Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (University of Texas Digital Repository, viewed on Sept. 14, 2009). Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

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.

Thesis (M. P. A.)--Texas State University-San Marcos, 2006. / "Spring 2006." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-108).

Thesis (M.L. Arch.)--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

This dissertation develops an optimization framework for conservation planning and illustrates the framework using case studies from Alaska, Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge (BCNWR) in central Texas, and Mexico. The common theme of the chapters is the use of optimization models to design conservation areas. Chapter 1 explains how the subsequent chapters are related to one another. Chapter 2 develops a framework for measuring how the cost of establishing conservation areas changes over time. When this method is applied to a data set on Mexican mammals, it is shown that twice as much land would have to be set aside to protect adequate mammal habitat today than would have been required in 1970 due to ongoing deforestation. Chapter 3 presents an optimization model for planning the establishment of conservation areas that incorporates forecasts of species' responses to global warming. The model is applied to analyze endangered birds and the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) on the Arctic coast of Alaska. Chapter 4 discusses the modeling of habitat for two endangered bird species, the Black{capped Vireo (Vireo atricapillus) and the Golden{cheekedWarbler (Dendroica chrysoparia), at BCNWR using a machine{learning algorithm (Maxent). These habitat models serve as part of the input for a one{stage optimization model for acquiring land to expand BCNWR. Chapter 5 uses graph theory to select corridors to establish connectivity between conservation areas in Mexico. The planning method presented in Chapter 5 is implemented in a free software package for corridor design, LQGraph. / text

This Study was in accordance with the Threats Classification Scheme (Version 3.2) developed by the IUCN – CMP to identify the potential pressures and threats to the Mai Po Nature Reserve (MPNR), and with the Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management (RAPPAM) developed by WWF to evaluate the management effectiveness of the MPNR. The pressure and threat identifications were conducted by on-line and on-site questionnaire surveys in Phase 1 of this Study whilst the management effectiveness evaluation was conducted by on-line questionnaire survey and interview script sent to representatives from AFCD and WWF-HK in Phase 2 of this Study. This Study identified the most significant impact on the MPNR was pollution followed by climate change and severe weather, residential and commercial development, and invasive exotic and problematic species, genes and diseases. Other than these impacts, it also identified that sedimentation was another significant impact on the MPNR. In view of the management effectiveness, the results shown that the management effectiveness of the MPNR was considered as adequate. Biodiversity conservation and habitat management as well as education and scientific research efforts were the strengths of the MPNR. However, insufficient long-term financial outlook was ranked as the least indicator in this Study, and lack of financial resources was also reported as one of the major factors influencing the management goals for the MPNR in reality. Comparison with other protected areas outside Hong Kong in terms of management effectiveness, and non-parametric correlation test, Spearman’s Rank Correlation Analysis, were conducted in this Study, and the results shown that there were significant positive correlations between inputs and outputs as well as between processes and outputs contributing the overall management effectiveness. It was suggested that stakeholders and communities should be engaged in future planning for the MPNR for better management making decision processes, and a proposed one-day pass measure was recommended in this Study as a considerable option for the future financial resource of the MPNR. Meanwhile, efforts should also be made proactively on seeking for other sources to make the MPNR being operated smoothly and sustainably. / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Thesis (M.S.)--Humboldt State University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-111). Also available via Humboldt Digital Scholar.

Thesis (M.H.C.S. (Heritage and Museum Studies)) -- University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 202-205_

Thesis (M.S.)--Ball State University, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on June 08, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

This study evaluates the potential for community-based ecotourism as conservation and development strategy in Kome village, which is an unprotected area. The study adopts the ecotourism concept to illustrate how communitybased ecotourism can be a tool for conservation and development in poor rural communities. Adopting the intensive case study design, the study investigates the major challenges for community-based ecotourism in Kome village. Findings reveal that Kome community derives low socio-economic benefits including limited earnings, low employment, poor benefits sharing and lack of entrepreneurships. Kome has a potential to offer better community-based ecotourism products due to diverse tourist attractions ranging from historical, cultural activities to natural scenery. The study suggests and recommends formation of a partnership between the Kome community, private, public sector and the NGOs as a strategy for development. The study concludes that ecotourism can be an appropriate option for conservation and development for Kome village.