Landscape network congruency at the ecoregion scale: can we expect corridor ‘umbrellas’?

Conservation planners are faced with numerous choices regarding ‘what to connect’ when modeling landscape networks on an ecoregion scale. A simplifying assumption is often that coarse-scale corridors may provide overlapping or ‘umbrella’ effects for multiple conservation scenarios. To examine this, we assessed differences in connectivity models arising from four different conservation scenarios for the transboundary Northern Appalachian/Acadian Ecoregion (330,000 km²). Models resulted in networks comprised of varying levels of connectedness, suggesting the presence of local connectivity at several sub-ecoregion scales, but diminished ecoregion-scale connectivity. Our results also indicate that selecting ‘what to connect’ at the ecoregion scale strongly influences the location and extent of modeled corridors. Further, our evidence suggests that landscape networks derived for one scenario are not likely to produce far-reaching corridor umbrellas or highly coincident landscape networks for alternative conservation scenarios with varying goals. As a result, alternative landscape networks should not be considered functionally equivalent.     

Conservation planning on China's borders with Myanmar,Laos, and Vietnam

Transboundary conservation is playing an increasingly important role in maintaining ecosystem integrity and halting biodiversity loss caused by anthropogenic activities. However, lack of information on species distributions in transboundary regions and understanding of the threats in these areas impairs conservation. We developed a spatial conservation plan for the transboundary areas between Yunnan province, southwestern China, and neighboring Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. To identify priority areas for conservation and restoration, we determined species distribution patterns and recent land-use changes and examined the spatiotemporal dynamics of the connected natural forest, which supports most species. We assessed connectivity with equivalent connected area (ECA), which is the amount of reachable habitat for a species. An ECA incorporates the presence of habitat in a patch and the amount of habitat in other patches within dispersal distance. We analyzed 197,845 locality records from specimen collections and monographs for 21,004 plant and vertebrate species. The region of Yunnan immediately adjacent to the international borders had the highest species richness, with 61% of recorded species and 56% of threatened vertebrates, which suggests high conservation value. Satellite imagery showed the area of natural forest in the border zone declined by 5.2% (13,255 km²) from 1995 to 2018 and monoculture plantations increased 92.4%, shrubland 10.1%, and other cropland 6.2%. The resulting decline in connected natural forest reduced the amount of habitat, especially for forest specialists with limited dispersal abilities. The most severe decline in connectivity was along the Sino-Vietnamese border. Many priority areas straddle international boundaries, indicating demand and potential for establishing transboundary protected areas. Our results illustrate the importance of bi- and multilateral cooperation to protect biodiversity in this region and provide guidance for future conservation planning and practice.     

京津冀污染物跨界输送通量模拟

发展了关键影响因子加权人为源分配方法(WKIF),增添了依赖于气象条件和下垫面类型的生物源,动态更新了气象场和浓度场的边界条件.然后利用WRF-CAMx模式定量给出了四季北京、天津和河北大气边界层中PM2.5、O3、CO、SO2、NO2和NO跨界输送通量和北京净输入或输出通量.结果表明WKIF方法合理反映了中小城市人为源的空间分布特征,模式重要输入参量、初值与边界条件的改进显著改善了WRF-CAMx模式对京津冀地区6个观测站点近地面NOx、O3和PM2.5浓度的模拟.北京向天津冬、春季主要通过西北方向,夏、秋季主要经过偏西方向输入NO、NO2、SO2、CO、O3、PM2.5,输送通量夏季均最小,冬季均最大,且四季北京向天津输入的CO、O3、PM2.5通量显著高于NO、NO2、SO2通量.河北的污染物冬、春季主要通过西北方向,夏季主要经由偏南方向,秋季主要途径偏西方向进入北京;四季北京向河北输入NO和NO2,但跨界输送通量小于20t·d-1;四季河北向北京输入的CO、O3、PM2.5通量远高于北京向河北输送的NO、NO2通量,明显大于北京向河北输送的SO2通量,且河北向北京输入CO、O3、PM2.5通量夏季均最小,冬季均最大;四季北京大气边界层中NO、NO2、SO2最大净输出通量小于50t.d-1,CO、O3、PM2.5净输入或输出通量分别为111～2309、567～6244、715～1778t·d-1.这些定量结果为京津冀区域污染源调控对策的制定提供了科学依据.     

澜沧江的跨境径流量变化及其对云南降水量场变化的响应

随着澜沧江-湄公河次区域经济合作等重大区域合作行动的蓬勃开展,该流域水文水资源系统的变化、规律及其影响已成为国际关注和研究的热点。为考查气候变化对澜沧江-湄公河流域水文水生态环境变化影响的基本事实,以云南境内澜沧江径流量观测数据和云南的同期降水量场观测数据为基础,应用小波变换和相关系数的统计分析方法,研究了澜沧江跨境径流量变化的多时间尺度特征及其对云南降水量场变化的响应。结论为:澜沧江上下游的年径流量变化表现出了十分明显的多时间尺度变化特征,它们之间的差异主要表现在较小的时间尺度上,而对于较大的时间尺度,它们之间的变化特征是十分相似的;澜沧江上下游的年径流量变化与云南的年降水量场变化之间存在有十分显著的相关关系;云南年降水量场变化的多时间尺度特征与澜沧江上下游的年径流量变化的多时间尺度特征是相似的。总之,澜沧江的跨境径流量变化主要是由于云南降水量场的变化造成的,特别是在较大的时间尺度上,澜沧江上下游的径流量变化都对云南降水量场的变化有极好的响应特征。     

