Search Results (183)

The invasion of alien species has emerged as a global ecological challenge and invasive species can seriously threaten the habitats of native plants and intensify interspecific competition, ultimately exerting significant impacts on local ecosystems. Therefore, it is necessary to implement effective prevention and control strategies to reduce these impacts and maintain ecological stability. Against this backdrop, it is especially critical to analyze the influencing factors of invasive alien species and predict their future trends. Given China’s vast territory, complex natural geography, and diverse climatic conditions, the problem of invasive alien species in China is particularly severe, and scientific countermeasures are urgently required. Up to now, the number of invasive alien plant species in China has exceeded 520. Based on the number of invasive plant species in each province of China, this study analyzes the intrinsic connection between various influencing factors and invasive species, and through correlation analysis identifies the influencing factors, which are then used to analyze and predict the future invasion risks that each region may face. Full article

Urban dynamics of the 21st century is distinguished by the prevalence and significance of cities and their constituent elements. The objective of this study is to analyze the role of the territorial brand as one of the strategic elements of public governance. The methodology employs a comparative approach between four Brazilian and Portuguese cities, utilizing seven variables pertinent to the concept of a “territorial brand as a cultural product of regional development.” The results underscore the significance of strategic planning in enhancing urban competitiveness, influencing urban public governance, and reflecting on urban, cultural, social, regional, and territorial changes. The study provides insights into the implementation of a territorial brand, particularly in cities with a cultural focus, offering a comprehensive understanding of how this governance strategy can shape urban development and reinforce local cultural identity. Full article

Tourism development in coastal zones is often guided by marketing strategies focused on promotion, without real integration with the ecological, identity, and planning challenges facing these territories. This disconnection compromises environmental resilience, dilutes local cultural identity, and hinders adaptive governance in contexts of increasing tourism pressure and climate change. In response to this problem, the article presents the concept of Blue Marketing, a place-based, sustainability-oriented approach designed to guide communication, product development, and governance in marine and coastal destinations. Drawing on socio-environmental marketing and inspired by Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), the study proposes a Blue Marketing Decalogue (BMD), structured into three thematic blocks: (1) Ecosystem-focused sustainability, (2) cultural identity and territorial uniqueness, and (3) strategic planning and adaptive governance. Methodologically, the decalogue is empirically grounded in a territorial diagnosis of the Barbate–Vejer coastal corridor (Cádiz, Spain), developed through Geographic Information Systems (GIS), local planning documents, and field observations. This case study provides a detailed analysis of ecological vulnerabilities, cultural resources, and tourism dynamics, offering strategic insights transferable to other coastal contexts. The BMD incorporates both strategic and normative instruments that support the design of responsible tourism communication strategies, aligned with environmental preservation, community identity, and long-term planning. This contribution enriches current debates on sustainable tourism governance and provides practical tools for coastal destinations aiming to balance competitiveness with ecological responsibility. Ultimately, Blue Marketing is proposed as a vector for transformation, capable of reconnecting tourism promotion with the sustainability challenges and opportunities of coastal regions. Full article

A key component of sustainable transitions is the shift to renewable energy (RE) sources. Much scholarly work has focused on technical challenges of RE production or on social, political, and economic barriers to RE adoption. However, less research has focused on the geopolitical dynamics that could affect also inhibit RE transitions. This is especially true given China’s growing leverage over the production and trade of materials critical to RE production, distribution, and storage. Understanding the mechanisms, objectives, and implications of China’s dominance in the RE market requires a thorough overview. To analyse China’s strategic positioning in the global RE market, we apply a geoeconomics framework, highlighting the interplay between economic power, territorial strategies, and institutional mechanisms. China resembles the function of geopolitical chokepoints by imposing control over important components of the RE market and addressing trade and investment bottlenecks through institutional mechanisms. The study draws attention to the geoeconomic paradox that cooperation and competition coexist and promote market integration despite interdependencies. Being the second-largest producer of RE, the European Union both benefits from and faces difficulties as a result of China’s market power. We show how China’s geoeconomic strategies increase its influence globally and foster intricate interdependencies, which both facilitate market growth and exacerbate tensions with other strong powers. Full article

This paper explores the concept of the Proximity Economy, a human-centered model focused on short value chains and social interactions within local contexts, as a strategic response to global challenges like climate change, supply chain disruptions, and the twin green and digital transitions. Amid ongoing crises, e.g., pandemic, economic, geopolitical, and environmental, reconceptualizing economic development paradigms is crucial for fostering resilient and sustainable solutions. The Proximity Economy integrates local production, distribution, and consumption, supporting sustainable innovation and the competitiveness of local enterprises. It aligns with the European Union’s industrial strategy and Sustainable Development Goals, such as climate action (SDG 13) and reducing inequalities (SDG 10). This paper reviews the socio-economic impacts of the Proximity Economy, considering its connections with the circular and social economies, and identifies relevant policies for its promotion at the European, national, and local levels. Through sectoral analysis and examples, the paper provides a framework for evaluating the economic, environmental, and social outcomes of this model, offering recommendations for its future development and implementation. Full article

