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Map-Making for ERM Studies
(2005)
This paper discusses the need for a concept “environmental and resource management” (ERM), and what ERM meaningfully could be. This problem is approached first by an analysis of the environmental and developmental issues. Consequently the hegemonic discourse on sustainability is questioned. Second, the paper uses Kuhn’s “Structure of Scientific Revolutions” as a basis for drafting a scientific field “ERM”. From the perspective of both approaches, different paradigms of environmental management are studied. Based on this analysis a fundamental problem is obtained, namely, how to make individuals and institutions co-operate and under which societal conditions co-operation can be engendered. Subsequently ERM is defined. ERM-Science is being worked out, as being goal-driven, seeking sustainability. It is pointed out that ERM, ERM-Science and its supporting scientific fields are not identical. The major findings following this method are: ERM is stipulated as an inherent social activity. Therefore the scientific field ERM needs to critically focus on the environmental and resource (ER)-manager’s behaviour and her context, that both have indicated and non-indicated environmental influences upon the world. To inquire in that object of interest, the following point of view is developed: “How to make people and society not only speak about environmental problems but implement solutions?” This leads to the discussion of consequences in terms of ethical implications and methodology. Basing on these results, the legitimate problems for the scientific field ERM are illustrated. The developed definition and its consequences are applied on the three ERM-programs at Brandenburg University of Technology (BTU) (Germany) and concludes that a radical reform of the BTU-approach to ERM is required.
Die vorliegende Arbeit beinhaltet eine Nutzungspotentialbewertung einer Bergbaufolgelandschaft (BFL). Mit Hilfe einer zielorientierten Nutzwertanalyse werden die Potentiale Landschaft, Infrastruktur, Wirtschaft, Arbeitsplätze, Ökologie und Nachfrage bewertet und die Gunstfaktoren des Untersuchungsgebietes (UG) herausgestellt, um mögliche Handlungsvorschläge zu geben. Leitbild des UG ist eine den gegebenen Bedingungen entsprechende nachhaltige Entwicklung einer BFL. Eine einst vom Abbau der Braunkohle lebende Region sucht ein neues Gesicht und Möglichkeiten, die durch den Tagebaubetrieb völlig veränderten Bedingungen der Landschaft, Infrastruktur, Wirtschaft, Arbeitsplätze, Ökologie, Nachfrage neu zu formieren. In einer von der Autorin eigens für diese Untersuchung entworfenen Matrix werden die Bewertungsergebnisse räumlich veranschaulicht. In Kopplung mit der Darstellung der mathematisch strukturierten Ergebnisse im Nachhaltigkeitsdreieck wird verdeutlicht, welche ökonomischen, sozialen und ökologischen Bedingungen im UG zu erwarten sind. Vor allem aus der Darstellung der Ergebnisse in der Matrix ist erkennbar, wo im UG welche Potentialfaktoren besonders günstig sind bzw. welche Kombination voneinander positiv beeinflussender Potentiale wo auftreten. Das UG wird sich nicht gleichmäßig entwickeln. Es wird entsprechend einer Knoten-Achsen-Struktur Entwicklungsschwerpunkte geben. Die Wirtschaft und die sozialen Beziehungen als Wachstumspole werden besonders in den Knoten gefördert. Die Achsen erstrecken sich entlang der infrastrukturellen Erschließung über den Rand des Gebietes hinaus und sorgen für eine Anbindung an das Umland. Das UG besitzt sehr günstige ökologische Potentiale, die bei der weiteren Entwicklung unbedingt berücksichtigt werden sollten. Als wenig günstig stellt sich das Potential der Wirtschaft heraus. Das bedeutet, dass besonders Anstrengungen zur Verbesserung der wirtschaftlichen Basis in diesem Gebiet unternommen werden müssen. Schlechte ökonomische Bedingungen ziehen rasch verschlechternde soziale Verhältnisse nach sich. Das UG befindet sich in einer Region, die von Entleerungstendenzen gekennzeichnet ist. Aus diesem Grund ist es wichtig, eine stabile und vielfältige Wirtschaft zu schaffen. Mit dem Totalausfall der ehemaligen wirtschaftlichen Basis, dem Braunkohlenabbau, müssen hier neue Wege gegangen werden, die zudem das ökologische Potential des UG unterstreichen. So genannte „Leuchttürme“ sollten das Gebiet wirtschaftlich wieder attraktiv machen und der Region eine neue Lebenschance geben. Die Autorin stellt Möglichkeiten der touristischen Nutzung vor und plädiert für die Nutzung alternativer Energien und nachwachsender Rohstoffe. Im UG muss Mut zu neuen Wirtschaftsstrukturen bewiesen werden. Je vielfältiger die neuen Möglichkeiten genutzt werden, desto stabiler wird die wirtschaftliche Basis. Je solider sich die ökonomische Grundlage festigt, desto günstiger wirkt sich das auf die sozialen Bedingungen aus. Die ökologische Gunst sollte von Anfang an bei der Gestaltung der Wirtschaft und der Entwicklung neuer Infrastruktur berücksichtigt werden. Dies wurde nicht zuletzt auch durch die Nachfrage bestätigt. Mögliche Ausgänge der Entwicklung werden in Szenarien beschrieben, in denen absichtlich die gegebenen Bedingungen in einer überspitzen Form weitergedacht werden, um das Wesentliche der möglichen Entwicklung darzustellen. Das Besondere der BFL sollte nicht nur als geschichtliche Erinnerung, sondern als raumprägendes Element erkennbar bleiben.
