Realising local food policies: a comparison between Toronto and the Brussels-Capital Region’s stories through the lenses of reflexivity and co-learning

ABSTRACT

This paper revisits the development of Toronto and Brussels’ local food policies by analysing reflexivity and co-learning as important dimensions within a Hybrid Governance Approach (HGA); it approaches the interaction between four forms of governance (bottom-up, networked, state, market-led) and the tensions between them as hybrid dynamics. Within this approach, reflexivity refers to the positionality of agents, i.e. to the ways local food actors embody as well as reflect on and reconsider their principles and practices through time. Closely related to reflexivity, co-learning involves agential interactions to co-construct enabling food policy delivery systems. The HGA is mobilised to understand the ways in which reflexive capacities, as well as co-learning, take place in the two cases and how they lay the basis of particular modes of (de)institutionalisation. Learning from the two cases’ trajectories, this paper highlights: (a) the role of key governance tensions as triggers as well as breeding grounds for reflexivity and co-learning outcomes; (b) the challenges of food movement actors to surmount or valorise key tensions in order to build accountable modes of food policy delivery through time; (c) the struggles to build legitimacy and accountability in local food movements through the development of bottom-linked organisations and governance modes.     

Eutrophication and algal blooms in channel type reservoirs: A novel enclosure experiment by changing light intensity

To explore eutrophication and algal bloom mechanisms in channel type reservoirs, a novel enclosure experiment was conducted by changing light intensity (LI) in the Daning River of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR). Square enclosures (side 5.0 m) were covered on the surface with shading materials of different thickness, and with their bases open to the river. Changes and characteristics of the main eutrophication factors under the same water quality and hydrodynamic conditions but different LI were evaluated. All experimental water samples were neutral and alkalescent, with high nitrogen and phosphate concentrations, low potassium permanganate index, stable water quality, and different LI. At the same water depth, LI decreased with increasing shade material, while dissolved oxygen and water temperature were both stable. The growth peak of phytoplankton was with light of 345-4390 lux underwater or 558-7450 lux above the water surface, and water temperature of 25.6-26.5℃. Algae were observed in all water samples, accounting for 6 phylum and 57 species, with algal density changing frequently. The results showed that significantly strong or weak light was unfavorable for phytoplankton growth and the function together with suitable temperature and LI and ample sunshine encouraged algal blooms under the same water quality and hydrodynamic conditions. Correlation analysis indicated that algae reduced gradually lengthwise along water depth in the same enclosure while pH became high. The power exponent relationship between chlorophyll a (Chl-a) and LI was found by curve fitting, that is Chl-a = K(LI)ⁿ.     

三峡小江回水区叶绿素a季节变化及其同主要藻类的相互关系

通过分析三峡小江回水区2007年5月～2008年4月115个样品叶绿素a的季节特点,提出了适用于表征小江回水区叶绿素a与不同藻类细胞密度和生物量的3种状态：Chla≤5 μg·L^-1、5 μg·L^-1-1和Chla>19 μg·L^-1,目的是探讨小江回水区不同水平下Chla与同期各主要藻类细胞密度和生物量的相互关系,为进一步了解三峡水库特定水域藻类季节演替特征提供参考. 全年数据下,小江回水区藻类总细胞密度、生物量和叶绿素a间均呈极显著的正相关关系（R>>0.70,Sig.≤0.01）. 研究期间小江回水区叶绿素a、绿藻、硅藻、蓝藻、甲藻生物量均值分别为(9.58±10.77)、(1605±647)、(707±124)、(511±266)和(4019±1345) μg·L^-1. Chla≤5 μg·L^-1的水平下,绿藻、硅藻与Chla浓度呈显著正相关;5 μg·L^-1-1水平下,仅有蓝藻与Chla含量呈显著正相关关系;Chla>19 μg·L^-1时,甲藻与Chla含量呈显著的正相关关系,但其它藻门与Chla含量无显著相关关系.     

三峡库区消落带土壤重金属Zn的形态分布特征及其影响因素

以位于三峡库区腹心地带的一级支流—小江消落带为研究区,通过野外采样和室内分析,对消落带上土壤重金属Zn及其化学形态的含量特征进行了分析,并采用相关分析和逐步回归法探讨了影响重金属化学形态的影响因素。结果表明,消落带土壤重金属Zn全量、酸溶态、可还原态、可氧化态、残渣态平均含量分别为126.03mg.kg-1,3.60mg.kg-1、5.44mg.kg-1、10.59mg.kg-1和106.40mg.kg-1。Zn全量及其化学形态含量在小江各区段的分布呈中游段最高,上游、中下游段较低的特征,这主要与小江流域消落带各区段的地质背景有关。Zn不同形态含量受Zn全量及土壤理化性质影响的显著性程度不同。可还原态主要受Zn全量的影响;可氧化态主要受泥粒含量的影响;残渣态受Zn全量和有机质含量的共同影响;酸溶态含量受Zn全量和土壤理化性质的影响均不显著。     

各等级道路网对纵向岭谷区景观结构健康的影响

景观健康是近年来景观生态学与生态系统健康学相互交叉、相互耦合的一个新的研究领域.从景观结构角度,利用缓冲区、情景对比和景观指数等分析方法,研究了各等级道路对我国西南纵向岭谷区景观结构健康的影响.研究结果表明,我国西南纵向岭谷区道路影响生态系统的面积占区域面积比例的5.42%,低等级道路对生态系统的面积和景观破碎化影响较显著,而对耕地和建设用地的影响弱于高等级道路;由于道路对生态系统变化的驱动作用,使耕地和建设用地在道路影响域的面积比例高于其在全区的比例.随着道路网的扩展,景观结构健康指数从不考虑道路对生态系统影响下的0.42下降至考虑所有道路对生态系统影响下的0.24,从一般状态下降到亚健康状态,景观结构健康随着道路网密度的增加,其下降幅度较大.纵向岭谷区具有特殊的地理环境与生态系统,研究道路对该区的景观结构健康的影响,具有理论与现实意义.     

