CONSTRUCTION OF AN INDEX SYSTEM FOR SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT IN SMALLHOLDER FARMING SYSTEMS

● A five-step process for quantifying smallholder farming system sustainability is proposed. ● Definition of system boundary, functional unit, and indicators depends on research issues. ● Weighting, conversion, and aggregation methods tightly relates to the validity of assessment results. Smallholder farming systems are important for global food security, but these faces multiple environmental challenges hindering sustainable development. Although sustainable smallholder agriculture issues have been widely discussed and addressed by scientists globally, harmonized approaches in evaluating sustainability are still lacking. This paper proposes a five-step process for constructing a sustainability assessment method for smallholder farming systems, namely definition of system boundary, indicator selection, indicator weighting, indicator conversion, and indicator aggregation. The paper summarizes the state-of-art progresses in agricultural sustainability assessment at different stages, and systematically discussed the benefits and limitations of weighting and aggregation methods. Overall, this evaluation process should be useful by providing rational and comprehensive results for quantifying the sustainability of smallholder farming systems, and will contribute to practice by providing decision-makers with directions for improving sustainable strategies.     

基于生态足迹的可持续评价指标体系的构建

【目的】鉴于生态足迹法存在的缺陷，增加新的指标以改进该方法在评价区域可持续发展中的不足，构建可持续发展定量评价的新指标体系，完善可持续发展评价法。【方法】在生态足迹法的基础上，提出了生态压力指数、生态占用指数、生态经济协调指数和可持续发展指数4个概念，且制定了相应的指标等级划分标准，形成新的指标体系。【结果】利用该评价指标体系对全球147个国家及中国部分省、市和县作了评价。【结论】该评价指标体系可运用于不同时空条件下的可持续评价。     

The poverty of sustainability: An analysis of current positions

A short time ago the idea of sustainable agriculture was accepted only at the extreme margins of the U. S. agricultural systems. Although sustainability has now become a major theme of many U. S. agricultural groups, there remains much under-explored terrain in the meaning of sustainable agriculture. A thorough examination of who and what we want to sustain and how we can sustain them is critical if sustainable agriculture is to be a practical improvement over conventional agriculture. In order to begin this effort, this article analyzes contemporary sustainable agriculture discourse and suggests alternatives for reconceptualizing sustainable agriculture. In particular we look at three arenas of sustainable discourse—family farm/rural community preservation, food safety, and agricultural science—and address issues of class, race/ethnicity, and gender found in current sustainability positions. We find that while advocates of sustainability have succeeded in pushing agricultural researchers and policy makers to address environmental issues, we need to go much farther both in theory and practice in order to deal with equally important issues of social equity.Patricia Allen is senior analyst with the Agroecology Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her work concentrates on the political economic aspects of sustainability issues in food and agricultural systems. Her edited book,Food for the Future: Conditions and Contradictions of Sustainability, will be published this spring by John Wiley & Sons.     

构建农民工社会保障制度的研究

从农民工社会保障制度现状出发,分析了农民工社会保障权缺失的原因,并从分层分类完善农民工社会保障制度和创造适合农民工特点的社会保障形式等方面提出了构建农民工社会保障制度的对策。     

