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In livestock management systems, the rapid removal of cattle dung by dung beetles plays an essential role in returning areas of pasture to grazing which normally would be lost because of dung contamination. Thus, dung removal is an ecosystem process with established links to services with potentially valuable outcomes. We focused on dung removal under two dung beetle abundance scenarios. We then calculated the economic value of dung beetle action on dung degradation in US sub-tropical pasturelands under each scenario by measuring the costs associated with restriction of new forage growth by dung pat smothering, and the amount of forage gained because of dung beetle mediated dung decomposition. We found if dung is left unmanipulated by dung beetles, it would naturally decompose at an average rate of 3.75 g per day, and dung in pastures with a high abundance of dung beetles would decay at 10.73 g per day. We show the economic benefit of dung decomposition under each scenario is directly related to both the presence and abundance levels of dung beetles in cattle pastures, for instance, resulting in additional grass area to become available to raise 1,131 cows and 1,676 cows under low dung beetle abundances and under high dung beetle abundances, respectively. This amounts to an additional income of USD 918,688 per year in Florida sub-tropical livestock systems containing low abundances of dung beetles and an income of USD 1,360,770 per year for pastures sustaining a higher abundances of dung beetles. Despite their importance in livestock systems dung beetle populations are imperiled by the widespread use of agrochemicals. Reducing agrochemical usage and introducing biodiversity-friendly practices in livestock systems will be important for conserving dung beetles and the ecological functions that dung beetles provide in working landscapes.

Urban and peri‑urban ecosystems are subjected to an intense impact. The demand for ecosystem services (ES) is higher in these areas. Nevertheless, despite the anthropogenic pressures, urban and peri‑urban ecosystems supply important ES. Mapping is a crucial exercise to understand ES dynamics in these environments better. This work aims to systematically review mapping ES in urban and peri‑urban areas studies, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-alpha Methods. A total of 207 studies were selected. The results show increased work between 2011 and 2023, mainly conducted in Europe and China. Most work were developed in urban areas and did not follow an established ES classification. Most studies focused on the ES supply dimension, the regulation and maintenance section. Regarding provisioning ES, most studies focused on Cultivating terrestrial plants for nutrition, regulating and maintaining Atmospheric composition and conditions, and for cultural ES on Physical and experiential interactions with the natural environment. Quantitative methods were mostly applied following Indicator-based (secondary data: biophysical, socio-economic) models. Very few work validated the outputs. Several studies forecasted ES, primarily based on land use changes using CA-Markov approaches. This study provides an overview of the most mapped urban and peri‑urban ES globally, the areas where more studies need to be conducted, and the methods developed.

Understanding stakeholders’ differences in perceptions of ecosystem services (ES) is crucial for guiding ecological conservation and planning. However, the variations of ES perception amongst different types of residents in urbanizing areas along an urban-rural gradient are still poorly understood. Combining a questionnaire-based survey, redundancy analysis, and statistical tests, we delineated the urban-rural gradient according to local residents’ socio-economic characteristics, and investigated the differences in local residents’ perceptions of ES and potential factors affecting them in the Guanting Reservoir basin, a rapidly urbanizing basin in China. The results showed that residents living in urban-rural transitional areas attached great importance to provisioning services of providing food and domestic water, regulating services of carbon sequestration and air purification, and cultural services of providing education and training, which were 0.7%–13.1%, 0.7%–9.1% and 2.5%–21.2% higher than that of residents in other areas, respectively. Age and occupation were major factors affecting residents’ perceptions. In terms of land-use types that deliver ES, the difference in perceptions of ES delivered by grassland was the greatest amongst residents. Our results support recommendations for policymakers to take into account the stakeholders’ diverse perceptions, thus promoting residents’ sense of gain on ES.

Plant-pollinator interactions are key for the reproduction of wild plants and for food security. However, the role nocturnal pollinators play in wild plant communities is not yet clear. Specifically, it has rarely been studied whether nocturnal pollinators are comparable to diurnal ones in the pollination services they deliver in plant communities. We tested whether nocturnal pollinators have the potential to provide high pollination services to the plants they visit by carrying high conspecific pollen loads. We studied pollen loads carried by nocturnal and diurnal pollinators captured over 24-hour cycles in co-flowering plant communities in Swiss ruderal meadows. Pollen load was less diverse at night, and the proportion of conspecific pollen carried by nocturnal pollinators was higher than that of diurnal ones. Because the majority of plant species visited at night were also visited during the day, floral resource availability could drive the observed patterns in pollen load and amount of conspecific pollen. Nevertheless, nocturnal pollinators do not only carry pollen but can remove and potentially deposit conspecific pollen to the plants they visit. Therefore, pollinators active at night might be an important pollination vector for more plant species than previously thought and should not be neglected in pollination studies.

Daylight is essential for ecosystems and for the physical and mental well-being of people. In densely populated cities, only a small proportion of total daylight is available to support urban greenery and most people have little daily exposure to natural daylight. Despite this, many cities have followed a strategy of densification as a way of preventing urban sprawl and reducing energy consumption. In this article, we review the biological importance of daylight and show that urban densification leads to a reduction in the daylight available for both people and nature. We conclude that daylight in cities should be treated as a limiting resource that needs to be planned and managed carefully, much like water or energy. We suggest elements for a policy framework aimed at optimizing urban daylight, including how to determine daylight needs, how to determine the maximum viable urban density, and policy options for built and unbuilt areas.

Easy accessibility of Urban Green Spaces (UGSs) is essential to the quality of life in urban areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations focus on spatial access to UGSs, define as accessible those larger than 0.5 ha situated up to 300 m of residential areas, and disregard the social significance of smaller green spaces. This paper assesses the extent to which the WHO recommendations permit the identification of locations for tree-covered UGSs that serve urban residents. The study uses geo-questionnaire to collect data on residents’ perception of the ecosystem services (ESs) provided by trees in both small-sized (

The Economic Monetary Valuation (EMV) of Ecosystem Services (ESs) and Natural Capital (NC) has been proposed and pursued by several scholars as an effective way to make the vital role of Nature evident and appropriately accounted for in our complex relationship with Her. Other scholars have negatively reacted to this approach, considering it an unethical commodification of Nature that can only lead to a “shopping mall” view of Her, meaningless and even dangerous. It has been said that by following this same line of thought, the next step might be estimating even God's value. In this sense, the EMV of ESs&NC would resemble some “laical blasphemy.” We argue that “God,” when viewed as synonymous with the “willingness to pay” to perpetuate religious faith and as an attractor of religious tourism and pilgrimages, is a terrific economic asset whose value can be estimated in monetary terms. We assessed “God” ‘s EMV (in the previously specified sense), showing that this more mundane appraisal is neither necessarily unethical nor diminishes the sacred and immaterial relevance of religions and beliefs. Thus, we consider by analogy that although the value of Nature, like that of “God,” can never be entirely accounted for by monetary estimation, the EMV of ESs&NC is ethically acceptable. Moreover, the successful application of EMV to NC&ESs supports its usefulness and effectiveness in showing, beyond any reasonable doubt, that Nature counts by making us healthier, wealthier, and, last but not least, happier through both material and immaterial goods, services, and experiences.

The integration of landsenses ecology encompasses both the ecological and perceptual effects on the ecological environment. Although the theoretical framework has gradually matured, challenges persist, including a lack of research strength, incomplete evaluation systems, and ambiguous disciplinary boundaries. Therefore, a systematic review of landsense research is necessary to analyze its characteristics and explore future research trends to ensure that landscape ecology will flourish. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of 37 Chinese articles from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and 46 English articles from Web of Science (WOS). As an emerging field in ecology, landsenses has grown in recent years. However, interconnectedness among the research teams is weak. The CNKI literature tends to be concentrated, with 70.27 % of the articles appearing in the journal Acta Ecologica Sinica. Researchers are predominantly affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with fewer contributions from other institutions and universities. Future directions for landsenses ecology are outlined, including (1) enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration with emerging technologies, such as VR and AI, (2) refining quantifiable landsense metrics and evaluation systems, and (3) establishing a normal model and criteria for landsense creation services. By discussing the disciplinary boundaries and application of landsenses ecology, this study contributes a theoretical reference value for its development. This study proposes the concepts and associated contents of landsenses ecology and mixed marching data and explains the role of the meliorization model and Internet of Things (IoT) in landsenses ecology-based land-use planning, construction, and management. Utilizing the results of bibliometric research, this study proposes recommendations for the future application and theoretical development of landsenses ecology. These suggestions aim to bolster landsenses ecology application practices and theoretical foundations, enabling a more significant contribution to ecosystem services and facilitating sustainable development strategies.

