Patagonia is a region of mystery and striking diversity, one of the precious places on the planet where the array of natural beauty still defies humankind’s imagination. However, magnificent rivers are threatened by plans for two dams.
Rio Candelaria Integrated Watershed Management PlanAmber Brant
This document provides an integrated watershed management plan for the Rio Candelaria watershed in Campeche, Mexico. It begins with an introduction that provides background on the ancient Maya civilization's occupation and agricultural practices in the region and more recent land use changes. The document then outlines objectives to characterize the watershed through delineation, climatic and ecological analysis, land use and capability assessments, and recommendations. It describes the process used to delineate the watershed and sub-watershed boundaries from topographic maps. The plan aims to investigate environmental degradation factors and suggest sustainable land and water management strategies.
The document summarizes two community micro-projects in Nicaragua that were implemented using an integrated approach combining disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and ecosystem management and restoration. The first project in Malpaso involved restoring a community lagoon to address water shortages. Measures included deepening the lagoon, installing pipes, and planting trees to reduce erosion. The second project in El Pegador developed community ecotourism around a local lagoon to generate income while promoting its sustainable use and conservation. Both micro-projects engaged community members in all stages and used vulnerability assessments to identify problems and solutions.
New efforts in planning for large scale ecosystem restoration in the Sacramen...Cory Copeland
The Delta Stewardship Council (Council) is responsible for promoting the coequal goals of providing a more reliable water supply for California and protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem that forms the upper portion of the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. The Council is responsible for writing an enforceable Delta Plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh. After a multi-year development process that included extensive public engagement and scientific synthesis, the Council, in 2020, authorized initiation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental review of its proposed amendment to the Delta Plan focused on ecosystem protection, restoration, and enhancement. The amendment consists of six new and revised ecosystem performance measures, an updated narrative which includes four new and revised policies and 14 recommendations, and seven technical and regulatory appendices. The amendment is novel in that it focuses on landscape-scale process-based restoration, acknowledges the many social benefits from ecosystem restoration, utilizes advanced technical climate change analyses informed by best available science, and employs more rigorous tracking of progress in meeting Delta Plan objectives. The amendment embraces a portfolio of approaches to adaptively manage ecosystems in highly altered and changing landscapes, and strives to reestablish ecological processes in natural communities at a sufficient scale (and with connectivity, complexity, and diversity) to be resilient to land conversion and climate change. This digital poster will describe the collaborative science-driven process the Council used in developing the amendment, the draft currently under environmental review, and lessons for resource managers in other systems facing the challenge of planning ecosystem recovery amidst ongoing anthropogenic stressors and a rapidly changing climate.
This document discusses predictive habitat modelling of wetland habitats in the Ebro Delta using GIS. It aims to analyze how riverine and marine influences, as well as human alterations like roads and channels, affect habitat distribution. The key variables found to explain habitat occurrence were elevation (for higher-elevation habitats like marshes and rice fields) and distance to the coast (for lower-elevation coastal habitats). While the model predictions matched some habitat maps, other habitats showed mismatches likely due to changes from human development restricting their distribution. The results provide a first step toward modelling habitat distribution in the complex, human-altered landscape of the Ebro Delta.
This document outlines Nepal's policy on water induced disaster management from 2006. It discusses the background of floods, landslides and their impacts in Nepal. The objectives of the policy are to mitigate losses from water disasters, sustain natural resources, reclaim affected land, and coordinate agencies working in river management. The policy defines key terms and outlines approaches for emergency response, disaster risk reduction, and natural resource conservation to manage water induced disasters in Nepal.
The Love Canal environmental disaster occurred in 1978 in Niagara Falls, New York. From 1920-1952, chemical company Hooker Chemical buried over 21,000 tons of toxic waste in the Love Canal, which was later developed into a neighborhood. In the late 1970s, residents began complaining of health issues and chemicals surfacing from the ground. This led to the discovery of the chemical dump and mandatory evacuation of hundreds of families from 1978-1980. Long term health effects persisted in the community and the disaster spurred legislation like Superfund to hold polluters accountable for cleanup.
Reyes, J.A.; Gómez-Barrón, J.P.; Muis, R.O.; Zavala, R., 2012b, “Potential of Environmental Services in the Social Property of Mexico”. (English summary). National Agrarian Registry (RAN) & Inter-American Institute of Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Project. Mexico, D.F. 72 pp.
This document presents the findings in the first stage of the Strategy for Environmental Services and Common Property, which analyzes the relative importance of the environmental services in the agrarian nucleuses, such as: forest carbon, biodiversity and hydrological cycles. An important conclusion of this analysis is that none of the three themes can be efficiently developed without the integration of the common property.
As part of the findings, 115 ejidos and communities were identified with the highest potential to contribute in the provision of the three environmental services: carbon storage and capture, biodiversity conservation and maintenance of the hydrological cycle. In the next stage, these agrarian nucleuses will be analyzed for its feasibility in order to be included in payment for environmental services schemes.
The document summarizes a lecture on the Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus. It discusses the Bonn 2011 Nexus Conference, which was a major preparatory conference for the Rio+20 Summit. The conference brought together stakeholders from governments, businesses, NGOs and UN agencies to address the interlinkages between water, energy and food security. It highlighted the need for integrated, cross-sectoral approaches to sustainably meet increasing global demands for water, energy and food. The outcomes included policy recommendations and new initiatives to help achieve long-term water, energy and food security.
