May 2015
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October 2024Biodiversity and Conservation Along an East African Railway
A Survey of the Dar es Salaam-Makutupora Standard Gauge Railway, Tanzania
by Catherine Aloyce Masao, Joel Nobert, Flora John Magige, Edmond Alavaisha, S. Zainabu Bungwa, Philbert Anitha Byabato, Deusdedith Fidelis, Elikana John, Jasson John, Julius Mohamed Kibaja, Heriel Moshy, Athumani Fatina Mturi, R. Juma Mwangi, Henry Ndangalasi, Wilrik Ngalasoni, Alberto Bruno Nyundo, Chacha Werema, Felix A. Shayo, N A Mbwambo
It is well known that infrastructure development projects can boost the economy and reduce the cost of trade in both developing and developed economies, however, infrastructure projects can also cause biodiversity loss. This book is the result of an important biodiversity survey conducted along an East African railway in Tanzania. The building of the railway, still under construction, has already led to habitat loss, habitat degradation and landscape change which may have affected biodiversity. The book includes recommendations to mitigate the effect of railway construction by protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services which could have major implications across Africa and other regions. The area covered by the survey focuses on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) running through the Pugu and Ruvu South Forest Reserves towards Maktupora-Dodoma, plus data on large mammals through to Isaka-Shinyanga. The Pugu forests boast high biodiversity of both flora and fauna, some of which are endemic to the area. There are both plant and animal species that are of major conservation concern so there is urgent need to consolidate information to help formulate suitable conservation measures. The data collected covers plants, invertebrates, amphibians, birds, and mammals for terrestrial and aquatic environments along the SGR. This work is timely as there are many more ongoing SGR construction projects in Tanzania and across Africa, as such construction activities inevitably involve some habitat modification and destruction that may have a negative impact on biodiversity. National and international scientists, decision and policy makers, as well as ecologists and conservation managers involved in large infrastructure projects will find this book invaluable. The book provides baseline information and can be used as a case study for other infrastructure development projects around the world.
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Geography & the EnvironmentJuly 2008Conserving Land, Protecting Water
by Deborah Bossio, Deborah Bossio, Frits W T Penning de Vries, Kim Geheb, Kim Geheb, Line J. Gordon, Antonio Trabucco, William Critchley, Pay Drechsel, Hanspeter Liniger, Francis Gichuki, Lech Ryszkowski, Jules Pretty, Andrew Noble
The degradation of land and water resources resulting primarily from agricultural activities has had enormous impact on human society. In order to alleviate this problem an advanced understanding of the state of our resources and the process of degradation is needed. Conserving Land, Protecting Water includes an overview of existing literature focusing on global patterns of land and water degradation and discussions of new insights drawn from successful case studies on reversing soil and water degradation and their impact on food and environmental security. ; Conserving Land, Protecting Water includes an overview of existing literature focusing on global patterns of land and water degradation and discussions of new insights drawn from successful case studies on reversing soil and water degradation and their impact on food and environmental security. ; Part 1: Land and Water Degradation: Assessment and Issues1.1: Learning from bright spots to enhance food security and to combat degradation of water and land resources.1.2: Land degradation and water productivity in agricultural landscapes.1.3: Land Degradation, ecosystem services and resilience of smallholder farmers in Makanya catachment, Tanzania.1.4: Political ecologies of bright spots1.5: Large scale fluxes of crop nutrients in food cause environmental problems at the sources and at sinks1.6: Carbon sequestration, land degradation and waterPart 2: Towards Better Land and Water Management2.1: Local Innovation in ‘Green Water’ Management2.2: Sustainability and Resilience of the Urban Agricultural Phenomenon in Africa2.3: Safeguarding water resources by making the land greener: knowledge management through WOCAT2.4: Bright basins - do many bright spots make a basin shine?2.5: The influence of plant cover structures on water fluxes in agricultural landscapes2.6: Investments in collective capacity and social capitalPart 3: ‘ Bright Spots’3.1: ‘Bright spots’: Pathways to ensuring food security and environmental integrity3.2: Ecosystem benefits of ‘Bright Spots’
