N. D. Trung, N. Thang, Le Hoang Anh, T. S. A. Babu, L. Sebastian
{"title":"Analysing the challenges in implementing Vietnam’s Nationally-Determined Contribution (NDC) in the agriculture sector under the current legal, regulatory and policy environment","authors":"N. D. Trung, N. Thang, Le Hoang Anh, T. S. A. Babu, L. Sebastian","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2020.1792670","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2020.1792670","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This study analyses the current supporting laws, regulations, strategies, national action plans, NDCs, scientific literature and other documents and policies in Vietnam to identify the barriers against the effective implementation of mitigation and adaptation agriculture activities committed in Vietnam’s NDC. It also identifies the redundancies and synergies between climate action and green growth plans of the country. As a result, the study found that there is a strong supporting legal framework for implementing NDC actions in Vietnam. However, challenges and gaps are identified in awareness and technical capacity; coordination and resource allocation; downscaling to the provinces; engagement of private sector and NGOs; regulatory framework, which are critical to NDC implementation. A set of key recommendations are proposed on how to address the challenges raised by identified barriers are developed.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2020.1792670","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41417342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sarah N. Indris, D. Rudolph, Brittney K. Glass, P. Cappellen
{"title":"Evaluating phosphorous from vehicular emissions as a potential source of contamination to ground and surface water","authors":"Sarah N. Indris, D. Rudolph, Brittney K. Glass, P. Cappellen","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2020.1794702","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2020.1794702","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract It is well documented that urban runoff and roadside soils can become contaminated with particulate deposits, especially heavy metals, sourced from vehicles. However, phosphorous from vehicular sources has been given little consideration as a possible roadside contaminant. This paper examines the potential contamination of surface water (via runoff to storm drains and discharge to waterbodies) and groundwater (via roadside soil infiltration) by the phosphorous deposited onto pavement and road shoulders in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Total and soluble reactive phosphorous concentrations in roadside soil and runoff samples were determined for two study sites. Subsequently, the results were statistically analyzed. Following comparison to other sources of urban runoff, it was concluded that roadways are a significant source of phosphorous in urban runoff, with high potential to impact surface water. Conversely, results of this work indicate that vehicular-sourced phosphorous does not pose a significant threat to groundwater.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2020.1794702","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47051646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bioaccumulation of priority trace metals in edible muscles of West African lungfish (Protopterus annectens Owen, 1839) from Nyabarongo River, Rwanda","authors":"Timothy Omara","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2020.1779557","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2020.1779557","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Heavy metal pollution and accumulation in aquatic ecosystems present serious threats to sustainability. In the current study, the heavy metal content of water and edible muscles of a piscivorous fish (Protopterus annectens) as well as bioaccumulation of the heavy metals in fish tissues were evaluated. Samples of water (n = 6) and fish (n = 6) were taken from Kirinda bridge and Ruliba station on Nyabarongo river and analyzed by UV spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively. The heavy metal concentrations in water were: iron (0.63 ± 0.02 and 1.61 ± 0.03 mg/kg), manganese (0.53 ± 0.002 mg/kg at Ruliba station), chromium (0.06 ± 0.002 mg/kg at Kirinda bridge), cadmium (0.106 ± 0.002 mg/kg at Ruliba station) and lead (0.75 ± 0.02 and 0.051 ± 0.01 mg/kg). Edible muscles of Protopterus annectens contained 336.0 ± 0.70, 302.6 ± 1.22, 6.4 ± 0.26, 44.7 ± 0.20, 138.2 ± 0.17 and 302.4 ± 1.50 mg/kg of iron, manganese, copper, zinc, chromium and lead at Kirinda bridge and 272.8 ± 0.36, 292.2 ± 0.25, 8.8 ± 0.36, 135.2 ± 0.15, 148.0 ± 0.21 and 432. 0 ± 0.50 mg/kg of iron, manganese, copper, zinc, chromium and lead, respectively, at Ruliba station. Most of the heavy metal contents were above the recommended levels. Bioaccumulation factors recorded in Protopterus annectens ranged from 403.2 to 15,130 L/kg, implying that consumption of this fish could pose deleterious health risks. The study suggested that P. annectens could be used as a sentinel organism for biomonitoring of aquatic ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2020.1779557","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45224631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bioremediation potential of Ganoderma lucidum (Curt:Fr) P. Karsten to remove toxic metals from abandoned battery slag dumpsite soil and immobilisation of metal absorbed fungi in bricks","authors":"A. Ipeaiyeda, C. Adenipekun, O. Oluwole","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2020.1847400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2020.1847400","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Open disposal of battery slag is a major cause of heavy metals (HMs) pollution in soil. The current decontamination option is soil washing with chemicals whose efficiency is limited owing to high cost of reagents. This prompted the need for an environmentally friendly approach to remediate the contaminated soil. Therefore, the potential of Ganoderma lucidum to remediate heavy metals from an abandoned battery slag was investigated in this study. The heavy metals absorbed fungi were immobilised in bricks. The battery slag contaminated and control soil samples were analysed for HM concentrations before and after incubation with G. lucidium for 1–3 months. The harvested rice straw and mycelia were processed