Environmental Policy Beliefs of Stakeholders in Protected Area Management

Although the importance of understanding stakeholder beliefs regarding environmental policy has been noted by many authors, research focusing on the heterogeneity of stakeholder views is still very scarce and concentrated on a product-oriented definition of stakeholders. The aim of the present study is to address this gap by examining environmental policy beliefs of stakeholder groups engaged in protected area management. Questionnaires containing 73 five-point Likert scale items were administered to eight different stakeholder groups involved in the management of Greek protected areas. Items referred to core beliefs on environmental policy, namely, the value framework and sustainable development, and secondary beliefs, that is, beliefs on social consensus and ecotourism development. Our study used as a starting point respondent recruitment on the basis of a traditional product-centered approach. We investigated whether environmental policy beliefs can be used to effectively segregate stakeholders in well-defined segments, which override the product-oriented definition of stakeholders. Indeed, K-means clustering revealed an innovation-introduction and an implementation-charged sample segment. The instrument utilized in this research proved quite reliable and valid in measuring stakeholder environmental policy beliefs. Furthermore, the methodology implied that stakeholder groups differ in a significant number of belief-system elements. On the other hand, stakeholder groups were effectively distinguished on a small set of both core and secondary beliefs. Therefore, the instrument used can be an effective tool for determining and monitoring environmental policy beliefs of stakeholders in protected area management. This is of considerable importance in the Greek case, given the recent establishment of 27 administrative bodies of protected areas, all of which are required to incorporate public consultation into management practices.     

山区农村居民点时空格局演变特征及蚁群仿真优化——以重庆澄江镇为例

山地农村居民点系统因受自然因素及人类活动等多重扰动而处于深刻转型中,探索山区农村居民点时空格局特征及其优化策略,对于优化山区国土空间格局、推进山区国土空间综合治理与乡村振兴具有重要意义。基于构建理论框架,集成运用景观格局指数法、栅格权重叠加评价法、改进蚁群算法（ACO）等,以重庆澄江镇为例,探索山区农村居民点时空格局演变特征及优化过程,提出优化调控策略。结果表明：（1）研究区农村居民点空间格局演变特征呈现集中、靠拢的演化发展趋势,总体呈现匀质、线状、向心、院落四种分布形态;同时高程、坡度、水域、城镇、道路、基础设施等自然—经济社会因素均对山区农村居民点时空格局演化产生重要影响。（2）改进蚁群算法优化后,研究区农村居民点斑块面积（CA）减少10.07%,居民点斑块数量（NP）和密度（PD）分别减少83.12%和81.16%,平均斑块面积（MPS）增加了4.3倍,平均最近邻体距离（MENN）增加了42.82%。优化后69.1%的农村居民点斑块都集中在适宜区和较适宜区内,且重点向交通便利、公共设施完善、生产便利和中心村庄集中。优化后的农村居民点空间格局更加紧凑有序,土地集约节约效率更高。（3）基于仿真优化结果,综合考虑村庄振兴“产业—人口—土地”互动耦合机制,提出城郊融合、产业集聚、景村融合、搬迁撤并四类农村居民点格局优化方案,助推山区乡村振兴。（4）优化结果同时表明改进的蚁群算法非常适用于复杂环境条件下的较小尺度要素空间布局优化,能够为山区国土空间规划编制提供技术支撑。     

贫困退出背景下返贫脆弱性评价——融合区域与个体的新视角

精准识别返贫脆弱性,预防和化解返贫风险是“后扶贫时代”的工作重点。基于区域与个体尺度融合的新视角,运用BP神经网络法、熵值法和偏相关分析法对六盘山、秦巴山和大别山三大集中连片特困区进行返贫脆弱性评价与影响因素分析。研究发现：（1）三大集中连片特困区返贫脆弱度大致呈现由西向东递减的空间格局;（2）三个典型县区域和个体返贫脆弱性评价结果均显示古浪县>新县>栾川县;（3）高返贫风险县域中,高生态暴露度特征最为显著,而高返贫风险家庭中,生计动力不足特征最为明显;（4）区域返贫脆弱性主导因子为自然环境禀赋和经济发展水平,个体返贫脆弱性主导因子则为家庭劳动力综合素质、家庭收入、生计来源多样性、家庭成员健康状况和婚姻成本等。     

