Description: SONNE: Solar-Based Man-Made Carbon Cycle and the Carbon Dioxide Economy Content Type Journal Article Category Synopsis Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s13280-011-0197-6 Authors Detlev Möller, Brandenburg Technical University, Volmerstr. 13, 12489 Berlin, Germany Journal AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment Online ISSN 1654-7209 Print ISSN 0044-7447

Description:    The rapid development of parks and ecotourism in China has attracted worldwide attention, not only for the beauty of the landscape that the parks are protecting but also for their abundant and often unique biodiversity. However, in some areas, the development of ecotourism has actually led to the degradation of local ecological, economic, and social systems. Using National Forest Parks for demonstration, this article analyzes the current political, institutional, legal, environmental, and economic issues concerning National Parks in China, and examines their potential future development. Although the intention of National Park systems in China is to raise environmental quality, and to protect biodiversity and social livelihoods, their success has varied. Future success will be measured by their capacity to reduce poverty, to promote long-term rehabilitation of wildlife habitats, and to simultaneously protect Chinese culture and biodiversity. Content Type Journal Article Category Review Paper Pages 1-15 DOI 10.1007/s13280-011-0194-9 Authors Guangyu Wang, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada John L. Innes, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada Sara W. Wu, World Forest Institute, Portland, OR 97221, USA Judi Krzyzanowski, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada Yongyuan Yin, Adaptation and Impacts Research Division, Environment Canada, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada Shuanyou Dai, Department of Human Resources and Education, State Forestry Administration, Beijing, 100714 China Xiaoping Zhang, Fuzhou National Forest Park, Fujian, 350012 China Sihui Liu, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, 650224 Yunnan, China Journal AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment Online ISSN 1654-7209 Print ISSN 0044-7447

Description:    Climate change and sea level rise urge low-lying countries to draft adaption policies. In this context, we assessed whether, to what extent and when the Netherlands’ current flood risk management policy may require a revision. By applying scenarios on climate change and socio-economic development and performing flood simulations, we established the past and future changes in flood probabilities, exposure and consequences until about 2050. We also questioned whether the present policy may be extended much longer, applying the concept of ‘policy tipping points’. Climate change was found to cause a significant increase of flood risk, but less than economic development does. We also established that the current flood risk management policy in the Netherlands can be continued for centuries when the sea level rise rate does not exceed 1.5 m per century. However, we also conclude that the present policy may not be the most attractive strategy, as it has some obvious flaws. Content Type Journal Article Category Report Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s13280-011-0193-x Authors Frans Klijn, Deltares, PO Box 177, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands Karin M. de Bruijn, Deltares, PO Box 177, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands Joost Knoop, PBL Netherlands’ Environmental Assessment Agency, PO Box 303, 3720 AH Bilthoven, The Netherlands Jaap Kwadijk, Deltares, PO Box 177, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands Journal AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment Online ISSN 1654-7209 Print ISSN 0044-7447

Description:    The decline in sea cucumber fisheries that serve the Asian dried seafood market has prompted an increase in global sea cucumber aquaculture. The tropical sandfish ( Holothuria scabra ) has, in this context, been reared and produced with mixed success. In the Western Indian Ocean, villagers often participate in the export fishery for sea cucumbers as a source of income. However, with a growing concern of depleted stocks introduction of hatcheries to farm sandfish as a community livelihood and to replenish wild stocks is being promoted. This review identifies and discusses a number of aspects that constitute constraints or implications with regard to development of sandfish farming in the region. The conclusion is that for sandfish farming to live up to its expectations the possible impacts need to be further studied, and that improved evaluation of ongoing projects is required. In the interim, a precautionary approach toward new enterprise activities is suggested. Content Type Journal Article Category Review Paper Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s13280-011-0195-8 Authors Hampus Eriksson, Department of Systems Ecology, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden Georgina Robinson, Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140 South Africa Matthew J. Slater, School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE3 7RU UK Max Troell, The Beijer Institute, Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden Journal AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment Online ISSN 1654-7209 Print ISSN 0044-7447

Description: Brazilian Amazon: A Significant Five Year Drop in Deforestation Rates but Figures are on the Rise Again Content Type Journal Article Category Synopsis Pages 1-6 DOI 10.1007/s13280-011-0196-7 Authors J. P. Malingreau, Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Square de Meeûs 8, Brussels, 1049 Belgium H. D. Eva, Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, Square de Meeûs 8, Brussels, 1049 Belgium E. E. de Miranda, Embrapa Monitoramento por Satélite, Av. S. Passarinho 303, Campinas, 13070-155 Brazil Journal AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment Online ISSN 1654-7209 Print ISSN 0044-7447

