Managing Protected Areas with Buffer Zone Management Initiatives in Nepal

Managing Protected Areas with Buffer Zone Management Initiatives in
Nepal

Ever growing population is one of the major causes that exerts pressure
in natural resources. This is a major set back in sustainable and
effective management of biodiversity conservation.

Buffer zone - International Perspective:

Buffer zone can reduce the damaging effect of human activities on
totally protected areas if we practice biodiversity conservation in buffer
zone around the protected area.One good example of a success storey is
the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park in Northern Congo.The key to success is
engaging the local communities and assisting them in their efforts to
improve their economic, social and political status.

In Thailand, International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) is
establishing a working model for effective buffer zone management at Kaeng
Krachan National Park.

In Nepal, with financial and technical support of UNDP, the Department
of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation implemented Park and People
Progrmme (PPP) and a follow - up Participatory Conservation Programme
(PCP) since 1995.The program has been phased out in December, 2006.The
programme has resulted in the improvement of park - people relationship
thereby leading to living in harmony with nature.Strengthening of
buffer zone institutions and promoting targeted community development
activities along with capacity development of the communities and protected
area staff.The buffer zone programme was grounded on the reality that
the community based participatory biodiversity conservation can only be
successful if people's participation is ensured in natural resource
management.The participatory conervation approach is entirely rooted on
the acceptance by the people making them the real stewards of
conservation.

Like in Nepal, most protected areas lie in world's poorest
countries.Most poverty is rural and protected areas lie in the same part of the
country.So the question rises as if the protected areas are for the rural
poor or for the rich urban elite or for the noted environmentalist who
always raise voice for environmental conservation !!??

Respected Aajans, dear bloggers and all my classmates, what are your
opinion ?? what is the situation in your respective countries?? Please
comment and suggest for better pro-poor protected area management tools
and practices from your own experiences as well..........

(note: This blog is posted by Bhoj, but shows alexk as blogger)

Men Talk about Weapons, Women about Food and Orphants

My close colleague who is an anthropologist told me the other day about the work of a group of anthropologists. Story goes like this:

They divided themselves into two groups to work (to just listen) in the two waring fractions in Africa somewhere. Both groups found out that what men talked about were the kind of weapons to be used and developed. As for women, their conversation was about food for their families: where are food sources available, and how to get them for my children and the family?

You can all make your own conclusion, I guess.

Women and Environment: Partners in Life

“Environment” totally uses in our life and our living needs. The importance of environment surrounds women – the family, the home and the locality because worldwide, women are the primary users and providers of natural resources for basic survival such as cooking, collecting fuel, wood, and water as well as agriculture and harvesting.

According to The Greenbook, National Assembly of Women and the Environment, “Why women and environment? Because women, as approximately half of the world’s population, through both action and inaction in environmental management, are critical determinants in advancing a sustainable future. Women, as managers, producers, and consumers are “managing” ecosystems, whether for good or ill. Throughout history women have operated as integrators, connectors, converters and managers of natural, and often limited, resources. Linking children and the elderly, homes and markets, production and domestic resource uses, and often converting raw materials to usable products, women are practitioners, major uses, consumers and experts in myriad ways that in the aggregate, determine many ecological capacities and qualities.

In your opinion, what do you think about the role of women in environment? And how are they related to each other?

How can we solve Global Land Degradation!

Land sources are finite, fragile and non-renewable. They include soil, which is mainly important for agriculture; land cover, which is important for the environment; and landscapes which are an important component of human habitat and welfare(GEO 3, Pg-62). Land degradation caused by human activities, has been a major global issue during the 20th century will remain high on the international agenda in the 21st century. Land degradation leads to a significant reduction of the productive capacity of land. Human activities contributing to land degradation include unsuitable agricultural land use, poor soil and water management practices, deforestation, removal of natural vegetation, frequent use of heavy machinery overgrazing, improper crop rotation and poor irrigation practices. It has been estimated that 23 per cent of all usable land(excluding mountains and deserts, for example) to reduce it productivity( UNEP 1992, Oldeman, Hakkeling and Sombroek 1990).

In the early 1990s about 910 million ha of land were classified as ‘moderately degraded’, with greatly reduced agricultural productivity. A total of 305 million ha of soils ranged between ‘ strongly degraded’(296 million ha) and ‘extremely degraded’(9 million ha, of which more than 5 million ha were in Africa). ‘Extremely degraded’ soils are beyond restoration(Oldeman, Hakkeling and Sombroek 1990).

