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• 1. [Article] Tabor to the River: An evaluation of outreach efforts and opportunities for engaging residents in stormwater management

  This report summarizes the key findings from a neighborhood survey that focused on household perceptions of sustainable stormwater systems. The survey was conducted in collaboration with the City of Portland?s ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Tabor to the River: An evaluation of outreach efforts and opportunities for engaging residents in stormwater management Author: Shandas, Vivek, Nelson, Anne, Arendes, Carine, Cibor, Cathy Year: 2010 This report summarizes the key findings from a neighborhood survey that focused on household perceptions of sustainable stormwater systems. The survey was conducted in collaboration with the City of Portland?s Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) and Portland State University?s Center for Urban Studies. Title: Tabor to the River: An evaluation of outreach efforts and opportunities for engaging residents in stormwater management Author: Shandas, Vivek, Nelson, Anne, Arendes, Carine, Cibor, Cathy Year: 2010 This report summarizes the key findings from a neighborhood survey that focused on household perceptions of sustainable stormwater systems. The survey was conducted in collaboration with the City of Portland?s Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) and Portland State University?s Center for Urban Studies. Close

• 2. [Article] Sustainable Lifestyles: Practices, Policies and Barriers

  A lifestyle survey is currently being conducted of Oregon residents (Spring 2015). The aim of this survey is to identify people’s attitudes, perceived social barriers, behaviors, and policies that encourage ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Sustainable Lifestyles: Practices, Policies and Barriers Author: Kirkpatrick, Keaton, Williamson, Bryan, Eberhard, Jasmine, Ta, Dennis, Culin, Carly A lifestyle survey is currently being conducted of Oregon residents (Spring 2015). The aim of this survey is to identify people’s attitudes, perceived social barriers, behaviors, and policies that encourage or discourage sustainable household practices as they relate to water, energy, food, transportation, and consumerism. It also examines people’s attitudes toward environmental responsibility, government regulation, and quality of life. This study, while focused on Oregon is part of a larger comparative study with Ireland. (Sources: CONSENSUS (2012); Steel (2014); Wolters, Hubbard & Steel (2010) Title: Sustainable Lifestyles: Practices, Policies and Barriers Author: Kirkpatrick, Keaton, Williamson, Bryan, Eberhard, Jasmine, Ta, Dennis, Culin, Carly A lifestyle survey is currently being conducted of Oregon residents (Spring 2015). The aim of this survey is to identify people’s attitudes, perceived social barriers, behaviors, and policies that encourage or discourage sustainable household practices as they relate to water, energy, food, transportation, and consumerism. It also examines people’s attitudes toward environmental responsibility, government regulation, and quality of life. This study, while focused on Oregon is part of a larger comparative study with Ireland. (Sources: CONSENSUS (2012); Steel (2014); Wolters, Hubbard & Steel (2010) Close

• 3. [Article] Effects of Human Choices on Characteristics of Urban Ecosystems

  Most urban ecology in cities remains an "ecology in cities" rather than an "ecology of cities." Accomplishing the latter requires the inclusion of humans within the concept of "ecosystem," both how humans ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Effects of Human Choices on Characteristics of Urban Ecosystems Author: Baker, Lawrence A., Brazel, Anthony J., Bryne, Loren, Felson, Alex, Grove, Morgan, Hill, Kristina, Nelson, Kristen C., Walker, Jason, Shandas, Vivek Year: 2007 Most urban ecology in cities remains an "ecology in cities" rather than an "ecology of cities." Accomplishing the latter requires the inclusion of humans within the concept of "ecosystem," both how humans alter the properties of urban ecosystems and how these alterations in turn influence human well-being. These influences are both direct (e.g., physiological and psychological influences on the human organism) and indirect, by influencing ecosystem sustainability. For the 2007 ESA meeting, Larry Baker, Loren Byrne, Jason Walker, and Alex Felson organized a symposium to address the relationships among human choices and urban ecosystems. In the introductory talk of this symposium, these authors discussed how the cumulative effect of individual household choices can have major effects on the properties of urban ecosystems. Title: Effects of Human Choices on Characteristics of Urban Ecosystems Author: Baker, Lawrence A., Brazel, Anthony J., Bryne, Loren, Felson, Alex, Grove, Morgan, Hill, Kristina, Nelson, Kristen C., Walker, Jason, Shandas, Vivek Year: 2007 Most urban ecology in cities remains an "ecology in cities" rather than an "ecology of cities." Accomplishing the latter requires the inclusion of humans within the concept of "ecosystem," both how humans alter the properties of urban ecosystems and how these alterations in turn influence human well-being. These influences are both direct (e.g., physiological and psychological influences on the human organism) and indirect, by influencing ecosystem sustainability. For the 2007 ESA meeting, Larry Baker, Loren Byrne, Jason Walker, and Alex Felson organized a symposium to address the relationships among human choices and urban ecosystems. In the introductory talk of this symposium, these authors discussed how the cumulative effect of individual household choices can have major effects on the properties of urban ecosystems. Close

