Strategies for sustainable development of the small-scale gold and diamond mining industry of Ghana

The small-scale gold and diamonds mining industry is of great importance to Ghana. Since its regularization in 1989 the sector has produced and sold over 1.5 million troy ounces of gold and 8.0 million carats of diamonds. During the same period the sector also provided direct employment to over 100,000 people and improved the socioeconomic life of many individuals and communities. However, these were largely achieved at a cost to the environment in areas where mining is carried out and there is the need to develop the industry in a sustainable manner. This paper looks at the developments in the small-scale gold and diamonds mining industry in Ghana and proposes some strategies on how the concepts of sustainable development could be applied to the industry.     

职业安全健康管理体系的历史沿革及其在国内的发展现状

职业安全健康管理体系 (OSHMS)与ISO90 0 0和ISO14 0 0 0等标准化管理体系一起被称为是后工业化时代的管理方法 ,构成了现代企业管理制度的核心内容之一。笔者首先概述了职业安全健康产生的国际、国内背景以及历史沿革及当今发展概况 ;其次 ,提出了职业安全健康管理体系在市场准入机制、认证结果的客观性和公正性、“三标”一体化等方面应引起关注的一些问题 ;在此基础上预测了其将来的发展方向     

秦皇岛市生态状况及资源开发利用水平分析综述

秦皇岛市区内生态类型多样,各类生态系统功能突出,自然资源丰富,尤其是海、旅游资源优势突出,为区域经济发展提供了良好的基础条件。该文对秦皇岛市生态系统平衡及资源开发利用水平进行了定量分析。     

Paradise Threatened: Land Use and Erosion on St. John, US Virgin Islands

2 /yr, respectively. Geomorphic evidence indicates that plantation agriculture during the 18th and 19th centuries did not cause severe erosion. Since about 1950 there has been rapid growth in roads and development due to increasing tourism and second-home development. Our field investigations identified the approximately 50 km of unpaved roads as the primary source of anthropogenic sediment. Field measurements of the road network in two catchments led to the development of a vector-based GIS model to predict road surface erosion and sediment delivery. We estimate that road erosion has caused at least a fourfold increase in island-wide sediment yields and that current sedimentation rates are unprecedented. Paving the dirt roads and implementing standard sediment control practices can greatly reduce current sediment yields and possible adverse effects on the marine ecosystems surrounding St. John.     

Comparing Environmental Conditions Using Indicators of Pollution Hazard

/ Land use/land cover classifications for 1973 and 1991, derived from the interpretation of satellite imagery, are quantified on the basis of biophysical land units in a study area in southeastern Australia. Nutrient export potentials are estimated for each land unit based on their composition of land use/land cover classes. Spatial and temporal comparisons are made of the land units based on the calculated pollution hazard indicators to provide an insight into changes in the state of the environment and the regional significance of land use changes. For example, one ecosystem, unique to the study, showed a large increase in pollution hazard over the study period as a manifestation of an 11-fold rise in cleared area and an expansion of cropping activities. The benefits to environmental management in general are discussed.KEY WORDS: Land cover change; Nutrient export; Environmental condition; Pollution hazard; Agricultural pollution; Nonpoint source pollution; Diffuse pollution; Environmental degradation     

Integration of Environmental Assessment into the Regional Development Planning Process of the Galilee

/ The Galilee region on the northern edge of Israel constitutes more than 15% of the state's territory, supplies more than half of its drinking water needs, and is an important recreational resource and destination for Israelis. One of the main objectives of the plan for the Galilee was to devise a regional physical and economic development strategy for the years 1992-2007 that would arrest the trend of emigration of its residents, attract newly arrived immigrants to the region, and at the same time protect natural resources and environmental quality. This paper is limited to discussion of the environmental aspects of the plan. It analyzes spatial concepts for distribution of projected population growth, evaluates environmental impacts of alternative plans, and proposes a decision-making framework and tools for minimizing natural resources loss from development at the local level. Assessment of potential environmental impacts generated quantitative data of natural resources areas. Application of the data in the plan evaluation stage showed that the alternative that concentrated most of the new development in central Galilee was the second-best choice environmentally, but was preferred as the best choice for overall qualities. The planning study offers an alternative environmental impact assessment (EIA) process to the one presently used in Israel by incorporating environmental considerations at the initial plan-making stage and not at the plan-approval stage. It demonstrated that in order to be effective, environmental assessment and land-use planning should be seen as one effort that is integrated from the start and in each stage of the plan-making process.KEY WORDS: Environmental assessment; Development planning; Galilee     

