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The fundamental differences between the dimensions of sustainable development have been identified by researchers and many assessment tools have been developed in several countries. This paper introduces the development of a methodology for determining the weight of each dimension employed in sustainable construction assessment through the use of assessment tools that use the Brazilian indicators of sustainable development in accordance with the Commission on Sustainable Development, and also through the utilization of a database provided by the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute (IBGE). Firstly, the Sustainability Panel tool was employed to reveal separately the status of dimensions in sustainable development (environmental, social and economic) and then it was made a statistical analysis of the results for each region in Brazil (north, northeast, midwest, southeast and south). The solution presented in this paper aims to reduce the inconsistencies found in the adjustments of the assessment tools considering regional differences based on political actions included in governmental agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Evaluating the impacts on biodiversity by means of the life cycle assessment (LCA) is a task researchers are currently facing. One impact assessment method that aims to do so is the recently developed biodiversity impact assessment BIA+. The aim of the present paper is to test this method and to show its applicability and feasibility. Additionally opportunities and challenges of this method shall be revealed. For this purpose, a case study for assessing the impacts of biodiesel production on freshwater biodiversity is introduced. Two substances, namely phosphorus and 1,4-dichlorobenzene (DCB), which are used for the biodiesel production for fertilization and the usage of pesticides, are being considered. The inventory data needed for the case study is gathered through the grey water footprint of the crop production that forms the basis of the European biodiesel consumption. Further, the BIA+ method is applied in order to assess the impacts of the biodiesel consumption in Europe for the year 2010 on freshwater biodiversity. The results reveal that even though assumptions have to be made and the results are highly uncertain, this method helps to identify hotspots within production processes. By including the BIA+ as an impact assessment method into LCA, impacts of products can be assessed with regard to biodiversity including genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. The main impact hotspot occurs in France with a potential loss of the biodiversity of 0.5 points. The lowest loss of the biodiversity occurs in Brazil (loss of 8.05*10–06 points). The results are mainly influenced by the impact of the toxic substance 1,4-DCB. By means of the case study, it is shown that the BIA+ method is applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South America, the presence of the non-native mollusc Limnoperna fortunei ( Dunker, 1857 ) (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Mytilidae) in rivers and reservoirs may result in several impacts on the environment and economic activities. In a continental scale, the factors that most influence the dispersion of the species are anthropogenic vectors such as the movement of boats and people. Due to this, distribution models based solely on climatic variables often fail to predict the areas most subject to invasion, both spatially and temporally. An alternative to overcome this problem is the evaluation assuming the phenomenon as a complex system. In this paper, we have used a cellular automata model to predict the spread of the golden mussel in the Brazilian territory, on a temporal and spatial scale. We assume three parameters of interest: a) altitude b) characteristics of the river, and c) human population density. Transition rules were defined based on various considerations discussed in the article. The algorithm estimated satisfactorily the risk of invasion by L. fortunei to date (year of 2016), and the simulations for the years 2030 and 2050 predicted a high risk of invasion in north and northeastern Brazil. The increased risk of invasion predicted by the model for the next decades indicates that prevention and control measures should be applied immediately and this is of the utmost importance for the country to be able to comply with the #9 Aichi target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As the concept of sustainable development is more accepted and incorporated by institutions, it becomes necessary to evaluate the performance of the national economy based on new methods and not only on economic indicators. Despite the importance of sustainability to the preservation of natural ecosystems and services, there is no agreement in the world scientific community concerning a methodology to evaluate that concept. In the last decade, two scientific tools have been extensively used worldwide to measure the human impact on nature: Ecological Footprint and Emergy Synthesis. Papers trying to combine them, and to obtain more accurate results have appeared in scientific literature, of which approach is an important one. Unfortunately, some weak points of the original methods still remain in the new approaches proposed. The objective of this work is to discuss some weak points found in the Ecological Footprint and Emergy Synthesis and to use the positive aspects and potential improvements from both methodologies at a national level. Emergy deals with the notion that all energy that is used