Ecosystem Approach Research Articles

Addressing ecosystem, sedimentation and collaborative approaches challenges in Jatibarang reservoir: A path towards sustainable water management

Addressing ecosystem, sedimentation and collaborative approaches challenges in Jatibarang reservoir: A path towards sustainable water management

The Role of Innovative Technologies in Reducing the Load on Wastewater Treatment Plants in the Cities of the Republic of Kazakhstan

This article highlights an important aspect of modern management of urban wastewater treatment plants in the cities of the Republic of Kazakhstan, focusing on economic assessment of the effectiveness of integrated use of ecosystem solutions for surface (atmospheric) water collection. The study presents an analysis of the impact of such solutions on reducing the burden on wastewater treatment plants and optimizing operating costs. The authors consider different technologies and methods for surface water harvesting, including the use of green spaces, ecosystem elements, and innovative engineering solutions. The paper emphasizes the importance of considering economic aspects when deciding on the implementation of such ecosystem approaches. It presents examples of countries that have implemented, or are currently implementing integrated surface water management and the methods of ecosystem solutions that have shown the most positive ecological and economic effects after their implementation. In addition, the work considers and calculates the main components and concentrations of pollutants entering water bodies from urban areas. The authors conclude that the integrated use of ecosystem solutions for surface water harvesting is a promising approach that will not only reduce the burden on wastewater treatment plants but also contribute to the creation of more sustainable and cost-effective water management systems in the cities of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Development of the Region’s Creative Network Within the Framework of the Ecosystem Approach

The relevance of this study lies in the necessity to discover methods for fostering entrepreneurial growth in regional contexts, operating within a particular framework. One example of such a business organization is the complex of creative industries, in which the relationship between companies that form a creative product and promote its dissemination is based on sustainable networking. The purpose of the article is to study the dependence of the development of nodes and the tightness of communication of the creative network, as well as factors stimulating the development of creative industries in regional localisation. The research methodology is based on the principles of the theory of regional ecosystems. Methods of the study are statistical data processing, comparative and correlation analysis. As a recommendation, it is noted that the use of an ecosystem approach in developing a mechanism for the development of a creative network requires additional justification for the list of results of the development of a creative network in regional localization with a detailed description of the effects received by the population of the region, government bodies, municipalities and other stakeholders.

An ecosystem approach to the analysis of business structures and processes of sectoral management of the oil industry

Subject. This article discusses the issues of improving the quality of management of strategically important industries and companies, on the activities of which the federal budget largely depends. Objectives. The article aims to develop methodological and practical recommendations for the formation of an ecosystem of sectoral management of oil companies in Russia. Methods. For the study, I used systems, statistical, econometric, and economic analyses. Results. The article defines the differences between the ecosystems of corporate and sectoral governance and offers the author-developed model for the formation of a collective strategy for the development of oil companies in Russia. Conclusions. The use of the ecosystem concept within the framework of sectoral management of oil companies will take into account possible risks and lead to a balance of interests.

A creative ecosystem: regional journalism as scalable and integrated practice

Using a creative ecosystems approach, this paper demonstrates that journalism is deeply embedded in the interconnected ecosystem of publishing and, at a higher level, the creative industries. Analysis of data from seven regional areas in New South Wales and Victoria revealed that newsrooms and journalists are vertically integrated with national and international journalistic practices and economic imperatives and also horizontally integrated with other sectors in the creative industries. The analysis revealed a scalable yet integrated ecosystem at work with complex and interconnected journalistic practices on display. This view moves beyond the usual normative approach to studying journalism. We are not asserting that journalists should be doing certain things, as important as that is, but drawing attention to the fact that using this lens allows us a different and useful perspective on what they are actually doing.

