Reductions in emissions from deforestation from Indonesia’s moratorium on new oil palm,timber, and logging concessions

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation, Indonesia instituted a nationwide moratorium on new license areas (“concessions”) for oil palm plantations, timber plantations, and logging activity on primary forests and peat lands after May 2011. Here we indirectly evaluate the effectiveness of this policy using annual nationwide data on deforestation, concession licenses, and potential agricultural revenue from the decade preceding the moratorium. We estimate that on average granting a concession for oil palm, timber, or logging in Indonesia increased site-level deforestation rates by 17–127%, 44–129%, or 3.1–11.1%, respectively, above what would have occurred otherwise. We further estimate that if Indonesia’s moratorium had been in place from 2000 to 2010, then nationwide emissions from deforestation over that decade would have been 241–615 MtCO₂e (2.8–7.2%) lower without leakage, or 213–545 MtCO₂e (2.5–6.4%) lower with leakage. As a benchmark, an equivalent reduction in emissions could have been achieved using a carbon price-based instrument at a carbon price of $3.30–7.50/tCO₂e (mandatory) or $12.95–19.45/tCO₂e (voluntary). For Indonesia to have achieved its target of reducing emissions by 26%, the geographic scope of the moratorium would have had to expand beyond new concessions (15.0% of emissions from deforestation and peat degradation) to also include existing concessions (21.1% of emissions) and address deforestation outside of concessions and protected areas (58.7% of emissions). Place-based policies, such as moratoria, may be best thought of as bridge strategies that can be implemented rapidly while the institutions necessary to enable carbon price-based instruments are developed.Reducing deforestation in Indonesia can contribute to climate-change mitigation at a globally significant scale. Estimates of annual greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation in Indonesia and the associated degradation of peat soils ranged from 0.32 to 1.91 GtCO₂e during 2000–2010 (1–6) (SI Appendix, Fig. S1) relative to a global total of 40–49 GtCO₂e from 2000 to 2010 (7). Deforestation in Indonesia is largely driven by the expansion of profitable and legally sanctioned oil palm and timber plantations and logging operations (5, 8–13). National and provincial governments zone areas of forest land to be logged or converted to plantation agriculture, and then district governments issue licenses to individual companies for these purposes (“concessions”) (14, 15). Substantial deforestation occurs outside of legally sanctioned concession areas as well.In May 2010, the national government of Indonesia announced a moratorium prohibiting district governments from granting new concession licenses (16, 17). The moratorium covered licenses for three types of activities: (i) conversion of primary forests and peat lands to oil palm plantations (oil palm concessions); (ii) conversion of primary forests and peat lands to fast-growing tree plantations for pulp and paper (timber concessions); and (iii) logging of commercially valuable tree species within forests (logging concessions). The moratorium was enacted in the context of a national strategy for reducing emissions from deforestation (REDD+) (18), a national target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions projected to 2020 by 26–41% while increasing gross domestic product by 7% per year (19), and a $1 billion bilateral cooperative agreement with Norway on reducing emissions from deforestation (20). The moratorium came into force in May 2011 (21) and was extended in May 2013 for an additional 2 y (22).The moratorium was conceived as both a stepping-stone to reforming Indonesia’s complex forest tenure system and a mechanism for reducing deforestation in its own right (23). The moratorium has been criticized for not covering secondary (i.e., logged) forests, for providing potential loopholes for food and energy security, for periodic downward revisions to the total moratorium area, for leaving a grace period between the announcement and the implementation of the moratorium during which licenses could still be obtained, and for not curtailing deforestation within existing concessions (24–27). Furthermore it has been noted that Indonesia’s deforestation rate has continued an upward trend from 2000 through 2012, even after the implementation of the moratorium in 2011 (28, 29). However, the effectiveness of the moratorium in reducing emissions from deforestation has yet to be quantified. Deforestation in recent years might have been even higher in the absence of a moratorium.Here we have evaluated the effectiveness of the moratorium policy by analyzing annual nationwide data on deforestation, the boundaries and license dates of concessions, and potential agricultural revenue from 2000 to 2010, the decade preceding the moratorium. The decade preceding the moratorium is ideal for scenario analysis because we can’t know where concessions would have been designated post-2011 without a moratorium, but we do know where pre-2010 concessions would not have been with a moratorium. Thus, we are able to construct a counterfactual scenario in which the moratorium policy in its current form was applied over the previous decade, and compare emissions under this simulated scenario to the emissions that actually occurred.We first answered the question: How much did the designation of a concession increase local (grid cell-level) deforestation above what would have occurred there without a concession? We used panel econometric techniques to control for potentially confounding geographic and time-variant factors and to construct upper and lower bounds around the magnitude of the treatment effect. Next, we answered the question: How much lower would Indonesia’s emissions from deforestation have been from 2000 to 2010 if no new concessions had been granted on primary forests and peat lands during that period? We aggregated estimates of local (grid cell-level) land-use change to the national level, accounted for geographic displacement of deforestation caused by market feedbacks (“leakage”), and applied grid cell-specific carbon emission factors for deforestation and peat degradation. Finally, we answered the question: At what carbon price would a price-based instrument have achieved an equivalent reduction in emissions over the same time period? We compared the estimated emission reductions from the place-based moratorium policy with the estimated emission reductions from a hypothetical carbon price-based instrument, adapting the Open Source Impacts of REDD+ Incentives Spreadsheet (OSIRIS) Indonesia model (4). We examined both a mandatory carbon price-based instrument (e.g., a cap-and-trade or symmetric tax-and-subsidy program) and a voluntary carbon price-based instrument (e.g., a project-level REDD+ program with business-as-usual reference levels).With this paper we contribute to several literatures. First, we expand the literature on quasi-experimental evaluation of the causal impact of conservation measures (30), such as protected areas (31–33), payment-for-ecosystem-services programs (33, 34), logging concessions (35), and clearing bans (36), to include agricultural concessions. Even though agricultural concessions are used to legally sanction deforestation on at least 150 million hectares of forest in at least 12 countries (37), and curtailing the expansion of such concessions represents a potentially promising policy for reducing emissions from deforestation, the effects of agricultural concessions on deforestation have only been estimated obliquely in econometric studies exploring other topics (4, 38, 39). Additionally, to our knowledge our paper is the first to transform area-based treatment effects to emissions-based treatment effects. Second, our paper is rare in that it uses panel data and techniques. Nearly all previous spatially explicit econometric studies of land-use change have necessarily relied upon cross-sectional analyses because of data availability constraints. In a meta-analysis of 117 such studies (40), only three have previously used panel methods (39, 41, 42). This paper is at the forefront of what is likely to be a proliferation of panel econometric analyses enabled by the recent availability of reliable, annual, globally consistent data on patterns of forest loss (28). Third, our paper is rare in that it calibrates the effect of land-use designations empirically. Nearly all previous land-use change scenario analyses have assumed idealized perfect effectiveness of conservation measures or complete conversion without such measures. A recent review of this literature found that only 1 of 71 peer-reviewed studies explicitly incorporated the difference in probable threat between reserved and nonreserved scenarios (43). Finally, our paper is to our knowledge the first to compare the effectiveness of place-based policies with alternative carbon price-based instruments for climate change mitigation within a landscape.     

