Conservation Easements: Biodiversity Protection and Private Use

Abstract:  Conservation easements are one of the primary tools for conserving biodiversity on private land. Despite their increasing use, little quantitative data are available on what species and habitats conservation easements aim to protect, how much structural development they allow, or what types of land use they commonly permit. To address these knowledge gaps, we surveyed staff responsible for 119 conservation easements established by the largest nonprofit easement holder, The Nature Conservancy, between 1985 and 2004. Most easements (80%) aimed to provide core habitat to protect species or communities on-site, and nearly all were designed to reduce development. Conservation easements also allowed for a wide range of private uses, which may result in additional fragmentation and habitat disturbance. Some residential or commercial use, new structures, or subdivision of the property were permitted on 85% of sampled conservation easements. Over half (56%) allowed some additional buildings, of which 60% restricted structure size or building area. Working landscape easements with ranching, forestry, or farming made up nearly half (46%) of the easement properties sampled and were more likely than easements without these uses to be designated as buffers to enhance biodiversity in the surrounding area. Our results demonstrate the need for clear restrictions on building and subdivision in easements, research on the compatibility of private uses on easement land, and greater public understanding of the trade-offs implicit in the use of conservation easements for biodiversity conservation.     

黄河三角洲自然保护区秋冬季水鸟群落组成与生境关系分析

于2014年10月至2015年1月采用样线调查法对黄河三角洲自然保护区秋季迁徙期和越冬期水鸟群落结构进行调查研究,调查共包括8条样线40个观测点.结果表明:(1)秋季迁徙期共记录水鸟6目14科54种,国家Ⅰ级保护鸟类5种,国家Ⅱ级保护鸟类8种;越冬期共记录水鸟5目7科31种,国家Ⅰ级保护鸟类1种,国家Ⅱ级保护鸟类4种.(2)2个时期雁形目水鸟种类和数量均占优势,豆雁(Anser fabalis)、斑嘴鸭(Anas poecilorhycha)、赤膀鸭(Anas strepera)和绿头鸭(Anas platyrhynchos)为优势物种,丹顶鹤(Grus japonensis)、东方白鹳(Ciconia boyciana)和大大鹅(Cygnus cygnus)等珍稀水鸟也有一定的种群数量.(3)秋季迁徙期水鸟种数、数量和ShannonWiener多样性指数多于或高于越冬期.(4)5种典型生境之间水鸟种类和数量存在差异,天然水域是水鸟群落的主要分布区.(5)自然生境内的水鸟种数、数量和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数一般多于或高于人工生境.相似性分析结果表明,自然生境之间水鸟群落结构相似程度高于人工生境.     

Factors influencing the acceptance of nature conservation measures--a qualitative study in Switzerland

Landscapes fulfil a multitude of ecological and social functions. Due to the fact that both traditional and everyday landscapes today face many different threats, regulatory measures have been undertaken in many countries to protect and further sustainable landscape development. They include legislation as well as economic incentives. In recent years, however, it has become clear that just to have a few laws and to spend money on subsidies is not enough. Factors other than legislation are also essential to further the sustainable development of landscapes. One of the basic factors affecting the success or failure of landscape conservation measures is public acceptance of these measures. Our project took this as its starting point. The objective was to determine which conditions and factors influence acceptance positively or negatively. To this end 22 Swiss who are directly affected by nature conservation measures, in particular by mire landscape and dry meadow conservation measures, were interviewed using qualitative interview techniques. It is shown that perception, communication, and possibilities to participate are the most decisive driving factors influencing the formation of a long-lasting acceptance. Furthermore, acceptance may be based mainly on economic criteria, on usefulness, on ecological or even aesthetic aspects. It can be shown that not all of these motivations lead to a long-lasting acceptance. Ecologically based acceptance seems the most promising because it is founded on general convictions. Economic incentives--though important--seem to generate only superficial acceptance and do not seem to be as important as is usually assumed.     

