Assessment of land use change and potential eco-service value in the upper reaches of Minjiang River,China

The remote sensing （RS） and geographical information system （GIS） technologies were adopted and a mathematic method was developed to evaluate the changes of ecosystem services in the upper reaches of Minjiang River-valley for providing advices to manage the ecosystem. The results showed that the land use change mainly occurred on forest, farmland and grassland. From 1986 to 1994, the area of farmland increased by 477% （60801 hm^2）, while the area of forest decreased by 4.97% （89012.17 hm^2）. From 1986 to 2000, the eco-service value of forest was degressive but that of farmland increased greatly as the increasing of planting area, while the total eco-service value decreased by 771.11×10^8 yuan RMB due to the rapid increase of population in this region. The driving force of eco-service change was also discussed in the paper. The nation policy of Natural Forest Protection Project has taken effect in preventing the decline of eco-services.

Development of City Ecological Tourism Based on the Perspective of Ecology Civilization

Ecological civilization is the major progress of human civilization develop- ment idea, mode and path of development. The close relationship between ecological civilization and tourism, ecological tourism development reflects the urgent needs of the protection of the ecological environment, the construction of ecological civilization, and the sustainable development of regional economy. Ecological tourism development are various, with great potential. In order to promote the development of ecological tourism city, China should actively carry out the ecological values of propaganda, reform of tourism management mode, strengthening technological inno- vation, and in this process, the government should provide appropriate support and guidance.

The Systematic Diagnoses and Analysis of the Eco-vulnerability in Daqinggou National Natural Reserve

[Objective] The aim is to conduct systematic diagnoses on the eco-vulnerability in Daqinggou National Natural Reserve. [Method] A kind of ＂problem pile＂ is proposed about 58 interrelated problems of ecological vulnerability by field survey and questionnaires and a ladder diagram of interrelations among the problems is established. The root problems, basic problems, core problems, interrelation and solving approaches are proposed, as well. [Result] It can be concluded from system diagnosis that fragile ecosystem of the Reserve can be observed from poor disasterresistibility, lower species diffusivity, lower system metabolism and poor system restorability. According to system diagnoses, management planning and control subsystem is key for protection of system vulnerability and solving different problems in process-oriented system. Conservation of the Reserve and ecological education on tourists are indispensible. It can be concluded from diagnoses that plant updating, evolution and ill growth in the Reserve are the focus of the vulnerable ecosystem, which influence species diffusivity, system metabolism and restorability and constitute central nodes of process-oriented and effect-oriented subsystems. [Conclusion] The research provides references for solving vulnerability issues of conservation and tourism management in Daqinggou National Nature Reserve.

Characteristics of Phytoplankton and Its Correlation with Water Environment in SFTWs

[Objective] The aim was to carry out study on characteristics of phytoplankton and its correlation with water environment in SFTWs. [Method] Based on the pilot-scale SFTWs in Hongqiao transportation hub of Shanghai,phytoplankton＇s community structure,diversity index and their correlation with water purification performance were investigated. [Result] 57 species of seven phylum of phytoplankton were detected in this tested river,including 12 species of Cyanophyta,2 of Cryptophyta,10 of Bacillariophyta,1 of Xanthophyta,7 of Euglenophyta,1 of Pyrrophyta and 24 of Chlorophyta,respectively. Additionally,it was found that Cyanophyta was the dominant phytoplankton,followed by Bacillariophyta and Cyanophyta. Biological density was far more than 10×105 ind./L,thus it could be considered that the river was eutrophic. The range of Shannon-Wiener index was 0.6-2.2,Pielou index was 0.5-2.5 and Margalef index＇s range was 0.35-0.85,which could further prove that the water was eutrophic. The biological density and species were significantly positively correlated with temperature and N content,indicating that the absorption of N by phytoplankton was the main N-removal pathway in SFTWs. [Conclusion] This study had provided basis for the river regulation and ecological restoration.

Routes Choice of Urban Agriculture,Ecotourism and Cultural Innovation Industry Fusion

The fusion of urban agriculture, ecotourism and cultural innovation industry has been a necessary way for industry updating, value increase and income im- provement of farmers in suburbs. The methods available of the fusion are as fol- lows： corporation development and operation, led by government with an integrated plan; corporation management and development under guidance of market with sup- port from government; collective development under guidance of market and policies; individual development and operation with the model of ＂villagers participation de- pending on infrastructure provided by government＂. The four routes enjoy exclusive advantages and characters. Hence, different villages and towns should adopt the most suitable one according to local conditions for further development and management.

