|
#accelerate#agency#capture#British Planting trees to tackle desertification could be counterproductive, according to a new forestry study funded by the UK agency for International Development. Instead of replenishing water, planting trees lowers the water levels of rivers, reservoirs and groundwater, eventually turning fertile land into desert. The new findings may sound heresy to environmentalists, but they are echoed by forestry and water professionals. The report argues that the world wastes tens of millions of tonnes of water every year because of common sense mistakes in water management. Trees are often used to capture water from the atmosphere, but they end up drying the soil by depleting water reserves in reservoirs and rivers. In The Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, the study found that when people tried to use forests to increase water supply by converting land to forests, water had fallen by 16 percent and 26 percent, respectively. Foreign pines and eucalyptus trees, which spread throughout South Africa, have reduced river water by an estimated 3%. South Africa is now employing more than 40, 000 people to uproot many of the foreign pines and to tax the botanic gardens, which cause hydrological damage. In Costa Rica, alpine researchers have found that forests do not absorb moisture from clouds as previously thought. On the other hand, local rainfall increased when forests were cut down. Although tree planting does capture water from the atmosphere in some cases, it can help prevent erosion, prevent flooding and nourish the environment, the report said. However, it should also be noted that the forest itself needs to absorb water from the soil, and evaporation of water through the leaves, which leads to lower water levels of rivers, reservoirs and groundwater, accelerating the trend of desertification. John Palmer of the University of Greenwich, UK, one of the report's lead authors, argues that this often happens when water needs to be protected, something that developing countries waste a lot of money on. Panama is now asking the World Bank for hundreds of millions of dollars in reforestation efforts to increase water storage in reservoirs upstream of the Panama Canal and ensure water levels remain stable. But Palmer believes the plan has no scientific basis. According to Hydrologist Robert Stallard of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, forest systems provide little but steady water. One of the report's authors, Ian Calder of Newcastle University, agrees that forests are not all bad, but ecologically important. It's not all bad for water, but to manage water effectively, you can't simply assume that planting more trees is better. |
|
#accelerate#vocational education#learning#Germany At present, every company in Germany has technology equipment connected to the Internet, but some of the more specialized digital learning or media equipment is not widely used in training. "Vocational education has already mastered advanced digitalization and automation technologies," said Wanka, Germany's Federal Minister for Education and Research. Digital change has put new demands on the qualifications of professionals, and we need a 'vocational education 4.0' movement. At present, every company in Germany has technology equipment connected to the Internet, but some of the more specialized digital learning or media equipment is not widely used in training. "Vocational education has already mastered advanced digitalization and automation technologies," said Wanka, Germany's Federal Minister for Education and Research. Digital change has put new demands on the qualifications of professionals, and we need a 'vocational education 4.0' movement. |
|
#accelerate#executives#electrification According to a survey of 200 executives in the European battery industry, the UK's electrification push offers a significant repatriation opportunity.The survey, called In Charge, is supported by Protolabs. According to the survey, 84 per cent of UK companies are looking to bring part of their supply chain closer to their manufacturing base over the next 12 months. The global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a desire to localize supply chains, and a growing number of companies are looking to improve security of supply and speed to market while reducing their carbon footprint. Investment in electric vehicles has secured the future of Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant.More than three-quarters (77 per cent) of UK respondents are also looking to outsource component production to specialist manufacturers, while 86 per cent plan to launch a new battery product or storage system within the next 12 months. Bjoern Klaas, Vice. |
