SUSTAINABILITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL: MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND MUNICIPAL TAX INCENTIVE MODEL

The implementation of sustainable development may seem a simple concept when written on paper. However to carry-out long term actions put forward by the Agenda 21 (AG21) at the local level represents one of the main challenges as municipal governments in general do not have the capacity to effectively implement the process. Regional environmental assessment (REA) has shown to be effective in supporting decision-making not only to correct environmental problems due to past unsustainable social-economic developments but also help local governments to implement sustainable actions. However this requires long-term investments of AG21 plans and projects. The allocation of regular and consistent financial resources is one of the main ingredients for the sustainable development process. But traditional plans and projects financed by national and/or international funds may not be sustainable in the long-term because they become dependent on external funding. Research demonstrate that innovative economic instruments such as ecotaxes represent a feasible alternative to sponsor local sustainability because taxes are collected permanently by the government and could be invested in continuous actions. Ecotaxes experiences have provided important reference to structure a municipal incentive model (MIM) to sponsor AG21’s environmental plans and projects on a long-term (permanent) basis. However sustainable development cannot be solely through economic investments. A comprehensive municipal environmental management scheme (MEMS) has been established to support the incentive model. The scheme seeks not only to improve local institutional framework but also incentive continuous participation of local stakeholders at all levels of society. Participatory events and the provision of incentives (educational and financial) are key to motivate society to protect the environment and support actively the sustainable development process as emphasised in the RIO-92 Conference.     

Sustainability: a Dissent

Abstract:  Broadly conceived and considered in its many usages, sustainability has grave defects as a planning goal, particularly when used by conservationists: it confuses means and ends; it is vague about what is being sustained and who or what is doing the sustaining; it is uninspiring; it is little more than Pinchot-era conservation (and thus ignores the many lessons learned since then); it need not be linked to land, to the land's functioning, or to any ecological science; it need not include a moral component; it is consistent with the view of humans as all-powerful manipulators of the planet; and, in general, it is such a malleable term that its popularity provides only a facade of consensus. When sustainability is defined broadly to include the full range of economic and social aspirations, it poses the particular risk that ecological and biodiversity concerns will be cast aside in favor of more pressing human wants. Given these many defects, the conservation movement should discard the term in favor of a more alluring goal, attentive to nature and its ecological functioning. A sound goal would incorporate and distill the considerable ecological and moral wisdom accumulated since Pinchot's day while giving conservationists the rhetorical tools needed to defend the land against competing pressures. In our view, conservation would be well served by an updated variant of "land health," Aldo Leopold's ecologically grounded goal from the 1940s. Land health as an independent understanding should set the essential terms of how we live and enjoy the earth, providing the framework within which we pursue our many social and economic aims.     

临沂市区主要大气污染物的污染特征及其对居民健康的影响

大气污染是全球性的公共环境健康问题.本研究基于临沂市区2015年6种大气污染物（PM_2.5、PM₁₀、SO₂、NO₂、CO、O₃）的逐日监测数据,分析了污染物的污染特征及其与气象因子的相关性,通过构建广义相加模型,模拟分析了单个污染物与居民呼吸、循环系统疾病门诊人次的暴露-反应关系.结果表明,PM_2.5和PM₁₀是临沂市区首要大气污染物,NO₂和SO₂次之,O₃和CO浓度较低;除O₃外,其它5种污染物之间呈显著正相关,与风速、温度、相对湿度3个气象因子呈负相关,浓度水平冬季高、夏季低;O₃与温度呈显著正相关.对于呼吸系统疾病,单个污染物每增加10 μg·m^-3（CO每增加0.1 mg·m^-3）的最大效应情况是：PM₁₀、SO₂、NO₂、CO均在当天（lag0）使得门诊人次分别增加0.36%、1.77%、1.29%、0.69%,PM_2.5和O₃分别在累积滞后6 d（lag05）和单日滞后3 d（lag3）使得门诊人次分别增加0.6%和1.07%;对于循环系统疾病,单个污染物每增加10 μg·m^-3（CO每增加0.1 mg·m^-3）的最大效应是：PM_2.5、PM₁₀均在累积滞后5 d（lag04）使得门诊人次分别增加0.72%、0.80%,SO₂、NO₂均在累积滞后6 d使得门诊人次分别增加3.55%、3.54%,CO和O₃则分别在当天和单日滞后3 d使得门诊人次分别增加0.77%、1.39%.对于呼吸、循环系统疾病,PM_2.5、PM₁₀、CO、O₃对男性的影响均大于女性,SO₂则反之;NO₂对男性呼吸系统和女性循环系统影响较大.大气污染物对少年（7~17岁）呼吸系统和对中年（41~65岁）循环系统影响较大.临沂市区6种大气污染物存在不同程度的污染,对居民呼吸、循环系统疾病均有不同程度的影响,且存在性别和年龄的差异.     

