Search Results (1,461)

Human–wildlife conflicts can be broadly categorized from the perspective of human activities into conflicts (a) caused by the expansion of human activities into wildlife habitats, and (b) resulting from the re-expansion of wildlife habitats due to the decline of human activities. The first type of conflict has been managed through the systematic training of wildlife managers, field specialists, and well-organized institutional frameworks. In Japan, Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) and brown bears (Ursus arctos) have increasingly come into human contact because of habitat re-expansion. Short-term measures to protect human life and property include the implementation of the 2024 and 2025 revisions of the Wildlife Protection and Hunting Management Act, which designated bears as “managed wildlife” and “dangerous wildlife” and permitted emergency culling in residential areas. However, Japan’s approach remains limited in scope and depth, relies on ad hoc responses by local hunters, and lacks adequate public education and effective long-term sustainability planning. This study highlights the necessity of a multi-layered policy framework that integrates human–wildlife conflict management, particularly human–bear conflict, by comparing U.S. laws and policies and incorporating them into medium- and long-term strategies for community resilience and national land conservation. This approach may serve as a model for countries and regions facing similar demographic and ecological challenges. Full article

Mining is an important industry for the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs), but it results in a significant amount of degraded land worldwide, thereby affecting local social and ecological sustainability. Little is known about the extent to which this degraded land adheres to the current SDGs. In this study, based on public geographic information data, the status of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) for global mine sites was comprehensively assessed. The results show that (1) the global aggregation index for SDG 11 and 15 in mining areas increased from 23.94 in 2000 to 24.48 in 2020, generally exhibiting a positive trend. (2) For SDG 11, all four indicators indicate improvement, suggesting enhancement of the sustainability of cities and communities surrounding global mined land, as well as urban development, mining activities, and economic growth. In contrast, regarding SDG 15, there were noticeable improvements in the water body area and land reclamation ratio, but the forest coverage ratio and net ecosystem productivity significantly declined, indicating continued stress on ecosystems caused by mining. (3) Less than 1% of mines globally met the green grade in SDG 11, and around 97% were categorized as red grade. For SDG 15, no mines reached the green grade, and at least 99.74% were categorized as red grade mines. (4) Globally, the status has exhibited obvious spatial clustering, and the region with a better status is in the equatorial region. There has been obvious spatial heterogeneity within countries, and mine sites near urban areas have had a better status according to these SDGs. The main influencing factors on the status of mines, according to the SDGs, include the degree of mining disturbance, ecosystem recovery capacity, and urban expansion. Overall, the global status of mines according to the SDGs is far from expectation, indicating a considerable gap from achieving sustainable mining and necessitating efforts to improve human habitats and restore ecosystems in mining areas. Future endeavors should focus on strengthening site specific assessment and long-term monitoring of the global SDGs in mining areas to provide foundational data and scientific evidence for sustainable mining and the realization of SDGs. Full article

Urban and peri-urban ecosystems play a growing role in biodiversity conservation, yet multi-annual comparative studies from Central-Eastern Europe remain scarce. This study presents the first three-year (2021–2023) dataset comparing ground beetle assemblages between the Dumbrava Forest (peri-urban protected oak forest) and the Sub Arini Park (semi-anthropic urban park) in Sibiu, Romania. Using standardized pitfall trapping (41 traps, 2360.9 m² monitored area), a total of 5008 individuals, belonging to 46 species and 12 families, were recorded. Species richness was slightly higher in Sub Arini (26 species) than in Dumbrava (22 species), forest-associated species (e.g., Pterostichus niger) and generalists (P. melanarius) dominated in the Dumbrava Forest, while P. oblongopunctatus was more strongly associated with forest habitats. Diversity indices showed moderate similarity between communities (Bray–Curtis = 0.46; Jaccard = 0.62). Shannon diversity reached H′ = 2.41 in Sub Arini and H′ = 2.03 in Dumbrava, reflecting higher evenness in the urban park. Predators comprised 65–70% of all beetles, underlining their regulatory function in soil ecosystem balance. Climatic variability—milder winters and warmer summers—favored population fluctuations of forest species and the dominance of eurytopic taxa in the park. These findings demonstrate that peri-urban forests act as climatic refugia for specialists, while urban parks function as dynamic hotspots for generalist diversity. The study provides baseline data for integrating insect monitoring into regional biodiversity management and climate adaptation strategies across Central-Eastern Europe. Full article

