Assessing water use and quality through youth participatory research in a rural Andean watershed

Water availability, use and quality in a rural watershed of the Colombian Andes were investigated through participatory research involving local youth. Research included the quantification of disaggregated water use at the household level; comparison of water use with availability; monitoring water quality of streams, community water intakes and household faucets; and the determination of land use – water quality interactions. Youth were involved in all aspects of the research from design to implementation, dissemination of results and remediation options. Quantification of domestic and on-farm water use, and water availability indicated that water availability was sufficient during the study period, but that only an 8% decrease in dry season supply would result in shortages. Elevated conductivity levels in the headwaters were related to “natural” bank erosion, while downstream high conductivity and coliform levels were associated with discharges from livestock stalls and poorly maintained septic tanks in the stream buffer zone. Through the involvement of youth as co-investigators, the knowledge generated by the research was appropriated at the local level. Community workshops led by local youth promoted water conservation and water quality protection practices based on research, and resulted in broader community participation in water management. The approach involving youth in research stimulated improved management of both land and water resources, and could be applied in small rural watersheds in developed or developing countries.     

Lessons from Integrating Fishers of Arapaima in Small-Scale Fisheries Management at the Mamirauá Reserve,Amazon

Fishers and small-scale fisheries worldwide have been marginalized historically. Now it is clear that integrating fishers in management processes is key to resource conservation, but it is less clear how to do it. Here, based on a literature review and new information, we present and analyze a case in which the participation of fishers in the management process was crucial in recovering an overexploited small-scale fishery for the pirarucu (Arapaima spp.) in the Amazon Basin, Brazil. In 8 years of experimental management, from 1999 to 2006, the population of pirarucu increased 9-fold (from about 2200 to 20,650 individuals), harvest quotas increased 10-fold (from 120 to 1249 individuals), and fishers’ participation in the management process increased and they benefited from increased monetary returns. Additionally, the number of communities conducting the management scheme increased from 4 in 1999 to 108 in 2006, following the demands of fishers and regional government agencies. Based on our analysis, we suggest that the participation of fishers in the management of other small-scale fisheries in the world can be improved by focusing on (1) applying the knowledge and skills of fishers in resource monitoring and management, (2) bridging knowledge systems among all involved stakeholders, (3) collaborating with fishers that are interested in, and capable of conducting, resource conservation schemes, and (4) conducting management under conditions of uncertainty.     

泥石流坝后侵蚀坑纵剖面形态及最大深度实验研究

泥石流拦砂坝坝后侵蚀坑形态和深度是泥石流冲刷基础研究的薄弱环节。通过室内水槽实验,探讨了泥石流坝后侵蚀坑的形态和不同实验控制条件下侵蚀坑深度的变化规律等。由实验观察可知,侵蚀坑纵剖面整体上呈现两端浅中间深的形态特征,其最深点的位置随水槽坡度增大向下游方向发展;侵蚀坑坑内上游坡度较下游坡度陡,对于具有相同级配的粘性砂和无粘性砂,无粘性砂的侵蚀坑坑内坡度较粘性砂的缓;侵蚀坑的最大深度受沟床纵坡、泥石流的容重、沟床组成物质的性质(特征粒径、粘性)等因素的影响较大;泥砂粘性的存在将大大削弱侵蚀的深度。     

突发事件应急准备体系研究进展及关键科学问题

本文对应急准备体系相关的应急准备概念、战略规划方法、系统组成与结构、能力评估、应急组织架构与运行模式、应急预案及培训演练、应急准备文化等7个方面的国内外研究现状进行了简要分析,并提出了应急准备规划理论与方法、应急准备系统结构、任务和目标能力、应急准备评估理论与方法、应急准备文化的内涵与特征等应急准备体系理论研究方面的关键科学问题。     

城市旅游的一个研究剖面：国内外城市旅游产品研究述评

在回顾国内外城市旅游已有文献的基础上,对国外城市旅游产品这一专项内容进行了文献述评,内容集中于城市旅游产品类型包括城市文化旅游产品、城市遗产旅游产品、城市事件旅游产品、城市夜间旅游产品和城市旅游产品,要素包括城市旅游吸引物、城市旅游设施、城市旅游服务、城市可进人性。     

