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Dr. Alec Thornton
Development Geography, University of New South Wales, UNSW Canberra, Australia

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0 Participatory Development
0 urban governance
0 sustainable livelihoods
0 Urban Food Systems
0 Urban food activism

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Urban Food Systems

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Journal article
Published: 13 December 2019 in Journal of Arid Environments
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Climate change will likely impact rainfall characteristics in particular locations; the amount, seasonality, variability and spatial patterns. In developing countries, this presents challenges for rural smallholder farmers as their livelihoods are largely based on rain-fed practices. Changes in climate patterns could increase farmers' vulnerability and the need for intervention. In this paper, we develop new metrics of analysis motivated by qualitative research with smallholder farmers. Previous research found that farmers' understanding of historical rainfall change is accurate, yet diverge from some research studies. We analyze meteorological station rainfall data using metrics that are familiar to smallholders. Farmers' perceptions of rainfall in southern Ethiopia were explored through interviews conducted in three communities. Our findings identified some forms of convergence, as well as divergence, in farmers' perception of rainfall trends and meteorological station data results. In asking the question ‘Why do data based on farmer experiences of rainfall variability differ from meteorological station data?’, we show that using existing data and applying farmer-influenced metrics can improve the information shared with farmers. We argue that, under further climate change, it will be increasingly important to convey meteorological information to farmers in ways that are relevant to them and their agricultural livelihoods.

ACS Style

Logan Cochrane; Sophie C. Lewis; Mastawesha Misganaw Engdaw; Alec Thornton; Dustin J. Welbourne. Using farmer-based metrics to analyze the amount, seasonality, variability and spatial patterns of rainfall amidst climate change in southern Ethiopia. Journal of Arid Environments 2019, 175, 104084 .

AMA Style

Logan Cochrane, Sophie C. Lewis, Mastawesha Misganaw Engdaw, Alec Thornton, Dustin J. Welbourne. Using farmer-based metrics to analyze the amount, seasonality, variability and spatial patterns of rainfall amidst climate change in southern Ethiopia. Journal of Arid Environments. 2019; 175 ():104084.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Logan Cochrane; Sophie C. Lewis; Mastawesha Misganaw Engdaw; Alec Thornton; Dustin J. Welbourne. 2019. "Using farmer-based metrics to analyze the amount, seasonality, variability and spatial patterns of rainfall amidst climate change in southern Ethiopia." Journal of Arid Environments 175, no. : 104084.

Chapter
Published: 28 November 2019 in India–Africa Partnerships for Food Security and Capacity Building
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Among the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the ‘urban SDG’ (SDG11) seeks inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities. Although urban food systems are not specifically mentioned, SDG11 seemingly shares synergies with SDG2, which emphasises ending hunger, achieving food security for all and promoting sustainable agriculture. This book offers an international collection of thematic and applied chapters that will critically explore urban food democracy and the formal integration of urban agriculture, and its related activities, as part of a broader policy approach to sustainable urban development. This means, an approach to good urban governance that is economically and socially responsive and in tune with forms of community-driven adaptation of urban food space, to improve the health and well-being of an urbanising global population.

ACS Style

Alec Thornton. Introduction. India–Africa Partnerships for Food Security and Capacity Building 2019, 3 -8.

AMA Style

Alec Thornton. Introduction. India–Africa Partnerships for Food Security and Capacity Building. 2019; ():3-8.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alec Thornton. 2019. "Introduction." India–Africa Partnerships for Food Security and Capacity Building , no. : 3-8.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2019 in Ecology and Society
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ACS Style

Sothun Nop; Alec Thornton. Urban resilience building in modern development: a case of Phnom Penh City, Cambodia. Ecology and Society 2019, 24, 1 .

AMA Style

Sothun Nop, Alec Thornton. Urban resilience building in modern development: a case of Phnom Penh City, Cambodia. Ecology and Society. 2019; 24 (2):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sothun Nop; Alec Thornton. 2019. "Urban resilience building in modern development: a case of Phnom Penh City, Cambodia." Ecology and Society 24, no. 2: 1.

Chapter
Published: 03 May 2018 in Space and Food in the City
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This chapter will provide an overview of the main theoretical frameworks to be explored in this book, which are urban governance and social mobility, particularly in the production of urban food spaces. These frameworks will provide the analytical lens to explore city–community engagement (or lack thereof) in urban agriculture (UA) and urban food security in cities in developed and developing countries. This chapter will discuss ideas in critical urban theory, with respect to social production of local food space, food security, with a focus on current research to be explored in the literature on UA from cities in North and South contexts.

