People and biodiversity in the 21st century: This article belongs to Ambio’s 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Biodiversity conservation

Fifty years have elapsed since the first publication of Ambio. Throughout this period, fundamental changes have occurred in societal attitudes to biodiversity conservation. Ambio has published numerous papers that have aligned with these new approaches. High citations numbers suggest that Ambio papers have had a significant impact on conservation strategies. We review these publications and find that they align well with changed societal perspectives on biodiversity. Ambio papers have called for greater contributions of local and indigenous peoples and for conservation in multi-functional landscapes. The 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity built on these principles. Negotiations are now underway for a post-2020 framework for biodiversity. Ambio papers have argued for a stronger scientific basis for conservation and for the need to adapt to changing conditions and to the rich diversity of societal preferences for conservation. International processes favor simple, generalizable approaches to conservation but we call for recognition of the diversity of ecological and human conditions in which conservation occurs. There is a need to build capacity to support a diversity of conservation approaches that are adapted to changing local conditions and to the priorities of diverse human societies.     

Citizens of local jurisdictions enhance plant community preservation through ballot initiatives and voter-driven conservation efforts

Open space areas protected by local communities may augment larger scale preservation efforts and may offer overlooked benefits to biodiversity conservation provided they are in suitable ecological condition. We examine protected areas established by local communities through ballot initiatives, a form of direct democracy, in California, USA. We compare ecological conditions of wooded habitats on local ballot protected sites and on sites protected by a state-level conservation agency. Collectively, we found few differences in ecological conditions on each protected area type. Ballot sites had greater invasive understory cover and larger trees. Community dissimilarity patterns suggested ballot sites protect a complementary set of tree species to those on state lands. Overall, geographic characteristics influenced onsite conditions more than details of how sites were protected. Thus, community-driven conservation efforts contribute to protected area networks by augmenting protection of some species while providing at least some protection to others that might otherwise be missed.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01469-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

半导体企业环境风险防范措施建议

当前国际形势下,中国半导体行业不断创新发展。由于半导体行业的工艺技术特点,生产过程中必然涉及各类易燃易爆、有毒有害化学品。根据半导体生产行业特征及其环境风险水平,提出环境风险预防、控制、减缓措施,明确环境风险防范及应急要求,运用科学的技术手段和管理方法,尽可能降低环境风险事故发生。     

基于生态安全格局与生态脆弱性评价的生态修复关键区域识别与诊断——以汶上县为例

以山东省济宁市汶上县为研究区,基于最小阻力模型构建生态安全格局,结合脆弱性评价识别生态修复关键区域,对关键区域分类提出针对性修复保护措施.结果表明在汶上县共识别出11处生态源地,总面积38.72km²,35条生态廊道,总长度259.56km;生态脆弱性分级以中度脆弱与低度脆弱为主,两类型区域总面积594.32km²,占比67.40%.中部城区脆弱性较高,西南洼地脆弱性较低;识别出生态修复关键区域5处,总面积107.14km²,分布于中部城区及周边;根据区位特征将关键区域分为三类,并分类别提出其生态修复策略,以期为国土空间生态修复提供参考.     

大秦岭生态文明建设的意义与对策

秦岭在中华文明的繁衍和发展过程中发挥了重要作用,被誉为"中华龙脉"。秦岭既是中国南北分界线,也是"天然中药库"和"世界生物基因库",在以建设文明生态环境为主旋律的新时代,秦岭南北麓依然出现了不同程度的无序开发和违章建设别墅等有悖生态文明建设的乱象,如何保护秦岭,协同推进秦岭生态文明建设具有非凡的意义。为此,本文从人类社会发展史和科学史维度上,阐述了生态文明与原始文明、农耕文明和工业文明各阶段在解决的关键问题、文明的标志与内涵、人与自然的关系等方面的本质区别;从生态系统服务功能维度上(水源涵养、环境净化、生物多样性维护、生物固碳与气候调节等),阐明了秦岭生态文明建设的重要意义;从思想、行动和科学三个维度上,指出了秦岭生态文明建设必须提高思想认识,一以贯之习近平生态文明思想,提高政治站位,与党中央保持高度一致,用系统论思想制定科学规划,以水环境、土壤环境、大气环境、植被以及野生珍稀动植物的保护为根本目标,从工业活动、农业活动、资源开发利用、人类日常生活干扰等多个方向协同推进,为中国社会可持续发展提供生态保障。     

