Assessing the Benefits and Economic Feasibility of Stand Improvement for Central Hardwood Forests

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yangyang Wang ◽  
Wu Ma ◽  
Lenny D Farlee ◽  
Elizabeth A Jackson ◽  
Guofan Shao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Study Region ◽  
White River ◽  
Incentive Programs ◽  
Incentive Program ◽  
Quality Incentive

Abstract Stand improvement (SI) has been widely accepted as an effective forest management tool. Yet most studies on its economic feasibility for nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners are outdated and focus on the single stand level. The objective of this study was to conduct an economic assessment of SI’s effects and feasibility in hardwood stands for a case study in the White River Basin in Indiana. It is shown that SI could make these forests more productive and sustainable than the prevalent “hands-off” practice by enhancing the timber value of the residual stand (TV), generating regular timber income, and to some degree, reversing the decline in oak dominance. On average, a 25% increment in the TV could be achieved. Although costly for some NIPFs, once combined with voluntary financial incentive programs, SI could meet landowners’ demands for low-cost, high-return investment options. In particular, participation in the Environmental Quality Incentive Program could, on average, increase the net present value of timber income from thinning activities by nearly $1,600 per hectare over the course of 30 years. The spatial analysis revealed that there existed considerable spatial heterogeneity in SI benefits and impacts, suggesting that public incentive programs should be spatially targeted to achieve greater efficiency. Study Implications This study found that stand improvement (SI) could significantly improve the timber value of forestland in the central hardwood region. Participation in voluntary conservation programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, could alleviate part of the SI cost thus making it an attractive investment opportunity for private landowners. For the study region, the White River Basin in Indiana, the results suggested that there existed substantial variations in SI’s effectiveness across space. This implied that program administrators of voluntary incentives could improve the efficiency of public funds allocation by considering this spatial variation when evaluating landowners’ applications for incentives.

Water reuse in the Apatlaco River Basin (México): a feasibility study

2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Moeller-Chavez ◽  
L. Seguí-Amórtegui ◽  
O. Alfranca-Burriel ◽  
V. Escalante-Estrada ◽  
F. Pozo-Román ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Water Reuse ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Present Value ◽  
Useful Life ◽  
Industrial Reuse ◽  
Economical Feasibility ◽  
Water Uses

The aim of this work is to determine the technical and economic feasibility of implementing different reclamation and reuse projects that improve the quality of the Apatlaco river basin located in the central part of Mexico. A special methodology based on a decision support system was developed. This methodology allows to decide if it is convenient or not to finance a reclamation or reuse project for the most common water uses in the basin. This methodology is based on the net present value criteria (NPV) of the effective cash flow during the useful life of the project. The results obtained reveal a technical and economical feasibility for industrial reuse in Jiutepec and for agricultural reuse in Zacatepec and Emiliano Zapata. On the other hand, sanitation projects are not feasible in all cases analyzed. Therefore, Mexican Regulation (Ley Federal de Derechos en Materia de Agua) as currently implemented, does not promote and support this kind of projects.

scholarly journals Techno-economic feasibility analysis of a 3-kW PV system installation in Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramhari Poudyal ◽  
Pavel Loskot ◽  
Ranjan Parajuli
Keyword(s):  
Net Present Value ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Electric Energy ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Performance Ratio ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Economic Returns ◽  
Pv System

AbstractThis study investigates the techno-economic feasibility of installing a 3-kilowatt-peak (kWp) photovoltaic (PV) system in Kathmandu, Nepal. The study also analyses the importance of scaling up the share of solar energy to contribute to the country's overall energy generation mix. The technical viability of the designed PV system is assessed using PVsyst and Meteonorm simulation software. The performance indicators adopted in our study are the electric energy output, performance ratio, and the economic returns including the levelised cost and the net present value of energy production. The key parameters used in simulations are site-specific meteorological data, solar irradiance, PV capacity factor, and the price of electricity. The achieved PV system efficiency and the performance ratio are 17% and 84%, respectively. The demand–supply gap has been estimated assuming the load profile of a typical household in Kathmandu under the enhanced use of electric appliances. Our results show that the 3-kWp PV system can generate 100% of electricity consumed by a typical residential household in Kathmandu. The calculated levelised cost of energy for the PV system considered is 0.06 $/kWh, and the corresponding rate of investment is 87%. The payback period is estimated to be 8.6 years. The installation of the designed solar PV system could save 10.33 tons of CO2 emission over its lifetime. Overall, the PV systems with 3 kWp capacity appear to be a viable solution to secure a sufficient amount of electricity for most households in Kathmandu city.

scholarly journals Assessment and distribution of water quality of Pandoh river basin (PRB), Himachal Pradesh, North India

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Prakasam ◽  
R. Saravanan ◽  
M. K. Sharma ◽  
Varinder S. Kanwar
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
North India ◽  
Total Hardness ◽  
Drainage Pattern ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Northern India

AbstractAs the surface water in northern India is the main water resource for regional economic and also supply for drinking and irrigation purposes. However, deficiency of water quality leads to serious water pollution in the Pandoh river basin (PRB). Therefore, the main objective of the present study is to evaluate the quality of surface water. With this objective, surface water samples were collected from the PRB of northern India, and analyzed for pH, EC, turbidity, alkalinity, total dissolved solids, and total hardness. Moreover, geographical information system (GIS) tools were used to prepare the geology, drainage pattern, and location maps of the study region. Surface water quality observed from the PRB has an alkaline nature with a moderately hard type. Further studies are encouraged to better understand the water quality in northern India.

