‘Development’ at the crossroads: biodiversity and land-use tensions on South Africa’s Wild Coast

In South Africa, extreme rural poverty often geographically overlaps with areas of high and important biodiversity. Attempts to bring about land-based poverty reduction projects in such areas tends to trigger tensions among stakeholders purporting to be concerned about local people’s welfare, as well as the environment. Using discursive document analysis and semi-structured interviews, the paper discusses a case study of the Wild Coast, an area celebrated for its high biodiversity and ‘beauty’, which reveals that a tension among environmental non-government organisations, government agencies and the private sector, on the best development option, exacerbates the threats to local livelihood options and biodiversity conservation.     

From wasteland to waste site: the role of discourse in nuclear power's environmental injustices

The purpose of this essay is twofold. First, I examine interdisciplinary literature to reveal the environmental injustices associated with the front and back ends of nuclear power production in the USA – Uranium mining and high-level nuclear waste (HLW) storage. Second, I argue that the injustices associated with nuclear power are upheld, in part, through discourse. This essay examines how the term “wasteland” is invoked in relation to HLW waste storage in the USA and contributes to the discursive formation of nuclear colonialism. Examination of this discourse not only contributes to current literature on nuclear colonialism but also to environmental justice research by arguing for the importance of examining the discursive aspects of environmental injustices. Further, the essay adds to current scholarship in energy justice by highlighting the environmental injustices associated with nuclear power.     

Advanced oxidation processes in the treatment of trifluraline effluent

The treatment of an effluent from the production of trifluraline was studied using a 1-L, semi-batch, tank-stirred glass reactor for performing three different advanced oxidation processes (photoperoxidation, Fenton, photo-Fenton). A commercial, medium-pressure mercury lamp was used for sample irradiation. The degradation was monitored by measurements of absorptiometric color reduction, UV-visible absorption spectra, and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The obtained results showed that the photo-Fenton process was the most effective treatment for the trifluraline effluent.     

The impact of recreational boat traffic on Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus)

This study evaluated the impact of small boat traffic on reaction distances of Marbled Murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus), in the marine waters of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada. Observers on moving boats recorded the minimum distance the boat came to murrelets on the water, and any disturbance reaction (fly, dive, no reaction). Out of the 7500 interactions 11.7% flew, 30.8% dove and 58.1% exhibited no flushing reaction. Using a product-limit analysis, we developed curves for the proportion of Marbled Murrelets flushing (dive or flight) as a function of reaction distance. Overall, the majority of Marbled Murrelets waited until boats were within 40 m before reacting, with 25% of the population reacting at 29.2m. A stepwise Cox regression indicated that age, boat speed, and boat density (loaded in that order), significantly affected flushing response. More juveniles flushed than adults (70.1 versus 51.7%), but at closer distances. Faster boats caused a greater proportion of birds to flush, and at further distances (25% of birds flushed at 40 m at speeds > 29 kph versus 28m at speeds <12kph). A stepwise logistic regression on diving and flight responses indicated that birds tended to fly completely out of feeding areas at the approach of boats travelling >28.8 kph and later in the season (July and August). Other secondary variables included; boat density and time of day. Discussion focused on possible management actions such as the application of speed limits, set back distances, and exclusion of boat traffic to protect Marbled Murrelets.     

Soil and Water Characteristics in Restored Canebrake and Forest Riparian Zones1

Andrews, Danielle M., Christopher D. Barton, Randall K. Kolka, Charles C. Rhoades, and Adam J. Dattilo, 2011. Soil and Water Characteristics in Restored Canebrake and Forest Riparian Zones. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(4):772‐784. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2011.00555.x Abstract: The degradation of streams has been widespread in the United States. In Kentucky, for instance, almost all of its large streams have been impounded or channelized. A restoration project was initiated in a channelized section of Wilson Creek (Nelson Co., Kentucky) to return its predisturbance meandering configuration. A goal of the project was to restore the native riparian corridor with giant cane and bottomland forest species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of giant cane in riparian restoration and to compare water quality and soil attributes between restored cane and forested communities. Comparison of data to replicated sites of similar size in undisturbed upstream areas (control) was also examined to evaluate restoration success. Vegetation establishment was initially hindered by frequent flooding in 2004, but mean survival was good after two growing seasons with rates of 80 and 61% for forest and cane plots, respectively. Results showed an improvement in stream water quality due to restoration activities. Significant differences between the cane and forested plots in shallow groundwater dissolved oxygen, NO₃^?‐N, NH₄⁺‐N, and Mn concentrations suggest that soil redox conditions were not similar between the two vegetation types. Retention and transformation of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) within the restored riparian system also differed by vegetation treatment; however, both communities appeared to be advancing toward conditions exhibited in the control section of Wilson Creek.     

Improved 4-nitrophenol removal at Ti/RuO2–Sb2O4–TiO2 laser-made anodes

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, binary and ternary mixed metal oxide anodes of Ti/RuO2–Sb2O4 and Ti/RuO2–Sb2O4–TiO2 were prepared using two different...     

Group decision-making for leakage management strategy of water network

The problem of leakage is complex and requires actions drawn from different aspects of water network management. Inadequate maintenance has serious consequences, both financial and environmental. This paper proposes a group decision-making model based on PROMETHEE V method to aim a leakage management strategy, which takes into account the points of view of four stakeholders, selecting feasible options, and considering the available budget as constraint. Thus, this strategy is the combination of options that will efficiently meet technical, socio-economic and environmental criteria to achieve sustainable development.     

Disentangling the relationship between the achievement striving and impatience—irritability dimensions of type A behavior,performance and health

This study was conducted to replicate and extend previous findings that two independent dimensions of type A behavior, namely Impatience—Irritability (II) and Achievement Striving (AS), differentially predict health and performance. One hundred and thirteen university students provided their grade point average and completed questionnaires to measure II, AS and several health measures. They also performed a five-minute proof-reading task which yielded a behavioral measure of attention and concentration. As predicted, after partialling out the effects of II, AS predicted GPA and proof-reading performance, but not health. After controlling for age and AS, II predicted headaches and sleep habits, but neither respiratory infections nor digestive problems. Implications for the differential prediction of health and performance by AS and II, and interventions designed to decrease risk from type A behavior by reducing II but not AS, are discussed.