Diss. Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2009.

Thesis (M.S.)--California Polytechnic State University, 2009. / Title from PDF title page; viewed on July 14, 2009. Major professor: Paul Wack, AICP. "Presented to the faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo." "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of City and Regional Planning "May 2009." Includes bibliographical references. Will also be available on microfiche.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references.

Land information management in Ghana, as in many developing countries, remains a practice monopolised by public sector land administration agencies, which are known for being inefficient in delivering services that satisfy the needs of citizens. Under this monopolised regime, landed property related data gathering, processing through land registration, storage and dissemination of the information as final product for public use is entirely based on expert knowledge. Meanwhile, reliance on this kind of knowledge for land information management has continuously failed to promote smooth flow and a broad based access to reliable information for decision making by citizens. This failure has created a huge land information gap between market participants’ especially genuine and fraudulent landed property owners on one hand and potential buyers, lenders, and investors on the other hand. Thus, there is information asymmetry, which this study identifies as a major contributory factor to the challenges of uncertainties and high transaction costs that characterise dealings in urban real estate markets in Ghana. In order to verify how the information gap can be closed, this research adopts quantitative research methodology. The research mainly explores multinomial logistic regression model to test Economic Theory of Knowledge propounded by Hayek (1945) using Ghana as the context of study. Primary data was collected from potential land information suppliers within the private sector and existing users of land information as likely beneficiaries of an efficient land information management regime. Interrater agreement index and Pearson’s bivariate correlation analysis were used to analyse primary data gathered from users of land information in relation to land information needs and competition in land information harnessing. Following verification of the relationship between competition and economic knowledge, the key research finding is that there are two kinds of land information management knowledge and these are expert and entrepreneurial land information management knowledge. Thus, the research presents empirical evidence that out of four types of entrepreneurial knowledge verified, two types namely adaptive and cost-efficient knowledge are most likely to influence competition in land information supply. Also, competition is likely to deliver land information services that satisfy the needs of users of land information. Altogether, the research findings converge with the theory verified. The research outcome suggests that deregulation of state monopoly of land information harnessing for competition among private economic actors in Ghana is due. Removing this barrier is likely to promote dynamic competition in which licensed land information suppliers can use adaptive and cost efficient knowledge in gathering and disseminating land information at competitive prices. The study also provides evidence that all-in-one land information, which is broadly accessible at competitive prices is likely to be required to help address the problem of information asymmetry in the context of Ghana. For purposes of practice in the context of urban real estate markets in Ghana, a framework based on the research findings is developed and validated. The framework is proposed to inform policy decision on deregulation for competition in land information harnessing to enable the real estate sector function well. To kick start the process, deregulation in land data gathering and dissemination of land information is suggested.

In recent years there has been an increasing awareness of the detrimental influence of diffuse sources of pollution on aquatic systems and of the integral role played by sediment in the mobilisation and transport of pollutants. The recognition of the environmental, societal and economic importance of the ecological health of aquatic environments has led to a change in emphasis regarding agricultural and environmental policy. To implement successful delivery of emerging policy requirements, there is a current need to have an enhanced understanding of the relationship between different forms of land use and sources of diffuse pollution, particularly sources of fine sediment. To understand the potential impacts of future land use changes, including environmental conservation measures on sources of sediment, it is useful to consider them within a longer-term context. This study has successfully applied the sediment source fingerprinting technique to floodplain overbank sediment cores in a retrospective study of six diverse UK river catchments with identified sediment problems. The varying estimates of relative sediment contributions from differing sources have been compared to known land use change in the study catchments over concurrent time periods, to explore any associations which might be apparent. Over the last 40 years, the increased cultivation of high erosion risk crops, such as those which are harvested late in the season (e.g. maize) and those which are sown in the autumn (e.g. winter wheat), has contributed disproportionately to the total sediment load relative to the area of land occupied by such cultivation. Increased stocking densities have resulted in increased relative sediment contributions from grassland sources, particularly intensively managed temporary grassland, but can have an even greater impact on sediment contributions derived from channel bank sources. The installation and maintenance of drainage for agriculture or for flood risk management has resulted in increased relative sediment loads from channel bank and associated sub-surface sources. Through the further development of such research, the efficacy of mitigation measures can be tested against evidence-based historic trends and those management approaches which provide identifiable improvements can be developed as best practice options for future land management targeted at reducing the negative impacts of excessive sediment ingress to river systems. The design of the source fingerprinting methodology used in this work was based on an established successful approach and this was developed further through the incorporation of a number of refinements designed to improve the robustness of the technique and expedite its implementation.

