Estimating WTP for a marine park towards buffering climate change impacts and improved management; the case of hikkaduwa marine park of south sri lanka

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NHA TRANG UNIVERSITY _ ANURADHI DULANGI JAYASINGHE Estimating WTP for a Marine Park towards buffering climate impacts and improved management; the case of Hikkaduwa Marine Park of South Sri Lanka MASTER THESIS KHANH HOA – 2017 i MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NHA TRANG UNIVERSITY _ ANURADHI DULANGI JAYASINGHE Estimating WTP for a Marine Park towards buffering climate impacts and improved management; the case of Hikkaduwa Marine Park of South Sri Lanka MASTER THESIS Marine Ecosystem Management & Climate Change Major: Topic Allocation Decision Decision on establishing the committee : 04th June 2017 Defense Date: Supervisors: PROF OSCAR AMARSINGHE Chairman: Faculty of Graduate Studies: KHANH HOA – 2017 ii UNDERTAKING I undertake that the thesis entitled: “Estimating WTP for a marine Park towards buffering climate impacts and improved management; the case of Hikkaduwa Marine Park of South Sri Lanka ” is my own work The work has not been presented elsewhere for assessment until the time this thesis is submitted 03.05.2017 ANURADHI DULANGI JAYASINGHE iii ACKNOWLEDGMENT I would like to express the deepest appreciation to the Faculty / Deparment of Graduate Studies Trang University for helping and giving best conditions me finish my thesis My special thanks go to Prof Oscar Amarasinghe for the continuous support of my Master Study and research, for his patience, motivation, enthusiasm, and immense knowledge His guidance helped me in all the time of research and writing of this thesis My gratitude is always there with all the Lecturers and the coordinators of the Norhed Master’s Programme Last but not the least, I would like to thank my family: my parents and to all my family members for supporting me spiritually throughout writing this thesis Thank you! 03.05.2017 ANURADHI DULANGI JAYASINGHE iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Undertaking ……………………………………………………………………………… iii Acknowledgment …………………………………………………………………… .iv Table of contents ………………………………………………………………………….v List of abbreviations………………………………….………………………………… vii List of tables …………………………………………………………………………… viii List of figures …………………………………………………………………………… ix List of graphs ………………………………………………………… .x Abstract………………………………………………………… xi Chapter INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………1 The research Question ……………………………………………… 1.1 Objectives of the study……………………………………………… 1.2 LITERATURE SURVEY …………………………………………………………8 1.2.1 The components of TEV……………………………………………………….9 1.2.2 Economic valuation of the ecosystem services……………………………… 1.2.3 Findings of Empirical studies ……………………………………………… 14 1.2.4 New directions in Contingent valuation Method…………………………… 16 Chapter METHODOLOGY…………………………………………………… 16 2.1 Area selection……………………………………………… 16 2.2 Population and sample……………………………………………………… 17 2.3 Methods of data collection……………………………………………………18 2.3.1 Sources of Secondary Data……………………………………………… 18 2.3.2 Sources of Primary data……………………………………………………….18 2.4 Data Analysis………………………………………………………………….18 2.5 Theoretical Concepts……………………………………………………… 19 2.6 Elicitation method; Bidding game (Double Bounded Contingent Valuation Approach)…………………………………………………………………….20 2.7 Time Frame………………………………………………………………… 23 Chapter RESULTS AND DISCUSSION…………………………………………24 3.1 Demographic and the economic profile of the respondents…………………….24 3.2 Results from the logistic regressions to find the factors affecting the WTP values……………………………………………………………………………… 27 3.3 Results from the logistic regressions to find the factors affecting the WTA values…………………………………………………………………………………31 3.4 Comparison of the results of the WTP and WTA studies……………………….33 3.4.1 Calculation of mean WTA and WTP…………………… 33 3.4.2 Comparing the values of WTA and WTP …………………………………… 34 v 3.4.3 Comparing the future mindedness of different stakeholder categories………………………………………… .36 3.4.4.1 Perception of diverse stakeholders on the Quality of the Marine Park……………………………………………………………………………….39 3.4.3.2 Comparison of the future mindedness ((EV/TEV) of the different stakeholder categories from the WTA study………………………………………………… 40 3.4.4.3 Comparison of the future mindedeness from the studies of WTA and WTP for the overall population…………………………………………………………….42 Chapter CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS…………………… 43 LIST OF REFERENCES…………………………………………………………45 APPENDICES ……………………………………………………………………50 vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS WTP : Willingness To Pay