Search Results (227)

Lifestyle blocks (LBs) are small rural holdings primarily used for residential and recreational purposes rather than commercial farming. Despite the rapid expansion of LBs over the last 25 years, which has been driven by lifestyle amenity preference and land subdivision incentives, their environmental performance remains understudied. This is the case even though their proliferation is leading to an irreversible loss of highly productive soils and accelerating land fragmentation in peri-urban areas. Through undertaking a systematic literature review of relevant studies on LBs in New Zealand and comparable international contexts, this paper aims to quantify existing knowledge and suggest future research needs and management strategies. It focuses on the environmental implications of LB activities in relation to water consumption, food production, energy use, and biodiversity protection. The results indicate that variation in land use practices and environmental awareness among LB owners leads to differing environmental outcomes. LBs offer opportunities for biodiversity conservation and small-scale food production through sustainable practices, while also presenting environmental challenges related to resource consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and loss of productive land for commercial agriculture. Targeted landscape design could help mitigate the environmental pressures associated with these properties while enhancing their potential to deliver ecological and sustainability benefits. The review highlights the need for further evaluation of the environmental sustainability of LBs and emphasises the importance of property design and adaptable planning policies and strategies that balance environmental sustainability, land productivity, and lifestyle owners’ aspirations. It underscores the potential for LBs to contribute positively to environmental management while addressing associated challenges, providing valuable insights for ecological conservation and sustainable land use planning. Full article

As a core element of comprehensive land consolidation, cultivated land serves as both a fundamental resource and strategic platform for driving rural revitalization and advancing ecological civilization development. Based on the five periods of remote sensing monitoring data of land use from the 1980 to 2020 in Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County, this study systematically examines cultivated land transfer dynamics and quantitatively assesses fragmentation levels through landscape metrics analysis, with the ultimate objective of informing strategic land consolidation planning at the county scale. The results indicate that (1) the cultivated land transformation in Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County exhibited distinct temporal patterns demarcated by 2010. During the initial phase, limited land transfers predominantly involved woodland transfers, characterized by cross-regional occupation–compensation dynamics and a northwest-oriented spatial shift. The subsequent phase witnessed substantial transfer intensification, incorporating grassland and construction land transfers alongside woodland. This period demonstrated balanced intra-township occupation–compensation mechanisms and a marked southeastward migration of transfer concentration; (2) cultivated land transfer dynamics demonstrated greater intensity in topographically moderate townships, whereas northwestern mountainous townships characterized by elevated altitudes and pronounced gradients maintained comparative spatial stability in transfer patterns; (3) cultivated land fragmentation exhibited topographic modulation, with reduced spatial disaggregation in low-lying plains contrasting elevated indices across northwestern highland terrains; and (4) the cultivated land area showed a predominant reduction in low-elevation and gentle-slope regions, accompanied by a decrease in landscape fragmentation. Conversely, in areas with higher elevations and steeper slopes, expansions in both cultivated land area and fragmentation were observed. Full article

The need to promote proximity tourism in natural areas has made the destinations in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula a benchmark in the development of tourism in traditionally rural and depressed areas. In Ciudad Real province, a sustainable territorial management project was developed based on the uniqueness of its volcanic geoheritage, leading to its designation as the UNESCO Global Geopark “Volcanes de Calatrava, Ciudad Real”. Geoparks promote sustainable activities such as geotourism; thus, an urban geotourism itinerary was proposed in Piedrabuena (Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha) in order to make the natural and cultural geoheritage of a part of the geopark known, which is also a part of the Campo de Calatrava Volcanic Region. For this purpose, 12 natural and cultural resources of the geoheritage of the Piedrabuena volcano, on which the urban centre is located, were identified, inventoried, characterized, and valorised as sites of geotouristic interest, and they were connected along a geotourism itinerary. This itinerary has a 4 km route and up to eight interpretive stops, which allows visitors and tourists to enjoy a geotourism experience based on the volcanic landscape of the geopark, laying the foundations for the creation of other similar experiences. Full article

