Effects of drought and their mitigation strategies in Yobe State, Nigeria

Drought is regarded as a natural phenomenon and its impacts accumulate slowly over a long period. It is considered to be insufficient precipitation that leads to water scarcity, as triggered by meteorological parameters, such as temperature, precipitation and humidity. However, drought mitigation has mostly been reactive, but this has been challenged by extreme events globally. Many countries and regions around the world have made efforts in mitigating drought impacts, including Nigeria. This study produced frameworks for drought amelioration and management as a planning tool for Yobe State, Nigeria. Drought coping strategies have also caused environmental degradation in Yobe State. Farmers over-harvest their farms, practise deforestation and over-exploit wild animals. Several efforts to mitigate the impacts of drought by the Nigerian Government have failed, thus this research adopts a bottom-top approach to mitigate drought impacts in Yobe State. Four validated drought mitigation and management frameworks were developed for Yobe State. The frameworks were evaluated pre-use through respondent validation. State officials and farmers believed that these frameworks will reduce the impacts of drought in Yobe State. The frameworks include social, economic, environmental impact mitigation and an Integrated Drought Mitigation and Management Framework. The proposed frameworks were designed and have advocates a paradigm shift, using both proactive and reactive measures

Waste management of traditional dairy farming for alternative energy: A feasibility study on biogas processing in Dusun Banyudono, Semarang Regency, Indonesia

Dairy farming's waste contributes to greenhouse (GHG) gas emission, and its conversion into biogas is of potential benefit to reduce emission while providing alternative energy for the dairy farmers. Although biogas conversion has been conducted in Banyudono, Semarang Regency, not all dairy farmers are interested in this biogas processing, and it seems to be related to the question of the benefit they would receive. This research aims to explain the management of the waste of dairy farming in Banyudono and a feasibility study on dairy farming in Banyudono, if biogas processing is not to be included and along with biogas processing. This study combines qualitative and quantitative approaches by conducting interviews, direct observation, documentation, and a feasibility study on biogas processing. This study finds that 8,400 kg of cow manure and 4,950 liters of urine are produced every day, by only 5.76% is processed into biogas, 11.25% is processed into manure, while 82.98% of the waste is left unused. The feasibility study indicates that biogas processing tends to increase the benefit received by independent farmers instead of the member of the dairy farmer group discussed in the study. Furthermore, our study reveals issues regarding the dairy farmers' environmental awareness, poor management of biogas distribution on the farmer group level, and technology adoption problems. Finally, a model of integrated farming system is composed to address the issue of waste management in Banyudono

Characterization of microcrystalline cellulose from fast-growing species Artocarpus elasticus

Microcrystalline cellulose is an important derivative of cellulosic material obtained from wood and non-wood sources, and is used for pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics, and other industries. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of various hydrochloric acid concentrations on the characteristics of cellulose microcrystals isolated from terap wood (Artocarpus elasticus). The microcrystalline cellulose was hydrolyzed using hydrochloric acid, at concentrations of 1.5 N, 2.5 N, and 3.5 N for 15 minutes, and within a temperature range of 100-105o C. Thesamples were then analyzed for changes in color and functional groups with Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), while crystallinity index was evaluated through X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (X-RDF). The FTIR results showed similarity with commercial products, while X-Ray Diffraction confirms the highest crystallinity index in the 2.5 N of cellulose I (69.395 %) and cellulose II (82.73 %)

Product-based and knowledge-based sustainable living practices: The case of IKEA

Sustainable living is a key concept for eco-friendly lifestyles in consumer societies. Two major sustainable living solutions are based on knowledge and product. Their roles and impacts on sustainable living are controversial. Despite offering innovative approaches to sustainability solutions, products are consumption-dependent. On the contrary, knowledge-based solutions are resource-intensive, while technically resources are limited. This research analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of knowledge-based and product-based sustainable living solutions through a survey regarding environmental sensitivity and sustainable lifestyles from a specific local market. This study highlighted IKEA as the case. From the consumer’s point of view, some IKEA sustainable living dimensions are more knowledge-based, yet the rest of them are product-based. For holistic sustainable living solutions, the combination of the two is crucial. The findings of this study suggest strategies to increase individual and corporate awareness of sustainable living practices from knowledge and product perspectives. In this respect, this study is valuable for IKEA and other companies to revise their strategies in promoting sustainable living and guide sustainable consumer behavior

Utilization of Corn (Zea Mays) wastes in Bioethanol production by Separate Hydrolysis and Fermentation

The study investigates the feasibility of producing bioethanol from corn (Zea mays) wastes. Corn cobs, husks and grains were collected from Githurai market and analysis was done in the Kenyatta university laboratory. Wastes were physically pre-treated to increase their surface area for enzymatic reactions. Separate Hydrolysis and Fermentation were carried out by using Aspergillus niger for enzymatic hydrolysis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast for fermentation at different incubation temperatures (28oC, 30oC, 32oC) and times (24, 48, 72 and 96 hours). Fermentation was carried out in 150 ml cotton- plugged conical flasks containing 100 ml sample hydrolysates inoculated with 2 ml cultured yeast suspension. Ethanol concentration was determined by potassium dichromate oxidation method after each incubation time and expressed as % v/v whilst ethanol yield (l/kg) was derived from the ethanol concentration divided by the quantity of substrates used.  Maximum yields of 1.84 l/kg, 1.76 l/kg and 2.05 l/kg were obtained from 50 g of pre-treated corn cobs, corn husks and corn grains respectively. The optimum temperature for maximum ethanol yield in all corn substrates was 30oC whilst incubation time 96 hours, 48 hours and 24 hours were optimum for ethanol production in corn cobs, corn husks and corn grains respectively. Results show that bioethanol can easily be produced from corn wastes and is recommended that they are used wisely for energy generation specifically bioethanol to add value to them rather than landfilling

