Evaluation on biophysical carrying capacity to support land rehabilitation planning in the upstream watershed

A comprehensive Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) plan is needed, supported by information on the condition of the Biophysical Carrying Capacity (BCC) of the watershed so that land rehabilitation activities will be right on target. The research aims to evaluate the BCC to support the SWC planning for the upstream watershed. The research area was in the Naruan Micro Watershed (NMW), the upstream of Keduang Sub Watershed, the Bengawan Solo Watershed. The analysis of the BCC used evaluation criteria based on the Ministry of Forestry Regulation (PerMenhut) No. P.61/Menhut-II/2014 concerning monitoring and evaluation of watershed management. The evaluation showed that the BCC in the research area was in the “Bad” category with a value of 128.0. It means that the watershed needs to be restored, particularly in terms of biophysical features. Several parameters indicated a poor category, i.g. the land aspect such as Percentage of Degraded Land (PDL) and Erosion Index (EI) parameters, while in the water system aspect such as the Flow Regime Coefficient (FRC), Annual Flow Coefficient (AFC), and Sediment Load (SL) parameters. These five parameters must become a concern and an important starting point for land rehabilitation planning in the form of SWC measures.

Incorporating Indigenous knowledge in mine closure: Ranger Uranium Mine

The Ranger Project Area, located on the lands of the Mirarr clan, is surrounded by Kakadu National Park. After 40 years of uranium production at Ranger Mine, rehabilitation has begun, with a commitment that the land will be restored to a standard such that it could be incorporated into Kakadu National Park. Historically, mine closure has not been done well in the Northern Territory, and little if any consideration has been given to the views of Aboriginal landowners. An Aboriginal perspective of country recognises the interrelationship, via local kinship and moiety systems, of all things – the rocks, plants, animals, people, stories, weather, ceremonies and tradition. There is an opportunity for this worldview to be incorporated into the rehabilitation of Ranger Mine. The mine’s operator ERA (a subsidiary of Rio Tinto) has agreed to Cultural Closure Criteria that reflect a desire of Bininj (Aboriginal people from the region) to again use the land for hunting and gathering, recreation and cultural practice. Allowing Aboriginal people to have input to rehabilitation planning demonstrates a respect for people’s knowledge and connection to country. At Ranger, where the mine was imposed against the wishes of the traditional owners, this is an important step in a return to stewardship of this land and reconnecting people to place.

Firework discharge leading to cerebral contusion and motor paraplegia

A 57-year-old male sustained a blunt head injury after discharging a mortar firework off the vertex of his head. Physical examination revealed a stellate scalp lesion and pure bilateral leg paraplegia. Initial spinal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were negative for pathology. Initial head computed tomography revealed open, nondisplaced, frontal, and parietal skull fractures with underlying subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging one week later showed bilateral precentral gyri frontal lobe contusions involving the lower extremity motor cortices and subcortical white matter extending anteriorly into the region of the supplementary motor areas. The patient's complete paraplegia informed the subsequent hospital rehabilitation. However, motor recovery was more rapid than anticipated, with the patient regaining ambulatory function before inpatient rehabilitation discharge after 27 days of hospitalization. He continued to have issues with spasticity after discharge. We discuss the current literature surrounding paraplegia secondary to head trauma and the recovery that follows. Firework misuse is a known cause of head injury but has not been recorded as a cause of isolated bilateral paraplegia. Isolated precentral gyri contusion must be considered in patients presenting with paraplegia following trauma to the vertex of the head and normal spinal imaging. We show the importance of repeat imaging to follow the evolving nature of traumatic head injuries presenting with paraplegia. We also illustrate the variability in rehabilitation planning and the need for adjustment in rehabilitation planning for paraplegic patients following head trauma.

Legal and Regulatory Approaches to Rehabilitation Planning: A Concise Overview of Current Laws and Policies Addressing Access to Rehabilitation in Five European Countries

Background: The rising prevalence of disability due to noncommunicable diseases and the aging process in tandem with under-prioritization and underdevelopment of rehabilitation services remains a significant concern for European public health. Over recent years, health system responses to population health needs, including rehabilitation needs, have been increasingly acknowledging the power of law and formal written policies as strategic governance tools to improve population health outcomes. However, the contents and scope of enacted legislation and adopted policies concerning rehabilitation services in Europe has not been synthesized. This paper presents a concise overview of laws and policies addressing rehabilitation in five European countries. Methods: Publicly available laws, policies, and national action plans addressing rehabilitation issues of Sweden, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom were reviewed and descriptive documents analyzed. Actions found in national health policies were also evaluated for compliance with the key recommendations specified in the World Health Organization’s Rehabilitation 2030: Call for Action. Results: Across countries, legal and policy approaches to rehabilitation planning varied in scope and reach. While all countries entitle citizens to rehabilitation services, comprehensiveness of coverage varied. Health legislation of Germany and Netherlands recognizes access to rehabilitation as a human right for persons with disabilities, while Sweden and the United Kingdom acknowledge its importance in disability laws for achieving substantive equality for persons with disabilities. Regarding policies, in all countries but Italy, targeted universalism remains the predominant strategy governing rehabilitation services, as demonstrated by the lack of comprehensive, national action plans for rehabilitation addressing the general population. Nevertheless, references found in disease specific policies indicate a solid consensus that rehabilitation remains an integral component of the care continuum for those experiencing disability. Conclusion: Although a universal approach to rehabilitation coverage is institutionalized in national legislation of the countries examined, this approach is not expressed in formal policies. Targeted strategies aiming to ensure access to subpopulation groups with higher perceived needs for rehabilitation prevail, indicating a strong political will towards the reduction of health inequalities and the promotion of human rights of people experiencing disability. Results obtained from conducting this descriptive review provide the basis for future appraisals of the situation regarding rehabilitation service and policy development in Europe.