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Factors of PONASI Ecological Complex Resource Degradation
Get PDFPONASI is an ecological complex which is located in the southern part of Burkina Faso. It abounds with fauna and floristic species. But these resources are in a phase of degradation. The aim of this study is to analyze the main factors contributing to the degradation of the PONASI ecological complex. In order to assess the degradation factors, a systematic approach was used. It is an approach that takes into account the various phenomena responsible for degradation and the interactions. Data collection techniques focused on documentary research, interviews, field surveys, the use of the snowball sampling method, and the processing of some climatic parameters. For this research, a total of twelve (12) villages were surveyed. The results showed that anthropogenic and climatic factors contribute to the degradation of the resources of the PONASI ecological complex. The anthropogenic factors consist of vegetation fires, wood cutting, grazing, and picking immature fruit, and agricultural encroachment. These factors are exacerbated by the limits of governance which result in a lack of legal texts' application, a weak appropriation of the decentralization policy by the local authorities. The results of this study have demonstrated that there are a multitude of factors that contribute to the degradation of the PONASI ecological complex. It is urgent to take the necessary measures to reverse this trend of degradation
Les enjeux juridiques de la ratification de la Convention relative à la gestion intégrée de la ressource en eau du bassin du lac Kivu et de la rivière Ruzizi
Get PDFLa gouvernance juridique des bassins transfrontaliers, en Afrique centrale, reste inégalement structurée selon les sous-espaces concernés. En effet, le bassin du lac Tanganyika bénéficie, depuis 2003, de la Convention sur la gestion durable du lac Tanganyika, en vigueur. En revanche, le bassin du lac Kivu et de la rivière Ruzizi relève de la Convention relative à la gestion intégrée de la ressource en eau du bassin du lac Kivu et de la rivière Ruzizi que nous appelons convention ABAKIR. Ce cadre normatif a été signé en 2014, mais n’a pas encore été ratifié par la République démocratique du Congo, le Rwanda et le Burundi. Ce déséquilibre normatif compromet la gestion durable des ressources naturelles stratégiques. Cet article recourt à une comparaison entre la Convention sur la gestion durable du lac Tanganyika et la convention ABAKIR. L’objectif est de démontrer la pertinence de la ratification de cette dernière. L’article conclut que la complémentarité entre ces deux instruments peut constituer le socle d’une gouvernance régionale renforcée. Cette gouvernance serait fondée sur la coopération interétatique, la prévention des conflits liés aux ressources et la consolidation d’un maillage juridique coordonné de protection écologique dans la région des Grands Lacs d’Afrique.
The legal governance of transboundary basins in Central Africa remains unevenly structured across sub-regional spaces. While the Lake Tanganyika basin has benefited from an operational international environmental framework since 2003, the Lake Kivu and Ruzizi River basin still lacks a binding legal instrument, despite the signature of a convention in 2014 by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi. This normative imbalance undermines the sustainable management of strategically shared natural resources. This article demonstrates the relevance of ratifying the ABAKIR Convention through a comparative law methodology. The analysis contrasts both legal frameworks to assess their respective legal scope, degree of institutionalization, and the effectiveness of their governance mechanisms. The study indicates that the ABAKIR Convention (between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi) introduces significant advances in institutional architecture, financing mechanisms, and integrated resource management that align with contemporary standards of international environmental law. The article concludes that the complementarity of these two international instruments could form the foundation of a strengthened regional governance system based on interstate cooperation, the prevention of resource-based conflicts, and the consolidation of a legal ecological protection belt in the Great Lakes region
The Seasonal Assessment of Heavy Metals Pollution in the Waters of the Mediterranean and Atlantic Seas of Morocco
Get PDFHeavy metal pollution in marine environments poses a major risk to ecosystems and human health due to the persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity of metals. The current study aimed to analyze the seasonal patterns of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) in seawater samples from two Moroccan coastal regions, Mediterranean Coast (Nador) and Atlantic Coast (Casablanca), during autumn and spring of the 2023-2024 season. A total of 36 water samples were collected from each coast and were analyzed using ICP-AES following the WHO and USEPA guidelines. The data showed that during both coastal regions, Cd concentrations were 0.002 mg/L to 0.020 mg/L, which is above the WHO limit of 0.003 mg/L. Pb concentrations were also higher than the WHO guideline of 0.01 mg/L and reached 0.036-0.120 mg/L, particularly in Casablanca. On the other hand, Fe and Zn concentrations of 0.010-0.255 mg/L and 0.061-0.255 mg/L, respectively, were within safe limits. Seasonal changes showed greater Cd and Pb concentrations in autumn, most likely due to industrial discharges and agricultural runoff. The study raises alarm on the high levels of Cd and Pb contamination in the Mediterranean region and the need to develop policies to properly manage wastewater, regulate industries, and conduct biomonitoring of marine species
Enquête ethnobotanique sur les variétés de niébé (Vignia unguiculata (L.) Walp.) commercialisées dans le district de Korhogo, au nord de la Côte d’Ivoire
Get PDFLe niébé (Vigna unguilata L. Walp.) est une légumineuse essentielle pour les populations à faibles revenus en Afrique subsaharienne, car il offre une source importante de protéines moins chère. Malgré son importance alimentaire, sa culture dans le district de Korhogo au nord de la Côte d'Ivoire, est encore peu valorisée. Cette étude a pour objectif de recenser les variétés de niébé produites et commercialisées dans ce district à travers une enquête ethnobotanique. Dans le cadre de cette recherche, la méthode de collecte des données s’est appuyée sur une étude quantitative et qualitative auprès de vingt-deux (22) commerçants recensés sur les différents marchés visités. Les résultats ont montré que trois variétés de niébé (blanc, rouge et noir) sont cultivées et commercialisées dans le district de Korhogo. Par ailleurs, il ressort des enquêtes une adaptation de ces variétés de Niébé aux conditions socioenvironnementales et culturelles locales. En outre, une représentativité genrée, ethnique et des tranches d’âge des enquêtées intervenant dans la commercialisation du niébé sur les marchés du district de Korhogo, a été établie. Enfin, avec des différences notables dans les habitudes de commercialisation et les prix pratiqués entre les différents acteurs, la recherche indique que les populations d'ethnie senoufo et malinké sont les acteurs de la filière Niébé avec une hégémonie de la population senoufo. En définitive, les données collectées pourraient contribuer à une meilleure organisation de la filière Niébé et à améliorer l'accès des populations locales, vu que le Niébé contient des protéines essentielles à la nutrition.
The cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is an essential legume for low-income populations in sub-Saharan Africa as it is a valuable and affordable source of protein. Despite its dietary importance, the cultivation of cowpeas in the Korhogo district in northern Côte d'Ivoire remains undervalued. This study aims to identify the cowpea varieties produced and marketed in the district by conducting an ethnobotanical survey. For this study, data were collected through a quantitative and qualitative analysis of twenty-two traders identified in various markets visited. The results showed that three varieties of cowpea (white, red and black) are cultivated and sold in the Korhogo district. Furthermore, the surveys revealed that these varieties have adapted to the local socio-environmental and cultural conditions. Additionally, the gender, ethnicity and age of respondents involved in cowpea marketing in Korhogo district markets were analysed. Finally, notable differences in marketing habits and prices were observed between different stakeholders, indicating that the Senufo and Malinke ethnic groups are the main players in the cowpea sector, with the Senufo population holding the upper hand. Ultimately, the collected data could contribute to the more effective organization of the cowpea sector and improved access for local populations, given that cowpeas contain essential nutritional proteins
Territorializing Aquatic Biodiversity: Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) and Elasmobranch Distribution in the Kango Estuary (Gabon)
Get PDFElasmobranchs (sharks and rays) are ecologically and socio-economically important, yet their distribution in Central African estuarine systems remains poorly understood. This study investigates the spatial and seasonal distribution of elasmobranchs in the Komo Estuary (Kango, Gabon) using Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) collected through semi-structured interviews with 30 artisanal fishers, complemented by participatory mapping and GIS analyses. Four focal species were identified: Fontitrygon ukpam, F. margaritella, Carcharhinus leucas, and Sphyrna lewini. Among them, F. ukpam was the most widespread and abundant, extending from estuarine to upstream freshwater zones, whereas C. leucas and F. margaritella were concentrated in hot, saline lower-estuary waters. S. lewini was rarely reported. No statistically significant differences were detected between wet- and dry-season assemblages, although the data suggest a descriptive tendency toward slightly higher richness during the dry season. Temperature and salinity emerged as primary abiotic drivers, while prey availability, turbidity, and fishing pressure likely modulated these patterns. Spatial analyses (Kernel Density Estimation, Moran’s I, LISA, Getis-Ord Gi*) revealed localized hotspots and species aggregations not detectable through conventional surveys, underscoring the potential of LEK as a robust spatial dataset. Beyond documenting ecological distributions, fisher knowledge reflects lived territorialities, linking species ecology with social appropriation of aquatic environments. This research demonstrates the dual ecological and geographical value of LEK, contributing to biogeography by clarifying species–environment relationships, and to environmental geography by showing how local practices shape spatial perceptions of biodiversity. It also identifies priority estuarine sectors for monitoring and co-management in data-poor tropical systems
Assessment of Knowledge on Glaucomatous Disease in People with Glaucoma and Healthy Patients
Get PDFBackground: Glaucoma is a chronic, irreversible optic nerve neuropathy characterized by loss of visual field, which can evolve to irreversible vision loss if not treated properly. This study aims to assess the level of knowledge about glaucoma between a group of diagnosed patients and a control group. Methods: 50 individuals with glaucoma (group A) of the Ophthalmology service of Centro Universitário FMABC were required to answer a validated questionnaire. 50 patients without diagnosed glaucoma (Group B) answered the same questionnaire. Sociodemographic data were recorded, a source of information on the disease of 50 patients in Group A and 50 in Group B and, in Group A, it was also asked for how long they had been diagnosed. Results: In the glaucoma group, 52% were female and 48% were male. In the control group, 66% were women and 34% were men. The mean age of group A was 66.4 years and that of group B was 55.7 years. All individuals with glaucoma reported being aware of the disease, while 23% of Group B lacked awareness of the disease. 54% of Group A patients were not aware that vision loss in glaucoma is slow and 46% of them reported that the disease is mostly associated with ocular discomfort. The mean score of the questions in Group A and Group B was 12.08 and 10.66, respectively (p=0.0098). Conclusion: Patients with glaucoma demonstrate greater awareness of the disease than participants without glaucoma but appear to lack awareness of the complications of this disease. This study suggests the need to improve the population's knowledge about the disease and the prevention of irreversible vision loss
From Infrastructure to Growth: Evaluating PPP Investments in Morocco
