Traits of Volunteer Water Monitoring Programs that Influence Natural Resource Management and Policy Impacts

As citizens take on expanded roles in gathering and reporting environmental data, their potential impact may relate to organizational traits. This study sought to understand the relationship through a survey that identified traits and impacts of U.S. volunteer water monitoring programs on natural resource policy and management. A multiple regression model tested the influence of nine traits on an index of impact, addressing eight a priori hypotheses related to natural resource management outcomes. Seven traits were significantly related to impacts. Significant positive relationships included: the objective to address an environmental crisis; an EPA and/or state-approved quality assurance plan; support of external decision makers who may use or benefit from data; larger budget; volunteers playing more roles in the research process. Fewer impacts were expected from programs operating within schools. Understanding these relationships can help guide citizen science programs or other types of citizen engagement efforts.     

地球空间信息科学与土地资源的动态监测与管理

地球空间信息科学是当今空间信息科学发展的重要成果。文章在分析了地球空间信息科学的特点及其发展现状之后 ,讨论了地球空间信息科学在土地资源动态监测与管理中的作用 ,以及建立我国土地信息系统需要注意的几个问题。     

A Study of Governance Arrangements for Land Use and Natural Resource Management Planning in Cape York Peninsula

Complex intersecting social, economic and environmental dilemmas in Australia's Cape York Peninsula present a number of challenges for planners seeking to develop and implement land use and natural resource management (NRM) plans. There have been five different attempts at land use and NRM planning in Cape York Peninsula over the last 20 years. These processes have (to greater or lesser extents) failed to deliver community-owned and government-supported plans to guide development and/or the management of the region's natural resources. The region is remote, sparsely populated, and home to a significant Indigenous population. Much of the contestation within the region surrounds the access, use and ownership of the region's internationally valuable natural resources. This paper reviews, from the literature, the relevancy and applicability of criteria for best practice planning and governance. A range of identified best practice governance and planning principles are applied to assess the governance arrangements for planning in the Peninsula. The paper finds that decision-making arrangements for land use and NRM planning in the Peninsula are still in their infancy and are inadequate to support effective outcomes. The paper concludes that broader attention to best practice principles in governance for planning is needed to improve planning outcomes.     

Trust,Trustworthiness, and Motivation in the Natural Resource Management Context

Trust is critical for natural resource management (NRM). In recognition of this, a noteworthy body of literature has investigated the construct but is, as yet, still developing. The current research proposes and tests an increasingly complete model that integrates the major advances in not only the NRM literature but in the social psychological literature addressing trust more generally as well. To that end, the current analyses were conducted with a large sample of Michigan hunters (n?=?23,954). The results suggest that, as hypothesized, the theoretical model is a statistically defensible account of trust in this context and suggest that both trustworthiness and motivation have important roles to play in driving cooperation intention and behavior. Thus, the current work suggests that although it is important for NRM institutions to attend to their trustworthiness, they should not ignore the motivation that arises from benefits they provide.     

Building Capacity for Environmental Management: local knowledge and rehabilitation on the Gippsland Red Gum Plains

Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) continues to attract interest as a way of achieving social and environmental outcomes at the local and regional scale. Central to the success of CBNRM is the importance of capacity building and participatory approaches to research and management. This paper discusses an initiative in East Gippsland which involved a facilitated process to assist local residents build their capacity to manage their landscape. Through conducting a community survey, the project facilitated landholders to voice, develop and refine their understanding of remnant vegetation management, dieback and revegetation on private land. In doing so, landholders have improved not only their understanding of the issues but also their ability to act upon them. The empirical findings of the study highlight two issues of relevance to dieback on the East Gippsland Red Gum Plains. First, there is a perception that dieback has remained stable for at least 10 years. Second, scattered trees and small patches of trees are more vulnerable to dieback than clumped trees in larger patch sizes, as well as roadside vegetation. The research demonstrates the value of a community-based approach to NRM in terms of harnessing local knowledge, fostering human and social capital and engaging with interested landholders.     

Killing Carp (Cyprinus carpio) as a Volunteer Practice: implications for community involvement in invasive species management and policy

Community engagement is understood to be one of the keys to successful environmental programs—‘the social pillar’ of management. In this paper we examine community engagement where volunteers participate by killing invasive animals. Most research to date focuses on the biological or management implications of volunteer efforts for the invasive species, with little attention to the people involved or the social acceptability of killing animals in this context. Here, we report on a survey and participant observations of community fishing events in south-eastern Australia, where volunteers fish for and kill carp (Cyprinus carpio). We examine who takes part in these events, their motivations for being involved and the implications for ongoing community engagement. Survey respondents were predominantly well-educated Australian-born men, motivated to fish by a desire to spend time in nature. However, we also noted a strong response from overseas-born men with different motivations. Our survey elicited complex responses regarding killing, illustrating contradictory, sometimes conflicted experiences, which jar with personal motivations. The implications are that questions of ethics must extend to the human volunteers, and that more direct communication of program outcomes and the proposed benefits for volunteers be more rigorously assessed. We argue that invasive species management must contend with the experiences of volunteers, otherwise meaningful dialogue and program objectives risk being undermined.     

