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Mot krediter för biologisk mångfald : en kvalitativ fallstudie i Yayasan Sabah Forest Management Area, Borneo Malaysia
Get PDFMost people are aware of the ongoing climate crisis and its consequences for all life on Earth. As temperatures rise, global ecosystems are affected and the vital services they provide. Global biodiversity is declining as a result of human activity. One reason why biodiversity and biological values are under-prioritised in relation to other natural resources, and despite their important function, is that they are difficult to value in economic terms. There are those who argue that biodiversity is invaluable, which is not wrong, but in order for biodiversity values to be prioritised at a higher level among decision-makers, an economic system can be considered necessary.
The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the concept of biodiversity credit and its function as an economic system to promote biodiversity. The study aimed to investigate the economic, biological and social conditions for the concept of biodiversity credits in rainforest environments. The study was carried out as a case study where the conditions for biodiversity credit were investigated within the framework of the governmental organisation Yayasan Sabah Forest Group in Borneo, Malaysia. The organisation already has an ongoing mission to reforest and promote biodiversity within the management area through research-funded projects, so part of the aim was to investigate how these efforts could be applied in a biodiversity credit system.
The case study followed a qualitative, flexible and abductive design and consisted of data collection in four parts. Two different types of species data were collected: tree data and audio recording data capturing animal sounds. The species data were collected in different land areas to specifically distinguish how biodiversity was characterised in the areas where active reforestation measures were carried out. The other two data collections consisted of thematic data in the form of an observational study consisting of field notes and an interview study with two staff members within the organisation aimed specifically to investigate organisational and social aspects. The results were then applied to a hypothetical credit system as part of the analysis to investigate whether the organisation's conditions are applicable according to the conditions to be met for certification in a credit system.
The results and analysis indicated that the prospects for the organisation to connect to a biodiversity credit system look promising, but that some factors need further investigation. Among other things, further investigation is needed into the economic conditions and expanded measurements of how biodiversity differs in the various land areas. There are several reasons why joining a biodiversity credit system could benefit the organisation, including the need for broader funding and the fact that the organisation's role in the local community, which is initially good, could be further strengthened. In addition, the measurements, although as mentioned above they would need to be expanded, show that the active actions that have been and are being carried out are important for biodiversity.
In conclusion, this study concludes that there is potential for the organisation to join a biodiversity credit system and that such a system is expected to promote biodiversity.De allra flesta är medvetna om den pågående klimatkrisen och dess konsekvenser för allt levande på jorden. Med en stigande temperatur påverkas de globala ekosystemen och de livsviktiga tjänster de tillhandahåller. Den globala biodiversiteten minskar och detta till följd av mänsklig aktivitet. En anledning till att biodiversitet och biologiska värden underprioriteras i förhållande till andra naturresurser och trots dess viktiga funktion, är att det är svårt att värdera ur ekonomiska termer. Det finns röster som argumenterar för att biologisk mångfald är ovärderligt, vilket inte är fel, men för att biologiska värden ska prioriteras på högre instans bland beslutsfattare kan ett ekonomiskt system anses vara nödvändigt.
Målsättningen med denna studie var därmed att undersöka konceptet biodiversitetskrediter och dess funktion i syfte att som ekonomiskt system främja biologisk mångfald. Studien syftade till att undersöka de ekonomiska, biologiska och sociala förutsättningarna för konceptet biodiversitetskrediter i regnskogsmiljö. Studien utfördes som en fallstudie där förutsättningarna för biodiversitetskrediter undersöktes inom ramarna för den statliga organisation Yayasan Sabah Forest Group på Borneo, Malaysia. Organisationen har redan ett pågående uppdrag att genom forskningsfinansierade projekt återbeskoga och främja biologisk mångfald inom förvaltningsområdet. En del av syftet låg därför i att undersöka hur dessa insatser kunde appliceras i ett system för biodiversitetskrediter.
