Determination of the Heavy Metal Contents and the Benefit/Cost Analysis of Hypericum salsugineum in the Vicinity of Salt Lake

In this study, Hypericum salsugineum, an endemic halophytic plant growing around Salt Lake, was analyzed to determine the heavy metals (chromium, lead, copper, zinc and nickel) on it and on the soil it grew. The phytoremediation potential of H. salsugineum was evaluated. In addition, the benefit cost (B/C) analysis was performed for its potential use in phytoremediation. The plant and soil samples were collected from Eskil and Cihanbeyli between May and September in 2016. A total of 300 soil and plant samples were analysed for heavy metal content. Statistical and standard benefit/cost analyses were performed for assessment. The capacity of accumulating the aforementioned heavy metals was found to be high in H. salsugineum. It was found that Ni and Pb ratio exceeded optimum values in its habitat, and H. salsugineum accumulated available Ni and Pb. When the plant was evaluated in terms of benefit/cost, B/C ratio was greater than 1 during the useful life of the study. This conclusion increases the ecological and economical values of H. Salsugineum, effecting its potential use in phytoremediation.

Prioritization of Low-Volume Road Projects Considering Project Cost and Network Accessibility: An Incremental Benefit–Cost Analysis Framework

Due to insufficient funds to implement all candidate road infrastructure projects, there is a need to efficiently utilize available funds and select candidate projects that maximize performance criteria decision-makers. This paper proposes an incremental benefit–cost analysis (IBCA) framework to prioritize low-volume road (LVR) projects that maximize road network accessibility considering project cost and network accessibility requirements. The study results show that the accessibility benefits of road projects depend not only on their cost requirements but also on their spatial locations in the network that affect their network-level accessibility benefits per unit cost of investment. Additionally, the number of disrupted LVR links cannot fully determine the degree of change in network accessibility. The framework enables decision-makers to consider project cost requirements and the accessibility-related impacts of LVR projects, maximize economic benefits, and ensure the sustainability of the LVR network performance.

Assessing the profitability and sustainability of upland farming systems in Cambantoc subwatershed, Philippines

Deforestation, forest and land degradation affect the provision of ecosystem services in the watersheds of Laguna Lake. The study site, Cambantoc Subwatershed, experiences unsustainable upland farming practices that worsen the flooding situation in the downstream areas. This study analyzed rice monocropping and agroforestry farming systems upstream based on measures of profitability, sustainability, and soil quality using the Benefit-Cost Analysis and Soil Changes Under Agroforestry (SCUAF) model. Data on the costs and benefits of the farming systems and the parameters used in calibrating the model were acquired through interviews and secondary data collection. The study found that monocropping is more profitable while agroforestry has better environmental benefits because it can minimize soil erosion and soil nutrient loss through time. Agroforestry is an ideal example of Nature-Based Solution to achieve sustainable farming and enhance the delivery of ecosystem services such as soil nutrient enrichment in the upstream farms and flood mitigation in the downstream areas. The results of this study can serve as a decision support for the policy makers to consider developing and implementing market-based instruments to capture the total benefits of agroforestry to both upland farmers and downstream communities.

Safety of dams in crisis situations

The safety of dams in crisis situations can be divided into several areas that can affect their functions. The aim of this work is to focus on water crisis situations on the technical infrastructure during emergencies, of which there were many in the world. The protective function of dams can be based on a thorough analysis and their measures. In the article there was risk analysis performed on a dam of choice. The ALARP analysis was used to determine risks that have to be addressed and taken precautions against. According to F-N diagram it was determined that ALARP region is located at frequencies of 0,000 1 (1-in-10 000 years) and number of people at risk at 1 – 1 000. Next there was a benefit-cost analysis performed of mitigation project, that concluded beneficial value of the dam and the costs of the mitigation project and the BCA ratio came out > 1, thus the mitigation project was recommended. In conclusion there was recommended to use both methods in comparative manner.

