Reflections on network governance in Africa's forestry sector

International forestry governance is an integral part of the global policy debates on how to prevent deforestation, illicit extraction, and unsustainable timber practices. Africa is an important producer of timber, yet the region is beset by a lack of capacity and other governance challenges in the management of its forestry sector. We employ a network governance analysis to examine the extent to which the evolution and operation of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and la Commission des Forêts d'Afrique Centrale (COMIFAC) have addressed governance challenges. We assess the strengths and weaknesses of these two leading examples of international forestry governance by introducing recent evidence and insights from Africa. We conclude with a policy‐relevant discussion of how the FSC and COMIFAC might enhance authority, legitimacy, and effectiveness and improve forestry governance in Africa and other parts of the world.     

Deriving Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Standards

Achieving and maintaining the water quality conditions necessary to protect the aquatic living resources of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries has required a foundation of quantifiable water quality criteria. Quantitative criteria serve as a critical basis for assessing the attainment of designated uses and measuring progress toward meeting water quality goals of the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership. In 1987, the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership committed to defining the water quality conditions necessary to protect aquatic living resources. Under section 303(c) of the Clean Water Act, States and authorized tribes have the primary responsibility for adopting water quality standards into law or regulation. The Chesapeake Bay Program partnership worked with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop and publish a guidance framework of ambient water quality criteria with designated uses and assessment procedures for dissolved oxygen, water clarity, and chlorophyll a for Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries in 2003. This article reviews the derivation of the water quality criteria, criteria assessment protocols, designated use boundaries, and their refinements published in six addendum documents since 2003 and successfully adopted into each jurisdiction's water quality standards used in developing the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load.     

成都市典型非道路工程机械排气烟度分析

采用不透光烟度计采集了成都市典型工程机械(挖掘机、装载机、叉车和压路机)排气烟度,研究了机械功率对其活动水平(燃油消耗量和年均工作时间)的影响,同时也研究了机械发动机构造和机械排放标准对其排气烟度的影响;同时,采用氮硫测定仪分析了机械油品硫含量,研究了硫含量对其排气烟度的影响.试验结果表明:机械功率越大的工程机械,燃油消耗量和年均工作时间数越高.成都典型工程机械排气烟度排放水平最低的为装载机,最高的为压路机;同时,超高排放装载机与叉车的占比较高.工程机械排气烟度受机械发动机排量、机械发动机构造、机械发动机排放标准和机械用油的综合影响,通过对工程机械装配电控发动机、提高原机排放标准和使用低硫燃油均能直观反映出机械排气烟度不同程度的改善.此外,油品中硫含量越高,机械排气烟度越大.     

住宅遭受交通噪声污染时开发商应承担的民事责任初探

从分析住宅遭受交通噪声污染时开发商民事责任的性质入手,探讨了现行声环境质量标准对开发商的适用性和合理性,阐明了开发商的责任范围,提出了完善住宅声环境质量标准的建议。主要结论:目前我国尚缺乏合理的约束开发商的住宅声环境质量标准;开发商的隔声减噪义务主要包括留出与道路之间的防噪距离和采取安装隔声窗、封闭阳台等隔声措施;应将门窗封闭状态下的室内噪声限值颁布为住宅声环境质量标准。     

"环境试验与观测"专业技术平台建设取得重大进展

介绍了“十五”期间“环境试验与观测”专业在专业平台建设方面取得的主要成绩：建立了装备环境工程技术体系和标准体系,完成了专业平台的顶层设计,提出了一套较为完整实验室环境试验剪裁技术,探讨了环境适应性要求的内涵和剪裁方法,建立了飞机任务环境需求一体化系统的基本框架。最后提出了加强环境工程基础技术研究力度和环境工程标准制修订速度,开展GJB4239标准宣贯,尽快出台《装备环境工程管理规定》文件和加快武器装备平台环境预计系统开发的建议。     

城市轨道交通上盖物业振动影响评价标准选取探讨

对现行的振动评价标准中相关问题进行分析,认为VLzmax和VLz10分别作为城市轨道交通列车振动和环境振动背景评价量是合理的。并对标准JGJ/T 170-2009应用提出了建议。     

Monitoring and information reporting for sustainable forest management: a regional comparison of forestry stakeholder perceptions

Since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) [1992, Agenda 21: programme of action for sustainable development. United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), 3-14 June 1992. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 294pp.], the management of information has become central to the management of forest resources. In the cases of North America and Europe, similar issues have been challenging policy makers as they determine the information suitable for monitoring progress towards sustainable forest management (SFM). Using an 'online' survey, this research explored multiple stakeholder perspectives on monitoring and information reporting for SFM in different jurisdictions. The research was based on the premise that an analysis of the variation in stakeholder observations across a range of SFM 'issue areas' could provide valuable insight into the perceived need for SFM-related monitoring and information reporting in the regions of Europe, Canada and the USA. Despite the traditional limitations associated with exploratory survey research, the results indicate a demand for more information on SFM-related issues. The results also highlight the degree to which the perceptions of a sample of stakeholders can differ between Europe, USA and Canada. While these results cannot be generalized beyond the present study, they do suggest that further studies are needed to understand stakeholder perspectives on forestry-related monitoring and information reporting in different jurisdictions.     

浅论ISO／DIS9001、ISO14001及OHSMS试行标准的关系

本文通过ISO／DIS9001、ISO14001和OHSMS试行标准的比较,为组织建立QMS、EMS和OHSMS提供帮助。     

内蒙古包头放射性废物库安全运行25年

文章简要论述了内蒙古包头放射性废物库现状、扩建工程及环境整治工程概况,通过对库区、库外辐射环境质量监测,放射性处于一般环境水平,废物库运行20多年来,未对周围环境造成污染,通过整治工程的建设,达到了预期治理要求,废物库运行是安全的。     

Preliminary assessment of indoor industrial noise pollution in Kuwait

Sound is considered as a pollutant when it exceeds undesirable limits for the recipient. One of the significant environmental problems associated with industries is noise pollution generated by machinery. The main objectives of this study were to measure noise levels generated by machinery that the workers were exposed to at five industrial facilities in the State of Kuwait. Also, to assess if these levels were within acceptable standards, for Kuwait lacks environmental standards for such a pollutant. To achieve the objectives of the study two food manufacturing companies, a cement-brick making plant, a furniture factory and a car washing facility were selected for the purpose of the research.The study showed that workers operating machinery at the five facilities were exposed to high noise levels without any kind of ear protection. Noise levels recorded during the study were very high and exceeded the British Noise at Work Regulations of 1989. In Kuwait there are no regulations to abate noise in the working environment and workers are not required to wear ear protective muffs. The results of the study indicate that, the concerned environmental and health organisations in Kuwait should be compelled to establish noise level standards and controls to safeguard the health of workers and the public at large.