National Conservation Program Research Articles

The impact of ecological civilization construction on the resilience of green technology innovation: evidence based on double dual machine learning

Can the accelerated development of ecological civilization promote the sustainable development of green innovation?This paper investigates the effects of ecological civilization demonstration zones (ECDZs) on green innovation resilience. Based on a sample of 237 prefecture-level cities across 31 provinces in China from 2011 to 2021, our double dual machine learning and spatial difference-in-differences model indicates that ECDZs significantly enhance urban green innovation resilience. Our findings also reveal a spatial spillover effect of ECDZ—the development of ECDZs in one city significantly improves the resilience of green innovation in neighboring cities. The spatial spillover effect reaches its maximum in the fifth year. Our analysis of the underlying mechanisms suggests that ECDZs promote urban green innovation resilience through the advancement of digitalization, green consciousness, and new quality productivity. We also conduct an analysis of heterogeneity based on geographical locations and levels of policy support, and the results show that the impact of ECDZs on urban green innovation resilience is mainly observed in western, inland, and strongly policy-supported regions. The findings of this study provide crucial insights and valuable guidance for developing national environmental conservation policies and programs.

Linking soil health and carbon dynamics to conservation measures: Evidence from nematode communities in Souss-Massa National Park, Morocco

Global environmental policies have effectively designated 17 % of the Earth's surface as protected areas and implemented robust measures to address climate change. However, the importance of soils as critical reservoirs of biodiversity and carbon is often overlooked in global policy making. In the present study, we used nematodes as indicators to assess the impact of conservation strategies on soil food web connectance. We explored nematode metabolic footprints and their carbon budget, and evaluated soil health by identifying factors that influence nematode functional diversity. We collected 180 soil samples from three zones in the Souss Massa National Park in Morocco: transitional zone (organic cropping and grazing activities), buffer zone (grazing activity), core zone (strictly protected area), and a nearby intensively farmed non-protected area. We noted a consistent decline in diversity within all trophic groups from the core zone (56 taxa) to the non-protected zone (18 taxa). A notable increase in total nematode abundance and herbivore diversity was observed in the organic soils of the transitional zone. In contrast, nematode abundance and diversity were lower in non-protected zones. Meloidogyne, a sedentary endoparasite, was prevalent in conventional crops outside the park but was not reported within the park. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were the major soil parameters affecting nematode food webs. The functional metabolic footprints of nematodes were enhanced by nature conservation, highlighting the crucial role of nematodes in generating carbon influxes in protected areas. Our results show that 3.11× 1012 nematodes (with a total biomass of 330.47 tonnes) inhabit surface soils across the park, which is 14.38 times greater than the same area in the non-protected zone. Daily production and storage of biomass and carbon budget were 43.85 and 48.93 % higher in the park top soils than in the non-protected zone, respectively. This knowledge is significant for decision makers when formulating nature conservation programs, planning sustainable land use strategies, and addressing the challenges of rising CO2 emissions.

The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility of PT. Antam, Tbk to Small and Medium Enterprises in Improving the Socio-Economy of the Community in Pomalaa District, Kolaka Regency

The purpose of this study is to find out the role of PT Antam, Tbk's Corporate Social Responsibility on Small and Medium Enterprises in improving the socio-economy of the community in Pomaala District, Kolaka Regency and the impact of PT Antam's Corporate Social Responsibility on Small and Medium Enterprises in improving the community's socio-economy. Stakeholder Theory also known as "Stakeholder Theory" is used in this study. In this study, stakeholders are individuals, groups, and/or institutions that have the ability to influence and/or be influenced by the actions of certain organizations. This research method is qualitative research, and the researcher uses a descriptive approach. The informants in this study were determined by purposive sampling, the data in this study were obtained through interviews, observations and documentation studies, the data obtained was then analyzed qualitatively with an interactive model consisting of data reduction, data presentation and conclusion drawn. The results of the study show that PT Antam, Tbk has carried out the role of Corporate Social Responsibility well in Pomalaa District, especially in partnership and nature conservation programs. The development of Small and Medium Enterprises in the region also showed positive results, with increased partner capabilities in packaging, product photography, and digital marketing. This allows the expansion of the Small and Medium Enterprises market outside of Pomalaa. PT Antam, Tbk's CSR activities not only improve the community's economy, but also have a positive impact on the company's image. By effectively managing productivity and costs, PT Antam, Tbk can maximize profits, fulfill economic responsibilities to shareholders, and increase the value of its shares as well as PT. Antam, Tbk accelerates community welfare through the provision of capital, training, and job creation for Small and Medium Enterprises

