...November 2, 2013 The Nature Conservancy Maximizing Personal and Collective Performance Part 1: Please describe the strengths of the change initiative that Steve McCormick implemented at The Nature Conservancy during his tenure. Steve McCormick developed a concept called the “Change Team”. This team consisted of a group of leaders that were to assist him in his proposed plan of increased accountability, cohesiveness of the organization and uniformity of missions and core values on the global scale. By choosing, assigning and eventually involving all key players throughout the organization, a strength of McCormick’s was his ability to be a facilitator during this broad scale change. A critical strength of Steve McCormick’s change initiative was his ability as Innovator and visionary. His ability to realign The Nature Conservancy with its stated mission of “protecting the diversity of life on Earth” lies in his capability to think creatively and create change. His assessment of the organizational state and the initiatives he undertook to bring the organization to the new global challenges were on target and appropriate for that time and situational position of the Conservancy. In the beginning of his tenure, Steve told staff that they needed to act on the global mission and that they could no longer fulfill that promise by spending 80 percent of our resources in the United States, where only 20 percent of the biodiversity...
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...The public issue facing The Coca-Cola Company was its impact on availability and accessibility on water sources. A Public issue is mostly the one that affects a person’s day to day life. The traditional use of land by communities and farmers on a diverse scale of production becomes much more difficult when water sources are at risk. (Hwang & Steward, 2008). Water conservation had become a huge issue in India and all over the world. A decade ago Coca-Cola faced a major crisis in south India. The government and several non-governmental organizations objected so strongly to its water consumption that it was banned from soft-drink production in the region (Lovegrove). Generally “performance-expectations gap” indicates a gap between what the firm wants to do or is doing and what stakeholders expect (Lawrence and Weber, 2014). In this case, the issue was the consumption of water by TCCC which deprived local villagers from using water for everyday use such as drinking, household chores, and irrigation. Stakeholders’ concerns were related to the use of water by the company while giving out dangerous water with high pesticide levels. On the other side, company argued that water use was essential in company to run its business. Radar is an instrument that uses microwave radiation to detect and locate distant objects, which are often displayed on a screen; law enforcement authorities use radar, for example, to track the speed of passing cars (Lawrence and Weber, 2014). The Chapter identifies...
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...habitat for many wildlife and fish species. Many aquatic, terrestrial, arboreal and aerial animal species depend upon the river and its streams (“Verde River Watershed Conservation Plan,” 2009). Included within the Verde River’s flora and fauna are plants and animal listed as threatened or endangered by Arizona or the federal government. Watershed Conservation Plan The Verde River Watershed Conservation Plan is an effort by The Nature Conservancy to implement the most effective actions for maintaining or restoring the native plants and animals of this watershed. While this preservation is vital to wildlife and recreation in Arizona, it is also necessary to the vigor of the river’s water flow, which serves many communities downstream. The constant need for water is placing pressure on the watershed. The looming development of the aquifer which feeds the Verde River could potentially reduce the flow of water not only to the downstream communities, but to the plant and animals that rely on it. During the yearlong planning process, the Nature Conservancy identified the need for an integrated management of groundwater and surface water by developing an effective surface water management structure that would benefit long-term needs of humans and those of the natural system. Their main focus is on the riparian and aquatic systems, due to their biological importance to the area. Conservation Values in the Verde...
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...southwest of Houston, Texas. It is a wonderful representative natural ecosystem that is receiving worthy considerations for native species preservation and management. There is no roadside sign to announce the Nash Prairie, no fence around more than 400 acres of tall grasses that have never been plowed. The grassland remained unplowed because of the farming methods. Cattle infrequently grazed on the property, and the landowners harvested hay once, maybe twice, a year and never in the same pattern, which allows plants time to regenerate. This has resulted in a rich and subtle ecosystem. Serious bird watchers, wildflower enthusiasts, and botanists tend to know about this place and its native grasses. Laura Huffman, Texas director of the Nature Conservancy (an environmental group) says that “this prairie is a beautiful representation of what Texas really looked like.” It is said to be a beauty in a haystack for many reasons. According to Wiley Plus (2009) publication, the structural and functional dynamics of this ecosystem is comprised of nonliving and living fundamentals. The nonliving part is the physical-chemical environment, including the local atmosphere, water, and mineral soil (on land) or other substrate (in water). The living part, called the ecological community, is the set of species interacting within the ecosystem. There are two basic kinds of processes that must occur in an ecosystem: a cycling of chemical elements and a flow of energy in order for it to sustain life...
