A Framework to Predict the Impacts of Shale Gas Infrastructures on the Forest Fragmentation of an Agroforest Region

We propose a framework to facilitate the evaluation of the impacts of shale gas infrastructures (well pads, roads, and pipelines) on land cover features, especially with regards to forest fragmentation. We used a geographic information system and realistic development scenarios largely inspired by the PA (United States) experience, but adapted to a region of QC (Canada) with an already fragmented forest cover and a high gas potential. The scenario with the greatest impact results from development limited by regulatory constraints only, with no access to private roads for connecting well pads to the public road network. The scenario with the lowest impact additionally integrates ecological constraints (deer yards, maple woodlots, and wetlands). Overall the differences between these two scenarios are relatively minor, with <1 % of the forest cover lost in each case. However, large areas of core forests would be lost in both scenarios and the number of forest patches would increase by 13–21 % due to fragmentation. The pipeline network would have a much greater footprint on the land cover than access roads. Using data acquired since the beginning of the shale gas industry, we show that it is possible, within a reasonable time frame, to produce a robust assessment of the impacts of shale gas extraction. The framework we propose could easily be applied to other contexts or jurisdictions.     

城市污泥堆制腐熟度的评价方法比较

本文介绍了城市污泥在堆制处置时的腐熟度评价的多种方法,这些方法分别从化学、生物学等不同的角度给出了如何评价城市污泥堆制的腐熟度。结合对这些方法的比较,提出了一些建设性的看法和意见。     

国际铜业协会（中国）2008—2009年度技术项目征集活动启动

2008年10月22日,国际铜业协会(中国)于北京举行了"2007-2008年度技术项目征集颁奖暨2008-2009年度技术项目征集启动大会",来自各大院校,研究所,行业协会以及企业单位的嘉宾会聚一堂,共同庆祝获奖项目成果,交流研究经验,同时也拉开了新一轮项目征集活动的序幕.     

Hedging Rules for the Operation of Lake Okeechobee in Southern Florida

Lake Okeechobee is the major source of freshwater in Southern Florida. With the increasing possibility of water stress, determining how to manage water during drought periods is essential to the operation of the Lake. This study deals with operational problems related to the management of Lake Okeechobee and the challenges involved in the implementation of hedging policy. We examine the implications of applying a theoretical hedging rule approach, comprising inter‐ and intrayear models, for the management of Lake Okeechobee and explore several optional hedging policies. The results demonstrate that hedging rules could reduce profit loss particularly under serious water stress, and might be applied sooner to mitigate the risk of severe water shortages. We suggested that the management of Lake Okeechobee should consider both short‐ and long‐term hedging nested. It is also demonstrated that the practical applicability of rolling decision making with updated forecast. Based on the results of the model, the merits of explicit optional hedging rules are demonstrated.     

Pairing Modern and Paleolimnological Approaches to Evaluate the Nutrient Status of Lakes in Upper Midwest National Parks

Understanding what constitutes a reference (background) nutrient condition for lakes is important for National Park Service managers responsible for preserving and protecting aquatic resources. For this study we characterize water quality conditions in 29 lakes across four national parks, and compare their nutrient status to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) nutrient reference criteria and alternative criteria recently proposed by others. Where appropriate we also compare the nutrient status of these 29 lakes to state or tribal nutrient reference criteria or standards. For lakes that exceed reference criteria we investigate physical and chemical patterns, and for a subset of lakes compare modern nutrient conditions to paleolimnological (i.e., diatom‐inferred [DI]) nutrient reconstructions. Many lakes exceeded USEPA nutrient reference criteria, but met alternative less restrictive criteria. Modern nutrient conditions were also largely consistent with DI historic (pre‐1900) nutrient conditions. Lakes exceeding alternative nutrient criteria and with elevated nutrient levels relative to DI historic conditions were mostly small, shallow, and dystrophic; continued attention to their nutrient dynamics and biological response is warranted. Coupling modern and paleolimnological data offer an innovative and scientifically defensible approach to understand long‐term nutrient trends and provide greater context for comparison with reference conditions.     

Use of Integrated Landscape Indicators to Evaluate the Health of Linked Watersheds and Coral Reef Environments in the Hawaiian Islands

A linkage between the condition of watersheds and adjacent nearshore coral reef communities is an assumed paradigm in the concept of integrated coastal management. However, quantitative evidence for this "catchment to sea" or "ridge to reef" relationship on oceanic islands is lacking and would benefit from the use of appropriate marine and terrestrial landscape indicators to quantify and evaluate ecological status on a large spatial scale. To address this need, our study compared the Hawai'i Watershed Health Index (HI-WHI) and Reef Health Index (HI-RHI) derived independently of each other over the past decade. Comparisons were made across 170 coral reef stations at 52 reef sites adjacent to 42 watersheds throughout the main Hawaiian Islands. A significant positive relationship was shown between the health of watersheds and that of adjacent reef environments when all sites and depths were considered. This relationship was strongest for sites facing in a southerly direction, but diminished for north facing coasts exposed to persistent high surf. High surf conditions along the north shore increase local wave driven currents and flush watershed-derived materials away from nearshore waters. Consequently, reefs in these locales are less vulnerable to the deposition of land derived sediments, nutrients and pollutants transported from watersheds to ocean. Use of integrated landscape health indices can be applied to improve regional-scale conservation and resource management.     

