安阳市区二氧化硫污染总量控制研究

在充分调查的基础上,结合市区经济、社会发展远景目标纲要和城市总体发展规划,预测了近期、中期、远期SO₂排放量和控制总量,确定了SO₂排放总量与环境空气质量之间的相应关系,并以改善市区环境空气质量为目标,提出了不同阶段的综合防治方案,为实现国务院提出的对“两控区”的控制目标奠定了基础。SO2防治方案已经安阳市人民政府批准实施。      

基于全产业链视角实施生态资产管理

生态资产是人类赖以生存的基本条件,当前研究尚未充分关注人类活动对生态资产的影响。本文从社会经济系统的全产业链视角出发,探讨产业链不同环节的生产消费活动对生态资产的影响以及所对应的不同政策内涵。分析结果表明,产业链的不同环节对应不同政策内涵,识别不同环节上的关键区域/行业能够为不同类型的政策决策指出着力点。初始投入环节的核算服务于人力资本投入行为的调控;初始生产环节的核算服务于末端控制手段,包括资源节约与污染物减排;中间生产环节和末端生产环节的核算服务于提升生产效率的政策手段;最终消费环节的核算服务于消费行为优化。最终得出应该从全产业链视角实施多环节生态资产管理的结论,并提出,为了从全产业链视角实施生态资产管理,应考虑建立一套标准化、全产业链视角的生态资产需求核算框架,建设支持全产业链视角核算生态资产需求的基础数据库,将全产业链视角管理生态资产的思维融入政策决策等建议。     

劳动力转移、性别差异与农地流转及合约选择

通过构建“劳动力转移-性别差异-农地流转及合约选择”分析框架,分析劳动力转移性别差异背后的行为经济学含义,进而探讨不同性别的劳动力转移对农户农地流转供给决策与合约选择的差异化影响机制。理论研究表明,女性在家庭中起粘结家庭成员的作用,女性劳动力非农就业更能体现家庭的“离农”,因而女性劳动力的非农就业行为对农户农地流转供给决策具有更明显的促进作用;男性是农户家庭在村庄中排他能力的标志,具有不可忽视的农地流转风险规避功能,因而男性劳动力的外出就业距离对农户农地流转的合约选择起决定性作用。利用全国9省(区)4772个农户样本数据进行实证分析,计量结果表明:①女性劳动力非农就业比例每增加10%,农户转出农地面积占承包地面积比例增加1.06%;②男性劳动力县外就业比例每增加10%,农户转出农地时签订关系型合约的可能性增加1.11%;③男性劳动力县外就业比例每增加10%,意愿合约形式为无合同的可能性增加0.63%,意愿合约形式为口头合同的可能性增加0.29%,意愿合约形式为书面合同的可能性减少0.91%。这意味着,为了劳动力流转市场与农地流转市场更流畅地互动,应为农村女性劳动力营造一个更加合适、有利和公平的非农就业环境,这可成为未来农村劳动力就业扶持政策的重要方向。另一方面,促进正式契约与关系型合约的有机衔接,有利于农地流转合约的正式化与规范化,从而为农地流转市场的健康发育提供有力保障。     

A conceptual framework for Jatropha seed yield estimation using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) modelling

Jatropha seed yield prediction is one of the most important influencing factors for developing a supply chain modelling of Jatropha seed. The oil from this Jatropha seed is used to blend with diesel to obtain biofuel (Hiromi, Yamamoto, Junichi Fujino, and Kenji Yamaji. 2001. “Evaluation of Bioenergy Potential with a Multi-regional Global-Land-Use-and-Energy Model.” Biomass and Bioenergy 21: 185–203). The Jatropha plant is easy to cultivate and produces high yield if properly maintained. The main focus of this study is to utilize uncultivable wastelands for cultivating Jatropha seeds. As suggested by Liu et al. (Liu, Xiaohong, David B. Grant, Alan C. McKinnon, and Yuanhua Feng. 2010. “An Empirical Examination of the Contribution of Capabilities to the Competitiveness of Logistics Service Providers: A Perspective from China.” International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management 40 (10): 847–866), the effectiveness of prediction affects the functional characteristics of a supply chain network design. The yield prediction of Jatropha seeds has two important roles which include (i) the identification of external parameters that affects the yield and (ii) the detection of internal attributes that changes the growth characteristics of the Jatropha plant. The development of the fuzzy inference system is characterized by a large number of input variables (Dobrila Petrovic. 2001. International Journal of Production Economics 71: 429–438). A Matlab programming software was used to integrate an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system. This approach gave the numerical as well as graphical output that was used to interpret the final result. The root mean square error values were identified for the given inputs which were then compared with the trained input variables to select the best input among the given alternative variables.     

Recycling – the importance of understanding the complexity of the issue

Natural resources and raw materials such as metals and minerals are often taken for granted in today’s society. Without them, the offerings of an enormous variety of modern conveniences, including computers and mobile phones, would not be possible. The production of these everyday items depends on a secure, sustainable, and reliable supply of critical raw materials. In addition, product development also requires new hybrid materials when targeting lightweight structures, etc. However, the mandatory recyclability of new products or materials is not obligatory or even prevailing practice in present manufacturing business. Therefore, the main research question in this article is: “how to solve the challenge of recycling in industrial system?” In this article, a comprehensive approach to recycling based on the findings of research projects is presented. Simplified, this involves moving the challenge from the end of the product’s life cycle to the beginning, to the design or even to material development phases. Life cycle and system thinking and material know-how in the design phase are found to be essential elements of a new approach to recycling. This approach stems from the material development and market economy perspectives. Furthermore, the vulnerability of the industrial system to create uncertainty to recycling is also demonstrated.     

