Parks versus PES: Evaluating direct and incentive-based land conservation in Mexico

Protected areas (PAs) and payments for ecosystem services (PES) are the top two mechanisms available for countries to achieve international REDD agreements, yet there are few empirical comparisons of their effects. We estimate the impacts of PAs and PES on forest conservation, poverty reduction, and population change at the locality level in Mexico in the 2000s. Both policies conserved forest, generating an approximately 20–25% reduction in expected forest cover loss. PES created statistically significant but small poverty alleviation while PAs had overall neutral impacts on livelihoods. Estimates by individual policy type for the same level of deforestation risk indicate that biosphere reserves and PES balanced conservation and livelihood goals better than strict protected areas or mixed-use areas. This suggests that both direct and incentive-based instruments can be effective, and that policies combining sustainable financing, flexible zoning, and recognition of local economic goals are more likely to achieve conservation without harming livelihoods.     

The city as a refuge for insect pollinators

Research on urban insect pollinators is changing views on the biological value and ecological importance of cities. The abundance and diversity of native bee species in urban landscapes that are absent in nearby rural lands evidence the biological value and ecological importance of cities and have implications for biodiversity conservation. Lagging behind this revised image of the city are urban conservation programs that historically have invested in education and outreach rather than programs designed to achieve high‐priority species conservation results. We synthesized research on urban bee species diversity and abundance to determine how urban conservation could be repositioned to better align with new views on the ecological importance of urban landscapes. Due to insect pollinators’ relatively small functional requirements—habitat range, life cycle, and nesting behavior—relative to larger mammals, we argue that pollinators put high‐priority and high‐impact urban conservation within reach. In a rapidly urbanizing world, transforming how environmental managers view the city can improve citizen engagement and contribute to the development of more sustainable urbanization.     

Renewable inequity? Women's employment in clean energy in industrialized,emerging and developing economies

Women are globally underrepresented in the energy industry. This paper reviews existing academic and practitioner literature on women's employment in renewable energy in industrialized nations, emerging economies and developing countries. It highlights similarities and differences in occupational patterns in women's employment in renewables in different parts of the world, and makes recommendations for optimizing women's participation. Findings reveal the need for broader socially‐progressive policies and shifts in societal attitudes about gender roles, in order for women to benefit optimally from employment in renewables. In some industrialized countries, restructuring paid employment in innovative ways while unlinking social protection from employment status has been suggested as a way to balance gender equity with economic security and environmental protection. However, without more transformative social changes in gender relations, such strategies may simply reinforce rather than subvert existing gender inequities both in paid employment and in unpaid domestic labor. Grounded interventions to promote gender equality in renewable energy employment – especially within the context of increasing access to energy services for underserved communities – are more prevalent and better‐established in some non‐OECD (Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development) countries. OECD countries might be well‐advised to try to implement certain programs and policies that are already in place in some emerging economies.     

城市大气环境治理成本核算及其总量、结构分析——以西安市为例

基于单位成本分析模型对2000—2009年西安市大气环境治理的价值量进行了系统核算,并从总量与结构两方面对核算结果进行了深入和全面的分析。结果表明,从西安市历年大气环境的实际治理成本(除2002、2006、2009年)来看,该市在大气环境治理方面的投资基本上逐年增加,但是增加幅度较小,而大气环境虚拟治理成本在一般年份(除2002、2006、2009年)总体上呈现先增加后减小的变化趋势。可见,西安市为改变环境污染状况,不断增加大气环境治理方面的投资,但在初期治理资金缺口仍在增加,而随着投资的持续增加,许多大气环境治理设施的建立与作用的发挥,大气环境污染状况逐渐减轻,治理资金缺口开始变小;在核算年份中,西安市工业大气环境污染治理的重点主要放在了烟尘方面,城镇生活SO2虚拟治理成本在生活废气总虚拟治理成本中所占比例最高。最后,针对发现问题,对该市今后大气环境治理工作的方向和措施给出了建议。     

不同种植方式蔬菜中农药残留的差异及污染控制研究

采集了陕西地区不同种植方式的瓜果类、叶菜类蔬菜样品,研究了其中各种农药的残留情况,并分析了农药残留对环境的污染及其控制措施。结果表明:露地种植蔬菜与设施种植蔬菜相比,无论是农药残留检出率还是超标率都略高,两者的农药残留检出率分别为42.0%、36.5%,超标率分别为12.0%、8.2%;叶菜类蔬菜与瓜果类蔬菜相比,无论是农药残留检出率还是超标率都较高,两者的农药残留检出率分别为52.6%、29.6%,超标率分别为17.3%、5.4%;设施种植的瓜果类蔬菜和叶菜类蔬菜的农药残留检出率基本接近,而叶菜类蔬菜的农药残留超标率明显高于瓜果类蔬菜,露地种植的叶菜类蔬菜的农药残留检出率和超标率都远高于瓜果类蔬菜;设施种植蔬菜与露地种植蔬菜相比,甲胺磷、对硫磷、甲基对硫磷、毒死蜱、三氟氯氰菊酯和氰戊菊酯的残留检出率更高;瓜果类蔬菜与叶菜类蔬菜相比,毒死蜱、甲氰菊酯、三氟氯氰菊酯、氰戊菊酯的残留检出率更高;叶菜类蔬菜的农药施用浓度较高,施用农药后要间隔一定时间后再上市销售,并应采用更科学的施药方式,以减少农药在蔬菜中的残留和降低对环境的危害;一方面要开发并积极倡导使用高效、低毒、低残留的无公害农药,另一方面则要开发能够高效、快速降解残留农药的物质,同时还要进行农产品的清洁生产,以提高农产品的安全性,并降低环境中农药的残留危害。     

