Tuesday, September 4, 2012

New Book: Environmental Governance - The Challenge of Legitimacy and Effectiveness by Karl Hogl , Eva Kvarda , Ralf Nordbeck , Michael Pregernig


Environmental Governance

The Challenge of Legitimacy and Effectiveness


Edited by Karl Hogl, Professor in Environmental and Natural Resource Policy, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria, Eva Kvarda, Researcher, Institute of Forest, Environmental and Natural Resource Policy, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria, Ralf Nordbeck, Senior Researcher, Institute of Forest, Environmental and Natural Resource Policy, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria and Michael Pregernig, Professor in Environmental Governance, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany
August 2012 328 pp Hardback 978 1 84980 270 3Description
‘This excellent collection of articles by leading scholars in a variety of natural resource policy fields examines cases in participation, horizontal and vertical co-ordination, and the role of science and expertise in environmental policy formation. The legitimacy and effectiveness of each of these key components of governance and meta-governance regimes is assessed in important areas such as climate change and parks and wilderness preservation. The volume brings an admirable consistency of focus to the analysis of new governance modes in environmental policy and sheds new light upon important recent trends and developments in the area.’
– Michael Howlett, Simon Fraser University, Canada

Contents

Contributors include: S. Beck, M. Böcher, T.E. Boon, L. Giessen, K. Hogl, K. Kassioumis, M. Krott, E. Kvarda, D.H. Lund, I. Nathan, J. Newig, R. Nordbeck, K. Papageorgiou, M. Pregernig, S. Storch, M. Vakkas, S. Weiland

For more information: http://www.e-elgar.co.uk/bookentry_main.lasso?id=14025&breadcrumlink=&breadcrum=&sub_values=&site_Bus_Man=&site_dev=&site_eco=&site_env_eco=&site_inn_tech=&site_int_pol=&site_law=&site_pub_soc=

Monday, September 3, 2012

Exploration and Conservation in Remote China, 27 September 2012, Hong Kong

Exploration and Conservation in Remote China

Introduction

Dr. Wong How Man
Date: 27 Sep 2012
Time: 18:00 - 20:00


About the Talk
Dr. Wong How Man, an explorer and founder of the China Exploration and Research Society (CERS) and a National Geographic veteran, will share his epic discoveries and subsequent conservation projects based on almost forty years of exploration in some of the most remote regions of China. CERS’ work spans from archaeological research on the Hanging Coffins of the extinct Bo people and restoration of Tibetan monasteries to conservation of the Tibetan Antelope, Black-necked Crane, Golden Monkey, Wild Yak, and Asiatic Beavers, etc. Through breathtaking illustrations, Dr. Wong will broaden our understanding of China’s cultural and natural heritage and show us what equitable conservation can look like.


About the Speaker
Dr. Wong How Man, honored by Time Magazine as one of the 25 Asian Heroes, has been hailed “the most accomplished living explorer of China”. He was also the founder of the China Exploration & Research Society (CERS) that conducted research and projects in various parts of China, including the Yangtze River, Mekong River, Yellow River and Salween sources. His innovative approach to conserving nature and culture has earned him many accolades. Authoring over a dozen of books, Dr. Wong is a recipient of the Harvard Business School nonprofit management scholarship and is a much sought after speaker by corporations and Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) circuits. The internship program, his organisation runs, brings together many young adults from around the world.


Registration: http://cedars.hku.hk/CERS

If you have any enquiries, please feel free to contact us at cedars-programmes@hku.hk or 2857 8387. Thank you.

