Journal of Environmental Studies
Year:2003 | Volume:28 | Issue:30|Papers Count:21

There is no doubt that development and industrial growth have increased the welfare of the human society, but at the same time have created several social and environmental problems for human beings. Most of the time these problems are not originated from the development or technology by itself and are usually created by lack of considerations to the side effects and improper application of the industry and the technology. The southern coast of the Caspian Sea which has beautiful ecosystems and suitable environmental conditions has experienced a significant degradation of the environment in the forms of land-use change (forest, ranges, wetlands...) in the development processes. It is clear that a fast development, without considering its environmental impacts, could impose undesirable effects on environment and human welfare. The present study has been carried out by application of Land Degradation Model (L.D.M.) and also by objective modeling of ecological susceptibility of terrestrial ecosystems in the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. Results indicate long-term environmental issues could not be solved rapidly by using technology alone, understanding of the reciprocal correlation between development and conservation of nature is required to achieve a sustainable development in the study area.

Environmental impact assessment of Large Dams became mandatory in Iran in 1996, while Shahid Rejaei dam, built in the province of Mazandaran, was under operation at that time. Therefore, there was no report available about the environmental impacts of Shahid Rejaei dam. The main goal of this study was to investigate adverse effects of the constructed dam. Then, a mitigation plan was recommended. To achieve this goal, some information was gathered about physical, biological, and socio-economic characteristics of the upstream basin of the dam. In this paper, a list of activities, performed during the construction of the dam, was introduced in details. Then, the Matrix method was applied to quantify the effects of such activities on the environment. Finally, based on the information and the results obtained, an analysis was performed for different possible variants. Based on the analysis, some recommendations were proposed to mitigate the environmental impacts of the Shahid Rejaei dam.

It is expected that at the beginning of the third millennium, almost half of the world population likely to live in urban areas, where most resources will be consumed and most waste and pollution would be produced. There is an agreement that the current patterns of urban development and human activity have led to global warming, greenhouse gases, ozone layer depletion, acid rain, and other environmental degradation. The Rio earth summit in 1992 came to the conclusion that such patterns of development are not sustainable in the long term without some significant changes. Under circumstances, the role of city/urban form has rapidly gained considerable attention from governments and academics for its share in terms of the lack of sustainability. Therefore it is suggested that cities shou1d act as a locus for solving global problems towards achieving sustainability. However, there are several ambiguities and theoretical clashes in the concept and achievement of sustainability; that might be seen as a potential danger to the fulfillment of sustainable development. This paper, therefore, seeks to examine the origins of environmental, theories, and the social-historical background that finally led to the sustainable development school of thought. The literature search resulted in the identification of two dominant theories in the environmental discourse: I) Technocentrism and ii) Ecocentrism that are influential in forging later urbanism and planning theories. The paper tries to explore the roots of contemporary urban planning and design theories in the light of their socio-historical backgrounds through a content analysis method. The intention here is to provide a basis for better understanding and assessing the new theories when applying them to the realms of urban planning and urban design in the new millennium.

Water resources degradation in arid zones is one of the most important processes of desertification which is dealt with in different models of desertification by various forms. One of the main methods is F AO-UNEP method, which is one of the most complete and comprehensive methods presented in the world for eradication of desertification. But according to the analysis made on the method, it has some deficiencies, among them is neglecting special conditions of the Middle East biomes, including Iran, in cases like drought and rain, intensity and duration of rain (rain dispersion) and draw down of underground aquifer. Another method which is presented for evaluating the intensity of desertification process, is Iranian Classification of Desertification (ICD). In this method, due to regional reasons special attention is paid to special conditions of region's biomes. The method considers the degradation of water resources problems, such as underground water bed. Based on the analysis made on this method, it has some problems such as having small scale (1:250000), and because of that, criteria for assessment of desertification process are general and qualitative. According to the analysis made on the above-mentioned methods and also existing suitable criteria and factors in the area, a sample of desertification model was given. Among the total studied areas (616.81 Km2) about 286.63 Km2 (46.46 percent) is under intensive class, and 330.18 Km2 (53.54 percent) under very intensive desertification status. As it is observed, there is no sign of weak and middle classes of desertification in the region, which indicates the amount of the water resources degradation in the Kashan area.

Arasbaran protected area is an upland region consisting of mountains, canyons, very long and steeps lopes, mountain forests and grasslands. Some-parts of the region have been affected by human activities. Agriculture and livestock developments have caused decreases in forest and range vegetation cover. Many kinds of plants (about 775 species) were identified in the Arasbaran region, along with some wildlife species. A land use planning program, have been conducted to deter the environmental degradation of the area. Accordingly, 65.36% of the area is set aside for conservation, and 3.37% for tourism. Activities of farmers are limited to 3.84% for irrigation farming, and 0.41 % for dry farming. Managed forests, and rangelands could be envisaged in 20.65% and 6.37% of the area respectively.

Valleys as the major components of the land structure (Ecological corridors and settlement patches) play a major role in providing environmental services and values to the adjoining areas. Tehran has a specific geographical and ecological setting which stems from Elborz mountains and nearby mountaneous valleys. These valleys, in addition to the purification of air, and water production, are regarded as picturesque views of the city of Tehran. As the land consists of different ecotop and phsyiotop units, therefore, each unit has its own special environmental conditions that forms land structure graining. Any change to the existing landuse of these valleys would result in changes in the land structure. For prevention of destruction of functional values and suitable uses of natural characteristics of these valleys, studies of environmental issues of this natural structure become essential. In this research among others Farahzad valley was selected as a case study. A thorough field study and examination of existing documents, resulted in proposals for the optimum land uses of the natural setting in two macro-micro scales within the city. For creation of a balance between urbran spaces and nature, and users of the spaces and the nature, suitable land-uses have been proposed. The proposed landuses provide the provision of the use of the natural space by citizens, and also protection of urban natural spaces within the city.

