This paper reviews the population trends and threats for the 15 species of cranes, and comments on conservation priorities for the family as a whole. Cranes occur on ifve continents, with greatest diversity in East As...This paper reviews the population trends and threats for the 15 species of cranes, and comments on conservation priorities for the family as a whole. Cranes occur on ifve continents, with greatest diversity in East Asia (nine species) and Sub-Saharan Africa (six species). Eleven crane species are threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List, including one species Critically En-dangered, three species Endangered, and seven species Vulnerable. Of the four species of Least Con-cern, population sizes for the Demoiselle (Anthropoides virgo) and Brolga (Grus rubicunda) are not well known but these species are declining in some areas. The Sandhill (G. canadensis) and Eurasian Cranes (G. grus) are the most abundant cranes and have rapidly increased in part due to their lfexible selection of foraging habitats and use of agriculture lands and waste grain as a food source. Status for six species-Grey Crowned (Balearica regulorum), Blue (Anthropoides paradise), Black-necked (G. nigricollis), Red-crowned (G. japonensis), Sandhill, and Siberian (G. leucogeranus)-are summarized in more detail to illustrate the diversity of population shifts and threats within the crane family. A crane threat matrix lists the major threats, rates each threat for each species, and scores each threat for the crane family as a whole. Four of the ifve greatest threats are to the ecosystems that cranes depend upon, while only one of the top threats (human disturbance) relates to human action directly impact-ing on cranes. Four major threats are discussed:dams and water diversions, agriculture development, crane trade, and climate change. Conservation efforts should be strongly science-based, reduce direct threats to the birds, safeguard or restore habitat, and strengthen awareness among decision makers and local communities for how to safeguard cranes and wetlands. Especially for the most severely threatened species, signiifcantly stronger efforts will be needed to incorporate our understanding of the needs of cranes and the ecosystems they inhabit into decisions about agriculture, water manage-ment, energy development and other human activities.展开更多
This paper illustrates the illegal trade of wild animals in China from 1996 to 2014 by referring to previously reported references and data. There have been83 species（22 families, 8 orders） of wild mammals illegally...This paper illustrates the illegal trade of wild animals in China from 1996 to 2014 by referring to previously reported references and data. There have been83 species（22 families, 8 orders） of wild mammals illegally traded and smuggled in China, mainly found in the southwest border, especially in Yunnan and Guangxi.Smuggling has seriously affected the ecological security of China, so it is necessary to intensify efforts to fight such crime, and enhance the people’s awareness of wildlife protection.展开更多
Since its entry into the WTO ten years ago, China has been increasingly involved in building new rules to make multilateral trading systems more development- oriented. In the past decade, both developing and developed...Since its entry into the WTO ten years ago, China has been increasingly involved in building new rules to make multilateral trading systems more development- oriented. In the past decade, both developing and developed WTO member nations have debated whether the TRIPS agreement should expand its definition to cover new areas such as genetic resources and traditional knowledge. This article argues that although the genetic resources-based market is huge, developing countries have benefited little from it. Specifically, the current market mechanism and system provide little incentive to developing countries to protect biodiversity. Expanding TRIPS to cover new areas such as genetic resources and traditional knowledge can make multilateral trade fairer and more balanced and will enable developing members to better protect biodiversity.展开更多
In recent 50 years, with the rapid development of international food trade, the geoeconomic pattern of cereal crops has changed tremendously which produced a significant impact on global food security. This paper atte...In recent 50 years, with the rapid development of international food trade, the geoeconomic pattern of cereal crops has changed tremendously which produced a significant impact on global food security. This paper attempted to analysis the production pattern and trade pattern of global cereals, especially three main crops of wheat, maize and rice by using the method of share-shift. Given the fact of almost every economic phenomenon is driven by their economic return behind them, this paper attempted to a further step into their economic pattern by examining their net trade flow. The results showed that from the view of production and trade, the geographic pattern of global cereals has changed greatly which can be described as developing countries has replaced developed countries and become the world's biggest cereals production and trading area. But when moving to the net trade flow, it turns out to be another story that can depicted as the regional fixation features of economic returns which can be convinced from the labor division of global cereals trade, among which developed countries acts as net trade profit area while developing countries as net trade output area, and their gap between net export and net import has been widening from the view of evolution trend. So what we learn from the evolution of geoeconomic pattern on this topic is that our place in global cereals trade system, and therefore alert us to concern not only on the pattern transition but also the economic meaning behind it, only by doing so can we learn to plan our food future more wisely and effectively.展开更多
The agricultural liberalization market process remains stalled Doha Round. The terms in protection levels reductions are negotiated, but the emergence of the global crisis constrains public resources to sustain them. ...The agricultural liberalization market process remains stalled Doha Round. The terms in protection levels reductions are negotiated, but the emergence of the global crisis constrains public resources to sustain them. In addition, the use of some grains as inputs in the production of biofuels, has contributed to the price increase in foods, although this production is an alternative to fossil fuels use and can help to reduce further environmental degradation. In this paper we analyze the main variables to be taken into account when negotiating the liberalization of agricultural trade, but also ofbiofuels in the context of Doha Round.展开更多
In this paper the authors inquire why, after more than 25 years of domestic agricultural reforms in Mexico and 15 years of trade liberalization of maize under the North American Free Trade Agreement （NAFTA）, the dom...In this paper the authors inquire why, after more than 25 years of domestic agricultural reforms in Mexico and 15 years of trade liberalization of maize under the North American Free Trade Agreement （NAFTA）, the domestic production of maize, a non-competitive crop and the major staple in Mexico, has increased. The authors present new empirical evidence showing that, as expected, maize prices in Mexico dropped until 2006 and have experienced a process of convergence with USA prices, and maize imports from the USA have increased. However, despite lower prices, maize production in Mexico has trended upward since 1992, two years before the beginning of NAFTA＇s implementation. Based on the heterogeneity of maize production in Mexico, three possible explanations are proposed to explain this unexpected outcome： government supports to big commercial farmers in the agriculturally rich North of Mexico; the persistence of maize production by subsistence farmers; and to a lesser degree, increasing yields on some irrigated maize farms. We finish the paper by drawing lessons from the experience of Mexico for other Less Developed Countries.展开更多
文摘This paper reviews the population trends and threats for the 15 species of cranes, and comments on conservation priorities for the family as a whole. Cranes occur on ifve continents, with greatest diversity in East Asia (nine species) and Sub-Saharan Africa (six species). Eleven crane species are threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List, including one species Critically En-dangered, three species Endangered, and seven species Vulnerable. Of the four species of Least Con-cern, population sizes for the Demoiselle (Anthropoides virgo) and Brolga (Grus rubicunda) are not well known but these species are declining in some areas. The Sandhill (G. canadensis) and Eurasian Cranes (G. grus) are the most abundant cranes and have rapidly increased in part due to their lfexible selection of foraging habitats and use of agriculture lands and waste grain as a food source. Status for six species-Grey Crowned (Balearica regulorum), Blue (Anthropoides paradise), Black-necked (G. nigricollis), Red-crowned (G. japonensis), Sandhill, and Siberian (G. leucogeranus)-are summarized in more detail to illustrate the diversity of population shifts and threats within the crane family. A crane threat matrix lists the major threats, rates each threat for each species, and scores each threat for the crane family as a whole. Four of the ifve greatest threats are to the ecosystems that cranes depend upon, while only one of the top threats (human disturbance) relates to human action directly impact-ing on cranes. Four major threats are discussed:dams and water diversions, agriculture development, crane trade, and climate change. Conservation efforts should be strongly science-based, reduce direct threats to the birds, safeguard or restore habitat, and strengthen awareness among decision makers and local communities for how to safeguard cranes and wetlands. Especially for the most severely threatened species, signiifcantly stronger efforts will be needed to incorporate our understanding of the needs of cranes and the ecosystems they inhabit into decisions about agriculture, water manage-ment, energy development and other human activities.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(31470570)Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing(cstc2014jcyj A80013)+1 种基金Science Foundation of Chongqing Education Commission(kj1400534)Chongqing Creative Program for Graduate Students(CYS15155)~~
文摘This paper illustrates the illegal trade of wild animals in China from 1996 to 2014 by referring to previously reported references and data. There have been83 species（22 families, 8 orders） of wild mammals illegally traded and smuggled in China, mainly found in the southwest border, especially in Yunnan and Guangxi.Smuggling has seriously affected the ecological security of China, so it is necessary to intensify efforts to fight such crime, and enhance the people’s awareness of wildlife protection.
