Download or read book Society Water Technology written by Reinhard F. Hüttl and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-11-02 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents the results of the Interdisciplinary Research Group "Society – Water – Technology" of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. It describes interdisciplinary evaluation criteria for major water engineering projects (MWEPs) and portrays an application to the Lower Jordan Valley (Middle East) and the Fergana Valley (Central Asia). Both areas are characterised by transboundary conflicts, by challenges due to demographic and climate change and by political and societal pressures. Based on the findings, the book provides recommendations for science and political decisions makers as well as for international financing institutions. In addition, it outlines research gaps from an interdisciplinary perspective. In the past, MWEPs have been used as an instrument to cope with the demands of growing populations and to enhance development progress. Experiences with MWEPs have shown that a purely technical approach has not always brought about the desired results. In many cases, MWEPs have even resulted in negative implications for society and environment. Therefore, improved management strategies and enhanced technologies for a sustainable water resource management system are a prerequisite to meet present and future challenges. And, moreover, the continuous evaluation and optimisation of these measures is, likewise, a must.

Download or read book Arid Land Systems Sciences and Societies written by Troy Sternberg and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2019-08-19 with total page 380 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Understanding deserts and drylands is essential, as arid landscapes cover >40% of the Earth and are home to two billion people. Today's problematic environment–human interaction needs contemporary knowledge to address dryland complexity. Physical dimensions in arid zones—land systems, climate and hazards, ecology—are linked with social processes that directly impact drylands, such as land management, livelihoods, and development. The challenges require integrated research that identifies systemic drivers across global arid regions. Measurement and monitoring, field investigation, remote sensing, and data analysis are effective tools to investigate natural dynamics. Equally, inquiry into how policy and practice affect landscape sustainability is key to mitigating detrimental activity in deserts. Relations between socio-economic forces and degradation, agro-pastoral rangeland use, drought and disaster and resource extraction reflect land interactions. Contemporary themes of food security, conflict, and conservation are interlinked in arid environments. This book unifies desert science, arid environments, and dryland development. The chapters identify land dynamics, address system risks and delineate human functions through original research in arid zones. Mixed methodologies highlight the vital links between social and environmental science in global deserts. The book engages with today's topical themes and presents novel analyses of arid land systems and societies.

Download or read book Handbook of the Anthropocene written by Nathanaël Wallenhorst and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2023-08-21 with total page 1595 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Handbook is a collection of contributions of more than 300 researchers who have worked to grasp the Anthropocene, this new geological epoch characterised by a modification of the conditions of habitability of the Earth for all living things, in its biogeophysical and socio-political reality. These researchers also sought to define a historical and prospective anthropology that integrates social, economic, cultural and political issues as well as, of course, environmental ones. What are the anthropological changes needed to ensure that our human adventure will be able to continue in the Anthropocene? And what are the educational and political issues involved? Anthropocene is fast becoming a widely-used term, but thus far, there been no reference work explaining the thoughts of the greatest experts of the present day on this subject (at the intersection of biogeophysical and socio-political knowledge). A scientific and political concept (but which is also the conceptual vehicle for conveying the scientific community's sense of concern), this complex term is explained by international experts as they reflect on scientific arguments taking place in earth system science, the social sciences and the humanities. What these researchers from different disciplines have in common is a healthy concern for the future and how to prepare for it in the Anthropocene and also the identification of possible anthropological changes. This Handbook encourages readers to immerse themselves in reflections on the human adventure through descriptions of our differing heritages and the future that is in the process of being written.

Download or read book Pamirian Crossroads and Beyond written by Hermann Kreutzmann and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2024-08-08 with total page 763 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Pamirian Crossroads and Beyond Hermann Kreutzmann offers insights in his fieldwork-based research in High Asia during four decades. A human-geographical perspective is pursued in which case studies about colonial and post-colonial boundary-making, exchange relations of mountain communities across international borders, the transformation of agricultural and pastoral practices and the effects of modernisation strategies in neighbouring countries are centred in the Hindukush, Wakhan Quadrangle, Pamirian Crossroads, Karakoram Mountains and Himalaya. Empirical evidence is augmented by in-depth archival research, thus allowing a perspective from the 19th to the 21st century. By shifting the focus to mountain peripheries and emphasising spaces in between urban centres of power in Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and the Central Asian Republics different arenas of confrontation and effective changes emerge.

