Transforming time into money using water: A participatory study of economics and gender in rural India

When water supply improvements are coupled with opportunity to create income through micro–enterprises, time released from water collection is converted into income earned. This brings several benefits: reduced drudgery, higher household income, and, consequently, greater women's empowerment through changing gender relations within the household. This article documents the performance of one such scheme in Banaskantha District in the state of Gujarat in India, one of poorest districts in the state and the country. Here, due to the efforts of the Self–Employed Women's Association (SEWA), an Indian NGO, poor women are reaping the social and economic benefits of a government–run regional piped water supply scheme, a project funded by Dutch bilateral aid, focusing on women's development. If government policy–makers took the cue and formulated programmes and schemes that combined these two aspects, viz., actions that release time for rural women from daily chores (e.g., collecting water, fuel wood and fodder)and opportunities for sustainable micro–enterprises to convert time saved into income, this could become a reliable route out of rural poverty into gender–sensitive sustainable development.     

Use of remote sensing for the characterization of the Mediterranean coastal environment—the case ofPosidonia oceanica

The beds ofPosidonia oceanica, a marine vascular plant species endemic to the Mediterranean, form a major Mediterranean marine ecosystem. These beds are well-developed along the sandy east coast of Corsica, where the continental shelf is wide and extends for ca. 100 km. The upper limit of this ecosystem has been mapped by means of a computer image processing technique using 1/20 000 colour photographs. One of the major problems for image processing in the marine environment is the impact of the water layer (of variable thickness and quality), which can result in variations of the spectral signature for a particular vegetation or bottom type. In an attempt to reduce the impact of this artefact, a processing technique that takes into account bathymetric factors has been tested. Cartographical data obtained for an area extending from Bastia to Solenzara are presented. In the vicinity of the mouths of coastal rivers, a systematic indentation of the upper limit of the seagrass beds has been revealed. On the basis of these results, local variations in the quality of the marine environment can be detected, in particular with regard to salinity, turbidity and/or the impact of sedimentation. The overall surface area of thePosidonia oceanica beds has also been calculated.     

Embedding CCS infrastructure into the European electricity system: a policy coordination problem

Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) has recently been receiving increasing recognition in policy debates. Various aspects of possible regulatory frameworks for its implementation are beginning to be discussed in Europe. One of the issues associated with the wide use of CCS is that it requires the establishment of a carbon dioxide (CO₂) transport network, which could result in the spatial restructuring of power generation and transmission systems. This poses a significant coordination problem necessitating public planning and regulation. This paper provides a survey over multiple research strands on CCS, particularly energy system modeling and spatial optimization, pertaining to the efficient installment of CCS-related infrastructure throughout Europe. It integrates existing findings and highlights the factors that determine policy coordination needs for a potential wide implementation of CCS in the next decades.     

Interagency Resource Teams: a Model for Collaborative Approaches to Environmental Education

Abstract: The Undergraduate Interagency Resource Teams at the White Mountain Research Station of the University of California were created in 1994 to support resource-agency mandates and academic research objectives by providing qualified students who can learn, apply, and improve research and agency monitoring protocols. Drawing from documented elements of other successful internship programs, we identified four basic components that we believe may enhance the potential success of the interns: (1) self-directed learning methodologies, (2) multidisciplinary approaches to science, (3) reflection on and documentation of intern learning, and (4) principles of a positive work environment, including teamwork, conflict resolution, and effective communication. During a 10-week summer session, the Interagency Resource Teams expose approximately 17 students to the professional worlds of natural resource agencies and research scientists. In this environment, we have also observed that the internship program not only exposes students to resource management careers but may also help bridge the gap between resource agency specialists and academic researchers.