IMPACT OF FLOOD HAZARD ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUES IN GALT (CAMBRIDGE), ONTARIO1

ABSTRACT: This study is an examination of the relationship between flooding and property values for an urban community in southwestern Ontario which has a lengthy history of flooding. As well, peoples’perceptions of the effect of flooding on property values is discussed. Analysis of sales prices and assessment data demonstrated no statistically significant differences in values of property for residences located in high- and low-risk areas either before or after a major flood in 1974. With both the high- and low-risk areas, sales prices after the 1974 flood were significantly higher than sales prices before the flood. The perceived property values followed a similar pattern. We concluded that differences in flood risk and flood experience did not adversely affect actual or perceived long-term property values.     

关于自然资源的几个问题

本文认为自然资源是有价值的。确立自然资源价值观是解决资源问题、生态环境问题的一项带根本性的对策。自然资源是经济社会发展的物质基础,因此又是一种资产财富,应树立资源资产观念,建立资源资产管理制度,加强产权管理,实行资源所有权和使用权分离,对资源使用部门实行资源有偿使用和转让。自然资源的再生产中应实行产业化,对自然资源应进行核算并纳入国民经济核算体系。这些问题都是在自然资源的保护和开发利用中的一些带根本性的问题,也是在自然资源资产管理制度化和法制化中必须考虑和重视的问题。     

长江三角洲跨界流域生态产品交易机制——以天目湖流域为例

生态价值多元化实现是落实区域一体化生态保护格局的经济政策保障。针对当前生态产品交易制度不完善与市场活跃度问题,以天目湖流域水质净化服务产品为例,提出一条生态保护市场化与生态产品增值的双向促进道路：基于长序列监测数据与水文水质过程模型,提出流域生态保护基准概念及其约束下生态产品交易边界,精准核算基准年水质净化产品的可交易量为1.37 t,基准价格为1186.71万元/t/年;面向近10年产品实际供需主体的内在联系,揭示了“三类五种”生态产品交易机制类型,并选择设计了低端产品退出—高端产品激励的典型交易模式。生态产品交易实施为研究区生态价值实现提供市场化路径,为国内同类地区一体化生态保护格局保障提供思路。     

单一重金属污染对灯心草生长及重金属积累特性的影响

盆栽试验结果表明:在设置的低浓度范围内,Cd、Pb、Cu能够刺激灯心草的生长。而As(地上部除外)、Zn在整个浓度设置范围内对灯心草的生长都表现出抑制作用,且各重金属对灯心草地下部生物量影响不显著。各重金属对灯心草生长抑制程度为:Zn>As>Cu>Pb>Cd。以灯心草生物量减产10%为依据,将土壤中Cd、Pb、Cu3种重金属临界值分别设定为10、100、100~200 mg.kg-1。灯心草不适合在Zn污染的土壤中种植,土壤中As临界值尚需作进一步的研究来确定。除Cd外,其余4种重金属主要累积于灯心草根部。回归分析表明,Cd、Pb在灯心草地上和地下部以及As在灯心草地下部的积累量与土壤中各重金属添加量之间存在显著线性关系(P<0.05)。     

Elevated CO2 changes the moderate shade tolerance of yellow birch seedlings

To demonstrate the existence of light thresholds in plant growth and to examine the effects of elevated CO2 on the shade tolerance of a tree species, an experiment consisting of a completely randomized design for a total of 96 yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) seedlings was conducted with 3 light levels (2.9%, 7.7%, 26.1% of full sunlight)×2 CO2 levels (350 and 700±10 ppm) with 4 replications in a phytotron. The study proved that thresholds exist and they vary in different plant organs. In ambient CO2, the thresholds were 13.3%, 18.7%, 15.0%, 15.2%, and 15.6% of full sunlight for stem, leaf, root, total plant biomass, and the averaged value, respectively. In 700 ppm CO2, the corresponding thresholds were 16.7%, 21.3%, 18.1%, 21.7% and 19.5% for stem, leaf, root, total plant biomass, and the averaged value, respectively. The lowest threshold in the stem is an indicator of the minimal light intensity for regular growth for seedlings of this species. Below this threshold, light-stressful growth occurs. The result of a paired t-test indicated that the thresholds in elevated CO2 were significantly higher than in ambient CO2. This suggests that yellow birch will lose its moderate shade tolerance, evolutionally becoming a shade-intolerant species, and that it may become more difficult to naturally regenerate in the future.     

