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To protect its natural heritage and biodiversity, Vietnam has established a system of ‘special use forest’ (SUFs) which is “the backbone of the national protected areas”. The ineffective management of SUFs based solely on the state leads to a decline in biodiversity and density of the forests. Recognizing this, collaborative or ‘co’-management for SUFs is advocated to get more participation and shared responsibilities and rights between government and non-state actors. However, it is widely noted that co-management is a particularly great challenge in Vietnam because of the nature of strong state control, decades of SUF conflicts, and the lack of capacity and initiatives of communities to negotiate with the government in co-management arrangements. This PhD thesis questions the degree to which co-management can be put in Vietnamese SUFs and the degree of ‘adaptiveness’ it can engender. Conditions of the economic, political and social context surrounding SUFs becomes key to any understanding of how co-management can be implemented, including insights into how co-management may need to be amended to adjust to ‘fit’ the context of mono-organisational states.

Advisory service provisioning on sustainability issues such as environmental care and food safety is considered suboptimal in privatized extension systems, which comprise a diverse set of private advisors. Apart from funding dedicated ‘public good’ projects, government also relies on these advisors to address sustainability issues in their regular service contacts with farmers. Policy measures have hence been proposed to stimulate farmer demand for such sustainable farm management (SFM) advice (pull measures) and to build capacity among advisors (push measures). This paper assesses two interventions, in nutrient management and mastitis prevention, that integrate pull measures (awareness building and economic incentives) and push measures (promoting facilitative advisory styles and optimizing knowledge system linkages) to stimulate advisory service provisioning on SFM. Results indicate that effectiveness appears to depend on an adequate mix of, and balance between, push and pull measures. Awareness building is a prerequisite to creating demand for such services and appears more important than economic incentives. However, awareness is not built by the interventions alone; indeed, a lack of awareness may not be the main problem: the broader institutional context may not be conducive to a proactive approach to addressing SFM if regulatory frameworks are unclear and inconsistent. The main conclusion is that, despite interventions having an impact, it is uncertain whether the demand for, and supply of, SFM advice will be sustained after interventions are withdrawn

The Dutch ministries of Infrastructure and Environment and the ministry of Economic Affairs are developing management measures to protect the seafloor in the Frisian Front (FF) and Central Oysterground (CO) areas of the Dutch EEZ. In the consultations with the fishing industry and environmental NGO’s the following questions were raised about the impact of the flyshoot fishery: a. Where do fishermen deploy flyshoot (or other bottom seine gear) and what is the value of the landings taken. b. What are the effects of the flyshoot on the ecology of the benthos in general, and in particular in the areas where this gear is being deployed. What is the recovery potential of the seafloor if there would be no flyshooting. c. How do the effects of the flysoot compare to the effects of the other towed demersal gear in the typical flyshoot grounds.

The Dutch ministries of Infrastructure and Environment and the ministry of Economic Affairs are developing management measures to protect the seafloor in the Frisian Front (FF) and Central Oysterground (CO) areas of the Dutch EEZ. In the consultations with the fishing industry and environmental NGO’s the following questions were raised about the impact of the flyshoot fishery: a. Where do fishermen deploy flyshoot (or other bottom seine gear) and what is the value of the landings taken. b. What are the effects of the flyshoot on the ecology of the benthos in general, and in particular in the areas where this gear is being deployed. What is the recovery potential of the seafloor if there would be no flyshooting. c. How do the effects of the flysoot compare to the effects of the other towed demersal gear in the typical flyshoot grounds.

This paper summarises the results of both an ex-post evaluation of the Dutch Mineral Accounting System (MINAS) and an ex-ante evaluation of the effect of different levy-free surplus values. The MINAS system has been introduced in 1998 in order to reduce nitrate and phosphate leaching from agricultural soils. MINAS resulted in a reduction of the N surplus on dairy farms of approximately 50 kg ha-1 to limited or no costs to the farms involved. MINAS resulted in higher costs for manure removal for intensive livestock farmers. Though emissions of N and P have decreased significantly during the last five years effects of this reduction in environmental quality cannot be observed, except for a small decrease in nitrate concentration of the upper groundwater. The ex-ante evaluation of different variants for possible future levy-free surplus levels indicated that under the lowest variant, the nitrate concentration in groundwater will exceed 50 mg per litre on 14% of the area. The environmental effect of the different variants for P were not distinguished. The lowering of the levy-free surplus for P will have a drastic effect on the intensive livestock farms. The incorporation of fertiliser P under the MINAS system would be a cheap option to reduce the P surplusThis paper summarises the results of both an ex-post evaluation of the Dutch Mineral Accounting System (MINAS) and an ex-ante evaluation of the effect of different levy-free surplus values. The MINAS system has been introduced in 1998 in order to reduce nitrate and phosphate leaching from agricultural soils. MINAS resulted in a reduction of the N surplus on dairy farms of approximately 50 kg ha(-1) to limited or no costs to the farms involved. MINAS resulted in higher costs for manure removal for intensive livestock farmers. Though emissions of N and P have decreased significantly during the last five years effects of this reduction in environmental quality cannot be observed, except for a small decrease in nitrate concentration of the upper groundwater. The ex.-ante evaluation of different variants for possible future levy-free surplus levels indicated that under the lowest variant, the nitrate concentration in groundwater will exceed 50 mg per litre on 14% of the I area. The environmental effect of the different variants for P were not distinguished. The lowering of the levy-free surplus for P will have a drastic effect on the intensive livestock farms. The incorporation of fertiliser P under the MINAS system would be a cheap option to reduce the P surplus.

This article describes the Nutrient Management Project of the environmental co-operatives VEL and VANLA as a field laboratory. A field laboratory is defined as a heterogeneous collection of inter-linked scientific studies performed by several actors within a specific field, but – as in normal laboratories – with some protection against outside interference and disturbance. The Nutrient Management Project of VEL and VANLA demonstrates several characteristics of field laboratories. Firstly, in the project, dairy farmers and scientists carry out joint research using different sources of knowledge. Secondly, apart from research the actors are engaged in changing the location, thereby developing new knowledge and practices. In the case of VEL and VANLA this means developing the fields and farms towards sustainability. Thirdly, the actors thoughtfully experiment with several research methodologies to gain understanding on a variety of issues. So within the field laboratory of VEL and VANLA there is heterogeneity in themes, disciplines and methodologies. Simultaneously a systems perspective is created as an interpretative scheme that links up all the different activities. Finally, within VEL and VANLA, alignment among practices, research and the institutional context is essential for the continuation of the research activities.

