Examining adaptation and mitigation opportunities in the context of the integrated watershed management programme of the Government of India

India occupies 2.4% of the world’s geographical area with a large percentage of its land under agriculture. About 228 Million hectares (Mha) of its geographical area (nearly 69%) fall within the dryland (arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid) region. Of the total cultivated area of 142 Mha, major part of agriculture in the country is rainfed, extending to over 97 Mha and constituting nearly 68% of the net cultivated area, therefore making the agricultural sector vulnerable and exposed to the vagaries of weather conditions. Climate change adds to this dimension of stress. A strong need is felt for targeting programmes in these areas that address issues related to employing suitable soil and water conservation measures. In this context this paper seeks to examine the case for watershed development as an adaptive strategy. An examination of the possibility of fortifying the existing programme with a view to adapting to expected changes in climate in future is undertaken. Also, the possibility of watershed development integrating into a suitable mitigation strategy for the country is assessed.

Tropical deforestation in a future international climate policy regime—lessons from the Brazilian Amazon

The possibility of adopting national targets for carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from tropical deforestation in a future international climate treaty has received increasing attention recently. This attention has been prompted by proposals to this end and more intensified talks on possible commitments for developing countries beyond the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Kyoto Protocol. We analyze four main scientific and political challenges associated with national targets for emissions from tropical deforestation: (1) reducing the uncertainties in emission inventories, (2) preserving the environmental integrity of the treaty, (3) promoting political acceptance and participation in the regime, and (4) providing economic incentives for reduced deforestation. We draw the following conclusions. (1) Although there are large uncertainties in carbon flux from deforestation, these are in the same range as for other emissions included in the current Kyoto protocol (i.e., non-CO₂ GHGs), and they can be reduced. However, for forest degradation processes the uncertainties are larger. A large challenge lies in building competence and institutions for monitoring the full spectrum of land use changes in developing countries. (2 and 3) Setting targets for deforestation is difficult, and uncertainties in future emissions imply a risk of creating ‘tropical hot air’. However, there are proposals that may sufficiently deal with this, and these proposals may also have the advantage of making the targets more attractive, politically speaking. Moreover, we conclude that while a full carbon accounting system will likely be politically unacceptable for tropical countries, the current carbon accounting system should be broadened to include forest degradation in order to safeguard environmental integrity. (4) Doubts can be cast over the possible effect a climate regime alone will have on deforestation rates, though little thorough analysis of this issue has been made.

Impact analysis of drought, water excess and salinity on grass production in The Netherlands using historical and future climate data

The coupled SWAP-WOFOST model was used to study the effects of increasing salinity of groundwater, drought and water excess on grass production in The Netherlands. WOFOST simulates crop growth and SWAP simulates transport of water, solutes and heat in the vadose zone. The model was tested using several datasets from field experiments. We applied the models at regional scale where we quantified the impact of various groundwater salinity levels on grass growth and production using historical weather data (1971-2000). The salt concentrations in the subsoil were derived from the National Hydrological Instrument. The results show that salinity effects on grass production are limited. In wet years the excess rainfall will infiltrate the soil and reduce salt water seepage. In a next step we used future weather data for the year 2050, derived from 3 Global Circulation Models. From each model we used data from two CO₂ emission scenarios. As expected higher temperatures increased drought stress, however, the production reduction as a result of salt water in the root zone is limited. Salt stress mainly occurred when irrigation was applied with saline water. The increased CO₂ concentration in combination with the limited drought stress resulted in increasing simulated actual and potential yields. Overall conclusion for grassland in The Netherlands: drought stress is stronger than stress caused by water excess which on its turn is stronger than salinity stress. Future water demand for irrigation may increase by 11-19% and result in water scarcity if water supply is insufficient.     

The evolution of climate policies - the role of learning and evaluations

All member states of the EU have had to develop climate strategies following the commitment to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. The evolution of the strategies provides insights into the learning that takes place at the level of policy development and offers material for analysing how ex ante and ex post evaluations have contributed to this learning. In the analysis, Finland is used as a case demonstrating different levels and types of learning, from deeper reframing to political learning. The results show that the full potential of the evaluations has not been utilised, partly because they have been constrained by their mandate. Greater openness and transparency in the policy processes would create favourable conditions for independent evaluations that could provide additional input to the policy processes. This would support social and reflexive learning and allow for greater adaptability.     

