Scale and self-governance in agri-environment schemes: experiences with two alternative approaches in the Netherlands

Agri-environment schemes in the Netherlands have been criticized for their lack of effectiveness. Explanations were sought in the limited size of the individual farm and in the shallowness of the measures. We distinguish three scale problems: in the spatial dimension (from farm element to landscape), in the management dimension (from add-on measure to farming system) and in the governance dimension (from little to much space for self-governance by farmers). These scale concepts are used to translate insights from ecology and agro-economy to governance approaches. We analyse case studies of two new approaches: an area approach with group contracts and spatial coordination of agri-environmental measures, and a farming system with substantial adaptations of the farming concept. Both approaches have elements of increased self-governance and could offer inspiration for schemes elsewhere. We propose that appropriate space for self-governance is necessary when choosing another scale approach for making agri-environment schemes more effective.     

The influence of institutional design on local environmental interest representation in the national polity

This article investigates structural and informal institutional design variables to account for civil society actors’ views on the political representation of local environmental interests in the national polity. It does so by linking literature on institutional design and place-based environmental advocacy to a case of large scale infrastructure development in the national interest. The case study concerns the proposal for a national high speed rail network (“HS2”) in the United Kingdom, which is heavily opposed locally based on its expected adverse impacts. Through fieldwork research on protest against HS2 in an area of high landscape value, it has been found that local actors perceived specific institutions to structurally under-represent interests associated with environmental conservation, compounded further by an informal style of doing politics. The paper recommends that the environmental management and planning literature turns to institutional explanations to make insightful the dynamics of defending the local interest in the national sphere.     

Scanning electron microscopy study of the gills,scales and erythrocytes of Anabas testudineus upon exposure to chlorpyrifos

The present study was undertaken to assess the toxicity of sublethal concentrations (125, 250, and 375 µg L^?1) of chlorpyrifos on Anabas testudineus for 21 days. The morphological changes on the gills, scales, and erythrocytes of A. testudineus were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Gill alterations included highly active mucous cells, epithelial hyperplasia, and fusion of secondary lamellae. The scales showed damaged lepidonts. Oozed out cytoplasmic content and lobopodial projections were observed in the erythrocytes after exposure to chlorpyrifos.     

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of fish scale loaded TiO2 composites under solar light irradiation

Fish scale (FS) loaded TiO₂ composites were investigated as photocatalysts in degradation of Methyl Orange under solar light irradiation. Composites were prepared through sol-gel method by varying mass ratio of TiO₂/FS at 90:10, 70:30 and 50:50, respectively. The catalysts prepared in this study were characterized by using XRD, SEM, FT-IR and nitrogen sorption. The effects of solar irradiation, mass ratio of TiO₂/FS composites, irradiation time and catalyst loadings were studied. Synergistic effect was found in TiO₂/FS of 90:10 composite which performed higher photocatalytic degradation than synthesized TiO₂ under solar light irradiation. However, further increasing fish scale content in the composites reduced the photocatalytic activity drastically. Under solar light irradiation, all the catalysts in this study exhibited photocatalytic activity, except TiO₂/FS of 50:50 composite that only acted as a weak biosorbent without performing any photocatalytic property. Photocatalytic degradation increased with increasing catalyst loading and irradiation time but decreased with increased of initial dye concentration.     

1982～2010年湖北省人口分布格局变迁及其影响因素

以人口普查数据为基础,采用空间分析技术,对1982~2010年湖北省人口分布的变迁及原因进行研究。结果表明:(1)湖北省人口分布具有显著的空间差异:区域尺度上,人口分布由东向西梯度递减,且梯度差异不断扩大;地市尺度上,武汉市始终是人口密度最高的地区,神农架、恩施、十堰、宜昌始终是人口密度最低的地区;县级尺度上,人口两极分化明显;省域尺度上,人口密度高值区长期呈三足鼎立的态势,人口重心始终位于几何中心以东,并不断向东迁移;(2)湖北省人口格局形成的原因是多方面的:自然地理差异是奠定湖北人口分布格局的决定因子;社会经济发展对湖北人口分布在自然基础上进行再塑造;区域发展战略对湖北人口分布的变迁起着重要导向作用;开发历史也在一定程度上影响了人口分布的布局。     

