Search Results (329)

Biosphere Reserves (BRs), designated by UNESCO, are uniquely positioned to serve as model territories for sustainable development, as they aim to harmonize biodiversity conservation with the socio-economic vitality and cultural identity of local communities. This work examines the commitment of the Spanish Network of Biosphere Reserves to the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using a survey-based research design, this study assesses the extent to which the reserves have integrated the SDGs into their strategic frameworks and operational practices. It also identifies and analyses successful initiatives and best practices implemented across Spain that exemplify this integration. The findings highlight the need for enhanced awareness and understanding of the 2030 Agenda among stakeholders, alongside stronger mechanisms for participation, cooperation, and governance. The conclusion emphasises the importance of equipping all reserves with strategic planning tools and robust systems for monitoring, evaluation, and accountability. Moreover, the analysis of exemplary cases reveals the transformative potential of sustainability-oriented projects—not only in advancing environmental goals but also in revitalizing local economies and reinforcing cultural heritage. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of how BRs can act as dynamic laboratories for sustainable development and heritage preservation. Full article

The Mutanchis, known by their derogatory exonymic term ‘Lepcha’, are autochthonous to Sikkim, India. The name ‘Mutanchi’ derives from the phrase ‘Mutanchi Rumkup Rongkup’, eliciting the response ‘Achulay’, meaning ‘Beloved children of It-bu-mu, who have come from the snowy peaks’. The nomenclature prompts an ontological understanding rooted in the community’s eco-geographical context. Despite possessing a well-developed script categorised within the Tibeto-Burman language family, the Mutanchis remain a largely oral community. Their diminishing, scarcely documented repository of Mutanchi clan narratives underscores this orality. As a Mutanchi, I recognise these narratives as a medium for expressing Indigenous value systems upheld by my community and specific villages. Mutanchi clan narratives embody spiritual and cultural significance, yet their fantastic rationale reveals complex epistemological tensions. Ideally, each Mutanchi clan reveres a chyu (peak), lhep (cave), and doh (lake), which are propitiated annually and on specific occasions. The transmigration of an apil (soul) is tied to these three sacred spatial geographies, unique to each clan. Additionally, clan etiological explanations, situated within natural or supernatural habitats, manifest beliefs, values, and norms rooted in a deep ecology. This article presents an ecosophical study of selected Mutanchi clan narratives from Dzongu, North Sikkim—a region that partially lies within the UNESCO Khangchendzonga Man-Biosphere Reserve. Conducted in close consultation with clan members and in adherence to the ethical protocols, this study examines clans in Dzongu governed by Indigenous knowledge systems embedded in their narratives, highlighting biocentric perspectives that shape Mutanchi lifeways. Full article

The leafhopper genus Renonus is one of the rarest genera in the leafhopper tribe Athysanini. The Mexican endemic monotypic species, Renonus rubraviridis DeLong, is historically known from few localities, and since the original description, no additional data has been provided. During an ongoing survey conducted in western Mexico over the Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests, including the surroundings of the Estación de Biología Chamela (IB-UNAM), specimens of R. rubraviridis and others that do not morphologically fit with previously described species were collected. Herein, a new endemic species to Mexico, Renonus cuixmalensis sp. nov., is described and illustrated in detail. In addition, morphological notes of R. rubraviridis, the key to species, a map of distribution, a habitat description, and a discussion about the strong influence on distribution through the Seasonally Tropical Dry Forest are given. Full article

Although the topic of trampling of alpine vegetation has been addressed by many authors in recent years, many unanswered questions still remain. The generalization of vegetation response patterns to trampling would be valuable, especially for problematic alpine areas, which are unsuitable for large hiking loads. Such an area is the limestone Belianske Tatras, which has been closed to tourists since 1978. Only one trail has been accessible in the area since 1993 as a one-way trail, and since 2008 it has been used as an educational two-way trail. Since there is renewed discussion about making the Belianske Tatras accessible to tourists, we sought answers to the following questions: (1) regenerated communities are more resistant to trampling than the native ones; (2) individual species in different communities react to trampling in the same way; and (3) some species can disappear or become extinct after being trampled. We conducted research in the form of an experiment according to the standard Cole and Bayfield protocol. We trampled three plant communities in 2008, treating them as native, and in 2022, treating them as regenerated. The regenerated communities appeared to be more resistant, although this came at the expense of some species disappearing or becoming extinct as a delayed response. Re-opening the area could be considered. Full article

