Overview: Spatial information and indicators for sustainable management of natural resources

Natural resource management (NRM) is becoming increasingly important at all scales, local, regional, national and global, because of an increasing human population and increasing per capita use of resources and space. Conflicts are intensifying between different interest groups. Production and conservation aspects are particularly debated because conservation often conflicts with economic and social sustainability. There is public demand for objective decision based NRM but limitations are all pervasive due to the spatial and temporal complexity and interdisciplinary nature.This special issue explores the use of spatial data and models to overcome some limitations of NRM decision making. The papers in this issue show modern approaches of natural resources management with a particular focus on spatial data collection, analysis and the development of spatial indicators. This issue presents a balanced mix of review and research papers that give examples of how to find or improve the spatial information base for evidence-based decision making.This overview makes the argument that understanding complex spatial pattern and processes, and the development of spatial indicators, is an essential aspect of evidence-based NRM. If spatial and temporal patterns are complex, ecological evidence from field data or experiments may have limited value for NRM and observational study designs become more appropriate for understanding complex spatial pattern and processes. Data quality should be documented as a combination of accuracy and spatio-temporal representativeness in order to be useful in the NRM decision process.     

Ecological indicators: Imperative to sustainable forest management

Sustainable forest management (SFM) deals with ecologically sound practices that maintain the forest ecosystem integrity, productivity, resilience and biodiversity. Ecological sustainability ensures continuing function of ecosystems which are considered as ecological life support system. Several attempts have been made world over to develop criteria and indicators, which are specific to various forestry conditions and recognized as appropriate tools for assessing and monitoring progress towards sustainable forest management. In India, the process for measuring forest sustainability has started by evolving national level set of Criteria and indicators in the form of Bhopal–India process. The Bhopal–India process specifies 8 criteria and 43 indicators. The first 4 criteria pertain exclusively to ecology with 21 related indicators. Thus, nearly half of the criteria and indicators pertain to ecological dimensions that largely govern sustainability of forests. Rest of the criteria of the base set pertains to economic and social aspects with related indicators. This provides holistic approach of monitoring the forest resources.     

自然资源生态伦理观及其可持续发展

首先论述了自然资源的定义和主要特点,并从生态论理道德的角度对人与自然资源的关系进行了讨论,认为当代人承担着为子孙后代留有生存和发展充分空间的道义责任和义务,满足当代人的利益需求和维护子后代的利益需求是同等重要的,文中还指出把生态伦理观纳入人类对自然资源的保护、开发和可持续发展的实践中,有着重要的理论和现实意义,此外,对自然资源可持续发展的途径和主要措施也进行了讨论。     

试论生态分类系统在我国天然林保护与经营中的应用

我国林业的发展正面临前所未有的机遇和挑战,现有资料表明,一方面,我国林业的宏观政策以及森林的采伐更新过程缺乏基本生态学原理的支持;另一方面,仅研究生态学理论还不够,还要研究生态学理论转化为生产力的工具,生产态分类系统是确定、描述和纵制生态系统类型图的方法。应用这种多层次系统的目的是用图的形式是把森景观的生物和环境特征抽象化,综合化、标准化和整体化,以实现生态系统管理的目标。通过纵绘制各种景观特征、林业人员可以根据土地承载力及适应性 确定森林的经营方向和经营措施,生态分类系统在吉林省东部针阔混交林区试验应用。     

北方牧区草地资源分类经营机制与可持续发展

草地是畜牧业生产和生态保护的重要资源.在短期经济利益的驱动下造成北方牧区草地大面积退化和荒漠化、生产力下降、自我恢复能力降低、水土流失加剧和涵养功能减弱,对牧区经济发展、社会稳定和生态安全构成了威胁,严重影响着草地畜牧业的可持续发展.以新疆阿勒泰为例,依据草地资源的生产经济性能、生态服务价值重要性和季节放牧利用特征,构建了基于GIS 技术的草地生产力指数、草地生态服务价值指数和草地资源分类经营的功能分区模型,建立以主导功能和时空格局为主的草地资源分类经营调控机制,将阿勒泰牧区的草地从空间上划分为经济功能区、混合功能区和生态功能区.结果表明:(1)经济功能区,以获取最大的经济效益为目的,面积约648.69万hm2,占总可利用草地面积的65.8%,主要分布在平原荒漠;(2)生态功能区,以生态保护和社会效益为目的,面积约136.4万hm2,占总可利用草地面积的13.9%,主要分布在平原荒漠草原、山地草原、高寒草甸;(3)混合功能区,在适度利用条件下,生态效益与经济效益并重,面积约200.1万hm2,占总可利用草地面积的20.3%,主要分布在山地草原化荒漠、山地草甸草原、平地草甸、山地荒漠草原、山地草甸和高寒草原.通过对草地资源的分类经营,将畜牧业生产重心转向经济功能区,转移生态功能区的放牧家畜,减轻混合功能区的放牧压力,形成草地资源在功能、系统、时序和空间的耦合结构,实现牧区草地资源利用的可持续发展.     

