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In the event of an environmental disturbance, dispersal of native taxa may provide species and genetic diversity to ecosystems, increasing the likelihood that there will be species and genotypes present that are less vulnerable to the disturbance. This may allow communities to maintain functioning during a disturbance and may be particularly important when the perturbation is novel to the system, such as the establishment of an invasive species. We examined how dispersal of native species may influence crustacean zooplankton communities in freshwater lakes invaded by the invertebrate predator, Bythotrephes longimanus. Using large enclosures, we experimentally tested the effect of dispersal on zooplankton community abundance, richness, and composition in (1) a community invaded by Bythotrephes, (2) the same community with the invader removed, and (3) a community that was never invaded. Dispersal increased zooplankton community abundance and richness; however, these effects were usually only significant in the invader-removed treatment. Dispersal tended to make the invader-removed communities more similar to never-invaded communities in abundance, richness, and composition. Dispersal had little effect on zooplankton abundance in the invaded community; however, richness significantly increased, and the community composition changed to resemble a never-invaded community by the end of the experiment. Our results have implications for understanding the role of dispersal during transitory states in communities. Dispersal of native taxa may be particularly important during the period between the arrival and broad-scale establishment of Bythotrephes, as dispersal through space or time (i.e., from resting eggs) may rapidly increase zooplankton abundance when the invader is absent or in low abundances. Overall, our results suggest that communities with strong local predatory and competitive interactions may be closed to immigration from colonists, but that invasive species may alter the conditions under which species can establish. These results have implications for the interaction of native and invasive species across broad spatial scales, as regional dispersal of native taxa may forestall the local extirpation of native species. In particular, transient phases that result from variable persistence of invaders within habitats or across a region may permit native colonists to successfully establish, and thus increase local and regional resistance to future disturbance. Key words: Bythotrephes longimanus; crustacean zooplankton; dispersal; freshwater lakes; invasive species; metacommunity; predation; transient dynamics.

Habitat heterogeneity is a major structuring agent of ecological assemblages promoting beta diversity and ultimately contributing to overall higher global diversity. The exact processes by which heterogeneity increases diversity are scale dependent and encompass variation in other well-known processes, e.g., productivity, disturbance, and temperature. Thus, habitat heterogeneity likely triggers multiple and cascading diversity effects through ecological assemblages. Submarine canyons, a pervasive feature of the world's oceans, likely increase habitat heterogeneity at multiple spatial scales similar to their terrestrial analogues. However, our understanding of how processes regulating diversity, and the potential for cascading effects within these important topographic features, remains incomplete. Utilizing remote-operated vehicles (ROVs) for coring and video transects, we quantified faunal turnover in the deep-sea benthos at a rarely examined scale (1 m 1 kin). Macrofaunal community structure, megafaunal density, carbon flux, and sediment characteristics were analyzed for the soft-bottom benthos at the base of cliff faces in Monterey Canyon (northeast Pacific Ocean) at three depths. We documented a remarkable degree of faunal turnover and changes in overall community structure at scales Key words: benthic; biodiversity; bioturbation; bottom-up; canyon; deep sea; disturbance; ecosystem engineering; habitat heterogeneity; productivity.

An integrated, collaborative approach to natural resource management at the catchment scale is a strong theme in recent environmental management and planning literature. In New Zealand, integrated water resource management is undertaken by regional councils within the framework of a devolved legislative mandate, the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). For some time, these councils have experienced difficulties discharging this role effectively, in particular with respect to the catchment scale. We argue for a multi-scalar, national policy framework, encapsulating bottom-up and top-down water governance strategies, in order to enhance the potential of integrated catchment management. Keywords: New Zealand, Resource Management Act, integrated catchment management, ICM appraisal, multiscalar perspective, water

Given the limited budgets of environmental programs in Australia, spatially explicit, asset-based approaches to investment planning are likely to result in more cost-effective environmental outcomes than less-targeted approaches. The conclusion of the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) provided opportunity to explore the compatibility of Victorian Catchment Management Authority (CMA) dryland plans with an asset-based approach, with a view to providing guidance on how to improve practices for new programs. In 2008, we reviewed plans for dryland areas of eight Victorian CMAs against the following criteria: 1) identification of spatially explicit assets; 2) asset prioritisation; 3) level of threat considered; 4) capacity to influence the threat; 5) linkage between intervention and asset protection; 6) consideration of landholder adoption circumstances; 7) whether the intervention was based on analysis of public and private benefits; and 8) whether research and development gaps were identified. Gaps in knowledge were identified in all plans. Overall, two regions had plans that were moderately consistent with a spatially explicit, asset-based approach. There was a generally positive response from CMAs regarding the implementation of such an approach, with strong indications of the need to consider multiple environmental threats. We conclude that clear guidance or recommendations from governments will be needed to achieve widespread adoption of spatially explicit, asset-based approaches in Victoria and other states. Keywords: salinity, asset-based environmental management, natural resource management, targeting, investment, organisational capacity, institutional arrangements, environmental policy

