Suharto's Fall and Afterwards: Medititations Provoked by Four Recent Analyses

Books reviewed in this article: Edward Aspinall, et al, (eds) The last days of President Suharto Richard W. Baker, et al, (eds) Indonesia: The Challenge of Change Arief Budiman, et al, (eds) Reformasi: Crisis and change in Indonesia Geoff Forester, (ed) Post‐Soeharto Indonesia: Renewal or Chaos?     

Reviews

Books reviewed: Yongnian Zheng, Discovering Chinese nationalism in China: Modernization, identity and international relations Peter Drysdale and Dong Dong Zhang, (eds), Japan and China: rivalry or cooperation in East Asia? Eva‐Marie Kroller, Allan Smith, Joshua Mostow and Robert Kramer, (eds), Pacific encounters: the production of self and other Lee Kam Hing and Tan Chee‐Beng, (eds), The Chinese in Malaysia Edmund Terence Gomez and Jomo K.S., Malaysia's political economy: Politics, patronage and profits Patrick V. Kirch, On the Road of the Winds R. Le Heron, L. Murphy, P. Forer, M. Goldstone (eds), Explorations in Human Geography: Encountering Place     

Scaling the environmental commons: Broadening our frame of reference for transboundary governance in Southeast Asia

The transboundary environmental commons in Southeast Asia are normally conceived in terms of shared resources and environmental impacts that transcend national borders. The Mekong's ‘fugitive resources’ of water, fish and sediment and the issue of Indonesia's smoke haze drift into Malaysia and Singapore dominate discussion. Assumed national interests shape actors and institutional arrangements for transboundary commons governance. Failure to address the governance challenges is explained in terms of their politico‐cultural failings (e.g. the ‘ASEAN Way’ of non‐interference), the weak regulatory remit of agencies with a specific transboundary governance role (Mekong River Commission), the dominant developmental agenda of subregional cooperative arrangements (Greater Mekong Subregion) or the geopolitical dominance of China (Lancang–Mekong Cooperation). This article builds on these critiques by considering the relationship between the local commons impacted by transboundary projects and the framing of the commons at an inter‐governmental level. It shows that neglect of the local commons and the impacts on them of projects with transboundary effects is partly to be explained by the institutional scaling of the transboundary commons at a country‐to‐country level. It also argues for an expanded notion of transboundary, including investment and governance flows as well as the material environmental footprint of large‐scale investments.     

Importance of individual root traits to understand crop root system in agronomic and environmental contexts

Resource acquisition, one of the major functions of roots, can contribute to crop growth and mitigating environmental impacts. The spatio-temporal distribution of roots in the soil in relation to the dynamics of the soil resources is critical in resource acquisition. Root distribution is determined by root system development. The root system consists of many individual roots of different types and ages. Each individual root has specific development, resource acquisition, and transport traits, which change with root growth. The integration of individual root traits in the root system could exhibit crop performance in the various environments via root distribution in the soil. However, the relationship between individual root traits and the pattern of root distribution is complicated. To understand this complicated relationship, we need to evaluate enormous numbers of individual root traits and understand the relationship between individual root development and root distribution as well as the integrated functions of individual root traits along with dynamics of resources in the soil.     

Participatory natural resource management in rural China: Making and unmaking environmental narratives

Environmental and development discourses in China can be categorised into three narrative motifs framing human–nature relationships: peasant, indigenous, and community. Indigenous and community narratives have been widely adopted by environmental NGOs (eNGOs) in China in promoting community‐based natural resource management projects, but there has been very limited critical research on such phenomena. Analysis of socio‐economic change in two ethnic minority communities in Yunnan shows that neither narrative theme is fully internalised by the relevant communities. Instead narratives may be strategically modified or even rejected by local communities. This is due to different agendas being held by local communities and eNGOs, and two factors pertinent to rural China: the incompatibility of concepts of ‘community’ in Chinese and international contexts results in confusion, and a lack of recent territorial and cultural claims by rural communities since the collectivist era makes it difficult to construct the identity of a community. It remains challenging for eNGOs in China to advocate either community or indigenous narratives in contexts of rapid socio‐economic change.     

