scholarly journals Implementing Nature Based Solutions in Rural Landscapes; Barriers Experienced in the PHUSICOS Project

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Solheim ◽  
Vittoria Capobianco ◽  
Amy Oen ◽  
Bjørn Kalsnes ◽  
Turid Wullf-Knutsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Rural Landscapes ◽  
Rural Settings ◽  
Spanish Pyrenees ◽  
Main Barrier ◽  
Risk Reducing ◽  
The Eu

Nature Based Solutions (NBS) are becoming increasingly important in both the EU and individual countries' political agendas, as a sustainable means to reduce the risk posed by hydrometeorological hazards. However, as the use of NBS is increasing, a number of barriers regarding their practical implementation also becomes apparent. A number of review studies have summarized and classified barriers, mainly in urban settings. PHUSICOS is a H2020 Innovation Action to demonstrate the use of NBS in rural and mountain landscapes. Large scale demonstrator case sites with several sub-projects are established in Italy, Norway and in the French and Spanish Pyrenees. The present paper describes the project's NBS measures, and their experienced barriers, some of which have resulted in full cancellation of the planned interventions. Many of the barriers experienced in rural settings have the same root causes as the ones described from urban areas, and the main barrier-creating mechanisms are institutional factors, resistance among stakeholders and technical and economic issues. The key element, however, is lack of knowledge about the ability of NBS to deliver a series of co-benefits in addition to their risk-reducing effects, and that long-term thinking is required to see the effect of many of these co-benefits.

scholarly journals Implementing Nature-Based Solutions in Rural Landscapes: Barriers Experienced in the PHUSICOS Project

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1461
Author(s):  
Anders Solheim ◽  
Vittoria Capobianco ◽  
Amy Oen ◽  
Bjørn Kalsnes ◽  
Turid Wullf-Knutsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Horizon 2020 ◽  
Rural Landscapes ◽  
Rural Settings ◽  
Main Barrier ◽  
Risk Reducing ◽  
The Eu

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are becoming increasingly important in both the EU and individual countries’ political agendas, as a sustainable means to reduce the risk posed by hydrometeorological hazards. However, as the use of NBS is increasing, a number of barriers regarding their practical implementation also become apparent. A number of review studies have summarized and classified barriers, mainly in urban settings. PHUSICOS is a Horizon 2020 Innovation Action to demonstrate the use of NBS in rural and mountain landscapes. Large-scale demonstrator case sites with several sub-projects are established in Italy, Norway and in the French and Spanish Pyrenees. The present paper describes the project’s NBS measures and their experienced barriers, some of which have resulted in full cancellation of the planned interventions. Many of the barriers experienced in rural settings have the same root causes as the ones described from urban areas, and the main barrier-creating mechanisms are institutional factors, resistance among stakeholders and technical and economic issues. The key element, however, is the lack of knowledge about the ability of NBS to deliver a series of co-benefits in addition to their risk-reducing effects and that long-term thinking is required to see the effect of many of these co-benefits.

scholarly journals SOIL MANAGEMENT IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT: TODAY AND FUTURE

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-71
Author(s):  
Bogdan Stanescu ◽  
Adriana Cuciureanu
Keyword(s):  
Performance Management ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Soil Protection ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Residential Areas

The present article presents the expertise realized by the Department of Environmental Monitoring Pollution Evaluation within the INCD ECOIND, in the evaluation of the quality of urban soils in the municipality of Bucharest and the main big cities in Romania. The current data available at the level of the 27 member states of the European Union show that annually over 100,000 hectares of land are introduced into the urban environment, a direct consequence of the development of cities. There are a number of legislative obstacles to strategic soil protection measures. Moreover, at the level of the local authorities there is a conflict regarding the measures of soil protection in the long term, on the one hand, and, the accelerated economic development in the short term, on the other. European environmental experts consider that the urban development, absolutely necessary for the economic growth, requires an adequate management of the natural resources in order for the development to be done on a sustainable basis, respectively to follow a series of strategic objectives. In our country, at least in the last decade, we find on a large scale the conversion of industrial areas into commercial or residential areas. The footprint of industrial activities can be found even after long periods of time present by identifying the remnant of soil pollution or in those areas known as historically polluted (for example the town of Copsa Mica). The conclusions stemming from the assessment of pollution in urban areas over large areas, in correlation with the potential sources of pollution, underline the need to monitor the quality of soils in the urban environment, but also to apply a performance management in order to protect this natural resource in the long term.

