Search Results (2,170)

The increasing global reliance on water resources has necessitated improvements in turfgrass irrigation efficiency. This study aimed to compare measured field data with predicted data on irrigation water distribution in turfgrass rootzones to verify and enhance the accuracy of the HYDRUS-2D simulation model. Data were collected under controlled greenhouse conditions across unvegetated plots with two- and three-layered rootzone construction methods, each receiving 10 mm of water (intensity of 10 mm h⁻¹) via subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) or a sprinkler (SPR). The water content was monitored at various depths and time intervals. The hydraulic soil parameters required for the simulation model were determined through laboratory analysis. The HYDRUS-2D model was used for testing the sensitivity of various soil hydraulic parameters and subsequently for model calibration. Sensitivity analysis revealed that soil hydraulic property shape factor (n) was most sensitive, followed by factor θ_s^w (water content at saturation for the wetting water retention curve). The model calibration based on shape factors n and α_w either in Layer 1 for SPR variants or in both upper layers for SDI variants yielded the highest improvement in model efficiency values (NSEs). The calibrated models exhibited good overall performance, achieving NSEs up to 0.81 for the SDI variants and 0.75 for the SPR variants. The results of the irrigation management evaluation showed that, under SPR, dividing the irrigation amount of 10 mm into multiple smaller applications resulted in a higher soil storage of irrigation water (SOIL_S) and lower drainage flux (DFLU) compared to single large applications. Furthermore, the model data under the hybrid irrigation approach (HYBRID-IA) utilizing SPR and SDI indicated, after 48 h of observation, the following order in SOIL_S (mm of water storage in the topmost 50 cm of soil): HYBRID-IA3 (3.61 mm) > SDI-IA4 (2.53 mm) > SPR-IA3 (0.38 mm). HYDRUS-2D shows promise as an effective tool for optimizing irrigation management in turfgrass rootzones, although further refinement may be necessary for specific rootzone/irrigation combinations. This modeling approach has the potential to optimize irrigation management, improving water-use efficiency, sustainability, and ecosystem services in urban turfgrass management. Full article

Urban green space systems (UGSS) play a crucial role in enhancing citizens’ well-being and promoting sustainable urban development through their ecosystem service values (ESV). However, understanding the spatiotemporal changes, driving factors, and influencing mechanisms of ESV remains a critical challenge for advancing urban green theories and formulating effective policies. This study focuses on Suzhou, China’s third-largest prefecture-level city by economic volume and ecological core city of the Taihu watershed, to evaluate the ESV of its UGSS from 2010 to 2020, identify key driving factors, and analyze their influencing mechanisms. Using the InVEST model combined with the entropy weight method (EWM), we assessed the ESV changes over the study period. To examine the influencing mechanisms, we employed an innovative XGBoost-GWR approach, where XGBoost was used to screen globally significant factors from 37 potential drivers, and geographically weighted regression (GWR) was applied to model local spatial heterogeneity, providing a research perspective that balances global nonlinear relationships with local spatial heterogeneity. The results revealed three key findings: First, while Suzhou’s UGSS ESV increased by 9.92% from 2010 to 2020, the Global Moran’s I index rose from 0.325 to 0.489, indicating that its spatial distribution became more uneven, highlighting the increased ecological risks. Second, climate, topography, landscape pattern, and vegetation emerged as the most significant driving factors, with topographic factors showing the greatest variation (the negatively impacted area increased by 455.60 km²) and climate having the largest overall impact but least variation. Third, the influencing mechanisms were primarily driven by land use changes resulting from urbanization and industrialization, leading to increased ecological risks such as soil erosion, pollution, landscape fragmentation, and habitat degradation, particularly in the Kunshan, Wujiang, and Zhangjiagang Districts, where agricultural land has been extensively converted to constructed land. This study not only elucidates the mechanisms influencing UGSS’s ESV driving factors but also expands the theoretical understanding of urbanization’s ecological impacts, providing valuable insights for optimizing UGSS layout and informing sustainable urban planning policies. Full article

