An evaluation of public participation information for land use decisions: public comment,surveys, and participatory mapping

ABSTRACT

Public participation in the form of public meetings and written submissions has been criticised as a democratic ritual that fails to give citizens a real voice in government decisions. Participatory mapping and community surveys are alternative public participation (PP) methods that can augment legally required processes for land use planning. To date, there has been little evaluation research comparing the information content generated by required PP processes and alternative PP sources with respect to local land use decisions. Using multiple development projects from a case study community, we analysed and compared information generated from three different sources of public participation: (1) formal public comment (written submissions), (2) responses to community survey questions, and (3) land use preferences generated from participatory mapping. We found public comment strongly supported development while results from survey questions and participatory mapping methods revealed community ambivalence. The differences in public opinion are attributed to two key factors: the representativeness of participants in the PP process and the specific methods used for measuring public opinion. Community surveys and participatory mapping generated more accurate and representative community information compared to the formal PP process which was characterised by lower participation and vulnerability to special interest manipulation. For local government decision makers, the political risk of broadening PP information appears high relative to the risk of inaccurately assessing public opinion thus limiting adoption of alternative PP methods such as participatory mapping.     

Forest Perception and Knowledge of Hikers and Mountain Bikers in Two Different Areas in Northwestern Switzerland

Recreational activities can have major impacts on vegetation and wildlife in frequently visited forests. We assessed forest perception and knowledge (state, functions, and species diversity) among hikers and mountain bikers in a frequently visited, seminatural suburban recreation forest (Muttenz) and in a more distantly situated, naturally grown excursion forest (Wasserfallen) in northwestern Switzerland. In all, 239 hikers and 126 mountain bikers were interviewed. Mountain bikers in both forests and hikers in the more intensely used recreation forest at Muttenz assessed the state of the forest less optimistically and showed a higher awareness of the negative impact of recreational activities on the flora and fauna than hikers at Wasserfallen. Furthermore, mountain bikers seemed aware of the social conflicts caused by their activity, since they appreciated neutral or positive encounters with other forest visitors. In contrast, 57% of hikers at Muttenz reported on negative experiences with other forest visitors, particularly with mountain bikers. In general, the interviewees ecological and biological forest knowledge (forest type and function, species diversity) was rather high. A large proportion was aware of the pros and cons of different forest conditions for plants and animals, and could name or recognize at least some plant and/or animal species typical for the visited forest. The forest knowledge was neither influenced by the type of recreational activity carried out nor by any aspect of forest visit behavior (frequency and duration of forest visits, means of transportation and travel distance to forest). However, the interviewees forest knowledge was influenced by their age and educational level.     

monitoring bioaccumulation of contaminants in the belted kingfisher (ceryle alcyon)

The belted kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon), acommon piscivore in the eastern United States, hasbecome a common endpoint in ecological riskassessments (ERA) because of their high consumptionof potentially contaminated aquatic prey. Whilebioaccumulation data and biosurveys may be used tosupport conclusions of ERAs for kingfishers, thereare currently no published data on contaminantconcentrations in kingfishers. Additionally,methods available for collecting biological samples(e.g., feathers, eggs, food debris, etc.) fromkingfisher burrows can be detrimental to thereproductive success of the birds. We present amethod for obtaining samples from burrows during orfollowing the nesting season. The method wasapplied to kingfisher burrows on the Oak RidgeReservation (ORR) in eastern Tennessee. Feathers,eggshells, and nestlings were collected from burrows and analyzed. In addition, carcasses ofthree adult kingfishers found dead on the ORR wereanalyzed. Metals and radionuclides were accumulatedby both juvenile and adult birds. Body burdens ofcadmium, lead, and cesium-137 in adult birds were belowlevels associated with toxicity. Concentrations of selenium and mercury were observed at potentiallytoxic levels. Contaminants in eggshells andnestling feathers indicate exposure, however, thereis insufficient information to evaluate thetoxicological significance of this contamination.National Laboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed for the U.S. Department of Energy by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp. under contract DE-AC05-96OR22464     

污染源普查后区域环境管理应用探讨

在第二次全国污染源普查的基础上,利用污染源普查期间配置的软硬件,开发市级区域环境污染源管理平台,进行污染源数据的年度更新,拓展污染源普查软件应用,实现环境管理及环境执法移动终端的应用。拓展二污普一张图的功能,利用移动客户端机动实时及地定位导航等为环境管理执法和环境突发事件应急处置提供技术支持。     

