IOSR-JBM   Volume-13 ~ Issue-1 ~ Sep-Oct-2013

Abstract: This study aims at examining the perception of local community toward the incentive system which was applied in the tourism industry in Linow Lake. The results of the study show that Linow Lake is a natural tourism object which is potential to be developed to support local government revenue and local community welfare. Linow Lake is a geological phenomenon having high natural resources and biodiversity thus; its development needs to consider the nature preservation aspects. The local government has developed an incentive system in order to accelerate sustainable tourism at Linow Lake. However, local community feels that the system does not run well. The local people think that non-physical aspects, such as management, need to be improved more professionally. In addition, intensive training and education related to the management of tourism objects, like Linow Lake, is indispensable.

Keywords: conservation, incentive system, lake conservation, tourism development

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Abstract: This study examines the impact of women entrepreneurs on economic growth in Benue State, North-Central Nigeria. An exploratory survey method employed and the questionnaire used for data collection. A sample of Sixty (60) respondents was drawn from 244 registered businesses in Benue state. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Analysis of Co-variance and Regression and Correlation were employed as tools for testing hypotheses. Findings revealed that the operations of women entrepreneurs have not significantly impacted on the growth of Benue State economy due to the numerous operational challenges faced by them over the years. It was also observed that a weak positive relationship exist between public policy support and women entrepreneurs in Benue State. This implies that, government programmes and other support services have not helped them surmount the inhibiting operational challenges. In order to help the women entrepreneurs overcome their operational hardships in Benue State, it is recommended among others: capacity building programmes on entrepreneurship education, provision of effective and realistic support services for women entrepreneurs, promoting of gender neutral environment in all policy measures to help women entrepreneurs impact significantly on economic growth. Key Words: Benue State, Economic Growth, Impact, Support Services and Women Entrepreneurs.

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Abstract: Environmental Sustainability is the need of the hour. It has the potential to influence overall profitability of organization. The organizations should take accountability for the impacts of their operations on environment and should disclose the same in their annual and sustainability reports. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between environmental responsibility and financial performance of firm through review of extant literature, so as to find answer to the research question 'whether going green is profitable for firm or not'. Various theoretical, review and empirical researches have been conducted in past years for examining this relationship. But the results are mixed, inconsistent and often contradictory; ranging from positive, to negative, to statistically insignificant relationship; depending upon the choice of measure of environmental responsibility, measure of financial performance, sample composition, time-period and control variables. We, however, observed that majority of studies indicate positive relationship. This paper attempts to critically analyze prior studies in order to build up scope for further research, so that future researchers may reach to better and more consistent results.

Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Corporate Sustainability, Environmental Disclosure, Environmental Performance, Environmental Responsibility, Financial Performance, Sustainability Reporting

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