Suchergebnisse

Anthropogenic global warming (AGW) heat is trapped by the greenhouse gas (GHG) blanket, and the ocean surface layer. It is 93% in the ocean and drives atmospheric warming. The 111-year mean daily surface temperatures are 10.5±0.5°C at Port Erin (PE) Isle of Man compared with 9.6±4.8°C in Central England (CET) air. The Port Erin 5½-year max-min heat cycle synchronizes to the 11-year solar heat pump sunspot cycle. Tropical heat arrives 2 years after a solar maximum on wind-driven currents in the stratified sea surface. Runoff from bottom-up melted Arctic icesheets arrives 3½ year later at solar minimum. These warm and cold waters are the biodiversity source. PE is unique with seasonal meltwaters of Pacific and Atlantic origin. The North Pacific warms twice as fast as other oceans. All ocean near-surface gyre currents harmonize with sunspot cycles. Net cooling by polar icemelt masks catastrophic exponential ocean warming and icemelt. Eleven counter-rotating surface gyres carry heat and nutrients globally in verified ocean surface circulation system. Exponential growth is unsustainable in a finite system. It trends to infinity. Double-exponential gets there twice as quickly. The GHG blanket, grown double-exponentially for 250 years, is now in control. Ocean heat absorption takes 150-250years. Arctic icemelt increases double-exponentially. The Arctic long-term annual freeze-melt volume cycle is 16.8±1.3 thousand cubic km per year. Polar land icemelt adds ~500 km3m per year. Freeze-brine of salinity >40‰ and temperature – 1°C, sinks to the bottom. Equatorial evaporative-brine of salinity >36.4‰ and >28°C floats subsurface under fresh warm layers thickening westwards in tropical meridional cells to ~75m depth. This is consistent with observed extreme weather. Heat imbalance forced Pacific Ocean temperatures above proposed limits of +2°C in 1993, to +3°C in 2014, and is on track for +4°C for 2016. Century-long daily records confirm processes ongoing for 300 years. Coast locations are where impacts are felt and real-time data collected. Corporate governance degraded physics teaching in only 60 years. Individual discovery and data collection was lost. Big science is unnecessary. Satellites cannot do plankton tows. Computer modelsare governed by the rule of "garbage-in garbage-out?. They must be verified by in situ data that cannot be collected retrospectively. Continuous timeseries surface profile data from fixed ocean station locations on a global variableboundary network are essential. Scientists, if well-trained in ocean experimental physics, can do the hard work. Time-poor scientists, stripped of their intellectual property rights, under rewarded, poorly educated, and ruthlessly exploited by growth-obsessed commercial interests, missed catastrophic global warming and multiple extreme consequences. Climate scientists abandoned classical physics and Newton-Hooke field verification in favor of unverified beliefs, models, and apps. Climate studies confuse heat with temperature, do not include basal icemelt, density temperature-salinity function, Clausius-Clapeyron evaporation exponential skin temperature function, asymmetric brineheat sequestration, solar and tidal pumping, infra-red GHG heat trap, vertical tropical cells, freshwater warm pools; or wind-driven surface currents at 3 percent of windspeed. Climate model mistaken assumptions lead to the absurd conclusion that evaporation in the Labrador Sea at midnight in midwinter is greater than at the midday Equator. The Isle of Man provides an ideal location for continued monitoring and mitigation research, teaching and public service ina dedicated non-commercial independent multidisciplinary university-type setting. Quality teaching is the major priority. Commercial monopoly rights need replacement with free, fully open discussions and publications. Quality not quantity should be paramount. Internationally competitive academics should control subservient lower paid support staff. Every day without ocean surface data means vital scientific truth lost of interest and concern to all populations. Predictions are groundless without accurate continuous ocean surface data. Skeptics, politicians, statisticians, those with stakes in the status quo, and established research censors obstructing scientific progress squabble in ignorance while the globe burns.

This study of the Mahavavy-Kinkony Wetland Complex (MKWC) assesses the impacts of habitat change on the resident globally threatened fauna. Located in Boeny Region, northwest Madagascar, the Complex encompasses a range of habitats including freshwater lakes, rivers, marshes, mangrove forests, and deciduous forest. Spatial modelling and analysis tools were used to (i) identify the important habitats for selected, threatened fauna, (ii) assess their change from 1950 to 2005, (iii) detect the causes of change, (iv) simulate changes to 2050 and (v) evaluate the impacts of change. The approach for prioritising potential habitats for threatened species used ecological science techniques assisted by the decision support software Marxan. Nineteen species were analysed: nine birds, three primates, three fish, three bats and one reptile. Based on knowledge of local land use, supervised classification of Landsat images from 2005 was used to classify the land use of the Complex. Simulations of land use change to 2050 were carried out based on the Land Change Modeler module in Idrisi Andes with the neural network algorithm. Changes in land use at site level have occurred over time but they are not significant. However, reductions in the extent of reed marshes at Lake Kinkony and forests at Tsiombikibo and Marofandroboka directly threaten the species that depend on these habitats. Long term change monitoring is recommended for the Mahavavy Delta, in order to evaluate the predictions through time. The future change of Andohaomby forest is of great concern and conservation actions are recommended as a high priority. Abnormal physicochemical properties were detected in lake Kinkony due to erosion of the four watersheds to the south, therefore an anti-erosion management plan is required for these watersheds. Among the species of global conservation concern, Sakalava rail (Amaurornis olivieri), Crowned sifaka (Propithecus coronatus) and dambabe (Paretroplus dambabe) are estimated the most affected, but at the site level Decken's sifaka (Propithecus deckeni), kotsovato (Paretroplus kieneri) and Madagascan big-headed turtle (Erymnochelys madagascariensis) are also threatened. Local enforcement of national legislation on hunting means that MKWC is among the sites where the flying fox (Pteropus rufus) and Madagascan rousette (Rousettus madagascariensis) are well protected. Ecological restoration, ecological research and actions to reduce anthropogenic pressures are recommended. RÉSUMÉ Cette recherche menée dans le Complexe Zones Humides Mahavavy-Kinkony a pour but d'évaluer les impacts écologiques du changement des habitats naturels sur les espèces menacées de sa faune. Des outils tels que le SIG, la télédétection ainsi que Marxan ont été combinés avec les études bibliographiques et les travaux de terrains pour (i) identifier les habitats naturels prioritaires pour la faune menacée du site, (ii) évaluer leur changement entre 1950 et 2005, (iii) déceler les causes du changement, (iv) élaborer une prospective des changements en 2050 et (v) évaluer les impacts du changement. Le changement des habitats naturels s'est déroulé au cours des temps mais il n'a pas été assez important au niveau global du site pour transformer radicalement les occupations du sol. Toutefois, le recul des phragmitaies du lac Kinkony et des forêts de Tsiombikibo et de Marofandroboka menace les espèces qui en dépendent. Le suivi du delta de Mahavavy doit être poursuivi et intensifié pour évaluer les menaces qui pèsent sur lui dans le contexte des changements climatiques. La situation de la forêt d'Andohaomby est préoccupante et son avenir menacé en l'absence d'actions concrètes. L'analyse de vulnérabilité à l'érosion du bassin du Kinkony a démontré que les changements physico-chimiques dus à l'érosion dans les quatre bassins au Sud du lac rendent nécessaires des aménagements anti-érosifs. Parmi les espèces de la faune vertébrée, Amaurornis olivieri, Propithecus coronatus et Paretroplus dambabe sont les espèces les plus affectées globalement, mais au niveau du site Propithecus deckeni, Paretroplus kieneri et Erymnochelys madagascariensis sont tout aussi vulnérables. Pteropus rufus et Rousettus madagascariensis seraient les espèces les mieux protégées.

Subject of the present work is to examine the decision structure of the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change, discuss possible changes within that structure like a different decision rule, or the implementation of voting weights and the consequences of those changes related to the distribution of voting power amongst the member states of the UNFCCC with the possibility of a priori unions. Power is one of the most important concepts in the social sciences. By applying power measures, we estimate the impact of the various agents in instrumental arrangements like the UNFCCC. We examine the climate institutions 'United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change' and the 'United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification'. We give a detailed description of the bodies of the conventions and the actors in the negotiation process. As 'climate' is a public good we therefore apply the PGI, the Coalitional Solidarity PGI and the Union PGI and thus estimate the impact of the various agents in these instrumental arrangements taking a priori unions into consideration. For the UNFCCC the decision rule is unanimity and for the UNCCD there is a two-third majority decision rule. There are equal voting weights. Voting power and responsibility are thus equally distributed amongst the parties to the conventions if we do not include a priori unions. We define ten a priori unions and apply the corresponding a priori power measures. Depending on the decision topics, developing countries can hold more power and responsibility than developed countries. Both conventions refer to responsibilities of the parties as common but differentiated responsibilities. The primary responsibilities and thus power should fall to the industrial countries which is not reflected in our calculations. The second part claims that the existing a priori unions within the UNFCCC get obsolete. Over the past few years new negotiating coalitions emerged due to new decision topics. It is important for small countries that do not hold much power in the political arena to cooperate allowing them to share information and coordinate their actions. This paper makes use of a hierarchical cluster analysis to identify the a priori unions/coalitions. We consider 194 member states of the UNFCCC (cases). To cluster these cases three decision-fixed variables (GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity, contributions to the core budget of the UNFCCC, Environmental Performance Index) and in each decision case one clusteridentifying variable (Forest area, CO2 Emissions, Renewable internal freshwater resources per capita) for the three different decision situation (decisions on 'reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation' (REDD), decisions on CO2 emission cuts and decisions on water shortage) are taken into account. We calculate three cluster cases (10, 15 and 20 clusters) for the decision topics. To estimate the impact of the resulting a priori unions and accordingly the member states of the UNFCCC within the decision making process we apply the Coalitional Solidarity PGI and the Union PGI. We suggest a two-third majority decision rule as within the UNCCD and there are no voting weights in this setup. The third part deals with the allocation of voting weights within the UNFCCC. The ability of the UNFCCC to function effectively is limited. The one-country/one-vote system of decision making within the UN is unrealistic, bearing no relationship to the actual distribution of power amongst the world's nations. Therefore, its decisions are mostly only recommendatory rather than binding. Weighted voting has been suggested as one possible solution to the problem of representation in the conference of parties. We calculate voting weights based on contributions to the UNFCCC regular budget, GDP, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), and a measure of the equality of sovereign states. These factors are assigned different weights in order to formulate three sets of weighted votes. After this, we calculate the a priori voting power based on theSolidarity PGI and the Union PGI for the three different decision topics we dealt with in the second paper (cuts in CO2 emissions, REDD, and water shortage).

