Newsbits |
EcoEng Newsletter No. 9, June 2004 |
||||||||||||||||
|
Germany |
GTZ-Ecosan project extended (2005 to 2008), with Euro 2.25 million |
||||||||||||||||
|
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH supra-regional sector project "Ecosan" will enter its third phase in 2005. Following the successful first two phases, the Federal German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has announced that the third phase will run over three years (2005-2008) with an increase in budget to Euro 2.25 million. This announcement acknowledges the relevance of Ecosan and the important contribution it can make to achieving the Millennium Development Goals with regard to sanitation as seen by the German Federal Government. Source: GTZ Ecosan Newsletter 11, February 2004 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Germany |
|||||||||||||||||
|
The Lambertsmuehle, a historic water mill in Burscheid (close to Cologne, Germany), was rebuilt in 2000 into a museum and equipped with a source separated sanitary system. The new sanitary system was examined as part of a scientific research project until 2003. The investigations focused on the function and practicality of the new sanitary technology; specifically the composition and quantity of the material flows (urine, brown water, and graywater), the agricultural utilization of urine and faece,s as well as persistence and concentration of pharmaceutical active agent (residues of medicines and hormone). A follow-up research study, financed by the Nordrhein-Westfalen regional Ministry of Environment (MUNLV) (period 2003 - 2004), will further investigate the persistence and behavior of medical residues in the soil and on plants irrigated with urine. More information: PDF-report of the preliminary research findings (German) can be downloaded from http://www.lambertsmuehle-burscheid.de Source: GTZ Ecosan Newsletter 11, February 2004 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
IOBB |
|||||||||||||||||
|
IOBB (International Organization for Biotechnology and Bioengineering) moved its Secretariat from Australia to Sweden in 2004 and is now chaired by Mr. Jacky E.L. Foo (http://www.biotech.kth.se/iobb/). In the last five months, efforts have been directed to its organizational structure and at establishing a network of national representatives. Thirty two countries are now represented and IOBB welcomes self-nominations (deadline 30 Aug 2004) from scientists and bioengineers for countries that are still not represented. See http://www.biotech.kth.se/iobb/org.html#natl More information is available at http://www.biotech.kth.se/iobb/news/news04.html Source: Jacky Foo, via email |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Netherlands |
New book: Ecological Engineering and Civil Engineering Works |
||||||||||||||||
 as. The Netherlands has a high population density, strong dependence on dikes and other measures for coastal defence and an extensive motorway infrastructure. Yet, dutch ecosystems contain relatively rich and varied ecosystems values. Thus, the Netherlands are a good place to develop means to prevent, minimize, mitigate and / or compensate the negative impacts of infrastructure works.
IEES board member Hein D. van Bohemen, long term collaborator of the Road and Hydraulic Engineering Institute of the Directorate-General of Public Works and Water Management in Delft, has just freshly completed his Ph.D. thesis. In this thesis, van Bohemen writes, "a special focus has been given on integrating knowledge concerning the understanding, use and control of patterns and processes of ecosystems into the construction, use and managementand maintenance phases of civil engineering works. "Special attention is given to roads, waterways, road verges, slopes, banks and bridges and viaducts related to the main motorway infrastructure as well as the field of layout and maintenance of coastal fore dunes." The thesis can be ordered at: Road and Hydraulic Engineering Institute Are you interested to review this thesis for the next issue of this newletter? Please contact: |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Norway |
|||||||||||||||||
|
The Norwegian Ministry of the Environment has commissioned a series of "think pieces" by experts on water, sanitation, and human settlements as part of the preparations for 12th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). The objective of these think pieces is to stimulate the debate on key areas related to the three themes in focus of CSD12. Download the think piece on "Ecological Sanitation" by Petter Jenssen and colleagues (PDF, 870 kB). Source: Knut Werner Alsén, via email |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Sweden |
1st Scandinavian Sewage Recycling Award goes to Prof. Mats Wolgast, Uppsala |
||||||||||||||||
|
Prof. Mats Wolgast was honored with the "Scandinavian Sewage Recycling Award" at this year's "Avlopp & Kretslopp" conference (March 16+17, 2004). He received this award for all of his work with urine diversion and his dissemination of the concept of nutrient recycling from wastewater. The jury, consisting of Jørgen Haneus, Ulrika Geber and Anna Berggren writes: "Mats Wolgast gets the prize for being an innovative and inspiring person who has put his ideas into practice and bravely spread his knowledge to others". The award was newly initiated this year by the SwedEnviro Consulting Group. Source: S.E. Nilsson and M. Johansson, via email |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Sweden |
New booklet: Sustainable wastewater treatment for a new housing area - how to find the right solution. |
||||||||||||||||
|
"The booklet is intended for planners, consultants and house owners primarily in the climate zone of the northern part of Europe." Author: Peter Ridderstolpe Source: Mats Johansson, via Email |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Sweden |
Training course on "Systems for biological treatment and recycling of |
||||||||||||||||
| Håkan Jönsson, one of the best known Swedish ecosan - researchers and - practitioners is offering an interesting training course.
