Digital Commons Network^™

Biodiversity Conservation In Western China With Scientific And Technological Support: Current Status, Challenges, And Suggestions, Fuwen Wei, Hang Sun, Jiaojun Zhu, Baoguo Li, Gexia Qiao, Shilong Chen, Jiang Zhu, Xiaoge Ping

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

As a megadiverse country, China has made significant progress in biodiversity conservation in recent years. The western region is a critical area for biodiversity conservation in China, boasting rich species resources and a high proportion of endemic species. However, its ecosystems are fragile and vulnerable to the impacts of multiple factors like climate change and human activities. Scientific and technological support has played a vital supporting role in biodiversity conservation, providing comprehensive support from monitoring and assessment to restoration and decision-making through biodiversity surveys, scientific research, and the establishment of monitoring networks. Nevertheless, challenges remain, including gaps in taxa and …

Exploration On Path Of Ecological Protection And Economic Development In Qilian Mountain National Park Region, Xinmiao Tian, Qi Feng

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

National parks are a kind of special protected areas established under the leadership of the government with the core objective of protecting the integrity of natural ecosystems and biodiversity, which emphasizes the balance between human activities and nature protection in order to achieve sustainable coexistence of human being and nature. The construction of a system of nature reserves with national parks as the core is a major breakthrough progress in the institutional framework of China’s ecological civilization, and a key area for promoting the construction of Beautiful China and realizing the modernization of harmonious coexistence of human being and nature. …

Zoige Plateau Wetlands Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy Of Sciences, State Key Laboratory Of Cryospheric Science And Frozen Soil Engineering, Northwest Institute Of Eco-Environment And Resources, Chinese Academy Of Sciences

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

No abstract provided.

Editorials For Special Topic “Strategic Research On S&T Supporting Construction Of Ecological Barrier In Western China”

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

No abstract provided.

Exploration Of New Paradigm For Comprehensive Large-Scale Think Tank Research Issues—Strategic Research Practice Of Ecological Barrier Construction In Western China, Jiaofeng Pan, Lu Zhao, Feng Zhang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The ecological environment in western China is relatively fragile. Play leading role of science and technology to promote the construction of ecological barrier in western China, has immeasurable strategic significance for promoting a new pattern of western development, building a Beautiful China, and promoting sustainable development and long-term stability of China. Chinese Academy of Sciences took the initiative to launch the major consulting project of “strategic research on science and technology supporting the construction of ecological barriers in western China”. This is a comprehensive Think Tank research, which has complex cross-domain, cross-regional, and interwoven characteristics. According to the requirements of …

Innovative Pathways And Perspectives For Construction Of Ecological Barriers On Loess Plateau, Zhisheng An, Weijian Zhou, Yansui Liu, Zhao Jin, Yunqiang Wang, Baoyuan Liu, Guobin Liu, Zhouping Shangguan, Yihe Lü, Fei Wang, Wanquan Ta, Wenke Wang, Houyuan Lü, Haibin Wu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The ecological barriers on Loess Plateau are crucial components of ecological security strategy framed as a pattern of “Three Zones and Four Belts” in China, and serve as a vital safeguard to reduce the flooding risks of the Yellow River and the safety of the North China Plain. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the construction of the ecological barriers on the Loess Plateau has already gained some remarkable achievements, nevertheless, there are still some challenges upon us, such as intensified risks of extreme climate events and natural disasters, proper threshold of balance between ecological construction and …

Technological Challenges And Development Directions Of Ecological Security Barrier Construction In Yun-Gui-Chuan-Yu Region, Peng Cui, Yongping Yang, Genxu Wang, Bo Zhu, Xuyang Lu, Geng Sun, Xiaoyong Bai, Sirui Zhang, Yonggang Ge, Jiao Wang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The Yun-Gui-Chuan-Yu Ecological Security Barrier is situated in Southwest China, encompassing the provinces of Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, and Yunnan. It serves as a vital water source conservation area and a core zone for biodiversity protection for the Yangtze, Yellow, and Pearl River basins, playing a crucial role in China’s national ecological security. Since the 18th National Congress of Communist Party of China, under the guidance of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Ecological Civilization, the region has made significant strides in water resource protection, soil erosion and mountain disaster control, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem restoration, resulting in noticeable improvements in environmental quality …