The study of ecological security patterns is of great significance to the balance between regional economic development and environmental protection. By optimizing the regional ecological security pattern through reasonable land-use planning and resource management strategies, the purpose of maintaining ecosystem stability and improving ecosystem service capacity can be achieved, and ultimately regional ecological security can be achieved. As a typical ecological civilization city in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, Yichang City is also facing the dual challenges of urban expansion and environmental pressure. The construction and optimization of its ecological security pattern is the key to achieving the harmonious coexistence of economic development and environmental protection and ensuring regional sustainable development. Based on the ecological environment characteristics and land-use data of Yichang City, this paper uses morphological spatial pattern analysis and landscape connectivity analysis to identify core ecological sources, constructs a comprehensive ecological resistance surface based on the sensitivity–pressure–resilience (SPR) model, and combines circuit theory and Linkage Mapper tools to extract ecological corridors, ecological pinch points, and ecological barrier points and construct the ecological security pattern of Yichang City with ecological elements of points, lines, and surfaces. Finally, the community mining method was introduced and combined with habitat quality to analyze the spatial topological structure of the ecological network in Yichang City and conduct ecological security zoning management. The following conclusions were drawn: Yichang City has a good ecological background value. A total of 64 core ecological sources were screened out with a total area of 3239.5 km². In total, 157 ecological corridors in Yichang City were identified. These corridors were divided into 104 general corridors, 42 important corridors, and 11 key corridors according to the flow centrality score. In addition, 49 key ecological pinch points and 36 ecological barrier points were identified. The combination of these points, lines, and surfaces formed the ecological security pattern of Yichang City. Based on the community mining algorithm in complex networks and the principle of Thiessen polygons, Yichang City was divided into five ecological functional zones. Among them, Community No. 2 has the highest ecological security level, high vegetation coverage, close distribution of ecological sources, a large number of corridors, and high connectivity. Community No. 5 has the largest area, but it contains most of the human activity space and construction and development zones, with low habitat quality and severely squeezed ecological space. In this regard, large-scale ecological restoration projects should be implemented, such as artificial wetland construction and ecological island establishment, to supplement ecological activity space and mobility and enhance ecosystem service functions. This study aims to construct a multi-scale ecological security pattern in Yichang City, propose a dynamic zoning management strategy based on complex network analysis, and provide a scientific basis for ecological protection and restoration in rapidly urbanizing areas. Full article

The ongoing changes in natural and urban ecosystems, driven by climate change, population growth, and other anthropogenic factors, necessitate the implementation of green infrastructure, such as green roofs and walls. The functional value of these systems is demonstrated through their alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), which are directly related to the implementation and development of sustainable strategies in buildings and urban environments. By leveraging the ecosystem services they provide, green infrastructure contributes to life on land, enhancing biodiversity—especially for flora, fauna, and pollinators. Additionally, their potential for visual appeal and esthetic value, often emphasized during installation, can enrich the cultural and landscape value of urban spaces, ultimately promoting good health and well-being for urban residents. This study aims to incorporate native vegetation into the design of intensive (walls) and extensive (roofs) green infrastructure within a neotropical mountainous climate. To achieve this, an experimental module was developed, integrating native and non-native vegetation selected based on criteria such as relative growth rate (RGR), measured by species size in relation to geotextile mesh coverage and visual survival status. Additional criteria, including stress (SP), esthetic (AP), and coexistence (CP) metrics, inform design strategies aimed at enhancing biodiversity through the use of native vegetation, while maintaining the esthetic integrity of the design. While further evaluation of a broader range of vegetation is necessary to establish more comprehensive parameters, this study has yielded promising results. It demonstrates that the interaction between certain non-native species and native species can positively influence the survival of the latter, while also supporting the survival of native vegetation with significant esthetic value. 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