In an era of increasing governmental protection of marine resources and accelerating climate change, knowing how benthic populations of marine organisms are connected is of paramount importance. However, little is known about connectivity in the nearshore environment, particularly at ecologically and demographically relevant scales. Because the dispersive larval stage is the key to understanding population connectivity, my dissertation focused on developing a new technique for tracking larvae and determining how larval swimming behaviors can influence their cross-shelf distributions in the dynamic upwelling environment of northern California. This information is relevant not only to the applied fields of invasive species management, stock assessment, and marine protected area establishment, but also to the academic pursuit of understanding how life evolved in the sea. In Chapters 1 and 2, I focused on investigating the role of swimming behavior in regulating larval transport in upwelling regimes. I observed in the laboratory the larvae of four crab species from open coast and estuarine habitats that develop either nearshore or offshore. Larval vertical positions in acrylic columns were recorded for up to three days, and I determined whether (1) depth preferences differed for the four species, (2) larvae undertook tidal and diel vertical migrations, (3) vertical migrations were timed endogenously or exogenously, and (4) maternal habitat influenced larval swimming behavior. Regardless of light or tidal phase, larvae of three species (Hemigrapsus oregonensis, Lophopanopeus bellus bellus, and Pachygrapsus crassipes) that develop offshore stayed high in the water column, where they would be transported seaward in the field. In contrast, larvae of one species (Petrolisthes cinctipes) that develop nearshore stayed low in the water column, where they would remain in shoreward-flowing bottom waters. None of the species from the open coast exhibited tidal or diel vertical migrations, but one estuarine species (H. oregonensis) exhibited reverse tidal vertical migrations that would expedite their transport to the open ocean. Furthermore, larvae hatched from estuarine populations of P. crassipes exhibited tidal swimming behaviors, while larvae hatched from coastal populations showed no tidally based behavior. Thus, larvae of species that hatch in different locations and develop different distances from shore exhibited diverse larval swimming behaviors that regulate transport, and these behaviors are phenotypically plastic. In Chapters 3 and 4, I determined the utility of using trace element signatures in larval soft tissues as natural tags to track larval dispersal and population connectivity. As larvae develop as embryos and then pass through water masses throughout their development, they incorporate natural trace element signatures into their bodies. Many previous studies have successfully used the signatures in calcified structures, such as mollusc shells or fish otoliths, so my research instead concentrated on determining the utility of trace element signatures in larval soft tissues. The ability to track larvae based on trace element signatures in soft tissues would dramatically increase the diversity of taxa that could be investigated using this established tool. A successful trace element study requires a natal site atlas with high reclassification success, but selecting sites to create an atlas is time consuming and expensive, with no guarantee that trace element signatures will differ among sites and remain consistent over time. In Chapter 3, I determined whether natal site atlases could be used repeatedly and identified site characteristics that yielded the best results by building atlases in five consecutive years using crab embryos from 15 sites that spanned 190 km of the northern California coast. I analyzed the elemental composition of embryos using a discriminant function optimization procedure to determine the suite of elements that resulted in the best reclassification success for individual sites and groups of sites each year. No element or group of elements was useful in discriminating the origins of embryos every year, and the reclassification success of the atlas varied at all spatial scales among years. Average reclassification success at the site level ranged annually from 39.5% to 54.3% correct, and combining sites into three areas or two regions improved overall reclassification success to 72.5% to 97.7% correct. Sites with unique geology, consistent freshwater runoff, or high anthropogenic influences had the highest individual reclassification success (up to 86.7% correct), and variation in these factors helped account for the variability in reclassification success among sites. Targeting differences in these factors when selecting sites in future trace element studies will increase the resolution of population connectivity estimates and infoinform explorations on the usefulness of these types of studies in a given area. Finally, Chapter 4 focused on whether or not trace element signatures were retained in larval soft tissues throughout their pelagic development, to determine whether trace element analysis could be applied to larvae of the vast majority of species that do not retain larval calcified structures. To determine whether natal signatures are retained in soft tissues throughout larval development, I collected embryos of the porcelain crab, Petrolisthes cinctipes, from two to four locations along the coast of northern California in two years and reared larvae in a common water source for 6-8 weeks until they metamorphosed to postlarvae. Twenty elements were analyzed in extractions of soft tissues from embryos for the two larval and one postlarval stages. Elemental signatures of these planktonic stages were compared to those of embryos from the different collection sites using discriminant function analysis to determine if they could be accurately assigned to their site of origin. Overall reclassification success of postlarvae was poor (average 39.7% correct), though individual site success ranged from 86.2% correct to 0% correct. Reclassification success improved to 81.7% correct overall (ranging from 35.7% correct to 94.4% correct) when using each larval stage as a training set for the same larval stage. Thus, the same trace element signatures were not consistently maintained from embryos to postlarvae, but differences in signatures among natal sites were maintained. Trace element signatures in soft tissues could be useful in tracking dispersal from one stage to the next and determining how many sites, rather than which sites, contributed to a cohort of settlers. These studies, taken as a whole, reveal new insights on larval behavior in upwelling regimes and highlight new approaches to determining population connectivity. Larvae from the open coast of northern California have evolved simple swimming behaviors in the face of complex oceanography, while estuarine species exhibit complex swimming rhythms based on the tidal stage; these differences persist even between populations of the same species. This finding reinforces the importance of understanding how populations are connected through their larval stage, and stokes the discussion about the importance of phenotype versus genotype in determining the success of larvae. Finally, my work provides novel information about the utility of soft tissue trace element signatures and how to incorporate them into future studies. Marine ecologists constantly seek new and better tools to help determine larval dispersal patterns and population connectivity, and trace element signatures are an important component of the ecologist's tool box. By determining the best way to utilize trace element signatures in soft tissues, my work opens the door to employing this tool on a whole new suite of taxa and dramatically broadens its utility. Investigators will now be able to use trace element signatures in soft tissues to inform the placement of marine reserves based on source/sink dynamics and an understanding of the locations of larval nursery areas, as well as determine how populations of invasive species are spreading from their points of introduction. Beyond these applied uses, my findings broaden our knowledge of the complexities of larval life in the ocean and inform our understanding of the persistence of sedentary and sessile populations in the sea.

