Small island developing states and sustainable development of ocean resources

Because of their economic and environmental vulnerability, small island developing states (SIDS) have peculiar developmental problems that severely affect their ability to implement the measures necessary for attaining sustainable development as recommended in UNCED's Agenda 21. Although this has been recognised by the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), and although there has been international acceptance of a SIDS Programme of Action (POA), SIDS have not been the focus of adequate attention by international and donor agencies. As a result, progress toward implementing the POA has been disappointing. This study examines the question of how sustainable management and development of ocean resources can contribute significantly to the achievement of the objectives of the SIDS POA.     

丽水市大气环境中的城市干、湿岛效应初探

利用丽水城区中心及其近郊2个站点的逐时水汽压资料,定义了干(湿)岛强度指数及干(湿)岛强度等级,并发现了丽水小城区干(湿)岛变化强度、频次及时空分布规律,研究发现城区中心的干岛现象与热岛现象之间存在着正相关.湿岛的形成与露、雾、结冰、霜、雨等天气现象有关.     

垦殖后洲滩湿地生态恢复的景观设计途径——以长江新济洲滩为例

长江南京段新济洲滩是一处由心滩不断扩大形成的洲滩湿地,由于人类长期垦殖、修筑垸堤等活动,导致洲滩湿地的景观格局和过程发生根本性改变,湿地生态系统服务退化。从景观生态学的角度出发,参照Steinitz景观设计六步骤模式,构建了描述、过程、评价、改变、评估和决策模型,探讨洲滩湿地的生态恢复途径,指出拆除垸堤、去除人类过分干扰是新济洲滩生态恢复的关键,恢复自然洪水过程、让自然做功、恢复季节性湿地及生境是其基本途径。模拟维持现状、拆除圩堤、拆除防洪堤3种预景,分析不同预景洲滩湿地面积、生物栖息地面积变化,结果表明拆除防洪堤将使洲滩季节性、洪水泛滥湿地面积所占比重分别将由5%、4%增加到56%、24%,长江鱼类、龟鳄类、涉禽类栖息地面积所占比重由7%、11%、5%分别增加到21%、75%、56%。湿地是重要的景观生态系统,利用Steinitz六步骤模式进行生态恢复途径的探讨,对其他湿地生态恢复的规划和设计也有重要的借鉴意义     

近60年来崇明岛东部淤涨速率初探

崇明岛作为我国最大的河口冲积岛,其形成发育与长江来水来沙息息相关。历史上就有崇明岛围垦筑堤的记载,近60年来崇明岛东部地区所筑大堤主要有54大堤、64大堤、68大堤、92大堤和98大堤。选取正东、东北、东南不同方向的4个断面,以大堤位置代表所筑年份海岸线位置,对崇明岛东部淤涨速率及滩地淤涨面积变化进行计算,结果表明:(1)近60年来崇明岛东部整体淤涨速率约为200 m/a,淤涨面积年均增长率为2.80 km~2/a;(2)不同断面上淤涨速率存在差别,其中正东方向断面上淤涨最快;(3)不同时段崇明岛东部各断面淤涨速率存在快慢变化。各断面上,20世纪90年代的淤涨速率均最大。对比发现,20世纪50~80年代崇明岛东部淤涨速率的变化趋势,与同期长江年入海泥沙量的变化趋势基本一致;但20世纪90年代,由于围垦强度加大,两者变化趋势不一致。以海堤研究岸线变迁的工作尚不多见,此方法将为研究长时间尺度的岸线变迁提供借鉴。     

海南岛生态环境质量分析评价

运用遥感和地理信息系统等技术 ,按照景观生态学的原理 ,对海南生态环境现状进行了评价 ,并对近十年来的变化进行了对比分析。结果表明 ,海南生态环境质量由中部向外依次降低 ,天然林从数量上看面积在减少 ,从空间上看沿着边缘线向中部山区退缩。另外 ,土地沙化 /土地退化在向着恢复逆转的方向发展。     

