New perspectives on natural resource development in developing countries

The link between natural resources and economic development is more and more regarded as a fact today even though the whole process of development is only partially understood. The awareness has now spread to the developing countries of the world where resources have yet to be developed to bring about an improvement in standards of living especially for rural populations, as well as a general improvement in the quality of life for the people. Unfortunately many of the resources of these countries are still to be surveyed and development planning is often based on flimsy, inadequate or even unreliable natural resource data. The improvement of data base for resource planning would go a long way to ensure more knowledge about natural resources in developing countries and better use and management of the available resources. There are economic, technological and environmental difficulties to be overcome before more efficient natural resource utilization in these countries could be achieved. The role of population growth in resource realization is still clouded with an inconclusive debate. But even more important is the need for technological assistance and the application of modern technology to food and agriculture and to other resources to ensure a better life for the populations of developing countries. Developments in agriculture will need the greatest attention since it is a primary resource which provides employment for large proportions of the population, food for the rural and urban populations and exportable surpluses required for the purchase of industrial goods for use in the other sectors of the economy. The activities of transnational corporations distort developments in agriculture and mining in many developing countries and many of these countries are today making greater moves to realize full sovereignty over their natural resources as a first step towards more efficient and meaningful planning for economic growth and development. Energy resources, and in particular the development of new and renewable sources of energy, present one of the greatest challenges to developing countries. Examples of the development of rural energy systems in China and India are promising to open the way to alternative forms of energy for the rural masses of other similarly placed developing countries. Finally, new developments in the natural resources debate concerned with the sharing of the resources of the oceans as seen in the Law of the Sea Conference are a pointer to a more equitable approach to the use of global resources for the continued development of the developed as well as the developing countries of the world.The view expressed in this paper are those of the author alone and do not necessarily represent those of the United Nations University.     

Renewable energy in Iran: Challenges and opportunities for sustainable development

Around the globe, developing countries have reported different cases of successfully implemented Renewable Energy (RE) program supported by bilateral or multilateral funding. In developing countries subsidy has played a big role in RE program marketing and whether this will lead to sustainable development is yet to be determined. The adoption of implementation strategies that will support sustainable development and overcoming barriers that hinder expansion of Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) still remains as a big challenge to stakeholders involved in promotion of RE resources in developing countries. In this respect, developing countries need to re-examine their environmental policy for promotion of RETs in order to define its role in revitalization of their economies. This paper reviews the policy incentives for promotion of RETs in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Setting-up international collaborative business ventures between local industry in Iran and RE companies in developed countries is proposed as an implementation strategy that will appropriate diffusion of RETs in the country. An organizational framework that may help to attain this objective is discussed and a structural model for RE business partnership is presented. It is concluded that with appropriate policy formulations and strategies, RETs can bring about the required socio-economic development in Iran.     

Enhancing the credibility of ecology: Is interdisciplinary research for land use planning useful?

Interdisciplinary approaches involving inputs from both the natural and social sciences represent one operational and social response to the complexity of today's environmental and land use problems. The resulting amalgam can be useful to both science and society, given the right mix of ingredients. Important steps in the planning and conduct of interdisciplinary research include problem indentification; definition of a precise scientific theme derived from the social demand; choice of relevant disciplines; selection of study area and spatial scale; ensuring that the project is adaptable to changing circumstances; obtaining the involvement of scientists, planners and local people; developing a continuum of actions from basic and applied research through to training and information diffusion; early and explicit definition of the criteria for evaluation. Though interdisciplinary approaches have shown their worth, they founder easily. Obstacles include the behavioural and psychological characteristics of individual scientists, differences in scientific method, and bottlenecks of a more administrative, institutional, political and financial nature.The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the authors' employers.     

论景观水资源

提出的"景观水资源"是水科学、美学、旅游学与景观学交叉研究的产物。论述了水体形成景观水资源的主要条件,阐明了景观水资源研究总目的、内容、方法和开发前景。     

Local Government and Natural Resources in the Sudan: The Case of Lagawa Rural Council

Resource management, protection and promotion are very critical issues facing many parts of our rapidly changing world. In most developing countries, such issues are handled by both central and local governments, but quite often specialised government agencies are entrusted with these jobs. In Sudan, and since 1971, local government has become more involved than ever with the issue of natural resources. This research assesses the performance of a single local government unit in Western Sudan with regard to the above mentioned issues. Out of the multiplicity of resources in the council, only natural grazing is selected for the focus of this assessment study, because of its high significance in the local socio-economic set-up. A lengthy field-study was carried out to determine the resource situation and how it affects policy and control and promotion measures. This council has failed; a situation typical of most rural councils in Sudan. Worst of all, the natural grazing is deteriorating rapidly under stocking rates which exceed the carrying capacity by 49%, a fact that has already enhanced desertification.This research is partially sponsored by the UNU.     

