Evaluating the impacts of sea level rise on coastal wetlands in Languedoc-Roussillon,France

Sea-level rise due to climate change creates new risks of submersion in coastal areas that must be taken into account. Although these are long-term risks for 2100, it is important to anticipate possible consequences in order to identify the most vulnerable areas or issues and develop the appropriate adaptation policies. The aim of this paper is to examine the consequences of such sea-level rise for wetlands in the Languedoc-Roussillon region (France) which is particularly at risk of submersion. The analysis is based on the worst case scenario of a one meter sea level rise by 2100, with a variety of adaptive strategies: denial, laissez-faire and strategic retreat of infrastructure and buildings. This latter strategy assumes that the retreat wetlands is unconstrained. The evaluation examines the losses and transformations of ecological habitats, depending on their distance from salt water. Estimating damages and benefits requires first, to study the evolution of the services supplied by different habitats and second, to estimate the value of the economic impact. This approach demonstrates the superiority of a strategic retreat policy which would halve the damages resulting from submersion.     

案例城市环境基本公共服务与现状比较研究

日益严重的环境问题带来了越来越多的关注度,同时,以为公众提供良好的环境质量为目标的环境基本公共服务,也逐步进入人们的视野。环境基本公共服务是由政府或主要由政府提供的,保障公民最基本的环境权益的服务,包括环境基本公共硬服务和软服务两大方面,其内涵主要由公众、政府、相关企业三方之间的相互供求关系而决定。以环境基本公共服务的具体承载单元———城市为依托进行案例研究,选取纽约、新加坡、广州三所城市进行环境基本公共服务现状对比,结合中国环境基本公共服务外延性不足和无差别受益性两大特点,为中国加强环境基本公共服务水平提供建设性意见。     

A fungal perspective on conservation biology

Hitherto fungi have rarely been considered in conservation biology, but this is changing as the field moves from addressing single species issues to an integrative ecosystem‐based approach. The current emphasis on biodiversity as a provider of ecosystem services throws the spotlight on the vast diversity of fungi, their crucial roles in terrestrial ecosystems, and the benefits of considering fungi in concert with animals and plants. We reviewed the role of fungi in ecosystems and composed an overview of the current state of conservation of fungi. There are 5 areas in which fungi can be readily integrated into conservation: as providers of habitats and processes important for other organisms; as indicators of desired or undesired trends in ecosystem functioning; as indicators of habitats of conservation value; as providers of powerful links between human societies and the natural world because of their value as food, medicine, and biotechnological tools; and as sources of novel tools and approaches for conservation of megadiverse organism groups. We hope conservation professionals will value the potential of fungi, engage mycologists in their work, and appreciate the crucial role of fungi in nature. Una Perspectiva Micótica de la Biología de la Conservación     

A General Equilibrium Model of Ecosystem Services in a River Basin

This study builds a general equilibrium model of ecosystem services, with sectors of the economy competing for use of the environment. The model recognizes that production processes in the real world require a combination of natural and human inputs, and understanding the value of these inputs and their competing uses is necessary when considering policies of resource conservation. We demonstrate the model with a numerical example of the Mississippi‐Atchafalaya river basin, in which grain production in the upper basin causes hypoxia that causes damages to the downstream fishing industry. We show that the size of damages is dependent on both environmental and economic shocks. While the potential damages to fishing are large, most of the damage occurs from economic forces rather than a more intensive use of nitrogen fertilizers. We show that these damages are exacerbated by increases in rainfall, which will likely get worse with climate change. We discuss welfare effects from a tax on nitrogen fertilizers and investments in riparian buffers. A 3% nitrogen tax would reduce the size of the hypoxic zone by 11% at a cost of 2% of Iowa's corn output. In comparison, riparian buffers are likely to be less costly and more popular politically.     

Motivations for Conserving Urban Biodiversity

Abstract: In a time of increasing urbanization, the fundamental value of conserving urban biodiversity remains controversial. How much of a fixed budget should be spent on conservation in urban versus nonurban landscapes? The answer should depend on the goals that drive our conservation actions, yet proponents of urban conservation often fail to specify the motivation for protecting urban biodiversity. This is an important shortcoming on several fronts, including a missed opportunity to make a stronger appeal to those who believe conservation biology should focus exclusively on more natural, wilder landscapes. We argue that urban areas do offer an important venue for conservation biology, but that we must become better at choosing and articulating our goals. We explored seven possible motivations for urban biodiversity conservation: preserving local biodiversity, creating stepping stones to nonurban habitat, understanding and facilitating responses to environmental change, conducting environmental education, providing ecosystem services, fulfilling ethical responsibilities, and improving human well‐being. To attain all these goals, challenges must be faced that are common to the urban environment, such as localized pollution, disruption of ecosystem structure, and limited availability of land. There are, however, also challenges specific only to particular goals, meaning that different goals will require different approaches and actions. This highlights the importance of specifying the motivations behind urban biodiversity conservation. If the goals are unknown, progress cannot be assessed.     

