Alternative Non-market Value-Elicitation Methods: Are the Underlying Preferences the Same?

We advocate a more formal structural approach for comparing WTP for non-market or pre-test-market goods conveyed by fundamentally different preference elicitation mechanisms. Seven independent samples of respondents were asked to value the identical good. Elicitation methods include one actual purchase and six widely used hypothetical choice formats. Using a common underlying indirect utility function (and stochastic structure) allows data for different elicitation methods to be used independently, compared pair-wise (as in much of the earlier literature) or pooled across all samples in one unified model with heteroscedasticity across elicitation methods. Our differences in estimated WTP for the individual models are typical of earlier findings. However, pooled-data models that allow for heteroscedasticity reveal that while there are substantial differences in the amount of noise in the different samples, a common underlying systematic component of the preference structure cannot be rejected for at least four (and possibly five) of these seven elicitation methods.     

Sensitivity of Systematic Reserve Selection to Decisions about Scale, Biological Data, and Targets: Case Study from Southern British Columbia

Abstract:  The identification of conservation areas based on systematic reserve-selection algorithms requires decisions related to both spatial and ecological scale. These decisions may affect the distribution and number of sites considered priorities for conservation within a region. We explored the sensitivity of systematic reserve selection by altering values of three essential variables. We used a 1:20,000–scale terrestrial ecosystem map and habitat suitability data for 29 threatened vertebrate species in the Okanagan region of British Columbia, Canada. To these data we applied a reserve-selection algorithm to select conservation sites while altering selection unit size and shape, features of biodiversity (i.e., vertebrate species), and area conservation targets for each biodiversity feature. The spatial similarity, or percentage overlap, of selected sets of conservation sites identified (1) with different selection units was ≤40%, (2) with different biodiversity features was 59%, and (3) with different conservation targets was ≥94%. Because any selected set of sites is only one of many possible sets, we also compared the conservation value (irreplaceability) of all sites in the region for each variation of the data. The correlations of irreplaceability were weak for different selection units (0.23 ≤ r ≤ 0.67), strong for different biodiversity features ( r = 0.84), and mixed for different conservation targets ( r = 0.16; 0.16; 1.00). Because of the low congruence of selected sites and weak correlations of irreplaceability for different selection units, recommendations from studies that have been applied at only one spatial scale must be considered cautiously.     

Linking on-farm dairy management practices to storm-flow fecal coliform loading for California coastal watersheds

How and where to improve water quality within an agricultural watershed requires data at a spatial scale that corresponds with individual management decision units on an agricultural operation. This is particularly true in the context of water quality regulations, such as Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), that identify agriculture as one source of non-point source pollution through larger tributary watershed scale and above and below water quality investigations. We have conducted a systems approach study of 10 coastal dairies and ranches to document fecal coliform concentration and loading to surface waters at the management decision unit scale. Water quality samples were collected on a storm event basis from loading units that included: manure management systems; gutters; storm drains; pastures; and corrals and lots. In addition, in-stream samples were collected above and below the dairy facilities and from a control watershed, managed for light grazing and without a dairy facility or human residence and corresponding septic system. Samples were analyzed for fecal coliform concentration by membrane filtration. Instantaneous discharge was measured for each collected sample. Storm runoff was also calculated using the curve number method (SCS, 1985). Results for a representative dairy as well as the entire 10 dairy data set are presented. Fecal coliform concentrations demonstrate high variability both within and between loading units. Fecal coliform concentrations for pastures range from 206 to 2,288,888 cfu/100 ml and for lots from 1,933 to 166,105,000 cfu/100 ml. Mean concentrations for pastures and lots are 121,298 (SE=62,222) and 3,155,584 (SE=1,902,713) cfu/100 ml, respectively. Fecal coliform load from units of concentrated animals and manure are significantly more than units such as pastures while storm flow amounts were significantly less. Compared with results from earlier tributary scale studies in the watershed, this systems approach has generatedwater quality data that is beneficial for management decisions because of its scale and representation of current management activities. These results are facilitating on-farm changes through the cooperative efforts of dairy managers, regulatory agency staff, and sources of technical and financial assistance.     

地铁十字换乘车站全尺寸实验研究:I.站厅火灾

为了全面了解在不同通风模式下地铁十字换乘车站站厅火灾发展规律,通过在8A编组地铁十字换乘车站公共站厅层开展1 MW规模的全尺寸火灾实验,对不同通风模式下换乘地铁车站站厅层公共区火灾场景下的烟气前锋到达时间、烟气扩散与沉降范围和楼扶梯处温度等参数进行分析研究。研究结果表明:在换乘线路A线站厅层发生火灾时,受到出入口自然风以及站厅层空间结构的影响,站厅内形成了由站厅北侧向南侧方向的风压,有效抑制了烟气向B线站厅扩散;通风排烟系统能够有效降低烟气扩散速率,控制烟气扩散范围和沉降高度;针对此类结构车站站厅的防排烟设计,应综合考虑通风、出入口位置和空间构筑物对火灾烟气扩散的影响,确保火灾过程中人员疏散路径和楼扶梯处烟气层高度和烟气温度处于安全水平。     

“中尺度系统串”和洪涝的关系

在本文中，我们引入了“中尺度系统串”的概念，并通过７个例证讨论了它与洪涝之间的关系。     

EMPHASIS ON DISTRIBUTION: STRATEGIES FOR SMALL SCALE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN THAILAND1

This paper discusses strategies for the development of water resources, emphasizing the delivery of reliable water supplies, for both domestic and production purposes, to every village and to every farmer. This necessitates a shift of emphasis from the construction of large storage reservoirs to the construction, operation, and maintenance of water distribution systems capable of reaching the largest number of farms, and a shift from projects that benefit the few, to projects that benefit the many. Water distribution in this context takes on three interrelated meanings: a geographical meaning, a technical meaning, and an economic meaning. The geographical meaning focuses on the spatial distribution of the recipient population as a key to identifying the proper distribution of water projects in physical space. The technical meaning relates to the physical distribution of water through canal systems to the farmers' fields. The economic meaning refers to the equitable distribution of benefits from water projects. The paper provides an illustration of the need for an emphasis on distribution, using the state of development of water resources in northeast Thailand as an example, with a proposed program for the further development of these resources. The northeast, the poorest region in the country, has been recognized by the Government of Thailand as a priority area for accelerated regional development efforts.     