Cryoinjury with compartment syndrome of bilateral hands secondary to Freon gas: a case report and review of current literature

Freon is an industrial refrigerant that can result in serious cryoinjury of the skin. Although there had been a few reported cases, the optimal management is not clear. We present the first case report of a patient with freon-induced cryoinjury of bilateral hands, complicated with compartment syndrome and treated with a combination of surgical decompression, negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT), and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). On follow-up, there was a complete healing without tissue loss or significant atrophy of the intrinsic muscles of the hand. Therefore, we opined that HBOT and NPWT may work synergistically to prevent progressive tissue damage and improve the long-term outcome, especially when vascularity is compromised in severe cryoinjuries of the hand.Level of Evidence: Level V, therapeutic study.     

Sonographic appearance of a dermoid cyst (mature cystic teratoma) of the spleen

Splenic dermoids are rare, with few published case reports and no ultrasound images in the English literature. We report the case of a 57‐year‐old woman with that diagnosis and illustrate it with ultrasound, CT, and pathology images. We discuss the differential diagnosis of solid splenic lesions. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 43 :132–134, 2015     

Using WhatsApp and Facebook Online Social Groups for Smoking Relapse Prevention for Recent Quitters: A Pilot Pragmatic Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundQuit attempters often have episodes of smoking relapse before they eventually quit. Interactive text messaging through mobile phones has been shown to increase abstinence. This service can be potentially applied on the platform of a social networking service to help quitters maintain abstinence.ObjectiveOur aim was to determine if the group discussion and reminders via the WhatsApp or Facebook social group were effective to prevent smoking relapse in quitters who had stopped smoking recently.MethodsThis was a single-blinded, parallel, 3-arm pilot cluster randomized controlled trial allocating recent quitters, who had completed an 8-week treatment and reported abstinence for at least 7 days, to WhatsApp (n=42), Facebook (n=40), and a control group (n=54). The 2 intervention groups participated in a 2-month online group discussion with either WhatsApp or Facebook moderated by a trained smoking cessation counselor and received a self-help booklet on smoking cessation. The control group only received the booklet. The primary outcome was the 2- and 6-month relapse rates, defined as the proportion of participants who smoked at least 5 cigarettes in 3 consecutive days.ResultsFewer participants in the WhatsApp group (17%, 7/42) reported relapse than the control group (42.6%, 23/54) at 2-month (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.10-0.71) and 6-month (40.5%, 17/42 vs 61.1%, 33/54; OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.19-0.99) follow-ups. The Facebook group (30.0%, 12/40) had an insignificantly lower relapse rate than the control group (42.6%, 23/54) at 2-month (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.24-1.37) and 6-month (52.5%, 13/40 vs 61.1%, 33/54; OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.31-1.61) follow-ups. The WhatsApp social groups had more moderators’ posts (median 60, IQR 25 vs median 32, IQR 7; P=.05) and participants’ posts (median 35, IQR 50 vs median 6, IQR 9; P=.07) than their Facebook counterparts, but the difference was insignificant.ConclusionsThe intervention via the WhatsApp social group was effective in reducing relapse probably because of enhanced discussion and social support. Inactive discussion in the Facebook social group might have attributed to the lower effectiveness.ClinicalTrialClinicaltrials.gov NCT02007369; https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02007369 (Archived by WebCite® at http://www.webcitation.org/6c3RbltQG)     

