Environmental Sensitivity Index Mapping for Environmental Sustainable Cleanup along NAOC Pipeline, Asemoku, Delta State, Nigeria

During emergency response to oil spills incident accurate information is required in order to reduce the risk associated with oil spill disasters. This study focuses on Environmental Sensitivity mapping for sustainable environmental clean-up and contingency planning along the 3.0 km of AGIP pipeline at Asemoku in Delta State, Nigeria. Geographic information systems (GIS) techniques were used to create an Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) map in the study area. A 2018 Google Earth Satellite imagery of the study area was downloaded, and landuse/cover classification scheme comprising of Vegetation, Farmland, Water Body, Wetland, built up area and Bare Surface was adopted. Existing categorization, ranking and classification of the inland habitat were adopted and used to create a Landuse/cover Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) map, while the buffer zones of 100 m, 200 m, 300 m and 400 m were adopted. In the ArcGIS 10.8 environment, the landuse/cover map was generated and buffer distances of 100 m, 200 m, 300 m and 400 m were created on the landuse/cover map to ascertain the features that are vulnerable and could be at risk in the event of oil spill. This study established that the Natural Vegetation areas are the most vulnerable and sensitive feature as a result of their size along the created buffer zones. Findings from this study thus provide insight into the most sensitive land-use/land-cover, in the event of a spill or emergency oil spill clean-up response.

Identification of Heterogeneity of Social and Economic Environment of Land Uses in China

The robust principal component analysis （RPCA） is a technique of multivariate statistics to assess the social and economic environment quality. This paper aims to explore a RPCA algorithm to analyze the spatial heterogeneity of social and economic environment of land uses （SEELU）. RPCA supplies one of the most efficient methods to derive the most important components or factors affecting the regional difference of the social and economic environment. According to the spatial distributions of the levels of SEELU,the total land resources of China were divided into eight zones numbered by Ⅰ to Ⅷ which spatially referred to the eight levels of SEELU.

Migration and Spatiotemporal Land Cover Change: A Case of Bosomtwe Lake Basin, Ghana

Internal migration is highly valued due to its increasingly acknowledged potential for social and economic development. However, despite its significant contribution to the development of towns and cities, it has led to the deterioration of many ecosystems globally. Lake Bosomtwe, a natural Lake in Ghana and one of the six major meteoritic lakes in the world is affected by land cover changes caused by the rising effects of migration, population expansion, and urbanization, owing to the development of tourist facilities on the lakeshore. This study investigated land cover change trajectories using a post-classification comparison approach and identified the factors influencing alteration in the Lake Bosomtwe Basin. Using Landsat imagery, an integrated approach of remote sensing, geographical information systems (GIS), and statistical analysis was successfully employed to analyze the land cover change of the basin. The findings show that over the 17 years, the basin’s forest cover decreased significantly by 16.02%, indicating that population expansion significantly affects changes in land cover. Ultimately, this study will raise the awareness of stakeholders, decision-makers, policy-makers, government, and non-governmental agencies to evaluate land use development patterns, optimize land use structures, and provide a reference for the formulation of sustainable development policies to promote the sustainable development of the ecological environment.

Assessing the impacts of ecological-living-productive land changes on eco-environmental quality in Xining City on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

The Ecological-living-productive land(ELPL)classification system was proposed in an effort to steer China's land pattern to an ecological-centered path,with the development model shifting from a single function into more integrated multifunction land use.The focus is coordinating the man-land contradictions and developing an intensive,efficient and sustainable land use policy in an increasingly tense relationship between humans and nature.Driven by socioeconomic change and rapid population growth,many cities are undergoing urban sprawl,which involves the consumption of cropland and ecological land and threatens the ecological balance.This paper aims to quantitatively analyze the critical effects of ELPL changes on eco-environmental quality according to land use classification based on leading function of ecology,living and production from 1990 to 2015 with a case study of Xining City.Also,four future land use scenarios were simulated for 2030 using the Future Land Use Simulation(FLUS)model that couples human and natural effects.Our results show a decrease in productive land(PL)and an increase in ecological land(EL)and living land(LL)in Xining City.Forestry ecological land(FEL)covered the top largest proportion;agriculture productive land(APL)showed the greatest reduction and urban and rural living land(U-RLL)presented a dramatic increase.The eco-environmental quality improved in 1990-2010,mainly affected by the conversion of APL to FEL and GEL.However,the encroachment of U-RLL into APL,other ecological land(OEL)and FEL was the main contributor to the decline in eco-environmental quality in 2010-2015 as well as the primary reason for the increase area of lower-quality.The Harmonious Development(HD)-Scenario,characterized by a rational allocation of LL and PL and a better eco-environment,would have implications for planning and monitoring future management of ELPL,and may represent a valuable reference for local policy-makers.