Rio Candelaria Integrated Watershed Management PlanAmber Brant
This document provides an integrated watershed management plan for the Rio Candelaria watershed in Campeche, Mexico. It begins with an introduction that provides background on the ancient Maya civilization's occupation and agricultural practices in the region and more recent land use changes. The document then outlines objectives to characterize the watershed through delineation, climatic and ecological analysis, land use and capability assessments, and recommendations. It describes the process used to delineate the watershed and sub-watershed boundaries from topographic maps. The plan aims to investigate environmental degradation factors and suggest sustainable land and water management strategies.
The document summarizes two community micro-projects in Nicaragua that were implemented using an integrated approach combining disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and ecosystem management and restoration. The first project in Malpaso involved restoring a community lagoon to address water shortages. Measures included deepening the lagoon, installing pipes, and planting trees to reduce erosion. The second project in El Pegador developed community ecotourism around a local lagoon to generate income while promoting its sustainable use and conservation. Both micro-projects engaged community members in all stages and used vulnerability assessments to identify problems and solutions.
New efforts in planning for large scale ecosystem restoration in the Sacramen...Cory Copeland
The Delta Stewardship Council (Council) is responsible for promoting the coequal goals of providing a more reliable water supply for California and protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem that forms the upper portion of the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. The Council is responsible for writing an enforceable Delta Plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh. After a multi-year development process that included extensive public engagement and scientific synthesis, the Council, in 2020, authorized initiation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental review of its proposed amendment to the Delta Plan focused on ecosystem protection, restoration, and enhancement. The amendment consists of six new and revised ecosystem performance measures, an updated narrative which includes four new and revised policies and 14 recommendations, and seven technical and regulatory appendices. The amendment is novel in that it focuses on landscape-scale process-based restoration, acknowledges the many social benefits from ecosystem restoration, utilizes advanced technical climate change analyses informed by best available science, and employs more rigorous tracking of progress in meeting Delta Plan objectives. The amendment embraces a portfolio of approaches to adaptively manage ecosystems in highly altered and changing landscapes, and strives to reestablish ecological processes in natural communities at a sufficient scale (and with connectivity, complexity, and diversity) to be resilient to land conversion and climate change. This digital poster will describe the collaborative science-driven process the Council used in developing the amendment, the draft currently under environmental review, and lessons for resource managers in other systems facing the challenge of planning ecosystem recovery amidst ongoing anthropogenic stressors and a rapidly changing climate.
This document discusses predictive habitat modelling of wetland habitats in the Ebro Delta using GIS. It aims to analyze how riverine and marine influences, as well as human alterations like roads and channels, affect habitat distribution. The key variables found to explain habitat occurrence were elevation (for higher-elevation habitats like marshes and rice fields) and distance to the coast (for lower-elevation coastal habitats). While the model predictions matched some habitat maps, other habitats showed mismatches likely due to changes from human development restricting their distribution. The results provide a first step toward modelling habitat distribution in the complex, human-altered landscape of the Ebro Delta.
This document outlines Nepal's policy on water induced disaster management from 2006. It discusses the background of floods, landslides and their impacts in Nepal. The objectives of the policy are to mitigate losses from water disasters, sustain natural resources, reclaim affected land, and coordinate agencies working in river management. The policy defines key terms and outlines approaches for emergency response, disaster risk reduction, and natural resource conservation to manage water induced disasters in Nepal.
The Love Canal environmental disaster occurred in 1978 in Niagara Falls, New York. From 1920-1952, chemical company Hooker Chemical buried over 21,000 tons of toxic waste in the Love Canal, which was later developed into a neighborhood. In the late 1970s, residents began complaining of health issues and chemicals surfacing from the ground. This led to the discovery of the chemical dump and mandatory evacuation of hundreds of families from 1978-1980. Long term health effects persisted in the community and the disaster spurred legislation like Superfund to hold polluters accountable for cleanup.
Reyes, J.A.; Gómez-Barrón, J.P.; Muis, R.O.; Zavala, R., 2012b, “Potential of Environmental Services in the Social Property of Mexico”. (English summary). National Agrarian Registry (RAN) & Inter-American Institute of Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Project. Mexico, D.F. 72 pp.
This document presents the findings in the first stage of the Strategy for Environmental Services and Common Property, which analyzes the relative importance of the environmental services in the agrarian nucleuses, such as: forest carbon, biodiversity and hydrological cycles. An important conclusion of this analysis is that none of the three themes can be efficiently developed without the integration of the common property.
As part of the findings, 115 ejidos and communities were identified with the highest potential to contribute in the provision of the three environmental services: carbon storage and capture, biodiversity conservation and maintenance of the hydrological cycle. In the next stage, these agrarian nucleuses will be analyzed for its feasibility in order to be included in payment for environmental services schemes.
The document summarizes a lecture on the Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus. It discusses the Bonn 2011 Nexus Conference, which was a major preparatory conference for the Rio+20 Summit. The conference brought together stakeholders from governments, businesses, NGOs and UN agencies to address the interlinkages between water, energy and food security. It highlighted the need for integrated, cross-sectoral approaches to sustainably meet increasing global demands for water, energy and food. The outcomes included policy recommendations and new initiatives to help achieve long-term water, energy and food security.