• 4. [Article] Community Perception Towards a Set Back Area : A Case Study in Galle District, Sri Lanka

  In view of the coastal areas, vulnerability to natural hazards particularly tsunami, earthquakes, etc, are rather increasing. The tsunami, giant tidal waves struck on 26th of December 2004 caused severe ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Community Perception Towards a Set Back Area : A Case Study in Galle District, Sri Lanka Author: Koralagama, Dilanthi In view of the coastal areas, vulnerability to natural hazards particularly tsunami, earthquakes, etc, are rather increasing. The tsunami, giant tidal waves struck on 26th of December 2004 caused severe damage to people and their livelihood. It is now felt that the country should enforce a regulation procedure to manage the coastal zone. This addresses the concept of a set back area in order to mitigate the severity of natural disasters. But, the promulgation of set back area should be account for community perception. Hence, this study was aimed to assess the community perception, possible constraints, and to extract criteria to demarcate a set back area in the littoral. The study was carried out in Galle district, in Southern Sri Lanka, which is one of the districts greatly affected by the tsunami. Three divisional secretariat (DS) divisions viz; Habaraduwa, Hikkaduwa and Galle were selected. Simple random sampling was used to select 120 households. Primary data were gleaned using a pre-tested questionnaire. Informal discussions were held with coastal dwellers, government officers, &etc. The data were analyzed and evaluated to assess the objectives. Accordingly, 54 percent of the community is involved in activities based on fisheries and tourism. The rest 46 percent are engaged in other activities, which are non-stationed in the coastal zone. More than 80 percent households of the area are vulnerable for natural disasters. In consequence, 66 percent were fully damaged and 34 percent were partially damaged. Totally 76 percent of the villagers are willing to have a set back area. But, only 48 percent from 100 m boundary, agreed to have a buffer zone and majority (52%) did not want to leave the place. The reason is that their livelihood activities are adhered to the shore. Further, the buffer zone would reduce the land use efficiency since, it requires 0.25 percent land area. Hence, it is advisable to maintain a buffer zone with a green belt, which is most effective to abate the sea waves. The demarcation of a set back area should consider the geomorphology, natural vegetation cover, &etc. Moreover, government incentives, concessionary loans, permits &etc are tools to promote settlements in inland. Since, the community is in uncertainty and unsecured, willing to have more secured land strip as a buffer zone. Ipso facto, a set back area is a community-blessed concept to mitigate dreadful natural destructions and also to assure the sustainability of the area. Title: Community Perception Towards a Set Back Area : A Case Study in Galle District, Sri Lanka Author: Koralagama, Dilanthi In view of the coastal areas, vulnerability to natural hazards particularly tsunami, earthquakes, etc, are rather increasing. The tsunami, giant tidal waves struck on 26th of December 2004 caused severe damage to people and their livelihood. It is now felt that the country should enforce a regulation procedure to manage the coastal zone. This addresses the concept of a set back area in order to mitigate the severity of natural disasters. But, the promulgation of set back area should be account for community perception. Hence, this study was aimed to assess the community perception, possible constraints, and to extract criteria to demarcate a set back area in the littoral. The study was carried out in Galle district, in Southern Sri Lanka, which is one of the districts greatly affected by the tsunami. Three divisional secretariat (DS) divisions viz; Habaraduwa, Hikkaduwa and Galle were selected. Simple random sampling was used to select 120 households. Primary data were gleaned using a pre-tested questionnaire. Informal discussions were held with coastal dwellers, government officers, &etc. The data were analyzed and evaluated to assess the objectives. Accordingly, 54 percent of the community is involved in activities based on fisheries and tourism. The rest 46 percent are engaged in other activities, which are non-stationed in the coastal zone. More than 80 percent households of the area are vulnerable for natural disasters. In consequence, 66 percent were fully damaged and 34 percent were partially damaged. Totally 76 percent of the villagers are willing to have a set back area. But, only 48 percent from 100 m boundary, agreed to have a buffer zone and majority (52%) did not want to leave the place. The reason is that their livelihood activities are adhered to the shore. Further, the buffer zone would reduce the land use efficiency since, it requires 0.25 percent land area. Hence, it is advisable to maintain a buffer zone with a green belt, which is most effective to abate the sea waves. The demarcation of a set back area should consider the geomorphology, natural vegetation cover, &etc. Moreover, government incentives, concessionary loans, permits &etc are tools to promote settlements in inland. Since, the community is in uncertainty and unsecured, willing to have more secured land strip as a buffer zone. Ipso facto, a set back area is a community-blessed concept to mitigate dreadful natural destructions and also to assure the sustainability of the area. Close