The extension of high-speed rail (HSR) lines around the world is increasing. The largest network today is in China, followed by Spain, Japan, France, and Italy; currently, new lines are being built in Morocco and Saudi Arabia. The goal of the new lines built is to drastically reduce the time distances between the extreme railway terminals by intervening on the two main components of time: space and speed. The two components have been investigated in various fields of engineering for design conditions (ex ante/a priori). In the literature, there is no analysis of what happened in the realization of the projects (ex post/retrospective). The research problem that arises is to analyze the high-speed lines built in order to verify, given a pair of extreme terminals, how much the length is reduced by passing from a conventional line to a high-speed line, and to verify how this length is getting closer and closer to the distance as the crow flies. The reduction of spatial distance produces direct connections between two territories, making the railway system (HSR) more competitive compared to other transport alternatives (e.g., air travel). To address the problem posed, information and data are collected on European HSR lines, which constitute a sufficiently homogeneous set in terms of railway and structural standards. The planimetric characteristics of specially built lines such as HSR are examined. A test method is proposed, consisting of a model that is useful to compare the length along the HSR line, with direct lengths, and existing conventional lines. The results obtained from the elaborations offer a first answer to the problem posed, demonstrating that in the HSR lines realized the spatial distances approach the distance as the crow flies between the cities located at the extremes, and are always shorter than the lengths of conventional lines. The final indications that can be drawn concern the possibility of using the results obtained as a reference for decision-makers and planners involved in the transport planning process at national and international level. Future research directions should study the values of the indicators in other large HSR networks, such as those built in Asia, and more generally study all the elements of the lines specially built to allow better sustainable planning, reducing the negative elements found and increasing the positive ones. Full article

In avian behavioural and spatial ecology, issues related to population density, territoriality, and philopatry are especially important. These are often interrelated. The aim of this study was to analyse these behaviours in shrikes inhabiting an acacia savanna in northern Namibia (400 ha). Population densities of one shrike and four bushshrike species were studied by means of the territory mapping method. About half of the study area had been modified by humans into cultivated fields, orchards, sport fields, and human settlements. This study was conducted in 2012/2013, 2017/2018, and 2019/2020. The most common species were the Black-backed Puffback (2.5 pairs/100 ha) and Crimson-breasted Shrike (1.9); the least common were the Southern White-crowned Shrike (0.8) and Brubru (1.0). Statistics for the Brown-crowned Tchagra indicated a density of 1.5 pairs/100 ha. While the density of the Brown-crowned Tchagra and Brubru remained stable over the years, the population densities of the Black-backed Shrike, Crimson-breasted Shrike, and Southern White-crowned Shrike showed a remarkable increase over the years 2012–2020. All bushshrike species showed a preference for patches of natural savanna vegetation. This was especially evident in the Crimson-breasted Shrike and the Brubru. However, the Southern White-crowned Shrike from the shrike family did not show this preference. The presented studies showed marked interspecific differences in territoriality and philopatry. Furthermore, even within the same species, marked temporal differences were shown in population density, probably also in philopatry. Within families, these behaviours may shape both resource competition and mate competition, while between families, these behaviours only shape resource competition. Full article

The aim of this study is to identify relationships between population aging in small towns and the level of their economic competitiveness. These analyses are a continuation of research on the economic competitiveness of small town in Poland. The territorial scope comprised 110 small towns, while the timeframe covered the years 2004–2006, 2011–2013, 2017–2019, and 2020–2021. In this paper, the Perkal method was applied to construct a synthetic measure for the progression of the population aging process in the case of residents of small towns. In turn, the typology method was used to identify types of dependencies between the level of economic competitiveness and the degree of population aging for residents of small towns. In view of the advanced aging of inhabitants in the analyzed towns within the framework of the distinguished types, in the most recent investigated periods, most small towns were assigned to two types. They were the types comprising economically competitive towns, but with aging populations, and economically uncompetitive and aging towns, respectively. Full article

In an increasingly competitive global tourism context, territorial branding plays a key role in enhancing the visibility, identity, and resilience of regions. This study focuses on the Algarve, a region in southern Portugal, and investigates how innovation and competitiveness are reflected in its digital communication strategy. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research combines the quantitative analysis of 689 social media posts published in 2024 on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube with the qualitative content analysis of 38 documents and the official website of Algarve. The findings reveal a coherent and visually appealing brand narrative centred on the coastal identity of the Algarve, complemented by content related to nature, gastronomy, and cultural heritage. Instagram stands out as the most engaging platform, particularly when posts adopt a participatory tone, emotional storytelling, and references to specific locations. However, only 6.4% of the content surpassed the 1% engagement threshold, suggesting limited audience connection. The website presents a broader thematic range but under-represents intangible heritage and local products.The Algarve brand successfully projects an aspirational image based on landscape and leisure but would benefit from greater content diversification, enhanced stakeholder integration, and expanded narrative strategies to strengthen digital engagement and destination competitiveness. Full article