The document summarizes eco-tourism efforts in South America, specifically Chile. It discusses how Chile is promoting more environmentally friendly practices and renewable energy sources to preserve its natural wilderness areas popular with eco-tourists. It provides examples of organic farms and initiatives that balance agricultural production with environmental protection to support eco-tourism industries. However, a proposed hydroelectric dam project could negatively impact the environment and tourism if approved.
Oxfam is supporting a project in Bolivia to revive an ancestral farming technique called camellones that was used by early cultures to farm sustainably in the flood-prone Beni region. Camellones are elevated ridges surrounded by canals that allow crops to be grown even during floods. Oxfam helped a community build experimental camellones and plant crops. Initial results are promising, with the harvests expected to be shared communally. If successful, camellones could help local farmers better cope with regular floods and droughts while protecting the environment.
The Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest desert in the world and provides insights into how communities can adapt to climate change and environmental extremes. Due to its harsh and dry conditions, the desert resembles Mars and faces issues like lack of water, pollution from mining and waste, and effects of climate change like desertification. However, life has adapted to these conditions, and research is exploring how to support communities and promote sustainable development. Projects are looking at technologies like using plastic-eating bacteria and fog capture systems to improve access to water, making crops more drought-resistant, and partnerships to help indigenous groups maintain their livelihoods like goat farming. The region offers lessons in protecting communities from environmental changes through science, sustainable solutions,
Living on water and land: Challenges and opportunities for the development of...IEREK Press
Loreto, the largest Amazonian region in Peru, is home to more than 200,000 inhabitants that live in traditional
riverside rural communities adapted to an amphibious lifestyle, with houses that rise or float on the river in times of
flooding and perch on the dried riverbed in low water times. Nevertheless, these amphibious communities are not
exclusive to rural areas. Iquitos, the largest city of Loreto, is surrounded by alluvial plains, where more than 90,000
people live on the water and bring a rich social, cultural, and environmental vibrancy to the regions. However, poor
infrastructure conditions and limited resources in this communities affect the ecosystem and the population's health.
The objective of this qualitative study was to understand the physical, sociocultural, and environmental conditions
in which these amphibious communities live and identify the political, legal, and cultural barriers that prevent their
healthy urban development. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews, surveys, and
observation of physical and environmental conditions. The results suggest conflicts in the formalization processes
of theses informal communities, from administrative and legal aspects to a limited definition of habitable territory.
We identified the benefits of the current urban-architectural conditions of these communities, whose housing
typologies, adapted to the seasonal change of the rivers, may provide a alternative model to adapt with resilience to
the impacts of climate change and sea level rise. We also identified challenges in sanitation, accessibility, public
space, and strengthe of community networks, as well as challenges in the response of the government whose
proposals for relocation of the amphibious communities have not fully considered these communities' economic,
social, and cultural values.
This document provides a summary of water conservation legislation and efforts in Utah over the past decade. It discusses how House Bill 418 in 1998 and House Bill 71 in 2004 required municipalities and water districts to develop water conservation plans with specific guidelines. An analysis found that implementation of recommended water conservation practices increased from 1998-2009. For example, the use of low-flow fixtures and outdoor watering restrictions grew. The legislation and subsequent conservation efforts were aimed at ensuring sufficient water supplies for Utah's growing population in the face of limited water resources and drought.
The document describes Hurricane Katrina's devastating impact on New Orleans in 2005. It provides background on New Orleans, details the path and intensity of Hurricane Katrina, and examines the severe economic, social, environmental, and demographic effects of the storm and subsequent flooding. Response efforts including search and rescue operations, sheltering of displaced residents, and proposals for rebuilding and strengthening flood protections in New Orleans are also summarized.
The document discusses several topics related to South America's environment, science, technology and health:
1) In Colombia, there is a debate between the government and archeologists about contracts with marine exploration companies to manage underwater cultural heritage in exchange for a percentage of finds. Archeologists argue this risks losing historical information.
2) In Chile, Torres del Paine National Park is recovering from a large fire in 2011 through reforestation efforts. Nearly 1,000 hectares of native forest were destroyed.
3) A seed from the Amazon called huayllabambana was found to have the highest omega-3 content of any fruit at 66%. This could be an important new food source.
This document summarizes Utah's water conservation legislation over the past decade. It discusses how House Bill 418 in 1998 required water retailers and districts serving over 500 connections to submit water conservation plans addressing 10 guidelines, including water efficient appliances and fixtures, irrigation practices, leak repair, and water rate structures. It evaluates several municipalities' conservation plans, finding that larger cities like Salt Lake City had more detailed plans while smaller cities also included rate incentives and conservation measures. The legislation and conservation planning aimed to ensure sufficient water for Utah's growing population amidst increasing drought periods.
The document summarizes the 1998 Aznalcóllar mine spill in Spain which released toxic waste into the Guadiamar River, contaminating over 30 square kilometers near Doñana National Park. Emergency measures were implemented to treat contaminated water and restrict access. The accident had economic impacts through lost agriculture and tourism. Restoration plans were made to repair ecological damage and prevent future accidents through strengthened mining regulations.
Consultative Session on the Natural Resource Charter
Precept 6: Resource projects may have serious environmental and social effects which must be accounted for and mitigated at all stages of the project cycle.
