Search Results (1,121)

The Brazilian Forest Code regulates Permanent Preservation Areas (PPA) and Legal Reserves (LR) across all federative states. These areas support the maintenance of ecological functions and are essential for biodiversity conservation and environmental balance. However, implementing these initiatives faces significant challenges, particularly in supporting the expansion of agribusiness. Effective management is essential for economic development while also preserving natural habitats. Our study relies on data from the Rural Environmental Registry (RER), managed by the Brazilian Federal Government, to assess PPA and LR in São Paulo. We apply the geometric metrics of the Circularity Index, Edge Factor, Fractal Dimension, and Compactness Index to evaluate these protected areas’ shape and physical characteristics, individually and as groups. The results underscore the relationship between the morphology of these areas and their ecological functions, including their susceptibility to edge effects and habitat degradation. Moreover, the large-scale analysis correlating several areas revealed the complexity of these landscapes, characterized by differing degrees of connectivity, vulnerability, and ecological efficiency, while assessing 645 districts. In conclusion, the results provide a framework for implementing protected areas that support ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation, particularly for enhancing agricultural productivity. Full article

In China, rapid economic and social development has caused the carrying capacity of water resources in some areas to reach or exceed the limit, threatening the stability of resources and the development of the national economy. In view of the current situation of serious water shortage in Tai’an City, we constructed a comprehensive evaluation model of water resources carrying capacity in Tai’an City by using socio-economic and water resources data from 2016 and 2023. Our method covers multiple dimensions such as natural geography, socio-economy, water quantity, ecological environment, and resource utilization. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and entropy weighting methods were applied to determine the weights of the indicators, the set pair analysis theory (SPA) and variable fuzzy set theory (VFS) were used to establish a comprehensive evaluation model of water resources carrying capacity, and the level of water resources carrying capacity and obstacles encountered in improving water resources carrying capacity in Tai’an were evaluated and analyzed. Our results show that Tai’an is generally developing in a coordinated manner across the country, but there are obvious differences in the carrying capacity of water resources in different areas, which require the development of targeted resource management strategies. The study has the potential to advance regional water resources carrying capacity. Full article

The role of green spaces in ecological civilization construction has been increasingly recognized, particularly due to their multifaceted attributes and significant impact on economic development. Based on data from 2015 to 2020, this study constructs an evaluation index system to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of green space quality and its coupling coordination with economic development in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), focusing on three core dimensions: green space quantity, supply potential, and accessibility. The results indicate that green space quality in the YRD exhibits a fluctuating growth trend, with notable north–south disparities. While the coupling coordination degree between green space quality and economic development has gradually improved, it remains in a state of mild imbalance or primary coupling. Grey relational analysis reveals that green space quantity has the greatest impact on economic development, though its expansion potential is limited, whereas the influence of supply potential and accessibility has significantly increased, fostering a growing equilibrium within the green space system. Based on these findings, this study recommends stabilizing green space quantity while prioritizing the enhancement of supply potential and accessibility, strengthening cross-regional ecological cooperation, maximizing the economic benefits of green spaces, and promoting high-quality green development in the region. Full article

Urbanization is a key driver of economic and social development. But balancing economic growth with ecological protection remains a global challenge. This paper examines urbanization in Jiangsu Province, China, analyzing data from its 13 prefecture-level cities between 2008 and 2022, with a focus on the population, land, economy, and ecological dimensions. Using a coupling coordination model, we analyze the temporal and spatial evolution, coupling relationships, and optimization of urbanization in the province. The key findings of this study are as follows: (1) Population urbanization increased from 54.3% in 2008 to 74.42% in 2022, with significant regional disparities. (2) Land urbanization expanded, with built-up areas growing from 2905 km² to 4920 km², although the northern region still shows potential for further development. (3) Economic urbanization grew, with secondary and tertiary industries contributing 96% to GDP by 2022, highlighting regional economic disparities. (4) Environmental urbanization improved, with reductions in industrial emissions and 100% harmless treatment of municipal waste. (5) The degree of coupling coordination rose from 0.513 to 0.851, reflecting improved alignment across the four urbanization dimensions. However, disparities persist across cities, requiring tailored urbanization policies to enhance quality of life, land management, economic development, and ecological governance, thus promoting high-quality urbanization. Full article