A Framework for the Ethical Analysis of Novel Foods: The Ethical Matrix

The paper addresses the issue of how indemocratic societies a procedure might be formulatedto facilitate ethical judgements on modernbiotechnologies used in food production. A frameworkfor rational ethical analysis, the Ethical Matrix, isproposed. The Matrix adapts the principles describedby Beauchamp and Childress for application to medicalissues, to interest groups (e.g., producers,consumers, and the biotic environment) affected bythese technologies. The use of the Matrix isillustrated by applying it to an example of a ``novelfood,' viz., a form of genetically modified maize.     

An Application of the T‐TEL Assessment Method to Evaluate Connectivity in a Lake‐Dominated Watershed after Drought

Lakes are landscape features that influence connectivity of mass and energy by being foci for the reception, mixing, and provision of water and material. Where lake fractions are high, they influence hydrological connectivity. This behavior was exemplified in the Baker Creek watershed in Canada's Northwest Territories during a two‐year drought in which many lake levels declined below outlet elevations. This study evaluated how lakes controlled surface runoff connectivity reestablishment following the drought using a new assessment method, T‐TEL (time scales — thresholds, excesses, losses). Analysis of daily data showed that during a summer period following the drought, connectivity occurred between 0% and 41% of the time. The size of run‐of‐the‐river lakes relative to their upstream watershed area, and the upstream lake fraction, are two factors for connectivity. These terms represent a lake's ability to control the size of storage deficits relative to rainfall, and evaporation and storage losses along pathways. The connectivity magnitude–duration curve only aligned with the watershed flow duration curve during high‐water conditions, implying lakes functioned as individuals rather than as part of a perennial watercourse during much of the study. The T‐TEL method can be used to quantify consistent metrics of hydrologic connectivity that can be used for regionalization exercises and understanding hydrologic controls on material transport.     

我国危险废物污染防治的技术原则和技术路线

本文介绍了我国危险废物防治和技术发展现状，论述了防治的技术原则和技术路线。     

土壤环境监测技术规范中的土壤环境质量评价问题

近年来,场地和土壤污染勘查评价与修复逐渐发展成为环境科学和土木工程领域的热点,场地和土壤修复业务随之愈来愈多。但土壤修复理论和技术发展相对缓慢,无法满足土壤修复行业发展的需要。实践中,在场地和土壤污染勘查与评价的现行标准中,对土壤环境质量评价仅考虑了土壤中某物质成分的人为超标问题,而忽视了土壤中自然异常而导致土壤中某物质成分超标问题的评价,且误将土壤中某物质成分的超标等级定为土壤污染程度等级的全部。针对这些问题,本文通过研究,在深入分析各领域土壤污染评价差异的基础上,提出了土壤污染评价的一般过程、方法和标准,供标准修订参考。     

Identification of Priority Areas for Integrated Management of Semiarid Watersheds in the Ecuadorian Andes

Integrated watershed management (IWM) is a priority, especially in semiarid regions that are concurrently affected by population growth, land use change, soil erosion, and poor governance. In developing countries, IWM is often done without any support tool, scientific data, or deep knowledge of territory characteristics. The aim of this study was to present a case study to apply a decision support tool to prioritize areas for territory management. A simple, quantitative multi‐criteria analysis was applied in a semiarid basin of the Ecuadorian Andes to identify the zones of greatest concern for implementation of resource conservation and management practices at a local and regional scale. In addition to describing the current state of the conditions of this basin, our results suggest scenarios of change in relation to official population projections based on spatial analysis of land use change. Analysis resulted in a scattered distribution of priority values within the watershed, so a hierarchical rule was incorporated to define priorities at the subwatershed (SW) scale. Our analysis identified four SW of very high priority and urgent need to implement management practices. Based on projections of future change due to population growth and land cover change, the number of subbasins that require more attention was doubled. Finally, this study includes zones for management or conservation of the land, according to the Sustainable Development Goals.     

Complex dynamics in the uptake of new farming practices: a case study for organic waste application

Adverse environmental effects of intensive agriculture, together with scarcity in phosphates and water, urge farmers to find more sustainable practices. An example of such a sustainable practice is on-farm processing of organic waste. This paper explores three mechanisms that can lead to a widespread uptake of this technique: (1) economies of scale, (2) information sharing, and (3) adjustment of social norms. Although each of these mechanisms has been studied before, this paper provides new insights by considering the interactions that might exist between the different mechanisms when they are applied to real-life situations. Based on a pilot study, we developed a multi-criteria mathematical programming model at individual farm level. We used this model to simulate the uptake of on-farm processing of organic waste, as a result of the three mechanisms and their interactions. Our results show that each mechanism results in an increased uptake, but is not likely to cause a widespread uptake. Interaction between the mechanisms, will lead to a much higher uptake. This result suggests that simultaneous consideration of multiple mechanisms is essential to understand the behaviour of social–ecological systems.     

