Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Box 10.1
Continued
They would also have a used but serviceable ¾ ton
4
with restoration research and implementation and
gardening/facility operations.
Year 3. Work would begin on restoration projects
and, as appropriate, economic development. The
primary goal would be working with local stakeholders
to develop two or three demonstration projects for
restoration. Land tenure issues might be addressed as
well. Restoration activities might include fencing
springs and riparian areas to improve water quality and
stabilize riparian ecosystems. It might also include
water and soil conservation demonstrations using
gabion dams, rock lines, terraces or swales. Business
opportunities that could benefi t the local community
might also be explored, such as developing an organic
certifi cation for a local crop such as nopales (
Opuntia
(prickly pear) cactus pads) and developing value-
added products such as cactus fruit syrup, goat
cheese or organic mesquite fl our and corn baking
mixes. The project students and staff might also help
start a garden at the local school.
The fi rst annual open house and welcome to the
community would be a fi esta, with food, music, and
dancing. This type of annual cultural event has proved
to be a critical factor in improving the interactions
between the Mapami Biosphere Reserve and neigh-
bours in the Chihuahuan desert.
Year 4-onward. Additional restoration projects (and
economic development demonstrations) would be
developed in partnership with the local community.
Existing programmes that link business students with
local vendors/producers in Chile and Mexico can
provide valuable insights (see for example the
Proyec-
ción Social
'Community Outreach' programme at the
Universidad del Pacifi co, Lima, Peru).
Restoration, demonstration efforts, and supporting
facilities would be analysed using a standardized sus-
tainability dashboard or scorecard (http://esl.jrc.it/
envind/dashbrds.htm). Projects that have succeeded
or appear likely to succeed would be replicated and
promoted. Those that had failed to meet expectations
would be revamped or dropped.
Note: the challenges caused by political instability
and drug violence would need careful consideration in
many areas. Even in the 1980s concerns about the
narco-traffi cantes
(drug dealers) were common in
much of northern Mexico and today it is much worse
(Grant 2008).
4 fl atbed truck and four-wheel-drive tractor, 30-
50 hp, with plow, spader, box scraper, backhoe, and
bucket loader.
The goal for this year would be adding to the under-
standing of the local culture, ecosystems, microcli-
mates, soils and economy - adding to the regional
research from year 1. The goal would be to begin
developing a history of the political ecology and envi-
ronmental changes at the project site for the last 50
years or more. This would begin with library research
and continue with interviews of the village elders and
observation. The restoration ecologist would begin
developing a local and regional overview of ecosystem
function and structure and identify a plant restoration
palette and start a seed banking programme. Seed
collection would be a priority. If appropriate, a nursery
for native plants and economic cultivars of interest
would be started with community involvement.
The facility would be built or retrofi tted as an
example of sustainable design with assistance from
the student team, staff and local workers. Renewable
energy and local resource capture would be demon-
strated with a solar photovoltaic array, solar hot water
system, passive solar heating and cooling, rainwater
harvesting system, improved water and irrigation
systems, and proper treatment of water supply and
wastes. If needed, seismic safety issues would be
addressed with an onsite retrofi t. A demonstration
organic garden and agroforestry options and com-
posting system would also be designed and started,
with the goal of developing value-added products. The
garden would help feed the team and would test varie-
ties suited to local site conditions.
The soils science and hydrology/microclimatology
students would establish a sampling framework and
complete initial surveys of the area. Both would work
with local teachers and students if possible to engage
the community in the research. The public health/
nutrition student would help keep the team healthy
and would also work to better understand health
problems and nutritional limitations in the local
community.
The students and staff, truck, and tractor would be
made available to help with community projects as
appropriate. Funding would be provided to hire stu-
dents from the local school or community to help
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