The analysis of activity patterns is a valuable tool for understanding the temporal organization of mammal communities, which is determined by biological requirements, resource availability, and competitive pressures both within and between species. Research on this ecological aspect can contribute to the development of effective conservation strategies. Cloud forest is an ecosystem of high biological relevance, as this provides habitat for a wide diversity of species in Mexico, including endemic, emblematic, and threatened taxa. Our main objectives were to analyze mammalian activity patterns and predator–prey relationships in the cloud forest of the El Cielo Biosphere Reserve, Tamaulipas, Mexico. From 2018 to 2020, twenty camera trap stations were installed, and independent photographic records were obtained, divided into 24 one-hour intervals, and subsequently classified as diurnal, nocturnal, crepuscular, or cathemeral. Temporal activity was estimated using circular statistics in RStudio v4.3.1, and activity overlap between major carnivores and their prey was assessed using the ‘overlap’ package in R. A total of 18 medium- and large-sized mammal species were recorded in this study. The activity of four species was seasonally influenced, with a predominantly nocturnal pattern observed during the dry season. The activity overlap analysis revealed potential temporal similarity between predators and their prey. For example, Panthera onca exhibited a high overlap with Mazama temama (Δ = 0.83), Puma concolor with Nasua narica (Δ = 0.91), and Ursus americanus with M. temama (Δ = 0.77). These findings suggest that the activity patterns of certain species can be influenced by seasonality and that large predators may favor specific prey whose activity overlaps with their own. Full article

The Luki Biosphere Reserve landscape is located in the southwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Illicit anthropogenic activities in this landscape have contributed to the degradation of forest massifs, which are habitats for edible caterpillars. Accordingly, based on five Landsat images covering 2004–2024 period, we analysed the dynamics of edible caterpillar habitats in the Luki Biosphere Reserve, its periphery, and the landscape. The study was complemented by the calculation of class area, number of class patches, dominance, and the disturbance index. The results show that fragmentation and attrition have caused forest areas to decline by 46.13%, 21.17%, and 23.54% in the Reserve, its periphery, and at the landscape level, respectively. The dynamics of caterpillar habitats are reflected in the replacement of forest and fallow land by savannah. The level of disturbance has thus risen from 0.3 to 1.6 in the Reserve, from 2.5 to 13.9 in the periphery, and from 2.0 to 9.2 on a landscape scale. These results are mainly attributed to the expansion of agricultural land. Our observations imply an extent of disturbance in caterpillar habitats that might cause their scarcity, and strongly indicate the need for promoting effective strategies for preserving and restoring forest ecosystems in this landscape. Full article

Local innovations regarding plant-derived spice and flavorant formulations and preparation techniques are mostly recorded nowhere and usually passed on generationally through word of mouth. This study aimed to inventory the utilization of plants and perceptions of novel indigenous food spicing and flavoring among the Vhavenḓa people in South Africa. This study adopted face-to-face interviews with 360 participants using semi-structured questionnaires. This study investigated a total of twenty-seven plant species used to spice-flavor novel indigenous Venḓa foods, including mukokoroshi meat stew, mopane worms, vegetables, homemade achar, eggs, samp meal, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Based on the perceptions by participants from different age groups, indigenous foods spicing and favoring significantly improved food taste and nutrition (43.1%), providing medicinal benefits (33.3%) and cultural identity (23.6%). No study had ever reported the uses of Lannea edulis (Sond.) Engl., Mangifera indica L., Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., Warburgia salutaris (G.Bertol.) Chiov., Plectranthus fruticosus L′Hér., Hibiscus sabdariffa subsp. Cannabinus L., Oxalis semiloba subsp. semiloba, and Ziziphus mucronata subsp. mucronata and their preparational techniques for novel indigenous foods, spicing, and flavoring before, in South Africa, or elsewhere. The current study provided insights about spice and flavoring plants that could be used to develop alternative marketable commercial products. The findings of this study provide necessary baseline information for evaluating and profiling the nutritional content of spice-making and flavoring plants in the Vhembe Region. Full article

