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1. Natural populations deliver a wide range of products that provide income for millions of people and need to be exploited sustainably. Large heterogeneity in individual performance within these exploited populations has the potential to improve population recovery after exploitation and thus help sustaining yields over time. 2. We explored the potential of using individual heterogeneity to design smarter harvest schemes, by sparing individuals that contribute most to future productivity and population growth, using the understorey palm Chamaedorea elegans as a model system. Leaves of this palm are an important non-timber forest product and long-term inter-individual growth variability can be evaluated from internode lengths. 3. We studied a population of 830 individuals, half of which was subjected to a 67 % defoliation treatment for three years. We measured effects of defoliation on vital rates and leaf size – a trait that determines marketability. We constructed integral projection models in which vital rates depended on stem length, past growth rate, and defoliation, and evaluated transient population dynamics to quantify population development and leaf yield. We then simulated scenarios in which we spared individuals that were either most important for population growth or had leaves smaller than marketable size. 4. Individuals varying in size or past growth rate responded similarly to leaf harvesting in terms of growth and reproduction. By contrast, defoliation-induced reduction in survival chance was smaller in large individuals than in small ones. Simulations showed that harvest-induced population decline was much reduced when individuals from size and past growth classes that contributed most to population growth were spared. Under this scenario cumulative leaf harvest over 20 years was somewhat reduced, but long-term leaf production was sustained. A three-fold increase in leaf yield was generated when individuals with small leaves are spared. 5. Synthesis and applications This study demonstrates the potential to create smarter systems of palm leaf harvest by accounting for individual heterogeneity within exploited populations. Sparing individuals that contribute most to population growth ensured sustained leaf production over time. The concepts and methods presented here are generally applicable to exploited plant and animal species which exhibit considerable individual heterogeneity. Vital rate and internode dataThis data file contains annual vital rate data (stem length growth, fruit production, survival and leaf production) of 830 individuals of the understorey palm Chamaedorea elegans, collected in a 0.7 ha plot in Chiapas, Mexico, during the period November 2012 - November 2015. A 2/3 defoliation treatment was repeatedly applied to half of the individuals. The data file also contains measurements of the lengths of all internodes of all individuals.

Countries with emerging economies face a significant challenge when developing strategies to move towards a low emission energy system and keep their economies growing. The power System plays a crucial role in these strategies and by the correct measurement of its sustainability is possible to identify which alternative improves sustainability the most. This article proposes indicators for the evaluation and assessment of the sustainability of Mexican Power System planning scenarios put forward by two government administrations with a study horizon to 2030. The scenarios are characterized by the program of additions and retirements of generating capacity along the period of 2019 to 2030, and eventually, optimal dispatch was obtained to accomplish the hourly demand. Sustainability indicators were developed and calculated to evaluate the energy security, energy equity and environmental sustainability dimensions. Subsequently the indicators were fed to the Position Vector of Minimum Regret Analysis as multicriteria decision analysis. By analysing the results, it is highlighted that the expansion of power grid capacity, as well as the hourly availability of hydro plants improve the sustainability of the Mexican Power System. The comparison between both scenarios��� performance, based on the Energy Trilemma, indicates that the current government���s planning is slightly more sustainable. International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management, Vol. 32 (2021)

We are now facing the challenge of sustainable development. This thesis focuses on the building illumination of one downtown hospitality building, the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel (RVH), to demonstrate three options for sustainable development of architectural lighting. The thesis employs architectural exterior lighting based on the technology of light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a vehicle to demonstrate how to reduce the energy consumption and maintenance costs of decorative lighting on building façades via three transformative lighting strategies. These three transformative lighting strategies demonstrate three possibilities of applying LEDs to develop architectural creativity and energy sustainability for an outdoor decorative lighting system. The first transformation utilizes LEDs for the retrofit of existing compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) on the RVH’s façades and rooftop, in order to improve and diversify the building’s illumination in a sustainable manner. The second transformation optimizes the yearly programming of the new outdoor decorative LED lighting in accordance with differing seasonal and temporal themes in order to save energy, demonstrate architectural creativity via versatile lighting patterns, and systematically manage the unstable generation of renewable energy. The third transformation explores the potential of on-site electricity generation in an urban context instead of its purchase from BC Hydro. Photovoltaic (PV) panels will generate the electrical requirements of the RVH’s decorative exterior LED lighting. This transformation will transfer daytime solar energy to electricity for night outdoor building illumination; consequently, it can encourage outdoor activities in the nighttime for Vancouverites, and is a means of compensating for the limited daytime hours in Vancouver’s winter months.

The University of British Columbia recently developed a zero-waste action plan to reach towards sustainability leadership. Participating in this collective effort, the SEEDs initiative collaborated with AMS Food and Beverage services to investigate food ware procurement and a potential source of cross contamination within the NEST building. We developed an inventory of food ware outputted by each outlet and investigated the likelihood of back-of-house waste sorting leading to cross-contamination; finally, we made short observations that we deem useful for policy makers. The primary stakeholders are the food and beverages outlets of the NEST (both AMS and non-AMS operated), the general staff of the NEST, and our SEEDs community partners. To fulfill the objectives of the project, key staff of AMS governed food outlets were interviewed and handed out surveys especially prepared for this project. The data collected were analyzed and reported in two forms: qualitative and quantitative. Our key findings are: • Back-of-House sorting is informal, yet unlikely to result in cross contamination, since only garbage is collected in a black bag. Outlets are opposed to standardization of bins or colour coded bags due to space and procurement complications. • The centralized procurement of AMS outlets contributes to their purchasing power and sustainable practices. This could be leveraged to raise the sustainability efforts of non-AMS outlets within the NEST. • Changes in waste management must be done in agreement with AMS operational staff, UBC Sustainability and UBC Building Operations. Disclaimer: “UBC SEEDS provides students with the opportunity to share the findings of their studies, as well as their opinions, conclusions and recommendations with the UBC community. The reader should bear in mind that this is a student project/report and is not an official document of UBC. Furthermore readers should bear in mind that these reports may not reflect the current status of activities at UBC. We urge you to contact the research persons mentioned in a report or the SEEDS Coordinator about the current status of the subject matter of a project/report.”

