National Ecosystem Research Articles

Using a multivariate regression tree to analyze trade-offs between ecosystem services: Application to the main cropping area in France

Analysis of trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services (ES) and their underlying drivers is a main issue in ES research. The analysis is complex and requires innovative analytical approaches. To address this complexity, we used an original approach that combines a multivariate regression tree (MRT), data analysis, and spatial mapping. We applied this approach to the main cropping region in France (mainly the Paris basin of production) using an existing dataset (i.e. soil, climate, crop sequences and management) from the French National Ecosystem Assessment to determine relationships between agricultural production, two services to farmers – nitrogen provision to crops and water provision to crops – and three services to society – blue water provision, water quality regulation, and climate regulation. To support land managers and decision-makers, we also analyzed the extent to which manageable soil properties and agricultural practices (crop rotation and management) are major drivers of trade-offs or synergies. We demonstrated that water quality regulation, nitrogen provision to crops, and climate regulation have synergistic relationships in production situations in the northeastern region of the study area due to the types of crop rotation, frequency of cover crops in the crop rotation, the soil pH, and the soil available water capacity. We also identified that cover crops, while promoting these three ES, can drive a trade-off between two key water-related services: water provision to crops and blue water provision (i.e. between a service to farmers and one to society). By capturing non-linear relationships and threshold effects, our MRT-based approach overcomes the main limitations of classic statistical approaches. The approach is also spatially explicit and simple and intuitive to interpret, especially for non-scientists; our results thus provide researchers and ecosystem managers (e.g. agricultural policy makers) with key information to design ecosystem management strategies that promote a balanced bundle of ES.

ДЕТЕРМІНАНТИ КОНКУРЕНТОСПРОМОЖНОСТІ БАНКІВСЬКОГО СЕКТОРУ ПОЛЬЩІ ТА УКРАЇНИ

Анотація. Присвячено дослідженню детермінант конкурентоспроможності банківського сектору національної економіки на основі порівняльного аналізу функціонування банківських систем України і Польщі. Проведено дослідження, використовуючи таку методику: порівняльний аналіз інституціональної ефективності банківського сектору України і Польщі; порівняльний аналіз рівня концентрації банківського сектору України і Польщі; порівняльний аналіз мікроекономічної та макроекономічної ефективності банківського сектору України і Польщі; порівняльний аналіз соціальної ефективності банківських секторів обох країн щодо їхньої фінансової інклюзії. Результати дослідження засвідчили вищий рівень конкурентоспроможності польської банківської системи, що відображається у її стабільному функціонуванні протягом тривалого періоду часу, стійкості до криз і надмірних ризиків, ефективній системі пруденційного нагляду, розвиненій інституційній структурі, близькій до потреб ринку, а також динамічному зростанні банківського фінансування національної економіки та доступності банківських послуг для бізнесу і домогосподарств. На відміну від польської банківської системи, українська банківська система в останні роки пережила глибоку кризу і значну кількість банкрутств банків, високу частку непрацюючих кредитів, проблеми з ліквідністю тощо, а тому з метою її порятунку значної концентрації державного капіталу в банківській системі, високих процентних ставок і як наслідок значного зменшення частки банківського фінансування національної економіки і наявність значних бар’єрів для доступності банківських продуктів для споживачів. Визначено, що ключовими детермінантами конкурентоспроможності національного банківського сектору є такі: наявність розвиненої інституційної структури банківської системи; запобігання монополізації та надмірній концентрації банківського сектору; наявність ефективно функціонуючої національної системи банківського нагляду і регулювання; формування державної стратегії розвитку банківського сектору на засадах ключового гравця національної фінансової екосистеми і забезпечення виконання банківською системою її основних функцій в економіці та суспільстві. Ключові слова: банківський сектор, банківська система, конкурентоспроможність, інституційна структура, концентрація, фінансова стабільність, макроекономічна та мікроекономічна ефективність, соціальна ефективність, фінансова інклюзія. Формул: 0; рис.: 10; табл.: 0; бібл.: 27.

