Optimal Allocation of Resources among Threatened Species: a Project Prioritization Protocol

Abstract: Conservation funds are grossly inadequate to address the plight of threatened species. Government and conservation organizations faced with the task of conserving threatened species desperately need simple strategies for allocating limited resources. The academic literature dedicated to systematic priority setting usually recommends ranking species on several criteria, including level of endangerment and metrics of species value such as evolutionary distinctiveness, ecological importance, and social significance. These approaches ignore 2 crucial factors: the cost of management and the likelihood that the management will succeed. These oversights will result in misallocation of scarce conservation resources and possibly unnecessary losses. We devised a project prioritization protocol (PPP) to optimize resource allocation among New Zealand's threatened‐species projects, where costs, benefits (including species values), and the likelihood of management success were considered simultaneously. We compared the number of species managed and the expected benefits gained with 5 prioritization criteria: PPP with weightings based on species value; PPP with species weighted equally; management costs; species value; and threat status. We found that the rational use of cost and success information substantially increased the number of species managed, and prioritizing management projects according to species value or threat status in isolation was inefficient and resulted in fewer species managed. In addition, we found a clear trade‐off between funding management of a greater number of the most cost‐efficient and least risky projects and funding fewer projects to manage the species of higher value. Specifically, 11 of 32 species projects could be funded if projects were weighted by species value compared with 16 projects if projects were not weighted. This highlights the value of a transparent decision‐making process, which enables a careful consideration of trade‐offs. The use of PPP can substantially improve conservation outcomes for threatened species by increasing efficiency and ensuring transparency of management decisions.     

北京市道路绿地消减PM2.5总量及其健康效益评估

以交通污染严重的北京市建成区为研究区,在前人实地观测的基础上,利用泊松回归相对风险度模型与环境健康价值评估方法,定量评估了北京市道路绿地消减PM2.5总量及其健康效益.结果表明:北京市建成区道路绿地年消减PM2.5总量为1.09t;对降低人群健康风险作用较为显著,可减少受危害总数约3024例,其中早逝18例、呼吸系统疾病住院53例、心血管疾病住院25例、儿科门诊324例、内科门诊761例、急性支气管炎1134例、慢性支气管炎264例、哮喘445例;带来的健康经济效益为1.98亿元.建议加强道路绿地建设,丰富植被层次结构,以积极应对城市交通空气污染.     

The activity of Polish non-governmental organisations regarding the implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development

The growing interest of citizens in environmental issues is reflected in the mission statements and actions of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), defined as bodies that are voluntary, non-profit and independent of public authority. The article analyses the activities of Polish NGOs with regard to the environmental dimension of sustainable development. The overarching research question posed in this article refers to the extent to which entities of the third sector adopt, implement and appropriately report the implementation of the principles of sustainable development. The empirical basis for the analysis has been found in the statements made by public benefit organisations, as well as in data concerning the activities of NGOs from publications covering the concept of sustainable development.     

海岸景观防护林群落对堤岸土壤化学的生态效应

采用定位对比试验方法,连续2年按季节对比监测广州市南沙区沿海防护林（海岸防护林、河涌水网防护林、路网防护林）土壤与岸堤撂荒地土壤、土壤水分与林缘江水中K＋、Na＋、Mg、Cl-、SO42-、HCO3-、Pb、Cd的含量,研究海岸景观防护林群落对岸堤土壤盐分、重金属元素的生态修复作用。结果表明：①与林缘江水相比,防护林土壤水分中K＋、Na＋、Cl-、SO42-平均含量分别减小约66.2%、28.8%、34.9%、17.5%,有效地改善了土壤水体钠盐、钾盐的含量。②防护林群落土壤水、林缘江水中Pb与Cd的年均含量依次为：江水〉海岸防护林〉河涌水网防护林〉路网防护林;相对于林缘江水,防护林土壤水分中Pb、Cd平均含量分别减小约38.0%、68.2%。③相对于堤岸撂荒地土壤,防护林群落土壤中K＋、Na＋、Cl-、SO42-、HCO3-平均含量分别减小约66.5%、63.8%、63.9%、76.8%和11.2%;3种防护林群落间K＋、Na＋、Cl-、SO42-、HCO3-的含量差异显著,即路网防护林〉河涌水网防护林〉海岸防护林,且相对撂荒地土壤Cd的平均含量减小率分别达到72.8%、57.6%、77.5%,表现出显著的土壤化学生态修复效应。④3种防护林土壤的盐分离子含量在季节上、土壤层上未表现出显著差异;土壤Pb、Cd含量在土层间的差异也不显著,、但在年内季节上的差异极显著。总体来看,海岸景观防护林能够有效缓解珠江口土壤盐分和重金属的侵蚀,在沿海地区发挥着重要的生态修复作用。     

白洋淀湿地补水的生态效益评估

对白洋淀在特别枯水年情况下,设计按最小生态水位补水、按适宜生态水位补水和不补水3种方案,对补水后湿地各类生态服务功能相比不补水(即只使用白洋淀湿地生态水权提供入淀径流)产生的变化进行计算,并运用市场价值法、类比法和影子工程法等方法,对各类服务功能变化的经济价值进行评估,得出白洋淀湿地补水的生态效益价值.结果表明:白洋淀湿地按最小和适宜生态水位补水,补水量分别为12 610×104和26 819×104 m3,补水的生态效益价值分别为57 036× 104和135 646× 104元,其中间接使用价值分别为52 255× 104和124 244× 104元,分别是直接使用价值的10.93和10.90倍;按最小和适宜生态水位补水,单位补水量的生态效益分别为4.5和5.1元·m-3,2种方案补水的生态效益都很显著.     