The north shore of the North Arm of the Fraser River represents the Southern boundary of the City of Vancouver. This boundary has been crucial to the development of Vancouver as a city that strives on natural resource processing and shipping. This industrial heritage along the North Fraser has provided Vancouver with a substantial portion of its revenue and tax base since the 1800's, but is currently under threat by land developers and residential pressures. With this development pressure comes the increased lure of immediate revenue, increased public use of the waterfront, and an increase in market housing within the city limits. However, this pressure will also result in a loss of economic sustainability and long-term revenue dollars. This is a trend that is occurring throughout the lower mainland, encouraging a commuter environment and a dissociation between place of work and place of residence. This thesis seeks to combat this issue and will illustrate that it is not only desirable, but necessary to sustain urban resource-based industry along the North Fraser. Through the implementation of a Greenway design, the thesis will prove that the portion of the North Fraser that lies between the Knight Street Bridge and the Oak Street Bridge can retain its industrial character, while becoming more inclusive of the cultural/social needs of a growing population and recognizing environmental concerns. The implementation of a public recreational Greenway will enhance the quality of the area, thereby drawing users both within and beyond the surrounding community to take advantage of a great resource that is often forgotten or hidden by intensive industrial frontage. At the same time, the Greenway will provide opportunities for education and awareness that will highlight the values and benefits of an industrial infrastructure along the North Fraser. Finally, the thesis will prove that such an endeavour is not only sustainable in a cultural and economic sense, but that a Greenway has the capacity to provide a rehabilitated ecological condition that will sustain a valuable and fragile ecosystem.

Nowadays, much of the electrical and electronic equipment we buy becomes obsolete in a short time because of the rapid technological advances in this field. Small and large devices such as computers, mobile phones, and electronic equipment are reduced to electronic waste (e-Waste), and many of them are disposed of as common trash. To change the situation, the EU announced some directives on this subject in order to control the growth of this e-waste and to reduce its impact. In this context, Yaşar University (Turkey) submitted to the EU a project (EWASTEU) aiming at providing an overview of what is happening with the equipment turning into e-waste, as well as to introduce some proposals to minimize this problem. One of the main issues to be addressed will be the adequacy of the EU directives. Saúde e Tecnologia, N.º 12 (2014): Novembro 2014

Climate change is one of the greatest contemporary issues facing communities in the Philippines–a country already experiencing the impacts of extreme changes in weather. Planning is uniquely able to provide comprehensive, community-driven responses to this issue. In this project, students executed participatory planning processes around climate change to increase the adaptive capacities of the Municipality of Guiguinto, engaging municipal staff and community leaders in the process. The resulting report contains key recommendations for the municipality that are locally specific, and community-based, with an emphasis on urban development and the existing 7K program. The Municipality of Guiguinto is now actively using the report to do further planning and community engagement, and to prepare their nationally-mandated Local Climate Change Adaptation Plans.

This thesis is an interdisciplinary study based on the interplay between science, technology and society in order to inform the design of knowledge exploration systems. It provides a rationale for the integration of science knowledge, geographic information, with digital libraries to build knowledge and awareness about sustainability. A theoretical reconceptualization of knowledge building is provided that favours interactive engagement with information and argues against a traditional model of science production and communication that is linear and unidirectional. The elements of contextualization, classification and communication form the core of the reconceptualization. Since many information systems entrench the traditional model of science production, the three elements are considered in light of library and information science and geographic information science. The use of geographic information systems is examined to identify how they can be used as part of a social learning model for scientific, social, cultural, and environmental issues to further assist people in connecting to place and sustainability. Empirical data was collected from four case studies. One case study centred on the design and development of a web-based digital library called the Georgia Basin Digital Library, another two case studies focused on the use of part of this digital library with youth, senior and environmental groups in south-western British Columbia. The remaining case study observed a community deliberation to consider how knowledge exploration systems might support deliberation in future processes. The case study research confirms that collaborative research with communities is a fruitful way to engage with sustainability issues. Such collaborations require consideration of institutional arrangements, information collections, relationship building, technology transfer and capacity building.

The film is a representation of the Community Sustainability Committee (CSC) members and their thoughts and hopes on the Committee, the Mt. Milligan Mine Project, Terrane Metals Corp. and the future of their region. The film illustrates the economic state of the region and the introduction of the mining project as a vehicle for change. The members of the CSC discuss the purpose, objectives and goals of the Committee. They elaborated on the value of the Committee to its members, the communities represented and the region of Northern British Columbia. Through the voices of the Committee members, the film demonstrates the interworking of the committee; including the struggles and limitations of understanding the benefits and impacts of the mine in a regional scale