Abstract Many cities are facing environmental challenges with rapid urbanisation and industrialis... more Abstract Many cities are facing environmental challenges with rapid urbanisation and industrialisation. It is critical to evaluate this new urban reality and its sustainability potential to generate appropriate solutions for a sustainable future. The urban metabolism framework is commonly applied to understand appropriate strategies to achieve sustainability for urban systems. In this study, material flow analysis was applied in conjunction with specific socio-economic indicators to model urban metabolism and evaluate appropriate urban metabolism changes for Jinchang City, China between 1995 and 2014. Structural decomposition analysis and decoupling analysis were used to explain and evaluate the sustainability potential of Jinchang City. Changes in material consumption and the waste generation of Jinchang City indicated a long-term unsustainable trajectory, evidenced by continuously increasing material inputs and outputs. We also found a significant reduction in air pollution, with declining sulphur dioxide emissions and dust; all are indicators of improvement in air quality. What is of special note is that industrial production was concurrently greatly increasing. These indicators suggest a positive improvement in sustainability beyond simple incrementalism. The study showed that MFA techniques can be used as valuable tools for understanding urban metabolism, evaluating urban sustainability, and suggesting strategies for the timely addressing of urban sustainability issues. This strategy is important in the face of China’s increasing industrial capacity.
This reminiscence reports how I have spent 84 sitting days and countless hours with Gordon Grigg,... more This reminiscence reports how I have spent 84 sitting days and countless hours with Gordon Grigg, during our joint membership of the Threatened Species Scientific Committee trying to do something about Australia's biodiversity and its survival 2 .
The report provides a scientific basis for the declaration and management of the Australian Marin... more The report provides a scientific basis for the declaration and management of the Australian Marine Reserve System
We report on the introduction of nature-based adventure tourism into Ban Songpraek Village, South... more We report on the introduction of nature-based adventure tourism into Ban Songpraek Village, Southern Thailand and its impacts on children. We find many positive benefits for village children with no evidence of cultural disruption or prurient impacts. The leadership and the social cohesiveness of villagers and their relationship with the village authorities and tourism entrepreneurs is a determining factor in the children's well-being. The villagers' understanding of tourism and its potential for negative and positive effects is an important determinant of this outcome. Consequently, tourism growth and the villagers' dependence on tourism activities are a vital concern to all village residents. Through their children, the villagers demonstrate that they are establishing the intergenerational resilience necessary to face these issues.
... community activism (Kirner, 2000b) resulting in a model which does work well amongst our grou... more ... community activism (Kirner, 2000b) resulting in a model which does work well amongst our groups. This ... Note sent to Angela Bloomfield on Origins of landcare in Community Leadership Pp90-100 Rural Community Development Course Manual Rural Extension Centre. ...
The utilisation of mulga trees (Acacia aneura) to provide fodder for domestic stock during drough... more The utilisation of mulga trees (Acacia aneura) to provide fodder for domestic stock during drought has been part of routine management on many grazing enterprises is south west Queensland's mulga lands for over 100 years. Recent vegetation management legislation and regulation in Queensland (Vegetation Management Act (1999) Qld) generated debate about fodder harvesting, specifically the lack of knowledge regarding both economic and environmental implications of the practice.
Sustainable urban development is a fundamental discourse for cities in industrialising nations. T... more Sustainable urban development is a fundamental discourse for cities in industrialising nations. This is particularly so for new industrial cities in rapid developing countries where local residents and ecological systems have been significantly impacted by economic growth. In this paper, we draw upon the case of Jinchang City (north-western China) to demonstrate how the transition toward urban sustainability can be understood and facilitated. By using an urban metabolism model combined with qualitative social research and policy analysis to understand the urban systems, this research verifies that urban sustainability requires good governance, policy and planning, as well as the participation of local enterprises and residents. This can be built on the notion of urban metabolism that identifies changes and suggests adaptive responses, which when combined with informed public understanding can create adaptive changes in the physical, economic and social dimensions of the city. In particular, such change is predicated upon the rapid development of appropriate human capital that can be employed to monitor and evaluate the functioning of the urban systems, facilitate innovation and build a diversified economy. The rapidly growing cities in northwestern China provide a model of how new industrial cities have the potential to be significant actors in the transition toward global sustainability. Specifically this research suggests how necessary environmental improvements for northwestern China can be achieved and a model for the developing world can be created.
