Heavy metals air pollution study in mines environments. Case study Bregalnica river basin, Republic of Macedonia

Application of several moss species and attic dust for monitoring of anthropogenic impact on heavy metals air pollution in Bregalnica River Basin, Republic of Macedonia, was studied. Moss samples were reviewed for their potential to reflect heavy metals air pollution. The attention was focused on their quantification ability, underlying the metal accumulation within moss plant tissue and attic dust “historical archiving”. Potential “hot spots” were selected in areas of copper mine (Bučim mine) and lead and zinc mines (Zletovo mine and Sasa mine) as main metal pollution sources in the Eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia. Continuously, dust distribution from ore and flotation tailings occurs. This results with air-introduction and deposition of higher contents of certain metals. Several moss species (Hypnum cupressiforme, Homalothecium lutescens and Scleropodium purum) were used as plant sampling media. Determination of chemical elements was conducted by using both instrumental techniques: atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES) and mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS). Combination of multivariate techniques (PCA, FA and CA) was applied for data processing and identification of elements association with lithogenic or anthropogenic origin. Spatial distribution maps were constructed for determination and localizing of narrower areas with higher contents of certain anthropogenic elements. In this way influences of selected human activities in local (small scale) air pollution can be determined. Summarized data reveal real quantification of the elements distribution not only in order determination of hazardously elements distribution, but also present complete characterization for elements deposition in mines environs

Heavy metals and nitrogen in mosses: spatial patterns in 2010/2011 and long-term temporal trends in Europe

Naturally-occurring mosses have been sampled across Europe to monitor the deposition of heavy metals and nitrogen from the air. This survey has been repeated at five-yearly intervals since 1990 for heavy metals and since 2005 for nitrogen. In 2010/2011, mosses were collected at ca. 4,500 sites in 25 countries for heavy metals and ca. 2,400 sites in 15 countries for nitrogen. In general, the lowest concentrations in mosses were found in northern Europe for both heavy metals and nitrogen. The highest concentrations of heavy metals were often observed in south-eastern Europe, whereas the highest concentrations of nitrogen were found in parts of western and central Europe. Europe-wide the concentration of lead (77% decline), vanadium (57%), iron (52%) and cadmium (51%) has declined the most since 1990, whereas the concentration of copper has declined the least (11% decline). Since 1995, the concentration of arsenic and mercury has declined by 26% and 23% respectively. The nitrogen concentration in mosses has hardly changed since 2005

Europe's ecological backbone: recognising the true value of our mountains

Europe's mountain areas have social, economic and environmental capital of significance for the entire continent. This importance has been recognised since the late 19th century through national legislation; since the 1970s through regional structures for cooperation; and since the 1990s through regional legal instruments for the Alps and Carpathians. The European Union (EU) first recognised the specific characteristics of mountain areas in 1975 through the designation of Less Favoured Areas (LFAs). During the last decade, EU cohesion policy and the Treaty of Lisbon have both focused specifically on mountain

GIS-and AHP-based Decision Systems for Evaluating Optimal Locations of Photovoltaic Power Plants: Case Study of Republic of North Macedonia

This study employs a geographic information system (GIS) and an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to identify optimal locations for photovoltaic (PV) solar farms in the Republic of North Macedonia. It assesses land suitability using six criteria (solar irradiance, aspect, slope, distance from power lines, roads, and urban areas) and six constraints (urban settlements, agricultural zones, national parks, water bodies, steep slopes, elevations above 1500 m). A suitability map was created using a matrix of pairwise comparisons, and the weights for each criterion were calculated. The map was divided into four categories: highly suitable, suitable, less suitable, and unsuitable. The results showed that 11.6% of the study area was classified as being highly suitable, 40.1% as suitable, 3.6% as less suitable, and 0.8% as unsuitable. Additionally, restricted areas (comprised of national parks, residential and agricultural lands, elevations above 1500 m, and water surfaces with 1000 m buffer zones) accounted for 43.7% of the study area. Utilizing just 0.6% of highly suitable land for PV technology could generate approximately 2870 GWh annually, enough to meet the average electricity needs of the industrial sector across the eight administrative regions of R. N. Macedonia. The study offers a replicable GIS-based approach for solar energy planning, contributing to sustainable development and providing insights for integrating solar PV systems into the national energy strategy