The IWAS-ToolBox: Software coupling for an integrated water resources management

Numerical modeling of interacting flow and transport processes between different hydrological compartments, such as the atmosphere/land surface/vegetation/soil/groundwater systems, is essential for understanding the comprehensive processes, especially if quantity and quality of water resources are in acute danger, like e.g. in semi-arid areas and regions with environmental contaminations. The computational models used for system and scenario analysis in the framework of an integrated water resources management are rapidly developing instruments. In particular, advances in computational mathematics have revolutionized the variety and the nature of the problems that can be addressed by environmental scientists and engineers. It is certainly true that for each hydro-compartment, there exists many excellent simulation codes, but traditionally their development has been isolated within the different disciplines. A new generation of coupled tools based on the profound scientific background is needed for integrated modeling of hydrosystems. The objective of the IWAS-ToolBox is to develop innovative methods to combine and extend existing modeling software to address coupled processes in the hydrosphere, especially for the analysis of hydrological systems in sensitive regions. This involves, e.g. the provision of models for the prediction of water availability, water quality and/or the ecological situation under changing natural and socio-economic boundary conditions such as climate change, land use or population growth in the future.     

Research Status and Prospect of the Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effect in Arid Regions

Centering on the scientific problems faced by subsurface hydrology in arid regions and ecological effect, the urgency of national ecological civilization and the Belt and Road construction towards the research of groundwater discipline, this article analyzed the formation and evolution mechanisms of groundwater and studied the groundwater function of arid regions. Based on the analysis and research, this article discussed domestic and overseas research status, existing problems and developing trend from six aspects, raised key and scientific problems which urgently need to be addressed, aiming at the existing bottlenecks of subsurface hydrology and ecological effect in arid regions and national requirement, so as to make some contribution to the innovative development of China’s groundwater science and national economic construction.     

贵州省地质遗迹资源特征及保护

贵州省地质遗迹资源丰富,类型多样。特殊的区域地质背景和自然环境造就了其鲜明的特色,这些遗迹资源有着重要的科研和观赏价值。但目前保护利用中存在很多问题,在对贵州省地质遗迹保护与开发利用现状分析的基础上,本着"保护第一,合理开发"的原则,提出一些现实可行的保护建议,旨在实现贵州地质遗迹资源的可持续利用。     

Remote sensing and mapping of Earth resources

Detailed knowledge of the natural resources of any nation is a pre-requisite for its economic development. In most developing countries, this knowledge is scarce or lacking. Acquiring the needed information by conventional means may require a large investment in time, personnel, and therefore, in cost. In the meantime, space-age technology provides the necessary tools to conduct surveys of natural resources in a timely manner. Such are the means to obtain the required data by digital sensors, radar imaging systems, and stereo cameras. These data can be utilized in mapping structures that may contain oil and gas deposits, recognizing high concentrations of economic minerals, discovering regions with fertile soils and good potential for groundwater, and monitoring cyclical climatic changes, particularly in arid lands. Such applications warrant greater use of remote sensing methods and techniques by the international scientific community, particularly for the development of natural resources in the Third World. This paper represents a general review of the available, and easily interpretable space-borne data that are useful in the mapping of such resources.     

Characterization of Colliery Spoils in León: Potential Uses in Rural Infrastructures

One of the bases of sustainable development is the responsible management of natural resources, and this is the approach which has been adopted by developed countries as regards management of all kinds of waste, through the establishment of management strategies based on prevention, reuse and recycling. This article present the results of a physical, chemical and geotechnical characterization of colliery spoils stored in slag heaps in the Ciñera-Matallana coal mining area in León, Spain. The primary objectives of this research were to determine the suitability of this mining waste for use as granular material in rural and civil engineering infrastructures and to classify it according to national and international road construction standards. On the basis of the results obtained, they are proposed several possible uses (foundation and core layers in track and road embankments, granular sub-base for light traffic and top layers of embankments), although it should be noted the need for mechanical treatments as crushing or sieving and the recommendation of use of sulphate resistant cement to avoid the possible problems.     