This Report documents the presentations given at the World's first international conference on the management value of the resource knowledge of small scale, indigenous and commercial fishers. The conference was inspired by Dr Robert (Bob) Johannes, whose 1981 Book 'Words of the Lagoon', was the first serious study in this area, and was co-hosted by the UBC Fisheries Centre, UBC First Nations House of Learning and the BC Aboriginal Fisheries Commission. Over 200 people representing 23 countries and 36 North American First Nation representatives attended. The conference sought to provide a way to 'step beyond' fishers' frustration that their knowledge is ignored and scientists' standard position that the knowledge is anecdotal, and can not easily be captured in the reports, tables and graphs they are used to. In total, 48 papers and 26 abstracts of papers were presented during the three days of the conference. These case studies and presentations included Indigenous, Artisanal, small scale and industrial marine and freshwater fisheries in tropical and temperate environments. Species range from turtles and dugongs, through temperate trawl and tropical multi-species fisheries to the aquarium trade. The conference followed themes relating to the use of fishers' ecological knowledge about fishing practices in environmental management; the relationships between fishers' expertise (knowledge) and management; methodological issues/methods for obtaining and accurately representing fishers' knowledge; the ethical issues relating to collaboration between TEK practitioners, managers, academics and industry; and the valuation of fishers' knowledge from an ecological, economic and social approach. DIRECTOR'S FOREWORD -- CONTRIBUTED PAPERS -- MY GRANDFATHER'S KNOWLEDGE: FIRST NATIONS FISHING METHODOLOGIES IN THE MID FRASER RIVER (Arnie Narcisse) -- A NATIVE CHANT Simon Lucas -- FISHERS' KNOWLEDGE AND MANAGEMENT: DIFFERING FUNDAMENTALS IN ARTISANAL AND INDUSTRIAL FISHERIES (R.E. Johannes) -- THE ROLE OF FISHERS KNOWLEDGE IN IMPLEMENTING OCEAN ACT INITIATIVES IN NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR (A. S. Power and Dawn) Mercer) -- CLOSING THE LOOP: COMMERCIAL FISH HARVESTERS' LOCAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENCE IN A STUDY OF COASTAL COD IN NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, CANADA (Karen Gosse, Joe Wroblewski and Barbara Neis) -- APPLYING LOCAL AND SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SUSTAINABLE FISHERY: THE CURRENT WEST COAST VANCOUVER ISLAND GOOSE BARNACLE FISHERY EXPERIENCE (Joanne Lessard , Josie Osborne, Ray Lauzier, Glen Jamieson and Rick Harbo) -- PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH IN THE BRITISH COLUMBIA GROUNDFISH FISHERY. (Richard D. Stanley and J. Rice) -- THE DISCOURSE OF PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY IN MARINE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT (Heidi Glaesel and Mark Simonitsch) -- THE ROLE OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE IN DEPLETING A LIMITED RESOURCE – A CASE STUDY OF THE BUMPHEAD PARROTFISH (BOLBOMETOPON MURICATUM) ARTISANAL FISHERY IN ROVIANA LAGOON, WESTERN PROVINCE, SOLOMON ISLANDS (Richard Hamilton) -- USING FISHERS' KNOWLEDGE GOES BEYOND FILLING GAPS IN SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE – ANALYSIS OF AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCES (Pascale Baelde) -- LOCAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN THE MEKONG RIVER IN SOUTHERN LAOS(Ian Baird) -- SCIAENID AGGREGATIONS IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA: AN EXAMPLE OF SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES THROUGH COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH. (M.J. Phelan) -- STATUS OF RESEARCH ON INDIGENOUS FISHERS' KNOWLEDGE IN AUSTRALIA AND BRAZIL (Adam Faulkner and Renato A. M. Silvano) -- TRADITIONAL MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN VANUATU – SACRED & PROFANE: WORLD VIEWS IN TRANSFORMATION (Francis Hickey) ACCOUNTING FOR THE IMPACTS OF FISHERS' KNOWLEDGE AND NORMS ON ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY (Murray A. Rudd) -- THE USE OF FISHERS' KNOWLEDGE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF FISH RESOURCES IN MALAWI(Edward Nsiku) -- EXAMINING THE TWO CULTURES THEORY OF FISHERIES KNOWLEDGE: THE CASE OF THE NORTHWEST ATLANTIC BLUEFISH (Douglas Wilson) THE VALUE OF LOCAL KNOWLEDGE IN SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION: A CASE FROM BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO (Kristin E. Bird, Wallace J. Nichols and Charles R. Tambiah) -- PUTTING FISHERMEN'S KNOWLEDGE TO WORK: THE PROMISE AND PITFALLS (Ted Ames) -- USING EXPERT KNOWLEDGE TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE GROUNDFISH 'ESSENTIAL FISH HABITATS' (Melanie Bergmann, B. Hinz, R. Blyth, M.J. Kaiser, S.I. Rogers and M. Armstrong) -- INTEGRATION OF FISHERS' KNOWLEDGE INTO RESEARCH ON A LARGE TROPICAL RIVER BASIN, THE MEKONG RIVER IN SOUTHEAST ASIA (Anders F. Poulsen) -- FISHERS' PERCEPTIONS ON THE SEAHORSE FISHERY IN CENTRAL PHILIPPINES: INTERACTIVE APPROACHES AND AN EVALUATION OF RESULTS (J. Meeuwig, M.A. Samoilys and J. Erediano) -- FOCUSING AND TESTING FISHER KNOW-HOW TO SOLVE CONSERVATION PROBLEMS (Edward F. Melvin and Julia K Parrish) -- BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT USING KNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATION [ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE] (Antonio García-Allut, Juan Freire, Alvaro Barreiro and David E. Losada) -- INTEGRATING FISHERS' KNOWLEDGE WITH SURVEY DATA TO UNDERSTAND THE STRUCTURE, ECOLOGY AND USE OF A SEASCAPE OFF SOUTHEASTERN AUSTRALIA (Alan Williams and Nic Bax) -- 'SUSTAINABILITY VECTORS' AS GUIDES IN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT: WITH EXAMPLES FROM NET FISHERIES IN THE PHILIPPINES AND AUSTRALIA (Michael D Pido, Peter Valentine and Mark Fenton) -- FISHERS AND SCIENTISTS: NO LONGER FOE, BUT NOT YET FRIEND (Melanie D. Power and Ratana Chuenpagdee) -- HARVESTING AN INLAND SEA: FOLK HISTORY, TEK AND THE CLAIMS OF LAKE MICHIGAN'S COMMERCIAL FISHERY (Michael Chiarappa) -- CAN HISTORICAL NAMES & FISHERS' KNOWLEDGE HELP TO RECONSTRUCT LAKES? (Johan Spens) -- EXPLORING CULTURAL CONSTRUCTS: THE CASE OF SEA MULLET MANAGEMENT IN MORETON BAY, SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA (Tanuja Barker and Annie Ross) -- WHO'S LISTENING? ISLANDER KNOWLEDGE IN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN TORRES STRAIT, NORTHERN AUSTRALIA (Monica E. Mulrennan) -- A COLLABORATIVE, CONSULTATIVE AND COMMITTED APPROACH TO EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF DUGONGS IN TORRES STRAIT, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. (Donna Kwan) -- FISHING FOR ANSWERS: THE INCORPORATION OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE IN NORTHERN AUSTRALIA: DEVELOPING CROSS CULTURAL LITERACY (Melissa Nursey-Bray) THE USE OF TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN KNOWLEDGE IN THE CONTEMPORARY MANAGEMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES(Kelson "Mac" Poepoe, Paul K. Bartram and Alan M. Friedlander) -- TWO FISHERS' KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS AND FRONTIER STRATEGIES IN THE PHILIPPINES (Maria F. Mangahas) -- HOW SASI PRACTICES MAKE FISHERS' KNOWLEDGE EFFECTIVE (Agus Heri Purnomo) -- HOW LOCAL FISHERS' KNOWLEDGE IMPROVES THE MANAGEMENT OF FISHERIES IN NEW ZEALAND – A SEAFOOD INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE (G.J. Lydon and A. Langley) -- HISTORICAL AND CURRENT KNOWLEDGE OF THE GREENLAND HALIBUT FROM QUÉBEC FIXED-GEAR FISHERS IN THE GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE (Réjeanne Camirand, Bernard Morin and Louise Savard) -- MARINE RESOURCE KNOWLEDGE RELATED TO FISH CLASSIFICATION IN HAÏTI (Jean W. Wiener) PLATEAU FISHING TECHNOLOGY AND ACTIVITY: STL'ATL'IMX, SECWEPEMC AND NLAKA'PAMUX KNOWLEDGE (Nicholette Prince) -- KAT (AMERICAN EEL, ANGUILLA ROSTRATA) LIFE HISTORY (Kerry Prosper and Mary Jane Paulette) -- THE BARE-FOOT ECOLOGIST'S TOOLBOX (Jeremy D. Prince) -- AN EXAMPLE OF CONSERVATION AND EXPLOITATION ACHIEVED THROUGH A VOLUNTARY FISHERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (Robert E. Blyth, Michel J. Kaiser , Paul J.B. Hart and Gareth Edwards-Jones) -- INTEGRATING SCIENTIFIC AND LOCAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE (LEK) IN STUDIES OF COMMON EIDERS IN SOUTHERN LABRADOR, CANADA (Heather Chaffey) -- HOW FISHERS' ENDEAVORS AND INFORMATION HELP IN MANAGING THE FISHERIES RESOURCES OF THE SUNDARBAN MANGROVE FOREST OF BANGLADESH (Md. Emdadul Haque) -- WHAT'S IN THERE: COMMON NAMES OF BRAZILIAN MARINE FISHES (Kátia M. F. Freire and Daniel Pauly) -- THE ROLE OF FISHERS' KNOWLEDGE IN CO-MANAGEMENT OF ARTISANAL FISHERIES IN THE ESTUARY OF PATOS LAGOON, SOUTHERN BRAZIL (Daniela Kalikoski, Marcelo Vasconcellos) -- COGNITIVE MAPS: CARTOGRAPHY AND CONCEPTS FOR BACK TO THE FUTURE FISHERIES POLICY (Tony J. Pitcher and Nigel Haggan) -- PAPERS IN ABSTRACT: ORALLY PRESENTED CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGIES, MARKET CONDITIONS, AND SOCIAL RELATIONS: THEIR LINKAGES WITH FISHERS TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE (NEW BRUNSWICK'S INSHORE FISHING FLEET IN THE SOUTHERN GULF OF ST.LAWRENCE). (Omer Chouinard and Jean-Paul Vanderlinden) -- FISHING AT KOMODAH, KITKATLA TERRITORY: RETURNING TO SELECTIVITY (Charles R. Menzies and Caroline F.) -- (Butler) -- THE LEADERSHIP ROLE OF CALIFORNIA FISHING MEN AND WOMEN: PROMOTING SCIENCE IN FISHERIES POLICY AND FISH RECOVERY (Natasha Benjamin, Paul Siri and Zeke Grader) -- INCORPORATING INDIGENOUS INTERESTS AND KNOWLEDGE INTO MANAGEMENT OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK (M.L. Sommer and L. O. Rosendale) -- USING FISHERS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE TO IDENTIFY PRIORITY AREAS FOR CONSERVATION IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN (Lance Morgan) -- THE NOVA SCOTIA LEATHERBACK TURTLE WORKING GROUP: A MODEL FOR SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION BETWEEN FISHERS AND SCIENTISTS (Michael C. James and Kathleen E. Martin…) -- TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE IN OCEAN AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT: A SURVEY OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN ATLANTIC CANADA (Paul Macnab and Denise McCullough) -- THE TULALIP TRIBE'S CULTURAL STORIES PROJECT: RECORDING AND USING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE FOR CULTURAL LANDSCAPE RECOVERY, WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AND SALMON