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...Caterpillar Inc.: Corporate Social Responsibility Some argue that the role of business is simply to make money. Others argue that this statement is wrong and that the components of corporate social responsibility are just as important to a business as it is to create shareholder value. (Davis, 2005, 105) The components of corporate social responsibility include looking after the community and environment as well as other things such as the helping out the stakeholders of the company. As you will soon find out a quality social performance will likely have positive effects on the company, while poor social performance will likely have negative effects. Caterpillar Inc. like most companies does have problems with their history of CSR but also has a very good record in other areas. Caterpillar Inc.: Poor Social Performance Caterpillar Inc. being a machinery company constantly has environmental guidelines it must follow. If they do not follow these guidelines there is likely to be consequences. One environmental headline Caterpillar Inc. would rather forget was on August 1st, 2000, when it was awarded by the not-for –profit organization Clean Air Trust, the Clean Air Villain of the Month. It was said the company appeared to be deliberately avoiding the legal agreement to clean up their dirty engines. Only 13 months earlier the Justice Department and the State of California had signed off an agreement with Caterpillar Inc. The agreement with the company was made after an investigation...
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...GKE Task 1 Development of Societies The Nile River was a major environmental structure that contributed to the early development of society in Egypt. The Nile had such predictable flooding and recession patterns that farmers were able to create a yearly calendar based on them. This assisted them with knowing when to plant and harvest crops. Knowing when the water levels would be high enabled them to build reservoirs for crop irrigation during the times when there was less water. The river also contained silt, a mineral which enhanced the soil and the crops that grew along the banks. (Orlin, 2010, p. 284) Some of the major crops that were utilized included beans, cotton, wheat, barley, emmer, and papyrus, a reed that was used to make things like baskets, sandals, and boats. (Association, 2014) The Nile River opens to the Mediterranean Sea with dessert surrounding the east and west sides. Due to this layout, farmers were confident that their land and crops were protected from invasions. With this security they were able to focus on learning about their crops, excelling a food production, and eventually learned to do things like make clothing from cotton. (Association, 2014) Diffusion between Societies Chariots, two wheeled horse-drawn carts were first used by the Indo-Iranians in 2000 BCE. They were made of solid, heavy wood and held together with wood pegs. Being made of such substantial material could make them very difficult to turn and control. (Carney, 2014) Around...
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...be explained. Next the subject is to explain how humans may have affected the ecosystem, and in conclusion an explanation of how that ecosystem’s structure and function can help or has helped to develop plans for its management, and restoration. The Nature Conservancy is a nonprofit organization that works in different countries and all 52 states to help safeguard important lands and waters for nature and people. The organization works to keep safe the plants, animals, and land free from decay by protecting the lands, and waters humans, and habitat need to survive. The organization also focuses on leaving a sustainable world for future generations. Clean water is a must for humans, and animals to live. Fresh water ecosystems provide water for plants, and fish for humankind to eat (Gomez, 2008). Not only in Louisiana, but also all around the world, rivers, and lakes are becoming contaminated, and this affects people, animals, and plants. Research shows that possibly by 2025 more than one-third of Earth’s population could face tremendous water shortages (Botkin & Keller, 2009). The Nature Conservancy works in many states, including Louisiana to shield from exposure freshwater ecosystems for humans and nature. The organization works particularly to protect the Mississippi River, the Atchafalaya River, and most importantly the Louisiana...
