Do parks work? Impact of protected areas on land cover clearing

This paper evaluates the impact of protected areas on land-cover clearing, using a metadata analysis of information on 49 locations from 22 countries. Protected areas had significantly lower rates of clearing in comparison to their surroundings. In addition, protected areas had also significantly lowered rates of clearing within their boundary following initiation of protection. Thus, protected areas do appear to be effective at limiting overall land-cover clearing. There was some variation in the rates of clearing across regions, where most protected areas from North America and Europe showed positive rates of land-cover change, while protected areas from Asia had the highest rates of land-cover clearing. While most protected areas from North America and Europe involved a relatively smaller number of actors, a greater number of actors and drivers of clearing was implicated in protected areas from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, indicating the increased difficulties faced by park management in these regions. In contrast, country income levels and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources category of protection did not appear to impact the likelihood of land-cover clearing in protected areas.     

Dynamism of household carbon emissions (HCEs) from rural and urban regions of northern and southern China

China contributes 23 % of global carbon emissions, of which 26 % originate from the household sector. Due to vast variations in both climatic conditions and the affordability and accessibility of fuels, household carbon emissions (HCEs) differ significantly across China. This study compares HCEs (per person) from urban and rural regions in northern China with their counterparts in southern China. Annual macroeconomic data for the study period 2005 to 2012 were obtained from Chinese government sources, whereas the direct HCEs for different types of fossil fuels were obtained using the IPCC reference approach, and indirect HCEs were calculated by input-output analysis. Results suggest that HCEs from urban areas are higher than those from rural areas. Regardless of the regions, there is a similarity in per person HCEs in urban areas, but the rural areas of northern China had significantly higher HCEs than those from southern China. The reasons for the similarity between urban areas and differences between rural areas and the percentage share of direct and indirect HCEs from different sources are discussed. Similarly, the reasons and solutions to why decarbonising policies are working in urban areas but not in rural areas are discussed.

     

3种典型地区农村污水排放特征调查分析

目前,我国农村污水的处理率很低,农村污染问题日益受到关注。为了深入了解我国农村污水特征,在北京、浙江和云南等地分别选择水库水源地保护区、河网地区和风景旅游区内的村庄进行农村污水排放特征的调查研究,以期为农村污水治理提供准确的基础数据。调查方法包括资料调研、入户调查和现场采样监测。结果表明,生活污水和畜禽养殖污水与粪便是村落的主要点污染源,不同区域农村用水习惯不同,污水排放规律差异较大;河网地区的村落对河浜污染状况非常严重,成为隐性污染源;旅游风景区内村庄污水特征受季节影响显著。     

不同功能区空气负离子的监测分析

监测了西宁地区不同功能区空气负离子状况，以公园游览区空气负离子浓度最高，平均３５８个／ｃｍ＾３；工业区最低，平均浓度２５９个／ｃｍ＾３。各功能区空气负离子浓度明显不同，Ｐ〈０．０１。用空气负离子浓度、空气离子单级系数和安培空气质量评价指数评价各功能区空气质量，从好到差依次为：公园游览区、生活居住区、商业交通繁忙区、工业区。３种评价指标结果相同，符合一般规律。     

Biomonitoring in the forest zone of Ghana: the primary results obtained using neutron activation analysis and lichens

The first heavy metal deposition survey using biological indicators in the forest belt of Ghana was carried out in the year 2002–2003. The selected sampling areas included two mining centres, industrial areas and farming communities. Levels of ten chemical elements namely, Al, As, Cr, Fe, Hg, Mn, Sb, Th, Ti and V present in the lichens at high concentrations that are suspected to be resulting from anthropogenic activities were reported in these areas. The result shows that, the farming communities are relatively clean with the gold mining areas being the most polluted areas with respect to As, Sb and Cr. The industrial areas were found to be relatively polluted with Al, Fe and Ti.     

Responses of wintering geese to the designation of goose foraging areas in The Netherlands

The Netherlands is important for wintering migratory herbivorous geese, numbers of which have rapidly increased, leading to conflict with agriculture. In 2005/2006, a new goose management policy aimed to limit compensation payments to farmers by concentrating foraging geese in 80 000 ha of designated ‘go’ areas—where farmers received payment to accommodate them—and scaring geese from ‘no go’ areas elsewhere. Monthly national counts of four abundant goose species during 10 years prior to the new policy and in 8 years following implementation found that 57% of all goose days were spent within ‘go’ areas under the new management, the same as prior to implementation. Such lack of response suggests no predicted learning effects, perhaps because of (i) increases in abundance outside of ‘go’ areas, (ii) irregularly shaped boundaries and enclaves of ‘no go’ farmland within ‘go’ areas and/or (iii) insufficient differences in disturbance levels within and outside designated areas.     

