Coastal resource complexes of South India: options for sustainable management

India's coastal resource complexes were traditionally characterized by a continuum of 'common property resources' or 'commons' that stretched from the shores to the seas. The continuum aided the existence of sustainable livelihood systems for local communities. Today, fragmented policy approaches and economic welfare schemes have caused the disintegration of community control over the continuum. As a consequence, livelihood systems of local communities have declined. The introduction of coastal management guidelines in the 1990s has exacerbated the situation. With reference to a coastal village located in the State of Kerala in South West India, the paper describes the trajectory of unsustainable change that has taken place in the coastal area resource complexes of the country. The paper argues for restoring the continuum of commons in the study area through community driven systems of natural resource management that are based on networks of nested institutions.     

Organochlorines and Mercury in Waterfowl Harvested in Canada

Samples of breast muscle from 32 species of waterfowl collected from 123 sites across Canada were analyzed for chlorobenzenes (CBz), chlordane-related compounds (CHL), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH), DDT, mirex, dieldrin, PCBs and mercury. ΣDDT, ΣCBz and ΣPCB were the compounds most frequently found above trace levels. ΣHCH and ΣMirex were detected the least often. Mercury was detected in all of the mergansers, over 50% of dabbling, bay and sea ducks, and in less than 2% of the geese analysed. The highest levels of contaminants were generally found in birds feeding at higher trophic levels such as sea ducks and mergansers. With the exception of a few samples of mergansers and long-tailed ducks from eastern Canada, which contained ΣPCB concentrations of 1.0–2.4 mg kg⁻¹, ΣPCB levels were less than 1 mg kg⁻¹ wet weight. Only one merganser from eastern Canada had a ΣDDT concentration (2.6 mg kg⁻¹ ww) which was greater than 1 mg kg⁻¹ ww. The highest ΣCHL (0.10 mg kg⁻¹ ww) was also found in mergansers from eastern Canada. Levels of total mercury in breast muscle were either low (< 1 mg kg⁻¹ ww) or below detection limits with the exception of a few samples of mergansers from eastern Canada which contained mercury concentrations of 1.0–1.5 mg kg⁻¹ ww. Health Canada determined that the organochlorine and mercury levels found in samples of breast muscle of ducks and geese analysed in this study did not pose a health hazard to human consumers and therefore these waterfowl were safe to eat.     

植物收割对人工湿地去除多环芳烃的影响

人工模拟北京市清河水质,研究模拟人工湿地中植物收割对PAHs去除效果的影响.结果显示:植物和填料对PAHs的去除均有一定的贡献率.湿地种植芦竹并添加填料后对2环萘、3环菲、4环芘和5环苯并[a]芘的去除率平均提高了34.82%、47.92%、19.70%和7.78%.湿地植物收割后,对萘、菲、芘和苯并[a]芘的平均去除率分别提高了11.31%、10.42%、21.21%和12.22%,且在收割后第2周期达到最大.植物收割后,第1周期的相对生长率最低(0.03~0.04cm/d),第2周期的相对生长率最高(0.47~0.51cm/d),第4周期的相对生长率恢复正常水平(0.17~0.23cm/d);对PAHs的去除率在第4周期恢复正常水平.     

Sediment quality guidelines for copper and zinc for filter-feeding estuarine oysters?

Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) assess the ability of bottom sediment to sustain healthy infauna and water quality guidelines (WQGs) provide protection for a designated percentage of aquatic species. Filter-feeding marine species, e.g. oysters and mussels, acquire food from particles in the water column and protection of these animals is not provided by SQGs or WQGs. The current work investigated the relationship between metal (Cu, Zn) concentrations in total and fine-fraction (<62.5 μm) surficial sediment digested in a range of acids and chelating agents and oyster tissue metal concentrations. A strong correlation between oyster tissue Cu and Zn concentrations and fine-fraction surficial sediment digested in 1 M HCl provided a sedimentary guideline which predicted tissue metal concentrations in oysters and established a level (<45 μg g⁻¹ and <1000 μg g⁻¹, respectively) for protecting oysters from exceeding human consumption levels (70 μg g⁻¹ and 1000 μg g⁻¹, respectively).     

Runoff effect on eutrophic lake water quality and heavy metal distribution in recent littoral sediment

Multivariate statistical methods (hierarchical clustering analysis: HCA, and principal component analysis: PCA) were used to study the influence of runoff and other diffuse pollution sources on lake water chemistry of Hough Park lake in Central Missouri. In addition, heavy metal concentrations in lake littoral sediment were evaluated for enrichment and probable ecological risk. The abundance of macronutrients in the lake water column followed the order: Ca > Mg > TIC > K > Na > S > NO₃ - N > Fe > NH₃ - N > TP. Heavy metal concentrations in the lake water column were below acute and chronic level ecological guidelines. TN:TP ratios (range: 4.1-6.8) revealed nitrogen limitation of algal and other photosynthetic plant growth. The HCA showed two major clusters of similarity between the sampling points suggesting different pollution levels for the clusters. PCA 1, 2 and 3 reflected the influence of natural biochemical processes, atmospheric deposition and runoff respectively on lake water chemistry. The abundance of heavy metals and the normalizing element (Li) in littoral sediment (<63 μm fraction) samples analyzed in decreasing order were: Mn > Zn > Cr > Ni > Li > Cu > Pb > Cd > Hg. The average concentration of Cr, Mn and Ni in littoral sediment fraction exceeded the respective lowest effects level (LEL) threshold limit. Metal bioavailability in sediment fraction was low since the most labile metal species contained between 0% and 11% of the total metal content. Using the risk assessment code (RAC) criteria, only Mn posed a medium risk to the lake system.     

