Community participation in cultural heritage and environmental policy formulation in Botswana

Cultural heritage does not have direct economic benefits. However, if properly managed it can stimulate social cohesions, improving the environment and have beneficial economic spin offs for the local communities. This paper discusses the role of communities in the formulation of the policies concerning their local environment. It argues that community engagement by policy makers is important in giving legitimacy and ownership of the policies. Furthermore, this paper discusses the potential of cultural heritage in diversifying the economy in Botswana. This paper recommends for the re-assessment of the relationship between the state and local communities which is critical in resuscitating the seemingly ailing community business organizations. In conclusion, it argues for the sustainable management of cultural heritage as a social and economic resource in the next 50 years of Botswana’s independence.     

甘肃某冶炼厂区土壤重金属铅、镉污染特征及其对微生物群落结构的影响

长期受到重金属铅(Pb)和镉(Cd)污染的土壤生态危害指数较高,土壤微生物群落结构容易受到重金属的影响,重金属对土壤微生物的毒性与重金属的生物利用度直接相关。以白银市重金属污染土壤为样本,分析了土壤的理化性质、重金属Pb和Cd的污染状况及土壤微生物群落结构,探究它们之间的关联性。样本采自距离污染中心由近及远的4个位置(分别命名为S1、S2、S3和S4)。采用Hakanson指数法来评估该地重金属生态风险;选用改进的BCR顺序提取法分析Pb与Cd的组分分布情况;利用SPSS和Canoco 4.5对土壤性质、重金属和细菌群落进行相关性分析和冗余分析,探究微生物群落结构与土壤性质和重金属污染之间的相关性。结果表明:白银市该处重金属污染场地3 km以内的土壤均受到严重的Pb、Cd污染。Pb主要以弱酸可提取态和可还原态的形式存在于土壤中,Cd则以弱酸可提取态为主;土壤重金属的危害生态指数均已经达到极高污染风险程度,且危害程度S1>S3>S2>S4;微生物丰度和多样性可能受到土壤性质及重金属的共同影响,与Pb、Cd的污染程度大致呈负相关(S2相似文献   

砾间接触氧化法对白鹤溪低污染水体的净化效果

为研究生物膜技术在低污染水体净化中的应用前景,以洱海入湖河流——白鹤溪为研究对象,采用分段进水和分区曝气方式强化砾间接触氧化工艺的脱氮性能,探讨HRT(水力停留时间)、OA(曝气区和非曝气区容积比)对低污染水体中CODMn、NH4+-N、TN去除的影响.结果显示:1HRT对有机物去除效果影响较大,在HRT为0.8、1.5、2.5、3.5 h下,CODMn去除率平均值分别为14.7%、28.6%、42.7%、48.8%;而当HRT为2.5 h时为较佳运行工况,CODMn、NH4+-N、TN去除率平均值分别为42.7%、83.6%、31.6%.2OA对NH4+-N的去除影响不大,在OA为1∶1、1∶2、1∶3下,NH4+-N去除率平均值分别为86.7%、83.1%、80.5%;而当OA为1∶3时具有较佳的脱氮除碳效果,CODMn、NH4+-N、TN去除率平均值分别为42.2%、80.5%、40.2%.3在HRT为2.5 h、OA为1∶3下稳定运行15 d后,对生物膜样品的微生物群落结构分析表明,在装置后段有脱氮微生物的富集,其优势菌为Pseudomonas、Pantoe、Synechococcus、Chloroflexi bacterium.研究表明,砾间接触氧化工艺对低污染水具有较好的脱氮除碳效果.     

附着硅藻指数在河流水质监测中的适用性技术研究

对广西龙江和柳江中段共18个样点进行了附着硅藻的采样调查,并采用相关分析法、主成分分析法、最优分割分类法、箱须图法、逐步判别分析法和双向指示种分类法等数学方法研究分析了16个硅藻指数在龙江与柳江中段水质监测中的适用性.结果表明,3次4组不同水质类别中,IPS(Specific Pollution Sensitivity Index)和TDI(Trophic Diatom Index)指数与样点的箱须图都表现出合理的趋势,而且IPS和TDI间、及与环境因子及其他硅藻指数间的相关性显著.表明IPS和TDI适合进行龙江与柳江中段的水质生物监测评价,而本文提出的硅藻指数适用性技术也具有一定的推广价值.     

(Dis)connected communities and sustainable place-making

Why, despite a recent surge in the UK in “sustainable communities” policy discourse, do so many community-led sustainability initiatives remain fragmented, marginal and disconnected from local government strategies? How can community- and government-led sustainability initiatives be better integrated such that they add significantly to a denser matrix and cluster of sustainable places? These questions, we argue, lie at the heart of current sustainable place-making debates. With particular reference to two spatial scales of analysis and action, the small town of Stroud, England and the city of Cardiff, Wales, we explore the twin processes of disconnection and connection between community sustainability activists and local state actors. We conclude that whilst there will always remain a need for community groups to protect the freedom which comes from acting independently, for community activists and policy-makers alike, there are nevertheless a series of mutual benefits to be had from co-production. However, in setting out these benefits we also emphasise the dual need for local government to play a much more nuanced, integrative and facilitatory role, in addition to, but separate from, its more traditional regulatory role.     