This study focused on the current and future drivers of land-use change and its impact on the Amanzule wetland. It suggests policy implications for reviewing and strengthening existing policies for sustainable land use. This study employed remote sensing and GIS techniques, including participatory rural appraisal techniques. The administration of questionnaires and focus group discussions were conducted in the Ellembelle and Jomoro municipalities, where the Amanzule wetland provides economic and social services. The results showed increased land use over the last 32 years driven by various drivers, including food crop production, rubber plantations, oil and gas establishments, and infrastructure development. The study further revealed that these drivers could influence land-use change in 18 years (2018–2036). Urbanisation, cropland, rubber plantations, and shrubland will drive land-use change in the study area between 2036 and 2054. The Amanzule wetland area is expected to decrease from 272.34 ha in 2018 to 210.60 ha by 2036. The wetland area is expected to further decrease from 210.60 ha in 2036 to 174.33 ha by 2054. Other land use classes, such as mangrove and swamp forests, are also expected to decrease within the same period. The study recommends advocating for a wetland policy, enforcing the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act 925 and the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act 919 for sustainable development.

Identifying priority conservation areas (PCAs) on the basis of ecosystem services (ESs) trade-offs is a crucial step in achieving optimal ecosystem management in the BTH, noting the complex spatio-temporal and scaling effects inherent in these ecosystems. A cross-scale quantification of spatial and temporal changes in ecosystem services and their correlations was conducted in the BTH. Furthermore, the Ordered Weighting Algorithm (OWA) was introduced to simulate a variety of scenarios in order to determine the PCAs and to explore the drivers of ES in the PCAs. The results indicated that Food supply (FS), Water yield (WY), and Soil retention (SR) in the BTH increased by 16.4 × 104t/hm2, 81.81 mm, and 37081.29 t/hm2, respectively. In contrast, Carbon storage (CS) and Habit quality (HQ) exhibited a decrease of 0.01 t/hm2 and 0.03. Spatially, the high-value areas of ESs at the county scale exhibited greater clustering. At the county scale, there were two trade-offs and eight synergies in 2000, and four trade-offs and six synergies by 2020. In contrast, at the raster scale, there were two trade-offs and eight synergies from 2000 to 2020. The mechanisms of change were similar and exhibited spatial heterogeneity. Scenario 6 represents the optimal priority conservation area, exhibiting the most balanced conservation efficiency of each ecosystem service. This scenario enables the simultaneous conservation of multiple ESs. The natural factors within the PCAs exert a stronger influence on ESs than socio-economic factors. The inclusion of interacting factor effects will enhance the explanatory power of the drivers. The findings of this study can serve as a theoretical foundation for cross-scale ecosystem service management decisions.

The pros and cons of the organic and conventional systems of pineapple cultivation have not been studied extensively. Non-consideration of full crop cycle and non-incorporation of environmental externalities are among the other gaps in research. The present study therefore compared Conventional Cultivation System (CCS) and Organic Cultivation System (OCS) of pineapple grown in Sri Lanka using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) under five impact categories considering system boundary from gate-to-gate and the full crop cycle. Economic analysis was conducted to determine the best system considering positive and negative externalities. Results showed 87% reduction of Global Warming Potential and 89% reduction of Eutrophication Potential under OCS. Higher toxicity potentials were reported under CCS while OCS resulted in zero toxicity. The net benefit for the farmer under OCS was higher. When the externalities were incorporated, the OCS showed a net gain of USD 8208 per ha while the CCS was no longer beneficial (USD -21,162 per ha). The study proposes economic instruments to incentivise farmers and emphasises the need to minimise adverse impacts of pesticides in sensitive locations. The study also highlights the potential of LCA studies when coupled with monetary values in guiding policy to incentivise farmers towards sustainable pineapple production.

The ecological supply–demand mismatch resulting from rapid urbanization stands as a core challenge affecting regional sustainability. This study constructed ecological supply–demand networks from the perspective of the circulation of ecological processes flow within regions, and proposed a novel supply–demand relationships evaluation index system. The case study results of six typical cities in the ‘Upstream-Midstream-Downstream’ of the Yellow River Basin demonstrate that our proposed evaluation index system can more accurately reveal the dynamic interaction of ecological resources within the urban area and the degree of supply–demand mismatch. Additionally, we found that the supply–demand relationship in upstream cities is better than that in midstream and downstream cities, with downstream cities exhibiting the worst performance. Furthermore, over the past 20 years, the supply–demand relationships of all six cities have consistently deteriorated, with the maximum decline reaching 39.8 %. Social development factors have driven imbalance changes in ecological resource allocation and spatial connectivity between the supply and demand sides, serving as a key factor in driving the deterioration of urban ecological supply–demand relationships. Lastly, this study proposes a partitioned protection strategy adaptable to both the basin and individual cities. This study holds significant importance for optimizing the allocation of ecological supply–demand resources and protecting ecosystems in different watershed segments.

Land use and cover changes have substantially altered surface landscape patterns, resulting in landscape ecological risk (LER) and jeopardizing the continued supply of ecosystem services (ES). Although ES and LER are positive and negative aspects of ecological security representation, respectively, the spatiotemporal mechanism of their interaction still needs to be further clarified. This study focused on the Wuling Mountain Area (WMA), a critical ecological functional zone. First, multi-source data and multi-models were used to evaluate LER and ES and analyze their spatiotemporal characteristics. Subsequently, a geographically and temporally weighted regression model was applied to uncover the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the impacts of LER on various ES. Finally, ecological zones were delineated based on the LER-ES quadrant, a driving force analysis was conducted, and ecological management strategies are proposed. The main results are as follows: (1) LER and various ES showed overall decreasing and increasing trends, respectively. (2) Except for water yield, the impact of LER on various ES showed clear spatiotemporal non-stationarity, with a significant negative impact, which was most pronounced for habitat quality. (3) The WMA was divided into four ecological zones: ecological risk prevention zone, ecological conservation zone, ES enhancement zone, and ecological reshaping zone. Elevation, normalized difference vegetation index, and human footprint were identified as the main drivers of ecological zoning. This research lays a solid foundation for in-depth understanding of the impacts of LER on ES. The proposed zoning scheme provides strong support for the ecologically sustainable development of the WMA.

The degradation of swamp forest ecosystem services due to the adverse effects of climate change has already been observed. Ratargul Swamp Forest (RSF), the only swamp forest in Bangladesh, provides livelihood and ecotourism opportunities for millions. It forms a crucial nexus between the community's economic well-being and the preservation of a unique, ecologically significant natural habitat. However, this ecosystem has experienced severe degradation due to various climatic and anthropogenic factors. Conservation of this unique ecosystem is expected to play a crucial role in addressing climate change and achieving the country's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study aims to estimate household Willingness to Pay (WTP) and total economic value for this ecosystem using the contingent valuation under a climate change scenario. The mean WTP is estimated to be 7,360.00 BDT, while the total annual benefit of the RSF conservation program is estimated to be 31,798,129.50 BDT per year using a parametric approach. Our result shows that individuals with higher incomes whose primary livelihood depends on this ecosystem, receive benefits from this ecosystem, and have a good understanding of climate change are likely to pay more for the RSF conservation program. Therefore, implementing a communication policy to increase knowledge about climate change would significantly contribute to conserving this unique ecosystem and thus achieve the country's SDGs and the United Nations REED+ program in developing countries.

