生态环境导向的开发(EOD)投融资模式创新需求

生态环境导向的开发模式是解决传统生态治理项目公益性强而经济效益较差的重要手段。本研究总结了“EOD+PPP”模式、投资人+EPC模式、ABO模式、政府专项债券和创新型贷款模式等五项模式的特点与应用案例,并从地方政府支出角度剖析了各种模式的适用条件。本文认为,当前 EOD模式的运行难点包括:产业培育周期较长,投资回报不确定性较大;开发存在诸多风险因素,缺少标准化制度体系;金融机构缺乏积极性,配套投融资考评体系建设不足。最后提出 EOD模式创新的政策建议,通过关联产业一体化实施、协同生态价值实现机制、强化风险管控评估、规范应用投融资模式为完善EOD投融资模式创新提供思路。     

关于EOD模式支持乡村振兴的探索与思考

乡村振兴是国家战略,产业兴旺和生态宜居是乡村振兴战略的重要内容,但农村生态环境提升面临资金短缺、产业发展呈现低端低效化等问题。采用生态环境导向的开发（EOD）模式可以推动生态保护与产业发展深度融合,提升生态环境质量,发展特色产业,创新投融资模式。以辽源市北部采煤沉陷区EOD模式试点项目为例,深入探索EOD模式在乡村振兴领域的实际应用,以期为推广EOD模式助力乡村振兴提供一定参考。     

GEP核算：理论内涵与现实挑战

当前学术界对于GEP的概念内涵和核算方法仍在探索之中,而地方实践已然走在理论研究之前。GEP核算是生态服务价值的货币化评价,主要是为了科学认识生态系统服务的潜在价值,不等同于生态服务价值的市场显现;核算的出发点是为了更好保护自然资本,而非生态产品价值转化。GEP核算通过货币化评价生态服务价值,将自然资本保护更好地纳入经济社会发展决策,为完善生态补偿机制、进行生态文明绩效考核、引导人造资本和人力资本进入生态产业化提供重要参考依据。GEP和GDP都是流量,将GEP直接转化为GDP在逻辑上不成立。如何使GEP核算更好地服务于生态产品价值实现,需要在理论上厘清逻辑关联,在实践中明晰政策边界。     

生态产品价值实现的理论研究与实践进展

生态产品价值实现是推动“绿水青山”向“金山银山”转化的关键路径，近年来成为研究习近平生态文明思想的热点领域。本文就生态产品价值的内涵理解、实现机理、主要路径及具体实践模式，梳理了近年来国内学者的研究成果，并在此基础上总结与分析，指出存在的问题、提出相关建议。对生态产品价值的理解，目前国内学者从早期的分歧已逐步形成统一的认识，即生态产品本质上是人类从自然生态系统中直接或间接获取的物质和服务的总称，其价值来自生态系统服务价值。生态产品价值实现则是其存在价值通过各种路径被人类消费或使用，最终转化为经济收益或是民生福祉的过程。生态产品价值实现的基本路径主要包括产业发展、市场交易、金融扶持、政府调控和社会参与5种方式，国内目前的实践案例则可以归类为15种模式。但各地在实践过程中也面临生态产品识别边界不清晰、生态产品价值实现机理认识不统一、配套机制不完善以及路径模式创新与实践不够等问题，后续应加快建立生态产品调查统计与评估核算方法体系、完善自然资源产权制度、加强实践模式创新与推广应用。     

生态系统服务市场化应确立的法律原则

政府补偿模式和市场补偿模式本身都存在弊端,而生态系统服务市场的出现,正是对传统市场的突破和创新,其实质是在政府配额与市场机制的双重作用下,将生态补偿市场化的过程。实现生态补偿市场化,设计出科学合理的生态补偿市场化的法律制度,离不开对相关法律原则的探究。生态系统服务市场化法律原则的确立,是建立与完善相关法律规范的逻辑起点,因此,结合我国生态补偿模式的基本情况和美国缓解银行制度的成功经验对生态系统服务市场化应确立的整体性原则、意思自治原则、受益者付费原则等五大法律原则进行了分析。     

大伙房水库上游地区生态补偿标准研究

相对于自然生态保护其他方面,江河断流、湖泊湿地萎缩、水源涵养功能退化、水土流失加剧等流域污染问题,水资源保护存在的“上游投入、下游得利”不合理现象,不断加剧水资源质量的衰减和水体环境的恶化。本文以维持流域生态系统平衡及生态服务功能,调整流域相关利益方生态及其经济利益分配关系为依据,根据流域面临的生态保护、污染治理和水资源合理利用等问题特点,以大伙房水库上游地区为例,构建以生态系统服务功能价值和机会成本理论为基础的生态补偿标准估算模型,对流域生态补偿资金进行分配,探索建立不同类型、各有侧重、因地制宜的生态补偿标准,在试点和实践中调整完善,为国家建立流域生态补偿机制和政策提供模式和经验。     

生态产业园区发展模式研究——基于食物链类型的分析

生态产业园区是循环经济在区域层面的实践模式,是园区可持续发展的方向和趋势.基于自然生态系统食物链类型,分析了产业生态系统的资源利用方式以及成员间的相互关系,尝试性地提出适合我国生态产业园区发展的3种典型模式:牧食型生态产业园区、寄生型生态产业园区和腐生型生态产业园区.以合肥市为例,对生态产业园区发展模式选择和产业生态链构建进行了具体分析.     

