Four priorities for new links between conservation science and accounting research

Article impact statement: New collaborations with accounting research can improve conservation impact of ecosystem-based information systems.     

DECLINING INTENSITY OF ACID MINE DRAINAGE IN THE NORTHERN APPALACHIAN BITUMINOUS COAL FIELDS: MAJOR ALLEGHENY RIVER TRIBUTARIES1

ABSTRACT: For more than 30 years, a program of continuous monitoring of pH, acidity, alkalinity, and other parameters has been maintained on a network of large streams degraded by acid mine drainage in the northern Appalachian high sulfur coal region. Continuous records since 1952 are available at a number of stations, and at several stations, acidity records date back to 1930. Comparable analysis techniques were maintained over the period of record, assuring the long term continuity of the database. This monitoring program has captured integrated long term trends within large and complex watersheds with numerous and varied types of mine discharges. The focus of this paper is a historical trend analysis of lightly to severely acid degraded major tributaries of the Allegheny River. Over the past three decades, all of the Allegheny River drainage basin stations have demonstrated steady and substantial declines in acidity and associated increases in pH and alkalinity. The average recorded decline in total acidity at four stations monitored since the 1950s was 94 percent. Since the 1970s, acidity declined by an average of 63 percent at 10 stations. Oxidative exhaustion of pyritic minerals exposed by mining is proposed as a major factor influencing these trends.     

Changes in the espoused values of Australian organizations 1986—1990

We compared the frequency with which 85 Australian organizations espoused nine values (authority, leadership, teamwork, commitment, rewards, normative, participation, performance and affiliation) in 1986–1988 and 1989–1990 through a content analysis of annual reports, internal magazines, and mission statements. We studied value changes both by comparing the frequency of references to single values in the two periods and the frequency with which four, distinctly different values structures (Elite, Leadership, Meritocratic, and Collegial) occurred among organizations in each period. Univariate comparisons over the whole sample revealed only one significant difference—an increase in Commitment references over time. Comparisons based on groups of organizations with different value structures indicated both a preponderance of organizations with Elite values at time one, and that initially Elite organizations showed most evidence of value change. The findings are discussed in terms of the way univariate comparisons of mean shifts in values can mask the presence of significant differences in patterns of value change between organizations, and the utility of content analysis for measuring organizational values unobtrusively. Possible explanations for some of the changes observed are considered.     

The challenges of marine spatial planning in the Arctic: Results from the ACCESS programme

Marine spatial planning is increasingly used to manage the demands on marine areas, both spatially and temporally, where several different users may compete for resources or space, to ensure that development is as sustainable as possible. Diminishing sea-ice coverage in the Arctic will allow for potential increases in economic exploitation, and failure to plan for cross-sectoral management could have negative economic and environmental results. During the ACCESS programme, a marine spatial planning tool was developed for the Arctic, enabling the integrated study of human activities related to hydrocarbon exploitation, shipping and fisheries, and the possible environmental impacts, within the context of the next 30 years of climate change. In addition to areas under national jurisdiction, the Arctic Ocean contains a large area of high seas. Resources and ecosystems extend across political boundaries. We use three examples to highlight the need for transboundary planning and governance to be developed at a regional level.     

Measured variation in boron loads reaching European sewage treatment works

Per capita boron loads reaching 48 sewage treatment works (STWs) in The Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and the UK have been determined from monitoring data. These have been compared with the per capita input predicted from boron in detergents, as determined from detergent product sales data. The resulting distribution of the ratios of measured boron to boron predicted from consumer usage has a 90th percentile of less than 1.5. Boron has previously been shown to be a good marker for substances contained in detergent products, as it cannot be biodegraded and is not substantially adsorbed in the sewer, and there is little or no removal during sewage treatment processes. The monitoring information on the distribution of boron loads found at the different STWs should thus be indicative of the distribution of other substances released to the environment by detergent products, as specified by the relevant industrial category (IC 5-personal/domestic) in the Technical Guidance Documents. Variation in detergent product consumption figures from 18 European countries is also low, with the country with the highest per capita detergent consumption having only 1.3 times the European average detergent use. Thus the present practice of determining a "reasonable worst case" by multiplying the average per capita consumption by a factor of four to account for geographic differences in distribution, is considered to be inappropriate. This should be replaced by a factor of less than two, which combines within country and between country variations to provide a reasonable worst case approximation of the load reaching the sewage treatment facility.     

Analysis of the role of waste minimisation clubs in reducing industrial water demand in the UK

As a result of the UK Government's waste policy, which increasingly encourages sustainable development, and the realisation that water in the UK cannot be treated as an unlimited resource, there is growing interest in reducing the demand for water by industry. A series of industrial waste minimisation clubs have been set up within the country. This paper identifies the effectiveness of these clubs in reducing the demand for water. An overview of some of the clubs show how there is a major discrepancy between potential and implemented water savings, whilst a more detailed analysis of three specific examples show how water demand and cost to the company can be reduced, with the project paying for itself within around 1 year. It appears that companies are able to reduce water consumption by approximately 30%. If this level of saving was taken up by the entire industrial sector in England and Wales, water consumption could be reduced by approximately 1500 Ml/day. This reduction would be more significant in regions of lower rainfall, for example East Anglia and Southeast England.