Ecosystem health (EH) maintenance and improvement are important goals in environmental and ecological management, and help realize regional sustainable development goals. EH assessment and the regulatory mechanism have remained popular research fields in landscape ecology science. However, the improvement in EH assessment methods is ongoing, the influences of EH and socioeconomic development on agricultural production remain unclear. In this study, we chose Fujian Province in China as the study area, first quantitatively assess EH based on the Vigor–Organization–Resilience–Services (VORS) model, and thereafter explore the response of tea production to EH and socioeconomic development using the structural equation model (SEM). We found that the mean EH value in Fujian Province was 0.52 in 2010, which was 6.12% and 10.64% higher than that in 2000 and 2020, respectively. The high-EH-value regions were distributed in the northwest, while the southeastern regions exhibited low-EH-value agglomerations. According to the temporal evolution characteristics of EH, the kernel density curve patterns exhibited single peaks, and the curves shifted from a broad to a narrow peak from 2000 to 2020, indicating a trend toward a more balanced distribution of EH spatially. SEM results showed a significant positive effect of EH on tea production with a coefficient of 0.86. However, there is a significant trade-off between EH and economic development, as indicated by a coefficient of −0.6. There are also negative indirect effects on tea development when mediated by economic development. However, the overall effect of EH on tea production is 0.8, indicating that EH is still effective in promoting tea production. The results of this study have implications for the integration of ecosystem management and agricultural production management in the region.

The synergistic development of ecosystem services (ESs) and human well-being (HWB) is of utmost importance for the construction of sustainable development. In this study, we focus on the provinces of Qinghai and Tibet as our research area. To measure the value of ESs and HWB, we employ the per unit area value equivalence method and the Human Development Index method, respectively. Based on the feedback relationship between ESs and HWB, we establish a system dynamics model that considers economic, social, ecological, land use, and policy influencing factors. This model enables us to conduct multiscenario simulation predictions and system dynamics sensitivity analysis, aiming to explore the main factors driving the coupled relationship between ESs and HWB. The results show that: (1) From 2010 to 2020, the value of ESs in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau generally increased, from 6049.49 billion CNY in 2010 to 6210.65 billion CNY in 2020, with generally higher in the southeast and lower in the northwest, and local high-high and high-low aggregation patterns. (2) From 2010 to 2020, the HWB index in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau exhibited a continuous rise, from 0.19 in 2010 to 0.53 in 2020, indicating substantial development potential. (3) The system dynamics model established in this study demonstrates effectiveness with high fitting accuracy. From 2021 to 2050, the HWB index in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau displays an upward trend in all five scenarios, while the value of ESs shows a declining trend under the economic development priority scenario and an upward trend under the status quo, ecological protection priority, social development priority, and integrated development scenarios. Among these, the integrated development scenario proves optimal as it satisfies economic development needs, basic social security, and environmental protection requirements. (4) Grasslands, water areas, and environmental protection investment are identified as the main driving factors in the synergistic improvement of ESs and HWB. And the influence of different driving factors will change dynamically with time. Our study can guide the search for the optimal development model for the synergistic improvement of ESs and HWB in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, providing a theoretical foundation for future development planning.

This study aims to identify a key soil property influencing farmland prices as a soil production capital indicator for soil security. There is generally a strong relationship between farmland price and production capital, as well as with biomass production. From a soil-centric point of view, under dryland agriculture in Australia, we hypothesise that soil available water capacity (AWC) is a key soil property influencing farmland prices and consequently can act as a soil production capital indicator. Here, we relate soil AWC of Australia to median farmland prices using digital soil maps of AWC. The results revealed that AWC from 0 to 100 cm is significantly associated with farmland prices (r = 0.31, p-value

An ecosystem’s potential to deliver goods and services, primarily determined by the functional traits of the species, is crucial for assessing its health and conservation value. This study uses a trait-based approach to evaluate the spatial and temporal variation in the ecosystem services delivery potentials (ESDPs) of the Sundarbans mangrove. We analyzed abundance data from 81 permanent sample plots (PSPs), spread over different saline zones, collected between 1986 and 2014, paired with species-specific plant functional traits. Seventeen traits were examined, with species-level data sourced from secondary literature, linking traits to ecosystem services. Study revealed that plant height, specific leaf area, and root length are key traits for assessing ESDPs. The Sundarbans’ ESDPs varied spatially across different saline zones but remained stable over time. Notably, ESDPs were significantly higher in low saline zones compared to ESDPs in high saline zones. This spatial variation is partly explained by differences in plant species composition among saline zones and the relatively stable species composition over time. Results from mixed effect models showed that PSP as a random factor for all four models is attributed to the nested effect. The study highlights the value of functional traits in ecosystem service assessments, providing a robust method to predict how changes in biodiversity and environmental conditions affect service delivery. The observed trend of decreasing ESDPs with increasing salinity offers insights into the potential impacts of sea-level rise on mangrove forest functions. These findings are essential for developing conservation strategies and policies to preserve the Sundarbans’ ecological integrity and support local livelihoods. This research advocates for a trait-based framework as a critical tool for the sustainable management of mangrove ecosystems globally.

Understanding the coupling relationship between ecosystem service perceptions (ESP) and farmers’ well-being (FWB) in the ore-agriculture zone plays an important strategic role in maintaining regional ecological security and improving the well-being of regional farmers. Based on field research, questionnaire surveys and other methods, this study took farmers around the coal mining development zone as research subjects and used a comprehensive multi-index assessment method to evaluate the level of ESP and the FWB in the research area. A coupling coordination degree model was used to analyze the coupling relationship between ESP and FWB, and the random forest model was used to explore the influencing factors of the coupling relationship between the two. The results showed: (1) The FWB index was moderate and the ESP index was low. Farmers’ perceptions of the different ecosystem services varied, with provisioning services being perceived most strongly and supporting services least strongly. Satisfaction with basic material needs was highest on the well-being assessment. (2) The overall state of ESP and FWB coupling was good, with most of them in the state of coordination improvement. From the perspective of dimensional differentiation, the coupling of the dimensions of ESP and FWB was poorly coordinated, and all of them were in the state of dysfunction regression. (3) The coupling relationship between ESP and FWB was influenced by both environmental and household characteristics, with the former having a stronger effect. The results of this study can serve as a reference for promoting the coordination of ESP and FWB in the ore-agriculture zone, and ultimately realize the sustainable development of ecology and human in the ore-agriculture zone.

Ecosystem services (ESs) are the bridge between ecosystem and social system, and how to effectively manage different types of ES trade-offs is the key barrier to ensure that ecosystems provide sustainable benefits for human beings. The objective of this study is to propose a theoretical and methodological framework for the coupled management of ES supply-supply trade-offs and demand-demand trade-offs and to propose an ES trade-offs management scheme for the study area (Jiangxi Province) according to this framework. In this study, we evaluated the provision of ES and the intensity of two types of ES trade-offs in the study area through InVest model, and explored the driving mechanism of the two types of ES trade-offs through redundancy analysis. Finally, we proposed a land use structure in the study area that alleviates the intensity of both types of ES trade-offs through multi-objective nonlinear programming. The results showed that: (1) the water yield service supply in Jiangxi Province showed a pattern of high in the north and low in the south, and the carbon sequestration service supply showed a pattern of high in the south and low in the north. (2) The supply-supply trade-off intensity of two ES is generally low in the north and high in the south, and the supply–demand trade-off intensity of water yield service and carbon sequestration service is basically high in the densely populated area in the north of Jiangxi. (3) Forestland area, farmland area and water area are the supply–demand trade-off driving forces of water yield service and carbon sequestration service, grassland area is an independent driving force of carbon sequestration service, and farmland area and cultivated land area are the supply-supply trade-off driving forces. The study shows that in order to achieve the lowest supply-supply trade-off intensity and supply–demand trade-off intensity in Jiangxi Province at the same time, the forestland should reach at least 104470 km2, the water area should reach 12,900.7 km2, the farmland area should reach 281333.3 km2, and the grassland area should increase to 15,457.9 km2. The results are expected to provide a new perspective for ecosystem management research.

