Evaluation of the economic and environmental impact of converting cropland to forest: a case study in Dunhua county, China

The Sloping Land Conversion Program (also known as "Grain for Green" or the Upland Conversion Program) for converting cropland to forest is one of China's most ambitious environmental initiatives, and is one of the world's largest land-conservation programs with a budget of RMB 337 billion (over US$ 40 billion). Although environmental impacts have played a vital role in the general reasoning and argumentation for forest plantations, environmental impact analyses have often received less attention than economic analyses in the planning of plantation forestry projects. The overall goal of this paper is to evaluate the program's environmental impact considering the farmer's interests and the potential social benefits due to carbon sequestration in different scenarios based on household and field survey data in Dunhua County. Our findings are that: (1) in many cases, the program did not give adequate consideration to land productivity and environmental heterogeneity when selecting plots; (2) more than half of the reforestation plots were on flat cropland (slopes of less than 5 degrees ); (3) in five of the eight townships, net incomes on reforested land were substantially above or below previous crop incomes, raising questions about the efficiency of the allocation of compensation to farmers participating in the program; (4) the potential carbon co-benefit increased the NPV of the program by 5954-7009 RMB/ha. In conclusion, we recommend that more attention should be paid to the quality of reforestation programs rather than just their scale and note that consideration of potential carbon sequestration co-benefits enhances the benefits of cropland conversion programs.     

Simulation of phytoremediation of a TNT-contaminated soil using the CTSPAC model

Knowledge of water movement in the plant-xylem system and contaminant bioavailability in the soil environment is crucial to evaluate the success of phytoremediation practices. This study investigated the removal of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) from a contaminated sandy soil by a single poplar (Populus fastigiata) tree through the examinations of temporal variations of xylem water potential, root water uptake, and soil TNT bioavailability. A mathematical model, CTSPAC (Coupled Transport of water, heat, and solutes in the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum), was modified for the purpose of this study. The model was calibrated using laboratory measurements before its application. Our simulations show that the xylem water potential was high in the roots and low in the leaves with a potential head difference of 3.55 cm H2O, which created a driving force for water flow and chemical transport upward from the roots through the stem to the leaves. The daily average root water uptake rate was 25 cm3 h(-1) when an equilibrium condition was reached after 24 h. Our simulations further reveal that no TNT was found in the stem and leaves and only about 1% of total TNT mass was observed in the roots due to the rapid biodegradation and transformation of TNT into its daughter products. About 13% of the soil TNT was removed by the poplar tree, resulting mainly from root uptake since TNT is a recalcitrant compound. In general, the soil TNT bioavailability decreased with time due to the depletion of soil solution TNT by the poplar tree. A constant bioavailability (i.e., 3.1 x 10(-6)) was obtained in 14 d in which the soil TNT concentration was about 10 mg L(-1). Our study suggests that CTSPAC is a useful model to simulate phytoremediation of TNT-contaminated sites.     

THREE‐DIMENSIONAL KRIGING ANALYSIS OF SEDIMENT MERCURY DISTRIBUTION: A CASE STUDY1

ABSTRACT: This study presents an application of a three‐dimensional kriging technique to estimate spatial distribution of total mercury (Hg) in the Cedar‐Ortega Rivers watershed located in the lower St. Johns River basin, Florida. The kriging procedures, including preliminary data analysis, structural data analysis and the log kriging estimation, are presented. Results show watershed wide Hg contamination of river sediment to a depth of 1.0 m. A three‐dimensional plot of Hg against the Florida Sediment Assessment Guidelines (i.e., the probable effect level or PEL) demonstrates that the Cedar River is more contaminated with Hg than the rest of the watershed. The maximum sediment depth with Hg concentrations above PEL value (0.696 mg/kg) is 1.5 m. Hg concentrations at or above this level could pose a significant hazard to aquatic organisms. Analysis of the spatial distribution of Hg in the watershed finds multiple input sources. This study suggests that there is a need to identify the major sources of Hg in the watershed, and to determine the pathways that allow Hg to enter the river.     