动向

天然草原保护工程——来自国务院西部开发办的消息,在三年试点的基础上,我国决定今年正式开始实施天然草原的保护和建设计划,先期是用五年时间治理十亿亩。南水北调——刚刚获国家批准的《南水北调工程总体规划》,再次对工程总体布局进行了深入研究论证,推荐东线、中线和西线三条调水线路,其中西线工程将在长江上游通天河、支流雅砻江和大渡河上游筑坝建库,开凿穿过长江与黄河的分水岭巴颜喀拉山的输水隧洞,调长江水入黄河上游。整个工程将根据实际情况分期实施。

Tourism Development Strategy in Poyang Lake Eco-economic Area from the Perspective of Industrial Cluster

As a regional tourism development strategy, tourism industrial cluster can promote the core competitiveness of tourism industry in advantageous regions and the great-leap-forward development of regions with less-developed tourism industry. The conditions of forming tourism industrial cluster in Poyang Lake Eco-economic Area was analyzed, the development strategies for tourism industry from the perspective of industrial cluster was put forward.

Silicon limitation on primary production and its destiny in Jiaozhou Bay,China Ⅶ:The complementary mechanism of the earth ecosystem

In this paper, the phenomenon that the variation in nutrient and water temperature could cause changes in phytoplankton growth and structure is examined; and the question of how a marine ecosystem make up the earth ecosystem step by step to auto-sustain the balance between phytoplankton and nutrient supply especially Si is discussed. Three major complementary mechanisms of the earth ecosys- tem for nutrient Si, water temperature and carbon were put forward. Understanding the mechanisms nowadays would explain the why the El Nifio and La Nifia occurred, and forecast the trend of human-impacted the earth, which would alert us with proactive countermeasures.

Evaluation on Tourism Ecological Security in Nature Heritage Sites——Case of Kanas Nature Reserve of Xinjiang,China

The nature heritages are the precious legacy of nature with outstanding scientific and aesthetic value. They are quite different from other common ecotourism areas, because of its original and unique system, sensitive and vulnerable landscape, and peripheral cultural features. Therefore, the tourism development in the nature heritage sites should be on the premise of ecological security. The evaluation index system of tourism ecological security in nature heritage sites was constructed in this article by AHP and Delphi methods, including nature ecological security, landscape visual security and local culture ecological security, and the security thresholds of indices were also established. In the indices' weights of the evaluation model, the nature ecological security ranked the highest, followed by tourist landscape visual security and culture ecological security, which reflected the influence degree of the limited factor to tourism ecological security. Then, this paper carried out an empirical study of Kanas of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, which has the potential to be the World Nature Heritage. On the basis of the data attained from survey and observation on the spot, as well as questionnaire answered by tourists and local communities, the ecological security status in Kanas was evaluated. The result showed that the status of Kanas tourism ecological security was better, but there had some limiting factors. Lastly, effective measures were put forward to ensure its ecological security.

State and Development:Changes in Livelihood Strategies in Garhwal with Special Reference to Ecotourism in the Gangotri Region

The object of the paper is to provide an insight into the changes in livelihood strategies of the people in the Garhwal Himalayas over time. From sustaining an economy based on transit trade and subsistence agriculture, there has been a shift towards tourism in recent times. This shift has been due to the tradition of pilgrimage to the higher reaches and also due to promotion by the state by developing infrastructure and providing incentives. The paper is divided into four parts. In the first part, the policies of the colonial state and the events leading to the destruction of forests and the impoverishment of the self-sustaining semi-pastoral economy in the Garhwal Himalayas are outlined. It is argued that the destruction of forests and subsequently, the economy of the Himalayas were directly responsible for the large-scale migration to the plains. This also led to further exploitation of forests by the people who were unfamiliar with any other form of livelihood. The paper also discusses the policies of the newly independent Indian state and sees them as an extension of the British policy of large-scale exploitation of Himalayan forests for the purpose of development and economic growth. In the third section, the growth of ecotourism as a direct outcome of the process of deforestation and as resulting fostered monopolies of groups external to the region thereby contributing neither to the income or the development in the area. In addition, there is an added threat to the environment–deforestation, and erosion–a direct outcome of increased and unplanned tourism. Such problems demand state intervention and management of tourism. The conclusion to the paper asserts that in order that the requirements of the society to progress and to sustain itself in its natural habitat are not compromised, it is essential to increase the process of democratization by strengthening local structures and by vesting the community with the autonomy to determine its future. The paper therefore argues that ecotourism in the Himalayas undertaken without local involvement is not desirable. The constant need for local monitoring of external agencies or even of the State’s participation and the need for re-evaluation of environmental standards are cumbersome details that add to the costs of promoting low-impact tourism. To be viable, ecotourism should be community based and the needs of the community, their ideas of conservation should be given prime importance and local community must be encouraged to review the standards governing conservation. Local structures should thus receive patronage and promotion, so that ecotourism becomes a dynamic facet of economic development.

