Main Ecosystem Research Articles

Co-Developing Business Plans for Upscaled Coastal Nature-Based Solutions Restoration: An Application to the Venice Lagoon (Italy)

Upscaling coastal nature-based solutions (NbSs), from the river to sea scale, essential to the ultimate success of restoration, requires larger investments, greater socio-economic engagement and a transformative shift in governance. Consequently, the ability to catalyze blended finance from public and private investors through business model innovation and accessibly written long-range business plans is imperative. This research proposes a methodology to systematically co-design, through iterative stakeholder engagement, suitable and effective business models for upscaling NbSs coastal restoration, as well as a framework to develop business plans adaptable to different investors needs and financial criteria. This method was tested and validated in a saltmarsh restoration project coordinated by public agencies in the Venice Lagoon. It delivered an advanced business model canvas, carefully assessed through a stakeholder questionnaire and a related business case centered on ecotourism complemented by a willingness-to-pay analysis. The resulting business plan lays out the governance, management, business and financial strategies for successful restoration, addressing specific interconnected issues, improving five main ecosystem services and delivering NbS multifunctional environmental, economic, social and cultural benefits. The methodology has proven to be applicable beyond the Venice Lagoon saltmarsh case and types of restoration projects.

Study on the ecosystem service flow based on the relationship of between supply and demand in Yangtze River Economic Belt

Ecosystems supply goods and services to humans and are the basis for sustainable development of human society. The study of the supply of ecosystem services and the demand and consumption of ecosystem services by human society, and the analysis of the supply and demand characteristics and flow relationships of ecosystem service flows are of great significance for the management of regional ecosystems and the development of ecological compensation. Taking the Yangtze River Economic Belt as an example, this paper calculates the supply and demand indices of ecosystem services in 2015 and 2020, and determines the ecosystem spatial flow paths and flow volumes from the ecosystem supply area to the demand area based on various methods and models such as the minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model and distance decay model. The results indicate that 1). In 2015 and 2020, the supply and demand of ecosystem services in the Yangtze River Economic Zone show an increasing trend numerically, and there is spatial heterogeneity in the spatial distribution. In terms of ecosystem service supply per unit area, the midstream region is higher than the upstream and downstream regions. In terms of the demand for ecosystem services per unit area, the downstream is higher than the midstream and upstream. 2). From the supply-demand balance of ecosystem services in the Yangtze River Economic Zone, the midstream region is mainly the area of surplus supply of ecosystem services, and the downstream region is mainly the area of deficit supply. From 2015 to 2020, the number of areas with balanced supply and demand of ecosystem services in the Yangtze River Economic Belt decreases and the number of areas with unbalanced supply and demand increases, which is related to the changes in the level of economic development and land use patterns. 3). The flow of ecosystem services in the Yangtze River Economic Belt shows an increasing trend, from 726.59 billion yuan in 2015 to 1,450.54 billion yuan in 2020, with Jiangxi Province being the main ecosystem service supply area and Zhejiang Province being the main ecosystem service demand area in the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

ANALYSING THE POTENTIAL OF CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS FOLLOWING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN BONDALEM, BULELENG, BALI

Coastal and marine areas have considerable biological resource potential, because they are supported by three main ecosystems, namely mangrove ecosystems, seagrass beds and coral reefs. Coral reefs are one of the coastal ecosystems that contribute greatly to coastal areas. But behind the great potential, it is also very vulnerable to damage, both caused by nature and human activities on land and in sea waters. As an effort to maintain the existence of these ecosystems, ecosystem monitoring is needed to find out how much potential is still available in the coastal area. The purpose of this study was to determine and provide information related to the potential and condition of coral reefs in Bondalem Village. This research used descriptive quantitative method with purposive sampling technique. The data taken is primary data that includes observations of coral reefs based on the form of growth (lifeform). Coral reef data collection was carried out using the UPT (Underwater Photo Transect, Underwater Photo Transect) method. The results obtained, coral reefs at the observation station have a total of 18 lifeforms. The percentage of coral cover obtained at a depth of 3 meters has a coral cover ranging from 35.34%, while at a depth of 10 meters the result of coral cover is 26.30% (medium category). The coral reef ecosystem uniformity index ranges from 0.96 - 0.97 (high). The diversity index of coral reef ecosystems in Bondalem Village ranged from 1.25 which is included in the relatively medium category (1<H'<3). The dominance index of coral reef ecosystem in Bondalem Village ranged from 0.064 - 0.066 (low).

