Selecting small reserves in a human-dominated landscape: a case study of Hong Kong, China

In this case study of a degraded tropical landscape, we examine how the protected area system in Hong Kong, China, should be modified to improve its efficiency in protecting the surprisingly rich biota. The challenge lies in the fine scale of site selection, and the absence of a core area with high species richness and rarity. Site selection was first conducted in 1 km grid units by selecting hotspots and irreplaceable sites using field records for eight groups of species (amphibians, reptiles, mammals, breeding birds, ants, butterflies, dragonflies and rare vascular plants). The habitats of conservation value within the selected grid units were then delineated on the basis of expert knowledge. Recommendations for increasing the total existing protected area by 6% (i.e. an additional 2% of Hong Kong's total land area) were submitted to the Government in August 2000. To test the robustness of the results, site selection was repeated in 2001 using updated data and different selection methods. The numbers of squares selected by complementarity-based algorithms were similar to those by the hotspots and irreplaceable site method. Sites selected for rare species were very sensitive to data completeness, implying that the application of complementarity-based algorithms at fine scales might be limited.     

Troubles on the way: An analysis of the challenges faced by multi-stakeholder platforms

Multi‐stakeholder platforms (MSPs) have been widely promoted as a promising means of resolving conflicts over natural resources, first in developed countries and, more recently, as a global good practice. However, many MSPs have been implemented in an unfavourable context — primarily of social inequities — and have not met initial high expectations. The article analyzes the challenges MSPs face in an unfavourable context, and identifies five main issues:

• ? Power relationships;
• ? Platform composition;
• ? Stakeholder representation and capacity to participate meaningfully in the debates;
• ? Decision‐making power and mechanisms; and finally
• ? Cost of setting up an MSP.

The analysis is mainly based on two case studies of MSPs set up under inauspicious conditions. The first focuses on water user associations in South Africa, the second on a negotiation platform set up to resolve conflicts over a water and sanitation project in Bolivia. It is argued that MSPs should be seen less as an ideal communication process, and more as a negotiation process — always imperfect — but where positive outcomes may nevertheless outweigh negative ones, if and when the above‐mentioned issues are adequately taken into account.     

韩国绿色种养循环农业发展概况与经验启示

联合国将碳中和视为当今世界最为紧迫的任务,而农业是温室气体排放最多的产业之一,各国相继出台政策积极开展农业农村减排工作。韩国自2012年开始逐渐减少海洋粪污排泄量,并大力实行绿色种养循环农业,解决本国内畜禽粪污问题。韩国作为中国的重要海上邻国,不论是从研究借鉴角度抑或生态系统共享角度,了解其环境保护政策都是十分必要的。本文从韩国实施的主要政策、各地区农地养分收支现状、代表性运营模式案例、政策关注焦点等方面介绍韩国绿色种养循环农业的发展概况,结合中国绿色种养循环农业现状开展研究。提出三点政策建议：第一,进一步完善畜禽粪污资源化利用机具补贴辅助管理系统,提高系统在农户中的普及率;第二,提高全民环保意识的同时,政府的角色不应局限自上而下的引导型,应该积极促进种植户和养殖户间的自发组织,并大力提倡吸纳社会资本,集结社会各方力量;第三,促进绿色种养循环农业产品的商品化和品牌化,从而调动农户参与绿色种养循环农业的积极性。     

华南地区大气传输过程中黑碳的湿清除比例及其来源的影响

黑碳(black carbon,BC)的湿清除对其大气寿命和环境气候效应的评估至关重要。本研究使用黑碳仪(Aethalometer,AE-33)在南岭地区对BC开展了三次观测,结合指数衰减方程评估了传输过程中累计降雨量(accumulated precipitation along the trajectory,APT)对华南地区BC传输效率的影响。此外,将BC来源区分为生物质燃烧源(biomass burning,BB)和化石燃料燃烧源(fossil fuel burning,FF),探讨了不同排放源BC湿清除比例(wet scavenging ratio,WSR)的差异。结果表明：基于指数衰减方程结果和W_SR的结果指出华南地区的BC受到湿清除的影响要明显大于日韩等偏远地区,可能反映了更高拟合的BC老化程度。A_PT在5—30 mm范围内的增加对BC的湿清除有显著的影响。不同来源BC的W_SR存在显著差异：BC_BB的W_SR(44%—62%)高于BC_FF(35...     

