基于河流生态系统服务功能的皂市水利枢纽工程的生态补偿标准

生态补偿标准核算是生态补偿研究的核心问题之一。运用市场价值法、机会成本法、影子工程法、影子价格法、防护费用法等评估方法，以皂市水利枢纽工程为例，构建了5个生态补偿主体受益评估模型和8个生态补偿对象受损评估模型，从河流生态系统服务功能视角对皂市水利枢纽工程生态补偿标准进行了评估。结果表明：皂市水利枢纽工程建设的生态补偿标准为0676 0×108元/a，中央政府和地方政府、水电开发业主是主要的生态补偿主体，其承担的生态补偿额分别占总生态补偿额的6805%和2658%；移民和河流生态系统本身是主要的生态补偿对象，其获得的生态补偿额分别占总生态补偿额的7574%和1695%     

我国主体功能区生态补偿思路研究

主体功能区生态补偿是一种新型生态补偿方式。具有目标多元性、定位战略性、机制科学性、等级层次性、政策配套性。与传统生态补偿相比．不仅生态学、经济学等相关理论是主体功能区生态补偿的科学基础，而且区域分工理论、区域发展空间均衡理论、区域管治理论对其也有重要的指导意义。在实施生态补偿中，应遵循注重科学、政府主导、规范有序、协商一致等原则构建生态补偿模式，为促进这一新型生态补偿的落实。需要注意：树立大局意识，引领生态补偿；完善规章制度．规范生态补偿；科学规划先行．落实生态补偿；改革财政预算，提高补偿效果；完善配套政策。协动生态补偿。     

中国流域生态补偿标准核算方法分析

补偿标准核算是建立流域生态补偿机制的重要内容,也是生态补偿机制实施的关键环节.本文选取政策视角归纳了我国10个省份已经发布和实施的流域生态补偿政策的基本内容,对这些政策的补偿标准核算方法进行了分类,提出以成本和价值作为补偿标准核算方法分类的依据.结合流域生态补偿标准相关的研究成果以及国外政策,对我国流域生态补偿标准核算的政策内容进行了分析,在此基础上对政策层面流域生态补偿标准核算方法的发展和完善提出了建议.为了体现经济规律,同时增强生态补偿制度的激励作用,流域生态补偿政策中的补偿标准在污染赔偿方面需要进一步体现水污染造成的损失,在保护补偿方面需要体现水资源保护的经济价值.在未来我国流域生态补偿实施的过程中,相关方面协商确定补偿标准的趋势将会日益明显,在这个过程中各种量化核算和调查方法可以发挥比较重要的支持作用.本文的分析结果对于推动国家层面流域生态补偿标准核算政策制定或规范地方实践活动具有一定的参考价值.     

区际生态补偿机制是区域间协调发展的关键

环境问题和环境资源关系已成为重要的区际社会关系和社会矛盾，极大的影响和抑制区域协调发展，首先探讨区际环境问题和环境关系的成因、类型、数量动态、时空演变格局；独创性的剖析区际环境关系、区际环境问题难以解决的深刻根原。深入研究区际生态补偿作用和影响，指明缺乏补偿是江河上游与下游地区间矛盾产生的重要原因，也是环境问题难以解决的重要原因。指出区际生态补偿体系应由政策法律制订机构、补偿计算机构、补偿征收管理机构等组成；同时着重研究计算策略思路、计算方法、计算过程、计算结果表达等生态补偿计算有关问题；分析建立区际生态补偿机制在环境资源管理体制、绿色国民经济核算体系（转移支付制度）、环境影响数量技术、环境问题争端协调等面临的诸多困难。     

