Water management capacity building to support rapidly developing mining economies

Many developing countries are experiencing rapid expansion in mining with associated water impacts. In most cases mining expansion is outpacing the building of national capacity to ensure that sustainable water management practices are implemented. Since 2011, Australia's International Mining for Development Centre (IM4DC) has funded capacity building in such countries including a program of water projects. Five projects in particular (principally covering experiences from Peru, Colombia, Ghana, Zambia, Indonesia, Philippines and Mongolia) have provided insight into water capacity building priorities and opportunities. This paper reviews the challenges faced by water stakeholders, and proposes the associated capacity needs. The paper uses the evidence derived from the IM4DC projects to develop a set of specific capacity-building recommendations. Recommendations include: the incorporation of mine water management in engineering and environmental undergraduate courses; secondments of staff to suitable partner organisations; training to allow site staff to effectively monitor water including community impacts; leadership training to support a water stewardship culture; training of officials to support implementation of catchment management approaches; and the empowerment of communities to recognise and negotiate solutions to mine-related risks. New initiatives to fund the transfer of multi-disciplinary knowledge from nations with well-developed water management practices are called for.

Contesting Forests and Power : Dispute, Violence and Negotiations

"Contesting Forests and Power; Dispute, Violence and Negotiations in Central Java" is an ethnographic analysis of an ongoing forest land dispute and its negotiations in an upland forest village in the district of Wonosobo, Central Java. Rather than focusing only on the village site, this ethnography of global connections explores the inequalities of power in different negotiation arenas and how these power relations have had an effect on the dispute and efforts made to settle it. Today, national and transnational connections have an effect on how land disputes develop. This study argues that different cosmological and cultural orientations influence how the dispute and its negotiations have evolved. It draws its theoretical framework from legal and political anthropology by looking at the position of law in society, exploring state formation processes and issues of power. The dispute over state forest land is about a struggle over sovereignty which involves violence on the parts of different parties who maintain that they have a legitimate right to the state forest land. This anthropological study argues that this dispute and its negotiations reflect the plurality of laws in Java and Indonesia in a complex way. It shows that this dispute over forests and land in Java has deep historical roots that were revealed as the conflict emerged. Understanding land disputes in Java is important because of the enormous potential for conflicts over land and other natural resources throughout Indonesia. After the fall of President Suharto in 1998, disputes over access to state forest land emerged as a problem all over upland Java. As the New Order came to an end, forest cover on state forest lands in the Wonosobo district was largely destroyed. Disputes over access to land and forests took another turn after the decentralization effort in 1999, suggesting that decentralization does not necessarily contribute to the protection of forests. The dispute examined here is not unique, but, rather, this study attempts to shed light on forest-related conflicts all around upland Indonesia and on the ways in which differential power relations are reflected in these conflicts and the negotiation processes meant to resolve them.

From Bathymetry to Bioshields: A Review of Post-Tsunami Ecological Research in India and its Implications for Policy

More than half a decade has passed since the December 26th 2004 tsunami hit the Indian coast leaving a trail of ecological, economic and human destruction in its wake. We reviewed the coastal ecological research carried out in India in the light of the tsunami. In addition, we also briefly reviewed the ecological research in other tsunami affected countries in Asia namely Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Maldives in order to provide a broader perspective of ecological research after tsunami. A basic search in ISI Web of Knowledge using keywords ``tsunami'' and ``India'' resulted in 127 peer reviewed journal articles, of which 39 articles were pertaining to ecological sciences. In comparison, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Maldives had, respectively, eight, four, 21 and two articles pertaining to ecology. In India, bioshields received the major share of scientific interest (14 out of 39) while only one study (each) was dedicated to corals, seagrasses, seaweeds and meiofauna, pointing to the paucity of research attention dedicated to these critical ecosystems. We noted that very few interdisciplinary studies looked at linkages between pure/applied sciences and the social sciences in India. In addition, there appears to be little correlation between the limited research that was done and its influence on policy in India. This review points to gap areas in ecological research in India and highlights the lessons learnt from research in other tsunami-affected countries. It also provides guidance on the links between science and policy that are required for effective coastal zone management.

Analysis of conjugate laminar mixed convection cooling in a shrouded array of electronic components

The temperature variation in the insulation around an electronic component, mounted on a horizontal circuit board is studied numerically. The flow is assumed to be laminar and fully developed. The effect of mixed convection and two different types of insulation are considered. The mass, momentum and energy conservation equations in the fluid and conduction equation in the insulation are solved using the SIMPLER algorithm. Computations are carried out for liquid Freon and water, for different conductivity ratios, and different Rayleigh numbers. It is demonstrated that the temperature variation within the insulation becomes important when the thermal conductivity of the insulation is less than ten times the thermal conductivity of the cooling medium.