Assessment of Species-Based Ecosystem Services and Its Usefulness in Forest-Savanna Ecological Zone

Forest ecosystems are the main species rich ecosystem on earth, having a significant role in the provision of massive benefits to the populace who depended on them for sustenance. This study aimed at assessing the forest provisioning ecosystem service and use in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. The objectives of this study include the identification of forest provisioning ecosystem services and their uses, people’s dependence for livelihood and quantity of ecosystem services supplied by community forests. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 8 sampled communities while Nikolopoulou convenience sampling technique was adopted for selecting sampling size of 200 persons. Also, 31 key informants were interviewed across the study area. The responses from the entire sampled questionnaire and interview were analyzed using Microsoft excel and statistical package for social sciences. The study revealed that a good number of the forest resources such as Elaeis guineensis, Garcinia kola, Bambusa vulgaris, Azadirachta indica and Brophyllum pinnatum have multiple uses. The result also revealed that the nature of forest determines the quantity of ecosystem service benefits supplied. Hence, those community forests with weak policies supply less than 40% of resources because their traditional laws of entering and harvesting forest resources are no longer effective, while those with strong policies like restriction into their sacred groves, forest reserves and swampy forests supply above 40%. The chi-square value of 352.873 with 28 degrees of freedom (DF) proved that there is strong relationship between the nature of forest and the quantity of ecosystem services provided. This research concludes that forest ecosystem in Ihiala L.G.A, supplies a wide variety of plant and animal species to the populace, which they basically use for timber, firewood, food and medicine. Nonetheless, without alternative and diversified livelihood, the supply is becoming unsustainable. It recommends that since palm tree and its resources are averagely abundant in the study area, there is need to support the establishment of basket making training centre in various communities and as such, make it an attractive skill acquisition programme.

Trends in climate adaptation solutions for mountain regions

This study addresses the critical need for documented adaptation progress in mountain regions by reviewing recently implemented or ongoing adaptation solutions collected from the Adaptation at Altitude Solutions Portal (A@A Solution Portal). Using a data driven approach, the research explores the characteristics, feasibility, and transformative potential of these solutions. Findings reveal a predominant focus on addressing droughts and floods, aligning with the IPCC’s emphasis on water-related impacts in mountains. Notably, watershed management practices emerge as popular solutions, showcasing their capacity to address multiple concerns beyond climate impacts. Education and awareness, along with land use practices, dominate the types of solutions, reflecting their positive impact on project acceptability and low associated risk of maladaptation. Agricultural land and forests are the main ecosystems where solutions are reported, with an evident association with education and awareness and land use change solutions. Most SDGs and Sendai targets are found to be addressed by the solutions emphasising the importance of documenting project experiences as way to bridge previously reported gaps between policy frameworks and on-the-ground implementation. Despite community involvement being high in many of the solutions, challenges such as gender inequality persists. While solutions often demonstrate local relevance and depth of change, upscaling remains challenging, with limited evidence of mainstreaming and replication. Sustainability criteria are moderately met, incorporating inclusive decision-making but with uncertainty regarding long-term plans. Furthermore, findings underscore the significance of co-developing and maintaining adaptation solution portals, illustrating how this approach enriches our understanding of adaptation progress in mountains. Moreover, this research contributes to broadening the scope of systematic adaptation assessments by providing a nuanced perspective that integrates local needs and diverse knowledge systems. In essence, this study makes a valuable contribution to the evolving landscape of adaptation research, emphasizing the importance of practical insights and collaborative efforts to address the complex challenges posed by climate-related impacts and corresponding adaptation efforts.