Integrated,Regional, Natural Resource and Environmental Planning and the Natural Heritage Trust Phase 2: a case study of the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council,Western Australia

Since 2002, the Australian Natural Heritage Trust Phase 2 (NHT2) has required community groups seeking funds for natural resource management projects to have developed nationally accredited regional strategies and investment plans. This case study reports on the progress of one such regional (and sub-regional) group, examining in particular the perceptions of the community group members and other stakeholders of the overall process. Through interviews, participant observation and document analysis in 2004–05, the process of developing a regional strategy and an investment plan by the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council in Western Australia, and the involvement of regional stakeholders in the process, were examined. While the concept of regional-scale management was perceived favourably by community interviewees, their concerns related to increasing bureaucracy, the need for further local involvement, more on-ground action instead of further planning, the relevance of the regional Council to local communities, and the motives of Council members. Communication with regional stakeholders was extensive in preparing the regional strategy, but fell short during the development of the investment plan. The success of the regional planning process will be evidenced by whether members of the regional community actively implement regional priorities, and whether long-term funding and support from the State and Australian governments are provided.     

地球系统科学数据共享标准规范体系研究与应用

地球系统科学是地球科学发展的一个新的历史阶段,其以地球系统及其整体行为作为研究对象,迫切需要大量多学科、多来源、多类型、综合性地学数据资源的支撑。针对这一需求,我国国家科技基础条件平台设立了“地球系统科学数据共享网”这一支撑条件。为了构建该支撑条件的标准规范环境,本文分析了地球系统科学数据的特征,剖析了“研究型”数据对标准规范的需求,指出了其面临的3个关键问题。研究了地球系统科学数据共享的概念模式,根据定义的4条基本原则,分析了地球系统科学数据共享标准规范体系的定位,构建其体系结构。该体系结构包括4个大类,即机制条例类、数据管理类、平台开发类、数据服务类,具体包括18项条例、办法、规范和技术标准。其中,地球系统科学数据共享联盟章程、核心元数据标准、数据质量管理办法、数据分类标准是该体系中的引领性、核心标准规范。经过近6年的研究和应用,目前该标准规范体系已经在地球系统科学数据共享网的总中心和13个分中心试用,取得了良好的运行服务效果。未来,地球系统科学数据共享标准规范将“向下”、“向上”两个方向继续发展。     

城市规划与城市土地经营协调机制研究

城市规划与城市土地经营是城市土地资源配置的两种不同方式,二者之间具有明显的统一性,城市规划是城市土地经营的基础,而城市土地经营对城市规划具有促进作用.但在城市土地经营视角下,城市规划具有刚性与呆滞、体制和机制的约束等缺陷,而城市土地经营也由于经济利益冲动等原因对城市规划产生冲击.因此,作者哌认为,要实现两者的协调互动,应从革新城市土地经营理念、建设土地产权制度、创新城市土地经营模式等方面发展与完善城市土地经营.并且,应不断完善城市规划对城市土地经营的响应,主要响应路径包括强化社会公共政策理念、加强经济思维以及改革城市规划体制等,以此促进城市规划与城市土地经营的协调发展.     

Examining the Influence of Positionality in Evaluating Collaborative Progress in Natural Resource Management: Reflections of an Academic and a Practitioner

In this paper, we present a reflexive examination of how and why we, an academic and a practitioner, arrive at different evaluations of collaborative progress in natural resource management. We situate this examination in our long-standing involvement in designing, adaptively managing, and participating in the Uncompahgre Plateau collaborative forest restoration project in western Colorado, USA. Drawing on the concept of “positionality” in qualitative social science research, we disclose our respective motivations, assumptions, roles, and power relative to the collaborative process. The differences in evaluating collaborative progress stem from our respective professional positionality. For the academic, the guiding interest was to test theory and promote success for his applied research institute; for the practitioner, the motivation was to build trust to allow her field staff the flexibility to implement management actions and demonstrate effectiveness as an agency line officer. These epistemological differences draw attention to the importance of transdisciplinary approaches to producing knowledge from shared practice, starting with efforts to explicitly disclose and honor differing interests, assumptions, and frames of reference stemming from each party’s personal and professional biographies and institutional norms. This reflexivity is essential to advancing knowledge about collaboration in natural resource management.     