Science And Technology Support Ecosystem Protection And Restoration In Western China To Ensure Ecological Security Of The Country, Zhiyun Ouyang, Lingqiao Kong, Binbin Huang, Weihua Xu, Bojie Fu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The western China has developed the Earth’s unique ecosystems, which is not only the main provider of ecosystem products and the important barrier of ecological security in China, but also the key area of ecosystem protection and restoration because of its ecological fragility. In recent years, a series of the major protection and restoration projects of ecosystems have been implemented, and have achieved remarkable progress in western China. Nevertheless, due to its ecosystem instability and unsustainability, ecological security is still facing severe challenges in western China. This study first analyzes the crucial roles of the western region as an ecological …

Science And Technology Support For Climate Change Mitigation And Adaptation Over Western China, Huijun Wang, Huopo Chen

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

In the context of accelerating global warming, the western China has experienced intensified climate extremes, with frequent occurrences of meteorological, hydrological, and ecological disasters. The unpredictability of these events has increased, posing significant challenges to disaster prevention and mitigation as well as sustainable development in these areas. In this context, this study, based on a scientific assessment of the facts and risks of climate change in the western China, has identified several fundamental, critical, and strategic scientific and technological tasks to support the development of the western China in the field of climate change. Corresponding suggestions and measures are also …

Strategic Analysis Of Technological Support For Environmental Pollution Prevention And Control In China’S Western Ecological Barrier Region, Yawei Wang, Juan Li, Guibin Jiang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

As a crucial pillar of the national ecological security strategic framework, the Western Ecological Barrier Zone demonstrates irreplaceable ecological value in key areas such as water conservation, climate regulation, and carbon sink balance, leveraging its unique geographical endowments and ecosystem services. The governance effectiveness of this region not only directly impacts the advancement of the Beautiful China initiative but also holds significant implications for the comprehensive realization of the Dual Carbon strategic goals. This study focuses on the critical issue of environmental pollution prevention in western China. By elucidating the regional distinctive geographical and climatic characteristics, the study systematically analyzes …

Scientific And Technological Measures To Support Sustainability Of Water Resources In Western China, Jun Xia, Xi Chen, Qiuhong Tang, Hongwei Lu, Shaofeng Jia, Genxu Wang, Jingjie Yu, Jinzhu Ma, Xingcai Liu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Under the combined impacts of climate change and human activities, the ecological barrier regions of western China exhibit significant reductions in solid water storage, increases in liquid water, declining water resource stability and non-steady-state characteristics in hydrological systems. Water allocation risks have increased, making it exponentially more difficult to ensure water security. Transboundary water resource development can lead to spillover risks, requiring urgent research on sustainable water resource use and adaptation strategies. The water cycle in western China is driven by both natural and anthropogenic factors, yet fundamental research on water cycle dynamics and resource management under changing environments remains …

Towards 5th World Congress Of Biosphere Reserves: Opportunities And Recommended Actions For China, Yijie Xian, Qiang Fang, Ning Liu, Xiangjun Chen, Yan Zhuang, Ding Wang, Qunli Han

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The holding of important international conferences in science and technology can generally bring multiple benefits for the host countries, such as developing strategy in the area of international cooperation. One example comes from the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves due to be held in Hangzhou, China from September 22–27, 2025. This study summarizes the history of previous congresses and the system of Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) in which the congresses are located. Significance of the 5th Congress can be found as increasing the global engagement and international influence of MAB, and advancing the achievement of the United …

Ecological Governance Zoning In Phase Vi Planning Area Of “Three-North” Project, Chunlei Xiao, Boxuan Shang, Qi Lu, Guipeng Cui, Chunyu Song, Xiaosong Li

