Étude et suivi d'un milieu aquatique temporaire endoréique méditerranéen : les Cerisières (tour du Valat, Camargue)

Wetlands are often extremely dynamic areas, as well at hydrological level as for the sedimentary transport. Trough the study of a pond system in the Camargue, we propose to set up a follow-up methodology of these «unforeseable» environments. The methodology relies on ground based measurements and on satellite imagery. All collected data are integrated in georeferenced database nianagedby a Geografical Information System (GIS). It offers important possibilities and an essential pre-requisite to the modelling of hydrological functioning of ponds.Les zones humides sont souvent des milieux très dynamiques tant au plan hydrologique que du transport sédimentaire. Il est proposé, à travers l'étude d'un système de mares de Camargue, la mise en place d'une méthodologie de suivi de ces milieux «imprévisibles». La méthodologie s'appuie sur des mesures au sol et à partir de satellites ; toutes les données recueillies sont intégrées dans une base de données géoréférencées gérée par un système d'information géographique (SIG). Elle offre des possibilités importantes et est un préalable indispensable à la modélisation du fonctionnement hydrologique des mares.Buckwell Philippe, Sandoz Alain, Chauvelon Philippe, Prosper-Laget Valérie. Étude et suivi d'un milieu aquatique temporaire endoréique méditerranéen : les Cerisières (tour du Valat, Camargue). In: Méditerranée, tome 93, 4-1999. Dynamiques naturelles et gestion des espaces littoraux, sous la direction de Serge Suanez, Mireille Provansal et Carole Bruzzi. pp. 19-26

Best Practices in Port Management: An Assessment of Two Ports

Corporation X owns and operates Port Y in Indonesia and will begin using Port Z in Australia, a public port, in late 2008. The ports are used to export copper concentrate, while Port Y is also used to move commodities, cargo, and people. Analysis based on field observations and personnel interviews revealed strengths and weaknesses in best management practices at each location. As the Corporation aims to demonstrate best port practices, this assessment of environmental practices and protocols addresses handling of cargo, protocols for ships, environmental controls, monitoring, and general practices. Research found that Port Y could lessen environmental impacts by enclosing the copper concentrate conveyor system. Best practices at Port Y include ballast water management and monitoring practices. Port Z could improve its management practices by increasing environmental monitoring frequency; best practices include movement of copper concentrate and air quality maintenance

Farmland abandonment in Europe:Identification of drivers and indicators, and development of a composite indicator of risk

Accounting for more than half of the European Union's (EU) territory, agriculture ensures food production, manages important natural resources and supports socio-economic development of rural areas. Moreover, it is estimated that 50% of all plant and animal species (including some of that are listed in the EU Habitat Directive) depend on agricultural practices. The continuation of appropriate agricultural land management is essential to ensure these primary functions. Avoidance of farmland abandonment is therefore an important rationale for the EU's Common Agricultural Policy which requires improved knowledge of this phenomenon at the European level. This study assesses the risk of farmland abandonment in the 27 EU Member States. It summarizes the work performed by an expert panel of European scientists and national representatives which aimed to identify the main drivers of farmland abandonment in Europe, to define indicators for assessing its risk of occurrence and to test the value of European-wide data sources to achieve these aims. Drivers were identified under two rationales: low farm stability and viability, and negative regional context. Indicators were defined using recent socio-economic farm data and geospatial datasets. Some indicators were then combined to make a composite risk indicator. Regions with higher risk of farmland abandonment are located in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden and Ireland. This paper demonstrates the challenges of performing a European-wide assessment of a phenomenon influenced by drivers whose effects vary at local levels. Other problems encountered are data heterogeneity in terms of spatial resolution and quality, as well as access to micro-data (local level data). High spatial resolution European datasets measuring farmland abandonment are needed to validate the defined indicators as well as to benchmark the methodology. Furthermore, such data could be used to establish a weighting system for the drivers