Environmental protection is now an integral part of public policies, at local, national and global levels. In all instances, the cost and benefits of policies and projects must be carefully weighed ...using a common monetary measuring rod. Yet, many different categories of benefits and cost must be evaluated, such as health impacts, property damage, ecosystem losses and other welfare effects. Furthermore, many of these benefits or damages occur over the long term, sometimes over several generations, or are irreversible ( e.g. global warming, biodiversity losses). . How can we evaluate these elements and give them a monetary value? How should we take into account impacts on future generations and of irreversible losses? How to deal with equity and sustainability issues? This book presents an in-depth assessment of the most recent conceptual and methodological developments in this area. It should provide a valuable reference and tool for environmental economists and policy analysts.
LIP printing is a term adapted from forensic science to describe the use of geochemical proxies for tectonic and petrogenetic fingerprinting of Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs). Here, we investigate in ...detail the LIP printing of basic lavas, sills and dykes using two immobile element proxies: Th/Nb, a crustal input proxy, to monitor subduction-metasomatism and crustal assimilation and Ti/Yb, a residual garnet proxy, to monitor depth and degree of melting. The LIP printing diagram, a plot of Th/Nb against Ti/Yb for intraplate, plume-derived magmas, is characterised by two distinct arrays: a subduction-modified lithospheric mantle (SZLM) array and a MORB-OIB-OPB (plume) array (where OPB = oceanic plateau basalt). LIP basalt suites divide into three categories on this diagram: Type I plots entirely within the MORB-OIB-OPB array indicative of a significant plume source; Type II plots entirely within the SZLM array indicative of a significant sub-continental lithospheric mantle source, and Type III plots on a variety of trends between the two arrays indicative of significant plume-lithosphere interactions. Modelling demonstrates how the three LIP types, and the observed trends within and between individual LIPs, can be explained by differences in the compositions and relative contributions of lithospheric and asthenospheric (plume) mantle, in temperature and depth of melting and in the extent and nature of magma-crust interactions. This large genetic, and hence compositional, variability within and between LIPs relates to differences in geological and geodynamic setting and supports the forensic concept that ‘no two LIP prints are alike’. The potential applications of the LIP printing diagram are demonstrated here using four types of examples that highlight temporal and spatial LIP print diversity: flood basalt terranes related to Atlantic breakup (NAIP, Parana-Etendeka and CAMP); giant dyke swarms (Superior Craton Late Archean to Early Proterozoic dyke swarms and the Mackenzie dyke swarm); mineralization-related LIP terranes (Bushveld and Noril’sk); and early (c. 3.5 Ga) Earth and extraterrestrial lavas (terrrestrial Paleoarchean basalts and komatiites, lunar mare basalts and Martian shergottites).
•Geochemically, no two large igneous provinces (LIPs) are the same.•LIPs may be distinguished using the LIP printing diagram (Th/Nb v Ti/Yb).•The diagram highlights plume and lithosphere sources and their interactions.•LIP compositions can change systematically in time and space.•Applications extend to distinguishing suites of extraterrestrial lavas.
Published in 1989, Blueprint for a Green Economy presented, for the first time, practical policy measures for 'greening' modern economies and putting them on a path to sustainable development. This ...new book, written by two of the Blueprint for a Green Economy authors, revisits and updates its main messages by asking, first, what has been achieved in the past twenty years, and second, what more needs to be done to generate a truly 'green economy' in the twenty-first century?
Blueprint for a Green Economy had one over-arching theme. Making economies more sustainable requires urgent progress in three key policy areas: valuing the environment, accounting for the environment and incentives for environmental improvement. Today, with the threat of global warming, the decline in major ecosystems and their services, and fears over energy security, achieving these goals is even more vital.
The current book first summarizes the main messages from Blueprint for a Green Economy and explains why, given rapid and widespread global environmental degradation, they are still relevant. The book then examines the progress since Blueprint for a Green Economy in implementing policies and other measures to improve environmental valuation, accounting and incentives. Although much has been accomplished, additional advances are still required to green economies successfully. The book highlights the new policies and approaches needed for economic management of today's environmental concerns. Over twenty years later, A New Blueprint for a Green Economy once again emphasizes practical policies for greening modern economies, and explains why such an economic roadmap to a greener future is essential, if modern economies are to develop successfully and sustainably.
Genetics studies are used by wildlife managers and researchers to gain inference into a population of a species of interest. To gain these insights, microsatellites have been the primary method; ...however, there currently is a shift from microsatellites to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). With the different DNA requirements between microsatellites and SNPs, an investigation into which samples can provide adequate DNA yield is warranted. Using samples that were collected from previous genetic projects from regions in the USA from 2014 to 2021, we investigated the DNA yield of eight sample categories to gain insights into which provided adequate DNA to be used in ddRADseq or already developed high- or medium-density SNP panels. We found seven sample categories that met the DNA requirements for use in all three panels, and one sample category that did not meet any of the three panels requirements; however, DNA integrity was highly variable and not all sample categories that met panel DNA requirements could be considered high quality DNA. Additionally, we used linear random-effects models to determine which covariates would have the greatest influence on DNA yield. We determined that all covariates (tissue type, storage method, preservative, DNA quality, time until DNA extraction and time after DNA extraction) could influence DNA yield.
This is our ninth annual horizon scan to identify emerging issues that we believe could affect global biological diversity, natural capital and ecosystem services, and conservation efforts. Our ...diverse and international team, with expertise in horizon scanning, science communication, as well as conservation science, practice, and policy, reviewed 117 potential issues. We identified the 15 that may have the greatest positive or negative effects but are not yet well recognised by the global conservation community. Themes among these topics include new mechanisms driving the emergence and geographic expansion of diseases, innovative biotechnologies, reassessments of global change, and the development of strategic infrastructure to facilitate global economic priorities.
This is the ninth such annual horizon scan.
Twenty-four experts in conservation research and practice, ecology, economics, policy, and science communication identified 15 topics following a wide consultation. They followed a Delphi like process to score and identify the most important.
The issues highlighted span a wide range of fields and include thiamine deficiency in wild animals, the geographic expansion of chronic wasting disease, genetic control of invasive mammal populations and the effect of culturomics on conservation science, policy and action.
We present the results of our eighth annual horizon scan of emerging issues likely to affect global biological diversity, the environment, and conservation efforts in the future. The potential ...effects of these novel issues might not yet be fully recognized or understood by the global conservation community, and the issues can be regarded as both opportunities and risks. A diverse international team with collective expertise in horizon scanning, science communication, and conservation research, practice, and policy reviewed 100 potential issues and identified 15 that qualified as emerging, with potential substantial global effects. These issues include new developments in energy storage and fuel production, sand extraction, potential solutions to combat coral bleaching and invasive marine species, and blockchain technology.
This is the eighth such annual horizon scan.
An international team with expertise in horizon scanning, science communication, and conservation research, practice, and policy identified 15 issues, following widespread consultation and a Delphi-like scoring process to identify the most important.
The issues were wide ranging, and include sand extraction, blockchain technology, use of robotics to combat invasive species, and new developments in energy storage and fuel production.
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