and analysed for HMs concentrations. For immobilizing heavy metals absorbed in mycelia, 5 to 30 g of pulverized mycelia were homogenized with a virgin soil, extruded into moulds and fired in a tunnel kiln for making bricks. The leachability of HMs from the bricks was carried out using TLCP. The concentrations (mg/kg) of Pb(4490 ± 14), Zn(147 ± 11), Ni(27.7 ± 0.2), Cu(19.4 ± 0.1) and Cd(2.18 ± 0.06) in dumpsite soil were significantly higher than the corresponding concentrations in the control soil samples. The G. lucidum inoculated on contaminated soil accumulated 138, 29.8, 3.48, 3069 and 1.01 mg/kg of Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu and Cd, respectively. This reveals the strong affinity of G. lucidum for toxic metals. The Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu and Cd immobilised after leaching procedure ranged from 45.3 to 98.10%. Immobilisation of toxic metals hosted by G. lucidum in red bricks can reduce environmental contamination by metals.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2020.1847400","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46915789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessing spatial patterns of forest degradation in dry Miombo woodland in Southern Tanzania","authors":"S. Bhattarai, Klaus Dons, B. Pant","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2020.1801218","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2020.1801218","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Miombo woodlands support diverse biodiversity and livelihoods of millions of people in Africa. Although these woodlands contain less carbon than humid forests, they are important for having large coverage and thus potentially important for national REDD+ carbon accounting. These woodlands are highly susceptible to forest degradation due to anthropogenic activities. Degradation activities are difficult to assess through remote sensing techniques alone. Alternatively, they can be estimated by using proxy variables such as infrastructure and settlements. This study is focused on the assessment of spatial patterns of forest degradation in Miombo woodland in Southern Tanzania. Diameter of stumps was collected through inventory of circular plots of 15 m radius in 25 transects at 500 m, 2500 m and 3500 m distance from the forest border. Group discussions and interviews with key informants provided additional information about local degradation activities. The spatial relationship between forest degradation and the proxy variables: major roads, settlements and forest edge were assessed with logistic and mixed linear regression analysis. Among all, the distance to settlement was found to be the best predictor for degradation in the study area.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2020.1801218","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41522325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessment of physicochemical and bacteriological water quality of drinking water in Ankober district, Amhara region, Ethiopia","authors":"Alemnew Berhanu Kassegne, S. Leta","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2020.1791461","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2020.1791461","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Clean, safe and adequate freshwater is vital to the survival of all living organisms and smooth functioning of ecosystems, communities and economies. Surface water is becoming highly susceptible to pollution, and the trend of production of groundwater for various purposes has been increased from time to time. Groundwater will also be vulnerable to contamination by natural processes and anthropogenic disturbances and, thus, deserves appropriate attention and action. In the present study, spring water samples were collected from the Ankober district in low-, middle- and high-altitude areas in dry, semi-dry and wet seasons in 2015. Bacteriological (total coliform [TC] and fecal coliform [FC]) and physicochemical parameters such as temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, salinity, total alkalinity (TA), total hardness (TH), Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, Cl−, SO4 2−, CO3 2−, HCO3 −, NO3 − and F− were analyzed to assess its suitability for domestic purposes. The results of the study showed that most of the parameters were found to be within the safe limit values of the WHO and Ethiopian standards for drinking water except some values at the lowest attitude area: TC/FC (147/1 per 100 ml) and F− (1.68 mg/L) in the dry season, Mg2+ (52.1 mg/L) in the semi-dry season and K+ (1.59–51.15 mg/L) in all three seasons. Furthermore, the values of Fe2+ (0.448–1.005 mg/L) were above the limit in most of the samples. Generally, spring water in the assessed areas is safe for domestic applications with slight variability in the low-altitude area. For sustainable use, vulnerability mapping and awareness creation are strongly recommended.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2020.1791461","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47369649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"User’s opinion in scientific forest management implementation in Nepal – a case study from Nawalparasi district","authors":"P. Bhusal, Kavi Raj Awasthi, J. N. Kimengsi","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2020.1778987","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2020.1778987","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract While much emphasis has been placed on scientific and policy issues in forest management, there is a lack of clarity on users’ perspectives concerning the implementation of scientific forest management. To clarify this nuance, this study explores users’ opinion on scientific forest management implementation, focusing on four criteria—ecological, social, economic, and technical. Twelve key informant interviews and six focus group discussions were conducted in three selected communities within Nawalparasi District. This was further complemented by six expert interviews. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was employed to rank within and between groups of developed factors and their criteria. Users’ identified increased forest products (58%), community development (55%), employment opportunities (65%), and intense silviculture management (51%) as the dominant factors linked to the ecological, social, economic, and technical criteria, respectively. For between groups, economic (52%) and social (33%) criteria got the highest ranking. The findings suggest that the long-term success of this modality cannot be achieved if the users largely view it as economically and socially profitable. This study calls for tailor-made interventions to enhance ecological and technical knowledge linked to scientific forest management. The paper also makes a succinct request for further studies (including quantitative investigations) to ground this assertion.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2020.1778987","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48527408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C. Mensah, Julia Atayi, A. T. Kabo-bah, Marian Švik, D. Acheampong, R. Kyere-boateng, Nana Agyemang Prempeh, M. Marek