... Early advocates of sustainable tourism, in conservation battles such as those of Cooloola, Fr... more ... Early advocates of sustainable tourism, in conservation battles such as those of Cooloola, FraserIsland, the Franklin River and the Wet Tropics in Australia, argued that protecting areas for tourism was a viable alternative to extractive industries such as logging. ...
For 25 years the Australian Landcare program has encouraged rural land managers to work cooperati... more For 25 years the Australian Landcare program has encouraged rural land managers to work cooperatively to resolve natural resource management issues across the nation. Landcare has spread and the model is used internationally. Despite its successes, Landcare has come under criticism for not sufficiently directing land management practices towards environmental sustainability. This criticism sees it as having maintained the "status quo". Alternatively Landcare has been credited with acting as an agent that creates social capital, bringing neighbours together to share ideas and implement cooperative projects. We use the concept of social capital to offer insight into how Landcare groups as social networks can either inhibit or promote changes in land management. Using findings from a study of 16 Landcare groups in South Eastern Victoria, Australia, we demonstrate that various forms of social capital can act to either inhibit or empower individuals and groups to challenge the status quo of land management practice. We explain how the intentions of these grass roots organisations are to emphasise local knowledge, ownership and power. However, in some cases these actions produce the accidental outcome of maintaining the status quo. We argue that the way Landcare groups are supported can further aggravates this. At a time when the health of Landcare is in question, and the need for solutions to natural resource management problems are critical, understanding the implications of these findings will enable institutions to tailor programs to facilitate groups to challenge the status quo and reinvigorate interest in Landcare as a community building model.
... The decline in membership of farmer-based groups is not necessarily a reflection of the level... more ... The decline in membership of farmer-based groups is not necessarily a reflection of the level of on-ground land management projects that are occurring as farmers are implementing projects through devolved NHT2 grants. Landcare members are often aware of this and explain ...
Question: Can species compositional dissimilarity analyses be used to assess and improve the repr... more Question: Can species compositional dissimilarity analyses be used to assess and improve the representation of biodiversity patterns in a priori ecological classifications? Location: The case study examined the northernhalf of the Southeast Queensland Bioregion, eastern Australia. Methods: Site-based floristic presence-absence data were used to construct species dissimilarity matrices (Kulczynski metric) for three levels of Queensland's bioregional hierarchy-subregions (1:500 000 scale), land zones (1:250 000 scale) and regional ecosystems (1:100 000 scale). Within-and between-class dissimilarities were compiled for each level to elucidate species compositional patterns. Randomized subsampling was used to determine the minimum site sampling intensity for each hierarchy level, and the effects of lumping and splitting illustrated for several classes. Results: Consistent dissimilarity estimates were obtained with five or more sites per regional ecosystem, 10 or more sites per land zone, and more than 15 sites per subregion. On average, subregions represented 4% dissimilarity in floristic composition, land zones approximately 10%, and regional ecosystems over 19%. Splitting classes with a low dissimilarity increased dissimilarity levels closer to average, while merging ecologically similar classes with high dissimilarities reduced dissimilarity levels closer to average levels. Conclusions: This approach demonstrates a robust and repeatable means of analysing species compositional dissimilarity, determining site sampling requirements for classifications and guiding decisions about 'lumping' or 'splitting' of classes. This will allow more informed decisions on selecting and improving classifications and map scales in an ecologically and statistically robust manner.
