Search Results (614)

Extreme rainfall events intensify flood-related hazards in mountainous national parks and their surrounding communities, where complex terrain and coupled hazard processes create major challenges for spatial risk management. This study focuses on the Tangjiahe district of the Giant Panda National Park and develops an integrated framework for flood-related multi-hazard identification and zoning. The 100-year flood process was simulated using Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS), runoff retention was assessed using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model, and slope stability risk zoning was conducted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Based on multi-source spatial overlay, Integrated Flood-Related Multi-Hazard Risk Zoning was generated. Spatial statistical analyses, including Global Moran’s I, Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA), and Getis-Ord Gi*, supported the identification of clustered high-risk areas and hotspot zones. In parallel, Disaster Prevention and Control Zoning was established, classifying the study area into multiple management-oriented zones to support differentiated spatial governance and targeted management. The proposed framework provides a practical approach for integrating multi-hazard processes into spatial planning and disaster risk management in mountainous protected areas. Full article

Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving mechanisms of ecosystem services in response to land use change is critical for regional ecological security and sustainable development, especially under the combined pressure of intensive human activities and future climate change in tropical regions. Existing studies often lack an integrated framework for multi-scenario simulation, multi-dimensional ecosystem service quantification, and spatial driving factor identification. To support sustainable management, this study focused on Hainan Island and utilized land use data from 2000 to 2025. The Markov-Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model was employed to simulate land use patterns for 2050 under historical trend, SSP1-1.9, and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, incorporating future climate data. The Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model was used to quantify habitat quality, carbon storage, water yield, and soil conservation. The Multi-weighted Entropy Ecosystem Service Index (MEESI) was established to evaluate ecosystem service performance. Furthermore, the GeoDetector model was applied to assess the explanatory power of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI), and Bare Soil Index (BSI) on ecosystem service dynamics. The results indicated that: (1) during 2000–2025, land use change in Hainan Island was dominated by forest-to-cropland conversion and impervious surface expansion, while future suggestions included stronger ecological protection under SSP1-1.9 and greater ecological pressure under SSP5-8.5; (2) during 2000–2025, habitat quality and carbon storage generally declined, whereas water yield and soil conservation increased, and SSP1-1.9 maintained higher overall ecosystem service performance (habitat quality = 0.6207, carbon storage = 327.89 × 10⁶ t, and MEESI = 0.3509) than the historical trend and SSP5-8.5 scenarios in 2050; and (3) NDVI exhibited the strongest explanatory power for ecosystem service variation, whereas NDBI showed the weakest. These findings suggest that ecosystem management should consider the trade-offs and synergies among multiple ecosystem services rather than focusing on a single service. This study provides a systematic and spatially explicit framework for ecosystem service assessment under future scenarios. The study can also support scientific land use optimization, ecological conservation, and sustainable management decisions in tropical island regions. Full article

The article proposes a methodology for the valuation of ecosystem services rendered by benthic vegetation. The methodology is based on the integration of biotope mapping and characterization, quantitative assessment of macrophyte phytomass stocks, and aggregated unit values of ecosystem services. The coastal zone of the natural monument “Coastal Aquatic Complex (CAC) near the Dzhangul landslide coast” was selected as a model water area. The study area is distinguished by high species diversity of benthic vegetation, the occurrence of species with conservation status, and low anthropogenic pressure. Five biotopes were identified and described, their macrophyte phytomass stocks were quantified, and their spatial distribution within the natural monument was analyzed. According to the calculated data, the total value of ecosystem services provided by macrophytobenthos within the boundaries of the natural monument “CAC near the Dzhangul landslide coast” amounted to USD 2,805,430.32. The largest contribution to this value is made by biotopes of block-boulder deposits dominated by Ericaria crinita and Gongolaria barbata (USD 2,319,641.52), followed by biotopes with a mosaic growth of these species together with Nereia filiformis and the attached form of Phyllophora crispa (USD 397,884.16). The quantitative results obtained may be applied to substantiate compensation payments, assess the effectiveness of investments in environmental protection frameworks, and support integrated coastal zone management. Full article

