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Author |
Van Oijstaeijen, W.; Van Passel, S.; Back, P.; Cools, J. |
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Title |
The politics of green infrastructure : a discrete choice experiment with Flemish local decision-makers |
Type |
Administrative Services |
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Year  |
2022 |
Publication |
Ecological Economics |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ecol Econ |
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Volume |
199 |
Issue |
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Pages |
107493-18 |
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Keywords |
Administrative Services; A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM) |
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Abstract |
Being confronted with increasing and expanding urbanisation and the loss of natural green spaces, our living environment is threatened more and more by the effects of global climate change. Green infrastructure is often thought of as the solution to increase climate resilience and reinforce the quality of the lived environment simultaneously. While the benefits, or ecosystem services, that are generated through green infrastructure have been studied intensively, forces that influence green infrastructure decision-making have been far less subjected to thorough research. In this study a discrete choice experiment was conducted with local decision makers in Flemish municipalities to reveal crucial factors in the decision process applied to green infrastructure projects. Flanders is one of the most densely built regions in Europe, stressing the urgency to understand local spatial decision factors to guarantee green space. 568 decision makers active in the local administration of 235 Flemish municipalities participated in the experiment, set in a hypothetical neighbourhood park. Every choice alternative exists of five attributes: investment cost, maintenance cost, deferred investment, recreational value, and climate impact. We find that barriers hampering Flemish munipalities' GI implementation, differ over size of the municipality: smallers municipalities are more affected by knowledge gaps, while larger municipalities are experiencing prioritization issues. Results from hierarchical Bayes choice models indicate that municipal decisions on green infrastructure are highly – almost solely -cost-driven, rarely consider the full range of benefits, and centre around short-term and immediate arguments. Moreover, interaction models reveal that a municipalities' financial result is a key determinant of its willingness to invest in public greening and consider long term benefits, suggesting that GI is a luxury good. The results expose some of the heuristics in GI decision making and can be used to inform higher authorities on ways to overcome barriers towards informed decision-making and to facilitate GI investment. |
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Wos |
000811715200008 |
Publication Date |
2022-06-08 |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0921-8009; 1873-6106 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
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Impact Factor |
7 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
OpenAccess |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 7 |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:189018 |
Serial |
7371 |
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Author |
Van Winckel, T.; Cools, J.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Joos, P.; Van Meenen, E.; Borregán-Ochando, E.; Van Den Steen, K.; Geerts, R.; Vandermoere, F.; Blust, R. |
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Title |
Towards harmonization of water quality management : a comparison of chemical drinking water and surface water quality standards around the globe |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
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Year |
2021 |
Publication |
Journal Of Environmental Management |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Environ Manage |
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Volume |
298 |
Issue |
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Pages |
113447-12 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Centre for Research on Environmental and Social Change |
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Abstract |
Water quality standards (WQS) set the legal definition for safe and desirable water. WQS impose regulatory concentration limits to act as a jurisdiction-specific legislative risk-management tool. Despite its importance in shaping a universal definition of safe, clean water, little information exists with respect to (dis)similarity of chemical WQS worldwide. Therefore, this paper compares chemical WQS for drinking and surface water matrices in eight jurisdictions representing a global geographic distribution: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, the region of Flanders in Belgium, the United States of America, and South Africa. The World Health Organization's list is used as a reference for drinking water standards. Sørensen–Dice indices (SDI) showed little qualitative similarity in the compounds that are regulated in drinking water (median SDI = 40%) and surface water (median SDI = 33%), indicating that the heterogeneity within a matrix is substantial at the level of the standard. Quantitative similarity for matching standards was higher than the qualitative per Kendall correlation (median = 0.73 and 0.58 for drinking water and surface water respectively), yet variance observed within standards remained inexplicably high for organic compounds. Variations in WQS were more pronounced for organic compounds. Most differences cannot be easily explained from a toxicological or risk-based point-of-view. Historical development, ease of measurement, and (toxicological) knowledge gaps on the risk of a vast number of organic compounds are theorized to be the drivers. Therefore, this study argues for a more tailored, risk-based approach in which standards incorporated into water safety plans are dynamically set for compounds that are persistent and could pose a risk for human health and/or aquatic ecosystems. Global variations in WQS should therefore not necessarily be avoided but rather globally harmonized with enough flexibility to ensure a global, up-to-date definition of safe and desirable water everywhere. |
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Wos |
000700577400005 |
