Climate Change in Southern and Eastern Africa During the Past Millennium and its Implications for Societal Development

Climatic records from equatorial eastern Africa and subtropical southern Africa have shown that both temperature and the amount of rainfall have varied over the past millennium. Moreover, the rainfall pattern in these regions varied inversely over long periods of time. Droughts started abruptly, were of multi-decadal to multi-centennial length and the changes in the hydrological budget were of large amplitude. Changing water resources in semi-arid regions clearly must have regional influences on both ecological and socio-economic processes. Through a detailed analysis of the historical and paleoclimatic evidence from southern and eastern Africa covering the past millennium it is shown that, depending on the vulnerability of a society, climatic variability can have an immense impact on societies, sometimes positive and sometimes disastrous. Therefore, the interconnected issue of world ecosystem and social resilience is the challenge for decision-makers if sustainable development is to be reached on global and local levels.     

农业旱灾承灾体恢复力的影响因素——基于野外土地利用测量与入户调查

恢复力作为刻画人类自身响应和发挥主体能力、积极抵御和适应外界变化的指标,在灾害学领域的引入进一步丰富和明晰了灾害承灾体的性质,与脆弱性具有同等的重要性。但当前对灾害恢复力的研究不足,如何界定灾害恢复力的特征、诊断和定量评价恢复力尚存在较大的探讨空间。在湖南鼎城高排河流域野外土地利用现状测量与入户调查所得数据和气象数据的基础上,应用数学统计方法重点分析了土地利用、农户经济、文化素质状况等因素与农业旱灾承灾体恢复力的关系。结果表明,地貌类型与海拔高度从较大尺度上决定了农业旱灾承灾体恢复力的大小,水源地位置及其蓄水能力、水田与旱地的比例关系、劳动力文化水平、农户实际年收入和非农收入比例是影响农业旱灾承灾体恢复力的主要因素。     

农业旱灾承灾体恢复力的影响因素——基于野外土地利用测量与入户调查

恢复力作为刻画人类自身响应和发挥主体能力、积极抵御和适应外界变化的指标,在灾害学领域的引入进一步丰富和明晰了灾害承灾体的性质,与脆弱性具有同等的重要性。但当前对灾害恢复力的研究不足,如何界定灾害恢复力的特征、诊断和定量评价恢复力尚存在较大的探讨空间。在湖南鼎城高排河流域野外土地利用现状测量与入户调查所得数据和气象数据的基础上,应用数学统计方法重点分析了土地利用、农户经济、文化素质状况等因素与农业旱灾承灾体恢复力的关系。结果表明,地貌类型与海拔高度从较大尺度上决定了农业旱灾承灾体恢复力的大小,水源地位置及其蓄水能力、水田与旱地的比例关系、劳动力文化水平、农户实际年收入和非农收入比例是影响农业旱灾承灾体恢复力的主要因素。     

Study on Assessing Economic Vulnerability of Small Island Regions

The main purpose of this study is to assess economic vulnerability of small island development regions as part of their sustainability constraints. By combining economic and environmental time series data, we assessed a composite index of economic vulnerability which is constructed from three exogenous variables, namely economic exposure, economic remoteness, and economic impact of environmental and natural disasters. We used the Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan as the case studies for this paper.The results indicated that using a gross island products based valuation index, Kikaijima is the most vulnerable island in the Amami Islands with a composite economic vulnerability index (CEVI) value of 0.678, while by using a per capita based index, Okinoerabujima is considered the most vulnerable island with a CEVI value of 0.680. From the results we also revealed that smaller islands have relative higher vulnerability than the bigger one, which also confirms some previous country-level vulnerability studies.However, it is matter of fact that some islands that have relatively high vulnerability also have good economic performance as shown by their per capita income. In this regard, it can be argued that the success of these small islands could have been achieved in spite of and not because of their inherent vulnerability conditions as an indicator of sustainability constraint. Regarding these findings, we also examined a comparison between vulnerability results and the preliminary concept of an island's resilience in order to capture another perspective on sustainability assessment in a small island region.     

