Toward a new understanding of the links between poverty and illegal wildlife hunting

Conservation organizations have increasingly raised concerns about escalating rates of illegal hunting and trade in wildlife. Previous studies have concluded that people hunt illegally because they are financially poor or lack alternative livelihood strategies. However, there has been little attempt to develop a richer understanding of the motivations behind contemporary illegal wildlife hunting. As a first step, we reviewed the academic and policy literatures on poaching and illegal wildlife use and considered the meanings of poverty and the relative importance of structure and individual agency. We placed motivations for illegal wildlife hunting within the context of the complex history of how wildlife laws were initially designed and enforced to indicate how hunting practices by specific communities were criminalized. We also considered the nature of poverty and the reasons for economic deprivation in particular communities to indicate how particular understandings of poverty as material deprivation ultimately shape approaches to illegal wildlife hunting. We found there is a need for a much better understanding of what poverty is and what motivates people to hunt illegally.     

Brain myelination in rats treated with ionizing radiation in utero

Abstract

Effects of ionizing radiation on brain myelination and some physical development parameters were studied in laboratory rats (Fisher F‐344 inbred strain). Rats were treated with three different doses of radiation (150 rad, 15 rad, and 6.8 rad) delivered on the 20th day of prenatal life. Exposure to 150 rad reduced body, brain, ovary, kidney, heart and spleen weights. Prenatal exposure to 150 rad of radiation reduced the cerebral cortex weight by 22 percent at 30 days of age, and 20 percent at 52 days of age which caused a reduction in cerebral cortex myelin content by 20 and 23 percent at the ages of 30 and 52 days respectively. This dose did not affect the myelin content of the cerebellum or the brain stem, or the myelin concentration (mg myelin/g brain tissue) of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and the brain stem. The cerebral cortex weight of the 15 rad treated rats was reduced at the age of 30 days. Exposure to 15 rad, and 6.8 rad did not affect either the myelin content or the myelin concentration of these brain areas.     

Transforming urban planning processes and outcomes through creative methods

Inclusively delivering the sustainable development goals (SDGs) remains challenging, particularly in urban areas, where some of the most pressing concerns exist. To achieve the transformative SDG agenda, new methods are required to overcome current deficits in engagement around inclusion and equitable outcomes. Evaluating against theories of governance and inclusion, we test a mixture of digital and physical creative methods abilities to deliver co-designed solutions that influence mobility and road safety planning outcomes in East African cities. Greater inclusion led to improved interactions of citizens with decision makers, and the identification of novel, practical solutions, delivering some elements of transformation. Risks include creative methods being used to co-opt communities to official agendas, and institutional planning norms needing to adapt to respond to a wider range of stakeholders. Overall, where risks are mitigated, we recommend that using Creative Methods could localise SDG delivery, ensuring more equitable and effective outcomes from infrastructure development investments.Supplementary InformationThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01436-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

干湿循环对三峡支流消落带沉积物中可转化态氮及其形态分布的影响

水体富营养化的形成与沉积物中氮素的"源-汇"关系密切,本研究选取三峡典型支流澎溪河消落带上、中、下这3个水文断面,160 m和170 m两个水位高程,0~20、20~40、40~60、60~80、80~100 cm共5个深度的沉积物样品,通过研究其总可转化态氮(TF-N)与各形态可转化态氮含量及分布特征,旨在揭示周期性水位变化对消落带沉积物氮释放的影响.结果表明,澎溪河消落带沉积物总氮含量在313.02~3 255.53 mg·kg-1之间,空间分布上呈上站位(渠口)中站位(高阳)下站位(双江)的趋势;总可转化态氮含量范围为288.54~1 123.27mg·kg-1,均值为639.40 mg·kg-1,空间分布趋势与总氮一致;TF-N中各形态氮的大小顺序为:OSF-N(有机态和硫化物结合态)IMOF-N(铁锰结合态)CF-N(碳酸盐结合态)IEF-N(离子交换态).沉积物中TF-N主要以OSF-N(50.9%)和IMOF-N(33.3%)形态存在.OSF-N很难释放,不易参与氮循环.IMOF-N受水文条件影响显著,表现为在低水位高程和下采样站位沉积物中含量更低.淹水胁迫、水体富营养化等情况下氧含量较低,相对还原条件下有利于其向水体释放.而TF-N及其形态分布在垂直深度上无显著差异.可见,三峡库区特殊调蓄水制度加速了澎溪河下游、低水位高程消落带沉积物中IMOF-N向水体的释放.     