Fallstudien utformades enligt en kvalitativ, flexibel och abduktiv design och bestod av datainsamling i fyra delar. Två olika typer av artdata insamlades: träddata och ljudinspelningsdata som fångade djurläten. Artdatan insamlades i olika landområden för att särskilt kunna urskilja hur biodiversiteten utmärkte sig i de områden där aktiva åtgärder för återbeskogning utförts. De andra två datainsamlingarna bestod av tematiska data i form av en observationsstudie bestående av fältanteckningar samt en intervjustudie med två medarbetare inom organisationen som syftade särskilt till att undersöka organisatoriska och sociala aspekter. Resultatet applicerades sedan i ett hypotetiskt kreditsystem som en del av analysen för att undersöka om organisationens förutsättningar är tillämpliga enligt de villkor som ska uppfyllas för certifiering i ett kreditsystem.
Resultat och analys pekade på att utsikterna för organisationen att ansluta sig till ett system för biodiversitetskrediter ser goda ut, men att vissa faktorer behöver utredas ytterligare. Bland annat behövs vidare utredning för de ekonomiska förutsättningarna samt utvidgade mätningar i hur biodiversiteten skiljer sig åt i de olika landområdena. Det finns flera olika anledningar som talar för hur en anslutning till ett system för biodiversitetskrediter skulle kunna gynna organisationen, bland annat är de i behov av en breddad finansiering och organisationens betydelse för lokalsamhället, som initialt är bra, skulle kunna stärkas ytterligare. Dessutom visar mätningarna, trots att de som sagt skulle behöva utvidgas, att de aktiva åtgärder som har utförts och utförs är betydelsefulla för den biologiska mångfalden.
Avslutningsvis är slutsatsen för denna studie att det finns förutsättningar för organisationen att ansluta sig till ett system för biodiversitetskrediter och att ett sådant system väntas främja den biologiska mångfalden
Local community trust undergoing change : consequences of a school closure
Get PDFDenna kanditatuppsats inom landsbygdsutveckling syftar till att undersöka hur tilliten till kommunen inom ett lokalsamhälle har förändrats till följd av byskolans nedläggning. Det insamlade materialet från intervjuer med lokalinvånare analyseras med hjälp av en teoretisk utgångspunkt ur Rothsteins (2003, 1998) teori kring tillit till den offentliga sektorns institutioner, och Trägårdhs et al (2013) teori om variationer i lokalsamhällestillit för att därmed bättre förstå de resultat som framkommer. Därmed används formuleringen ”tillit till kommunen” under uppsatsen för att visa på användning av Rothsteins (2003, 1998) mer övergripande teorier om staten och tillit och Trägårdhs et al (2013) teorier om tillit på en mer lokal nivå, därav min koppling till kommunen.
Det har gjorts fyra intervjuer med olika lokalinvånare i byn Folkärna där mellanstadiet Lunds skola lades ner 2021. Under intervjuerna berördes frågor kring skolans betydelse för platsen, vilket samtliga informanter uttryckte starka känslor kring. Det yttrade att skolan hade en stor betydelse för byns gemenskap, i och med anordning av aktiviteter, rörelse i byn, nätverksskapande mellan föräldrar/barn/lärare/familjer. Informanterna yttrade även hur skolan spelade roll för barnens platsidentitet och känsla av att höra hemma och ha en koppling till byn.
Byskolans betydelse och platsidentitet är ämnen som berörs i syfte att lägga grund till det huvudsakliga fokuset för uppsatsen, nämligen den förändrade relationen till kommunen i och med skolnedläggningen och processen kring besluttagandet. Nedläggningen av Lunds skola har varit ett mycket omtalat och omskrivet ämne i Folkärna, även i Avesta kommun i stort. I och med en skolreform i Avesta kommun 2020 ställdes många av kommunens byskolor inför nedläggningshot, varav Lunds skola kom att bli den enda att lägga ner. Intervjuerna med informanterna visade att processen genom skolnedläggningen skedde har påverkat deras förtroende till kommunen till det negativa, tilliten har alltså försämrats. Varför det kom att resultera i det undersöks genom Rothstein (2003) teori om tilliten till det offentliga, på vilka grunder vi känner tillit och av vilka anledningar denne tillit skulle kunna försämrats. Detta kompletteras även med Trädgårdhs (2013) teori om lokalsamhälletillit och på vilka grunder tilliten i ett lokalsamhälle existerar, och hur den kan variera beroende på lokalitet. Detta för att öka förståelsen om tillitens betydelse i olika beslutsprocesser, som inom exempelvis landsbygdsutveckling.
