Suchergebnisse

Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) are one of the three new greening measures of the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). We used an interdisciplinary and European-scale approach to evaluate ecological effectiveness and farmers" perception of the different EFA options. We assessed potential benefits of EFA options for biodiversity using a survey among 88 ecologists from 17 European countries. We further analyzed data on EFA uptake at the EU level and in eight EU Member States, and reviewed socio-economic factors influencing farmers" decisions. We then identified possible ways to improve EFAs. Ecologists scored field margins, buffer strips, fallow land, and landscape features as most beneficial whereas farmers mostly implemented "catch crops and green cover", nitrogen-fixing crops, and fallow land. Based on the expert inputs and a review of the factors influencing farmers" decisions, we suggest that EFA implementation could be improved by a) prioritizing EFA options that promote biodiversity (e.g. reducing the weight or even excluding ineffective options); b) reducing administrative constraints; c) setting stricter management requirements (e.g. limiting agrochemical use); and d) offering further incentives for expanding options like landscape features and buffer strips. We finally propose further improvements at the next CAP reform, to improve ecological effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.

Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) are one of the three new greening measures of the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). We used an interdisciplinary and European-scale approach to evaluate ecological effectiveness and farmers' perception of the different EFA options. We assessed potential benefits of EFA options for biodiversity using a survey among 88 ecologists from 17 European countries. We further analyzed data on EFA uptake at the EU level and in eight EU Member States, and reviewed socio-economic factors influencing farmers' decisions. We then identified possible ways to improve EFAs. Ecologists scored field margins, buffer strips, fallow land, and landscape features as most beneficial whereas farmers mostly implemented "catch crops and green cover," nitrogen-fixing crops, and fallow land. Based on the expert inputs and a review of the factors influencing farmers' decisions, we suggest that EFA implementation could be improved by (a) prioritizing EFA options that promote biodiversity (e.g., reducing the weight or even excluding ineffective options); (b) reducing administrative constraints; (c) setting stricter management requirements (e.g., limiting agrochemical use); and (d) offering further incentives for expanding options like landscape features and buffer strips. We finally propose further improvements at the next CAP reform, to improve ecological effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.

Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) are one of the three new greening measures of the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). We used an interdisciplinary and European-scale approach to evaluate ecological effectiveness and farmers' perception of the different EFA options. We assessed potential benefits of EFA options for biodiversity using a survey among 88 ecologists from 17 European countries. We further analyzed data on EFA uptake at the EU level and in eight EU Member States, and reviewed socio-economic factors influencing farmers' decisions. We then identified possible ways to improve EFAs. Ecologists scored field margins, buffer strips, fallow land, and landscape features as most beneficial whereas farmers mostly implemented "catch crops and green cover," nitrogen-fixing crops, and fallow land. Based on the expert inputs and a review of the factors influencing farmers' decisions, we suggest that EFA implementation could be improved by (a) prioritizing EFA options that promote biodiversity (e.g., reducing the weight or even excluding ineffective options); (b) reducing administrative constraints; (c) setting stricter management requirements (e.g., limiting agrochemical use); and (d) offering further incentives for expanding options like landscape features and buffer strips. We finally propose further improvements at the next CAP reform, to improve ecological effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. ; peerReviewed

Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) are one of the three new greening measures of the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). We used an interdisciplinary and European-scale approach to evaluate ecological effectiveness and farmers" perception of the different EFA options. We assessed potential benefits of EFA options for biodiversity using a survey among 88 ecologists from 17 European countries. We further analyzed data on EFA uptake at the EU level and in eight EU Member States, and reviewed socio-economic factors influencing farmers" decisions. We then identified possible ways to improve EFAs. Ecologists scored field margins, buffer strips, fallow land, and landscape features as most beneficial whereas farmers mostly implemented "catch crops and green cover", nitrogen-fixing crops, and fallow land. Based on the expert inputs and a review of the factors influencing farmers" decisions, we suggest that EFA implementation could be improved by a) prioritizing EFA options that promote biodiversity (e.g. reducing the weight or even excluding ineffective options); b) reducing administrative constraints; c) setting stricter management requirements (e.g. limiting agrochemical use); and d) offering further incentives for expanding options like landscape features and buffer strips. We finally propose further improvements at the next CAP reform, to improve ecological effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.

Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) are one of the three new greening measures of the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). We used an interdisciplinary and European-scale approach to evaluate ecological effectiveness and farmers" perception of the different EFA options. We assessed potential benefits of EFA options for biodiversity using a survey among 88 ecologists from 17 European countries. We further analyzed data on EFA uptake at the EU level and in eight EU Member States, and reviewed socio-economic factors influencing farmers" decisions. We then identified possible ways to improve EFAs. Ecologists scored field margins, buffer strips, fallow land, and landscape features as most beneficial whereas farmers mostly implemented "catch crops and green cover", nitrogen-fixing crops, and fallow land. Based on the expert inputs and a review of the factors influencing farmers" decisions, we suggest that EFA implementation could be improved by a) prioritizing EFA options that promote biodiversity (e.g. reducing the weight or even excluding ineffective options); b) reducing administrative constraints; c) setting stricter management requirements (e.g. limiting agrochemical use); and d) offering further incentives for expanding options like landscape features and buffer strips. We finally propose further improvements at the next CAP reform, to improve ecological effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.

In this report, we tested if viewing the body as an object (BAO; two forms: thin and curvaceous) and body as a process (BAP) on social media, and sociocultural attitudes regarding social media, directly affected women's state physical appearance anxiety. Women (N = 249; Mage = 23.81; SD = 5.68) completed an online experiment where they were randomly assigned to view BAO-thin, BAO-curvaceous, and BAP images. Viewing BAO-curvaceous images had no effect on women's state physical appearance anxiety. However, viewing BAO-thin and BAP images decreased women's state physical appearance anxiety. Further, this effect was stronger for women with greater internalization and awareness of body ideals conveyed by social media (i.e., high sociocultural attitudes). We conclude that sociocultural attitudes regarding social media may buffer the adverse effects of viewing BAO-thin images.

Family law is in an important position in community life, contributing to creating and realizing an orderly and harmonious society. Family law becomes very interesting to be studied and discussed with the aim of developing human resources so that it can be reformed to family members. Thus to keep a substantive eye on the issues that occur, the legislature hopes to reform family law that can serve as a buffer in people's lives. The research focuses on family law as a form of community social engineering to build and raise legal awareness and the state must be present to provide signs of all regulations issued by it.

The regional economic impacts of the U.S. Department of Energy's accelerated environmental cleanup plan are estimated for the major nuclear weapons sites in Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington. The analysis shows that the impact falls heavily on the three relatively rural regions around the Savannah River (SC), Hanford (WA), and Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (ID) sites. A less aggressive phase‐down of environmental management funds and separate funds toinvest in education and infrastructure in the regions helps buffer theimpacts on jobs, personal income, and gross regional product. Policy options open to the federal and state and local governments are discussed.

Preliminary Material /Robert Mark Silverman and Kelly L. Patterson -- Making Housing Policy Fairer and More Affordable in the U.S. /Robert Mark Silverman and Kelly L. Patterson -- Intergovernmental Enforcement of the Fair Housing Act: The Fair Housing Assistance Program /Eric M. Wilk , Charles M. Lamb and Nicholas R. Seabrook -- The Federal Courts and Fair Housing Policy: A Principal-Agent Interpretation /Nicholas R. Seabrook , Charles M. Lamb and Eric M. Wilk -- Fair Housing in the U.S. Real Estate Industry: Perceptions of Black Real Estate Professionals /Robert Mark Silverman -- Barriers to Fair Housing Policy Implementation: Finance, Regulation, and Public Opinion /J. Rosie Tighe -- The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit /Alex Schwartz -- Inclusionary Housing and Fair Housing /Dennis Keating -- What Should Housing Vouchers Accomplish? /David Varady -- Stuck in Buff alo, But Why?: Residential Spatial Patterns of Housing Choice Voucher Holders in a Rust Belt City /Kelly L. Patterson -- Should Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and Housing Choice Vouchers Be Fungible? /Kirk McClure -- The Historic Roots of the Crisis in Housing Affordability: The Case of Buffalo, New York, 1920–1950 /Henry Louis Taylor -- Segregation as a Driver of Subprime Lending and the Ensuing Economic Fallout /Gregory D. Squires -- Be It Ever So Humble, There's No Place Like Home: The Experiences of Low-Income, Minority Homebuyers /Anna Maria Santiago , George C. Galster , Cristina M. Tucker , Ana H. Santiago-San Roman and Angela A. Kaiser -- Index /Robert Mark Silverman and Kelly L. Patterson.

