Evaluating Management of Protected Areas: Integrating Planning and Evaluation

/ An approach to evaluating the effectiveness of management of protected areas is proposed. This approach has been used in developing an evaluation strategy for the Fraser Island World Heritage Area in Australia. The main component of the strategy is built upon the desired outcomes specified in the management plan for the area and thus provides a basis for assessing the extent to which the plan's objectives are being achieved. A series of monitoring programs have been proposed to enable this assessment. Examples of monitoring programs developed as part of the evaluation strategy are presented. A second component of the strategy monitors the implementation of the management plan. A management information system has been developed to record and report on the extent to which the specific actions specified in the management plan have been implemented. The strategy is discussed in relation to seven objectives set for the evaluation program in its design phase.KEY WORDS: Planning; Evaluation; Monitoring; Management; Protected areas     

华北山区环境综合整治与生态建设

华北山区位于华北平原与陕甘黄土高原以及内蒙古高原之间，是我国经济欠发达地区之一。它又是我国华北平原、京津唐等大城市工农业和生活用水的主要源地，生态环境类型复杂多样，但由于人类活动频繁，自然植被破坏严重，生态系统结构紊乱，功能脆弱，自身恢复能力较弱。积极开展华北山区的环境综合整治与生态建设不仅对解决当地人民的生活和生存问题具有重要的意义，而且对于我国华北地区经济的发展也具有重要的战略意义。本文详细分析了华北山区的生态系统特点和存在的问题，并在此基础上提出在该区环境综合整治与生态建设的具体措施和途径。     

秦巴集中连片特困区多维贫困度量及其空间格局

连片特困区贫困是特殊的区域性贫困,实现持久脱贫,关键在于识别和评估区域的贫困程度以及深究其致贫原因。基于此,通过构建经济维度硬现状、社会维度软现状及自然维度潜在状态3维的多维贫困度量指标体系,应用均方差权重法测算了2006、2010及2014年秦巴集中连片特困区及各子区域的多维贫困度,并分析了多维贫困及其各维度的时空演变规律。结果表明：（1）秦巴集中连片特困区多维贫困度得分偏高,表明该区域贫困程度较深,且多维贫困在不同贫困维度上呈现显著差异。（2）2006—2014年秦巴集中连片特困区多维贫困度都呈减弱趋势,且表现出以甘肃省徽县至湖北省房县为轴带的中部地区集聚的空间演变趋势。（3）在整体多维贫困显著改善的同时,不同连片扶贫区及不同的贫困维度在减贫路径上也体现出不同的演化特征。所得结论为该区域内县域尺度贫困类型特征识别以及扶贫工作前期评估以及后期验收成效等提供一定技术支持,也为后期实施因地制宜的脱贫措施提供科学的辅助决策支撑。     

20世纪初以来沂蒙山区森林植被动态及其对气候变化的响应——基于遥感和树轮的研究

遥感能够直接反映植被生长信息,但目前观测时间较短;树轮资料可以弥补遥感手段的不足,但往往缺乏与植被生长状况（如植被生产力）的直接关联。已有研究往往计算不同植被指数指标和树轮指数的相关性,并基于此来重建长时间尺度的植被动态信息。但基于相关性所选取的指标在不同地区存在较大差异,不利于空间对比研究。以沂蒙山区为研究区,选取能够有效表征植被年初级生产力的生长季NDVI累积值指标,利用Bootstrap法建立了其与树轮宽度的关系,重建了20世纪初期以来植被动态时间序列,并分析了变化特征及其与气候变化的关系。结果表明：沂山地区生长季NDVI累积值的多年平均值为7.36,低于蒙山和塔山地区;蒙山地区植被状况呈现好转趋势,特别是20世纪90年代之后植被好转趋势更加明显,而塔山和沂山地区植被无显著变化。小波分析结果表明研究区植被动态存在较显著的2 a、4 a或8 a尺度的周期变化,与生长季帕尔默干旱指数及平均温度的周期变化相一致,但干旱指数与植被动态具有更高的相关性。本研究综合运用树轮与遥感技术发展了长时间尺度植被动态时间序列重建方法,有助于更好地理解植被动态及其对气候变化的响应。     

中国环境监测总站内蒙古生态监测分站介绍

2009年12月25日,环保部复函批转了《中国环境监测总站转型发展纲要》,纲要提出,加强“天地一体化”的生态环境监测与评价技术研究,推动国家生态环境监测网络建设,在重要生态功能保护区和典型地区7—9个有条件的环境监测站加挂总站生态环境监测分站牌子,开展遥感与地面监测相结合的生态监测。2010年5月底长沙会议提出,将全面启动能力评价和筛选工作,力争在今明年选出一批挂牌。本文详细介绍了争取加挂总站生态监测分站的内蒙古生态监测分站情况。     

Evaluation of phosphorus removal from wastewater by soils in rural areas in China

