Sub-regional integration in Sudan: the key to food security and recovery

The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Sudan has created a new opportunity for peace. Approaches to food security must now be reoriented based on the agro-ecological diversity in Sudan. WFP is in a unique position to catalyse an approach to food security that meets immediate needs and contributes to long-term recovery, in collaboration with the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the Government of South Sudan (GOSS). Aggregate food production in Sudan has increased in the past decade. At sub-regional levels, however, many areas remain food insecure. Major research must be undertaken to identify optimum levels of food production and barriers to access to food at sub-regional levels as a first step towards linking deficit areas with areas of surplus. Initiatives must also be undertaken to facilitate increased integration between sub-regions. Increased sub-regional linkages could ensure more efficient delivery of food in the short term as well as recovery and economic growth in the long term.     

The Effect of Large-Scale Turbulent Structures on a Simple 2-D Canyon-Type Flow

This paper is concerned with a preliminary experimental investigation of the interaction between large turbulent structures, generated in the wake of a circular cylinder, and the rough-wall turbulent boundary layer separated flow immediately downstream of a simple street canyon type geometry represented by backward-facing step. The motivation for the work was to provide some initial data for the validation of a 3-D k- turbulence model used for the prediction of flows and pollutant dispersion within the urban canopy. The aim has been to assess the extent of the perturbation of a simulated street canyon caused by regular large-scale eddies generated upstream. The research has involved the use of thermal anemometry to determine mean velocity and turbulence characteristics both upstream and downstream of the step, together with the mean reacttachment length for the recirculating flow. The results indicate that the presence of the cylinder in the flow reduces the reattachment length. In addition, the periodic structures generated in the cylinder wake are rapidly mixed with the turbulence in the step shear layer such that no periodicity is detected at the reattachment zone.     

Blocking pipelines,unsettling environmental justice: from rights of nature to responsibility to territory

ABSTRACT

Indigenous peoples are among the most affected by environmental injustices globally, however environmental justice theory has not yet meaningfully addressed decolonisation and the resistance of Indigenous communities against extractivism in the settler-colonial context. This paper suggests that informing environmental justice through decolonial analysis and decolonising practices can help transcend the Western ontological roots of environmental justice theories and inform a more radical and emancipatory environmental justice. The Unist’ot’en Resistance and Action Camp blocking pipelines in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, their “Reimagined Free Prior and Informed Consent protocol” and the Delgamuukw case are described to discuss limitations of the state and legal framework for accommodating a decolonial and transformative environmental justice. A decolonial analysis informed by these two moments of Wet’sewet’ten history suggests limits and adaptations to the trivalent EJ framework based on recognition, participation and distribution. It is argued that a decolonising and transformative approach to environmental justice must be based on self-governing authority, relational ontologies of nature and epistemic justice and the unsettling of power through the assertion of responsibility and care through direct action. This discussion is placed in the context of the expansion of the concept of ecological rights, for example through the enshrining of the “Rights of Nature” in the constitutions of countries such as Bolivia and Ecuador, to highlight the Inherent tensions in the translation of Indigenous cosmo-visions into legal systems based on universalist values.     

From socioeconomic disparity to environmental injustice: the relationship between housing unit density and community green space in a medium city in Pakistan

Rapid urbanisation, lack of proactive planning and improper allocation of resources may result in socio-economic disparity among and within cities, causing social unrest and environmental injustice in the neighbourhoods. This study aims to examine whether the planning standards for housing schemes in Pakistan are able to maintain equitable access to green spaces within the cities. Ten residential sites in Sheikhupura city with different housing unit sizes and densities were selected for the study. The supply of urban green infrastructure in housing scheme has been assessed: (i) by comparing the percentage of green spaces, including community parks and open spaces and street landscape; and (ii) by calculating per dwelling unit and per capita share of green spaces. These indicators have been studied against the housing density and population density of the schemes by applying correlation and linear regression models. The results show that all the housing schemes plans provide for similar amounts of green space as a percentage of total area. The per capita share of green spaces is very low in high-density areas, but interestingly, the street landscape has a higher potential to contribute to the overall landscape in high-density neighbourhoods, compensating for low per capita green space. Housing unit density and population density must be incorporated in planning standards so planners can effectively devise a mix of community parks, street landscape and private green spaces to help maintain per capita green spaces, and hence environmental resource equality in different parts of the city.     

An empirical study of spatial-temporal growth patterns of a voluntary residential green infrastructure program

Voluntary residential green infrastructure (GI) stormwater management retrofit programs can help cities comply with environmental regulations while also improving quality of life. Previous research has identified influential factors in residents’ willingness to adopt GI, but few have simultaneously studied the spatial and temporal dynamics of GI. I use a six-year record of participation in a voluntary residential GI program in Washington DC to explore how neighborhood characteristics and social influence affect GI adoption over time. Statistical regression and Monte Carlo permutation resampling techniques are used to explain the spatial-temporal patterns of growth of the program. I demonstrate empirical evidence that participation location is increasingly determined by the locations of previous participants. These findings suggest that past participants will increasingly influence spatial clustering of GI in the city.     

