Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M. Env. St.)--University of Adelaide, Mawson Graduate Centre for Environmental Studies, 1991. / Appendices in pocket. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-129).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1992. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-170). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Acadia University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-141). Also available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

The history and development of National Park Systems in Canada and the United States are traced over the last 120 years, and the policies determining their management are examined and compared to identify basic similarities and differences. Official government reports and policy statements, historical records, and pertinent books, articles, and bulletins were used as references for the study. Emphasis is placed on recent history and existing policies. It is concluded that the philosophies governing National Parks policy have been, and still are, significantly different, and as a result, the National Park Systems of the two countries differ both physically and conceptually. United States policy has traditionally reflected a greater public and administrative concern for the protection of natural environments within the National Parks. As a result, attempts are being made to reduce the purely recreational character of the National Parks, and to divert the recreationists to other types of areas, such as National Recreation Areas and National Seashores. In recent years, concerted attempts to alienate areas within the parks have been defeated, primarily through the existence of a strong preservationist movement in the country. The establishment of the National Wilderness Preservation System demonstrates a widespread recognition of natural area preservation as a nationally significant land use. In Canada, National Parks policy has been much less concerned with nature preservation and protection. The provision of public recreation has gradually become the dominant theme of Canadian National Parks policy, with concern for natural areas only recently emerging. No widespread preservationist philosophy has existed in Canada. Despite Canada's lower population, recreation facilities and accommodations in the parks are generally more elaborate and extensive than in the United States. In general terms, the thrust of policy in Canada has been to preserve a quasi-natural setting for enjoying recreational activities, while in the United States, policy has been directed towards preserving and maintaining natural environments. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

M.Sc. / The establishment of conservancies and collaborative nature reserves is often promoted without understanding the impact that such initiatives have on the environment, the wildlife and landowners. This tack of knowledge has resulted in the landowners' non-awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of establishing such entities and often leads to disillusionment. A conservancy is established by informal agreement between various landowners to enhance the conservation status of a specific area without affecting the owners' individual rights. A collaborative nature reserve is established as a result of a format agreement between landowners to manage and administer their collective land as a single unit. The agreement typically addresses issues such as the management systems, the methods to be utilised for income generation, the distribution of surpluses amongst landowners and the rights and privileges applicable to the landowners. The scope of this study has been limited to the establishment of conservancies and collaborative nature reserves between game ranchers and existing game ranches. A literature study was undertaken to determine the advantages and disadvantages of establishing collaborative nature reserves, including a comparative analysis of large versus small conservation areas. Practical research was done to determine the implications, advantages, disadvantages and landowners' perceptions pertaining to the establishment of collaborative nature reserves. The practical research was done by personal observation methods as well as the use of questionnaires. An existing and successful collaborative nature reserve was studied intensively to meet these objectives. This reserve includes the land of twelve individual landowners and also forms part of a greater conservancy. The establishment of collaborative nature reserves can solve the problems created by separate game ranches, especially that of the compartmentalisation of grazing areas for game. Careful pre-planning can surmount the negative aspects of establishing collaborative !lature reserves and the advantages can be maximally utilised.

This study attempts to provide detailed analysis of materials gathered from various sources and to an orderly presentation of facts and figures regarding railway construction in China.

No description available.