Wetlands are vital ecosystems that provide critical provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services that underpin biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods. Despite their importance, ecosystem service valuation is often overlooked in coastal wetland restoration, limiting recognition of their contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To address this gap and overcome methodological fragmentation in wetland assessments, this study develops the Integrated Ecosystem Valuation and Management of Wetlands (IEVMW) framework, which integrates the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA), Drivers–Pressures–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) framework, IPCC climate risk assessment, and Total Economic Value (TEV) approaches into a unified methodology. The framework was applied to the Kol Wetlands in India to identify ecosystem services, assess climate-related risks, estimate economic values, and develop management recommendations. Results indicate that provisioning services contribute the highest economic value, followed by regulating and cultural services. Climate change was estimated to place approximately 11.7% and 13.0% of ecosystem service value at risk in North Kol and South Kol, respectively, corresponding to a combined economic value at risk of ₹42.9 crore, with provisioning services being the most vulnerable. The IEVMW framework provides a practical and scalable approach for linking ecosystem service valuation, climate risk assessment, and governance, thereby supporting climate-resilient wetland management and biodiversity conservation across diverse socio-environmental contexts. Full article

Scientific studies of mine closure and ecosystem management have become very important since the rate of coal mine closures in China has increased rapidly over the last decade. This study first analyzed spatiotemporal changes in land use and ecosystem services value (ESV) during the period 2000–2020 around the Kailuan Mining Area in Tangshan City. The area has a history of over 100 years of continuous mining activities in the region. The analyses used the PLUS model, multi-scenario simulation, and ESV equivalent factor method and multi-source data on land use, mining activities, socioeconomic factors, and climatic conditions. The study then projected land-use changes and spatiotemporal ESV characteristics for the year 2030 for two alternatives: (1) the Current Development Scenario (CDS), representing the current pace of development without mine closure; and (2) the Ecological Restoration Scenario (ERS), representing mine closure and ecological restoration. Key results include: (1) during 2000–2020, cultivated land and construction land were the primary land uses, with the overall trends showing decrease in cultivated, forest, pasture, and unused lands, varying water use areas, and continuously increasing construction land; (2) the revised ESV results show that total ESV declined from 31.27 million USD in 2000 to 25.30 million USD in 2020, a net decrease of 6.19 million USD, mainly because of cropland loss and degradation of forest and grassland; and (3) for 2030, the CDS projected a continued decline in total ESV to 24.30 million USD, whereas the ERS increased total ESV to 26.50 million USD, which is 2.19 million USD higher than the CDS and 1.20 million USD higher than the 2020 baseline. Compared with the CDS, the ERS increased cropland by 13.20 km² and reduced construction land by 10.06 km², indicating that reclaiming subsided water bodies and idle construction land into cropland and restored ecological land can enhance ecosystem services while mitigating subsidence-related risks. The framework can support data-driven post-mining land-use planning and ecological management in resource-based regions. Full article

In the context of global population growth and intensifying climate change, ensuring food security remains a critical challenge. Orchards are more productive than arable crops, contributing significantly to the nutrition of a growing population. Ecologically, due to the absence of frequent soil tillage, orchards resemble natural forest ecosystems more closely than other agricultural systems. Irrigated orchards are particularly productive and enhance biodiversity in territories where water scarcity is the limiting factor for ecosystems. This review, the result of extensive reflection and a comprehensive analysis of the literature on orchard sustainability, synthesizes evidence on the diverse ecosystem services provided by these perennial systems. Due to their structural complexity, well-managed orchards contribute significantly to climate regulation through carbon sequestration, microclimate cooling, and soil erosion prevention. Furthermore, they support nutrient cycling and provide cultural value. This paper establishes an integrated scientific framework to inform evidence-based policies and reshape societal perceptions. It argues that recognizing orchards as multifunctional landscapes, rather than mere resource consumers, is critical for environmental resilience, supporting their fair valuation as essential components of a sustainable bioeconomy. Full article

In the context of intensifying global climate change, high-altitude mountain ecosystems play a critical role in climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, and the advancement of sustainable human development. Plateau regions, such as the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, are particularly sensitive and responsive to global climatic fluctuations and function as essential ecological barriers supporting development across Asia. These areas occupy a strategic position within Asia’s ecological security framework and the broader international community, influencing not only regional ecological stability and social cohesion but also sustainable development pathways. However, owing to their fragile ecosystem structures, limited regenerative capacity, and the ongoing expansion of urbanisation and human activities, these regions frequently suffer from habitat fragmentation and degradation of ecological functions. This issue is especially acute in natural protected areas adjacent to plateau cities. Consequently, there is an urgent need for quantitative assessments of ecological restoration effectiveness within natural protected areas, alongside investigations into development approaches that underpin long-term regional stability and sustainability. Focusing on Chokpori Mountain—the “urban green heart” of Lhasa, a principal city on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau—this study develops a three-dimensional assessment framework encompassing ecological, economic, and social dimensions. By integrating the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model, remote sensing inversion techniques, field monitoring, and questionnaire surveys, the research systematically evaluates the effectiveness of ecological restoration and proposes insights for sustainable governance. The findings indicate that ecological restoration elicited positive ecological responses, evidenced by a 69.2% increase in soil retention post-renovation, an increase in vegetation coverage, and modeled total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) export loads demonstrating enhanced nutrient retention potential and improved water purification potential; (2) economic stimulation was evident, as demonstrated by an increase in average weekend daily visitor numbers from 876 to 1567 and a 24.2% rise in average monthly revenue of shops within a 1 km radius; and (3) social well-being improved, with ecological satisfaction reaching 89.2% and recognition of cultural communication attaining 67.3%. An integrated analysis indicates a synergistic enhancement of ecological environmental quality, regional vitality, and public perception. Accordingly, the outcomes of this study provide both theoretical insights and practical guidance for the ecological restoration and sustainable management of urban protected areas in high-altitude plateau regions worldwide. Full article

