Nested vulnerability: exploring cross-scale linkages and vulnerability teleconnections in Mexican and Vietnamese coffee systems

Analyses of the vulnerability of farm populations and food systems to exogenous change, whether in relation to climatic extremes, market shocks, epidemics or other concerns, have typically been approached through a focus on the place of food production or the specific sub-sector exposed to stress. Relatively little attention has been paid to the ways in which national institutions, history and social expectations transform the same signals of global change into very different outcomes in distinct geographic contexts. The channels that convey signals of change from the global to the local may also work in reverse, connecting the responses and choices of households in one geographic context to outcomes and choices of other households in quite distant places. We draw from recent case studies of farm-level vulnerability and livelihood security in Mexico and Vietnam to demonstrate that coffee smallholders’ independent responses to the risks and opportunities associated with global scale economic and environmental change, are teleconnected and thus can create feedbacks which in turn affect the present and future vulnerabilities of other smallholders around the globe.     

Governance in vulnerability assessment: the role of globalising decision-making networks in determining local vulnerability and adaptive capacity

Community-based vulnerability assessment has often assumed that the local is the relevant level of adaptation to climate change. This paper suggests that not only do a number of levels from the international to the regional influence which adaptations can take place locally, but the governance network that is made up by actors on different levels may to a large extent be formed in responses to globalising factors, such as internationalisation of economies and the changing role of the state. The paper presents a study of adaptation in reindeer (Rangifier tarandus) herding, forestry and fishing communities in northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland, with a focus on assessing stakeholders’ own perceptions of environmental, socio-political and economic factors that affect them. In general, the paper illustrates the integration of non-subsistence economies into large and complex interactions where local adaptation is a result of the sum of stresses impacting individual entrepreneurs, and the potential they have to adapt their practices given governance (and their access to support) on different scales.

Climate vulnerability index - measure of climate change vulnerability to communities: a case of rural Lower Himalaya,India

Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) is being proposed to assess climate change vulnerability of communities with a case study. The index consists of household parameters of all the three dimensions of vulnerability such as Exposure, Sensitivity and Adaptive Capability. Exposure is defined by ‘Natural disaster and Climate variability’, however Sensitivity by ‘Health’, Food’, and ‘Water’ and Adaptive Capability by ‘Socio-demographic profile’, ‘Livelihood strategies’, and ‘Social networks’. Respective parameters were based on the peers and literature. The CVI vulnerable status ranges from high (0) to low (1). Household questionnaire survey was undertaken from two regions namely, near to district (NDH) and away to district (ADH), in Srinagar, Uttrakhand, India. Data for desired parameters for CVI was collected from 50 randomly selected households. Data were aggregated using a composite index and differential vulnerabilities were compared. High vulnerability was observed for livelihood strategies, food and natural disaster for ADH households, and health and water for NDH households. It was found that the adaptive capability and sensitivity of ADH households was higher than NDH, however, exposure realization was similar in both the regions. The CVI was 0.69 and 0.64 for NDH and ADH, respectively, suggests high vulnerability to NDH households. This pragmatic CVI approach may be used to assess and monitor vulnerability under various stress condition, and/or evaluate potential program/ policy effectiveness in various data-scarce regions by comparing various anticipated scenarios with baseline. Further, the result obtained by index may have implications for developing adaptation or coping strategies to the region.     

