This study explores a possible relationship between personality factors and attitudes towards perceived problem animals in a sample of 17 white, male, full-time small- stock farmers in the Eastern Cape district of Cradock. Personality factors were analysed by means of Cattell's l6 Personality Factor Questionnaire, standardised for South Africa. Attitudes were determined by qualitative analysis of data from semi-structured interviews. Specific personality factors associated with positive and negative attitudes towards 'problem animals', including Lynx Felis caracal, eagles and vultures, were identified. Demographic and situational influences and certain world views associated with environmental attitudes are also discussed. Re-orientation of perspectives are recommended for farmers, conservationists and environmental educators.

Orientador: Lúcia Helena de Oliveira Gerardi / Banca: Marcos Norberto Boin / Banca: Sylvio Luiz Andreozzi / Banca: Maria Inez Pagani / Banca: Magda Adelaide Lombardo / Resumo: No Brasil, a estratégia governamental para garantir o uso sustentado dos recursos naturais em propriedades privadas está baseada na adoção de medidas de comando e controle estabelecidas pelo Código Florestal, sob a forma de Áreas de Preservação Permanente (APP) e de Reservas Legais (RL). Considerando esta premissa, o objetivo principal deste trabalho é verificar se, com o cumprimento da legislação ambiental brasileira estabelecida no Código Florestal, com referência as APP's e RL's, é possível restabelecer a conectividade estrutural da paisagem, tomando como exemplo a bacia do córrego das Posses, localizada no município de Extrema-MG. Os objetivos secundários, que subsidiam o principal são: o mapeamento das áreas que devem ser conservadas e das áreas em que se devem proceder medidas de restauração e/ou o estabelecimento de cenários alternativos de ocupação da bacia do córrego das Posses, considerando a conservação dos recursos florestais em terras privadas como fator prioritário para a locação das áreas estabelecidas pelo Código Florestal Brasileiro. A metodologia empregada neste trabalho foi embasada no estabelecimento de critérios que fundamentaram a localização das áreas prioritárias de APP's e de RL's. Através da utilização de geotecnologias tais critérios foram espacializados, originando cenários que mostram o grau de degradação da paisagem. Os resultados mostram que, nas Áreas de Preservação Permanente e nas Reservas Legais, a legislação ambiental não está sendo cumprida. Entretanto, para a bacia das Posses, a regularização das propriedades com relação ao Código Florestal não é suficiente para manter a conectividade da paisagem, pois ainda assim a área de matas não atinge o limite mínimo exigido para que a mesma percole. / Abstract: The government strategy to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources on private lands in Brazil is based on the adoption of the command and control measures established by the Forest Code under the form of Permanent Preservation Areas (PPA) and Legal Reserves (LR). The main purpose of this study is to verify if it would be possible to restore the structural connectivity of Posses watershed landscape located in Extrema City, Minas Gerais State, by the enforcement of the environmental legislation established in Brazil Forest Code with reference to PPA and LR. The objectives which contribute to the furtherance of the main purpose are: a) the mapping of areas that must be preserved and b) the mapping of areas in which measures of recuperation and/or establishment of some alternative occupation scenarios to Posses watershed must be carried out, taking into consideration forest resources conservation on private lands as a primary factor for the allocation of areas established by the Brazilian Forest Code. The methodology used in this study was based on designations of criteria that substantiated the allocation of priority areas of PPA and LR. These criteria were spatialized through the usage of geotechnologies, creating scenarios that show landscapes degradation. The results demonstrate that in Permanent Preservation Areas and Legal Reserves the environmental legislation is not being enforced. However, for Posses watershed area, the regularization of the properties regarding to the Forest Code is not sufficient to maintain the landscape connectivity since forested areas still does not reach the minimum required for it to percolate. / Doutor