PROTECTION (Terry Williams, Julia Gold and Preston Hardison) -- Putting Fishers' Knowledge to Work: Conference Proceedings -- ENVIRONMENTAL SENTINELS: REFRAMING COMMERCIAL FISHING IN PURSUIT OF VALUE, INTEGRITY AND SUSTAINABILITY (Bryan Price) -- DEVELOPING A SET OF INDICATORS FOR EVALUATING THE CONDITION OF A RESOURCE -- CASE: FRESHWATER FISHERIES IN LAOS PDR. (Niels Jepsen, Douglas Wilson & Sommano Phounsavath) -- A METHOD TO ESTIMATE THE ABUNDANCE OF ARAPAIMA GIGAS (CUVIER 1817) -- (Leandro Castello) -- USING FISHERS' KNOWLEDGE TO EVALUATE GREAT LAKES FISHERY MANAGEMENT POLICY (Tracy A. Dobson and Laura F. Cimo) -- THE FISHERMEN AND SCIENTISTS RESEARCH SOCIETY: COLLABORATIVE IMPROVEMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR MODERN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT (Kees C.T. Zwanenburg1, P. Fanning, P. Hurley and W.T. Stobo) -- FISHERIES IN THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS: THE PARTICIPATION OF FISHERS IN FISHERY MANAGEMENT (E. Espinoza, J.C. Murillo, M.V.Toral, R.H. Bustamante, F. Nicolaides, G.J. Edgar, J. Moreno, C. Chasiluisa, M. Yépez, J.C. Barreno, S. A. Shepherd, J. Viscaino, M. Villalta, R. Andrade, A.F. Born, L. Figueroa, P. Guerrero, M. Piu) -- HOW CAN WE HAVE MORE PARTICIPATION BY THE FISHERMEN IN FISHERIES SCIENCE? (Virginia Boudreau) -- THE LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT OF INCORPORATING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE INTO FISHERIES MANAGEMENT (Terry Williams and Preston Hardison) -- FISHING IN MURKY WATERS: ETHICS AND POLITICS OF RESEARCH ON FISHER KNOWLEDGE (Anita Maurstad) -- BUILDING NETWORKS FOR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (Preston Hardison) -- SOCIAL RESEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES (Christie Dyer and Jessica Paterson) -- ICONS: A SOFTWARE SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (Preston Hardison and Terry Williams) ASSEMBLY OF MAP-BASED STREAM NARRATIVES TO FACILITATE STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT IN WATERSHED MANAGEMENT (M.R.S. Johannes, K.D. Hyatt, J.K. Cleland, L.Hanslit, and M.M. Stockwell) -- MIGRATION PATTERNS AND SPAWNING HABITS OF AN IMPORTANT FISH, HELIGOPHAGUS WAANDERSI, OF THE PANGASIIDAE FAMILY IN THE MEKONG RIVER BASIN (Sintavong Viravong) -- INSHORE GROUNDFSH SPAWNING AND NURSERY GROUNDS IN THE BAY OF FUNDY: LEARNING WITH AND FROM FISHERMEN (Jennifer Graham) -- THE CONTRIBUTION OF FISHERS TO THE MANAGEMENT OF SEA-URCHIN FISHERIES IN BARBADOS AND ST. LUCIA (Christopher Parker, Patrick McConney and Allan Smith) -- GENERAL DISCUSSION -- LIST OF AUTHORS -- LIST OF PARTICIPANTS ; Fisheries Centre (FC) ; Non UBC ; Unreviewed ; Faculty ; Researcher ; Postdoctoral ; Graduate

The historical tensions between Chile and Bolivia are a regular topic on the international politics agenda of both countries and all South America. On October 1st of 2018, the International Court of Justice ruled in favor of Chile in the maritime lawsuit proclaiming that this country had no obligation to negotiate a sovereign exit to the sea for Bolivia. This litigation derived from the loss of access to the coasts and territories after the War of the Pacific (1879–1883). However, this was not the only water related conflict between the two countries. Following the ending of the Bolivian lawsuit Chile presented a case against Bolivia which will be the central topic of this article. This is a case for the spring's waters located in the Andean highlands at the height of the Chilean city of Antofagasta, known by the name of Silala. These waters arise from a series of springs born in Bolivia that transit by force of gravity, towards Chile. The case, which has been a recurrent subject for more than a century in the border relationship between Chile and Bolivia, was a source of interest amid the Bolivian lawsuit previously presented. Before the litigation was ended, Chile decided to present a lawsuit against Bolivia for the Silala waters conflicts to clarify the obligations of each state upstream (Bolivia) and downstream (Chile). To date the matter is still in court pending a ruling but it seems appropriate to make it known. This research is sustained from the social sciences because it analyzes an untold case in the studies of international relations in all South America. Despite all the advances in technology currently available, it has not been settled a typification of the nature of these waters that arise in the middle of the Andes. Another point to be made it is that beyond the outcome of the lawsuit, the definition by the International Court of Justice will set a precedent on the matter at a regional level regarding shared water resources. It is important to remember that this is not a lawsuit on borders but on shared resources. Consequently, the result could eventually act as an incentive or deterrent of future litigation in other South American territories. In that context, freshwater lawsuits in South America take a course of analysis and relevant focus. States are not capable of reaching an agreement. The problem lies less in a field related to water governance and more in a context of a foreign policy dispute. Technically the feud has been raised by Chile before the Court under this latter approach. However, the International Court of Justice could well fail based on the former. Among the objectives of this work is to confirm that the conflict over the use of the Silala waters expresses the absence of effective mechanisms for the resolution of controversies in the South American region. The argument presented by Karen Mingst sustain that the pressures on water are causing increasing conflicts in the States, which increasingly acquire international dimensions (pp. 484–485). A second objective is to recognize how the increasing judicialization of conflicts between Latin American countries in recent decades exposes a greater problem among States. The failure of integration processes or at least the partial uselessness of multilateralism in the foreign policy of the States requires a deep institutional consideration. Focusing on the object of study, it is necessary to emphasize that Chile has carried out a foreign policy approach based on respect for international treaties, non–interference in matters of other States and respect for International Law. In this framework Chile has reiterated that the waters of the Silala constitute a river, therefore, an international water resource shared with Bolivia in a basin, which is essential for the supply of some towns but especially for large–scale mining. Meanwhile Bolivia has gone through a quite different path in the international policy measures. On one hand, and since the rise of Evo Morales to power in 2006, it was insisted based on an independent study by the Bolivian engineer Antonio Bazoberry called 'The Myth of Silala' that these waters were a set of spring eyes in which case Bolivia would correspond the 100% of its usufruct even with retroactive effect. From this source the Bolivian Foreign Ministry declare that the Silala constituted a strategic natural resource which means that Chile has used these waters incorrectly. Based on this conclusion Bolivia would have the right to suspend the flow to Chile because the waters are not a river and the Chilean nation would be misusing them. Additionally, in the commemoration of the Day of the Sea on March 23rd of 2016, Bolivia authorities claimed that they would considering suing Chile in a second trial before the International Court of Justice. These acts were considered a threat by Chile, who in June of the same year presented the case at the Court the lawsuit to judge the nature and use of resource. The article exposes the scope and context that surrounds a conflict that has little scientific literature written in recent years. In this regard, and from the hypothesis that arises, the research shows that the use of freshwater, particularly of the Silala's waters, an aquifer that joins Chile and Bolivia, transcends water governance. This conflict is mainly related to the handling of the critical historical relationship between Chile and Bolivia, a relation that does not have these waters as the main pillar but rather the ancient maritime claim. This case is a judicialization of foreign policy as a means of conflict resolution. A mechanism that does not contribute to alliances between countries, instead is an evasive alternative due to the absence of relations that in the case of Chile and Bolivia have been interrupted since 1978. It will be addresses the origin of the conflict, the characteristics of these shared resources, the role of International Organizations, the presence of bilateral tensions and conflicts during the government of Evo Morales and the implications that these waters represent for both countries in this political–strategic territory. In this framework, the research is based on studies of the flow of slopes, aspects of the speeches that surround the dispute based on the press media appearances of both countries, official statements of the governments and complementary bibliography. ; Las tensiones históricas entre Chile y Bolivia son un tema constante en la agenda de la política internacional de ambos países y por cierto de América del Sur. El 1 de octubre de 2018, la Corte Internacional de Justicia falló a favor de Chile en el caso de la demanda marítima y declaró que este país no tenía obligación alguna de negociar una salida soberana al mar para Bolivia, derivado de la pérdida de acceso a las costas y territorios tras la Guerra del Pacífico (1879–1883). Sin embargo, este no era el único pleito por aguas entre los dos países. Detrás de la demanda boliviana, se produjo un pleito sucesivo, pero esta vez, una demanda de Chile contra Bolivia el año 2016. Se trata de las aguas de unos manantiales en el altiplano andino a la altura de la ciudad de Antofagasta de Chile, conocidas con el nombre del Silala, aguas que surgen en Bolivia y que transitan hacia Chile. La investigación demuestra que el uso de las aguas dulces, y en particular las del Silala, acuífero que une a Chile y Bolivia en la zona del Departamento de Potosí y la Región de Antofagasta en Chile, trasciende la gobernanza del agua y se relaciona con el manejo de la crítica relación histórica entre Chile y Bolivia. El texto explora el origen del conflicto, las características de estos recursos compartidos, el rol de los organismos internacionales, la presencia de las tensiones y conflictos bilaterales durante el gobierno de Evo Morales, y las implicancias que estas aguas representan para ambos países en el área político–estratégica.