directly and indirectly in a process to deliver an output product, flow or service should be accounted for. A new definition for Biocapacity was introduced meaning “the natural area''s capacity of receiving renewable energy”, rather than “usable biomass” as proposed by the conventional Ecological Footprint methodology. The questions to be answered by the proposed methodology are how much land would be equivalent to consumption, if products were generated solely by the use of natural renewable resources (Emergetic Footprint), and how much land would be available in the system considering world''s average capacity of receiving renewable energy (Emergetic Renewable Biocapacity). A new category called “areas not occupied by humans” is included in the Biocapacity. It is composed of open ocean, deserts and frozen land (areas excluded from the conventional Footprint method). Footprint or consumption means the load imposed by humans on the environment and was grouped in categories: cropland, forestry, animal products and energy resources. Ecological Fooptrint using Emergy was used to assess Brazil as a case study, resulting in a Biocapacity of 62.2ghaperson−1 and a Footprint of 41.9ghaperson−1, using data from 2004. The positive aspects of the approach proposed are: (i) its ease of application at global and national scales; (ii) the indicator of consumption (Footprint) accounts for the direct and indirect energy used to generate products and services; (iii) a new category considering areas excluded from the conventional method was included in the Biocapacity calculation, which can be a valid step towards the evaluation and assessment of services provided by nature. On the other hand, the approach has as main limitations: (i) it is not possible to make comparisons between the Biocapacity and Footprint for each category; (ii) there is a need for a handbook with well-explained calculations of emergy intensity factors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Lichens are considered bioindicators and, as such, are widely used for air quality monitoring, especially in urban-industrial areas. The present paper proposes an evaluation of lichen communities in urban areas. The corticolous lichen community was assessed at 29 sampling stations in the city of Porto Alegre, in addition to a reference area located in the State Park in the city of Viamão, southern Brazil. The rubber band method was used for lichen mapping; three hundred host-trees were analyzed, at 11 different height levels. Lichens were evaluated in terms of composition, richness, cover and diversity, and sampling stations were classified based on the Index of Atmospheric Purity (IAP) complemented by the Environmental Classification Factor (ECF). The inclusion of ECF as a complement to the original IAP formula is proposed in the present study and not only richness and cover components are considered, but also data on the lichenized mycota composition (considering its different morphological forms). One hundred and thirty-one (131) taxa have been identified, out of which 13 specimens may be considered as indicators of urban areas, and the predominance of taxa belonging to the crustose and foliose morphological group was verified. The sampling stations were classified into five zones, ranging from lichen-free zones to optimal zones for lichen development. The use of lichen proved to be efficient to both evaluate air quality and identify alterations of urban microclimates. The application of an ECF-based correction factor is expected to complement the use of IAP, making it a more sensitive index, since an analysis of a multivaried information profile was deemed necessary, especially in regions where specimen diversity is higher. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nature conservation and restoration activities require delineation of effective conservation networks. This paper presents a methodology which allows a quick evaluation of different planning options for extensive areas. We analyzed the spatial structure of remaining patches of the natural Cerrado vegetation in the Balsás sub-basin, South of Maranhão State of Brazil (about 25,590km2) in order to understand how the remaining habitats are distributed and spatially configured. Conservation area network scenarios are based on hexagonal cells, referred to as analysis unit (AU) cells. A multi-scale analysis of 10,000ha and 50,000ha AU cells was set up to represent local and regional scales, respectively. For each AU at both local and regional scales we computed landscape metrics of native vegetation: NATIVE VEGETATION COVER: percentage of native vegetation cover; (NV-NP): number of patches; (NV-MSI): mean shape index. Subsequently, five different conservation and restoration strategies were defined: (a) only enforce nature conservation within legally established units; (b) target nature conservation only within the local AU landscape; (c) target regional management by combining neighboring AU; (d) management of both local landscape and region; (e) protect the legal conservation areas and promote local and regional conservation. We also generated scenarios of habitat capacity for mammals and matched these results with the different vegetation conservation scenarios. Results indicate that only 12% of the study area is well conserved and that 43% of the region is in a very critical condition. The percentage of AU cells where native vegetation conservation actions are required differ for the five conservation strategies: These results allow policy makers and other stakeholders to target the locations and extent of conservation units required. We suggest that about 45% of the sub-basin could be managed at local, regional or both scales. Regarding a mammal species diversity scenario an even higher percentage of the average habitat capacity of the selected species occurs in open cerrado and valleys areas that coincide with critical areas. The proposed multi-scale analysis unit cell approach can support the planning process of extensive areas as necessary in Brazil. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A semi-analytical model was proposed to retrieve Chl- a using satellite imagery. • The model was based on the inherent optical properties (IOPs). • Chl- a distribution was mapped in inland waters from oligo-to-hypereutrophic status. • The model error was higher for hypereutrophic waters. • The model can be used operationally for long-term monitoring of the trophic status. Previous studies have shown the challenges in using a single model to estimate chlorophyll- a concentration (Chl- a) in water bodies with widely differing characteristics. A single model based on remote sensing to map the Chl- a distribution across the entire Tietê River Cascade System (TRCS) serves as a cost and time-efficient alternative to the conventional monitoring by providing trophic status over space and time. The Tietê River contains one of the largest cascade reservoir systems in the world, which sustains important ecological and socio-economic activities in the São Paulo State, Brazil. Surplus nutrients in water draining its surrounding catchments have been the main cause of eutrophication in the reservoirs of the TRCS. To assess the trophic state of the reservoirs, Chl- a has been regularly monitored by sampling points. However, they are limited by operational costs and dependent on weather conditions. Moreover, the current sampling method only produces point-based measurements. In this paper, we calibrate remote sensing images based on the absorption coefficient to map the spatial distribution patterns of Chl- a levels in the reservoirs. Mapping is done by estimating the Chl- a concentration. The absorption coefficients were retrieved from OLI/Landsat images using the Quasi-Analytical Algorithm (QAA). The total absorption (a t) in 482 nm and 655 nm retrieved by QAA presented NRMSE of 17% and 18.5%, respectively. Both a t (482 and 655 nm) were used in the model calibration and presented a satisfactory result covering all data ranges, with R2 of 0.646 and NRMSE of 15.3%. The proposed model in this study to retrieve Chl- a maps with relatively high accuracy can be incorporated into the operational monitoring system of the TRCS at a low cost that can provide timely information for reservoir managers to carry out necessary actions. This may include mitigating environmental impacts caused by sudden algae blooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We estimated species abundances from presence data of a threatened tropical dry forest. • We used a resampling method to deal with varying sampling efforts over space/time. • The databases built can guide Caatinga conservation practices and ecosystem functioning studies. • Our resampling methodology can be applied in similar presence/absence databases. Species abundance data is essential to understand ecosystems structure and functioning and to support species and habitat conservation. However, most regional to global databases provide only presence or presence/absence data. The main aim of this paper is to develop a methodology to estimate plant species abundances from a presence/absence database using as a case-study the largest and one of the most diverse tropical dry forest of the world – the understudied Caatinga vegetation, that dominates in the drylands of Brazil. Plant data missed abundance estimations and derived from different sources, with uneven sampling efforts over space and time. Starting from the raw data, we considered only the presence records of terrestrial plant individuals identified to the species-level. Afterwards, we applied the re-sampling method to estimate species abundances thus obtaining database DB1. To deal with the uneven sampling effort along the study area and increase information reliability, we filtered DB1 in two ways: (i) we excluded re-sampling units with a lower sampling effort and produced the Database DB2; (ii) we excluded low occurrence species and build the Database DB3. The reliability of the databases was compared by calculating a measure of their completeness. DB1 had 789 species over 323 sampling units, DB2 retained 530 species distributed in 38 sampling units, and DB3 retained 48 species over 113 sampling units. In DB1 and DB2, despite the different number of species considered, the percentage of exotic (7%), endemism (14%), woody (44%), climber (12%), and herbaceous species (45%) was similar. DB3 included only native species (no exotic species) and displayed a higher percentage of endemism (29%) and woody species (79%), and a lower proportion of herbaceous species (21%) than DB1 and DB2. The databases obtained provide an important basis to improve Caatinga ecological knowledge and conservation: we suggest the use of DB2 to support conservation strategies, and of DB3 to support ecosystem structure and functioning studies. Moreover, the re-sampling methodology proposed to estimate plant abundances from presence data, dealing with uneven sampling efforts across large areas and over time, provides an important tool that may be used to obtain abundance data, often essential to the development of plant-based indicators of ecosystem structure and functioning, and to support conservation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]