scholarly journals The effect of the Qinghai-Tibet railway on the migration of Tibetan antelope Pantholops hodgsonii in Hoh-xil National Nature Reserve, China

Oryx ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Xia ◽  
Qisen Yang ◽  
Zengchao Li ◽  
Yonghua Wu ◽  
Zuojian Feng

AbstractThe Tibetan antelope or chiru Pantholops hodgsonii is endemic to the Tibetan plateau and was once abundant over vast areas of high elevation grassland habitat. During the 20th century, however, the population declined greatly in numbers. Hunting used to be the main threat to this species but recent actions by the government and wildlife protection organizations have brought this under control. With the development of north-west China, conflicts between development of transportation facilities and conservation have become more acute, and heavy traffic on the Golmud-Lhasa highway and the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet railway across key migration corridors have disturbed the migration of Tibetan antelopes. During June to August 2003 and 2004 we monitored the movement of Tibetan antelopes across the railway and highway and recorded their passes at wildlife crossing structures, which was the first use of such structures in China. Our results show that the efficiency of passages greatly improved between 2003 and 2004, and that use of wildlife corridors was affected by the structure of the passage, presence of wolves, recovery of vegetation following damage during construction, and other factors. The disturbance to migration of Tibetan antelopes included infrastructure, human activities, road traffic, construction of the railway and so on. The impact of infrastructure, especially transportation development, on the habitat and migration of Tibetan antelopes are the main factors that threaten this species now and in the future.

Author(s):  
Mike Searle

The Tibetan Plateau is by far the largest region of high elevation, averaging just above 5,000 metres above sea level, and the thickest crust, between 70 and 90 kilometres thick, anywhere in the world. This huge plateau region is very flat—lying in the internally drained parts of the Chang Tang in north and central Tibet, but in parts of the externally drained eastern Tibet, three or four mountain ranges larger and higher than the Alps rise above the frozen plateau. Some of the world’s largest and longest mountain ranges border the plateau, the ‘flaming mountains’ of the Tien Shan along the north-west, the Kun Lun along the north, the Longmen Shan in the east, and of course the mighty Himalaya forming the southern border of the plateau. The great trans-Himalayan mountain ranges of the Pamir and Karakoram are geologically part of the Asian plate and western Tibet but, as we have noted before, unlike Tibet, these ranges have incredibly high relief with 7- and 8-kilometre-high mountains and deeply eroded rivers and glacial valleys. The western part of the Tibetan Plateau is the highest, driest, and wildest area of Tibet. Here there is almost no rainfall and rivers that carry run-off from the bordering mountain ranges simply evaporate into saltpans or disappear underground. Rivers draining the Kun Lun flow north into the Takla Makan Desert, forming seasonal marshlands in the wet season and a dusty desert when the rivers run dry. The discovery of fossil tropical leaves, palm tree trunks, and even bones from miniature Miocene horses suggest that the climate may have been wetter in the past, but this is also dependent on the rise of the plateau. Exactly when Tibet rose to its present elevation is a matter of great debate. Nowadays the Indian Ocean monsoon winds sweep moisture-laden air over the Indian sub-continent during the summer months (late June–September). All the moisture is dumped as the summer monsoon, the torrential rains that sweep across India from south-east to north-west.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward R. Sobel ◽  
Rasmus Thiede ◽  
Paolo Ballato ◽  
Konstanze Stübner ◽  
Jonas Kley ◽  
...  