陆浑水库沉积物重金属空间分布特征及风险评价

为了解洛阳市饮用水水源地陆浑水库沉积物中重金属污染程度,采集32个点位的表层沉积物,分析6种重金属（Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn）的空间分布特征,并运用地累积指数法、潜在生态风险指数和聚类分析等方法对研究区重金属污染程度进行评价、生态风险评价及源解析.结果表明：Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn含量超过黄河流域河南段重金属土壤背景值,分别是其8.8、2.0、6.5、2.3倍,重金属存在明显富集,且主要污染集中于坝前区域.地累积指数法评价结果显示,Cd为强污染,Pb为中-强污染.潜在生态风险指数表明,陆浑水库沉积物重金属风险呈自上游至下游逐渐增强的趋势,总体处于高度生态危害,潜在生态风险指数均值达到312.94,其中Cd为主要贡献因子.富集系数法和聚类分析结果显示：Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn主要为人为源,Cr和Pb以自然源为主.总体而言,陆浑水库沉积物中重金属Cd和Pb污染相对较重,可能会对水库水环境构成威胁.     

北部湾南流江流域土地覆盖及生物多样性模拟

以北部湾独流入海河流南流江流域为研究对象,基于研究区2000年和2015年遥感数据解译的土地利用数据以及社会经济等数据,采用CLUE-S模型对未来2030年生态保护情景、自然增长情景以及粮食安全情景的土地利用格局进行了模拟预测,在此基础上采用InVEST模型对流域过去和未来不同情景的生物多样性进行了评估,探讨了流域生物多样性的生境质量和生境退化程度.结果表明：2000~2015年南流江流域建设用地、园地、水域和未利用地呈现出增加趋势,其中建设用地的增幅最大,而耕地和林地减幅最大.流域土地系统中共存在着34种土地网络转移流关系,上游存在24种,中游20种,下游28种,耕地与建设用地、耕地与林地以及林地与园地之间的转换占到流域总土地利用变化的70.74%.CLUE-S模型模拟未来土地利用的Kappa系数达到0.86,表明模型模拟未来情景的土地利用精度满足要求.2000年、2015年、2030年生态保护情景、2030年自然增长情景以及2030年粮食安全情景流域生境质量总得分和平均得分分别为866630,900357,921055,876231,865370和0.7457,0.7747,0.7925,0.7539,0.7466.2030年3种情景的中上游和下游地区生物多样性都呈现出不同程度的改善趋势,而中游地区则表现出退化趋势.     

Development of a static test apparatus for evaluating the performance of three PM2.5 separators commonly used in China

PM_(2.5) separator directly affects the accuracy of PM_(2.5) sampling.The specification testing and evaluation for PM_(2.5) separator is particularly important,especially under China's wide variation of terrain and climate.In this study,first a static test apparatus based on polydisperse aerosol was established and calibrated to evaluate the performance of the PM_(2.5) separators.A uniform mixing chamber was developed to make particles mix completely.The aerosol concentration relative standard deviations of three test points at the same horizontal chamber position were less than 0.57%,and the particle size distribution obeyed logarithmic normal distribution with an R~2 of 0.996.The flow rate deviation between the measurement and the set point flow rate agreed to within ± 1.0% in the range of -40 to 50℃.Secondly,the separation,flow and loading characteristics of three cyclone separators(VSCC-A,SCC-A and SCC112) were evaluated using this system.The results showed that the 50% cutoff sizes(D_(50)) of the three cyclones were 2.48,2.47 and 2.44 μm when worked at the manufacturer's recommended flow rates,respectively.The geometric standard deviation(GSD) of the capture efficiency of VSCCA was 1.23,showed a slightly sharper than SCC-A(GSD = 1.27),while the SCC112 did not meet the relevant indicator(GSD = 1.2 ± 0.1) with a GSD = 1.44.The flow rate and loading test had a great effect on D_(50),while the GSD remained almost the same as before.In addition,the maintenance frequency under different air pollution conditions of the cyclones was summarized according to the loading test.     

Sources, distribution, and risk assessment of organochlorine pesticides in Nairobi City, Kenya