New insights into the benefits of flood warnings: Results from a household survey in England and Wales

The flood defence agency in England and Wales has been pursuing a programme of flood warning system enhancement, engaging householders at risk in improving their warning responses. The immediate aim of this paper is to test and revise a model of economic benefits of warnings, but the survey data also generate insights into the constraints acting upon flood warning responses. Damage saving is less than previously anticipated: warning reliability and householder availability problems limit savings. Warnings are less likely to be received by those in lower social grades, and flood warning lead time is a factor in avoiding damage. The survey data indicate the complexities involved in improving flood warning response, and provide policy pointers.     

矿山环境治理效益评价方法及实证分析

在概述矿山环境治理相关理论和根据构建原则的基础上,采用经济效益指标、生态效益指标和社会效益指标构建矿山环境治理效益评价体系,并且运用矿山环境治理效益评价指标体系进行实证分析,为项目立项、验收以及治理效益后评价提供科学依据。     

某金矿选矿厂粉尘回收的环境经济效益分析

针对某金矿选矿厂破碎筛分粉尘污染,采用袋式除尘技术,优化管道系统,不但实现了现场粉尘污染的有效控制和烟气达标排放,还回收有价金属粉尘并予以利用。项目的实施取得了良好的社会效益、经济效益和环境效益。项目年回收有价金属粉尘263．76 t ,直接经济效益21．1万元／a;通过人力资本法测算,项目实施产生的间接经济效益约为118．38万元。     

水生植被恢复对东莞生态工业园区水质改善的影响研究

为促进工业园区水生态环境建设,以东莞生态产业园区水生态系统恢复为研究对象,研究了其建园初期水生植被恢复对重污染水体水质修复的影响,并应用因子分析法对水质与主要生态因子之间的相互关系进行了研究,探讨了水体修复效果与水生植被覆盖率的关系.结果表明：水生植被恢复可使园区生态岛群与月湖主要水质指标（总氮、总磷、氨氮和高锰酸盐指数）从建设初期（2011 年5 月）的劣V 类改善为II-III 类（2012 年）,透明度提高约1 倍,而下沙与大圳埔湿地也从劣V类（2011 年5 月）改善为IV-V 类（2012 年）,透明度提高约50%.10 项水质指标的因子分析表明,园区水质成因可归为综合营养因子（氨氮、高锰酸盐指数、叶绿素、透明度、总磷和总氮）、温度因子（温度、电导率、硝态氮）和光合作用因子（溶解氧和pH）,其中主导指标为氨氮、高锰酸盐指数、叶绿素a、透明度和总磷等.三类因子分别客观反映了修复水体的水质变化特点：氮磷及有机物的含量越低则水体透明度越高,水质越优;温度升高有利于水质改善;藻类光合作用减弱,则水质变优.生态岛群、月湖、下沙、大圳埔湿地的水生植被覆盖率分别为43.8%、22%、4.3%、9.1%,此差异与水质修复效果相关.回归分析显示水质指标与水生植被覆盖率呈极显著的二项式关系（p〈0.01）,根据拟合方程计算得出污染物浓度最低、透明度最高、综合水质最优时的水生植被覆盖率变动范围为30%~35%.因此,生态岛群与月湖的水质改善效果优于大圳埔湿地,大圳埔湿地则又优于下沙湿地;下沙与大圳埔湿地可通过适当增加浮、挺水植物的面积比例,提高水体修复能力.文中所得最适水生植被覆盖率范围可为华南地区工业园区水生态初期修复提供一定的参考价值.     

金川集团安全生产标准化升级跨越建设途径探索与实践

针对安全生产标准化建设存在的问题,结合金川集团的实际情况,提出了"将安全生产标准化纳入企业安全文化范畴进行建设"。实现升级跨越建设的思路是围绕"零伤害"的安全生产方针,以矿山采矿盘区为单位建立安全标准化组织机构,开展"安全三区"危险源辨识和风险管控,在此基础上建立安全物质标准文化、安全管理标准文化和安全行为标准文化,结合安全文化"五阶段"塑培模式,打造安全自律型和本质安全型的标准化员工队伍,通过"匹配化"与"对标管理"的方式保证安全标准化持续改进模式。实践经验对金属非金属矿山安全生产标准化创建活动具有参考意义。