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Grandfathering Optionen im Rahmen einer EU ILUC Richtlinie

Die Europäische Kommission wird voraussichtlich eine Folgenabschätzung sowie einen Gesetzesentwurf zur indirekten Landnutzungsänderung (ILUC) in Zusammenhang mit der Biokraftstoffproduktion veröffentlichen. Die Einführung einer EU-Richtlinie zur indirekten Landnutzungsänderung in der Richtlinie für Erneuerbare Energien (RED) und der Richtlinie zur Kraftstoffqualität (FQD), hat möglicherweise Einfluss auf derzeitige Investitionen und Arbeitsplätze in der europäischen Biokraftstoffindustrie. Im Auftrag der Umweltorganisation Transport & Environment hat Ecofys untersucht, inwieweit der Biokraftstoffsektor unter dem Gesichtspunkt der Bestandswahrung gegen die Einführung einer ILUC-Richtlinie auf EU-Ebene geschützt werden kann. Dies wird mit dem Begriff 'Grandfathering' beschrieben. Der Bericht beginnt mit einem Überblick über den EU Biokraftstoffmarkt und -sektor. Er analysiert die verschiedenen Auswirkungen möglicher ILUC Maßnahmen in Hinblick auf den Sektor und geht der Frage nach, inwieweit gegenwärtige Investitionen und Arbeitsplätze geschützt werden müssen. In einem zweiten Schritt untersucht der Bericht die Grandfathering Klausel, die aktuell in der RED und FQD Richtlinie enthalten ist, sowie weitere mögliche Grandfathering Optionen. Die Studie kommt zu dem Schluss, dass die Einführung einer ILUC Politikmaßnahme bei gleichzeitigem Erhalt der Arbeitsplätze und der Investitionen in Biokrafstoffproduktion möglich ist, wenn das Biokraftstoffverbrauchsniveau von 2010-2012 bis zum Jahr 2020 von der ILUC Richtlinie ausgenommen wird. Dies würde bedeuten, dass eine mögliche ILUC Richtlinie sich lediglich auf die zukünftige Biokraftsoffproduktion ab 2020 bezieht. Die ILUC-Maßnahme würde den gesamten Biokraftstoffverbrauch in der EU nicht deutlich verringern, da die Ziele der RED und FQD für 2020 unverändert bleiben. Dennoch könnten auf den EU Biodieselsektor Herausforderungen zukommen, wenn z. B. neue ILUC-Faktoren eingeführt oder der Mindestschwellenwert für Treibhausgasausstoß angehoben würde. Ein Grandfathering des derzeitigen Biokraftstoffverbrauchs würde dem entgegenwirken und heutige Investitionen und Arbeitsplätze sichern. Die Ergebnisse der Studie wurden am 22. März 2012 dem Europäischen Parlament vorgestellt.

Unraveling the genetic architecture of winter hardiness and quality traits in durum by genome wide and canidate gene based association mapping

Durum wheat is mainly grown as a summer crop. An introduction of a winter form failed until now due to the difficulty to combine winter hardiness with required process quality. Winter hardiness is a complex trait, but in most regions the frost tolerance is decisive. Thereby a major QTL, which was found in T. monococcum, T.aestivum, H. vulgare and S.cereale on chromosome 5, seems especially important. With genotyping by sequencing it is now possible to make association mapping based on very high dense marker maps, which delivers new possibilities to detect main and epistatic effects. Furthermore, new sequencing techniques allow candidate gene based association mapping. The main aim of the project is to unravel the genetic architecture of frost tolerance and quality traits in durum. Thereby, the objectives are to (1) determine the genetic variance, heritability and correlations among frost tolerance and quality traits, (2) examine linkage disequilibrium and population structure, (3) investigate sequence polymorphism at candidate genes for frost tolerance, and (4) perform candidate gene based and genome wide association mapping.

The scalar organization of environmental governance: an institutionalist perspective on the transformation of water and marine governance in the European Union

The project aims to theorize the scalar organization of natural resource governance in the European Union. This research agenda is inspired by critical geographers' work on the politics of scale. The research will examine an analytical framework derived from theories of institutional change and multi-level govern-ance to fill this theoretical gap. Furthermore, it will review conceptualizations of the state in institutional economics, evaluate their adequacy to capture the role of the state in the dynamics identified, and develop them further. The described processes may imply shifts in administrative levels, shifts in relations between different levels and changes in spatial delimitations of competent jurisdictions that result, for example, from decentralization or the introduction of river basin oriented administrative structures. The research investigates the implications of two European Directives: the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). They both have potentially great significance for the organization of marine and water governance at the level of Member States and below, and adhere to similar regulatory ideas for achieving good ecological status of waters. A multiple case study on changes in the scalar reorganization of marine and water governance that result from the implementation of the Directives will be carried out. It will rely on qualitative and quantitative data gathering based on semi-structured interviews and review of secondary and tertiary sources looking at Portugal, Spain, and Germany. It specifically addresses the role of social ecological transactions, the structure of decision making processes and the role of changes in contextual factors (such as ideologies, interdependent institutions and technology).

