Linking Management Effectiveness Indicators to Observed Effects of Protected Areas on Fire Occurrence in the Amazon Rainforest

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/96420/1/cobi1930.pd

Impacts of conversion of tropical peat swamp forest to oil palm plantation on peat organic chemistry, physical properties and carbon stocks

Ecosystem services provided by tropical peat swamp forests, such as carbon (C) storage and water regulation, are under threat due to encroachment and replacement of these natural forests by drainage-based agriculture, commonly oil palm plantation. This study aims to quantify how the chemical and physical properties of peat change during land conversion to oil palm. This will be addressed by comparing four separate stages of conversion; namely, secondary peat swamp forests, recently deeply drained secondary forests, cleared and recently planted oil palm, and mature oil palm plantation in North Selangor, Malaysia. Results indicate accelerated peat decomposition in surface peats of mature oil palm plantations due to the lowered water table and altered litter inputs associated with this land-use change. Surface organic matter content and peat C stocks at secondary forest sites were higher than at mature oil palm sites (e.g. C stocks were 975 ± 151 and 497 ± 157 Mg ha− 1 at secondary forest and mature oil palm sites, respectively). Land conversion altered peat physical properties such as shear strength, bulk density and porosity, with mirrored changes above and below the water table. Our findings suggest close links between the organic matter and C content and peat physical properties through the entire depth of the peat profile. We have demonstrated that conversion from secondary peat swamp forest to mature oil palm plantation may seriously compromise C storage and, through its impact on peat physical properties, the water holding capacity in these peatlands

産業自家発電のエネルギー効率と二酸化炭素排出率に関する研究

This study was intended to find the energy and environmental efficiencies of industrial power generation systems in Japan, based on the data of the Yearbook of the Current Survey of Energy Consumption, by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METD). Boiler-steam turbine systems account for the largest portion (73%) of the electricity produced on-site for factories\u27 power needs, and combined heat and power (CHP) systems (16%) follow them. The power efficiencies of boiler-steam turbine power generation systems installed in 9 types of industry are in a range of 26-44% (total average : 37%), and their CO_2 emission rates are in a wider rage of 0.47-1.19 CO_2-kg/kWh (total average : 0.66 CO_2-kg/kWh). Then, the total efficiencies of CHP systems are in a range of 34-77% (total average : 62%), and their C02 emission rates are in a rage of 0.62-1.18 CO_2-kg/kWh (total average : 0.72 CO_2-kg/kWh). These results indicated that industrial boiler-steam turbine systems were not so efficient in power generation, and had slightly larger CO_2 emission rates than ones of the public power generation companies. And also, although industrial CHP systems were made sure to be useful measures for the climate changes as a whole, certain types of industry with low heat-demands hardly achieved the high performance

Start2quit: a randomised clinical controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of using personal tailored risk information and taster sessions to increase the uptake of the NHS Stop Smoking Services.

BACKGROUND: The NHS Stop Smoking Services (SSSs) offer help to smokers who want to quit. However, the proportion of smokers attending the SSSs is low and current figures show a continuing downward trend. This research addressed the problem of how to motivate more smokers to accept help to quit. OBJECTIVES: To assess the relative effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness, of an intervention consisting of proactive recruitment by a brief computer-tailored personal risk letter and an invitation to a 'Come and Try it' taster session to provide information about the SSSs, compared with a standard generic letter advertising the service, in terms of attendance at the SSSs of at least one session and validated 7-day point prevalent abstinence at the 6-month follow-up. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial of a complex intervention with follow-up 6 months after the date of randomisation. SETTING: SSSs and general practices in England. PARTICIPANTS: All smokers aged ≥ 16 years identified from medical records in participating practices who were motivated to quit and who had not attended the SSS in the previous 12 months. Participants were randomised in the ratio 3 : 2 (intervention to control) by a computer program. INTERVENTIONS: Intervention - brief personalised and tailored letter sent from the general practitioner using information obtained from the screening questionnaire and from medical records, and an invitation to attend a taster session, run by the local SSS. Control - standard generic letter from the general practice advertising the local SSS and the therapies available, and asking the smoker to contact the service to make an appointment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) Proportion of people attending the first session of a 6-week course over a period of 6 months from the receipt of the invitation letter, measured by records of attendance at the SSSs; (2) 7-day point prevalent abstinence at the 6-month follow-up, validated by salivary cotinine analysis; and (3) cost-effectiveness of the intervention. RESULTS: Eighteen SSSs and 99 practices within the SSS areas participated; 4384 participants were randomised to the intervention (n = 2636) or control (n = 1748). One participant withdrew and 4383 were analysed. The proportion of people attending the first session of a SSS course was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group [17.4% vs. 9.0%; unadjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.75 to 2.57; p  86% over a lifetime horizon. LIMITATIONS: Participating SSSs may not be representative of all SSSs in England. Recruitment was low, at 4%. CONCLUSIONS: The Start2quit trial added to evidence that a proactive approach with an intensive intervention to deliver personalised risk information and offer a no-commitment introductory session can be successful in reaching more smokers and increasing the uptake of the SSS and quit rates. The intervention appears less likely to be cost-effective in the short term, but is highly likely to be cost-effective over a lifetime horizon. FUTURE WORK: Further research could assess the separate effects of these components. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN76561916. FUNDING DETAILS: This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 21, No. 3. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information

Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats analysis of carbon footprint indicator and derived recommendations

ABSTRACT: Demand for a low carbon footprint may be a key factor in stimulating innovation, while prompting politicians to promote sustainable consumption. However, the variety of methodological approaches and techniques used to quantify life-cycle emissions prevents their successful and widespread implementation. This study aims to offer recommendations for researchers, policymakers and practitioners seeking to achieve a more consistent approach for carbon footprint analysis. This assessment is made on the basis of a comprehensive Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats or SWOT Analysis of the carbon footprint indicator. It is carried out bringing together the collective experience from the Carbonfeel Project following the Delphi technique principles. The results include the detailed SWOT Analysis from which specific recommendations to cope with the threats and the weaknesses are identified. In particular, results highlight the importance of the integrated approach to combine organizational and product carbon footprinting in order to achieve a more standardized and consistent approach. These recommendations can therefore serve to pave the way for the development of new, specific and highly-detailed guidelines

Trade and Sustainable Development Round Table Discussions between Whitehall, industry and NGO's held on 14 July 1993

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:q94/14159 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Uncorking the genie Local government and UNCED follow-up; and global warming: a multi-level approach

Two essays bound togetherAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:q94/14153 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Investigating choice rationality in stated preference methods for enhanced farm animal welfare

Includes bibliographical referencesSIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:3490. 179752(03-02) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

The responsibility criterion Consumer sovereignty without the assumption of coherent preferences

Includes bibliographical referencesAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:3490. 179755(03-02) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo