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    A rapid evaluation method to improve project decision-making associated with natural resources : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Resource Management, Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2013) Reyes Santolalla, Camila Rocío del Rosario
    Today Multiple Criteria Analyses (MCAs) are widely used for project appraisals. In order to include the short and long term consequences that a project can have, most MCA models are built on a project specific basis. In addition, there is a proliferation of projects being put forward for consideration, thus the work of decision makers has become extremely time and resource consuming. The aim of this research is to develop and test an integrated method for project appraisal which can be used by decision makers to evaluate a diverse range of project proposals in a timely and resource efficient manner. This led to the creation of a generic method that could be applied to all projects in the first instance. The research employed a modified Leopold matrix to create a checklist to be used as an initial tool to select key attributes for inclusion in the decision making analysis. This standardized approach allows decision makers to work with available data in the first instance to avoid excessive time and resource expenditure. MCA forms the basis of this rapid evaluation method (REM), as it can accommodate the integration of heterogeneous criteria that are measured by differing metrics. The explicit expression of preferences for certain decision attributes, a key element in the MCA process, is utilized here and a modified Delphi approach, using independent experts is employed to determine attribute weightings. From these, utility scores are calculated, sensitivity analyses conducted and recommendations made regarding the proposed project. At this point an ‘accept’ or ‘reject’ decision might be made or, alternatively there is a recommendation that a full independent MCA be executed. Taking this approach means that a unique and independent MCA will only be required for some projects. Therefore, this method accelerates the project decision-making process and reduces the overall resources needed for the appraisals. Three diverse case studies are used to test and refine the REM. One is an energy project situated in New Zealand, another, a proposal for a privately owned abattoir in Chile and the third is a decision between two proposals relevant to the salmon farming industry in Chile. From this research it is clear that the application of the REM can aggregate complex data into a pragmatic multi-criteria framework, improving the ability of agencies to estimate the trade-off between environmental, economic, and social impacts of a development project. The REM provides a benchmark for managers to determine whether a project should be accepted, rejected or requires more detailed analysis. This method has the potential to significantly reduce the time and cost involved in project evaluation.
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    Kaitiakitanga and the conservation and heritage management of the Kaituna River : a planning project presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Resource and Environmental Planning at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1998) Park, Matiu C
    This thesis investigates kaitiakitanga as an integral component of the Maori environmental management system and the theoretical and practical implications of this concepts incorporation in modern resource management, in particular the conservation and heritage management of the Kaituna River, Okere, Rotorua. With increasing attention being focused on the development of bicultural policies for resource management, this thesis pursues the effectiveness of New Zealand's environmental mandate as inclusive of Maori and Treaty of Waitangi concerns. Through the use of an extensive literature research and retroductive interviews, this thesis examines both the Maori and Western world-views and their resource management perspectives and practices. In terms of giving expression to kaitiakitanga, an investigation of the hierarchies, priorities and partnerships developed to resolve competing resource conflicts was undertaken, as well as the various legally based structures and mechanisms for processing and implementing partnership arrangements and recognising iwi rights and values. The Kaituna River was chosen as a case study because of the current ongoing resource management conflict between Maori and the Crown with respect to recreational use and commercial development versus Maori cultural and spiritual values. The case study complemented the findings of this research in that, despite the widespread formal recognition of kaitiakitanga by management agencies and the various statutory and non-statutory mechanisms that could be used to accord Maori management authority, there have been neither a sufficiency, nor an appropriate choice of formally established structures to allow Ngati Pikiao to exercise, as Treaty partners, their kaitiakitanga responsibilities. More specifically, the situation investigated at the Kaituna River established the current inability ofNew Zealand's political and judiciary systems to apply kaitiakitanga effectively as a mechanism for dealing with resource management issues involving Maori and the Crown. At present, kaitiakitanga is expressed in the RMA as a principle to which territorial authorities shall have "particular regard" in achieving the purpose of the Act It is to be effected through the requirement the RMA places on these authorities to "take into account" the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. The problem is though, as many Maori involved in resource management are realising, it is a requirement which those with responsibilities under the RMA may choose to readily avoid. Whether the kaitiakitanga role of hapu and iwi will become better understood, appreciated and given effect to by resource management agencies involved and the promised Treaty of Waitangi partnership is being affirmed still remains to be seen. While the case study was specific to the Kaituna River, the findings of this thesis could be relevant to any conflicting resource management situation between Maori and the Crown in New Zealand. The development of new principles and/or a new planning framework relating to the kawanatanga response needs to become consistent with New Zealand's dual mainstream planning heritage. Legal and constitutional adjustments may be needed to facilitate formal collaborative management structures and negotiated agreements at all levels.
