Environment and Forestry

Socio-cultural factors are the facts and experiences that influence an individual's personality, attitudes and lifestyle. In some societies, women’s participation in tree growing can be hampered by traditions, beliefs, norms and taboos. The main objective of this study was determination of the socio-cultural factors that influence women’s participation in tree growing in Siaya County, Kenya. A cross - sectional survey design was used with 120 household respondents, 40 key informants, 4 women groups and the Luo council of Elders. Instruments used were; structured questionnaire, interview schedule and interview guide. Data was analysed using both descriptive and coefficient of multiple correlations at 0.05 confidence level. 95% of title deeds are in the names of males, 1.8% of females (all of them were widows) and 3.2% had the names. R2 is 4%, standardized beta coefficient of the same indicates -0.201 and p-value significance is 0.028. On traditions, 48.3% either disagreed or strongly disagreed, 50% of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed, 1.7% could not decide. Key informants, women groups and Luo Council of elders agree that traditions and beliefs influence. R2 is 3.6%, standardized beta coefficient, -0.191 and p-value is 0.037. In conclusion, land tenure, traditions/customs and beliefs/norms are socio-cultural factors influencing participation of women. More efforts should be put to sensitize the community members the need to have attitudinal change as regards women in tree growing for increased land cover.

The diversity and population density distribution survey of primate was conducted in Sambisa Game Reserve. The study noted three diverse primate species dominant that include Baboon (Papio anubis), Tantalus monkey (Cercopithecus tantalus) and Red patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas). The aim of the study was to determine density estimate, population structure and the relative abundance between species and habitat disturbances. Information on the objectives of this study is not sufficiently documented, it is therefore right to carry out such study so as to provide baseline information that could be used to plan conservation management strategies for primate. The line transect sampling method was used for the enumeration. The data obtained was analysed using the software package DISTANCE 6.0 to determine population density estimate. The result showed that primate population was concentrated in three ranges of the reserve (Kwada, Yuwe and Jeltere). Balda range has suffered habitat disturbances resulting into insignificant number of primate. The mean encounter rates (MERs) for the three species were 1.85km-1, 0.94/km-1 and 1.58km-1 for baboon, Patas monkey and Tantalus monkey respectively. Baboon had the highest estimated density of about 12km-2. The estimated density of Tantalus monkey in the study area was about 11km-2. Patas monkey had a density estimate of about 7km-2. There was a significant difference in the pattern of primate species densities for morning and evening count. The result indicated less activity in the evening for all the 3 primate species in the study area. The mean encounter rate for Baboon were 1.15 km-1 (n=110) and 0.71 km-1 (n= 68) individual animals for morning and evening sightings respectively. Similar results were obtained for the density estimate of both Tantalus and Patas monkey. The relative density for the three primate species across the four ranges in the reserve revealed that Baboon was not recorded in Balda range and only 2 individuals sighted in Jeltere. Kwada and yuwe ranges had the highest abundance of 119 and 57 individuals sighted respectively. The population structure showed declining trend as number of juveniles was relatively lower than adult population. However, the relatively higher percentage of female adults may result in population growth, if majority of them are within the breeding age. The diversity of primates in Sambisa Game Reserve is distributed throughout the reserve within a wide range of habitat types. The highest numbers of primate species were found in the centre of the reserve (Kwada and Yuwe) where habitat disturbances were controlled.

Floristic studies are fundamental for the applied sciences such as rangeland management and conservation. Unique ecological and climatic conditions in the Tang Soulak Protected Area make it a remarkable habitat for the floristic studies. The purpose of this study was to determine floristic composition and their chorology carrying a central importance in vegetation description and analysis. Therefore, 50 quadrats (100 m2) were located according to the nature of vegetation. The species and their abundance-dominance were recorded. 70 plant species, belonging to 21 families, were identified. Plant classification, based on Raunkiaer’s life forms revealed Hemicryptophytes as the most abundant (46% of total) species. Therophytes, Phanerophytes and Chamaephytes contained 26, 12 and 4 percents of total plant species, respectively. Chorological characteristics of the plant species showed, about 66% of the total plant species in Tang Soulak area were belonged to the Irano-Turanian Chorotype.

