Socio-economic Comparison Between Traditional and Improved Cultivation Methods in Agroforestry Systems, East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

The East Usambara Mountains, recognized as one of the 25 most important biodiversity hot spots in the world, have a high degree of species diversity and endemism that is threatened by increasing human pressure on resources. Traditional slash and burn cultivation in the area is no longer sustainable. However, it is possible to maintain land productivity, decrease land degradation, and improve rural people’s livelihood by ameliorating cultivation methods. Improved agroforestry seems to be a very convincing and suitable method for buffer zones of conservation areas. Farmers could receive a reasonable net income from their farm with little investment in terms of time, capital, and labor. By increasing the diversity and production of already existing cultivations, the pressure on natural forests can be diminished. The present study shows a significant gap between traditional cultivation methods and improved agroforestry systems in socio-economic terms. Improved agroforestry systems provide approximately double income per capita in comparison to traditional methods. More intensified cash crop cultivation in the highlands of the East Usambara also results in double income compared to that in the lowlands. However, people are sensitive to risks of changing farming practices. Encouraging farmers to apply better land management and practice sustainable cultivation of cash crops in combination with multipurpose trees would be relevant in improving their economic situation in the relatively short term. The markets of most cash crops are already available. Improved agroforestry methods could ameliorate the living conditions of the local population and protect the natural reserves from human disturbance.     

Management Decentralization and Montane Forest Conditions in Tanzania

Abstract: We examined how differences in local forest‐management institutions relate to disparate anthropogenic forest disturbance and forest conditions among three neighboring montane forests in Tanzania under centralized, comanaged, or communal management. Institutional differences have been shaped by decentralization reforms. We conducted semistructured interviews with members of forest management committees, local government, and village households and measured anthropogenic disturbance, tree structure, and species composition in forest plots. We assessed differences in governance system components of local institutions, including land tenure, decision‐making autonomy by forest users, and official and de facto processes of rule formation, monitoring, and enforcement among the three management strategies. We also assessed differences in frequencies of prohibited logging and subsistence pole cutting, and measures of forest condition. An adjacent research forest served as an ecological reference for comparison of forest conditions. Governance was similar for comanaged and centralized management, whereas communal managers had greater tenure security and decision‐making autonomy over the use and management of their forest. There was significantly less illegal logging in the communal forest, but subsistence pole cutting was common across all management strategies. The comanaged forest was most disturbed by recent logging and pole cutting, as were peripheral areas of the larger centralized forest. This manifested in more degraded indicators of forest conditions (lower mean tree size, basal area, density of trees ≥ 90 cm dbh, and aboveground biomass and higher overall stem density). Greater tenure security and institutional autonomy of the communal strategy contributed to more effective management, less illegal logging, and maintenance of good forest conditions, but generating livelihood benefits was a challenge for both decentralized strategies. Our results underscore the importance of well‐designed institutional arrangements in forest management and illustrate mechanisms for improved forest governance and conservation in the context of Tanzanian decentralization reforms.     

冰川区积雪中NO3-与粉尘记录的对比研究 ——以天山乌鲁木齐河源1号冰川为例

为研究山岳冰川积雪中NO3-与粉尘记录之间的联系,利用2003~2005年间新疆天山乌鲁木齐河源1号冰川东支积累区的雪样,分析了雪层中NO3-与不溶微粒的对应关系.研究发现,沙尘活动季节初期,表层雪中NO3-浓度与不溶微粒浓度呈正相关,而与其平均粒径呈负相关,表明NO3-可以通过吸附在粉尘细颗粒表面远距离传输.雪层剖面中NO3-浓度峰值与污化层之间的相对位置在冬半年可基本保持稳定,但夏半年以淋溶作用为主的后沉积过程,会强烈改造NO3-与粉尘记录之间的联系.     

中晚全新世六盘山流域土壤侵蚀的湖泊沉积记录

流域土壤侵蚀是流域水文—气候—生态的集中表现之一,对生态、环境等有着重大影响,重建过去流域土壤侵蚀强度对理解区域人类活动具有重要意义.本文选取黄土高原西南部高山湖泊——六盘山天池沉积岩芯为研究对象,基于XRF岩芯元素数据分析,结合可靠的AMS 14C年代序列,重建了中晚全新世以来六盘山流域土壤侵蚀强度变化记录.结果显示:5570?—?1600 cal BP,流域土壤侵蚀整体较强,侵蚀强度逐渐减弱,其主要受控于降水变化,也受植被覆盖等因素的影响;随着晚全新世气候逐渐变干,1600 cal BP之后的侵蚀强度整体弱于前一时期,此时段由于人类活动的显著影响,加剧了流域的土壤侵蚀.太阳辐射可能是研究区土壤侵蚀强度变化的初始驱动力,ENSO通过驱动亚洲季风变化影响区域降水,进而直接影响流域土壤侵蚀的强度变化.     