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Business, Economics & LawJune 2016Creating Experience Value in Tourism
by Peter Björk, Nina K Prebensen, Prakash Chathoth, Joseph S Chen, M. Joseph Sirgy, Muzaffer Uysal, Graham M S Dann, Tove I. Dahl, Lidia Andrades Caldito, Haywantee Ramkissoon, Vincent Magnini, Øystein Jensen, Line Mathisen, Akan Yanik, Tor Korneliussen, Xiaojuan Yu, Bruce Prideaux, Lena Mossberg, Ossi Pesämaa, Young-Souk Lee
As the field of tourism grows in maturity and scientific sophistication, it is important to fully understand the breadth and depth of vacation experience value. Current research delivers a multitude of approaches to value creation, represented here as a set of definitions, perspectives, and interpretations of how tourists, as customers, create value alone and with others. Providing an analytical and systematic clarification of the approaches, this book suggests an understanding of the differences, offering new and practical knowledge for tourism scholars and professionals to highlight the relevance of the concept to firms and organizations. Including a framework to distinguish among key resources or antecedents of customer value, this book also considers consumer behaviour and factors affecting value creation from physiological and psychological perspectives. Concluding with a summary of the areas for future research, it is a valuable resource for researchers of tourism, leisure and recreation. ; This book evaluates vacation experience value, as it is created and co-created by the tourist engaging in the experience, for himself, other tourists and the tourism firm. Providing a framework to distinguish among key resources or antecedents of customer value, this book also considers consumer behaviour. ; I: Preface1: Co-creation of Tourist Experience: Scope, Definition and Structure2: Dynamic Drivers of Tourist Experiences3: Tourist Experience Value: Tourist Experience and Life Satisfaction4: Conceptualization of Value Co-creation in the Tourism Context5: Why, Oh Why, Oh Why, Do People Travel Abroad?6: Revisiting Self-congruity Th eory in Travel and Tourism7: Moving People: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding How Visitor Experiences can be enhanced by Mindful Attention to Interest8: Co-creation of Experience Value: A Tourist Behaviour Approach9: Authenticity as a Value Co-creator of Tourism Experiences10: Experience Co-creation Depends on Rapport-building: Training Implications for the Service Frontline11: Approaches for the Evaluation of Visitor Experiences at Tourist Attractions12: Storytelling in a Co-creation Perspective13: Tourist Information Search: A DIY Approach to Creating Experience Value14: Co-creation of Value and Social Media: How?15: Prices and Value in Co-produced Hospitality and Tourism Experiences16: Value Creation: A Tourism Mobilities Perspective17: Guide Performance: Co-created Experiences for Tourist Immersion18: Value Creation and Co-creation in Tourist Experiences: An East Asian Cultural Knowledge Framework Approach19: Challenges and Future Research Directions
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March 2026Railway imperialism in China
A political biography
by Yangwen Zheng
Railway Imperialism in China: a Political Biography is the first and most comprehensive book on history and politics of all major railways in China from the late Qing to the post-Mao era. It investigates the transformation of railways from a bête noire within discussions about reform to the emblematic "engines for empire" as foreign powers used it to carve outspheres of control and exploit the late Qing, and as an instrument of nation making for Chinese regimes. The book introduces new archival sources and a wide range of secondary materials. Boldly conceived, it situates the making of modern China in the context of British, Russian, German, Japanese, American expansion. It traces China's transformation from a victim of railway imperialism in the Age of Empireto a railway expansionist in the twenty-first century.
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August 2014My Predestined Love with High Rail
the Oral Autobiography of Zhiyun Shen
by Zhiyun SHEN, Tianming ZHANG,etc
This book is the oral autobiography of Zhiyun Shen,the senior fellow member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. By the recall of his science study life on the railway motors, communication and transportation, it veritably reflects the development of the Chinese railway vehicles, especially the high rail.