Research of opportunities for the ecosystem approach to career planning by students at the State University of Management

The article presents the results of studying the possibilities of an ecosystem approach to career planning by students at the State University of Management (hereinafter referred to as SUM). At first, the gap between the level of practical training of graduates of Russian universities and the requirements of employers has been actualised. Then, the need for joint efforts of all interested labour market participants to create conditions for students’ conscious planning of career growth at all stages of education is emphasised. The experience of intra-university cooperation using the STC (student team consulting) method between the marketing department and practical training department in 2022–2023 has showed that solving this problem involves integrating, on an ecosystem basis, activities for the study of professional academic disciplines, project-based learning, practical training, and employment. As an experiment, 6 student consulting teams have solved a set of interrelated tasks, including the creation and ongoing maintenance of the Career Centre page in the VK social network, advertising campaigns and interviews at “Career Day in Transport and Logistics”, surveys on the employment of graduates and assessment of student satisfaction with practical training, analytical review of the labour market in Russia in 2020–2023 with a report at the All-Russian scientific and practical conference, examination of 5 ideas for marketing research projects in the field of career planning by students of the SUM with testing in social networks and assessments of the influence of actors in its ecosystem. In conclusion, based on the results of the research, the directions for the ecosystem approach to career planning by students at the SUM are formulated.

Plan de manejo basado en ecosistemas para el santuario Chenkan, Campeche

The objective of this work was to design an ecosystem-based management plan for the Chenkan Beach Sanctuary, located in the municipality of Champoton, state of Campeche, using as methodology the twelve principles of the ecosystem approach mentioned by Shepherd (2006) grouped into the following steps: determination of the main actors, characterization of the structure and function of the ecosystem, identification of the relevant economic aspects that will affect the ecosystems and their inhabitants, determination of the probable impact of the ecosystem on adjacent ecosystems and decision of long-term goals and flexible mechanisms to achieve them. The results obtained indicate that the Chenkan Beach Sanctuary was named a protected natural area due to the great variety of species that are at risk, which are registered in the NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 and because it is a nesting site for the hawksbill turtle and the green turtle. It was found that the place has erosion problems that put the nesting sites at risk and that various anthropogenic activities have altered the ecosystems causing the turtles to have to migrate to find a new suitable site to nest. Based on all these problems, proposals are put forward to help mitigate the existing problems in the area. Keywords: Chenkan Beach, environmental problems, ecosystem services, ecosystem approach.

Status of Sustainability Management of Tuna Fisheries Using An Ecosystem Approach In Morotai Island District, Indonesia

Status of Sustainability Management of Tuna Fisheries Using An Ecosystem Approach In Morotai Island District, Indonesia

The Power of Innovation: Entrepreneurship Ecosystem, Components, Research and Start-Up Approaches and the Development Process of the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Turkey

This article, under the title "The Power of Innovation: Entrepreneurship Ecosystem, Components, Research and Start-up Approaches and the Development Process of the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Turkey", examines how Turkey's dynamic entrepreneurship environment is shaped by innovation and the important components in this process. While entrepreneurship has a critical role in economic development and social transformation, innovation stands out as the main driving force of this process. First of all, Turkey's young and educated population, increasing digitalization and access to technology strengthen the entrepreneurial culture and create new business opportunities. In the article, the basic elements of the innovation ecosystem in Turkey, namely the interactions between universities, public institutions, the private sector and entrepreneurs, are discussed in detail. Additionally, the difficulties faced by entrepreneurs in Turkey are analyzed through factors such as limited financial resources, inadequate mentoring and training opportunities. In this context, the effects of the state's innovation strategies, incentive mechanisms and entrepreneurship support programs are examined. For example, the contributions of the supports provided by organizations such as KOSGEB and TÜBİTAK to the realization of entrepreneurs' projects are emphasized. In the article, the contribution of international collaborations and foreign investments to Turkey's innovation ecosystem is discussed, thus focusing on its competitiveness potential in the global market. Additionally, successful domestic enterprise examples are supported by concrete data showing how innovation and entrepreneurship create synergy. As a result, the development of the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Turkey is directly linked to the power of innovation. In order to create a sustainable innovation environment, the need for continuous support, training and policy development comes to the fore. This article aims to provide readers with a comprehensive perspective by presenting the paths and strategies to be followed to maximize Turkey's entrepreneurial potential.

