阜康市生态旅游规划研究

生态旅游规划是生态示范区规划的重要组成部分。本文以天池风景区规划为例阐述生态旅游规划应突破以风景区为主单一的旅游景观格局,应根据景观生态学原理、旅游地理学和旅游经济学理论,按照景观格局的梯度性变化为依据,以增长旅游线路、丰富景区类型、提高旅游收入为内容,以保护景区资源、开发景区资源为目标,开展基于发展“大旅游”思想的以沈域为单元的全面战略性规划,为实现阜康产业结构调整、增强区域经济实力提供依据。     

南四湖自然保护区生态旅游资源评价与开发

针对南四湖自然保护区生态旅游资源的特点,选取资源价值、旅游效益和开发条件三个综合指标和12个项目指标,建立生态旅游资源评价模型树,采用层次分析法,对南四湖生态旅游资源进行总体评价。在此基础上,通过问卷调查对各景区打分,并进行分级,最后确定南四湖自然保护区生态旅游资源的开发重点是湖泊湿地自然风光和渔乡风情。     

河南省综合自然景观旅游资源的区际比较研究

针对目前河南省综合自然景观旅游资源区域整体优劣定量评价不足的情况，选取了国家重点风景名胜区、国家水利风景区、国家自然保护区、国家森林公园和国家地质公园5类综合自然景观类旅游资源，采用绝对数量、地均数量、人均数量3种评价指标和定量分析方法，对河南省18个省辖市的综合自然景观旅游资源进行了比较，阐述了河南省综合自然景观旅游资源空间分布的基本状况和旅游资源的区域发展重点。     

县域旅游资源定量评价与整合开发策略——以湘西古丈、永顺两县为例

根据参加旅游策划的实践,构建了湘西古丈、永顺两县旅游资源定量评价指标体系.运用特尔菲法、层次分析法和模糊综合评判法,以永顺县小溪景区为例对其主要旅游资源进行了定量分析评价,并根据评价结果提出了该区域旅游资源整合开发的相应策略,以期解决两县旅游开发中的区域竞争与协作等问题.     

山地景区旅游安全风险模糊综合评价

针对当前山地景区旅游安全事故多发的严峻形势和旅游安全评价研究缺乏的问题,通过实地调研,基于层次分析法以及模糊综合评价法建立了景区旅游安全风险评价模型。研究结果表明:自然环境对游客旅游安全影响较大,应加强对危岩体、滚石等的监测与治理;按置信度识别准则确定该景区旅游安全风险等级属于较高风险,评价结果符合实际。研究成果能为类似景区风险评价中指标选取和风险程度判定提供参考。     

巢湖区域地质旅游资源评价与开发对策

通过专家咨询和问卷调查分析方法，对巢湖区域地质旅游资源进行了综合评价和等级划分，明确了地质旅游资源在巢湖区域旅游开发中的地位与潜力，提出了对该区地质旅游资源规划和开发的途径与措施，探讨了地质旅游资源的保护对策。     

中质旅游景区开发初探

中质景区是指旅游综合质量中等的景区.开发中质景区可以增加目的地供给、优化旅游目的地结构、分流优质景区客流.以四川雅安碧峰峡景区为例,在分析该类型景区优劣势的基础上,对其在旅游项目设计、资金筹措、客源市场、产品设计、市场营销等方面提出了对策.同时指出,我国中质旅游景区开发中存在着资源价值评价不准确、资源破坏严重等误区,以期在旅游实践中提高中质旅游景区的开发质量.     

安徽省旅游景区电子商务生态系统评价与分析

旅游电子商务的发展带来了对旅游景区电子商务应用的关注。在对旅游价值链和旅游产业集群研究的基础上,用电子商务生态系统观点分析了旅游景区电子商务的应用,给出旅游景区电子商务生态系统示意图,并建立评价指标,采用调查问卷形式分析这些指标的重要性的期望值排名,对安徽省18个旅游景区进行实证研究。该研究有助于从整体把握旅游景区各参与方在其中的地位和影响,对发展旅游电子商务应用有一定的实践参考价值。     

