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Search Results (130)

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Keywords = land re-naturalization

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16 pages, 7721 KiB  
Article
From Landscape to Legacy: Developing an Integrated Hiking Route with Cultural Heritage and Environmental Appeal Through Spatial Analysis
by İsmet Sarıbal, Mesut Çoşlu and Serdar Selim
Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 6897; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156897 - 29 Jul 2025
Viewed by 307
Abstract
This study aimed to re-evaluate a historical war supply route within the context of cultural tourism, to revitalize its natural, historical, and cultural values, and to integrate it with existing hiking and trekking routes. Remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) technologies [...] Read more.
This study aimed to re-evaluate a historical war supply route within the context of cultural tourism, to revitalize its natural, historical, and cultural values, and to integrate it with existing hiking and trekking routes. Remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) technologies were utilized, and land surveys were conducted to support the analysis and validate the existing data. Data for slope, one of the most critical factors for hiking route selection, were generated, and the optimal route between the starting and destination points was identified using least cost path analysis (LCPA). Historical, touristic, and recreational rest stops along the route were mapped with precise coordinates, and both the existing and the newly generated routes were assessed in terms of their accessibility to these points. Field validation was carried out based on the experiences of expert hikers. According to the results, the length of the existing hiking route was determined to be 15.72 km, while the newly developed trekking route measured 17.36 km. These two routes overlap for 7.75 km, with 9.78 km following separate paths in a round-trip scenario. It was concluded that the existing route is more suitable for hiking, whereas the newly developed route is better suited for trekking. Full article
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27 pages, 63490 KiB  
Article
Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Driving Mechanisms of Ecological Resilience in the Upper Yangtze River from 2010 to 2030
by Hongxiang Wang, Lintong Huang, Shuai Han, Jiaqi Lan, Zhijie Yu and Wenxian Guo
Land 2025, 14(8), 1518; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14081518 - 23 Jul 2025
Viewed by 290
Abstract
Watershed ecosystem resilience (RES) plays a vital role in supporting ecosystem sustainability. However, comprehensive assessments and investigations into the complex mechanisms driving RES remain limited, particularly in ecologically sensitive basins. To address this gap, this study proposes a multidimensional RES evaluation framework tailored [...] Read more.
Watershed ecosystem resilience (RES) plays a vital role in supporting ecosystem sustainability. However, comprehensive assessments and investigations into the complex mechanisms driving RES remain limited, particularly in ecologically sensitive basins. To address this gap, this study proposes a multidimensional RES evaluation framework tailored to watershed-specific natural characteristics. The framework integrates five core dimensions: ecosystem resistance, ecosystem recovery capacity, ecosystem adaptability, ecosystem services, and ecosystem vitality. RES patterns under 2030 different future scenarios were simulated using the PLUS model combined with CMIP6 climate projections. Spatial and temporal dynamics of RES from 2010 to 2020 were quantified using Geodetector and Partial Least Squares Path Modeling, offering insights into the interactions among natural and anthropogenic drivers. The results reveal that RES in the Upper Yangtze River Basin exhibits a spatial gradient of “high in the east and west, low in the middle” with an overall 2.80% decline during the study period. Vegetation coverage and temperature emerged as dominant natural drivers, while land use change exerted significant indirect effects by altering ecological processes. This study emphasizes the importance of integrated land-climate strategies and offers valuable guidance for enhancing RES and supporting sustainable watershed management in the context of global environmental change. Full article
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26 pages, 6860 KiB  
Article
Built Heritage Preservation and Climate Change Adaptation in Historic Cities: Facing Challenges Posed by Nature-Based Solutions
by Riccardo Privitera and Giulia Jelo
Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 5693; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135693 - 20 Jun 2025
Viewed by 645
Abstract
Historic centres are extremely complex parts of contemporary cities, particularly from morphological, architectural, and cultural points of view, where a significant proportion of the land area may be occupied by built heritage sites that require protection and conservation. These urban contexts are also [...] Read more.
