversité, de la nature et des paysages du 8 août 2016 peinent à lancer une véritable dynamique de partage autour des pratiques de recherche actuelles, dans un contexte où l’accès au message porté par une séquence d’ADN peut être obtenu indépendamment de la ressource biologique, notamment grâce aux bases de données de bio-informatique ou à la biologie de synthèse. Au-delà du constat réalisé dans cette étude, il est temps de réfléchir à la construction d’une nouvelle forme de gouvernance, englobant l’information génétique au format numérique et répondant aux questions nouvelles soulevées par le big data, ainsi que les pratiques de data mining. L’idée d’un commun contractuel équitable, sur le modèle du Traité international sur les ressources phytogénétiques pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture, nous paraît constituer un enjeu du futur pour une certaine survie des principes de la Convention sur la diversité biologique. / Genetic information is rarely dealt with directly by law, although certain categories of intellectual property law, such as a patent or a plant variety certificate, are privileged receptacles. Moreover, if the states reaffirmed their sovereignty over genetic resources under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol, the result is a principle of fair and equitable sharing of benefits between providers and users, which promoted the recognition of a new good: genetic information. Indeed, using a neocapitalist approach to conservation, mastery of genetic information is a lever for the conservation of biodiversity and a rebalancing of North / South relations. However, the property of the material resource has proved to be a determining trading factor in order to gain control access towards genetic information through its utilities.This principle of access and benefit-sharing enshrines a special link between information and its biological support in the sense that the genetic information studied by the researcher remains a local product or even a work of ancestral preservation by the Farmers or local communities. It is therefore an atypical form of dependence between genetic information and the geographical origin of the resource, that needs to be hinged with intellectual property rights. The latter is unable to solely pursue the logic of innovation without running the risk to bypass the commitments made by the international community on benefits access and sharing. Moreover, a Fair and Equitable sharing of benefits has to be taken broadly and is in no way limited to the benefits ensuing the filing of an IP. The digital revolution experienced by biotechnology activities, especially through Bioinformatics, allows the creation of new values which are mainly non-appropriable although reserved to a very large extent by Northern countries and to which access is essential in a genuine Development of research capacity in the Southern Countries. Indeed, beyond the financial benefits and the technology transfer opportunities, these non-monetary benefits are essentials in order to perpetuate the original goals which are battered by techonological developments. Yet the European Union Regulation of the 16 April 2014 on measures concerning user compliance in the Union with the Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use and the French Law for the Recovery of Biodiversity, Nature and Landscapes of August 8, 2016 are struggling to trigger and ensure a real dynamic of sharing around modern research practices, in a context where access to the message carried by a DNA sequence can be obtained independently of the biological resource, in particular through bioinformatics databases or synthetic biology.Beyond the findings of this study, it is time to reflect on the construction of a new form of governance, encompassing genetic information in digital format and responding to new questions raised by big data, as well as data mining. The idea of an equitable contractual common good, modeled on the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, seems to us to be a future issue for a certain survival of the principles of the Convention on Biodiversity.