ACS Style

Alec Thornton. Introduction. Space and Food in the City 2018, 1 -18.

AMA Style

Alec Thornton. Introduction. Space and Food in the City. 2018; ():1-18.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alec Thornton. 2018. "Introduction." Space and Food in the City , no. : 1-18.

Chapter
Published: 03 May 2018 in Space and Food in the City
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This chapter will present an overview of the field Urban Agriculture (UA) scholarship from the global North and South. Using an urban governance framework, this overview will focus on the relationship between UA and food security and the use of urban space for UA activities, from earlier periods of need, to the contemporary era of a globalising urban population, and to what extent UA is a solution to, or is symptomatic of, urban decline and a misunderstood fact of urban life. These issues are intertwined and pertinent, as social movements for urban food activism are clearly increasing in cities, globally, with multi-scalar impacts and policy outcomes that indicate the connected and disconnected nature of urban dwellers and their institutions.

ACS Style

Alec Thornton. Urban Agriculture: Overview of the Field and Early Models of Urban Food Governance. Space and Food in the City 2018, 19 -47.

AMA Style

Alec Thornton. Urban Agriculture: Overview of the Field and Early Models of Urban Food Governance. Space and Food in the City. 2018; ():19-47.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alec Thornton. 2018. "Urban Agriculture: Overview of the Field and Early Models of Urban Food Governance." Space and Food in the City , no. : 19-47.

Chapter
Published: 03 May 2018 in Space and Food in the City
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This book discussed some of the research in this space from cities in the ‘North and South’. Exploring examples from the past of ‘War’ and ‘Victory Gardens’, where domestic cross-sectoral and multi-actor allegiances formed to address an international or global crisis, provides a bridge to current urban social processes for city-community engagement in food systems change. In the former, world war provided the context for national, local and grassroots partnerships and, for the latter, the crisis is unpredictable in the global food system due to oil price shocks and climate change. Urban activism in North cities are engaged in hard fought campaigns for the preservation of urban space for non-economic uses, such as urban food production, and other social uses. The emergence of urban food activism in South cities, particularly is SSA, is impaired by poor urban governance that does not promote and encourage city-community partnerships in the use of space for social use value.

ACS Style

Alec Thornton. Conclusion. Space and Food in the City 2018, 101 -104.

AMA Style

Alec Thornton. Conclusion. Space and Food in the City. 2018; ():101-104.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alec Thornton. 2018. "Conclusion." Space and Food in the City , no. : 101-104.

Chapter
Published: 03 May 2018 in Space and Food in the City
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This chapter will present UA case studies in the global North and South, from my own research (previous and current), as well as others. These studies were selected on the basis of their direct relevance to the themes specified throughout this book, namely, urban governance, food security and the use of urban space for UA activities. This chapter will begin with an overview of UA practice in cities in developing and developed countries. It will then address the following questions, and apply these to the case studies: (1) are there existing frameworks or formal processes for city–community engagement in urban food space issues and (2) to what extent are they replicable to other cities (with due consideration for how geography, culture and history influence places and spaces)?

ACS Style

Alec Thornton. City Case Studies in Urban Governance and Urban Activism. Space and Food in the City 2018, 49 -100.

AMA Style

Alec Thornton. City Case Studies in Urban Governance and Urban Activism. Space and Food in the City. 2018; ():49-100.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alec Thornton. 2018. "City Case Studies in Urban Governance and Urban Activism." Space and Food in the City , no. : 49-100.

Journal article
Published: 19 January 2018 in Remote Sensing
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An influential underlying driver of human-induced landscape change is civil war and other forms of conflict that cause human displacement. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) increase environmental pressures at their destination locations while reducing them at their origins. This increased pressure presents an environment for increased land cover change (LCC) rates and landscape fragmentation. To test whether this hypothesis is correct, this research sought to understand LCC dynamics in the Western Area of Sierra Leone from 1976 to 2011, a period including pre-conflict, conflict, and post-conflict eras, using Landsat and SPOT satellite imagery. A trajectory analysis of classified images compared LCC trajectories before and during the war (1976–2000) with after the war (2003–2011). Over the 35-year period, the built-up land class rapidly increased, in parallel with an increase in urban and peri-urban agriculture. During the war, urban and peri-urban agriculture became a major livelihood activity for displaced rural residents to make the region food self-sufficient, especially when the war destabilised food production activities. The reluctance of IDPs to return to their rural homes after the war caused an increased demand for land driven by housing needs. Meanwhile, protected forest and other forest declined. A significant finding to emerge from this research is that landscape fragmentation increased in conjunction with declining forest cover while built-up areas aggregated. This has important implications for the region’s flora, fauna, and human populations given that other research has shown that landscape fragmentation affects the landscape’s ability to provide important ecosystem services.