In the quest of finding sustainable solution to solid waste management problems in Ghana, this research formulated as its goal, to mitigate policy constraints to sustainable solid waste management in Ghana. This research goal and objectives were addressed through an empirical study that involved interviews and administration of two sets of questionnaires, one set to members of parliament and the other to members of the general public. The development of questionnaires was influenced by a conceptual policy development model “The Bridge Model of Policy Development”. Administration of questionnaires to members of the general public was accomplished through random sampling within churches and mosques in three cities in Ghana; Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi. The percentage response for members of the general public was 38.9% and that for members of parliament was 18%. Prioritization of policy options was achieved through “Differentiated Perception Ranking”, a method devised by this research process. The results revealed the relative importance of constraints to sustainable solid waste management in Ghana, the relative difficulty of mitigating constraints, and the relative difficulty of implementing policy options among others. These results were integrated with the principles of sustainability into producing a policy package for sustainable solid waste management in Ghana.
This study closely examined how oil exploration has caused environmental degradation and untold hardship to the local communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Nigeria is known to be the sixth largest producer of crude oil among the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and thelargest in the African continent. The crude oil that puts Nigeria in this position is being produced in the Niger Delta region of the country. Nigeria’s economy is based on crude oil exports. Despite this enormous wealth coming from the Niger Delta, there is pervasive poverty and despicable environmental damage as a result of crude oil mining activities going on in this region. Suffice it to say that, there is total neglect of the region in terms of infrastructural development and economic empowerment of its local populace by the government and oil companies operating in the region. This has led to youth restiveness and hostage taking in the area. A sound methodological research approach was developed and utilized in this study. Both primary and secondary data were collected from questionnaires, structured interviews, personal observations, relevant literature, documentation from government agencies and oil companies. These data were analyzed, and they synthesized the discussions contained in this study. This study is all about charting a new course in the way the oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region carry out their activities in order to ensure the environmental sustainability of the region, and improve the economy of the rural communities in the region at the same time. It identifies the constraints to effective implementation of Nigeria’s environmental laws and policies especially the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as it concerns oil prospecting, which has hitherto contributed in hindering her environmental sustainability. It also unveils the critical issues concerning the deplorable state of the economy of the local populace of the region. After identifying the various problems contributing to the environmental woes, and the poor economic growth of the region, this research proffers recommendations that should be conscientiously and vigorously implemented to reverse the trend. Although, the oil companies have made some efforts towards providing the necessary infrastructures needed in the region, they need to do more in the area of capacity building, and use of green technologies to ensure healthy environment of their host communities. The government on her part should strengthen the various Ministries and Agencies vested with the responsibility of protecting the Nigerian environment, by providing them with the necessary incentives for maximum efficiency. This study therefore emphasizes a concerted approach from all the stakeholders in the Niger Delta region for the successful implementation of the recommendations herein to ensure the sustainable development of the region, and Nigeria in general.