The role of rural communities in the transition to a low-carbon Scotland: a review

The Scottish Government is committed to carbon reduction targets which are the most ambitious across the devolved administrations of the UK. Whilst Scotland operates within broader international and UK policy contexts, it has developed particular programmes and approaches to engage communities in the transition towards low-carbon futures. Rural areas have a role in the transition to a low-carbon Scotland; however, beyond land use and agriculture contributions, little research has explored the “rural” dimension of “low-carbon” transitions. The paper presents a policy and literature review relating to the low-carbon agenda in Scotland. It reflects on Scottish low-carbon policy and governance, the positioning of “rural communities” within this, and the opportunities and challenges this might present. Based on this, we develop an understanding of how rural communities may contribute to a low-carbon Scotland and identify a future research agenda to explore in more detail the nature and relative effectiveness of diverse governance structures to support this.     

南四湖浮游硅藻季节性演替及其与环境因子的相关性

为研究南水北调东线工程调水对南四湖硅藻藻密度、种群结构变化的影响,于2010年5月—2013年4月在南四湖进行逐月采样,应用NMDS(non-metric multi-dimensional scaling,非度量性多元标度)分析硅藻种群组成的相似性,并通过冗余分析和Pearson相关性分析研究了硅藻种群结构和环境因子间的相关性.结果表明:1共检出硅藻23属69种,硅藻藻密度在14.3×104~663.2×104L-1之间,呈明显的季节性变化,表现为冬春季大于夏秋季;2硅藻种群演替呈明显的季节性变化,冬春季主要以冷水种尖针杆藻(冬春季所占比例分别为15.3%、24.0%)为主,夏秋季则以暖水种扭曲小环藻(夏秋季所占比例分别为17.8%、19.1%)为主;3氮磷营养盐水平、p H和表层水温是影响南四湖硅藻种群变化的主要环境因子.南四湖硅藻种群对于环境因子变化的反应较为灵敏,可作为南四湖水质的潜在指示工具进行长期研究.     

乐安河-鄱阳湖湿地植物群落分布及其环境影响因子

于2012年平水期(4月)、丰水期(8月)和枯水期(11月)对乐安河自上游至下游及入鄱阳湖区域内湿地植物群落分布和水土环境因子进行调查,分析乐安河不同水期湿地植物群落的分布特征,通过DCCA(detrended canonical correspondence analysis,除趋势典范对应分析)探讨不同水期植物群落分布特征与环境因子间的定量关系.结果表明:3个水期内共观测到湿地植物167种,不同水期植物种类及组成结构均具有显著差异.其中平水期湿地植物102种,分属于33科75属;枯水期71种,分属于27科53属;丰水期种类最少,为55种,分属于20科42属.乐安河上游处于未受矿山开采影响的对照区域内,水生植物群落分布主要受河流自然环境因素的影响.对于受重金属酸性污染影响较严重的区域,DCCA排序结果显示,水土环境中p H和Cu、Pb、Cd等重金属含量是影响植物群落分布的重要因素.其中,上游湿地植物群落分布主要受Cu含量和p H的影响;中、下游主要受水、土环境中重金属Pb、Cd的复合污染以及p H的影响.乐安河湿地植物群落分布与环境因子间具有明显的对应关系,DCCA法能准确识别影响湿地植物群落分布的关键环境因子.     

互花米草入侵对广西北海光滩大型底栖动物群落的影响

为探讨互花米草入侵对广西北部湾光滩的生态影响,于2012年7月—2013年9月对北海市青山头地区的互花米草群丛和光滩2种生境分别连续进行5次大型底栖动物群落采样,分析不同采样时间和生境下大型底栖动物的物种组成、生物量、总栖息密度、群落生物多样性、群落结构等群落特征.结果表明:1该区域内大型底栖动物共15种,隶属于4门5纲11科,其中中国绿螂(Glauconome chinensis)占互花米草群丛大型底栖动物个体总数的86.7%,为绝对优势物种;短指和尚蟹(Mictyris brevidactylus)为光滩的优势物种.2双因素方差分析(two-way ANOVA)结果显示,互花米草入侵光滩后大型底栖动物物种数量显著增加,并且互花米草群丛中中国绿螂个体数量的剧增也显著增加了大型底栖动物的生物量和总栖息密度,而采样时间对大型底栖动物物种数、生物量和总栖息密度的影响不显著;不同生境和采样时间均未对大型底栖动物的多样性指数产生显著影响.3非度量多维度分析(non-metric multidimensional scaling,NMDS)结果表明,互花米草群丛与光滩的大型底栖动物物种群落相似度较高,但与2012年10月相比,2013年9月互花米草和光滩大型底栖动物群落相似度降低,因此可能随着互花米草入侵时间的增加,其对大型底栖动物群落的影响也不同.     

The New Zealand experience of varroa invasion highlights research opportunities for Australia

The Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) is implicated as a major disease factor in honey bee (Apis mellifera) populations worldwide. Honey bees are extensively relied upon for pollination services, and in countries such as New Zealand and Australia where honey bees have been introduced specifically for commercial pollinator services, the economic effects of any decline in honey bee numbers are predicted to be profound. V. destructor established in New Zealand in 2000 but as yet, Australia remains Varroa-free. Here we analyze the history of V. destructor invasion and spread in New Zealand and discuss the likely long-term impacts. When the mite was discovered in New Zealand, it was considered too well established for eradication to be feasible. Despite control efforts, V. destructor has since spread throughout the country. Today, assessing the impacts of the arrival of V. destructor in this country is compromised by a paucity of data on pollinator communities as they existed prior to invasion. Australia’s Varroa-free status provides a rare and likely brief window of opportunity for the global bee research community to gain understanding of honey bee-native pollinator community dynamics prior to Varroa invasion.