WORLD FEDERATION FOR CULTURE COLLECTIONS NEWSLETTER No. 26 (WFCC) July 1977 Code Number:NL97010 Sizes of Files: Text: 73.4K Graphics: No associated graphics files WFCC EXECUTIVE BOARD Officers and members WFCC COMMITTEES Committee on Biodiversity: Committee on Education and Capacity Building: Committee on Endangered Culture Collections: Committee on Patents: Committee on Postal, Quarantine and Safety Regulations: Committee on Publications and Publicity: Committee on World Data Centre for Microorganisms: WFCC REPORTS Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive Board, August 28, 1996, Veldhoven, Netherlands Minute 1. Call to order. Minute 2. Record of attendance. Minute 3. Committees. The composition of the newly agreed upon committees - World Data Centre on Microorganisms Committee: - Postal, Quarantine and Safety Regulations Committee: - Endangered Collections Committee: - Patents Committee: Minute 4. Adjournment. Minute 5. Meeting reconvened on 29 August 1996 at 8:00 am. Minute 6. Committees - Biodiversity Committee: - Publications and Publicity Committee: - Education and Capacity Building Committee: Minute 7. Resolutions. Minute 8. General Business. - Skerman Prize. - Revision of Guidelines/Standards. - Statutes Revision. - WFCC Business Plan. - Technical Information Sheets (TIS). Minute 9. Future Meetings. Minute 10. Close of Meeting. WFCC EDUCATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING COMMITTEE (EBB) GOALS 1. Assessment of the needs for the establishment of new culture collections and of the training and capacity building needs of microbial culture collections on a global and regional basis. 2. Development and continued promotion of capacity building and education programmes for CCs on a global and regional basis, with the main emphasis being on taxonomy and electronic communication systems (at least e-mail, information about holdings on www). 3. Support of WDCM activities through collection and update of information on a regional basis. GENERAL OUTLINE Many of the activities of the EBB Committee will be carried out regionally. The initial effort of the members will be towards building an assessment on the needs for establishment of CCs, status of capacity building, education and training needs of the existing CCs in their area of representation. The proposal for regional development should be analysed in regional workshops, organised by EBB representatives of the region. Funds for doing the workshops should be sought on a regional basis and complemented with funds from international agencies. ACTION PLAN Activity 1. Assessment of CCs status and needs on a global and regional basis. An inventory of existing CCs in different regions of the world will be conducted, mainly using data obtained from WDCM, supplemented with regional contacts. Activity 2 - Support to WDCM activities Activity 3 - Proposal for Education and Capacity Building activities Activity 4. Strengthening existing activities of CCs MEMBERSHIP A core committee was agreed during ICCC8 in Veldhoven. The Policy for membership was to include 2 representatives from 6 geographical regions and to establish working links with the WFCC Biodiversity Committee The immediate action that will be taken by EBB is the distribution of a questionnaire, developed together with the Biodiversity Committee and WDCM, for the assessment of CC needs in training and education. The questionnaire will be added to the WFCC Newsletter, as well as to the ECCO Newsletter. Readers are kindly asked to help in circulating it to the CC people in their regions, hoping that with the assessment of the needs EBB will be more able to make the right steps and help to overcome deficiencies. WFCC ENDANGERED COLLECTIONS COMMITTEE GOALS 1. To act as first port of call for any collection (industrial/private/academic) which considers itself to be endangered. 2. To assess the requirements of the Endangered Collections and provide any supportive or lobbying assistance it can. 3. In the event of a culture collection being in imminent danger of being lost, to visit or by means of correspondence assess its sector of expertise and interest (i.e. industrial/medical/fungal/algal etc) and solicit possible alternative sites. 4. To seek a source funding for this exercise; or if a "pot" already exists to allocate appropriate funds for the task to be carried out. MEMBERSHIP NEW WFCC MEMBERS, NEW ADDRESSES AND OTHER CHANGES Relocation of the National Collection of Food Bacteria (NCFB) Address correction OBITUARIES ROWLAND HILL 1935-1996 In memoriam Professor Bela Lanyi (1927-1997) RETIREMENT Retirement of Dr. Ivan J. Bousfield FOCUS ON CULTURE COLLECTIONS Future prospects for the UK National Culture Collections For some considerable time now the UK Culture Collection network has existed as a loosely affiliated federal system comprising eleven separate specialist entities. These collections have been supported by eight sources of Government funding emanating from five Government departments and are all maintained on separate sites by nine different parent organisations. Also, in more recent years, continued funding for several of the collections has been a major worry. Consequently a review on the whole UK system of operating service collections has been long overdue. Co-ordinated Marketing Policy This will involve the development of a unified house style (UKNCC) and the production of advertising materials around three sectoral nodes - an industrial node at NCIMB, a medical node at ECACC/CAMR and an agricultural/mycological node at IMI. Co-ordinated Database Construction This will provide a single electronic contact point for the UKNCC allowing access to a range of information such as strain dam, culture availability, uses and applications, services and expertise available, as well as providing a central ordering point. This initiative is also aimed at updating and harmonising data storage and retrieval facilities at UKNCC member collections as well as providing the facility for combined/specialist hard copy catalogue production. The Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (CCAP) The Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa functions as the national service collection for algae and protozoa in the UK, acting as a depository for strains of prokaryotic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), eukaryotic microalgae, small seaweeds and free-living non-pathogenic protozoa. Freshwater algae and all protozoa are maintained at the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), Institute of Freshwater Ecology (IFE) Windermere Laboratory. Marine algae are kept at the NERC, Centre for Coastal and Marine Science (CCMS) Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory (DML). NEWS FROM AND FOR CULTURE COLLECTIONS Journal of Culture Collections New Settlement of the Spanish Type Culture Collection (CECT) Philippine Network of Microbial Culture Collections Established National Collection of Dairy Cultures (NCDC), Karnal, India News on Cuban Culture Collections NEW CATALOGUES AND DATABASES OF CULTURE COLLECTIONS American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 208521776, USA. Filamentoas Fungi Reference Guide. The first edition of ATCC Quality Control and Reference Strains has been published. Collection Nationale de Cultures de Microorganismes Institut Pasteur. Fungi Culture Collection, Catalogue of Strains 1997, Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (CCAP) 1995 DSMZ Catalogue of Strains 1997. Institute for Fermentation, Osaka (IFO). Catalogue of newly accepted strains. WORLD WIDE WEB International Course: Biochemical Engineering Applications in Environmental Biotechnology and Cleaner Production (Workshops and Roundtables), The List of Bacterial Names with Standing in Nomenclature Bacterial Nomenclature Up to Date The Microbe Files RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST TO CULTURE COLLECTIONS NEW BOOKS RELEVANT TO CULTURE COLLECTION WORK EURACHEM Gives Guidance towards Accreditation EURACHEM has recently published a guide entitled "Accreditation for Laboratories Performing Microbiological Testing". WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING COURSES Details of events from September 8 1997 to December 5 1997 CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS Details of events from 4 September 1997 to 22 January 1998.