1978—1994年分省农业旱灾灾情的经验正交函数EOF分析

本文利用１９７８～１９９４年各省、市、自治区的农业旱灾受灾面积及播种面积的资料，以旱灾受灾率（即旱灾受灾面积与播种面积之比）作为刻划旱灾灾情的指标。对标准化的旱灾受灾率进行经验正交函数分析，发现前五个典型场方差贡献达７０．７％，可以概括我国旱灾灾情的空间分布主要类型。其中，前三个典型场的正负区域分界线的大体位置分别为长城一线、秦淮线和江南丘陵北缘     

Focusing biodiversity research on the needs of decision makers

The project on Biodiversity Uncertainties and Research Needs (BURN) ensures the advancement of usable knowledge on biodiversity by obtaining input from decision makers on their priority information needs about biodiversity and then using this input to engage leading scientists in designing policy-relevant research. Decision makers articulated concerns related to four issues: significance of biodiversity; status and trends of biodiversity; management for biodiversity; and the linkage of social, cultural, economic, legal, and biological objectives. Leading natural and social scientists then identified the research required to address the decision makers' needs and determined the probability of success. The diverse group of experts reached consensus on several fundamental issues, helping to clarify the role of biodiversity in land and resource management. The BURN participants identified several features that should be incorporated into policy-relevant research plans and management strategies for biodiversity. Research and assessment efforts should be: multidisciplinary and integrative, participatory with stakeholder involvement, hierarchical (multiple scales), and problem- and region-specific. The activities should be focused regionally within a global perspective. Meta-analysis of existing data is needed on all fronts to assess the state of the science. More specifically, the scientists recommended six priority research areas that should be pursued to address the information needs articulated by decision makers: (1) characterization of biodiversity, (2) environmental valuation, (3) management for sustainability—for humans and the environment (adaptive management), (4) information management strategies, (5) governance and stewardship issues, and (6) communication and outreach. Broad recommendations were developed for each research area to provide direction for research planning and resource management strategies. The results will directly benefit those groups that require biodiversity research to address their needs—whether to develop policy, manage natural resources, or make other decisions affecting biodiversity.     

中国可持续发展与国家安全文化战略的新对策

“可持续发展”战略的实质是社会、经济发展与资源、环境相协调的一种发展模式。值得注意，这一人类社会发展模式中跨世纪重大转变的策略，尚未引起安全与减灾科技界的普遍关注，不仅在安全减灾战略研究中很少涉及，严重的是它阻碍了安全减灾诸领域跨世纪及决策课题研究的深度，造成与国际接轨进程缓慢。为此，立足可持续发展思路，并以全新视角、系统地讨论适宜安全减灾文化战略的总体对策，可望能为中国二十一世纪安全保障及科技发展提供科学指南     

西部大开发中水资源保护的战略意义

水是生命的源泉，水资源具有维持生命与健康功能，生态系统组成与演化功能，景观组合与美学功能：水能及其服务功能；水介质的传输与净化功能；社会生活与经济服务功能等。西部水资源具有发挥各种功能的区域条件。保护西部水资源的战略意义在于：(1)它是实施西部可持续发展战略的迫切需求；(2)西部是全国水资源富集区，对其保护具有全国战略意义；(3)水资源保护是西部生态建设的重要内容，是建成西部生态屏障的重要措施；(4)西部水资源是产业发展的支撑，对其保护对全国产业发展及其布局，有特殊功能和意义；(5)水资源昌西部农业命脉，保护水资源是西部农业持续发展的保证；(6)西部水资源保护具有跨流域的功能，有广泛的国际影响；(7)水资源保护是发展我国西部旅游产业的重要支撑。总之。西部大开发需要水资源的利用和保护，而水资源的保护和利用又是西部大开发的重要内容和成功的重要标志。