Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2015-11-20"
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- O modelo de Alcalar: vantagens comparativas de um paradigma residencial comunitário para idososPublication . Malveiro, Jorge Manuel Andrez; Jesus, SaulObjecto: Esta investigação avaliou comparativamente a percepção da qualidade de vida (qdv) e do Bem-Estar Subjectivo (BES), bem como várias outras características biopsicossociais entre três grupos de idosos respectivamente institucionalizados em três paradigmas residenciais comunitários institucionais. Método: Estudo comparativo transversal e observacional, descritivo e inferencial, efectuado a uma amostra de 158 sujeitos, a qual foi constituída por 50 idosos habitantes numa Aldeia-lar (grupo Alcalar), por 56 idosos residentes em Lares de Idosos/Casas de Repouso (grupo ERPI) e por 52 idosos utentes de Centros de Dia/Convívio (grupo EPDI). Utilizou-se uma bateria de testes composta por dois questionários autoaplicativos de qdv da Organização Mundial de Saúde (WHOQOL-BREF e WHOQOLOld PT), por três escalas para avaliação do BES e por um conjunto adicional de instrumentos de avaliação biopsicossocial. Foram comparados os dados subamostrais provenientes da avaliação dos 158 idosos participantes neste estudo intergrupal. Resultados: Os habitantes da Aldeia-lar de Alcalar (grupo Alcalar) obtiveram níveis globalmente mais elevados na percepção da qdv e do BES e, predominantemente, os melhores resultados nas dimensões biopsicossociais avaliadas, enquanto os residentes nas ERPI (grupo ERPI) obtiveram níveis globalmente inferiores de qdv e de BES e, predominantemente, os piores resultados nas dimensões biopsicossociais avaliadas. Conclusão: Em comparação com os idosos institucionalizados em dois dos paradigmas institucionais residenciais comunitários tradicionais mais prevalecentes em Portugal (respectivamente, as ERPI e os EPDI), os idosos habitantes na Aldeia-lar (denominada por Modelo de Alcalar) revelaram vantagens comparativas quanto à percepção da qualidade de vida e do Bem-Estar lato sensu e, predominantemente, os melhores resultados quanto aos níveis biopsicossociais avaliados
- Assessing soil erosion due to land use change at the Alqueva reservoir surrounding areaPublication . Ferreira, Vera Lúcia Matias; Panagopoulos, ThomasSoil erosion is one of the most dynamic environmental and economic threats in Mediterranean regions. As a consequence of water availability in the surrounding area of the Alqueva reservoir, new challenges were created. The conversion from native Montado grassland to intensive and irrigated agriculture, the development of golf resorts and the ongoing climate change were insufficiently considered for the erosion problem during the environmental impact study of the Alqueva project, and consequently there is an urgent need to delineate a sustainable land management for the region. The main objective of this investigation was to assess current and future soil erosions in the surrounding area of the Alqueva reservoir using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in combination with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Different soil erosion factors, the main causes and consequences, and also spatial variability and seasonality were investigated, and a simulation model was developed to support decision based on the acquired scientific knowledge. On the first part of the study, the RUSLE equation was applied at field scale, and different land uses were selected for erosion assessment (Montado grassland, lucerne cultivation, olive orchard and vineyard). The spatial variability analysis (with geostatistics and HJ-Biplot) indicates that the intensification of land use, with tillage practices and vegetation removal, is likely to increase the susceptibility to soil erosion (soil erodibility). The effect of seasonality on soil erosion was confirmed, with the autumn season contributing the most to annual soil erosion (around 65%). Future soil erosion scenarios were investigated for the entire study area, according to the expected land use changes (which affect vegetation cover) and climate changes (which affect rainfall-runoff erosivity). The forecasting scenarios of land use changes indicated that the intensive agriculture area is likely to increase, as well as sparse and xerophytic vegetation and rainfall-runoff erosivity. As a consequence, soil erosion in the study area is forecasted to increase from 1.78 t/ha to 3.65 t/ha by 2100. A backcasting scenario was investigated by considering the application of soil conservation practices, that will decrease soil erosion considerably to an average of 2.27 t/ha. For each scenario studied, the sediment delivery was assessed, and for the worst case scenario in 2100, an annual sedimentation value of 182 000 tonnes is predicted for the study area. Finally it was developed a dynamic simulation model for soil erosion performed on Stella, and a graphic user interface as a decision support tool allowing the user (e.g. decision maker) to create, modify, save, and select site specific data. The system simulates the risk for soil erosion for particular local characteristics and land use, and then suggesting soil conservation practices to decrease susceptibility to erosion. In conclusion, due to its characteristics, the study area is very vulnerable to land degradation processes, which is expected to worsen in the future. The distribution maps provide for a better understand of soil erosion and its processes under local conditions, and for the identification of critical periods, high-risk areas, and their respective causes. This information is crucial to delineate local strategies for sustainable land management, and future scenarios reveal the importance of considering the effects of land use and climate change. The decision support system is a useful tool for the exchange of scientific knowledge; however, close collaboration between scientists and local stakeholders is essential to preserve the natural resources and avoid unnecessary costs. In future research, collaboration with international projects will be important to exchange information and knowledge as a key element in the global effort to fight land degradation and to promote sustainable land management.