Black Sea beaches vulnerability to sea level rise

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) aims to promote sustainable management of coastal zones based on ecosystem and holistic management approaches. In this context, policies have to consider the complex interactions that influence the fragile equilibrium of coastal ecosystems. Beaches represent both valuable and vulnerable natural resources because of the various ecosystem services they provide and their sensitivity to climate change and sea level rise.We present the first comprehensive digital record of all Black Sea beaches and provide a rapid assessment of their erosion risk under different scenarios of sea level rise. Through the digitisation of freely available remote-sensed images on the web, we provide broad information on the spatial characteristics and other attributes of all Black Sea beaches (e.g. photo-based visual estimation of the sediment type, presence of coastal defences, urban development). These data have been assembled and stored in full Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) – allowing spatial queries, visualisation and data sharing – and are therefore particularly interesting to feed/supply web-GIS portals (coastal atlases) for visualisation purpose, spatial queries or spatial indicators calculations.The resulting Black Sea beaches database contains 1228 beaches, with a total coastline length of 2042 km with an area of 224 km². The majority of the Black Sea beaches have been found to have small widths (61% have maximum widths less than 50 m), whereas 47% of all beaches presented coastal defence schemes, suggesting an already serious beach erosion problem.The erosion risk of the Black Sea beaches was assessed through the comparison of their maximum widths with estimations of the sea level rise-induced retreat by an ensemble of six 1-D analytical and numerical morphodynamic models. Following more than 17,000 experiments using different combinations of wave conditions, beach sediment textures and slopes and 11 scenarios of sea level rise (up to 2 m), the means (best fits) of the lowest and highest projections by the model ensemble were estimated; these were then compared to the maximum widths of the Black Sea beaches. The analysis showed that sea level rise will have highly significant impacts on the Black Sea beaches, as for a 0.5 m sea level rise 56% of all beaches are projected to retreat by 50% of their maximum width. For a 0.82 m sea level rise (the high IPCC estimate for the period 2081–2100) about 41% are projected to retreat by their entire maximum width, whereas for 1 m sea level rise about 51% of all Black Sea beaches are projected to retreat by (drowned or shifted landward by) their entire maximum width, if the high mean of the model ensemble projections is used.Results substantiate the risk of beach erosion as a major environmental problem along the Black Sea coast, which therefore needs to be taken into account in any future coastal management plans, as a matter of urgency. As these scenarios consider only sea level rise, they are considered to be conservative. Although the present results cannot replace detailed studies, the database and projections may assist Black Sea coastal managers and policy makers to rapidly identify beaches with increased risk of erosion, valuate accordingly coastal assets and infrastructure, estimate beach capacity for touristic development purposes, and rapidly assess direct and indirect costs and benefits of beach protection options. They also provide the necessary inputs to advance discussions relevant to the Black Sea ICZM.     

自然灾害脆弱性研究进展

自然灾害风险研究是当今国际社会、学术界普遍关注的热点问题。本文在回顾国内外自然灾害脆弱性研究发展的基础上,阐述了自然灾害脆弱性的基本内涵,通过对国内外自然灾害脆弱性研究尺度、评价模型、评估方法等方面进行对比,指出国内自然灾害脆弱性研究存在的问题。同时指出未来自然灾害脆弱性研究的发展趋势应加强对人-地耦合系统的脆弱性研究,以及对其内在形成机制和发生演变规律的研究。自然灾害脆弱性研究是涉及多学科、多领域的复杂研究课题,并且呈现出多学科交融的趋势,需要综合考虑自然和社会双重因素的影响。     

海洋渔业脆弱性研究评述与展望

海洋渔业脆弱性是海洋渔业可持续发展研究的重要内容。本文从海洋渔业脆弱性的概念与内涵、研究分类与分析框架、评价方法与测度指数、驱动因素与应对措施4个方面对海洋渔业脆弱性研究进行了系统梳理。结果表明:（1）海洋渔业脆弱性概念虽未统一,但关于概念内涵的理解已经达成了一些共识;（2）海洋渔业脆弱性评价方法单一,评价体系有待完善;（3）海洋渔业脆弱性驱动因素与机制研究不足。未来宜重点完善海洋渔业脆弱性概念,构建系统全面的评价体系,加强海洋渔业脆弱性多尺度研究,深化海洋渔业脆弱性的驱动因素与机制研究等,为解决海洋渔业发展问题提供科学支撑。     

