On the way to a better state? The role of NGOs in the planning and implementation of protected areas in Brazil

Protected areas are considered some of the most versatile as well as important instruments of nature conservation and environmental policies. The `classic' model of nature conservation aims at the isolation of large areas in order to preserve their `pristine' nature from human interference. However, the transfer of this model to developing countries led to serious conflicts with local people. From a socio-geographical viewpoint, protected areas can be understood as regulative tools for the shaping and controlling of space. This approach helps to recognise the influence of distinct modes of appropriation of space and nature on the emergence and course of conflicts. In the present article it is used to analyse the leading role played by Brazilian NGOs in the transformation of the classic model of protected area management at the beginning of the nineties. Two case studies – dealing with the implementation of the Amazonian Mamirauá Reserve and with the reform of the Brazilian protected area legislation – are used to illustrate not only the success of the new approaches, but also the expectations and contradictions which surround the future development of protected areas in Brazil.     

青藏高原腹地植物碳同位素组成对环境条件的响应

现代植物碳同位素组成是特定环境影响的结果,通过对植物碳同位素组成的研究可以揭示植物生长期环境信息。针对青藏高原腹地高寒草甸~高寒草原过渡区植被碳同位素组成进行研究;该区高山嵩草样δ13C值在-25.63‰~-27.95‰间,平均值-26.63‰;高寒草原区混合样δ13C值于-26.29‰~-27.73‰间,平均值-27.04‰。高山嵩草样δ13C值总体呈现由南东往北西方向正偏趋势,研究区北部高寒草原区混合植物样也呈现出由南向北富重碳同位素趋势。这些变化规律被认为是主要受降水环境影响的结果,而区域内降水条件的展布规律则是受高原夏季风运移方式的控制。对植物δ13C值与地理位置的回归分析表明,该区植被碳同位素组成与地理位置相关,高山嵩草样(r=0.44603,n=29,p<0.05)和混合样(r=0.8112,n=5,p<0.1)均表现出对区域降水环境条件的良好响应。据此,以该区植物δ13C值为背景,进行合理推算,拟定了研究区内干旱区和湿润区界限的位置。     

川东南—鄂西渝东地区下古生界页岩气勘探前景

中上扬子地台发育2套重要的海相深灰色—黑色页岩,分别为下寒武统牛蹄塘组和上奥陶统五峰组—下志留统龙马溪组,主要由富含黄铁矿、有机质或生物化石的黑色炭质页岩组成,厚度大、分布广。牛蹄塘组页岩有机质演化程度高、埋藏相对较深、钻井无天然气显示; 龙马溪组页岩有机质演化程度相对中等、埋藏深度适度、钻井天然气显示丰度高,特别是志留系其它粉砂岩层段可产工业性气流。因此,下志留统页岩更有利于研究区页岩气的勘探和开发,更加适合作为中国南方页岩气战略先导区的重点目标勘探层位。总体上,两套页岩在川东南—鄂西渝东地区出露范围广,有利于针对页岩展开相关研究,特别是背斜和向斜的翼部区是页岩气勘探最为有利的地区。     

贵州茂兰喀斯特森林自然保护区的生态旅游

阐述了贵州茂兰喀斯特森林自然保护区开展生态旅游的意义,分析评述了该保护区开展生态旅游的优劣势。针对茂兰喀斯特森林自然保护区生态环境本底脆弱和生态旅游的内涵要求,探讨了在该保护区开展生态旅游应坚持的四条原则,提出了适合茂兰喀斯特森林保护区地域特色的生态旅游开发的方向及相应的对策。      

Effects of mineral-organic fertilizer on the biomass of green Chinese cabbage and potential carbon sequestration ability in karst areas of Southwest China