Miguel Magalang, Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns, Philippines
The document compares the 2010 earthquake in Haiti to the 2010 earthquake in Chile. The Haiti earthquake was more devastating, killing over 230,000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands injured and homeless due to Haiti's poorer infrastructure and lack of preparedness. In contrast, the Chile earthquake was less deadly, killing around 750 people, due to Chile's greater preparedness, building codes, and location of the epicenter away from population centers. International aid efforts faced challenges in Haiti due to the widespread damage to transportation, communications, and hospital infrastructure from the earthquake.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is developing a management plan for the newly established Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge was established by Congress in 2001 to preserve open space and wildlife habitat following the cleanup of the former nuclear weapons production site. The management plan will guide conservation, management, and public recreation at the refuge over the next 15 years. The planning process will include public involvement to gather ideas and comments to help shape the future direction of the refuge. The refuge provides habitat for threatened species and rare plants, as well as open space near Denver communities.
The document discusses plans to expand ports in Colon, Panama that would require clearing mangroves near Punta Galeta, which hosts an important marine research laboratory. There are concerns that the environmental impact assessments of the plans lack scientific rigor and do not properly address risks to the fragile ecosystem from sedimentation, changes to freshwater flows, and destruction of natural creeks. Maintaining mangrove buffers, especially around a river running through the area, is important to protect surrounding ecosystems and prevent increased flooding in Colon. Local groups are urged to engage in efforts to change development plans and laws.
This document provides an overview of the Murray Darling Basin in Australia, including:
1. The basin covers several states and territories and is home to over 2 million people, producing over 40% of Australia's agricultural produce.
2. Water policy in the basin has evolved over time from a focus on development and irrigation to more sustainable limits on water usage and protecting environmental flows, as outlined in the recent Basin Plan.
3. The Basin Plan aims to balance social, economic and environmental objectives through sustainable diversion limits, water trading rules, and environmental watering plans while considering the best available science.
- The document provides case studies on rivers, coasts, flooding, economic development aid, and multinational companies for GCSE Geography exams. It includes summaries of the River Derwent in England, coastal landforms at Hengistbury Head, and flood management in Cockermouth. It also summarizes economic development projects by WaterAid in Mali and goat aid in Tanzania, as well as the impacts of Coca-Cola and BP oil spills.
This document summarizes key points from the World Water Assessment Programme's fourth report "Managing Water under Uncertainty and Risk". The report highlights that demand for water will greatly increase in the coming decades due to population growth, increasing wealth, and dietary shifts. At the same time, climate change is expected to reduce water availability in many places. To avoid future food, water, and energy insecurity, better coordination is needed between the water, agriculture, and energy sectors in policy design and planning for multiple possible futures.
"Choosing proper type of scaling", Olena SyrotaFwdays
Imagine an IoT processing system that is already quite mature and production-ready and for which client coverage is growing and scaling and performance aspects are life and death questions. The system has Redis, MongoDB, and stream processing based on ksqldb. In this talk, firstly, we will analyze scaling approaches and then select the proper ones for our system.
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Similar to Fact Sheet - Patagonia’s Wild Rivers at Risk
The document summarizes eco-tourism efforts in South America, specifically Chile. It discusses how Chile is promoting more environmentally friendly practices and renewable energy sources to preserve its natural wilderness areas popular with eco-tourists. It provides examples of organic farms and initiatives that balance agricultural production with environmental protection to support eco-tourism industries. However, a proposed hydroelectric dam project could negatively impact the environment and tourism if approved.
Oxfam is supporting a project in Bolivia to revive an ancestral farming technique called camellones that was used by early cultures to farm sustainably in the flood-prone Beni region. Camellones are elevated ridges surrounded by canals that allow crops to be grown even during floods. Oxfam helped a community build experimental camellones and plant crops. Initial results are promising, with the harvests expected to be shared communally. If successful, camellones could help local farmers better cope with regular floods and droughts while protecting the environment.
The Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest desert in the world and provides insights into how communities can adapt to climate change and environmental extremes. Due to its harsh and dry conditions, the desert resembles Mars and faces issues like lack of water, pollution from mining and waste, and effects of climate change like desertification. However, life has adapted to these conditions, and research is exploring how to support communities and promote sustainable development. Projects are looking at technologies like using plastic-eating bacteria and fog capture systems to improve access to water, making crops more drought-resistant, and partnerships to help indigenous groups maintain their livelihoods like goat farming. The region offers lessons in protecting communities from environmental changes through science, sustainable solutions,
Living on water and land: Challenges and opportunities for the development of...IEREK Press
Loreto, the largest Amazonian region in Peru, is home to more than 200,000 inhabitants that live in traditional
riverside rural communities adapted to an amphibious lifestyle, with houses that rise or float on the river in times of
flooding and perch on the dried riverbed in low water times. Nevertheless, these amphibious communities are not
exclusive to rural areas. Iquitos, the largest city of Loreto, is surrounded by alluvial plains, where more than 90,000
people live on the water and bring a rich social, cultural, and environmental vibrancy to the regions. However, poor
infrastructure conditions and limited resources in this communities affect the ecosystem and the population's health.
The objective of this qualitative study was to understand the physical, sociocultural, and environmental conditions
in which these amphibious communities live and identify the political, legal, and cultural barriers that prevent their
healthy urban development. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews, surveys, and
observation of physical and environmental conditions. The results suggest conflicts in the formalization processes
of theses informal communities, from administrative and legal aspects to a limited definition of habitable territory.
We identified the benefits of the current urban-architectural conditions of these communities, whose housing
typologies, adapted to the seasonal change of the rivers, may provide a alternative model to adapt with resilience to
the impacts of climate change and sea level rise. We also identified challenges in sanitation, accessibility, public
space, and strengthe of community networks, as well as challenges in the response of the government whose
proposals for relocation of the amphibious communities have not fully considered these communities' economic,
social, and cultural values.
