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aboveputtingintoaterm · 6 years ago

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Breathing to live or to die

The ecological distress has challenged the functionings of the environment. The process of breathing was made to circulate the oxygen in the body, thereby eliminating carbon dioxide which allowed the blood to reach the capillaries surroundings alveoli. But, what reaching now are the hazardous gases infused with life casting agents.

But is it really oxygen we are breathing in? Are we even breathing in 50% concentration of the oxygen?

Though it is hard to find the exact percentages because of the unrevised technology in the country. The CPBCI has a disclaimer offering to make. According to the central pollution board control of India(CPBCI) the capital air doesn’t just has very high particulate matter level, but also contains hazardous air pollutants including mercury and formaldehyde. The board is also monitoring gases like sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), formaldehyde (FOR), benzene (BEN), toluene (TOL), p-Xylene(pXy) and mercury (Hg), most of which are categorised as air toxics in the US and in Europe.

What made situation so worse?

Vehicular emissions

Vehicular emissions tops the chart for Delhi air pollution. Delhi streets experience the movement of about a crore vehicle regularly. The emissions of which are the Gases which leads to deaths and various life claiming diseases. The congestion or the high traffic rates contributes brutally.

Government regulation

Earlier the Delhi government came up with the odd even regulation which insisted the use of an odd number plate car on the odd days and even on the even days. This regulation does not posses the capability of controlling the pollution level for a long run.

The centre has also banned the use of diesel vehicles which have been on the streets for more than 10 years. The count for the petrol is 15 years.

Though it is a delayed regulation but impacts significantly.

Crop burning

The farmers of the states joining the capital border i.e. Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh possess the trait of burning the rice stubbles which in turn contribute immensely to the booming pollution. They burn about 35 million tonnes of crop. The wind then spreads the polluting agents to the neighbouring states.

Government regulation

Haryana government launched a massive campaign to aware the farmers about the ills effects of burning the crop. In response to which the farmers presents there bid as a failing effort by the Government as they were unable to conquer the aspect of decomposing paddy straw in a short interval of rabi and kharif crops.

Over population

The 2018 recent survey of the times of India had regarded Delhi as the migrant capital of the country with a share increase of 33% in the year 2016. Stressing over the point that about half of the population of the capital resides in unauthorised colonies and slums . This includes bad drainage system, open defection, unclean surroundings, etc . Thus, contributing to the escalating pollution level.

The pollution increase has also coined a term called pollution migrants. These are the people who has migrated from Delhi because of the unforgivable pollution Level.

Government regulation

Constitution of India empowers wilfully living and earning in every part of the country to its citizen ,j&k being an exception. So there is hardly any take of the government in regulating the mass mobilisation. The combination of structured and rigid spendings and overpopulation is contributing against the availability of the required resources.

Industrial residue

The rising economies of scale has been an enduring factor for the country. Courtesy to the industrial players. But this national pride switches to national threat when these industries contributes to the rising pollution level. This is done primarily with the emission of toxics in the environment

Government regulation

Protection of the environment and sustainable use of resources is Pitched high in the Indian constitution. The constitution advises citizens to protect and nurture the natural environment including forest, wildlife etc. Many legal charges are also been marked in case of serious violation.

Impact

The transformation of the capital in a gas chamber is bearing some hefty prices from the dwellers.

To your amaze, the excruciating Delhi pollution is in its full knack to shorten our life spam by huge ten years.

Whereas if the country meets the WHO standards the average life expectancy could rise about 4.3 years; from 69 to 73 years.

The toll for breathing in the capital is cardiovascular and respiratory illness. The pollutants in the air obstacles the heart functioning. Thereby putting pressure and making it weak, respiratory cells can also be damaged by the same.

The life stacking air impurities Fastens the ageing of lungs.

The pollution in its full fury sadistically impacts the people with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and cancer. Others, can also develop these diseases with constant exposure to the pollution.

It affects the health of a pregnant women and leads to cognitive disorders for the babies.

Precautions!

Avoid morning walks as no point in absorbing toxic air.

Drink plenty of water to flush out the toxics from the body.

Try to use N95/99 masks whenever you step out.

Usage of air purifier is ideal.

The ranging fury of the pollution has put the country and its citizens into some serious allegations on the world platform. Everybody has contributed equally to pollution to flourish from littering garbage to polluting rivers. Therefore In return everybody should contribute in normalising the air pollution scam.

And, also, In lieu of the prevailing circumstances The government has to back its Strategies for ranging pollution level which is casting the life of its citizen. What could be more shameful for a country for 9 out of ten Indian states are in the list of worlds most polluted cities .

The current situation made me wonder – how about adding ‘the clean air’ quotient in psychological need of the maslow need hierarchy theory? He would have if he was alive , I guess.

#writers on tumblr #environment #pollution #new delhi #save the earth #delhi pollution #precaution #feminism #air #aboveputtingintoaterm

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crystalblueseo · 2 years ago

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How to Increase Milk Production in Cows Naturally?

Water is the most important, yet often overlooked, part of a healthy diet for a dairy cow. Water constitutes upto 87% of the milk secreted by cows. Therefore, it goes without saying that good quality water ensures maximum milk production and herd health. Water is an essential component that is required in large quantities by livestock. 80% of the water requirement of a dairy cow is met by drinking water. Inadequate water or poor quality water adversely affects animal growth and milk production.

The ‘Moo’st important nutrient Various studies and researches link water quality with livestock health and performance. Insufficient water or water of poor quality limits the milk production and growth of the cows. It can also impact their immunity and cause health problems. Pure water promotes normal rumen function, high feed intake, digestion and nutrient absorption. Water also maintains blood volume and supplies tissue needs.

Poor Quality Water can be a very Cowstly affair! Groundwater and water supplied through pipes are often contaminated with chemicals and are laced with impurities. The source for the addition of these chemicals is partly due to the mixing of disinfectants, and mainly due to the contamination of water due to effluents and pollutants.

Cows allowed to drink from surface water sources such as ponds, lakes or rivers are potentially at risk from bacterial infections or poisoning due to pesticides contamination.

Acidic water (pH of less than 5.1) can result in problems related to acidosis and result in reduced milk yield. It increases the chances of infectious and metabolic diseases in the cows. Alkaline water (pH greater than 9.0) on the other hand results in problems related to alkalosis and results in deficiencies in the cows. It also contributes to reduced milk productivity.

Additionally, drinking water with a very high percentage of dissolved salts and contaminate concentration adversely affects the health of the cows. It can cause various diseases. Also, such contaminated water can impart an off-putting smell and taste which results in reduced water intake by the cows. This can drastically reduce the milk yield.

Crystal Blue for a Better Dairy Crystal Blue Structured Water Units, when used in your dairy farm, can make a world of difference. Structured water is soft, energized, with original detached molecular structure, balanced pH, less surface tension, neutralized toxins and is free of memory. When used as a nutrient source for animals, Structured Water results in many positive responses including increased growth and productivity. The milk from cows drinking Structured Water has significantly greater fat, lactose and total energy.

The use of Structured Water saves the input costs and more importantly, saves water. It improves the feed efficiency of the cows. Structured Water increases the bio-availability of nutrients and boosts the immunity of the cows. Structured Water promotes an increase in quality & quantity of the milk output. Structured Water is the best solution to increase the milk production in cows naturally. To know more: https://www.crystalblueindia.com/blog/how-to-increase-milk-production-in-cows-naturally/

#Structured Water Units

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biomedgrid · 2 years ago

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Biomed Grid | Comparative Investigation of the Effect of Treatment Methods on Bacterial Population of Surface Water in Ado Ekiti Country

Introduction

The most important natural resource globally is water and a high priority issue for the quality of human existence is the availability of clean and safe drinking water [1] closely followed by appropriate vaccination coverage [2, 3]. Access to safe drinking water can be estimated by the percentage of the population using improved drinking water sources. An improved drinking water source is one that is adequately protected from outside contamination, with fecal matter, by the nature of its construction [4] . About 75% of rural populations depend mainly on untreated streams, ponds and well water for drinking and daily activities (e.g. food preparations, bathing, laundry, etc.). This is due to inaccessibility to safe and quality treated water supplies. However, in such areas, streams or river-dumping have also been a major means of waste disposal, causing these water sources to become repositories of household wastes, animal manure, human faces and community wastewater. In some settlements, chicken scoop, barnyard or pigsty can be found very close to the streams or well water sources, which are mainly used for drinking. The water locked inhabitants along the river Niger delta area of Nigeria, discharge their rectal wastes into waterways, which also serve as their source for drinking and other activities. Some developed countries are not an exception as well. In Southern Asia and Africa, open defecation is widely practiced (44% and 27% respectively) [4] .

Other sources of pollution could arise from surface run-off from soil erosion, lumbering, dredging, etc, leading to a wide scale contamination of rivers and other surface water sources. These consequently results in high occurrence rates of water borne diseases such as diarrhea, (CORRECT) cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever [1] . Illiteracy, overcrowding, poverty and low health services are factors which greatly contribute to the prevalence of water borne diseases. According to World Health Organization (WHO), 80% of all diseases globally can be attributed to unsafe water at any time and one-half of the hospital beds in the world are occupied by people with water-related diseases hence, there is need for the purification of water [5] . Water purification can be defined as the removal of impurities contained in water. Methods of purifying water include ultraviolet light (sun), filtration, water softening, reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, ionizing and power activated carbon treatment. The traditional methods of purifying water in rural areas include simple and rudimentary treatments which majorly target the visible impurities from the water. Examples include: Boiling, filtration, Sedimentation, Solar disinfection, etc. [6] .

In developing countries, access to clean water and sanitation are not the norm, thus waterborne infections are common [7] . WHO had maintained that the mortality of water borne diseases exceeds 5 million people per annum? Improving access to safe drinking-water can result in significant benefits to health and economy of a nation. This study therefore focused on the determination of the effectiveness of various water treatment procedures (solar radiation, calcium hypochlorite, citric acid, and Moringa seed extract) on the bacterial density in surface water sources in Ado Ekiti Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Methods

Cleaning and sanitization of materials used

All the glass wares used for the work were properly washed with water and detergent, rinsed thoroughly with water and air dried. Sterilization of all glass wares were carried out by wrapping them with aluminum foil and sterilizing in the hot air oven at 160 ˚C for 2 hours. The distilled water used for dilution was sterilized in an autoclave at 121 ˚C for 15 minutes.

Media preparation

The media used were Nutrient agar (Lab M, England) and the Mac Conkey agar (Lab M, England). The media were prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The appropriate quantities of the dehydrated powder were measured in conical flasks and the appropriate quantity of water was added. For Nutrient agar, 2.8g was weighed using a measuring scale, and added to 100ml of water. For Mac Conkey agar, 4.85g was weighed and added to 100ml of water. They were homogenized in a water bath and sterilized in autoclave for 15mins at 121 ˚C.

Collection of the water samples

The water samples were collected from a flowing stream at Adebayo Street, Ado-Ekiti. The water samples were collected using clean and sterile plastic bottle with a fitted cover and transferred immediately into the laboratory. The total bacterial count and the total coliform counts were taken for the raw water sample.

Determination of bacterial density of surface water

The total plate count was done using the Pour Plate Technique. A 9ml of clean water was dispensed into ten (10) test tubes each and sterilized in an autoclave at 121 ˚C for 15 minutes. With the aid of sterile syringe, 1ml of the water sample was aseptically added to the 9ml sterile solution blank to make 10-1 dilution. Serial dilution was carried out. One ml was withdrawn from the last dilution aseptically and poured into a sterile petri dish. Sterile, molten nutrient agar (for total plate count) and sterile Mac Conkey agar (for coliform count), which had been cooled to about 45 ˚C were then poured into the petri dishes respectively and allowed to set on the bench. The plating was done on duplicates. The plates were then inverted and incubated at 37 ˚C for 24 hours. The colonies formed after 24 hours were counted using a Colony Counter. The Microbial Load per sample was calculated by multiplying colony counts with the Dilution Factor. Microbial load was expressed as colony forming units per ml (CFU/ml)

Determination of the effect of solar heating on the bactericidal density in the water sample

The water sample was poured into transparent glass containers with fitted covers. They were placed in a black wooden box that has one transparent glass side. The box was placed with the glass bottles facing the radiation from the sun through the transparent side. The temperature was taken with a thermometer, and 1ml of each of the water samples were taken at various time intervals (9am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm) and analysed for their total bacterial count and total coliform count. The results were recorded.

