Showing papers in "International Journal of Ecological Economics and Statistics in 2010"

Impact of Urbanization on Land Use/Land Cover Change Using Remote Sensing and GIS: A Case Study

Abstract: The monitoring of urbanization is very important for the planner, management, governmental and non-governmental organizations and the scientific community, for implementing policies to optimize the use of natural resources and accommodate development whilst minimizing the impact on the environment. The study here aims at analyzing the changes that occurred in Land use/Land cover (LULC) over a time span of 1991 to 2007 using multi-date data of part of Punjab area, India and its relation to urbanization behavior. The digital data consisted of two sets of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data and one set of IRS-1C data. Utilizing hybrid classification technique for interpretation and on-field validation, it has been found that there is increase in urban area by 10564.31 hectare in span of 16 years followed by other attributes. The other indicator parameter for urbanization that is Land consumption ratio (LCR) and Land absorption coefficient (LAC) show a significant change in their value at both spatial and temporal scale, LCR value changes from 0.048 to 0.109, whereas LAC varies from 0.414 to 0.266 in between 1991 to 2007.

Testing for Hypothetical Bias in a Choice Experiment Using a Local Public Good: Riparian Forest Restoration

Abstract: The persistence of hypothetical bias in the contingent valuation method for valuing environmental goods has spurred interest in the use of choice experiments as an alternative stated preference method. Choice experiments have been hypothesized to be less prone to hypothetical bias than the more common contingent valuation method. This research investigates potential hypothetical bias in a choice experiment study valuing riparian forest restoration activities in the state of New Mexico, U.S.A.. Findings indicate that choice experiments also demonstrate evidence of hypothetical bias. This result occurs using a relatively homogenous sample and under what might be argued to be likely conditions for minimizing potential bias in the for the valuation of environmental goods: (1) utilizing a local public good that participants have some familiarity with and (2) using only the preferences of individuals who believed their responses could have an impact on policy decisions.

The impact of weather variability and climate change on pesticide applications in the US -- An empirical investigation

Abstract: Weather variability and climate change affect the application of pesticides in agriculture, in turn impacting the environment. Using panel data regression for the US, we find that weather and climate parameters significantly influence the application rates of most pesticides. Increased rainfall requires more plant protection for root crops and cereals and higher temperatures lead to increased pesticide applications to fruits and vegetables. The regression results are linked to downscaled climate scenario projections from the Canadian and Hadley Center climate models. We find that the application rates of most pesticides increase under both scenarios. However, the projected impacts vary considerably by crop, region, and pesticide.

Informal Economy and Remittance Estimates of India Using Nighttime Imagery

Abstract: Accurate estimates of the magnitude and spatial distribution of both formal and informal economic activity have many useful applications. Developing alternative methods for making estimates of these economic activities may prove to be useful when other measures are of suspect accuracy or unavailable. This research explores the potential for estimating the formal and informal economy for India using known relationships between the spatial patterns of nighttime satellite imagery and economic activity in the United States (U.S.). Regression models have been developed between spatial patterns of nighttime imagery and Adjusted Official Gross State Product (AGSP) for the states of the U.S. The slope and intercept parameters derived from the regression models of the U.S. were blindly applied to India, resulting in an underestimation of Gross State Income (GSI) for each state and Union Territory (UT) of India because of the lower level of urbanization in India in comparison to the U.S. However, a comparison of estimated GSI from the nighttime lights image and the official Gross State Product (GSP) of the states and UTs of India indicates a high correlation between them (r = 0.93). The different levels of urbanization (i.e. percent of population in urban areas) in the U.S. and India are used to adjust the Estimated Gross Domestic Income (EGDI) by multiplying by the ratio of the percentage of the population in urban areas for the two countries. This gives the Adjusted Estimated Gross Domestic Income of India (AEGDI), which is compared with the official Gross National Income (GNI) estimates of India’s states and UTs. The results suggest that the magnitude of India’s informal economy and the inflow of remittances are 150 percent larger than their existing official estimates in the GNI.

Valuation of Urban Environmental Amenities: A Case Study

Abstract: The main objective of this study is to value the urban environmental amenities in Mumbai through property (real estate) prices. The areas chosen for the study are central, north and Navi Mumbai. Primary cross-sectional data collected during July-November 2006 from 578 new house owners from different locations in Mumbai were used. Physical and visual access to water body, greenery, noise and slums are the various environmental attributes considered. Hedonic price function is utilised to capture the impact of environmental, locational and structural attributes on the price per square foot (PSF), prevalent in Mumbai. Specification test revealed log-linear form as the best fit. The results indicate that ‘Proximity to water body’ fetches the highest, 18.9 % of the total value, in Navi Mumbai, and garden proximity fetches the highest, 13.2%, in Central suburb. It was found that preference to noise free location fetches the most value in Central Suburb and least in Northern Suburb. It is also observed that all the environmental attributes receive highest absolute values in Central Suburb reflecting high scarcity of environmental quality in the area.

