Development of a bird integrity index: using bird assemblages as indicators of riparian condition

We describe the development of a bird integrity index (BII) that uses bird assemblage information to assess human impacts on 13 stream reaches in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA. We used bird survey data to test 62 candidate metrics representing aspects of bird taxonomic richness, tolerance or intolerance to human disturbance, dietary preferences, foraging techniques, and nesting strategies that were affected positively or negatively by human activities. We evaluated the metric responsiveness by plotting each one against a measure of site disturbance that included aspects of land use/land cover, road density, riparian cover, and stream channel and substrate conditions. In addition, we eliminated imprecise and highly correlated (redundant) metrics, leaving 13 metrics for the final index. Individual metric scores ranged continuously from 0 to 10, and index scores were weighted to range from 0 to 100. Scores were calibrated using historical species information to set expectations for the number of species expected under minimally disturbed conditions. Site scores varied from 82 for the least disturbed stream reach to 8.5 for an urban site. We compared the bird integrity index site scores with the performance of other measures of biotic response developed during this study: a fish index of biointegrity (IBI) and two benthic macroinvertebrate metrics. The three assemblages agreed on the general level of disturbance; however, individual sites scored differently depending on specific indicator response to in-stream or riparian conditions. The bird integrity index appears to be a useful management and monitoring tool for assessing riparian integrity and communicating the results to the public. Used together with aquatic indicator response and watershed data, bird assemblage information contributes to a more complete picture of stream condition.     

Environmental impact assessment of a proposed info-tech complex in East Calcutta wetlands

An info-tech complex is proposed for 286 acres (116 ha) of land within the East Calcutta wetlands. The proposed site is 15 km east of Kolkata city and only 8 km south of Dum Dum airport. The site is vacant, with pockets of agricultural land and a few degrading water-logged areas. In order to assess the likely impact of the proposed development on the environment, a rapid environmental impact assessment of an area of 10 km radius from the centre of the project site was carried out. The present status of the environment with respect to ambient air, surface water, groundwater, soil, landuse, noise, and socio-economics of the core and buffer zone has been documented and correlated with 24 project activities during construction, development and operational phases. The frequency of adverse impacts is greater than that of beneficial impacts. Out of the total adverse impacts 20 are short term, reversible and have a low magnitude. The total impact score for the proposed project is (–)468.75 and as per the Assessment Value Index Scale the environmental impact of the proposed project activities is no appreciable impact. But there are certain sectors where the environment will be adversely impacted. Therefore, appropriate measures have been suggested to ameliorate the adverse impacts. It is envisaged that if these measures are implemented then there will be an improvement in the quality of the environment, as well as life, by 687.5 units.     

Assessing national sustainable development strategies: Strengthening the links to operational policy

At the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, it was agreed that all countries should develop a national sustainable develop‐ment strategy (NSDS) as a key component of implementing the goals of Agenda 21. Progress has been limited. Few countries have established a formal strategy, and many of the strategies that exist have been only partially implemented. This article proposes an approach that addresses the need to improve existing strategic planning mechanisms. The approach is based on a periodic assessment of existing systems, to evaluate the extent to which they incorporate NSDS principles, and identify areas to be strengthened. The article describes an assessment methodology, presents examples of its use, and discusses ways in which current approaches to NSDS may be complemented by continual review and improvement of existing planning processes.     

梨园杀虫剂的环境风险评价

评价了某雪花梨栽培试验园区施用的杀虫剂对周围环境的风险性。其中包括；利用化学物质排毒系数评价法对梨园杀虫剂进行初步风险识别；非突发性水环境污染风险分析。采用瞬时点源一维河流模型对杀虫剂因事故性泄漏水体造成的风险进行预测；简要说明了杀虫剂进入土壤的途径及其对施药区和非施药区土壤的危害；采用高斯烟团模式，通过大气取样，对杀虫剂超常量喷施进入大气捕捞浓度分布进行统计分析，测算出杀虫剂在不同浓度范围出现的相对频率，从而鉴别其对居民点空气质量的危害几率。     

Integrated Assessment of Air Pollution Abatement Strategies in Urban Areas: Application to the Greater Athens Area

This paper presents an integrated system for the assessmentof technical and non-technical measures that are putforward in order to reduce air pollution levels in urbanareas. In contrast to the majority of the currentlyemployed assessment tools, this system allows for theevaluation of any proposed air pollution control measure interms of its combined impact on air quality and socialwelfare, by correlating the environmental and economicaspects of alternative air pollution abatement solutions.Based on the multi-pollutant, multi-effect concept, thesystem presented aims in providing policy-makers with areliable tool for the objective assessment of the mostcost-effective packages of measures, the latter beingallocated according to the particular features and needs ofthe areas examined.     

广安市大气环境质量现状评价与优化布点监测

采用网格布点法对广安市城区大气环境质量进行了第一次普查监测，利用模糊综合评判法做出简易的现状评价，并评选出了一组优化点位作为日后大气自动化监测点位。     

杭州啤酒厂清洁生产示范工程回顾评价和追踪评价

通过对杭州啤酒厂清洁生产示范工程的回顾评价和追踪评价，不仅可再现以往的成果，而且可了解该示范工程的进一步发展情况，有利于对示范工程长期效益进行评估和示范工程的成败进行总结，因此，这是一项务实的制度。     

氧化铝赤泥堆场渗滤液污染的评价与防治

提出了氧化铝生产赤泥堆场的环境影响评价构架及生产阶段尽量减少下渗量的措施，有效地保护堆场区域地下水水环境。     

太湖流域主要城市洪涝灾害生态风险评价

太湖流域有上海，苏州，无锡，常州，镇江，杭州，嘉兴，湖州八个大中城市，是我国产业最集中，工农业最发达的地区之一，但该地区洪涝灾害频繁，这不仅制约了流域中各城市经济的发展，还严重威胁到该地区城市的生存平衡，本文根据生存风险评价原理，结合太湖流域的自然特点，提出成因分析法的指标模型。并通过分析太湖流域八个大中城市的汛期降雨量和地形地貌因子对洪涝灾害生态风险的影响度，得出各个城市洪涝灾害的生态风险度，最后还根据各城市风险度的大小及其主导因素的不同，提出了如何管理洪涝灾害生态风险的建议。     

构造运动与中国沿岸平原的地质灾害

中国海岸穿过构造沉降带和隆起带，沉降带及隆起带断陷盆地的持续下降吸引了源远流长的大河在此人海，而隆起带内入海的河流多为近源小河，从而引起河流泥沙沿岸分配的不均和海岸沉积物的差异。沉降带内每公里海岸线接受的沉积物是隆起带的数十倍，且以砂质沉积物为主．隆起带河流泥沙来量少．而且砂质沉积物占了压倒的优势．河流泥沙沿岸分配的不均决定了中国沙质和淤泥质海岸的基本类型和分布格局、沉降带和隆起带松散沉积层的厚度和结构，山此产生了中国沿岸与第四纪沉积层有关的灾害和环境问题的有规律的分布。地面沉降主要分布于沉降带内，而地下海水入侵多出现在依赖地下水的隆起带内，底辟构造、浅层天然气往往在大河三角洲构成灾害和潜在的地质灾害．沉降带和隆起带断陷盆地内的海岸低地通常是海平面上升的主要脆弱地区．此外，丰富的河流泥沙使中国海岸对全球海平面上升的响应也不相同，如海岸湿地的再生和海岸侵蚀原因的复杂性等．