Improving Access to Water Resources through Rainwater Harvesting as A Mitigation Measure: The Case of the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region

This paper focuses on the importance of rainwater harvesting to mitigate the scarcity of water in the semi-arid region of Brazil. It is a case study about the Million Cisterns Project, an initiative developed by NGOs with the support of Brazilian Federal Government Institutions and international funding organizations. The project is innovative in a series of ways when compared to mitigation measures previously implemented by the government. Instead of focussing on short-term, top-down, palliative measures based on the construction of dams and wells, it focuses on low cost, bottom-up, long-term measures and, most importantly, it involves an educational component. Thus, the provision of water is closely related to the empowerment of the most destitute population and this leads to the sustainability of the actions. The case study serves to illustrate the relevance of the partnership between grassroots organizations and governmental institutions in the context of mitigation.     

Evaluating Completeness of Species Lists for Conservation and Macroecology: a Case Study of Mexican Land Birds

Abstract: Studies of species diversity, macroecology, and conservation are usually based on lists of species, but lists found in the scientific literature vary in completeness. The use of such data sets can produce misleading results, making it necessary to test species lists for completeness before undertaking an analysis. Species-richness estimators are useful for judging the completeness of species lists but have limitations. To add rigor to studies based on species lists, we propose that species lists should test for " omnipresent" taxa—species, genera, and families that occur throughout the region concerned—and for a minimum number of species and families. As a case study, we compared species assemblages in diverse habitats in Mexico and found that seven families and two genera of land birds are omnipresent in mainland Mexico (excluding treeless areas) and that the most depauperate assemblage known contains 35 species from 21 families. We concluded that a list of land birds from Mexico that lacks any of these omnipresent taxa or that contains fewer than 35 species or 21 families is incomplete. Similar analyses can be done for other taxa and other parts of the world. Tests for omnipresent taxa and for a minimum number of species and families can be used in combination with other existing criteria, such as species-richness functions, to better evaluate the completeness of species lists. Realistic results may be produced in macroecological and conservation studies only if they are based on reasonably complete species lists.     

耕地生态经济系统集约度的测算

农业生产中生物、工程等科学技术间的相互作用的耕地生态经济系统是人们参与控制的自然与生物间物质与能量交换的主要载体 ,它也是自然再生产和经济再生产有机结合及其与自然条件相互联系、相互协调的有机整体。科学的评价该系统的集约化程度是耕地、劳动力和资金等资源优化配置以及耕地保护有关政策的关键内容 ,将为土地集约利用是实现经济增长方式根本转变提供科学依据。根据耕地生态经济系统的经济增长特点 ,利用耕地生态经济系统的全要素生产函数 ,导出以科学相关的资源生产率为基础的耕地经营的集约度和以资源数量变化相关粗放度的测算方法 ,在此基础上建立了耕地生态经济系统经营模式评价模型。并对江西临川耕地生态经济系统集约经营模式分析和验证。     

An introduction to issues of habitat fragmentation relative to transportation corridors with special reference to high-speed rail (HSR)

Potential environmental impacts on wildlife result from siting and construction (short-term impacts) and habitat removal and fragmentation (long-term impacts) as a consequence of transportation corridor construction. Especially in rural districts, wildlife migration corridors and dispersal orientation are altered or destroyed and wildlife populations and their gene pools are isolated. This significantly weakens the wildlife community. Prudent selection of construction corridors reduces fragmentation impacts by maximizing preserved fragment sizes, and by running parallel to, not through, natural areas. Corridor width determines the degree to which wildlife movement is restricted except that culverts, underpasses, overpasses, and one-way gates, can aid wildlife in cross movements. Minimum underpass dimensions for large wildlife should be no smaller than 14 ft×14 ft and should include natural substratum inverts. Rail corridors have four characteristics that minimize adverse environmental impacts. The railbed is dry, ballast fillters runoff, there is little runoff beyond the toe of slope, and drainage ditches serve to control sheet flow and erosion, sediment movement, and uncontrolled channel flow. Rail corridors usually occupy smaller land areas because they are narrower and are more feasible to elevate so as to allow free movement of wildlife across the corridor.