Land Use and Land Cover Change Analysis and Prediction in the Upper Reaches of the Minjiang River,China

Scientists have aimed at exploring land use and land cover change (LUCC) and modeling future landscape pattern in order to improve our understanding of the causes and consequences of these phenomena. This study addresses LUCC in the upper reaches of Minjiang River, China, from 1974 to 2000. Based on remotely sensed images, LUCC and landscape pattern change were assessed using cross-tabulation and landscape metrics. Then, using the CLUE-S model, changes in area of four types of land cover were predicted for two scenarios considering forest polices over the next 20 years. Results showed that forestland decreased from 1974 to 2000 due to continuous deforestation, while grassland and shrubland increased correspondingly. At the same time, the farmland and settlement land increased dramatically. Landscape fragmentation in the study area accompanied these changes. Forestland, grassland, and farmland take opposite trajectories in the two scenarios, as does landscape fragmentation. LUCC has led to ecological consequences, such as biodiversity loss and lowering of ecological carrying capacity.     

Invasive Non‐Native Species’ Provision of Refugia for Endangered Native Species

Abstract: The influence of non‐native species on native ecosystems is not predicted easily when interspecific interactions are complex. Species removal can result in unexpected and undesired changes to other ecosystem components. I examined whether invasive non‐native species may both harm and provide refugia for endangered native species. The invasive non‐native plant Casuarina stricta has damaged the native flora and caused decline of the snail fauna on the Ogasawara Islands, Japan. On Anijima in 2006 and 2009, I examined endemic land snails in the genus Ogasawarana. I compared the density of live specimens and frequency of predation scars (from black rats[Rattus rattus]) on empty shells in native vegetation and Casuarina forests. The density of land snails was greater in native vegetation than in Casuarina forests in 2006. Nevertheless, radical declines in the density of land snails occurred in native vegetation since 2006 in association with increasing predation by black rats. In contrast, abundance of Ogasawarana did not decline in the Casuarina forest, where shells with predation scars from rats were rare. As a result, the density of snails was greater in the Casuarina forest than in native vegetation. Removal of Casuarina was associated with an increased proportion of shells with predation scars from rats and a decrease in the density of Ogasawarana. The thick and dense litter of Casuarina appears to provide refugia for native land snails by protecting them from predation by rats; thus, eradication of rats should precede eradication of Casuarina. Adaptive strategies, particularly those that consider the removal order of non‐native species, are crucial to minimizing the unintended effects of eradication on native species. In addition, my results suggested that in some cases a given non‐native species can be used to mitigate the impacts of other non‐native species on native species.     

核素示踪法研究农耕地土壤侵蚀的定量模型及其评价

应用137Cs示踪技术估算农耕地土壤侵蚀量的定量模型主要有两类径流小区上建立的经验关系式及各种理论模型.文章主要对各种主要模型作了简要介绍,并对各种模型的优点、局限性进行了比较和评价;指出今后在模型的建立和应用中注意的问题.     

Phyt'Eaux Cités: application and validation of a programme to reduce surface water contamination with urban pesticides

This paper presents first results of Phyt’Eaux Cités, a program put in place by the local water supply agency, the SEDIF (Syndicat des Eaux d’Ile-de-France), in collaboration with 73 local authorities, private societies and institutional offices (365 km²). The challenges included: measurement of the previous surface water contamination, control of urban pesticide applications, prevention of pesticide hazard on users and finally a overall reduction of surface water contamination. An inquiry on urban total pesticide amount was coupled with a surface water bi-weekly monitoring to establish the impact of more than 200 molecules upon the Orge River. For 2007, at least 4400 kg and 92 type of pesticides (essentially herbicides) were quantified for all urban users in the Phyt’Eaux Cités perimeter. At the outlet of the Orge River (bi-weekly sampling in 2007), 11 molecules were always detected above 0.1 μg L⁻¹. They displayed the mainly urban origin of pesticide surface water contamination. Amitrole, AMPA (Aminomethyl Phosphonic Acid), demethyldiuron, diuron, glyphosate and atrazine were quantified with a 100% of frequency in 2007 and 2008 at the Orge River outlet. During the year, peaks of contamination were also registered for MCCP, 2,4 MCPA, 2,4 D, triclopyr, dichlorprop, diflufènican, active substances used in large amount in the urban area. However, some other urban molecules, such as isoxaben or flazasulfuron, were detected with low frequency. During late spring and summer, contamination patterns and load were dominated by glyphosate, amitrole and diuron, essentially applied by cities and urban users. Both isoproturon and chlortoluron were quantified during autumn and winter months according to upstream agricultural practices. In conclusion, 3 years after the beginning of this programme, the cities reduced the use of 68% of the total pesticide amount. An improvement on surface water quality was found from 2008 and during 2009 for all pesticides. In particular, glyphosate showed a decrease of the load above 60% in 2008, partly related to the Phyt’Eaux Cités action.     

