Environmental Studies Commons^™

Zoning And Complementary Incentives To Protect Farmland: A Case For Missoula County, Kaitlin Mccafferty

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Urban sprawl reflects an inefficient use of land that diminishes both rural landscapes and quality of life turning farms, ranches and open space into siloed suburban communities. This results in less walkable cities with more traffic and air pollution, among other negative consequences. Farmland constitutes a particularly important resource that often faces degradation or loss due to sprawl. Higher quality agricultural soils are particularly desirable for development because they are flat and well-drained. Farmland is also important for urban communities concerning food security, environmental health, and economic well being. As American cities continue to grow, farmland around urban areas has …

Volunteering For Vegetables: Community Agriculture And The Prospects For Building A More Democratic Food System, Kali Orton

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Scholars and activists hold varied ideas about what a more just and equitable food system might look like. Food democracy, one of these alternative food system theories, centers around the idea that all people should have equal opportunity to meaningfully contribute to the shaping of their food systems. Community farms, due to their socially-oriented qualities, present one possibility for people to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to function as food citizens and build food democracy.

This research explores and seeks to inform food democracy theory through case studies of two urban community farms – one in Missoula, Montana, and …

40 Years On The International Flathead: An Assessment Of Transboundary River Governance, Jedd Sankar-Gorton

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Global population growth, climate change, and industrialization, are putting extreme pressures on worldwide freshwater supplies (Cosens 2010). Of the global freshwater supplies, transboundary water sources play a crucial role in sustaining populations. Over 40% of humans on Earth rely on a transboundary river or lake for access to water, and 90% of the world’s population lives in countries that share bodies of water with at least one other country (UN 2008). Taken together, the motivations for improving governance of transboundary water systems have never been stronger. To meet the challenges associated with transboundary water governance, researchers working at multiple scales …

An Assessment Of Climate Variability On Farmers' Livelihoods Vulnerability In Ayeyarwady Delta Of Myanmar, Naw M. Lar, Nathsuda Pumijumnong, Raywadee Roachanakanan, Noppol Arunrat, Soe Tint

Applied Environmental Research

This study assesses the vulnerability of farm households in the Ayeyarwady Region, Myanmar. Fifty-nine farm households were purposively sampled to conduct a questionnaire survey, and secondary data were collected in 2016. In order to assess variability in household vulnerability, the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI), based on five types of 'capital' as identified in the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, was adopted and modified according to the local context. Vulnerability scores ranged from 0 (low vulnerability) to 1 (highly vulnerable), with an average LVI of 0.442, indicating moderate overall vulnerability across the study area. Regarding the five types of 'capital', households were most …

The Use Of Dredged Sediment From The Watsongpeenong Canal With Paper Mill Residue To Produce Facing Bricks, Jiraporn Namchan, Nuta Supakata

Applied Environmental Research

The potential to use dredged sediment from the Watsongpeenong Canal and paper mill residue as the primary raw materials for producing facing bricks was studied in the laboratory. Dredged sediment and paper mill residue were chemically, mineralogically, and thermally characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). To evaluate the effects of the contents of the paper mill residue on pore-forming, large amounts of paper mill residue, ranging from 5 to 7 % by mass, were blended with dredged sediments and fired at 700oC. The physical-mechanical properties, including dimensions and tolerances, wryness, deviation of the right angle, water absorption, …

Investigating Reef Contact Rates Of Snorkel Visitors At Koh Sak, Pattaya On Guided And Non-Guided Coral Reef Tours, Wayne Phillips

Applied Environmental Research

Recreational snorkelling is a popular activity at Koh Sak, Pattaya Bay and although most snorkel visitors to the island arrive by speedboat on guided tours, many visitors arrive on tours that do not provide a guide. Because there is widespread agreement that reef-based tourism negatively impacts coral reefs it is important to understand the potential role guides play in reducing visitor impacts. In this study 421 snorkelers (35 % of whom came on non-guided tours) were observed on the reef for a period of 10 minutes. The following information was recorded so that a per person reef-contact rate could be …

Assessment Of The Sustainability Of Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana, Moses K. Aryee, Nathsuda Pumijumnong, Paramita Punwong, Raywadee Roachanakanan

Applied Environmental Research

Cities have become integral in the quest to achieving universal sustainable development. For example, the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals called for cities and human settlements to be inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (Goal 11). This was in line with the 2012 National Urban Policy of Ghana which seeks to promote a sustainable, spatially integrated and orderly development of urban settlements with adequate housing, infra-structure and services, efficient institutions, and a sound living and working environment for all people to support the rapid socioeconomic development of Ghana. Six years into the imple-mentation of …

