scholarly journals The demography of desert Australia

2008 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic Brown ◽  
John Taylor ◽  
Martin Bell
Keyword(s):  
Economic Policy ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Population Projections ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Arid Zones ◽  
Demographic Information ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time ◽  
Semi Arid

In recent years, with the formation of organisations such as the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, social science interest in the Australian desert has re-surfaced with a research emphasis that is focused on creating sustainable futures for the region. One consequence of this is a demand for detailed demographic information to allow an assessment of different quanta of need in social and economic policy, and for assessment of the impact of these in environmental policy. However, demographic analysis on human populations in the desert to date has attracted very little research attention. In this paper we begin to address this lack of analysis by focusing on the populations, both aboriginal and non-aboriginal, of the arid and semi-arid zones of Australia. We extend earlier analysis by including for the first time demographic information on the semi-arid as well as the arid zone to establish the spatial pattern of population growth within the whole desert area drawing attention to the resulting settlement structure as an outcome of prevailing social, cultural and economic conditions. By examining population structure and demographic components of population change we also present for the first time population projections for the semi-arid zone and, therefore, in combination with the arid zone, for the entire Australian desert. All of this provides a basis for considering social and economic policy implications and the nature of underlying processes that drive change in this region.

scholarly journals Autism Tsunami: the Impact of Rising Prevalence on the Societal Cost of Autism in the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Blaxill ◽  
Toby Rogers ◽  
Cynthia Nevison
Keyword(s):  
Forecast Model ◽  
The United States ◽  
Population Projections ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Total Base ◽  
Cost Categories ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time

AbstractThe cost of ASD in the U.S. is estimated using a forecast model that for the first time accounts for the true historical increase in ASD. Model inputs include ASD prevalence, census population projections, six cost categories, ten age brackets, inflation projections, and three future prevalence scenarios. Future ASD costs increase dramatically: total base-case costs of $223 (175–271) billion/year are estimated in 2020; $589 billion/year in 2030, $1.36 trillion/year in 2040, and $5.54 (4.29–6.78) trillion/year by 2060, with substantial potential savings through ASD prevention. Rising prevalence, the shift from child to adult-dominated costs, the transfer of costs from parents onto government, and the soaring total costs raise pressing policy questions and demand an urgent focus on prevention strategies.

scholarly journals Do Economic Policy Uncertainty and Geopolitical Risk Lead to Environmental Degradation? Evidence from Emerging Economies

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 5866
Author(s):  
Muhammad Khalid Anser ◽  
Qasim Raza Syed ◽  
Hooi Hooi Lean ◽  
Andrew Adewale Alola ◽  
Munir Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Economic Policy ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Ecological Footprint ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Policy Uncertainty ◽  
Economic Policy Uncertainty ◽  
Integration Test ◽  
The Impact

Since the turn of twenty first century, economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and geopolitical risk (GPR) have escalated across the globe. These two factors have both economic and environmental impacts. However, there exists dearth of literature that expounds the impact of EPU and GPR on environmental degradation. This study, therefore, probes the impact of EPU and GPR on ecological footprint (proxy for environmental degradation) in selected emerging economies. Cross-sectional dependence test, slope heterogeneity test, Westerlund co-integration test, fully modified least ordinary least square estimator, dynamic OLS estimator, and augmented mean group estimator are employed to conduct the robust analyses. The findings reveal that EPU and non-renewable energy consumption escalate ecological footprint, whereas GPR and renewable energy plunge ecological footprint. In addition, findings from the causality test reveal both uni-directional and bi-directional causality between a few variables. Based on the findings, we deduce several policy implications to accomplish the sustainable development goals in emerging economies.

The Impact of Desertification as Revealed by Mapping

1978 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Mabbutt
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Aridity Index ◽  
Mean Annual Precipitation ◽  
Arid Zones ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Very High ◽  
Semi Arid

