The use of a GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation technique for the development of a zoning plan for a seasonally variable Ramsar wetland site in Syria: Sabkhat Al-Jabboul

Zoning is an important tool used in the management of protected areas and wetlands. It has been developed to apply conservation objectives at different levels of management where conflicting uses can be taking place. GIS is increasingly used to solve land allocation problem with techniques based on zoning, varying from simple overlays to complex multi-criteria evaluation techniques (MCE). This study presents a new approach to the development of zoning plans for Ramsar sites that exhibit major seasonal variations in conservation value and human use and threats. It employs a well-defined GIS-based MCE technique which involves both expert judgment and a set of criteria based on ecological and potential threats. A GIS model using the additive approach in MCE was developed to evaluate Sabkhat Al-Jabboul the only Ramsar site in Syria. The model was applied separately for the spring and winter to accommodate seasonal changes in the intensity and spatial distribution of conservation areas and threats across the site. Separate zoning plans were developed for each of the two main seasons. The zoning plan of the spring season, which is the birds breeding season, included three management zones; the special conservation zone, the conservation buffer zone, and the wise use zone. The winter zoning plan, where the bird feeding activity was the major activity includes two zones: a special conservation zone and a wise use zone. Thus, in cases like Sabkhat Al-Jabboul, where the wetlands are subject to significant seasonal variations, in their ecology and human utilization, it is recommended that flexible seasonal zoning plans are developed to assist in the organization of permitted activities, and to reduce the potential human impacts throughout the year.     

自然公园功能分区方法研究——以黄山风景名胜区为例

为了推进生态文明和美丽中国建设,合理利用自然资源,促进人与自然的和谐,我国提出"国家公园体制"并要求对保护地体系进行优化完善。功能分区作为保护地规划与管理中最相关的过程,是保护地体系优化的重要方面。自然公园作为多类型保护地的一个组成部分,其功能分区还存在着对生态与经济协调发展考虑不充分,缺乏综合性的分区研究等问题,不利于保护地的可持续发展。因此,为了推进保护地体系的优化与完善,从综合管理的角度出发,基于不可替代性、生态脆弱性、景观资源评价和经济建设的适宜性等方面提出了自然公园的功能分区方法,并以黄山风景名胜区为例进行了分区研究。本研究认为,自然公园的功能分区可包括生态保育区、景观保护区和经济发展区三个一级区,生态保育区可以分为核心生态保育区和重要生态保育区,景观保护区可以分为核心景观保护区和重要景观保护区,经济发展区可以分为游憩区、农业区和居住区。     

Multi objective land allocation (MOLA) for zoning Ghamishloo Wildlife Sanctuary in Iran

Protected area zoning is an approach towards decreasing conflict between the possible uses of land and providing an opportunity for policy making. GIS data processing and spatial analysis along with decision analysis techniques, were used in this study to define zones for Ghamishloo Wildlife Sanctuary according to I.U.C.N. category IV in Isfahan Province of Iran. We used multi-criteria evaluation and multi-objective land allocation for zoning the sanctuary, which covers an area of about 866 km². First, we prepared a land use map of the area using classification of the IRS 6 (AWiFS) data of May 2005. For zoning this region, nine major criteria including wildlife habitat, vegetation cover, soil, distance to historical places, water resources, road, scenic beauties in the landscape, and also to residential areas, and to the core zone were considered. We used the analytical hierarchy process to derive weights of the criteria and then applied a weighted linear combination technique to combine the factors. The degree of suitability was defined by applying Fuzzy membership function. The wildlife sanctuary was divided into four zones including conservation, recreation, rehabilitation, and cultural zones, consisting of 69%, 21%, 9.5% and 0.5% of the area, respectively. Finally, multi-objective land allocation (MOLA) function was used for allocation of the sanctuary's land area to the zones which produced reasonable results.     