Flash Flood Risk Estimation Of Wadi Qena Watershed, Egypt Using Gis Based Morphometric Analysis, Wael M. Elsadek, Mona G. Ibrahim, Wael E. Mahmod

Applied Environmental Research

Flash flooding is one of the periodic geohazards in the eastern desert of Egypt where many parts of Upper Egypt, Sinai, and Red Sea areas were hit by severe flash floods, for example in 1976, 1982, 1996 and January 2010. The hazard degree for each sub-basin was determined using the approach developed by El-Shamy for assessing susceptibility of sub-basins to flash flooding risk. To identify at-risk sub-basins, two different methods were applied. The first method is based on the relationship between the drainage density and bifurcation ratio, and the second one uses the relationship between drainage frequency and bifurcation ratio. …

Evaluation Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Municipal Solid Waste (Msw) Management: Case Study Of Lampang Municipality, Thailand, Pantitcha Outapa, Veerapas Na Roi-Et

Applied Environmental Research

The issue of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from municipal solid waste (MSW) is important in the context of climate change. Reduction of GHGs from waste disposal systems is one of the management strategies forming part of Thailand's National Economic and Social Development Plan. This project evaluated emissions from a municipal solid waste system covering transportation and disposal in Lampang Municipality, northern Thailand. GHG emissions from transportation were estimated by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) based on the travel distance of the vehicles, using a vehicle emission model and vehicle fuel consumption. GHG emissions during the disposal process were …

Seasonal And Land Use Effects On Amphibian Abundance And Species Richness In The Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve, Thailand, Matthew Crane, Colin Strine, Pongthep Suwanwaree

Applied Environmental Research

Habitat destruction and degradation in the tropics have led to a dramatic increase in altered habitats. Understanding the impacts of these disturbed areas on biodiversity will be critical to future conservation efforts. Despite heavy deforestation, Southeast Asia is underrepresented in studies investigating faunal communities in human-modified landscapes. This project assessed the herpetofaunal community in dry dipterocarp forest, secondary disturbed forest, and Eucalyptus plantations in the Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve. In May, June, and September of 2015, we surveyed using 10 passive trapping arrays. Both the Eucalyptus plantations and secondary disturbed forest habitats (224 and 141 individuals, respectively) had higher amphibian abundance …

Morphometric Temporal Change Analysis For The River Nile Forced Bends Using Rs/Gis Techniques: Case Study Of Damietta Branch Of The Nile River, Egypt, Reham A.B. Aborahma, Wael E. Mahmod, Hassan E.B. Fath

Applied Environmental Research

The River Nile is one of the world's longest rivers. The Damietta branch in Egypt is important as a major source of irrigation and navigation path from Cairo to the Mediterranean Sea. Morphological changes in this branch of the Nile occurred following construction of the Aswan High Dam, which affected sedimentation and erosive flow, especially at bends in the river. In this study, morphometric temporal changes were investigated for the forced bends using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques for a study period between 1987 and 2015. In addition, a comparative study was performed among three image …

Environmental Links To Ectopic Kidney Diseases, Firas Alhasson

Theses and Dissertations

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in the western culture and worldwide. Its morbidity has been raising and it has become a burden on the public health. NAFLD is associated with other metabolic diseases such as Diabetic Mellitus and hypertension. NAFLD is a wide spectrum of symptoms, from an accumulation of fat in the liver (cirrhosis) to production of scar tissue (Fibrosis). The liver along with other distal organs such as the kidney and cardiovascular system can be damaged as ectopic manifestations of NAFLD. Contamination of drinking water with Cyanobacterium toxin (Microcystin) and water disinfection …

Analyzing Stakeholders’ Workshop Dialogue For Evidence Of Social Learning, Amanda L. Bentley Brymer, J. D. Wulfhorst, Mark W. Brunson

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

After much debate and synthesis, social learning scholarship is entering an era of empirical research. Given the range across individual-, network-, and systems-level perspectives and scales, clear documentation of social learning processes is critical for making claims about social learning outcomes and their impacts. Past studies have relied on participant recall and concept maps to document perceptions of social learning process and outcome. Using an individual-centric perspective and importing ideas from communication and psychology on question-answer learning through conversational agents, we contribute an expanded conceptual framework and qualitative analytical strategy for assessing stakeholder dialogue for evidence of social learning. We …

