Temporal and spatial assessment of natural resource use in China using ecological footprint method

China has about 20% of the world's population. With rapid economic development and substantial population increase, China is now faced with severe conflicts between limited natural resources and increasing resource requirements. In this study, we used the ecological footprint method to assess the resource demand and supply conditions of each land use in China between 1978 and 2003. In order to provide insight into the spatial heterogeneity of resource demand and supply conditions, we also assessed the ecological footprint at provincial level in 2002. An ecological footprint curve method was introduced to compare differences in natural resource use, economic development and technological progress among different countries and provinces. The results showed that the ecological footprint, biocapacity and ecological deficit per capita for China have all been increasing during 1978–2003. The ecological footprints per person in northern and eastern China were larger than those in southern and western China. The ecological deficits per person in southern and eastern China were more severe than those in northern and western China. Though the resource use efficiency has increased considerably during 1978–2003, it was still much lower than those of the Netherlands, France, South Korea, Mexico, the Philippines and India.     

Methodology for an urban ecological footprint to evaluate sustainable development in China

The ecological footprint (EF) is a method for measuring sustainable development through ecological impact. A methodology is presented for predicting urban ecological footprints. Urban energy use and natural resource consumption were analyzed to calculate an EF based on land type (arable, pasture, forest, fossil energy land, built-up area and water area) and consumption (food, housing, transportation, goods, services and waste). The result was then compared with the local ecological carrying capacity to develop criteria for sustainable ecological footprints. Case studies of four cities in China (Guangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou and Yangzhou) illustrate the urban EF approach. The time series of EF in a case study of Guangzhou for 1991–2001 was analyzed and the consumption–land-use matrix of urban EF was established. The results show that the cities are ecologically unsustainable, with average ecological conflicts per capita of more than 2 ha. The urban EF method is useful to measure urban sustainable development and provides policy proposals for decision-making. However, the EF method still has limitations and weaknesses.     

Linking the concept of ecological footprint and valuation of ecosystem services: A case study of economic growth and natural carrying capacity

Human activities have become so extensive that all ecosystems on the planet have been altered to some extent. The fate of humankind will be determined by how sustainable ecosystems and the renewable resources in them are managed. The implication of this is obvious: humanity must live within nature's carrying capacity. In recent years, humans have recognised that growth of the economy depends on natural capital, and it is important that we now recognise that we are part of an international ecological economics community, so as to better integrate the economy and ecology. However, there are few successful examples of this. The aim of this paper is to show a method for integrated analysis between economic growth and natural carrying capacity by linking the concepts of ecological footprint and valuation of ecosystem services. When applied to China for the period 1987–2003, the empirical evidence suggests that the size of the Chinese economy surpassed the carrying capacity in 1992. Perhaps, we should abandon our high-growth predilection and initiate a transition to a steady-state economy.     

Ecological properties of soil water and effects on forest vegetation in the Loess Plateau

In the Loess Plateau of China, soil water has three ecological properties: high infiltration capacity, high storage capacity and availability to deep plant roots. Soil desiccation is the most serious problem for forest vegetation in the Loess Plateau. Arid soils are the result of intensified soil desiccation caused by disturbances in plant succession, which constitute the ecological foundation of soil water. The negative effects of the arid soil layer on surface water infiltration for recharging underground water are discussed in terms of ecological hydrology. The arid soil layer disrupts the link between surface water and underground water and prevents vertical precipitation infiltration from supplementing underground water. Forest vegetation has a significant runoff-retaining efficiency that reduces total runoff from forest areas leading to low surface and ground runoff which affect the water cycle on a watershed scale.     

Integrated ecological assessment as the basis for management of a coastal urban protected area: A case study of Xiamen,China

In the process of rapid urbanisation in China, environmental problems have increased, from sewage discharge to climate change. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are widely advocated as a means to comprehensively manage human activities and resources in ocean and coastal areas. However, MPAs only safeguard populations or assemblages within their boundaries and fail to offer any protection from many major threats to marine environments. An increase in environmental threats implies an increase in environmental management and assessment. We propose a methodological framework for integrated ecological assessment using the Xiamen marine protected area as a case study. The integrated ecological assessment framework can be generalised from the dimensions of environment, economy, society and institution. Surveys were undertaken to assess the state of the Xiamen coastal environment, the resources of the reserve, and issues associated with human activities. Stakeholders were interviewed about their attitudes towards issues regarding the management of the reserve. The constraints of the reserve management were identified. The methodological framework is presented as a tool to help identify relative ecological security in order to prioritise actions and assess the ecological implications of management and policy decisions.     