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a highly adaptable species that has spread into urban-proximate areas, consequently intensifying human–wildlife conflicts in South Korea. Understanding the range and environmental preferences of this species is crucial for efficient population management. Therefore, we investigated wild boar occupancy in Bukhansan National Park (BNP), a protected area near Seoul. We deployed camera traps at 24 locations from March to May 2022 to investigate spring season habitat use patterns. We used single-season, single-species occupancy modeling to explore the impact of environmental and anthropogenic factors on the distribution of wild boar. During 2208 trap nights, we recorded wild boars at 14 sites, with an average occupancy probability (Ψ) of 0.67 ± 0.03. The distance to human settlements was the best predictor of occupancy, with wild boars avoiding regions near human activity sites. In contrast, proximity to puddles significantly increased detection and occupancy probabilities, indicating the importance of water sources for drinking and wallowing. Wild boars also showed a preference for areas near agricultural lands but exhibited behavioral avoidance of direct human presence. Our spring season findings suggest the need for targeted management strategies that prioritize population control in areas far from settlements but adjacent to water and agricultural boundaries. This study provides critical insights into the spatial ecology of wild boars in urban-proximate landscapes and provides science-based measures for mitigating conflicts and disease risks. We recommend long-term monitoring for the assessment of seasonal variations and efficacy of management interventions. Full article

This study examines the integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-based strategies within the framework of landscape sustainability science and urban ecology, focusing on urban sports and recreation areas in Turkey and Lithuania. In the era of sustainable urban transformation, AI technologies offer new opportunities for maintaining ecological integrity, enhancing green infrastructure connectivity, and supporting adaptive management of urban ecosystems. The research aims to comparatively analyze the role and effectiveness of AI applications—such as intelligent waste management, predictive maintenance, and spatial planning tools—in promoting clean, safe, and ecologically resilient environments. A qualitative design was employed, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 30 experts, including local administrators, facility managers, environmental professionals, AI specialists, and academics from both countries. Thematic analysis using NVivo revealed key themes linking AI functions to ecological outcomes, including improved resource efficiency, habitat connectivity, and data-informed governance. Results show that Lithuania’s institutionalized green infrastructure facilitates multi-scale AI adoption, while Turkey’s evolving policy framework presents significant potential for system integration. The study emphasizes the necessity of embedding AI-driven ecological indicators into landscape-scale planning and developing an interdisciplinary governance model to achieve sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban ecosystems. Full article

Understanding the evolution of ecosystem services (ESs) is crucial for sustainable development in rapidly urbanizing regions. This study quantifies the spatiotemporal evolution of habitat quality (HQ), water yield (WY), and carbon storage (CS) in the Chang-Zhu-Tan City Cluster (CZTCC) of China from 2000 to 2020. Results showed that rapid urbanization—where construction land expanded from 2.78% to 7.40% of the area—was the primary driver of ES degradation. Specifically, low-quality habitat (HQ) areas expanded by 162%, and total carbon storage (CS) declined by 1.83% (11.78 Tg C), while regional WY fluctuated with precipitation. Inter-service relationships also became more conflictual: the trade-off between HQ and WY intensified (Pearson’s R strengthened from −0.696 to −0.735), a persistent trade-off between WY and CS was observed (e.g., R = −0.607 in 2020), while the HQ-CS synergy remained stable and strong (R > 0.88). These findings highlight escalating ecological conflicts and offer a robust scientific basis for optimizing land use to manage ES trade-offs and promote sustainable development. Full article

Chengdu, China, is endowed with abundant ancient and famous trees as well as historical habitats, which are crucial for sustaining urban biodiversity and cultural continuity. This study focuses on the historical habitats along the Second Ring Road and develops a comprehensive evaluation system across five dimensions: ancient and famous trees, species diversity, historical habitat quality, historical habitat health, and historical-cultural value. Twelve representative historical habitats were analyzed using fishnet analysis, image segmentation, and plant diversity surveys to characterize biodiversity patterns and develop strategies for optimizing urban biodiversity conservation and sustainable habitat management. Results indicate: (1) significant variation among historical habitat types, with Huanhuaxi Park achieving the highest overall quality; (2) except in park habitats, comprehensive quality shows no significant correlation with the density of ancient and famous trees, while habitat size exerts a strong influence; (3) the evaluation index system still requires refinement. This research provides practical guidance for the conservation of ancient trees and the sustainable management of historical habitats. At the theoretical level, it underscores the relevance of an “ecology–society–culture” framework, revealing how historical habitats simultaneously sustain ecological functions, support social practices, and embody cultural expression. Overall, the study offers a new perspective for integrating urban biodiversity conservation with cultural heritage protection. Full article