唐家河保护区主要植被类型景观格局的梯度分析

在遥感图像基础上，利用GIS技术从景观指数方面定量分析了唐家河自然保护区主要植被类型在东西、南北和西北至东南3个方向上的梯度变化。结果表明：次生落叶阔叶林、常绿落叶阔叶混交林、针阔叶混交林与针叶林的梯度变化明显，并且在各方向上具有不同的变化特征。其中，常绿落叶阔叶混交林从西北至东南方向的梯度变化最为复杂， 斑块数量与面积分别呈“升—降—升—降”与“升—降—升”的波动变化趋势，而边界密度与平均最近距离呈先升后降的变化趋势，两端破碎度高但连接性好，中部相反。针叶林从北至南的梯度变化最为简单，斑块面积减少，破碎度与复杂度降低，南北两端分布较多，中部较少。唐家河自然保护区植被景观格局在不同方向上的梯度变化研究为地震后该地区的植被保护与管理提供重要指导意义。     

Risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in shrimp farming in Mai Po Nature Reserve, Hong Kong

An ecological survey was carried out to determine the sediment concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in fish and shrimp including tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus×O. nilotica), grey mullet (Mugil cephalus), gei wai shrimp (Metapenaeus ensis) and caridean shrimp (Macrobrachium nipponensis) in the traditional tidal shrimp ponds (gei wais) of Mai Po Nature Reserve, Hong Kong. The sediments collected from the landward sites contained higher nutrient contents, as well as zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and cadmium (Cd) than those collected from the seaward sites, but vice versa for lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg). However, the concentrations of all metals were exceptionally high in the two sites located outside the reserve, suggesting that waters from Deep Bay might be the possible source of metal contamination affecting the reserve. All metals studied seemed to accumulate in the viscera of fish. Body size was the determining factor for the accumulation of heavy metals in caridean shrimp and gei wai shrimp but not fish. Concentrations of the metals studied in tissues of grey mullet and gei wai shrimp were found to be safe for human consumption. Concentrations of Cr in tilapia whole body (0.68–1.10 mg kg⁻¹ wet weight) were close to or over the guideline value of 1 mg kg⁻¹ set by the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations of Hong Kong. Tilapia flesh and small caridean shrimp collected from gei wais were contaminated by Cr and Pb but still fit for human consumption. Caution is required if large caridean shrimp is to be consumed in large amounts continuously because the concentration of Pb exceeded the maximum permitted concentration (6 mg kg⁻¹). The rather high Cr concentrations in tilapia whole body should not be overlooked as the fish will serve as a food source for migratory birds visiting the site.     

Grazing as a measure against grass encroachment in Dutch dry dune grassland: effects on vegetation and soil

A grazing experiment was started in 1984 and 1989 respectively, in two parts of a dune grassland in the nature reserve ‘Zwanenwater’, North Holland; a third part with similar geology and topography was used as a control area and not grazed. An evaluation of the effects of grazing on vegetation patterns, species composition, vegetation structure and humus form was made with the help of vegetation maps from 1986 and 1992 as well as field surveys. Dense tall-grass communities dominated byAmmophila arenaria increased over the period 1986–1992 in the grazed areas, and especially in the non-grazed area (increase in area to 20%, 22% and 50%, respectively). Open communities decreased in the grazed areas, but are still prevalent, while in the ungrazed area they virtually disappeared, with the result that the present percentage areas are 53%, 38% and 17%. Field survey data were classified by TWINSPAN producing four vegetation types. These occur more or less equally in grazed and ungrazed areas, albeit with different percentage areas: (1) open vegetation dominated byCorynephorus canescens; (2) open vegetation characteized, byKoeleria macrantha; (3) heathland dominated byEmpetrum nigrum; and (4) tall-grass communities dominated byAmmophila arenaria. Within a vegetation type, species composition was only marginally affected by grazing regime. Within the open communities the number of species, vegetation height, vegetation cover and soil organic horizons were not affected by grazing. In the tall-grass communities the number of species was significantly larger and the height of the vegetation significantly lower in the area grazed since 1984. In the heathland community the number of species and cover of the moss layer were significantly higher in the 1984 area and ectorganic and endorganic horizons significantly thicker in the ungrazed area. It is suggested that these effects are the result of an increased availability of light, but possibly also of a decreased stock of organic matter and nutrients, due to a decreased input of litter and accelerated rates of decomposition.     

