Search Results (63)

Lore Lindu National Park (LLNP), a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, is characterized by its significant biodiversity and ecotourism potential, including endemic forest orchids and rich cultural heritage. Despite its ecological importance, the park continues to face deforestation and illegal land use, partly driven by limited community involvement in conservation governance. In this study, we examine the co-creation of governance in community-based forest orchid cultivation and ecotourism initiatives in Karunia Village, where local communities have developed organic orchid cultivation practices since 2004. Drawing on the co-creation governance framework of Christopher Ansell, Eva Sørensen, and Jacob Torfing, we employ a qualitative case study approach based on a literature review, field observations, and in-depth interviews conducted over four months. Our findings reveal that each phase of co-creation is shaped by distinct institutional and socio-political dynamics. Initiation is strongly influenced by local economic pressures and social solidarity, while design encounters regulatory barriers related to licensing and conservation policy. Implementation remains constrained by fragmented coordination among multi-level stakeholders, and systematic evaluation mechanisms are largely absent. We propose the use of a Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed (RACI) Matrix to clarify institutional roles and strengthen collaborative governance arrangements. This article contributes to the literature by expanding the empirical understanding of co-creation practices in the Global South and highlighting the importance of institutional and socio-political dimensions in community-based environmental governance. Full article

Traditional villages in the Chaoshan region serve as living repositories of local cultural heritage. Their concentrated and coordinated conservation and utilization can transcend administrative boundaries, enabling the integrated allocation of regional resources and the enhancement of cultural synergy. Currently, conservation practices for traditional villages are largely limited to piecemeal rescue efforts focused on individual villages. There is a lack of systematic understanding from a regional perspective and an explanation of the mechanisms underlying the formation of local landscapes, which hinders the realization of economies of scale in conservation and the development of cultural synergy. To explore effective approaches for the cluster-based conservation of traditional villages in China’s Lingnan coastal region, as well as the characteristics of human–land relationships and their adaptive mechanisms, this study focuses on 115 national and provincial-level traditional villages in the Chaoshan region. By introducing methods of single-factor and multi-factor cluster identification, the study innovatively constructs a four-dimensional cluster identification framework comprising “spatial proximity, geomorphological similarity, cultural convergence, and residential isomorphism,” and, utilizing the ArcGIS platform for coupled analysis, kernel density analysis, cluster identification, and field surveys, systematically analyzed the diverse typologies and landscape-specific characteristics of traditional village clusters in the Chaoshan region. The results indicate the following: (1) The identification of Chaozhou–Shantou traditional village clusters reveals three diverse types—comprehensive, distinctive, and potential—reflecting the richness and diversity of these clusters in the region. (2) Spatially proximate clusters exhibit a single-core, multi-point distribution, topographically similar clusters show differentiated distributions across plains and river valleys, culturally convergent clusters are significantly correlated with cultural carriers such as postal routes, water transport, and trade, and residential distributions are significantly correlated with topography and landforms, collectively constituting the unique character of Chaozhou–Shantou traditional village clusters. (3) Traditional villages in Chaoshan exhibit significant coupling with the natural environment, forming diverse spatial siting patterns in relation to mountains, water, forests, fields, and the sea, reflecting differentiated adaptation to and ingenious utilization of the natural environment. (4) The adaptive mechanism of the landscape of traditional Chaozhou–Shantou villages can be distilled into a three-tiered structure, natural adaptation as the foundation, social adaptation as the framework, and cultural adaptation as the soul, revealing the spatial planning wisdom of the Chaozhou–Shantou people in complex mountain and coastal environments. This study not only deepens our understanding of the human–land relationship in traditional villages of the Chaoshan region but also provides scientific evidence and theoretical support for the holistic preservation of cultural heritage and regional coordinated development. It holds significant practical value for promoting the protection and sustainable development of rural cultural heritage in the Lingnan coastal region. Full article

