Clement A. Tisdell

Carrying Capacity Reconsidered: From Malthus' Population Theory to Cultural Carrying Capacity

In this paper the concept of carrying capacity is investigated to provide an improved understanding about its contribution to solve environmental problems. Light is shed on its form, interpretation and application in biology, demography, applied and human ecology. The analysis begins with an examination of the bedrock of carrying capacity which is Malthus’ population theory, and its mathematical formulation — the logistic growth equation. The investigation shows Malthus’ thinking to be both political and normative. Furthermore, the rigid assumptions of the logistic equation and the uncertainty of its terms are found not to allow an unequivocal calculation and prediction of the upper limits (carrying capacity) of population growth. It is illustrated that in ecology, carrying capacity focuses on the quality of an ecosystem (pressures on it) and corresponding population numbers, and less on equilibrium of populations as in biology. It is shown that carrying capacity, when applied in fields where human activity or human aims are involved, is a complex normative concept influenced by ecological dynamics, human values and aims, institutional settings and management practices. However, it is demonstrated that the discussion about institutional settings, aims, and values does not take place as much as necessary for its useful application and operationalization in such fields. Instead, authors fall back on sustainability, environmental standards or resilience. The main contribution of carrying capacity in applied and human ecology is as a political concept generally highlighting that exponential growth and thus environmental pressures have to be curbed. Carrying capacity is far from being a universal constraint. Operationalization will continue to be hampered as long as agreements are missing about which social carrying capacity is to be opted for and when it is considered to have been transgressed.

Individual transferable quotas as a fisheries management tool

Abstract Fisheries management faces a new era. Markets, in the form of individual transferable quotas (ITQs) and growing global integration of fish markets, will increasingly provide the organizing and regulatory principle for many fisheries. Whether ITQs and global markets are a panacea or Pandoras box for organizing and managing fisheries is, as yet, unclear, and requires additional experience to fully evaluate. This article reviews the workings and expected benefits of ITQs, the origin and concept of ITQs, the problems they were designed to address, world‐wide experience and literature on ITQs, and the problems and prospects for ITQ management. Particular attention is given to the growing importance of markets as the primary organizing principle for many fisheries, including the roles of ITQs and increased global integration of fisheries markets.

Globalisation and sustainability: environmental Kuznets curve and the WTO

Abstract Economic globalisation is seen by many as a driving force for global economic growth. Yet opinion is divided about the benefits of this process, as highlighted by the WTO meeting in Seattle in late 1999. Proponents of economic globalisation view it as a positive force for environmental improvement and as a major factor increasing the likelihood of sustainable development through its likely boost to global investment. These proponents mostly appeal to analysis based on the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) to support their views about environmental improvement. But EKC-analysis has significant deficiencies. Furthermore, it is impossible to be confident that the process of economic globalisation will result in sustainable development, if ‘weak conditions’ only are satisfied. ‘Strong conditions’ probably need to be satisfied to achieve sustainable development, and given current global institutional arrangements, these are likely to be violated by the economic globalisation process. Global political action seems to be needed to avert a deterioration in the global environment and to prevent unsustainability of development. This exposition demonstrates the limitations of EKC-analysis, identifies positive and negative effects of economic globalisation on pollution levels, and highlights connections between globalisation and the debate about whether strong or weak conditions are required for sustainable development. The article concludes with a short discussion of the position of WTO in relation to trade and the environment and the seemingly de facto endorsement of WTO of weak conditions for sustainable development. It suggests that WTOs relative neglect of environmental concerns is no longer politically tenable and needs to be reassessed in the light of recent developments in economic analysis. The skew of economic growth, e.g. in favour of developing countries, is shown to be extremely important from a global environmental perspective.

Sustainable development: differing perspectives of ecologists and economists, and relevance to LDCs

Abstract The claim is now widely that it is desirable to aim for a sustainable society, for sustainable economic development and for sustainable productive systems. This reflects the outlook of ecologists rather than the majority of economists, although a small group of economists does see particular virtue in sustainability. The outlook of ecologists is illustrated by Conways criteria for assessing the desirability of agricultural systems. This approach, is shown to involve several unresolved conceptual issues. This leads to a discussion of the policy of a safe minimum standard as proposed by some economists and the critique of expected utility and risk-benefit analysis by Page and MacLean and whether this might provide a bridge between the views of economists and ecologists. A basis is established for considering whether sustainability of productive systems is likely to be a more important goal in less developed countries than in developed countries. Further examples of the stress of ecologists on the production sustainability goal are given and additional policy prescriptions, for instance, involving nomadism and transhumance, are discussed.