WTA : Willingness To Accept HMP : Hikkaduwa Marine Park CVM: Contingent Valuation Method DBCV: Double Bounded Contingent Valuation FV: Future Value TEV: Total Economic Value vii LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1; Goods and services obtained from coral reef ecosystems……………….4 Table 1.2: Valuation techniques used for valuing goods and services offered by the coral reef ecosystems…………………………………………………… 10 Table 3.1: Socio demographic and economic profile of the respondents……………25 Table 3.2: Respondents WTP and WTA towards initiating a People’s Fund to protect this site from degradation as well as to introduce a coral replantation project in Hikkaduwa…………………………………………………… 26 Table 3.3: Stakeholder’s willingness to pay to develop a people’s fund in initiating an improved management system (Double-bounded)………………………28 Table 3.4: Statistics of logistic regression analysis of Willingness to accept study for total economic value estimation (Double-bounded)…………………… 32 Table 3.5: Statistics of logistic regression analysis of Willingness to accept study for Future value estimation (Double-bounded)………………………….33 Table 3.6: Mean values of the ratio of Future value to total economic value, from WTA and WTP studies………………………………………………….36 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1; Components of Total Economic Value……………………………………9 Figure 2.1; Study Area……………………………………………………………… 17 Figure 2.1 Methodology of the study……………………………………………… 23 Figure 3.1: Total number of visits sites other than Hikkaduwa Marine Park……… 29 Figure 3.2: Average visits to sites other than HMP by stakeholder category……… 30 Figure 3.3: Purpose of the visits by the respondents in percentage wise……………31 Figure 3.4: Aggregated demand curves for the second bound of the DBCV……… 35 Figure 3.5: Stakeholder categories of Highest and minimal future mindedness of the WTP Study …………………………………………………………… 37 Figure 3.6: Perception of respondents on the quality of the Marine Park (WTP study)……………………………………………… 39 Figure 3.7: Perception of the respondents on the quality of the Marine Park - (WTA study)…………………………………………………………………….40 Figure 3.8: Stakeholder categories of Highest and minimal future mindedness of the WTA Study …………………………………………………………… 40 Figure 3.9: Knowledge of the stakeholders on coral replantation……………… 41 ix APPENDICES Appendices Content Page a SPSS Analysis 51 b Survey Questionnaires 53 x other fish species Not only that, threats to the coral reefs may also affect all the values generated by the Hikkaduwa Marine Reserve; bathing, fish breeding site, natural beauty and fun, diving, glass bottom boats, Sri Lanka’s popularity, the need to keep this for our children in the future., medicinal values, values to the hoteliers and other stakeholders etc., etc Thus it was decided to initiate a cleanup and pollution control programme at Hikkaduwa The success of this programme depends on the availability of funds which currently are in short supply Even the government is not in a position to give financial supports, and if we wait for it to be done by the government we will loss the corals completely This corals belongs to all of us This means we all have the responsibility to something for this If we can develop a People’s Fund we could also join for this purpose of protecting the Hikkaduwa corals Thinking of your experience of seeing the coral reefs and the benefits you accrued so far by the park itself and also thinks of the benefits these corals gave to all of us Q1 (a.) If we are going to develop a People’s Fund to to protect this site from degradation, which generate so many values for now and for future Would you be willing to pay Rs.2820/= (In Sri Lankan Rupees) annually so as to raise the fund in protecting the coral reefs? YES or NO If yes; (b.) If we are going to develop a People’s Fund to protect these dying coral reefs, would you be willing to pay Rs.3760/= (In Sri Lankan Rupees) annually so as to raise the fund in protecting the coral reefs? YES or NO If the answer is No for the Q (a.) (c.) If we are going to develop a People’s Fund to protect these dying coral reefs, would you be willing to pay Rs.1880/= (In Sri Lankan Rupees )annually so as to raise the fund in protecting the coral reefs? YES or NO -If you are not willing to pay any amount Q2 What is the reason of not willing to pay any amount? Established fee listed boat fees are adequate Quality of diving/trails/mooring is not as expected Have no feeling to so Other reason(s) Q3 How would you rate your diving/snorkeling/coral watching experience in terms of marine environment quality? (5) Excellent (4) Good (3) Average (2)Poor (1) Very Poor (0) Did not dive/snorkel/coral watching (6)After considering all the values generated by this marine park could you please suggest an entrance fees for this marine park? Section 3b: You are now already well aware about the coral degradation due to irresponsible human activities together with climate change Do you know that we could replant corals? 