title: Social values of biodiversity conservation for the endangered loggerhead turtle and monk seal

authors: Kaval, Pamela

subjects: biodiversity conservation

abstract: The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) and the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) are two species on the priority list for conservation in Greece due to their dwindling populations worldwide. Hence the issue of estimating willingness to pay for their conservation is germane to any protection initiative. Zakynthos Island in Greece has created a marine park for the conservation of such species. We report the results of a survey of visitors and residents of this island who were asked about making one-time donations in the form of either a tax for residents or a plane landing fee for tourists. We find that all people were willing to pay to protect these species; however, residents were willing to pay more than tourists. We then tested whether there was a sequence or ordering effect if the seal questions came before the turtles as well as if the turtle questions came before the seals. Such effect was found when turtle questions were presented first, but not when seal questions were presented first. Due to the extensive interest, it is recommended that an increase in the airplane landing fee to Zakynthos could be used to contribute towards funds for loggerhead turtle and monk seal protection.

text: Social values of biodiversity conservation for the endangered loggerhead turtle and monk seal The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) and the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) are two species on the priority list for conservation in Greece due to their dwindling populations worldwide. Hence the issue of estimating willingness to pay for their conservation is germane to any protection initiative. Zakynthos Island in Greece has created a marine park for the conservation of such species. We report the results of a survey of visitors and residents of this island who were asked about making one-time donations in the form of either a tax for residents or a plane landing fee for tourists. We find that all people were willing to pay to protect these species; however, residents were willing to pay more than tourists. We then tested whether there was a sequence or ordering effect if the seal questions came before the turtles as well as if the turtle questions came before the seals. Such effect was found when turtle questions were presented first, but not when seal questions were presented first. Due to the extensive interest, it is recommended that an increase in the airplane landing fee to Zakynthos could be used to contribute towards funds for loggerhead turtle and monk seal protection.

year: 2007-08

title: Decentralisation and Policy Implementation: Thai Development Plans and Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (SAO) in Chiang Rai

authors: Inpin, Wanwalee

subjects: Decentralisation in Thailand

abstract: Moves to decentralise the government‘s administrative system has been one of the most important development issues in Thailand over the past two decades. These moves are seen most clearly in the establishment of the Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (SAO) across Thailand as the fundamental governing unit at the local administrative level. Decentralisation was introduced as a means of increasing the effectiveness of local government, promoting the transmission of power to the local people and encouraging greater local participation in policy making. The Ninth National Economic and Social Development Plan (2002-2006) promoted the development of the SAO to strengthen local government. The main purposes of decentralisation have been to balance the development of human, social, economic and environmental resources so as to achieve sustainable people-centred development, and promote the role of officials at the local level to increase the power of local government. The thesis examines implementation of this policy, drawing from theories on implementation in terms of 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' approaches, and policy implementation failure. Propositions are derived from these theories for testing in the research. The combination of the two approaches offers insights into key factors in policy implementation and what is needed to achieve better policy implementation. This study focuses on 1) the capacity of an SAO to implement the policies set out by central government, 2) the capacity of staff to determine and implement the policy, 3) the adequacy of revenue available to the SAO for policy implementation, 4) the extent of autonomy from central government to the SAO in providing public services, and 5) the nature and extent of participation by the people in Chiang Rai province in issues of policy formulation and implementation. Staff drawn from 45 government agencies at three different levels (central, provincial and local levels) in Chiang Rai provide the sample group for this study. This thesis found that the concept of decentralisation in Thailand was still new for both the Thai people and officials, and that the old bureaucratic systems continued to prevail. Local governance continues to be overseen partly by appointed personnel and the SAOs still rely heavily on central government for a wide range of matters. The lack of support from central government, insufficient revenue allocated to SAOs, inadequate autonomy, and various other deficiencies have limited the implementation of the policy. This study concludes that the government must eliminate problems arising from adherence to the old bureaucratic systems at local, provincial and central government levels if the policy of decentralisation is to succeed. Further, central government must ensure that staff who implement its decentralisation policy have the capabilities and experiences to implement the policy. The government also needs to ensure that the support is provided to the SAOs for the policy implementation process if the intended goals are to be achieved.

