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Wednesday, 29 March 2017

Healing with animals in a semiarid northeastern area of Brazil

Author
Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves (romulo_nobrega@yahoo.com.br), Maria de Fátima Melo, Felipe Silva Ferreira, Dilma Maria de Brito Melo Trovão, Thelma Lúcia Pereira Dias, José Valberto Oliveira, Reinaldo Farias Paiva Lucena and Raynner Rilke Duarte Barboza
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Abstract: Abstract This study presents information on the use of medicinal animals in a semiarid area of northeast Brazil, a region where animals have recognized importance in local popular medicine. The information on the use of animals for medicinal purposes was obtained through semi-structured questionnaires, complemented by free interviews and informal conversations. The results obtained showed that the residents of the area studied utilize a considerable richness of animal species (n = 42) for medicinal purposes, as occurs in other areas of Brazil’s semiarid region, demonstrating that zootherapy represents an alternative form of health care that is important to the inhabitants of the region. There is a need for new investigations on medicinal fauna, aimed at promoting the sustainable use of eventual medicinal species and preserving popular knowledge associated with the use of animal species.
Keywords: Caatinga; Ethnozoology; Medicinal animals; Zootherapy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Contribution of the sugar cane industry to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the energy sector: the case of Mauritius

Author
A. Khoodaruth (a.khoodaruth@uom.ac.mu)
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Abstract: Abstract The aim of this paper was to present the contribution of the sugar cane industry to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the energy sector. Mauritius is taken as a case study. Sugar cane was introduced in Mauritius during the seventeenth century and production of sugar started around 60 years later. Since then, the cane industry has been one of the economic pillars of the country. Bagasse, a by-product of sugar cane, is used as fuel in cogeneration power plants to produce process heat and electricity. This process heat and the generated electricity are used by an annexed sugar mills for the production of sugar, while the remaining electricity is exported to the national grid. In fact, Mauritius is a pioneer in the field of bagasse-based cogeneration power plant; the first bagasse-based cogeneration power plant that was commissioned in the world was in Mauritius in 1957. The contribution of the cane industry in the electricity sector has been vital for the economic development of Mauritius and also in terms of mitigating carbon dioxide emissions by displacing fossil fuels in electricity generation, as bagasse is classified as a renewable source. Data obtained from Statistics Mauritius on electricity production for the past 45 years were analysed, and carbon dioxide emissions were calculated based on international norms. It is estimated that savings on heavy fuel oil importation were by 1.5 million tons of oil—representing a value of 2.9 billion dollars—thus avoiding 4.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. This figure can be further increased if molasses, a by-product of sugar cane juice, is used to produce bio-ethanol to be used as fuel in vehicles.
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Landscape change assessment of reservation areas using remote sensing and landscape metrics (case study: Jajroud reservation, Iran)

Author
Shirkou Jaafari (sh.jaafari@ut.ac.ir), Yousef Sakieh (sakie.yusuf@gmail.com), Afshin Alizadeh Shabani (ashabani@ut.ac.ir), Afshin Danehkar (danehkar@ut.ac.ir) and Ali-akbar Nazarisamani (aknazari@ut.ac.ir)
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Abstract: Abstract Understanding and analyzing the dynamics of reservation areas, as one of the most valuable ecological resources, is of great importance for effective management of these environments. Monitoring the process of land-use/land-cover (LULC) transformations in these areas and knowing their driving forces would contribute to an informed decision making. In this study, an integrated application of satellite imagery interpretation and landscape ecology approach is implemented to quantify and analyze the landscape dynamics of Jajroud reservation area, Iran. The digital images collected by satellite at 1986, 2000, and 2010 were classified following an ensemble classification method. The resultant LULC maps included six categories of orchard, healthy rangeland, degraded rangeland, afforest, water, and urban. Landscape metrics-based analysis of temporal patterns of LULCs indicated that Jajroud reservation area has been undergoing rapid and drastic changes over the past 25 years. Based on class area metric at landscape level, changes were mostly due to the conversion of degraded rangeland and orchard to urban category. The impervious area expanded approximately fivefold from 1986 to 2010. Based on Largest Patch Index metric, the dominant land-cover class across the study time frame was degraded rangeland that decreased from 1986 to 2010. The main driving forces of urban growth in the area were willingness of local residents to sell their orchard lands and having financial interests. Because of rapid economic development and expansion of human-constructed elements, the landscape of the area experienced a fragmentation process during the last three decades. The study demonstrated that integrated application of satellite imagery and landscape metrics can be a useful and easy-to-implement tool for environmental impact assessment of an ongoing urbanization process.
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Adaptive threat management framework: integrating people and turtles

