title: Environmental factors affecting the Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) distribution in the Mahakam River, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

authors: Suyatiningsih, Februanty

subjects: water quality

abstract: Tropical rivers are known to support high biodiversity, and are often characterised by vast floodplain areas and seasonal inundation patterns (Dudgeon, 1992). These rivers are places for many important terrestrial and freshwater species such as three true river dolphins species (Platanista gangetica, Platanista minor and Lipotes vexillifer) and the facultative freshwater dolphin – the Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris). The Mahakam River in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, is typical of other tropical rivers in Southeast Asia but is distinguished by a riverine population of the iconic Irrawaddy dolphins, known locally as Pesut. This freshwater population is classified as “Critically endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Like many other tropical rivers in Southeast Asia, the Mahakam River is also facing problems from rapid development in rural areas, characterised by a massive conversion of peatland forest to oil palm plantation, an increasing number of mining activities, and ongoing development of settlements. These developments are likely to have had both direct and indirect effects on the Irrawaddy dolphins.

Water quality parameters and land use type from sites in the upper, middle, and lower sections of the Mahakam River were used to quantify relationships with between broadscale catchment land-use changes and river habitat changes while anthropogenic factors such as fishing pressure and other forms of human disturbance were also assessed in relation to dolphin distribution. The objectives of this analysis were to (i) quantify changes in water quality in relation to land use, (ii) investigate the key environmental factors associated with Irrawaddy dolphin distribution and abundance in the Mahakam River, and (iii) integrate these findings with other information on dolphin ecology to make recommendations that support dolphin conservation management.

Over 1996–2017, the land use in the sub-catchments of government water quality monitoring sites demonstrated changes that reflected decreasing forestland and increasing estate cropland, mainly due to the development of the oil palm plantations in Indonesia. The downstream section of the river also received disturbance from a high proportion of agricultural and settlement land. These land-use changes were shown to be related to the state of water quality in the Mahakam River. Increasing TDS and SO4 were associated with increasing estate cropland and agricultural intensification, respectively, while decreasing COD and BOD concentration were related to changes in swampland area.

The middle reach of the Mahakam River was indicated as the primary habitat for the Irrawaddy dolphins. Several land-use related water quality parameters appeared to influence dolphin distribution through indirect effects on prey distribution. However, other forms of human disturbances such as settlements and boat traffic likely had direct effects on dolphins, contributing to their absence from the lower reach of the river. Accordingly, conservation management of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mahakam River should focus on factors influencing prey species productivity in the river, such as the formation of fish reserves.

text: Environmental factors affecting the Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) distribution in the Mahakam River, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Tropical rivers are known to support high biodiversity, and are often characterised by vast floodplain areas and seasonal inundation patterns (Dudgeon, 1992). These rivers are places for many important terrestrial and freshwater species such as three true river dolphins species (Platanista gangetica, Platanista minor and Lipotes vexillifer) and the facultative freshwater dolphin – the Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris). The Mahakam River in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, is typical of other tropical rivers in Southeast Asia but is distinguished by a riverine population of the iconic Irrawaddy dolphins, known locally as Pesut. This freshwater population is classified as “Critically endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Like many other tropical rivers in Southeast Asia, the Mahakam River is also facing problems from rapid development in rural areas, characterised by a massive conversion of peatland forest to oil palm plantation, an increasing number of mining activities, and ongoing development of settlements. These developments are likely to have had both direct and indirect effects on the Irrawaddy dolphins.

Water quality parameters and land use type from sites in the upper, middle, and lower sections of the Mahakam River were used to quantify relationships with between broadscale catchment land-use changes and river habitat changes while anthropogenic factors such as fishing pressure and other forms of human disturbance were also assessed in relation to dolphin distribution. The objectives of this analysis were to (i) quantify changes in water quality in relation to land use, (ii) investigate the key environmental factors associated with Irrawaddy dolphin distribution and abundance in the Mahakam River, and (iii) integrate these findings with other information on dolphin ecology to make recommendations that support dolphin conservation management.

Over 1996–2017, the land use in the sub-catchments of government water quality monitoring sites demonstrated changes that reflected decreasing forestland and increasing estate cropland, mainly due to the development of the oil palm plantations in Indonesia. The downstream section of the river also received disturbance from a high proportion of agricultural and settlement land. These land-use changes were shown to be related to the state of water quality in the Mahakam River. Increasing TDS and SO4 were associated with increasing estate cropland and agricultural intensification, respectively, while decreasing COD and BOD concentration were related to changes in swampland area.