The distribution and sources of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in air and surface waters were monitored in Nairobi City using triolein-filled semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs). The SPMDs were extracted by dialysis using n-hexane, followed by cleanup by adsorption chromatography on silica gel cartridges. Sample analysis was done by GC-ECD and confirmed by GC–MS. Separation of means was achieved by analysis of variance, followed by pair-wise comparison using the t-test (p≤ 0.05). The total OCPs ranged between 0.018 – 1.277 ng/m³ in the air and <LOD – 1391.000 ng/m³ in surface waters. Based on the results, the means of Industrial Area, Dandora and Kibera were not significantly different (p≤ 0.05), but were higher (p≤ 0.05) than those of City square and Ngong’ Forest. The results revealed non-significant (p≤ 0.05) contribution of long-range transport to OCP pollution in Nairobi City. This indicated possible presence of point sources of environmental OCPs in the city. The water-air fugacity ratios indicated that volatilization and deposition played an important role in the spatial distribution of OCPs in Nairobi City. This indicated that contaminated surface waters could be major sources of human exposure to OCPs, through volatilization. The incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCR) determined from inhalation of atmospheric OCPs were 2.3745  ×  10^?13 – 1.6845  ×  10^?11 (adult) and 5.5404  ×  10^?13 – 3.9306  ×  10^?11 (child) in the order: Dandora > Kibera > Industrial Area > City Square > Ngong’ Forest. However, these were lower than the USEPA acceptable risks, 10^?6 – 10^?4. This study concluded that atmospheric OCPs did not pose significant cancer risks to the residents.     

长江中下游环境DNA宏条形码生物多样性检测技术初步研究

长江生物多样性在人为影响下面临严重威胁,物种监测是生物多样性保护的基础,为完善长江水生态监测体系,实现高效无损伤的物种监测,在长江中下游干流3个江段（新滩、安庆和芜湖）采集水样,建立长江水样环境DNA宏条形码物种检测体系并评估其有效性.结果表明:①长江中下游环境DNA宏条形码检测到32个物种,包括20种鱼类、1种水生哺乳动物（长江江豚）和11种陆生动物,其中鱼类物种包括鲤形目、鲇形目、鲈形目和鲱形目,其种数占鱼类总种数的比例分别为60%、25%、10%和5%.②长江中下游渔获物中资源量居首位的鲤形目在环境DNA调查中序列数最多,占鱼类总序列的96.2%,其次为鲱形目（占比为3.5%）,鲇形目和鲈形目占比较低,分别为0.2%和0.1%,4个类目序列相对丰度与渔获物种资源量组成差异较大.③环境DNA调查次数约占传统渔获物调查次数的几十至几百分之一,采样时间不足努力量最少的渔获物调查的1%,检测到的鱼类种数为传统调查总数的31%~49%.④安庆采样点位于长江中下游长江江豚密度最高的江段,其环境DNA检出率和序列相对丰度在3个采样点中均最高.研究显示:长江水样环境DNA包含水陆复合生态系统的生物多样性信息,利用水样环境DNA宏条形码可检测不同类群的水生和陆生物种;对于鱼类物种检测,环境DNA宏条形码比传统调查方法效率更高,可对传统调查结果进行补充;环境DNA宏条形码生物多样性检测主要受分子标记体系和核酸序列数据库限制,获取全面的物种多样性和资源量信息需要对检测分析方法进行进一步完善.      

海洋油田水下集输-立管内两相流冲击力预测模型

目的分析两相流引起的冲击力与管道固有频率的流固耦合特性。方法针对海洋油田水下集输-立管系统内严重段塞流这一不稳定流动,通过构建气液两相流固耦合预测模型,分析管内段塞频率、管外涡街频率等流动特性与管道固有频率的关系,获取严重段塞流不同阶段对管道的冲击力特性。结果在水平方向上,管道所受冲击力最大部位为水平管与下倾管连接处,约为703.3 N;在垂直方向上,管道所受冲击力最大部位为下倾管底部与立管连接处,约为-993.5 N。管道所受冲击力与管内两相流引发的压力波动存在明显的一致性,在液塞喷发阶段,会引起整个管道冲击力的剧增。结论严重段塞流同一周期内,不同流动阶段所引发的管道振动特性不同,且不可忽视,在实际海管设计及使用过程中,需要结合管道运行工况对海管振动特性进行综合评估。     

乡村文化记忆资源的“文—旅”协同评价模型与应用——以苏州金庭镇为例

乡村文化记忆资源是乡村“文—旅”协同的链接点。基于文化记忆理论从文化信息层、物质载体层与社会行为层解析其内涵和协同框架,构建“文—旅”空间协调度、文化记忆连续性和旅游市场认同度的协同评价模型,以苏州金庭镇为例进行实证分析。结果表明:（1）时间格局上,旅游景点与生活生产类空间关联性不断提升,与功能象征类空间依赖减弱,与社会表征类和精神意识类空间关系有所降低但维持高度耦合水平。（2）空间格局上,与生活生产类空间呈极核带状格局,与其余三类空间呈现一核多极格局。（3）旅游景点与生活生产类空间协同关系从“文—旅”空间协调度、文化记忆连续性转向旅游市场认同度为主导,其余空间以“文—旅”空间协调度为主导。（4）影响协同关系的机制包括记忆延续与文化交融、空间优化与旅游融合和社会支持与政策保障等。研究结论可为乡村旅游地的文化振兴和文旅融合提供理论指导和应用模式。