Introduction and application of a composite insect trap for the National Ecosystem Survey of Korea

AbstractThis study aimed to establish the best applicable method for the National Ecosystem Survey (NES) guidelines by (i) verifying the efficiency of an insect trap that combined the Malaise trap, flight intercept trap, and pitfall trap (MFP trap) as part of the improvement for the terrestrial insect field in the fifth NES, and (ii) comparing the result with the currently used Malaise trap and pitfall trap (MP traps). We found that the efficiency of attaining species diversity was much higher with the added flight intercept trap function than the current Malaise trap alone for flying insect collection. For collecting ground insects, the efficiency of attaining species diversity of the pitfall trap from the MFP trap was lower than that from the MP trap. Besides, the Malaise trap of the MP trap showed superior efficiency than that of the MFP trap in species diversity. The results suggested that modification, supplementation, and re‐testing should be performed by analyzing various factors such as the trap material, barrier size, capturing container inlet, and mesh size, with consideration of the design of the current Malaise trap. Therefore, in survey‐based research, which aims at identifying insects species diversity and inhabiting status—such as the NES, it is necessary to introduce the MFP trap with the flight intercept trap function added to the Malaise trap function, and for the pitfall trap function of the MFP trap, it can be operated as a separate trap from the MFP trap.

Abstract IA22: Insights from adopting a data commons approach: The California Teachers Study

Abstract Background: Cancer epidemiology studies offer unique value to the cancer research enterprise. With large populations and detailed data, including repeat measurements, collected over many years, cancer epidemiology studies contribute immensely to the understanding of real-world cancer risks and outcomes. To accelerate research, discovery, and translation, and to reduce the overall burden of cancer, the NCI has embraced the vision, as outlined by the Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel, of creating a national cancer data ecosystem that enables “all participants across the cancer research and care continuum to contribute, access, combine, and analyze diverse data.” The cancer data ecosystem will integrate data from many domains using an overall infrastructure that leverages the elasticity, scalability, and security of cloud computing. The first components of the ecosystem are based on genomics and imaging. Other areas, including biomarkers, animal models, clinical trials, EHRs, and observational studies, will follow. Including data from the dozens of ongoing cancer epidemiology studies, and especially the prospective cancer epidemiology cohorts, that exist today would greatly enhance the cancer data ecosystem. However, many of these existing studies began before cloud computing existed and do not use cloud computing to store, manage, analyze, and share their data. Cancer epidemiology studies today must decide how to transition from their legacy data approaches to the types of cloud-first approach the national cancer data ecosystem requires. Methods: The California Teachers Study (CTS) is a large and prospective cancer epidemiology cohort that began in 1995-1996. In 2014, the CTS decided to adopt cloud computing to improve the quality, speed, and visibility of its data collection, management, analysis, and sharing. Since 2015, in partnership with the San Diego Supercomputer Center and funded by award U01-CA199277, the CTS has installed a new, innovative, and secure yet flexible infrastructure that includes a data warehouse, data marts, and shared workspace. Results: The CTS infrastructure contains the technical, security, data, and process features necessary to participate in the national cancer data ecosystem. Our novel solution serves as a prototype that other cancer epidemiology studies—and other observational studies and cohorts in general—can emulate. In designing, developing, and deploying this CTS solution, our team encountered a number of challenges that are likely not unique to the CTS and that other observational studies and cohorts are likely to encounter as they modernize their data and infrastructure. This presentation will discuss lessons learned in three key areas that the CTS encountered during our data-modernization process. First, although cancer epidemiology has always been multidisciplinary, the transition to a cancer data ecosystem creates opportunities for even broader collaborations with new partners, both public and private. Second, a central benefit of the national cancer data ecosystem is to process data via standardized pipelines. This should incentivize cancer epidemiology studies to prioritize standardization of common cancer epidemiologic data activities. Third, the cancer data ecosystem creates opportunities for new entities, and not just traditional NIH-funded cancer epidemiology studies, to meaningfully contribute to the observational research landscape. Although competition for funding and relevance seems likely to increase, the overall effects on the cancer research enterprise could be positive. Conclusion: Observational studies, and especially cancer epidemiology studies, will be a vital component of the national cancer data ecosystem, but existing cancer epidemiology studies will need to drastically and rapidly modernize their core data processes and infrastructure before that can occur. As an early adopter of cloud computing and the key foundational principles of the cancer data ecosystem, the CTS has developed a fully functioning and successful example of how existing cancer epidemiology studies can modernize their infrastructure in ways that preserve their unique strengths and further increase their immense potential and value. Citation Format: Jim Lacey. Insights from adopting a data commons approach: The California Teachers Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Modernizing Population Sciences in the Digital Age; 2019 Feb 19-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(9 Suppl):Abstract nr IA22.

