Protracted Environmental Issues on a Proposed Titanium Minerals Development in Kenya's South Coast     

J. O. Z. Abuodha  P. O. Hayombe 《Marine Georesources & Geotechnology》2006,24(2):63-75

This study takes cognizance of the fact that the TIOMIN (TIOMIN Resources Inc. of Canada) project has resulted in controversy over its handling of environmental issues and especially the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The authors address many of the protracted issues that have slowed the development of the mining project in Kwale. The main emphasis is on the impacts of the mining and mineral separation processes on the environment, including the governing legislation, the role of consultation and public participation, and socioeconomic issues. In their public documents TIOMIN has specified neither the type of minerals it wants to extract from the area nor their chemical composition. It is well known, however that the titanium minerals and zircon targeted have impurities of iron, thorium and uranium. In the absence of an Environmental Management Plan, the effects of stockpiling radioactive wastes and other impurities that could possibly lead to environmental degradation in both the terrestrial and marine environments have not been publically addressed. The measures proposed to mitigate ecological damage as a result of the establishment of a minerals processing plant in the area seem inadequate. Pollution resulting from accidental spillage or breakage could have significant impact on marine life and residents living near the mining site. Other issues that have not been addressed satisfactorily pertain to the use of surface and underground water. The area already faces a huge water deficit and the calculations presented on aquifer recharge and stream flow rates do not indicate the large quantities of water that would be required in the mineral processing plant. The project, if approved in its present state, risks violation of international conventions. Furthermore, it could cause a conflict between Kenya and Tanzania in the event of an oil spill at the proposed ship loading facility at Shimoni. The proposed mining area includes the district's most fertile land, is home to many fisherfolk and is a major tourist destination. An analysis of the effects of this project on other available opportunities must be thoroughly understood to ascertain the economic and environmental benefits and costs of the mining venture. The proposed compensation rate of $1,000 per acre, for resettlement for example, appears to be grossly inadequate. Compensation should take into account family size and structure family assets and the cost of relocation.  相似文献   

台湾海峡毛颚动物分布的初步研究   总被引：9，自引：0，他引：9  

蒋玫  王云龙  徐兆礼 《台湾海峡》2003,22(2):150-154

本文分析了台湾海峡毛颚动物的种类组成、数量分布特征，并就其与环境因素的关系进行了初步探讨．结果显示与台湾海峡西部、东海等邻近海域相比，本区毛颚动物具种数少，数量小，季节变化幅度较小等特点．它的数量分布状况与闽斯沿岸流、南海西南季风漂流以及黑潮支流在本区运动消长有关。  相似文献   

闽江河口区湿地生态旅游环境容量研究   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

叶萍  黄义雄 《台湾海峡》2006,25(1):77-82

本文讨论了生态旅游环境容量的定义及内涵，分析了生态旅游环境容量的特征及构成，在此基础上估算了闽江河口区湿地生态旅游环境容量．结果表明：闽江河口区湿地生态旅游环境容量的限制因子是鳝鱼滩自然保护区生态旅游环境空间容量．鳝鱼滩旅游步行道可分成南路和北路，北路为水路游线，南路为陆路游线．北路游线环境空间日容量为800人次／d，南路游线环境空间日容量为1144人次／d．鳝鱼滩湿地生态旅游环境空间年容量为451202人次／a．这一环境容量可作为闽江河口区湿地生态旅游活动环境容量的最高限制量．  相似文献   

淤泥质潮流深槽最大冲刷深度的一个概念模型   总被引：2，自引：1，他引：2  

谢东风  高抒 《海洋学研究》2006,24(3):11-20

以概念模式方法计算了淤泥质潮流深槽的最大深度,探讨了涨落潮流速、涨落潮历时、深槽淤泥质物质粒径、深槽顶底部原始深度、水道长度等因素对潮流深槽最大深度的影响。概念模式的假设条件是:(1)深槽形态为长方体,底部纵向坡度为0;(2)沉积物粒径无垂向变化;(3)只考虑潮流作用的影响,涨、落潮流速在时间序列上呈正弦分布;(4)不考虑细颗粒物质的粘性和絮凝作用。模拟结果显示:(1)涨、落潮历时对深槽最大深度的影响很小。(2)优势潮流流速与最大深槽深度之间存在着幂函数关系。(3)深槽的底质粒径、深槽的长度均与最大冲刷深度呈正相关关系。(4)深槽顶部水深与最大深度呈负相关关系。(5)由于潮汐水道深度与潮流流速和沉积物侵蚀强度之间具有负反馈关系,因此水道冲刷存在着一个极限,即最终可以达到均衡状态。潮流深槽的均衡态特征和达到均衡态所需的时间可运用沉积动力学方法来确定;同时,若应用深槽的真实参数,进一步减少模型的假设条件,可望使该模型具有实际的应用价值。  相似文献   

涠洲岛珊瑚礁生态系中浮游动植物与环境因子关系的初步探讨   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