Participatory land-use planning and conservation in northern Tanzania rangelands

In developing countries, participatory land-use planning is seen as a panacea to mitigate land-use conflicts and enhance land productivity. This assumption has not been thoroughly tested in wildlife corridors. Three villages were selected for this study. Several methods were used to provide indication of the performance of the plans against their stated objectives of mitigating conflicts and conserving wildlife corridors. Three hundred and fifty-eight households and eight park and extension workers were interviewed. In addition, focus group discussion with the nomadic Barabeig, field assessment and review of land-use plan/general management plan reports were carried out. Results reveal that land-use plans failed to achieve their set objectives. For example, 75% of the households held this view. Major causes of failure were insufficient participation by stakeholders in the planning process, lack of robust, transparent and accountable implementation strategies, inadequacy of qualified staff and lack of 'holistic approach' to the planning process. Taking these findings into account, an improved buffer zone land-use planning framework is suggested. For the framework to enhance both conservation and development and to enable policies and legislation, equitable benefit sharing and conservation education, initiation of compensation schemes for depredation caused by wild animals and intensification of patrols are required.     

基于土地利用冲突识别的国家公园社区调控研究——以钱江源国家公园为例

功能分区和土地利用冲突识别为国家公园社区调控提供空间指引,为社区精细化管理提供依据。以钱江源国家公园试点区（以下简称为"钱江源国家公园"）为例,综合考虑国家公园建设多重目标,建立了生态保育、游憩利用和农业生产适宜性评价体系,并基于三类适宜性构建潜在土地利用冲突识别矩阵。通过叠加国家公园功能分区与土地利用冲突分析结果,识别国家公园社区类型并提出调控措施。结果表明：①三类适宜性土地利用总量较丰富且存在空间差异,其中生态保育适宜性呈中部高,南北两侧低的分布特征,游憩利用、农业生产适宜性呈中部、北部高,南部低的空间特征;②土地利用冲突识别矩阵将钱江源国家公园土地利用冲突划分为4大类,即用地优势区、冲突激烈区、冲突一般区和冲突微弱区,其中47.24%的土地存在潜在利用冲突,冲突等级以冲突激烈为主,用地优势区占比50.21%;③基于国家公园功能分区框架与土地利用冲突结果叠加分析,将国家公园社区划分为区外安置型、控制发展型、优先整治型、游憩发展型、特色农业型5种类型,并提出差异化调控措施。     

中国国家公园的边界、分区和土地利用管理——来自自然保护区和风景名胜区的启示

作为生态文明制度改革的具体实现方式和前沿阵地,国家公园体制建设旨在对我国多样化的保护地体系进行重组管理,实现高效合理的国土空间规划、自然资本的保护和全民公益。研究对我国自然保护区和风景名胜区这两类法定保护地的边界和区划的理论基础和实践的技术手段的发展进行梳理,并对我国国家公园体制试点进展进行总结。在此基础上提出,中国国家公园在保护地个体的边界和内部分区上应以实现保护目标为原则,借鉴自然保护区功能分区的基本原则,根据管理目标细化功能分区,借鉴风景名胜区规划实践,注重景观价值,考虑社会经济条件特别是土地权属及土地开发利用可能和方式,进而考虑气候变化和区域长期发展目标等自然和社会经济动态,形成完整的边界和分区理论体系,从而满足全民公益,实现社区经济发展。在区划理论上,一个可行的切入点是考虑空间上生态系统服务功能的差异,根据实现保护目标的管理需求和满足社区生计发展的利用需求,在土地权属和其他限制条件上实现不同组合的生态系统服务功能的空间规划,利用保护地役权来分离土地所有权、使用权和收益权,限制特定土地利用方式,进行利益相关方资源利用管理。     

Ecological suitability evaluation for mountainous area development based on conceptual model of landscape structure,function, and dynamics

