Pastoralism,nature conservation and ecological sustainability in Western Australia's southern shrubland rangelands

Two major issues are discussed in this paper. The first is the commitment of Federal and State Governments to the maintenance of biodiversity and nature conservation through their endorsement of conservation strategies. Based on a rangeland biophysical resource inventory survey (Pringle et al., 1994) it is contended that existing nature conservation reserves are not representative of the biological diversity in the region. In 1990, less than 1% of the survey area was under nature reservation. Whilst 13 of 17 land types are present in reserves, most of the reserves consist of land types least suitable for pastoralism (but not necessarily lacking conservation value). The land types most subject to preferential grazing and most threatened from a nature conservation perspective are poorly (three types) or not (four types) represented, and certainly not replicated, in nature reserves of the survey area, which exceeds 100 000 km2. Of the 23 priority plant species for nature conservation occurring in the survey area, 21 are not known to occur in nature reserves. Nature conservation in the area needs to improve because of the unrepresentativeness of the existing nature reserves and the absence of numerous priority plant species for nature conservation from these areas. We should recognize that reservation is but one nature conservation strategy. Viewed as a land tenure issue, this paper presents a case for a more representative nature reserve system, and substantial changes in outlook towards off-reserve nature conservation. First, an integrated appraisal of findings from rangeland and biological surveys is required. Together they provide a strong foundation for nature conservation planning, from which a more representative nature reserve system can be planned. Given that off-reserve nature conservation values are still likely to be substantial, partly as a result of compromise with existing land uses, new approaches to land management, sensitive to these values, may be required.The second major issue concerns the success of maintaining regional biological diversity in the arid shrubland rangelands of Western Australia, which will be strongly influenced by the use of the semi-natural matrix of lands under pastoral management. In six suggested opportunities, this paper addresses how this use may be achieved. Central to the ideas is a regional approach in which all stakeholders can contribute to, and have ownership of, regional environmental management plans. This paper emphasizes the role that conservative pastoral management might be able to play and some approaches to encourage more widespread participation of pastoralists in nature conservation management.     

我国自然保护区生态旅游存在问题分析

通过对2006年自然保护区建设管理基本情况调查和2008年自然保护区生态旅游专项问卷调查得到的数据进行分析,立足我国自然保护区生态旅游发展现状,从自然保护区生态旅游涉及的宏观决策管理,保护区管理机构,保护区与社区、旅游经营者、游客、生态环境的关系6个方面,系统地分析目前我国自然保护区生态旅游存在问题,并提出相应对策.     

涉及自然保护区建设项目的环境管理

针对自然保护区的特点和生物多样性保护的要求,明确了涉及自然保护区建设项目的范畴、准入条件,对建设项目立项期、施工期和运营期3个阶段自然保护区管理机构应采取的环境管理措施进行了分析,并提出了相关对策建议,以期为促进自然保护区的建设管理提供规范性指导.     

Using conservation science to advance corporate biodiversity accountability

Biodiversity declines threaten the sustainability of global economies and societies. Acknowledging this, businesses are beginning to make commitments to account for and mitigate their influence on biodiversity and report this in sustainability reports. We assessed the top 100 of the 2016 Fortune 500 Global companies' (the Fortune 100) sustainability reports to gauge the current state of corporate biodiversity accountability. Almost half (49) of the Fortune 100 mentioned biodiversity in reports, and 31 made clear biodiversity commitments, of which only 5 were specific, measureable, and time bound. A variety of biodiversity-related activities were disclosed (e.g., managing impacts, restoring biodiversity, and investing in biodiversity), but only 9 companies provided quantitative indicators to verify the magnitude of their activities (e.g., area of habitat restored). No companies reported quantitative biodiversity outcomes, making it difficult to determine whether business actions were of sufficient magnitude to address impacts and were achieving positive outcomes for nature. Conservation science can advance approaches to corporate biodiversity accountability by helping businesses make science-based biodiversity commitments, develop meaningful indicators, and select more targeted activities to address business impacts. With the biodiversity policy super year of 2020 rapidly approaching, now is the time for conservation scientists to engage with and support businesses in playing a critical role in setting the new agenda for a sustainable future for the planet with biodiversity at its heart.     