Determination of the effect of calcium hypochlorite and citric acid on the bacterial density of the water sample

Calcium hypochlorite and citric acid are both in granular forms. A stock solution of the compound was made by dissolving 10g of either the calcium hypochlorite or citric acid in water. A 0.1ml of the stock solution was added to 100ml of the sample and mixed properly. From the mixture, 1ml was taken and poured into a petri dish and a pour plate technique was carried out. This was repeated, and 0.5ml, 1.0ml, 1.5 ml, 2.0ml, was taken from the stock solution respectively into 100ml of the sample. The same procedure was carried out for citric acid. The results were recorded.

Determination of the effect of Moringa seed extract on the bacterial density of the water sample

Moringa seeds were harvested, the outer shells were removed, and the seeds were grinded into powdered form. The powder was dissolved in various concentrations into several conical flasks containing 100ml of sterile water. 0.5g of Moringa seed powder was added to the first conical flask of sterile water to make 0.5% concentration. 1g was added to the second flask to make 1% concentration. This was done up to 2.5%. The solutions were then stored for 24 hours and filtered to yield the Moringa seed extract.

1ml from each of the various extract concentrations were added to 100ml of the water sample and mixed thoroughly. 1ml is taken from the mixture and poured into sterile petri dishes and the total bacterial count and total coliform count was determined.

Determination of the effect of Moringa seed extract on the turbidity of the water sample

The effect of the extract on the turbidity was determined by adding 10g of the seed powder to 100ml of sterile water. It was left for a day and then filtered with Whatman filter paper. 10ml of the filtrate was added to 100ml of the water sample and shaken together to mix properly. This was left to sediment. The supernatant was collected, and the turbidity was measured and recorded.

Physicochemical analysis

The physicochemical analysis of the water sample was carried out to determine the following parameters: pH, temperature, conductivity, odour and appearance, hardness, turbidity, acidity, dissolved oxygen.

Determination of pH: Calibration of the pH meter was done by dipping it into a beaker containing 100ml of buffer solution (7.0). After which the electrode was removed from the buffer solution and rinsed with sterile water and the pH of the water sample was read on the meter.

Determination of temperature: The thermometer used was dipped into the water samples and allowed to stay for some time before the reading was taken in ˚C.

Determination of conductivity: A conductivity meter was adjusted with its knob. The water sample was poured inside its cup and then plugged with the thermometer to trace its reading one after the other.

Determination of odour and appearance: Human sense of smelling was used to examine the odour of the sample and the sense of vision was used to examine the physical appearance of the sample.

Determination of hardness: About 0.01M of EDTA solution was introduced inside a burette and standardized against 0.1ml Na- 2CO3. Some of the water samples were pipetted into a conical flask and 2ml of potassium cyanide which acted as a masking agent was added. Also,3 drops of indicator Enchrome black T, was added and the solution was titrated against 0.001M EDTA standard until the colour changes from wine red to blue. The titre value was recorded.

Determination of turbidity: The turbidity of each water sample was determined using spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 520nm. The sample was poured into the spectrophotometer after it was standardized. The turbidity value was read off in the spectrophotometer read out device. The unit is NTU (Normal Turbidity Unit).

Determination of dissolved oxygen: This was done with the use of the dissolved oxygen meter. The electrode of the meter was rinsed with distilled water and then immersed into the water samples, one at a time for a period of time. Readings on this meter was recorded for each sample.

Results

The effect of solar heating on the bactericidal density of the water sample

The effect of solar heating on bacterial population of the surface water sample is shown in (Table 1). The total bacterial counts and total coliform counts decreased by 81% and 95% respectively within 6 hours after exposure to solar radiation. However, an irregular increase was observed in both the total bacterial and coliform counts after storage of a previously exposed sample within 4 hours (EXP 02).

Table 1: Effect of solar heating on bacterial density of surface water.

The effect of Moringa oleifera seed extract (Natural disinfectant) on the bacterial population of the surface water sample

Table 2: The effect of Moringa oleifera seed extract on the bacterial population of the surface water sample.

Table 3: The effect of Citric acid and Calcium Hypochlorite (chemical disinfectants) on the bacterial density of surface water.

This can be observed in Table 2. The Moringa oleifera seed extract produced a 99.4% decrease in total bacterial counts and 61% decrease in the total coliform counts of the water samples. It was observed that the turbidity of the Moringa oleifera treated water, decreased from 3.5 (NTU) to 0.8 (NTU), showing the effectiveness of Moringa oleifera seed extract as a coagulant (Table 3).

The effect of citric acid and calcium hypochlorite (chemical disinfectants) on the bacterial density of surface water

With respect to the use of citric acid and calcium hypochlorite, to disinfect the water samples. It was observed that at 0.2 % concentration of citric acid, bacterial load reduction of only 56% was observed while calcium hypochlorite produced 100 % reduction on the bacterial load at the same concentration.

Physicochemical analysis of the surface water sample

The result of the physicochemical analysis of the raw surface water sample can be observed in (Table 4). (NTU = Normal Turbidity Unit).

Table 4: Physicochemical analysis of the surface water sample.

Discussion

Safe drinking water for all is one of the key challenges of the 21st century. Many bacterial diseases are transmitted through water thus microbiological control of drinking water should be the norm everywhere. This study evaluated the effects of water sanitation correct on bacterial load of surface drinking water in Ado Ekiti Nigeria. The results obtained in this study shows that the various methods used in the treatment of the surface water samples are effective (except Citric acid). Solar radiation is an effective means of treating surface water (Natural sterilization). It exerts a germicidal effect on small quantities of bacterial contaminated water. Solar radiation is highly effective when the intensity of solar radiation is high for about 5 hours. Accra and his team found out that 95 minutes exposure to sun always between 9:00 hours and 14:00 hours (in Beirut), 95% of the faecal coliforms of contaminated water were killed [8]. However, this technique is not suitable during periods of continuous rainfall. A previously conducted research showed that the weak, diffused, and attenuated solar radiation filtering through a heavy cloud on a rainy day, failed to affect any noticeable decrease in either the total bacteria or the coliform content of the stream sample [9].

Bacteria once exposed to solar radiation for a short period of time may likely become more resistant to inactivation. This accounts for the irregular increase seen in (Table 1) (EXP 02), using a previously exposed sample). The ineffectiveness of solar energy as a water disinfectant could be due to the under exposure of the water source to the sun rays, which presumably selected the bacteria content for solar resistance. Studies have shown that E. coli is more resistant to the sun than other bacteria (e.g. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhymurium, etc), making it a suitable indicator of the efficacy of Solar disinfection [10, 11]. The effectiveness of solar disinfection technique is determined by the quantity of water exposed, the total amount of solar radiation during exposure, the temperature of the water and the total bacterial and coliform count at the beginning and at the end of the experiment [12].

Turbid water significantly decreases the level of solar inactivation of bacteria. Research has shown that bacteria are more rapidly inactivated by solar radiation in clear non- turbid water. Highly turbid water can be filtered to reduce its turbidity before SODIS treatment [13]. Solar decontamination works better when the water sample is exposed in clear transparent glass or plastic containers than in dark, opaque containers. The inactivation of bacteria is increased by the synergy between the temperature and optical irradiance [14]. Although, there are concerns on the use of plastic containers such as their potential to be carcinogenic, glass containers on the other hand have an advantage as they do not suffer the effects of aging, hence can be used for a longer period of time [14].

The results in this study (Table 2) & (Table 3) shows that the filtrate from the Moringa oleifera seeds have both antimicrobial and coagulating properties and this makes it a useful agent for water treatment especially during rainy seasons when rivers carry highly turbid water [15]. Irrespective of the technology used in the treatment of water, they primarily have to overcome the hurdle of removing the turbidity from the water source. It is a very crucial step towards water treatment. Research has indicated that Moringa oleifera seed extract coagulate 80-90% turbidity and colour, efficiently leading to a clear supernatant [16]. Similarly, a significant decrease in the turbidity and total coliform content in water samples from shallow wells have also been observed [17].

Apart from the economic drawback, chemical based water treatment agents such as metal salts, synthetic polymers and chlorine formulations are also considered to have a negative impact on both human health and the environment after a long exposure. Naturally occurring alternatives such as the use of Moringa oleifera seed are generally considered safe and has therefore been investigated for decades. One major disadvantage of using Moringa oleifera seed extract is that due to its organic nature a high amount of it can lead to the release of organic matter from its seed into the water. This can cause odour, taste, colour problems [20], and could also enhance the development of microorganisms after a while [19].

The treatment of water by disinfecting it with chlorine-based compounds such as calcium hypochlorite at various concentrations is an effective treatment method, as seen in Table 3. Chlorine is by far, the most commonly used disinfectant and also the only affordable means of disinfecting drinking water in developing countries. It can be added to the water either as liquid or gas [20]. The efficacy of water disinfection with chlorine can be influenced by several factors. These include the pH and turbidity of the water, the concentration of chlorine and contact time. Turbidity can have negative effects on disinfection because high turbid levels have been shown to protect microorganisms from the action of chlorine, and also to increase the chlorine and oxygen demand [21].

Chlorine (as well as other disinfectants) reacts with certain water constituents to form new compounds with potentially harmful long-term health effects. It reacts with Natural Organic Matter (NOM) to Disinfection By-Products (DBPs). The by-products of Chlorine disinfection have been extremely identified and assessed for toxicity. However, the health risks from these by-products are extremely small in comparison with the risks associated with inadequate disinfection [22]. Research has shown that although citric acid exhibited low toxicity to freshwater fish, daphnia, Algae, and activated sludge microorganisms. It has obvious toxic potential against protozoans and many species or strains of bacteria [23].

Furthermore, this study is clear evidence that citric acid has little or no effect on the total bacteria and coliform content (as seen in (Table 3) of the surface water sample. This is indicative of the fact that the use of citric acid as a water treatment agent is purely ineffective compared to the other treatment methods employed in this study.

Conclusion

The various water treatment methods used in this study are effective procedures for the treatment of surface water in rural areas, the most efficient method being the use of chlorine-based compounds such as calcium hypochlorite, while the least efficient being the use of citric acid. However, before any treatment method could be effective, the turbidity of the water sample should be removed either by the addition of a coagulant or by filtration.

Read More About this Article: https://biomedgrid.com/fulltext/volume6/comparative-investigation-of-the-effect-of-treatment-methods-on-bacterial-population-of-surface-water.001097.php

For more about: Journals on Biomedical Science :Biomed Grid | Current Issue

#biomedgrid #american journal of biomedical science & research #nano medicine #family medicine

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supperellaine · 3 years ago

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SUSD0001 Week 1 Journal 02 Green—Space to New York Central Park

20 February 2022

First of all, compact and dense cities are neither necessary nor sufficient conditions for sustainable urban development, so it is counterproductive to achieve the goal of sustainable urban development through urban form strategies alone.

A city is made up of many separate parts, such as the various buildings, roads, parks, wildlife, natural landscapes, the people who live there, and so on. So there is a correlation between urban form and the impact of cities on the environment. So people are not only aiming to build more high-density residential clusters and office buildings, but also to focus on the environmental and ecological development of a city, and governments are increasingly focusing on the percentage of green space and green areas in cities. And green open space not only has recreational use but also serves as a natural ecological purpose of the city, absorbing carbon dioxide and other pollutants.

New York City's Central Park is one of the greatest examples of sustainable development. Green spaces are not only a popular aesthetic form that changes the rhythm of concrete and skyscrapers in urban areas, but they also offer real value in terms of sustainability. Not only do they improve air quality, increase the oxygen content of the air and reduce carbon dioxide, they also replenish groundwater supplies, lower temperatures and protect rivers and lakes from runoff pollution. On the other hand, it prevents soil erosion and helps maintain the water quality of the area.