In 1977 a project to study parrots as pests on the sunflower crops in northeast New South Wales, ... more In 1977 a project to study parrots as pests on the sunflower crops in northeast New South Wales, was initiated by Mr. R.J.S. Beeton formerly of the Department of Zoology and Dr. P.J. Jarman of the Department of Ecosystem Management, University of New England. Together with studies undertaken by four students from the Department of Ecosystem Management and one student from the Faculty of Rural Science, this study from the Department of Zoology forms part of that overall project. I thank these people for helpful discussions in the initial planning stage. Travel expenses were funded by a grant from the Oilseeds Marketing Board of New South Wales, to whom-I am thankful. This study was undertaken while in receipt of a Commonwealth Postgraduate Research Award, and I acknowledge the facilities provided by the Department of Zoology. To my supervisor Dr. H.A. Ford, I extend thanks for his guidance and help in the preparation of this manuscript. I am grateful to landowners at Swan Vale and Wallangra to whose properties I had access. Special thanks are offered to Mr. D. Castledon of "Glen Eisle", Mr. W. Anderson of "Hillview" and Mr. H. Witts of "Taveuni", for their willingness to provide information on bird damage. My gratitude includes Mr. and Mrs. M.G.M. Woods, formerly of
Abstract Many cities are facing environmental challenges with rapid urbanisation and industrialis... more Abstract Many cities are facing environmental challenges with rapid urbanisation and industrialisation. It is critical to evaluate this new urban reality and its sustainability potential to generate appropriate solutions for a sustainable future. The urban metabolism framework is commonly applied to understand appropriate strategies to achieve sustainability for urban systems. In this study, material flow analysis was applied in conjunction with specific socio-economic indicators to model urban metabolism and evaluate appropriate urban metabolism changes for Jinchang City, China between 1995 and 2014. Structural decomposition analysis and decoupling analysis were used to explain and evaluate the sustainability potential of Jinchang City. Changes in material consumption and the waste generation of Jinchang City indicated a long-term unsustainable trajectory, evidenced by continuously increasing material inputs and outputs. We also found a significant reduction in air pollution, with declining sulphur dioxide emissions and dust; all are indicators of improvement in air quality. What is of special note is that industrial production was concurrently greatly increasing. These indicators suggest a positive improvement in sustainability beyond simple incrementalism. The study showed that MFA techniques can be used as valuable tools for understanding urban metabolism, evaluating urban sustainability, and suggesting strategies for the timely addressing of urban sustainability issues. This strategy is important in the face of China’s increasing industrial capacity.
This reminiscence reports how I have spent 84 sitting days and countless hours with Gordon Grigg,... more This reminiscence reports how I have spent 84 sitting days and countless hours with Gordon Grigg, during our joint membership of the Threatened Species Scientific Committee trying to do something about Australia's biodiversity and its survival 2 .
The report provides a scientific basis for the declaration and management of the Australian Marin... more The report provides a scientific basis for the declaration and management of the Australian Marine Reserve System
We report on the introduction of nature-based adventure tourism into Ban Songpraek Village, South... more We report on the introduction of nature-based adventure tourism into Ban Songpraek Village, Southern Thailand and its impacts on children. We find many positive benefits for village children with no evidence of cultural disruption or prurient impacts. The leadership and the social cohesiveness of villagers and their relationship with the village authorities and tourism entrepreneurs is a determining factor in the children's well-being. The villagers' understanding of tourism and its potential for negative and positive effects is an important determinant of this outcome. Consequently, tourism growth and the villagers' dependence on tourism activities are a vital concern to all village residents. Through their children, the villagers demonstrate that they are establishing the intergenerational resilience necessary to face these issues.
... community activism (Kirner, 2000b) resulting in a model which does work well amongst our grou... more ... community activism (Kirner, 2000b) resulting in a model which does work well amongst our groups. This ... Note sent to Angela Bloomfield on Origins of landcare in Community Leadership Pp90-100 Rural Community Development Course Manual Rural Extension Centre. ...
The utilisation of mulga trees (Acacia aneura) to provide fodder for domestic stock during drough... more The utilisation of mulga trees (Acacia aneura) to provide fodder for domestic stock during drought has been part of routine management on many grazing enterprises is south west Queensland's mulga lands for over 100 years. Recent vegetation management legislation and regulation in Queensland (Vegetation Management Act (1999) Qld) generated debate about fodder harvesting, specifically the lack of knowledge regarding both economic and environmental implications of the practice.
Sustainable urban development is a fundamental discourse for cities in industrialising nations. T... more Sustainable urban development is a fundamental discourse for cities in industrialising nations. This is particularly so for new industrial cities in rapid developing countries where local residents and ecological systems have been significantly impacted by economic growth. In this paper, we draw upon the case of Jinchang City (north-western China) to demonstrate how the transition toward urban sustainability can be understood and facilitated. By using an urban metabolism model combined with qualitative social research and policy analysis to understand the urban systems, this research verifies that urban sustainability requires good governance, policy and planning, as well as the participation of local enterprises and residents. This can be built on the notion of urban metabolism that identifies changes and suggests adaptive responses, which when combined with informed public understanding can create adaptive changes in the physical, economic and social dimensions of the city. In particular, such change is predicated upon the rapid development of appropriate human capital that can be employed to monitor and evaluate the functioning of the urban systems, facilitate innovation and build a diversified economy. The rapidly growing cities in northwestern China provide a model of how new industrial cities have the potential to be significant actors in the transition toward global sustainability. Specifically this research suggests how necessary environmental improvements for northwestern China can be achieved and a model for the developing world can be created.