Economic assessment of rewilding versus agri-environmental nature management

Policies aiming at improving biodiversity often consist of costly agri-environmental schemes, i.e. subsidized grazing or mowing of semi-natural areas. However, these practices have widely been found to be insufficient to mitigate biodiversity loss. Rewilding, i.e. restoring natural processes in self-sustaining biodiverse ecosystems, has been proposed as an alternative and is hypothesized to be a more cost-efficient approach to promote biodiversity conservation. Rewilding requires the availability of large natural areas which are not allocated for farming, forestry, and infrastructure to avoid potential conflicts over the use of the area. We perform an ex-ante private cost–benefit analysis of the establishment of four large nature reserves for rewilding in Denmark. We analyse the economic effects of changing from summer grazing in nature areas in combination with cultivated fields and forestry to the establishment of nature reserves in four case areas. We consider two scenarios involving conversion of agriculture and forestry areas into natural areas in combination with either extensive year-round cattle grazing or rewilding with wild large herbivores. In two case areas, it appears possible to establish large nature areas without incurring extra costs. Additionally, rewilding further reduces costs compared to year-round cattle grazing. Two opposing effects were dominant: increased economic rent occurred from the shift from summer grazing to year-round grazing or rewilding, while cessation of agriculture and forestry caused opportunity costs.     

Carbon savings resulting from the cooling effect of green areas: a case study in Beijing

Green areas cool the climate of a city, reduce the energy consumption caused by the urban heat island (UHI) effect, and bring along carbon savings. However, the calculation of carbon savings due to the cooling effect of green areas is still not well understood. We have used a Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) image of Beijing, to identify the cooled areas, compute the possible energy used to maintain the temperature differences between cooled areas and their surrounding heated areas, and calculate the carbon savings owing to the avoidance of energy use. Results show that a total amount of 14315.37 tons carbon savings was achieved in the study area and the amount was related to the biomass, the size and the shape of green areas. These results demonstrate the importance of carbon savings resulting from green areas' cooling effect.     

滇池湖湾大水域种养水葫芦对水质的影响分析

为了探讨大水域种养水葫芦对滇池湖湾水质的影响,于2010年8—10月对滇池白山湾约70 hm2水葫芦种养区域的水质特征进行动态监测。结果表明,水葫芦区水体中总磷、总氮及高锰酸钾指数从9月中旬后开始逐步上升。水葫芦区水体溶解氧、pH较近水葫芦区和远水葫芦区显著降低,但水葫芦区溶解氧仍维持在较高水平;总磷、总氮及高锰酸钾指数较近水葫芦区和远水葫芦区显著升高;在水葫芦周围水体（近水葫芦区）水质得到明显改善,表现为水体透明度显著高于水葫芦区及远水葫芦区,总磷、正磷酸盐、总氮及叶绿素a明显低于水葫芦区及远水葫芦区。     

Permanent seafloor anoxia in coastal basins of the northwestern Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea

The Gulf of Finland is regularly affected by inflows of anoxic deep-water masses from the northern Baltic proper. These dense water masses advance over large areas with a decline of benthic life in affected areas as a result. Such events have been regularly repeated over decades and centuries. The archipelago, however, is well protected, because the inflows of anoxic deep waters do not enter such shallow waters. The situation could thus be better for benthic life in the archipelago, but in many areas this is not true. In areas where the bottoms are sheltered from storms and currents, permanent anoxia can persist for decades. Such areas were found in the western archipelago of the Gulf of Finland. Examination of surface cores revealed that many of these basins have been continuously anoxic for almost 40 years. A deeper coring showed that, at least locally, shallow water seafloor anoxia has been a fact in the area for thousands of years.     

日本琵琶湖流域的生活污水治理对策

介绍了日本滋贺县为了保护琵琶湖水环境而实施的生活污水综合治理对策。其基本思路是：将市区和人口稠密地区划为下水道整备规划区，积极实施下水道建设工程，推行污水处理；在下水道整备区外推广使用合并净化槽和地域粪便处理设施；在有条件的农村村落建设农村下水道；鼓励和资助各种处理设施实行除氮除磷的高级处理方式，以防止琵琶湖富营养化；积极实施多种多样的生活杂排水对策。     

Real-time measurements of landfill atmospheric ammonia using mobile white cell differential optical absorption spectroscopy system and engineering applications

ABSTRACT

The real-time measurement of atmospheric ammonia at municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills and adjacent areas is necessary for landfill management and the health of nearby residence. Continuous, fast, and real-time monitoring of landfill odor gases is a challenge, especially for ammonia. To our knowledge, this was the first study for the characteristics and seasonal variabilities of atmospheric ammonia at a whole landfill using a Mobile White cell Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MW-DOAS) system, which also simultaneously offers high sensitivity and fast response. Results show that atmospheric ammonia levels at various landfill areas were significantly dependent on the characteristics of areas, such as municipal solid waste-related areas, leachate-related areas, sludge-related areas, and fly ash-related area, the atmospheric ammonia peak or average level at the active leachate pool of the active MSW site was the highest among all areas of the whole landfill, and the ammonia concentrations at the closed MSW landfill sites were low and dependent on the ages. Moreover, it was found that the seasonal variabilities of ammonia concentrations at most of those areas were significantly dependent on the ambient temperature, and ambient temperature variation caused the atmospheric ammonia level at the active leachate pool and active MSW landfill site in the summer survey to raise 3.5 times and 5.58 times than in the winter survey, respectively.

