The Role of Metallic Mineral Resources for Countries of the Third World

Metallic and other mineral resources can contribute powerfully to development. They have to be surveyed and assessed in a systematic way to provide the basis for decisions. Development is seen as a complex network of interrelating factors, which at best can cross-fertilize each other but more often tend to slow down one another. Economics, and especially the availability and cost of energy, are crucial for developing mineral resources.
Les ressources métalliques et autres ressources minières peuvent contribuer d'une manière significative au développement d'un pays. On doit procéder à leur inventaire et leur évaluation d'une façon systématique afin qu'elles fournissent une base sur laquelle peuvent être fondées des décisions. Le développement est perçu comme un réseau complexe de facteurs interdépendants qui au mieux peuvent se renforcer mais qui, le plus souvent, tendent à se ralentir. En particulier, la disponibilitè et le coût de l'énergie représentent des facteurs décisifs dans le développement des ressources minières.
Los recursos minerales metélicos y no metálicos constituyen un factor que pueden tener una gran contribución al desarrollo económico. Este desarrollo es el resultado de un sistema complejo de factores interrelacionados que en el mejor de los casos pueden influir positivamente los unos en los otros pero que a menudo tienden a anularse mutuamente. El costo y disponibilidad de la energía es importante para el desarrollo de recursos naturales. Es también importante la sistemática exploración y evaluación de estos recursos     

A SWOT analysis of environmental management practices in Greek Mining and Mineral Industry

Over the last two decades, mining and mineral exploration companies have adopted various environmental management practices in response to society’s pressure for better environmental protection. The literature highlights a number of benefits and challenges for companies adopting environmental management practices with the Greek Mining and Mineral Industry (GMMI) facing similar issues. In order to analyze the challenges faced by the GMMI, a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis was conducted, which examined the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats faced by the industry when adopting environmental management practices. The analysis prescribes policy recommendations both for the government and industry which, if adopted, could facilitate improved environmental performance.     

Definitions and Terminology for Statistics on Mineral Production and Consumption

The United Nations Expert Group on Definitions and Terminology for Statistics on Mineral Production and Consumption has discussed a system of definitions and terminology for statistics on mineral production and consumption. The Group recommends that mine production should be measured at the stage of first marketable form of a mineral and that the measurement of metal production should focus on the final unwrought (unworked) form. The statistical measurement of consumption of a mineral commodity should relate to its use as an industrial raw material or in industrial processes. Reporting of ‘apparent’ consumption was preferred at the international level since ‘reported’ consumption data are not readily available from many countries. Furthermore, the Group recommended that consumption statistics should refer to the final unwrought form as well as the first marketable form where appropriate. Le Groupe d'experts de l'Organisation des Nations Unies sur les définitions et la terminologie des statistiques sur la production et la consommation minières a examiné un système de définitions et de terminologie concernant les statistiques relatives à la production et la consommation minières. Le Groupe recommande que la production minière soit mesurée au stade de première commercialisation du minerai et que la quantité de métal produite soit au contraire mesurée au stade final avant que le minerai ne soit travaillé. L'évaluation de la consommation d'un minerai doit se référer à son emploi en tant que matière brute industrielle ou à son utilisation dans un procédé industriel. Au niveau international, on a parlé de consommation apparente plutôt que de consommation déclarée du fait que les statistiques provenant de nombreux pays ne sont pas disponsibles. Par ailleurs, le Groupe a recommandé que les statistiques portant sur la consommation devraient, suivant les cas, se référer soit à la phase finale du minerai non travaillé soit à sa première forme de commercialisation. El Grupo de Expertos de las Naciones Unidas en Definiciones y Terminología para Estadísticas de Producción y Consumo de Minerales ha discutido un sistema de definiciones y una terminología para estadísticas de producción y consumo de minerales. El Grupo recomienda que la producción minera debe ser medida en el primer estado comerciable del mineral y que la medida de producción de metal debe referirse a la fase final no elaborada. La medida estadística de consumo de un mineral debe estar relacionada con su uso como materia prima industrial o en procesos industriales. Los informes sobre consumo ‘aparente’ se consideró preferible a nivel internacional a consumo ‘reportado’ puesto que esta última información no está disponible en muchos países. Además, el Grupo recomendó que las estadi?ticas de consumo deberán referirse a la forma final no elaborada así como a la primera forma comerciable, según sea conveniente.     