Slutligen knyts resonemangen ihop med en beskrivning av en önskan från informanternas sida om delaktighetsprocesser, bland annat medborgardialoger, under beslutsprocessen kring nedläggningen av Lunds skola. Detta för att avsluta uppsatsen med exempel på tillvägagångssätt som hade kunnat förbättra erfarenheterna hos informanterna som var engagerade i beslutsprocessen och på så sätt eventuellt bidragit med att tilliten till kommunen inte minskat lika mycket eller inte alls.This bachelor's thesis in rural development aims to investigate how trust in the municipality within a local community has changed over time as a result of the closure of the village school. The collected material is analyzed using a theoretical approach based on Rothstein's (2003, 1998) theory on trust in public sector institutions, and Trägårdh's et al (2013) theory on variations in local community trust to explain the results. Thus, the term "trust in the municipality" is used throughout the thesis to indicate the application of Rothstein's (2003, 1998) more overarching theories about the state and trust, as well as Trägårdh et als (2013) theories about trust on a more local level, hence my connection to the municipality.
Four interviews were conducted with various local residents in the village of Folkärna, where Lund’s middle school was closed in 2021. During the interviews, questions were raised about the school's significance to the area, which all informants expressed strong feelings about. They stated that the school had great significance for the village's community, organizing activities, creating movement in the village, fostering networking between parents/children/teachers/families, and so on. The informants also mentioned how the school played a role in the children's place identity and sense of belonging, and connection to the village.
The significance of the village school and place identity are subjects touched upon as a foundation for the main focus of the thesis, namely the changed relationship with the municipality due to the school closure and the process surrounding that decision. The closure of Lund's school has been a highly discussed and written-about topic in Folkärna, as well as in the larger Avesta municipality. Due to a school reform in Avesta municipality in 2020, many of the municipality's village schools were threatened with closure, of which Lund's school was the only one to actually close. The interviews with the informants revealed that the process by which the school closure occurred has negatively affected their trust in the municipality; in other words, trust has deteriorated. The reasons for this result are examined through Rothstein's (2003) theory on trust in the public sector, the foundations of this trust, and the reasons why it might have deteriorated. This is complemented by Trägårdh's (2013) theory on local community trust, the foundations of trust in a local community, and how it can vary depending on locality. This aims to increase the understanding of importance of trust in various decision-making processes such as in rural development for example.
Finally, the arguments are tied together with a description of the informants’ desire for participation processes, including citizen dialogues, during the decision-making process regarding the closure of Lund School. This aims to conclude the thesis with examples of approaches that could have improved the experiences of the informants who were involved in the decision-making process and thereby potentially contributed to a lesser or no decrease in trust in the municipality
Animal welfare and profitability: : achieving optimal balance in animal production systems
Get PDFAnimal welfare is a key consideration in discussions about sustainable animal production systems. Ensuring sufficient economic resources in competitive animal production, means that maximizing animal welfare in intensive systems is unrealistic. This highlights the need for studies about the connection between economics and animal welfare. However, research exploring the economic impact of animal welfare improvements and how to measure animal welfare to monetary units is lacking. An optimal balance between animal welfare, production, and economic factors is essential.
This literature study investigates how to establish the optimal balance between animal welfare and profitability (1), methods to measure animal welfare in an index value (2), the ethical implications (3), and the drivers of producers’ incentives to improve welfare (4). Relevant articles (1) = 41, (2) = 69, (3) = 27 and (4) = 79 were found in the databases Web of Science, Scopus and Econlit, with 37 articles included in the results.