This paper reports on recent analysis of oil spill cost data assembled by the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF). Regression analyses of clean-up costs and total costs have been carried out, after taking care to convert to current prices and remove outliers. In the first place, the results of this analysis have been useful in the context of the ongoing discussion within the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on environmental risk evaluation criteria. Furthermore, these results can be useful in estimating the benefit of regulations that deal with the protection of marine environment and oil pollution prevention. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Northern Territory Government ; Water allocation plans are established under section 22B of the Water Act 1992, which states (in part) that water resource management in a water control district is to be in accordance with the water allocation plan declared in respect of the district. This Draft Oolloo Dolostone Aquifer Water Allocation Plan 2019-2029 applies to all groundwater within the Oolloo Dolostone Aquifer (ODA) and all surface water discharges derived from that aquifer. It provides the basis for decisions on the management of the ODA; that is it recommends allocation strategies and principles to protect the environmental and cultural values of the Daly and its tributaries, while optimising the beneficial uses of the ODA for sustainable development. The Plan's principal objectives are to: • protect the environmental and cultural values of the region, particularly focusing on groundwater base flows to the Daly River and other groundwater dependent ecosystems • protect existing consumptive beneficial uses of groundwater • enable development of the groundwater resource to realise its potential for use in the region • communicate plan objectives, management principles and resource status • establish a framework for learning and continuous improvement to maximise environmental, social and economic outcomes. The plan seeks to protect the unique Daly River system. Its environmental values include its diverse aquatic fauna with two nationally threatened elasmobranchs (sharks/rays/skates), nearly 100 recorded species of fish and eight of the nine species of freshwater turtle found in the NT. These rely on the unbroken dry season river flows which occur because of groundwater discharge from the ODA. Groundwater discharge occurs at distinct point source springs, broad seepage zones along the river banks and as concealed springs and seepage zones in the river bed. Maintaining these discharges and dry season flows by not extracting too much groundwater or surface water from the system is the key to their protection. ; Key Points -- Summary -- Recognition of Traditional Ownership -- 1 Introduction -- 1.1 Title -- 1.2 Plan area -- 1.3 Date of effect -- 1.4 Period of effect -- 1.5 Plan context -- 1.5.1 Regional landscape and land uses -- 1.5.2 Regional economy -- 1.6 Legislative Framework -- 1.6.1 Water Act 1992 -- 1.6.2 Water allocation plans -- 1.6.3 Northern Territory Water Allocation Planning Framework -- 1.6.4 Strategic Aboriginal Water Reserve -- 1.7 Plan development pathway -- 2 Purpose and objectives -- 2.1 Purpose -- 2.2 Objectives -- 2.3 Values of the ODA -- 2.4 Beneficial uses and water quality objectives -- 3 Water resources (availability and condition) -- 3.1 Climate and rainfall -- 3.1.1 Future Climate -- 3.2 Surface water resources -- 3.2.1 Surface water quality and river health -- 3.3 Groundwater resources -- 3.3.1 Groundwater management zones -- 3.3.2 Groundwater Quality -- 3.4 Surface water groundwater connectivity -- 3.5 Hydrologic modelling -- 3.5.1 Groundwater modelling results -- 3.5.2 River flow modelling results -- 3.6 Natural Water Balance -- 4 Water uses -- 4.1 Water use overview -- 4.2 Non-consumptive use -- 4.2.1 Environmental water values and requirements -- 4.2.2 Cultural water values and requirements -- 4.3 Consumptive water values and requirements -- 4.3.1 Current consumptive water entitlements -- 4.3.2 Exemptions from licensing -- 4.3.3 Licensed extraction -- 4.3.4 Current consumptive water use -- 4.3.5 Future consumptive requirements -- 5 Estimated sustainable yield (ESY) -- 5.1 Estimated sustainable yield for the Oolloo Dolostone Aquifer -- 5.2 Allocation of water to beneficial uses -- 5.2.1 Non-consumptive beneficial uses -- 5.2.2 Water for consumptive use -- 6 Water management framework -- 6.1 Overview of plan objectives, desired outcomes, management strategies and performance indicators -- 6.2 Water accounting period -- 6.3 Protection of environmental and cultural values -- 6.3.1 Local scale environmental water – groundwater discharge protection areas -- 6.3.2 Aboriginal cultural values -- 6.3.3 Monitoring triggers -- 6.4 Licensing and other relevant regulation, policy and procedures -- 6.4.1 Licences -- 6.4.2 Licence conditions -- 6.4.3 Licensed use from SWR allocations -- 6.4.4 Licence security levels and reliability -- 6.4.5 Annual announced allocations -- 6.4.6 Return of unused water -- 6.4.7 Bore work permits -- 6.4.8 Consideration of applications for water for non-priority consumptive beneficial uses -- 6.4.9 Water trading -- 6.4.10 Exemptions from the requirement to hold a licence -- 6.4.11 Other relevant policies -- 7 Risk identification and mitigation strategies -- 7.1 Risk and uncertainty -- 7.1.1 Climate variability and change -- 7.1.2 Land use change -- 7.1.3 Caveats or limitations on the underpinning science -- 7.1.4 Surface water extraction and other unaccounted for water use -- 7.2 Risk assignment -- 7.3 Mitigation strategies -- 8 Implementation, monitoring and review -- 8.1 Adaptive management framework -- 8.1.1 Plan review -- 8.1.2 Adaptive management framework - licensing -- 8.2 Implementation -- 8.3 Reporting -- 8.4 Evaluating achievement of plan objectives -- Schedule A: Declaration of the Oolloo Dolostone Aquifer Water Allocation Plan 2019-2029 -- Schedule B: Notional allocations to SWR rights holders -- Schedule C: Risk definition and classification -- Glossary -- Abbreviations -- References ; Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).

Weather is the term used to describe the atmospheric conditions (heat, wetness, wind, etc.) prevailing at any one place and time. Climate is the sum of the prevailing weather conditions of a given place over a period of time, typically summed over many decades. This paper seeks to provide strategic directions for mainstreaming support for climate change within the World Bank's broader program of assistance to Vietnam. It does so by reviewing the current understanding of climate change in Vietnam and likely impacts, outlining principles to guide the Bank's engagement in this field, and applying these principles across a range of sectors, taking into account both near- and longer-term considerations. The report identifies elements of the Bank's current and planned portfolio of projects and analytical work that are contributing or will contribute to improved knowledge, planning, and actions, and it points to additional areas where new or more work seems warranted. The report represents a first iteration of a strategy for supporting Vietnam in managing the challenges posed by climate change. As more experience is gathered and as our understanding of both the science and the economics of climate change impacts in Vietnam improves, this strategy will need to be revisited and refined. While the process of climate change is expected to be a long-term phenomenon-with predictions for considerable changes through the second half of the twenty-first century, the focus of this report is on decisions and priorities that should govern the Bank's assistance during this decade. Given an array of uncertainties, extending the developing assistance planning vision much beyond 2020 is not practical. This time frame also corresponds to the government of Vietnam's own planning horizon.

Adequate energy supply has become one of the vital components of human development and economic growth of nations. In fact, major components of the global economy such as transportation services, communications, industrial processes, and construction activities are dependent on adequate energy resources. Even mining and extraction of energy resources, including harnessing the forces of nature to produce energy, are dependent on accessibility of sufficient energy in the appropriate form at the desired location. Therefore, energy resource planning and management to provide appropriate energy in terms of both quantity and quality has become a priority at the global level. The increasing demand for energy due to growing population, higher living standards, and economic development magnifies the importance of reliable energy plans. In addition, the uneven distribution of traditional fossil fuel energy sources on the Earth and the resulting political and economic interactions are other sources of complexity within energy planning. The competition over fossil fuels that exists due to gradual depletion of such sources and the tremendous thirst of current global economic operations for these sources, as well as the sensitivity of fossil fuel supplies and prices to global conditions, all add to the complexity of effective energy planning. In addition to diversification of fossil fuel supply sources as a means of increasing national energy security, many governments are investing in non-fossil fuels, especially renewable energy sources, to combat the risks associated with adequate energy supply. Moreover, increasing the number of energy sources also adds further complication to energy planning. Global warming, resulting from concentration of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, influences energy infrastructure investments and operations management as a result of international treaty obligations and other regulations requiring that emissions be cut to sustainable levels. Burning fossil fuel, as one of the substantial driving factors of global warming and energy insecurity, is mostly impacted by such policies, pushing forward the implementation of renewable energy polices. Thus, modern energy portfolios comprise a mix of renewable energy sources and fossil fuels, with an increasing share of renewables over time. Many governments have been setting renewable energy targets that mandate increasing energy production from such sources over time. Reliance on renewable energy sources certainly helps with reduction of greenhouse gas emissions while improving national energy security. However, the growing implementation of renewable energy has some limitations. Such energy technologies are not always as cheap as fossil fuel sources, mostly due to immaturity of these energy sources in most locations as well as high prices of the materials and equipment to harness the forces of nature and transform them to usable energy. In addition, despite the fact that renewable energy sources are traditionally considered to be environmentally friendly, compared to fossil fuels, they sometimes require more natural resources such as water and land to operate and produce energy. Hence, the massive production of energy from these sources may lead to water shortage, land use change, increasing food prices, and insecurity of water supplies. In other words, the energy production from renewables might be a solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it might become a source of other problems such as scarcity of natural resources.The fact that future energy mix will rely more on renewable sources is undeniable, mostly due to depletion of fossil fuel sources over time. However, the aforementioned limitations pose a challenge to general policies that encourage immediate substitution of fossil fuels with renewables to battle climate change. In fact, such limitations should be taken into account in developing reliable energy policies that seek adequate energy supply with minimal secondary effects. Traditional energy policies have been suggesting the expansion of least cost energy options, which were mostly fossil fuels. Such sources used to be considered riskless energy options with low volatility in the absence of competitive energy markets in which various energy technologies are competing over larger market shares. Evolution of renewable energy technologies, however, complicated energy planning due to emerging risks that emanated mostly from high price volatility. Hence, energy planning began to be seen as investment problems in which the costs of energy portfolio were minimized while attempting to manage associated price risks. So, energy policies continued to rely on risky fossil fuel options and small shares of renewables with the primary goal to reduce generation costs. With emerging symptoms of climate change and the resulting consequences, the new policies accounted for the costs of carbon emissions control in addition to other costs. Such policies also encouraged the increased use of renewable energy sources. Emissions control cost is not an appropriate measure of damages because these costs are substantially less than the economic damages resulting from emissions. In addition, the effects of such policies on natural resources such as water and land is not directly taken into account. However, sustainable