A critique of development and conservation policies in environmentally sensitive regions in Brazil

More than a strategy for environmental conservation, protected area paradigm has represented a specific conception of nature–society relationship. Originated in a context of capitalist consolidation, rapid urbanisation and frontier development in the US, this paradigm has given rise to a ‘politically viable rationale' in which utilitarian use of natural resources by tourism development would ensure nature preservation. This political rationality has deeply influenced environmental policies in developing countries, fostering a paradoxical model in the history of nature preservation. It also has brought into play diverse interests that have shifted patterns of local nature–society interaction, configuring a complex politicised environment. Established in ‘isolated' regions, protected areas have been implemented often by top–down approaches, disrupting resident peoples' livelihoods strategies through conflicts over the control of natural resources. Understanding the implications of development and conservation policies on resident peoples' livelihoods may represent a starting point for an integrated developmental conservation policy towards the promotion of sustainable livelihoods in environmentally sensitive regions in developing countries. These issues are analysed in the region of the Lençois Maranhenses National Park in Brazil. This paper argues that the context facing the region reveals a standardised conservationist paradigm marked by the absence of wider ecological criteria informing nature protection and a disregard for the strengthening of sustainability in existent socio-economic dynamics. The regional development and conservation policies have not only promoted tensions between resident peoples' livelihoods and the protected area paradigm, but also reinforced the legitimisation of social exclusion and environmental disruption under the prevalent rhetoric of nature protection and tourism development.     

Rainwater harvesting: an option for sustainable rural water supply in Ghana

Potable water is a critical for improved health and for the pursuit of various socio-economic activities. Despite its immense usefulness, rural communities in developing countries such as Ghana lack adequate access to potable water. Rainwater harvesting, which has the potential of providing potable water for rural communities in Ghana and can be undertaken largely with local resources is rarely utilized. The purpose of this paper is to present rainwater harvesting as a sustainable water supply strategy for domestic use and is based on research undertaken in two rural communities in Ghana. The paper identifies opportunities such as affordability and user ownership as well as constraining bottlenecks that include poor roofing materials, lack of appropriate harvesting facilities and housing occupancy status as factors influencing rainwater harvesting practices by rural communities. It then proposes measures to resolve these and other difficulties associated with rainwater harvesting and thereby enhance its potential for sustainable rural water supply.     

Impact of land-use and land-cover change on groundwater quality in the Lower Shiwalik hills: a remote sensing and GIS based approach

Human activities have exerted small to large scale changes on the hydrological cycle. The current scenario regarding groundwater resources suggests that globally there is a water crisis in terms of quantity (availability) and quality. Therefore there is a great need for the assessment and monitoring of quality and quantity of groundwater resources at local level. This paper presents a case study of the lower Shiwalik hills, in Rupnagar, Punjab, India, to trace land-use and land-cover changes during the past 17 years, with an emphasis on groundwater quality and quantity. This study was performed in alluvial and hilly terrain. The results show that the quantity of groundwater increased with the help of natural and artificial recharge due to change in land-use and land-cover pattern (increased area of fallow land). The quality of groundwater deteriorated due to input of fertilizers for enhancing the short-term soil fertility. Using a Remote Sensing and GIS based approach, we show the final results in map form. In particular we highlight a potential groundwater exploration site, which could be useful for district level planning. Our research shows that the change in land-use and land-cover affects the quantity and quality of groundwater.     

Tendency Analysis of Socio-hydrology Research Based on Bibliometrics

Socio-hydrology is a new inter-disciplinary science of people and water. The biblio-metrical analysis was made on the socio-hydrology papers included in the Web of Science (WoS) to obtain the study progress of socio-hydrology. The results indicated that the research areas of socio-hydrology mainly covered water resources, environmental sciences, civil engineering, geosciences, environmental engineering, agronomy, environmental studies, ecology, meteorology and atmospheric sciences, and geography. The key topics in general socio-hydrology were water resources, agricultural irrigation, and water policy. Furthermore, the research spots varied with the needs of the societal development in the different decades. They also varied among countries. The special socio-hydrology research mainly focused on water need and security in both urban and rural development, and emphasized the decision support of scientific management through effective hydrological model prediction. Its development will promote the sustainable management and utilization of water resources and help better solve water problems facing the humans.     

关于新时代实物地质资料科普发展的思考 ——以自然资源实物地质资料中心为例

实物地质资料是地质工作形成的最直接、最重要成果的体现,是地下地质情况最真实的信息记录载体,蕴藏着丰富的地质信息和地学知识,并具有原始性、唯一性、不可再生性、潜在价值巨大、获取成本高等特点,对我国国民经济建设和社会发展以及地球科学研究、地学科普等具有重要支撑作用。充分利用数字化、信息提取与挖掘、虚拟现实、互联网等技术,将实物地质资料科学、高效利用起来,切实转变实物地质资料科普观念,加强实物地质资料科普化研究,丰富实物地质资料科普形式,注重实物地质资料科普人才队伍建设,推进新时代实物地质资料科普工作高质量发展,进一步增强科普功能,提升新时代全民地球科学素养,对构建世界一流的岩芯管理体系具有重要现实意义。     