Minimizing the ecological impact of land development is a fundamental principle of sustainable development. Ecological suitability assessment is the key to realizing sustainability and is also significant for optimizing spatial patterns of territorial development. Especially in mountainous areas where the ecosystem is both vulnerable and important, quantitative evaluation of ecological suitability for land development is particularly important and urgent given current development strategy of urban construction in mountainous areas in China. Taking Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, a representative urban construction zone in a mountainous area in Yunnan Province, China, as a study area, and based on the fundamental theory of structural and functional dynamics from landscape ecology, this study has explored the integrated ecological resistance (IER) conceptual model and constructed an index system with aspects of ecological elements, ecological importance, and ecological resilience. The results showed that: (1) the ecological suitability level was higher in the north than in the south and higher in the east than in the west, as well as higher in the Bazi region than in mountainous areas. Dali City, Binchuan County, and Xiangyun County had large ecological suitable zones for development and construction. Foci of ecological resistance having strong ecological constraints were mainly concentrated in Heqing County and in various other places; (2) by combining the integrated ecological resistance and arable land distributions, the study area was zoned into five regions: prior development zone, moderate development zone, potential development zone, restricted development zone, and forbidden development zone. Moderate, potential, and restricted development zones occupied most of the area, accounting for 28.89%, 24.69%, and 21.40%, respectively, whereas prior development zones accounted for only 8.91%; (3) based on the areal proportions of ecological suitability zoning, the 12 counties of Dali Prefecture can be grouped into three categories: prior areas for conservation, comprehensive development areas, and prior areas for development. Xiangyun County and Binchuan County should be regarded as key areas of Dali Prefecture for urban construction in mountainous areas. This research has explored an ecological suitability evaluation system from the perspective of landscape ecology and made fully understanding of ecological suitability factors in the study area, which provided a good reference to ecological suitability evaluation for mountainous area development in the worldwide.     

我国自然保护区功能分区研究进展

自然保护区功能分区是保护区规划和科学管理的重要环节。我国自然保护区功能区划主要采用国际"人与生物圈"计划的"三区"划分模式,即核心区、缓冲区和实验区。介绍了我国自然保护区的分区依据,在总结自然保护区功能分区方法研究进展上,分析了目前我国自然保护区功能区划中存在的难点与问题,并对其进行了展望,以期为我国自然保护区功能区的科学划分与完善提供依据。     

基于景观安全格局的建设用地管制分区

旨在探索如何构建一种生态与经济发展兼顾的建设用地管制分区工作体系.以扬州市为例,选择防洪、水土保持、生物保护、乡土文化保护和游憩安全5个要素构建区域多层次综合生态安全格局,利用神经网络CA模型模拟无生态约束下的区域城镇建设用地扩展格局,将二者耦合得到优先建设区、有条件建设区、调整建设区、限制建设区和禁止建设区,并为每类管制区编制相应的管制规则.结果表明:①利用景观安全格局与城镇建设用地扩展格局耦合来进行建设用地管制区划分,优先考虑生态环境保护,再进行建设用地的安排,实现了生态与经济的双赢;②通过调整建设区的划定,为地方政府提供了新增建设用地适宜调整的区域,在建设用地管制的基础上,给予地方政府充分的自主权.     

Assessing environment and development outcomes in conservation landscapes

An approach to assessing the environmental outcomes and changes in peoples’ livelihoods resulting from landscape-scale conservation interventions was developed for three locations in Africa. Simple sets of performance indicators were developed through participatory processes that included a variety of stakeholders. The selection of indicators was designed to reflect wider landscape processes, conservation objectives and as local peoples’ preferred scenarios. This framework, combined with the use of social learning techniques, helped stakeholders develop greater understandings of landscape system dynamics and the linkages between livelihood and conservation objectives. Large scale conservation and development interventions should use these approaches to explore linkages and improve shared understanding of tradeoffs and synergies between livelihood and conservation initiatives. Such approaches provide the basis for negotiating and measuring the outcomes of conservation initiatives and for adapting these to changing perspectives and circumstances.     