Plan and market mismatch: Urban redevelopment in Beijing during a period of transition

Abstract: With the emergence of the real estate market since 1990, the operation Beijing's economy has led to a re‐shaping of its inner city. By reviewing the Old and Dilapidated Housing Redevelopment (ODHR) programme in Beijing in the 1990s, this paper seeks to uncover the forces that led to the prevailing large‐scale urban redevelopment which induced serious environmental and socio‐economic problems. By analysing conflicts between major stakeholders of the ODHR programme, the paper finds that the root cause of these problems was embedded in the ‘mismatch of plan and market’ by which local officials and local developers utilised their privileges inherited from a planned economy to benefit from the emerging real estate markets. As a result, the hidden agenda of local elites was facilitated during the urban redevelopment process.     

典型黑土区土壤环境质量综合评价指标体系与分区管理对策研究

东北黑土区是中国重要的商品粮基地,但由于经济的快速发展和工农业水平的提高,造成区域水土流失严重,黑土层变薄,土壤肥力变差,区域内土壤环境质量逐年下降。从研究区实际情况出发,结合现存环境问题,通过对东北黑土区驱动力、土壤环境压力、土壤环境状态、土壤环境影响及响应5个方面出发,在驱动力-压力-状态-影响-响应(DPSIR)框架模型基础上,进行典型黑土区土壤环境质量指标筛选,建立由5大部分,18个一级指标,30个二级指标构成的指标体系。同时,以评价指标体系为指导,结合东北地区现有环境管理政策和存在的土壤环境质量问题,提出黑土区土壤环境分区分类管理方案,为区域土壤环境管理和土壤环境保护提供科学依据。     

达里诺尔湖湿地生态系统服务价值评价

生态系统服务功能是生态系统与生态过程所形成及所维持的人类赖以生存的自然环境条件与效用,对其服务价值进行货币化评价,可以推动自然资源可持续利用,促进区域生态环境保护。以达里诺尔湖湿地为研究对象,结合达里诺尔湖湿地生态系统的结构、特征及其生态过程特点,通过资料搜集与实地调研,运用资源经济学理论和方法,对达里诺尔湖湿地生态系统服务价值进行了划分。构建了达里诺尔湖湿地生态系统服务价值评价指标体系,并对其进行了价值评价。评价结果显示达里诺尔湖湿地的服务价值为93.70×10⁴万元,其中直接使用价值为2.19×10⁴万元,占比为2.36%,间接使用价值为91.51×10⁴万元,占比为97.66%。各项生态系统服务功能中以调节空气湿度价值最大,为82.76×10⁴万元,占总服务价值的88.32%。     

Low-input cropping systems to reduce input dependency and environmental impacts in maize production: A multi-criteria assessment

