Returns from Hay Cultivation in Fertilized Low Diversity and Non-Fertilized High Diversity Grassland

Recent ecological experiments suggest that theinterannual stability of ecosystem productivitymay be determined by the diversity of organismspresent in the system. We investigate whethersuch effects of biotic diversity on ecosystemstability may translate into economic valuesand possibly into an economic argument for themaintenance of biodiversity in managedhabitats. Applying a stochastic model fromfinancial economics to long-term harvest datafrom a grassland ecosystem we examine thepotential insurance value of plant diversityon the stability of yields and economic returnsin a drought-sensitive agricultural setting.Putative insurance premiums priced as putoptions on revenues from hay yield were higherfor fertilized low-diversity grassland than forunfertilized species-rich glassland. From thisperspective the annual insurance value(differential insurance premiums required tolock in specific rates of returns) of diverseplant communities may amount to $3.50 to$6.00 per acre. The results suggest thatincreased costs of risk in species-poorfertilized grassland may affect the optimumlevel of fertilization making lower fertilizerinput and concomitantly higher plant communitydiversity more desirable.     

What goes up must come down: an evaluation of a zoo conservation-education program for balloon litter on visitor understanding,attitudes, and behaviour

Abstract

Balloons used outdoors can fly away, posing ingestion and entanglement hazards to wildlife. “When Balloons Fly” (WBF) conservation-education program seeks to educate zoo visitors about these threats and encourage the use of wildlife-friendly bubbles at outdoor events. We examined the effect of WBF on visitor knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours (intentions and actions) over 6?months (N?=?624). We compared outcomes among visitors who viewed a presentation and exhibit, to viewing the exhibit-only, and investigated the priming influence of completing a survey before entering the exhibit (pre-survey). Visitors had greater depth of understanding about the impact of balloons immediately following the visit, but post-visit message recall was low. General Linear Models revealed that over 6?months WBF significantly (p < .05) influenced positive attitudes concerning balloon use, increased likelihood to use bubbles, and reduced likelihood to use balloons. Completion of a pre-survey significantly influenced positive attitudes and reduced likelihood to use balloons. WBF is promoting conservation behaviour, with two-thirds of the follow-up sample reporting that behaviours they changed while hosting or attending an outdoor event since their visit were influenced by the zoo experience. Future work can investigate materials that might mimic a priming effect (e.g., worksheets).     

生物多样性保护的生态补偿机制

生物多样性公共性特征的存在,决定了市场交换不能实现其经济价值,要充分发挥它的经济效益,就必须通过生态补偿机制来实现生物多样性保护外部性的内部化.本文从生态系统和物种等不同层次上对生物多样性的生态补偿机制进行探讨,分析了我国生态补偿的现状以及森林生态效益的计量评价体系,并在资源、生态、市场等方面提出了建立生态补偿机制的对策和建议.     

洪河自然保护区动物物种多样性现状及保护

黑龙江省洪河国家级自然保护区属沼泽湿地类型的自然保护区;区内有脊椎动物30目71科283种,其中鱼类25种,两栖类8种,爬行类3种,鸟类214种,兽类33种,含国家保护动物51种,省级重点保护动物44种。     

城市公园感知生物多样性促进注意力 恢复的影响研究

生物多样性可提供促进心理健康的文化性生态系统 服务。当前，生物多样性对心理健康影响的研究多从“测量生 物多样性”维度出发，而以能够对景观体验者心理产生直接影 响的“感知生物多样性”为视角的探索尚且匮乏。面向城市居 民定向注意力的恢复需求，从感知生物多样性的内涵释义、注 意力恢复的机理解析出发，将高密度高异质性典型城市重庆作 为案例区，以城市中最能与生物多样性接触的“城市公园”为 研究对象，通过量表设计和使用者问卷调查，建构公园感知生 物多样性影响注意力恢复的结构方程模型。探索了感知生物多 样性与注意力恢复间的因果关联，进一步对与其相关的规划策 略制定、设计实践应用及接续研究进行了讨论。旨在为感知生 物多样性导向的疗愈性景观空间规划设计提供有益参考。     