东沙沙洲离岸潮间带风电场建设对鸟类的影响

对东沙沙洲离岸潮间带风电场的建设给鸟类造成的影响进行了调查。分析表明,噪声对东沙沙洲迁徙鸟类影响不大;光对夜间迁徙鸟类造成一定的影响;风机对候鸟迁徙影响不大,少数低飞候鸟可能存在撞机风险;风机基础和人工岛的永久占地造成的直接生物量损失为3.2 t/a,总计损失约64万元;风电场建设将使东沙沙洲鸟类栖息地面积减少81.5 km2,约占总栖息地面积的13.9%,但风机对鸻鹬类等中小型涉禽、水鸟的觅食影响不大,风电场区域仍可作为这些鸟类的觅食地。在影响分析的基础上提出了设计、施工、运营阶段相应的防范措施。     

渤海和濑户内海环境立法的比较研究

对我国渤海和日本濑户内海的环境问题进行了阐述,并介绍了相关立法的背景。对中日两国适用渤海和濑户内海的国际法律制度、国内法律文件、环境保护的其他重要文件,如规划计划等进行了研究,并在此基础上对渤海和濑户内海环境立法的比较分析。得出了为恢复和保护渤海的整体功能,促使渤海为社会经济发展提供持续的支持,必须借鉴日本治理濑户内海的经验,建立渤海这一内海的特别法规体系和资源环境可持续利用的管理制度,并形成一系列与之对应的政策,只有这样,才能从根本上保障渤海整治的综合效果和渤海的可持续利用能力的结论。     

海南岛甘什岭低地次生雨林土壤有机碳及影响因素

热带雨林是世界上最复杂的森林生态系统,在全球碳循环中发挥着重要作用.热带低地次生雨林是受人类干扰较为严重的雨林类型,而关于其土壤有机碳库的研究甚少.以海南岛甘什岭热带低地次生雨林为研究对象,通过野外调查采样与室内分析相结合等方法,研究了经人为采伐干扰后自然更新恢复形成的3种林分类型(Ⅰ为较大采伐强度下恢复的灌丛与低矮乔...     

Web-based surveys as an alternative to traditional mail methods

Environmental economists have long used surveys to gather information about people's preferences. A recent innovation in survey methodology has been the advent of web-based surveys. While the Internet appears to offer a promising alternative to conventional survey administration modes, concerns exist over potential sampling biases associated with web-based surveys and the effect these may have on valuation estimates. This paper compares results obtained from a travel cost questionnaire of visitors to Fraser Island, Australia, that was conducted using two alternate survey administration modes; conventional mail and web-based. It is found that response rates and the socio-demographic make-up of respondents to the two survey modes are not statistically different. Moreover, both modes yield similar consumer surplus estimates.     

Abundance, behavior, and movement patterns of western gray whales in relation to a 3-D seismic survey, Northeast Sakhalin Island, Russia

A geophysical seismic survey was conducted in the summer of 2001 off the northeastern coast of Sakhalin Island, Russia. The area of seismic exploration was immediately adjacent to the Piltun feeding grounds of the endangered western gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus). This study investigates relative abundance, behavior, and movement patterns of gray whales in relation to occurrence and proximity to the seismic survey by employing scan sampling, focal follow, and theodolite tracking methodologies. These data were analyzed in relation to temporal, environmental, and seismic related variables to evaluate potential disturbance reactions of gray whales to the seismic survey. The relative numbers of whales and pods recorded from five shore-based stations were not significantly different during periods when seismic surveys were occurring compared to periods when no seismic surveys were occurring and to the post-seismic period. Univariate analyses indicated no significant statistical correlation between seismic survey variables and any of the eleven movement and behavior variables. Multiple regression analyses indicated that, after accounting for temporal and environmental variables, 6 of 11 movement and behavior variables (linearity, acceleration, mean direction, blows per surfacing, and surface-dive blow rate) were not significantly associated with seismic survey variables, and 5 of 11 variables (leg speed, reorientation rate, distance-from-shore, blow interval, and dive time) were significantly associated with seismic survey variables. In summary, after accounting for environmental variables, no correlation was found between seismic survey variables and the linearity of whale movements, changes in whale swimming speed between theodolite fixes, mean direction of whale movement, mean number of whale exhalations per minute at the surface, mean time at the surface, and mean number of exhalations per minute during a whales surface-to-dive cycle. In contrast, at higher received sound energy exposure levels, whales traveled faster, changed directions of movement less, were recorded further from shore, and stayed under water longer between respirations.