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Researchers Develop Method to Track Forever Chemicals to Their Source

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14 Aug, 2024

This post was originally published on Eco Watch

Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin have found a way to track organofluorine compounds, which are common in pharmaceuticals and pesticides. The development could help trace these compounds and other types of forever chemicals found as contaminants in the environment to their sources.

Organofluorine compounds have strong bonds that keep them from breaking down in the environment, which is how they earned the nickname forever chemicals.  

Although the molecular bonds are strong enough to remain in the environment long-term, they are difficult to trace through conventional methods that rely on breaking molecules apart with a mass spectrometer.

In response, researchers developed a different chemical fingerprinting method for forever chemicals, in part using a method known as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, to find the isotopes in a compound without breaking apart the strong covalent bonds. They published their findings in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

“Part of the reason this has worked out so well is because we’re assembling tools from different areas of science [chemistry and geosciences] that don’t normally mix and using them to do something no one’s really done before,” explained David Hoffman, an associate professor at the University of Texas’ College of Natural Sciences.

Researchers tested the isotopes of compounds found in common pharmaceuticals and a broad-spectrum pesticide. The results revealed the unique isotope distributions in the compounds, which could allow researchers to trace where the compounds are made or released.

“Ultimately we will be able to trace molecules and see how they move,” Cornelia Rasmussen, co-author of the study and a research assistant professor at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, said in a statement. “For example, whether they just stay where they got dumped or whether they’re moving downstream.”

Forever chemicals are commonly understood to be per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). According to a separate analysis published in 2022, organofluorine compounds are also sometimes classified as PFAS, but definitions can vary by framework.

According to the study, this development could present a number of different uses, from detecting counterfeit pharmaceuticals to tracing the source of forever chemical pollution in waterways. Rasmussen noted the technique could even be used in space applications for learning more about early life on Earth or detecting and analyzing organic matter from Mars.

The study authors are currently using their method to analyze pollutants in waterways around Austin to determine its viability for tracking forever chemicals in water.

The post Researchers Develop Method to Track Forever Chemicals to Their Source appeared first on EcoWatch.

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Strengthening Community Resilience through Sustainable Non-Timber Forest Products

Strengthening Community Resilience through Sustainable Non-Timber Forest Products

Strengthening Community Resilience through Sustainable Non-Timber Forest Products
jschoshinski
Thu, 01/16/2025 – 18:32

In Zimbabwe, deforestation and habitat loss are not only threatening the country’s biodiversity and ability to mitigate climate change, but also threatening individuals’ livelihoods and their ability to adapt to climate change. Of the nearly 6,000 species of indigenous plants found in the country, some 900 of them are traditionally used as food, cosmetics, or medicine. These non-timber forest products (NTFPs) serve as supplemental sources of income for approximately 60 percent of rural households, providing an important source of income diversification as changes in rainfall—in part due to climate change—threaten traditional agricultural activities. By generating income for rural communities, Zimbabwe’s NTFPs offer a market-led approach to boosting climate resilience. 
The Economic Contribution of Non-Timber Forest Products in Zimbabwe 
In the landscapes where the USAID Resilience ANCHORS Activity works, one in six people, mostly women, rely on forests and wilderness areas for their livelihoods. Resilience ANCHORS supports community-led initiatives and locally prioritized interventions, including conserving forests and developing value chains for key NTFPs, such as Ximenia, mongongo nuts, wooden banana, marula, Kalahari melon seed, and rosella. Forest-based resources from remote, semi-arid regions can contribute up to 35 percent of rural incomes, while NTFP products like thatching grass, wild plant foods, mushrooms, honey, and mopane worms have an estimated annual subsistence value (i.e, the value associated with people using the products to support themselves rather than selling the products) of $294.3 million. Conserving these natural resources leads to strengthened livelihoods and healthier, more stable communities by supporting income diversification, which helps agricultural communities adapt to the impacts of climate change on crop yields.
Using Laws and Regulations to Strengthen Community Resilience
While NTFPs are vital resources for local communities, the lack of transparent laws and regulations has led to overexploitation and missed business opportunities. Limited awareness of the regulatory framework among stakeholders and community members exacerbates this issue. Resilience ANCHORS has supported the formation of NTFP collector groups that have developed formal governance structures, but the next objective is creating long-term sustainability through a robust legal framework that protects the environment and promotes community wellbeing. 
Sustainable harvesting remains critical for the long-term viability of Zimbabwe’s NTFPs, forests, and environment. Resilience ANCHORS, in collaboration with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Local Government and the Environmental Management Agency, conducted workshops to build awareness of the legislative challenges and foster dialogue. This resulted in the drafting of NTFP Model Bylaw, which seeks to address three key goals:

Fill gaps in the legal framework: Outline benefit-sharing mechanisms to foster fair trade practices, as community ownership and management of NTFPs ensures equitable distribution among stakeholders. 
Promote sustainability: Develop permits to control harvesting, trade volumes, and fees to generate revenue for conservation efforts and capacity-building initiatives.
Provide clear guidelines for NTFP harvesting and benefit-sharing: Specify sustainable harvesting quantities and methods to prevent over-harvesting and safeguard resources for future generations. 

The NTFP Model Bylaw will result in:

Enhanced community resilience through sustainable NTFP management by promoting sustainable livelihoods, environmental conservation, and social cohesion. 
Clarified benefit-sharing mechanisms to reduce exploitation and promote transparency, fairness, and community ownership. 
Informed climate-resilient natural resource management by promoting sustainable harvesting, conserving biodiversity, and enhancing ecosystem resilience. 

Effective implementation of these regulations requires collaboration, capacity-building, and regular monitoring. If adopted and implemented successfully, these regulations could help grow NTFP activities in a way that increases livelihoods and builds community resilience to climate change in Zimbabwe.

Teaser Text
By generating income for rural communities, Zimbabwe’s NTFPs offer a market-led approach to boosting climate resilience.

Publish Date
Thu, 01/16/2025 – 12:00

Author(s)

Itayi Usaiwevhu

Hero Image
Rosella harvest (1).JPG

Blog Type
Blog Post

Strategic Objective

Adaptation

Region

Africa

Topic

Adaptation
Agriculture
Biodiversity Conservation
Deforestation and Commodity Production
Economic Growth
Forest/Forestry
Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities
Natural Climate Solutions
Resilience
Rural

Country

Zimbabwe

Sectors

Adaptation
Agriculture and Food Systems

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