Reconstituting “America”: The Clean Energy Economy Ventriloquized

With the foregrounding of “clean energy” policies by climate change concerns, the rhetorical constitution of “America” as a collective subject, mobilized to adopt the clean energy economy (CEE), becomes crucial. Here, I analyze the constitutive rhetoric of Pew Charitable Trusts’ landmark 2009 report on the CEE, drawing from the ventriloqual perspective to communication. I argue that this approach provides a more pragmatic, conversational understanding of the interpellative process constituting “America,” noting it to be hybridized and composed of various human and nonhuman agents. Tracing the ingoing interaction among agents—some manifest in the text, others spectral—sheds light on the complex relations of power at stake, recognizes the open-ended possibilities (and restrictions) of agency, and the role of material structures shaping environmental communication and policy.     

和谐：可持续发展观的灵魂

本文通过经济基础和上层建筑的关系说明进行环境文化建设的重要性,辨析了不同的环境价值观念和伦理道德,提出人与环境相融和谐的意识是可持续发展观的灵魂     

农业洪涝灾害脆弱性成因分析及评估——以湖南省衡阳市为例

自然灾害灾情是灾害系统的脆弱性和致灾因子的风险性共同作用的结果。在同一致灾强度下,灾情随脆弱性的增强而加重,降低灾害脆弱性可减轻灾害造成的直接经济损失,因此灾害脆弱性的研究对防灾抗灾具有重要的意义。衡阳市是湖南省重要的农业生产基地之一,也是洪涝灾害较重地区之一。灾害损失与衡阳市农业洪涝灾害脆弱性密切相关,这种脆弱性是自然因素和人为因素在一定的时空条件下耦合的产的。分析了汛期降水和暴雨、植被和土壤、水利设施、经济发展水平等因素在洪涝灾害脆弱性形成中的作用。依据长时间序列的气象资料和经济统计数据,运用数学模型和有关优化分析方法,对衡阳市农业洪涝灾害脆弱性进行定量评估,得出结论：西南部、东北部的洪涝灾害脆弱性高于西北部、东南部的脆弱性。这种规律性与该区洪涝灾害历史发生规律有一定的对应性,说明本研究对该区防洪抗涝决策有一定的借鉴作用。     

农户生计多样性发展阶段研究——基于脆弱性与适应性维度

为了观察农户生计活动复杂化过程,分析弹性在可持续生计中发挥的作用,推动扶贫开发战略从识别贫困人口向防御贫困转变,本文采用曲线拟合、核密度函数非参数估计算法等实证研究方法,利用陕西省安康农户生计与环境调查数据,基于脆弱性、适应性维度对农户生计多样性发展阶段进行了识别、划分,系统分析了弹性在农户、社区不同尺度上、阶段上对于农户生计脆弱性与适应性的作用过程。研究发现:生计多样性发展阶段随尺度有所不同,随着适应性提高,在社区尺度上,生计活动多样性指数先增加后减小,在农户尺度上,则是先减小后增加;农户生计活动存在高脆弱性、低适应性的尝试阶段,在经历了这个阶段之后,伴随着农户适应性的提高,脆弱性会同时增加;在社区尺度上,弹性作用下伴随着收入提高,脆弱性会逐步降低,在农户尺度上,弹性作用下伴随着收入提高,生计活动脆弱性会提高,形成"高风险、高收益"的情况。研究发现说明农户、社区存在着"多样性尝试"发展阶段,在一定尺度上保持适度脆弱性有利于社区、地域的可持续发展,作为联系不同尺度生计活动脆弱性、适应性的关键,农户在这个阶段完成生计多样性水平专业化过程,社区在这个阶段形成地区特色的生计活动。扶贫开发工作应把握好这一时机,提高工作措施效果和绩效。在扶贫开发工作实践中,在目标制定上不仅需要考虑收入因素,还需要考虑生计活动复杂性因素,政策措施充分利用"多样性尝试"发展时机,同时主动开展替代生计研究、落实工作,提高贫困防御能力,推动农户、社区可持续发展。     

Can Labor Out-Migration Reduce Rrewood Consumption by Rural House- holds in Western Mountainous China

The relationship between out-migration of labor in the Qinling mountain area and households＇ firewood consumption is explored. Migration and remittances reduce households＇ firewood consumption due to i...     