化工企业变更管理问题分析与启示

归纳了HSSE大检查工作中炼化和销售企业在变更管理上存在的典型问题,从管理职责、制度和执行方面进行了分析,并借鉴部分企业先进管理经验和好的做法,提出改进措施。     

湿热环境下配电自动化终端的腐蚀失效分析

目的解决配电自动化终端在湿热环境下的腐蚀失效问题,保障配网自动化系统的安全运行,延长配电自动化终端的使用寿命。方法分别选用三台架空终端FTU作为研究对象,研究配电自动化终端在湿热环境下的腐蚀失效特点,并提出针对性防护措施。采用SEM和EDS表征方法展开配电自动化终端的腐蚀失效分析。结果由EDS数据结果发现,相比较于轻微腐蚀区域,腐蚀区域的氧含量均大幅增加,且出现硫元素和氯元素,表明腐蚀环境主要是含硫和氯的潮湿环境。航空插头表面覆盖镍和铜两层镀层,腐蚀后的试样表面不仅检测到铜,有的甚至检测到基材铁,说明腐蚀后镀层已逐步失效,部分基材裸露,且已开始腐蚀。结合SEM发现,样品表面有大量颗粒粗大的腐蚀产物,且明显看出镀层已被破坏。结论材料腐蚀失效主要是由于高温度、湿度、含氯及硫等大气环境加速终端设备腐蚀,以及镀层被破坏或漏镀等问题造成基材裸露,腐蚀进一步深入发展。因此,根据湿热环境下配电自动化终端的腐蚀特点,提出针对性的防护措施。保障配网自动化系统的安全运行的同时,延长配电自动化终端的使用寿命,为今后的实证测试提供可靠依据。     

下垫面高度梯度对城市灰尘分布特性及其重金属污染的影响

下垫面高度梯度对城市颗粒污染物的地球化学循环有重要的影响,不同高度下垫面上累积的灰尘可能对城市地表径流与大气颗粒物污染有重要指示作用.本文以不同高度梯度的下垫面,如路面(0 m)、公交站台(3 m)、天桥(5 m)、楼顶(20 m)上的灰尘为研究对象,揭示高度梯度对灰尘颗粒物单位面积质量、粒径组成、重金属含量和粒径污染负荷比的影响.结果表明,随着高度梯度变化,不同下垫面上灰尘颗粒物的单位面积质量之间存在显著差异(p0.05):路面((33.0±27.1)g·m~(-2))楼顶((20.6±11.7)g·m~(-2))天桥((4.4±4.0)g·m~(-2))公交站台((2.3±1.4)g·m~(-2));高度梯度对细灰尘(粒径105μm)的质量比的影响为:公交站台(49.5%)楼顶(40.8%)路面(38.6%)天桥(37.6%);6种重金属在不同高度下垫面的含量不同,其中,Cr、Cu和Ni在公交站台含量最高,Cd和Pb在楼顶含量最高,6种金属(除Cu外)均在路面含量最低.细灰尘(105μm)所占颗粒物污染负荷比为:公交站台(67.4%)楼顶(49.6%)天桥(49.2%)路面(48.1%).临时性管控措施(限行、限产等)和常规性清扫(人工清扫和机械清扫)均能减少灰尘质量,使细灰尘质量比增加,重金属污染负荷有明显削减,但对城市管理来说,后者更经济实用.     