Tourist Behaviors in Wetland Park:A Preliminary Study in Xixi National Wetland Park,Hangzhou,China

Public education as well as tourism and leisure are the two important functions of national wetland park, and tourist behaviors act as the guiding factor in the national wetland park construction and management.As the first national wetland park in China, Xixi National Wetland Park, located in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, will give constructive instructions to the construction and management of other wetland parks and ecotourism resorts.This paper analyzed the tourist behaviors in Xixi National Wetland Park.By the observation, in-depth interview and questionnaire, the results show that tourists in wetland parks are different from those in the other common destinations, and they are also different from those strict eco-tourists.In fact, the tourists in wetland park have unique characteristics, such as the intense perception to the functions of wetland ecosystem and the environment impact behaviors.Those tourists are preferred to natural landscapes in their motivations and expectations.Wetland landscapes are the main image to those tourists in the Xixi National Wetland Park.Tourist expectation, experience and satisfaction are all critical factors for the success of the planning and management in national wetland parks.Based on the results, some measures for the sustainable development of wetland parks, including to optimize wetland theme landscape and tourism products, to improve tourist facilities and services, to enhance quality of visitor experiences, and to implement total quality management based on tourist characteristics, are given to national wetland park ecotourism.

Mitigating People-Park Conflicts on Resource Use through Ecotourism:A Case of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve,Indian Himalaya

Eeotourism aims to deliver the philosophy of sustainable development through environmental conservation as well as socio-economic development. Areas with rich biodiversity and scenic beauty, like the Indian Himalayan region, have been one of the major destination centers for nature lovers from historical time. In view of conserving the rich biodiversity and natural heritage of the Himalayan region 92 protected areas have been set aside, of these Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve （NDBR） is a well known world heritage site. Over a period of time establishing NDBR has invited conficts between the local people and reserve authorities on the management approaches and utilization criteria of the natural resources, especially banning the traditional bio-resource collection rights of local community, expeditions, trekking, and other anthropogenic activities in the core zones. The present study aims to understand and analyze the various people - park conflicts, and also to suggest ways to mitigate such conflicts in view of biodiversity conservation and improvement of economic status of local people by promoting eeotourism. With this view the study further discusses the various aspects of eeotourism, its pros and cons, and the avenues of developing appropriate strategies for promotion of ecotourism in buffer zone areas of NDBR.

Impacts of birdwatching tourism on environment and economy

Birdwatching tourism can be a good model for nature conservation and economic development if it is managed with the well-being of local ecosystems and human communities. Birdwatchers can bring financial sources to local nature conservation. Many communities and local leaders consider birdwatching as a significant mean to develop local economics and publicize regional image, but only few research have tried to study the impacts of relevant activities on destinations. The purpose of the paper is to give a comprehensive review on impacts of birdwatching from conservation economics and biology perspective. Use a behavioral approach study impacts of birdwatching tourism on environment and economy. Specific objectives here are: (1) review the value and significance on environment and economy; (2) economic potential of non-residential birdwatching for community-based conservations; (3) using a behavioral approach, combine quantitative and qualitative methods study birdwatching impacts; (4) outline the economic and environmental benefits and problems associated with the activity; and (5) aid community leaders and tourism business related company in their efforts to improving the value of birdwatching; help the leaders of natural reserve areas develop birdwatching tourism.