Historic centres are extremely complex parts of contemporary cities, particularly from morphological, architectural, and cultural points of view, where a significant proportion of the land area may be occupied by built heritage sites that require protection and conservation. These urban contexts are also characterised by scarce green and public open spaces endowment, a high proportion of private property, and high levels of natural risk exposure. From a climate change adaptation perspective, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have emerged as measures to manage urban ecosystems to address environmental and societal challenges. To overcome the conflicting objectives of climate change adaptation and built heritage preservation, this study proposes a three-step methodology applied to the historic centre of Catania (Italy): (i) Land-Use/Landownership and Land Cover/Maintenance and Quality analyses; (ii) Land Transformability Assessment; (iii) Land Transformation Scenarios Assessment. According to this methodology, five Land Transformation Scenarios have been drawn up: (1) NbS full installation; (2) NbS installation with some limitations; (3) NbS installation after re-arrangement; (4) NbS installation strongly limited; (5) NbS installation not viable. This approach allowed us to identify the most feasible and suitable buildings and open spaces, while distinguishing public and private properties, to implement a more comprehensive integration of NbS and built heritage preservation in historic cities for mutual benefits. Full article
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20 pages, 6838 KiB  
Article
Fields in the Forest Roman Land Division Between Siscia and Andautonia Through LIDAR Data Analysis
by Hrvoje Kalafatić, Bartul Šiljeg and Rajna Šošić Klindžić
Heritage 2025, 8(6), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8060234 - 18 Jun 2025
Viewed by 677
Abstract
This study investigates the Roman land division system, centuriation, using LIDAR data and historical data to understand the landscape during the Roman period, in this case between Roman cities such as Siscia and Andautonia. LIDAR data analysis provided evidence of the preservation of [...] Read more.
This study investigates the Roman land division system, centuriation, using LIDAR data and historical data to understand the landscape during the Roman period, in this case between Roman cities such as Siscia and Andautonia. LIDAR data analysis provided evidence of the preservation of the Roman centuriation system in the present day Turopoljski Lug forest. The azimuth suggests that centuriation aligned with Siscia’s ager, while the precise territorial limits between the two agers remain unclear. Additionally, the orientation of Siscia’s streets and the alignment of modern roads like Zagrebačka street suggest continuity of the Roman road system. The research also sheds light on the agricultural nature of the region in the Roman period, challenging traditional views of Turopolje as a marshy, forested area from prehistoric periods. The presence of Roman-era drainage systems and the re-evaluation of the historical landscape indicate that the region was actively cultivated. The study also discusses the abandonment of the centuriation system after the Roman period and its subsequent transformation into forested land. Future research should focus on the exact borders between the agers of Siscia and Andautonia and the ongoing influence of Roman land division on later historical landscapes. Full article
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28 pages, 9711 KiB  
Article
Analyzing the Adversarial Robustness and Interpretability of Deep SAR Classification Models: A Comprehensive Examination of Their Reliability
by Tianrui Chen, Limeng Zhang, Weiwei Guo, Zenghui Zhang and Mihai Datcu
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(11), 1943; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17111943 - 4 Jun 2025
Viewed by 640
Abstract
Deep neural networks (DNNs) have shown strong performance in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image classification. However, their “black-box” nature limits interpretability and poses challenges for robustness, which is critical for sensitive applications such as disaster assessment, environmental monitoring, and agricultural insurance. This study [...] Read more.
