Likely Effects Of Biofuels On Biodiversity An Environmental Sciences Essay Example

Likely Effects Of Biofuels On Biodiversity An Environmental Sciences Essay 1st coevals biofuels, the feedstocks are besides used as nutrient harvests and are chiefly used to bring forth biodiesel and bioethanol. These biofuels are straight produced and processed easy from the biofuel harvests or workss such as rapeseed, sunflower, sugar cane, maize etc. The 2nd coevals biofuels are generated from works lignocellulosic stuff. Bioethanol is generated by treating the lignocellulosic works stuff. Many perennial grasses, poplar, willow, forestry, agricultural waste merchandises etc are besides used to bring forth this 2nd coevals biofuels. The 3rd coevals biofuels are produced from algae which might non vie with nutrient harvests, doing it really feasible and more promising to be used. But the 2nd coevals and largely the 3rd coevals is non yet commercially feasible as the engineering is good advance and it is still undergoing development ( Biemans et al. , 2008 ) . This essay will be looking at the likely effects or impact of biofuels on biodiversity viz. the impact on home ground, impact on C segregation, impact on H2O quality and measure, impact of increased chemical usage, and impact of forestry and agricultural waste on biodiversity. This essay will besides briefly expression at a instance survey of biofuel impact in Netherlands. 2. Biofuel likely effects on biodiversity We will write a custom essay sample on Likely Effects Of Biofuels On Biodiversity An Environmental Sciences specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Likely Effects Of Biofuels On Biodiversity An Environmental Sciences specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Likely Effects Of Biofuels On Biodiversity An Environmental Sciences specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The addition in biofuel demand and usage has lead to several environmental impacts that might ensue in either negative or positive impacts on biodiversity. Biofuels can positively impact as a sustainable renewable beginning of energy, depending on its production technique, and can besides hold a negative impact, depending on the sustainability of its development. Bioefuel has a positive potency for cleaner fuels, and greater possibility for economic growing for rural communities and for husbandmans ( Pimentel and Patzek, 2007 ) . The major impact of biofuel on biodiversity is land-use alteration ( Koh, 2007 ) , and in state of affairs where biofuel will supply major part of planetary energy, this will countervail the possible extenuation of clime alteration due to decrease in green house gas emanation, by infringing extra lands to bring forth biofuel. Biofuel feedstocks picks, cultivation patterns, and the type of land that it is grown on, will find the positive or negative impact on biodiversity ( UNEP, 2008 ) . Impact on Habitat Crops grown in deforested country or degraded lands with decreased dirt cultivated land and agricultural inputs to supply feedstock for biofuel production could potentially impact biodiversity positively by reconstructing home ground and ecosystem map ( Cook and Beyea, 2000 ) . Turning perennial species for biofuel feedstocks besides have positive biodiversity impact than one-year monoculture planting, as some works or harvest rotary motion for biofuel feedstock can be good for some works species, butterfly, birds and some beings etc ( Cook and Beyea, 2000 ) . The most important cause for negative biodiversity impact globally is Habitat loss ( MEA, 2005 ) , and this could happen as a consequence of biofuel feedstocks production replacing other land utilizations, making negative impact on biodiversity. The addition in feedstock production could be affected indirectly taking to extension usage of land, this is seen in the instance where addition in maize monetary values for illustration in US has lead to husbandmans exchanging more land area of land from other harvest land usage to the cultivation of more maize ( Pimentel et al. , 2009 ) or direct extensions of cultivated countries which further additions habitat loss. For illustration, forested countries, peatlands, grasslands and wetland can be encroached for biofuel feedstock production. This can be seen in South-East Asia, where addition in demand for palm oil for the production of biodiesel has lead to a monolithic and extended deforestation, seting force per unit area on designated preservation countries ( Koh, 2007 ) . Besides in Brazil, demands for addition in the production of soy bean and sugar cane for biofuel has lead to monolithic loss of biodiversity in Cerrado and the Amazon rain forest ( Costa et al. , 2007 ) . Impact on Carbon Sequestration Land-use alteration due to biofuel feedstock harvest can besides act upon C dioxide emanation ( Searchinger et al. , 2008 ) . For illustration feedstock plantation for bioenergy on debauched land could increase