Chinese Policies and Practices regarding Payments for Ecological Services in Watersheds

Watersheds provide a variety of ecological services including soil and water conservation, carbon sequestration and biodiversity protection. However, activities in a fast-growing economy significantly impact the supply and demand of these watershed services. To mitigate these impacts, the concept of payment for environmental and ecosystem services from water-sheds has emerged in global academic and policy circles. The governments and academic communities in China have increas-ingly described payments for ecological services from watersheds with the concept of watershed eco-compensation as it is urgent to protect watershed ecosystems. Watershed eco-compensation has proved to be one of the most economically effective means of solving environmental problems of watersheds to be adopted by the Chinese government. This paper presents an objective analysis of the Chinese market for watershed ecosystem services, including supply and demand for the services. It also summarizes Chinese policies on watershed eco-compensation, including relevant laws and regulations and fiscal policies. In addition, it presents a re-view of Chinese practices in watershed eco-compensation, in-cluding the analysis of an ecological construction project in West-ern China, inter-provincial watershed eco-compensation practices and plans, and payment for ecological services at the provincial and small watershed levels. Finally, it summarizes the key com-ponents of the process of payment in Chinese watershed eco-compensation. This discussion forms the basis of concluding suggestions for ecosystem services compensation and ecological protection in the large scale river basin.

Contribution of International and Comparative Approach to the Policy and Practice of Teacher Education

This study intends to identify the value and pitfalls of international and comparative approach for the policy and practice of teacher education.The structure of this article proceeds as follows:the first section focuses on explaining the meaning and the values of international and comparative approach;based on previous discussions,the second section makes a more in-depth analysis of the values of international and comparative approach to teacher education from five key themes;the final section of this article proposes and interprets the drawbacks of international and comparative approach in teacher education.

Forecasting towards Planning and Sustainable Development Based on a System Dynamic Approach: A Case Study of the Setiu District, State of Terengganu, Malaysia

In this paper, a system dynamics approach is used instead of the traditional approaches to stimulate, forecast and analyze the economic effects of an existing policy practice in Setiu Wetland. As a part of Setiu district that uphold tradition in fishery and maritime based industry, Setiu Wetland area seems to be left behind in terms of economic and livelihood. Generally, Setiu development policy consists of five sub-system including population growth, economic, residential, transportation and sub-urban sprawl. Due to their widespread population distribution, Setiu Wetland receives low urban-related progress. Hence, a forecast of 30 years from 2016 to 2046 providing a necessary insight for potential development of the Setiu Wetland region, to simulate its environment, identify gaps, propose suitable land model towards Setiu Minapolitan area (Peri-urban area) and suggest directions for future studies particularly in economic and livelihood for local authorities to develop with.

Local Governments as an Integrative Organizer:The Policy Practice of Constructing Innovation Platforms in South China

Based on an in-depth study of one city district and four new investment projects in South China,this article analyses the implementation practice of innovation policy by Chinese local governments.It is found that at the regional level,innovation policy as practice is a highly mixed-up and integrated process composed of steps from targeting emerging industries,to constructing platforms,and to developing new clusters,during which the most important policy concept of“innovation platform”is used in a distinctive way by local governments to effectively foster regional innovation-oriented development.In general,the local government intervenes heavily in or even“manages”every step of the implementation process with specific policy approach and instrument.Managing regional development as a whole process of innovation,the entrepreneurial Chinese local government indeed plays a role of meso-level organizer equivalent to the innovation project manager in business sector.These new practical approaches of regional innovation development with Chinese characteristics can inspire other emerging and catch-up economies for their policy making in five aspects.

Internationalization of Canadian Teacher Education:Teacher Candidates' Experiences and Perspectives

Purpose:Informed by social imaginary,Canadian exceptionalism,and social inclusion,this study explores how teacher candidates experience and interpret internationalization at home at one university in Canada.Design/Approach/Methods:Data were collected from three sources:(a)policy analyses of public documents related to internationalization in Canada and at the university;(b)a student survey on the internationalization of higher education;and(c)individual interviews with 12 teacher candidates.Eight interviewees were local,four White and four racialized minorities,and fourwere international.Findings:Findings indicate that most participants relate internationalization to student mobility.They present the Canadian society and themselves as open,tolerant,and accepting.Such an imaginary of Canadian exceptionalism does not necessarily coincide with everyday realities of international and racialized teacher candidates.They reported that they experienced Eurocentric curricula,different forms of exclusion,and racism.Some participants enacted agency todisrupt thedominance of White perspectives.Originality/Value:This research addresses knowledge gaps related to internationalization policy as teacher candidates'voices are not often heard in internationalization initiatives.The study suggests that the internationalization of teacher education requires decolonization of curriculum,bridging with anti-racism education,and the internationalization of teacher educators.

Between the Foreground and the Background Lies the Middle Ground:Painting a Harmonious Early Childhood Curriculum Landscape

Highlights This commentary centers on one of the insightful articles in this Special Issue:"Curriculum Hybridization and Cultural Glocalization:A Scoping Review of International Research on Early Childhood Curriculum in China and Singapore,"authored by Yang and Li(2022).The commented article provides insights and directions regarding early childhood curriculum policy and practice in China and Singapore.Aligning with Yang and Li's(2022)findings,this commentary further paints a new threecomponent framework(the foreground,the background,and the middle ground)for understanding and harmonizing the global-local dissonance in the early childhood curriculum landscape.Leveraging both hindsight and foresight,this commentary also provides insights for policy and practice to advance a harmonious early childhood curriculum landscape in China and Singapore as well as in other societies confronted with similar predicaments.

Move More,Sit Less and Sleep Well:An analysis of WHO movement guidelines for children under 5 years of age

Insufficient physical activity(PA),prolonged sedentary behavior(SB)and inadequate sleep(SLP)are detrimental factors to population health.To address health issues caused by insufficient PA,excessive SB and poor SLP,the World Health Organization(WHO)updated PA and SB guidelines for all populations aged from 5 years to 65 years and older in 2020.For children under 5 years old,the WHO issued the first global guidelines for PA,SB and SLP(collectively refer to movement behaviors)in April 2019.The guidelines applied a holistic approach to promote health behaviors,filling the gap of no comprehensive global movement guidelines for young children.Although the guidelines for young children offer guidance for health promotion,some research and practice implications and other issues should be mentioned.This commentary includes considerations for the importance of the WHO guidelines for younger children,critical analysis of evidence for developing the guidelines,and recommendations for future research and practice.The aim of this paper is to further advance health research in younger populations.