Environmental assessment of agriculture at a regional scale in the Pampas of Argentina

Governments need good information to design policies. However, inthe Argentine Pampas there are neither sufficient knowledge on environmental issues, nor clear perception of environmental alterations across space and time. The general objective of this work was to provide decision makers with a scientifically sound set of indicators aiming at the assessment of current status andfuture trends in the rural environment of this sensitiveregion. As driving criteria to select indicators, weassumed that they had to be sound, simple to calculate,easy to understand, and easily applicable by decision makers. They are related closely to significantecological structures and functions. Twelve basicindicators were identified: (1) land use, (2) fossil energyuse, (3) fossil energy use efficiency, (4) nitrogen (N)balance, (5) phosphorus (P) balance, (6) nitrogencontamination risk, (7) phosphorus contamination risk, (8) pesticide contamination, (9) soil erosion risk, (10) habitatintervention, (11) changes in soil carbon stock, and (12) balance of greenhouse gases. Indicators were geographicallyreferenced using a geographic information system (GIS). Thestrength of this study is not in the absolute value ofenvironmental indicators, but rather in theconceptualization of indicator and the identification ofchanging patterns, gradients and trends in space and time.According to our results, we can not definitely say thatagriculture in the Pampas, as a whole, tends to besustainable or not. While some indicators tend to improve,others keep stable, and the rest worsen. The relative importance among indicators must also be considered. The indicators that showed a negative net change are key to the identification of critical problems that will require special attention in the close future.     

The importance of considering spatial attributes in evaluating estuarine habitat condition: the South Carolina experience

The South Carolina Estuarine and Coastal Assessment Program (SCECAP) was initiated in 1999 to assess the condition of the state's coastal habitats using multiple measures of water quality, sediment quality, and biological condition. Sampling was subsequently expanded to include components required for the National Coastal Assessment (Coastal 2000) Program. Habitats are classified as either tidal creeks (<#60; 100 meters in width) or larger open water bodies. Approximately 30 sites are sampled within each habitat during the summer months using a probability-based random sampling design. Results obtained from the first two years of sampling documented significant differences in several water quality parameters (DO, salinity, pH, turbidity, fecal coliform bacteria, total nitrogen, TKN, total phosphorus) and biological measures (chlorophyll-a, finfish and crustacean abundance and biomass and a number of benthic species) between the tidal creek and open water habitats. These differences highlight the value of partitioning shallow water habitats separately from the larger open water bodies traditionally sampled in estuarine monitoring programs, especially since tidal creeks serve as critical nursery areas for many species. Based on the differences observed, there is a clear need to identify different physical and biological thresholds for evaluating the condition of each habitat type.     

中国土地流转的时空演变特征及影响因素研究

为了在全国尺度上全面了解中国的土地流转发展状况及其影响因素,论文在详细分析中国土地流转时空演变特征的基础上,利用因子分析方法在省级尺度对影响土地流转的因素进行了归纳和提取。结果表明：1）当前中国土地流转发展迅速,2007—2015年,中国土地流转率由5.2%增至33.3%。但土地流转程度区域差异明显,南部与西部地区流转较慢,规模较小,平原地区流转较快,规模较大。2）土地流转对规模经营（经营规模>3.33 hm²）的促进效果尚不明显,中国规模经营比例仍然偏低,经营规模在3.33 hm²以上的农户仅有1.42%。3）土地资源禀赋、经济发展水平、流转交易成本、地权稳定程度、农户流转意愿和交通通达性等方面因素是影响中国土地流转发展的主要因素。4）土地流转条件成熟程度存在区域差异,黑龙江、内蒙古、吉林最高,贵州、云南、广西最低。政策启示是：交易成本过高阻碍了土地流转效果的实现,土地细碎化是导致交易成本增加的重要原因,进行农地制度改革,推动农地承包权在一定区域范围内流转,可以促进细碎地块的集中,有效降低流转的交易成本,有效地提高农户的耕地经营规模。同时,在制定政策推动土地流转时,还应重视土地流转条件成熟程度和土地流转主要限制因素的区域差异,分区制定政策解决影响土地流转的障碍,鼓励适合当地的适度规模经营。     

景观生态学在国土空间治理中的应用

鉴于当前国土空间治理面临复杂的人类活动与自然环境相互作用而产生的生态风险与空间利用问题,基于景观生态学学科特质与生态文明建设要求,对当前国土空间治理工作进行梳理,归纳了明确的生态系统服务定位、高效的建成空间结构、适宜且多样的产业发展支撑、多等级的生态系统服务与安全保障等国土空间治理需求。同时,整合区域时空信息的理论基础与分析手段,提出景观生态学在国土空间治理中应落脚于：（1）识别并统一不同空间尺度的治理单元;（2）辨析并评估景观功能的空间分异;（3）构建基于生态风险防范的区域景观格局; （4）识别集约高效的城乡协调发展格局;（5）提出尺度联系的绿色发展架构;（6）明晰多级多样的生态保障方案。