energy policies should be able to capture such complexities, risks, and tradeoffs within energy planning. Therefore, there is a need for adequate supply of energy while addressing issues such as global warming, energy security, economy, and environmental impacts of energy production processes. The effort in this study is to develop an energy portfolio assessment model to address the aforementioned concerns.This research utilized energy performance data, gathered from extensive review of articles and governmental institution reports. The energy performance values, namely carbon footprint, water footprint, land footprint, and cost of energy production were carefully selected in order to have the same basis for comparison purposes. If needed, adjustment factors were applied. In addition, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) energy projection scenarios were selected as the basis for estimating the share of the energy sources over the years until 2035. Furthermore, the resource availability in different states within the U.S. was obtained from publicly available governmental institutions that provide such statistics. Specifically, the carbon emissions magnitudes (metric tons per capita) for different states were extracted from EIA databases, states' freshwater withdrawals (cubic meters per capita) were found from USGS databases, states' land availability values (square kilometers) were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau, and economic resource availability (GDP per capita) for different states were acquired from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.In this study, first, the impacts of energy production processes on global freshwater resources are investigated based on different energy projection scenarios. Considering the need for investing on energy sources with minimum environmental impacts while securing maximum efficiency, a systems approach is adopted to quantify the resource use efficiency of energy sources under sustainability indicators. The sensitivity and robustness of the resource use efficiency scores are then investigated versus existing energy performance uncertainties and varying resource availability conditions. The resource use efficiency of the energy sources is then regionalized for different resource limitation conditions in states within the U.S. Finally, a sustainable energy planning framework is developed based on Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) and Post-Modern Portfolio Theory (PMPT) with consideration of the resource use efficiency measures and associated efficiency risks.In the energy-water nexus investigation, the energy sources are categorized into 10 major groups with distinct water footprint magnitudes and associated uncertainties. The global water footprint of energy production processes are then estimated for different EIA energy mix scenarios over the 2012-2035 period. The outcomes indicate that the water footprint of energy production increases by almost 50% depending on the scenario. In fact, growing energy production is not the only reason for increasing the energy related water footprint. Increasing the share of water intensive energy sources in the future energy mix is another driver of increasing global water footprint of energy in the future. The results of the energies' water footprint analysis demonstrate the need for a policy to reduce the water use of energy generation. Furthermore, the outcomes highlight the importance of considering the secondary impacts of energy production processes besides their carbon footprint and costs. The results also have policy implications for future energy investments in order to increase the water use efficiency of energy sources per unit of energy production, especially those with significant water footprint such as hydropower and biofuels.In the next step, substantial efforts have been dedicated to evaluating the efficiency of different energy sources from resource use perspective. For this purpose, a system of systems approach is adopted to measure the resource use efficiency of energy sources in the presence of trade-offs between independent yet interacting systems (climate, water, land, economy). Hence, a stochastic multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) framework is developed to compute the resource use efficiency scores for four sustainability assessment criteria, namely carbon footprint, water footprint, land footprint, and cost of energy production considering existing performance uncertainties. The energy sources' performances under aforementioned sustainability criteria are represented in ranges due to uncertainties that exist because of technological and regional variations. Such uncertainties are captured by the model based on Monte-Carlo selection of random values and are translated into stochastic resource use efficiency scores. As the notion of optimality is not unique, five MCDM methods are exploited in the model to counterbalance the bias toward definition of optimality. This analysis is performed under (")no resource limitation(") conditions to highlight the quality of different energy sources from a resource use perspective. The resource use efficiency is defined as a dimensionless number in scale of 0-100, with greater numbers representing a higher efficiency. The outcomes of this analysis indicate that despite increasing popularity, not all renewable energy sources are more resource use efficient than non-renewable sources. This is especially true for biofuels and different types of ethanol that demonstrate lower resource use efficiency scores compared to natural gas and nuclear energy. It is found that geothermal energy and biomass energy from miscanthus are the most and least resource use efficient energy alternatives based on the performance data available in the literature. The analysis also shows that none of the energy sources are strictly dominant or strictly dominated by other energy sources. Following the resource use efficiency analysis, sensitivity and robustness analyses are performed to determine the impacts of resource limitations and existing performance uncertainties on resource use efficiency, respectively. Sensitivity analysis indicates that geothermal energy and ethanol from sugarcane have the lowest and highest resource use efficiency sensitivity, respectively. Also, it is found that from a resource use perspective, concentrated solar power (CSP) and hydropower are respectively the most and least robust energy options with respect to the existing performance uncertainties in the literature.In addition to resource use efficiency analysis, sensitivity analysis and robustness analysis, of energy sources, this study also investigates the scheme of the energy production mix within a specific region with certain characteristics, resource limitations, and availabilities. In fact, different energy sources, especially renewables, vary in demand for natural resources (such as water and land), environmental impacts, geographic requirements, and type of infrastructure required for energy production. In fact, the efficiency of energy sources from a resource use perspective is dependent upon regional specifications, so the energy portfolio varies for different regions due to varying resource availability conditions. Hence, the resource use efficiency scores of different energy technologies are calculated based on the aforementioned sustainability criteria and regional resource availability and limitation conditions (emissions, water resources, land, and GDP) within different U.S. states, regardless of the feasibility of energy alternatives in each state. Sustainability measures are given varying weights based on the emissions cap, available economic resources, land, and water resources in each state, upon which the resource use efficiency of energy sources is calculated by utilizing the system of systems framework developed in the previous step. Efficiency scores are graphically illustrated on GIS-based maps for different states and different energy sources. The results indicate that for some states, fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas are as efficient as renewables like wind and solar energy technologies from resource use perspective. In other words, energy sources' resource use efficiency is significantly sensitive to available resources and limitations in a certain location.Moreover, energy portfolio development models have been created in order to determine the share of different energy sources of total energy production, in order to meet energy demand, maintain energy security, and address climate change with the least possible adverse impacts on the environment. In fact, the traditional (")least cost(") energy portfolios are outdated and should be replaced with (")most efficient(") ones that are not only cost-effective, but also environmentally friendly. Hence, the calculated resource use efficiency scores and associated statistical analysis outcomes for a range of renewable and nonrenewable energy sources are fed into a portfolio selection framework to choose the appropriate energy mixes associated with the risk attitudes of decision makers. For this purpose, Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) and Post-Modern Portfolio Theory (PMPT) are both employed to illustrate how different interpretations of (")risk of return(") yield different energy portfolios. The results indicate that 2012 energy mix and projected world's 2035 energy portfolio are not sustainable in terms of resource use efficiency and could be substituted with more reliable, more effective portfolios that address energy security and global warming with minimal environmental and economic impacts. ; 2013-12-01 ; Ph.D. ; Engineering and Computer Science, Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering ; Doctoral ; This record was generated from author submitted information.

I løbet af det seneste årti er man begyndt at erkende, at mikroplast (plastpartikler <5 mm) på globalt plan er allestedsnærværende i både hav- og ferskvandsmiljø. Som konsekvens af den lille størrelse kan mikroplast potentielt påvirke en lang række vandlevende organismer. Selvom antallet af studier omhandlende effekter af mikroplast er stærkt stigende, er forståelsen af processerne, hvormed organismer interagerer med mikroplast og de medfølgende indvirkninger på økosystemer, stadigvæk begrænset. Der er yderligere usikkerhed omkring mikroplastens kemiske sammensætning og dens potentielle rolle som vektor for kemikalier til organismer. På det seneste er der rejst opmærksomhed om den humane eksponering for mikroplast og mulige resulterende helbredseffekter – et emne hvor videnskaben stadig er i sin vorden. I den sammenhæng er målene med denne afhandling: 1) At vurdere og anvende kontrollerede laboratorieforsøg til at analysere optag og effekter af mikroplast i hvirvelløse dyr i både hav- og ferksvandsmiljøer. 2) At undersøge interaktioner mellem plastpartikler og hydrofobe organiske kemikalier. 3) At gennemgå den aktuelle debat og tilgængelige viden indenfor human mikroplasteksponering og mulige humane effekter af denne. De fleste undersøgelser af mikroplasts effekt på hvirvelløse dyr har været med fokus på effekter som følge af indtagelse. For at forstå og fortolke den slags effekter, er det vigtigt at kvantificere indtagelsen og udskillelsen af mikroplast, da disse processer er bestemmende for den overordnede eksponering. I denne afhandling påvises det, at fluorescerende partikler kan bruges til at kvantificere processerne, særligt når partiklerne er i størrelsesordenen af nanometer og få mikrometer. For en pålidelig kvantificering er det ofte nødvendigt at opløse dyrevæv. Baseret på anvendelse og udvikling af forskellige enzymatiske protokoller i denne afhandling, anbefales det at anvende enzymer til at opløse vævet. Enzymatisk opløsning og kvantificering af partikelfluorescens blev anvendt til at måle indtagelse og udskillelse af 100 nm og 2 µm partikler i vandloppen Daphnia magna og blåmuslingelarver (Mytilus edulis). For begge arter blev det påvist, at partikler med en størrelse svarende til dyrenes normale bytte blev optaget i en større grad end mindre partikler. Med hensyn til udskillelse fandtes flere artsspecifikke forskelle. Denne proces kan påvirkes markant af partikelstørrelsen og tilstedeværelsen af føde. Desuden kan partiklerne blive i organismen i længere tid end den tid, det normalt tager at passere gennem tarmsystemet. I både D. magna og larver af M. edulis havde de mindre partikler større negative effekter på dyrenes fysiologi. Kontrollerede laboratorieforsøg, som anvendt i denne afhandling, kan forbedre den mekanistiske forståelse af organisme-partikel interaktionen og derved højne pålideligheden og øge sammenligneligheden mellem studier. En detaljeret karakterisering af partiklerne og eksponeringen mangler dog ofte og dermed mangler også en tilstrækkelig forståelse af partiklernes egenskaber og skæbne i det givne forsøg. På grundlag af erfaringer gjort i forbindelse med nanomaterialer anbefales det, at man også analyserer mikroplastpartiklers størrelse, sammensætning, massefylde, overfladekemi og elektriske ladning såvel som undersøger for mulig partikelaggregering, dispersion og sedimentation. Samtidig er det vigtigt, at