A study was conducted to determine herbivorous habits of wild pig (Sus serafa) in spring and summer of 1997 in Golestan National Park. The stomach contents of 23 wild pig speciemens contained plant materials belonging to 15 families and 29 genera. In spring, Rosaceae, Graminae and Cyperaceae with 55.5%, 50% and 44.4% respectively had the highest frequencies, and Orchidaceae (11.1 %) and Betulaceae (5.5%) had the lowest frequencies. In summer, Rosaceae (80%) and (Loranthaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Liliaceae) together with 60% had the highest frequencies. Ulamaceae and Solanaceae with 20% had the lowest frequencies.

Following the increasing growth of population and the reduction of water resources, a huge volume of sludge, which is a subsidiary product of sewage treatment, needs to be disposed safely in order to protect the environment. The aim of the present study is to find an appropriate method for disposal and beneficial application of sludge. Sludge consists of organic materials, nutrients, pathogens, heavy metals, PCBs etc. Regarding the sludge produced from Shahrak Qods Treatment Plant using the proposed management plan, after taking several samplings and physical, chemical and pathogenic tests on the sludge, it was determined that according to the US EP A standards and regulations, the resulting sludge holds the qualities of class B pathogenically. Regarding the heavy metals, it also bears an exceptionally excellent quality, while having large amount of organic materials, nutrients and micronutrients, which represents the fertilizer value of this material. In addition, it was known as the best alternative for land application after testing various alternatives of disposal. For this purpose, Mehrshahr Garden in Karaj was chosen as the most suitable location for using sludge class B. Having carried out certain chemical and physical experiments on the collected samples of soil, the rate of sludge loading based on Nitrogen (as the limiting factor of application), as well as, the area of sludge application were estimated. Meanwhile, a comparative cost evaluation, between the use of chemical fertilizer and sludge application was made, regarding the amount of commercial fertilizer in these lands, which at last resulted into the cost effectiveness of this plan. The preparation of a similar management plan for all treatment plants in the process of design or construction is a necessity, since it is proved that by implementing such a plan, standards and regulations suitable to Iran's condition, could be imposed for disposal or beneficial application of sludge.

Cutting oils (emulsion OIW) are used to decrease friction, and reduce heat in the metal industries. During use it could not be discharged to environment because of its high pollution. The breakage of emulsion and separation aqueouse phase from organic phase decreases pollution in the aqueouse phase and permits to provide a biological treatment for it. The aqueouse phase presents the main volume of original influent. This paper describes the results of biological treatment of aqueouse phase. According to experiments, specific growth rate and yield coefficient have been determined. The experiments were conducted in 0.9<S0<X0<10 range and a batch reactor. The results showed that the efficiency of biological treatment was about 90% and Monod kineties model was applicable to experimental data.

Development strategies and enviromental protection policies have not been successful in mountain environment. This is important to take into account the significant role of these areas as source of natural resources (water, natural vegetation, natural and culrural heritage, etc...) and as uplands affecting low land plains. In fact, final ecological impacts of development and even so-called prorection policies have caused degradation more than preservation, due to the lack of proper understanding and knowledge of mountain, specificity and ecology. Protective measures have not been devised on the basis of systemic and ecological approaches, but only economic support of "marginal" mountain society. Only increase in production and short term economic consideration have been the basis for protective strategies by subsidies offered to these less productive marginal lands. Protective and development measures are required but on the basis of a systemic approach; "Livelihood system" and "Environmental Evaluations" are needed in order to assure a sustainable mountain landuse in upland regions. Mountains have never been as much under pressure before, despite all these strategies and attempts. Proportional to infrastructure development and population growth, ecosystems have been experiencing disturbances even in most remote high altitude mountains The extent of this degradation and importance of mountain environment (now even recognised for the development of plains) is such that this year has been called the International Year of Mountains (IYM) by United Nations for world-wide capacity building. Recalling this event (IYM) also gave us the opportunity to underline the importance of mountain environmental planning and its development in Iran, with about 2/3 of it under direct influence of mountains by presence of "high - land low - land" continum systems in small closed watersheds.

Environmental crises are threatening the whole natural world. Increasing energy consumption, extinction of species and deforestation are degrading our environment whilst the discussion in many congresses, and national and international agencies is about environment and sustainability, and many international agreements and national commitments are focused on environmental strategies and policies. Thus this question arises that while many sustainable patterns in all environmental topics are recommended, why are changes in environmental conservation processes such as alterations to the "Consumption pattern, desire to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources and economic use of natural resources are not considered? Although this question may apparently have many answers, there is a hidden dimension to it which is the base of many environmental issues and that is neglecting the spiritual aspects in the relationships between human and natural environment. The purpose of this article is to investigate the reasons why contemporary civilizations ignore spiritual values of the natural environment. Moreover, the role of religion in environmental policies, and the necessity of using religious concepts in controlling environmental crises are mentioned. Human centered insight in divine religions and its difference from that resulted from modem philosophy, are discussed, in particular by investigation of Islamic ideology.