To reduce the environmental impact of agriculture in The Netherlands, a number of labels and certification schemes for integrated farming exist. This article compares the pesticide use associated with ware-potato cultivation by integrated and conventional methods, the former as certified under the Dutch Stichting Milieukeur scheme. Besides kg/ha usage, the potential environmental impact of usage was also compared. In terms of kg applied, on average integrated cultivation involved 25% of the quantities employed in conventional cultivation. This difference was not due to any major difference in the number of pesticides used or in the number of crop treatments; only in the case of herbicides were these figures significantly lower for integrated farming. The principal difference lies in the lower per hectare dosage of the chemicals employed, reducing overall pesticide usage to one-quarter of that employed in conventional cropping. The environmental impact of respective usage was determined using a composite indicator known as the ‘environmental yardstick’ and the results showed that the impact associated with integrated potato cultivation is only 2% that of conventional cropping. This difference in environmental impact was found for insecticides, fungicides and herbicides and was due to a variety of factors: choice of agent, volume employed and drift reduction. The composition of the crop chemical package played a key role in reducing environmental burden. Even if drift reduction is ignored, integrated cropping as per the Stichting Milieukeur certificate reduced the environmental burden to about 9% of that associated with conventional potato cultivation.

A limited number of Member States in the EU have gained experience with establishing co-operative agreements between agriculture and the water sector. Their main aim is to reduce or prevent water pollution caused by intensive farming practices. The research has shown that significant changes in farming practices have been achieved as a result of negotiation between farmers and water suppliers. Consequently, in many catchment areas improvements in water quality can be observed. Co-operative agreements have the important advantage that the measures taken can be tailored to the different local conditions in catchment areas. Reducing diffuse pollution resulting from intensive agriculture is one of the main issues of the EU Water Framework Directive. The current paper builds on the results of a EU-wide research project which examines the role co-operative agreements can play in water policy and the Common Agricultural Policy.

On request of the Dutch government a committee of the Health Council of the Netherlands has reviewed the role that results of field research in its broadest sense (i.e., including multi-species toxicity tests in the laboratory, research on model ecosystems et cetera) can play in ecotoxicological risk assessment for the authorisation of pesticides. The Committee believes that field research can provide valuable additional data about the exposure of non-target organisms and the resultant effects at population, community and ecosystem level. However, it frequently is unclear how these data might be used in reaching a decision about authorisation. To solve this problem, it is necessary to specify what is understood by "unacceptable damage". Both more clearly formulated protection goals of the government and a better understanding of the ecological significance of effects are needed to clarify this. Furthermore, the Committee points out that the statistical power of field trials must be sufficient to allow for the detection of changes that might be regarded as ecologically relevant. Finally, it recommends keeping a finger on the pulse in relation to authorised pesticides by monitoring their presence in environmental compartments and by investigating their role in suddenly occurring mortality among conspicuous animal species, such as birds, fish and honeybees. This kind of research forms a safety net for substances that have been wrongly authorised.

As part of the ‘Surface Waters Decision Tree’ project a new authorisation procedure for plant protection products (PPPs) has been developed. One element is a procedure for feedback of monitoring data to the authorisation holder and the PPP authorisation authority. This report describes the methodology to be adopted for this procedure. The feedback of monitoring results in the authorisation procedure consists of 3 main steps: 1. Identification and ranking of problematic substances 2. Causal analysis and composition of an Emission Reduction Plan (ERP) 3. Feedback procedure In this report, a methodology for all three steps is described. For the causal analysis within step 2, a more detailed protocol has been developed, based on realistic test cases. The format of the ERP is not defined by the Monitoring working group and therefore no part of this report. The procedure is applicable to active ingredients and metabolites of PPP, not to biocides, pharmaceuticals and (chemical) substances with other types of use.

This report describes and evaluates the protection of biodiversity of the high seas (areas beyond nations EEZ) through the implementation of UN resolutions and comes forward with recommendations that can be used for the protection of biodiversity through a parallel process: the selection of EBSAs by the CBD (Part 1). We furthermore provide background information on deep-sea habitats (Part 2) and human pressures (Part 3) and we created a database of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) closed to bottom fisheries.

To protect deep-sea biodiversity, the United Nations have adopted a number of resolutions that should protect vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), such as cold water corals and sponges, by the regulation of deep-sea fisheries on the high seas. In a parallel process, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) calls upon states to identify Ecological and Biological Significant Areas (EBSAs) that serve as focal areas, without any special legal status, and establish a network of marine protected areas by 2012. In addition, at the tenth meeting of the Conference to the Parties of the CBD in Nagoya, in 2010, it was agreed that by 2020, 10% of coastal and marine areas should be protected. The Netherlands is involved in both processes since our country has ratified the CBD and therefore is bound to contribute to the protection of biodiversity, both in its national waters and in the high seas. In this report we provide a worldwide overview on the protection of VMEs and of the status of the EBSA selection processes as per March 2012. Next, we zoom in on three areas that are of interest to the Dutch government (Caribbean, West Africa, Antarctica) and we summarize the spatial protection measures, list the closed VME areas and EBSA selection processes and we provide information on the regional seas conventions and their mandates.

After the designation of twelve Special Protection Areas (SPAs) Luxembourg was asked by the European Commission to evaluate this network by analysing its contribution to the viability of the 64 bird species for which Luxembourg has to select sites. For 34 species which are good or very good covered by the network in a qualitative way the contribution of the designated SPAs was evaluated focusing on the method of site selection. For these species it was concluded that the SPAs and six selected Important Bird Areas (IBAs) include all important sites in Luxembourg. There is no need for selection and designation of additional SPAs to fulfill the obligations of the Birds Directive. For 30 species which are not or badly covered by the SPA network the model LARCH was used to analyse the spatial conditions of the network providing long term protection in terms of viable populations. The analyses show only a few species which are viable within the existing network. For most species additional sites are needed to reach a sustainable network. Priority areas where additional sites can be found are also analysed. Because additional sites can contribute to the viability of different species priority areas were analysed showing their added value to the viability of a combination of species using the same habitat.

