Public perceptions of ecosystem services and preferences for design scenarios of the flooded bank along the Three Gorges Reservoir: Implications for sustainable management of novel ecosystems

The newly formed extensive flooded land associated with the Three Gorges Reservoir hold great potentials to provide ecosystem services (ESs) for surrounding cities and communities. Conflicting values and conventional management strategies may complicate and inhibit broad-scale decision-making for this novel ecosystem. Public attitudes are a crucial influence in the way this process plays out. This study was conducted to assess how the reservoir bank is perceived by the general public of Chongqing Municipality in terms of importance of riparian ESs, and preference for corresponding landscape design styles through photo-questionnaire interviewing. Although Chongqing citizens know little of the “ecosystem services” concept, they do recognise riparian environmental and ecological benefits especially the bank protection and pollution interception functions, while benefits of habitats for wildlife and flood attenuation were of less concern. Recreational values were least appreciated, which is inconsistent with other studies. This may be attributed to a wider, intensive environmental education in various social media in today’s China. But publicity has been dominated by toxic air, water and soil pollution control rather than the benefits of nature conservation and personal contact with nature. In line with recognition of ESs, there is quite strong preference for the forested design scenario and particularly vegetation components across the socio-demographic spectrum. Overall, socio-demographic variables have very low explanatory power for the perceptual responses. Our study also revealed misunderstandings around riparian functions and a gap between public expectations and special abiotic and biotic prerequisites in restoring novel ecosystems. Finally, we discuss the relevance of this research to urban novel ecosystems in general, and implications for raising public awareness, engaging appropriate public values in sustainable design and management of such ecosystems.     

密云水库集水区水源涵养林生态价值计算的一种新方法

密云水库为北京市的主要水源,水库周边的水源涵养林对水库的水量和水质有巨大影响。通过新的计算公式V=Pa.Qa-Pb.Qb计算,每年由于水源林耗水带来经济损失为5 230.77万元,而因为PI=∑Ci/Coi,水源林净水作用节约的水处理费为94 302.9万元,两者相减得出其生态价值为89 072.13万元。     

Effects of closing mountain for forest restoration in the watershed of Miyun reservoir,Beijing

The paper provides a systematical analysis of ecological restoration effects of natural secondary forest of closurearea in Chao Guanxi Gou, Miyun County, Beijing. The results indicate that through more than twenty years of hillclosing afforestation since 1983, canopy closure has improved almost by 0.2; forest cover rate has raised from 7.2% to 93.8%; biodiversity, tree biomass and vegetation community have increased to a great extent. Compared with the average canopy closure before hillclosing afforestation in this area, it has improved to over 0.4 in average and increased by 0.1-0.2. The forest coverage degree has reached more than 90%. Consequently, the forest plays more important roles in intercepting precipitation, improving water storage capacity of soil, decreasing the surface runoff, and preventing soil and water loss.     

Photosynthetic physio-response of Taxodium ascendens seedlings to different soil water gradients

Four different kinds of water treatments were applied to study the photosynthetic eco-physiological characteristics of Taxodium ascendens seedlings in the environment of the Three Gorges hydro-fluctuation belt. The four kinds of water treatments were: normal growth water condition (CK), light drought stress (T1), soil water saturation (T2), and soil submersion (T3). The results showed that different water treatments could effectively influence the content of the photosynthetic pigment, leaf gas exchange and apparent resources use efficiency of T. ascendens seedlings. It was also demonstrated that the T. ascendens seedlings could not only tolerate water submersion and wet conditions but also endure a certain degree of drought. To establish a protection forest system in the hydro-fluctuation belt in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, the species T. ascendens is suitable for planting in conditions of root submersion or water-saturated soil. In case it is planted in drought conditions, this tree species should be watered appropriately in order to keep its normal net photosynthetic rate. Translated from Forest Research, 2006, 19(1): 54–60 [译自: 林业科学研究]     

Incorporating local ecological knowledge into urban riparian restoration in a mountainous region of Southwest China

