When and how to use Q methodology to understand perspectives in conservation research

Understanding human perspectives is critical in a range of conservation contexts, for example, in overcoming conflicts or developing projects that are acceptable to relevant stakeholders. The Q methodology is a unique semiquantitative technique used to explore human perspectives. It has been applied for decades in other disciplines and recently gained traction in conservation. This paper helps researchers assess when Q is useful for a given conservation question and what its use involves. To do so, we explained the steps necessary to conduct a Q study, from the research design to the interpretation of results. We provided recommendations to minimize biases in conducting a Q study, which can affect mostly when designing the study and collecting the data. We conducted a structured literature review of 52 studies to examine in what empirical conservation contexts Q has been used. Most studies were subnational or national cases, but some also address multinational or global questions. We found that Q has been applied to 4 broad types of conservation goals: addressing conflict, devising management alternatives, understanding policy acceptability, and critically reflecting on the values that implicitly influence research and practice. Through these applications, researchers found hidden views, understood opinions in depth and discovered points of consensus that facilitated unlocking difficult disagreements. The Q methodology has a clear procedure but is also flexible, allowing researchers explore long‐term views, or views about items other than statements, such as landscape images. We also found some inconsistencies in applying and, mainly, in reporting Q studies, whereby it was not possible to fully understand how the research was conducted or why some atypical research decisions had been taken in some studies. Accordingly, we suggest a reporting checklist.     

Using empirical models of species colonization under multiple threatening processes to identify complementary threat‐mitigation strategies

Approaches to prioritize conservation actions are gaining popularity. However, limited empirical evidence exists on which species might benefit most from threat mitigation and on what combination of threats, if mitigated simultaneously, would result in the best outcomes for biodiversity. We devised a way to prioritize threat mitigation at a regional scale with empirical evidence based on predicted changes to population dynamics—information that is lacking in most threat‐management prioritization frameworks that rely on expert elicitation. We used dynamic occupancy models to investigate the effects of multiple threats (tree cover, grazing, and presence of an hyperaggressive competitor, the Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala) on bird‐population dynamics in an endangered woodland community in southeastern Australia. The 3 threatening processes had different effects on different species. We used predicted patch‐colonization probabilities to estimate the benefit to each species of removing one or more threats. We then determined the complementary set of threat‐mitigation strategies that maximized colonization of all species while ensuring that redundant actions with little benefit were avoided. The single action that resulted in the highest colonization was increasing tree cover, which increased patch colonization by 5% and 11% on average across all species and for declining species, respectively. Combining Noisy Miner control with increasing tree cover increased species colonization by 10% and 19% on average for all species and for declining species respectively, and was a higher priority than changing grazing regimes. Guidance for prioritizing threat mitigation is critical in the face of cumulative threatening processes. By incorporating population dynamics in prioritization of threat management, our approach helps ensure funding is not wasted on ineffective management programs that target the wrong threats or species.     

The role of digital data entry in participatory environmental monitoring

Many argue that monitoring conducted exclusively by scientists is insufficient to address ongoing environmental challenges. One solution entails the use of mobile digital devices in participatory monitoring (PM) programs. But how digital data entry affects programs with varying levels of stakeholder participation, from nonscientists collecting field data to nonscientists administering every step of a monitoring program, remains unclear. We reviewed the successes, in terms of management interventions and sustainability, of 107 monitoring programs described in the literature (hereafter programs) and compared these with case studies from our PM experiences in Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, Ghana, Greenland, and Vietnam (hereafter cases). Our literature review showed that participatory programs were less likely to use digital devices, and 2 of our 3 more participatory cases were also slow to adopt digital data entry. Programs that were participatory and used digital devices were more likely to report management actions, which was consistent with cases in Ethiopia, Greenland, and Australia. Programs engaging volunteers were more frequently reported as ongoing, but those involving digital data entry were less often sustained when data collectors were volunteers. For the Vietnamese and Canadian cases, sustainability was undermined by a mismatch in stakeholder objectives. In the Ghanaian case, complex field protocols diminished monitoring sustainability. Innovative technologies attract interest, but the foundation of effective participatory adaptive monitoring depends more on collaboratively defined questions, objectives, conceptual models, and monitoring approaches. When this foundation is built through effective partnerships, digital data entry can enable the collection of more data of higher quality. Without this foundation, or when implemented ineffectively or unnecessarily, digital data entry can be an additional expense that distracts from core monitoring objectives and undermines project sustainability. The appropriate role of digital data entry in PM likely depends more on the context in which it is used and less on the technology itself.     