大型活动风险管理持续改进体系构建

由于大型活动本身的临时性,使其风险管理具有特定的困难。笔者在分析大型活动风险管理现状、特性及问题的基础上,探索其持续改进的途径,构建大型活动风险管理持续改进体系,将风险评估、风险防范、风险处置和监测审核环节进行联结,并对利益主体以及活动支撑方的安全责任进行阐述。体系中的公安机关应该发挥主导作用,组织评价机构、大型活动主办单位以及场地提供方等利益相关方,补足监测评审环节,实现持续改进管理闭环。以常州市为例,紧抓大型活动当地承办方和安保2支稳定队伍进行风险管理持续改进,并规范化风险管理流程,可有效保障大型活动安全。     

The formation of protective dune ridge along the Southeast Baltic Sea coast: historical and social aspects

This paper is based on literature-based studies, as well as material collected by the author over more than 30 years on the shores of the Southeast Baltic Sea. In order to protect roads running along the shoreline from East Prussia to Königsberg, local shore reinforcement works commenced in the fifteenth century, although some individual attempts had been made before. In 1684, M. Ch. Hartknoch theoretically substantiated the necessity for, and methods of, shore reinforcement. The state of the shores deteriorated considerably during the Seven Years War (1756–1763), when woodlands growing along the shores were completely destroyed; hence, nearly 100 km length of the coast of the Kur?i? Nerija (Curonian) sand spit was left without any vegetation. Aeolian sand buried as many as fourteen settlements. This situation forced the authorities to organise maintenance of the coast and the dunes at the governmental level, and to start the formation of an uninterrupted dune ridge. The second half of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century are notable for the extensive construction of new ports. Along the shores running from the Sambian Peninsula to the Gulf of Riga, eight port engineering structures had been constructed with the intervals of approximately 26 km between the ports of Klaip?da and Liepaja, and every 13 km between Palanga and Pape. Shore management measures were being implemented simultaneously, thus ensuring the functioning of the above-mentioned coastal protection structures and the reduction of impacts upon the shores. In the second half of the twentieth century, ports were dredged and developed significantly. Their entrance channels reduced the long-shore sediment transport. Moreover, total sand reserves in the shore zone also diminished. The processes of erosion of the beaches and the dune ridge made it necessary to actively reinforce the shore. A number of countries passed legal acts governing the protection and use of the shore zone. At the turn of the twenty-first century, the incompatibility of such priorities in human activities as sea transport and recreation with nature protection has become evident. The conflict of interests in the Kur?i? Nerija National Park, the port of Klaip?da, and the resort of Palanga serve as good examples of such incompatibility. The conclusion that can be drawn that in twenty-first century is that the priorities in general coastal management should be as follows: harmonisation of interests among the states and individual fields of activities, as well as measures aimed at neutralisation of negative natural trends (higher frequency of storms, global rise of water level, etc.). The protective beach dune ridge will further play the role of efficient means for reducing shore erosion.     

大型高含硫天然气净化厂仪表控制系统优化改造与应用

针对高含硫天然气净化厂集散控制系统(DCS)、安全仪表系统(SIS)在日常生产运行、检维修等方面存在的问题进行分析研究,并提出了可行性建议。通过实施控制系统软硬件升级、分区改造等,保障了控制系统的安全可靠,确保了装置的长周期运行。     

某大型砷渣场地土壤As污染特征及生态风险评价

为精确识别大型污染场地土壤污染特征并评价其生态风险,以我国某大型砷渣场地为研究对象,采集场地土壤样品184个、周边农田土壤样品101个和砷渣样品14个,选择场地中特征污染物As,采用多元统计学、地统计学、地累积指数以及潜在生态风险系数等方法揭示研究区As污染特征和生态风险程度.结果表明,场地土壤、农田土壤及砷渣中As含量的平均值分别为1 333. 0、358. 1和17 316. 1 mg·kg~(-1),其污染程度均远高于国家土壤环境质量Ⅲ级标准.污染物垂向分布特征及3维空间分布范围结果显示,As在各土壤剖面深度内均有不同程度的累积,具有一定的空间异质性,场地表层土壤污染较为严重,场地土壤样点中As含量明显高于周边农田土壤.潜在生态危害系数评价结果表明,各土层的潜在生态危害系数平均值均超过了100,场地土壤和周边农田土壤所有样点中等危害程度以上的样点累积比例分别达到58. 21%和61. 39%,表明该场地及周边农田土壤区域存在着比较严重的生态环境风险.     

烟田土壤环境保护探讨

文章分析烟区土壤环境问题的基础上,认为土壤有机质及耕作制度对烟区土壤保护有重要意义,提出建立以烟为主的耕作制度、持续施用有机质肥,完善烟田设施等三项土壤环境保护措施。