Analysis of uncertainty consideration in environmental assessment: an empirical study of Canadian EA practice

Identifying and communicating uncertainty is core to effective environmental assessment (EA). This study evaluates the extent to which uncertainties are considered and addressed in Canadian EA practice. We reviewed the environmental protection plans, follow-up programs, and panel reports (where applicable) of 12 EAs between 1995 and 2012. The types of uncertainties and levels of disclosure varied greatly. When uncertainties were acknowledged, practitioners adopted five different approaches to address them. However, uncertainties were never discussed or addressed in depth. We found a lack of suitable terminology and consistency in how uncertainties are disclosed, reflecting the need for explicit guidance, and we present recommendations for improvement. Canadian Environmental Impact Statements are not as transparent with respect to uncertainties as they should be, and uncertainties in EA need to be better considered and communicated.     

Costs and benefits of improving wild salmon passage in a regulated river

This paper presents a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of a trade-off between salmon and hydropower production in the Ume/Vindel River, northern Sweden. A distinctive element of this analysis is that estimated changes in resource conditions are based on detailed river-specific data. A salmon population model was used to develop the scenario and a novel willingness to pay (WTP) question, which caters for uncertainty in a different manner, provided an interval estimate. Non-use values are the major contributors to the benefit (96–517 millions of Swedish kronor (MSEK)) of increasing the stock of wild salmon. Sensitivity analysis suggests that the opportunity costs in terms of lost electricity are typically higher than the estimated benefits.     

改善企业安全文化技术手段的应用研究

安全文化建设在我国企业界受到重视,但是缺乏安全文化建设明确、实用的方法.将安全文化定义为"影响企业安全业绩的核心要素",设计Likert量表、硬件设备和计算机管理系统对安全文化进行定量测量,根据测量结果设计有针对性的培训可以快速改善企业的安全文化.从实际的企业测量可知,通过三次测量、两次抽样培训,企业安全文化可以提高8%左右,说明测量和培训相结合的方法是企业安全文化改善的有效手段.     

木材工业粉尘污染控制存在的问题与发展趋势

从中国木材工业粉尘污染控制现状存在的问题入手,分析了木材工业企业粉尘污染的原因,提出了控制粉尘污染的措施及发展趋势.保护环境是实现木材工业可持续发展的必然趋势,必须从工艺、技术和装备方面控制生产过程中的粉尘,使作业环境和大气污染排放达到国家环境保护标准和法规的要求.     

Prenatal diagnosis in two cases of de novo complex balanced chromosomal rearrangements. Three-year follow-up in one case

We report two cases of apparently balanced complex de novo chromosomal rearrangements (BCCR) detected prenatally at 17 weeks and 10 weeks of gestation, respectively. Chromosomes were studied using GTG-banding and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). In one case four chromosomes and in the other case three chromosomes were involved in the rearrangements. One of the pregnancies was terminated and no external or internal abnormalities were detected at autopsy. The other pregnancy continued to term. Level III ultrasound examination showed no abnormalities. The child is now 3 years old and has neither congenital anomalies nor evidence of delayed psychomotor development.     

水质总氮测定中的有关问题探讨

对总氮测定中的一系列影响因素,诸如实验用水,器皿的洗涤,实验室环境试剂的提纯、配制和保存,消解温度、压力和时间的控制,以及高氨氮水样中的总氮测定、总氮、总磷的同时测定和其他有关的问题,作了较为详细的探讨,并提出了相应的解决办法。     

应用后续确定性问题校正条件价值评估——以福建省鼓山风景名胜区非使用价值评估为例

条件价值(CV)法是评估环境与资源价值的重要手段,后续确定性问题可有效便捷地提高CV结果的有效性。应用10刻度量化表式后续确定性问题对鼓山风景名胜区非使用价值CV评估结果进行校正。问卷采用双边界二分式,面对面调查获得518份有效调查问卷。结果显示:具有正支付意愿的受访者,其付费加入"鼓山保护协会"的确定度呈正态分布,确定度的平均值为6.72;确定度与受访者的收入、受访者对鼓山的熟悉程度呈显著正相关;受访者对起始投标值敏感。当确定度门槛值取7或8时,正支付率从51.5%分别下降至27.8%或23.3%,而平均支付意愿分别从33.24元下降至19.74元或16.36元,采用后续确定性问题校正后CV结果下降了一半左右。     

关于完善规划环境影响跟踪评价制度的思考

规划环境影响跟踪评价制度是规划环评制度的重要组成部分,完善跟踪评价制度对健全以环境影响评价制度为主体的预防体系具有重要意义。在分析我国规划环境影响跟踪评价制度与实践进展的基础上,系统梳理了现行制度存在的启动情形不明、程序亟待规范、约束力不足等问题,并从按照审查意见要求启动跟踪评价、保障生态环境部门知情权与建议权、强化违反跟踪评价义务的法律后果等方面提出对策建议,为《中华人民共和国环境影响评价法》的修订完善提供参考。

     

Farmers’ risk preference and the adoption of risk management strategies in Northern Ghana

The study used the hypothetical lottery-choice questions to measure risk aversion and a detailed survey collected data on input use, farm production and non-farm activities to specifically assess whether risk aversion, risk perceptions, and socioeconomic factors affect the risk management strategies of farm households in Northern Ghana. Risk aversion significantly increases crop diversification strategies of households but marginally reduces herbicide use by households. Market risk significantly increases the use of improved seed varieties and the application of inorganic fertiliser but reduces diversification into livestock production. Production risk largely increases diversification into livestock production. Farmers’ risk management strategies are affected by socioeconomic variables such as access to extension services, area cultivated, age and gender. Policy effort focused on building pliable on-farm crop related risk management strategies should aim at considering the risk aversion and the perception of market risk whilst those focused on livestock should focus on production risk.     

土地利用规划环境影响跟踪评价分析

文章就环境影响跟踪评价是否适用于土地利用规划的实施进行了分析,并提出了实施评价的具体程序,基于价值模型建立了评价指标体系,采用指标体系法有效简化了评价工作的复杂性。并以扬州市土地利用总体规划(2005-2020)跟踪评价为例,进行了案例研究。通过回顾性评价和预测评价,识别出了主要环境问题以及环境制约因素,并根据规划总目标、阶段目标和环境保护规划、环境功能区划,进一步提出环境保护对策和措施,且对规划目标进行了调整。