Meeting observations, literature review, document analysis, and Delphi surveying are used within a “mixed methodology” to tease out emerging patterns of thought in an effort to provide an urban forestry coalition, “Trees for Life” with critical information that could be used to help shape future projects. The purpose of this research is to identify key themes to help direct future Trees for Life (TFL) projects, and to also recognize stakeholders and possible new players to establish more productive partnerships within the coalition. Specific barriers that impede the success of TFL are also outlined. Ecological degradation of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) watershed continues, despite the many initiatives carried out by the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to protect and conserve ecosystem health. Social change is critical in addressing this issue. The TFL coalition is an umbrella group beneath Green Infrastructure Ontario (GIO), another coalition working towards establishing green infrastructure technologies and practices as required components of urban planning and development to address ecological degradation. This coalition is overseen by a steering committee that includes TRCA. The overarching goal of TFL is to increase tree canopy cover in the GTA to 40%. The TFL is comprised of several urban forestry groups, each with unique roles and perspectives, but all striving to achieve the 40% goal. This research will help TFL to build adaptive capacity and may lead to the adoption of adaptive environmental management techniques. Ultimately, this study will provide some valuable insight into TFL and other programs involved with enhancing social-ecological resilience of the TRCA and the GTA. / Thesis (Master, Environmental Studies) -- Queen's University, 2014-01-22 11:53:22.196

This research is focused on evaluating the UNDP—GEF Small Grants Programme support in Ethiopia. It involves SWOT strategic analysis of outcomes in projects addressing three of the GEF focal areas mainly biodiversity conservation, abatement of climate change and prevention of land degradation. To this end, the study evaluated how the grant presented to the beneficiary communities short-term and long-term opportunities to undertake nature-based sustainable livelihood activities, alleviate poverty as well as impact national policies pertaining to rural economies and the protection of natural resources. In general, the study highlights that the crucial factor for the success of SGP’s service delivery is not only the provision of the support and the subsequent completion of the projects. Most importantly, how local communities equitably benefit from project outputs and maintain sustainability of developments after project completion were identified to be foundational to the developmental causes the grants have been provided.

Ecosystem services constitute a precondition for human welfare and survival. This concept has also become increasingly popular among both scientists and policymakers. Several initiatives have been taken to identify and value ecosystem services. Several services are threatened, and it has been concluded that in order to better manage ecosystem services they need to be further investigated and valued. By measuring them using a common metric—monetary value—they can be more easily compared and included in decision-making tools. This thesis contributes to this goal by presenting values for several ecosystem services and also including them in decision-making tools. Starting with a discussion of the concept of ecosystem services, this thesis aims to present values for certain ecosystem services and to illustrate the use of these values in systems-analysis tools such as cost-benefit analyses (CBA) and a weighting set. Links between ecology, economics and policy are discussed within a broader framework of ecosystem services. Five papers are included, in which two contingent valuation studies (CV) have been used to find values for different ecosystem services. One valuation study is focused on the effects from tributyltin (TBT) in Swedish marine waters. In addition, a quantitative assessment framework has been developed in order to simplify analysis of environmental status, progress in environmental surveillance and the relevance of different measures. It is suggested that the framework should also be used when assessing the impacts of other substances affecting the environment. The second valuation study investigates the risk of an oil spill in northern Norway. The results have been included in two CBAs and a weighting set. The first CBA compares costs for remediation of polluted sediments, caused by TBT, with the benefits of reducing TBT levels. The second CBA compares costs and benefits for reducing the probability of an oil spill. The weighting set includes monetary values on a number of impact categories where marine toxicity is based on the valuation study on TBT.  One study also examines the inclusion of environmental costs in life cycle costing (LCC) in different sectors in Sweden. Results show that respondents consider ecosystem values to be important. The values of Swedish marine waters and coastal areas outside Lofoten-Vesterålen in Norway have been identified and quantified in terms of biodiversity, habitat, recreation and scenery. In the Norwegian case, an ongoing debate on the issue of oil and gas exploration has had an impact on the number of protest bids found in the study. Based on the cost and benefits of limiting impacts on ecosystem services derived from the valuation studies, CBAs show that the suggested measures are most likely beneficial for society, and the results contribute to policy recommendations. A weighting set has been updated with new values through value transfer. The weighting set is compatible with LCA. The final study shows that companies and public organisations use environmental costs (internal and external) in a limited manner. In this thesis the ecosystem service concept is used both as an introduction and a guiding thread for the reader, as a way to frame the studies undertaken. The concept of ecosystem services can be useful, as it emphasises the importance of the services to humans. By finding and presenting values of ecosystem services, such services are more easily incorporated into decision-making. / <p>QC 20141121</p>