Results of the QUENCH-L2, DISCO-L2, and COMET-L2 Experiments Performed Within the LACOMERA Project at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexei Miassoedov ◽  
Hans Alsmeyer ◽  
Leonhard Meyer ◽  
Martin Steinbrueck ◽  
Pavlin Groudev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Fluid Dynamic ◽  
Test Phase ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Lower Head ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Experimental Facilities ◽  
Reactor Types ◽  
The Eu

The LACOMERA project at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany, is a 4 year action within the 5th Framework Programme of the EU which started in September 2002. Overall objective of the project is to offer research institutions from the EU member countries and associated states access to four large-scale experimental facilities QUENCH, LIVE, DISCO, and COMET. These facilities are being used to investigate core melt scenarios from the beginning of core degradation to melt formation and relocation in the vessel, possible melt dispersion to the reactor cavity, and finally corium concrete interaction and corium coolability in the reactor cavity. The paper summarizes the main results obtained in the following three experiments: QUENCH-L2: Boil-off of a flooded bundle. The test is of a generic interest for all reactor types, provided a link between the severe accident and design basis areas, and would deliver oxidation and thermal hydraulic data at high temperatures. DISCO-L2: Fluid-dynamic, thermal, and chemical processes during melt ejection out of a breach in the lower head of a pressure vessel of the VVER-1000/320 type of reactor. COMET-L2: Investigation of long-term melt-concrete interaction of metallic corium in a cylindrical siliceous concrete cavity under dry conditions with decay heat simulation of intermediate power during the first test phase, and subsequently at reduced power during the second test phase.

Development of Urban Disaster Prevention Systems in Japan – from the Mid-1980s

2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Itsuki Nakabayashi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Management ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Disaster Prevention ◽  
Earthquake Disaster ◽  
Tokyo Metropolitan ◽  
Metropolitan Government

This treatise outlines developments in disaster management focusing on earthquake disaster measures taken by the Japanese and Tokyo Metropolitan Governments since the 1980s. The 1978 Large-Scale Earthquake Measures Special Act on conditions for predicting the Tokai Earthquake significantly changed the direction of earthquake disaster measures in Japan. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government undertook its own earthquake disaster measures based on lessons learned from the 1964 Niigata Earthquake. In the 1980s, it began planning urban development disaster management programs for upgrading areas with high wooden houses concentration - still a big problem in many urban areas of Japan - which are most vulnerable to earthquake disasters. The 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in Kobe brought meaningful insight into both to earthquake disaster measures by the Japanese Government and by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and other local governments nationwide. Long-term predictions concerning possible earthquake occurrence have been conducted throughout Japan and new earthquake disaster measures have been adopted based on this long-term prediction. The Tokyo Government has further completely revised its own earthquake disaster measures. As a review of measures against foreseeable earthquake disasters based on developments in disaster management measures, this treatise provides invaluable insights emphasizing urban earthquake disaster prevention developed in Japan over the last 30 years that readers are sure to find both interesting and informative in their own work.

scholarly journals Major tendencies in livestock changes after the EU accession

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 422-428
Author(s):  
Levente Komarek
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Living Standards ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Production Structure ◽  
Industry Chain ◽  
The Eu

In the mid 80s Hungarian agriculture belonged to the forefront of the world in many respects, despite the fact that there was a lot to do regarding yields, production costs, production structure, and the fastness of adaptability to markets and establishing accordance between the elements of the food industry chain. The mid 1980s witnessed an energetic improvement despite the unequal pace, and then followed an era of different tensions and imbalances in Hungarian agriculture. At the time of the regime change the agricultural sector, and particularly animal production within that, suffered from the signs of crisis and it was getting into an increasingly difficult position. The vast majority of the agricultural large scale farms ceased to exist, and most of the arable land was privatised. Production fell back, its composition became more heterogeneous, sometimes with an irrational production structure and selling difficulties arouse. Profitability decreased in the field of animal production generally, and some activities even had losses. The domestic consumption fallback, which was caused by the farmers’ lack of capital, the unorganised production, and the decrease in living standards, produced an amount of unsellable goods and it made the otherwise low profitability even worse. The low level of profitability resealed in unjustified production decline and led to the fact that the number of domestic animals in Hungary decreased to a never experienced depth. Today there are positive changes in the field of animal production, which might result in the long-term growth of our livestock. This study was designed to present the major tendencies and spatial characteristics of Hungarian livestock.

