Emergy Evaluation of a Village Ecosystem in Wolong Nature Reserve in China

Abstract

Due to historic reasons, there are several human settlements in nature reserves and national parks, which may constitute a threat to biodiversity. Establishment of nature reserves may however generate constraints for development of local communities residing in these reserves. The village ecosystem of Zhuanjinglou Village in Wolong Nature Reserve includes population, farming and livestock (domestic and alpine) and forest ecosystem. An emergy analysis of agro-ecosystem (including the farming and livestock ecosystem) and energy consumption in Zhuanjinglou Village indicates that livestock ecosystem plays an important role in village ecosystem, which may be the source of great pressure on the state of the local environment. The increasing ratio of electricity in energy consumption may play a positive role for environmental conservation. Despite some successful experiences, there are some remaining issues that need to be addressed in the ecological rehabilitation of the village ecosystem.     

A landscape ecology assessment of land-use change on the Great Plains-Denver (CO,USA) metropolitan edge

Regional Environmental Change - For better or worse, in those parts of the world with a widespread farming, livestock rising, and urban expansion, the maintenance of species richness and ecosystem...     

Study on Disturbances and Its Effects on Nature Reserves

1 INTRODUCTION Nature reserves are special regional ecological systems. They are the cornerstone for the protection of ecosystems on a global scale (Fuentes et al., 2000), and a necessary method to protect biological resource, species, and the diversity of the ecosystem (Zhang, L.Y., et al., 2002). Since the 1970s the research for designing, planning, and managing various kinds of nature reserves has seen rapid development. Many sorts of disturbance factors occurring in nature reserves, …     

Socio-cultural valuation of ecosystem services in a transhumance social-ecological network

The ecosystem services framework is receiving increasing attention in the fields of policy and research. The assessment of human attitudes and perceptions regarding ecosystem services has been proposed as a promising tool for addressing complex problems associated with environmental change, particularly in the context of cultural landscapes. Transhumance is not only a farming practice responsible for shaping cultural landscapes but also an adaptive strategy based on mobility that may represent a useful approach to overcoming the growing challenges posed by accelerated environmental change. A socio-cultural valuation of ecosystem services associated with the Conquense Drove Road, one of the major transhumant networks still in use in Mediterranean Spain, was conducted via the distribution of questionnaires to 416 local residents and visitors to capture their perceptions regarding the importance of 34 ecosystem services (10 provisioning, 12 regulating, and 12 cultural) for both social and personal well-being. Overall, the ecosystem services considered to be the most important for social well-being were fire prevention, air purification and livestock. Most of the ecosystem services in question were perceived as declining, with the exception of those associated with recreation, scientific knowledge and environmental education. This study revealed that perceptions regarding the value of ecosystem services differed among respondents, depending on their age, place of origin and gender. Several methodological issues, as well as the implications of socio-cultural valuation for policy making, are also discussed here.     

Applying Bayesian networks to evaluate small-scale farmers’ perceptions of native reforestation practices in Brazil’s Caatinga biome

In Brazil’s semi-arid Northeast, most rural dwellers derive income from the dry Caatinga forest through livestock farming, fruit collection, and firewood extraction. However, recurring droughts and inadequate land use practices jeopardize farmers’ livelihoods. The drought-resistant, endemic Umbuzeiro tree provides fruit for direct consumption and allows for the creation of transformed products. The planting of this native species can enhance the well-being of the ecosystem and establish future benefits for smallholdings. However, it is crucial that when taking up innovative practices to cope with environmental change, a willingness to apply them should be fostered among local farmers. We used constellation analysis as a transdisciplinary approach to identify elements of current land management which subsequently defined the nodes of a Bayesian network (BN). We developed probabilities of practice uptake that strengthen success, namely the conservation of natural resources while securing the incomes of smallholders. In collaboration with stakeholders and experts, 25 identified nodes for the BN were tested under various scenarios. Adopting all suggested innovative practices secures the final objectives—ecosystem health and farmer benefits (approx. 90%). The analysis quantified the relevance of single issues that may impede farmers to adopt the practices, such as having to cultivate seedlings or avoiding long-term investments. Further crucial actions include the fencing-off of livestock and marketing pathways. Affordable credit, research, and supportive farmers’ institutions can encourage farmers to implement innovative practices. The use of modeled scenarios can provide evidence, which might encourage sustainable land management.     