This research was carried out from March 2014 to late August 2014 in Tang Soulak protected area in the Kohgiloye - Boyer Ahmad Province, I. R. Iran. The method used in this study was based on radius point counts. In the study area, 27 terrestrial bird species were identified. According to the “Margalef Index”, the most biodiversity richness was observed in May (3.12) and the least richness in March (2.92). According to “Menhink Index”, the most richness was seen in March (0.53) and the least in July and August (0.44).According to “Simpson Index”, the max. Biodiversity richness was in April (0.793) and the min. biodiversity was in March (0.699). According to“Shanon-viner Index” the max. Biodiversity richness was observed in April (3.396) and the min. biodiversity in March (2.892). According to “Simpson Index” the most uniformity was in April (0.193) and the least uniformity was in May and March (0.144). The diversity of species uniformity indices indicate a high habitat quality around “Tang Soulak protected area” area and status of good conditions for birds which should be considered in the management issues.

The paper seeks to investigate the risk factor associated with indoor air pollution in low income households. Cooking with traditional fuels leads to high levels of indoor air pollution expose of which increase the risk of various health problems health problems. The present study is based on the collect information on socio-economic condition, types of chulla used, its location, types of fuel, fuel sources and health consequences in the rural area of Muzaffarnagar and Bagpat district of Uttar Pradesh. The study provides the overview of the relation between indoor air pollution (IPA), traditional cooking stove, fuel used, literacy, health and economic well being. The result shows that most of income households were using traditional fuels and stoves, cooking in multipurpose room and veranda in poorly ventilated cooking places and taking long hours for cooking. The study points to the need of creating awareness amongst low income households.

In India, the wastewater at large from distilleries is known as spent wash, which is highly acidic in nature. In India 2004, distillery industry number has gone up to 319, producing 3.25x109 l of alcohol and generating 40.4x1010 l of wastewater annually (Uppal, 2004). Because of using large quantities of water in distillery industries it is essential to treat and reuse their waste water. In the most of time the discharge standards applied for distilleries are often too tough and below the level that can be achieved with appropriate biological treatment technologies (Pant and Adholeya, 2007a,b). In distillery industry, the production and characteristics of spent wash is highly variable and dependent on feed stocks and various aspects of the ethanol production process. The molasses spent wash (MSW) is a potential water pollutant in two ways. First, the highly coloured nature of MSW can block out sun light from rivers and streams thus reducing oxygenation of the water by photosynthesis and hence becomes injurious to aquatic life. Secondly, it has a high pollution load which would result in eutrophication of contaminated water sources (FitzGibbon et al., 1998). The first reason is due to the presence of water soluble recalcitrant colouring compound called melanoidin (Evershed et al., 1997). Melanoidin are dark brown to black coloured natural condensation product of sugar and amino acids produced by nonenzymatic browning reactions called maillard reactions (Plavsic et al., 2006). Ohmomo et al. (1988a) concluded that microbial decolourization of melanoidin is due to two decomposition mechanisms; in the first the smaller molecular weight melanoidin are attacked and in the second the larger molecular weight melanoidin are attacked. Satyawali and Balakrishnan (2008 a b) have investigated that the degradation of low molecular weight compound occurred in the membrane bioreactor (MBR) while the higher molecular weight compounds comprising the colour imparting melanoidin remained unaffected. As melanoidins are recalcitrant to biodegradation, the elimination of colored effluents in molasses-based distillery wastewater treatment system is mainly based on physical or chemical procedures such as adsorption, coagulation, precipitation, and oxidation. Although these methods are effective, they suffer from such short coming as requiring high reagent dosage, high cost, and formation of hazardous byproducts and intensive energy consumption.