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June 2024Sustainable Ecological Restoration and Conservation in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan Region
A Comprehensive Review
by Zhanhuan Shang, Allan Degen, Devendra Gauchan, Madan Koirala, Muhammad Khalid Rafiq, Awais Iqbal, Binyu Luo, Dawei Zhang, Diwakar Adhikari, Dongmei Li, Furbe Lama, Haonan Guo, Hui Xu, Huma Ali, Jalal Hayat Khan, Jiayi He, Jie Lian, Mei Huang, Monika Ghimire, Narayan Prasad Gaire, Peipei Liu, Qinghui Fang, Ramesh Prasad Sapkota, Ramesh Raj Pant, Rashila Deshar, Ritika K.C, Rui Zhang, Rukhsanda Aziz, Srijana Khanal, Tianyun Qi, Udhab Raj Khadka, Usha Rai, Usman Ali, Wenyin Wang, Xiaoping Jing, Yamuna Ghale, Youyan Liu, Zhen Peng, Zhiqiang Dang
The years 2021 to 2030 have been designated as "The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration". Ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation efforts face unprecedented challenges, especially in developing countries and areas, such as the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region. This huge HKH region, which includes areas in eight separate countries (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, India, China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan), is a biodiversity hotspot with a vast array of ecosystems, landscapes, peoples and cultures. It is known as one of 'the pulses of the world'. However, the HKH is also the world's largest and poorest mountain region, where landscapes and environments have been severely damaged as a result of climate change and human activities. Coordinating conservation and restoration policies, sharing knowledge and funds, and maintaining livelihoods are major challenges and are in urgent need of improvement. This book details the past and current ecological problems in the HKH region, and the threats and challenges that ecosystems and local people face. It pays special attention to developments of transformative adaptations and presents examples of sustainable conservation and ecological restoration management practices. Three primary questions are addressed: (1) Do the existing conservation strategies of international organizations and government policies really protect ecosystems and solve biodiversity problems? (2) Can these management measures be one-time solutions? and (3) What is the strategic framework and scenario prognosis for the future based on the historical trajectory of ecological conservation and restoration in the region? This book is essential reading for ecologists and conservation biologists involved in large-scale ecological restoration projects, along with practitioners, graduate students, policy makers and international development workers.
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Children's & YAFebruary 2014Red Line
by Samar Mahfouz BarrajIllustrated By: Mona Yakzan and Mira El-Myr
Mazen, a young boy, is one day surprised by their neighbor Bassam shouting with anger in the street “My parking spot is a red line!” Does this mean he plans to paint the street red, asks Mazen to his mother? The mother explains to Mazen that what Bassam means is simply that no one is to park in his place. The notion is still vague to Mazen: Why red? Does it have anything to do with red traffic lights? The mother tries again “When something is a red line, it means that it is off limits to others”. In this illustrated album, Samar Barraj boldly addresses the delicate issue of child sexual abuse. Acknowledging the complexity of the boundary it tackles, the book determines it through examples the mother and child raise in their conversation. Mazen’s spontaneous remarks and comments point out the difficulty of defining this red line, and make of the book a realistic example of such a conversation. The illustrations develop the notion further, by representing situations in which the red line might be crossed – one may be on his bicycle, at his computer, or approached by a respectable-looking old man in the street. The body parts are not named, but are represented in a naïve drawing Mazen made, though the text insists on the importance of preserving the body as a whole. The colorful images and constant presence of the mother and parents make of the book a reassuring experience despite the gravity of the topic.
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Humanities & Social SciencesJune 1998The railway age
by Michael Robbins
Covers the history and development of the railways and the transforming effect which they had on the world. A lively and readable account, peppered with fascinating facts. Written by an authoritative and important figure in the world of railways. ;
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MedicineOctober 2020Introduction to Environmental Toxicology
by J P F D'Mello
Introduction to Environmental Toxicology is designed as a concise text, introducing students to the fundamentals of this important subject. It covers the origin, characterization and environmental distribution of the major pollutants, and provides an explanation of their implications for human morbidity via the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary dysfunction and neurological conditions. Considering impacts on biodiversity, such as effects from acid rain, heavy metals and selected anthropogenic compounds, this book: - Covers biogenic contaminants, gases and particulates, organic pollutants, petroleum, heavy metals, complex polymers and radiation; - Considers the impact of pollutants across human health, biodiversity, water and food safety; - Includes questions, further reading and case studies to spark discussion in tutorials. Covering all the major biological toxins and pollutants, this book forms a true introduction to the subject for undergraduates studying environmental toxicology and related subjects.
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August 2022Altopía
1. La traición
by Barrientos, Alejandro; Cuevas, Joaquín
It is the year 2053 and El Alto celebrates its tenth anniversary as the capital of the New Kollasuyo. Metropolis of the Andes, continental scrap metal market, second-hand industrial engine, robotic garbage supply, recipient of Chinese colonies, host of technosophical cyber-religions, world headquarters of the cholet and the highest popular fair on the planet, the city of the future is the mirror of our dreams. Don't let them talk you out of it: the future is now!