The protective effects of aqueous extract of Carica papaya seeds in paracetamol induced nephrotoxicity in male wistar rats

Background

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of drug induced nephrotoxicity. The study aimed to determine the nephroprotective and ameliorative effects of Carica papaya seed extract in paracetamol-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Objectives

To carry out phytochemical screening of Carica papaya, measure serum urea, creatinine and uric acid and describe the histopathological status of the kidneys in the treated and untreated groups.

Methods

Phytochemical screening of the extract was done. Thirty two adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n= 8 in each group). Group A (control) animals received normal saline for seven days, group B (paracetamol group) received normal saline, and paracetamol single dose on the 8th day. Group C received Carica papaya extract (CPE) 500 mg/kg, and paracetamol on the 8th day, while group D, rats were pretreated with CPE 750 mg/kg/day,and paracetamol administration on the 8th day. Samples of kidney tissue were removed for histopathological examination.

Results

Screening of Carica papaya showed presence of nephroprotective pytochemicals. Paracetamol administration resulted in significant elevation of renal function markers. CPE ameliorated the effect of paracetamol by reducing the markers as well as reversing the paracetamol-induced changes in kidney architecture.

Conclusion

Carica papaya contains nephroprotective phytochemicals and may be useful in preventing kidney damage induced by paracetamol.     

Evaluation of serum metallothionein-1, selenium, zinc, and copper in Ghanaian type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Metabolic disturbances of trace elements may be implicated in the complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of the study was to determine the level of Zinc (Zn), Selenium (Se), Copper (Cu) and the metal binding protein Metallothionein-1 (MT-1) in T2DM. Fifty-five (55) T2DM subjects and 30 Controls (C) were studied for, Se, Zn, Cu and MT-1. Zn, Se and Cu were analyzed using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Mean FBG in the T2DM and C groups were 183?±?5 mg/dl and 88?±?5 mg/dl, respectively. Mean Se, Zn and Cu levels in the T2DM group were 204?±?91 μg/l, 407?±?117 μg/l and 1,337?±?527 μg/l, respectively. The control group had Se, Zn and Cu levels of 123?±?25 μg/l, 750?±?190 μg/l and 989?±?197 μg/l, respectively. While Zn levels in T2DM were half that of the C, Se levels were?≈?2-fold. Se, Zn and Cu differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P?=?0.000; P?=?0.000, P?=?0.000, respectively). The metabolic derailment of MT-1 in the T2DM group showed a wide variation with the T2DM having significantly lower MT-1 values (P?=?0.000). A negative correlation was seen between Cu and Zn in the T2DM group (P?=?0.022). A standardized canonical discriminant function was obtained as D?=?0.823*FBG?0.149*MT?0.457*Zn?+?0.172*Cu?+?0.362*Se with contributions of FBG?>?Zn?>?Se?>?Cu?>?MT-1. In conclusion, alterations in the levels of Zn, Se and Cu were observed in Ghanaian T2DM patients.     

Increased efficacy and decreased systemic-effects of botulinum toxin A injection after active or passive muscle manipulation

The effect of physical manipulation on the outcome of neurotoxin (NT) injection was studied in a rat tibialis anterior (TA) model system where dorsiflexion torque could be measured precisely. After determination of initial torque, all rats received a one-time botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection (dose 6.0 units/kg in a volume of 100 microL) into the TA midbelly. Four experimental groups were studied: one group was subjected to BTX-A injection alone (BTX-A only, n=8), one was subjected to BTX-A injection followed immediately by 10 isometric contractions (ISO; n=9), and the third was subjected to BTX-A followed immediately by 10 muscle passive stretch/release cycles (PS; n=10). After 1 month, maximum dorsiflexion torque of the injected and contralateral legs was determined followed by quantification of TA fiber area. Post-injection torque was significantly reduced by around 80% in all NT-treated extremities 1 month after injection (p<0.05). While all NT-treated extremities demonstrated a significant torque decrease relative to their pre-injection levels, ISO and PS groups demonstrated significantly lower torques compared with the BTX-A only group which received no physical manipulation (p<0.05) indicating greater efficacy. Perhaps even more surprising was that the ISO and PS groups both demonstrated a significantly smaller contralateral effect compared with the BTX-A only group that received no manipulation (p<0.05) indicating a decreased systemic-effect. Muscle fiber size generally correlated with dorsiflexion torque. These data demonstrate that both neuromuscular activity (seen in the ISO group) and muscle movement (seen in the PS group) increased the efficacy of BTX-A and decreased the systemic side effects.