Search results for "Environmental Protection."

Global health burden of PM2.5, black and organic carbon aerosols

2021

Análisis del comportamiento de la demanda de turismo rural desde la experiencia de la comarca El Alto Palancia

2004

This study is intended to delve into the tastes and preferences of tourists visiting rural areas in Spain as an alternative to the traditional sun and beach holiday that dominates Spanish tourism. This paper is focused on the demand side of rural tourism; more specifically the extent to which tourists visiting a Spanish rural area. El Alto Palancia region, exhibit different behaviours depending on age, gender, incomes and educational background. The homogeneity of behaviour across several categories of tourists was tested in two sets of variables. First, «interest in certain resources associated with rural tourism», focused on natural and architectural resources that sustains the tourist's …

Prawne aspekty polityki Unii Europejskiej w zakresie ochrony środowiska i bezpieczeństwa ekologicznego

2018

Bezpieczeństwo ekologiczne w ostatnich dekadach stało się niezwykle ważnym elementem bezpieczeństwa międzynarodowego. Dewastacja środowiska ma znaczący wpływ na pogorszenie warunków życia człowieka, spowodowało to konieczność wypracowania nowych standardów w dziedzinie polityki ekologicznej. Również Unia Europejska wprowadza regulacje mające na celu poprawę kondycji środowiska naturalnego i jego ochronę. Pośród obszarów działania Unii Europejskiej możemy odnaleźć ochronę klimatu czy też unormowania dotyczące energii i zasobów naturalnych. Warto prześledzić prawne aspekty ochrony środowiska na poziomie europejskim oraz omówić przykłady katastrof ekologicznych pod kątem mechanizmu reagowania …

A Double-Hurdle model of urban green areas valuation: Dealing with zero responses

2008

Due to the widespread support for public parks and open spaces in urban areas, there is an increasing need to analyse the social benefits that are generated by such amenities. The city of Valencia (Spain) has a large park that can be considered its green backbone due to its transversal layout running along 9 of the 19 districts into which the city is divided. A contingent valuation survey was therefore conducted in order to obtain the non-market benefits derived from the use of this park by the inhabitants of Valencia. In addition, to deal with the large number of zero responses obtained, a Double-Hurdle model was applied. The results show that this model is more appropriate than other, sim…

Regional climate model simulations for Europe at 6 and 0.2 k BP: sensitivity to changes in anthropogenic deforestation

2014

International audience; This study aims to evaluate the direct effects of anthropogenic deforestation on simulated climate at two contrasting periods in the Holocene, ∼ 6 and ∼ 0.2 k BP in Eu-rope. We apply the Rossby Centre regional climate model RCA3, a regional climate model with 50 km spatial resolution, for both time periods, considering three alternative descriptions of the past vegetation: (i) potential natural vegetation (V) simulated by the dynamic vegetation model LPJ-GUESS, (ii) potential vegetation with anthro-pogenic land use (deforestation) from the HYDE3.1 (History Database of the Global Environment) scenario (V + H3.1), and (iii) potential vegetation with anthropogenic land …

Threatened Plant Communities as an Indicator of Fishponds Value: An Example from Silesia (Sw Poland)

2007

This paper presents the first results of studies of fishpond plant communities of Silesia (SW Poland). On fishponds, many rare and threatened plant associations were found, especially within the aquatic, mud and rush communities. Among the most interesting are: Lemno minoris-Salvinietum natantis, Trapetum natantis, Eleocharetum ovatae and Scirpetum radicantis. The majority of the above-mentioned associations occur only in artificial fishpond reservoirs within the region. Thus, to reach an effective level of conservation, co-operation between biologists and owners, and integration of conservation and agricultural activities, have to be achieved. This would be the only way to stop the impover…

The state of water resources in major mediterranean islands

2014

This work analyses the state of water resources in six Mediterranean islands: Corsica, Crete, Cyprus, Mallorca, Malta and Sicily. The analysis is focused on the prevailing social, economic and hydroclimatological characteristics of these islands in order to identify the main common features affecting water availability, demand and use. A detailed analysis of the state of water resources in all the considered islands has been carried out. A background of current conditions relating to freshwater availability, quality and use has been established. Different strategies to face water scarcity and enhance water quality in theislands have been assessed in a context of climate change which is a co…

Moisture loss, gain and migration in foods and its impact on food quality

2010

Abstract: Moisture loss, gain and transfer, whether originating from exchanges with the atmosphere or with another component of the food, always cause deterioration in the overall quality of the food through softening, toughening, breakdown, and swelling or shrinkage caused by phase transitions or dissolution (Petersen et al., 1999). In most cases, water migrations lead to a deterioration of the overall quality (organoleptic or hygienic) of the food. With a view to better understanding physical deterioration of food and to provide a tool to better control food quality (and give a longer shelf life) this chapter reviews the water relationships in foods with a particular focus on glass-transi…

The role of soils in regulation and provision of blue and green water

2021

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 aims for clean water and sanitation for all by 2030, through eight subgoals dealing with four themes: (i) water quantity and availability, (ii) water quality, (iii) finding sustainable solutions and (iv) policy and governance. In this opinion paper, we assess how soils and associated land and water management can help achieve this goal, considering soils at two scales: local soil health and healthy landscapes. The merging of these two viewpoints shows the interlinked importance of the two scales. Soil health reflects the capacity of a soil to provide ecosystem services at a specific location, taking into account local climate and soil condit…

Water transfer from Basilicata to Puglia: a technical, economic and institutional challenge

2007

The necessity of supplying Puglia by transfer of water resources from Basilicata (250 Mm/year mainly for civil use but also for agricultural and industrial uses) and another bordering region (Campania for 200 Mm/year only for civil use) arises from the scarcity of water resources inside Puglia, where precipitation is very low (400 mm/year), rivers are few and with limited watersheds and costal aquifers are overexploited with salt intrusion. Moreover recent droughts have pointed out the need for revising water supply policy in Puglia, looking for the increment of the transfer of water resources from Basilicata (50 Mm/year) and Campania (32 Mm/year) and the development of feasibility studies …