Increasing risks for emerging infectious diseases within a rapidly changing High Asia

The cold and arid mountains and plateaus of High Asia, inhabited by a relatively sparse human population, a high density of livestock, and wildlife such as the iconic snow leopard Panthera uncia, are usually considered low risk for disease outbreaks. However, based on current knowledge about drivers of disease emergence, we show that High Asia is rapidly developing conditions that favor increased emergence of infectious diseases and zoonoses. This is because of the existing prevalence of potentially serious pathogens in the system; intensifying environmental degradation; rapid changes in local ecological, socio-ecological, and socio-economic factors; and global risk intensifiers such as climate change and globalization. To better understand and manage the risks posed by diseases to humans, livestock, and wildlife, there is an urgent need for establishing a disease surveillance system and improving human and animal health care. Public health must be integrated with conservation programs, more ecologically sustainable development efforts and long-term disease surveillance.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01599-7.     

“绿水青山就是金山银山”的浙江实践与转化路径

"两山"理论,即"绿水青山就是金山银山",是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要内容。浙江是"两山"理论的发源地,思考探寻基于浙江情境的"两山"转化路径,意义重大且十分迫切。本研究从顶层设计、高质量发展、营商环境、协同治理、技术创新等方面,总结浙江"两山"转化的实践经验及其实践特征,探讨其"两山"转化路径,以期为在全国范围内推广"两山"转化与践行提供参考。     

秦岭中段撂荒地植被恢复过程中土壤微生物代谢特征

明确撂荒地植被恢复过程中土壤微生物养分限制特征及其驱动机制对揭示土壤养分循环和维持生态系统稳定具有重要意义.以秦岭中段不同年限撂荒地为研究对象,通过测定土壤理化性质、5种胞外酶活性[β-1,4-葡萄糖苷酶(BG)、纤维二糖水解酶(CBH)、β-1,4-N-乙酰基氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)、亮氨酸氨基肽酶(LAP)和酸性磷...     

东昆仑五龙沟金矿床Ⅲ矿段原生晕特征及模式

五龙沟金矿床Ⅲ矿段呈现以Au、As、Ag为主 ,伴有Pb、Zn、Cu、Bi、Sb等多元素的综合原生晕 ,其中Au、Ag、As为典型矿致异常元素组合 ,其次为Hg、Sb、Bi;Ag、As、Sb等元素为远程指示元素 ,也为矿体前缘晕和上部特征元素 ;Hg、Bi、Pb为矿体上部和中上部原生晕特征元素组合 ,也为中远程指示元素 ;Cu、Zn为矿体中部和中下部原生晕特征指示元素 ;Au在整个原生晕中均是特征直接指示元素 ;原生晕轴向分带序列为As-Sb-Ag-Bi-Pb-Hg-Au-Zn -Cu,横向分带序列为 ,矿体上部原生晕 :Au -Zn -Ag -Bi-As-Hg -Cu-Sb -Pb ;中下部原生晕 :Zn -Cu-Au -Ag -Hg-As-Pb -Sb -Bi。矿致原生晕特征为Au原生晕发育 ,平均强度大于 1 60× 1 9-9;原生晕组合复杂 ,Au、Ag、As、Sb、Hg、Bi、Zn原生晕连续性好 ,范围大于构造带 ,有内中外或外中浓度带 ,各指示元素原生晕吻合性好 ;一般在矿体 (带 )受中度剥蚀深度 (或矿体已露出 )断面上 ,Au -Ag和Au -As具正相关表现 ,相关性较好。这些特点或指标 ,可作为以蚀变岩型为主要类型金矿床的地球化学信息标志     

The Chemistry of Soils, Rocks and Plant Bioindicators in Three Ecosystems of the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland

In June of 2000, biogeochemical study was carried out in three ecosystems of the Holy Cross Mountains (south-central Poland). This paper presents element concentrations and stable sulfur (and in one site lead) isotope ratios in rocks, detailed soil profiles, and plant bioindicators including epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl., mosses (Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt., Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. S. Str., Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) B.S.G.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), common birch (Betula pendula Roth.), aspen (Populus tremula L.) and English oak (Quercus robur L.). Chemical analyses were performed with ICP-AES and AAS methods in the accredited laboratory (Central Chemical Laboratory of the Polish Geological Institute in Warsaw). The principal objective of this study was to compare the chemical composition of rocks, soils and selected plant bioindicators between investigation sites using the same methods of sample collection, preparation and analyses. The results of this study have shown that there is a high variability in concentrations of elements in plant bioindicators from the same sites that can not be explained only by soil properties or anthropogenic influence. This conclusion indicates that for biomonitoring purposes (especially with vascular plants) we cannot neglect individual features of the species examined.     

How and why is Aquatic Quality Changing at Nahanni National Park Reserve, nwt, Canada?

Nahanni National Park Reserve is located at southwestern NWT-Yukon border. One of the first UNESCO World Heritage sites, Nahanni lies within Taiga Cordillera and Taiga Shield Ecozones. Base and precious metal mining occurred upstream of Nahanni prior to park establishment. Nahanni waters, sediments, fish, and caribou have naturally elevated metals levels. Baseline water, sediment and fish tissue quality data were collected and analyzed throughout Nahanni during 1988–91 and 1992–97. These two programs characterized how aquatic quality variables are naturally varying in space and time, affected by geology, stream flow, seasonality, and extreme meteorological and geological events. Possible anthropogenic causes of aquatic quality change were examined. Measured values were compared to existing Guidelines and site-specific objectives were established.