Can Labor Out-Migration Reduce Firewood Consumption by Rural Households in Western Mountainous China

The relationship between out-migration of labor in the Qinling mountain area and households’ firewood consumption is explored. Migration and remittances reduce households’ firewood consumption due to increases in both income and opportunity cost of firewood collection. Previous studies have been equivocal because they ignored uncertainty in household economy, which is widespread in forest areas of less developed countries. This study provides additional insight by considering vulnerability and subjective assessment of poverty generated by unstable income and an uncertain future. We provide evidence that the amount of firewood consumed depends on income and opportunity cost of firewood collection, but also on a prudent consumption strategy, due to farmers’ subjective assessment of their future possible poverty. We also find out-migration of labor can reduce per capita firewood consumption but subjective poverty also acts against reduction of firewood consumption.     

广州市土地利用总体规划与生态脆弱性的耦合分析

以广州市为例，利用2005年的TM影像．并结合DEM、水土流失现状图、地质灾害图、有机质含量分布图及社会经济等数据。分析全市生态环境脆弱性的空间格局特征，并将生态脆弱性区分区圈与土地利用规划图进行空间叠加分析。结果表明：①研究区生态环境优越。生态良好区占85．96％；②人类活动对生态脆弱性格局具有重要的影响。各生态脆弱性类型区的分布有一定的规律性．平原地区好于山区。城区好于郊区；③新一轮土地利用规划结构调整和布局已经充分考虑生态环境因素影响。符合广州市生态环境保护和经济发展的需要。规划实施有利用于提升环境生态服务功能。     

渝东峡江区全新世环境考古与环境变迁研究现状

渝东峡江区全新世环境考古与环境变迁研究,目前的成果主要涉及部分遗址点的古环境复原、个别次流域环境变迁研究及初步建立的古洪水发生序列,在研究思路、方法和手段上仍需考虑区域特殊性并重视：①反映人地关系互动的环境考古研究,包括人类生存环境的生态条件、环境质量及人类对环境的影响能力方面;②遗址“次生堆积”的环境影响因素研究和“事件层”多成因分析;③遗址地层与自然地层的对比研究、区域环境考古及其比较研究;④区域古环境变化序列与全球变化区域响应研究;⑤确保获取高分辨率、满足多指标综合要求的沉积物样品。     

农户贫困恢复力测度、影响效应及对策研究——基于农户家庭结构的视角

集中连片贫困地区扶贫开发与农户脱贫问题关系社会稳定与和谐,而恢复力概念为贫困领域研究提供了新的视角。研究利用抽样调查的321户家庭问卷数据,基于生计恢复力理论框架,构建农户贫困恢复力指标体系,从农户家庭结构分类出发,采用探索性统计和主成分分析判定不同人口、生计结构农户缓冲力资本、贫困恢复力差异,运用多层次模型探究农户家庭因素(生计、人口)与贫困恢复力内在结构效应。研究主要结论:1研究区不同家庭结构农户经济类资本分布极不均衡,资本积累水平低;2影响贫困地区农户个体恢复力的主要因素包括物质资本、经济收入、文化教育、劳动力、交通条件、社会资源等;3高质量劳动力人口结构以及合理多样化收入方式的生计结构对农户贫困恢复力才具有正向效应。最后,针对研究区农户家庭结构贫困恢复力差异和关键影响因子,提出相关恢复力建设对策。     

Vulnerability Assessment of Snow Disaster Based on Traffic System： A Case Study of Chenzhou City in Hunan Province, China

The article establishes the patterns of urban snow disaster system and disaster chain based on the theory of regional disaster system. The patterns indicate that urban snow disaster is exacerbated mainly through the traffic system. In addition, the paper sets up the vulnerability assessment index system and synthetically vulnerability assessment model of urban snow disaster which are mainly based on traffic system, and applies them in Chenzhou City. The results of assessment indicate that obvious geographical differences exist in the vulnerability of snow disaster bearing bodies： vulnerability of Chenzhou section of the Beijing-Zhuhai expressway is the highest in Chenzhou City, and the southeastern counties are more vulnerable than the northwest region. Furthermore, according to the snow disaster vulnerability dynamic process analysis, the vulnerability of Chenzhou City obviously increased in 2008 winter compared with that in 2007. Finally, the paper presents some suggestions for the locations of the emergency commands and the reserves of relief materials based on the evaluation results, and points out that disaster monitoring and relevant technical level should be strengthened for the minimization of traffic system＇s vulnerability.     

