Search Results (2,514)

This study investigates flooding and erosion impacts and human responses in Aoraki Mount Cook and Westland Tai Poutini national parks in Aotearoa New Zealand. These fast-eroding landscapes provide important test cases and insights for considering the public access dimensions of climate change. Our objectives were to explore and characterise the often-overlooked role of public access as a ubiquitous concern for protected areas and other area-based conservation approaches that facilitate connections between people and nature alongside their protective functions. We employed a mixed-methods approach including volunteered geographic information (VGI) from a park user survey (n = 273) and detailed case studies of change on two iconic mountaineering routes based on geospatial analyses of digital elevation models spanning 1986–2022. VGI data identified 36 adversely affected locations while 21% of respondents also identified beneficial aspects of recent landscape changes. Geophysical changes could be perceived differently by different stakeholders, illustrating the potential for competing demands on management responses. Impacts of rainfall-triggered erosion events were explored in case studies of damaged access infrastructure (e.g., roads, tracks, bridges). Adaptive responses resulted from formal or informal (park user-led) actions including re-routing, rebuilding, or abandonment of pre-existing infrastructure. Three widely transferable dimensions of public access management are identified: providing access that supports the core functions of protected areas; evaluating the impacts of both physical changes and human responses to them; and managing tensions between stakeholder preferences. Improved attention to the role of access is essential for effective climate change adaptation in parks and reserves. Full article

Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) is a highly contagious disease that affects a wide range of wildlife species, posing a serious threat to biodiversity and conservation efforts. Despite its ecological significance, the transmission dynamics of CDV in wildlife remain poorly understood, especially in tropical ecosystems. One of the main challenges in studying CDV transmission is the lack of reliable epidemiological data and the difficulty in capturing and monitoring wild animals for surveillance purposes. Thus, this study aims to develop a model to estimate the potential transmission of CDV in wildlife populations using spatial heat mapping and the basic reproduction number (R₀) as key indicators. A combination of field observation records, environmental data, and reported CDV cases were used to generate predictive heat maps and simulate disease spread across susceptible wildlife hosts. Results showed that certain environmental factors and animal density hotspots significantly contribute to higher transmission potential of CDV. Preliminary results suggest that high-risk zones can be identified based on overlapping wildlife movement corridors and human interface areas. This modeling approach offers a valuable tool to guide targeted monitoring, early detection and conservation strategies against CDV outbreaks in wildlife. Full article

Despite their ecological and conservation significance, morphometric relations remain scarce for elasmobranch species in the Mediterranean. This study examined morphometric parameters of the eight elasmobranch species (one shark and seven batoids) presented in the Amvrakikos Gulf that has been designated as a National Park. A total of 1247 specimens were sampled between 2022 and 2025, caught by small-scale fishing vessels using trammel nets, gillnets or bottom longlines and collected through onboard surveys or landing sites monitoring. Linear regressions were applied to describe relations between total length and other body measures (disc length, disc width, fork length), and length measurements and body weight. Results showed strong relations across morphometric traits, with R² values exceeding 0.655 for most relations. Growth patterns varied: four species (Aetomylaeus bovinus, Dasyatis pastinaca, D. tortonesei, Mustelus mustelus) exhibited positive allometry, one species (D. marmorata) displayed negative allometry and Gymnura altavela showed near-isometric growth. Sexual dimorphism was generally absent, although significant differences were found between sex in disc width slopes for D. marmorata, Myliobatis aquila and Torpedo torpedo, and in length–weight relations for M. mustelus. These findings substantially fill regional data gaps, offering new baseline estimates for rare and threatened elasmobranchs. Full article

Understanding how climatic variability affects growth and water relations of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is essential for assessing stand sustainability in hemi-boreal regions. Linear mixed-effects models were used to quantify the effects of climatic variability and tree characteristics on stem volume increment (ZV), sap flow (SF), and water-use efficiency (WUE) of Scots pine growing on highly oligotrophic soils in Curonian Spit National Park. Annual ZV was strongly controlled by tree size and seasonal temperature conditions. Higher temperatures in late winter and mid-summer enhanced growth, whereas elevated temperatures in April–May reduced increment. June moisture availability, expressed by the hydrothermal coefficient, had a positive effect, highlighting the sensitivity of growth to early-summer drought and heat waves. Sap-flow density during May–October was primarily driven by climatic factors, with temperature stimulating and relative humidity reducing SF, while tree size played a minor role. Random-effects analysis showed that unexplained variability in ZV was mainly associated with persistent differences among trees and sites, whereas SF variability occurred largely at the within-tree level. In contrast, WUE was dominated by climatic drivers, with no detectable site- or tree-level random effects. Higher June precipitation increased WUE, while warmer growing-season conditions reduced it. Overall, Scots pine growth and WUE are mainly regulated by intra-annual climatic conditions, particularly summer water availability. Despite rapid climatic change, no critical physiological thresholds or growth collapse were detected during the study period, indicating substantial adaptive capacity of Scots pine even under the observed exceptional conditions. Full article

Understanding residents’ perceptions of ecosystem services (ES) and ecosystem disservices (EDS) is crucial for protected areas governance. This study, conducted in China’s Three-River-Source National Park (TNP), employed participatory rural appraisal and household questionnaires to examine local cognitive patterns of ES and EDS, along with their socio-spatial heterogeneity and perceived synergies and trade-offs among them. The key findings are as follows: (1) Cultural services received the highest scores, followed by regulating services, whereas provisioning services, especially food provisioning, were rated as relatively inadequate. Safety threats were considered the most severe EDS. Overall, a Matthew Effect emerged: services with high current perception scores showed an improving trend, while those with low scores deteriorated. (2) Spatially, ES/EDS evaluation scores exhibited a “core zone < general control zone < peripheral zone” gradient. Socio-demographic and economic factors also influenced residents’ perceptions; women and the elderly were especially more concerned about food and energy supply shortages and safety issues. (3) The relationships among the various ES and EDS are primarily synergistic rather than trade-offs. Specifically, gains in regulating services were associated with enhanced cultural services, while declines in provisioning services and intensified safety threats coincided with the deterioration of material EDS. These findings offer a scientific basis for managing protected areas in high-altitude, ecologically fragile regions and provide practical insights for balancing ecological conservation with community development. Full article

Against the backdrop of China’s comprehensive rural revitalization strategy and ongoing national park development, how universities can leverage scientific research innovation and talent resources to engage in sustainable development practices within local communities has become a focal point for both academia and policymakers. This study examines the “Harmonious and Beautiful Mountains and Seas” (HBMS) rural revitalization platform established by the Landscape Architecture discipline at Hainan University, summarizing its practical experience and analyzing its operational mechanisms. From the perspective of innovative governance, the study identifies three core values—“Nurturing Culture,” “Rural Brilliance,” and “Constructing Meaning”—and, on this basis, explores mechanisms for enhancing community resilience and pathways for brand-oriented operation in national park communities. The study aims to elucidate a novel model of university–rural collaborative revitalization. Research indicates that the “Mountain–Sea Synergy” model is not a singular community development solution, but rather a practical governance framework centered on multi-stakeholder collaborative governance mediated by universities. Its core value manifests across three dimensions: cultural revitalization, youth empowerment, and community-building significance. This model provides replicable endogenous development insights for national park communities operating under ecological conservation constraints, while also enriching university–rural collaborative research with practical case studies within the Chinese context. Full article

Tropical rainforests play a vital role in maintaining global ecological balance, carbon cycling, and biodiversity conservation, making research on their biomass dynamics scientifically significant. This study integrates multi-source remote sensing data, including canopy height derived from GEDI and ICESat-2 satellite-borne lidar, Landsat imagery, and environmental variables, to estimate forest biomass dynamics in Hainan’s tropical rainforests at a 30 m spatial resolution, involving a correlation analysis of factors influencing spatiotemporal changes in Hainan Tropical Rainforest biomass. The research aims to investigate the spatiotemporal variations in forest biomass and identify key environmental drivers influencing biomass accumulation. Four machine learning algorithms—Backpropagation Neural Network (BP), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Random Forest (RF), and Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT)—were applied to estimate biomass across five forest types from 2003 to 2023. Results indicate the Random Forest model achieved the highest accuracy (R² = 0.82). Forest biomass and carbon stocks in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park increased significantly, with total carbon stocks rising from 29.03 million tons of carbon to 42.47 million tons of carbon—a 46.36% increase over 20 years. These findings demonstrate that integrating multimodal remote sensing data with advanced machine learning provides an effective approach for accurately assessing biomass dynamics, supporting forest management and carbon sink evaluations in tropical rainforest ecosystems. Full article

This article examines how the Park Chung Hee regime reshaped the public memory of the Neo-Confucian philosopher Yi I (penname Yulgok, 1536–1584) by recasting him as a model of patriotic nationalism. Beginning with the inauguration of the Yulgok Festival in 1962, Yi I was no longer commemorated solely as a scholar of the Chosŏn dynasty; instead, the regime portrayed him as a patriotic sage who advocated for military preparedness. Drawing on archival materials (presidential speeches, heritage management reports, newspaper articles), this study reconstructs the policy discourse surrounding Yulgok and traces the state-driven mechanisms that reframed his public image. The analysis shows that Yulgok’s image became embedded in political rituals, monumentalized in public spaces, circulated in everyday life through currency iconography, and materialized in physical heritage sites transformed to embody a purified, idealized vision of the past. Together, these initiatives positioned the state as the custodian of Yulgok’s memory, aligning his image with the ideological priorities of the militarist state. Full article

China’s National Eco-Industrial Parks (NEIPs) represent a significant policy intervention designed to achieve the synergistic reduction in pollution and carbon emissions. While previous studies have examined the impacts of NEIPs on pollution and carbon emissions in isolation, research on their synergistic reduction is still limited. This study constructs a Carbon-Pollution Co-Reduction Index (CPCRI) with weights determined by the entropy weight method (EWM) to capture the joint performance of emission intensities. By applying a staggered difference-in-differences (SDID) model to city-level panel data from the Yangtze River Delta between 2003 and 2021, the study finds that NEIPs significantly improve the CPCRI of cities where NEIPs are located by 2.30 percentage points. This positive effect exhibits a time lag, becoming statistically significant three years after establishment and strengthening thereafter. Mechanism analyses indicate that the synergistic reductions are driven by technological innovation and reduced energy intensity, while heterogeneity analyses reveal that the policy effect is more pronounced in economically developed provinces and larger cities but has diminished in recent years. Then, a coupling coordination degree (CCD) is integrated to construct a new index to capture both joint performance and synergy between reductions. These findings provide robust empirical support for NEIPs as a practical policy tool to achieve sustainable industrial transformation in the Yangtze River Delta. Full article

Zion National Park has seen substantial increased visitor use in recent years, bringing forward a number of visitor use management challenges. Many visitors consider the park’s Angels Landing trail, a steep and relatively challenging hike, a primary destination in the park. A number of well documented fatalities have been associated with the Angels Landing trail, prompting substantial risk management concerns. In the context of increased visitor use and increased attention to these fatalities, this research reviews literature on crowding and risk management before using National Park Service and media reports concerning 16 deaths associated with Angels Landing to characterize trends among age, gender, time of day, specific location, and other factors. Findings note that few of the fatalities occurred on the trail itself; those that did were not on the sections of the trail where risk management interventions have been installed, and none were associated with crowding or high visitor use. From these analyses, managers should consider disentangling notions of crowding and risk, particularly in light of new management strategies concerning permitting and limiting hikers on Angels Landing. Full article

Argyreia elegans Traiperm, Tetsana & Chitchak, sp. nov., from northern Thailand is described and illustrated. The new species resembles A. kerrii Craib but differs in terms of having lanceolate to oblong leaves, up to two inflorescences (each bearing 1–3 flowers emerging from an axillary bud), and outer sepals that are densely velvety-pubescent on the abaxial side. A detailed description, an updated key to the species for the Flora of Thailand, as well as anatomical, micromorphological, and taxonomic notes are provided. Full article

The mangrove ecosystems in Muara Angke, Jakarta, serve as a national benchmark for sustainable mangrove management in Indonesia, yet face significant urban pressures threatening their long-term viability. This study evaluates the ecological integrity and governance effectiveness of this critical ecosystem, covering Wildlife Reserve, Nature Park, Protected Forest, and Production Forest areas totaling 327.7 hectares. An exploratory mixed-methods approach was employed over four months (June–September 2025), integrating vegetation diversity assessments through plot sampling, avifauna surveys via point count methods, herpetofauna identification using Visual Encounter Surveys, water quality assessments through systematic literature review, geospatial analysis of mangrove dynamics using Sentinel-2A imagery (2015–2025), and social-governance evaluation using close-ended questionnaires and One Score One Criteria Scoring System. Results revealed moderate to severe water pollution with phosphate and nitrate exceeding standards, moderate vegetation diversity (13 species; Shannon-Wiener H′ = 1.466–1.728), high avifaunal diversity (55 species; H′ = 3.54) confirming significance along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, and significant sediment accretion (32 hectares) attributed to coastal reclamation. Management evaluation identified critical conservation compliance deficiencies (score 1.43/7). The findings indicate urgent need for integrated interventions including pollution control, ecosystem-based restoration, enhanced monitoring, and cross-sector policy integration to prevent rapid mangrove degradation and ensure sustainability of this ecologically significant urban mangrove ecosystem. Full article

The global literature underscores a set of human wellbeing challenges and opportunities for forestland exploitation, albeit the lack of region-specific evidence. This concerns the Congo Basin, the second-largest forest ecosystem in the world. This study uses the case of the Campo Ma’an Landscape to: (i) analyze the challenges linked to the exploitation of forestland resources, and (ii) explore forest resource exploitation opportunities in the landscape. The study employed a random sample of 200 natural resource-dependent households drawn from four study zones—Niete, Campo, Ma’an and Akom II. This was complemented by focus group discussions (n = 4), key informant (n = 6) and expert (n = 6) interviews. The descriptive and inferential analyses led to the following results: First, economic, technical, socio-cultural and institutional challenges affect the sustainable exploitation of forestland resources in the Campo Ma’an Landscape. The economic challenges of forest (B = −0.389, p = 0.01) and land resource exploitation (B = −0.423, p = 0.006) significantly affect sustainable exploitation compared to other challenges, leading to biodiversity loss and deforestation. These constitute a threat to planetary health systems. Almost all households rely on forestland resources for their livelihoods and development, with opportunities for land resource exploitation outweighing those in forest resource exploitation. Protected area management and agriculture are affected owing to competing interests among farmers, conservationists and other land users. Thus, short-term economic gains are prioritized over long-term sustainability, putting the resource landscape at risk of degradation and future uncertainties. Integrated stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and policy revision could enhance the planetary health approach by linking the social, economic and environmental dimensions of forestland resource management. Full article

National urban wetland parks serve as key platforms for ecological conservation and recreation, yet the synergistic mechanisms between plant color dynamics and public aesthetic perception remain underexplored. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for evidence-based, climate-resilient landscape design. This study quantifies statistical associations between seasonal color and aesthetic patterns in two national wetland parks (South Dian Lake and Laoyu Lake, Kunming) using Hue–Saturation–Brightness (HSB) color metrics and Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) based on year-round monitoring at 24 sample sites. Regression analysis revealed that overall SBE values ranged from −1.027 to 0.756, indicating medium aesthetic quality, with South Dian Lake outperforming Laoyu Lake, particularly in aquatic plant communities. Seasonal trends showed the highest aesthetic preference in winter (orange–yellow dominant, 0.110) and the lowest in early spring (−0.167, yellow dominant), followed by relatively stable values from late spring to mid-autumn (0.007–0.020) and a secondary peak in late autumn (0.029). Higher SBE scores were associated with a dominant hue ratio of 70–75%, balancing color unity and diversity. We identify an operational plant color configuration—70–75% dominant hue, 20% evergreen foliage and 5–7 color types—that corresponds to higher SBE scores. By translating aesthetic responses into quantitative color targets, this study provides guidance for climate-adaptive planting design and seasonal management in subtropical wetland landscapes under global warming. Full article

Forest ecological compensation policies (FECPs) are a key institutional arrangement for balancing ecological conservation and farmers’ development needs in national parks. Existing research has often treated such policies as a homogeneous whole, failing to clearly reveal the mechanisms through which different policy types affect farmers’ livelihoods, while also paying insufficient attention to complex property-rights settings. This study takes Wuyi Mountain National Park—a typical representative of collective forest regions in southern China—as a case study. Based on 239 micro-survey datasets from farming households and employing the mprobit model and moderating effect models, it investigates the influence, mechanisms, and heterogeneity of farmers’ livelihood capital in terms of their livelihood strategy choices under the moderating roles of “blood-transfusion” and “blood-making” FECPs. The results show the following: (1) Among the sample farmers, livelihood strategies are distributed as follows: pure agricultural type (31.8%), out-migration for work type (20.5%), and commercial operation type (47.7%). (2) Farmers’ livelihood capital has a significant impact on their livelihood strategy choice, with different dimensions of capital playing distinct roles. (3) FECPs follow differentiated moderating pathways. “Blood-transfusion” policies emphasize compensation and buffering functions, reducing farmers’ livelihood transition pressure through direct cash transfers; “blood-making” policies reflect empowerment and restructuring characteristics, activating physical assets and reshaping the role of social capital through productive investment. Together, they constitute a complementary system of protective security and transformative empowerment. Accordingly, this study proposes policy insights such as building a targeted ecological compensation system that is categorized, dynamically linked, and precise; innovating compensation fund allocation mechanisms that integrate collective coordination with household-level benefits; optimizing policy design oriented toward enhancing productive capital; and establishing robust monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive management mechanisms for dynamic FECPs. Full article