Sustainable forest management in 1992 was recognized by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development as the most important contribution the forestry sector can inject into any sustainable development initiative. The author’s extensive literature review established this as the premise on which Ghana‘s quest for sustainable economic growth and development strategies is being implemented. Since embarking on this endeavour, conscious efforts have been made to define essential components of forest resources against which sustainability assessments could be performed in Ghana. The conceptual framework of the present research rests on FAO’s concept on criteria and indicators as useful tools in monitoring progress towards sustainable forest management and resource-use. In addition, an empirical approach seeks to elicit answers from staffs involved in the management of natural resources as well as from other stakeholder groups in order to address four pertinent questions as; i. the specifics of forest management practices and policies that exist in Ghana‘s high forest zone, ii. interactive forces that come into play with the identification and development of national level criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management, iii. who constitute the stakeholders and lastly, iv. the extent to which progress towards sustainable forest management has been achieved and in which direction it is moving. First a quantum of forest management policy documents were reviewed out of which applicable criteria and measurable indicators, specific to the high forest zone of Ghana, were identified. Together with stakeholder's involvement, performance scores were established for indicators identified within the trio-sectors (forest ecosystem, forest communities and the economy) for sustainability assessments. Based on actual performance scores, measures of successes towards sustainable forest management operations were quantitatively performed with estimated maximum and minimum thresholds levels at which resource-use would be sustainable using the measure of forest resource-use sustainable scale-MoFRUSS. Outcomes of these measurement operations, as depicted on the scale, revealed the actual extent to which stakeholder’s initiatives, towards sustainable forest management have progressed and in which direction they are moving. The study also offers optional policy baskets for resource management interventions from which the Socio-eco-Economy bundle is the most recommendable if the environmental aspect of Ghana‘s Vision 2015 (sustainable development) is to be achieved; with improved societal well-being, improved environmental health and vitality and improved economic growth and development. The study concludes with recommendations to both policy makers and the other vested stakeholders a viable opportunity which could be harnessed to improve on management‘s performance through avoided deforestation.
Being one of Ukraine’s major sources of economic revenue, the country’s agro-industrial sector proved, at the same time, to be perhaps the most vulnerable branch of economy in the times of political and social turbulence. While the state is searching for the ways of strengthening its positions at the global market, its agricultural potential to a considerable extent remains both under- and misused. Based on comprehensive historic analysis, this research establishes the origins of the current situation and assesses the possibilities of positive change. Utilizing the experience of other European countries’ with regards to making agriculture more sustainable and competitive in the modern world, the author describes the ways of applying these practices against the background of Ukrainian socio-political system. Drawing knowledge from the experience of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) worldwide, this research aims at harmonizing their methods with evaluation demands in Ukrainian agriculture. It discusses and criticizes the existing assessment approach and suggests measures necessary for making it more comprehensive. The author offers profound analysis of Ukrainian agricultural policies to date, reviews national regulating directives and outlines country-specific challenges as to improving agricultural sustainability. In order to provide Ukrainian decision-makers with a clear and all-round tool for assessing the advances and failures of the acting state policies in the AIS, a set of reliable indices for evaluating agricultural performance has been developed by the author, which is largely based on the widely-acknowledged Driving Force – State – Response framework offered by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Human Development Index (HDI) from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) methodology. At the same time, the newly developed set takes into consideration the peculiarities of Ukrainian socio-political setting. Three major categories of indicators were chosen as a backbone for further elaboration, namely economic, social and political. Therefrom results a list of twelve relevant indices. At the concluding stage of the research, they were processed and transformed to three top-level indices: Economic Development Index, Environmental Situation Index and Social Development Index. These three indices are intended for clear and illustrative presentation of the current situation for high level decision-makers and governmental bodies. Methodology utilized for the purposes of this research with necessary adaptation and fine tuning can also be used with other set of initial data, indicators and indices. Application field can also be downscaled from the highest (national) to the lowest (regional) level by adapting the indicator-indices system to the initial input data. This will considerably simplify the compilation and presentation of regional reports and will provide transparency for interregional comparison within the country.