Urban forest in China: Development patterns,influencing factors and research prospects

Urban forest is a very important part of urban ecosystems and provides significant ecosystem services. It benefits urban communities environmentally, aesthetically, recreationally and economically. This article reviews the development status, development patterns and influencing factors of urban forest in China. There are four typical development patterns of urban forest in China: the forest city, garden city, ecological economics and forest greenbelt. Social, climatic, economic and other factors influence urban forest development in China. Social factors include government behaviour, laws and regulations, science and technology, education and culture, public awareness and participation, ecological planning and management. Climatic factors include rainfall, temperature and sunlight. Economic factors include urban economic level and funding for urban forest. In future, government, NGOs and the private sector should be considered more in the planning and management of urban forest. The social, climatic and economic factors should be taken into account when improving urban forest management. Research on urban forest from the academic and the management viewpoint should be strengthened. This can improve the development and management of urban forest in China and in other developing countries.     

Gender roles and economics of exploitation,processing and marketing of bivalves and impacts on forest resources in the Sanaga Delta region of Douala-Edea Wildlife Reserve,Cameroon

Socio-economic surveys were carried out in the Malimba and Mouanko communities in the Sanaga delta region of the Douala-Edea Wildlife Reserve, Cameroon, on the exploitation, processing and marketing of bivalves, with emphasis on gender aspects and impacts on the surrounding forest resources. Sixty people from 16 villages were sampled using a structured questionnaire with field observations documented during the peak fishing period (November 2000–June 2001). Results indicated a strong gender differentiation in the activity, with males dominating bivalve harvesting and shell processing and women dominating the processing for meat. Monthly bivalve meat production of 32.9 tons (197.4 tons per year) generated revenues of 65.4 million FCFA (74.9 million per year). Monthly shell production was put at 1380 tons (8040 tons per year) generating a monthly revenue of 74 million FCFA (444 million per year). Problems faced during exploitation, processing and marketing stages include physical, health and socio-economic: use of very depreciable rudimentary tools, shell injuries, fire and hot water burns, insect pests; blindness, deafness; inadequate storage facilities, transport and remoteness of the area. Bivalve processing activities using wood contributed to a total annual harvest of 50 986 m³ from the surrounding forest. Sustainable conservation measures geared towards poverty alleviation are proposed.     

Ecological issues and risk assessment in China

As a result of economic development and population explosion, global ecological environments have been severely disturbed and markedly changed. An ecological crisis involving desertification, soil erosion, degradation of land quality, loss of biodiversity and global climate change has been brought about all over the world. In order to manage ecosystems efficiently, it is necessary to assess ecological risk at multiple scales. Ecological risk is the probability that a region and/or site will experience defined ecological or environmental problems. In this paper, the ecological risks of soil erosion, desertification, and acid deposition have been assessed on a national scale according to natural and human factors, such as topography, soil, vegetation and climate. This assessment has provided very useful information for ecological environmental management in China.     

云南高原典型林分林下枯落物持水特征研究

森林枯落物具有重要生态水文功能,通过实地调查与实验分析,对云南高原湖泊纳帕海流域3种典型林分枯落物储量、持水量和持水过程进行了研究。结果表明：高山松（pinus densata）林下枯落物储量最大,白桦林（Betula platyphylla Suk.）次之,川滇高山栎（Quercus aquifolioides）灌丛最小,林下枯落物储量最大持水量和有效拦蓄量大小排序表现出和枯落物储量相同的顺序;不论是储量、最大持水量还是有效拦蓄量,各林分枯落物都表现出半分层大于未分解层。3种林下枯落物在0～2 h内吸水较快,在10 h后吸水速明显减缓,用对数方程对3种林下枯落物未分解层和半分解层持水量与浸水时间进行拟合,用幂函数方程对吸水速率与浸水时间进行拟合,结果显示相关系数都较高。     