The potential of biodiesel in mitigating the energy crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa energy sectors

As a result of the damaging effects they have on the climate, recent campaigns against fossil fuels, constantly emphasize the need to completely eliminate their use. To this effect, is a pressing need to source for other sources of energy that have the ability to decrease the level of greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. These alternatives have to be easily accessible and should contribute to the industrial expansion of developing regions, especially Sub-saharan Africa. Poor access to electricity is a major challenge that contributes to the retarded state of development of some countries in Sub-saharan Africa, and renewable energy alternatives, such as biofuels, can perfectly solve this oddity. Biofuels possess unique attributes that can help the world attain a state of energy security and energy balance. The depletion of fossil fuels and other factors like technological advancement and current industrial expansion occurring in most countries in Sub-saharan Africa poses a threat to the availability of energy in the region and it is a major setback to the achievement of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal 7. Narrowing down to the use of biodiesels, implementing their use can save the continent from a lot of damage and build up a more sustainable energy sector. Massive deployment of Biodiesels into the energy sector of Sub-saharan Africa will not only ease the difficulty in accessing energy, it will also boost the agricultural sector and economy of the countries that constitute the region. This paper reviews the current state of biodiesel in the African sub-saharan region

Big data analytics of sustainable ecotourism development in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (BTSNP) are designated as the 10 new Bali of Indonesia. As a protected area, BTSNP has unique ecotourism characteristics that distinguish it from other ecotourism destinations. This study seeks to examine the appropriateness of BTSNP sustainable development-based ecotourism through the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) approach. This study used TripAdvisor reviews related to BTSNP in 2019 as the main data. The data were analyzed using a qualitative approach. The results of this study revealed the extent to which the process of developing BTSNP ecotourism on the basis of sustainable development as observed from economic, tourism, socio-cultural, and environmental aspects. The results of this study are expected to be considerations for policy-making to develop tourism that pays attention to the environment by not imposing BTSNP boundaries as protected areas for conservation

Company perspectives from Trinidad and Tobago on renewable energy management systems and energy efficiencies

The global energy market is currently undergoing a transformation at all levels within their supply chains as there is a gradual shift from the fossil fuel paradigm towards sustainable renewable energy (RE) sources and energy efficiencies (EEs). This research study examines this issue by employing an empirical research process. A survey was undertaken with fifty companies operating in Trinidad and Tobago and investigated their interest in adopting RE management systems and EEs. The research revealed that most of the companies have a low level of interest in RE management systems primarily because of current low energy costs for their operations and limited knowledge about current public sector energy incentives. To ameliorate this situation, educational campaigns, training package development, and complementary energy workshops are suggested to motivate and encourage business enterprises to consider the EE pathway

Is sustainability challenging in Indonesia’s energy provision? Fuel type vs. externalities in electricity cost analysis

This study aims to reveal the challenging sustainability within Indonesia’s energy provision by studying the electricity generating cost (GC) formation, externalities’ effect, and current Indonesia’s electricity and budget condition. In studying GC formation, two variables thought to have remarkable influence are fuel price (represented by Fuel Cost/FC) and operating time, which indicates the power plant’s type (represented by Capacity Factor/CF). The regression results indicate that CF has a greater impact on GC than FC; GC increases as FC increases but decreases as CF increases. FC contributes by 10%-86% of GC, subject to fuel prices and CF. Since coal is the cheapest, GCCoal < GCGas < GCDiesel, but internalizing the externalities triples the GCCoal and doubles the GCDiesel. However, its internalization is challenging as it affects the producers’ and consumers’ welfare. Sustainable energy provision is challenging due to two factors. First, there is a dilemma between applying sustainability principles and providing energy immediately. The fastest route, which is the lowest price orientation, is preferable, indicated by coal domination in the electricity mix. Second, sustainability is not the priority yet, indicated by the environment programs is outside the top ten priority development programs

Heavy metal accumulation and risk assessment of lead and cadmium in cultured oysters (Crassostrea iredalei) of Cañacao Bay, Philippines

This study analyzed the lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in the water and cultured oysters (Crassostrea iredalei) of Cañacao Bay, Philippines and assessed the health risks associated with these heavy metal contaminations. Oyster and water samples from three sampling stations were collected from October 2016 to January 2017 for heavy metal analysis using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Results showed low Pb and Cd concentrations in water and C. iredalei, which were within the maximum limits set by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). Pb concentrations in oysters ranged from < 0.1 to 0.4 ± 0.1 mg/kg while Cd ranged from 0.027 ± 0.006 to 0.083 ± 0.006 mg/kg. Pb and Cd bioaccumulated in oyster tissues, but only Pb exhibited seasonal variation in concentration. The Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Total Target Hazard Quotient (TTHQ) were used to estimate noncarcinogenic health risks for Pb and Cd through oyster consumption. All THQs were below 1.0 indicating that there was no appreciable risk to the general population for developing noncarcinogenic effects caused by Pb and Cd in cultured oysters. Continuous monitoring of heavy metals in aquaculture areas and seafood is warranted to ensure food safety among consuming public