This document provides a summary of water conservation legislation and efforts in Utah over the past decade. It discusses how House Bill 418 in 1998 and House Bill 71 in 2004 required municipalities and water districts to develop water conservation plans with specific guidelines. An analysis found that implementation of recommended water conservation practices increased from 1998-2009. For example, the use of low-flow fixtures and outdoor watering restrictions grew. The legislation and subsequent conservation efforts were aimed at ensuring sufficient water supplies for Utah's growing population in the face of limited water resources and drought.
The document describes Hurricane Katrina's devastating impact on New Orleans in 2005. It provides background on New Orleans, details the path and intensity of Hurricane Katrina, and examines the severe economic, social, environmental, and demographic effects of the storm and subsequent flooding. Response efforts including search and rescue operations, sheltering of displaced residents, and proposals for rebuilding and strengthening flood protections in New Orleans are also summarized.
The document discusses several topics related to South America's environment, science, technology and health:
1) In Colombia, there is a debate between the government and archeologists about contracts with marine exploration companies to manage underwater cultural heritage in exchange for a percentage of finds. Archeologists argue this risks losing historical information.
2) In Chile, Torres del Paine National Park is recovering from a large fire in 2011 through reforestation efforts. Nearly 1,000 hectares of native forest were destroyed.
3) A seed from the Amazon called huayllabambana was found to have the highest omega-3 content of any fruit at 66%. This could be an important new food source.
This document summarizes Utah's water conservation legislation over the past decade. It discusses how House Bill 418 in 1998 required water retailers and districts serving over 500 connections to submit water conservation plans addressing 10 guidelines, including water efficient appliances and fixtures, irrigation practices, leak repair, and water rate structures. It evaluates several municipalities' conservation plans, finding that larger cities like Salt Lake City had more detailed plans while smaller cities also included rate incentives and conservation measures. The legislation and conservation planning aimed to ensure sufficient water for Utah's growing population amidst increasing drought periods.
The document summarizes the 1998 Aznalcóllar mine spill in Spain which released toxic waste into the Guadiamar River, contaminating over 30 square kilometers near Doñana National Park. Emergency measures were implemented to treat contaminated water and restrict access. The accident had economic impacts through lost agriculture and tourism. Restoration plans were made to repair ecological damage and prevent future accidents through strengthened mining regulations.
Consultative Session on the Natural Resource Charter
Precept 6: Resource projects may have serious environmental and social effects which must be accounted for and mitigated at all stages of the project cycle.
Miguel Magalang, Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns, Philippines
The document compares the 2010 earthquake in Haiti to the 2010 earthquake in Chile. The Haiti earthquake was more devastating, killing over 230,000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands injured and homeless due to Haiti's poorer infrastructure and lack of preparedness. In contrast, the Chile earthquake was less deadly, killing around 750 people, due to Chile's greater preparedness, building codes, and location of the epicenter away from population centers. International aid efforts faced challenges in Haiti due to the widespread damage to transportation, communications, and hospital infrastructure from the earthquake.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is developing a management plan for the newly established Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge was established by Congress in 2001 to preserve open space and wildlife habitat following the cleanup of the former nuclear weapons production site. The management plan will guide conservation, management, and public recreation at the refuge over the next 15 years. The planning process will include public involvement to gather ideas and comments to help shape the future direction of the refuge. The refuge provides habitat for threatened species and rare plants, as well as open space near Denver communities.
The document discusses plans to expand ports in Colon, Panama that would require clearing mangroves near Punta Galeta, which hosts an important marine research laboratory. There are concerns that the environmental impact assessments of the plans lack scientific rigor and do not properly address risks to the fragile ecosystem from sedimentation, changes to freshwater flows, and destruction of natural creeks. Maintaining mangrove buffers, especially around a river running through the area, is important to protect surrounding ecosystems and prevent increased flooding in Colon. Local groups are urged to engage in efforts to change development plans and laws.
This document provides an overview of the Murray Darling Basin in Australia, including:
1. The basin covers several states and territories and is home to over 2 million people, producing over 40% of Australia's agricultural produce.
2. Water policy in the basin has evolved over time from a focus on development and irrigation to more sustainable limits on water usage and protecting environmental flows, as outlined in the recent Basin Plan.
3. The Basin Plan aims to balance social, economic and environmental objectives through sustainable diversion limits, water trading rules, and environmental watering plans while considering the best available science.
- The document provides case studies on rivers, coasts, flooding, economic development aid, and multinational companies for GCSE Geography exams. It includes summaries of the River Derwent in England, coastal landforms at Hengistbury Head, and flood management in Cockermouth. It also summarizes economic development projects by WaterAid in Mali and goat aid in Tanzania, as well as the impacts of Coca-Cola and BP oil spills.
This document summarizes key points from the World Water Assessment Programme's fourth report "Managing Water under Uncertainty and Risk". The report highlights that demand for water will greatly increase in the coming decades due to population growth, increasing wealth, and dietary shifts. At the same time, climate change is expected to reduce water availability in many places. To avoid future food, water, and energy insecurity, better coordination is needed between the water, agriculture, and energy sectors in policy design and planning for multiple possible futures.
