Introduces a mini-symposium on the re-regulation of resource sectors at the regional and local scales. The articles in the symposium illustrate some of the ways geographers are attempting to grapple with the complex unfolding relationships between nature, economy, society and the state at the subnational scale. Argues that geographical research, deliberately focusing on the subnational despite current predilections for all things global, can help to challenge some taken-for-granted categories and assumptions in the social sciences regarding such issues as the relationship between society, economy, state and nature and, in particular, the current interest in "environmental governance". (Quotes from original text)
The ongoing neoliberalization of local and regional economies is contributing to quite profound changes in the ways resources, land uses, and nature are managed. Consider in this regard the changing role of the state1 within North America and Europe. For a good part of the 20th century, state intervention in land‐use planning, resource management, and nature conservation was motivated primarily by national development goals, including a desire to ensure the territorial‐economic integrity of the nation state. Although there is always variation within countries resulting from such factors as the uneven spatial distribution of natural resources, the variety of arrangements for allocating powers and responsibilities among territorial units of government, and different cultural attitudes toward nature, there was nonetheless a discernible trend toward the nationalization (Europe) or federalization (United States) of resource management, land‐use planning, and nature conservation. At the very least, in most countries the state played a strong coordinating, regulatory, and financial role in relation to the management of nature within its territory.
An introductory essay to a mini-symposium, "Geographic Perspectives on Environmental Governance," points out how the neoliberalization of local/regional economies has contributed to far-reaching changes in the management of resources, land uses, & nature. Shifts in the role of North American & European states are discussed, along with the tendency for social scientists to lump together trends in land-use planning, resource extraction, & nature conservation under "environmental governance." The symposium articles were originally presented at the 2000 Annual Meeting of the Assoc of American Geographers in a session devoted to "Governing Spaces of Nature in the New Economy." The contributors highlight attempts by geographers to shed light on the complex relationships between nature, economy, society, & the state, especially at the sub-national level. Attention is also given to spatial tendencies that influence location under capitalism, including the geographical dispersal of production activities related to mass production/labor "de-skilling," & the reorganization of firms/industries within localized groups of specialized activities. A synopsis of each article is presented. 6 References. J. Lindroth
This study looks at the adaptation and implementation of the E.I.T.I principles in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and assesses whether governance through transparency and accountability practices in its extractive sector have improved. It relies on 18 interviews with stakeholders implicated in the E.I.T.I implementation, a literature review, and reports from various stakeholders. The analysis of data is based on Michel Foucault's theory of governmentality as well as a review of key concepts such as transparency, accountability and governance. The study uncovers that a culture of transparency and democratic debate is gradually gaining ground, although there is still too much resistance that prevents the E.I.T.I from leading to profound changes in policies in the extractive sector. In line with the previous studies, the E.I.T.I institutional and operational goals are progressing at the macro level of institutions but progress is almost inexistent at the micro-level. It concludes that in the DRC, E.I.T.I's development goals are far from being achieved because all stakeholders do not fully understand the standard's objectives. The study proposes that government sticks to E.I.T.I's guidelines in administrating mining revenue's, setting clear and measurable targets, implementing efficient data collection systems, put together a review system mechanism, and set up a punishment/reward mechanism that works. In sum, this study contributes to the field of natural resource management by pointing out that internal motivation, internal capacity, and external pressure appear to facilitate or limit the success of the global standard in solving the resource curse in poor countries that are rich in natural resources.
The Swedish government has set the goal of taking a pioneer role and targeting a transition towards 100% renewable energy use until 2040. To reach this goal, the focus in energy production is shifting towards solar, hydro as well as wind power. Since 2010, wind power in Sweden is a fast-growing industry, promoted as one solution to reach climate goals and ensure more sustainability. Nevertheless, wind power is also criticised and the cause of several land-use conflicts all over Sweden. When it comes to the northern Swedish counties, wind power plants are overlapping with traditional Sámi herding districts. Especially here critical questions regarding a misrecognition of indigenous rights as well as the meaning and implications of justice in the current transition are raised. This Master thesis addresses the current development of wind farming on Sámi lands in northern Sweden within the energy transition and sheds light on wind-power related conflicts. Therefore, the analytical frameworks environmental justice (EJ) and frame theory (FA) are used, to identify and explain tensions and map possible leverage points. The thesis combines an empirically grounded approach to explore how actors actively involved in wind farming make meaning of environmental justice, and a theory-driven approach to identify leverage points and map injustices. For this reason, in total two methods are used to collect the empirical data material: semi-structured interviews (subjected to FA) as well as a literature review (subjected to the EJ framework). The results of the frame analysis show that within the actors actively involved in wind farming four different frames can be uncovered, which lead to differing problem definitions as well as suggested solutions. The identified frames cover due to their agenda-setting character not all injustices that were derived from literature review. Furthermore, within the frames several normative dilemmas and tensions were observed, that raise the necessity to reflect on existing frames as well as on the ...
