Comprehensive Evaluation of the Importance of Ecological Land in Arid Hilly Cities in Northwest China: A Case Study of the Core Urban Area of Lanzhou

Cities in hilly arid areas of northwest China have generally experienced a low level of economic development; they also have unique natural characteristics such as climate, soil, terrain, environment, and surface cover. High quality ecological lands are those that provide humans and the environment with relatively high levels of ecological services including soil, water, and air purification, adsorbing pollutants, or providing water or nutrients needed by plants. In this study, ecological lands were classified as woodland, grassland, water area, and bare land. The present study constructed an ecological land model designed to evaluate the importance of such land from the perspective of ecological service function and ecological demand intensity. Results revealed that: (1) This model can help researchers to better analyze the structure and spatial characteristics of ecological land in cities and also meet the needs of ecological protection and urban management in highly urbanized areas. (2) In terms of ecological service function and ecological demand intensity, the most important ecological land is mostly distributed in densely populated and urbanized areas, and the spread of urbanization is conducive to the improvement of land ecological value for the arid hilly area of northwest China. (3) Among all types of ecological land, the water area had the highest ecological value in the study area, while the grassland had the most potential for improvement, as careful planning and use can allow grassland to function as an ecological barrier while providing good, aesthetically pleasing space for leisure activities for the general public. (4) Qilihe and Xigu districts have more generally important graded areas of forest, grassland, and bare land, although the current ecological value of these lands is limited, though they have great potential for ecological improvement.

Ensuring of Consumer Choice Ecologization on the Basis of Consumption Safety: International Experience for Ukraine

The article is devoted to the disclosure of the results of the study of threats to the environment, sustainable development and consumption safety that arise in the process of consumption. The problems of formation of the environment which promotes growth of ecological demand in Ukraine in comparison with other states are analyzed. Factors of internal, external and situational influence on consumer choice at each stage of consumption (awareness of needs, search for information, evaluation of alternatives, purchasing, use and utilization) are investigated. The main of them such as values, culture of consumption, marketing (promotion), level of development of institutional base (legislation, social norms) are established and their optimal level in conditions of uncertainty is proved. Conclusions are made on the basis of using methods of office research, sociological survey, modeling on the basis of fuzzy logic with the use of expert assessments. The leading role of the factor of internal influence, which covers human values that can be improved by raising the educational and cultural level of the population, which is undoubtedly related to income is proved.

Features of Water for Ecological Demand in Arid Area in the Northwest China

Along with the implementing of eco-environment protection and socioeconomic development, water resource is a serious problem in Northwest China.Moreover,the socioeconomic development has been constrained.Meanwhile,a kind of ecosystems security has been threatened in the arid area.Based on the strategy of water source sustainable development, the principle and method of water for ecological demand (WED) are urgent in need of resolution. The actual features can be understand by case study in the artificial forest ecosystem and desert riparian ecosystem.With the guidance of eco-hydrology, WED features is obviously in arid area. The quality and quantity of WED have a larger variable range. Meanwhile, water use style is flexible. WED is under the control of water cycling and transfer efficiency of SPAC, which has close relation with vegetation growth.WED Estimation focused on some parameters and modeling. The ideas in WED have significances for improving eco-hydrology and water resource management and ecological practice as well as sustainable development of ecological industry in arid area.