新疆天山天池风景名胜区天池景区景观相融性评价

新疆天山天池风景名胜区是国家重点风景名胜区之一,天池景区是天山天地风景名胜区的精华景区和主要游览区。本文运用“山岳风景资源开发环境影响评价指标体系”,对景区内现有建筑和详细规划的拟建项目的景观相融性进行了评价,结果表明：天池景区现有景观的景观相融性普遍较低,规划中拟建景观的景观相融性仍不够高。要保护天地景区的峻峭山体、秀丽湖水等自然景观,必须对已建或拟建项目做进一步规划调整,对不协调的项目应予以整修或拆除。     

基于平衡计分卡的公共资源类旅游景区绩效评价

为了科学评价公共资源类旅游景区的经营绩效,根据其经营特点和特征属性,探索平衡计分卡在景区绩效评价中的应用,从财务、资源及环境保护、社会、顾客、内部业务流程、学习与成长六个维度构建起公共资源类旅游景区绩效评价体系,并运用层次分析法、专家咨询法确定评价指标的相应权重,以期为全面系统地评价公共资源类旅游景区绩效,实现景区可持续发展提供方法参考。     

Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment for Organic Compounds: Fuzzy Multicriteria Approach for Mexico City

This study was based on a groundwater vulnerability assessment approach implemented for the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA). The approach is based on a fuzzy multicriteria procedure integrated in a geographic information system. The approach combined the potential contaminant sources with the permeability of geological materials. Initially, contaminant sources were ranked by experts through the Analytic Hierarchy Process. An aggregated contaminant sources map layer was obtained through the simple additive weighting method, using a scalar multiplication of criteria weights and binary maps showing the location of each source. A permeability map layer was obtained through the reclassification of a geology map using the respective hydraulic conductivity values, followed by a linear normalization of these values against a compatible scale. A fuzzy logic procedure was then applied to transform and combine the two map layers, resulting in a groundwater vulnerability map layer of five classes: very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. Results provided a more coherent assessment of the policy-making priorities considered when discussing the vulnerability of groundwater to organic compounds. The very high and high vulnerability areas covered a relatively small area (71 km² or 1.5% of the total study area), allowing the identification of the more critical locations. The advantage of a fuzzy logic procedure is that it enables the best possible use to be made of the information available regarding groundwater vulnerability in the MCMA.     

Rapid assessment of sustainability in Mainland China

This paper presents an approach for rapid assessment of sustainability for Mainland China based on a multilayer index system. Efficient assessment is conducted with the basic mapping units at county and city levels. After evaluating a comprehensive sustainable development index, SDI, for each unit, five rankings of sustainability are determined, and a zonation map produced. Regional characteristics and differences are interpreted through macro-analysis of the spatial variation in SDI. A sensitivity analysis is performed by which the weights of the sub-indices are altered by ±20%, and SDI re-evaluated; the resulting grades remain the same, thus confirming the robustness of the technique. Moreover, the accuracy of the proposed approach is indirectly validated by comparison with assessment results from an alternative systems analysis method. It is found that major conurbations such as Beijing have relatively high levels of sustainability, whereas provinces in central and western China require investment to improve their sustainability.     

Performance Assessment of Rain Gardens1

Abstract: The most widely used approach for evaluating the performance of stormwater best management practices (BMPs) such as rain gardens is monitoring, but this approach can involve a long time period to observe a sufficient number and variety of storm events, a high level of effort, and unavoidable uncertainty. In this paper, we describe the development and evaluation of three approaches for performance assessment of rain gardens: visual inspection, infiltration rate testing, and synthetic drawdown testing. Twelve rain gardens in Minnesota underwent visual inspection, with four determined to be nonfunctional based on one or more of the following criteria: (1) presence of ponded water, (2) presence of hydric soils, (3) presence of emergent (wetland) vegetation, and (4) failing vegetation. It is believed that these rain gardens failed due to a lack of maintenance. For the remaining eight rain gardens, an infiltrometer was used to determine the saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) of the soil surface at several locations throughout each basin in what is termed infiltration rate testing. The median K_sat values for the rain gardens ranged from 3 to 72 cm/h. Synthetic drawdown testing was performed on three rain gardens by filling the basins with water to capacity where possible and recording water level over time. The observed drain times for two of those rain gardens were in good agreement with predictions based on the median of the infiltrometer measurements. The observed drain time for the third rain garden was much greater than predicted due to the presence of a restrictive soil layer beneath the topsoil. The assessment approaches developed in this research should prove useful for determining whether the construction of the rain garden was performed properly, a rain garden is functioning properly, and for developing maintenance tasks and schedules.     

