Multi-functional pollution mitigation in a rehabilitated mangrove conservation area.

Many mangroves were forced to act as informal pollution mitigation zones and double up as conservation areas. Long-term data are presented for a high profile mangrove reserve acting as such a mitigation zone in urban Thailand. Efficient mineralization of organic wastes by mangrove soil in a semi-engineered and hydraulically contained zone made it possible not to compromise the reserve\u2019s natural status. The data demonstrate that the treatment zone could process organic waste with an eight-fold efficiency in comparison to previous reports. Clones of microbial taxa critically novel for mangrove ecosystems were recovered (anammox bacteria and archaeal ammonia-oxidizers) suggesting their significant presence. Community structures of nitrogen-cycling and other taxa of natural and hypernutrified soils did not differ substantially. It is suggested that waste nitrogen removal may have occurred through bacterial and archaeal nitrification, conventional denitrification and anammox process. The article addresses the issue of multi-functional use of ever-shrinking habitats available for wildlife conservation. Data on key microbial, floral and faunal communities demonstrate that the mangrove exhibited stability under the major nutrient load. Supply of additional nutrients correlated with an enhancement of mangrove growth and diversity of selected key invertebrates/vertebrates which increasing conservation potential of the reserve. Serving to determine ecologically safe nutrification limits, the study suggests that a successful rehabilitation of an urban mangrove to its near natural status is feasible

Development and comparison of dengue vulnerability indices using GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis in Lao PDR and Thailand

Dengue is a continuous health burden in Laos and Thailand. We assessed and mapped dengue vulnerability in selected provinces of Laos and Thailand using multi-criteria decision approaches. An ecohealth framework was used to develop dengue vulnerability indices (DVIs) that explain links between population, social and physical environments, and health to identify exposure, susceptibility, and adaptive capacity indicators. Three DVIs were constructed using two objective approaches, Shannon’s Entropy (SE) and the Water-Associated Disease Index (WADI), and one subjective approach, the Best-Worst Method (BWM). Each DVI was validated by correlating the index score with dengue incidence for each spatial unit (district and subdistrict) over time. A Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) larger than 0.5 and a p-value less than 0.05 implied a good spatial and temporal performance. Spatially, DVIWADI was significantly correlated on average in 19% (4–40%) of districts in Laos (mean r = 0.5) and 27% (15–53%) of subdistricts in Thailand (mean r = 0.85). The DVISE was validated in 22% (12–40%) of districts in Laos and in 13% (3–38%) of subdistricts in Thailand. The DVIBWM was only developed for Laos because of lack of data in Thailand and was significantly associated with dengue incidence on average in 14% (0–28%) of Lao districts. The DVIWADI indicated high vulnerability in urban centers and in areas with plantations and forests. In 2019, high DVIWADI values were observed in sparsely populated areas due to elevated exposure, possibly from changes in climate and land cover, including urbanization, plantations, and dam construction. Of the three indices, DVIWADI was the most suitable vulnerability index for the study area. The DVIWADI can also be applied to other water-associated diseases, such as Zika and chikungunya, to highlight priority areas for further investigation and as a tool for prevention and interventions