Since the early 2000s, the ecosystem services concept has become increasingly popular internationally. It has also been central in Scandinavian environmental policies and projects. This thesis reviews the history of and the philosophical problems associated with the ecosystem services concept. In this connection, the ‘value’ of nature is explored from a theoretical and a practical lens by scrutinising the ecosystem services discourse. The histories and uses of the ecosystem services concept in Sweden, Norway and Denmark are traced through analyses of governmental-issued texts. The comparison of the three countries shows how this complex concept has been implemented and how it is related to other market-based conservation approaches. The thesis further discusses how pricing nature is both a powerful yet problematic tool in conservation efforts. In the overall discussion of the concept and its application, three issues of tension within the ecosystem services discourse are identified. They are referred to as ‘the ethical problem’ (can we value nature?), ‘the methodological problem’ (how do we estimate the worth of ecosystem services?) and ‘the affective problem’ (what is the effect of valuing ecosystem services?). Ultimately, by analysing the three case studies this thesis argues that the ecosystems services concept can be used to broaden discussions around the value of nature, which might lead to more democratic and accountable conservation.

<p>Modern food production is a complex, globalized system in which what we eat and how it is produced are increasingly disconnected. This thesis examines some of the ways in which global trade has changed the mix of inputs to food and feed, and how this affects food security and our perceptions of sustainability. One useful indicator of the ecological impact of trade in food and feed products is the Appropriated Ecosystem Areas (ArEAs), which estimates the terrestrial and aquatic areas needed to produce all the inputs to particular products.</p><p>The method is introduced in Paper I and used to calculate and track changes in imported subsidies to Swedish agriculture over the period 1962-1994. In 1994, Swedish consumers needed agricultural areas outside their national borders to satisfy more than a third of their food consumption needs. The method is then applied to Swedish meat production in Paper II to show that the term “Made in Sweden” is often a misnomer. In 1999, almost 80% of manufactured feed for Swedish pigs, cattle and chickens was dependent on imported inputs, mainly from Europe, Southeast Asia and South America. Paper III examines ecosystem subsidies to intensive aquaculture in two nations: shrimp production in Thailand and salmon production in Norway. In both countries, aquaculture was shown to rely increasingly on imported subsidies. The rapid expansion of aquaculture turned these countries from fishmeal net exporters to fishmeal net importers, increasingly using inputs from the Southeastern Pacific Ocean.</p><p>As the examined agricultural and aquacultural production systems became globalized, levels of dependence on other nations’ ecosystems, the number of external supply sources, and the distance to these sources steadily increased. Dependence on other nations is not problematic, as long as we are able to acknowledge these links and sustainably manage resources both at home and abroad. However, ecosystem subsidies are seldom recognized or made explicit in national policy or economic accounts. Economic systems are generally not designed to receive feedbacks when the status of remote ecosystems changes, much less to respond in an ecologically sensitive manner. Papers IV and V discuss the problem of “masking” of the true environmental costs of production for trade. One of our conclusions is that, while the ArEAs approach is a useful tool for illuminating environmentally-based subsidies in the policy arena, it does not reflect all of the costs. Current agricultural and aquacultural production methods have generated substantial increases in production levels, but if policy continues to support the focus on yield and production increases alone, taking the work of ecosystems for granted, vulnerability can result. Thus, a challenge is to develop a set of complementary tools that can be used in economic accounting at national and international scales that address ecosystem support and performance.</p><p>We conclude that future resilience in food production systems will require more explicit links between consumers and the work of supporting ecosystems, locally and in other regions of the world, and that food security planning will require active management of the capacity of all involved ecosystems to sustain food production.</p>