Impact of forest policies on timber production in India: a review

Until the 20th century, forest policies across the globe focused primarily on effective forest utilization for timber production. Subsequent loss of forest land prompted many countries to review and amend such policies, in an attempt to incorporate the principles of conservation and sustainable forest management. One of the countries to implement such changes was India, which introduced new policies, acts and programmes to regulate forest conversion and degradation, beginning in the 1980s. These policies, acts, and programmes included the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, the National Forest Policy of 1988 and the Hon. Supreme Court Order of 1996. All of these regulations affected the timber supply from government forest areas, and created a huge gap in timber supply and demand. Currently, this deficit is met through imports and trees outside forests (TOFs). Timber production from government forest areas is abysmally low (3.35% of total demand) compared to potential timber production from TOFs, which fulfil 45% of the total timber demand in India. This implies that TOFs have immense potential in meeting the growing timber demand; however, they have not been fully utilized due to discrepancies in state level TOFs’ policies. The present paper provides a review of different forest policies, acts and guidelines in relation to timber production in India, and provides specific recommendations in order to maximize timber production in the context of increasing demand for timber products.     

Long‐Term Trends in Streamflow and Precipitation in Northwest California and Southwest Oregon, 1953‐2012

Using nonparametric Mann‐Kendall tests, we assessed long‐term (1953‐2012) trends in streamflow and precipitation in Northern California and Southern Oregon at 26 sites regulated by dams and 41 “unregulated” sites. Few (9%) sites had significant decreasing trends in annual precipitation, but September precipitation declined at 70% of sites. Site characteristics such as runoff type (groundwater, snow, or rain) and dam regulation influenced streamflow trends. Decreasing streamflow trends outnumbered increasing trends for most months except at regulated sites for May‐September. Summer (July‐September) streamflow declined at many sites, including 73% of unregulated sites in September. Applying a LOESS regression model of antecedent precipitation vs. average monthly streamflow, we evaluated the underlying streamflow trend caused by factors other than precipitation. Decreasing trends in precipitation‐adjusted streamflow substantially outnumbered increasing trends for most months. As with streamflow, groundwater‐dominated sites had a greater percent of declining trends in precipitation‐adjusted streamflow than other runoff types. The most pristine surface‐runoff‐dominated watersheds within the study area showed no decreases in precipitation‐adjusted streamflow during the summer months. These results suggest that streamflow decreases at other sites were likely due to more increased human withdrawals and vegetation changes than to climate factors other than precipitation quantity.     

Assessing Satellite and Ground‐Based Potential Evapotranspiration for Hydrologic Applications in the Colorado River Basin

This study evaluates a remotely sensed and two ground‐based potential evapotranspiration (PET) products for hydrologic application in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB). The remotely sensed Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer product (MODIS‐PET) is a continuous, daily time series with 250 m resolution derived using the Priestley‐Taylor (P‐T) equation. The MODIS‐PET is evaluated against regional flux tower data as well as a synthetic pan product (Epan; 0.125°, daily) derived from the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) and a Hargreaves PET derived from DAYMET variables (DAYMET‐PET; 1 km, daily). Compared to point‐scale PET computed using regional flux tower data, the MODIS‐PET had lower errors, with RMSE values ranging from 2.24 to 2.85 mm/day. Epan RMSE values ranged from 3.70 to 3.76 mm/day and DAYMET‐PET RMSE values ranged from 3.55 to 4.58 mm/day. Further investigation showed biases in temperature and radiation data contribute to uncertainty in the MODIS‐PET values, while bias in NLDAS temperature, downward shortwave (SW↓), and downward longwave (LW↓) propagate in the Epan estimates. Larger discrepancies between methods were observed in the warmer, drier regions of the UCRB, however, the MODIS‐PET was more responsive to landcover transitions and better captured basin heterogeneity. Results indicate the satellite‐based MODIS product can serve as a viable option for obtaining spatial PET values across the UCRB.     

Policy Frameworks Influencing Outdoor Water‐use Restrictions

Water‐use efficiency in the United States (U.S.) has improved in recent years. Yet continued population growth coupled with increasingly conservation‐oriented regulatory frameworks suggest that residential water suppliers will have to realize additional efficiency gains in coming decades. Outdoor water‐use restrictions (OWRs) appear to be an increasingly prevalent demand‐side management policy tool. To date little research has investigated the policy mechanisms that govern OWR adoption and influence the prevalence of OWRs. This article fills this gap with an assessment of state‐level policies influencing local‐level restrictions on residential outdoor water use in each of the 48 contiguous U.S. states, and with a detailed illustration of the cross‐scalar dynamic of one state's policy framework in practice. An examination of the implementation of OWRs in 24 neighboring towns in Massachusetts across the 2003‐2012 period indicates the interplay between state‐level and local‐level policies leads to OWRs implementation over extended time‐periods, even when drought conditions are not present. This finding suggests OWRs are being used as a tool for general‐purpose water conservation rather than as a stopgap measure justified by temporary water shortage conditions. Future research should investigate how local‐level water savings vary with differing state‐level approaches.     

基于总量控制的中国点源环境管理体系构建

近年来,随着总量控制、排污许可证、排污权有偿使用和交易等政策的逐步推进,中国的点源环境管理体系已经初具雏形。对中国的点源环境管理体系构建开展了研究,认为其制度定位应当是对点源全过程进行管理,并明确了构建点源环境管理体系需要解决责任归属与监管重点两大问题。点源环境管理体系以总量控制为抓手,其核心是排污指标与实际排放量两套数据的核定,而这两套数据则成为串联总量控制、排污许可证、排污权有偿使用和交易等相关环境管理政策的重要线索。此外,要构建点源环境管理体系,还需要综合的环境管理平台、一证式环境管理要求以及专业的第三方技术团队。