• 5. [Article] Ecological Homogenization of Urban USA

  A visually apparent but scientifically untested outcome of land-use change is homogenization across urban areas, where neighborhoods in different parts of the country have similar patterns of roads, residential ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Ecological Homogenization of Urban USA Author: Groffman, Peter M., Cavender-Bares, Jeannine, Bettez, Neil D., Grove, J. Morgan, Hall, Sharon J., Heffernan, James B., Hobbie, Sarah E., Larson, Kelli L., Morse, Jennifer L., Neill, Christopher, Nelson, Kristen C., O'Neil-Dunne, Jarlath, Pataki, Diane E., Polsky, Colin, Chowdhury, Rinku Roy, Steele, Meredith K. Year: 2014 A visually apparent but scientifically untested outcome of land-use change is homogenization across urban areas, where neighborhoods in different parts of the country have similar patterns of roads, residential lots, commercial areas, and aquatic features. We hypothesize that this homogenization extends to ecological structure and also to ecosystem functions such as carbon dynamics and microclimate, with continental-scale implications. Further, we suggest that understanding urban homogenization will provide the basis for understanding the impacts of urban land-use change from local to continental scales. Here, we show how multi-scale, multi-disciplinary datasets from six metropolitan areas that cover the major climatic regions of the US (Phoenix, AZ; Miami, FL; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Minneapolis–St Paul, MN; and Los Angeles, CA) can be used to determine how household and neighborhood characteristics correlate with land-management practices, land-cover composition, and landscape structure and ecosystem functions at local, regional, and continental scales. Title: Ecological Homogenization of Urban USA Author: Groffman, Peter M., Cavender-Bares, Jeannine, Bettez, Neil D., Grove, J. Morgan, Hall, Sharon J., Heffernan, James B., Hobbie, Sarah E., Larson, Kelli L., Morse, Jennifer L., Neill, Christopher, Nelson, Kristen C., O'Neil-Dunne, Jarlath, Pataki, Diane E., Polsky, Colin, Chowdhury, Rinku Roy, Steele, Meredith K. Year: 2014 A visually apparent but scientifically untested outcome of land-use change is homogenization across urban areas, where neighborhoods in different parts of the country have similar patterns of roads, residential lots, commercial areas, and aquatic features. We hypothesize that this homogenization extends to ecological structure and also to ecosystem functions such as carbon dynamics and microclimate, with continental-scale implications. Further, we suggest that understanding urban homogenization will provide the basis for understanding the impacts of urban land-use change from local to continental scales. Here, we show how multi-scale, multi-disciplinary datasets from six metropolitan areas that cover the major climatic regions of the US (Phoenix, AZ; Miami, FL; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Minneapolis–St Paul, MN; and Los Angeles, CA) can be used to determine how household and neighborhood characteristics correlate with land-management practices, land-cover composition, and landscape structure and ecosystem functions at local, regional, and continental scales. Close