Implications: Continuous, fast, and real-time monitoring ambient ammonia at or nearby a landfill is critical for landfill operators and local EPAs. This study demonstrates that the mobile White cell Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MW-DOAS) system is an effective tool for real-time monitoring ambient ammonia of a whole landfill. The results in this article provided a guideline to the characteristics and seasonal changes of ambient ammonia at various types of areas of a whole landfill as well as the impact of age to ambient ammonia at the closed landfill areas.     

Desert locust control in ecologically sensitive areas: need for guidelines

Chemical control of desert locust (DL) is carried out over large areas of land, covering a range of different landscapes and ecosystems. There are no real restrictions for spraying in or close to environmentally sensitive areas and awareness of sensitivity is not always obvious to the people involved in control. However, concern about environmental issues in connection with DL control is growing and clear guidelines are needed. The objectives were: to identify and delineate areas particularly sensitive to pesticide contamination in northeastern Africa, e.g. protected areas, wetlands, populated places, oases, and areas with concentrations of migratory birds. These areas were matched with actual DL control during 1986-1998. The conclusion is that chemical control occurred in environmentally sensitive areas especially wetlands, e.g. temporary waters and mangroves; close to human settlements; and, to some extent, in or near protected areas and areas with numerous migratory birds.     

Analysis of PM10 Trends in the United States from 1988 through 1995

ABSTRACT

Because the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has changed the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ambient particulate matter (PM), there is a great deal of interest in determining recent PM trends. This paper examines trends in PM₁₀ (i.e., particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter) for areas of the United States based on their attainment status—for PM₁₀ and ozone nonattainment and attainment areas. The analysis also focuses on urban, suburban, and rural areas, and eastern and western areas. The time period of evaluation is from 1988 through 1995. To shed further light on the ambient PM₁₀ trends, trends in ambient SO₂, NO₂, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are also analyzed. Finally, trends in emission inventories of SO₂, NO_x, VOCs, and PM₁₀ are evaluated. Results of the analysis show that widespread and similar reductions in PM₁₀ levels have occurred over the last seven years. Annual reductions range from 3.0% to 3.8%, with the greatest reductions coming in PM₁₀ nonattainment areas, but with very significant reductions also in PM₁₀ attainment areas, ozone attainment areas, and rural areas. The widespread reductions appear to be due to a set of controls or common factors that are having a fairly uniform effect in all of the areas. The consistency of the reductions in different areas suggests that the reductions may also be primarily in the fine particles (i.e., those less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, or PM_2.5), which are more readily transported than coarse particles.     

Measurements of nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide concentrations in urban and rural areas of Poland using a passive sampling method

Measurements of 1-month concentrations of NO(2) and SO(2) were carried out in the period from May 1993 to April 1994 in 147 points in 30 major cities of Poland and in 31 points in rural areas. The measurement points were divided into five classes representing: centres of cities, residential areas, industrial areas, traffic locations and rural areas. Passive samplers were prepared in one laboratory, mailed to local laboratories for sampling and then returned for analysis. The same samplers were used for collecting both NO(2) and SO(2). Analyses for NO(2) absorbed as nitrite were made spectrophotometrically after reaction with Saltzman reagent. Sulphur dioxide was determined as sulphate with ion chromatography. The consistency of data allowed comparison of levels of air pollution in different cities and the production of maps of spatial distribution of NO(2) and SO(2) in rural areas of Poland.     

Limited effects of heavy metal pollution on foraging and breeding success in the curlew (Numenius arquata)

We examined the effect of heavy metal pollution on the foraging success and breeding performance of the curlew (Numenius arquata) along a documented pollution gradient from a point source, and also by comparing foraging and breeding parameters between the polluted site and two non-polluted areas. Prey biomass and abundance, and foraging success did not vary along the pollution gradient, and were no less at the polluted site than in the non-polluted areas. Furthermore, there was no difference in adult weight during incubation between the polluted and non-polluted areas. There were also no differences in measures of breeding success along the pollution gradient, or between areas, which could be attributed to pollution per se. Egg shells from the polluted area had higher concentrations of heavy metals than in the non-polluted areas, and egg shells close to the pollution source were contaminated more than those further from it. However, there was no difference in calcium concentrations of egg shells or egg-shell thickness between areas. We conclude that in this study there were minimal immediate effects of heavy metal pollution on foraging and breeding success in the curlew.     