The tasar silk production of India’s sericulture industry supports tribal livelihoods and economic sustainability. However, Antheraea mylitta Drury, 1773, the primary species for tasar silk, faces habitat threats due to deforestation, climate change, and anthropogenic pressures. This study evaluates the distribution and habitat suitability of wild tasar silkworm using multi-criteria approach, Geographic Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), and ecological niche modeling using the MaxEnt algorithm. Field surveys were conducted to collect cocoon samples, and the analysis of environmental parameters and assessment of soil micronutrient influences were also carried out. The MaxEnt model predictions indicate that the Central, Western, and Southern zones of Mayurbhanj, encompassing the Similipal Biosphere Reserve, provide the most suitable habitats. The jackknife test confirmed that these climatic variables collectively contributed 68.7% to the habitat suitability model. This study highlights the impact of habitat fragmentation and deforestation on tasar silkworm populations, emphasizing the need for conservation strategies, sustainable forest management, and afforestation programs. The findings highlight the following key conservation strategies: restoring habitats in Similipal, enforcing anti-deforestation laws, promoting community-led planting of host trees, and adopting climate-resilient silk farming to protect biodiversity and support tribal livelihoods. Full article

Dinder Biosphere Reserve (DBR), a UNESCO-recognized biodiversity hotspot in Sudan, faces escalating land-use pressure. We analyzed land cover changes from 2019 to 2024 using Sentinel-2 imagery processed in Google Earth Engine. A Random Forest classifier identified five land cover classes: water, built-up areas, vegetation, bare land, and crops. The transition matrix revealed significant changes over this period. About 1501 km² of vegetation and 1648 km² of cropland were converted to bare land. Built-up areas lost 95 km² to bare land. Bare land remained largely unchanged (4749 km²), while water bodies were the most stable (13,473 km² unchanged). Only minor transitions involved water (27.6 km² to vegetation, 15.2 km² to bare land). Notably, 411 km² of cropland and 1773 km² of bare land transitioned to vegetation, indicating some regrowth. These land cover changes reflect a dynamic interplay between degradation and recovery processes; however, the results should be interpreted with caution due to potential classification inaccuracies, seasonal variation in imagery, and absence of field validation. Continued satellite monitoring is essential to guide adaptive land management and safeguard ecosystem function in DBR. Full article

Eighteen flea species of four genera associated with bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae, Rhinolophidae, Miniopteridae, Molossidae) are registered in Russia, based on a literature review as well as our own data. They are as follows: Myodopsylla trisellis, Ischnopsyllus (Ischnopsyllus) dolosus, Ischnopsyllus (I.) elongatus, Ischnopsyllus (I.) intermedius, Ischnopsyllus (I.) plumatus, Ischnopsyllus (I.) needhami, Ischnopsyllus (I.) obscurus, Ischnopsyllus (I.) octactenus, Ischnopsyllus (I.) simplex, Ischnopsyllus (I.) variabilis, Ischnopsyllus (Hexactenopsylla) hexactenus, Ischnopsyllus (H.) petropolitanus, Ischnopsyllus (H.) ussuriensis, Ischnopsyllus (H.) comans, Nycteridopsylla pentactena, Nycteridopsylla longiceps, Nycteridopsylla eusarca, Rhinolophopsylla unipectinata unipectinata. Ischnopsyllus (I.) elongatus and Ischnopsyllus (I.) octactenus were recorded in Kaluga Region and Vladimir Region for the first time. Ischnopsyllus (I.) variabilis in Kaluga Region is a newly documented find. Studied bat flea fauna exhibits a distinctly Western Palearctic appearance. Full article

This first inventory of the charophytes of the Caucasus region was compiled based on records from published references, online sources, a review of herbarium collections, and our own field collections. The documented Caucasian charophyte flora includes 27 species from six genera: 18 Chara species, 6 Nitella, 2 Tolypella, and 1 species each of Lamprothamnium, Nitellopsis, and Sphaerochara. Chara uzbekistanica, C. virgata, and C. contraria var. hispidula are newly recorded for the Caucasus. The high species richness of the genus Chara, the much less diverse genus Nitella, and a few species of Tolypella and Sphaerochara in the Caucasian charophyte flora are typical traits of Palearctic charophyte floras. In total, there are 10 species recorded in Armenia, 16 in Azerbaijan, 18 in Georgia, and 16 in the mountainous region of the North Caucasian Federal District of Russia. Most of the species have wide distributions; none are endemic to the Caucasus. One of the most commonly recorded species in the region, C. gymnophylla, is a usual feature of the Mediterranean and West Asia. The Caucasian charophyte flora can be described as unsurprising from a large-scale perspective, considering its species distribution ranges. However, the association of species makes the region specific at the scale of West Asia when comparing it to its large neighboring areas. Full article