城市生态环境脆弱性的测度分区与调控

从生态敏感性和生态恢复力两个方面构建测度指标体系,应用GIS的空间分析技术定量测度城市生态环境脆弱性的大小并划分等级分区,进而得到不同的脆弱性调控类型区.以合肥市为例,在GIS平台上具体测度了其生态环境脆弱性的大小,并划分为低、较低、中、较高和高5种脆弱性分区,进而归纳为生态绿线、生态灰线和生态红线3种脆弱性调控类型区.其中,生态绿线调控区的规模最大,占研究区总面积的53.61%,这可以为合肥市提供充足的发展空间.最后给出了不同脆弱性调控类型区的发展建议,由此为城市生态环境的保护和建设提供科学的决策依据.     

基于InVEST模型的庙岛群岛海岸脆弱性研究

海岛海岸脆弱性评估对海岛生态系统健康维护、科学规划和可持续利用具有重要作用。基于海岸线类型、数字高程模型等基础数据,借助InVEST模型估算庙岛群岛海岸暴露程度,进而分析其脆弱性程度。结果表明:（1）在庙岛群岛10个有居民岛中,平均暴露程度由低到高依次为小钦岛、庙岛、南长山岛、南隍城岛、大钦岛、小黑山岛、大黑山岛、砣矶岛、北隍城岛、北长山岛;（2）各岛平均暴露程度呈现显著差异。以北长山岛和小钦岛为例,前者平均暴露程度最高,高暴露程度占比64.69%,后者平均暴露程度最低,低暴露程度和中低暴露程度占比之和为73.47%;（3）海岸线类型、海拔、地理位置是庙岛群岛海岸脆弱性主要影响因子,其中北隍城岛、大钦岛、小钦岛、北长山岛的海岸暴露程度受海岸线类型差异影响较大;南隍城岛、砣矶岛、大黑山岛、小黑山岛的海岸暴露程度受海拔影响较大;南长山岛的海岸暴露程度受所处地理位置影响较大。     

唐山市平原区地下水脆弱性评价研究

根据唐山市平原区的具体状况 ,选择地下水埋深等 6个参数作为该地区地下水脆弱性评价因子 ,评价因子的评分体系通过数值模拟建立 ,权重体系由主成分分析和因子分析得到 .利用建立的评价体系 ,结合GIS技术对该地区的地下水脆弱性进行评价 ,并得到地下水脆弱性分布图 .评价结果与该地区实测及预测的硝酸盐浓度分布状况吻合较好 .     

基于三角模型的烟台市海洋经济脆弱性评价

随着我国海洋发展战略的快速推进,海洋资源耗竭与生态环境问题频发,海洋经济脆弱性日益引人关注。本文基于三角模型,从压力、敏感性和应对性三个方面构建了沿海城市海洋经济系统脆弱性评价指标体系,并以我国最早的沿海开放城市烟台作为研究区域,对其海洋经济系统脆弱性状态与趋势进行评价分析。研究表明:2004-2014年,烟台市海洋经济系统脆弱性状态由中脆弱度下降为低脆弱度,整体来看,海洋经济系统的脆弱性状态不断降低,而未来系统的脆弱性将以敏感性为主导;系统的脆弱性变化趋势由早期的无序发展转向了后期的T5（低脆弱度）方向,中后期系统脆弱性稳定有序降低,表明烟台市海洋经济持续向好发展,已进入良性发展轨道。     

张家口地区生态脆弱性及其影响因素

生态脆弱性是国际社会面对一系列生态问题时无法回避的重点议题,也是生态文明建设与绿色发展研究的热点之一。基于SRP模型,以张家口地区为研究区域,选取14项指标构建张家口地区生态脆弱性评价指标体系,把主成分分析法和地理探测器结合起来,进行张家口地区生态脆弱度以及主要影响因素研究。结果表明:2008—2016年间,张家口地区生态脆弱性明显下降,2008年、2012年和2016年轻度脆弱面积占比分别为27.24%、29.54%和35.57%,生态系统结构与功能正在向良性方向发展;研究区域内生态脆弱性空间分布差异主要与坡度、干旱指数、植被覆盖度和气温等因素的变化有关。基于评价结果,对张家口市生态治理与绿色发展提出建议。     