Recycling and material recovery are gaining more grounds in applicability as viable options to sustainable solid waste management especially in Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) schemes. In this dissertation a critical analyzes is made of the MSWM problem in Cameroon and an assessment of the role Small- and Medium-Size Enterprises have been playing in the area of recycling and material recovery. The main research methods applied in this research include: fieldwork, administration of questionnaires, interview and literature review. Using two case study localities (Limbe and Buea municipalities), the various practices in MSWM are elaborated, the constraints and challenges faced by management discussed and proposals for either expanding/upgrading existing schemes to be more sustainable as well as strategies to initiate new systems presented. Innovations within collection systems such as the introduction of household bins and specialized collection of specific waste could be quite beneficial to existing schemes. Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) which constitute one of the fastest growing waste streams presents greater management challenges. Two case study localities (Buea and Kumba) are used to analyze the problem of WEEE in Cameroon. An overview of the handling of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) at end-of-life (EoL) in Cameroon is made with special focus on households and repair units. At household level, WEEE is disposed of alongside other waste arisings in the available disposal facilities for given household. Repair units represent a very vital connection between dysfunctional EEE and EoL forms as all users of EEE tend to bring these devices to these units for repairs. An inventory of the various EEE at repair units for these two localities shows that above 40% percent of such equipments are totally out of use. In Kumba, Classes 1 and 4 EEE (according to EU WEEE directive classification) dominate while class 3 is almost absent. In Buea, Class 3 and 4 are dominant. These results show that socio-cultural, economic and even climatic factors influence the choice of EEE that people in this area acquire. The intense level of repair activities and recovery of useful parts by repair units show that there exist adaptable options to handle WEEE in especially economically and environmentally beneficial ways. The recycling of aluminum for production of household utensils represents a very basic and adaptive industrial set-up, which can easily be operated and run at very cheap cost and with a little manpower. While this venture seems apparently successful in economic terms as an option to poverty alleviation through income generation, it is plagued by some problems which, if given due consideration will render it a prospective option for poverty alleviation (through small enterprise business development) and environmental sustainability (as an option to sustainable MSWM). In this dissertation, a model is thus presented, which can be utilized by stakeholders to improve on the sector. An assessment of efforts and constraints to implementing comprehensive recycling and recovery schemes in Cameroon was also carried out. Results show that there are existing practices on which comprehensive recycling and recovery can be built upon that would be beneficial to both councils and engaged schemes – mostly SMEs and NGOs. The challenges faced and likely to be faced and the way forward to implementing any broad scale recovery and recycling are presented. If municipal councils choose to operate existing MSWM schemes without significant changes, then collective collaboration will be highly required. Such collaboration will present benefits to both waste collection and disposal. On the other hand, if they wish to expand schemes or create new schemes, adaptive innovation would be highly recommended. Such adaptive innovation would have to incorporate local practices and approaches of MSWM as well as socio-economic considerations so as to ensure new or expanded schemes survive within local socio-economic context. A greater challenge in enhancing recycling and material recovery in particular and MSWM in general, in Cameroon is on the role the government takes on designing appropriate policies and legislative frameworks to cover such activities in economically and ecological beneficial ways. In the absence of these, SMEs, councils and NGOs (working in partnership with other specialized groups) concerned with activities related to recycling and material recovery may be left with the option of regulating activities within their sectors as such activities stand to alleviate poverty and also present ecological benefits.
Cameroon has vast renewable energy resource potentials, with a hydropower potential of about 55,200MW, second only to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. So far, its energy needs are met by 4.8% hydropower (which accounts for less than 5% of its total hydropower potential), 0% wind and 0% solar. Cameroons’ energy sector still goes through insufficient electrical energy production, especially during the heart of the dry season, which runs from December through March. Coincidentally, the wind and solar power potentials for Cameroon are at their peak during these months and could conveniently supplement for the shortfalls in generation during these periods. In this research, technical analysis were carried out to determine the wind and solar energy resource potentials for Cameroon using the RETScreen software tool provided by CANMET Canada. These analysis revealed that the northern regions of Cameroon had higher wind and solar resource potentials than any other location in Cameroon. A 2MW installed wind energy capacity would be capable of generating well over 1.5GWh electrical energy per year, while a 2KW installed solar energy capacity will be capable of generating well over 3MWh electrical energy per year. In the final sections, financial analysis were carried out to determine the economic viability of such projects and the possibility for self-financing. Emission analyses were also done based on the ability for such projects to offset greenhouse gas emissions and ensure sustainability in the energy sector. The analysis for Maroua revealed that 78.6tCO2/yr for wind and 0.1tCO2/yr for solar could be reduced by those installations. Finally, the legislations and legal frameworks governing the energy sector in Cameroon were dissected to determine possible weaknesses and constraints limiting the use, promotion and development of the full potential of Cameroon’s renewable energy resources.
