Wealth and welfare? Can fisheries management succeed in achieving multiple objectives? A case study of Lake Victoria,East Africa

Fisheries policies often pursue multiple objectives, which may, in some instances, be in conflict or competition with each other. It may not be possible, for example, to create or maintain employment and generate increasing volumes of revenue for government whilst also sustaining stocks and biodiversity. Two approaches to fisheries management, one focused on capturing wealth and limiting access and the other on maintaining access for employment and providing community development and welfare, present contrasting policy advice, with different points of emphases and objectives. This article examines the case of Lake Victoria, where the three main commercial fisheries are seen to contribute to different objectives for the lake's fisheries. Insights from the debate between wealth‐based and welfare‐based approaches to fisheries management provide a framework for the analysis of fisheries policy and practice on the lake. From the analysis, it is concluded that whilst there is much rhetoric in support of a wealth‐based approach, this has not been followed through in implementation, reflecting the lack of political support for new taxation and limiting access. The welfare functions of the fisheries are significant, but could be substantially strengthened through greater investment in the provision of services to fisheries communities. The approaches are not mutually exclusive, but pursuing wealth‐based management must support livelihoods, employment and development, as well as fisheries management objectives. Without the incorporation of welfare objectives, fisheries policies will not be politically accepted or fully implemented, suggesting the need for a balance between wealth and welfare objectives and measures.     

轮作种植制度的生态经济效益分析及发展建议

在集约化种植和经济效益的驱动下,连作在中国已经成了较为普遍的种植模式,即年复一年地在田间种植单一作物。长期的连作导致了病虫害严重、产量低下、土壤健康状况降低等诸多问题。轮作是有效解决连作障碍的方法之一,在国家粮食安全、生态环境发展以及乡村振兴等战略实施中有着至关重要的作用。本研究通过文献检索,利用对比分析法,进行文献综述,阐述相比于连作,轮作所带来的经济效益与生态效益,并且通过国内外相关轮作制度的对比,为中国轮作产业的发展提供建议。结果显示,相比于连作,轮作在经济与生态方面都有着很高的效益。同时通过对比发现,中国目前的轮作体系与国外在指导思路、推广机制、补贴方式与监管措施上均有差异,在轮作发展过程中,中国仍存在诸多问题。结合国外的相关轮作经验,中国应该着手于制定科学的轮作计划、发展轮作的配套技术（如保护性耕作、覆盖作物、节水灌溉等）、加强轮作相关的宣传与推广、精准落实轮作政策同时按时进行轮作的合理评估与政策调整,进而完善中国的轮作体系,这对于在国内大规模开展轮作种植具有一定的指导意义。     

海峡两岸农地制度改革比较与启示

本文分析了海峡两岸农地政策的演变,探讨大陆现行农地政策存在的问题,据此提出农地政策的几点启示和建议。台湾地区在农地制度改革中尊重社会经济发展规律,善于运用法律法规手段等经验,值得我们大陆地区学习借鉴。     

中国农业政策环境影响初步分析

国家农业政策是国家总体经济政策的重要组成部分,是政府为了实现一定的农业、经济和社会发展目的。对影响农业发展的重要环节所采取的一系列具有宏观调控作用的政策措施的总称。国家农业政策的实施,可能会对中国的环境及其保护事业造成巨大的压力和影响。通过对中国农业政策背景、政策目标、政策利益相关者、政策手段等进行分析总结,指出中国农业政策通过改变农户生产结构、生产方式和生产技术等对农业环境产生影响。目前对农业环境影响较大的农业政策有粮食安全政策、土地政策、提高农民非农收入的政策、结构调整政策和农业环境政策。通过对这些政策对农业环境的影响分析,提出了要提高对农业环境问题的重视程度、实施农业政策与环境政策一体化,深化农地使用制度改革、明确界定土地所有权主体、稳定土地承包关系,制定激励政策减轻农业面源污染,建立健全农业环境污染监管机制,重视生态建设,发展生态农业等政策调整建议。     

