Built-up areas within and around protected areas: Global patterns and 40-year trends

Protected areas (PAs) are a key strategy in global efforts to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services that are critical for human well-being. Most PAs have some built-up structures within their boundaries or in surrounding areas, ranging from individual buildings to villages, towns and cities. These structures, and the associated human activities, can exert direct and indirect pressures on PAs. Here we present the first global analysis of current patterns and observed long-term trends in built-up areas within terrestrial PAs and their immediate surroundings. We calculate for each PA larger than 5 km2 and for its 10-km unprotected buffer zone the percentage of land area covered by built-up areas in 1975, 1990, 2000 and 2014. We find that globally built-up areas cover only 0.12% of PA extent and a much higher 2.71% of the unprotected buffers as of 2014, compared to 0.6% of all land (protected or unprotected). Built-up extent in and around PAs is highest in Europe and Asia, and lowest in Africa and Oceania. Built-up area percentage is higher in coastal and small PAs, and lower in older PAs and in PAs with stricter management categories. From 1975 to 2014, the increase in built-up area was 23 times larger in the 10-km unprotected buffers than within PAs. Our findings show that the development of built-up structures remains limited within the boundaries of PAs but highlight the need to carefully manage the considerable pressure that PAs face from their immediate surroundings

Invasion of Fall Armyworm: Defending the Indefensible?

50-51The lepidopteran insect S. frugiperda FAW, a native of tropical and subtropical regions of America and Argentina, has been labelled as one of the worst invasive species of this century

Invasive Species in Indian Islands – The Time to Act is Now

23-25It is time to create specific awareness programmes for residents and tourists, policymakers and civil society organisations on the impact of invasive species in islands

In the Name of Afforestation

24-2

Medical treatment and management of patients with dementia

This article, the fifth in a series on dementia, discusses the principles of management and treatment of people with dementia. It describes how to proceed after a diagnosis of dementia has been made in the early stages of the condition, and general measures to maintain physical and mental health. Drug therapy for cognitive dysfunction is explained in the context of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, and strategies for managing depression and psychotic symptoms are outlined. Non-pharmacological approaches are often effective. For behavioural problems such as agitation and aggression, it is important to try to understand any underlying factors. In general, the most important strategy is to avoid excessive prescribing

INDUSTRIAL CATERING - ECONOMICS BEHIND THE SCENES

Abstract The tourism industry has grown in leaps and bounds globally. In India also the growth has been significant. This has led to development of various service providers across the industry. All metros are now home to multinational organisations and large IT companies, who have numerous offices in each city. The numbers of employees in such offices are usually over thousands and hence need catering services from professional service providers. While the requirements vary, the prime focus is on costs and quality and hygienic. This study explores the scenario at Bangalore from the side of caterer's as well as the multinationals. The study is an eye opener for all as the results show aspects of the industry that is usually taken for granted by all

Methane Studies Need of the Hour

28REPORTS have established that among the greenhouses gases methane is one of the most dangerous and most powerful. Its contribution to global warming is estimated to be about 18% and it has 20 times higher global warming potential than CO2. The concentration of atmospheric methane has increased steadily during the last few decades due to several reasons like increasing temperature, over precipitation, construction of new dams, etc