Ecosystem Barriers and Facilitators Linked to the Fear of Cancer Recurrence: An Umbrella Review.

The fear of cancer recurrence is an important topic in the healthcare field. In general, approximately 40% of survivors experience high levels of fear of recurrence. This study aims to fill this gap by synthesizing the findings of systematic reviews studies investigating ecosystems, correlates or predictors, and barriers and facilitators of fear of cancer recurrence among cancer survivors. An umbrella meta-synthesis was conducted using the following databases: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, CINAHL, Business source premier, and SOCindex, ending in April 2024 with PRISMA methods. A total of 24 systematic reviews, representing 729 articles, were included in the study. In total, six ecosystems were identified, including family, work, friends, the healthcare system, caregivers, and religion. As part of this umbrella review, 55 specific ecosystemic factors were identified that may contribute to fear of cancer recurrence. Furthermore, the umbrella review identified 12 facilitators and 12 barriers related to fear of cancer recurrence. This umbrella meta-synthesis contributed significantly to our review's strength in synthesizing the main ecosystem and its influence on fears of cancer recurrence. Understanding the interdependence of ecosystems should enable future research on intervention effectiveness or the development of interventions that could reduce the fear of cancer recurrence.

Heritage Evaluation of the Carob Tree MTAS in the Territory of Valencia: Analysis and Social Perception of the Ecosystem Services and Values from Cultivating It

The concept of Multifunctional Territorialized Agrifood Systems (MTASs) arose as an alternative to global hegemonic models in the 21st century. This study intends to identify the main ecosystem values and services generated by the MTAS of the carob tree in the territory of Valencia, which is one of the most characteristic dryland fruit tree species farmed in the Mediterranean. To do so, a multi-criteria quantitative evaluation system has been used that enables values to be assigned to the kinds of significance placed on MTASs. For this purpose, a questionnaire was carried out with 268 local inhabitants. The global score obtained is 7.6 points, indicating a high heritage value. Some of the criteria with the best scores are related to the authenticity of the carob tree and its social and historical values since this crop is a testament to ancestral techniques and traditions. Furthermore, this Mediterranean crop provides numerous ecosystem services and has multiple properties and applications, mainly in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The local population has scored the vulnerability value with only 4.1 points as a consequence of the progressive abandonment of the cultivated area in recent decades. Therefore, greater involvement from social stakeholders is essential in order to preserve this crop.

The Impact of Mangrove Forest Land Conversion on the Sustainability of Biological Resources and the Environment of Tanjung Luar Village

Mangrove forests and coastal forests are green belts in coastal areas that have ecological and socio-economic functions. The main ecosystem in coastal areas is mangroves, which not only have economic value but also have great value for the environment. Tanjung Luar village, Keruak sub-district currently still really needs more attention and is still in the development stage, because most of the mangrove forests in the Tanjung Luar area have been converted into residential areas, shrimp ponds and salt ponds. This research aims to determine the impact of mangrove forest land conversion on the sustainability of biological resources and the environment of Tanjung Luar Village by reviewing environmental protection and management based on the environmental protection and management law. This research uses normative empirical research methods. The research results show that the impact of the conversion of mangrove forest land results in an imbalance in the marine ecosystem and has a direct impact on the community, especially people who earn a living as fishermen. Efforts that can be made to overcome this are by reforesting and reorganizing coastal spatial planning by involving the government, fisheries and marine services and the general public. Many cases of environmental pollution and damage are caused by human activities such as air pollution, water pollution, land pollution and forest damage which ultimately harm humans. Realizing the importance of living necessities and the high dependence on natural resources such as mangroves, a solution is needed to combine ecological, economic and socio-cultural aspects so that they are sustainable and thus support sustainable development programs. Several efforts that can be made to restore condition of mangrove forests are by involving the community to get involved directly. Such as conducting socialization on the importance of the negative impacts of environmental pollution, especially for the forest environment and the importance of mangroves for the sustainability of marine ecosystems and starting to replant mangrove forests which had previously been converted into residential areas by moving people who inhabit coastal areas with guaranteed compensation in the form of new settlements.