The role of community policies in defensible space compliance

Recently enacted federal and state policies provide incentives, including financial assistance, for local jurisdictions to manage risks associated with wildland fire. This has led to an array of local-level policies designed to encourage homeowners to create fire-safe landscapes. This qualitative study collected data from focus group interviews with homeowners in three diverse communities and used the theory of reasoned action to interpret dimensions of local-level wildland fire policies that are associated with homeowner acceptance of or compliance with defensible space guidelines or regulations. Common factors emerged in two policy evaluation categories: acceptance and compliance. WUI homeowners are more accepting of policies that are seen as fair and part of a more comprehensive risk reduction strategy. Topics that shaped acceptance of voluntary versus mandatory approaches included perceived risk severity, views about the proper roles of government, and beliefs about alternatives to regulatory approaches (e.g. private insurance, education, ignition source reduction). Program characteristics that were found to be related to beliefs about defensible space and acceptance included provision of one-on-one expert consultation, direct mail communication modes, needs-based financial assistance, and enhanced yard waste disposal options. Homeowner compliance is related to the feasibility in terms of household costs and yard waste disposal options, neighborhood norms, competing land use objectives, insurance considerations, and whether or not the policy is mandatory. These findings led to a proposed conceptual model of vegetation management policy acceptance and compliance that local governments can use to develop or amend defensible space vegetation management policies to increase policy acceptance and compliance.     

Negotiating a political path to agroforestry through the Conservation Security Program

Temperate agroforestry systems have faced obstacles to adoption despite their multiple environmental, economic, and social benefits. In part, these obstacles derive from the typically small scale of agroforestry systems relative to large-scale mainstream grain agriculture, which in the US is supported by strong commodity subsidies. One promising option for promoting agroforestry on a policy level, and thus for making it more appealing to landowners, is the Conservation Security Program (CSP), which provides payments to farmers for sustainable conservation practices on working lands. CSP was first passed in 2002 and has many supporters; however it has also faced opposition, delays in implementation and funding caps. CSP proponents have thus promoted its expansion in current and future Farm Bills. Since CSP is one part of the Farm Bill clearly suited to promoting agroforestry practices, supporters of agroforestry should consider joining coalitions around CSP to ensure that it includes explicit provisions for advancing agroforestry. In addition, CSP and agroforestry proponents alike should develop a strategic plan to market the expansion of CSP to policy makers. Specifically, a broad and strong coalition based on ideological common ground (e.g., attention to the notion of a family farmer) and on situational factors (e.g., potential international pressure from the World Trade Organization to reduce commodity subsidies) might be sufficient to push CSP into an expanded role in current and future Farm Bills.

Songgye,a traditional knowledge system for sustainable forest management in Choson Dynasty of Korea

Throughout the history of the world, the best-orchestrated and publicly cohesive reforestation event occurred in South Korea. One of the best-known causes for such a success was the leadership of the government at that time, in particular the president Park Chung Hee. However, from forestry point of view, it evolved from Songgye, a traditional method of forest management evolved in late Choson Dynasty of Korea in reaction to rapid privatization of national forests by the elite class and government officials. Songgye was a unique social institution to promote sustainable use of local forests by local citizens. The primary goals of Songgye were to determine the annual amount of harvest and assign certain areas for specific uses and activities. Songgye also organized various activities within the community to prevent wild fires and illegal logging and smuggling, besides setting up rules and regulations to control activities as well as infringements. Songgye, remembered today as a cultural reminiscence, played a significant role in the success of reforestation of denuded landscapes after colonization and war.     

国外生物质能源产业扶持政策

生物质能源消费量占世界能源总消费量的15%左右, 作为可再生的清洁能源, 其重要性越来越重要。国外很多国家都对生物质能产业的发展加强引导, 制定国家发展战略, 建立专门的科研和管理机构, 强化立法, 并在财政、信贷、税收等方面给予相当大的政策扶持。     

基于产业集群理论的广西林产工业发展问题及对策研究

笔者从产业集群的角度,通过对产业集群理论的简要概述,对广西林产工业发展现状及存在的问题进行初步分析,并提出了今后发展林产工业的一些对策与建议.     

关于国际森林问题的思考

介绍了国际森林问题的由来、内涵和特点, 分析了发展中国家和发达国家在全球森林可持续经营中面临的问题、成因和对实质性根源等方面的共识, 提出我国参与国际森林问题谈判应当遵循的原则。