Knowing But Not Doing: Selecting Priority Conservation Areas and the Research–Implementation Gap

Abstract: Conservation assessment is a rapidly evolving discipline whose stated goal is the design of networks of protected areas that represent and ensure the persistence of nature (i.e., species, habitats, and environmental processes) by separating priority areas from the activities that degrade or destroy them. Nevertheless, despite a burgeoning scientific literature that ever refines these techniques for allocating conservation resources, it is widely believed that conservation assessments are rarely translated into actions that actually conserve nature. We reviewed the conservation assessment literature in peer‐reviewed journals and conducted survey questionnaires of the authors of these studies. Two‐thirds of conservation assessments published in the peer‐reviewed scientific literature do not deliver conservation action, primarily because most researchers never plan for implementation. This research–implementation gap between conservation science and real‐world action is a genuine phenomenon and is a specific example of the “knowing–doing gap” that is widely recognized in management science. Given the woefully inadequate resources allocated for conservation, our findings raise questions over the utility of conservation assessment science, as currently practiced, to provide useful, pragmatic solutions to conservation planning problems. A reevaluation of the conceptual and operational basis of conservation planning research is urgently required. We recommend the following actions for beginning a process for bridging the research–implementation gap in conservation planning: (1) acknowledge the research–implementation gap is real, (2) source research questions from practitioners, (3) situate research within a broader conservation planning model, (4) expand the social dimension of conservation assessments, (5) support conservation plans with transdisciplinary social learning institutions, (6) reward academics for societal engagement and implementation, and (7) train students in skills for “doing” conservation.     

The Value-Action Gap in Waste Recycling: The Case of Undergraduates in Hong Kong

The discrepancy between verbal and actual commitment in waste recycling and environmental behavior is thought to have attenuated the effectiveness of many environmental policy and measures. Studies purport to show the existence of such a value-action gap in environmental issues has been largely based on matching the verbal commitment to environmental value through self-reported environmental behavioral data. Therefore, there is a lack of direct evidence to prove that such a discrepancy exists. This study demonstrates a methodology (contrasting on-site observation with self-reported results) to measure the gap between verbal commitment and actual recycling behavior and provides an explanation on the recycling behavior of students at Hong Kong Baptist University in the hope that the lessons learnt can be generalized to a wider context. Our findings indicate that a gap between verbal recycling commitment and corresponding action does exist in waste recycling on this university campus. By using multiple linear regression analysis, we found that the self-reported recycling behavior of undergraduates cannot be meaningfully explained by most variables previously suggested in the general value-action model.     

Socioeconomic benefits of conserving Iran’s water resources through modifying agricultural practices and water management strategies

Sustainable development requires modifying the current consumption pattern of natural resources. This study investigates efficient tactics for reducing the unsustainability and inefficiency of human’s food-related blue water consumption alongside improving national environmental and socioeconomic status. As a case study for Iran, 15 alternative management scenarios (AMS) were defined compared to the current on-farm management, and their effects were assessed on a monthly scale. Based on the results, 45.5 billion m³ y⁻¹ (BCM) blue water is consumed within the croplands, 78% and 34% of which are unsustainable and inefficient, respectively. AMCs reduces the unsustainable and inefficient blue water consumption by 2–17 BCM and 2–13 BCM, respectively. The combination of yield gap closure, drip irrigation, soil mulching, and deficit irrigation has the largest effect on blue water saving; it releases or changes the status of monthly blue water scarcity in 11 provinces; increases field-employees by 132%, food security by 9%, international food-export by 87%, and gross domestic production by 54%. However, it doesn’t fully address blue water overconsumption in the summer period; hence, further measures are needed to reduce blue water scarcity to the sustainable level in these environmental hotspots.     

威远江自然保护区思茅松种群的林窗更新研究

在野外考察的基础上,运用径级结构、高度结构的方法对思茅松种群的林窗更新进行研究,研究结果表明：思茅松纯林的林窗更新与灌草层盖度,尤其是草本层盖度密切相关。灌木层盖度的大小影响幼苗的存活,灌木层盖度小,幼苗存活率高。草本层盖度的大小影响种子的萌发,草本层盖度小,种子萌发率高。在针阔混交林林窗中,当常绿阔叶树稀少或土层浅薄时,思茅松更新个体年龄差异大,当常绿阔叶树长势好且密度较大时,思茅松更新个体年龄普遍差异较小。     

Design of single vertical tube falling-film evaporation basing on experiment

An experimental study for fluid hydrodynamic characteristics in thin water films falling down the outside of a vertical tube was performed with the analysis of several factors about the uniformity and stability of the film. Liquid evaporation is of major interest for many fields in process engineering. One of these is chemical process engineering, where evaporation of liquids and generation of super heated steam is mandatory for numerous processes. Generally, this is performed by the use of classical pool boiling and evaporation process equipment, providing relatively limited performance. The performance of the film distributor will affect the production capacity and service life of the evaporator. In this publication a novel falling-film distributor which is used annular gap and inlet tube rotated tangentially 270° to guarantee the film uniformity is presented. Experimental data suggested that there is optimum annular gap distance is between 1.5 and 2.0 mm and the spray density should be controlled between 250 and 700 kg m⁻¹ h⁻¹. Several suggestions for evaporator design are proposed.     