After the designation of twelve Special Protection Areas (SPAs) Luxembourg was asked by the European Commission to evaluate this network by analysing its contribution to the viability of the 64 bird species for which Luxembourg has to select sites. For 34 species which are good or very good covered by the network in a qualitative way the contribution of the designated SPAs was evaluated focusing on the method of site selection. For these species it was concluded that the SPAs and six selected Important Bird Areas (IBAs) include all important sites in Luxembourg. There is no need for selection and designation of additional SPAs to fulfill the obligations of the Birds Directive. For 30 species which are not or badly covered by the SPA network the model LARCH was used to analyse the spatial conditions of the network providing long term protection in terms of viable populations. The analyses show only a few species which are viable within the existing network. For most species additional sites are needed to reach a sustainable network. Priority areas where additional sites can be found are also analysed. Because additional sites can contribute to the viability of different species priority areas were analysed showing their added value to the viability of a combination of species using the same habitat.

Veterinary medicinal products are applied in aquaculture production for treating and preventing diseases in the cultured species. Veterinary medicines may enter the environment by effluent discharges, posing a potential risk for surrounding aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, human health and the trade of the aquaculture produce can be negatively affected by the presence of residues of veterinary medicines in the cultured organisms. The ERA-AQUA Decision Support System was developed to estimate risks of veterinary medicinal products applied in pond aquaculture for the targeted produce, surrounding aquatic ecosystems, consumers and trade. The risk assessment is expressed by risk quotients, which are calculated by dividing the predicted exposure concentration by the predicted no effect concentration calculated for each endpoint. This report provides a mathematical description of the processes incorporated in the ERA-AQUA Decision Support System and a user’s manual.

To protect deep-sea biodiversity, the United Nations have adopted a number of resolutions that should protect vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs), such as cold water corals and sponges, by the regulation of deep-sea fisheries on the high seas. In a parallel process, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) calls upon states to identify Ecological and Biological Significant Areas (EBSAs) that serve as focal areas, without any special legal status, and establish a network of marine protected areas by 2012. In addition, at the tenth meeting of the Conference to the Parties of the CBD in Nagoya, in 2010, it was agreed that by 2020, 10% of coastal and marine areas should be protected. The Netherlands is involved in both processes since our country has ratified the CBD and therefore is bound to contribute to the protection of biodiversity, both in its national waters and in the high seas. In this report we provide a worldwide overview on the protection of VMEs and of the status of the EBSA selection processes as per March 2012. Next, we zoom in on three areas that are of interest to the Dutch government (Caribbean, West Africa, Antarctica) and we summarize the spatial protection measures, list the closed VME areas and EBSA selection processes and we provide information on the regional seas conventions and their mandates.

In Nederland komt ongeveer 10% van alle emissies van de broeikasgassen uit land-gebonden bronnen en nog eens 5% uit aan het landgebruik verbonden activiteiten. Nederlandse onderzoekers hebben binnen het Bsik-onderzoeksprogramma Klimaat voor Ruimte (KvR) gewerkt aan het verbeteren en verfijnen van de emissieschattingen in tijd en ruimte, aan het terugdringen van de onzekerheid in de emissiedata, het ontwerpen van maatregelen om de emissies van het landgebruik te reduceren en innovatieve methoden om N2O en CH4 emissies te bepalen toegepast en verder ontwikkeld.

This report describes and evaluates the protection of biodiversity of the high seas (areas beyond nations EEZ) through the implementation of UN resolutions and comes forward with recommendations that can be used for the protection of biodiversity through a parallel process: the selection of EBSAs by the CBD (Part 1). We furthermore provide background information on deep-sea habitats (Part 2) and human pressures (Part 3) and we created a database of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) closed to bottom fisheries.

Veterinary medicinal products are applied in aquaculture production for treating and preventing diseases in the cultured species. Veterinary medicines may enter the environment by effluent discharges, posing a potential risk for surrounding aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, human health and the trade of the aquaculture produce can be negatively affected by the presence of residues of veterinary medicines in the cultured organisms. The ERA-AQUA Decision Support System was developed to estimate risks of veterinary medicinal products applied in pond aquaculture for the targeted produce, surrounding aquatic ecosystems, consumers and trade. The risk assessment is expressed by risk quotients, which are calculated by dividing the predicted exposure concentration by the predicted no effect concentration calculated for each endpoint. This report provides a mathematical description of the processes incorporated in the ERA-AQUA Decision Support System and a user’s manual.

In Nederland komt ongeveer 10% van alle emissies van de broeikasgassen uit land-gebonden bronnen en nog eens 5% uit aan het landgebruik verbonden activiteiten. Nederlandse onderzoekers hebben binnen het Bsik-onderzoeksprogramma Klimaat voor Ruimte (KvR) gewerkt aan het verbeteren en verfijnen van de emissieschattingen in tijd en ruimte, aan het terugdringen van de onzekerheid in de emissiedata, het ontwerpen van maatregelen om de emissies van het landgebruik te reduceren en innovatieve methoden om N2O en CH4 emissies te bepalen toegepast en verder ontwikkeld.

This position paper explores new claims in the Arctic region. These claims are closely connected to new developments in the region such as climate change and the utilisation of natural resources. The aim of the paper is to illustrate how Wageningen University and Research centre contributes to sustainable development in the Arctic.

Het doel van dit rapport is een overzicht te geven van de kosten die jaarlijks worden uitgegeven om de aantasting van het milieu in het Nederlandse deel van de Noordzee te voorkomen. Dit overzicht kan wor# den gebruikt als indicatie voor de ondergrens van de werkelijke aan de aantasting van het mariene milieu verbonden kosten. Daarnaast geeft dit rapport inzicht in het type maatregelen en wie de kosten hiervan dragen. De uitkomsten van dit rapport kunnen zowel dienen als basis voor een kosteneffectiviteitsstudie, als voor het bepalen van de betaalbaarheid en/of de disproportionaliteit van kosten voor toekomstige Kaderrichtlijn Mariene Strategie (KRM) maatregelen

