irrigation reservoirs as blue clubs governance and policy intervention

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Enhancing Resource Management in Socio-Ecological Systems: Modeling Collective Conditionality in Rural Policies

The collective approach toward natural resource management in agriculture is increasingly gaining attention, by both the literature and policy makers. In the thesis I analyse the implementation of collective approaches in rural policies aimed at natural resource management. More specifically, I analyse how two design elements of this type of policies, collective conditionality constraints and subsidy levels, affect the 1) emergence of cooperation among farmers and 2) the distribution of the benefits. In the analyses I address the effect of these policies in a range of situations, namely in case the action subsidized by policy is a public good, a club good, or only a private cost (and thus cooperation is purely linked to the implementation of the policy). The distributional effect is addressed only in the club good case. The results show that indeed the proper use of collective conditionality constraints associated to subsidies can improve the cooperation of farmers and thus leading to more effective agri-environmental policies. It seems that the collective approach for natural resource management is a strategy that deserves higher attention and policy effort. However, it should not be taken lightly or naively implemented, as the "sophistication" of mechanisms also increases the scope for unexpected policy outcomes. A more aware implementation of such strategy also requires a greater, inter-disciplinary, effort for research, towards a proper understanding of actual effects of real life policy options and coordination mechanisms

farmland abandonment public goods and the cap in a marginal area of italy

Abstract Land abandonment is affecting several areas of Europe, and the issue has since some years become a policy objective. The consequences of land abandonment are however difficult to assess as both agriculture and land abandonment are linked to socio-environmental public goods, but the relationship between public good provision and land use, as well as their societal value, are unclear and debated. Policy such as the Common Agricultural Policy affects land abandonment and public good provision in different ways, by providing income support and targeting the provision of environmental public goods.The objective of the paper is to assess the land use, public good levels and welfare deriving from agricultural production and from the provision of three selected PGs, in three alternative scenarios. In a reference scenario land use allocation is driven by the maximization of agricultural income; we then compare these results with a scenario where land use decisions maximize the societal welfare, hence including the value generated by the three, and with a scenario that simulates Measure 13 of the Rural Development Programme (payment for Areas Facing natural or other specific Constraints). The method used is a land allocation model calibrated for the hill and mountain area of the province of Bologna (Italy), in which the public goods societal values are the results of a choice experiments taken in the Emilia-Romagna region. The main results is that the societal optimum is reached through a substantial change in land allocation (e.g. a strong reduction in land abandonment and an increase in forest areas) and in the composition of the welfare (from private agricultural income toward public good benefits) with respect to the private optimum. Moreover, generic income support reduces land abandonment but also total welfare as it has negative effects through the reduction of carbon sequestration and increase in soil erosion. More targeted policies, that more explicitly connect support to public good provision, have better welfare effects

The political economy determinants of agri-environmental funds in the European Rural Development Programmes

In recent years, agricultural policies have broadened their scope to include funds for the promotion of the environmental sustainability of agriculture, but they have been neglected by the political economy literature. In this article we investigate the drivers of the allocation of funds to environmental goals in the Rural Development Programmes of the European Common Agricultural Policy. The main results indicate that GDP is positively correlated to environmental budget, while delegating the programmes management to sub-national jurisdictions negatively affects it. If the environmental sustainability of the sector is at stake, a central grip on budget should be maintained

Socio-ecological systems and the distributional effect of collective conditionality constraints in rural policies: A case study in Emilia-Romagna

Agricultural policy makers are increasingly interested in the role of collective action to improve the effectiveness of natural resource management in rural areas. Analyses of socio-ecological systems highlight how distribution of benefits/cost is crucial for the success of cooperation among actors and hence it seems an element to take into account for the design of policies that focus on collective action. In this paper we use the Shapley value to ex-ante assess the distributional effect of collective conditionality constraints embedded in the policy, and their interaction with asymmetry in the access to the resource and with the social environment. We parameterize a model to a collective reservoir located in Emilia-Romagna (Italy), modelling the reservoir and the infrastructure connecting the farms by using a network. The results show that distributional effect of the asymmetry in the access to the resource can be counteracted by properly setting Minimum Participation Rules. However, the results highlight the potential difficulties in designing agricultural policies dealing with collective action

CONSOLE Project - Deliverable 1.1 - "Preliminary framework"

