Tourism in mountainous regions is a significant source of revenue generation. However, it has also been associated with many adverse environmental consequences. This study aims at assessing the negative impacts of the...Tourism in mountainous regions is a significant source of revenue generation. However, it has also been associated with many adverse environmental consequences. This study aims at assessing the negative impacts of the incessant upsurge in tourism development on the physical environment of Mussoorie, a well-known mountain tourist destination in India. The impact indicators for the region were identified and assessed by qualitative and quantitative analysis of field observations. The observations indicated the aggravation of traffic congestion, atmospheric pollution, undisposed solid waste, water scarcity and infrastructure unavailability as the prevalent issues, especially during the peak tourist months. The extent of the consequential damage to the environment was evaluated by conducting an assessment of tourism-induced human disturbance on the natural landscape of the town. Slope, slope aspect, vegetation cover, road network and drainage network were incorporated as thedetermining landscape attributes to prepare thematic maps of landscape quality(perceivable intrinsic properties) and landscape fragility(vulnerability to anthropogenic disturbances) using GIS technique. An absorption capacity map was finally prepared to characterize the study area into regions of different conservation needs. The results identified the need for planning appropriate preservation strategies for different tourist places in the town. The study can be used by the policy makers for implementing the regulatory measures against potential disturbances due to mass-tourism.展开更多
Amorpha fruticosa L. （Fabaceae）, known as indigo bush, false indigo bush, false indigo and desert false indigo, is deciduous shrub （1-6 m tall）. The woody weed species A. fruticosa has a high environmental adaptab...Amorpha fruticosa L. （Fabaceae）, known as indigo bush, false indigo bush, false indigo and desert false indigo, is deciduous shrub （1-6 m tall）. The woody weed species A. fruticosa has a high environmental adaptability and is present in different environmental conditions. In Vojvodina region （Northern Serbia）, it is mostly present near irrigation channels and river banks, especially in alluvial or marshy areas. Since A. fruticosa is continually spreading near river banks, the aim of research was to determine seed bank composition near the Danube River. in 2014, soil sampling was performed at localities with high population of A. fruticosa （3-4 plants at age over two years and 10-14 plants at age 1-2 years）. Soil samples were taken from two localities （Futog and Sangaj） with alluvial sandy soil and chernozem near the Danube River. Each sample was sieved through a system of copper sieves of various diameters. After the separation of seeds from samples, they were identified. Significant presence of A. fruticosa seeds （1,914 seeds/m2） was established in a layer of 0-10 cm. In the same soil layer, the significant presence of seeds of Stellaria media （L.） Vill. and Urtica dioica L. were also established. Seeds ofA. fruticosa were not found in soil layers 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm. The invasive weed species A. fruticosa produces a large number of seeds in two cycles. The majority of the seeds stay in the upper soil layer, being dispersed by water （hydrochory）.展开更多
Archaeological sites are most visible records of our cultural heritage, These sites are often constructed of stone threaten by geomorphological processing, pollution, urbanization, public access, groundwater seepage a...Archaeological sites are most visible records of our cultural heritage, These sites are often constructed of stone threaten by geomorphological processing, pollution, urbanization, public access, groundwater seepage and geological hazards, such as rock falls. These archaeological sites suffered deterioration and failure of some parts. Environmental hazards are the main agent responsible for the monument degrading knowledge of intensity of environmental hazards together with their aggressiveness characteristics surrounding the monumentally area which is important during all phases restoration process （both previous and to be executed in situ）. The main geo-environmental hazards which affect the monuments under investigation; weathering, air pollution, seismic activity.展开更多
It is important to evaluate and monitor the environmental impacts by the activity in our hand with appropriate methods, and the geophysical techniques have often been used in the subsurface environmental monitoring an...It is important to evaluate and monitor the environmental impacts by the activity in our hand with appropriate methods, and the geophysical techniques have often been used in the subsurface environmental monitoring and remediation processes. In the study an electromagnetic survey （EM） is performed to delineate deeply the extent of contamination at an industrial abandoned site, to detect the spread of groundwater and soil contamination, to locate possible pathways of leachate plumes. Based on the analysis of the geophysical anomaly of electrical conductivity, the survey area is delineated into three zones： original zone, transitional zone and contaminated zone. It was inferred that the high conductivity zones correspond to the contaminated zones of groundwater and soil. The survey demonstrates that EM method has the ability to measure small changes in subsurface properties involving ground water and is sensitive to the conductive layers. The measurement shows the behavior of groundwater and soil contamination and the position of groundwater pipelines, and it is beneficial to help waste management processes and to determine possible locations of monitoring wells so as to monitor the environment in the survey area in the future.展开更多
This study examines social vulnerability by exploring the socio-economic factors, infrastructures, and social networks that can determine how prone and how prepared the rain-fed farming communities are to the adverse ...This study examines social vulnerability by exploring the socio-economic factors, infrastructures, and social networks that can determine how prone and how prepared the rain-fed farming communities are to the adverse impacts of climate change. Increased variability in climatic conditions due to climate change seriously affects the productivity of rain-fed farms. The rain-fed farming communities in the Philippines are located in poor and environmentally fragile rural areas. Their vulnerability is greatly affected by restricted entitlement and access to social and economic capitals. This study is framed on qualitative approach to provide a rich and in-depth understanding on the elements of vulnerability based on the capacities and the practical affairs of life in rain-fed communities. The three subject communities from two agricultural provinces are examined to understand how the context and interactions of people can explicate sociological themes on the social dimension of climate change. The usefulness of multi-site study in probing the unique ways of how people understand and respond to certain environmental issue is part of reflections about the methodology.展开更多