Identification of main variables in forest management for recovery of endemic species habitat in burned areas of southern Chile

Wildfires are among the most serious disturbances that affect forest biodiversity, damaging both flora and fauna. In some burned areas, vegetation recovery is a long and complex process that requires the support of restorative actions. This study evaluated changes in forest structural features after a fire that affect habitat suitability for Rhinocryptids, an endemic group of bird species that are indicators of biodiversity in the temperate forests of South America. The study area was the Malleco National Reserve, Chile, where the main ecosystems are temperate forests. Four species from the Rhinocryptidae family of birds were used as bioindicator species. This group of species is endemic to temperate forests in South America. After fires occurred in 2002 and 2015, affecting temperate forests dominated by several Nothofagus species, two field inventories were carried out in 2016 and 2018. These inventories recorded the presence of Rhinocryptids and some forests structural features. Differences between the two stages of forest regeneration were assessed using statistical tests (T-test and Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test) and a classification model was proposed to determine the presence of Rhinocryptidae species. The statistical analysis of forest structural features showed that the variables more relevant in the habitat recuperation are vertical stratification (p-value < 0.001) and understory cover (p-value = 0.053). The trained decision tree to predict the presence of Rhinocryptidae species had an accuracy of 65.22%. This model showed that the coexistence of more than one Rhinocryptidae species occurs when vertical stratification is not mono-stratified and the density is lower than 335 trees ha−1. Our results can help forest managers to consider forest structure as a suitable habitat for certain major wildlife species when implementing post-fire recovery plans.

Response of Rhizophora apiculata Seedling Growth to The Application of Several Types of Fertilizers in Pulau Sembilan, Pangkalan Susu District, Langkat Regency

Influence on the growth of Rhizopora apiculata seedlings given fertilizer Beauveria, Mycorrhiza, Trichoderma or not given fertilizer. Mangrove forests are the main ecosystem supporting life activities in coastal areas and play an important role in maintaining the balance of biological cycles in the environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Beauveria fertilizer, Trichoderma fertilizer, mycorrhizal fertilizer and not given fertilizer on the growth of Rhizophora apiculata seedlings. This study used a complete randomized design (RAL) consisting of 4 treatments with 10 repetitions. The treatment was carried out with P0 = control, P1 = Beauveria, P2 = Trichoderma, P3 = Mycorrhiza. From the data of observation of seedling height, seedling diameter, it can be concluded that the effect of fertilizer does not affect plant growth and can be declared insignificant. Keywords: Complete randomized design, Fertilizer, Growth assessment, Mangrove forests, Rhizophora apiculata

Community Perspectives in Developing Bat-Cave Tourism in Leang Londrong, Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park: Comparing The Locals &amp; Tourists

Maros-Pangkep karst formation in South Sulawesi is one of the largest karst environments in the world. One cave located in the area is Leang Londrong and is a part of the management of Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park. The Leang Londrong area is known as tourism spot with water-based tourism as the main attraction and it is also known as the main ecosystem service provider in particular as water sources for many areas. This cave is inhabited by some species of bats. Even now the area is designated for water-based tourism, other potential tourism object such bats roosting inside the cave for tourism development has not been explored. Therefore, this study attempts to examine the perception of local community and tourists visiting the area towards nature, cave, bats and its conservation, as well as cave-bats tourism development. The study was conducted between January-April 2022 by distributing questionnaires to 86 respondents consisted of local community, tourists, and government’s representatives. The results indicated that in general the respondents had limited knowledge on nature, cave, bats and its conservation. In particular with bats, the majority of the respondents have not yet been familiar with bats, understood the roles of bats for the environment, and tended to ignore the existence of bats. However, in relation with nature and conservation, bat conservation, and the development of cave and bat tourism in Leang Londrong, all respondents from the tourist’s side agreed to support (&gt;85%) and for the locals, the number was even higher (&gt;90%). Therefore, from the perspectives of local community and tourists, the chance in developing cave and bat tourism in Leang Londrong can be considered possible.

