Financing environmental sustainability for small landowners in Guatemala: the potential of the carbon banking approach

Presented at the 2012 Lincoln University Postgraduate Conference, 28-29 August, 2012, Lincoln, New ZealandForest carbon is potentially an important income stream for small landowners in Guatemala that would help to cease deforestation pressures. However, the temporary nature of sequestered forest carbon, the risk of environmental disturbances releasing it, and the form of international carbon markets affect the ability of small forest owners to participate in carbon trading. To overcome these hurdles an annual carbon rental mechanism may be able to be established through the carbon banking approach. Thus, this study attempts to explore the potential of the carbon banking to include small forest owners into the carbon trading system by providing annual payments for retaining forest. This paper reports the results of an investigation into the stability of carbon pools formed by small forest owners in Guatemala and the effect this has on requirements for applying carbon banking approach. The study uses data on area burned annually in three eco-zones in Guatemala to estimate the risk of loss of forest carbon due to fire. This information is used in Monte Carlo simulation to model the risk-adjusted area of forest carbon available for leasing. The results show that only 96.35% of the forest carbon under contract from small owners in the wet zone is available for leasing to the carbon market when adjusted for fire risk. The same adjustment for the montane zone is 98.87% and for the dry zone is 97.13%. These percentages are used to calculate the minimum differential between prices paid to small owners and what is charged to carbon buyers

Financing environmental sustainability for small landholders in Guatemala: exploring the potential of the carbon banking approach

Carbon sequestration through forestry or agro-forestry is an option for reducing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Carbon markets have been identified as potentially being an important contributor to slowing deforestation and forest degradation by providing payments to small landholders to sequester carbon. This is also the case in Guatemala, where 43.4% of land is held by small landholders, much of which is forested or could be forested. However, small landholders face limitations to tap into carbon markets. One limitation relates to market exclusion because of landholding size, as carbon markets require large scale forestry projects to provide stable carbon stocks over time. Small landholders might be exposed to release of carbon through intentional disturbances such as landholders’ decisions about land use, and unintentional disturbances such as drought, floods, forest fire, pests and landslides. There are also institutional limitations in the structure of carbon markets. For instance, international carbon markets require a single upfront payment. Also, costs tend to be high for carbon projects when small landholders are involved. Carbon banking, which is based on an annual carbon rental market, may potentially overcome these limitations faced by small forest owners. This approach uses a financial institution that aggregates deposits of forest carbon from small landholders (depositors) in exchange for annual rental payments, and then rents out forest carbon to those who have carbon liabilities (renters). This research investigates the stability of carbon pools formed by small landholders and the ability of a bank to structure payments to small landholders in a lease arrangement, after accounting for forest fires, forest pests and landholders’ decisions about land use, administrative costs and international carbon prices.To investigate the carbon bank approach, a mathematical model was designed to model variables associated with the risk small landholders’ forest carbon is exposed to and how the bank should structure payments to small landholders considering risks of fire, pest, landholders’ preferences on land use (socioeconomic), and changes in international carbon prices and administrative costs. For forest fires, this study uses data on area burnt annually in three regions in Guatemala (Dry, Wet and Moist, and Montane) to estimate the risk of loss of forest area due to fire. This information was used in a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the 95th percentile annual proportion of area burnt by fire in each region. To estimate the combined effect of forest fire, pest and socioeconomic risks the Montane region was chosen to assess the carbon bank approach. The results for fires in the Montane region showed that 98.87% of forest carbon under contract from small landholders can be made available for renting out in the carbon rental market. For pests 99.95% of carbon is available to lease. Further, landholders’ decisions about land use were modelled using a double hurdle model. Model output showed that 99.8% of carbon is available to the bank for renting out. After combining these risks using joint probability theory, the bank is able to rent out 97% of forest carbon deposited. Taking into account the effect of biophysical (forest fire and pests) and socioeconomic (land use change) risks, administrative costs and international carbon prices, a carbon banking viability analysis was undertaken. The main assumptions for this analysis are: a constant interest rate (λ) of 4.9%, the total area of forest in the Montane region (Ar), the proportion of sequestered carbon deposited in the bank by small holdings (Wir), and density of carbon sequestered by a landholder (Dir). Complementary variables for the carbon banking analysis from this research are: carbon deposited is 1.494 M tCO2e if the whole forested areas is banked, risk-adjusted carbon available to rent out is 1.449 M tCO2e, total cost estimates from this study ($743,272), total cost estimates from related work ($265,670), and carbon prices in international markets (Pc $5/tCO2e and$20/tCO2e). The effect of total costs and carbon prices on πρL₌₀ was assessed using sensitivity analysis. Results showed that using high total cost estimates from this study and the current international carbon prices ($5/tCO2e), the πρL₌₀ of$-390,000. Assuming low carbon prices and low total cost estimates, πρL₌₀ is $90,000. In addition, the payment analysis encompasses two variables; total cost estimates and carbon prices. Considering the total cost estimates from this study and the current carbon prices in international markets ($5/tCO2e), the bank cannot afford to pay to small landholders to protect their forest. Also, small landholders’ willingness to maintain their forest based on what they would require per year was analysed. Due to the question was not properly understood by landholders, and data reported wide variations, results were not included in the carbon banking model. Finally, this study has identified some potential areas for further research, has included policy implications, and has also contributed to the carbon banking knowledge

