The master plan for the management of watercourses in Norway

Summary By 1980 approximately 60% of the total hydro-power potential of 174 TWh in Norway had been developed. The Government therefore found it essential to consider the exploitation of the remaining watercourses in terms of a larger perspective, contrary to the earlier project-by-project policy. This led to the preparation of a Master Plan for Water Resources, a national management plan based on a set of economic, social and environmental considerations. The Master Plan covers 310 watercourses and 770 hydro-power project alternatives.The Master Plan states which projects should be considered first for a licence when development is necessary. It also specifies which watercourses should preferably be reserved for other uses than hydro-power development. In spring of 1985 the Master Plan was presented to Parliament and approved.Svein Halvorsen graduated at the University of Tromsø with a degree in Ecology. He is currently employed as an Engineer at the Norwegian Ministry of Environment at the Department of Natural Resources, where he has been involved in water resources planning and the Norwegian Master Plan.     

Information and research systems in the service of decision-making

Summary When people are in government, they are always involved in some type of information communication, but for more than five years now I have been involved with the Congressional Research Service, CRS, an institution which is totally committed to research and transfer of information to the United States Congress. The Congressional Research Service works exclusively for congress—for al the members and all the committees; and CRS’s scope—information, reference and research—covers all subject areas, including environmental issues, which are of congressional interest. The inquiries from members and staff—by phone, letter or in person—exceed 400 000 a year, and the number of requests has increased at an average rate of almost 9 percent each year over the past decade. Small wonder the service employs about 825 people, 550 of whom are professionals. Gilbert Gude is Director of the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress, appointed by Librarian Daniel J. Boorstin in January 1977. Mr Gude’s career in public service began in 1953 when he was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates; he served as a Member of the Maryland State Senate from 1962–1966, before being elected to the US House of Representatives for the 8th District of Maryland in 1967. During his 10-year career in the House he served as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Natural Resources of the Government Operations Committee and ranking member of the Committee on the District of Columbia; he was also a member of the Select Committee on Aging. Mr Gude’s legislative work concentrated in the areas of urban and regional affairs and environmental issues. He was a key sponsor of the bill creating the C&O Canal National Historical Park and developed a number of legislative initiatives involving the Potomac River. Mr Gude is Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America and a member of the National Academy of Public Administration. He is a former member of Members of Congress for Peace Through Law and former chairman of the 1976 Anglo-American Conference on Africa. Mr Gude received a B.S. from Cornell University in 1948 and an M.A. in public administration from George Washington University in 1958.     

The first world conservation lecture

Summary This, The First World Conservation Lecture, was presented at the Royal Institution, London, UK, on 12 March 1981. The Lecture celebrated the 20th anniversary of the World Wildlife Fund, and the first anniversary of the World Conservation Strategy. The Lecture was organized by the World Wildlife Fund, UK.Published with the kind permission of the World Wildlife Fund, UK.Edward Max Nicholson, CB, CVO, Commandeur (Netherlands), Order of the Golden Ark, holds honorary doctorates from the University of Aberdeen, and The Royal College of Art London. He was educated at the University of Oxford, and was a member of the University's expeditions to Greenland (1928) and to British Guiana (1929). He was General Secretary (until 1940), later Chairman of PEP (Political and Economic Planning): now Vice-President of its successor body, the Policy Studies Institute. From 1945 to 1952 he was Secretary of the Office of the Lord President of the Council, then Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He was member of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy from 1948–1964. In 1952 he was leader of the joint UN/FAO Development Team in Baluchistan. Charter Member from 1949, and Director-General (1952–1966) of the Nature Conservancy, London, UK. From 1963 to 1974 he was Convenor of the Conservation Section of the International Council of Scientific Unions' International Biological Programme. President of the IUCN Technical Meeting in Edinburgh in 1956, concerned with rehabilitation of areas biologically devastated by human disturbance, and relation of ecology to landscape planning. Member, Panel on Landscape Action Program, The White House Conference (USA) on Natural Beauty (1965). Secretary, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh's Study Conference on The Countryside in 1970 (1963 and 1965). Council and Board Member of IIED. Godman-Salvin Medallist British Ornithologist Unions. Phillips Medallist and Member of Honour IUCN, Geoffroy St. Hilaire Gold Medal, Société Nationale de Protection de Nature de France, Premio Europeo Cortina-Ulisse (1971), Europa Preis für Landespflege (1972), Hon Member of World Wildlife Fund, Chairman Ecological Parks Trust, President RSPB, 1980. Principal Consultant and Chairman of Land Use Consultants Ltd (London) since 1966. Author of many books,Birds and Men (1951);Britain's Nature Reserves (1958),The System (1967);The Environmental Revolution (1970).     