Against the historical background of the rural revitalization strategy and coordinated regional development, rural characteristic industries constitute the fundamental impetus and strategic avenue for rural spatial commodification processes in the mountainous region of southwest China. As a crucial pathway for enhancing rural spatial value, the driving mechanisms and implementation approaches of rural spatial commodification require urgent theoretical elucidation. This study employs spatial production theory as its analytical framework and adopts a case study approach focusing on Zhongxin Village in the mountainous region of southwest China. Through in-depth interviews, participatory observations, and textual analyses, this study endeavors to unpack the intricate internal logic underpinning the process by which rural characteristic industries propel rural spatial commodification. The research findings demonstrate that under the collaborative mechanism of “government guidance–elite mobilization–villager participation–market penetration,” the systematic synthesis of regional resource endowments, cultural legacies, and market imperatives has culminated in the reconfiguration of local economic structures and the reproduction of rural landscapes. This study further elucidates the structural constraints and potential solutions encountered in the process of rural spatial commodification in southwest China’s mountainous hinterlands. This research provides region-specific implementation pathways for developing characteristic industries and advancing spatial commodification in these regions with geographical location disadvantages and weak economic development, offering significant policy implications for rural revitalization strategies. Full article

The landscape of the Warmian municipality of Dobre Miasto has significant natural and cultural value. However, the municipality’s tourism potential remains untapped. The absence of comprehensive local zoning plans covering the entire municipality or most of its territory has disrupted the landscape, leading to the emergence of visually discordant elements. Due to rapid land-use changes in the Region of Warmia, the protection and preservation of its rich natural and cultural heritage are increasingly challenging. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of natural and cultural resources, as well as tourism infrastructure, on the development potential of rural tourism in Dobre Miasto municipality in Poland’s historical region of Warmia. Attempts were made to identify spatial disparities in tourism attractiveness and to determine the ways in which the local environmental and the cultural landscape may support sustainable tourism planning. The results provide valuable insights for implementing appropriate land-use strategies and setting new directions for future development. Tourism infrastructure has to be modernized, expanded, and adapted to new projects, while ensuring that planning and tourism management align with the principles of sustainable development. The growth of tourism creates new opportunities for stimulating rural areas, but it requires careful planning and the implementation of policies that effectively regulate tourist flows while maintaining ecological and cultural integrity. Full article

This study focuses on Țara Hațegului, a region with significant geological, ecological, and cultural resources, and examines how geosites can inform development strategies that promote geotourism while supporting landscape conservation. The research addresses the need to better integrate geosites into spatial planning by conducting geosite assessment and mapping, overlay analysis with settlement typologies, geosite density analysis, and delineation of priority landscape conservation areas. A methodological framework was developed, combining geospatial analysis, site-specific evaluation, and strategic zoning to support planning and decision-making. In the results, 48 geosites were identified and assessed, out of which 7 were classified as having high Potential Touristic Use (PTU), 13 as moderate, and 28 as low. Spatial analysis revealed that most high-PTU geosites are located in rural or adjacent uninhabited areas, indicating both development opportunities and infrastructural constraints. A geosite density map highlighted clusters suitable for coordinated management, while a prioritization model delineated three landscape conservation zones based on geosite value and distribution. The SWOT analysis further contextualized these findings, outlining strengths such as the region’s rich geoheritage and multi-layered protection, as well as limitations linked to infrastructure and management capacity. By positioning geosites as territorial assets, the research highlights their potential to support sustainable, place-based strategies in regions where geological heritage is a defining element of the local landscape. Full article

Rural settlements in agro-pastoral ecotones reflect the complex interplay between natural constraints and human land use, particularly in ecologically sensitive and climatically transitional regions. This study investigated the agro-pastoral ecotone of eastern Inner Mongolia, a representative region characterized by environmental heterogeneity and competing land use functions. Landscape pattern indices, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, and geographically weighted regression (GWR) were employed to analyze settlement morphology and its environmental determinants. The results reveal a distinct east–west spatial gradient: settlements are larger and more concentrated in low-elevation plains with favorable hydrothermal conditions, whereas those in mountainous and pastoral areas are smaller, sparser, and more fragmented. OLS regression revealed a strong positive correlation between arable land and settlement density (r > 0.8), whereas elevation and slope were significantly negatively correlated. GWR results further highlight spatial non-stationarity in the influence of key environmental factors. Average annual temperature generally shows a positive influence on settlement density, particularly in the central and eastern agricultural areas. In contrast, forest cover is predominantly negative, especially in the Greater Khingan Mountains. Proximity to water resources consistently enhances settlement density, although the magnitude of this effect varies across regions. Based on spatial characteristics and land use structure, rural settlements were categorized into four types: alpine pastoral, agro-pastoral transitional, river valley agricultural, and forest ecological. This study provides empirical evidence that natural factors (topography, climate, and hydrology) and land use variables (farmland, pasture, and woodland) collectively shape rural settlement patterns in transitional landscapes. The findings offer methodological and practical insights for targeted land management and sustainable rural development in agro-pastoral regions under ecological and socioeconomic pressures. Full article