the segregation of C, extenuating the planetary heating impact due to climate alteration ( Tilman et al. , 2006 ) . However, where big root of the perennial feedstock species for biofuel still remains in the dirt after crop, the sum of C in the dirt might be increased as a consequence of excess C being released from the roots to the dirt. The usage of sustainable agricultural patterns and high diverseness harvest rotary motion systems on debauched land can besides increase C segregation as a consequence of increasing dirt organic affair ( Tilman et al. , 2006 ) . Similarly, biofuels generated from waste and residues merchandises could hold no negative important impact on biodiversity and clime alteration as land usage alteration is non required for the production of the feedstock ( Searchinger et al. , 2008 ) . Biofuel feedstock plantation established on C rich dirt or forested land will greatly negate and out weigh the cleaner fuel from biofuel generated utilizing sustainable production by let go ofing monolithic nursery gases breathing as a consequence of land-use alteration and feedstock production. Procedures affecting drainage of peatlands, wetlands and glade of lands by fire for biofuel feedstock plantation can be destructive with respect to air quality and nursery gas emanations ( Righelato and Spracklen, 2007 ) . For illustration in south-east Asia, due to high demand in palm oil production, peatlands has besides been drained to run into the mark and as a consequence, it has been estimated that up to 100 metric tons of carbon-dioxide are releases in a twelvemonth per hectare and firing the peatlands doubles or three-base hits this value ( Righelato and Spracklen, 2007 ) , negatively impacting both below-ground and above biodiversity. In south-east Asia, United States and Brazil, it has been found through surveies that change overing peatlands, rain forests and grasslands for the plantation of crop-based biofuel feedstocks ( 1st coevals feedstocks ) table.1, creates carbon debt by bring forthing carbon-dioxide 17- 420 times more than the nursery gas one-year decreases derived by replacing dodo fuel usage with biofuels ( Fargione et al, 2008 ) . Water Quality and Quantity Impact Bioenergy harvest productions besides have impacts on H2O quality and handiness. Surveies have shown that biofuel feedstock production most particularly harvest feedstocks or first coevals biofuel feedstocks ( table.1 ) impact H2O resources negatively ( Berndes, 2002 ) . For illustration biofuel harvests like sugar cane, oil thenar, maize etc requires big sum of H2O for its productiveness and other biofuel feedstock harvests with greater water-use productiveness such as coconut and sugar Beta vulgaris can set force per unit area on the H2O tabular array ( Shepard, 2006 ) . There are besides instances of terrible H2O pollution, destructing aquatic life due to increases cultivation and production of biofuel feedstock. In 2007, the planetary nature fund named the Pantanal in Brazil the A ; acirc ; ˆ?threatened lake of the twelvemonth 2007 A ; acirc ; ˆA? due to H2O run outing from soya bean Fieldss, cultivated at the catchments of this lake as a consequence of increased demand and cultivation of biofuel feedstock ( Global Nature Fund, 2007 ) In Malaysia every bit good, Palm Oil Mill Effluent ( POME ) , residue of biofuel processing from palm oil is the major pollutant discharge into the Malayan rivers ( Ahmad et al. , 2006 ) . On the positive note, some of the biofuel feedstock harvests might be used in one of the bioremediation methods or phyto-remediation of contaminated H2O undertakings ( Berndes, 2002 ) . Increase Chemical use Impact on Biodiversity Expansion of lands for the production of biofuel feedstocks with homogenous cropping has lead to the increased usage of chemical applications like pesticides to command plague and besides most particularly more fertilisers to increase the dirt food and feedstock outputs has resulted in the increased emanation of N from dirt which is the major emanation beginning of azotic oxide universe broad ( MEA, 2005 ) . This azotic oxide has really high planetary heating potencies greater than that of carbon-dioxide. The addition usage of fertiliser, if sustainable patterns are non maintained to forestall leaching and eutrophicating foods emanation, can ensue in the increased eutrophication of aquatic and tellurian ecosystem and thereby ensuing to loss of biodiversity ( MEA, 2005 ) . Consequently, utilizing trees and perennial or 2nd coevals biofuel feedstock harvests ( table.1 ) , reduces the application of agrochemicals and as a consequence impacts the environment and biodiversity positively. Invasive Speciess Impact There is besides concern for invasive species debut to the ecosystem due to biofuel feedstock production ( Raghu et al, 2006 ) . Some of the 2nd coevals biofuel feedstock productions such as woody species and grasses ( table.1 ) have invasive species traits which