Author
Valéria R. F. Silva (valeria@tamar.org.br), Sylvia F. Mitraud (smitraud@gmail.com), Maria L. C. P. Ferraz (malu.camargo@gmail.com), Eduardo H. S. M. Lima(eduardo.lima@tamar.org.br), Maria Thereza D. Melo(thereza.damasceno@tamar.org.br), Armando J. B. Santos (armando@tamar.org.br), Augusto César C. D. Silva (cesar@tamar.org.br), Jaqueline C. Castilhos(jaqueline@tamar.org.br), Jamyle A. F. Batista (jamyle@tamar.org.br), Gustave G. Lopez (guslopez@tamar.org.br), Frederico Tognin (fred@tamar.org.br), João Carlos Thomé (jocathome@tamar.org.br), Cecília Baptistotte (cecilia@tamar.org.br), Berenice M. Gomes Silva (bere@tamar.org.br), José Henrique Becker (curupira@tamar.org.br), Juçara Wanderline (ju@tamar.org.br), Fernanda Pegas (f.pegas@griffith.edu.au), Gonzalo Róstan (gonzalo@tamar.org.br), Guy Guagni Marcovaldi (guy@tamar.org.br) and Maria Ângela G. Marcovaldi (neca@tamar.org.br)
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Abstract: Abstract In the 35 years since its inception, the Brazilian National Program for the Conservation of Marine Turtles (TAMAR) has had great success in protecting the five species of sea turtles that occur in Brazil. It has also contributed significantly to worldwide scientific data and knowledge about these species’ biology, such as life cycles and migration patterns. TAMAR’s conservation strategies have always relied on a variety of environmental education and social inclusion (EESI) activities highly adapted to the socio-environmental evolving contexts of its 25 locations distributed across nine states. Diversity and flexibility are critical to enable timely and effective local responses to existing or potential threats to sea turtles. The intuitive, locally adapted, decentralized, and independent way EESI activities have been carried out have generated positive results in the resolution of specific and evolving local problems through the course of the project. This article brings EESI under the same conceptual framework that underlies its conservation approach by adopting an adaptive threat management framework to organize and qualify its educational and social inclusion interventions according to the main categories of threat addressed by TAMAR.
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Extraction of earthworm from soil by different sampling methods: a review

Author
Jaswinder Singh (singhjassi75@yahoo.co.in), Sharanpreet Singh(sharanpreetkahlon@gmail.com) and Adarsh Pal Vig (dr.adarshpalvig@gmail.com)
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Abstract: Abstract Earthworms are so closely incorporated into the soil structure that they are not calculated easily from the soil. Due to this property, their extraction from soil is tedious and time-consuming. Different methods have been used for their extraction from the soil, and efficiency of each method is affected by physical properties, viz., temperature and moisture of the soil. This study explored the advantage and disadvantage of different sampling methods for the extraction of earthworms such as hand sorting, octet method, formalin method, mustard extraction method, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), and onion extraction method. Extraction efficiency of formalin is 20–60 times more as compared to hand sorting, but hand sorting gives satisfactory results for earthworms of more than 0.2 g live weight, and cocoons can also be recovered by this method. Octet method is effective in extracting anecic species and could easily be applied to site where chemical extraction is not a viable option. Extraction by mustard and AITC is simple, low cost, and more efficient for the extraction of deep-burrowing anecic species. The onion extraction solution is low cost and nontoxic which can be used as alternative to formalin. Like mustard, the onion solution is also inexpensive and not harmful to the earthworms and environment.
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Green examination: integration of technology for sustainability

Author
Roohul Abad Khan (environmental629@gmail.com), Mohammed K. Al Mesfer(almesfer@kku.edu.sa), Amadur Rahman Khan (amadarch@gmail.com), Saman Khan(samnn.khan@gmail.com) and Anne Zutphen (esperanza-anne@hotmail.com)
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Abstract: Abstract The recent development of infrastructure all around the world has resulted in an increasing trend of online examination in universities. The paper is an approach in theory and practical aimed at analyzing the feasibility of sustainable examination in four universities and its environmental impact reducing the paper use terming it as green examination. The paper studied the integration of sustainability through the use of computers and technology in the examination of the universities viz. King Khalid University (KKU), Saudi Arabia, Integral University (IU), India, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), India, and The Hague University (HU), The Netherlands. The study has analyzed the trend of paper requirement, paper utilized and paper wasted in all the four universities. The environmental impact resulting from reduced paper use has been also analyzed. The feasibility of e-examination, its implementation and the implications has been undertaken in the study. The study concludes that the e-examination can almost make the examinations paperless and feasible in the four universities.
Keywords: Green examination; Integration of sustainability; Environmental impact; E-examination; Paperless (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Factors affecting incentive dependency of residents to participate in e-waste recycling: a case study on adoption of e-waste reverse supply chain in Iran