Download or read book The United Nations World Water Development Report written by UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme and published by UNESCO Publishing. This book was released on 2021-03-22 with total page 205 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Water is a finite and non-substitutable resource. As the foundation of life, societies and economies, it carries multiple values and benefits. But unlike most other natural resources, it has proven extremely difficult to determine its true 'value'. The 2021 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report, titled "Valuing Water" assesses the current status of and challenges to the valuation of water across different sectors and perspectives and identifies ways in which valuation can be promoted as a tool to help improve its management and achieve global sustainable development.

Download or read book Heavy Metal and Metalloid Contamination of Surface and Underground Water written by Abhik Gupta and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2020-10-27 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Heavy metal and metalloid contamination of groundwater and surface water ecosystems involves important policy-related and ethical issues besides its more well-known scientific aspects. Heavy Metal and Metalloid Contamination of Surface and Underground Water: Environmental, Policy, and Ethical Issues has brought these three dimensions under a single volume. The book presents an updated status of the nature and extent of heavy metal and metalloid contamination of water and discuss its future implications. In Section I, the book provides a state-of-the-art review of research findings on entry, storage, and release, human health risks, and the uptake and accumulation by freshwater biota and the toxic effects experienced by them. The book also provides information on the bioremediation of heavy metals and metalloids, and the possible effects of climate change on their distribution and toxicity. Section II of the book throws light on the policies and legislations adopted in several countries to deal with the vexed issue of metal contamination of waters in both historical and current perspectives. Special emphasis has been given to the contamination of drinking water and its attendant implications for human health. The book also treats the relevance and applications of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), which forms the backbone of the water policies of several countries. In Section III, discussions focus on ethical issues rising out of heavy metal and metalloid contamination of water, and on the different ethical approaches and principles in both indigenous and other societies. Features: A systematic overview of the major facets of heavy metal and metalloid contamination of water Compilation and analysis of the latest research in the subject area Ample case studies in all chapters that highlight specific problems Review of policy and legislation for the control of heavy metal pollution of water Water ethics in indigenous societies This book will be a vital resource for students and research scholars in the field of environmental science, ecotoxicology, and pollution studies.

Download or read book Water auditing water governance analysis written by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2024-01-16 with total page 76 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The paper aims to promote the increased focus on governance dimension of water-related issues, and the value of investing in development of institutions that balance water demand and supply, and that mediate between the claims of competing users for inclusive and sustainable water management. Water governance determines the equity and efficiency in water resource and services allocation and distribution, and balances water use between various socioeconomic activities, and between those and ecosystems. Strengthening water governance for agriculture and food security means enabling effective problem-solving to produce policies and institutions related to water use and management that are regarded as legitimate by all relevant actors. The combination of technical and governance analyses has the potential to help decision-makers identify the most appropriate ways to achieve water efficiency, productivity, and sustainability, while at the same time increasing the capacity of agricultural productivity to end hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. This paper provides practical guidance to undertake an in-depth water governance analysis at country and subnational levels and to develop technically valid and politically feasible strategies for change. With its emphasis on continual learning and adaptation, water governance analyses will help policy practitioners work in a more informed and politically sensitive way towards more sustainable, efficient, and equitable water use, guaranteeing social and economic sustainability for all users.

Download or read book Water Governance Retheorizing Politics written by Nicole J. Wilson and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2019-10-11 with total page 334 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This republished Special Issue highlights recent and emergent concepts and approaches to water governance that re-centers the political in relation to water-related decision making, use, and management. To do so at once is to focus on diverse ontologies, meanings and values of water, and related contestations regarding its use, or its importance for livelihoods, identity, or place-making. Building on insights from science and technology studies, feminist, and postcolonial approaches, we engage broadly with the ways that water-related decision making is often depoliticized and evacuated of political content or meaning—and to what effect. Key themes that emerged from the contributions include the politics of water infrastructure and insecurity; participatory politics and multi-scalar governance dynamics; politics related to emergent technologies of water (bottled or packaged water, and water desalination); and Indigenous water governance.