凋落物呼吸温度敏感性的变化特征及其影响因素

地表凋落物呼吸是土壤呼吸的一个重要组成部分,研究凋落物呼吸温度敏感性的变化特征及其影响因素对准确理解地区的土壤碳循环具有重要意义.本研究在黄土高原南部的一个典型人工刺槐林内(Robinia pseudoacacia L.),通过地表凋落物控制试验(对照处理,去除凋落物处理、倍增凋落物处理),研究凋落物呼吸温度敏感性的年际(2009~2013年)变化特征及其驱动因素.凋落物呼吸温度敏感性的年际差异显著(P0.05):在对照处理下,其最小值为4.15,最大值为6.67,均值为5.10,变异系数为19%;在倍增凋落物处理下,其变化于1.17~6.52之间,均值为3.36,变异系数高达56%.凋落物呼吸温度敏感性的年际变异与年平均土壤水分、地表凋落物量以及二者的交互作用密切相关(P0.01),同时对凋落物呼吸温度敏感性的贡献呈现出土壤水分大于地表凋落物量的趋势(对照处理:2.68和2.04;倍增凋落物处理:1.37和0.69).此外,地表凋落物倍增后,凋落物呼吸温度敏感性却减少了34%(3.36和5.10).同时,在对照处理下,大约有超过50%的地表凋落物碳滞留在该刺槐林生态系统中[215 g·(m~2·a)~(-1)和113 g·(m~2·a)~(-1)],但在倍增处理下,仅有24%的地表凋落物碳滞留在该林地生态系统中[430 g·(m~2·a)~(-1)和326 g·(m~2·a)~(-1)],即在该人工刺槐林生态系统中地表凋落物的增加未必意味着土壤有机碳储量的增加.因此,探究地表凋落物控制措施、土壤水分、地表凋落物量和凋落物呼吸温度敏感性之间的关系对准确理解地区的土壤碳循环具有重要意义.     

Does your facility have a dust problem: Methods for evaluating dust explosion hazards

The hazards of dust explosions prevailing in plants are dependent on a large variety of factors that include process parameters, such as pressure, temperature and flow characteristics, as well as equipment properties, such as geometry layout, the presence of moving elements, dust explosion characteristics and mitigating measures. A good dust explosion risk assessment is a thorough method involving the identification of all hazards, their probability of occurrence and the severity of potential consequences. The consequences of dust explosions are described as consequences for personnel and equipment, taking into account consequences of both primary and secondary events.While certain standards cover all the basic elements of explosion prevention and protection, systematic risk assessments and area classifications are obligatory in Europe, as required by EU ATEX and Seveso II directives. In the United States, NFPA 654 requires that the design of the fire and explosion safety provisions shall be based on a process hazard analysis of the facility, process, and the associated fire or explosion hazards. In this paper, we will demonstrate how applying such techniques as SCRAM (short-cut risk analysis method) can help identify potentially hazardous conditions and provide valuable assistance in reducing high-risk areas. The likelihood of a dust explosion is based on the ignition probability and the probability of flammable dust clouds arising. While all possible ignition sources are reviewed, the most important ones include open flames, mechanical sparks, hot surfaces, electric equipment, smoldering combustion (self-ignition) and electrostatic sparks and discharges. The probability of dust clouds arising is closely related to both process and dust dispersion properties.Factors determining the consequences of dust explosions include how frequently personnel are present, the equipment strength, implemented consequence-reducing measures and housekeeping, as risk assessment techniques demonstrate the importance of good housekeeping especially due to the enormous consequences of secondary dust explosions (despite their relatively low probability). The ignitibility and explosibility of the potential dust clouds also play a crucial role in determining the overall risk.Classes describe both the likelihood of dust explosions and their consequences, ranging from low probabilities and limited local damage, to high probability of occurrence and catastrophic damage. Acceptance criteria are determined based on the likelihood and consequence of the events. The risk assessment techniques also allow for choosing adequate risk reducing measures: both preventive and protective. Techniques for mitigating identified explosions risks include the following: bursting disks and quenching tubes, explosion suppression systems, explosion isolating systems, inerting techniques and temperature control. Advanced CFD tools (DESC) can be used to not only assess dust explosion hazards, but also provide valuable insight into protective measures, including suppression and venting.