Multi-hazard model for developing countries

Disaster risk assessment related to natural events has generally been carried out separately by specialists in each area of earth sciences, which has two negative consequences: Firstly, results of investigations are presented in different formats, mainly maps, which differ significantly from each other in aspects such as scale, symbols and units; secondly, it is common for an area or territory to contain several hazards that can potentially interact with each other, generating cascade effects or synergies. While some authors have proposed a multi-hazard analysis framework based on the use of probabilities, the quality and quantity of data required for this approach are rarely available in developing countries. Qualitative methods, on the other hand, have traditionally been limited to overlapping maps, without considering possible spatial interactions. Given the importance of integrated assessment of natural hazards for land use planning and risk management, this article proposes a heuristic multi-hazard model appropriate for developing countries, based on a standardization of classifications and a spatial interaction matrix between hazards. The model can be adjusted to be applied at different scales and in different territories; to demonstrate its versatility, it is applied to the municipality of Poás, Costa Rica, a territory with multiple natural hazards.

     

Renewable energy strategies in England, Australia and New Zealand

The development of renewable energy sources is of prime interest to many countries seeking to pursue greenhouse gas emission reduction obligations. The increased use of renewables offers the possibility of not only contributing to emission reduction, but at the same time improving energy supply diversity and security, and developing employment and business in related supply industries. Two main mechanisms are in common use, one a quota (quantity) instrument often associated with tradable certificates, and the other a prescribed pricing mechanism. This paper considers the renewable energy development strategies of three countries (the UK, Australia, and New Zealand) all using a variant of the quota/certificate approach as the central instrument in their programs. The regulatory frameworks defining the application of the certificate systems differ notably, and the likely differing outcomes suggest that these regulatory settings may be at least as important as the selection of the basic policy instrument, in determining the overall success of programs of this nature.     

A Review of Some Rock Mechanics Issues in Geothermal Reservoir Development

Rock mechanics and geomechanical studies can provide crucial information for economic geothermal reservoir development. Although significant progress has been made in reservoir geomechanics, technical challenges specific to the geothermal area (high temps, data collection, experimentation issues) have prevented widespread use of geomechanics in geothermal reservoir development. However, as the geothermal industry moves to develop more challenging resources using the concept of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), and to maximize productivity from conventional resources, the need for improved understanding of geomechanical issues and developing specific technologies for geothermal reservoirs has become critical. Rock mechanics research and improved technologies can impact areas related to in-situ stress characterization, initiation and propagation of artificial and natural fractures, and the effects of coupled hydro-thermo-chemo-mechanical processes on fracture permeability and induced seismicity. Rock mechanics/geomechanics research, including experimental and theoretical investigations as well as numerical and analytical solutions, has an important role in optimizing reservoir design and heat extraction strategies for sustainable geothermal energy development. A number of major areas where rock mechanics research can facilitate geothermal systems development are reviewed in this paper with particular emphasis on EGS design and management.     

Networking for Local Agenda 21 implementation: Learning from experiences with Udaltalde and Udalsarea in the Basque autonomous community

Local Agenda 21 (LA21) is widely regarded as a key tool for implementing sustainability policies since local authorities are closer to ordinary people and some local managers and politicians have the ability to adapt organisations to new managerial atmospheres and social demands. However, local governments tend to lack the right economic, human and knowledge resources. Consequently, in the search for local sustainable development, networking and collaborative approaches to LA21 can help local authorities save resources and share knowledge and best practices. Although both research and politicians have tended to focus on LA21, we believe Regional Agenda 21 (RA21) needs to be emphasised as a complementary tool. This paper examines successful innovative practices in the Basque Autonomous Community (BAC) over a 4-year period, with a view to shedding light on the theoretical literature and to aiding regional and local authorities. Although research on policy networks has produced useful results, we are still some way from a plausible, consensus-based theory of policy networks. Based on experience in the BAC, the present article offers an integrated approach to understanding the antecedents and consequences of a regional knowledge-driven network for LA21 promotion. Although LA21 implementation has been studied before, evidence about networking at regional level is scarce. Other regions in developing countries could use this approach to achieve successful policy networks.     

International Geological Correlation Programme （IGCP） ／International Geoscience Programme （IGCP）

Although many countries, especially from the developing world, share the most exciting geological features, geological structures and natural resources, research activities at various institutions are undertaken in isolation. The IGCP is unique as an international Programme that brings together several thousands of scientists from different disciplines, to stimulate dialogue and facilitate communication among