Voor het ministerie van Economische Zaken, Landbouw en Innovatie is onderzoek gedaan naar de kansen die de JPI Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans (JPI oceans) biedt voor Nederland en hoe Nederland zich zou kunnen opstellen binnen de JPI oceans. Joint programming is een concept dat in juli 2008 door de Europese Commissie (EC) is geïntroduceerd. Joint Programming is een van de vijf initiatieven om het Europese Onderzoeks Gebied (ERA) te implementeren. Een Joint Program Initiatief (JPI) is een vrijwillige overeenkomst tussen lidstaten en eventueel aangesloten derde landen rondom een groot thema. Het heeft als doel het aanpakken van grote maar gemeenschappelijke Europese uitdagingen door middel van het combineren van nationale onderzoeksprogramma’s en nationale onderzoeksmiddelen. Door deze samenwerking kan er beter gebruik gemaakt worden van de nationale en Europese Research & Development gelden. Internationale samenwerking in onderzoek en ontwikkeling is nodig voor verdere ontwikkeling van de zeeën en oceanen en het aanpakken van kennisgaten en uitdagingen. Daarom is in 2010 de JPI Healthy and productive seas and oceans geïntroduceerd. De JPI oceans is de enige JPI die gericht is op het mariene en maritieme gebied. De JPI Healthy and productive seas and oceans heeft zichzelf tot doel gesteld om in 2020 Europa’s middelen en capaciteiten in de mariene en maritieme gebieden op een gecoördineerde wijze te hebben gemobiliseerd, op basis van een geïntegreerde mariene en maritieme strategische onderzoeks- en innovatie agenda (SRIA), om kritische leemten op te vullen en de visie van gezonde en productieve zeeën en oceanen te realiseren. Daarnaast zal de JPI oplossingen aandragen voor grote maatschappelijke uitdagingen, door het Europees en nationaal marien en maritiem onderzoek beter op elkaar af te stemmen (o.a. door standaardisatie van data collectie), door efficiënter gebruik en coördinatie van nationale middelen (o.a. door het uitwisselen van infrastructuur en data en vermijden van dubbel onderzoek) en door het opstellen van een gezamenlijke onderzoeksagenda. De JPI biedt voldoende kansen voor Nederland. De thema’s die geformuleerd zijn door de Task Force hebben veel raakvlakken met de Nederlandse onderzoeksactiviteiten en beleidsvelden. Nederland is een land met een grote maritieme en mariene sector. Door betrokken te zijn bij de JPI kan Nederland zijn kennis op dit vlak vergroten door samenwerking met andere Europese landen en door het uitwisselen van kennis en infrastructuur. Door samenwerking kunnen beleidsuitdagingen aangepakt worden en kennisgaten opgevuld worden. De lidstaten bepalen echter zelf bij welke onderwerpen ze betrokken willen zijn, het principe van variabele geometrie. Het niet willen deelnemen aan deze JPI zou in feite geen optie voor Nederland moeten zijn; bij niet deelname wordt de Europese mariene en maritieme onderzoeksagenda en onderzoekspraktijk, en daarmee die in Nederland, zonder Nederlandse inbreng vorm gegeven. Dit druist in tegen het belang voor Nederland van water, de mariene en maritieme sectoren en met name het toekomstig duurzame gebruik van de kustzone, zeeën en oceanen. Sterker, gegeven deze Nederlandse belangen verdient het aanbeveling te opteren voor een sterk leidende rol in deze JPI. Met name op het gebied van maricultuur, integrale en innovatieve teeltsystemen (bv algen & zeewier) en verduurzaming van visserijpraktijken is Nederland bepalend in het zetten van een innovatieve agenda. Dit onderzoek is uitgevoerd in opdracht van het Ministerie van Economische Zaken, Landbouw & Innovatie. Dit onderzoek is medegefinancierd door IMARES.

This position paper explores new claims in the Arctic region. These claims are closely connected to new developments in the region such as climate change and the utilisation of natural resources. The aim of the paper is to illustrate how Wageningen University and Research centre contributes to sustainable development in the Arctic.

Het doel van dit rapport is een overzicht te geven van de kosten die jaarlijks worden uitgegeven om de aantasting van het milieu in het Nederlandse deel van de Noordzee te voorkomen. Dit overzicht kan wor# den gebruikt als indicatie voor de ondergrens van de werkelijke aan de aantasting van het mariene milieu verbonden kosten. Daarnaast geeft dit rapport inzicht in het type maatregelen en wie de kosten hiervan dragen. De uitkomsten van dit rapport kunnen zowel dienen als basis voor een kosteneffectiviteitsstudie, als voor het bepalen van de betaalbaarheid en/of de disproportionaliteit van kosten voor toekomstige Kaderrichtlijn Mariene Strategie (KRM) maatregelen

As part of the ‘Surface Waters Decision Tree’ project a new authorisation procedure for plant protection products (PPPs) has been developed. The feedback of monitoring results in the authorisation procedure consists of 3 main steps: 1. Identification and ranking of problematic substances 2. Analysis of plausible causes 3. Feedback procedure In this report, a methodology for all three steps is described

Voor het ministerie van Economische Zaken, Landbouw en Innovatie is onderzoek gedaan naar de kansen die de JPI Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans (JPI oceans) biedt voor Nederland en hoe Nederland zich zou kunnen opstellen binnen de JPI oceans. Joint programming is een concept dat in juli 2008 door de Europese Commissie (EC) is geïntroduceerd. Joint Programming is een van de vijf initiatieven om het Europese Onderzoeks Gebied (ERA) te implementeren. Een Joint Program Initiatief (JPI) is een vrijwillige overeenkomst tussen lidstaten en eventueel aangesloten derde landen rondom een groot thema. Het heeft als doel het aanpakken van grote maar gemeenschappelijke Europese uitdagingen door middel van het combineren van nationale onderzoeksprogramma’s en nationale onderzoeksmiddelen. Door deze samenwerking kan er beter gebruik gemaakt worden van de nationale en Europese Research & Development gelden. Internationale samenwerking in onderzoek en ontwikkeling is nodig voor verdere ontwikkeling van de zeeën en oceanen en het aanpakken van kennisgaten en uitdagingen. Daarom is in 2010 de JPI Healthy and productive seas and oceans geïntroduceerd. De JPI oceans is de enige JPI die gericht is op het mariene en maritieme gebied. De JPI Healthy and productive seas and oceans heeft zichzelf tot doel gesteld om in 2020 Europa’s middelen en capaciteiten in de mariene en maritieme gebieden op een gecoördineerde wijze te hebben gemobiliseerd, op basis van een geïntegreerde mariene en maritieme strategische onderzoeks- en innovatie agenda (SRIA), om kritische leemten op te vullen en de visie van gezonde en productieve zeeën en oceanen te realiseren. Daarnaast zal de JPI oplossingen aandragen voor grote maatschappelijke uitdagingen, door het Europees en nationaal marien en maritiem onderzoek beter op elkaar af te stemmen (o.a. door standaardisatie van data collectie), door efficiënter gebruik en coördinatie van nationale middelen (o.a. door het uitwisselen van infrastructuur en data en vermijden van dubbel onderzoek) en door het opstellen van een gezamenlijke onderzoeksagenda. De JPI biedt voldoende kansen voor Nederland. De thema’s die geformuleerd zijn door de Task Force hebben veel raakvlakken met de Nederlandse onderzoeksactiviteiten en beleidsvelden. Nederland is een land met een grote maritieme en mariene sector. Door betrokken te zijn bij de JPI kan Nederland zijn kennis op dit vlak vergroten door samenwerking met andere Europese landen en door het uitwisselen van kennis en infrastructuur. Door samenwerking kunnen beleidsuitdagingen aangepakt worden en kennisgaten opgevuld worden. De lidstaten bepalen echter zelf bij welke onderwerpen ze betrokken willen zijn, het principe van variabele geometrie. Het niet willen deelnemen aan deze JPI zou in feite geen optie voor Nederland moeten zijn; bij niet deelname wordt de Europese mariene en maritieme onderzoeksagenda en onderzoekspraktijk, en daarmee die in Nederland, zonder Nederlandse inbreng vorm gegeven. Dit druist in tegen het belang voor Nederland van water, de mariene en maritieme sectoren en met name het toekomstig duurzame gebruik van de kustzone, zeeën en oceanen. Sterker, gegeven deze Nederlandse belangen verdient het aanbeveling te opteren voor een sterk leidende rol in deze JPI. Met name op het gebied van maricultuur, integrale en innovatieve teeltsystemen (bv algen & zeewier) en verduurzaming van visserijpraktijken is Nederland bepalend in het zetten van een innovatieve agenda. Dit onderzoek is uitgevoerd in opdracht van het Ministerie van Economische Zaken, Landbouw & Innovatie. Dit onderzoek is medegefinancierd door IMARES.