The Implications Of Group Norms For Adaptation In Collectively Managed Agricultural Systems: Evidence From Sri Lankan Paddy Farmers, Arielle Tozier De La Poterie, Emily Burchfield, Amanda R. Carrico

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

A growing literature seeks to explore the factors shaping adaptation to climate change. In collectively managed common pool resource systems, there is often a tension between behavior that benefits the individual and actions that benefit a larger group. Resource users in sustainable systems must therefore work together to ensure outcomes that are beneficial to the group as a whole. However, in the face of changing social, political, and environmental conditions, community norms may change, leading to the emerging of new behavioral patterns. Understanding when and why people decide to act in ways that benefit the group as a whole can …

Technical Feasibility And Life Cycle Cost Assessment Of A Photovoltaic Array On Trinity Dam, Trinity County, Ca, Caleb Aaron Patrick

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Public lands owned by the Bureau of Land Management are increasingly being used for photovoltaic (PV) system development. Although numerous policies support PV deployment on public lands, those managed by the Bureau of Reclamation have not been considered for PV development. Hydro-electric embankment dams, both publicly and privately owned, may have the potential to be development sites for distributed PV systems. A technical feasibility report was conducted for a case study of a PV installation on Trinity Dam, Trinity County, CA, and found embankment dams could potentially be feasible development sites. A mounting analysis found that a concrete slab reinforced …

Stormwater Management In Philadelphia: The Importance Of Green Stormwater Infrastructure And Community Involvement In Greater Citywide Sustainability, Julie Groff

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In 2000, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found the City of Philadelphia to be in violation of the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 due to insufficient stormwater infrastructure. In 2011, Philadelphia initiated a 25-year, citywide plan called Green City, Clean Waters to reduce stormwater runoff by implementing green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). The plan promised significant community involvement in the process. I conducted semi-structured interviews with City employees and individuals in the community that have partnered with the City to administer GSI and participant observation of community meetings and used them to explore different neighborhoods’ experiences with Green City, Clean …

Chicana Feminist Participatory Action Research: Collaborative Environmental Justice In The Imperial Valley And The Identifying Violations Affecting Neighborhoods Community Development Project, Kristian Michelle Salgado

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In 2007 in Imperial County, a community-based organization called Comite Civico del Valle (CCV), along with the Department of Toxic Substances, and concerned residents, created the Identifying Violations Affecting Neighborhoods (IVAN). IVAN is a community-based environmental reporting and monitoring system that is built on the idea that residents are the most knowledgeable about their environment and therefore should have a place at the table alongside environmental regulation agencies. For more than a decade, this has allowed residents to better report environmental concerns. However, for many residents there is still a lack of knowledge about how to properly utilize the IVAN …

Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind: An Analysis Of Household Food Waste In Arcata, California, Jennifer Michelle Domareki

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

A rising demand for healthy and sustainably grown food has become a trend of our time. However, there is dissonance in contemporary awareness about where food comes from and where it ultimately ends up. Globally, one third of all food produced is never used. In the United States alone, approximately 55 million tons of food is discarded each year (Venkat, 2012). This is problematic because food waste has environmental, economic and social costs associated with it. Organic materials accelerate anthropogenic climate changing greenhouse gas emissions by releasing methane as they decompose in landfills. In addition, unused food embodies and thus …

Low Income Housing Energy Efficiency Improvement Program For The Yurok Tribe Of Northern California, Keivan Branson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Housing on the Yurok reservation in California is a major concern for the local Tribal Government. This report details a study of the energy situation for housing of the Yurok Tribe to provide a framework for implementing housing energy efficiency to benefit low-income members of the Tribal community residing in substandard housing. The report briefly details the history of the reservation as it pertains to the current housing situation, as well as the authors personal context of living for 16 years in the reservation town of Klamath, CA. The analysis draws on information obtained from mixed methods, including information collected …

Natural Resource Access Rights And Wrongs: Nontimber Forest Products Gathering In Urban Environments, Susan Charnley, Rebecca J. Mclain, Melissa R. Poe

Institute for Sustainable Solutions Publications and Presentations

This article uses research about non-timber forest products (NTFP) gathering in Seattle, Washington, USA to examine how people gain access to natural resources in urban environments. Our analysis focuses on gathering in three spaces: parks, yards, and public rights of way. We present a framework for conceptualizing access, and highlight cognitive mechanisms of access associated with foragers’ internal moral judgments about harvesting. Key findings are: (1) internal moral calculations about whether it is right or wrong to harvest a particular NTFP in a particular place are an important but previously unacknowledged mechanism governing resource access; and (2) these calculations may …