A novel approach for VOC source apportionment combining characteristic factor and pattern recognition technology in a Chinese industrial area

Volatile organic compound (VOC) emission control and source apportionment in small-scale industrial areas have become key topics of air pollution control in China. This study proposed a novel characteristic factor and pattern recognition (CF-PR) model for VOC source apportionment based on the similarity of characteristic factors between sources and receptors. A simulation was carried out in a typical industrial area with the CF-PR model involving simulated receptor samples. Refined and accurate source profiles were constructed through in situ sampling and analysis, covering rubber, chemicals, coating, electronics, plastics, printing, incubation and medical treatment industries. Characteristic factors of n-undecane, styrene, o-xylene and propane were identified. The source apportionment simulation results indicated that the predicted contribution rate was basically consistent with the real contribution rate. Compared to traditional receptor models, this method achieves notable advantages in terms of refinement and timeliness at similar accuracy, which is more suitable for VOC source identification and apportionment in small-scale industrial areas.     

城区与郊区PM2.5污染及传输特征差异性

基于云高仪激光雷达、飞机AMDAR数据和常规站点等多源观测数据,并与数值模拟（CAMx-PSAT模型）相结合,以京津冀典型城市——北京城区与郊区（密云）和石家庄城区与郊区（平山）为案例研究区域,对城区和郊区边界层高度差异（ΔPBLH）、地面PM_2.5浓度差异（ΔSurf_PM_2.5）、高空PM_2.5浓度差异（ΔVert_PM_2.5）和传输通量强度及高度分布特征差异进行分析.结果表明,由于人为热源、短波辐射和热力湍流等因素,导致城区年均边界层高度（PBLH）较郊区高8%~29%,且不同季节下城区PBLH月均较郊区高2%（石家庄4月）~47%（北京7月）.由于人为排放、逆温和大气湍流等共同作用,在0~1260 m之间等高度城区年均ρ（PM_2.5）较郊区高0.1（石家庄）~29.7（北京）μg ·m^-3,随高度增加而减小.城区年均总净通量强度远大于郊区,城区表现为流出,郊区表现为流入,是由于城区低压和郊区高压,形成城郊热力环流.北京城区和郊区与周边的年均总净通量强度之和（44.77 t ·d^-1）大于石家庄（34.44 t ·d^-1）.受风速和PM_2.5浓度的影响,在0~1260 m之间,城区和郊区与周边的净通量随离地高度的增加通量强度呈现明显增大趋势,其中1月城区和4月郊区与周边的传输交换对环境影响最为明显.不同季节下城区和郊区最大净通量的强度差异明显,两者相差2.23~4.48倍;但最大净通量强度的高度特征差异较小,主要位于611~1260 m.     

Characterizing a Major Urban Stream Restoration Project: Nine Mile Run (Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania, USA)

Urban stream restoration continues to be used as an ecological management tool, despite uncertainty about the long‐term sustainability and resilience of restored systems. Evaluations of restoration success often focus on specific instream indicators, with limited attention to the wider basin or parallel hydrologic and geomorphic process. A comprehensive understanding of urban stream restoration progress is particularly important for comparisons with nonurban sites as urban streams can provide substantial secondary benefits to urban residents. Here, we utilize a wide range of indicators to retrospectively examine the restoration of Nine Mile Run, a multi‐million dollar stream restoration project in eastern Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania, USA). Examination of available continuous hydrological data illustrates the high cost of failures to incorporate the data into planning and adaptive management. For example, persistent extreme flows drive geomorphic degradation threatening to reverse hydrologic connections created by the restoration and impact the improved instream biotic communities. In addition, human activities associated with restoration efforts suggest a positive feedback as the stream restoration has focused effort on the basin beyond the reach. Ultimately, urban stream restoration remains a potentially useful management tool, but continued improvements in post‐project assessment should include examination of a wider range of indicators.     