Genetic Programming Approach to Predict Sediment Concentration for Malaysian Rivers

Abstract: The assessment of the volume of sediment transported by a river is of vital interest in hydraulic engineering due to its importance in the design and river management. A total of 346 sets of bed load data obtained from literature. These assessments, based on the median sediment size (d50), show that the existing equations were unable to predict the measured bed load accurately. All existing equations over-predicted the measured values, and none of the existing bed load equations gave satisfactory performance when tested on local river data. Therefore, the present study applies a new soft computing technique, i.e. genetic programming (GP), to better predicts measured bed load data. Researchers have noticed that the use of soft computing techniques as alternative to conventional statistical methods based on controlled laboratory or field data, gave significantly better results. Gene-expression programming (GEP), which is an extension to genetic programming (GP), has nowadays attracted the attention of researchers in prediction of hydraulic data. The predictions of GEP models were observed to be in strictly good agreement of measured ones, and quite better than conventional GP and the regression-based formulae.

Economic Causes and Consequences of Land Degradation and Desertification Risk in Southern Europe: Integrating Micro-Macro Approaches into a Geographical Perspective

Abstract: This review contributes to the debate on economic growth, sustainable development, and the environment in southern Europe by addressing the role of several economic forces in exacerbating Land Degradation (LD), a process leading to desertification. Market, population growth, developmental policies, and other (minor) factors were classified through an unifying framework into immediate and underlying causes of LD. Higher agricultural prices, lower wages, and a shortage of off-farm employment were identified as potential, immediate causes of LD. By contrast, it was argued how technical change, agricultural input prices, and household income affect land vulnerability is poorly known. It was also pointed out that the role of macroeconomic factors such as population growth, poverty, and agricultural policies is important (but still ambiguous) and needs further studies. As a consequence of LD, inequality in natural capital availability, increasing rural poverty, and unsustainable management of soil and water were disentangled in time and space. New findings to be achieved in the context of policy responses aimed at mitigating LD and thus reducing desertification risk were finally delineated.

Intertemporal Emissions Trading and Allocation Rules: Gainers, Losers and the Spectre of Market Power

Abstract: Stemming from politically given market imperfections in a tradeable permits system, we develop a Stackelberg game model to describe how a large agent may exercise market power at the expense of a competitive fringe. In a dynamic framework with banking and borrowing, we explore how to restore the market equilibrium with an optimal allocation of permits. Overall, these results yield a better understanding of market mechanisms - and their potential for failure - to deliver CO2 emissions reductions needded to fight against climate change, and may be of interest for a wider audience composed of academic researchers and policy makers in the climate change policy arena.

Is the value of bioprospecting contracts too low

Abstract: In order to regulate the proliferation of bioprospecting and protect biological diversity in the source countries, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) established a legal framework for the reciprocal transfer of biological materials between the interested parties in bioprospecting activities, subject to the Prior Informed Content (PIC) principles and a set of mutually agreed items on equitable sharing of benefits (CBD 1992, Bhat 1999; Ten Kate and Laird 1999; Dedeurwaerdere 2005) Although interesting and valuable to the cause of conservation, there is a feeling that the ‘price’ being paid under these arrangements is too low Somehow ecologists argue that, surely, these materials have a greater value than the few million dollars being paid to national conservation organizations for the protection of the areas where the material are located In this paper we seek to understand better how a biodiversity resource’ use value in production is determined, and how the real value is obscured by the fact that the resource is largely open access We attempt to analyse how special arrangements, set on top of a basic framework in which the resource open access is limited in what it can achieve and in the ‘price’ that will emerge from any transaction between the buyers of the rights and the sellers of the rights

Linking Co-Management, Livelihood and Forest Conservation in Protected Area: A Case Study of Wildlife Sanctuary