Wildlife-based Tourism and Increased Tourist Support for Nature Conservation Financially and Otherwise: Evidence from Sea Turtle Ecotourism at Mon Repos

The arguments of most conservationists supporting ecotourism have been based on the view that it is environmentally friendly as a resource-use and that receipts from it can counter demands to use the natural resources involved for more extractive economic purposes. But wildlife-based ecotourism can also have positive impacts in itself on the willingness of tourists to pay for wildlife conservation, strengthen the pro-conservation attitudes of tourists, and foster personal actions by them that contribute to wildlife conservation. These aspects are explored in this article on the basis of a survey of tourists visiting Mon Repos Beach near Bundaberg, Queensland, for the purpose of watching marine turtles. The results enable several of the conservation impacts of this experience on tourists to be quantified, and highlight important relationships between specific socio-economic variables and the willingness of tourists to pay for the protection of sea turtles. Furthermore, it is shown that the on-site experiences of ecotourists have positive impacts on the willingness of tourists to pay for the conservation of wildlife, and that willingness to pay is sensitive to whether or not wildlife is seen. It is suggested that in situ ecotourism is likely to be a more powerful force for fostering pro-conservation attitudes and actions among visitors than ex situ wildlife-based tourism in aquaria and zoos.

Tourism and China's development : policies, regional economic growth and ecotourism

Tourism, economic growth and sustainable development tourism development and changing policies in China - an overview regional economic disparity and tourism development - theories and the Chinese case spatial distribution of tourism in China - its nature, determinants and consequences trends in the regional distribution of tourism in China and their implications ecotourism - its nature, sustainability and other issues evaluating resources for ecotourism, particularly in China tourism development in Yunnan - a case study unbalanced growth, growth pole theory and tourism development identifying whether tourism is a leading sector or growth pole - application of I-O analysis Chinas tourism development in retrospect and prospect.

The Orangutan-oil Palm Conflict: Economic Constraints and Opportunities for Conservation

The future of the orangutan (Pongo spp.) is far from secure despite the species’ high profile and media attention. The traditional threat to the orangutan has been widespread logging, but the continuing conversion of remaining habitat for oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) cultivation is hastening its extinction in the wild. This situation is driven by a robust global market for palm oil as a vegetable oil and biofuel. In tackling this conservation problem, therefore, economic factors cannot be overlooked. This article analyses these factors and how they curtail effective orangutan conservation. Of significance are the high opportunity costs of orangutan conservation and market failures associated with the public-goods nature of the orangutan’s forest habitat. Conservationists should consider these constraints when formulating remedial action. This article assesses strategies that reduce the opportunity cost of conserving habitat (via supply-side approaches that divert oil palm cultivation away from forests) and enhance the realisable value of orangutan habitat (by capitalising on the demand for non-market values such as carbon storage). It is concluded that the former group of strategies are likely to have limited effect on curtailing deforestation, but with the right institutional policies in place they can act as stopgaps while strategies involving carbon financing and payments for biodiversity develop sufficiently to render habitat retention financially competitive.

Property rights in women’s empowerment in rural India: a review

This paper examines the importance of property rights in women’s empowerment in rural India. Arguments justifying the need for granting property rights to women are presented and the distinction is made between legal (formal) and customary (informal) rights. The ineffectiveness of legal right in absence of customary rights has been discussed. Customary rights also become ineffective due to other institutional impediments. These impediments have been discussed. The results of extensive field work in rural West Bengal and Orissa have been presented to illustrate the pattern of development process that poor rural women want and in which the property right is only one component, not the only component.

Issues in biodiversity conservation including the role of local communities.

Although many publications have appeared in recent years purporting to address the economics of conservation of biodiversity, most do not address the diversity issues as such. This shortcoming appears only to have been recognized recently. Furthermore, from the literature it is clear that natural living areas - apart from conserving biodiversity - jointly give rise to other conservation benefits, and therefore, their conservation needs to be evaluated holistically.

Remitting Behaviour of Nepalese Rural-to-Urban Migrants: Implications for Theory and Policy

This article uses data for Nepal to test contemporary hypotheses about the remitting behaviour and associated motives of rural-to-urban migrants and to consider the likely impact of such remittances on rural development. Possibilities for inheritance, degree of family attachment, likelihood of eventual return to place of origin and family investment in the education of the migrants are found to be significant influences on levels of remittances by Nepalese migrants. However, in Nepal, remittances do not seem to result in long-term capital investment in rural areas and so may not promote long-term development of these areas.