title: Challenges to Implementing Community Based Ecotourism (CBET) as a Bottom up Development Approach in the Sinharaja Rain Forest (Sri Lanka)

authors: Halvitigala Ihala Gamage, Chaminda Kumara

subjects: Community Based Ecotourism

abstract: Community based ecotourism (CBET) is a well-established concept and its implementation has been an important component for many regional development strategies. This thesis argues that CBET originated as a Western concept, and there are many successful CBET projects. However, CBET operates within geo-political, economic and cultural contexts, which generate challenges for its implementation. This research examines a CBET initiative in the Kudawa- Sinharaja site, Sri Lanka which shifted in 1995 from a central government approach to a community forest informed master plan, in line with Western CBET development models. This case study therefore provides the opportunity to explore the success of this CBET project.
A qualitative approach has principally guided this research together with statistics to examine the socio-cultural, socio-economic and geo-political context. A total of 293 participants have informed this research, which includes 193 interviews (115 individuals, and 15 different focus groups totalling 78 people) and 100 questionnaire respondents. These participants were surveyed during late 2012 and early 2013, and included both domestic and overseas tourists, local community residents and tourist operators, tourism consultants, and government officials.
One of the main findings is that despite plans being developed at a community level, the wider context includes superimposed capitalism, which dominates and counteracts the ideologies of CBET. Superimposed capitalism results in individualistic and competitive behaviours that undermine the collaborative community approach. It encourages poaching and the selling of rare flora and fauna (biopiracy), and results in anthropogenic disturbances to nature. The influence of “drug-sex’ tourism, associated with superimposed capitalism, creates potential for further socio-cultural issues. This research also highlights the strong influence of geo-politics, which operates at both the international and domestic scale. National political conflicts in Sri Lanka have been extreme in recent times and this has generated security related issues for both residents and tourists. Political corruption, access to funds, and the lack of established decision making processes are also associated with geo-politics. This research also underlines the influence of the socio-cultural context such as gender inequality and caste discrimination, which substantially disempower certain people. 
The thesis concludes that CBET is an appropriate pathway for tourism development in Sri Lanka but recognition of the above problems is required and they need to be addressed, in particular, superimposed capitalism. A well-defined monitoring system and an effective legal framework to control adverse effects are important for achieving CBET goals.  The findings of this research will inform CBET in similar developing countries, but caution is required because the geo-political, economic and cultural context is different in every country.

text: Challenges to Implementing Community Based Ecotourism (CBET) as a Bottom up Development Approach in the Sinharaja Rain Forest (Sri Lanka) Community based ecotourism (CBET) is a well-established concept and its implementation has been an important component for many regional development strategies. This thesis argues that CBET originated as a Western concept, and there are many successful CBET projects. However, CBET operates within geo-political, economic and cultural contexts, which generate challenges for its implementation. This research examines a CBET initiative in the Kudawa- Sinharaja site, Sri Lanka which shifted in 1995 from a central government approach to a community forest informed master plan, in line with Western CBET development models. This case study therefore provides the opportunity to explore the success of this CBET project.
A qualitative approach has principally guided this research together with statistics to examine the socio-cultural, socio-economic and geo-political context. A total of 293 participants have informed this research, which includes 193 interviews (115 individuals, and 15 different focus groups totalling 78 people) and 100 questionnaire respondents. These participants were surveyed during late 2012 and early 2013, and included both domestic and overseas tourists, local community residents and tourist operators, tourism consultants, and government officials.
One of the main findings is that despite plans being developed at a community level, the wider context includes superimposed capitalism, which dominates and counteracts the ideologies of CBET. Superimposed capitalism results in individualistic and competitive behaviours that undermine the collaborative community approach. It encourages poaching and the selling of rare flora and fauna (biopiracy), and results in anthropogenic disturbances to nature. The influence of “drug-sex’ tourism, associated with superimposed capitalism, creates potential for further socio-cultural issues. This research also highlights the strong influence of geo-politics, which operates at both the international and domestic scale. National political conflicts in Sri Lanka have been extreme in recent times and this has generated security related issues for both residents and tourists. Political corruption, access to funds, and the lack of established decision making processes are also associated with geo-politics. This research also underlines the influence of the socio-cultural context such as gender inequality and caste discrimination, which substantially disempower certain people. 
The thesis concludes that CBET is an appropriate pathway for tourism development in Sri Lanka but recognition of the above problems is required and they need to be addressed, in particular, superimposed capitalism. A well-defined monitoring system and an effective legal framework to control adverse effects are important for achieving CBET goals.  The findings of this research will inform CBET in similar developing countries, but caution is required because the geo-political, economic and cultural context is different in every country.

