A framework for implementing sustainable tourism in national parks of Iran: development and use of sustainable tourism indicators in Boujagh National Park, Iran

Despite the fact that national parks and other protected areas are mostly adopting the sustainable development process, it was found that sustainability has yet to be perceived pragmatically in these areas. Due to its process, this paper presents a monitoring framework approach to develop and implement indicators for sustainable tourism. To illustrate the application of the framework, a set of indicators were developed and used by way of an iterative Delphi survey conducted to seek expert opinions on the sustainability indicators to monitor tourism development in Boujagh National Park. This park was the subject of a case study, even though with lack of data. The results of this research confirmed in developing a set of 20 indicators, which emphasised on issues related to visitor satisfaction, economy, environment and society. It is the first step in a long-term process toward developing adapted indicators for national park monitoring and will allow decision-makers to enhance the sustainability of tourism development in Boujagh National Park

An examination of the effects of push and pull factors on Iranian national parks: Boujagh National Park, Iran

This article analyses the push and pull factors that bring visitors to the Iranian national parks. The study used a structured questionnaire to collect data on these factors and the socio-demographic profile of the visitors. Survey conducted in Boujagh National Park, an area of 3177 hectares located in the north of the Iran, produced 400 questionnaires. The factor analysis identified four push and six pull factors underlying visitors’ motives to visit the park. Difference in the push and pull factors in different socio-demographic groups were investigated. It was found that visitors are pushed to the park for relaxing, and pulled by nature as a product. It was also clear that gender, marital status and province of the residence had not a significant influence on the push and pull factors. With the current number of other type of tourism competing for nature based tourism, this kind of information can imply that the management of national parks should not only focus on the identified travel motives, but also focus on other push and pull factors, in order to contribute to the sustainability of parks’ development

Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) using EDIP 97 method: An analysis of potential impact from potable water production

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a method to analyze a particular product or service; from the beginning of the process it is extracted until it is no more in use or much to be known as 'cradle to grave analysis'. The LCA analysis includes collection of inventory that is all types of emissions and also waste products. After that, this inventory would be translated or transformed to show the impact on environment in the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). Two LCIA methods has been accepted such as midpoint and endpoint approach. The EDIP 97 is a LCIA method which uses midpoint approach. From the analysis done on the two stages, life cycle assessment for potable water production that is construction stage and production stage; it is found that production stage contributes the highest impact on acidification and euthrophication which is derived from the PAC production process. Whereas, the construction stage contributes two main impacts which are human toxicity (water) and chronic water ecotoxicity which are produced through the process of steel production. © 2011 Academic Journals

Sustainable tourism development strategy by SWOT analysis: Boujagh National Park, Iran

This paper explores the applicability of transforming the current state of tourism in Boujagh National Park (BNP) (a region located in the northern Iran with an area of 3177. ha) to a sustainable tourism model. To plan and implement this, different management and decision making tools were used including interviews and questionnaire surveys as well as SWOT analysis. A series of interviews was conducted in order to identify actions taken by governmental bodies responsible (e.g., Department of Environment). In addition, the visitors of the park were surveyed to assess the rate of fulfillment of sustainable tourism development in the park. Local residents were also taken into account by using a survey to reveal the problems and attractions of the park. Results showed that the existing tourism activities in the park did not conform to sustainability requirements. Thus, a SWOT analysis was used to identify the required management strategies to improve the tourism in the park. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd

Life cycle assessment for solid waste disposal options in Malaysia

The largest percentage of MSW in Malaysia is contributed by the state of Selangor, with a 3,923 tons generated daily. Therefore, the aim of this study is to consider the current condition of the open dumps and sanitary landfills in Selangor from an environmental point of view. Moreover, the local authorities of Malaysia prefer to use landfills that have no liners, biogas capture, and many others as a method of getting rid of collected waste. In Malaysia, this is the first time life cycle assessment (LCA) is being used. In this study, LCA is used to weigh up different treatment scenarios and SimaPro7 (2006) software with CML 2 base line 2000 v2.04 methodology applied to model the three scenarios. Research has shown that all scenarios have a high amount of different potential impacts. Further analysis illustrated that S3 (100 sanitary landfill) is more preferable than the others because of its low contribution on eutrophication, global warming and photochemical oxidation impacts. Results also confirmed that landfilling, which is the current waste disposal method for the country, is not a preferable method environmentally. Further studies should involve other decision-making tools and a wide range of scenarios that consider the economic and social effects of solid waste management methods to introduce environmentally and economically preferable methods to the Malaysian authorities

Waste quantification models for estimation of construction and demolition waste generation: a review

Quantification is crucial for construction and demolition waste management. Accurate estimation can be satisfied by developing waste quantification model that is applicable for regional or nation-wide C&D waste generation. This paper presents a review on quantification models for C&D waste from literatures and how they correlate. Most studies combine the empirical waste assessment data or waste generation factor obtained in the field with area of activity level extracted from national statistical database from their respective countries, which provides annual data on sector activities. National or regional estimates provide general figures and forecasts for annual C&D waste generation. Studies found that waste generation factor will differs according to locations. Since volume and characteristic of waste are crucial for waste quantification, quantitative data record from waste audit findings could benefit the authorities for the annual estimates. National C&D waste reduction plan should start from well-established waste minimisation plan at project sites. Copyright © 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd

Use of biomass fuel and acute respiratory infections in rural Pakistan

Objective: To evaluate the association between use of biomass fuel and acute respiratory infection (ARI) episodes in children aged ≤5 years in Pakistan. Methods: Cluster sampling was used to select 566 children from 379 households in August–September 2007 in a rural setting in Pakistan. Information was collected on ARI episodes during the previous month and type of fuel used for cooking. Poisson regression with robust variance estimation was used to assess the association between use of biomass fuel and ARI episodes, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: The incidence of ARI was 7 episodes/child/year. In the adjusted model, the incidence of ARI was higher in children living in houses where biomass fuel was used and who accompanied their mothers while cooking compared with children living in houses where fossil fuel was used and who did not accompany their mothers while cooking [rate ratio (RR) 2.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5–4.5]. Compared with the latter group, the incidence of ARI was also higher in children living in houses where biomass fuel was used but who did not accompany their mothers during cooking (RR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2–1.9), and in children living in houses where fossil fuel was used and who accompanied their mothers while cooking (RR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3–2.8).Conclusion: Use of biomass fuel and presence of a child in the kitchen during cooking were associated with increased incidence of ARI in children aged ≤5 years

Vermicomposting of sewage sludge by lumbricus rubellus using spent mushroom compost as feed material: effect on concentration of heavy metals

Vermicomposting of sewage sludge (SS) using spent mushroom compost from Pleurotus sajor-caju as feed material was conducted to determine the effect on the concentration of heavy metals, namely Cr, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn. Previous studies have reported the feasibility of brandling worms, Eisenia foetida, for vermicomposting SS, whereas we conducted vermicomposting by employing red worms, Lumbricus rubellus, with a combination of different percentages of SS and spent mushroom compost (SMC) for 70 days subsequent to 21 days of precomposting. The vermicompost produced in treatments with a low percentage of SS were fine in texture, dark in colour and odourless in contrast to the initial physical characteristics. Results indicate that growth in earthworm numbers and biomass gain was maximum at 25 : 75 (T D) of SS : SMC compared to other treatments with 5 and 8- fold increases, respectively. The heavy metals contained in vermicompost were 0.25 � 11.57-fold higher than the initial concentration due to mineralization and excretion of non-accumulated heavy metals existent in the earthworms' gut, which were present prior to treatments. Even so, the concentration was below the limits set by EU and US biosolid compost standards and safe to be utilized as a biofertilizer and soil conditioner. © The Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering and Springer 2011