Alderson Creek (AC) is a small stream, approximately 2.4 km long, located about 100 kilometers from Kelowna, British Columbia. It passes through seven private properties that produce alfalfa-grass hay, raise cattle, horses and poultry. The creek and riparian corridor is substantially degraded, with sinking stream banks, siltation of the watercourse, loss of native riparian vegetation, and loss of fish habitat (Alderson Creek Remediation Plan, 2014). Channelization of the stream, lack of maintenance, as well as other inadequate management practices, have resulted in permanently flooded farmland (10.4 acre), cases of animals drowning in one part of the creek (due to unrestricted access for cattle) and disease problems such as foot rot for animals that are frequently in wet conditions. In 2014, landowners along the creek formed a non-profit society called the "Alderson Creek Restoration Environmental Society" (ACRES) to cooperatively address issues resulting from the state of the creek. In the same year, the proposal for a Group Environmental Farm Plan (GEFP) was submitted to BC Government. The plan proposed a set of solutions including fencing to keep cattle out of the creek, installing off-stream livestock watering and/or controlled livestock access to the stream, installing additional drainage infrastructure and planting natural vegetation to support the stream bank and provide shading and habitat. This document presents an accounting of the costs and benefits of the project. Some of these costs and benefits are experienced by the land owners themselves, while others impact the larger community. Riparian corridors in particular provide extensive environmental services which include water flow regulation, attractive visual aesthetics, and habitat for terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna. This study relies on the Benefit Transfer methodology to attach values to the expected ecosystem services after the restoration. The analysis was conducted for two possible project scenarios, a three meter and a five meter riparian buffer on either side of the creek. The lifetime of the project was taken to be 20 years and the net benefits (Benefits – Costs) were discounted using a 3% and 5% discount rate. Results showed positive net benefits for both scenarios when cash flows are discounted at 3%. Results suggest that a five meter riparian buffer results in the largest net benefit, calculated as Net Present Value (NPV= $53,422). With a three meter riparian buffer and using a 5% discount rate, net benefits are negative (NPV= - $5,865). The internal rate of return (IRR) for the three and five meter buffer scenarios was 4.64% and 5.41% respectively. ; Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences (Okanagan) ; Land and Food Systems, Faculty of ; Economics, Philosophy and Political Science, Department of (Okanagan) ; Unreviewed ; Faculty ; Graduate

Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Preface -- Foreword -- Contents -- Figures and Tables -- Executive Summary -- Acknowledgments -- Chapter One: Introduction -- Alternative Models -- Assessing and Accepting Risk -- Values and Interests -- Keeping Pace with Change -- Choices for America -- Chapter Two: The Global Economy -- Trends and Challenges -- Including or Excluding China -- Global Versus Regional Rule-Setting -- Chapter Three: National Defense -- Europe -- East Asia -- Counterterrorist Operations -- Nuclear Forces -- Counterinsurgency and Stability Operations -- Readiness -- Enhancing Allied Defenses -- Choices for Sizing the Defense Budget -- Chapter Four: Counterterrorism -- Tactical Versus Strategic Counterterrorism -- What Will Be Needed to Defeat ISIS? -- Picking Partners and Identifying Enemies -- Rebalancing Civil Liberties and Security -- Chapter Five: Cybersecurity -- U.S. Strengths and Vulnerabilities -- Things to Come -- Addressing Vulnerabilities -- Privacy Versus Security -- Limiting the Likelihood of Cyber War -- Chapter Six: Climate Change -- Potential Disruption -- Responses -- Challenges of Collective Action -- Lead or Follow on Emissions Reductions -- Current or New Multinational Path -- Chapter Seven: Europe -- Confronting or Engaging Russia -- Whither Ukraine: Partition or Neutral Buffer -- Addressing European Disintegration -- Chapter Eight: East Asia -- Accommodating Versus Containing China -- Isolating or Engaging North Korea -- Chapter Nine: Middle East and South Asia -- Engaging or Confronting Iran -- Ending the War in Syria -- Arab-Israeli Settlement -- Afghanistan and Pakistan: Staying or Going -- Chapter Ten: Rethinking American National Strategy -- Overlearning the Lessons of the Recent Past -- U.S. National Strategy -- Conclusion -- Abbreviations -- References.

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11 (2001) interest in the Russian oil sector has increased, particularly within the Bush administration. Russia is viewed as a potential buffer, if not substitute, for America's dependence on Middle Eastern oil. This paper presents an overview of the Russian oil sector & suggests that this optimistic vision is unlikely to be born out in reality. Incomplete attempts at legal & political reform continue to deter foreign investors, & the profits that drove Russian oil companies production gains in the late 1990s have all but evaporated. Russia also suffers from export infrastructure problems that could hamper its ability to play a meaningful role in the global market. This does not mean Russia cannot play any role in the evolving global oil market. Rather, Russia should consider its development strategy carefully, & US policymakers should accept that the Middle East will continue to dominate the global energy supply. 1 Table, 5 Figures. Adapted from the source document.

