Evaluating global interest in biodiversity and conservation

The first target of the Convention for Biological Diversity (Aichi target 1) was to increase public awareness of the values of biodiversity and actions needed to conserve it—a key prerequisite for other conservation targets. Monitoring success in achieving this target at a global scale has been difficult; however, increased digitization of human life in recent decades has made it easier to measure people's interests at an unprecedented scale and allows for a more comprehensive evaluation of Aichi target 1 than previously attempted. We used Google search volume data for over a thousand search terms related to different aspects of biodiversity and conservation to evaluate global interest in biodiversity and its conservation. We also investigated the correlation of interest in biodiversity and conservation across countries to variables related to biodiversity, economy, demography, research, education, internet use, and presence of environmental organizations. From 2013 to 2020, global searches for biodiversity components increased, driven mostly by searches for charismatic fauna (59% of searches were for mammal species). Searches for conservation actions, driven mostly by searches for national parks, decreased since 2019, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic inequality was negatively correlated with interest in biodiversity and conservation, whereas purchasing power was indirectly positively correlated with higher levels of education and research. Our results suggest partial success toward achieving Aichi target 1 in that interest in biodiversity increased widely, but not for conservation. We suggest that increased outreach and education efforts aimed at neglected aspects of biodiversity and conservation are still needed. Popular topics in biodiversity and conservation could be leveraged to increase awareness of other topics with attention to local socioeconomic contexts.     

Two Measured Parameters Correlated to Participation Rates in Curbside Recycling Schemes in the UK

Local authorities in the United Kingdom are currently changing their approach towards recycling as they attempt to meet legislative targets. An important part of this drive is the provision of an effective curbside recycling service and it is vital to understand the parameters that influence the performance of the system offered. In this article, three primary datasets, collected from over 1400 households each, are examined for parameters correlated to participation rates. Two measured parameters were found that are not commonly identified in previous studies of curbside recycling schemes, and they are shown to merit further investigation as useful tools for planning purposes. One is the number of types of material collected; participation rates are greater for schemes collecting more materials. The second is the number of households situated on the same road; the lower the number, the higher the participation rate. In both cases, evidence of the measured correlation is presented, justifying their usefulness for planning. The multiple underlying factors causing the correlations are not identified here, but suggestions are made for further studies.     

城市粪渣无害化处理产生的恶臭污染物治理研究和实践

深圳市城市废物处理中心内的粪渣处理厂成功建立出来的除臭系统工程,处理风量已经达到了5×104 m^3/h,除臭系统一直运转到现在,效果非常的明显,为其他地区的城市粪渣无害化处理产生的恶臭污染物治理提供了相关的经验。     

我国人群对标准气味物质的愉悦度测评特征

组织73名嗅辨员,采用9级度量法,评价香草醛(5 g/L)和愈创木酚(体积分数为0.000 5%)的愉悦度,分析我国人群愉悦度分布特征,提出愉悦度测评条件。结果表明,香草醛的愉悦度评价总体平均值为1.26,愈创木酚的愉悦度评价总体平均值为-1.18。男性嗅辨员香草醛的愉悦度均值为1.42,女性嗅辨员为1.05。提出为尽可能抵消个体之间存在的主观差异,愉悦度测试小组人员数量应该在15人以上,且男女成员比例应该相当。     

典型恶臭有机污染自动监测技术与应用探究

对比6种主流有机硫自动监测仪的4种有机硫混标测试结果,表明80%仪器的性能指标能满足国家恶臭排放标准中厂界监测的定量要求。复杂环境适用性研究显示,有机硫化物间测定影响相对较小,高浓度标气有残留,定性受到常见挥发性有机物中个别物质干扰。优选3种检测器为FPD的仪器现场连续实测,结果表明甲硫醇、甲硫醚、二甲二硫醚和二硫化碳为石化园区的有机硫常检出物种;3种仪器的监测数据可较好地反映该石化园区空气恶臭污染特征。     

江苏某醋厂排放VOCs的特征及健康风险评价

以江苏某醋厂为研究对象,使用便携式气相色谱/质谱仪实地采样,定性定量分析该厂挥发性有机物(VOCs)的排放特征及异味物质强度特征。采用美国环境保护署(USEPA)的健康风险评价模型,评估醋厂排放VOCs对周围居民的健康影响,结果表明,该厂排放的VOCs仅导致较强的感官影响,未产生明显的致癌效应。     