Decoupling Relationship Between Cultivated Land Occupation by Construction and Economic Growth in China During 1998-2007

With the rapid development of economy, the conversion of cultivated land into nonagricultural land occurs more frequently and makes cultivated land sparser. This article based on the decoupling theory takes the situations of cultivated land occupation by construction and economic growth in China from 1998 to 2007 as an example to evaluate and analyze the decoupling. The conclusions are drawn as follows. First, the article applies IU curve and gross method. The decoupling status by gross method, in contrast to that by IU curve, can express the pressure from cultivated land occupation better and is similar to the decoupling status based on the model of decoupling in this article. Second, in most provinces of China, the relationship between the cultivated land occupation by construction and economic growth has transformed from expansive negative decoupling to strong decoupling. In general, the transformation was firstly from economically advanced eastern municipalities under the central government directly, then to economically advanced eastern coastal provinces, and lastly to central, western and northeastern regions. Third, the decoupling status was relative to contemporaneous policies and laws on cultivated land protection and regional development planning. Their effect is obvious and positive.     

Expansion of Urban Space and Land Use Control in the Process of Urbanization: an Overview

Urban expansion brought by the rapid progress of urbanization has caused many problems in China. It is a significant issue to evaluate the extent of urban expansion and to make appropriate controls over the sprawl of urban areas. With a comparative study of international experiences, this article analyzed the mechanism and consequences of urban expansion, reviewed the typical planning and financial policies adopted by other countries for controlling urban sprawl, and discussed the suitable densities of urba...     

泥石流滩地农业资源化开发与利用——以蒋家沟为例

泥石流滩地是山区宝贵的土地资源，其农业资源化开发与利用对促进当地社会经济发展和生态环境改善具有重要意义。以蒋家沟流域为例，在野外调查、遥感解译和实验分析的基础上，阐述了泥石流滩地农业资源化的原则和依据，建立了人畜 土地载荷平衡模型，分析了滩地开发利用的依据、效益和途径，并探讨了泥石流滩地未来农业资源化的思路和对策。研究结果表明：（1） 建立的人畜 土地载荷平衡模型反映了流域生态环境特征，能有效评价滩地开发利用的生态效益；（2）流域滩地农业资源化每年可产生500多万元的经济效益，除满足全流域6 418人的粮食需求外，还可提供338 t商品粮，是促进当地脱贫致富和社会经济发展的重要途径；（3）泥石流滩地既是宝贵的土地资源又是灾害的场所，其开发与利用可有效缓解山区人地矛盾，具有良好的生态效益，但需要在加强灾害防治和防灾减灾意识的基础上，进行深度农业资源化开发.     

基于数量视角的耕地保护政策绩效评价

耕地保护政策的绩效评价是我国粮食安全及土地调控的重要课题。本文基于数量保护的视角,采用数据包络分析法(DataEnvelopment Analysis,简称DEA)评价了我国2000-2007年的耕地保护政策绩效,测度对象主要为耕地总量动态平衡、土地用途管制、耕地执法监管政策。研究结果显示,耕地保护政策在数量保护上具有总体效率高(2002年除外)、规模效率递增或保持、纯技术效率高的表征,但是,规模效率、纯技术效率与总体效率不能很好拟合且三项效率的综合具有分层性,只有耕地总量动态平衡达到了最佳产出。进而得出结论:2000-2007年,耕地保护政策取得了耕地总量平衡、耕地基本数量维持、建设占用耕地趋缓、耕地违法减少的显著效果,然而,耕地保护政策绩效的年度差异、政策时滞及体制等影响因素的复杂、投入和产出的部分饱和亦表明绩效的不充分。为促进我国耕地保护政策绩效的提升,提出强化土地利用总体规划作用、建立耕地保护责任制度等建议,并对进一步研究作了展望。     

对于土地使用权升值问题的探讨

基于经济和社会等方面的原因，土地所有权的价格一般会不断上涨，固定年期土地使用权价格也会随之上升。但受让土地使用权价格存在类似折旧的现象。投资人能否从地价普遍上涨中获得增值收益，取决于土地所有权增值比率、土地还原利率、剩余使用年期等多种因素。     

Long-Term Indigenous Soil Conservation Technology in the Chencha Area,Southern Ethiopia: Origin,Characteristics, and Sustainability

The purpose of this study is to examine the origin, development, and characteristics of terraces (kella), plus their potentials and determinants for sustainable use in the Chencha–Dorze Belle area of southern Ethiopia. Field surveys were conducted to determine the various parameters of the indigenous terraces and in order to collect samples for radiocarbon dating. To identify farmers’ views of the terrace systems, semi-structured interviews and group discussions were also carried out. Terraces were built and used—as radiocarbon dating proves—at least over the last 800 years. The long-term continued usage of the indigenous terraces is the result of social commitments, the structural features of the terraces, and the farmers’ responses to the dynamics of social and cultural circumstances. We dubbed that the terraces are a success story of fruitful environmental management over generations. Thus, a strong need is to preserve and develop this important cultural heritage and example of sustainable land use.