To confront the arsenic crisis in Bangladesh, several options for a safe water supply in the rural As-affected areas are available. Most of these options have shown a minimum scope to mitigate arsenic-related risks because of their poor performance and non-acceptability by the rural households. In this research, therefore, the development of an appropriate technology for an As-free, safe drinking water supply is considered from a local perspective and a societal context. To achieve the goal and objectives of this research, four research questions were formulated (Chapter 1). The first research question is about the technological and socio-economic performance of community-based pipeline water supply systems that use deep aquifers. The second question deals with available and currently implemented household-level arsenic removal technologies in rural Bangladesh. The third addresses the weaknesses, limitations, strengths and advantages of the technologies in terms of a number of technological, social, economic and gender indicators. Fourth, the question is posed of the most promising arsenic removal option for rural house¬holds in terms of its techno¬logical performance and social acceptability and suitability from a gender perspective. The occurrence of As in the Delta region is of geochemical origin and its distribution in the groundwater has distinct regional patterns and depth trends. An overview of the arsenic problem in Bangladesh is given in Chapter 2. The overall objective of the research was to develop a socially appropriate and gender-sensitive household-level As removal filter. Technical, socio-economic and cultural aspects were incorporated in this research to assess the development of a sustainable innovation through multi- and interdisciplinary approaches. The technical validation of the systems was carried out through laboratory-based research, to address the efficiency, robustness, operational and maintenance convenience, safety and viability of the technology. For the social research, the model by Spaargaren and Van Vliet (2000) was adjusted to address the filter’s suitability in terms of lifestyle, domestic time-space structures, affordability, standards of comfort, cleanliness, convenience and modes of provision. In addition, I also considered the household resource-based affordability during the operation and maintenance phase, in terms of a socio-technological and gender perspective. A conceptual model was developed to guide the research and to answer the research questions (Chapter 1). The socio-economic data on the main concepts of this research work were collected through a survey (Appendix 2). In this research, a synthesis of knowledge resulting from disciplinary, open-ended collaboration and local perspectives is achieved. Such a transdisciplinary research approach ensures an integration of knowledge through the participation of a variety of stakeholders, including end users, and mutual learning between the different stakeholders, such as users of the Modified Garnet Homemade Filter (MGH Filter), caretakers, village committees, implementing organizations and donors, users of water, households, and women. The community–based piped water supply in Bangladesh There are several alternative sources to get safe and As-free drinking water in Bangladesh. A community-based piped water supply system using deep aquifers is one of them. In this research, three community-based piped water supply systems were compared to evaluate their technological and economic sustainability, the sustainability of using deep aquifers for the long term, and the social and gender appropriateness of the systems, based on the users’ perspective (Chapter 4). The technical performance of the three systems in different geological conditions was found satisfactory in terms of their efficacy, water quality, adequacy of the water supply, and operations and maintenance. The water is As- and Fe-free and is of good taste. The concentration of As is below the limiting range of drinking water in Bangladesh (50µgL-1As), as well as within the WHO and new EPA standards (10µgL-1As). The sustainable use of deep aquifers for a longer period is a serious issue. To address the sustainability, hydro-geological factors need to be well understood. Overextraction of water from deep aquifers could induce a downward migration of dissolved As and permanently destroy the deep resource. Only one system is practicing chlorination to disinfect the water in the overhead tank, while the other two systems do not have such a provision. However, the field data reveal that the three systems are technologically acceptable and do not require disposal of contaminated sludge. The women who are using one of the three water supply systems are satisfied about the water supply systems. They think the systems reliable in their delivery of adequate water and convenient and comfortable for the women users. Women can get water close to their house, which saves collection time and a physical burden. The appointed caretakers are operating the systems efficiently, including maintenance and the collection of the monthly bill from the beneficiaries. The economical sustainability seems to be satisfactory, provided the initial costs are subsidized by external financial assistance with only a little contribution from the communities, which varies from five to seven percent of the total capital cost. The community participation in sharing the installation cost for the system and the monthly bill are fixed, based on the economical condition of the households. However, a drawback of the community-based piped water system is disruption of the system due to its sensitivity to power failure, which is a big problem in Bangladesh. Other shortcomings are the limitations to extend the system to meet the increasing demand of the village people. On the long term, economical sustainability factors need to be considered, such as the availability of funds and the participation of the users in the system’s management, which were absent in all three systems. Currently available and implemented household-level arsenic removal technologies The application of arsenic removal technologies to provide safe drinking water in rural areas plays a vital role where other, alternative options and safe aquifers are not easily available and where community-based pipeline water supply systems are not feasible. In this research, physico-chemical and biological as well as conventional techniques for the removal of arsenic were reviewed (Chapter 5). Based on literature, an inventory was carried out of 40 available and currently implemented technologies at the household level in terms of their arsenic removal efficiency, cost and users’ acceptance. All the technologies remove As from the water to a limited extent. Therefore, there is scope for further development of these technologies. A multiple-criteria analysis (MCA) approach was applied to select a technology for the further development of an appropriate arsenic removal filter for household-level use. In the research, based