Entire world is leading towards development in the phase of globalization. Progressive nations are busy in striving to attain a better wellbeing and achieving more equitable distribution of wealth within and among generations but this development had raised issues like global warming, deforestation, changing weather and exhaustion of natural resources. To endure a sustainable wellbeing and a superior equitable distribution of wealth through time, the political will, social attitude, and well-defined economic goals have to be effectively integrated. Hence framing those practices which would endeavor sustainable economic growth but not at the cost of exhaustion of natural resources and environment. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to implement green marketing practices for achieving sustainable environment and economic growth. In other words, achieving sustainability is not possible, and will not be successful over the long run unless it takes into account all the relevant factors, including the environment. The area of study is Dal Lake. Dal Lake is a Himalayan urban lake, famous for its pristine beauty which attracts thousands of tourists every year. The Dal Lake is also one of only very few water bodies in the world having permanent human settlements within its confines. It is an important source of livelihood for above 60,000 local people residing in 125 hamlets, 602 houseboats and 272 doongas (smaller boats for ferrying people and goods) though the services like tourism, water sports, fishery, cultivation of vegetables on the ‘floating gardens, providing a variety of products like lotus seeds and rhizomes, vegetables and fruits etc. Dal Lake has historically been the center of Kashmiri civilization and has played a major role in the economy of Kashmir through its attraction of tourists as well as its utilization as a source of food and water. Preservation of world famous Dal Lake hence, is need of period. Thus incorporating green marketing practices with in the vicinity of Dal Lake can function as cradle for its conservation and sustainable environment.

Although transportation is one of the basic means of measuring development, in a country, in most developing countries, rural transportation is inadequate. The study discusses the importance of the role of transportation in development with respect to rural settlement areas in rural areas of Plateau State in Nigeria. The approach was based on field observation and the interpretation of data collected to inform the role transportation plays in the transportation of agricultural produce. Roads conditions were assessed through respondents and how they ranked the conditions of roads in selected rural settlement areas in Plateau State. This was preceded by analysing sets of data from a desktop survey to put the study in context. The transportation problems faced by rural dwellers in Plateau State impacts negatively on their quality of life i.e. high cost, inadequate maintenance of roads. In spite of these challenges rural dwellers cannot do without transporting their produce to market centers. However, the challenges the challenge are the costs, the road conditions and inadequate provision for transportation of agricultural produce from rural areas to market centers.

Anatomical features of infected wood of teak (Tectona grandis) were investigated in this study. Mistletoe-infected trees were sectioned and examined under a light microscope in order to ascertain the extent of infestation of the parasite, especially the haustoria, on the wood species. Wood micrographs of healthy Tectona grandis were presented, while photomicrographs of the infested wood sections revealed patches of deposits which were noticeable at the tangential section in the parenchyma cells. Upon examination and in comparison to sections from healthy Tectona grandis, it was observed that the deposits might have been as a result of the wood response to the infestation of the parasite (mistletoe). The materials which seemed to plug part of the rays were associated to the parasite activities in the wood rays, as the areas mostly infected were the parenchyma cells where food materials are normally stored in wood. The study revealed that impact of Mistletoes goes beyond the peripheral of the bark region but further into the host wood microstructures.

Nigeria accounts for about 16% of the Shell’s global oil business ventures, and about 7% of total profits. Shell has come across a wide range of sustainable development issues throughout its operations. Against this background, this study examines the performance (environmental and social) and efforts by Shell Nigeria in moving their operations in the way that promotes sustainability; and also looks into the hindrances to implementation of the practice of sustainability. The operational data and the company statements were used to access and explain the company’s approach to sustainability. Shell’s progress in this approach was evaluated and its performance were analysed from data on its social and environmental reports for seven years (2005 to 2011). The general approach of Shell indicates that it understands sustainability issues fronting it and the actions required to improve sustainable performance. Despite Shell’s good progress in social and environmental performance over the years, as expressed in their annual sustainability reports, there still exist some challenges and worries particularly in the areas of oil spills, gas flaring and security in the Niger Delta. Among other obstacles, the operational spills in Nigeria have no significant environmental improvement over the years, and have contributed to the volume of global operational spills in Shell. It claims that 72% volume of the spills is from sabotage and theft, and the remaining percentage is due to its own operational failures and ageing facilities; but its 2011 report shows an outrageous oil spill due to its operations over the sabotage spill. Shell is encouraged to target long-term performance in sustainable development that is robust across economic, social, environmental and political spheres in Nigeria.