Novel Theileria sp. as an Etiology of Cutaneous Theileriosis among the Vulnerable Arabian Oryx.

The Arabian Peninsula's endemic ungulate, Oryx leucoryx, was on the verge of extinction at the end of the 1970s. Despite the different reintroduction programs, the International Union for Conservation of Nature is still classifying it as Vulnerable. Among other factors, their vulnerability lies in their susceptibility to specific etiological agents that affect livestock, necessitating health monitoring and strict preventive/biosecurity measures. Within this frame, the current work investigated the determination of the etiological agent potentially involved with cutaneous lesions observed in eight males of Arabian oryx within one of the several national governance conservation programs. Microscopic examination from one animal specimen suggested theileriosis association, which was confirmed by molecular tools using 18S gene sequencing and the report of a novel Theileria sp. not clustering with previously reported antelope sequences. This finding prompts further explorations into the disease dynamics within the Arabian oryx population, especially with the scarcity of data in Qatar about tick-borne pathogens and their transmission.

Penerapan Projek Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila dalam Bidang Konservasi Alam di Sekolah Penggerak SMAN 1 Gerung

The Pancasila student profile strengthening project is an interdisciplinary project to observe and think about solutions to environmental problems. By utilizing natural resources through the nature conservation program on the independent campus, especially at the driving school in the West Lombok region. The method used in this research is descriptive method with research instruments through interviews, observations, and documentation studies. This research explains and provides an overview of the application of the Pancasila student profile strengthening project in the field of nature conservation at the driving school of SMAN 1 Gerung which produces a work in the form of descriptions of nature, words of wisdom, rhymes, poems by linking several subjects at school. Thus, the importance of implementing an independent curriculum for teachers, students applied in the driving school.

Tafsir Praksis Ekologi Al-Qur'an Studi Relevansi Program Konservasi Alam di PT Bukit Asam Tanjung Enim dengan Nilai-Nilai Ekologi Qurani Serta Implikasi Teologi Sosial

The purpose of this study is to determine the Nature Conservation Program at PTBA Tanjung Enim Coal and its Relevance to the Ecological Values of the Qur'an. 2) To know the implications in action of Alternative Social Theology. This research is a type of field research (qualitative) where researchers directly observe and participate in a small social-scale research location, research conducted by researchers focuses on the natural damage of local coal mining. In conclusion, this study confirms that Islam provides relevant ethical and moral guidelines in the context of nature conservation. The nature conservation program at PT Bukit Asam Tanjung Enim is interpreted as a form of practical interpretation that translates the ecological values of the Qur'an into concrete actions. In addition, the article highlights the implications of social theology, emphasizing corporate responsibility to society and the surrounding environment

Regime shifts, extinctions and long transients in models of population dynamics with density-dependent dispersal