Secondly ，the concept of green space refers to trees, grasses and other types of vegetation located mainly in the urban environment. The urban greening policy has an important role to play in community building, improving the quality of life of residents and sustainable urban development. This policy contributes to community effectiveness and financial strength and reduces the negative impacts of urban development, such as reducing surface runoff and the urban heat island effect, while a reduction in residential density also reduces energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions due to travel behaviour.

The photos of ins shocked me and I learned about the distribution in New York.

In terms of environmental issues, Central Park consists of huge green spaces, water bodies, more than 20,000 trees, 30 tennis courts, 21 sports fields and 26 courts. Thus, Central Park's green space is not only a park, but also a complex of various activities for all ages, addressing to a certain extent the problems of congestion and population growth in New York. Economically, Central Park is a huge draw for visitors from New York and elsewhere, often hosting events such as marathons and concerts to increase its impact.

The related statistics show that the number of volunteers, the number of donations, and the number of visitors to Central Park in New York are all tied to the sustainability of the present and future. Central Park offers a variety of volunteer opportunities and tasks to attract anyone who wants to help. Volunteers are tasked with helping citizens protect, nurture and advocate for the park. Help spread biodiversity through planting projects, educate others by guiding people into the park, clean up trash and sort recyclable waste.

By --ziyi wang

Resource

Central Park, New York :The ... - Rethinking The Future. https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/city-and-architecture/a2915-the-sustainable-and-cultural-significance-of-central-park-on-new-york/

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wineschool-blog · 3 years ago

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Beaujolais

https://j.mp/2UwOBhl Beaujolais is a convivial region of Burgundy with a refocused attention to style. It is a place where light-hearted wines and creativity are allowed to thrive. Although nouveau is a popular and lively tradition, the region continues to prove it can produce much more than a harvest revelry and has worked diligently, innovatively, and eagerly engaged in legal disputes to protect its reputation. Table of contentsWhy Beaujolais MattersThe GrapesBurgundy?History of BeaujolaisPinot Noir ClimateBeaujolais NouveauEnd of an EraBeaujolais ClassificationsThree Categories of BeaujolaisTen Crus of Beaujolais Cru ClimateAOC VillagesCote de BrouillyMorgonCote du PyWinemaking StylesCarbonic MacerationBiodynamic Farming Why Beaujolais Matters Celebrated winemakers and negociants produce quality vintages with a price tag unparalleled for the same level of quality in the rest of Burgundy. In addition, this region has a long history of independent thought and a collective passion for agricultural sustainability. The Grapes Although outlawed by the Dukes of Burgundy for a hundred years, Gamay Noir stubbornly remained the varietal of choice. Grown over a graphite-influenced geological landscape, this hearty grape prevailed over conditions unsuited for the more delicate Pinot Noir varietal favored in the rest of the region. This thriving grape has become the overwhelming choice, with only Chardonnay being produced otherwise and in tiny quantities. So Gamay found a home to produce stronger vines that contrived quality and cultivated unique expressions amongst each appellation. Burgundy? Although administratively and politically a part of Burgundy, Beaujolais has a decidedly different approach to wine and is generally set apart from the rest of the district. Beaujolais is a compelling domain that simultaneously identifies itself as an independent entity while also recognizing its Burgundian designation’s economic importance. Burgundy and Beaujolais History of Beaujolais The panoramic vineyards along the Saone River have cultivated grapes since the days of ancient Rome. Still, arguably the beginning of modern winemaking in Beaujolais began in 1395 when Duke of Burgundy Phillippe the Bold outlawed Gamay Noir. Pinot Noir At that time, the French upper class believed that Pinot Noir was the superior varietal and that the region’s reputation was put at risk by allowing them more prolific Gamay to grow in the region. As a result, the regulation remained unenforced in the more distant and independent Beaujolais, where farmers propagated the varietal. Climate The semi-continental climate with Mediterranean influences and granite prolific soil proved the winning combination for Gamay wine with supple fruit, refreshing acidity, and excellent structure. By the 15th Century, Gamay was once again legally permitted to cultivate. Beaujolais Nouveau Most of the wine was consumed locally until the 19th Century, when railroads allowed Beaujolais’s popularity to spread. It was during this time that the concept of Nouveau and the celebration it entailed came into play. These quick fermenting wines took a mere two months from harvest to bottle. The release turned from a national celebration into a worldwide frenzy under master businessman Georges Duboeuf. End of an Era Unfortunately, by the mid-1980s, the craze had faded. By the early 1990s, France was left with over 1.1 million cases of unwanted Nouveau to discard. In addition, it became difficult to sell any bottle of Beaujolais as the public associated the region with inexpensive, deficient wine that lacked the ability to age. With the sharp decline in demand, illegal chaptalization, and doctored wine scandals, Beaujolais’s plummeting prices left many vineyards in or near bankruptcy. However, with standout vintages such as ’05, 12’ and 14’ meaningful, Beaujolais is once again beginning to resurface. Beaujolais Classifications Three Categories of Beaujolais By law, Beaujolais is divided into three categories of quality, Beaujolais, Beaujolais-Villages and Beaujolais Cru. The entire region has approximately 42,000 acres (17,000 hectares) under vine. To the west is the Monts de Beaujolais, and the Saone River valley borders the east. Ten Crus of Beaujolais The ten crus of Beaujolais produce serious Gamay with gentle tannins, juicy and expressive fruit with a light to medium body that at times shows an intense minerality and charming notes of spice. Investors, new talent, and reinvigorated winemakers are beginning to remind the world what Beaujolais is capable of. Cru Climate The climate is continental with slight Mediterranean influences from the south. The summers are hot and dry, and the winters are cold. However, one region is geographically dividing from north to south. The northern (Haut) region contains desirable granite soils that house all of the Beaujolais Cru. The southern (Bas) region is flat and composed primarily of clay and sedimentary rock. The most basic versions (including Nouveau) are grown here. In other regions of France, ‘cru’ indicates a particular vineyard, but in Beaujolais, ‘cru’ refers to the ten distinguished villages providing first-rate wines, all located on granite hills in the northern (Haut) region. The steep granite-based soils produce denser, richer, and more expressive Gamay with the ability to age. AOC Villages These wines will be labeled under their own AOC’s, so it is worth becoming familiar with their names and styles to know what to buy. The ten Beaujolais crus are; Brouilly, Chenas, Chiroubles, Cote de Brouilly, Fleurie, Julienas, Morgon, Moulin-a-Vent, Regnie and St. Armour. Two crus that stand out, in particular, are Cote de Brouilly and Morgon. Cote de Brouilly The vineyards of Cote de Brouilly cover the slopes of the ancient dormant Mont Brouilly volcano located in the heart of Beaujolais and are surrounded by the much larger Brouilly appellation. Although covering one of the smallest areas, just 751 acres (304 ha), the simultaneously meaty and elegant wines of Cote de Brouilly pack a big flavorful punch with an aging potential of four to six years. Brouilly is named for ancient Roman lieutenant Brulius, the first to plant vines over 2,000 years ago. Mythology According to local French mythology, the giant Garangtua has deepened the Saone river by removing rocks from the river bed and stacking them to form Mont Brouilly (there is also a version that describes him accidentally dropping the stones and not deliberating placing them there). The top of Mont Brouilly is considered an important spiritual place for growers from all parts of the region. Notre Dame du Raisin After devastating hail, mildew, frost, and on top of that, the phylloxera epidemic, Notre Dame du Raisin was built to protect the vineyards from future disasters. On September 8th, the locals make an annual pilgrimage to the church to pray against crop damage. The alter is inscribed ‘A Marie protectrice du Beaujolais.’ The majority of the vineyards are located on the higher south end of Mont Brouilly and face east. Terroir This location lends the protection of the vines from winds, places them on the steepest slopes, and gives the vines the advantage of early morning sunlight. The geographical fingerprint is distinguished by the presence of ancient volcanic activity, in particular, the blue freckled stone diorite. The soils are made up of diorite, granite, and schist with a bit of clay. This soil is so well-drained, which leads to the lack of water and nutrients optimal for growing vigorous vines that, while lessening the yield, produce Gamay grapes with a higher flavor concentration. Grapes Although appellation laws allow for a small percentage of Chardonnay, Aligote, and Melon de Bourgogne to be added to wines labeled Cote de Brouilly, Gamay dominates, making up 99% of all vineyards. Gamay from this region is regarded as the most intense of Beaujolais. Tasting Notes Cote de Brouilly can be described as bright crimson to deep purple with a medium to medium-plus body, lively iris, and fresh fruit aroma. A little cellaring adds to their elegance bringing forth more serious structure, minerality, and touches of spice. Standout producers include: Chateau Thivin, Domaine Jean-Claude Lapalu, Domaine de la Voute des Crozes, Domain des Terres Dorees and Potel Aviron. Morgon Situated on the south and southwest facing Beaujolais hills to the west of the Saone River is Morgon, the second-largest cru in the region at 2,745 acres (1,111 ha). The region comprises distinctive and vine challenging soil, including decomposing schist and granite with Paleolithic volcanic influence. Terroir Pockets of heavy clay, sandy loams, and rich iron oxide with traces of manganese deposits contribute to a depth and aging capability so distinctive; it has been given its own verbiage “il Morganne.” The region is protected from the cold northern winds by the rolling hills to the west and benefits from the warm, arid winds of the east that aid in drying the soils after rain which helps protects the vines from various fungal diseases. Abundant sunshine moderated by the cooling Mediterranean influences develops the sugars and phenols while retaining acidity. Tasting Notes Morgon wine often features ripe fruit aromas, fleshy and rustic texture with spicy notes, and a firm mineral-laden backbone. Notable producers include Domaine de Terres Dorees, Chamonard, Domaine Marcel Lapierre, Georges Descombes, Jules Chauvet, Jean-Paul Thevenet and Guy Breton Cote du Py On the southern border of Morgon is the famous hill Cote du Py. This area is known to impart earthy complexity and powerful structure that develops and softens with age, a feature reminiscent of the more celebrated regions of Burgundy. An exceptional assemblage of producers with a passion for old viticulture practices yields Gamay much denser than the Beaujolais region. Winemaking Styles Carbonic Maceration Winemakers in Beaujolais use a style unique to the region, carbonic maceration or whole cluster fermentation. Whole grapes are placed into fermentation tanks where those on top crush the grapes on the bottom. The juices released start to ferment, and the sealed tank is filled with carbon dioxide. The CO2 permeates the skin of the fruit, which starts the fermentation process inside the uncrushed berries. This method produces wines with explosive fresh fruit, minimal tannins, and a whole lot of color. Beaujolais Nouveau winemakers add the cultured yeast 71B, sugars to pump up alcohol levels, and thermovinification to make vast quantities of cheap, artificial tasting wines for the popular November release. After the fall of Beaujolais Nouveau and the subsequent years of tormented sales and tarnished reputation, Biodynamic Farming Fabulous 2009 vintages nearly single-handedly rescued Beaujolais from the infamous ‘Gang of Four,’ including Lapierre, Thevenet, Foillard, and Brenton. These stalwarts for biodynamic farming faced the challenge of producing world-class wines and changing long-held dismissive opinions. Chaptalization and filtration practices are discarded as well. As a result, winemakers in the region are ‘green’ in many ways, focusing on protecting ecosystems and actively contending with soil erosion. Natural wine production concept. Fresh ripe bunch of grapes with metal corkscrew on the textured blue table. Creative image, top view Jules Chauvet These winemakers set higher standards, starting with old vines, late harvesting, and meticulous sorting practices inspired by Jules Chauvet, who many consider the father of the natural winemaking movement in France. Chauvet, a gifted winemaker, taster, and chemist, dedicated his life to natural winemaking. He contended that to make the best expression of wine, you must let nature take its course with little interference. Thus, synthetic herbicides and pesticides are never used, and there is little to no dosing of sulfur dioxide. Wine Courses L1 Online Wine Certification Core (L2/L3) wine Courses Advanced (L4) wine Programs Wine Region Articles Major Wine Regions Wine Regions of the World Italian Wine Regions Spanish Wine Regions Portuguese Wine Regions East Coast Wine Regions The Best East Coast Wineries Terroir of East Coast Wines Best Wineries Near Philadelphia International Wine Regions Austrian Wine REgions Israeli Wine Regions Beaujolais Turkish Wine Regions Swiss Wine Regions Texas Hill Country Vinho Verde The Story of Champagne By Keith Wallace https://j.mp/2UwOBhl

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solsarin · 3 years ago

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what percent of earth’s freshwater is surface water available for human use

Hello dear friends, thank you for choosing us. In this post on the solsarin site, we will talk about “ what percent of earth’s freshwater is surface water available for human use“. Stay with us. Thank you for your choice.

