The concept of the Portuguese National Ecological Reserve: constraints and impossibilities in the Azores Archipelago

The biophysical features of small islands (SI) distinguish them from other territories; isolation, small size and several anthropogenic pressures reduce the resilience of ecosystems and increase their vulnerability to global changes. Many SI have a shortage of infrastructures, institutions and technical/financial resources that hinder planning and require different integrated solutions. In Portugal, the National Ecological Reserve (NER) is legally binding for spatial planning instruments. It aims to defend natural values and areas of ecological value, or sensibility, or susceptible to natural hazards. However, the criteria for the design of NER are strictly set for mainland territory, not taking into account specific features of small islands. A case study of the Azores Archipelago is used to demonstrate that spatial planning instruments should be adapted to island contexts. Such adaptation will increase the effectiveness of their implementation in relation to the protection of natural resources, stability of biophysical structures and prevention of natural hazards. Observing the main differences between mainland and the Azores Archipelago it is possible to define a methodological transposition of the NER aims and goals into an island context. This approach is an answer to the constraints in effective adaptation of spatial planning instruments for islands.     

Greener growing: assessing the influence of gardening practices on the ecological viability of community gardens in South East Queensland,Australia

While claims about the environmental benefits of community gardens abound, few researchers have systematically assessed the ecological integrity of gardening practices. This study investigated gardening practices in 50 community gardens in Brisbane and Gold Coast cities, Australia. The study aimed to better understand how gardening practices might affect the ecological viability of community gardens. Factors investigated included: garden bio-physical characteristics, operators’ motivations, gardeners’ socio-demographic backgrounds, garden facilities and types of plants grown. Two broad types of gardens were identified: permaculture (21 gardens) and non-permaculture (29 gardens). Permaculture gardens used lower-impact gardening practices. Findings have policy implications for environmental planning and management.     

吐鲁番市历史文化遗址环境生态敏感性综合分析

针对历史文化资源保护的迫切需求利用高精度的地形数据和生态环境调查资料在GIS技术的支持下进行了历史文化遗址环境生态敏感性评价。以吐鲁番市区的历史文化遗址环境生态敏感性问题为研究对象选取高程等9个敏感性因子,利用层次分析法(AHP)确定敏感性因子权重结合GIS空间分析技术得到吐鲁番市区历史文化遗址环境生态敏感性结果。结果表明:吐鲁番市区历史文化遗址的生态敏感性总体较高,区域差异比较明显。国家级遗址和自治区级遗址都处在高度敏感状态,县市级遗址处在中度敏感状态,急需加强保护。最后提出分类保护措施为今后生态防范措施的针对性提供科学依据。     

浅析辽河流域水环境管理现状及改善措施

辽河流域是我国北方重要的河流型流域,水环境污染问题突出。文章从水环境管理体制、水污染控制方式、水生态安全管理、预警监控4个方面剖析了辽河流域水环境管理现状,并提出针对性的改善措施,对促进辽河流域水环境管理能力提高具有积极的实际意义。     

Recent improvements in oily wastewater treatment: Progress, challenges, and future opportunities

Oily wastewater poses significant threats to the soil, water, air and human beings because of the hazardous nature of its oil contents. The objective of this review paper is to highlight the current and recently developed methods for oily wastewater treatment through which contaminants such as oil, fats, grease, and inorganics can be removed for safe applications. These include electrochemical treatment, membrane filtration, biological treatment, hybrid technologies, use of biosurfactants, treatment via vacuum ultraviolet radiation, and destabilization of emulsions through the use of zeolites and other natural minerals. This review encompasses innovative and novel approaches to oily wastewater treatment and provides scientific background for future work that will be aimed at reducing the adverse impact of the discharge of oily wastewater into the environment. The current challenges affecting the optimal performance of oily wastewater treatment methods and opportunities for future research development in this field are also discussed.     