Changes in the structure and composition of mangroves may be influenced by anthropogenic and natural causes. Mangrove coverage in Marismas Nacionales Nayarit –a Biosphere Reserve in northwestern Mexico—has declined in the last decades, mostly related to human activities (e.g., opening of the Cuautla inlet) and climate variability (e.g., El Niño Southern Oscillation and hurricanes), leading to diverse ecological and socioeconomic consequences. This contribution reports the impact of Cissus verticillata—a climbing plant species—in the structure of mangroves distributed in this Natural Protected Area during 2019 and 2022. Forest structure analysis was compared in four plots of 20 m × 20 m each, all of them influenced by San Pedro Mezquital river. Two plots (Unión de Corrientes) showed the presence of Cissus verticillata, while two nearby plots (Boca de Camichín) recorded no presence of this species. A poor mangrove structure, no natural seedling recruitment and high mortality was observed in those sites with the presence of C. verticillata. These results highlight the vulnerability of mangroves to C. verticillata in Marismas Nacionales Nayarit Biosphere Reserve, which in addition to other human and climate stressors may compromise its ecological integrity in the future. Full article

This article examines the role of biosphere reserves (BRs) in science education, with a particular focus on teaching for sustainable development. A case study conducted at the Complutense University of Madrid is presented, analyzing 36 of the 53 Spanish BRs to evaluate their conservation activities and educational uses. Using a pre-test–post-test experimental design and a specifically developed questionnaire, the impact of inquiry-based teaching was measured. The results reveal significant differences in students’ knowledge levels before and after the teaching, highlighting the effectiveness of informational and educational strategies in enhancing environmental awareness. The study underscores the relevance of BRs not only as conservation spaces but also as valuable educational resources for promoting environmental sustainability through education for sustainable development. It further emphasizes the importance of training future teachers in sustainable practices and employing teaching methodologies that integrate inquiry-based learning. Additionally, the role of BRs in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in the 2030 Agenda is highlighted. The article concludes that BRs can serve as effective learning laboratories to foster greater environmental awareness and commitment to the environmental sustainability component among educators and their future students. Full article

Tourism governance evaluates the participation of stakeholders in planning and development decisions within a territory. Understanding who these stakeholders are and their involvement is crucial, as tourism impacts social, economic, and cultural spaces, requiring equitable distribution of its costs and benefits to ensure sustainability. This study focuses on the UNESCO Environmental Corridor of Extremadura, using data from the Tourism Observatory of Extremadura and visitor surveys to define its tourist scope. A literature review identified dimensions and variables of tourism governance, leading to the design of questionnaires and evaluation scales, as well as the identification of stakeholders based on existing research. Results reveal variability in tourism governance across territories, with a notable lack of management concerning gender and functional diversity. While aligning with existing literature on the underdevelopment of shared governance policies, the study highlights progress in stakeholder participation strategies, particularly in territories with UNESCO designations. The UEC territories stand out for their strategic tourism development plans, stakeholder consultation, sector coordination, and diverse participatory decision-making mechanisms. Full article

This paper analyzes the chemical evolution of Nuntași-Tuzla Lake (Romania) in the context of human intervention. Situated on the shore of the Black Sea, approximately 35 km north of Constanța, Nuntași-Tuzla Lake is part of the Razim–Sinoe Lake complex and a component of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. This area has undergone significant transformations over the past 120 years: canalization of the connecting channels with the St. George arm, construction of polders for agriculture, closure of the connections to the Black Sea, and construction of the Razim–Sinoe irrigation system. After the irrigation system stopped working (around 2000), due to the isolation of the lake and the low flow coming from the two rivers that supply the lake with fresh water, it completely dried up in 2020. All these interventions have led to the ecological, hydrological, and chemical deterioration of the lake’s water. The main effects are (i) a decrease in water salinity and (ii) reduction in the production of sapropelic mud as the salinity decreases due to the influx of fresh water. Full article