Distribution of the Earth’s water

Earth is known as the “Blue Planet” because 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered with water. Water also exists below land surface and as water vapor in the air. Water is a finite source. The bottled water that is consumed today might possibly be the same water that once trickled down the back of a wooly mammoth. The Earth is a closed system, meaning that very little matter, including water, ever leaves or enters the atmosphere; the water that was here billions of years ago is still here now. But, the Earth cleans and replenishes the water supply through the hydrologic cycle.

The earth has an abundance of water, but unfortunately, only a small percentage (about 0.3 percent), is even usable by humans. The other 99.7 percent is in the oceans, soils, icecaps, and floating in the atmosphere. Still, much of the 0.3 percent that is useable is unattainable. Most of the water used by humans comes from rivers. The visible bodies of water are referred to as surface water. The majority of fresh water is actually found underground as soil moisture and in aquifers. Groundwater can feed the streams, which is why a river can keep flowing even when there has been no precipitation. Humans can use both ground and surface water.

Distribution of the water on Earth

Ocean water: 97.2 percent

Glaciers and other ice: 2.15 percent

Groundwater,: 0.61 percent

Fresh water lakes: 0.009 percent

Inland seas: 0.008 percent

Soil Moisture: 0.005 percent

Atmosphere: 0.001 percent

Rivers: 0.0001 percent.

Surface water

Surface water is far easier to reach, so this becomes the most common source of potable water. About 321 billion gallons per day of surface water is used by humans.

Surface waters can…

Surface waters can be simply described as the water that is on the surface of the Earth. This includes the oceans, rivers and streams, lakes, and reservoirs. Surface waters are very important. They constitute approximately 80 percent of the water used on a daily basis.

In 1990, the United States alone used approximately 327,000 billion gallons of surface water a day. Surface waters make up the majority of the water used for public supply and irrigation.

It plays less of a role in mining and livestock industries. Oceans, which are the largest source of surface water, comprise approximately 97 percent of the Earth’s surface water. However, since the oceans have high salinity, the water is not useful as drinking water.

Efforts

The oceans also play a vital role in the hydrologic cycle, in regulating the global climate, and in providing habitats for thousands of marine species.

Rivers and streams

Rivers and streams constitute the flowing surface waters. The force of gravity naturally draws water from a higher altitude to a lower altitude.

Rivers obtain their water from two sources: groundwater, and runoff.

This is known as base flow to the stream. Runoff flows downhill, first as small creeks, then gradually merging with other creeks and streams, increasing in size until a river has formed. These small creeks, or tributaries, where the river begins are known as the headwaters. Springs from confined aquifers also can contribute to rivers.

The water cycle

The hydrologic cycle or water cycle is a graphic representation of how water is recycled through the environment. Water molecules remain constant, though they may change between solid, liquid, and gas forms. Drops of water in the ocean evaporate, which is the process of liquid water becoming water vapor.

Evaporation can occur from water surfaces, land surfaces, and snow fields into the air as water vapor. Moisture in the air can condensate, which is the process of water vapor in the air turning into liquid water. Water drops on the outside of a cold glass of water are condensed water.

Condensation is the opposite

Condensation is the opposite process of evaporation. Water vapor condenses on tiny particles of dust, smoke, and salt crystals to become part of a cloud. After a while, the water droplets combine with other droplets and fall to Earth in the form of precipitation (rain, snow, hail, sleet, dew, and frost).

Once the precipitation has fallen to Earth, it may go into an aquifer as groundwater or the drop may stay above ground as surface water. The hydrologic cycle is an important concept to understand.

Water

Water has so many uses on Earth, such as human and animal consumption, power production, and industrial and agricultural needs. Precipitation—in the form of rain and snow—also is an important thing to understand.

It is the main way that the water in the skies comes down to Earth, where it fills the lakes and rivers, recharges the underground aquifers, and provides drinks to plants and animals. Different amounts of precipitation fall on different areas of the Earth at different rates and at various times of the year.

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Glaciers and ice caps

Glaciers and icecaps are referred to as storehouses for fresh water. They cover 10 percent of the world’s land mass. These glaciers are primarily located in Greenland and Antarctica.

The glaciers in Greenland almost cover the entire land mass.

Glaciers begin forming because of snowfall accumulation.

When snowfall exceeds the rate of melting in a certain area, glaciers begin to form.

This melting occurs in the summer. The weight of snow accumulating compresses the snow to form ice. Because these glaciers are so heavy, they can slowly move their way down hills.

Groundwater

Ninety-eight percent of Earth’s available fresh water is groundwater. It is about 60 times as plentiful as the fresh water found in lakes and streams.

Water in the ground travels through pores in soil and rock, and in fractures and weathered areas of bedrock.

The permeability and porosity measurements in rock and/or soil can determine the amount of water that can flow through that particular medium. A “high” permeability and porosity value means that the water can travel quickly.

A river

A river reaches flood stage when the river overflows its banks. The flood stage can be determined by measuring the gage height, or simply the height of the water in the stream measured from the river’s bottom. The streamflow can increase exponentially as the gage height increases. Thus, a small increase in gage height may indicate that a river has reached its flood stage. Floods are a fairly common, yet dangerous, natural disaster.

flowing water

When flowing water travels to an area of land that is completely surrounded by higher land, a lake is formed. The water is not trapped in this low area, the water just escapes at a slower rate than the rate of incoming water.

Lakes can vary greatly in area, depth, and water type. Most lakes are fresh water, however some, such as the Great Salt Lake and the Dead Sea, are salt water.

Contrary to common belief, a reservoir is not the same as a lake. A reservoir is a manmade lake caused by a river being dammed.

The water in a reservoir is very slow moving compared to the river. Therefore, the majority of the sediments that the river was carrying settle to the bottom of the reservoir.

A reservoir will eventually fill up with sediment and mud and become unusable.

Fresh water

Fresh water (or freshwater) is any naturally occurring water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. Though the term specifically excludes seawater and brackish water, it does include non-salty mineral-rich waters such as chalybeate springs. Fresh water may include water in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, icebergs, bogs, ponds, lakes, rainfall, rivers, streams, and groundwater contained in underground aquifers.

resource: wikipedia

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annieboltonworld · 3 years ago

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Juniper Publishers- Open Access Journal of Environmental Sciences & Natural Resources

Lessons in Resilience: A Rural Community's Adaption to an Extreme Flood Event in Northern Rivers State of Nigeria

Authored by Ezekwe I Clinton

Abstract

The study applied the RRA technique in studying the adaptation of the Ndoni people of Rivers State to flooding in Nigeria. The study examined the impact of the 2012 flood disaster in the area. The research is based on survey method, and data collected was through House-To-House Interviewing, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Key Persons Interview (KPI). Simple random sampling technique was used to select ten (10) out of fifteen (15) disaster affected villages in the district and thirty five (35) households selected from each of the villages. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, presented in figures and percentages. The findings reveal that personal preparedness for the 2012 flooding which occurred in October was low, as majority (90.32%) of the respondents had no early warning signs before the flood struck and therefore could only make few adjustments to withstand its impacts. As a result, personal properties such as individual homes/houses, fish and crop farms, other businesses and houses contents as well as government infrastructure including health facilities, roads, and schools were adversely affected. Therefore, the people chose to relocate to safe areas, raising household items above the flood level as immediate response measure. After the flooding, the people considered building resilience as only alternative to live with the flooding in the area since its vulnerability remains high due to its proximity to the River Niger The adaptive strategies to enhance their resilience include following warning advice on radios and television; dredging of Rivers, modification of building designs by raising the foundations above flood levels and the community cohesion among other traditional methods.

Keywords: Flood Disaster; Resilience; Adaptation

Abbreviations : DRR: Disaster Risk Reduction; LGA: Local Government Area; NPC: National Population Commission; FGD: Focus Group Discussion; KPI: Key Persons Interview; NEMA: National Emergency Management Agency

Introduction

According to the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility 2013, understanding how floods impact communities provides insights on policies aimed at reducing the impact of future flood events. It further argued that climate change scenarios suggest an increase in extreme rainfall events, contributing to a greater frequency of riverine and flash floods, and concluded that the experiences of psychological, financial and social stress within the communities preparing for, dealing with, and recovering from the floods provides information to planners and emergency managers. This is as having predisaster plans ahead of catastrophic events such as flooding shortens the immediate recovery process [1]. When the most devastating flood disaster in relevant memory ever witnessed in Nigeria struck in Sept-Oct. 2012, many communities were affected with about three hundred and sixty-three (363) deaths recorded and over two million, one hundred thousand (2,100,0) people displaced and almost six hundred thousand (600,0) houses destroyed (OCHA, 2012). The worse affected states by the disaster include Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, Benue, Bayelsa, Kogi, Niger, Lagos and Rivers among others [2]. Revealed that the flood disaster in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Rivers State occurred in October, 2012 after the main rainy season (August- September) [3]. The study posited that since the flooding, occupants of the area have continued to count their losses as schools, family homes, personal properties including farmlands and crops/livestock suffered various farms of flood damage with distorted the livelihood means of the community, whose residents are mainly poor farmers. However, two years after the disaster, Nwaogu and Ezekwe [4] in their study revealed that the Ndoni community is vulnerable to flooding because it is surrounded by River Niger. The study conducted in USA on human impacts of floods, revealed that the risk of catastrophic losses due to flooding was on the increase owing to increasing proximity of large populations to coastal areas, river basins and lakeshores [5]. This is because rising sea levels are the main driver for increasing flood risk [6].

A study by the International Flood Initiative suggests that floods are the most taxing of water related natural disasters to human, material assets as well as to cultural and ecological resources affecting people and their livelihoods and claiming thousands of lives annually worldwide. Apart from the direct deaths caused by floods, disease outbreak is common especially in less developed countries with malaria and typhoid being the most common in tropical countries. In India and Bangladesh alone, 300 million people live in areas that are affected by floods, with the physical damage to property being one of the major causes for tangible loss in floods. These include the cost of damage to goods and possessions, loss of income or services in the flood aftermath and clean-up costs. It further argues that some impacts of floods are intangible and are hard to place a monetary value because on most intangible goods such as levels of physical emotional and psychological health problems suffered by flood- affected people are difficult to be quantified [7].

The United Nations publications titled "Know Risk” observed that studies undertaken showed that the economic impact of natural disasters shows a marked upward trend over the last several decades. It suggests that the hazards tend to hit communities in developing countries especially the least developed countries, increasing their vulnerability and setting back their economic and social growth, sometimes by decades. According to the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki - Moon, poorer nations bear the brunt of deaths from natural disasters than rich nations [8]. It continued that an analysis of more than 7000 disasters over the past decades, in which 1.35 million people died, showed 90% of those deaths occurred in low and middle income countries because of poverty. Ban called it "a damning indictment of inequality". Shantosh and Ananata [9] in their study in Nepal affirmed that the majority of flood disaster victims are poor people because they live in flood plain. In Vietnam, in a study by Dang and Pham [10] on living with floods in the Mekong River Delta, the government adopted the provision of low cost loans to households for construction of flood proof houses and raising of houses on piles above the expected flood water level as a traditional coping technique. This helps to build the capacities of the downtrodden and reduce their vulnerability to the disaster. The strategy of living with floods is due to the Non-preventive nature of flooding in Mekong River Delta whose vulnerability remains high as a result of the proximity of the River to the area and high poverty level.