The main focus of this course is on treatment and handling systems enabling safe, environmentally friendly and resource efficient recycling of plant nutrients and organic matter in organic household waste (urine, faeces, kitchen waste etc.) back to cultivation of crops. The emphasis of the course is source separating sanitation systems (Ecosan systems), composting and anaerobic digestion, but conventional handling and treatment systems (waterborne sanitation systems and processes, active sludge processes, biobeds, chemical precipitation, pond systems; incineration and land-filling of solid organic waste) are also covered. The course treats processes and systems relevant both in developed and developing countries, and the emphasis will be on the latter. The course ends with a two week individual project on producing initial plans for an Ecosan system and evaluating its effects on society and environment. The intention is that this projects is done back home during the weeks following the course weeks in Sweden. The course is aimed at linking advanced theoretical understanding with practical experiences. It is well suited both for graduate students and experienced professionals. The course is given in English using PBL (problem based learning). It is given at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, 80 km north of Stockholm. It starts Nov 1st and the lectures in Sweden ends Dec 19th and during January the project is due. Registration deadline Oct 1st 2004. Contact:
Info: http://slukurs.slu.se/forskarutbildning/Kurs.asp?Kurskod=PNS0001 Source: Ecosan Newsletter No. 12, 2004 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Sweden |
|||||||||||||||||
| Nominations are now welcome from around the world until September 30, 2004, for the 2005 Stockholm Water Prize.
The Stockholm Water Prize is presented annually to an individual, institution or organisation for outstanding water-related activities. The activities can be within the fields of aid, awareness building and education, engineering, management or science. Any activity or actor which contributes broadly to the availability, conservation and protection of the world's water resources, and to improved water conditions which contribute to the health of the planet's inhabitants and ecosystems, is eligible to be nominated. The Stockholm Water Prize enjoys Royal Patronage and includes a USD 150'000 award and a crystal Orrefors sculpture. Read more here: http://www.siwi.org/swp/swpnominate.html Source: David Trouba, via Email |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Switzerland |
|||||||||||||||||
|
At a symposium in Zollikofen (Switzerland) entitled "No Food Without Water", one contribution was concerned with the intriguing new concept of virtual water. This term refers to the water needed to produce food or other products. This amount of water fluctuates greatly, depending on the product, climatic conditions, and cultivation techniques. Production of food from animals, for instance, requires considerably more water than food produced from plants. The concept of virtual water is of interest when related to agricultural trade and consumption. In terms of comparative advantage, countries with water shortages could import products whose production requires large amounts of water, and export products that require little water for production. This would allow these countries to save water that could be made available for other uses. Trade in virtual water could be influenced by greater awareness among consumers. The concept of virtual water also raises questions: is it ecologically reasonable to transport more products around the world? And: is complete dependency on importation of certain foods desirable for a country? More information: "Wasser im Essen". Presentation by Dr. Christoph Studer at the symposium "Ohne Wasser keine Nahrung" October 18th, 2003, Zollikofen (Switzerland). [in German] Source: InfoResources 4/2003 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
South Africa |
|||||||||||||||||
|
TheThird International Ecological Sanitation Conference will take place from 23 to 27 May 2005 in Durban, South Africa. Please mark the date in your agenda. Further details will follow in due course. Source: Aussie Austin, via Email |
|||||||||||||||||
|
USA |
Announcement: Mangrove Forest Ecology, Management and Restoration training workshop |
||||||||||||||||
|
The third "Mangrove Forest Ecology, Management and Restoration" training workshop will be held at the Anne Kolb Nature Center, in Hollywood, Florida, USA, 21-24 February 2005. The training site is within a 500 ha mangrove restoration project at West Lake Park operated by Broward County. The award-winning project was designed by Roy R. "Robin" Lewis III, who will be teaching the course. The workshop includes an introduction to mangrove forest ecology, management options and problems, and restoration design issues. The class programs are all given in a PowerPoint format, and each student is provided with a printout of the presentation and additional handouts, including monitoring reports for typical restoration projects. Case studies of five successful mangrove restoration projects and several unsuccessful projects are discussed. Field trips are taken within the 500 ha West Lake Park mangrove restoration project (now 16 years old) and a new project just two years old, for a comparison. The emphasis is on cost-effective, successful mangrove management and restoration, and cost figures for typical projects are discussed and explained. The hydrologic restoration of mangroves is emphasized as the best approach to successful restoration at minimal cost. Planting of mangroves is discussed in light of the many failures of this alone to successfully restore mangroves. Cost for the course not including travel to Ft. Lauderdale, lodging or food is US$ 650, due by January 1, 2005. Two qualified students will be allowed to attend for free. This course is taught in conjunction with the Mangrove Action Project (http://www.earthisland.org/map). More information can be provided by: Sherry Capaz at SherryCapaz@aol.com Source: Roy R. Lewis III, via Email |
|||||||||||||||||
|
USA |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
The US public non-profit corporation Environmental Concern Inc. offers the following courses for wetland professionals in 2004.