广州及周边地区森林土壤As、Se、Hg质量分数特征及污染评价

研究了广州及周边地区5处代表性森林土壤（鼎湖山、西樵山、华南植物园、黄埔和南昆山）As、Se、Hg质量分数特征及污染状况。结果表明,上述5地森林表层土壤As质量分数平均值分别为18.6、18.0、12.2、11.4、26.1 mg.kg-1,Se质量分数平均值分别为0.360、0.729、0.286、0.421、0.434 mg.kg-1,Hg质量分数平均值分别为0.201、0.270、0.139、0.224、0.087 mg.kg-1。除植物园土壤Se质量分数、南昆山土壤Hg质量分数较接近背景值外,5林地As、Se、Hg质量分数均超过背景值,可能存在外源As、Se、Hg输入。其中,南昆山As输入,西樵山Se、Hg输入,黄埔、鼎湖山Hg输入较明显。单因子污染指数分析结果表明在南昆山As为最严重的污染物,而在鼎湖山、植物园、西樵山和黄埔Hg为最严重的污染物。综合污染指数分析结果表明5林地土壤均受到不同程度的污染,其中西樵山土壤属重度污染,南昆山、黄埔、鼎湖山属中度污染,植物园污染较轻,属轻度污染。     

Establishment of Markov successional model and its application for forest restoration reference in Southern China

Forest succession is the base of establishing restoration reference which plays an important role in forest restoration and restoration estimation. The study presented the establishment of a Markov successional model (MSM) and its application to restoration reference in lower subtropical forest in China. The compositions of successional system in MSM were divided into three species types: pioneering pine trees, heliophytic trees and mesophytic trees. The successional system was divided into three subsystems: early successional stage, mid-successional stage and late-successional stage. Based on the site survey on the changes in the species and their individuals in 25 years, the transition matrices in various subsystems were determined. The predicted results were used to establish the restoration reference of the vegetation restoration in lower subtropical China. According to the ecological restoration reference established in this study, it would take 150 years for the forest to change from pioneer to mature communities in the region. Successional change of tree composition was forecast by the model, and the scenario forecast by the model reflects the actual conditions observed through 52 years of long-term permanent site research. The restoration experience in the region matches the forecast results. The application of a restoration reference model indicates that forest restoration can be accelerated by taking measures which change forest structure. The above results imply that a restoration reference established on the rule of regional forest succession could be very useful not only in directing, but also in assessing and managing regional forest restoration. Previously, one “ideal reference ecosystem” was used as a restoration reference in all correlative studies. In this study, the restoration “process” was used as the restoration reference.     

中国典型河湖水体铅的水生生物安全基准与生态风险评价

采用物种敏感度排序法(SSR)对我国铅的淡水水生生物安全基准进行推导,并以太湖为例进行了流域水生生物安全基准推导。对于难以获得的本土生物毒性数据,开展了相应的毒性试验。获得了我国国家与太湖流域铅的水生生物安全基准值,基准最大浓度(CMC)分别为63.92、104.26μg·L-1,基准连续浓度(CCC)分别为1.21、4.06μg·L-1。同时,对我国主要河流以及太湖流域进行了铅的生态风险评价,联合概率曲线法显示影响5%水生生物种类的概率分别为66.22%和43.19%,熵值法则显示中国主要河流存在较大的铅暴露风险,因此,我国铅的潜在生态风险较大,主要河流与太湖流域存在铅污染问题。     

Land-use dynamics and landscape pattern change in a coastal gulf region,southeast China

This study quantitatively analyzed spatiotemporal changes in land use and landscape pattern in a coastal gulf region of southeast China by comparing classified satellite images from 1988, 2002, and 2007, using a geographic information system (GIS), remote sensing (RS), and landscape pattern metrics. The results show an increase in cropland, built-up area, and aquaculture area and a decrease in orchards, woodland, and beach area during 1988–2007. Over the study period, 64.3% of newly-expanded cropland was from woodland; newly-expanded built-up area of 34.8, 27.2, and 20.4% was converted from cropland, woodland, and beach areas, respectively; and newly-expanded aquaculture increased by 45.1 and 29.4% from beach and water body areas, respectively. Trend analysis of landscape pattern metrics demonstrates fragmentation of the landscape, with landscape pattern structure becoming more complex over the last two decades in the Louyuan Gulf region. Urbanization and policy developed to transfer beach/seawater areas into built-up area/aquaculture are the two main driving forces contributing to dynamic changes in land use and landscape pattern in the last two decades in Louyuan.     