Publication Date |
2021-08-19 |
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Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0301-4797 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
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Impact Factor |
4.01 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
OpenAccess |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 4.01 |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:180765 |
Serial |
8681 |
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Author |
Azadi, H.; Van Passel, S.; Cools, J. |
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Title |
Rapid economic valuation of ecosystem services in man and biosphere reserves in Africa : a review |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
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Year |
2021 |
Publication |
Global Ecology and Conservation |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
28 |
Issue |
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Pages |
e01697 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM) |
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Abstract |
Y Ecosystem services (ESs) include the benefits people receive from ecosystems that support the socio-economic requirements and human well-being. The Man and Biosphere (MAB) programs are a scientific plan in the African context that is linked to governments and attempts to create a systematic ground to enhance the relationship between individuals and their environments. Using economic valuation methods, the main objective of this study was to perform a systematic review on studies undertaken in African countries in order to expose the role of MAB programs in conserving ESs in these countries. Based on the results, MAB programs offer both the protection of cultural ecosystem services and the improvement of livelihoods. Moreover, the MAB programs enable biosphere reserves to help national governments find solutions to the pressing challenges in Africa. In conclusion, policymakers should be aware of the main goal of ESs valuation approaches. In other words, the main goal should focus on the creation of prevention rather than rehabilitation activities in order to avoid the loss of ecosystem services mainly at the cost of users. Overall, the findings of this study underlined that economic valuation methods should provide evidence to underpin the development of policy instruments for the conservation of ESs in African countries. More importantly, ESs conservation strategies should consider various measures to reduce human impacts while also considering their well-being. In this context, the study's main implication is that human well-being is determined not only by the quantity but also by the quality of ESs. |
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Wos |
000684309900002 |
Publication Date |
2021-06-21 |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
23519894; 2351-9894 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
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Impact Factor |
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Times cited |
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Open Access |
OpenAccess |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:180530 |
Serial |
6941 |
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Author |
Van Oijstaeijen, W.; Van Passel, S.; Cools, J.; Janssens de Bisthoven, L.; Huge, J.; Berihun, D.; Ejigu, N.; Nyssen, J. |
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Title |
Farmers' preferences towards water hyacinth control : a contingent valuation study |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
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Year |
2020 |
Publication |
Journal Of Great Lakes Research |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Great Lakes Res |
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Volume |
46 |
Issue |
5 |
Pages |
1459-1468 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM) |
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Abstract |
Lake Tana is the most important freshwater lake in Ethiopia. Besides pressures on water quality resulting from urbanization and deforestation, the invasion of the exotic water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) poses new threats to the ecosystem. Water hyacinth, endemic to South America, is widely considered as the world's worst aquatic invasive weed. In 2011, the weed appeared on the northern shores of Lake Tana, expanding in south-eastern direction. The lake area affected by water hyacinth was last estimated in 2015 at 34,500 ha, which equals 16% of the total lake surface. In this research, the benefits of water hyacinth control and eradication for the rural population inhabiting the northern and northeastern villages bordering Lake Tana, are investigated. In the area, the population largely depends on farming and fishing. An assessment of the total economic benefit of eradication was conducted. The stakeholder-centered approach led to measuring the willingness to contribute in labor and cash terms. Results showed smallholders in the study are willing to contribute over half-a-million euros annually. Costs of management actions can be weighed to the benefits, where further research is needed on the impact on other stakeholder groups. Moreover, wetland management should advance to explore multiple pathways in an integrated approach: water hyacinth control, water hyacinth utilization and sustainable waste water management. (C) 2020 International Association for Great Lakes Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
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Wos |
000579717900036 |
Publication Date |
2020-06-27 |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0380-1330 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
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Impact Factor |
2.2 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 2.2; 2020 IF: 1.958 |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:173644 |
Serial |
6925 |
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Author |
Van Oijstaeijen, W.; Van Passel, S.; Cools, J. |
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Title |
Urban green infrastructure: A review on valuation toolkits from an urban planning perspective |
Type |
A1 Journal Article |
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Year |
2020 |
Publication |
Journal Of Environmental Management |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Environ Manage |
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Volume |