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...totaling about 1,700 acres including six miles of the North Fork of the Cache La Poudre River. The Phantom Canyon Preserve is one of the last remaining canyons without a road among the Colorado’s Front Range. This preserve is home to hundreds of species of wildlife including species of special concern and hundreds of plant species. The Nature Conservancy protects the Phantom Canyon Preserve since 1987. The main reason this preserve is protected is the ecosystem supports the Larimer Aletes which is a rare member of the parsley family. This particular plant is hard to find and can only be found in Larimer and Boulder counties with its highest concentration in the Phantom Canyon Preserve. Some other native plant species that can be found in this ecosystem are Bells Twin Pod, Needle-and-Thread Grass, and One-sided Penstemon. The Phantom Canyon Preserve serves as a habitat for species of special concern such as the Black Bear, Mountain Lion, and the Bobcat. This preserve is also home to Bald Eagles in the winter, Golden Eagles, Prairie Falcons, and Red Tail Hawks who make the high canyon walls their home. Only six elements out of ninety-two produced in nature are required and critical to sustain the life of organisms. These elements include hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur. These elements make up 95% of all living organisms. The elements combined which are all part of the biogeochemical cycle effect the hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere. This is...
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...Throughout the history of the United States things have constantly been changing and with new technologies being used sometimes the advancement of the country has come at the cost of neglecting environmental issues. The environmental issues would often be put on the back burner and just looked past but a young environmental president by the name of Teddy Roosevelt began to change things. During his presidency and political career Roosevelt brought many environmental issues to the spotlight make very positive change for the environment as well as sparking a new found interest for United States citizen to start making change to protect this earth that we live on. Roosevelt and the other environmentalist were the stepping stones that bring us to the many changes in conservation laws and environmental protection that took place from 1920-1955. During this time period of 1920-1955 many great acts along with environmental groups were formed allowing conservation laws and environmental protection to take enormous leaps in a positive direction. While fighting many hard battles these conservationist and preservation groups would sometimes have to take one step back in order to take two steps forward, but it is those forward steps that lead to the awareness of how important protecting the environment is and set the building blocks for National Parks, forested lands, wildlife protection and so on. In order to take a closer look at these changes we shall take a closer look at the progression...
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...Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change Ecosystem Structure, Function, and Change In this essay I would like to talk about the fourth Connecticut Lake located in Pittsburg, NH. The main highlight of this ecosystem is that it has the straddling border between the United States and Canada. It is also one of the reserves for variety of native plants and floating bog. There are many other ecosystems around the place but this one is one unique and soothing place to learn about. There is a small glacial tarn that is settled below the ridgeline which separates the New Hampshire from Quebec. Now as already discussed that the reserve is the home of native species of places that are protected in here, there is a medium level fen system in this place. The medium level fen system refers to the open, acidic peat lands with more miner tropic influences than the poor level fen or bogs due to the effects of upland runoff, exposure to lake and stream water, or limited groundwater seepage. This ecosystem is located along the headwater of the Connecticut River. The Connecticut Lake are comprised of four parts name the first, second, third and fourth Connecticut lakes. In all the above mentioned lakes the fourth Connecticut is the north smallest and most remote of all the four Connecticut lakes that actually brings more diversity to grow here and due to the remoteness the place is also rich in vast diversity of plans and other living things. Actually it is the source of the Connecticut River...
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...that the ecosystem’s structures and function that can help for its restoration. Lastly I will explain the implication of species interactions on the Colorado Phantom Canyon Preserve. The Colorado Phantom Canyon Preserve is a wonderful preserve located in North-Central Colorado. It is in the Laramie foothills about 30 miles Northwest of Fort Collins. The Phantom Canyon Preserve is among the greatest Front Range Landscapes totaling about 1,120 acres. The Phantom Canyon Preserve is one of the last remaining canyons without a road among the Colorado’s Front Range. This preserve is home for more than 100 bird species and other wildlife animals. Colorado Phantom Canyon Preserve is as well home for the hundreds of plant species. The Nature Conservancy protects the Phantom Canyon Preserve since 1987. The main reason this preserve is protected is the ecosystem supports Larimer Aletes also known as Aletes humilis this happens to be the rare member of the parsley family. This particular plant species is hard to find. This plant can only be found in Larimer and Boulder counties with its highest concentration in the Phantom Canyon Preserve. Some other native plant species that can be found in this ecosystem are Bells Twin Pod,...