Quality evaluation of health services using the Kano model in two hospitals in Peru

Public–private partnerships (PPP) represent an alternative model of health management focused on improving the quality of health services, particularly in emerging countries. To date, a systematic method to improve the perceived quality of health services by healthcare users in Peru has not been established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of health services in two PPP hospitals in Peru using the Kano model. A prospective cross-sectional descriptive observational study was carried out through a health service satisfaction survey using the Kano model methodology, measuring six categories of attributes. A total of 250 users of the health services were surveyed in the two PPP hospitals, located in Lima and Callao, using non-probability convenience sampling. Of the 31 attributes evaluated by the patients, 27 (81%) were classified as having a one-dimensional-type attribute, 3 (10%) were reported as mandatory, and 1 (3%) was considered as inverse. These results suggest that the presence of most of the attributes evaluated was relevant to maintaining the level of user satisfaction and that the absence of these attributes generated dissatisfaction in the users. The results showed that the users’ evaluation of health services was multidimensional—namely, their evaluation was focused not only on the interaction space between the patient and medical personnel but also addressed other interaction services

Object Person Marking in two under-represented Spanish dialects of Mexico

This paper is about a clitic-like form lo that appears in two under-studied dialects of Mexico in the context of transitive clauses. The distribution of this clitic-like form in these dialects is at odds with Standard Mexican Spanish which does not allow it in the same context. This clitic-like form resembles the singular, masculine, accusative object clitic of Standard Spanish, but it differs in that it does not show the agreement pattern expected for object clitics. In this paper we argue that this clitic-like form is better understood as an object marker that is triggered by the lack of a positive [Participant] feature in the direct object as part of the extended projection of the Object-DP. We also propose that this marking strategy is not the result of linguistic transfer or interaction with a different language, but rather a possible development within the grammar of Spanish. This marking strategy is, in fact, an inherent strategy of Spanish, but it gets blocked by normative pressure. The fact that this strategy flourishes in dialects apart from normative/academic contexts could be an indicator that the explanation we offer is on the right track

Further Remarks on Irrational Systems and Their Applications †

Irrational Systems (ISs) are transfer functions that include terms with irrational exponents. Since such systems are ubiquitous and can be seen when solving partial differential equations, fractional-order differential equations, or non-linear differential equations; their nature seems to be strongly linked with a low-order description of distributed parameter systems. This makes ISs an appealing option for model-reduction applications and controls. In this work, we review some of the fundamental concepts behind a set of ISs that are of core importance in their stability analysis and control design. Specifically, we introduce the notion of multivalued functions, branch points, time response, and stability regions, as well as some practical applications where these systems can be encountered. The theory is accompanied by some numerical examples or simulations

Patient satisfaction in the peruvian health services: validation and application of the HEALTHQUAL scale

During recent years, public–private partnerships (PPPs) in the health sector have been an attractive alternative for improving healthcare services in developing countries such as Peru. Therefore, it is fundamental to consider a comprehensive set of healthcare qualities, like the HEALTHQUAL scale, when we measure dimensions of healthcare service quality. Currently, no studies have applied HEALTHQUAL in Peruvian hospitals. The purposes of this study were to (1) validate and evaluate the application of the HEALTHQUAL scale to measure user satisfaction in outpatient services at two PPP hospitals in Peru; and (2) test the relationship between user satisfaction, efficiency, and loyalty. A descriptive, cross-sectional study based on the HEALTHQUAL scale was carried out at the end of 2018. The measurement items were satisfaction with healthcare personnel, satisfaction with nonhealthcare personnel, satisfaction with facilities and equipment, perception of efficiency, and trust. The scale was administered to a nonprobability sample of 250 users who attended one of two PPP hospitals—Barton and Kaelin. The application of partial least squares path modeling significantly impacted on the perceived efficiency in the items of healthcare personnel, nonhealthcare personnel, and facilities and equipment. The HEALTQUAL scale demonstrated sufficient validity and thus can be applied for measuring user satisfaction in PPP hospitals

Financiamiento público y dinámicas tecnológicas en la industria manufacturera y de servicios en Colombia