• 6. [Article] Water and Land Use Planning: A Case for Better Coordination

  Over the next 30 years, the population of Oregon is expected to grow by 1.6 million residents, of which half is expected to locate in the three counties comprising the Portland metropolitan region. At ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Water and Land Use Planning: A Case for Better Coordination Author: Shandas, Vivek Year: 2010 Over the next 30 years, the population of Oregon is expected to grow by 1.6 million residents, of which half is expected to locate in the three counties comprising the Portland metropolitan region. At current rates of population growth and water use, by 2040 the region will consume the amount of water equivalent to Crater Lake. Combine with this demand, climate projections which suggest a substantial decrease in available water during summer months when water use is highest. Since Oregon's industries and households depend on the Cascade Mountains for water supply, these challenges pose serious threats to economic development plans and for sustaining current population growth trends. The convergence of higher demand and limited supply make for a perfect storm in water resource management, and we will need timely, effective, and coordinated actions for ensuring adequate water for all. Despite these concerns, we currently have a limited understanding about the role of land use planning in water resource management. While readers of the Oregon Planners Journal are no strangers to the challenges of water planning, the role of land use planning decisions in water use remains unclear. Specifically, how can planning decisions affect the amount of water consumed in a region? What are the linkages between land use patterns and water consumption? Can land use policies play a part in shaping the water available for a growing state? At Portland State University (PSU), a group of researchers have been working in collaboration with the Portland Water Bureau to address these questions, revealing a complex interaction between land use patterns, temperature change, and water consumption. The results begin to describe mechanisms for improving water conservation through land use planning practices, and opportunities for increasing the coordination between land and water planning. This report summarizes the findings of recent research and aims to expand our understanding of planning as a tool for urban water conservation. Title: Water and Land Use Planning: A Case for Better Coordination Author: Shandas, Vivek Year: 2010 Over the next 30 years, the population of Oregon is expected to grow by 1.6 million residents, of which half is expected to locate in the three counties comprising the Portland metropolitan region. At current rates of population growth and water use, by 2040 the region will consume the amount of water equivalent to Crater Lake. Combine with this demand, climate projections which suggest a substantial decrease in available water during summer months when water use is highest. Since Oregon's industries and households depend on the Cascade Mountains for water supply, these challenges pose serious threats to economic development plans and for sustaining current population growth trends. The convergence of higher demand and limited supply make for a perfect storm in water resource management, and we will need timely, effective, and coordinated actions for ensuring adequate water for all. Despite these concerns, we currently have a limited understanding about the role of land use planning in water resource management. While readers of the Oregon Planners Journal are no strangers to the challenges of water planning, the role of land use planning decisions in water use remains unclear. Specifically, how can planning decisions affect the amount of water consumed in a region? What are the linkages between land use patterns and water consumption? Can land use policies play a part in shaping the water available for a growing state? At Portland State University (PSU), a group of researchers have been working in collaboration with the Portland Water Bureau to address these questions, revealing a complex interaction between land use patterns, temperature change, and water consumption. The results begin to describe mechanisms for improving water conservation through land use planning practices, and opportunities for increasing the coordination between land and water planning. This report summarizes the findings of recent research and aims to expand our understanding of planning as a tool for urban water conservation. Close

• 7. [Article] Sustainability of a forest preservation project in India : the case of the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

  Numerous development projects are implemented in developing countries to attain economic and ecological development. However, in most cases, the encouraging results observed during the implementation phase ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Sustainability of a forest preservation project in India : the case of the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve Author: Balasubramanian, Maniselvan Numerous development projects are implemented in developing countries to attain economic and ecological development. However, in most cases, the encouraging results observed during the implementation phase terminated with the project period, raising concerns on these projects' sustainability after the project period has ended. This study focuses on this sustainability issue in terms of continued benefit flows of the ecodevelopment project implemented in the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, India. The ecodevelopment project aimed to attain both economic and ecological development in tandem by involving people in preserving forests. Econometric analysis of the data related to before, at the end, and three years after the project period revealed that the ecodevelopment project was sustainable in terms of reducing the forest dependency and improving the income status of the forest fringe dwellers. Accordingly, this study provided empirical evidence that supports the novel idea that natural common property resources, such as forests, can be preserved by creating financial common property resources, such as village funds, and appropriate site-specific participatory institutions to maintain them. Title: Sustainability of a forest preservation project in India : the case of the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve Author: Balasubramanian, Maniselvan Numerous development projects are implemented in developing countries to attain economic and ecological development. However, in most cases, the encouraging results observed during the implementation phase terminated with the project period, raising concerns on these projects' sustainability after the project period has ended. This study focuses on this sustainability issue in terms of continued benefit flows of the ecodevelopment project implemented in the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, India. The ecodevelopment project aimed to attain both economic and ecological development in tandem by involving people in preserving forests. Econometric analysis of the data related to before, at the end, and three years after the project period revealed that the ecodevelopment project was sustainable in terms of reducing the forest dependency and improving the income status of the forest fringe dwellers. Accordingly, this study provided empirical evidence that supports the novel idea that natural common property resources, such as forests, can be preserved by creating financial common property resources, such as village funds, and appropriate site-specific participatory institutions to maintain them. Close

• 8. [Article] Is Aquaculture a Sustainable Source of Food and income in Nigeria?

