Effect of Planning for Connectivity on Linear Reserve Networks

Although the concept of connectivity is decades old, it remains poorly understood and defined, and some argue that habitat quality and area should take precedence in conservation planning instead. However, fragmented landscapes are often characterized by linear features that are inherently connected, such as streams and hedgerows. For these, both representation and connectivity targets may be met with little effect on the cost, area, or quality of the reserve network. We assessed how connectivity approaches affect planning outcomes for linear habitat networks by using the stock‐route network of Australia as a case study. With the objective of representing vegetation communities across the network at a minimal cost, we ran scenarios with a range of representation targets (10%, 30%, 50%, and 70%) and used 3 approaches to account for connectivity (boundary length modifier, Euclidean distance, and landscape‐value [LV]). We found that decisions regarding the target and connectivity approach used affected the spatial allocation of reserve systems. At targets ≥50%, networks designed with the Euclidean distance and LV approaches consisted of a greater number of small reserves. Hence, by maximizing both representation and connectivity, these networks compromised on larger contiguous areas. However, targets this high are rarely used in real‐world conservation planning. Approaches for incorporating connectivity into the planning of linear reserve networks that account for both the spatial arrangement of reserves and the characteristics of the intervening matrix highlight important sections that link the landscape and that may otherwise be overlooked. El Efecto de la Planeación para la Conectividad en Redes de Reservas Lineales     

Conservation by Design

Abstract: Conservation researchers are increasingly aware of the need to conduct interdisciplinary research and to engage nonscientists in practical applications of conservation biology. But so far, industrial designers have been left out of such collaboration and outreach efforts. Conservation of wildlife often depends on products such as nest boxes, feeders, barriers, and corridors, all of which have a designed component that is frequently overlooked. Furthermore, many products are adopted without testing on short or long time scales. We argue that the design of products for conservation, and hence their functionality, effectiveness, and value, can be improved through collaboration with industrial designers. We see four key benefits that can arise from interactions with industrial designers: improvement of product quality and value, innovation and improvement in functionality of products, harmonization of conservation products with local values, and development of a psychological biomimesis approach to design. The role of industrial designers in conservation projects would be to improve factors such as product durability, affordability, functionality, and aesthetic appeal to local people. Designers can also help to create multiple product options whose success can be tested in the field. We propose that collaborations with industrial designers can contribute to the development of improvements to existing products and innovations in the practice of animal conservation.     

Demographic Analysis of Tree Colonization in a20-Year-Old Right-of-Way

Past tree colonization dynamics of a powerline-right-of-way (ROW) corridor in the Haut-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec was studied based on the present age distribution of its tree populations. This colonization study spans 20 years, from 1977 (ROW clearance) to 1996. The sampled quadrats were classified into six vegetation types. Tree colonization dynamics were interpreted in each type, and three distinct patterns were identified. (1) Communities adapted to acidic conditions were heavily colonized by Acer rubrum, at least for the last 12 years. (2) Communities adapted to mesic or to hydric conditions were more intensely colonized in the period 1985-1987 than in the following 9 years; this past success in tree colonization may have been caused by herbicide treatments, which could have facilitated tree establishment by damaging the herbaceous and shrub vegetation. (3) Cattail, vine-raspberry, and reed-dominated communities contained few tree individuals, with almost all trees establishing between 1979 and 1990; those three vegetation types appear as the most resistant to tree invasion in the ROW studied. This study supports the need for an integrated approach in ROW vegetation management, in which the selection of vegetation treatment methods would depend on the tree colonization dynamics in each vegetation type. Minimizing disturbances inflicted on ROW herbaceous and shrub covers should be the central strategy because disturbances jeopardize natural resistance to future tree invasion, except in communities adapted to acidic conditions where the existing vegetation does not prevent invasion by A. rubrum. Many trees are surviving the successive cutting operations by producing new sprouts each time, particularly in communities adapted to mesic and hydric conditions. In these cases, mechanical cutting should be replaced by a one-time stump-killing operation, to avoid repeated and unsuccessful treatments of the same individuals over time.     