Objetivos: La presente investigación analiza los factores determinantes del desarrollo tecnológico en las industrias manufacturera y de servicios que reciben financiamiento estatal en Colombia. El objetivo es identificar los elementos críticos que afectan la innovación y el desarrollo tecnológico en estas industrias para proponer mejoras en las políticas públicas. Métodos: Se adoptó un enfoque mixto, combinando análisis cualitativos de casos y técnicas de regresión Poisson, utilizando datos de la Encuesta de Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica (EDIT IX), que incluyó 7,762 empresas manufactureras y 9,304 empresas de servicios y comercio. Resultados:  Los resultados indican que los factores clave que influyen en la innovación y el desarrollo tecnológico son la insuficiencia de recursos financieros propios, la falta de información sobre mecanismos de apoyo y las dificultades en el acceso al financiamiento estatal. La escasez de recursos financieros propios limita la capacidad de las empresas para invertir en actividades de investigación y desarrollo. Además, la falta de información sobre los mecanismos de apoyo disponibles impide que muchas empresas accedan a recursos que podrían impulsar su desarrollo tecnológico. Por último, las dificultades en el acceso al financiamiento estatal, debido a procesos burocráticos y falta de claridad en los requisitos, representan una barrera significativa para muchas empresas. Conclusión: Estos hallazgos destacan la necesidad de reformas en las políticas públicas para fortalecer el ecosistema de innovación y desarrollo tecnológico en Colombia. Las reformas sugeridas incluyen la simplificación de los procesos para acceder al financiamiento estatal, la mejora de la divulgación de información sobre los mecanismos de apoyo disponibles y el aumento de la disponibilidad de recursos financieros propios para las empresas. Estas medidas contribuirían a mejorar la competitividad y productividad de las empresas, fomentando un entorno más favorable para la innovación y el desarrollo tecnológico. La investigación subraya la importancia de ajustar las políticas públicas para crear un entorno más propicio para la innovación y el desarrollo tecnológico en Colombia, mejorando así la competitividad y productividad empresarial

Las arcillas en sociedad: reconstruyendo el pasado y modelando el futuro. La Sociedad Española de Arcillas (SEA)

Se hace referencia a la historia de la Sociedad Española de Arcillas (SEA), una de las Sociedades científicas más veteranas de España, a la ciencia en torno a la que se proyecta, y a las perspectivas y objetivos que acompañan a la misma. El comienzo de esta sociedad científica se sitúa en 1959 con la fundación del grupo español de Minerales de la Arcilla (GEMA), que dio lugar a la SEA en 1971, la cual va camino de cumplir 64 años

Fabrication of luminescent nanostructures by electron-beam direct writing of PMMA resist

We report on the conversion of non-luminescent conventional poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA)-based electron-beam resists into luminescent materials when used as negative-tone resists, that is, when exposed to high electron irradiation doses. Raman spectroscopy reveals the chemical transformation induced by electron irradiation which is responsible for the observed luminescence in the visible (blue) region. The emission intensity from exposed PMMA-based patterns can be controlled by the electron irradiation dose employed to create them

From Theory to Practice: Can LEAP/FAO Biodiversity Assessment Guidelines Be a Useful Tool for Knowing the Environmental Status of Livestock Systems?

Biodiversity loss is a global concern, and agriculture is one of the economic sectors responsible for this impact. The assessment of ecosystems under the influence of livestock production is essential for knowing their integrity and ability to provide ecosystem services. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the application of LEAP/FAO guidelines for quantitative assessment of biodiversity in the livestock sector at the local scale (farm level) in a group of six study cases in Uruguay. A set of 20 indicators was used, including seven key thematic issues: habitat protection, habitat change, wildlife conservation, invasive species, pollution, aquatic biodiversity, off-farm feed, and landscape-scale conservation. The results show that the LEAP biodiversity assessment guidelines can be useful to characterize the state of ecosystems under pastoral use and some specific components of their biodiversity, as well as assess the interaction of the production system with the environment and plan management accordingly. This work also provides an analysis of the methodology used and recommendations to facilitate its application by the sector. The results from the application of the indicators show a great deal of wild biodiversity that uses grazing systems based on native grasslands as habitats and the acceptable integrity of these ecosystems. On average, farms have 83% of their native ecosystem, with a value of 3.5 for the Ecosystem Integrity Index. In terms of the richness of different groups, there was an average number of species of 112 herbaceous plants, 48 woody plants, 48 spiders, 150 birds, and 14 fish. The main goal of this work is to help in the wider application of the guidelines by facilitating decisions about methodology, necessary resources, and technical support. Moreover, another goal is to show the importance of native grasslands-based livestock systems for biodiversity conservation.Fil: de Santiago, María Fernanda. Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias.; ChileFil: Barrios, Margenny. Universidad de la Republica. Centro Universitario Regional del Este.; UruguayFil: D'Anatro, Alejandro. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: García, Luis Fernando. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Mailhos, Ary. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Pompozzi, Gabriel Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Rehermann, Sofía. Universidad de la Republica. Centro Universitario Regional del Este.; UruguayFil: Simó, Miguel. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: Tesitore, Giancarlo. Universidad de la Republica. Centro Universitario Regional del Este.; UruguayFil: Teixeira de Mello, Franco. Universidad de la Republica. Centro Universitario Regional del Este.; UruguayFil: Valtierra, Victoria. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Blumetto, Oscar. Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria; Urugua