Forest rotation lengths under carbon sequestration payments

Carbon dioxide emissions resulting from direct human activities, primarily fossil fuel use and land clearing, have altered the global carbon cycle. Carbon is absorbed (sequestered) by plant matter during photosynthesis, so that approximately 50% of the dry weight of a forest’s biomass is carbon. This paper examines how payments to foresters for the carbon sequestered in their trees would affect harvesting decisions. It uses a theoretical multi-crop model adapted from the original Faustmann formula to consider different scenarios of the degree of carbon liability incurred at the time of harvest, and their impact on the length of the optimal crop rotation. These results are then contrasted with the equivalent output from a numerical model based on a simulated New South Wales Pinus radiata plantation. The finding of the paper provides an insight into which carbon sequestration payment policy would be the best at aligning public and private incentives.carbon sequestration

Intervening for exhaustion

"The search for psychosocial factors that contribute to the aetiology and course of coronary heart disease (CHD) has been an energetic, although not always fruitful, pursuit for more than half a century. Around 20 years ago, Appels [1] identified a prodromal constellation of symptoms, including physical exhaustion and feelings of hopelessness, that preceded major CHD events. It was hypothesized that this syndrome of “vital exhaustion” (VE) was a causal risk factor for CHD events, and several observational studies demonstrating prospective associations between VE and subsequent events have been adduced as supporting the hypothesis [2], [3], [4] and [5]. In a recent commentary, however, we discussed the difficulties inherent in drawing causal conclusions from observational evidence [6]. Applying general arguments that are by now very well rehearsed [7] and [8], we suggested that considerations such as confounding by common antecedents of both VE and CHD and reverse causation could not be readily dismissed and resolution was likely only following experimental studies. For example, an explanation of these prospective associations that regards CHD events as the result of inflammatory processes involved in the progress of atherosclerosis and VE as a consequence of such processes is just as parsimonious as one that regards VE as a causal risk. It is also equally, if not more, plausible biologically; there is now substantial evidence that inflammatory cytokines communicate with the central nervous system contributing to illness behaviour and experience and fostering feelings of depression and fatigue [9]. We also posed the question of what implications do the results of observational studies of VE hold for treatment [6]. Again, we would argue that in the absence of experimental evidence, the implications are extremely limited."\ud \u

Responsiveness of Demand for Irrigation Water: A Focus on the Southern Murray-Darling Basin

The Productivity Commission staff working paper, 'Responsiveness of Demand for Irrigation Water: A Focus on the Southern Murray-Darling Basin', was released August 2004. This paper explores the determinants of the elasticity of demand for irrigation water. It focuses on three main irrigated industries - rice, dairy and horticulture - to gain a greater understanding of the value that farmers place on water as an input. This paper provides detail relating to farm decision behaviour and biophysical production realities faced by irrigators in the southern Murray-Darling Basin. The views expressed in this paper are those of the staff involved and do not necessarily reflect those of the Productivity Commission.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

The Role of Auctions in Allocating Public Resources

This paper provides an economic framework within which to consider the effectiveness and limitations of auction markets. The paper looks at the use of auctions as a policy instrument and the effects of auction design on consumer interests, the efficient allocation of resources, and industry competitiveness.Australia; Research; Ascending-bid auction; Auctions; Bidders; Conservation funds; Descending-bid auction; Dutch auction; English auction; Environmental Management; First-price sealed-bid auction; Infrastructure; Markets; Oral auction; Outcry auction; Pollutant emission permits; Power supply contracts; Public resources; Radio- spectrum; Second-price sealed-bid auction Spectrum licences; Vickrey auction; Water rights;

Greenhouse gas emissions and the productivity growth of electricity generators

This paper analyses electricity generation in four Australian states and the Northern Territory in the late 1990s It finds that productivity growth estimates for electricity generators can change significantly when allowance is made for greenhouse gas emissions. Using an innovative analytical technique for incorporating environmental impacts in productivity estimates, it shows that productivity growth is overestimated when emission intensity is rising and underestimated when emission intensity is falling. This is because emissions are undesirable and so if they fall (grow) per unit of output then this will tend to increase (decrease) estimated productivity.greenhouse gas emissions - productivity growth - electricity - abatement

Modelling Water Trade in the Southern Murray-Darling Basin

Released in November 2004, the paper uses TERM-Water, a bottoms-up regional CGE model of the Australian economy, to examine the regional effects of expanding trade of irrigation water in the southern Murray- Darling Basin. The study finds that water trading dampens the impact of water allocation cuts on gross regional product (GRP). The benefits of introducing trading within irrigation districts are greater than the further benefits of expanding trade to between these regions. Permitting trade of seasonal allocations allows irrigators to reallocate water in reaction to climatic conditions and water availability - and it is this flexibility that enables GRP reductions to be minimised.southern murray-darling basin, CGE model, irrigation water, water allocation, water trade,

A new web-based genomics resource for bioinformatics analysis of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus: CattleTickBase

No abstract availabl

Stripping and scrubbing of ammonium using common fractionating columns to prove ammonium inhibition during anaerobic digestion

Anaerobic digestion to produce biogas is generally considered as one of the most sustainable technologies for the production of renewable energy. During this microbial process, organically bound nitrogen is released as ammonium that ends up in the digestate and finally may inhibit the process. In this study, it is investigated if ammonium can be removed and recovered out of the liquid fraction of a thermophilic digestate from a potato processor. This is achieved at laboratory scale through an easy and self-designed stripping and scrubbing process using Vigreux and Dufton columns, which are commonly used laboratory fractionating columns. The stripping is performed at pH 8.5 and at 323.15K (50 degrees C), which results in the volatilization of the ammonium present in ammonia. Subsequently, the stripping gas charged with ammonia is put into contact with a sulphuric acid solution, resulting in (NH4)(2)SO4, which can be used as an N-S fertilizer. In addition, the digestion experiments have demonstrated that the biogas yield is 36% higher after removal of the ammonium from the digestate compared to the untreated digestate