Download or read book Bird Migration across the Himalayas written by Herbert H. T. Prins and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2017-04-06 with total page 491 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Birds migrating across the Himalayan region fly over the highest peaks in the world, facing immense physiological and climatic challenges. The authors show the different strategies used by birds to cope with these challenges. Many wetland avian species are seen in the high-altitude lakes of the Himalayas and the adjoining Tibetan Plateau, such as Bar-Headed Geese. Ringing programmes have generated information about origins and destinations, and this book is the first to present information on the bird's exact migratory paths. Capitalising on knowledge generated through satellite telemetry, the authors describe the migratory routes of a multitude of birds flying over or skirting the Himalayas. The myriad of threats to migratory birds and the wetland system in the Central Asian Flyway are discussed, with ways to mitigate them. This volume will inform and persuade policy-makers and conservation practitioners to take appropriate measures for the long-term survival of this unique migration.

Download or read book Management Of Transboundary Water Resources Under Scarcity A Multidisciplinary Approach written by Ariel Dinar and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2017-03-17 with total page 397 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Water scarcity due to climate change, population growth, and economic development is a critical issue in many semi-arid and arid regions around the world. Water scarcity is especially critical in regions where water is shared by several riparian states and used for competing purposes (irrigation, domestic, industry, environment, and hydropower). There is evidence that water scarcity may give rise to conflicts among the riparian states that share water basins. At the same time, there is evidence that proper arrangements among riparian states create a basis for cooperation, which is a necessary condition for economic development, food production, environmental sustainability, and poverty reduction. This book presents a collection of work presented by a group of academics and policy experts dealing with the impact of water scarcity and variability on the ability to jointly manage shared water and the derived welfare of international states and nations sharing international river basins, consisting of economics, technology, law and institutions, geography, and international relations.The book covers theoretical aspects of management of transboundary water as well as case studies from hotspots around the world. The unique aspect of this book is the multidisciplinary nature of the chapters, reflecting a new field of research that will gain popularity as water scarcity will increase over time and across regions.The chapters from the book were presented at the 'Management of Transboundary Water Resources under Scarcity: Perspectives on Agriculture and Food Security' workshop held at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, from June 22 to 23, 2015.

Download or read book Global Water Ethics written by Rafael Ziegler and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2017-06-12 with total page 317 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scholarly interest in water ethics is increasing, motivated by the urgency of climate change, water scarcity, privatization and conflicts over water resources. Water ethics can provide both conceptual perspectives and practical methodologies for identifying outcomes which are environmentally sustainable and socially just. This book assesses the implications of ongoing research in framing a new discipline of water ethics in practice. Contributions consider the difficult ethical and epistemological questions of water ethics in a global context, as well as offering local, empirical perspectives. Case study chapters focus on a range of countries including Canada, China, Germany, India, South Africa and the USA. The respective insights are brought together in the final section concerning the practical project of a universal water ethics charter, alongside theoretical questions about the legitimacy of a global water ethics. Overall the book provides a stimulating examination of water ethics in theory and practice, relevant to academics and professionals in the fields of water resource management and governance, environmental ethics, geography, law and political science.

Download or read book African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation written by Nicholas Oguge and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-05-20 with total page 2822 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This open access book discusses current thinking and presents the main issues and challenges associated with climate change in Africa. It introduces evidences from studies and projects which show how climate change adaptation is being - and may continue to be successfully implemented in African countries. Thanks to its scope and wide range of themes surrounding climate change, the ambition is that this book will be a lead publication on the topic, which may be regularly updated and hence capture further works. Climate change is a major global challenge. However, some geographical regions are more severly affected than others. One of these regions is the African continent. Due to a combination of unfavourable socio-economic and meteorological conditions, African countries are particularly vulnerable to climate change and its impacts. The recently released IPCC special report "Global Warming of 1.5o C" outlines the fact that keeping global warming by the level of 1.5o C is possible, but also suggested that an increase by 2o C could lead to crises with crops (agriculture fed by rain could drop by 50% in some African countries by 2020) and livestock production, could damage water supplies and pose an additonal threat to coastal areas. The 5th Assessment Report produced by IPCC predicts that wheat may disappear from Africa by 2080, and that maize— a staple—will fall significantly in southern Africa. Also, arid and semi-arid lands are likely to increase by up to 8%, with severe ramifications for livelihoods, poverty eradication and meeting the SDGs. Pursuing appropriate adaptation strategies is thus vital, in order to address the current and future challenges posed by a changing climate. It is against this background that the "African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation" is being published. It contains papers prepared by scholars, representatives from social movements, practitioners and members of governmental agencies, undertaking research and/or executing climate change projects in Africa, and working with communities across the African continent. Encompassing over 100 contribtions from across Africa, it is the most comprehensive publication on climate change adaptation in Africa ever produced.