The results indicate that economics should consider both human and animal welfare from biocentric and utilitarian perspectives. Thus, integrating humans’ and animals’ utility and willingness to pay (WTP) for welfare improvements into economic analyses is necessary. Animal welfare improvements needs to be transformed and quantified in an index to estimate WTP and incorporate it into economic principles. By combining WTP from animals, consumers, and producers, and estimating non-monetary utilities, an optimal balance point could be identified. This point, where diminishing marginal returns begin, can shift positively with increased consumer utility and WTP for welfare improvements, thereby enhancing animal welfare. Producers’ willingness to invest (WTI) increases with consumer demand, although individual producer goals and preferences vary. One of the main conclusions is that WTI incentives of animal welfare improvements should be tailored to individual producers for personalized guidance
The problem with free-roaming cats outdoors
Get PDFCats have been partially or fully kept outside for the whole duration of their domesticated lifetime, partially because of their hunting skills. This has in turn created a society in which outdoor stay for cats is socially acceptable. Because of this, there is a global overpopulation of stray cats, which in combination with owned outdoor cats create a large amount of invasive mammal predators. The aim of this literature study was to investigate what welfare issues, caused by outdoor stay, that free roaming cats (outdoor and stray cats) are affected by. It also aims to investigate what can be done to decrease the found welfare issues. Finally, it focuses on finding out in what ways free roaming cats impact ecosystems. The method employed for finding these answers consisted of searching for scientifically reviewed articles using relevant words through Primo.
The results show that there is a prevalent amount of welfare issues for cats caused by outdoor stay. A considerable part of those stem from increased risk of injury, disease and parasitic infestation. Increased risk of injury is attributed to multiple factors, with one example being traffic. Cats have also been proven to perform more risk-taking behaviors when outdoors, which further increases the risk of injury. Regarding disease and parasites, free roaming cats have an increased risk of getting infected with both because of increased exposure to them. Weather is yet another welfare impeding issue that indoor cats do not have to deal with.
Regarding methods for decreasing these welfare issues a few were found. One regularly used is the TNR method (trap, neuter, return). In which stray cats are systematically sterilized to reduce stray cat populations. TNR is most effective when combined with efforts to socialize the stray cats, whilst also adopting out when possible and euthanizing ill or injured cats. Utilizing GPS trackers on outdoor cats’ collars can also help to decrease their welfare issues. Additional methods that improve free roaming cat welfare is castration, vaccination and marking (preferably chip, but tattoos are also used) of every cat. The final method is controlling or completely removing outdoor access for outdoor cats and putting stray cats in homes. By doing this, all welfare issues related to outdoor access are automatically decreased or all together removed. Indoor cats can suffer from other types of welfare issues, which should be considered when deciding on how to house a cat.
Lastly, cats’ impact on ecosystems were found to be high and noteworthy. There are 430 species threatened by cats, of which 63 are already extinct. They have the biggest impact on small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Cats also spread disease and parasites to wildlife and breed with certain wild feline species, causing hybridization. The species populations that have been negatively affected the most by cats live in ecosystems that exist on small, isolated islands, which have sensitive ecosystems, making them particularly threatened by invasive species
Welfare Benefits from Remediation of Contaminated sites
Get PDFDenna uppsats undersöker sambandet mellan efterbehandling av förorenade områden och byggande av flerbostadshus. Förorenade områden i Sverige utgör betydande risker för människors hälsa och miljön. Trots pågående efterbehandlingsinsatser bedöms den nuvarande takten vara otillräcklig. Att förstå samhällsfördelarna med att efterbehandla förorenade områden kan påskynda ansträngningarna genom att skapa incitament för finansiärer. Genom att analysera data på postnummernivå försöker denna studie identifiera effekten av efterbehandling på lägenhetsbyggande i samma postnummerområde. Resultaten tyder på en positiv korrelation mellan omfattningen av vissa saneringsprojekt och antalet lägenhetshus byggda i samma område. Resultaten indikerar att vissa fall av efterbehandling kan öka attraktiviteten och tillgängligheten för omgivande områden för bostäder, vilket potentiellt kan stimulera ökat byggande.This thesis investigates the link between remediation of contaminated areas and apartment construction. Contaminated sites in Sweden poses significant risks to human health and the environment. Despite ongoing remediation efforts, the current pace is deemed insufficient. Understanding the welfare benefits of remediating contaminated areas could accelerate efforts by creating incentives for stakeholders. By analyzing zip code-level data, this study tries to identify the effect of remediation on apartment construction in the same zip code-area. Results suggests a positive correlation between the scale of remediation projects and the number of apartment houses built nearby in some cases. The findings highlight that some remediations can enhance the attractiveness and availability of surrounding areas for housing, potentially stimulating increased construction
Investerings beteende hos unga lantbrukare; Sannolikheten att investera efter mottagit startstödet
Get PDFThe lack of engagement from young people in agriculture presents a significant challenge to the future of the agricultural sector and of food security globally. Despite numerous studies focusing on the motivations and barriers for young individuals to enter farming, there's a gap in understanding their investment behaviour past entry. This study addresses this gap by empirically examining the factors influencing investment decisions among young Swedish farmers after they have received the Setting up aid, between the years 2001 and 2020. This study uses a dataset covering 4230 Swedish farmers aged 16 to 45 who all received the Setting up aid. The empirical analysis is based on logistic regressions and the purpose is to examine the factors that influence receivers of the Setting up aid to make additional investments. Results indicate that age is an important factor, suggesting a quadratic relationship and that the propensity to invest peaks at around age 30. Furthermore, individuals that received investment support in connection with the Setting up aid where associated with an increased probability of making future investments, but the magnitude of the initial investment support is indicated to decrease this probability.