New Book: Global Environmental Governance Reconsidered by Frank Biermann and Philipp Pattberg



Global Environmental Governance Reconsidered
Edited by Frank Biermann and Philipp Pattberg

September 2012
6 x 9, 320 pp.
$50.00/£34.95 (CLOTH)
Short

ISBN-10:
0-262-01766-0
ISBN-13:
978-0-262-01766-4


The notion of global governance is widely studied in academia and increasingly relevant to politics and policy making. Yet many of its fundamental elements remain unclear in both theory and practice. This book offers a fresh perspective by analyzing global governance in terms of three major trends, as exemplified by developments in global sustainability governance: the emergence of nonstate actors; new mechanisms of transnational cooperation; and increasingly segmented and overlapping layers of authority.

The book, which is the synthesis of a ten-year “Global Governance Project” carried out by thirteen leading European research institutions, first examines new nonstate actors, focusing on international bureaucracies, global corporations, and transnational networks of scientists; then investigates novel mechanisms of global governance, particularly transnational environmental regimes, public-private partnerships, and market-based arrangements; and, finally, looks at fragmentation of authority, both vertically among supranational, international, national, and subnational layers, and horizontally among different parallel rule-making systems.

The implications, potential, and realities of global environmental governance are defining questions for our generation. This book distills key insights from the past and outlines the most important research challenges for the future.

About the Editors

Frank Biermann is Professor of Political Science and of Environmental Policy at VU University Amsterdam and Visiting Professor of Earth System Governance at Lund University, Sweden.

Philipp Pattberg is Associate Professor of Transnational Governance in the Department of Environmental Policy Analysis, Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University.


Sunday, September 2, 2012

New Book: Rejuvenating the developmental state in Taiwan: The impacts of the EIA as an environmental governance (2006--2011) by Ying-Feng Chen



Rejuvenating the developmental state in Taiwan: The impacts of the EIA as an environmental governance (2006--2011).Rejuvenating the developmental state in Taiwan: The impacts of the EIA as an environmental governance (2006--2011)

Ying-Feng Chen (Author)

Product Details
Paperback: 346 pages
Publisher: ProQuest, UMI Dissertation Publishing (July 17, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1249034167
ISBN-13: 978-1249034162
Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.9 inches



Asian Tigers were sometimes referred to "developmental states" for they were capable of designing successful development agendas and implementing these plans with the compliance of private capital instead of simply regulating the market. However, with the fast democratic transition during the 1990s, the developmental state encountered serious challenges from business sectors, opposition parties and civil groups. Some literature suggested that this infiltration of private sector jeopardized the state's autonomy in formulating long-term plans. The chaotic policy process at the early stage of democratic transition revealed Taiwan state's capability in controlling developmental agendas has been weakened. If the developmental state of Taiwan ceased to function, in what way did it evolve?

This dissertation aimed to answer this question by examining the role of the Taiwan state in promoting three major investments, the Formosa Steel-making Plant, the Central Taiwan Science Park in Holi-Chixing and Erlin, and the Eighth Petrochemical Plant, from 2006 to 2010. While developmental states were often argued incompatible with democratic regimes, this dissertation demonstrated that the status of Taiwan's developmental state remained firm after democratic transition given that the state was still autonomous in terms of defining and preserving national interests.

Furthermore, it WAS the public participation and environmental institutional monitoring brought by democratic transition that reinforced the developmental state in Taiwan by correcting the state's errors in promoting those inefficient projects. Through the interdependent governance in the review mechanisms, these industrial programs based on outdated development agendas were smoothly postponed. Some programs were even called off by the corporations themselves. The democratic transition did not lessen politicians' pursuit of constant national economic development; moreover, it brought in correcting mechanisms and thus further reinforced the capacity of the developmental state in choosing developmental agendas.