Pinyon woodlands in the semi-arid southwestern United States developed in response to environmental factors and historical human interactions, providing sustenance and traditional ecological benefits to Native Nations, such as the Navajo (Diné). Historically, Diné communities practiced land stewardship through seasonal movements and resource management, ensuring ecosystem resilience. However, the constraints imposed by European colonization led to transformative changes in their livelihoods and environments. Encompassing 71,000 km2, pinyon-juniper woodlands comprise 89 % of forested area on the Navajo Nation reservation, providing crucial ecosystem services and cultural resources. Since reservation establishment in 1868, increased tree density has diminished understory plant communities and elevated woodland susceptibility to wildfires, compromising overall forest health. Recognizing the imperative for ecological restoration, a collaborative effort between Diné College and Northern Arizona University (NAU) was established in 2018 to develop a pinyon woodland research site on the Diné College campus in Tsaile, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation reservation. We assessed the effectiveness of restoration thinning treatments in reinstating historical woodland structure, modifying fuels for fire mitigation, and engaging students in ecological practices. Thinning resulted in a 62 % reduction in tree density and a 25 % reduction in basal area, altering the woodland structure to reflect historical conditions more accurately. This alteration mitigated the risk of high-intensity wildfires while preserving the age structure of older trees (oldest dating back to 1435 C.E.). Forest floor fuels were low throughout the study, as thinned wood was removed, and activity fuels were immediately treated with chipping. The active participation of Diné College and NAU students, interns, and faculty throughout the study contributed to a cohesive approach in advancing our goals. The comprehensive training empowered students to contribute meaningfully to fieldwork and data collection, aligning with Diné College's mission to enhance post-secondary student learning and development for the benefit of the Diné. By integrating contemporary and culturally sensitive perspectives, our study sheds light on the effectiveness of restoration thinning treatments, emphasizing the delicate balance between ecological resilience and cultural preservation for the Navajo Nation.

Restoration of degraded drylands is critically needed to return lost ecosystem goods and services. Restoration practitioners often focus on restoring the historic native plant community to promote biodiversity and reduce the threat of invasion. However, success with native plants in drylands is often low, especially with altered climatic and disturbance regimes. Instead, we suggest that the focus should be on restoring ecosystem goods and services that are important to society. In other words, restoration goals should be the starting point for the restoration planning process. This may include using introduced (non-native) plants where they are likely to establish and meet ecosystem objectives determined important for society and pose minimal risk of further land degradation, but native plants are likely to fail. However, native plants should be used where they can be successful. We propose a decision tree to assist in determining if native, introduced, or mixes of native and introduced plant species should be used in restoration efforts. Restoration of degraded drylands at scales that will offset and reverse the current rates of degradation may require the use of both native and introduced plants. We do not make these arguments lightly, and are aware of the numerous challenges in the careful and successful use of introduced species in service of supporting ecosystems services and function without causing further, unintended degradation. However, we believe that the potential benefits are greater than the risk if done correctly and judiciously. We do not underestimate the complexity involved in following through with the decision tree we propose, but present it as a framework to guide this difficult work.

The trade-off and synergy relationship of ecosystem services is an important topic in the current assessment. The value of each service provided by the ecosystem is substantially affected by human activities, and conversely, its changes will also affect the relevant human decisions. Due to varying trade-offs among ecosystem services and synergies between them that can either increase or decrease, it is difficult to optimize multiple ecosystem services simultaneously, making it a huge challenge for ecosystem management. This study firstly develops a global Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) accounting framework. It uses remote sensing data with a spatial resolution of 1 km to estimate the ecosystem services of forests, wetlands, grasslands, deserts, and farmlands in 179 major countries in 2018. The results show that the range of global GEP values is USD 112–197 trillion, with an average value of USD 155 trillion (the constant price), and the ratio of GEP to gross domestic product (GDP) is 1.85. The trade-offs and the synergies among different ecosystem services in each continent and income group have been further explored. We found a correspondence between the income levels and the synergy among ecosystem services within each nation. Among specific ecosystem services, there are strong synergies between oxygen release, climate regulation, and carbon sequestration services. A trade-off relationship has been observed between flood regulation and other services, such as water conservation and soil retention services in low-income countries. The results will help clarify the roles and the feedback mechanisms between different stakeholders and provide a scientific basis for optimizing ecosystem management and implementing ecological compensation schemes to enhance human well-being.

While urban trees provides significant ecosystem services, the impact of increasing urbanization and population on their carbon sequestration potential remains relatively underexplored in interior sprawling cities, highlighting a critical research gap amid growing urban environmental challenges. Although existing studies suggest a strongly correlation between urban forest cover and carbon sequestration, this study aims to investigate how the urban demography factors influence land cover and carbon sequestration across cities with low, medium, and high population densities. Using the i-Tree Canopy tool, we sampled 18,814 random points to estimate city land cover and carbon sequestration in Arkansas, interior state of the US. Results from the principal component analysis revealed that 74% of the variation in a city's land cover among population density classes is attributed to tree and soil cover percentages. The mean annual (1.40 ± 0.08 T ha-1) and total carbon sequestration rates (35.30 ± 5.57 T ha-1) were significantly higher in the areas with low population density due to a higher average tree cover percentage (46%). Carbon sequestration rate was negatively associated with land cover types such as impervious surfaces like buildings (r = -0.44), roads (r = -0.28), grass cover (r = -0.46), and impervious other (r = -0.53). The log-linear model with scaled variables suggested that factors such as city's size and tree cover has positive influence urban trees' annual and total carbon sequestration, while spatial distribution and per capita income negatively affect these ecosystem befits in growing cities, regardless of population density. Travel time within city may have negative impact, while decadal population change may positively impact on carbon sequestration alongside management effort. Valuing this potential urban forest carbon sequestration for emerging carbon market could provide monetary benefits to the urban communities, city managers, and policymakers, enabling the development of effective urban forest management strategies in the context of urban climate change.

This paper presents the insights from both an ecological and people's perception study, aimed at understanding the ecological status of selected two common Invasive Alien Plants species (IAPs), i.e., Ageratina adenophora (Sprengel) King & Robinson and Lantana camara L., and the perspectives of local communities towards their use, status, and influence on biodiversity and ecosystem services as well as controlling measures of these species. For the examination of the distribution and spread of these invasive species in the forests, a quadrat-based phytosociological assessment was conducted in the three dominant forest types [Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn f.), Chir-pine (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.), and Banj-oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus)] of Uttarakhand State. However, to assess the perception and awareness of local communities towards these IAPs and their impacts on local biodiversity, ecosystem services, and processes, a questionnaire-based study was conducted in seven villages of the Nainital district, spanning three different vegetation zones: Sal, Chir-pine, and Banj-oak forests. Perception data were gathered from 112 households through questionnaire surveys and interviews with key informants such as teachers, elders, community leaders, and researchers. The results of the ecological assessment indicate that the mid-elevation zone, particularly the Chir-pine forest, is highly prone to species invasion. However, findings from the perception study reveal that the people are aware of these invasive species, and their negative impacts on human and animal health, native biodiversity, ecosystem services, and ecological processes. Interestingly, over the past decade, invasive alien plant species (IAPs) have interfered with forests in the study area, leading to a decline in native species. According to local perceptions, factors such as deforestation, forest fires, climate change, increased transportation, no use of species in daily life, and grazing have contributed significantly to the spread of these IAPs. However, some people use these species as fencing wood, firewood, and for composting, etc. The results of this study indicate that awareness and educational initiatives could play a crucial role in mitigating and managing invasion in the Himalayan region.