National ecosystem services assessment in Slovakia – meeting old liabilities and introducing new methods

This article provides an overview and results of the pilot national ecosystem services assessment in Slovakia. It follows the MAES process and past ecosystem services (ES) research in Slovakia and is based on original research methodology using spatial and statistical data. The initial step of national ES assessment resulted in the selection of significant ES for the evaluation process, where 18 ES in three groups were selected (five provisioning, 10 regulatory/maintenance and three cultural ES). An original assessment model provided the theoretical and methodological framework for national ES evaluation. The principal result is an assessment of the national landscape’s capacity for ES provision, based on evaluation of the landscape units and selected properties and indicators at the ecosystem level. These inputs included habitat types and watersheds, administrative units, natural topology, geology, soils, climate, water and biota. The ES capacity models were created and evaluated for each ES, for the main groups and, finally, for overall ES provision. The highest capacity to provide ES in Slovakia comes from natural and semi-natural ecosystems, mainly deciduous, mixed and coniferous forests which cover over 38% of Slovak territory. The water ecosystems and wetlands are also significant, followed by grasslands and permanent crops. The research highlights the crucial importance of the mountainous and sub-mountainous areas in Slovakia and confirms the significant contribution of the natural and semi-natural ecosystems for ensuring ES provision.

의사결정 지원을 위한 국가 생태계 평가체계 구축

의사결정 지원을 위한 국가 생태계 평가체계 구축

Evolución y estado actual de la ciencia y la tecnología en República Dominicana

Este artículo ofrece una revisión general del estado actual de la ciencia y la tecnología en la República Dominicana, describiendo la evolución del marco institucional y normativo de este sistema en el nivel nacional, así como las principales políticas públicas, estrategias e instrumentos que se han implementado para la regulación y la promoción de la actividad científica y tecnológica del país. El estudio aporta datos recientes sobre la capacidad, los resultados científicos y el posicionamiento alcanzado por el país en este sector a la luz de algunos indicadores y analiza brevemente el papel que desempeñan las universidades dominicanas en este sistema. Los resultados del análisis realizado indican que, si bien el balance de los indicadores de República Dominicana en la última década es positivo, todavía el país se encuentra lejos de alcanzar el nivel de desarrollo de muchos de los países de América Latina en materia de ciencia y tecnología. Las conclusiones ponen de relieve que la búsqueda de un mejor desempeño del país en este ámbito conlleva la superación de una serie de barreras, señalando debilidades del marco institucional, desarticulación entre los distintos actores del ecosistema nacional de ciencia, tecnología e innovación, escasa capacidad de financiamiento e insuficiente asignación de recursos para la ejecución de proyectos de investigación e innovación y la ausencia de políticas científicas en la mayoría de las universidades dominicanas.

The creative sustainability of screen business in the Australian regions

ABSTRACT Public focus on screen business in Australia has been shaped by the information needs of the regulatory and content investment agencies that monitor and support screen content made under the creative control of Australians. This has meant that available data has concentrated on the types of content that have been deemed to require regulatory support – feature films, documentaries and television drama, with more recent interest in short-form content intended for streaming and online platforms and games. The expansion of the notion of screen business has led to a series of Screen Australia reports that focused the debate on value frameworks that included cultural, economic and audience values. These reports informed the 2017 Federal Government inquiry into the Australian Film and Television Industry – they do not, however, provide insights into how screen business is incorporated into localised regional economies and they tend to downplay the cultural contributions from the television and advertising sectors. By looking at screen business in four regional Australia cities we demonstrate how four modes of screen production, which include commercial and corporate content, is being made sustainably in the regions and that regional screen content production activities are an important part of the national screen production ecosystem.

Monitoring Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Colombia's High Andean Ecosystems: Toward an Integrated Strategy

There is growing consensus that biodiversity losses resulting from global change profoundly affects ecosystem services and human welfare. However, biodiversity and ecosystem processes are commonly monitored independently and on spatiotemporal scales inadequate to inform decision-making. The high Andean ecosystems of Colombia, extending from high Andean forests and paramos to glacier ice caps, form dynamic landscapes because of the interaction of climate and land use change in a complex socioeconomic and political context, including new demographic dynamics and policies associated with the peace process and strict regulations for economic activities in the paramos. Moreover, they are part of a global biodiversity hotspot and provide key ecosystem services, including substantial carbon accumulation and water regulation and provision for large rural and urban populations. There is substantial experience in environmental monitoring of Colombia's high mountain ecosystems, including programs addressing biodiversity, carbon stocks, hydrology, glaciers, and land use dynamics. However, a conceptual and institutional framework for integrating these diverse initiatives is required. Here, we present a proposal to promote integrated monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystem services in high mountain ecosystems in Colombia as a contribution to consolidating a national ecosystem monitoring program. We describe the methodology used to design this integrated strategy based on an extensive process of consultation with monitoring experts in the region. Then, we review the state of the art of environmental monitoring in the Colombian High Andes. Based on the experience accumulated, we propose a multiscale conceptual framework for analyzing drivers of change and response variables from the local to the national scale, emphasizing the importance of monitoring along altitudinal, land use, and ecosystem restoration gradients. Finally, we describe the expected outcomes and possible institutional arrangements for the strategy, as well as some key next steps for promoting its implementation.