Este estudo tem como objetivo principal examinar se os recursos naturais considerados como bens de consumo ou fatores de produção, tem valor econômico e como este valor pode ser quantificado. Na primeira parte, fez-se uma revisão cronológica da literatura existente sobre o assunto, encontrando-se um grande número de estudos esparsos, relacionados de alguma forma com o tema da tese. Analogamente, procedeu-se a uma revisão conceitual e temática das principais escolas do pensamento econômico, com a finalidade de identificar as concepções dos autores e aproveitar os instrumentos já existentes relacionados à avaliação econômica dos recursos naturais. A seguir, procurou-se definir a melhor forma de analisar e avaliar os recursos naturais em relação ao consumo, produção e distribuição, e sob os aspectos estático e dinâmico. A partir desses cuidados, concluiu-se que os recursos naturais, quando quantificados como bens escassos, devem fazer jus a um valor econômico, para garantir o seu melhor uso e a sua conservação ao longo do tempo. Alicerçados nas considerações anteriores, passou-se a formalizar e a construir métodos para avaliar economicamente os principais recursos naturais, considerando e interpretando os antecedentes já disponíveis e, em algumas circunstâncias, fazendo propostas no sentido de como abordar estes assuntos. / This study's main objetive is to determine whether natural resources as consumer goods or factors of production, have economic value and how this value can be established. As a first step, a chronological revision of the existing literature on this issue was made, with a great number of studies found related, to a certain extent, to the topic of this thesis. Similarly, a revision of the main trends of economic thought was perfomed, aiming at identifying the author's ideas and at taking advantage of the existing methods related to the economic evaluation of natural resources. Next, an attempt was made to determine how to analyze and evaluate natural resource in relation to consumption, production and distribution, taking into account the static and dynamic aspects. Having these concerns in mind, the conclusion was the natural resources, when qualified as scarce goods, shold have an appropriate value so as to guarantee their best use and their conservation in the long run. Following these considerations, the last step was an attempt to formalize and set up methods to evaluate economically the main natural resources, taking into account and interpreting the available literature and, in some cases, makingproposals related to theses issues.

M.A. / The Conservancy system was developed in KwaZulu-Natal but is not only limited to this province today. Conservancies are being established across South Africa and can be described as a type of conservation strategy that is constantly increasing. A Conservancy is defined as a group of farms whose owners have combined resources for the improved conservation and well-being of wildlife inhabiting the area. The term wildlife in this case encompasses mammals, birds, fish, natural vegetation and all desirable natural life forms. Local nature conservation authorities assist landowners in a conservancy by the training of staff, motivation of members, provision of animals at reasonable prices for re-stocking, and technical advice on management planning. Conservancies are however run and financed entirely by the farmers or landowners and they therefore do not have any legal nature conservation status. Through the establishment of Conservancies natural resources can be conserved, but emphasis has to be placed on the successful functioning and management thereof. Control over Conservancies, from a governmental point of view, is limited to each province's nature conservation department. This study was undertaken to determine the state and functioning of Conservancies in South Africa, with special reference to Gauteng. A literature study as well as various visits to the Gauteng Department of Nature Conservation and three existing Conservancies in the province were undertaken for this purpose. From this enough information was gathered to formulate various guidelines for the establishment and management of Conservancies. These guidelines are based on certain shortcomings that were identified in the management structure of Conservancies in Gauteng. Should these guidelines be taken into account when Conservancies are established, the functioning and management thereof will be successful and will contribute to effective environmental conservation.

No abstract available. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Centre for Human Rights / unrestricted