Author
Amin Jafari, Jafar Heydari (j.heydari@ut.ac.ir) and Abbas Keramati
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Abstract: Abstract Modern societies face a dilemma called electronic waste (e-waste). This waste, which may contaminate the soil or cause unwanted impacts on human health when treated improperly, is one of the fastest growing waste streams in developed as well as developing countries and has brought great environmental impacts. Developing countries like Iran also face this modern waste management challenge. In order for more appropriate disposal or, if possible, recycling of this waste, more attention has been paid to reverse logistics as the most appropriate way to manage them. The first and most important action to address e-waste and implementation of reverse logistics is to persuade residents to bring back their obsolete electronic products. This paper attempts to understand significant factors affecting residents’ incentive dependency to participate in e-waste recycling program. Socioeconomic and demographic information of different residents is discussed by means of logistic regression for the first time in Iran. The results show that about 58.7 % of residents will participate even if no incentive is given. Household income, household size, education, e-waste concern level, and marital status are the significant factors affecting the incentive dependency of respondents.
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Pesticide use practices among smallholder vegetable farmers in Ethiopian Central Rift Valley

Author
Belay T. Mengistie (belay.mengistie@wur.nl), Arthur P. J. Mol (arthur.mol@wur.nl) and Peter Oosterveer (peter.oosterveer@wur.nl)
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Abstract: Abstract Pesticide use is a common practice to control pests and diseases in vegetable cultivation, but often at the expense of the environment and human health. This article studies pesticide-buying and use practices among smallholder vegetable farmers in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia, using a practice perspective. Through in-depth interviews and observations, data were collected from a sample of farmers, suppliers and key governmental actors. The results reveal that farmers apply pesticides in violation of the recommendations: they use unsafe storage facilities, ignore risks and safety instructions, do not use protective devices when applying pesticides, and dispose containers unsafely. By applying a social practice approach, we show that these pesticide-handling practices are steered by the combination of the system of provision, the farmers’ lifestyle and the everyday context in which pesticides are being bought and used. Bringing in new actors such as environmental authorities, suppliers, NGOs and private actors, as well as social and technological innovations, may contribute to changes in the actual performance of these pesticides buying and using practices. This article argues that a practice approach represents a promising perspective to analyse pesticide handling and use and to systematically identify ways to change these.
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Resource use efficiency and economic losses: implications for sustainable rice production in Vietnam

Author
Vo Hong Tu (vhtu@ctu.edu.vn)
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Abstract: Abstract The study aimed to estimate resource use efficiency and economic losses by using stochastic frontier analysis. The data set were collected in An Giang Province of Vietnam through personal interviews with 199 rice farmers. The results revealed that returns to scale are decreasing. Rice farmers had high levels of output-oriented and input-oriented technical efficiency with the means of 91.92 and 85.39 %, respectively. The mean environmental efficiency was 82.03 %. The mean efficiency of normal inputs was 61.20 %. Among the bad inputs, pesticide and energy were the least efficient ones with the mean values of 51.39 and 45.53 %, respectively, indicating serious overuses of these inputs. As regards normal inputs, capital had the lowest efficiency score at 21.08 %, followed by seed quantity at 26.4 %. Further, the total economic losses were estimated at 8261 thousand VND (380 USD) per hectare, which is equal to the sales of about 1600 kg of rice per hectare or the efforts to increase by 20 % of output level. This study suggests that rice farmers need to contract inputs, particularly environmentally detrimental inputs to improve profits. To improve the productive efficiency, the use of ecological engineering, collective pump and cultivation of three rice crops per year are possible options.
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Enhancing viability of biofuel-based decentralized power projects for rural electrification in India

Author
Debajit Palit (debajitp@teri.res.in), Ramit Malhotra (malhotra09@gmail.com) and Sanjay Mande (sanjaymande@gmail.com)
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Abstract: Abstract Decentralized power generation, using locally available biofuels from non-edible oilseeds, is an option for rural electrification in many developing countries. However, due to prevailing high price of non-edible oilseeds, such as Jatropha curcas, the cost of electricity generation is very high. This paper provides detailed financial analysis of straight vegetable oil (SVO)-based decentralized power project and proposes an innovative model for enhancing their financial viability. While for implementing agency operational cost recovery is the key for viability, affordable tariff is crucial for end-users. The paper attempts to estimate minimum desired price of electricity from the stakeholders' (producer and users) perspective using data gathered from selected operational SVO-based power generation projects in India. Analysis carried out in this paper indicates that operating the decentralized power plant at higher capacity utilization factor, by introduction of productive load, and differentiated tariffs for commercial and domestic consumers may not alone be sufficient to achieve the financial viability. The paper proposes an innovative integrated model of using biogas, obtained from the by-product de-oiled cake of non-edible oilseeds, as a feedstock for power generation, instead of using the SVO in engines. This reduces the fuel cost of power generation, thereby helping to bring down the tariff within the paying capacity of rural consumers. The main produce, viz. extracted non-edible oil, which was otherwise used as fuel for generating power, can be sold in local market for earning revenue, thereby enhancing the project’s economic viability. This paper sets forth the proposed integrated model as a viable biofuel-based decentralized power project for sustainable rural development in areas with adequate availability of oilseeds.
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Fasting for Runners

Author BY   ANDREA CESPEDES  Food is fuel, especially for serious runners who need a lot of energy. It may seem counterintuiti...