include long canopy period, rapid growing and high H2O usage productiveness. It is feared that these biofuel feedstock harvests if introduced will non merely occupy but will besides displace some autochthonal species ensuing in lessening or loss of biodiversity ( Ragh et al, 2006 ) . For illustration in United States, biofuel feedstock harvests such as Johnson grass ( Sorghum halepense ) , Reed canary grass ( Phalaris arundinacea ) and Giant reed ( Arundo donax ) are already known to be invasive. Impact of Forestry and Agricultural Waste Feedstock on Biodiversity Waste is the 2nd chief beginning of 2nd coevals biofuel feedstock ( table.1 ) . Woody waste feedstock coevals can be harvested straight from forest or sawing Millss. Low C segregation and large-scale biodiversity losingss in woods is due to the remotion of deceasing and dead trees from the wood, as many woodland species live and feed on these waste ( Paul and Ernsting, 2007 ) . For illustration nonvascular plants, Fungis, invertebrates, lichens, beetling etc provender and live on forest dead forests depending on the dead wood volume assortment and grades of decomposition nowadays ( Jonsson et al. , 2005 ; Jonsell et al. , 2007 ) . Dead wood facilitates tremendous assortment of arthropods which attracts higher degrees of many species such as birds. Extraction and glade of this waste will diminish the home grounds of these species and might emphasize the productiveness of the wood. Similarly, remotion of the forestry waste merchandises for biofuel production can impact biodiversity positively by cut downing the hazard of forest fires. The impact of agricultural waste on biodiversity either positive or negative depends on the home ground they are generated from and the waste merchandise. Grass film editings remotion helps protect the profusion of species aided by unfastened home grounds and besides semi-natural grasslands are conserved from natural sequence. Removal of agricultural waste besides prevents the grass land from losing its aesthetic values and assorted ecosystems. Removal of grass or works litters or waste helps diminish the dirt food or organic affair and this enhances the profusion of species in diverse grassland home grounds ( Hansson and Fogelfors, 2000 ) . Consequently, remotion of agricultural waste for illustration straw, leftover from barley and wheat, which is used to increase the dirt organic affair can impact biodiversity negatively as dirt beings will be reduced and this might connote in the addition usage of nitrate fertilisers which has inauspicious consequence or impact on the fresh water and land ecosystem and besides on biodiversity every bit good ( Paul and Ernsting, 2007 ) . 3. Case Study: impact of biofuel production from wood french friess on biodiversity in Netherlands. The Son Heathland and the New Heathland are nature modesty countries in Netherlands with several pools, heathlands and forest dunes covering about 600 hectares ( Biemans et al. , 2008 ) . The municipality of these heathlands uses waste merchandises from these heathlands to bring forth biofuels in order to protect and conserve the heathland ecosystem from turning into a wood ( Biemans et al. , 2008 ) . The heathland ecosystem and its species profusion are sustained by guaranting care of unfastened infinite, as the heathland ecosystem might be taken over by forest if trees were non cut and cleared and used for the processing and coevals of biofuel. Not droping and cutting the trees might do a negative impact on biodiversity as rare species found in the heathland might free their home ground and the necessary ecosystem services needed for their endurances. Similarly, cutting the trees around the heathland ecosystem helps in the natural regeneration of the trees which provides chances for the safety of animate beings and workss. Normally, forestry waste is non removed in some ecosystem to conserve specific species and the ecosystem, but in these sites the Son Heathland and the New Heathland, it is removed for the production of biofuel, which helps to heighten and conserve the heathland ecosystem thereby impacting biodiversity both negatively and positively. 4. Decision The potency for biofuel to function as an energy security to protect and replace dodo fuel due to uninterrupted depletion of the dodo fuel minerals resource and besides its possible to extenuate green house gasses is great. But if sustainable direction ( e.g. for land usage and feedstock picks ) , policies and criterions are non set and implemented for the production of biofuels or bioenergy, the unsustainable practise in the production will do serious negative impact on biodiversity by destructing assorted ecosystem and home grounds. Besides societal impacts can non be ignored every bit good, as biofuel production might and will vie with nutrient harvests production in future, if attention is non taken to sustainable balance its production and will thereby impact the multitudes.

