Agricultural policies and the emergence of voluntary landscape enhancement efforts: an exploratory analysis of rural tourism using an agent-based model

Conservation and enhancement of ecosystem services have become a priority of rural policies. Feedback loops from rural policies on ecosystem service supply have often been highlighted in the literature, but only vaguely investigated. In this paper, we model feedback loops from rural policies through an agent-based model, and we analyse whether feedback loops can indirectly create a system in which voluntarily landscape enhancement emerges from the interactions between farmers and rural tourists. The results suggest that, in certain conditions, feedback loops from policies can be a relevant element to take into account, but that greater attention to the ecosystem service demand is required.     

浙江省农村生活污水处理现状及其对策

基于浙江省67个县的农村生活污水处理设施的问卷调查结果,统计分析浙江农村生活污水处理设施现状,包括动力情况、处理工艺、执行标准、运维模式、经费来源等,并探讨分析了农村生活污水处理设施排放标准及运维管理的长效性.结果表明:目前浙江农村生活污水处理设施以中小规模(30～60 t·d-1)为主,约80％的设施采用了无动力厌氧+人工湿地处理技术,出水一般执行GB 18918-2002《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》中的一级B标准,以村镇自管的运维模式为主,年均运维成本为1.3万元·座-1.从省级管理层面应加快制订符合浙江省情的农村生活污水处理设施排放标准,其指标项目数量不宜过多,指标限值可略宽于GB 18918-2002中的一级A标准;并应尽快形成针对责任主体、资金保障、第三方运维的农村生活污水处理设施长效管理机制.     

低温下强化水芹浮床对农村污水的深度处理研究

在低温条件下,利用强化水芹浮床对生物净化槽处理后的崇明岛农村生活污水进行深度处理.研究结果表明,水芹在浮床内保持着较好的生长状态,是一种优越的低温条件下浮床植物;强化水芹浮床由纤维填料和水芹交替分布组合而成,提高了浮床内的微生物浓度,强化了浮床对污染物质的降解作用,从而使其对有机质、氮、磷及悬浮物保持着较好的净化效果,平均出水浓度COD≤40 mg/L,NH4+-N≤10 mg/L,TN≤15 mg/L,TP≤1.0 mg/L.     

农村生活污水处理现状及工艺研究

日渐增大的农村生活污水无序排放,已经逐渐成为中国环境管理面临的新问题.文章分析了农村生活污水的排放特点、存在的问题以及处理的必要性,介绍了处理农村生活污水的生态系统技术和生物处理技术两大类处理方法的特点和主要原理.文章通过对CWT-M膜处理、SW一体化+人工湿地生活污水处理、ASPS生态湿地处理、AAO等四类处理设施实际运行监测结果的对比分析,指出污水处理设施及工艺的选择要因地制宣、科学设计,使相关设施达到应有的处理效果.     

中国农村环境问题根源探析

农村环境问题是中国环境保护面临的又一严峻挑战,深入探讨其成因是解决问题的关键.中国农村环境问题是多方面因素共同作用的结果,但其根本是城乡居民经济水平差距的日趋扩大使农村发展重经济轻环境、城乡环境权益的不平等使农村承担城市转嫁污染而得不到补偿,以及城乡统筹发展过程中未真正将农村与城市平等对待的偏差.     

Using Soil and Water Conservation Contests for Extension: Experiences from the Bolivian Mountain Valleys

Soil and water conservation (SWC) contests among farmer groups were organized in five rural villages in the Bolivian mountain valleys. The contests were aimed at quickly achieving widespread sustainable results. This article analyzes the effectiveness of these contests as an extension tool. Mixed results were obtained. In three villages, participation rates in the SWC activities introduced in the contests were still high even 2 years after project withdrawal. These were all villages where a solid foundation for sustainable development had been laid before the contests were held. Two years later, most families were still involved in maintenance of the SWC practices introduced in the contests, and many farmers had started to experiment with different soil management practices. However, replications of these SWC practices were not widespread, Conservation Leaders did not continue with their training activities, and the quality of maintenance of the practices was often not satisfactory. In order to become a more effective extension tool and achieve widespread impact, SWC contests must receive continued support by a catalyst agency. Moreover, other SWC contests should also be organized in which practices are not predefined. Given that SWC contests are a low-budget extension tool, local municipalities could become more actively involved.     