Methodology for identifying vulnerability hotspots to tropical cyclone hazard in India

Vulnerability indices are commonly used for characterizing the impacts on a region or comparing relative vulnerability across regions. Such indices are usually computed as a composite/aggregate across different components of vulnerability. Though such a single numerical value can be useful in many situations, a major disadvantage is that it leads to loss of information about how the different factors that went into making the composite index interact with each other, and contribute to making a place vulnerable. In this paper we develop an alternative approach for identifying hotspots, based on cluster analysis that seeks to address this problem by considering the different components of vulnerability separately. We compute different indices for each of the components of vulnerability. Cluster analysis helps in identifying the most vulnerable districts based on different combinations of the components of vulnerability. In addition to being methodologically more robust than the index approach, the clustering approach may have greater policy-relevance as it provides information about which aspects of vulnerability, policy needs to address in the most vulnerable districts. An erratum to this article can be found at     

胶州湾海岸带环境脆弱性分析

本文以胶州湾为研究区,在对导致海岸带脆弱性的各种压力进行定量化分析的基础上,构建具有针对性的海岸带环境脆弱性评估模型,对胶州湾环境脆弱性进行有效判别。研究发现,由人为排放污染物导致的海洋环境质量下降,是致使胶州湾生态系统脆弱性的直接原因。虽然作为压力因素的气候变化和城市化指标对脆弱性指数的直接贡献率不大,但是作为导致海岸带环境脆弱性的根本因素,随着气候变化趋势的不断显现和人类对海岸带开发利用程度的不断加剧,海岸带脆弱性不断增加的趋势是必然的。因此应该在控制直接影响环境的排污行为的基础上,有效控制对海岸带生态和环境产生影响的各种压力,以从根本上避免海岸带生态和环境脆弱性不断加剧。     

上海市环境污染事故风险受体脆弱性评价研究

从环境风险受体敏感性和适应力两方面构建了脆弱性概念模型,在此基础上,考虑社会经济脆弱性和生态系统脆弱性,选取14个指标构建了上海市环境污染事故风险受体综合脆弱性评价指标体系.研究结果表明：上海市中心城区社会脆弱性较高,而崇明岛、南汇、奉贤的社会经济脆弱性最低;黄浦江上游水源保护区、崇明岛东滩湿地生态系统脆弱性较高,浦东...     

Implications of indicator aggregation methods for global change vulnerability reduction efforts

Composite indices are used to assess and prioritize mitigation and adaptation strategies for addressing the impacts of global environmental change. We evaluate different aggregation tools for creating these indices and their potential effects on mitigation and adaptation efforts. We assess the association of each aggregation tool with different types of trade-offs, risk strategies, and the resulting spatial and statistical distribution of their composite scores. Four aggregation tools are investigated (Weighted Linear Combination, WLC; Ordered Weighted Average, OWA; Data Envelopment Analysis, DEA; Compromise Programming, CP) using an example of vulnerability to flooding in the eastern United States. The choice of aggregation tool affects vulnerability outcomes, decision risk strategies, and the prioritization of vulnerability reduction strategies. DEA produces the highest vulnerability scores, representing a risk averse strategy associated with pessimistic outcomes. WLC implies a neutral and fixed risk strategy. CP produces a range of outcomes from neutral (equivalent to the WLC) to pessimistic, depending on its parameters. OWA offers the highest flexibility to adjust the levels of trade-off and risk strategy, producing a range of vulnerability outcomes, from optimistic to pessimistic. The units of analysis, when prioritized across the different aggregation tools, are more consistent for the top ranked units. However, the differences in rank become substantial as the selection threshold score decreases. To obtain better informed vulnerability reduction strategies, we recommend to (i) address how trade-off and decision risk are embedded in the aggregation tool chosen, and (ii) evaluate their effect in the prioritization of mitigation and adaptation strategies being considered.     