Soil and water threats in a changing environment

The guest editors are extremely thankful to prof. Jose Luis Domingo Roig for the support in the organization of this special number. We want to acknowledge the authors and reviewers for their work, to Jia Yang, Yixuan Zhao and Nikita Deep. Paulo Pereira was supported by the project A09.3.3-LMT-K-712-01-0104 Lithuanian National Ecosystem Services Assessment and Mapping (LINESAM) is funded by the European Social Fund according to the activity “Improvement of researchers” qualification by implementing world-class R&D projects.

Testing ecosystem accounting in the United States: A case study for the Southeast

Ecosystem accounts, as formalized by the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Experimental Ecosystem Accounts (SEEA EEA), have been compiled in a number of countries, yet there have been few attempts to develop them for the U.S. We explore the potential for U.S. ecosystem accounting by compiling ecosystem extent, condition, and ecosystem services supply and use accounts for a 10-state region in the Southeast. The pilot accounts address air quality, water quality, biodiversity, carbon storage, recreation, and pollination for selected years from 2001 to 2015. Results illustrate how information from ecosystem accounts can contribute to policy and decision making. Using an example from Atlanta, we also show how ecosystem accounts can be considered alongside other SEEA accounts to give a more complete picture of a local area’s environmental-economic trends. The process by which we determined where to place metrics within the accounting framework, which was strongly informed by the National Ecosystem Services Classification System (NESCS), can provide guidance for future ecosystem accounts in the U.S. and other countries. Finally, we identify knowledge gaps that limit the inclusion of certain ecosystem services in the accounts and suggest future research that can close these gaps and improve future U.S. ecosystem accounts.

Mapping Cultural Ecosystem Services Enables Better Informed Nature Protection and Landscape Management

Cultural ecosystem services (CES) have specific richness and diversity provision patterns related to particular landscape features and land cover forms. Studies of their spatial distribution, however, are quite rare in the Slovak Republic and surrounding countries. This paper links land cover information based on an ecosystem services (ES) matrix, field survey data and GIS method to assess CES supply in two selected Slovak regions. Our main focus is on the ecologically more valuable ‘hot-spots’ where socio-cultural values accumulate. We determined their spatial distribution, and our comparison with lower cultural value areas confirmed that mountainous landscapes have the highest capacity to provide CES. This especially applies to the landscapes under National Park protection. While Slovak forests, rocks and water areas also form essential ecosystems for overall CES provision, the lowest overall capacity is in areas with residential buildings, construction, industrial and other artificial habitats. Finally, a comparison of our results with the National Ecosystem Assessment indicates that our detailed CES assessment will be more effective in supporting future participatory planning and management processes.

Occurrence data of southern butterflies in South Korea

Background: In Northern hemisphere, climate change has shifted the habitats of many species including butterflies into the northern regions. Many researchers in Europe and North America have reported this type of northward shift of butterflies. Thus, we collected the species occurrence data of southern butterflies and presented in this study for understanding the impact of climate change on the southern butterflies in the future.</br>New information: This study presents the 456 occurrence data of nine southern butterflies under five families in Korea. These data were selected from the 3rd National Ecosystem Survey (NES) conducted by National Institute of Environment Research (NIER) in Korea. Those will be a part of input data for MOTIVE-Ecosystem model, an integrative model to understand the influence of climate change and land cover change on the habitat suitability of sensitive, native and invasive species. These data will be important to the researchers and conservation agencies for understanding the current conditions of southern butterflies and developing conservation policy.

Distribution of Brown frog in South Korea–On 3rd National Ecosystem Survey

Brown frog data from the 3rd National Ecosystem Survey (2006 ~ 2013) were used for Amphibians, which are known as the Edible Frog. Data on distribution type among GIS factors in the Brown frog Recorded of South Korea were generated. As a result, distribution types were generated for 6,207 Brown frogs.

