Various forecasting tools, based on historical data, exist for planners of national networks that are very effective in planning national interventions to ensure energy security, and meet carbon obligations over the long term. However, at a local community level, where energy demand patterns may significantly differ from the national picture, planners would be unable to justify local and more appropriate intervention due to the lack of appropriate planning tools. In this research, a new methodology is presented that initially creates a virtual community of households in a small community based on a survey of a similar community, and then predicts the energy behaviour of each household, and hence of the community. It is based on a combination of the statistical data, and a questionnaire survey. The methodology therefore enables realistic predictions and can help local planners decide on measures such as embedding renewable energy and demand management. Using the methodology developed, a study has been carried out in order to understand the patterns of electricity consumption within UK households. The methodology developed in this study has been used to investigate the incentives currently available to consumers to see if it would be possible to shift some of the load from peak hours. Furthermore, the possibility of using renewable energy (RE) at community level is also studied and the results presented. Real time pricing information was identified as a barrier to understanding the effectiveness of various incentives and interventions. A new pricing criteria has therefore been developed to help developers and planners of local communities to understand the cost of intervention. Conclusions have been drawn from the work. Finally, suggestions for future work have been presented. / Libyan government

This is a brief research investigating issues such as world heritage and sustainable development in their existing links with youth and local communities, tourism and identity. Some heritage related narratives created by youngsters worldwide are considered.Connections among education, participation and heritage preservation, in the framework of a communication for development perspective, are investigated. Specifically, winning storyboards of a UNESCO Patrimonito competition are analyzed. The analysis on the collected media texts was conducted using a qualitative approach, including semiotics and visual methods.The findings emerged from the study made clearer the researched topic and allowed to formulate some final recommendations for further studies on the subject.

La conservation de la nature est de nos jours une préoccupation planétaire. Pour la concrétiser, la création d'aires protégées est encouragée depuis le sommet de la Terre de Rio de 1992, surtout dans les pays des bassins forestiers. Avec Rio, le développement durable devient fondamental. Afin d'apporter sa contribution pour cette cause internationale, et par la même occasion diversifier son économie, le Gabon, pays du bassin forestier du Congo, crée treize parcs nationaux en 2002. À travers ces aires protégées, c'est 11 % de son territoire qu'il consacre à la conservation de la biodiversité. Notre étude est une analyse de de la conservation de la nature, précisément à travers le parc national de Loango, dans un pays qui fonde son développement économique sur l'exploitation des ressources naturelles. Elle aborde l'application de la gestion participative entre des acteurs qui ne perçoivent pas la ressource naturelle de la même façon. Elle examine l'impact social, économique et culturel d'un objet géré selon des normes internationales avec peu de considération des réalités locales. Nous soulignons aussi la difficulté du Gabon à choisir entre développement économique national et conservation. Cette difficulté est souvent engendrée par la demande internationale. L'étude soulève également la question de l'acceptabilité sociale, manifestée par des conflits entre acteurs. / Since nature conservation has become an issue of global concern, efforts have been made to encourage the creation of protected areas since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, especially in forest basins countries. After Rio, sustainable development has become crucial. In order to make its contribution to this international cause and at the same time diversify its economy, Gabon, country of the Congo Basin forest, created thirteen national parks in 2002. Altogether, the 13 protected sites represent 11 % of the national territory classified for the conservation of Gabon's rich biodiversity. Our study is based on the analysis of this challenge, more precisely in the Loango National Park and in a country whose economic development is fully dependant on its natural resources. It deals with the application of the participative management between the different actors concerned who have different perceptions of natural resources. It examines the social, economic and cultural impact of something which is managed according to international standards and with very little consideration for local realities. We also underline the difficulty Gabon faces in choosing between its national economic development and conservation. This difficulty is often caused by international demands. The study also raises the question of social acceptability expressed by conflicts between actors.

