The Role of Rhus trichocarpaMiq. Patches in Pine Forest Dynamics in Japan

Abstract

Rhus trichocarpaMiq. is a short-statured pioneer tree species that creates patch communities during the early successional stages of some pine forests in Japan. A 0.6 ha sample plot was established in a Japanese red pine (Pinus densifloraSieb, et Zucc.) stand to evaluate the influence of patch structure on regeneration of R. trichocarpaand other tree species. The plot included 47 patches of R. trichocarpa.The survivorship of R. trichocarpaseedlings was high in small patches, but low in large ones. The small patches expanded, transforming into large ones over several years. Several tree species such as Quercus serrataThunb., Primus apetalaFranch. et Sav., Sorbus commixiaHedl., and Magnolia obovataThunb. invaded the patches after the fruiting of R. trichocarpa.They grew faster than R. trichocarpain these patches and broke through the R. trichocarpacrown layer after about 10 years.

The fruits of R. trichocarpaattract birds which disperse seeds produced by other tree species. Thus, the R. trichocarpapatch plays a vital role in changing from pioneer tree species to shade-tolerant tree species.     

Exploring Reinvestment from a Community-Based Watershed Perspective

Summary

Increasingly, urban and rural communities across the U.S. are looking at ecological systems as capital assets with values that are diminishing as they are degraded. Investments are needed so they can continue to provide ecological services critical to the environmental, social, and economic well-being of the communities.

This paper explores “reinvestment” as term encouraging the development of mechanisms for sustained and long-term investment in “natural capital,” as well as the other forms of capital on which communities and society depend. It raises important questions on which there are information gaps, such as the value of ecological services, the level of investment needed to restore and maintain ecological systems, the activities to which investment dollars should be allocated, and where public and private investment dollars might come from. These questions are discussed at national, regional, and local scales, focusing on water-an ecological resource with immense value that connects ecosystems and communities at many scales. The paper presents lessons and reinvestment mechanisms from studies in California's Sierra Nevada ecosystem and community-based efforts in its northernmost drainage, the Feather River watershed.     

Carbon in Terrestrial Systems

Abstract

This analysis reviews the state of the knowledge regarding carbon sequestration in terrestrial biomass with specific focus on tropical systems in Central America and Panama. Natural forests, exotic plantations, native species plantations, and agroforestry systems are considered in light of their carbon sequestration potential, their initiation and maintenance costs, and their ability to access the emerging regulated and informal carbon markets. All four of these systems show great potential to take up or store carbon and thus contribute to atmospheric reductions of C0₂. Research, investment, and institutional support are required to assist in the clear definition and expansion of carbon supply possibilities for market transactions.     

Sustainable Tourism

Abstract

New markets for ecosystem services have emerged in response to the failure of traditional biodiversity conservation mechanisms to effectively protect and conserve the processes that support ecosystem function and process (Landell-Mills and Porras, 2002; Pagiola et al., 2002). Sustainable tourism-one market tool that potentially supports biodiversity servicesaims to balance the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural features of tourism development by maintaining environmental resources, the socio-cultural livelihoods of host communities, and providing stakeholder benefits (WTO, 2004). Proponents claim that sustainable tourism contributes toward maintaining biodiversity, while critics fear that marketing various components of biodiversity as distinct services (e.g., only protecting unique places for sustainable tourism, and only protecting extremely biodiverse places for bioprospecting), fails to protect the integrity of the functioning, and dynamic ecosystem (Landell-Mills and Porras, 2002). This chapter serves as one section of a four-part analysis of existing and emerging markets for biodiversity services using Panama as a case study. Based on projections of future sustainable tourism markets, this analysis presents policy options that could positively augment future sustainable tourism ventures.     

生态学视域下图书馆信息服务交互模型探究

从生态学视角研究图书馆信息服务交互活动,有可行性也有视角的独特性。在分析图书馆信息服务生态学交互特征的基础上,构建图书馆信息服务生态学交互模型,为图书馆信息服务的可持续发展提供一定的参考价值。     

基于缓存机制的作物模型Web服务并发处理

为了改善作物模型Web服务的响应时间,该文提出了基于缓存机制的作物模型Web服务并发处理方案。通过综合分析作物模型Web服务的组合结构、数据Web服务的通信特性以及作物模型Web服务的响应时间特征,以多线程处理和数据缓存技术为基础,设计了基于缓存机制的作物模型Web服务并发处理方案;并以作物栽培管理知识模型Web服务为测试对象,在真实网络环境下,验证了该方案的有效性。结果表明,在单用户多地点请求和多用户多地点请求情况下,采用并发处理方案分别可以缩短32%和35%的模型服务响应时间,极大地提高了模型的多用户并发处理能力。该研究为作物模型的区域应用提供了技术支撑。     

Relation between visitors’ behaviour and characteristics of green spaces in the city of Granada,south-eastern Spain

This paper examines the relation between visitor behaviour and certain features of a number of major green spaces in the city of Granada, south-eastern Spain, focussing on key urban, ecological and landscape-related issues. Information on user profiles and numbers, the various uses made of these areas, their design, plant species richness and local urban and sociological background, was collected by means of in situ observation in a total of ten urban green spaces with surface areas of over 5000 m². Findings indicated that these spaces were used largely for purposes directly related to well-being: recreational and sporting activities, socialising, or simply relaxing. Interestingly, the most common activities in each space were governed by features intrinsic to the space itself: accessibility, design, maintenance and plant richness and distribution, all of which affected the health-related attributes and aesthetic value of the space. The study also highlighted a number of serious deficiencies in certain green spaces, which will need to be addressed in future action plans and replanning projects as an essential step in ensuring that they meet the real needs and expectations of the target population. The information provided by this research may prove particularly valuable for improving the systemic functions of green spaces in Mediterranean cities sharing similar bioclimatic and sociological features, and for ensuring that they fulfil the role assigned to green spaces in sustainable cities.     

黑龙江省农机服务对农民收入的影响——基于两个地区的实证研究

基于调研数据,将农民收入分为农业和非农业收入两部分进行定量分析。研究结果表明,黑龙江省农机服务的投入对农民收入具有正影响,但其所带来的效益并不显著。利用柯布道格拉斯生产函数分析发现,农机服务支出与农业收入存在弱相关性。在非农收入方面,农机服务对非农收入的促进效果是通过其对劳动力的替代所体现,回归结果发现,农机服务对劳动力并不是无限替代的,其对非农收入的影响取决于它能够释放出多少劳动力。     

城市土地利用生态服务价值研究——以三亚市为例

通过区分直接经济价值与生态系统调节和支持服务,本文构建了适用于城市土地利用的生态系统服务价值(ESV)评价模型,并以三亚市为例进行了实证分析。研究发现,规划落实后,ESV总量将出现下降,其中直接经济价值下降明显,而生态调节和支持服务价值则有所提升,反映出三亚城市发展重心由经济到环境的变化。作为对三亚ESV影响最大的土地利用类型,林地和园地构成了三亚市ESV总量的主体,且三亚市ESV受对二者的变动最为敏感;水域对三亚生态系统的水源涵养功能有很大影响。本研究结果可为城市建设与资源环境保护的协调发展提供参考。     

河南省林业信息服务的调查与分析

“十一五”期间,河南省积极推进林业信息服务工作,取得一定成效。但是林农对河南省林业信息服务的评价不是很高,林业信息服务存在着共享程度低、基础建设薄弱等问题,今后需要明确林农需求,为林农提供更好的林业信息服务。