How expert insight into alpine peatland conservation complements global scientific evidence

Experts can provide valuable information to fill knowledge gaps in published research on management effectiveness, particularly for threatened ecosystems, for which there is often limited evidence and the need for prompt intervention to ensure their persistence. One such ecosystem, alpine peatland, is threatened by climate change and other pressures, provides vital ecosystem services, and supports unique biodiversity. In a workshop, we gathered and synthesized into an accessible format information from experts on interventions used, threat context, and intervention effectiveness for Australian alpine peatland and used this knowledge to evaluate local relevance of the global literature for this threatened ecosystem. Experts identified 15 interventions used to conserve Australian peatlands, most of which enhanced or restored peatland condition and effectively addressed diverse threats. Experts’ perspectives and global studies were strongly aligned, suggesting that research on peatland management may be broadly relevant across contexts, despite the distinct characteristics of Australian systems. Our workshop-based expert elicitation approach provided insights into current management practices unavailable in the literature.     

Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Farmers’ Perceptions of Land Degradation and Stonewall Terraces in Central Palestine

Land degradation by soil erosion is a socioeconomic and environmental problem facing many developing countries. Application of stonewall terraces for soil moisture conservation is vital to reducing the environmental impacts of this phenomenon. To this end, a field plot experiment was conducted in the study area along with the use of a closed-ended questionnaire. The object of the experiment was to study the socioeconomic impacts of soil erosion on local farmers and their adoption of the stonewall terrace technique. The study showed a higher net profit in areas that had implemented terrace conservation practices than in areas that had not (i.e., 3.5 to 6 times higher net profit). Correlation analysis indicated that the farmers’ perceptions, land ownership, and geomorphology were significantly related to the farmers’ incentives and willingness to adopt terraces as soil conservation measures (P < 0.05), although the correlations were negative. Smallholder farmers (52% of the interviewed farmers) were involved in the sale of the agricultural land for urban uses, largely because of the high price and immediate returns offered. However, the associated land use changes warrant greater involvement of both the private and public sectors. This cooperation may be accomplished through the introduction of a long-term agricultural loan system and the development of proper legislation accompanied by a comprehensive and durable infrastructure and service system with the goal of reducing the negative impact of land use changes and encouraging sustainable use of resources.     

韩国绿色种养循环农业发展概况与经验启示

联合国将碳中和视为当今世界最为紧迫的任务,而农业是温室气体排放最多的产业之一,各国相继出台政策积极开展农业农村减排工作。韩国自2012年开始逐渐减少海洋粪污排泄量,并大力实行绿色种养循环农业,解决本国内畜禽粪污问题。韩国作为中国的重要海上邻国,不论是从研究借鉴角度抑或生态系统共享角度,了解其环境保护政策都是十分必要的。本文从韩国实施的主要政策、各地区农地养分收支现状、代表性运营模式案例、政策关注焦点等方面介绍韩国绿色种养循环农业的发展概况,结合中国绿色种养循环农业现状开展研究。提出三点政策建议：第一,进一步完善畜禽粪污资源化利用机具补贴辅助管理系统,提高系统在农户中的普及率;第二,提高全民环保意识的同时,政府的角色不应局限自上而下的引导型,应该积极促进种植户和养殖户间的自发组织,并大力提倡吸纳社会资本,集结社会各方力量;第三,促进绿色种养循环农业产品的商品化和品牌化,从而调动农户参与绿色种养循环农业的积极性。     

秦岭生态补偿理论研究与实践进展

生态补偿是通过经济手段促进生态保护与受益地区利益共享的制度设计,是促进我国生态文明建设的重要举措。秦岭是我国重点生态功能区,国家重要的生态安全屏障。生态补偿作为协调秦岭地区生态环境保护和社会经济发展的制度安排,有助于推动该区生态环境的保护与可持续利用,对实现秦岭地区社会经济可持续发展、促进人与自然和谐共生具有重要意义。本文系统梳理了秦岭生态补偿相关理论研究与实践,主要包括秦岭在区域调水、森林生态效益、生物多样性保护、矿产资源开发等方面的生态补偿研究,以及秦岭生态补偿相关政策法规制定、南水北调、退耕还林（草）以及生态移民搬迁等具体生态保护工程补偿实践,并从补偿对象、补偿标准、公众参与、补偿方式几个角度探讨了秦岭生态补偿存在的问题,提出了秦岭生态补偿研究的建议与对策。     

广西水源涵养型重点生态功能区生态状况变化

文章利用2010年、2018年生态环境监测与评价项目土地利用类型数据,通过生态功能指数、生态结构指数和生态胁迫指数综合反映重点生态功能区生态状况,分析 2010-2018年广西水源涵养型重点生态功能区的生态状况变化趋势。结果表明,广西水源涵养型重点生态功能区林地覆盖率明显提升,生态状况改善。其中疏林地及其他林地向有林地、灌木林地转变是水源涵养指数提升的主要原因,退耕还林、封山育林等措施对重点生态功能区生态状况改善发挥重要作用。     