on the integrated assessments, the MCA-GARNET technology was selected for further development. An assessment of the performances of the three governmentally certified arsenic removal technologies for rural household use was carried out (Chapter 5). This research concludes that the government’s investments in an improved water supply so far have failed to meet the needs of the poor villagers, because they are not able to buy the costly Alcan and Read-F filters. Even the relatively cheap Sono filter proved to be unaffordable for the poorest. Furthermore, assessing the As removal efficiency and life span of these filters is difficult at this preliminary stage, and so is predicting how the disposal of the spent filter materials will be carried out by the users. The As leaching from the sludge/waste generated by the three treatment processes is dependent on the type of removal mechanism and the ultimate sludge disposal methods. Development of a chemical-free arsenic removal technology for household use In this research, by the active participation of potential end users and other stakeholders, I have included local knowledge and social and gender perspectives in the process of the development of an innovative As removal filter (MGH filter) (Chapter 6). The MGH filter efficiency and breakthrough point were studied at different operational variables, such as filter bed thickness, types of filter media and flow rate. The toxicity of the spent material was addressed by a TCLP test. The developed filter meets the Bangladesh standard for arsenic in drinking water (50µgL-1). It can reduce the arsenic concentrations of the shallow tube well water samples from 160-959µgL-1 to 0-50µgL-1. It can also remove bacteriological contamination in terms of total coliform and fecal coliform counts from >500 to 0 cfu/100 mL-1 . The filter consists of two-bucket filters in series, each with three filter material layers of 14 cm thickness each, containing sand, brick chip and sand (Figure 7.1). The first-class brick chips of 1.3 cm size and Sylhet coarse sands were found to be the most efficient. The major advantage of this unit is that it does not require any daily addition of chemicals and can be operated at a high flow rate. It needs to be cleaned regularly to prevent bacterial contamination, while its maintenance requires treatment with bleaching powder at 15-day intervals. The filter is cost–effective and viable; the investments and operational cost are about € 10.8-13.4 and € 0.11-0.14 per 100 liters of treated water, respectively. In this research, a multi-perspective and participatory socio-technological assessment of the filter’s performance during the field level application was carried out in two phases: the trial phase during March 2008 and the evaluation phase during July 2008 (Chapter 7). Eight MGH filters were distributed among eight households in the research area in Kumarbhog. In this research, the multi-perspective assessment comprised interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to evaluate the performance of the filters for household use. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis were used. The suitability and acceptability of the filters were evaluated through systematic observation, interviewing, FGDs and eight case studies of the filter users. The compatibility and appropriate¬ness of the filter were viewed from a gender pers¬pective, since access to safe water is an important practical gender need of women, directly related to their domestic and reproductive role. Women of the selected eight rural households adopted the technology and ran the filters successfully during the trial phase. As elsewhere in developing countries, in Bangladesh too, rural women are the managers of water for household use. They hardly participate in income generation. The male household head controls the allocation of household income and expenditures, which caused problems when women wanted to re-install their filter. The household survey revealed that sometimes, women cannot be bothered to fetch safe water from far away and, instead, drink the con¬taminated water from their own shallow tube wells. Having the appliance inside the house complied well with the social norms and religious restrictions (purdah) that women have to abide by. In these circumstances, the MGH filter was eagerly accepted by the eight households, because it reduced women’s social and physical burden to fetch As-free, safe water far from their home. In the evaluation phase, some filters were unused because the women could not persuade their husbands to purchase the necessary filter bed materials. During the evaluation phase, the performance of the filters declined compared to the trial phase, because not all users followed the instructions on its operation and maintenance, such as proper chlorination and clean¬liness of the appliance. Disposal of spent filter material was carried out in different ways by the MGH filter users, but more investigation is needed to enable an environmentally friendly disposal of the As-rich sludge. A new filter system has been developed that can be used by women at the household level. In terms of the simplicity of construction, operation and maintenance, As removal efficiency, and bacterial removal efficiency, its technical performance is good. It is also very cost-effective. However, because such a system always needs to be completely safe for producing drinking water, on the long term as well as under local and household conditions other than those investigated in this research project, further evaluation and additional research will be necessary. In this research, the filter was field-tested under controlled conditions for a month and evaluated after three months. Considering the need for arsenic treatment options in Bangladesh and other developing countries, further research on the performance of the MGH technology could have important positive implications for a safe water supply. Therefore, to allow for seasonality, the MGH filter should be pilot-tested and properly developed over a period of at least a year, in different geographical conditions. A social, economic and technical validation of the MGH filter should be included in the pilot-testing in different parts of the country by applying interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. Because women are the collectors and managers of drinking water, doing the validation in different parts of the country allows for variation in women’s roles and position and the local socio-cultural context. The MGH filter should be submitted for certification by the government of Bangladesh after further testing and development. The technological principle of the MGH filter may be used to research and develop a community-based low-cost arsenic removal water supply system in rural areas. The results of this research testify to the feasibility of a gender-sensitive, socially acceptable and technologically sound, sustainable solution to the problem of the As contamination of water for household use in rural areas in Bangladesh.