A review of the natural enemies of beetles in the subtribe Diabroticina (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): implications for sustainable pest management

Diabroticina is a speciose subtribe of New World Chrysomelidae (Subfamily Galerucinae: Tribe Luperini) that includes pests such as corn rootworms, cucumber beetles and bean leaf beetles (e.g. Diabrotica, Acalymma, Cerotoma species). The evolution and spread of pesticide resistance, the European invasion of Diabrotica v. virgifera LeConte, and possible development of resistance due to the large-scale deployment of Diabrotica-active Bt maize in North America have generated a sense of urgency in developing biological control options against Diabroticina pests. In the present study, we review available knowledge on biological control options, including 290 publications on natural enemy–Diabroticina associations in the New World. Several natural enemy species or groups appear to be promising candidates for control strategies with different ecological rationales. We propose that future research should pursue: (1) development of inundative biological control products, particularly mass-produced entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi, (2) understanding of specific natural enemies of Diabroticina larvae throughout the Americas and of adults particularly in higher altitudes of Central America or northern South America including potential classical biological control agents against D. v. virgifera; (3) enhancement of natural enemies through cultural practices, i.e., reduced tillage, reduced weed control, cover crops, diversified crop rotations or soil amendments. Research and action must be coordinated to accelerate the exploration of biological control options.     

天敌昆虫控害机制与可持续利用

天敌昆虫是自然生态系统内抑制害虫种群的重要因子,利用天敌昆虫控制农业害虫是安全有效的害虫控制策略,也是未来害虫管理发展的方向.本文在系统总结国内外研究进展的基础上,提出害虫治理要从“被动应急控制”转变为内部助增的“主动促进自然调控”的新理念,创新多种天敌昆虫协同控制多种害虫的“网式协同调控”新途径,建立一个自我维持并可有效降低害虫种群水平的农业生态系统.未来的研究应针对“天敌昆虫调控害虫的内在机制”与“天敌昆虫在农业生态系统中持续发挥作用的生态学基础”等关键科学问题,从基因、个体、种群、群落和生态系统不同层次,重点开展:1)天敌昆虫寄生和捕食害虫的行为与适应机制;2)天敌昆虫大量繁育的营养与生殖生理基础;3)寄生性天敌昆虫与寄主互作的免疫机制;4)天敌昆虫协同控害的生态学机制;5)天敌昆虫可持续利用的生物防治新模式等方面的研究.     

Commercial coral-reef fisheries across Micronesia: A need for improving management

A dearth of scientific data surrounding Micronesia’s coral-reef fisheries has limited their formal assessment and continues to hinder local and regional management efforts. We approach this problem by comparing catch-based datasets from market landings across Micronesia to evaluate fishery status in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, Yap, and Pohnpei. Initial examinations found that calm weather and low lunar illumination predicted between 6% (Yap) and 30% (CNMI) of the variances in daily commercial landings. Both environmentally driven catch success and daily catch variability increased in accordance with reef-fish demand indices. Subsequent insight from species composition and size-at-capture data supported these findings, highlighting reduced trophic levels and capture sizes where higher human-population-per-reef-area existed. Among the 12–15 target species and/or species complexes that accounted for 70% of the harvest biomass, capture sizes were consistently smallest for CNMI and Guam, often below the reported mean reproductive sizes. Comparatively, Pohnpei has the greatest potential for reef fisheries, with a large reef area (303 km²) and a moderate human population (34,000 people). However, the estimated harvest volume of 476 mt year⁻¹ was 8–9 times higher than other jurisdictions. Even on Yap where the reef-fish demand index was lowest (67.7 people km⁻² reef habitat), many target fish were harvested below their mean reproductive sizes, including the iconic green bumphead parrotfish and humphead wrasse, as well as several other herbivores. We discuss our results with respect to the contemporary doctrine surrounding size-spectra, catch composition, and catch frequencies that afford insight into fishery pressure and status. We posit that regional catch-based policies (initially) instituted at the market level, combined with area and gear-based restrictions, represent plausible vectors for improving Micronesian fisheries.     

Ensuring the adaptive potential of Coastal wetlands of India- the need of the hour for sustainable management

India is endowed with a variety of coastal wetlands viz., mangroves, seagrasses, saltmarshes, coral reefs, lagoons and tidal flats, and the country is also a signatory to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the Convention of Biological Diversity, besides having a robust framework of laws and policies, governing the wetland conservation. However, the conservation strategies can better be improved in the context of increasing pressures and threats and limited success of restoration/rehabilitation. Land conversion and ecological degradation of coastal wetlands are the stressors, associated with rapid coastal developmental activities and climate change. The coastal wetlands require desired habitat niche and hence, the conversion of coastal wetlands to other land uses (including agricultural and urban lands) may lead to permanent loss, whereas ecologically degraded coastal wetlands may be resilient if supported by effective protection measures. Preventing the habitat conversion and maximizing the adaptive potential (viz., the ability of populations or species to adapt to rapid environmental change with minimal disruption) by preserving the ecological health are the need of the hour to safeguard the existing coastal wetlands and sustain the provisional ecosystem services offered by them rather than short-term increase in area by unproductive restoration/rehabilitation efforts. Since coastal wetlands are flow through ecosystems, preserving the hydrological connectivity, facilitating the connectivity between adjacent ecosystems and protection of natural corridors are potential strategies that are required to enhance the adaptive potential of coastal wetlands. This analysis calls for site-specific, long-term and integrated ecosystem-based protection, management and rehabilitation strategies based on scientific principles and enforcing the effective legislative measures to regularize the coastal developmental activities in India.