The widespread threat of species extinctions caused by the destruction and degradation of tropical primary forest (PF) could potentially be mitigated by the expansion of regenerating secondary forest (SF). However, the conservation value of SF remains controversial, and is dependent on many site- and landscape-scale factors, such as habitat age and isolation. The aim of this thesis was to assess the role that SF can play in conserving forest bird communities in central Panama. We study a chronosequence of SF aged 20 – 120-years-old, with sites either isolated from or connected to extensive PF. Our results suggest that SF supports high levels of avian species diversity, and similar community composition to PF. Whilst forest age plays a small role in determining compositional similarity to PF, connectivity to extensive PF was the main determinant of community composition. However, despite high species richness and complex community composition, some specialist PF bird species were consistently absent from SF, and isolated PF. The functional diversity of bird communities did not vary substantially across the forest age and isolation gradient, although we did find some inter-guild differences; with distinct responses in communities of avian insectivores and frugivores. Isolation caused shifts in the trophic traits of insectivores, but resulted in alterations in the dispersal traits of frugivores. The response of bird and tree community composition to forest age and isolation was similar, although isolation had a stronger impact on bird communities. Bird diversity and composition tracked changes in forest structure over succession. When examining the role of birds in seed-dispersal networks, we found bird gape width was the key predictor of seed size consumed. Large-gaped birds consume a wider variety of seed-sizes than small-gaped birds, and small-seeded trees attract a greater number of bird species than large-seeded trees. These results imply high levels of redundancy among small-gaped avian frugivores and small-seeded plant species, but low levels of redundancy among large-seeded plant species and their avian dispersers. This suggests that large-seeded plants may be most at risk of dispersal failure following any change in avian frugivore assemblages. Together, these results suggest that SF can play a key role in sustaining most tropical biodiversity, and in maintaining ecosystem services. Our findings emphasise the importance of integrating SF into conservation strategies to support and buffer tropical PF habitats.

