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Book The Zambezi River Basin

    Book Details:
  • Author : Jonathan Lautze
  • Publisher : Routledge
  • Release : 2017-07-28
  • ISBN : 1315282038
  • Pages : 359 pages

Download or read book The Zambezi River Basin written by Jonathan Lautze and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-07-28 with total page 359 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Zambezi river is the fourth longest in Africa, crossing or bordering Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The river basin is widely recognised as one of the most important basins in southern Africa and is the focus of contested development, including water for hydropower and for agriculture and the environment. This book provides a thorough review of water and sustainable development in the Zambezi, in order to identify critical issues and propose constructive ways forward. The book first reviews the availability and use of water resources in the basin, outlines the basin’s economic potential and highlights key concerns related to climate vulnerability and risk. Focus is then devoted to hydropower and the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus, sustainable agricultural water management, and threats and opportunities related to provision of ecosystem services. The impact of urbanisation and water quality is also examined, as well as ways to enhance transboundary water cooperation. Last, the book assesses the level of water security in the basin, and provides suggestions for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. Throughout, emphasis is placed on entry points for basin-level management to foster improved paths forward.

Book Dams  Displacement  and the Delusion of Development

Download or read book Dams Displacement and the Delusion of Development written by Allen F. Isaacman and published by Ohio University Press. This book was released on 2013-04-10 with total page 309 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cahora Bassa Dam on the Zambezi River, built in the early 1970s during the final years of Portuguese rule, was the last major infrastructure project constructed in Africa during the turbulent era of decolonization. Engineers and hydrologists praised the dam for its technical complexity and the skills required to construct what was then the world’s fifth-largest mega-dam. Portuguese colonial officials cited benefits they expected from the dam—from expansion of irrigated farming and European settlement, to improved transportation throughout the Zambezi River Valley, to reduced flooding in this area of unpredictable rainfall. “The project, however, actually resulted in cascading layers of human displacement, violence, and environmental destruction. Its electricity benefited few Mozambicans, even after the former guerrillas of FRELIMO (Frente de Libertação de Moçambique) came to power; instead, it fed industrialization in apartheid South Africa.” (Richard Roberts) This in-depth study of the region examines the dominant developmentalist narrative that has surrounded the dam, chronicles the continual violence that has accompanied its existence, and gives voice to previously unheard narratives of forced labor, displacement, and historical and contemporary life in the dam’s shadow.

Book An International Perspective on Wetland Rehabilitation

Download or read book An International Perspective on Wetland Rehabilitation written by W.J. Streever and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bill Streever, author of Bringing Back the Wetlands and numerous technical articles about wetland restoration and creation, worked for two years to bring together this collection of papers. Authors ranging from private landowners to government managers to scientists present regional overviews, case studies, and discussions of various issues. Regional overviews cover areas as small as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to areas as large as Australia and Africa. Case studies range from relatively small projects, such as rehabilitation of damage caused by wheel ruts in the high arctic, to much larger projects, such as attempts to rehabilitate thousands of hectares of Northern Territory wetlands in Australia. Seedbank ecology, economics, remote sensing, community involvement, the role of the wetland consulting industry, and other issues are discussed. In an effort to synthesize information from around the world, Joy Zedler presents a model that allows comparison of projects and may lead to better predictability of project outcomes. In An International Perspective on Wetland Rehabilitation, authors describe planting, engineered structures, prescribed flooding, excavation, and other rehabilitation methods, from Israel to New Zealand to the Netherlands and elsewhere. For the first time, one volume offers an impression of the magnitude and diversity of the field of wetland rehabilitation around the globe.

Book Management of River Basins and Dams

Download or read book Management of River Basins and Dams written by M.J. Tumbare and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2021-04-29 with total page 314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Zambezi river basin is the fourth largest river basin in Africa and drains a total of some 1350.000 square km. The basin drains eight countries: Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The river flows over the famous Victoria Falls into the third largest artificial lake in the world: Lake Kariba. The Zambezi Basin is rich in natural resources and has a large hydro-power potential. This volume contains 37 papers which have been published in international journals, or presented at international conferences by the Zambezi River Authority staff. The topics covered include: Dam Safety, Rehabilitation and Maintenance, Environment and Health, Hydrology, Limnology, Information Systems, Water Resource Management, Hydropower Development and Socio-Economic Issues.