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The “Three-North” region is distinguished by its extensive expanse, heterogeneous natural conditions, diverse ecosystems, and marked disparities in the intensity of human activities. Effective ecological governance in this area necessitates scientific planning, tailored adaptation to local contexts, and precise policy implementation. The three key initiatives of Phase Six of the “Three-North” project have identified critical areas for engineering-based governance. To achieve comprehensive and scientifically sound governance, it is essential to conduct ecological zoning. This study has systematically delineated and classified terrestrial ecological regions based on the integrity of natural geographical units, the similarity of dominant ecosystems, the spatial heterogeneity of …

Enhancing Integrated Observation Network Of Multi-Spherical Interaction In Zoige Wetland And Source Area Of Yellow River Supports Protection Of Yellow River Water Tower, Xianhong Meng, Lunyu Shang, Zhaoguo Li, Shaoying Wang, Lele Shu, Hao Chen, Lin Zhao, Peixi Su, Yu Zhang, Shihua Lyu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

An integrated observation network for the energy-water-carbon cycle, with the Zoige wetland and grassland as the focus and covering the source area of the Yellow River (YRSR), has been established, which systematically revealed the characteristics of ecosystem evolution and carbon cycle in grassland and wetland ecosystems of the Zoige Plateau from the leaf-community-ecosystem-regional scales and its response mechanism to climate change, and accordingly, the ecological monitoring and restoration techniques for different types of degraded grassland based on the degradation of the alpine grass mattic epipedon were established, which significantly reduced the cost and enhanced the sustainability of the ecological management. …

Study On Data Mining Of Hydrogen Energy Policy In China Based On Natural Language Processing Technology, Dongling Huang, Yuan Liu, Xiaoshuai Yuan, Guozhong Jin, Yuanhang Cai, Li Liu, Heng Cao, Wanjun Li, Rui Cai

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC emphasized the importance of “working actively and prudently towards the goals of reaching peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality”, as well as “speeding up the planning and development of a system for new energy sources”. As a green and low-carbon secondary energy source, hydrogen energy has multiple applications in promoting the large-scale and efficient use of renewable energy as well as energy substitution in the field of transportation. It can also accelerate decarbonization in industry, and as such, is an indispensable part of building a new energy system, reaching peak carbon …

Evaluation Of An Autonomous Acoustic Surveying Technique For Grassland Bird Communities In Nebraska, Grace E. Schuster, Leroy J. Walston, Andrew R. Little

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Monitoring trends in wildlife communities is integral to making informed land management decisions and applying conservation strategies. Birds inhabit most niches in every environment and because of this they are widely accepted as an indicator species for environmental health. Traditionally, point counts are the common method to survey bird populations, however, passive acoustic monitoring approaches using autonomous recording units have been shown to be cost-effective alternatives to point count surveys. Advancements in automatic acoustic classification technologies, such as BirdNET, can aid in these efforts by quickly processing large volumes of acoustic recordings to identify bird species. While the utility of …

Impacts Of Stream Habitat Restoration On Macroinvertebrate Assemblages: A Systematic Literature Review, Morgan E. Seitzer

University Honors Theses

Globally, river restoration has become a popular tool for improving the health of a watershed and restoring ecosystem services, but still has significant knowledge gaps. In certain areas and scientific communities, special attention has been given to the response of macroinvertebrates as a measure of restoration success. This systematic literature review aims to highlight and discuss the patterns in studies that have comparable before-and-after restoration data on macroinvertebrates after reconnecting stream channels to their floodplains. Macroinvertebrate sampling is a simple if not time-consuming task that can reveal important data about habitat quality. Because they serve as an important food source …

A Country-Level Primary-Final-Useful (Cl-Pfu) Energy And Exergy Database: Overview Of Its Construction And 1971–2020 World-Level Efficiency Results, Paul E. Brockway, Matthew Kuperus Heun, Zeke Marshall, Emmanuel Aramendia, Paul Steenwyk, Thomas Relph, Michelle Widjanarko, Jeonghoo (James) Kim, Anjana Sainju, Julian Irtube

