Managing Birds and Controlling Aircraft in the Kennedy Airport–Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Complex: The Need for Hard Data and Soft Opinions

During the 1980s, the exponential growth of laughing gull (Larus atricilla) colonies, from 15 to about 7600 nests in 1990, in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and a correlated increase in the bird-strike rate at nearby John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York City) led to a controversy between wildlife and airport managers over the elimination of the colonies. In this paper, we review data to evaluate if: (1) the colonies have increased the level of risk to the flying public; (2) on-colony population control would reduce the presence of gulls, and subsequently bird strikes, at the airport; and (3) all on-airport management alternatives have been adequately implemented. Since 1979, most (2987, 87%) of the 3444 bird strikes (number of aircraft struck) were actually bird carcasses found near runways (cause of death unknown but assumed to be bird strikes by definition). Of the 457 pilot-reported strikes (mean = 23 ± 6 aircraft/yr, N= 20 years), 78 (17%) involved laughing gulls. Since a gull-shooting program was initiated on airport property in 1991, over 50,000 adult laughing gulls have been killed and the number of reported bird strikes involving laughing gulls has declined from 6.9 ± 2.9 (1983–1990) to 2.6 ± 1.3 (1991–1998) aircraft/yr; nongull reported bird strikes, however, have more than doubled (6.4 ± 2.6, 1983–1990; 14.9 ± 5.1, 1991–1998). We found no evidence to indicate that on-colony management would yield a reduction of bird strikes at Kennedy Airport. Dietary and mark–recapture studies suggest that 60%–90% of the laughing gulls collected on-airport were either failed breeders and/or nonbreeding birds. We argue that the Jamaica Bay laughing gull colonies, the only ones in New York State, should not be managed at least until all on-airport management alternatives have been properly implemented and demonstrated to be ineffective at reducing bird strikes, including habitat alterations and increasing the capability of the bird control unit to eliminate bird flocks on-airport using nonlethal bird dispersal techniques. Because the gull-shooting program may be resulting in a nonsustainable regional population of laughing gulls (>30% decline), we also recommend that attempts be made to initiate an experimental colony elsewhere on Long Island to determine if colony relocation is a feasible management option.     

Extra- and intra-European Union exchanges of recovered materials and products

On the basis of the data Comext from Eurostat, this paper presents 2001 data on the main exchanges (flows) intra-European Union (EU) and with the rest of the world (extra-EU), by countries (for the main countries which are concerned), tonnage and value, by categories of recovered materials and products. A synoptic table is established, the results are summarized, and initial comments are provided. Moreover the evolution from 1995 to 2001 is discussed.The second part of the paper examines what these data tell us:

* whether they are consistent with the main theories of international trade, and which factors explain these exchanges,

* what is the extent of foreign trade of recovered products and materials,

* to what extent the EU appears as ‘an economic entity’,

* and possible effects of the enlargement of the EU.

A multi-level perspective on learning about climate change adaptation through international cooperation

International cooperation and learning may accelerate climate change adaptation and help countries and regions to adapt more effectively and efficiently. Recognizing the importance and opportunities for mutual learning and knowledge transfer, international and supranational organizations, such as the European Commission, have put programmes for international cooperation in place. This paper presents and tests a framework for assessing multi-level learning outcomes of such international cooperation processes and the conditions that produce these outcomes. The framework distinguishes between: (1) group learning by individual process participants; (2) organizational learning by organizations represented in the process; and (3) network and societal learning by actors external to the process. We verify the analytical potential of the framework by comparing learning by six partners in an adaptation-oriented European cooperation project. The project scores rather high on group learning with participants learning from and – to a lesser extent – also with each other. Learning by partner organizations varied and was generally less whereas learning by external actors was very limited. The case study confirms our expectation that learning outcomes are produced by combinations of partner-specific, process-specific and process-external conditions. The presented framework and insights can be used to stimulate learning in and from international cooperation processes.     

