WATER-BASED ACTIVITY INVOLVEMENT FOR RECREATION CONSUMERS AT STATE,FEDERAL, LOCAL,OR PRIVATE FACILITIES1

ABSTRACT: The water-based activity involvement of participants at state and federal and local and private facilities identified by using participation rate groups is examined. No differences between participant groups within activities based on socio-economic characteristics were found. However, groups of highly active individuals were identified at both types of properties. It is suggested that social action system variables be added to traditional social aggregate variables to assist the understanding of leisure involvement.     

论区域污染治理的经济机制

本文分析了我国区域环境保护面临的困难,指出了造成这些困难的原因主要是地方政府卷入企业过深、区域经济结构中低水平企业比重过大、生产和消费活动中环境滥用普遍等,并提出了在承认环境价值的条件下,建立和完善区域间和区域内环境保护的经济机制的建议。     

The Influence of Synoptic-scale Air Flow and Local Circulation on the Dust Layer Height in the North of the Taklimakan Desert

The present study investigates the influences of synoptic-scale air flows and local wind circulations on the dust layer height (DLH) in the Taklimakan Desert, based on lidar observations performed in the north of the desert in March 2003. The DLH fluctuates approximately every three days between 2500 m (above sea level) and 5000 m, including diurnal variations. Meteorological analyses and numerical simulations show that the three-day fluctuation of DLH corresponds with variations in synoptic-scale air flows over the Taklimakan Desert, and the diurnal variations are linked to downdrafts and updrafts that are formed over the north of the desert as part of local circulations. When strong northerly winds prevail in the upper troposphere and a developed valley wind blows toward the Tienshan Mountains in the lower troposphere, the downdrafts strengthen in the middle troposphere over the north of the desert, lowering the DLH to about 2500 m. In contrast, the DLH rises to about 5000 m when the updrafts develop between strong southerly winds in the upper troposphere and a developed mountain wind blowing from the Tienshan Mountains. Simulations for the local circulation behavior without the presence of the Tienshan Mountains demonstrate that the valley and mountain winds on the southern slope of the Tienshan Mountains control the intensity of the downdrafts and updrafts, thereby influencing the DLH over the north of the Taklimakan Desert.     

Residential environmental evaluation of local cities considering regional characteristic and personal residential preference-a case study of Saga City, Japan

Questionnaire surveys and subjective evaluations on residential environment were performed in order to grasp the main factors of residential environment of small local cities. The suitable evaluation index system was established, and the regional residential environment characteristics and personal residential preference types were analyzed, so that their influence on residential environment evaluation could be grasped. The results can be applied to the residential environment planning, construction and monitoring of local cities.     

Interrupting the balance: reconsidering the complexities of conflict in South Sudan

By the start of 2014, violent conflict had erupted across much of South Sudan following initial violence in Juba on 15 December 2013. The speed with which the fighting has spread raises questions regarding the impact of national‐level politics on violence at the local level. This article develops a framework in which violent conflict can be comprehended as a response to the interruption of the negotiation of the balance of power between groups; the negotiation is interrupted when that balance tips in favour of one group, such as through changes in the national political market or government reforms. The article provides two cases studies of attempts to strengthen the state that inadvertently interrupted local power relations between groups. In response, the groups engaged in violent conflict to reinstate a balance of power. Both examples involve conflict among Dinka groups from 2005 to 2008.     

Emergency preparedness consultants at the local government level: the Israeli experience

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Municipal Emergency Consultation project in eight Israeli local authorities. The initiative centres on the appointment of independent emergency preparedness consultants entrusted with tailoring an emergency preparedness package to suit the specific needs of each locality. Regarding emergency preparedness improvements, in all of the municipalities examined, a concept of municipal emergency operation was consolidated and the derived emergency plan tested. Emergency work processes were structured and service‐level agreements reached between municipality departments. Where necessary, a‐linear patterns of municipal functioning in an emergency were established. Concerning a ‘spillover’ of emergency preparedness improvements into routine operations, and a ‘spillover’ of routine management improvements into local emergency preparedness, two municipalities near Gaza, which typically function in an emergency routine, saw a significant ‘spillover’ of emergency preparedness into routine functioning. In other localities, local managers chose to improve a number of municipal structures and procedures in times of routine functioning, which are also related to the functioning of the municipality during an emergency.     

