ABSTRACT
Despite the numerous advantages of large dams, there is still a deep suspicion about the real, long-term benefits and costs of their construction. Land use change on a vast scale, displacement of a large population of indigenous people, loss of biodiversity and production of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as environmental, socioeconomic and cultural consequences resulting therefrom, indicate clearly the need to reconsider the growing trend of dam construction in the world. The present study was conducted to calculate the real cost of generating electricity imposed on communities and environment in order to clarify the adverse socioeconomic impacts of large dams that are often ignored due to short-term, economic benefits. Accordingly, Alborz Dam, a large dam in northern Iran, was selected as a case study to run cost-benefit analysis by SIMPACTS Software. The obtained results revealed that the total external cost of electricity generation by the hydropower dam is about 0.16 US$/kWh. In other words, the annual cost of the electricity generation by Alborz Hydropower Plant is US$ 4.8 million/year. The highest share [163 US$/MWh] belongs to the loss of agricultural production while the lowest cost [0.10 US$/MWh] is associated with the loss of life. According to the estimated values, a total amount of 1074 tons of greenhouse gas emissions is expected to be released into the air by the hydropower dam operation. It should be stated that SIMPACTS Software only considers the adverse effects of hydropower dams and there is a need to improve the capability of the software by adding the positive impacts in to the overall computations, as well
ABSTRACT
Breeding biology of the Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis is assessed in the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea, Iran during the years 2008-2010. About 84 nests located on 63 trees were examined. Nests were built on large trees located in Abbas abad marsh, Gilan Province. Initially, eggs were found on first week of April and egg laying continued until the last week of May. Clutch size varied from 2 to 5 eggs, with a mean clutch size of 2.8 +/- 0.69. Mean shape index for all eggs were 1.68 +/- 0.035 and 1.706 +/- 0.048, respectively. The length of the incubation period was estimated at 26.6 +/- 2.2 days. in 2010 of the 84 eggs laid, 26.6% were lost. In 2009 of 92 eggs laid, 62% were lost. Number of eggs hatched per nest averaged at 1.57 +/- 0.57 in small ones and 1.8 +/- 1.6 in large nest. Mean weight of eggs was estimated at 46.8 +/- 1.28g [N=10, mean =48.9, min=45.2]
Subject(s)
Animals , Breeding , EggsABSTRACT
This research work attempts to compare the legal and technical criteria of locating household and municipal landfills and discuss them along with legal and technical principles. For this purpose, it was attempted to discuss and compare the related most important national and international standards. Due to say, employing the legal standards of locating household and municipal landfills in corporation with managerial decision making is considered as the most significant issues. Thus, selection of evaluation legal methods of and weighting the criteria of locating the landfills were technically investigated. The main landfill location of Tehran [Kahrizak] was investigated in order to analyze the analytical hierarchical process of its impacts resulted from environmental problems along with the legal aspects of the main landfill site's by the means of Delphi, AHP and Expert Choice techniques, in conflict with the rules adopted from waste act, enacted executive guidelines and content of the published references on Guidelines of Department of the Environment. Ultimately, regarding the questionnaires, recommendations of the learnt and through the items resulted from investigation and analysis of hierarchical process; the following 4 conclusions were achieved: 1] Education and discipline of people as well as the authorities who enforce the rules; 2] Investigation and amendment of Waste Management Act clauses; 3] Receiving the costs of waste management from waste producers and 4] Setting up waste exchange market to utilize the wastes economically. Considering the results [investigation and amendment of Waste Management Act clauses] was selected and recommended as the best option. As a result of further technical investigations on the Waste Management Act, the necessity of employing the criteria of impact evaluation in amending the clauses of Waste Management Act was also recommended