生态脱贫——山区农业县脱贫致富的有效途径——对四川苍溪县生态脱贫模式的分析

10多年来,四川苍溪县结合实际,立足资源优势,因地制宜,不断实践、探索、总结,走出了一条适合山区农村生态脱贫致富的道路,形成了生态脱贫的“苍溪模式”。本文旨在采用生态经济学理论,运用生态工程分析方法,对该模式生态经济的结构、功能进行分析,以探索适合山区农业县生态脱贫的有效途径。     

对生态补偿政策的几点思考

建立生态补偿政策是实现“三个转变”和制度创新的需要。环境资源价值理论、经济外部性理论和公共产品理论是生态补偿政策的理论基础;“破坏者付费,保护者受益原则”、“受益者补偿原则”、“公平性原则”、“政府主导、市场推进原则”和“分步推进”是生态补偿的基本原则。目前,我国事实的生态补偿政策主要包括财政补偿、流域内部补偿、征收生态环境补偿税费、市场方式补偿、异地开发补偿和国家间补偿。中国的生态补偿政策存在观念障碍、法律障碍、技术障碍,需要采取有效措施,尽快完善我国的生态补偿政策。     

发展中国家典型环境服务付费实践案例分析——肯尼亚的经验与启示CSSCI

基于新古典经济学纯粹市场理论的环境付费机制,在当前全球知识经济体系下已暴露出明显不足。随着工业化水平的提高,对环境的关注已成为突出的政治问题,特别是一些发达国家的民众越来越对以环境破坏与物种减少为代价获取经济与技术的快速发展提出质疑。比较了发达国家与发展中国家环境服务付费实践的差异,选择肯尼亚等5个发展中国家典型PES项目实践案例,介绍、分析、总结了PES实践的经验与教训,结合我国生态补偿实践的现状和新时期生态补偿实践中出现的主要新问题,提出思考与建议。     

AN APPLICATION RUNOFF MODEL STRATEGY FOR UNGAGED WATERSHEDS1

ABSTRACT: Mathematical models for predicting watershed surface flow responses are available, most of which are elaborate nonlinear numerical surface and channel flow models linked with infiltration models. Such models may be used to make predictions for ungaged areas, assuming an acceptable fitting of the model to the topography and roughness of the real system. For some application purposes, these models are impractical because of their complexity and expensive computer solutions. A procedure is developed that uses a complex model of an ungaged area to derive a simpler parametric nonlinear system model for repetitious simulation with input sequences. The predicted flow outputs are obtained with the simpler model at significant savings of money and time. The procedures for constructing a complex kinematic model of a 40 acre (161,880 m²) reference watershed and deriving the simpler system model are outlined. The results of predictions from both models are compared with a selected set of measured events, all having essentially the same initial conditions. Peak discharges ranged from 3 to 118 ft³/sec (0.085 to 3.34 m³/sec), which includes the largest event of record. The inherent limitations of lumped systems models are demonstrated, including the bias caused by their inability to model infiltration losses after rainfall ceases. Computer costs and times for the models were compared. The derived simple model has a cost advantage when repeated use of a model is required. Such an applications hydrologic model has an engineering tradeoff of reduced accuracy, and lumping bias, but is more economical for certain design purposes.     

Conversion of temperate forests into heaths: Role of ecosystem disturbance and ericaceous plants

Fire and logging in nutrient-poor temperate forests with certain ericaceous understory plants may convert the forests into heaths. The process of disturbance-induced heath formation is documented by using examples ofCalluna in western Europe,Kalmia in Newfoundland, andGaultheria (salal) in coastal British Columbia. In a cool, temperate climate, rapid vegetative growth ofCalluna, Kalmia, and salal following disturbance results in increasing organic accumulation (paludification), nutrient sequestration, soil acidification, and allelochemicals. These are thought to be the main reasons to conifer regeneration failure in disturbed habitats. If continuation in forest is a land-use objective, then temperate forests with an ericaceous understory should not be logged unless effective silvicultural methods are devised to control the ericaceous plants and restore forest regeneration. Preharvest vegetation control may be considered as an option. Failure to control the understory plants may lead to a long-term vegetation shift, from forest to heathland, particularly in nutrient-poor sites. Successful methods of controllingKalmia andGaultheria, however, have yet to be developed. While theKalmia- andGaultheria- dominated heathlands are undesirable in Canada and the Pacific Northwest, a wide range ofCalluna heathlands of western Europe are being conserved as natural and seminatural vegetation.     

BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS AND BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ESTUARINE/COASTAL POLLUTION1

ABSTRACT: Sustained interest in and concern about the health status of the aquatic environment has resulted in extensive research focused on (1) effects of pollution on survival, growth, and reproduction of resource species at all life stages; (2) diseases of fish and shellfish, as they may be related to pollution and as they may serve as indicators of environmental stress; and (3) contaminant body burdens in fish and shellfish - their effects on the aquatic animals and their potential effects on humans. Effects, lethal and sublethal, of pollutants on life history stages of fish and shellfish have been documented, as have impacts on local stocks in badly degraded habitats, but as yet there has been no adequate quantitative demonstration of effects on entire aquatic species - probably because of the difficulty in sorting out relative effects of the many environmental factors that influence abundance. Sublethal effects, especially those that result in disease, have been examined intensively, and some diseases and disease syndromes have been associated statistically with pollution. Other pollution indicators (biochemical, physiological, genetic, behavioral, and ecological) have also received some attention, as have body burdens of contaminants in aquatic species. Research, especially that conducted during the past decade, has done much to clarify the many pathways and toxic effects of contaminants on aquatic animals, and has also helped to identify mechanisms for survival of fish and shellfish in the presence of environmental changes caused by human activities.     

Using Paleo Reconstructions to Improve Streamflow Forecast Lead Time in the Western United States

In water stressed regions, water managers are exploring new horizons that would help in long‐range streamflow forecasts. Oceanic‐atmospheric oscillations have been shown to influence streamflow variability. In this study, long‐lead time streamflow forecasts are made using a multiclass kernel‐based data‐driven support vector machine (SVM) model. The extended streamflow records based on tree ring reconstructions were used to provide a longer time series data. Reconstructed data were used from 1658 to 1952 and the instrumental record was used from 1953 to 2007. Reconstructions for oceanic‐atmospheric oscillations included the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, and North Atlantic Oscillation. Streamflow forecasts using all four oscillations were made with one‐year to five‐year lead times for 21 gages in the western United States. This is the first study that uses both instrumental and reconstructed data of oscillations in SVM model to improve streamflow forecast lead time. SVM model was able to provide “satisfactory” to “very good” forecasts with one‐ to five‐year lead time for the selected gages. The use of all the oscillation indices helped in achieving better predictability compared to using individual oscillations. The SVM modeling results are better when compared with multiple linear regression model forecasts. The findings are statistical in nature and are expected to be useful for long‐term water resources planning and management.     

Journalists' views of advertiser pressures on agricultural news

All major journalism ethical codes explicitly state that journalists should protect editorial copy from undue influence by outside sources. However, much of the previous research on agricultural information has concentrated on what information various media communicate (gatekeeping studies) or communication's role in increasing innovation adoption (diffusion studies). Few studies have concentrated specifically on organizational and structural constraints that might adversely affect agricultural journalists' ethical standards; those that have, focus largely on farm magazines. A study of newspaper reporters who cover agricultural news found that the most pressing ethical concern is the effect of advertiser (agri-business) pressure on editorial copy, and that their concerns in general parallel those of farm magazine writers and editors. The majority reported being in situations in which they might be exposed to advertiser pressure, including pressures to change or withhold editorial copy. Large minorities suggested that advertising pressures affect the overall environment in which agricultural journalists work, and more than one in ten said they allow advertiser pressures to influence editorial decisions. The newspaper reporters who cover agricultural beats showed slightly more resistance to advertiser pressure than did farm magazine editors in a parallel study.     

Definition Procedures Have Little Effect on Performance of Environmental Classifications of Streams and Rivers

Mapped environmental classifications are defined using various procedures, but there has been little evaluation of the differences in their ability to discriminate variation in independent ecological characteristics. We tested the performance of environmental classifications of the streams and rivers of France that had been defined from the same environmental data using geographic regionalization and numerical classification of individual river valley segments. Test data comprised invertebrate assemblages, water chemistry, and hydrological indexes obtained from sites throughout France. Classification performance was measured by analysis of similarity (ANOSIM). Geometric regions defined by a regular grid and without regard to environmental variables and a posteriori classifications based on clustering the test datasets defined lower and upper bounds of performance for a given number of classes. Differences in classification performances were generally small. The ANOSIM statistics for the a posteriori classifications were around twice that of all environmental classifications, including geometrically defined regions. The hydro-ecoregions performed slightly better for the invertebrate data and the network classification performed slightly better for the chemistry and hydrological data. Our results indicate that environmental classifications that are defined using different procedures can be comparable in terms of their ability to discriminate variation of ecological characteristics and that alleged differences in performance arising from different classification procedures can be small relative to unexplained variation. We conclude that definition procedures might have little effect on the performance of large-scale environmental classifications and decisions over which procedures to use should be based primarily on pragmatic considerations.     