Economies of scale in global iron-making

In this paper, we investigate the presence of economies of scale in the global iron-making industry for integrated steel plants, iron making being the first stage in the steel-making process. Iron making depends on basic commodities, such as iron ore, coke and various forms of energy, required in the operation of the blast furnace, which can be classified as essential inputs and used in fixed proportions to produce iron. A generalized Leontief cost function is estimated using panel data for 69 integrated plants, such a specification being appropriate for technologies with essential inputs that are used in fixed proportions in production. A significant scale effect is observed due to the existence of fixed costs and a linear dependence of the cost function on production. Under a simple linear cost function, a rough estimate of the breakeven scale of plant, where costs equal revenue, is 4.5 Mt per year. Competitiveness, as measured by the ratio of plant average cost per tonne to best practice cost per tonne, can be shown to be positively related to the scale of production as well as the cost of essential inputs. Therefore, low-cost producers are also often producers with low raw material costs and production levels below the estimated breakeven scale of operation. Labor costs, although significant, are comparatively less important as a driver towards low costs.     

国家重点生态功能区县域环境监测质量评价方法及应用示范

以国家重点生态功能区县域环境监测质量评价为目标,综合应用德尔菲法、层次分析法和模糊综合评价法,构建了国家重点生态功能区县域环境监测质量评价方法,并确定了评价因子、权重系数、计算方法。该方法评价指标共分为三层:第一层为目标层,即国家重点生态功能区县域环境监测质量;第二层为准则层,包括人员及资质、现场监测、实验室管理、报告编制及数据上报;第三层为方案层,包括人员操作、持证上岗、资质认定、人员培训、水质布点采样流转情况、空气自动站运维情况、现场质控实施情况、实验室环境条件、样品试剂的保存与管理、仪器检定与校准、实验室质量控制实施情况、数据填报软件运行情况、监测报告规范性等13个评价要素。经矩阵一致性检验确定了各评价要素的权重,将该权重与各要素得分运算后得到县域环境监测质量评价结果。在此基础上,选取广东、山西、陕西、四川和青海等5个省份的15个国家重点生态功能区县域作为典型区开展了实地调研,并应用评价体系对其进行了监测质量等级评价。结果表明,15个典型县域中,环境监测质量等级为优的县域占13.3%,一般、较差的县域分别占66.7%、20%。县域环境监测承担单位在资质、报告编制及数据上报方面表现较好,在现场监测、人员操作方面问题突出,在实验室管理方面有待提升。     

自然资源二元价值论及其稀缺价格研究

本文提出了自然资源二元价值论,即认为自然资源物质无价值,自然资源资本具有虚假的社会价值,并据此提出了自然资源稀缺价格理论,同时对现行自然资源价格评估方法作了分析,认为影子价格法是目前最适合的自然资源价格评估方法。     

西藏森林生态系统服务价值

森林生态系统作为可再生的自然资源,具有公共物品的属性,随着环境污染和资源危机的加剧,具有可持续意义的森林生态服务价值受到人类的重视。论文采用产量-价格法、直接市场法、影子工程法、机会成本法等主要研究方法,核算了西藏森林生态系统价值,结果表明:西藏森林生态系统服务价值中碳库、木材和生物多样性存量价值为44543.5×10⁸元,其中生态价值是直接经济价值的2.24倍;在流量中,年流量价值1738.3×10⁸元,其中年生态价值为1565.9×10⁸元,是直接经济价值172.4×10⁸元的9倍,社会价值只有9.5×10⁸元。论文旨在强调森林的生态功能,为西藏的生态补偿、绿色GDP核算奠定良好的基础。     

湿法烟气脱硫关键影响因素及新型单塔双循环技术

分析了石灰石-石膏湿法烟气脱硫(LGWFGD)技术的关键影响因素:液气比、浆液pH值、浆液密度的影响规律,发现在浆液pH值和浆液密度的选择时不能同时满足高脱硫效率和高石膏品质的要求。为解决这一矛盾,提出一种新型的单塔双循环技术,在两个相对独立的浆液循环系统中可以分别调节浆液pH值和浆液密度,使得高脱硫效率和高石膏品质的需求同时得到满足。