Search Results (191)

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of death in Bangladesh, disproportionately affecting low socio-economic status (SES) populations. This review, guided by the WHO Social Determinants of Health framework and Rockefeller-Lancet Planetary Health Report, examined how social, economic, and ecological factors link SES to TB burden. The first literature search identified 28 articles focused on SES-TB relationships in Bangladesh. A second search through snowballing and conceptual mapping yielded 55 more papers of diverse source types and disciplines. Low-SES groups face elevated TB risk due to smoking, biomass fuel use, malnutrition, limited education, stigma, financial barriers, and hazardous housing or workplaces. These factors delay care-seeking, worsen outcomes, and fuel transmission, especially among women. High-SES groups more often face comorbidities like diabetes, which increase TB risk. Broader contextual drivers include urbanisation, weak labour protections, cultural norms, and poor governance. Recommendations include housing and labour reform, gender parity in education, and integrating private providers into TB programmes. These align with the WHO End TB Strategy, UN SDGs and Planetary Health Quadruple Aims, which expand the traditional Triple Aim for health system design by integrating environmental sustainability alongside improved patient outcomes, population health, and cost efficiency. Future research should explore trust in frontline workers, reasons for consulting informal carers, links between makeshift housing and TB, and integrating ecological determinants into existing frameworks. Full article

The water-yield function in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) of China for maintaining the basin’s ecological water balance plays a crucial role. Understanding its spatiotemporal variation and the underlying drivers in the basin is crucial for the management, utilization, and development of water resources. Thus, we used the InVEST model to explore its spatiotemporal dynamics across multiple scales (“basin–county–pixel”). Then, we integrated socio-economic and natural factors to elucidate the driving forces and spatial heterogeneity of water-yield dynamics. Our findings indicated that water-yield trends increased in 71.76% of the YRB, and significant water-yield increases were detected in 13.9% of the basin over the past 40 years. A phase-wise comparison revealed a shift in water yield from a decreasing trend in the first two decades to a significant increasing trend in the last two decades. Hotspot analysis revealed that hotspots of increasing water-yield trends have shifted from the downstream section of the basin toward the southwest, while hotspots of decreasing water-yield trends first concentrated in the basin’s southern part and then disappeared. Both natural and socioeconomic factors have exerted positive and negative impacts on water-yield dynamics. Among them, the dynamics of water yield have been predominantly driven by natural variables. Full article

Situated in the southern hilly-mountain belt of China’s “Three Zones and Four Belts Strategy”, Gannan region is a critical ecological shelter belt for the Ganjiang River. Decades of intensive mineral extraction and irrational agricultural development have rendered it into an ecologically fragile area. Consequently, multiple restoration initiatives have been implemented in the region over recent decades. However, it remains unclear how relationships among ecosystem services have evolved under these interventions and how future ecosystem management should be optimized based on these changes. Thus, in this study, we simulated and assessed the spatiotemporal dynamics of five key ESs in Gannan region from 1990 to 2020. Through integrated correlation, clustering, and redundancy analyses, we quantified ES interactions, tracked the evolution of ecosystem service bundles (ESBs), and identified their socio-ecological drivers. Despite a 31% decline in water yield, ecological restoration initiatives drove substantial improvements in key regulating services: carbon storage increased by 6.9 × 10¹² gC while soil conservation rose by 4.8 × 10⁸ t. Concurrently, regional habitat quality surged by 45% in mean scores, and food production increased by 2.1 × 10⁵ t. Critically, synergistic relationships between habitat quality, soil retention, and carbon storage were progressively strengthened, whereas trade-offs between food production and habitat quality intensified. Further analysis revealed that four distinct ESBs—the Agricultural Production Bundle (APB), Urban Development Bundle (UDB), Eco-Agriculture Transition Bundle (ETB), and Ecological Protection Bundle (EPB)—were shaped by slope, forest cover ratio, population density, and GDP. Notably, 38% of the ETB transformed into the EPB, with frequent spatial interactions observed between the APB and UDB. These findings underscore that future ecological restoration and conservation efforts should implement coordinated, multi-service management mechanisms. Full article

