Assessment and management of the geomorphological heritage of Monte Pindo (NW Spain): a landscape as a symbol of identity

This study focuses on the granite mountain known as Monte Pindo (627 m above sea level) in the Autonomous Community of Galicia (NW Spain). This territory is included in the area classified as “Costa da Morte” in the “Politica de Ordenación Litoral” (POL) (Coastal Planning Policy) for the region of Galicia. This coastal unit, located between “Rías Baixas” and “Cape Fisterra” has great potential for demonstrating geological processes and its geomorphological heritage is characterized by a high degree of geodiversity of granite landforms. The main objective of our work is to assess the geomorphological heritage of the site, thus revealing its wide geodiversity. We shall analyze and highlight: its scientific value, developing an inventory of granite landforms; its educational valuel and its geotouristic potential. It must be ensured that the Administration understands that natural diversity is composed of both geodiversity and biodiversity. Only then will the sustainable management of Monte Pindo become possible by integrating natural and cultural heritage values. The goal is to ensure that Monte Pindo and its immediate surroundings become a geopark with the aim of promoting local development projects based on the conservation and valorization of its geological heritage.

Gender identity in urban poor mobilizations: evidence from Bengaluru

This paper draws on field research conducted among a group of resettled slum(1) dwellers in the west of Bengaluru, and analyzes women's collective engagement to improve the provision of urban services in low-income neighbourhoods. The paper argues the need to deepen the focus on urban poor mobilizations below the level of the urban poor as a group - to look at the various groups, and the differences, divergences and contradictions within. Using gender as a differential, the paper focuses on women who dominate local neighbourhood level initiatives within low-income settlements, and analyzes their specific opportunities and constraints as actors within the larger domain of urban poor mobilizations. It proposes that these seemingly insignificant day-to-day negotiations diverge from more individual forms of "leadership", creating a political space at the lowest level of the neighbourhood where the projects of material improvement and emancipation take place simultaneously.

Changes in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal phenotypes and genotypes in response to plant species identity and phosphorus concentration.

* Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are plant symbionts that improve floristic diversity and ecosystem productivity. Many AMF species are generalists with wide host ranges. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi individuals are heterokaryotic, and AMF populations are genetically diverse. Populations of AMF harbor two levels of genetic diversity on which selection can act, namely among individuals and within individuals. Whether environmental factors alter genetic diversity within populations is still unknown. * Here, we measured genetic changes and changes in fitness-related traits of genetically distinct AMF individuals from one field, grown with different concentrations of available phosphate or different host species. * We found significant genotype-by-environment interactions for AMF fitness traits in response to these treatments. Host identity had a strong effect on the fitness of different AMF, unearthing a specificity of response within Glomus intraradices. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi individuals grown in novel environments consistently showed a reduced presence of polymorphic genetic markers, providing some evidence for host or phosphate-induced genetic change in AMF. * Given that AMF individuals can form extensive hyphal networks colonizing different hosts simultaneously, contrasting habitats or soil properties may lead to evolution in the population. Local selection may alter the structure of AMF populations and maintain genetic diversity, potentially even within the hyphal network of one fungus.

Encapsulated specialty oils commercialized in São Paulo state, Brazil: evaluation of identity (fatty acid profile) and compliance of fatty acids and Vitamin E contents with nutrition labeling

Encapsulated specialty oils commercialized in São Paulo state, Brazil, were evaluated for their identity (fatty acids profile) and compliance with nutrition labeling (fatty acids and Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) contents). Twenty one samples [flaxseed oil (6), evening primrose (5), safflower (8), borage (1), and black currant (1)] purchased from local markets or collected by the health surveillance agency were analyzed. The fatty acids and vitamin E contents were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector and liquid chromatography with UV detector, respectively. Nine samples were adulterated (5 samples of safflower oil, 3 of flaxseed oil, and one of evening primrose). Among them, 3 flaxseed and 2 safflower oil samples were probably adulterated by the addition of soybean oil. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) was found in two safflower oils samples although the sale of oils with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is not permitted by the National Health Surveillance Agency in Brazil (ANVISA). Only two samples presented all values in compliance with nutrition labeling (one safflower oil sample and one borage oil sample). The results show that a continuous monitoring of encapsulated specialty oils commercialized in Brazil is necessary including a greater number of samples and sanitary surveillance.

