Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New South Wales, 2004. / Also available online.

Biodiversity offsetting mechanisms are increasingly applied worldwide as a new solution to the current biodiversity crisis. The offsetting approach is idealised as a means to achieve no net loss of biodiversity. Offsetting mechanisms aim to quantify residual biodiversity losses and enable developers to account for residual impacts off-site. Despite rising global application, the effectiveness of offsetting is by no means assured. The question of whether and how offsetting can be operationalised to achieve no net loss has become a key focal point in debates surrounding their effectiveness. Environmental Impact Assessment, or EIA, has been portrayed as an obvious 'vehicle' for integrating offsetting into existing corporate management systems and planning systems, and therefore a key factor over how offsetting mechanisms operate. This research critically investigated the nature of integration and interactions between EIA and offsetting using a three phase qualitative research design, which brought together analysis of emerging policy, expert interviews and in-depth case studies.

The process of environmental impact assessment is a control procedure that aims to summarize and evaluate the impact of a project on the environment at the stage of project planning and thus to reduce its potential negative impacts in the future. One of the main ideas of the EIA process is to avoid since the very beginning problems and confrontation which would otherwise appear in the future in connection with the planned project. This principle is particularly important in cases of transboundary assessment where communication between countries and joint consultations on the project in its early stages of planning might prevent potential conflicts and disruption of mutual relations in the future resulting from an already implemented plan. The cornerstone of a transboundary assessment is the understanding that the harmful effects of a specific project do not stop at the borders of one state, but can reach a territory of many other countries, mutual cooperation in this subject is thus with regard to environmental protection necessary. The necessity of such a cooperation on one hand, as well as its pitfalls and difficulties on the other hand, are illustrated in the case of transboundary EIA between the Czech Republic and Austria, that is specifically in the case of the construction of the nuclear power plant...

