The influence of climate and dam construction on the Ibera wetlands, Argentina

The purpose of this work is to assess the impact on the Esteros del Ibera wetland ecosystem caused by the Yacyreta dam, a large hydroelectric power plant on the Parana River, Argentina, in comparison to other factors of environmental change. The project of the dam started around 1970. The power plant began operating in 1994. In 1989, the neighboring Ibera wetland ecosystem showed a substantial increase in the water level for which several different causes were conceivable, including climate change and the dam construction. We analyzed all existing hydrometeorological data and studied other changes that were observed in this ecosystem. A water balance model was used to analyze different scenarios. Increased groundwater inflow, generated since the construction of the dam, appears to be affecting the wetland more than any other factor. The study has implications for the assessment of global and regional consequences of building dams.

Magnetophoretic separation of Chlorella sp.: Role of cationic polymer binder

Cationic polyelectrolyte promoted effective attachment of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) onto microalgal cells through electrostatic attraction. Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and chitosan (ChiL), both are cationic polymer, are feasible to act as binding agent to promote rapid magnetophoretic separation of Chlorella sp. through low gradient magnetic separation (LGMS) with field gradient ▿B less than 80 T/m in real time. Cell separation efficiency up to 98% for the case of PDDA and 99% for the case of ChiL can be achieved in 6 min when 3 × 10⁷ cells/mL Chlorella sp. are exposed to 300 mg/L surface functionalized-IONPs (SF-IONPs). Different polyelectrolytes do not give significant effect on cell separation efficiency as long as the particle attachment occurred. However, the PDDA is more preferable as the binder for all type of microalgae medium than the chitosan (ChiL) since it is not pH dependent. SF-IONPs coated with PDDA guarantee the cell separation performance for all pH range of cell medium, with 98.21 ± 0.40% at pH 8.84. On the other hand, the ChiL performance will be affected by the cell medium pH, with only 22.93 ± 31.03% biomass recovery at pH 9.25.     

Urban design for sustainability: A study on the Turkish city

In line with sustainable development principles, the reactions to modern architecture and planning have led to a new appreciation of traditional cities and urban environments.

Considering the extensive neglect and devastation of local values in our cities and towns, urban development practice in Turkey cannot be said to meet the requirements of sustainability. This paper, therefore, will explore the logic of sustainable development and focus on the components of good urban design which are needed to produce it. Since promoting sustainable lifestyles in our towns and cities depends mainly on the design of the physical environment, the paper will propose a set of key design principles that can deliver sustainable urban development through exploring the qualities of ‘traditional urbanism’ in the Turkish cities as well as examining the latest approaches to urban design.     

Beijing's coordinated development of population,resources, environment,and economy

Since the Olympic Games will be held in Beijing at 2008, the urban development plan of Beijing deserves special attention. The essence of regional sustainable development is that population (P), resources (R), environment (E) and economy (E) could develop with sustenance, order and coordination during a certain period, which forms a complex system called the PREE complex system. For this system, a multi-objective integrated model is formulated and solved by a nonlinear goal programming technique. Beijing's PREE complex system is then used as an empirical study. Twelve interesting goals are carefully selected, the parameters of each goal function were estimated by using Beijing's 50-year (1949–1999) statistical data, and their ideal goal limits for 2000 and 2005 are chosen according to the 9th and 10th Five-Year Economic Development Plans of Beijing. The results showed that population size is the most sensitive element in Beijing's PREE complex system. Furthermore, some suggestions related to public policies about the urban development of Beijing are proposed.     

基于MSIASM方法的中国不同区域社会代谢分析

通过社会代谢多尺度综合分析方法,评价东北、华北、西北、西南、华中、华东2003年和2007年的社会代谢状况,并结合社会代谢多尺度综合分析与因素分解等方法进行对比分析,识别出限制区域可持续发展的关键因素。结果表明,华北、东北、西北、华中和华东区迫切需要采取措施调整区域产业结构;西南区亟需加大资本技术的引进力度,以解决不同区域经济发展中的资本技术聚集与区域产业结构的不协调问题。从与2003年的对比来看,2007年社会负担出现南方转移到北方的倾向,而且除东北地区外其他地区的资源品质和数量与技术水平的改善状况与社会发展需求不相协调,致使六大区的社会代谢状况略显异常。     