Description:    Over the past century, the total material wealth of humanity has been enhanced. However, in the twenty-first century, we face scarcity in critical resources, the degradation of ecosystem services, and the erosion of the planet’s capability to absorb our wastes. Equity issues remain stubbornly difficult to solve. This situation is novel in its speed, its global scale and its threat to the resilience of the Earth System. The advent of the Anthropence, the time interval in which human activities now rival global geophysical processes, suggests that we need to fundamentally alter our relationship with the planet we inhabit. Many approaches could be adopted, ranging from geo-engineering solutions that purposefully manipulate parts of the Earth System to becoming active stewards of our own life support system. The Anthropocene is a reminder that the Holocene, during which complex human societies have developed, has been a stable, accommodating environment and is the only state of the Earth System that we know for sure can support contemporary society. The need to achieve effective planetary stewardship is urgent. As we go further into the Anthropocene, we risk driving the Earth System onto a trajectory toward more hostile states from which we cannot easily return. Content Type Journal Article Category Invited Paper Pages 1-23 DOI 10.1007/s13280-011-0185-x Authors Will Steffen, The ANU Climate Change Institute, The College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University, Coombs Building, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia Åsa Persson, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Lisa Deutsch, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Jan Zalasiewicz, Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester,  UK Mark Williams, Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester,  UK Katherine Richardson, Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate Biological Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark Carole Crumley, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Paul Crutzen, Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany Carl Folke, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Line Gordon, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Mario Molina, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA Veerabhadran Ramanathan, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA,  USA Johan Rockström, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Marten Scheffer, Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen,  The Netherlands Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany Uno Svedin, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Journal AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment Online ISSN 1654-7209 Print ISSN 0044-7447

Description:    Global climate issues and a looming energy crisis put agriculture under pressure in Sub-Saharan Africa. Climate adaptation measures must entail sustainable development benefits, and growing crops for food as well as energy may be a solution, removing people from hunger and poverty without compromising the environment. The present study investigated the feasibility of using non-food parts of cassava for energy production and the promising results revealed that at least 28% of peels and stems comprise dry matter, and 10 g feedstock yields 〉8.5 g sugar, which in turn produced 〉60% ethanol, with pH ≈ 2.85, 74–84% light transmittance and a conductivity of 368 mV, indicating a potential use of cassava feedstock for ethanol production. Thus, harnessing cassava for food as well as ethanol production is deemed feasible. Such a system would, however, require supportive policies to acquire a balance between food security and fuel. Content Type Journal Article Category Report Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s13280-011-0183-z Authors Ephraim Nuwamanya, National Agricultural Research organization, National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), P.O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda Linley Chiwona-Karltun, Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7012, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden Robert S. Kawuki, National Agricultural Research organization, National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), P.O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda Yona Baguma, National Agricultural Research organization, National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), P.O. Box 7084, Kampala, Uganda Journal AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment Online ISSN 1654-7209 Print ISSN 0044-7447

Description: The Stockholm Memorandum Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-5 DOI 10.1007/s13280-011-0187-8 Journal AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment Online ISSN 1654-7209 Print ISSN 0044-7447

Description: 3rd Nobel Laureate Symposium on Global Sustainability: Transforming the World in an Era of Global Change Content Type Journal Article Category Guest Editorial Pages 1-2 DOI 10.1007/s13280-011-0190-0 Authors Carl Folke, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 10691 Sweden Johan Rockström, Stockholm Environment Institute and Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 10691 Sweden Journal AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment Online ISSN 1654-7209 Print ISSN 0044-7447

Description:    This article explores the links between agency, institutions, and innovation in navigating shifts and large-scale transformations toward global sustainability. Our central question is whether social and technical innovations can reverse the trends that are challenging critical thresholds and creating tipping points in the earth system, and if not, what conditions are necessary to escape the current lock-in. Large-scale transformations in information technology, nano- and biotechnology, and new energy systems have the potential to significantly improve our lives; but if, in framing them, our globalized society fails to consider the capacity of the biosphere, there is a risk that unsustainable development pathways may be reinforced. Current institutional arrangements, including the lack of incentives for the private sector to innovate for sustainability, and the lags inherent in the path dependent nature of innovation, contribute to lock-in, as does our incapacity to easily grasp the interactions implicit in complex problems, referred to here as the ingenuity gap. Nonetheless, promising social and technical innovations with potential to change unsustainable trajectories need to be nurtured and connected to broad institutional resources and responses. In parallel, institutional entrepreneurs can work to reduce the resilience of dominant institutional systems and position viable shadow alternatives and niche regimes. Content Type Journal Article Category Invited Paper Pages 1-19 DOI 10.1007/s13280-011-0186-9 Authors Frances Westley, Social Innovation Generation, University of Waterloo, 195 King Street West, Suite 202, Kitchener, ON N2G 1B1, Canada Per Olsson, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Kräftriket 2B, SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden Carl Folke, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Kräftriket 2B, SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden Thomas Homer-Dixon, Waterloo Institute for Complexity and Innovation, University of Waterloo, 57 Erb Str. West, Waterloo, N2L 6C Canada Harrie Vredenburg, Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, 495 Scurfield Hall, 2500 University Drive NW, Alberta, T2N 1N4 Canada Derk Loorbach, Faculty of Social Sciences, Dutch Research Institute for Transitions (DRIFT), Erasmus University Rotterdam, M5-45, P.O. Box 1738, Rotterdam, 3062 PA The Netherlands John Thompson, ESRC STEPS Centre, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, Library Road, Brighton, BN1 9RE UK Måns Nilsson, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Kräftriket 2B, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden Eric Lambin, Department of Geography, University of Louvain, Louvain, Belgium Jan Sendzimir, The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1 A-2361, Laxenburg, Austria Banny Banerjee, Stanford Design Group and Stanford Change Labs, Stanford, USA Victor Galaz, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Kräftriket 2B, SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden Sander van der Leeuw, School of Sustainability and School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA Journal AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment Online ISSN 1654-7209 Print ISSN 0044-7447