山西芦芽山旅游影响因子及其系数与地理因子间的关系

旅游影响因子及其系数是评价旅游开发对生态环境影响程度的一种主要指标。本文采用样方调查的方法，对芦芽山旅游影响因子及其系数与地理因子进行了相关分析，结果表明：6个旅游影响因子之间的正负相关性均很好地体现了旅游活动对各因子影响的规律性，同时也说明了旅游影响因子的选择与确定以及对其赋值的正确性，旅游影响因子及其系数与自然地理因子间较小的正负相关性，说明它们几乎不受自然地理因子的作用，它们共同作用为评价旅游开发程度强弱的指标，具有一定的可行性，旅游影响因子及其系数与人文地理因子间的高相关性，完全可以说明，它们能够正确地反映旅游活动对植被环境的作用。此外，加强景区管理和旅游规划尤为迫切，图2表4参8。     

四川喇叭河自然保护区的两栖爬行动物垂直分布及保护区型式

四川省喇叭河自然保护区已知分布有39种两栖爬行动物，本文对在该地区海拔700-2600m的地段划分为19个小带，并对其物种多样性的分布特点和分布规律进行了研究．结果表明：两栖爬行动物在保护区内具有明显的垂直分布现象，海拔900-1099m过渡带和2100-2299m过渡带是该地物种保护的关键地区，该区域具有物种丰富、区系复杂和生态脆弱等特点；因此，在规划建设和旅游开发过程中应避免对该区域的影响，同时保护区的规划应遵循物种多样性的分布规律，合理设计保护区的空间格局，初步提出了多核心、多层次的保护区新型式．图5表2参16     

复合螯合剂/活性碳分离富集和ICP—AES同时测定水样中痕量元素

本文提出将复合螯合剂（NaDDTC／8—Oxin）饱和吸附于活性碳上作为吸附材料．分离富集和ICP—AES同时测定水中痕量金属元素的方法。用ICP—AES研究了该吸附材料对某些痕量元素的吸附和解吸性能；考察了共存元素的影响。方法应用于湖水中Fe、Cu、Mn、Y和Sc的测定，检出限为ng／ml级，RSD为1．9％～4．4％，加入回收率81％～101％间，试样分析结果满意。     

北京松山国家级自然保护区典型植被类型表层土壤碳密度及周转速率特征

为阐明不同植被类型下表层土壤有机碳的分布特征,本文选取北京松山国家级自然保护区内胡桃楸阔叶林、蒙古栎阔叶林、油松针叶林、针阔叶混交林、灌丛和草甸6种典型植物群落作为研究对象,基于野外调查、采样与实验室分析对不同植被类型下表层土壤有机碳含量、密度及周转速率进行了研究。结果表明：草甸表层土壤有机碳含量和密度最高,分别为188.5 g/kg和10.9 kg/m²,周转速率最低,为0.019 6/a;针阔叶混交林表层土壤有机碳含量和密度最低,分别为68.6 g/kg和5.7 kg/m²,周转速率为0.074 9/a;灌丛表层土壤有机碳周转速率为0.077 4/a。土壤有机碳含量整体上随土壤深度增加而逐渐减少。土壤水分的增加和土壤温度的下降使表层土壤有机碳含量及密度呈上升趋势,而使有机碳周转速率呈下降趋势。土壤有机碳密度随海拔升高呈逐渐上升趋势。海拔通过影响不同植被群落土壤水热条件来影响微生物活动及凋落物的分解,进而影响表层土壤有机碳含量、密度和周转速率。本文为松山国家级自然保护区典型植被类型土壤碳储量和周转研究提供了有效参考。