Human-wildlife conflicts and drought in the greater Calakmul Region, Mexico: implications for tapir conservation

Wildlife conservation efforts in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor have focused on reducing negative interactions between humans and charismatic species. In recent years, droughts have increased in frequency and intensity in southeastern Mexico exacerbating conflicts with wildlife as they compete with humans for limited water. In the Yucatan Peninsula, Greater Calakmul Region of southeastern Mexico, Baird’s tapirs (Tapirus bairdii) are increasingly encroaching into local villages (ejidos) in search of water. This behavior could increase tapir mortality from hunting by Calakmul ejidos residents. We evaluated the trends between annual precipitation and tapir sightings near or within Calakmul ejidos from 2008 to 2019 to determine if the frequency of reported conflicts increased relative to decreased precipitation. In addition, with community participation, from 2016 to 2018 we monitored one of the ejidos where human-tapir conflicts were reported to be increasing to better describe the nature of conflicts. We did not find any relationship between the number of tapir sightings reported and annual precipitation. However, more tapirs were documented near ejidos in 2019, which is one of the years with the lowest rainfall (626.6 mm) in the last decade. Tapirs were reported as the most common wildlife species observed at waterholes (35.4%) and apiaries (32.1%). Our findings suggested that water scarcity has increased tapirs’ incursions into human-populated areas and subsequently the potential for human-tapir conflicts. We recommend that managers consider developing alternative water sources that could mitigate human-tapir conflicts and contribute to the long-term viability of other wildlife species that inhabit the Greater Calakmul Region of southeastern Mexico.

Physicochemical investigation of some primitive water sources in district Champawat for potability and preservation of historical aesthetics, Uttarakhand, India

The present study deals with the assessment of physicochemical properties of spring water samples collected from the surroundings of Champawat city, Uttarakhand, India. The total of twenty-three parameters were analysed for the study including pH, total dissolved solids (TDS) (mg/L), electrical conductance (EC) (µS/cm), temperature (T) (°C), dissolved oxygen (DO) (mg/L), chloride (Cl- ) (mg/L), and uranium (U) (µg/L). The seasonal variation was also observed in these samples. In the hills, spring water has been the common source of public water supply from ancient times, therefore this study includes the springs that have survived from the distant past and were being used for drinking purpose at earlier time. However, with time, the quality of these water sources has depleted due to both natural and anthropogenic reasons to such an extent that two of these sources are not in use any more. The analysis has shown that pH of these samples ranged from 6.74 - 7.77, the highest values of TDS and nitrate (NO3 - ) were observed to be 500 mg/L and 39.1 mg/L respectively. This study can help determine the present state of these ancient water sources, which can be used as alternative water sources in the time of water supply crisis, and maintaining these historical water sources can be an example of sustainable development and preservation of historical aesthetics.

Trends of potential waterborne diseases at different health facilities in Bamboutos Division, West Region, Cameroon: a retrospective appraisal of routine data from 2013 to 2017

Many Cameroonian cities lack access to potable drinking water where populations rely on alternative water sources of doubtful quality. This study aimed at describing the trends and patterns of waterborne diseases (WBDs) reported in some health facilities in Bamboutos Division between 2013 and 2017 as baseline data towards understanding the profile of WBDs in this area. A retrospective review of clinical data kept on patients who visited the main health facilities in Bamboutos Division from January 2013 to December 2017 was conducted. Overall, 39.1% (n = 8,124) of total patients were positive for at least one WBD. Categories of WBDs were dysenteries (18.6%), gastroenteritis (4.2%), viral hepatitis (0.2%) and typhoid was the most preponderant (24.4%). The most affected age groups were those above 24 years but significant differences were observed only in 2013 and 2017. Distribution of potential WBDs was locality dependent. The highest prevalence of typhoid fever was recorded in Bameboro (35.4%), dysenteries in Bamedjinda (20.4%) and gastroenteritis (17.3%) in Bamekoumbou. The study shows very high overall prevalence of WBDs in some localities which could be considered as ‘hotspots’ of WBDs in Bamboutos. This suggests the urgent need for setting up measures to tackle challenges of potable drinking water supply.

[FE1091] Regulations Governing the Usage of Reclaimed Water as an Alternative Water Source for Agricultural Irrigation in Florida

Fresh water is becoming increasing scarce as the world population grows rapidly. Reclaimed water from alternative sources can be used to help offset the demand for fresh surface water and groundwater in agriculture. To ensure that pathogenic or trace chemical constituents in reclaimed water do not pose a threat to human health and the environment, state and federal governments impose regulations governing reclaimed water use. This fact sheet documents the rules and regulations governing the use of reclaimed water from alternative water sources in Florida agriculture. Target audiences include growers exploring alternative water use for agriculture, non-core professionals, core professionals, and the public.

Fluorosis Mitigation Programmes and its Impact on Health - The Indian Scenario

In India, the availability of safe potable water remains a challenge in rural settings, where 72% of Indian population reside with high reliance on alternative water sources. In our country, the states having some circumscribed areas of high fluoride levels (endemic fluoride belts with F content in ground water above 4 ppm). Fluorosis mitigation is therefore necessary. Thus, the objective of this narrative review is to discuss various fluorosis mitigation programmes in India.Medline was the primary database used in the literature search. Other databases were also searched for relevant publications. Since the late 1980s, government and non-governmental agencies launched efforts to control fluorosis. However, most of attempts were mainly on defluoridation of water, so it cannot be proposed as the only or most effective solution to mitigate fluorosis.

An Assessment of Water Sourcing Technologies and Stakeholder Stratagems Applied in the Balikumbat Highland Community of Ndop Plain, Cameroon

When a bourgeoning population faces water supply scarcity dilemma, stakeholders and interests emerge to offer multivariate water harvesting systems to affected communities. Stakeholder provision of water resources have deployed varied indigenous and exogenous technologies for domestic uses from natural surface to ground water stores. Community technological prowess and stratagems are functions of relief and climatic traits within a socio-political setting and that is why this paper sets out to assess indigenous and exogenous technologies of stakeholder in community water harvesting systems. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected for water sources, water demands, stakeholders, harvesting systems, technologies of extraction and water management through field observations, questionnaires and interviews. Findings revealed that few inhabitants have exogenous water supply technology and greater proportions depend on low technologies which paradoxically proved to be more sustainable than the high technologies. Stakeholder involvement motifs self-pride and politically driven and so the dearth of village water committees accounting for very derisory participation rates in water sourcing and management. The development and rehabilitation of alternative water sources is vital for sustainable water resource management and not just reliance on technological knowhow in Balikumbat.