For complete course descriptions and registration information: Source: Email by wetland.org, Director of Education |
||||||||||||||||
|
USA |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
July 21-25, 2004 - Orlando, Florida, USA. Chairman: Dr. Peter Goethals, Ghent University (Belgium) Case studies, software, decision support systems dealing with integrated ecosystem management are in particular welcomed for this session. For more information on this session, please contact Peter Goethals (peter.goethals@UGent.be). General information on the conference can be found at: http://www.confinf.org/pista04/website/default.asp Source: Peter Goethals, via Email |
||||||||||||||||
|
World |
Call for partners / funders for a water related campaign and a tool |
||||||||||||||||
| Project title: Promoting sustainable use of water on a household level
Proposal for the co-development of a campaign and an interactive tool to promote the sustainable use of water in a district or city A growing need for water In many regions of the world, growing cities and their thirst for water contrast with limited water resources in the surrounding rural areas, which literally start to dry out, whereas the thirst of the cities seems unquenchable. City or district administrations looking for new, yet untapped, water resources are often faced with a difficult situation: Tapping new water resources is costly and will often meet the resistance of local people. It may not be politically feasible to transfer rising costs to the consumers, which in turn may lead to problems with financial institutions, insisting on market criteria for their investments. Water saving – a possible strategy A possible strategy in this situation is to promote water saving behaviour and the implementation of water saving appliances on the household level. Although domestic water consumption is just one factor among others, a reduced consumption in this sector may help to avoid new investments into the water system. It may also be a starting point for water saving behaviour in other sectors. The idea: Co-development of a campaign and an interactive tool I am proposing the co-development of a campaign and an interactive tool, the Personal Water Calculator (PWC). Both will be focussing on domestic water consumption and related issues in private households. The campaign should aim to reduce water consumption. The tool will support the campaign by allowing to assess:
With the help of the tool, a user is able to select his/her private options within 15 minutes. As a takeaway product he/she will get a printout indicating the water saving potential together with associated costs and potential savings. The tool would be distributed as part of the campaign either via the internet or via CD-ROM. It could also be accessible via internet terminals in public buildings. Wanted: A project partner and funder I am currently looking for a city or district willing to engage in this project. Ideally, the partner should provide the funds and make it part of his mid-term water strategy. The project language can be either English, French or Portuguese. If you are interested, please contact: Andreas Schoenborn P.S.: The new PWC will be technically based on an existing tool in German language, Der Persönliche Wasserrechner (www.wasserrechner.ch), which was developed 1999 but is technically outdated now. |
|||||||||||||||||
|
World / UN |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Do you have an innovative or entrepreneurial idea for a partnership project that may contribute to sustainable development? A new concept that brings together people and organizations from different backgrounds? A project that enables partners to pool their human and financial resources, experience, local knowledge and connections? That allows partners to meet goals they could not reach working by themselves? The Seed Initiative is pleased to announce the Call for Submissions for the biennial Seed Awards - an international competition to seek out your most promising innovative or entrepreneurial ideas for action through partnership, and to help you make those ideas work. The award itself is not monetary but a comprehensive, individually-designed package of support (including the services of a partnership broker/mentor), training, connections and facilitated access to funders, to give winning partnerships every prospect of success. We welcome innovative or entrepreneurial ideas from any group in the process of planning and setting up a partnership project that:
|
as. "When establishing new housing areas, solving the wastewater treatment is one of the most pressing issues", writes Peter Ridderstolpe in the introduction to his new booklet. "In Sweden, there are about 1 million households on the countryside with no or badly functioning wastewater treatment. For these households, and for new houses constructed outside centralized wastewater systems, there is a great need for affordable and well functioning onsite solutions. This booklet is about how to plan and design such systems".