The upper Blue Nile Basin in Ethiopia harbors considerable untapped potential for irrigation and large-scale hydropower development and expansion. Numerous water resources system models have been developed to evaluate these resources, yet often fail to adequately address critical aspects, including the transient (e.g., filling) stages of reservoirs, relevant streamflow retention policies and downstream consequences, construction staggering, and the implications of stochastic modeling of variable climate and climate change. This omission has clear economic impacts on benefits and costs and could be pivotal in national policy and decision making. The Investment Model for Planning Ethiopian Nile Development dynamic water resources system model is outlined and applied to address these aspects. For the hydropower and irrigation development projects specified, model results disregarding transient and construction stagger aspects demonstrate overestimations of $6 billion in benefits and 170% in downstream flows compared to model results accounting for these aspects. Benefit-cost ratios for models accounting for transient conditions and climate variability are found to range from 1.2-1.8 under historical climate regimes for the streamflow retention policies evaluated. Climate change scenarios, represented either by changes in the frequency of El Nino and La Nina events or by the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios projections, indicate potential for small benefit-cost increases, but also reflect the potential for noteworthy decreases, relative to the historical climate conditions. In particular, stochastic modeling of scenarios representing a doubling of the historical frequency of E1 Nino events indicates benefit-cost ratios as low as 1.0, even under perfect foresight optimization modeling, due to a lack of timely water. However, even at this ratio, Ethiopia, at current growth rates, may still be unable to absorb all the potential energy developed, reinforcing the need for significant economic planning and the necessity of securing energy trade contracts prior to extensive expansion. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000022 CE Database subject headings: Water resources: Water management; Economic factors; Stochastic models; River basins; Transient response; Climate changes; Ethiopia. Author keywords: Water resources; Water management; Economic development; Stochastic models; Transient response; Climatic changes; Ethiopia.

Research conducted at the field and regional scales in the Lower Arkansas River (LAR) Valley of Colorado has identified water management alternatives with potential for enhancing agroenvironmental conditions in the basin by reducing waterlogging and soil salinity, salt loadings to the river, and nonbeneficial evapotranspiration in the irrigated stream-aquifer system. The LAR geospatial decision support system (GeoDSS), presented in a companion paper as a customized version of the generalized River GeoDSS, is applied to the evaluation of the feasibility and performance of water management strategies at the basin scale. The LAR GeoDSS allows comparative evaluation of management options for improving irrigation efficiency, minimizing water shortages, and improving water quality at selected control points by augmenting groundwater return flows through dynamic regulation of reservoir releases to abide by legal and administrative constraints on river operations. Results show that conditions favorable to increased agricultural productivity and water conservation can be accommodated, along with the benefits of improved river water quality through reduction of excess irrigation recharge and canal seepage and augmented subsurface drainage, without violating existing water rights and the Colorado-Kansas Interstate Compact Agreement. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)WR. 1943-5452.0000021 CE Database subject headings: Decision support systems; Geographic information systems; Irrigation; Neural networks; River basins; Salinity; Simulation models; Water management; Water rights. Author keywords: Decision support systems; Geographic information systems; Irrigation; Neural networks; River basins; Salinity; Simulation models; Water management; Water rights; Colorado; Kansas.