The integration of the ecosystem approach in the BBNJ agreement—An initial assessment of limits and opportunities

AbstractThis paper carries out an initial assessment of the integration of the ecosystem approach in the recently adopted agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). The analysis seeks to assess whether or not such integration is likely to be effective. In this respect, this paper follows up on earlier analyses offered during the negotiating process and aims at offering some initial considerations on, and reactions to, the final text of the BBNJ agreement, in order to map the limits of this integration and the opportunities it may offer, for an effective implementation of the ecosystem approach in the context of the BBNJ agreement, focussing especially on article 7 (on general principles and approaches), on part III (on area‐based management tools, including marine protected areas) and part IV (on environmental impact assessments) with specific focus on strategic environmental assessment.

Achieving land degradation neutrality: land-use planning and ecosystem approach

IntroductionThe research purpose is to scientifically substantiate an integrated approach to solving the problem of land degradation, based on the idea of land degradation neutrality (LDN), taking into account ecosystem services when planning land use to maximize the conservation of natural capital. The methodological basis of the research is the provisions and principles of the concepts of sustainable development, achieving LDN, and ecosystem services, as well as the research results revealing various aspects of land use, particularly their degradation.MethodsThe following research methods are used in the paper: dialectical – to determine the cause-and-effect conditions of land degradation; analysis – to highlight the current state of land use in Ukraine and the factors that have led to land degradation; synthesis – for global trends towards achieving LDN; deduction – to explore the possibility of introducing global experience in achieving LDN in Ukraine; structural-functional analysis – to substantiate the feasibility of introducing an ecosystem approach to land-use planning to achieve LDN.ResultsAs a result of the research, the current land degradation state in Ukraine has been analyzed, and ways of achieving LDN in land-use planning through the prism of an ecosystem approach have been substantiated. Based on statistical data, the current and potential levels of arability of the territory of Ukraine have been calculated by natural-climatic zones, and the areas of eroded arable lands in Ukraine have been determined by the erodibility factor (low-eroded, mediumeroded,and highly-eroded).DiscussionFor the first time, a structural-logical scheme has been developed for organizational-economic support for the effective use of degraded and low-productive agricultural lands in the context of implementing the idea of LDN, which is a tool for rational allocation and use of degraded lands. This scheme can serve as a basis for the development of land-use planning strategies for territorial communities, for institutions, and organizations competent in the field of land management.

Management Gaps in the Implementation of Legislation Regulating Derelict and Ownerless Mines in South Africa

Little attention has been paid to the rehabilitation of derelict and ownerless mines in South Africa after their lifespan. This paper aims to explore management gaps in legislation that have resulted in the non-rehabilitation of derelict and ownerless mines in South Africa. There is growing evidence that supports the distressing effects of mining on people living around these mines in the North West Province. This paper was motivated by the current socio-economic status quo of old mining towns, the influx of illegal miners (Zama Zamas), severe environmental damages, and the violence associated with derelict mines. Underpinning this research was an ecosystem approach and integrated resources management principles, which formed the foundation for the decision-making process.The researcher used a mixed-method approach and employed convergent techniques. A semi-structured instrument was used to collect data from 200 respondents. The results indicated that there is a dire need for community-based consultative processes, and an absence of clear guidelines for derelict and ownerless mines to pressure mine management to adhere to rehabilitation standards. Moreover, the mining charter is ambiguous regarding policy implementation, budgetary allocation, and duration of the rehabilitation of these mines. The paper concluded that management challenges associated with derelict mines can be reduced if all stakeholders follow the guidelines as outlined in the environmental legislative framework (NEMA) of South Africa while being open to innovations in line with international best practices. It also contributes towards the development of guidelines for the management and implementation of legislation related to derelict and ownerless mines in South Africa from a philosophical, theoretical, and policy perspective.