Développement local comme stratégie de lutte contre la pauvreté : le cas du Programme de développement de zone implanté par World Vision en Haïti

Ce mémoire est une étude sur le développement local comme stratégie de lutte contre la pauvreté en Haïti. C'est une étude de cas sur une stratégie qui a été implantée par la WVI dans plusieurs communautés pauvres en Haïti, le Programme de Développement de zone (PDZ). Nous avons cherché à savoir comment le PDZ a permis de mettre en place un projet de développement local de lutte contre la pauvreté dans ces communautés. Plus spécifiquement, nous avons analysé, à l'aide de la perspective de Klein et al. (2011), le type de stratégie de développement local auquel le PDZ correspond et vu comment il implique les communautés visées. En effet, plusieurs dimensions, dont la majorité proposée par Klein et al. ont été analysées : le transfert de la stratégie aux leaders locaux ; le processus de leadership local (individuel, organisationnel et socio-territorial) ; la mobilisation des ressources endogènes et exogène ; l'utilisation créative des programmes publics ; la gestion locale des conflits et apprentissage collectif ; et la construction d'une identité positive et d'un sentiment d'appartenance. Ce mémoire fait ressortir une critique souvent adressée à l'endroit des interventions des ONGI, à savoir que la situation de dépendance qu'elles engendrent compte tenu de l'approche assistentialiste sur laquelle elles sont souvent échafaudées. Particulièrement, l'étude du PDZ, nous renseigne que dans un contexte de grande pauvreté, de cumulation de désavantages (en termes de ressources humaines, économiques, politiques), ou d'obstacles objectifs, le développement par initiatives locales soulève des défis et enjeux majeurs. Les données montrent que la stratégie du PDZ __ bien qu'elle soit parvenue à développer un leadership local ; à favoriser une circulation limité de ressources économiques ; à permettre la construction d'une identité positive chez certaines personnes ; __ ne permet pas une mobilisation locale co-construite qui viendrait maintenir les actions mises de l'avant en faveur des priorités dégagées par les communautés elles-mêmes. Enfin, à travers l'analyse nous avons pu conclure qu'elle correspond à un modèle top-down.

Construcción de marcas geográficas una guía desde lo local

Este documento es ante todo una guía para la creación de una marca geográfica a partir de elementos no visuales como la identidad y, que debe ser desarrollada por un Grupo de Investigación en una zona geográfica con población menor a 5.000 habitantes. Los resultados del documento son los elementos básicos para la creación de una identidad visual para la marca geográfica propuesta.

A história regional e local —contributos para o estudo das identidades locais

Esta comunicação tem por objectivos levantar questões que se prendam com a ligação da História Regional e Local às identidades locais, reflectindo sobre os possíveis contributos da primeira para o estudo e definição duma identidade local. Ressalta-se também a importância da transdisciplinaridade como metodologia, e o papel activo da museologia como impulsionadora e difusora da História Regional e Local. Faz-se igualmente uma breve panorâmica historiográfica como contextualização e ligação à situação actual da história local. O interesse pela História Local em Portugal tem sido despertado em diversas ocasiões e diferentes contextos ao longo dos tempos. Fazendo uma resenha sucinta sobre a historiografia local podemos recuar até 1720, ano da criação da Academia Real da História. Com ela se iniciaram as primeiras tentativas de valorizar estes estudos, com o enunciar dum inquérito feito pelo académico Manuel Caetano de Sousa, relativo à história eclesiástica, dirigido aos arcebispados, bispados, câmaras e provedorias de comarca, com o intuito de se recolherem notícias extraídas de cartórios e arquivos.

Leadership identity in a small island developing state: the Jamaican context

While the role of leadership in improving schools is attracting more worldwide attention, there is a need for more research investigating leaders’ experiences in different national contexts. Using focus-group and semi-structured interview data, this paper explores the background, identities and experiences of a small group of Jamaican school leaders who were involved in a leadership development programme. By drawing on the concepts of culture, socialisation and identity, the paper examines how the participants’ journeys of becoming and being school leaders are influenced by national-level societal and cultural issues, experienced at a local level. The findings suggest that in becoming school leaders, the participants perceived that they had a strong sense of agency in attempting to change the social structures within the institutions they lead and in the surrounding local communities, which in turn, they hope, will have a lasting effect on the nation as a whole.

Palaeoenvironmental evidence for the impact of the crusades on the local and regional environment of medieval (13th–16th century) northern Latvia, eastern Baltic

This paper evaluates the impact of the crusades on the landscape and environment of northern Latvia between the 13th–16th centuries (medieval Livonia). The crusades replaced tribal societies in the eastern Baltic with a religious state (Ordenstaat) run by the military orders and their allies, accompanied by significant social, cultural and economic developments. These changes have previously received little consideration in palaeoenvironmental studies of past land use in the eastern Baltic region, but are fundamental to understanding the development and expansion of a European Christian identity. Sediment cores from Lake Trikāta, located adjacent to a medieval castle and settlement, were studied using pollen, macrofossils, loss-on-ignition and magnetic susceptibility. Our results show that despite continuous agricultural land use from 500 BC, the local landscape was still densely wooded until the start of the crusades in AD 1198 when a diversified pattern of pasture, meadow and arable land use was established. Colonisation followed the crusades, although in Livonia this occurred on a much smaller scale than in the rest of the Ordenstaat; Trikāta is atypical showing significant impact following the crusades with many other palaeoenvironmental studies only revealing more limited impact from the 14th century and later. Subsequent wars and changes in political control in the post-medieval period had little apparent effect on agricultural land use.