1) YES 2) NO By replanting these corals we could reduce the damage up to a certain level and moreover it would be a great investment to our future generations also In order to initiate a coral replantation programme also we need to have money which is in short supply now Even the government would not be able to give financial supports Imagine that we are going to initiate a coral replantation programme with the key objective of conserving the coral reefs for the future generations and which would also add to all the other 57 values generated by the park If we did win this challenge of conserving the corals for the future generations we all can be happy since we have in our minds that we have fulfilled our responsibility But if we fail to conserve these corals to the future, our future generation would blame us for not doing so Think of only conserving the corals, think of a coral replantation programme that is going to establish; Q1 (a.) Would you be willing to pay Rs.940/= (In Sri Lankan Rupees) annually in raising a fund to support the coral replantation programme? YES or NO If yes; (b.) Would you be willing to pay Rs.1880/= (In Sri Lankan Rupees) annually in raising a fund to support the coral replantation programme? YES or NO If the answer is No for the Q 1(a.) (c.) Would you be willing to pay Rs.470/= (In Sri Lankan Rupees) annually in raising a fund to support the coral replantation programme? YES or NO Section 1) What are the other benefits you feel that we could achieve by protecting coral reefs? 2) What are the other places you could recommend to visit in Hikkaduwa other than the Coral sanctuary? • • • • • • • • Ranpath Temple Seenigama Dewalaya Hikkaduwa beach Maadampa Lagoon Rajjgama Lagoon Turtle breeding places Shailabimba Temple Galduwa Aaranya b.iii QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE WTA FROM THE STAKEHOLDERS EXCLUDING FOREIGN TOURISTS TOTAL ECONOMIC VALUE (WTA) Section 1: Contact Detail: T.P No: Age: Gender: Education level (up to which grade/degree/higher education level): Personnel monthly income level; 58 (1) < Rs.2000 (2) Rs.2000 – Rs.5000 (3) Rs.5000 – Rs.10000 (4) Rs.10000- Rs.20000 (5) Rs.20000-Rs.30000 (6) > Rs.30000 Marital Status: Number of members in the family: Religion: Stakeholder category; Hotelier/Restaurant/Ot her Boutiques Fishermen Glass & other stakeholder and Fishing bottom boat categories (Private households keeper sector employee, selfemployee) Local Foreign Government Tourist Tourist Officer Are you a member of an environmental organization? Mention the committees and organizations you are holding the membership Section 2: How long have you been here? (1) 20 years What is your main purpose of visiting Hikkaduwa? (1) Diving/Snorkeling (2) Turtle watching (3) Sun Bathing (4) Sea Food (5) Other If the answer is “Other”, please mention them below How often you visit the park? (1) Very often (2) Often (3) No idea (4) not often (5) never How far are you from the Marine Sanctuary? Section 3a: The benefits given by the Hikkaduwa corals for you and for all are uncountable, Corals in Hikkaduwa are now threatened by human activities (eg; Pollution, oil from fishing crafts, run-off from industries, etc.) together with the El Nino event occurred in 1998 These kind of warming events are exceptionally affecting the reefs directly causing reef bleaching, and there by affecting the thousands of lives attached with the corals particularly shellfish and other fish species Not only that, threats to the coral reefs may also affect all the values generated by the Hikkaduwa Marine Reserve; bathing, fish breeding site, natural beauty and fun, diving, glass bottom boats, Sri Lanka’s popularity, the need to keep this for our children in the future., medicinal values, values to the hoteliers and other stakeholders etc., etc Imagine for a while what if this corals disappear permanently due to irresponsible human activities together with climate change? Think of the loss that you would have to come across Can you give me a value for the loss you may undertake if the corals disappear? If the government is willing to compensate the loss you may have to bear if the corals disappear, how much would you be willing to accept? 