Obstacles to Bottom‐Up Implementation of Marine Ecosystem Management

Abstract: Ecosystem management (EM) offers a means to address multiple threats to marine resources. Despite recognition of the importance of stakeholder involvement, most efforts to implement EM in marine systems are the product of top‐down regulatory control. We describe a rare, stakeholder‐driven attempt to implement EM from the bottom up in San Juan County, Washington (U.S.A.). A citizens advisory group led a 2‐year, highly participatory effort to develop an ecosystem‐based management plan, guided by a preexisting conservation‐planning framework. A key innovation was to incorporate social dimensions by designating both sociocultural and biodiversity targets in the planning process. Multiple obstacles hindered implementation of EM in this setting. Despite using a surrogate scheme, the information‐related transaction costs of planning were substantial: information deficits prevented assessment of some biodiversity targets and insufficient resources combined with information deficits prevented scientific assessment of the sociocultural targets. Substantial uncertainty, practical constraints to stakeholder involvement, and the existence of multiple, potentially conflicting, objectives increased negotiation‐related costs. Although information deficits and uncertainty, coupled with underinvestment in the transaction costs of planning, could reduce the long‐term effectiveness of the plan itself, the social capital and momentum developed through the planning process could yield unforeseeable future gains in protection of marine resources. The obstacles we identified here will require early and sustained attention in efforts to implement ecosystem management in other grassroots settings.     

A corporate approach to social monitoring and assessment for development in a fragile environment

The prevailing corporate trend regardingdevelopment of energy resources in the tropics emphasizesfinancial gain over long-term societal benefits. Somecorporations are beginning to find a competitive advantage linkedto proactive relations with host communities and adequateprotection of fragile ecosystems. Herein, we describe a casestudy where an international energy production company workedwith stakeholders to achieve social capital and sustainabledevelopment. The strategies aimed to strengthen local capacity toimprove social welfare and to ensure conservation and wise use ofbiodiversity. We provide examples, discuss lessons learned andmake recommendations for future development projects.     

Qualitative Stakeholder Analysis for the Development of Sustainable Monitoring Systems for Farm Animal Welfare

Continued concern for animal welfare may be alleviated when welfare would be monitored on farms. Monitoring can be characterized as an information system where various stakeholders periodically exchange relevant information. Stakeholders include producers, consumers, retailers, the government, scientists, and others. Valuating animal welfare in the animal-product market chain is regarded as a key challenge to further improve the welfare of farm animals and information on the welfare of animals must, therefore, be assessed objectively, for instance, through monitoring. Interviews with Dutch stakeholder representatives were conducted to identify their perceptions about the monitoring of animal welfare. Stakeholder perceptions were characterized in relation to the specific perspectives of each stakeholder. While producers tend to perceive welfare from a production point of view, consumers will use visual images derived from traditional farming and from the animals natural environments. Scientists perceptions of animal welfare are affected by the need to measure welfare with quantifiable parameters. Retailers and governments (policy makers) have views of welfare that are derived from their relationships with producers, consumers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and scientists. All interviewed stakeholder representatives stated that animal welfare is important. They varied in the extent to which they weighted economic considerations relative to concern for the animals welfare. Many stakeholders emphasized the importance of communication in making a monitoring system work. Overall, the perspectives for the development of a sustainable monitoring system that substantially improves farm animal welfare were assessed as being poor in the short term. However, a reliable system could be initiated under certain conditions, such as integrated chains and with influential and motivated stakeholders. A scheme is described with attention points for the development of sustainable monitoring systems for farm animal welfare in the long term.     

WATER SUPPLY OPTIONS IN A NEW MEXICO WATER PLANNING REGION1

ABSTRACT: The population in the Jemez y Sangre Water Planning Region of New Mexico has reached the point at which the demand for water exceeds available supplies, particularly when precipitation is below average, as has frequently occurred in recent years. The desire to develop a sustainable water supply that relies on renewable supplies in wet years and preserves the water in storage for times of drought motivated a diverse set of stakeholders in the region to participate in regional water planning. The planning effort culminated in development of the Jemez y Sangre Regional Water Plan, which was adopted by municipal and county governments in the region. The plan assesses and compares water supply and demand in the region and recommends alternatives for protecting and restoring the existing water supply and addressing the pending gap between supply and demand anticipated by the year 2060. To convey to decision makers the alternatives available to solve the future water shortage, option charts were developed to portray the amount of water that could be obtained or conserved through their implementation. The option charts show that the projected gap between supply and demand cannot be met through one alternative only, but will require a combination of alternatives.     

Beyond Biogeography: a Framework for Involving the Public in Planning of U.S. Marine Protected Areas

Abstract:  Planning of marine protected areas (MPAs) is highlighted in the conservation literature but is not explored in much detail. Many researchers acknowledge the importance of involving the public in MPA planning, but there is limited guidance on how to do this in an effective manner. I present a framework for involving the public in planning of U.S. MPAs. Derived from empirically and theoretically based research on public participation in U.S. natural resource management, this framework is composed of factors that influence the success of participatory processes: active participant involvement, complete information exchange, fair decision making, efficient administration, and positive participant interactions. Processes incorporating these factors will produce decisions that are more likely to be supported by stakeholders, meet management objectives, and fulfill conservation goals. This framework contributes to the MPA social science literature and responds to calls in the conservation literature to increase the use of social science research to inform conservation decision making.     