This research has been directed at furthering the utilization of crude glycerol oversupply formed as a by-product from the biodiesel manufacturing process. Phosphorylation of hydroxyl groups is a synthetic route that was investigated for the conversion of glycerol into a glycerol-phosphate (GPE) ester mixture. The process investigated for the synthesis of a GPE product was based on phosphorylation reaction procedures that were previously reported in the literature. The reaction to convert glycerol into a GPE mixture has been thoroughly investigated and the hydrogen chloride gas formed as a reaction by-product has been optimized. The chemical properties of GPE have been studied and discussed together with a mass balance of the overall glycerol phosphorylation process. The phosphate groups contained in polyhydric phosphate molecules have a potential chelating effect on cations. There are several cations that may be chelated by the phosphate ester group of polyhydric phosphate molecules. These cations include ammonium (NH4+), Potassium (K+), Calcium (Ca2+) etc, which are essential as nutrients in plant fertilizer formulations. This research has investigated the use of a GPE synthesized from glycerol in the laboratory and the use thereof as a phosphorus containing base in the formulation and evaluation of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) containing fertilizer solution, Ammonium-Potassium-Glycerol-Phosphate (APGP) fertilizer solution. The APGP fertilizer solution has further been evaluated by growing two week old tomato seedlings under controlled conditions. The performance of the APGP fertiliser solution has been evaluated using design of experiments by comparison with traditionally used liquidAmmonium-Potassium-Phosphate inorganic fertilizer. This fertilizer solution has been prepared in similar manner as APGP formulation with the difference between them being the source of phosphorus. The results have been evaluated using statistic analysis where a significant difference between the evaluated fertilizer formulations was found. The comparative study of these formulations was monitored by the observed plant weights. A blank treatment was used as a control to determine if a significant difference among these formulations was observed. Anova single factor and t-Test methods (Two-Samples assumed of equal variances) are statistical models that were applied to interpret the observed experimental data with respect to wet and dry weighed masses of tomato seedlings. These methods indicated a confirmed conclusion that there was a significant difference between APPO4 solution and APGP solution. The observed data have shown that the APPO4 solution provided significantly better fertigation performance than APGP solution. Consequently, further investigation has been conducted to determine the cause of the poorer performance of the APGP solution. The further study of the APGP fertilizer solution included nutrient stability testing, biological analysis and other observed physical changes of the APGP solution over time. Biological results have revealed the presence of a Fusarium fungus species that has grown and is suspended in APGP fertilizer solution. This microbe species has been observed to play a vital role in consuming fertilizer nutrients. In addition, the observed abnormal plant growth and nutrient decomposition of the APGP formulation has been proposed to be mostly a result of the pathogenicity of the fusarium fungi species that was suspended in the APGP solution. Further work has been proposed in which the effect of such biological contamination is eliminated through adequate sterilization procedures and the APGP formulation re-evaluated.

Social-ecological systems are facing complex social, political, economic and environmental problems beyond the capacity of one group of stakeholders or organization to solve in isolation. Ecosystem degradation causes major environmental and economic concern, due to the loss of ecosystem services which river and wetland ecosystems provide. Stakeholder communities who depend on natural resources need to identify the social processes which are underlying causes to unsuccessful natural resource management and thus environmental degradation. The study is primarily aimed at identifying and understanding the structural and functional properties of the stakeholder network in the Duiwenhoks River catchment in the Western Cape, South Africa. Through analyzing the social network properties the study identifies and describes the main stakeholders involved with natural resource management in the Duiwenhoks water catchment area. How the individual actors from the diverse stakeholder groups are connected through communication ties were assessed. Furthermore, issues and factors which limit the effectiveness of the social network were identified. The main factors include a lack of communication and collaboration between key local resource users and governance officials caused by conflicting perspectives regarding resource management and societal conflicts caused by asymmetries in power distribution favoring government institutions. The lack of collaboration between stakeholders was identified as a contributing factor that links to the resource degradation experienced in the catchment. Ultimately means of overcoming the limitations to effective social networking, in order to manage the challenges related to natural resource management were identified. Management recommendations include the development of bridging ties and collaboration between diverse stakeholders, whilst facilitating participatory processes aimed at participatory problem solving and adaptive co-management of natural resources. Government institutions were identified as being dominant stakeholders in the network and should be mobilized to perform a stronger bridging role to connect disconnected actors. The findings of the study may inform future efforts of researchers and facilitators to implement strategies which promote social networking, social learning and ultimately adaptive co-management in the study area or other similar social-ecological systems. Ultimately, collaboration can be achieved between the diverse stakeholders to successfully improve ecosystem management and resilience in the Duiwenhoks water catchment.

