The utility of earth observation technologies in understanding impacts of land reform in the eastern region of Zimbabwe

Land tenure and land policies influence the spatial variations of land use/cover (LULC) at any given time or place. Thus, it is important to evaluate the role of land tenure policies on land cover changes. In this study, we evaluate the utility of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images in understanding the impacts of the 2000 fast track land reform (FTLR) policy on LULC in the eastern region, Zimbabwe. Landsat images for the year 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2011 were classified using traditional image classification techniques (i.e. the maximum likelihood (ML) classifier) in a geographic information system (GIS) environment. Results indicate that forested areas drastically decreased by approx. 30% between the year 2000 and 2005 (during and after the FTLR), while croplands marginally increased by (approx. 30%) the results further showed that slight increase in bare lands (degraded lands) and disturbed lands. The observed LULC changes after FTLR were mostly induced by human activities resulting from changes in land tenure. Overall, the findings of this study underscores the importance of remotely sensed data in assessing the impact of FTLR on forest resources for purposes of informed and sustainable forest management.     

深化课程改革突破高职数学教学的困境

针对目前高职数学教学面临的生源质量下降、课时大量缩减的现象,要树立全新的高职教育理念,深刻认识数学课程在高职教育中的地位和作用,准确把握高职教育中数学课程的教学目标,重新构建高职教育中的数学课程体系,深化高职数学课程的改革,突破高职数学所面临的教学困境。     

Coal sector reform and its implications for the power sector in China

Coal is the major primary energy which fuels the economic growth in China. The Soviet-style institution of the coal sector was adopted after the People’s Republic was founded in 1949. But since the end of 1970s there have been major changes: the market mechanism was introduced to the coal sector and the Major State Coal mines were transferred from central to local governments. This paper explains these market-oriented and decentralized reforms and explores their implications for the power sector, now the largest single consumer of coal. The argument of this paper is that the market-oriented and decentralized reforms in the coal sector were influenced by the changes in state energy investment priority as well as the relationship between the central and local governments in the context of broader reforms within China’s economy. However, these market-oriented and decentralized reforms have not equally influenced the power sector. Even though initial coal sector reform spurred power generation, the subsequent fragmented reforms raise concern about electricity shortages.     

Can fear of going to jail reduce the number of road fatalities? The Spanish experience

The goal of this article is to evaluate the impact of the drastic Spanish Penal Code reform on the number of road deaths in Spain and the time that the effects might last. This is achieved by means of multivariate unobserved component models set up in a state space framework estimated using maximum likelihood. In short, with this reform Spain might be considered to be closing the final gap that kept it apart from other developed countries as far as the road accident rate is concerned. We have found two different types of effects on Spanish road traffic fatalities. Initially, a month before the reform was passed there was a 24.7 percent fall in Spanish road deaths. After the Bill had been passed and for the following thirteen months, the reduction stayed at a constant sixteen percent. This reform has reduced Spanish road fatalities by 534 in all between November 2007 and December 2008 and the effects will foreseeably continue during 2009.     

双重红利视角的环境税制改革研究

环境税“双重红利”理论自提出以来就引起学术界的广泛关注,OECD国家对此进行了长期的实践,取得了不错的效果,其探索性的举措为解决“如何协调环境保护与经济发展”这一当下热门问题提供了思路和参考.借鉴OECD国家环境税政策的成功经验,立足于当下中国税制改革的现实背景,以实现“双重红利”为目标,为中国环境税制改革提供建议,使中国的环境税制度既能实现环境保护的目标,又能促进经济发展,减少税收效率损失.     

“环境监测实习”实践教学的改革和实践

在建设校内外“环境监测实习”实践基地的基础上,形成将区域环境质量监测、城市环境监测站和污水处理厂参观等相结合的新型“环境监测实习”实践教学内容体系,建立动手实践、参观和讲座等联合的新的教学方式,并建立激发学生全面发展的教学评分体系,强化学生实践能力、综合素质和创新能力的培养,从而将实践、教学和科研紧密结合,为学生顺利走入相应工作岗位奠定基础。     

开展林权制度改革政策环境影响评价促进林业绿色发展

我国历经6年的林权制度改革作为促进林业发展的根本措施,正在不断深化并已经取得很大成就。但同时也应看到其对生态环境具有一定影响（正面和负面影响）。如果国家在实施林业制度改革之前或实施初期对其可能带来的生态环境影响进行预先的评估,有利于最大程度地减少其负面影响和扩大其正面影响,将有助于决策者做出科学决策。因此开展林权改革环境影响理论与实践研究成为当务之急,是进一步开展好林权制度改革后续的配套政策措施研究的重要内容,是保障林权改革相关政策顺利实施的重要保障。为此建议：第一,国家相关部门要高度关注林权制度改革过程中对生态环境的影响;第二,应尽快深入开展林权改革环境影响评价理论与实践研究;第三,把林权改革作为重点领域开展政策环境影响评价试点,为在规划环评基础上进一步实施政策环评制度提供技术支撑,为修改《环评法》和政策环评作好技术储备,为促进林业绿色发展保驾护航。     

环境影响评价制度改革应着力回归环评本质

环评倍受关注,主要因为其作为环保部门的最大权力,不仅没有起到预防污染发生的作用,反而成了一些不正当利益输送的通道。本文从回顾环评在中国的发展历程和剖析环保部门、建设单位或规划编制机关、环评机构在环评中的相互关系入手,试图回答“作为环保部门最大权力为什么预防不住环境污染”的问题。研究认为,应以促进环评回归其本质作为环评制度改革的目标,按“环评脱钩→环评审批→环境违法严惩→维护公众环境权益”优先顺序,全面推进环评制度改革;环评脱钩是环评制度改革的切入点或起点;环评制度改革须抓住“如何防止环评及干预环评的任性权力”这一关键点,即环评制度改革的“牛鼻子”应是环评审批;以信息公开、社会监督确保事中有效监督,确保公众环境权益、强化污染者的损害担责,倒逼环评回归其本质;以法治和社会监督防止环评及干预环评的权力任性。     

集体林权改革评价:林产品生产绩效视角

新一轮的集体林权改革已经开展了6年,对这一轮改革及时进行评价,不但对于认识改革的效果有积极的作用,而且对于有效地推进改革也是必不可少的.本文通过分成地租模型预测,集体林权改革对林产品生产效率会产生正向的影响,这些正向的影响主要包括林户劳动积极性的提高和林产晶产量的增加,同时也可能会对林产品全要素生产率产生积极影响.利用此次林权改革的主要省份之一--福建2县11乡(镇)29村320林户调查数据,本文的研究结论证实了前者,林户劳动投入由改革前146.53工日增加到改革后的180.76工日,增长了23%;竹产品的产量也由改革前的1 312.33 kg增长到改革后的1 815.09kg,增加了38%.另外,基于肯德里克方法,本文计算了集体林权改革前后林产品全要素生产率,对比二者发现,改革对林产品全要素生产率并没有产生正向的影响,相反而是负向的影响.据此本文提出,下一步的林业改革在做好相关配套改革的基础上,还要注重提高林产晶全要素生产率.     

大学英语教学改革—突出情景教学

传统的大学英语教学模式以教师课堂分析和语言讲解为重点，学生进行的实践太少。教学内容难以靠近语意和语境，学生很难做到学以致用。相反，情景教学能极大地激发学生的学习兴趣，积极引导学生参与语言练习。在情景教学中，教师通过创设情景、带入情境、运用情境、情景反思四步骤带领学生完成课堂任务，达到语言学习的目的。