To achieve regional ecological management and sustainable socio-economic development, it is essential to comprehend the intricate and interdependent relationships among various ecosystem services. The Agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China is a typical ecologically vulnerable area. There is limited research on managing multiple ecosystem services to maximize supply based on understanding the complex relationships among ecosystem services. This study used the InVEST model to quantify habitat quality (HQ), soil conservation (SC), carbon sequestration (CS), and water yield (WY) in the Agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China in 2000, 2010, and 2020 at the 5 km grid and county scales. Their trade-off and synergistic effects were explored using Spearman correlation analysis and the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model. In addition, self-organizing mapping was employed to identify ecosystem service bundles at two scales, whereas the geodetector was employed to determine the primary social-ecological drivers of ES. Finally, management strategies are proposed based on the research results to promote regional ecological sustainability. The results indicate that: (1) The four ESs exhibited an increasing trend during the study period. Except for WY, the other three ES demonstrated a similar spatial distribution while remaining relatively stable over time; (2) there is a synergistic effect between CS, HQ, and SC, whereas WY-related ES show trade-off effects; (3) six ES bundles were identified at the 5 km grid scale, and four ES bundles were identified at the county scale; (4) precipitation is a major driving factor for WY and an important driving factor for CS, HQ, and SC. In summary, natural factors have a greater impact on ES than socio-economic factors. Based on the differences in ecosystem service bundles and drivers at different scales, and in conjunction with China’s existing environmental policies, corresponding ecological management strategies were proposed, potentially providing a reference for sustainable development of the Agro-pastoral ecotone in northern China.

For mitigating the unintended environmental impacts associated with intensive farming across the world, it is crucial to understand the complex impacts of potential reductions in fertiliser use on multiple ecosystem services, including crop production, GHG emissions and changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. Using site specific spatial data and information, a novel integrated modelling approach using established agroecosystem models (SPACSYS and RothC) was implemented to evaluate the impacts of various fertiliser reductions (10 %, 30 % and 50 %) under current / baseline and projected (RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) climate scenarios in a study catchment in southwest England. 48 unique combinations of soil types, climate conditions and fertiliser inputs were evaluated for five major arable crops (winter wheat, maize, winter barley, spring barley, winter oilseed rape) plus ryegrass. Modelled annual estimates of crop yields and biomass, emissions of gases with warming potentials (nitrous oxide, methane, carbon) and SOC stocks in the topsoil (0–30 cm) were tabulated for all combinations considered. These simulated data series could be further analysed to evaluate inter-annual variations and their implications for climate resilience and combined with additional data to quantify nutrient use efficiency and undertake cost- benefit analysis, and to contribute to inter-regional comparisons of fertiliser management at broad scale.

A thorough comprehension of the trade-offs/synergies (TOS) among ecosystem services (ESs) and their underlying drivers are vital for promoting regional sustainable development and making informed decisions. In this study, we explored the spatial and temporal dynamics of six ESs and their driving factors at both the grid and county scales in the Central-southern Liaoning urban agglomeration (CSLUA) utilizing various analytical techniques such as Pearson correlation analysis, geographically weighted regression, self-organized mapping analysis, and Redundancy Analysis. Our results revealed that: (1) Between 2000 and 2020, water yield (WY), soil retention (SR), landscape aesthetics (LA), and food production (FP) exhibited an overall upward trend, while habitat quality (HQ) and carbon storage (CS) demonstrated a decreasing trend; (2) From grid scale to county scale, we found concentration effects of TOS relationships was weaken, mainly between supply services (WY, FP) and other services. The significant relationship between some ES pairs has become neutral. The geospatial heterogeneity of TOS relationships for all ESs was also weakened at county scale. More details of geographical features can be captured at grid scale than at county scale. (3) At both scales of analysis, we identified five ES bundles with different ecological functional characteristics and spatial patterns. We found that the Potential High-value Synergistic Bundle would shift to High-value Synergistic Bundle. Although the areas of the LA bundle increased from the grid scale to the county scale, there is less continuity. (4) The direction of the influence of the driving factor on ES is not constant in time, and the degree of the drivers’ impacts on the six ESs varies on the two scales. But NDVI was the main driver for most of the ESs. This study contributes to expanding our understanding of the relationships between ESs at different scales and could inform sustainable ecosystem management at multiple scales.

The key challenge created by global climate change is to implement effective carbon–neutral programs. The carbon sequestration service (CSS) establishes spatial and temporal connections between carbon sequestration supply and demand, so accurate scientific quantification of the CSS supply–demand balance is essential. However, a standard assessment framework for quantifying CSS supply–demand is currently lacking. In this study, we developed a spatio-temporal assessment framework for quantifying CSS supply–demand balance under land use change, based on the SPANs model. We followed the flow of CSS from supply to demand areas through spatial visualization based on the main wind direction and defined the transport path and quantity of CSS flow, taking Lancang Mekong River Basin (LMRB) as a case. The results showed that: (1) The total supply of CSS decreased by 1.14 million tons from 2000 to 2020, and total demand for CSS increased by 8.1 million tons. (2) CSS surplus areas were mainly concentrated in forested regions, with a maximum surplus of 4.31 t/ha. Deficit areas were dominated by cultivated land and artificial surfaces, with a maximum deficit of −1101.21 t/ha. There was spatial heterogeneity in CSS distribution and a clear imbalance between supply and demand. (3) Three out of six countries in the basin showed significant changes in CSS flow, with a decrease in demand area observed in Thailand and an increase in demand area observed in Cambodia and Vietnam. (4) CSS flow was mainly from north to south, with higher CSS in Thailand and lower flow in China. Thus the analysis revealed supply–demand imbalances in CSS and provided an objective understanding of the spatial flow of CSS. This scientific and intuitive theoretical basis and data support can be used for regional carbon management in LMRB and global carbon balance control.

The evaluation of ecosystem quality (EQ) is crucial for sustainable regional development. Existing studies have often focused on a single aspect of the evaluation of EQ, which cannot capture the whole picture of changes in EQ. Therefore, an urgent need exists to construct a comprehensive evaluation system for regional EQ and clarify the relationship between EQ and sustainable development level (SDL). This study takes the West Liao River Basin as an example, constructs a regional EQ evaluation index system based on the “pattern-process-service” framework, evaluates and analyzes the spatial and temporal evolution of EQ as well as the relationship between EQ and SDL in the basin from 2000 to 2020. The regional SDL is also analyzed by combining the indicator system with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), analyzing the relationship between watershed EQ and SDL and its driving mechanism by using the coupling coordination degree model and Geodetector method and then exploring the strategies for sustainable management of watershed ecosystems. The spatial variation of EQ in the study area from 2000 to 2020 was found to be significant and characterized by increasing inter-annual changes; regions with a high EQ tended to have higher SDLs and SDL evaluation indicators contributed more to the coupling and coordination between EQ and SDL than EQ evaluation indicators. The study developed a regional EQ evaluation system under the perspective of ecosystem services, constructed a county-scale SDL evaluation system, and revealed the relationship between regional EQ and SDL. The evaluation results can provide decision-making references for sustainable regional management. In addition, the EQ evaluation system developed in this study is generalized and objective, thus being applicable to other watershed regions with complex landscape patterns.