New practices of land-sea coordination in coastal zone ecological security integration: A case study of Nantong

Coastal development strategies and land-sea coordination has made a close connection between the sea and the land, and the coastal zone has become a whole entity. In this study, we established the ecological security integration pattern (ESIP) of the coastal zone in Nantong based on the land-sea coordination and connectivity. We selected the main coastal zone ecosystem service (ES) evaluation indices, calculated the ecological risk to validate the ES evaluation results, and explored the mechanisms driving ESs using multiscale geographically weighted regression. Ecological sources relies on rivers, tidal flats, and areas with high ES to construct an ecological corridor from land to sea. Ecological risk had a significant negative correlation with ES. The six driving factors selected had a positive and negative influence on the ecological sources equal to ES; An ESIP of two belts, two channels, and one river network was constructed across the land and sea boundaries, and the effect of driving factors on ES was integrated to provide suggestions for the future ESIP. This study of an ESIP evaluation system in Nantong reflects the new practice of land-sea coordination, which not only enriches the ecological security evaluation system, but also provides novel ideas for realizing ecological protection and restoration in coastal zones.

Coupling effect of key factors on ecosystem services in border areas: a study of the Pu'er region, Southwestern China.

The coupling effects created by transboundary and local factors on ecosystem services are often difficult to determine. This poses great challenges for ecosystem protection and management in border areas. To decrease uncertainty, it is crucial to quantify and spatialize the impact multiple factors have on ecosystem services within different scenarios. In this study, we identified key transboundary and local factors from a set of 15 sorted factors related to four main ecosystem services. We employed a Bayesian Network-Geographic Information System (BN-GIS) model to simulate 90 scenarios with multiple factors combinations, quantifying and spatializing the coupling effects on the main ecosystem services. These simulations were conducted in the Pu'er region, which is situated alongside three countries, and serves as a representative border area in southwest China. The results showed that: (1) The coupling effects of multiple factors yield significant variations when combined in different scenarios. Managers can optimize ecosystem services by strategically regulating factors within specific areas through the acquisition of various probabilistic distributions and combinations of key factors in positive coupling effect scenarios. The outcome is a positive coupling effect. (2) Among the four main ecosystem services in the Pu'er region, food availability and biodiversity were affected by key transboundary and local factors. This suggests that the coupling of transboundary and local factors is more likely to have a significant impact on these two ecosystem services. Of the 45 combination scenarios on food availability, the majority exhibit a negative coupling effect. In contrast, among the 45 combination scenarios on biodiversity, most scenarios have a positive coupling effect. This indicates that food availability is at a higher risk of being influenced by the coupling effects of multiple factors, while biodiversity faces a lower risk. (3) Transboundary pests & diseases, application of pesticides, fertilizer & filming , population density, and land use were the key factors affecting food availability. Bio-invasion, the normalized differential vegetation index, precipitation, and the landscape contagion index were the key factors affecting biodiversity. In this case, focusing on preventing transboundary factors such as transboundary pests & disease and bio-invasion should be the goal. (4) Attention should also be paid to the conditions under which these transboundary factors combine with local factors. In the areas where these negative coupling effects occur, enhanced monitoring of both transboundary and local factors is essential to prevent adverse effects.

Unleashing the potential of digital twins: a new era with aeronautics 4.0

Abstract* Introduction The aerospace value chain consists of several processes, and digitizing it first requires an assessment of these processes and their ability to be transferred to the fully integrated digital thread perspective of smart factories. A digital thread refers to the continuous flow of data and information related to a product throughout its life cycle, integrating and connecting all aspects of a product’s journey. Within this framework, digital twin technology, an essential element of Industry 4.0, comprises the implementation of a virtual presentation of a physical object, system, or process. It brings together the digital replica not only of the physical attributes but also of the behavioral performance of the physical twin. Methods To achieve a digital thread perspective for aeronautics, a research agenda is proposed, including all breakpoints in the current value chain through a PESTLE Analysis, which defines the value-added areas targeted by this transition to digital technology. An aeronautics 4.0 model Digital Thread Twin Smart Aeronautics D2TSAero is proposed, which provides a new perspective in the aeronautics field by integrating its main ecosystems into an interconnected model made possible by the integration of digital twin agent instances. Proof of Concept A use case that deals with the dependability management of an aircraft fuel distribution system is presented. Based on these results, we can see that the proposed twin model can help in reducing real system parts down time, and it can also improve the management of maintenance across the system life cycle by offering a single source of trust for all stakeholders involved in the digital thread cycle of the real twin. Conclusion A forward-looking perspective on the future of aeronautics with this integrated approach is presented, summarizing all the discussed points and the importance of digital twins in supporting the digitalization of the field.

Persistent neural calibration for discharges modelling in drought-stressed catchments

Cross-sector coordination between all water uses and the environmental flows is an essential target for achieving sustainable management in any hydrographic region. In this framework, a novel neural approach was developed and implemented, by the software ANNPI 1.0, to characterise and infer of the discharges regime in a specific basin using only a few attributes as independent variables. The calibration procedure is controlled by the Persistence Index (PI), which is function of a determined estimation lead-time, to facilitate the dynamic character of these simulations. A model validation was carried out in the Lower Guadiana Transboundary Basin, in the Southwest Iberian Peninsula, characterised by moderate and severe drought cyclical events. The best neural approaches included as input variable, between others, the Standardized Precipitation Index at a twelve-month scale SPI(12) that is indicator of hydrological drought, obtaining results statistically very good with determination coefficients higher to 0.77, Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency coefficients higher to 0.75, Kling-Gupta Efficiency coefficients higher to 0.87 and Persistence Indexes higher to 0.60 in three of the four reservoirs analysed. These accuracy measures showed the ability of the software ANNPI 1.0 to reduce the naïve effect in the forecasting of streamflows time series and could therefore facilitate the development of decision-support systems to make reliable reservoir water balance simulations which will allow to assess future water availability to ensure the main ecosystem services.

Response of ecosystem services and environmental dynamics in large open-pit coal mines: A case study in semi-arid areas

Surface coal mining in semi-arid regions has detrimental impacts on the structure and function of surface ecosystems, thereby impeding the attainment of regional sustainable development goals. Moreover, the impact of climate change on ecological restoration in semi-arid mining areas is an inevitable consideration. To elucidate the response of ecosystem services in mining areas to regional climate change, topography, soil, vegetation and socioeconomic development, this study selected six large-scale surface coal mines located in semi-arid regions of China as research objects. In this study, we aimed to assess the main ecosystem services (carbon sequestration, soil conservation, and flow regulation) provided by these mines. In addition, we analysed the spatial and temporal evolution and interrelationships of these ecosystem services. Furthermore, we explored the underlying mechanisms between ecosystem services and environmental factors. The results showed the following: (1) Geospatially, there was a gradual decrease in carbon sequestration and flow regulation from northeast to southwest in the mining areas. However, the soil conservation exhibited an upward trend. Throughout the research period, the carbon sequestration change rate in the six mining areas displayed an initial downward and subsequent upward trend, the rate of soil conservation exhibited a gradual upward trend, and the flow regulation decline rate followed a downward trend. (2) Change rate of carbon sequestration and soil conservation in the six mining areas showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.51, p < 0.001), with the strongest correlation observed in the Shengli Mining Area (r = 0.64, p < 0.001). (3) Ecosystem service changes in the mining areas were primarily driven by initial conditions (95.0%), followed by meteorological factors (4.2%). Three ecological restoration models were proposed for the different regions based on driver analyses. The findings of this study offer scientific evidence that can be used to inform ecological management, enhance ecological security, and promote regional sustainable development in mining areas.

