Protection Of Ecosystem Services Research Articles

Conservation Planning of Multiple Ecosystem Services in the Yangtze River Basin by Quantifying Trade-Offs and Synergies

The importance of protecting ecosystem services has been increasingly recognized due to their substantial benefits for human beings. Traditional conservation planning methods for locating and designing prioritized areas focus on high-value areas. However, ecosystem services have an intrinsic correlation of trade-offs and synergies among them; thus, solely selecting high-value areas cannot ensure efficiency in the conservation of multiple ecosystem services. Pursuing the protection of one ecosystem service may compromise the effectiveness of conserving others. Therefore, this study aims to develop a method for identifying the optimal ecosystem service protected areas in more efficient ways by quantifying the spatial relationships of ecosystem services on a local scale. We examined the correlations between all possible paired combinations of four ecosystem services using the Local Moran’s I and classified them into five cluster types in the Yangtze River Basin. To address conflicting solutions for multiple ecosystem service goals, we employed systematic conservation planning to identify priority areas for ecosystem service protection, following the principles of representativeness, complementarity, and persistence. By establishing scenarios that optimize each and all ecosystem services at target levels of 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%, we observed that any two of the four services were positively correlated, occupying vast areas in the Yangtze River Basin. However, the high-value areas of each ecosystem service did not coincide in their spatial distributions. Under the same target, more high-value areas could be selected as the best solutions by only optimizing a single ecosystem service. The degree of overlap between priority areas varied considerably across optimizations for individual ecosystem services, particularly when setting lower targets. Our findings suggest that integrated conservation planning for all ecosystem services is more efficient than layering multiple single plans. Understanding the correlations between ecosystem services can lead to more effective management and sustainable decision making.

The trends of major issues connecting climate change and the sustainable development goals

This study aims to explore the research trends and patterns of major issues connecting climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by employing a bibliometric analysis. The study has found that there is an increasing number of research and policies in various countries committed to finding and implementing strategies to solve climate change issues. The countries with the most research in this field are China, India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, with Environmental Sciences & Ecology being the most published domain. The study has identified 19 clusters intersecting with climate change and SDGs, with the top five clusters in terms of proportion related to agricultural and food systems, water and soil resources, energy, economy, ecosystem, and sustainable management. This study also presents the trend changes of research topics intersecting climate change and SDGs every 2–3 years. Especially in the recent two years, with the convening of COP26 and COP27 and the advocacy of Net Zero and CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) of the EU, important topics include renewable energy, protection of ecosystem services, life cycle assessment, food security, agriculture in Africa, sustainable management, synergies of various policies, remote sensing technology, and desertification among others. This shows an increasingly diversified range of important topics being discussed in relation to climate change and sustainable development goals.

Climate Change Mitigation Potential of Forestry Sector for Sustainability of Agro-Ecosystem: A Review

Ecosystems that are currently struggling are likely faring and pathetic conditions because of climate change. The most pressing problems facing people in the world's developing parts of the world are water scarcity, dwindling biodiversity, and stagnant agricultural output. According to the majority of scientists, global warming can be stopped before it becomes irreversible if temperatures are kept within a range of 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius. Greenhouse gases, sometimes known as GHGs, are the burning causes of climate change impacts. Accelerated emissions of GHGs could be dependent on the rate of social, economic, and technological development. Forest systems have a crucial impact in mitigating global warming. Clearing forests, setting them on fire, or otherwise destroying those releases massive amounts of other greenhouse gases (GHGs), even if the forests are the planet's greatest terrestrial carbon sink. Forests' source-sink dynamics and the total quantity of carbon they store are profoundly impacted by regional differences in human land use, anthropogenic climate change, and disturbance. Constantly expanding conservation, restoration, reforestation, and afforestation operations will be necessary to keep global warming under control and stop it from exceeding the crucial threshold. Forests are currently being employed as a potential tool for combating climate change, which has been demonstrated to be an effective and long-term strategy. However, the impact of climate change on forests is largely negative. The negative effects of climate change on forests are becoming more pronounced, as evidenced by an increase in the forest fire events and results in a shift in species distribution at higher altitudes, an increase in dieback, an increase in the number of insect and pathogen infestations, drought and flood conditions, and a decrease in the ecosystem services provided by forests. The IPCC has predicted that changes to ecosystems, arctic ice melting, rising sea levels, decreased grain yields, declining fisheries, and the loss of coral reefs will all have significant consequences. Therefore, protecting ecosystem services and biodiversity is crucial to ensuring humanity's survival.

