Managing invasive plants in a rural-amenity landscape: the role of social capital and Landcare

Rural-amenity migration is changing the social and ecological compositions of landscapes globally. The in-migration of new landholders is contributing to significant biophysical changes to rural landscapes, as well as the weakening of collective awareness, knowledge and skills needed to manage natural resources. This is leading to the proliferation of environmental harm. This paper focuses on invasive plants as one such harm, detailing how collective action is developed and challenged in a rural landscape undergoing increasing property turnover and diversifying management priorities. Focusing on the role of a Landcare group, located in southern New South Wales, Australia, I explore how social capital – with a particular focus on trust and social norms – is mobilised to recruit newly arrived residents and maintain commitment among landholders to manage invasive plants. This research provides insights into how policy can better steer management interventions, particularly how to develop and maintain collective action in diversifying rural landscapes.     

Nikinake: the mobilization of labour and skill development in rural Ethiopia

A public mobilization approach known as nikinake drives implementation and technology upscaling in Ethiopia's agricultural extension. This study investigates and describes the processes and effectiveness of nikinake as an extension method used for natural resource management (NRM). The paper draws on empirical field research conducted in Oromia and the southern region of Ethiopia by looking at nikinake in the context of a watershed management campaign in 2015 and 2016. Nikinake is used as an approach to mobilize the public and to promote the skills of farmers and development actors. In principle, the implementation of NRM is voluntary; however, it is largely planned top‐down and enforced through state actors and informal institutions. This study suggests effective integration of social mobilization with reliable extension and a paradigm shift in emphasis from spatial coverage to an effective outcome. Additionally, sustainability and scalability of NRM interventions could be ameliorated by improving experts’ technical skills, raising farmers’ awareness, improving an incentive system, building trust, and better integrating past watershed management and future planning activities. We reflect on the significance of the nikinake experience in Ethiopia for a broader theory of extension‐as‐mobilization for rural development. From the Ethiopian case, a more general recommendation emerges for extension‐as‐mobilization schemes. For long‐term development, it is worthwhile to consider the fit between yearly campaigns as ad hoc project organizations and the existing pattern of actors and institutions responsible for rural development.     

中央空调系统中微生物控制技术简介

在总结前人研究的基础上提出了对中央空调系统中微生物新的控制方法。在控制中央空调系统微生物污染源头的基础上,再通过用常规技术和新技术来对中央空调系统中的微生物加以控制．新的控制技术能较好地控制系统中的微生物数量,既保护了管道系统又净化了室内空气。     

Transferability of Species Distribution Models: a Functional Habitat Approach for Two Regionally Threatened Butterflies

Abstract:  Numerous models for predicting species distribution have been developed for conservation purposes. Most of them make use of environmental data (e.g., climate, topography, land use) at a coarse grid resolution (often kilometres). Such approaches are useful for conservation policy issues including reserve-network selection. The efficiency of predictive models for species distribution is usually tested on the area for which they were developed. Although highly interesting from the point of view of conservation efficiency, transferability of such models to independent areas is still under debate. We tested the transferability of habitat-based predictive distribution models for two regionally threatened butterflies, the green hairstreak ( Callophrys rubi ) and the grayling ( Hipparchia semele ), within and among three nature reserves in northeastern Belgium. We built predictive models based on spatially detailed maps of area-wide distribution and density of ecological resources. We used resources directly related to ecological functions (host plants, nectar sources, shelter, microclimate) rather than environmental surrogate variables. We obtained models that performed well with few resource variables. All models were transferable—although to different degrees—among the independent areas within the same broad geographical region. We argue that habitat models based on essential functional resources could transfer better in space than models that use indirect environmental variables. Because functional variables can easily be interpreted and even be directly affected by terrain managers, these models can be useful tools to guide species-adapted reserve management.     

南充市清洁能源行动的健康效益评价

采用剂量—反应法对南充市实施清洁能源行动后，预计到2005年，为由于大气质量的改善而对居民健康产生的正面效益作了定量的评估，并对结果进行了讨论。     

论环境的行政公益诉讼

中国尚未建立环境的行政公益诉讼,而传统诉讼制度的问题和缺陷日益显露,导致环境得不到很好地保护。根据环境法中关于环境权的理论、公众参与的原则以及公益诉讼的理论,中国应该尽快建立环境行政公益诉讼制度,赋予公众环境的行政公益诉讼资格,使作为公共利益的环境能得到切实的保护和改善。     

英国大气污染控制及行动措施

通过对英国大气污染历史及环境现状的对比，总结英国大气污染控制措施，为我国大气污染防治提供经验。     

Environmental risks of chemicals and genetically modified organisms: a comparison. Part II: Sustainability and precaution in risk assessment and risk management

The principles of precaution and sustainability require more consideration in the assessment of environmental risks posed by chemicals and genetically modified organisms. Instead of applying risk reduction measures when there are serious indications for damage, full scientific certainty is often waited for before taking action. The precautionary principle particularly should be applied in those cases in which the extent and probability of damage are uncertain, e.g. in the case of persistent chemicals which are additionally bioaccumulative or highly mobile. Based on these principles, environmental action targets for risks associated with GMOs and chemicals can be developed. Risk management not only includes statutory measures but also instruments designed to influence behaviour indirectly are important to achieve the goals. Particularly for risks of GMOs which provoke fear, risk communication is important. Some rules to which attention should be paid in communication with the public are presented.     

生态城市--现代化城市的发展目标

实现生态城市建设目标,管理决策者的作用是举足轻重的。不久前,上海的5位管理决策者应邀畅谈了他们是如何看待全球“生态城市”建设这股热潮,同时又准备采取哪些措施来积极有效地推进上海的生态城市建设目标。现将他们精彩的论述整理刊登如下,以飨读者。