Insuring Southeast Asian commercial forests: Fire risk analysis and the potential for use of data in risk pricing and reduction of forest fire risk

The author uses his own data gleaned from over 10 years of commercial forestry insurance across the world to propose that despite a low intrinsic fire risk across most of Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia, commercial fire losses are unacceptably high, and could be reduced substantially within the current financial legal and political framework within which forestry companies operate. Opening with a statement about the dearth of forest fire loss data in the commercial sector, it is observed that the consequent inability of general insurers to estimate the rate of fire loss leads to very low insurance participation in forestry within Indonesia. A summary is then provided of the financial and environmental benefits of insurance participation in commercial forestry were this situation to be changed. A short discussion on risk perceptions is introduced to make the point that without reliable commercial forest fire loss data, risk perceptions of fire exposure in Southeast Asia by the financial sector, including insurers, is a barrier to risk transfer and investment. While real fire risk and perceived fire risk for Indonesia seem at present to be in agreement, the paper challenges that this should the case. Comparisons are made with different parts of the world with the knowledge that, in commercial terms, plantations in the low latitudes behave similarly everywhere in terms of fire causes, fire propagation factors, and characteristics of plantation or managed mixed forest fires. A review of the fire sizes within commercial forests is a good indicator of the efficiency of fire management strategies, and profiles from a high fire risk territory and Indonesia are compared. Using commercial and unidentified data the author then demonstrates that commercial growers in Indonesia have a high annual rate of forest fire loss and may also have a significant catastrophe fire exposure. This ‘cat’ exposure is far greater than for equivalent plantations in clearly higher fire risk environments. These conclusions are and should be discussed with forestry companies to change attitude and investment levels. Practical points for improved plantation fire management are made along with comments about the resources required. A parallel discussion then reviews fire risk assessment and management by the insurers to prevent their own ‘forest fire’ losses if they are to get further involved with the provision of Indonesian commercial forest risk transfer. The explanation of how insurers price risk within a portfolio helps identify the specific data needed for a proper risk management strategy to be developed.     

Evaluation of Central North American Prairie Management Based on Species Diversity, Life Form, and Individual Species Metrics

Abstract:  Reintroduction of fire and grazing, alone or in combination, has increasingly been recognized as central to the restoration of North American mixed-grass and tallgrass prairies. Although ecological studies of these systems are abundant, they have generally been observational, or if experimental, have focused on plant species diversity. Species diversity measures alone are not sufficient to inform management, which often has goals associated with life-form groups and individual species. We examined the effects of prescribed fire, light cattle grazing, and a combination of fire and grazing on three vegetation components: species diversity, groups of species categorized by life-form, and individual species. We evaluated how successful these three treatments were in achieving specific management goals for prairies in the Iowa Loess Hills (U.S.A.). The grazing treatment promoted the greatest overall species richness, whereas grazing and burning and grazing treatments resulted in the lowest cover by woody species. Burning alone best achieved the management goals of increasing the cover and diversity of native species and reducing exotic forb and (predominantly exotic) cool-season grass cover. Species-specific responses to treatments appeared idiosyncratic (i.e., within each treatment there existed a set of species attaining their highest frequency) and nearly half of uncommon species were present in only one treatment. Because all management goals were not achieved by any one treatment, we conclude that management in this region may need refining. We suggest that a mosaic of burning and grazing (alone and in combination) may provide the greatest landscape-level species richness; however, this strategy would also likely promote the persistence of exotic species. Our results support the need to consider multiple measures, including species-specific responses, when planning and evaluating management .     

东北林区火烧防火线方法研究

火烧防火线在东北林区应用广泛,是预防森林火灾的重要措施.这项工作由于受天气、可燃物、点火技术等各方面因素影响较大,应用时具有一定的风险性.本文针对火烧防火线过程中,用火条件的选择、点火技术的运用以及用火安全等方面加以分析.     