Large-scale mining modifies the existing physical environment and has multiple long-term impacts on landscape but also on communities, and their cultural values. In Finland, social impact assessment has become a customary practice in assessing and estimating mining impacts that cause changes to the well-being of individual people and their livelihoods. However, the assessment is often lacking notions of social dimensions of the environment, neglecting discussing aspects such as localities and subjective well-being. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of considering the cultural benefits of the environment to human well-being in environmental decision-making. The purpose of this study is to explore and illustrate how cultural ecosystem services could contribute to the current practice in social impact assessments in Finnish mining projects by highlighting the relation between local people and environment through the valuation of cultural services. The study used a conceptual framework approach of cultural ecosystem services and conducted eight qualitative semi-structured interviews in two villages in Finnish Fell Lapland. The aim was to explore how the local people themselves describe their non-material benefits from the environment. Six out of the eight interviews were conducted walking with the participants. The interviews were recorded and later transcribed for analysis against the conceptual cultural ecosystem services framework. The results show how the well-being of local people was strongly linked to cultural benefits such as sense of place, enabled by meaningful activities in places that were often happening in mundane everyday places. The study implies the importance of considering cultural ecosystem services such as sense of place in the current social impact assessment practice as they help unveiling connections between people, the natural environment and subjective well-being.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / O Planejamento Familiar (PF) de mulheres portadoras de Diabetes Mellitus (DM) guarda especificidades, tendo os profissionais que lidar com as particularidades deste grupo, com risco reprodutivo significativo. Portanto, sÃo mulheres que tÃm indicaÃÃo de MÃtodos Anticoncepcionais (MAC) de elevada eficÃcia, contra-indicaÃÃo de determinados MAC em face da doenÃa e/ou do tratamento medicamentoso para o DM, e planejamento da concepÃÃo acompanhado de adequado controle da referida patologia. O objetivo geral foi avaliar o impacto da assistÃncia oferecida a mulheres portadoras de DM em prÃ-concepÃÃo e anticoncepÃÃo. Os objetivos especÃficos incluÃram: descrever repercussÃes vivenciadas no processo de engravidar, gestar e parir no perfil obstÃtrico de mulheres portadoras de DM; identificar o conhecimento de mulheres portadoras de DM sobre cuidados a serem tomados na prÃ-concepÃÃo e sobre riscos maternos e fetais; verificar o conhecimento de mulheres portadoras de DM sobre MAC apropriados a essa condiÃÃo e analisar a adequaÃÃo do uso de MAC por mulheres vivendo com DM, tomando por base o perfil da patologia. Estudo avaliativo, transversal, realizado com 107 mulheres acompanhadas em centro de referÃncia para DM de Fortaleza-CE. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista, de marÃo a julho de 2009. Foi realizada anÃlise estatÃstica simples, utilizando frequÃncia absoluta e relativa, mÃdia (χ), desvio padrÃo (S) e Intervalos de ConfianÃa (IC). As falas das mulheres foram analisadas conforme TÃcnica de AnÃlise de ConteÃdo proposta por Minayo. Para avaliar o impacto da assistÃncia em prÃ-concepÃÃo e anticoncepÃÃo, foram elaborados os indicadores de impacto: percentual de mulheres que conhecem os MAC indicados para a condiÃÃo de ser portadora de DM e estÃo em uso desses MAC; percentual de mulheres informadas sobre os riscos maternos e fetais do DM e sobre as medidas a serem tomadas na prÃ-concepÃÃo; percentual de mulheres que engravidaram e nÃo apresentaram complicaÃÃes relacionadas ao DM. Para avaliar o conhecimento das mulheres, foi utilizada escala tipo likert da ClassificaÃÃo dos Resultados de Enfermagem (NOC). O projeto de pesquisa foi submetido ao Comità de Ãtica em Pesquisa da Universidade Federal do CearÃ, segundo ResoluÃÃo no. 196/96, aprovado conforme protocolo n 27/09 e as participantes assinaram o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido. As mulheres apresentaram mÃdia de idade de 25,7 anos, predomÃnio de relacionamento com parceiro fixo, renda per capita mÃdia de R$ 200,00; 90 (84,1%) tinham DM tipo 1, com mÃdia de 11,3 anos de diagnÃstico. O perfil obstÃtrico mostrou-se marcado por repercussÃes possÃveis de associaÃÃo ao DM; 45 (42,1%) mulheres apresentaram conhecimento moderado sobre os cuidados prÃ-concepcionais (variou de nenhum conhecimento a conhecimento extenso) e 59 (55,1%) apresentaram conhecimento limitado em relaÃÃo aos riscos maternos e fetais (variou de nenhum a conhecimento moderado); 76 (71%) desconheciam os MAC indicados para mulheres portadoras de DM (este variou de nenhum a moderado), sendo que 104 (97,2%) estavam em uso de MAC e destas 12 (11,6%) utilizavam MAC contra-indicados em detrimento do DM ou MAC que poderiam potencializar riscos. Concluiu-se que mulheres portadoras de DM necessitam de atenÃÃo anticonceptiva eficaz e de acompanhamento para monitorizaÃÃo do DM para que a gestaÃÃo aconteÃa em melhor momento clÃnico. Destaca-se a relevante necessidade de que estes conhecimentos cheguem ao nÃvel extenso, para garantir Ãs mulheres portadoras de DM conhecimento e, assim, uma prÃtica prÃ-concepcional e anti-anticoncepcional segura.

