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The economic valuation of ecosystem services (ES) has been widely used for understanding the changes in the stock and flow of an ecosystem. The accepted notion is that as a result of markets failing to realize the benefits gained by society from ecosystems, there is a loss of ecosystem function and resources as they are viewed as free public goods. The Shell Beach area is one of the designated protected areas of Guyana and the only protected coastal zone in the country. It is also considered an ecosystem and biodiversity hotspot. The geographical location of Shell Beach in the Region 1 area of Guyana shows the area vulnerable to coastal erosion and pollution particularly from potential oil spills in the country’s current oil operation. This study intends to estimate the value of the Shell Beach protected area based on what people are willing to pay to avoid a loss in the size of the protected area. The study adopts a discrete choice contingent valuation method which was used to calculate the average willingness to pay to avoid a loss in the Shell Beach area. Based on the data collected, it is estimated that people are willing to pay an average somewhere between US$118.44 – US$346.67 per year to avoid a loss in the Shell Beach area. The results show that people have a relatively high value for the area and would like to see the area protected from destruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel COVID-19 disease has affected people in more than 180 countries, accounting for more than 1 million deaths globally to date. This study intends to explore a rapid spatial and temporal assessment of the COVID-19 disease in South America. Data were gathered from the World Health Organization and analyzed using spatial mapping and statistical software. Models were developed based on the established linear relationship between attributable COVID-19-related deaths and confirmed cases. The study adopted both discrete and continuous panel regression models and spatial lag models for the analysis. Statistical analysis validated the linear relationships noticed in COVID-19 modeling. South America saw a rapid rise in cases and deaths within a relatively short period particularly affecting the countries with larger populations. Spatial models showed a positive relationship between population density and confirmed cases and a negative relationship between per capita gross domestic product and attributable deaths. Confirmed cases are likely to spread with more populated countries but, interestingly, increasing wealth can possibly lead to a fall in deaths for South America. This suggests the country's capacity to invest in the resources necessary to combat the pandemic and shows insight into the potential situation of less developed countries as the pandemic continues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Vehicle emissions are directly related to the manufacturing age, vehicle weight and use patterns. • Older model vehicles demonstrate a lean mixture for its air to fuel ratio. • Vehicle age, use and weight have a positive probabilistic outcome with emissions policy. • End-of-life vehicles are less likely to adhere to strict emissions policies. The purpose of this study is to assess the exhaust emission levels of end-of-life automobiles in Ogun State, Nigeria and estimate the probability of compliance to European and national exhaust policy standards. Trend analysis, analysis of variance and binary logistic regression were used to compare emission levels and to estimate the probability of compliance to emission standards. The results showed that emission levels for carbon monoxide and oxygen increased by 2% and hydrocarbon levels doubled with the age of the vehicle. Older vehicles also show a lean mixture in the air to fuel ratio calculation. Vehicles falling within a heavier weight class emit more CO 2. Probability models showed that compliance to European and national standards decrease as much as 30% with age and use of the vehicles. Older commercial vehicles falling into a heavy weight class has the lowest probability of compliance with any of the emissions policies assessed. The empirical evidence of the study supports the prior evidence that age, weight and use is directly related to emissions. With the volume of end-of-life vehicles in Nigeria, more enforcement is needed to monitor maintenance and increase vehicle compliance to emission policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]