森林生态补偿机制若干重点问题研究

我国森林资源有限．并且大多分布在经济欠发达地区。然而森林生态效益的受益者主要是江河中下游地区,一般属于经济较发达地区。因而如何给森林生态效益提供者实施补偿．实现生态公平。建立森林生态补偿机制显得十分必要,这也是当前国内外研究的热点问题之一。结合我国的实际情况．在研究提出我国生态补偿政策总体框架和分析评价国内外森杯生态补偿研究与实践进展的基础上．对森林生态补偿机制的若干重点问题进行操讨：界定了森林生态补偿的内涵与范畴;对补偿森林类型进行分类．主要分为防护林、特种用途林两类;对森林生态补偿标准进行估算．考虑营造林的直接投入、保护森林生态功能而放弃经济发展的机会成本和森林生态系统服务功能的效益三个方面的因素;培育森林生态补偿市场化途径,加强对私人企业的激励机制．建立基金寻求国外非政府组织捐赠机构支持等办法;开征森林生态税,对征收对象、征收范围、征收依据和税率等进行研究;最后提出森林生态补偿的“三步走”战略。包括补偿基金完善阶段。补偿基金与生态税双轨并行阶段。生态税独立运行阶段。     

生态补偿理论研究进展及争论——基于生态与社会关系的思考

生态补偿的概念自提出便受到学界和政府决策者的广泛关注,并迅速成为近20年来生态保护的主要政策手段。虽然基于生态补偿的政策手段被大范围使用,但是生态补偿的相关理论却处于发展与争论的阶段,该理论的适用性及对现实问题的剖析在实践过程中备受质疑。本文梳理了生态补偿理论发展及构建的过程,将其总结为生态系统服务概念的提出、生态系统服务价值评估方法的建立、以及生态系统服务市场机制的构建三个主要阶段。已有研究更多集中在生态补偿的具体实施层面,如补偿标准、补偿方式、效果评估等方面,但是对基础理论探讨不足。本文从生态补偿理论发展及构建的三个过程,综述了目前对生态补偿理论的讨论及争议,认为在处理"社会—生态"关系的核心问题上,尤其在一些长期依赖并利用自然资源的传统地区或者民族地区,目前学术界和政策决策者均对此问题缺乏深入的理解,这也是实践中生态补偿政策未达到理想效果的主要原因之一。最后,本文提出用"社会生态系统服务"一词代替目前所使用的"生态系统服务",这一概念有助于在理论上避免忽视社会系统及社会与生态系统二者之间的关系,减少不当外部政策干预。     

国外生态补偿机制设计中的关键要素及启示

近年来,生态补偿已成为国内外学界关注的热点,各国相关实践也日益广泛深入。国外关于生态补偿的概念界定并不一致,不同国家的生态补偿实践也不尽相同,但通过考察现有相关研究和实践,可以总结和归纳出各国在生态补偿机制设计中均需考虑的一些关键要素。其中,生态补偿概念的构成要素包括外部性、条件性和自愿性,反映出生态补偿区别于其他环境保护政策工具所具有的核心特征;生态补偿效率的影响要素指向生态补偿的环境效益和成本效益,决定了生态补偿目的能否实现以及实现的程度和代价。提高环境效益的关键在于满足登记、目标锁定、额外性、联结和持续性的要求,避免泄漏、不正当激励和动机挤出效应的出现,而提高成本效益的关键则在于降低交易成本;生态补偿实施的制约要素是指机制运行的前提条件和事后保障,直接影响生态补偿最终能否真正落实和有效实施,包括制度背景例如生态系统服务提供者的财产使用权、透明度、附加目标、商业和技术支持等,以及事后的监督与评估,这也是条件性的必然要求。中国在建立健全生态补偿机制时,应当立足于本国的制度背景,同时借鉴国外先进经验,明确生态补偿的内涵和实质,从制度创新出发,将政府补偿和市场交易相融合,在生态补偿实施方案或协议的拟定中,将各项关键要素融入精密的条款设计中,明确利益相关各方的角色和责任,更好地实现生态补偿防止生态系统服务退化、促进生态系统服务恢复以及确保生态系统服务持续提供的功能,达成效益、效率和公平等价值目标。     