1957-2007年新疆天山山区气候变化对径流的影响

利用天山山区1957-2007年的气温、降水量及径流数据,借助非参数检验、小波变换等方法分析了天山山区气温、降水量及年径流量的变化趋势及多时间尺度相关。结果表明:玛纳斯河与塔里木河源流区年径流量、气温与降水量均呈显著增加趋势;在年代际上,塔里木河源流区气温存在11、18和22 a的主周期,降水量存在10、20与22 a的主周期;玛纳斯河气温在10与22 a处存在明显周期,降水量在20与22 a处周期性明显;同时,两源流区气温和降水量皆存在3~6 a的年际周期变化;塔里木河年径流量、气温和降水量的突变点分别发生在1993、1993和1992年,而玛纳斯河分别在1995、1988与1996年发生显著性突变;两流域源流区年径流量与气候因子存在显著的多时间尺度相关关系。     

后寨河流域岩溶含水层脆弱性及其对土地利用方式的响应

由于强烈的溶蚀作用,岩溶地区溶蚀裂隙、管道等高度发育,并相互贯通,形成岩溶区特有的地下、地表“双层空间”结构体系,地下空间成为地下水存储和运移的重要场所。岩溶地区由于土层浅薄或缺失,并且溶蚀裂隙、管道、落水洞、竖井等高度发育,使含水层更易受地表状况的影响,土地利用/覆被变化在很大程度上影响着地下水的水质、水量,岩溶水质的变化能集中反映人类活动胁迫下岩溶含水层脆弱性程度的增加。以典型岩溶单元--贵州普定后寨河流域为例,分析了流域水文地质背景下的岩溶含水层本质脆弱性,结合流域地下河水近20年的水化学资料,分析了含水层脆弱性对土地利用变化的响应。结果显示：土地利用/覆被变化、农业活动、城镇建设及居民活动都对地下水质变化有明显影响。因此,调整土地利用结构,恢复岩溶植被,改善生态环境是保护和改善岩溶水资源的重要途径。     

土地利用和生态系统服务功能变化研究——以三峡库区大宁河流域为例

将土地利用类型分类为耕地、有林地(森林地)、灌木林地、草地、迹地、水体、建设用地和未利用地8类.以遥感数据为数据源,通过自动分类和人工解译相结合的方法获取了以上土地利用类型,并对三峡库区大宁河流域的土地利用变化过程和驱动力做了分析.以Costanza等人的全球生态系统服务价值的估测结果为基础,对各种地类生态服务功能价值重新赋值,进而估算近30年大宁河流域的生态服务价值,分析了其变化过程.结果表明:近30年,大宁河流域土地利用总的变化趋势是林、灌、草地经历了不断破坏和缓慢恢复的过程,耕地面积经历了先增后减,建设用地不断扩展.经济发展、人口增长和国家政策是土地利用变化的主要原因.生态系统服务功能经历了一个先损害后恢复的过程,表现为生态服务价值从1973年到1995年不断减少,而1995年到2002年连续增加.     

人类活动对川东平行岭谷区岩溶地下水化学性质季节变化的影响

以川东平行岭谷区典型岩溶槽谷--北碚槽上为研究区域,通过对8月和11月的岩溶地下水水化学性质研究,发现槽上岩溶地下水的化学性质呈现明显的季节性：电导率、矿化度、SO42-浓度及HCO3-浓度都是8月大于11月,与气温和降水量的变化相对应,也与人类在8月份对土地利用的强度大于在11月份对土地利用的强度相对应。研究区地下水的化学性质与人类活动对土地利用的季节差异具有比较明显的对应关系,为进一步认识岩溶地下水的时间变化规律提供科学数据,也有利于认识人类活动对生态环境产生的影响,从而采取更加合理的措施来治理和保护岩溶地区有限的地下水资源,满足人们的生活和生产需要。     

密云水库流域2000-2005年植被覆盖度变化监测

植被是生态系统最重要的组成部分,而植被覆盖度是衡量地表植被状况的一个最重要的指标,是生态系统健康评价的前提和必要的基础。文章利用2000和2005年2个时相的Landsat 7 ETM+遥感影像为数据源,以BP神经网络法为植被覆盖度估算模型,计算了密云水库流域内不同时期的植被覆盖度,生成了该流域2个时相内的植被覆盖度图,以此分析密云水库流域植被覆盖度的时空变化。结果表明,从2000-2005年,密云水库流域内除无植被覆盖类型外(即水域部分),其余土地利用类型的植被覆盖度都呈增加趋势,其中以沙质地和耕地最为明显,分别增长了29.5%和27.3%,并且密云水库流域的平均植被覆盖度不高,尤其西部地区植被覆盖度较差,水土流失和土地沙化情况比较严重。     

塔里木盆地南缘克里雅绿洲土地利用变化对生态系统服务价值的影响研究

以塔里木盆地南缘克里雅绿洲作为典型区,分析1991-2001年土地利用变化对生态系统服务价值的影响。研究结果表明,克里雅绿洲在1991-2001年土地利用变化很明显,生态服务价值从1991年的10．004×10^8元降到20,01年的8．792×10。元,生态服务价值损失了12％,平均每年净损失生态服务价值32．2元／hm^2湿地生态服务价值的变化最大,变化率高达-37．54％。湿地、水体面积变化的绝对量高、生态服务功能价值指数大是导致研究区生态系统服务总价值降低的主要原因。敏感性分析结果表明,克里雅绿洲生态服务价值对生态服务功能指数是缺乏弹性的,研究结果是可信的,可为研究区土地利用规划提供借鉴。