Abstract: An exploratory study was conducted in Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary (RKWS) which is a biodiversity hotspot zone of north-eastern Bangladesh. The main focus of this study is to assess the effectiveness of alternate income generating activities (AIGAs) provided by the Nishorgo Support Project (NSP or Nishorgo) as a tool for reducing dependence on forest resources by people living in and around RKWS and also play effective role in forest conservation. This study compares the socioeconomic condition (income, living style etc.) and forest dependency before and after implementation of co-management activities in Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. A total of 11 villages (sampling intensity was 31%) namely Kalibari, Mongoliabari, Chokidarbari, Chonbari, kalenga, Krishnochura, Hatimara, Himalia, Rashidpur, Goramchori, Horinmara were studied. We surveyed 272 households in these villages (Incase of households survey, sampling intensity was 100%). Data analysis shows that the major income generating livelihood activities were agro farming (30%), followed by fuelwood collection (22.50%), nursery raising (12.5%), cattle rearing (10%), fisheries (7.50%) and others. Study also reveals that after being implementation of the co management activities the average income levels of the studied villages have rises on 578 Tk/HHs (1US$ = 70 Taka, Taka means Bangladeshi currency). Further more, many of the illegal loggers became forest protector, which make their life more secured. It was also found that peoples of the study villages are now actively engaging in forest management activities and it is the only hope for conservation and restoration of forest resources not only in RKWS but also in other protected area’s of our country.

Avian Foraging Pattern in the Oak Forest of in Central Himalaya: An Ecological Conservation Approach

Abstract: To understand the foraging pattern of avian community, this study was carried out in 23 oak forest stands of Kumaon region in Central Himalaya. Total 5243 observations were recorded on 64 bird species. 22 species foraged on or near the ground mainly galliformes; Kalij, Koklass, Hill partridge. The tree layers 4-10m and 10m were frequently used by maximum number of bird species while 2-4m tree layer was used by minimum bird species. Within the foraging substrates, foliage was used maximum (36.68%) while ground was used as minimum (7.47%). Among foraging methods, twig glean was used maximum (53%) by birds followed by arboreal granivory (25%), bush glean (21%) and leaf glean (21%) method. Among three dimensions (foraging height, foraging substrate and foraging methods), highest mean niche overlap was found in the foraging height (0.20 ± 0.07) for overall avian community of Kumaon while lowest was in foraging method (0.04 ± 0.02). Of the three dimensions, specialization was more in foraging substrate (48 species) followed by foraging methods (22 species) and foraging height (11 species). Avian species such as Black and Yellow grosbeak, Hill partridge, Koklass emerged as specialists. Specific conservation efforts for protection of habitats should be initiated for the ‘specialists’ birds, as they are very particular for their foraging patterns.

Mobile Source Emissions of Criteria Pollutants in Ecologically Sensitive Areas

Abstract: Air pollution is one of the most serious and rapidly growing problems in the urban centres. Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) is a type of designation for an area which needs special protection because of its functional, ecological and historical value. In this paper, the air quality of an ecologically sensitive area of Chandigarh vis-a-vis the mobile sources are presented. The concentration of the criteria pollutants is found to be exceeding the permissible limits in the study area. The concentration of the pollutants is largely due to the increased vehicular population. The regression analysis using SPSS10.0, correlating traffic characteristics and pollutants concentration has been used as an ecological and transport management tool.

Estimating Gompertz Growth Curves from Marine Mammal Strandings in the Presence of Missing Data.

Abstract: Stranded bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off the coast of South Carolina (SC) provide data essential for population health assessment. Of the 598 bottlenose dolphin strandings in SC from 1993 to 2007, 91 were of sufficient body condition to obtain organ weights. Of these 91 animals, only 52 were brought back to the laboratory for total body weight measurements. Because it is more feasible to transport smaller animals to the laboratory setting for necropsy procedures, a selection bias is present in that data for larger animals are often missing. Regression and propensity score multiple imputation methods are utilized to account for missing data needed to compute growth. Fitted Gompertz growth curves for SC animals with and without adjustment for missing data are compared to those found from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. South Carolina animals display a trend in lower asymptotic mean total body weights and faster growth rates compared to the Gulf of Mexico population. The differences generally increased in magnitude after imputation methods. South Carolina females were originally estimated to reach larger maximum sizes than Gulf of Mexico females, but after imputation this relationship reversed. The findings suggest selection bias should be accounted for in sampling stranded dolphins.

