JournalTOCs

Journal of Environment and Ecology
Number of Followers: 10

This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Print) 2157-6092
Published by Macrothink Institute

[47 journals]

Historical Changes in CO2 Emissions and Removals from Land Use and Land
Cover Changes in Sudan Savannah Ecological Zone of Ghana
- Authors: Mah Coulibaly, Stephen Adu Bredu, Badabate Diwediga, Souleymane S. Traore, Noëllie A. YAO, Kapoury Sanogo
  First page: 1
  Abstract: Assessment of changes in carbon stock from land use and land cover change in necessary for carbon emissions/removals monitoring and enable countries to comply in line with the Good Practice Guidance of IPCC. This study aimed to estimate and map the historical changes in carbon emission and removal from land use and land cover change from 1986 to 2016 in Sudan savannah ecological zone of Ghana. Nested plot design was applied for field measurement, and Random forest algorithm was used to classify images. The zone was stratified into four Districts and each District further stratified into various land use and land cover (LULC) classes. Emission factors were determined for each LULC. Activity data were obtained from the spatial analysis. The overall carbon released from forest degradation and deforestation was found to be 554,684.96 Mg CO2 or 77.19% with 163,956.93 Mg or 31.84% removed. The inter-annual changes exhibited a decrease from 1986 to 1999, 1999 to 2006 and 2006 to 2016 with value being 642,342.79, 545,125.53 and 445,142.17 Mg CO2, respectively. More CO2 was released from forest degradation and in the area where cropland and forest have been converted to shrub/grassland; whereas carbon was removed in the area where shrub/grassland has been converted to cropland and/or forest land. However, more carbon was recorded in cropland compared to forest and shrub/grassland, which explains the difference in emission factor from carbon. Based on this finding reforestation and REDD+ implementation will be an efficient strategy for sustainable development in the Sudan Savannah ecological zone. In addition, farmers should be encouraged to maintain more trees on their farms to compensate for the forest loss.
  PubDate: 2020-06-24
  DOI: 10.5296/jee.v11i2.17239
  Issue No: Vol. 11, No. 2 (2020)
Hot Times in Tectonophysics: Mantle Plume Dynamics and Magmatic
Perturbances
- Authors: Vrishin R. Soman
  First page: 19
  Abstract: Earth’s dynamic lithospheric (plate) motions often are not obvious when considered in relation to the temporal stability of the crust. Seismic radiology experiments confirm that the extreme pressures and temperatures in the mantle, and to a lesser extent the asthenosphere, result in a heterogeneously viscous rheology. Occasionally, magmatic fluid makes its way through the lithospheric plate to the surface, appearing typically as a volcano, fissure eruption, or lava flow. When occurring away from the edges of plate boundaries, these long-lasting suppliers of lava, present over millions of years, are called mantle plumes, or ‘hotspots.’ Conventional definitions of mantle plumes note that they are stationary with respect to each other and the motion of the plates, passively tracing historical plate motion in volcanic formations such as the Hawaiian-Emperor island arc – the Plate Model. In this model, mantle plumes primarily occur as a consequence of lithospheric extension.Recent empirical studies, however, have demonstrated that hotspots are not as geographically consistent as previously thought. They may move in relation to each other, as well as contribute actively toward lithospheric plate motions – the Plume Model. There is a lively, ongoing debate between the Plate and Plume hypotheses, essentially seeking to determine if mantle flow is merely a passive reaction to lithospheric plate motion (Plate Model), or whether plume activity in part drives this motion (Plume Model). More likely, it is a combination of passive and active mantle plume components that better describe the comprehensive behavior of these important and distinctive landscape forming features.
  PubDate: 2020-07-28
  DOI: 10.5296/jee.v11i2.16475
  Issue No: Vol. 11, No. 2 (2020)
Socio-economic Impact on Grey Parrot Survival, Implications on the
Conservation of the Species in Kom National Park-Mengame Gorilla Sanctuary
Complex, South-Cameroon
- Authors: Ghislain Noé KOUGOUM PIEBENG, Simon AWAFOR TAMUNGANG, Gilbert MOFOR Zechia
  First page: 31