Protected Areas in Forest Conservation: Challenges and Opportunities

Forest ecosystems are important habitats for a vast number of species worldwide. These ecosystems are degrading faster than they are regenerating, due to the increased demand for natural resources. In order to protect these ecosystems, the designation of Protected Areas (PAs) has become the primary policy tool for forest conservation. The articles included in this book explore challenges and opportunities within forest PAs, focusing on four main themes. The first theme refers to current initiatives in forest management across the world, reflecting the efforts of several organizations in halting deforestation. Major challenges are also identified, reflecting the declining rates of forest coverage across the world. A second theme refers to policy planning processes withing existing governance frameworks focusing, in particular, on the level of engagement of local stakeholders. A third theme of the book refers to social equity and how the impacts of forest PAs are distributed among different users. A final theme in the SI refers to potential solutions in order to halt the loss of biodiversity within forest ecosystems. Several directions are proposed by the authors that can be useful for policy makers and practitioners, especially in the context of the 30 by 30 targets

Geochemical properties of topsoil around the open coal mine and Oslomej thermoelectric power plant, R. Macedonia

The results of a first systematic study of spatial distribution of different elements in surface soil over of the Kičevo region, Republic of Macedonia, known for its coal mine and thermal power plant activity are reported. The investigated region (148 km2) is covered by sparse sampling grid of 2×2 km; but in the urban zone and around the thermal power plant the sampling grid is denser (1×1 km). In total 52 topsoil samples (0–5 cm) were collected. Inductively coupled plasma – atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was applied for the determinations of 18 elements (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg,Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn). Based on factor analyses three natural geogenic associations of elements havebeen defined: Cr-Ni-Li-Co-Fe-As; Al-Ca-Mg-Sr; Ba-K-Cu and Ba-K-Cu). Even the distributions of typical heavy metals such as Pb and Zn which are not isolated into anthropogenic geochemical association by multivariate statisticalmethods but they still show trends of local anthropogenic enrichment. First of all the distribution of Pb is influenced by the coal open pit and thermal powerplant “Oslomej” but also by river transport of eroded material from the ironmine “Tajmište” in alluvial sediments of the river Zajaska. The distribution of Zn is influenced by the “Metal industry Kičevo” operation and this distributionis result of atmospheric transport

Pumped-hydro Energy Storage: Potential for Transformation from Single Dams

Electricity storage is one of the main ways to enable a higher share of variable renewable electricity such as wind and solar, the other being improved interconnections, flexible conventional generation plant, and demand-side management. Pumped hydropower storage (PHS) is currently the only electricity storage technology able to offer large-scale storage as that needed for accommodating renewable electricity under the 2020 EU energy targets. Compared with the high environmental and social impact of most new hydropower plant in Europe, the transformation of an existing reservoir into a PHS system offers the prospects of a much smaller environmental and social impact. The authors developed a geographical information systems (GIS) -based methodology and model to identify the potential for transforming single reservoirs into PHS systems, and to assess the additional energy storage which these new PHS could contribute to the electricity systems. The methodology was applied as case studies to Croatia and Turkey. GIS-based tools have the potential for effective and efficient identification of both national/EU potentials (of policy and scientific-interest) and individual site candidates for transformation (prefeasibility, project-level). Once the model is set up, improvements to such tools, e.g. allowing better sensitivity analysis, can be effectively applied to the whole of the EU with minimum effort. This paper first summarises the methodology and tool used and then exposes the results of its application to two countries as case studies. These results limit the assessment to potential sites within 5 km of one existing reservoir (TA) or of one another (TB), and a minimum 150 m of head. In the case of Croatia, it was found that at least a potential of 60 GWh is possible for which can be compared with the existing 20 GWh of storage capacity at its PHS plants. In the case of Turkey a potential of 3 800 GWh was assessed mostly under TA, with 2 potential TB sites providing three additional GWh of storage potential.JRC.F.6-Energy systems evaluatio

D4.2: Regional Mapping Report on Green Transition

This report aims to give findings from comparative research on Green Transition processes through developed policies, engaged actors, and implemented practices and initiatives, identified on the territories of five Western Balkan countries (AL, BA, ME, MK, RS). It builds upon 5 datasets, which serve as indications for the prospective results of the green transition as well as the immediate and long-term effects that society can anticipate. The mapping report's specific goal is to highlight the elements of the Western Balkans’ Green Agenda that are more embedded in the current national policy frameworks and those that require additional support in reaching the 2030 GT targets