Earthly Matters
Disaster Tourism Governance at a Volcano Tour on Merapi in Sleman Regency Indonesia
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Muchamad Zaenuri
The management of disaster-tourism affairs is impossible for local governments, private and society involvement is a necessity. The three stakeholders have their respective advantages and disadvantages. In this connection, collaboration is needed among the three parties. This study aims to find out how far collaboration can increase acceleration in disaster-tourism management. Through descriptive method, it can be concluded that if disaster-management management is done collaboratively involving government, private and society, it can increase acceleration in the face of disaster and post disaster to cover the limitations of each stakeholder. If the involvement of government, private and society is done proportionally it can produce relations with varying intensity. The intensity of a very high relationship exists between private parties and the public. From these conclusions can be given recommendations to stakeholders that to further increase the intensity of the relationship needs to be done collaboration transformation, as well as the government can place itself as a facilitator and regulator because the most intense relationship occurs is between private and society.
Deforestation Affects on Ecosystem Services and Health in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Ashley Dawn Milton, Toni Lyn Morelli, Bila Isia Inogwabini, A. Alonso Aguirre
Deforestation in the Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is altering ecosystem services and may be affecting forest communities by inducing changes in food availability, public health, and overall environmental resilience. This study determined the most prominent impacts resulting from deforestation by assessing changes in forest cover and forest ecosystem provisions. Surveys were conducted with 325 individuals living in twenty-five communities in the Lake Télé-Lake Tumba Landscape located in northwestern DRC. Data collected using survey tools were used to evaluate from a micro-scale, the local perspectives of communities to best explore environmental change. In addition, remote sensing analysis of Landsat satellite images and a climate analysis using forty years of weather data were collected from the Mabali Scientific Reserve and used to evaluate the state of the forest. Survey results demonstrated that local communities are highly environmentally literate and their knowledge is a useful indicator for qualifying environmental change. Remote sensing and climate results demonstrated that the forest cover has been reduced and there are major shifts in the traditional agricultural calendar. Our recommendations focused on local environmental science and policy in order to prevent future forest degradation and loss.
Engaging Communal Livestock Farmers in the Rural Eastern Cape: Planning for Rangeland Management Strategies That Are Adaptable to Local Conditions
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Andiswa Finca
Large parts of the Eastern Cape are made up of former homelands which have a long history of economic neglect. The greater part of former homelands are rural and the ability of the rural people to make a living is linked to agricultural practices including livestock farming. Livestock is described as a key commodity for human well-being and provide benefits such as food, income, employment, tractions and others. However livelihood sustainability through livestock production relies greatly on the quality of the rangeland. Government efforts to prevent or counteract overgrazing through prescribed methods have been unsuccessful because they ignore engagement with social and economic dimensions that influence rangeland management. This study assesses the effectiveness of engaging communal farmers in an effort to find sustainable and locally adaptable rangeland management strategies. Using focus group discussions, structured interviews, and participatory GIS (PGIS) to establish indigenous knowledge about the current condition of the rangelands, its effects on quality of livestock and people’s lives. Results revealed that communal farmers are aware of their surroundings. Secondly livestock has financial, social and to them economically, socially and spiritually. It also emerged that the challenges face by communal farmers are ecological (decrease in rangeland quality characterised by soil erosion, alien plant invasion, and grass species composition change), social (lack of unity, trust, community rules, and youth involvement) and governance (limited support from the agricultural extension office) related. These challenges have played a negative role in livestock performance and mortality and thus the quality of rural people's lives.
