Environmental justice and REDD+ safeguards in Laos: Lessons from an authoritarian political regime

Balancing agendas for climate mitigation and environmental justice continues to be one of the key challenges in climate change governance mechanisms, such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+). In this paper we apply the three-dimensional environmental justice framework as a lens to examine the REDD+ process in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) and the REDD+ social safeguards. We focus particularly on challenges to justice faced by marginalized communities living in forest frontier areas under an authoritarian regime. Drawing on policy analysis and open-ended interviews across different policy levels, we explore procedural, distributional, and recognitional justice across the REDD+ policy levels in Laos. We find that REDD+ social safeguards have been applied by both donors and state actors in ways that facilitate external control. We underscore how authoritarian regime control over civil society and ethnic minority groups thwarts justice. We also highlight how this political culture and lack of inclusiveness are used by donors and project managers to implement their projects with little political debate. Further obstacles to justice relate to limitations inherent in the REDD+ instrument, including tight schedules for dealing with highly sensitive socio-political issues under social safeguards. These findings echo other research but go further in questioning the adequacy of safeguards to promote justice under a nationally driven REDD+. We highlight the importance of recognition and political context, including aspects such as power relations, self-determination and self-governance of traditional or customary structures, in shaping justice outcomes.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01618-7.     

Metal distribution and stability in constructed wetland sediment

The A-01 wetland treatment system (WTS) is a surface flow wetland planted with giant bulrush [Schoenoplectus californicus (C.A. Mey.) Palla] that is designed to remove Cu and other metals from the A-01 National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) effluent at the Savannah River Site near Aiken, SC. Copper, Zn, and Pb concentrations in water were usually reduced 60 to 80% by passage through the treatment system. The Cu concentrations in the wetland sediments increased from about 4 to 205 and 796 mg kg(-1), respectively, in the organic and floc sediment layers in cell 4A over a 5-yr period. Metal concentrations were higher in the two top layers of sediment (i.e., the floc and organic layers) than in the deeper inorganic layers. Sequential extraction was used to evaluate remobilization and retention of Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, and Fe in the wetland sediment. Metal remobilization was determined by the potentially mobile fraction (PMF) and metal retention by the recalcitrant factor (RF). The PMF values were high in the floc layer but comparatively low in the organic and inorganic layers. High RF values for Cu, Zn, and Pb in the organic and inorganic layers indicated that these metals were strongly bound in the sediment. The RF values for Mn were lower than for the other elements especially in the floc layer, indicating low retention or binding capacity. Retention of contaminants was also evaluated by distribution coefficient (Kd) values. Distribution coefficient (Kd) values were lower for Cu and Zn than for Pb, indicating a smaller exchangeable fraction for Pb.     

Status and changes of water quality in typical near-city zones of three East African Great Lakes in Tanzania

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Tanzania is the only country bordering all three transboundary East African Great Lakes, i.e., Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Nyasa (Lake...     

Understanding the impact of waste disposal sites on soil quality for agricultural production: A case study of the Kiteezi landfill,Uganda

Leachate from waste disposal sites (WDS) can significantly affect the soil physical, chemical and biological qualities, reducing soil health and agricultural productivity. However, there is a paucity of data on soil quality for understanding soil health impact due to WDS in Uganda. This study's aim was to understand, using the Kiteezi landfill site, how WDS impact soil properties. Soil samples were collected over 4 months in and around the landfill from three locations, and the soil quality data of the nearby area were used as baseline data for assessing the impact on soil due to WDS in the area. There were significant increases in the concentration of all studied parameters at the landfill except total N. The concentrations of ammonium (14.84 ± 1.76 mg/kg), nitrate (127.96 ± 18.36 mg/kg), and pH (7.8) were above the optimum levels. The levels of available P (181.4 ± 28.9 mg/kg) and exchangeable bases; K (2.23 ± 0.24 mg/kg), Na (1.17 ± 0.14 mg/kg), Mg (3.35 ± 0.3 mg/kg) and Ca (14 ± 1.1 mg/kg) cmol (+)/kg were optimal for plant growth. The calculated CEC of 20.75 cmol (+)/kg) showed that soils have a good potential to supply plant nutrients. Heavy metal levels were still below the permissible limit. Hence, the study shows that although WDS may contribute to the increase of soil fertility, they can potentially reduce the overall productivity of soil by increasing nutrient levels beyond optimum levels.     