ДЕРЖАВА ЯК СУБ’ЄКТ ФОРМУВАННЯ ЕКОСИСТЕМИ СТАРТАПІВ УКРАЇНИ

The realization of Ukraine's innovation potential is permanently hampered by a number of political and socio-economic factors. However, despite numerous problems in the economy, innovative entrepreneurship in the form of startup projects shows stable growth. The Ukrainian startup sector has become one of the few sectors of the economy that has been developing dynamically in recent years. International experience indicates that the state is an important player in building the national startup ecosystem. In particular, the state plays a leading role in preventing the outflow of startups to other world ecosystems. The purpose of the article was to establish the features of the state support for the national startup ecosystem and outline the ways to strengthen this support. Based on the analysis of international experience, the existing approaches, methods, and tools used in the world practice to support the startup ecosystems were identified. In terms of the development of the startup ecosystems, two major types of state policies are outlined: proactive policy and reactive policy. The paper provides key characteristics of theses types of policies. The analysis of government support for national startup ecosystem was conducted. Although the development of innovative entrepreneurship was defined as a strategic priority of Ukrainian government, the speed of implementation of practical measures aimed at achieving this goal is insufficient. Positive tendencies in the state support of Ukrainian startups as well as the main directions for state stimulation of the domestic startup ecosystem were highlighted.To stimulate the development of the domestic startup ecosystem, the following areas of state support were considered: legal regula-tion, startup investment, human capital development, competence centers, infrastructure development, media and event management. The factors that inhibit state support for startups were identified. In addition, the role of the private sector in building the national ecosys-tem of startups was outlined. Promising area of further research is the analysis of trends in the global startup industry and comprehension of international experience to elaborate efficient tools for domestic startup ecosystem support. Keywords: startup, startup ecosystem, state policy, investments in startups, human capital, startup ecosystem infrastructure. У статті розглядається роль держави як суб’єкта формування вітчизняної екосистеми стартапів. На основі аналізу міжнарод-ного досвіду визначені існуючі у світовій практиці підходи до формування державної політики підтримки екосистеми стартапів, напрями та практичні інструменти стимулювання стартапів. Висвітлені відмінності між проактивною та реактивною політикою стимулюванння екосистеми стартапів. Проаналізовано сучасний стан державної підтримки стартапів в Україні. Хоча в Україні розвиток інноваційного підприємництва визначений як стратегічний пріоритет державної політики, однак темпи імплементації практичних заходів, спрямованих на досягнення цієї мети, є недостатніми. Визначені інструменти державного стимулювання вітчизняної екосистеми стартапів, що відносяться до державно-правового регулювання, інвестування стартапів, розвитку людського капіталу, створенння центрів компетенцій, інфраструктурного забезпечення, медіа та івент менеджменту. Ключові слова: стартап, екосистема стартапів, політика підтримки стартапів, інвестування стартапів, людський капітал, інфраструктура стартапів.

Distribution Characteristics of Eurasian tree sparrow in the City–On 6 metropolitan cities (Incheon, Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju, Ulsan, Busan)

Eurasian tree sparrow data from the 4th National Ecosystem Survey (2014 ~ 2018) were used for sparrows, which are known to decrease by about one third over 40 years. Data on altitude and land type among GIS factors in the Eurasian tree sparrow Recorded 6 Metropolitan City(Incheon, Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju, Ulsan, Busan) of Republic of Korea were generated. As a result, altitudes and land types were generated for 578 Eurasian tree sparrow.

Characteristics of Fish Fauna Data in jin Island, Korea

The fish community in the Jin Island (Jindo, Jisan, Munnae, Yulri, 1/25,000 scale) was investigated with the data collected through the 3rd National Ecosystem Survey from April to October in 2012. During the period, 25 species belonging to 7 families were collected. There were 11 biological resources subject to the approval of outbound transfer, including Squalidus gracilis majimae, Abbottina rivularis, Aphyocypris chinensis, Hemiculter eigenmanni, Rhodeus ocellatus, Iksookimia hugowolfeldi, Iksookimia koreensis, Trachidermus fasciatus, Monopterus albus, Macropodus ocellatus and Oryzias latipes. The dominant species was Pseudorasbora parva(26.3%), and the subdominant spaecies was Carassius auratus(16.0%).</br>Background: In Korea, from 1989 National Ecosystem Survey (NES) was conducted by ministry of environment for every 10 years to cover whole south Korea in 1/25,000 scale. The scope of NES including 8 taxa – vegetation, plant, fish, macro invertebrate, insect, birds, amphibian & reptile, mammal and geomorphology. With the results of ecosystem survey we build up species and ecosystem database based on GIS environment. Ecosystem database is becoming very necessary to understand origins and relationship between human and nature and also to reduce ecosystem disturbance.</br>New information: An ecological information platform can play important roles as a computing system to collect knowledge, distributed research findings and separated data from researchers. We designed and developed ecological information portal service (EcoBank 1.0) for collecting and providing ecological information for various stake-holders. Then, we developed basic functions to analyze ecosystem for each stake-holders (researchers, general public and policy makers). We successfully designed a computing system named EcoBank supporting the functions of Digital Object Identifier (DOI) publish and data quality management.