Application of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in tropical and subtropical regions (2000–2013)

Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been successfully used for treating various wastewaters for decades and have been identified as a sustainable wastewater management option for developing countries. With the goal of promoting sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being but are also compatible with sustaining natural (environmental) systems, the application of CWs has become more relevant. Such application is especially significant for developing countries with tropical climates, which are very conducive to higher biological activity and productivity, resulting in higher treatment efficiencies compared to those in temperate climates. This paper therefore highlights the practice, applications, and research of treatment wetlands under tropical and subtropical conditions since 2000. In the present review, removal of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solid (TSS) was shown to be very efficient and consistent across all types of treatment wetlands. Hybrid systems appeared more efficient in the removal of total suspended solid (TSS) (91.3%), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (84.3%), and nitrogen (i.e., 80.7% for ammonium (NH)₄-N, 80.8% for nitrate (NO)₃-N, and 75.4% for total nitrogen (TN)) as compared to other wetland systems. Vertical subsurface flow (VSSF) CWs removed TSS (84.9%), BOD (87.6%), and nitrogen (i.e., 66.2% for NH₄-N, 73.3% for NO₃-N, and 53.3% for TN) more efficiently than horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) CWs, while HSSF CWs (69.8%) showed better total phosphorus (TP) removal compared to VSSF CWs (60.1%). Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) showed comparable removal efficiencies for BOD (70.7%), NH₄-N (63.6%), and TP (44.8%) to free water surface (FWS) CW systems.     

Application of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment in tropical and subtropical regions (2000-2013)

Constructed wetlands(CWs) have been successfully used for treating various wastewaters for decades and have been identified as a sustainable wastewater management option for developing countries. With the goal of promoting sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being but are also compatible with sustaining natural(environmental)systems, the application of CWs has become more relevant. Such application is especially significant for developing countries with tropical climates, which are very conducive to higher biological activity and productivity, resulting in higher treatment efficiencies compared to those in temperate climates. This paper therefore highlights the practice,applications, and research of treatment wetlands under tropical and subtropical conditions since 2000. In the present review, removal of biochemical oxygen demand(BOD) and total suspended solid(TSS) was shown to be very efficient and consistent across all types of treatment wetlands. Hybrid systems appeared more efficient in the removal of total suspended solid(TSS)(91.3%), chemical oxygen demand(COD)(84.3%), and nitrogen(i.e.,80.7% for ammonium(NH)4-N, 80.8% for nitrate(NO)3-N, and 75.4% for total nitrogen(TN))as compared to other wetland systems. Vertical subsurface flow(VSSF) CWs removed TSS(84.9%), BOD(87.6%), and nitrogen(i.e., 66.2% for NH4-N, 73.3% for NO3-N, and 53.3% for TN)more efficiently than horizontal subsurface flow(HSSF) CWs, while HSSF CWs(69.8%)showed better total phosphorus(TP) removal compared to VSSF CWs(60.1%). Floating treatment wetlands(FTWs) showed comparable removal efficiencies for BOD(70.7%),NH4-N(63.6%), and TP(44.8%) to free water surface(FWS) CW systems.     

大连金州新区并区前后的生态适宜度分析

开发区扩区或与行政区合并是近年来开发区二次创业的发展趋势,有必要对并区前后的土地利用和产业布局合理性进行评估。应用层次分析法和专家打分法分析了大连金州新区并区前后的生态适宜度。结果表明:原金州区的工业区和居住区在合并前后生态适宜度得分从63.75分和60.25分上升到82.75分和85.75分;经济技术开发区工业区和居住区从82.75分和77分上升到82.75分和85.75分。均从不适宜、适宜上升到很适宜。     

生态化工产业发展影响因素分析——以山东省化工行业为例

在收集和分析对生态工业发展研究的文献基础上,将影响生态化工产业发展的因素归纳为3大因素:直接因素、间接因素和机制性因素,6个二级指标,分别是自然因素、经济因素、技术因素、产业因素、社会因素、政策法规,同时针对全国第一化工大省山东省不同类型、不同地域的11家化工企业进行了实地调研,并对问卷调研数据进行了基于SPSS软件的克朗巴哈α系数的信度分析以及主成分分析,结果表明问卷具有良好的信度,并按各二级指标中所含因素的重要程度确定了影响生态化工产业发展的12个主要因素,在此基础上提出了化工产业生态化发展的建议,为化工产业生态化建设提供相应的理论支撑。     

酚类内分泌干扰物的污染现状及处理研究进展

为了更好的治理水体中pEDCs的污染,针对pEDCs的代表物质双酚A和烷基酚,综述了世界范围内污染源水中pEDCs的污染现状,并介绍了吸附法、膜处理法、生物降解法、化学氧化法及高级氧化法等主要处理方法。同时,展望了今后pEDCs处理的主要研究方向及现存处理方法的应用前景。两种或两种以上方法的联用将是未来研究的一个重要方向。