Inventory of insect pests of rice in agro-ecosystems of far north region of Cameroon

The entomofauna vector of rice yellow mottle virus was studied from June to September 2023 in the rainfed rice ecosystem of Maroua and in the main irrigated rice ecosystems of Yagoua and Maga in the Far North Region, Cameroon . Insect vector sampling was conducted in rainfed and irrigated rice fields every two weeks using a sweep net and a D-Vac (vacuum trap). From the samples obtained in the different rice-growing sites, the dominant structure of insect vectors of rice yellow mottle as well as their natural enemies was analyzed according to the phenology of rice. It appears from the inventory of insects in irrigated rice (Maga, Yagoua) and rainfed rice (Maroua) that this crop harbors many vectors of the rice yellow mottle virus. In the different rice-growing sites, we have numbers of vector insect individuals captured of 267, 286 and 385 respectively in Maroua (rainfed rice), Maga and Yagoua (irrigated rice). The vector insects captured are distributed as follows, eight species of vector insects in irrigated rice in Maga belonging to five families divided into three orders: Chnootriba similis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Chaetocnema pulla (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Locris rubra ( Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Nephotettix nigropictus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Sogatella furcifera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), Cofana spectra (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Niparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) and Diopsis thoracica (Diptera: Diopsidae). In irrigated rice in Yagoua, eleven species of vector insects belonging to seven families divided into three orders were collected: Chnootriba similis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Chaetocnema pulla (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Locris rubra (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Nephotettix nigropictus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Sogatella furcifera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), Cofana spectra (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Recilia dorsalis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Niparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), Leptocorisa oratorius (Hemiptera: Alydidae), Diploxys spp. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and Diopsis thoracica (Diptera: Diopsidae). As for rainfed rice in Maroua, thirteen vector insect species belonging to seven families and three orders were collected: Chnootriba similis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Chaetocnema pulla (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Trichispa sericea (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Locris rubra (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Nephotettix nigropictus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Sogatella furcifera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), Cofana spectra (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Recilia dorsalis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), Niparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) and Diopsis thoracica (Diptera: Diopsidae). These species proved to be particularly important by the size of their populations at the tillering stage of rice. The irrigated rice ecosystems of Yagoua and Maga are the most infested by insect vectors of rice yellow mottle virus and among these insect vectors Nephotettix nigropictus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is the abundant species with 87 and 90 individuals collected respectively from Maga and Yagoua. Nephotettix nigropictus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) was collected in abundance at the tillering stage of rice. As for the predators and parasitoids present in the rice fields, there were spiders Araneus sp. (Araneae: Araneidae), Tetragnatha sp. (Araneae: Tetragnatidae), Pardosa injucunda (Araneae: Lyconidae) and lady beetles Xanthadalia effusa (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) as predators and Hydrellia griseola (Diptera: Ephydridae), Bracon sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Xiphosomella sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Platygaster sp. (Hymenoptera: Platygasteridae) as parasitoids. The parasitoid species Hydrellia griseola (Diptera: Ephydridae) and the predatory species Araneus sp. (Araneae: Araneidae) are the most abundant natural enemies in the rice ecosystems of the Far North.