O turismo de base local como um possível indutor de desenvolvimento rural: uma análise da realidade e das potencialidades no distrito de dondo-moçambique

The current debate on rural development focuses on the territorial approach, recognizing the multifunctional character of rural areas. Emphasize the use of endogenous forces, the need of implement policies which valorize local specificities, the participation of social actors in revitalization of rural areas. In this context tourism enters as a means to induce a new dynamic to rural areas, since the activity is regarded as a channel for the upgrading of the natural and cultural resources and the rural way of life. This study focuses on local-based tourism as a promoter of rural development, giving an analysis of the social reality and potential for this tourism in the district of Dondo. In it, is proposed to analyze the potential for development of local-based tourism in the district of Dondo, assessing the extent to which local reality enables the inclusion of the community in the management of local tourism resources. For this, was showed the inclusion of local-based tourism in the current context of rural development, was identified and organized systematically the factors that influence the implementation of local-based tourism in the study area and was verified as far as possible the study area corresponds to the constraints identified, showing how local-based tourism can best been encouraged. Was adopted a qualitative methodological approach to both the procedures and data processing, but also by critical approach, using bibliographical research, semi-structured interviews that fell on the group of public administrators who work in tourism and community leaders. The critical analysis was based on the principles of sustainability o Sachs particular ecological, social, cultural, economic, space, beyond the analysis of political and institutional aspects. The survey results show that the district of Dondo has a potential for implementing a model of tourism development on a local basis, since it is rich in natural and cultural research, benefits from good network accessibility in the context of the market in the region, the population live according to their habits and customs and value their identity. There is also a good cooperation between community members, although not in tourism, a fact which is observed through the lever of community participation in associations, cooperatives, working in areas such as agriculture, fishing, environment, civic education etc. It also has public funding sources to augment or stimulate local investment. Despite obstacles such as inexistence of policies and local plans for tourism development, lack of awareness of tourism, lack of basic infrastructure, as well as equipment and facilities to support tourism, the results shows that these problems can be solved through a public commitment from both government, and community through a joint planning and participation

Competitividade e território: uma análise do arranjo produtivo local potencial de cerâmica artística do município de Porto Ferreira - SP

Pós-graduação em Geografia - IGCE

Cultura e espaço: identidade e território na formação de um arranjo produtivo local potencial em Sertãozinho - SP

Pós-graduação em Geografia - IGCE

Los medios de comunicación social y su incidencia en el desarrollo local en el canton y Provincia de Zamorra Chinchipe - Ecuador

Analisa a diversidade de formas dos sistemas de comunicação em Zamora - no Equador, os relacionamentos da instituição, participação social e mídias sociais a partir da produção e emissão radiofônica, televisão, comunicação impressa (escrita) e a presença das novas tecnologias na comunicação, tentando achar espaços dos quais seja possível desenvolver práticas alternativas e democráticas para contribuir com o desenvolvimento social. Examina as práticas de comunicação radiofônica, sendo um dos meios principais e com maior tradição na área. Estuda o rádio, particularmente local, analisando seus modelos e programações, observando em cada um deles suas características, objetivos e estratégias assumidas desde sua visão comercial ou ideológica, seu nível profissional e inovação técnica, prestando atenção e nomeando valor à posição critica dos ouvintes, para interpretar as tendências atuais e futuras que se apresentam para eles.Finalmente, chegou-se à comunicação no contexto, examinando os usos e formas, como também a influencia positiva ou negativa na formação da identidade, harmonia com o ambiente, valores e conhecimento em perspectiva de melhorar a qualidade da vida da população. A investigação apóia-se no conhecimento cientifico, pois aplica a técnica qualitativa: Diversidade de grupos focais, entrevistas, observação e uso de investigação bibliográfica.O trabalho considera a historia, a dinâmica própria e a estima que tem os Zamoranos da percepção de sua identificação no contexto de códigos, idiomas e bens, postura desde a qual eles estabelecem normas que devem ser usadas para o seu uso, enquanto permitem articular pontos de vista, analise e conceitos, examinar a teoria para entender o papel que melhor desempenham as mídias sociais e sua importância na sociedade.