Despite these compelling statistics on land degradation, some studies are beginning to question the data, arguing that degradation estimates are overstated. A major reason suggested for the over estimation of land degradation has been underestimation of the abilities of local farmers that ‘……experts need to discriminate more carefully between a naturally bad state, a temporary bad state and a degraded state of land’.

Distinguished Participants, what are your opinion about this debate and haw do you think, is land degradation inevitable? Why?

Global warming and our consciousness

Today, human beings are facing with global warming issue. That is, many reports were claimed and strictly alarmed about global climate change and its negative consequences (typhoon, sea level raising, drought, etc). We, human beings, have been strongly intervening in natural world. The marked increase in the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) since 1750 is the result of human activities; IPCC say “The global atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased from a pre-industrial value of about 280 ppm to 379 ppm3 in 2005” (IPCC 2007; Climate change report). The average increase of carbon dioxide is 26.4 gigatons in 2005 compared with 23.5 gigatons in 1990s. The world’s average surface temperature has increased by around 0.74°C over the past 100 years (1906-2005). Temperature will increase about 0.1oC of the next decade, it is accompanied with sea-level rise due to ocean expansion and glacier melts by the end of the century. Sea level will be 1 m in length by 2100 if global temperature will be continuously increased; Snow cover has decreased in many regions. Hurricanes are happening stronger and more frequently as well. Nations, environmentalists as well as environmental considered people have been contributing their efforts in order to reduce GHG (Green House Gases), for instance, Kyoto Protocol and the other positive activities in term of global warming resistance.
However, some nations have not ratified Kyoto Protocol yet. Four nations are yet to sign the Kyoto Protocol limiting carbon dioxide emissions: the US, Australia, Monaco and Liechtenstein (Tim Fannery, 2005; The Weather Makers). Paradoxically, The US is the largest emission maker in the world.
Why do these nations do not want to ratify Kyoto Protocol, even though nowadays we have all the technology to achieve a carbon-free economy and the others accepted it?
In my understanding, I think there is a lack of understanding and the pessimism and confusion generated by interest groups that is stopping us from going forward. And the awareness of people among communities about climate change is not strong enough to push high pressure to the political system on the right way. Furthermore, I think there are some differences in philosophy between The US as well as Australia and the Europe (Tim Fannery, 2005 The Weather Makers).
The US and Australian governments say they refuse to ratify Kyoto because of prohibitive cost. A strong economy, they believe, offers the best insurance against all future shocks, and both are hesitant to do anything that may slow economic growth. In The US and Australia, the citizens of both nations hold a deep belief about the benefits of endless growth and expansion. Both have large immigration programs and thus high population growth rates and this leads to enormous difficulties in adhering to the emission reductions required under Kyoto Protocol.
The second, people whose reluctance to tackle climate change think that Global warming creates an illusion of a comfortable. Moreover, cold has long been our greatest enemy from the beginning of humanity. In human being’s thinking, warmth is the essence of everything good - love, comfort and life itself. Our deep psychological is that warm might be good that brings about us to be deceived about the nature of climate change. Additionally, some interest groups who have exploited human blind spot to put many people into confusing consciousness.
In The US, with the election of Bush, the fossil fuel lobby became even more powerful, and it has been able to corrupt processes within the US bureaucracy and the soliciting of scientific advice. Basically, The President of The US, Gorge Bush, is descended from oil industrial company in Texas before elected in 2000. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/profile/george_w_bush.shtml).
Can his career affect his decision making in term of cutting down energy consumption and economic? If we were him, how do we think?
Australia is the world's largest exporter of coal .Humorously, Dr Robin Batterham who was a chief technologist of Rio Tinto which is the world’s largest mining company was appointed as a chief scientist of Australia government, and in this capacity advised on issues such as climate change.
Finally, the effect of energy corporations on political system is considerable as well as public’s awareness that “Global warming” is “business as usual”.
Fortunately, global warming is being seemly considered as a threat for human being at the moment and the future as well. “George Bush has recently recognized - at the G8 Gleneagles meeting - that climate change is caused by humans and is a problem which needs to be addressed. And in admitting that it is a problem, he is admitting to the existence of a very large problem indeed” (Tim Fannery, 2005 The Weather makers).
PS: Based on my understanding about this topic, I would like to receive your advices.
Posted by Mr. Kien-FERS, Mahidol University.

