A framework for allocating conservation resources among multiple threats and actions

Land managers decide how to allocate resources among multiple threats that can be addressed through multiple possible actions. Additionally, these actions vary in feasibility, effectiveness, and cost. We sought to provide a way to optimize resource allocation to address multiple threats when multiple management options are available, including mutually exclusive options. Formulating the decision as a combinatorial optimization problem, our framework takes as inputs the expected impact and cost of each threat for each action (including do nothing) and for each overall budget identifies the optimal action to take for each threat. We compared the optimal solution to an easy to calculate greedy algorithm approximation and a variety of plausible ranking schemes. We applied the framework to management of multiple introduced plant species in Australian alpine areas. We developed a model of invasion to predict the expected impact in 50 years for each species-action combination that accounted for each species’ current invasion state (absent, localized, widespread); arrival probability; spread rate; impact, if present, of each species; and management effectiveness of each species-action combination. We found that the recommended action for a threat changed with budget; there was no single optimal management action for each species; and considering more than one candidate action can substantially increase the management plan's overall efficiency. The approximate solution (solution ranked by marginal cost-effectiveness) performed well when the budget matched the cost of the prioritized actions, indicating that this approach would be effective if the budget was set as part of the prioritization process. The ranking schemes varied in performance, and achieving a close to optimal solution was not guaranteed. Global sensitivity analysis revealed a threat's expected impact and, to a lesser extent, management effectiveness were the most influential parameters, emphasizing the need to focus research and monitoring efforts on their quantification.     

宜兴市环保产业供给侧改革的启示与建议

当前我国环保产业普遍存在着企业规模较小、缺乏核心技术、中低端供给过剩、优质供给不足等现象,环保产业的供给侧水平明显无法满足日益提高的环境治理需求。以全国最大的环保产业基地宜兴市为例,分析上述问题特质及产生原因,总结政府及企业改革创新中的经验和不足,提出环保产业供给侧改革的参考对策与建议。     

自然资源资产审计制度的供给侧改革

自然资源是可持续发展的基础。完善自然资源资产审计制度,是保护自然资源、践行生态文明的要求。自然资源资产审计的前提是自然资源的确权和量化,是自然资源与自然资源资产在审计上的“融合”。作为自然资源资产审计的依据,相关制度应该对自然资源的确权、计量和有效利用作出合理安排,才能有效抑制资源滥用冲动。但立足于自然资源资产审计实践,综合运用文献研究、个案调查、跨学科研究等方法,分析现行的自然资源制度,没有发现可操作性的自然资源产权制度、计量制度和评价制度,已有制度存在权责不匹配、责任界定不清晰、公众参与有困难、审计指标不健全;制度系统呈现存量不足、增量困难、实践不力,不能适应新时代要求和自然资源合理利用需要。因此,可以从制度存量、增量和协同三条路径实施制度供给侧改革;在完善制度存量方面,可以在经济责任审计规定中嵌入自然资源资产审计内容,完善自然资源资产评价标准、责任制度和审计结果运用办法等;在提高制度增量方面,完善自然资源资产的权利制度、计量制度、信息公开制度和公众参与制度等;同时,通过适时修订审计法、制定自然资源资产法,强化制度协调,以突破自然资源资产的制度瓶颈,方便审计算好“生态账”、把好“生态关”。在自然资源资产制度改革过程中,需要借助决策层和专家力量,摆脱部门立法局限,强化制度协调;同时,制度改革也是一个不断优化的过程,要兼顾公众、个人、政府及其职能部门等多方利益,才能有效满足资源节约型和环境友好型社会的需要。     

The Dynamics of Justification in Policy Reform: Insights from Water Policy Debates in Ireland

Policy reform can be complex and fraught with contending arguments. Although much research has been conducted into the politics of coalition formation, less attention has been devoted to legitimating logics in policy reform. Drawing on the work of Boltanski and Thévenot, this exploratory study addresses this deficit by examining the influence of justifications deployed in policy debates. The paper analyses the role of shifting reasoning in contentious debates concerning attempts to reform water policy, including the introduction of domestic water charges in Ireland. Employing data from parliamentary deliberations, the paper traces the changing forms of justification used by those favouring and opposing the reforms. This examination suggests the importance of aligning an argument’s content with the shifting context into which it is introduced. The paper highlights the benefits of an investigative approach concerning policy justification for understanding policy reform dynamics at the intersection of politics and environmental communication.     