We examined long-term trends in the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) in Lithuania using data collected from 1980 to 2024. Over 10,000 individuals were captured and 5666 were necropsied to measure standard morphometric traits, including body mass, length, and appendage dimensions. Temporal trends revealed an increase in the proportion of A. flavicollis within small mammal communities, from 6.5% in the 1980s to 28.2% in the 2020s, particularly in forest and grassland habitats. Sexual dimorphism was confirmed, with males generally larger than females in all traits, although age influenced the degree of size difference. Morphometric traits showed a consistent increase from the 1980s to the 2010s, followed by significant declines in body mass, body length, and ear length in the 2020s. Declines were most pronounced in males across all age groups. These findings are consistent with our previous findings in the field vole (Microtus agrestis) from the Baltic region, and the global patterns of body size reduction in small mammals due to climate warming and habitat change. This study highlights the importance of integrating sex- and age-based analyses to understand the ecological and evolutionary responses of mammals to environmental pressures. Future research is essential to explore the broader implications of these trends for ecosystem dynamics and species survival. Full article

As an important part of the urban landscape, lakes not only enhance the overall environmental quality of a city, but also strengthen the residents’ sense of well-being and cultural identity. With the acceleration of urbanization, the water quality and ecological health of urban lakes have become increasingly prominent issues. However, there is a lack of quantitative research on the effects of lake shape on the spatial and temporal distribution of hydrodynamics and water quality. Using the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) model, this study simulates the hydrodynamic characteristics and water quality responses of an urban lake in Tianjin, focusing on the critical role of lake shape in regulating hydrodynamics and water quality. By quantifying the relationship between lake landscape indices (e.g., shape index, Fractal Dimension) and hydrodynamic parameters, this study reveals how lake shape regulates water flow characteristics and nutrient distribution, thereby influencing eutrophication risk. The results show that regular lakes (e.g., Lake B) exhibit higher flow velocities (0.027 m/s) and significantly lower chlorophyll-a concentrations (6–9 μg/L), reducing eutrophication risk, whereas complex-shaped lakes (e.g., Lake X) have lower flow velocities (0.0087 m/s) and higher localized chlorophyll-a concentrations (13–15 μg/L), increasing the risk of eutrophication. This study systematically quantifies the impact of lake shape on hydrodynamic characteristics and water quality distribution, providing a scientific reference for lake shape optimization, precise water replenishment, and water quality management. Full article

Chinese grassland ecological industry is at a critical stage of mid-term adjustment and development. Accurately assessing the benefits of grassland ecological product value conversion during its mid-term development can provide a reasonable basis for adjusting the future development path of ecological product value conversion. This study uses ecological efficiency, economic efficiency, and ecological function importance indicators as the evaluation foundation for the conversion of grassland ecological product value, constructing a three-dimensional evaluation matrix of “ecology-economy-importance” suitability. Under the logical framework of “conversion efficiency-suitability evaluation-path selection”, the study investigates the suitability evaluation and improvement paths of grassland ecological product value conversion during the mid-term development phase in China. The results show that (1) from 2008 to 2022, the overall suitability of grassland ecological product value conversion in China gradually improved, particularly from 2011 to 2021, when the suitability index increased from 4.99 to 6.33. The ecological conversion efficiency remained between 0.60 and 0.67, and the economic conversion efficiency increased from 0.44 to 0.67. (2) In the spatial dimension, the suitability of grassland ecological product value conversion is generally at the second or third suitability level, with certain regional differences. Moreover, ecological and economic conversion efficiencies are spatially inconsistent. (3) In the ecological and economic conversion of grassland ecological products, the highest redundancy rate in terms of industrial land resource investment is 36.7% and 42.40%, respectively. This indicates that the insufficient suitability level of grassland ecological product value conversion may be due to excessive redundancy in industrial land resource investment. (4) The improvement path for the suitability level of grassland ecological product conversion varies across provincial regions, but within provinces, there is a small-scale clustering of similar path choices. In the future, resource and policy allocation could lead to regionally coordinated development. Full article