59 Q1 (a.) Would you be willing to accept Rs 1500 annually as compensation? YES or NO If yes; (b.) Would you be willing to accept Rs 2000 annually as compensation? YES or NO If the answer is No for the Q (a.) (c.) Would you be willing to accept Rs 1000 annually as compensation? YES or NO - If you are not willing to pay any amount Q2 What is the reason of not willing to accept any amount? Q3 How would you rate your diving/snorkeling/coral watching experience in terms of marine environment quality? (5) Excellent (4) Good (3) Average (2) Poor (1) Very Poor (0) did not dive/snorkel/coral watching (6)After considering all the values generated by this marine park could you please suggest an entrance fees for this marine park? Section 3b: You are now already well aware about the coral degradation due to irresponsible human activities together with climate change Do you know that we could replant corals? 1) YES 2) NO By replanting these corals we could reduce the damage up to a certain level and moreover it would be a great investment to our future generations also If we not attempt to replant these corals and not trying to conserve them, our future generation will only see the snap shots of those corals Imagine that we are not going to conserve the corals, think of the future of all of us without these corals, think of our future generations Government is willing to pay a compensation for loss of corals in the future How much would you be willing to accept as an compensation? Q1 (a.) Would you be willing to accept Rs.500 annually as compensation? YES or NO If yes; (b.) Would you be willing to accept Rs.1000 annually as compensation? YES or NO If the answer is No for the Q 1(a.) (c.) Would you be willing to accept Rs.250 annually as compensation? YES or NO Section 1) What are the other benefits you feel that we could achieve by protecting coral reefs? 60 2) What are the other places you could recommend to visit in Hikkaduwa other than the Coral sanctuary? Ranpath Temple Seenigama Dewalaya Hikkaduwa beach Maadampa Lagoon Rajjgama Lagoon Turtle breeding places Shailabimba Temple Galduwa Aaranya b.iv QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE WTA FROM THE FOREIGN TOURISTS QUESTIONNAIRE Section 1: Nationality: T.P No: Age: Gender: Education level (up to which grade/degree/higher education level): Personnel monthly income level; (1) < $ 100 (2) $ 100– $300 (3) $300 – $500 (4) $500 - $1000 (5) $1000- $2000 (6) > $2000 Marital Status: Number of members in the family: Religion: Stakeholder category (Please tick on the relevant option); Hotelier/Restaurant/Ot her Boutiques Fishermen Glass & other stakeholder Local and Fishing bottom boat categories (Private Tourist households keeper sector employee, selfemployee) Foreign Government Tourist Officer Are you a member of an environmental organization? Mention the committees and organizations you are holding the membership Section 2: 61 How long have you been here? (1) 20 years What is your main purpose of visiting Hikkaduwa? (1) Diving/Snorkeling (2) Turtle watching (3) Sun Bathing (4) Sea Food (5) Other How often you visit the park? (1) Very often (2) Often (3) No idea (4) not often (5) never How far are you from the Marine Sanctuary? Section 3a: The benefits given by the Hikkaduwa corals for you and for all are uncountable, (you can clearly see it from this image) Corals in Hikkaduwa are now threatened by human activities (eg; Pollution, oil from fishing crafts, run-off from industries, etc.) together with the El Nino event occurred in 1998 These kind of warming events are exceptionally affecting the reefs directly causing reef bleaching, and there by affecting the thousands of lives attached with the corals particularly shellfish and other fish species Not only that, threats to the coral reefs may also affect all the values generated by the Hikkaduwa Marine Reserve; bathing, fish breeding site, natural beauty and fun, diving, glass bottom boats, Sri Lanka’s popularity, the need to keep this for our children in the future., medicinal values, values to the hoteliers and other stakeholders etc., etc Imagine for a while what if this corals disappear permanently due to irresponsible human activities together with climate change? Think of the loss that you would have to come across Can you give me a value for the loss you may undertake if the corals disappear? In other words if the government is willing to compensate the loss you may have to bear if the corals disappear, how much would you be willing to accept? Please see the following questions Q1 (a.) Would you be willing to accept Rs.2820/= (In Sri Lankan Rupees)annually as a compensation? YES or NO If yes; (b.) Would you be willing to accept Rs.3760/= (In Sri Lankan Rupees) annually as a compensation? YES or NO If the answer is No for the Q (a.) (c.) Would you be