The ecological footprint: an exhibit at an intergenerational trial?

This paper aims at assessing the extent to which the ecological footprint indicator (EF) can be regarded as an exhibit allowing an intergenerational trial about the use of natural resources. For that purpose, we examine various criticisms questioning the relevancy of EF measures for the study of environmental justice between generations. We explore the difficulties raised by the physical—and highly aggregated—nature of EF measures, as well as problems related to the number, the possible non-existence, and the tastes of future generations. The extent to which postulates on nature’s regeneration and technological progress affect the significance of EF studies is also discussed. It is concluded that those criticisms, by identifying various weaknesses of EF measures for the study of intergenerational justice, point to several crucial refinements of existing EF-based analyses.

Ecological half-life of Cs in mosses and lichens in the Ordu province,Turkey by Cevik and Celik

Twenty-one years after the Chernobyl accident, lichen and moss samples were collected from the Ordu province, which was already chosen for a related study some years ago. It was observed that ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration ranged from 31 to 469 Bq kg⁻¹ in the moss and from 132 to 1508 Bq kg⁻¹ in the lichen samples. The decrease of the activity concentrations in the present measurements (2007) relative to those in 1997 (over a period of 10 y) indicated ecological half-lives between 1.8 and 10.4 y for the moss and between 2.1 and 13.7 y for the lichen samples. It was observed that ¹³⁷Cs was still eminent in the area studied. Moreover, ⁴⁰K activity concentrations and K element concentrations were measured and their relationships were discussed.     

The effects of social desirability on self-reported environmental attitudes and ecological behaviour

There are several claims in the literature that social desirability concerns affect people’s response to self-reported measures of environmental attitudes and ecological behaviour. However, only a few empirical studies have indirectly evaluated the impact of social desirability on environmental issues measures, and those who did have found only a low impact. This article describes two studies that explicitly address whether socially desirable responding has direct and moderating effects on self-reported environmental attitudes and ecological behaviour. Results from correlational and moderated multiple regression analyses from both studies showed that social desirability had only a weak direct effect on environmental attitudes (but not ecological behaviour), and had no moderating effect on the environmental attitudes–ecological behaviour relationship. Implications of these findings for research on environmental issues are discussed.

An ecological perspective on theory, methods, and analysis in environmental psychology: Advances and challenges

Over the course of environmental psychology's brief history, there has been an interest in ecologically oriented approaches to theory and research. Based on this work, this paper identifies a set of six principles of ecological analysis that present theoretical, methodological, and analytic challenges to future research in environmental psychology. These challenges include the theoretical treatment of the multiple contexts within which human experience and behavior occurs, the need for sampling both persons and environments, the modeling of moderating and mediating processes, the issue of self-selection into and out of different settings, the necessity of considering temporal factors in environmental research, reliance on single methods (e.g., verbal report) in data generation, cross-sectional and longitudinal research designs, and the need for greater use of statistical techniques developed for contextual (multi-level) research. These issues are discussed and illustrated using recent developments in environmentally oriented research. The paper concludes with a set of 11 recommendations for the future.     

Adaptive management for mitigating Cryptosporidium risk in source water: A case study in an agricultural catchment in South Australia

Water-borne pathogens such as Cryptosporidium pose a significant human health risk and catchments provide the first critical pollution ‘barrier’ in mitigating risk in drinking water supply. In this paper we apply an adaptive management framework to mitigating Cryptosporidium risk in source water using a case study of the Myponga catchment in South Australia. Firstly, we evaluated the effectiveness of past water quality management programs in relation to the adoption of practices by landholders using a socio-economic survey of land use and management in the catchment. The impact of past management on the mitigation of Cryptosporidium risk in source water was also evaluated based on analysis of water quality monitoring data. Quantitative risk assessment was used in planning the next round of management in the adaptive cycle. Specifically, a pathogen budget model was used to identify the major remaining sources of Cryptosporidium in the catchment and estimate the mitigation impact of 30 alternative catchment management scenarios. Survey results show that earlier programs have resulted in the comprehensive adoption of best management practices by dairy farmers including exclusion of stock from watercourses and effluent management from 2000 to 2007. Whilst median Cryptosporidium concentrations in source water have decreased since 2004 they remain above target levels and put pressure on other barriers to mitigate risk, particularly the treatment plant. Non-dairy calves were identified as the major remaining source of Cryptosporidium in the Myponga catchment. The restriction of watercourse access of non-dairy calves could achieve a further reduction in Cryptosporidium export to the Myponga reservoir of around 90% from current levels. The adaptive management framework applied in this study was useful in guiding learning from past management, and in analysing, planning and refocussing the next round of catchment management strategies to achieve water quality targets.     