Urbanization has led to significant alterations in river morphology and ecological function, highlighting the need for effective tools to assess and manage these changes. Traditional hydromorphological evaluation methods often fail to capture complex relationships between physical habitat features and anthropogenic pressures. The aim of this study was to apply the River Habitat Survey (RHS) method and Interactive Activation and Competition (IAC) artificial neural networks to assess and describe the hydromorphological condition of the Jasień and Olechówka rivers, located in an urbanized area. The RHS method enables the evaluation of the physical characteristics of rivers and the impact of anthropogenic activities on their environment, in accordance with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Field surveys documented features such as bank structure, vegetation, channel substrate, and artificial modifications. In the subsequent phase of the study, an IAC-type neural network was employed to analyze and interpret the RHS data. This network architecture allows for the identification of hidden relationships between variables, the completion of missing data, as well as contextual analysis and generalization based on similar cases. Integrating RHS data with IAC analysis enabled the development of a model supporting the assessment of anthropogenic impacts on the hydromorphological condition of rivers. The results indicate that both rivers exhibit a high degree of modification, particularly within urban sections, which adversely affects their retention capacity and ecological function. This combined methodological approach provides an innovative and flexible tool for supporting urban river restoration and flood risk management, addressing some of the limitations of existing assessment techniques. Full article

Ecosystems worldwide are being influenced by climate change in complex ways, leading to profound impacts on biodiversity. While these shifts may constrain the adaptive capacity of some species, they may simultaneously promote the expansion of others, including certain rodents. The Funambulus pennantii (five-striped northern palm squirrel) and Funambulus palmarum (three-striped palm squirrel) demonstrate exceptional adaptability across diverse habitats from rural plantations to densely populated urban areas. Their close association with humans ranges from causing crop damage to becoming urban nuisances, leading to their broad classification as agricultural pests. Hence, this study utilizes ensemble species distribution models to identify the climatic niches of these two species and delineate overlapping suitable habitats within agricultural zones in current and different future climate scenarios. The ensemble model identified 215,748 km² of suitable habitat for F. pennantii and 39,578 km² for F. palmarum under current climatic conditions in India. The future projections indicate habitat increases of about 20.6% for F. pennantii and 48.1% for F. palmarum. The agricultural overlap is also projected to rise by up to 45% and 48%, respectively, compared with present overlaps of 215,595 km² and 39,073 km². The most substantial expansions are projected in the Gangetic Plains, Central Highlands, and parts of the Western and Eastern Ghats and Deccan Plateau. These findings suggest that both species possess high resilience to environmental change and may pose increasing risks to agriculture in a warming climate. The study underscores the need for proactive, ecologically sustainable management strategies to mitigate potential human–squirrel interactions and agricultural losses, offering a foundation for targeted regional interventions. Full article

Climate change is profoundly reshaping watershed hydrological regimes and threatening the sustainability of regional ecosystems, rendering traditional ecological restoration planning—primarily reliant on static baselines—insufficient to support long-term resilience under future environmental conditions. To enhance the sustainability of metropolitan ecological restoration, this study develops a climate-adaptive restoration framework for the Wuhan Metropolitan Area, structured around “climate scenario—hydrological simulation—zoning delineation—strategy formulation.” The framework aims to elucidate how projected hydrological shifts constrain the spatial configuration of ecological restoration. Under the RCP4.5 (Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5) scenario, the WEP-L (Water and Energy transfer Processes in Large river basins) distributed hydrological model was calibrated and validated using observed hydrological data from 2016–2020 and subsequently applied to simulate the spatiotemporal evolution of precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff, and total water resources in 2035. Hydrological trend analyses were further conducted at the secondary watershed scale to assess the differentiated impacts of future hydrological changes across planning units. Based on these simulations, ecological sensitivity and ecosystem service assessments were integrated to identify priority restoration areas, forming a “five-zone × three-tier” sustainable restoration zoning system encompassing farmland restoration, forest ecological restoration, soil and water conservation restoration, river and lake wetland ecological restoration, and urban habitat improvement restoration, classified into general, important, and extremely important levels. A comprehensive “four-water” management scheme—addressing water security, water resources, water environment, and water landscape—was subsequently proposed to strengthen the sustainable supply capacity and overall resilience of metropolitan ecosystems. Results indicate that by 2035, hydrological processes in the Wuhan Metropolitan Area will exhibit pronounced spatial heterogeneity, with uneven changes in precipitation and runoff further intensifying disparities in regional water availability. These findings highlight the necessity of incorporating scenario-based hydrological constraints into sustainable ecological restoration planning. The proposed technical framework provides a transferable pathway for enhancing watershed ecosystem sustainability and resilience under climate change. Full article