Many construction projects suffer from mismanagement despite continuous improvement in the field of project risk management. With the construction boom in the Middle East, and especially the Gulf region, construction projects suffer from a high failure rate. The lack of the implementation of standard risk management methods in the construction industry of the Gulf region leads to construction projects that suffer from poor performance, delays, disputes and claims. In order to design a standard risk management model, there is a need for an in-depth study of the construction environment to lay down the foundation for designing a Standard Construction Risk Management Model in the future. This study aims to identify and assess risk factors during the construction phase of construction projects in the Gulf region focusing on two countries of the Gulf region – the State of Kuwait and Kingdom of Bahrain. The risk factors (RF) were identified and assessed and responsiblty shares were allocated to construction parties: clients, consultants and contractors. The research strategy was a Sequential mixed-method. It was adopted by means of interview surveys followed by a questionnaire. The study started with a qualitative approach in which eleven practitioners were interviewed to evaluate and validate a questionnaire. This was followed by questionnaires distributed to a representative sample of 140 consultants, 128 contractors and 139 clients in the State of Kuwait, in addition to 71 consultants, 99 contractors and 78 clients in the Kingdom of Bahrain, to assess the negative impact of the risk factors during the construction phase on the completion of construction projects. Parametric tests were used to analyse the collected data. Including, the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test, the independent-samples t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient (r) test. The study revealed a difference in perception of the risk factors negative impact on project completion between Kuwait and Bahrain, Bahrain perceives highest degree of impact on projects. On the categories level, both countries agreed on the Finance category as the main factor threatening project completion, and the External category as having the least impact. In Kuwait, almost all parties agreed on the negative impact of all categories on project completion except contractors who have different perception on management category. Furthermore, clients and consultants held different perceptions on the impact of design category. Bahrain results reveal significant differences in perceptions on the impact of categories between clients and the other parties, however there are slight differences between consultants and contractors in all categories. The limitations of the study include only large contractors and consultants in Kuwait and Bahrain were included in the study. The study was limited to the construction phase of construction projects and only six categories of risk factors were included in the study and This research was based on practitioners and participants opinions rather than actual occurrences on projects.

Introdução: A prática do esporte está associada à saúde, é um direito social e dever do Estado. O presente estudo tem por objeto o Programa de Recreação, Iniciação e Aperfeiçoamento (PRIA) da Prefeitura de Indaiatuba. Objetivo: Avaliar o PRIA em relação ao seu impacto sobre rendimento escolar, parâmetros antropométricos e qualidade de vida dos beneficiários; e sobre o orçamento público. Metodologia: Estudo longitudinal, prospectivo, com amostra não probabilística de conveniência e grupo controle. A avaliação do impacto foi feita pelo método Diferenças em Diferenças. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pelo pacote estatístico Stata 12. Resultados: Foi observado impacto positivo nos indicadores de rendimento escolar, nos demais indicadores não foi observado impacto. Conclusão: Crianças que participam de um programa público de incentivo ao esporte podem ter seus rendimentos escolares melhorados. / Introduction: The practice of sports is associated to good health, being a social right and a duty of the State. The present study has as its object the Recreational Program, Initiation and Improvement (PRIA) sponsored by Indaiatuba City Hall. Methodology: A longitudinal and prospective study with non-probabilistic sample of convenience and control group. The assessment of the impact was made by the differences in differences method. The data were statistically analyzed by the statistics package Stata 12. Results: A positive impact was observed at the school performance indicators, and no impact was observed in the other indicators. Conclusion: Children who took part in a public program of promoting the practice of sports can improve their performance at school.

Introdução: A prática do esporte está associada à saúde, é um direito social e dever do Estado. O presente estudo tem por objeto o Programa de Recreação, Iniciação e Aperfeiçoamento (PRIA) da Prefeitura de Indaiatuba. Objetivo: Avaliar o PRIA em relação ao seu impacto sobre rendimento escolar, parâmetros antropométricos e qualidade de vida dos beneficiários; e sobre o orçamento público. Metodologia: Estudo longitudinal, prospectivo, com amostra não probabilística de conveniência e grupo controle. A avaliação do impacto foi feita pelo método Diferenças em Diferenças. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pelo pacote estatístico Stata 12. Resultados: Foi observado impacto positivo nos indicadores de rendimento escolar, nos demais indicadores não foi observado impacto. Conclusão: Crianças que participam de um programa público de incentivo ao esporte podem ter seus rendimentos escolares melhorados. / Introduction: The practice of sports is associated to good health, being a social right and a duty of the State. The present study has as its object the Recreational Program, Initiation and Improvement (PRIA) sponsored by Indaiatuba City Hall. Methodology: A longitudinal and prospective study with non-probabilistic sample of convenience and control group. The assessment of the impact was made by the differences in differences method. The data were statistically analyzed by the statistics package Stata 12. Results: A positive impact was observed at the school performance indicators, and no impact was observed in the other indicators. Conclusion: Children who took part in a public program of promoting the practice of sports can improve their performance at school.