Significant advances have occurred in recent years in Europe and in North America in addressing agri-environmental policies. Land use issues tend to be more pressing in Europe than in the US as a whole because of different spatial exigencies. Because these advances have taken place within individual academic disciplines, there has been something of a loss of synergy and often efforts are duplicated. While important institutional and legal differences still exist between the two continents, the sharing of recent scientific advances will benefit scientists on both sides of the Atlantic and this is the main purpose of this book. The primary features of the book are threefold. First, the authors aim to identify options for policy to overcome the challenges ahead related to future agri-environmental policies. Second, they synthesize existing knowledge and identify gaps in current knowledge along with future research needs. Finally, they explicitly compare agri-environmental interactions and approaches to their resolution in Europe and in the US. The book focuses specifically on the intersection between agricultural and environmental policies and issues.

Zowel bedrijven als kennisinstellingen in de maritieme sector werken de laatste jaren hard aan het ‘vergroenen’ van scheepvaart en offshore activiteiten. Om deze initiatieven te bundelen is door het Maritiem Kennis Centrum het Clean Sea Shipping programma ontwikkeld (bij sommigen beter bekend als de Maritieme Milieubalans). Om dit programma tot uitvoering te laten komen is met financiering uit het Maritiem Innovatie Programma (MIP) een thematisch netwerk in het leven geroepen met de titel ‘Clean Seas Maritime Technology Network’. De kern van daadwerkelijke verduurzaming van de sector ligt in een integrale benadering van de verbetering van de milieuprestaties. Hierbij wordt niet alleen gekeken naar gasvormige emissies, maar tegelijkertijd ook naar bijvoorbeeld de uitloging uit aangroeiwerende coatings, emissie van geluid of de lozing van ballastwater. Op dit moment is een dergelijke integrale benadering nog niet beschikbaar. Het doel van dit Maritiem Technologie Netwerk (MTN) is het overdragen van kennis en informatie die nu specifiek bij kennisinstellingen op maritiem en marien technologisch gebied aanwezig is, onderling en naar industrie, zodat deze partijen met elkaar in staat zijn vorm te geven aan de ontwikkeling en implementatie van deze integrale benadering.

Tourism is a global scale industry with increasing impacts on the environment, regional and local development. In many African countries tourism provides increasingly new opportunities, jobs and economic benefits to local communities, and currently many countries in the continent see tourism promotion as a good and relatively inexpensive strategy that can be used to attract foreign direct investment through showing natural areas and local indigenous cultures. As a result of growing tourism activities many places and rural areas in the region are increasingly tied to the industry and related cultural, social, economic and political networks. At the same time tourism in the region is deeply influenced by its changing physical and social environments and larger processes such as global climate change. Tourism has become an important policy tool for community and regional development in Africa, including Southern Africa. Tourism has also a significant potential to influence and change the use of natural and cultural resources in the continent and region. This has highlighted the role of sustainability, management and governance in tourism development and turned tourism not only into an economic but also social and political activity that influences the wider environment in various ways. At policy level, tourism is increasingly viewed as an essential sector of regional and national reconstruction and development in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), for example. In this sense the rationale for tourism development has evolved towards the idea of tourism as a tool for regional and sustainable developlment and recently to a relatively new kind of ideas of tourism as an instrument of social and economic empowerment and poverty reduction. In this respect there are many regional and local development programmes that are highlighting the role of tourism in regional and sustainable development and empowerment.

Zowel bedrijven als kennisinstellingen in de maritieme sector werken de laatste jaren hard aan het ‘vergroenen’ van scheepvaart en offshore activiteiten. Om deze initiatieven te bundelen is door het Maritiem Kennis Centrum het Clean Sea Shipping programma ontwikkeld (bij sommigen beter bekend als de Maritieme Milieubalans). Om dit programma tot uitvoering te laten komen is met financiering uit het Maritiem Innovatie Programma (MIP) een thematisch netwerk in het leven geroepen met de titel ‘Clean Seas Maritime Technology Network’. De kern van daadwerkelijke verduurzaming van de sector ligt in een integrale benadering van de verbetering van de milieuprestaties. Hierbij wordt niet alleen gekeken naar gasvormige emissies, maar tegelijkertijd ook naar bijvoorbeeld de uitloging uit aangroeiwerende coatings, emissie van geluid of de lozing van ballastwater. Op dit moment is een dergelijke integrale benadering nog niet beschikbaar. Het doel van dit Maritiem Technologie Netwerk (MTN) is het overdragen van kennis en informatie die nu specifiek bij kennisinstellingen op maritiem en marien technologisch gebied aanwezig is, onderling en naar industrie, zodat deze partijen met elkaar in staat zijn vorm te geven aan de ontwikkeling en implementatie van deze integrale benadering.

Tourism is a global scale industry with increasing impacts on the environment, regional and local development. In many African countries tourism provides increasingly new opportunities, jobs and economic benefits to local communities, and currently many countries in the continent see tourism promotion as a good and relatively inexpensive strategy that can be used to attract foreign direct investment through showing natural areas and local indigenous cultures. As a result of growing tourism activities many places and rural areas in the region are increasingly tied to the industry and related cultural, social, economic and political networks. At the same time tourism in the region is deeply influenced by its changing physical and social environments and larger processes such as global climate change. Tourism has become an important policy tool for community and regional development in Africa, including Southern Africa. Tourism has also a significant potential to influence and change the use of natural and cultural resources in the continent and region. This has highlighted the role of sustainability, management and governance in tourism development and turned tourism not only into an economic but also social and political activity that influences the wider environment in various ways. At policy level, tourism is increasingly viewed as an essential sector of regional and national reconstruction and development in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), for example. In this sense the rationale for tourism development has evolved towards the idea of tourism as a tool for regional and sustainable developlment and recently to a relatively new kind of ideas of tourism as an instrument of social and economic empowerment and poverty reduction. In this respect there are many regional and local development programmes that are highlighting the role of tourism in regional and sustainable development and empowerment.

The marine environment is under serious pressure from human activities. The transboundary and large-scale nature of these threats require cooperation between states, and between states, industries and NGOs. Marine governance therefore becomes a breeding ground for innovation: multi-level and multi-actor governance and changing spheres of authority. This book applies the concept "spheres of authority" to investigate the nature of these innovations in governing shipping and offshore oil and gas production. In the environmental governance of shipping, authority is shifting from states that own ships to states that own ports. The environmental governance of offshore oil and gas production shows a shared authority for developing and implementing policies between state and industry, but not a diminishing authority of the state.

Significant advances have occurred in recent years in Europe and in North America in addressing agri-environmental policies. Land use issues tend to be more pressing in Europe than in the US as a whole because of different spatial exigencies. Because these advances have taken place within individual academic disciplines, there has been something of a loss of synergy and often efforts are duplicated. While important institutional and legal differences still exist between the two continents, the sharing of recent scientific advances will benefit scientists on both sides of the Atlantic and this is the main purpose of this book. The primary features of the book are threefold. First, the authors aim to identify options for policy to overcome the challenges ahead related to future agri-environmental policies. Second, they synthesize existing knowledge and identify gaps in current knowledge along with future research needs. Finally, they explicitly compare agri-environmental interactions and approaches to their resolution in Europe and in the US. The book focuses specifically on the intersection between agricultural and environmental policies and issues.