Identifying Stakeholder Groups in Natural Resource Management: Comparing Quantitative and Qualitative Social Network Approaches

Abstract

This study compares the efficiency of two analytic approaches—qualitative and quantitative—to social network analysis for identifying stakeholder groups. Social network data were collected from 23 water and agriculture stakeholders in Arizona, USA, and analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Analysis of the sample in the original order of data collection found qualitative analysis was more efficient, in that it yielded a stable result—the identification of four stakeholder groups—within 16 interviews. In contrast, the quantitative analysis did not produce a stable result after 23 interviews. Repeated analyses with randomized order and reverse order samples found qualitative approaches yielded more stable results, took about the same number of interviews to yield results, and produced slightly fewer stakeholder groups compared to quantitative approaches. Our findings suggest that, in resource-constrained projects, qualitative social network analysis for identifying stakeholder groups can provide an efficient alternative to conventional quantitative social network analysis.     

Measuring Change in Place Values for Environmental and Natural Resource Planning Using Public Participation GIS (PPGIS): Results and Challenges for Longitudinal Research

Landscape values are a type of place value and are identified and mapped using public participation GIS (PPGIS). PPGIS engages nonexperts to identify important spatial information for environmental or natural resource planning. In 1998, we used PPGIS to identify landscape values for the Chugach National Forest (Alaska) plan revision process. In 2012, we conducted a longitudinal study of the same national forest using Internet PPGIS to identify changes in landscape values. The empirical results indicate stability in landscape values both in importance and spatial distribution. However, the use of different PPGIS methods (paper map vs. Internet) in the longitudinal study also introduced challenges in interpreting and explaining the spatial results. We discuss trade-offs in conducting longitudinal PPGIS research using mixed methods. PPGIS appears well suited for public lands planning, and national forest planning in particular, but barriers to use, such as regulatory approval, remain formidable.     

Planning for El Niño: The Stages of Natural Hazard Mitigation and Preparation*

This study examines mitigation and preparation activities selected by four county and state governments in anticipation of the 1997–1998 El Niño. It expands the knowledge of how state and local governments plan short‐term projects and mitigate with longer‐term activities in anticipation of a natural hazard. It also provides a preliminary understanding of divergent responses and plans under similar disaster warnings. It outlines stages that governments follow in determining their natural hazard mitigation and preparedness activities. This model should provide hazard planners, particularly those planning for slower onset hazards, with insights into their own local circumstances, allowing them to choose appropriate strategies.     

城镇化与生态环境“耦合魔方”的基本概念及框架

城镇化与生态环境耦合系统是人地关系地域系统的重要一环,面对新时代全球尺度的远程联系、时空压缩与社会经济重构,传统的研究框架急需转型和升级。借鉴人地关系地域系统、远程耦合和星球城市化等理论,从复杂性科学视角出发,首先解析了城镇化与生态环境耦合系统的内涵,进而从空间、时间、表象和组织四个维度,提出了一个解释城镇化与生态环境耦合机理的分析框架——“耦合魔方（CHNC）”,并论述了其概念、内涵、演化规律和分析框架：魔方中的系统与系统、系统与要素、要素与要素间通过各种“耦合线”相互联系与作用,形成一个彼此嵌套、相互联系、对立统一的有机整体;魔方的旋转代表了不同地域间城镇化与生态环境的时空非线性耦合作用,系统通过不断能量交换,产生临界相变与整体涌现性,长期处于有序与无序之间的中间状态;“耦合魔方”包括近远程耦合、近远期耦合、组内间耦合和显隐性耦合,共四个维度,八种类型。重点剖析了远程、远期、组间和隐性耦合的科学内涵、研究方法与典型案例,并形成更具普遍意义的人地关系耦合矩阵。“耦合魔方”为揭示城镇化与生态环境耦合系统的演化和机理提供一个更加全面系统的跨学科研究范式,拓展了人地系统耦合研究的分析维度,为面向人类福祉的区域可持续发展政策制定提供科学支撑。     

Big Data Resource Planning for Food Safety: a Preliminary Exploration of the “Environment,Food and Health” Information Chain

Environmental pollution, food safety and health are closely linked. A key challenge in addressing the problem of food safety and protecting public health is building an integrated knowledge base to inform policy and strengthen governance. This requires breaking down the trans-departmental information barrier across the environment, food and health domains to ensure the effective flow of data and the efficient utilization of resources, and facilitate the collaborative governance of food safety. Achieving this will be crucial for the development of health and medical care in China in the era of big data. Currently, the information resources commanded by various departments are incomplete and fragmented. Data resources are also organized in vertical silos and there is a lack of data sharing within and across policy streams. To provide the basis for more effective integrated collection and analysis of data in future, this study summarizes the information resources of various departments whose work relates to interactions between environment, food and health, and presents measures to strengthen top-down design, and establish unified data standards and a big data sharing platform. It also points to the need for increased training of data analysts with interdisciplinary expertise.     

