This eassy assesses the recent trend of transnational private governance by analyzing the multiple functions and impacts of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), one of the most representative institutions in global environmental governance. After clarifying the general context of global governance, civil society and the rise of transnational private certifying, this article compares different interactive processes between the FSC and the government. This article concludes different patterns of how the FSC interacts with a country. Moreover, by interviewing the enterprises in Taiwan, this article sums up how the FSC crosses over the nation borders and achieves transnational governance through private certification.

Thesis (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2002. / Includes abstract and vita. "October 2002." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-101).

This research is the result of the author’s quest to answer the question whether Corporate Governance is effective in Emerging Markets. Literature on Corporate Governance in the emerging markets of Latin America is limited mostly due to the relatively slower development of capital markets and the late adoption of corporate governance principles. Corporate Governance laws, which largely follow Sarbanes Oxley guidelines, were published and implemented in the mid 00´s and no research has checked their impact on corporate value in Latin America. This research reports compromises two empirical projects. The first project focused on the relationship between boards of directors attributes such size and composition, Corporate Governance law and firm value for Colombia. The second project focused on another Corporate Governance variable, CEO Duality and tested whether it has had any impact in Mexico. This second project also studied whether board attributes such as size and composition and Corporate Governance law were related to firm value. Based on the listed companies from Colombia and Mexico for the years 2001 to 2012 the author found no relationship between board size or composition and firm value. Results from Mexico, where CEO duality is allowed showed that it has no relationship with firm value. These results do not support or contradict either Agency theory or stewardship theory. Results on the impact of the adoption of a Corporate Governance law in firm value are mixed. Results for Colombia contradict previous literature by reporting a positive relationship between Corporate Governance laws and firm results while results from Mexico support previous research by reporting no relationship between these variables. This research is valuable for regulators and policy makers in their quest to assess the impact of the adoption of Corporate Governance laws in emerging markets. . Since effective Corporate Governance is important in easier access to financing it is important for shareholders to know which Corporate Governance mechanisms are positively related to firm value. Similarly, it is also important for investors (both foreign and local) in assessing the risk for equity investments in Colombia and Mexico.

The US Environmental Protection Agency defines brownfields as “real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.” The existence of brownfield presents enormous challenges for cities across the United States. This report explores the possible roles nonprofits can play in brownfield development. As part of this investigation, the problems and opportunities brownfields offer socially, environmentally and economically are examined through literature review. Further on, three existing brownfields-specific nonprofit corporations are discussed through case studies. Each of these organizations The Guardian Trust, The Brownfields Stewardship Fund, and The Center for Creative Land Recycling, provide unique services facilitating the redevelopment of brownfields across the country. The lessons learned are then applied to the City of Dallas. The report concludes by exploring the potential roles the third sector could play in the redevelopment of brownfields in Dallas. With increased involvement, nonprofits can help convert brownfields back to their highest and best use for the benefit of the community. / text

Active cave management, which represents any continuous action to conserve, restore, or protect a cave environment, is virtually non-existent in west-central Florida. This study focuses on developing an inventory to rank terrestrial caves in west-central Florida by management priority. A GIS-based cave inventory system, including a cave sensitivity index and cave disturbance index, were used as a tool to gain an understanding of the management priority of west-central Florida caves. The inventory was applied to 36 terrestrial caves in west-central Florida, which demonstrated a wide range of sensitivity and disturbance. The results show that by relying solely on sensitivity and disturbance scores, management priority may not be accurately determined. Further examination revealed that ownership and management status also affect management priority. Consequently, cave sensitivity, disturbance, ownership, or management status does not solely indicate management priority. Rather, the management priority of caves in west-central Florida depends on a number of complicated, interwoven factors, and the goal of management must be examined holistically. Each cave must be individually examined for its sensitivity, disturbance, resources, management, and social and physical context in order to gain an understanding of management priority. Nonetheless, the cave inventory system developed for this project was used to gain a general understanding of which caves hold management priority, based on the cave manager's objectives. In order to ensure the conservation and protection of west-central Florida terrestrial caves, support from county or state government, combined with cave inventory data, is crucial in developing sound management policy.

Development of stewardship programs for management of end-of-life mattresses (ELM) is a global challenge for governments. Metro Vancouver is the first Canadian regional government to ban mattresses at local landfills. The next step is for manufacturers and retailers to work with local governments in developing stewardship programs that successfully divert and recycle mattresses across British Columbia (BC). This thesis examines how mattress industry stakeholders in BC could effectively implement province wide mattress stewardship policy that will ensure maximum public participation and will be environmentally sound as well as cost effective. Research was conducted by way of a literature review, a case study approach of Metro Vancouver's mattress recycling bylaw and model, and exploratory interviews with BC stewardship program leaders, Sleep Country Canada, government waste management planners, and mattress recyclers.

