Exploring the potential behavior of consumers towards transgenic forest products: the Greek experience

Recently, the interest in wood products and bioenergy applications of transgenic forest trees is increasing worldwide, though plantations have been esta­blished to this purposes only in China. Information on the anticipated attitudes of consumers towards products from genetically-modified forest trees would therefore be of a particular interest both for developers and policy makers. This study investigated the purchasing behavior of potential Greek consumers towards the products from transgenic forest trees. In 2011, a survey was conducted based on randomly selected interviews of 418 potential consumers from all over Greece. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) was performed to identify the main factors affecting the potential purchasing behavior of consumers towards products from transgenic forest trees. Hierarchical and non- hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to PCA scores to identify homogeneous groups of consumers sharing a similar purchasing behavior. Discriminant analysis was used to cross-validate cluster membership of consumers based on PCA factors. Four groups of consumers showing similar potential purchasing beha­vior towards the products of transgenic forest trees were identified: (a) those interested in the quality of products; (b) those oriented towards lower prices; (c) those influenced by curiosity and labeling issues; and (d) consumers mainly interested in health safety issues and environmental impacts. Finally, a most frequent profile for each group of consumers was outlined according to their demographic characteristics and their opinions on the use of transgenic-tree derived products. Although it is unlikely that products from GM forest trees will be marketed in the next 10 to 15 years, information on the anticipated attitudes of consumers has to be taken into consideration by the developers and policy makers

Ecophysiological responses of Preconditioning of Forest Species. A Review

Ecosystem-specific prevailing unfavorable climatic conditions pose obstacles to a successful regeneration. For the Mediterranean ecosystems those adverse growth conditions occur especially during summer when drought phenomena are more intense and frequent. Forest nurseries need to produce the best quality of transplanting material in order to achieve greater seedling survival. The aim of this paper is to review research conducted on seedling preconditioning of forest seedlings prior to regeneration, with emphasis on drought, in order to enhance the transplanting success. Other types of preconditioning, such as cold and mycorrihzae, are also analyzed. The hypothesis is that seedlings that have undergone a degree of stress enhance seedling characteristics that enable the seedlings to overcome transplanting stress. Studies showed that under drought preconditioning seedlings tent to decrease their height and shoot/root ratio indicating greater dry mass accumulation to the below ground seedling parts. Also, it was suggested that acclimation occurred mostly through the reduced level of stomata conductance and transpiration rates. Overall, this review will provide a better understanding on the responses of seedlings that experience preconditioning prior to transplant

Simulation and Prediction of Water Allocation Using Artificial Neural Networks and a Spatially Distributed Hydrological Model

Lake Koronia is located in the North part of Greece and is protected by the Ramsar Convention of wetlands. A deficit in the water balance has been presented at the last twenty years due to the excessive water consumption for agricultural uses. This research is an attempt to simulate water flow with MIKE SHE model in order to observe how the water is allocated in the study area. The results of water flow module used for the estimation of Lake’s water balance for 4 hydrological years (2008-2012). Furthermore the Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) was used for the prediction of water flow in two sub-catchments. The coefficient correlation (R) was found for Bogdanas (0.9) and Kolxikos (0.86). The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and the Mean Absolute Percentages Error (MAPE) were also calculated in order to evaluate the quality of the ANNs results

Conservación de los ecosistemas riparios y deltaicos y mejora de las oportunidades de ecoturismo