267 |
Issue |
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Pages |
110603 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal Article; Engineering Management (ENM) ; |
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Abstract |
As a response to increasing urbanization and changing weather and climatic patterns, urban green infrastructure (UGI) emerged as a concept to increase resilience within the urban boundaries. Given that implementing these (semi-) natural solutions in practice requires a clear overview of the costs and benefits, valuation becomes ever important. A range of decision-support tools for green infrastructure and ecosystem services exist, developed for various purposes. This paper reviews the potential of 10 shortlisted and existing valuation tools to support investment decisions of urban green infrastructure. In the assessment, the functionality is regarded specifically from the urban planning and decision-making viewpoint. The toolkits were evaluated on 12 different criteria. After analyzing the toolkits on these criteria, the findings are evaluated on the (mis)match with specific requirements in the urban planning and management context. Secondly, recommendations and guidelines are formulated to support the design of simple valuation tools, tailored to support the development of green infrastructure in urban areas. Approaching the valuation toolkits biophysically and (socio-)economically provides an integral overview of the challenges and opportunities of the capacities of each framework. It was found that most tools are not designed for the peculiarities of the urban context. Several elements contribute to the hampering uptake of GI valuation tools. Firstly, the limited effort in the economic case for green infrastructure remains a burden to use toolkits to compare grey and green alternatives. Secondly, tools are currently seldom designed for the peculiarities of cities: urban ecosystem (dis)services, multi-scalability, life-span assessments of co-benefits and the importance of social benefits. Thirdly, toolkits should be the result of co-development between the scientific community and local authorities in order to create toolkits that are tailor made to the specific needs in the urban planning process. It can be concluded that current tools, are not readily applicable to support decision making as such. However, if applied cautiously, they can have an indicative role to pinpoint further targeted and in-depth analyses. |
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Wos |
000533525100040 |
Publication Date |
2020-04-27 |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0301-4797 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
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Impact Factor |
8.7 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
Nature Smart Cities across the 2 Seas is an Interreg 2 Seas co-funded project to the value of €6,380,472. It consists of a total of 11 Partners from 4 EU Member States, who will work together to develop a business model that local authorities can use to justify the use of ‘city finance’ to fund their urban greening programmes. This project has received funding from the Interreg 2 Seas programme 2014-2020 co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under subsidy contract No 2S05-048. |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 8.7; 2020 IF: 4.01 |
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Call Number |
ENM @ enm @c:irua:169448 |
Serial |
6384 |
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Author |
Zewdie, M.C.; Van Passel, S.; Moretti, M.; Annys, S.; Tenessa, D.B.; Ayele, Z.A.; Tsegaye, E.A.; Cools, J.; Minale, A.S.; Nyssen, J. |
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Title |
Pathways how irrigation water affects crop revenue of smallholder farmers in northwest Ethiopia: A mixed approach |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
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Year |
2020 |
Publication |
Agricultural Water Management |
Abbreviated Journal |
Agr Water Manage |
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Volume |
233 |
Issue |
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Pages |
106101 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL) |
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Abstract |
The relationship between irrigation water availability and crop revenue is multifaceted. However, most of the previous studies focused only on the direct effect of irrigation water on crop revenue or considered that the indirect effect passes only through the farmers’ improved farm inputs usage. Nevertheless, unlike previous studies, this study argues that a one-sided argument that irrigation water directly causes high crop revenue or indirectly affects crop revenue only via the farmers’ improved farm inputs usage is incomplete, as irrigation water not only directly contributes to crop revenue but also indirectly conduces to crop revenue via both the type of crops produced and the farmers’ improved farm inputs usage. Considering the previous studies’ limitations, this study investigates pathways how small-scale irrigation water affects crop revenue and identifies challenges of small-scale irrigation farming in Fogera district, Ethiopia. Results endorsed that irrigation water has both direct and indirect effects on crop revenue. The indirect effect is 67 percent of the total effect and it is mediated by both the type of crops produced and farmers’ improved farm inputs usage. The result also indicated that irrigation user farmers have a higher income, more livestock assets and resources and better food, housing, and cloths than the non-users. Moreover, challenges related to agricultural output and input market were identified as the most severe problem followed by crop disease. The findings of our study suggest that to utilize the benefits of irrigation water properly, it is crucial to encourage farmers to use more improved farm inputs and to shift from staple to cash crop production. Moreover, farmers are frequently exposed to cheating by illegal brokers in the output market, therefore it is also important to increase farmers’ accessibility to output and input markets, the quality of improved farm inputs, and the bargaining power of farmers with market information. |
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Wos |
000525291200025 |
Publication Date |
2020-02-29 |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0378-3774 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
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Impact Factor |