Methane Emissions from Large Dams as Renewable Energy Resources: A Developing Nation Perspective

By means of a theoretical model, bootstrap resampling and data provided by the International Commission On Large Dams (ICOLD (2003) World register of dams. http://www.icold-cigb.org) we found that global large dams might annually release about 104 ± 7.2 Tg CH₄ to the atmosphere through reservoir surfaces, turbines and spillways. Engineering technologies can be implemented to avoid these emissions, and to recover the non-emitted CH₄ for power generation. The immediate benefit of recovering non-emitted CH₄ from large dams for renewable energy production is the mitigation of anthropogenic impacts like the construction of new large dams, the actual CH₄ emissions from large dams, and the use of unsustainable fossil fuels and natural gas reserves. Under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, such technologies can be recognized as promising alternatives for human adaptations to climate change concerning sustainable power generation, particularly in developing nations owning a considerable number of large dams. In view of novel technologies to extract CH₄ from large dams, we estimate that roughly 23 ± 2.6, 2.6 ± 0.2 and 32 ± 5.1 Tg CH₄ could be used as an environmentally sound option for power generation in Brazil, China and India, respectively. For the whole world this number may increase to around 100 ± 6.9 Tg CH₄.     

等高绿篱技术保水抗旱效益研究

季节性干旱与水土流失并存是目前三峡库区面临的重要生态问题之一,严重影响了库区社会经济的可持续发展。等高绿篱技术是目前国内外广泛采用的一种十分有效的坡耕地植被恢复和水土保育技术,被认为是三峡库区农业生态系统持续发展的有效途径之一。选择新银合欢、黄荆和马桑3种绿篱,探讨其水土保育功效及抗旱效益。结果显示,等高绿篱具有显著的拦沙淤土效益,10年左右的时间,土坎高度增至近80 cm,减缓坡度20°左右。与对照相比,栽种绿篱后,土壤有机质增加52%~65%,土壤容重减小14%~17%,尤其是非毛管孔隙增幅达135%~216%,等高绿篱模式下土壤保肥增肥效益显著,土壤结构改善明显。在旱季绿篱处理下地表土壤含水量高于对照达123%,蓄水保墒能力大大增强。按等高绿篱模式增加有效土层60 cm计算,新银合欢、黄荆和马桑3个处理增加土壤水总库容分别为271、257和247 mm,有力增强了土壤的抗旱性能。在绿篱-桔园系统下柑桔座果率比对照增加12%,其平均单产比对照高15%。     

基于ISODATA法的三峡库区生态区划

在可持续发展思想的指导下,以生态学理论为基本依据,探讨了生态区划的原则、指标和方法。采用ISODATA法结合SPSS100中的层次聚类分析软件包,选择生态环境指标、社会发展指标和经济发展指标等20个定性、定量指标,利用数量化评分标准将三峡库区划分为4个生态类型区,并对各生态类型区的主要特征进行分析,应用ArcGIS绘制出三峡库区生态区划图,结果表明第I区生态类型较好。研究指出三峡地区生活在生态安全质量较高的人口约有28万多人,只占库区总人口的17%;此外通过对各区生态经济特征的综合评价结果,可以看出各区主要以山地、丘陵地为主,而且水土流失面积占60%左右,三峡库区生态安全形势十分严峻。旨在为生态分区评价以及三峡库区生态安全建设提供参考,提出加强山地丘陵的综合治理、控制水土流失及降低污染是优化三峡库区生态状况的关键。     

三峡库区巫山段175m试验性蓄水前后水质时空分布变化

分析了三峡库区长江巫山段2006～2009年枯、平、丰水期和2008年175m试验性蓄水加密监测水质监测数据,结果表明：长江干流水质保持相对稳定,而支流由于回水顶托,各项水文要素均发生了变化,这些水文要素的变化相应地会带来水环境要素的改变。     

公路网对湿地生态功能的累积效应研究——以云南纵向岭谷区为例

采用遥感面积反演生态功能法对公路网建设对湿地生态功能的生态累积效应进行研究,试图在多数湿地缺乏多年序列生态资料的现实情况下,为生态累积效应的定量化研究找出一种简捷而又有效的计算方法.首先,通过GIS手段分析得出公路网影响域范围内湿地面积的演变:然后,通过对生态功能与湿地面积和水深的相关关系式进行分析,得出1980~2005年湿地生态功能在公路网作用下的变化情况和规律,并预测出2010.2020年公路网规划年湿地生态功能的演变状态.研究结果显示,纵向岭谷区公路网建设对湿地生态功能有一定的负面驱动效应,随着公路网的逐渐加密湿地生态功能破坏程度加大,2005年区域内湿地生态功能指数为1980年的86%;根据该速率预测规划公路网将进一步对湿地生态功能造成破坏,到2010年研究区域内湿地生态功能指数为1980年的80%,到2020年仅为59%,因此,必须采取相应湿地的保护和恢复措施.