Understanding the changes in land use and land cover (LULC) in national parks and their corresponding ecosystem service value (ESV) shifts is crucial for shaping future management policies and directions. However, comprehensive analyses in this research area that integrate tourism development perspectives are lacking. Therefore, this interdisciplinary study considers Akan-Mashu National Park in Japan as a case study. Using remote sensing data, LULC maps for the past 10 years were generated using the Google Earth Engine. The benefit transfer method was employed to calculate the corresponding ESV for each year, followed by a qualitative analysis of local tourism policy documents to explore how the park ecosystem has changed in the context of promoting tourism development. The results showed that LULC changes in Akan-Mashu National Park have been relatively stable over the past decade, with the most noticeable changes occurring in built-up areas. The results also confirm that tourism development has not had a significant negative impact on the ESV of the Akan-Mashu National Park. The recommendations proposed in this study can also be applied to other similar national parks or protected areas worldwide to achieve a dynamic balance between environmental protection and tourism development. Full article

China launched the National Desert Park (NDP) initiative over a decade ago, making this an opportune time to assess its effectiveness. This paper examined one of the pilot parks, the Inner Mongolia Ongniud Bolongke NDP, as a case study. Questionnaire surveys were completed by 190 residents and visitors in 2023 to assess whether park designation and development were achieving the desired improvements in human well-being. Respondents also provided feedback on management status and their attitudes toward NDP policy. Responses confirmed that the park generally contributed to diverse benefits, with intangible and environmental benefits rated more highly than socio-economic benefits. However, there were disparities among residents; for example, villagers living the closest to the park perceived lower benefits from the park. While widespread negative impacts were not observed, residents did have some concerns about indirect consequences from visitors. Respondents were positive about the NDP’s future, but responses revealed problems with park management, including the insufficient implementation of requirements for NDP designation and the lack of stakeholder engagement. It is hoped that this study will help improve decision-making for NDPs and thereby further support effective dryland management. Full article

Ecological carrying capacity (ECC) is a crucial indicator for assessing sustainable development capabilities. However, mountain ecosystems possess unique complexities due to their diverse topography, high biodiversity, and fragile ecological environments. Addressing the current shortcomings in mountain ECC assessments, this paper proposes a novel hybrid evaluation framework that integrates improved ecological footprint (EF) and ecosystem service value (ESV) approaches with spatial econometric models. This framework allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamic changes and driving factors of the mountain ecological carrying capacity index (ECCI), using Pingbian County as a case study. The results indicate the following: (1) Land use changes and biodiversity exert varying impacts on the ECCI across different regions. The ECCI decreased by 42% from 2003 to 2021 (from 4.41 to 2.54), exhibiting significant spatial autocorrelation and heterogeneity. (2) The ecological service value coefficient is the main factor increasing the ECCI, while the energy consumption value and per capita consumption value inhibited the increase in the ECCI. For every 1% increase in the ecosystem service value coefficient, the ECCI increased by 0.66%, whereas every 1% increase in energy consumption value and per capita consumption value reduced the ECCI by 0.18% and 0.28%, respectively. (3) The overall spatial distribution pattern of the ECCI is primarily “southwest to northeast”, with the distance of centroid migration expanding over time. Based on these key findings, implementing differentiated land use practices and ecological restoration measures can effectively enhance the mountain ECCI, providing scientific support for the sustainable management of mountain areas. Full article

Land use conflicts represent an increasing challenge to sustainable development, particularly in regions undergoing rapid urbanization. This study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of land use conflicts and their ecological implications in Tianshui City from 1980 to 2020. The main objectives were to identify patterns of spatial heterogeneity, explore the driving factors behind these conflicts, and analyze their relationship with the ecological risks. The results indicate the following findings. In terms of spatiotemporal heterogeneity, early land use changes were primarily driven by structural factors, such as topography and climate, with a Nugget/Still ratio of <0.30 observed from 1980 to 2000. After 2000, however, stochastic factors, including an average annual urbanization rate increase of 5.2% and a GDP growth rate of 9.1%, emerged as the dominant drivers, as reflected in a Nugget/Still ratio > 0.36. Regarding conflict intensity, high-conflict areas expanded by approximately 1110 square kilometers between 1980 and 2020, predominantly concentrated in fertile agricultural regions such as the Weihe River Basin and urban core areas. Conversely, non-conflict zones decreased by 38.7%. In terms of ecological risk correlation, bivariate LISA cluster analysis revealed a significant spatial autocorrelation between severe land use conflicts and ecological risks (Moran’s I = 0.62, p < 0.01). High-risk clusters in areas transitioning from arable land to built-up land increased by 23% after 2000. Predictions based on the future land-use simulation (FLUS) model suggest that by 2030, high-intensity conflict areas will expand by an additional 16%, leading to intensified competition for land resources. Therefore, incorporating ecological safety thresholds into land spatial planning policies is essential for reconciling the conflicts between development and conservation, thereby promoting sustainable land use transitions. Full article