Modern food production is a complex, globalized system in which what we eat and how it is produced are increasingly disconnected. This thesis examines some of the ways in which global trade has changed the mix of inputs to food and feed, and how this affects food security and our perceptions of sustainability. One useful indicator of the ecological impact of trade in food and feed products is the Appropriated Ecosystem Areas (ArEAs), which estimates the terrestrial and aquatic areas needed to produce all the inputs to particular products. The method is introduced in Paper I and used to calculate and track changes in imported subsidies to Swedish agriculture over the period 1962-1994. In 1994, Swedish consumers needed agricultural areas outside their national borders to satisfy more than a third of their food consumption needs. The method is then applied to Swedish meat production in Paper II to show that the term “Made in Sweden” is often a misnomer. In 1999, almost 80% of manufactured feed for Swedish pigs, cattle and chickens was dependent on imported inputs, mainly from Europe, Southeast Asia and South America. Paper III examines ecosystem subsidies to intensive aquaculture in two nations: shrimp production in Thailand and salmon production in Norway. In both countries, aquaculture was shown to rely increasingly on imported subsidies. The rapid expansion of aquaculture turned these countries from fishmeal net exporters to fishmeal net importers, increasingly using inputs from the Southeastern Pacific Ocean. As the examined agricultural and aquacultural production systems became globalized, levels of dependence on other nations’ ecosystems, the number of external supply sources, and the distance to these sources steadily increased. Dependence on other nations is not problematic, as long as we are able to acknowledge these links and sustainably manage resources both at home and abroad. However, ecosystem subsidies are seldom recognized or made explicit in national policy or economic accounts. Economic systems are generally not designed to receive feedbacks when the status of remote ecosystems changes, much less to respond in an ecologically sensitive manner. Papers IV and V discuss the problem of “masking” of the true environmental costs of production for trade. One of our conclusions is that, while the ArEAs approach is a useful tool for illuminating environmentally-based subsidies in the policy arena, it does not reflect all of the costs. Current agricultural and aquacultural production methods have generated substantial increases in production levels, but if policy continues to support the focus on yield and production increases alone, taking the work of ecosystems for granted, vulnerability can result. Thus, a challenge is to develop a set of complementary tools that can be used in economic accounting at national and international scales that address ecosystem support and performance. We conclude that future resilience in food production systems will require more explicit links between consumers and the work of supporting ecosystems, locally and in other regions of the world, and that food security planning will require active management of the capacity of all involved ecosystems to sustain food production.

Cette thèse étudie l’intégration d’entités environnementales pour elles-mêmes (EEPM) dans la comptabilité générale d’entreprise. Nous resituons premièrement les termes de cette question (Q) dans le cadre des rapports Homme/Nature via une analyse de la Modernité. Nous en déduisons 3 approches-types de Q : une Moderne Orthodoxe centrée sur l’objectivation et incluant notamment la valeur d’existence ; une Moderne renvoyant à l’Ethique Environnementale, où les entités non-humaines sont subjectivées via la valeur intrinsèque ; une a-Moderne Ecologique Relationnelle. Nous montrons ensuite que la ligne narrative centrale de la comptabilité financière est celle du maintien d’un capital – Fundiste, Matérialiste ou monétaire. Nous redéfinissons ainsi la notion de capital de manière étendue et construisons un Modèle Comptable Intégratif (MCI), systématisant l’extension des états financiers à tout capital à partir du principe de maintien des capitaux. Nous relions finalement l’intégration d’EEPM selon chaque approche-type au maintien de certains capitaux et appliquons le MCI à ceux-ci pour obtenir des modèles comptables répondant de façon méthodique à Q. / This thesis studies the integration of environmental entities for their own sakes (EEOS) in external corporate accounting. We firstly place our question (Q) in the framework of Human – Nature relationships, through an analysis of Modernity. This leads us to define 3 generic approaches of Q: a Modern Orthodox one, focused on objectification and which includes in particular the existence value; a Modern one which refers to Environmental Ethics, where non-human entities are subjectified through the intrinsic value; an a-Modern Relational Ecological one. Then we prove that the fundamental narrative of financial accounting is the one of the maintenance of a capital – Fundist, Materialist or monetary. Thus we redefine the notion of capital in an extended way and we elaborate an Integrative Accounting Model (IAM), which systematises the expansion of financial statements to every capital from the capital maintenance principle. We finally connect the integration of EEOS, according to the different generic approaches, to the maintenance of some capitals and we apply the IAM to these capitals in order to obtain accounting models which respond to Q in a systematic way.