Download or read book Ecoregionalism written by Jon Marco Church and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-05-25 with total page 428 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a comprehensive understanding of environmental regionalism at the international level, analyzing the concept and identifying recurring patterns from six in-depth case studies. While ecoregions or environmental regions are defined on ecological boundaries rather than administrative criteria, ecoregionalism is the idea that regional dynamics should cluster around ecoregions, while ecoregionalization is the tendency of regional dynamics to cluster around ecoregions. Focusing on the international level, this book presents six cases of ecoregional processes from around the world and the regional environmental agreements: two are terrestrial, the Alps and the Andes; two are marine, the Mediterranean Sea and the Baltic Sea; two are related to freshwater ecosystems: the Amu Darya in Central Asia and the Great Lakes in North America. The book analyzes both ecoregional processes focused on the environment, as well as intersectoral ecoregional processes. The case studies are analyzed based on the ecoregional governance framework, developed by the author for this book. Despite the diversity of context, the similarity of the governance system of the six cases is striking. Several recurring patterns have been identified, which may also extend to the subnational level. They are not design principles, but may be taken into consideration for the design or redesign of current and future regional environmental agreements and processes. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of environmental politics, natural resource management, spatial planning and international relations.

Download or read book Sustainable States written by Jon B. Alterman and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2021-10-13 with total page 89 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The importance of environmentally sustainable public utilities in the Middle East is an improbable topic for a Washington think tank study. Yet, many countries in the Middle East face serious challenges providing utilities in any manner to their populations, and the failure to do so is an increasing flashpoint for public dissatisfaction. This study finds that providing more environmentally sustainable services in the Middle East would be an effective way to address many citizens’ grievances which go beyond the reliability of those services. It would also help ameliorate deep dissatisfaction with the quality of governance and help build trust between citizens and their governments. This study examines three sectors—power, water and sanitation, and solid waste—in Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia. While the three countries are different in many ways, each faces increasing challenges providing services to their citizens. Providing these services in an environmentally sustainable way would also crucially increase each country’s resilience and diminish their vulnerability in a chronically unstable region.

Download or read book The Geography of Uzbekistan written by Lola Gulyamova and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2022-12-02 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book describes the geography of Uzbekistan and its unique history and culture. It focuses on the development of Uzbekistan as a result of its location on the crossroads of the Silk Road. The influence of global and regional environmental challenges on the current landscape and similar issues are discussed and analyzed from a historical perspective. Contemporary tensions and reforms in social, economical and cultural life are described with the aim to draw a picture of modern paths to transformation and development. The Geography of Uzbekistan includes also information on geology, nature and natural resources, in particular water. The book discusses the social and environmental impacts of the Aral Sea disaster and shows new paths of transformation and development for this Central Asian country.

Download or read book Taxation and Management of Natural Resources in Africa written by Mohammed Amidu and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on with total page 492 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Engineering Reality written by Cornelia Helmcke and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2023-10-24 with total page 293 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Engineering Reality offers unprecedented insights into the power of environmental impact assessments in engineering a reality favourable to any investment, focusing on the highly contested environmental study of a large hydroelectric dam project in southern Colombia, El Quimbo. The inclusion of environmental impact assessments to project proposals of environmental influence has been an undeniably important step to environmental governance in many countries around the world. Regarding the science behind these studies as objective and their results as the closest in representing reality, however, is misleading. Many activists and scholars made it their mission to uncover the limitations and work towards filling the gaps. Participation processes are considered key to any successful evaluation, but local knowledges and alternative perspectives are still often disqualified through more widely accepted scientific methods. Engineering Reality systematically walks through and accounts for the shortcomings and injustices associated with environmental monitoring. It compares the reality as presented in the dam’s environmental impact study with first-hand accounts from the local and affected populations and observations gathered through two periods of fieldwork in 2012 (before) and 2016-17 (after the dam started operating). It explores how the knowledge of the study was used politically and to what end. Bringing the findings in conversation with the wider environmental impact assessment literature, the book proposes a new framework to assess energy projects -Energy Data Justice- that regards the environmental impact assessment a strictly political tool aimed at reaching the just energy transition in Colombia and worldwide.