Der weltweite Anstieg des Bedarfs an Primärenergie und das Wachstum des weltweiten Bruttoinlandsprodukts geht einher mit der Zunahme damit verbundener Emissionen. Aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Studien zufolge beträgt der Anteil des Energiesektors (Energiewirtschaft, Industrie und Verkehr) 83 % der weltweiten Treibhausgasemissionen. Der Klimawandel und die Projektion der Auswirkungen von Treibhausgasemissionen auf die Atmosphäre werden inzwischen auch auf politischer Ebene akzeptiert und weitergehende Maßnahmen diskutiert. Da aber Zugang zu Elektrizität und nachhaltige Entwicklung untrennbar verknüpft sind, stellt sich die Frage, wie diese Aufgabe innerhalb der nächsten Jahre gelöst werden kann. Weiterhin ergibt sich gleichzeitig durch die verbleibende Laufzeit des aktuellen Kraftwerksparks, je nach Szenario, für Deutschland im Jahr 2020 eine Versorgungslücke von bis zu 12.000 MWh. Ein Teil der Lösung dieser Problematik liegt in der nachhaltigen Gestaltung von Kraftwerken. Die Erstellung der Lebenszyklusanalyse eines GuD-Kraftwerks aus Sicht eines Herstellers in höchster Detailtiefe bildet daher den Hauptbestandteil dieser Arbeit. Erst die Darstellung des gesamten Produktsystems sowie der Bilanzierungsergebnisse ermöglichen das Aufzeigen von Verbesserungspotentialen. Die Systemgrenzen für die Ökobilanz umfassen alle Abschnitte des Produktlebenszyklus (Materialien, Fertigung, Transport, Betrieb, Wartung und End of Life). Die Erfassung der Materialmengen und Energiedaten liefert die Sachbilanz für alle Komponenten und Lebensphasen. In der Interpretation der Ergebnisse der Ökobilanz, insbesondere für die Kategorie Globale Erwärmung in kg CO2e überwiegen die Emissionen der Betriebsphase naturgemäß. Die Ergebnisse wurden aber für alle Wirkungskategorien und Lebensphasen erarbeitet. Auf Basis der erarbeiteten Module der Ökobilanz wurden die Umweltprofile verschiedener Konfigurationen und Betriebsszenarien dargestellt und stehen damit als Entscheidungshilfe bereits während der Produktentwicklung zur Verfügung. Die Darstellung der Auswirkungen von Designentscheidungen auf den ökologischen Fußabdruck des Produktsystems in einer aggregierten Form vereinfacht das Verständnis für Kunden und kann damit in die Kaufentscheidung einbezogen werden. Weiterhin wurde die Basis für ein Reporting der Treibhausgasemissionen nach dem GHG Protokoll erstellt. Die Ergebnisse werden außerdem in Form einer Typ II Produktumwelterklärung nach ISO 14021 veröffentlicht und als Referenzwert für die Berechnung der Emissionsfaktoren für den jeweiligen Strommix bereitgestellt.
The economic crises of the mid 1980s and 1990s due to a fall in economic productivity inflicted serious negative consequences on Cameroon’s forest ecosystems and forest resources which became the target of intense exploitation for multiple purposes. A forest policy reform at the behest of the World Bank was intended to regulate forest exploitation in a sustainable way. More than a decade since the inception of this policy, this study, through a three-tier methodological approach of survey, content analysis and observation, seeks to assess policy impacts per se, as well as the role of environmental communication in mitigating non-sustainable forest exploitation in Anglophone Cameroon. The study also investigates a valid and reliable option for the sustainable management of forest resources, by comparing and contrasting the two operational forest management paradigms. The outcome of the investigation reveals that both policy and environmental communication have a more positive impact in the community forest area than in the state-managed forest area, implying that the former is a better forest management option than the latter. However, forest sustainability is still at stake in both areas, due, generally, to bad forest governance such as corruption, minimal public participation, lack of transparency and accountability, as well as the ubiquitous presence of poverty, unemployment and inadequate public access to socio-economic development indicators. To this end, the study proffers some robust recommendations that if implemented will greatly enhance the badly needed forest sustainability.