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...Oysters play a vital role in protecting the ocean’s ecosystem. However according to the 2011 study "Oyster Reefs at Risk and Recommendations for Conservation, Restoration, and Management" many oyster reefs are on the brink of complete extinction. Michael Beck, lead marine scientist for The Nature Conservancy as well as research associate at the Institute for Marine Science questions how fast oyster reefs are becoming extinct and how they can effectively be conserved and restored. Michael Beck claims that oyster reefs have been pushed to nearly the brink of extinction almost worldwide. His research included studying and examining 144 bays as well as forty-four ecoregions. From Beck’s research, he concluded that ninety percent of the oyster reefs in the study went extinct in a bay area. In making the claim that oyster reefs are at the risk of becoming extinct he opens the door to the question, how would this affect our ecosystem both in the ecological way as well as chemical? Beck’s research is important because if oyster reefs go extinct the metal toxins in the ocean will rise due to the fact that there will be no oysters to filter the water. Sophie Buisson, life scientist, addresses the questioning of whether higher amounts of toxins in the ocean and warmer water temperatures were the main factors of increased oyster mortality over the past decade. In the 2008 study "Level of Contamination and Impact of Pesticides in Cupped Oyster, Crassostrea Gigas, Reared in a Shellfish Production...
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...be explained. Next the subject is to explain how humans may have affected the ecosystem, and in conclusion an explanation of how that ecosystem’s structure and function can help or has helped to develop plans for its management, and restoration. The Nature Conservancy is a nonprofit organization that works in different countries and all 52 states to help safeguard important lands and waters for nature and people. The organization works to keep safe the plants, animals, and land free from decay by protecting the lands, and waters humans, and habitat need to survive. The organization also focuses on leaving a sustainable world for future generations. Clean water is a must for humans, and animals to live. Fresh water ecosystems provide water for plants, and fish for humankind to eat (Gomez, 2008). Not only in Louisiana, but also all around the world, rivers, and lakes are becoming contaminated, and this affects people, animals, and plants. Research shows that possibly by 2025 more than one-third of Earth’s population could face tremendous water shortages (Botkin & Keller, 2009). The Nature Conservancy works in many states, including Louisiana to shield from exposure freshwater ecosystems for humans and nature. The organization works particularly to protect the Mississippi River, the Atchafalaya River, and most importantly the Louisiana coast. The Atchafalaya River is a river branch flowing away from the...
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...consumption of water that was tainted with pesticides, depleting the local ground water supplies and negatively affecting surrounding communities of factories in India. The performance-expectations gap, or “the gap between what the firm wants to do or is doing and what its stakeholders expect” (Lawrence & Webber, p.25), in this case was operating their business in a cost effective way and consuming enough water to operate at capacity verses producing their product in an ethical manner that didn’t negatively impact the stakeholders. The stakeholders initially were local communities and governments in India, the Center for Science and Environment, and the India Resource Center, before expanding to encompass the World Wildlife Fund, Nature Conservancy, CASE, and various academic experts and humanitarians. 2. If we apply the strategic radar screen model, which highlights “ways of tracking important developments…outside of [the company’s] immediate view” (Lawrence & Webber, p.29), the most significant environment identified is the geophysical environment. This environment is “related to awareness of the physical surroundings of the organization’s facilities and operations” (p.30) and best correlates with this case’s public issue regarding the dependency on consumption of a natural resource, water. 3. In applying the issue management life cycle process, we can identify the following stages: o Identify Issue: In the early 2000s, Coca-Cola factories were depleting groundwater...
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...global warming impacts is influential to the development of control measures, greater understanding of the impacts of global warming would be instrumental to attain increased involvement of individuals in intervention practices. Global warming causes extreme temperatures, which affect quality of life and could be unbearable to people and other living organisms in highly affected regions. Global warming involves a general increase in atmospheric temperature and is experienced around the globe (McNall 1). Increased temperature affects people have adapted to lower temperatures experienced in the past. The increase in temperatures in hot and desert regions makes life extremely uncomfortable for people and other living organisms (The Nature Conservancy 1). The people are...
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