The aim of my study was to analyze the impact of selective logging on plant and bird diversity in East Kalimantan. The impact of logging on plant communities was studied in a forest (in the... Show moreThe aim of my study was to analyze the impact of selective logging on plant and bird diversity in East Kalimantan. The impact of logging on plant communities was studied in a forest (in the process of FSC certification) that has been logged selectively 1, 5 and 10 years previously compared to a primary forest site. The stem densities of trees in the primary forest were significantly higher compared to the three selectively logged forest sites. Stem densities of saplings were equivalent in all four forest sites. Seedling stem densities were significantly higher in the forest site logged 10 years previously compared to the primary forest. The “heavy hardwood” class, represented by a certain abundance of stems and species richness, was significantly lower in the forest sites selectively logged 1 and 5 years ago compared to the primary forest site. Stems with a higher abundance in the selectively logged forest sites generally belonged to the “light wood” class. I also studied the impact of logging on bird communities in East Kalimantan. My study compared secondary forest sites with relatively undisturbed primary lowland dipterocarp rain forest sites of East Kalimantan. All birds were identified during point counts in all sites; in the selective logging concession in a primary site and in selectively logged forest sites in the Berau district, a primary site in Sungai Wain and a disturbed site in Pusrehut Kutai Kartanegara. I found a significantly higher abundance of birds in the terrestrial foraging layer in primary forests as compared to secondary forests. I also found a significantly higher abundance of birds of the frugivorous/insectivorous guild and of endemic insectivorous birds in the primary forest. Show less
Economic valuation of ecosystem services is a popular yet troubled approach in modern nature conservation. It's effectiveness remains unknown while a lot of criticism is noted in the... Show more Economic valuation of ecosystem services is a popular yet troubled approach in modern nature conservation. It's effectiveness remains unknown while a lot of criticism is noted in the literature about potential consequences of this approach. This thesis first clarifies the various discourses extant about the topic. Then, it shows how the topic of ecosystem services is replacing calls for nature conservation in policy documents. It investigates two different ways to give ecological knowledge a strong influence in market-based approaches. The first way being the use of portfolio theory and the second way being the use of indicators for conservation success based on ecological science. The thesis finally turns towards the greater challenge of motivating people to protect nature, and argues that economic valuation has only a limited role to play in this endeavor. Show less
This dissertation is the culmination of over four years research on the rare earth element neodymium in the context of the 2010 REE crisis. Neodymium is a generally recognized ‘critical’... Show more This dissertation is the culmination of over four years research on the rare earth element neodymium in the context of the 2010 REE crisis. Neodymium is a generally recognized ‘critical’ material with a relevant application in the form of NdFeB magnets, both for sustainable energy technologies as well as the wider economy. This dissertation answers four main research questions: 1. What are the material flows of neodymium for NdFeB magnets, and how much can be made available for recycling? 2. What are the environmental burdens of NdFeB production, and how does recycling alleviate this burden? 3. What type of mechanisms along the NdFeB supply chain provide resilience in response to supply constraints and disruptions 4. Of all the possible resilience mechanisms, which played the largest role in the aftermath of the 2010 REE crisis? Besides directly answering the research question, this dissertation also reflects on the broader question of how actors in the NdFeB supply chain can change their behavior to limit their exposure to an unforeseen yet inevitable future crisis. Show less
Eco-innovation often underperforms due to behavioral and systemic responses to technical change leading to additional demand and environmental damage. This paradox, also known as the rebound... Show moreEco-innovation often underperforms due to behavioral and systemic responses to technical change leading to additional demand and environmental damage. This paradox, also known as the rebound effect, has puzzled for decades scholars from a myriad of disciplines, mostly due to the profound implications for achieving environmental targets. Within the different disciplinary understandings, concepts and methods from the industrial ecology domain offer unexplored potential for the study of the rebound effect. The transport sector, a vital engine of social progress and historically at the spotlight of environmental policy, is a perfect case study to unveil such potential. The aim of this dissertation is to investigate the role of rebound effects in shaping the environmental performance of transport eco-innovation, and to investigate the value of applying concepts and methods from the realm of industrial ecology and other sustainability sciences. Through case studies, the value of this renewed perspective – the environmental rebound effect– is confirmed in the context of complex sustainability issues. Show less