The objective of this document is to provide an initial conceptual framework for the project CONSOLE. The initial framework aims at providing a basis for interpretation of the project activities, hence connecting project objectives, approach and the state of the art about the topic. In order to achieve this objective, this initial version of the framework takes mainly the approach of an organized broad literature review in support of the project expected activities. It also aims at identifying the relevant definitions and scope for the project. Finally and foremost, it investigates the tentative logic of a preliminary conceptual framework to be further developed into an operational framework in the following tasks of WP1 (and of the project as a whole). In order to meet these tasks, the literature considered is not restricted to the specific contract types addressed by the project (see below), but rather attempts to contextualise these contract types in the wider literature on agri- environmental-climate public goods (AECPGs) provision by agriculture and forestry. In doing so, we acknowledge the wide variety of hybrid and mixed solutions that may be relevant in practice. In addition, we have tried to review specifically the most recent scientific literature, including the most debated issues; some classical concepts that are well established in the literature may be neglected or under-represented here

Determinants of radiation dose during right transradial access. insights from the RAD-MATRIX study

Background The RAD-MATRIX trial reported a large operator radiation exposure variability in right radial percutaneous coronary procedures. The reasons of these differences are not well understood. Our aim was to appraise the determinants of operator radiation exposure during coronary right transradial procedures. Methods Patient arrangement during transradial intervention was investigated across operators involved in the RAD-MATRIX trial. Operator radiation exposure was analyzed according to the position of the patient right arm (close or far from the body) and in relation to the size of the upper leaded glass. Results Among the 14 operators who agreed to participate, there was a greater than 10-fold difference in radiation dose at thorax level (from 21.5 to 267 μSv) that persisted after normalization by dose-area product (from 0.35 to 3.5 μSv/Gy*cm2). Among the operators who positioned the instrumented right arm far from the body (110.4 μSv, interquartile range 71.5-146.5 μSv), thorax dose was greater than that in those who placed the instrumented arm close to the right leg (46.1 μSv, 31.3-56.8 μSv, P =.02). This difference persisted after normalization by dose-area product (P =.028). The use of a smaller full glass shield was also associated with a higher radiation exposure compared with a larger composite shield (147.5 and 60 μSv, respectively, P =.016). Conclusions In the context of the biggest radiation study conducted in patients undergoing transradial catheterization, the instrumented right arm arrangement close to the leg and greater upper leaded shield dimensions were associated with a lower operator radiation exposure. Our findings emphasize the importance of implementing simple preventive measures to mitigate the extra risks of radiation exposure with right radial as compared with femoral access

Randomized comparison of operator radiation exposure comparing transradial and transfemoral approach for percutaneous coronary procedures: Rationale and design of the minimizing adverse haemorrhagic events by TRansradial access site and systemic implementation of angioX - RAdiation Dose study (RAD-MATRIX)

Background: Radiation absorbed by interventional cardiologists is a frequently under-evaluated important issue. Aim is to compare radiation dose absorbed by interventional cardiologists during percutaneous coronary procedures for acute coronary syndromes comparing transradial and transfemoral access. Methods: The randomized multicentre MATRIX (Minimizing Adverse Haemorrhagic Events by TRansradial Access Site and Systemic Implementation of angioX) trial has been designed to compare the clinical outcome of patients with acute coronary syndromes treated invasively according to the access site (transfemoral vs. transradial) and to the anticoagulant therapy (bivalirudin vs. heparin). Selected experienced interventional cardiologists involved in this study have been equipped with dedicated thermoluminescent dosimeters to evaluate the radiation dose absorbed during transfemoral or right transradial or left transradial access. For each access we evaluate the radiation dose absorbed at wrist, at thorax and at eye level. Consequently the operator is equipped with three sets (transfemoral, right transradial or left transradial access) of three different dosimeters (wrist, thorax and eye dosimet

