Understanding the Links Between Conservation and Development in the Bamenda Highlands,Cameroon

Integrated conservation and development projects (ICDPs) attempt to link the conservation of natural resources with the development needs of local people. Recent reviews have provided differing perspectives on the relative success of ICDPs in addressing either their conservation or development objectives. This paper explores local perceptions of an ICDP that has been established for more than a decade around the Kilum–Ijim Forest, in North West Province, Cameroon. The study tested the assumptions underlying the ICDP: that by improving incomes and livelihoods from the land in and around the forest, pressure on the forest would decrease, contributing to conservation objectives. The study provides evidence that livelihood activities can have a conservation impact by helping to change local attitudes and behavior. Furthermore, the study analyzes and develops, some of the “factors for success” highlighted by previous papers.     

浅谈黑河市水土流失的成因与治理措施

由于自然因素和人为因素的破坏,黑河地区满目疮痍,到处是荒山秃岭,砂石裸露,沟壑遍布,植被率下降,暴雨成灾,生态环境日益恶化,水土流失十分严重。水土流失防治已迫在眉睫。要采取措施,因地制宜,综合治理;提高素质,强化管理,以此遏制水土流失的进一步发展。     

基于数据拟合分析坡面土壤侵蚀的临界坡度

通过不同雨强、坡度的多段模拟降雨实验,将坡度与坡面侵蚀模数进行二次多项式拟合,求得不同条件下坡面侵蚀的临界坡度。实验结果表明,临界坡度会随着雨强、降雨历时的变化而产生规律性变化。雨强越大,临界坡度越大,对坡面侵蚀临界坡度的影响越强烈;降雨历时增加,坡面侵蚀的临界坡度也随之增大,雨强越大,临界坡度增速越快,且增速拐点出现越早。在坡面侵蚀初期,坡度增加加强了坡面径流对坡面泥沙的搬运作用,减弱了坡面的溅蚀作用,使得在一定坡度范围内坡度大的坡面细沟侵蚀开始时间晚于坡度小的坡面,这是临界坡度产生的原因之一。随着坡面侵蚀过程的发展,坡面侵蚀主要发生于细沟的边缘、侧壁和底部,不同坡度坡面单位时间内的侵蚀模数差值减少且趋于稳定,坡度对于侵蚀模数的影响逐渐减小,临界坡度逐渐消失。该研究可为完善黄土区的土壤侵蚀机理提供理论依据。     

茂名市名湖水库饮用水安全及水土保持

根据茂名市名湖水库目前基本情况,针对水库作为饮用水源中转站存在的一些问题,提出一些易于操作又能确保饮用水源安全的措施及库区内环境生态建设建议,以期达到改善源水水质,发挥蓄水工程社会效益的目的.     

Labor Taxation and FDI Decisions in the European Union

This paper uses panel data on bilateral FDI stocks in the European Union to empirically analyze the impact of labor and corporate taxations on FDI decisions. While the effect of corporate taxes on FDI is well documented, the impact of labor taxes on FDI has barely been explored. This is surprising since labor taxation may influence FDI as well; the taxation of labor affects the production cost and the ability to attract and retain productive labor, and thereby it also, ultimately, impacts the return to the investment. By employing a Heckman two-step estimation model, which controls for possible sample selection bias due to many zero bilateral observations, we find that labor taxes do influence FDI decisions.     

Tourism and local economic development: The case of the Highlands Meander

Local economic development (LED) planning is of major policy importance in post-apartheid South Africa. Although issues surrounding LED have attracted considerable policy attention, one neglected theme has been the role of tourism as a lead sector for LED. The aim of this article is to examine the planning and workings of one tourism-led LED initiative in South Africa. The case study is that of the Highlands Meander in Mpumalanga province, where five towns are collaborating in their LED initiatives in order to promote the area's tourism products. A key finding is that this growing tourism initiative is currently not benefiting local black communities. Recommendations are offered for developing a pro-poor tourism initiative.     

抓住发展机遇构筑"三大高地"

当历史翻开新的一页，沙坪坝区又迎来了干载难逢的新机遇。沙坪坝歌乐山以西将建成科技产业、文化教育和现代物流“三大高地”，形成经济、社会发展的制高点。[编者按]     

Financial Statement Comparability and the Efficiency of Acquisition Decisions

This study examines whether acquirers make better acquisition decisions when target firms’ financial statements exhibit greater comparability with industry peer firms. We predict and find that acquirers make more profitable acquisition decisions when target firms’ financial statements are more comparable—as evidenced by higher merger announcement returns, higher acquisition synergies, and better future operating performance. We also find that post‐acquisition goodwill impairments and post‐acquisition divestitures are less likely when target firms’ financial statements are more comparable. Finally, we find that acquirers benefit most from comparability when acquirers’ ex ante information asymmetry is higher, acquirers operate in volatile operating environments, and management knows relatively less about the target. In total, our evidence suggests targets’ financial statement comparability helps acquirers make better acquisition‐investment decisions and fosters more efficient capital allocation.     

Unemployment and Food Insecurity in Urban Ethiopia

Although unemployment is often associated with food insecurity, the paths through which it leads to food insecurity is less explored. This study investigates the effects of unemployment on food insecurity based on data collected from 410 randomly selected households in Addis Ababa and the Munessa district of Arsi Zone. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the data. The results show that 55.9 percent of the respondents were unemployed and only 12.4 percent of the households were food secure. The prevalence of food insecurity was higher among households headed by unemployed persons. Education and economic factors are the mechanisms through which unemployment leads to food insecurity. Lack of education reduces the chance of employment and the quality of jobs engaged in whilst the economic path to food insecurity is partly related to the inability of poor households to cope with soaring food prices and seasonal unemployment. Thus, increasing employment opportunities through pro‐poor measures is a means to enhance human capital development that helps the people take advantage of the labour market and improve the economic status of households, ultimately leading to ensuring food security.