The Yellow River Basin, a cradle of Chinese civilization, hosts traditional riverside villages that embody millennia of cultural and ecological heritage. Despite their significance, rapid urbanization and homogeneous rural development have precipitated landscape homogenization and cultural erosion, threatening these villages’ spatial integrity and cultural capital. Current research predominantly focuses on qualitative characterization of architectural heritage, neglecting quantitative assessments of agroecological synergies and systematic resource endowment analysis. This oversight limits the development of proactive conservation strategies tailored to the integrated cultural–ecological value of these villages, hindering their sustainable revitalization within China’s broader Yellow River Basin high-quality development strategy. Here, we develop a comprehensive framework integrating landscape characterization, value assessment, and conservation strategies for traditional villages along Shaanxi’s Yellow River. Using GISs 10.2 multi-criteria analysis, and field surveys, we construct a hierarchical landscape database and evaluate villages across cultural, ecological, and socio-economic dimensions. Our results reveal distinct spatial patterns, with 65% of historical structures clustered in village cores, and identify four landscape zones requiring targeted conservation. High-value villages (e.g., Yangjiagou) exhibit strong cultural preservation and ecological resilience, while lower-scoring villages underscore urgent intervention needs. We propose multi-scale protection strategies, including regional clustering and village-level tailored approaches, to balance conservation with sustainable development. This study fills the critical gap in systematic resource endowment evaluation by demonstrating how integrated cultural–ecological metrics can guide proactive conservation. Our framework not only safeguards tangible and intangible heritage but also aligns with national strategies for rural revitalization and ecological protection. By bridging methodological divides between qualitative and quantitative approaches, this research offers a replicable model for sustainable rural development in ecologically sensitive cultural landscapes globally, advancing the field beyond static preservation paradigms toward dynamic, evidence-based planning. Full article

Wildfires in central-south Chile, consistent with trends observed in other Mediterranean regions, are expected to become more frequent and severe, threatening ecosystems and impacting millions of people. This study aims to enhance wildfire resilience in the central-south regions of Chile through the provision of robust information on current wildfire management practices and comparison with successful alternatives implemented in other fire-prone Mediterranean regions. With this aim, we consulted 55 local stakeholders involved in wildfire management, and alongside a comparative analysis of wildfire statistics and resource allocation in selected Mediterranean regions, we critically assessed different strategies to improve wildfire prevention and management in central-south Chile. The comparative analysis indicated notable economic under-investment for wildfire prevention in Chile. Compared to other Mediterranean countries, Chile is clearly below in terms of investment in forest fire prevention, both in global (public investment) and specific terms ($ ha⁻¹, GDP per capita). The experts consulted included fuel management, governance and community participation, territorial management, landscape planning, socioeconomic evaluation, and education and awareness as key aspects for wildfire prevention. The results of the questionnaire indicated that there was a broad consensus regarding the importance of managing biomass to reduce fuel loads and vegetation continuity, thereby enhancing landscape resilience. Landscape planning and territorial management were also emphasized as critical tools to balance ecological needs with those of local communities, mitigating wildfire risks. Fire-Smart management emerged as a nature-based solution and a promising integrated approach, combining fuel treatments with modeling, simulation, and scenario evaluation based on local and regional environmental data. Additionally, educational and social engagement tools were considered vital for addressing misconceptions and fostering community support. Besides a better integration of rural planning with social demands, this study underscores the urgent need to substantially increase the investment and significance of wildfire prevention measures in central-south Chile, which are key to improving its wildfire resilience. Our work contextualizes the reality of wildfires in central-south Chile and directly contributes to mitigating this growing concern by critically examining successful wildfire resilience strategies from comparable fire-prone regions, complementing ongoing local efforts and offering a practical guide for stakeholders in wildfire management and prevention, with particular relevance to central-south Chile and other regions with similar characteristics. Full article

This study presents a needs analysis for creating a PhD in Sciences concatenated with the Professional Master’s in Landscape and Rural Tourism at the Colegio de Postgraduados, Mexico. Using a qualitative approach based on documentary analysis and the mapping of 24 PhD programs across Mexico (8), Ibero-America (8), and North America/Europe (8), the research identified a gap in postgraduate education. The comparative analysis revealed that existing programs focus primarily on either conservation or territorial planning, rarely integrating rural tourism perspectives. Key findings show that Ibero-American programs emphasize natural resource management and flexible curricula, while North American and European programs offer approaches in landscape governance but lack rural tourism integration. Based on these findings, five fundamental training axes were defined: (1) research methodology, (2) conservation and management of natural resources, (3) territorial planning and rural development, (4) rural landscape economy, and (5) interdisciplinary approaches. The proposed program seeks to strengthen applied scientific training while responding to Mexico’s educational system transformations. This concatenated PhD will contribute to generating innovative knowledge for sustainable rural landscape development, consolidating CP as a reference institution in this emerging field. Full article