长江流域的自然保护区发展与生态环境建设

长江流域的自然保护区占全流域面积的5．74％，比我国自然保护区 占国土面积的比例低1．9个百分点。保护区数量在80年代增幅最大，面积在90年代增幅最大，这种不同步性在一定程度上反映出保护区经营管理更加注重建立较多的大保护区，保护较大的生态系统。本流域的各类自然保护区的数量和面积与流域内自然生态系统类型的丰富性和珍稀特种的多样性直接相关。生态系统类的自然保护区多分布在长江一线以南，形成4个明显的集中分布地带。野生生物类自然保护区在川西高原、川黔湘接壤带和鄱阳湖附近比较集中。川西南滇西北、川西高山峡谷区、川鄂湘黔接壤区、南岭山地北部等6个区域成为长江流域自然保护的关键区域。长江流域生态环境建设中必须注意资源植物的持续利用、防护林的质量和生态平衡等问题。     

面源污染中畜禽有机肥磷的流失形态及其环境效应

磷是作物生长所需的大量元素之一。同时在水体富营养化形成过程中也起着决定性作用。畜禽有机肥磷作为作物生长所需磷的来源之一,近20年来,随着集约化养殖业的不断发展。畜禽有机肥磷的产生量也在相应增加．引起了磷在养殖区域附近的土壤中富集,增加了磷的流失风险。目前，有关畜禽有机肥磷如何引起面源污染研究越来越多。本文回顾了畜禽有机肥磷的形态及其分析方法、磷的含量和衡量磷流失能力的标准、控制磷流失的技术措施等研究进展,对不同方法标准进行了比较．提出我国在现有畜禽有机肥控制管理措施的基础上,开展畜禽有机肥磷流失的相关基础研究以控制畜禽有机肥磷对水体质量的影响。     

Ecotoxicological assessment of antibiotics: A call for improved consideration of microorganisms

Antibiotics play a pivotal role in the management of infectious disease in humans, companion animals, livestock, and aquaculture operations at a global scale. Antibiotics are produced, consumed, and released into the environment at an unprecedented scale causing concern that the presence of antibiotic residues may adversely impact aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Here we critically review the ecotoxicological assessment of antibiotics as related to environmental risk assessment (ERA). We initially discuss the need for more specific protection goals based on the ecosystem service concept, and suggest that the ERA of antibiotics, through the application of a mode of toxic action approach, should make more use of ecotoxicological endpoints targeting microorganisms (especially bacteria) and microbial communities. Key ecosystem services provided by microorganisms and associated ecosystem service-providing units (e.g. taxa or functional groups) are identified. Approaches currently available for elucidating ecotoxicological effects on microorganisms are reviewed in detail and we conclude that microbial community-based tests should be used to complement single-species tests to offer more targeted protection of key ecosystem services. Specifically, we propose that ecotoxicological tests should not only assess microbial community function, but also microbial diversity (‘species’ richness) and antibiotic susceptibility. Promising areas for future basic and applied research of relevance to ERA are highlighted throughout the text. In this regard, the most fundamental knowledge gaps probably relate to our rudimentary understanding of the ecological roles of antibiotics in nature and possible adverse effects of environmental pollution with sub-inhibitory levels of antibiotics.     

Policies for Livestock Development in the Ethiopian Highlands

Since 1991, there have been significant changes in utilization of feed resources in the Ethiopian highlands: while use of communal grazing lands and private pastures has declined, use of crop residues and purchased feed has increased. In addition, although use of animal health services and adoption of improved livestock breeds and modern management practices have increased, ownership of various types of livestock has declined. Rapid population growth has contributed most to the declining trends in grazing resources and ownership of livestock, showing the negative effects of increasing pressure on already degraded resources in the Ethiopian highlands. Land redistribution, increased participation in credit and extension programs targeting livestock, and improvement in access to markets, on the other hand, have had significant positive impacts on adoption of improved livestock technologies and ownership of livestock. Thus, reducing population growth and improving access to markets and credit and extension programs targeting livestock can enhance the role of livestock in improving food security and reducing poverty, especially in the mixed crop-livestock farming systems as exist in the East African highlands.     