Cultivated land quantity niche regulation and its environmental effect

The change in the quantity of cultivated land influences the structure, function and evolvement of ecosystem. The rational change in the quantity of cultivated land will be propitious to ecological security and sustainable development, and irrational change will deteriorate ecological environment. The concept of cultivated land quantity niche regulation was firstly put forward based on niche theory and the action-feedback mechanism between cultivated land quantity niche and cultivated land benefit niche. Then, the regulation measures of cultivated land quantity niche were brought forward in rural-urban area, agro-forest area and consolidation-reclamation-exploitation area. Finally, the ecological environmental effect after regulation was analyzed. The results show that different measures should be taken to regulate cultivated land quantity niche in different areas. The economic and social benefit niche of cultivated land should be promoted to regulate cultivated land quantity niche in rural-urban area and consolidation-reclamation-exploitation area. The social benefit niche of cultivated land should be reduced in agro-forest area. The regulation goal of cultivated land quantity niche will be attained by different measures.

Scale dependence of plant species richness and vegetation-environment relationship along a gradient of dune stabilization in Horqin Sandy Land, Northern China

Ecological patterns and processes in dune ecosystems have been a research focus in recent years, however the information on how dune stabilization influences the spatial scale dependence of plant diversity is still lacking. In this study, we measured the plant species richness, soil properties and altitude across four spatial scales （1, 10, 100 and 1,000 m2） at three different dune stabilization stages （mobile dune, semi-fixed dune and fixed dune） in Horqin Sandy Land, Northern China. We also examined the relationships between plant species richness, community composition and environmental factors along the gradient of dune stabilization. Our results showed that plant species richness increased with the increase of spatial scales in each dune stabilization stage, as well as with the increase of dune stabilization degrees. Canonical correspondence analysis （CCA） showed that plant distribu- tions in the processes of dune stabilization were determined by the combined environmental gradient in relation to soil organic carbon （SOC）, total nitrogen （TN）, carbon/nitrogen （C/N）, pH, electrical conductivity （EC）, soil water content （SWC）, fine sand （FS）, very fine sand （VFS）, silt and clay （SC）, and altitude. Plant species richness was significantly and positively correlated to SOC and TN in mobile dune, and significantly and positively correlated to SOC, TN, C/N, VFS and SC in semi-fixed dune. However, no significant correlation between plant species richness and environmental factors was observed in fixed dune. In addition, plant species richness in different dune stabili- zation stages was also determined by the combined gradient of soil properties and altitude. These results suggest that plant species richness has obvious scale dependence along the gradient of dune stabilization. Soil resources depending on dune habitats and environmental gradients caused by dune stabilization are important factors to de- termine the scale dependence of species diversity in sand dune ecosystems.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FOREST LAND AND THE TECHNIQUES OF REFORESTATION IN FIRED LAND IN DAXING'AN MOUNTAINS

Analysis of nature environmental condition and evalwtion of selection and integration ofteclmiques have been carried out in Daxing’an mountains from 1987. The character of soil generaion in this area is influenced by the frigid, coniferous forest vegetation, weather, glacier and late soil formation process. Syntliesis teclmiques for high yield plantation include high seedling quality,suitable site preparation and eftbctive protectioll measures for yoimg trees.

Objective and quantitative evaluation of environmental quality of the land for agriculture purpose

An objective and quantitative evaluation method on land environmental quality for agricultural purpose in a county range is studied in this paper. The method takes into account the quantity of heat, precipitation, meteorological disaster and soil fertility, which have close relationship to the potential productivity of land and can be expressed conveniently and accurately by taking Kai County as an example. Besides comprehensive grading assessment, assessment with Hilbert Space distance coefficiency and comprehensive judgement by fuzzy sets theory, the assessment factors are expanded to 18 parameters, and fuzzy dominance matrix and fuzzy clustering methods are adopted for regional comprehensive identification of agriculture-use land. Among these methods, each benefits from association with the other. In this paper, an all-round and objective new way for understanding of land environmental quality is put forward.