Ecological security warning in Central Asia: Integrating ecosystem services protection under SSPs-RCPs scenarios

Ecological security patterns (ESPs) are designed to enhance ecosystem structure and functionality while preserving vital ecosystem services (ESs). This study not only integrated the ES trade-offs related to ecological security warning, but also considered the effects of future climate changes and human activities on ESPs. By combining the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE), the revised wind erosion equation (RWEQ), the dry sedimentation (DS) model, the recreation opportunity map (ROM) and the integrated valuation of ESs and trade-offs (InVEST) model, this study projected provisioning services, regulation services and cultural services in Central Asia (CA) for historical periods (1995–2014) and future scenarios (2021–2099). An ecological security early-warning (source – corridor – barriers) framework was constructed based on the protection of ESs under the SSP126, SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios. The ordered weighted averaging method (OWA) was applied to this framework to identify ecological sources. The Minimum cumulative resistance model (MCR) and circuit theory were used to construct ecological corridors and barriers. Our results revealed that ES hotspot areas will decrease by 11.75 % to 16.42 % in CA under the SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585 scenarios. Under the ecological warning framework, the ecological source warning area will reach 792 km2–1942 km2 and 6591 km2–17,465 km2 under the SSP126 and SSP585 scenarios, respectively. In particular, in the 2050s under the SSP245 scenario, the number of key ecological corridor warnings will exceed 50 % of the total number of corridors. We found that ecological barrier warnings will mainly be distributed in desert areas with low vegetation coverage in southwestern CA. Building upon the reorganization of ESs within the ESP framework, we propose an ecological early warning strategy referred to as “one axis, two belts, two cores, and three zones”. This novel approach aims to enhance our ability to predict and respond to ecological threats and challenges.

Strengthening Food Systems Resilience Before, During and After Disasters and Other Crises

Abstract School closures during the COVID-19 pandemic compromised access to essential meals for many children. In response, a public/private partnership known as the Emergency Meals-to-You program was established to deliver meals in affected rural areas of the United States. This study builds on this using a scorecard approach adapted from the United Nations Ten Essentials for Making Cities Resilient to identify and prioritize actions for strengthening food system resilience. A pilot food system resilience scorecard facilitated data collection from five workshops with professionals familiar with the program, emergency management, public health, or food systems. Data analysis and interpretation identified nine priority actions. These included integrating the food sector and schools within emergency management, mapping local food sector capacities, working with schools to receive de-identified data about nutritional, allergy and other health needs, developing disaster plans for sustaining food access at the school district level, and protecting ecosystem services and agricultural areas. There is an urgent need to embed the food sector and schools within emergency management. These systems are local, designed to coordinate complicated tasks in crises, multidisciplinary, and are used in many countries. Providing a ready-made framework for locally driven initiatives to strengthen food systems now and into the future.

Regional ecological risk assessment based on multi-scenario simulation of land use changes and ecosystem service values in Inner Mongolia, China

Regional ecological risk assessment (ERA) is an important means towards sustainable regional development. Yet, existing ERA approaches often fall short of characterizing ecological processes as dynamic processes involving uncertainty. Using Inner Mongolia, a high ecological risk area in China, this study employed a framework for regional ERA that considers ecosystem service value (ESV) and four scenarios of future land use patterns to understand its regional ecological risk. The spatially explicit risk assessment method was implemented by a model combining multi-criteria evaluation (MCE), cellular automata (CA), and Markov chain to predict future land use/cover of 2030, an adjustment-based equivalence factor method to assess the ESV in each scenario, and Sharpe Index to assess regional ecological risk. The results show the following. First, the overall ESV increases from 2020 to 2030 under all but the socio-economic development (SED) scenarios considered in this study. Second, the overall regional ecological risk of Inner Mongolia is high in the central region and low in the east, north, and west regions. The low ecological risk areas account for the largest areal proportion in the ecosystem services protection (ESP) and natural development (ND) scenarios, while the medium ecological risk areas are the largest under SED. However, some low ecological risk areas are converted into medium ecological risk in ecological and socioeconomic balance scenario (ESB) scenario. Third, NDVI is the driving factor with the strongest explanatory power for the regional ecological risk in Inner Mongolia, followed by mean annual precipitation and temperature. The present study applied a framework for regional ERA that explicitly considers spatial heterogeneity and uncertainty, which can be useful for guiding decision-making for ecological risk control and the planning of the land use of ecosystems.

Virtual built‐up land transfers and induced ecosystem service potential loss embodied in China's inter‐regional trade

AbstractInter‐regional trade can potentially extend the management of resources and induced ecological environmental impacts beyond a region's territory along supply chains. We combined environmental‐extended multi‐regional input–output analysis and ecosystem services value (ESV) assessment, to identify the remote connections of construction land use and the induced ecosystem services potential loss in inter‐provincial trade in China from 2007 to 2017. The findings indicated that the virtual construction land flow increased by 0.774 million ha in the eight regions of China during 2007–2017. The Northeast and the Northwest were net exporters while most of the inflow areas were in the more developed areas such as Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei and the Yangtze River Delta. The net regional flow of ecosystem service potential loss (ESPL) in China increased by 352.64 billion yuan. The spatial heterogeneity of ESV in each province led to differences in the inter‐sectoral or inter‐regional flow characteristics of ESPL from embodied construction land use. The outflow areas of ESPL were mostly located in the old industrial bases of the Northeast and Northern Coast, which sacrificed their local ecological service value to meet the development needs of Southern Coast, Southwest China and Beijing–Tianjin. The research results help to clarify ecological and environmental responsibility, improve ecological compensation mechanisms and formulate scientific policies for coordinated protection of ecosystem services.