Unpublished data from the CPS were used to compare the rates of change in women's employment and female representation in craft occupations during periods of growth and recession in the 1970s and 1980s. Separate rates of change were computed for white and black women. Contrary to the expectations of "reserve army" or "buffer' theories, integration of elite blue-collar occupations continued despite economic downturn and the erosion of state support for affirmative action and nontraditional training. In fact, during the recession of the early 1980s, the pace of integration increased for both white and black women. Nevertheless, there was evidence of segmentation of women by race within skilled blue-collar work.

Allama Iqbal called Afghanistan the 'heart of Asia'. He predicted that if Afghanistan is in turmoil, entire Asia would be. To a greater extent, he was right due to Afghanistan's uncanny geo-political importance. Afghanistan as an organized nation state was born in 1709 when the Hotaki dynasty was established in Kandahar followed by Ahmad Shah Abdali rise to power in 1747.For the last four thousand years, Afghanistan act as a buffer or gateway for the invaders who want to reach India. Its inhabitants, the valiant Pashtuns or Afghans had effectively administered Indian subcontinent for the last several centuries. In 18th century, it was the only nation in the Indian Subcontinent that successfully checked the British advancement in Central Asia. In the late 19th century, Afghanistan became a buffer state in the 'Great Game' between the British and Russian empires. Following the Third Anglo-Afghan War of 1919 and the signing of the Treaty of Rawalpindi, King Amanullah started modernization of the country. He moved to end his country's traditional isolation by establishing diplomatic relations with the international community and, following a 1927–28 tour of Europe and Turkey, introduced several reforms intended to modernize his nation. A key force behind these reforms was Mahmud Tarzi, an ardent supporter of the education of women. He fought for Article 68 of Afghanistan's 1923 constitution, which made elementary education compulsory. Up to Soviet invasion Afghanistan bloomed as an educated and technologically advanced nation with remarkable literacy ratio.During the Cold War, after the withdrawal of the British from neighboring India in 1947, the United States and the Soviet Union began spreading their influences in Afghanistan. Between 1979 and 1989, the country experienced a major war between the US-backed mujahedeen forces and the Soviet-backed Afghan government in which over a million Afghans lost their lives. This was followed by the 1990s Afghan civil war, the rise and fall of the Taliban government and the 2001–present war. In December 2001, the United Nations Security Council authorized the creation of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to help maintain security in Afghanistan and assist the Karzai administration.The decades of war made Afghanistan the world's most dangerous country including the largest producer of refugees and asylum seekers. While the international community is rebuilding war-torn Afghanistan, terrorist groups backed by ISI as well as other global powers are actively involved in a nationwide insurgency which includes hundreds of assassinations and suicide attacks. In addition to this, the regular intervention of Afghanistan's neighboring nations in its internal politics has been one of the major reasons for the destabilization of the nation as well as mushrooming of terrorist activities in South Asia. The neighboring nations are culturing terrorists in order to gain a level of influence in the god forsaken nation. According to the United Nations; the insurgents were responsible for 80% of civilian casualties in 2011 and 2012.As far as the issues of Corruption and mal-governance are considered, it arises due to regular foreign intervention (in one way or the other) and civil war for the past 35 years which almost destroyed the very basic framework of the nation. The Soviet invasion indirectly gives rise to Warlordism which ultimately proved fatal for the common Afghan. Infinite number of travelogues and writings by western intellectual claims the fact that corruption in pre 1979 Afghanistan was far lower as compared to Iran and highly corrupt Pakistan. Ironically, the U.S. led occupation in the name of ensuring liberty and freedom to common Afghans proved instrumental in turning Afghanistan as one of the most corrupt nations on the planet. The Americans have failed in almost everything to made Afghanistan a peaceful state. The fundamental needs of common men were never addressed satisfactorily. Anthony H. Cordesman(September 2010), national security expert and a former Reagan Pentagon official, in a Center for Strategic and International Studies report entitled 'How America Corrupted Afghanistan' clearly stated that 'It is time that we as Americans — in government, in the media, and as analysts and academics — took a hard look at the causes of corruption in Afghanistan. The fact is that we are at least as much to blame for what has happened as the Afghans, and we have been grindingly slow to either admit our efforts or correct them.'In a nutshell, this paper will zero in on the deterioration of Afghanistan from a modern state to a collapsed corrupt nation. The paper will try to review its past, present as well as future and will try to search the answers that how a modern peaceful nation becomes the most chaotic and corrupt nation on the planet. As the nation has been heavily exploited by foreigners as well as the selfish rulers, a peaceful, strong and corruption free Afghanistan will be a boon for peace and prosperity in the South Asian region. Besides, the paper will made a rigorous attempt to explore the different forms of corruption prevalent in the contemporary Afghanistan and what steps must be taken to counter it.