In defence of the inuit world-saving a way of life

Summary The author describes how the philosophies of the World Conservation Strategy are particularly applicable to the Inuit, or Eskimo, peoples of the Arctic. A trans-national conservation strategy has been established to safeguard the culture, livelihood and interest of these people. The requirements and structure of this strategy are briefly outlined.Finn Lynge was born in Greenland in 1933. He was initially trained as a priest, but subsequently became Director of Radio Greenland, until 1979, when he became Member of the European Parliament until Greenland's withdrawal from the EEC in 1985. After a few years as co-ordinator of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference Environmental Commission (ICCEC) he has now become Consultant in Greenlandic Affairs for the Danish Foreign Office. He has published two books;Bulldozer track, on Greenland's cultural policies, andBird, Seal and Human Soul, on Greenlandic folklore.     

Towards a global emergency plan for the environment

This editorial is based on a paper first produced by Winfried Böll entitled, A Global Emergency Plan for the Environment which appeared inThe Crisis of Global Environment: Demands for Global Politics published by The Foundation Development and Peace in 1989. Winfried Böll is the retired Ministerial Director of the Ministry for Economic Co-operation, West Germany. He lectures at the University of Duisburg on matters related to foreign aid and government and administration, he is also an advisor to the Board of the Foundation Development and Peace. The Foundation was established in 1987 at the initiative of former West German Chancellor, Willy Brandt. Its Executive Board, as well as its Board of Trustees and its members are composed of distinguished personalities from political, social, economic and scientific life who share a sense of global responsibility. The Foundation is non-partisan and non-profit-making.Its objectives are summarised below:     

Converging worlds

Summary Converging Worlds delineates how environmental events in the developing world can lead to economic and political instability—two major liabilities for US national security and economic interests abroad. Increasingly, US foreign policy analysis will have to include a close scrutiny of environmental events and a country’s natural resource profile to adequately anticipate global hot spots. A closer look at environmental events in the global context may also provide a sense of new options for foreign policy and private sector initiatives. Senior Liaison Officer United Nations Environment Programme Washington Representative and Senior Liaison Officer for the United Nations Environment Programme. Formerly National Director for Public Affairs of the US Environmental Protection Agency; Senior Coordinator for the American Petroleum Institute; and founder and President of the Bolton Institute. Major initiattives include Global Connections/Environment Conference (1980); City Care Conference (1979); and UN Habitat community assemblies (1975).     

Environmental quality management in the united states in the 1980s and beyond: An appraisal

Summary This paper presents an overview of: (1) the institutional context of the environmental pollution sector of environmental quality management; (2) accomplishments and problems in some representative subsectors; and (3) prospects. The author describes levels of government within the US federal system and lists types of organizational structures, explains the division of responsibilities for managing environmental quality among legislative bodies/executive agencies, state and federal courts, and state public utility commission, and notes the significant role of nongovernmental environmental groups. In order to assess both the past performance and present status of environmental quality management in the United States, Bower cites some specific and generic problems in such subsectors as water quality, soil erosion, air quality, and hazardous wastes. He goes on to characterize recent approaches and their results using these observations as a basis for an appraisal of future prospects in the context of intermedia impacts and multiple modes of impact on various species. Remarks prepared for presentation at theColloque International, Les Politiques de l'Environnement Face à la Crise, Paris, 10–12 January, 1984. Blair T. Bower, a Registered Civil Engineer, is a Consultant in Residence at Resources For the Future in Washington, DC. He has worked extensively in the US and abroad on environmental quality management with such international organizations as the UN, WHO, OAS, and OECD. His current involvements include consultancies with the US National Oceans and Atmospheric Administration, Strategic Assessments Branch/Oceans Assessment Division; as Leader for Utilization of Coastal Water Problem Areas/Analyzing Biospheric Change Programme, International Federation of Institutes for Advances Study; and with the Office of Policy Analysis/US Environmental Protection Agency. An early supporter of integrated approaches to natural resource/environmental planning and management and to residuals disposal, Mr Bower is the author of many publications on a wide range of environmental topics and management options.     

