Onset of the rainy season: a paradigm shift for conservation of the Amazon

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos Heil Costa
Keyword(s):  
Rainy Season ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Climate Risk ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Best Interest ◽  
Double Cropping ◽  
Short Rainy Season ◽  
Forest Code ◽  
Southern Amazonia

<p>It has been recently demonstrated that large-scale mechanisms interact with Amazon deforestation to delay the onset and decrease the duration of the rainy season in Southern Amazonia. A short rainy season increases the exposure of the rainforest to drought and possibly fires, but also increases the climate risk to the intensive double cropping (soy/maize) agriculture system practiced in the region, which requires at least 200 days of rains. Here we show that areas in Southern Amazonia that have more than 20% deforestation, i.e., areas that have not respected the maximum deforestation allowed by Brazil´s Forest Code, have increased climate risk for agriculture when compared to areas that have less than 20% deforested. These results show how environmentally sensible the Brazilian Forest Code is. The legislation, if strictly followed, supports the climate regulation service provided by the rainforest, in a way that benefit the farmers that collectively respect the legislation by anticipating the onset and increasing the duration of the rainy season and decreasing the climate risk to the double cropping systems. These results introduce a new paradigm for conservation of the Amazon, in which there are economic and social reasons to preserve the native vegetation, and it is in the best interest of the agribusiness, local governments and people, to conserve and restore the remaining natural vegetation.</p>

Modulation of Daily Precipitation over East Africa by the Madden–Julian Oscillation*

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (15) ◽  
pp. 6016-6034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fisseha Berhane ◽  
Benjamin Zaitchik
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Spatiotemporal Variability ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Madden Julian Oscillation ◽  
East African ◽  
Short Rainy Season ◽  
Total Variability ◽  
Short Rains

Abstract Spatiotemporal variability in East African precipitation affects the livelihood of tens of millions of people. From the perspective of floods, flash droughts, and agriculture, variability on intraseasonal time scales is a critical component of total variability. The principal objective of this study is to explore subseasonal impacts of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) on tropospheric circulations affecting East Africa (EA) during the long (March–May) and short (October–December) rains and associated variability in precipitation. Analyses are performed for 1979–2012 for dynamics and 1998–2012 for precipitation. Consistent with previous studies, significant MJO influence is found on wet and dry spells during the long and short rains. This influence, however, is found to vary within each season. Specifically, indices of MJO convection at 70°–80°E and 120°W are strongly associated with precipitation variability across much of EA in the early (March) and late (May) long rainy season and in the middle and late (November–December) short rainy season. In the early short rains (October) a different pattern emerges, in which MJO strength at 120°E (10°W) is associated with dry (wet) spells in coastal EA but not the interior. In April the MJO influence on precipitation is obscured but can be diagnosed in lead time associations. This diversity of influences reflects a diversity of mechanisms of MJO influence, including dynamic and thermodynamic mechanisms tied to large-scale atmospheric circulations and localized dynamics associated with MJO modulation of the Somali low-level jet. These differences are relevant to problems of subseasonal weather forecasts and climate projections for EA.

The sugar and alcohol industry in the biofuels and cogeneration era: a paradigm change (part II)

2014 ◽  
pp. 97-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Electo Eduardo Silv Lora ◽  
Mateus Henrique Rocha ◽  
José Carlos Escobar Palacio ◽  
Osvaldo José Venturini ◽  
Maria Luiza Grillo Renó ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Process Integration ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Alcohol Industry ◽  
Feed Production ◽  
Steam Parameters

The aim of this paper is to discuss the major technological changes related to the implementation of large-scale cogeneration and biofuel production in the sugar and alcohol industry. The reduction of the process steam consumption, implementation of new alternatives in driving mills, the widespread practice of high steam parameters use in cogeneration facilities, the insertion of new technologies for biofuels production (hydrolysis and gasification), the energy conversion of sugarcane trash and vinasse, animal feed production, process integration and implementation of the biorefinery concept are considered. Another new paradigm consists in the wide spreading of sustainability studies of products and processes using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the implementation of sustainability indexes. Every approach to this issue has as an objective to increase the economic efficiency and the possibilities of the sugarcane as a main source of two basic raw materials: fibres and sugar. The paper briefly presents the concepts, indicators, state-of-the-art and perspectives of each of the referred issues.

