scholarly journals The Buffer Capacity of Riparian Vegetation to Control Water Quality in Anthropogenic Catchments from a Legally Protected Area: A Critical View over the Brazilian New Forest Code

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Valera ◽  
Teresa Pissarra ◽  
Marcílio Filho ◽  
Renato Valle Júnior ◽  
Caroline Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Riparian Buffers ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Forest Code ◽  
New Forest ◽  
Laws And Policies

The riparian buffer width on watersheds has been modified over the last decades. The human settlements heavily used and have significantly altered those areas, for farming, urbanization, recreation and other functions. In order to protect freshwater ecosystems, riparian areas have recently assumed world recognition and considered valuable areas for the conservation of nature and biodiversity, protected by forest laws and policies as permanent preservation areas. The objective of this work was to compare parameters from riparian areas related to a natural watercourse less than 10 m wide, for specific purposes in Law No. 4761/65, now revoked and replaced by Law No. 12651/12, known as the New Forest Code. The effects of 15, 30 and 50 m wide riparian forest in water and soil of three headwater catchments used for sugar cane production were analyzed. The catchments are located in the Environmental Protection Area of Uberaba River Basin (state of Minas Gerais, Brazil), legally protected for conservation of water resources and native vegetation. A field survey was carried out in the catchments for verification of land uses, while periodical campaigns were conducted for monthly water sampling and seasonal soil sampling within the studied riparian buffers. The physico-chemical parameters of water were handled by ANOVA (Tukey’s mean test) for recognition of differences among catchments, while thematic maps were elaborated in a geographic information system for illustration purposes. The results suggested that the 10, 30 or even 50 m wide riparian buffers are not able to fulfill the environmental function of preserving water resources, and therefore are incapable to ensure the well-being of human populations. Therefore, the limits imposed by the actual Brazilian Forest Code should be enlarged substantially.

scholarly journals Confronting South Africa’s water challenge: A decomposition analysis of water intensity

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 831-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel Kohler
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Decomposition Analysis ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Water Intensity ◽  
The Impact

Water is a vital natural resource, demanding careful management. It is essential for life and integral to virtually all economic activities, including energy and food production and the production of industrial outputs. The availability of clean water in sufficient quantities is not only a prerequisite for human health and well-being but the life-blood of freshwater ecosystems and the many services that these provide. Water resource intensity measures the intensity of water use in terms of volume of water per unit of value added. It is an internationally accepted environmental indicator of the pressure of economic activity on a country’s water resources and therefore a reliable indicator of sustainable economic development. The indicator is particularly useful in the allocation of water resources between sectors of the economy since in waterstressed countries like South Africa, there is competition for water among various users, which makes it necessary to allocate water resources to economic activities that are less intensive in their use of water. This study focuses on economy-wide changes in South Africa’s water intensity using both decomposition and empirical estimation techniques in an effort to identify and understand the impact of economic activity on changes in the use of the economy’s water resources. It is hoped that this study will help inform South Africa’s water conservation and resource management policies

scholarly journals Political, Legislative and Institutional Frameworks for the Governance of Water Resources’ Ecosystem Services in Benin

2021 ◽  
pp. 426-444
Author(s):  
Salomon Balogoun ◽  
Latifou Idrissou
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Service Management ◽  
National Level ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Content Analysis Method ◽  
Laws And Policies ◽  
Set Up

Ecosystem services play an important role for the balance of biodiversity and for social well-being. The management of ecosystem services around water resources is governed by several political documents and laws, and involves several actors. Current reforms calling for co-management raise questions about the sustainability of ecosystem service management models around water resources. This article discusses the contours of the legal framework and the institutional mechanism for water resources and their ecosystem services management in Benin. Therefore, the majority of the policy documents set up in the framework of natural resources management were consulted during data collection. Content analysis method was used to analyse these documents.Results show that the governance of water resources and their ecosystem services in Benin is guided by several national political texts inspired by international institutions set up. In Benin, water resources management is based on the declination at national level of the various international and regional agreements ratified by the country. Water resources governance is placed under the responsibility of several political, administrative and civil society actors, in a well-defined role-play system.It is based on vision and strategy documents, action programs, budget programs and the National Water Policies, including the Law 044-2010 of November 24, 2010 on water management. However, the processes for implementing these texts do not guarantee the sustainable management of the resources. Indeed, the implementation texts of most of the laws are often not developed, and where they are, they are not widely popularised. There is also a mismatch between adopted legal rules and ancestral cultures and customs. Finally, we noted in the laws and policies,the existence of contradictions, ambiguities and overlapping of responsibilities of the actors in the governance of these resources.