W/T SPR codes offer higher throughput in OCDMA networks

In this paper optical code-division multiple-access (O-CDMA) packet network is considered, which offers inherent security in the access networks. Two types of random access protocols are proposed for packet transmission. In protocol 1, all distinct codes and in protocol 2, distinct codes as well as shifted versions of all these codes are used. O-CDMA network performance using optical orthogonal codes (OOCs) 1-D and two-dimensional (2-D) wavelength/time single-pulse-per-row (W/T SPR) codes are analyzed. The main advantage of using 2-D codes instead of one-dimensional (1-D) codes is to reduce the errors due to multiple access interference among different users. SPR codes are chosen as they have nearly ideal correlation properties. In this paper, correlation receiver is considered in the analysis. Using analytical model, we compare the OOC and SPR code performances in O-CDMA networks. We compute packet-success probability and throughput for both the types of codes. The analysis shows improved performance with SPR codes as compared to OOC codes.

Accelerated multistress aging of polymer nanocomposites and its condition monitoring

In recent years, the time dependant maintenance of expensive high voltage power equipments is getting replaced by condition based maintenance so as to detect apriori an impending failure of the equipment. For condition based maintenance, most monitoring systems concentrate on the electrical quantities such as measurement and evaluation of partial discharges, tan delta, tip-up test, dielectric strength, insulation resistance, polarization and depolarization current. However, in the case of equipments being developed with novel nanodielectric insulating materials, the variation in these parameters before an impending failure is not available. Hence in this work, accelerated electrothermal aging studies have been conducted on unfilled epoxy as well as epoxy nanocomposite samples of 5 wt% filler loading, and the tan d values were continuously monitored to obtain the condition of the samples under study. It was observed that those samples whose tan d increased at a rapid rate failed first.

Sheltered coastal environments as archives of paleo-tsunami deposits: Observations from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami

The 2004 earthquake left several traces of coseismic land deformation and tsunami deposits, both on the islands along the plate boundary and distant shores of the Indian Ocean rim countries. Researchers are now exploring these sites to develop a chronology of past events. Where the coastal regions are also inundated by storm surges, there is an additional challenge to discriminate between the deposits formed by these two processes. Paleo-tsunami research relies largely on finding deposits where preservation potential is high and storm surge origin can be excluded. During the past decade of our work along the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the east coast of India, we have observed that the 2004 tsunami deposits are best preserved in lagoons, inland streams and also on elevated terraces. Chronological evidence for older events obtained from such sites is better correlated with those from Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, reiterating their usefulness in tsunami geology studies. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Efecto de labranza y métodos de control de malezas sobre la dinámica de las maleza y el crecimiento y rendimiento del frijol común (Phaseolus vulgaris L) postrera, 1994

Con el propósito de evaluar la influencia de los dos sistemas de labranza y tres métodos de control de malezas sobre el comportamiento de las malezas y en el crecimiento y rendimiento del cultivo del frijol común, se llevó a efecto el presente experimento en la finca experimental La Compañía, San Marcos, Carazo. Los factores en estudio fueron A. manejo de suelo, el cual incluyo labranza mínima (chapia más raya de siembra) y labranza cero (chapia más siembra el espeque) y 5: controles de malezas, donde se incluyeron: Pre-emergente más post-emergente (paraquat, 1 día después de le siembra más fluazifob-butil más fomesalen, 21 días después de le siembra), pre-emergente más cobertura (paraquat, 1 día después de la siembra, más cobertura muerta de maíz, 8 días después de la siembra) y pre-emergente más chapia (paraquat, 1 días después de la siembre, más chapia con azadón a los 21 días después de la siembra). Los resultados obtenidos indican que el sistema de labranza cero permitió la mayor abundancia y cobertura de maleza, sin embargo ésta presentó la menor biomasa de malezas. El método de control de maleza que presentó el mejor efecto sobre las malezas fue el pre-emergente más post-emergente, al permitir los menores valores en abundancia, cobertura, biomasa (peso seco) y diversidad. El sistema de labranza mínima presentó el mayor número de vainas por planta, y el mejor rendimiento, aunque no significativamente diferente de labranza cero. Los métodos de control de malezas obtuvieron valores similares en relación a las variables de rendimiento, como número de vainas por plantas, número de granos por vainas y peso de 100 granos, destacándose con un mayor rendimiento el control pre-emergente más cobertura. El método de control pre-emergente más cobertura y el sistema de labranza mínima obtuvieron los mejores rendimientos y también el mejor beneficio neto y la mejor rentabilidad.

