Improving the effectiveness of planning EIA (PEIA) in China: Integrating planning and assessment during the preparation of Shenzhen's Master Urban Plan

The enactment and implementation of the 2003 EIA Law in China institutionalised the role of plan environmental impact assessment (PEIA). While the philosophy, methodology and mechanisms of PEIA have gradually permeated through the various levels of government with a positive effect on the process and outcome of urban planning, only a few cities in China have so far carried out PEIA as a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)-type procedure. One such case is the southern city of Shenzhen. During the past three decades, Shenzhen has grown from a small town to a large and booming city as China has successfully and rapidly developed its economy by adopting the “reform and open door” policy. In response to the challenges arising from the generally divergent processes of rapid urbanisation, economic transformation and environment protection, Shenzhen has incrementally adopted the SEA concept in developing the city's Master Urban Plan. As such, this paper reviews the effectiveness of PEIA in three ways:

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  as a tool and process for achieving more sustainable and strategic planning;

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  to determine the level of integration of SEA within the planning system; and,

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  its effectiveness vis-à-vis implementation.

The implementation of PEIA within Shenzhen's Master Urban Plan offers important insights into the emergence of innovative practices in undertaking PEIA as well as theoretical contributions to the field, especially in exploring the relationship between PEIA and SEA and highlighting the central role of local governing institutions in SEA development.     

低碳经济下洛阳市生态城市规划研究

"十三五"时期是推动城市向协调、开放、绿色、环保发展的新时期,这对重工业发达的洛阳来说是一个承前启后的时期.近些年来,洛阳市在城市化进程中所产生的城市生态环境问题日益突出.为了适应新时期的发展,文章对当前洛阳市生态城市规划与已有城市规划体系间如何实现有机融合做出思考,指出洛阳市城市规划必须走低碳经济之路,强调在城乡规划,绿色公共交通网络建立,污水管道规划,绿地规划等四个方面树立生态环境标准从而有效实现洛阳市生态城市规划.     

内蒙古自治区环境监管能力建设“十一五”规划中期评估

本文依据《关于报送国家环境监管能力建设“十一五”规划中期评估有关情况的通知》的精神和要求,从环境监测预警体系、环境执法监督体系与环境管理基础设施与条件三个方面评估了我区环境监管能力建设在“十一五”规划实施以来的建设情况。分析得出规划实施过程中存在的4个方面的问题：①环境监管能力建设资金投入仍然不足;②环境管理基础条件远远跟不上步伐;③环境监管人员较少,人才短缺;④标准化达标建设与规划目标差距较大。针对规划实施过程中存在的问题,,本文就规划后续实施初步提出提出4点建议：①争取资金,落实职能;②全面推进,重点先行;③落实责任,加强培训;④加强环境基础能力建设,作为“十二五”规划重点。     

探索“十二五”地方环境保护标准发展之路

从北京、山东、广东等主要省市地方环境标准现状与背景情况分析入手,总结了地方标准的工作难点及存在问题。随后,从区域联防联控协调发展、把握重点环境问题、提升地方标准职能和构建地方环境保护标准体系四个方面讨论了“十二五”时期地方标准的发展思路。     

沈阳市"十二五"环境保护研究

"十二五"期间,沈阳市环境保护工作面临经济社会高速发展,资源能源消耗量不断增加,污染减排压力越来越大,环境质量功能区达标困难重重,农村环境问题日益显现,境外环境影响和区域性污染日益增加等多重压力,该期间的主要环境保护目标是实现生态市建设和国家环境建设样板城建设目标,对此环境保护的主要措施是优化发展、源头控制、未端治理、...     