Maps prepared for the United Nations Conference on Desertification are critically reviewed and parts of selected maps are illustrated.The World Map of Desertification, called for by the United Nations General Assembly, delineates areas at risk of desertification as determined by bioclimatic stress, the inherent vulnerability of the land, and pressure of land-use. Areas of very high desertification hazard are shown to be those arid and semiarid regions with very heavy pressure of land-use. The threat of desertification is shown to be highest beyond the margins of the full deserts, but the risk extends wherever drought marks the seasonal or periodic extension of aridity. The term ‘drylands’ is used to define areas in which this risk occurs.Alternative maps at global scale include the Climate Aridity Index map based on the Budyko Ratio, which is the ratio between annual net radiation and mean annual precipitation. This allows a more sensitive depiction of aridity gradients and reveals that larger areas are under drought-stress than were previously recognized.The map of Experimental World Scheme of Aridity and Drought Probability uses soil features as an integrative record of past and present environmental conditions, including ‘land aridity’, but is constrained by the concept of soil zonality, without sufficient consideration of topographic and inherited factors which determine soil properties.The map of the Status of Desertification in the Hot Arid Regions shows the existing degree of desertification as judged by the difference between former (in the pristine state) and existing productivity. This is revealed as increasing outwards from the desert cores into the semi-arid lands, but the map does not extend into the sub-humid zone. However, it usefully depicts desertification as an expression of human impact on the land. Only very restricted areas are shown as having undergone very serious or irreversible desertification.Global maps are too generalized to depict actual desertification in quantitative terms, but the continental scale of the unpublished Desertification Hazards Map of Africa North of the Equator allows this to be done, in addition to depiction of the degree of vulnerability to desertification. Areas shown as already degraded occur mainly in the arid zone, whereas those of very high vulnerability lie mainly in the semi-arid zones.The U.N. Conference on Desertification recommended the compilation of an atlas of desertification to depict the state of the world's drylands and to serve as a cartographic basis for planning combative programmes. Regional maps of this kind, as exemplified in the synoptic maps accompanying the Case Studies of Desertification presented to the Conference, range in scale from 1:1,000,000 to 1:100,000—depending on the type of desertification portrayed—with the smaller scales for pastoral lands and more detailed scales for irrigation projects.

scholarly journals Impact of Intercropping Sorghum and Okra on the Incidence of Flea Beetles of Okra Podagrica spp in Dalwa, Maiduguri Semi-Arid Zone of Nigeria

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 51-58
Author(s):  
M.M. Degri ◽  
I.B. Richard
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Flea Beetle ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Fruit Yield ◽  
Leaf Damage ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Fruit Formation ◽  
Semi Arid

Field experiments were conducted at faculty of Agriculture teaching and research farm, university of Maiduguri in 2010 and 2011 rainy seasons. The aim was to investigate the impact of intercropping sorghum with okra on the incidence of flea beetle of okra (Podagrica spp) in the semi-Arid zone of Nigeria. The results showed that sole crop okra suffered flea beetle attack which affected its growth, fruit formation, fruit weights and fruit yield. Intercropping okra with sorghum significantly reduced the flea beetle populations, leaf damage caused by Podagrica spp (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). While increasing number of leaves for photosynthetic activities, plant height, fruit formation, fresh fruit weight and total fruit yield. The study concluded that okra intercropping at 1:1, 1:2 and 2:2 are the most efficient and productive intercrop systems in flea beetle management. Okra intercropping with cereal sorghum was found to be good for sustainable agriculture and organic farming in Nigeria due to its numerous advantages, particularly with respect to insect pests’ control.

scholarly journals Effect of Fires on Certain Properties of Forest Soils in Western Algeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 111-117
Author(s):  
Ayoub Allam ◽  
Amine Habib Borsali ◽  
Abdelkrim Kefifa ◽  
Mohamed Zouidi ◽  
Raphael Gros
Keyword(s):  
Forest Soils ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Basal Respiration ◽  
Arid Ecosystems ◽  
Control Zone ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid

AbstractNatural disturbances, such as forest fires, cause significant changes in the structure and functioning of semi-arid ecosystems. After such disturbances, the impact on the soil ecosystem in its entirety is misunderstood. In this study, two years after the last fire, changes in the physicochemical and biological properties of Aleppo pine forest soils in the semi-arid zone were observed. Among all physical properties analysed, only the soil moisture remained significantly lower in the burnt zone in contrast to control zone. Considering the chemical properties, the only negatively affected parameter is the rate of organic matter. In terms of biological properties, results showed that the fire caused a significant decrease in soil microorganisms by decreasing basal respiration and microbial biomass. Conversely, the metabolic quotient recorded higher values in the fire zone than in the control zone. These results indicate that microbial communities in semi-arid soils, already stressed by climatic hazards, are very sensitive to the passage of even low-intensity fires.

scholarly journals The conservation agriculture in northwest of Morocco (Merchouch area): The impact of no-till systems on physical properties of soils in semi-arid climate

