Incorporating natural capital into economy-wide impact analysis: a case study from Alberta

Traditionally, decision-makers have relied on economic impactestimates derived from conventional economy-wide models. Conventional models lack the environmental linkages necessary for examining environmental stewardship and economic sustainability, and in particular the ability to assess the impact of policies on natural capital. This study investigatesenvironmentally extended economic impact estimation on a regionalscale using a case study region in the province of Alberta knownas the Foothills Model Forest (FMF). Conventional economic impactmodels are environmentally extended in pursuit of enhancingpolicy analysis and local decision-making. It is found that theflexibility of the computable general equilibrium (CGE) modelingapproach offers potential for environmental extension, with a solid grounding in economic theory. The CGE approach may be the tool of the future for more complete integrated environment andeconomic impact assessment.     

Macroinvertebrate Regionalisation for use in the Management of Aquatic Ecosystems in Victoria, Australia

The development of a broader, more holistic approach to aquaticecosystem management has been called for in recent years. Physical and chemical objectives alone are no longer consideredsufficient for the protection of aquatic ecosystems and shouldbe supplemented with biological objectives. The ubiquitousand sedentary nature of macroinvertebrates, combined with theirmeasurable response to environmental conditions, favour their use as important indicators in environmental policies. To establish biological objectives, there is a need for a regionalframework to limit the variability between ecosystems. Past studies have demonstrated that an a posteriori regionalisationapproach may be more useful than an a priori approach in explaining single component (e.g. macroinvertebrates) patternsacross ecosystems. This is particularly important as aquaticresource management agencies often focus on one or twocomponents of the ecosystem to assess environmental health. This study uses an a posteriori method to delineate and describebiological regions based on edge and riffle macroinvertebrate data. The regionalisation will provide a framework for settingbiological objectives, based on the range of reference conditionsmeasured within each separate region. The objectives will includeregional checklists for taxa and biotic indices. Predictive modelling in the style of RIVPACS or AUSRIVAS will also be usedwithin each region to develop objectives, incorporating local, regional and systematic features as predictor variables.     

Planning Tools for Developing Comprehensive Regional Monitoring Programs

We present a planning framework that structures thelarge amount of interrelated information involved indeveloping regional monitoring programs. By regionalwe mean programs that recognize the importance ofprocesses that occur on larger geographic scales andthat cut across more than one ecosystem component. Theframework helps visualize functional relationshipsamong qualitative ingredients such as public concernsand more concrete details such as individual dataelements. It portrays the flow of information amongthe components of a regional program and ties eachaspect of the program to management decision-makingneeds. This makes it easier, during the planningprocess, to ensure that monitoring will actuallyproduce useful information. Further, the frameworksnovel, graphically oriented, and readily accessibleformat makes key information equally available to thewide range of participants (regulators, scientists,managers, public) whose input and support arenecessary for program success.     

石油化工工业区区域废水中COD_（Cr）和COD_（Mn）的相关性研究

连续同时监测天津市大港石化发展规划区区域废水中的ＣＯＤＣｒ和ＣＯＤＭｎ，并考查其线性相关性后得出ＣＯＤＣｒ＝４．９６ＣＯＤＭｎ＋１１６．３，相关系数为０．７５０。该回归方程适用于类似石油化工工业区区域废水中ＣＯＤＣｒ和ＣＯＤＭｎ间的换算     

