Examination of Resource Curse Hypothesis: Mineral Resources Exploitation and Economic Growth in Xinjiang Autonomous Region

The mineral resources exploitation stage and the economic growth rate are various in different regions of Xinjiang Autonomous region. Using the method of location quotient, this paper identifies and classifies the intensive regions of three types of mineral resources, known as coal, oil and natural gas, respectively. The intensive regions of economic growth were also identified, according to the rate of per capita GDP growth at prefecture, autonomous prefecture and city. The relationships between different mineral resources and economic growth are different, for example, the relationship between economic growth and coal resource is positive, while the relationship between economic growth and oil resource, or natural gas resource is negative. This study empirically examines the effects of natural resources on economic growth of Xinjiang. The results show that whilst natural resources have a positive impact on growth, and can make a negative impact on growth through the transmission channels, such as investment, manufacture, human capital, and scientific and technologic innovation. Moreover, it studies the transmission channels, that is, the effect of natural resources on the other explanatory variables, and calculates the indirect effect of natural resources on growth for each transmission channel, and comprehensive effects of natural resources on growth. The calculated result of comprehensive effects indicates that the positive direct effects of natural resources on growth are shown to outweigh the negative indirect effect of Xinjiang autonomous region.     

中国西部城市化基本特征分析——以新疆为例

本文以新疆为例,探讨了新疆城市化的基本特征和规律,总结经验教训,以朝正确认识西部地区城市化的基本特征,从而为西部大开发中城市化发展战略的制定提供有价值的借鉴和参考。     

Arsenic and Other Metal Contamination of Groundwaters in the Industrial Area of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece

In groundwater, used for drinking water supply in the greater industrial area of Thessaloniki, in Northern Greece, concentrations of total arsenic exceeded the WHO provisional guideline value and the EU maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 μg/L. The concentration of total arsenic was in the range between 4–130 μg/L, whereas the median value was 36 μg/L and the average concentration 46 μg/L. Nine out of the eleven wells contained total arsenic at concentration higher than 10 μg/L and it should be stressed that 6 of them contain arsenic at concentrations between 10 (new MCL) and 50 μg/L (previous MCL). The examined groundwaters were found to contain elevated concentrations of manganese and phosphate. Arsenic had a positive correlation with the pH, indicating the possible effect of pH on arsenic mobilisation. These findings emerge the problem of contamination from arsenic, since, according to the EU directive 98/83, all drinking water sources within the European Union should have achieved compliance with the new limits by 12/2003, implying that the situation requires urgent remedial action.     

Molecular and ecological characterisation of plant populations from limed and metal-contaminated sites in Northern Ontario (Canada): ISSR analysis of white birch (Betula papyrifera) populations

The Greater Sudbury region in Northern Ontario is known as one of Canada's most ecologically disturbed regions because of the effects of heavy metal pollution. The main objectives of the present study were to assess the effects of soil liming of sites contaminated with metals on species richness and abundance, forest health in general, and to determine the level of genetic variability in white birch populations from Northern Ontario. Shannon-Wiener diversity index and tree species richness values were higher in populations from limed and control sites compared to the unlimed areas. A significant improvement in forest population health (measured using a scale of 1 to 10) in limed sites over the unlimed areas was observed. Key results revealed no significant difference for metal content in white birch (Betula papyrifera) leaves from limed compared to unlimed sites. But higher levels of Al, Ca, Mg, Mn, Ni, Sr, and Zn in leaves compared to the bioavailable amount in soil were observed. The levels of genetic variability in white birch populations were moderate to high, ranging from 30% to 79% of polymorphic loci. A high level of genetic variability such as observed in the present study is usually associated with long term sustainability in plant populations. No association was found between metal accumulation in soil or plants and the levels of genetic variation.     

Observations on phytoplankton productivity in relation to hydrography in the Northern Adriatic

This work, carried out within the framework of the PRISMA II project, aims at evaluating the effects of the Po River flow on primary productivity, measured by C with in situ sample incubations. A total of four cruises was carried out in late winter and early summer (1996-1998) along transects from the coast offshore. In both seasons, the highest primary productivity was found in the most oligohaline stations. The effects of the Po River inputs were therefore clearly evident in the westernmost area, both in high productivity values and in the shape of productivity profiles. In late winter, extensive blooms of Skeletonema costatum and Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima resulted in productivity values that were sometimes higher than in early summer. In early summer 1996, greatly reduced river flow clearly influenced productivity which was much lower than in 1997.     

新疆土地生态环境问题与对策

土地生态环境是人类生存发展的基本条件,是经济、社会发展的基础.在当前的经济形势下,包括水土流失、土壤盐碱化、植被破坏等一系列土地荒漠化问题以及由于荒漠化而造成的生物多样性受损引起人们的广泛关注.为了实现经济的可持续发展目标,加强新疆的综合竞争能力,在区域开发过程中要注重土地生态环境建设.本文对新疆土地生态环境现状与存在的问题进行分析,阐明了土地生态环境恶化的原因,提出土地生态环境建设的对策.     

荒漠生态环境监测刍议

讨论了荒漠生态环境监测的基本概念和原则 ,并针对新疆荒漠生态环境监测工作的现状 ,提出了今后工作的总体设想和若干展望 ,对我国荒漠生态环境监测工作的开展具有一定的启示作用。     

新疆煤炭资源开发可持续的几点建议

新疆煤炭资源丰富,"十二五"期间煤炭计划开采量将近4×108t,这必然会对新疆极其脆弱的生态环境产生不利影响。本文首先分析了新疆煤炭资源开发的总体趋势,然后根据自治区党委、政府确立的"环保优先、生态立区"发展战略和"资源开发可持续、生态环境可持续"发展道路,就如何实现煤炭资源开发可持续提几点建议,为自治区各级政府决策提供参考依据。     

新疆生态可持续发展的主要制约因子及脆弱区域分析

自然生态系统的可持续发展是社会一经济系统可持续发展的基本保证,明确区域生态可持续发展的主要制约因子和生态脆弱区域是评价区域生态系统发展的可持续性、制定可持续发展战略及实施综合措施的关键步骤。本文分析了新疆生态可持续发展的主要制约因子和生态脆弱区域。结果表明,水资源危机、土地荒漠化、耕地资源危机及森林减少等是限制新疆生态可持续发展的主要制约因子;干旱绿洲-沙漠过渡地区和内陆河（湖）流域为重点生态脆弱区域。在此基础上,提出了新疆生态系统可持续发展的对策建议。     

浅谈基于“数字新疆”的“数字环保”建设

从“数字新疆”的广义角度介绍了“数字环保”的基本建设,从技术角度阐述“数字环保”的基础设施、信息源、应用系统等相关内容的建设,对关键技术3S技术在环境保护中的应用进行了探讨。