Material cycles in Asia: especially the recycling loop between Japan and China

In this article, we clarify the current status of Japanese exports and Chinese imports of secondary resources. A total of around 10 million metric tons (t) of secondary resources are exported annually from Japan to China, Hong Kong, and Korea. Hong Kong plays the role of a transshipment point, especially regarding the trade in plastic waste, and China imports much from the USA and Japan, often through Hong Kong. The secondary resources exported from Japan include both byproducts from manufacturing processes and end-of-life products or materials. The great demand in China, and the difference in prices between countries, drive this transboundary shipment, although Japan has enacted various recycling laws that were implicitly intended to promote domestic recycling. In China, the imported secondary resources are recycled, usually by means of primitive and low-cost hand labor. The greatest concern is whether there are still improper (illegal or polluting) recycling activities in China. International material cycles should prevent environmental pollution and ensure efficient resource utilization. To that end, the following measures are needed: cooperative control of the trade of secondary resources between countries, the alignment of domestic laws with the regulations in other countries based on the actual trade activities, and the realization of sound practices for global resources management.     

Environmental implications of changes in the levels of lakes in the Ethiopian Rift since 1970

The Ethiopian rift is characterized by a chain of lakes of various sizes and hydrological and hydrogeological settings. The rift lakes and feeder rivers are used for irrigation, soda extraction, commercial fish farming, and recreation, and they support a wide variety of endemic birds and wild animals. The levels of some of these lakes have changed dramatically over the last three decades. Lakes that are relatively uninfluenced by human activities (Langano and Abaya) remain stable except for the usual inter-annual variations, strongly influenced by rainfall. Some lakes have shrunk due to excessive abstraction of water; others have expanded due to increases in surface runoff and groundwater flux from percolated irrigation water. Lakes Abiyata and Beseka, both heavily impacted by human activities, show contrasting lake level trends: the level of Abiayata has dropped by about 5 m over three decades because of the extraction of water for soda and an upstream diversion for irrigation. Beseka has expanded from an area of 2.5 to 40 km² over the last three decades because of increased groundwater inputs from percolated irrigation water. Lake Awassa has risen slightly due to land use changes resulting in increased runoff in its catchment. This paper addresses these lake level changes and their environmental repercussions, based on evidence from hydrometeorological records, hydrogeological field mapping supported by aerial photography and satellite imagery interpretations, water balance estimation, and hydrological modeling. A converging evidence approach is used to reconstruct the temporal and spatial variations of lake levels. The results reveal that the major changes in the rift valley are mainly related to anthropogenic factors. These changes appear to have grave environmental consequences for the fragile rift ecosystem. These consequences demand the very urgent implementation of integrated basin wide water management practice.     

Current and Future Strategies for Water and Wastewater Management of Istanbul City

Istanbul has experienced rapid increases in population to more than 12 million people, which has created infrastructure problems of water supply and wastewater treatment and disposal. In this article, the achievements and approaches of the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKI) to solve the water shortage problem and to improve services are summarized. Istanbul had a very severe water shortage problem in 1994 because of ignorance of the implementation of the needed projects. After reviewing the reasons and causes of the problem, new priority criteria adopted after 1994 are given. Following the implementation of the projects determined according to the aforementioned criteria, water supplied has exceeded the water demand. The added capacity is equal to one to three times of the capacity built up to 1994 for water treatment, service reservoirs, pumping stations, transmission lines, and the water distribution network; water quality has been improved the meet local and international potable water standards. Unaccounted for water has been reduced from 60% to 27%. The percentage of treated wastewater has been increased from 10% to 90% in 8 years, resulting in drastic improvements and rehabilitation of the Golden Horn and coastal water quality. Through improved customer services, complaints were reduced from 33% in 1994 to 0.3%. Some of the main criteria and the approaches behind this success are summarized. Published online     

对我国水资源可持续利用的一点思考

按照“认识——规划——建设”的思路,分析了我国水资源开发利用中所面临的主要问题和挑战,提出水资源可持续开发利用的策略和对策,特别提出分质供水和中水回用相结合的供水方式,作出了各地区重点建设项目的构想。     

"开放型"区域资源策略探析--以浙江省为例

本文从区域资源安全的内涵出发,以浙江省为研究对象,在分析了省域资源条件及供给现状的基础上,提出了构建“开放型”区域资源安全体系的总体思路。     

Evaluation of a Collaborative Model: A Case Study Analysis of Watershed Planning in theIntermountain West

Collaborative planning processes have become increasingly popular for addressing environmental planning issues, resulting in a number of conceptual models for collaboration. A model proposed by Selin and Chavez suggests that collaboration emerges from a series of antecedents and then proceeds sequentially through problem-setting, direction-setting, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation phases. This paper summarizes an empirical study to evaluate if the Selin and Chavez model encompasses the range of factors important for the establishment and operation of collaboration in watershed planning from the perspective of the planning coordinator. Analysis of three case studies of watershed based planning efforts in the Intermountain West suggests the model realistically describes some of the fundamental collaborative elements in watershed planning. Particularly important factors include the involvement of stakeholders in data collection and analysis and the establishment of measurable objectives. Informal face-to-face dialog and watershed field tours were considered critical for identifying issues and establishing trust among stakeholders. Group organizational structure also seems to play a key role in facilitating collaboration. From this analysis, suggestions for refining the model are proposed.     

人工神经网络方法在资源与环境预测方面的应用

用人工神经网络方法对不同水域、不同环境因子之间非线性和不确定性的复杂关系进行学习训练并预测检验。结果表明：人工神经网络方法在模拟和预测方面 优于传统的统计回归模型,在资源与环境方面的应用是可行的。具有较强的模拟预测能力。与传统的回归模型相比,人工神经网络方法不要求监测数据具有很强的规律性,就可用后的网络模型对其进行预报,燕且预测相对误差均比回归模型预测相对误差要小,具有一定的实用性。两个实例的应用     

我国水资源可持续利用中的经济刺激制度

本文在对完善我国水资源可持续利用中的经济刺激制度的必要性进行分析的基础上，从建立明确、可交易的水权和水市场制度，制定合理的水资源价格税费制度以及建立水资源可持续利用责任保险制度等几方面提出完善我国水资源可持续利用中的经济刺激法律制度的具体措施，为我国水资源法制建设进行了有益探索。     

区域相对资源承载力与可持续发展问题探讨——以济南长清区为例

以相对资源承载力的研究思路和方法，分别选取山东省和济南市作为参照区域，计算了1996-2003年长清区相对土地资源承载力、相对经济资源承载力和综合资源承载力及其动态变化过程。结果表明，该地区对自然资源的利用不够合理，经济发展缓慢；相对土地资源承载力和相对经济资源承载力不协调发展是其实现可持续发展面临的主要问题之一。     

丽江古城水环境现状与调控对策研究

水环境是丽江世界文化遗产地生态地质环境的重要组成部分。由于丽江城市化进程加快，对水环境保护不力，导致古城水污染加剧、水资源量衰减、景观生态用水不足和景观水质下降。通过强化水环境研究，加强水环境立法，进行水生态环境综合治理；实施以调剂古城周边地下泉水为主，拉市海调水为辅的丽江古城景观调水方案，可保护丽江古城水环境，为丽江古城世界文化遗产地的可持续发展提供保证。