In the evolving landscape of healthcare, telemedicine has emerged as a transformative solution, effectively bridging gaps in medical service delivery across diverse geographic regions. Particularly in rural areas, where access to immediate and specialized care remains limited, store-and-forward telemedicine provides a powerful and practical approach. In rural emergency healthcare settings, resource limitations, specialist shortages, and unreliable connectivity frequently delay critical medical interventions. To address these challenges, this study proposes a store-and-forward telemedicine framework optimized through the use of queueing networks, aiming to enhance emergency response efficiency. The proposed model is structured as a four-node system comprising initial registration, consultation, diagnosis, and treatment. Each node operates as a service queue where patient data are sequentially collected, prioritized, and forwarded. By employing an open queueing network structure, the model devises steady-state probabilities for the number of patients at each node, facilitating a detailed performance analysis of patient flows. Symmetry plays a critical role in maintaining patient flow balance and system stability within the store-and-forward telemedicine model. When the routing probabilities between nodes are balanced, the queueing network exhibits probabilistic symmetry, ensuring consistent transition behavior. Moreover, the directed graph representation of the system demonstrates structural symmetry, reflecting identical service times at all nodes and uniform transition probabilities between nodes. Incorporating the concept of symmetry enables a simplified analytical approach, reduces computational complexity, and provides a more accurate approximation model for evaluating system performance. Full article

The rapid pace of urbanization is contributing to ecological degradation and poses a threat to regional ecological security. Addressing these issues requires effective strategies to mitigate existing environmental challenges. Ecological networks, as the spatial foundation for ecosystem services, play a critical role in reducing environmental degradation. By reconfiguring the spatial relationship between human activities and natural ecosystems, anthropogenic pressures on land can be alleviated. However, most current research focuses on administrative boundaries, which limits spatial continuity and regional coordination. Therefore, constructing ecological networks from a cross-regional perspective is essential for integrated ecological management. This study uses the Yangtze River Delta Ecological Green Integration Demonstration Area as a case study. We construct a blue–green ecological network by applying ecological footprint analysis, Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA), landscape connectivity assessments, the Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) model, and gravity modeling. Practical strategies for integrating the ecological network into territorial spatial planning are also explored. The key findings are as follows: (1) The demonstration area contains 33 ecological source areas, including 20 primary sources located near administrative boundaries and central lakeshore wetlands. A total of 333 ecological corridors were identified. First-grade corridors are primarily located in rural areas, traversing agricultural land and water bodies. (2) We recommend corridor widths of 200 m for first-grade corridors, 60 m for second-grade corridors, and 30 m for third-grade corridors. These widths are based on species characteristics and land use types, and are found to be conducive to species migration and habitat connectivity. (3) We propose the development of tourism landscape zones from a cross-regional perspective, leveraging existing ecological and cultural resources. The multifunctionality of corridors is redefined through the integration of ecological and social values, enhancing their spatial implementation. This framework provides a practical reference for constructing cross-regional blue–green ecological networks and informs spatial planning efforts in other multi-jurisdictional areas. Full article