At present, in Adansi and Daboase, two rural communities in Western Ghana, changes are both internally and externally driven. Combined with ongoing negotiations of authority, landownership, history, tradition and culture, the interconnectedness of these areas shapes the realities of these communities. This thesis investigates these land-related conflicts and authority negotiations from a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Inspired by action-oriented research, the lives of local residents are investigated and attempted to be understood through their own explanations.  Four months of internship with an oil palm and rubber plantation company, focus groups and semi-structured interviews in two local communities to the plantation, lay the foundation of this thesis. It shows an intimate connection between landownership and resource rights, and history, heritage and traditional authority.Land is key to power or a secured future for one’s family, which makes it an inflamed topic. Landownership and the underlying negotiations are crucial to the understanding of what occupies many local residents in a setting of globalised markets. The thesis points to gaps of understanding and varying interests in-between government, external actors, chieftaincy and community members. Thorough consultation process procedures prior to projects in rural communities are proposed. The project adds to a larger discussion on sustainability, corporate social responsibility, local knowledge and experiences on land conflicts, and post-colonial settings in Ghana.

The purpose of this study was to examine conservation, livelihoods, and the role of tourism. The village of Sukau in the Kinabatangan District of Sabah, Malaysia, served as a case study. The vital importance of the Lower Kinabatangan in wildlife conservation, coupled with the tourism potential of the region, underpinned the creation of the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in 2005. The 26,000 hectare sanctuary is fragmented in nature and surrounded by palm oil plantations. Still, with the protection of these fragmented forested areas, Sukau has evolved into the ‘hub’ of tourism in the Lower Kinabatangan. The majority of visitors come to Sukau for the opportunity to view the flagship species of the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary (orang-utan, Bornean pygmy elephant, proboscis monkey, and hornbills) in the wild. Many of the local villagers own land which is still forested and serves as important ecological links between the fragmented protected areas. However many of the villagers plan to use their lands for smallholder palm oil farming in the future. This will further fragment the forested areas of the Wildlife Sanctuary, and will have severe implications for nature conservation and tourism in Sukau. The Sabah Tourism Master Plan (1996) stresses that for the tourism-conservation linkage to be effective in Sukau, the local community must benefit from tourism. If the locals of Sukau are able to depend on tourism as a livelihood option, then perhaps the forested areas of the Wildlife Sanctuary will not be further fragmented in the near future. This study will attempt to answer whether tourism is an effective alternative livelihood source for the locals of Sukau. Predominantly qualitative research methods were used for this study. These included semi-structured interviews with the local villagers of Sukau, and informal interviews with key informants in the area. Structured questionnaires and interviews were also undertaken with lodges in and near the village. The information gathered from these sources was further strengthened by my own personal and participatory observations. In 2006, 10 per cent of the population of Sukau, and 23 per cent of the estimated total workforce were directly employed in tourism. Results indicate that having tourism as a livelihood option has made the villagers more motivated to protect their environment. Yet the locals of Sukau disagree that their community benefits sufficiently from tourism, and smallholder palm oil farming is viewed as the more lucrative livelihood option. The current financial crisis (2008-9) has complicated the likely contribution of tourism to livelihoods and conservation in the future. Nevertheless it is likely that both the palm oil and tourism industries will recover from the economic downturn, and consequently they will both continue to be future livelihood options for the villagers of Sukau. Therefore steps should be made to improve both industries for the benefit of livelihoods and nature conservation in Sukau. There are a number of potential ways in which tourism could be improved in Sukau to bring more benefits to the locals. If these suggested improvements occur, then the effectiveness of tourism as an alternative livelihood source for the locals of Sukau will be enhanced.

To curb greenhouse gases and mitigate climate change is one of the biggest challenges human society face today. Carbon dioxide (CO2) has accumulated rapidly in the atmosphere as a consequence of burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. The aim of this study is to explore two methods to store carbon dioxide in geological formations and biological sinks. The aim is also to discuss the two mitigation options from a sustainable perspective and whether it can lead to a better environment and benefits for local and global societies. The research questions are: Which method to store carbon dioxide, geological or biological, is the most effective? Which method to store carbon dioxide, geological or biological, has the greatest potential to promote sustainable development for local communities? The method used is a comparative case study and presents four case studies that explore the potential for CO2 storage offshore in Norway and Brazil; and in tropical forests in Mexico and Brazil. The mitigation options are discussed from two different theoretical perspectives. The principle of the theory of ecological modernisation is that innovation and environmentally friendly technology can solve the environmental problems human societies face today, whereas the theory of common pool resources promotes local communities to govern limited resources in order to manage them sustainably. The findings suggest that ecological modernisation legitimize environmental destruction as carbon dioxide storage in geological formations (CCS) use the technology as a mean to extract more oil and gas; which results in a rebound-effect. Therefore, carbon dioxide capture in geological formations is not a realistic method unless it can prevent further emissions. Protected forest resources can be seen as biological insurance, which safeguard ecosystem services, biodiversity, and the forest potential to hold carbon. Carbon sequestration in tropical forest has the potential to store carbon dioxide given that the forests are protected and local communities have tenure rights, knowledge, and the means to protect the forest and manage them sustainably.

