Down to Earth: Contextualizing the Anthropocene

The ‘Anthropocene’ is now being used as a conceptual frame by different communities and in a variety of contexts to understand the evolving human–environment relationship. However, as we argue in this paper, the notion of an Anthropos, or ‘humanity’, as global, unified ‘geological force’ threatens to mask the diversity and differences in the actual conditions and impacts of humankind, and does not do justice to the diversity of local and regional contexts. For this reason, we interpret in this article the notion of an Anthropocene in a more context-dependent, localized and social understanding. We do this through illustrating examples from four issue domains, selected for their variation in terms of spatial and temporal scale, systems of governance and functional interdependencies: nitrogen cycle distortion (in particular as it relates to food security); ocean acidification; urbanization; and wildfires. Based on this analysis, we systematically address the consequences of the lens of the Anthropocene for the governance of social-ecological systems, focusing on the multi-level, functional and sectoral organization of governance, and possible redefinitions of governance systems and policy domains. We conclude that the notion of the Anthropocene, once seen in light of social inequalities and regional differences, allows for novel analysis of issue-based problems in the context of a global understanding, in both academic and political terms. This makes it a useful concept to help leverage and (re-)focus our efforts in a more innovative and effective way to transition towards sustainability.     

鄱阳湖生态环境动态监测服务系统

针对目前生态环境监测中多源多尺度数据获取、定量遥感模型半自动化条件制约海量数据的快速处理与分析以及静态的时空快照服务难以表达动态变化过程等问题,该文从基于传感网的数据多元化实时感知获取、基于数据仓库的生态信息主题化动态汇聚、基于多尺度WFS的智能化服务、基于动态数据驱动的仿真动态模拟知识化应用方面考虑,设计湖泊流域生态环境动态监测服务系统。以鄱阳湖为例进行验证,为鄱阳湖流域的生态监测以及江西省生态文明试验区建设提供服务。     

基于GRNN模型的岩溶地区城市水生态足迹分析与预测

为揭示岩溶地区城市生态足迹的驱动因子与机制,评估和预测水资源可持续利用程度,根据岩溶地区水文地质特征及其与水生态足迹的相关性,分析了贵阳市2002-2014年水生态足迹的变化特征,并利用GRNN模型对其进行了时间序列预测。结果表明,贵阳市水生态足迹由2002年的12.79万hm2上升至2014年的15.74万hm2,整体呈波动上升趋势,其中,水量生态足迹变化特征主要由工业用水量决定,水质生态足迹变化特征主要由氨氮排放量决定。水生态承载力波动变化明显,且小于水生态足迹需水量,导致水资源可持续利用系数介于0.31~0.63之间。对贵阳市2015-2019年水生态足迹进行GRNN预测,表明水生态足迹呈现先升后降得趋势,水生态承载力变幅在4.315~8.038万hm2之间,但水生态足迹与承载力的缺口大,水资源可持续利用系数偏低。因此,在水生态承载力有限的贵阳市,降低水生态足迹才是实现水资源可持续利用的关键。     

围填海对海洋水动力与生态环境的影响

近10年来,中国海岸带围填海活动呈现出规模大、速度快的发展态势。围填海能带来显著的经济效益,但对海洋环境与生态的负面影响也不可忽视。针对围填海对海洋环境和生态的影响及作用机制,分别从水动力和生态系统两个方面进行了概述。围填海改变了海洋的自然几何属性(原始岸线、地形地貌、海湾面积),引起水动力环境的变化(潮汐系统和海湾水交换能力),进而影响了海湾的环境容量;围填海破坏了生物栖息地、导致生物多样性的丧失,影响到生态系统结构与功能的稳定性;水动力与生物多样性的变化可显著影响到生物地球化学过程,加速富营养化进程,恶化水质,增加生态灾害风险。目前,围填海后的生态修复策略主要有增加生物量、建设自然保护区、退陆还海3种方式;而生态补偿策略则多基于“生态系统服务功能与生境面积的大小为线性关系”,通过对其经济价值的量化后进行生态补偿与实施相关政策。国际上,生态系统服务功能的量化参数逐步纳入实际管理,并在线性关系研究的基础上,逐步纳入一些非线性的理念,使生态补偿机制更为合理化;而我国对于围填海生态效应的定量化研究及科学理论在管理政策中的实际应用仍亟待提高。整体而言,全面、准确地评估围填海对海洋环境与生态的影响离不开自然科学与社会科学的交叉与融合。     

Ocean governance and maritime security in a placeful environment: The case of the European Union

