This study aimed at evaluating the potential biogas production from four main sources, in terms of the volume of methane for energy production and the equivalent avoidable carbon dioxide emissions in 2020 through to 2030. It was based on the projection of methane production from common livestock and poultry manure, possible landfills, wastewater treatment plants, and palm oil mill effluent. This paper uses sound and reliable methodology to estimate the biogas potential of these major resources, which could lead to significant achievement in environmental sustainability via biogas generation and carbon dioxide emission reduction. The results showed that a total of 690.7 million m3 and 848.74 7 million m3 of methane could be obtained from all the sources considered in 2020 and in 2030, respectively, which translates to about 1.84 TWhel and 2.28 TWhel. It also meant that a total carbon dioxide equivalent emission of 12.36 million tCO2-eq and 15.82 million tCO2-eq could be avoided in 2020 and 2030, respectively. The results of this study therefore, show the remarkable contribution that biogas technology can make, as well as serve as an immediate technical information for policies makers, government agencies, and potential investors on the development of biogas technology in Ghana. Significant achievements can be made when comprehensive attempts are made so as to provide sustainable energy by integrating and improving livestock rearing, application of comprehensive solid and liquid waste management system and usage of best practices for managing agro-processing residues, which are integral part of the socio-economic activities in Ghana.
Malaria has long been a cause of human suffering and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to assess the spatial distribution of malaria risk using MCE (Multi-Criteria Evaluation). To analyze and generate a spatial malaria risk level distribution map. Factors that affect the spatial malaria hazard and risk distribution have been considered. Such as; temperature, rainfall, altitude, slope, distance from the river, population density, and land use land cover factors were selected to produce a malaria risk map of the Didessa district area. GIS based multi-criteria evaluation method applied using weighted overlay analysis by considering three map layer factors (i.e. malaria hazard map layer, element at risk map layer, and vulnerability map layer), an optimum malaria risk map is produced. The malaria risk map result shows that 0.68%, 36.2%, 30.1%, 27.52% 5.5% of the study area falls under very high, high, moderate, low, and very low spatial malaria risk levels respectively. Our findings indicate that malaria is heavily influenced by major environmental parameters and socio-economic factors and these factors play a vital role either directly or indirectly in the occurrence of this vector-borne disease. In conclusion, 36.88% (31034.88 ha) of the study area has a high potential risk of malaria disease manifestation and occurrence. The result of this report indicates that there are high malaria risk areas in the district. This ascertains the communities living in those areas are prone to the disease. Therefore, there is an urgent need to prevent and progressively reduce malaria disease distribution through policy formulation and health care implementation in prioritized areas. This study is useful to use as a guideline for further research study in combating malaria distribution, particularly in developing countries.
This study assessed the factors which influenced households' choice of waste disposal methods using cross-sectional data of 547 households from seven districts in the Brong-Ahafo region of Ghana. Indiscriminate dumping of solid wastes in open spaces by households was the pivotal method of disposal of solid wastes that was analysed using economic theories related to consumption behaviour. We established that large household sizes were associated with increased likelihood of open dumping of solid wastes. Increased likelihood of open dumping of solid wastes by households was also linked to the lack of formal education or schooling of the household head, the availability of electricity inside the premises of the house, which encouraged production activities within the household, and open defecation. Urban households were less likely to engage in open dumping of solid wastes as compared to rural households. The other factors that reduced the likelihood of open dumping of solid wastes were generally in the area of quality of housing services; these were the availability of water inside the household premises, the number of sleeping rooms available to the household, and higher quality of housing services revealed through the willingness-to-pay for rents by householders. Finally, Guan-headed households were less likely to engage in open dumping of solid wastes than non-Guan-headed households, especially those living in rural areas. Rural Guan-headed households had the lowest proportion of open dumping of solid wastes.
While much emphasis has been placed on scientific and policy issues in forest management, there is a lack of clarity on users’ perspectives concerning the implementation of scientific forest management. To clarify this nuance, this study explores users’ opinion on scientific forest management implementation, focusing on four criteria—ecological, social, economic, and technical. Twelve key informant interviews and six focus group discussions were conducted in three selected communities within Nawalparasi District. This was further complemented by six expert interviews. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was employed to rank within and between groups of developed factors and their criteria. Users’ identified increased forest products (58%), community development (55%), employment opportunities (65%), and intense silviculture management (51%) as the dominant factors linked to the ecological, social, economic, and technical criteria, respectively. For between groups, economic (52%) and social (33%) criteria got the highest ranking. The findings suggest that the long-term success of this modality cannot be achieved if the users largely view it as economically and socially profitable. This study calls for tailor-made interventions to enhance ecological and technical knowledge linked to scientific forest management. The paper also makes a succinct request for further studies (including quantitative investigations) to ground this assertion.
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans collectively named dioxins, have long been investigated in numerous ways in their formation and presence in diverse types of matrices, e.g.,, air, soil, food, milk, and tissue, and their effects on human health among others. In the 1970s and 1980s, dioxins and other hazardous pollutants were found to be excessive in the environment prompting a global concern on its restriction and elimination. By year 2000, curbed industrial releases had remarkably lowered dioxin emission. However, dioxin emission continued to be a hazard from non-industrial sources such as forest fires, domestic combustion, and vehicles. In South East Asia, frequent peat fires may have leadingly contributed to the dioxins level in the environment. The objective of this review is to compile related data on dioxins in peats and to theorize the possible source and their formation.