  Abstract only.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Is Aquaculture a Sustainable Source of Food and income in Nigeria? Author: Ogundari, Kolawole Abstract only. Title: Is Aquaculture a Sustainable Source of Food and income in Nigeria? Author: Ogundari, Kolawole Abstract only. Close

• 9. [Article] Modelling adoption of rice-fish systems with fuzzy logic

  Most current models analyzing technology adoption are based on a function that assumes farmers make decisions upon utility maximization but ignores cultural or social factors. The traditional production ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Modelling adoption of rice-fish systems with fuzzy logic Author: Dang Kieu, Nhan, Udo, Henk, Kaymak, Uzay, Bosma, Roel Most current models analyzing technology adoption are based on a function that assumes farmers make decisions upon utility maximization but ignores cultural or social factors. The traditional production systems of the Mekong Delta were based on floating rice varieties and fish harvested both from rivers and rice fields. Since 1980 the presence of fish in the rice fields decreased and research developed the socalled concurrent rice–fish system to capture the advantages of the synergy. Whether this is a feasible option depends on the farmers’ drives and motives for taking-up the technology. In 2000 we made an inventory among 60 farmers who adopted the rice–fish system in four districts to describe their resources and motivations. In 2006 we repeated this survey among 94 farmers including potential adopters, in order to evaluate the take-up potential of the rice–fish system in the Mekong Delta. Income/person and income/ha of the farm households with a rice–fish system were close to double, while their land area (2.5ha) was not significantly larger than those farms without a rice–fish system (1.95ha). Usually farmers integrating also pigs and fish had the smallest land area. The farmers’ non-adoption of the rice–fish system was mainly due to low availability of capital and land, and to inappropriate location of the field in relation to the homestead, water availability, and agro-ecological conditions. To create space for more upland crops was an important argument for the construction of a rice–fish system. Modeling confirmed that under appropriate agro-ecological conditions the take-up of rice–fish systems can be stimulated by increasing know-how on fish and on system component integration. The sensitivity of the fuzzy logic simulation did not confirm the importance of land size and wealth ranking for the take-up. Title: Modelling adoption of rice-fish systems with fuzzy logic Author: Dang Kieu, Nhan, Udo, Henk, Kaymak, Uzay, Bosma, Roel Most current models analyzing technology adoption are based on a function that assumes farmers make decisions upon utility maximization but ignores cultural or social factors. The traditional production systems of the Mekong Delta were based on floating rice varieties and fish harvested both from rivers and rice fields. Since 1980 the presence of fish in the rice fields decreased and research developed the socalled concurrent rice–fish system to capture the advantages of the synergy. Whether this is a feasible option depends on the farmers’ drives and motives for taking-up the technology. In 2000 we made an inventory among 60 farmers who adopted the rice–fish system in four districts to describe their resources and motivations. In 2006 we repeated this survey among 94 farmers including potential adopters, in order to evaluate the take-up potential of the rice–fish system in the Mekong Delta. Income/person and income/ha of the farm households with a rice–fish system were close to double, while their land area (2.5ha) was not significantly larger than those farms without a rice–fish system (1.95ha). Usually farmers integrating also pigs and fish had the smallest land area. The farmers’ non-adoption of the rice–fish system was mainly due to low availability of capital and land, and to inappropriate location of the field in relation to the homestead, water availability, and agro-ecological conditions. To create space for more upland crops was an important argument for the construction of a rice–fish system. Modeling confirmed that under appropriate agro-ecological conditions the take-up of rice–fish systems can be stimulated by increasing know-how on fish and on system component integration. The sensitivity of the fuzzy logic simulation did not confirm the importance of land size and wealth ranking for the take-up. Close