Research Agenda for Understanding Transboundary Ecosystem Changes and Eco-security in Southwestern China

The longitudinal range-gorge region (LRGR) in Southwestern China, characterized by longitudinal mountain ranges and deep valleys, includes the basins of four major international rivers: the Yuanjiang-Red, Lancang Mekong, Nujiang Salween and Irrawaddy. This region is classified as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, and provides an important ecological and economic corridor linking China and Southeast Asian countries. Over the past half century, it has served as a resource base for timber and minerals needed to fuel economic development, which resulted in rapid and drastic changes in ecosystem and species diversity. Proposed and ongoing development programs, such as China’s Great Western Development campaign, Greater Mekong Subregional Economic Cooperation (GMS) and China-ASEAN free trade zone development (“10+1”), threaten to bring unprecedented disturbance to the region’s ecosystems. Present and emerging threats to eco-security have caught tremendous attention worldwide. Therefore, studies on such problems are critical for enhancing ecosystem health and transboundary eco-security. This paper indicates several multi-disciplinary and cross-sector studies on transboundary resources in this region that will meet three major national needs: 1) identifying core scientific issues of ecological development and infrastructure construction in highplateau and mountainous areas for the Western Development campaign; 2) developing maintenance mechanisms and control methodologies for transboundary eco-security and resource base development; 3) providing scientific grounds for multi-lateral diplomacy, trade and economic cooperation, and conflict resolution as part of China’s opening-up to south Asia. The key subjects to be solved include dynamics and major drive forces of this area, ecological effects caused by major projects construction, and transboundary eco-security and its controlling. The research projects proposed in this article will develop theories on ecosystem change and transboundary eco-security, and provide a scientific basis for national and international development strategies.

Tourism Destination Eco-Security and Its Dynamic Evaluation Method

Ecological security of tourism destination is an important factor for the sustainable development of tourism industry, and many tourism destinations are threatened by various ecological problems. A complete understanding of eco-security situation is the foundation of maintaining sustainable development for tourism destinations. However, study on tourism destination eco-security has remained in the initial stage, based on domestic and international researches, the connotations and dynamic characteristics of tourism destination eco-security were discussed. Then, evaluation method of tourism destination eco-security and standard system were proposed, also dynamic evaluation method of tourism destination eco-safety based on the situation evaluation and trend was analyzed.

Center for International Transboundary Water and Eco-Security Opens

An inauguration ceremony was held to mark the opening of the Center for International Transboundary Water and Eco-Security, Tsinghua University （CITWES） on December 10, 2006. Zhai Haohui, Vice Minister of MWR, Tsinghua Vice President Hu Heping and guests and representatives from some research institutions and universities in China participated in the event.

Close Relationship between the Frangibility of Mountain Eco-Environment and Mountain Disasters:A Case Study of Dongchuan,Kunming in Yunnan Province

Anatomical details are given in this article, which is performed by investigating the relationship between through the frangibility of mountain eco-environment and the status of irrational land-use in typical region of debris flow in Dongchuan district, Kunming city, yunnan Province. This analysis is extended to the relationship between vicissitude of mountain disasters and the frangibility of mountain environment. The relatively coupling action of a vicious circle is a evolving characteristic by debris flow sand-gravel there. The eco-security is being faced with serious challenge. The tactics of eco-security has been constructed since 1980s. Thus, the eco-environrnent can gradually be repaired and optimized to achieve a fine circle.

Systematic Design and Coordination Acts of Ecological Security in Upper Yangtze River in China

In this paper, systematic design and act of eco-security is discussed as a focal point of conflict and unrest. The situation of ecosystem, the schematic framework of eco-security design, the main acts of ecosystem improvement, major difficulties and challenges have also been analyzed. The purpose of this study was to formulate the systematic framework of eco-security maintenance, to highlight systematic idea or philosophy of ecological rehabilitation and eco-security. A three-dimensional schematic model is applied to design the security of ecosystem. It was concluded that: 1) maintaining ecological security requires far better and sophisticated resource management skill and ecological improvement measures, and is also a continuing and multifac-eted task. It cannot be permanently accomplished by a single action and program; 2) at present, technical system and policy and law system dimensions of ecological security are not enough even in short; 3) development of ecological industries is beneficial to local economic development and ecosystem protection.

RESPONSES OF WETLAND ECO SECURITY TO LAND USE CHANGE IN WESTERN JILIN PROVINCE, CHINA

By the use of the software of ARCGIS, dynamic changes of the landscape elements, landscape structure, conversion processes of the landscape gradients and the responses of wetland eco-security to land use/cover changes (LUCC) in the western Jilin Province were studied from 1930 to 2000. The results show that the landscape elements of grassland, wetland, forestland and water area shrank rapidly, and wetlands underwent huge losses in the study period due to the conversion from wetland into arable land and grassland in large quantities. The responses of wetland eco-security to LUCC were inverse evolvement of wetland vegetation, loss of biodiversity, water deficiency in wetland ecosystem, the changes of the heterogeneity of wetlands and the fragmentation of the wetland habitats. Suggestions were given for protection of wetlands and the regional sustainable development.

Measuring the Land-Sea Coupling Coordination Degree of the Coastal Zone and Its Optimization Strategy:A Case Study of the Coastal Zone in Xiamen

Currently,China has entered the period of land-sea coordinated planning,yet there are few studies on the interaction between land use intensity and sea eco-security in coastal zones.Therefore,taking the coastal zone of Xiamen as an example,this paper develops a comprehensive system to evaluate the coupling degree between spatial utilization intensity and eco-security based on the coupling degree theory in physics.Then the paper quantitatively analyzes and identifies the coupling coordination degree of various shore sections into four categories:well-coordinated and highly-coupled,moderately-coordinated and moderately-coupled,moderately-coordinated and slightly-coupled,and primary-level coordinated and slightly-coupled.Finally,it puts forward spatial planning guidelines for the four types of shore sections on the basis of land-sea coordination.Specifically,reserved ecological section should follow the principle of giving priority to the marine ecosystem,and strictly protecting the ecosystem and controlling development;ecological promotion section should follow the principle of optimizing land development based on the sea resources,and reserving space for transformation;restricted development section should follow the principle of land-sea balance,and only allowing low-impact development activities to achieve synchronous land-sea development;development leverage section should follow the principle of optimizing marine development based on land resources,giving full play to the advantages of coastal resources and featured coastal space,and achieving spatial optimization in accordance with people-oriented principles and local conditions.This research intends to provide a scientific basis for coastal zone planning and decision-making and a paradigm guide for gulf cities to coordinate the marine ecosystem and land development.