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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.07.014 Byline: J. Cihlar Keywords: Carbon sequestration; Earth observation; GHG policy Abstract: This paper addresses some issues related to the carbon cycle and its utilization by society. Traditional uses for agriculture, forestry, as a source of fuel and other products, and for pastoral farming, among others, have recently been supplemented by identifying its potential for mitigating the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Through the Kyoto Protocol, carbon has become a commodity and the CO.sub.2-absorbing capability of the vegetation and soils an economically valuable asset. The multi-facetted roles of the C cycle and its sensitivity to human activities present a demand for techniques that permit accurate, timely and affordable characterization of the various components of this cycle, especially on land where most human activities take place. Such techniques must satisfy a range of demands in terms of purpose, clients for the information, and biosphere properties. However, if successful, they offer the potential to support monitoring, reporting, policy setting, and management of terrestrial biospheric resources. The context for these requirements and possibilities is illustrated with reference to the China Carbon Sequestration Project and its findings. Author Affiliation: ZEMKON INC., 201 Johnston Road, RR3, Picton, Ont., Canada K0K 2T0 Article History: Received 30 April 2006; Revised 20 July 2006; Accepted 30 July 2006

Byline: Hualou Long (a)(b), Guoping Tang (c), Xiubin Li (a), Gerhard K. Heilig (b) Keywords: Land-use change; Driving forces; Urbanization; Land management measures; The Yangtze River Delta; China Abstract: This paper analyzes characteristics, major driving forces and alternative management measures of land-use change in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, China. The study used remote sensing (RS) maps and socio-economic data. Based on RS-derived maps, two change matrices were constructed for detecting land-use change between 1987 and 1994, and between 1994 and 2000 through pixel-to-pixel comparisons. The outcomes indicated that paddy fields, dryland, and forested land moderately decreased by 8.2%, 29% and 2.6% from 1987 to 1994, and by 4.1%, 7.6% and 8% from 1994 to 2000, respectively. In contrast, the following increased greatly from 1987 to 1994: artificial ponds by 48%, urban settlements by 87.6%, rural settlements by 41.1%, and construction land by 511.8%. From 1994 to 2000, these land covers increased by 3.6%, 28.1%, 23.4% and 47.1%, respectively. For the whole area, fragmentation of land cover was very significant. In addition, socio-economic data were used to analyze major driving forces triggering land-use change through bivariate analysis. The results indicated that industrialization, urbanization, population growth, and China's economic reform measures are four major driving forces contributing to land-use change in Kunshan. Finally, we introduced some possible management measures such as urban growth boundary (UGB) and incentive-based policies. We pointed out that, given the rapidity of the observed changes, it is critical that additional studies be undertaken to evaluate these suggested policies, focusing on what their effects might be in this region, and how these might be implemented. Author Affiliation: (a) Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR), Chinese Academy of Sciences, 11A Datun Road, Anwai, Beijing 100101, PR China (b) International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria (c) Department of Geography, University of Oregon, OR 97403, USA Article History: Received 9 May 2005; Revised 3 April 2006; Accepted 7 April 2006

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2006.01.004 Byline: Alexander S. Mather (a), Gary Hill (b), Maria Nijnik (b) Abstract: Post-productivism is a contested concept, and some argue that it should be abandoned. In this paper, a more focused definition for post-productivism is suggested. Evidence for change in forestry and agriculture that could be categorised as post-productivist is presented, in relation to both the narrower definition and to characterisations suggested by other authors. A reduced (relative) emphasis on material production, combined with an increased emphasis on the provision of environmental services, has characterised rural land use at the end of the 20th century in parts of the developed world. In this sense, post-productivism is a reality, and should not be abandoned. It may have utility in relation to our understanding of land-use change in developed countries, and in that respect to the generating of questions that would amount to a formidable research agenda. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Geography and Environment, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UF, Scotland (b) Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, Scotland