How can we move toward equitable and sustainable water resource management?

Why is water so important? It is vital for all living organisms and major ecosystems, human health, food production, and economic development. Despite its importance, water is one of our most poorly managed resources.

In Principles of Water Management for People and the Environment[1], Michael Acreman, of the United Kingdom Institute of Hydrology, notes that the lives of people and the environment are profoundly interlinked, especially in terms of water resources. He also presents ten principles of water management:

1. Value water (not just economically, but including other ecosystem and societal values)

2. Use water sustainably (use must be less than rate of replenishment)

3. Develop sustainable institutions to manage water (From international to local scales, noting that all stakeholders must contribute to ensure equitable allocation of water)

4. Collect and disseminate information (effective management requires sound information)

5. Maintain a social and cultural perspective (decision making must also take into account ethical, aesthetic and religious values)

6. Ensure equitable access to water (water resource development actions can benefit the few served directly, and penalize the many who are not served, or denied access due to water diversion)

7. Use appropriate technology (traditional approaches may be more suitable to the environments in which they were developed than some “modern” technologies transferred from other countries)

8. Try to solve causes not symptoms (but accept practical solutions)

9. Take an ecosystem approach (holistic approach must include integrated regional planning and conservation of critical habitats)

10. Work as multidisciplinary teams (a truly integrated holistic approach requires a wide range of expertise)

The author concludes that water management should “focus on the global ecosystem” (including people) “and not as a conflict against nature to supply water for people.”

Do you agree with the author’s conclusion? Why?

Please rank the ten principles in terms of what you feel are the most important and add any principles you feel are missing.

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[1] In Water and Population Dynamics: Case Studies and Policy Implications, Alex de Sherbinin and Victoria Dompkha, eds., American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Washington, D.C., 1998.

A New Way of Knowing (how to know)

Come and join this blog in a journey to explore a different way to "learn how to learn" about nature and reality out there. As the World in which we live is ever highly complex, rapidly changing, and full of crises, the "old" ways of knowing/learning must be challenged. As Einstien's widely cited argument states:
"Problem can not be solved at the same level of awareness that created it."

Challenging an Issue of Global Warming

In response to the challenges posted by Akompab below, your need to use scientific evidences to support your discussion. On this particular subject, you should be familiar with widely cited reports such as the Stern Report, and IPCC (International Panel for Climate Change) report No. 3 (the latest).

For myself, I find the environment section on the Independent, a leading UK newspaper, very useful. It has kept all reports and comments in the form of articles. I recommend you to look through these sources.

Additional request: I would like to ask each of you to please place your own photo in any comments you make.

The threats of glabal warming

Though the existence of a rise in average temperature since the 19th century is not disputed. Some people regard it as pseudoscience. The controversy focuses on specific cause of the recent warming and concentrates of the warming after the second world war.

Some see that it has not yet been asserted whether humans are the primary cause of global warming, while others attribute global warming to natural variations such as solar activities, ocean current, cosmic waves or unknown natural causes,with no related impact.

This issue has led to what is called Global Warming "YES"[for global emision reduction] and Global Warming" NO"[on business as usual] and is based on the "don't worry be happy"phylosophy.Fellow participants what are your opinions about this debate and why , also which strategy do you strive for and what are your reasons?

Posted by Akompab

How to Write a Good Academic Paper

How To Write a Good Academic Paper

For those who take Global Environmental Issues, you are reminded tha t you need to write one paper on the topic provided in the course syllabus. This is in addition to your facilitation in the Blog.

Some tips for writing an academic paper:

· Give a nice and attractive title of the paper (Good titile should reflect your thesis statement below);

· State your thesis (a thesis is a statement of your main argument, purpose, and goal of your paper);

· Give proper citation of sources where appropriate;

· Use headings and sub-headings to keep readers' constant attention;

· On introduction or background, state the central debate of the issue or topic you are discussing;

· State your position under the debate (i.e., agree or disagree, support or argue, etc.);

· In total, it should not exceed 12 pages of A4 in double space; and

· Try to meet the dateline set by your lecturer.

Opart Panya, Ph.D. MU. July 2007