The Effect of the National Greening Program on the Socioeconomic Status of Smallholders in the Philippines

No abstract available

Artisanal, shell-based handicraft in Papua New Guinea: Challenges and opportunities for livelihoods development

A thorough understanding of livelihoods is necessary to ensure development policies are compatible with both resource conservation and the social and economic goals of development. Few studies, however, focus on value-adding activities occurring post-harvest in artisanal fisheries. The transformation of mollusc shells and skeletal remains of other marine taxa into artistic jewellery and decorative items is becoming an increasingly important livelihood activity for rural, coastal communities across the Pacific. We examine the potential challenges facing the shell-based handicraft sector and opportunities for overcoming these challenges using a quantitative study of artisans among the Tigak Islands of Papua New Guinea. The major challenges facing this livelihood sector are perceptions of marine resource declines and a lack of livelihood flexibility, attributed to the specialisation of material assets and skills. Improving market heterogeneity and developing coastal aquaculture may facilitate sustainable development of this livelihood sector

A Theological Jurisprudence of Popular Cinema: Superheroes, Science Fictions and Fantasies of Modern Law

No abstract available

Extent and severity of damages caused to spruce roundwood by harvesting heads in standard versus debarking configurations

Stump-site debarking has undergone a considerable shift from being common practice during the 1960s–1980s to now being almost exclusively used in eucalyptus plantations. By removing bark at the stump site, a high level of nutrients remains in the stand, and the debarked logs are less prone to act as a breeding environment for insects. With these two key advantages in mind, there has been a recent surge to adapt common harvesting heads so that they may be used for stump-site debarking of species other than eucalyptus. This study aimed to determine whether stump-site debarking affects the frequency, severity, and type of stem damage to Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) trees. Two harvesting heads (parallel and triangular-closing designs) were alternately operated in standard (non-debarking) and debarking configuration during winter and summer, all rest remaining equal. Damages were classified as either Type I or Type II, the former representing a depression of the wood surface caused by punctual or linear penetration of roller studs or splines and the latter referring to a larger-area gouge (fiber tear) resulting from roller slip or the delimbing knives cutting into the wood, often in combination. Results indicate that Type I Damages were significantly deeper under standard configuration (8.7 mm) than under debarking configuration (6.7 mm). Regarding Type II Damages, significantly longer damages (average of 238 cm), were caused by the triangular-closing head in debarking configuration as compared to damages caused with the standard configuration (69 cm). These results indicate that Type I Damages, under the tested conditions, are less severe with the debarking configurations but that Type II Damages could be problematic when considering the length of the gouges, as compared to standard configurations

Root and Shoot Biomass Growth of Constructed Floating Wetlands Plants in Saline Environments

Constructed Floating Wetlands (CFWs) are increasingly being used globally in freshwater environments such as urban lakes and ponds to remove pollutants from urban stormwater runoff. However, to date there has been limited research into the use and performance of these systems in saline environments. This study compared the root and shoot biomass growth and nutrient uptake of five different plant species, Chrysopogon zizanioides, Baumea juncea, Isolepis nodosa, Phragmites australis and Sarcocornia quinqueflora, in three different saltwater treatments over a 12-week period. The aim of the study was to identify which of the plant species may be most suitable for use in CFWs in saline environments. Plant nutrient uptake testing revealed that Phragmites australis had the greatest percentage increase (1473–2477%) of Nitrogen mass in the shoots in all treatments. Sarcocornia quinqueflora also had impressive Nitrogen mass increase in saltwater showing an increase of 966% (0.208 ± 0.134 g). This suggests that the use of Phragmites australis and Sarcocornia quinqueflora plants in CFWs installed in saline water bodies, with regular harvesting of the shoot mass, may significantly reduce Nitrogen concentrations in the water. Isolepis nodosa had the greatest percentage increase (112% or 0.018 ± 0.020 g) of Phosphorous mass in the shoots in the saltwater treatment. Baumea juncea had the greatest percentage increase (315% or 0.026 ± 0.012 g) of Phosphorous mass in the roots in the saltwater treatment. This suggests that the use of Isolepis nodosa and Baumea juncea plants in CFWs installed in saline water bodies may significantly reduce Phosphorous concentrations in the water if there was a way to harvest both the shoots above and the roots below the CFWs. The study is continuing, and it is anticipated that more information will be available on CFW plants installed in saline environments in the near future

