scholarly journals Ecosystem-Based Approaches to Bioenergy and the Need for Regenerative Supply Options for Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lalisa Duguma ◽  
Esther Kamwilu ◽  
Peter A Minang ◽  
Judith Nzyoka ◽  
Kennedy Muthee
Keyword(s):  
Energy Supply ◽  
Agricultural Residues ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Sufficient Energy ◽  
Bioenergy Generation ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
The Tropics

Energy supply systems in the tropics and subtropics are marred with considerable negative impacts on ecosystems, for example, forest loss and habitat destruction. This document examines the role of ecosystems in household energy supply in Africa and explores pathways to ecosystem-based approaches to bioenergy generation by building on the regenerative economy concept. An ecosystem-based approach to bioenergy is an energy supply and utilization mechanism aimed at enhancing sustainable management of the sources of ecosystems with minimal trade-offs on/from other sectors directly linked to energy issues. Our analysis revealed that about 87% of energy supply to the population originated from agroecosystems and is challenged by the severe ecosystem degradation happening due to natural and anthropogenic factors. However, ecosystem restoration and effective use of agricultural residues could provide hope for making energy supply sustainable. Our analysis showed that restoring sparsely vegetated areas and degraded forest and savannahs, promotion of agroforestry in degraded agricultural lands, and use of agricultural residues could generate close to 71 billion gigajoules (GJ) of energy and provide sufficient energy for about 2.5 billion people if implemented in all potential areas identified. Ecosystem-based approaches to bioenergy along with a well-balanced involvement of sectors and industry actors coupled with knowledgeable management of the ecosystem could lead to beneficial outcomes for the society and environment.

scholarly journals Enhancing the ecological value of tropical agriculture through set-asides

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jake Bicknell ◽  
Jesse O'Hanley ◽  
Paul Armsworth ◽  
Eleanor Slade ◽  
Nicolas Deere ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oil Palm ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Ecological Value ◽  
Commodity Production ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Primary Driver ◽  
Production Area ◽  
Service Degradation ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Tropics

Abstract Agricultural expansion across the tropics is the primary driver of biodiversity declines and ecosystem service degradation. However, efforts to mitigate these negative impacts may reduce commodity production. We quantify trade-offs between oil palm cultivation and ecological outcomes (biodiversity, above-ground carbon storage and dung nutrient cycling) across different potential set-aside (uncultivated areas in agricultural landscapes) strategies. We show that all set-aside configurations yield substantial gains in ecological outcomes. The best strategy involves spatially targeted riparian reserves, such as those used in oil palm certification schemes, where species occurrence can be doubled without reducing overall cultivation area. Adopting this strategy throughout the 8 million hectares of plantations in Borneo would lead to extensive improvements in ecological outcomes without losses to production area, and consequently, enhancing agricultural sustainability.

A tes

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
IJE Manager
Keyword(s):  
Energy Supply ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Past Century ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
A Site ◽  
Selection Methodology

In the past century, fossil fuels have dominated energy supply in Indonesia. However, concerns over emissions are likely to change the future energy supply. As people become more conscious of environmental issues, alternatives for energy are sought to reduce the environmental impacts. These include renewable energy (RE) sources such as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. However, most RE sources like solar PV are not available continuously since they depend on weather conditions, in addition to geographical location. Bali has a stable and long sunny day with 12 hours of daylight throughout the year and an average insolation of 5.3 kWh/m2 per day. This study looks at the potential for on-grid solar PV to decarbonize energy in Bali. A site selection methodology using GIS is applied to measure solar PV potential. Firstly, the study investigates the boundaries related to environmental acceptability and economic objectives for land use in Bali. Secondly, the potential of solar energy is estimated by defining the suitable areas, given the technical assumptions of solar PV. Finally, the study extends the analysis to calculate the reduction in emissions when the calculated potential is installed. Some technical factors, such as tilting solar, and intermittency throughout the day, are outside the scope of this study. Based on this model, Bali has an annual electricity potential for 32-53 TWh from solar PV using amorphous thin-film silicon as the cheapest option. This potential amount to three times the electricity supply for the island in 2024 which is estimated at 10 TWh. Bali has an excessive potential to support its own electricity demand with renewables, however, some limitations exist with some trade-offs to realize the idea. These results aim to build a developmental vision of solar PV systems in Bali based on available land and the region’s irradiation.

Overview of wireless implantable energy supply and communication technology

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuang Zhang ◽  
Yuping Qin ◽  
Jiang-ming Kuang ◽  
Jining Yang ◽  
Jin Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Circuits ◽  
Energy Supply ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Normal Operation ◽  
Medical Systems ◽  
Cardiac Pacemakers ◽  
Implantable Medical Devices ◽  
Best Available Technologies ◽  
Sufficient Energy ◽  
External Signals

: With the development of integrated circuits and microelectronics, integrated and miniaturized implantable medical devices are increasingly used in modern medical technologies, e.g., cardiac pacemakers, vasodilators, and cochlear implants. However, the normal operation of these devices is inseparable from the availability of a sufficient energy supply and the bidirectional transmission of internal and external signals. Due to the limitation of the working environment of sensors, there is only a small space for most implanted electronic devices, which is a challenge faced by existing technology. In this paper, current wireless implantable energy supply and communication technologies are reviewed to determine the best available technologies, thereby providing a reference for method selection in designing implantable medical systems.