The increasing pressures of urban development and agricultural expansion have significant implications for land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like the Murree and Kotli Sattian tehsils of the Rawalpindi district in Pakistan. This study's primary objective is to assess spatial variations within each LULC category over three decades (1992–2023) using cross-tabulation in ArcGIS to identify changes in LULC and investigates into forest fragmentation analysis using the Landscape Fragmentation Tool (LFTv2.0) to classify forest into several classes such as patch, edge, perforated, small core, medium core, and large core. Utilizing remote sensing data from Landsat 5 and Landsat 9 satellites, the research focuses on the temporal dynamics in various land classes including Coniferous Forest (CF), Evergreen Forest (EF), Arable Land (AR), Buildup Area (BU), Barren Land (BA), Water (WA), and Grassland (GL). The Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier and ArcGIS software were employed for image processing and classification, ensuring accuracy in categorizing different land types. Our results indicate a notable reduction in forested areas, with Coniferous Forest (CF) decreasing from 363.9 km2, constituting 45.0 % of the area in 1992, to 291.5 km2 (36.0 %) in 2023, representing a total decrease of 72.4 km2. Similarly, Evergreen Forests have also seen a significant reduction, from 177.9 km2 (22.0 %) in 1992 to 99.8 km2 (12.3 %) in 2023, a decrease of 78.1 km2. The study investigates into forest fragmentation analysis using the Landscape Fragmentation Tool (LFTv2.0), revealing an increase in fragmentation and a decrease in large core forests from 20.3 % of the total area in 1992 to 7.2 % in 2023. Additionally, the patch forest area increased from 2.4 % in 1992 to 5.9 % in 2023, indicating significant fragmentation. Transition matrices and a Sankey diagram illustrate the transitions between different LULC classes, providing a comprehensive view of the dynamics of land-use changes and their implications for ecosystem services. These findings highlight the critical need for robust conservation strategies and effective land management practices. The study contributes to the understanding of LULC dynamics and forest fragmentation in the Himalayan region of Pakistan, offering insights essential for future land management and policymaking in the face of rapid environmental changes.

In Northeast (NE) China, the largest commodity grain base and natural forest area in China, both agricultural production and ecological protection require attention. In recent years, land degradation in NE China has increased, seriously affecting the production-ecology synergy. In this paper, four key ecosystem services (ESs) in NE China are quantified: provisioning, water conservation (WC), soil conservation (SC) and sand fixation (SF), and the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and trade-offs and synergies (T&S) of ESs are analyzed. The driving factors of provisioning services and the characteristics of T&S are considered, and the county zoning scheme and the corresponding production-ecological function synergistic optimization paths are proposed. The results show that (1) the provisioning, WC and SF services in NE China have slightly increased in the past 20 years, and the provisioning in the Greater-Khingan-Mountains-Region (GKMR) and Lesser-Khingan-Mountains-Region (LKMR), the WC in the LKMR, and the SF in the Liao-River-Plain (LRP) have more obviously increased. The SC service has slightly decreased, especially in the Changbai-Mountains-Region (CBMR). (2) The provisioning service in NE China mainly shows a synergistic relationship with WC and SF, accounting for 79.1 % and 62.9 % of the area, respectively, and a trade-off relationship with SC, accounting for 52.54 % of the area. (3) Human activities (HA) are the dominant driving factor of the provisioning service change in NE China, with an impact degree of 62.65 %. The LKMR is an exception, as climate change (CC) dominates. The LRP, Songnen-Plain (SNP) and GKMR have high degrees of HA. (4) The number of synergistic optimized (SO), light optimized (LO) and trade-off limited (TL) counties accounted for 19.0 %, 61.7 % and 19.3 %, respectively. Among them, the SO type counties should prioritize improving provision and grain production capacity, the LO type counties should protect basic farmland and decrease trade-offs between ESs, and the TL type counties should improve ecological functions and strengthen ecological protection and restoration. This paper clarifies the main contradictions of ESs in NE China and provides an important scientific basis for ecological protection and restoration, which is important for ensuring food and ecological security and realizing the ecological and efficient sustainable utilization of black soil.

Rice is the dominant food staple and an important economic resource throughout Asia. Lowland rice production also provides important wetland habitats in support of biodiversity that may provide ecosystem services back to the rice agroecosystems. This review summarizes the literature on the ecosystem benefits that amphibians, birds, bats, and rodents support in the context of the Southeast Asia rice agroecosystems. The literature provides evidence that these taxonomic groups contribute to cultural, regulatory, and provisioning services in support of smallholder farmers and may allow for economic benefits through reduced use of chemical inputs into crops. We encourage a multipronged research approach to bring stakeholders together to provide structured and scalable education programs that will lead to improved human and agroecosystem health through the promotion of understanding the positive feedbacks from biodiversity in these important agricultural wetland habitats.

Semi-natural habitats (SNHs) surrounding agricultural fields contribute significantly to biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. SNHs can be divided into large habitat patches such as contiguous patches of forests, and smaller, interspersed linear habitat types such as grassy field margins. Traditional small-holder agricultural farmlands in China, replete with rich linear habitats, are notably beneficial for biodiversity. However, as these farmlands undergo consolidation to enhance the efficiency of machinery, linear habitats are being removed, a process that could adversely affect biodiversity. Appropriate agri-environmental measures (AEM), such as the restoration of field margins via strategic planting, could serve as an effective countermeasure to maintain biodiversity in consolidated land. This paper discusses how biodiversity monitoring can aid in evaluating the impact of land consolidation and the efficacy of AEM in China, from species richness and species composition perspectives. The paper also discusses the function of linear habitats and how they interact with large habitat patches in promoting biodiversity, while noting that outcomes are likely to vary among taxa. Long-term, multiple-taxa and comprehensive assessments are recommended in further studies, and a collaborative approach that involves multiple stakeholders is essential to ensure a success implication of AEM in China.

The Himalayan forests are vulnerable to climate change leading to disturb the current flow of critical ecosystem services to the dependent population. Present study attempts to evaluate the current vulnerability status of major forest types in Nagaland, India due to climate change along with identifying the hot spots for mitigating the vulnerability of the forests. Vulnerability of mixed moist deciduous, pine, wet hill and wet temperate forests were evaluated using the IPCC framework. Local Moran's I analysis, hot spot analysis and a histogram analysis of the vulnerability were made in QGIS. Field data such as Shannon-Wiener Index and Importance Value Index along with secondary data such as edaphic factors, vegetation factors and climatic variables were used for vulnerability analysis. Analysis results that mixed moist deciduous forests had the highest area in under high-high clusters, hot spots and was highly vulnerable. The result suggests that very dense or moderately dense forest cover were less vulnerable than low density forests in the region. The study provides baseline information along with identification of vulnerable hot spot forests for future climate change policy and management of resources at the division level. The study suggests strengthening the less dense forests along with increasing the biodiversity through suitable strategy for mitigating the vulnerability.

The study examines the spatiotemporal dynamics of landscape anthropization in the Kiziba-Baluba Hunting Domain (KBHD), near Lubumbashi in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, facing increasing human threats. It assesses these dynamics from 1989 to 2023 using remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and landscape ecology principles. The results reveal a significant decrease in forest cover, declining from 70.33 % in 1989 to 26.22 % in 2023, with an annual deforestation rate of -1.84 %. This deforestation has led to the expansion of savannas (63.93 %), agriculture (5.76 %), and built-up and bare soil (0.93 %) through patch creation and aggregation. The level of landscape disturbance has increased sixfold over 34 years, from 0.42 in 1989 to 2.81 in 2023. The reduction in the size of the largest forest patch and increased spatial isolation show rising fragmentation and dissection, often followed by the attrition of residual patches. These findings highlight the inefficiency of current conservation measures in KBHD, indicating a need for restructuring management, redefining protected area boundaries, developing a suitable management plan, implementing reforestation programs, strengthening enforcement of environmental laws, and actively involving local communities.

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are ecological assets that support economy and society with a variety of services. Through integrated environmental and economic accounting systems, it is possible to measure and monitor these services and eventually integrate NBS into decision-making processes. This commentary presents the System of Environmental and Economic Accounts (SEEA), and in particular the Ecosystem Accounting modules where NBS may find a suitable format to systematically link changes in ecological assets with services and benefits provided to economic activities and people. If well structured, such information could significantly support policy actions through transparent cause-and-effect relationships.