Human–carnivore conflict: ecological and economical sustainability of predation on livestock by snow leopard and other carnivores in the Himalaya

Human communities in the Trans-Himalayan region depend on the dynamics of the agro-pastoral system for survival. Humans, livestock and wild predators share common resources in the region, and this leads to human–wildlife interactions that have the potential to threaten the continued viability of this fragile ecosystem and impact the local economy. This study explored the interaction between livestock and predators in the upper Mustang region of Nepal in terms of economic and ecological impacts. A total of 1,347 km² of pasture land were grazed by 30,217 livestock belonging to local people from six village development committees. It was found that the seasonal movement patterns of livestock, from higher to lower elevations (closer to villages), coincided with elevation movements of wild ungulate prey and snow leopards into this smaller land area. The number of livestock reported to have been killed by predators during the study period was 706, 75 % of which was attributed to snow leopards. An estimated US$ 44,213 was lost between October 2009 and June 2011 due to livestock predation. These losses of livestock to snow leopards and other carnivores provoked retaliatory killings by villagers, and this in turn may significantly affect the viability of predator populations in this region. We suggest four approaches to mitigate human–carnivore conflict in the region: (a) introduce a livestock insurance policy, (b) promote the use of predator-proof livestock corrals and sheds, (c) involve local people in alternative income generating activities, and (d) increase conservation education in these regions.     

草地生态系统人工干预对经济福利的影响——以黄河源区为例

为探讨草地生态系统人工干预对区域经济福利的影响，揭示其间的内在规律，选取草地围栏、畜棚建设、草地灭鼠和人工草地建设作为草地生态系统人工干预的重要指标，以人均GDP、农牧民人均收入、人均肉产品产量作为反映区域经济福利指标，并以黄河源区为研究案例，利用回归分析法和SPSS软件建立人工干预和经济福利指标之间的相互关系。结果表明：以畜牧经济为主导的黄河源区，草地围栏、人工草地、畜棚建设与人均GDP、农牧民人均收入、居民人均肉产量均具有较高相关性，草地生态系统人工必要干预对经济福利具有重要的影响；且人工草地、畜棚、围栏单位面积变化对人均GDP、人均收入、人均肉产量具有较高的敏感性，其敏感性依此递减；灭鼠面积除对人均牛羊肉产量具有弱相关外，对人均GDP、农牧民人均收入也具有较高的相关性和敏感性。〖     

畜牧业“碳排放”到“碳足迹”核算方法的研究进展

全球变暖趋势日益加剧,不仅影响农业可持续发展,而且威胁到人类生存。畜牧业碳排放因其在农业碳排放中乃至全球碳排放中占比较大而日益备受关注。准确核算畜牧业碳排放是制定切实可行的碳减排政策的前提,也为我国在气候变化下承担共同但有差别的减排责任提供话语权。本文基于研究范式的演进,对畜牧业碳排放到碳足迹核算方法的研究发展进行了系统梳理,研究表明,在学者的不断研究与质疑下,畜牧业碳排放到碳足迹的核算方法经历了从OECD核算法、IPCC系数法到生命周期法与投入-产出法的演变与完善,学术界认为区域异质性、养殖规模与管理方式均影响碳足迹;散养比规模化养殖产生更多的碳排放,舍饲比户外放牧排放更多的碳。畜牧业碳足迹核算能够更加全面地反映畜牧业全生命周期的碳排放情况,但由于研究假设、研究方法及研究样本等差异导致不同区域、不同畜产品的碳排放核算结果存在不确定性。运用生命周期法和投入-产出法对欧盟成员国畜牧业碳排放的核算结果基本一致,但运用IPCC系数法和全生命周期法对中国畜牧业碳排放核算中,牛、猪和羊的碳排放量排序结果不尽一致。鉴于核算结果的差异性,本研究对不同核算方法的起源、最早采用时间、特点、局限性等方面进行了归纳总结,并建议后续研究探讨基于生命周期评价的畜牧业碳足迹研究边界的延伸性,标准化畜牧业碳排放或碳足迹核算,避免学者重复核算畜牧业碳排放,以便深入展开畜牧业碳排放其他方面的研究。     

稻鱼共生系统生态服务功能价值比较——以浙江省青田县和贵州省从江县为例

石油农业导致生态系统退化与环境受损.人们在寻找新的农业途径时,将目光转向传统农业,开始对传统农耕模式的价值进行挖掘.稻鱼共生是最为典型的中国传统生态农业模式之一,因其历史悠久、景观独特和效益显著而被联合国粮农组织列为首批全球重要农业文化遗产保护试点之一.在数千年的农耕文化演变过程中,同宗的青田县和从江县的传统农业系统,由于受到不同的自然、经济和文化的影响,分别形成了以养鱼为主和以种稻为主的稻鱼共生系统.本文采用市场价值法、造林成本法、替代价格法、大气污染治理成本法和水库工程费用法等,分别对青田县和从江县传统农业区生态系统服务功能的经济进行评估.结果表明,以养鱼为主的青田县直接经济价值比以种稻为主的从江县平均每公顷高近1.70万元,但其闻接价值却比后者低,从江县稻鱼共生系统的气体调节和养分保持价值分别是青田县的1.35和1.59倍.最后,本文提出了提高农民收入的途径,以更好地保护这一具有全球重要意义的农业文化遗产.     

