The extent and perceptions of vandalism as a cause of street tree damage in small towns in the Eastern Cape,South Africa

Street trees are important foundations of urban sustainability due to the ecosystem services that they provide society and the environment. However, street trees are vulnerable to vandalism and damage, especially when small, which constraints the flow of benefits they provide and also increases the costs of planting programmes. Despite being a common phenomenon, there is limited knowledge regarding the extent of vandalism and the reasons for it. Here we seek to understand the causes and extent of street tree damage in eleven small Eastern Cape (South Africa) towns and to assess the perceptions of residents and officials. The condition of newly planted street trees was assessed in each town and residents were interviewed in the two towns with the highest number of newly planted street trees. Almost half (42%) of recently planted street trees were totally snapped, ranging between 0% and 63% per town. There was no difference in the prevalence of trees being snapped between those with protective structures and those without. Each town used different structures around newly planted street trees, but in only two towns were all the structures intact. The prevalence of damage declined with increasing trunk thickness and increasing town size. According to residents, boredom, misbehaviour, lack of appreciation of trees and collection for wood were the main factors for tree vandalism by people along with damage by livestock. Ward councillors recognised the presence of vandalism, but indicated that it was not a priority topic in their ward meetings. Suggestions by residents to prevent vandalism included: planting in sensible areas, re-designing the protective structures, re-locating livestock and engendering community participation and ownership in all aspects of street tree planting.     

Renaissance of Traditional Featured Towns in the Three - Gorge Reservoir Region --with Ancient Dachang Town as an Example

Taking ancient Dachang Town as an example, this paper first points out the particular value of the ancient town and introduces briefly its actuality, and then elaborates the fact that Dachang Town will he rebuilt in other place owing to the construction of Three - gorges project. Finally, this paper expounds how to preserve and keep the traditional style and features in its rebuilding layout and architectural design.     

城镇与农村住户收入与支出差距结构分析——以河北省曲周县1996-2004年为例

对河北省曲周县城镇与农村住户收入与支出差距进行了系统分析,通过对相对收入差距、绝对收入差距、相对支出差距、绝对支出差距以及生活消费结构等方面的比较研究,主要结论是:(1)曲周县城乡差距有扩大的趋势;(2)导致城乡收入差距的主要原因是农村产业结构单一,农村居民收入来源中第一产业占到了约2/3;(3)从生活消费差距结构看,存在3个刚性变化趋势,一是食品消费差距刚性下降,但在生活消费差距中仍然占有23%￣74%的份额;二是交通与通讯、文教娱乐和其它消费差距刚性上升,它们是城乡差距的外在表现特征;三是衣着、居住和家庭设备消费差距刚性平稳。     

周巷镇耕地土壤环境质量现状及评价

本文调查分析了周巷镇36个土壤样品的土壤环境质量状况,周巷镇土壤中污染物的平均含量分别为:Pb16.1mg/kg、Cr28.2mg/kg、Cd0.162mg/kg、Hg0.101mg/kg、As5.0mg/kg、Cu22.4mg/kg.结果表明:周巷镇土壤环境质量较好,适宜于绿色食品生产.     

基于GIS的合肥市中心城区绿地可达性分析评价

为对合肥市中心城区(二环内)绿地进行可达性分析,并提出优化建议,在遥感(RS)和地理信息系统(GIS)技术支持下,运用景观可达性的概念与原理,建立城市绿地可达性模型,采用费用加权距离方法,结果表明:1)绿地破碎化较为严重,但绿地可达性总体较好;2)绿地可达性的空间格局仍存在不均衡;3)一环内外绿地可达性存在明显差异;4)城市绿地可达性分析是衡量城市绿地服务功能社会公平性的有力手段,充分体现城市建设"以人为本"的理念。因此,城市绿地可达性分析结果能有效地评价城市绿地格局和服务功能,可为合理调整与设计城市绿地系统提供科学依据。     

关于当前农村建设与规划的几点建议

从调整村镇布局、协调村庄规划与镇域规划、体现乡村规划的特征和原则几方面提出了当前农村建设与规划的几点建议。     

明清至民国时期任丘鄣州镇庙会变迁初探

州镇庙会兴起于明万历年间，清康乾时期达鼎盛，近代以后总势趋衰。前近代鄣州庙会的酬神、娱乐、商贸功能并重；近代以后各功能皆有所弱化。该镇庙会变迁的根本原因是晚清、民国政府对郑州大庙、庙会政策与明、前清时期相比骤变．这是该镇异于冀中其他县区庙会变迁的显著特点。     

采煤塌陷区全域土地综合整治策略研究

全域土地综合整治对保障粮食安全、改善生态环境、促进乡村振兴具有重要意义,在新的发展时期,该项工作开展已成为国土整治的重要工具和抓手。采煤塌陷区具有移民搬迁、产业发展、生态修复的需求,该区域的保护与发展更应与全域土地综合整治相结合。文章基于社会调研和社会经济数据分析方法,对彬州市义门镇现状面临的困境进行分析,探究采煤塌陷区周边乡村全域土地综合整治实施路径,提出“民生为重、产业强基、生态为本”的全域土地综合整治实施建议,以期为采煤塌陷区全域土地综合整治方案编制与实施提供参考。     

基于生态敏感性的刘河镇生态空间规划研究

以河南省荥阳市刘河镇为基址,在自然地理、生态资源和社会经济3个方面选取具有代表性的7个生态敏感性评价因子,建立生态敏感性评价指标体系,确定研究区域不同层次生态敏感性的生态空间,采用“生态模型—生态要素—生态格局”的评估方法构建“一轴、一心、两区、多廊道、多节点”的区域生态安全格局。     

金碧镇核桃基地发展现状、问题及对策

文章从分析金碧镇核桃基地发展现状和问题入手,结合多年实践经验,提出发展和管理对策。