Plug-in electric vehicles in China and the USA: a technology and market comparison

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change - As the top two plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) markets in the world, China and the United States of  America (USA) have developed...     

尖峰岭自然保护区土壤微生物群落特征

土壤微生物群落特征对于明确不同环境中微生物群落的作用具有重要意义,但对微生物群落的定量研究一直是该领域的研究难点.目前,以群落水平碳源利用类型为基础的Biolog方法为土壤微生物群落特征定量研究提供了一种简便的方法,并迅速得到了广泛的应用,但Biolog试验过程中获得的数据量十分庞大,因此如何合理的处理、选择最能代表土壤微生物特征的数据进行比较分析是Biolog方法成功运用的关键.文章依据目前最常用的两种Biolog数据处理方法,提出了一种改进的数据处理方法,并以海南岛尖峰岭自然保护区四种受不同程度人类干扰形成的植被类型的土壤微生物群落为研究对象,着重探讨了改进方法与已有方法对土壤微生物群落特征研究结果的差异.研究结果表明:不同植被类型土壤微生物利用单一碳源能力的大小顺序为:山地雨林原始林>天然次生林>人工混交林>皆伐迹地.尖峰岭地区植被破坏后,自然恢复形成的天然次生林土壤微生物群落与原始林最接近.与受干扰较多的人工林相比,自然恢复更能有效改善土壤的微生物结构和功能.比较不同数据处理方法的分析结果证明,改进的数据处理方法可以有效克服已有方法的不足,提高对研究对象土壤微生物群落差异的解释能力.     

珠江三角洲城市群大气微生物与环境相关性

运用生态学的方法,结合实地调查与数理统计分析,对珠江三角洲城市群的大气微生物与环境的相关性问题进行探讨,拟为珠江三角洲城市环境污染的综合防治和卫生防疫工作提供依据,研究结果表明.(1)珠江三角洲城市群中广州和东莞的大气微生物含量较高,其中细菌比真菌含量高;室内较室外,无绿化地较有绿化地的大气微生物含量高,在全年中,春、夏季节的大气微生物含量相对较高.(2)大气风速、湿度、气温、可吸入颗粒、总悬浮颗粒、人口流动,绿化状况等环境因子与大气微生物真菌、细菌的平均含量有较明显的相关关系,大气微生物含量与气象因子多数呈正或负的线性关系.相关分析的计算结果为:真菌、细菌平均含量在春、夏、秋、冬四个季度中与大气温度、湿度、风速大多数地区相关程度比较高,其值R在0.583～0.988之间,真菌、细菌与可吸人颗粒数和总悬浮颗粒数,R值分别为为0.525,0.388和0.081,-0.044.一元线性回归分析和多元线性回归分析计算结果为:大气微生物含量与气象因子有明显的正或负的线性关系.真菌、细菌的平均含量与温度、湿度、风速一元线性回归模型的置信水平较高,其p值大多在0.019～0.483之间,T值在0.001～0.246之间;多元线性回归模型的置信水平也较高,其P值大多数在0.083～0.220之间,T值在0.026～0.132之间;排序值显示:温度、风速变化是大气微生物含量高低影响重要性最大的环境因子.(3)统计数据比较分析表明:大气微生物含量与人口密集状况、人口流动大小和绿化状况好坏也有较明显的相关性,火车站,汽车客运站售票厅,人口流量大,绿化无,大气微生物(真菌细菌)平均含量高;而人口流量相对较少,但车流量大,有一定的绿化带的道路大气微生物平均含量较低;环境条件、绿化较好的公园绿地大气微生物含量低,车流、人流多,绿化少的地段、商业中心大气微生物含量较高.     

Differentiated emission control strategy based on comprehensive evaluation of multi-media pollution: Case of mercury emission control

In order to comprehensively evaluate the environmental impact of multi-media mercury pollution under differentiated emission control strategies in China, a literature review and case studies were carried out. Increased human exposure to methylmercury was assessed through the dietary intake of residents in areas surrounding a typical coal-fired power plant and a zinc(Zn) smelter, located either on acid soil with paddy growth in southern China, or on alkaline soil with wheat growth in northern Chi...