Land-use choices: the case of conservation reserve program (CRP) re-enrollment in Kansas,USA

Among the important alternatives for land conservation is the US Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) that celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2015. This paper explores how landowners decide on alternative land-use choices made available by the expiration of CRP contracts in Kansas. The study uses survey data and multinomial Logit models to predict land-use choices. Two models were tested. The first model does not incorporate variables concerning farmer perceptions and attitudes about land-use choices, while the second model does. The results show that CRP re-enrollment depends on factors, such as years of experience in cropping and percent of cropland irrigated. However, when perception variables are added, the models become more robust in explaining other land choice alternatives. The results suggest that as the perception of unfairness of more inflexible environmental policy rises, these farmers may be more likely to re-enroll their marginal land in the CRP program.     

Sustainable development strategies for China's Du Jiang Yan Water Resources Project

China's Du Jiang Yan Irrigation Project, dating back to 256 BC, is one of the world's earliest water resources projects. Although it has been benefiting the Sichuan Basin area for over 2000 years, it is facing increasing problems due to ecological deterioration, over-exploitation from local industries and agriculture, suboptimal resource allocation arising from supply and demand mismatches, and an aging infrastructure. The traditional water resources development model is no longer appropriate for current and future needs of the area. Therefore, a sustainable development framework is envisioned in which population, economy and environment coexist in harmony. Within this framework, major strategies, such as construction and renovation of infrastructure, promotion of water conserving irrigation through non-engineering measures, pollution control and ecological improvements, restructuring of management entities and exploration of new funding sources, are proposed. An evaluation system is also introduced to assess the degree of sustainability and to monitor progress towards a high level of sustainable development.     

山东省产业政策战略环境评价

战略环境影响评价(StrategicEnvironmentalAssessment,简称SEA)是环境影响评价在战略决策层次上的应用,是实现可持续发展战略的重要手段。首先阐述了产业政策SEA的内涵,分析论述了产业政策对环境的影响和山东省产业政策SEA的必要性,建立了山东省产业政策SEA的理论基础,最后提出了山东省产业政策SEA的初步研究框架。     

黄河中上游能源化工区重点产业发展战略土地资源承载力评价

结合黄河中上游能源化工区重点产业发展战略土地资源影响特点,探索了战略环评土地资源承载力评价方法和思路. 以土地资源优势、劣势、机会和威胁(SWOT)分析和主成分分析(PCA)为研究手段,构建了涵括土地资源生态属性、经济属性及社会属性的土地资源综合承载力评价指标体系,研究了重点产业战略实施前后土地资源综合承载力空间变化,深入剖析了重点产业发展战略的环境合理性. 结果表明:黄河中上游能源化工区重点产业战略实施后,能源重化工产业重点布局、大规模发展区域综合土地资源承载力指数较现状降低10%以上,而非重点发展区域土地资源综合承载力有所提升,因此,重点产业发展中必须结合土地资源承载力现状,合理调整产业发展布局.      

The political economy of power generation in Zimbabwe since 1980

This article presents a historical analysis of the power generation choices in Zimbabwe since independence in 1980; their causes and consequences. In the early 1980s, the electricity supply choices of the country were dictated by a policy of self-sufficiency, and least-cost supply options (e.g. imports and hydropower) were rejected at a not negligible economic cost. At the end of the 1980s, a new political environment and pressures from the World Bank prompted substantial changes towards least-cost alternatives. In the early 1990s, security of supply motives still played an important role and financial constraints were severe. At present, however, there is little evidence that imported power is still as cheap a source of electricity as it was about 15 years ago. This situation together with the ongoing trend towards higher discount rates imply that thermal power, in particular coal-fired power, will dominate future electricity supply investments in Zimbabwe.     

Investigating the strategic antecedents of agility in humanitarian logistics

This study investigates the strategic antecedents of operational agility in humanitarian logistics. It began by identifying the particular actions to be taken at the strategic level of a humanitarian organisation to support field‐level agility. Next, quantitative data (n=59) were collected on four strategic‐level capabilities (being purposeful, action‐focused, collaborative, and learning‐oriented) and on operational agility (field responsiveness and flexibility). Using a quantitative analysis, the study tested the relationship between organisational capacity building and operational agility and found that the four strategic‐level capabilities are fundamental building blocks of agility. Collectively they account for 52 per cent of the ability of humanitarian logisticians to deal with ongoing changes and disruptions in the field. This study emphasises the need for researchers and practitioners to embrace a broader perspective of agility in humanitarian logistics. In addition, it highlights the inherently strategic nature of agility, the development of which involves focusing simultaneously on multiple drivers.     

Addressing challenges for future strategic‐level emergency management: reframing,networking, and capacity‐building

The mounting frequency and intensity of natural hazards, alongside growing interdependencies between social‐technical and ecological systems, are placing increased pressure on emergency management. This is particularly true at the strategic level of emergency management, which involves planning for and managing non‐routine, high‐consequence events. Drawing on the literature, a survey, and interviews and workshops with Australia's senior emergency managers, this paper presents an analysis of five core challenges that these pressures are creating for strategic‐level emergency management. It argues that emphasising ‘emergency management’ as a primary adaptation strategy is a retrograde step that ignores the importance of addressing socio‐political drivers of vulnerabilities. Three key suggestions are presented that could assist the country's strategic‐level emergency management in tackling these challenges: (i) reframe emergency management as a component of disaster risk reduction rather than them being one and the same; (ii) adopt a network governance approach; and (iii) further develop the capacities of strategic‐level emergency managers.     

区域开发SEA综合评价体系初探

根据区域可持续发展的要求,为了实现区域环境保护从战略酝酿阶段就参与区域国民经济综合评价,本文首次尝试提出了一套实际操作性强的、定量的、着眼于整体的区域可持续性发展SEA综合评价模式,并以成都市羊安工业集中发展区为例,从经济、社会、环境三个子系统出发建立指标体系对其进行综合评价。     

战略环境影响评价及其在我国实施的必要性

本文简要介绍了战略环境影响评价（SEA）的产生，涵义，特点及研究现状，分析了当前我国环境影响评价存在的主要问题，重点论述了SEA在我国实施的必要性，阐明了SEA是实现可持续发展和改善我国环境评价质量的重要手段。     

战略环境评价及其应用初探

本文概述了战略环境评价的概念、产生原因、研究现状及其工作程序，结合川南矿肥工程项目对它进行了应用初探 ，提出了计划、规划层次SEA的方法和指标，并对我国环评工作提出了建议。