Free trade zones are key regions experiencing rapid economic growth, urbanization, and a sharp increase in population density. During the development of free trade zones, these areas undergo drastic transformations in landscape types, large-scale urban construction, heightened resource consumption, and other associated challenges. These factors have led to severe landscape ecological risk (LER). Therefore, conducting comprehensive assessments and implementing effective management strategies for LER is crucial in advancing ecological civilization and ensuring high-quality development. This study takes Hainan Island (HI), China, as a case study and utilizes multi-source data to quantitatively evaluate land use and land cover change (LULCC) and the evolution of the LER in the study area from 2015 to 2023. Additionally, it examines the spatial patterns of LER under three future scenarios projected for 2033: a natural development scenario (NDS), an economic priority scenario (EPS), and an ecological conservation scenario (ECS). Adopting a spatiotemporal dynamic perspective framed by the “historical–present–future” approach, this research constructs a zoning framework for LER management to examine the temporal and spatial processes of risk evolution, its characteristics, future trends, and corresponding management strategies. The results indicate that, over an eight-year period, the area of built-up land expanded by 40.31% (504.85 km²). Specifically, between 2015 and 2018, built-up land increased by 95.85 km², while, from 2018 to 2023, the growth was significantly larger at 409.00 km², highlighting the widespread conversion of cropland into built-up land. From 2015 to 2023, the spatial distribution of LER in the study area exhibited a pattern of high-risk peripheries (central mountainous areas) and low-risk central regions (coastal areas). Compared to 2023, projections for 2033 under different scenarios indicate a decline in cropland (by approximately 17.8–19.45%) and grassland (by approximately 24.06–24.22%), alongside an increase in forestland (by approximately 4.5–5.35%) and built-up land (by approximately 23.5–41.35%). Under all three projected scenarios, high-risk areas expand notably, accounting for 4.52% (NDS), 3.33% (ECS), and 5.75% (EPS) of the total area. The LER maintenance area (65.25%) accounts for the largest proportion, primarily distributed in coastal economic development areas and urban–rural transition areas. In contrast, the LER mitigation area (7.57%) has the smallest proportion. Among the driving factors, the GDP (q = 0.1245) and year-end resident population (q = 0.123) were identified as the dominant factors regarding the spatial differentiation of LER. Furthermore, the interaction between economic factors and energy consumption further amplifies LER. This study proposes a policy-driven dynamic risk assessment framework, providing decision-making support and scientific guidance for LER management in tropical islands and the optimization of regional land spatial planning. Full article

Conducting research on the evaluation of rural resilience and risk governance strategies in the middle reaches of the Heihe River can provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development of rural areas in the inland river basins of arid regions. Affected by water resource constraints, the expansion of artificial oases, and excessive exploitation of groundwater, the rural areas in the middle reaches of the Heihe River Basin, the second largest inland river in the arid region of northwest China, are confronted with prominent contradictions in the human-land relationship and urgently need to enhance their ability to cope with risks. Based on the remote sensing data of land use and major socio-economic data, this study draws on the theory of landscape ecology to construct a disturbance-resistance-adaptability evaluation system. Taking Ganzhou District, a typical irrigated agricultural area, as a case study, the study uses the entropy weight method, resilience change rate, and obstacle degree model to analyze the rural resilience level and its changing characteristics from 1990 to 2020, identifies the key obstacle factors affecting the development of rural resilience, and proposes risk governance strategies accordingly. Main conclusions: (1) The overall rural resilience index is relatively low, showing significant spatial disparities. Towns with well-developed multifunctional agriculture, nature reserves, and ecological-cultural control lines have higher resilience indices. (2) The change rate of the rural resilience index demonstrates phase heterogeneity, generally undergoing a “relative stability-increase-decrease” process, and forming a differentiation pattern of “decrease in the north and increase in the south”. (3) Internal risks to rural resilience development in the Ganzhou District mainly stem from low economic efficiency, fragile ecological environment, and unstable landscape patterns, among which efficiency-dominant and landscape-stability obstacle factors have a broader impact scope, while habitat resistance-type obstacle factors are mainly concentrated in the western part and suburban areas. Enhancing the benefits of water and soil resource utilization, strengthening habitat resistance, and stabilizing landscape patterns are key strategies for current-stage rural resilience governance in the middle reaches of the Heihe River. This study aims to optimize the human-land relationship in the rural areas of the middle reaches of the Heihe River. Full article

In the context of increasing urbanisation, the question arises as to whether urban environments can provide honeybee colonies with floral resources comparable to those available in rural areas. The present study sought to evaluate the impact of land cover on nectar collection by bees in urban and rural apiaries. To this end, changes in the mass of 10 hives located in five urban–rural site pairs were monitored over two years (2021–2022) to assess nectar yield, weight loss, and the number of foraging days. The 3 km surroundings of each apiary were analysed using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery from the S2GLC-PL (National Satellite Information System 2025). The analysis identified eight distinct land cover classes: anthropogenic, agricultural, broad-leaved forest, coniferous forest, grassland, shrubs, wetlands, and water bodies. The findings revealed no statistically significant variation in the total nectar collected between urban and rural colonies (72.9 kg vs. 64.5 kg; p > 0.6). However, urban colonies exhibited a significantly higher number of foraging days (67 vs. 56). No significant correlations were identified between specific land cover types and nectar yield. Principal component analysis (PCA) and clustering revealed distinct landscape gradients, yet these did not influence nectar collection. The findings of this study indicate that diverse urban environments have the capacity to support beekeeping to a similar extent as rural areas and may even have superior conditions, provided that the continuity and diversity of nectar plants are maintained. Full article