The Lower Arkansas River (LAR) Basin in Colorado, like many intensively irrigated river basins in the Western United States, faces a variety of problems associated with inefficient irrigation, seepage from earthen canals, and inadequate drainage facilities. Upward flows from high water tables have salinized and waterlogged agricultural soils of the Valley, contributing to reduced crop yields and nonbeneficial water consumption on adjacent uncultivated lands. River water quality has also suffered since intensive irrigation of alluvial soils results in evaporative concentration and the accelerated dissolution of inherent salts and other mineral pollutants into the underlying aquifer, appearing as return flows that threaten the ecological health of the river. A geographic information system-based river basin decision-support system (River GeoDSS) has been developed and applied to the LAR Basin for assessing basinwide strategies for improving agricultural productivity, salvaging water from nonbeneficial consumptive use, and reducing solute concentrations while maintaining compliance with decreed water rights and the Arkansas River Compact between Colorado and Kansas. Development and calibration of River GeoDSS, based on extensive field data collection programs in the LAR Basin, is described herein, with a companion paper detailing its application to evaluation of a wide range of agroenvironmentally focused water management strategies. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)WR. 1943-5452.0000025 CE Database subject headings: Decision support systems; Simulation models; Geographic information systems; Irrigation; River basins; Water management; Water quality; Salinity; Water rights; Neural networks; Colorado; Kansas. Author keywords: Decision support systems; Simulation models; Geographic information systems; Irrigation; River basins; Water management; Water quality; Salinity; Water rights; Neural networks.

This paper discusses how research on natural resources management systems can address the complexity of such systems. Three different types of complexity are identified: ontological, societal, and analytical. Significant ideas for 'dealing with complexity' are extracted from U.S., Swiss, and U.K. literature on inter- and transdisciplinary research. Based on this, the 'boundary work' framework is presented to systematically think through complexity challenges. The framework suggests that inter- and transdisciplinary research on natural research management requires three types of work: (i) the development of suitable boundary concepts that allow thinking of the multidimensionality of NRM issues; (ii) the configuration of adequate boundary objects as devices and methods that allow acting in situations of incomplete knowledge, nonlinearity, and divergent interests; and (iii) the shaping of conducive boundary settings in which these concepts, devices, and methods can be fruitfully developed and effectively put to work. The ideas presented are illustrated with an example of a research program on sustainable land and water management in Uzbekistan. The concluding section highlights three issues important for increasing the effectiveness of inter-and transdisciplinary research on natural resources management. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2009.10.0570

ABSTRACT This Article analyzes how scientific uncertainty is handled in international environmental law. It identifies ten legal techniques used for this purpose (i.e., precautionary reasoning," framework-protocol approach; advisory scientific bodies; [...]

This article examines social, economic, and political factors influencing the distribution of resources to local governments under the EPA Brownfields Program, an innovative federal effort to encourage the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated properties. Signed into law in 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act provided the program with a congressional mandate, new tools to promote reuse such as liability protections, and increased funding up to a level of $250 million per year. This article contributes to research on environmental regulatory reform with an analysis of successful and unsuccessful local government applicants for EPA Brownfields Program support between 2003 and 2007. Building on prior research, we develop a series of expectations and an empirical model, and estimate the influence of program priorities, government and civic capacity, interest group pressures, and institutional politics. Results point to significant relationships between program priorities and award patterns. Contrary both to EPA's explicit commitments to equity and to analysis of pre-2003 award patterns, however, we find negative correlations between the proportions of local populations that are nonwhite or low-income and the likelihood of receiving an award. In addition, better-resourced governments and several dimensions of political representation show strong associations with the likelihood of winning awards. We conclude by discussing implications. KEY WORDS: environmental policy, environmental regulation, hazardous waste, federal grants, voluntary action, distributive politics, Introduction Brownfields are underutilized and often contaminated land, defined in federal law as 'real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential [...]

We compared depredation rates of natural and artificial nests of Seaside Sparrows (Ammodramus maritimus) within winter burned and unburned marsh breeding habitats. Natural nests on burned sites in 2002 were depredated at a higher rate (35.3%) during the incubation stage, compared to unburned sites (13.3%). Depredation rates of natural nests were similar between burn treatments during the nestling stage. Artificial nests exhibited significantly higher depredation rates during the incubation stage on burned compared to unburned sites in 2002. No artificial nest studies were conducted in 2003, but we examined natural nest depredation rates. Depredation rates on natural nests in 2003 were similar between burned and unburned sites during both incubation and nestling stages. Differences in nest depredation rates between 2002 and 2003 may be due to increased rainfall in 2003 leading to higher biological productivity, reduced burn effectiveness and coverage, as well as a change in nest placement by Seaside Sparrows on burned sites. Shrub-nesting species may not be as vulnerable to higher rates of nest depredation induced by prescribed burning because fire appears to only minimally impact woody shrubs, while greatly reducing biomass of herbaceous vegetation., Historically, humans have manipulated coastal marshes to improve habitat for game species, reduce risk of wildfire, or increase marsh productivity (Chabreck 1988, Mitchell et al. 2006). Commonly used marsh manipulations [...]