Coastal lagoons at the global scale occupy an area equivalent to 13% of continental coastlines and play a crucial role in multiple biogeochemical processes and their productivity. In these ecosystems, management choices are often suboptimal, partly due to insufficient understanding of the role of lagoons in the social and economic well-being of the communities that depend on them. The multidisciplinary approach utilized in this study to assess the ecosystem services associated with the Orbetello Lagoon enabled the determination of the value this habitat holds concerning the functioning of anthropogenic activities adjacent to the lagoon. To this end, the ecosystem services provided by the Orbetello Lagoon were defined, described, and quantified in 3.8 Mil of euro. To ascertain the specific ecosystem services, it was necessary to quantify the Natural Capital and Natural Flows that regulate the lagoon, following a protocol for the collection and organization of existing knowledge about the area and identifying knowledge gaps. The density of the benefit flow, amounting to 50.000 €/year/m² closely depends on high cultural services and is influenced by regulating ones. Once the ecological and economic value of the Orbetello Lagoon was established, a bibliographic review was conducted to investigate the possible repercussions of major drivers related to climate change on ecosystem services. Full article

Chile holds ~50% of temperate forests in the Southern Hemisphere, thus constituting a genetic–ecological heritage. However, intense anthropogenic pressures have been inducing distinct forest structural-regeneration patterns. Accordingly, we evaluated 22 soil properties at 0–5 and 5–20 cm depths in two protected sites, with similar perturbation records but contrasting post-disturbance regeneration stages: long-term secondary forest (~50 y) (SEC_FORST) (dominated by Chusquea sp.-understory) and a short-term forest after disturbance (~5 y) (FAD_IST) within a Nothofagus spp. forest to determine the potential of these soils to promote nutrient availability, water cycling, soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration (CO₂→SOC), and microbiome. Results detected 93 correlations (r ≥ 0.80); however, no significant differences (p < 0.05) in physical or chemical properties, except for infiltration velocity (+27.97%), penetration resistance (−23%), SOC (+5.64%), and % Al saturation (+5.64%) relative to SEC_FORST, and a consistent trend of suitable values 0–5 > 5–20 cm were estimated. The SOC→CO₂ capacity reached 4.2 ± 0.5 (FAD_IST) and 2.7 ± 0.2 Mg C y⁻¹ (SEC_FORST) and only microbial abundance shifts were observed. These findings provide relevant insights on belowground resilience, evidenced by similar ecosystem services provision capacities over time, which may be influenced progressively by opportunistic Chusquea sp. Full article

This study explores the integration of digitalization and circular economy (CE) principles within the maritime industry through a theoretical analysis, proposing a framework that aligns business models with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and net-zero objectives. By investigating how digital servitization and circular business models can drive economic, social, and environmental outcomes, this research provides valuable insights into sustainable value creation and capture across maritime value chains. The theoretical analysis covers the evolution of business models, emphasizing their collective role in fostering sustainable transformation within the maritime sector. The central idea of this study is a sustainable value mapping approach that aligns product–service systems (PSSs) with circular economy principles, incorporating lifecycle thinking (LCT) to capture the full environmental, economic, and social impacts. This broader perspective on the economic value proposition highlights the need for a shift from selling products to offering servitized products, acknowledging the importance of sustainability across the entire product lifecycle. This framework offers actionable guidance for maritime stakeholders committed to transitioning their value chains towards sustainable, circular models, addressing both production and consumption dimensions to achieve broader environmental and social benefits. Full article