O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar através de um estudo de caso os impactos socioambientais locais decorrentes de dois acordos comerciais para o acesso aos recursos genéticos e participação nos benefícios entre uma empresa de cosméticos e um grupo de pequenos produtores rurais da região do Vale do Ribeira-SP. Embora acordos entre empresas privadas e comunidades locais para a utilização comercial de componentes da biodiversidade venham sendo estimulados atualmente como forma de conciliar o uso sustentável dos recursos naturais com desenvolvimento local, alguns estudos têm demonstrado que, além de benefícios, tais acordos podem ter efeitos socioambientais negativos sobre as condições locais em que são estabelecidos. No Brasil, desde 2001, vigora a Medida Provisória 2.186-16/01 que regulamenta a Convenção sobre Diversidade Biológica (CDB) no país instituindo normas para o acesso a componentes do patrimônio genético e aos conhecimentos tradicionais associados. Tais normas baseiam-se, fundamentalmente, na anuência prévia e na repartição de benefícios junto a seus provedores. Apesar da existência desses instrumentos jurídicos, ainda pouco se sabe a respeito de sua aplicação prática e de seus impactos locais. A partir de técnicas qualitativas (entrevistas semiestruturadas, observação participante e análise documental) ao longo de um ano foram levantados dados a respeito do estabelecimento de dois acordos para a utilização de recursos genéticos para fins comerciais e de seus efeitos sobre: (i) a geração e distribuição de renda; (ii) a infraestrutura local e acesso à tecnologia; (iii) a organização social e; (iv) o uso dos recursos naturais locais (i.e. solo, recursos vegetais e hídricos). Os resultados mostraram impactos positivos diretos sobre a geração de renda e sobre o acesso à tecnologia e infraestrutura local. A respeito da organização social do grupo, a falta de uma plataforma para ação coletiva e seu reconhecimento jurídico são obstáculos à maior participação e à sua autonomia. Os impactos diretos e indiretos sobre uso dos recursos naturais observados foram: transformações no uso do solo através do aumento de espécies cultivadas, da redução de áreas com cultivos ou criações de animais para subsitência e da mudança no manejo e nos insumos empregados e; transformações no uso dos recursos vegetais através do aumento da extração da espécie alvo, no primeiro acordo, e do consumo de madeira para lenha, no segundo. Embora a realização de acordos comerciais para a utilização da biodiversidade tenha apresentado potencial para contribuir para o desenvolvimento local e para a conservação da biodiversidade, a realização de novos estudos em diferentes contextos se faz necessária para um maior entendimento de correlações e possíveis trade-offs entre fatores sociais e ambientais. / The aim of this study is to analyze local socio-environmental impacts resulting from two commercial agreements for the access to genetic resources and benefit sharing between a cosmetic company and a group of smallholders from Vale do Ribeira-SP region. Although agreements between private companies and local communities for the commercial use of biodiversity components have been encouraged today as a way to conciliate the sustainable use of natural assets with local development, some studies have demonstrate that beyond of its benefits, these agreements may have negative socio-environmental effects on local conditions where it was established. In Brazil, since 2001, the Provisional Executive Order 2.186-16/01 which regulates the Convention of Biological Diversity in country establishing rules for the access to genetic resources and traditional knowledge was released. These rules are fundamentally based on the prior acceptance and benefit sharing along with its providers. Despite the existence of those juridical tools, yet little is known about its practice enforcement and its local impacts. Qualitative techniques (semi-structured interviews, participant observation and documental analysis) were adopted to gather data about the establishment of two commercial agreements for the use of genetic resources and its effects on: (i) income generation and distribution; (ii) local infrastructure and access to technology; (iii) social organization and; (iv) use of local natural assets (i.e. soil, water and vegetable resources). The results show positive direct impacts on income generating, local infrastructure and access to technology. About the social organization of the involved group, the lack of one platform for collective action just as legal acknowledgement are both drawbacks to effective participation of its members and their greater autonomy. As regards environmental impacts it was observed: transformations in land use by increase of cultivating species, reduction of areas occupied by subsistence cultures or animal husbandry, changes in applied handling and raw materials and; transformations in the use of vegetable resources by the raise of target specie, in the first agreement, and by the increase of firewood consume, in second one. On the one hand, the realization of commercial agreements shows oneself to be a possible manner to contribute to local development and to biodiversity conservation. In the other hand, we still need new studies in different contexts for a better understanding of the correlations and trade-offs between social and environmental factors.