While there has been some progress in addressing ethical questions within current digital media integration frameworks, such as the TPACK model, insufficient research exists regarding the meaningful integration of digital media into education while considering its impact on sustainability in terms of its ecological, economic, and social dimensions. Hence, this article aims to bridge these two critical research streams and examines the current debate on how these sustainability aspects have been considered in the complex debate on efficient digital media integration in the context of education. Besides potentially significant differences regarding digital sufficiency and the life cycle assessment of digital media, there may be further ecological, economic, and social dimensions of media in education specific to the context of sustainable development. By discussing the impact of digital media on the three dimensions of sustainability using three examples (virtual field trips, smartboards, and large language models), we further categorize our findings from the early stages of a systematic literature review (SLR) into a taxonomy on the consideration of sustainability regarding digital media in education. Initially aiming at an SLR involving the screening of 2099 articles to provide deeper insights into how technology integration frameworks consider all three pillars of sustainable development, none of the articles completely met our inclusion criteria. Instead, we found research on certain sustainability aspects of digital media in education, such as learning objectives, life cycle assessment, and pedagogical approaches, combined with various interpretations of the term sustainability. Based on our findings, we developed a taxonomy on sustainability regarding digital media in education, and argue in favor of a comprehensive view and meaningful measurability of the sustainability dimensions when integrating digital media into education. For the promotion of sustainability regarding digital media in education, we suggest the development of an assessment framework for guiding the practical application of digital media in line with the dimensions of sustainability. Full article

Being both a driver and a manifestation of the current ecological, climate, and social crises, urban sustainability has become a major contemporary issue. Rather than framing the challenges that populations are confronted to as external factors, especially in deprived and segregated neighborhoods, we collected narratives about their experience of their living environments. Our work assumed an innovative interdisciplinary perspective in response to the complex interconnexions of the issues at stake. We aimed to highlight the significance of a situated perspective and an experience-based approach to fully embrace the idea of a research engaged with and for the communities, especially those suffering from marginalization and social deprivation. Our empirical results, rooted in expressions of place attachment (or not), in four disadvantaged neighborhoods in France, are presented in the form of a heuristic device, a non-normative framework that iteratively produced a representation with six dimensions that we called feelings. Together, they can be used to explore the manifestations of well-being, through place attachment related to one’s living environment, in a relational and open way, as people make sense of their place and possibly engage in its defense. We suggest further attention should be directed to concepts such as agency, freedom, and social recognition, as major conditions of the possibility of well-being or leading a good life. These dimensions could be major targets for policies trying to respond to the current sustainability challenges, such as social and environmental justice in the face of an unequal and changing world. Full article

On-year and off-year phenomena are common in Moso bamboo forests and significantly affect economic value and ecological functions. However, observational evidence regarding the impact of these cycles on surface soil moisture (SSM) remains scarce, and little is known about the implications of their landscape patterns for regional water conservation. Here, we first quantified the spatial distribution and temperature vegetation drought index (TVDI) of on-year and off-year Moso bamboo forests based on remote sensing images and landscape metrics. We then analyzed the role of on-year and off-year phenomena and their landscape patterns on SSM. Results showed that: (1) the proposed index derived from remote sensing imagery extracted on-year and off-year Moso bamboo forests with satisfactory accuracy, and the areas were 161.4 km² and 173.5 km², respectively; (2) a significant disparity was observed in the TVDI between on-year and off-year Moso bamboo forests, and mismatched growth stages and phenological characteristics were identified as primary influencing factors; and the (3) landscape metrics of the perimeter–area ratio (PAR), proximity index (PROX), perimeter–area fractal dimension index (PAFRAC), connectance index (CONNECT), and aggregation index (AI) exhibited negative correlations with the TDVI, indicating that the high spatial connectivity of Moso bamboo forests enhances soil water conservation. Our findings suggested that on-year and off-year phenomena and their spatial distribution intensified the heterogeneity in SSM. Therefore, considerations regarding the connectivity and edge complexity within Moso bamboo forests should be prioritized in future management strategies to achieve a balance between economic benefits and ecological functions in water-deficient mountainous areas. Full article

