Whose land? Whose water? Water rights,equity and justice in a peri-urban context

Based on research in peri-urban areas, this paper explores questions of water justice in the context of emerging global cities. With the growth of large cities, authorities focus on meeting their water needs through infrastructure expansion and supply augmentation. The changing water needs and priorities of peri-urban locations, which provide land and water for urban expansion, receive scant attention. This paper looks at changing patterns of water use between rural and urban uses, based on research in peri-urban Gurgaon, an emerging outsourcing and recreation hub of North West India. It describes the diversity of ways in which peri-urban residents lose access to water as the city expands. These processes raise important questions about water justice, about the politics of urban expansion, and the implicit biases about whom these cities are meant for.     

东北典型黑土区讷谟尔河流域土地利用变化对沟蚀影响研究

论文以东北典型黑土区中的黑龙江省讷谟尔河流域作为研究区,以1965年的Corona 和2005年的SPOT5影像做为数据源,获取研究区1965和2005年的侵蚀沟分布数据;以地形图、Landsat/MSS影像和TM影像作为数据源,获取1954、1975、1995和2005年的土地利用数据,据此就研究区沟蚀动态和土地利用变化对沟蚀发展的影响进行分析。结果表明：40 a间侵蚀沟密度>250 m/km²的区域由1965年的0 km²增加到4 077.17 km²,占总侵蚀区面积的37.57%;侵蚀沟密度以北东—南西向为轴线从剧烈增加区逐渐过渡到微度增加区;耕地上沟蚀状况最严重,草地和沼泽地次之,林地侵蚀沟密度较小;耕地和草地之间的互相转换,侵蚀沟密度增加最大,分别为600.60和456.08 m/km²;其次是林地转变为耕地,侵蚀沟密度增加346.91 m/km²;各沟蚀变化区耕地的增加比例在29.21%~46.54%之间,草地减少的比例在27.10%~41.50%之间,沼泽地减少的比例在5.86%~12.50%之间。     

东北典型湖库水体对铜绿微囊藻荧光特性的影响

为考察东北典型湖库水体对铜绿微囊藻(Microcystic aeruginosa)生长过程中IDOM(细胞内溶解性有机物)荧光特性的影响,在镜泊湖、兴凯湖、五大连池、松花湖和大伙房水库5个典型湖库,共10个采样点采集水样,用于铜绿微囊藻的培养,利用EEM(三维荧光光谱)技术,结合三维荧光FRI(区域体积积分)开展IDOM荧光特性的聚类分析. 结果表明:铜绿微囊藻中IDOM的主要荧光特征峰为类蛋白荧光峰(峰S和峰T),峰S荧光强度高于峰T;对IDOM的三维荧光光谱分为5个区(Ⅰ～Ⅴ区)进行区域体积积分,荧光响应值比例(P_Ⅰ+Ⅱ,n和P_Ⅳ,n)总体上呈互补趋势;Ф_T,n(总区域体积积分)表现为镜泊湖>五大连池>兴凯湖>松花湖>大伙房水库,第16天镜泊湖的Ф_T,n最大,平均值为9.76×10-5 AU·nm2/(mg/L);大伙房水库的Ф_T,n最小,平均值为3.72×10-5 AU·nm2/(mg/L). 聚类分析将10个采样点分成3类. HJ1、HJ2采样点为类别1;HX1、LD1、JS1、LD2采样点为类别2;HX2、JS2、HW2、HW1采样点为类别3,其中,类别1(镜泊湖)水体较类别2和类别3水体更适宜铜绿微囊藻的生长.      

Social vulnerability and pneumonic plague: revisiting the 1994 outbreak in Surat,India

The 1994 outbreak of pneumonic plague in Surat, India is revisited and analyzed using the pressure and release (PAR) model. Overviews of the outbreak, of India's experience with plague, and of the disease are provided and the PAR model is used to trace the production of vulnerability via root causes, dynamic pressures, and unsafe conditions and to explain the why, when, and where of the epidemic. The emergence of plague in Surat was an unfortunate amalgam of prior hazard events and of factors generating vulnerability. Root causes include the country's colonial legacy and a complex and pervasive social hierarchy promoting caste and class interests over the common good. Dynamic pressures include: a curative-focused healthcare system; a weak civil society; misplaced spending priorities; and public and private corruption that deprived public health programs of needed funds and which compelled workers to live and labor in unhealthy environments. Unhealthy public, residential and workplace environments; fragile economic conditions; and a lack of surveillance and preparation are immediately linked to the outbreak and to the transmission of pneumonic plague.     

Chaos and complexity in development

SUMMARY

The paper outlines some main features of chaos theory. Examples of chaotic systems in society and the environment are given. Spontaneous interaction of components, without being planned or directed, is known as ‘self-organising behaviour’. Chaos is an essential aspect of this self organisation, occurring in many forms. A chaotic system is defined as one that shows sensitivity to initial conditions. If the errors relative to the initial conditions become too great, the system will eventually collapse. Development projects are sensitive to such initial conditions. In particular, two examples in development are outlined in some detail and commented upon. One is the occurrence of a project promoting self-organising systems among the poorest of the poor. The other outlines how rehabilitation after resettlement in a power project has transgressed the ‘edge of chaos’ socio-emotionally, in spite of the socioeconomic development being good.     