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BiodiversityJanuary 2004Biodiversity of West African Forests
An Ecological Atlas of Woody Plant Species
by Edited by Lourens Poorter, Frans Bongers, Francois N Kouamé, William D Hawthorne
The rain forests of West Africa have been designated as one of the world's hotspots of biodiversity. They extend from Ghana to Senegal and are referred to as the Upper Guinean forests. Because of their isolated position, they harbour a large number of rare and endemic animal and plant species.This book focuses on the biodiversity and ecology of these forests. It analyses the factors that give rise to biodiversity and structure tropical plant communities. It also includes an atlas with ecological profiles of rare plant species and large timber species.
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Agricultural scienceDecember 2005Valuing Crop Biodiversity
On-Farm Genetic Resources and Economic Change
by Edited by Melinda Smale
This book examines the challenges faced by farmers trying to maintain crop biodiversity in developing and transitional economies. Using a collection of empirical case studies of farmers and crop scientists across a range of agricultural economies and income levels, it presents economic tools and methods for valuing and managing crop biodiversity. It discusses the economic benefits of crop biodiversity for farmers and suggests ways in which crop biodiversity can be supported by national policies. The book provides an indispensable 'tool kit' for all those concerned with the development of strategies to facilitate sustainable management and conservation of crop genetic diversity for future generations.
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Fertilizers & manuresFebruary 2006Soil Biodiversity in Amazonian and Other Brazilian Ecosystems
by Edited by Fattima M S Moreira, Jose O Siqueira, Lijbert Brussaard
The loss of biological diversity has become an increased concern over recent years and is now enshrined in international conventions. Most biodiversity in fact occurs in the soil. Soil organisms (especially bacteria, fungi and soil invertebrates) play a major role in the formation of soil structure and are primary agents of decomposition and are drivers of nutrient cycling, and hence agricultural production.This book reviews soil biodiversity in one of the key biodiversity hotspots of the world, i.e. the Amazon and nearby regions of Brazil. It covers both the tropical savannah and rain forests . The work reported is based on a project "Conservation and Sustainable Management of Below-Ground Biodiversity", executed by TSBF-CIAT with co-financing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implementation support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The book represents a major contribution to the literature and will interest those in biodiversity conservation, soil scienceand ecology and biodiversity conservation.
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Plant ecologyDecember 2016Plant Biodiversity
Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation
by Edited by Abid A Ansari, Sarvajeet Singh Gill
Plants are important components to the ecosystem. They are the base of the food chain and play a significant role in energy flow and biogeochemical cycling of nutrients between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. They must constantly fight against the environmental modifications, however, that threaten to cause global species extinction and habitat destruction. A new multidisciplinary science has evolved to deal with the crises confronting biological diversity. It has two goals: first, to investigate human impacts on biological diversity and second, to develop practical approaches to prevent extinction of species. This book is a practical update on our knowledge on monitoring, assessment and conservation of plant biodiversity in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and related fields. It includes a general overview of plant biodiversity, investigates a wealth of factors affecting and hindering plant biodiversity before exploring in depth methods of monitoring, assessing and conserving our plant species. Globally relevant, this book is a valuable resource for all researchers, professionals and students of botany and plant biodiversity studies.
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Organic farmingJuly 1997Biodiversity Information
Needs and Operations
by David L Hawksworth. Edited by Paul M Kirk, Stella Dextre Clarke
Biodiversity has been identified as a key issue in the general debate about the sustainable use of the world’s natural resources. Major international efforts are now underway to assess and maintain biodiversity. However, there is an urgent need to collect, manage and disseminate information related to biodiversity in an efficient and effective way. The purpose of this book is to review the needs and opportunities for information and efficient information flows in support of world priorities in biodiversity. It is based on papers presented at a workshop held in London in July 1996, organized by CAB International with the support of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS), International Union of Forestry Research Organizations (IUFRO), IUCN — The World Conservation Union and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Contributors include leading players from organizations concerned with conserving and managing biodiversity, based in Europe and the USA as well as developing countries.
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Forestry & silviculture: practice & techniquesOctober 2007Biodiversity Loss and Conservation in Fragmented Forest Landscapes
The Forests of Montane Mexico and Temperate South America
by Adrian C Newton
Increasing concern surrounding the loss of natural forests and the decline in biodiversity has lead to a rise in research and policy initiatives in recent years. However, interest has focused primarily on lowland tropical rainforests. Tropical montane and temperate rainforests, which face similar pressures from human activities and play major roles in the livelihood of rural communities, are often ignored. Biodiversity Loss and Conservation in Fragmented Forest Landscapes is the product of over 10 years of intensive field research into the changing montane and temperate rainforests of Mexico and South America. By concentrating on these largely overlooked environments, the studies reported allow for comparative analysis across areas and help identify how human disturbance has impacted the biodiversity of all forest types. Chapters incorporate features of landscape ecology, floristic biodiversity, conservation and policy and vary from in-depth investigations of a single study area to integrated examinations across regions.