Adopting a critical geopolitics approach that accounts for the mutually reinforcing link between geo-informed narratives and projection practices, this article proposes that ocean governance and maritime security have translated into states' and regional organisations' increasing control over maritime spaces. This leads to a certain territorialisation of the sea, not so much from a sovereignty and jurisdictional perspective but from a functional and normative perspective. The article starts by discussing the ways oceans have been represented and shows that they are far from a placeless void, both in practice and in discourse. The article then frames the analysis of ocean governance and maritime security within critical geopolitics, and elaborates on the case of the European Union's narrative and practice. It concludes on the mutually reinforcing link between discourse and practice in the field of ocean governance and maritime security in general, and on the consequences for the EU in particular. Scholars working on ocean governance and maritime security are encouraged to challenge the traditional view that oceans are placeless.     

Fishers’ knowledge indicates short-term temporal changes in the amount and composition of catches in the southwestern Atlantic

The scarcity of data on fish catches difficult management of small-scale fisheries in developing countries. This study applies fishers’ knowledge to investigate temporal changes in the amount (biomass) and composition (major ecological categories) of fishing resources exploited by small-scale coastal fisheries in the southeastern Brazilian coast. Four hypotheses were investigated: (1) The amount of fish caught reported by fishers would decrease over time. (2) Older fishers would report higher fish catches than younger fishers. (3) Recent interviews would mention large-sized predators less often. (4) Recent interviews would mention less high valued fishing resources. Interviews with 421 fishers in 36 communities in the southeastern Brazilian coast were analyzed, covering a time span of 14 years, from 1995 to 2009. The hypothesis 1 was confirmed, 3 was partially confirmed, while 2 and 4 were not confirmed. Fishers’ age was unrelated to all variables. The results from fishers’ interviews indicated the temporal trends of: (1) a decrease in the biomass of fish caught; (2) an increase in the occurrence of smaller fish and invertebrates in the catch; (3) an increase of high value fishing resources; and (4) maintenance of large predators. The first two indicators suggest excessive fishing, but the later indicators (3 and 4) suggest that the socioecological system of the southeastern Brazilian coast had not yet undergone major ecological shifts.     

基于高效生态农业布局导向性的资源环境承载力评价—以黄河三角洲高效生态经济区为例

该文在对研究区资源环境本底基本了解的基础上,建立了包括耕地资源、水资源、社会经济资源、土壤环境、极端气候发生率和地质环境6个二级指标的资源环境承载力评价指标体系,采用定性和定量相结合的方法,利用层次分析法确定相关指标权重,分别对6个要素进行承载力评价。在各单元要素评价基础上,结合黄河三角洲高效生态经济区农业发展要求,划分出了沿海湿地生态系统保护带、北部盐渍化土质特色种植区、南部优质粮食生产区和果蔬集中种植区4个生态农业布局适宜区,并提出发展建议。     

Cloud Forest Conservation in the Central Highlands of Guatemala Hinges on Soil Conservation and Intensifying Food Production

Soil erosion threatens long-term soil fertility and food production in Q’eqchi’ communities native to the Sierra Yalijux and Sierra Sacranix mountain ranges in the central highlands of Guatemala. Environmental factors such as steep topography, erodible soils, and intense precipitation events, combined with land subdivision and reduced fallow periods as a consequence of population growth, contribute to severe erosion and strain soil resources. The preservation of the region's cloud forests hinges on enhancing production of staple crops through agricultural intensification while maintaining soil fertility through implementation of soil conservation measures.     

肥城市土地生态系统安全评价研究

在分析土地生态系统安全内涵的基础上,以肥城市为研究区域,选取24个指标构建土地生态系统安全评价指标体系,采用熵值法、综合指数法和GIS相结合的方法,对肥城市2000—2013年的土地生态系统安全状况进行分析。研究结果表明:14年来,肥城市土地生态系统安全状况处于波动状态,土地生态系统安全面临着诸多压力。最后提出了提高土地生态系统安全状况的对策建议。     

高陡岩石边坡软体护坡技术设计及施工实践

为了消除济南市燕翅山北侧采矿遗留的高陡岩石边坡的地质灾害隐患,恢复自然植被,通过施工砼基座、施工砼格构梁、砌筑软体生态袋和挂网喷播等多种技术方法进行了综合治理,消除了滑坡和崩塌等地质灾害隐患,整个坡面植被覆盖率超过99%,消除了视觉污染,恢复了当地生态环境,该工程成功的设计及施工实践对类似高陡岩石边坡有很好的指导和借鉴作用。