Social values of biodiversity conservation for the endangered loggerhead turtle and monk seal

The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) and the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) are two species on the priority list for conservation in Greece due to their dwindling populations worldwide. Hence the issue of estimating willingness to pay for their conservation is germane to any protection initiative. Zakynthos Island in Greece has created a marine park for the conservation of such species. We report the results of a survey of visitors and residents of this island who were asked about making one-time donations in the form of either a tax for residents or a plane landing fee for tourists. We find that all people were willing to pay to protect these species; however, residents were willing to pay more than tourists. We then tested whether there was a sequence or ordering effect if the seal questions came before the turtles as well as if the turtle questions came before the seals. Such effect was found when turtle questions were presented first, but not when seal questions were presented first. Due to the extensive interest, it is recommended that an increase in the airplane landing fee to Zakynthos could be used to contribute towards funds for loggerhead turtle and monk seal protection

The economic value of improvements in the ecology of Irish rivers due to the water framework directive

Following the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) integrated catchment management plans must be prepared for all river basins, in order to achieve 'good ecological status' (GES) in all EU waters. This concept is a broader measure of water quality than the chemical and biological measures, which were previously dominant in EU water policy. The Directive also calls for a consideration of the economic costs and benefits of improvements to ecological status in catchment management plans, along with the introduction of full social cost pricing for water use. In this thesis, the primary focus is on the use of the Choice Experiment (CE) method. The CE method is reviewed and then used to estimate the value of improvements in a number of components of ecological status on two Irish waterways (the Boyne and the Suir). Apart from CE method another stated preference approach to environmental valuation is also considered; the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). This thesis determines what value the targeted population of the two catchments place on the nonmarket economic benefits of moves towards GES by employing both approaches and various model specifications, while the applicability of Benefit Transfer (BT) method is also assessed under different tests. In addition, the design of the questionnaire used in the survey stage of the research, offered the possibility of investigating issues related to the effect of cognitive ability and psychometric factors on choice. Respondents with discontinuous preferences are identified and analysis is conducted to investigate the implications of not accounting for these preferences. Finally, due to experiencing protesting behaviour by a proportion of the sampling population an attempt is made to investigate the parameters that contributed to this inclination

Pakistani-Chinese Relations: An Historical Analysis of the Role of China in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

The purpose of this essay is to bring into focus the cordial relations that existed between Pakistan and China during the Bhutto Era from 1969 to 1977, and to highlight the role of China during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971. Both countries had different ideologies and backgrounds. Relations between the two countries developed on the basis of national interest rather than ideology. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto writes: States deal with states, as such, and not with their social systems or ideologies. If such an argument was carried to its logical conclusion, Pakistan should have friendly relations only with Muslim states and should isolates itself from the rest of the world. It is a historical fact that Islam, as a political force, has suffered more at the hands of Christian states than of others... It is unlikely that China is going to be responsible for the fall of Granada or Pakistan or for wrestling of Jerusalem from the Muslim States. Our reactions are based on the Bandung principles and on the adherence to the concept of non-interference. Nowhere is it mentioned in the scriptures of Islam that fostering friendship with non-Islamic states involves a compromise of identity.1. This research article undertakes a historical, analytical and documented study of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's foreign relations and politics with China with the goal of explaining how and why Pakistan had friendly and cordial relations with China. The main question is if both countries have different ideologies why are they so close to each other? In international relations, there is neither a permanent friend nor enemy; interests are preferred.   1  Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, The Myth of Independence, (Karachi: Oxford University Press, 1969,) Pp. 132-133        Â