Dams play a vital role in securing water and electricity supplies for households and industry, and they contribute significantly to flood protection. Regular monitoring of dam deformations holds fundamental socio-economic and ecological importance. Traditionally, this has relied on time-consuming in situ techniques that offer either high spatial or temporal resolution. Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) addresses these limitations, enabling high-resolution monitoring in both domains. Sensors such as TerraSAR-X (TSX) and Sentinel-1 (S-1) have proven effective for deformation analysis with millimeter accuracy. Combining TSX and S-1 datasets enhances monitoring capabilities by leveraging the high spatial resolution of TSX with the broad coverage of S-1. This improves monitoring by increasing PS point density, reducing revisit intervals, and facilitating the detection of environmental deformation drivers. This study aims to investigate two objectives: first, we evaluate the benefits of a spatially and temporally densified PS time series derived from TSX and S-1 data for detecting radial deformations in individual dam segments. To support this, we developed the TSX2StaMPS toolbox, integrated into the updated snap2stamps workflow for generating single-master interferogram stacks using TSX data. Second, we identify deformation drivers using water level and temperature as exogenous variables. The five-year study period (2017–2022) was conducted on a gravity dam in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, which was divided into logically connected segments. The results were compared to in situ data obtained from pendulum measurements. Linear models demonstrated a fair agreement between the combined time series and the pendulum data ($R^2$ = 0.5; MAE = 2.3 mm). Temperature was identified as the primary long-term driver of periodic deformations of the gravity dam. Following the filling of the reservoir, the variance in the PS data increased from 0.9 mm to 3.9 mm in RMSE, suggesting that water level changes are more responsible for short-term variations in the SAR signal. Upon full impoundment, the mean deformation amplitude decreased by approximately 1.7 mm toward the downstream side of the dam, which was attributed to the higher water pressure. The last five meters of water level rise resulted in higher feature importance due to interaction effects with temperature. The study concludes that integrating multiple PS datasets for dam monitoring is beneficial particularly for dams where few PS points can be identified using one sensor or where pendulum systems are not installed. Identifying the drivers of deformation is feasible and can be incorporated into existing monitoring frameworks. Full article

Amid global environmental changes, urbanisation erodes nature connectedness, an important driver of pro-environmental behaviours and human well-being, exacerbating human-made risks like biodiversity loss and climate change. This study introduces a novel hybrid agent-based model (ABM), calibrated with historical urbanisation data, to explore how urbanisation, opportunity and orientation to engage with nature, and intergenerational transmission have shaped nature connectedness over time. The model simulates historical trends (1800–2020) against target data, with projections extending to 2125. The ABM revealed a significant nature connectedness decline with excellent fit to the target data, derived from nature word use in cultural products. Although a lifetime ‘extinction of experience’ mechanism refined the fit, intergenerational transmission emerged as the dominant driver—supporting a socio-ecological tipping point in human–nature disconnection. Even with transformative interventions like dramatic urban greening and enhanced nature engagement, projections suggest a persistent disconnection from nature through to 2050, highlighting locked-in risks to environmental stewardship. After 2050, the most transformative interventions trigger a self-sustaining recovery, highlighting the need for sustained, systemic policies that embed nature connectedness into urban planning and education. Full article

This literature review investigates how social, cultural, political, and psychological factors contribute to biodiversity loss in coastal ecosystems. While biodiversity decline is often analyzed from ecological or economic perspectives, this review focuses on the societal dimensions that shape environmental attitudes and behaviors. Using a semi-structured approach, we searched Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed studies that address social influences on biodiversity, particularly in coastal contexts. Boolean logic and targeted keywords guided the selection, complemented by snowballing techniques to identify additional relevant literature. From over 600 initial results, 57 studies were included in the final synthesis. The literature spans diverse disciplines, including sociology, political science, environmental psychology, and cultural studies. Although many studies do not explicitly focus on coastal areas, they provide transferable insights into conservation-related behavior and structural drivers of biodiversity pressure. The review identifies thematic clusters and theoretical gaps, particularly regarding underexplored social variables and insufficient attention to multi-level dynamics. Our findings underline the need for stronger integration of societal dimensions into biodiversity research and policy, especially in coastal regions facing complex socio-ecological challenges. Full article