The bhopal incident: Implications for developing countries

Summary The author summarizes the events of the Bhopal disaster as they are currently known, and draws a number of very important conclusions regarding safety procedures. These have implications for all developing countries.Dr. B. Bowonder is Chairman of the Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology at the Staff College and, as a regular contributor to this journal, he was invited to analyze the Bhopal incident.     

The environment and Britain's aid programme

Summary Some of the environmental and developmental activities assisted by Britain's Programme of Overseas Aid are outlined. In particular, the article draws attention to a new booklet published by the Overseas Development Administration to mark the European Year of the Environment which, in the Minister's words, shows how through British aid, programme improvements are possible by a combination of sound scientific research and a sensitivity to people's needs.Mr Christopher Patten, Member of Parliament for Bath, is the UK's current Minister for Overseas Development. He also serves as Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The Minister may be contacted through the offices of the Overseas Development Administration, Eland House, Stag Place, London SW1E 5DH, UK.     

Monitoring and enforcement for management of industrial wastes: case study for Thailand

Summary This paper seeks to set the appropriate standards for monitoring and enforcement for the management of industrial wastes and effluents in developing countries. It applies these environmental protection measures to the proposed Samutprakam Province improvement programme in Thailand.Dr Harvey F. Ludwig is a regular contributor toThe Environmentalist (see, for instance, Ludwig, 1990; Ludwig and Browder, 1992). He is Chairman of Seatec International Consulting Engineers where Sow Kim Leng is a consulting engineer. Wanida Srichai is based at the World Environment Center, Thailand Office, Bangkok, Thailand.     

Environmentalists and the computer

Summary The growth in the application of computers is one of the major developments of the last half of the 20th Century. There have already been substantial changes in society because of the computer, but even greater changes lie ahead. This paper defines some of the characteristics and applications of computers, as well as some of their limitations. It closes with comments on the implications of the development of ‘a new class of illiterates’—those who are unfamiliar with or even afraid of the computer as an aid in measurement, analysis, record keeping, communication and education. Robert C. Baron has over 25 years experience in the computer industry, as an engineer and as an executive. He was program manager for the Mariner II (Venus) and the Mariner IV (Mars) on board space computers. He was worldwide systems manager for Honeywell's minicomputer business. In 1972, he founded Prime Computer and was its first president. He is currently working as a writer, lecturer and consultant on the development and application of computer and communication technology. Mr. Baron is the author or contributor to six books and has written over 40 papers and speeches.     

Labelling ecofriendly products in india — an emerging option for environmental production

Summary The labelling of ecofriendly products has been introduced in a number of developed countries to assist in the protection of the environment. Recently, developing countries like India, have introduced the scheme. This paper examines the steps involved in establishing the Indian Ecomark. For the successful implementation of the scheme the effective coordination of a number of agencies is necessary. Consumers, as well as manufacturers, have to be educated in the longterm benefits of the scheme. Initiatives necessary for the successful implementation of Ecomark have been highlighted.Mr S. S. Arvind is a member of faculty at the Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology, at the Administrative Staff College of India. He is currently on secondment to the Centre for Technology Development, Clark University, 950, Main Street, Worcester MA 01610-1477, USA. Mr E.V. Muley is a scientist working for the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi 110003, India.     

Management of environment in developing countries

Summary Environmental problems in developing countries partly arise out of lack of development, hence they are intricately linked to the socio-economic conditions. Environmental awareness and environmental education are critical under these conditions but these are time consuming and slow solutions. Integration of economic and environmental plans for various regions have to be attempted systematically. Time is running out, and unless comprehensive steps are taken up some of the capital assets (such as forests, fresh water, soils, etc.) are likely to be irretrievably damaged.Dr B. Bowonder was, until recently, Chairman of the Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology at the Administrative Staff College, Hyderabad. He recently joined this Journal's Advisory Board and his analysis of the Bhopal Incident (The Environmentalist, 5 (2) 89–103) created considerable interest. He is currently a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific.     