An integrated method to create habitat suitability models for fragmented landscapes

Given the pervasive influence of human induced habitat fragmentation in ecological processes, landscape models are a welcome advance. The development of GIS software has allowed a greater use of these models and of analyses of the relationship between species and habitat variables. Habitat suitability models are thus theoretical concepts that can be used for planning in fragmented landscapes and habitat conservation. The most commonly used models are based on single species and on the assignment of suitability values for some environmental variables. Generally the cartographic basis for modeling suitability are thematic maps produced by a Boolean logic. In this paper we propose a model based on a set of focal species and on maps produced by a fuzzy classification method. Focal species, selected by an expert-based approach, provide a practical way of extending the scope of habitat suitability models to the conservation of biodiversity at landscape scale. The utilisation of a classification method that applies a continuity criterion may allow more consideration of the connectivity of an area because it allows a better detection of ecological gradients within a landscape. We applied this methodology to the Tuscany region focusing on terrestrial mammals. Performing a fuzzy classification we produced five land cover maps and through image processing operations we obtained a suitability model which applies a continuity criterion. The resulting suitability fuzzy model seems better for the study of connectivity and fragmentation, especially in areas with high spatial complexity.     

The influence of the landscape structure within buffer zones,catchment land use and instream environmental variables on mollusc communities in a medium-sized lowland river

The world’s freshwater molluscan fauna is facing unprecedented threats from habitat loss and degradation. Declines in native populations are mostly attributed to the human impact, which results in reduced water quality. The objectives of our survey were to analyse the structure of the mollusc communities in a medium-sized lowland river and to determine the most important environmental variables at different spatial scales, including landscape structure, catchment land use and instream environmental factors that influence their structure. Our survey showed that a medium-sized river, that flows through areas included in the European Ecological Natura 2000 Network Programme of protected sites, provides diverse instream habitats and niches that support 47 mollusc species including Unio crassus, a bivalve of Community interest, whose conservation requires the designation of a special conservation area under the Habitats Directive Natura 2000. This survey showed that mollusc communities are impacted by several environmental variables that act together at multiple scales. The landscape structure within buffer zones, catchment land use and instream environmental variables were all important and influenced the structure of mollusc communities. Therefore, they should all be taken into consideration in the future restoration of the river, future management projects and programmes for the conservation of biodiversity in running waters. The results of this study may be directly applicable for the rehabilitation of river ecosystems and are recommended to stakeholders in their future decision concerning landscape planning, monitoring species and their habitats, conservation plans and management in accordance with the requirements of sustainable development.     

森林草地转换对景观视觉效果的影响

基于景观保护的视点,定量研究了森林草地转换对景观视觉效果的影响．结果表明,中景域的可视区域比近景域和远景域大,草地建设对中景域景观视觉效果的影响也最大,因此,中景域是重要的景观保护对象．对草地内林地的可视量分析可知,各景域的可视林地多分布在400～600m高海拔上。25°以上的坡度范围内分布偏少．并探讨了草地建成后应采取的景观管理和保护对策,以增加草地景观的视觉效果．     

Land-use changes assessed by overlay or mosaic methods: Which method is best for management planning?

Environmental planning must determine management practices for a given territory based on the landscape processes that have occurred over time and their consequences. Therefore, environmental planning decisions must be based on strong empirical evidence that can be easily understood by all involved parties. Several studies have highlighted the methodological deficiencies that occur when obtaining and interpreting such issues, particularly in heterogeneous landscapes with complex interactions. In this paper, we evaluated two methodological approaches that are used in management planning, land use/cover change (LUCC) and mosaic change (MC) to compare their effectiveness and suitability for supporting decision-making. We applied these methods to the coastal landscape of São Sebastião Island, Brazil, which has undergone many changes in the last 50 years. For two years, land use/cover maps were produced using GIS and assessed according to changes in landscape elements (LUCC) and boundaries (MC). Overall, the LUCC failed to identify sets with similar structural heterogeneities in the landscape. However, the LUCC is easier for stakeholders to understand and apply than the MC. The MC method better presented the evolution of the relationship between the landscape elements and heterogeneity.     

