Mitigating the Effect of Development on Bats in England with Derogation Licensing

The Convention on Biological Diversity has catalyzed worldwide awareness of threats to biological diversity and stimulated global conservation strategies. These have led to national and international legislation and have generated debate about the most effective conservation actions. Under the EU Habitats Directive, all member states are obliged to establish a system for strict protection of species listed in Annex IV(a), which includes all bats. In England, this obligation has resulted in legislation that allows for derogation from strict protection under license, provided activities are undertaken to mitigate any potential negative effects on bat numbers. We used an evidence‐based approach to assess the cost‐effectiveness of mitigation strategies and the English bat‐derogation licensing process as a whole. We analyzed data from 389 bat derogation licenses issued in England from 2003 to 2005 relating to 1776 roosts and 15 species to determine the nature and extent of development and mitigation activities and their effects on bats. Overall the effects of licensed activities on roosts were negative. Despite the level of protection afforded to bats, the majority (68%) of roosts for which derogation licenses were issued were destroyed. There were species‐specific differences in the probability of roosts being destroyed, and impacts on roosts did not reflect a species’ conservation status. Information provided by licensees was inadequate and inconsistent. Most licensees (67%) failed to submit postdevelopment reports, and postdevelopment monitoring was conducted at only 19% of sites. Despite a minimum of £4.13 million spent on mitigation structures for bats from 2003 to 2005, it was unclear whether the licensing process meets EU obligations. On the basis of our results, we believe there is a need to overhaul the licensing process, to establish a comprehensive, standardized postdevelopment monitoring system, and to demonstrate that mitigation is commensurate with Britain's legal obligations. Mitigando el Efecto del Desarrollo sobre los Murciélagos en Inglaterra con Licencias de Derogación     

Mitigation of hydrogen fluoride aerosols by dry powders

Fluid bed tests were used to determine overall reaction rates for eight different dry powders of low hazard and toxicity before and after reaction with HF. In flow chamber tests, a representative oxide, hydroxide and carbonate were used to measure the efficiency of mitigation of an HF aerosol cloud. The results show that dry powders provide a valid alternative to water spray mitigation. Powder efficiencies are higher than water efficiencies at constant weight ratio.

At present, no attempt has been made to provide any technical designs or layouts for powder mitigation systems. However, the technology for smaller systems is available through manufacturers of dry powder chemical fire extinguisher equipment. When these powders are kept dry and under nitrogen atmosphere, a shelf life of several years can be expected.     

The AVI project: A bibliographical and archive inventory of landslides and floods in Italy

The AVI project was commissioned by the Minister of Civil Protection to the National Group for Prevention of Hydrogeologic Hazards to complete an inventory of areas historically affected by landslides and floods in Italy. More than 300 people, divided into 15 research teams and two support groups, worked for one year on the project. Twenty-two journals were systematically searched for the period 1918–1990, 350,000 newspaper issues were screened, and 39,953 articles were collected. About 150 experts on mass movement and floods were interviewed and 1482 published and unpublished technical and scientific reports were reviewed. The results of the AVI project, in spite of the limitations, represent the most comprehensive archiving of mass movement and floods ever prepared in Italy. The type and quality of the information collected and the methodologies and techniques used to make the inventory are discussed. Possible applications and future developments are also presented.     

江苏省近40年洪涝灾害概况及防洪对策

本文分析了江苏省４０ａ来洪涝灾害概况及１９９１年特大洪涝受灾情况。针对江苏实际，提出了减灾对策。     

洪水灾害损失信息系统—FLOODIS系统设计

本文借助遥感技术，设计出一个专题地理信息系统一洪灾损失信息系统ＦＬＯＯＤＩＳ，为损失评估模型提供评估区域洪水灾害损失的各种自然地理和社会经济信息以及经系统内专家模块处理后的专题信息，同时对其计算结果进行多种方式输出。     

数据库语言在震害预测中的应用

震害预测的软件程序一般都是基于结构分析的原理，大都采用ＦＯＲＴＲＡＮ语言来编写，而震害预测工作中又大量用到分组和排序，这又是数据库语言的特长。本文介绍了在震害预测工作中应用数据库语言的一些体会，主要讨论了两种语言的接口问题。     

论减灾效益的显现类型与减灾心理

减灾效益的获得离不开民众的参与,而其参与意识又与减灾效益的可见度有关。减灾效益越能迅速、明确地被人们见到或预见到,人们的减灾参与意识越高。在客观现实中,减灾效益的显现时间具有各种类型,而人们主观意识中“见”到的类型却又可能有质的差异。本文划分了减灾效益的显现类型并提出与论述了与其有关的一些问题,分析了其与主观意识之间的复杂关系,以及影响人们的减灾参与心理的作用机制。进而探讨了如何通过这些关系、机制的认识与把握,效益意识引导,对减灾见效时间意识的人为控制等途径提高民众的减灾参与意识与减灾效益。     

Environmental considerations for levees and floodwalls

Levees and floodwalls are used extensively throughout the United States for flood control. Levee projects often lack ecological, recreational, and aesthetic values, except for incidental fish and wildlife benefits derived from borrow pits and recreational facilities found in some urban settings. In recent years increased environmental concern within construction agencies and greater responsiveness to public opinion have resulted in increasing numbers of levee projects designed, built, and maintained with environmental objectives in mind. This paper reviews environmental concepts successfully employed on levee projects constructed in recent years by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Some of the most innovative concepts are described and illustrated and design considerations are discussed.     

城市洪涝灾害的成灾模式初步分析

城市是一个通过水、电、气、交通、通讯、计算机网络等国民经济命脉系统联系在一起的集政治、经济、文化、外交等社会活动中心于一体的人口资产密集区。我国目前正处于经济和城市化高速发展时期,城市在发展的同时深刻地改变了当地自然环境,增加了洪涝灾害发生的频率,城市洪涝灾害损失也以前所未有的速度增长,城市洪涝灾害损失的基本模式,除了造成人员伤亡、建筑物和物资直接受损毁外,更在于命脉系统因灾瘫痪导致社会经济活动中断;地下设施迅速发展加重了洪涝灾害风险;建筑物内部财产损失比重增加;以及由洪涝灾害促使持续发展受阻和环境破坏等问题。     

国外减轻城市洪涝灾害新设施发展综述

近二十多年国外在减轻城市洪涝灾害设施方面发展很快,建造了各种新型的抑制暴雨径流的设施,可分为流域雨水贮留设施和流域雨水渗透设施两大类,本文主要介绍目前国外已经建成和计划兴建的这些设施的型式、规划设计步骤、引起的问题和管理维护方法,以及在我国发展这些设施的必要和可能。