L’accroissement du déplacement des footballeurs professionnels de l’Afrique vers les ligues européennes, observé dès les années 1990, a transformé la migration du travail du football. En retour, cela a aussi eu un impact sur les revenus des footballeurs africains, leur statut social, et leur relation avec leurs communautés d’origine en termes de soutien socioéconomique. Cette recherche se focalise sur ce sujet en s’appuyant sur la compréhension de l’évolution du football professionnel africain, des itinéraires de migration des joueurs, afin d’expliquer le « phénomène de don en retour » (PDR) lié à la relation entretenue avec leurs communautés d’origine. Elle examine le rôle des facteurs économiques et non économiques qui orientent la manière dont les footballeurs africains donnent en retour à leurs familles, leurs proches, leurs communautés. Celui-ci peut être déterminé dans le but d’un retour sur investissement, par l’influence des valeurs communautaires, des normes, par l’intégration à des réseaux sociaux ou des réseaux institutionnalisés relatifs à l’émigration des footballeurs. En d’autres termes, l’analyse de leur don en retour doit être basée sur la combinaison de facteurs sociaux, culturels et économiques. Aussi, cette recherche mobilise une approche interdisciplinaire à partir du modèle théorique d’analyse de la socio-économie. La méthodologie de Weber contribue à le faire, par l’analyse de l’action de don en retour des footballeurs. Celui-ci est généralement considéré comme la contribution sociale des joueurs, et leurs communautés attendent de recevoir quelque chose de la part des joueurs professionnels africains émigrés ayant réussi financièrement. L’étude est basée sur une enquête qualitative auprès de trente-deux footballeurs professionnels africains incluant aussi des biographies et autobiographies d’autres footballeurs africains. Les résultats montrent que les comportements des footballeurs africains migrants, en termes de don en retour, dépendant de leurs justifications qui sont basées sur des logiques d’intérêt économique, social et culturel.La recherche révèle trois résultats majeurs :1) Une évolution spécifique du football africain et de la perception du football professionnel par les communautés. On identifie une périodisation en trois phases, montrant l’évolution des familles, des structures du football et des stratégies de migration : a) une vision controversée du football (années 1980) : football vs scolarisation ; b) une vision partagée du football (années 1990) : passage progressif d’une activité sociale à une activité professionnelle ; et 3) le football professionnel comme opportunité (années 2000).2) Trois types d’itinéraires migratoires de joueurs qui sont liés à leurs stratégies, aux réseaux mobilisés, et aux ressources disponibles : a) ressources collectives, b) réseaux formels, et c) les ressources individuelles.3) Une typologie du « phénomène de don en retour » (PDR) du footballeur africain migrant concernant les comportements socio-économiques : a) familial hybride, b) familial croisé proche, c) familial partagé, d) familial de l’ombre, qui influencent leurs types d’investissements dans les communautés. D’autre part, certains projets de joueurs tendent à soutenir le développement régional et national de leurs communautés. Toutefois, les joueurs migrants africains doivent gérer et protéger leur réputation et leurs ressources sportives en les utilisant intelligemment et en effectuant de bonnes actions pour leurs communautés, amis et autres au-delà du continent. / The increase in movement of professional footballers from Africa to the European leagues as observed since the 1990’, has transformed the labour football migration. In return, this also impacted African footballers’ incomes, social status, and their relation to the communities of origin in terms of socio-economic support. This research focuses on this subject by drawing on the understanding of the evolution of African professional football, players migration itineraries, as to explain the ‘give back phenomenon’ (GBP) related to their relationship with the communities of origin. It examines the role of the economic and non-economic factors that orient African footballers’ ways of giving back to their families, relatives, and the communities. Their give back may be determined by the aim of return on investments, by the influence of communities’ values, norms, or by embeddedness in social networks or by the institutionalised networks related to footballers’ migration. In other words, the analysis of their giving back may be based on the combination of social, cultural and economic factors. Thus, this research mobilised multidisciplinary approach through the socio-economic theoretical model of analysis. Weber methodology helps to do so, in the analysis of footballers’ 'give back' action. This is generally considered as the players’ social contribution and their communities expect to receive something from financially successful professional African migrant players. The study’s qualitative survey was based on thirty-two interviews of professional players from Africa including, biographies and autobiographies. The results show that African migrant players’ behaviours in term of giving back depend on their justifications, which are based on economic interest, social or cultural logics.The research revealed three major outcomes:1) specific evolution of African football and communities’ perception of professional football. This identified one periodization, with three phases, showing families, football structures and migration strategies evolution: a) the controversial vision of football (the 1980s): football vs. school b) the shared vision of football (the 1990s): gradual shift from social activity to a professional activity, and c) football professionalism as an opportunity (the 2000s) 2) three types of players’ migration itineraries which are linked to their strategies, networks mobilised, and the resources available to them: a) collective resource-based, b) formal networks-based, and c) individual resource-based. 3) typology of 'GBP' based on African migrant players’ socio-economic behaviours was a) hybrid family, b) cross-closed family, c) shared family, and d) shadow family that influenced their type of investments in the communities. On another hand, some projects of players tend to support regional and national development in the communities. However, African player migrants have to manage and protect the fame, and sporting resources by using them intelligently to do good things for their communities, friends and others beyond the continent. In conclusion, the itineraries of players’ show the role of the communities in their migration projects. On another hand, the evolution of African football displays how players’ strategies changed with the structuration of African football and the attractiveness of the European football market. The co-determining of economic and non-economic factors relating to the ‘GBP’, justify the use of economic sociology theories. This research demonstrates that ‘GBP’ is not only based on the players’ economic interest but also the combination of social, cultural and economic elements.