Book The Future of Large Dams

    Book Details:
  • Author : Thayer Ted Scudder
  • Publisher : Taylor & Francis
  • Release : 2012-04-27
  • ISBN : 1136547754
  • Pages : 408 pages

Download or read book The Future of Large Dams written by Thayer Ted Scudder and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2012-04-27 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Viewed by some as symbols of progress and by others as inherently flawed, large dams remain one of the most contentious development issues on Earth. Building on the work of the now defunct World Commission on Dams, Thayer Scudder wades into the debate with unprecedented authority. Employing the Commission's Seven Strategic priorities, Scudder charts the 'middle way' forward by examining the impacts of large dams on ecosystems, societies and political economies. He also analyses the structure of the decision-making process for water resource development and tackles the highly contentious issue of dam-induced resettlement, illuminated by a statistical analysis of 50 cases.

Book Sedimentation and Sustainable Use of Reservoirs and River Systems   S  dimentation et Utilisation Durable des R  servoirs et Syst  mes Fluviaux

Download or read book Sedimentation and Sustainable Use of Reservoirs and River Systems S dimentation et Utilisation Durable des R servoirs et Syst mes Fluviaux written by ICOLD CIGB and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2023-11-15 with total page 359 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ICOLD Bulletin 147 discusses the upstream and downstream fluvial morphological impacts of reservoir sedimentation and possible mitigation measures. The current state of and possible future sediment deposition in reservoirs have been investigated globally with the aid of the ICOLD Register on Dams. The global mean reservoir sedimentation rate was found to be 0.8 % of the original storage capacity per year. The book also investigates the impacts of dams on the ecology related to fluvial morphological changes, and guidelines are proposed to mitigate the impacts on the downstream river morphology. Finally an economical model is presented which considers a life cycle approach for reservoir conservation. Ce CIGB Bulletin 147 traite des impacts morphologiques fluviaux en amont et en aval de la sédimentation des réservoirs et des mesures d'atténuation possibles. L'état actuel et l'avenir possible du dépôt de sédiments dans les réservoirs ont été étudiés à l'échelle mondiale à l'aide du registre des barrages de la CIGB. Le taux moyen mondial de sédimentation des réservoirs s'est avéré être de 0,8 % de la capacité de stockage initiale par an. Le livre étudie également les impacts des barrages sur l'écologie liés aux changements morphologiques fluviaux, et des directives sont proposées pour atténuer les impacts sur la morphologie des rivières en aval. Enfin, un modèle économique est présenté qui prend en compte une approche de cycle de vie pour la conservation des réservoirs.

Book Ecological Changes in the Zambezi River Basin

Download or read book Ecological Changes in the Zambezi River Basin written by Mzime Ndebele-Murisa and published by African Books Collective. This book was released on 2021-01-11 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides an analysis of the ecological conditions and ecosystem goods and services of the Zambezi River Basin (ZRB), the fourth largest river in Africa. Various environmental and anthropogenic factors; inclusive of climate, environmental flows, hydrology, morphology, pollution and land use changes among others and their interactions are considered as drivers of the river ecosystems. The impacts of these drivers on aquatic biota, river ecological integrity, and the livelihoods of surrounding communities are analysed within the socio-economic-policy context. The book goes beyond the usual inventories and basic research by using the comparative research method (CRM) in a trans-disciplinary manner. This CRM analytical approach in this book seeks to interrogate the differences or similarities in socio-economic systems, livelihoods, ecological systems, ecosystem goods and services, their usage and management under the seemingly different cultural, socio-economic conditions expected across boarders that are within the ZRB. The multidisciplinary approach also connects the typical ecological research with social dimensions in a holistic manner. The book therefore, provides empirical and research based evidence to support strategic planning and policy development in the wake of ecological changes that nations and indeed regions such as the ZRB are grappling with while seeking to sustainably manage precious river systems.