Deep neural networks (DNNs) have shown strong performance in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image classification. However, their “black-box” nature limits interpretability and poses challenges for robustness, which is critical for sensitive applications such as disaster assessment, environmental monitoring, and agricultural insurance. This study systematically evaluates the adversarial robustness of five representative DNNs (VGG11/16, ResNet18/101, and A-ConvNet) under a variety of attack and defense settings. Using eXplainable AI (XAI) techniques and attribution-based visualizations, we analyze how adversarial perturbations and adversarial training affect model behavior and decision logic. Our results reveal significant robustness differences across architectures, highlight interpretability limitations, and suggest practical guidelines for building more robust SAR classification systems. We also discuss challenges associated with large-scale, multi-class land use and land cover (LULC) classification under adversarial conditions. Full article
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18 pages, 4206 KiB  
Article
Disaster Recognition and Classification Based on Improved ResNet-50 Neural Network
by Lei Wen, Zikai Xiao, Xiaoting Xu and Bin Liu
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 5143; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15095143 - 6 May 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1175
Abstract
Accurate and timely disaster classification is critical for effective disaster management and emergency response. This study proposes an improved ResNet-50-based deep learning model to classify seven types of natural disasters, including earthquake, fire, flood, mudslide, avalanche, landslide, and land subsidence. The dataset was [...] Read more.
Accurate and timely disaster classification is critical for effective disaster management and emergency response. This study proposes an improved ResNet-50-based deep learning model to classify seven types of natural disasters, including earthquake, fire, flood, mudslide, avalanche, landslide, and land subsidence. The dataset was compiled from publicly available sources and partitioned into training and validation sets using an 8:2 split. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model achieves a classification accuracy of 87% on the validation set and outperforms the traditional VGG16 model in most evaluation metrics, including precision, recall, F1-score, AUC, specificity, and log loss. Furthermore, the model effectively mitigates the gradient vanishing problem, ensuring stable convergence and robust training performance. These findings provide a practical technical reference for multi-disaster classification tasks and contribute to enhancing the efficiency of disaster response and societal resilience. Full article
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22 pages, 10750 KiB  
Article
Mapping Re-Naturalization Pathways for Urban Ecological Governance: A Spatial Decision-Support Framework Based on Ecosystem Service Valuation
by Chengji Shu, Kaiwei Du, Wenbo Cai, Zhengwu Cai and Li Lin
Land 2025, 14(5), 917; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14050917 - 23 Apr 2025
Viewed by 434
Abstract
Traditional urban expansion struggles to balance economic and ecological demands. Intensive development planning based on re-naturalization has become the policymakers’ choice. However, planning-oriented land use patterns and re-naturalization pathways remain difficult to determine. This study developed a spatial decision-support framework integrating ecosystem service [...] Read more.
Traditional urban expansion struggles to balance economic and ecological demands. Intensive development planning based on re-naturalization has become the policymakers’ choice. However, planning-oriented land use patterns and re-naturalization pathways remain difficult to determine. This study developed a spatial decision-support framework integrating ecosystem service valuation (ESV), land-use simulation, and ecological planning for Shanghai. This study assessed the spatiotemporal dynamics of ESV and simulated land use patterns and ESV for 2035 under different scenarios (inertial development, cropland protection, and ecological development). The optimal scenario and corresponding re-naturalization pathways were determined based on the principle of the optimal ESV. The results showed that ESV has declined over the past 20 years (−5.21%/5 years). High-value areas shrank significantly due to ecological space degradation. The planning-oriented ecological development scenario is the optimal scenario, with the highest ESV of CNY 189,240.29 million, which is higher than the status quo, inertia development scenario, and cropland protection scenario by 9.69%, 23.27%, and 9.53%, respectively. Taking the land use patterns under the ecological development scenario as the re-naturalization objective, 12 re-naturalization pathways totaling 686.88 km2 were identified. Cropland to forestland and built-up land to cropland were the largest, accounting for 67.88% and 15.02%, respectively. This study provides valuable insights into ecological planning and re-naturalization in urbanized areas. Full article
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16 pages, 2764 KiB  
Article
The Patterns of Dissolved N2O Concentrations Are Driven by Nutrient Stoichiometry Related to Land Use Types in the Yiluo River Basin, China
by Hongli Zhang, Heng Liu, Bingbing Jiang, Yunyi Chi, Rongchun Zhu, Yujia Jing, Honglei Zhu, Yingchen Li, Cuicui Hou, Shufen Li and Wujun Gao
Water 2025, 17(8), 1167; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17081167 - 14 Apr 2025
Viewed by 423
Abstract
The concentrations of dissolved N2O in river systems at the basin scale exhibit significant spatial and temporal variability, particularly under diverse landscape conditions. This study focused on a temperate basin—the Yiluo River (YLR) basin in China—to investigate the variations in dissolved [...] Read more.