The "throwaway society" and the resulting effect on the environment combined with the exploitation of natural resources have resulted in a global environmental crisis. As a response to this crisis a concept developed that is known as sustainable development (SD). The concept of SD that is accepted world-wide is guided by a set of principles (Agenda 21) that had been officially launched at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. After the 1994 political transition in South Africa the government implemented widespread environmental policy and law reforms as a response to the global environmental crisis and the global trend towards SD. This study was undertaken to assess the existing environmental management (EM) principles within environmental policy and law in South Africa. EM in South Africa operates within the framework of Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) but it was discovered during the study that there are not only one set of EM principles but a few within South African environmental policy and law. This study attempted to identify and sort these different sets of principles and then to measure it against the international standard of Agenda 21. It was concluded that EM in South Africa within the framework of IEM is an adequate response to the world-wide trend towards SD. Unfortunately the outcome that was hoped for in South Africa was slower than anticipated. It didn't seem as if the environmental law and policy reforms had an impact at grassroots level. Two possible scenarios were presented (1) it's failure to be effectively implemented at grassroots level or (2) that the principles of SD in itself are unsound and therefore ineffective. It was concluded that some of the normative assumptions of SD are unsound and contribute to the environmental crisis. The approach of Christian stewardship was presented as a possible alternative. / Thesis (M. Environmental Science)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Farming relies on the ecosystem services provided by biodiversity for production. Farming has been, however, responsible for habitat degradation and destruction, and consequently, biodiversity loss. At present, efforts to increase habitat on farmland are largely confined to voluntary programs. The effectiveness of the provincially delivered Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation (ABC) program was measured using a quantitative survey. Follow-up interviews during farm tours further explored qualitatively how farmers value biodiversity and biodiversity conservation on their land. Results from the survey quantitatively link ABC program participation to increased engagement in riparian management and modified harvesting activities. Qualitative results suggest that the motivation for engagement in biodiversity conservation stems from the farmers’ interest in preserving the balance between production and 'nature', thereby preserving what they perceive to be the health of their land. These results have implications for the improvement of the ABC program and of future stewardship program design.

The First Nation community of Poplar River in Northern Manitoba is using a UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination to assist with meeting local needs. Going beyond the expected, non-renewable resource development, Asatiwisipe First Nation is taking control over its own developmental plans, and forging an ecologically sustainable vision of community-controlled economic and political development. This initiative is an escape from the ‘progress trap’ where Indigenous resource stewardship practices will guide sustainable community economic development. This thesis explores the application of intangible cultural heritage as a lens for looking at the culture/nature discussion, food sovereignty, Indigenous resource management as well as Aboriginal and treaty rights. Based on longitudinal research over the past eight years, this dissertation is a collection of interviews and narratives from community members, personal experiences and policy research. Despite systemic Eurocentrism and many challenges, permanent protection of the Poplar River Community Conserved Area through the World Heritage Site nomination is perhaps the best solution for the community as it is an initiative that has been instigated by the First Nation itself.

The "throwaway society" and the resulting effect on the environment combined with the exploitation of natural resources have resulted in a global environmental crisis. As a response to this crisis a concept developed that is known as sustainable development (SD). The concept of SD that is accepted world-wide is guided by a set of principles (Agenda 21) that had been officially launched at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. After the 1994 political transition in South Africa the government implemented widespread environmental policy and law reforms as a response to the global environmental crisis and the global trend towards SD. This study was undertaken to assess the existing environmental management (EM) principles within environmental policy and law in South Africa. EM in South Africa operates within the framework of Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) but it was discovered during the study that there are not only one set of EM principles but a few within South African environmental policy and law. This study attempted to identify and sort these different sets of principles and then to measure it against the international standard of Agenda 21. It was concluded that EM in South Africa within the framework of IEM is an adequate response to the world-wide trend towards SD. Unfortunately the outcome that was hoped for in South Africa was slower than anticipated. It didn't seem as if the environmental law and policy reforms had an impact at grassroots level. Two possible scenarios were presented (1) it's failure to be effectively implemented at grassroots level or (2) that the principles of SD in itself are unsound and therefore ineffective. It was concluded that some of the normative assumptions of SD are unsound and contribute to the environmental crisis. The approach of Christian stewardship was presented as a possible alternative. / Thesis (M. Environmental Science)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.