基于情景规划的国家公园气候变化 应对：美国经验及对中国的启示

：应对气候变化已成为全球共识，国家公园和自然保 护地既是应对气候变化的重要阵地，也是受气候变化影响的敏 感区域，但中国目前的研究和实践均还较薄弱，亟须借鉴域外 经验。系统梳理了美国国家公园体系中，气候变化对自然、文 化和社区的影响，概述了美国国家公园管理局的气候变化应对 行动，指出情景规划是重要的气候变化应对工具。总结了美 国国家公园在气候变化中开展情景规划的流程，提炼其规划特 征，并以魔鬼塔国家纪念区为案例，详析其情景规划实践过 程。在此基础上，总结了中国国家公园及体制试点区可能面临 的气候变化风险，对比了情景规划与传统规划的区别，明确目 前推广条件的欠缺，指出应逐步推广情景规划，并从实现科研 储备、奠定实践基础、建立规划体系三方面提出可能的路径， 对中国开展国家公园和自然保护地应对气候变化的相关工作具 有借鉴意义。     

2020年后全球生物多样性框架下中国 荒野地的系统性保护策略

荒野地，是大面积的、保留原貌或被轻微改变的自 然区域，具有保护生物多样性和维持生态系统服务等多元价 值，因此具有重要的保护意义。在“2020年后全球生物多样 性框架”中，荒野保护是重要的行动目标之一。在此新背景 下，分析了中国荒野地保护中存在的五大现状问题，包括荒 野价值认知不足、荒野本底状态不清、荒野保护空缺明显、 荒野地破碎化严重、荒野地管理质量较低。在此基础上，提 出了中国荒野地保护的目标和系统性保护策略(包括主流化策 略、普查策略、全域分级保护策略、连通策略和提质策略)， 以及相应的12项行动建议，有望为我国开展系统性的荒野保 护提供思路。     

《名古屋议定书》履约挑战与对策--以植物制剂行业为例

文章以高度依赖生物遗传资源的植物制剂行业为例,研究分析了我国《名古屋议定书》履约工作与生物技术产业可持续发展所面临的共同挑战。当前,我国生物遗传资源保护和管理方面存在生物遗传资源引出规模大但专利保护少,被引出遗传资源信息不透明,企业未落实“获取与惠益分享”相关管理要求等问题。要加强对国内企业的监管,发挥行业协会帮扶作用,促进我国《名古屋议定书》履约工作和产业发展协同增效。其中,对国家监管措施建议:(1)完善“获取与惠益分享”(A B S)法律框架;(2)成立国家级的主管机构,推动构建ABS国家管理体系;(3)明确ABS国家管理体系承担的具体职责。对行业协会帮扶措施建议:(1)为企业提供信息、知识、工具,加强能力建设,帮助企业了解相关国际性公约及法律政策;(2)在《行业指引》等规划文件中纳入A B S要求和指标;(3)研究外国获取我国生物遗传资源的隐蔽性,为政府部门制定相应监管办法提供建议;(4)增加基础研究投资,促进国内生物科技创新和产业可持续发展。     

The making of imperfect indicators for biodiversity: A case study of UK biodiversity performance measurement

This paper seeks to understand the process by which biodiversity performance indicators can be developed. In doing so, this paper examines how biodiversity performance measurements are inherently imperfect and reflects on the implications of that imperfectness. Using document analysis and semi-structured interviews, this research outlines the case of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and their work in developing biodiversity indicators. Based on the concept of imperfect measurements, this paper outlines the conditions under which imperfect biodiversity indicators can be productive measurements leading to fertile debate and constant improvements, rather than flawed measurements that actors ‘make do’ with. This paper concludes the biodiversity indicators construction process requires a collaboration between a broad set of diverse organisations, including NGOs and research centres. Lastly, this paper outlines the need for ongoing and rigorous review of adopted measurements to reduce the potentially harmful nature of imperfect biodiversity performance measurement.     

Analysing corporate forest disclosure: How does business value biodiversity?

Corporations are failing to account for their impact on biodiversity despite accelerating extinctions. The value of biodiversity to business can be explained by an environmental philosophy spectrum, where perspectives range from anthropocentric (humans are prioritised) to ecocentric (all life is equal), made up of paradigms and values linked to biodiversity protection. We explore the biodiversity values conveyed by the 40 largest corporations responding to the CDP Forest Questionnaire using 28 specific yes/no criteria aligned with the environmental philosophy spectrum. Strong anthropocentric perspectives focused on economic contribution dominated, conveying a desire to protect company reputation, thereby legitimising operations. Corporations seemingly only protect biodiversity that hold material benefits for humans. Some biocentric/ecocentric perspectives were conveyed in terms of extinction risk and sometimes intrinsic value. This could be a response to the accelerating global biodiversity crisis, offering hope corporations can protect all forms of biodiversity and could evidence ecocentric leadership informing business strategy.