Intensification of cropping systems in recent decades has increased their productivity but affected air, soil and water quality. These harmful environmental impacts are exacerbated in Maize Monoculture (MM) and hasten the need for solutions to overcome the trade off between crop yield and environmental impacts. In a three-year cropping systems experiment, a conventional intensive maize monoculture (MM_Conv), with a winter bare fallow, deep soil tillage, non-limiting irrigation was compared to three Low Input Cropping Systems (LI-CS) designed as alternatives to the conventional system. They were managed with decision-rules implemented to reach specific objectives of input reduction. The LI-CS designed with Integrated Weed Management (IWM) techniques and other sustainable cropping practices, were:(i) MM_LI—an IWM Low Input MM; (ii) MM_CT—a Conservation Tillage combined with cover crop MM; and (iii) Maize-MSW—an IWM maize grown in rotation with soybean and wheat. A comprehensive multi-criteria assessment was carried out to quantify the agronomic, economic, social, and environmental performances of each system. A canonical discriminant analysis of performance metrics revealed large differences between the four systems. Yields were significantly higher in MM_Conv (11.0 Mg ha⁻¹) and MM_LI (10.3 Mg ha⁻¹) than in Maize-MSW (8.6 Mg ha⁻¹) and MM_CT (7.8 Mg ha⁻¹). MM_CT had the largest weed infestation (density and biomass) despite the greatest use of herbicides. The Herbicide Treatment Frequency Index (HTFI), used to indicate differences in herbicide use, revealed that the MM_LI (HTFI = 1.0) and Maize-MSW (1.1) halved the herbicide use as compared to the MM_Conv (2.1), despite having similar weed abundance levels. The LI-CS, especially MM_CT, produced high biomass winter cover crops and then less nitrogen fertilization was required as compared to MM_Conv. Gross margins in the MM_LI (1254 € ha⁻¹) and MM_Conv (1252 € ha⁻¹) were higher than the MM_CT (637 € ha⁻¹) and Maize-MSW (928 € ha⁻¹). MM_LI and MM_Conv had similar labour requirements. Water drainage, pesticide leaching, energy use, and estimated greenhouse gas emissions were higher in MM_Conv than in the LI-CS in most years. Results from this research show good potential for the MM_LI to reduce the environmental impacts of MM_Conv while maintaining its economic and social performance.     

Trading in waste: Integrating sustainable development goals and environmental policies in trade negotiations toward enhanced solid waste management in Pacific Islands countries and territories

This paper provides a broad survey of existing literature on contemporary solid waste management (SWM) in the Pacific region to underscore an urgent and compelling need for improved SWM. Despite advances in waste management systems and funding for technical support and capacity building from a range of sources, waste continues to threaten public and ecological health and the economy in Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (PICTs). SWM in the Pacific requires innovative thinking in a challenging environment of remoteness, limited available land, fragile ecosystems, vulnerability to natural hazards and subsequent climate sensitivity. Many PICTs are under considerable pressure to open their markets up to trade liberalisation. Increasing links to the global economy through trade liberalisation could either further exacerbate waste management challenges in the Pacific or contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development goals. The authors argue that if the PICTs' urgent waste management challenges are to be meaningfully addressed, the region's leaders must ensure trading partners conform to local environmental protection policies and that trade agreements align with sustainable development goals.     

北方农牧交错区生态循环农业发展模式路径研究——以河北省承德市种养废弃物资源化利用模式为例

推动农业废弃物资源化利用,对当前推进中国农业生态化转型、实现人居环境的不断改善具有重要意,而科学评估现有农业废弃物资源化利用模式、了解其再利用的物质循环导向十分必要.在运用归纳演绎法梳理承德市当前废弃物资源化利用面临的形势和存在的主要问题的基础上,进行实证分析,为其今后发展提出相应对策建议.研究认为,承德市农业废弃物资...     

Choosing the most representative technical management routes within diverse management practices: Application to vineyards in the Loire Valley for environmental and quality assessment

Diversity of agricultural systems can be described at different scales in terms of three main types of variables: technical management of cropping systems, farming systems and food supply chains. We focus on the diversity of technical management routes (TMRs), defined as logical successions of technical options (TOs) designed by the farmers. The study, comparison and assessment of this great diversity of complex routes are impossible with classical agronomic experiments or exhaustive assessments such as life cycle assessment (LCA). Hence, the selection of representative cases is necessary. Multidimensional data analysis methods permit the characterization of a diversity of TMRs and the construction of typologies but do not allow the consideration of the specific associations of TOs constituting the various TMRs.The aim of this paper is threefold: (i) to propose a new combined method, “Typ-iti”, to classify the field TMRs of farmers, to identify key TO associations and to select the most relevant cases for study; (ii) to test this method on vineyard management diversity using a panel of vineyard fields of Loire Valley producers; and (iii) to discuss the capability of the proposed Typ-iti method for use in the characterization and selection of cases of other agricultural systems at diverse scales.The example developed in this paper is the selection of vineyard management cases for grape LCA combined with grape quality evaluation. The cases were selected to represent the regional diversity of management practices. A detailed on-farm survey of management methods was performed on a diverse range of wine production estates in the Middle Loire Valley. The Typ-iti method was constructed and implemented on the survey database. It combines a multidimensional analysis of qualitative survey data and typology and partitioning (clustering) associated with data mining methods (frequent pattern mining search and association rules).The surveyed sample was partitioned into 5 types of management practices, 2 of which were organic and 3 conventional. The partitioning was driven primarily by choices involving pest management and floor management. Each type was characterized by specific TOs, specific associations of TOs and remarkable TMRs. The cases were chosen on the basis of these 3 parameters.The Typ-iti method can be applied to other crops and at different scales; the only limitation is the availability of precise information on the practices used by farmers in their fields.     