环境工程管理存在的问题和对策——基于问卷调查结果的分析

围绕我国装备环境工程管理的情况,对部分单位展开问卷调查。基于问卷调查的统计结果,对环境工程管理的基本状况、环境工程人员管理情况、实验室和自然环境试验网站的管理情况进行分析,并提出相关改进措施。     

FISH TUMORS AND ECOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE: A CAUTIONARY EXAMPLE FROM PORT PHILLIP BAY1

ABSTRACT: Interest in the development of strategies using faunal populations for monitoring chemical contamination of the environment was promoted, in part, by earlier investigations of skin lesions that were mistakenly diagnosed as epidermal papillomas in flatfish from Pacific coastal waters of the northern hemisphere. A survey aimed at exploring chemical pollution effects was also undertaken in the southern hemisphere in Port Phillip Bay, Australia, where over 15,000 fish, involving ten mainly bottom-feeding species, were sampled. Only two cases of true neoplasia (both in the sand flathead) were found, but there was a high prevalence of cancer-like growths in certain species of leatherjacket and a low prevalence in spiky globe fish. Morphological analysis proved these to be subacute inflammatory or chronic granulomatous reactions possibly due to parasitic infestation. These findings were discussed in relation to recent work that shows the epidermal papilloma to be a pseudotumor, and the propensity for fish to develop exuberant inflammatory responses to exogenous stimuli which mimic neoplasia.     

包头市居民吸烟状况调查

目的：为了搞清包头市居民的吸烟情况。方法：按照流行病学调查表的要求，由卫生医师逐户、逐人询问调查对象吸烟情况、吸烟量和被动吸烟状况，以及与吸烟有关的年龄、性别和住址，将核实后的调查资料按统一设计程序，采用SAS统计软件包在计算机上进行统计处理。调查结果表明：市区居民吸烟率为38．34％，农牧区居民的吸烟率为50．68％，男性高于女性；吸烟量多在10支以上、25支以下，以农牧区每日吸烟量超过10支者所占比例最大(63．16％)，且男性居民25岁组以后达到高峰一直维持到60岁组；女性居民的被动吸烟者和被动吸烟量较男性多。结论：居民的吸烟状况在性别、年龄、城乡和受教育情况等方面有不同的分布。     

嘉兴市电子废弃物回收体系公众调查与完善建议

嘉兴市地处长三角中心地带,是浙江电子废弃物的重要集散地之一。通过公众调查发现,嘉兴市电子废弃物产生量比较大,而现有电子废弃物回收体系主要是民间个体回收,公众对这种回收渠道的危害后果认知不足,从而造成正规回收渠道的回收困局。因此,应该借鉴浙江永康再生资源回收体系建设的经验,对个体户回收进行改造,并加强公众环保教育,建立合理责任承担机制,从而建设一套高效、环保和健康的电子废弃物回收体系。     

浑善达克沙地退化草地的封育效果调查

封育保护是促进退化草地自然恢复的有效方法之一,为了研究实施京津风沙源工程措施以来浑善达克沙地沙质草场的围封效果,我们特对浑善达克沙地南缘地段的围封草场进行了调查,并取得了一些结果。     

Ecological approach to resource survey and planning for environmentally significant Areas: The ABC method

A resource survey and planning method for parks, reserves, and other environmentally significant areas (ESAs) is presented in the context of a holistic balanced approach to land use and environmental management. This method provides a framework for the acquisition, analysis, presentation, and application of diverse ecological data pertinent to land use planning and resource management within ESAs. Through the independent analysis and subsequent integration of abiotic, biotic, and cultural or ABC information, land areas within an ESA are identified in terms of their relative environmental significance and environmental constraints. The former term encompasses wildlife, historic, and other resource values, while the latter term reflects biophysical hazards and sensitivities, and land use conflicts. The method thus calls for a matching of an ESA's distinctive attributes with appropriate land use and institutional arrancements through an analysis of available acts, regulations, agencies, and other conservation and land use management mechanisms. The method culminates with a management proposal showing proposed park or reserve allocations, buffer areas, or other land use controls aimed at preserving an ESA's special ecological qualities, while providing for resource development. The authors suggest that all resource management decisions affecting ESA's should be governed by a philosophical stance that recognizes a spectrum of broad land use types, ranging from preservation to extractive use and rehabilitation.