The concentrations of dissolved N2O in river systems at the basin scale exhibit significant spatial and temporal variability, particularly under diverse landscape conditions. This study focused on a temperate basin—the Yiluo River (YLR) basin in China—to investigate the variations in dissolved N2O concentrations and the indirect emission factors (EF5r) between the dry and wet seasons. The differences among tributaries were analyzed to assess the impact of land use types. The findings revealed that N2O concentrations and saturation levels were lower during the wet season in both the main streams and tributaries. In the dry season, the N2O concentrations were strongly correlated with NH4+-N, NO3-N, and oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) (R2 = 0.743, p < 0.001), while in the wet season, the N2O concentrations were correlated with dissolved phosphorus (DP), water temperature (Tw), NH4+-N, and DOC (R2 = 0.640, p < 0.001). Impervious land was identified as the primary source of nitrogen in both seasons, rather than cropland. Natural land, particularly shrubland, demonstrated a notable mitigating effect on N2O accumulation and played a significant role in reducing NO3-N levels. The YLR basin exhibited lower EF5r values (0.005–0.052%) compared to the default value recommended by the IPCC, with a significant decrease observed during the wet season (p < 0.001). Data analysis indicated that nutrient dynamics, particularly NO3-N, the ratio of dissolved organic carbon to NO3-N (DOC/NO3-N), and the ratio of NO3-N to DP (NO3-N/DP), were significantly correlated with EF5r. These results underscore the need to re-evaluate regional N2O emission potentials and provide new insights into mitigating N2O emissions through strategic land use management. Full article
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13 pages, 2345 KiB  
Article
Valuation of Potential and Realized Ecosystem Services Based on Land Use Data in Northern Thailand
by Torlarp Kamyo, Dokrak Marod, Sura Pattanakiat and Lamthai Asanok
Land 2025, 14(3), 529; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030529 - 3 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1201
Abstract
Evaluating potential (PES) and realized (RES) ecosystem services can significantly improve the clarity and understanding of sustainable natural resource management practices. This study determined spatial distribution indices and assessed the economic value of both PES and RES in Northern Thailand. The geographic distribution [...] Read more.
Evaluating potential (PES) and realized (RES) ecosystem services can significantly improve the clarity and understanding of sustainable natural resource management practices. This study determined spatial distribution indices and assessed the economic value of both PES and RES in Northern Thailand. The geographic distribution and intensity of 17 ecological services of six land use categories (i.e., forests, agriculture, shrubland, urban land, water bodies, and barren land) were estimated for the distribution and unit values of PES and RES, by using the Co$ting Nature Model. Our results suggested that the PES and RES values were spatially consistent. The map showing the distribution of PES and RES values revealed high values in the cities of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phitsanulok, and Nakhon Sawan. Nutrient cycling, soil formation, and water supply were identified as the top potential ecological services, while nutrient cycling, water supply, and soil formation were the most realized. The ecosystem service packages in Northern Thailand had a potential annual value of 36.31 billion USD per year. However, after adjusting for relative indices, the realized ecosystem services were valued at 13.44 billion USD per year, representing only one-third of the potential value. To manage resources effectively and make informed decisions, it is essential to comprehend the gap between possible and actual ecosystem services. This research underscores the financial worth of ecosystem services and emphasizes the significance of using them sustainably to enhance human well-being and conserve the environment in Northern Thailand. Full article
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18 pages, 3058 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Environmental Sustainability of Organic Wine Grape Production with Qualified Designation of Origin in La Rioja, Spain
by Adrián Agraso-Otero, Javier J. Cancela, Mar Vilanova, Javier Ugarte Andreva, Ricardo Rebolledo-Leiva and Sara González-García
Agriculture 2025, 15(5), 536; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15050536 - 28 Feb 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1376
Abstract
Vineyards are significant demanders of fertilisers, pesticides, soil tillage and water. This study assessed the environmental profile of an organic grape production system with La Rioja qualified designation of origin using a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA). The ReCiPe method was applied to [...] Read more.