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Forest management and habitat structure - influences on the network of song birds, vectors and blood parasites

Forest structure is altered by humans for long times (Bramanti et al. 2009). The long lasting modification of forests pursuant to human demands modified the living conditions for birds as well as for many other animals. This included changes in resource availability (e.g., food, foraging, nesting sites) and changes of interspecific interactions, e.g., parasitism and predation (Knoke et al. 2009; Ellis et al. 2012). Also species compositions and the survivability of populations and even species are affected. The loss of foraging sites and suitable places for reproduction, the limitation of mobility due to fragmented habitats and the disturbances by humans itself may lead to more stressed individuals and less optimal living conditions. In certain cases species are not able to deal with the modified requirements and their populations will shrink and even vanish. Depending on the intensity of management and the remaining forest structure, biodiversity is more or less endangered. Especially in systems of two or more strongly connected taxa changing conditions that affect at least one part may subsequently affect the other, too. One system of interspecific communities that recently attracted the attention of biologists includes birds, blood parasites (haemosporidians) and their transmitting vectors. For instance, avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) represents the reason for extreme declines in the avifauna of Hawaii since the introduction of respective vectors (e.g. Culicidae) during the 20th century (van Riper et al. 1986, Woodworth et al. 2005). With the current knowledge of this topic we are not able to predict if such incidences could also occur in Germany. All in all, different management strategies and intensity of forest management may influence the network of birds, vectors and blood parasites and change biodiversity. To elucidate this ecological complex, and to understand the interactions of the triad of songbirds as vertebrate hosts, dipteran vectors and haemosporidians within changing local conditions, I intend to collect data on the three taxa in differently managed forest areas, the given forest structure and the climatic conditions. I will try to explain the role of abiotic factors on infection dynamics, in detail the role of forest management intensity. Data acquisition takes place at three spatially divided locations: inside the Biodiversity Exploratory Schwäbische Alb, at the Mooswald in Freiburg, and inside the Schwarzwald.

Identification. cloning and functional characterization of genes related to fire blight resistance in Malus x robusta (D-A-CH/LAV)

The fire blight disease caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is currently the major constraint for apple production in several European countries including Germany and Switzerland. In recent years several infections occurred which have led to costs in the tens of millions Euros. The antibiotic Streptomycin (Plantomycin®), which is the only effective plant protective agent, can only be applied under particular restrictions. Planting of fire blight resistant cultivars seems to be the most promising solution, which is environmental and producer friendly. Unfortunately, the available fire blight resistant apple cultivars are non-competitive on the market, because of their inferior fruit quality. The improvement of established cultivars like 'Golden Delicious' or 'Gala' using classical breeding strategies is impossible because apple is self-incompatible and heterozygous. Each offspring of a sexual cross between such a cultivar and a resistant genotype will be genetically different to each of the parents. Linkage drag coming from the resistant led often to a decrease in fruit quality. Several crosses with cultivars of good quality are necessary to remove most of the unwanted traits and the result will be a completely new cultivar. Breeding of such a new apple cultivar is time consuming and in the end it is not clear, whether the new cultivar will be accepted by consumers and growers or not. Under these premises, the introduction of a specific gene into a particular cultivar which already has all qualities necessary, except the trait in question, is attractive. The recombinant DNA-technology offers the most promising strategy to solve the problem of fire blight by using Malus own genes without the need to change the popular cultivars. The development of cisgenic plants seems to be a realistic and successful strategy. Cisgenic plants contain only genes, which originates from crossable species and not from outside of the primary genepool. They are therefore comparable to classical bred plants and expected to be acceptable by consumers and growers. The methodology to produce such a durable resistant cisgenic apple cultivar has already been established, but an apple fire blight resistance gene (or linked gene set) is still needed. Recently a strong Fieblight resistance has been identified on chromosome 3 of the apple hybrid Malus x robusta 5. This project focuses on the isolation of the gene(s) inducing the resistance of M. x robusta 5 and its cloning into the susceptible cultivar Gala. Furthermore the interaction of this (or these) genes products with gene products of the pathogen will be studied so to understand the interaction mechanisms and therefore evaluate the durability of the resistance.

Impact of Landscape Level Land Use Changes with Study Sites in Nicaragua

The main cause of loss of natural resources in Central America is the advance of the agricultural border (UICN, 2001), demanding more land area to produce the same amount of food, as a consequence of the loss of the productive capacity of the ground and the decrease sources (García 2003), the traditional farming practices as crop in the zones of greater slopes, exaggerated use of agrochemical substances and overpasturing have caused negative impacts on the ecosystems (Córdoba, 2002). At the moment livestock is one of the activities of production that have the biggest share of the regions economy (ILRI, 2004), although at the same time it has been announced one of the main causes of the natural ecosystems transformation, provocing the loss of the agrosystems sustainability (Kaimowitz 1996). Taking into account that the systems of extensive production are coming along with the degradation of natural ressources that exist in the forest, an approach of new technics, that are compatible with livestock production and the conservation of natural ressources become necessary. One of these approaches is the introduction of Silvopastoral technologies (Ibrahim et al. 1999). SilvoPastoral Systems (SPS) constitute an alternative for cattle production, where wooded perennial (trees and/or shrubs) interact with the traditional components (herbaceous covers and animals) under a system of integral handling (Ibrahim, 1996). This is a system of sustainable production that, through transformations that improve the performance in production, generates environmental services when protecting and conserving the sources (Ibrahim et al. 2003). Objectives: Identify land use of SPS by analysing satellite imagery (Lansat TM/ ETM+ and Quickbird). Identify the contribution of SPS to the recovery of forestal coverage and the cabon stock in Nicaragua by the application of GIS (Geographic Informatic Systems). Determine the duration of the carbon fixation in SPS.