Strategies to ‘Slay the Dragon’—One Head at a Time

This chapter suggests that bringing about gender change in the academy is like attempting to slay the Seven-Headed Dragon (van den Brink and Benschop in Gend. Work and Organ. 19: 71–92, 2012)—it takes a multi-pronged approach. It also acknowledges that sexism is dynamic and malleable and keeps taking new shapes and forms. I therefore suggest that women in the academy, and those that support inclusive and fair organisational structures and cultures, need to adopt strategies of resistance that contextually suit the situated form/s of oppression made manifest in one’s own context. I also offer an overview of the range of strategies created and employed by the women contributors to this book to resist sexism in the contemporary academy. The chapter offers some strategies that can be operationalised to slay the dragon, one head at a time

Geomorphic hazards in south‐west Saudi Arabia: The human–environmental nexus

Despite limited attention to geomorphic hazards in Saudi Arabia, the mountainous region in the south‐west portion of the Kingdom has experienced a series of devastating debris flows, landslides, rockfalls, and debris floods during the past several decades. While undisturbed hillslopes are relatively stable, many rock slides, rockfalls and landslides are associated with cut and fill slopes of mountain roads and other disturbances in this steep terrain. These human‐induced geomorphic hazards act synergistically to exacerbate downslope and downstream disasters, such as debris flows and debris floods. The progressive sediment loading in low‐gradient channels (wadis) together with large convective rainfall events, have caused episodic evacuation of these ephemeral channels. As such, hydrogeomorphic linkages between hillslope and channel mass wasting processes may be temporally separated as wadis accumulate sediment, posing challenges for prediction of the timing of damaging debris flows. Furthermore, there is little appreciation of the extent to which human‐related disturbances (e.g., mountain roads, construction sites, overgrazing) contribute to these downstream disasters or the vulnerability of passengers, residents, or herders to these anthropogenically induced hazards. Such knowledge and information is needed to develop effective hazard mitigation and real‐time warning systems for this and similar dry mountain regions that experience episodic storms. Here we demonstrate the need for improved road location, construction practices, and land management in this steep terrain as well as better appreciation of the hillslope and in‐channel hazard nexus to reduce downstream impacts of geomorphic disasters

Shedding light on the cracks in neoliberal universities

In light of the overwhelming presence of neoliberalism within academia, this book examines how academics resist and manage these changes. The first of two volumes, this diptych of critical academic work investigates generative spaces, or ‘cracks’ in neoliberal managerialism that can be exposed, negotiated, exploited and energised with renewed collegiality, subversion and creativity. The editors and contributors explore how academics continue to find space to work in collegial ways; defying the neoliberal logic of ‘brands’ and ‘cost centres’. Part I of this diptych illuminates the lived experiences of changing academic roles; portraying institutional life without the glossy filter of marketing campaigns and brochures, and revealing generative spaces through critical testimony, fiction, arts-based projects, feminist and Indigenous critical scholarship. It will be of interest and value to anyone concerned with neoliberalism in academia, as well as higher education more generally. [Book Synopsis

Clinical decision making in paramedicine

Clinical reasoning lies at the core of health care practice and education. Clinical Reasoning in the Health Professions, therefore, occupies a central place in the education of health professionals, the enhancement of professional decision making of individuals and groups of practitioners with their clients, and research into optimal practice reasoning. [Book Synopsis

Genetic diversity and structure of the threatened striped legless lizard, Delma impar: management implications for the species and a translocated population

The striped legless lizard, Delma impar, is a specialist grassland species restricted to south-eastern Australia. Anthropogenic influences have seen the destruction of much of its habitat and the species is threatened with extinction. Known populations of D. impar in Canberra (Australia) have recently been cleared for urban development. In 2015, Bush Heritage Australia translocated 41 individuals from these populations to Scottsdale Reserve. In this study, we completed the first population genetics analysis of D. impar in Canberra, providing a baseline for assessment of the genetic success of the translocation to Scottsdale Reserve. We analysed 154 D. impar individuals from six populations in Canberra, assessing levels of genetic diversity and differentiation within and between populations, using eight highly polymorphic microsatellite loci. High levels of genetic diversity and negligible levels of genetic differentiation were observed. Measures of allelic diversity were lower in the translocated population compared to the Canberra populations and Bayesian analysis revealed a disproportionate representation of two genetic clusters identified by STRUCTURE between the Scottsdale Reserve and Canberra populations, indicating that the initial genetic capture failed to ‘capture’ recommended levels of genetic diversity to support an ongoing population. If the species successfully establishes itself at Scottsdale Reserve, the data suggests that the population should be augmented with individuals from other sites in Canberra, with the aim of increasing genetic diversity to recommended levels (i.e. > 95% genetic variation). This will maximise resilience, adaptability and long-term survival potential of the Scottsdale Reserve population of striped legless lizards from a genetic context