Evaluating the economic value of carbon sinks is fundamental to advancing carbon market mechanisms and supporting sustainable regional development. This study focuses on Fujian Province in China, aiming to assess the spatiotemporal evolution of carbon sink value and analyze the influence of socio-economic drivers. Carbon sink values from 2000 to 2020 were estimated using Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) simulation combined with the carbon market valuation method. Eleven socio-economic variables were selected through correlation and multicollinearity testing, and their impacts were examined using Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) at the county level. The results indicate that the total carbon sink value in Fujian declined from CNY 3.212 billion in 2000 to CNY 2.837 billion in 2020, showing a spatial pattern of higher values in the southern region and lower values in the north. GTWR analysis reveals spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the effects of socio-economic factors. For example, the influence of urbanization and retail sales of consumer goods shifts direction over time, while the effects of industrial structure, population, road, and fixed asset investment vary across space. This study emphasizes the necessity of incorporating spatial and temporal dynamics into carbon sink valuation. The findings suggest that northern areas of Fujian should prioritize ecological restoration, rapidly urbanizing regions should adopt green development strategies, and counties guided by investment and consumption should focus on sustainable development pathways to maintain and enhance carbon sink capacity. Full article

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) and Marine cold spells (MCSs) are oceanic events characterized by prolonged periods of anomalously warm or cold sea surface temperatures, which pose significant ecological and socio-economic threats on a global scale. These extreme temperature events exhibit an asymmetric trend under ongoing climate change in recent decades: MHWs have increased markedly in both frequency and intensity, whereas MCSs have shown an overall decline. Among the potential drivers, mesoscale eddies play a critical role in modulating sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs). Anticyclonic eddies (AEs) promote downwelling, generating positive SSTAs that potentially favor MHWs, while cyclonic eddies (CEs) enhance upwelling and negative anomalies that are potentially related to MCSs. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between mesoscale eddies and MHWs/MCSs using global satellite-derived datasets from 2010 to 2019. By analyzing the spatial overlap and intensity correlation between eddies and MHWs/MCSs, it is found that 12.2% of MHWs are accompanied by AEs, and 13.4% of MCSs by CEs, with a high degree of spatial containment where approximately 90.2% of MHW events are found within the mean eddy contour of AEs, and about 93.1% of MCS events fall inside the mean eddy contour of CEs. Stronger eddies tend to be associated with more intense MHWs/MCSs. This study provides new insights into the role of mesoscale eddies in regulating extreme oceanic temperature events, offering valuable information for future predictions in the context of climate change. Full article

In a warming climate, rising temperature are expected to influence atmospheric humidity. This study examined the spatio-temporal dynamics of temperature (TEMP) and relative humidity (RH) across Equatorial Africa from 1980 to 2020. The analysis used RH data from European Centre of Medium-range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis v.5 (ERA5) reanalysis, TEMP and precipitation (PRE) from Climate Research Unit (CRU), and soil moisture (SM) and evapotranspiration (ET) from the Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model (GLEAM). In addition, four teleconnection indices were considered: El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). This study used the Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator to analyze trends, alongside multiple linear regression to investigate the relationships between TEMP, RH, and key climatic variables—namely evapotranspiration (ET), soil moisture (SM), and precipitation (PRE)—as well as large-scale teleconnection indices (e.g., IOD, ENSO, PDO, and NAO) on annual and seasonal scales. The key findings are as follows: (1) mean annual TEMP exceeding 30 °C and RH less than 30% were concentrated in arid regions of the Sahelian–Sudano belt in West Africa (WAF), Central Africa (CAF) and North East Africa (NEAF). Semi-arid regions in the Sahelian–Guinean belt recorded moderate TEMP (25–30 °C) and RH (30–60%), while the Guinean coastal belt and Congo Basin experienced cooler, more humid conditions (TEMP < 20 °C, RH (60–90%). (2) Trend analysis using Mann–Kendal and Sen slope estimator analysis revealed spatial heterogeneity, with increasing TEMP and deceasing RH trends varying by region and season. (3) The warming rate was higher in arid and semi-arid areas, with seasonal rates exceeding annual averages (0.18 °C decade⁻¹). Winter (0.27 °C decade⁻¹) and spring (0.20 °C decade⁻¹) exhibited the strongest warming, followed by autumn (0.18 °C decade⁻¹) and summer (0.10 °C decade⁻¹). (4) RH trends showed stronger seasonal decline compared to annual changes, with reduction ranging from 5 to 10% per decade in certain seasons, and about 2% per decade annually. (5) Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated a strong negative relationship between TEMP and RH with a correlation coefficient of r = − 0.60. (6) Significant associations were also observed between TEMP/RH and both climatic variables (ET, SM, PRE) and large scale-teleconnection indices (ENSO, IOD, PDO, NAO), indicating that surface conditions may reflect a combination of local response and remote climate influences. However, further analysis is needed to distinguish the extent to which local variability is independently driven versus being a response to large-scale forcing. Overall, this research highlights the physical mechanism linking TEMP and RH trends and their climatic drivers, offering insights into how these changes may impact different ecological and socio-economic sectors. Full article