Emergent aspects of environment: A creative challenge

Summary Our environmental situation continues to decline faster than ever. This is demonstrated by, the growing spread of pollution of both the water and atmospheric systems, erosion of topsoil, tropical deforestation, desertification, mass extinction of species, depletion of the ozone layer, and climatic dislocations. Compounding the impact of these problems is growth in human numbers in developing countries, together with the associated factor of extensive poverty. The author asks why our environmental situation should continue to decline, despite a remarkable outburst of awareness on the part of the general public and its political leaders since the time of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. The author concludes that the problem does not lie with inadequate effort, rather with misdirected effort: we persist in tackling the symptoms of problems, rather than the problems themselves, let alone the sources of the problems. The paper broaches these issues within a context of fast-growing interdependence among the community of nations — both economic and ecological interdependence — which presents yet more problems, but also raises many opportunities for creative action.Professor Norman Myers is a consultant in environment and development. He has worked since 1970 on the general subject area of environment and natural resources, with emphasis on species, gene reservoirs and tropical forests. He was undertaken this consultancy work for the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, US National Academy of Sciences, the World Bank, OECD, the Smithsonian Institution, UN agencies, World Resources Institute, US National Research Council and IUCN, among other organizations. His main professional interest lies with resource relationships between the developed and developing worlds.Among his recent publications areThe Sinking Ark (Pergamon Press, Oxford and New York, 1979);Conversion of Tropical Moist Forests (National Research Council, Washington D.C., 1980);A Wealth of Wild Species (Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado, 1983);The Primary Source (W. W. Norton, New York, 1984); andThe Gaia Atlas of Planet Management (Doubleday, New York, and Pan Books, London, 1985).Norman Myers is an Advisory Board Member and regular contributor toThe Environmentalist.     

Earthwatch— Global environmental assessment

Progress of the United Nations Environment Program, Earthwatch, since its inception in 1972 is critically reviewed. The conclusion is reached that, while UNEP has provided support for several important programs in cooperation with United Nations specialized agencies, the new global assessment perspective envisioned at the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment has not evolved. A framework is proposed calling for threshold criteria, statements of current conditions, predictions of trends to be watched, and alerts to warn of approaching environmental threats. A network of world, regional, and national assessment centers is recommended based on existing centers-of-excellence.Formerly a deputy associate administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He was supported, in part, for this work under Department of State contract number 1751-000300, with project title: Global Environmental Monitoring System, 1979.National Marine Pollution Program Office, NOAA.The opinions and recommendations presented in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Commerce, or the U.S. Government.     

The future of environment and business development in south-east Asia: the situation in Thailand on economic-cum-environmental development

Summary Over the past two decades, since initial establishment of Thailand's National Environment Board by the original National Environmental Quality Act of 1975 (NEQA/75), many lessons have been learned on the complex problems of establishing a meaningful national environmental program in the country. Based on these lessons, a new act was promulgated in 1992 (NEQA/92), which furnishes very substantial powers and financing for planning and implementing such a program. The result has been a marked upgrading and acceleration of the program, but with the realization that the principal problem now is scarcity of the many needed technical skills in the government's Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, which serves as the Working Arm for the National Environment Board. One of the approaches now being explored is how to make effective use of the private sector to supplement and complement the government's resources.Thailand's goal, from the point of view of the Ministry of Science, technology and Environment, is the continuing sustainable development of Thailand. This means planning and implementing economiccum-environmental development projects, where the investment pays good dividends in both financial earnings and in environmental protection. This will not be easy, because the projects must be suited to the political, cultural, and social as well as the economic realities of Thailand. The common mistake in developing countries of trying to emulate practices developed and utilized in the affluent industrialized countries must be avoided. It is realized that pioneering studies and research, to obtain the planning and design guidelines which will fit the current national development situation, must be undertaken here in Thailand.Mr Kasem Snidvongs is Permanent Secretary to the Ministry. The article is based on his speech to an International Environmental Forum held in Bangkok in January 1996.     

Relationships between development and disease

Summary The close links which exist between poverty, disease and development are surveyed, particularly with reference to the situation in Africa. Poverty may impede the correct use of the land which can in turn lead to malnutrition and a higher incidence of disease. A population in poor health cannot effectively improve its own economic condition or make full use of aid. Poor health may be due to a colonial heritage of unsatisfactory land use, inappropriate transfer of technology, short-sighted administration, or other causes. Not all development brings improvement in health, for instance, inadequate urban planning can induce health problems.The wealthy and secure nations of the world will realise that they cannot possibly remain either wealthy or secure if they continue to close their eyes to the pestilence of poverty that covers the whole southern half of the globe. They will act, if only to preserve their own immunity from infection.(McNamara, 1968)Paul Milligan, is a Research Assistant in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Salford. He has an active interest in the computer analysis of environmental data and has worked on material relating to the control of river blindness in the Volta Basin of West Africa and in a wider African context on attempts to control sleeping sickness.Dr Michael Pugh Thomas, is Deputy Director of the Environmental Institute at the University of Salford. He is actively involved in environmental education and he is the current Chairman of the Institution of Environmental Sciences. His research has been concerned with the environmental impact of economic development and has related to estuarine ecology and the ecological effects of attempts to control insect vector bourne diseases.     