A Site-Related Suitability Analysis for the Production of Biomass as a Contribution to Sustainable Regional Land-Use

The use of renewable energy in Europe offers the possibility of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes to energy security and independence. With the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and a variety of recently introduced national directives supporting renewable energy sources in the European Union, the economic attractiveness of bioenergy production has distinctly increased. This article combines an economic evaluation of biomass production with site-related natural conditions of the Havelland region, situated in the north-east area of Germany. Two methods for evaluating site-specific potential biomass yields were compared. For three example biomass crops, evaluations of yield estimations at agricultural lots for site-optimized suitability (SOS) and conventional suitability (CS) were carried out. Both modelling approaches were compared. The results of the GIS modelling indicate that the financial support for increasing the use of renewable energy with the German feed-in system, called Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz (EEG), will possibly lead to an increased cultivation of crops with high biomass output. This monocultural orientation of farming practices and the negative effects on the ecosystem could act in opposition to other environmental initiatives of the EU. The outputs of the SOS analysis show that high biomass production could be integrated into environmental policy proposals. Therefore, new EU policy should take modified subsidies into consideration in order to avoid developing conflicts between small-scale changes in landscape ecosystems caused by large-scale transformations in energy policy.     

我国铅锌矿产资源及其生产和消费预测

本文论述了我国铅锌矿产资源储量、分布特点和消费现状,并预测了我国铅锌金属的需求量．     

Managing Sustainable Development Conflicts: The Impact of Stakeholders in Small-Scale Hydropower Schemes

The growing importance of the environment and its management has simultaneously emphasized the benefits of hydroelectric power and its environmental costs. In a changing policy climate, giving importance to renewable energy development and environmental protection, conflict potential between stakeholders is considerable. Navigation of conflict determines the scheme constructed, making sustainable hydropower a function of human choice. To meet the needs of practitioners, greater understanding of stakeholder conflict is needed. This paper presents an approach to illustrate the challenges that face small-scale hydropower development as perceived by the stakeholders involved, and how they influence decision-making. Using Gordleton Mill, Hampshire (UK), as an illustrative case, soft systems methodology, a systems modeling approach, was adopted. Through individual interviews, a range of problems were identified and conceptually modeled. Stakeholder bias towards favoring economic appraisal over intangible social and environmental aspects was identified; costs appeared more influential than profit. Conceptual evaluation of the requirements to meet a stakeholder-approved solution suggested a complex linear systems approach, considerably different from the real-life situation. The stakeholders introduced bias to problem definition by transferring self-perceived issues onto the project owner. Application of soft systems methodology caused a shift in project goals away from further investigation towards consideration of project suitability. The challenge of sustainable hydropower is global, with a need to balance environmental, economic, and social concerns. It is clear that in this type of conflict, an individual can significantly influence outcomes; highlighting the need for more structured approaches to deal with stakeholder conflicts in sustainable hydropower development.     

The Contribution of Headwater Streams to Biodiversity in River Networks1

Abstract: The diversity of life in headwater streams (intermittent, first and second order) contributes to the biodiversity of a river system and its riparian network. Small streams differ widely in physical, chemical, and biotic attributes, thus providing habitats for a range of unique species. Headwater species include permanent residents as well as migrants that travel to headwaters at particular seasons or life stages. Movement by migrants links headwaters with downstream and terrestrial ecosystems, as do exports such as emerging and drifting insects. We review the diversity of taxa dependent on headwaters. Exemplifying this diversity are three unmapped headwaters that support over 290 taxa. Even intermittent streams may support rich and distinctive biological communities, in part because of the predictability of dry periods. The influence of headwaters on downstream systems emerges from their attributes that meet unique habitat requirements of residents and migrants by: offering a refuge from temperature and flow extremes, competitors, predators, and introduced species; serving as a source of colonists; providing spawning sites and rearing areas; being a rich source of food; and creating migration corridors throughout the landscape. Degradation and loss of headwaters and their connectivity to ecosystems downstream threaten the biological integrity of entire river networks.     