The idea of geoengineering, or the intentional modification of the Earth's atmosphere to reverse the global warming trend, has entered a working theory stage, finding expression in a variety of proposed projects, such as launching reflective materials into the Earth's atmosphere, positioning sunshades over the planet's surface, depositing iron filings into the oceans to encourage phytoplankton blooms, and planting more trees, to name only a few. However, geoengineering might not be as promising a solution to the problem of global warming as its advocates claim. Many scientists, policy makers, and ethicists still dismiss the option as infeasible and too risky given the immense scale at which most geoengineering projects must be instituted and the catastrophic consequences that could, in all likelihood, result. The thesis of this article is that geoengineering should not be so easily dismissed in policy debates concerning how to mitigate the anthropogenic emissions of global greenhouse gases. My plan is to investigate the desirability of the geoengineering option for addressing global climate change in terms of its capacity to overcome collective action issues, to accommodate ethical norms, and to provide an artful, or creative, response to the problem. In the first section, a general picture of the global warming problem and the particulars of some proposed geoengineering projects are laid out. The second section frames the issue as a collective action problem that demands an innovative approach to coordinating individual and group action. In the third section, I reveal six ethical quandaries that emerge in global climate change debates and how they complicate any attempts to ameliorate or resolve the problem. The penultimate section shows how the ideas and activism of two twentieth-century titans in philosophy and ecology--John Dewey and Aldo Leopold, respectively--might be combined to address the problem of global warming through artful inquiry and the adoption of an Earth ethic. Finally, I conclude by arguing that a fundamental shift in perspective must occur if we are to take intentional climate change seriously as a possible, even if a second-best, tool in the environmentalist's tool kit. KEY WORDS: climate change, global warming, geoengineering, environmental ethics, A spade or a watch-spring is made out of antecedent material, but does not pre-exist as a ready-made tool; and, the more delicate and complicated the work which it has [...]

It was widely stated by staff and partner organisations of the Victorian based Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GBCMA) that the GBCMA's biodiversity targets would not be achieved in the desired timeframe if the existing rate of progress was maintained. A review was commissioned by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and the GBCMA to identify the changes needed to accelerate progress, particularly with regard to the activities of private landholders. This group was perceived to have the most influence on levels of biodiversity. The review was structured around a four-stage framework to guide the selection of methods or strategies (also referred to as instruments to implement policy) that bring about appropriate behaviour. These methods range from the provision of information to regulatory compliance. Literature was reviewed to identify what was needed for the current mix of methods to be effective. Sixteen criteria were found; for example, methods need to match the scale and urgency of the problem. Some of the recommendations from the review were that more direct payments to landholders are needed to reward them or to help them manage biodiversity on their properties; better farm management plans are required to inform landholders; and a greater use of funds to buy farm land would enable modification of land use to include the preservation of biodiversity before resale of properties on the open market. Keywords: methods, policy instruments, mix of methods, biodiversity targets

The writers created a new approach to evaluate environmental performance factors and measure the current or past environmental performances from various city and exurban by aggregation steps. Defined environmental resource indices concerning natural resources development, physical environments, population, economical, and social structures were complex and appeared related to location. The writers conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey to evaluate the entire environmental performance, and give conclusions to urge central and local officials how to detect their most urgent environmental issues. A case study in Taiwan illustrates the usefulness of this approach. This study contributes to the resource management by collecting and analyzing current and past environmental performance that provides a better understanding of the empirical cases toward environmental targets. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9488(2009)135:3(125) CE Database subject headings: Case reports; Environmental issues; Questionnaires; Resource management; Taiwan.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.04.020 Byline: Chia-Ling Chang (a), Chung-Hsin Hsu (b) Abstract: It is important to adopt proper water and soil conservation and land-use planning in a watershed for lowering adverse impacts on reservoir water quality. Although reservoir watersheds occupy a large amount of land in Taiwan, high population density has exerted development pressures on such land. Therefore, the priority ranking of land-use restrictions for the subdivisions with different degrees of environmental vulnerability is necessary in watershed management. Since there are several criteria for evaluating the potential environmental impact from the subdivisions, multi-criteria analysis was applied as a technique for solving these problems in this study. The VIKOR method was applied to determine the best feasible solution according to the selected criteria, including geographical and meteorological factors. The objective of this study was to establish the priority ranking of land-use restrictions in the Tseng-Wen reservoir wastershed in southern Taiwan. The results show that subdivisions close to the outlet or reservoir area should have the priority of land-use restrictions. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Water Resources Engineering and Conservation, Feng Chia University, No. 100, Wenhwa Rd., Seatwen, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC (b) Department of Environmental Resources Management, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy & Science, No. 60, Erh-Jen Rd., Sec. 1, Jen-Te, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC Article History: Received 19 August 2008; Revised 12 March 2009; Accepted 16 April 2009