Addressing integration in the organization of palliative care in Belgium: a multilevel ecosystems approach using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method

BackgroundPalliative care is becoming an essential component of healthcare, but there is insufficient research on how integration across different levels of care (micro, meso, and macro) is realized in practice. Without such integration, care may become fragmented, leading to suboptimal patient outcomes. While many studies have explored palliative care models, there is a gap in understanding how priorities for integrated care align across these levels within healthcare ecosystems. Specifically, it is unclear whether key actions at each level are shared, coordinated, and supported effectively, making it difficult to implement sustainable, cohesive care strategies. Our study aims to explore the extent to which important goals (i.e., priorities) are shared across the micro, meso, and macro levels of the palliative care ecosystem in Flanders, Belgium.MethodsWe applied a multimethod study using the analytic hierarchy process method (AHP). This consists of three sequential steps: a broad literature search and interviews with Belgian stakeholders (n = 12) to determine the criteria for the organization of integrated care; focus groups (n = 8) with patients, their relatives and caregivers to establish the completeness and relevance of the criteria; and prioritization of the criteria using a questionnaire among 305 Flemish participants (patients, relatives, caregivers and policy makers).ResultsOur findings revealed that integration is imbalanced, with priorities being most emphasized at the micro level (57%), followed by the meso (29%) and macro (14%) level. Functional enablers dominate at the macro (80%) and meso organizational level (67%), while normative enablers are emphasized at the meso professional (67%) and micro level (75%). Effective palliative care requires vertical coordination of these enablers: for instance, transparent communication with patients at the micro level depends on cross-organizational information exchange at the meso level, supported by a unified data system at the macro level.ConclusionAchieving integrated palliative care requires deliberate alignment of priorities across all levels of the ecosystem. While each level plays a unique role, palliative care is comprehensive and effective only by sharing both functional and normative enablers across micro, meso, and macro level.

Understanding evidence ecosystems: What influences the production, translation, and use of modeled evidence in Burkina Faso, Nigeria, India, and Kenya?

Background This study sought to document and understand facilitators and barriers to producing, translating, and using modeled evidence in decision-making in Burkina Faso, Nigeria, India, and Kenya. We explored researcher-decision-maker engagement mechanisms as key facilitators of evidence use, with a focus on knowledge brokers and boundary organizations. Methods The study used sequential mixed methods drawing on data collected from surveys and key informant interviews, complemented by a rapid desk review to map modeling activities and actors. The survey was conducted online while the qualitative research entailed in-depth interviews with modelers, knowledge brokers, and decision-makers working in a representative variety of health fields, organizations, and levels of government. This study was approved by Health Media Lab IRB (Institutional Review Board) in the United States and a local IRB in each study country and conducted between September 2021 and June 2022. Results Informants interviewed for this study described a range of factors that facilitate and inhibit the use of modeled evidence in public health decision-making at the individual, organizational, and environmental levels. Key themes included the capacity to produce, translate, and use modeled evidence; the timing and relevance of modeling outputs; the existence of communications channels between modelers and decision-makers; the strength of underlying data systems; the role of sustained funding; and the impact of global crises. Conclusion This study highlights the importance of taking an ecosystem approach to supporting modeling activities, considering individual, organizational, and environmental factors and how different actors and interact to inform the production, translation, and use of modeled evidence. Structured interaction that promotes dialogue, debate, and joint sense making between the producers and users of evidence is critical to informing and influencing the use of evidence in decision-making.

Sustainable fishery and management of Batur Lake based on ecosystem approach, Bali

Sustainable fishery and management of Batur Lake based on ecosystem approach, Bali

Применение экосистемного подхода к ликвидации и возмещению накопленного вреда окружающей среде

The process of formation and recognition of responsibility for accumulated environmental damage is considered. The possibilities of applying the ecosystem approach to the legal regulation of organizing the elimination of accumulated environmental harm are explored, including assessing the results of the restoration measures taken and the formation of criteria for recognizing objects of accumulated harm as liquidated. A justification is given for the need to apply an ecosystem approach to eliminating accumulated environmental damage in order to achieve the goal of rational environmental management (restoring and increasing the sustainability of natural ecological systems and ensuring their equilibrium state).