美国和加拿大水利工程生态调度管理研究及对中国的借鉴

对美国和加拿大的水利工程生态调度管理框架和管理模式进行了系统分析.就间接(宏观)管理而言,美国和加拿大的生态调度从取水的许可证管理、保留水权的建立、水质标准、濒危物种保护和环境流量设置等方面进行管理;而在直接管理方面,主要包括对联邦水利工程的《濒危物种法》(ESA)符合性审查和非联邦水电站(5MW以上)的联邦能源管理委员会(FERC)的许可管理.通过分析中国水利工程生态调度管理中存在的问题,指出中国水利工程生态调度的体制和机制尚未有效建立,从明确生态需求、确定生态调度实施战略、加强基础研究工作以及建立和完善管理体制等方面,提出了加强中国生态调度管理的建议.在逐步建立流域生态调度管理体制的基础上,指出从生态补偿机制、参与协商机制、信息共享机制和监测反馈机制等方面建立和创新水利工程生态调度运行机制.     

Spatial health risk assessment and hierarchical risk management for mercury in soils from a typical contaminated site,China

Due to rapid urbanization and the implementation of ecological civilization construction in China, many industrial factories have been closed or relocated. Therefore, numbers of contaminated sites were generated with contaminated soils which may pose a risk to receptors living nearby. This study presented a spatial health risk assessment and hierarchical risk management policy making for mercury (Hg) in soils from a typical contaminated site in the Hunan Province, central China. Compared with the second class value (0.3 mg/kg) of the Chinese Environmental Quality Standard for Soils, the mean concentrations of Hg in the three soil depths exceeded the second class value. The non-carcinogenic risk of Hg probably posed adverse health effects in 41, 30 and 36 % of the surface soil, the moderate soil and subsoil, respectively, under a sensitive land scenario. The non-carcinogenic risk temporarily posed no adverse health effects in most areas under an insensitive land scenario except for the area around sampling site S29. Spatially, the central, southwest and northeast parts of the contaminated land under a sensitive land scenario should be regarded as the priority regions. For non-carcinogenic effects, the exposure pathways that resulted in the higher levels of exposure risk were ingestion and inhalation of vapors, followed by dermal contact and inhalation of particles. A risk-based integrated risk management policy including the hierarchical risk control values for different soil depths and the calculated remediation earthwork was proposed with consideration of the cost-benefit effect for the related decision-makers.     

Development and application of a comprehensive ecological risk assessment indicator system in Xiamen,China

Urban ecological risk is one of the important factors that may restrict the social and economic development. Therefore, it is of great significance to carry out a comprehensive assessment of ecological risks so that an ecological risk prevention and control plan can be scientifically formulated. In this paper, a comprehensive ecological risk assessment indicator system of Xiamen was established based on local ecological properties and socioeconomic status. This indicator system covers seven indicators including air pollution, soil pollution, water pollution, fresh water consumption, change in land use, occupation of key zones with ecological functions, and road network expansion. Based on this indicator system and in conjunction with the single factor assessment of ecological risks, this study constructed a model of comprehensive ecological risk assessment and forecasted the comprehensive ecological risk of Xiamen in 2020. The results showed that the comprehensive ecological risk level of Xiamen in 2020 is medium and the main stressors are the discharge of air and water pollutants. From the perspective of risk receptors, i.e. the ecosystem services, the risk posed to the ecosystem services associated to the maintenance of air quality and water purification is the highest. Therefore, this study proposed the recommendations on ecological risk prevention and regulation in Xiamen based on the comprehensive assessment of ecological risks, in the hope to provide scientific support for local ecological protection and sustainable development.     