Book The Social and Behavioural Aspects of Climate Change

Download or read book The Social and Behavioural Aspects of Climate Change written by Pim Martens and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-09-08 with total page 441 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the past few years, and certainly since the publication of the "Stern Report", there has been increasing recognition that climate change is not only an environmental crisis, but one with important social and economic dimensions. There is now a growing need for multi-disciplinary research and for the science of climate change to be usefully translated for policy-makers.Until very recently, scientific and policy emphasis on climate change has focused almost exclusively on mitigation efforts: mechanisms and regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The success of such efforts to date is debatable. In fact, the impact of ever more stringent emission control programmes could potentially have enormous social consequences. Little effort has been expended on the exploration of a systematic evaluation of climate stabilization benefits or the costs of adapting to a changed climate, let alone attempting to integrate different approaches. There is an increasing recognition that the key actors in the climate crisis also need to be preparing for change that is unavoidable. This has resulted in a greater consideration of vulnerability and adaptation.The book, based on the research programme "Vulnerability, Adaptation and Mitigation" (VAM) which ran from 2004 to 2010, funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), presents a cluster of case studies of industries, communities and institutions which each show how vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation analyses can be integrated using social behavioural sciences. Each chapter makes specific recommendations for the studied industry sector, community or institution, analyses the latest research developments of the field and identifies priorities for future research. The book argues that the inherent complexity of climate change will ultimately require a much more integrated response both scientifically – to better understand multiple causes and impacts – as well as at the scientific/policy interface, where new forms of engagement between scientists, policy-makers and wider stakeholder groups can make a valuable contribution to more informed climate policy and practice.The book is particularly timely as the scientific research and policy debate is shifting from one of problem-framing to new agendas that are much more concerned with implementation, the improvement of assessment methodologies from a multi-disciplinary perspective, and the reframing of current scientific understanding towards mitigation, adaptation and vulnerability. A critical element in responding to the climate change challenge will be to ensure the translation of these new scientific insights into innovative policy and practice "on the ground". This book provides some fundamental elements to answer this need.The Social and Behavioural Aspects of Climate Change: Linking Vulnerability, Adaptation and Mitigation will be essential reading for social science researchers and policy managers in the area of climate change, as well as for those who want to know what the social and behavioural sciences can contribute toward coping with climate hazards. NGOs, law firms and businesses in the energy sector or other climate related fields will also find the book of great value.

Book Disaster  Conflict and Society in Crises

Download or read book Disaster Conflict and Society in Crises written by Dorothea Hilhorst and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-07-18 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Humanitarian crises - resulting from conflict, natural disaster or political collapse – are usually perceived as a complete break from normality, spurring special emergency policies and interventions. In reality, there are many continuities and discontinuities between crisis and normality. What does this mean for our understanding of politics, aid, and local institutions during crises? This book examines this question from a sociological perspective. This book provides a qualitative inquiry into the social and political dynamics of local institutional response, international policy and aid interventions in crises caused by conflict or natural disaster. Emphasising the importance of everyday practices, this book qualitatively unravels the social and political working of policies, aid programmes and local institutions. The first part of the book deals with the social life of politics in crisis. Some of the questions raised are: What is the meaning of human security in practice? How do governments and other actors use crises to securitize – and hence depoliticize - their strategies? The second part of the book deals with the question how local institutions fare under and transform in response to crises. Conflicts and disasters are breakpoints of social order, with a considerable degree of chaos and disruption, but they are also marked by processes of continuity and re-ordering, or the creation of new institutions and linkages. This part of the book focuses on institutions varying from inter-ethnic marriage patterns in Sri Lanka to situation of institutional multiplicity in Angola. The final part of the book concerns the social and political realities of different domains of interventions in crisis, including humanitarian aid, peace-building, disaster risk reduction and safety nets to address chronic food crises. This book gives students and researchers in humanitarian studies, disaster studies, conflict and peace studies as well as humanitarian and military practitioners an invaluable wealth of case studies and unique political science analysis of the humanitarian studies field.