O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar através de um estudo de caso os impactos socioambientais locais decorrentes de dois acordos comerciais para o acesso aos recursos genéticos e participação nos benefícios entre uma empresa de cosméticos e um grupo de pequenos produtores rurais da região do Vale do Ribeira-SP. Embora acordos entre empresas privadas e comunidades locais para a utilização comercial de componentes da biodiversidade venham sendo estimulados atualmente como forma de conciliar o uso sustentável dos recursos naturais com desenvolvimento local, alguns estudos têm demonstrado que, além de benefícios, tais acordos podem ter efeitos socioambientais negativos sobre as condições locais em que são estabelecidos. No Brasil, desde 2001, vigora a Medida Provisória 2.186-16/01 que regulamenta a Convenção sobre Diversidade Biológica (CDB) no país instituindo normas para o acesso a componentes do patrimônio genético e aos conhecimentos tradicionais associados. Tais normas baseiam-se, fundamentalmente, na anuência prévia e na repartição de benefícios junto a seus provedores. Apesar da existência desses instrumentos jurídicos, ainda pouco se sabe a respeito de sua aplicação prática e de seus impactos locais. A partir de técnicas qualitativas (entrevistas semiestruturadas, observação participante e análise documental) ao longo de um ano foram levantados dados a respeito do estabelecimento de dois acordos para a utilização de recursos genéticos para fins comerciais e de seus efeitos sobre: (i) a geração e distribuição de renda; (ii) a infraestrutura local e acesso à tecnologia; (iii) a organização social e; (iv) o uso dos recursos naturais locais (i.e. solo, recursos vegetais e hídricos). Os resultados mostraram impactos positivos diretos sobre a geração de renda e sobre o acesso à tecnologia e infraestrutura local. A respeito da organização social do grupo, a falta de uma plataforma para ação coletiva e seu reconhecimento jurídico são obstáculos à maior participação e à sua autonomia. Os impactos diretos e indiretos sobre uso dos recursos naturais observados foram: transformações no uso do solo através do aumento de espécies cultivadas, da redução de áreas com cultivos ou criações de animais para subsitência e da mudança no manejo e nos insumos empregados e; transformações no uso dos recursos vegetais através do aumento da extração da espécie alvo, no primeiro acordo, e do consumo de madeira para lenha, no segundo. Embora a realização de acordos comerciais para a utilização da biodiversidade tenha apresentado potencial para contribuir para o desenvolvimento local e para a conservação da biodiversidade, a realização de novos estudos em diferentes contextos se faz necessária para um maior entendimento de correlações e possíveis trade-offs entre fatores sociais e ambientais. / The aim of this study is to analyze local socio-environmental impacts resulting from two commercial agreements for the access to genetic resources and benefit sharing between a cosmetic company and a group of smallholders from Vale do Ribeira-SP region. Although agreements between private companies and local communities for the commercial use of biodiversity components have been encouraged today as a way to conciliate the sustainable use of natural assets with local development, some studies have demonstrate that beyond of its benefits, these agreements may have negative socio-environmental effects on local conditions where it was established. In Brazil, since 2001, the Provisional Executive Order 2.186-16/01 which regulates the Convention of Biological Diversity in country establishing rules for the access to genetic resources and traditional knowledge was released. These rules are fundamentally based on the prior acceptance and benefit sharing along with its providers. Despite the existence of those juridical tools, yet little is known about its practice enforcement and its local impacts. Qualitative techniques (semi-structured interviews, participant observation and documental analysis) were adopted to gather data about the establishment of two commercial agreements for the use of genetic resources and its effects on: (i) income generation and distribution; (ii) local infrastructure and access to technology; (iii) social organization and; (iv) use of local natural assets (i.e. soil, water and vegetable resources). The results show positive direct impacts on income generating, local infrastructure and access to technology. About the social organization of the involved group, the lack of one platform for collective action just as legal acknowledgement are both drawbacks to effective participation of its members and their greater autonomy. As regards environmental impacts it was observed: transformations in land use by increase of cultivating species, reduction of areas occupied by subsistence cultures or animal husbandry, changes in applied handling and raw materials and; transformations in the use of vegetable resources by the raise of target specie, in the first agreement, and by the increase of firewood consume, in second one. On the one hand, the realization of commercial agreements shows oneself to be a possible manner to contribute to local development and to biodiversity conservation. In the other hand, we still need new studies in different contexts for a better understanding of the correlations and trade-offs between social and environmental factors.