<p>Učestale smene veoma vlažnih i izuzetno su&scaron;nih perioda mogu prouzrokovati značajne negativne<br />posledice na poljoprivredu, životnu sredinu, ekonomiju i na dru&scaron;tvo u celini. Strogi zahtevi<br />poljoprivredne proizvodnje i specifičnosti agroklimatskih uslova i samog područja Vojvodine čine ga<br />veoma vulnerabilnim na pojavu vi&scaron;ka ili manjka vode. Jasnije sagledavanje vremenske i prostorne<br />pojave vi&scaron;ka i manjka vode i procena rizika od njihove pojave moglo bi dovesti do preduzimanja<br />odgovarajućih mera pripreme i ublažavanja negativnih posledica i pre pojave hazardnog događaja.<br />U ovom radu su kreirane metodologije na osnovu kojih su izvr&scaron;ene procene rizika od suficita i<br />deficita vode na melioracionom području Vojvodine. Procene rizika dobijene su kombinacijom procena<br />ranjivosti i procena hazarda, a baziraju se na identifikaciji ključnih faktora koji utiču na pojavu suficita i<br />deficita vode, na njihovoj analizi i adekvatnom vrednovanju i uz kori&scaron;ćenje geografskog informacionog<br />sistema. Ključni faktori su odabrani na osnovu njihovog uticaja na samu pojavu ili na ublažavanje<br />efekata su&scaron;e ili pojave vi&scaron;ka vode, na osnovu dostupnosti podataka i na osnovu istraživanja brojnih<br />autora. Vrednovanje faktora ranjivosti je izvr&scaron;eno objektivnom metodom entropije. Analize hazarda su<br />izvr&scaron;ene savremenim hidrometeorolo&scaron;kim stohastičkim metodama koje sveobuhvatno sagledavaju<br />opasnosti od pojave su&scaron;e ili vi&scaron;ka vode. Rezultati procena ranjivosti, hazarda i rizika su dobijene<br />kori&scaron;ćenjem geografskog informacionog sistema u vidu karata.<br />Metodologije na osnovu kojih su u ovom radu sprovedene procene rizika od suficita i deficita vode<br />na melioracionom području Vojvodine, omogućavaju stvaranje uslova za podizanje pripravnosti na<br />pojavu ekstremnih hidrometeorolo&scaron;kih događaja, unapređenje planiranja meliorativnih mera kao i izbor i<br />dono&scaron;enje optimalnijih odluka vezanih za upravljanje i ulaganje u meliorativne sisteme, a sve u skladu<br />sa načelima i principima održivog razvoja poljoprivrede, vodoprivrede i melioracija.</p> / <p>Frequent changes of very dry and wet periods can cause significant adverse effects on agriculture,<br />environment, economy and the whole society. Strict requirements of agricultural production and special<br />characteristics of agro-climatic conditions of the Vojvodina region makes it very vulnerable to the<br />occurrences of excess water or drought. A clearer understanding of the temporal and spatial occurrence<br />of excess water or droughts and the risk assessment of their occurrence could lead to taking appropriate<br />measures of preparedness and mitigation of negative impacts before the onset of hazardous events.<br />In this dissertation, methodologies of risk assessments of water excess and water deficit on the land<br />reclamation areas in Vojvodina were created. Risk assessments were obtained by a combination of<br />vulnerability assessments and hazard assessments, and they are based on the identification of key factors<br />affecting the occurrence of water excess and water deficit, on their analysis and adequate evaluation and<br />by using geographic information systems. Key factors were selected based on their impact on the<br />occurrence or on mitigation of the effects of drought or excess water, on the basis of data availability<br />and based on the research of numerous authors. Valuation of the vulnerability factors is made by<br />objective method of entropy weighting. Hazard analyses were performed by using contemporary<br />hydrometeorological stochastic methods that comprehensively perceive threats of drought or excess<br />water. Assessments of vulnerability, hazard and risk are preformed in GIS and results are presented in a<br />form of thematic maps.<br />Methodologies for risk assessments of water excess and water deficit in land reclamation areas of<br />Vojvodina region, created or modified in this dissertation, allows the creation of conditions for<br />increasing preparedness to extreme hydro-meteorological events, improvement of land reclamation<br />measures planning as well as improvement of selection and decision-making regarding management and<br />investment in the irrigation and drainage systems, all in accordance with the principles of sustainable<br />agriculture, water management and land reclamation.<br />&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pojave ekstremnih padavina dovode do stvaranja vi&scaron;ka vode koji utiče na odvijanje stabilne poljoprivredne proizvodnje, ali i na životnu sredinu, ekonomiju i dru&scaron;tvo u celini. Uvođenjem biotehničkih mera u melioracionu praksu, kao dopunske mere na sistemima za odvodnjavanje, posledice prevlaživanja zemlji&scaron;ta mogle bi biti značajno umanjene. Sagledavanjem vremenske i prostorne pojave vi&scaron;ka vode na sistemima za odvodnjavanje primena biotehničkih mera može služiti, pored primarnog cilja, za postizanje povećanja efikasnosti sistema za odvodnjavanje, stabilizaciju obala, pobolj&scaron;anje kvaliteta vode u vodotocima, zatim za ostvarivanje optimalne &scaron;umovitosti, povećanje i stabilizaciju prinosa poljoprivrednih kultura, kao i povećanje biodiverziteta.<br />U radu primenjena je metodologija na osnovu koje je prikazano kako biotehničke mere mogu povećati efikasnost sistema za odvodnjavanje kroz smanjenje vremena potrebnog za evakuaciju sakupljenih i dovedenih vi&scaron;kova vode. Postupak određivanja povećanja efikasnosti podrazumeva odeđene korake. Prvi korak zasniva se na određivanju ključnih kriterijuma koji utiču na odabir lokaliteta za primenu biotehničkih mera. Da bi se dobili pouzdani i realni podaci potrebno je isključivanje subjektivnih ocena. To je postignuto primenom entropije odnosno objektivne metode za određivanje težinskih koeficijenata na osnovu kojih su kriterijumi za odabir pogodnosti lokaliteta izračunati. Sledeći korak podrazumeva određivanje vremena odvodnjavanja na osnovu merodavnih vi&scaron;kova vode koji se formiraju na sistemima pri različitim povratnim periodima. Poslednji korak odnosi se pre svega na zasnivanje biotehničkih mera na osnovu kojih se stvaraju uslovi za povećanje efikasnosti sistema za odvodnjavanje. Rezultati pogodnosti lokaliteta za primenu biotehničkih mera, vreme odvodnjavanja, kao i povećanje efikasnosti svih sistema za odvodnjavanje na teritoriji Vojvodine, izraženo kroz smanjenje potrebnog vremena odvodnjavanja, prikazani su kori&scaron;ćenjem geografsko informacionog sistema u vidu karata.<br />Primenom biotehničkih mera sprovodi multidisciplinaran pristup koji teži da zadovolji zainteresovane strane koje su u teoriji komplementarne, ali u realnosti obično u konfliktu. Dono&scaron;enje odluka gde, kakve i koji obim ovih mera primeniti trebalo bi da bude, od globalnog do lokalnog pristupa, &scaron;to stručnije bez ili sa minimalnim uticajem subjektivnih ocena, kao i sveobuhvatno i objektivno sagledavanje konkretnih i specifičnih problema koji vladaju na svakom sistemu za odvodnjavanje. Iako imaju mane, prednost uvođenja ovih mera ogleda se kroz jednostavnost primene u praksi u okvirima postojeće zakonske regulative, a na osnovu načela integralnosti, prevencije i predostrožnosti, očuvanja prirodnih resursa, održivog razvoja i primene podsticajnih mera.</p> / <p>Occasional extreme rainfall leads to the accumulation of excessive amount of water, which affects the course of the stable agricultural production, as well as the environment, economy and the society as a whole. Introducing biotechnical measures into the land reclamation procedure, as an additional measure in drainage systems, could significantly reduce the consequences of waterlogging. By perceiving the temporal and spatial appearance of excessive amount of water in drainage systems, the application of the biotechnical measures could, in addition to its primary goal, help achieve increased efficiency of drainage systems, stabilization of banks, improved water quality in watercourses, but also in achieving optimal density of area under forests, increase and stabilization of the agricultural crops&#39; yield, as well as increased biodiversity.<br />The methodology applied in this paper, based on which it was displayed how biotechnical measures could increase the efficiency of the drainage systems through reduction of the time needed for the evacuation of collected and imported excessive amount of water. Defining the procedure of efficiency increase includes certain steps. The first step is based on defining key criteria that influence the choice of locality for the biotechnical measures application. In order to obtain reliable and accurate data it is necessary to exclude subjective estimations. That is achieved with the application of the Entropy, an objective method for defining weight coefficients based on which the criteria for determining the suitability of the locality are calculated. Next step is defining the drainage time based on design excessive amount of water formed in systems with different return periods. The last step refers primarily on establishing biotechnical measures on the basis of which the conditions are created for increasing drainage systems&#39; efficiency. The results of suitability of the locality for the application of biotechnical measures, the time of drainage, as well the increase the efficiency of all the drainage systems on the territory of Vojvodina, expressed through the reduction of the necessary drainage time, are shown using Geographical Information System in forms of maps.<br />Application of biotechnical measures means implementing a multidisciplinary approach that strives to please interested parties which are complementary in theory, but in reality are usually conflicted. Deciding where, what kind and in which extend to apply these measures, from global to local approach, should be as professional as possible, without or with the minimal influence of subjective estimations, as well as comprehensive and objective overview of specific and particular problems that command over every draining system. Even though they have certain flaws, the advantage of introducing these measures is reflected in simplicity of practical application within the frame of existing legal regulation, and based on the principle of integrity, prevention and precaution, conservation of natural resources, sustainable development and implementation of incentive measures.</p>