Free sample - The Economic Report. translation missing

The Economic Report. The Economic ReportNational bank of Kenya limited is a financial institution engaged in the provision of services such as banking, financial and others related to these. The bank owns two subsidiaries namely: Natbank Trustee and Investment Services Limited and the Kenya National Capital Corporation Limited (Kariuki 2010). This bank has encountered several problems over the last few years and the country’s central bank which monitors the operations of all financial institutions in the country has predicted that unless the bank changes tact, it will be bedeviled by the same problems over the next couple of years. These problems include demand and supply problems, economic problems, non performing loans portfolio as well as technology problems (Kariuki 2010). According to reports from the central bank, the bank’s nonperforming loans accounted for about 43.5% of the total loans in the month of June (Kariuki 2010). This was above the industry range which was estimated to be 15.8%. These nonperforming loans can be attributed to reckless lending policies. Statistics from the central bank also indicate that the bank has a huge revenue deficit of four billion Kenya shillings (Kariuki 2010). This deficit is to be settled through realized profits. Economists from the central bank however indicate that this may not be feasible as the bank is unlikely to issue dividends, a move that may see many share holders desert the bank hence a profit dive (Kariuki 2010). The bank’s total capital base as a percentage of total risk weighted assets has not reached the statutory threshold which is placed at 12%. Its estimated to be at 10%, a fact that makes payment of dividends further impossible. Due to the huge nonperforming loans, the bank decide d to go slow on lending, a move that saw many of its customers move to the less risky investments. These investments include but not limited to: Government securities such as treasury bonds and treasury bills (Kariuki 2010). Statistics from the central bank show that the bank’s loans to private households declined by 19.7% while lending to finance and insurance sectors reduced by 25.3% last year (Kariuki 2010). The central bank predicts a further reduction in these two for the next few years. The emergence of many micro-finance institutions such as K-Rep, Jamii Bora Trust, and Kenya Women Finance Trust, which have captured the low-end of the market has compounded the problems facing the bank further (World Bank [WB] 2010). This is because, these microfinance institutions offer lower lending interest rates on their loans hence attracting many unbanked citizens who may have been absorbed by the National Bank (Kariuki 2010). The location of these micro-finance institutions enable them to capture more customers. This is because they are spread throughout the country’s rural areas where majority of the unbanked citizens reside. The bank adopted a policy of high interest rates on its loans so as to cover their level of exposure, a move that greatly reduced the demand for the bank’s loans (WB 2010) The introduction of mobile banking by the country’s leading telecommunication company, Safaricom limited has also been a thorn in the bank’s flesh. Many people in Kenya who had not been captured by the banking world found it simpler to start accounts with the telecommunication company (Omwansa 2010). This is because of the convenience involved in carrying out transactions which involves simply the use of mobile phones. Mpesa is the name given to the mobile banking of the telecommunications company (Omwansa 2010). Mpesa customers are able to carry out transactions such as paying bills, money transfers, shopping in supermarkets using phones, and many more other transactions. The demand for accounts in this bank and others in the country is expected to reduce as more people jump into the mobile banking band wagon (Omwansa 2010). The problem is expected to get worse as more telecommunication companies in the country have emulated Safaricom. For instance, the country’ s second largest telecommunication company by customer base, Zain Kenya has introduced a similar mobile banking program called Zap (Omwansa 2010). Many banks in the country have introduced a technology that enables bank customers to manipulate their bank accounts using mobile devices. Failure by this bank to follow suit has made it fail to attract potential customers (Omwansa 2010). This technology allows customers to transfer money from their banks to their mobile phones which they can then withdraw through the telecommunication companies’ money outlets such as Mpesa and Zap (Omwansa 2010). This saves them the inconvenience of travelling to the banks to transact. The country’s third largest telecommunication company by customer base, Yu has also entered the mobile banking band wagon through its Yu cash. This has captured even more customers whose destiny would otherwise have been in the banking world (Omwansa 2010). The country has witnessed an explosion of pyramid schemes which have lured many citizens into depositing money with them. These schemes have convinced many people to withdraw money from their bank accounts which has led to a poor performance by the banks (Jack 2010). This is because, money which the banks could have issued as loans is now disappearing into the pyramid schemes. These schemes operate on a simple principle; people who bank with them first benefit from funds brought in by subsequent customers when their pay time comes (Jack 2010). If the number of people qualifying for payment exceeds the amount of money brought in by new customers, the owners of the schemes disappear with all the