文摘Since its entry into the WTO ten years ago, China has been increasingly involved in building new rules to make multilateral trading systems more development- oriented. In the past decade, both developing and developed WTO member nations have debated whether the TRIPS agreement should expand its definition to cover new areas such as genetic resources and traditional knowledge. This article argues that although the genetic resources-based market is huge, developing countries have benefited little from it. Specifically, the current market mechanism and system provide little incentive to developing countries to protect biodiversity. Expanding TRIPS to cover new areas such as genetic resources and traditional knowledge can make multilateral trade fairer and more balanced and will enable developing members to better protect biodiversity.
文摘In recent 50 years, with the rapid development of international food trade, the geoeconomic pattern of cereal crops has changed tremendously which produced a significant impact on global food security. This paper attempted to analysis the production pattern and trade pattern of global cereals, especially three main crops of wheat, maize and rice by using the method of share-shift. Given the fact of almost every economic phenomenon is driven by their economic return behind them, this paper attempted to a further step into their economic pattern by examining their net trade flow. The results showed that from the view of production and trade, the geographic pattern of global cereals has changed greatly which can be described as developing countries has replaced developed countries and become the world's biggest cereals production and trading area. But when moving to the net trade flow, it turns out to be another story that can depicted as the regional fixation features of economic returns which can be convinced from the labor division of global cereals trade, among which developed countries acts as net trade profit area while developing countries as net trade output area, and their gap between net export and net import has been widening from the view of evolution trend. So what we learn from the evolution of geoeconomic pattern on this topic is that our place in global cereals trade system, and therefore alert us to concern not only on the pattern transition but also the economic meaning behind it, only by doing so can we learn to plan our food future more wisely and effectively.
文摘The agricultural liberalization market process remains stalled Doha Round. The terms in protection levels reductions are negotiated, but the emergence of the global crisis constrains public resources to sustain them. In addition, the use of some grains as inputs in the production of biofuels, has contributed to the price increase in foods, although this production is an alternative to fossil fuels use and can help to reduce further environmental degradation. In this paper we analyze the main variables to be taken into account when negotiating the liberalization of agricultural trade, but also ofbiofuels in the context of Doha Round.
文摘In this paper the authors inquire why, after more than 25 years of domestic agricultural reforms in Mexico and 15 years of trade liberalization of maize under the North American Free Trade Agreement （NAFTA）, the domestic production of maize, a non-competitive crop and the major staple in Mexico, has increased. The authors present new empirical evidence showing that, as expected, maize prices in Mexico dropped until 2006 and have experienced a process of convergence with USA prices, and maize imports from the USA have increased. However, despite lower prices, maize production in Mexico has trended upward since 1992, two years before the beginning of NAFTA＇s implementation. Based on the heterogeneity of maize production in Mexico, three possible explanations are proposed to explain this unexpected outcome： government supports to big commercial farmers in the agriculturally rich North of Mexico; the persistence of maize production by subsistence farmers; and to a lesser degree, increasing yields on some irrigated maize farms. We finish the paper by drawing lessons from the experience of Mexico for other Less Developed Countries.
