|
|
| |
| |
Lecture Series by Pakistan Academy of Sciences
|
| Progress with tree-based approaches for managing
salinity and utilising salt-affected land in Australia
Nico Marcar, Tivi Theiveyanathan and Debbie Crawford
CSIRO Forest Biosciences, PO Box E4008, Kingston,
ACT 2604 Australia.
Farm forestry is an increasingly important form of
diversifying farm income and dealing with environmental
concerns in Australia. Two important concerns are
the management of dryland salinity and the need to
sequester carbon dioxide as a means of combating climate
change. At the same time, water conservation is critically
important as rainfall is predicted to decrease in
many parts of southern Australia. We briefly describe
the use of trees in different parts ('recharge' and
'discharge') of the landscape to manage salinity and
other environmental issues. Coupled with field measurements
and monitoring, we have developed and applied the
plantation growth model (3-PG) in one-dimensional
and spatial (GIS framework) ways and, then used the
Scenario Planning and Investment Framework (SPIF)
at catchment and farm scales to identify locations
where tree planting on agricultural land would provide
the best net commercial and environmental benefits.
The example of application provided is from the Corangamite
catchment in western Victoria, Australia. Forestry
scenarios for several eucalypt species as well as
Pinus radiata have been considered. Whilst tree planting
on saline portions of the landscape is not widespread
(in contrast to establishing salt-tolerant pastures
which is being actively pursued). nevertheless a good
database has been established about species and provenance
performance under saline and seasonal waterlogging
conditions. Promising timber-producing species suitable
for varying soil salinities include Eucalyptus
camaldulensis, E. camaldulensis x E. globulus
and E. grandis hybrids, E. occidentalis, Acacia
stenophylla, Casuarina obesa and C. glauca.
Tree water use under saline conditions is invariably
lower than under saline conditions because tree growth
rates are lower, but considerable amounts of water
used can be from saline groundwater.
Dr. Nico E. Marcar
Principal Research Scientist
CSIRO Forest Biosciences
P.O. Box E4008
Kingston ACT 2604
Ph: +61 2 62818335
Fax: +61 2 62818312
Mob: 0418967158
email: Nico.Marcar@csiro.au
Visit our website: www.csiro.au
Saturday, April 19, 2008.
Forum: Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Karachi Chapter
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
Environmental Impact of Energy Sources
Dr. I. H.Qureshi
Scientist Emeritus, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission
Socio-economic development requires adequate
amount of energy for industrial production, transportation,
commercial and domestic appliances. The demand of electrical
energy is increasing with population growth. The global generation
of electrical energy is estimated to be 15690 Terra Watt hours
(TWh) and that of Pakistan is 82.4 TWh. About 65% of electricity
is generated from thermal power plants, which are the major
sources of air pollution. The main pollutants include CO2,
CO, SO2 ,NO2 ,organic compounds and particulates, which have
various health and environmental impacts. Alternate energy
sources name hydropower, nuclear energy, solar, wind and geothermal
energy can reduce the emission of air pollutants. Solar and
wind are dilute sources of energy as such these require large
number of collectors to concentrate the energy. Hydel power
and nuclear energy are being used in many countries. Brazil
generates about 80% of electricity from hydel power whereas
France generates about 77% of electricity from nuclear energy.
Nuclear energy, which is intense source of energy, is especially
suitable for resource deficient countries. Both hydropower
and nuclear energy can play an important role in the generation
of environmental friendly electricity for sustainable development.
Tuesday, October 31, 2008.
Forum: Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Karachi Chapter
|
|
|
|
FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS OF SACCHROMYCES
Prof. Dr. Shakeel Ahmed,
Microbiology, University of Karachi on
Thrusday, July 31, 2008.
Forum: Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Karachi Chapter
|
|
|
POTENTIALITY OF HALOPHYTES AS CASH
CROPS UNDER ARID CONDITIONS
Dr. Hassan El-Shaer
Professor of Animal Nutrition and Rangelands
Ex. Vice-President, Desert Research Center
Cairo, Egypt
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Forum: Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Karachi Chapter
|
|
|