Upwind: Development of Improved Wind Turbine Noise Prediction Tools for Low Noise Airfoil Design

The noise regulations of various countries urge wind turbine manufacturers to reduce the aerodynamical noise emission of their turbines. To reduce the greenhouse gas emission, wind energy has been put in a very front position. EWEA estimates 12percent of worlds energy may come from wind turbines by the year 2020 (approx. 1,260,000 MW). This means wider deployment of wind turbines, at lower wind speed sites i.e. close to people & transmission lines. To reduce the transmission cost between production site and customer, onshore installations are still a cheaper solution. One of the biggest barriers for developing onshore turbines is the noise which has a negative impact on people's daily life. Thus, the goal of developing onshore wind turbines is to design silent wind turbines and silent wind farms and at the same time have a good aerodynamic efficiency. Noise emitted from an operating wind turbine can be divided into two parts, mechanical noise and flow induced noise. Mechanical noise can sufficiently be reduced by conventional engineering approaches but flow-induced noise is more complex and need more focus. The noise mechanisms associated with flow-induced noise emission have different sources. These are, inflow turbulence noise, tip noise, laminar boundary layer separation noise, blunt trailing-edge noise (BTE) and for turbulent boundary-layer trailing-edge interaction noise (TBL-TE). Acoustic field measurements within the European research project SIROCCO showed that the TBL-TE noise is the most dominant noise mechanism for modern wind turbines. Thus, accurate prediction and reduction of the TBL-TE noise is the main focus of the acoustics airfoil design methods for wind turbine rotor blade. For developing 'silent' airfoils, a routinely design fast, less expensive and accurate prediction methodology is desired. In this respect, simplified theoretical model would be the first candidate, and therefore the main goal is development of an accurate and efficient noise prediction model for the low noise wind turbine blade design.

Bedeutung von Erdgas als neuer Treibstoff im Kontext einer nachhaltigen Energieversorgung

Alternative Kraftstoffe können in Verbindung mit Effizienzsteigerungen und Veränderungen im Mobilitätsverhalten einen wichtigen Beitrag zu einer zukunftsfähigen Entwicklung im Verkehr leisten. Ihre Rolle kann allerdings nicht alleine aus Sicht des Verkehrs bewertet werden. Aufgrund der Wechselwirkungen im gesamten Energiesystem müssen auch Fragen der Verfügbarkeit von Primärenergieträgern und Verlagerungseffekte berücksichtigt werden, die z. B. auftreten, wenn erneuerbare Energien statt im stationären Bereich in mobilen Anwendungen eingesetzt werden. Derartige ganzheitliche Betrachtungen auf der Basis von Energiesystemanalysen sind Gegenstand der Studie, die aus klimapolitischer und energiewirtschaftlicher Sicht analysiert, welche Rolle Erdgas, Biokraftstoffe und Wasserstoff für eine zukünftige Kraftstoffversorgung spielen können. Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen, dass die von den Klimawissenschaften langfristig als notwendig angesehenen Klimaschutzziele nur durch eine deutliche Reduktion des durchschnittlichen Energieverbrauchs der Fahrzeuge erreicht werden können. Alternative Kraftstoffe können die notwendigen Effizienzmaßnahmen zwar flankieren und den Handlungsspielraum erweitern, massive Effizienzsteigerungen aber nicht ersetzen. Die Ergebnisse wurden am 18. September 2003 vom Präsidenten des Wuppertal Instituts, Prof. Dr. Peter Hennicke, auf der IAA 2003 in Frankfurt/Main vorgestellt und an Bundesumweltminister Trittin übergeben.

Absatzanalyse für regionale und fair gehandelte Öko-Lebensmittel (Fair und regional)

Zielsetzung des beantragten Projekts ist eine umfassende Analyse des Absatzerfolgs für die im Rahmen von zwei anderen BLE-Projekten (siehe Kooperation) entwickelten und verkauften Testprodukte. Die Analyse des Absatzerfolgs basiert auf einer Analyse von Absatzmengen und -preisen und Umsätzen der Testprodukte sowie von deren engsten Substituten im Sortiment der Testgeschäfte. Darüber hinaus werden Verkaufsförderungsmaßnahmen, die im Rahmen der BLE-Projekte durchgeführt werden, im Hinblick auf deren kurz- und mittelfristigen Absatzerfolg analysiert. Die Analyseergebnisse sollen Entscheidungsträgern bei Herstellern und Händlern Informationen liefern, die für eine Listung der regionalen und fairen Öko-Lebensmittel in Naturkostläden essentiell sind.

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