The aim of this thesis is to evaluate to what extent Canada and Alberta have been fulfilling the principles of sustainable development as they have adopted in the 1990s from the essential U.N. documents - the Brundtland Report and the Rio Declaration- and to what extent both governments failed in providing and enforcing efficient environmental law protection as it is the basic premise for achieving sustainability. I assessed this level of sustainability in Canada and Alberta on the basis of a stronger and weaker sustainability theoretical framework. Author's presumption was that Canada, as it defined sustainable development in its legislation, acted according to stronger sustainability, which emphasizes stronger protective environmental measures. Given a very large scope of environmental impacts of oil extraction on different ecosystems, the sector of water resources was selected to serve as a case study to compare and analyze government and alternative reports assessing the sustainability of water management. Thus, the author follows how the oil industry in Alberta affects the water resources and how both governments of Canada and Alberta provide environmental protection to the water resources. In this respect the author illustrates how the government is reluctant towards the implementation of...

The objective of this study was to develop an understanding of the effects of the construction of hydro dams on nearby communities. The construction of the 400 megawatt Bui dam (8o16I 42II N, 2o143I 9 I I W) in Ghana has inundated seven communities and nearly a quarter of Bui National Park, including the destruction of community resources that provide for the livelihood needs of the people living near the dam. The dam led to the resettlement of seven communities, coordinated by the Bui Power Authority. Concerns expressed about the resettlement process indicate some weakness in stakeholder consultations relating to the resettlement, as well as weakness in the development of opportunities to address the anticipated effects of the Bui dam, including effects on community assets. These issues were examined through a study of how the construction of Bui Dam was perceived by local communities representing several ethnic-linguistic groups, including the Ewe, Mo, and Nafana. A mixed methods approach was used in the research, including document analysis, quantitative interviews of 329 households, key informant interviews with 22 households, and case studies of four families, including two families each from resettled and non-resettled communities. Data was obtained from 13 nearby communities, 7 of which had been relocated because of the dam. The study considered examined how the Bui Dam was perceived to influence seven capital assets: cultural; natural; social; human; political; physical; and financial. Overall, people perceive these capital assets to be decreasing in most aspects as a result of the Bui Dam, with some variability among households. This variability was explored through analysis of a number of predictor variables: relocation, ethnicity, livelihood type, age, and gender. Villages not relocated tended to perceive effects less negatively, as did people of Nafana ethnicity, and those who rely mainly on a farming livelihood. Gender and age had little effect: gender mediated effects on some aspects of social and political capital, while age affected only some aspects of cultural capital. Further analysis through the use of multiple regression analysis was undertaken to determine the relative influence of each of these predictor variables. Overall, each multiple regression analysis was significant, with high R squared values ranging from 0.761 to 0.260. The most powerful predictor was whether communities had been relocated or not (“relocate”), which was significantly related to each capital asset, with beta values ranging from 0.826 to 0.418. “Livelihood” was the next most important predictor variable, significantly related to all capital assets and with beta values varying from 0.520 to 0.231. “Ethnicity” was a significant predictor for four of seven capital assets, with beta values ranging from 0.133 to 0.055. “Gender” was a significant predictor variable for two of seven capital assets (social capital, with a beta value of 0.084, and political capital, with a beta value of 0.119). “Age” was a significant variable for just one capital asset (cultural), with a beta value of 0.038. In summary, this study is consistent with other studies that have examined the effect of dams on the livelihoods of nearby communities in that for most households the consequences have been negative, although not as severe for those households that were not forced to relocate, people of Nafana ancestry, or people who rely mainly on farming. The presence of Bui National Park may have moderated these negative effects somewhat, through employment provided in the park; and through ecosystem services such as vegetative cover in the park supporting cloud formation and rain occurrence / Graduate / 0366 / 0534 / 0628 / jonesarthur2002@yahoo.co.uk