Forest policies and programs affecting vulnerability and adaptation to climate change

Due to large scale afforestation programs and forest conservation legislations, India’s total forest area seems to have stabilized or even increased. In spite of such efforts, forest fragmentation and degradation continues, with forests being subject to increased pressure due to anthropogenic factors. Such fragmentation and degradation is leading to the forest cover to change from very dense to moderately dense and open forest and 253 km² of very dense forest has been converted to moderately dense forest, open forest, scrub and non-forest (during 2005–2007). Similarly, there has been a degradation of 4,120 km² of moderately dense forest to open forest, scrub and non-forest resulting in a net loss of 936 km² of moderately dense forest. Additionally, 4,335 km² of open forest have degraded to scrub and non-forest. Coupled with pressure due to anthropogenic factors, climate change is likely to be an added stress on forests. Forest sector programs and policies are major factors that determine the status of forests and potentially resilience to projected impacts of climate change. An attempt is made to review the forest policies and programs and their implications for the status of forests and for vulnerability of forests to projected climate change. The study concludes that forest conservation and development policies and programs need to be oriented to incorporate climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation.     

中国县域单元生态脆弱性时空变化研究

以中国2853个县(市、旗、区)为研究单元,以1980、1990、2000和2010年全国1 km格网土地利用数据和中国县级行政单元社会经济统计数据为基础,通过VSD模型,构建了基于自然和人为共同作用下的生态系统影响力指数和社会经济适应力指数,用以综合表达生态脆弱性空间分异,在此基础上对中国县域单元的生态脆弱性进行定量评价.结果表明:中国县域生态系统影响力指数持续降低,2000年之前呈现由"东北到西南"逐渐降低的趋势,2000年之后,基本呈现"中东部及新疆北部高、西南低"的格局.适应力指数空间分布差异十分明显,表现出东南沿海高于中部,中部又高于西部的格局.从生态系统脆弱性空间分布格局来看,东南部比西部地区更脆弱,从时间变化来看,中国生态脆弱度整体好转,局部恶化;从数量变化来看,1983个县域单元处于高度脆弱区和极度脆弱区,仅有327个县域单元于处于轻度和微度脆弱区.处于极度脆弱区和高度脆弱区的县域单元未来要合理规划土地利用,加强土地利用管理,调整用地布局并严格控制城镇规模扩张;对于轻度和微度脆弱区则应坚持以生态建设和环境保护为主,禁止污染型产业发展,有序引导人口转移,发展生态旅游业和高技术产业.     

Profiling climate change vulnerability of forest indigenous communities in the Congo Basin

The livelihood strategies of indigenous communities in the Congo Basin are inseparable from the forests, following their use of forest ecosystem goods and services (FEGS). Climate change is expected to exert impacts on the forest and its ability to provide FEGS. Thus, human livelihoods that depend on these FEGS are intricately vulnerable to climate impacts. Using the livelihood strategies of the two main forest indigenous groups; the Bantus and Pygmies, of the high forest zone of southern Cameroon; this paper examines the nature and pattern of their vulnerability to different climate risks as well as highlights how place of settlement in the forest contributes to the vulnerability of people in forest systems. Forests provide different capitals as FEGS and make direct and indirect contributions to livelihoods which are exploited differently by the two indigenous groups. The results show that vulnerability of forest communities is structured by lifestyle, culture and the livelihood strategies employed which are largely shaped by the place of settlement in the forest. The Pygmies living within the forests are engaged in nomadic gathering and foraging of non-timber forest resources. The Bantus prefer forest margins and are mostly preoccupied with sedentary farming, using the forest as additional livelihood opportunity. The contrasting lifestyles have implications on their vulnerability and adaptation to climate impacts which need to be taken into considerations in planning and implementation of national climate change adaptation strategies.