willing to accept Rs.1880/= (In Sri Lankan Rupees ) annually as a compensation? YES or NO - If you are not willing to pay any amount Q2 What is the reason of not willing to accept any amount? Q3 How would you rate your diving/snorkeling/coral watching experience in terms of marine environment quality? (5) Excellent (4) Good (3) Average (2)Poor (1) Very Poor (0) Did not dive/snorkel/coral watching (6)After considering all the values generated by this marine park could you please suggest an entrance fees for this marine park? Section 3b: 62 You are now already well aware about the coral degradation due to irresponsible human activities together with climate change Do you know that we could replant corals? 1) YES 2) NO By replanting these corals we could reduce the damage up to a certain level and moreover it would be a great investment to our future generations also If we not attempt to replant these corals and not trying to conserve them, our future generation will only see the snap shots of those corals Imagine that we are not going to conserve the corals, think of the future of all of us without these corals, think of our future generations Government is willing to pay a compensation for loss of corals in the future How much would you be willing to accept as compensation? Please see the following questions Q1 (a.) Would you be willing to accept Rs.940/= (In Sri Lankan Rupees) annually as a compensation? YES or NO If yes; (b.) Would you be willing to accept Rs.1880/= (In Sri Lankan Rupees) annually as a compensation? YES or NO If the answer is No for the Q 1(a.) (c.) Would you be willing to accept Rs.470/= (In Sri Lankan Rupees) annually as a compensation? YES or NO Section 1) What are the other benefits you feel that we could achieve by protecting coral reefs? 2) What are the other places you could recommend to visit in Hikkaduwa other than the Coral sanctuary? • • • • • • • • Ranpath Temple Seenigama Dewalaya Hikkaduwa beach Maadampa Lagoon Rajjgama Lagoon Turtle breeding places Shailabimba Temple Galduwa Aaranya 63 SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAN{ Independence - Freedom - Happiness Thesis Title: Estimating WTP for a Marinc Park towards Buffering Climate Impacts and Improved Managemettt: The case of Hikkadurva Marine Park of Soutir Sri Lanka: Major: Marine Ecology Management and Clirnate Student: Anuradhi Dulangi Jayasinghe Change Code: STcHde-+ Supervisors: Oscar Amarasinghe Training Institution: Nha Tlang University Revierver: Curtis M Jolly Position in the Review Evaluation cornmittee: External Reviewer Workplace: Auburn University CONTENTS I EVALUATION: 1.1 Thesis Structure: - Does the thesis nteet the tnittimunt requirentents as ,stipttlatecl in the Regulations Jbrntat of master thesis? YES - Are the ratio and proportiort between the main componenl,) oppropriale? YES 1.2 for Format: - Is the tltesis presented itt a scientific style and fonnat, corherent, clear, clean, u*itlt brevity'? - YES [4/hat i.t the quality oJ'the language used in the thesis? Are there any gratnntatical error.s? YES; THERE ARE MINOR GRAMMATICAL ERRORS - Are the Tables, Figures, Graphs, Draw-irtgs presented correctly? yES - Is the page lintit appropriate? YES - Does the thesis nteet the regulatiotts.for.format o.f the master's thesis? YES in the Thesis: - Does lhe citatictrt nteet the requirement.s as slipulated by the Regulations/br thefortnar 1.3" Citations oJ'the master's thesis? YES - Are the citatiorts truth/iil, coruplete, antl clear? YES - Are the list of references presented ctnd orrotgetl correctly? yE,S - Are all enumerated re/brences Jully presented in the thesis/ yES - Are the citatiotts religble'? YES Thesis Contents: 2.1 The Appropriateness of title rvith specializations/major: The title is appropriate 2.2 Research Issues and Rescarch Objectives: - Are the research lssaes presetied clecu"l v- and are they signiJicotlt to science and practice? YES THE RESEARCH ISSUES ARE CLEAR, Are the sttbiects and research scope clectr, excLcl and they have a solirl fourtdation? - Does the tlrcsis coincide witlt other published ',t,orks? YES \ 2.3" Overview of Literature Review: - Does the thesis have an oyerview of literature review'? yES - Are lhe literalure sources comprehensive and updated and relative lo the researclt issues? YES - Are there any analyses ctnd argtunents ot1 the literature review? yES 2.4 Theoretical Basis: - Are the relative theories fully presented? YES - Are the scientiJic theories correctly presented in the thesis'? yES 2.5 Research I\{ethodology - Is the research methodologlt use accltratellt d"trr,Urd? PARTIALLY - Is the research methodology appropriote with the topic/reseat"ch issues? YES - Is there any contpat'isott arguntent between the adopted ntethodologies with the other methodologies? YES - Are the liruitatiorts ofresearch methodology mentioned and discussed? NO 2.6 Research Results and Discussion: - Are the reseorch results reliable? YES - Do tlte research results ailswer research questionT YES - Are the research results Jully analyzed and evaluated? YES 2.7 Conclusion: - Are there any conclltsions withdrawn from the research results and discussion? YES - Does the conclusion meet the research objectives? YES 2"8 New Contribution (If Applicable): - Are there any new contributions in ternts of theoryt, supplernentary theot1,, ttew hypothesis? new research methoclologt (nrodels, tools, research techniques) or new da t a/info r nta tio n? YE S - Are there any new contributions to proctice; giving elfectit,e and fea,sible solutiorts, intprortements in prodttction and nlanageLnent? YES The Limitations of Thcsis: - Are there arry linritations in terms offorntat and contents? YES 'llescarch Rcsearch Papers, Applicable Results (If Applicable): Other Cornments (lf any): - Are there other issues needed to be clarified by the stuclentT NO The study exatnines the case of Hikkaduwa Marine Park The study is well laid out and the methods are clear but there are solne sections that pose academic challenges to rviewers The literature review is organized and updatcd The author uses two different samples for WTA and WTP The results presented are sirnplistic but confusing to the reader The division of the sample into two sections with several categories included in thc rnodel resulted in a decline of the degrees of freedorn; and low degrees of freedom gives biased estimates The inclusion of highly conelated variables should create a problem One or two variables should be dropped from the modcl The stLrdy provides good information on the willirrgnesstopayandt1rewillirrgrresstoacCeptfortl-republicgood Tasks: (l) Read thc thesis one more time and make grammatical changes (2) Look at format of models in a research document and follow the exarnples in presenting your regression models (3) The calculation of WTA and WTP should be recorrsidered (4) Indicate which is primary and which is secondary data" (5) Provide the number of those who are willing and those who are unwilling to pay (6) Rerun the rnodels removing the variables suspected to be highly correlated (7) Provide some information about tlte shortcotrings of the study II CONCLUSION: - Give general evaluations on the level.s of achicvernenl: Bascd on Arlicle 33 o/ tha Master training process, NhaTrangUniversity.- Grade lhe thesis on the levels of'achieveruent: excellent, very good, good, satisfaclory, barely salisJactory, and unsalisfactory in accr-trdance with the regulations for moster's thesis evaluation of'I',lhaTrang Universily THE THESISISVERY GOOD 2017 Reviewer (Si gnature and full nam e) Remarks: -The italicizedwords are suggestions; other qucslions can be adtled de pendingtrprtn llte contenls Questions: (l) Why the small difference between WTA and ATA? (2) Can you rewrite the model and indicate the expected signs? (3)What are your study lirnitations? SOCIALIST RBPUBLIC OF VIETNAM Inclepcnclcncc - Ii'recrlom - Ilappin ess T'IIESIS IiVAI,IJA'TION F'ORM - Thesis title: Anr-rradhi I)ulangi layasinge - cocle: , ?1.S.lt?.\ - Str"rcient: Aur"tracllii - Superviror, " ".F.lqfl, 9.:.g.*.1 A::.1*.:i:9k - Dulangi la1,nsi11ohs Tlaining Insitution: Nha'frang University Reviewer: Claire Armstrong Position in the Erzaluation Comrlittee: Revieu,cr I Worliplace: The Arctic University o1'Not'u,ay, 'frornso TIVALUATTON: 'fhcsis lr'ornral: fhe liresis nrects the t-uininttn-t t'cquirctrc:r11s and thc ploportion betrvcen the main courl;onents is appropriate The thesis is plesentccl in a scicntilic st1,ls ancl lbmrat it is col-ict'cr-it ancl clear 'l'he language is goocl, as is the the ovcrall plcscntation anci lcngt)r Citations meet the lequirements lbr' thc fomrat of a master's thcsis arncl the list oIrc1'erenccs sec)lns prcscntecl and arL'angecl collect11, 2.'fhesis Contcnts: issnes ancl obiectives are prcsentecl clearly 'l'ire student shows goocl oven,ierv of relevant literature The research methodologl, is not sr"rlficiently described, and lecluires rrlore description and expianation The research r:esr.rlts a1'e reasonably reliable, given thc choice of method and the arrailable data Conclusions r-nect the research objeotivcs, ancl reconrmcnclations ale largely based on the stuc15, gn1,'1.d out lhc research Some issues to note legarcling thc thesis: - - If yolr are to includc clir-nate aspects iu youl thesis, this should also mentioned in yoLrr iniloduction and bacl