Combating Desertification: Building on Traditional Knowledge Systems of the Thar Desert Communities

The Thar Desert of western India is known for its rich and ancient culture system and traditions. The communities have long been part of the Thar Desert ecosystem and have evolved specific strategies to live in harmony with its hostile environment. This culture has provided several miracle plants of immense food and medicinal value to modern civilisation. The ancient rural livelihood knowledge system reflects time-tested techno-scientific knowledge with a proven track record of sustainability, especially during natural hazards like drought and famines. In addition, several of the traditional skills of local communities in arts and crafts, music and instruments have made modern man aware of the art and techniques of sustainably utilising local biological resources and preserving their biodiversity along with using waste products of the forests, without harming the desert ecosystem. Traditional cultural and socio-religious values are fast dwindling under the impact of materialistic approach, industrialisation and development. This paper endeavours to illustrate the need to assist and propagate indigenous rural livelihood systems rather than mindlessly replace or abandon them as a result of state bureaucracies.     

The water quality of the Vrgorska Matica River

The article presents the results of investigations carried out on the 42 km long Vrgorska Matica River, which flows through the 15 km long Vrgorsko polje (polje = field) which covers an areaof 3000 ha, and is at 24 m a.s.l., located in Southern Croatia.It covers the years 1997–2000 after this field had been reclaimed for agricultural use.The purpose of the investigations was to evaluate the influence of the Vrgorska Matica River which is part of the catchment areaof the Trebizat River, on the water quality in Modro Oko Lakeand Prud Spring, which are used for water supply and are locateddownstream of the Vrgorska Matica River on the right bank of theNeretva River.The water quality was evaluated by using the quality index basedon the following nine parameters: temperature, mineralization, corrosion coefficient, K = (Cl + SO₄)/HCO₃, dissolvedoxygen, BOD₅, total N, protein N, total phosphorus and totalcoliform bacteria (100 mL)^-1 (MPN coli (100 mL)^-1) for which concentrations C ₉₅ are calculated. After completingthe nine parameters the results of C ₉₅ were recorded andtransferred to the score table to obtain the q-value. The q-value used is an attempt to quantify environmental factors which would otherwise be qualitative. For each parameter the q-value was multiplied by a weighting factor based upon the relative significance of the parameter. The nine resulting scores values were then added to arrive at an overall water quality index (S₉₅).According to this index the water can be classified into four categories. The first category, according to the Croatian Water Classification Act (Official Bulletin No. 77,1998), includes ground and surface waters used for drinking or in the food industry either in its natural state or after disinfection, and surface water used for raising high-quality species of fish, ranging from 85–100 scores; the second category includes waterused in its natural state for swimming and recreation, sports orfor other species of fish and the treated water used for drinkingand other industrial purposes ranging between 70–85 scores. Thethird category includes water used in industry with no specific requests upon water quality and in agriculture ranging from 50–70 scores; the fourth category includes water used only afterbeing treated in areas with water shortage which is less than 50 scores.According to results obtained by investigations, the water of theVrgorska Matica River and Prud Spring falls into the second (II)category, while water from the Modro Oko Lake belongs to the first (I) category. This means that the Matica River water does not influence the water quality of the Modro Oko Lake. This lakewater quality is influenced by the Rastoka Matica River from theRastoko polje which is located upstream from the Vrgorska MaticaRiver. This has been proved by dyeing tests.     

玉溪市中心城区土地利用布局及其优化研究

本文系统分析了玉溪市中心城区土地利用强度、土地利用效率、土地利用结构的现状 ,研究了玉溪市中心城区土地利用优化对策 ,探索在城市总体布局中 ,如何充分利用地形特点 ,从可持续发展的角度出发 ,创造舒适宜人的城市生态环境空间。     

额济纳绿洲生物多样性保护与可持续发展对策研究

本文论述了额济纳绿洲生物多样性的基本内涵与保护价值，提出保护绿洲生物多样性的措施及策略。     

持续农业的新发展--生态农村的建设

本文分析了现今农村影响农业持续发展的因素 ,提高建立高产优质高效生产体系以及提高资源利用率的技术措施和优化物质循环转化环节等三项生态村建设的必备条件与对策。阐述了全村总体型和家庭生态型二种建设模式的基本原理与设计原则 ,并详细介绍了城郊型生态村 ,山区型生态村 ,庭院型生态村模式。     

从可持续发展看地区环境经济核算的必要性

可持续发展这一概念的出现 ,标志着人类对自然资源利用的短期行为和意识正被维护环境的长期概念所取代。在这一概念的内涵中 ,加以维护并长期保持完好的环境不仅是实现自然环境平衡的需要 ,也是自然资源能够持续地应用于人类的保证。环境经济核算就是以货币化的方法揭示自然资源及环境与经济的特定关系 ,并为可持续发展的综合测度提供基本的数据依据。     

珠江口水环境可持续发展的探讨

大量悬浮物的输入、水质污染和咸水入侵 ,严重威胁珠江口水环境的可持续发展。在信息革命技术支持下 ,应该根据珠江口的环境现状 ,充分利用先进的生产技术和管理方法 ,通过建立和完善珠江口海洋环境立体监测系统 ,加强环境的先期审查工作 ,建立有效的环境管理体制 ,将市场、政府和个人结合在一起 ,制订出可行的发展战略 ,以实现珠江口水环境的可持续发展     

农用化学品对农产品的污染及其对策

由于农业大量使用化学品 ,使农产品的农药残留量及其衍生物增加 ,从而对人体健康造成具大的危害性。本文的主要目的就是让人们进一步认识在农产品生产中使用农用化学品的危害 ,倡导我国农业走绿色农产品生产的道路     

城市小区分散式生态污水处理

针对目前我国城市集中式污水处理方法的弊端，提出将小型人工湿地运用于城市小区的污水处理，形成分散式生态污水处理系统，实现环境目标与经济效益的结合。     

黑龙江省可持续发展与21世纪减轻地质灾害策略分析

黑龙江省地质、地貌、气候、水文条件复杂,是地质灾害的多发区;且随着经济的发展,人类经济工程活动诱发的地质灾害也在逐年增加.本文分析了黑龙江省地质灾害的类型、成因、分布及危害;论述了地质灾害与可持续发展的辩证关系;并为促进本省可持续发展提出了切合实际的减灾对策.