The karst mountain areas of Southwest China contain barren farmland soils and suffer from nutritional and water deficiencies that affect crop productivity. Hence,it is imperative to apply suitable fertilizers to restore soil fertility and maintain crop yield. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of mineral-organic fertilizer(MOF)made of potassic rock and organic waste on the growth of crops. For this purpose, green Chinese cabbage grown using three different fertilization methods including MOF,inorganic fertilizer(IF), and a control was evaluated. We determined soil water content, agronomic characteristics,and biomass of green Chinese cabbage in different treatments. Furthermore, surface runoff from the pot experiments and soil leachate from pot experiments were collected to determine water temperature, pH, and cation and anion concentrations. The results demonstrate thatMOF can improve the soil water-holding capacity of soil,and the basic agronomic characteristics of the cabbage treated with MOF were superior to those with IF. Using MOF can promote the increase in cabbage biomass.Additionally, the concentration of inorganic carbon(largely in the form of HCO_3^-) in surface runoff water treated by MOF was higher than the other treatments, establishing carbon sequestration potential. This work provides a novel and environmentally friendly fertilization pattern in karst areas, which will improve crop yield and also increase the carbon sequestration potential of crops.     

二郎山公路隧道轴线地应力测试研究

介绍了二郎山公路隧道轴线上3个钻孔的地应力测试结果,应用水压致裂法在钻孔中测试,所测的两个不同大小的水平主应力都大于垂直主应力（除了地表以下很浅处外）,这个地应力与区域大地构造方向一致,在此基础上评价了隧道碉室围岩的稳定性。     

岩溶水锶元素水文地球化学特征

通过对桂林地区地下河系统不同类型岩溶水水样Sr2+含量和87Sr/86Sr值分析,得到如下结论:(1)桂林地区岩溶水中Sr2+含量普遍较低,流经不同岩层的地下水Sr2+含量不同,岩溶水中Sr2+含量随着Ca2+含量的增大而增大,随着Mg2+含量的增大而减小;地下河水中的Sr2+含量始终介于表层岩溶带水、饱水带裂隙水、地表坡面流和外源水(如果存在外源水补给)的最大、最小值之间.(2)流经不同岩层地下水的87Sr/86Sr值不同,流经砂岩层地下水87Sr/86Sr值较高,其次为流经白云岩层和灰岩层的地下水;地下河水87Sr/86Sr值也是介于表层岩溶带水、饱水带裂隙水、地表坡面流和外源水(如果有外源水补给)的最大、最小值之间.因此Sr2+和87Sr/86Sr能反映岩溶水形成的信息,是较理想的天然示踪剂,在岩溶水研究中具有很广阔的应用前景.     

Designation of marine protected areas in Belgium: A legal and ecological success?

In Belgium a long process (1999–2005) led to the designation of several marine protected areas (MPAs). In order to analyse the designation process, the ‘policy arrangement approach’ was used as an analytical tool. Attention was given to four dimensions (actors and coalitions, arguments, rules and resources). Particular attention was paid to the switch from an authoritative to a more deliberated policy style in reaction to conflicts with stakeholders. This switch in policy style contributed to a successful legal designation, but does not guarantee the best protection of marine biodiversity. This case study linked science (setting ecological goals) to policy (analysis of a policy process) and led to some more general conclusions on the designation of MPAs and the role of participation in this process.     

Rocky desertification and its causes in karst areas: a case study in Yongshun County,Hunan Province,China

Rocky desertification, a process of land degradation characterized by soil erosion and bedrock exposure, is one of the most serious land degradation problems in karst areas, and is regarded as an obstacle to local sustainable development. It is well known that human activities can accelerate rocky desertification; however, the effects of climate change on rocky desertification in karst areas are still unclear. This study focused on the effects of temperature and precipitation changes and human activities on rocky desertification in karst areas to determine the impacts of climate change and human disturbances on rocky desertification. Areas of different level of rocky desertification were obtained from Landsat TM (1987) and Landsat ETM+ (2000) images. The results show that, although the total desertification area increased by only 1.27% between 1987 and 2000, 17.73% of the slightly desertified land had degraded to a moderate or intense level, 2.01 and 15.71%, respectively. Meanwhile, between 1987 and 2000, the air temperature increased by 0.7°C, and precipitation increased by 170 mm. Statistical results indicate that the increase in precipitation was caused by heavy rainfall. In addition, under the interactive influences of heavy rainfall and temperature, the average karst dissolution rate was about 87 m³ km⁻² a⁻¹ during the 14 years in the study area. Further analysis indicated that rocky desertification was positively related with the increase in temperature and precipitation and especially with the heavy rainfall events. Climate change accelerated rocky desertification in the karst areas. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.