The purpose of this thesis was to investigate Saskatchewan farmers’ perception of lease hunting in Southern and Central Saskatchewan. Wildlife habitat on privately owned farmland has been shown to provide significant public benefits to society at large. One method that has been shown to provide a greater private benefit to the providers of wildlife habitat is lease hunting which creates incentives to farmers to provide some of the direct use value of wildlife habitat. Since lease hunting with the current legal structure is not an option in the province of Saskatchewan, this study investigated farmers’ attitude to a hypothetical lease hunting option. A total of 84 in person surveys were administered to Saskatchewan farmers and 10 telephone interviews to outfitters operating in the province. The survey results indicated that Saskatchewan farmers are evenly split between supporting and failing to support the introduction of lease hunting. Econometric analysis using a probit model showed that farmers who are renting additional land to agricultural production, who allowed hunting on their land in the past are more likely to support introducing lease hunting. Farmers who have been asked permission to hunt on their land by recreational hunters were less likely to support lease hunting, confirming the lease hunting literature that states that the most important characteristics of lease hunting is the control over who accesses their land. Since farmers who have already been asked for permission to access their land already possess the control over their land they were less likely to support the introduction of lease hunting. Demographic variables such as age and education do not have an effect on attitude to lease hunting. The price of a day hunting lease was estimated among those farmers who were in support of introducing lease hunting. It seems farmers are willing to accept $90 per day for a day of recreational hunting access to their lands. A tobit model showed that farmers who rent more land for agricultural production would charge more for a day of recreational hunting access. Also those farmers who have high perceived quantity of wildlife on their land would charge more up to a certain point where wildlife nuisance quality becomes more prominent.

Aims and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the health implications of water scarcity as experienced by Palestinian farmers in the conflict context of the Jordan Valley. Background: Water scarcity in Palestine is a result of both man-made water scarcity and climate change-related water scarcity. Human and non-human health is under threat of water scarcity in Palestine. No previous research about how Palestinian farmers perceive their health in relation to water scarcity within their conflict context.  Methods: A qualitative case study was conducted in the Jordan Valley (Al Aghwar) area in Palestine. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews. Farmers (n = 9) participated in the study. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Braun and Clarke (2006) guidelines.  Results: Three themes were identified: Psychological distress and depression, physical diseases, and emotional well-being and resilience. Conclusion: The complexity of the causes of water scarcity in the Palestinian context led the Jordan Valley framers’ to perceive psychological distress, depression, and physical diseases in relation to water scarcity. On the other hand, due to the specific conflict context, water scarcity enhances farmers’ land attachment, and identity while resisting the man-made water scarcity situation, and influences the farmer’s perception of emotional well-being and resilience.

Masters of Science / The Bottelary River area is located in a Mediterranean climate region, where the agricultural sector plays an important role. During the dry summer season, there is not enough precipitation to meet the agricultural irrigation requirements. Some farmers extract river water which is practically the final treated effluent from the Scottsdene Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) to irrigate crops. This research investigates the use of treated effluent for agricultural irrigation in this area, particularly focuses on the effluent quality, farmers' perception, and the potential extent. The Bottelary River area is located in a Mediterranean climate region, where the agricultural sector plays an important role. During the dry summer season, there is not enough precipitation to meet the agricultural irrigation requirements. Some farmers extract river water which is practically the final treated effluent from the Scottsdene Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) to irrigate crops. This research investigates the use of treated effluent for agricultural irrigation in this area, particularly focuses on the effluent quality, farmers' perception, and the potential extent. The methods used in this research included the statistical analysis of the effluent quality and questionnaire analysis of the collected data. In addition, the research employed the SAPWAT model to calculate the irrigation requirements and the potential area that could be irrigated by treated effluent. The research indicated that the effluent quality variables in general complied with the regulation of requirements for the purification of wastewater or effluent (known as 1984 general standard), which controlled the wastewater treatment works discharging final effluent to the watercourses. The only exception was faecal coliform concentration, which exceeded the general standard in certain periods. According to the South African water quality guideline on irrigation water use, the treated effluent should be used with caution, in order to minimize the potential risks, protect the public health, crops, soil and surface waters and groundwaters. The research found that although the farmers' attitudes were various, their most important concerns were on the effluent quality. The farmers cared for the impact of this unconventional water sources to human beings' health, crops and soil. Thus, eliminating the concerns amongst the farmers and solving the problems met during the practice would contribute to the use of treated effluent in agricultural irrigation in this area. The research indicated that during the normal dry summer season, treated effluent could act as an additional water resource to meet irrigation demand. During the normal wet winter season, the treated effluent was surplus compare to the irrigation requirements due to the ample precipitation. The treated effluent needs to be stored in dams to fulfill the summer peak demand. In order to promote the use of treated effluent as an additional water resource in agricultural irrigation, improved technologies, comprehensive monitoring systems and an extended public participation need to be established.