investments. If the country’s central bank doesn’t control the operations of these pyramid schemes, then banks are expected to suffer more in the next few years (Jack 2010). The economy of the country performed poorly in the last financial year as a result of a post election violence. This has also greatly affected the bank since the government is its largest shareholder . Poor economic performance also translates to lack of funds to put into bank accounts by the bank’s customers hence the bank is affected adversely (Jack 2010). If the performance of the economy is not turned around in the next few years, then the bank is expected to perform more poorly. The diagram below shows the likely demand and supply situation in the bank over the next three years. This is still the current situation. Reduction in supply has been witnessed since the bank has been forced to close down some of its branches due to the poor performance. The bank is expected to close more of its branches in future if the problems are not solved. Closing down of accounts coupled with the problems discussed earlier has led to a decrease in demand for the bank’s financial services. To turn around this poor performance, the bank should consider a number of solutions. Firstly, the bank should consider expanding to the rural part of the country in order to capture unbanked people from the low-end of the market (Jack 2010). The bank should also consider a reduction in its loans interest rates in order to increase the demand of the same (Jack 2010). The bank should also consider introducing a technology that would allow customers to manipulate their bank accounts using mobile devices. However, for the bank to keep a competitive edge over the others in the same line of production, they should do this differently. Instead of cooperating with the existing mobile networks, the bank can consider coming up with its own platform. This is because, the telecommunications firms are also themselves involved in mobile banking, so collaborating with them amounts to collaborating with a competitor. This can only be to the advantage of the competitor (Jack 2010). The bank should a lso reduce the requirements for opening an account with them. These requirements include minimum deposit, passports, ATM processing fee etc. while passports are quite important, the bank can consider purchasing cameras for taking the passports without charging the customer (Jack 2010). The bank should also consider increasing the number of marketers so as to capture as many potential customers as possible. Opening many ATM machines throughout the country would also go a long way in helping the bank turn around its poor performance. Lastly, the bank should pressurize the central bank to come up with policies which discourage the mushrooming of pyramid schemes (Jack 2010). This paper has discussed the problems afflicting the National Bank of Kenya. These problems have included: nonperforming loans, huge revenue deficit, competition from micro-finance institutions which offer loans with lower interest rates, low customer base due to failure to capture rural areas, competition from telecommunications companies which have invested in mobile banking, failure to take advantage of modern technology involving mobile banking and finally competition from rogue pyramid schemes. Solutions which can turn around this poor performance have also been discussed. These have included: expanding to the rural part of the country in order to capture unbanked people from the low-end of the market, introducing a technology that would allow customers to manipulate their bank accounts using mobile devices, reducing the requirements for opening an account with them, introducing more ATM machines and finally pressurizing the central bank to come up with policies which discourage the mushrooming of pyramid schemes.

Eassay Analysis (human resources) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Eassay Analysis (human resources) - Essay Example It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications†¦ Persons with HIV disease, both symptomatic and asymptomatic, have physical impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities and are, therefore, protected by the law. â€Å"(1) A. The act of Marion County in requiring an applicant be medically examined prior to any offer of a job is illegal. In a decided case it was ruled that the â€Å"Chicago Board of Educations requirement for any job applicant to provide a complete medical history and to submit to a medical examination is tantamount to requiring HIV status disclosure and is thus violative of the Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act, and Federal and State constitutional guarantees to privacy and equal protection under the law.†(3) Thus the â€Å"Board agreed not require applicants to submit to the medical exam unless they have a conditional offer of employment.† (4) B. The act of denying Mr. Poole employment on account that he has AIDS. This allegation by Mr. Poole must first be proven. For him to find a basis for his allegation he must be found to possess all of the following: The ADA prohibits employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities. A "qualified individual with a disability" is a person who meets legitimate skill, experience, education, or other requirements of an employment position he or she holds or seeks, and who can perform the "essential functions" of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. (5) Essential functions of the job are those core duties that are the reason the job position exists†¦Requiring the ability to perform "essential" functions assures that an individual with a disability will not be considered unqualified because