scholarly journals Status and Threats to Mugger Crocodile Crocodylus palustris Lesson, 1831 at Rani Tal, Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Nepal

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harish P Bhatt ◽  
Tej Bahadur Saund ◽  
Jham Bahadur Thapa
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuation ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Total Hardness ◽  
Chemical Contamination ◽  
Wildlife Reserve

A study was carried out for preparing baseline information on water quality, population status and threats to Mugger crocodile, Crocodylus palustris Lesson at Rani Tal, Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. Water quality analysis was conducted for three seasons (summer, autumn and winter) in the year 2008 - 2009. The study has found the physico-chemical contamination in the lake. The water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen, total hardness, free carbon dioxide, biological oxygen demand and ammonia) exceeded the normal range to support the Muggers. A survey around the lake recorded four adult Mugger crocodiles (>180 cm body length) basking in sandy and muddy bank during the investigation period. The lake is under pressure from diverse anthropogenic factors. The principal threats to the Mugger crocodile include water pollution, habitat destruction, sedimentation, food shortage, egg collection and seasonal fluctuation of water level. The total area and depth of the lake is diminishing due to encroachment by Phragmites karka and flash flood during monsoon. Conservation and proper management of the lake are urgently required. Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 13, No. 1 (2012) 125-131 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njst.v13i1.7451

Quantification and technological assessment of bioenergy generation through agricultural residues in Punjab (Pakistan)

2020 ◽  
Vol 139 ◽  
pp. 105612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ubaid Ur Rehman Zia ◽  
Tanzeel ur Rashid ◽  
Waqas Nazir Awan ◽  
Abid Hussain ◽  
Muzaffar Ali
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Residues ◽  
Bioenergy Generation ◽  
Technological Assessment

scholarly journals The impact of seasonality on niche breadth, distribution range and species richness: a theoretical exploration of Janzen's hypothesis

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1835) ◽  
pp. 20160349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xia Hua
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Variation ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Tropical Species ◽  
Seasonal Temperature ◽  
Thermal Niche ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Seasonal Temperature Variation ◽  
Latitudinal Patterns ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
The Impact

Being invoked as one of the candidate mechanisms for the latitudinal patterns in biodiversity, Janzen's hypothesis states that the limited seasonal temperature variation in the tropics generates greater temperature stratification across elevations, which makes tropical species adapted to narrower ranges of temperatures and have lower effective dispersal across elevations than species in temperate regions. Numerous empirical studies have documented latitudinal patterns in species elevational ranges and thermal niche breadths that are consistent with the hypothesis, but the theoretical underpinnings remain unclear. This study presents the first mathematical model to examine the evolutionary processes that could back up Janzen's hypothesis and assess the effectiveness of limited seasonal temperature variation to promote speciation along elevation in the tropics. Results suggest that trade-offs in thermal tolerances provide a mechanism for Janzen's hypothesis. Limited seasonal temperature variation promotes gradient speciation not due to the reduction in gene flow that is associated with narrow thermal niche, but due to the pleiotropic effects of more stable divergent selection of thermal tolerance on the evolution of reproductive incompatibility. The proposed modelling approach also provides a potential way to test a speciation model against genetic data.

scholarly journals Analysis of Long-Term Plan for Energy Supply System for Latvia that is 100% Based on the Use of Local Energy Resources

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (-1) ◽  
pp. 82-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jekaterina Porubova ◽  
Gatis Bazbauers
Keyword(s):  
Energy Supply ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Supply System ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Local Energy ◽  
Fossil Energy ◽  
Energy Supply System ◽  
Sufficient Energy

Analysis of Long-Term Plan for Energy Supply System for Latvia that is 100% Based on the Use of Local Energy Resources The prices of fossil energy resources are expected to rise substantially in the future, therefore fossil energy resources might not be a feasible energy source for Latvia in the long term. The establishment of a fully self-sufficient energy supply system will require a significant transformation of the existing energy supply and transport infrastructure. Early planning of such a system makes it possible to shape development of the existing energy system in order to achieve that goal of a fully self-sufficient energy supply system. The paper shows a potential solution to establish an energy and transport system solely based on the domestic primary resources by the year 2050.

Effects of oil palm plantations on anuran diversity in the eastern Amazon

2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 321-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabricio S. Correa ◽  
Leandro Juen ◽  
Lenise C. Rodrigues ◽  
Heriberto F. Silva-Filho ◽  
Maria C. Santos-Costa
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Total Abundance ◽  
Anuran Species ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Acoustic Surveys ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Tropics

The extent of land use for oil palm plantations has grown considerably in the tropics due to climate, appropriate soil conditions for cultivation and its profitability. However, oil palm plantations may endanger biodiversity through reduction and fragmentation of forest areas. Herein we analyzed the effects on anuran species richness, composition and total abundance in oil palm plantations and surrounding forests in eastern Amazon. We installed seven plots in oil palm plantations and seven plots in surrounding forests, which we surveyed for the presence of anurans through active visual and acoustic surveys during periods of high and low rainfall levels. Anuran assemblages found in forests and oil palm plantations differed in species richness and composition, with a loss of 54% of species in oil palm plantations. No difference was observed in total abundance of anurans between both environments. While conversion of forests to oil palm plantations may result in less negative impacts on anuran diversity than other types of monocultures, such loss is nevertheless high, making the maintenance of relatively greater forested areas around oil palm plantations necessary in order to conserve anuran diversity.

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