We applied count-data travel cost methods to a truncated sample of visitors, to estimate the average CS per each day of visit of an individual, visiting the Peneda-Gerês National Park to enjoy their natural facilities for recreation purposes. As the recreation demand was measured in number of days of stay in the park the behaviour of the dependent variable is very specific. To overcome this situation, we propose the use of altered truncated count data models or truncated count data models on grouped data because we found they were better adjusted to our data set. The average individual CS per day is estimated to be €194 varying between €116 and €448, with Simulated Limits. This information is useful in the formulation of government policy relating directly to national parks and conservation and the determination of future natural park management. To our knowledge this is the first attempt to measure the average recreation net benefits per each day of stay supported by a national park, by using truncated altered and truncated grouped count data Travel Cost Model based on the observation of individual (not household) number of days of stay.
Sarasota County is a Florida gulf-coast community working to alleviate growth and development pressures and provide a balanced community of citizen amenities, economic growth, and a healthy natural environment. To meet this end, county government has been pursuing two main objectives: the acquisition and protection of ecologically significant lands and the minimization of roadway impacts in ecologically valuable areas. In 1992, a committee of citizens was appointed to evaluate the ecological value of undeveloped lands and facilitate a land-acquisition program. Subsequently in 1999, Sarasota voters approved a referendum to fund the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program (ESLPP). This program has since enabled the acquisition of over 15,000 acres of environmentally sensitive habitat for a total of nearly 105,000 acres of protected land throughout the county. In 2003, the land-acquisition agenda was expanded through the development of the Regional Environmental Mitigation Program, which was designed to facilitate the purchase and restoration of natural lands as compensation for unavoidable environmental impacts associated with county infrastructure projects. Despite protections afforded lands acquired by these landprotection programs, fragmentation continues to threaten ecologically intact landscapes in the county. To address this matter, the Board of County Commissioners initiated an investigation of the habitats and wildlife fragmented by transportation infrastructure. Field-investigation methods have involved reviews of aerial photography with local data overlays (e.g. Florida scrub-jay habitat, panther sightings, etc.), evaluation of significant habitats and protected wildlife, use of motion-sensory cameras, creation of animal-track sand pits, and incorporation of mortality surveys. Data collected continue to be used to identify and recommend promising areas for innovative design of infrastructure, land-acquisition priorities, and habitat-restoration measures. As a result of the current initiative, road projects are increasingly scrutinized for alternative alignments, sound ecological improvements, and defragmentation opportunities. Sustainable design is now a bona fide consideration of Sarasota County road-design teams.
California currently faces some daunting challenges to the sustainability of its natural ecosystems. Unnaturally high wildfire risk, urban and exurban expansion, the spread of invasive species, insect and disease outbreaks, and the effects of climate change all threaten to disrupt ecosystem function on a broad scale. These problems are complex, and operate at scales that cross jurisdictional boundaries, including those between private and public lands. To address problems at the scale of ecological processes will require ecosystem management, where practices and initiatives cross such boundaries. In California, this will require the engagement of a diverse and increasing group of private landowners. Forty-two percent of California's forests and rangelands are privately owned (34 million acres). These lands provide important ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, pollination and wildlife habitat, but little is known about the people who own and manage them, or how they might respond to cross-boundary ecosystem management initiatives. In this dissertation, I address this gap in understanding through the use of a statewide survey of forest and rangeland owners in California. I examined landowner characteristics, ownership motivations, management practices, and support for cross-boundary cooperation to better understand how landowners currently use their land, and how they might most effectively be engaged to participate in cross-boundary land management. Results show that amenities and financial investment were the most important reasons for owning land, particularly among owners of small properties. Owners of large properties (500 or more acres) were significantly more likely to use their land for income production than owners of smaller properties. They were also more likely to carry out or be interested in environmental improvements or to have received advice about land management from an advisory organization or government agency. All landowners showed willingness to cooperate for pest and disease control, fire hazard reduction, and wildlife conservation, but their degree of willingness differed with ownership motivations, who they were expected to cooperate with, and the natural resource problem addressed. All were more willing to cooperate with neighbors and local groups than with state and federal agencies, and preferred to receive advice about land management from advisory organizations over regulatory or land management agencies. Landowners were most willing to cooperate to reduce fire hazard, which is the most direct threat to property and well-being.These results suggest that ecosystem management will be most effective if implemented with local partners and on topics landowners perceive as relevant. Some landowner groups already are active land managers and may be easy to engage in ecosystem management initiatives, especially using practices they already have experience with. Other landowners, in particular those that own small properties and are solely interested in amenities, were less experienced in land management and received less advice about managing their land. These owners may require more resources to engage in ecosystem management, but still expressed general support for the idea.
Yak farming is the mainstays of nomadic herders' economy in Bhutan. However, it has declined over the years despite diverse government interventions. Rapid socio-economic development and access to economic opportunities further hindered yak farming culture rather than helping to maintain highlanders' livelihood. The study was carried out in four gewogs, Chhoekhor, Sephu, Merak and Sakteng, that depends on yaks for their living. Questionnaire based semi-structured interview was conducted to identify the main challenges and opportunities of yak herding within the different regions and examined the cost-benefit of herding yaks within the premises of nomadic herder's livelihood sustenance. The study revealed that yak farming generates sufficient income to support the herders' livelihood even though the profit margin was minimal. Around 90% of herders earned cash income from yaks. Dry cheese was the main revenue generator of Chhoekhor and Sephu, while fermented cheese earnt the highest income in Merak and Sephu. Yaks not only serve as the primary source of livelihood but also acts as a catalyst to generate additional income by gaining access to natural resources such as Cordyceps and herbal medicines. However, increased wildlife depredation on yaks and inadequate pastureland coupled with poor modern amenities threatened yak farming. The findings showed a declining trend in total yak population and number of yak-owning households particularly in Chhoekhor and Sephu compared to Merak and Sakteng. The future of yak farming in Bhutan is uncertain, but there is potential to address the challenges and ensure its continued importance to Bhutanese highlanders.
The sustainability of ecotourism ventures under the Community Based Natural Resources Management in Zimbabwe is under stress due to environmental changes emanating from effects associated with socioeconomic factors, climate change and epidemic diseases. Using an in-depth analysis of the Mahenye ecotourism venture from the year 1982 to 2020 as a case study, this study sought to propose a management framework for ecotourism ventures in a changing environment by examining the sustainability of community conservation initiatives in Zimbabwe. Research methods included expert opinion from two natural resources governance academics, desktop research and authors' experiences about Mahenye ecotourism venture. Results indicated that the Mahenye ecotourism venture has faced significant challenges but has been resilient to withstand the shocks such as population increase, exclusion of youths and women, climate change, hyperinflation, donor fatigue, reduced international ecotourist visitation and international hunting bans emanating from socioeconomic and political environmental changes. These shocks have a negative effect on the main elements of an ecotourism venture such as the wildlife resources, amenities, attraction, accessibility, management system, marketing, beneficiaries and linkages. The management framework highlights the interventions that can be made to enable ecotourism ventures in changing environments to remain sustainable. The interventions are promoting strong community cohesion, developing sustainable self-funding mechanisms, promoting multiple sources of income, carrying targeted environmental education programs, capacity building in managing ecotourism in periods of hyperinflation, improved marketing and offering a unique experience, promoting climate smart ecotourism, promoting domestic ecotourism visits, implementing effective feedback systems among stakeholders to decrease uncertainties and lobbying to have hunting bans removed.