浅谈我国环保产业现状及发展方向

随着全球经济的进一步增长及生态环境的急剧恶化，环保产业的发展速度将远远超过其他行业。在世界环保产业市场的角逐中发达国家占有绝对的优势。我国环保产业跻身国际市场，首先要解决技术起点低，实力差的问题，并要扩大生产规模，走集约化经营道路，加大环保产业投入，选择好环境技术、设备的出口市场。     

国际河流可持续利用思考

水资源缺乏和水环境污染是当今世界许多国家面临的严重问题，国际河流因其独特的地缘关系而与国际政治、经济、外交密切联系受到关注，并出现了许多国际水事争端，据此提出了可持续利用的对策与建议。     

充分发挥政府职能推动循环经济发展

本文简要阐述了作者对循环经济的认识以及发展循环经济的必要性,并面向级政府和政府部门提出了对发展循环经济的几点建议。     

论尊重国家主权和不损害管辖范围以外环境原则

尊重国家主权和不损害管辖范围以外环境原则发轫于环境问题对国家主权提出的挑战,目的是为了在对国家主权予以确认和维护的同时,对其进行适当限制,以避免国家主权的行使危及管辖范围以外环境.该原则的重要性已经为学界所公认,其作为对环境与主权关系之争论的回应,法理基础是建立在国家主权原则、互相尊重主权、禁止权利滥用原则、全球共同利益与可持续发展的理念之上的.尊重国家主权和不损害国外环境原则是对国际环境法主体的权利、义务与责任进行调整.     

青岛市环境空气质量改善进程国际对比研究

针对青岛市建设宜居幸福国际城市战略目标,研究选取了新加坡、旧金山、大阪、香港、上海、深圳等10个国内外港口城市,对比分析了青岛市环境空气质量状况,并与典型国际发达国家污染物减排和环境质量改善进程进行了对比。结果表明:青岛市PM_(10)、PM_(2.5)、SO_2年均浓度与国际城市差距较大,改善任务艰巨;NO_2年均浓度相对较低,已达到与国际接轨的程度,并优于大部分国际对比城市。从国际大气污染物减排及环境空气质量改善进程来看,预计青岛市将在2025年全面达到国家环境空气质量二级标准。青岛市需加快环境空气质量改善进程,为建成宜居幸福的现代化国际城市提供优良的环境空气质量保障。     

Winter storm-related injuries in Oklahoma, January 2007

Introduction

A January 2007 ice storm occurred in Oklahoma, causing power outages and hazardous travel conditions. The objective of this investigation was to describe the nature of winter storm-related injuries among Oklahoma residents, to determine populations at risk, and to inform prevention-planning personnel.

Methods

Winter storm-related injuries were a temporarily reportable condition; all acute-care hospitals and the state medical examiner logged storm-related injuries and deaths during January 12 − 30, 2007. Medical records were retrospectively abstracted.Risk of injury was described by demographic group, injury type, and mechanism.

Results

Among 6,047 persons experiencing winter storm-related injuries, 74% were injured in falls, 13% in motor-vehicle collisions (MVCs), 8% while sledding, 1% by unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning, 1% in cleanup activities, and 3% by other mechanisms. Median age of injured persons was 39 years. Persons aged ≥ 40 years were 1.4 times more likely to experience falls as the cause of injury than those aged < 40 years, and falls were twice as likely as other mechanisms to cause fractures among persons aged ≥ 40 years. Injured persons aged < 40 years were 2.2 times more likely to experience MVC-related injuries, and 19 times more likely to experience sledding-related injuries than persons aged ≥ 40 years.

Conclusions

Younger persons were more likely injured in MVCs and sledding incidents, whereas older persons were more likely to experience falls and fractures.

Impact on industry

Prevention messages for winter storm-related injuries should target winter-driving safety tips to younger adults and precautions regarding falls to older adults.     

西安世园会开、闭幕式期间灾害性天气风险分析

为了给有关部门应对可能出现的灾害性天气提供科学依据,利用西安气象站1951-2010年各种气象要素逐日观测资料,应用极值统计、单日概率计算和易损性分析等方法,分析了西安世界园艺博览会开、闭幕式期间出现各种灾害性天气的可能性,以及可能带来的风险及影响。结果表明:开幕式期间,尤其是2011年4月28日开幕式当日,西安出现暴雨的可能性小,出现干旱、沙尘天气可能性大,出现连续降水天气可能性较大,出现其它灾害性天气可能性小。闭幕式期间,尤其是2011年10月22日闭幕式当日,西安出现暴雨的可能性小,出现连续降水可能性大,出现沙尘、强降温、霜冻可能性较小,出现其它灾害性天气可能性小,但闭幕式前出现初霜可能性大。连续降水天气可能对参加开、闭幕式游客数量和经济收入产生明显影响。