基于地域区划的广东省陆域生态系统服务簇与模式识别

识别区域生态系统服务簇及其结构模式,是揭示人地系统客观规律的前提和基础。基于中国气候区划、农业自然区划和主体功能区划成果和三级流域单元,并遵循统一性、一致性、区域共轭性等规律,坚持尽可能保持自然与行政边界完整性的原则,对广东省陆域进行自上而下为主的地域区划,以最大化保持流域单元和生态系统的完整性;按照区划单元测算粮食供给、原料生产、水资源供给等12项区域典型生态系统服务价值量和z-score分值,最后运用K-均值聚类法,进行生态系统服务簇与模式识别。得到以下结果：广东省陆域涵盖中亚热带、南亚热带和边缘热带3个自然地带,可划分为9个经济片区共34个自然的流域单元,形成了"3+9+34"的三级地域区划方案;识别出水文调节保护型、水土保持调节型、生态保育公园型、生态宜居和谐型、综合协调供给型共5类生态系统服务簇的结构模式,展示出广东省陆域生态系统服务簇以珠三角为核心的空间对称分布模式;受地形、地貌等自然地理环境和土地利用等人类活动的影响,不同区域生态系统服务簇各具独特的地形和地理特征,承担着的生态系统服务功能各异。基于这些结果,研究提出生态系统服务簇模式的差异化生态系统管控措施,为省域国土空间规划的实践提供研究支撑。     

钱江源国家公园体制试点区功能分区对黑麂保护的有效性评估

功能分区是统一协调国家公园不同保护管理目标的主要措施, 对于国家公园的有效管理有重要意义。钱江源国家公园是我国首批国家公园体制试点区之一, 被分为核心保护区、生态保育区、游憩展示区和传统利用区4个部分, 对应不同的保护管理措施。本研究分析了钱江源国家公园体制试点区现有功能分区与其首要保护对象黑麂(Muntiacus crinifrons)的适宜栖息地之间的空间关系。在红外相机调查获取的94个黑麂分布点的基础上, 结合海拔、地形、植被特征、人为活动干扰等15个环境特征变量, 采用MaxEnt模型预测国家公园内黑麂适宜栖息地的空间分布。结果表明, 黑麂倾向于出现在森林较为原始和道路密度较低的区域, 其适宜栖息地面积42.5 km ², 占国家公园总面积的16.9%。其中, 69.3%的黑麂适宜栖息地位于核心保护区, 30.4%位于生态保育区, 表明国家公园现有功能分区能很好地满足黑麂栖息地保护的需求。此结果也证明黑麂可以作为其分布范围内保存较好的亚热带森林生态系统的指示性物种。通过生境恢复、廊道建设和跨省共建促进黑麂栖息地的完整性保护, 是加强该区域黑麂栖息地保护的关键措施。     

基于生态系统服务价值和景观生态风险的生态分区识别与优化策略——以祁连山国家公园青海片区为例

生态空间分区识别是支撑自然保护地生态资产管理的前提性和基础性工作。以祁连山国家公园青海片区(以下简称为“园区”)为例,集成遥感技术、地理信息模型方法、景观生态学方法、GIS格网法,分析了园区1998—2018年土地利用、生态系统服务价值、景观生态风险的时空演变特征,选用Z-score标准化构建了四类生态分区。结果表明：(1)草地占园区面积的55.00%以上,30年间(1998—2018年)园区土地利用之间转移总面积为102.49 km²。(2)3个时期(1998年、2008年、2018年)园区生态系统服务价值(ESV)约为274亿元/a,单位面积ESV为172.94万元/km²。不同ESV等级呈现“大分散、小集聚”的镶嵌交错分布格局,高寒河源湿地区和寒温带针叶林区为ESV的高值区。(3)3个时期园区景观生态风险指数(ERI)分别为0.2287、0.2286和0.2310,生态安全状态整体较好,景观生态风险以低生态风险等级和较低生态风险等级占主导地位,占园区面积的90.00%左右。人工牧草地、旱地、建设用地的景观生态风险等级较高。(4)结合生态...     