TOWARD SUSTAINABLE MAIZE PRODUCTION FOR SMALLHOLDERS THROUGH OPTIMIZED STRATEGIES IN NORTH CHINA

● County-level sustainability assessment of maize production is presented. ● County-level improvement potential exhibits a large spatial heterogeneity. ● Promoting technical innovations can facilitate China’s agricultural transition. Agricultural production by smallholders is crucial for ensuring food provision in China. However, smallholders face a series of challenges on their farms including high-to-excess resource inputs, low use efficiency, as well as negative environmental impacts, which may be unfavorable for sustainable agriculture production. This study developed a county-level sustainability assessment of maize production in Hebei, China, by applying multiple data sources in combination with emergy, carbon footprint, nitrogen footprint and cost-benefit analyses. Scenario analysis was applied to explore the localized implementation strategies to achieve the sustainable farming system. The results show that the average emergy sustainability index (ESI) of maize at 2.31 is relatively low. The average greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reactive nitrogen (Nr) losses are 0.15 g·kcal⁻¹ CO₂-eq and 3.75 mg·kcal⁻¹ N, respectively. The average cost and net income are 12,700 and 4340 CNY·ha⁻¹, respectively. These results indicate a great potential to improve the environmental-economic sustainability of the maize production system of smallholders. In addition, the environmental and economic indicators calculated from the maize production show a substantial spatial heterogeneity among counties, indicating a requirement for different optimization strategies to improve the environment-economy sustainability at a finer scale. Based on the multiple scenario analysis, optimal strategies targeting each county are proposed. By adopting the optimal strategies, the average ESI and net income could increase by 32% and 83%, respectively, and the average GHG emissions and Nr losses reduce by 33% and 35%, respectively. These findings provide an important reference for adopting different strategies to achieve environment-economy sustainability for smallholders production systems with diverse landscapes in North China and propose a transition pathway toward achieving agriculture sustainability for smallholders worldwide.     

可持续发展视角下我国森林法的修正

分析了我国森林法修正的可持续发展价值理念,认为可持续发展是森林法立法理念的革新,符合国际主流,也是解决当今国内环境问题的要求。从可持续发展的经济可持续、生态可持续、社会可持续三大方面出发,对《修正案》中关于林业资源的保护、林权制度的改革和科技兴林有关规定的修改进行剖析。强调生态可持续视角下的林业资源保护应实现由重视数量向重视质量转变,完善森林资源的分类保护体系,构建多部门联动的森林保护机制;经济可持续视角下的林权流转制度改革应统一对于林权流转形式的规定,建立森林资产资源评估制度,以分类经营思路发展林业经济;社会可持续视角下的森林服务和科技兴林要求发挥森林游憩的社会功能,以科技兴林和林业科技反哺社会。     

论可持续农业的评价指标

本文旨在对我国可持续农业评价指标体系的设计与建设等方面的有关问题进行研究,从我国可持续农业评价指标体系的设计目标与内容、评价指标的类型与结构、指标体系的基本特征等方面进行较系统分析。提出了我国可持续农业评价指标体系建设过程中必须重视的有关问题,对可持续农业指标体系的设计具有一定的参考意义。     

Sustainability assessment of potato fields using the DEXi decision support system in Hamadan Province,Iran

Potato is a staple food crop and the most important agricultural commodity, which critically affects food security and economic stability in Hamadan Province, Iran. Ex-ante sustainability appraisal of new cropping systems and their comparisons with conventional systems can increase the efficiencies of innovations and changes within the production process. This study aimed to explore the sustainability levels of potato cropping systems in Hamadan Province, Iran. To this end, DEXi methodology was developed for the sustainability assessment of the cropping systems. For assessing the three dimensions of environmental, economic, and social sustainability in the four systems of traditional potato system (TPS), Quasi-industrial potato system (QIPS), industrial potato system (IPS), and government-promoted potato system (GPPS), five groups of features were utilized: (1) irrigation method; (2) seed placement; (3) farm machinery use; (4) agrochemical use; and (5) rotation. The impact assessments of the cropping systems were based on two, three, and two groups of ecological, social, and economic indicators, respectively. Employment, supply chain, protection, operational difficulty, productivity, profitability, input use, and biodiversity resulted in 21 basic indicators and 13 aggregated indicators, by which the cropping systems were described. The results revealed that GPPS with distinctive economic and social profiles could have a better overall sustainability despite the fact that some indicators like biodiversity could be negatively affected. Finally, three strategies were recommended for the sustainability of GPPS as follows: biodiversity enhancement, input substitution, and integrated water management.     