Predicting extinctions resulting from ecosystems' regime shifts has long been a focus of biological conservation and ecological management. Mathematical modelling plays a key role in assessing the possibility of such events. Traditionally, however, models focused on long-term, asymptotic behaviour of ecosystems. Meanwhile, the environment is usually non-stationary, which may mean that the long-term behaviour is never observed. Correspondingly, over the last two decades there has been a growing appreciation of the role of transients both in empirical ecology and theoretical studies, in particular in the context of species extinctions. In this paper, we theoretically explore long transients and extinctions occurring in several paradigmatic models of increasing complexity, such as single species, two-species and three-species systems. We consider the population dynamics in a local ‘patch’, the patch being connected to the rest of the population via density-dependent dispersal. We consider both deterministic and stochastic scenarios. We discover many different patterns of long transient dynamics with quick regime shifts between ‘safe’ (persistent) dynamics and unsafe ones resulting in extinctions. Remarkably, delayed extinction can occur after thousands of generations of apparently safe population dynamics. We classify transient regimes and reveal their underlying mechanisms. Environmental noise can either shorten transients or can create a new type of a long transient. Our study suggests that not only are long transients ubiquitous, but there is also a great variety of them. The omnipresence of long transients emphasizes the need to account for them in nature conservation programs as well as future theoretical research.

ІННОВАЦІЙНІ ІНСТРУМЕНТИ ЗЕЛЕНОГО ФІНАНСУВАННЯ ДЛЯ УКРАЇНИ

The expansion of financing sources holds particular importance in the context of implementing the European Green Deal in Ukraine. Given the escalating climate and environmental threats, the pursuit of new green financing mechanisms for countries burdened with high levels of debt persists. Amidst the full-scale war in Ukraine, the options for state financing of environmental projects and programs are significantly restricted. The article examines the formation of additional financing sources aimed at restoring ecosystems and ecological infrastructure damaged by the war in Ukraine. Drawing upon an overview of international practices, this study elucidates innovative approaches to environmental financing, which involve exchanging a part of the state's external debt for commitments to invest in nature conservation programs and achieve climate neutrality. The analysis highlights significant variations in the implementation of green debt swaps across different countries, underscoring the need to assess the feasibility of adopting such mechanisms in Ukraine, especially given its heightened reliance on debt. Utilizing multi-criteria analysis, a comparative evaluation of key "green debt conversion" instruments was conducted, encompassing Bilateral Debt-for-Nature Initiatives, Debt-for-Nature Swaps, and Debt-for-Climate Swaps. A comparative table has been compiled to illustrate the key characteristics of these instruments and to assess the potential impact of their use in Ukraine. The benefits of exchanging debt for investments in environmental recovery, as outlined in Ukraine's National Recovery Plan, are delineated. The primary sources for accumulating funds to meet the state's obligations resulting from the adoption of green debt swaps have been identified. Recommendations for the implementation of green debt swaps in Ukraine have been provided. It has been concluded that green debt swaps could be employed in Ukraine to finance specific environmental or climate-related projects and initiatives, establishing conservation and climate funds through contributions from both domestic and international ESG investors. To protect against “greenwashing”, it is advisable to bolster oversight of financial transactions and to expand the list of key performance indicators (KPI) used to evaluate investment decisions, considering ESG factors.

The IUCN’s Contribution to Supporting Nature Conservation Programs in Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park, considered one of the most famous and significant wildlife reserves globally, where natural beauty and unparalleled scientific value converge, is experiencing a decline in habitat quality year after year. Despite the natural wealth within the Serengeti, various issues threaten wildlife species and habitats. These problems include the rapid growth of the human population, poverty, illegal hunting, and the drying up of the Mara River due to climate change. The international community has authorized the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to develop ideas for conservation efforts. The organization illustrates how biodiversity is fundamental in addressing some of the world’s most significant challenges, such as tackling climate change, achieving sustainable energy, improving human well-being, and building a green economy. The study aims to narrate the IUCN’s role in executing environmental protection processes, intending to ensure that environmental goals hold the same importance as social goals through sustainable development. This study employs a qualitative approach, utilizing provided facts to create a detailed account of an incident. Additionally, secondary data is incorporated, involving the use of existing information. The results indicate that, despite various actions taken by the IUCN, the organization has not maximally resolved issues in the Serengeti, and several problems are still ongoing.