GIS在矿产资源评价中的应用

在矿产资源评价领域中,GIS的应用受到广泛的关注。作为一种地理学领域的信息系统,综合其它地质勘探、物探、化学等多种方法进行分析、判断,对矿产资源进行全面评价。讨论了GIS在矿产资源评价应用中的进展、作用、思路与方法以及应用过程中的关键问题。     

Deep-Sea Mining: The Consequences of Failure to Agree at UNCLOS III

In July 1982 the US Government announced that it would not sign the new Convention on the Law of the Sea adopted at the eleventh session of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea in April 1982. This article investigates the possible consequences of the failure to achieve a consensus between the Group of 77 and the western industrialised States on a regime to govern the deep-sea mining of manganese nodules. After considering the range of possible outcomes, the author identifies the benefits and costs involved in operating under the two alternative regimes, that provided by the new Convention and related Conference resolutions and the alternative Reciprocating States Regime based on unilateral legislation co-ordinated by a Mini-Treaty. En juillet 1982, le gouvernement des Etats-Unis a annoncé qu'il ne signerait pas la nouvelle Convention sur le droit de la mer qui a été adoptée à la llème session de la troisième Conférence des Nations Unies sur le droit de la mer en avril 1982. Cet article étudie les conséquences possibles de l'absence d'un consensus entre le Groupe des 77 et les nations industrielles occidentales sur un régime devant gouverner l'exploitation des nodules de manganèse que l'on trouve sur les fonds marins profonds. Après avoir consideéré tout un éventail de résultantes éventuelles, l'auteur dresse un état des avantages et désavantages que présentent les deux régimes possibles, c'est-à-dire le régime prévu par la nouvelle Convention et les résolutions concomitantes adoptées par la Conférence et le régime de réciprocité entre états basé sur une législation unilatérale et sanctionné par un mini-traité. En julio de 1982 el gobierno de los Estados Unidos anunció que no firmaría la nueva Convención sobre el Derecho del Maradoptada en la undécima sesión de la Tercera Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Derecho del Mar en abril de 1982. Este artículo investiga las posibles consecuencias de la falta de consenso entre el Grupo de los 77 y los estados industriales occidentales sobre el régimen que gobierna la extracción de nódulos de manganeso en mares profundos. Después de considerar el posible rango de consecuencias el autor evalúa los costos y beneficios resultantes de operar bajo dos regímenes alternativos, aquel definido por la nueva convención y las resoluciones relacionadas y el Régimen de Reciprocidad entre Estados basado en legislación unilateral coordinados por el Mini-Tratado.     

青海省化隆县昂思多矿泉水的水质

对昂思多乡地区不同泉眼泉水的水质进行随机抽检,结果表明该区域内泉水的理化和微生物指标不仅符合国家生活饮用水的标准,同时符合天然饮用矿泉水的标准,属富锶型偏碱性中等软水,而且该地区泉水未受到有机物的污染,可将昂思多乡泉水做为优质的天然饮用矿泉水水源。     

中日两国小型垃圾焚烧炉技术及运行管理

通过对中日两国小型垃圾焚烧炉技术及运行管理比较,并对国内首家通过二恶英国家标准检测的福建丰泉集团生产的LFW-210型小型垃圾焚烧炉和日本小型垃圾焚烧炉在设计、运行等方面进行分析,提出改进、提高我国小型垃圾焚烧炉的建议。     