Modern cities use straightened and concrete watercourses with simple greening for riparian zones, which has been criticised for insensitivity to natural system integrity and cultural identity. This increases the challenge to urban ecologists, landscape designers and managers to conceive innovative and effective design solutions that do not jeopardise hydraulic efficiency yet are culturally acceptable to local communities. This paper introduces the field of local ecological knowledge (LEK) as rich sources of inspiration and design solutions to meet this challenge. LEK refers to knowledge and practices of various local cultures about the relationship of living beings (including humans) with their environments. Wepropose a pragmatic framework that integrates LEK with modern landscape design. It includes steps: (1) investigate existing practices, skills andmeasures relating to LEK; (2) explore how and whereLEKcan inspire or integrate withdesign. Here we propose three aspects for integration in accordance with the nature of landscaping process: overall structure, component and maintenance.(3)evaluate and test the integration in terms of its acceptability by local communities. Taking the riparian revegetation project of Hanfeng Lake Urban Wetland Park (Chongqing Municipality) as an example, we illustrate the utility of this framework. 11 local common practices relating to LEK were identified. According to thethree aspects for integration, alternative design solutions were offered. The survey showed that LEK based designwas more highly valued than other conventional ways in terms of useracceptance. We conclude that LEK provides actionable ecologically sound and culturally desirablesolutions for urbanlandscape. We also recognise that LEK evolveswith changing environments and new harmonious and dynamic human-nature relationships arecontinually re-forming. The process of acquisition and application of LEK could encourage multidisciplinary and synthetic approaches to urban ecosystems. Such adaptability and interdisciplinary engagementare crucial totoday’schanging and complexurban environments.     

三峡库区花岗岩母质石英砂土不同经济林模式土壤养分特征研究

为了解三峡库区花岗岩母质不同经济林模式的土壤养分状况,研究了各模式下土壤pH、有机质、全量养分和速效养分的特征,并利用主成分分析法对不同模式的土壤质量进行了综合评价。结果表明,除土壤pH外,经济林土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾等含量的变异较宽,为中等变异。随土壤层次的增加,各模式下土壤有机质、全氮、速效氮、速效磷和速效钾含量呈递减趋势,而全磷和全钾则存在不规律变化。土壤有机质、全氮和速效钾对经济林土壤质量的高低产生着主要作用,土壤养分综合排名表现为柑橘（精细管理）>柑橘（常规管理）>板栗林>茶园。因此,利用生物措施和精细化管理措施,可有效提高该区域经济林的土壤质量。     

多项目管理理论在水库移民后扶项目中的初步研究

结合水库移民工作实践经验,构建了后扶项目多项目管理组织机构并初步分析了多项目管理在后扶项目管理中开展方法.     

白石水库水源富营养化评价及供水可靠性分析

本文在对白石水库水源富营养化进行评价的基础上,对水库供水可靠性进行了分析.从现状水质评价结果看,白石水库的水质满足《地表水环境质量标准》(GB 3838-2002)中的Ⅲ类用水水质要求,可以作为集中式生活饮用水水源地和工业用水水源地.经过水量调节计算,可知白石水库供水水质是可靠的.     

某水库建设项目地质灾害危险性评估

通过野外调查、室内分析研究了评估区的地质环境条件,主要包括环境地质、水文地质和工程地质;结合建设项目可行性研究报告、岩土工程勘察报告,对某水库建设项目地质灾害危险性进行了现状评估、预测评估以及综合性分区评估;对拟建场地进行了适宜性评价,并提出了地质灾害防治措施。     

Optimizing competitive uses of water for irrigation and fisheries

Choosing the appropriate reservoir water management strategy can be difficult when the water has multiple uses. This study examines this problem for reservoir managers where water use involves irrigation and fisheries. A stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) model is developed to facilitate reservoir management, using a case study illustration for southern Vietnam. The model includes the response of rice and fish yields to key factors including reservoir water levels, the timing and quantity of water release, and climatic conditions. The model also accounts for variation in rainfall patterns, irrigation requirements, and the demand for low water levels during the fish harvest season. Three production scenarios are examined where the reservoir's water is used for: only producing rice (scenario 1), only producing fish (scenario 2), and producing rice and fish (scenario 3). Key findings are: (1) for scenario 1, adequate water should be released to meet rice growing water requirements and residual water should be stored as a source of water in case of low rainfall, (2) for scenario 2, sufficient water needs to be released prior to the fish harvest to maximize this harvest; and (3) for scenario 3, water should be released prior to fish harvest, but sufficient water should remain to satisfy the water requirements of rice. When the reservoir is managed for joint production of rice and fish, net benefits are 6% greater than when the reservoir is managed solely for rice production. The SDP model developed in this paper could be adapted and applied to other multiple-use resources such as forests, river basins, and land.