Swedish experiences of incentives for the protection of nature

In Sweden, the maintenance of biological diversity is considered a key element in the development towards a sustainable society. However, the link between sustainable development and biodiversity is far from clear to everybody. It is an important task to explain this link. A cornerstone of Swedish biodiversity policy is that each sector in society has a sectoral responsibility to ensure that its own activities do not cause any long-term loss of biodiversity (but instead help to maintain it). The concept of sectoral responsibility is an important feature of environmental policy in the context of developing new incentives. Besides ‘traditional’ nature conservation tools — such as the protection of sites, purchasing land and general environmental legislation — new, more market-oriented incentives have emerged during the last few years, e.g. certifications schemes in forestry and eco-labelling in agriculture. These new incentives have developed alongside political processes (parliament, government, agencies etc.) and have been formulated and negotiated by ‘market players’. Environmental NGOs, such as WWF Sweden and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, have often taken the lead role in this process. Another feature of these incentives is that they not only apply to products but also to production; an example of this is in forestry where not just the wood but also forest management are in focus. The national agri-environmental programmes, within the context of the European Union's subsidy programme for environmental measures in agriculture, provide a powerful tool for conserving and enhancing biodiversity. In Sweden at least, there is nowadays complete acceptance for the basic view that it is both desirable and necessary to pay the farmers for their ‘production’ of common benefits such as biodiversity in well-managed pastures and meadows. Market-oriented incentives, such as eco-labelling and certification schemes, have an important role to play and should complement other, more traditional tools such as general environmental legislation and protection of sites.     

The coexistence of amenity and biodiversity in urban landscapes

Amenity is a long-standing component of town planning and municipal governance. Biodiversity is a far more recent concept, yet interpreting the conservation mandate in a local context is a significant challenge for landscape and urban planners. This article explores the concepts of amenity and biodiversity and investigates their compatibility in an urbanising world. Their historical expression in law and urban planning is considered, and empirical research on the links between human well-being, green environments and biodiversity is reviewed. We argue that amenity is an underutilised vehicle for achieving biodiversity goals in line with new urban greening paradigms because of its long-standing currency with planning professionals. However, conflict between biodiversity and amenity can arise in practice, depending on a city’s social–ecological context. These challenges can be overcome through setting clear objectives, utilising scientific evidence, engaging with local communities and ensuring landscape policy is sufficiently flexible to accommodate local needs and characteristics.     

Impact of mechanical and chemical weeding on the floristic diversity of citrus orchards in Tlemcen (Northwestern Algeria)

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of weeding (chemical, mechanical and control) on the floristic composition of citrus orchards in the region of Tlemcen (Northwestern Algeria). A comparative approach between two methods of weeding (mechanical vs. chemical) compared to a control (without weeding) was carried out at 3 stations of 100 m² inside the citrus orchard studied. The floristic surveys were performed in the stations at different times (before and after each weeding). In the floristic inventory, 168 surveys were carried out and a total of 88 species were identified belonging to 71 genera and 30 botanical families. This adventitious flora was dominated by the Mediterranean elements (64%), the therophytes (51%) and dicotyledons (64%).

Statistical elaboration of floristic data by means of multifactorial ANOVA revealed the existence of a significant spatial-temporal difference in the mean species richness between the stations (control vs. chemical and mechanical). In addition, the species richness before weeding tended to be higher than that after it. Weeding methods practised by crop growers need to be reconsidered. The benefits that weeds can provide should be considered as well as the damage caused by the different weeding techniques.     

Long-term studies (1871–2000) on acidification and recovery of lakes in the Bohemian Forest (central Europe)

This paper evaluates long-term changes in the atmospheric depositions of S and N compounds, lake water quality, and biodiversity at eight glacial lakes in the Bohemian Forest over the past 130 years. This time interval covers (i) the ‘background’ pre-acidification status of the lakes, (ii) a period of changes in the communities that can be partly explained by introduction of fish, (iii) a period of strong lake acidification with its adverse impacts on the communities, (iv) the lake reversal from acidity, which includes the recent status of the lakes. The lake water chemistry has followed—with a characteristic hysteresis—both the sharp increase and decline in the deposition trends of strong anions. Remarkable changes in biota have mirrored the changing water quality. Fish became extinct and most species of zooplankton (Crustacea) and benthos (Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera) retreated due to the lake water acidification. Independent of ongoing chemical reversal, microorganisms remain dominant in the recent plankton biomass as well as in controlling the pelagic food webs. The first signs of the forthcoming biological recovery have already been evidenced in some lakes, such as the population of Ceriodaphnia quadrangula (Cladocera) returning into the pelagial of one lake or the increase in both phytoplankton biomass and rotifer numbers in another lake.     

Correlations among soils’ features,forest plant species,and vegetable crops in Tokpli mining zone (South Togo)

ABSTRACT

Agriculture and forestry resources are central to African development. In this study, Tokpli mining zone (Togo) soils were characterised and the ones appropriate to garden crops and reforested species identified and located on a map using several database and literature. Results showed that tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) and chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum) are suitable for slightly acidic clay soils of Ahlimegni. Abelmoschus esculentus is suitable for Assou-kondji soil. Solanum macrocarpon was found appropriate to Ziome-kondji and Anagonou-kpota soils. Forest species such as Salix babylonica, Khaya senegalensis, Eucalyptus spp., and Terminalia superba exhibited best growth on slightly acidic clay soils of Ahlimegni area, rich in organic matter. Acacia auriculiformis, Azadirachta indica, Cola gigantea, and Albizia zigya can grow better on the slightly basic sandy soils of Anagonou-kpota and Ziome-kondji. Other species like Gmelina arborea, Mangifera indica, Salix babylonica, and Morinda lucida were found not selective and could be reforested on all soil types.     

FROM AN IGNORED GREY PLACE TO A RESILIENT URBAN WETLAND — DONG’AN WETLAND PARK IN SANYA,HAINAN PROVINCE

The Dong’an Wetland was designated as the site for one of Sanya’s first pilot projects of urban environmental remediation and ecological restoration because of its key position in the regional ecological pattern, especially for urban stormwater management. The project aims at integrating leisure and recreational functions with landscape elements including ponds, forest on water, terraced vegetable garden, and trail loop, while promoting water circulation, improving water quality, and retaining rainwater and regulating water reuse, acting as a resilient urban sponge for rainwater management. The newly built project transforms an ignored grey place into a new home for egrets, an outdoor classroom for children’s nature education, and a destination for citizens to evoke their memories.