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Found 38 results.

Establishment of Teak plantations for high-value timber production in Ghana

Background and Objectives: The project area is located in the Ashanti Region of Ghana / West Africa in the transition zone of the moist semideciduous forest and tropical savannah zone. Main land use in this region is subsistence agriculture with large fallow areas. As an alternative land-use, forest plantations are under development by the Ghanaian wood processing company DuPaul Wood Treatment Ltd. Labourers from the surrounding villages are employed as permanent or casual plantation workers. Within three forest plantation projects of approximately 6,000 ha, DuPaul offers an area of 164 ha (referred to as Papasi Plantation) - which is mainly planted with Teak (Tectona grandis) - for research purposes. In return, the company expects consultations to improve the management for sustainable timber and pole production with exotic and native tree species. Results: In a first research approach, the Papasi Plantation was assessed in terms of vegetation classification, timber resources (in qualitative and quantitative terms) and soil and site conditions. A permanent sampling plot system was established to enable long-term monitoring of stand dynamics including observation of stand response to silvicultural treatments. Site conditions are ideally suited for Teak and some stands show exceptionally good growth performances. However, poor weed management and a lack of fire control and silvicultural management led to high mortality and poor growth performance of some stands, resulting in relative low overall growth averages. In a second step, a social baseline study was carried out in the surrounding villages and identified landowner conflicts between some villagers and DuPaul, which could be one reason for the fire damages. However, the study also revealed a general interest for collaboration in agroforestry on DuPaul land on both sides. Thirdly, a silvicultural management concept was elaborated and an improved integration of the rural population into DuPaul's forest plantation projects is already initiated. If landowner conflicts can be solved, the development of forest plantations can contribute significantly to the economic income of rural households while environmental benefits provide long-term opportunities for sustainable development of the region. Funding: GTZ supported PPP-Measure, Foundation

FP6-SUSTDEV, Integration of European Wetland research in a sustainable management of water cycle (EUROWET)

The final goal of the EUROWET project is to integrate the substantial multidisciplinary European research in wetlands to help attain the sustainable management of the water cycle. This will be achieved by the translation of state-of-the art science developed at both national and European levels, into practical guidance for end-users. This will be achieved by a comprehensive review, expert assessment and a focussed dissemination strategy. There is considerable scientific knowledge and technical experience gained in diverse aspects of wetland science and management including hydrology, biogeochemistry, ecology restoration, socio-economic and policy analysis. However the results of research and management experience are still too fragmentary and not sufficiently orientated to problem-solving or simply inadequately framed to be effectively transferred to, or used by, stakeholders and policy-makers. Simultaneously the general outcome of the scientific research has been increased awareness of the significance of wetlands in delivering goods and services important for human welfare including quality of life, biodiversity conservation and maintenance or enhancement of environment quality. Despite this wetlands continue to be degraded and lost throughout Europe without adequate consideration of the wider benefits to be achieved from this management. The new Water Framework Directive (WFD) promotes a unique opportunity to redress this problem by means of the holistic, integrated approach to water management. There is currently in preparation horizontal guidance on Wetlands as part of the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) process. There is however work still to be done on providing more specific scientific and technical guidance on the effective implementation of the Directive with respect to wetlands. This is particularly the case in relation to Integrated River Management, the CIS cluster within which wetlands are being considered in the WFD.

Kooperation, Konkurrenz und Kohlenstoff: Ein eigenschaftsbasierter Modellansatz zum mikrobiellen Einfluss auf die natürliche Speicherung von gelöstem organischen Kohlenstoff im Ozean

