Improving protected area effectiveness through consideration of different human-pressure baselines

Previous assessments of the effectiveness of protected areas (PAs) focused primarily on changes in human pressure over time and did not consider the different human-pressure baselines of PAs, thereby potentially over- or underestimating PA effectiveness. We developed a framework that considers both human-pressure baseline and change in human pressure over time and assessed the effectiveness of 338 PAs in China from 2010 to 2020. The initial state of human pressure on PAs was taken as the baseline, and changes in human pressure index (HPI) were further analyzed under different baselines. We used the random forest models to identify the management measures that most improved effectiveness in resisting human pressure for the PAs with different baselines. Finally, the relationships between the changes in the HPI and the changes in natural ecosystems in PAs were analyzed with different baselines. Of PAs with low HPI baselines, medium HPI baselines, and high HPI baselines, 76.92% (n=150), 11.11% (n=12), and 22.86% (n=8) , respectively, showed positive effects in resisting human pressure. Overall, ignoring human-pressure baselines somewhat underestimated the positive effects of PAs, especially for those with low initial human pressure. For PAs with different initial human pressures, different management measures should be taken to improve effectiveness and reduce threats to natural ecosystems. We believe our framework is useful for assessing the effectiveness of PAs globally, and we recommend it be included in the Convention on Biological Diversity Post-2020 Strategy.     

IWRM视角下污水治理体系问题系统诊断与对策研究——以浙江省为例

基于集成水资源管理理念框架,较系统地构建了污水治理体系问题诊断指标体系并明确了诊断标准.实证研究表明,浙江省污水治理体系仍存在政策不协调,投资结构不合理,体制横向不协调、纵向不到位、职责分散,民主参与决策与监督机制不健全,排污行为监测监管不到位,经济激励不够、行业自律不足等问题.建议浙江省应进一步协调区域发展政策,优化污水治理城乡投融资结构,完善机构设置,优化部门协调,加强政府监测监管等,以提高污水治理绩效.     

建立我国安全生产应急救援标准体系的初步构想

我国安全生产应急救援工作日益受到政府和企业的重视，但是应急救援标准非常薄弱，造成应急管理和实际救援工作困难，建立安全生产应急救援标准体系是应急救援工作和保护人民生命财产的迫切需要。在总结国内外应急救援标准工作的基础上，本文提出了我国安全生产应急救援标准体系框架以及标准制定的原则和重点。     

对中国综合风险管理机构体系建设的建议

在大量调研的基础上,分析了我国风险管理机构体系的现状和存在的问题,并以“统筹规划,专人负责,科学管理,共担风险”为原则,以梯形架构为理论基础,提出了对中国综合风险管理机构未来体系建设的一个建议,并对其进行了可行性分析。     

NUTRIENT CONCENTRATION CRITERIA AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PATTERNS IN TROPHIC STATE FOR RIVERS IN HETEROGENEOUS LANDSCAPES1

ABSTRACT: A method is demonstrated for the development of nutrient concentration criteria and large scale assessment of trophic state in environmentally heterogeneous landscapes. The method uses the River Environment Classification (REC) as a spatial framework to partition rivers according to differences in processes that control the accrual and loss of algae biomass. The method is then applied to gravel bed rivers with natural flow regimes that drain hilly watersheds in New Zealand's South Island. An existing model is used to characterize trophic state (in terms of chlorophyll a as a measure of maximum biomass) using nutrient concentration, which controls the rate of biomass accrual, and flood frequency, which controls biomass loss. Variation in flood frequency was partitioned into three classes, and flow data measured at 68 sites was used to show that the classes differ with respect to flood frequency. Variation in nutrient concentration was partitioned at smaller spatial scales by subdivision of higher level classes into seven classes. The median of flood frequency in each of the three higher level classes was used as a control variable in the model to provide spatially explicit nutrient concentration criteria by setting maximum chlorophyll a to reflect a desired trophic state. The median of mean monthly soluble reactive phosphorus and soluble inorganic nitrogen measured at 68 water quality monitoring sites were then used to characterize the trophic state of each of the seven lower level classes. The method models biomass and therefore allows variation in this response variable to provide options for trophic state and the associated nutrient concentrations to achieve these. Thus it is less deterministic than using reference site water quality. The choice from among these options is a sociopolitical decision, which reflects the management objectives rather than purely technical considerations.     

The Bhopal gas leak: Analyses of causes and consequences by three different models

The Bhopal Gas Leak, India 1984 is the largest chemical industrial accident ever. Haddon's and Berger's models for injury analysis have been tested, together with the project planning tool Logical Framework Approach (LFA).

The three models provide the same main message: That irrespectively of the direct cause to the leakage, it is only two parties that are responsible for the magnitude of the disaster: Union Carbide Corporation and the Governments of India and Madhya Pradesh. The models give somewhat different images of the process of the accident.

Models developed for analysis of injuries can be used for analysing a complicated mega accident like the Bhopal gas leak, although different models might stress different aspects.     

Indicators of sustainable production: framework and methodology

This paper presents a new tool for promoting business sustainability — indicators of sustainable production. It first introduces the concept of sustainable production as defined by the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts Lowell. Indicators of sustainable production are discussed next, including their dimensions and desirable qualities. Based on the Lowell Center Indicator Framework, the authors suggest a new methodology of core and supplemental indicators for raising companies' awareness and measuring their progress toward sustainable production systems. Twenty-two core indicators are proposed and a detailed guidance for their application is included. An eight-step model provides a context for indicator implementation. The paper concludes with a summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the methodology as well as recommendations for testing the indicators.     

试论地震台站的组织结构和激励机制建设

本文对地震台站在新时期的台站管理进行了论述。指出在防震减灾基础建设的重要时期，地震台站的管理，首先需要转变管理理念，同时应完善组织结构建设，建立激励机制。这是完成中国地震局确定的《与时俱进、开拓创新，为全面实现地震台站的现代化而奋斗》重要工作之一。     

试论地震台站的组织结构和激励机制建设

本文对地震台站在新时期的台站管理进行了论述。指出在防震减灾基础建设的重要时期,地震台站的管理,首先需要转变管理理念,同时应完善组织结构建设,建立激励机制。这是完成中国地震局确定的《与时俱进、开拓创新,为全面实现地震台站的现代化而奋斗》重要工作之一。     

Evaluation of Point and Diffuse Sources of Nutrients in a River Basin on Base of Monitoring Data

The methodology of materials accounting is presented and applied to developing nutrient balance (nitrogen and phosphorus) in a river basin. The method is based on the balance principle: inputs and outputs of each nitrogen and phosphorus related sub-systems were balanced. The application of the methodology strategies was illustrated by means of a case study of the Krka river, Slovenia. Different pathways of emission to surface waters were taken into account: WWTP discharges, direct discharges, erosion/runoff and baseflow. Total annual emission into the river Krka was estimated to be 362 tonnes N/year and 73.3 tonnes P/year. The main sources of nitrogen are diffuse sources, emitted via baseflow (52%). Other important sources are effluents from WWTP, which account for 36% of total emissions. Other sources like erosion and direct discharges to surface water (animal manure, industry, households) are of lower magnitude. Erosion is main source of phosphorus emission (55% of total emission), WWTP effluents account for 37% of total emission, while other sources are less important. Besides reduction of point sources by means of wastewater collection and implementation of nutrient removal technology, managing agricultural nitrogen and phosphorus to protect water quality should become a major challenge in the Krka river basin.