Economic and environmental impacts of using treated distillery slops for irrigation of sugarcane fields

This report provides information on the use of wastes from sugarcane distillation as a resource for improving agricultural productivity. It analyzes various treatment options to find out which brings the most economic, environmental and social benefits to the industry, agriculture and the environment. It finds that when the waste slops are treated optimally, they can be an effective fertilizer and irrigation resource with minimal pollution impact. This not only benefits farmers by increasing yields, but removes a heavy financial burden from the sugarcane processing companies in the form of pollution cleanup costs or fines. The report recommends that the government support this innovative way of reducing pollution

Vulnerability to Rainfall-Induced Landslide of Three Communities in Infanta, Quezon, Philippines

Four successive tropical cyclones hit the Philippines and brought damages to several towns in the provinces of Quezon and Aurora between November 14 and December 4 in 2004. The municipalities of Infanta, Real, and General Nakar were severely damaged and as a result the communities were exposed to physical risks and experienced socio-economic difficulties. To affect policies and plans in avoiding risks brought about by disasters that may happen in the future, the vulnerabilities to rainfall-induced landslide of the three most devastated barangays in Infanta, Quezon, namely Pinaglapatan, Ilog, and Magsaysay, were determined using an agent-based model. This study determined the vulnerability of three communities based on the framework that vulnerability is influenced by the amount and intensity of rainfall received by the area in a given time, the conditions of the biophysical characteristics of the area, and the socio-economic profile of the community in the area. A time series model to capture the long-term rainfall pattern in the area was developed with consideration to the occurrences of extreme events. Biophysical studies were conducted on the study sites to determine their respective characteristics using topography (slope and elevation), land-use, and soil type as parameters. Through a respondent-type survey, the socio-economic profiles of the communities were characterized using income, livelihood, participation in social networks, and existence of community early warning systems, among others, as parameters. Because of the barangay

Practical guidelines for rigor and reproducibility in preclinical and clinical studies on cardioprotection

The potential for ischemic preconditioning to reduce infarct size was first recognized more than 30 years ago. Despite extension of the concept to ischemic postconditioning and remote ischemic conditioning and literally thousands of experimental studies in various species and models which identified a multitude of signaling steps, so far there is only a single and very recent study, which has unequivocally translated cardioprotection to improved clinical outcome as the primary endpoint in patients. Many potential reasons for this disappointing lack of clinical translation of cardioprotection have been proposed, including lack of rigor and reproducibility in preclinical studies, and poor design and conduct of clinical trials. There is, however, universal agreement that robust preclinical data are a mandatory prerequisite to initiate a meaningful clinical trial. In this context, it is disconcerting that the CAESAR consortium (Consortium for preclinicAl assESsment of cARdioprotective therapies) in a highly standardized multi-center approach of preclinical studies identified only ischemic preconditioning, but not nitrite or sildenafil, when given as adjunct to reperfusion, to reduce infarct size. However, ischemic preconditioning—due to its very nature—can only be used in elective interventions, and not in acute myocardial infarction. Therefore, better strategies to identify robust and reproducible strategies of cardioprotection, which can subsequently be tested in clinical trials must be developed. We refer to the recent guidelines for experimental models of myocardial ischemia and infarction, and aim to provide now practical guidelines to ensure rigor and reproducibility in preclinical and clinical studies on cardioprotection. In line with the above guideline, we define rigor as standardized state-of-the-art design, conduct and reporting of a study, which is then a prerequisite for reproducibility, i.e. replication of results by another laboratory when performing exactly the same experiment

Responding to Sea Level Rise - A Study of Options to Combat Coastal Erosion in The Philippines

Sea erosion is currently affecting many coastal areas in the Philippines. Natural factors such as wind and waves are to blame, as are human activities such as coral reef destruction. The scale and impact of this problem are both expected to become more widespread due to climate change and sea level rise. Continuing urbanization and the development of more coastal communities in the country are also likely to make the situation worse. To assess possible responses to this problem, this study has investigated coastal erosion in one of the country's more developed coastal coastal regions. It finds that this coastline is vulnerable to the impact of erosion and that, if nothing is done, the problem will cause hundreds of million of Php worth of damage. It also finds that a planned protection strategy is the most rational approach to adopt. Such a strategy is socially and politically acceptable, justifiable from an economic perspective and also preserves the area's beaches along with the social services they provide.sea level rise, coastal, Philippines