It was early morning and perspiration was already dripping off my face as I hailed one of the taxis jostling outside my hotel. I was in Bali, Indonesia on my [...]

It is widely accepted that environmental degradation and poverty are linked and that conservation and poverty reduction should be tackled together. However, success with integrated strategies has been elusive. Here, we present the results of a study that illustrates how development that combines environmental and economic perspectives and that provides appropriate compensation to affected populations can improve both nature and society, thereby eradicating the 'poverty trap.' The results show that if we cannot improve the livelihood of local residents, we will be unable to restore degraded environments when state-owned property is transferred to private ownership to encourage better management by residents. In contrast, measures to eliminate poverty, combined with the development of green enterprises that improve the livelihoods of private land owners in the long term, is the precondition for successful ecological restoration. environmental conservation | environmental policy | payment for ecosystem service | property rights

Managed relocation (MR) has rapidly emerged as a potential intervention strategy in the toolbox of biodiversity management under climate change. Previous authors have suggested that MR (also referred to as assisted colonization, assisted migration, or assisted translocation) could be a last-alternative option after interrogating a linear decision tree. We argue that numerous interacting and value-laden considerations demand a more inclusive strategy for evaluating MR. The pace of modern climate change demands decision making with imperfect information, and tools that elucidate this uncertainty and integrate scientific information and social values are urgently needed. We present a heuristic tool that incorporates both ecological and social criteria in a multidimensional decision-making framework. For visualization purposes, we collapse these criteria into 4 classes that can be depicted in graphical 2-D space. This framework offers a pragmatic approach for summarizing key dimensions of MR: capturing uncertainty in the evaluation criteria, creating transparency in the evaluation process, and recognizing the inherent tradeoffs that different stakeholders bring to evaluation of MR and its alternatives. assisted migration | climate change | conservation biology | conservation strategy | sustainability science

As part of a broader assessment of the performance of a worldwide set of sustainable buildings, the authors investigated the users' perceptions of personal control of internal environmental conditions. The main aims were to determine the amount of personal control building users had over heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, and noise; and whether they considered it to be important. A questionnaire survey, in which respondents rated these various aspects on a 7-point scale, was the principal instrument used. For this set of buildings it was found that the users' perceived the amount of personal control they had of lighting to be reasonable, but that for heating, cooling, ventilation, and (particularly) noise was relatively low. Around 30% of respondents see it as important to have this control. Some of the findings suggest that the better the users' perceptions of their environmental conditions, the less their apparent need for personal control, a line of enquiry possibly meriting further pursuit. A number of findings reinforced the conclusion that noise problems remain a real concern. Keywords: Environmental control, Personal control, POE studies, Sustainable Buildings, User perception, Introduction It is now over two decades since studies of building related ill-health by, amongst others, Wilson and Hedge in the UK revealed 'fewer symptoms and greater productivity as the [...]

Byline: KiJoo Han (1), Yeo-Chang Youn (2) Abstract: Forest management is regarded as one possible approach to reducing greenhouse gases by absorbing carbon at a relatively low cost. In Korea, the forest comprises 64% of the total land area, so forests are expected to play a key role in mitigating climate change on the one hand. On the other hand, since 70% of the forest area is owned by the private sector, there is considerable uncertainty about managing forests for the national carbon sink strategy. The objective of this study is to examine the levels of carbon incentives to private forest management for the purpose of maximizing forests' carbon absorption. First, in the context of present forest management policies, this study discusses applicable measures for the promotion of carbon sequestration in private forests. Next, considering the implications of policies related to forestry, the study develops a hypothetical carbon incentive scheme to compensate for economic revenue loss derived from accepting a rotation period that maximizes carbon sequestration. Carbon incentive levels are estimated by assessing the difference of financial revenue between a financially optimal rotation plan and a carbon-sink maximizing rotation plan. This study found that for red pine forests, the levels of the carbon incentives vary US$2--6 at 5% discount rate and US$ 34--88 at 7% discount rate while the values for oak forests are differing US$2--22 at 5% discount rate and US$ 20--52 at 7% discount rate. The study concludes that the carbon incentive scheme could be effective for increasing the carbon sink. However, given related governmental policies, it may not be desirable to employ the scheme without considering changes in government policy toward land use and regional development. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, 2045-2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T1Z4 (2) Department of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-921, South Korea Article History: Registration Date: 09/01/2009 Received Date: 22/02/2008 Accepted Date: 29/12/2008 Online Date: 17/02/2009