Assessing the economic viability of integrated crop−livestock systems in Mato Grosso, Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 631-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Júlio César dos Reis ◽  
Mariana Y. T. Kamoi ◽  
Daniel Latorraca ◽  
Rafael F. F. Chen ◽  
Miqueias Michetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Production System ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Economic Viability ◽  
Continuous Cropping ◽  
Cattle Production ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Livestock Systems

AbstractPopulation growth and rising incomes have led to increasing global demand for meat products. Meeting this demand without converting remaining natural ecosystems or further degrading ecosystems is one of the largest global sustainability challenges. A critical step to overcoming this challenge is to increase the productivity of livestock grazing systems, which occupy the largest land area of any type of agriculture globally. Integrated crop−livestock systems (iCL), which re-couple crop and livestock production at the farm scale, have been considered a promising strategy to tackle this challenge by restoring degraded pasturelands and providing supplemental nutrition to livestock. However, few studies have analyzed the economic viability of such systems, especially in Brazil, an important player in global food systems. This paper presents an economic analysis of iCL in Mato Grosso, Brazil, the largest grain and beef producer in the country, which spans the ecologically diverse Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal biomes. We compare the economic performance of an integrated soybean/corn and beef cattle system to a continuous crop (soybean/corn) system and a continuous livestock (beef cattle) production system from 2005 to 2012. We use empirical case study data to characterize a ‘typical’ farm for each production system within the study region. We find that the integrated crop−livestock system has a higher annual net present value (NPV) per hectare (ha) than continuous cropping or livestock under a range of discount rates. However, under a scenario of substantially higher crop prices, the continuous cropping outperforms iCL. While iCL is not feasible in all regions of the Amazon and Cerrado, our results indicate that in places where the biophysical and market conditions are suitable for production, it could be a highly profitable way to intensify cattle production and potentially spare land for other uses, including conservation. Nevertheless, additional credit and technical support may be needed to overcome high upfront costs and informational barriers to increase iCL areas as a sustainable development strategy for agriculture in the Amazon and Cerrado regions.

Hydroclimatic Response of Watersheds to Urban Intensity: An Observational and Modeling-Based Analysis for the White River Basin, Indiana

2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoxiang Yang ◽  
Laura C. Bowling ◽  
Keith A. Cherkauer ◽  
Bryan C. Pijanowski ◽  
Dev Niyogi
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Surface Characteristics ◽  
Infiltration Capacity ◽  
Vic Model ◽  
White River ◽  
Urban Model ◽  
Streamflow Regime

Abstract Impervious surface area (ISA) has different surface characteristics from the natural land cover and has great influence on watershed hydrology. To assess the urbanization effects on streamflow regimes, the authors analyzed the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamflow data of 16 small watersheds in the White River [Indiana (IN)] basin. Correlation between hydrologic metrics (flow distribution, daily variation in streamflow, and frequency of high-flow events) and ISA was investigated by employing the nonparametric Mann–Kendall method. Results derived from the 16 watersheds show that urban intensity has a significant effect on all three hydrologic metrics. The Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model was modified to represent ISA in urbanized basins using a bulk parameterization approach. The model was then applied to the White River basin to investigate the potential ability to simulate the water and energy cycle response to urbanization. Correlation analysis for individual VIC grid cells indicates that the VIC urban model was able to reproduce the slope magnitude and mean value of the USGS streamflow metrics. The urban model also reproduced the urban heat island (UHI) seen in the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature products, especially for the grids encompassing the city of Indianapolis, IN. The difference of the hydrologic metrics obtained from the VIC model with and without urban representation indicates that the streamflow regime in the White River has been modified because of urban development. The observed data, together with model analysis, suggested that 3%–5% ISA in a watershed is the detectable threshold, beyond which urbanization effects start to have a statistically significant influence on streamflow regime.