The urban thermal environment is a critical topic in contemporary urban studies. However, the mechanisms driving the relationships between influencing factors and the urban thermal environment across different spatial scales and temporal dimensions remain unclear, particularly as most of these relationships exhibit nonlinearity. This study utilizes XGBoost and SHAP models, combined with a partial dependency plot, to analyze the influence of population activities, built environment, urban topography, ecological and climatic conditions, and urban landscape pattern on the diurnal and nocturnal land surface temperature (LST) changes across urban and rural areas of Hangzhou throughout the year. The results indicate that during the daytime, urban topography exerts a strong influence on LST changes in both urban and rural areas of Hangzhou. At nighttime, the influence of population activities becomes more pronounced. Meanwhile, urban landscape patterns show no significant impact on LST in either urban or rural areas, regardless of daytime or nighttime. Additionally, we analyzed the specific nonlinear relationships between influencing factors and LST. Finally, our findings suggest that influencing factors can interact synergistically in pairs to affect LST, with this mechanism being more prominent in urban areas. Overall, the study categorizes and examines the factors contributing to urban thermal environment changes from spatial and temporal perspectives, providing insights for developing urban planning strategies to mitigate urban heat issues in the future. Full article

The Yangtze River Basin serves as a vital ecological barrier in China, with its water conservation function playing a critical role in maintaining regional ecological balance and water resource security. This study takes the Minjiang River Basin (MRB) as a case study, employing fractal theory in combination with the InVEST model and the SWAT-BiLSTM model to conduct an in-depth analysis of the spatiotemporal patterns of regional water conservation. The research aims to uncover the relationship between the spatiotemporal dynamics of watershed water conservation capacity and its ecosystem service functions, providing a scientific basis for watershed ecological protection and management. Firstly, fractal theory is introduced to quantify the complexity and spatial heterogeneity of natural factors such as terrain, vegetation, and precipitation in the Minjiang River Basin. Using the InVEST model, the study evaluates the water conservation service functions of the research area, identifying key water conservation zones and their spatiotemporal variations. Additionally, the SWAT-BiLSTM model is employed to simulate the hydrological processes of the basin, particularly the impact of nonlinear meteorological variables on hydrological responses, aiming to enhance the accuracy and reliability of model predictions. At the annual scale, it achieved NSE and R² values of 0.85 during calibration and 0.90 during validation. At the seasonal scale, these values increased to 0.91 and 0.93, and at the monthly scale, reached 0.94 and 0.93. The model showed low errors (RMSE, RSR, RB). The findings indicate significant spatial differences in the water conservation capacity of the Minjiang River Basin, with the upper and middle mountainous regions serving as the primary water conservation areas, whereas the downstream plains exhibit relatively lower capacity. Precipitation, terrain slope, and vegetation cover are identified as the main natural factors affecting water conservation functions, with changes in vegetation cover having a notable regulatory effect on water conservation capacity. Fractal dimension analysis reveals a distinct spatial complexity in the ecosystem structure of the study area, which partially explains the geographical distribution characteristics of water conservation functions. Furthermore, simulation results based on the SWAT-BiLSTM model show an increasingly significant impact of climate change and human activities on the water conservation functions of the Minjiang River Basin. The frequent occurrence of extreme climate events, in particular, disrupts the hydrological processes of the basin, posing greater challenges for water resource management. Model validation demonstrates that the SWAT model integrated with BiLSTM achieves high accuracy in capturing complex hydrological processes, thereby better supporting decision-makers in formulating scientific water resource management strategies. Full article

This study explores the concept of resilience within the teachings of Popes Benedict XVI and Francis, comparing these with established psychological resilience theories by Ungar and Holling. Through a comprehensive analysis of documents sourced from the Vatican’s official website, resilience is examined across individual, community, and global dimensions. Individual resilience emphasizes spiritual resources such as faith and hope, which Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis underscore as essential for overcoming personal and societal crises. Community resilience is highlighted in the context of solidarity, cooperation, and cultural identity, as demonstrated in responses to natural disasters and sociopolitical challenges. At a global level, Pope Francis advocates ecological sustainability and systemic justice, tying resilience to shared responsibilities and global solidarity. Methods include textual frequency analysis and semantic mapping of resilience-related terms within papal documents, complemented by a comparative analysis with psychological resilience frameworks. Findings reveal unique contributions of papal teachings, such as the integration of spiritual, moral, and ecological dimensions, which expand traditional resilience concepts. This theological lens adds normative and prescriptive elements, offering transformative perspectives for resilience studies, emphasizing faith, values, and sustainability as pivotal components for enduring and thriving amidst adversity. Limitations of data mining methods suggest potential for further interdisciplinary research. Full article