This study contributes to the literature with empirical evidence on factors influencing young farmers investment behaviour, offering insights for policymakers to better design more effective supports for young farmers. Ultimately, by understanding and addressing the challenges facing young farmers, is crucial to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the agricultural sector in the face of evolving market conditions and environmental pressures
Transition to Sustainable Agriculture : the Economic Viability of Certified Animal Production
Get PDFThis study investigates the influence of certification schemes: EKO, KRAV, and IPSigill, on the economic performance of animal production, thereby addressing a research gap on the well-explored subject of organic farming.
While previous research has explored the economic benefits associated with organic farming, the economic benefits of other certification schemes remains less studied. This study examines the clustering effects associated with EKO, KRAV, and IPSigill certifications on the economic performance of animal production. Using a combination of primary and secondary data, I employ two-way fixed-effect models to analyze how the regional concentration of certified producers influence the value added of animal production over a ten-year period (2010-2020) across Swedish harvest areas. By calculating a localization quotient for EKO, KRAV and IPSigill certified producers, I assess whether regional specialization is correlated with increased value added.
The findings reveal a statistically significant and positive association between certification clustering and economic performance among certified animal producers, highlighting the spillover benefits associated with certification concentration beyond organic farming. This study contributes to the literature by expanding the discussion on the economic performance and agglomeration effects of certification schemes by including additional certifications such as EKO, KRAV and IPSigill. The results provide valuable insights to farmers, certification organizations, and policymakers to promote sustainable practices and enhance economic viability in agriculture
The impact of densification on a historical cemetery : Ulleråker cemetery yesterday, today and tomorrow
Get PDFFörtätning motiveras ofta som en strategi för att skapa hållbara städer men sker ofta på bekostnad av urbana grönområden. Färre parker och mindre urban grönska medför att de gröna miljöer som blir kvar utsätts för högre tryck och behöver göra plats för fler funktioner. Vid sidan av offentliga park- och grönområden så får det också effekter för begravningsplatser. Begravningsplatser skiljer sig från andra gröna rum i staden, dels genom att vara platser för sorg och reflektion dels genom att vara platser som ligger någonstans mitt emellan det privata och publika vilket påverkar synen på vilka aktiviteter som ses som socialt acceptabla. Begravningsplatser är också miljöer som till följd av lång kontinuitet är förknippade med både kulturhistoriska värden och höga naturvärden. Ulleråkers kyrkogård i södra Uppsala är en begravningsplats som inom de kommande åren kommer att påverkas av ett genomgripande förtätningsprojekt. På vad som idag är skogsmark planerar Uppsala kommun att bygga vad som kommer att bli Uppsalas mest tätbebyggda stadsdel. Detta kommer få effekter för Ulleråkers kyrkogård som idag är både en aktiv begravningsplats och en välbevarad kulturmiljö som visar på den omfattande mentalvårdsverksamheten som under 1900-talet har bedrivits inom Ulleråker. Genom en platsanalys, dokumentstudie och två intervjuer undersöks hur den planerade förtätningen av Ulleråker kommer påverka kyrkogården och hur kyrkogårdens funktioner och värden skulle kunna stärkas i framtiden. Resultatet visar att förtätningen av Ulleråker kommer medföra en stor påverkan på Ulleråkers kyrkogård och att kyrkogården i framtiden kan behöva bli en mer multifunktionell plats. Kyrkogårdens historiska värden och kyrkogårdens praktiska funktion som begravningsplats är viktiga värden och funktioner platsen idag. I och med den planerade förtätningen kan kyrkogården i framtiden bli av allt större betydelse för rekreation och i takt med att omgivningen hårdgörs kan kyrkogårdens naturvärden också tillskrivas en större betydelse. Resultatet visar på både svårigheter och möjligheter med att kombinera olika funktioner och värden på kyrkogården, samtidigt konstateras att många funktioner och värden skulle stärkas av att platsen på något sätt skärmas av från sin nya omgivning.Densification is often justified as a strategy for creating sustainable cities but frequently occurs at the expense of urban green spaces. Fewer parks and less urban greenery mean that the remaining green areas are