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"Choosing proper type of scaling", Olena SyrotaFwdays
Imagine an IoT processing system that is already quite mature and production-ready and for which client coverage is growing and scaling and performance aspects are life and death questions. The system has Redis, MongoDB, and stream processing based on ksqldb. In this talk, firstly, we will analyze scaling approaches and then select the proper ones for our system.
"NATO Hackathon Winner: AI-Powered Drug Search", Taras KlobaFwdays
This is a session that details how PostgreSQL's features and Azure AI Services can be effectively used to significantly enhance the search functionality in any application.
In this session, we'll share insights on how we used PostgreSQL to facilitate precise searches across multiple fields in our mobile application. The techniques include using LIKE and ILIKE operators and integrating a trigram-based search to handle potential misspellings, thereby increasing the search accuracy.
We'll also discuss how the azure_ai extension on PostgreSQL databases in Azure and Azure AI Services were utilized to create vectors from user input, a feature beneficial when users wish to find specific items based on text prompts. While our application's case study involves a drug search, the techniques and principles shared in this session can be adapted to improve search functionality in a wide range of applications. Join us to learn how PostgreSQL and Azure AI can be harnessed to enhance your application's search capability.
Must Know Postgres Extension for DBA and Developer during MigrationMydbops
Mydbops Opensource Database Meetup 16
Topic: Must-Know PostgreSQL Extensions for Developers and DBAs During Migration
Speaker: Deepak Mahto, Founder of DataCloudGaze Consulting
Date & Time: 8th June | 10 AM - 1 PM IST
Venue: Bangalore International Centre, Bangalore
Abstract: Discover how PostgreSQL extensions can be your secret weapon! This talk explores how key extensions enhance database capabilities and streamline the migration process for users moving from other relational databases like Oracle.
Key Takeaways:
* Learn about crucial extensions like oracle_fdw, pgtt, and pg_audit that ease migration complexities.
* Gain valuable strategies for implementing these extensions in PostgreSQL to achieve license freedom.
* Discover how these key extensions can empower both developers and DBAs during the migration process.
* Don't miss this chance to gain practical knowledge from an industry expert and stay updated on the latest open-source database trends.
Mydbops Managed Services specializes in taking the pain out of database management while optimizing performance. Since 2015, we have been providing top-notch support and assistance for the top three open-source databases: MySQL, MongoDB, and PostgreSQL.
Our team offers a wide range of services, including assistance, support, consulting, 24/7 operations, and expertise in all relevant technologies. We help organizations improve their database's performance, scalability, efficiency, and availability.
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In the realm of cybersecurity, offensive security practices act as a critical shield. By simulating real-world attacks in a controlled environment, these techniques expose vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them. This proactive approach allows manufacturers to identify and fix weaknesses, significantly enhancing system security.
This presentation delves into the development of a system designed to mimic Galileo's Open Service signal using software-defined radio (SDR) technology. We'll begin with a foundational overview of both Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and the intricacies of digital signal processing.
The presentation culminates in a live demonstration. We'll showcase the manipulation of Galileo's Open Service pilot signal, simulating an attack on various software and hardware systems. This practical demonstration serves to highlight the potential consequences of unaddressed vulnerabilities, emphasizing the importance of offensive security practices in safeguarding critical infrastructure.
[OReilly Superstream] Occupy the Space: A grassroots guide to engineering (an...Jason Yip
The typical problem in product engineering is not bad strategy, so much as “no strategy”. This leads to confusion, lack of motivation, and incoherent action. The next time you look for a strategy and find an empty space, instead of waiting for it to be filled, I will show you how to fill it in yourself. If you’re wrong, it forces a correction. If you’re right, it helps create focus. I’ll share how I’ve approached this in the past, both what works and lessons for what didn’t work so well.
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Charlie Greenberg, host
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Fact Sheet - Patagonia’s Wild Rivers at Risk
1. Patagonia’s Wild
The magnificent Baker River is threatened by
plans for two dams. Photo: Jorge Uzon.
Rivers at Risk
P atagonia is a region of mystery and striking diversity, one of the precious
places on the planet where the array of natural beauty still defies humankind’s
imagination. Patagonia – a region that covers much of South America’s southern
cone – is a place where fjords, glaciers, coastal rainforests, dry steppes, pristine
lakes, and rushing rivers can all be found within a short distance of each other.
Undaunted by the potential risks of damaging this refuge of nat- The Baker River, also born of Patagonian glaciers, is Chile’s
ural beauty, a consortium of Chilean and European companies most powerful river. The Baker supports a thriving sport-fishing
plans to dam two of Patagonia’s wildest and most remote rivers business and a burgeoning river rafting industry. This river also
– the Baker and the Pascua. They want to transport electricity sustains some of Patagonia’s most productive ranching lands.
from the dams 2,400 kilometers north to feed Chile’s mammoth Tourism on the Baker River has brought sustainable income to
mining industry and biggest cities. the region of Aysén.