scholarly journals EU-financed peripheral large-scale infrastructure projects and the White Elephant syndrome: The example of Rail Baltica

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-39
Author(s):  
Viljar Veebel ◽  
Raul Markus ◽  
Illimar Ploom
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Public Servants ◽  
Public Investments ◽  
Common Criteria ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Expected Outcome ◽  
The Common ◽  
Initial Financing ◽  
The Eu

The present study revolves around the question of the appropriateness of “the White Elephant syndrome” to characterise the nature of the planned trans-Baltic railway project Rail Baltica (RB) in terms of its initial financing, long-term profitability and symbolic importance. Whereas, in general, the expected outcome of the project goes well together with the EU Cohesion Policy goals, in its concrete application RB could serve as an example of the tendency of politicians and public servants to institutionally lock themselves into certain irrational choices about publicly financed mega-projects. This is what “the White Elephant syndrome” metaphor illustrates. Methodologically, this paper aims to analyse whether RB meets the common criteria of “the White Elephant syndrome” of public investments or if it can be seen as a sustainable and profitable long-term project after the initial investment.

scholarly journals Ohio's Large Scale Experiment on Integrated Care: Results and Implications for Long-Term Services Reform

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 454-454
Author(s):  
Matt Nelson ◽  
Robert Applebaum ◽  
John Bowblis
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The State ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Dual Eligible ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Scale Experiment ◽  
Services And Supports

Abstract Implemented through five health plans, Ohio’s MyCare demonstration began in 2014 and was designed to coordinate primary, acute care, behavioral health and long-term services in the major urban areas of the state. Individuals who are dually eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare and who reside in specified geographic regions must enroll into a managed MyCare plan. MyCare beneficiaries are assigned to two primary categories: community well and those needing long-term services and supports (LTSS). Individuals receiving the integrated MyCare intervention were expected to have lower acute care hospitalizations, lower long-term nursing home use, better longevity and lower overall health and long-term care costs. Using a propensity score matching design, the evaluation compared MyCare enrollees to comparison group members in non-MyCare counties of the state, using Medicaid and Medicare claims data. The 120,000 MyCare program participants represented about half of the dual eligible individuals in the state.

Large slow rock-slope deformations affecting hydropower facilities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margherita C. Spreafico ◽  
Federico Agliardi ◽  
Matteo Andreozzi ◽  
Alessandro Cossa ◽  
Giovanni B. Crosta
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zone ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Rock Slope ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Evolutionary Stage ◽  
3D Analysis ◽  
Future Evolution