<p>The Pamir forms the northwestern tail of the Tibetan plateau and is a first-order tectonic feature of the Cenozoic Indo-Eurasian collision. The nature of the topographic uplift and orogenic growth of the entire northwestern margin of the Pamir is poorly constrained; however, this history can provide important constraints that are required to test geodynamic models of the tectonic evolution of the Pamir. Here we focus on the uplift history of the western and northwestern unglaciated margin of the Northern Pamir, the Darvaz and the Peter-the-First Ranges. These three ranges were formed by three major fault systems: the Main Pamir Thrust (MPT), the Darvaz and the Vakhsh fault zones (DFZ, VFZ). To assess the impact of tectonic uplift on the geomorphic evolution, we analyzed geomorphic characteristics of the topography, the longitudinal river profiles and the relief. To better constrain the regional crustal cooling history and uplift, we obtained thermochronologic cooling ages from the three regions.</p><p>We present 19 new zircon (U-Th-Sm)/He (ZHe) ages, 7 apatite fission track (AFT) ages, and 4 apatite (U-Th-Sm)/He (AHe) ages, ranging between >200 and 4 Ma, 14 and 4 Ma, and 15 and 3 Ma, respectively. The three units are characterized by unique Neogene cooling pathways, suggesting that they exhumed independently.</p><p>We discovered extensive low-relief landscapes with Neogene sedimentary cover uplifted ~2 km in elevation above the present-day regional base level. Our analysis indicates that the Panj and Vakhsh rivers form the regional base levels for the river network draining the entire northern and western margin of the Pamir. In the hanging wall of DFZ, the Paleozoic bedrock is characterized by significant relief (>1 km), the Neogene cover onlaps directly onto this Paleozoic bedrock. The tributary rivers crossing these landscapes are characterized by gentle, concave upstream longitudinal profiles at high elevation. These are interrupted by major knickpoint zones and steep downstream segments draining towards the deeply incised Panj and Vakhsh rivers. This indicates that the Darvaz Fault hanging wall had been uplifted and eroded prior to deposition of upper Neogene sediments, suggesting that the DFZ has a prolonged Neogene slip history. In contrast to the northeastern Pamir, here, the MPT-hanging-wall is characterized by reset late Oligocene-Early Miocene ZHe cooling ages ranging between 26 and 17 Ma. AFT and AHe-ages between 15 and 13 Ma suggest that exhumation suddenly terminated during the middle Miocene. In contrast, Jurassic sandstones exposed near the DFZ yield mostly un-reset Triassic-Jurassic ZHe ages (~250-170 Ma), a reset AFT age of ~5 Ma and a 2.5 Ma AHe age. Within the Peter-the-1st-Range, we obtained fully reset ~ 5 Ma ZHe ages, and ~4 Ma AFT ages. The rapid cooling trends since at least ~5 Ma suggest that deformation and a significant portion of crustal shortening propagated into the Tadjik foreland basin, causing enhanced uplift and erosion of the hanging wall of the VFZ and related faults. This deformation triggered ~2 km uplift of the entire northwest Pamir, recorded in uplifted paleo-landscapes and dissected tributaries of the Panj and Vakhsh rivers.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 237-250
Author(s):  
Sana Suleman

The people from developing countries like Pakistan move to developed countries to earn their bread and butter. Consequently, such migrants remit a handsome part of their earnings to their dependents living in homeland. Foreign remittances have multidimensional impact on the economy of a developing country. The study evaluates the impact of foreign remittances on income inequality in Pakistan by estimating the set of fixed effect and random effect models using the pooled data from eight household income and expenditure surveys between 1998/99 and 2015/16. Gini coefficient as well as generalized entropy measure is used to estimate income inequality, but the results remain intact. It is observed that foreign remittances have statistically significant favorable impacts on income inequality in Pakistan. Further, the results are robust and insensitive to control variables (e.g. income and poverty measures, headcount ratio, poverty gap and squared poverty gap). The policy measure is that Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE) should be empowered to explore the job opportunities in developed countries. The government should assist the migrants through subsidizing the visa and migration processes to capitalize the foreign remittances.


1997 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. VOLAND ◽  
R. I. M. DUNBAR

It has been suggested that parish-based reconstitution studies may underestimate the true age at marriage because they do not normally include data for emigrants who may be expected to behave differently from individuals who remain in their natal parishes. This study uses data from C18-19th parish registers of north-west Germany to estimate the difference in age at marriage between leavers and stayers. The difference is not significant for males; although that for females is significant, it is small and the consequence of failing to include migrants is likely to be negligible for most studies. However, it is shown that there is also an independent effect on age at marriage that is due to the woman's natal social (economic) status; historical demographic studies that ignore this dimension may risk confounding two different effects.