Impact of forest policies on timber production in India: a review

Until the 20th century, forest policies across the globe focused primarily on effective forest utilization for timber production. Subsequent loss of forest land prompted many countries to review and amend such policies, in an attempt to incorporate the principles of conservation and sustainable forest management. One of the countries to implement such changes was India, which introduced new policies, acts and programmes to regulate forest conversion and degradation, beginning in the 1980s. These policies, acts, and programmes included the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, the National Forest Policy of 1988 and the Hon. Supreme Court Order of 1996. All of these regulations affected the timber supply from government forest areas, and created a huge gap in timber supply and demand. Currently, this deficit is met through imports and trees outside forests (TOFs). Timber production from government forest areas is abysmally low (3.35% of total demand) compared to potential timber production from TOFs, which fulfil 45% of the total timber demand in India. This implies that TOFs have immense potential in meeting the growing timber demand; however, they have not been fully utilized due to discrepancies in state level TOFs’ policies. The present paper provides a review of different forest policies, acts and guidelines in relation to timber production in India, and provides specific recommendations in order to maximize timber production in the context of increasing demand for timber products.     

Electricity nanogenerator from egg shell membrane: A natural waste bioproduct

ABSTRACT

In the era of developing technologies, there is always been a crisis of rising demands of energy. There is no skepticism that a lot of energy is being produced every hour for almost each and every field, but still an exploration is needed to come up with new and viable options for energy creation. The same is the objective of this paper which proposes the use of waste biomaterials in association with organic and inorganic materials as a source of energy to power up small electronic devices. In this research egg shell membrane (ESM)-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is proposed in combination with calotropis (Calo), cellulose from fruit of Bombax Ceiba (BOM), cellulose in form of tissue paper (TISU), dog hair (DH), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), aluminum (Al), and copper (Cu). ESM is eco-friendly waste food by-product and available in abundance. Characterization of ESM is done by scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR). The proposed ESM-PTFE-based TENG power up 462 green LEDs (462 × 2 V = 924 V ~ 1 kV) without rectifier and produced up to 7.61 µJ energy with 4.7 µF capacitor at 200 tapings. All the proposed ESM-based TENG combinations generate sufficient voltage to turn ON the wrist watch. This green-energy-based TENG has potential application in various fields especially related to medical devices.     

Harvesting of rainwater and brooklets water to increase mountain agricultural productivity: A case study from a dry valley of southwestern China

In semi-arid valleys of southwestern China, seasonal shortage of water is the major contributing factor to low and unstable crop yield. Harvesting of both rainwater and brooklets water in the semi-arid valleys of Ningnan county of Sichuan Province has brought about considerable economic and environmental change. Brooklet water is collected throughout the year but mainly during the rainy season in a series of ponds while rainwater is harvested in underground tanks constructed on road side or land boundaries with only a small opening above ground to save limited cropland. Increased water availability has promoted cultivation of sugarcane, tobacco, and mulberry, and increased per unit area yield of food crops. Sericulture, sugarcane and tobacco have become three important sources of farmers' income. The water harvesting has contributed considerably to increased rural income, poverty reduction, reduced soil erosion and improvement in overall environment. Government has played a key role in planning and implementation of water harvesting programmes. Financial support of government and clear ownership of water harvesting facilities are critical for the success of the programme. Application of similar water harvesting techniques in other areas with similar biophysical conditions would contribute to enhancing the rural economy and alleviating poverty.     

生态公益林价值核算研究

论文采用成本法、意愿调查法、森林环境效果评价法及木材需求曲线修正法等方法对井冈山林区生态公益林价值进行核算,并对其结果进行分析。经计算,成本法(社会贴现率以10%计算)、意愿调查法、森林环境效果评价法及木材需求曲线修正法的计算结果比例为0.4592∶0.2185∶1.7106∶1。分析认为,以木材需求曲线修正法得出的每年森林资源价值平均为1302元hm²较为合理可作为区域内生态公益林的补偿值成本法计算的年成本值597.9元hm²可作为生态公益林补偿的最低限值意愿调查法计算的每年支付意愿值284.5元hm²可作为当地受益群众对生态公益林的补偿费用。     

典型电器工业区河涌沉积物中多环芳烃的分布、来源和潜在生态风险

为综合评估电器加工制造业对纳污水体多环芳烃（PAHs）的污染影响,对广东典型电器工业区佛山市顺德区容桂街道河涌沉积物的PAHs含量进行了空间和垂直分布、来源以及生态风险评估研究.结果表明,16种优先控制PAHs中有12种检出率达100%,其余4种具有不同的检出率.ΣPAHs含量范围为343.5～2 099μg.kg-1,均值为1 215.9μg.kg-1.PAHs组成特点为2～3环〉4环〉5～6环.在0～40 cm垂直尺度内,4个分层层面的ΣPAHs含量和种类均无显著变化.同分异构体比率分析显示,空间尺度上PAHs主要污染源来自石油、生物质以及木柴燃烧等活动.垂直尺度上燃烧类型反映了从生物质向石油燃烧为主的转变.河涌沉积物总量污染指标和污染因子指标显示了相同的重度污染特征,各监测断面污染程度由高到低为：S7〉S2〉S4〉S3〉S6〉S1〉S5.沉积物质量基准法（SQGs）评价显示S7、S2、S3等位点具有潜在的生态风险.包含居民区和制造业集中区的各监测点ΣPAHs含量分布显示,该地区PAHs污染和电器制造业存在没有直接相关性.