Visualizing Relationships between Drivers of Environmental Change and Pressures on Land-Based Ecosystems

The pursuit of human needs and demands is placing more pressure on land resources than ever before. The challenge of feeding 7 billion people is increasingly competing with rising demands for materials and biofuels. Deforestation and land degradation are among the pressing outcomes of these trends. Drivers of environmental change—including population growth, economic activity, consumption, urbanization, trade, conflict, and governance—clearly play a role in aggravating or mitigating these pressures on land. Despite advances in understanding causality in complex systems, navigating the interactions between these drivers remains a major challenge. This paper analyzes and visualizes the relationships between multiple, interacting drivers of environmental change and specific pressures on land-based ecosystems. Drawing on experience from the development of the Drivers and Land chapters of the UN Environment Programme’s Fifth Global Environment Outlook report (GEO-5), we use a series of Kiviat diagrams to illustrate the relative influence of key drivers on selected pressures on land. When individual diagrams are overlaid, patterns of influence emerge that can provide insight into where policy responses might best be targeted. We propose that, subject to some limitations, the Kiviat exercise can provide an accessible and potentially valuable “knowledge-intermediary” tool to help link science-based information to policy action.

The Space Dissimilation of Stakeholders' Environment Cognitive and Behavior Preference Response in the Area from Returning Fazing Land to Grasslands

The cognition and attitudes of resources environment affect environmental behavior of behavior subject,the changes of attitude and behavior become one of the key factors of influencing harmonious and healthy development of ecological environment. With PRA survey method for obtaining questionnaire data and based on behavior geography and social psychology theory,farming-pastoral,dry grassland,desert grassland, typical project village alpine grassland of returning fazing land to grasslands as an example,with main body cognitive perspective of the aid of resources,the article analyzed space dissimilation of stakeholders environmental cognitive and behavior preference response in the area of returning grazing land to grasslands from ecological environment from policy environment,ecological environment and family economic environment aspects. The results showed that： stakeholders judgment of Grassland degradation in different ecological function area had obvious regularity,the cognitive proportion of Grassland degradation gradually increase from farming-pastora to alpine savanes. The satisfaction from returning grazing land to grasslands showed a changing tendency of reversed U. stakeholders had more strongly negative cognition in the area of dry steppe and desertsteppe. From farming-pastoral to alpine savanes,the economic environment tend to worse situation. Negative environmental behaviors tend to increase,Positive behavior on the contrary.

The causes and environmental effects of land use conversion during agricultural restructuring in Northeast China

During the last decade of the 20th century, extensive conversion inagricultural land use took place in Northeast China. The goal of this study is to ascertain itsspatial distribution and regional differentiation, determine its causes, and analyze itsenvironmental impact. Especially we attempt to elucidate how institutional constraints havefacilitated the change at a time of agrarian restructuring when newly emerging free market washybridized with the former planned economy. Information on six categories of land use was mappedfrom interpretation of Landsat TM images recorded in 1990, 1995 and 2000. Most of land use changestook place during the first half of the decade, coinciding with abrupt and chaotic changes ingovernment directives. Farmland was changed mainly to woodland, water body and built-up areas whilewoodland and grassland were converted chiefly to farmland. Spatially, the change from farmland towoodland was restricted to the west of the study area. The change from grassland to farmland tookplace in the grazing and farming interlocked west. These chaotic and occasionally conflictingchanges were largely caused by lack of stability and consistency in agricultural land use policiespromulgated. They have exerted adverse impacts on the local environment, including land degradation,increased flooding, and modified climate regime.