As an ecological transition zone, the ecosystem of the Qin River Basin in the middle reaches of the Yellow River is of great significance to the regional ecological balance. With the rapid socio-economic development, land use changes are significant, and the spatial and temporal patterns of ecosystems are evolving. Exploring its dynamics and driving mechanisms is crucial to the ecological protection and sustainable development of watersheds. This research systematically examines the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving mechanisms of ecosystem patterns in the middle Yellow River’s Qin River Basin (1990–2020). Quantitative assessments integrating ecosystem transition metrics and redundancy analysis reveal three critical insights: (1) dominance of agricultural land and woodland (74.81% combined coverage), with grassland (18.58%) and other land types (6.61%) constituting secondary components; (2) dynamic interconversion between woodland and grassland accompanied by urban encroachment on agricultural land, manifesting as net reductions in woodland (−13.74%), farmland (−6.60%), and wetland (−38.64%) contrasting with grassland (+43.34%) and built-up area (+116.63%) expansion; (3) quantified anthropogenic drivers showing agricultural intensification (45.03%) and ecological protection measures (36.50%) as primary forces, while urbanization account for 18.47% of observed changes. The first two RDA ordination axes significantly (p < 0.01) explain 68.3% of the variance in ecosystem evolution, particularly linking land-use changes to socioeconomic indicators. Based on these findings, the study proposes integrated watershed management strategies emphasizing scientific land-use optimization, controlled urban expansion, and systematic ecological rehabilitation to enhance landscape stability in this ecologically sensitive region. The conclusions of this study have important reference value for other ecologically sensitive watersheds in land use planning, ecological protection policy making, and ecological restoration practice, which can provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance. Full article

The elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), a Critically Endangered (CR) species, faces numerous threats across its range. Yet, the ecological and anthropogenic factors affecting its conservation in fragmented habitats remain poorly understood. This study integrated field surveys and community questionnaires to assess the distribution drivers and local perceptions, such as attitudes, knowledge, conservation practices, and perceived threats, in the Jalthal Forest, one of the last remnants of suitable habitat for the elongated tortoise in eastern Nepal. Using ArcMap, we established 138 randomly selected grids (500 m × 500 m) to evaluate the environmental covariates of tortoise occurrence and anthropogenic pressures. Generalized linear models revealed that tortoise occurrence was negatively associated with dense ground cover (β = −3.50, p = 0.017) and human disturbance (β = −8.11, p = 0.019). Surveys of local residents from community forest user groups (n = 236 respondents) indicated strong local support for tortoise conservation (69% willing to protect the species). Despite this, the respondents identified persistent threats, including hunting for bushmeat and traditional medicine (74%), habitat degradation (65%), and forest fires. While 60% of the respondents recognized the threatened species status, significant knowledge gaps regarding that status and ongoing illegal exploitation persisted. These findings underscore the need for targeted habitat management, reduced anthropogenic pressures, and community-led initiatives to align local attitudes with conservation actions. This study provides critical baseline data for conserving the elongated tortoise in human-modified landscapes and emphasizes the necessity of integrated ecological and socio-cultural strategies for its long-term survival. Full article

Free-ranging dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) pose a significant but often overlooked threat to wildlife populations and global conservation efforts while also having the potential to contribute positively to conservation initiatives. As generalist predators and scavengers, these adaptable animals can lead to biodiversity loss through predation, disease transmission, competition, and behavioral disruption of native species. This review synthesizes global studies on their ecological impact, highlighting notable cases of predation on endangered species, such as the markhor (Capra falconeri cashmiriensis) in Pakistan and elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) in Mexico, as well as the spread of zoonotic diseases like Echinococcus spp. and canine distemper. A growing concern is hybridization between free-ranging dogs and wild canids. Such genetic mixing can erode local adaptations, reduce genetic purity, and undermine conservation efforts for wild canid populations. Current management strategies—including lethal control, trap–neuter–release, and vaccination—have produced mixed results and face challenges related to data limitations, regional variability, and cultural barriers. This review advocates for integrated, context-specific management approaches that consider ecological, social, and economic dimensions. Future research should prioritize standardized definitions and data collection, long-term evaluation of intervention effectiveness, and the socio-economic drivers of dog–wildlife interactions to develop sustainable solutions for mitigating the multifaceted threats imposed by free-ranging dogs to global diversity. Full article