According to Dewan [11], two South Asian countries, Bangladesh and Nepal, due to their susceptibility to severe floods caused by high level of poverty have implemented a number of flood mitigation measures to cope with flood inundation in the areas. In Bangladesh, there are flood shelters, flood protection embankments, drainage channels, sluice gates and regulators on different rivers and canals while in Nepal, there are early warning awareness programs, rescue operation strategies, relief and post-flood rehabilitation programs among others by the government. Beside these contemporary approaches to flood adaptations in the areas, residents of both countries are still relying on traditional/indigenous knowledge and other local adaptation practices to cope with the hazard. In general, the prevalence of flooding has led to loss of human life, destruction of social and economic infrastructure and degradation of already fragile ecosystems across the globe, thereby threatening human existence.

The concept of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in this study is to emphasize the need for adaptive measures and practices that will minimize the vulnerability of the residents to future flood disasters. This is because, the magnitude of disasters depends on the intensity of the causative natural events that the population and structures are exposed to, and the effectiveness of pre- and post events mitigation actions to protect people and property. Because, the Ndoni district is prone to flooding by virtue of its position, it becomes imperative to undertake actions that can build the resilience of its residents either by way of adaptation or increasing their capability. Therefore, improvements are to be made through recovery programs to ensure adaptation and avoid a repeat of the destruction [12]. By this, resilience is achieved. According to Alison and Kimberley [13] resilience is the capacity of a person/community to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the impact of a flood. Resilience enables communities to rebound from disasters and reduce long term vulnerability [14]. This study therefore is an attempt to study the community's adaptive and coping strategies to extreme flood event.

Methods and Materials

The study was conducted in Ndoni district of Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State. The LGA is one of the largest reservoirs of crude oil in Nigeria and has experienced oil exploration and production activities for many decades. According to the 2006 National Population Census, the area habours 73,883 people out of the total of 284,010 people in the whole LGA. According to National Population Commission (NPC), the growth rate of the Nigeria population is 2.3% per annum. With this, the population of the Ndoni district was be projected at 84,618 in 2012.

The LGA has a landmass of 969km2 and is situated in the Riverline area. It is inhabited by three tribes of Ogba, Egbema and Ndoni with its administrative headquarters at Omoku. The Ndoni tribe is bounded by Balyelsa State to the South, Anambra State to the North, Delta State to the West and Imo State to the East. The Ndoni district selected for this study carried out in February, 2015, is made up of fifteen (15) villages. The ten (10) villages selected for this study are Inwegwe, Ogbe-Ukwu,Umuolodu, Ugbebi and Umuokeya. Others are Umuonyema, Umuawor-Achi, Iseala, Onuiku and Abadaukwu. These villages are grouped into three (3) major settlements according to their positions for convenience in this study as follows: Inwegwe settlement comprising of Ugbebi,Inwegwe and Umuawo-Achi villages; Umuojia settlement comprising Umuolodu,Umuonyema and Umuokeya villages; and Ogbe-Ukwu settlement which comprisesIseala,Onuiku,Ogbe-Ukwu and Abadaukwu villages. The population for the study includes youth, women and men selected from the communities in the area grouped into (3) settlements. A sample of three hundred and ninety (390) respondents which included the thirty five (35) households randomly selected from each of the ten (10) of the fifteen (15) villages of the district plus a total of twenty (20) participants in Focus Group-Discussion (FGR) and twenty (20) stakeholders in the district who were purposively selected and engaged in Key Persons Interview (KPI) were used for this study. A descriptive analysis presented in percentages and tables were used to analyze research findings (Figure 1).

Result and Discussion

Flood Impact on Households in the Study Area

From Table 1, most of the respondents indicated that their household effects were damaged by the flood. Furthermore, 98.38% and 96.13% of the respondents respectively had their farms and homes damaged by the flood. While as large as 68.06% of the respondents had their other businesses than agricultural businesses affected by the flood, only 3.84% were left homeless by the flood. Of the 96.13% of the respondents whose houses/ homes were damaged, about 60.32% of them have completed effecting repairs on their building while 23.46% noted that their repairs are ongoing and 16.22% are yet to commence theirs. On interaction, majority of those who were left homeless by the flood and have rebuilt their houses did so singlehandedly while few are still contending with the devastation due to financial constraints two years after the disaster suggesting that poverty is a source of concern to flooding victims. Notwithstanding, Ezekwe and Nwaogu [4] described the general recovery of the people as good and rapid, a feat achieved without a supportive intervention from the government which ordinarily would have undermined their resilience.

The rapid recovery of the people would have reduced the flood impact. This is because Alison and Kimberley [13] in their study on the experience of flooding in UK identified some ancillary factors such as increased time taken to return to normal (recovery) and the ineffectiveness of actions and help received during an extreme flood event as factors that worsen flooding impact especially the psychological health impact. Therefore, it is suggestive that the impact of flood is both influenced by, and results in, other impacts within an individual's daily life. It is therefore concluded that the impact of the flood in Ndoni district was high.

Flood Damages in the Study Area

From Table 2, a reasonable proportion of respondents believed that their own farms (58.46%) were completely destroyed while their house contents (64.19%) suffered major impacts even as their building structures (55.70%) were moderately impacted by the flood. Only 23.87% of the respondents in the district where 56.45% of them are farmers had their other businesses such as hairdressing saloon, supermarkets, and fashion designing, as well as provision and chemist stores among others completely destroyed. Interaction with the respondents revealed that more than 50% of them had their buildings inundated to a height not less than 2.5m above the ground. All these indicate that the impact of the flood on personal property was high. Both the elderly and the young were seriously affected. According to Dewan [11] the aftermath of floods are water pollution, water borne disease, loss of human life and livestock, escalation of prices, social insecurity and costs of rebuilding infrastructure during recovery.

In total, 78.06% of the respondents relocated from their homes to neighbouring houses where there are storey buildings and other safe areas within and outside the district especially at Omoku, the local government headquarters, while all the respondents indicated that they raised household items up off floor since they are leaving in bungalows. The case study revealed that of those who refused to relocate 42.37% of them were elderly people aged above 70 years. Their reason was that it is a taboo for them to vacate their fathers' compounds as their tradition forbids them from doing so. They maintained that they prefer to die in their fathers' compounds than to run away from home. Fear over the safety of their properties may have influenced this belief. But the belief scattered populations, causing separations in many families as some relocated while others stayed behind. Mc Kenna [15] noted that fears over leaving their property unattended may force families to be separated. No matter what the reasons of the Ndoni people would be for not relocating, the fact remains that ignorance and tradition had immediate intangible and significant impact on the people's vulnerability to the flooding.

Meanwhile, the time taken to rebuild the peoples' losses especially in the absence of government assistance was a major concern for them both for practical and emotional reasons as they believe it was going to take too long. Surprisingly, reasonable recovery was achieved within two years. Notwithstanding, some challenges still persist with more than 50% of the respondents noting that there was food shortage and that prices of food items which rose beyond 200% immediately after the flood were yet to return to normal. Government should consider provision of improved seedlings and farm incentives as well as making fertilizer available to farmers in the early farming season as a way of cushioning the food insecurity in the area. Also, credit facilities and insurance coverage should be made accessible to farmers. According to Glanzer [16], crop insurance coverage protects farmer's investment and gives them peace of mind throughout every harvest season and makes them more competitive in the market.

Table 3 below shows the percentage perception of degree (extent) of flood general impacts on infrastructure in the study area. A large proportion of respondents indicated that their health facilities (42.34%), schools/public buildings (43.28%), roads (60.32%), water systems/ properties (46.43%) as well as worship places (69.77%) and community town halls (70.28%) suffered major impacts. Indeed, public infrastructures are often affected indirectly by floods (Alison and Kimberley (2013). All the people interviewed in the FGD confirmed that major roads were completely flooded and that people were united in tackling the transportation challenge by providing free boats and canoes to facilitate movement and maintain social life. By this, socialization was sustained as people could move from one point to another amidst the floods. According to Gordon [17], in the aftermath of a flood, cohesion within the community can increase with everyone pulling together-often termed "social fusion". However, flood general impact was high in the area.

spite of the above, about 83.87% of respondents indicated that the affected government infrastructures had been rehabilitated by the state government. Some noted that the school walls were repainted and health centers reactivated, while the villagers were left to their fate [18,19].

Coping/Adaptive Strategies to the Flood Disaster in the Area

Table 4 below shows the adaptive strategies used by the people to cope with the disaster. Coping/adaptive strategies employed by the people during the 2012 flood disaster include relocation to safe locations (78.06%), design of evacuation plan (95.48%) which was mainly the use of canoes and joined woods to lift people out of the waters. This was done collectively by the people. There was unity and togetherness among community members in evacuating the people. According to Home Office, 2011, community cohesion plays pivotal role in building resilience. Nzegwu [20] also in his study, cited social support and togetherness among community members as weapon of resilience. This was demonstrated by the Ndoni people. There was building of flood barriers with blocks (64.19%) which played key role in protecting the buildings [21]. The people may have adopted this approach to build their resilience following their past experiences on flood [22].

For instance, Graham A [23] recognized past experience is contributing factor to building resilience. This is because findings have suggested clear positive association between previous experience and taking action to prepare. Also, other common adaptive measures were sandbagging of houses (50.97%), rising of household to the roofs and following warning advice on phones from friends, radios and televisions. Most people were reluctant to clear their drainages (80.32%) while markedly majority (83.23%) could not modify their houses due to lack of funds and prior information about the flooding. Group discussions indicated that almost every household opened their ceilings and safeguarded their properties/items in the building roofs as the flood inundation in their rooms was high reaching the armpit of a man of average height. Those who relocated to safe areas took refuge in individual storey buildings converted as shelters for the displaced. Some of the buildings were provided by prominent politicians such as the former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili. Others who could not be accommodated in the buildings due to space were harboured in sand filled areas of high elevation, provided and designated as shelters by the community while some fled to nearby cities like Port Harcourt, Owerri and Yenagoa to stay with their family relations/friends.

According to Akiyuki et al. [24], adaptive strategies employ by government of Myanmar to cope with flooding in Bago Region include building of dams, canals and adequate sharing of flood warning information as well as strengthening of the overall disaster risk reduction plans. As a result, the residents did not consider relocation from their communities as best option to flood management but relied on structural and non-structural flood mitigation methods. In Vietnam, Flood Safety Training is provided for children in schools thereby building their capacity [10] . Therefore, it can be concluded that the adaptive strategies of the Ndoni people to cope with floods in the area is effective, a lesson to be learnt.

Table 5 below shows the current adaptive strategies adopted by the people to adapt and reduce their vulnerability to flood disasters. From this study, the adaptive strategies to mitigate flooding in the area are clearing of drainage systems, following early warning signals issued by government, dredging of Community Rivers and sand filling of some areas to raise their heights above flood level, and improvement/modification of houses by raising the height of their foundations, to a reasonable height above the ground. Notwithstanding, more still need to be done, especially in installing flood doors and barriers to windows to effectively fortify the houses and build flood defense.

Lessons from Ndoni Community

Housing: The community has started erecting houses with the integration of disaster risk reduction measures. Most houses in the area since after the 2012 flood disaster are modified by raising them above flood levels, using higher foundations. Some are placing sandbags around old building to strengthen their resistance to flood whole others are constructing flood barriers using concrete walls in front of houses to prevent flood from surging into the rooms.

Following Warming Advice in Radio/Television: Although most people were reluctant to heed to any advise encouraging them to leave their houses prior to the disaster, but aftermath of the disaster they appreciated the need to utilize flood management information provided them by government through the radios/televisions.

Dredging of Local Rivers: There has been dredging of rivers around the community to help retain more waters in case of overflow of River Niger.

Living with the Floods: Knowledge of the high vulnerability of the area to flooding has helped them grow resilience. They therefore prefer to live with floods to evacuating/relocating from the area.