The aim of this paper is to investigate the vibrations in a new tram model (the 'Combino Plus') developed by Siemens Company, Germany, which was recently launched on a main Budapest road, and in an older tram model withdrawn from the same line. Comparative measurements were made from terminal to terminal (18 sections). The results of this investigation gave us information about the advances made in relation to the vibrational characteristics of trams. This paper summarizes literature concerning the physiological effects of continuous vibration exposures, as well as the standard ISO 2631, to clarify the relevance of the topic and to draw attention to the recorded parameters of the new 'Combino Plus' tram. The new 'Combino Plus' tram successfully absorbs the vibrations originating from the roughness of the tram rail. This tram produces significantly less vibration for passengers and drivers than the older model tram withdrawn from the main road traffic. The new Combino Plus satisfies the ergonomic requirements and ensures favorable working conditions. Index Terms--Acceleration sensor, environmental protection, passenger transport, spectral analysis, tram vibration.

Environmental activist Tony Juniper chooses to be an optimist and focus on the progress that have been made and on how to achieve sustainability, rather than admit that there is nothing that can be done about environmental problems. Juniper's top five tips in helping save the environment includes getting informed by reading about environmental issues.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.01.001 Byline: Mark S. Reed (a), Anil Graves (c), Norman Dandy (d), Helena Posthumus (c), Klaus Hubacek (b), Joe Morris (c), Christina Prell (e), Claire H. Quinn (b), Lindsay C. Stringer (b) Abstract: Stakeholder analysis means many things to different people. Various methods and approaches have been developed in different fields for different purposes, leading to confusion over the concept and practice of stakeholder analysis. This paper asks how and why stakeholder analysis should be conducted for participatory natural resource management research. This is achieved by reviewing the development of stakeholder analysis in business management, development and natural resource management. The normative and instrumental theoretical basis for stakeholder analysis is discussed, and a stakeholder analysis typology is proposed. This consists of methods for: i) identifying stakeholders; ii) differentiating between and categorising stakeholders; and iii) investigating relationships between stakeholders. The range of methods that can be used to carry out each type of analysis is reviewed. These methods and approaches are then illustrated through a series of case studies funded through the Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU) programme. These case studies show the wide range of participatory and non-participatory methods that can be used, and discuss some of the challenges and limitations of existing methods for stakeholder analysis. The case studies also propose new tools and combinations of methods that can more effectively identify and categorise stakeholders and help understand their inter-relationships. Author Affiliation: (a) Aberdeen Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Centre for Planning and Environmental Management, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, St Mary's, Aberdeen AB243UF, UK (b) Sustainability Research Institute, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS2 9JT, UK (c) Natural Resources Management Centre, Cranfield University, Bedford MK43 0AL, UK (d) Forest Research, Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LH, UK (e) Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield, Northumberland Road, Sheffield S10 2TU, UK Article History: Received 17 March 2008; Revised 2 October 2008; Accepted 11 January 2009

