title: Community capitals and ecotourism for enhancing Amazonian forest livelihoods

authors: Lima, Ismar Borges de

subjects: community ecotourism

abstract: This article examines ‘whether’ and ‘how’ ecotourism functions to strengthen Amazonian livelihoods in remote areas and community capitals as well helping to protect the environment in rural planning and development. It focuses on the role of ecotourism as a possible enhancer of human, social and natural capitals in the Maripá community. Capitals are believed to be the mainstay for group-oriented practices, harmony, dissemination of knowledge, and maintenance of a healthy and sustainable environment. The decision of making ecotourism an avenue for regional planning and development can work better if communities make ecotourism a collective enterprise, producing collective socio-economic and environmental advantages. As a conceptual follow-up to ‘community capitals’, the authors introduce and discuss a hypothetical cycle of anxiety and elation situation in (eco)tourism development. The article is qualitatively oriented, based on participant observations and open interviews that occurred during a three-month field trip in 2005. Updates were done until November 2010. The analysis is centered on Central Amazonia, particularly on the Puxirum ecotourism project in the Arapiuns-Tapajós region.

text: Community capitals and ecotourism for enhancing Amazonian forest livelihoods This article examines ‘whether’ and ‘how’ ecotourism functions to strengthen Amazonian livelihoods in remote areas and community capitals as well helping to protect the environment in rural planning and development. It focuses on the role of ecotourism as a possible enhancer of human, social and natural capitals in the Maripá community. Capitals are believed to be the mainstay for group-oriented practices, harmony, dissemination of knowledge, and maintenance of a healthy and sustainable environment. The decision of making ecotourism an avenue for regional planning and development can work better if communities make ecotourism a collective enterprise, producing collective socio-economic and environmental advantages. As a conceptual follow-up to ‘community capitals’, the authors introduce and discuss a hypothetical cycle of anxiety and elation situation in (eco)tourism development. The article is qualitatively oriented, based on participant observations and open interviews that occurred during a three-month field trip in 2005. Updates were done until November 2010. The analysis is centered on Central Amazonia, particularly on the Puxirum ecotourism project in the Arapiuns-Tapajós region.

year: 2011

title: Wild record of an apple snail in the Waikato River, Hamilton, New Zealand and their incidence in freshwater aquaria

authors: Collier, Kevin J.

subjects: Ampullariidae

abstract: We report the discovery of a single specimen of a live apple snail Pomacea diffusa Blume 1957 (Ampullariidae: Prosobranchia), from the Waikato River, Hamilton city, central North Island, New Zealand. This species, along with the congeneric P. insularum, is imported for the aquarium trade, and its occurrence in the river likely stemmed from an aquarium release. A survey of 55 aquaria belonging to 43 hobbyists revealed 27 apple snails, with one owner having 22 snails. Assessment of environmental tolerances and impacts of P. diffusa, based largely on studies of the closely related and commonly confused congener P. bridgesii, suggests that direct habitat impacts by this species are likely to be minor. However, there could be indirect influences on native biodiversity through predation on eggs or competition for food supplies with other detritivorous species if densities were to become high. Water temperatures in the Waikato River below Hamilton (10-23˚C in 2009) may enable released individuals to persist for an extended period, and over summer may exceed the threshold required to enable breeding. However, population establishment would be most likely in locations where water is heated through geothermal influences or industrial cooling water discharges.

text: Wild record of an apple snail in the Waikato River, Hamilton, New Zealand and their incidence in freshwater aquaria We report the discovery of a single specimen of a live apple snail Pomacea diffusa Blume 1957 (Ampullariidae: Prosobranchia), from the Waikato River, Hamilton city, central North Island, New Zealand. This species, along with the congeneric P. insularum, is imported for the aquarium trade, and its occurrence in the river likely stemmed from an aquarium release. A survey of 55 aquaria belonging to 43 hobbyists revealed 27 apple snails, with one owner having 22 snails. Assessment of environmental tolerances and impacts of P. diffusa, based largely on studies of the closely related and commonly confused congener P. bridgesii, suggests that direct habitat impacts by this species are likely to be minor. However, there could be indirect influences on native biodiversity through predation on eggs or competition for food supplies with other detritivorous species if densities were to become high. Water temperatures in the Waikato River below Hamilton (10-23˚C in 2009) may enable released individuals to persist for an extended period, and over summer may exceed the threshold required to enable breeding. However, population establishment would be most likely in locations where water is heated through geothermal influences or industrial cooling water discharges.

year: 2011

title: Te Kahautu Maxwell  | Te Matatini Mātaatua representative [Interviewed by Dale Husband]

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: This weekend in the Bay of Plenty, twenty-two kapa haka teams, including the reigning Te Matatini winners, showcased some of the nation’s best kapa haka performers during the Mātaatua senior regional tournaments.

text: Te Kahautu Maxwell  | Te Matatini Mātaatua representative [Interviewed by Dale Husband] This weekend in the Bay of Plenty, twenty-two kapa haka teams, including the reigning Te Matatini winners, showcased some of the nation’s best kapa haka performers during the Mātaatua senior regional tournaments.

year: 2024