The study presented in this thesis discusses the topic of ASRs through the use of a specific case study constructed at Boscombe, UK. With the main aim to provide an impartial and independent study into the environmental, social and economic impacts of an ASR. The research presented is therefore multidisciplinary in nature, the separate components utilise key techniques from the geophysical, numerical modelling and socio-economic disciplines are combined to present a significant contribution to the knowledge and understanding of ASRs. Whilst previous studies have focused on one of these disciplines, there are no independent detailed studies of a constructed ASR utilising an multidisciplinary approach. The ASR concept and structures are still in their development infancy, the subject has received cursory independent review in the literature. There have been few successful projects, those that have survived structurally in the ocean are not being used primarily for surfing. The Boscombe ASR is an example of high overspend, poor management and construction, loss of geotextile SFC and users deem the project a failure. The consequences of not correctly planning, managing and overseeing the construction has resulted in a poorly viewed project of limited success. All stages of this project could have benefited from thoughtful planning, thereby avoiding this outcome. If lessons are to be learnt from this project then the planning and management are key areas of the process that need addressing. Ensuring that any future ASR projects are securely integrated with the coastal zone management plan will provide sustainability and success. The DPSIR framework approach can be used to highlight and address the causes of problems in the project. This framework enables the various disciplines to be discussed in relation to each other; links can be identified between the environmental, social and economic impacts of the ASR construction. Strict protocols will increase the success of any ASR project. The final crest height of the Boscombe ASR was 0.5 m higher than the final design height, this is a fundamental design flaw that should not be occurring in modern coastal engineering practice. It is suggested that guidelines are written based on this research for the design and construction process of an ASR. The recommendations and guidelines for ASR monitoring are provided by this research. The emphasis for future projects should lie in the final design and in monitoring, baseline field data should be collected to understand the environmental state change and socio-economic impacts. Planning and government proposals should be accompanied by extensive stakeholder engagement ensuring transparency for the project and ownership within the coastal community. The exclusion of stakeholders at key decision points created distrust and misunderstanding towards the Boscombe ASR project. Avoiding unrealistic expectations within the surfing community and wider coastal community was discussed throughout this research, and by others in the literature. This research agrees with these statements, the issue of poor surfability would be improved by a greater area to manipulate the bathymetry. However this would come at a greatly increased cost in geotextile SFCs, which the current construction method is certainly not capable of delivering successfully. It would be recommended in this case that an alternative construction material was used that is resilient to the marine environment and readily adaptable given poor performance. Further testing of materials, both geotextile SFCs and alternatives, are required for the successful advancement of ASR technology.

Oil palm dominates global oil production, trade, and consumption. Nigeria is one of the leading palm oil producers and consumers. A significant challenge of the palm oil industry is to reduce the environmental impacts (e.g. pollution and carbon footprint) and integrate a circular economy in operation. This study aims to comparatively quantify the environmental impacts of technologies used by different mills. We applied a life cycle assessment in the case of Nigeria. The study covers the reception and processing of fresh fruit bunch (FFB) to end-product palm oil. The inputs include generated empty fruit bunch (EFB), mesocarp fibre, palm kernel shell, palm oil mill effluent, diesel, water and all outputs to the environment for a functional unit of 1-tonne FFB. The results showed that large-scale mills perform worse (468 kg CO₂-eq per t FFB) than the semi-mechanised and smallholder mills in effects on climate change but better in the other impact categories, including human toxicity, ecotoxicity, and fine particulate matter formation. In large-scale mills, the climate change impacts decrease by 75% when the raw palm oil mill effluent (POME) is used in composting EFB. Similarly, climate change impacts reduce by 44% when biogas from POME substitutes diesel in the semi-mechanised and smallholder mills. We conclude that regulatory measures are needed to ensure improved management practices in the production processes. Particular attention should be paid to the generation and reuse of biomass and POME. This study provides a handy reference to assist the sustainable energy transition in Nigeria’s and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa’s oil palm industry to mitigate climate change and form a cleaner bioeconomy.