Developing regions rich in ethnic cultures face structural tensions between cultural heritage preservation, ecological conservation, and economic development. Yet existing research analyzes village types in isolation, overlooks non-additive factor interactions, and lacks frameworks connecting spatial heterogeneity to differentiated sustainability pathways. This study addresses these three gaps through integrated spatial analysis of 4083 characteristic villages across five nationally designated types in Southwest China, a region harboring over 40% of China’s Traditional Villages and high densities of Forest Villages, Key Tourism Villages, Ethnic Minority Characteristic Villages, and Historic and Cultural Villages. Kernel Density Estimation, Average Nearest Neighbor analysis, Standard Deviational Ellipse, and Geographical Detector methods are employed in a three-stage analytical progression. Spatial characterization reveals pronounced heterogeneity with “large-scale dispersion, small-scale agglomeration” patterns and systematic cross-type spatial co-location in high-heritage, high-vulnerability zones. Mechanism quantification shows that intangible cultural heritage (q-values 0.66–0.78) and GDP per capita (q-values 0.68–0.82) are dominant drivers whose pairwise interactions exceed individual effects by 40–60%. Sustainability classification translates q-value-weighted composite indices into four context zones across 506 counties, Culture-Ecology Tension Zones (22.7%), Economic Isolation Nodes (17.0%), Tourism-Driven Development Corridors (19.6%), and Balanced Development Potentials (40.7%), each exhibiting a distinct configuration of cultural, ecological, and economic conditions that necessitates differentiated pathways. The “culture-ecology-economy” tripartite framework advances sustainability science in three ways: it empirically identifies non-additive spatial interactions as generative mechanisms of heterogeneity, achieves a methodological progression from pattern description to sustainability diagnosis, and reconceptualizes cultural heritage from a development constraint into a measurable sustainability asset. The framework is transferable to analogous mountain regions globally where heritage-rich communities confront coupled ecological and economic vulnerabilities. Full article

This study evaluates the costs and benefits of participatory forest management (PFM) versus non-participatory forest management based on the perceptions and involvement of local communities in the Kilombero Valley Ramsar site, Tanzania. The area hosts ecologically significant wetlands managed through different regimes: forests managed by local communities under PFM and protected areas controlled by national authorities. Using data collected through focus groups, key interviews, household surveys, and direct observations in two villages—Siginali (PFM) and Kilama (non-participatory)—this research explores perceptions of two different forest management approaches. The results revealed: (i) a generally low awareness and participation in forest management activities in both villages; (ii) restrictions on forest resource access, essential for local livelihoods, were common and often poorly accepted in the two villages; (iii) neither approach alleviates poverty, instead, strict regulations have worsened livelihoods by eliminating traditional income sources; (iv) forced participation in patrols and fire control was also noted as an unfair burden without direct compensation; and (v) the “fortress” model is perceived as more effective at improving forest health and stopping illegal activity due to stricter patrols. The study concludes that while PFM supports forest sustainability, it needs enhanced local engagement, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and complementary income-generating initiatives such as ecotourism to sustainably balance conservation and community welfare. Full article

Ecological resettlement (ER), or conservation-led displacement, is widely implemented to safeguard biodiversity but often produces complex socio-ecological outcomes. This study assessed the environmental justice (both social and ecological) impacts of ER in Nepal’s Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) using an enhanced (including social, ecological, and environmental aspects) environmental justice (EJ) framework. Data were collected from 240 households across all resettled villages within the Chitwan and Parsa National Parks (NPs) of Nepal through household interviews, key informant interviews, focus groups, and field observations, supplemented by policy reviews, reports, and unpublished documents. Household demographics indicated an average family size of 5.5, gender parity (664 females, 658 males), and diverse caste/ethnic composition (ethnic: 146 households; higher caste: 64; lower caste: 6). Wealth distribution and literacy were uneven, with disparities in land ownership, assets, and social positions. Social and ecological justice outcomes were analysed using chi-square and McNemar tests. We observed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in substantive justice (food, shelter, clothing, and security) attributes before and after the resettlements. Similarly, significant improvements post-resettlement were observed in procedural and recognition justice: participation in decision-making increased from 43% to 62% (χ² = 12.34, p < 0.05). However, recognition of Indigenous knowledge and FPIC rights remained low, with 93% of households reporting inadequate acknowledgment (χ² = 198.5, p < 0.05). Distributive justice indicators, including access to compensation and forest resources, showed mixed outcomes, with 52% reporting fair compensation and 48% citing inequities (p < 0.05). Ecological outcomes also shifted significantly: forest cover decreased in 65% of surveyed areas post-resettlement, while grassland extent increased in 28% (χ² = 27.4, p < 0.05). Water source accessibility declined for 48% of households (χ² = 21.6, p < 0.05), and bushfire incidence decreased by 15% (χ² = 9.8, p < 0.05). Composite scoring revealed strong linkages between social justice deficits and ecological downturn in the resettled areas, suggesting that inadequate participation, recognition, inequitable compensation, and ecological degradation shift the issues from parks to the outside and exacerbate environmental vulnerability. These findings demonstrate that ER can achieve partial ecological objectives inside the parks but often perpetuates social inequities and ecological downturn in the resettled areas, undermining the long-term sustainability of the socio-ecological landscape. The study highlights the critical need to integrate social justice, participatory governance, and ecological monitoring into resettlement planning. Future policies should be grounded in the understanding that conservation effectiveness and social equity are mutually reinforcing, and that ignoring justice dimensions risks undermining both biodiversity outcomes and human wellbeing. Full article

The enclave villages of Lake Malawi National Park (LMNP) are human settlements within a World Natural Heritage landscape. While social heterogeneity has been widely discussed in social–ecological systems (SES) scholarship, ethnic diversity has often remained analytically implicit. This study makes ethnic diversity central to analysis by examining how it shapes livelihoods, resource use, and governance across enclave villages. Drawing on an integrated household survey, key informant interviews, and extended field observations, and informed by collaboration theory, the SES framework, and scholarship on social differentiation, the analysis shows that ethnic diversity facilitates exchanges of fishing techniques, farming skills, ecological knowledge, and market linkages, producing plural and seasonally adaptive livelihood portfolios. Households routinely combine fishing, agriculture, tourism, petty trade, and forest use, contributing to diversified resource use. However, pressures on fish stocks, forest resources, and agricultural land highlight the need for more inclusive co-management. Emerging community-based institutions and collaborative initiatives increasingly facilitate coordination, rule-making, and shared stewardship. Overall, the findings identify practical and conceptual entry points through which ethnic diversity, ecological knowledge, and adaptive livelihoods can jointly support more resilient and inclusive pathways for sustainability at the crossroads of resource-dependent livelihoods and conservation, offering insights for socially diverse human–nature landscapes. Full article

Traditional villages, as carriers of agricultural civilization and ecological wisdom, represent important sites for fostering new-quality productive forces. In the context of rapid urbanization, they function as key spaces for rural development while also confronting vulnerabilities such as spatial functional imbalance and ecological degradation. Within the production–living–ecology (PLE) spaces, dependence on labor-intensive and capital-intensive agricultural models often results in resource misallocation and systemic dysfunction. New-quality productive forces, driven by innovation and green transition, provide a fresh perspective for sustainable rural spatial restructuring. However, their micro-scale mechanisms within traditional villages remain underexplored. This study focuses on 22 nationally recognized traditional villages in Foshan, China. Based on land-use and socioeconomic data from 1993, 2003, 2013, and 2023, we applied land-use transition matrices, a coupling coordination degree model, and geographical detector analysis to examine the evolution of PLE spatial patterns and their driving mechanisms. The findings show that (1) spatially, the share of living space increased significantly, while ecological and agricultural production spaces continued to shrink, reflecting heightened competition among the three; (2) the overall coupling coordination degree exhibited a declining trend, indicating weakened synergy among PLE functions; (3) key drivers of system coordination include per capita disposable income of rural residents, agricultural labor productivity, regional technological innovation capacity, and forest coverage, underscoring the synergistic role of socioeconomic and ecological factors in new countryside development. This study elucidates the micro-spatial pathways through which new rural construction and conservation mechanisms operate, providing a reference for context-sensitive conservation and high-quality development of traditional villages in rapidly industrializing regions. The analytical framework can also be extended to other rural areas undergoing transition. Full article

Bird–plant interactions are critical for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function, and represent a key research focus in modern ecology. Using the line transect method, we surveyed bird diversity and collected plant trait data in four habitat types in the southern zone of Fujian’s Meihuashan National Nature Reserve during October–December 2021 and July–August 2022. This study investigated how plant traits (tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), canopy density fruit amount) influence the diversity of frugivorous birds (species richness, abundance, Shannon–Wiener, Pielou, Simpson) across four disturbed habitats—villages (residential areas), bamboo forests (economic plantations), unguarded broad-leafed forests (wild forests), and nurtured broad-leafed forests (managed forests)—during both summer (breeding season) and autumn–winter (fruiting season). The key findings revealed that (1) significant correlations between plant traits and bird diversity were exclusive to the fruiting season, with no associations found in summer; (2) during autumn–winter, the key plant traits driving bird diversity varied distinctively by habitat: tree height and canopy density were paramount in villages; both habitat structure (canopy density) and fruit amount were important in bamboo forests, whereas in both broad-leafed forests, a combination of tree structure (height, DBH, canopy density) and fruit amount determined bird abundance; (3) a significant interaction between season and habitat was detected for community evenness, indicating that habitat type modulates the seasonal effects on community composition. This study underscores that in human-modified landscapes, conserving habitat structural complexity and key resource plants is crucial for sustaining frugivorous bird diversity and its ecological functions. Conservation strategies must account for seasonal dynamics to be effective. Full article

The periphery of Lomami National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) is experiencing intense and increasing hunting pressure, driven by both local subsistence needs and growing urban demand for bushmeat. This situation poses a serious challenge to sustainable natural resource management and underscores the need to realign protected-area policies with the realities faced by surrounding communities. In the absence of comprehensive ecological monitoring, this study used hunters’ perceptions to assess the current availability of mammalian wildlife around the park. From October to December 2023, surveys were conducted using a snowball sampling method with 60 hunters from nine villages bordering the park. Results show that hunting is a male-dominated activity, mainly practiced by individuals aged 30–40 years, with firearms as the primary tools. It occurs both in the park’s buffer zones and, alarmingly, within its core protected area. This practice has contributed to the local disappearance of key species such as African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), and African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus), and to the marked decline of several Cephalophus species. These patterns of overexploitation reveal critical weaknesses in current conservation strategies and point to the urgent need for integrated, community-based resource management approaches. Strengthening law enforcement, improving ranger support, and enhancing participatory governance mechanisms are essential. Equally important is the promotion of sustainable alternative livelihoods—including livestock farming, aquaculture, and agroforestry—to reduce hunting dependence and build long-term resilience for both biodiversity and local communities. Full article

In recent years, remote sensing and geographic information systems (GISs) have become essential tools for effective landscape management. This study utilizes these technologies to analyze land use and land cover (LULC) changes in Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, a riverine ecosystem in Assam, India, from its designation as a national park in 2000 through 2024. The satellite imagery was used to classify LULC types and track landscape changes over time. In 2000, grasslands were the dominant land cover (28.78%), followed by semi-evergreen forests (25.58%). By 2013, shrubland became the most prominent class (81.31 km²), and degraded forest expanded to 75.56 km². During this period, substantial areas of grassland (29.94 km²), degraded forest (10.87 km²), semi-evergreen forest (12.33 km²), and bareland (10.50 km²) were converted to shrubland. In 2024, degraded forest further increased, covering 80.52 km² (23.47%). This change resulted since numerous areas of shrubland (11.46 km²) and semi-evergreen forest (27.48 km²) were converted into degraded forest. Furthermore, significant shifts were observed in grassland, shrubland, and degraded forest, indicating a substantial and consistent decline in grassland. These changes are largely attributed to recurring Brahmaputra River floods and increasing anthropogenic pressures. This study recommends a targeted Grassland Recovery Project, control of invasive species, improved surveillance, increased staffing, and the relocation of forest villages to reduce human impact and support community-based conservation efforts. Hence, protecting the landscape through informed LULC-based management can help maintain critical habitat patches, mitigate anthropogenic degradation, and enhance the survival prospects of native floral and faunal assemblages in DSNP. Full article

This study was carried out at 10 randomly selected fringe villages of Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) in the Terai region of West Bengal, India through personal interviews with 100 randomly selected respondents. The study documented 102 non-timber forest products (NTFPs) that were utilized throughout the year. In the local weekly market, 28 NTFPs were found to be traded by the collectors. The study shows that without proper price mechanisms and marketing channels; the residents cannot obtain fair prices for their products. The study found only nine NTFPs that were prominently traded with the involvement of middlemen and traders along with the royalty imposed by the State Forest Department. The MSPs computed for these nine NTFPs were 25–200% higher than the prices the collectors were selling to the traders. The nationalization of NTFPs through MSPs will help their effective marketing, ensuring an adequate income for the collectors, which will lead to their sustainable harvest and conservation through participatory forest management. Introducing MSPs for NTFPs with an efficient procurement network can advance the economic status of the inhabitants. We recommend increasing the inhabitants’ capacity to collect, store, process, and market NTFPs with active policy, institutional, and infrastructural support. Full article

In 1964, the National Forest Reserve Act (B.E. 2507) of Thailand classified all unoccupied forested areas as forest reserve, or pa sanguan. It became illegal to obtain individual land titles in forest reserves, thus reducing the land rights of farmers. In addition, roads could not be built, electricity access could not be provided, and agricultural support programs could not operate on land without land titles. However, in recent years, Thailand’s National Committee on Land Policy (Khana Kammakarn Natyobai Thidin Haeng Chat) has been promoting the Kor Tor Chor (KTC) program for communal land titling, designed to create land tenure clarity but not to provide full ownership rights. The objective of this article is to assess the vertical geographies associated with the KTC program in Nan Province, northern Thailand, and their implications with regard to land rights and accessing government funding, one of the key objectives of KTC. The article reveals that vertical land classification aspects associated with watershed classification present particular challenges to KTC. In particular, we argue that while farmers are generally happy with the benefits that have come to them due to KTC, vertical geographical circumstances have significantly influenced the abilities of village communities to benefit from the KTC program. Full article

Identifying the most suitable areas for developing forest health care in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park (HTRNP) is of great significance to its ecological protection and development. This study selected 107 health care points in HTRNP as research objects to monitor environmental factors, a forest health care evaluation system was constructed based on those environmental factors, and the health care resource points were rated. Kernel density analysis and buffer zone analysis were used to analyze other factors such as roads, villages, and water inside and outside of the national park. Multi-factor superposition analysis of the first-level health care points with other impact factors was performed to obtain a map of the distribution of health care potential in different sub-areas of HTRNP. A total of 67 first-level health care points were selected through the forest health care evaluation system. Through superposition analysis, it was found that, among the seven sub-areas of HTRNP, there are 42 first-level health care points within the 5 km buffer zone for roads and waterways, including 11 in Diaoluo Mountain, 10 in Limu Mountain, 6 in Yingge Ridge, 5 in Jianfeng Ridge, 4 in Bawang Ridge, 4 in Maorui, and 2 in Wuzhi Mountain. There are nine first-level health care points located in the area with a village kernel density greater than 3000, including three in Diaoluo Mountain, two in Limu Mountain, two in Yingge Ridge, and two in Maorui. At the same time, to meet the above two conditions of the first level of health care points, there are six, including three in Diaoluo Mountain, two in Maorui, and one in Yingge Ridge. Through the results analysis, Diaoluo Mountain is considered to be the area with the greatest potential for developing forest health care in HTRNP. In addition, the comprehensive performance of Limu Mountain is second only to Diaoluo Mountain, and Limu Mountain, Maorui, and Yingge Ridge are listed as areas with great potential for developing forest health care. Full article

Forests, as tourism resources with ecological and aesthetic value, play a significant role in rural development. Forest villages, which rely on forest resources, are an essential component of rural construction. Studying the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of national forest villages within provincial administrative areas provides valuable insights into the sustainable development of rural tourism and the achievement of rural revitalization goals. This study examines 125 national forest villages in Liaoning Province. Based on the data on the geographical locations of the villages and their related influencing factors collected during the period from May to December 2024, spatial indices such as the nearest neighbor index, Gini index, and kernel density have been analyzed using mathematical statistics and ArcGIS spatial analysis methods. Additionally, this research investigates various factors influencing the distribution of forests and rural areas, as well as the interaction mechanisms among these factors. The results indicate the following. (1) The spatial distribution of national forest villages in Liaoning Province is clustered and uneven, with a pattern of “dense in the east and west, sparse in the middle”. (2) The number of forest villages in Liaoning Province is generally positively correlated with forest coverage, temperature, rainfall, road network density, and river network density. Conversely, it is negatively correlated with economic development level, population density, total population, and altitude. (3) Geographical exploration results suggest that economic development level and forest coverage rate are the most significant factors affecting the spatial differentiation of forest and rural areas in Liaoning Province. Interaction analysis reveals that river network density and forest coverage rate have the strongest combined effect, followed by total economic output and forest coverage rate. Full article

This paper conducts a scientific assessment of aesthetic quality to provide intuitive and scientific planning strategies for national park construction. Focusing on Qianjiangyuan National Park, the study used the scenic beauty evaluation (SBE) method to subjectively assess landscape photos from 16 sample sites. Objective eye movement indicators describing visual behavior were also analyzed. A national park landscape visual quality assessment model was derived through multiple linear regressions correlating subjective evaluations with objective indicators. Spatial technologies like ArcGIS were used to analyze the visual quality and its spatial distribution. Key findings include (1) subjective evaluations showed higher SBE scores for wetland landscapes, followed by recreational, village, and forest landscapes, (2) eye movement behavior varied across landscape types, with the forest landscape having the shortest first fixation time and the lowest saccade frequency, while recreational landscapes had the lowest average saccade speed, (3) strong correlations were found between SBE and indicators such as average fixation time and saccade frequency, with fixation duration ratio being the leading factor influencing visual aesthetic quality, and (4) visual aesthetic quality was highest in the north and south areas of the park, with significant differences between sample sites in these regions compared to the central area. Among different functional zones, the ecological protection area had the highest quality, while the Suzhuang management area excelled in aesthetic quality compared to the Hetian management area. Full article