Book Adaptation to Climate Change in Southern Africa

Download or read book Adaptation to Climate Change in Southern Africa written by Steffen Bauer and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-02-13 with total page 123 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Adverse climate impacts are already evident across Southern Africa and pose a serious threat to the development prospects of the region's societies. Sustainable development in this region will depend on the rapid development and implementation of effective adaptation measures. This volume identifies the new socioeconomic and political boundaries to development that result from ongoing climate change in Southern Africa. The collected papers explore the region's potential for a transition to development strategies that combine meaningful socioeconomic investment and adaptation measures while also improving livelihoods in the region. The chapters are backed up by detailed case studies which underscore the urgent need for national governments and multilateral agencies to develop strategies to support Southern Africa's societies in adapting to climate change.

Book Southern African Landscapes and Environmental Change

Download or read book Southern African Landscapes and Environmental Change written by Peter J. Holmes and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-07-04 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume provides a textbook and reference work on the physical and biotic landscapes of Southern Africa. It examines the links between these environments and the ways in which they have been, are and will likely be subject to change. It covers the geomorphology, soils, vegetation and land use across a range of landscapes, including mountains, coasts, savannah, drylands and wetlands, and identifies the impacts of current and potential climate change and other factors on these environments. The geographical focus is on the region defined by Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Swaziland. Illustrated throughout in full colour, the book will serve as a reference volume for researchers and environmental professionals internationally, as well as a textbook for senior undergraduate and graduate-level students of geography, ecology and environmental studies in Southern Africa.

Book Evolution and Innovation in Wildlife Conservation

Download or read book Evolution and Innovation in Wildlife Conservation written by Brian Child and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2012-05-04 with total page 482 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The crucible of innovation in wildlife and habitat conservation is in southern Africa where it has co-evolved with decolonization, political transformation and the rise of development, ownership, management and livelihood debates. Charting this innovation, early chapters deal with the traditional 'fines and fences' conservation that occurred in the colonial and early post-independence period, with subsequent sections focussing on the experimentation and innovation that occurred on private and communal land as a result of the break from these traditional methods. The final section deals with more recent innovations in the sector, focussing on building and strengthening the relationships between parks and society. Importantly, the book provides a data-rich summary of experimentation with more inclusive models of conservation in terms of ecological, social, political and economic indicators. Published with the Southern African Sustainable Use Specialist Group (SASUSG) of IUCN

Book Southern African Geomorphology

Download or read book Southern African Geomorphology written by Peter Holmes and published by UJ Press. This book was released on 2013-01-06 with total page 421 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book covers the geomorphology and landscape evolution of South Africa, focusing on arid landscapes, fluvial systems, karst, Quaternary landscapes, macro-scale geomorphic evolution, coastal geomorphology and applied geomorphology. It would appeal to postgraduate students in Physical Geography (Geomorphology) and Physical Geology and all academics in the earth sciences.

Book Hydrological Degradation  Vegetation Change  and Restoration Potential

Download or read book Hydrological Degradation Vegetation Change and Restoration Potential written by Richard D. Beilfuss and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 466 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Biogeochemistry and the Environment

Download or read book Biogeochemistry and the Environment written by Michael O'Neal Campbell and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2023-12-14 with total page 440 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Biogeochemistry may be defined as the science that combines biological and chemical perspectives for the examination of the Earth’s surface, including the relations between the biosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. Biogeochemistry is a comparatively recently developed science, that incorporates scientific knowledge and findings, research methodologies, and models linking the biological, chemical, and earth sciences. Therefore, while it is a definitive science with a strong theoretical core, it is also dynamically and broadly interlinked with other sciences. This book examines the complex science of biogeochemistry from a novel perspective, examining its comparatively recent development, while also emphasizing its interlinked relationship with the earth sciences (including the complementary science of geochemistry), the geographical sciences (biogeography, oceanography, geomatics, earth systems science), the biological sciences (ecology, wildlife studies, biological aspects of environmental sciences) and the chemical sciences (including environmental chemistry and pollution). The book covers cutting-edge topics on the science of biogeochemistry, examining its development, structure, interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary relations, and the future of the current complex knowledge systems, especially in the context of technological, developments, and the computer and data fields.