Author(s):  
Evaristo Haulle ◽  
Marwa Kisiri

This paper examines impact of Road Accidents on community socio-economic activities in Iringa municipality. It assumes that accident as any disaster adversely affects people, property and environment. The paper employed questionnaire, interview, observation and documentary search for data collection. The study found that road accidents on-site conditions were caused by poor infrastructure, overloading of vehicles, law impunity, inadequacy of relevant laws, corruption, negligence of drivers, lack of road safety education and road traffic signs. Road accidents caused loss of lives, increase of dependence, destruction of property, increase of poverty, injuries and permanent disabilities. Provision of training to drivers, serious enforcement of the laws, provision of education to road users through public agitations, posters and television broadcasts, introduction of ad hoc inspection of road quality and transport facilities were some of the techniques used to curb the risk. Generally, road accidents caused a great loss of human, physical and natural resources. The intervention is on on-site conditions while very little attention is put on the root causes. It is recommended that, in addressing this human induced disaster the government in collaborations with other stakeholders should focus on the root causes in a participatory manner to bring community equity hence sustainable development.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Cordelia G. Kometa ◽  
Richard N. Asongsaigha

This study explores the impact of land tenure systems on the socio-economic development of Kumbo Central Sub-Division. The incompatibility of the Statutory and Customary land tenure and land laws in Kumbo brings about conflict between the land laws and land users at large. Land tenure insecurity and lack of land certificates are the major reasons for the slow growth rate in the socio-economic development of Kumbo. This study seeks to assess the reasons for tenure insecurity and implications on the socio-economic development of Kumbo. Data necessary for the realization of this study were obtained through primary and secondary data collection techniques such as questionnaires, interviews, field observation, focus group discussions, snap shorts and the review of related documented materials. These techniques followed a stratified sampling on an age selective population that was liable to have access to land. The study revealed that land ownership and land use conflicts emanate from poor and incompatible land tenure systems in Kumbo. The study recommended that the problem of incompatibility between the two tenure systems can be resolved by harmonizing the two laws. Also, the Social Tenure Domain System was recommended to solve the problem of land tenure insecurity if well implemented by the Government of Cameroon. This model enhances land tenure security for all, especially the vulnerable groups. If all these recommendations are implemented effectively, socio-economic development in Kumbo will be greatly accelerated.


2021 ◽  
pp. 003802612110623
Author(s):  
Yao-Tai Li

The impact temporary visa status has on the lives of migrants and their experience of time has been widely discussed. Fewer studies, however, focus discussion on the competing interpretations of the value of Working Holiday Makers’ (WHMs) time and the complexities of disruption and (un)certainties: more specifically the contrast between the value the Australian government places on time spent doing agricultural work in rural areas to become eligible for a second visa, and how this time is perceived by WHMs. This article seeks to fill this gap by comparing data drawn from the government’s rhetoric and interviews with Taiwanese WHMs who had worked in regional areas of Australia for three months. I argue that the government selectively highlights to prospective WHMs the value of cultural exchange and tourism (life-value) while downplaying the labor value (money-value) to WHMs’ time. Furthermore, the government and WHMs are not always talking about the same ‘time units’ (working time and holiday time) when applying these values. This article demonstrates that WHMs are conscious of how their time is spent and perceive the three months of specified work as being ‘suspended’, ‘immobile’, and ‘disrupted’, which undermines their life-values and migration flow in Australia.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sartika Nisumanti ◽  
Evina Krisna