南海北部海域油气勘探保障建设选址适宜性研究

为分析南海北部海域油气勘探保障建设选址的适宜性,在广泛研究备选区特征资料的基础上,基于层次分析法(Analytic Hierarchy Process, AHP)原理,以自然环境因素、开发环境因素、基础设施与投资情况以及其他因素作为一级评判准则,建立了包括12项二级评判准则的递进层次结构模型,并以永兴岛、赵述岛和晋卿岛作为3个假定备选区,来验证分析评价模型的有效性和可靠性。AHP评判结果显示,3个备选区的整体优劣指数依次为0.587 1, 0.212 1, 0.200 8;AHP模型的一致性比例CR值为0.020 3。通过分析和筛选影响远海油气勘探保障建设的选址因子,构建基于AHP原理的选址评价模型,可用于分析评价南海北部岛礁油气勘探保障建设选址的适宜性。     

Occurrence, bioaccumulation and potential sources of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in typical freshwater cultured fish ponds of South China

To determine the potential input sources of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) to fish farming environments in South China, samples of seven various environmental matrices were collected from October 2006-September 2007. Tri- to deca-BDEs were detected in all samples analyzed, with mean concentrations (±standard deviations) at 5.7 ± 3.6 ng/L in pond water, 15 ± 11 ng/g dry wt. in pond sediment, 12 ± 3.8 ng/g dry wt. in bank soil, 21 ± 20 ng/g lipid wt. in fish, and 93 ± 62 ng/g lipid wt. in fish feeds. In addition, BDE-209 was the major constituent in all samples except fish and BDE-47 was predominant in fish samples. Relatively high abundances of BDE-49 were detected in all the samples compared to those in the penta-BDE technical products. Several bioaccumulation factors were evaluated. Finally, statistical analyses suggested that fish feed, as well as pond water at a lesser degree, may have been the major source of PBDEs in freshwater farmed fish.     

基于实测资料的长江河口南支河段盐水入侵规律分析

为对长江口南支河段盐水入侵规律有清晰的认识,在梳理、总结以往研究成果的基础上,通过对历年咸潮及氯度实测资料的分析,对长江口南支河段盐水入侵的规律进行了较为全面系统的分析研究。研究表明：北支盐水倒灌是长江口南支河段盐水入侵的主要来源;在研究水域,枯季大潮期氯度的沿程分布表现为两头高、中间低的“马鞍形”形式,枯季中潮期则为“高 低 高 低 高”的复杂的“W”形的分布形式;受外海潮汐和上游径流的综合作用,由大潮到中潮,倒灌盐水团在下移过程中,氯度的沿程分布形式发生了变异;近期盐水入侵的程度有加剧的趋势;研究水域2～3月盐水入侵最严重,在这段时间内盐水入侵超标次数多、历时长;当大通流量小于20 000 m3/s时,就可能发生明显的北支盐水倒灌南支现象;盐水入侵程度跟大通流量和潮汐强度密切相关;大通流量越大,盐水入侵程度越低;潮差越大,盐水入侵程度越高     

Black Disease (Terpios hoshinota): A Probable Cause for the Rapid Coral Mortality at the Northern Reef of Yongxing Island in the South China Sea

The northern reef of Yongxing Island, the largest reef island of the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea, was in good condition with significant cover of scleractinian corals until 2002. Surveys in 2008 and 2010, however, found that coral coverage had declined rapidly and severely, implying that catastrophic coral mortality occurred during the past 8 years. A blackish mat was observed covering live and dead corals in both 2008 and 2010 that was identified as an encrusting sponge, Terpios hoshinota, by special surface morphology and spicule structure. In addition, spicule residues were found on the surface of long-dead corals, indicating a previous invasion of T. hosinota. T. hoshinota is referred to as the "black disease" because it rapidly overgrows and kills corals. Our evidence indicates that outbreaks of black disease are at least partially responsible for the massive coral mortality at the northern reef of Yongxing Island over the past 8 years, although human activities and heat-related coral bleaching cannot be discounted as minor causes for this coral decline.     

Aligning Climate Policy with National Interest: Disengagements with Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions in South Africa

Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) were proposed as a policy framework that could provide middle ground for meeting both the development and mitigation objectives in developing countries. While South Africa engaged actively with the NAMA terminology in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations, its engagement at the domestic level has been rather lacklustre. This presents an interesting paradox. The paper studies the interplay of international norms embodied in NAMAs with South Africa's domestic policy process. Disengagement and contestation around NAMAs in South Africa is played out at three stages: decision-making stage where the symptoms surrounding this contestation first emerge; policy formulation stage where NAMAs have to not only align with the National Development Plan but also compete with a predilection for domestically familiar terminology of flagships under the national climate policy; and finally the broader agenda-setting stage of policy process, where NAMAs have to prove useful in not only pursuing the developmental state agenda but also in tackling the underlying material factors that represent country's economic dependency on fossil fuels. NAMAs faced combined resistance from ideas and interests in various degrees at all these stages resulting in their disengagement.