东北北部温带森林和干草地土壤养分分布及影响因素

土壤是陆地生态系统碳储存的重要场所,其养分变化与全球陆地碳循环密切相关。土壤养分是植物生长的重要保证,而土壤各养分之间是紧密联系的。理解土壤养分变化与环境因素的关系有助于更好地了解陆地生态系统碳、氮、磷循环。本研究以东北北部自东向西沿降水量梯度变化纬度带上的温带森林与干草地生态系统为研究对象,利用气象数据和野外土壤实测数据,分析了纬度带上不同植被类型土壤的有机碳、全氮、碳氮比、速效磷的空间分布格局及其与环境因子（年降水量、年均温、土壤pH值）的关系。研究纬度带上降水量自东向西逐渐减少,植被类型从温带森林过渡到干草原,与降水量和植被类型对应,植被生物量也自东向西呈现从高到低的分布梯度。研究结果表明：从整个研究带上来说,降水量与土壤pH值是土壤养分空间分布的决定因素,沿纬度带从东到西,随着降水量逐渐减少,土壤pH值逐渐增加,而土壤有机碳、全氮、碳氮比、速效磷含量逐渐减少。但如果将森林和草地分别讨论则发现,森林和草地生态系统的土壤养分环境控制因素有较大差别。对于草地生态系统而言,降水量和土壤pH值仍然是其土壤养分含量的控制因子,但森林生态系统由于所处区域降水量充足,降水量不再是其土壤养分的控制因子,降水量只与森林土壤碳氮比呈显著正相关。研究还发现森林土壤的速效磷含量与温度呈正相关,与土壤pH值呈负相关,说明温度对东北北部温带森林的土壤养分含量具有一定的控制作用。     

Source apportionment studies for particulates (PM10) in Kozhikode,South Western India using a combined receptor model

In the present work, source apportionment studies were carried out for particulate matter – one among the significant pollutants as addressed by The National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Advantages and disadvantages of each receptor model were addressed using a combined receptor model which integrates Factor Analysis (FA), Positive Matrix Factorisation (PMF) and Chemical Mass Balance (CMB). Verification of the approach was done using sets of synthetic data as well as field data from Kozhikode. Sampling was carried out in National Institute of Technology, Calicut for a period of over 26 days with 24-hour sampling. The sampling gave an average PM concentration value in the range of 29.174–129.176 µg m^?3. Studies using field data revealed five dominant sources and their contributions obtained from CMB and PMF were compared. Soil dust (contribution from CMB: 18%; contribution from PMF: 16%), marine aerosol (17%; 25%), construction and aggregate processing (46%; 11%), garden waste combustion (18%; 45%), and vehicular exhaust (1%; 3%) were major contributors in the site under study. The outcomes of the study integrated with the support of local authorities and by the acceptance of residents can definitely curb the pollution levels in the site under the study.     

环境规制对区域碳排放时空差异的影响——基于东北三省32个地级市的实证分析

基于2007—2016年东北三省地级市面板数据,结合夜间灯光指数核算地级市碳排放,运用基尼系数、莫兰指数、热点分析等方法,实证分析了不同环境规制对东北三省地级市碳排放的空间效应.结果发现：①区域碳排放总量、人均碳排放量、碳排放强度和单位面积碳排放量呈现正向空间自相关,碳排放的热点区域在相邻地区发生转移,且都有排放中心区域,研究时段内,碳排放在空间上出现不同程度的增长,负增长区域较少.②命令型、经济型和自愿型3种环境规制强度在空间上趋向于更加平衡化的方向发展,存在空间分异性.③自愿型环境规制主要通过直接效应降低碳排放,命令型环境规制主要通过溢出效应降低碳排放,而经济型环境规制则通过总效应对碳排放产生显著正向影响.政府环保部门应促进命令型环境规制的空间溢出效应,通过提高经济型环境规制的有效性刺激技术更新,引进外国先进技术,实行绿色发展模式,以实现"波特假说"的目标.     

Do developmental initiatives influence local attitudes toward conservation? A case study from the Kalakad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve,India

We evaluated the conservation attitudes of the local villagers living adjacent to the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in southern India 6 years after implementation of a World Bank funded eco-development project. We assessed attitudes towards three facets of conservation: the tiger, an emblematic species signifying India's commitment to wildlife conservation; the forest, a principle source of fuel-wood and other products; and the Forest Department, which manages the forest. More specifically we predicted that (i) attitudes would be an effective predictor of resource use interest in the forest and (ii) benefits obtained from the EDP would create more favorable attitudes towards conservation and the protected area employees. Twelve villages located within 3 km from the reserve boundary were chosen and 2-3% of the households interviewed with regard to their attitudes towards these three facets of conservation, their household resource use patterns, wealth, sex, age and length of residency. We found significant associations between wealth, sex, age and both tiger and forest conservation. Providing benefits has not changed the underlying attitudes of the communities. The poorer sections of society, whether receiving benefits or not, tended to support tiger conservation because conserving wildlife did not affect their livelihood in any way, whereas both the rich and poor had misgivings about forest conservation due to dependency on forest products. We conclude that the eco-development project has not effectively addressed the most important of the local concerns.     

Urbanisation and greening of Indian cities: Problems,practices, and policies

Progress of the Indian economy is threatened by the impact of climate change. Generation of urban heat islands (UHIs), waning of urban green cover, increase in carbon emissions and air pollution deteriorate the living environment. Rise in urban temperatures and heat stress induced mortality remain major concerns. Although the National Action Plan on Climate Change emphasises the national missions of ‘enhanced energy efficiency’, and ‘green India’, little research has been devoted to explore the passive cooling potential of urban greenery in India, thus lending uniqueness to this study. The manifestations of unplanned urban development (UHIs, escalated carbon emissions, air pollution) are discussed and corroborated with identification of contributory factors. Contemporary greening practices and bye-laws in four major Indian cities (New Delhi, Pune, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam) are analysed and compared with global best practices. The findings are used to propose planning guidelines which are expected to assist in consolidating natural sustainability of emerging economies.