The impact of cropland conversion on environmental effect in the Loess Plateau: a pilot study based on the national experimental bases

Conversion of cropland to forestry and grassland is an important method to reduce soil erosion and improve the biophysical environment in the Loess Plateau. The feasibility, methods, and environmental effects of cropland conversion were studied based on 11 typical watersheds of national experimental bases instead of different geographic areas of the Loess Plateau. Between 1986 and 2000, cropland, sloping cropland and non-agricultural land decreased by 8%, 92.5% and 8% respectively, while forestry increased by 15.7%. The land use change not only decreased annual soil erosion by 74%, but also increased vegetation coverage by 100% and improved the soil condition and biodiversity. This can be achieved by building basic farmland, increasing capital and scientific input, and planting trees and grasses according to the natural biophysical restrictions.

A Study on the Theory and Approach of Environmental Impact Assessment in General Land Use Planning

In this paper,the theory and approach of environmental impact assessment in general land use planning are studied from different aspects.First,starting from the content and concept of general land use planning,the necessity of environmental impact assessment in general land use planning is illustrated.On the basis of its evaluation theories and methodologies,it attempts to establish index system of environmental impact assessment in general land use planning,and point outs that current general land use planning requires public participation.

Development of Perverse Environmental Subsides for Sheep Production in Iceland

Sheep production in Iceland is heavily subsidized with a part of the payments tied to land condition and compliance with sustainable land use according to a Quality Management System (QMS). A large proportion of the rangelands used for sheep grazing are public lands. The paper is based on Land Improvement Plans (LIP’s) and Soil Conservation of Iceland (SCSI) correspondence obtained by appeal under the Information Act. The results show that “green payments” are made for use of land that fails to meet the criteria given for such payments, based on the extent of barren areas, active soil erosion, and vegetation condition. Strong formal objections by the SCSI about the content and implementation of QMS have been ignored. It is further shown that the land use section of the QMS (L-QMS) is non-transparent and not well scientifically grounded. The use of the term “sustainable land use” is confounded when used to justify the use of collapsed ecosystems. The LIP’s show high to extreme grazing intensities on land in poor condition, thus further defying ideas for green subsidy schemes. The investigation reveals serious conflicts between environmental and agricultural sectors, at agency and ministerial levels, which is enhanced by incoherent legislation structures. It is vital to reconstruct the green subsidies for sheep farming in Iceland, based on science and best available information with a much broader stakeholder participation than at present, involving multi-sectoral agencies and scientists, NGO’s, communities, the general public, and land users.

Land-Use Planning Guidelines for Optimal Coastal Environmental Management

The objective of this study is to weigh and recommend environmentally-optimal regional land-use planning guidelines for coastal regions. The present malaise is assessed, as regards inefficiencies, non-suitability, non-sustainability, enhancing factors of environmental degradation, and potentially destructive consequences of current land-use alteration. Desired situations and goals are considered, and means are proposed for bridging the gap between the present malaise and a desired situation, based on five key approaches developed by the authors. Specific examples of regional approaches are presented. Guidelines and operational measures for sound regional planning the authors have employed in similar circumstances are recommended.

Land cover change and eco-environmental quality response of different geomorphic units on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Land cover in the Chinese Loess Plateau has undergone dramatic changes since the late 1980s.Revealing the trend in land cover change and eco-environmental quality response of different geomorphic units in this stage is a realistic requirement for promoting sustainable development of the Chinese Loess Plateau.Based on the data of geomorphic units and land cover in 1990,2000,2010 and 2018 of the Chinese Loess Plateau,we studied the trend of land cover change and eco-environmental quality response of different geomorphic units by using a significance index of land cover change,a proportion index of land cover change and an eco-environmental response model.The results indicated that from 1990 to 2018,the areas of forestland and construction land substantially increased,whereas those of cropland,grassland,wetland and unused land considerably decreased.Land cover change exhibited large geomorphic differences,and the main conversion of land cover was from cropland into other land types.Unstable trend of land cover change in the loess tablelands and sandy loess hills declined,whereas the unstable trends in the other geomorphic units enhanced.Eco-environmental quality varied among different geomorphic units.The expansion of construction land and degradation of forestland,grassland and wetland resulted in the deterioration of eco-environmental quality.The conversion of cropland and unused land into forestland and grassland,and the conversion of grassland into forestland were the main factors that drove the improvement of eco-environmental quality.The findings of this study may provide theoretical reference and support decision making for the optimization of land use structure and the improvement of eco-environmental quality on the Chinese Loess Plateau.