Assessing coastal vulnerability to climate change: comparing segmentation at global and regional scales

Recent concerns about potential climate-change effects on coastal systems require the application of vulnerability assessment tools in order to define suitable adaptation strategies and improve coastal zone management effectiveness. In fact, while various research efforts were devoted to evaluate coastal vulnerability to climate change on a national to global level, fewer applications were carried out so far to develop more comprehensive and site-specific vulnerability assessments suitable to plan possible adaptation measures at the regional scale. In this respect, specific indicators are needed to address climate-change-related issues for coastal zones and to identify vulnerable areas at the regional level. Two sets of coastal vulnerability indicators were selected, one for regional and one for global studies, respectively, concerning the same features of coastal systems, including topography and slope, geomorphological characteristics, presence and distribution of wetlands and vegetation cover, density of coastal population and number of coastal inhabitants. The proposed set of indicators for the regional scale was chosen taking into account the availability of environmental and territorial data for the whole coastal area of the Veneto region and was based on site-specific datasets characterized by a spatial resolution appropriate for a regional analysis. Moreover, a GIS-based segmentation procedure was applied to divide the coastline into linear segments, homogeneous in terms of vulnerability to climate change and sea-level rise at the regional scale. This approach allowed to divide the Veneto shoreline into 140 segments with an average length of about 1 km, while the global scale approach identified four coastal segments with an average length of about 66 km. The performed comparison indicated how the more detailed approach adopted at the regional scale is essential to understand and manage the complexities of the specific study area. In fact, the 25-m DEM employed at the regional scale provided a more accurate differentiation of the coastal area's elevation and thus of coastal susceptibility to the inundation risks, compared to the 1-km DEM used at the global level. Moreover, at the regional level the use of a 1:20,000 geomorphological map allowed to differentiate the unique landform class detected at the global level (e.g., fluvial plain) in a variety of more detailed coastal typologies (e.g., open coast eroding sandy shores backed by bedrock) characterized by a different sensitivity to climate change and sea-level rise. Accordingly, the information provided by regional indicators can support decision-makers in improving the management of coastal resources by considering the potential impacts of climate change and in the definition of appropriate actions to reduce inundation risks, to avoid the potential loss of valuable wetlands and vegetation and to plan the nourishment of sandy beaches subject to erosion processes.     

灾变山地环境影响下小流域脆弱性评价研究

流域脆弱性评价中,如何有效结合自然及社会等多方面因素开展较大区域尺度评价是目前研究的难点之一,特别是结合灾变山地环境影响,开展小流域脆弱性评价,对于山区流域防灾减灾及可持续发展具有积极的指导意义。采用栅格单元与小流域单元相结合的评价方法,综合自然与社会因素,并引入活跃灾害事件对小流域脆弱性的影响,从灾害危险度与社会易损性角度构建评价体系,应用3S技术,选取彭州龙门山区开展典型案例研究,开展灾变山地环境影响下的小流域脆弱性评价。最终将研究区小流域脆弱性划分为轻度、中度、高度及重度4个等级,各级含小流域个数分别为12、21、27及17个,相应面积占整个研究区面积的比例分别为11.53%,38.63%,40.46%及9.38%。针对区域内重大灾害事件,对评价结果进行验证表明,综合自然和社会因素,并引入灾害事件构建评价体系,并以栅格与小流域单元相结合的评价方法,对灾变山地环境下较大区域尺度流域脆弱性评价具有可行性,可为区域尺度小流域脆弱性评价研究提供一定参考。