Planning for environmental project implementation and development: as exemplified by the songklha lake basin planning study,Thailand

Summary This paper describes use of the economic-cumenvironmental regional development planning process (as differentiated from regional economic planning and regional environmental planning) for its first application in the Asia-Pacific region, for The Songkhla Lake Basin Planning Study, in southern Thailand. The study project was carried out, with Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan financing, as a joint venture of the national economic and national environmental planning agencies. Because of its pioneering nature, in both technical and institutional aspects, numerous lessons were learned from the project. These are described, and yield guidelines valuable for future studies of this type.Dr Harvey F. Ludwig, Chairman of Seatec International Consulting Engineers in Bangkok, has a unique record of distinguished experience in environmental engineering. This includes, in addition to his present role, experience as a professor at the University of California at Berkeley, in research (four USA national awards), in government (as Assistant Chief Engineer of the US Public Health Service Engineering Group, the predecessor to USEPA), and with numerous international assistance agencies including the World Bank, ADB, and many UN affiliates. Dr Ludwig moved to live in Bangkok in 1973 and has since been a continuing adviser to the National Environment Board of Thailand and to the Institutes of Water Resources Research of Indonesia. He is the author/coauthor of some 160 professional publications and the senior author of a textbook onEnvironmental Technology in Developing Countries, now being printed by CRC Press of Boca Raton, Florida. His work record includes projects in more than 30 Developing countries.     

Stockholm Recommendation 96: Viable in the Dominican Republic

Summary The Dominican Republic and other Caribbean countries face serious challenges to their natural resource base. In recent years the government of the Dominican Republic has taken major steps toward the development and implementation of a comprehensive plan for national natural resources management. This plan is called Plan Sierra. An important component of this plan is the outline of actions for carrying out an environmental education programme within the country. This demonstrates a commitment to fulfill Recommendation No. 96 of the Stockholm Conference in a way that could become a model for other Latin American nations. Clinton L. Shepard is Assistant Professor in the Division of Environmental Education, School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University. Dr Shepard holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the University of Kentucky and graduate degrees from The Ohio State University in Natural Resources/Environmental Education and Education-Foundations and Research. He has worked as an interpreter and Environmental Education Coordinator for the State of Ohio Department of Natural Resources, a research associate for ERIC—Science, Math, and Environmental Education Clearinghouse, and College instructor in interpretive methods, environmental education methodology, resident outdoor programming, and natural resources development. He is also involved in international research and development, especially in the Caribbean Basin. Robert E. Roth is Chairman/Professor in the Division of Environmental Education, School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University. Dr Roth received a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Management, a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Science Education, a Master's degree in Conservation Education from The Ohio State University, and his Ph.D. in Environmental Education from The University of Wisconsin. he came to OSU in 1969 and since that time has designed and institutionalized the only academic unit in the US that offers both well developed undergraduate and graduate programmes in Environmental Communications, Education and Interpretation and has published over 40 works in the field. He has been instrumental in implementing a growing international environmental education research and development emphasis in the wider Caribbean, he continues as an Executive Editor of theJournal of Environmental Education.     

Saving the Aral Sea

Summary This paper examines the causes of ecological disasters which affect the Aral Sea in the former Soviet Union. These lie in an incorrect strategy of economic development in the Soviet Central Asia and Kazakhstan, which pursues a goal of expansion of the irrigated areas under high water-consuming cotton and rice monocultures. These fail to consider the consequences for the Aral Sea or the social impact on the local population. The present tragic situation may be improved if recommendations described in the recently elaborated concepts for conservation and restoration of the Sea are taken as a blueprint for action. The Concept envisages transformation of the development strategy for the region, modernisation of the irrigation systems, afforestation and phyto-reclamation in the area. After endorsement by the Soviet legislative bodies, the proposed measures could become the core of a nation-wide government programme aiming at saving the Aral Sea and upgrading the living standards of local populations.Dr Arkady Levintanus is a geographer and senior research fellow at the Institute of Geography, Centre for International Projects, in the Ministry of Nature Utilisation and Environment Conservation in Moscow. He was recently, and when he wrote this paper, a UNEP consultant in Nairobi monitoring the project "Assistance in the preparation of an action plan for the rehabilitation of the Aral Sea".