Delivering on the Promise of Agroforestry

Agroforestry – the traditional practice of growing trees on farms for the benefit of the farm family and for the environment – was brought from the realm of indigenous knowledge into the forefront of agricultural research less than two decades ago. It was promoted widely as a sustainability-enhancing practice that combines the best attributes of forestry and agriculture. Based on principles of natural resource management and process-oriented research, agroforestry is now recognized as an applied science, that is instrumental in assuring food security, reducing poverty and enhancing ecosystem resilience at the scale of thousands of smallholder farmers in the tropics.Trees on farms provide both products and services: they yield food, fuelwood, fodder, timber and medicines, which farm families can use at home or take to market to bring in much-needed cash; they replenish organic matter and nutrient levels in soils and they help control erosion and conserve water. The International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, and its partners, are working to integrate the functions of trees with policy and institutional improvements that aim at facilitating wide-scale adoption by farmers.Two examples described in this paper are replenishing soil fertility in sub-Saharan Africa using short-term improved tree and shrub fallows and the results of agroforestry research to support significant land tenure policy in southeast Asia.Although just one option in sustainable land-use, science-based agroforestry has the potential to produce economically, socially and environmentally sound results for the billions of people who depend on this ancient practice and modern science.     

Mechanisms of changes in population numbers of Caucasian red deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cervus elaphus maral</Emphasis>) in the northwestern Caucasus

Mechanisms of changes in the numbers of red deer in the Caucasian State Biosphere Reserve (the northwestern Caucasus) were studied from 1958 to 2004 using simulation models developed on the basis of concepts concerning the combined effect of density-dependent and density-independent factors. The results show that changes in population numbers are accounted for by larger (more numerous) local subunits, with small groups remaining relatively stable. In the periods of depression, such a mechanism provides for the maintenance of the spatial population structure.     

生物炭对Cd污染土壤的修复效果与机理

通过修复培养实验和BCR连续提取实验研究牛粪生物炭（DM）和水稻秸秆生物炭（RS）对2种镉污染土壤的修复效果、影响因素及修复后的Cd的形态分布,探讨可能存在的修复机理。经56 d修复后,与CK相比,5%添加量的牛粪生物炭（DM5%）和水稻秸秆生物炭（RS5%）使TCLP提取态Cd在S1土壤中分别降低了15%和18%,在S2土壤中分别降低了5%和6%。但生物炭添加量为1%时对S2土壤中Cd无显著修复效果。DM5%和RS5%处理使Cd的酸可溶态在S1土壤中降低8.66%和9.25%,在S2土壤中降低7.86%和13.4%,相应的残渣态在S1土壤中升高8.30%和10.54%,在S2土壤中升高8.67%和14.92%。同时,DM5%和RS5%处理使土壤pH提高了7.69%~13.13%,TCLP提取态P增高了0.046~0.39 mg·g-1。结果表明,添加量为5%的牛粪生物炭和秸秆生物炭可有效修复Cd污染土壤。     

基于灰色关联度的平顶山市耕地面积变化与经济增长关系分析研究

依据平顶山市1988年－2012年公布的耕地面积与经济增长关系数据,选取平顶山市耕地面积,人均生产总值,第一产业在生产总值中的比重,第二产业在生产总值中的比重,第三产业在生产总值中的比重作为分析因子,将灰色关联度分析方法和综合评价模型相结合,建立灰色关联度分析模型,对平顶山市耕地面积变化与经济增长关系分析。结果显示：第三产业最为影响耕地面积的变化,第二产业次之,第一产业再次之,人均GDP最小。能为区域土地利用的长期战略和短期规划提供依据。     