某化工厂致癌有机污染物分层健康风险评估

以某化工厂污染场地为例,根据《污染场地风险评估技术导则》(HJ 25.3-2014),运用HERA风险评估软件,将污染场地分为4层分别进行人体健康风险评估,结果表明:该场地存在高致癌风险,需要修复后才能开发再利用;关注污染物氯仿、苯,在地下0 m~3 m的风险控制值分别为0.07 mg/kg、0.83 mg/kg,在地下3 m~5 m的风险控制值分别为0.15 mg/kg、1.91 mg/kg,在地下5 m~9 m的风险控制值分别为0.40 mg/kg、5.05 mg/kg,在地下9 m~18 m的风险控制值分别为0.73 mg/kg、7.82 mg/kg。与以往计算单一的风险控制相比,分层计算污染物的风险控制值能有效减少治理土方量,降低治理成本。     

Odor fading in natural gas distribution systems

Since natural gas is odorless, to assure the customer safety, odorants are added to it to alarm the consumer in the case of a gas leak. Although the odorization is a common practice in natural gas distribution systems, odor fading has been reported in pipelines, which is a great safety risk. This paper summarizes results of experiments conducted to investigate possible chemical and physical mechanisms responsible for odor fading. In these experiments, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and gas chromatography were used to check the possible interactions of tertiary butyl mercaptan (TBM) as odorant with the pipe material. Evidences of chemisorption, adsorption and desorption of TBM on the iron oxide inside the pipe were observed. It was found that by increasing pressure, rusted surface of the pipe, and temperature or by decreasing the gas flow rate and odorant concentration the mercaptan removal was increased.     

Integration of Land-Sharing and Land-Sparing Conservation Strategies Through Regional Networking: The Mesoamerican Biological Corridor as a Lifeline for Carnivores in El Salvador

Nations with little remaining natural habitat and small extent are challenged when trying to achieve biodiversity targets. We show that the Central American nation of El Salvador cannot viably sustain populations of 87 % of its extant carnivores, especially in the case of large-bodied species with low population densities. Current land-sparing strategies will not suffice; therefore we propose that land-sharing strategies be implemented in tandem with protected areas to expand current conservation efforts via new regional networks. In Central America such a network can be established by linking international protected area systems in a way that implements the existing vision for the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. Specifically, we propose a re-envisioning of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor in which land-sharing practices are adopted throughout the agricultural matrix while ensuring formal protection of the remaining natural habitat. Such an integration of land-sparing and land-sharing could result in the creation of an effective network of protected areas, thereby increasing the probability of safeguarding species with populations that overlap national borders.     

Use of demand for and spatial flow of ecosystem services to identify priority areas

Policies and research increasingly focus on the protection of ecosystem services (ESs) through priority‐area conservation. Priority areas for ESs should be identified based on ES capacity and ES demand and account for the connections between areas of ES capacity and demand (flow) resulting in areas of unique demand–supply connections (flow zones). We tested ways to account for ES demand and flow zones to identify priority areas in the European Union. We mapped the capacity and demand of a global (carbon sequestration), a regional (flood regulation), and 3 local ESs (air quality, pollination, and urban leisure). We used Zonation software to identify priority areas for ESs based on 6 tests: with and without accounting for ES demand and 4 tests that accounted for the effect of ES flow zone. There was only 37.1% overlap between the 25% of priority areas that encompassed the most ESs with and without accounting for ES demand. The level of ESs maintained in the priority areas increased from 23.2% to 57.9% after accounting for ES demand, especially for ESs with a small flow zone. Accounting for flow zone had a small effect on the location of priority areas and level of ESs maintained but resulted in fewer flow zones without ES maintained relative to ignoring flow zones. Accounting for demand and flow zones enhanced representation and distribution of ESs with local to regional flow zones without large trade‐offs relative to the global ES. We found that ignoring ES demand led to the identification of priority areas in remote regions where benefits from ES capacity to society were small. Incorporating ESs in conservation planning should therefore always account for ES demand to identify an effective priority network for ESs.