<p>Large-scale creeping landslides are widespread in alpine areas. Associated long-term, slow deformations threaten urban settlement, railways, main roads and hydropower facilities, on which our society is strictly dependent. Over the next decades, the continuous growing of the global population, the resulting increase in the urbanization (also closer to hazard-prone areas), and the climate change (e.g. melting of alpine glaciers) will increase these interactions and the related risk. Nevertheless, assessing the vulnerability of different types of elements at risk to this kind of hazard is not obvious, especially when hydropower structures (including dams, tunnels, penstocks, etc.) are involved. Large rockslides complexity often results in a variety of different evolutionary trends, making their forecasting and risk reduction a challenge. While catastrophic collapse can cause huge instantaneous damages, slow movements along long periods may lead to progressive damage of structures and infrastructures.<br>In the alpine and pre-alpine areas of Lombardia (Central Italian Alps), slow rock-slope deformations affect an area of 750 km2, threatening more than 10 km2 of urban areas and about 100 km of penstocks or tunnels related to hydropower facilities. Here we focus on the Mt. Palino slope (Valmalenco, Italian Central Alps), that is affected by a complex, apparently long-lived DSGSD (Deep seated Gravitational Slope Deformation) with a relief exceeding 1000 m. The slope hosts hydropower facilities and a tourist resort. In order to recognize dominant processes and their possible evolution (internal deformation, low-rate steady activity, progressive behaviour, seasonal effects) for better risk assessment and mitigation, we investigated the volume and depth of displaced rock mass and the possible localization of deformations along a basal shear zone. <br>Geomechanical and geomorphological surveys, seismic tomography, deep borehole logs and monitoring data (borehole instrumentation, precise levelling, topographic and GB-InSAR) allowed recognizing different sectors with different evolutionary stage and activity degree. The DSGSD which affect the entire Mt. Palino was probably active before the last LGM (Last Glacial Maximum), while only the northern slope sector is now considered as active. We recognized multiple nested phenomena faster than the main mass, identified as large rockslides. They are suspended over the valley floor and may evolve into fast rock avalanches. One of them is located in correspondence with the hydropower penstock, causing differential deformation to the structure. Borehole evidence of localization along cataclastic shear zones was found, motivating a petrographic geomechanical characterization of both rock masses and shear zone samples. Integrated 3D analysis of different information permitted to reconstruct displacement patterns, long-term mechanisms and the controlling factors of possible future evolution. </p>

scholarly journals Assessing trends in rat populations in urban and non-urban environments in the Netherlands

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Maas ◽  
Tamara Helsloot ◽  
Katsuhisa Takumi ◽  
Joke van der Giessen
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Local Municipalities ◽  
Term Monitoring ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Large Municipality

Abstract Rats in urban areas pose health risks as they can transmit various zoonotic pathogens. Monitoring rat populations in urban areas is therefore a key determinant in risk assessments for taking adequate control and preventive measures. However, large-scale and long-term monitoring of rat populations is labor-intensive and time consuming. The aim of this study was to develop a low-cost and low-time- consuming method to gain insight into the trends of rat populations in urban and non-urban environments in the Netherlands, and to identify potential drivers of these trends. From 2014 to 2018, local municipalities or their pest control organizations voluntarily submitted quarterly overviews of rat nuisance reports in urban areas. For non-urban areas, a nationwide record of reported bycatch species from the muskrat control was used to assess a potential trend. To identify potential drivers of observed trends, employees of nine municipalities were interviewed. Rat nuisance reports from 25 municipalities were analyzed. An increasing trend in rat nuisance reports was observed in 12, a decreasing trend in 3 and no trend in 10 municipalities. In non-urban areas, no trend in the bycatch of rats was detected. The increase in rat nuisance reports was associated with a large municipality resident size. No consistent drivers could be identified, but potential drivers were discussed in the interviews. Although it was not possible to quantify their influence on the rat population trends seen, they provide direction for future studies on drivers of rat populations.

scholarly journals ROLE OF CHINA IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHERN AFRICA: EXAMPLE OF ZIMBABWE

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 33-43
Author(s):  
Кирилл Андреевич Алешин
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Foreseeable Future ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Bilateral Cooperation ◽  
Restrictive Measures ◽  
The Eu

Purpose: the role of China in Zimbabwe, that has been under long-term sanctions implemented by EU and US, and also experiencing serious economic difficulties. Discussion: the author analyzed the development of relations between Zimbabwe and China. The priorities of Beijing, the main trends and key areas of bilateral cooperation are shown. Results: while in isolation and in terms of Western sanctions, the leadership of Zimbabwe found a reliable ally – China, which became its one of the leading trade and economic partners and political allies, helped to overcome the negative consequences of a large-scale economic crisis. The author predicts that in the medium term, it is possible to expect a decrease in the role Beijing is playing in the economic and political life of Zimbabwe, which is due to a number of circumstances, including the removal of most of the EU sanctions, the possible abolition of US restrictive measures, the activation of Russia, India, as well as other developing countries in the Zimbabwe. However, the link between Zimbabwe and China, which emerged in the last century, the achieved level of influence on the Zimbabwean elites will allow Beijing in the foreseeable future to remain a key player in this country.

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