Using Multisource High-Resolution Remote Sensing Data (2 m) with a Habitat–Tide–Semantic Segmentation Approach for Mangrove Mapping

Mangrove wetlands are hotspots of global biodiversity and blue carbon reserves in coastal wetlands, with unique ecological functions and significant socioeconomic value. Annual fine-scale monitoring of mangroves is crucial for evaluating national conservation programs and implementing sustainable mangrove management strategies. However, annual fine-scale mapping of mangroves over large areas using remote sensing remains a challenge due to spectral similarities with coastal vegetation, tidal periodic fluctuations, and the need for consistent and dependable samples across different years. In previous research, there has been a lack of strategies that simultaneously consider spatial, temporal, and methodological aspects of mangrove extraction. Therefore, based on an approach that considers mangrove habitat, tides, and a semantic segmentation approach, we propose a method for fine-scale mangrove mapping suitable for long time-series data. This is an optimized hybrid model that integrates spatial, temporal, and methodological considerations. The model uses five sensors (GF-1, GF-2, GF-6, ZY-301, ZY-302) to combine deep learning U-Net models with mangrove habitat information and algorithms during low-tide periods. This method produces a mangrove map with a spatial resolution of 2 m. We applied this algorithm to three typical mangrove regions in the Beibu Gulf of Guangxi Province. The results showed the following: (1) The model scored above 0.9 in terms of its F1-score in all three study areas at the time of training, with an average accuracy of 92.54% for mangrove extraction. (2) The average overall accuracy (OA) for the extraction of mangrove distribution in three typical areas in the Beibu Gulf was 93.29%. When comparing the validation of different regions and years, the overall OA accuracy exceeded 89.84% and the Kappa coefficient exceeded 0.74. (3) The model results are reliable for extracting sparse and slow-growing young mangroves and narrow mangrove belts along roadsides. In some areas where tidal flooding occurs, the existing dataset underestimates mangrove extraction to a certain extent. The fine-scale mangrove extraction method provides a foundation for the implementation of fine-scale management of mangrove ecosystems, support for species diversity conservation, blue carbon recovery, and sustainable development goals related to coastal development.

Killer whales, Orcinus orca (Artiodactyla: Delphinidae) in Guatemala: sighting records, photographic match, and interaction with Bryde’s whales, Balaenoptera edeni (Artiodactyla: Balaenoptera)

Introduction: Killer whales (Orcinus orca) have a global distribution, but many low-latitude populations such as the Eastern Tropical Pacific are not well studied.
 Objective: Provide a review of killer whale sightings in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Pacific of Guatemala, for which there has previously been little information.
 Methods: We reviewed national and regional publications, as well as anecdotal records of killer whale sightings in Guatemala.
 Results: We document five sightings spanning three decades (1990-2020). Four sightings were recorded between 2010 and 2020 and occurred within the San José Canyon or over the continental shelf. Group size varied from 1-15 individuals (x: 6 ± 4.3). We report a photographic match of three killer whale individuals from a single pod previously sighted in Cabo Corrientes, México, 11 years and 1 778 km apart. We also describe an interaction between a killer whale pod and two adult Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni), in which the Bryde’s whales followed a female killer whale and its calf.
 Conclusions: This study represents a contribution to the knowledge of killer whales in the region. It highlights the importance of data collection from both scientific and anecdotal records and supports the need of establishing national and regional monitoring and conservation programs for cetaceans.

Experimental evaluation of pathogenicity and acquired immunity of Eimeria species, E. uekii and E. raichoi, infecting Japanese rock ptarmigans in a subspecies of the birds

Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopus muta japonica) are birds that inhabit only alpine regions of central Honshu Island, Japan, known as the Japanese Alps. The number of these birds has recently declined, and in situ and ex situ national conservation programs for Japanese rock ptarmigans have been initiated. The infections of Eimeria spp. as protozoan parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa, E. uekii and E. raichoi, were frequently reported in the birds. However, the virulence of these Eimeria parasites has not been determined. Here, we analyzed the pathogenicity of these Eimeria parasites using experimental infections of a subspecies model of Japanese rock ptarmigans, Svalbard rock ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus hyperboreus), and evaluated acquired protective immunity against challenge in birds tolerant of low-dose inoculation with Eimeria parasites. Following inoculation with two Eimeria parasites derived from Japanese rock ptarmigans (dose range of 4 × 104 to 4 × 102 for E. uekii and 1.7 × 104 to 4 × 101 for E. raichoi), oocysts were detected at 6–8 days post-inoculation (PI), and the maximum number of oocysts per gram of feces was observed 7–10 days PI and then gradually decreased. The mortality rate and reduction in weight gain of chicks increased following high-dose inoculation of oocysts with abnormal feces (soft and diarrhea). Developmental zoites were detected histopathologically in epithelial tissues and sometimes the lamina propria from the duodenum to the colon. Chicks that survived low-dose inoculation did not show clear clinical symptoms after challenge inoculation. Our results suggest that the pathological characteristics of Eimeria parasites infecting Japanese rock ptarmigans include abnormal feces and reduction in weight gain, resulting in mortality in cases of heavy infection due to high-dose inoculation. These findings provide helpful data for Japanese rock ptarmigan conservation efforts.

Exploring governance challenges in coastal communities through key informant perceptions in Campeche, Mexico

Campeche's coastal environment and its natural protected areas (NPA) possess great biodiversity. However, anthropogenic activities, excessive resource use and coastal ecosystems' depletion have taken their toll on ecological settings and altered communities' livelihoods. This paper describes how key informants perceive local governance's role in coastal ecosystem health. We applied semi-structured interviews (n = 17) to key informants from artisanal fisheries, community tourism projects, and natural resources conservation programs in three socio-ecological systems (SES). Most stakeholders belong cooperative societies (76.5%). While family members comprise both Isla Arena-RCBR SES 1 and Isla Aguada-LTFFPA SES 3, Campeche PBR SES 2 does not follow this pattern. Cooperatives generally pursue two economic activities (52.9%): conservation and tourism, or fisheries and tourism. In SES 1 and SES 3 most cooperatives grant information to members for decision-making and apply norms in a transparent way. Those key users have skillful knowledge of natural resources conservation, and can identify or participate in ecosystem conservation projects, such as mangrove restoration. The most consistent attributes between them are: accountability and transparency in decision making, and knowing how to perceive, locate, and sustainably use high environmental value areas. However, long-term conservation goals for many SES actors remain key objectives to achieve. While all three SES acknowledge environmental change through time, such as decreased fishery capture indices and coastal erosion, plastic and glass containers pollution levels pose the most severe risk in ecosystems health. All SES key users worry about environmental changes due to excessive fishing, and this factor remains a priority in order to balance local demand. Because this is an extremely complex, multi-causal problem, coastal communities, local government, and the academic sector must work together to achieve sustainable goals.

Examining connection to nature at multiple scales provides insights for urban conservation

With the rapid increase in urbanization, local governments and organizations are searching for opportunities to improve the social resilience, health, and wellbeing of urban residents by increasing their connection to nature. However, these urban communities are highly heterogenous, and tailored nature engagement and conservation programs will be necessary for building nature connection across diverse segments of the population. Here, we surveyed Melbourne community members (n = 1585) to understand their connection to nature and other aspects of their relationship with nature to aid in designing and prioritizing new conservation programs across the city. We determined demographic, psychographic, and behavioral factors associated with an individual's connection to nature, characterized unique segments of the population, and identified neighborhoods with greater concentrations of residents with high and low connection to nature. Overall, we found that community members have relatively high connection to nature, are concerned about environmental issues, and frequently participate in nature-related activities. New and older Melbourne residents tend to be more connected to nature, though there is important variation within these populations. Of the six distinct types of community members we identified, students that have lived in Melbourne for most of their lives exhibited the lowest connection to nature of all other typologies. Furthermore, residents in neighborhoods south of the Yarra River are the least connected to nature. We discuss the importance of such multifaceted approaches for understanding nature connection in urban populations and outline important strategies and priorities based on individual, community, and geographic targets for conservation programming across the Greater Melbourne area.