Dynamics and sustainability of urban agriculture: examples from sub-Saharan Africa

Urban agriculture can have many different expressions, varying from backyard gardening to poultry and livestock farming. This article focuses on crop production on larger open spaces in cities of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and investigates the sustainability and dynamics of this type of land use, which is common on undeveloped plots particularly in lowlands, such as in inland valleys, or along urban streams or drains. An adapted version of the Framework for Evaluating Sustainable Land Management (FESLM) developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was used to assess the sustainability of urban agriculture. As an example for dynamics, the spatio-temporal changes of open-space agriculture in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, are analyzed for the period from 1992 to 2005, and compared with data from other cities. Crop production on urban open spaces appears as a market-driven, highly productive and profitable phenomenon. However, it is often constrained by tenure insecurity and non-agricultural land demands. Also, the common use of polluted water limits the official support of irrigated urban farming. However, despite these constraints, the phenomenon of urban farming appears persistent and resilient to its changing environment, although individual farmers might have to shift to other sites when their plots are needed for construction. Open-space vegetable production in urban areas is a dynamic, viable and largely sustainable livelihood strategy, especially for poor urban dwellers. Spatio-temporal analysis shows that it is not a short-lived or transitional phenomenon—probably as long as it can maintain its comparative market advantage. However, its informal nature and resulting lack of political recognition need to be addressed.     

三峡库区典型支流春季特征及其水华优势种差异分析

三峡水库蓄水后,多年来众多支流水华频发引起广泛关注。为研究春季三峡库区不同区域典型支流特征及水华的差异性,选取小江、大宁河、香溪河为研究对象,于2015年春季对三条支流进行监测与分析。结果表明:三条支流回水区长度与宽度有所区别,小江、大宁河、香溪河的蜿蜒度分别为2.151、1.384、1.126;长江干流水体以表层倒灌潜入小江,以中上层倒灌潜入大宁河,由中层倒灌潜入香溪河,越靠近库首,其倒灌影响距离相对越远,分别占研究回水范围的61.9%、69.2%和80.7%;温跃层梯度逐渐减小,水温呈现不同的层化结构,回水区上游水温较下游高;三条支流的光混比变化规律相似,水体中的总氮、总磷含量能够为藻类生长提供丰富的营养条件;春季水华的优势藻种及各优势种的分布区域有所不同,回水区上游更易暴发高强度水华,小江水华优势种主要包括蓝藻、绿藻、甲藻、硅藻;大宁河多发生以绿藻为优势藻种的水华,偶尔伴有甲藻、硅藻和隐藻水华,香溪河春季优势共存的水华类型较多见,多发生硅藻、甲藻水华,有时出现绿藻水华。倒灌异重流是三条支流水华暴发呈现分区的主要原因,水温及水动力条件差异是造成三条典型支流水华优势藻种存在差异的主要因素。     

鄂西北六个自然保护区鱼类群落结构及多样性比较

为了解鄂西北地区的鱼类多样性和鱼类群落结构,于2007~2012年先后对鄂西的八卦山自然保护区、堵河源自然保护区、五道峡自然保护区、南河自然保护区、野人谷自然保护区及漳河源自然保护区的鱼类资源进行调查。结果显示,6个自然保护区共有鱼类79种,隶属4目15科51属。鲤形目鱼类为6个自然保护区的主要类群,共56种,占总数的70.89%。6个自然保护区的鱼类食性和生态类群相似,鱼类食性均以肉食性和杂食性为主,草食性鱼类较少;定居性鱼类占主体,河湖洄游性和喜流水性鱼类较少。渔获物分析表明,堵河源自然保护区鱼类丰富度指数(D)最大,为2.60,八卦山自然保护区鱼类丰富度指数最小,为0.91。多样性分析表明,同一水系的保护区之间的β_c值和β_R值均比处于不同水系的保护区之间的β_c值和β_R值小;处于同一水系的保护区相似性系数(C_j)较高,处于不同水系的保护区之间的相似性系数较低(C_j),这很好的诠释了处于同一水系的自然保护区在地理环境上的连续性,而处于不同水系的自然保护区之间出现了地理环境的分化隔离。目前水电开发和过度捕捞是该地区鱼类最大的威胁因子,建议强化渔政管理,并建立鱼类人工繁育基地,以减缓水电工程带来的不利影响,恢复天然渔业资源。     