Urban ecological systems: scientific foundations and a decade of progress

Urban ecological studies, including focus on cities, suburbs, and exurbs, while having deep roots in the early to mid 20th century, have burgeoned in the last several decades. We use the state factor approach to highlight the role of important aspects of climate, substrate, organisms, relief, and time in differentiating urban from non-urban areas, and for determining heterogeneity within spatially extensive metropolitan areas. In addition to reviewing key findings relevant to each state factor, we note the emergence of tentative "urban syndromes" concerning soils, streams, wildlife and plants, and homogenization of certain ecosystem functions, such as soil organic carbon dynamics. We note the utility of the ecosystem approach, the human ecosystem framework, and watersheds as integrative tools to tie information about multiple state factors together. The organismal component of urban complexes includes the social organization of the human population, and we review key modes by which human populations within urban areas are differentiated, and how such differentiation affects environmentally relevant actions. Emerging syntheses in land change science and ecological urban design are also summarized. The multifaceted frameworks and the growing urban knowledge base do however identify some pressing research needs.     

Neighbourhood characteristics and urban gardens in the Toledo metropolitan area: staffing and voluntarism,food production,infrastructure, and sustainability practices

Urban gardens are important sources of sustenance for communities with limited access to food. Hence, this study focuses on food production in gardens in the Toledo metropolitan area in Northwest Ohio. We administered surveys to 150 garden managers from November 2014 to February 2015 in our attempt to better understand how neighbourhood racial composition and poverty levels are related to staffing and voluntarism, food production and distribution, the development of infrastructure, and the adoption of sustainability practices in urban gardens. The results from 30 gardens are presented in this paper. We used Geographic Information Systems to map the gardens and overlay the map with 2010 census data so that we could conduct demographic analyses of the neighbourhoods in which the gardens were located. Though the gardens were small – two acres or less – up to 46 varieties of food were grown in a single garden. Gardens also operated on small budgets. Food from the gardens was gifted or shared with friends, family, and neighbourhood residents. Gardens in predominantly minority neighbourhoods tended to have fewer institutional partners, less garden infrastructure, and had adopted fewer sustainable practices than gardens in predominantly White neighbourhoods. Nonetheless, residents of predominantly minority and high-poverty neighbourhoods participated in garden activities and influenced garden operations. Volunteering and staffing were racialised and gendered.     

Predicting deer-vehicle collisions in an urban area

Collisions with deer and other large animals are increasing, and the resulting economic costs and risks to public safety have made mitigation measures a priority for both city and wildlife managers. We created landscape models to describe and predict deer-vehicle collision (DVCs) within the City of Edmonton, Alberta. Models based on roadside characteristics revealed that DVCs occurred frequently where roadside vegetation was both denser and more diverse, and that DVCs were more likely to occur when the groomed width of roadside right-of-ways was smaller. No DVCs occurred where the width of the vegetation-free or manicured roadside buffer was greater than 40 m. Landscape-based models showed that DVCs were more likely in more heterogeneous landscapes where road densities were lower and speed limits were higher, and where non-forested vegetation such as farmland was in closer proximity to larger tracts of forest. These models can help wildlife and transportation managers to identify locations of high collision frequency for mitigation. Modifying certain landscape and roadside habitats can be an effective way to reduce deer-vehicle collisions.     

Biodiversity and biotechnology

The maintenance of biodiversity is urged from many quarters and on grounds ranging from aesthetic considerations to its usefulness, particularly for biotechnology. But regardless of the grounds for preserving biodiversity, writers are generally in agreement that it should be preserved. But, in examining the various references biodiversity, such as species diversity, genetic diversity, and habitat diversity, it is apparent that we cannot aim to preserve biodiversityas such, since there are a number of conflicts in any such undertaking. In preserving one aspect of biodiversity, we damage another aspect. Five arguments which attempt to ground our moral concern for biodiversity are reviewed and critiqued, not only for their consistency but also for their power to move us to action. The final section of the paper shows how conflicts in the values of personal and environmental health can impair ethical action and especially policy formation.An earlier version of this paper was read at the conference on Agriculture, Food, and Human Values: Tradition and Change, Orlando, Florida, October 7–9, 1987.