碳排放影响因子与碳足迹文献综述:基于研究方法视角

从研究方法的角度出发,对近年来国内外碳排放影响因子及碳足迹的相关研究进行文献综述。根据碳排放影响因子的研究方法—情景分析法、因素分解法中的指数分解法以及其他计量模型,介绍了国内外关于碳排放影响因子的研究现状,最后对方法进行归类和对比。根据碳足迹研究方法—投入产出法、生命周期评价法、IPCC法以及其他模型,分析了国内外关于碳足迹的研究进展。最后通过总结,对碳排放和碳足迹的未来研究方向进行了展望。     

燃煤烟气同时脱硫脱硝方法的研究进展及分析

近年来,烟气同时脱硫脱硝技术因占地面积小,可同时控制多种污染物而引起广泛的关注,但该技术多数仍停留在实验阶段。文章重点介绍了等离子体法、固相吸附法、溶液吸收法及微生物法等方法研究进展,对各方法的脱硫脱硝特点及功效进行评述,分析其问题与不足,并提出燃煤烟气同时脱硫脱硝方法的研究方向,为同时脱硫脱硝技术的改进提出建议。     

氨氮污染减排技术与政策研究

随着中国经济高速发展,污染物排放量大幅增长,水环境中的氨氮污染问题也已成为水环境治理的关注焦点.文章分别从源头削减和末端治理两个层面介绍了中国工业、农业、城镇生活源氨氮减排的技术的发展,氨氮减排技术为氨氮污染防控工作提供了科学、合理、有效的技术和理论支撑;从政策体制方面介绍了氨氮减排现状和要求,对氨氮减排技术及氨氮减排体制在中国的发展提出了相应的展望,为进一步发展和完善氨氮减排工作提供借鉴和参考.同时,也为未来氨氮污染物排放总量减排会进一步向智能化、精细化发展,氨氮减排技术在减排体制中体现的支撑作用.     

绿色会计视角下能源企业的成本核算优化研究

针对绿色会计视角下能源企业的成本核算优化,介绍了绿色会计视角下能源企业的成本核算,由于能源企业的发展,对环境产生了巨大危害,也导致能源企业由于本身成本过高,这才提出绿色会计,这样才能优化能源企业的成本,可以保证能源企业的可持续发展;同时,也保障了能源企业生态的稳定建设.基于绿色会计视角,探讨了能源企业的绿色成本优化研究,主要包括能源企业坚持绿色会计,确定绿色成本原则,能源企业绿色成本优化条件和能源企业加强绿色会计实践.     

水环境中抗生素污染的研究进展

中国是抗生素使用大国,但由于现有的污水处理技术不能有效的降解水环境中的抗生素,导致环境中抗生素含量不断增高,各种抗性基因不断产生,抗生素的有效利用率不断降低,对疾病的治愈率也越来越低,而新的抗生素的研发速度又远远慢于细菌的传播速度,因此抗生素污染的扩大严重威胁着人类健康.综述了抗生素的来源与危害,国内外抗生素的污染现状以及相应的政策措施,并对人类健康进行展望.     

发展乡村旅游对乡村生态环境影响研究

针对发展乡村旅游对乡村生态环境的影响,介绍了乡村旅游的发展现状,探讨了乡村旅游发展对乡村环境的影响,主要包括乡村旅游带来的环境问题分析和环境问题的原因分析,乡村旅游作为旅游行业一支新生力量,异军突起,在中国已形成很大的发展趋势.发展乡村旅游可以提高农民收入、合理利用乡村资源,提出对策建议,主要是充分发挥政府职能,建立健全乡村环境保护体系,制定合理的乡村旅游发展规划,加强乡村旅游的环境管理,为乡村旅游发展提出了对策建议.     

H2S匀圆杂选择性催化氧化工艺及催化剂研究现状

论述了石油流化催化裂化烟气中H2S气体的选择性催化氧化处理工艺和工艺中所使用的各种类型选择性氧化催化剂.目前已发展并投入使用的选择性氧化工艺主要有:Superclaus工艺、Euroclaus工艺、Clinsulf-Do工艺、BSR/Hi-Activity工艺、Selectox工艺和Modop工艺等,各工艺具有不同的特点和应用范围.H2S选择氧化催化剂主要包括以下几种体系:碳体系、SiC载体体系、分子筛体系、氧化物体系和柱撑黏土体系等.其中碳体系和氧化物体系的研究开展的较早较多,关于分子筛体系的研究近期有所减少,SiC是研究人员认为非常有潜力的一个载体体系,其相关体系研究也一直在进行之中,柱撑黏土体系还处于初步研究阶段,离实际应用尚有距离.