Effects of Urban Spatial Structure,Sociodemographics, and Climate on Residential Water Consumption in Hillsboro,Oregon1

House-Peters, Lily, Bethany Pratt, and Heejun Chang, 2010. Effects of Urban Spatial Structure, Sociodemographics, and Climate on Residential Water Consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(3):461-472. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2009.00415.x Abstract: In the Portland metropolitan area, suburban growth in cities such as Hillsboro is projected to increase as people seek affordable housing near a burgeoning metropolis. The most significant determinants for increases in water demand are population growth, climate change, and the type of urban development that occurs. This study analyzes the spatial patterns of single family residential (SFR) water consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon, at the census block scale. The following research questions are addressed: (1) What are the significant determinants of SFR water consumption in Hillsboro, Oregon? (2) Is SFR water demand sensitive to drought conditions and interannual climate variation? (3) To what magnitude do particular census blocks react to drought conditions and interannual climate variation? Using ordinary least squares multiple regression and spatial regression methods, we found that base use, representing indoor water use, is dependent on household size and that seasonal use, representing external water use is dependent on both education level and the size of the property’s outdoor space. Spatial analysis techniques determined that although the water demand of the study area as a whole is not sensitive to drought conditions, certain individual census blocks do respond with a higher magnitude of water use. The most climate-sensitive census blocks tend to contain newer and larger homes, and have higher property values and more affluent and well-educated residents.     

我国滨海地区入境旅游流空间结构研究

以我国滨海11个省（市）1995--2011年17年间入境旅游资料为基础，从旅游流流量、旅游流客源地空间结构和旅游流目的地空间结构方面研究入境旅游流空间结构。结果显示，滨海省（市）入境旅游流流量一直呈现持续增长态势；滨海省（市）入境旅游外国客源市场的地理集中指数处于31—34．5之间，总体趋势减小；入境游客密度指数说明滨海地区入境旅游流目的地呈现明显的非均衡态势，整体上是从中心向两翼递减的空间格局。     

N deposition as a threat to the World's protected areas under the Convention on Biological Diversity

This paper combines the world’s protected areas (PAs) under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), common classification systems of ecosystem conservation status, and current knowledge on ecosystem responses to nitrogen (N) deposition to determine areas most at risk. The results show that 40% (approx. 11% of total area) of PAs currently receive >10 kg N/ha/yr with projections for 2030 indicating that this situation is not expected to change. Furthermore, 950 PAs are projected to receive >30 kg N/ha/yr by 2030 (approx. twice the 2000 number), of which 62 (approx. 11,300 km²) are also Biodiversity Hotspots and G200 ecoregions; with forest and grassland ecosystems in Asia particularly at risk. Many of these sites are known to be sensitive to N deposition effects, both in terms of biodiversity changes and ecosystem services they provide. Urgent assessment of high risk areas identified in this study is recommended to inform the conservation efforts of the CBD.     

An Assessment of Stakeholder Perceptions and Management of Noxious Alien Plants in Spain

Despite biological invasions being a worldwide phenomenon causing significant ecological, economic, and human welfare impacts, there is limited understanding regarding how environmental managers perceive the problem and subsequently manage alien species. Spanish environmental managers were surveyed using questionnaires to (1) analyze the extent to which they perceive plant invasions as a problem; (2) identify the status, occurrence, and impacts of noxious alien plant species; (3) assess current effort and expenditure targeting alien plant management; and, finally, (4) identify the criteria they use to set priorities for management. In comparison to other environmental concerns, plant invasions are perceived as only moderately problematic and mechanical control is the most valued and frequently used strategy to cope with plant invasions in Spain. Based on 70 questionnaires received, 193 species are considered noxious, 109 of which have been the subject of management activities. More than 90% of species are found in at least one protected area. According to respondents, the most frequently managed species are the most widespread across administrative regions and the ones perceived as causing the highest impacts. The perception of impact seems to be independent of their invasion status, since only half of the species identified as noxious are believed to be invasive in Spain, while 43% of species thought to only be casual aliens are causing a high impact. Records of management costs are poor and the few data indicate that the total actual expenditure amounted to 50,492,437 € in the last decade. The majority of respondents stated that management measures are insufficient to control alien plants due to limited economic resources, lack of public awareness and support, and an absence of coordination among different public administrations. Managers also expressed their concern about the fact that much scientific research is concerned with the ecology of alien plants rather than with specific cost-efficient strategies to manage alien species.