村镇小型生活垃圾热处理炉底渣的理化特性

小型垃圾热处理设备可实现就地处置,节约运输成本,目前在中国山区、丘陵地带的村镇得到广泛应用.为了解村镇小型生活垃圾热处理炉底渣的理化特性及其影响因素,对中国云南、贵州、安徽村镇实际运行的小型生活垃圾热处理设备产生的底渣进行取样,分析其热灼减率、物理组成、化学组成、晶相组成、重金属含量和浸出特性,探讨处理工艺、地域及季节...     

A Matrix‐Calibrated Species‐Area Model for Predicting Biodiversity Losses Due to Land‐Use Change

Abstract: Application of island biogeography theory to prediction of species extinctions resulting from habitat loss is based on the assumption that the transformed landscape matrix is completely inhospitable to the taxa considered, despite evidence demonstrating the nontrivial influence of matrix on populations within habitat remnants. The island biogeography paradigm therefore needs refining to account for specific responses of taxa to the area of habitat “islands” and to the quality of the surrounding matrix. We incorporated matrix effects into island theory by partitioning the slope (z value) of species–area relationships into two components: γ, a constant, and σ, a measure of taxon‐specific responses to each component of a heterogeneous matrix. We used our matrix‐calibrated model to predict extinction and endangerment of bird species resulting from land‐use change in 20 biodiversity hotspots and compared these predictions with observed numbers of extinct and threatened bird species. We repeated this analysis with the conventional species–area model and the countryside species–area model, considering alternative z values of 0.35 (island) or 0.22 (continental). We evaluated the relative strength of support for each of the five candidate models with Akaike's information criterion (AIC). The matrix‐calibrated model had the highest AIC weight (w_i = 89.21%), which means the weight of evidence in support of this model was the optimal model given the set of candidate models and the data. In addition to being a valuable heuristic tool for assessing extinction risk, our matrix‐calibrated model also allows quantitative assessment of biodiversity benefits (and trade‐offs) of land‐management options in human‐dominated landscapes. Given that processes of secondary regeneration have become more widespread across tropical regions and are predicted to increase, our matrix‐calibrated model will be increasingly appropriate for practical conservation in tropical landscapes.     

江苏省城乡结合部土地资源利用状况与对策

城乡结合部是城市向农村的过渡带。由于其独特的经济地理位置,使这一地带的土地资源呈现出协同效应活跃、恢复原状机会少、抗干扰能力低、边界变化速度快等生态脆弱性特征。由于人们长期不合理的开发活动,导致了结合部内土地资源数量锐减、质量下降、污染严重、投入减少、地面沉降等生态环境变异。迫使我们采取切实有效的措施,解决日趋严重的城乡结合部土地资源危机。     

PREDICTING INSTANTANEOUS PEAK DEMAND IN RURAL DOMESTIC WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS1

ABSTRACT: Many rural areas of the United States still have no public domestic water systems. Typical land use patterns in these areas may require 1/2 mile or more of pipe per farm connection. Public systems serving these areas are economically feasible only if realistic short-term peak demand standards are available for their design. The lack of reliable data upon which to establish such criteria has resulted in a large variation in criteria among state and federal agencies involved in financing and in approving construction of these systems. During the summer of 1975 three distribution laterals of a rural system in Utah were master metered and instantaneous peak flows were recorded for 4 months. The metered lines served 4, 12, and 22 farm houses each. The frequency distribution of peak flows has been analyzed and compared with that developed during similar research in Mississippi and with the existing design standards of the Farmers Home Administration and the State of Utah.