自然遗迹类保护区有关分类问题的探讨

自然遗迹具有历史性、多样性和多层次性、作为研究对象的多学科属性以及由此派生的成因多解性等特点。探讨自然遗迹类保护区的有关分类问题:①古人类化石及活动遗迹兼为“地质遗迹”和“古文物”的双重属性,导致自然保护区与文物保护单位之间的交叉,按溯及既往原则提出供比较选择的处理方案;②自然遗迹类保护区在以生物多样性为中心的自然保护区分类中的地位,强调古、今生物的历史渊源关系和地质遗迹的宏观背景意义;③自然遗迹的“生命周期”现象对于自然遗迹类保护区分类和管理的意义。对续建古生物遗迹类型保护区的具体建议。      

Social factors mediating human–carnivore coexistence: Understanding thematic strands influencing coexistence in Central Romania

Facilitating human–carnivore coexistence depends on the biophysical environment but also on social factors. Focusing on Central Romania, we conducted 71 semi-structured interviews to explore human–bear (Ursus arctos) coexistence. Qualitative content and discourse analysis identified three socially mediated thematic strands, which showed different ways in which perceived interactions between people, bears and the environment shape coexistence. The “landscape-bear strand” described perceptions of the way in which the landscape offers resources for the bear, while the “landscape-human strand” related to ways in which humans experience the landscape. The “management strand” related to the way bears was managed. All three strands highlight both threats and opportunities for the peaceful coexistence of people and bears. Management and policy interventions could be improved by systematically considering the possible effects of interventions on each of the three strands shaping coexistence. Future research should explore the relevance of the identified thematic strands in other settings worldwide.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-015-0760-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

基于淹水特征的分时段湿地生态系统管理——以南洞庭湖万子湖为例

利用2013年遥感影像和地形图制作地势图,将万子湖湿地洲滩分为27 m以下、27~28、28~29、29~30、30 m以上共5级地势阶梯。利用1983~2013年万子湖逐日平均水位数据分析不同地势阶梯洲滩在春汛期、洪水期、退水期、枯水期等4个时段的淹水特征,结合生物特性和人为干扰分析,确定万子湖湿地生态系统管理的边界范围和策略。研究表明:4个时段中的生态系统管理边界分别为29、31、29、28 m地势阶梯分界线,3个重点时段和管理区域为:春汛期,管理目标是产卵亲鱼保护,28 m以下洲滩是重点管理区域;退水期,管理目标是保障鱼类洄游,28 m以下洲滩和湖槽洄游通道是重点管理区域;枯水期,管理目标是洲滩上鱼类产卵场、幼鱼索饵场和越冬候鸟栖息地的恢复与保护,28 m以下洲滩是重点管理区域。而生态系统管理重点则是去除过度人为干扰(包括洲滩过度开发、过度捕捞),恢复湿地生态系统整体性功能,应坚决停止重点区域内滩涂水面的养殖承包、引淤抬洲、洲滩植树等系列干扰性活动。     

Wistful wilderness: communication about ‘new’ nature in the Netherlands

Based on in-depth interviews, this article presents findings of a study centred on public communication regarding Tiengemeten, a Dutch island previously occupied by farmers. An answer is sought to the question of how visitors to Tiengemeten evaluate, according to their own experiences, the discourse of people involved in Tiengemeten from a policy and communication perspective. This study showed that visitors’ experiences do not always match the emotions appealed to in public communication materials. It is also suggested that people involved from a policy and communication perspective should refrain from using ‘heavily value-laden’ phraseology. For reasons of trust, this article suggests aligning public communication with genuine experiences of visitors. This is also necessary for avoiding scepticism of visitors as policy makers and communication professionals run a risk that public communication regarding nature becomes counterproductive.     

Bordering Ecosystems: The Rhetorical Function of Characterization in Gray Wolf Management

Decisions about iconic species such as the wolf provide a key index of human–nature relations. The gray wolf's reintroduction in the USA has been controversial, particularly at the interface of state versus federal management. This essay analyzes discourse surrounding this controversy, focusing on how wolves are characterized as ecological and social actors in official correspondence and management plans. I interpret this textual evidence by drawing from social theory regarding sovereignty, discipline, and population, including studies on bordering practices imposed on humans. As with humans, bordering practices in the case of the wolf may illuminate how political forces impose physical and discursive limits upon mobile bodies motivated to move across political borders by powerful exigencies of need. The essay seeks to amplify understanding about how regimes of power enact difference from “others” whose presence strongly influences the health of ecosystems and economies.     

Balancing local interests and national conservation obligations in nature protection. The case of local management boards in Norway

In 2010, Norway introduced local management of national parks and other large protected areas. Boards comprised of local politicians are delegated extended powers in the management of the protected areas. This paper examines how this system of local management deals with the conflicting dimensions of local interests versus national obligations, and conservation versus use. The study is based on data from surveys to protected area board members and other actors involved, and on case studies in two protected areas. The main finding is that the boards, accountable to central government but comprised of politicians accountable to the local voters, aim to balance local interests and national obligations, and conservation and use. Popular involvement and anchorage is, however, weak due to lack of mobilization and transparency. Furthermore, formal restrictions hindering the boards from dealing with local economic development could make the boards less attractive for the local political leadership.