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Societal exergy analysis examines the flows of energy and exergy through societies, from primary (e.g. oil) to final (e.g. gasoline) to useful (e.g. propulsion) energy stages. By extending the study of energy to the useful stage, new insights into the under-represented role of energy in economic growth have been made. However, currently (a) country coverage is patchy and incomplete, (b) available data are based on varying methods and assumptions including efficiencies based on economic rather than engineering data, and (c) datasets are constructed using piecemeal computational approaches. To address these gaps, we construct a country-level primary-final-useful (CL-PFU) energy and exergy …

Climate Justice Issues, Urban Heat Island Effect, And Trees As The Solution In Portland, Oregon, Cleo Needham

University Honors Theses

Portland, Oregon, is experiencing rising temperatures caused by climate change and urban heat island effect. High heat disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities in Portland, causing harm to physical and mental health. Trees are a solution that reduces temperatures in urban environments. A strategy called 3-30-300 helps create a structure for where to place trees to help people receive the benefits. There are challenges with trees, such as the space required, the significant cost, and the time it takes to mature. Using trees as a solution can support and protect vulnerable communities in Portland, Oregon.

Establishment Of A Research Site At The Kennedy Mountain Campus For The Observation Of Airborne Particulate Matter, Alyssa Knaus

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

This thesis explored particulate matter (PM) concentrations at two sites within the Colorado Front Range. The study utilized two models of PurpleAir PM sensors, Flex and SD-II, to provide real-time, accessible data on PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 mass concentrations with the goal of establishing the first research site at the Kennedy Mountain Campus (KMC). The first of the two sites used during this study was at a suburban location outside of Denver, CO. This period was used as an instrument intercomparison period in order to conduct instrument analysis. The initial findings from this period found significant correlations between PM concentration …

A Geospatial And Machine Learning Framework For Forecasting Ground Level Ozone Pollution, William J. Keenan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The major detrimental health effects of ground-level ozone (GLO) pollution make it imperative that both policy makers and ordinary citizens have access to high accuracy, high-resolution forecasts of their local area. Recently, advancements in computing power have made it possible to apply artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to a variety of big data modelling problems, including GLO forecasting and estimation. Of these AI methods, deep neural networks (DNN) have demonstrated the highest accuracy due to their ability extract non-linear relationships from high dimensional, noisy data inputs.

This research effort uses novel data sources, namely NOAA’s High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) meteorology …

How Well Do Nature-Based Solutions To Climate Change Address Gender Equity?, Stephanie Efua Yamoah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the climate crisis continues to deepen, there have been calls for adaptation and mitigation approaches that rely on nature-based solutions. These solutions are approaches that offer the potential to reduce and remove greenhouse gas emissions. Examples include forest restoration, coastal wetland conservation, and no-till agriculture, among other practices. In this thesis, I employ an intersectional feminist political ecology perspective to critically examine the integration of gender equity within such nature-based solutions. I make two interrelated arguments using a qualitative methodology and an intensive case study of three projects in Ghana. First, I argue that women’s participation in nature-based solutions …

Using Historic Glacial Data And Gis To Predict Mount Rainier National Park’S Glacial Future, Daniel Kincaid

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

Will Washington state have glaciers 100 years from now (year 2124)? Due to generally warmer weather glaciers are largely in retreat globally, including the glaciers in Washington state. In Washington state summer glacial meltwater plays a vital role in the survival of wildlife and is needed for human purposes that include recreation, power generation, drinking, agricultural, and industrial. This project looked at the most resilient glaciers in Washington state, the glaciers at Mount Rainier National Park. Historic measurements were used in an exponential growth calculation to project the amount in acres each glacier at Mount Rainer will advance or retreat …

Final Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Unreclaimed (Ur) Sites: Ur-35 Remedial Action Work Plan (Rawp), Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Modified Method For Assessing The Required Expenditures And Estimated Time Of Hard Coal Mine Liquidation, Andrzej Chmiela, Małgorzata Wysocka, Adam Smoliński

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The restructuring of hard coal mining requires significant budgetary expenditures. A comprehensive scientific approach may facilitate the rationalisation and minimisation of mine closure costs. This study proposes a method for the preliminary estimation of the costs and time required for the potential liquidation of a hard coal mine. In addition to a literature review, a statistical analysis and a case study, personal interviews were conducted with individuals with direct management over the restructuring, reclamation and liquidation processes pertaining to mines undergoing closure.