Economic considerations and decision support tool for wastewater reuse scheme planning

2007 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 175-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Hochstrat ◽  
D. Joksimovic ◽  
T. Wintgens ◽  
T. Melin ◽  
D. Savic
Keyword(s):  
Water Reuse ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Wastewater Reuse ◽  
Reclaimed Water ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Economic Considerations

The reuse of upgraded wastewater for beneficial uses is increasingly adopted and accepted as a tool in water management. However, funding of schemes is still a critical issue. The focus of this paper is on economic considerations of water reuse planning. A survey of pricing mechanisms for reclaimed water revealed that most schemes are subsidised to a great extent. In order to minimise these state contributions to the implementation and operation of reuse projects, their planning should identify a least cost design option. This also has to take into account the established pricing structure for conventional water resources and the possibility of gaining revenues from reclaimed water pricing. The paper presents a case study which takes into account these aspects. It evaluates different scheme designs with regard to their Net Present Value (NPV). It could be demonstrated that for the same charging level, quite different amounts of reclaimed water can be delivered while still producing an overall positive NPV. Moreover, the economic feasibility and competitiveness of a reuse scheme is highly determined by the cost structure of the conventional water market.

scholarly journals Studi Kelayakan Ekonomis Rencana Pembangunan Pelabuhan Sungai Liong Desa Berancah Kabupaten Bengkalis

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 146
Author(s):  
Nur Rahmani ◽  
Akmal Lazuardy
Keyword(s):  
Net Present Value ◽  
Payback Period ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Rate Of Return ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Internal Rate Of Return ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Present Value ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Cost

The fish shelter port (TPI) is a need that needs to be prepared by local village officials and the government for every coastal village in Bengkalis Regency. This research was conducted in the Berancah village of Bantan District. The analysis in this study describes the economic feasibility mathematically for the construction of a fish storage port (TPI) by calculating the cost ratio (B / C ratio) benefit analysis, payback period (PP), net present value (NPV), and internal rate of return ( IRR). The results obtained from the NPV value (3,661,267,645), BCR value (0.943), IRR value of 10.01%, and PP are in the period of 30 years. Taken as a whole by standardizing the calculations, it can be concluded that the planned construction of a fish shelter in Berancah village is considered not economically feasible, but economic analysis is not merely a benchmark for feasibility, reviewed for the future many benefits will be received by the community around the location of the development plan so that it can improve the welfare of the community in Berancah village.

scholarly journals Aplicação do Tank Model como Ferramenta de Gestão na Bacia do Rio Perdizes – Cambará do Sul/RS

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 1143
Author(s):  
Karla Campagnolo ◽  
Sofia Melo Vasconcellos ◽  
Vinicius Santanna Castiglio ◽  
Marina Refatti Fagundes ◽  
Masato Kobiyama
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
National Park ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Hydrological Models ◽  
Rainfall Runoff ◽  
Moisture Index ◽  
Tank Model ◽  
Calibration And Validation ◽  
Historical Series ◽  
Soil Moisture Index

A representação do processo precipitação-vazão por meio de modelos hidrológicos conceituais visa quantificar o volume escoado em uma bacia como consequência de uma determinada precipitação. Aliados a eles, os índices têm sido uma ferramenta útil para quantificar eventos extremos, como o Soil Moisture Index (TMI) que foi formulado a partir do modelo hidrológico Tank Model. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi aplicar o Tank Model para a bacia do rio Perdizes, em Cambará do Sul (RS), e avaliar o desempenho do TMI para prever a ocorrência de cheias, limiar este utilizado para o fechamento da Trilha do rio do Boi, no Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra (PNAS). Os dados utilizados na simulação foram obtidos pelas estações meteorológica e fluviométrica instaladas na bacia. Após a calibração e validação de três séries históricas no Tank Model, os valores obtidos do TMI foram comparados com os dias que a Trilha foi fechada, a partir de altos níveis registrados no rio Perdizes. O TMI demonstrou que o nível utilizado para fechar a Trilha do rio do Boi correspondeu a cheias em 72% das vezes. Portanto, o TMI mostrou bom desempenho ao indicar a ocorrência de cheias na área estudada, sendo uma ferramenta útil para a tomada de decisões na gestão do PNAS.  Application of the Tank Model as a Management Tool in the Perdizes River Basin - Cambará do Sul/RS.ABSTRACTThe representation of the rainfall-runoff process by means of conceptual hydrological models aims to quantify the volume drained in a basin as result of a specific precipitation. Allied to them, the indices have been a useful tool to quantify extreme events, such as the Tank Moisture Index (TMI) which was formulated from the Tank Model. Thus, the objective of this work was to apply the Tank Model to the Perdizes river basin, in Cambará do Sul (RS), and to evaluate the performance of the TMI to predict the occurrence of floods, the threshold used for the closure of the Rio do Boi trail, in the Aparados da Serra National Park (PNAS). The data used in the simulation were obtained at the meteorological and fluviometric stations installed in the basin. After the calibration and validation of three historical series in the Tank Model, the values obtained in the TMI were compared with the days when the Trail was closed, from high levels recorded in the Perdizes river. The average TMI values demonstrated that the level used to close the Rio do Boi Trail corresponded to floods 72% of the time, and the median, 75%. Therefore, the TMI showed good performance in indicating the occurrence of floods in the study area, being a useful tool for decision making in the PNAS management.Keywords: Tank Moisture Index, trail closure, Aparados da Serra National Park.

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