Evaluating potential (PES) and realized (RES) ecosystem services can significantly improve the clarity and understanding of sustainable natural resource management practices. This study determined spatial distribution indices and assessed the economic value of both PES and RES in Northern Thailand. The geographic distribution and intensity of 17 ecological services of six land use categories (i.e., forests, agriculture, shrubland, urban land, water bodies, and barren land) were estimated for the distribution and unit values of PES and RES, by using the Co$ting Nature Model. Our results suggested that the PES and RES values were spatially consistent. The map showing the distribution of PES and RES values revealed high values in the cities of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phitsanulok, and Nakhon Sawan. Nutrient cycling, soil formation, and water supply were identified as the top potential ecological services, while nutrient cycling, water supply, and soil formation were the most realized. The ecosystem service packages in Northern Thailand had a potential annual value of 36.31 billion USD per year. However, after adjusting for relative indices, the realized ecosystem services were valued at 13.44 billion USD per year, representing only one-third of the potential value. To manage resources effectively and make informed decisions, it is essential to comprehend the gap between possible and actual ecosystem services. This research underscores the financial worth of ecosystem services and emphasizes the significance of using them sustainably to enhance human well-being and conserve the environment in Northern Thailand. Full article

Land use land cover (LULC) changes due to rapid urbanization pose critical challenges to sustainable development, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions like Saudi Arabia, where cities such as Abha are experiencing unprecedented expansion. Urban sprawl is accelerating environmental degradation, affecting key natural resources such as vegetation, water bodies, and barren land. This study introduces an advanced machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL)-based framework for high-accuracy LULC classification, urban sprawl quantification, and ecosystem service assessment, providing a more precise and scalable approach compared to traditional remote sensing techniques. A hybrid methodology combining ML models—Random Forest, Artificial Neural Networks, Gradient Boosting Machine, and LightGBM—with a 1D Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) was fine-tuned using grid search optimization to enhance classification accuracy. The integration of deep learning improves feature extraction and classification consistency, achieving an AUC of 0.93 for Dense Vegetation and 0.82 for Cropland, outperforming conventional classification methods. The study also applies the Markov transition model to project land cover changes, offering a probabilistic understanding of urban expansion trends and ecosystem dynamics, providing a significant improvement over static LULC assessments by quantifying transition probabilities and predicting future land cover transformations. The results reveal that urban areas in Abha expanded by 120.74 km² between 2014 and 2023, with barren land decreasing by 557.09 km² and cropland increasing by 205.14 km². The peak ecosystem service value (ESV) loss was recorded at USD 125,662.7 between 2017 and 2020, but subsequent land management efforts improved ESV to USD 96,769.5 by 2023. The resilience and recovery of natural land cover types, particularly barren land (44,163 km² recovered by 2023), indicate the potential for targeted restoration strategies. This study advances urban sustainability research by integrating state-of-the-art deep learning models with Markov-based land change predictions, enhancing the accuracy and predictive capability of LULC assessments. The findings highlight the need for proactive land management policies to mitigate the adverse effects of urban sprawl and promote sustainable ecosystem service recovery. The methodological advancements presented in this study provide a scalable and adaptable framework for future urbanization impact assessments, particularly in rapidly developing regions. Full article

The spatial distribution of vegetation across metropolitan areas is important for wildlife habitat, air quality, heat mitigation, recreation, and other ecosystem services. This study investigated relationships between vegetation patterns and parcel characteristics at multiple scales of the Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), a rapidly growing region in central Texas characterized by diverse biophysical and socioeconomic landscapes. We used LiDAR data to map vegetation types and distributions across a 6000 km² study area. Principal component analysis (PCA) and regression models were employed to explore tree, shrub, and grass cover across parcels, cities, and the MSA, considering home value, age, size, and distance to the city center. At the MSA scale, tree and shrub cover were higher in the Edwards Plateau than in the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Tree cover increased with parcel size and home value, especially in suburban areas. Older parcels had more mature trees, though less so in the grass-dominated Blackland Prairie. Shrub cover was higher on larger parcels in the Edwards Plateau, while the Blackland Prairie showed the opposite trend. PCA explained 60% of the variance, highlighting links between vegetation and urban development. Our findings reveal how biophysical and socioeconomic factors interact to shape vegetation, offering considerations for land use, housing, and green infrastructure planning. Full article