2021 ◽  
Vol 234 ◽  
pp. 00037
Author(s):  
Abdelali El Mekkaoui ◽  
Rachid Moussadek ◽  
Rachid Mrabet ◽  
Said Chakiri ◽  
Ahmed Douaik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Water Retention Capacity ◽  
Arid Zones ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
No Till ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Semi Arid

Conservation agriculture (CA) is characterized by three principles: minimum tillage, even the total absence of tillage in the case of direct seeding (NT), permanent soil cover by mulch, and diversification of crops. Its main objective is to control soil degradation by conserving the physical and biological properties and fertility of the soil, which leads to an improvement in productivity, while preserving the environment. Conventional tillage (CT) used in the arid and semi-arid environments of Morocco (particularly in the study site area of Merchouch) compromise the productivity of established crops in these regions. The work presented consists in the study of the impact of NT on the physico-chemical properties of the soil, especially organic matter (SOM), bulk density (BD), soil moisture (θg), and structural stability (SS) in semi-arid zones. The results show that the use of the NT system positively influences the accumulation of SOM, especially at the soil surface horizon (0-5cm). Concerning θg, there is a significant difference between the two treatments (NT and CT) at the average of the three depths and especially at the horizon 20-40 cm so NT increases the water retention capacity. This study also shows that the mean weight diameter (MWD) of the 3 tests (water, ethanol, and rehumectation) is higher for NT compared to CT. This shows that no-till helped to build a good soil structure over time, which is highly desirable for improving agricultural productivity and conserving natural resources, especially water.

scholarly journals Monitoring and Analysis of Drought Using Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE)

Hydrology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Nemati ◽  
Seyed Hossein Ghoreishi Najafabadi ◽  
Gholamreza Joodaki ◽  
S. Saeid Mousavi Nadoushani
Keyword(s):  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Drought Indices ◽  
Arid Zones ◽  
Terrestrial Water Storage ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Terrestrial Water ◽  
Gravity Recovery ◽  
Semi Arid

Drought monitoring needs comprehensive and integrated meteorological and hydrologic data. However, such data are generally not available in extensive catchments. The present study aimed to analyze drought in the central plateau catchment of Iran using the terrestrial water storage deficit index (TSDI). In this arid catchment, the meteorological and hydrologic observed data are scarce. First, the time series of terrestrial water storage changes (TWSC) obtained from the gravity recovery and climate experiment (GRACE) was calculated and validated by the water budget output. Then, the studied area was divided into semi-arid, arid, and hyper-arid zones and the common drought indices of SPI and RDIe within a timescale of 3, 6, and 12 months were calculated to compare the results obtained from the TSDI by using the meteorological data of 105 synoptic stations. Based on the results, the study area experienced a drought with extreme severity and expansion during 2007–2008. The drought spatial distribution map obtained from three indices indicated good conformity. Based on the maps, the severity, duration, and frequency of drought in the semi-arid zone were greater than that in other zones, while no significant drought occurred in the hyper-arid zone. Furthermore, the temporal distribution of drought in all three zones indicated that the TSDI could detect all short- and long-term droughts. The study results showed that the TSDI is a reliable, integrated, and comprehensive index. Using this index in arid areas with little field data led to some valuable results for planning and water resource management.

scholarly journals How Does Economic Policy Uncertainty Affect CO2 Emissions? A Regional Analysis in China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Liu ◽  
Zepeng Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Economic Policy ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Environmental Regulation ◽  
Regional Analysis ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Kuznets Curve ◽  
Policy Uncertainty ◽  
Economic Policy Uncertainty ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
The Impact

Abstract More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has created massive economic policy uncertainty (EPU). EPU and its economic fallout have been a hot topic of study, however, the impact of EPU on CO2 emissions has been seldom addressed to date. This paper investigates the direct impact of the EPU on CO2 emissions and indirect effect via the environmental regulation at the national and regional levels using the panel data model and provincial panel data from 2003 to 2017 in China. The empirical results show that the central region is the most special one, which all explanatory variables except energy consumption are all non-significant even at the 10% level. For other samples, there is a significant positive correlation between EPU and CO2 emissions, whether in the national or regional level. Additionally, environmental regulation alone can achieve the purpose of curtailing carbon emissions. However, when the EPU is taken into consideration, environmental regulation exerts a significantly positive effect on CO2 emissions, leading to unintended increase in emissions. Moreover, the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis was confirmed in the national and eastern samples, while CO2 emissions increase monotonically as economic level grows for western datasets. Based on the overall findings, some policy implications were put forward.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document