The middle reach of the Mahakam River was indicated as the primary habitat for the Irrawaddy dolphins. Several land-use related water quality parameters appeared to influence dolphin distribution through indirect effects on prey distribution. However, other forms of human disturbances such as settlements and boat traffic likely had direct effects on dolphins, contributing to their absence from the lower reach of the river. Accordingly, conservation management of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mahakam River should focus on factors influencing prey species productivity in the river, such as the formation of fish reserves.

year: 2018

title: Financing green innovation startups: a systematic literature review on early-stage SME funding

authors: Mukherjee, Abhishek

subjects: cleantech

abstract: This paper investigates the critical issue of financing early-stage green startups, examining the types of investors and finance models available, the challenges these startups face, and how the green finance ecosystem can better support early-stage investment. Utilizing a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape. Our findings reveal a significant paucity of data and a bias towards well-established North American and European ecosystems, while highlighting an emerging diversity in private finance sources post-Global financial crisis (GFC), including grants, equity, and crowdfunding. Despite this, there remains a heavy reliance on public funding and a lack of evidence regarding its impact. The inherent characteristics of cleantech–high capital expenditure, long investment horizons, and disruptive nature–necessitate innovative public financing instruments and policies to reduce risk and attract private investment. Our theoretical contribution highlights the necessity for interdisciplinary research and policy collaboration to develop a holistic entrepreneurial finance (entfin) ecosystem. This approach should integrate quantitative economic and qualitative behavioural finance research to address information asymmetries and improve the green economy policy mix. Such a framework will support public-private co-financing, enhance stakeholder engagement, and provide evidence for policy decisions, facilitating more rapid commercialization of cleantech innovations for environmental sustainability.

text: Financing green innovation startups: a systematic literature review on early-stage SME funding This paper investigates the critical issue of financing early-stage green startups, examining the types of investors and finance models available, the challenges these startups face, and how the green finance ecosystem can better support early-stage investment. Utilizing a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape. Our findings reveal a significant paucity of data and a bias towards well-established North American and European ecosystems, while highlighting an emerging diversity in private finance sources post-Global financial crisis (GFC), including grants, equity, and crowdfunding. Despite this, there remains a heavy reliance on public funding and a lack of evidence regarding its impact. The inherent characteristics of cleantech–high capital expenditure, long investment horizons, and disruptive nature–necessitate innovative public financing instruments and policies to reduce risk and attract private investment. Our theoretical contribution highlights the necessity for interdisciplinary research and policy collaboration to develop a holistic entrepreneurial finance (entfin) ecosystem. This approach should integrate quantitative economic and qualitative behavioural finance research to address information asymmetries and improve the green economy policy mix. Such a framework will support public-private co-financing, enhance stakeholder engagement, and provide evidence for policy decisions, facilitating more rapid commercialization of cleantech innovations for environmental sustainability.

year: 2024

title: A cohort history of mortality in New Zealand

authors: Pool, Ian

abstract: This paper uses the generational life tables to track historical mortality experience for New Zealand Pakeha and Māori. The key research questions we seek to explore concern with why was Pakeha life expectation so high so early, and why did this survival advantage disappeared by the mid 20th century and what has happened since? For the Māori population what was the impact of contact on Māori mortality, what were the changes that have occurred and why, and what has happened to Māori mortality recently? A key finding from the cohort mortality analysis is that gains in survivorship have momentum effects that propel this advantage forward as survivors move up through the age-groups. That said, however, periods of gain may be followed later by cohort deterioration occurring among the same generations later in their life cycle, and even by further cycles of reprise and deterioration. These cycles of gain, deterioration, reprise etc are more evident for males, and particularly for Māori. Policy implications of these findings are discussed.

text: A cohort history of mortality in New Zealand This paper uses the generational life tables to track historical mortality experience for New Zealand Pakeha and Māori. The key research questions we seek to explore concern with why was Pakeha life expectation so high so early, and why did this survival advantage disappeared by the mid 20th century and what has happened since? For the Māori population what was the impact of contact on Māori mortality, what were the changes that have occurred and why, and what has happened to Māori mortality recently? A key finding from the cohort mortality analysis is that gains in survivorship have momentum effects that propel this advantage forward as survivors move up through the age-groups. That said, however, periods of gain may be followed later by cohort deterioration occurring among the same generations later in their life cycle, and even by further cycles of reprise and deterioration. These cycles of gain, deterioration, reprise etc are more evident for males, and particularly for Māori. Policy implications of these findings are discussed.

year: 2003