Journal of Global Ecology and Environment
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ANALYSIS OF SMALLHOLDER FORESTS FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION IN THE NKORANZA SOUTH DISTRICT OF THE BRONG AHAFO REGION OF GHANA
No full textThe study dwelt on the potential of smallholder forests for the dual purpose of providing products for the farm household while contributing to climate change mitigation in Ghana using the Kranka, Baafi and Manso integrated mahogany forests of the Nkoranza South District as case study. It employed the use of both questionnaire sourced primary and literature review sourced secondary data. Both quantitative (use of tables and charts) and qualitative methods (use of SPSS-Statistical Package for Social Scientist and the Microsoft Excel computer application software) were used in the data analysis. The study established that smallholder farmers earn less than GH₵200 a year, perceive climate change as change in rainfall pattern and increase in temperature, and are willing to manage and retain their farms for climate change mitigation longer if enabled with carbon credits. It also established that access to initial capital is main factor that could influence planting of smallholder forests for climate change, and serving carbon credits to smallholders would influence the management of their forests. The study recommends the smallholders should be provided financial assistance to enable them increase the establishment of smallholder forests and carbon credits to enable them manage the forests.
(GH₵1=US$0.52493 as at February, 2013)
ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY OF HINDON RIVER IN GHAZIABAD AND NOIDA, INDIA BY USING MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL METHODS
No full textThe Hindon River is an important River of western Uttar Pradesh. The river is highly polluted due to industrial, municipal and agricultural activities. In the present study, water quality of river Hindon is assessed by using Multivariate statistical methods. Water quality data obtained from eight different sampling stations has been subjected to Pearson correlation, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Principal component analysis yields three major components which were responsible for 84% of total variance within the data set. First factor which is controlled by Total Dissolved Solids, Total Hardness, and chloride explains 36.85% of total variance. The second factor, having strong positive loading of temperature and pH explains 28.34% of the total variance and third factor that can be attributed to organic pollution is responsible for 19.71% of total variance. Hierarchical cluster analysis was carried out to classify sampling stations of certain similarity which grouped eight different sites into two clusters. Thus, the present study has helped to recognize the major components contributing to water quality and has further illustrated the significance of multivariate techniques for analysis and elucidation of water quality data
SURFACE WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF BHINDAWAS LAKE (HARYANA, INDIA) USING MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES
No full textBhindawas Lake is an important resource for India relishing protected status since 1986. It is a man-made lake constructed to store excess waters of Jawaharlal Nehru Canal. It serves as an important breeding, feeding and wintering site for significant members of bird flora. Over past few years it is under serious pressures due to invasive species, eutrophication and siltation. The objectives of the present investigation were to (1) provide an overview of the present water quality in Bhindawas Lake, Haryana, India and (2) extraction of significant water quality parameters and identification of pollution sources using multivariate statistical techniques such as Cluster Analysis (CA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Factor Analysis(FA). Data matrix included analytical results of 17 water quality parameters at 18 sampling sites within the Lake monitored during pre-monsoon and monsoon season of 2014. Dendrogram resulting from cluster analysis grouped the sampling sites into 3 statistically significant clusters based on the spatial similarities in the Lake water characteristics. Principal component analysis and factor analysis yielded 5 factors that explained for 80.85% variation in the data. PCA/FA helped in identification of parameters namely minerals, salts, nutrients and organic pollutants, that greatly influence variation patterns of temporal data and contribute to high pollution loading for Bhindawas Lake. FA also suggested the probable sources of these pollution loadings could be soil leaching or erosion followed by runoff, non-point sources such as agriculture and anthropogenic sources. The results reveal that the Lake is under pressure due to non-point pollution sources and requires immediate attention and implementation of conservation and management strategies to maintain its ecological integrity
PRIORITIZING BIODIVERSITY THREATS IN IRAN PROTECTED AREAS USING TOPSIS METHOD
No full textDue to increasing human threats and pressures especially in developing countries and also increasing human concerns about loss of biodiversity, it is essential to prioritize biodiversity threats to be used before applying conservation and management plans. The present study is aimed to identify and prioritize biodiversity threat criteria in Iran protected areas. Firstly, after investigating different studies, some threats to biodiversity have been identified. Afterwards, weighted importance indices have been defined using Entropy method and were used in standard weighted matrix in TOPSIS method for prioritizing biodiversity threat criteria in Iran protected areas. Weighted indices with Entropy method indicate that incidence impact event time or moment is the most important index and indices of impact intensity, direction and probability of occurrence are less important. The result of TOPSIS method prioritization showed oil resources with shortest distance from negative ideal solution and the greatest distance from ideal positive solution, while chemical resources, refineries, highways, freeways, and transit roads have the highest priority, respectively human non-formal settlements, Byway or detours density and deep wells drilling represent the lowest priority.Consequently, this method helped make suitable indicators for sustainable development of conservation in Iran protected areas.The result indicates the efficiency of the proposed model in meeting the research objectives and it is considered as an innovation in the field of biodiversity- land use planning
ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN PADDY SOIL AND THEIR POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS BY CONSUMPTION OF RICE FROM PENANG, MALAYSIA