Landscape Genetics for Brazilian Equines

Optimization of DNA collection for National gene bank and conservation programs requires information on spatial and genetic distribution of animals countrywide. The relationship between genetic and geographic distances were examined in 8 Brazilian horse breeds (Baixadeiro, Crioulo, Campeiro, Lavradeiro, Marajoara, Mangalarga Marchador, Pantaneiro and Puruca) using Single Nucleotide Polymorphism markers and collection point locations. Mantel correlations, Genetic Landscape Shape Interpolation, Allelic Aggregation Index Analyses and Spatial autocorrelation tests indicated a nonrandom distribution of horses throughout the country. Minimum collection distances for the national Gene Bank should be 530km, with clear divisions seen in genetic structure of horse populations in both North/South and East/West directions. Comparing Pantaneiro and North/Northeastern breeds, physical distance is not necessarily the defining factor for genetic differentiation. This should be considered when sampling these local breeds. These data can help optimise GenBank collection routines and conservation strategies for these breeds.

Fostering the Implementation of Nature Conservation Measures in Agricultural Landscapes: The NatApp

Large-scale, high-input, and intensified agriculture poses threats to sustainable agroecosystems and their inherent biodiversity. The EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) covers a great number of nature conservation programs (Agri-Environment and Climate Measures, AECM) aiming to encourage sustainable agriculture. Currently, farmers are not encouraged to broadly implement these measures due to the lack of structured information, overly complicated and unclear application procedures, and a high risk of sanctions. In addition, the current structures are associated with time-consuming monitoring and control procedures for the paying agencies. Digital technologies can offer valuable assistance to circumvent relevant barriers and limitations and support a broader uptake of AECM. NatApp is a digital tool that supports and guides farmers through the complete process of choosing, applying, implementing, and documenting AECM on their fields in accordance with legal requirements in Germany. We introduce the concept of NatApp and analyze how it can simplify and encourage the uptake and implementation of AECM. This study identifies its unique features for the provision of information and documentation opportunities compared with other digital farming tools focused on sustainable agriculture and outline how it can support farmers to actively contribute to more sustainable agriculture.

STRATEGI DEPARTEMEN CSR DALAM PROGRAM CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) PT. PUPUK SRIWIDJAJA PALEMBANG

This study aims to determine the implementation of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program of PT. Pupuk Sriwidjaja Palembang in dealing with social problems that arise in the Kalidoni District and to find out the obstacles and supporting factors from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program of PT. Pupuk Sriwidjaja Palembang. This research is a type of qualitative descriptive research, that is, researchers collect data using observation, interview, and documentation methods. In this study, descriptive analysis only reached the level of description, namely analyzing and presenting facts systematically so that they were easier to understand and conclude. This research shows that the CSR programs of PT. Pusri Palembang in an effort to deal with social problems that arise in Kalidoni District such as water and air environmental pollution, as well as social inequality between the company and the community only lies in health and nature conservation programs.

Grassland Use Intensity Classification Using Intra-Annual Sentinel-1 and -2 Time Series and Environmental Variables