<p><em>The roads</em><em> </em><em>transportation is an </em><em>important infrastructure as one of the land transportation infrastructures for the movement of social activities and to support economic development, specifically in Palembang City. </em><em>The population growth of Palembang City has resulted in an increase in the number of vehicles and highway users. As a result</em><em>, transportation activities in Palembang, especially at Parameswara </em><em>roads are increasing. </em><em>The impact of this, there will be heavy traffic volume, resulting in conflicts on the road, which lead to traffic accidents. </em><em>Therefore</em><em>, there will be congestion and a decrease in the performance of the road speed.</em></p><p><em>The research is conducted at Parameswara Road in Palembang that visually diminished the ability to accommodate the road traffic volume per day, accordingly the effect of traffic that occurs due to the lack of road capacity as the sequence of large volume traffic. The purpose of this study is to determine the capacity and level of road services to carried out the performance value on this road. The method used in the analysis is the Greenshield model, Greenberg, and Underwood. This study explains the maximum volume at peak hour that develop on Monday is between 1561 smp/hour and 1549 smp/hour. Whereas the lowest is around 1225 smp/hour and 1008 smp/hour that occurs on Sunday. Therefore, the analysis of service level on the research years at Parameswara Road depicts the saturated traffic conditions and low starting speed with D service index category and service level analysis at 10 years of planning time projections, the lpda result is from 2022 to 2026, The Parameswara road conditions at E and F service index categories are the traffic jam circumstances and slight speed. Hence, it necessitates constructing a non-plot way at Parameswara Road intersection to tackle this traffic congestion.</em></p><p><strong><em>Keywords</em></strong><em>:<strong> </strong></em><em>Greenshield, Greenberg, Underwood</em>, <em>Road Capacity</em><em>.</em></p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (30) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima Zahra Benhachem ◽  
Djamila Harrache

Background. Different fractions of metals, of varying origin and reactivity, are present in sediments of forest soil. Forest ecosystems are privileged sites for the deposition of persistent organic pollutants carried by the atmosphere. Objectives. The present study describes the current state of metallic contamination around the Hafir forest, located southwest of Tlemcen, Algeria, based on analysis of total sediment mineralization and the speciation of each metal to examine the effects of emissions due to road traffic. Methods. The distribution and migration of ten heavy metals were studied, including cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and silver (Ag), and four major elements: potassium (K), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) in the superficial horizon of forest soil (0–20 cm) at different road distances (0–1700 m), in two sampling campaigns in the dry and wet seasons around the Hafir forest, Algeria. Results. Bioavailability appears to be relatively low due to the small amount of metals present in the carbonate fraction and the alkaline pH. The impact of road traffic was observed in the variability of the concentrations of several trace elements in forest soil, such as Co, Mn, Ni, Zn, Pb, Ag, Cd. They were generally observed at very high levels along the roadside due to dry atmospheric deposition. Conclusions. The high levels of metals in the carbonate, reducible and residual phases indicate a direct influence on the environment stemming from road traffic near the forest as well as contamination from rainfall in the area. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.


Author(s):  
Majoumo Christelle Malyse

AbstractThe Santa agrarian basin being one of the main market gardening basins in Cameroon and one of the producers of tomatoes in the country is vulnerable to the impact of rainfall variability. The spatiotemporal variability of rainfall through the annual, monthly, and daily fluctuations has greatly affected the market gardening sector in general and tomatoes production in particular. Thus, given rise to the research topic “Rainfall variability and adaptation of tomatoes farmers in Santa North west region of Cameroon,” its principal objective is to contribute to better understanding of the recent changes occurring in tomatoes production and productivity in Santa. To attain this objective, a principal hypothesis was formulated that rainfall variability instead of unnatural conditions or human constraints justifies changes observed in tomatoes production in Santa and resulting adaptation strategies developed by peasants and stakeholders.Our study came out with several findings, among which includes rainfall events in Santa fluctuate in time and in space with reduction in the number of rainy day and increase in the intensity of rainfall events causing soil erosion, infertility, and frequent crop diseases, insects, and pests. Extreme events such as drought and flooding have equally become frequent in the area especially during the different cycles of tomatoes production disrupting the agricultural calendar and causing crop failure and decrease in yields with Pearson’s correlation of 0.017. This positive value shows that there is a relationship between annual rainfall and tomatoes output in Santa. Tomatoes farmers in Santa are struggling to adapt locally to this situations, but their efforts are still limited especially due to their low level of education and poverty. Finally, it was seen that the output of tomatoes over the years in Santa has a strong correlation with rainfall. Based on the findings of this study, the government is called upon to assist farmers in their adaptation options.


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