Unsustainable land-use transitions in peri-urban watersheds threaten both food security and ecological integrity. While Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) and Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) models for ecosystem service (ES) assessment are commonly integrated, limited studies have simultaneously (i) accounted for multiple real-world spatial policies (e.g., ecological redlines) as hard constraints, (ii) targeted a comprehensive suite of ESs, and (iii) explicitly pursued synergies without relying on large-scale land conversion. To address these gaps, we developed a spatially explicit framework that integrates the PLUS and InVEST models to simulate four land-use scenarios and assess six ESs—grain yield, water yield, nitrogen export, phosphorus export, soil conservation, and carbon sequestration—in the Yuqiao Reservoir watershed, China, during 1990–2030. Against a backdrop of historical declines in cropland/grassland and key ESs due to construction expansion (1990–2020), the novel Comprehensive Development scenario—implementing slope-adaptive management and riparian buffers—synergistically increases grain yield (+0.55%) and carbon sequestration (+1.10%) while drastically reducing phosphorus export (−10.86%). It demonstrates that synergistic gains can arise from strategic spatial reconfiguration within a stable land-use area, advancing a paradigm from area-centric to configuration-centric optimization. This provides a quantifiable methodological basis and actionable policy reference for land spatial optimization in similar water-source watersheds. Full article

Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services (IVES) has emerged as a pluralistic framework for bringing multiple forms of ecosystem service value into relation for environmental decision-making. Within this literature, socio-biophysical approaches have become especially prominent, most often comparing biophysical estimates of ecosystem service supply with social measures of demand-as-use. However, recent studies increasingly move beyond this supply–demand framing by operationalizing alternative social value constructs. This study conducts a scoping review of this emerging literature following PRISMA-ScR procedures. We identify 18 empirical socio-biophysical studies that compare biophysical supply with social value constructs other than demand-as-use. Across these studies, we identify three recurring constructs: perceived importance, perceived supply and recognition of ecosystem services. We examine how each construct is operationalized and how it is compared with biophysical supply. Our synthesis shows that social construct choice shapes the basis of socio-biophysical comparison, the spatial and analytical strategies available and the governance insights that can be drawn from integrated valuation. Perceived importance is most useful for identifying social priorities and anticipating public reception of management interventions. Perceived supply better supports spatial targeting, hotspot-based planning and comparison with modeled ecological supply. Recognition reveals awareness gaps and under-recognized services that can inform communication, education and participatory planning. By clarifying these construct-specific contributions, this review supports more targeted construct selection in future socio-biophysical IVES research. Full article

Protecting bee populations is essential to ensuring the sustainability of pollination as a unique ecosystem service. In this study, the authors used a questionnaire survey to examine how and to what extent visitors to an agricultural event in Hungary value bee pollination, as well as which factors influence decision-making in this regard. The authors treated willingness to pay as a binary outcome and used logistic regression to identify its determinants. All explanatory variables were categorical, including sociodemographic factors and consumer attitude variables. Robustness checks were conducted using bootstrap estimation and an alternative probit specification, both of which confirmed the results. Based on the results, respondents’ average willingness to pay is 3.45 EUR/household/month, which amounts to 41.40 EUR/year. This amount indicates public support for financing the protection of ecosystem services provided by bees and can be considered an estimate of such support. Among the explanatory variables, gender, household size, and attitudes toward the consumption of bee products were statistically significantly related to willingness to pay. At the same time, income and respondents’ awareness were only marginally significant. The authors have proposed measures to strengthen environmental responsibility among both consumers and producers, which would represent long-term progress in the preservation of ecosystem services. Full article