基金Financial support provided to the first author from the Department of Science&Technology,Government of India under grant DST/INSPIRE FELLOWSHIP/2012/558
文摘Tourism in mountainous regions is a significant source of revenue generation. However, it has also been associated with many adverse environmental consequences. This study aims at assessing the negative impacts of the incessant upsurge in tourism development on the physical environment of Mussoorie, a well-known mountain tourist destination in India. The impact indicators for the region were identified and assessed by qualitative and quantitative analysis of field observations. The observations indicated the aggravation of traffic congestion, atmospheric pollution, undisposed solid waste, water scarcity and infrastructure unavailability as the prevalent issues, especially during the peak tourist months. The extent of the consequential damage to the environment was evaluated by conducting an assessment of tourism-induced human disturbance on the natural landscape of the town. Slope, slope aspect, vegetation cover, road network and drainage network were incorporated as thedetermining landscape attributes to prepare thematic maps of landscape quality(perceivable intrinsic properties) and landscape fragility(vulnerability to anthropogenic disturbances) using GIS technique. An absorption capacity map was finally prepared to characterize the study area into regions of different conservation needs. The results identified the need for planning appropriate preservation strategies for different tourist places in the town. The study can be used by the policy makers for implementing the regulatory measures against potential disturbances due to mass-tourism.
文摘Amorpha fruticosa L. （Fabaceae）, known as indigo bush, false indigo bush, false indigo and desert false indigo, is deciduous shrub （1-6 m tall）. The woody weed species A. fruticosa has a high environmental adaptability and is present in different environmental conditions. In Vojvodina region （Northern Serbia）, it is mostly present near irrigation channels and river banks, especially in alluvial or marshy areas. Since A. fruticosa is continually spreading near river banks, the aim of research was to determine seed bank composition near the Danube River. in 2014, soil sampling was performed at localities with high population of A. fruticosa （3-4 plants at age over two years and 10-14 plants at age 1-2 years）. Soil samples were taken from two localities （Futog and Sangaj） with alluvial sandy soil and chernozem near the Danube River. Each sample was sieved through a system of copper sieves of various diameters. After the separation of seeds from samples, they were identified. Significant presence of A. fruticosa seeds （1,914 seeds/m2） was established in a layer of 0-10 cm. In the same soil layer, the significant presence of seeds of Stellaria media （L.） Vill. and Urtica dioica L. were also established. Seeds ofA. fruticosa were not found in soil layers 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm. The invasive weed species A. fruticosa produces a large number of seeds in two cycles. The majority of the seeds stay in the upper soil layer, being dispersed by water （hydrochory）.
文摘Archaeological sites are most visible records of our cultural heritage, These sites are often constructed of stone threaten by geomorphological processing, pollution, urbanization, public access, groundwater seepage and geological hazards, such as rock falls. These archaeological sites suffered deterioration and failure of some parts. Environmental hazards are the main agent responsible for the monument degrading knowledge of intensity of environmental hazards together with their aggressiveness characteristics surrounding the monumentally area which is important during all phases restoration process （both previous and to be executed in situ）. The main geo-environmental hazards which affect the monuments under investigation; weathering, air pollution, seismic activity.
文摘It is important to evaluate and monitor the environmental impacts by the activity in our hand with appropriate methods, and the geophysical techniques have often been used in the subsurface environmental monitoring and remediation processes. In the study an electromagnetic survey （EM） is performed to delineate deeply the extent of contamination at an industrial abandoned site, to detect the spread of groundwater and soil contamination, to locate possible pathways of leachate plumes. Based on the analysis of the geophysical anomaly of electrical conductivity, the survey area is delineated into three zones： original zone, transitional zone and contaminated zone. It was inferred that the high conductivity zones correspond to the contaminated zones of groundwater and soil. The survey demonstrates that EM method has the ability to measure small changes in subsurface properties involving ground water and is sensitive to the conductive layers. The measurement shows the behavior of groundwater and soil contamination and the position of groundwater pipelines, and it is beneficial to help waste management processes and to determine possible locations of monitoring wells so as to monitor the environment in the survey area in the future.
文摘This study examines social vulnerability by exploring the socio-economic factors, infrastructures, and social networks that can determine how prone and how prepared the rain-fed farming communities are to the adverse impacts of climate change. Increased variability in climatic conditions due to climate change seriously affects the productivity of rain-fed farms. The rain-fed farming communities in the Philippines are located in poor and environmentally fragile rural areas. Their vulnerability is greatly affected by restricted entitlement and access to social and economic capitals. This study is framed on qualitative approach to provide a rich and in-depth understanding on the elements of vulnerability based on the capacities and the practical affairs of life in rain-fed communities. The three subject communities from two agricultural provinces are examined to understand how the context and interactions of people can explicate sociological themes on the social dimension of climate change. The usefulness of multi-site study in probing the unique ways of how people understand and respond to certain environmental issue is part of reflections about the methodology.