Esta dissertação é resultado da pesquisa etnográfica desenvolvida junto a os atores envolvidos na gestão ambiental da Unidade de Conservação da Natureza (UC) chamada Floresta Nacional de Passo Fundo (Mato Castelhano/RS). Este universo compõe-se de cientistas, servidores públicos, agricultores e índios kaingang, em diálogo sobre o uso e a preservação da floresta. Nos encontros do Conselho Gestor da UC são expressas visões de mundo que se refletem em formas diferenciadas de apropriação dos elementos do ambiente próprias de cada grupo. Em um contexto de introdução de lavouras transgênicas nas propriedades próximas à área protegida, o estudo visa a apreender pontos de vista sobre a "natureza" e a "sociedade" e sobre o ambiente de Mato Castelhano entre os participantes do Conselho Gestor da UC, pesquisadores, especialistas da área ambiental e agricultores, abordando ainda a perspectiva de índios kaingang acampados na BR-285. Foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas com índios e conselheiros e observação participante de suas atividades e reuniões, além da análise de documentos. Evidencia-se que o diálogo em relação aos elementos objetos de manejo e conservação é dificultado pela desconsideração da complexidade da maneira de conceber o ambiente entre os diferentes atores locais. / This dissertation results from an ethnographic field work among actors who are involved in a process of public management of an Environmental Protected Area, which is called National Forest of Passo Fundo (Mato Castelhano/RS). This universe is composed of scientists, public servants, farmers and a kaingang indigenous group, dialoging about the use of "nature" and its conservancy. In the gatherings of the Management Council of the National Forest are expressed different perspectives in what concerns the appropriation of the area and its elements, which are related to each one's ways to engage themselves in that environment. In a context of transgenic agriculture in the farms around the protected area, the study focus the apprehension of points of view related to "nature" and "society", as well as the environment of Mato Castelhano, among members of the Council, professional researchers, experts on environment issues, farmers, and includes the perspective of the kaingang indians. In a qualitative approach, were made analysis of documents, semi-directive interviews and participant observation during ordinary meetings and tasks of the councilors, and within the indigenous encampment on the highway BR-285. The research evidences that the dialog about use and conservancy of "natural" elements do not reach to consider the different ways of conceive environment among the local actors.