The Baker and Pascua rivers are located in Aysén, Chile’s most Aysén’s stunning scenery and rare endemic ecology have led
sparsely populated region. The Pascua River literally jumps out local citizens to declare the region a “reserve of life.” The
of Lago O’Higgins into a series of class-6+ rapids and waterfalls, region’s inhabitants are mostly ranchers who make their living
making it one of the most rapidly flowing rivers on the planet. off the land. For them, Aysén is a bastion for a pastoral way of
It churns its way down through a maze of canyons that channel life that is rapidly disappearing. These Ayseninos know that dams
pristine freshwater into the Pascua from the jagged peaks and on the Baker and Pascua rivers would be the beginning of the
glaciers of Patagonia’s Southern Ice Cap. end to their culture and identity.
dddddd
2. sands of construction workers would be brought into the
area to build the mega-project. This would bring pollution,
crime, prostitution, and housing problems to the region. The
invasion of this “boom and bust” non-local construction
economy is incompatible with Aysén’s traditional way of life.
enviRonmenTal aSSeSSmenT — a caSe STuDy of
coRPoRaTe iRReSPonSibiliTy
According to Chilean law, an Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) must be approved before HidroAysén can
move forward. HidroAysén submitted its EIA in August
2008, triggering a deadline of November 2008 for all pub-
lic comments on the EIA – and the regulator’s decision to
accept or reject the study.
Lago Chico and the upper reaches of the Pascua River would be The EIA was supposed to present enough information so
flooded by the Pascua 1 Dam. Photo: International Rivers. that Chilean government departments could determine the
likely environmental and social impacts of HidroAysén’s
THe PRofiTeeRS, THe PRice – anD THe coSTS plans. All 32 of the government departments that reviewed
The mega-companies behind the dam plans hope that abun- the EIA found that it presented such insufficient or errone-
dant profits will flow to them from the Patagonian dams and ous information that they were unable to properly assess
transmission lines. The HidroAysén consortium is planning the project. Legally the EIA should have been rejected.
five dams – two on the Baker and three on the Pascua – that Instead, buckling under political pressure, the regulator gave
would provide approximately one-fifth of the total installed HidroAysén a nine-month extension to address all 3,000+
capacity projected for Chile’s central grid by 2020. problems found in the August 2008 EIA – and approved the
Two huge wood and pulp producers– the Matte Group EIA in advance of receiving this additional information.
and the Angelini Group – together control Colbún, HidroAysén’s lack of valid science in presenting the impacts
HidroAysén’s Chilean owner. One of Europe’s biggest utility
of its plans is clear from some of the governmental observa-
companies – Enel from Italy – controls Endesa, HidroAysén’s
tions about its EIA; upon review the departments found
European owner.
that the EIA failed to address project risks such as landslides,
HidroAysén’s most vocal owner-advocate, the Matte Group, seismic or volcanic risks, sudden catastrophic flooding, dam-
claims that its plans will bring “clean” energy to Chile. But age to productive soils, violation of protected areas laws and
Matte’s definition of “clean” ignores the many dirty environ- destruction of rare plants and animals.
mental and social costs of the proposed dams and transmis-
sion lines. These costs include displaced families, disrupted One government department found that HidroAysén’s study
traditional livelihoods and damaged ecosystems. The trans- included no maps showing the exact proposed locations of the dam
mission line would leave a long nasty scar – a clearcut cover- structures, and failed to provide sufficient information about
ing thousands of acres – through ancient forest ecosystems tectonic activity in the areas where these structures would
that are unique to Patagonia. The line would slash through likely be located. The EIA presented figures for the proposed
many Chilean communities and damage spectacular Chilean reservoir areas so different from governmental modeling that
protected areas – such as Hornopirén National Park and serious errors were suspected in HidroAysén’s calculations.
Corcovado National Park – bringing destruction into a glob-
Other alarming omissions from the EIA included: no infor-
ally rare treasure.
mation on relocation of persons that the project would
The dams and transmission lines together would threaten undoubtedly require; no discussion of impacts from worker
numerous aquatic, bird and mammal species already at risk. camps that would include more than 5,000 people; no plan
The Aplochiton zebra fish, the torrent duck, the Chilean river to minimize impacts from transportation of material, fuel
otter and an endangered Chilean deer, the huemul – of which and hazardous waste; and no analysis regarding the project’s
less than 3,000 survive today – would all be brought closer widely predicted damage to tourism.
to extinction.
Despite their disregard for good governance and due process,
A massive seaport would be built on a fjord near the mouths the company has acknowledged publicly that it will not be
of the Baker and Pascua rivers to facilitate the construction able to begin construction on the proposed dams in 2009 as
activities, and new roads would be built. In addition, thou- planned.
3. PaTagonia’S WilD RiveRS aT RiSk
WHo’S beHinD HiDRoaySén?
The Matte Group (owner of wood products company CMPC) and Angelini
Group (owner of wood products company Arauco) together control Colbún,
the Chilean owner of HidroAysén. Italian electricity giant Enel controls
Endesa, the European owner.
uS comPanieS WiTH TieS To THe PRojecT
Home Depot, 84 Lumber, and other US companies buy wood products from
the Chilean conglomerates involved in the dam scheme.
PRojecT DeTailS
• 2 dams on the 170 km-long Baker River
• 3 dams on the 62 km-long Pascua River
• 2,750 megawatts of installed capacity
• New transmission lines over 2,450 km (1,500 mi) long with a corridor
120 m wide; forest clearcutting for at least 1,600 km (1,000 mi)
• 5,000 transmission towers, each at least 70 m high
• Cost: over US$5 billion
WHo Will be affecTeD?
• Almost 60 km2 will be flooded by the reservoirs, including some of the
best agricultural and ranching lands of the region and some of the world’s
rarest forest types, home to the critically endangered guaiteca cipres
(pilgerodendron uviferum) tree.