全球跨界水合作的时空结构：领域变迁与尺度分异

在当前全球性淡水危机加剧、水冲突频发的背景下,跨界水合作成为化解水危机,实现国家间和平可持续发展的关键。利用跨界水条约数据,基于网络视角,从全球尺度、区域尺度与国家尺度对跨界水合作的时空结构进行研究。结论如下：（1）1820—2017年全球跨界水合作持续增多,覆盖范围明显扩大,合作领域从边界与水量向联合管理与水质保护转变,合作目的由以规管性为主导向规管性、程序性和原生性并进转变。多边合作与跨界地下水合作是当前全球跨界水合作的发展趋势。（2）同一时期五大洲跨界水合作发展进程与侧重领域存在较大差异;尽管全球跨界水合作网络涵盖的流域与国家日益增多,但其流域覆盖率仍较低。（3）1820—2017年全球跨界水合作网络大致经历了“网络形成—网络扩张—网络分化”三个阶段;欧洲国家间的跨界水合作联系相对较强,亚洲国家在跨界水合作网络中也愈发活跃,区域性与全球性并存是当前跨界水合作网络的重要特征。伴随着亚洲国家日益增长的跨界水合作需求,中国应充分发挥负责任的发展中大国的作用,加强与周边国家的跨界水合作,不断提升自身在全球跨界水资源合作领域的地位。     

External Contribution to Urban Air Pollution

Elevated particulate matter concentrations in urbanlocations have normally been associated with local trafficemissions. Recently it has been suggested that suchepisodes are influenced to a high degree by PM₁₀sources external to urban areas. To further corroboratethis hypothesis, linear regression was sought betweenPM₁₀ concentrations measured at eight urban sites inthe U.K., with particulate sulphate concentration measuredat two rural sites, for the years 1993–1997. Analysis ofthe slopes, intercepts and correlation coefficientsindicate a possible relationship between urban PM₁₀and rural sulphate concentrations. The influences of winddirection and of the distance of the urban from the ruralsites on the values of the three statistical parametersare also explored. The value of linear regression as ananalysis tool in such cases is discussed and it is shownthat an analysis of the sign of the rate of change of theurban PM₁₀ and rural sulphate concentrations providesa more realistic method of correlation. The resultsindicate a major influence on urban PM₁₀ concentrations from the eastern side of the UnitedKingdom. Linear correlation was also sought using PM₁₀ data from nine urban sites in London and nearby ruralRochester. Analysis of the magnitude of the gradients andintercepts together with episode correlation analysisbetween the two sites showed the effect of transportedPM₁₀ on the local London concentrations. This articlealso presents methods to estimate the influence of ruraland urban PM₁₀ sources on urban PM₁₀ concentrations and to obtain a rough estimate of thetransboundary contribution to urban air pollution from thePM₁₀ concentration data of the urban site.     

河长制在促进完善流域生态补偿机制中的作用研究

河长制平台在促进完善流域生态补偿机制方面具有非常重要的作用,是实现流域水环境可持续管理的关键突破口。本研究梳理了完善流域生态补偿机制的必要性,分析了利用河长制平台完善流域生态补偿机制的可行性,并以跨界断面监测为技术衔接点,以完善跨界断面的设置、考核指标和考核目标作为突破点,利用河长制的高位推动、组织体系和部门联动,从技术方法、监测体系和补偿方式三个方面提出了完善流域生态补偿机制的建议:一是发挥河长制科技支撑作用,完善流域生态补偿技术方法;二是发挥河长制部门协同作用,完善流域生态补偿监测体系;三是发挥河长制统筹兼顾作用,完善流域生态补偿方式。     

美国跨界大气环境监管经验对中国的借鉴

大气污染因其污染因子易受气候变化等影响,可进行长距离跨界传输,是典型的跨行政边界问题。我国地域辽阔,行政区域众多且与多个国家接壤或比邻,跨界污染问题研究十分必要。近年来,我国区域性大气污染问题明显,管理手段落后,缺乏相应管理体制和机制。美国在跨界大气环境管理方面取得了显著的成果,积累了丰富的经验,这对我国大气环境管理,尤其是跨界大气环境管理工作具有重要的借鉴意义。本文首先以美国大气跨界污染治理为例,结合具体实例,主要从机构设置、职能职责、运作方式三个方面详细分析了州内、州与州与之间以及跨国界三个层次跨界大气环境监管体系;其次,从上述几方面对我国与美国跨区域大气环境监管机制进行逐项比较分析;再次,对我国跨区域大气环境监管体系障碍分析认为,统分结合的环境管理体制和尚未建立区域联防联控机制是借鉴发达国家跨界大气环境监管经验的主要障碍;在此基础上,针对我国的跨区域大气环境管理工作提出5个方面的建议,即成立跨区域的权力机构;加强政府区域间协调合作;强化依法治理;多种管理手段综合应用;加强信息公开和公众参与。     

The Trifinio Region: a case study of transboundary forest change in Central America

Strategic planning to increase forest cover in Central American transboundary areas of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor requires understanding land-cover and land-use change trends and drivers. We estimated forest cover change from remotely sensed land-cover and land-use classifications from 1986, 2001, and 2010, in the tri-national Trifinio Region, bordering El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Our analysis spanned subnational, national, regional, and protected border areas. We determined correlations with direct drivers of deforestation, developing a multilevel linear regression model. Higher population density significantly correlated with deforestation; coffee, agroforestry, and pasture replaced forests. The tri-national park retained forests compared to neighboring areas, but additionality requires more research. The literature on drivers suggests similar processes and factors in other tropical regions. Forest cover governance efficacy is highly variable. Results indicate relationship between governance and forest cover though more comprehensive understanding of this complex region is needed to determine their causality.