Using ecological knowledge for development planning

Since October 1977, the East-West Environment and Policy Institute in Honolulu has been conducting a multinational collaborative project to enhance the preparation and utilization of natural systems assessments in developing countries. This paper presents some of the findings to date: 1. Channels are developing rapidly for transferring ecological knowledge into political and administrative decision making. 2. The systematic approach of ecology is replacing environmental quality as the organizing concept for information about natural resources and the environment. 3. Benefit-cost analysis is a promising method for integrating ecological knowledge into economic development decision making. 4. The lack of baseline information, inventories, and predictive capability will not be remedied soon or easily; thus priorities for ecological research are essential.This paper is adapted from a presentation at the Fifth Symposium on Tropical Ecology of the International Society for Tropical Ecology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 19 April 1979. Environmental Management, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 13–20     

Ecotourism,sustainable development,and conservation education: Development of a tour guide training program in Tortuguero,Costa Rica

A tour guide training program was developed for rural communities near Costa Rica's Tortuguero National Park to respond to the impacts of the 24-fold increase in park visitation in the past decade, to involve local communities in resource management, and to provide regional environmental education. The development of the training course involved a survey of scientists and park managers to ascertain resource management needs, priorities for information to be disseminated, and impacts of tourism on the resource base. Current and potential tour guides were surveyed to identify their information needs, solicit their input in the training program, and to determine their knowledge and skills. Written questionnaires were developed and given to 400 tourists to determine their activities and environmental information needs, and hotel owners were censused to examine the economic feasibility of a local guide program. A pilot training course and guide program involving 12 Tortuguero residents demonstrated that a tour guide program: (1) helped mitigate negative tourism impacts on Tortuguero National Park's natural resources, particularly by regulating tourists on the park's 35-km beach used for nesting by endangered sea turtles; (2) provided environmental education to an important segment of the local community not traditionally reached through school or government development projects; (3) provided environmental information to tourists, thus enhancing their visit; and (4) provided local economic benefits through lucrative part-time employment, thereby allowing local people to participate more fully in the tourism system. An extended training course is being planned to provide further environmental education programming and to increase year-round employment opportunities for the tour guides.     

Islands at a glance

Islands have many problems in common with certain continental areas. Yet, at the same time they provide a special case in development, largely owing to specific characteristics of their natural resources, their economies, and their culture. The rational management of small island ecosystems (less than 10,000 sq km, population 50,000 or less) is one of the main aspects of the multidisciplinary research project promoted by the “Man and the Biosphere” Program (MAB) of UNESCO. This article aims to shed light on some important methodological and conceptual issues confronted during almost two decades of fieldwork.     

对高等院校安全工程专业建设的探讨

分析了我国高等学校开设安全工程专业的发展状况,提出安全工程专业应以安全科学技术知识为主体,兼顾生产知识,设置专业基础课程和专业课程,形成安全工程的专业特性。     

What are expert systems and how can they contribute to Planning?

The possible role of computer‐based expert systems in town and country planning has yet to be formalised and many planners are not aware of the potential and limitations of software developments in this area. This paper defines expert systems for planners, explains their operation and outlines a possible area, within the development control process, where such systems could provide a beneficial contribution to planning.     

不确定性水质模型及其研究进展

水环境是一个充满不确定性因素的复杂巨系统,研究这些不确定性的变化有利于提高人们对水环境分析的认识和做出更切合实际的决策.详细、清晰地评述了不确定性水质模型研究的必要性、研究的方法和国内外研究进展等,并针对此类模型研究与应用过程中普遍存在的一些问题、主要表现和成因进行了分析与论述,最后结合目前的研究热点指出了今后不确定性水质模型发展的3个重要方向.     

环境与经济协调发展理论研究进展

简述了协调发展的内涵及其定量化研究概况，综述了协调发展相关理论－可持续发展，环境承载力，生态经济规划等的研究进展，并指出了协调发展理论的研究趋势。     

《伦敦市长空气质量战略》与可持续改善城市空气质量

简单介绍伦敦市长空气质量战略的内容,从中借鉴出我国城市空气质量可持续改善的经验与措施:推行清洁汽车行动与清洁能源行动,大力发展城市公共交通。     

关于省级生态环境监测机构发展规划的思考

在剖析新形势下生态环境监测发展形势需求的基础上,分析了生态环境监测机构发展在精准支撑环境管理、提升监测科研创新驱动力和建设高水平人才队伍等方面存在的问题。提出了以支撑、服务、引领生态环境决策管理为导向,深化制度建设、强化人才队伍、加强科研创新、夯实基础能力、打造特色亮点,全面提升核心竞争力的省级生态环境监测机构发展规划思路,以及环境监测预警能力建设、科研创新发展、人才队伍建设、体制机制建设等方面建设任务。为实现生态环境治理体系和治理能力现代化,全面改善生态环境质量提供有力支撑。