解决农村能源问题是治理新疆农业环境的突破口

文中简要叙述了农村能源是农业生态系统和农业环境保护的重要内容之一。指出新疆农村能源缺乏,结构不合理,热效率低,浪费大等,是造成新疆干旱地区生态环境不断恶化的主要原因之一。加强领导,提高能源意识,制定能源发展规划,大力发展农村能源产业和大力营造薪炭林,并增加农村商品能源供应,积极开发利用新能源,解决农村能源建设资金问题。     

A framework for assessing the accountability of local governance arrangements for adaptation to climate change

Accountability has hardly been studied in the governance of climate change adaptation. This paper develops a framework for assessing the accountability of interactive governance arrangements for local adaptation. This framework is based on five important accountability mechanisms: Clear responsibilities and mandates, Transparency, Political oversight, Citizen control and Checks and sanctions. For illustration purposes, the proposed framework is applied to the case of a Dutch local adaptation governance arrangement. The application shows that the five proposed mechanisms and their operationalizations offer a valid assessment of the accountability of such arrangements. It also raises some challenges, such as the tensions between accountability and flexibility, legitimacy and effectiveness; the potentially important roles of trust and of the political skills of central actor(s) in the arrangement in raising accountability, and the potential need to distinguish between arrangements for policy planning and for service delivery.     

Sustainable consumption in Brazil: Identification of preliminary requirements to guide product development and the definition of public policies

Sustainable product development is closely related to sustainable consumption. The understanding of consumers' purchase, use and discard behaviours may facilitate the identification of requirements to guide manufacturers in the development of sustainable goods and services. The aim of this paper is to investigate consumers' perception about factors that motivate or discourage the consumption of sustainable products to identify demands and convert them into requirements. South Brazilian green and traditional consumers were asked to complete an exploratory qualitative questionnaire. Their answers were organized and compared to identify differences and similarities between the demands of these two groups. Furthermore, demands were converted into requirements for packages, products, manufactures, stores planning and discard systems. The interpretation of factors that motivate or discourage the purchase of sustainable products given by interviewees led to the creation of a list of possible public policies or programmes, aiming to support sustainable consumption. The results demonstrate the necessity of further quantitative investigation between consumer groups, for validation purposes.     

A Decision-Aid Framework to Provide Guidance for the Enhanced Use of Best Available Techniques in Industry

Best Available Techniques (BATs) contribute significantly to the reduction of industrial environmental burdens with respect to air pollution, wastewater, and solid wastes. In Europe, the application of BATs is prescribed by Directive 96/61/EC, which, however, leaves the selection of specific BATs to plant operators. In making their choices, installations have to consider not only the environmental benefits of BATs, but also all relevant cost components. In assessing the economic attractiveness of potential BATs and their combinations, as well as incentives and disincentives to be instituted, the cost of environmental externalities, usually not reflected in market prices, should be taken into account. In this paper, a decision-aid framework combining an assessment of environmental externalities and the utilization of multicriteria methods and, more specifically, Multiobjective Mathematical Programming, capable of addressing all these issues in a comprehensive and coherent manner, is presented. This is illustrated by its application for the region of Attica in Greece, where over 50% of the industrial basis and Athens, with its 4 million inhabitants, are located. The implementation of the framework and its associated tools to 800 installations led to the identification of the specific BATs, alone or in combination, that provide the most cost-effective reductions of four air pollutants (PM10, SO₂, NO_x, VOC) and CO₂. The results also clearly demonstrate the increased pollution reductions that would result from the adoption of BATs made economically attractive by the inclusion of externalities. Estimates of investments and net present values with and without incentives/disincentives are also provided.     

A model for linking the effects of parathion in soil to its degradation and bioavailability kinetics

Parathion is an insecticide of a group of highly toxic organophosphorus compounds. To investigate the dissipation and toxicological impact of parathion [O,O-diethyl O-(4-nitrophenyl) phosphorothioate] and its highly toxic metabolite, paraoxon, soil laboratory experiments were conducted in columns during a 19-d experiment under variably saturated conditions. Water and pesticide transport, sorption, and biodegradation of parathion were measured in three soil pools (soluble phase, weakly and strongly sorbed phases) using C-labeled pesticide. The effects of parathion and its metabolite on the mobility of soil nematodes were observed and then modeled with an effective variable, which combined pesticide concentration and time of application. Results showed that parathion was highly sorbed and slowly degraded to a mixture of metabolites. The parent compound and its metabolites remained located in the top 0.06-m soil layer. A kinetic model describing the sorption, biodegradation, and allocation into different soil pools of parathion and its metabolites was coupled with heat and water transport equations to predict the fate of parathion in soil. Simulated results were in agreement with experimental data, showing that the products remained in the upper soil layers even in the case of long-term (11-mo) simulation. The strongly sorbed fraction may be regarded as a pesticide reservoir that regularly provides pesticide to the weakly sorbed phase, and then, liquid phase, respectively. From both modeling and observations, no major toxicological damage of parathion and paraoxon to soil nematodes was found, although some effects on nematodes were possible, but at the soil surface only (0.01- and 0.02-m depth).