This study analyzes the spatial and temporal dynamics of Regional Ecosystem Health (REH) in the province of Aydın, located in western Türkiye, using the Vigor–Organization–Resilience (VOR) framework. Ecosystem conditions between 1995 and 2020 were assessed by integrating remote sensing-based vitality indicators, landscape metrics, and habitat quality modeling. Vigor (V) increased across most land use/land cover (LULC) types, whereas Resilience (R) remained generally stable but showed slight declines in natural and semi-natural areas affected by intensive human activities and climatic stressors. This divergence mainly reflects the combined effects of agricultural intensification and the expansion of urban green areas, both of which enhance vegetation vitality and productivity (V), while ongoing habitat fragmentation and land use pressure in natural and semi-natural landscapes reduce ecological resilience (R). Conversely, the weakening of the Organization (O) component in coastal and peri-urban areas is associated with increased fragmentation and low connectivity. This situation clearly suggests the pressure exerted on ecological integrity by tourism infrastructure, second home developments, and intensive agricultural activities. The study’s findings confirm, in line with the literature on the Mediterranean region, that topographic diversity, land use intensity, and socio-economic processes are key factors determining spatial differences in ecosystem health. Furthermore, it was observed that the low REH values concentrated in coastal areas in 1995 had shifted to hotspots in higher elevations by 2020; this spatial shift suggests that the continuity of natural cover in mountainous areas enhances ecological conditions. Consequently, this study, with its VOR-based integrated approach, provides an applicable, replicable, and policy-informative framework for the long-term monitoring of ecosystem health and sustainable land use planning in climate-sensitive and rapidly changing Mediterranean landscapes. Full article

Understanding the evolutionary dynamics of land use and habitat quality (HQ) under climate change scenarios is pivotal for formulating science-based biodiversity conservation policies and promoting climate-resilient urban development in arid regions. By integrating the SD–PLUS–InVEST framework with SPEI-driven drought scenarios, this study introduces a novel coupling mechanism that links climate variability, land-use transitions, and HQ evolution in the Northern Slope of the Tianshan Mountains (UANSTM) under SSP–RCPs scenarios. The HQ assessment was validated using the Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI). Simultaneously, the Optimal Multivariate-Stratification Geographical Detector (OMGD) was applied to identify scale-optimized drivers of HQ changes. The results indicated the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, cultivated and construction land in the UANSTM expanded, while forest and water areas declined, with unused land remaining dominant from 2000 to 2020. (2) HQ decreased from 0.36 to 0.33 (2000–2020), significantly correlating with RSEI (Pearson r = 0.329, Spearman ρ = 0.446, p < 0.001), with climatic, vegetation, and coupled natural-social factors remaining the dominant drivers. (3) From 2020 to 2050, under all climate scenarios, the areas of farmland, grassland, and construction land are expected to grow, while HQ is projected to improve through the conversion of low-quality areas into moderate- and high-quality habitats (greatest under SSP119, least under SSP585). The framework advances predictive insights for arid-region ecological planning, supporting practical applications in habitat management and sustainable land-use planning, while providing a methodological paradigm for dryland habitat resilience assessment. Full article