陕西省渭北苹果主产区的农业可持续发展评价——以洛川、旬邑与白水县为例

为准确把握陕西省渭北苹果主产区农业可持续发展状况,通过基于欧氏距离的农业可持续发展评价理论对陕西渭北苹果主产区进行农业可持续发展评价,选取洛川、旬邑和白水县2007—2016 10年间的19项指标展开分析,诊断限制当地农业可持续发展的障碍性因子,主要结论如下:1)陕西省渭北苹果主产区总体处于中可持续发展状态,可持续发展能力洛川县旬邑县白水县。2)限制陕西省渭北苹果主产区可持续发展的主要因素有施肥量不适宜、土壤肥力低、人均粮食产量低、人均土地面积少、自然灾害频发和劳动力文化水平低,针对这些问题,应当采取提高秸秆、畜禽粪便还田率提高土肥力;适量施用化肥;保护耕地资源提高土地利用效率;提高当地人民文化素质等措施,推动当地农业走上高可持续发展道路。3)基于欧氏距离的农业可持续发展评价方法能够基本反映农业发展现状,洛川、旬邑和白水3县农业可持续发展指数(ASDI)分别是[0.65,0.77]、[0.63,0.67]和[0.58,0.63],除白水2015和2016年处于低持续状态外其余呈现中持续发展状态。     

建设现代生态林业工程问题探讨

生态林是我们人类可持续发展的天然屏障,天然氧吧。不断强化生态林业工程建设工作,可 以有效的缓解温室效应、水土流失等环境问题,是我们人类实现可持续发展的重要战略工程。对此, 在当今时代发展下,不断完善生态林业工程建设相关制度和工作,可以有效的推动生态林业工程建设 工作更加规范化、高效化。改革开放以来,随着我国经济社会的快速发展,生态林业工程建设也迈入 了快速发展的快车道上来,森林覆盖率持续增长,但是在具体了工作细节中还存在一定的问题,需要 我们不断去完善和创新。     

贵州省大方县农业生产系统可持续性分析

“可持续发展”虽然不再是一个新的概念,但在如何更好地保护和利用自然资源这个问题上,它依然是人们生活中所关注的一个热点。自从“可持续农业”概念的提出并成为社会的焦点以来．就存在着如何定义和衡量可持续农业的争论。目前广泛认同的一个观点就是农业的可持续发展包含着生态、经济、社会3方面的协调发展。根据大方县各生态区域的自然、社会和经济条件的不同,分别将小屯、竹园、六龙3个乡镇选为代表中低海拔、中海拔、中高海拔地区的生产状况,对大方县的农业生产的可持续性进行分析。根据所选的指标体系进行第一手资料和第二手资料搜集;农户调查通过面谈、田间观察和小组讨论进行。研究表明,从总体上来说,六龙镇的农业生产系统的可持续性在经济和社会方面稍好,3个乡镇的农业生产系统可持续性都属于中等水平;     

城市化与郊区农民教育培训发展探析

“三农”问题是当前我国社会和经济发展中的热点问题，城市化发展过程中的“三农”依然是农村社会和经济发展的制约因素之一。作者在分析上海郊区农业和农村社会经济发展特点与郊区劳动力现状的基础上，就郊区农民教育培训发展的任务、模式创新进行了探析，提出了郊区农民教育培训的任务是农业的生产培训、农业劳动力转移培训和农民的生活教育培训，并从创新发展的角度提出了能力本位的培训模式、素质教育的培训模式和远程教育培训模式。     

持续农业中的土壤生物指标研究

 土壤是陆地农业生态系统的重要组成部分,因而土壤质量或土壤健康成为农业可持续发展的重要内涵。在以往的研究中,人们一直强调以土壤理化特性作为持续性指标,但近期国际上关于土壤生物学参数的研究日渐增多,一些参数作为生物指标已表现出很大的潜力,研究空间不断扩展。对农业生态系统来说,土壤生物指标有可能成为系统稳定性的早期预警和敏感指标。     

