Deforestation: Correlations, Possible Causes and Some Implications

Changes in national forest areas during 1990-2000 are contrasted with other variables to illustrate correlations and provoke discussion about possible causes. Twenty-five statistically-significant correlations (including rural population, life expectancy, GDP, literacy, commerce, agriculture, poverty and inflation) are illustrated and a statistical model suggests that good governance, alternative employment opportunities, and payments for environmental services may be effective in combating deforestation. The data suggest that a global forest convention may need to be supported by substantial and carefully-targeted development assistance to foster good governance

Association of CSSM066 and ILSTS011 microsatellite markers and thyroglobulin gene SNP with backfat in Canchim cattle

Canchim, a synthetic breed of cattle derived from the Charolais and Zebu group has been used in the beef-cattle industry in Brazil as an alternative for intensifying production. One of the main concerns with this breed is its poor fat deposition and consequently, there is an effort to increase the performance for this trait. The thyroglobulin gene is located in a QTL region for fat deposition, and reports describe the influence of a polymorphism in the 5´ leader sequence of that gene on marbling and subcutaneous fat thickness. This study analyzed the association of this polymorphism in the thyroglobulin gene, as well as of two flanking microsatellite markers, CSSM066 and ILSTS011, with backfat thickness in 987 Canchim beef cattle. The CSSM066 and ILSTS011 microsatellite markers have a effect on fat thickness in the studied populations. However, this trait did not have association with the polymorphism of the thyroglobulin gene, which suggests that other genes of bovine chromosome 14 may be responsible for the variation in this trait

APLIKASI MANAJEMEN RESIKO DARI PERSEPSI PARA STAKEHOLDERS (STUDI KASUS PROYEK PEMBANGUNAN JALAN TOL SEMARANG-SOLO SEKSI I RUAS TEMBALANG-GEDAWANG)

ABSTRACT Risk of construction are borned by many parties in a project. Generally, risks are identified just from the owner and contractor, some other sides are also involved in that project. The aim of this research is to analyse the application of risk management in the highway project from stakeholders’ perception. the objective of this research is to analyse the risks of Semarang-Solo highway project section I (Tembalang-Gedawang) from the stakeholders’ perception in the project, such as contractor, owner, planner consultant, supervisory consultant, and society around this project. The second objective is to know the comprehensive risk management from stakeholders’ perception. The third objective is to compare risk analysis method among Risk Breakdown Structure (RBS) method and Analythical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The fourth objective is to analyse the sensitivity of risk to the change of policy of each stakeholder. Primary data were taken through the interviews, then processed using RBS and AHP method. RBS risk analysis was done by multiplying the value of the impact and frequency to obtain the value of the risk level of each risk factor. AHP risk analysis was done by calculating eigen values and consistency test to get value of risk probability and risk impact, then multiplied them to get the value of risk level. Risk analysis is conducted to all stakeholders, to obtain the comprehensive risk analysis at this project. This risk analysis can be taken to the risk sensitivity analysis to know risk sensitivity at this project from the change of policy by each stakeholder. This research found that the risk of Semarang-Solo highway project section I (Tembalang- Gedawang) are different in each stakeholders’ perception. The result of risk analysis with RBS and AHP method at each stakeholder is also different. Those differences are also seen at the difference of risk ranking, because the instruments of questionnaires at RBS methode are easier for respondents than the instruments of questionnaires at AHP method. From the whole risk of the project, the biggest risk from all stakeholders by RBS method is construction risk, but the biggest risk from AHP method is economic risk. The results of risk sensitivity analysis show that the contractor risk is sensitive when it changed from 0,48 to 0,10 and 0,70. Supervisory consultant risk is sensitive when it changed from 0,19 to 1,20 but the planner consultant risk is sensitive when it changed from 0,11 to 0,40. The risk of both society and owner are not sensitive with any change. This concludes that the risk ranking of both stakeholders are consistent. Keywords: construction risk, project stakeholders, Risk Breakdown Structure, Analythical Hierarchy Process, risk sensitivity analysi