Social Cohesion/Capital: The mobilization of collective human resources within the community was a major driving power for rapid recovery. The unity of purpose and marked togetherness of the residents in galvanizing their social capital commonly known as social fusion increased their capacity to live with the floods. This reliable feet is an marked contrasts to what obtains in some other areas. According to social support and togetherness among community members is a weapon of resilience.

Building of Flood Barriers: The concrete walls constructed around buildings/ and the sandbagging of houses by most households provided defense for the houses against the flood. This practice offered interesting buffer for buildings even in flooded compounds thereby making them able to withstand the floods. It can be deduced that the community was able to adopt this measure due to their past flood experiences. Graham A [23] identified past experience as key factor to building resilience.

Design of Evacuation Plan: During the flooding, the community never waited for government to mobilize helicopters and boats to rescue its residents rather designed local boats known as canoes and wooden ladders as well as ropes to leverage the evacuation of those trapped in the flood. This sheer innovation was an invaluable capacity deployed to reduce flood human impact and was responsible for the fewer number of deaths resulting from drowning.

Sand Filled Areas: The community already sand filled some areas and raised them high above flood levels. These elevated sites provided handy platform for state government to construct temporary shelters for the displaced victims. The opportunity offered by the high-raise ground reduced the cost and risk of moving people to a long distance during emergency. By this, the displaced persons were quartered within the community, a development that made it look as if they are still in their homes as some could sight their houses from the distance.

These practices strengthened the community's capacity to live with the floods and increased their resilience against flood disasters. With such, any future flooding event in the area will have minimum impact on households. Therefore, replicating them in other communities with high vulnerability to flood disasters will go a long way in enhancing their resilience and reduce potential flood losses. It is a lesson to be learned.

Summary

This study analysis the adaptation of the Ndoni community, a rural community in Northern Rivers State with high vulnerability to flooding, especially aftermath of the 2012 flood disaster in Nigeria. The study reveals that the area is vulnerable to floods because it is near to River Niger, a major River that traverses most parts of Nigeria. While there is absolute lack of flood prevention technologies and post-flood rehabilitation programs in the area contrary to the practice in most developing countries like Nepal, Myanmar and Vietnam, the people strengthened their own capacity to enhance their resilience.

The research showed that the community was impacted hugely by the disaster with 98.38% and 96.13% of respondents, indicating that their farms and household effects were badly damaged. Obviously, this destruction had negative effects on the livelihoods of the people with grave implication on their financial and health status. However, the people are not deterred as majority of those interviewed declined to vacate/relocate from the area after the 2012 flood disaster despite the high vulnerability of the area to floods.

However, the understanding of the vulnerability of the area to flooding was instrumental in the peoples' choice to live with the floods, and by extension the need to grow resilience. This manifested in the few number of deaths recorded during the disaster as only two deaths were recorded. In the community, flood is no longer approached as a preventable issue but as a something to be lived through. This approach is adapted in Bangladesh and some parts of India and Vietnam. Because it is belief of the Ndoni people that their tradition forbids them from relocating from the area, any flood warning issued by government for relocation prior to flooding may not be heeded by the people. Therefore, it became preferential to grow their resilience to live with floods.

As a consequence, the people adopted to follow early warning signals on radio/television, dredging of Community Rivers, modification of houses to make them flood proof, clearing of drainage systems, community cohesion and social capital together with building trusted community networks to help disadvantaged families improve their capacity. These are marked transferrable key lessons for other flood vulnerable communities in Nigeria, because in the future, the frequency and impact of floods on human populations is expected to rise as population growth, urbanization, land use change and more rainfall increases exposure to extreme rainfall events.

Recommendation

A key finding of this study is that taking action to prepare for flood involves communities appreciating the level of risk and giving flood preparation messages sufficient attention. By this residents can galvanize their strengths, and resources to mitigate flood impacts. But this cannot be the only ways to guarantee maximum resilience.

In this study, there was total lack of government supportive role and absence of community relationship with external disaster response organizations such as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Therefore, the key recommendations are:

a) Communities should be engaged in disaster preparedness and response work.

b) Government should support communities either by each compensation, incentives and or provision of soft loans to help build their resilience.

c) There should be enhancement of community relations with disaster response organizations in order to increase their resilience.

d) Communities should see togetherness and unity as strong social capital towards disaster recovery resilience.

e) There should be sustainable flood awareness campaigns/programs even in periods without flooding to continuously entrench the culture of resilience on the communities.

f) Communities should be encouraged to live with floods by regular training to build their capacity rather than encouraging them to flee from their home. Apart from those living in flood plains, due to increasing human activities nowhere is excluded from being affected by flooding but improving resilience can make areas safer.

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biogenericpublishers · 4 years ago

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An Insight on the Welfare of Working Donkeys in Njoro Community, Nakuru by Grace Atieno in Open Access Journal of Biogeneric Science and Research

Abstract

The study focused on assessing donkey welfare awareness among Njoro community. This has been a concern despite legal enforcement since most donkey owners and donkey handlers still mishandle these animals, and they do not recognize them as sentient animals but instead, they are viewed as a bridge for making money. Questionnaires and observational studies were used to collect data. Data collection was to focus on those donkeys with poor welfare status. A purposive sampling procedure was used to collect data and based on the findings; most of the respondents were married males thus making the business of using the working donkeys as male business. Most respondents (84.1%) owned 2 donkeys and the donkeys were mostly males. Two-thirds (76. 2%) of the working donkeys work 6 days in a week to transport water to hotels, construction sites and homesteads however 79.4% of the working donkeys work from morning to noon. This means that despite the strenuous work that the donkeys were put through they were given some hours to rest. Even though 95.2% respondents admitted that they would leave donkeys to graze on their own after working, some (4.8%) would supplement with 1 to ½ suck of feed in the evening after work. A huge percentage (90.5%) would provide water at least once a day though this was done only on working days. Health wise, 93.7% of the study donkeys had overgrown hooves with significant percentage having wounds on the shoulders, rump and fetlocks of the forelimbs. All the interviewed respondents were against the donkey slaughter since they claimed that they do not recognized donkey meat as being edible and that the slaughter resulted to too much donkey theft. Therefore, welfare status among working donkeys in the study area is poor which could be attributed to poor management practices.

Keywords: Assessment; Awareness; Donkey owners/users.

Introduction

For many years, animal welfare has been shown to be an important issue for the general public [1]. Due to this concern, legislative codes of practices, organization and campaigns in institutions have been developed to influence improving the donkey welfare among people [2]. All these laws and organizations fight for the animals to ensure that they are in good state of welfare and to achieve this, they assess the general health of the animal, the comfortability of the animals, the behavior change of the animals, human and animal interaction and the animal population.

Despite the legal enforcement and creation of animal welfare awareness among people, there has been reduction in donkey welfare [3] and therefore more researches and efforts need to be done to facilitate improving the welfare of the donkeys. Today the welfare problems that the donkeys face include inadequate food and water, disease incidences and injuries, harsh environmental conditions and poor managements [4].

Donkey welfare is one of the primary issues that take millions of money from various animal welfare organization to create and improve awareness among the donkey handlers and farmers despite the legal enforcement. This has been due to the alarming increase of the animal neglect and ignorance [4]. The welfare issues are also contributed by the minimal studies and researches done on donkeys thus not many people are aware of the donkey welfare and management [4]. These donkeys’ welfare issues need to be focused on and studied to minimize the economic constraints that the developing countries are undergoing to improve the donkey welfare.

Methodology

The study was conducted in Njoro community which is about 26KM from Nakuru town. Njoro is a ward with a population size of 5,101 donkeys and 238,233 human populations [5]. The region experienced a lot of rainfall (moderate climatic condition) thus their main economic activity was agriculture thus the use of donkeys to transport the agricultural products (iris potatoes, maize, cabbages, carrots and cow peas) to the market and to perform other activities. Other individuals were business oriented thus they used donkeys to perform their businesses.

Purposive sampling procedure was used to obtain data. This was achieved through observation and measuring of the welfare status of the donkeys and administering questionnaires to donkey owners/users. This data was collected at the water points, markets and along the roadsides. These were preferred sites since most donkeys and donkeys owners were on their businesses at these points. A total of 98 donkeys and 63 respondents using a formula describe elsewhere were recruited into this study giving a representative sample size to determine the welfare status of working donkeys. The collected data from the working donkey with poor welfare status was edited, re-written and organized after which it was entered into Microsoft excel spreadsheet for further analysis. Statistical significance was considered at P-value < 0.05 with 95% confidence and a 5% margin of error.

Results

During this assessment, 63 donkey owners and handlers were interviewed. The interview was based on questionnaires, observational surveys of the donkey based on handling, harnessing, health parameter assessment and management. The findings were therefore summarized in a descriptive analysis and the results discussed broadly as shown below.

Descriptive Analysis

Demographic Characteristic of Working Donkey Owners/Handlers

The donkey owners/handlers were virtually male thus making this business of using working donkey to be male business. 93.7% of the respondents were married and 96.8% had knowledge on how to interact with the donkeys. This study also revealed that 84.1% of the respondents owned 2 donkeys, 11.1% owned more than 2 donkeys and the rest owned 1 or hired donkeys for their activities. This therefore showed that the working donkeys could be used even when they are sick or tired. This is shown in the (Table 1) below.

Number of Working Days of Donkeys Per Week

As shown in the data illustrated in the above figure (Figure 1) regarding the number of working days of donkeys per week, 76.2% of working donkeys work 6 days in a week with Sunday being the resting day.15.9% worked 7 days while 7.9% worked 2 days that is Wednesdays and Saturdays during the market days.

Number of Working Hours

This study also reveals the number of working hours for working donkeys, majority (79.4%) of working donkeys in this study work from morning to noon as shown in the above (Table 2).

Feeding

Watering Frequency

This study revealed that 90.5% of the respondents provided water to the donkeys once a day, 1.6% of the respondents provided water thrice a day during the working hours and 7.9% of the respondents do not provide water to the working donkeys and this occurs especially during the market days when the donkeys are hired. The donkeys were left to drink water from the river therefore the amount or quantity of water given to the donkeys was not well known by the donkey owners.

Health Assessment

This study showed that there were no donkeys having abnormal mucous membranes, abnormal buccal cavity, eye abnormalities and respiratory conditions. Most of the assessed donkeys had fairly normal oral health apart from few cases of tartar, plaques and erosions on the teeth. Most (84.1%) of the working donkeys had fair body condition with a score of 3/5 and 15.9% of the donkeys were in good body condition with a body score of 4/5. This indicated that despite the donkey’s feeding regime being poor, they were getting most of the nutrients from the grazing site and the little supplementation given to them after work in the evening.

Majority (93.7%) of the observed donkeys in this study had hoof problems such as overgrowth and cracks which could be attributed to the nature of the tredding paths along the tarmac road. All of the respondents admitted that they had never attempted hoof trimming and even if they were to do it, they would not because of fear of being kicked by the donkeys or causing injuries to the hooves. All observed donkeys were active and alert.

Veterinary Services

In this study 58.7% of the respondents had their donkeys vaccinated during some rabies vaccination campaign and 23.8% of the respondents deworm their donkey at least once a year. On the other hand, 63.5% of the respondents would seek veterinary services when their donkeys become sick while 36.5% of the respondents however admitted that they do not seek veterinary services since their donkeys rarely get ill and if they do so they naturally get healed.

Harnessing Materials

This study revealed that the harnessing materials and methods of the donkeys were poor. The type of harnessing materials used was a suck and a rope inserted in a hose pipe. Others just used rope only without inserting it in a hose pipe for protection. One donkey owner who owned one donkey had cloth rags filled in a suck to protect donkey from being injured with firewood. This therefore indicates that almost all of the donkey owners lacked proper harnessing materials and padding materials to offer proper protection against harnessing wounds.

Sheltering

According to this study, all the donkey owners provided shelter for their donkeys at night. However, most (87.3%) of the donkey owners mixed the donkeys and the other animals at night in a resting yard.

Resting of Donkeys

In this study, donkeys were rested especially at noon and in the afternoon in shades when the temperatures were high.