Evaluación de niveles de daños por el cogollero (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) y severidad de enfermedades foliares del sorgo (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), y su efecto en el rendimiento, Tisma, Masaya, 2004

Este trabajo se realizó durante la época de postrera del 2004 en la finca El Madroñal, propiedad del productor Agapito Ñurinda ubicada en el municipio de Tisma, departamento de Masaya. El objetivo de este estudio es generar información de niveles económicos de daños de la plaga cogollero [( Spodoptera frugiperda) J.E Smith] y severidad de enfermedades foliares como Antracnosis [ Colletotrichum graminicola (Cesati- Wilson)], raya tiznada de la hoja [ Ramulispora sorghi (Ellis y Everhart Olive y Lefebvre)] y Mancha gris de la hoja [Cercospora sorghi (Ellis y Everhart)]. El diseño experimental utilizado fue bloques completos al azar (BCA), con cuatro repeticiones y cinco tratamientos conformados por daño por cogollero y severidad de enfermedades foliares T1=[(20 % cogollero y 10% Enfermedad (grado 3)], T2=[(30 % cogollero y 20% Enfermedad (grado 4)], T3=[(40 % cogollero y 30% Enfermedad (grado 5)], T4=[(50 % cogollero y 50% Enfermedad (grado 7)], y T5 Testigo sin aplicación química al follaje únicamente manejo de panoja. Se realizó un análisis de varianza (ANDEVA) y separación de medias por Tukey con α =0.05) más un análisis de covarianza entre las enfermedades foliares Antracnosis y mancha gris. Para el gusano cogollero el análisis estadístico no mostró diferencias significativas entre los diferentes tratamientos. Los daños por este insecto se presentaron desde los 9 a los 45 días después de la siembra (dds), durante la etapa vegetativa del cultivo. El análisis de varianza realizado para Antracnosis y mancha tiznada mostró diferencias estadísticas a los 45 y 54 (dds), no así para mancha gris que no indicó diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos. Los mayores porcentajes de severidad de las enfermedades no sobrepasaron un 40 % (grado 6). Para la variable rendimiento el análisis indica diferencia estadísticas entre los tratamientos, obteniendo los mayores rendimientos los tratamientos T1 y T2, con 2501 y 2138 kg ha-1 respectivamente. En el análisis económico los menores costos variables se obtuvieron en el tratamiento T3, y la mayor tasa de retorno marginal la presentó el tratamiento T1 con 236.86 %

Comparación de alternativas de manejo para plagas convencional e integrado (MIP) en el cultivo del sorgo (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench), en época de postrera en las localidades Guanacastillo - Masaya y CNIA-INTA, Managua 2004

Este trabajo se realizó en dos localidades; finca El Paraíso ubicada en el km 38 carretera Masaya-Tipitapa; Comarca Guanacastillo municipio de Masaya y Centro Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (CNIA-INTA), ubicada en el km 14 carretera norte departamento de Managua. Con el objetivo de generar alternativas de manejo de plagas insectíles y enfermedades en el cultivo del sorgo. El diseño experimental utilizado fue bloque completos al azar (BCA), con cuatro tratamientos y cinco repeticiones: T1 (una aplicación de cypermetrina, phyton, benomil en etapa vegetativa y reproductiva), T2 (dos aplicaciones de cypermetrina, phyton, benomil en etapa vegetativa y reproductiva), T3 (una aplicación de dipel, caldo sulfocalcico en etapa vegetativa y reproductiva), T4 (dos aplicaciones de dipel, caldo sulfocalcico en etapa vegetativa y reproductiva). Las variables evaluadas fueron: incidencia de daño fresco por cogollero, severidad de enfermedades foliares e incidencia de mohos de la panoja y rendimiento. Se realizó análisis de varianza (ANDEVA) y separación de medias por Duncan con ( α = 5%). Para el gusano cogollero el análisis estadístico indica que se encontró diferencia significativa entre los diferentes tratamientos en ambas localidades. Presentando los menores porcentajes de daños los tratamientos dipel y caldo sulfocá lcico. El análisis de varianza realizado para raya tiznada y mohos de la panoja mostró diferencias estadísticas en ambas localidades, no así para ohos de la panoja en la localidad finca El Paraíso. Para la variable rendimiento el análisis indica que no se encontró diferencia estadística entre los tratamientos en ambas localidades, obteniendo los mayores rendimientos los tratamientos T3 y T4, con 2520 y 2626 kg ha-1(finca El Paraíso), 2762 y 2814 kg ha-1(CNIA-INTA) respectivamente. En el análisis económico los menores costos variables se obtuvo en el tratamiento T3 en ambas localidades y la mayor rentabilidad con 965.86 % (finca El Paraíso) y 1068.19 % (CNIA- INTA).

South and South-East Asian coastal fisheries: their status and directions for improved management: conference synopsis and recommendations

As a step to address the problems of coastal fisheries in Asia, the WorldFish Center joined forces with fisheries agencies from eight developing Asian countries (Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam) and the Asian Development Bank, to implement a project entitled “Sustainable Management of Coastal Fish Stocks in Asia” (also known as the “TrawlBase” project). The project was implemented between 1998 and 2001. The main achievements of this partnership were: (a) Development of a database called “Fisheries Resource Information System and Tools” (FiRST), which contains trawl research survey data and socioeconomic information for selected fisheries, and facilitates its analysis; (b) Evaluation of the extent of resource decline and over-fishing, both biological and economic, in the region; (c) Identification of the measures needed to manage coastal fisheries in the participating countries, resulting in draft strategies and action plans; and (d) Strengthening of national capacity in coastal fisheries assessment, planning and management.