scholarly journals Decision Support for the (Inter-)Basin Management of Water Resources Using Integrated Hydro-Economic Modeling

Hydrology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Gerald Norbert Souza da Silva ◽  
Márcia Maria Guedes Alcoforado de Moraes
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Allocation ◽  
Hydrological Modeling ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Water Transfer ◽  
Economic Modeling ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Study Results

The development of adequate modeling at the basin level to establish public policies has an important role in managing water resources. Hydro-economic models can measure the economic effects of structural and non-structural measures, land and water management, ecosystem services and development needs. Motivated by the need of improving water allocation using economic criteria, in this study, a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) with a hydro-economic optimization model (HEAL system) was developed and used for the identification and analysis of an optimal economic allocation of water resources in a case study: the sub-middle basin of the São Francisco River in Brazil. The developed SDSS (HEAL system) made the economically optimum allocation available to analyze water allocation conflicts and trade-offs. With the aim of providing a tool for integrated economic-hydrological modeling, not only for researchers but also for decision-makers and stakeholders, the HEAL system can support decision-making on the design of regulatory and economic management instruments in practice. The case study results showed, for example, that the marginal benefit function obtained for inter-basin water transfer, can contribute for supporting the design of water pricing and water transfer decisions, during periods of water scarcity, for the well-being in both basins.

scholarly journals Decreased cortisol among hikers who preferentially visit and value biodiverse riparian zones

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellie Opdahl ◽  
Kathryn Demps ◽  
Julie A. Heath
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Hot Spots ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Indirect Pathway ◽  
Aesthetic Value ◽  
Gps Tracks

AbstractWhile outdoor recreationists often report increases to their well-being for time spent in nature, the mechanisms through which local ecologies affect human health have been difficult to quantify, and thus to manage. We combine data from pre-post salivary cortisol measures, GPS tracks, visitor photos, and surveys from 88 hikers traversing several types of landscape within peri-urban public lands in southwest Idaho, USA. We find that time in biodiverse riparian areas and areas of perceived aesthetic value correlates with decreases in salivary cortisol and improved well-being for hikers. Wildlife sightings were not associated with changes in salivary cortisol, but were associated with riparian travel and aesthetic preferences, indicating an indirect pathway for ecosystem services. Additionally, wildlife sightings decreased on high-use days, even though hikers did not perceive a negative impact of their recreational activity. These results suggest that cultural and physiological ecosystem services of nature depend on the ecological community of the area. Preferential visitation and high service value of riparian areas by hikers and wildlife alike target shared riparian areas as hot spots for management efforts to promote both ecological and human health within an increasingly urbanizing world.

Diversity and abundance of cichlids in Ikere Gorge Reservoir, Iseyin, Oyo State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-56
Author(s):  
S.O. Ajagbe ◽  
R.O. Ajagbe ◽  
O.S. Ariwoola ◽  
F.I. Abdulazeez ◽  
O.O. Oyewole ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Freshwater Species ◽  
Fishing Villages ◽  
Gorge Reservoir ◽  
Commercially Important ◽  
Sarotherodon Galilaeus ◽  
Fish Species Diversity

Cichlids are highly abundant and commercially important fish in freshwater ecosystems in Nigeria. This study examined the diversity and abundance of cichlids in Ikere Gorge Reservoir. Four fishing villages were randomly selected from 12 fishing villages in Ikere Gorge Reservoir as sampling sites. Cichlids were sampled randomly and examined from fishermen catch in each selected fishing village; were identified with appropriate keys; the weight and abundance of the catches were recorded. The data obtained was subjected to descriptive statistical analysis using SPSS (Version 20.0) software to determine the abundance of fish species. Fish species diversity was carried out by using Palaeontological Statistics (PAST). Eight species of cichlids were sampled in Ikere Gorge but Sarotherodon galilaeus was the most abundant species while the least abundant species was Pelmatolapia mariae. It was observed that, cichlids were  abundant in rainy season than in the dry season. Likewise, cichlids were abundant in Ikere-gorge reservoir but they have low diversity. This may be as a result of unsustainable fishing pressure and deforestation of riparian forest and sedimentation in Ikere-gorge reservoir. Therefore, to maintain sustainable fishing activities and improve cichlids population in Ikeregorge reservoir, unsustainable activities in and around Ikere Gorge reservoir should be put under control. Keywords: Cichlidae; freshwater species; dominant; Sarotherodon galilaeus; Pelmatolapia mariae.