Contribution of particulate phosphorus to runoff phosphorus bioavailability

Runoff P associated with eroded soil is partly solubilized in receiving waters and contributes to eutrophication, but the significance of particulate phosphorus (PP) in the eutrophying P load is debatable. We assessed losses of bioavailable P fractions in field runoff from fine-textured soils (Cryaquepts). Surface runoff at four sites and drain-flow at two of them was sampled. In addition to dissolved molybdate-reactive phosphorus (DRP) losses, two estimates of bioavailable PP losses were made: (i) desorbable PP, assessed by anion exchange resin-extraction (AER-PP) and (ii) redox-sensitive PP, assessed by extraction with bicarbonate and dithionite (BD-PP). Annual losses of BD-PP and AER-PP were derived from the relationships (R2 = 0.77-0.96) between PP and these P forms. Losses of BD-PP in surface runoff (94-1340 g ha(-1)) were typically threefold to fivefold those of DRP (29-510 kg ha(-1)) or AER-PP (13-270 g ha(-1)). Where monitored, drainflow P losses were substantial, at one of the sites even far greater than those via the surface pathway. Typical runoff DRP concentration at the site with the highest Olsen-P status (69-82 mg kg(-1)) was about 10-fold that at the site with the lowest Olsen P (31-45 mg kg(-1)), whereas the difference in AER-PP per mass unit of sediment was only threefold, and that of BD-PP 2.5-fold. Bioavailable P losses were greatly influenced by PP runoff, especially so on soils with a moderate P status that produced runoff with a relatively low DRP concentration.     

The Contribution of Environmental Assessment to Sustainable Development: Toward a Richer Empirical Understanding

It has long been suggested that environmental assessment has the potential to contribute to sustainable development through mechanisms above and beyond informing design and consent decisions, and while theories have been proposed to explain how this might occur, few have been subjected to rigorous empirical validation. This research advances the theoretical debate by building a rich empirical understanding of environmental assessment’s practical outcomes, from which its potential to contribute to sustainable development can be gauged. Three case study environmental assessment processes in England were investigated using a combination of data generated from content analysis, in-depth interviews, and a questionnaire survey. Four categories of outcomes are delineated based on the research data: learning outcomes; governance outcomes; attitudinal and value changes; and developmental outcomes. The data provide a robust critique of mainstream theory, with its focus on design and consent decisions. The article concludes with an examination of the consequences of the context-specific nature of environmental assessment practices in terms of developing theory and focusing future research.     

The World Bank and Petroleum Development in the Third World

The issues that arise between state sovereignty over natural resources and the desire of the State to finance the development of its petroleum resources from external sources are briefly examined. The problem is particularly acute for the least developed countries. It is suggested that financing obtained from international agencies such as the World Bank, may provide a means for such countries to maintain full sovereignty over their petroleum resources and at the same time obtain needed financing. To this end the petroleum lending activities of the World Bank are examined both in terms of policy and in terms of the financial resources available. A special lending facility to help underwrite financial risk of petroleum exploration in the least developed countries is proposed.     

Small-scale Mining and Development: The Case of Gold Mining in Papua New Guinea

This paper summarizes the present status of small-scale gold mining in Papua New Guinea and examines the extent to which it contributes to meeting the nation's development goals. It concludes that small-scale mining makes a valuable contribution as a rural development activity, and points to aspects which should receive attention in any developing country seeking to obtain the maximum benefit from such activity.     

PROFILE: Tourism Contribution to Agro-Ecosystems Conservation: The Case of Lesbos Island, Greece

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of tourism activities on olive tree cultivation and the human population of the island of Lesbos. The presence or absence of tourism is related with the maintenance or abandonment of olive tree cultivation and population changes for each community. A spatial segregation of the island is evident, related to tourist development, olive tree cultivation, and population change. The results of the study demonstrate that in communities where tourism plays an important role olive tree cultivation is preserved and the population is stable. The preservation of the agro-ecosystem is assured while the olive groves remain productive. Simultaneously, the landscape, which provides specific attractions for tourism, is not altered.