Conservation or Preservation? A Qualitative Study of the Conceptual Foundations of Natural Resource Management

Few disputes in the annals of US environmentalism enjoy the pedigree of the conservation-preservation debate. Yet, although many scholars have written extensively on the meaning and history of conservation and preservation in American environmental thought and practice, the resonance of these concepts outside the academic literature has not been sufficiently examined. Given the significance of the ideals of conservation and preservation in the justification of environmental policy and management, however, we believe that a more detailed analysis of the real-world use and understanding of these ideas is needed. In this paper, we describe the results of a qualitative, semantic study of the concepts of conservation and preservation undertaken in the context of the Chattahoochee National Forest (CNF), located in northern Georgia (USA). Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with scientists and north Georgia residents either interested or involved in the future management of the forest. Respondents were asked to define conservation and preservation in their own words and to indicate which approach they felt was more appropriate for the management of the CNF. Qualitative content analysis was used to elicit a set of recurring themes for each foundational concept. Taken together, these themes help to flesh out the meaning of conservation and preservation for citizens and scientists today, and illustrate the evolving nature of two of the more significant and venerable ideas animating US environmental policy and management.     

MUNICIPAL WATER CONSERVATION ALTERNATIVES1

ABSTRACT: The municipal water conservation options available to meet the goals of a national water conservation policy are evaluated. Water conservation with water conservation devices is shown to offer many significant advantages over education and pricing and metering as a method of accomplishing water conservation goals. Current constraints on the use of water conservation devices are outlined, and their elimination is suggested if the nation's water conservation goals are to be met.     

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RECEIVING-WATER STANDARDS1

ABSTRACT: An important enforcement question is, “What should be the relationship between ‘Best Management Practices’ (BMP) and receiving-water standards?” Nonpoint pollution dischargers are concerned about implementing a BMP program, only to find themselves in violation because receiving-water standards still have not been met. They are also concerned about the procedures a regulatory agency will utilize to determine the relative success of a BMP program. Successful management of nonpoint pollution requires that these concerns be addressed. Three alternative relationships have been developed. The recommended alternative is to implement the BMP program and use standards as a measure of the effectiveness of the program. Failure to achieve the standards would lead to a reevaluation of the BMP program. Enforcement activities against nonpoint dischargers would be restricted to the failure on their part to implement the previously agreed upon BMP program. Recommendations are also made as to measures regulatory agencies should take if their procedures to judge the relative success of a BMP program are to be technically and politically effective.     

AN OPTIMIZATION MODEL FOR EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF URBAN WATER RESOURCES1

ABSTRACT: A mathematical programming model is proposed to determine economically efficient urban water resource allocation and pricing policy by maximizing the sum of the consumer and producer surplus. The optimization of this nonlinear problem is accomplished by the use of linear programming algorithm. The feasibility of using recycled water for municipal purposes is examined in a planning context. The impact of higher water quality discharge standards on pricing and allocation of water is analyzed and the attractiveness of water reuse option is demonstrated.     

基于“国家公顷”模型的福建省2012年生态足迹分析

生态足迹是分析和评价国家或地区可持续发展的重要指标。为更加准确地核算小尺度生态足迹,修正了传统生态足迹模型中的均衡因子与产量因子,运用"国家公顷"生态足迹模型,对福建省2012年的生态足迹进行计算。结果表明,福建省2012年的人均生态足迹为1.155372nhm2,人均生态赤字为0.806598nhm2。福建省的人口消费需求超过了自然生态系统的承载能力,可持续发展状况不容乐观。     

在用轻型汽油车排放水平及趋势变化拟合研究

基于佛山市2.7万条稳态加载模拟工况法(ASM)的尾气排放检测数据,在分析了总体排放劣化特征随行驶里程呈规律性变化的基础上,通过分类统计和回归分析方法研究了在用轻型汽油车的排放劣化增长模型及不同排放标准机动车的排放特征.分析结果表明,线性增长模型能很好地表现CO,HC,NO三种污染物随行驶里程的劣化规律;不同排放标准的轻型汽油车排放特征差异很大,国零、Ⅰ、Ⅱ排放水平很高,对总体排放影响较大.研究结论对于预测机动车污染变化趋势,完善在用车检查/维护制度等方面可以提供理论支持.     

国庆假日济南城区大气环境质量特征及其影响因素研究

文章运用相关性分析法、主成分分析法探究国庆假日济南城区大气环境质量特征及其影响因素.结果表明:PM2.5、PM10、CO 是国庆期间的主要污染物,小时浓度的峰值出现在9 时和23 时,谷值出现在14 时;PM2.5、PM10是首要污染物,日均浓度(除去10月6日)均超过国家二级标准,10月1日PM2.5浓度上升33.6%,PM10上升34%,10月2日和4日出现浓度"双峰",3日和6日出现浓度"双谷",6日浓度值降至国庆最低,10月7日颗粒物浓度迅速回升;节假日期间,合理安排旅游行程,有利于缓解城市环境压力,促进城市可持续发展.     

Immediate behavioural responses to earthquakes in Christchurch,New Zealand,and Hitachi,Japan

This study examines people's immediate responses to earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Hitachi, Japan. Data collected from 257 respondents in Christchurch and 332 respondents in Hitachi revealed notable similarities between the two cities in people's emotional reactions, risk perceptions, and immediate protective actions during the events. Respondents' physical, household, and social contexts were quite similar, but Hitachi residents reported somewhat higher levels of emotional reaction and risk perception than did Christchurch residents. Contrary to the recommendations of emergency officials, the most frequent response of residents in both cities was to freeze. Christchurch residents were more likely than Hitachi residents to drop to the ground and take cover, whereas Hitachi residents were more likely than Christchurch residents to evacuate immediately the building in which they were situated. There were relatively small correlations between immediate behavioural responses and demographic characteristics, earthquake experience, and physical, social, or household context.     

城市轨道交通上盖物业振动影响评价标准选取探讨

对现行的振动评价标准中相关问题进行分析,认为VLzmax和VLz10分别作为城市轨道交通列车振动和环境振动背景评价量是合理的。并对标准JGJ/T 170-2009应用提出了建议。     

基于Kriging插值的路旁土壤重金属含量空间分布 ——以310国道郑州-开封段为例

分别在G310国道郑州-开封段的杏花营路段两侧150m×150m范围内布设7条垂直于公路的采样子断面,从路肩向两侧每隔10m采集1个表土混合样,共采集226个样品（包括2个对照样品）.用ICP-MS测定了土壤重金属（Pb、Cu、Zn、Cd、Cr和Ni）含量,并用Universal Kriging插值法分析路旁土壤重金属空间分布特征.结果表明,路旁土壤重金属呈与道路平行的带状分布,表明6种重金属含量均受公路交通影响,属于公路源重金属.土壤Cr和Cu含量在路基处含量最高,向两侧逐渐下降,呈指数分布;土壤Pb、Zn、Cd和Ni含量在距路基30～50m处出现峰值,呈偏态分布.路旁土壤Pb、Cu、Zn、Cd、Cr和Ni均为交通源重金属.