Oromo Indigenous Knowledge and Practices in Natural Resources Management: Land, Forest, and Water in Focus

This study deals with the Oromo indigenous knowledge and its implication in the practices of natural resources management, with the focus on the natural resources that have been thought as fundamental and integrals of their entire lives: land, forest, and water resources.

The study was conducted among Nole, Maccaa Oromo of West Wallagga. The study of the predominant human-environment relationship, and the indigenous ecological knowledge and practices of indigenous peoples in natural resources and biodiversity conservation have enormous role in understanding the ever-growing environmental problems, and consequent social problems.

Hence, in an effort to understand the cause and magnitude of environmental problems, and to establish prospective measures that would help in solving these social and environmental acute, understanding the community’s worldview and integrated indigenous knowledge that they have been maintained in esteeming and managing the natural resources for healthy coexistence is important.

PDF LINK

Comparison of the Characteristics of Low Velocity Layer (LVL) in the Mangrove Swamp and in the Upper Flood Plain Environments in the Niger Delta, using Seismic Refraction Methods

Sixteen (16) surface-laid-geophones and fourteen (14) downhole-laid-hydrophones experiments were conducted in Upper Flood Plain and in Mangrove Swamp areas respectively in parts of the Niger Delta.

The aim is to compare low-velocity-layer (LVL) characteristics in the two environments. The velocity and depth of the weathered layer and those of the consolidated layers were calculated using depth-time plots.

The interpreted data showed a substantial variation of the weathered layer thickness and elevation in the two study areas. In the Upper Flood Plain, LVL thickness varies between 2.8 m and 40 m with an average of 21.46 m.

PDF LINK

Remediation of Escravous Crude Oil Contaminated Soil Using Activated Carbon from Coconut Shell

Environmental pollution is one of the major hazards facing humanity in the quest for energy today. In Nigeria, the activities of oil exploration and exploitation have repeatedly exposed the environment to the effect of hydrocarbon spill.

This research work was carried out to investigate the potential of activated carbon produced from coconut shell to treat Escravous crude oil contaminated soil, by varying pollutant dosage, adsorbent dosage and time.

The present study has clearly demonstrated that activated carbon from coconut shell (ACCS) can be used to significantly enhance the rate of degradation of petroleum hydrocarbon in the soil when homogenized with water in a ratio of 20 w/w and studied under an atmospheric temperature.

PDF LINK

Environmental Health Risk Estimation of Heavy Metals Accumulated in Soil and Cultivated Plants Irrigated with Industrial Effluents

Indiscriminate release of industrial wastewater/mining wastes into the water bodies and reuse of this polluted wastewater for agriculture purpose is a topic of debate for sustainable development.

These wastewater containing heavy metals (density of >5 g cm-3) in toxic levels is of great health concern for human and animal through food web. Durgapur Industrial Belt (DIB) of India is discharging effluents into the Tamala Drain (TD) leading to metal pollution of water-soil system and also affects biota of the area.

Locals farmers are using for cultivating food crops, pulses and vegetables because they are ignorant about the hidden toxicity of the factory discharged and their subsequent negative impacts such as loss of soil fertility/crop yield, bioconcentration of metals in edible parts or forage plants.

PDF LINK

Assessment of the Impacts of Sea Level Rise on Mangrove Dynamics in the Indian Part of Sundarbans Using Geospatial Techniques

The intertidal mangrove ecosystem of Indian Sundarban is now as a critical ecosystem due to climate changeinduced sea level rise. The present study analyses the responses, migration, destruction and vulnerability of the four deltaic mangrove ecosystem, such as Jambudwip, Bulcherry, Dalhousie and Bangaduni Islands along the ocean sides. The changes in this deltaic ecosystem studied by using GIS and remote sensing with collecting data about sea level of nearest tidal gauge station Haldia (2.59 ± 1.0 mm/year) and Diamond Harbor (4.67 ± 0.68 mm/year). 

The study finds that if the sea level rises about mangrove surface, the mangrove retreats landward and also decline the land areas, increases soil erosion that affected in the southern and south-western part where these vulnerable mangrove islands are located.