Tested by the COVID-19 economic shock: peace-positive entrepreneurship and intergroup collaboration in post-conflict business recovery

ABSTRACT Establishing economic collaboration between previously antagonistic groups during post-conflict business recovery advances peacebuilding by nurturing intergroup ties. However, we have a limited understanding of how post-conflict intergroup economic collaboration develops and how it is sustained. We address these gaps from the perspective of peace-positive entrepreneurship. Specifically, an ecosystem approach that we apply directs analysis to dynamic entrepreneurial action in the local context. To examine the role of intergroup interactions in decision-making of entrepreneurs in post-conflict business recovery and in response to the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted fieldwork on two micro-economies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Our findings demonstrate that entrepreneurs’ engagement across ethnic lines was a main facet of resource mobilisation strategies that enabled them to (re)establish and develop market presence post-conflict. Likewise, intergroup economic collaboration was a lynchpin of entrepreneurs’ effective response to the COVID-19 economic shock. This path-dependent analysis of entrepreneurial action shows that intergroup economic collaboration is not simply a side-effect of post-conflict business recovery and development. Rather, intergroup economic collaboration also needs to be actively pursued by entrepreneurs attuned to the local context. Intergroup economic collaboration can be instrumental in business (re)engagement in the post-conflict economy, generating wider benefits to peacebuilding.

Teachers’ perspectives on the implementation of an ethical education curriculum in Ireland

ABSTRACT This study examines the perspectives of ten secondary school teachers on the implementation of a pilot Ethical Education curriculum at senior cycle in three Educate Together schools in Ireland. Informed by a synergy between two ecological approaches, namely the meta-theoretical Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and the OECD Learning Compass 2030 policy framework for curriculum change, teacher data from interviews and surveys informed a revision to this draft curriculum. Teachers reported that the Ethical Education curriculum facilitated an environment where students had the opportunity to exercise their agency in demonstrating their knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to develop as moral agents. Recommendations were formulated and are presented using an ecosystemic approach, congruent with the CFIR and the Learning Compass, to guide the implementation of this curriculum at a national level.

Upskilling India: The national policy on skill development and entrepreneurship

Background India’s National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (NPSDE) was designed to capture the demographic dividend and upskill India’s youth, creating an ‘Athmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) and in the process, also drive economic growth. Policy and Implications The NPSDE’s dual focus on skill development and entrepreneurship was intended to create a framework for empowering India’s workforce and fostering a culture of innovation. However, the policy has encountered several issues, including the ineffective functioning of Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), inadequate infrastructure, and insufficiently skilled trainers. Additionally, the policy’s efforts to include marginalized groups, particularly women, have fallen short due to entrenched social barriers and gender biases, impacting the effectiveness of training programs. Recommendations To improve the effectiveness of the NPSDE, we propose the following recommendations -adopt an entrepreneurial ecosystem approach to enhance coordination and support within the skill development framework; explicitly define ‘skill’ and ‘skilling’ to better align with socio-political realities and address barriers faced by marginalized individuals; and design training initiatives with an empowerment perspective, focusing on access to resources, agency, and social change. We feel these steps can help direct the NPSDE to create a more inclusive and impactful skilling environment. Conclusions While the NPSDE represents a significant effort towards upskilling India and fostering self-reliance and entrepreneurship, its implementation has revealed critical limitations. The policy’s progress has been insufficient, with persistent issues in meeting industry needs and addressing socio-economic barriers. Future revisions of the policy should focus on systemic improvements, adopting a more inclusive approach to skilling, and addressing the socio-political dimensions of skill valuation to better support India’s developmental aspirations.

Atlantis end-to-end modeling to explore ecosystem dynamics in the Strait of Sicily, Central Mediterranean Sea

This paper describes the first application of the end-to-end model Atlantis in the Strait of Sicily (SoS). The model is designed to simulate ecosystem dynamics under the influence of fishing activities. Model performance was evaluated by comparing predicted biomass and catch of target species against observed data, utilizing multiple quantitative metrics. It reproduces accurately trophic dynamics, and biomass and catch of main target species in the SoS. Sensitivity analysis of the key model parameters identified nutrient loading and fishing pressure as the major processes influencing the ecosystem trophic spectrum and generating bottom-up and top-down effects. The results also emphasized the importance of incorporating uncertainty estimation in model predictions and robust selection of key parameters. The SoS Atlantis represents a strategic tool for the application of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) in the Strait of Sicily and for assessing the effect of alternative management scenarios under a holistic framework.