渤海海域生态系统服务功能价值评估

客观评估海洋生态系统服务功能价值。对于生态环境保护以及海洋综合管理具有重要意义。以海洋生态系统服务功能分类为基础．构建了食品生产、提供基因资源、氧气生产和气候调节、废弃物处理、生物控制、休闲娱乐、科研文化、初级生产、物种多样性维持等九项服务功能价值的评估方法。以渤海为研究区域．对上述九项生态系统服务功能价值进行了定量评价。结果表明。渤海海域九项生态系统服务功能的价值为81703亿元．相当于近期环渤海地区生产总值的1．73倍．其中直接使用价值为12873亿元，间接使用价值68830亿元．间接使用价值远大于直接使用价值；渤海海域生态系统服务价值，以支持功能价值为主，占生态系统服务功能总价值的74．68％。此外．认为海洋生态系统服务功能分类和价值评价方法有待进一步完善．渤海海域生态系统服务功能价值的评估值与实际有偏差。     

退耕还林(草)的生态补偿机制完善研究——以西部黄土高原地区为例

生态补偿措施是退耕还林（草）工程顺利进行的重要保障。以退耕还林（草）在黄土高原地区的实施情况为例，通过问卷调查，应用生态经济学的相关理论进行分析，认为应从以下几个方面完善退耕还林（草）工程的生态补偿机制：首先，建立退耕还林（草）的补偿组织体系；其次。以退耕还林（草）所造成的农民机会成本的损失来确定补偿标准。根据工程的进程和资金的投入情况．可将生态补偿划分为基本补偿、产业结构调整补偿和生态效益外溢补偿三个阶段；第三，根据产业结构调整取得显著成效所需的时间来确定补偿年限；最后提出退耕还林（草）的补偿方式及可能的资金渠道来源。生态补偿计量方法的研究将是今后研究的重点和难点。     

政府主导型流域生态补偿机制研究——对子牙河流域生态补偿机制的思考

作为消除生态环境资源开发利用过程中负外部性的重要手段,研究生态补偿机制对于指导我国流域生态环境资源开发和流域环境污染治理具有重要的现实意义.本文选取流域生态补偿机制作为研究对象,从生态补偿思想的来源、内涵、实施模式、补偿标准等角度系统梳理了相关领域的研究成果,并论述了市场主导的流域生态补偿机制和政府主导的流域生态补偿机制两种模式的区别与联系.在此基础上,文意从基本思路、政策框架、监管体系等维度分析评述了子牙河流域生态补偿机制,发现子牙河流域生态补偿机制是将生态补偿基金扣缴制度、改良的政绩考核制度、生态补偿基金使用监督管理制度等组成有机整体的运行体系,属于典型的政府主导模式,并剖析了子牙河流域生态补偿机制取得成效的原因.最后,本文认为,基于现阶段国情,我国应推行由政府主导的流域生态补偿机制,并就完善政府主导的流域生态补偿机制提出了相关政策建议.     

WSSD 2002, Latin America and Brazil: Biodiversity and Indigenous People

Latin America comprehends notable variations in terms of natural environment, availability of natural resources, living standards, and demographic patterns. Latin America is a mosaic of cultures, post- and pre-Columbian. The rich variety of life forms discovered and described by chroniclers and traveling naturalists in the Neotropics contributed to the proposal, in mid-XVIIIth century, of a new system of classification and a scientific code of nomenclature for all organisms. Biodiversity was, for many centuries, a source of resources to be exploited in natura. In scientific circles, its inventory became the domain of taxonomists. But modern technology showed how important the miriad of life forms really are as sources of chemical molecules to be engineered as drugs and reassembled as novel manufactured products. We are on the brink of a new agricultural and medical revolution, thanks to the techniques of genetic engineering, which will lead eventually to the elimination of hunger and malnutrition.In this essay, the Brazilian environmental and social heterogeneity will serve as an example to illustrate some key points, which have influenced sustainability policies. The Amazon deforestation and indigenous knowledge (IK), subjects often associated with areas of high biodiversity, are usually the focus of environmental debates. The importance of IK in integrating development, reducing poverty and sustainability are considered together with the intellectual property rights of native populations.In the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) Implementation Plan, a few paragraphs were dedicated to Latin America, because of the pre-existing Action Platform on the Road to Johannesburg 2002, approved in Rio de Janeiro in October 2001. This paper calls attention to the need to draw up specific environmental policies for a region which shows an extremely high cultural and biological diversity, associated with a high availability of forests and water, among other resources.     