建设生物防火林带的重要意义

阐述了营造生物防火林带是阻隔林火蔓延、实现"绿色防火"的主要措施,对保障森林资源安全、减少森林灾害的损失将发挥积极作用.     

Effects of Riparian Areas,Stream Order,and Land Use Disturbance on Watershed‐Scale Habitat Potential: An Ecohydrologic Approach to Policy1

Abstract: Spatio‐temporal linkages between hydrologic and ecologic dimensions of watersheds play a critical role in conservation policies. Habitat potential is influenced by variation along longitudinal and lateral gradients and land use disturbance. An assessment of these influences provides critical information for protecting watershed ecosystems and in making spatially explicit, conservation decisions. We use an ecohydrologic approach that focuses on interface between hydrological and ecological processes. This study focuses on changes in watershed habitat potentials along lateral (riparian), and longitudinal (stream order) dimensions and disturbance (land use). The habitat potentials were evaluated for amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds in the Westfield River Watershed of Massachusetts using geographic information systems and multivariate analysis. We use a polynomial model to study nonlinear effects using robust regression. Various spatial policies were modeled and evaluated for influence on species diversity. All habitat potentials showed a strong influence along spatial dimensions and disturbance. The habitat potential for all vertebrate groups studied decreased as the distance from the riparian zone increased. Headwaters and lower order subwatersheds had higher levels of species diversity compared to higher order subwatersheds. It was observed that locations with the least disturbance also had higher habitat potential. The study identifies three policy criteria that could be used to identify critical areas within a watershed to conserve habitat suitable for various species through management and restoration activities. A spatially variable policy that is based on stream order, riparian distance, and land use can be used to maximize watershed ecological benefits. Wider riparian zones with variable widths, protection of headwaters and lower order subwatersheds, and minimizing disturbance in riparian and headwater areas can be used in watershed policy. These management objectives could be achieved using targeted economic incentives, best management practices, zoning laws, and educational programs using a watershed perspective.     

CNG汽车加气站火灾爆炸危险分析与预防

对压缩天然气（CNG）汽车加气站的危险因素进行了辨识，并且用事故树法对加气站的火灾爆炸危险进行了分析，从技术、教育、管理3个方面提出了预防控制措施。     

冷激波灭火弹的灭火机理及应用研究

为了提高消防人员的安全,突破现有消防条件的限制,实施远程控火、灭火,本文提出一种新的灭火装置:冷激波灭火弹--爆炸冲击波与灭火介质相互作用破坏火场稳定燃烧条件,从而实现控火、灭火的目的.本文从理论方面介绍了冷激波灭火弹的灭火机理,并辅以相应的实验验证了冷激波灭火弹灭火的可行性、实用性.     

甲醛生产火灾爆炸危险性分析、评价及安全措施

在分析甲醛生产过程中火灾爆炸危险因素的基础上,运用美国道化学公司的火灾、爆炸危险指数评价方法对甲醛生产装置进行了安全性评价。针对其工艺情况,对其中的氧化单元从一般工艺危险性、特殊工艺危险性和安全补偿措施等方面进行系统分析与评价,并根据评价结果,提出了预防事故的安全措施,为甲醛的安全生产与管理提供了切实可行的参考。     

典型220 kV交流输电线路电磁场分布

通过理论计算和实际测量,揭示220 kV输电线路下的电磁场强度分布情况.从实际测量结果来看,输电线路下电磁场强度高于环境背景值,但均低于国家标准限值.     

化学工业园区消防规划探讨

针对化学工业园区的迅速发展,大型化工生产装置、储存装置日益增多,重大危险源数量不断增加,火灾、爆炸等重特大事故发生的可能性增大的现状,本文在化学工业园区安全规划工作实践的基础上,提出了化学工业园区消防规划的指导思想、原则和程序,确定了化学工业园区消防安全规划的一般内容,以期为化学工业园区消防安全规划的编制提供指导。