Scale dependency of conservation outcomes in a forest-offsetting scheme

Offset schemes help avoid or revert habitat loss through protection of existing habitat (avoided deforestation), through the restoration of degraded areas (natural regrowth), or both. The spatial scale of an offset scheme may influence which of these 2 outcomes is favored and is an important aspect of the scheme's design. However, how spatial scale influences the trade-offs between the preservation of existing habitat and restoration of degraded areas is poorly understood. We used the largest forest offset scheme in the world, which is part of the Brazilian Forest Code, to explore how implementation at different spatial scales may affect the outcome in terms of the area of avoided deforestation and area of regrowth. We employed a numerical simulation of trade between buyers (i.e., those who need to offset past deforestation) and sellers (i.e., landowners with exceeding native vegetation) in the Brazilian Amazon to estimate potential avoided deforestation and regrowth at different spatial scales of implementation. Allowing offsets over large spatial scales led to an area of avoided deforestation 12 times greater than regrowth, whereas restricting offsets to small spatial scales led to an area of regrowth twice as large as avoided deforestation. The greatest total area (avoided deforestation and regrowth combined) was conserved when the spatial scale of the scheme was small, especially in locations that were highly deforested. To maximize conservation gains from avoided deforestation and regrowth, the design of the Brazilian forest-offset scheme should focus on restricting the spatial scale in which offsets occur. Such a strategy could help ensure conservation benefits are localized and promote the recovery of degraded areas in the most threatened forest landscapes.     

Trends in biodiversity and habitat quantification tools used for market-based conservation in the United States

Market-based conservation mechanisms are designed to facilitate the mitigation of harm to and conservation of habitats and biodiversity. Their potential is partly hindered, however, by the quantification tools used to assess habitat quality and functionality. Of specific concern are the lack of transparency and standardization in tool development and gaps in tool availability. To address these issues, we collected information via internet and literature searchers and through conversations with tool developers and users on tools used in U.S. conservation mechanisms, such as payments for ecosystem services (PES) and ecolabel programs, conservation banking, and habitat exchanges. We summarized information about tools and explored trends among and within mechanisms based on criteria detailing geographic, ecological, and technical features of tools. We identified 69 tools that assessed at least 34 species and 39 habitat types. Where tools reported pricing, 98% were freely available. More tools were applied to states along the U.S. West Coast than elsewhere, and the level of tool transferability varied markedly among mechanisms. Tools most often incorporated conditions at numerous spatial scales, frequently addressed multiple risks to site viability, and required 1–83 data inputs. Most tools required a moderate or greater level of user skill. Average tool-complexity estimates were similar among all mechanisms except PES programs. Our results illustrate the diversity among tools in their ecological features, data needs, and geographic application, supporting concerns about a lack of standardization. However, consistency among tools in user skill requirements, incorporation of multiple spatial scales, and complexity highlight important commonalities that could serve as a starting point for establishing more standardized tool development and feature-incorporation processes. Greater standardization in tool design may expand market participation and facilitate a needed assessment of the effectiveness of market-based conservation.     

中国总量控制实践与发展态势

文中所说“总量控制”,全称是污染物排放总量控制制度。当污染物超出环境容量,总量控制一般以削减现有总量的方式出现,也就是通常所说的“减排”。结构减排在减排中占据主导的核心地位。实践表明,“节能必减排,减排促节能”。节能减排相结合是推动经济发展方式转变、调整经济结构、提高自主创新能力、实现环境与发展“双赢”的一种有效途径,也是科学发展的必然要求。节能减排与应对气候变化密不可分,是应对气候变化的主要支撑面。控制温室气体（以CO2为代表）排放强度,是对污染物排放总量控制制度的深化与发展。     

基于系统保护规划理念的长江流域两栖爬行动物多样性保护优先区评价

目前,已有很多研究致力于讨论保护规划中整合保护效益和经济成本的重要性。为丰富解决该问题的思路,从系统保护规划理念出发,应用MARXAN模型软件对长江流域两栖爬行类生物多样性保护优先区进行了选择和评价。研究中共选择两栖物种54个,爬行物种73个作为指示物种,并按濒危性和特有性划分为5个类型。综合考虑每个类型的特定保护目标,以县域人均GDP为相对保护成本,探讨如何选择达到保护目标的最低经济成本区域。通过运算每个规划单元的不可替代性,共选定保护优先区9个,包括121个县(市、民族自治县)。建议以9个保护热点区为基础,率先建立各区域内保护网络,同时在已建保护区日常巡护中加入两栖爬行动物巡护内容。     

鄱阳湖生态环境保护与资源利用技术模式研究

鄱阳湖是我国第一大淡水湖泊,也是国际重要湿地,在维系长江水量平衡和生态安全方面,发挥着十分重要的作用和功能。近年来,鄱阳湖生态环境受到经济发展和人口增长的威胁,主要表现为：湿地生态系统退化,湖泊生态功能下降,流域生物多样性减少,水生植被萎缩,水污染程度日趋严重。湖区内产业结构和资源利用的不合理也限制了其经济发展。建设鄱阳湖生态经济区发展战略的确立要求江西尽快探索出一条保护生态与发展经济的双赢之路。结合鄱阳湖区生态环境与资源利用现状,通过2 a多的集成研究与示范,已形成了湿地恢复、沙化综合治理、农业污染治理和资源合理利用等十多种技术模式,在保护环境的同时提高了农民收入,为实现鄱阳湖生态经济区建设目标提供了技术支撑.