For more information: http://www.amazon.com/Rejuvenating-developmental-state-Taiwan-environmental/dp/1249034167

New Book: Environmental Problems and Governance in Malaysia: A Case Study by Noor Mohammad

Environmental-problems-and-governance-in-malaysia:-a-case-study.jpg?locale=gb


Environmental Problems and Governance in Malaysia: A Case Study

Environmental Solutions Context

LAP Lambert Academic Publishing ( 2012-07-09 )

Book Details:

ISBN-13:

978-3-659-17137-6

ISBN-10:

3659171379

EAN:

9783659171376

Book language:

English

Blurb/Shorttext:

Malaysia is one of the largest environmentally rich and developing countries in the world which is in fact, very attractive and charming to all and known as greening country. But her traditions and heritage have been degrading due to prevailing environmental pollution. To cope with this problems, the Government of Malaysia passed and approved some important environmental laws and policies including international initiatives for protecting and maintaining the sound and healthy environment for the people of this land but not yet been properly done due to absence of environmental governance. It is often discussed the need for religious education along with the traditional knowledge with regard to environmental conservation and development which should be considered immediately on priority basis due to attaining sustainability. It is observed that the sole civil law is not enough for maintaining peaceful environment. It needs harmonization with the ethics. The environmental governance will be justified in the areas of Krenchi in Malaysia consisting of 50 respondents in different criteria such as the various professionals including the foreigners, local people and law enforcement.

By (author) :

Noor Mohammad

Number of pages:

292

Published on:

2012-07-09

Category:

Law

For more information: https://www.lap-publishing.com/catalog/details/store/gb/book/978-3-659-17137-6/environmental-problems-and-governance-in-malaysia:-a-case-study?search=Environmental%20Problems%20and%20Governance%20in%20Malaysia:%20A%20Case%20Study

S. Korean Updates: MOE constructing ecological area for sound city ecosystem


MOE constructing ecological area for sound city ecosystem

2012.08.29

The Ministry of Environment (MOE) is implementing a project constructing an ecological area to ensure soundness of city ecosystem. It is expected that the area be a distinguishing space as the biological habitat, differentiated from existing inner city parks.

The project aims to create various habitats such as wetland, grassland and forest for enhancement of biodiversity in the cities and to secure stability of habitats through space separation and circulation system planning, according to UNESCO’s MAB Programme.

By ensuring connectivity between the city and the surrounding nature, city’s ecological center will be constructed and ecological base will be restored, introducing native endemic species. In order to adapt to climate changes including urban heat island and natural disasters, specific technologies will be applied and be used as test bed for new restoration technology and as monitoring site for climate change.

A plan to utilize the area as participatory space for citizens by having the residents involve in the construction and the management is also mapped out.

For the project, MOE has been conducting surveys and assessment on the candidate cities since the beginning of this year and selected three places in Seoul, Busan and Daegu based on the contest result for basic designs.



The construction plan per selected place is as follows:

1) Junggye-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul (67,761) - Mountain ecological restoration project restoring the forest ecosystem and mountain streams
The place is bordering the apartment complexes and damages are caused from cultivation, abandoned orchard, wastes and artificial mountain streams.
a. Restore ecological forest by recovering the orchard, farmland and bare land and ensure connectivity between surround forests and promote natural succession.
b. Secure habitats and enhance sound water cycle by recovering artificial mountain streams ecologically and by creating wetlands.    

2) Yongho-dong, Nam-gu, Busan (77,536) - Seaside ecological restoration project linking the sea, land and forest
The place used to be Hansen's disease residential area in the past and has been neglected and left barren since the demolition.
a. Restore deteriorated geographical features and isolated water system and introduce endemic species that are apt to maritime forest characteristics.
b. Create various habitats including forest, flatland, mountain stream and wetland and run programs linking the excellent coastal scenery and modern culture.   

3) Bullo-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu (88,058) – Flat land restoration project linking history and culture
The place has been neglected and remained in mixed status of scattered Silla tombs complex, farmland, grassland and wetland.
a. Divide the area in three sections considering the scattered tombs and carry out restoration activities adequate to the ecological features.
b. Build ecological field trip course linking and utilizing history and culture, beautiful grassland scenery and existing Ollegil (walking trail) in Palgongsan.

- Rendering of each Area -
Nowon-gu, Seoul

Nam-gu, Busan

Dong-gu, Daegu