The aim of the research presented in this dissertation was to further the implementation of push-pull for control of Eldana saccharina on sugarcane in the Midlands North region, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Eldana saccharina, an indigenous stem borer, is the most damaging pest of sugarcane in South Africa, and sustainable control has still not been achieved. The push-pull strategy, a form of habitat management, has been developed for E. saccharina and is recommended as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. Implementation of this strategy for both large- and small-scale farmers was facilitated through mixed methods social research. It included a novel exploratory network analysis to understand the process of technology adoption by farmers. Surveys showed that large-scale farmers have a good knowledge of E. saccharina, IPM and push-pull but that they needed more practical knowledge for implementation of the strategy. Farmers recommended experiential learning opportunities such as field days and model farms to get to know more about this technology. Despite demonstrating a positive attitude towards push-pull, farmers perceived it to be a ‘hassle’ and this is potentially the biggest barrier to its adoption. However, with suitable learning opportunities for farmers and good support for planting inputs, implementation of push-pull is likely to succeed. Sugarcane was shown to play an important role in the livelihoods and farming systems of small-scale growers. They did not perceive E. saccharina as a serious production constraint and had poor knowledge of the pest and its control. Extension for small-scale growers in this region should focus primarily on weed management and on reducing input costs, but still raising awareness of the increasing threat of E. saccharina. On-farm push-pull field trials showed a significant reduction of E. saccharina damage on two farms. Mean percentage damaged internodes decreased from 4.1% to 2.7% and from 1.7% to 1.1% in the presence of the repellent grass species, Melinis minutiflora. Where farmers did not manage their crops well, push-pull was not effective. It is therefore crucial that push-pull within an IPM framework be implemented together with good crop management practices. Stem borer surveys in wetlands on sugarcane farms revealed a high diversity of indigenous stem borers and parasitoids, including a stem borer species, Pirateolea piscator, which may pose a threat to crops in the future. These findings, together with a literature review on the significance of on-farm biodiversity and ecosystem services, demonstrated the value which wetlands have for pest management on sugarcane farms. Wetland health assessments were used to develop a tool for farmers to assess and utilise the wetlands on their farms for improved management of E. saccharina. This study highlights the importance of a farmer-participatory approach to implementation of knowledge-intensive farming practices such as push-pull. The importance of wetlands for providing pest regulatory services on sugarcane farms has shown that environmental sustainability needs to become a fundamental principle of farming and agricultural research. Participatory implementation of push-pull, as recommended in this dissertation, could act as a driving force for agroecology in the South African sugar industry and move sustainable farming practices off the pages of journals and manuals onto farmers’ fields. / Thesis (MSc (Zoology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The aim of the research presented in this dissertation was to further the implementation of push-pull for control of Eldana saccharina on sugarcane in the Midlands North region, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Eldana saccharina, an indigenous stem borer, is the most damaging pest of sugarcane in South Africa, and sustainable control has still not been achieved. The push-pull strategy, a form of habitat management, has been developed for E. saccharina and is recommended as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. Implementation of this strategy for both large- and small-scale farmers was facilitated through mixed methods social research. It included a novel exploratory network analysis to understand the process of technology adoption by farmers. Surveys showed that large-scale farmers have a good knowledge of E. saccharina, IPM and push-pull but that they needed more practical knowledge for implementation of the strategy. Farmers recommended experiential learning opportunities such as field days and model farms to get to know more about this technology. Despite demonstrating a positive attitude towards push-pull, farmers perceived it to be a ‘hassle’ and this is potentially the biggest barrier to its adoption. However, with suitable learning opportunities for farmers and good support for planting inputs, implementation of push-pull is likely to succeed. Sugarcane was shown to play an important role in the livelihoods and farming systems of small-scale growers. They did not perceive E. saccharina as a serious production constraint and had poor knowledge of the pest and its control. Extension for small-scale growers in this region should focus primarily on weed management and on reducing input costs, but still raising awareness of the increasing threat of E. saccharina. On-farm push-pull field trials showed a significant reduction of E. saccharina damage on two farms. Mean percentage damaged internodes decreased from 4.1% to 2.7% and from 1.7% to 1.1% in the presence of the repellent grass species, Melinis minutiflora. Where farmers did not manage their crops well, push-pull was not effective. It is therefore crucial that push-pull within an IPM framework be implemented together with good crop