Book Review:Sustainability of Farming Enterprises in Bulgaria

Around the globe understanding and assessment of sustainability of farming enterprises is among the most topical academic and practical issues. At the current stage of development and reforming of European agriculture the question about the level of sustainability of different type of farming enterprises during European Union Common Agricultural Policy (EU CAP) implementation is particularly topical. Despite that still there is no consensus on “what is sustainability of farming enterprises”, “what is the relation between farm and agrarian sustainability”, “which are the critical factors of farm sustainability”, and “how to evaluate sustainability level of farming enterprises”. There are numerous suggested and used frameworks for sustainability assessment applying an “universal” approach for “faceless” farming enterprises, without taking into consideration the environment in which they evolve. A great majority among these assessment systems are practically unused by the farmers and managerial bodies due to difficulty to understand and employ

Rural vegetation characteristics and biodiversity conservation strategies in the Yangtze river delta urban agglomeration

The integrated green development of the Yangtze River Delta is a long-term major strategy. The rural ecological status is the basis for the healthy development of the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration. This study focuses on the expansion of demand for rural vegetation biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service functions in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration. A total of 256 plant communities in 28 villages were investigated, and the composition of family, genera and species and life forms were analyzed respectively; through clustering, 47 community types and 8 vegetation types were divided, and the composition and distribution characteristics of plant community were analyzed; and then it analyzed the species biodiversity and compared the characteristics of rural transformation in the Yangtze River Delta with the vegetation characteristics of urban areas and natural areas. Finally, specific countermeasures for biodiversity conservation and reconstruction of the Yangtze River Delta rural vegetation was proposed in terms of species protection, habitat maintenance, plant community conservation, and ecological aesthetics guidance

China-Bulgaria Rural Revitalization Development Cooperation Forum

Proceedings of China-Bulgaria Rural Revitalization Development Cooperation Forum, hold on 23 April, 2018, in Sofia. Chapters give a deep insights on diverse issues associated with agrarian and rural development in Bulgaria and China

Управление и оценка на аграрната устойчивост – опит, предизвикателства и уроци от България и Китай

This paper applies interdisciplinary approach and assesses the system of governance and the level of agrarian sustainability in Bulgaria and China. The first part presents a holistic and practically applicable for the contemporary conditions of development of Bulgarian and Chinese agriculture framework for assessing the system of governance and the level of agrarian sustainability. The suggested approach is broadly experimented in Bulgaria for assessing the governance system of agrarian sustainability and the sustainability level of Bulgarian agriculture. In the second part the system of governance of agrarian sustainability in Bulgaria is analyzed and the efficiency of institutional environment and diverse market, private, collective, public and hybrid modes are evaluated. In the third part an assessment is made on the economic, social, environmental and integral sustainability of Bulgarian agriculture at national, sectoral, regional, ecosystem and farm levels. Factors for improving agrarian sustainability are also identified and the innovation activity and sustainability of alternative agriculture estimated. In the fourth part the governance and sustainability in Chinese agriculture at national, regional and local levels is analyzed, and results of a number of in-depth studies from Shanghai area are presented. Comparative study is also made on the systems of governance and the levels of agrarian sustainability in Bulgaria and China. Finally, the experiences and challenges in the governance and assessment of agrarian sustainability in Bulgaria and China are summarized and directions for improvement of research, management and assessment practices suggested

Design and Evaluation of Green Space In Situ Rainwater Regulation and Storage Systems for Combating Extreme Rainfall Events: Design of Shanghai Gongkang Green Space to Adapt to Climate Change

Global climate change has led to more extreme rainfall events. Exploring the different design schemes of rainwater in situ regulation and storage systems in green spaces to cope with extreme rainfall events is critical to cities for combating flood disasters. Using the Gongkang green space as the research object and the XPDrainage software program as the simulation tool, this study explored and evaluated different design schemes of rainwater in situ regulation and storage systems in green spaces and their responses to extreme rainfall events in Shanghai. Based on the simulated results of the runoff curves, paths and ponding area of the Gongkang green space, the ideal number and position of rainwater regulation and storage facilities were determined. Four different schemes were examined: Scheme A (diversion-oriented), Scheme B (infiltration- and detention-oriented) and schemes C and D (comprehensive rainwater regulation and storage systems). From the simulation evaluation, the total runoff volume capture rate of Scheme C reached 100%, 99.8% and 98.2% under one-, three- and five-year return period rainfall events, respectively. For the 210 mm extraordinary rainstorm event, Scheme C’s and Scheme D’s total runoff volume capture rates reached 81.9% and 94.7%, respectively. Therefore, the comprehensive rainwater regulation and storage schemes (schemes C and D) met the runoff control requirements under extreme rainfall events in the Gongkang green space. This study provides a technical reference for the optimal design of a rainwater in situ regulation and storage system in a green space and promotes the construction of resilient cities

Understanding Shanghai Residents’ Perception of Leisure Impact and Experience Satisfaction of Urban Community Parks: An Integrated and IPA Method

This exploratory study employed an integrated methodological approach to examine the relationship among several factors for residents in Shanghai when it came to the use of urban park spaces. The study was conducted using two sample groups of 1200 residents each, and around three community parks that contained a variety of recreation-related impacts. Open-ended and closed-ended questionnaires and correspondence analysis were used to reflect residents’ basic attitudes, recreational perception, and satisfaction evaluation by Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) method, and mirrored preferences for future development of community parks. The results suggest that for residents, high levels of satisfaction with landscape and environment were advantages, but recreation space and facility were critical for the perception of the community parks. In comparison, management was found to be an opportunity factor to improve leisure satisfaction. The findings emphasized landscape, environment, space, facility, and management as elements that enhance recreational perception and avoid passive interference

Design and Evaluation of Green Space In Situ Rainwater Regulation and Storage Systems for Combating Extreme Rainfall Events: Design of Shanghai Gongkang Green Space to Adapt to Climate Change

Global climate change has led to more extreme rainfall events. Exploring the different design schemes of rainwater in situ regulation and storage systems in green spaces to cope with extreme rainfall events is critical to cities for combating flood disasters. Using the Gongkang green space as the research object and the XPDrainage software program as the simulation tool, this study explored and evaluated different design schemes of rainwater in situ regulation and storage systems in green spaces and their responses to extreme rainfall events in Shanghai. Based on the simulated results of the runoff curves, paths and ponding area of the Gongkang green space, the ideal number and position of rainwater regulation and storage facilities were determined. Four different schemes were examined: Scheme A (diversion-oriented), Scheme B (infiltration- and detention-oriented) and schemes C and D (comprehensive rainwater regulation and storage systems). From the simulation evaluation, the total runoff volume capture rate of Scheme C reached 100%, 99.8% and 98.2% under one-, three- and five-year return period rainfall events, respectively. For the 210 mm extraordinary rainstorm event, Scheme C’s and Scheme D’s total runoff volume capture rates reached 81.9% and 94.7%, respectively. Therefore, the comprehensive rainwater regulation and storage schemes (schemes C and D) met the runoff control requirements under extreme rainfall events in the Gongkang green space. This study provides a technical reference for the optimal design of a rainwater in situ regulation and storage system in a green space and promotes the construction of resilient cities