Alternative natural capital-based livelihoods in facing peatland degradation in Rengas Merah hamlet, Ogan Komering Ilir Regency, Indonesia: a financial analysis approach

Peat swamp forests in Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) Regency have been experiencing dramatic changes caused by timber extraction and fire. These changes are now increasing ecological vulnerability and threatening the livelihoods of communities living in rural areas around these forests. This study investigated the diversity of natural capital-based livelihood strategies for sustainable livelihood in Rengas Merah hamlet, OKI Regency, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia, with a financial analysis approach. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods is used for data analysis. Data were collected using questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. A benefit-cost analysis analyzed the choice of various livelihoods. The result showed that gelam wood harvesting and developing edible bird nests while cultivating rice paddy are feasible as a sustainable livelihood. Natural capital is still a significant asset for the community to achieve sustainable livelihood. The natural capital-based livelihood strategy by directly exploiting natural resources combined with agricultural cultivation is the primary strategy chosen by the community for livelihoods sustainability.

Community-based forest management in the forest District of Kediri: cultivation of pineapple and turmeric under forest stands

Community-based forest management (CBFM) is a forest management system that is carried out by communities and forest companies with a mutual benefit principle.One of them is to bring benefits to the community from the plants cultivated. Each combination of plants yields a different income.The research aims (a) to calculate the profit of pineapple and turmeric cultivation under forest stands in the Forest District of Kediri, (b) to calculate the profit sharing between communities and companies, and (c) the value of forest product fees of pineapple and turmeric. Data were collected through observation and interviews and employ benefit-cost analysis. Shared profit was calculated based on cooperation agreements and the fee was calculated based on the prevailing tariff. The results of the study showed (1) the profit of the pineapple business was IDR 18,800,000 per ha per season, of which IDR 12,635,000 was for the community, IDR 5,415,000 was for the company’s profit share IDR 750,000 was for forest product fees. (2) the profit of the turmeric business was IDR 13.600.000 per ha per season, of which IDR 9,205,000 was for the community, IDR 3,945,000 was for the company profit share, and IDR 450,000 was for forest product fees.

A benefit-cost analysis framework for prioritization of control programs for well-established invasive alien species

Invasive alien species (IAS) are identified as a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services. While early detection and control programs to avoid establishments of new alien species can be very cost-effective, control costs for well-established species can be enormous. Many of these well-established species constitute severe or high ecological impact and are thus likely to be included in control programs. However, due to limited funds, we need to prioritize which species to control according to the gains in ecological status and human well-being compared to the costs. Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) provides such a tool but has been hampered by the difficulties in assessing the overall social benefits on the same monetary scale as the control costs. In order to overcome this obstacle, we combine a non-monetary benefit assessment tool with the ecosystem service framework to create a benefit assessment in line with the welfare economic underpinnings of BCA. Our simplified BCA prioritization tool enables us to conduct rapid and cheap appraisals of large numbers of invasive species that the Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre has found to cause negative ecological impacts. We demonstrate this application on 30 well-established invasive alien vascular plant species in Norway. Social benefits are calculated and aggregated on a benefit point scale for six impact categories: four types of ecosystem services (supporting, provisioning, regulating and cultural), human health and infrastructure impacts. Total benefit points are then compared to the total control costs of programs aiming at eradicating individual IAS across Norway or in selected vulnerable ecosystems. Although there are uncertainties with regards to IAS population size, benefits assessment and control program effectiveness and costs; our simplified BCA tool identified six species associated with robust low cost-benefit ratios in terms of control costs (in million USD) per benefit point. As a large share of public funds for eradication of IAS is currently spent on control programs for other plant species, we recommend that the environmental authorities at all levels use our BCA prioritization tool to increase the social benefits of their limited IAS control budgets. In order to maximize the net social benefits of IAS control programs, environmental valuation studies of their ecosystem service benefits are needed.