Community attitudes toward ecotourism development and environmental conservation in nature reserve:a case of Fujian Wuyishan National Nature Reserve,China

Using social exchange theory, this study investigated residents＇ attitudes toward the preliminary stage of tourism development in nature reserves in Wuyishan National Nature Reserve of China, and the socio-economic and negative effects of residents＇ attitude toward the tourist industry. Results of the questionnaire survey indicated that local people perceived they could benefit from the economic activities related to tourism, and were supportive of the conservation of natural resources and local culture, sustainable community development, and community participation in ecotourism planning and management. This study also revealed that the variables of age, gender, education level, household income, family size, non-farm work arrangements, and the distance to tourism attractions, have significant association with respondents＇ attitudes toward ecotourism development, or negative impacts of the tourist industry. Respondents who are male, or have a higher household income, are more supportive of tourism development inside the reserve. Younger and more highly educated community members are more likely to support learning more about natural and cultural resources and landscapes. Respondents who have a hieher household income, or live far fromthe village center, are more concerned about the negative environmental impacts of tourism development.

Regime shift in Lake Dianchi(China) during the last 50 years

Lake Dianchi has undergone accelerated alternations resulting from human activities during the last 50 years, and provides an exceptional example for the study of regime shift in a shallow lake. Focusing on regime shift, we systematically studied and analysed alternations of key components of its ecosystem, including water parameters, phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass, macrophyte composition and fish populations. We found that the shifting course of Lake Dianchi went through three major phases, corresponding to three distinct states: Phase I clean, stable state during the 1950 s; Phase II transitional state during the 1970 s–1980 s; and phase III stable, turbid state since 1993. We analysed all data and samples, identifying the threshold concentrations at which regime shift occurred: total nitrogen(TN) and phosphorus(TP) reaching 1.2 mg/L and 0.13 mg/L, respectively. Results from this study strongly suggest that the increasing input of external nutrients, reclaiming land from the lake and foreign fish invasion were major inducements to the accelerated shift of Lake Dianchi to its turbid, stable state. These findings provide valuable guidelines for potential efforts to reverse this unnatural process in Lake Dianchi. The restoration may need to:(1) thoroughly and accurately identify pollution sources to control and reduce excessive external nutrients flowing into the lake;(2) return reclaimed land to the lake and recover the littoral zone to its natural state to facilitate increased restoration of macrophytes; and(3) strategically adjust fish populations by reducing benthivorous and filter-feeding fish populations that prey on zooplankton, while enlarging zooplankton populations to control phytoplankton biomass.

Community participation mode of ecotourism in Tibetan area of Shangri-La County, Yunnan Province

Community participation is one of the focuses of the research on ecotourism. The research on community participative model is of great theoretical and practical significance. Based on the former experts’ studies, this paper analyzes ecotourism demonstration areas in Diqing Shangri-La of Yunnan as a case study. It mainly expounds the relationship between ecotourism and community participation and puts forward such a community participative model of ecotourism in Shangri-La.

River Rafting in Mountainous Regions of Uttarakhand:Impacts,Suggested Mitigation Measures and Sustainability

Uttarakhand state in India is well known for its mountainous ecosystems, traditional communities and a variety of ecotourism destinations. Among various tourism activities, River Rafting along the banks of the Ganges River has increased tremendously for two decades, and has had unprecedented impacts on the traditional communities and the bio-diversity. Therefore, it is meaningful to do a comprehensive study on the various impacts associated with river rafting so as to suggest the pathways to achieve the environmental sustainability in this region. In this study, we collected primary data from randomly selected population units across all stake holders such as local people （n = too）, and camp personnel （n = 22）, through a pre-tested questionnaire survey between August 2009 and May 2010. The questionnaire contains issues on culture, social, economic, institutional and associated perceived impacts on pollution and biodiversity including views for sustainability. Secondary information was also collected from various sources and government records to supplement and strengthen the analysis. The impacts were analyzed qualitatively through a ranking mechanism to facilitate the decision making process. The perception of the interviewee about the various possible impacts of rafting was discussed with mitigating mechanism. The ranking analysis as percollected data reveals that economy and education of local community was improved significantly; however aquatic and terrestrial fauna, social cohesion and pollution （water, air, land） were significantly deteriorated. The results show that the existing practices are not sufficient to address the adverse impacts. Improvement in practices is necessary, mainly in the policy regime. Based on the analysis, some measures are recommended on how to protect community interest and environment with the development of river rafting as an ecotourism opportunity.