Breeding

This was most neglected welfare issue in Njoro community. In this study, 93.7% of the interviewed donkey owners had male donkeys and 6.3% had female donkeys. This showed that most donkeys in Njoro community were male and those that owned female donkeys were in the group of those individuals who had more than two donkeys. They however claimed that they rarely use the female donkeys and thus they usually leave them at home. They also said that if they were to use the female donkey, it’s either one donkey is sick, tired or has died. The reason why they didn’t like the female donkey is that they think it is a waste since the donkey might end up reproducing when they are mixed together reducing the work power. They also claim that the female donkeys might not allow the male donkeys to work properly. Others also claimed that the female donkeys tend to tire faster than the male donkeys.

Donkey Slaughter

Discussion

Most of the respondents were married males thus making this business of using working donkey as male business. This male domination could be because of the job involves handling heavy things such as goods and water that women can hardly handle. The findings also showed that 96.8% of the respondents were literate. This showed that despite the donkey business being good, the donkey handlers had a little knowledge on how to interact and associate with the animals for a better business. According to and Hemsworth (1990), education has influence on perception and involvement, particularly in decision making and monitoring of activities regarding resource use. In this study 84.1% of the respondents owned 2 donkeys and this showed that the donkeys could be used even when they are sick or tired and this therefore indicates poor welfare status. This is different to what was reported by of 75% of the responding donkey owners owning only one working donkey and 25% of them owning more than one.

The study also revealed that 76.2% of working donkeys work 6 days in a week to transport water to hotels, homesteads and construction sites and 79.4% of the working donkeys work from morning to noon to transport water to hotels. This indicated that as much as donkey business was concerned, the donkey owners/ handlers spared some time and a day in a week for the donkeys to rest thus indicating good welfare. This finding however contrast with a study carried out by Kamonzo, [6], that nearly half of the urban/ peri-urban donkeys work for 7 days per week and thus they have less time to rest. Some (7.9%) of the working donkeys were hired mostly during the market days especially on Wednesdays and Saturdays to transport goods to the market during the morning hours. According to this study, 7.9% of the working donkeys were used to do household chores like collecting firewood by women. Others however used the donkeys once in a while to move students who were moving their furniture from one rental to other and to fetch drinking water for animals in a large farm.

According to this study, 95.2% of the owners interviewed admitted that they leave the donkeys to graze on their own on dry grass after work. Besides grazing, 3.2% and 1.6% of the interviewed owners provide the donkeys 1 suck and ½ suck of dry grass and maize straw respectively in the evening after work. However, 12.7% would get other supplements such as carrots or leguminous plants like cow peas. These therefore indicate poor feeding regime since the donkeys are not supplemented with extra requirements like minerals and salts. This finding is not in line with a finding that was documented by Pearson et al. [7] that donkeys should be provided daily with straws or hay equal to 5% of its body weight, even though it may only eat half of this. According to Aganga et al. [8], when the animals are expected to produce extra work or when the grazing range has been depleted, supplementary feeding may be required. In addition to that, the findings also showed that the donkey owners and handlers were not interested in the consumption intake capacity of the donkeys thus poor feeding welfare.

Water is vital for donkeys and over 60% of an equines body consists of water Duncunson [9]. Even though donkeys are more thirst tolerant than horses and will maintain their appetites in conditions of water deprivation, they have the same water requirements as horses Duncanson [9]. In this study, 90.5% of the respondents provided water to the donkeys once a day, 1.6% of the respondents provided water thrice a day during the working hours and 7.9% of the respondent do not provide water to the donkeys and this occurs especially during the market days when the donkeys are hired. This therefore indicates poor welfare since the donkeys should always have access to clean water.

About 58.7% of the respondents had their donkeys vaccinated during some rabies vaccination campaign and 23.8% of the respondents deworm their donkey at least once a year. On the other hand, 63.5% of the respondents would seek veterinary services when their donkeys become sick while 36.5% of the respondents however admitted that they do not seek veterinary services since their donkeys rarely get ill and if they do so they naturally get healed. This indicates that the donkey’s health status is not a priority for as long as they can provide power and work to their owners. This however contrast with a study carried out in Ethiopia by Niraj [10] on donkey welfare assessment where 31.6% of the diseased donkeys were taken to veterinary clinics, 10.5% were treated traditionally and 57.9% did not get any help from their owners and were forced to work regardless of the disease.

Based on the findings of the study, all the donkey owners provided shelter for their donkeys at night. However, most (87.3%) of the donkey owners mix the donkeys and the other animals at night in a resting yard. The donkeys were also being rested especially at noon and in the afternoon when the temperatures were high. All the donkeys observed for this study were alert and active thus indicating good welfare.

On health assessment, the study showed that there were no donkeys having abnormal mucous membranes, abnormal buccal cavity, eye abnormalities and respiratory conditions. Most of the assessed donkeys had fairly normal oral health apart from few cases of tartar, plaques and erosions on the teeth. Most (84.1%) of the working donkeys had fair body condition with a score of 3/5 and 15.9% of the donkeys were in good body condition with a body score of 4/5. This indicated that despite the donkey’s feeding regime being poor, they were getting most of the nutrients from the grazing site and the little supplementation given to them after work in the evening.

In this study 93.7% of the working donkeys were male and they had skin lesions especially on the shoulder, the forelimbs and the rump lesions. The lesions were as a result of poor harnessing method and materials. The lesions on the forelimbs mostly were as a result of tightening one of the forelimb with a rope since most donkey owners tied one of their donkey under a tree when they are left to rest. The lesions on the rump were mostly inflicted by the donkey owners due to severe whipping of the donkey for it to increase its speed during work. In a similar study by Niraj [10], the greater distribution of wounds was found at the withers and back region (14.3%) and under the tail (7.7%). These findings therefore showed that most donkey owners had no proper harnessing materials and their handling techniques was also poor. Most (93.7%) of the observed donkeys in this study had hoof problems such as overgrowth and cracks which could be attributed to the nature of the tredding paths along the tarmac road. All of the respondents admitted that they had never attempted hoof trimming and even if they were to do it, they would not because of fear of being kicked by the donkeys or causing injuries to the hooves.

According to the study, 93.7% of the interviewed donkey owners had male donkeys and 6.3% had female donkeys. This showed that most donkeys in Njoro community were male and those that owned female donkeys were in the group of those individuals who had more than two donkeys. They however claimed that they rarely use the female donkeys and thus they usually leave them at home. They also said that if they were to use the female donkey, it’s either one donkey is sick, tired or has died. The reason why they didn’t like the female donkey is that they think it is a waste since the donkey might end up reproducing when they are mixed together reducing the work power. They also claim that the female donkeys might not allow the male donkeys to work properly. Others also claimed that the female donkeys tend to tire faster than the male donkeys.

Generally harnessing method of the donkeys was poor. The type of harnessing materials used was a suck and a rope inserted in a hose pipe. Others just used rope only without inserting it in a hose pipe for protection. One donkey owner who owned one donkey had cloth rags filled in a suck to protect donkey from being injured with firewood. Due to this poor harnessing technique most of the donkeys had shoulder wounds especially those donkeys that were used for pulling carts during water transportation. This therefore indicates that almost all of the donkey owners lacked proper harnessing materials and padding materials to offer proper protection against harnessing wounds.

When interviewed on donkey slaughter, most of the donkey owners were against the donkey slaughter. They complained that when the donkey slaughter started most of their colleagues lost their donkeys to theft. They also reported that the only meat that they know is the meat of the cattle, sheep and goat and that those that have eaten the donkey meat are either not in their senses or if they have eaten it they did it unintentionally. Others claimed that if the slaughter continues, the donkey population will be at risk and this will affect them since most of them earn their living through the aid of the donkeys. These findings are in line with the findings documented by Maichomo et al. [11] that there was an increasing trend in the number of donkeys slaughtered in subsequent years and thus contributing to the reduction in the donkey population to the extent of being extinct by 2022. According to Maichomo et al. [11], demand for donkeys far outweighed the supply thus cases of donkey theft.

Conclusion

The donkey welfare status among working donkeys in Njoro community was poor which can be contributed by poor harnessing techniques and management practices such as feeding and disease control [12].

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wineschool-blog · 3 years ago

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petstutorial · 5 years ago

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Victor Classic-Hi-Pro Plus Dog Food Reviews (Dry) Introduction Your canine friend deserves a highly nourishing meal that will keep him healthy and energized all year round. With numerous varieties available in the market today, it can be overwhelming to get a dog meal that is not only wholesome but also good tasting. Victor food Brand pride in producing wholesome food for your dog. Their top-rated formulas are high in meat protein and also combine other carefully picked ingredients that contribute to the overall wellbeing of your canine. In this article, we dive into Victor’s best-selling recipe; Victor Hi-Pro Plus Formula Dry Dog Food. Best Selling Dry Dog Food On Amazon: [amazon bestseller="best dry dog food"] See also: [su_note note_color="#eff9de"] VICTOR Yukon River Dog Food Reviews Victor Active Dog & Puppy Food Reviews [/su_note] Manufacturer This product is manufactured and owned by Mid America Petfood. All victor products are produced on-site using state-of-the-art facilities. This ensures that the brand’s stringent measures on hygiene and standards are upheld. While the company was launched in 2007, Victor as the brand has been in existence since the 1940s Recall History There is no recall recorded for any of the Victor products. This is commendable and shows that the brand strives to keep its records clean Product overview [amazon box="B00CJLP4EA" grid="1"] Victor classic Hi-Pro Plus is a nutrient-dense formula made of super-quality beef, pork, chicken, and fish meals. It is ideal for dogs that need high levels of nutrients such as pregnant or lactating females as well as developing puppies. This recipe boasts of various scientifically proven ingredients that provide all the energy needed by your dog. Ingredients Several nutritious ingredients have been blended perfectly to meet the nutritional standards established by AFFCO. Let us have an in-depth analysis of the elements used to make this top-selling formula. Beef meal This is the first and primary meat source of this recipe. Meat meal is produced by cooking beef through the rendering process to get rid of excess moisture. The resultant product is a highly concentrated protein source. The beef meal also contains high levels of iron and zinc. Grain sorghum Sorghum is a gluten-free source of carbohydrate. This element is also rich in antioxidants, dietary fiber, iron, and zinc. Also, Sorghum regulates blood sugar in dogs and aids in weight control. Chicken fat This is the third ingredient in the list and has been preserved by a mixture of tocopherols. Chicken fat is a superb source of omega 3 fatty acid, which is essential for the optimum functionality of your dog. Pork meal This is a concentrated form of whole pork and is very rich in protein. This meat meal contains a significant amount of minerals such as thiamin and iron Chicken meal This is a meat meal that has its water concentration removed. The result is a condensed protein source that is highly nutritious. Chicken meal also contains high levels of vitamin B6 and significant levels of Niacin. Blood meal This is a controversial ingredient as it is with most animal byproducts such as viscera, bones, or trimmed fat. Many dog owners flaw the inclusion of such a byproduct in the dog’s food. Blood meal is actually safe for dogs, but lots of precautionary measures should be taken in its preparation. A correctly rendered blood meal is not only free of toxic bacteria, but it is also easily digestible. Menhaden meal Menhadens are small oily fish that are considered unfit for human consumption. However, their oil is incredibly rich in both omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Unfortunately, the fat is removed, and the flesh rendered into fish meal. This makes menhaden meal an average quality fish source as it lacks the beneficial levels of omega fatty acids in comparison with other fish sources. Whole grain millet This is a cereal grain that contains carbohydrates and a significant plant-based protein. This is a controversial ingredient as many people see it as low-quality filler in dog food. Nevertheless, millet is an excellent source of phosphorus, iron, and B-vitamins. Phosphorous promotes healthy bones, while iron helps in blood formation. Flaxseeds This ingredient is popular among high-end pet foods. Flaxseeds boast of high levels of o, mega fatty acids, which promote glossier skin and sharper cognitive functions. Also, these elements contain high protein levels than any other plant-based ingredient. Besides, flaxseeds have lignans. These are antioxidants that boost your dog’s immune system and help fight inflammatory diseases. Dried Chicory Root This is used in dog food as an additive or supplement. It is also a source of soluble fiber to aid digestion and passage of stool. It can also act as a probiotic to promote digestion and expel intestinal worms. The quantity of Chicory Root used in most dog food is insignificant and does not contribute any critical nutrition. Alfalfa This is a flowering plant popular in livestock feed. Alfalfa is closely related to legumes and has a similar quantity of proteins as legumes. This means that it contributes significantly if the manufacturers use a sufficient amount. Alfalfa is probably best known for its wide range of vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin K, potassium, Calcium, and Beta Carotene. [su_button url="https://amzn.to/30TEWii" target="blank" style="default" background=" #fe8d2e" color="#ffffff" size="5" center="yes" radius="square" icon="icon: thumbs-up" rel="nofollow"]CHECK LAST PRICE[/su_button] Pros Suitable for dogs in all seasons of life High-quality meat ingredients No artificial additives or preservative No anonymous meat sources Provides satisfactory nutrition Cons Not ideal for dogs with grain allergies Change of ingredients have affected many dogs negatively Customers’ Reviews Many users were dissatisfied with the recent change of ingredients in this formula, which has resulted in many dogs getting sick. Nevertheless, a good percentage of customers are satisfied and still believes it’s the best formula for their dogs. This is what some had to say. “We ordered the Hi-Pro Plus because our breeder used it to feed our puppy before she arrived. She is doing well on it, and our in-the-know show dog expert says it is a staple in the show world.” – Fireflyfaster “My golden retriever puppy, Eli and my seven-year-old border collie, Bella love the Victor Select Hi-Pro Plus Formula. It was proving a challenge to feed them two different, age-specific foods, so this Victor formula was a great discovery.”- Puppymomma “My dog is a picky dog eater, and she grazes on throughout the day, well at least she did with Taste of the Wild. After finding out that my dog throwing up multiple times a day was because of the food, I switched to Victor immediately because it has no recalls, and other German Shorthaired Pointer owners rave about it. She loves this stuff and hasn’t thrown up since I switched! This is our second bag!”- Kimberly Harold-Lewis [su_button url="https://amzn.to/30TEWii" target="blank" style="default" background=" #fe8d2e" color="#ffffff" size="5" center="yes" radius="square" icon="icon: thumbs-up" rel="nofollow"]CHECK LAST PRICE[/su_button] Our verdict The fact that Victor Classic Hi-Pro gets most of its proteins from animal sources shows that it is an ideal food for your dog. Animal based proteins contain all the essential amino acids that your canine needs for optimal growth. In addition to the meat ingredients, this product contains a small number of grains, such as millet and Sorghum. While grains are not overly recommended in dog food, the ones included in this formula provide a modest quantity of carbohydrates that your dog needs. According to our analysis, this formula provides complete and balanced nutrition that dogs of all stages of life require. Victor is dedicated to manufacturing high-quality dog food, and the Hi-pro Plus is no exception. This food is free from gluten, wheat, soy, or corn, as well as artificial additives and colorings. We highly recommend this product for the growth and development of your four-legged friend. This post has appeared for the first time in https://petstutorial.com/victor-hi-pro-plus-dog-food/?feed_id=28&_unique_id=5e2623c7e5141 #pets_tuttorial #jane_brody #pet_blog #pet_training #pet_products_reviews #best_dog_products #best_cat_products

