The Declining Influence of Science On Marine Environmental Policy

Abstract

Differences between the scientific and environmental policy communities regarding marine environmental protection strategies are discussed in the context of the nature and extent of scientific influence on marine environmental policy. Public perceptions of the nature and severity of marine pollution frequently differ from scientific assessments. the thesis of this paper is that the increasing influence of public perception on marine environmental protection policy is leading to the adoption of simplistic and unnecessarily extreme approaches to marine pollution prevention and to a reduced reliance on science. This trend is illustrated by some recent international developments and some suggestions are made towards enhancing the influence of science on marine protection policy.     

Shifting Baselines and The Extinction of The Caribbean Monk Seal

The recent extnction of the Caribbean monk seal Monachus tropicalis has been considered an example of a human‐caused extinction in the marine environment, and this species was considered a driver of the changes that have occurred in the structure of Caribbean coral reef ecosystems since colonial times. I searched archaeological records, historical data, and geographic names (used as a proxy of the presence of seals) and evaluated the use and quality of these data to conclude that since prehistoric times the Caribbean monk seal was always rare and vulnerable to human predation. This finding supports the hypothesis that in AD 1500, the Caribbean monk seal persisted as a small fragmented population in which individuals were confined to small keys, banks, or isolated islands in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. This hypothesis is contrary to the assumption that the species was widespread and abundant historically. The theory that the main driver of monk seal extinction was harvesting for its oil for use in the sugar cane industry of Jamaica during the 18th century is based primarily on anecdotal information and is overemphasized in the literature. An analysis of reported human encounters with this species indicates monk seal harvest was an occasional activity, rather than an ongoing enterprise. Nevertheless, given the rarity of this species and its restricted distribution, even small levels of hunting or specimen collecting must have contributed to its extinction, which was confirmed in the mid‐20th century. Some sources had been overlooked or only partially reviewed, others misinterpreted, and a considerable amount of anecdotal information had been uncritically used. Critical examination of archaeological and historical records is required to infer accurate estimations of the historical abundance of a species. In reconstructing the past to address the shifting baseline syndrome, it is important to avoid selecting evidence to confirm modern prejudices. Puntos de Referencia Cambiantes y la Extinción de la Foca Monje Caribeña     

贵州省自然灾害区域分异规律及分析方法研究

贵州省自然灾害严重，且种类多，区域差异明显。为了分析自然灾害区域分异规律，本文提出了灾害模数、灾害区域差异系数等概念，编制了贵州省灾害等级图。     

自然灾害灾情划分指标研究

本文阐述了灾情分析中的两个基本方面，即损失的规模和损失的深度，提出了灾级和灾度的概念，对于影响灾级和灾度的主要指标也进行了分析。并就时间和空间变化对灾级划分界线的影响作了论述。     

江苏省近40年洪涝灾害概况及防洪对策

本文分析了江苏省４０ａ来洪涝灾害概况及１９９１年特大洪涝受灾情况。针对江苏实际，提出了减灾对策。     

洪水灾害损失信息系统—FLOODIS系统设计

本文借助遥感技术，设计出一个专题地理信息系统一洪灾损失信息系统ＦＬＯＯＤＩＳ，为损失评估模型提供评估区域洪水灾害损失的各种自然地理和社会经济信息以及经系统内专家模块处理后的专题信息，同时对其计算结果进行多种方式输出。     

陕西关中地区城市灾害评价

本文在详细分析关中地区六个大中城市的主要自然灾害和城市地质灾害的基础上，分别评价了各种灾害造成的经济损失，各个城市的灾害危险性、易损性和抗灾能力，并结合防灾对策对城市进行了综合分类。     

数据库语言在震害预测中的应用

震害预测的软件程序一般都是基于结构分析的原理，大都采用ＦＯＲＴＲＡＮ语言来编写，而震害预测工作中又大量用到分组和排序，这又是数据库语言的特长。本文介绍了在震害预测工作中应用数据库语言的一些体会，主要讨论了两种语言的接口问题。     

建立城市自然灾害承灾能力指标的思路探讨

本文论述了城市承灾能力的含义，分析了我国城市主要自然灾害以及承文体的类型和致灾因素，探讨了城市承灾能力指标，为城市承灾能力综合评判提供了依据．     

建筑物火灾的计算机区域模型

本研究运用区域方法模拟了建筑物火灾的发展过程,采用理论分析和经验公式相结合的方法,开发了火灾工程系统软件,分析求解了防火工程中的参数,该模型可为建筑物防火工程设计提供咨询、评估。