Mangrove wetlands are among the ecosystems with the highest value of ecosystem services worldwide. Determining the standards of payment for ecosystem services based on the value of ecosystem services is a crucial aspect of the socio-ecological feedback linked to ecosystem services. The gap between the current standards of payment for ecosystem services and those based on the value of ecosystem services may result in inadequate sustainability and effectiveness of ecosystem conservation and management. In view of this, this study aims to determine the standard of payment for mangrove ecosystem services based on the value of mangrove ecosystem services, and subsequently identify the gap in the current payment. This study assessed the value of mangrove ecosystem services in the Guangxi Shankou Mangrove Ecological National Nature Reserve based on the distinction of use value and the non-use value, and then calculated the standard of payment for mangrove ecosystem services by combining social-economic level. The results indicate that the establishment of the nature reserve has effectively increased the value of mangrove ecosystem services. However, the local residents' lack of awareness of the value of mangrove ecosystem services and the current standard of payment for mangrove ecosystem services is substantially low, which has resulted in a low willingness to participate in mangrove conservation.

“Private Finance” is increasingly positioned as being a solution to problems around nature degradation and combating climate change in the United Kingdom (UK). Payments for ecosystem services, when made by the private sector, are seen as an integral part of this shift in thinking. Stacking payments for different ecosystem services, that is, allowing land managers to sell multiple “products” from the same piece of land to one or more buyers, may help to facilitate greater uptake of nature restoration activities and nature-based solutions. However, this approach brings with it inherent financial, biological, and political risks to market integrity. The purpose of this policy analysis is to address some of these market risks by proposing two solutions to enabling the stacking of ecosystem service payments. Our methods are as follows: we conceptualize a market for ecosystem services in the UK, and describe how a functioning market should operate. We then analyse UK policy for managing market risk and provide examples of this in practice. We describe two potential solutions to enable stacking, and as a result of our analysis argue for full accounting on the demand side of the market as the optimal solution. We conclude by discussing the implications and supporting policy for this solution.

Establishing ecological management zones based on the supply-demand relationship of ecosystem services (ESs) is essential for fostering sustainable development within social-ecological systems and improving human well-being. In this study, the spatial pattern between supply and demand in five ESs (grain production (GP), carbon sequestration (CS), soil conservation (SC), water conservation (WC), and habitat quality (HQ)) is analyzed using the ESs supply-demand ratio (ESDR) method, the spatial autocorrelation method, and the coupled coordination degree model. Zoning is performed according to the differences in their spatial combinations, and differential zoning management policies are proposed. The following results were obtained: (1) In terms of the ESDR, except for a slight increase in GP surplus from 2010 to 2020, there is a decline in the surplus of the other four ESs. (2) CS, WC, and HQ are dominated by cluster types LH and HL. GP and SC are dominated by cluster types HH and LL. The average value of the coupling coordination degree (CCD) of comprehensive ESs supply and demand show five types: moderate disharmony, slight disharmony, near disharmony, basic coordination, and slight coordination. (3) Based on the multiple spatial heterogeneity of ESs supply and demand, differentiated ecological management strategies are proposed at the grid scale. Overall, this study discover the spatial pattern of mismatch between the supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESs) in mountainous urban areas. This contribution enhances the discourse surrounding sustainable development theory and advances research on the coupling of social-ecological systems. Furthermore, it offers valuable insights for the formulation of sustainable ecological management policies tailored to mountainous urban settings.

Identifying the spatial patterns and driving factors of ecosystem service supply–demand help to regulate and optimize the river basin’s ecosystem services’ supply–demand, which is quite important for protection of natural areas and green development in China. The supply–demand of water yield services (WY), food production services (FP), carbon sequestration services (CS), and soil retention services (SR) in Yiluo River Basin for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020 were quantified using a variety of models, including the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST), the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE), ArcGIS, and Canoco5. Additionally, the features of their spatial–temporal distributions were identified. The results were combined with a redundancy analysis (RDA) to identify the drivers of ecosystem services’ supply/demand ratios in three different years. There were four main findings. (1) From 2000 to 2020, the Yiluo River Basin’s supply of WY and SR showed a declining trend, while the supply of FP and CS showed an increasing trend. In the Yiluo River Basin, there was a rising tendency in the demand for CS and a decreasing trend for WY, FP, and SR. (2) Whereas the supply/demand ratio for WY and CS showed a declining trend, the ratio for FP and SR showed an increasing trend. In the Yiluo River Basin, high-high aggregation regions (high supply-high demand) dominated supply–demand relationship for four ecosystem services. (3) The main drivers of the four ecosystem services’ supply/demand ratios were population density and forest land. Population density had both positive and negative effects on the supply/demand ratio for WY and SR; however, there were only negative effects on the supply/demand ratio of FP and CS. Forest land had a positive effect on the four ecosystem services’ supply/demand ratios. (4) According to the principles of clustering of ecosystem service supply–demand ratios and main driving factors, the Yiluo River Basin is divided into two first-level subzones of the upper and middle portions of Yiluo River Ecological Stability Zone and the middle and lower reaches of Yiluo River Ecological Reserve Zone, and four second-level subzones of Ecological Precautionary Reserve, Ecological Construction Zone, Integrated Management Zone, and Population Control Zone. characterizedWe put forward practicable development measures based on the characteristics of the subzones for balancing the supply/demand of the basin’s ecosystem services.

Jatigede Reservoir is a newly inundated reservoir in Sumedang Regency, West Java. Jatigede Reservoir provides ecosystem services in the form of aquatic organisms as food for the surrounding community. The lack of research related to ecosystem services in Jatigede Reservoir, and there has been no research related to the method of measuring the status of fisheries provisioning services, makes this article focused and aims to determine the status of ecosystem provisioning services in the fisheries sector and elaborate anthropogenic pressures. The results obtained in this study are the status of provisioning services getting 2.2 points which means the status is in the moderate class. The anthropogenic pressure obtained is in the form of residual waste from the floating net cage, trash or waste sent from rivers that enter the Jatigede Reservoir, residual oil and boat oil waste, and domestic waste in the form of metabolic waste (urine and feces) and residual oil food and leftover soap from people working and doing activities in the waters. This data is needed for making strategies and a policy for the sustainability of fisheries in Jatigede Reservoir.

Indian forests, having sixteen types of vegetation, provide various ecosystem services. Forests reduce water erosion of soil, reduce floods and conserve low river flow during dry seasons. Present study estimated annual sedimentation, texture, soil organic carbon control service of forests of India using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) approach through GIS technique along with identifying important drivers responsible for erosion in forests. The soil erosion control service was based on five factors viz., rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, slope, crop management, conservation practice factor and SDR across the various forest dominated river basins. Geo-detector modelling was performed to evaluate environmental drivers responsible for soil erosion. Valuation of soil control service of the India’s forests was estimated based on damage and replacement cost method. Annual soil loss rate was maximum in Tropical Thorn Forest and in Ganga River basin. Maximum sediment control and SOC conservation against the soil erosion control service by India’ forests were due to Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest with a total annual sedimentation control and SOC conservation of 33,056,560 tonnes and 3,31,115.06 tonnes, respectively. The conservative estimate of the economic value of soil conservation service by the forests of India was US$ 535.6 M with an average of 4.40 US$ ha−1 and a maximum share of value for Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest i.e. 294.18 million US$ and average maximum value for Littoral and Swamp Forest (28.91 US$ ha−1). The soil erosion in Tropical and Sub-tropical Forest was influenced by the interactive effects between NDVI and Bulk Density. In contrast, soil erosion in the temperate and alpine area was influenced by anthropogenic activity in combination with climatic factors. Present study accounts the role of India’s forests for the soil conservation service and may provide inputs to implement forest and reservoir management strategies besides providing information for Integrated Watershed management and Catchment Treatment Plans.