Is climate-smart conservation feasible in Europe? Spatial relations of protected areas,soil carbon,and land values

The expectations on protected areas to deliver not only biodiversity conservation but also to provide an array of different ecosystem services rise. Sequestration and storage of carbon are promising services that protected areas may provide. This study integrates spatially explicit data on terrestrial Natura 2000 sites, soil organic carbon, and agricultural land values to estimate the potential for climate-smart conservation planning in the European Union. The objectives of this study are to analyse spatial relations between protected areas soil carbon content, and land values on the European Union's land area as well as to locate and quantify the proportion of land with high carbon and low economic value within and outside protected areas. We apply a unique interdisciplinary framework with methods ranging from analyses based on geographical information systems, agricultural economics to statistics. Findings indicate that there is a significant overlap between Natura 2000 sites and regions with high carbon content across Europe. Statistical analyses show that carbon-rich regions have significantly lower land values than other areas. Our results suggest that biodiversity protection and mitigation of climate change through conservation of soil carbon could be simultaneously achieved in Europe's protected areas and beyond. We conclude that there is a notable potential for climate-smart conservation in Europe that needs further investigation.     

Assessing water ecosystem services for water resource management

Ecosystem service concepts can offer a valuable approach for linking human and nature, and arguments for the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems. Despite an increasing interest in the topic, the application of these concepts for water resource management has been hampered by the lack of practical definitions and methodologies. In this study we review and analyse the current literature and propose an approach for assessing and valuing ecosystem services in the context of water management. In particular, to study the link between multiple pressures, ecological status and delivery of ecosystem services in aquatic ecosystems under different scenarios of measures or future changes. This is of interest for the development of River Basin Management Plans under the EU Water Framework Directive. We provide a list of proxies/indicators of natural capacity, actual flow and social benefit for the biophysical assessment of the ecosystem services. We advocate the use of indicators of sustainability, combining information on capacity and flow of services. We also suggest methods for economic valuation of aquatic ecosystem for each service and spatial scale of application. We argue that biophysical assessment and economic valuation should be conducted jointly to account for the different values of ecosystem services (ecologic, social and economic) and to strengthen the recognition of human dependency on nature. The proposed approach can be used for assessing the benefits of conservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems in the implementation of the EU water policy.     

气候和土地利用/覆被变化对宁波地区生态系统产水服务的影响

提供水资源是重要的生态系统服务功能之一,对区域经济和生态系统的可持续发展具有重要作用.近年来,人类活动对水资源的需求量增加,加之水环境污染和水资源浪费现象严重,造成了部分地区的缺水问题.在此背景下,本文以宁波地区为例,研究气候变化和土地利用/覆被变化对生态系统产水服务的影响.首先,利用InVEST模型中的产水量模块,估算了区域的产水量.然后,利用情景分析的方法设计6种情景,分析了气候变化和土地利用/覆被变化对区域产水量的影响.最后,量化了气候和土地利用/覆被变化这2种因素对生态系统产水服务的贡献程度,并讨论了形成机制.研究表明:①2000—2015年,宁波地区的降水量增加了6.44%,潜在蒸散量减少了8.35%.城镇化导致建设用地面积增加了120%,耕地面积减少了22.37%.在气候变化和土地利用/覆被变化的共同作用下,平均产水量增加了10.91%.②气候变化对生态系统产水服务的影响更为显著,而土地利用/覆被变化的影响较小.其中,2000—2015年气候变化对宁波地区产水量的贡献率高达97.56%,而土地利用/覆被变化的贡献率仅为2.44%.③城镇生态系统的产水量高于其他生态系统类型,农田生态系统的产水量高于森林和草地生态系统.因此,城镇化会增加产水量,退耕还林还草会导致产水量的减少.     

大江大河从“公共资源”到“公地悲剧”演变的内在机理分析

江河提供了非常丰富的“非排它性”资源服务，因此容易陷入“公地悲剧”。历史上对长江、黄河等江河所提供的多维度要素资源价值理论认识上的滞后及误区，是引发此类江河向“公地悲剧”演变的基础性原因。现行的江河管理体制不能有效地协调中央与地方、地方与地方、部门与部门之间的资源行为及利益关系，从而诱发了地方等主体对江河资源的不相容使用和过度进入，而成为加速推进这一演变进程的制度性根源。在这一体制下，地方在与中央的博弈中，谋求当期地方收益的最大化；地方之间的财政逆向转移与升职竞争博弈，加剧了地方的行为扭曲；部门之间的边界模糊与势力竞争博弈，诱发了部门的行为扭曲。只有创立新的江河管理体制，才能规范地方等主体的行为，避免江河的“公地悲剧”命运。     

农牧交错带农业生态服务功能的作用及其保护途径

目前全球农业生产覆盖全球25％～30％的土地面积，约50％的可利用土地已经被农业占据。如果农业生态系统．特别是生态脆弱区的系统服务功能得不到恢复与保护．那将会拖全球环境保护的“后腿”。由于中国的国情决定了在生态脆弱区环境保护中必须坚持环境保护与发展农业生产“两手抓“。因此．农业生态系统服务功能的恢复、维持应该成为该地区生态环境保护与建设的重要组成部分。农业生产不仅要提高生态系统服务的产品功能，更要恢复和维持其各种维持生命的间接服务功能。本文在分析农业生态系统服务功能退化表现与影响因素的基础上．提出了针对各项服务功能的恢复与维持对策。