浙江三界、谷来地区1/5万区域地质调查工作的主要进展

三界谷来地区主要出露中、新生代火山岩。进行 １／５万区域地质调查时，采用火山活动旋回－火山构造－火山地层－岩相、岩性－体化思路，按照同旋回火山机构或火山喷发区为单元，确定岩石地层单位和填图单元。火山岩划分为九种岩相类型，建立了两个岩相模式和一个三相一体成因模式。根据火山岩浆作用的旋回性及其产物与火山构造形迹时、空、成因一致性原理，将中、新生代火山岩浆作用分为四个火山活动旋回，圈定了相应的火山机构或火山喷发中心，建立了竹田头复活破火山演化模式。新生代玄武岩中发现二辉斜长麻粒岩等深源包体，为研究区域深部地质作用过程提供了证据。侵入岩按岩石谱系单元划分了七个岩石单元一个超单元，将侵入岩－潜火山岩－火山岩作为岩浆作用整体研究，为正确阐明岩浆作用及其演化规律奠定了基础。区域线型构造发育，与环形火山构造组合，形成火山岩区特有的线一环构造格局。中上元古界陈蔡群变质岩划分为上、下两个岩组，探讨了变质岩的原岩性质及其形成的大地构造环境。     

京津风沙源区防风固沙功能的时空变化及其区域差异

防风固沙功能是京津风沙源治理成效的关键监测指标。以往研究注重局地防风固沙功能的评估,对全区防风固沙功能的时空变化与内部差异揭示不足。基于京津风沙源区多期遥感数据,采用修正风蚀方程与GIS空间统计技术,评估分析了2000-2015年防风固沙功能的整体变化及其区域差异。结果表明:(1)京津风沙源区年均防风固沙量为28.98亿t,防风固沙能力为68.24 t/hm~2,且均随年份变化波动增加,年均增速分别为1.10%和0.71%;(2)京津风沙源区防风固沙能力呈西北高、东南低趋势,有49.06%的区域防风固沙能力高于70 t/hm~2,评估期内有54%的区域防风固沙能力明显提高;(3)浑善达克沙地亚区、典型草原亚区和荒漠草原亚区的防风固沙量累计为全区防风固沙总量的88%,燕山丘陵山地水源保护亚区和晋北山地丘陵亚区的防风固沙能力提升最显著;(4)锡林郭勒盟、赤峰市和乌兰察布市的防风固沙量合计占全区防风固沙量的77%,朔州市与包头市防风固沙能力较高,北京市与天津市防风固沙能力增速较高。因此,未来应重视分区施策治理与西部和北部防风固沙功能提升。     

Exploring the Theoretical Interface of Climate Change and Resource Dependency: Application to the Vulnerability of Boreal Forest Regions

This paper addresses the combined effects of two sources of disturbance on the boreal forest – climate change and the economic relations of industrial forestry. It describes a theoretical blueprint constructed of concepts from the theory of dissipative structures (derived from the discipline of physical chemistry) and world-systems theory (derived from the discipline of sociology) into a proposed integrated theory pivoting on the concept of social vulnerability. The goal is to examine the key concepts of this theory – vulnerability, resilience and adaptive capacity – as elements of the complex systems perspective provided by dissipative structure principles. The focus on social vulnerability provides the means to establish the role of external economic linkages relevant to industrial forestry – the core/periphery relations of the world-system – as they influence the social vulnerability of the boreal forest SESs. These systems are posited as embedded peripheries, following world-system criteria, and as the focal scale of analysis within a larger hierarchically organized dissipative structure. The goal is to suggest and stimulate ideas for further discussion and exploration, motivated by the premise that any successful climate change mitigation efforts depend on having sound theoretical foundations on which to stand.     

重庆市特大旱灾的自然与社会机制分析

文章针对2006年的特大旱灾探讨了2006年的特大旱灾的特征,分析了2006年特大旱灾的形成自然机制和社会机制,并提出了今后重庆市抗御旱灾的策略。认为2006年的特大旱灾是自然因素与社会因素叠加的结果,是人类社会经济系统自身易损性的体现。     

区域PERE系统的通用自组织演化模型

分析了区域人口－经济－资源－环境系统的自组织过程，建立了区域ＰＥＲＥ系统的通用自组织演化模型，并把模型应用于山西省某市，预测了市未来的人口、经济和环境状况试图解决在区域ＰＥＲＥ系统中应用自组织理论时建模困难的问题。