subjected to higher pressure and need to accommodate more functions. Besides public parks and green spaces, this also affects cemeteries. Cemeteries differ from other green spaces in the city, partly because they are places for mourning and reflection, and partly because they are spaces that exist somewhere between the private and the public, which affects perceptions of what activities are considered socially acceptable. Cemeteries are also environments associated with both cultural historical values and high natural values due to their long continuity. Ulleråker cemetery in southern Uppsala is a cemetery that, in the coming years, will be affected by a comprehensive densification project. In what is currently forest land, Uppsala Municipality plans to build what will become Uppsala's most densely populated district. This will have effects on Ulleråker cemetery, which is currently both an active burial site and a well-preserved cultural environment that reflects the extensive mental health care operations that took place at Ulleråker during the 20th century. Through a site analysis, document study, and two interviews, this study examines how the planned densification of Ulleråker will affect the cemetery and how the cemetery's functions and values could be strengthened in the future. The results show that the densification of Ulleråker will have a significant impact on Ulleråker cemetery and that the cemetery may need to become a more multifunctional place in the future. The cultural historical values of the cemetery and its practical function as a burial site are important values and functions of the site today. With the planned densification, the cemetery could become increasingly important for recreation, and as the surrounding area becomes more urbanized, the natural values of the cemetery could also be attributed greater significance. The results highlight both the difficulties and opportunities in combining different functions and values in the cemetery. It is also noted that many functions and values would be strengthened if the site were somehow screened off from its new surroundings
Human urine and frass as fertilizers
Get PDFThere is a pressing need for implementing more sustainable fertilizers in agriculture. Through a laboratory incubation trial and subsequent data analysis of a previously perfomed field trial, this study aimed to evaluate the nitrogen (N) release dynamics of soil treated with novel fertilizers derived from human urine and black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) frass, and to assess their potential compared to commercial NPK fertilizer. Soil samples underwent various treatments, including urine pellets, BSFL frass, commercial NPK fertilizer, and no fertilizer. Incubated at 15 °C, samples were periodically sampled over a 63-day period for nitrate-N and ammonium-N extraction analysis. The findings suggested that urine pellets demonstrated promise as a viable alternative to commercial NPK fertilizer, exhibiting comparable mineral N release dynamics. This observation was reinforced by field trial results, which revealed significantly higher barley yields in urine fertilized soil compared to unfertilized soil, with yields similar to those of NPK fertilized barley. Additionally, BSFL frass showed potential as a slow-release N fertilizer in both the laboratory and field trials. Moving forward, continued research is essential to optimize the utilization of urine pellets and BSFL frass among various crops and soil types
Assessing the spillover effects of the EU emission trading system on the Agricultural sector
Get PDFThis study examines the potential spillover effects of the EU ETS price trend on agricultural carbon emissions using panel data regression. Despite agriculture's significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, it remains excluded from the EU ETS, the primary mechanism for addressing emissions. Despite not being directly covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), agriculture may experience spillover effects from this policy, affecting emissions, land use, and environmental sustainability. Panel data regression analysis reveals potential spillover effects of ETS prices on agricultural emissions, though with some uncertainty. Robustness tests highlight the influence of GDP on emissions and ETS prices but raise questions about the model's accuracy in capturing spillover effects. Further investigation suggests potential simultaneous or reverse causality bias, emphasizing the need for better data and instrumental variables in future research. Future research should focus on improving data quality, including monthly or quarterly data, and employing instrument variables to mitigate potential confounding variables and causal biases