The Phenomenon of Pseudoviviparity in Alpine and Arctomontane Grasses (DeschampsiaBeauv., FestucaL., and PoaL.)

It is known that pseudoviviparous plant taxa are most numerous in the Arctic and high mountain regions, where they sometimes account for a noticeable part of the local flora and play an important phytocenotic role. The complex of pseudoviviparous taxa is an interesting model for investigating the processes of hybridogenic speciation, as various mechanisms stabilizing the hybrid genetic systems proved to be effective in them. In particular, this concerns vast and taxonomically complex groups such as the genera Deschampsia, Festuca, and Poa.In this paper, published data on the taxonomy, chromosome numbers, and distribution of pseudoviviparous grasses in the Arctic regions and subarctic mountain systems are reviewed.     

Conservation, commercialisation and confusion: harvesting of Ischyrolepis in a coastal forest, South Africa

Harvesting of non-timber forest products is an integral component of rural livelihoods throughout the developing world. At times this is at odds with conservation objectives. Reconciliation of the two requires examination of local level contexts and needs. This paper reports on the harvesting needs for Ischyrolepis by a rural community in South Africa, against the setting that they had recently been prohibited from harvesting by the local conservation officials. Interviews were conducted with conservation officials to understand the reasoning for the prohibition. Local demand for Ischyrolepis was assessed by household surveys, as well as in-depth interviews with traders. The density and size class distribution of Ischyrolepis was determined using transects. The total annual demand for Ischyrolepis was determined to be approximately only 2.7% of the standing crop. The bulk of the annual demand was for small-scale trade, the income from which was a primary source of income for the few harvesters. Very little evidence could be found indicating that harvesting was damaging the resource or its habitat, and local knowledge suggested that the abundance of the species was stimulated by harvesting. Even if market demand were to increase, the size of the shoots required means that less than 20% of the standing crop could be harvested annually. Current regulations around harvesting are in a state of revision, and hence confusion prevails regarding if harvesting is permissible, and if so, under what conditions, which is detrimental to both conservation and livelihoods. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

Radionuclide content of building materials and associated gamma dose rates in Egyptian dwellings

Studies have been carried out to determine the natural radioactivity in some building materials (bricks, tiles, marble and ceramics) and their associated radiation hazard. The radioactivity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were measured using a gamma spectrometer with a Hp–Ge detector. The activities of ²³⁸U and ²³⁴U were measured using an alpha-spectrometer with a surface barrier detector after applying a radiochemical procedure. The ²³⁴U/²³⁸U isotopic ratios were calculated. The radium equivalent activities and the radiation hazard index associated with the natural radionuclides were calculated. A computer program was developed and applied to calculate the dose rate a person will receive from the walls of a room constructed from the studied building materials.     