The many ecosystem services offered by riparian areas and deltas have led to their intense utilization and degradation by humans. The areas maintain high biodiversity thus providing habitat for animal and fish, reduce nonpoint sources pollutant, erosion and floods, recharge aquifers, increase agricultural production and provide ecotourism opportunities. These have led to a prioritization, worldwide, of the conservation and protection of these ecosystems. This importance was also recognized by UNESCO that establishment the Chair Con-E-Ect in 2016 in Drama Greece that focuses on the conservation, protection and implementation of ecotourism in riparian areas and deltas. Specific activities of the Chair include the development of behavior codes, monitoring tool and ecotourism examples. The behavior codes provide guidelines on what activities should be done in riparian areas and deltas and what activities should be avoided. To enhance conservation a monitoring tool for riparian areas and deltas suited for stakeholders has been modified to meet the environmental conditions of the Mediterranean region. Finally, successful examples of ecotourism have been identified as case studies that could be utilized by local business of rural areas. Overall, these actions along with future ones will lead to the sustainable management of the ecosystems in Mediterranean that have been over-utilized due to the human presence for thousands of years.Las áreas ribereñas y los deltas ofrecen muchos servicios ecosistémicos que han llevado a su intensa utilización y degradación por parte de los humanos. Estos variados y únicos servicios han llevado a una priorización mundial de la conservación y protección de estos ecosistemas. Esta cuestión fue reconocida por la UNESCO al establecer la Cátedra Con-E-Ect en 2016 en la ciudad de Drama, Grecia, centrada en la conservación, protección e implementación del ecoturismo en áreas ribereñas y deltas. Las actividades específicas de la Cátedra incluyen el desarrollo de códigos de conducta, herramientas de monitoreo y ejemplos exitosos de ecoturismo. Los códigos de conducta brindan pautas sobre qué actividades se deben realizar en áreas ribereñas y deltas. Para mejorar la conservación, se recomienda que las herramientas de monitoreo para áreas ribereñas y deltas adecuadas para las partes interesadas cumplan con las condiciones ambientales de la región mediterránea

Improving Soil Erosion Prevention in Greece with New Tools

Unsustainable anthropogenic activities such as agriculture and urbanization have caused excessive erosion rates that exceed soil formation rates. The Mediterranean region has and continues to experience severe erosion because of the inappropriate agricultural management, overgrazing, deforestation, wildfires, land abandonment, intense road construction and other construction activities. The forecasted increase of intensive rainfall events and prolonged drought periods due to climate change, will enhance surface runoff and sediment transport capacity. The objective of this study was to develop new tools to help land managers mitigate erosion in the country of Greece. One of the tools was a new sensor (ASEMS) that is based on the physical properties of ultrasound to detect erosion locally with great accuracy (1 mm), while simultaneously measuring precipitation, soil moisture, and soil and air temperature. The other tool was the development of the Soil Erosion Integrated Information System (SE-I2S) that enables land managers through a series of questions to understand if they are facing erosion problems and what type of erosion. This tool can be applied to large areas. Overall, both new tools are user friendly and help land managers mitigate soil erosion cost-effectively.This proceeding was published as Zaimes, G.N., K. Ioannou, V. Iakovoglou, I. Kosmadakis, P. Koutalakis, G. Ranis, D. Emmanouloudis, & R.C. Schultz. 2016. Improving soil erosion prevention in Greece with new tools. Journal of Engineering Science and Technology Review 9 (2): 66-71. Posted with permission.</p

Improving Soil Erosion Prevention in Greece with New Tools

Unsustainable anthropogenic activities such as agriculture and urbanization have caused excessive erosion rates that exceed soil formation rates. The Mediterranean region has and continues to experience severe erosion because of the inappropriate agricultural management, overgrazing, deforestation, wildfires, land abandonment, intense road construction and other construction activities. The forecasted increase of intensive rainfall events and prolonged drought periods due to climate change, will enhance surface runoff and sediment transport capacity. The objective of this study was to develop new tools to help land managers mitigate erosion in the country of Greece. One of the tools was a new sensor (ASEMS) that is based on the physical properties of ultrasound to detect erosion locally with great accuracy (1 mm), while simultaneously measuring precipitation, soil moisture, and soil and air temperature. The other tool was the development of the Soil Erosion Integrated Information System (SE-I2S) that enables land managers through a series of questions to understand if they are facing erosion problems and what type of erosion. This tool can be applied to large areas. Overall, both new tools are user friendly and help land managers mitigate soil erosion cost-effectively

Understanding and Enhancing Ecotourism Opportunities through Education

A new fast growing trend in tourism is ecotourism, in which tourists visit natural ecosystems under low impact, nonconsumptive and locally oriented activities. Through these activities species and habitats are maintained and typically, underdeveloped regions are emphasized. Ecotourism provides a great alternative, especially for rural and undeveloped area. At the same time, despite its many benefits, it also poses many risks for the naturally protected areas