Vineyards are significant demanders of fertilisers, pesticides, soil tillage and water. This study assessed the environmental profile of an organic grape production system with La Rioja qualified designation of origin using a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA). The ReCiPe method was applied to assess the environmental impacts, while the Available WAter REmaining method was used to estimate the water scarcity. Additionally, the biodiversity loss, a global issue exacerbated by agricultural practices, was evaluated along with an ecosystem service indicator, pollination, to provide a more comprehensive analysis. This study employed two functional units: one kilogram of grapes and one hectare of land. The results revealed that the environmental impacts on global warming were more than ten times lower than those reported in most studies reviewed in the literature, primarily due to the effects of direct land use changes associated with pruning waste management. The total emissions in this category were 99.51 kg CO2 eq per hectare or 15.31 g CO2 eq per kilogram of grapes. Agrochemical-related emissions were identified as the environmental hotspot. The water scarcity was estimated at 48.4 litres per kilogram of grapes, mainly attributed to agrochemical dispersion. The biodiversity loss was largely driven by land transformation, with plants being the most impacted taxon. However, a high abundance of pollinators was observed in spring, contributing to improved grape quality and natural pest control. These findings could help highlight the environmental benefits of organic viticulture and the good practices implemented in this pilot. Full article
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23 pages, 4314 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Potential of Small Beads Reservoirs to Mitigate Climate Change Impacts in Urban Areas
by Wanda Jarosz, Witold Mandrysz, Barbara Kalinowska-Wójcik, Jakub Grudniewski, Natalia Janczewska, Edyta Sierka, Damian Absalon, Łukasz Pieron, Marcin Lipowczan, Anna Piekarska-Stachowiak, Magdalena Matysik, Dawid Depta, Weronika Walkowiak, Magdalena Biela and Andrzej Woźnica
Water 2025, 17(3), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17030419 - 2 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1565
Abstract
This study examines historical water management practices as a means of addressing climate change, focusing on the Tyski Stream catchment in Upper Silesia, Poland, a region marked by extensive urbanization and industrial evolution. It investigates the effectiveness of historical hydrotechnical systems, such as [...] Read more.
This study examines historical water management practices as a means of addressing climate change, focusing on the Tyski Stream catchment in Upper Silesia, Poland, a region marked by extensive urbanization and industrial evolution. It investigates the effectiveness of historical hydrotechnical systems, such as bead-like ponds from the 15th to 18th centuries, in enhancing water retention, reducing flood risks, and supporting ecosystem services. In a critical period, over 54 years (1827–1881), the number of reservoirs decreased from 142 to 31 (the area of ponds decreased from 161 to 32 ha). Throughout the entire period, between 1748 and 2017, the surface area of the analyzed reservoirs decreased from 163 ha to 16.8 ha. This was related to progressive industrialization, urban sprawl, and changes in legal frameworks, such as land ownership laws, leading to ecosystem degradation, loss of biodiversity, and altered hydrological processes. The research emphasizes the potential of reviving historical water management systems on natural processes to mitigate the impacts of climate change. By analyzing historical cartographic resources, this study assesses the feasibility of reconstructing lake systems in areas with similar topographic and hydrological features. It also stresses the necessity of community engagement and securing widespread social and political support to ensure public acceptance and the success of renaturation initiatives. The findings indicate that restoring these systems can offer diverse benefits, including improved water management, enhanced biodiversity, and greater urban resilience, while addressing the socio-political complexities of implementing large-scale environmental restoration projects. The aim of this study is to utilize archival materials for engineering solutions to prevent flooding and enhance water retention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Water Resources Management, Policy and Governance)
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19 pages, 7331 KiB  
Article
Potential of Abandoned Agricultural Lands for New Photovoltaic Installations
by Giulia Ronchetti and Martina Aiello
Sustainability 2025, 17(2), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020694 - 17 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1720
Abstract
Decarbonization strategies aim at increasing renewable energy source (RES) capacity, including new photovoltaic (PV) systems. Utility-scale PV installations are often placed in agricultural areas, resulting in a reduction in agricultural land and affecting the environment. To balance agricultural and energy policies, PV development [...] Read more.
