Comparative effects of a tree crop (cocoa) and shifting cultivation on a forest soil in Nigeria

Summary This study examines the organic matter and nutrient levels in soils under a 26-year old cocoa plantation and shifting cultivation farmlands cropped with cassava and maize, in Nigeria. The characteristics of soils under the two contrasting agricultural modes were compared with those of soils under rain forest, in order to infer the differential effects. Relative to the forest levels, the soil organic matter and nutrient levels were not substantially reduced in soils under plantations of cocoa. This is largely because cocoa plantations replicate forest conditions. In contrast, organic matter and nutrient levels were much lower in shifting cultivation farmlands. This is attributable to the fact that the crops of cassava and maize have a low ground cover, they generate relatively small amounts of litter and so do not replicate forest conditions. Measures which might be adopted to conserve soil organic matter and nutrient status during shifting cultivation methods are discussed.Dr A.O. Aweto is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geography where Mr O.A. Obe was, until recently, a research worker.     

Reflections on Foucauldian discourse analysis in planning and environmental policy research

Discourse analysis is becoming an increasingly common approach in planning and environmental policy research. This paper asserts that the generic treatment of discourse analysis obscures distinct approaches in which ‘discourses’ can combine different elements of text, systems of thought and action. Textually oriented approaches have been more prevalent during the 1990s, but this paper explores a different approach, grounded in the theory of Michel Foucault, which broadens discourse to embrace social action. Comparing and contrasting two studies that have utilized this approach, the paper suggests that there is considerable room for variation concerning the subjects of study, the institutional scale of analyses, the methods of investigation and process of analysis. Nevertheless, this paper identifies certain core elements of a Foucauldian discourse analytic approach. The paper concludes that this emerging approach to discourse analysis promises considerable insights if applied more widely in planning and environmental research. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The constitution of power in Norway's protected areas: on shore and in the sea

This article aims at comparing power resources that opponents to environmental policy apply in shaping and constructing discourses that contest the implementation of marine and terrestrial area protection. Document analyses and qualitative interviews have been undertaken with key actors and documents in two case areas to show how actors, knowledge, and financial and organisational capacities are introduced in the planning processes in order to contest the dominating environmental discourse established by environmental authorities. The results demonstrate how opponents to the terrestrial case were rather fragmented, consisting of a wide range of local and regional actors with various interests and agendas, and without substantial financial and organisational strength. Here, the environmental administration managed to create a partnership with local authorities that eventually proclaimed the national park as a win–win situation for local society. As a contrast, the opponents to the marine case had strong organisational, financial and even scientific capacities that were effectively unified with local authorities in the Skjerstad fjord. Here, the win–win situation was not accepted by the local parties. Together, these resources seemed to explain some of the variance in institutional responses in environmental administration, and finally different outcomes of the two cases.     

原油在土壤中迁移及降解的研究

为了解原油在土壤中淋滤及降解的规律，剖析了大庆老油田开发区贮油池土壤含油状况，进行了自然植被不同类型土壤的浇油、室内原油淋滤模拟及栽培试验。结果表明：贮油池土壤原油淋滤深度绝大部分集中在0～30cm，以下原油明显减少（除沙化土壤外）；盐碱土集中在0～10cm；草甸黑钙土集中在0～50cm；柱内油水混合渗透试验，80％集中在0～20cm；原油覆盖土壤表面时清水淋渗较弱，在0～20cm内残留94％；加原油的土壤降解试验，平均降解59．92％，范围为53．94％～62．25％，盆栽试验平均降解61．99％，范围为55.12％～70．68％。     

Species composition and soil erosion on a ski area in Hokkaido,northern Japan

In 1986 and 1987, a study on factors governing revegetation on ski grounds was conducted at Teine ski ground (built in 1971) located near the city of Sapporo in northern Japan. Soil movement, slope gradient, distance from forest edge, vegetation cover, and number of species on the ski ground were examined. Although artificial sowing of exotic plants was undertaken in the whole ground surface at the time of opening, bare land occurred in ca. 50% of surveyed plots and the ski ground was mostly covered with native plants. The number of species was positively correlated to vegetation cover, which was low in the sites where intensive soil erosions occurred in winter. A principal component analysis of plant species distinguished three major groups of factors, i.e., vegetation cover (first axis, contribution rate 30.3%), soil erosion in winter and slope gradient (second, 23.1%), and distance from forest edge (third, 16.3%). The vegetation characteristics on the ski ground were not determined by a single environmental gradient but by the combination of factors described above. In particular, soil movements, which are mostly derived from snowmelt, are considered to be the initiator of vegetation changes.     