长江中下游地区畜禽承载力评估与预警分析

为评估长江中下游地区畜禽养殖的环境风险和承载潜力，以《畜禽养殖业产污系数与排污系数手册》和《畜禽粪污土地承载力测算技术指南》中的相关参数为基础，采用2016年的统计数据，测算了长江中下游地区的畜禽粪便总量、耕地畜禽粪污氮磷负荷和耕地畜禽养殖环境容量。结果表明：（1）2015年长江中下游地区畜禽粪便总量为44 784.09万t，单位耕地畜禽粪污氮、磷负荷分别为71.18、12.71 kg/hm2，畜禽养殖环境容量76 561.60万头猪当量（N）、106 208.50万头猪当量（P），环境风险指数为0.68（N）、0.84（P），养殖风险中等，具有一定发展潜力，增量规模分别为实际养殖总量的47%（N）、19%（P）；（2）分省域来看，畜禽粪便资源丰富程度由高到低依次为湖南、湖北、安徽、江西、江苏、浙江和上海；耕地氮负荷由大到小依次为湖南、湖北、江西、安徽、江苏、上海和浙江；耕地磷负荷由大到小依次为湖南、湖北、江西、江苏、安徽、上海和浙江；上海、江苏、浙江、安徽、湖北和湖南畜禽养殖环境风险中等，具有发展潜力，可适当增加养殖数量；江西畜禽养殖环境风险较严重，不具有发展潜力，需要进行总量控制；（3）分市域来看，约59%的市畜禽养殖环境风险中等，约28%的市畜禽养殖环境风险较严重，约10%的市畜禽养殖环境风险较小，仅3%的市畜禽养殖环境风险严重。需按照重点调控区、约束发展区、适度发展区、潜力增长区和重点发展区进行优化，并根据区域种植业结构进行动态调整。     

Climate change impacts on European agriculture revisited: adding the economic dimension of grasslands

Forage and more widely grassland systems are difficult to analyze in economic terms because a large proportion of what is produced is not marketed. Economic misestimation of these farm products may dramatically alter projected climate change impacts. This study estimates the economic value of grass and assesses the impact of climatic variations on grassland–livestock systems by taking various environmental and climatic factors into account. Accordingly, grass yield responses to nitrogen inputs (N-yield functions) have been simulated using the grassland biogeochemical PaSim model and then fed into the economic farm-type supply AROPAj model. We developed a computational method to estimate shadow prices of grass production, allowing us to better estimate the effects of climatic variability on grassland and crop systems. This approach has been used on a European scale under two Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change climate scenarios (AR4 A2 and B1). Results show a significant change in land use over time. Accordingly, due to decreases in feed expenses, farmers may increase livestock, thereby increasing overall greenhouse gas emissions for all scenarios considered. As part of autonomous adaptation by farming systems, N-yield functions extending to pastures and fodders allow us to improve the model and to refine results when marketed and non-marketed crops are considered in a balanced way.     

生物多样性保护与自然保护区

生物多样性是人类社会赖以生存和发展的基础,生物多样性保护已是当今人们最为关注的热点问题。越来越多的人认识到,生物资源是有限度的。实践表明,为保护物种栖息地而划定和管理的各种区域,对保护生物多样性有着重要的意义。在我国自然保护区被视为最典型和最有代表性的区域,也是生物多样性保护的重要基地。自然保护区保护着国家珍贵的动植物资源,拯救了濒危物种,保护了典型的生态环境,建设自然保护区是自然保护行之有效的手段。     

川西北民族地区保护区建设与生态移民问题研究

四川省西北部地区是以藏羌民族集居为主的民族地区,也是四川省的生态资源中心。区域内自然保护区数量多、密度大,民族文化浓郁,经济发展落后,居民城市化率低。由于早期建立保护区指导思想的制约,现已建立的多数保护区的规划缺乏系统科学性,依然存在来自区域内部居民和外部经济活动对其的破坏。研究认为,要实现为区域社会经济可持续发展创造条件的保护区设立终极目的,必须对现有的保护区管理系统实施调整与完善,建立具有政府管理职能的资源保护特区,选择以城镇化为主要方式的保护区内就近生态移民,构建科学的自然保护区层次,形成政府（资源保护特区）与民族居民的资源保护利益共同体。