Detailed spatial data on grassland use intensity is needed in several European policy areas for various applications, e.g., agricultural management, supporting nature conservation programs, improving biodiversity strategies, etc. Multisensory remote sensing is an efficient tool to collect information on grassland parameters. However, there is still a lack of studies on how to process, combine, and implement large radar and optical image datasets in a joint observation framework to map grassland types on large heterogeneous study areas. In our study, we assessed the usefulness of 2521 Sentinel-1 and 586 Sentinel-2 satellite images and topographic data for mapping grassland use intensity. We focused on the distinction between intensively and extensively managed permanent grassland in a large heterogeneous study area in Slovenia. We provided dense Satellite Image Time Series (SITS) for 2017, 2018 and 2019 to identify important differences, e.g., management practices, between the two grassland types analysed. We also investigated the effectiveness of combining two different remote-sensing products, the optical Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and radar coherence. Grassland types were distinguished using an object-based approach and the Random Forest classification. With the use of SITS only, the models achieved poor performance in the case of cloudy years (2018). However, the performance improved with additional features (environmental variables). The feature selection method based on Mean Decrease Accuracy (MDA) provided a deeper insight into the high-dimensional multisensory SITS. It helped select the most relevant features (acquisition dates, environmental variables) that distinguish between intensive and extensive grassland types. The addition of environmental variables improved the overall classification accuracy by 7–15%, while the feature selection additionally improved the final overall classification accuracy (using all available features) by 2–3%. Although the reference dataset was limited (1259 training samples), the final overall classification accuracy was above 88% in all years analysed. The results show that the proposed Random Forest classification using combined multisensor data and environmental variables can provide better and more stable information on grasslands than single optical or radar data SITS on large heterogeneous areas. Therefore, a combined approach is recommended to distinguish different grassland types.

Extinction risk assessment of the endemic terrestrial vertebrates in Mexico

An increasing number of species at risk raise concerns worldwide. While global assessments provide a comprehensive framework, national species conservation status is needed to provide specific policies. The IUCN Red List and the Mexican Norm (MER) methods were used to assign risk categories for 310 endemic species of terrestrial vertebrates at national and ecoregion levels. We used ecological niche models projected as species potential distributions, and refined species extant distributions including only remnant suitable habitat, to assess species risk assignments for Criterion A and B (IUCN Red List), and Criterion A, B, C, and D (MER). Of the total number of species, the IUCN Red List and MER report 71 and 155 species at risk, respectively. Our assessment assigned a risk category to 38 and 299 species, respectively. The discrepancies in the number of species between our proposal and the IUCN Red List and MER are striking and probably due to shortcomings of deficient information or expert opinion of species, standardization between methods, and the number and particular characteristics of criteria. Species occurring in the Mexican Transvolcanic Belt, the Great Plains and the Yucatan Peninsula ecoregions were at higher extinction risk than species occurring in the Mexican deserts, the Mexican High Plateau, the Southern Sierra Madre and the Western Sierra Madre ecoregions. Our proposal of using species potential and extant distributions models facilitates frequent species assessments, as conditions of risks fluctuate over time, and contributes to designing national and regional conservation programs of species and populations at risk.

WebStart WEPS: WEPS with Remote Data Access and Cloud-Computing Functionality

HighlightsWebStart WEPS is a Java WebStart enabled browser-accessible version of WEPS.This model-as-a-service cloud-based system provides remote access to model inputs and remote model execution.Default QuickPlot reports are provided to quickly visualize model results.MapViewer revisions are provided to improve map-based site selections.Abstract. The Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS) is a physical process-based wind erosion model developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS). WEPS simulates daily climate and management-driven changes to the surface, vegetation, and soil. It estimates erosion losses when surface conditions and wind speeds are sufficient for soil movement. WEPS was released in 2010 to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) for assisting land managers in controlling wind erosion, establishing field-level plans for soil conservation, and determining wind erosion susceptibility as a part of national conservation programs to conserve the soil resource. The WEPS interface allows easy user access to national-scale input data. Four primary inputs are required to set up and execute a WEPS run: (1) field dimensions; (2) field location, which automatically determines applicable local climate data; (3) a representative soil; and (4) time series of management practices. These inputs require access to a significant amount of data, which are typically stored locally; however, maintaining these data on every computer running WEPS and keeping them current were problematic for the NRCS. To address these concerns, remote access functionality was incorporated into WEPS to deliver climate and wind data, as well as soil, operation, crop/residue, and management (a date-sequenced list of management operations) records. In addition, WebStart WEPS also features the option of running WEPS components remotely “in the cloud” as web services. The Java WebStart framework provides a simplified delivery mechanism to users’ computers and offers automatic updating capability. Keywords: Cloud services, CSIP, Erosion, Java WebStart, Modeling, WEPS, Wind erosion.