• Rare animal species including the torrent duck (merganetta armata) and
the white-bellied seed-snipe (attagis malouinus) will lose critical habitat
due to reservoir flooding.
• The transmission line route will traverse 64 Chilean comunas, including A map from HidroAysén shows the proposed
indigenous communities, and 14 legally protected conservation areas. locations of the dams in Chile’s XI Region.
eneRgy alTeRnaTiveS nates campaign activities in Chile, the US, Canada, Spain,
Chile’s environmental impact assessment system does not Italy, and beyond. Over 50 groups in Chile are united under
require any consideration of the existence of viable alterna- the banner of a Patagonia Without Dams – Patagonia Sin
tives to the proposed project. Nevertheless, according to a Represas. Such was the impact of this campaign in Chile
recent study by the University of Chile and Federico Santa during 2008 that one of the country’s most influential daily
Maria Technical University, more than half of Chile’s future newspapers, La Nación, chose the campaign as its “per-
energy needs could be satisfied by improving efficiency of son of the year.” Internationally, HidroAysén’s plans have
energy use and from renewable sources such as solar and ignited extensive media coverage; in April 2008, The New
wind. These alternatives could actually supply more electric- York Times published a blunt editorial advising dropping the
ity than HidroAysén could from damming the Baker and Baker/Pascua dam plans.
Pascua rivers. In addition, the study found that more efficient
According to opinion polls, most Chileans oppose these plans
energy use and “non-conventional” renewable energy sourc-
because of the environmental damage they would cause.
es would reduce Chile’s vulnerability to energy disruption,
And, in a referendum held by the community of Caleta
increase the quality of energy services, and improve competi-
Tortel – a community that is closer than any other in Aysén
tion and productivity of energy companies.
to a proposed dam – 78% of voters said they did not agree
with the project.
cHooSing PaTagonia foR life, noT PRofiTS
A powerful national and international grassroots campaign Since March 2008, the consumer campaign to protect
opposes HidroAysén’s plans to dam the Baker and Pascua Patagonia has grown rapidly in the US – Chile’s biggest
rivers. The Council in Defense of Patagonia (CDP) coordi- export market. Consumers are urging wood suppliers such
4. as The Home Depot holders through a
and 84 Lumber postcard-writing
to stop purchas- campaign, as well as
ing timber from the through work with
companies involved Italian political actors
in the dam plans. In – the Italian govern-
the face of the grow- ment owns one-third
ing stigmatization of Enel’s shares – and
of Chilean wood labor unions.
products in the
US, as well as the Canadians have also
expanding Patagonia joined the campaign
Sin Represas cam- because Canadian
In November 2007, a cavalcade of Patagonians rode their horses hundreds of kilome-
paign throughout the ters to protest the dams. Photo: Patagonia Sin Represas and Aysén Reserva de Vida. pensioners own a
world, HidroAysén’s large piece of the
key Chilean owner, the Matte Group, and even Chile as a Chilean company
country, have been forced to weigh economic costs against that wants to cut the 2,400 km-long swath for transmission
the supposed benefits of damming Patagonia. A governmen- lines. Canadian nonprofit Probe International and others are
tal advisor to Chile has publicly said that destroying one of working to ensure a future of truly clean energy that does
the planet’s most treasured wild places could turn interna- not require destruction of places like Patagonia.
tional markets against all Chilean products. This has cre- The Patagonia Sin Represas campaign will continue to edu-
ated strong concern in a country whose economy is heavily cate people around the world about the devastation that
dependent on international exports. HidroAysén would cause, and make the link between
Many thousands of activists from around the world have Chilean products – such as those from the Matte Group –
joined the campaign by writing personal letters to the head and plans to destroy Patagonia. The promoters of this unnat-
of the Matte Group, the CEO of The Home Depot, and the ural disaster have undue political influence with Chile’s gov-
owner of 84 Lumber. (See Box) Activists from the US and ernment, and are using it to safeguard their projected profits.
Italy have also targeted Italy’s Enel, the largest single share- We can overcome this powerful lobby to destroy the Baker
holder amongst the mega-companies who own HidroAysén. and Pascua rivers by making sure that those who support
Italian activists intervened in Enel’s annual shareholders’ HidroAysén suffer the consequences of their involvement in
gathering in June 2008, serving clear warning of the reputa- plans to dam Patagonia.
tional damage that Enel risks by continuing its involvement Together we can protect Patagonia – one of the last wild
with HidroAysén. In 2009, Italian activists are partnering places on Earth!
with International Rivers to pressure Enel’s CEO and share-
Help Home Depot Save Patagonia!
The Home Depot is the largest buyer of timber products from the Matte group, one of the owners of the company
behind the Patagonia dam plans. In 1999, Home Depot signed an agreement to protect native Chilean forests, yet the
dams and their associated transmission lines would require clearcutting and flooding of forests found nowhere else in
the world!
Home Depot needs to prove that its claim of environmental stewardship isn’t merely public relations rhetoric. The
company asserts “As the world’s largest home improvement retailer and an industry leader on sustainability issues,
we have the ability to effect change by doing the right thing.”
We’re asking you to call on Home Depot to “do the right thing” and stop buying wood products from Chilean
companies who plan to destroy Patagonia!
Join the thousands of others around the world who are fighting for a wild Patagonia.
Visit www.internationalrivers.org/patagonia to take action!
International Rivers | patagonia@internationalrivers.org | Tel: + 1 510 848 1155 | internationalrivers.org February 2009