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January 2018Biodiversity, Revised Edition
Conserving Endangered Species
by Anne Maczulak, Ph.D.
Students with a basic understanding of the environment and concern for its future know the importance of preserving biological diversity. Biodiversity is the variety of living things on Earth or in a specific area. This definition seems simple enough to understand, yet the concept of biodiversity has deeper meanings that challenge even trained environmental scientists. A region that has a wide variety of species in robust populations is said to possess biodiversity. But not every place on Earth bursts with diverse life. Biodiversity concentrates in certain areas, while other parts of the globe possess a somewhat lesser variety and number of species. Biodiversity, Revised Edition takes a look at how habitats are destroyed, the devastating effect this has on biodiversity, and the ways in which scientists restore ecosystems and habits. This updated, full-color book also examines the ethical questions that arise when trying to rescue threatened species in the face of dire human conditions. Chapters include: Endangered Species Measuring Species and Extinction Protecting Native from Invasive Species Urban Development Nature Reserves Species Protection Methods for Measuring Diversity.
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Geography & the EnvironmentAugust 2022Key Questions in Environmental Toxicology
A Study and Revision Guide
by J P F D'Mello
Key Questions in Environmental Toxicology is designed as a self-study tool for undergraduate students. Questions review the origin, characterization and environmental distribution of major pollutants, followed by their absorption and metabolic disposition in living organisms. They address implications for the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary dysfunction and neurological conditions in relation to gaseous pollutants, particulates, persistent organic compounds and radioactive emissions, then cover the impact of pollutants on biodiversity, food safety, and water contamination. This book: - Covers toxicology from human morbidity, ecological impact and biodiversity perspectives, and emphasises the impact of diverse organic pollutants in worsening these interconnected phenomena, leading to wider environmental emergencies; - Provides a selection of fill-in-the-gap, multiple choice and short answer question types for students to vary their learning and enhance motivation; - Includes full answer rationales, allowing students to gain true insight into the subject. Providing support to programmes across environmental science, ecology and human health, and covering all the major biological toxins and pollutants as well as unintended consequences of actions designed to improve outcomes, this book may be used in conjunction with the companion volume Introduction to Environmental Toxicology.
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September 2025Habitat
The Fundamental Unit for Understanding and Conserving Nature
by Roger L H Dennis, Simone Fattorini
Habitat is the fundamental unit for understanding species ecology and preserving biodiversity; it has always had a variety of meanings often not explicitly defined. This important book focuses on the two main uses of the term and their importance for nature conservation. The first, traditional usage (TH), is that of terrestrial, aquatic or aerial spatial units which can be denoted by the species they host, with associated trophic relationships and interdependencies. The second, termed resource-based habitat (RBH), focuses on any one species' habitat. These RBHs are rarely limited to one space but are defined by the intersection of appropriate resources and suitable conditions. Since the ability of individuals to exploit resources is influenced by their own unique combination of traits, the RBH is spatially and temporally variable. The book explores how communities are structured, how species and individuals interact (niches, guilds, food webs, etc.), and how biodiversity changes over space and time. Typically, a location distinguished by specific attributes (TH; a meadow, a wood, a field, etc.) has few common species, but many rare ones and the book explores this long challenging conundrum. The TH usage has immense importance and implications for maintaining wildlife. Because of the variety of the ecological characteristics of different species, the study of them in distinctive spatial units (a lake, a moor, the seashore, the lower atmosphere, etc.) requires special methods in each case to determine their conservation status. The RBH is critical for understanding the factors necessary for the maintenance of 'focal' species, regarded as key or rare elements of ecosystems. The book explores the different ways in which such species are maintained: i.e., their traits, defining their ecological and behavioural uniqueness, morphology, physiology, biochemistry, and the resources-and conditions-on which they depend. It also examines how, as specialists or generalists, species are placed in the trophic hierarchy, how they fit into their communities and influence the evolution (or demise) of other species. Ultimately, the book investigates how best to conserve biodiversity.