management practices. Stem borer surveys in wetlands on sugarcane farms revealed a high diversity of indigenous stem borers and parasitoids, including a stem borer species, Pirateolea piscator, which may pose a threat to crops in the future. These findings, together with a literature review on the significance of on-farm biodiversity and ecosystem services, demonstrated the value which wetlands have for pest management on sugarcane farms. Wetland health assessments were used to develop a tool for farmers to assess and utilise the wetlands on their farms for improved management of E. saccharina. This study highlights the importance of a farmer-participatory approach to implementation of knowledge-intensive farming practices such as push-pull. The importance of wetlands for providing pest regulatory services on sugarcane farms has shown that environmental sustainability needs to become a fundamental principle of farming and agricultural research. Participatory implementation of push-pull, as recommended in this dissertation, could act as a driving force for agroecology in the South African sugar industry and move sustainable farming practices off the pages of journals and manuals onto farmers’ fields. / Thesis (MSc (Zoology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The valuation of ecosystem services requires first and foremost, that the current level or stock of a service first be estimated. Here, I investigate the relationship between the fields of environmental science and ecological economics in their research effort of ecosystem services and the implications this may have on the ecosystem valuation research program. I investigate two ecological functions described as ecosystem services within specific ecosystem types: the flood control provisioning services of wetlands and pollination service provisioning by pollinator populations in agroecosystems. I examined the environmental literature to provide quantitative estimates of a) the distribution of the level of service delivered as well as b) the ability of environmental scientists to predict this level of service. The results presented here suggest a moderately strong correlation between research efforts in environmental science and ecological economics at the pooled level of ecosystem types and services. I suggest however, an integrated research enterprise between social and environmental scientists may provide greater efficiency by means of a global ecosystem service research network and repository. I found that, on average, consistent with conventional wisdom, wetlands do indeed have a positive effect by reducing the frequency and magnitude of floods, increasing low flows, and increasing water storage. In the same vein, I found on average and consistent with conventional wisdom, there is a consistent and comparatively strong association between pollinator abundance and agroecosystem productivity as inferred from measures of plant fertilization success. In both investigations however, metaregression analysis indicated that our current ability to predict either pollination or flood control services is poor to modest at best. The low predictive power combined with the observed heterogeneity in effect size in both investigations suggest that flood control service delivered by wetlands or pollination services delivered by natural pollinator populations in agroecosystems and the expected changes in the level of services delivered under a candidate management scenario, will have a large uncertainty. Such uncertainty should be explicitly incorporated into estimates of both the current economic value of ecosystem services, as well as estimates of how these values are likely to change under alternative management scenarios. Given these, I suggest that the implications for the development of Market-based instruments (MBIs) or any payment of ecosystem services to conserve ecosystem services: that the associated ecological function(s) must be few and well characterized, and we must agree on what endpoints ought to properly be used to characterize these functions. If this condition is not met, an ordinal ranking is the best we can do and in the absence of obvious enthusiasm for more detailed scientific research which leads to the conclusion that perhaps alternate strategies like command and control may be the better alternative to protect ecosystem services.

This research is focused on evaluating the UNDP—GEF Small Grants Programme support in Ethiopia. It involves SWOT strategic analysis of outcomes in projects addressing three of the GEF focal areas mainly biodiversity conservation, abatement of climate change and prevention of land degradation. To this end, the study evaluated how the grant presented to the beneficiary communities short-term and long-term opportunities to undertake nature-based sustainable livelihood activities, alleviate poverty as well as impact national policies pertaining to rural economies and the protection of natural resources. In general, the study highlights that the crucial factor for the success of SGP’s service delivery is not only the provision of the support and the subsequent completion of the projects. Most importantly, how local communities equitably benefit from project outputs and maintain sustainability of developments after project completion were identified to be foundational to the developmental causes the grants have been provided.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(地球環境学) / 甲第24060号 / 地環博第223号 / 新制||地環||42(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院地球環境学舎地球環境学専攻 / (主査)教授 柴田 昌三, 准教授 深町 加津枝, 教授 瀬戸口 浩彰 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Global Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DFAM