中国1998年度环境质量状况

对我国１９９８年度的环境空气质量,酸雨,主要流域水质,近岸域海水水质,地下水水位与水质,城市声环境、射环境质量,典型区域生态环境的状况进行了综述了与分析,指出了我国的环境污染问题主要是城市空气污染,地面水体污染和城市噪声污染。     

东钱湖浮游生物调查以及水质生态学评价

浮游生物的群落组成、细胞密度、优势种群等与水体的营养程度密切相关,是水质污染及营养水平的重要标志.为了了解东钱湖的水质状况,于2007年3月、7月和11月对该湖泊的水质和浮游生物分布进行了调查.结果表明,东钱湖综合营养状态指数(TIL)在38～55之间,属于中～富营养化水平.浮游植物密度为4.65×104～6.07×106个/升,7月大于3月和11月.浮游植物以蓝藻为主,主要优势种为小席藻,螺旋藻等富营养化指示种.从多样性指数和均匀性指数分析来看,东钱湖水质属于中度～重度污染,这与采用相关加权综合营养状态指数法的评价结果一致.浮游动物密度为44～333个/升,3月份主要优势种为长肢多肢轮虫和壶状臂尾轮虫,7月份优势种群为晶囊轮虫和角突臂尾轮虫,这几种轮虫为富营养化指示种.     

Hierarchical Bayesian Spatial Models for Multispecies Conservation Planning and Monitoring

Abstract: Biologists who develop and apply habitat models are often familiar with the statistical challenges posed by their data's spatial structure but are unsure of whether the use of complex spatial models will increase the utility of model results in planning. We compared the relative performance of nonspatial and hierarchical Bayesian spatial models for three vertebrate and invertebrate taxa of conservation concern (Church's sideband snails [Monadenia churchi], red tree voles [Arborimus longicaudus], and Pacific fishers [Martes pennanti pacifica]) that provide examples of a range of distributional extents and dispersal abilities. We used presence–absence data derived from regional monitoring programs to develop models with both landscape and site‐level environmental covariates. We used Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms and a conditional autoregressive or intrinsic conditional autoregressive model framework to fit spatial models. The fit of Bayesian spatial models was between 35 and 55% better than the fit of nonspatial analogue models. Bayesian spatial models outperformed analogous models developed with maximum entropy (Maxent) methods. Although the best spatial and nonspatial models included similar environmental variables, spatial models provided estimates of residual spatial effects that suggested how ecological processes might structure distribution patterns. Spatial models built from presence–absence data improved fit most for localized endemic species with ranges constrained by poorly known biogeographic factors and for widely distributed species suspected to be strongly affected by unmeasured environmental variables or population processes. By treating spatial effects as a variable of interest rather than a nuisance, hierarchical Bayesian spatial models, especially when they are based on a common broad‐scale spatial lattice (here the national Forest Inventory and Analysis grid of 24 km² hexagons), can increase the relevance of habitat models to multispecies conservation planning.     

安徽省“十三五”时期生态环境质量变化特征

在全面分析安徽省生态环境监测数据的基础上,总结了"十三五"时期安徽省生态环境质量变化特征和主要环境问题,提出相应的对策建议。结果表明:"十三五"期间,安徽省生态环境质量全面好转,2020年全省优良天数比例为82.9%,比"十二五"末上升2.0百分点。PM_2.5平均质量浓度为39 μg/m³,比"十二五"末下降25.0%。地表水水质由轻度污染转为良好,全面消除劣Ⅴ类断面。酸雨污染持续减轻。但全省生态环境形势依旧严峻,PM_2.5和O₃复合型污染特征越发明显,部分河流、湖库污染依然存在,巢湖富营养化问题未得到根本解决,农村地下饮用水水源地及县域地表水水质达标率较低,局部区域存在土壤污染问题,地下水以Ⅳ类水质为主。生态环境质量现状与人民对美好生态环境的需求,社会经济发展与环境承载能力之间的矛盾仍然存在。生态环境污染治理已进入攻坚期,环境质量持续改善的难度加大。     

The National Falls Free™ Initiative, working collaboratively to affect change

Introduction

Since 2004 the National Council on Aging (NCOA) has been working in collaboration with a growing number of national, state, and local organizations through the Falls Free^© Initiative to address the growing public health issue of falls and fall-related injuries among older adults. Through collaborative leadership, evidence-based interventions, practical lifestyle adjustments, and community partnerships we are working to reduce the number of older adult falls.

Impact on industry

The many activities of the national and state coalitions have brought recognition to the issue of fall prevention, education, and training to providers and greater investment in programs and services resulting in tremendous momentum and community activism. While we have yet to realize an impact on rates of falls, this strategic investment in building the infrastructure needed to affect change is the first step toward reducing the growing number of falls among older adults.