Changes in climate and land use represent significant risks of biodiversity loss globally, affect ecological stability, impact nature’s contributions to people (NCP, i.e. ecosystem services) and compromise human livelihood. As framings of conservation evolve to consider the interdependence between species and human needs, there is a growing recognition of the importance of NCP and biodiversity in conservation actions. However, knowledge on the interactions and spatial repartition of NCP and biodiversity remains limited. Here we show a comprehensive spatial assessment for 15 NCP and one biodiversity – distribution of threatened species – indicators in Switzerland. Indicators values were computed using a panel of mapping and modelling methods extracted from the literature, or specifically developed for this study. Through the analysis of their relationships, we reveal significant trade-offs and synergies in the spatial repartition of these indicators. Results from a spatial bundle analysis performed on the 16 indicators revealed the existence of four bundles showing a heterogeneous repartition over the Swiss landscape. Furthermore, we identified that topography (slope), climate (temperature and precipitations), and habitat (forest and meadows) were among the most influential factors to explain the spatial distribution of the four bundles. We conclude that various significant relationships exist between NCP and biodiversity indicators in Switzerland, emphasizing the importance of informed conservation approaches considering both NCP and biodiversity supply. This work helps fill the gap in our understanding of the links among different NCP, between NCP and biodiversity, and highlight their relationship to climate and land use, providing key insights for optimizing conservation efforts.

This paper made a systematic literature review about Nature-based Solutions and public policies worldwide, considering the Web of Science database. The study proposal is to enable others NbS public policies for climate change. Based on PRISMA and PICO methodology, 55 final documents were analyzed. The papers mostly addressed locations in the northern hemisphere, adopted different methodologies and were mainly related to the Sustainable Development Goal 11 and 13. The NbS approach object of those papers were commonly infrastructure-related or ecosystem-based, representing 63,7 % of the papers. The present study found that there is no preferred NbS public policy. The public policy must be performed considering the specificities, the adaptation intended, and the climate change effects addressed. This study proved that NbS gives a wide range of opportunities to face climate challenges, with affordable solutions.

This study examines the complex relationship between climate change and ecosystem services (ESs) in France. We explore both the direct effects of climate change and the indirect effects of land-use change on six regulating ESs (e.g., habitat quality, water retention) and two provisioning ESs (e.g., crop production, livestock production). Results indicate that while climate change may initially have positive impacts on ESs, the induced negative impacts of land-use adaptation often overshadow these benefits. We show the effectiveness of a greenhouse gas (GHG) tax of 200€/tCO2 eq on agriculture in offsetting the negative effects of land-use adaptation to climate change on ESs. This highlights the importance of integrating economic instruments, such as carbon pricing mechanisms, to promote the sustainable management of ESs in the context of climate change.

Tropical savannas are complex landscapes composed of mainly grasses and a matrix of proportions of discontinuous tree cover. They play an essential role in providing multiple ecosystem services including biodiversity, carbon storage, and socio-economic and cultural values. However, knowledge of sustainable land management practices is still the main challenge, especially to incorporate conservation practices and well-planned fire management. Indonesia is a tropical country with a relatively large area of savannas in the eastern part of the country, in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, with the largest savannas lying in the east of Sumba Island. This study explored the level of knowledge, behaviours, and actions in managing savannas in the east of Sumba Island. The study involved key informant interviews and household surveys among the local population in four villages of Kanatang and Kota Waingapu districts. The communities generally utilized the savanna ecosystems for crop cultivation, plantation farming, and livestock production. This utilization poses a great challenge to explore proper strategies for managing the savanna landscapes sustainably and for conservation. The demands on the land are due to land clearing for farming and livestock, low awareness of conservation practices, and regular drought. Learning from this research, management strategies to sustain savanna ecosystems should focus on: 1) improving knowledge and behaviour on sustainable farming and grazing practices, 2) establishing proper fire management systems to sustain the savanna ecosystem functions and services, 3) designing policies or regulations for managing savanna ecosystems, 4) enhancing networks and coordination for collective community actions.

As an eco-friendly land management strategy, agroforestry can combine farming, forestry, and livestock to provide an assortment of ecosystem services (ES). Piper Chaba- based agroforestry system (PCAFS), a prevalent agroforestry system in northern Bangladesh, shows promise for environmental protection and diverse ES, yet lacks sufficient literature-based support. Addressing this discrepancy, the study surveyed 105 Piper chaba farmers from the Chinai union of Rajarhat upazila in the Kurigram district of Bangladesh to assess the PCAFS's present potentials in providing ecosystem services and environmental benefits as well as the potential conservation initiatives that could be adopted to sustain this agroforestry system. Data were collected using mixed-method techniques including direct observation, surveying through semi-structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions before data triangulation. The study identified twenty common PCAFS combinations, having betel nut-Piper chaba-banana (67.62%), betel nut-Piper chaba-papaya (49.52%), and mango-Piper chaba-paddy (48.57%) as the most prominent. As indicated by the Ecosystem Improvement Index (EII) derived from farmer perceptions, PCAFS significantly enhanced various types of ecosystem services (ES). PCAFS played a vital role in provisioning services by supplying diversified products. It significantly improved air and water quality as well as reduced soil erosion, ranking second and third among the ecosystem services. EII identified the most significant overall improvement as the enhancement of soil fertility, a crucial supporting service delivered by PCAFS. The study revealed that, according to the opinion of the respondents, PCAFS positively influenced various aspects critical to environmental functioning through its contribution to ecosystem services. This agroforestry system excelled in key areas like cost-efficiency, product diversity, and livelihood enhancement. However, it faced significant challenges, notably disease outbreaks and a fragile market system. To address these weaknesses, eight inclusive strategies were pinpointed, with the most critical involving the establishment of a robust market system and the formation of farmers' collectives. The study recommends enhancing PCAFS utilization by investing in more research, development, and oversight to maximize its ecosystem benefits.

The extractive sector is positioned as one of the most polluting activities, contributing considerably to the environmental liabilities (EL) generation, especially in countries with a significant dependence on mining resources exploitation, such as Latin America. Colombia represents a good approximation to this scenario, mainly due to the convergence between high biodiversity and mineral deposits (first producer of emeralds worldwide, and first and second in coal and gold for Latin America). In Colombia, the economic valuation and the classification of EL have been proposed as tools to manage Els. However, a process of valuation and classification that includes a pluralistic approach is essential to obtain a better understanding of the implications of the EL in the territories, and with it, the validation of the management mechanisms. A case study of environmental liabilities for coal mining is shown, through which the sufficiency and assertiveness of the classification and economic valuation of liabilities developed by Rodríguez-Zapata and Ruiz-Agudelo (2021) is analyzed. The evaluated EL typologies were considered as an adequate tool to support the operationalization of EL focused on its management, however, due to the null capacity to detect the mismatch between a legal/administrative declaration of remediation of damages and a real remediation, this is considered insufficient to prioritize the degree of EL management and with this its urgency for intervention. In relation to the revision to the economic valuation, the reported amount of US$ 2.4 billion seems to be underestimating the costs of the ELs, mainly due to the magnitude of the human and natural communities on which each of these falls.

Urban Blue (like lakes, rivers and streams) and Green Areas (like parks or woods), UBGAs, provide natural areas within cities, potentially contributing to a better health and wellbeing (H&W) of citizens. However, if degraded these ecosystems pose a potential risk for human health. Understanding the role of UBGAs in citizens' health and wellbeing is crucial for developing sustainable cities under the One Health framework, particularly for vulnerable citizens like older adults, which hasn't been clearly demonstrated. To fill this gap and amplify existing evidence, we searched for studies published between 2011 and 2021 (WoS and PubMed). Our revision indicates that natural urban areas benefit older citizens H&W. The 174 studies selected were mostly from developed countries, addressing mainly urban green areas, like parks or forests (86%), while few were focused on urban blue areas (3%). Perceived health tends to increase in proportion and with the proximity to UBGAs. Larger UBGAs were positively associated with physical activity and negatively associated with depression. A higher Normalized Difference Vegetation Index was associated to lower mortality. Physical activity is often used a surrogate of physical health which may lead to several bias, as it doesn't distinguish the effect of degraded from health and biodiverse ecosystems on H&W. Most studies used indicators of quantity of UGBAs (e.g., size, number). Yet, it is crucial to also investigate the influence of quality aspects (i.e., ecological quality, biodiversity and conservation status), as the ecosystems health affects the supply of ecosystem services relevant for human health.