TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT CENTER

TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT CENTER

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Forum Name		Topics	Posts	Last Post
NATURAL TROPICAL ENVIRONMENTS
	Tropical Terrestrial Forests - Ecology & Management Discussions focussed on terrestrial forests and related ecosystems, ecological characteristics, research, knowledge, resources. Succession, limiting factors, forcing functions, population dynamics, biodiversity, ecotones, interdependencies, the "balance of nature". Scientific and conservation interest. Minor tropical terrestrial systems - caves, savannas, etc. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	2	2	Sep 20^th, 2008, 3:47pm by Karl Ramjohn In: Ecological Character: Northern Range, Trinidad
	Freshwater Ecosystems - Ecology & Management Discussions focussed on ecological characteristics and roles of streams, rivers and floodplains in the tropical environment. Physical and chemical features of riverine and other freshwater systems. The biology of riverine and other freshwater systems: forcing functions, distribution of biota, adaptations, habitat structure, population and metapopulation dynamics. Freshwater and aquatic organisms as resources. Ecological interactions and interdependencies: climate, forests and rivers. The global water budget. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	0	0	N/A by N/A
	Coastal and Marine Ecosystems and Resources - Ecology & Management Discussions focussed on wetlands - swamps, marshes, beaches, oceans and related ecosystems: hydrologic forcing functions, aquatic habitats, sedimentation and vegetation distribution as descriptors of ecological characteristics. Freshwater, brackish and marine wetland biodiversity, adaptations of the biota and life history strategies, relevance to ecosystem management. Mangrove swamps: ecological functions, roles and resource values, management implications. Coral reefs, types, origins and structure, reef processes and limiting factors. Beaches as ecosystems and resources: distribution, dynamics, processes and components, ecology of strand and other shore systems. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	0	0	N/A by N/A
MAN-MADE TROPICAL ENVIRONMENTS
	History of human intervention in Tropical Environments Discussions focussed on general comments and ideas, human evolution, paleo-biodiversity and increasing environmental impact. Civilisation, settlement and agriculture. Human dispersal and the adaptation to new lands. Human interaction and settlement in tropical environments, origins, current population distribution and patterns of land use. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	1	7	Aug 10^th, 2008, 2:52pm by Karl Ramjohn In: Environmental History: Land Use Patterns, Trinidad
	Managed Forest Environments Discussions focussed on characteristics of managed forest environments, forestry production systems and their environmental impacts. Plantation forest ecosystems, distribution and characteristics. Impacts of cultivation of exotic species on native vegetation species, wildlife and landscape values. Structure and characteristics of agro-forestry, taungya and related systems. Managed forest systems for watershed management, ecotourism and wildlife protection. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	0	0	N/A by N/A
	Agricultural Environments - Land & Water Use Discussions focussed on characteristics of agricultural systems - simplified natural production systems. Classification of land use under agriculture. Energy relations in natural and agricultural systems. Agriculture and environmental impacts: weeds, pests, agro-chemical pollution, soil deterioration, drought and flooding. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	1	3	Aug 10^th, 2008, 5:32pm by Karl Ramjohn In: Agro-ecosystems: Ecology & Management
	Water Catchment and Wastewater Treatment Systems Discussions focussed on the classification and characteristics of water catchment systems. Environments and ecology of dams and reservoirs in the tropics. Design and management of reservoirs and related systems for recreation, wildlife protection and fisheries. Structure, function and operation of wastewater treatment systems. Land use, sewage treatment processes, and environmental impacts. Feasibility of constructed wetlands in wastewater treatment: designed aquatic environments and their functioning Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	0	0	N/A by N/A
	Urban Environments Discussions focussed on the characteristics of human habitations in tropical environments. The ecology of cities, towns, villages, residential areas. Changing lifestyles and their impact on the nature of human habitations. Urban environmental conditions, outside and inside the workplace. Architecture for healthy living. Town & Country Planning and landscape considerations. The impacts of transportation and transport networks on environmental conditions. Air pollution. Impacts of road building and access on the natural environment. The ecology of urban parks, green-belts, city gardens, campuses, playing fields and airports. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	1	3	Jul 12^th, 2008, 11:41pm by Karl Ramjohn In: Urban Growth & Sustainable Human Habitation
	Industrial Environments Discussions focussed on the classification and characteristics of industrial environments in the tropics. History and development of the petroleum sector and its environmental effects. Exploration and drilling, refineries and transportation systems and their environmental effects. Oil pollution, prevention, clean-up and mitigation, environmental problems and solution. Classification of industrial processes and their environmental impacts, risk assessment and industry siting. Industrial process residues, concepts of waste and pollution and comparison with natural ecosystems. Mitigation of impacts on the natural and human environment. Design for recycling, solid waste disposal, landfills and reclamation Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	0	0	N/A by N/A