Marine ecological assets (MEAs) comprise habitats, living resources, and ecosystem services and are globally fundamental to biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, and sustainable development. However, the establishment of systematic frameworks for MEA definition, classification, and valuation faces considerable conceptual and methodological challenges, particularly in rapidly industrializing nations with urgent marine conservation priorities. We reviewed the theoretical evolution, methodological development, and practical implementation of MEA accounting in China and propose an integrated framework that bridges conceptual gaps and supports evidence-based policy for sustainable marine governance. Our comprehensive analysis covers domestic and international literature, policy documents, technical standards, and case studies. We developed a definition that incorporates ownership attributes and dynamic management elements, and constructed a three-in-one classification system that integrates resource characteristics, ecological functions, and governance needs from existing international frameworks adapted to the governance context in China. We identified seven multidimensional MEA attributes and systematically evaluated mainstream valuation methods (market-based, alternative market, and hypothetical market approaches) across different marine ecosystem types (e.g., estuaries, coral reefs, mangrove forests). The review provides a coherent theoretical foundation for advancing MEA accounting in China and offers practical pathways for integrating accounting outcomes into policy mechanisms such as ecological compensation, blue carbon trading, and marine spatial planning. Our framework contributes to the operationalization of the philosophy that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” in marine governance and may provide preliminary insights for other nations developing MEA capital accounts to achieve sustainable development goals, although cross-national comparative validation is necessary to assess applicability beyond the Chinese context. Full article

This study investigates ecosystem service valuation on Zhoushan Island. Based on Landsat remote sensing images for 2000, 2010, and 2020 acquired through the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, six land use types are extracted using the Random Forest method. By integrating land use dynamic degree, transfer matrix, ecosystem service value (ESV) accounting, and five-level land–sea gradient zoning approaches, this study systematically analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution of land use and its effects on ESV over the 20-year period, and reveals the spatial differentiation pattern of land use change and ESV gains and losses along the land–sea gradient. The results indicate that from 2000 to 2020, water bodies and cultivated land on Zhoushan Island experienced continuous decline while construction land expanded rapidly, driven by policy regulation, urbanization, and industrial transformation. Localized coastal areas exhibited a typical chain conversion process of “water body → bare land → construction land,” which is closely associated with reclamation and land reclamation activities. Regional ESV declined continuously, reaching only 56.7% of its 2000 level by 2020, with regulating and provisioning services exhibiting the most pronounced deterioration. Analysis of the ESV net transfer matrix indicates that the primary driver of ESV decline was the large-scale conversion of high-value water bodies to low-value construction land and bare land, the magnitude of which far exceeded the positive ecological gains generated by all other land use conversions. The reduction in cultivated land area, compounded by adjustments in cropping structure, has placed sustained pressure on regional food security, and policy responses have lagged considerably behind the pace of ecological degradation. In terms of spatial differentiation, both the intensity of land use change and ESV loss exhibited a gradient pattern that decreases progressively from the coastal zone moving inland. Zone 1 and Zone 2 in the nearshore area together accounted for approximately 80% of total ESV loss, whereas Zone 4 and Zone 5 maintained relatively stable land use structures and ecological support capacity, owing to higher forestland coverage. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis confirmed a statistically significant monotonically decreasing relationship between land use dynamic degree and coastal distance. Policy regulation served as the primary driver of regional land use pattern evolution: early sea reclamation policies facilitated rapid land transformation along the coastline, while subsequent tightening of controls effectively curbed disorderly expansion. Full article