ACS Style

Solomon Peter Gbanie; Amy L. Griffin; Alec Thornton. Impacts on the Urban Environment: Land Cover Change Trajectories and Landscape Fragmentation in Post-War Western Area, Sierra Leone. Remote Sensing 2018, 10, 129 .

AMA Style

Solomon Peter Gbanie, Amy L. Griffin, Alec Thornton. Impacts on the Urban Environment: Land Cover Change Trajectories and Landscape Fragmentation in Post-War Western Area, Sierra Leone. Remote Sensing. 2018; 10 (1):129.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Solomon Peter Gbanie; Amy L. Griffin; Alec Thornton. 2018. "Impacts on the Urban Environment: Land Cover Change Trajectories and Landscape Fragmentation in Post-War Western Area, Sierra Leone." Remote Sensing 10, no. 1: 129.

Debate article
Published: 05 July 2017 in Forum for Development Studies
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Whereas the Millennium Development Goals sought reductions, the Sustainable Development Goals have set forth bold new objectives of leaving no one behind. This Commentary explores the continued geographic prioritization and exclusions within development studies research and some of the causes. The status quo is entrenching exclusion. A transformation of research, and the research community, is required to ensure that no one is left behind. Providing the evidence to support decision-making that is equitable and inclusive necessitates critical reflection of the exclusions that exist, along with innovation and creativity in how the research community can address gaps and support the more inclusive SDG agenda. Thought leadership and evidence will be the foundation that transforms our research and practice – if we, as a community of researchers, heed the call.

ACS Style

Logan Cochrane; Alec Thornton. The Geography of Development Studies: Leaving No One Behind. Forum for Development Studies 2017, 45, 167 -175.

AMA Style

Logan Cochrane, Alec Thornton. The Geography of Development Studies: Leaving No One Behind. Forum for Development Studies. 2017; 45 (1):167-175.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Logan Cochrane; Alec Thornton. 2017. "The Geography of Development Studies: Leaving No One Behind." Forum for Development Studies 45, no. 1: 167-175.

Articles
Published: 15 April 2017 in Local Environment
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Urban agriculture (UA) has the potential to expand beyond the grassroots level to meet the social, cultural, economic and food needs of urban dwellers. At its core, UA represents an alternative use of urban space that occurs with or without government support or approval. The experiences of community gardeners and their views of, and engagement in, community gardens as a form of UA, or local “alternative food networks”, is a focal point of this paper. Relying on Australian city case studies, this paper explores community gardens, using critical urban approaches concerning “rights to the city” and diverse economies. Findings from this study reveal how community gardeners understand and participate in diverse economies and extended local food networks. They also identify respondents’ views of local councils as barriers to the emergence of community gardens, and other forms of UA, as a local response to growing concerns over impacts of the global food chain on food security. In contrast to other Western cities, effective city–community relations for community garden growth have yet to emerge in Australian cities, as key policy areas for urban sustainability and social cohesion.

ACS Style

Alec Thornton. “The Lucky country”? A critical exploration of community gardens and city–community relations in Australian cities. Local Environment 2017, 22, 969 -985.

AMA Style

Alec Thornton. “The Lucky country”? A critical exploration of community gardens and city–community relations in Australian cities. Local Environment. 2017; 22 (8):969-985.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alec Thornton. 2017. "“The Lucky country”? A critical exploration of community gardens and city–community relations in Australian cities." Local Environment 22, no. 8: 969-985.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2017 in Journal of Rural Studies
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ACS Style

Logan Cochrane; Alec Thornton. A socio-cultural analysis of smallholder borrowing and debt in southern Ethiopia. Journal of Rural Studies 2017, 49, 69 -77.

AMA Style

Logan Cochrane, Alec Thornton. A socio-cultural analysis of smallholder borrowing and debt in southern Ethiopia. Journal of Rural Studies. 2017; 49 ():69-77.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Logan Cochrane; Alec Thornton. 2017. "A socio-cultural analysis of smallholder borrowing and debt in southern Ethiopia." Journal of Rural Studies 49, no. : 69-77.