	Modified Coastal Environments Discussions focussed on man-modified coastal environments in the tropics. Location and characteristics of docks, harbours, ports and marinas. Ecological interactions in the coastal zone, environmental problems and design for mitigation. Modification of the coastline for coastal protection, residential use and beach stabilisation, impacts of infrastructure on coastal processes and stability. Characteristics of coastal environments used for recreation. Development and cycles in coastal recreation. Sustainable environments for coastal recreation: carrying-capacity, infrastructure, recreational diving and control of visitors in coastal habitats. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	0	0	N/A by N/A
	Environmental Economics, Policy and Management Discussions focussed on the basic and fundamental economics of the tropical environment - economic value of environmental assets and costs of environmental problems. Physical, economic, technological and institutional causes, effects and solutions. General equilibrium and analysis of the concept of a social welfare function, supply and demand, marginal private and social benefits and costs, market failure, externalities and property rights and responsibilities. Experiences with applying Cost-Benefit analysis techniques to the tropical environment. Sustainable environmental and resource management. Principles of management applied to tropical environments, including social and political issues. Theory, practice and implementation of environmental policy, regulation and innovation. Land use and control. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	1	1	Sep 26^th, 2008, 04:45am by Karl Ramjohn In: Environmental Economics
ENERGY & THE ENVIRONMENT
	General Discussions Discussions focussed on general and advanced analyses of energy and the environment, with particular reference to the tropical regions. Energy needs of societies in the past, present and future - domestic, transportation, industrial. Energy and indoor climate in the tropics. Heat and thermodynamics. Environmental pollution through energy generation and consumption. Influences of national energy policies on land use, particularly for industrial development Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	0	0	N/A by N/A
	Conventional Energy Sources Discussions focussed on convention energy sources in the tropics. Geological background, types and locations of fossil fuels. Exploration, drilling, production, refining, distribution of oil and natural gas. Electricity generation, internal combustion engines, etc. Air pollution from combustion of various fuels. Acid rain. Transportation pollution. Biomass and wood. Chemistry - potential energy and potential pollution. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	0	0	N/A by N/A
	Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources Discussions focussed on alternative energy sources in the tropics. Solar energy, radiation, flat plate and concentrating collectors, photovoltaics and other developments. Optical characteristics, heat transfer characteristics, estimates of efficiency. Hydroelectric energy. Wind energy conversion systems, turbines and wind farms, theoretical and practical limits. Wave power, deepwater wave devices, tidal energy. Bioenergy and biofuels, feasibility, scope and environmental concerns. Nuclear reactors, nuclear waste transport and disposal, radiation hazards and safety. Any other new developments, ideas and views. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	3	3	Nov 25^th, 2008, 8:11pm by Karl Ramjohn In: Geothermal Energy Potential in Caribbean Region
	Energy and Pollution Discussions focussed on energy interchange in the Earth's atmosphere and the potential effects of pollution. The climate system, space and time scales. Solar radiation and its interaction with the atmosphere - energy and temperature, radiation budget, "greenhouse" effect. The debate on the evidence of global warming and climate change. Scientific methods for detection of climate variability. Ozone production, catalytic destruction, role of CFC's. Air pollutants, their concentration and propagation, detection of effects on human health. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	1	3	Oct 31^st, 2008, 03:05am by Karl Ramjohn In: Some perspectives on the science of climate change
DEVELOPMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT & CONTROL
	General Discussions Discussions focussed on scientific concepts of ecological integrity and sustainability in relation to socio-economic development, estimation of sustainability in land and resource use, establishing limits to growth, ecological constraints on land use planning, ecological constraints and opportunities for industry siting and operation. The concept of environmental carrying-capacity related to tourism in the tropical environment, particularly ecotourism. Concepts of resource enhancement and ecological engineering. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	0	0	N/A by N/A
	Environmental Impact Assessment Discussions focussed on the scientific basis and techniques of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), data requirements, environmental auditing and environmental management systems (EMS). Scientific principles in the design and implementation of environmental monitoring programmes. Interpretation of the results of environmental monitoring. Impact prediction, detection and mitigation Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	1	2	Dec 2^nd, 2008, 2:30pm by Karl Ramjohn In: The Nature of Development: Case Studies