Etničnost: linije razdvajanja među »našim ljudima«

This paper addresses the extent to which migrants’ identity in a new place is contingent on ideas of “ethnicity”, using the case study of Serbs in London. It aims firstly to examine what “ethnicity” means, and the different dimensions of identity and circumstance that inform this. It then aims to deconstruct the notion of ethnicity by exploring the different ways in which ethnic markers are used in different spaces, and interactions with ”other” ethnic groups in the city. The research methodology consisted of qualitative, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 66 Serbian migrants, and participant observation with a further 20 households, in London. The sampling strategy was reflexive in order to ensure the inclusion of a wide range of migrant experiences according to different socio-political, economic and spatial backgrounds. The findings reveal a diversity of conceptualisations of what ”being Serbian” means, signifying that this is not a concrete or quantifiable measure. However, certain broad patterns did emerge, in the sense that those who expressed the ability to ”choose” their ethnicity were more likely to be those with sufficient cultural, economic, social and human capital that enabled them to negotiate this situationally. Another key feature that emerged was that ”ethnicity” may be the easy label given to what are in fact class and migrant status-based identities, depending on where people are positioned within the socio-political matrix. This, and particularly workplace based identities and migrant status – rather than ethnic qualities – also affected the perceived boundedness from ethnic “others” within the city.U radu se istražuje do koje je mjere identitet migranata u novom prostoru određen idejama o »etničnosti« koristeći se studijom slučaja Srba u Londonu. Autorica najprije želi ispitati značenje »etničnosti« te različite dimenzije identiteta i okolnosti koje na njega utječu. Zatim nastoji dekonstruirati pojam etničnosti istražujući različite načine na koje su upotrijebljeni etnički markeri u različitim prostorima i interakcije s »drugim« etničkim skupinama u gradu. Metodologija istraživanja sastojala se od kvalitativnih, polustrukturiranih dubinskih intervjua sa 66 srpskih migranata i promatranja sa sudjelovanjem u dvadeset kućanstava u Londonu. Strategija uzorkovanja bila je refleksivna kako bi se osiguralo uključivanje širokog spektra iskustava migranata sukladno različitome društveno-političkom, ekonomskom i prostornom porijeklu. Rezultati otkrivaju različitost konceptualizacija onoga što znači »biti Srbin« pokazujući da to nije konkretna ili kvantitativna mjera. No na vidjelo su ipak izašli određeni opći obrasci u smislu da su oni koji su izrazili sposobnost da »izaberu« svoju etničnost vjerojatno bili oni s dovoljnim kulturnim, ekonomskim, društvenim i ljudskim kapitalom koji im je omogućio da to svladaju situacijski. Sljedeća ključna karakteristika koja se pojavila jest da »etničnost« može biti lako pridodana značajka identitetima utemeljenima na klasi i migrantskom statusu, ovisno o tome gdje su ljudi smješteni unutar društveno-političke matrice. Navedeno, a posebice identiteti vezani uz radno mjesto i migrantski status – a ne etničke kvalitete – također je utjecalo na percipirano ograničenje od etničkih »drugih« u gradu

Respondent Certainty and Payment Vehicle Effect in Contingent Valuation: an Empirical Study for the Conservation of Two Endangered Species in Zakynthos Island, Greece

This paper focuses on providing evidence of what explains respondent certainty by assessing at the same time the sensitivity of the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) to payment vehicle effect. Two different samples were collected from local residents and foreign visitors of the Zakynthos Island in Greece and a split-sample approach was employed. The elicited conservation values concerned two endangered species, the loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta and the monk seal, Monachus monachus. In terms of policy implications, the stated Willingness-to-Pay (WTP) values confirmed that there is a potential for a range of internal funding options, which could sustain the future operation of the existing National Marine Park of Zakynthos (NMPZ). From a methodological point of view, the study explores the determinants of self-reported certainty with regard not only to different payment modes but also to attitudinal and socio-economic variables and adds evidence to the debate about the validity of CVM by testing the presence of a payment vehicle effect. The results show evidence of sensitivity of the method to the mode of payment and reveal a relationship between the chosen payment vehicle and respondents’ degree of certainty

Considerations of Socio-Economic Input, Related Challenges and Recommendations for Ecosystem-Based Maritime Spatial Planning: A Review

Socio-economics in an ecosystem-based Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) process cover a wide range from specifying socio-economic objectives, respective indicators, organising stakeholder engagement, to data, methods and tools (e.g., environmental valuation and cost-benefit analysis) for example to identify issues, assess ecosystem services, provide an insight on human behaviour and compare alternative marine plans with potentially competing goals. In addition, social principles such as that of social equity have an important role to play in achieving sustainability in marine management. However, the use of socio-economics in making the ecosystem-based MSP framework operational, poses certain challenges to researchers, regulators and policy-makers. The purpose of this paper is first to present a brief overview of socio-economic input needs, with a special emphasis on the role of environmental valuation related to ecosystem services as a mean to integrate the ecosystem approach into marine planning and management, and related challenges as identified by planners and researchers. Then, conclusions and recommendations are offered overall regarding socio-economic input and in particular environmental valuation. Finally, it is noted that although, the focus of the paper is mainly European, most of the issues discussed apply equally to other locations

Estimating the value of achieving "Good Ecological Status" in the Boyne River Catchment in Ireland using choice experiments

Following the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), integrated catchment management plans must be prepared for all river basins in order to achieve "Good Ecological Status" (GES) in all EU waters. This concept is a broader measure of water quality than the chemical and biological measures which were previously dominant in EU water policy. The directive also calls for a consideration of the economic costs and benefits of improvements to the water bodies' ecological status in catchment management plans, along with the introduction of full social cost pricing for water use. In this paper, the Choice Experiment (CE) method of valuation is used to estimate the value of improvements in a number of components of ecological status in the Boyne river catchment in Ireland. The study determines what value the targeted population of the catchment place on the non-market economic benefits of moves towards GES. In addition, the effect of various factors of observed individual heterogeneity on choice is explored