地方政府土地违法:财政激励还是引资激励?

地方政府的土地利用行为及动机是理解我国土地违法问题的关键。现有研究重点关注了地方政府土地违法的财政激励而忽视了引资激励,无法解释地方土地违法中涉及大量工业用地的现象。本文立足现行的分税制及官员晋升考核体制,从理论上分析了财政激励和引资激励对地方政府土地违法行为的影响及其差异,并据此提出研究假说:(1)财政激励和引资激励都是地方政府土地违法的重要驱动因素。(2)地方政府在土地财政和土地引资上的目的不同导致二者的违法收益及风险存在差异,这使得引资激励的驱动作用可能更强。然后,基于2008—2014年的省际面板数据,构建计量模型对研究假说进行了实证检验,结果表明:在全国层面,财政激励和引资激励都对地方政府的土地违法行为存在显著正向影响,且后者的作用更强。在东、中、西部的区域层面,东、中部地区的土地违法主要受引资激励影响,财政激励的作用并不显著;而西部地区的土地违法则受财政激励和引资激励的共同影响,且后者的作用更强。这一结果意味着,相对于财政激励,引资激励是驱使地方政府土地违法的更重要因素。由此,在土地违法问题的治理上,除了针对地方政府面临的财政激励进行财政体制改革,更重要的是针对引资激励开展官员绩效考核改革。     

农田生态补偿横向财政转移支付额度研究——基于选择实验法的生态外溢视角

农田生态补偿横向财政转移支付是调整农田保护和农地发展之间利益关系的重要环境经济政策,对于实现区域生态环境保护和经济发展之间的相协调具有重要意义。以武汉城市圈为例证,基于生态外溢的视角,运用选择实验法计算基于市民支付意愿的农田生态补偿标准,并修正得到武汉城市圈42个县(市、区)的农田生态补偿横向财政转移支付标准介于683.10~6 169.60元/hm~2之间。进一步依据粮食安全法将武汉城市圈42个县(市、区)划分为17个支付区和25个受偿区,得到各县(市、区)的农田生态补偿横向财政转移支付面积。最后依据农田生态补偿横向财政转移支付标准和农田生态补偿横向财政转移支付面积计算出武汉城市圈地方政府县(市、区)间农田生态补偿横向财政转移支付额度的绝对值总和为44.03亿元。研究结果可为农田生态补偿横向财政转移支付体系的构建提供初步的政策建议。     

The evolving local social contract for managing climate and disaster risk in Vietnam

How do disasters shape local government legitimacy in relation to managing climate‐ and disaster‐related risks? This paper looks at how local authorities in Central Vietnam perceive their social contract for risk reduction, including the partial merging of responsibilities for disaster risk management with new plans for and investments in climate change adaptation and broader socioeconomic development. The findings indicate that extreme floods and storms constitute critical junctures that stimulate genuine institutional change. Local officials are proud of their strengthened role in disaster response and they are eager to boost investment in infrastructure. They have struggled to reinforce their legitimacy among their constituents, but given the shifting roles of the state, private sector, and civil society, and the undiminished emphasis on high‐risk development models, their responsibilities for responding to emerging climate change scenarios are increasingly nebulous. The past basis for legitimacy is no longer valid, but tomorrow's social contract is not yet defined.     

Protected areas and deforestation: new results from high‐resolution panel data

This paper investigates the effectiveness of protected areas in slowing tropical forest clearing in 64 countries in Asia/Pacific, Africa and Latin America during the period of 2001–2012 by comparing deforestation rates inside and within 10 km outside of the boundaries of protected areas. Annual time series of these deforestation rates were constructed from recently published high‐resolution data on forest clearing from Hansen et al. (2013). For 4,028 parks, panel estimation based on a variety of park characteristics was conducted to test if deforestation was lower in protected areas because of their protected status, or if other factors explained the difference. From a sample of 726 parks established since 2002, a test was also conducted to investigate the effect of park establishment on protection. Findings suggest park size, national park status and management by indigenous people all are significantly associated with effective protection across regions. For the Asia/Pacific region, the test offers compelling evidence that park establishment has a near‐immediate and powerful effect.