Human-elephant conflicts (HEC) in Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) range countries have been increasing during the past half-century and are a major conservation issue for governments. Research suggests studying the spatio-temporal behavioural patterns of E. maximus could indicate behavioural preferences and help mitigate such conflicts. These behavioural preferences could be influenced by factors such as seasonal and lunar cycles, and habitat type. This study aims to determine at what degree these influencing factors are driving E. maximus behaviour and HEC. Considering previous studies on seasonal and lunar cycles and habitat utilisation affecting E. maximus' behaviour and HEC it asks; How do these factors influence E. maximus behaviour and HEC events? Considering these factors, are there any correlations between HEC events and behaviour observed within an adjacent protected forest complex? HEC event data was obtained from the Wang Mee district; a community adjacent to a protected area, the Dong Phayayen – Khao Yai – forest complex in Thailand. This community has undergone increasing HEC in recent years. The data was analysed to identify the effects of the aforementioned factors on HEC frequency. Furthermore, camera trap data within the forest complex are also utilised to analyse the effects of these factors on behaviour, such as changes in the observations of E. maximus' mean distance to forest borders and habitat utilisation measured with relative abundance index (RAI). Analysis of data indicates a significant correlation between lunar and seasonal cycles and HEC events. HEC events were greater during hot and monsoon compared with the cold season. The RAI of E. maximus observations at forest borders were also significantly higher during hot season when compared to RAI at greater distances. First and last quarter moon phases indicated a significant increase in HEC in general. Seasonal and lunar cycles also determined the selection of mixed deciduous forest habitats, indicating a general increase in utilisation during the cold season. Utilisation during the cold season also varied greatly depending on the lunar cycle – increasing during the first quarter and lowest during full moon phases, indicating high variability. The results indicate that studying habitat selection preferences and seasonal and lunar cycles are important factors for park and HEC managers when mitigating conflicts. By understanding E. maximus' behaviour and habitat needs managers can better plan for effective management and HEC mitigation.
Sweden strives for adaptive wildlife management. With the introduction of new technologies and methodologies, adaptive management must be resilient and efficient in implementing and trying these, to truly stay adaptive. One of the most widely used technologies within Swedish wildlife management is camera traps, as they are a relatively cheap and unintrusive means of monitoring wildlife. In this report, I focus on the practical and theoretical development and implementation of camera traps. By conducting qualitative, key informant interviews with Swedish wildlife managers, I provide insight into managers' thoughts on and experiences with implementation of camera traps specifically and new technologies and methodologies more generally, and into their views on the challenges that Swedish wildlife management may face today, and in the future. The analysis revealed concerns in communication of information, knowledge, experiences, and technology uses between involved stakeholders, as well as issues in the coordination of methodological and technological development and implementation. Efficient communication and coordination are vital in maintaining a functional approach to adaptive wildlife management with fundamental knowledge amongst all stakeholders. The adaptive management framework and practical implementation needs careful work to obtain these functions. The analysis also revealed frustration amongst wildlife managers concerning the legislation around the use of new technologies. As adaptive management is reliant on a trial-and-error approach, legislation must be adapted to allow for new tools and methods to be tried in order to meet current and future management demands.