Quantitative Evaluation of Sustainable Development and Eco-Environmental Carrying Capacity in Water-Deficient Regions: A Case Study in the Haihe River Basin,China

Quantitative assessment of development sustainability could be a challenge to regional management and planning, especially for areas facing great risks of water shortage. Surface-water decline and groundwater over-pumping have caused serious environmental problems and limited economic development in many regions all around the world. In this paper, a framework for quantitatively evaluating development sustainability was established with water-related eco-environmental carrying capacity (EECC) as the core measure. As a case study, the developed approach was applied to data of the Haihe River Basin, China, during 1998 through 2007. The overall sustainable development degree (SDD) is determined to be 0.39, suggesting that this rate of development is not sustainable. Results of scenario analysis revealed that overshoot, or resource overexploitation, of the Basin's EECC is about 20% for both population and economy. Based on conditions in the study area in 2007, in order to achieve sustainable development, i.e., SDD>0.70 in this study, the EECC could support a population of 108 million and gross domestic product (GDP) of 2.72 trillion CNY. The newly developed approach in quantifying eco-environmental carrying capacity is anticipated to facilitate sustainable development oriented resource management in water-deficient areas.     

海南农业可持续发展能力指标体系构建及其评价

根据一定的指标体系构建原则和指标选取方法,构建了海南农业可持续发展能力指标体系,并利用变异系数法确定指标权重,同时利用2000--2009年的数据对海南省农业可持续发展的能力进行了评价。结果表明,2000--2009年海南省农业系统总体发展良好,呈上升趋势,但农村社会子系统、农业资源子系统和农业环境子系统的可持续性不稳定,建议加大对弱势子系统的发展力度。     

福建省泉州市农业水资源可持续利用评价研究

在分析福建省泉州市农业水资源利用现状的基础上,构建农业水资源可持续利用现状评价指标体系,评价泉州市农业水资源可持续利用区域分异规律及其主导指标,并制定相应对策。     

“三农”问题与农业现代化

现代化具有整体性和关联性。农业、农民、农村(“三农”)问题的解决是实现农业现代化的关键。解决“三农”问题,必须创新体制,以解决农民问题为突破口,提高农民的整体素质,调整农业产业结构,促进农业可持续发展。     

基于可持续发展的耒阳经济开发区生态满意度评价

以战略环境评价为依据,对耒阳经济开发区可持续发展条件下的生态环境进行了综合评价。建立基于可持续发展条件下的生态满意度指标体系,利用可持续发展协调度、发展度及社会、经济与环境综合指数模型,采用层次分析法和专家打分法对耒阳经济开发区可持续发展条件下的生态环境进行综合评价。结果表明:耒阳经济开发区生态满意度为一般水平。     

我国小城镇可持续发展评价研究——以山东省相州镇为例

借鉴近年来国内外可持续发展研究成果,构建出小城镇可持续发展评价指标体系,以山东省相州镇为研究对象,在建立评价模型的基础上,计算得出其可持续发展目前处于优异状态,但资源要素的可持续性不容乐观,已在很大程度上制约了该城镇的整体可持续运转。     

基于熵值法的合肥市经济发展质量评价

通过回顾相关理论,确定经济发展质量的内涵,构建了人民、环境、经济3项一级指标以及20项二级指标的评价指标体系。再通过熵值法测算出指标的权重和每年经济发展质量的综合得分,从而对合肥市的经济发展质量作出评估,并为合肥市将来的经济发展提供方向和建议。根据实证分析结果,合肥市近10年人民生活得到了巨大改善,但是对环境的保护和治理力度不够,并且在经济结构合理性、经济发展稳定性等方面仍存在问题,故合肥市在今后的经济发展中应更加注重提高科学技术的创新能力、追求经济发展的效率和可持续性。