The low-carbon economy is becoming a critical global development paradigm. As the world’s largest carbon emitter, China’s transition toward low-carbon practices in its construction sector is pivotal for achieving its carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Research into the decarbonization pathways and driving factors of this energy- and emission-intensive industry is essential. It not only reduces the sector’s dependence on traditional energy sources but also provides vital support for China’s national energy conservation and emissions reduction strategy. As the construction industry transitions toward low-carbon sustainability, traditional unidimensional assessments based solely on socio-economic and ecological factors are inadequate. This study proposed an integrated evaluation framework using the CRITIC–TOPSIS model, incorporating technological, social, economic, industrial, and energy dimensions. Panel data on energy consumption in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region were employed to assess the construction sector’s low-carbon development level and an ARIMA model was utilized to forecast its low-carbon potential. The results indicate that from 2011 to 2022, the sector’s total carbon emissions followed a unimodal trajectory (initial increase followed by decline), with indirect emissions exceeding 90%, primarily from cement, steel, and other building materials. The regional construction industry exhibited a unimodal trajectory in low-carbon development, characterized by an initial increase followed by a decline. Average construction carbon emissions reached 41,637.5877 million tons, with a transient surge (69.67% increase) occurring between 2011 and 2014. This was followed by a 41.83% reduction from 2014 to 2022, with emissions projected to stabilize and gradually increase through 2030. Technological and industrial factors constitute the primary drivers of sectoral low carbon. Quantitative analysis identified the capital utilization rate, industrial structure, and construction industry gross domestic product (GDP) as key impediments to low-carbon transition, with average impedance degrees of 8.713%, 12.280%, and 12.697%, respectively. This study has revealed the key driving factors for the low-carbon development of the construction industry, extending theoretical frameworks for construction industry sustainability. These findings offer empirical support for formulating regionally differentiated carbon mitigation policies. Full article

Amidst global shifts in land use patterns due to urbanization, this study focuses on the rapid land use and land cover (LULC) changes in Midnapore City during the periods 2003–2014 and 2014–2024. The study employs Landsat 5 and 8 imagery with 30 m spatial resolution which were processed through Maximum Likelihood Classifier (MLC) algorithms. The results were attained through ArcGIS 10.2.2 and ERDAS IMAGINE 2014 software, with ground-truth validation using data from 117, 111, and 116 points for 2024, 2014, and 2003, respectively. For the validation, the kappa coefficient was calculated and achieved 87.3%, 88.1%, and 81.7% for 2024, 2014, and 2003, indicating substantial accuracy. Using statistical measures such as change matrix union, binary logistic regression, and correlation matrix analysis applied to classified LULC outputs and spatial drivers, the research highlights significant transformations in the region. The study reveals significant transformations, notably the conversion of 77% of forest areas and 5% of fallow land to built-up land. The increased rate of agricultural land conversion to built-up areas is evident after 2014, indicating rapid urban growth. These factors led to the reduction of LULC classes possessing substantial ecological value like forests and scrub lands which are becoming more accessible due to the increasing population. The results point out the drastic alteration of these developments and recommend a planning approach responsive to environmental needs for safeguarded ecological impacts. The research highlights the importance of reforestation, preservation of water bodies, and socio-economic surveillance in fostering urban management and sustainable development in Midnapore City. Full article

The Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage agroecosystem, embody a millennia-old synergy of cultural heritage and ecological resilience, yet face declining water yields amid land-use intensification and climate variability. This study employs the InVEST model and geographic detector analysis to quantify water-yield dynamics from 2010 to 2020 and identify their spatial and mechanistic drivers. Annual water yield averaged 558 mm, with cultivated lands contributing 33% of total volume, while built-up areas reached 980 mm per unit in 2018. A 31% decline by 2020, driven by cropland fragmentation and tourism growth, revealed persistent-yield hotspots in forested central-eastern terraces and cold spots in southwestern dryland margins. Land-use pattern accounted for 80–95% of yield variability, exacerbated by temperature interactions. Forests, delivering 68.7 million m³ over the decade, highlight the hydrological significance of traditional landscape mosaics. These findings advocate reforestation in critical recharge zones, terrace restoration to preserve agroecological integrity, and regulated tourism integrating rainwater harvesting to sustain water security and cultural heritage. By blending hydrological modeling with socio-cultural insights, this study provides a scalable framework for safeguarding terraced agroecosystems worldwide, aligning heritage conservation with sustainable development. Full article