基于适宜性分析的黄河首曲地区生态旅游功能区划研究

黄河首曲地区具有突出的生态功能和较高的旅游价值,研究选取距水域湿地距离、草地覆盖情况、森林覆盖情况、海拔高度、坡度和偏远程度6个表征地区自然性的标准,采用GIS技术与层次分析法相结合的方法对黄河首曲地区生态旅游适宜性进行了分析,并结合首曲自然保护区要求对研究区进行了旅游功能区划。研究区生态旅游适宜性可划分为五级,Ⅰ级适宜度最低,适合开发一般的生态旅游或大众旅游,V级地区适宜度最高,原生态景观价值突出,但环境敏感性也高,宜发展严格生态旅游,以最大化保护生态环境。出于协调旅游功能与生态功能的统一以实现地区生态景观可持续利用的目的,研究区被划分为3类功能区、8类功能亚区,且均具有各自特殊的主导和辅助服务功能。研究最后根据各功能区、亚区的特殊服务功能提出了相应的调控措施,以促进生态旅游的合理性规划及未来可持续发展。     

Participatory Resource Monitoring as a Means for Promoting Social Change in Yunnan,China

Recent international forest policies stimulate involvement of communities in forest management as a strategy to improve biodiversity conservation and the quality of local livelihoods. Increasingly, the role of local people in monitoring forest resources is also acknowledged. This paper presents a participatory resources monitoring (PRM) system developed and implemented by representatives of 12 villages, six each within and adjacent to two nature reserves in Yunnan, China. The short-term objectives are to monitor resource and wildlife abundance, resource use, wildlife damage to crops, and land use. Main methods used by the village monitoring team are: (1) observation through forest walk, (2) village interview, and (3) market survey. Monitoring is implemented throughout the year to fit in the daily work of villagers. Staff from the nature reserve or forestry bureau provide support by visiting the villages several days per year. Results indicate that participatory monitoring is a valuable tool for villagers to engage in self-owned management actions. We discuss how monitoring is also a process which could lead to social change. Based on narratives we suggest that participatory monitoring builds trust between stakeholders, changes perceptions and attitudes and leads to more democratic and transparent decision-making. In discussing accuracy, we argue that all stakeholders perceive and interpret nature differently based on different worldviews, knowledge systems, values and beliefs. We argue that if participatory monitoring is to be sustainable, community-based monitoring – preferably linked to scientific monitoring and patrolling – should be designed as a discursive institution where the process of building social capital and inter-actor learning is extremely important. Finally, we briefly reflect upon efforts to scale up participatory monitoring.     

我国环境功能评价与区划方案

我国地区间自然环境和社会经济发展差异悬殊,主体发展功能和环境功能定位各不相同。从环境功能的角度出发,统筹考虑各环境要素,建立基于环境功能区划的环境管理制度具有重要的理论和现实意义。采用RS与GIS技术的空间评价方法,构建了基于环境功能评价和主导因素法的环境功能区划技术体系,在对全国自然生态环境及社会经济发展科学评估的基础上,充分衔接现有的相关区划与规划,明确全国环境功能区划方案。国土面积的53.2%划为自然生态保留区和生态功能保育区,为国民经济的健康持续发展提供生态安全保障;国土面积的46.8%划为食物环境安全保障区、聚居环境维护区和资源开发环境引导区,主要从事农业生产、城镇化和工业化开发以及资源开发利用,是国民经济和社会发展活动的主要集中地区,重点维护人群健康。环境功能区划是改变环境保护目标制定和考核中"一刀切"现象的基础性研究,实行环境分区管理和分类指导,促进实现环境保护管理战略转型。