Forests are critical ecosystems that regulate climate, preserve biodiversity, and support human livelihoods by providing essential resources. However, they are increasingly vulnerable due to the growing impacts of deforestation and habitat fragmentation, which endanger their value and long-term sustainability. Assessing forest and deforestation fragmentation is vital for promoting sustainable logging, guiding ecosystem restoration, and biodiversity conservation. This study introduces an advanced approach that integrates the Local Connected Fractal Dimension (LCFD) with near real-time (NRT) land use and land cover (LULC) data from the Dynamic World dataset (2017–2024) to enhance deforestation monitoring and landscape analysis. By leveraging high-frequency, high-resolution satellite imagery and advanced imaging techniques, this method employs two fractal indices, namely the Fractal Fragmentation Index (FFI) and the Fractal Fragmentation and Disorder Index (FFDI), to analyze spatiotemporal changes in the forest landscape and enhance deforestation monitoring, providing a dynamic, quantitative method for assessing forest fragmentation and connectivity in real time. LCFD provides a refined assessment of spatial complexity, localized connectivity, and self-similarity in fragmented landscapes, improving the understanding of deforestation dynamics. Applied to Nigeria’s Okomu Forest, the analysis revealed significant landscape transformations, with peak fragmentation observed in 2018 and substantial recovery in 2019. FFI and FFDI metrics indicated heightened disturbances in 2018, with FFDI increasing by 75.2% in non-deforested areas and 61.1% in deforested areas before experiencing rapid declines in 2019 (82.6% and 87%, respectively), suggesting improved landscape connectivity. Despite minor fluctuations, cumulative deforestation trends showed a 160.5% rise in FFDI from 2017 to 2024, reflecting long-term stabilization. LCFD patterns highlighted persistent variability, with non-deforested areas recovering 12% connectivity by 2024 after a 38% reduction in 2019. These findings reveal the complex interplay between deforestation and landscape recovery, emphasizing the need for targeted conservation strategies to enhance ecological resilience and connectivity. Fractal indices offer significant potential to generate valuable insights across multiple spatial scales, thereby informing strategies for biodiversity preservation and adaptive landscape management. Full article

This study addresses the task of ecologically assessing the consequences of natural fires. Statistical data are presented on the carbon dioxide emissions in millions of tons and analytical data on the locations of peat fires, as well as modern methods of detection and control of peat and forest fires, divided into groups. An analysis of the works of leading Russian and international scientists and research organizations engaged in the search for methods of peat fire forecasting is also presented. Our aim was to develop a more effective method of preventing peat soil ignition by changing its physical and moisture characteristics. To that end, peat samples were selected in the Tver region. The laboratory equipment and the methodology of our experimental studies are described in detail, in which we simulated the natural climatic conditions in the center of the Russian Federation. This study provides a mathematical description of the process of spontaneous ignition, which occurs according to the following steps: a heat flow heats the surface to the ignition temperature, creating a self-heating zone; eventually, a wave of ignition (smoldering) capable of self-propagation is formed. We experimentally determined the spontaneous thermal ignition conditions in our experimental studies of the fire hazards of selected peat samples, where the test material was loaded in a cylindrical container made of brass net with a 0.8 mm mesh, of the dimensions 30 × 30 mm. Thermocouple elements were placed inside the container, fixing the temperature of the surface and the center of the sample, where the smoldering or ignition zone of the test material formed. We analyzed the results of our experimental studies on peat samples’ self-heating chemical reaction, leading us to draw conclusions about the possibility of fires on peat soil depending on its physical and chemical characteristics. We also offer recommendations that will improve peat soils’ fire safety, permitting agricultural crop production without a peat fire risk. Full article