破解海岸带环境司法困境:基于陆海统筹原则

我国海岸带环境案件存在管辖权冲突、法律适用有争议、原告资格不明确、诉讼性质认定有争鸣、诉讼程序衔接未确定、司法执行机制不完善等环环相扣的问题,造成海岸带环境司法困境。究其根源,主要在于陆海“二分法”的分类思维影响较大,其与陆海统筹合为表里的内涵尚未得到全面、深入的理解。为破解海岸带环境司法困境,既要重视海岸带环境案件的特殊性,将其确立为类型化案件并由海事法院专门管辖,又要贯彻陆海统筹原则,实现司法规则内在融贯、法治环节协调一致。

Rapid Urbanization and Environment Management in Nkafu Municipality, Eastern DR Congo

Rapid and uncontrolled urbanization as well as urban land management are major constraints to land planning in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A household data collection and analysis was carried out in 283 random households in the Nkafu municipality, eastern DR Congo, to assess the local community’s perception of rapid urbanization and its impact on land policy and management of the built landscape. Data of socio-demographics characteristics, rapid urbanization, and environment management data were collected and analyzed using XLStat version 2019. In addition, the study area location map, land use and cover change maps were generated using ArcMap 10.8. Results indicate that landowners are dominant and, build simple houses with unsustainable building materials (i.e. wooden plank) obtained locally. In addition, land management is not appreciated by local communities, due to anarchic construction due to lack of financial resources generating thus an increasing amount of urban waste, which is poorly managed. The study suggests, urban roads renew, building in conformity with urban planning and building regulations, potable water supply and health services availability to improve the study area. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) use, would provide spatial information on land planning in the study area.

黑土地保护视角下黑龙江省畜禽养殖环境效应分析

为合理利用畜禽粪污资源,保护黑龙江省黑土地资源,优化农畜业生产布局,实现农牧业绿色发展,本研究基于2011—2020年统计数据及文献资料,测算了黑龙江省畜禽粪污排放情况,并据此分析黑龙江省畜禽粪污资源化利用潜力及畜禽养殖环境承载力。结果表明:从时间动态来看,2011—2020年,黑龙江省畜禽粪尿、粪尿养分、COD排放量均有小幅下降,降幅分别为3.68%、3.24%和5.82%;畜禽粪污的化肥替代潜力虽整体略有下降,但10年来均保持在35%以上,2020年化肥替代潜力已达到41.89%,具有较高的有机肥替代化肥潜力;黑龙江省畜禽粪污的能源潜力略有增长,但对煤炭的替代潜力呈下降趋势且替代作用并不显著,2020年畜禽粪污的沼气潜力为46.74亿m^(3),折合为标准煤仅占标准煤消费量的2.90%,能源潜力有待进一步开发利用;黑龙江省畜禽粪尿、粪尿氮、粪尿磷的耕地负荷均未超载,无养殖环境风险,畜禽养殖环境容量的空间剩余呈上升趋势,剩余约2/3,以氮为基准计算,余量为13006.13万头猪当量,以磷为基准计算,余量为8463.19万头猪当量,具有较大养殖潜力。从空间分布来看,黑龙江省各地区畜禽粪污排放及资源化利用潜力存在明显差异,哈尔滨市、齐齐哈尔市、绥化市、大庆市以及佳木斯市等畜禽养殖集聚区的畜禽粪尿资源丰富,畜禽粪污的替代化肥潜力、能源潜力及畜禽养殖发展潜力较大。

纵向监管、地方选择性供地与产业结构绿色转型

地方政府的有效执行是中国式分权下提升中央发展战略实施绩效的关键,而中央政府对地方政府治理行为的有效监督则是其中至关重要的环节。本文基于2007—2019年中国微观工业用地供应以及中央环保督察的通报结果数据,采用广义双重差分法实证考察中央环保督察对地方政府选择性供地策略的影响及其机制。研究表明,中央环保督察促使地方政府降低污染密集型工业用地供应,增加清洁型工业用地供应,从而推动地区产业结构的绿色转型。机制分析发现,中央环保督察通过地方领导人职业发展激励机制以及产业转型能力机制对不同特征的城市工业土地供应结构策略产生异质性影响。本文结论对高质量发展背景下的央地互动关系与地方利用土地偏向性供给推动产业结构绿色转型具有政策启示。