傣族宗教中的生态文化

傣族对大自然有着深厚的感情,人与自然和谐相处。在傣族的宗教中,更是反映出重视生态环境的观念,认为万物有灵,加以祭祀,对一些植物进行崇拜,专门辟有神林“龙山林”。这些宗教观念对维护傣族地区的生态平衡具有重要意义。     

基于熵权的巢湖水生态健康模糊综合评价

在对巢湖水生态状况深入调查研究的基础上,确立了湖泊生态系统健康评价指标体系,确定了各指标健康等级的阙值范围,建立了基于熵权的湖库水生态健康模糊综合评价模型。并选取1980年巢湖的水质和水生态数据作为本底值。运用熵权法对2000～2005年整个湖泊生态系统的健康状况进行了客观评价,结果表明2004—2005年巢湖水生态系统均处于较差健康状态。本方法的计算结果表明采用熵权综合健康指数法对其进行生态系统健康评价具有很好的可靠性和实用性。最后根据实际提出了湖库水生态安全综合管理对策。     

基于生态足迹的甘孜州生态安全动态研究

利用生态足迹评价模型计算甘孜州1995~2007年生态足迹,并分析甘孜州的生态安全状况。甘孜州人均生态足迹从1995年的1.480467hm2增加到2007年的1.766288 hm2,以耕地与草地为主;人均生态承载力从1995年的5.646667 hm2减少到2007年的5.328501 hm2,减幅较小,生态承载力结构具有不对称性,以林地与草地为主;人均生态盈余从1995年的4.1662hm2减少到2007年的3.562213hm2,林地人均生态盈余基本稳定在5.0 hm2左右,是甘孜州人均生态盈余的主要贡献者;生态压力指数在0.280852~0.350215波动,生态占用指数在0.528738~0.718585波动,生态协调性指数在1.875003~2.327831波动。结果表明甘孜州生态环境处于安全状态,社会经济发展与生态环境的协调性较差。     

温郫都生态示范区生态环境状况综述

本文参考《2007年度温郫都生态示范区环境质量报告书》[1],对温郫都生态示范区的考核指标达标情况、环境质量,以及生态环境状况指数定量测评情况、环境承载力评价结果等多方面进行综合概述,温郫都生态示范区经过十几年的建设,全部达到国家考核指标要求,部分指标明显优于国家考核指标,生态环境状况指数(EI)定量测评结果为优,环境承载力评价结果显示,生态示范区生态荷载超载。生态示范区建设对生态县建设做出了积极的贡献。     

Anisotropy of environmental perception caused by spatial changes during locomotion

Daily perception entails an immediate awareness of the environment surrounding the body. To explore its dynamic nature during locomotion, this study tests the hypothesis that significant changes in spatial volume induce the directional focusing (i.e., anisotropy) of environmental perception. To capture perceptual activity in its natural state, we have attempted an approach using the feeling of visual pressure (i.e., felt presence) caused by the surrounding environment. In the present experiment that uses a virtual reality setup, participants were required to continuously rate their feelings while moving along a virtual outdoor route. Their ratings were analyzed in relation to environmental measurements along the route, such as the visible area of buildings and the horizontal extent of surrounding space. The relationship between the ratings and measurements was explored by using two prediction models: with and without consideration of perceptual anisotropy. The results suggested that a consideration of anisotropy improved the prediction accuracy, thereby supporting our hypothesis.