Spatial Rule-Based Assessment of Habitat Potential to Predict Impact of Land Use Changes on Biodiversity at Municipal Scale

In human dominated landscapes, ecosystems are under increasing pressures caused by urbanization and infrastructure development. In Alpine valleys remnant natural areas are increasingly affected by habitat fragmentation and loss. In these contexts, there is a growing risk of local extinction for wildlife populations; hence assessing the consequences on biodiversity of proposed land use changes is extremely important. The article presents a methodology to assess the impacts of land use changes on target species at a local scale. The approach relies on the application of ecological profiles of target species for habitat potential (HP) assessment, using high resolution GIS-data within a multiple level framework. The HP, in this framework, is based on a species-specific assessment of the suitability of a site, as well of surrounding areas. This assessment is performed through spatial rules, structured as sets of queries on landscape objects. We show that by considering spatial dependencies in habitat assessment it is possible to perform better quantification of impacts of local-level land use changes on habitats.     

Drinking water risk assessment in practice: the case of Swedish drinking water producers at risk from floods

To achieve a safe and reliable drinking water supply, water producers need to manage a large range of risks regarding both water quality and quantity. A risk management approach where risks are systematically identified and handled in a preventive manner is promoted by the World Health Organization and supported by researchers and drinking water experts worldwide. Risk assessment is an important part of such a management approach, and a variety of tools for risk assessment are described in the literature. There is, however, little knowledge of how drinking water risk assessment is performed in practice, including which tools that are actually used. This study investigates the use of risk assessment tools, and the approach to risk management, on a local level in the Swedish water sector. It is based on interviews with key persons from a targeted selection of water producers. We find that the application of tools as well as the approach to risk assessment and management differs considerably between the water producers. The tools most frequently used are mainly the ones promoted or required by Swedish national organizations. Although many of the water producers have done some kind of risk assessment, most have not implemented a risk management approach. Furthermore, their knowledge of the concepts of risk and risk management is often limited. The largest challenge identified is to prioritize risk assessment, so that it is actually performed and then used as a basis for managing risk in a systematic way.     

Assessing Natural and Anthropogenic Variability in Wetland Structure for Two Hydrogeomorphic Riverine Wetland Subclasses

The hydrogeomorphic approach (HGM) to wetland classification and functional assessment has been applied regionally throughout the United States, but the ability of HGM functional assessment models to reflect wetland condition has limited verification. Our objective was to determine how variability derived from anthropogenic effects and natural variability impacted site assessment variables within regional wetland subclasses in central Oklahoma. We collected data for nine potential assessment variables including vegetation physiognomy (e.g., tree basal area, herbaceous cover, canopy cover, etc.) and soil organic matter at wetlands of two HGM riverine subclasses (oxbow and riparian) in May and June, 2010. Using Akaike Information Criteria, we identified limited relationships between landscape disturbance metrics and assessment variables within subclasses. The high degree of natural variability from climatic and hydrologic factors within both subclasses may be masking the impact of landscape disturbance on the other measured assessment variables. Precipitation had significant effects on assessment variables within each of the subclasses. To reduce natural climatic variability, the reference domain may need to be further subdivided. The approach used in this study provides fairly rapid and quantitative methods for evaluating the effectiveness of using HGM assessment variables in assessing wetland condition regionally.     

Measuring sustainable development using a multi-criteria model: A case study

This paper shows how Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) can help in a complex process such as the assessment of the level of sustainability of a certain area. The paper presents the results of a study in which a model for measuring sustainability was implemented to better aid public policy decisions regarding sustainability. In order to assess sustainability in specific areas, a methodological approach based on multi-criteria analysis has been developed. The aim is to rank areas in order to understand the specific technical and/or financial support that they need to develop sustainable growth.The case study presented is an assessment of the level of sustainability in different areas of an Italian Region using the MCDA approach. Our results show that MCDA is a proper approach for sustainability assessment. The results are easy to understand and the evaluation path is clear and transparent. This is what decision makers need for having support to their decisions. The multi-criteria model for evaluation has been developed respecting the sustainable development economic theory, so that final results can have a clear meaning in terms of sustainability.     