The construction of urban ecological security patterns (ESPs) is an effective approach for managing ecological space and preventing the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas, thereby safeguarding the ecological security of urban agglomerations. This study focuses on the Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan Urban Agglomeration (CZTUA), utilizing an ESP framework based on ecosystem services, ecological sensitivity, landscape connectivity, and resistance surfaces (SSCR). The spatio-temporal evolution and driving forces of ESP were analyzed for 2010, 2015, and 2020. Based on this, the ecological control zones of the CZTUA were delineated according to ecosystem importance, and appropriate ecological improvement strategies were proposed. The findings revealed the following: (1) The number of ecological sources in the CZTUA decreased from 26 to 23, while their total area expanded from 1113.6 km² to 3013.96 km², indicating a “point-to-patch” development trend. Ecological corridors showed a “decrease–increase”trend in number, but their total length consistently contracted from 1025.69 km to 536.25 km, with greater emphasis on the efficiency and effectiveness of connecting habitats. Ecological nodes decreased from 14 to 5, while their aggregate area increased from 290.6 km² to 1796.48 km², mirroring changes in ecological sources. (2) Ecological sources, corridors, and nodes in the CZTUA are primarily located in the eastern mountainous and hilly regions, with a trend of expansion toward the western areas. The spatial distribution of corridors and nodes is shaped by these sources, with dense areas exhibiting short-distance networks and dispersal areas showing long-distance linear patterns. Node distribution shifts from entry/exit areas of ecological sources and corridors to the sources themselves. (3) The spatio-temporal evolution of the ESP in the CZTUA is driven by a dual-wheel mechanism of “natural foundation-policy regulation,” where precipitation and potential evapotranspiration serve as the primary natural drivers, manifested through water conservation. (4) The region is divided into three control levels: the core protected areas focus on ecological protection in the eastern mountainous and hilly regions; the ecological buffer areas emphasize ecological coordination in transitional landforms such as hills, medium-undulating mountains, and platforms; the intensive development areas, mostly located in platform, plain, and some hilly areas, prioritize ecological optimization. The three-tier control zones implement strategies of strict protection, buffering and coordination, and optimized development, respectively, providing a direct basis for the refined management of ecological spaces. Full article

Urban expansion in southern Jiangsu is intensifying the conflict between ecological protection and economic growth, hindering the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, we have not yet seen the development of a framework combining land use/land cover (LULC) simulation, ecosystem service (ES) quantification, and SDG assessment; there is an especially limited understanding of future ES dynamics and their potential to support the SDGs. In this study, we used the PLUS and InVEST models to simulate and quantify carbon storage (CS), water yield (WY), soil conservation (SC), and habitat quality (HQ) in southern Jiangsu, China, under four 2030 scenarios: business as usual scenario (BAUS), ecological protection redline scenario (EPRS), cropland protection scenario (CPS), and economic development scenario (EDS). Additionally, we assessed the contributions of these ESs in advancing SDGs, guided by the ES-SDG target-SDG linkages. The results revealed a pronounced trade-off between WY and HQ, where the EDS, promoting the highest WY increase (+4.54%), caused the most severe degradation in CS (−5.86%) and HQ (−4.39%). In contrast, the EPRS optimally balanced multiple ESs, enhancing CS (+1.62%) and WY (+2.26%) over the BAUS. Spatially, ESs and the derived SDG index were superior in forested and agricultural clusters compared to urban cores. Overall, the SDG index declined most under the EDS and improved most under the EPRS, highlighting the EPRS as the most sustainable pathway. The sustainability performance regarding SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) was higher than that regarding SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), with Changzhou and Zhenjiang exceeding Suzhou. This study examined the contribution of ESs to the SDGs through four 2030 scenarios, offering insights to guide regional sustainable development. Full article

Chagas disease (CD), caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, remains one of the most important neglected tropical diseases. Historically confined to rural areas of Latin America, the disease has now become a global health challenge due to increased migration, urbanization, and ecological changes. This review explores how patterns of transmission and endemicity have evolved, emphasizing the emergence of new geographic hotspots and non-traditional routes of transmission, such as congenital and oral infections. We integrate evidence from ecological studies showing how deforestation, urban sprawl, and climate change are reshaping vector habitats and influencing the spread of triatomine insects. Furthermore, we highlight advances made between 2020 and 2025 in key research areas, including vector genomics and climate-based predictive mapping, as well as digital surveillance strategies that leverage machine learning and citizen science. These innovations provide valuable insights for predicting future risks and improving disease control. By linking global epidemiological trends, ecological drivers, and cutting-edge scientific advances, this review underscores the urgent need for integrated, collaborative strategies to prevent further spread and to protect vulnerable populations worldwide. Full article