	Policy, Legislative and Regulatory Framework Discussions focussed on the rationalization and harmonization of environmental protection regulations with scientific knowledge of resource and land characteristics. Objectives of environmental regulations and the monitoring of their effectiveness. Roles of resource users in environmental research and data collection. Designing and implementing data collection and monitoring procedures to ensure compliance with national and regional environmental law and international conventions Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	0	0	N/A by N/A
POLLUTION MONITORING, CONTROL & ABATEMENT
	Pollution Discussion focussed on sources of pollution, transport of pollutants by air, water and suspended sediments, and effects on ecological and human health. Origin and fate of pollutants in the environment such as heavy metals, CFC's, ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, etc. Methods for controlling their concentration in the environment. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	1	1	Dec 13^th, 2008, 11:02pm by Karl Ramjohn In: The Concept of Pollution
	Environmental Standards Discussion focussed on environmental standards - rationale for setting standards for tropical environments, their review and enforcement for control of environmental pollution, etc. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	0	0	N/A by N/A
	Environmental Monitoring Techniques & Systems Discussions focussed on environmental monitoring techniques / systems, environmental chemical analysis, sampling plans, techniques and sample preservation, methods of analysis (quantitative, qualitative), theory and instrumentation. Application in environmental impact assessment, compliance with standards, etc. Quality assurance / control and accreditation in environmental laboratories, method validation, etc. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	0	0	N/A by N/A
	Pollution Control & Minimization Discussions focussed on pollution control and minimization, particularly chemical process industries. Process design standpoint, process and equipment modification standpoint. Compilation of pollutant inventories: reviews of methods, data requirements, compilation and management, emissions factors, etc. and their relevance and utility to the tropical environment. Reviews and updates of IPCC guidelines for greenhouse gas emissions inventories. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	0	0	N/A by N/A
SUSTAINABLE LAND USE & PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
	Soil Science & Management Discussions focussed on soil formation and development; soils types and their classification. Identification and classification of tropical soils. The role of soils in analysing and determining land capability and optimal land use. Soil mineralogy and soil organic matter. Soil taxonomy. Survey techniques and analysis. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	1	5	Sep 22^nd, 2008, 9:56pm by Karl Ramjohn In: Role of Soil Properties in Sustainable Agriculture
	Land Degradation Discussions focussed on land degradation in humid and dry tropical climates. Environmental and sociological factors in land use and land degradation. Integration of soil and water conservation into farming systems. Integrating water needs in agriculture with industrial and potable supply requirements Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	0	0	N/A by N/A
	Agro-ecological Systems Review and discussion focusing on the various methods of traditional and modern food production: crop, livestock and poultry, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture, and their impacts on the environment. Methods of minimising environmental damage, to ensure that the various production systems achieve sustainability, including sustainable monocropping, multiple cropping and agro-forestry systems for tropical environments. Ecological restoration of lands degraded by agriculture. Sustainable harvesting of wild species as food sources Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	1	5	Sep 21^st, 2008, 11:36pm by Karl Ramjohn In: Restoration of Degraded Tropical Agricultural Land
	Agricultural Waste Management Discussions focussed on agricultural by-product and waste management. Waste product generation, handling, treatment/recycling and disposal from intensive crop and livestock production systems (including biomass/biofuels) Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	1	1	Aug 12^th, 2008, 4:34pm by Karl Ramjohn In: Biomass Energy: Solution to Livestock Wastes
	Fisheries & Aquaculture Discussions focussed on achieving sustainability in tropical capture fisheries. Global fisheries production and fishing practices. Environmental impacts of fishing. Management of freshwater and marine environments for fisheries production. Status of global aquaculture and practices. Environmental impacts of aquaculture. Management for sustainable aquaculture, including integration of aquaculture production systems into agricultural and water conservation practices. Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	0	0	N/A by N/A
INTERESTING WEBSITES
	Forums Forums of interest to the tropical environment, or environmental management issues in general Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	46	61	Dec 30^th, 2008, 5:04pm by Karl Ramjohn In: Organic Linker
	Blogs Blogs of interest to the tropical environment, or environmental management issues in general Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	12	23	Dec 14^th, 2008, 12:59am by Karl Ramjohn In: Pollution Monitoring, Control & Abatement
	Energy Forums and blogs on topics related to energy and the environment Moderators: none	43	49	Sep 26^th, 2008, 01:56am by Karl Ramjohn In: Energy Environment News
	Other Websites Other websites of interest to the tropical environment, or environmental management issues in general Moderator: Karl Ramjohn	17	18	Sep 17^th, 2008, 02:12am by Karl Ramjohn In: Hotnhit News

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Total Topics: 133 - Total Posts: 187
Last Updated Topic: Organic Linker by Karl Ramjohn (Dec 30^th, 2008, 5:04pm)
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