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2008.

The growing pressure on natural resources and biodiversity has led to a widespread acknowledgement of the services nature provides for humans. The appropriate representation of the benefits of sustainable land use in decision-making is still a challenge and tools that facilitate land use planning processes are needed. The dissertation presents a multicriteria assessment approach for a qualitative estimation of regional potentials to provide ecosystem services. This approach has been applied in several case studies in Saxony, Eastern Germany and Brasil. The ecosystem services concept builts the methodological framework for the assessment as it offers a universal approach to evaluate the impact of Land use/ Land cover change (LULCC) on human well-being. Since standardized methodical approaches for ecosystem services assessment at the landscape level are lacking, a particular requirement was to conceive a method that is easily transferable to other case study areas. Further the method should enable the use of existing and easily available environmental data, and it should be transparent for stakeholders and decision makers. The results of our study show that the combination of selected ecosystem services and land cover data such as CORINE Land Cover (CLC) can contribute to regional planning by communicating the effect of LULCC on ecosystem services, especially when applied as an evaluation basis in the tool GISCAME. The approach supports also the assessment of the performance of a region to provide ecosystem services and the comparison of regions towards this aspect. In the discussion section, the limitations of the developed approach are discussed. Main sources of uncertainty are related to coarse land cover data, lacking knowledge on the provision of ecosystem services at a landscape scale, and the difficulty to make relevant the ecosystem services concept in regional planning processes.