6.7 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
Bahir Dar University – Institutional University Cooperation; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 6.7; 2020 IF: 2.848 |
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Call Number |
ENM @ enm @c:irua:167592 |
Serial |
6353 |
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Author |
Chekol Zewdie, M.; Van Passel, S.; Cools, J.; Tenessa, D.B.; Ayele, Z.A.; Tsegaye, E.A.; Minale, A.S.; Nyssen, J. |
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Title |
Direct and indirect effect of irrigation water availability on crop revenue in northwest Ethiopia : a structural equation model |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
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Year |
2019 |
Publication |
Agricultural Water Management |
Abbreviated Journal |
Agr Water Manage |
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Volume |
220 |
Issue |
220 |
Pages |
27-35 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM) |
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Abstract |
Development of a clear understanding of the relationship between the availability of dam-driven irrigation water and crop revenue is important in poverty reduction and food security process. As a result, large research efforts are devoted to understanding the relationship between the availability of irrigation water and crop revenue. However, earlier studies do have several limitations. For example, without considering its indirect effect, prior studies focused solely on the direct effect of availability of irrigation water on crop revue. In this study, using a structural equation model analysis, the direct and indirect effect of availability of dam-driven irrigation water on crop revenue is decomposed and quantified specifically for the Koga irrigation scheme, located in the Mecha district of Amhara region in Ethiopia. A primary data set was collected from a randomly selected sample of 450 households in the Koga irrigation scheme. More than half of the households (254) are supported by the Koga Dam irrigation water during the dry season, and the other 196 households depended only on rainfall. The results of the study showed that, in addition to its direct effect, the availability of irrigation water indirectly affected crop revenue through receptivity of the farmers to use modern farm inputs. Around 27 percent of the total effect of dam-driven irrigation water on crop revenue was mediated by farmers’ receptivity to use yield-enhancing modern farm inputs. The results of this study suggested that the availability of irrigation water is essential to improve both crop revenue and receptivity of the farmers to use modern farm inputs. This finding also drives a strategic framework that the receptivity of the farmers to use modern farm inputs is crucial for utilizing the positive effects of irrigation water availability on crop revenue. |
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Wos |
000470941300003 |
Publication Date |
2019-04-25 |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0378-3774 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record |
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Impact Factor |
2.848 |
Times cited |
1 |
Open Access |
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Notes |
; The authors would like to thank Bahir Dar University – Institutional University Cooperation (BDU-IUC) VLIR_UOS project for providing us enough funds for the completion of this study. Special gratitude is given to Abrehet Kahassay and Kassahun Birhanu for helping us to map the study area; and to the data collectors (Hilemichael Fentahun, Etsehewot Birara, and Tsegachewu Degu) for their commitment. The authors gratefully acknowledge the Koga Irrigation Scheme office managers, Tewachewu Abebe, and his colleagues for their support during the data collection. The authors also acknowledge the farmers (respondents) for their willingness to spend time responding honestly to questions. ; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 2.848 |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:159246 |
Serial |
6182 |
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Author |
Cools, J.; Broekx, S.; Vandenberghe, V.; Seuntjens, P.; e.a. |
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Title |
Coupling a hydrological water quality model and an economic optimization model to set up a cost-effective emission reduction scenario for nitrogen |
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A1 Journal article |
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Year |
2011 |
Publication |
Environmental modelling and software |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
26 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
44-51 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL) |
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Abstract |
A modelling approach is presented that determines the most cost-effective set of reduction measures to reach an in-stream concentration target. The framework is based on the coupling of two models: the hydrological water quality model SWAT and an economic optimization model (Environmental Costing Model, ECM). SWAT is used to determine the relationship between the modelled in-stream concentration at the river basin outlet and the associated emission reduction. The ECM is used to set up marginal abatement cost curves for nutrients and oxygen demanding substances. Results for nitrogen are presented for the Grote Nete river basin in Belgium for the year 2006. Results show that the good status for total nitrogen can be reached in the study area. The most cost-effective measures are more productive dairy cattle, implementing basic measures as defined in the WFD, winter cover crops, improved efficiency of WWTP, enhanced fodder efficiency for pigs, further treatment of industrial waste water and tuned fertilization. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
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Wos |
000283891600007 |
Publication Date |
2010-05-18 |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
1364-8152 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
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Impact Factor |
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Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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no |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:95529 |
Serial |
7740 |
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