Patterns of Irrigated Agricultural Land Conversion in a Western U.S. Watershed: Implications for Landscape-Level Water Management and Land-Use Planning

In irrigated agricultural landscapes, land-use conversion may have landscape-level social, hydrological, and ecological effects. We used geographic information systems (GIS) and interviews to analyze development effects on irrigation in the Henry's Fork Watershed, Idaho. Farmers developed irrigation there in the 19th century, and incidental recharge from canal seepage and flood irrigation raised groundwater levels and expanded wetlands. Cohesive culture in agricultural communities sustained irrigation systems until amenity-driven demographic shifts beginning in the 1970s led to development approved by local governments with land-use planning but no water-management authority. Although only 5% of irrigated land has been converted, development has fragmented irrigated landscapes and made canal-system operation more difficult, potentially reducing groundwater levels, wetland extent, and return flows critical to downstream irrigators and fish and wildlife. We discuss future scenarios, highlighting the need for increased communication among local and state governments regarding land use and water management in irrigated landscapes across the West.     

沙坡头站荒漠生态环境长期定位监测数据信息管理系统的建设与发展

积累、管理和共享科学数据是沙坡头沙漠研究试验站科研、监测的日常工作之一。基于“沙坡头站动态监测数据库管理系统”逐步建立和完善起来的“沙坡头站荒漠生态环境长期定位监测数据信息管理系统”,在系统结构、后台管理、数据共享服务方式及Web页面与用户的交互性等方面均有优化提高,用户将更加快捷、直观地了解沙坡头站监测数据的管理与集成,有效使用和共享数据。该信息系统将为生态环境保护、资源可持续利用搭建长期、综合的数据与信息交流平台。     

Community Forest Owners Evaluate a Decade of Payments for Ecosystem Services in the Mexican Cloud Forest: The Importance of Attention to Indigenous Sovereignty in Conservation

Payments for ecosystem services (PES) programs have taken a variety of forms that depend on many mediating factors, such as national and local politics, land tenure, regional collective action, the capacity of intermediaries, and socio-ecological context. This diversity has produced unsurprisingly mixed experiences, with many falling short of achieving the twin goals of environmental and social benefits and some causing adverse consequences. This study examines one rare PES case that has contributed both to forest conservation and to community livelihoods. In this study, community forest owners from four indigenous communities in the Mexican cloud forest evaluate their participation in ten years of a public PES program to support watershed stewardship. We argue that attention to indigenous sovereignty and self-determination in program implementation contributed to widely appreciated socio-environmental benefits. Though many PES programs are implemented in indigenous communities, scholarly debates have rarely dealt directly with these issues.     

Pathways for Participatory Water Governance in Ashaiman,Ghana: Learning from Institutional Bricolage and Hydrosocial Perspectives

Coupling a hydrosocial perspective with institutional bricolage, this research considers possibilities for participatory water governance in Ashaiman, a peri-urban settlement of Accra, Ghana. We explore three questions: (1) How do people in Ashaiman evoke ideas or experiences of water in general and water governance in particular? (2) What possibilities currently exist for engaging the community in key water-related decisions? (3) What possibilities exist for enhanced participatory water governance in this context, including potential for and interest in new institutions and engagement processes? Results of qualitative interviews and semistructured observation suggest that a siloed, water-centric approach inadequately captures everyday realities of water as hydrosocial and of existing institutions in Ashaiman. In contrast to “modern water,” we propose that water issues may be more meaningfully addressed as bundled with social welfare. Potential implications and alternative ways of understanding socio-institutional arrangements for participatory water governance are explored.     

From Moral to Markets: The Rhetoric of Responsibility and Resource Management in European Union Fisheries Policy

Ecological, economic, and social sustainability has been prioritized by the European Union in its proposal for a reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), but it is recognized that there is a lack of knowledge concerning the objectives of these three aspects. Addressing the issue of how these objectives are given meaning as policy is being articulated, two Swedish seminars where fisheries’ stakeholders discuss the proposal for a reformed CFP are analyzed. The analysis shows how fish become defined as a specific kind of resource and how their status as a resource is framed as a moral issue. Once morally charged the resource is subjected to valorization through economic modeling. As a result, the potential for sustainability in fisheries becomes conditional upon the creation of new markets.