In this study, an interval-parameter robust optimization (IPRO) method is developed through incorporating techniques of interval-parameter programming and robust optimization within a two-stage stochastic programming framework. The IPRO improves upon the two-stage stochastic programming methods by allowing uncertainties presented as both intervals and random variables to be handled in the optimization system. Moreover, in the modeling formulation, penalties are exercised with the recourse against any infeasibility, and robustness measures are introduced to examine the variability of the second-stage costs that are above the expected level. The IPRO is generally suitable for risk-aversive planners under high-variability conditions. The developed method is applied to a case of long-term waste management under uncertainty. Interval solutions under different robustness levels have been generated. They cannot only be used for analyzing various policy scenarios that are related to different levels of economic penalties when the pre-regulated waste allocation allowances are violated, but also help decision makers to analyze the interrelationships between the penalties and their variabilities. Key words: decision making, environment, interval analysis, robust optimization, stochastic, uncertainty. Dans cette etude, une methode d'optimisation robuste du parametre intervalle (aucune espece d'idee) (<< IPRO >>) est developpee en incorporant des techniques de programmation par intervalles et d'optimisation robuste dans le cadre d'une programmation stochastique a deux phases. L'IPRO ameliore les methodes de programmation stochastiques a deux phases en permettant de traiter, dans le systeme d'optimisation, les incertitudes presentees en tant qu'intervalles et variables aleatoires. De plus, dans la formulation de la modelisation, des penalites sont exercees avec un recours contre toute mesure de non-faisabilite; des mesures de robustesse sont introduites afin d'examiner la variability des couts de la deuxieme phase qui depassent le seuil prevu. L'IPRO est generalement adequat pour les planificateurs ayant une aversion pour le risque sous des conditions de grande variability. La methode developpee est appliquee an cas de la gestion des dechets a long terme sous l'incertitude. Les solutions d'intervalle a differents niveaux de robustesse ont ete produites. Elles peuvent non seulement etre utilisees pour analyser divers scenarios politiques relies aux differents niveaux de penalites economiques lorsque les allocations de dechets prereglementees ne sont pas respectees, mais aussi aider les decideurs a analyser les relations entre les penalites et leurs variabilites. Mots-cles: prise de decision, environnement, analyse d'intervalle, optimisation robuste, stochastique, incertitude. [Traduit par la Redaction], 1. Introduction Two-stage stochastic programming (TSP) is effective for tackling optimization problems where an analysis of policy scenarios is desired and the related data are mostly uncertain. The fundamental idea [...]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.10.005 Byline: Metin Celik Abstract: The International Safety Management (ISM) Code defines a broad framework for the safe management and operation of merchant ships, maintaining high standards of safety and environmental protection. On the other hand, ISO 14001:2004 provides a generic, worldwide environmental management standard that has been utilized by several industries. Both the ISM Code and ISO 14001:2004 have the practical goal of establishing a sustainable Integrated Environmental Management System (IEMS) for shipping businesses. This paper presents a hybrid design methodology that shows how requirements from both standards can be combined into a single execution scheme. Specifically, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy Axiomatic Design (FAD) are used to structure an IEMS for ship management companies. This research provides decision aid to maritime executives in order to enhance the environmental performance in the shipping industry. Author Affiliation: Department of Maritime Transportation and Management Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Tuzla 34940, Istanbul, Turkey Article History: Received 6 December 2007; Revised 9 September 2008; Accepted 6 October 2008

Social networks play a crucial role in linking poorly-resourced community-based Aboriginal land and sea management 'ranger' groups operating in remote Northern Australia with the resources and support required to fulfil natural and cultural resource management objectives. A lack of resources and piecemeal funding demands that a significant proportion of networks utilised are directed at creating capital to support land and sea management programs, in addition to networks created for undertaking land and sea management itself. Other networks have been created with neighbouring land managers to develop cooperative and collaborative management practices. The network structure of one ranger group in the west Arnhem region of the Northern Territory was analysed, and revealed a lack of resilience due to high dependence on the externally sourced coordinator. The reliance on a web of complex networks both to support the program and to undertake management activities raises questions about the viability of such programs. In particular, the time, level of skill and associated capacity required to negotiate social network construction with a range of actors brings into question the communities' capacity to maintain the functions of the program independently. Continued functionality of these land and sea management programs may depend on simplification and streamlining of funding, removal of intensive bureaucratic reporting requirements and more active skill development of participants in network creation, particularly with actors external to the community. Keywords: Aboriginal land management, social network, social capital, northern Australia, natural resource management, centrality

In Australia, major government programmes for management of the environment and natural .resources rely on planning and prioritisation by regional natural resource management bodies. The task faced by these organisations is complex. In this study, we qualitatively analysed phone interviews with a sample of regional bodies to identify areas where the use of information in decision-making could be improved. The type of information used was largely biophysical, with relatively poor consideration of economic and social information. Even for the biophysical information, there was very little assessment regarding the quality of the information. Regional bodies face particular challenges in relation to integration and interpretation of information, and evaluation of their own investments. Results of this study highlight the need for these bodies to become more systematic users of information, with stronger processes to integrate knowledge from a range of disciplines and from regional stakeholders. Keywords: Integration, catchment, prioritisation, decision-making, evaluation