     

A typology of sloping and mountainous olive plantation systems to address natural resources management

Olive plantation systems occur in a wide variety throughout the Mediterranean, especially in sloping and mountainous areas. Recent drivers of change, including the widespread introduction of mechanisation, increased use of (chemical) inputs and (drip)irrigation have considerably added to this diversity. The various systems have very different resource use patterns and environmental and social performances. This article attempts to grasp these differences and to link systems characteristics to options for natural resources management in the spirit of contemporary agricultural policies that seek to promote a more sustainable agriculture. Cluster analysis was employed to classify 28 olive plantation systems distinguished by regional typologies developed for six study areas: Trás‐os‐Montes (Portugal), Córdoba and Granada/Jaén (both in Spain), Haffouz (Tunisia), Basilicata/Salerno (Italy) and West‐Crete (Greece). Six types of olive plantation systems resulted: (a) very extensive, (b) traditional extensive, (c) semi‐intensive low input, (d) semi‐intensive high input, (b) intensive and (e) organic. Natural resources management options to address soil erosion, low biodiversity, wildfire risk and excessive water use are explored for each of these systems. In the discussion, it becomes evident that an important quality for a typology lies in its capacity to differentiate likely future development pathways. If options are known, policy‐makers can make choices as to what the desired pathway is and what instruments to design to facilitate it.     

生态补偿在海洋生态资源管理中的应用

随着经济的快速发展,中国海洋生态资源破坏日趋严重。开展海洋生态资源生态补偿研究有利于利用经济的手段解决海洋生态资源面临的问题,在目前中国自然资源生态补偿方面的研究薄弱,海洋生态资源生态补偿研究缺乏的情况下,本文也是对生态补偿研究领域的拓展。本文详细分析了海洋生态资源生态补偿的利益相关者分析、补偿强度和补偿途径3个基本问题;指出了海洋生态资源生态补偿包括经济补偿、资源补偿和生境补偿。提出了海洋生态资源生态补偿的未来研究方向:海洋生态资源价值评估,海洋生态资源生态补偿的基本理论问题,以及海洋生态资源生态补偿的实证研究等。     

Utilization and conservation of genetic resources: International projects for sustainable agriculture

Foreign assistance helps developing countries to achieve economic growth through wise use of natural resources. Conservation interventions and sustainable use of natural resources play a central role in this development. Conservation and utilization of genetic resources have traditionally proceeded as separate approaches. A conceptual approach to project design is presented encouraging greater interaction between those conserving crop genetic resources and those seeking their economic application in a sound land-use management plan. Projects illustrating this approach are being supported by the Agency for International Development. They suggest a paradigm for research and development allowing interdisciplinary activities targeting sustainable agriculture development.     

Monitoring of tropical freshwater fish resources for sustainable use

Tropical freshwater ecosystems are some of the world's most biodiverse and productive systems where determining what sustainable exploitation of inland fisheries looks like is particularly challenging. One of the greatest obstacles to sustainable management is collecting and using quality data on fish production and yield. The biodiversity and hydro-ecology of these systems often under open-access governance, add to the complexity of managing them. This paper describes an integrated citizen-science, earth observation, environmental DNA and independent survey approach to collecting fish and fisheries data, using the Cambodian Mekong as a case study.     

Nanoparticle-mediated double-stranded RNA delivery system: A promising approach for sustainable pest management

RNA interference (RNAi) targeting lethal genes in insects has great potential for sustainable crop protection. Compared with traditional double-stranded (ds)RNA delivery systems, nanoparticles such as chitosan, liposomes, and cationic dendrimers offer advantages in delivering dsRNA/small interfering (si)RNA to improve RNAi efficiency, thus promoting the development and practice of RNAi-based pest management strategies. Here, we illustrate the limitations of traditional dsRNA delivery systems, reveal the mechanism of nanoparticle-mediated RNAi, summarize the recent progress and successful applications of nanoparticle-mediated RNAi in pest management, and finally address the prospects of nanoparticle-based RNA pesticides.     

Nmnoparticle-mediated double-stranded RNA delivery system: A promising approach for sustainable pest management

RNA interference(RNAi)targeting lethal genes in insects has great potential for sustainable crop protection.Compared with traditional double-stranded(ds)RNA delivery systems,nanoparticles such as chitosan,liposomes,and cationic dendrimers offer advantages in delivering dsRNA/small interfering(si)RNA to improve RNAi efficiency,thus promoting the development and practice of RNAi-based pest management strategies.Here,we illustrate the limitations of traditional dsRNA delivery systems,reveal the mechanism of nanoparticle-mediated RNAi,summarize the recent progress and successful applications of nanoparticle-mediated RNAi in pest management,and finally address the prospects of nanoparticle-based RNA pesticides.