Das Reservoir an gelösten organischen Kohlenstoffverbindungen im Meer (engl. dissolved organic carbon, DOC) ist eines der größten aktiven Kohlenstoffreservoire an der Erdoberfläche, und beinhaltet eine ähnliche Menge an Kohlenstoff wie die gesamte Atmosphäre. DOC wird mikrobiell abgebaut und ist durch Gasaustausch an der Ozeanoberfläche direkt mit dem atmosphärischen CO2 verbunden. Diese enge Verbindung birgt hohes Potential für biologische Rückkopplungen in einem sich ändernden Klima. Biogeochemische Modellierung hilft, Zukunftsszenarien zu berechnen und auszuwerten, benötigt dazu aber ein mechanistisches Verständnis der biogeochemischen Stoffkreisläufe. Wissenschaftler haben in einem Appell gerade davor gewarnt, die Rolle der Mikroorganismen zu vernachlässigen, da dies die Fähigkeit der Modelle beeinträchtigt, verwertbare Aussagen zu Zukunftsszenarien zu treffen. Aktuelle Kohlenstoffkreislaufmodelle berücksichtigen normalerweise die komplexen mikrobiellen Interaktionen mit DOC nicht, was problematisch ist, da das ozeanische DOC Reservoir groß, aktiv und in direktem Zusammenhang mit dem globalen Klimasystem ist. Momentan wird DOC hauptsächlich durch vorher definierte Reaktivitätsklassen innerhalb des Kohlenstoffpools modelliert. Obwohl dieser Ansatz heutige DOC-Konzentrationen im Ozean simulieren kann, fehlt die Flexibilität, ändernde Umweltbedingungen angemessen zu berücksichtigen. Das hier beantragte Projekt hat deshalb zum Ziel, diejenigen mikrobiellen Eigenschaften zu identifizieren, die notwendig sind, um das räumliche und zeitliche Muster von DOC Konzentrationen mit einem biogeochemischen Modell zu reproduzieren. Dazu wird ein Ansatz gewählt, indem sich mikrobielle Diversität im Modell an variierende Umweltbedingungen selbst anpasst, ein sogenannter â€Ìself-assembling approachâ€Ì. Dieser soll hier zum ersten Mal auf heterotrophe (=DOC abbauende) mikrobielle Diversität angewendet werden. Konkrete Ziele beinhalten 1) theoretische Zusammenhänge von DOC und den Wechselwirkungen von Phytoplankton und heterotrophen Mikroorganismen in einer Fallstudie abzuleiten, 2) zu testen, ob bestimmte mikrobielle Eigenschaften und trade-offs die globalen DOC Konzentrationen in der Mischungsschicht im Ozean abbilden und 3) die Identifikation und Quantifizierung von DOC Quellen im Tiefenozean zusätzlich zu Partikeldissoziierung, die empirische Studien nahelegen. Um diese Ziele zu realisieren, beantrage ich hier ein Stipendium für 12 Monate Aufenthalt in Prof. Mick Follows Arbeitsgruppe am Massachusetts Institute of Technology, um mein zuvor entwickeltes DOC Modell an das dortige Darwin Modell zu koppeln, um den dort entwickelten Ansatz des â€Ìself-assemblingsâ€Ì auf die DOC abbauende Gemeinschaft anzuwenden. Der Mehrwert liegt dabei in der Generierung eines verbesserten Verständnisses der natürlichen Speicherung von marinem DOC auf globaler Ebene, sowie in der verbesserten Darstellung des marinen DOC Reservoirs in einem marinen Kohlenstoffmodell.

FP6-SUSTDEV, An innovative approach of Integrated Wildland Fire Management regulating the wildfire problem by the wise use of fire: solving the FIRE PARADOX (FIRE PARADOX)

Wildfires are a major problem for many European societies threatening human lives and property with disastrous impacts particularly at the wildland-urban interface. On the other hand humans always used fire as a tool to regulate nature and traditional use of fire is known in many regions of Europe. The understanding of this paradox, is thus essential for finding solutions for integrated wildland fire management.This concept requires considering the various aspects of fire, from its use as a planned management practice (prescribed fire) to the initiation and propagation of unplanned fires (wildfires) and to the use of fire in fighting wildfires (suppression fire). Prescribed or suppression fires will therefore set the limits for wildfires by vontrolling their spatial extent, intensity and impacts. This is the main approach adopted aiming at the creation of the scientific and technological bases for new practices and policies under integrated wildland fire management and in the development of strategies for its implementation in Europe. Three major domains of related activities were considered: research, development and dissemination. In research, the project will focus on understanding the machanisms and modelling the processes associated with fire, from physics to biology and social sciences. Experimental and sampling methods will be used. The scientific and technical knowledge gathered will allow the development of a technological platform that will integrate the fire model, the temporal and spatial variability of fuels and weather, and the potential ecological and social-economical impacts. Documentation and demonstration platforms will also be extensively used for dissemination, focusing in the development of stategies for public awarness, academic and professional training using new communication technologies and networks, and for the implementation of new practices, policies and regulations under the concept of integrated wildland fire management. Prime Contractor: Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa, Instituto Superior de Agronomia; Lisboa; Portugal.

E! 113343: SOLVED! - Quantitative Vorhersage der Lebensdauer von Lithium-Ionen Batterien, Teilprojekt: Erstellen einer Simulationssoftware zur Vorhersage der mechanischen Degradation