Economic Vulnerability and Possible Adaptation to Coastal Erosion in San Fernando City, Philippines

This study from the Philippines investigates erosion in one of the country's more developed coastal regions. It finds that this coastline is vulnerable to the impact of erosion and that, if nothing is done, the problem will cause hundreds of millions of Php worth of damage. It also finds that a planned protection strategy is the most rational approach to adopt. Such a strategy is socially and politically acceptable, justifiable from an economic perspective and also preserves the area's beaches along with the social services they provide. This study, which is the work of a research team from the Department of Economics, at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, assesses the coastline of San Fernando Bay in the La Union region of the Philippines. It looks at approximately seven kilometers of the bay's coastline. San Fernando Bay is a densely populated area and it was chosen because it was identified as a place where coastal erosion is already prevalent. Sea-level rise is a major concern across the Philippines and beyond. Its scale and impact are both expected to become more widespread due to climate change and sea level rise. This makes the findings of this report particularly important and timely.economic vulnerability, coastal erosion, Philippines

Economic vulnerability and possible adaptation to coastal erosion in San Fernando City, Philippines

Findings show a strategy of planned protection is the best option for preservation of coastal areas. This study assesses the coastline of San Fernando Bay in the La Union region of the Philippines and includes a cost benefit analysis. Sea-level rise due to climate change dynamics is a major concern across the archipelago. Contributors to coastal zone erosion are: natural factors such as wind and waves, long shore currents and tectonic activities, as well as anthropogenic factors such as dam construction, sand mining, coral reef destruction, groundwater extraction, wetlands conversion, dredging of inlets for navigation, and boat traffic

Economic and Environmental Impacts of Using Treated Distillery Slops for Irrigation of Sugarcane Fields

This study provides information on the use of wastes from sugarcane distillation as a resource for improving agricultural productivity. It analyzes various treatment options to find out which brings the most economic, environmental and social benefits to the industry, agriculture and the environment. It finds that when the waste slops are treated optimally, they can be an effective fertilizer and irrigation resource with minimal pollution impact. This not only benefits farmers by increasing yields, but removes a heavy financial burden from the sugarcane processing companies in the form of pollution cleanup costs or fines. The report recommends that the government support this innovative way of reducing pollution.irrigation, Philippines

Backyard and Commercial Piggeries In The Philippines: Environmental Consequences and Pollution Control Options

The increases in hog population have created and exacerbated various environmental, health and other problems (see the review of the literature in the next section). In the Philippines, what is ironic is that while hog output and operation is preponderantly backyard and the bulk of waste is generated in these farms, current regulations and instruments seem virtually unable to influence backyard operators to undertake pollution mitigating activities. Small commercial farms (21-999 heads as per BAS classification) are also practically exempt from monitoring and compliance because the wastewater discharge standard of 30 cu m per day is more or less equivalent to 1,000 heads of hogs being raised (Orbeta and Calara, 1996).Pig waste, Philippines

Living with Livestock: Dealing with Pig Waste in the Philippines

As livestock production increases worldwide, livestock waste is becoming a serious environmental hazard. In some cases, the damages have been spectacular and even tragic. In June 1995, the artificial waste lagoon at a hog farm in North Carolina burst. The sudden release of nearly 100 million litres of hog urine and feces polluted neighbouring communities and killed millions of fish in nearby rivers (Worldwatch, March/April, 2001). In 2000, drinking water contaminated by livestock waste led to several deaths in the small Canadian town of Walkerton. In other cases, livestock waste causes continuous and pervasive damage to people's health and the environment. This study investigated a number of solutions and highlighted those that could mitigate the problem - given adequate support from policy makers. To find out the actual situation on the ground, the study looked at both the on-site and off-site impacts of hog farming in Majayjay. 176 households were surveyed, including 82 households of swine raisers and 94 households that live within a 20-meter radius of a hog farm. An additional comparative survey was made of 50 households that were not affected by air pollution from the farms.livestock, pig waste, Philippines