{"title":"Impact of urban land cover change on the garden city status and land surface temperature of Kumasi","authors":"C. Mensah, Julia Atayi, A. T. Kabo-bah, Marian Švik, D. Acheampong, R. Kyere-boateng, Nana Agyemang Prempeh, M. Marek","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2020.1787738","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2020.1787738","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Rapid urban expansion and development have resulted in the conversion of many natural green surfaces within cities to non-transpiring built-up surfaces, such as concrete and asphalt. These artificial urban surfaces cause substantial variation in land surface temperatures that affect the urban microclimate. Thus, there is the need to substantially quantify the extent of green cover loss within growing cities and its impact on surface temperatures. This study used LANDSAT data to spatially assess the extent of urban expansion and its effect on land surface temperature within Kumasi, Ghana. Subsequently, the results showed significant changes in the land cover, which had an effect on the observed land surface temperatures from 1986 to 2015. Generally, there was an overall increase in the built-up areas by 24.13% (55.81 km2) from 1986 to 2015, with a corresponding increase in the mean land surface temperature by 4.16°C. As such, there is the need for the adoption of sustainable urban planning strategies with green vegetation conservation initiatives for modern city planners. This would help reduce urban land surface temperatures while promoting clean air circulation within the city.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2020.1787738","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48690843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Socio-economic impacts of possible brewery waste recycling in agriculture","authors":"Bulti Merga, M. Mohammed, Abdulatif Ahmed","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2020.1732112","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2020.1732112","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Adoption of agricultural technology may solve problem of farmers in agriculture, but its environmental, social and economic impacts should be evaluated in advance of field and laboratory experiments in context of food crops. The use of brewery sludge (BS) technology is one of the means by which soil fertility, crop production and productivity can be improved to meet the growing food demands of people in the world. However, the use of BS or brewery by-product as alternative means of organic fertilizer source in agriculture was ignored by farmers in Ethiopia for decades. This study was elucidated the environmental, social and economic impacts of brewery waste recycling in agricultural crop production. Additionally, the obtained information was forwarded to Ethiopian government to include this environmentally friend technology in agricultural policy of country. Primary data were collected from respondents drawn from smallholder farmers who used BS on their farm lands, and in supplement of this study field experiments also carried out on research station and farm site to evaluate crops productivity. Descriptive statistics and other experimental methods were used evaluate the obtained data. The use brewery waste recycling technology in agriculture has an impact of environmentally friend, better crops productivity, socially acceptable and economic importance.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2020.1732112","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47581968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Oil spillage measures caused drastic reduction in total petroleum hydrocarbon levels in petroleum depot in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria","authors":"O. Olayinka, O. Adedeji, S. Ahmed","doi":"10.1080/23311843.2020.1826744","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2020.1826744","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in surface water samples from ten sampling sites in the streams around the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Depot, Apata, Nigeria were examined to evaluate the environmental quality and health risks of TPH using (ninety) 90 samples. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, temperature, acidity, alkalinity, nitrate, phosphate, total dissolved solid (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were determined using standard methods. Extraction of TPHs from the water samples was achieved by liquid-liquid extraction method and quantified by gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Results showed that physicochemical parameters determined were within the acceptable limit except phosphate. In addition, the even-numbered aliphatic hydrocarbons (C18-C22) were higher in concentration than their odd-numbered (C15-C19). Mean TPH concentrations ranged from 0.59 ± 0.01 to 34.60 ± 5.50 ng/L were generally below target values. The health risk assessment of non-carcinogenic effects showed HQ and HI values for benzo (a) pyrene and indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrene were less than 1.0 for adults and children, indicating no adverse effects but the sum of CR was lower than the permissible limit of 1.0 × 10−4. Although pollution was low, there is a need for monitoring and regular checks to ensure public safety.","PeriodicalId":45615,"journal":{"name":"Cogent Environmental Science","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/23311843.2020.1826744","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47435012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}