Distribution,enrichment mechanism and risk assessment for fluoride in groundwater: a case study of Mihe-Weihe River Basin,China

● High fluorine is mainly HCO₃·Cl-Na and HCO₃-Na type. ● F⁻ decreases with the increase of depth to water table. ● High fluoride is mainly affected by fluorine-containing minerals and weak alkaline. ● Fluorine pollution is mainly in the north near Laizhou Bay (wet season > dry season). ● Groundwater samples have a high F⁻ health risk (children > adults). Due to the unclear distribution characteristics and causes of fluoride in groundwater of Mihe-Weihe River Basin (China), there is a higher risk for the future development and utilization of groundwater. Therefore, based on the systematic sampling and analysis, the distribution features and enrichment mechanism for fluoride in groundwater were studied by the graphic method, hydrogeochemical modeling, the proportionality factor between conventional ions and factor analysis. The results show that the fluorine content in groundwater is generally on the high side, with a large area of medium-fluorine water (0.5–1.0 mg/L), and high-fluorine water is chiefly in the interfluvial lowlands and alluvial-marine plain, which mainly contains HCO₃·Cl-Na- and HCO₃-Na-type water. The vertical zonation characteristics of the fluorine content decrease with increasing depth to the water table. The high flouride groundwater during the wet season is chiefly controlled by the weathering and dissolution of fluorine-containing minerals, as well as the influence of rock weathering, evaporation and concentration. The weak alkaline environment that is rich in sodium and poor in calcium during the dry season is the main reason for the enrichment of fluorine. Finally, an integrated assessment model is established using rough set theory and an improved matter element extension model, and the level of groundwater pollution caused by fluoride in the Mihe-Weihe River Basin during the wet and dry seasons in the Shandong Peninsula is defined to show the necessity for local management measures to reduce the potential risks caused by groundwater quality.     

华北高产农区公众对农业面源污染的环境保护意识及支付意愿调查

应用假设市场价值评估法(CVM)调查了华北高产农业区桓台县公众对防治农业面源污染地下水所需费用的支付意愿;评价了公众对技术、经济、政策等解决手段的期望和行为选择。调查表明,有60%以上的公众表现出能够为后代人着想而保护农业环境的可持续发展意识,有76%的人对污染现状的改善和治理持积极态度,人均支付意愿为22.8元·a-1,但公众对农业面源污染的环境保护意识不足。影响农民公众支付意愿的因素主要有家庭收入、受教育程度和职业。经推算,该县公众1a总支付意愿大约是1114.8～1320.2万元。可采取的环境保护技术措施以改良耕作习惯、控制化肥施用量为主,法制化的环保手段需要与公众环保意识相适应。     

GIS支持下的红壤丘陵区脆弱生态环境综合评价--以长沙市为例

遥感和地理信息系统技术的发展为研究区域生态环境变化提供了有效的手段。针对红壤丘陵区这一特定区域，在地理信息系统的支持下，建立了红壤丘陵区环境信息系统数据库；同时结合特尔斐法、层次分析法及环境质量综合指数法，对红壤丘陵区的典型区域——长沙市的生态环境质量进行综合评价。研究结果表明，由于人类活动的强烈影响，长沙市环境质量状况良好以上级别的区域面积仅有827．64km^2，占总面积的7．0％；而生态环境较差的区域其面积达到6187．14km^2，占总面积的52．4％，这说明长沙市总体生态环境质量有待进一步提高。     

基于净初级生产力的中国各地生态足迹均衡因子测算

生态足迹作为一种非货币化的生态系统评估工具,是近年来国际上一种重要的判别可持续发展程度的生物物理量方法。均衡因子是生态足迹计算中的一个重要参数,其是否准确直接影响到计算结果的可靠性与可比性。随着生态足迹方法的广泛应用,其标准化和本地化研究成为迫切的需要。为便于区域水平上的生态足迹空间分析,采用中国2001年1km MODIS数据,根据植被的净初级生产力(net primary production,NPP),计算出全国和不同省份各种土地类型的均衡因子。结果表明,就中国平均均衡因子而言,农地和建筑用地为1.71,林地和能源用地为1.41,畜牧地为0.44,渔业水域为0.35;就不同省份而言,由于区域内不同土地利用类型的相对生产能力不同,因而均衡因子各不相同,但大体上呈现农地>林地>畜牧地>渔业水域的规律。