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Les mutations de la société au cours du dernier siècle ont de fortes répercussions sur le fonctionnement de la majorité des écosystèmes. Notre société fait face à un paradoxe complexe défini par la nécessité de satisfaire des conditions de vie décentes d’une population mondiale croissante tout en limitant les impacts négatifs sur les écosystèmes. Le concept de service écosystémique a été proposé pour accompagner la résolution de ce paradoxe et de nombreuses attentes reposent sur ce concept. Mon travail de thèse a pour objectifs d’évaluer les apports actuels de la cartographie des services écosystémiques pour caractériser les patrons spatiaux et déterminants de la multifonctionnalité des territoires.Dans le chapitre I nous proposons une analyse des associations entre le service de production agricole et quatre services de régulation au niveau des surfaces agricoles de la région Rhône-Alpes (France). Ce travail nous permet de revenir sur la définition des compromis et synergies entre services écosystémiques aussi bien que sur le concept de bouquet de services écosystèmiques. Par ailleurs, en s’inspirant du concept de niche écologique pour les espèces, nous évaluons l’adéquation spatiale entre la fourniture de services écosystèmiques et les caractéristiques socio-écologiques des milieux (i.e. leur niche socio-écologique). Nos résultats révèlent une grande variabilité dans les associations entre le service de production agricole et les services de régulation. Cette observation souligne le poids des modalités de gestion agricole dans l’orientation des associations entre services écosystèmiques. Par ailleurs, nous soulevons de nombreuses interrogations vis-à-vis de la robustesse des analyses courantes des bouquets de services écosystèmiques.L’influence de la résolution spatiale des données de modélisation sur la cartographie des services écosystèmiques est évaluée dans le chapitre II. Pour cela nous comparons les cartes utilisées dans le premier chapitre avec les informations apportées par un projet de cartographie de services écosystèmiques à haute résolution spatiale sur la région de Grenoble (projet ESNET). Cette analyse alimente une réflexion sur les limites des modèles utilisés pour cartographier les services écosystémiques.Dans le but d’améliorer la modélisation des services écosystémiques fournis par les terres agricoles, nous développons dans le chapitre III, une approche basée sur la télédétection pour cartographier l’utilisation des terres agricoles dans la région de Grenoble. L’utilisation conjointe de données satellitaires MODIS et RapidEye nous permet de déterminer les successions culturales sur 5 années à la résolution de la parcelle agricole. Validée par les données du registre parcellaire graphique, l’utilisation de ces données spatialement explicites améliore significativement notre capacité de cartographie de la production agricole et pourrait être utilisée pour cartographier de nombreux autres services écosystèmiques.Alors que le chapitre III est focalisé sur l’utilisation de la télédétection pour la cartographie de l’utilisation des terres agricoles, le chapitre IV propose une synthèse des autres utilisations des données de télédétection pouvant potentiellement contribuer à la modélisation des services écosystémiques. Ce travail est une mise en correspondance entre les capacités des approches de télédétection et les besoins des modélisateurs de services écosystémiques, sur la base d’une analyse bibliographique d’un large panel d’études de cartographie des services écosystémiques / Societal changes over the last century have strongly affected the majority of ecosystem dynamics. Our society is facing a complex paradox: how to maintain decent livelihoods for the world population while limiting negative effects of human activities on ecosystems? The concept of ecosystem services has been proposed to contribute to the solving of this paradox and it holds strong expectations. My PhD research aims at assessing the contribution of ecosystem services mapping to the definition of patterns and drivers of landscape multifunctionality.Chapter I analyses the spatial associations between the agricultural production service and four regulating services over the agricultural lands of the Rhône-Alpes region (France). This work allows us to insist on the ways trade-off and synergies between ecosystem services are defined as well as on the characterization of bundles of ecosystem services. Furthermore, taking advantage of the "ecological niches” concept usually applied to biodiversity, we assess spatial matching between the supply of ecosystem services and the socio-ecological specificities of associated areas, i.e. their social-ecological niche. Our results highlight a large variability concerning associations between agricultural production and regulating services, which illustrates the strong influence of farming practices (e.g., in terms of intensity) in defining the strength of associations between multiple services. In addition, we raised the issue of the robustness of standard statistical analyses to consistently identify bundles of ecosystem services.Chapter II assesses the influence of spatial resolution of modeled data on ecosystem services mapping. To this end, we compare the maps used in the first chapter with high spatial resolution data provided at Grenoble area scale (in the context of the ESNET project). Based on this comparison, we discuss the limits of models used to map ecosystem services.To improve the mapping of ecosystem services supplied by agricultural areas, we propose, in chapter III, a remote sensing-based approach to map agricultural land uses at high resolution on Grenoble region. Simultaneous use of MODIS and Rapideye satellite data allows us to determine cropping successions for 5 years at farming plot scale. These spatially explicit data significantly improved our abilities to map agricultural productions and may be used to map several other ecosystem services.To complete the third chapter, chapter IV gives a synthesis of remote sensing approaches that could be used to map ecosystem services, focusing on methods that are not linked to land uses identification. Based on a wide panel of ecosystem services mapping studies, we highlight data currently needed to map ecosystem services. Then we bridge these needs and the potential of remote sensing approaches for ecosystem services modelers.