Increasing pressures on British Columbia’s natural resources have led to a greater concern for overall planning of resource development in the Province. Good inventory data are essential for efficient planning, and, while this can he obtained relatively easily for most renewable resources, mineral resources present a serious problem because they cannot be readily identified. This has led to a general lack of consideration of the mining industry in natural resource planning. While the impact of mining upon the environment has been well documented, little effort has been made to determine what effects are attributable to mineral exploration. This shortcoming is very important because mineral exploration is unique among inventory processes in that, although it does not generally involve the use of surface resources on a large scale, it does involve occupancy and use of the land surface. Thus, because free miners may enter upon almost any land in the Province for the purpose of mineral exploration, there will be widespread interaction with other resource users. In this study, the nature of mineral exploration associated with hard-rock metal mining in British Columbia and its impact upon the environment described. Interactions with the traditional extractive industries such as forestry and ranching are discussed, and actual and potential sources of conflict are pinpointed. Attention is given to the possible need to withdraw land from mineral exploration in order to protect watershed, recreational, aesthetic and ecological values. There is almost no literature that deals specifically with the interaction of mineral exploration with other resources, and so it was necessary to gather information from individuals in government and industry who are directly involved with resource planning, administration and management in British Columbia. Attention is given to land-use regulation as it might be applied to mineral exploration. While reference is made to the possibility of introducing alternative forms of mineral tenure, the study was developed on the basis of the present system of mineral tenures because of the probability of widespread opposition by certain sections of the mining industry would appear to make any substantial change unlikely in the immediate future. It is concluded that, if the rights and responsibilities of all individuals are clearly defined and rigidly enforced, mineral exploration in British Columbia can co-exist with most forms of resource management. However, the mining industry must be brought into any discussions on resource policy and planning, because it is only through a mutual awareness of each other's problems and objectives that common ground can be found to settle operational problems and yet achieve the objectives which, in the long-term, will benefit the people of British Columbia. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

There is a growing concern among both scholars and laymen for the diminishing resources of the world. This thesis examines the political geographic implications of transnational resource management. The hypothesis is a dual one: firstly, that man's past and present uses of transnational resources have led, in some cases, to the necessity for international political control, and secondly, that problems related to transnational resource management have been, for the most part, ignored by political geographers, but should be the subject of future research. The use of three transnational resources is reviewed: the blue whale, the North Pacific salmon, and the polar bear. Through an examination of the past uses of the blue whale, and the International Whaling Commission's lack of legislative powers, a case is built supporting the hypothesis. This case is further supported by the past uses of the North Pacific salmon, and the on-going dispute between the American and Japanese governments. Lastly, the Federal Provincial authority established to regulate the hunting of polar bear adds further support to the hypothesis. A brief look back into the discipline establishes this thesis as part of the environmental concerns within geography, and the material presented in the text clearly shows the political geographic implications of the problems of transnational resource management. The results of the inquiry would suggest that there is a need for further political geographic research on similar topics, and that man's past and present uses of transnational resources have, in fact, led to the necessity for international political control for these resources at least. There is, however, no claim made to the feasibility of such an international authority. The urgency for enforceable legislation is, nevertheless, clearly evident. / Arts, Faculty of / Geography, Department of / Graduate

In attempting to determine the background to the controversial term "multiple use," it was deemed necessary to briefly examine preceding social behaviour and legislation. A brief study of early European agricultural practices, through to the Industrial Revolution, allows an insight into the rural background of the early immigrants to North America. The Conservation Movement of the early 1900s was a result of socially unacceptable exploitation of natural resources and dissatisfaction with the American governments' methods of land disposal in the name of "progress." The rapid demise of the Movement is attributed to its failure to produce practical guidelines for resource management. Subsequent resource development in North America has been fragmentary; a major cause of inefficiency and a disregard for social implications. The definition of "multiple use" that appeared in the 1960 Act, like the principles of the Conservation Movement, relied on platitudes rather than practicalities. The goals of multiple use are examined, and a new definition is proposed, as is the substitution of "integrated resource management" for the shibboleth of "multiple use." The history of the development of Canada's resources parallels that of the United States. Yet because of the smallness of the population in relation to the size of the country, the exhaustibility of natural resources has been barely contemplated. Serious public concern for the manner in which Canadian resources are being managed is only of recent occurrence. The responsibility for integrated resource management lies with provincial governments. Except for the United States Forest Service, the case studies conclusively show that the biggest obstacles to the implementation of integrated resource management, are of a political nature. Some techniques of economics that pertain to the allocation and distribution of wealth generated by natural resources are examined. While none of these are entirely satisfactory, Benefit-Cost Analysis is proposed as a possible first step toward better control of resource development. In including man and his social structures within its deliberations, the discipline of ecology gains sounder foundations for analyzing the effects of resource management on society. The application of systems analysis to such complex ecological problems has great potential in allowing management strategies to be explored before being implemented. A hypothetical model is developed in which systems analysis is used to effect integrated resource management. Such a form of management presently remains as an ideal because of existing governmental, and industrial relations. Since voluntary cooperation for the public welfare appears unlikely in the near future, research will be needed to determine at which level of government to establish a department, whose function will be that of integrating resource management. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate