Search Results (147)

Urban rivers are critical ecological and cultural assets facing accelerating biodiversity loss. This study examines the integrated redevelopment of the Jadro River spring in Solin, Croatia, where a protected ichthyological reserve intersects layered heritage and urban edges to enhance conservation and public value. Using a single-case study design that combines archival project documentation, participant observation by the architect–authors, and a post-occupancy review three years after completion, the analysis synthesizes ecological, social, and design evidence across planning, delivery, and operation phases. The project delivered phased visitor and interpretation centers, accessible paths and bridges, habitat-compatible materials, and formalized access management that relocated parking from riverbanks, reduced episodic pollution sources, and prioritized inclusive, low-impact use. Governance and programming established a municipal management plan, curriculum-ready interpretation, and carrying capacity monitoring, transforming an underused picnic area into an educational, recreational, and conservation-oriented public landscape while safeguarding sensitive habitats. A transferable design protocol emerged, aligning blue green infrastructure, heritage conservation, adaptive reuse, and social–ecological system (SES)-informed placemaking to protect the endemic soft-mouth trout and strengthen a sense of place and community stewardship. The case supports SES-based riverpark renewal in which conservative interventions within protected cores are coupled with consolidated services on resilient ground, offering a replicable framework for ecologically constrained urban headwaters. Full article

To investigate the influence of land use landscape patterns on lake water quality in the basin, the land use and water quality data of the Yilong Lake Basin from 1993 to 2023 were analyzed with a geographic information system, remote sensing, and landscape ecology methods in this research. The results show that (1) the land use landscape pattern and water quality of the Yilong Lake Basin had significant changes: the lake surface area, farmland, and shrubland declined, with grassland showing the sharpest decrease and serving as the main source of conversion to other land types, while forest land expanded and built-up land increased by five times. The landscape pattern analysis showed that the aggregation degree of the core habitat in the basin increased and the landscape had decreased patch density and increased heterogeneity. Regarding water quality, the concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N); permanganate index (I_Mn); and biochemical oxygen demand over 5 days (BOD₅) decreased. Furthermore, the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) increased and the concentration of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) fluctuated for a long time but did not decrease dramatically at the end of the period compared with the beginning. In general, the eutrophication degree of Yilong Lake slightly decreased. (2) The landscape configuration strongly shaped the water quality: the redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that the edge density (ED), landscape shape index (LSI), largest patch index (LPI), and patch density (PD) were negatively associated with the eutrophication of Yilong Lake (TN, TP, NH₄⁺-N, Chl-a), whereas the contagion index (CONTAG) was positively associated; the Shannon’s diversity index (SHDI) was closely linked with TN and I_Mn but negatively with DO; and the patch cohesion index (COHESION) had a low interpretation power for water quality changes. In particular, larger and more cohesive ecological patches supported a higher DO, while an increased patch density was linked to an elevated I_Mn and reduced DO. These results indicate that the restoration of key ecological patches and enhanced landscape cohesion helped to improve the water quality, whereas increased patch density and landscape heterogeneity negatively affected it. (3) In the past 30 years, the ecological management and protection work on Yilong Lake, such as returning farmland to forests and lakes, wetland restoration, and sewage pipe network construction, achieved remarkable results that were reflected in the change in the relationship between land use landscape pattern and water quality in the basin. However, human activities still affected the dynamic evolution of water quality: the expansion of built-up land increased the patch density, the reduction in shrubland and grassland weakened natural filtration, and the rapid urbanization process introduced more pollution sources. Although the increase in forest land helped to improve the water quality, the effect was not fully developed. These findings provide a scientific basis for the management and ecological restoration of plateau lakes. Strengthening land use planning, controlling urban expansion, and maintaining ecological patches are essential for sustaining water quality and promoting the coordinated development of the ecology and economy in the Yilong Lake Basin. Full article

PM_2.5 and O₃ are now the primary air pollutants in Chinese cities and pose serious risks to human health. In particular, the two- and three-dimensional patterns of urban buildings and green spaces play a crucial role in governing the dispersion of air pollutants. Using multi-source geospatial data and 2D/3D morphology metrics, this study employs an Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model coupled with Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) to analyze the nonlinear effects of 2D/3D landscape and green space patterns on PM_2.5 and O₃ concentrations in the central urban area of Guiyang City. The results indicate the following findings: (1) PM_2.5 exhibits a U-shaped seasonal pattern, being higher in winter and spring and lower in summer and autumn, whereas O₃ displays an inverted U-shaped pattern, being higher in spring and summer and lower in autumn and winter. (2) PM_2.5 concentrations are higher in suburban and industrial zones and lower in central residential areas, while O₃ concentrations increase from the urban core toward the suburbs. (3) MV, BSI, BSA, BEL, BD, FAR, and BV show significant positive correlations with both PM_2.5 and O₃ (p < 0.001), whereas TH shows a significant negative correlation with PM_2.5 (p < 0.001). (4) High-density and complex building-edge patterns intensify both PM_2.5 and O₃ pollution by hindering urban ventilation and enhancing pollutant accumulation, whereas moderate vertical heterogeneity and greater tree height effectively reduce PM_2.5 concentrations but simultaneously increase O₃ concentrations due to enhanced VOC emissions. Urban form and vegetation jointly regulate air quality, highlighting the need for integrated urban planning that balances building structures and green infrastructure. The findings of this study provide practical implications for urban design and policymaking aimed at the coordinated control of PM_2.5 and O₃ pollution through the optimization of urban morphology. Full article

Beaver dam–pond systems reshape the hydrology of lowland landscapes by slowing water flow and trapping sediments, thereby reducing the movement of pollutants. This study examined how such beaver-engineered wetlands can naturally filter and signal contamination risks associated with lead (Pb). We combined data from three matrices—bottom sediments, riparian vegetation, and non-invasively collected beaver fur—across three Lithuanian sites (2022–2024). Previously published datasets on plants and sediments were complemented with new information from beaver fur to explore seasonal and age-related effects as well as differences inside and outside dam zones. Lead levels were consistently higher in sediments than in plants, while beaver fur reflected variable, site-specific exposures. These results show that beaver activity contributes to the capture and redistribution of sediment-bound Pb in wetland buffers. The approach demonstrates how beaver habitats can serve as low-cost, nature-based sentinels for pollutant monitoring. Using beaver fur as a non-invasive bioindicator and managing dam stability can improve the ecological and policy relevance of buffer zones. Overall, the findings support the integration of beaver-engineered wetlands into environmental management and EU water policy, contributing to SDG 6 goals for clean water and sustainable wetland use. Full article

The soil condition of Norilsk, a large industrial city located in the Arctic zone of Russia, was assessed for the first time using pollution indices calculated based on the gross content of Pb, Zn, Co, Cd, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mn, As, and petroleum products. The Nemerov Pollution Index (NPI) classifies all Norilsk soil samples as polluted. According to the PLI index, 86% of the soil samples were characterized as polluted, and according to the total pollution index (Zc), 56% of the soil samples were classified as moderately hazardous and hazardous polluted. All soil samples had a medium, high, or very high environmental risk. The high level of soil pollution in Norilsk and the crucial role of nonferrous metallurgy as the primary source of these metals are confirmed. Pollutant content in the soil varied in different districts of Norilsk, with Mn and petroleum products being significant. The maximum heavy metal pollution occurred in the soils of the enterprise protection zones and in the soil of the industrial zones. Airborne pollutants from industrial enterprises are the main cause of heavy metal soil pollution in the Norilsk agglomeration. The contribution of other sources of pollution, typical for various functional areas of the city (e.g., motor transport and waste), is not expressed. Simultaneously, the hydrocarbon content is determined by the location of areas near roads, which is typical for districts with a high population and intensive traffic. Using the example of the Central District of Norilsk, the landscaping of the territory was shown to play a role in reducing the total content of heavy metals. Based on the physicochemical properties of Norilsk’s urban soils, the following key measures are proposed to improve soil quality: increasing organic matter content; ensuring a neutral pH and a high cation exchange capacity; and reducing soil density, which will reduce the toxic load on plants and negative impact on human health. Full article

Particulate matter (PM), particularly PM_2.5, is a major urban air pollution concern globally. While temporary mitigation measures are generally implemented during high-pollution periods, sustainable solutions focusing on forest landscape management are crucial. This study examines the effects of forest landscape types and environmental variables on PM_2.5 concentrations during the high-pollution period (January–March 2022) in South Korea, using data from 40 national air quality monitoring stations. GIS and Fragstats were used to construct spatial variables and landscape indices. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses were then conducted to identify significant factors affecting PM_2.5 concentrations. The aggregated forest model (i.e., without distinguishing between forest types) explained 72.9% of the variance in PM_2.5 concentrations. Forest percent cover (within 5000 m) and distance from the China national border were found to negatively affect PM_2.5 levels, while population size (within 5000 m) and urbanized area patch density (within 5000 m) had positive effects (p < 0.05). By incorporating forest types as variables, the forest type model improved explanatory power to 83.4%. Specifically, mixed forest percent cover (within 5000 m), mixed forest patch density (within 3000 m), and broad-leaved forest percent cover (within 1000 m) were negatively correlated with PM_2.5, while population size and urbanized area patch density (within 5000 m) showed positive effects (p < 0.05). These results highlight the importance of considering forest types, along with anthropogenic environmental variables, when assessing the mitigating effects of forests on PM_2.5, as both showed scale-dependent relationships with pollution levels. This study informs urban planning and long-term environmental management strategies for reducing PM_2.5 pollution. Full article

Riparian zones, located at the interface between terrestrial and aquatic systems, are among the most dynamic and ecologically valuable landscapes. These transitional areas play a pivotal role in maintaining environmental health by supporting biodiversity, regulating hydrological processes, filtering pollutants, and stabilizing streambanks. At the core of these functions lie the unique characteristics of riparian soils, which result from complex interactions between water dynamics, sedimentation, vegetation, and microbial activity. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the origin, structure, and functioning of riparian soils, with particular attention being paid to their physical, chemical, and biological properties and how these properties are shaped by periodic flooding and vegetation patterns. Special emphasis is placed on Mediterranean riparian environments, where marked seasonality, alternating wet–dry cycles, and increasing climate variability enhance both the importance and fragility of riparian systems. A bibliographic study, covering 25 years (2000–2025), was carried out through Scopus and Web of Science. The results highlight that riparian areas are key for carbon sequestration, nutrient retention, and ecosystem connectivity in water-limited regions, yet they are increasingly threatened by land use change, water abstraction, pollution, and biological invasions. Climate change exacerbates these pressures, altering hydrological regimes and reducing soil resilience. Conservation requires integrated strategies that maintain hydrological connectivity, promote native vegetation, and limit anthropogenic impacts. Preserving riparian soils is therefore fundamental to sustain ecosystem services, improve water quality, and enhance landscape resilience in vulnerable Mediterranean contexts. Full article

Non-point source pollution (NPS) from agriculture is a primary driver of water eutrophication, necessitating effective control for regional water ecological security and sustainable agricultural development. This study focuses on the Chenzhuang village watershed, a typical green agricultural demonstration area in Jiangsu Province, using the HYPE model to analyze hydrological processes and Total Nitrogen (TN) and Total Phosphorus (TP) migration patterns. The model achieved robust performance, with Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) values exceeding 0.7 for daily runoff and 0.35 for monthly TN and TP simulations, ensuring reliable predictions. A multi-scenario simulation framework evaluated the synergistic control effectiveness of Best Management Practices (BMPs), including agricultural production management, nutrient management, and landscape configuration, on TN and TP pollution. The results showed that crop rotation reduced annual average TN and TP concentrations by 11.8% and 13.6%, respectively, by shortening the fallow period. Substituting 50% of chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers decreased TN by 50.5% (from 1.92 mg/L to 0.95 mg/L) and TP by 68.2% (from 0.22 mg/L to 0.07 mg/L). Converting 3% of farmland to forest enhanced pollutant interception, reducing TN by 4.14% and TP by 2.78%. The integrated BMP scenario (S13), combining these measures, achieved TN and TP concentrations of 0.63 mg/L and 0.046 mg/L, respectively, meeting Class II surface water standards since 2020. Economic analysis revealed an annual net income increase of approximately 15,000 CNY for a 50-acre plot. This was achieved through cost savings, increased crop value, and policy compensation. These findings validate a “source reduction–process interception” approach, providing a scalable management solution for NPS control in small rural watersheds while balancing environmental and economic benefits. Full article

Global climate change, combined with the construction of impermeable urban elements, tends to increase runoff, which might cause flooding and reduce groundwater recharge. Moreover, the first flash of these areas might accumulate pollutants that might deteriorate groundwater quality. A digital elevation model (DEM) describes urban landscapes by representing the watershed relief at any given location. While, in concept, finer DEMs and land use classification (LUC) are yielding better hydrological models, it is suggested that over-accuracy overestimates minor tributaries that might be redundant. Optimal DEM resolution with integrated spectral and feature-based LUC was found to reflect the hydrological network’s significant tributaries. To cope with the karstic urban watershed complexity, ModClark Transform and SCS Curve Number methods were integrated over a GIS-HEC-HMS platform to a nominal urban watershed sub-basin analysis procedure, allowing for detailed urban runoff modeling. This precise urban karstic terrain modeling procedure can predict runoff volume and discharge in urban, mountainous karstic watersheds, and may be used for water-sensitive design or in such cities to control runoff and prevent its negative impacts. Full article

Amphibians are particularly vulnerable to hydric stress due to their permeable skin, biphasic life cycle, and strong dependence on aquatic and moist terrestrial environments. In the Northwestern Mediterranean Basin—one of Europe’s most climate-sensitive regions—the intensification of droughts associated with climate change poses a critical threat to amphibian populations. Increased aridification, either due to higher temperatures or to more frequent, prolonged, and severe drought episodes, can affect both aquatic and terrestrial life stages, directly altering breeding opportunities, larval development, post-metamorphic survival, and dispersal capacity. This review aims to gather and synthesize current knowledge on the ecological, physiological, and demographic impacts of drought on amphibians of the Northwestern Mediterranean across habitat types, including ephemeral ponds, permanent water bodies, lotic systems, and terrestrial landscapes, including a final section on possible mitigation actions. Drought-induced shifts in hydroperiod can drastically reduce reproductive success and accelerate larval development with fitness consequences while, on land, desiccation risk and habitat degradation could limit access to refugia and fragment populations by reducing structural connectivity. These environmental constraints are compounded by the interactions between drought and emerging infectious diseases. We discuss the current knowledge on how chytrid fungi (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and B. salamandrivorans) and ranaviruses may respond to temperature and moisture regimes, and how drought may affect their transmission dynamics, host susceptibility, and pathogen persistence. In these cases, microbiome disruption, pollutant concentration, and increased contact rates between species may amplify disease outbreaks under dry conditions, but a better understanding of the multifactorial effects of drought on amphibian biology and disease ecology is needed for predicting species vulnerability, identifying high-risk populations, and guiding future conservation and management strategies in Mediterranean environments. Full article

Starting from the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century to date, urban areas have faced increasing environmental challenges due to the diffusion of harmful substances, resulting from vehicular traffic, the activities of different industries, waste, and building construction, etc. These pollutants are dangerous, since they pose a threat to both the environment and human health. Phytoremediation is an environmentally friendly and low-cost technique that uses plants and their associated microorganisms to clean-up contaminated sites. In this review, we explore its main applications in urban settings. Specifically, we investigate how phytoremediation works, highlighting the most effective plants for its success in a city context. Moreover, we also describe the main factors influencing its effectiveness, such as soil, climate, and pollutants. In this regard, several case studies, conducted worldwide, have reported on how phytoremediation can successfully reclaim contaminated areas, transforming them into reusable city green spaces, with reduced costs compared to traditional remediation techniques (e.g., soil replacement, soil washing, etc.). Moreover, by integrating it into urban planning, cities can address environmental pollution, while promoting biodiversity, enhancing the landscape, and increasing its social acceptance. This nature-based solution offers a practical path toward more sustainable and resilient urban environments, especially in regard to the climate change framework. Full article

During the intense heatwaves of late summer 2024, Washington, D.C.’s urban landscape revealed the powerful influence of urban morphology on microclimates and air quality. This study investigates the impact of building height-to-width (H/W) ratios on the urban heat island (UHI) effect, using a combination of field measurements and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to understand the dynamics. Street-level data collected from late August to November 2024 across three sites in Washington, D.C., indicate that high H/W ratios (1.5–2.0) increased temperatures by approximately 2–3 °C and reduced wind speeds to around 0.8 m/s. These conditions led to elevated pollutant concentrations, with ozone (O₃) ranging from 1.8 to 7.3 ppb, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) from 0.3 to 0.5 ppm, and carbon monoxide (CO) remaining relatively constant at approximately 2.1 ppm. PM_2.5 concentrations fluctuated between 2.8 and 0.4 $\mathsf{\mu }$g/m³. Meanwhile, lower H/W ratios (less than 1.5) demonstrated better air circulation and lower pollution levels. The CFD simulations are in agreement with the experimental data, yielding an RMSE of 0.75 for temperature, demonstrating its utility for forecasting UHI effects under varying urban layouts. These results demonstrate the potential of Computational Fluid Dynamics in not only modeling but also predicting UHI dynamics. Full article

Ecological restoration and brownfield reuse are important issues in the current field of urban sustainable development and environmental protection. This paper adopts bibliometric and network analysis methods, using more than 600 literature from Web of Science (WOS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases as research objects, to analyze the research trends, main researchers, contributions of different disciplines, and research hotspots in ecological restoration and brownfield reuse. Based on the results of quantitative analysis, this paper reviews the main research theories, methods, and technologies of ecological restoration and brownfield reuse at home and abroad, as well as response strategies in different regions and future prospects under challenges. Among the top 10 disciplines in terms of disciplinary contribution, the discipline with the highest relevance in the research articles of CNKI is “Environmental Science and Technology”, accounting for approximately 47.24%. The discipline with the highest relevance in the research articles of WOS is “Building Science and Engineering”, accounting for approximately 61.21%. In terms of research theories and methods, emphasis is placed on the application of ecological engineering, landscape ecology, land economics, and sustainable development methods. At the same time, adaptive management methods are emphasized, aiming to achieve a balance between ecological protection and urban development. In terms of response strategies for different regions, the main strategies for ecological restoration and brownfield reuse are proposed from five main aspects: reducing soil erosion and controlling water pollution, restoring ecological communities and enhancing biodiversity, landscape reshaping and spatial transformation, tourism development, and leisure space design. Based on the current challenges in technology, law, funding, management, and society, research prospects for strengthening interdisciplinary integration, digital drive, interdisciplinary collaboration, and multi-party cooperation in the future are proposed. It can be seen that research in this field is no longer just a simple ecological issue, but a comprehensive social problem. Full article

Light pollution is a rapidly growing environmental challenge, with the global brightness of the night sky increasing by an average of 9.6% per year. This study assessed the ecological impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on protected areas in Poland, including all 23 national and 125 landscape parks, from 2012 to 2023. Based on VIIRS satellite radiance data and modelled sky surface brightness (Sa), we developed and applied the Ecological Light Pollution (ELP) scale, which classifies areas into four classes of ecological impact: strong (ELP-A), pronounced (ELP-B), noticeable (ELP-C), and weak or none (ELP-D). The analysis revealed that 38.5% of protected areas are affected by artificial skyglow at levels classified as ELP-B or ELP-C. Under cloudy conditions, which intensify light pollution effects, 22% of national parks and 41.8% of landscape parks fell into these classes. Notably, Wielkopolski National Park exhibited the most pronounced impact (ELP-B) even under clear skies, primarily due to its proximity to the Poznań metropolitan area. In contrast, Bieszczadzki and Białowieski National Parks recorded near-natural darkness (ELP-D). These light pollution effects can disrupt nocturnal species’ behaviour, reduce biodiversity, and degrade opportunities for dark-sky tourism. The findings emphasise the need for targeted mitigation, including stricter outdoor lighting regulations, formal dark-sky protection zones, and public education to preserve protected areas’ ecological integrity and tourism potential. Full article

Climate change significantly impacts child health, with Brazilian children facing unique vulnerabilities due to the country’s environmental and socioeconomic landscape. This article explores how rising temperatures, pollution, and extreme weather amplify respiratory, neurological, and psychological issues, spread vector-borne diseases, and reduce food security, disproportionately impacting children and adolescents. We also discuss mitigation strategies and recommendations for climate adaptation, including initiatives for sustainable land-use, expanded educational and health programs, and enhanced support for biodiversity conservation. These actions are essential to safeguarding child health and addressing the growing climate crisis nationally and internationally. Full article