This study investigated the aggressive behavior of Hemibagrus macropterus (Bleeker) by examining the effects of size combinations (large vs. large (LL), large vs. small (LS), small vs. small (SS)), sex combinations (male vs. male (MM), male vs. female (FM), female vs. female (FF)), and shelter availability (tiles, pebbles, grass) under varying group densities (1, 3, and 6 fish). The results revealed that H. macropterus exhibited nocturnal behavior, engaging in exploration, territorial defense, and aggressive interactions such as chasing and biting, with significantly higher aggression at night. A social hierarchy distinguishing between dominant and subordinate individuals emerged. Larger fish displayed higher aggression frequencies compared to LS and SS groups, though the presence of shelters reduced aggression, particularly in environments with ample shelters. Females exhibited stronger aggressive tendencies, with FF and FM groups showing higher aggression than MM groups. Shelter preference experiments indicated a preference for tile and pebble caves, with no cohabitation in these shelters, while aquatic plant caves allowed cohabitation. Aggression was significantly higher in competitive (6 fish) versus non-competitive (3 fish) groups. These findings suggest that nocturnal feeding, sufficient shelters, and size-segregated rearing can mitigate aggression and improve cultivation efficiency in H. macropterus. Full article

The abandonment of farmland in Europe is a significant issue due to its environmental, socio-economic, and landscape consequences. This tendency mainly impacts marginal and inner areas, located far from large urban districts, because of biophysical and/or socio-economic factors. Although European and national regulations try to turn the fragility of these territories into an opportunity for sustainable development, many of these areas, especially in southern Europe, continue to suffer socio-economic disparities. For this reason, it is necessary to consider regional and district-wide initiatives that can economically revitalize marginal areas while safeguarding their natural capital. Alternative cropping systems, capable of optimizing the quality of some food crops, can play an essential role in the economic development of populations living in marginal areas. These areas, represented by inland zones often abandoned due to the difficulty of applying mechanized agriculture, can represent an opportunity to rediscover sustainable and profitable practices. Among the high-value crops, saffron (Crocus sativus L.), “red gold” and “king of spices”, stands out for its potential. Indeed, thanks to the use of tuff tubs, a more eco-sustainable choice compared to the plastic pots already mentioned in the literature, it is possible to improve the quality of this spice. Furthermore, Crocus sativus L. not only lends itself to multiple uses but also represents a valid opportunity to supplement agricultural income. This is made possible by its high profitability and beneficial properties for human health, offering a way to diversify agricultural production with positive economic and social impacts. It is known that the saffron market in Italy suffers from competition from developing countries (Iran, Morocco, India) capable of producing saffron at lower costs than European countries, thanks to the lower cost of labor. Therefore, this study seeks to identify marginal areas that can be recovered and valorized through an eco-sustainable cultivation system with the potential to enhance the quality of this spice, making it unique and resilient to competition. Specifically, this paper is organized on a dual scale of investigation: (a) at the local level to demonstrate the economic-ecological feasibility of saffron cultivation through the adoption of an alternative farming technique on an experimental site located in Tricarico (Basilicata—Southern Italy, 40°37′ N, 16°09′ E; 472 m. a.s.l.) that, although fertile, is not suitable for mechanized cropping systems; (b) at the regional level through a spatially explicit land suitability analysis to indicate the possible location where to export saffron cultivation. The final map, obtained by combining geo-environmental variables, can be considered a precious tool to support policymakers and farmers to foster a broad agricultural strategy founded on new crop management systems. The adoption of this alternative agroecological system could optimize the use of land resources in the perspective of increasing crop productivity and profitability in marginal agricultural areas. Full article

Urbanization-driven land use and cover change intensifies the competition for limited land resources, exacerbating spatial conflicts and challenging sustainable development, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions. This study focuses on the delineation and coordination of territorial space functional zones, addressing conflicts arising from rapid urbanization and the multifunctionality of land resources. By integrating land suitability evaluation, spatial simulation, and spatial overlay analysis, this paper delineates three functional zones and three types of conflicts for 2035: a farmland protection zone, an ecological protection zone, and an urban development zone, and construction–farmland conflicts, construction–ecological conflicts, and farmland–ecological conflicts. A suboptimal equilibrium boundary is proposed to resolve conflicts by balancing the economic output price and the ecological service price of agricultural land against construction land prices. The results show that the optimized urban construction land (632.50 km²) is significantly smaller than that resulting from the planned 1.3-fold expansion, indicating that the original coefficient is unreasonable. Post-coordination, FPZ, and EPZ areas were adjusted to 1136.72 km² and 295.15 km², respectively, prioritizing food security and ecological conservation. The findings highlight the need for collaborative urban planning to mitigate spatial conflicts and manage the compounded effects of urbanization and land resource competition. This paper provides a quantitative framework for resolving space conflicts, offering insights for sustainable territorial planning and management. Full article

