Abstract
Environmental Trends Analysis: Tools for Poverty Alleviation Track: Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Affairs Author(s): Lars Soeftestad, Lauren Sorkin, James Tarrant Environmental Trend Analysis (ETA) is a set of tools and approaches used to assess changes in natural resources over time, and to evaluate the impacts of various management and policy regimes on natural resources. ETA is evolving partly as a result of the growth of the vast opportunities inherent in GIS, and partly in reaction to experiences with GIS, specifically some problems connected with application of GIS at different societal scales, particularly in developing countries. ETA addresses situations in which inter-disciplinarity, cross-cultural validity and cultural variation are important, as well as the vast complexity of Nature-Culture interactions. The paper reports on the new USAID FRAME project on ETA, including its inter-disciplinary nature, objectives, goals and the emerging global community of practice. It also presents applications of ETA, especially to empower communities, as well as arguments for why and how ETA extends the reach, impact and potential of GIS. Lars Soeftestad Supras Consult Lillemyrveien 16 Kristiansand NO-4632 NO Phone: + 47 380 44 655 Fax: + 47 381 08 199 E-mail: lsoeftestad@supras.biz Lauren Sorkin International Resources Group 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 700 Washington DC , DC 20036 US Phone: (202) 289 0100 Fax: (202) 289 7601 E-mail: lsorkin@irgltd.com James Tarrant International Resources Group Environment and Natural Resources Division 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 700 Washington , DC 20036 US Phone: (202) 289 0100 Fax: (202) 289 7601 E-mail: jtarrant@irgltd.com |
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