Low-cost, easy-maintenance and high-e ciency decentralized wastewater treatment technologies are urgently needed in rural areas of China. Processes with high potential for phosphorus removal are of great interest. However, commonly used treatment methods often do not meet the strict criteria for removing phosphorus from rural wastewater. In order to search an economic and simple technology for phosphorus removal from the common bio-technologies e uent, seven soil types collected from di erent rural areas in China were investigated for their ability to remove phosphorus. X-ray di raction (XRD) was used to analyse the mineral structure, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) was used to analyse the geochemical composition of the soil samples. Three primary minerals – quartz, albite and montmorillonite – were clearly detected. The samples were divided into two soil types, acidic soils and alkaline soils, based on their pH values. The geochemical composition study indicated that a higher percentage of Ca and Mg occurred in alkaline soils (pH > 8) than in acidic soils (pH < 6.5). Adsorption isotherms from batch experiments fitted the Langmuir and Freundlich models well, the maximum P adsorption capacities ranged from 0.256 to 1.598 mg P/g, indicating a high phosphorus removal potential for all of these soils. The P fractions extracted revealed that the sum of NaOH-extracted inorganic P (NaOH-Pi) was the major P component in the acidic soils, and CaCO3-bound phosphorus (Ca-P) in the alkaline soils. Dynamic adsorption simulation showed that these soils have the ability to remove phosphorus from wastewater.     

厦门贝类养殖区重金属的含量分布特征与潜在生态危害评价

根据2005年4月和10月厦门贝类养殖区环境调查资料,着重对贝类养殖区海水、表层沉积物中重金属的含量分布进行分析,并对贝类养殖区的生态环境进行质量评价及潜在生态危害评价.结果表明:厦门贝类养殖区海水中Cu、Pb、Cd、Zn、Hg、As的平均含量分别为1.06 μg/L,1.23 μg/L, 0.05 μg/L,6.28 μg/L,0.033 μg/L,1.01 μg/L;沉积物中Cu、Pb、Cd、Zn、Hg、As的平均含量分别为20.0×10-6,39.5×10-6,0.07×10-6,97.3×10-6,0.05×10-6,7.20×10-6.生态质量评价结果表明,贝类养殖区海水重金属的含量符合第二类海水水质标准要求,处于清洁水平.养殖区沉积物重金属的含量符合第一类海洋沉积物质量标准,属于较清洁水平.潜在生态危害评价结果,Hg、As和Cd的潜在生态危害系数大于Cu、Pb、Zn,表明和Hg、As、Cd的潜在危害大于Cu、Pb、Zn,但整个养殖区沉积物中重金属的潜在危害属于轻微,养殖环境良好.     

Assessing the value of pastoral farming in the Alps using choice experiments: evidence for public policies and management

Alpine livestock farms consist of pastures, buildings, people and animals, and are a key element for the economy in the Alps. Pastures and huts are often owned by the local municipalities, who lease them to private tenants. However, this activity is often no longer profitable, and thus pastures and huts remain unused and abandoned. This research provides an economic estimate of pastoral farming using the choice experiment (CE) method, also assessing the willingness to pay (WTP) for pastoral farming functions. The study examines different scenarios of upland farm management in order to provide recommendations for public owners on how to better manage these assets. The case study is located in an alpine area in northern Italy. Our results show a higher WTP for the attributes related to the traditional Alpine agricultural economy, with an emphasis on grazing. Several policy implications regarding agricultural renewal and support for mountain livelihoods are highlighted in the conclusions.     

Internal short circuit and accelerated rate calorimetry tests of lithium-ion cells: Considerations for methane-air intrinsic safety and explosion proof/flameproof protection methods

Researchers with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) studied the potential for lithium-ion cell thermal runaway from an internal short circuit in equipment for use in underground coal mines. In this third phase of the study, researchers compared plastic wedge crush-induced internal short circuit tests of selected lithium-ion cells within methane (CH₄)-air mixtures with accelerated rate calorimetry tests of similar cells. Plastic wedge crush test results with metal oxide lithium-ion cells extracted from intrinsically safe evaluated equipment were mixed, with one cell model igniting the chamber atmosphere while another cell model did not. The two cells models exhibited different internal short circuit behaviors. A lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) cell model was tolerant to crush-induced internal short circuits within CH₄-air, tested under manufacturer recommended charging conditions. Accelerating rate calorimetry tests with similar cells within a nitrogen purged 353-mL chamber produced ignitions that exceeded explosion proof and flameproof enclosure minimum internal pressure design criteria. Ignition pressures within a 20-L chamber with 6.5% CH₄-air were relatively low, with much larger head space volume and less adiabatic test conditions. The literature indicates that sizeable lithium thionyl chloride (LiSOCl₂) primary (non rechargeable) cell ignitions can be especially violent and toxic. Because ignition of an explosive atmosphere is expected within explosion proof or flameproof enclosures, there is a need to consider the potential for an internal explosive atmosphere ignition in combination with a lithium or lithium-ion battery thermal runaway process, and the resulting effects on the enclosure.     

Is this trail too crowded? A choice experiment to evaluate tradeoffs and preferences of park visitors in Garibaldi Park,British Columbia

Large crowds in parks can be a problem for park managers and visitors. However, perceptions of crowding are difficult to measure due to coping mechanisms deployed by park visitors. Furthermore, perceptions of crowding should not be measured in isolation, but rather as part of a suite of conditions that comprise the visitors’ outdoor experience. We used a dichotomous choice experiment with visual images and eight attributes to estimate park users’ utilities associated with their visitor experience in Garibaldi Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada. Our visual method allowed us to control for background view and compare user preferences on hiking trails with preferences at final destinations. We find that utilities are more sensitive to crowding at viewpoints than to other aspects of the outdoor experience. Thus, visitor satisfaction and crowding perceptions are more likely to be defined by where visitors have these encounters rather than the total number of encounters.