Book chapter
Published: 01 January 2017 in Smart Risks
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ACS Style

Logan Cochrane; Alec Thornton; Edited By Jennifer Lentfer; Tanya Cothran. CHAPTER 18 Charity rankers: Who is defining effectiveness? Smart Risks 2017, 108 -113.

AMA Style

Logan Cochrane, Alec Thornton, Edited By Jennifer Lentfer, Tanya Cothran. CHAPTER 18 Charity rankers: Who is defining effectiveness? Smart Risks. 2017; ():108-113.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Logan Cochrane; Alec Thornton; Edited By Jennifer Lentfer; Tanya Cothran. 2017. "CHAPTER 18 Charity rankers: Who is defining effectiveness?" Smart Risks , no. : 108-113.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2015 in Journal of International Development
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ACS Style

Logan Cochrane; Alec Thornton. Charity Rankings: Delivering Development or Dehumanising Aid? Journal of International Development 2015, 28, 57 -73.

AMA Style

Logan Cochrane, Alec Thornton. Charity Rankings: Delivering Development or Dehumanising Aid? Journal of International Development. 2015; 28 (1):57-73.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Logan Cochrane; Alec Thornton. 2015. "Charity Rankings: Delivering Development or Dehumanising Aid?" Journal of International Development 28, no. 1: 57-73.

Journal article
Published: 23 October 2013 in Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography
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ACS Style

Alec Thornton; Tony Binns; Maria Talaitupu Kerslake. Hard times in Apia? Urban landlessness and the church in Samoa. Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography 2013, 34, 357 -372.

AMA Style

Alec Thornton, Tony Binns, Maria Talaitupu Kerslake. Hard times in Apia? Urban landlessness and the church in Samoa. Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography. 2013; 34 (3):357-372.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alec Thornton; Tony Binns; Maria Talaitupu Kerslake. 2013. "Hard times in Apia? Urban landlessness and the church in Samoa." Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography 34, no. 3: 357-372.

Editorial
Published: 31 January 2013 in Applied Geography
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ACS Style

Alec Thornton; Christian M. Rogerson. African cities and the millennium development goals: A case for applied geography. Applied Geography 2013, 36, 1 -2.

AMA Style

Alec Thornton, Christian M. Rogerson. African cities and the millennium development goals: A case for applied geography. Applied Geography. 2013; 36 ():1-2.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alec Thornton; Christian M. Rogerson. 2013. "African cities and the millennium development goals: A case for applied geography." Applied Geography 36, no. : 1-2.

Journal article
Published: 31 January 2013 in Applied Geography
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Rapid urbanisation has resulted in an increase in urban poverty in the developing world. In response, some governments in developing nations are increasingly considering urban agriculture to combat poverty. However, understandings of formal intervention to link small scale urban food producers to urban markets are still limited. This paper will present findings from a tentative study of the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market; a farmers' market located in Johannesburg, Gauteng province, South Africa. Results from a survey of urban farmers suggest that a free market economy may not provide equal benefit between large and small scale urban producers. Key findings reveal that beneficial relationships and risk-sharing mechanisms are key for urban producers to access this urban market.

ACS Style

Tang Mun Bbun; Alec Thornton. A level playing field? Improving market availability and access for small scale producers in Johannesburg, South Africa. Applied Geography 2013, 36, 40 -48.

AMA Style

Tang Mun Bbun, Alec Thornton. A level playing field? Improving market availability and access for small scale producers in Johannesburg, South Africa. Applied Geography. 2013; 36 ():40-48.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tang Mun Bbun; Alec Thornton. 2013. "A level playing field? Improving market availability and access for small scale producers in Johannesburg, South Africa." Applied Geography 36, no. : 40-48.