渤海湾大型底栖生物群落结构变化及原因探讨

根据近6年来的渤海湾大型底栖生物群落的资料,以及2011年的现场调查数据,从渤海湾底栖生物群落结构的变化特征出发,分析了其变化的过程和规律.同时结合渤海湾水域近几年来的水动力条件以及营养盐、溶解氧等水质特征变化,探讨底栖生物群落变化的原因.结果表明,渤海湾大型底栖生物的物种数、生物量、丰度、丰富度指数、多样性指数的高值区皆集中分布在海河口北侧离岸较远的海域,而低值区则基本集中分布近岸海域,且呈现由近岸向外海逐渐增加的趋势.渤海湾大型底栖生物群落变化可大体分为3个明显的时间节点:第一个时间节点为2005年和2008年,底栖生物群落无论总物种数、生物量和丰度都较高;第二个时间节点为2009年和2010年,底栖生物群落的上述指标值最低,表明这两年渤海湾受自然变化和人为因素干扰的程度加剧;2011年,由于渤海湾水域的各项强有力的环保措施的实施,底栖生物群落的上述指标值最高,说明其得到一定程度的恢复.渤海湾水域底栖生物群落变化受到该区域的物理因素、化学因素和生物因素的共同影响,变化特征也与各环境因素的变化基本吻合.     

Book reviews

Abstract

The basic aim of this article is to briefly explore the links between socio-economic dynamics and desertification in western Lesvos, Greece. The area is characterised by certain socio-economic and development disadvantages, dependence on few productive sectors (mainly on livestock breeding) and by severe problems of land degradation and desertification. The linkages between socio-economic profile, characteristics and development trajectory with the state of environment in the area are identified through a series of in-depth qualitative interviews with local producers (livestock breeders). Research findings reveal the major socio-economic driving forces towards unsustainable productive practices, which contribute to the persistence of the problems of land degradation and desertification.     

Low-impact development for impervious surface connectivity mitigation: assessment of directly connected impervious areas (DCIAs)

Urbanization increases directly connected impervious area (DCIA), the impervious area that is hydraulically connected to downstream drainage by closed pipelines. Although the benefits of low-impact development (LID) have been examined in other studies, its effect on alleviating DCIA levels has seldom been assessed. This study measured the DCIA of urban watersheds in Houston, TX, USA. Five land-use types were categorized and the contribution of LID facilities to reducing DCIA in each type was estimated by using Sutherland's equations. The results showed (1) DCIA in commercial areas was greater than that in residential areas, especially for big-box retailers; (2) the percentage of DCIA reduction by LID varied by land-use type; and (3) optimal combinations of LID application could maximize the effectiveness of DCIA reduction. The results contribute to prioritizing land-use type for implementing LID practices and providing local governments with a useful measure to estimate runoff volume.     

和田河年径流变化规律研究

根据和田河实测年径流资料,应用小波分析、R/S分析等多种方法,探讨了在气候变化和人类活动影响下,和田河年径流变化规律及其成因。结果表明,和田河年径流存在减少趋势,且具有一定的持续性。通过径流变化的影响因素分析表明,上游出山口处两支流的径流变化主要受气温升高的影响,下游入塔里木河处除受降水减少的影响外,主要是由于人类对水土资源开发进程的加快,人类活动是其径流变化的主要原因。     

Planning for compact urban forms: local growth-management approaches and their evolution over time

Urban growth is a key issue for spatial planning as it influences urban patterns and disrupts open landscapes. To effectively steer urban growth towards compact urban forms, many growth-management policies have been developed over recent decades. However, few studies have assessed how municipal policy mixes have evolved over time. In our representative Swiss-wide survey, we evaluated the prevalence and the time of introduction of 18 policies. Our results indicate that large municipalities use a broad range of reinforcing policies over decades. In contrast, small municipalities mostly rely on conventional land-use regulations. The lack of innovative, incentive-based policies casts doubt on small municipalities' ability to effectively manage urban growth. However, our analyses reveal recent efforts by small municipalities to diversify approaches to growth management and adopt innovative policies. These efforts should be supported by guiding small municipalities in their policy choices, and providing support to those lacking planning capacity.     

Examining strategic sustainability plans and smart-growth land-use measures in California cities

Given many potential obstacles, what types of strategic plans and measures for climate protection and/or energy sustainability are more likely than others to be adopted by cities? What are the key internal and external obstacles to adopting and implementing these plans and measures? Based on data obtained from a survey conducted from 2010 to 2011 and other sources, this paper develops a framework derived from political contracting theory and strategic orientation literature to examine how public management obstacles, socio-economic factors, and political factors influence a city's likelihood of having strategic energy sustainability plans and measures in place. Moreover, this paper finds that many California cities remain reluctant to require residents and businesses to comply with more challenging sustainability measures, such as smart-growth land-use practices, and that those cities with a strategic energy sustainability plan already in place tend to be more willing to adopt smart-growth land-use measures.