scholarly journals IMPACTS OF EXTREME HYDROLOGICAL EVENTS ON SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN WELL-BEING

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
SANDRA STANKOVIĆ ◽  
DEJAN VASOVIĆ ◽  
NENAD ŽIVKOVIĆ
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Primary Methods ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Agenda 2030 ◽  
Sustainable Water Resources Management ◽  
Extreme Hydrological Events ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this research is to emphasize the impact of extreme hydrological phenomena on thesustainable management of water-related societal needs. Therefore, it provides a definition of extreme hydrological events, as well as a survey of extreme hydrological events in the Republic of Serbia. It also gives a brief overview of Agenda 2030 with particular respect to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No 6 and highlights the impacts of extreme hydrological phenomena on the water resources, both from the perspective of the ecosystem and the society. Root-cause analysis and synthesis of data related to extreme hydrological events that occurred in the Republic of Serbia for characteristic years have been used as primary methods. The conclusion highlights the necessity of ensuring sustainable management of water resources in order to achieve the desired state of human well-being, as well as a healthy ecosystem. Keywords: extreme hydrological events, ecosystem services, sustainability, water resources, management

scholarly journals Women, Water & Well-Being: A Case Study of ‘Kuttadampadam’ in Palakkad, Kerala

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-49
Author(s):  
V Shinju ◽  
Aswathi Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Role Of Women

The natural resources are repository for the survival of all of us, so they must be used efficiently to meet the present needs while conserving them for future generations. An action to develop capacities from global to household levels for their sustainable management and regulation is required henceforth. Of these natural resources, water resources are most precious. If there is no water; there would be no life on earth. Since ‘water is the elixir of life’, water resource management has been considered as one of the most relevant areas of intervention. Understanding the gender dimensions of water resource management is a starting point for reversing the degradation of water resources. Women play an important role here since they have to access the water resources for almost all the activities on a daily basis. As the women are the strong social agents, effective and improved water preservation techniques could be achieved through their empowerment that may eventually lead to the well-being of the households in particular and of the community in general. Therefore, the major research question posed in this study is to analyze the role of women in the preservation and management of water, an inevitable, precious but diminishing natural resource. The study also intends to describe the relationship between the three ‘W's-Women, Water & Well-being. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches are essential here as it is a contingent issue in the present scenario. Psychological dimensions were also explored since the issue is affecting the routine life of the community. The case study of women belonging to the Kuttadampadam region was done to explain the role of women in preserving water resources in the areas affecting severe water scarcity.

scholarly journals The Application of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing in Quantifying Snow Cover and Precipitation in Kabul Basin

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qamar Zaman ◽  
Shahid Nawaz Khan
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Snow Cover Area ◽  
Hydrologic Modelling ◽  
Gis And Remote Sensing ◽  
Creative Commons ◽  
The People

Water Resources availability is very important to social and economic well-being of the people and has huge impacts on the socio-economic scenarios of a country. Precipitation and snow cover area assessment is some of the major inputs in hydrologic modelling and also for assessing and managing water resources in a basin. The change in the water availability in a basin has huge socio-economic impacts because of the water usage for food production, industries, and many others. The main aim of this study was to measure the snow cover area and precipitation from 2001 to 2015 in the Kabul basin. Moderate Resolution Image Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Tropical Rainfall measuring Mission (TRMM) data were used to study snow cover area and precipitation respectively during 2001-2015. 8-day snow cover product for 15 years (January) was used to analyse the snow cover while monthly data of TRMM (3B43) were used to analyse the rainfall from 2001-2015. Different image processing techniques were applied on the data retrieved using GIS and Remote Sensing softwares. Initially, SCA was seen increasing, but during the last 3-4 years, it kept decreasing gradually. Rainfall was initially recorded as low, while later on, it was recorded high and reached the highest during 2010. Keywords: MODIS; Snow Cover; TRMM; Precipitation; Kabul Basin; Remote Sensing   Copyright (c) 2020 Geosfera Indonesia Journal and Department of Geography Education, University of Jember This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share A like 4.0 International License

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