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    An investigation of the application of remote sensing and geographic information systems for resource management in Westland, New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1995) Brown, Leonard John; Brown, Leonard John
    Effective management of natural resources, and the side effects resulting from their use directly affects our environmental and economic wellbeing. This thesis was initiated to investigate the application of remote sensing, digital image processing and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools for natural resource management in Westland, New Zealand. From the multitude of potential applications, research was directed toward two issues: alluvial gold mining and indigenous forest management. This thesis focused on the use of personal computer (PC) applications. A study of alluvial gold mining operations utilised black-and-white aerial photography taken at five dates in the period 1943 to 1988. The photographs were digitised, registered to a common base-image, and classified for bare ground, scrub and trees. A cadastral plan was also digitised, registered to the digital imagery and used to extract specific land-tenure parcels. The classified imagery was processed in an independent-classification change detection to identify change in land-cover between the dates of aerial photography. The results demonstrated that digital image processing of black-and-white aerial photography could provide the quantitative and spatial land-cover information required for resource management in areas of alluvial gold mining. However, although the individual image classification accuracies exceeded 85%, error in the classifications generated areas of spurious change in the change detection imagery. Examination of subsequent change images revealed areas of land alternating between opposing change classes and indicated how a second, subsequent change image may be a useful tool to rapidly identify possible areas of spurious change. An investigation of satellite imagery and digital image processing for management of indigenous forests compared a supervised classification of SPOT multispectral (XS) and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery with an existing vegetation map. The images were classified with a maximum likelihood algorithm, applying vegetation classes derived from the map. The Landsat TM image achieved a higher overall classification accuracy (75%) compared to the SPOT XS (53%), indicating a superior information content for vegetation discrimination in the Landsat TM imagery. However neither image could achieve sufficient accuracy to be used for updating the existing map. A second study of indigenous forestry applications investigated the use of integrated remote sensing and GIS analysis. A forest inventory comprising field-plots which recorded tree species and size-class information was interrogated within a GIS. The study illustrated how GIS tools could be used to rapidly identify and map field-plots that contained trees suitable for harvesting in sustained-yield logging operations. This information is a prerequisite for any sustained-yield logging and would have been unfeasible to obtain without a GIS. Two strategies were investigated for integrating the forest inventory with SPOT XS and Landsat TM imagery. The first approach applied a clustering procedure to generate the natural vegetative clusters within the forest inventory. A spectral signature for each plot was obtained by overlaying the plots on the digital imagery. A discriminant analysis was applied to determine whether the spectral information in the imagery could discriminate between the inventory clusters. The results revealed that this was not possible with overall classification accuracies of 39% and 48% for the SPOT XS and Landsat TM images respectively. The second approach reversed the procedure and applied an unsupervised image classification to identify the spectral classes present in each image. The vegetative composition of each image class was investigated by examining the forest inventory plots within each class. The results demonstrated that the number of trees in the sub-canopy showed the most variation between classes, with minimal differences attributed to the species composition. Analysis of the two approaches illustrated the difficulty of relating classifications derived from field survey and those from satellite imagery. While use of satellite imagery to map classes derived from field survey may result in disappointing results, an unsupervised approach provides a method to acquire an up-to-date, objective classification of the entire forest. The limitation is that the vegetation communities extracted from an unsupervised classification might well be different from those identified from analysis of forest inventory data and may not be of relevance to current resource management issues.
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    Geographical information systems and natural resource management in Zambia : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for a Masters degree in Environmental Management at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2010) Mwape, Ackim
    Natural resources play a critical role in the welfare of developing countries. In Zambia, even though its vast natural resources have been important to its economy as well as its people, their exploitation has resulted in severe land and environmental degradation in most parts of the country. Reliable information as to the exact extent and degree of natural resources problems is critically lacking. For effective control and management of these natural resources problems, timely, up‐to‐date, accurate and complete spatial data are needed. The integrated application of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing to model natural resources management data, especially at regional level, is presented in this dissertation. Three case studies in Zambia are presented and free, internet‐based, datasets are used to demonstrate the application of GIS to support natural resource management decisions in Zambia. The results of the case studies show that while data‐gathering obstacles remain in the use of GIS in Zambia, the systems can be used successfully to fill gaps in decision‐making in natural resources management. The results of the case studies have been used to make recommendations as a way forward for the use of GIS and remote sensing data in natural resource management in Zambia. Finally, selected technical issues associated with data access, data incompatibility and data accuracy are identified as important areas of future research.
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    Decision-making in conservation : a model to improve the allocation of resources amongst national parks : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Resource Management at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2008) Allan, Abigail Jane Margaret
    Protected areas are of prime importance to conservation efforts worldwide because they provide society with a range of important environmental, economic, and social benefits. The ability of government agencies to manage threats to their national parks is often compromised by limited resources. There is a growing need to improve decisions about how resources are allocated amongst conservation responsibilities. Multiple Criteria Analysis (MCA) techniques are integrated decision systems that have the potential to reduce the complexity normally associated with decisions about public and quasi-public goods. The explicit expression of a decision-maker’s preferences for certain decision attributes is a key stage in the MCA process. The ability of MCA to increase the understanding, transparency, and robustness of decisions has been demonstrated in many disciplines. This research describes the development of a MCA model to assist decisionmakers with the allocation of resources amongst national parks. After a thorough review of the conservation and protected area literature, a MCA model is developed to determine the utility of a group of national parks based upon environmental, economic, and social significance. The model is tested and applied to the national parks managed by the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory of Australia and to selected parks managed by the Department of Conservation of New Zealand. The research highlights the need for protected area management agencies to take lessons from the commercial sector and incorporate elements of business practices, particularly comprehensive inventory and data management, into conservation decision-making. It is shown that the integrated decision-making approach taken in this research aggregates complex data in a way that improves managers’ ability to make better informed decisions concerning the allocation and distribution of resources.