L'écotourisme est souvent perçu comme une panacée capable de concilier le développement économique, la protection de l'environnement et le bien-être des communautés autour des aires protégées des pays en développement. La réalité sur le terrain est cependant tout autre, car son caractère complexe, politique et transcalaire est trop souvent négligé lors de la mise en œuvre des interventions. Le but de ce projet de recherche est de jeter un nouvel éclairage sur le développement de l'écotourisme dans les aires protégées des pays du Sud à travers une analyse critique des pratiques et des discours qui lui sont associés. Adoptant un cadre conceptuel dérivé de l'écologie politique, nous avons cherché à comprendre comment l'écotourisme affecte l'accès aux ressources naturelles pour différents acteurs sociaux. L'approche méthodologique s'appuie sur une étude de cas essentiellement qualitative qui s'attarde à un projet spécifique amorcé à Chi Phat, dans une forêt protégée des Cardamomes, au sud-ouest du Cambodge. Elle fait appel à l'analyse documentaire et discursive, à l'observation participante ainsi qu'à plus de 80 entretiens semi-directifs auprès d'acteurs clés. Nos résultats montrent d'abord qu'en matière d'écotourisme au Cambodge, il y a absence de lignes directrices claires et on observe très peu de collaboration, et ce, à tous les niveaux. Cela n'est pas étranger au fait que le gouvernement actuel accorde en général la priorité au développement devant la conservation. Ensuite, le projet d'écotourisme permet à Wildlife Alliance de justifier le maintien de la forêt protégée. Cette ONG se démarque par ailleurs des autres organisations au pays par son approche plus musclée. Le pouvoir dont elle jouit et les résultats qu'elle obtient sur le terrain tiennent en sa capacité à mobiliser, en temps opportun, l'ensemble des moyens disponibles pour contrôler l'accès. Globalement, nous pouvons affirmer que les principaux acteurs qui voient leur accès aux ressources naturelles touché négativement sont les paysans. Finalement, nous proposons deux ajouts au cadre conceptuel, soit la considération de l'aspect géographique de l'exclusion et l'introduction de modalités d'exclusion, qui permettent à notre avis une analyse plus juste de la situation. / Ecotourism is often seen as a panacea for reconciling economic development, environmental protection and well-being of communities around protected areas in developing countries. However, the reality on the ground is different, because its complex, political and transcalar character is too often overlooked in the implementation of interventions. The purpose of this research project is thus to shed new light on the development of ecotourism in protected areas of the less developed countries through a critical analysis of practices and discourses that are linked to it. Adopting a theoretical framework derived from political ecology, we sought to understand how ecotourism affects access to natural resources for different social actors. The methodological approach is based on a qualitative case study that focuses on a specific project initiated in Chi Phat, located next to a protected forest in south-western Cambodia. It uses literature review, discourse analysis, participant observation as well as more than 80 semi-structured interviews with key actors. Our results show first that there are no clear guidelines for ecotourism development in Cambodia, and we observe very little collaboration at all levels. This is not unrelated to the fact that the current government is generally prioritizing development over conservation. Then we showed that the ecotourism project allows Wildlife Alliance to justify the existence of the protected forest. This NGO also stands out in the country by its more radical approach to conservation. The power it has and the results it obtains on the ground come from its ability to mobilize, in a timely manner, all available means to control access. Overall, we can say that the main actors whose access to natural resources are adversely affected through the ecotourism project are local farmers. Finally, we propose two additions to the conceptual framework, namely the consideration of the geographical aspect of access and exclusion, and the introduction of degrees of exclusion, which allow a more accurate analysis of the situation.