Caribbean small-island tourism styles and sustainable strategies

This article focuses on developing a sustainable tourism in small Caribbean islands, defined here as those that have populations of fewer than 500,000. Such islands share a very fragile ecology and a high dependence on tourism. They differ in their degree of tourist penetration and visitor density and the related degree of environmental degradation. To explain the link between tourism intensity and ecological vulnerability, the so-called “destination life-cycle model” is presented. This suggests that islands pass through three primary stages of tourist development low-density exploration, rapid growth and consolidation, and high-density maturation involving the substitution of man-made for natural attractions. A broad empirical test of the model is performed through a quantitative examination of the tourism characteristics and visitor densities of a cross section of 23 small Caribbean islands. The three basic stages or tourism styles are identified: low-impact emerging areas, high-density mass-market mature destinations, and rapidly growing intermediate islands in between. Some broad strategies consistent with the systems framework for a sustainable tourism with moderate densitites are briefly explored. An earlier version of this article was presented to Caribbean Conservation Association Conference on Economics and the Environment. Barbados, West Indies, 6–8 November, 1989.     

Change in a petrified forest and implications towards management

The Gallatin Petrified Forest of Montana, USA, is a unique resource. The extensive area of the fossil forests, the numerous petrified trees in upright positions, and the large number of vertical layers of “successive” forests are unparalleled in the world. Collection by permit is permitted, but damage to the petrified forest by indiscriminate collection occurs. To assess the impact, a comparative examination of replicate (over 13 yr) photography of selected specimens was undertaken. The amount of change over time, the possible cause of change, and the relationship of the location of the specimen to that amount of change were determined. It was found that although considerable loss continues, impacts prior to a 1973 collection policy were most severe. There was more loss by natural erosion than by collection, but the collections are additive to the natural changes. Size of petrified outcrops and the steepness of the slope on which they were found did correlate with the amount of natural change occurring over time. Human-induced change was associated with the distance of the outcrops from the main trailheads and the specimen size. This method provides a tool with which to monitor impacts and develop a future policy aimed towards conservation of a unique resource in light of the need for appreciative recreation and some specimen collection. Recommended changes in present management policy are provided.     

The Impact on Environmental Kuznets Curve by Trade and Foreign Direct Investment in China

1 INTRODUCTIONAs the globalization of world economy speeds up,international trade and foreign investment mainly bytransnational corporations are continuously expanding.It is against this background that the relationship betweentrade, FDI, economic growth and environmental pollutionstarted to attract close attention from scholars both athome and abroad (Dean, 1992; 2001; Copeland andTaylor, 2003; OECD, 1997; Beladi, 1999; MA, 2003).Although the idea that "economy and environment win-w…     

Indicators of Sustainability: Challenges and Opportunities at the Interface of Science and Policy

Rising global interest in sustainability has triggered attention in indicators as a means of achieving a more sustainable world. Although the search for indicators has led to the development of criteria for good indicators, it has also been dominated by scientific elites. The consequences of such dominance leads to significant social and policy implications, particularly with regard to how the search for sustainability has become defined primarily as a technical/scientific exploration when it is actually a moral and ethical issue. Our discussion about sustainability and appropriate indicators centers on what constitutes the public interest, a question that requires inclusiveness and centers on the interface of science and policy. The paper reviews the rationale for selecting indicators, the functions they serve, and the implications and consequences involved when one sector—science—dominates the debate. The paper concludes with suggestions about appropriate roles of science, policy and the public in the indicator selection process.     

Environmental and habitat management: the case of Ethiopia and Ghana

This article examines the environment and habitat management experiences of Ethiopia and Ghana in the postindependence period (1960–2000). Based on extensive archival research, semistructured focused interviews of environment and habitat officers of the World Bank, the United Nations System and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and personal professional field experiences, the paper argues that the uncritical adoption of externally generated discourses, narratives, policy guidelines, and strategies of environmental and habitat management has structured thought and action in both countries. The experience of both countries in defining and responding to environmental and human settlement management is explored from a political ecology perspective. The analysis indicates that both countries have essentially adopted a technocratic, state-centered, and unsustainable management strategy framework based on population control, poverty reduction, sustainable development, and capacity-building. It also suggests that international organizations such as the World Bank, INCN, and the United Nations system have been important sources of thought and action in both countries. Conversely, regional international organizations such as the Economic Commission for Africa, the Organization of African Unity and the African Development Bank have largely served as conduits for the diffusion of global discourses, narratives, policies and strategies. The need for adopting management policies and strategies that are based on principles of multiple engagement, decentralization, incentives, public education, and participation is underscored.