500 kV紧凑型输电线路走廊与电磁环境

通过介绍500 kV郓城～泰山紧凑型送电线路的设计,围绕输电线路走廊问题,对紧凑型线路和常规线路进行了比较,重点分析了紧凑型输电线路在提高输电能力的同时所具备的节约走廊占地和减轻电磁环境影响的技术特点.从环境保护角度来看,500 kV紧凑型输电线路是一项值得推广的技术.     

酒泉地区城镇体系可持续发展构想

酒泉地区城镇类型较多，城镇体系中的许多关系需要统筹协调，本文侧重从城镇的规模和空间关系分析，城乡一体化和区一发展，基础产业和环境建设等三个角度，探讨了区域城市可持续发展问题。     

热浮力及室外风压耦合驱动下高层建筑疏散走廊烟气运动网络模拟分析

火灾发生后,火灾烟气主要通过疏散走廊向建筑的其他部位蔓延.有效控制疏散走廊中的烟气,可以阻止其进一步蔓延到楼梯间.了解火灾烟气在疏散走廊中的运动规律,是控制其蔓延扩散的前提.热浮力和室外风压是烟气在走廊中运动的主要驱动力,研究二者耦合作用对走廊中烟气运动的影响,对进一步弄清火灾烟气的流动规律具有较大的意义.采用网络模拟软件CONTAM 3.0模拟疏散走廊中火灾烟气在上述两种驱动力作用下的运动情况.结果表明,随室外风速增大,疏散走廊中火灾烟气的运动速度增大,远大于单纯热浮力作用时烟气的运动速度;当热浮力和室外风压耦合驱动时,室外风压对烟气运动的影响起主要作用.     

遗产区域:一种大尺度文化景观保护的新方法

遗产区域是美国国内针对大尺度文化景观保护的一种较新的方法。该方法重视人与土地之间的互动关系。强调通过对地方历史文化、自然和游憩资源的综合保护与利用。实现遗产保护、经济发展、重建区域身份、提供游憩机会等多重目标。从美国历史保护运动的发展背景出发。回顾了遗产区域的发展历程，从定义、特征与分类三个方面评述了其概念内涵，并对遗产区域保护中的几个关键问题进行了讨论。最后针对遗产区域保护方法在中国的发展与应用提出了相关建议。     

农业文化遗产地“三产”融合度评价——以云南红河哈尼稻作梯田系统为例

工业化和城市化过程中,城乡经济差距日益拉大,农村衰落已成为城市化过程中各国面临的共同问题。2015年中央政府提出了“农村一二三产业融合发展”推动农村经济发展的政策,引起了众多学科研究者从不同角度开展研究,但相关研究多以理论探讨为主。农业文化遗产地作为一个以遗产保护为前提的特殊农村地区,如何推动一二三产业（下称“三产”）融合发展,如何量化“三产”融合度,研究尚待深入。基于对农业文化遗产特点、资源特征以及农业文化遗产保护要求等方面的分析,阐释了农业文化遗产地“三产”融合发展的概念和内涵,并构建了由产业融合度与劳动力融合度组成的农业文化遗产地“三产”融合度评价方法体系及具体核算方法。以云南红河哈尼稻作梯田系统十大片区所在的8个乡镇为对象进行评价,结果表明,产业融合度分项指数间越均衡则产业融合度越高;各乡镇分项指数和产业融合度的数值皆很小,有巨大的“三产”融合发展空间;新街镇一二三产业的劳动力融合度领先,其中第三产业贡献率最大;农业文化遗产地“三产”的产业融合与劳动力融合有较高的正相关性（r=0.67）,显著水平在10%以下（P=0.069<0.1）。推动“三产”融合发展可以有效促进农民在本地就业,对于保护农业文化遗产有着重要意义。     

Re-emphasizing sustainable development — The concept of ‘Evolutionability’ On living chances, equity, and good heritage

The principle of sustainable development is now 15-year-old. There are a lot of definitions and models for its explanation — ranging from triangles and prisms to eggs — but still its sense is diffuse. Moreover, important aspects like equity are not sufficiently taken into account.The following article takes a critical look on sustainable development. It shows logical, systemic, philosophic and ethic reasons for the re-development of substantial parts of the principle of sustainability. Based on the proposed Principle of Good Heritage it provides a rough outline of a future Concept of Evolutionability, comprising a first tentative for a definition of evolutionable development, aiming at achieving a more appropriate and more workable mainstream view of sustainability.Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.