Isolated Ficus trees deliver dual conservation and development benefits in a rural landscape

Many of the world’s rural populations are dependent on the local provision of economically and medicinally important plant resources. However, increasing land-use intensity is depleting these resources, reducing human welfare, and thereby constraining development. Here we investigate a low cost strategy to manage the availability of valuable plant resources, facilitated by the use of isolated Ficus trees as restoration nuclei. We surveyed the plants growing under 207 isolated trees in Assam, India, and categorized them according to their local human-uses. We found that Ficus trees were associated with double the density of important high-grade timber, firewood, human food, livestock fodder, and medicinal plants compared to non-Ficus trees. Management practices were also important in determining the density of valuable plants, with grazing pressure and land-use intensity significantly affecting densities in most categories. Community management practices that conserve isolated Ficus trees, and restrict livestock grazing and high-intensity land-use in their vicinity, can promote plant growth and the provision of important local resources.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-015-0645-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

The Fate of Hydrogen Peroxide as an Oxygen Source for Bioremediation Activities within Saturated Aquifer Systems

ABSTRACT

In situ bioremediation is an innovative technique for the remediation of contaminated aquifers that involves the use of microorganisms to remediate soils and groundwaters polluted by hazardous substances. During its application, this process may require the addition of nutrients and/or electron acceptors to stimulate appropriate biological activity. Hydrogen peroxide has been commonly used as an oxygen source because of the limited concentrations of oxygen that can be transferred into the groundwater using above-ground aeration followed by reinjection of the oxygenated groundwater into the aquifer or subsurface air sparging of the aquifer. Because of several potential interactions of H₂O₂ with various aquifer material constituents, its decomposition may be too rapid, making effective introduction of the H₂O₂ into targeted treatment zones extremely difficult and costly. Therefore, a bench-scale study was conducted to determine the fate of H₂O₂ within subsurface aquifer environments. The purpose of this investigation was to identify those aquifer constituents, both biotic and abiotic, that are most active in controlling the fate of H₂O₂. The decomposition rates of H₂O₂ were determined using both equilibrated water samples and soil slurries. Results showed H₂O₂ decomposition to be effected by several commonly found inorganic soil components; however, biologically mediated catalytic reactions were determined to be the most substantial.     

Environmental issues for sustainable development

Environmental Science and Pollution Research -     

A review on electrocoagulation process for the removal of emerging contaminants: theory,fundamentals, and applications

Electrocoagulation (EC) is an excellent and promising technology in wastewater treatment, as it combines the benefits of coagulation, flotation, and electrochemistry. During the last decade, extensive researches have focused on removal of emerging contaminants by using electrocoagualtion, due to its several advantages like compactness, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, low sludge production, and eco-friendness. Emerging contaminants (ECs) are micropollutants found in trace amounts that discharging into conventional wastewater treatment (WWT) plants entering surface waters and imposing a high threat to human and aquatic life. Various studies reveal that about 90% of emerging contaminants are disposed unscientifically into water bodies, creating problems to public health and environment. The studies on removal of emerging contaminants from wastewater are by global researchers are critically reviewed. The core findings proved that still more research required into optimization of parameters, system design, and economic feasibility to explore the potential of EC combined systems. This review has introduced an innovative collection of current knowledge on electro-coagulation for the removal of emerging contaminants.

Graphical abstract