Roles of State Strategy of Adaptation to Climate Change in China

For the adverse impacts of climate change, China government should place the problem of adaptation to climate change on the agenda. It is time to institute and implement a state adaptive strategy to reduce the adverse impacts on economy, community and people＇s health and life by international cooperation and our own endeavor. A state strategy of adaptation to climate change should be closely linked with other current interrelated national strategies, and they should be supplemented and improved by each other. This paper discusses the roles of the state strategy of adaptation to climate change in the state climate change integrative strategy, the environmental protection strategy, and the sustainable development strategy in China. Furthermore, it proposes the main aims of the state adaptive strategy of China.     

Integrated river basin management in rapidly urbanizing areas: a case of Shenzhen, China

The rapid urbanization of China is causing a burden on their water resources and hindering their sustainable development. This paper analyzes effective methods to integrated river basin management (IRBM) using Longgang River basin of Shenzhen as an example, which is the city with the fastest rate of urbanization in China and even the whole world. Over the past 20 years, China has undergone a population boom due to the increase of immigrant workers and rapid development of laborintensive industries, which led to the sharp increase of water consumption and sewage discharge. However, the construction of the water infrastructure is still lagging far behind the environmental and social development, with only 32.7% of sewage in the district being treated. Currently, every water quality indicator of the Longgang River basin was unable to meet the required corresponding environmental standards, which further aggravated the water shortages of the region. Thus, an analytical framework is proposed to address the IRBM of the study area. The problems with the current management system include the lack of decentralization in decision-making, lack of enforcement with redundant plans, weak management capacity, financial inadequacy, and a poor system of stakeholder participation. In light of the principles of IRBM and the situation of the region, corresponding measures are put forward, including an increase of power given to sub-district offices, fewer but more feasible plans, capacity building among stakeholders, a combination of planning and marketing for overcoming financial inadequacy, and profound reform in the public participation system. The framework and institutional suggestions could inform similar processes in other representative river basins.     

基于利益相关者的企业环境绩效驱动机制及实证

基于利益相关者和企业环境绩效可能存在的驱动响应关系,提出将企业主体、政府部门、投资者、消费者、社区公众作为5个典型的利益相关者,构建了企业环境绩效的驱动因子体系.选取2008年度国内300强企业作为初始样本,详细整理其公开的环境信息,筛选确定以环境信息公开相对完善的41家企业为案例进行实证分析.企业环境绩效与驱动因素的Spearman相关分析表明,企业主体是环境绩效的主导驱动因素,政府部门和投资者是环境绩效的重要推动因素,而消费者和社区公众对环境绩效未有显著影响;典范对应分析表明,企业环境绩效驱动因素可归为3类,对企业环境绩效的总解释能力达到80.7%;53.66%的案例企业分别受到企业环境管理能力、政府环境规制、企业环境风险等因素的独立作用,而其余企业则受多因素共同作用.     

九寨沟旅游生态足迹与生态补偿分析

建立自然保护区周边社区居民的生态补偿制度,是自然保护区取得社会经济发展和自然资源保护的关键。文章提出旅游生态足迹的概念与计算方法,以九寨沟为例,构建基于旅游生态足迹效率的自然保护区居民生态补偿标准的测度模型。结果表明:①2002 年九寨沟游客人均旅游生态足迹为0.061hm²,其年度转化值为8.881 7hm²,是当地居民人均生态足迹0.961 6hm² 的9.27倍;②叠加游客人均旅游生态足迹,九寨沟总人均生态足迹需求为1.005 3hm²,人均生态承载力为1.202 6hm²,生态盈余为0.197 3hm²;③旅游生态足迹效率为8 643 元/hm²,是当地居民生态足迹效率2 613 元/hm² 的3.31 倍;④以居民退耕还林还草的直接收益损失作为生态补偿最低标准,户均应补偿2 159 元,人均应补偿472 元,以退耕还林还草的游憩功能价值作为生态补偿上限,户均应补偿7 142 元,人均应补偿1 561 元,以旅游者与当地居民的生态足迹效率之差来确定合理的补偿水平,户均应补偿4 983 元,人均应补偿1 088 元。     

福建省梅花山国家级自然保护区公共管理研究

自然保护区的建立对改善区域生态环境、保护生物多样性、维护国家生态安全具有重要作用,如何有效管理自然保护区是当前自然保护区决策者、社区和研究者共同关注的问题。利用问卷调查法、专家咨询法和利益相关者分析法等,对福建省梅花山国家级自然保护区管理中的利益相关者进行分析,从公共管理框架设计和模式选择等方面探讨福建省梅花山国家级自然保护区的公共管理。研究结果表明,福建省梅花山国家级自然保护区管理中的利益相关者分为核心层、紧密层和外围层,其中核心层的利益相关者为政府、当地社区、非政府组织、企业与旅游公司,对福建省梅花山国家级自然保护区管理具有重要作用;政府具有高影响力、低利益/高公益,追求生态效益;当地社区为高影响力、高利益,追求经济效益;非政府组织具有低影响力、高公益,追求社会效益;企业与旅游公司具有低影响力、高利益,追求经济效益。基于利益相关者分析,围绕生态、社会和经济效益,进行福建省梅花山国家级自然保护区公共管理的框架设计和模式选择。福建省梅花山国家级自然保护区生态效益的管理采取政府主导型,社会效益的管理采取政府指导下的非政府组织管理型,经济效益的管理采取政府指导下的企业与旅游公司管理型以及社区共同管理型。