Kurzgutachten Kommunale Wärmeplanung

Auf dem Weg zur treibhausgasneutralen Wärmeversorgung des Gebäudebestands bestehen vielfältige Planungsbedarfe auf kommunaler Ebene. Strategien zur Reduzierung des Endenergiebedarfs der Gebäude und zur Dekarbonisierung der Wärmeversorgung durch Einbindung erneuerbarer Energien und unvermeidbarer Abwärme sind in Einklang zu bringen. Dafür ist eine räumliche Abstimmung für die Erschließung von erneuerbaren Wärmequellen, der damit verbundenen Infrastrukturen und Wärmesenken erforderlich. Darüber hinaus muss in diesen Prozess die strategische Entwicklung von dezentralen und netzgebundenen Versorgungssystemen sowie von Strom-, Wärme- und Gasnetzen eingeschlossen werden. Wie in einigen Nachbarländern schon teils seit Jahrzehnten praktiziert, rückt die kommunale Wärmeplanung daher nun auch in Deutschland in den Mittelpunkt der wissenschaftlichen und praktischen Debatte. In einigen Bundesländern ist die Wärmeplanung für Kommunen bereits verpflichtend und wird somit zum Teil der kommunalen Daseinsvorsorge. Sie dient der Erschließung bestehender Potenziale in einer Kommune und der Koordination von Investitionsentscheidungen mit Blick auf die treibhausgasneutrale Wärmeversorgung des Gebäudebestands. Ziel dieser Studie ist es, den aktuellen Stand der wissenschaftlichen Debatte zur kommunalen Wärmeplanung aufzubereiten sowie einen Beitrag zu einem gemeinsamen Begriffsverständnis zu leisten. Davon ausgehend werden eine Einordnung der Möglichkeiten und Grenzen des Instruments vorgenommen sowie Weiterentwicklungs- und Forschungsbedarfe abgeleitet. Um dahin zu gelangen, werden potenzielle Aufgaben der kommunalen Wärmeplanung und ein Referenzmodell der kommunalen Wärmeplanung in vier Schritten vorgestellt. Zudem werden Einsatzbedingungen, Umsetzungshemmnisse und Lösungsansätze auf kommunaler Ebene reflektiert. Das Gutachten basiert auf der Auswertung von zehn Forschungs- bzw. pilothaften Praxisvorhaben und einem Expert*innenworkshop.

Analyse der Ökologie und Virulenz von Legionella spp. Populationen von Süßwassersystemen in Deutschland, Palästina und Israel - Phase 2

Integrated Geophysical Exploration Technologies for Deep Fractured Geothermal Systems (I-GET)

The share of renewable energy sources in the European energy balance can be increased by a meaningful contribution of geothermal energy. Since the mining cost (exploration and drilling) to access the resources represents over 60 percent of the total investment, a reduction in mining cost would increase the competitiveness of geothermal energy significantly. This goal can be achieved if we had a way to detect the presence of the fluids inside the natural and/or enhanced geothermal systems before any drilling operation. The project I-GET is aimed at developing an innovative geothermal exploration approach based on advanced geophysical methods. The objective is to improve the detection, prior to drilling, of fluid bearing zones in naturally and/or artificially fractured geothermal reservoirs. This new approach will be tested in four European geothermal systems with different geological and thermodynamic reservoir characteristics: two high enthalpy (metamorphic and volcanic rocks), one middle enthalpy geothermal system (deep sedimentary rocks), and one low enthalpy geothermal system (shallow sedimentary rocks). Petrophysical and geomechanical properties of the investigated rocks will be defined by laboratory measurements. With respect to the high enthalpy sites elastic and electric rock properties will be determined at the steam/liquid transition of the pore fillings. The validity of the laboratory and simulation results will be verified by new field experiments. Seismic and magnetotelluric data will be acquired in the test sites, and new acquisition and processing techniques will be developed to solve problems related to the particular target such as high temperatures, anisotropy, phase condition, etc.. The static and dynamic three-dimensional model of geothermal reservoirs will be reconstructed by means of all the data acquired. The input of the results of new geophysical prospecting into reservoir modelling is a crucial test of the quality of the new exploration method.

Schwerpunktprogramm (SPP) 1158: Antarctic Research with Comparable Investigations in Arctic Sea Ice Areas; Bereich Infrastruktur - Antarktisforschung mit vergleichenden Untersuchungen in arktischen Eisgebieten, Molecular composition of Southern Ocean dissolved organic matter and its relation to structure and activity of prevailing microbial communities

H2020 Environment - EU Horizon 2020 Environment, Glass Recovering Revolution: High performance Optical Sorter for glass collection from Waste (SEEGLASS)

The amount of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in the EU28 reached 245 million tons in 2012. Nowadays, Europe directives for waste management are more restrictive each year (e.g Landfill Directive 1999/31/EC), but unfortunately, landfill disposal still represents 34% of total MSW generated. On the other hand, citizen awareness as well as the high fees operators pay for landfill disposal, have helped to greatly increase the percentage for recycling from 18% in 1995, to 42% in 2012. However, 40% of all the glass waste ends up in mixed MSW plants (which typically contain 7% of glass). Instead of being disposed of in selective-waste collection, it ends up in landfills or is composted/incinerated with the remnant waste. We have developed SEEGLASS, a high performance optical sorter based on computer vision and a pneumatic rejection system. Our aim is to solve this non-environmentally friendly problem, while also offering our end-users additional revenues with this recovered material, which is not being exploited now (49€/tn glass). In addition, extracting this glass, will allow the treatment plants to significantly reduce costs from waste disposal fees (50€/Tonne EU average and rising). Payback for customers is estimated in only 19 months. With this project we will (i) construct pre-conditioning process line, (ii) optimise our current SEEGLASS computer vision system as well as its mechanical and pneumatic design, to reach 80% glass recovery, with 99% purity, (iii) integrate both, the process line and the glass sorter solution into a demonstrator system, and (iv) validate its feasibility in-house with real MSW coming from different countries, as well as carry-out an 24/7 end-user validation. We, PICVISA, will be the first company to recover the glass fraction in refined MSW worldwide (the niche market exists worldwide) selling Turn-key installations or only SEEGLASS units, contributing to a disruptive change in the sector.

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