eksponeringssystemer har en højere grad af miljørealisme. Det kan opnås ved at bruge lavere partikelkoncentrationer, flere forskellige partikelformer (især fragmenter og fibre), flere forskellige plastpolymere, partikler med biofilm og inkludere kontroller med naturlige partikler såsom ler og silikat. Mikroplast kan ikke altid behandles som inerte partikler, for de kan indeholde mange forskellige kemikalier, som enten stammer fra plastproduktionen, eller er absorberet til plasten fra det omgivende miljø. I begge tilfælde kan kemikalierne transporteres og afgives, og på den måde kan mikroplast måske være en vektor for eksponering af vanddyr til hydrofobe organiske kemikalier. Derfor anbefales det på det kraftigste at inkludere undersøgelser af mikroplastpartiklernes potentielle kemiske toksicitet, når der udføres effektstudier af mikroplast. Som vist i denne afhandling, er sorption af hydrofobe organiske kemikalier til plast styret af diffusionsprocesser og kan optræde som absorption, adsorption eller en kombination af begge. Processen er afhængig af plastpartiklernes egenskaber, de hydrofobe kemikalier og det omgivende miljø. I naturlige matricer som havvand, opløst organisk kulstof og kolloider kan mikroplastens rolle som vektor muligvis være forsvindende lille (i særdeleshed på global skala). I denne afhandling understreges det dog, at rumlig variation på lokal skala samt eksponering af mikroplast-associerede kemikalier til organismer nødvendigvis må adresseres. I de sidste år har der været et øget fokus på human eksponering og de mulige resulterende helbredseffekter. Bekymringen blev primært vakt på grund af fund af plastpartikler i vanddyr, som bruges til mad, og andre fødevarer. Der er grund til at antage, at mikroplast kan have partikel- eller kemikalier-relateret toksicitet, men ingen studier har endnu undersøgt helbredseffekter relateret til indtagelsen af mikroplast. Mennesker er eksponeret til mikoplast og associerede kemikalier fra en række forskellige kilder og selvom forurenede fødevarer har fået mest opmærksomhed, argumenteres der i denne afhandling for, at den største eksponering kommer fra brug af plastmaterialer i hverdagen. På grund af mange usikkerheder og manglende viden er det ikke muligt endnu at konkludere i hvilken udstrækning mikoplast udgør en trussel for miljø og mennesker. Der er i dag en stærk folkestemning imod plastforurening i miljøet, som fremmer handlinger i samfund og lovgivning. Processen går hurtigere end konsensus i det videnskabelige miljø og dermed er der en risiko for, at fokus ikke er rettet mod mest pressende emner set fra et videnskabeligt synspunkt og der derved ikke bliver taget de mest effektive skridt for at begrænse plastforureningen i miljøet. ; Within the past decade, it has been widely recognised that microplastics (commonly referred to as plastic particles <5 mm) are ubiquitous in freshwater as well as in marine environments globally. Owing to their small size, microplastics can interact with and potentially affect a wide range of aquatic organisms. Although the number of studies on microplastic effects is quickly increasing, there is still limited understanding of the processes by which organisms interact with microplastics as well as impacts in natural ecosystems. Further uncertainties relate to the chemical nature of microplastics and their potential role as vectors for chemical pollutants to organisms. More recently, questions have been raised about human exposure to microplastics and potential health effects – a topic where science still is at the very start of providing answers. In this context, the aims of this thesis are: 1) To critically evaluate and use controlled laboratory experiments for analysing uptake and effects of microplastics in aquatic invertebrates. 2) To examine the interaction between plastic particles and hydrophobic organic chemicals. 3) To review the current debate and state of knowledge on microplastic exposure and potential effects on humans. Most effects of microplastics on aquatic invertebrates have been studied as a result of particle ingestion. In order to understand and interpret such effects, it is important to quantify ingestion and egestion of microplastics, as this determines the overall exposure that an organism is facing. In this thesis, it is shown that fluorescent particles can be used to quantify these processes. This is especially useful for particles in the nano- and small micrometre size range. To achieve a reliable quantification, it is often necessary to digest animal tissue. Enzymes are recommended for digestion, based on the use and development of different enzymatic protocols within this thesis. Enzymatic digestion and quantification of particle fluorescence were successfully applied to measure ingestion and egestion of 100 nm and 2 µm particles in the water flea Daphnia magna and larvae of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis. For both species, it was found that, on a mass basis, a higher amount of particles which are similar to the size of normal prey were ingested than smaller particles. Regarding particle egestion, more species-specific differences were observed in comparison to ingestion. It was found that egestion can strongly be influenced by particle size and the presence of food. Also, particles have the potential to remain in organisms for a time exceeding the normal gut passage time. Both for D. magna and larvae of M. edulis the smaller particles were found to cause more adverse effects on the animals' physiology. Controlled laboratory tests, as employed in this thesis, can be a useful tool to obtain a mechanistic understanding of organism-particle interactions and increase the reliability of and comparability between studies. It was, however, found that a detailed particle and exposure characterisation is often missing and thus particle behaviour and fate in laboratory exposure systems are not well understood. Drawing on experience and developments within the field of engineered nanomaterials, it is therefore recommended to include analyses of particle size, composition, density, surface chemistry and charge, as well as particle aggregation/agglomeration, dispersion and sedimentation. At the same time, it is important that exposure systems attain a higher degree of environmental realism. To achieve this, it is suggested to use lower particle concentrations, a variety of particle shapes (especially fragments and fibres), a variety of different plastic polymers, biofouled particles, and to include controls with natural particles, such as clay or silica. Moreover, microplastics cannot always be treated as inert particles since they may contain a multitude of different chemicals, either stemming from plastic production or having sorbed to the plastics in the environment. In both cases, chemicals have the potential to get transported and released, and in this way microplastics may act as vectors for hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs) to aquatic animals. It is therefore strongly recommended to include controls for potential chemical toxicity in microplastic effect studies. As reviewed in this thesis, sorption of HOCs to plastics is governed by diffusive mass transfer and occurs as either adsorption, absorption or a combination of both. The process strongly depends on the properties of the plastic particle, the chemical and the surrounding environment. In comparison to natural matrices, such as water, dissolved organic carbon and colloids, the role of plastics as a vector may be negligible on a global scale. However, in this thesis it is emphasised that spatial variation on a smaller scale as well as the exposure route of microplastic-associated chemicals to organisms are important to consider. In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on human exposure to and potential health effects of microplastics. This was mainly sparked by findings of plastic particles in aquatic species used for human consumption as well as other food products, and has evoked many concerns. While there is reason to assume that microplastics can exhibit particle- and/or chemical-related toxicity, no studies have investigated human health effects of consuming microplastics to date. Humans are exposed to plastic particles and associated chemicals by a variety of pathways. Even though contaminated food products have received most attention, in this thesis it is argued that the main exposure is most likely related to abrasion of particles from the use of plastic materials in everyday life. Because of many uncertainties and knowledge gaps, it is to date not possible to conclude to what degree microplastics are a threat to the environment and to humans. However, a strong public opinion against environmental plastic pollution has formed, which drives societal and legislative action. This is moving faster than consensus within the scientific community and thus entails the risk that not the most urgent issues are addressed or the most effective measures to reduce environmental plastic pollution are taken.

The international electromagnetic field (EMF) project of the World Health Organization (WHO) is a collaborative effort of the WHO teams for Environment, Climate Change and Health (ECCH) and Radiation and Health (ionizing and non-ionizing). The purpose of the effort is twofold. Firstly it seeks to create and house a database of legislation pertaining to EMF exposure. Secondly, it seeks to promote dialogue on the risks related to EMF exposure. The establishment of the EMF Project is motivated by the fact that EMF of a very broad range of frequencies represents one of the most common and fastest growing environmental influences on human health. EMF may have notable positive or negative effects on health, depending on the exposure context. EMF has been around since the birth of the universe, with light being its most familiar form. Electric and magnetic fields are part of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, which extends from static electric and magnetic fields, through radiofrequency, ultraviolet, and infrared radiation, to X-rays. Various Organs of State have reviewed the research endeavors of the NRF in this emerging field and found that the research is innovative and strongly aligned with South Africa's national interests. The EMF project is a multidisciplinary research endeavor integrating efforts from multiple sectors. Of particular import to South Africa is research into EMF exposure risks, EMF shielding modifications, and bio-adaptation mitigation options related to climate change. The EMF Project is endorsed by the Surgeon General, and the Nation's doctor is provided with the best available scientific information on how to improve health outcomes and reduce the risk of illness and injury. The mission of the EMF Project is to protect, promote, and advance the health of our Nation.

This paper presents the design a set of three simple and replicable behavioral interventions, which use stickers that can be added to water bills at low cost, and test their impact on water consumption in Belen, Costa Rica, using a randomized control trial. Two of the three interventions were found to decrease water consumption significantly in the months following the intervention. A descriptive social norm intervention using neighborhood comparisons reduces consumption by between 3.7 and 5.6 percent relative to a control group, while a plan-making intervention reduces consumption by between 3.4 and 5.5 percent. While the two interventions have similar results, they are effective on different subpopulations, with the plan-making intervention being most effective for low-consumption households, while the neighborhood comparison intervention is most effective for high-consumption households. The results demonstrate that behavioral interventions, which have hitherto utilized sophisticated software to deliver customized messages, can be effectively implemented by local governments in developing countries, where technology and resource constraints render the sorts of customized messaging that has typically been used to deliver them in developed countries unfeasible. The results further confirm that raising awareness about how much water an individual consumes, and comparing this consumption level with peers, can go a long way in helping change individuals' behavior regarding the use of a finite resource such as water.

The economic value of the Upper Tuul ecosystem in Mongolia reports on a study carried out under the auspices of the World Bank and the Government of Mongolia. The goal of the study was to improve understanding about the economic value of the Upper Tuul ecosystem for Ulaanbaatar's water supplies and how this might be affected by different land and resource management options in the future. The study also aims to develop and apply ecosystem valuation methods that can be used more widely in the country, to generate information about the contribution of the environment to the Mongolian economy, and to make the case for improved budget allocations for the conservation of the Upper Tuul. Integrating eco-hydrological and economic valuation techniques, the study traces through the biophysical effects and socioeconomic impacts of future land and resource degradation, and ecosystem conservation, in the upper watershed.