System Dynamics to Sustainable Water Resources Management in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer Under Water Supply Uncertainty1

Abstract: Water supply uncertainty continues to threaten the reliability of regional water resources in the western United States. Climate variability and water dispute potentials induce water managers to develop proactive adaptive management strategies to mitigate future hydroclimate impacts. The Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer in the state of Idaho is also facing these challenges in the sense that population growth and economic development strongly depend on reliable water resources from underground storage. Drought and subsequent water conflict often drive scientific research and political agendas because water resources availability and aquifer management for a sustainable rural economy are of great interest. In this study, a system dynamics approach is applied to address dynamically complex problems with management of the aquifer and associated surface‐water and groundwater interactions. Recharge and discharge dynamics within the aquifer system are coded in an environmental modeling framework to identify long‐term behavior of aquifer responses to uncertain future hydrological variability. The research shows that the system dynamics approach is a promising modeling tool to develop sustainable water resources planning and management in a collaborative decision‐making framework and also to provide useful insights and alternative opportunities for operational management, policy support, and participatory strategic planning to mitigate future hydroclimate impacts in human dimensions.     

石油类污染物自然衰减能力现场试验验证研究

在北京地区某加油站开展的前期石油类污染物自然衰减现场试验的基础上,进一步开展了验证试验,结果表明本次试验得到的挥发性有机物(VOCs)变化趋势及O2、CO2含量沿土壤深度分布和前期试验结果呈现相同的规律,说明基于自然衰减法设计实施的加油站现场试验检测分析结果可靠,试验方法具有合理性、可操作性及可重复性.进一步的理论分析对前期试验结果进行了验证,得出以下结论:(1)通过氧平衡和碳平衡计算对加油站土壤内的自然衰减方式进行评价,验证了该加油站地下土壤中实际发生的微生物降解既有需氧降解也有厌氧降解;(2)利用有机物的一级衰减模型对该污染现场土壤中石油类污染物的降解速率和半衰期进行计算表明,2次试验计算得到的石油类污染物的半衰期基本一致,该污染现场石油类污染物的半衰期为50 d左右;(3)在此基础上,对该加油站包气带土壤的自然衰减能力和环境质量进行评价,2次试验结果均表明该污染现场在自然衰减的作用下已经不存在环境风险.     

水生植物修复氮、磷污染水体研究进展

氮、磷是引起水体富营养化、导致水质恶化的重要因素,因此去除氮、磷一直是污水处理的重要任务.鉴于传统物理、化学方法存在的操作难、成本高、易产生二次污染等问题,人们越来越多地将目光转向利用水生植物去除氮、磷营养物质、净化水质上.介绍了近年来国内外应用水生植物修复氮、磷污染水体的方法、效果及其影响因素,探讨了水生植物净化污染水体的机制.针对目前研究中的不足,提出今后应在不同植物种类开发、植物组合优化以及植物的净化机制等方面加强研究.     

浅谈再生资源服务中心助力两型社会建设

围绕武汉城市圈“两型社会”建设综合配套改革试验区的现代社会组织体制建立过程中的热点问题,阐述了现代社会组织暨再生资源服务中心的基本特征;强调了以民主促民生的制度建设的必要性：分析了现代社会组织助力“两型社会”建设的可行性;概述了以华中资源循环利用服务中心为例的创新型现代社会组织市场化运作公共服务项目的工作思路。     

水利旅游吸引力评价模型与实证研究

水利旅游是水利经济的新兴增长点,吸引力评价是旅游开发的基础性研究。借鉴引力理论,构建了由25个指标组成的水利旅游吸引力评价指标体系,运用AHP—PCA—Borda主客观组合评价法,对我国水利旅游吸引力进行了实证评价。结果表明,水利旅游吸引力地区不平衡,江苏、广东、山东、湖北、河南、浙江、湖南、北京和江西等省水利旅游吸引力较强,西部省份和处于我国版图中轴线附近的省份水利旅游吸引力较弱。