EXAMINATION OF SILICATE LIMITATION OF PRIMARY PRODUCTION IN JIAOZHOU BAY, CHINA I. SILICATE BEING A LIMITING FACTOR OF PHYTOPLANKTON PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Jiaozhou Bay data collected from May 1991 to February 1994, in 12 seasonal investigations, and provided the authors by the Ecological Station of Jiaozhou Bay, were analyzed to determine the spatiotemporal variations in temperature, light, nutrients (NO - 3 N, NO - 2 N, NH + 4 N, SiO 2- 3 Si, PO 3- 4 P), phytoplankton, and primary production in Jiaozhou Bay. The results indicated that only silicate correlated well in time and space with, and had important effects on, the characteristics, dynamic cycles and trends of, primary production in Jiaozhou Bay. The authors developed a corresponding dynamic model of primary production and silicate and water temperature. Eq.(1) of the model shows that the primary production variation is controlled by the nutrient Si and affected by water temperature; that the main factor controlling the primary production is Si; that water temperature affects the composition of the structure of phytoplankton assemblage; that the different populations of the phytoplankton assemblage occupy different ecological niches for C , the apparent ratio of conversion of silicate in seawater into phytoplankton biomas and D , the coefficient of water temperature’s effect on phytoplankton biomass. The authors researched the silicon source of Jiaozhou Bay, the biogeochemical sediment process of the silicon, the phytoplankton predominant species and the phytoplankton structure. The authors considered silicate a limiting factor of primary production in Jiaozhou Bay, whose decreasing concentration of silicate from terrestrial source is supposedly due to dilution by current and uptake by phytoplankton; quantified the silicate assimilated by phytoplankton, the intrinsic ratio of conversion of silicon into phytoplankton biomass, the proportion of silicate uptaken by phytoplankton and diluted by current; and found that the primary production of the phytoplankton is determined by the quantity of the silicate assimilated by them. The phenomenon of apparently high plant nutrient concentrations but low phytoplankton biomass in some waters is reasonably explained in this paper.

A model of deep ecotourism development and its empirical study

Ecotourism requires the harmony of all factors involved in tourism system for a multilateral benefit. Based on such cognition, a concept of deep ecotourism development is put forward which includes two connotations: on the one hand, it should give prominence to the display of the eco-culture of the tourist destination and tourists' eco-experience, in which way the development behavior on the tourist destination and the tourists' behavior will be regulated; on the other hand, it implies the deep harmony among tourist entrepreneurs and tourists, the local governments and the local residents, as well as tourist activities and the ecological environment in the tourism development for the multilateral benefit of every element involved and sustainable tourism development. The common sense is that the degrees in a certain tourism destination will differ and that consequently four levels of ecotourism are divided - very shallow ecotourism, shallow ecotourism, deep ecotourism and very deep ecotourism. To move shallow ecotourism toward deep one, two models of "four subjects and two wings" and "connecting the two wings" of deep ecotourism development system are introduced to make ecotourism industry favorable to the display of eco-culture and the sustainable development of the destination community. With the two models, a case study of ecotourism development in Louguantai National Forest Park was made as a demonstration. The ultimate purpose is to build an ideal new Shangri-La.

Modelling Nitrogen and Phosphorus Dynamics in a Mesocosm Pelagic Ecosystem in Laizhou Bay in China

A model of nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in mesocosm experiments was established on the basis of a summary and synthesis of the existing models. The established model comprised seven state variables(DIN,PO4-P,DON,DOP,phytoplankton,zooplankton and detritus) and five modules - phytoplankton,zooplankton,dissolved inorganic nutrients,dissolved organic nutrients and detritus. Comparison with the in situ experimental data in Laizhou Bay at the end of August 2002 showed that this model could properly simulate the variations of DIN,PO4-P,and phytoplankton biomass in a mesocosm pelagic ecosystem. It was found that not only the model structure but also the parameters adopted were fit for simulation. The sensitivity of the main state variables to the parameter change was assessed by sensitivity analysis. All these results are useful for studying the control mechanism of biogeochemical cycling of nutrients in Laizhou Bay and other Chinese coastal waters.