Coastal resource planning system: Integrating evaluation of ecological integrity and ecosystem services valuation

Efficient and effective coastal management decisions rely on knowledge of the impact of human activities on ecosystem integrity, vulnerable species, and valued ecosystem services—collectively, human impact on environmental quality (EQ). Ecosystem-based management (EBM) is an emerging approach to address the dynamics and complexities of coupled social-ecological systems. EBM “is intended to directly address the long-term sustainable delivery of ecosystem services and the resilience of marine ecosystems to perturbations” (Rosenberg and Sandifer, 2009). The lack of a tool that integrates human choices with the ecological connections between contributing watersheds and nearshore areas, and that incorporates valuation of ecosystem services, is a critical missing piece needed for effective and efficient coastal management. To address the need for an integrative tool for evaluation of human impacts on ecosystems and their services, Battelle developed the EcoVal™ Environmental Quality Evaluation System. The EcoVal system is an updated (2009) version of the EQ Evaluation System for Water Resources developed by Battelle for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Dee et al., 1972). The Battelle EQ evaluation system has a thirty-year history of providing a standard approach to evaluate watershed EQ. This paper describes the conceptual approach and methodology of the updated EcoVal system and its potential application to coastal ecosystems. (PDF contains 4 pages)

Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services: Conflicts in Classification

4 p.

Classifying Ecosystem Services for Economic Valuation: The case of forest water services

30 p.

Valuation of wind energy projects: A real options approach

27 p.

Software como un Servicio: Solución Business Intelligence

El propóosito del proyecto aquíı descrito radica en, por una parte, sentar una base de un sistema de Business Inteligence adaptable a diversos casos de negocio, y por otra, diseñar e implementar una solución completa para una empresa especíıfica fácilmente adaptable a otro caso, incluyendo desde los procesos de Extracción, Transformación y Carga, pasando por el data warehouse hasta el Business Analysis y la Minería de Datos.

Business plan & innovación: sector restauración

En mi TFG he analizado el sector de la restauración en Vizcaya de cara a establecer las pautas para la implantación de un negocio de hostelería relacionado todo ello con la innovación. ESPAÑOL.

Financial and Economic Report of a Specific Business Group

As a result of the natural evolution of the economy, ever-changing, unpredictable and cyclical, companies must adapt as far as possible to the changes that have taken place in order to continue with their normal operating activities. Likewise, they should also try to maintain a structure for long-term growth, trying at all times to generate the maximum value. The main objective of this project is to provide financial advisory services to a business group, trying to forward solutions and measures that according to the author can be effective. For this end, the situation of the group in question is analysed from early 2008 to the present day, examining its evolution, what steps have been taken together with their corresponding results and the economic-financial situation of the company at the end of last year. Contact with the company was kept throughout the process of analysis and assessment trying to take advantage of the feedback generated so that the appropriate measures can be adopted if the management considers it to be adequate.

Valuation of Wind Energy Projects: A Real Options Approach

We address the valuation of an operating wind farm and the finite-lived option to invest in it under different reward/support schemes: a constant feed-in tariff, a premium on top of the electricity market price (either a fixed premium or a variable subsidy such as a renewable obligation certificate or ROC), and a transitory subsidy, among others. Futures contracts on electricity with ever longer maturities enable market-based valuations to be undertaken. The model considers up to three sources of uncertainty: the electricity price, the level of wind generation, and the certificate (ROC) price where appropriate. When analytical solutions are lacking, we resort to a trinomial lattice combined with Monte Carlo simulation; we also use a two-dimensional binomial lattice when uncertainty in the ROC price is considered. Our data set refers to the UK. The numerical results show the impact of several factors involved in the decision to invest: the subsidy per MWh generated, the initial lump-sum subsidy, the maturity of the investment option, and electricity price volatility. Different combinations of variables can help bring forward investments in wind generation. One-off policies, e.g., a transitory initial subsidy, seem to have a stronger effect than a fixed premium per MWh produced.

Évaluation de la production primaire et de la chlorophylle à partir des données hydrologiques. Application au Golfe de Guinée

Quantitative relationships between nitrate distribution, chlorophyll and primary integrated values have been used to evaluate the phytoplankton abundance in the Gulf of Guinea. Data of Guinee I cruise (May-July 1968) of the R.V. Jean Charcot have been used. They show a large oligotrophic convergence area (< 250 mg C/m2/J). A relationship previously found between the depth of the nitracline (first level where the nitrate appears) and the depth of the thermal maximum gradient is confirmed. From a practical point of view, this relationship is very useful since it allows, when the biological or chemical data are not available, a rough estimation of phytoplankton integrated biomass and production in the water column, from a temperature profile.

Résultats du groupe de travail FAO/COPACE sur l'évaluation des stocks démerseaux côtiers du secteur Côte d'Ivoire - Congo

The exploitation rate of demersal stocks in the Côte d'Ivoire-Congo area is in most cases below the level permitting maximum sustainable yield. Any increase in total catch would be achieved through an increase in catch per effort which implies bigger mesh sizes than those in use now (40-45 mm). A first step would be to fix the minimum legal mesh size to 60 mm. New, probably limited resources (crab, squids, benthic sharks) are to be sought along the continental slope.