Interpretations of the processes and outcomes of community-based research were explored through three case studies in South-East Queensland over a two year period. The ,findings indicate that the ultimate goal of community-based research is to achieve sustainability learning through a combination of experiential learning, social learning and action, with a primary focus on monitoring and improving the condition of local socio-ecological systems. In addition, community-based research can provide an effective framework for public participation in natural resource management and for achieving sustainability outcomes by facilitating an extension from social interaction, to social learning through to sustainability learning. Keywords: community-based research, participatory research, catchment management, social learning, sustainability learning, Waterwatch

Byline: Klaus Keller (1), Gary Yohe (2), Michael Schlesinger (3) Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Geosciences, Penn State, University Park, PA, 16802, USA (2) Department of Economics, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, 06459, USA (3) Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, 6182, USA Article History: Registration Date: 27/03/2006 Received Date: 09/09/2005 Accepted Date: 08/03/2006 Online Date: 23/01/2007

Byline: M. Granger Morgan (1), David W. Keith (1,2) Abstract: A variety of decision makers need projections of future energy demand, CO.sub.2 emissions and similar factors that extend many decades into the future. The past performance of such projections has been systematically overconfident. Analysts have often used scenarios based on detailed story lines that spell out 'plausible alternative futures' as a central tool for evaluating uncertainty. No probabilities are typically assigned to such scenarios. We argue that this practice is often ineffective. Rather than expanding people's judgment about the range of uncertainty about the future, scenario-based analysis is more likely to lead to systematic overconfidence, to an underestimate of the range of possible future outcomes. We review relevant findings from the literature on human judgment under uncertainty and discuss their relevance to the task of making probabilistic projections. The more detail that one adds to the story line of a scenario, the more probable it will appear to most people, and the greater the difficulty they likely will have in imagining other, equally or more likely, ways in which the same outcome could be reached. We suggest that scenario based approaches make analysts particularly prone to such cognitive biases, and then outline a strategy by which improved projections, tailored to the needs of specific decision makers, might be developed. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA (2) Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering and Department of Economics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada Article History: Registration Date: 17/06/2008 Received Date: 20/03/2007 Accepted Date: 04/04/2008 Online Date: 29/08/2008

Despite the great significance of geomorphologic-environmental data in different disciplines, there are sundry problems in relation to availability, accessibility and their applicability. Primarily the problems dealing with these data were investigated and then technical solutions to remove each of the above problems and how to manage geomorphologic-environmental data were suggested. The solution for availability lies in participation of various organizations in acceptance of responsibility of data production and maintenance, during their daily activities. To remove the problem of accessibility to the existing data, a distributed architecture based on Internet GIS has been proposed. To make data applicable in users' systems and also integratable with each other, formulating and observing equal standards in different stages of management of geomorphologic data is recommended. Based on the proposed solutions, Damavand Volcano conic was selected as a case study. Initial standards were drawn up. Accordingly, geomorphologic data on the case study were collected and stored in different distributed databases. A system of distributed Internet GIS was also created based on the proposed architecture. The case study indicated that the proposed solution and system are capable of eliminating the problems pertinent to management of geomorphologic data from technical perspectives. Keywords: Internet GIS, distributed architecture, geomorphologic, management, damavand cone, INTRODUCTION Geomorphology is the study of surface land forms and their changing (2) Therefore, geomorphologists are concerned with the forms and processes of the earth's surface, paying heed to any [...]

Rocky intertidal reefs are an increasingly popular setting for recreational activities in Australia. As a result, managers need to better understand and quantify the visitation levels and recreational use of these areas to ensure the protection of intertidal marine communities. We surveyed the recreational use of a rocky intertidal reef at Sorrento, a popular summer holiday destination in Victoria. The section of the reef with greatest visitor access received the most visitors; regardless of whether it was school holidays or weekends during the school term. The most popular and potentially threatening activities included walking over beds of the fucoid alga, Hormosira banksii, followed by collecting biota and fossicking. Most activities were passive in nature and we theorise that many visitors are unaware of their contribution to local environmental impacts. We suggest that public education is an ideal management strategy to increase visitors' environmental awareness and teach visitors about low-impact behaviours. By performing recreational use surveys in conjunction with site specific ecological surveys of the impacts of recreational use, management agencies will be able to devise more effective strategies which will better protect rocky intertidal reef habitats in the future. Keywords: environmental awareness, Hormosira banksii, management, recreational use, trampling