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globalbusinessstudio · 4 years ago

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Top 5 cities in Vietnam to do business

Vietnam was seen as a land of opportunity for local and foreign investors alike. You’re planning to start a business in Vietnam but don’t know how to pick the best place for your business? Look no further, here is the best answer Globalbusinessstudio have put together for “Top 5 cities in Vietnam to do business”!

Why is Vietnam so hot for business

There are reasons why doing Vietnam business becomes attractive to foreign entrepreneurs and investors. Thanks to economic reform and increasing affluence, Vietnam is one of the key emerging economies in Asia these days.

In the medium and long-term, it’s forecast that the country’s economy will continue to grow more than 6% each year. This progress is driven by a growing young and educated population and an expanding domestic market. What is more, Vietnam has the fastest-growing middle class in the entire Southeast Asia.

Asia’s newest ‘tiger’ economy is the new name for Vietnam, as the country’s economy is now following in the footsteps of South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. For that reason, Vietnam has seen a dramatic increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) as many investors recognise the business opportunities in this thriving investment environment.

To help you with the first step, here’s the list of top 5 cities in Vietnam for you to open a vietnam business.

Saigon – One of the biggest cities in Vietnam

The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi however the nation’s largest city is Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).

Ho Chi Minh City is praised as the economic hub of Vietnam with a total GDP of more than $48.2 billion in 2017 and a growth rate of 8.26%. For years, Ho Chi Minh City led Vietnam in terms of FDI attraction. Currently, the city has more than 7,300 FDI projects in operation with a total registered capital of more than $44 billion, accounting for more than 13% of total FDI inflow into Vietnam.

One of the strategic advantages of Ho Chi Minh City is its vast, modern infrastructure. Ho Chi Minh International Airport is Vietnam’s main airport and accommodates up to 17 million passengers a year. Saigon Port, which consists of a network of ports throughout the capital, is also Vietnam’s busiest port. Ho Chi Minh City has 11 industrial areas with a total area of more than 1,700 hectares and more than half of them have rentable land. Ho Chi Minh Hi-tech Park was established in 2002 and has been able to attract leading foreign companies including Intel, Samsung, substantially contributing to the city’s tax revenue.

Another advantage of Ho Chi Minh City is its ample catering of human capital for all sorts of investor needs, from professional staff to trained scholars and experts. In addition, the city houses more than 75 universities and colleges, and various research centers, think tanks, creating an inclusive network between research – development – and production, supplying local companies with the best human resources, technologies, and high-quality services. The vibrant vibe of the city, the can-do attitudes of its people and rising revenue all make Ho Chi Minh an enticing investment destination for investors worldwide.

Hanoi – The Capital city of Vietnam

As Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi’s charms date back to a millennium ago. His name in the past was “Thăng Long,” which means rising dragon; now his name Hanoi means the river inside the city. In the past, its name was “Thăng Long”, meaning rising dragon; Both names reflect the potentials and prosperity of the city. In 2017, Hanoi’s GRDP stood at $23.6 billion, up 8.5% compared to 2016. Regarding FDI inflows, Hanoi ranked fourth among cities and provinces in Vietnam with more than 4,489 projects in force and $27 billion in registered capital.

Firstly, it is the transport center for the northern cities and provinces of Vietnam, with Noi Bai International Airport–Vietnam’s second largest airport–and a extensive road network. The city government has spent extensively in the past several years to develop the city’s transit network with many major projects widening several inner-city highways, upgrading the train station, constructing numerous bridges, and tunnels.

Second, Hanoi is bestowed with generous investment incentives by the Vietnamese government. For example, Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park in Hanoi is the first Hi-tech Park in Vietnam to receive special mechanisms and incentive policies, allowing investors and companies investing in Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park to enjoy preferential tax rates and other support.

Da Nang – The Pearl of Vietnam cities

Lying at the very heart of Vietnam, Da Nang holds a very strategic location.The city is only hours away from big domestic and foreign markets such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, China, India, etc. Located right on one of the international sea and air routes, Danang City has a particularly favorable geographical location for rapid and sustainable development.

Da Nang has 4 types of common roads: road, rail, sea and air. The main road system of Da Nang is 100% asphalt and concrete. Da Nang railway station is one of the major stations in Vietnam. From here, there are sea routes to most of Vietnam’s major ports and around the world.

Moreover, the system of water supply, electricity supply and communication (Da Nang is the place where the international sea-going cable station in Vietnam) of Da Nang thrives and is increasingly modernized, ranked 3rd in the country after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City only.

What’s more, Danang is also voted as the most livable city in the country. The city is endowed with 70 km of breathtaking coastal line and stunning white sand where people can relax and enjoy the nature. Life in Danang is very peaceful and calm, which is very different from other hustling and bustling developing cities. The expatriate community in the city is also growing, up from more than 1,000 people in 2012 to more than 5,000 in 2017.

With its unlimited potentials and environmentally friendly government policies, Danang is certain to offer great opportunities for foreign investors to build not only a business but also a home in the city. And there is one more thing, Danang is one of the few provinces that is the pioneer in removing cumbersome administrative procedures.

Binh Duong – Where you can find lots of multinational companies in Vietnam

Binh Duong has geographical advantages when it is located in the southern key economic region, favorable for the development of urban and service industries. Binh Duong is located on the important traffic axes of the country and is an important trade and exchange hub between the Central Highlands provinces, the Central region and the Ho Chi Minh City.

By the end of 2019, Binh Duong ranked 3rd in the country, after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in terms of attracting foreign investment. The total newly registered, adjusted and contributed capital of foreign investors in the province reached over US $ 3,073 billion, up 50% over the same period in 2018, exceeding 119.57% compared to the target of 2019.

Up to now, Binh Duong ranked 2nd in the whole country, only after Ho Chi Minh City in attracting foreign investment. Binh Duong currently has 3,755 projects still granted valid investment registration certificates with a total registered capital of US $ 34.23 billion; in which, average project size is about 9.11 million USD.

Currently, there are 65 countries and territories registering investment in Binh Duong; in which, 7 countries and territories are Japan, Taiwan (China), Singapore, Samoa, South Korea, BVI and Hong Kong (China) with total investment capital accounting for more than 75% of total investment capital of the province. Japan topped 314 projects, total registered capital of 5.61 billion USD, accounting for 16.4% of total investment capital.

Taiwan (China) ranked 2nd with 837 projects, total registered capital of US $ 5.42 billion, accounting for 15.9% of total investment capital. Singapore ranked 3rd with 241 projects, total registered capital of US $ 4.14 billion, accounting for 12.1% of total investment capital.

As a rule, the surrounding area is often attracted to the center of Ho Chi Minh City but Binh Duong has been known to create advantages for development.

Bac Ninh – City of culture and modernity

Over the past years, the country has witnessed the remarkable development of Bac Ninh province with the economic development speed and per capita income always in the top of the whole country. Accordingly, the average economic growth always reaches over 10%/year. Other socio-economic development indicators are also quite impressive: GRDP ranked 3rd in the country, FDI attraction ranked 6th, exports rank high, budget revenue ranked 10th; the percentage of communes meeting new rural standards ranked 9th.

In the field of investment, Bac Ninh continues to attract many large economic groups in the world such as Samsung (South Korea), Hong Hai (Taiwan), Canon (Japan), Microsoft, ABB, Foxconn, etc.

Up to now, the province has attracted nearly 1,000 FDI projects with a total registered capital of more than 15 billion USD. In particular, Samsung Group alone has poured billions of dollars. This number has not been stopped because the number of newly registered projects and the number of old projects with capital increase are increasing each year.

The expansion of large FDI projects in Bac Ninh has satisfied the employment needs for millions of workers and brought many of foreign experts to work in industrial parks and hi-tech parks.

The number of employees is increasing but the infrastructure and services in Bac Ninh do not fully meet the rigorous requirements of experts, technicians, senior management of Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, ect. Therefore, most of them rent houses in Hanoi or choose big hotels to stay. Experts say the shortage of supply is a good signal for real estate investors who want to pour capital into Bac Ninh, anticipating strong profit opportunities with huge customer demand.

All of the above factors have made Bac Ninh a fertile land, attractive to businesses and real estate investors, a good signal for the development of synchronous urban areas in the future.

In Conclusion

Above are the top five cities that you should consider setting up your business when entering Vietnam. Vietnam has been and continues to grow, which is an attractive place for foreign investors, the ideal place to start new business ideas. Although the road ahead for Vietnam and its provinces and cities is not without struggle and challenge, there still exist potentials and opportunities for investors and businesses to explore. See Vietnam Expat Blog to read more

source https://globalbusinessstudio.com/top-5-cities-in-vietnam-to-do-business/

#globalbusinessstudio #GBS Vietnam

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