This study develops a new methodological framework to assess territorial cohesion by integrating six critical dimensions: demography, equity, competitiveness, governance, sustainability, and connectivity. Rooted in the context of Portugal, the research addresses significant spatial disparities between metropolitan and inland regions, emphasizing the necessity of place-based policies. Using publicly available data and employing normalization techniques, the methodology ensures fair comparisons across municipalities with diverse characteristics. The findings highlight profound asymmetries, including demographic decline, unequal access to services, and variations in economic and governance performance. These results underscore the need for targeted interventions that align with the unique attributes and challenges of different territories. By incorporating governance and connectivity dimensions, the study advances traditional approaches to territorial cohesion, offering an analytical model of analysis. The framework provides practical tools for policymakers to design interventions aimed at fostering balanced and sustainable development. Furthermore, its adaptability ensures relevance in varied contexts, enabling replication in other regions facing similar challenges. The study’s conclusions highlight the importance of addressing territorial disparities through integrated policies that enhance equity, sustainability, and resilience, contributing to the global discourse on regional development and public policy design. Full article

Imported, non-native honey bees and bumble bees threaten native pollinators by spreading pathogens (disease and parasites) and outcompeting native pollinators for nectar and pollen. We reviewed Canadian federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal legislation to find governance requirements that potentially reduce these threats. We classified the requirements as follows: tracking the number and location of honey bee hives (registry); controlling the spread of pathogens (registry with inspections, quarantines, and cleaning regimes); controlling the competition with native pollinators (limiting shared use of space); and making regulations applicable to all domesticated bees in addition to honey bees. Policies and regulations to control the competition from honey bees are generally lacking. So, we propose the concept of “foraging leases” to manage the location and duration of honey bee apiaries on public lands. Based on the identified requirements, we recommend amendments to the legislation in Yukon Territory, a jurisdiction that still has healthy native pollinator communities that pollinate various human food and medicine crops. Recommendations include tracking hives and their pathogen status with beekeeping regulations enabled by the Animal Health Act, controlling the use of imported bumble bees with changes to the Animal Protection and Control Act and/or the Wildlife Act, and restricting use of public lands for apiaries with the Public Lands Act. Full article

Resource conflicts constitute a major global issue in areas rich in natural resources. The modeling of factors influencing natural resource conflicts (NRCs), including environmental, health, socio-economic, political, and legal aspects, presents a significant challenge compounded by inadequate data. Quantitative research frequently emphasizes large-scale conflicts. This study presents a novel multilevel approach, SEFLAME-CM—Spatially Explicit Fuzzy Logic-Adapted Model for Conflict Management—for advancing understanding of the relationship between NRCs and drivers under territorial and rebel-based typologies at a community level. SEFLAME-CM is hypothesized to yield a more robust positive correlation between the risk of NRCs and the interacting conflict drivers, provided that the conflict drivers and input variables remain the same. Local knowledge from stakeholders is integrated into spatial decision-making tools to advance sustainable peace initiatives. We compared our model with spatial multi-criteria evaluation for conflict management (SMCE-CM) and spatial statistics. The results from the Moran’s I scatter plots of the overall conflicts of the SEFLAME-CM and SMCE-CM models exhibit substantial values of 0.99 and 0.98, respectively. Territorial resource violence due to environmental drivers increases coast-wards, more than that stemming from rebellion. Weighing fuzzy rules and conflict drivers enables equal comparison. Environmental variables, including proximity to arable land, mangrove ecosystems, polluted water, and oil infrastructures are key factors in NRCs. Conversely, socio-economic and political factors seem to be of lesser importance, contradicting prior research conclusions. In Third World nations, local communities emphasize food security and access to environmental services over local political matters amid competition for resources. The synergistic integration of fuzzy logic analysis and community perception to address sustainable peace while simultaneously connecting environmental and socio-economic factors is SEFLAME-CM’s contribution. This underscores the importance of a holistic approach to resource conflicts in communities and the dissemination of knowledge among specialists and local stakeholders in the sustainable management of resource disputes. The findings can inform national policies and international efforts in addressing the intricate underlying challenges while emphasizing the knowledge and needs of impacted communities. SEFLAME-CM, with improvements, proficiently illustrates the capacity to model intricate real-world issues. Full article