Static Deformation Due To Non-Uniform Slip Along A Very Long Vertical Strike-Slip Geological Fault in Two-Phase Medium

Abstract: The static deformation is useful to investigate geological fault movements and related stress distribution. To investigate the effect of structural discontinuity on the elastic field, it is instructive to find analytical solution of the problem of a long fault in a model consisting of two homogenous half-space in welded contact. Closed-form analytical expressions for the deformation at any point of a two-phase medium consisting of a homogenous orthotropic elastic half-space in welded contact with a homogenous isotropic elastic half-space caused by non-uniform (parabolic, linear, cubic and elliptic slips) slip along a very long vertical strike-slip dislocation, situated in the orthotropic elastic half-space, are obtained. The variation of the surface displacement for different ratios of rigidities with the horizontal distance from fault for each slip profile have been shown graphically. It is found that a change in the ratio of rigidities of two different half-spaces changes the deformation field significantly. Numerical computations indicate that the deformation due to non-uniform slips differs significantly in each type of coupling. Contour maps showing the displacement field around the vertical strike-slip fault lying in an orthotropic elastic medium over an isotropic elastic medium for different slip profiles in each type of coupling are presented. It has been found that the displacement field in phases of two different media is significantly influenced by the nature of its coupling to a base and also by the different behaviour of slip profiles along a very long strike-slip fault.

A Nonlinear Predator-Prey System in Deterministic and Stochastic Environment

Abstract: The paper aims to study the stability behaviour of a predator-prey system in deterministic and stochastic environment. In deterministic environment, we have studied the boundedness of the system, and stability of its equilibrium points. The growth rate of the prey and the death rate of the predator species are perturbed by Gaussian white noises to simulate a random environment. The resulting model is then cultured by the technique of statistical linearization, and criteria for non-equilibrium fluctuation and stability are derived. Computer simulation is carried out to validate our results on the deterministic stability of the interior equilibrium point. The implications of our analytical findings are discussed critically.

Some sociological implications of environmental hazards: A Case Study

Abstract: To explore sociological implications of environmental hazards arising due to industrial pollution on industrial workers during their work in the environment they work and also to find out whether it affects their social and other associated behaviors in an industrial organization. The study is based on exploratory cum descriptive study design and the cross-sectional data. The analytical sample consists of 500 workers from all three stratified categories- skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled and using univariate analysis method the data has been analyzed. We found that industrial workers are clearly showing their concerns arising due to environ-mental hazards at their work place and they indicate several implications because of situation in which they work. Majority of sampled workers were found in favour to enhance the level of knowledge of awareness regarding environmental hazards and repercussions.

Moment Tests of Fit for Some Discrete Distributions with Ecological Applications

Abstract: We present moment orientated tests of fit for some discrete distributions used in ecological applications. The distributions covered are the Poisson, negative binomial, zero-truncated Poisson, logarithmic, zero-inflated Poisson, binomial, beta-binomial, geometric, Neyman Type A and the bivariate Poisson. Each distribution is illustrated by reference to ecological data. The tests of fit we give are often more powerful than traditional chi-squared tests.

Assessing Tropical Forests’ Contribution to Local Communities Livelihoods Using Forest Product Substitutes: A Case Study

Abstract: Forests have continuously played an important role in the livelihoods of many rural households particularly in developing countries. However, very limited quantitative information exists to back this claim, yet presence of such evidence can have a far-reaching influence on the design and quality of conservation and socio-economic policies. Based on this background, we estimate the economic value of non-timber forest products extracted from the Kakamega Forest in Western Kenya by adjacent communities for household consumption. This is accomplished through application of two economic valuation methods namely: direct pricing and substitute approaches. A random sample of 201 households was selected for the study. Data on non-timber forest types, quantities consumed, periods of consumption, the within-village retail prices of forest products, substitute commodities and their retail market prices were collected in 2006 using specifically designed questionnaires. Results reveal that each household sampled benefits directly with an equivalent of over Kenya Shillings 21,000 (US$310) worth of forest products consumed. It further highlights major differences of value emanating from the two valuation approaches employed. The paper concludes by discussing the implication of the application of these methods in policy.

Real versus Perceived Economic Savings of Garden Vegetable Cultivation

Abstract: Recent media coverage regarding the home cultivation of vegetables frequently cites the financial benefits of the practice, but often fails to provide empirical evidence of savings. In this study, we present the findings of a simple savings calculator for common vegetables grown in the UK. In general, growing a small quantity of a variety of vegetables produces a modest saving when compared to organic equivalents from supermarkets, but less of a saving, or even a loss, when compared to the cheapest non-organic equivalents. Maximum savings are made on high cost vegetables such as lettuce, cucumber or runner beans; with losses made on crops such as tomatoes or peppers that have higher growing costs – especially in the first year when set-up costs also need to taken into account.