包装企业有机废气深度处理技改实例探讨

有机废气的治理方法有很多,应选择合适的治理方法或组合来提高处理效率,来着力改善大气环境质量。以某包装企业有机废气深度处理技术改造项目为实例,探讨采取RTO焚烧法取得的治理效果。     

Research priorities for conservation and natural resource management in Oceania's small‐island developing states

For conservation science to effectively inform management, research must focus on creating the scientific knowledge required to solve conservation problems. We identified research questions that, if answered, would increase the effectiveness of conservation and natural resource management practice and policy in Oceania's small‐island developing states. We asked conservation professionals from academia, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations across the region to propose such questions and then identify which were of high priority in an online survey. We compared the high‐priority questions with research questions identified globally and for other regions. Of 270 questions proposed by respondents, 38 were considered high priority, including: What are the highest priority areas for conservation in the face of increasing resource demand and climate change? How should marine protected areas be networked to account for connectivity and climate change? What are the most effective fisheries management policies that contribute to sustainable coral reef fisheries? High‐priority questions related to the particular challenges of undertaking conservation on small‐island developing states and the need for a research agenda that is responsive to the sociocultural context of Oceania. Research priorities for Oceania relative to elsewhere were broadly similar but differed in specific issues relevant to particular conservation contexts. These differences emphasize the importance of involving local practitioners in the identification of research priorities. Priorities were reasonably well aligned among sectoral groups. Only a few questions were widely considered answered, which may indicate a smaller‐than‐expected knowledge‐action gap. We believe these questions can be used to strengthen research collaborations between scientists and practitioners working to further conservation and natural resource management in this region.     

Priority areas for conservation of and research focused on terrestrial vertebrates

Effective conservation policies require comprehensive knowledge of biodiversity. However, knowledge shortfalls still remain, hindering possibilities to improve decision making and built such policies. During the last 2 decades, conservationists have made great efforts to allocate resources as efficiently as possible but have rarely considered the idea that if research investments are also strategically allocated, it would likely fill knowledge gaps while simultaneously improving conservation actions. Therefore, prioritizing areas where both conservation and research actions could be conducted becomes a critical endeavor that can further maximize return on investment. We used Zonation, a conservation planning tool and geographical distributions of amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles to suggest and compare priority areas for conservation and research of terrestrial vertebrates worldwide. We also evaluated the degree of human disturbance in both types of priority areas by describing the value of the human footprint index within such areas. The spatial concordance between priority conservation and research areas was low: 0.36% of the world's land area. In these areas, we found it would be possible to protect almost half of the currently threatened species and to gather information on nearly 42% of data-deficient (DD) species. We also found that 6199 protected areas worldwide are located in such places, although only 35% of them have strict conservation purposes. Areas of consensus between conservation and research areas represent an opportunity for simultaneously conserving and acquiring knowledge of threatened and DD species of vertebrates. Although the picture is not the most encouraging, joint conservation and research efforts are possible and should be fostered to save vertebrate species from our own ignorance and extinction.     

安全工程专业基础课翻转课堂探索应用与研究--以《燃烧学》的翻转课堂教学为例

为了培养本科生的实践能力、创新能力、团队合作等多项工程核心能力,探索性地将翻转课堂教学模式应用于安全工程专业基础课《燃烧学》教学中。结合问卷调查分析学生自主学习、沟通合作能力,教师信息技术素养、课堂管理能力,结果显示:自主学习能力强及参与度高的学生教学效果良好,期末考评中优秀率上升明显。微视频自主学习在翻转课堂课前学习中占重要地位,但并不是学生最习惯采用的自学方式;教师在课堂氛围、讨论质量及节奏把控方面还需针对性强化。     

山东临沂市集体林权改革环境影响调查研究—以小山口村、魏城村和南垛庄铺为例

本文选取小山口村、魏城村和南垛庄铺三个林权改革试点村作为调查对象,通过描述统计、交叉列联表分析和Ridit分析,就林权改革的方式、林改对经济和环境产生的影响及林权流转三个方面的问题对山东临沂市的集体林权制度改革现状展开调查研究。分析发现,在历经3年的林改中,临沂市始终坚持尊重实际、区别对待,灵活选择林权改革的方式,使当地的林权制度改革受到村民的欢迎。此外,林权改革后,当地的经济收入和生态环境及对林业的投入均有不同程度的提高和改善,村民的营林、护林积极性也大大增加。但是在涉及到林权流转方面的问题时,大部分的村民不能清楚认识到林权的价值,从而使落实处置权的目标短期内难以实现。     

福建省林权改革环境影响农户调查研究—以三明市和永安市为例

福建是全国第一个开展林权制度改革的省份。本文通过在福建省三明市和永安市实地调研的基础上,探讨福建省森林资源经营的改变对环境的影响。研究发现,林区的绝大部分林农对林权改革持满意的态度,认为林权改革前后对环境的影响有变化。数据分析显示,林改后,对林业的投入对于森林旅游的影响成正比;家庭年均收入对空气质量的影响成负相关。研究建议,继续加大对林业的投入,科学编制森林经营规划和经营方案,促进生态环境改善和林农的增收。