Esta dissertação é resultado da pesquisa etnográfica desenvolvida junto a os atores envolvidos na gestão ambiental da Unidade de Conservação da Natureza (UC) chamada Floresta Nacional de Passo Fundo (Mato Castelhano/RS). Este universo compõe-se de cientistas, servidores públicos, agricultores e índios kaingang, em diálogo sobre o uso e a preservação da floresta. Nos encontros do Conselho Gestor da UC são expressas visões de mundo que se refletem em formas diferenciadas de apropriação dos elementos do ambiente próprias de cada grupo. Em um contexto de introdução de lavouras transgênicas nas propriedades próximas à área protegida, o estudo visa a apreender pontos de vista sobre a "natureza" e a "sociedade" e sobre o ambiente de Mato Castelhano entre os participantes do Conselho Gestor da UC, pesquisadores, especialistas da área ambiental e agricultores, abordando ainda a perspectiva de índios kaingang acampados na BR-285. Foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas com índios e conselheiros e observação participante de suas atividades e reuniões, além da análise de documentos. Evidencia-se que o diálogo em relação aos elementos objetos de manejo e conservação é dificultado pela desconsideração da complexidade da maneira de conceber o ambiente entre os diferentes atores locais. / This dissertation results from an ethnographic field work among actors who are involved in a process of public management of an Environmental Protected Area, which is called National Forest of Passo Fundo (Mato Castelhano/RS). This universe is composed of scientists, public servants, farmers and a kaingang indigenous group, dialoging about the use of "nature" and its conservancy. In the gatherings of the Management Council of the National Forest are expressed different perspectives in what concerns the appropriation of the area and its elements, which are related to each one's ways to engage themselves in that environment. In a context of transgenic agriculture in the farms around the protected area, the study focus the apprehension of points of view related to "nature" and "society", as well as the environment of Mato Castelhano, among members of the Council, professional researchers, experts on environment issues, farmers, and includes the perspective of the kaingang indians. In a qualitative approach, were made analysis of documents, semi-directive interviews and participant observation during ordinary meetings and tasks of the councilors, and within the indigenous encampment on the highway BR-285. The research evidences that the dialog about use and conservancy of "natural" elements do not reach to consider the different ways of conceive environment among the local actors.

Esta dissertação é resultado da pesquisa etnográfica desenvolvida junto a os atores envolvidos na gestão ambiental da Unidade de Conservação da Natureza (UC) chamada Floresta Nacional de Passo Fundo (Mato Castelhano/RS). Este universo compõe-se de cientistas, servidores públicos, agricultores e índios kaingang, em diálogo sobre o uso e a preservação da floresta. Nos encontros do Conselho Gestor da UC são expressas visões de mundo que se refletem em formas diferenciadas de apropriação dos elementos do ambiente próprias de cada grupo. Em um contexto de introdução de lavouras transgênicas nas propriedades próximas à área protegida, o estudo visa a apreender pontos de vista sobre a "natureza" e a "sociedade" e sobre o ambiente de Mato Castelhano entre os participantes do Conselho Gestor da UC, pesquisadores, especialistas da área ambiental e agricultores, abordando ainda a perspectiva de índios kaingang acampados na BR-285. Foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas com índios e conselheiros e observação participante de suas atividades e reuniões, além da análise de documentos. Evidencia-se que o diálogo em relação aos elementos objetos de manejo e conservação é dificultado pela desconsideração da complexidade da maneira de conceber o ambiente entre os diferentes atores locais. / This dissertation results from an ethnographic field work among actors who are involved in a process of public management of an Environmental Protected Area, which is called National Forest of Passo Fundo (Mato Castelhano/RS). This universe is composed of scientists, public servants, farmers and a kaingang indigenous group, dialoging about the use of "nature" and its conservancy. In the gatherings of the Management Council of the National Forest are expressed different perspectives in what concerns the appropriation of the area and its elements, which are related to each one's ways to engage themselves in that environment. In a context of transgenic agriculture in the farms around the protected area, the study focus the apprehension of points of view related to "nature" and "society", as well as the environment of Mato Castelhano, among members of the Council, professional researchers, experts on environment issues, farmers, and includes the perspective of the kaingang indians. In a qualitative approach, were made analysis of documents, semi-directive interviews and participant observation during ordinary meetings and tasks of the councilors, and within the indigenous encampment on the highway BR-285. The research evidences that the dialog about use and conservancy of "natural" elements do not reach to consider the different ways of conceive environment among the local actors.