Deforestation mechanism: a survey

Numerous published economic models of tropical deforestation are reviewed, in four categories: - a Neo-Malthusian approach, often nebulous and imprecise in terms of causal processes, which sees population pressure as the underlying cause of tropical deforestation; - those focusing on government failures - particularly on misdirected government policies in other sectors that result in excessive and inappropriate deforestation; sectoral (e.g. log export ban) policies; and the general failure of supervisory institutions of governance, including corruption. This approach puts great emphasis on the effects of government interventions; - a microeconomic approach which considers the economic rationality of forest clearance from a farmer's perspective, and explains how various forms of market failure, e.g. poorly defined property rights, poorly-designed logging contracts and undervaluation of forest benefits at the local, regional or global level, all contribute to deforestation; and - a macroeconomic emphasis which explores the alleged links between debt and deforestation, leading to debt-for-nature swaps being proposed as a means for reducing deforestation rate in developing countries. The authors conclude that both the government failures and micro-economic analyses are particularly relevant to understanding current deforestation processes and policy options in Indonesia

Policy under pressure: policy analysis of community-based forest management in Indonesia

Public policy relating to community-based forest management (CBFM) in Indonesia seeks to foster economic development via forest-based enterprises to enhance rural livelihoods and encourage a shift to sustainable forest management to reduce deforestation. However, the policy context for CBFM is an expression of the multiple and conflicting pressures faced by Indonesia's tiers of government. Policies to encourage transmigration to relieve the intense pressure caused by a high population in some areas of Indonesia, and policies that act to be a catalyst for buoyant rural-based industries like oil palm and rubber, have created challenges for policy-makers about how best to design and implement policies to encourage the expansion of CBFM. The authors' draw on their analysis of CBFM policy in Indonesia that indicates a need to: Assess the commercial opportunities for smallholders from forest-based enterprises within the broader context of opportunities from other rural enterprises; Integrate and analyse the range of rural development policies that influence CBFM; and Clarify the access to, and ownership of, rural land

Deforestation and capital accumulation: lessons from the Upper Kerinci region, Indonesia

This study outlines a case where the behaviour of farmers in accumulating capital, rather than their poverty as commonly assumed, results in deforestation. Fieldwork was undertaken in the Upper Kerinci region of the island of Sumatera, Indonesia. A financial analysis of the "net income" streams received by farmers from deforestation is performed. Because forest lands can be "captured " and privatised through clearing and the subsequent agriculture have the capacity to produce high financial returns for farmers as well as to provide adequate capital to finance the next forest clearing. Such a capacity enables landless farmers to become land owners. Forest clearing also enables farmers to own a "long-term maturity bond" in the form of a cinnamon plantation. Poverty precludes poorer farmers from deforestation, and decisions to clear a forest rest mostly with more established farmers. Financial surpluses from outside the forestry and agricultural sectors are also used to finance forest clearing

Effects of Live Load on Seismic Response of Bridges: A Preliminary Study

Although live load is well known to have a dynamic effect on bridge response in addition to its self-weight, the significance of these effects on seismic response is unclear. In addition, most bridge design specifications have few requirements concerning the inclusion of live load in their seismic design provisions. The main objective of this study is therefore to investigate and obtain insight into the effect of vehicle-bridge interaction during earthquake shaking. The study consists of both experimental and analytical investigations. This paper focuses on the experimental work, which includes shake table testing of a 2/5-scale model of a horizontally curved steel girder bridge loaded with a series of representative vehicles. Preliminary experimental results show that the presence of the live load had a clear beneficial effect on performance for small amplitude motions, but that this improvement diminished with increasing amplitude of shaking. Parameters used to measure performance include column displacements, abutment shear forces, abutment uplift, and concrete spalling

Effects of Live Load on Seismic Response of Bridges: A Preliminary Study

Although live load is well known to have a dynamic effect on bridge response in addition to its self-weight, the significance of these effects on seismic response is unclear. In addition, most bridge design specifications have few requirements concerning the inclusion of live load in their seismic design provisions. The main objective of this study is therefore to investigate and obtain insight into the effect of vehicle-bridge interaction during earthquake shaking. The study consists of both experimental and analytical investigations. This paper focuses on the experimental work, which includes shake table testing of a 2/5-scale model of a horizontally curved steel girder bridge loaded with a series of representative vehicles. Preliminary experimental results show that the presence of the live load had a clear beneficial effect on performance for small amplitude motions, but that this improvement diminished with increasing amplitude of shaking. Parameters used to measure performance include column displacements, abutment shear forces, abutment uplift, and concrete spalling