Not Available ; International think-tank, such as "Our Common Future' in 1987, the Rio Declaration' and 'Agenda 21' in 1992, and the Johansberg Declaration ' in 2002, have created recognition that concerted efforts are needed to develop sustained land use practices to minimize further harm to natural resources. Maintaining and enhancing the quality of natural resources have emerged as key issues globally (World Bank, 2001). Control over the use of resources on land has emerged as significant issues in natural resource management (Yencken and Wilkinson, 2000), and the land use planning system provides an opportunity to control land use, further conservation of natural resources. The challenge faced by natural resource management agencies either governmental or non- governmental will involve changing perceptions over how land is used (Mitchell et al., 2004). ; Not Available
The forest is considered a national asset in which many values must coexist. As a consequence, conflicts arise between different interests. Since the 1950s, clear-cutting has been the most common way of forest management in Sweden. Reindeer husbandry is negatively affected when the forest is clear-cut and is therefore in need of the forest to be managed in other ways than today. At the same time, the government wants to increase the proportion of continuous cover forestry. Chequered-Gap-Shelterwood-System is a forestry method that is regarded as a continuous cover forestry. Using a grid pattern, half the area is harvested while the rest is left to be harvested at a later time. This method is currently only available at the experimental level but is said to combine benefits from both clear-cutting and continuous cover forestry. The overall purpose of the study is to map whether Chequered-Gap-Shelterwood-System can reduce the conflict between forestry and reindeer husbandry. Through semi-structured interviews with three reindeer herders and three employees at forest companies, two main issues were studied. One was about their attitude towards the method and the other about how they thought it would be best applied. An interesting result is the perception that the method can benefit the snow conditions and the treelichen's dispersibility in relation to clear felling. The conclusion is that the attitude towards Chequered-Gap-Shelterwood-System is surprisingly positive and the analyse is that the method has the potential to reduce the conflict between the two industries. Application of the method can be used in areas that are important for reindeer husbandry and as a substitute for clear-cutting. The time between the harvests must be at least long enough for the regeneration in the openings to have time to grow above the snow cover. ; Skogen är en nationell tillgång och i den ska många värden rymmas, som en konsekvens uppstår konflikter mellan olika intressen. Sedan 1950-talet har trakthyggesbruk varit det vanligaste sättet att bruka skog i Sverige. Rennäringen påverkas negativt när skogen kalavverkas och är därför i behov av att skogen brukas på andra sätt än idag, samtidigt vill regeringen öka andelen hyggesfritt skogsbruk. Schackrutehuggning är en skogsbruksmetod som räknas som hyggesfritt skogsbruk. Metoden går ut på att skogen brukas i ett rutmönster, där halva arealen avverkas medan resten får stå kvar tills vidare. Denna metod finns idag endast på försöksnivå men sägs kombinera fördelar från både kalhuggning och hyggesfritt skogsbruk. Studiens övergripande syfte är att kartlägga om schackrutehuggning kan mildra konflikten mellan skogsbruk och renskötsel. Genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med tre renskötare och tre anställda på skogsbolag studerades två huvudfrågor. Den ena handlade om deras inställning till metoden och den andra om hur de ansåg att den bäst skulle tillämpas. Ett intressant resultat är uppfattningen att metoden kan gynna snöförhållanden och spridning av hänglav i förhållande till kalhuggning. Slutsatsen är att inställningen till schackrutehuggning är överraskande positiv och metoden har potential att mildra konflikten mellan de två näringarna. Tillämpning av metoden kan användas i områden som är viktiga för renskötsel och som en ersättning till kalhuggning. Tiden mellan avverkningarna ska åtminstone vara tillräckligt lång för att föryngringen i luckorna ska hinna växa upp ovanför snötäcket.
The Canadian federal government has introduced policy to phase out coal-fired electricity generation by 2030, as part of its climate change mitigation commitments under the Paris Agreement. The policy plan, positioned as a just transition, includes funding and measures to help workers and communities manage economic difficulties arising from the coal phaseout. Sustainability transitions, however, are rarely a purely economic process, as changes in demographics, values, norms and meanings may also ensue. Understanding this process as one of symbolic coping, wherein coal communities must socially come to terms with the phaseout and the resulting threat to their identities, adds another dimension to the just transition concept. This study aimed to better understand the social-psychological processes of sense-making in sustainability transitions, by investigating how coal communities are understanding and coping with the coal phaseout, and how social representations of the coal industry are transforming as a result. Social representations theory (SRT) was the main conceptual framework used, as it explores group-level common-sense understandings, which can be useful in analyzing processes of disruption or transition. Through qualitative case study research in two coal producing communities in Saskatchewan, one of four Canadian provinces affected by the coal phaseout, I explored the dynamics of the social representation of the local coal industry. Using the central core approach to SRT, I identified a core element based in shared history, stability and prosperity, which seemed to provide a foundation for making sense of the coal phaseout policy. From this foundation, I found two models of social representation transformation, resisting and progressive, implicating a split in the social representation of community life after coal. With this theoretical application, I explored social implications of the Canadian coal phaseout, illustrated a model of social representation transformation, and demonstrated a framework that can be applied to transition research in other contexts. I also discussed potential governance implications for designing just transition policies.