... Early advocates of sustainable tourism, in conservation battles such as those of Cooloola, Fr... more ... Early advocates of sustainable tourism, in conservation battles such as those of Cooloola, FraserIsland, the Franklin River and the Wet Tropics in Australia, argued that protecting areas for tourism was a viable alternative to extractive industries such as logging. ...
For 25 years the Australian Landcare program has encouraged rural land managers to work cooperati... more For 25 years the Australian Landcare program has encouraged rural land managers to work cooperatively to resolve natural resource management issues across the nation. Landcare has spread and the model is used internationally. Despite its successes, Landcare has come under criticism for not sufficiently directing land management practices towards environmental sustainability. This criticism sees it as having maintained the "status quo". Alternatively Landcare has been credited with acting as an agent that creates social capital, bringing neighbours together to share ideas and implement cooperative projects. We use the concept of social capital to offer insight into how Landcare groups as social networks can either inhibit or promote changes in land management. Using findings from a study of 16 Landcare groups in South Eastern Victoria, Australia, we demonstrate that various forms of social capital can act to either inhibit or empower individuals and groups to challenge the status quo of land management practice. We explain how the intentions of these grass roots organisations are to emphasise local knowledge, ownership and power. However, in some cases these actions produce the accidental outcome of maintaining the status quo. We argue that the way Landcare groups are supported can further aggravates this. At a time when the health of Landcare is in question, and the need for solutions to natural resource management problems are critical, understanding the implications of these findings will enable institutions to tailor programs to facilitate groups to challenge the status quo and reinvigorate interest in Landcare as a community building model.
... The decline in membership of farmer-based groups is not necessarily a reflection of the level... more ... The decline in membership of farmer-based groups is not necessarily a reflection of the level of on-ground land management projects that are occurring as farmers are implementing projects through devolved NHT2 grants. Landcare members are often aware of this and explain ...
Question: Can species compositional dissimilarity analyses be used to assess and improve the repr... more Question: Can species compositional dissimilarity analyses be used to assess and improve the representation of biodiversity patterns in a priori ecological classifications? Location: The case study examined the northernhalf of the Southeast Queensland Bioregion, eastern Australia. Methods: Site-based floristic presence-absence data were used to construct species dissimilarity matrices (Kulczynski metric) for three levels of Queensland's bioregional hierarchy-subregions (1:500 000 scale), land zones (1:250 000 scale) and regional ecosystems (1:100 000 scale). Within-and between-class dissimilarities were compiled for each level to elucidate species compositional patterns. Randomized subsampling was used to determine the minimum site sampling intensity for each hierarchy level, and the effects of lumping and splitting illustrated for several classes. Results: Consistent dissimilarity estimates were obtained with five or more sites per regional ecosystem, 10 or more sites per land zone, and more than 15 sites per subregion. On average, subregions represented 4% dissimilarity in floristic composition, land zones approximately 10%, and regional ecosystems over 19%. Splitting classes with a low dissimilarity increased dissimilarity levels closer to average, while merging ecologically similar classes with high dissimilarities reduced dissimilarity levels closer to average levels. Conclusions: This approach demonstrates a robust and repeatable means of analysing species compositional dissimilarity, determining site sampling requirements for classifications and guiding decisions about 'lumping' or 'splitting' of classes. This will allow more informed decisions on selecting and improving classifications and map scales in an ecologically and statistically robust manner.
In 1977 a project to study parrots as pests on the sunflower crops in northeast New South Wales, ... more In 1977 a project to study parrots as pests on the sunflower crops in northeast New South Wales, was initiated by Mr. R.J.S. Beeton formerly of the Department of Zoology and Dr. P.J. Jarman of the Department of Ecosystem Management, University of New England. Together with studies undertaken by four students from the Department of Ecosystem Management and one student from the Faculty of Rural Science, this study from the Department of Zoology forms part of that overall project. I thank these people for helpful discussions in the initial planning stage. Travel expenses were funded by a grant from the Oilseeds Marketing Board of New South Wales, to whom-I am thankful. This study was undertaken while in receipt of a Commonwealth Postgraduate Research Award, and I acknowledge the facilities provided by the Department of Zoology. To my supervisor Dr. H.A. Ford, I extend thanks for his guidance and help in the preparation of this manuscript. I am grateful to landowners at Swan Vale and Wallangra to whose properties I had access. Special thanks are offered to Mr. D. Castledon of "Glen Eisle", Mr. W. Anderson of "Hillview" and Mr. H. Witts of "Taveuni", for their willingness to provide information on bird damage. My gratitude includes Mr. and Mrs. M.G.M. Woods, formerly of
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