The assessment method is based on an analysis of the mine liquidation costs, divided into successive years of …

Feasibility Of Oil Palm Agroforestry System: Evaluating The Application Of Oil Palm Ash For Enhancing Cherry Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum. Var. Nancy Rz) Production Using Brackish Water., Ime Joseph Bassey

Theses and Dissertations

Monoculture systems of oil palm production are ravaging the world’s tropical forests, causing deforestation and biodiversity loss, which contribute to climate change at an uncontrollable pace. Oil palm agroforestry systems (AFSs), one of the strategies of regenerative agriculture, have proven to reverse the unfavorable effects of the oil palm monoculture systems. A sustainable means of soil fertilization and irrigation must be explored to improve the feasibility of oil palm AFSs. This study evaluates the impact of the application of oil palm ash and brackish irrigation on cherry tomato production. The experiment was conducted in a hydroponic system using a 2*4 …

The Chanterelle: The Magazine Of Environmental Studies At Cal Poly Humboldt, 2023-2024

The Chanterelle

The Chanterelle showcases the written work of Environmental Studies majors at Cal Poly Humboldt. Each contributing author enrolled in “ENST 395W: Research & Analysis for Environmental Studies” during the 2023-2024 academic year. While each student chose their own topic, they were prompted to write for a public audience. Specifically, they were encouraged to write for a friend, co-worker, roommate, sibling, or any other family member. Our intended audience in this magazine is thus public. We hope you enjoy this collective project. It is the outcome of course readings, research, and peer edits.

Embodied Urban Political Ecology Of Oil: Social Reproduction In Oil ‎Geographies Case Study: Ahwaz, Khuzestan, Iran, Maryam Amiri

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation examines the transformative impact of the oil industry on social ‎reproduction ‎‎within the urban and ecological landscapes of Khuzestan Province, Iran, and ‎its center, the city ‎of Ahwaz. Specifically, the study sought to understand the effects of ‎the oil industry on social ‎reproduction in three key areas: gender relations, race/ethnic ‎relations, and daily life ‎amidst ‎environmental pollution caused by the oil industry.

‎This is explored through three sub-questions: 1) How are hierarchical socio-‎spatial ‎relationships perpetuated through practices of ‎everyday life? 2) How are gender ‎relationships redefined and ‎reproduced in the oil city? 3) How ‎are ethnic relationships ‎redefined …

Monitoring Air Fluxes In Caves Using Digital Flow Metres, Claudio Pastore, Amir Sedaghatkish, Eric Weber, Nicolas Schmid, Pierre-Yves Jeannin, Marc Luetscher

International Journal of Speleology

Precise measurements of airflow within caves are increasingly demanded to assess heat and mass transfers and their impacts on the karst environment, including subsurface ecosystems, hydrochemistry of karst water and secondary mineral precipitates. In this study, we introduce a new, low-cost and lightweight device adapted to monitoring air fluxes in caves which addresses the need for reliable measurements, low power consumption, durability and affordability. The device was calibrated in a wind tunnel, showing the high accuracy and precision of the device. Field-related uncertainties were further investigated in a ventilated cave to determine the effect of local airflow conditions on the …

An Economic Remodel: The Genesis Of Modern Corporate Sustainability, Caitlin R. Doak

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

My thesis aims to understand and analyze what is catalyzing the advancement of sustainability in corporate agendas. After my internship at Deloitte and four years of Dartmouth undergrad, I recognized some important themes emerging in the sustainability landscape. Sustainability is at the forefront of policy and stakeholder engagement right now. Shareholders, consumers, regulators, policy makers, are all putting pressure on CSuite executives to redefine materiality and increase transparency in order to properly understand sustainability-related risks and opportunities within companies. Climate and nature-related disclosures are becoming just as important as financial disclosures because companies are being evaluated holistically, and a company’s …