No full textUnchecked developments of heavy metal producing industries, which in turn poison soil and agricultural commodities, have raised many red flags. In this research, the presence and build up of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in rice (Oryza sativa) and corresponding soil samples collected from Penang, Malaysia, were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) to assess the Transfer Factor (TF) of metals from soil to rice, as well as the possibility and extent of harm that can be caused to the natives. It was revealed that majority of soil samples contained heavy metals under the permissible limit set by Environmental Quality Standard for Soils in Malaysia. Nevertheless, 13%, 22% and 39% of the study area is correspondingly tainted with Cr, Mn, and Zn. A risk assessment of heavy metals was conducted by studying the intake of rice by mature natives. It was hence concluded that the hazard quotient value (HQ) of each metal as well as the hazard index (HI) of all these metals were still within their safe limits
VIRTUAL TRAINING IN THE FIELD OF EARTH SCIENCES
No full textThe paper discusses the virtual training of specialists in the area of Earth sciences. It discusses the methodological and technical components of virtual training and describes the cognitive models and cognitive properties of the formation of virtual models. It analyses the importance of the information units in virtual models. The application of information situation models is a feature of the training. The paper considers an example of information situation to be used in virtual training. The peculiarity of the training is its multi-layered structure
ASSESSMENT OF LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGES IN PRU DISTRICT OF GHANA USING GIS AND REMOTE SENSING
No full textThere has been an increase in the population of Pru District in Ghana as a result of its renowned market and agricultural activities. It has therefore seen a sharp conversion of its forest and agricultural farmlands into other developmental activities purposely to meet its population and economic expansion, and could worsen with its quest of meeting infrastructure and economic activities of its newly created district. Therefore, there is the need to find a modern approach to assess the land use and land cover changes in Pru District of Ghana. GIS technique and Remote Sensing data were therefore combined to determine the land use and land cover changes. Landsat TM and ETM+ images of 1990 and 2006 of the study area were used to determine the land cover and land use changes. The study reveals that, between 1990 and 2006, the vegetative cover decreased by 17.25%, built up / bare surfaces increased by 18.50% and water bodies decreased by 1.25%. Within the 16 year change detection period there has been an annual conversion rate of 6.25% from vegetation to built – up / bare surface area, a rate quite alarming with the emergence of global climate change issues. The results suggest that, there has been an enormous expansion in infrastructure and economic developments in the area, having consequent effects on the land cover and land use systems. The results thus provide very useful information to local government for decision making and policy planning
ISSUES OF GATED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN MALAYSIA
No full textThe concept of Gated Housing Communities is not new in Malaysia or in many other countries. The Gated Community fosters a platform upon which a harmonius and stable society could be nurtured. Its success depends on proper study and planning to ensure a positive impact on its residents. At present, nevertheless, there are housing developers that are more concerned about maximizing profits, to the extent that they have scant regard for how their actions might affect the welfare of the community in the future. The growth of Gated Communities has given rise to various problems, especially from the aspects of planning, legalities, and how they affect the community socially. This study is aimed at identifying issues concerned with the development of Gated Communities from the planning, legal, economic, and social aspects. The paper further discusses the development of Gated Communities in Malaysia and factors that contribute to the rise of such a housing concept
DROUGHT AND WATER SHORTAGE, A SERIOUS CRISIS FOR IRAN
No full textAccording to the existing evidence, exploiting many water resources of the country is reaching its crisis point. The water within all the major rivers has been exploited. Iran is headed for a water shortage of epic proportions, and little is being done to reverse a decades-long trend that has reduced the country’s water supply to crisis levels. Changes in the global climate, a century of rampant development and heavy subsidies for water and other utilities are all contributing to a situation that is likely to get much worse. “Our water usage is twice the world standard, and considering the situation in our country, we have to reduce this level,” Massoumeh Ebtekar, the vice president and the head of Iran’s Department of Environment, said in a recent speech. There are no considerable surface water resources available for exploitation and use. Ground water resources have also been irresponsibly used and these water supplies, which have been formed through millions of years and are practically irreplaceable, have been exploited by digging deep wells within the ground. In addition to the major cities, other population centers of the country have also faced the major alarming levels of water. We have to find a solution as soon as possible. Using a descriptive method, referring to the valid and scientific texts, interviewing with prominent professors of Universities and pundits, and investigating the reports of parliament and the cabinet about the crisis of water, this case study has been done in order to contribute to removing the problem by presenting fast, easy, and effective solutions; since continuing with the present trend in the coming years, would change Iran into a totally dry country
POTENTIAL OF VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKETS FOR IMPROVED CARBON STOCK IN COMMUNITY BASED FOREST MANAGEMENT OF MIOMBO WOODLANDS, TANZANIA
No full textCommunity based forest management reduce deforestation and forest degradation in many developing countries including Tanzania. However, the success is threatened by limited alternative economic activities to support local livelihoods. The emerging global voluntary carbon markets aim to deliver multiple benefits including biodiversity; carbon offset and poverty reduction. Despite of its pronounced success, community based forest management of miombo woodlands has not been well explored in light of growing global voluntary carbon markets. The markets can be harnessed to provide alternative income for local livelihoods. This study investigated four community based forests verse vies three proximity open access forests in Southern Highlands, Tanzania. It was found that carbon stock ranges from 66.51tCO2/ha to 168.27tCO2/ha at a mean of 131.60tCO2/ha (SD 74.21) in community based forest managed sites. The proximate open access forests have 18.11tCO2/ha to 92.01tCO2/ha with a mean of 36.38tCO2/ha (SD 9.14). The rate of carbon stock improvement also ranged from 27.69tCO2/ha/yr to 126.38tCO2/ha/yr based on management effectiveness and forest condition. The improvement provide potential net income of 6,233.18/yr if sold at lowest price of 5$/tCO2e. Given the limited economic opportunity available in miombo woodlands, just 50% of this net income could be useful to promote alternative livelihood activities to local community