Which cultural ecosystem services is more important? A best-worst scaling approach

ABSTRACT Identifying relatively important ecosystem services beforehand is essential for efficient and effective assessment. Using a best-worst scaling (BWS) method, we investigated the relative importance of cultural ecosystem services (CES) in Japan, where the second phase of national ecosystem service assessment is under consideration. Classifying CES into seven distinct categories (i.e. spiritual and religious values, recreation and tourism, aesthetic values, education and inspiration, social cohesion and sense of place, cultural diversity, and existence and bequest values), we administered a questionnaire survey at the nation-wide scale and collected 28,854 valid BWS responses from 4122 individuals. As a result, BWS successfully elicited the Japanese preferences for CES with completely distinguishable orders, which the conventional rating approach was unable to achieve. Our analysis proposed that future CES assessments in Japan should put more emphasis on aesthetic values as well as existence and bequest values. As we could not find large differences in preferences for these two services across individuals, groups and regions in relative terms, such prioritization could gain broader understanding and supports from wider audiences.

THE GREEN ECONOMY- AN APPROACH FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOOD INDUSTRY

The proponents of the approach for sustainable development point out that its implementation requires: to halt the destruction of biodiversity; regarding the field of energy consumption – drastically reduce the use of non-renewable energy sources and orient towards renewable energy sources; stabilizing the concentration of greenhouse gases; achieving high quality of life and well-being; higher air and water quality; usage of safer chemical substances, pesticides and technologies; limitation of noise pollution; creating sustainable models of production and consumption; to use of technologies that conserve resources and the environment; to put national ecosystems under public control; to put on hold the uncontrolled growth of large cities and encourage the creation of small towns near the arable land. The economy itself is not an isolated and self-regulating subsystem, but exactly the opposite; it is embedded in another larger structure - the ecosystem. The idea of an environmentally conscious, competitive, green economy, contributing to sustainable development and resource efficiency - is one of the EU’s and UN’s measures for sustainable development. The term “green economy” was used in the United Nation’s Environment Program in 2011 – an economy that improves people’s well-being and creates social justice, reducing environmental risks and resource scarcity. The green economy helps to resolve the slowdown in economic growth and job losses, as well as the continued deterioration of environmental quality and ecosystem’s degradation. All this defines the green economy as an approach for achieving sustainable development. There are a number of conditions for the Bulgarian food industry to develop competitive advantages in green production, keeping in mind the trends in the introduction and consumption of bio products. In this regard, the main goal of this paper is to explore the opportunities for green specialization and green management of this sector needed to increase the competitiveness and profitability of its employees.

A framework linking ecosystem services and human well‐being: Saltmarsh as a case study

Abstract The ecosystem services approach is based on the interdependencies between nature and human well‐being. However, while the ecosystem services aspect of this approach is well‐developed, the human well‐being aspect remains unstructured and vaguely defined. An integrated conceptual framework was developed by adapting and linking the UK National Ecosystem Assessment‐Follow On framework with human well‐being domains. As well as benefits, the notion of disbenefits was incorporated to recognise the potentially detrimental effects from interacting with nature. Benefits and disbenefits occur at the social–ecological interface and are classified by the seven domains of human well‐being they affect. The framework is applied to saltmarsh habitat as a case study, highlighting knowledge gaps and the potential applicability and usefulness of the framework. In saltmarsh, benefits mainly accrue at larger scales with a greater impact affecting local to global individuals, while disbenefits tend to occur at a smaller scale and impact in‐situ individuals. The framework provides in‐depth insight into links, trade‐offs and dichotomies between benefits and disbenefits and human well‐being, and improves accessibility to the complex research area of human well‐being. This research can be a useful tool to guide environmental and health policy and management, as well as stakeholder engagement. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.