  Abstract: The main purpose of this study was to assess the perception of local residents regarding the impact of human activities on grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) in Kom National Park-Mengame Gorilla Sanctuary Complex. Based on that, a structured questionnaire was administered to 400 inhabitants. The analysis shows that the capture of parrots for trade stood at (51.50%) and mechanized logging (68.75%). These were the greatest threats to the nest failure, nest disappearance and conservation of parrots in the complex. Among the methods of capturing birds, the most often are illegal method (74%), the use of rifles (12.25%) and glue traps (27%) are the most destructive methods. Foreigners (70%) are the most involved in the catches and no restrictions are made on the stage of development of the birds collected (eggs, chicks and adults). The living population around the complex seems to have a very low impact on the parrot resource. Strict compliance with the ban on the capture of this bird in Cameroon by CITES in 2016, afforestation or control of logging and improving the standard of living of local residents would contribute to the sustainable conservation of this species in its range.
  PubDate: 2020-07-30
  DOI: 10.5296/jee.v11i2.17460
  Issue No: Vol. 11, No. 2 (2020)
Pesticide Exposure: The Case of Open-field and Greenhouse Workers
- Authors: Jovita O. Esechie
  First page: 49
  Abstract: A study was conducted among greenhouse and open field pesticide workers at the Batinah Coast of Oman in 2008 - 2009 to compare their level of pesticide exposure. A total of 74 greenhouse and 79 open field pesticide workers using pesticide mixtures consisting mostly of organophosphates were interviewed. Eighteen self-reported toxicity symptoms were recorded, with 9 and 3 of them being more prevalent among the greenhouse and open field workers, respectively. Although toxicity symptoms were generally higher among the greenhouse workers, it was observed that many of them indulged in smoking and gum chewing during pesticide application and these habits may have contributed to increased exposure. Most of the workers complained of discomfort when using protective devices, therefore it is recommended that protective materials adapted to the climate and socio-economic conditions of the pesticide workers be developed, and that they be encouraged to use them through appropriate educational efforts and incentives.
  PubDate: 2020-07-31
  DOI: 10.5296/jee.v11i2.16721
  Issue No: Vol. 11, No. 2 (2020)
State Environmental Expenditures in New England and Their Relationship to
Other Programmatic and Political Metrics
- Authors: Robert P. Blauvelt
  First page: 62
  Abstract: State environmental agencies have developed into one of the primary mechanisms by which public health and quality of life is managed and protected within the United States. This analysis attempts to provide some understanding of what economic and political factors may be influencing funding for state environmental agencies in six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The demographic makeup of New England, an area that is relatively well-off, highly educated, socially liberal, and diverse, make it the ideal place to test the relationships between state environmental agency spending and other key economic and political metrics.Financial data sets evaluated as part of this study include state spending on 11 common programmatic areas. Non-financial data sets in this analysis include the percentage of voters casting ballots by political party for Democratic presidential candidates, U.S. Senators, U.S Representatives, and Governors, as well as the composition by political party of the upper and lower houses of state legislatures. A Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient was used to compare each state’s environmental expenditures with the 17 independent variable data sets.Natural Resource spending was positively correlated with Education spending in five states. Total (state) Expenditures also correlate positively with Natural Resource spending. General Revenues, similar to Total Expenditures, positively correlate with Natural Resource spending in five states, suggesting that state environmental agencies are effective bureaucratically in lobbying for and obtaining needed funding. State environmental agencies funding correlated positively with the percent of the electorate voting for the Democratic Presidential candidate in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. This correlation is similar to those noted by other researchers, but the remaining state-level political data sets were less useful in establishing potential relationships.
  PubDate: 2020-08-05
  DOI: 10.5296/jee.v11i2.17110
  Issue No: Vol. 11, No. 2 (2020)