Spatial Conservation Prioritization for Land in Megacity Facing Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss

Climate change and biodiversity loss are two major threats to the world. Ecosystem conservation is an important issue for humanity, and international intergovernmental science-policy platforms highlight the mutually beneficial relationships among biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and measures to mitigate climate change. Rapid urbanization has brought various deeply interconnected ecological problems to large cities. Therefore, key areas for conservation must be identified in an integrative manner to maximize conservation effectiveness and meet both ecological and human social needs. Spatial conservation prioritization provides a way to consider different functional needs as a whole in light of certain objectives while highlighting their contradictions and overlaps in spatial utilization. The megacity of Beijing continues to experience frequent extreme weather events despite the implementation of a series of ecological restoration measures. We integrated the potential distributions of 64 critically endangered native species to represent biodiversity and used five main ecosystem services required for climate governance to represent ecosystem services in the city. Using the spatial prioritization software Zonation 5, we assessed the spatial distribution of conservation priorities at the municipal scale and changes in conservation effectiveness in four protection scenarios. The results showed that the existing PAs in Beijing could protect 24.99% of the current distribution of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The conservation effectiveness can reach 78.75% when the PAs are increased to 30%. This efficiency rate is 4.46% lower than that of the optimal scenario, which does not consider the existing PAs. An emphasis on urban rewilding spaces may be the key to overcoming conservation bottlenecks to further enhance the efficiency of ecological conservation. To achieve future conservation targets, policy development may start with urban built-up areas.

Proposal Model for A Community-friendly Wetland Park in Egypt: A Social approach.

As community engagement is considered the key to a successful project outcome, it was necessary to change the general attitude dealing with main ecosystem projects such as Wetlands from just being producers supporting primary industries to community-friendly projects providing urban spaces with recreational, educational and ecological facilities and assuring high quality of life. Wetland parks play a vital role for the benefit of its communities. This paper focuses on social aspects and values in designing Wetland parks; it emphasizes the importance of involving community groups to overcome various difficulties and challenges of these projects’ existence. The paper aims to create a design model that achieves a community-friendly Wetland Park; a social guiding model that raises community awareness, participation and ensures sustainability of such projects. A theoretical design guideline review on parks and Wetlands is being presented to provide the basis for the design model and for a community-oriented questionnaire. The paper addresses decision-makers and urban designers in Egypt providing social guidelines to engage local groups in early stages of design. The paper then directs the questionnaire survey to com-munity groups to attain the proposed design model for a community-friendly Wetland Park in Egypt that paves the way for long-term development.

Carbon stock estimation in halophytic wooded savannas of Uruguay: An ecosystem approach

Savannas constitute a mixture of trees and shrub patches with a more continuous herbaceous understory. The contribution of this biome to the soil organic carbon (SOC) and above-ground biomass (AGB) carbon (C) stock globally is significant. However, they are frequently subjected to land use changes, promoting increases in CO2 emissions. In Uruguay, subtropical wooded savannas cover around 100,000 ​ha, of which approximately 28% is circumscribed to sodic soils (i.e., subtropical halophytic wooded savannas). Nevertheless, there is little background about the contribution of each ecosystem component to the C stock as well as site-specific allometric equations. The study was conducted in 5 ​ha of subtropical halophytic wooded savannas of the national protected area Esteros y Algarrobales del Río Uruguay. This work aimed to estimate the contribution of the main ecosystem components (e.g., soil, trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants) to the C stock. Site-specific allometric equations for the most frequent tree species and shrub genus were fitted based on basal diameter (BD) and total height (H). The fitted equations accounted for between 77% and 98% of the aerial biomass variance of Neltuma affinis and Vachellia caven. For shrubs (Baccharis sp.), the adjusted equation accounted for 86% of total aerial biomass. C stock for the entire system was 116.71 ​± ​11.07 ​Mg⋅ha−1, of which 90.7% was allocated in the soil, 8.3% in the trees, 0.8% in the herbaceous plants, and 0.2% in the shrubs. These results highlight the importance of subtropical halophytic wooded savannas as C sinks and their relevance in the mitigation of global warming under a climate change scenario.