浮顶储罐二次密封油气空间放电分析

为避免浮顶储罐在遭受雷击时由于导电片设施在二次密封油气空间中放电引起密封圈火灾,在实验室建立了2 m直径油罐模型,开展导电片火花放电起始电流试验、导电片与罐壁形成空气间隙击穿放电初始电压试验,系统研究导电片在二次密封油气空间中的放电危险性。试验结果表明:导电片靠自身弹性与罐壁贴合时,雷电流大约在400 A时导电片开始产生点燃性火花放电;如导电片与罐壁贴合不良形成空气间隙,雷击情况下雷电流泄放瞬时浮顶与罐壁之间的电位差足以使一定大小的间隙击穿放电,当间隙大小为20~30 mm时,放电电压为26~40 kV。因此,储罐在遭受雷击时,导电片火花放电现象不可避免。结合储罐的实际运行情况,提出取消二次密封导电片、液下刮蜡器与浮顶进行可靠电气连接的改进措施,避免导电片在二次密封油气空间中放电发生,大大降低浮顶储罐雷击火灾事故。     

双二元经济结构下的生态建设补偿机制

双二元经济是我国生态建设补偿机制面临的根本约束条件。首先简要回顾了我国双二元经济的形成逻辑同环境污染现状之间的内在联系。指出我国政府在建国初期所采取的赶超战略和改革开放后的地区不平衡发展战略是联系二者的历史渊源。在此基础上构建的博弈模型表明。在双二元经济结构的约束条件下。生态建设供给的博弈均衡应是由东部发达地区和城市先进部门承担绝大部分甚至是全部的生态建设成本。因此。我国生态建设补偿机制的构建方向就应该是构建一个有效完善的跨区域、跨部门的生态建设补偿机制。以平衡生态建设者和生态建设收益者之间的成本和收益，这是保障生态建设可持续发展的关键。     

Contribution of Systematic Reviews to Management Decisions

Systematic reviews comprehensively summarize evidence about the effectiveness of conservation interventions. We investigated the contribution to management decisions made by this growing body of literature. We identified 43 systematic reviews of conservation evidence, 23 of which drew some concrete conclusions relevant to management. Most reviews addressed conservation interventions relevant to policy decisions; only 35% considered practical on‐the‐ground management interventions. The majority of reviews covered only a small fraction of the geographic and taxonomic breadth they aimed to address (median = 13% of relevant countries and 16% of relevant taxa). The likelihood that reviews contained at least some implications for management tended to increase as geographic coverage increased and to decline as taxonomic breadth increased. These results suggest the breadth of a systematic review requires careful consideration. Reviews identified a mean of 312 relevant primary studies but excluded 88% of these because of deficiencies in design or a failure to meet other inclusion criteria. Reviews summarized on average 284 data sets and 112 years of research activity, yet the likelihood that their results had at least some implications for management did not increase as the amount of primary research summarized increased. In some cases, conclusions were elusive despite the inclusion of hundreds of data sets and years of cumulative research activity. Systematic reviews are an important part of the conservation decision making tool kit, although we believe the benefits of systematic reviews could be significantly enhanced by increasing the number of reviews focused on questions of direct relevance to on‐the‐ground managers; defining a more focused geographic and taxonomic breadth that better reflects available data; including a broader range of evidence types; and appraising the cost‐effectiveness of interventions. Contribuciones de las Revisiones Sistemáticas a las Decisiones de Manejo     

Can a unique appearance of e-bikes,coupled with information on their characteristics,influence drivers’ gap acceptance?

Abstract

Objective: Car drivers tend to underestimate the speed of e-bikes and accept smaller gaps for crossing in front of them compared to conventional bicycles. As an explanation, it has been suggested that car drivers rely on their previous experience with conventional bicycles, which tells them that those mostly travel at low speeds. E-bikes, which look just like regular bicycles, do not conform to this expectation, resulting in potentially dangerous interactions. Based on this assumption, researchers have suggested to increase other road users’ awareness of e-bikes’ higher speeds by giving them a distinct appearance. The goal of our experiment was to investigate the effects of such a unique appearance, aided by clear instructions about the higher speeds of e-bikes, on gap acceptance.

Method: In order to investigate the effect of appearance independent of the effect of bicycle type, we used video sequences of conventional bicycles and e-bikes approaching at different levels of speed. The riders (regardless of what type of bike they were actually riding) either wore an orange helmet as an indicator for an e-bike, or a gray helmet indicating a conventional bicycle. Fifty participants were asked to indicate the smallest acceptable gap for a left turn in front of the cyclist or e-bike rider.

Results: The results showed significantly smaller acceptable gaps when confronted with the gray helmet (signal for bicycle) compared to the orange helmet (signal for e-bike), whereas there was no difference between the actual bicycle types.

Conclusions: Overall, the results indicate that informing about e-bikes characteristics in combination with a unique appearance can lead to a more cautious behavior among car drivers.