text: Decentralisation and Policy Implementation: Thai Development Plans and Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (SAO) in Chiang Rai Moves to decentralise the government‘s administrative system has been one of the most important development issues in Thailand over the past two decades. These moves are seen most clearly in the establishment of the Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (SAO) across Thailand as the fundamental governing unit at the local administrative level. Decentralisation was introduced as a means of increasing the effectiveness of local government, promoting the transmission of power to the local people and encouraging greater local participation in policy making. The Ninth National Economic and Social Development Plan (2002-2006) promoted the development of the SAO to strengthen local government. The main purposes of decentralisation have been to balance the development of human, social, economic and environmental resources so as to achieve sustainable people-centred development, and promote the role of officials at the local level to increase the power of local government. The thesis examines implementation of this policy, drawing from theories on implementation in terms of 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' approaches, and policy implementation failure. Propositions are derived from these theories for testing in the research. The combination of the two approaches offers insights into key factors in policy implementation and what is needed to achieve better policy implementation. This study focuses on 1) the capacity of an SAO to implement the policies set out by central government, 2) the capacity of staff to determine and implement the policy, 3) the adequacy of revenue available to the SAO for policy implementation, 4) the extent of autonomy from central government to the SAO in providing public services, and 5) the nature and extent of participation by the people in Chiang Rai province in issues of policy formulation and implementation. Staff drawn from 45 government agencies at three different levels (central, provincial and local levels) in Chiang Rai provide the sample group for this study. This thesis found that the concept of decentralisation in Thailand was still new for both the Thai people and officials, and that the old bureaucratic systems continued to prevail. Local governance continues to be overseen partly by appointed personnel and the SAOs still rely heavily on central government for a wide range of matters. The lack of support from central government, insufficient revenue allocated to SAOs, inadequate autonomy, and various other deficiencies have limited the implementation of the policy. This study concludes that the government must eliminate problems arising from adherence to the old bureaucratic systems at local, provincial and central government levels if the policy of decentralisation is to succeed. Further, central government must ensure that staff who implement its decentralisation policy have the capabilities and experiences to implement the policy. The government also needs to ensure that the support is provided to the SAOs for the policy implementation process if the intended goals are to be achieved.

year: 2011

title: Supervision of Maori doctoral students: A descriptive report

authors: McKinley, Elizabeth

subjects: Maori education

abstract: This report follows up a previous paper that outlined the goals and plans of a research project that focused on both theoretical and cultural questions regarding the supervisory process for Māori doctoral students (McKinley, Grant, Middleton, Irwin, & Williams, 2007). The major goal of the project is to enhance understanding of the teaching and learning process of supervision for students and supervisors, particularly around issues of culture that arise in research methodologies and practices. This paper reports on the completed project by providing further operational background, design features, the nature of the student and supervisor samples and a summary of interview findings. The results show that there are indeed distinctive issues arising within the supervision of Māori doctoral students. Some of these are to do with both pleasures and challenges found in the supervision relationship, while others relate to the kinds of projects the students undertake. Many projects for example, push at the disciplinary boundaries of Western knowledge and are often rooted in a political desire to enhance the everyday lives of Māori. Yet others are connected to identity formation processes that concern many Māori during their years as doctoral students. A central message for supervisors from this work is that the supervision of Māori doctoral students may require unfamiliar forms of engagement but that these are likely to be deeply rewarding in many different ways.

text: Supervision of Maori doctoral students: A descriptive report This report follows up a previous paper that outlined the goals and plans of a research project that focused on both theoretical and cultural questions regarding the supervisory process for Māori doctoral students (McKinley, Grant, Middleton, Irwin, & Williams, 2007). The major goal of the project is to enhance understanding of the teaching and learning process of supervision for students and supervisors, particularly around issues of culture that arise in research methodologies and practices. This paper reports on the completed project by providing further operational background, design features, the nature of the student and supervisor samples and a summary of interview findings. The results show that there are indeed distinctive issues arising within the supervision of Māori doctoral students. Some of these are to do with both pleasures and challenges found in the supervision relationship, while others relate to the kinds of projects the students undertake. Many projects for example, push at the disciplinary boundaries of Western knowledge and are often rooted in a political desire to enhance the everyday lives of Māori. Yet others are connected to identity formation processes that concern many Māori during their years as doctoral students. A central message for supervisors from this work is that the supervision of Māori doctoral students may require unfamiliar forms of engagement but that these are likely to be deeply rewarding in many different ways.

year: 2009