Forensic Evaluation of Metals (Cr,Cu, Pb,Zn), Isotopes (δ13C and δ15N), and C:N Ratios in Freshwater Sediment

A forensic approach was used to evaluate sediments from Portão Stream, including analysis of metals, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stable isotopes, and C:N ratios. Samples collected at various points located along the stream were tested in order to investigate a possible illegal leachate input. The studied stream is heavily impacted by sewage and industrial discharges from two cities along its course. Among the metals analyzed, chromium (Cr) was noticeably the main pollutant, showing the highest levels, above regulatory limits, downstream from some potential sources of effluents enriched with this metal. Isotope analyses revealed a general trend of depletion in the heavier isotope along the stream for C and N. The exception was one point near a hazardous waste landfill, where relatively more enriched δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values were found. The isotope and metal analysis results indicated that this site was affected by a particular source, demonstrating the combination of these parameters could be used for the discrimination of sources in a heavily polluted stream. Nevertheless, further investigations are necessary to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the biogeochemical processes involved in the incorporation of leachate in sediments to use this analysis as evidence for the illegal leachate discharge.     

水生植物酸碱预处理对厌氧发酵联产氢气-甲烷的影响简

采用酸碱预处理乌梁素海典型沉水植物龙须眼子菜和挺水植物芦苇，通过厌氧发酵动力学分析、还原糖变化及微观结构解析，研究酸碱预处理对水生植物厌氧发酵联产氢气-甲烷的影响。实验结果表明，酸碱预处理后水生植物厌氧发酵联产氢气-甲烷两阶段累积产气量、氢气及甲烷含量均显著提高，酸处理效果优于碱处理。采用0.5 mol/L HCl预处理龙须眼子菜效果最佳，最大氢气、甲烷含量分别达42.65%和52.82%，产氢气速率为4.118 mL/h，产甲烷速率最高达14.199 mL/h。芦苇经1 mol/L HCl预处理效果最佳，最高氢气、甲烷含量分别为32.22%和65.26%。扫描电镜微观结构分析表明，酸碱预处理可显著破坏芦苇、龙须眼子菜的纤维素结构，有效增加植物与微生物接触面积，有利于厌氧发酵联产氢气-甲烷工艺的快速启动和稳定运行。     

抗铬菌株的筛选鉴定及其生物学特性和吸附特性

利用微生物分离纯化技术,在培养基中加入不同浓度的Cr3+、Cr6+,经过长时间驯化,从污染土壤中筛选出2株对Cr具有较高抗性的菌株(A和B),对其进行了形态、生理生化特性及分子生物学鉴定,并研究了其最佳生长条件及对Cr3+的生物吸附规律。结果表明,菌株A和B分别为蜡状芽孢杆菌(Bacillus cereus)和米根霉菌(Rhizopus oryzae)。菌株A和B的最适生长pH值均为7,最适生长温度均为30℃,最佳装液量为80~100 mL(250 mL摇瓶)。在培养时间一定时,随着Cr3+浓度的增加,菌株对Cr3+的吸附率减少,而生物吸附量则逐渐增大;在Cr3+浓度一定时,随着培养时间的延长,菌体对Cr3+的吸附率呈现出先增加后减少的趋势,这与生物吸附量的变化趋势基本一致。在Cr3+浓度为100 mg/L时,菌株A和B对Cr3+的吸附率达到最大,分别为51.47%和46.36%。     

应用自动识别和定量系统评价两种污水再生工艺对微量有机污染物的去除效果

采用气质联用分析,并结合自动识别与定量系统(AIQS-DB)考察2种再生水厂采用的深度处理工艺对微量有机污染物的去除效果。结果表明,以污水为原水的膜生物反应器(MBR)+臭氧氧化+生物活性炭滤池(BAC)工艺用于再生水生产,MBR工艺对有机污染物的去除起主要作用;城市污水厂二级出水为原水的混凝沉降+浸没式超滤(SMF)/连续微滤(CMF)+部分反渗透(RO)+臭氧氧化工艺用于再生水生产,其SMF和CMF工艺段的膜截留作用均可有效消减有机污染物含量,SMF的效果优于CMF;2种工艺中采用的臭氧技术都能进一步加强部分物质的去除效果。气质联用结合AIQS-DB可用于再生水中污染物的筛查和不同污水再生工艺对微污染物消减效果的评价。     

好氧颗粒污泥自生动态膜生物反应器处理碱减量印染废水

自生动态膜生物反应器(SFDMBR)接种颗粒污泥启动,研究溶解氧浓度和水力停留时间对该反应器处理碱减量印染废水的影响。自生动态膜生物反应器形成稳定的动态膜后,出水浊度小于10 NTU,系统对浊度的去除率在90%以上,溶解氧和水力停留时间对反应器出水浊度基本无影响。系统对废水色度的去除率随着溶解氧浓度的提高和水力停留时间的延长而增加,但是系统对色度的去除效率一般不超过40%。溶解氧浓度由0.3 mg/L逐渐增大至2.4 mg/L,COD的去除率由40%提升至80%,而当溶解氧浓度大于1.0 mg/L后,UV254的去除率达到95%。水力停留时间在8~48 h时,COD去除效率由65%逐渐上升至85%左右;水力停留时间在8~32 h,UV254去除效率为68%~93%,超过32 h后水力停留时间对UV254去除效率的影响已不明显。