危险废物焚烧厂环境污染控制与风险管理水平评价指标体系研究与应用

采用德尔菲法、层次分析法和五分制综合评分法,构建了危险废物焚烧厂环境污染控制与风险管理水平评价指标体系。从选址、技术和管理的角度,制定了31个评价指标,并归纳为8个准则层指标群,通过计算权重和对评价指标的赋分,实现对危险废物焚烧厂环境污染控制与风险管理水平的量化评价。应用结果表明:华南某市两家危险废物焚烧厂的环境污染控制与风险管理水平分值分别为3.34和4.38,分别处于良好和先进的水平。     

西安市建筑垃圾渣土资源再利用研究

建筑垃圾渣土作为"建筑副产品",已造成严重的城市环境问题。通过对西安市建筑垃圾渣土的现场调查及工程再利用,借鉴发达国家及国内省市建筑垃圾渣土的成功管理经验和资源再利用的成功范例,提出了西安建筑垃圾资源再利用的对策建议,对"十三五"期间减少已有建筑垃圾的存量并遏制增量和建设西安森林城市具有参考意义。     

基于主成分分析法的陕北地区可持续发展对比研究

基于可持续发展基本理论,选取60项指标建立陕北地区可持续发展评价指标体系,采用软件SPSS(19.0)进行主成分分析,分别对延安市、榆林市2000—2014年的可持续发展水平、可持续发展潜力和可持续发展协调度进行动态对比分析。结果表明延安市、榆林市发展基本趋于一致:可持续发展水平较高,但可持续发展潜力明显不足,可持续发展协调度较低;制约其可持续发展的主要因素在于资源发展动力不足、产业结构单一、环境的恶化及治理的低效。     

工业园区综合难降解废水深度处理实验研究

某工业园区综合废水处理厂设计规模5.0×104m3/d,原设计出水执行《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》(GB 18918-2002)一级B标准,需将出水标准提高到一级A排放标准.分别采用混凝沉淀法和高级氧化法深度处理二级生化出水.小试试验结果表明:二级生化出水CODcr在62~75 mg/L左右,PAC、Al2(SO4)3及PFS三种絮凝沉淀药剂处理出水CODcr去除效果均不明显,不能稳定达到一级A排放标准.芬顿催化氧化的pH=5,FeSO4+H2O2投加量为(200+100)mg/L;臭氧氧化的O3投加量33 mg/L,其出水CODcr均能达到一级A排放标准.     

济南市环境与经济协调发展评价及对策研究

以济南市为研究对象,通过构建环境与经济协调发展指标体系,分析了济南市生态环境和经济发展状况,评价了环境与经济协调发展水平,结果表明:2011年-2014年济南市经济发展呈逐年上升趋势;生态环境质量出现下降态势;环境与经济协调发展水平也出现了明显下滑.根据评价结果,探讨了该市在产业能源结构、机动车控制及农业生产方面存在的问题,由此提出了调整产业结构、优化能源结构、完善机动车管理、加强生态农业建设、建立环境和经济发展综合决策和激励机制等对策.     

低中放处置场环境评价参数灵敏度分析

选取90Sr、239Pu和14C为代表核素,采用单参数变分法对某低中水平放射性固体废物处置场环境影响评价中与核素迁移相关的主要评价参数开展了参数灵敏度分析.分析结果表明:对于低中放处置场而言,环境影响评价模式中主要评价参数的选择对最终评价结果的影响很大,因此在环境影响评价中开展不确定度及敏感度分析是必要的.