Effects of Planting Bed and Density on the Yield of Pineapple (Ananas comosus L. var., MD2) Grown in Short Rainy Season in Southern Côte d’Ivoire

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-25
Author(s):  
Ouattara Genefol ◽  
Camara Brahima ◽  
Bomisso Edson Lezi ◽  
Cherif Mamadou ◽  
Sorho Fatogoma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cote D'ivoire ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Côte D’Ivoire ◽  
Ananas Comosus ◽  
Cote D’Ivoire ◽  
Côte D'ivoire ◽  
Short Rainy Season

scholarly journals Investigating the Sustainability Performance of PPP-Type Infrastructure Projects: A Case of China

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 4162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shengqin Zheng ◽  
Ke Xu ◽  
Qing He ◽  
Shaoze Fang ◽  
Lin Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Behavioral Control ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Perceived Behavioral Control ◽  
Actual Behavior ◽  
Infrastructure Projects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Managerial Implications

In China, the demand for public infrastructure projects is high due to the acceleration of urbanization and the rapid growth of the economy in recent years. Infrastructures are mainly large scale, so local governments have difficulty in independently completing financing work. In this context, public sectors often seek cooperation from private sectors, in which public–private partnership (PPP) is increasingly common. Although numerous studies have concentrated on sustainable development, the unsustainability performances of infrastructures are often reported on various media. Furthermore, studies on the sustainability performances of PPP-type infrastructure (PTI) projects are few from the perspective of private sectors’ behaviors. In this study, we adopted the modified theory of planned behavior and the structure equation model and conducted a questionnaire survey with 258 respondents for analyzing the sustainable behaviors of private sectors. Results indicated that behavioral attitude, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norm interact significantly. They have direct positive effects on behavioral intention and then indirectly influence actual behavior through this intention. Actual sustainable behaviors of private sectors have significantly positive effects on the sustainable development of cities. We offer theoretical and managerial implications for public and private sectors on the basis of the findings to ensure and promote the sustainability performances of PTI projects.

PART 1: Finance: Transport Strategy for Polish Cities

1997 ◽  
Vol 1576 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Slobodan Mitric
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transport ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Road Networks ◽  
Cost Recovery ◽  
Urban Transport ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Rolling Stock ◽  
Urban Road

A recent study requested by a group of mayors representing the largest Polish cities is summarized. The study was to be used as input into local and national debates about future directions of urban transport development in the country. The wider context is that of a major political and economic reform, begun in the late 1980s, involving no less than a rapidpaced transition from socialism to capitalism, featuring large-scale downsizing of the public sector, privatization, and a redistribution of political and resource powers from the state to local governments. Among the downstream effects of these changes has been an increase in private car ownership and use and a reduction in the market share of urban mass transit modes from between 80 and 90 percent of nonwalk daily trips to 70 percent or less. For transit operators, now owned by local governments, this has meant an added financial pressure coming after a decade of underinvestment in infrastructure, rolling stock, and other equipment. Large numbers of unemployed, retired, or otherwise low-income travelers, another consequence of restructuring the economy, have made it difficult to improve cost recovery by increasing fares. Traffic growth has generated congestion, since the structure and size of urban road networks were predicated on low car use. An urban transport strategy is proposed to respond to these problems. Its main short-term objective is to have an affordable and socially and environmentally acceptable modal split. In the longer term, the objective is to use the demand response to a much-reformed price system as the principal guide to how infrastructure and services should evolve. The key features of the strategy are as follows: ( a) evolution toward market-supplied services by a mixed-ownership mass transport industry; ( b) treatment of urban road networks as public utilities, focusing on cost recovery through pricing; ( c) linkage of pricing policies for mass transport and individual transport modes, in line with second-best thinking, aiming to reduce and even eliminate subsidies for both modes; and ( d) reliance on internally generated revenue leveraged by long-term borrowing to finance sectoral investments. It is therefore a counterpoint to a strategy wherein mass transport is a state-owned monopoly, the use of urban roads is subsidized as is mass transport, infrastructure investment is the instrument of preference as opposed to pricing, and sectoral investments and operating subsidies are financed from tax-generated budgets.

The Politics of The Grain Trade in Iraq c. 1840-1917

1991 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 151-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hala Fattah
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Grain Trade ◽  
The Many ◽  
Difficult Terrain ◽  
The Military

Anyone who watched the televison coverage of, or read about the African famine some years ago could not help but be appalled by the many obstacles erected to impede the progress of getting food to the starving millions in Ethiopia, Somalia and the Sudan. While it is true that the difficult terrain, an inhospitable climate and the lack of rain were partly responsible for the large-scale spread of famine and dearth in the African sub-continent, it is also true that local governments were responsible for creating impediments to the alleviation of mass hunger and starvation. Governments waging war against secessionist regimes and rebel armies used political means—primarily blockades of grain and other foodstuffs—to starve the enemy forces, creating misery among the military as well as civilian populations in the rebel areas.

scholarly journals The Effect of Governmental Health Measures on Public Behaviour During the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoyan Wang ◽  
Li Li ◽  
Lingfei Wang ◽  
Zhi Xu
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
New York State ◽  
The United States ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Phase Rule ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Epidemic Area