year: 2016

title: Characterisation of four strains of thermophilic spirochetes and characterisation of phosphofructokinase from isolate Rt 118.B2

authors: Apimerika, Lisa

subjects: Spirochetes

abstract: Four strains of spirochetes were purified by the selective use of antibiotics. Microscopy revealed the strains have typical spirochete morphology. The strains were obligate anaerobes and all four strains utilised a variety of carbohydrates including polysaccharides -but not amino acids- as energy sources. The optimum pH of the isolates was between 6.5 and 7.0. The cardinal growth temperatures varied between the different strains from 52°C to 59°C. The lowest temperature any of the four strains could grow at was 37°C and the highest was 62°C. Doubling times of the isolates varied from 221 minutes to 333 minutes. The major products of glucose fermentations were acetate and lactic acid, no ethanol was formed. All strains were resistant to rifampicin, naldixic acid, novobiocin and polymyxin B. Determination of the G+C mol% of DNA revealed that the strains have the lowest G+C % of the species. 
Cell free extracts from the isolates were assayed for pyrophosphate dependent phosphofructokinase (PFK) activity and the results were compared with those from other members of the species. Attempts were made to purify PFK from one of the isolates. The partially purified enzyme was characterised and was found to have an optimum pH of 7 and optimum temperature of 60°C. The thermostability of the enzyme at various temperatures was established. The kinetics of the enzyme were examined and the Kₘ of fructose-6-phosphate, pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate established. Various polyphosphates were used as phosphoryl donors; this is the first report of polyphosphates being used as a phosphoryl donor for PFK.

text: Characterisation of four strains of thermophilic spirochetes and characterisation of phosphofructokinase from isolate Rt 118.B2 Four strains of spirochetes were purified by the selective use of antibiotics. Microscopy revealed the strains have typical spirochete morphology. The strains were obligate anaerobes and all four strains utilised a variety of carbohydrates including polysaccharides -but not amino acids- as energy sources. The optimum pH of the isolates was between 6.5 and 7.0. The cardinal growth temperatures varied between the different strains from 52°C to 59°C. The lowest temperature any of the four strains could grow at was 37°C and the highest was 62°C. Doubling times of the isolates varied from 221 minutes to 333 minutes. The major products of glucose fermentations were acetate and lactic acid, no ethanol was formed. All strains were resistant to rifampicin, naldixic acid, novobiocin and polymyxin B. Determination of the G+C mol% of DNA revealed that the strains have the lowest G+C % of the species. 
Cell free extracts from the isolates were assayed for pyrophosphate dependent phosphofructokinase (PFK) activity and the results were compared with those from other members of the species. Attempts were made to purify PFK from one of the isolates. The partially purified enzyme was characterised and was found to have an optimum pH of 7 and optimum temperature of 60°C. The thermostability of the enzyme at various temperatures was established. The kinetics of the enzyme were examined and the Kₘ of fructose-6-phosphate, pyrophosphate and tripolyphosphate established. Various polyphosphates were used as phosphoryl donors; this is the first report of polyphosphates being used as a phosphoryl donor for PFK.

year: 1996

title: E kore koe e ngaro e tōku reo rangatira

authors: Puke, Te Manawanui

subjects: Reo Māori

abstract: Ka whakapeto ngoi ahau ki te wānanga i ngā tini āhuatanga e kōhuru nei, he patu kino nei, e panoni haere nei, e whakamate nei i tōku reo rangatira! E kaha tōmina nei kia kore rawa ai ia e ngaro. Nā reira, ka tīkina te matū o tēnei kaupapa, ka takitaki haere ai mei kore noa e tūpono ka hīnātore mai he māramatanga, he ihumaneatanga i ēnei kōrero āku.

text: E kore koe e ngaro e tōku reo rangatira Ka whakapeto ngoi ahau ki te wānanga i ngā tini āhuatanga e kōhuru nei, he patu kino nei, e panoni haere nei, e whakamate nei i tōku reo rangatira! E kaha tōmina nei kia kore rawa ai ia e ngaro. Nā reira, ka tīkina te matū o tēnei kaupapa, ka takitaki haere ai mei kore noa e tūpono ka hīnātore mai he māramatanga, he ihumaneatanga i ēnei kōrero āku.

year: 2016