Le Pérou, extrêmement riche en minerais, connaît depuis les années 2000 une forte croissance économique. Àla question de savoir si sa richesse minérale condamne le Pérou à la malédiction des ressources naturelles, nousrépondons que ce n’est pas le cas à l’heure actuelle, mais nous mettons en évidence une forte dépendance vis-à-visde l’activité minière. La question centrale est celle du développement durable de l’activité minière. La mesure dela dépréciation du capital minier (dcm) est l’indicateur fondamental pour évaluer la situation. Diverses méthodesd’estimation existent, mais notre analyse microéconomique basée sur la règle de Hotelling fournit une valeurd’environ 7 % du pib sur la période 2000–2008, soit le double de l’approximation donnée par la Banque Mondiale.Nous proposons d’intégrer la dcm aux indicateurs macroéconomiques traditionnels, ce qui permet de mettreen évidence la surestimation de la croissance économique. Conformément à la règle de Hartwick, il apparaîtclairement que le développement péruvien n’est pas durable ; les revenus miniers ne compensent pas la dcmet ne sont pas réinvestis en faveur du développement du pays. Il faudrait donc taxer les entreprises minières àhauteur de la dcm, et créer un fonds de ressources naturelles. Nos résultats montrent qu’épargner seulement 8 %de la dcm permettrait d’atteindre un revenu durable pour les générations futures. La création d’un tel fonds deressources naturelles aurait également pour avantage de réduire l’instabilité macroéconomique et de promouvoirune meilleure gouvernabilité. / Since the 2000s, Peru, a country extremely rich in minerals has experienced strong economic growth. WouldPeru be condemned to the resource curse because of its mineral wealth? For now this is not the case; howeverwe point up a strong dependence upon the mining sector. The main question relates to the sustainability of themining industry. The mineral depletion rate is a fundamental indicator to assess the situation. To calculate this,there are many forecasting methods available ; our microeconomic analysis based on the Hotelling rule providesa value of around 7 % of gdp for the period between 2000 and 2008, which represents double the estimation ofthe World Bank.We recommend the mineral depletion be taken into account when calculating traditional macroeconomic indicators;it would highlight the overestimation of economic growth. According to the Hartwick rule, it is clearthat Peruvian development is not sustainable; mining revenues do not offset the mineral depletion and are notreinvested in the development of the country. Therefore, the solution should be to tax mining companies at alevel equivalent to that of depletion and, with the new income, to create a natural resource fund. Saving only8 % of the mineral depletion would suffice to generate sustainable rent for futures generations. In addition, thecreation of a natural resource fund would reduce macroeconomic instability and enforce better governance.