Effects of land clearing techniques and tillage systems on runoff and soil erosion in a tropical rain forest in Nigeria

This work reports runoff and soil loss from each of 14 sub-watersheds in a secondary rain forest in south-western Nigeria. The impact of methods of land clearing and post-clearing management on runoff and soil erosion under the secondary forest is evaluated. These data were acquired eighteen years after the deforestation of primary vegetation during the ‘ West bank’ project of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA). These data are presented separately for each season; however, statistical analyses for replicates were not conducted due to differences in their past management. Soil erosion was affected by land clearing and tillage methods. The maximum soil erosion was observed on sub-watersheds that were mechanically cleared with tree-pusher/root-rake attachments and tilled conventionally. A high rate of erosion was observed even when graded-channel terraces were constructed to minimize soil erosion. In general there was much less soil erosion on manually cleared than on mechanically cleared sub-watersheds (2.5 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ versus 13.8 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and from the application of no-tillage methods than from conventionally plowed areas (6.5 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ versus 12.1 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). The data indicate that tillage methods and appropriate management of soils and crops play an important role in soil and water conservation and in decreasing the rate of decline of soil quality.     

中国生态环境科技创新体系建设研究

分析国内外生态环境科技创新的发展现状,相比较国外以市场机制为导向、以企业为创新主体、政府通过政策和管辖支撑创新的体系特征,我国已形成四大类环境类科创载体,但尚未形成成熟有效的技术成果产业化机制以及市场与政策协同促进科技创新的发展模式。本文根据生态环境科技创新的强政策驱动性、技术验证放大周期长以及集成性强的特点,重点通过环境技术研发、技术成果转化、技术放大与赋能、产业拓展与推广四个方面阐述了生态环境科技创新体系建设的主要环节：环境技术的研发由以科研机构为主的传统自发性研发、企业迭代性研发和联合应用型研发组成;技术成果的转化经历挖掘发现、技术识别与判断、知识产权评估评价后进入已成立的企业或新设公司,在这一过程中,成果转化专业队伍起着至关重要的作用;技术放大与赋能旨在为有创新技术的企业提供科技创新政策、二次研发中试验证、首台套工程案例、投融资等资源的对接,以协助初创企业成长;产业的拓展与推广则通过为解决环境问题形成集成方案、孵化平台为企业背书和产业政策匹配等方式助力企业长期发展。最后从加强专业化创新平台、技术评估体系、成果转化人才培养体系建设以及疏通投融资渠道等方面对中国未来生态环境科技创新发展提出相关建议。     

“十三五”医疗废物综合管理思路与对策研究

本文首先总体分析了"十二五"期间我国医疗废物环境管理和技术在完善制度建设、加快处理设施建设、打击环境违法行为和创新开展医疗废物处置示范等方面取得的进展和成效,分析了当前医疗废物管理中存在的包括缺乏针对性制度、处理设施总体技术水平不高、新增布局缺乏指导、收费水平偏低等突出问题。面向"十三五",本文提出环境管理四个方面的主要思路,从思路出发,提出"十三五"重点开展的任务,包括开展基础性调查评估、修订医疗废物管理条例、优化医疗废物处理设施布局、建立区域医疗废物协同处理模式、开展处理设施稳定排放达标整治工程、创新医疗废物环境管理和加快解决医疗废物处理收费中的突出问题等,为相关环境管理部门提供决策参考。     

Impacts of quarrying activities on the environment and livelihood of people in Border II sub-location,Nyando sub-county,Kisumu County,Kenya

The aim of the study was to assess the impacts of quarrying activities on the environment and livelihood of people in the Border II sub-location. Primary data was collected through questionnaires, Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussion, laboratory analysis and observations. Whereas, secondary data was obtained from Landsat satellite images, journals, articles, books and reports. The acquired data were analyzed using excel and Arc GIS; and presented into tables and figures. The Land use/cover change analysis from the satellite images of the area showed that quarry lands have increased by 5.2 Ha (0.26%). Quarrying activities in the area were perceived to have both positive and negative impacts on the livelihood of people and the environment. Some of the most serious environmental problems were; dust pollution (82%), noise (76%), land degradation (74%), vegetation loss (60%) and vibration (52%). Whereas, negative socioeconomic impacts were; building cracks (54%), injuries (36%), school dropouts (35%), roads damages (33%), child labor (31%) and crop effects (30%). Moreover, 45% of the area residents and 44% of the quarry workers have experienced health problems related to quarrying activities. Nevertheless, there was a significant relationship between quarrying activities and the environmental as well as human health problems in the area (p<0.05). The positive impacts identified are; employment, roads improvement, security, CSR, building materials, business opportunities, among others. To mitigate the negative impacts, the quarry operators should develop and implement an Environmental and Social management Plan, including fair compensation of the project which affect a person, relocation of near homes, environmental pollution control, public participation, scaling down blasting activities, and strict policies compliance and enforcement.     

环境类高等职业教育产学研用合作机制研究

环境类高等职业教育具有鲜明的非行业背景和人才需求领域广泛而应用岗位相对集中的特殊性。在对国内部分环境类高职院校和环境类高职专业就产学研用合作机制及运行模式实地调研的基础上,对现存的环境类高职院校产学研用合作模式进行了深入分析,提出了"依托政府,实施‘双轨并行’工学结合"的产学研用合作机制与运行模式。