Education for Sustainable Development: The Johannesburg Summit and Beyond

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in Johannesburg during 26 August and 4 September 2002, was a truly remarkable event, not least because it identified and committed the world community to what has to be done to realise Agenda 21 objectives. Discussion begins with the "means of implementation" of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPI). Education for, and raising awareness of, sustainable development are the key commitments in the "means of implementation". The issues central to these commitments are discussed. The crucial role of moral philosophy in education for sustainable development is then discussed. Defining the "problem" as lack of progress (in fact negative progress between Rio and Johannesburg) towards global sustainable development, a cause–effect relationship of the "problem" is developed based on a systematic and logical analysis. It shows that the "cause" is West's profoundly materialistic, environment-degrading and exploitative attitude and activities to satisfy grossly unsustainable, hedonistic and insatiably avaricious Western life-styles – life-styles that are held up by the West as "ideal" fruits of economic "development" to be aspired by all. The "effects" are pollution of air, water and soil; mounting loss of biodiversity, ecosystems and species; relentlessly widening north–south divide, etc. It is argued that while science and technology can address some of the "effects", they cannot address the "cause". Only moral philosophy can by fundamentally re-orienting moral values genuinely to respect nature and the environment. Based on sound and tested principles of Educational Psychology, a proposal is then made for including moral philosophy in the formal curricula (content and pedagogy) of primary, secondary and higher education for instilling in children and young people genuinely environment-respecting moral values. To this end a generic syllabus for the secondary level is proposed. Finally, it is argued that if the scientific community really believes that science or technology alone can radically change the pervasive environment-degrading moral values to those that genuinely respect the environment, thus paving the way to real global sustainability, then it must demonstrate how this could be done and explain why, despite their abundant science and technology, the developed nations are the biggest polluters and consumers with grossly unsustainable life-styles. Certainly, examples would be much more convincing than rhetoric or tired old clichés about how science and technology alone could deliver global sustainable development.     

Do nanoparticles present ecotoxicological risks for the health of the aquatic environment?

Nanotechnology is a major innovative scientific and economic growth area, which may present a variety of hazards for environmental and human health. The surface properties and very small size of nanoparticles and nanotubes provide surfaces that may bind and transport toxic chemical pollutants, as well as possibly being toxic in their own right by generating reactive radicals. There is a wealth of evidence for the harmful effects of nanoscale combustion-derived particulates (ultrafines), which when inhaled can cause a number of pulmonary pathologies in mammals and humans. However, release of manufactured nanoparticles into the aquatic environment is largely an unknown. This review addresses the possible hazards associated with nanomaterials and harmful effects that may result from exposure of aquatic animals to nanoparticles. Possible nanoparticle association with naturally occurring colloids and particles is considered together with how this could affect their bioavailability and uptake into cells and organisms. Uptake by endocytotic routes are identified as probable major mechanisms of entry into cells; potentially leading to various types of toxic cell injury. The higher level consequences for damage to animal health, ecological risk and possible food chain risks for humans are also considered based on known behaviours and toxicities for inhaled and ingested nanoparticles in the terrestrial environment. It is concluded that a precautionary approach is required with individual evaluation of new nanomaterials for risk to the health of the environment. Although current toxicity testing protocols should be generally applicable to identify harmful effects associated with nanoparticles, research into new methods is required to address the special properties of nanomaterials.     

Household water in rural asia: a case study of the construction of a piped water system in Bangui,Ilocos Norte,Philippines

In early 1980 an extension agent was assigned to the rural municipality of Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines to work on development projects – in particular the improvement of the supply of safe water for drinking and sanitation. After many months of visiting spring sites and meeting with community leaders, a small part of the municipality was selected to build a gravity fed piped water system. Although the system took many months to plan, identify funding and construct, the 600 community members were ultimately rewarded with house to house connections that enabled them to achieve per capita water consumption levels above the minimum levels recommended by the World Health Organization. Of course, money was critical to ensure the project’s success, but many other factors played an equally critical role. For instance, without the active participation of the community and the unwavering support of the community leadership the project would not have survived the initial planning stage. Also, the extension agent played a critical role by acting as a conduit between funding agencies, the Bureau of Public Works and the community. The primary lesson to be learned from this experience is that the success of rural development projects is largely driven by the synergy between the community, technical support, financial support, and agents of change such as extension agents. If any of these ingredients had been lacking, the project result would likely have been far different.