Au Brésil, la canne à sucre sert de matière première à la fabrication de sucre, de carburant, et d’électricité. Ce modèle industriel a permis au pays d’ériger en avantage compétitif sa productivité en biomasse. Il a été promu en Afrique mais la majorité des projets d’agroénergies y a été un échec. Ce constat pose la question de l’intérêt du modèle au Brésil et du rôle des agroénergies dans une stratégie de développement. Notre analyse pose le « modèle brésilien » comme Système d’Innovation Technologique - le SIT de la canne - dont nous analysons la trajectoire de long terme afin d’en saisir les déterminants de succès et d’échec ainsi que le rôle socio-économique historique. Il se structure depuis la fin du XIXème et sert une stratégie de diversification des marchés de la canne à sucre par l’importation, l’adaptation et la diffusion des technologies nécessaires à l’essor de ces nouveaux marchés. La filière biocarburant a en particulier nécessité de créer un système technologique alternatif. Le soutien public a été déterminant dans l’évolution du SIT de la canne, façonnée par les crises sociales et économiques du pays. Par le SIT de la canne, le Brésil a pu former son capital humain à la valorisation du capital naturel, cela lui permet aujourd’hui d’expérimenter une conversion agroécologique du mode de culture, afin de régénérer le capital naturel sol.Notre analyse du modèle brésilien nous permet de préciser la fonction des agroénergies dans une stratégie de développement : elles sont avant tout un outil de soutien à l’économie agricole. Au regard de cela nous analysons les facteurs d’échecs des projets africains de jatropha-énergie et formulons une proposition pour la structuration d’un SIT des agroénergies adapté aux enjeux de développement de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, que nous proposons d’adosser à la filière oléagineuse. / In Brazil, sugar cane is used as a raw material for the production of sugar, fuel, and electricity. This industrial model has enabled the country to build a competitive advantage on the biomass productivity of its soils. It has been promoted in Africa but the majority of African bioenergy projects have been a failure. This raises the question of the interest of the model in Brazil, of the role of bioenergy in a development strategy.The Brazilian model is a Technological Innovation System, the sugar cane TIS, which we analyze in the long term. Since the end of the 19th century, it has been structured to import, adapt and spread technologies in order to diversify sugar cane markets. The biofuel sector required the creation of an alternative technological system, financed by the State through the Proalcool Program (1975 to 1985); Created to absorb the surpluses of the sugar sector and for the energy security of the country. Public support was key in the evolution of the TIS, forged in the wake of the country's social and economic crises. The sugar cane TIS has enabled Brazil to train its human capital in the valorization of natural capital, which enables it today to experiment a new change : the agroecological conversion of the cane cultivation model, that would allow regenerating the Natural Capital soil. Based on our analysis of the Brazilian model we formulate an analysis of the factors of failure of the African jatropha biofuel projects and make a proposal for the structuring of a biofuel TIS adapted to West Africa stakes of development, which we suggest to back up to the oilseed chain. / No Brasil, a cana-de-açúcar é utilizado como matéria-prima na fabricação de açúcar, combustível e eletricidade. Este modelo de negócio tem permitido ao país para transformar a produtividade de biomassa de seu solo em uma vantagem competitiva. Ele foi promovido na África, mas a maioria dos projetos de agroenergia africanos houve uma falha. Isso levanta a questão do interesse do modelo no Brasil, bem como o papel da bioenergia em uma estratégia de desenvolvimento. O modelo brasileiro é um Sistema de Inovação Tecnológica, o SIT da cana, que analisamos a longo prazo. Ele é estruturado desde o final do século XIX para importação, adaptação e difusão de tecnologias afim de diversificar os mercados de cana. O setor do etanol combustível tem necessidade de um sistema tecnologia alternativa, financiado pelo governo através do Programa Proálcool (1975-1985); ele foi criado para absorver os excedentes do sector do açúcar e para a segurança energética do país. O apoio público tem sido fundamental para a evolução do SIT, foi forjada pelas crises sociais e económicas do país. Hoje o SIT da cana-de-açúcar experimenta um modelo de produção agroecológica para o cultivo da cana, ele deveria ser capaz de regenerar o capital natural. Nossa análise do modelo brasileiro nos permite fazer uma análise dos fatores de não-sucesso dos projetos africanos de produção de biocombustível de jatropha. Nós formular uma proposta de estruturação de um SIT da agroenergia Oeste Africano adaptado às questões de desenvolvimento locais, propomos a ser associado ao setor oleaginosa.

This study is non-empirical and is based on the conceptualisations and theoretical foundations that gave rise to the global issue of sustainable development. It also traces the evolution and meaning of sustainable development in the South African socio-cultural context, and shows how the legacies of colonialism and apartheid contributed towards the national policy of sustainable development. This study explains the reasons for the presence (or lack) of sustainable development paradigms in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa, as well as their implications for the future development of the country as a whole. There is also an analysis of the effects of the liberalisation of the water sector on the citizenry, and how this can disempower millions of poor South Africans. Finally, this study offers solutions for the lack of sustainable use of water in South Africa. Amongst the findings and conclusions are the deleterious effects of employment equity, cut-backs in municipal funding that resulted in the outsourcing of critical services such as water provision, and the deployment of party cadres to local councils. / Human Resources / M.A. (Development Studies)

This study is non-empirical and is based on the conceptualisations and theoretical foundations that gave rise to the global issue of sustainable development. It also traces the evolution and meaning of sustainable development in the South African socio-cultural context, and shows how the legacies of colonialism and apartheid contributed towards the national policy of sustainable development. This study explains the reasons for the presence (or lack) of sustainable development paradigms in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa, as well as their implications for the future development of the country as a whole. There is also an analysis of the effects of the liberalisation of the water sector on the citizenry, and how this can disempower millions of poor South Africans. Finally, this study offers solutions for the lack of sustainable use of water in South Africa. Amongst the findings and conclusions are the deleterious effects of employment equity, cut-backs in municipal funding that resulted in the outsourcing of critical services such as water provision, and the deployment of party cadres to local councils. / Human Resources / M.A. (Development Studies)