Get PDFThis study investigates the impact of public–private partnerships (PPPs) on Morocco’s economic growth over the period 1993–2023. GDP growth is employed as the dependent variable, with the number of PPP projects, PPP investment, gross fixed capital formation, unemployment, and inflation as explanatory variables. Using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique, the analysis captures both short-run and long-run dynamics. Results indicate that in the long run, PPP investment exerts a positive and significant effect on GDP growth, whereas the number of PPP projects has a negative impact, suggesting that project proliferation without efficiency may hinder performance. Gross fixed capital formation positively and significantly contributes to growth, while inflation exerts a negative and significant influence. Unemployment, although negative, is statistically insignificant in the long run. In the short run, PPP projects contribute positively, while unemployment consistently reduces growth. Gross fixed capital formation positively and significantly contributes to growth, while inflation exerts a negative and significant influence. Unemployment, although negative, is statistically insignificant in the long run. Robustness tests confirm the absence of serial correlation, heteroskedasticity, and non-normality, while CUSUM and CUSUMQ verify model stability. These findings highlight that investment quality, rather than project frequency, is the key driver of Morocco’s long-run growth, underscoring the need for governance and efficiency-centered PPP strategies
Job Redesign as a Strategy to Reduce Burnout Among Nurses: A Theoretical Perspective
Get PDFBurnout is a common phenomenon in many modern-day organizations. However, the literature shows that burnout is more pronounced in nurses than in other categories of healthcare workers. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of scholarly studies on how organization development interventions can help reduce burnout among nurses. The aim of this study hence, was to examine how job redesigns can be employed as organization development intervention strategies towards the reduction of burnout among nurses. The methodology adopted was conceptual analysis of key job design theories, which include the Sociotechnical Systems Theory, the Job Characteristics Model, the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Model, and the Job Demand-Control Model. From the study, job enrichment and job crafting as job redesign interventions have been identified as promising interventions that can subsequently be explored as dimension-specific initiator variables in empirical studies for evidence-based policy guidance and decision making
Reassessing State Responsibility for the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons Under Contemporary International Law: Normative Evolution, Implementation Gaps, and Accountability Mechanisms
Get PDFInternally displaced persons (IDPs) represent a growing global challenge, occurring within the borders of sovereign States. Contemporary international law establishes that States hold primary responsibility for their protection, yet significant gaps remain between legal norms and practice. This article reassesses State responsibility for IDPs, examining international frameworks such as the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, the Kampala Convention, and relevant human rights and humanitarian law obligations. It highlights persistent challenges, including selective compliance, weak domestic implementation, and limited accountability mechanisms. The article argues that bridging these gaps requires stronger national legal frameworks and clearer international enforcement measures, ensuring that States fulfill their duties to prevent displacement, protect affected populations, and provide durable solutions. By moving beyond declaratory norms, the protection of IDPs can be strengthened under contemporary international law
Evaluation of Sanitation Risk of Toxic Waste Contaminated Soils
Get PDFThis work aim to understand the sanitation risk of toxic waste on tropical contaminated soils. The Ivorian Antipollution Center discovered 540 m3 of the toxic waste from Probo Koala boat in 21 August, 2006. These toxic waste have been seen in 13 zones of the Abidjan district : Akouédo, Abobo, Abobo Alépé road (DJIBI village), civile prison road (MACA), industrial zone of Koumassi, Port-Bouët - Vridi CAP Logistic (Rue Saint-Sylvestre)… This situation caused a socio-political crisis and generated the death of many people. In the aim to know the environmental impact and health risk assessment of toxics waste, of these contaminated soils in Abidjan district (Ivory Coast) the samples of these toxic waste have been sent to analyses in France. This analyse show that the principal compound of thes toxic waste are Polycyclics Aromatics Hydrocarbons (PAH), Volatile Aromatics Compound (VAC), Mercaptans and sulfurs molecules, Heavy metal, sulfur, Aliphatic Hydrocarbons, Linear hydrocarbons and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH). As these compounds present carcinogenic, toxic, and mutagenic properties, some of them were classified as priority pollutants by the US-EPA (Keith and Telliard 1979). In environment, the toxic waste cause the contamination of sols, water, air around the world (US-EPA, 1999). In this work, we want to present to you the risk of toxics waste on the health of people and the environment in the district of Abidjan