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:25:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fabricio Ribeiro.pdf: 837268 bytes, checksum: 934d44a7485d39d24a699339c9207985 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-08-10 / The potential cost-effective generated by biological diversity misrepresented the sense and value of traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity, intensifying exploitation and destruction of natural resources, notably in developing countries. Protection of biodiversity is regulatory framework of the Convention on biological diversity, with three main objectives: biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of natural resources, through their appropriate access and transfer of relevant technologies. Another band, the international intellectual property system, embodied by the TRIPS Agreement, expressed through its institutions, notably the WTO and WIPO, by application of the system of patents to traditional knowledge, legalising the expropriation of elements of biodiversity, what is termed the "back of Columbus". This work you want to check each one of the main points of these two models of protection of traditional knowledge, discerning possible alternatives present on the international scene. Accordingly, the approach is highly theoretical, having as main conceptual the thinking of Fritjof Capra, his work "the Web of life", which implies recognizing that biodiversity has an intrinsic value. The search will seek to identify the lines category nature demarcatórias, while discussing unsustainable current model of economic development, result of Cartesian rationalism. Will performed consulting agreements and international documents, comparing the positions of several authors and institutions involved. / As potencialidades econômicas geradas pela diversidade biológica alteraram profundamente o sentido e o valor dos conhecimentos tradicionais associados à biodiversidade, intensificando a exploração e a destruição dos recursos naturais, notadamente nos países em desenvolvimento. A proteção da biodiversidade tem como marco regulatório a Convenção sobre Diversidade Biológica, destacando-se três objetivos principais: conservação da biodiversidade, utilização sustentável de seus componentes e repartição justa e equitativa dos benéficos derivados da utilização dos recursos naturais, mediante seu acesso adequado e transferências de tecnologias pertinentes. De outra banda, o sistema internacional de propriedade intelectual, consubstanciado no Acordo TRIPS, manifesta-se através de suas instituições, notadamente da OMC e da OMPI, pela aplicação do regime de patentes aos saberes tradicionais, legalizando a expropriação dos elementos da biodiversidade, o que se convencionou chamar de a volta de Colombo . O presente trabalho pretende verificar cada um dos principais pontos desses dois modelos de proteção aos conhecimentos tradicionais, vislumbrando possíveis alternativas presentes no cenário internacional. Nesse sentido, a abordagem será eminentemente teórica, tendo como principal marco conceitual o pensamento sistêmico de Fritjof Capra, destacando-se sua obra A Teia da Vida , o que implica reconhecer que a biodiversidade tem um valor intrínseco. A pesquisa vai buscar identificar as linhas demarcatórias da categoria natureza, ao mesmo tempo em que discute a insustentabilidade do atual modelo de desenvolvimento econômico, resultado do racionalismo cartesiano. Para tanto, será realizada consulta a acordos e documentos internacionais, confrontando as posições dos diversos autores e instituições envolvidas.

This study focused on independent EFL reading among Grade 11 students across public and non-public schools in Ethiopia. Students who practice independent reading develop a love for reading and ultimately become life-long self-initiated readers. Therefore, independent reading should be considered as a vital goal of instruction and research. The issues of focus in this study were students’ reading comprehension ability levels, attitude towards learning English as a school subject and reading its literature, reading motivation, reading strategy use, persistence in independent reading and access to reading resources along with inclusion of independent reading in classroom instruction and in English textbooks. To this end, the study used quantitative data (collected through reading comprehension test, structured questionnaire and independent reading follow-up checklist) and qualitative data (gathered via classroom observation and content analysis).The findings revealed lower predisposition towards and practice of independent EFL reading among public school students (n = 375). A statistically significant difference, in favour of non-public schools (n = 181), was also found between the two groups of students in scores pertaining to most of the variables investigated. Enhanced scaffolding of independent reading through improved instruction and resource provision, regular short refresher courses for teachers of English and further studies have been recommended to improve public school students’ involvement in independent EFL reading. / English Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (English Studies)