A Comparison of Single and Multiple Habitat Protocols for Collecting Macroinvertebrates in Wadeable Streams1

Abstract: In 2003, we compared two benthic macroinvertebrate sampling methods that are used for rapid biological assessment of wadeable streams. A single habitat method using kick sampling in riffles and runs was compared to a multiple habitat method that sampled all available habitats in proportion of occurrence. Both methods were performed side‐by‐side at 41 sites in lower gradient streams of the Piedmont and Northern Piedmont ecoregions of the United States, where riffle habitat is less abundant. Differences in sampling methods were examined using similarity indices, two multimetric indices [the family‐level Virginia Stream Condition Index (VSCI) and the species‐level Macroinvertebrate Biotic Integrity Index (MBII)], their component metrics, and bioassessment endpoints based on each index. Index scores were highly correlated between single and multiple habitat field methods, and sampling method comparability, based on comparison of similarities between and within sampling methods, was particularly high for species level data. The VSCI scores and values of most of its component metrics were not significantly higher for one particular method, but relationships between single and multiple habitat values were highly variable for percent Ephemeroptera, percent chironomids, and percent Plecoptera and Trichoptera (Hydropsychidae excluded). A similar level of variability in the relationship was observed for the MBII and most of its metrics, but Ephemeroptera richness, percent individuals in the dominant five taxa, and Hilsenhoff Biotic Index scores all exhibited differences in values between single and multiple habitat field methods. When applied to multiple habitat samples, the MBII exhibited greater precision, higher index scores, and higher assessment categories than when applied to single habitat samples at the same sites. In streams with limited or no riffle habitats, the multiple habitat method should provide an adequate sample for biological assessment, and at sites with abundant riffle habitat, little difference would be expected between the single and multiple habitat field methods. Thus, in geographic areas with a wide variety of stream types, the multiple habitat method may be more desirable. Even so, the variability in the relationship between single and multiple habitat methods indicates that the data are not interchangeable, and we suggest that any change in sampling method should be accompanied by a recalibration of any existing assessment tool (e.g., multimetric index) with data collected using the new method, regardless of taxonomic level.     

Sustainable value assessment of farms using frontier efficiency benchmarks

Appropriate assessment of firm sustainability facilitates actor-driven processes towards sustainable development. The methodology in this paper builds further on two proven methodologies for the assessment of sustainability performance: it combines the sustainable value approach with frontier efficiency benchmarks. The sustainable value methodology tries to relate firm performance to the use of different resources. This approach assesses contributions to corporate sustainability by comparing firm resource productivity with the resource productivity of a benchmark, and this for all resources considered. The efficiency is calculated by estimating the production frontier indicating the maximum feasible production possibilities. In this research, the sustainable value approach is combined with efficiency analysis methods to benchmark sustainability assessment. In this way, the production theoretical underpinnings of efficiency analysis enrich the sustainable value approach. The methodology is presented using two different functional forms: the Cobb–Douglas and the translog functional forms. The simplicity of the Cobb–Douglas functional form as benchmark is very attractive but it lacks flexibility. The translog functional form is more flexible but has the disadvantage that it requires a lot of data to avoid estimation problems. Using frontier methods for deriving firm specific benchmarks has the advantage that the particular situation of each company is taken into account when assessing sustainability. Finally, we showed that the methodology can be used as an integrative sustainability assessment tool for policy measures.     

Adoption Potential of Conservation Agriculture Practices in Sub-Saharan Africa: Results from Five Case Studies

Despite the reported benefits of conservation agriculture (CA), its wider up-scaling in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has remained fairly limited. This paper shows how a newly developed qualitative expert assessment approach for CA adoption (QAToCA) was applied to determine its adoption potential in SSA. CA adoption potential is not a predictor of observed adoption rates. Instead, our aim was to systematically check relevant factors that may be influencing its adoption. QAToCA delivers an assessment of how suitable conditions “and thus the likelihood for CA adoption” are. Results show that the high CA adoption potentials exhibited by the Malawi and Zambia case relate mostly to positive institutional factors. On the other hand, the low adoption potential of the Zimbabwe case, in spite of observed higher estimates, is attributed mainly to unstable and less secured market conditions for CA. In the case of Southern Burkina Faso, the potential for CA adoption is determined to be high, and this assessment deviates from lower observed figures. This is attributed mainly to strong competition of CA and livestock for residues in this region. Lastly, the high adoption potential found in Northern Burkina Faso is explained mainly by the fact that farmers here have no alternative other than to adopt the locally adapted CA system—Zaï farming. Results of this assessment should help promoters of CA in the given regions to reflect on their activities and to eventually adjust or redesign them based on a more explicit understanding of where problems and opportunities are found.