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in radical changes in many aspects of life. To deal with this, each country has implemented continuous health measures from the beginning of the outbreak. Discovering how governmental actions impacted public behaviour during the outbreak stage is the purpose of this study. Methods: This study uses a hybrid large-scale data visualisation method to analyse public behaviour (epidemic concerns, self-protection, and mobility trends), using the data provided by multiple authorities. Meanwhile, a content analysis method is used to qualitatively code the health measures of three countries with severe early epidemic outbreaks from different continents, namely China, Italy, and the United States. Eight dimensions are coded to rate the mobility restrictions implemented in the above countries. Results: (1) Governmental measures did not immediately persuade the public to change their behaviours during the COVID-19 epidemic. Instead, the public behaviour proceeded in a three-phase rule, which is typically witnessed in an epidemic outbreak, namely the wait-and-see phase, the surge phase and the slow-release phase. (2) The strictness of the mobility restrictions of the three countries can be ranked as follows: Hubei Province in China (with an average score of 8.5 out of 10), Lombardy in Italy (7.125), and New York State in the United States (5.375). Strict mobility restrictions are more likely to cause a surge of population outflow from the epidemic area in the short term, whereas the effect of mobility restrictions is positively related to the stringency of policies in the long term. Conclusion: The public showed generally lawful behaviour during regional epidemic outbreaks and blockades. Meanwhile public behaviour was deeply affected by the actions of local governments, rather than the global pandemic situation. The contextual differences between the various countries are important factors that influence the effects of the different governments’ health measures.

Efektivitas Fungsi Pengawasan DPRD Dalam Penyelenggaraan Pemerintahan Daerah: Studi Kota Makassar

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 268-282
Author(s):  
Herman Herman ◽  
Hambali Thalib ◽  
Hamza Baharuddin
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Monitoring System ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Regional Governance ◽  
Regional Government ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Good Government ◽  
Strong Position ◽  
Balance Mechanism

Paradigma baru dalam undang-undang nomor 23 tahun 23 tahun 2014 tetang pemerintahan daerah menghendaki hubungan yang sejajar antara DPRD dengan pemerintah daerah. Hubungan sejajar tersebut menandakan bahwa posisi DPRD dan pemerintah daerah adalah menempati posisi yang sama kuat. Hal itu di perlakukan guna mewujudkan pemerintahan yang baik (Good Government) yang di imbangi system pengawasan yang efektif dan efesien melalui mekanisme Check and Balance. Pemerintahan baik Good Government adalah pemerintahan yang di jalankan berdasarkan pada norma atau peraturan perundang-undangan yang mengaturnya secara konsisten dan bertanggung jawab dalam rangka mencapai tujuan negara yang di landasi prinsip transparan, angkutabel, bersih, jujur dan amanah. Untuk mewujudkan pemerintahan daerah yang baik, maka fungsi Dewan Perwakilan Rakyar Daerah di dalam melakukan pengawasan atas pelaksanaan urusan pemerintahan daerah adalah sangat penting. Pengawasan DPRD ini termasuk keputusan yang sanagt umum di luar peraturan perundang-undangan seperti kebijkan kepala daerah. The new paradigm in law number 23 of 23 of 2014 regarding regional governance requires an equal relationship between the DPRD and local governments. This parallel relationship indicates that the position of DPRD and local government is in the same strong position. This is done in order to create a good government (Good Government) which is balanced by an effective and efficient monitoring system through the Check and Balance mechanism. Good governance Good Government is a government that is run based on the norms or laws and regulations that regulate it consistently and responsibly in order to achieve the country's goals which are based on the principles of transparency, transportation, cleanliness, honesty and trustworthiness. To realize good regional governance, the function of the Regional People's Representative Council in supervising the implementation of regional government affairs is very important. This DPRD oversight includes decisions that are very general outside the statutory regulations, such as the policies of the regional head.

scholarly journals Rural urbanization under Xi Jinping: From rapid community building to steady urbanization?

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Meyer-Clement
Keyword(s):  
Rural Community ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Community Building ◽  
Rural Landscape ◽  
Policy Learning ◽  
Local Policy ◽  
Xi Jinping ◽  
Rural Land ◽  
Rural Urbanization

‘Rural community building’ is one of the most prominent policies of rural urbanization and village renovation in China. Since the nationwide implementation of this policy within the scope of the programme ‘Building a new socialist countryside’, the large-scale construction of new residential complexes has accelerated the transformation of the country’s rural landscape. However, extensive demolition and relocation have drawn increasing criticism, and the policy has become synonymous with the seizure of rural land resources by local governments. When Xi Jinping came to power, the new leadership initially appeared to abandon the policy but has eventually revived it. This article studies the implementation and evolution of the rural community building policy as a case of policy learning. The analysis of national and local policy documents and implementation practices in four provinces highlights a new framing of the policy, more intensive hierarchical controls over rural land use, and the state’s increasing reach into village governance, as well as new incentives for local governments to continue with demolition and relocation projects. These changes reveal a mode of policy learning in the context of an authoritarian regime whose goal is to improve policy implementation in the face of growing public criticism and social tension.

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