Socio-economic impact of ecological agriculture at the territorial level

This deliverable investigates the socio-economic effects of ecological approaches to farming through implementing two participatory approaches, namely Delphi exercise and Q-method, at the level of a case study area (CSA). The focus is on how people and other productive assets are employed and remunerated by ecological approaches to agriculture, particularly those aspects that can influence employment, and drive the prosperity and vitality of local communities and some rural businesses. It is based on the collaborative research on Task 4.2 ‘Socio-economic impact of ecological agriculture at the territorial level’ of the LIFT project between UNIKENT (United Kingdom-UK) (Task Leader), BOKU (Austria), INRAE (France), VetAgro Sup (France), DEMETER (Greece), MTA KRTK (Hungary), UNIBO (Italy), IRWiR PAN (Poland), IAE-AR (Romania), SLU (Sweden), SRUC (UK). Beginning with the Delphi exercise, this deliverable presents qualitative information extracted from stakeholders in the following four steps. First, the researchers build a presentation of differences between ecological and conventional farming approaches in each CSA. Second, stakeholders elaborate on how they understand ecological farming approaches to exist in each CSA. Third, stakeholders develop a scenario of adoption of ecological approaches to farming depending on two factors: pattern (ecological farms forming clusters or randomly spread within the territory) and rate of adoption 10 years in the future. After establishing this scenario across two rounds, the stakeholders explore the socio-economic effects of their adoption scenario. The Q-methodology then presents a Q-set of statements that the Delphi has developed and, through factor analysis,studies the key stakeholder perspectives of the socio-economic effects of the perceived adoption of ecological practices in 10 years in the future. Four key results can be derived from the Delphi exercise and the Q-methodology. First, a higher adoption of ecological farming approaches, especially so at a 50% adoption rate, is mostly thought by stakeholders in the Delphi Exercise to lead to an increase in skill level and quality of life in on-farm employment. This is as a result of an increased diversity of farming enterprises on farms using ecological farming approaches, the interest generated from this, the knowledge of natural processes and biology required, engagement with nature and change in machinery that is coming into the industry. Strongly related to this need for skills is a predicted increase in the number of advisers and civil servants to deal with more complicated farms and incentives as well as monitoring of ecological effects on farm. An increase in required skill level is repeated across all Q-studies. Second, especially where farms are clustered together, Delphi Exercise respondents predict an increase in the trade of inputs such as manure and compost replacing synthetic fertiliser, as well as more sharing of capital and labour. Q-methodology highlights that these clusters may support a stronger social movement, more consumers buying local food and increase collaboration between farmers. Supply chains are expected to become shorter as farmers sell more directly and there are fewer intermediaries upstream of the farming sector. As farmers collaborate more with each other on environmental objectives, trading inputs and sharing best practices, farmer relationships should improve in rural communities. Third, Delphi exercise finds that contracting, machinery purchasers, and machinery traders and dealers could increase, decrease or display no change – the anticipated effects are mixed. Stakeholders are in no doubt that machinery use will change and therefore new skills will need to be learnt, but the wider effect on machinery purchase is uncertain. However, stakeholders conclude that a greater specialisation in machinery will occur leading to changes in farm management as well as the suppliers of this machinery. Q-methodology highlights that ecological practices will not mean the end of machinery and a lot more labour – often machinery will be useful in weeding and reducing physical labour as technology has significantly improved and skills are improving too in order to use these technologies. Fourth, Delphi respondents argued that although rural populations might be little affected by ecological farming, a shift in people moving from urban to rural settlements, and thereby a higher rural population density, seeking a more attractive rural environment, might contribute to higher local consumer demand. The Q-methodology highlights that where there is high adoption, rural areas are expected to become more attractive, as landscapes will have a much greater variety of crops instead of fields of monocrops. This variety of crops may include agroforestry (farmers interested in ecological approaches to farming may also be interested in agroforestry as a way of boosting their yields and protecting crops and livestock from the elements) as well as intercropping

A Qualitative Exploration of the Use of Contraband Cell Phones in Secured Facilities

Offenders accepting contraband cell phones in secured facilities violate state corrections law, and the possession of these cell phones is a form of risk taking behavior. When offenders continue this risky behavior, it affects their decision making in other domains where they are challenging authorities; and may impact the length of their incarceration. This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experience of ex-offenders who had contraband cell phones in secured correctional facilities in order to better understand their reasons for taking risks with contraband cell phones. The theoretical foundation for this study was Trimpop\u27s risk-homeostasis and risk-motivation theories that suggest an individual\u27s behaviors adapt to negotiate between perceived risk and desired risk in order to achieve satisfaction. The research question explored beliefs and perceptions of ex-offenders who chose to accept the risk of using contraband cell phones during their time in secured facilities. Data were collected anonymously through recorded telephone interviews with 8 male adult ex-offenders and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Findings indicated participants felt empowered by possession of cell phones in prison, and it was an acceptable risk to stay connected to family out of concern for loved ones. The study contributes to social change by providing those justice system administrators, and prison managers responsible for prison cell phone policies with more detailed information about the motivations and perspectives of offenders in respect to using contraband cell phones while imprisoned in secured facilities