Articles
Published: 05 July 2012 in Development in Practice
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Civil society organisations, including those that are faith-based, are increasingly viewed as key stakeholders that can influence government policies, advocate on behalf of poor people and contribute to service delivery and development. This paper discusses interactions between religious groups and the state and how they influence society in the ethnically diverse Asia-Pacific region. Through case studies of Indonesia, Fiji, and Samoa, the paper discusses various aspects of the political relationships between religious groups and states, the roles of religion in society and the engagement of religious groups in welfare and development. It concludes that while religious organisations are socially and politically influential in all the countries considered, certain aspects of their relationships with governments pose challenges for the achievement of stability, equality, and development. Donateurs et gouvernance : le potentiel du développement basé sur la foi dans la région Asie-Pacifique Les organisations de la société civile, y compris celles qui ont une base religieuse, sont de plus en plus considérées comme des parties prenantes clés qui peuvent influer sur les politiques gouvernementales, mener un travail de plaidoyer au nom des pauvres et contribuer à la prestation de services et au développement. Cet article traite des interactions entre les groupes religieux et l'État et de la manière dont ils influent sur la société dans la région d'Asie-Pacifique, où la diversité ethnique est très importante. À l'aide d'études de cas d'Indonésie, de Fidji et de Samoa, cet article traite de divers aspects des rapports politiques entre groupes religieux et États, des rôles de la religion dans la société et de la présence des groupes religieux dans le bien-être social et le développement. Il conclut que, bien que les organisations religieuses soient influentes sur les plans social et politique dans tous les pays étudiés, certains aspects de leurs rapports avec les gouvernements soulèvent des problèmes quant à l'obtention de la stabilité, de l'égalité et du développement. Doadores e governança: o potencial do desenvolvimento baseado na fé no Pacífico Asiático As organizações da sociedade civil, incluindo aquelas que são baseadas na fé, estão sendo cada vez mais vistas como stakeholders cruciais que podem influenciar políticas governamentais, advogar em nome das pessoas pobres e contribuir para a implementação de serviços e desenvolvimento. Este artigo discute as interações entre grupos religiosos e o estado e como eles influenciam a sociedade na região etnicamente diversificada do Pacífico Asiático. Através de estudos de caso da Indonésia, Fiji e Samoa, o artigo discute vários aspectos da relação política entre grupos religiosos e estados, o papel da religião na sociedade e o engajamento de grupos religiosos no bem-estar e desenvolvimento. O artigo conclui que, embora as organizações...

ACS Style

Alec Thornton; Minako Sakai; Graham Hassall. Givers and governance: the potential of faith-based development in the Asia Pacific. Development in Practice 2012, 22, 779 -791.

AMA Style

Alec Thornton, Minako Sakai, Graham Hassall. Givers and governance: the potential of faith-based development in the Asia Pacific. Development in Practice. 2012; 22 (5):779-791.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alec Thornton; Minako Sakai; Graham Hassall. 2012. "Givers and governance: the potential of faith-based development in the Asia Pacific." Development in Practice 22, no. 5: 779-791.

Articles
Published: 01 September 2010 in Development Southern Africa
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Urban agriculture has become one of the key survival strategies for the urban poor in the developing world. Yet most cities do not have policy to support it and many actively discourage it. This paper reviews the situation in Zambia's four largest cities. During the 1960s–1970s, the Kaunda government attempted to create a supportive policy environment for urban agriculture, which included support for peri-urban cooperatives. However, the current situation reveals that a near absence of institutional support for urban agriculture constrains farmers' activities. The authors' survey of 400 farmers established both the value of such agriculture as a survival strategy and the need for support measures. The paper concludes with an overview of institutions that need to be implemented to enhance the relevance and scope of urban agriculture in Zambia and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa.

ACS Style

Alec Thornton; Etienne Nel; Godfrey Hampwaye. Cultivating Kaunda's plan for self-sufficiency: Is urban agriculture finally beginning to receive support in Zambia? Development Southern Africa 2010, 27, 613 -625.

AMA Style

Alec Thornton, Etienne Nel, Godfrey Hampwaye. Cultivating Kaunda's plan for self-sufficiency: Is urban agriculture finally beginning to receive support in Zambia? Development Southern Africa. 2010; 27 (4):613-625.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alec Thornton; Etienne Nel; Godfrey Hampwaye. 2010. "Cultivating Kaunda's plan for self-sufficiency: Is urban agriculture finally beginning to receive support in Zambia?" Development Southern Africa 27, no. 4: 613-625.

Journal article
Published: 01 April 2010 in Asia Pacific Viewpoint
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Alec Thornton; Maria T. Kerslake; Tony Binns. Alienation and obligation: Religion and social change in Samoa. Asia Pacific Viewpoint 2010, 51, 1 -16.

AMA Style

Alec Thornton, Maria T. Kerslake, Tony Binns. Alienation and obligation: Religion and social change in Samoa. Asia Pacific Viewpoint. 2010; 51 (1):1-16.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alec Thornton; Maria T. Kerslake; Tony Binns. 2010. "Alienation and obligation: Religion and social change in Samoa." Asia Pacific Viewpoint 51, no. 1: 1-16.