Decolorization and degradation of H-acid and other dyes using ferrous-hydrogen peroxide system

In this study, advanced oxidation process utilizing Fenton's reaction was investigated for the decolorization and degradation of two commercial dyes viz., Red M5B, Blue MR and H-acid, a dye intermediate used in chemical industries for the synthesis of direct, reactive and azo dyes. Effect of Fe2 +, H2O2, pH, and contact time on the degradation of the dyes was studied. Maximum color and COD removal was obtained for Red MSB, H-acid and Blue MR at 10-25 mg/l of Fe2+ dose and 400-500 mg/l of H2O2 dose at pH 3.0. The initial oxidation reaction was found to fit into first order rate kinetics and the rate of oxidation of H-acid was higher than the other dyes. Release of chloride and sulfate from the Fenton's treated Red M5B dye and sulfate from H-acid and Blue MR indicates that the dye degradation proceeds through cleavage of the substituent group.     

Assessment of the mechanical stability and chemical leachability of immobilized electroplating waste

The effectiveness of cement based treatment technology, in immobilizing chromium laden electroplating sludge was assessed by conducting toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP). The mechanical stability of the blocks was tested by measuring the compressive strength. Other leaching tests such as NEN 7341 test, ANS 16.1 and multiple TCLP (MTCLP) test conducted on select solidified blocks showed that chromium was immobilized by the binder studied. A linear relationship was obtained between the cumulative fraction of chromium leached (CFL) and square root of time in the solidified samples proving that diffusion is the controlling mechanism for leaching of chromium. The leachability indices (LI) obtained for the solidified materials using cement and cement-fly ash system (EPC6, EPFC6A and EPFC6B) satisfy the guidance value as per US NRC, which clearly indicates that chromium is well retained within the solid matrix. Chromium concentrations in the TCLP leachates of the above mix ratios were well within the regulatory level of United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Molecular characterization of the solidified material was carried out using Fourier transformation infra red (FTIR) technique.     

Biological properties of mud extracts derived from various spa resorts

Spa resorts are known for thousands of years for their healing properties and have been empirically used for the treatment of many inflammatory conditions. Mud is one of the most often used natural materials for preventive, healing and cosmetic reasons and although it has been used since the antiquity, little light has been shed on its physical, chemical and biological properties. In this study we examined the effect of mud extracts on the expression of adhesion molecules (CAMs) by endothelial cells as well as their effects on monocyte adhesion to activated endothelial cells. Most of mud extracts inhibited the expression of VCAM-1 by endothelial cells and reduced monocyte adhesion to activated endothelial cells, indicating a potent anti-inflammatory activity. Furthermore, the mud extracts were tested for their antimicrobial activity; however, most of them appeared inactive against S. aureus and S. epidermidis. One of the mud extracts (showing the best stabilization features) increased significantly the expression of genes involved in cell protection, longevity and hydration of human keratinocytes, such as, collagen 6A1, forkhead box O3, sirtuin-1, superoxide dismutase 1 and aquaporin-3. The present study reveals that mud exerts important beneficial effects including anti-inflammatory and anti-aging activity as well as moisturizing effects, implicating important cosmeceutical applications.     

Determining the role of eudaimonic values in conservation behavior

Values are the fundamental reasons why people engage in conservation behaviors. Recent research has called for a more refined approach to studying values in a way that accounts for the concept of eudaimonia. However, the empirical properties for a eudaimonic value scale have not been tested given that previous investigations have remained at the theoretical level. Drawing from an on-site survey of visitors to Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, we used a latent profile analysis to better understand the expression of multiple values of nature. Specifically, we segmented respondents by their value orientations with a particular focus on evaluating eudaimonic and hedonic values, alongside the established dimensions of altruistic, biospheric, and egoistic values. We identified 4 distinct subgroups defined by value orientations and validated these subgroups based on measures of conservation behavior and sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., age). These results indicated campaign messaging should harness a combination of eudaimonic, biospheric, and altruistic values to propel individual behavior. We also observed that hedonic and egoistic values defined how people related to nature and played a role, albeit less pronounced, in motivating them to take action. Our study is one of the first efforts to operationalize eudaimonia in a conservation context; thus, we have opened a new avenue for protected-area managers to align their strategies with the underlying values of stakeholders.