Decarbonization strategies aim at increasing renewable energy source (RES) capacity, including new photovoltaic (PV) systems. Utility-scale PV installations are often placed in agricultural areas, resulting in a reduction in agricultural land and affecting the environment. To balance agricultural and energy policies, PV development should not limit agricultural purposes, allowing sustainable exploitation under specific technological and environmental conditions, particularly in areas of actual or potential abandonment. Studying agricultural abandonment is complex due to its multifaceted nature, the lack of a clear definition, and challenges in acquiring cartographic data. This study introduces and compares two methodologies to identify abandoned agricultural areas, aiming to delineate macro-areas of potential abandonment and examine patterns for conversion to energy use, with a focus on Toscana, a region (NUTS-2) in central Italy, which has experienced cropland reduction unrelated to urbanization. The first, simplified approach analyses land cover changes from 2000 to 2018, while the second method provides a more detailed abandonment detection by means of medium spatial resolution satellite imagery from the Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 dataset. A Random Forest classifier combined with Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) is applied to satellite data to map annual active/non-active croplands. Annual maps are then validated with a trajectory-based approach to detect agricultural land abandonment. This second methodology can help in providing spatially and timely meaning estimates of abandoned agricultural areas to be recovered for energy purposes and promote a sustainable growth of PV systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)
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25 pages, 12205 KiB  
Article
Integrating Temporal Dimensions in Circularity of the Built Environment Analysis of Two Flemish Industrial Parks
by Charlotte Timmers, Ellen Verbiest, Sam Ottoy and Julie Marin
Sustainability 2024, 16(24), 11053; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162411053 - 17 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1243
Abstract
This manuscript explores how incorporating temporal dimensions into built environment research can promote a more circular society, adding societal improvements to efficiency-driven measures closing waste or material cycles. The current circularity approaches in industrial environments mainly focus on short-term innovations reducing resource extraction [...] Read more.
This manuscript explores how incorporating temporal dimensions into built environment research can promote a more circular society, adding societal improvements to efficiency-driven measures closing waste or material cycles. The current circularity approaches in industrial environments mainly focus on short-term innovations reducing resource extraction and waste, overlooking long-term circularity potentials of natural resource management such as living soils as a basis for all life. This study addresses this gap by investigating, analyzing, and drawing interplays between regenerative soil cycles and business development cycles in two Flemish industry parks, Kortrijk-Noord and Haasrode. Using diachronic mapping, a qualitative design and action research tool, the study aims to generate a space–time composite of soil and business cycles, integrating archival research, interviews, and policy document reviews. This method visually captures interplays between geology, land valuation, and economic development, demonstrating that integrating soil and business cycles can suggest new pathways for site-specific circular practices on Flemish industry parks, which can inform site-specific project frameworks for circular built environments. As such, the research advocates a paradigm shift in industry park (re)development, from product and material innovation within a ‘time is money’ framework to an integrated ‘time is life’ approach, where time’s historical and social dimensions are part of circular landscape development. Full article
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17 pages, 18013 KiB  
Article
Value Assessment and Prediction of Regulating Ecosystem Services in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, China
by Leshan Du, Haiyan Liu, Haiou Liu, Wenhui Liu, Zhanjun Quan and Ying Zhang
Sustainability 2024, 16(21), 9170; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219170 - 22 Oct 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1588
Abstract
Ecosystem services serve as a bridge between the ecological environment and human society. The quantitative analysis and forecasting of ecosystem services can provide references for regional eco-environmental assessments and land-use planning for the future. In this study, taking Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park [...] Read more.
Ecosystem services serve as a bridge between the ecological environment and human society. The quantitative analysis and forecasting of ecosystem services can provide references for regional eco-environmental assessments and land-use planning for the future. In this study, taking Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park (HTRNP) as an example, the value of regulating ecosystem services (RESs) in 2020 was assessed via ArcGIS 10.1 and the InVEST 3.5 model, and the per-unit value of RESs was calculated for different LULC types. In addition, in accordance with the Overall Planning for HTRNP and the objective of optimizing RESs, the value of RESs in short-term (to 2030) and long-term (to 2050) scenarios was forecast via a linear programming model. The results are as follows: (1) The RES value of HTRNP in 2020 was CNY 2090.67 × 108, with climate regulation accounting for the largest proportion; the spatial distribution of RESs in the eastern and central areas was higher than that in the western area, but different indicators of RESs differed in their spatial patterns in varied geographic units. (2) The natural forest ecosystem in HTRNP accounts for 76.94% of the total area but 84.82% of the total value of RESs. The per-unit value is ranked from highest to lowest as follows: montane rainforests > wetlands > lowland rainforests > lowland secondary rainforests > tropical coniferous forests > deciduous monsoon rainforests > tropical cloud forests > shrub forests > timber forests > economic forests > rubber forests > grasslands > farmlands > settlements. (3) In the short-term scenario, the value of RESs is CNY 2216.64 × 108, an increase of CNY 118.97 × 108 compared to 2020, with an increase rate of 5.67%. In the long-term scenario, the value of RESs is CNY 2472.48 × 108, an increase of CNY 374.81 × 108 compared to 2020, with an increase rate of 17.87%. The results reveal the significance of ecosystem services in the national park and can inform more targeted and scientifically sound decision-making in the future. Full article
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27 pages, 17698 KiB  
Article
Multi-Scenario Simulation of Land Use and Assessment of Carbon Stocks in Terrestrial Ecosystems Based on SD-PLUS-InVEST Coupled Modeling in Nanjing City
by Qingyun Xu and Kongqing Li
Forests 2024, 15(10), 1824; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15101824 - 18 Oct 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1836
Abstract
In the context of achieving the goal of carbon neutrality, exploring the changes in land demand and ecological carbon stocks under future scenarios at the urban level is important for optimizing regional ecosystem services and developing a land-use structure consistent with sustainable development [...] Read more.
In the context of achieving the goal of carbon neutrality, exploring the changes in land demand and ecological carbon stocks under future scenarios at the urban level is important for optimizing regional ecosystem services and developing a land-use structure consistent with sustainable development strategies. We propose a framework of a coupled system dynamics (SD) model, patch generation land-use simulation (PLUS) model, and integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs (InVEST) model to dynamically simulate the spatial and temporal changes of land use and land-cover change (LUCC) and ecosystem carbon stocks under the NDS (natural development scenario), EPS (ecological protection scenario), RES (rapid expansion scenario), and HDS (high-quality development scenario) in Nanjing from 2020 to 2040. From 2005 to 2020, the expansion rate of construction land in Nanjing reached 50.76%, a large amount of ecological land shifted to construction land, and the ecological carbon stock declined dramatically. Compared with 2020, the ecosystem carbon stocks of the EPS and HDS increased by 2.4 × 106 t and 1.5 × 106 t, respectively, with a sizable ecological effect. It has been calculated that forest and cultivated land are the two largest carbon pools in Nanjing, and the conservation of both is decisive for the future carbon stock. It is necessary to focus on enhancing the carbon stock of forest ecosystems while designating differentiated carbon sink enhancement plans based on the characteristics of other land types. Fully realizing the carbon sink potential of each ecological functional area will help Nanjing achieve its carbon neutrality goal. The results of the study not only reveal the challenges of ecological conservation in Nanjing but also provide useful guidance for enhancing the carbon stock of urban terrestrial ecosystems and formulating land-use planning in line with sustainable development strategies. Full article
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