通风强度对市政污泥生物干化中试效果的影响

将污泥与树皮按照一定比例混合,利用自主研制的滚筒式污泥生物干化中试系统进行实验,通过对温度、含水率、O2和CO2浓度、挥发性固体(VS)、p H等参数的检测,研究了通风强度对市政污泥生物干化效果的影响.结果表明,通风强度对污泥生物干化有较大影响,通风强度(以VS计)为120 L·(h·kg)-1时,最高温度达到66℃,55℃以上高温可以维持40 h以上,111 h后污泥最终含水率可以降低至56%;生物干化过程中p H始终保持在6.5~8.5之间,不会影响微生物生命活动;滚筒式污泥生物干化反应器能够使反应器内基质均一性良好,对利用滚筒式反应器实现污泥连续流处理提供参考.     

The role of spatial scale in sustainable development

The role of spatial scale in sustainable development is assessed by dividing the world into multiple spatial units at different levels on a socio-political spatial scale. The basic patterns of sustainable development do not appear to be evident at all spatial levels, owing to the absence of some capital stocks and the conversion processes linking them, but environmental economics theory can be generalized to explain phenomena at various levels. Capital conversion processes influencing the sustainability of development of spatial units are constrained by processes at different levels, e.g. those imposing environmental conditions on development or affecting availability of investment capital. The autonomy of individual spatial units is also compromised by capital transfers to and from other units at the same level, so it is proposed that the sustainability of development of a particular unit should be estimated using net, rather than gross capital trends. Because of uneven development the same degree of sustainability should not be expected at the same time for all spatial units at the same spatial level.     

Effects of Drainage‐Basin Geomorphology on Insectivorous Bird Abundance in Temperate Forests

Abstract: Interfaces between terrestrial and stream ecosystems often enhance species diversity and population abundance of ecological communities beyond levels that would be expected separately from both the ecosystems. Nevertheless, no study has examined how stream configuration within a watershed influences the population of terrestrial predators at the drainage‐basin scale. We examined the habitat and abundance relationships of forest insectivorous birds in eight drainage basins in a cool temperate forest of Japan during spring and summer. Each basin has different drainage‐basin geomorphology, such as the density and frequency of stream channels. In spring, when terrestrial arthropod prey biomass is limited, insectivorous birds aggregated in habitats closer to streams, where emerging aquatic prey was abundant. Nevertheless, birds ceased to aggregate around streams in summer because terrestrial prey became plentiful. Watershed‐scale analyses showed that drainage basins with longer stream channels per unit area sustained higher densities of insectivorous birds. Moreover, such effects of streams on birds continued from spring through summer, even though birds dispersed out of riparian areas in the summer. Although our data are from only a single year, our findings imply that physical modifications of stream channels may reduce populations of forest birds; thus, they emphasize the importance of landscape‐based management approaches that consider both stream and forest ecosystems for watershed biodiversity conservation.     

西安、成都、昆明入境旅游市场动态演化对比分析

运用SPSS、EXCEL软件,采用亲景度、市场机会指数和市场占有率等指标相结合的研究方法,对2000—2010年西部主要旅游城市———西安、成都、昆明入境旅游市场进行分析,发现西安和昆明的市场占有率呈M推移,内部市场占有率X=35%对称;以人文景观为主的西安其强亲景国为欧美的英、法、德、美,以自然风光为主的昆明其强亲景国为东南亚的新、马、泰,而自然景观和人文景观并重的成都其强亲景国为泰国。针对这一规律,得出针对不同客源市场的合作措施。     

A spatially explicit framework for quantifying downstream hydrologic conditions

Continued improvements in spatial datasets and hydrological modeling algorithms within Geographic Information Systems (GISs) have enhanced opportunities for watershed analysis. With more detailed hydrology layers and watershed delineation techniques, we can now better represent and model landscape to water quality relationships. Two challenges in modeling these relationships are selecting the appropriate spatial scale of watersheds for the receiving stream segment, and handling the network or pass-through issues of connected watersheds. This paper addresses these two important issues for enhancing cumulative watershed capabilities in GIS. Our modeling framework focuses on the delineation of stream-segment-level watershed boundaries for 1:24 000 scale hydrology, in combination with a topological network model. The result is a spatially explicit, vector-based, spatially cumulative watershed modeling framework for quantifying watershed conditions to aid in restoration. We demonstrate the new insights available from this modeling framework in a cumulative mining index for the management of aquatic resources in a West Virginia watershed.