Kosetice, Czech Republic--ten years of air pollution monitoring and four years of evaluating the origin of persistent organic pollutants

The regional observatory Kosetice is a central European background station. Unique continuous monitoring from 1988 on is held here. POP (persistent organic pollutant) concentration values of air samples from Kosetice taken between 1996 and 2005 were statistically processed. Values of Czech ambient air quality standards were not exceeded. Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons reached two maxima, in 1996 and 2001-2002. Polychlorinated biphenyls concentrations reached the highest values in 1997 and 1998 and hexachlorocyclohexanes concentrations in 1998. DDTs, hexachlorobenzene and pentachlorobenzene were analysed as well. Long-range transport of pollutants between 2002 and 2005 was evaluated using the Potential Source Contribution Function hybrid receptor model. Indicated potential source areas of PCBs coincide with many well-known urban and industrialised areas, while the indicated potential source areas of HCHs and DDTs coincide with many agricultural and/or forested regions and the potential source areas of HCB comprise all land use types.     

Type 'A' and 'B' recovery revisited: the role of field-edge habitats for Collembola and macroarthropod community recovery after insecticide treatment

Previous work has identified two patterns of arthropod recovery after insecticide applications to arable crops: dispersal-mediated recolonisation from untreated areas (Type A) and recolonisation within treated areas assisted by reduced predation (Type B). In this study, connectivity between field-edge habitats was manipulated using barriers to investigate whether a crop edge and adjacent hedgerow influence recolonisation of an insecticide-treated crop by surface-active Collembola and other arthropods. Collembola recovery patterns differed among closely-related taxa. Epigeic collembolan and macroarthropod communities were more diverse and abundant, and rates of artificial prey predation were higher, in sprayed crop areas connected to both hedgerow and unsprayed crop edge than in sprayed areas connected to the unsprayed edge alone. These findings indicate that effectiveness of unsprayed crop edges as sources of field recolonisation may depend on adjoining field margin habitats. An assumption in risk assessment that unsprayed crop edges assist population recovery within treated areas is not supported.     

The Sixty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the Air Pollution Control Association

Abstract

The U.S. Clean Air Act, amended in 1990, mandated the establishment of the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission (GCVTC). The commission is required to submit a report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency addressing visibility issues in the region, including "the establishment of clean air corridors, in which additional restrictions on increases in emissions may be appropriate to protect visibility in affected Class I areas." This paper presents a methodology to identify candidate geographic areas for consideration for Clean Air Corridor (CAC) status for Colorado Plateau Class I areas. The methodology uses thousands of model determined trajectories over a five year period (1988 to 1992) to indicate the paths taken by air that arrives during clean air conditions at Class I areas. These clean air back-trajectories identify upwind areas where pollution emissions could jeopardize currently pristine visibility. Using this methodology, six candidate areas are identified, ranging in size from 75,000 to 506,000 square miles, and permitting varying levels of visibility protection for clean air days at Grand Canyon, Canyonlands, and Petrified Forest National Parks. Assuming effective emissions management of the CAC, the larger the CAC, the greater the visibility protection during clean air conditions.     

Internal exposure to pollutants measured in blood and urine of Flemish adolescents in function of area of residence

The Centre for Environment and Health in Flanders, the Northern part of Belgium, started a biomonitoring program on adolescents in 2003. 1679 adolescents residing in nine areas with different patterns of pollution participated in the study. Possible confounding effects of lifestyle and personal characteristics were taken into account. The geometric mean levels of cadmium and lead in whole blood amounted to 0.36 and 21.7 microg l(-1), those of PCBs, DDE and HCB in serum to 68, 94 and 20.9 ng g(-1) fat, and those of 1-hydroxypyrene and t,t'-muconic acid in urine to 88 ng g(-1) creatinine and 72 microg g(-1) creatinine. Significant regional differences in internal lead, cadmium, PCBs, DDE and HCB exposure were observed in function of area of residence, even after adjustment for age, sex, smoking (and body mass index for the chlorinated compounds). Compared to a reference mean, internal exposure was significantly higher in one or more of the areas: Cd and Pb in the Antwerp agglomeration, Cd in the Antwerp harbour, PCBs in the Ghent agglomeration, PCBs, DDE and HCB in the Ghent harbour, Cd, PCBs, DDE and HCB in the rural area, DDE in Olen and in the Albert canal areas. Adolescents living in an area with intensive fruit cultivation (showing overall the lowest values) and, surprisingly, in areas around household waste incinerators (average of six areas), had no significantly increased internal exposures. Subjects from separate areas around waste incinerators showed significant differences in body load of various environmental contaminants.