The European Union, now of 27 member states, varies widely within its boundaries. Still, there are common policies for agriculture, food and rural areas, although with many differences in relation to specific conditions in member states. Starting with the Mac Sharry reform in 1992, the EU is on a long-term path to freer and more open markets, with increased attention at EU and member-state levels to food quality, food safety and animal welfare as well as the environment and the development of rural areas. For farming, the EU's traditional market and price measures are now largely replaced by 'decoupled' direct income support. The Union is thus becoming a leader in food standards and rural policy. Many well-known experts have contributed their up-to-date knowledge to this book, which has been developed in close collaboration with government officials and scientists, and with Wageningen Business School courses. The book can be used for scientific and professional education at bachelor degree level, but could easily function as supporting text in master courses. Business executives, officials and non-governmental organisations will also find this book to be of interest at a time of new or renewed pressures on policies in all the above areas.

The TOXSWA model is used in the pesticide registration procedures in the Netherlands and the EU. This report documents the transient water flow module of TOXSWA, which simulates variable discharges and water depths in the edge-of-field ponds, ditches and streams of the EU FOCUS Surface Water Scenarios at an hourly resolution. It combines water conservation equations with water depth-discharge relations based upon weirs located downstream. In watercourses, backwater curves describe water depths as a function of distance to the weir. The water conservation equations consist of a base flow, excess water fluxes from drainage or runoff and an outflow. The conservation equations have been solved numerically using the finite difference method. A limited verification of the numerical solution has been undertaken. Example runs present model input and output

The TOXSWA model is used in the pesticide registration procedures in the Netherlands and the EU. This report documents the transient water flow module of TOXSWA, which simulates variable discharges and water depths in the edge-of-field ponds, ditches and streams of the EU FOCUS Surface Water Scenarios at an hourly resolution. It combines water conservation equations with water depth-discharge relations based upon weirs located downstream. In watercourses, backwater curves describe water depths as a function of distance to the weir. The water conservation equations consist of a base flow, excess water fluxes from drainage or runoff and an outflow. The conservation equations have been solved numerically using the finite difference method. A limited verification of the numerical solution has been undertaken. Example runs present model input and output Het model TOXSWA wordt gebruikt in de toelatingsprocedures van bestrijdingsmiddelen in Nederland en in de EU. Dit rapport documenteert het onderdeel van TOXSWA met een niet-eenparige (dus in de stromingsrichting veranderende) waterstroming. Dit onderdeel simuleert op uurbasis veranderende afvoeren en waterdiepten in de FOCUS Oppervlaktewater Scenario’s van de EU: meertjes, sloten en beekjes grenzend aan landbouwpercelen. Waterconserveringsvergelijkingen worden gecombineerd met afvoerformules voor benedenstrooms gelegen stuwen, die het verband tussen de afvoer en de overstorthoogte geven. In de waterlopen beschrijven stuwkrommen het verloop van de waterdiepte met de afstand tot de stuw. De waterconserverings-vergelijkingen bevatten een basisafvoer, overtollige waterfluxen door drainagebuizen of via oppervlakte-afvoer en een uitstroming. De conserveringsvergelijkingen zijn numeriek opgelost met de eindige differentiemethode. De numerieke oplossing is beperkt geverifieerd. Voorbeeldsimulaties tonen de modelinvoer en -uitvoer. We bevelen aan om de wiskundige beschrijving van de waterstroming te verbeteren door een geleidelijk veranderende en discontinue waterstromingsbeschrijving te implementeren, dus met langs de waterloop in- of uitstromend water.Trefwoorden: FOCUS oppervlaktewater scenario’s, bestrijdingsmiddelen toelating, TOXSWA, niet-eenparige waterstroming.

Environmental reform by (inter)governmental agencies, private firms and industries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is a worldwide phenomenon. This definitive collection showcases an introduction to Ecological Modernisation Theory; state-of-the-art review essays by key international scholars and a selection of the key articles from a quarter-century of social science scholarship. It is aimed at students, researchers and policymakers interested in a deep understanding of contemporary environmental issues.

Major environmental degradation is a serious problem for China as the country's economy continues to grow at a phenomenal pace. In recent years environmental organisations have begun to emerge in China, and in some cases have had remarkable success in affecting policies which would have had significant adverse impacts on the environment. This book, based on extensive original research, adopts a multi-disciplinary research approach to examine environmental activism in China, focusing on four cities. It analyses the nature, characteristics, strategies, organizational modes and influence of what could be labeled a Chinese environmental movement in-the-making. In particular, this volume highlights the specificities of Chinese environmental activism in an increasingly globalizing world, along with a comparison to the environmental movement in Western Europe and North America

Within the Guiding Agriculture Wetland Interaction (GAWI) project the Driver!Pressure!State! Impact!Response (DPSIR) approach has been adopted to describe and analyse agriculture!wetland interactions. The DPSIR approach provides a consistent framework to analyse the complex causal chain among drivers, pressures, state and impacts, and facilitates the targeted identification of response strategies aimed at improving the sustainability of wetlands.

Environmental reform by (inter)governmental agencies, private firms and industries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is a worldwide phenomenon. This definitive collection showcases an introduction to Ecological Modernisation Theory; state-of-the-art review essays by key international scholars and a selection of the key articles from a quarter-century of social science scholarship. It is aimed at students, researchers and policymakers interested in a deep understanding of contemporary environmental issues.

Major environmental degradation is a serious problem for China as the country's economy continues to grow at a phenomenal pace. In recent years environmental organisations have begun to emerge in China, and in some cases have had remarkable success in affecting policies which would have had significant adverse impacts on the environment. This book, based on extensive original research, adopts a multi-disciplinary research approach to examine environmental activism in China, focusing on four cities. It analyses the nature, characteristics, strategies, organizational modes and influence of what could be labeled a Chinese environmental movement in-the-making. In particular, this volume highlights the specificities of Chinese environmental activism in an increasingly globalizing world, along with a comparison to the environmental movement in Western Europe and North America

Within the Guiding Agriculture Wetland Interaction (GAWI) project the Driver!Pressure!State! Impact!Response (DPSIR) approach has been adopted to describe and analyse agriculture!wetland interactions. The DPSIR approach provides a consistent framework to analyse the complex causal chain among drivers, pressures, state and impacts, and facilitates the targeted identification of response strategies aimed at improving the sustainability of wetlands.