韦蔓新  黎广钊  何本茂  梁文 《海洋湖沼通报》2005,(2):34-39

本文根据1990年4月、10月间的理化分析数据，结合2002年9月涠洲岛珊瑚礁生态环境的调查状况，首次从珊瑚礁生态系的角度初步探讨该岛区浮游动植物与环境因子的关系。结果表明：该岛区浮游动植物的分布具有明显的区域性和季节性，既体现了珊瑚礁生态系具有较高的初级生产力特征，也体现了浮游动植物具有显著的季节交替现象。相关分析显示，水温、盐度、N，P，Si营养盐对浮游植物的种类组成及数量变动均有明显影响，但对浮游动物的影响不大；N是该生态系中浮游植物的限制因子，P限制状况只有在珊瑚礁生长带较深的海域出现，Si呈相对富足状态。  相似文献   

泉州湾海域表层沉积物矿物碎屑分布特征及其环境意义   总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4  

谷东起  边淑华  胡泽建  张绪良 《海岸工程》2003,22(2):22-30

对泉州湾13个表层沉积物样品进行了矿物碎屑定量分析．通过矿物分析，发现泉州湾不同站位的轻、重矿物组分、含量和表征存在差异．根据矿物的分布和组合特征．将耒州湾划分为4个组合区，不同组合区所处沉积环境是不同的．分析表明，研完区表层沉积物的碎屑矿物具有明显的亲陆性，物质来源主要为河流输砂和沿湾海岸侵蚀来砂，且其分布受物源、水动力条件和矿物物理性质等因素所控制。  相似文献   

Using benthic macrofauna to assess environmental quality of four intertidal mudflats in Hong Kong and Shenzhen Coast   总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4  

Cai Lizhe  Nora F. Y. Tam  Teresa W. Y. Wong  Ma Li  Gao Yang  Yuk-Shan Wong 《海洋学报(英文版)》2003,22(2):309-319

Abstract-Intertidal zone is a significant wetland between land and ocean. It plays an important rolein maintaining local ecological balance. Both Mai Po and Futian intertidal mudflats are located in Shen-zhen Bay and are important "refueling" point along the East Asian/Australian flyway of migratory birds.The environmental quality of Mai Po and Futian mudflats have aroused great concern due to rapid eco-nomic developments in Hong Kong and Shenzhen in recent decades. Microinfauna of Mai Po and Futianmudflats was investigated in December 2000 and the faunal data were used to assess their environmentalquality. Two other mudflats, namely Ma Wan Typhoon Shelter (a more disturbed area) and Luk Kengintertidal mudflat (a place with relatively less human disturbance), were also sampled for macroinfaunaand used as reference mudflats. Shannon-Weaver species diversity index (I_(sd)), biotic coefficient (C_b)and macrofaunal pollution index (I_(mp)) of the macrofauna community on four intertidal mudflats wereused to  相似文献   

北黄海长山群岛海域沉积环境初步研究   总被引：3，自引：0，他引：3  

苗丰民  李光天 《海洋地质与第四纪地质》1995,15(1):131-141

本文在获取１９８９－１９９３年黄海北部长山群岛海域沉积物大量数据基础上，借助沉积物粒度分析（Ｑ型），揭示出该海域具有在“岛屿效应”影响下的４种环境能量类型，分析了与其适应的环岛沉积环境及其分布特征。  相似文献   

Natural expansion and experimental manipulation of seagrass (Zostera spp.) abundance and the response of infaunal invertebrates     

Paul G. Harrison 《Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science》1987,24(6)

A study of an expanding seagrass bed on the south-west coast of British Columbia, Canada involved documentation and explanation of the pattern of expansion of the vegetation as well as documentation and experimental investigation of the accompanying changes in the distribution of infaunal invertebrates. Expansion followed a major environmental change, improved water clarity initiated in 1969 when a causeway blocked access to the site for silty Fraser River water. The original eelgrass (Zostera marina) bed expanded landward over 30 m year⁻¹, probably causing more and more water to be retained in the bed at low tide and thus improving its own habitat. More rapid expansion occurred from 1979–1983 after Z.japonica colonized at the landward edge of the eelgrass bed and in a separate intertidal area. Expansion ceased around 1983 coincident with, but probably independent of, further construction.Burrowing shrimp (Callianassa californiensis) decreased in abundance between 1977 and 1984 in areas where the two seagrasses colonized. Short-term experiment over one summer and fall showed that removal of all shoots allowed adult shrimp and tube worms to colonize the sediment while addition of shoots of Z. japonica by transplanting caused temporary decreases in shrimp abundance. After a few weeks an established shrimp population destroyed the transplants. Among reasonable alternate hypotheses for the decline in Callianassa, the effect of sediment texture can be eliminated, but either direct negative effects of seagrass, i.e. inhibition of the burrowing of adult shrimp or of settlement of juveniles, or indirect effects, i.e. the harboring of more predators of shrimp in seagrass beds, deserve further study.  相似文献   

我国东部邻海恶劣天气的时空分布及其成因初探   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

陈乾金  王伯民 《海洋预报》1993,10(1):10-19

本文利用1930～1979年NCDC海洋船舶观测的气象资料,分析了中国东部邻海恶劣天气的时空分布。结果表明,海区恶劣天气的分布在冬季和夏季是不同的;在东北和西南季风期间,台湾东北和西南海区也有差异。影响恶劣天气条件的分布因子非常复杂,主要是季风和极锋、天气系统、冷暖洋流及地形等因子。  相似文献