Diversity of methodologies to experiment Integrated Pest Management in arable cropping systems: Analysis and reflections based on a European network

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) aims to promote physical and biological regulation strategies that help farmers contain populations of pests (pathogens, animal pests and weeds) and to finally reduce the reliance on pesticides. It is based on the holistic combination of multiple management measures rather than on the sum of single methods, each of them having only small effects on pests reduction. Thus, to analyse the interactions between IPM measures and to evaluate the sustainability of their implementation, we require an approach considering the whole cropping system (CS), i.e. a functional entity whose complexity is more than the sum of its parts. A network of European experiments at the CS level was set up recently, and aimed at sharing data and expertise to enhance knowledge of IPM. Comparison of existing methodologies highlighted a diversity of CS designs and experimental layouts. We deduced that the concept of CS itself was viewed differently among scientists, and this affected experimental protocols. Other differences were related to the research context and objectives. Some experiments aimed to explore very innovative strategies and generated knowledge on both their effects on the agroecosystem and their ability to satisfy a set of performance targets, while others aimed to provide quickly adoptable solutions for local farmers in line with the current socio-economic constraints. In some research programmes, the experiment was part of the CS design process — and tested CS were regularly revised based on an continuous improvement loop — while in other cases CS were kept stable across years so as to enable the evaluation of their long-term cumulative effects. A critical aspect contributing to the diversity among CS experiments was the distinction between a factorial design of experimental CS and systemic approaches: factorial experiments allowed quantification of the effects of each IPM component regardless of the consistency between components defining the CS. In contrast, systemic approaches focused on the overall evaluation of CS designed with consideration of their consistency, hence maximising their ability to meet the objectives. Because CS experiments represent a huge investment in terms of economics and time, preliminary reflections of the relevance of the experimental strategy is of critical importance.     

Herbicide-tolerant crops in agriculture: oilseed rape as a case study

Oilseed rape has been modified extensively by conventional breeding for the production of varieties useful for human consumption (blended vegetable oil and margarine) and industrial processes (rubber additives and high‐temperature lubricants). Because much is now known about its genetic and biochemical composition, it has been an obvious choice for genetic modification and is now at the forefront of the commercial development of genetically modified (GM) or transgenic crops. Around the world, the increase in commercial plantings of all transgenic crops has been rapid. In 1996, 1.7 million hectares were planted, but by 1998 this figure had jumped to 27.8 million ha. The area in the year 2001 is likely to be about 50 million ha. With the possible introduction of transgenic varieties into European agriculture, it is essential that the associated farming practices employed are appropriate for their growth, both from a commercial and an environmental viewpoint. Some of the first transgenic crops are those carrying agronomic traits, e.g. herbicide tolerance transgenes. However, before full commercialization occurs, important agronomic and environmental questions need to be answered. How are these new crops to be incorporated into existing cropping practices? How will this change the current herbicide use profile for a given crop? Do herbicide‐tolerant varieties enhance or impede integrated pest management schemes? What is the likely uptake of such crops in agriculture? What are the ecological implications of their introduction? Are there effective measures to control the spread of transgenes to wild relatives? This paper addresses these questions, with special emphasis on oilseed rape production in the UK, but includes examples from other crops and countries where appropriate.