Agricultural watersheds must simultaneously support multiple Ecosystem Services (ESs), yet the coordination between Ecosystem Service Value (ESV) growth and synergies of ESs remains poorly understood. Taking the Liaohe River mainstream Basin (LRMB), a typical agricultural watershed, as a case, this study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of ESV and trade-offs among ESs, along with their driving factors. Five key ESs—Food Production (FP), Water Conservation (WC), Water Purification (WP), Soil Conservation (SC), and Landscape Aesthetics (LA)—were selected. The InVEST model, Function-based Valuation Method, Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD), and Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) were comprehensively applied to assess the spatiotemporal variations in ESV, trade-off intensity, and their coupling coordination degree in the watershed from 2000 to 2023. Furthermore, the Optimal Parameters-based Geographical Detector (OPGD) and Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression with Spatial Auto-correlation (MGWR-SAR) were employed to explore the driving mechanisms underlying changes in ESV and trade-off intensity, and to identify the major driving factors and their spatial heterogeneity. The results reveal the following: (1) From 2000 to 2023, total ESV in the LRMB increased by 69.5% from 77.66 to 131.59 billion yuan, with WC and FP accounting for 42.8% and 41.9% of this growth. Spatially, ESV shifted from a west-to-east increasing gradient to a U-shaped pattern, with high values concentrated in mountainous areas and low values along the mainstream. (2) Mean trade-off intensity remained stable at approximately 0.29, yet exhibited pronounced spatial polarisation. High trade-off zones shifted from the southwestern estuary toward the mainstream corridor, driven primarily by intensifying conflicts between FP and other ESs. (3) Despite a stable watershed-average CCD of 0.71–0.73, the CCD along the Liaohe River mainstream declined by over 15%, forming a corridor of coordination decay and revealing that ESV growth occurs at the expense of internal synergy. (4) Nonlinear interactions dominated ES dynamics, with the interaction of precipitation and human disturbance intensity exhibiting the highest explanatory power (q-values of 0.61 for ESV and 0.58 for RMSD). (5) Natural climatic factors (precipitation, temperature) predominantly enhanced synergy in mountainous areas, whereas human and landscape factors (human disturbance intensity, Shannon’s Diversity Index, PLAND of water) intensified trade-offs along the mainstream and central plains. This study establishes an integrated “ESV–trade-off–CCD” diagnostic framework and proposes a differentiated management strategy, offering a potentially transferable paradigm for sustainable governance in agricultural watersheds. Full article

As coastal communities face escalating climate risks driven by climate change and biodiversity loss, integrating mangrove ecosystems into sustainability-oriented governance frameworks spanning ecological conservation, climate adaptation, and natural capital accounting has become a global priority. However, quantifying their protection values based on spatiotemporal shoreline dynamics under extreme disturbance remains challenging. Focusing on Dongzhai Harbor (China), this study integrates multi-temporal remote sensing (2010–2021), shoreline evolution analysis, and the Replacement Cost Method to assess ecosystem resilience against Super Typhoon Rammasun in 2014. Results show mangroves exhibited substantial post-disturbance resilience, with only 6.10% area loss following Typhoon Rammasun and 46% natural recovery within six years. Bootstrap confidence intervals for the mangrove-shoreline association overlapped zero across all three temporal periods, indicating that the observational data do not support a statistically confirmed causal protection effect at the landscape scale. This finding underscores that spatially co-occurring ecosystem services do not automatically imply causation, reinforcing the need for empirically grounded valuation in sustainable land-use planning. Because mangroves naturally establish in sheltered environments, the observed spatial overlap between mangroves and the shoreline cannot be interpreted as direct evidence of causal shoreline stabilization. Based on this framework, the potential protection value reached 907.65 × 10⁴ CNY yr⁻¹ across 32.57 km of weighted coastline aligned with mangroves. Notably, erosional segments contributed 50.5% of this value despite comprising only 27.3% of the length, indicating that the replacement-cost estimate is concentrated in erosional segments under the assumed parameters. While acknowledging the need for local biophysical validation and uncertainty analysis in scaling, these findings support integrating dynamic nature-based solutions into territorial planning and Gross Ecosystem Product accounting. The resulting valuation framework offers a replicable pathway for advancing multi-dimensional sustainability encompassing climate-adaptive coastal governance, natural capital integration, and evidence-based coastal spatial planning. Full article

It would be a critical omission to disregard the role of information dissemination in shaping public perception of sustainable forest management during Silesian Voivodeship’s transformation. Media exposure is often assumed to enhance environmental awareness, but complex internal mechanisms link information sources, public awareness, and ecosystem service valuation, especially in highly industrialized regions. This study investigates how discrete information sources (Media) are associated with public perceptions of forest ecosystem services (ES Perception) and investigates the mediating role enacted by Environmental Awareness (Awareness). Data were collected using a computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) survey conducted with a representative sample of 509 residents of Silesian Voivodeship in Poland. Path analysis (a form of structural equation modeling) was performed with 5000 bootstrap iterations to test the direct and indirect relationships within the Value–Awareness–Perception framework. The findings revealed a significant positive direct relationship between Media and ES Perception (β = 0.288, p < 0.001). However, a notable discrepancy emerged: media exposure showed a significant negative association with Awareness (β = −0.245, p < 0.001). Awareness was significantly and negatively linked to ES Perception (β = −0.229, p < 0.001), partially mediating the total effect. These results indicate a complex decoupling: while media consumption is associated with higher general service perception, it appears to be inversely related to functional Environmental Awareness regarding ecosystem threat. Full article