The valuation of gross ecosystem product in the three provinces in northeast of China

AbstractAchieving sustainable development is an issue of global concern. Accounting for the gross ecosystem product (GEP) value can specifically quantify the value of ecosystems for people, which is conducive to the formulation of sustainable management decisions. We have improved the GEP framework accounting method for the first time and evaluated the ecosystem service value of 36 cities in three provinces in the northeast (TPN) of China from 2000 to 2019, which provides decision‐making references for the sustainable development of TPN. The main accounting results and policy recommendations are as follows: (1) The ecological value of Northeast China is in an upward stage—GEP has increased from 3.1 trillion yuan in 2000 to 4.5 trillion yuan in 2019, with climate regulation and water conservation functions being the main driving factors for GEP. (2) Based on the dual analysis of GEP and gross domestic product (GDP), there is still high room for improvement in most cities in the TPN region. While ensuring the protection of ecosystem services, cities can convert ecological value into economic value through carbon trading, water rights trading, ecological compensation, and other methods based on ecological characteristics, which is conducive to the sustainable development of GDP and GEP in the TPN region in the future. (3) The cold and hot spot analysis of GEP also provides decision‐making basis for the planning of future ecosystem service protection areas in the TPN region.

Medium and large-sized mammals in a premontane moist forest fragment, Atenas, Costa Rica

Introduction: Medium and large-sized mammals are threatened globally due to habitat loss and fragmentation. In Costa Rica, forest fragments that remain outside protected areas may serve as a refuge or corridor for these animals. Mammal presence in fragmented landscapes may be influenced by resource availability, which varies greatly in seasonal regions. Objective: To determine the species richness of medium and large-sized mammals in a forest fragment, and to examine if species diversity and detectability varied between the wet and dry season. Methods: We established 26 camera trap stations throughout the Municipal Forest of Atenas (Alajuela, Costa Rica), a 26.4 ha forest fragment that provides water to about 1 800 people. From August 2021 to April 2022, one camera trap was active at each station for 12-21 days throughout each season (dry and wet), for a total of 810 camera trap days. We applied rarefaction and extrapolation curves to characterize mammal’s species diversity and compare it between seasons. Results: We detected 19 species of mammals. The most frequently detected species were the White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica; 0.254 detections/camera trap day), and the Central American Agouti (Dasyprocta punctata; 0.163 detections/camera trap day). We also registered four species considered as endangered in Costa Rica, three felines: Puma concolor, Herpailurus yagouaroundi, Leopardus pardalis, and the Neotropical River Otter, Lontra longicaudis. Seasonality did not affect species diversity, but it influenced dominant species and detectability, which was greater during the wet season. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates how protecting small forest fragments, can help conserve endangered medium and large-sized mammals in human-dominated landscapes. Objective: We aimed to determine the species richness of medium and large-sized mammals in a forest fragment protected for water production, and to examine if species diversity and detectability varied between the wet and dry season. Methods: We established 26 camera trap stations throughout the Municipal Forest of Atenas (MFA), a 26-ha forest fragment that provides drinking water to about 1 800 people. From August 2021 to April 2022, one camera trap was active at each station for 12-21 days throughout each season (dry and wet), for a total of 810 camera trap days. We applied rarefaction and extrapolation curves to characterize mammal’s species diversity and compare it between seasons. Results: We detected 19 species of medium and large-sized mammals. The species with the highest frequency of detections were the White-nosed Coati (Nasua narica; 0.504 detections/camera trap day), and the Central American Agouti (Dasyprocta punctata; 0.377 detections/camera trap day). We also detected four species considered as endangered in Costa Rica, three felines: Puma concolor, Herpailurus yagouaroundi, Leopardus pardalis, and the Neotropical River Otter, Lontra longicaudis. Seasonality did not affect species diversity but influenced the detectability of dominant species. Discussion: The relatively high richness of mammals observed in the MFA is likely related to the surrounding land use, which is dominated by agroforestry systems (e. g., coffee plantations) and forest patches, that may contribute to animal mobility and serve as refuge in fragmented landscapes. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates how protecting ecosystem services, such as water, may also help conserving endangered medium and large-sized mammals in fragmented landscapes.

Biochar and Forage Peanut improve pastures: Evidence from a field experiment in Brazil

Pasturelands, often degraded, represent most of the converted lands globally. It is important to understand how different pasture management approaches can improve soil quality, increase feed production and farmer income. Here, the impact of different soil enhancers on soil quality and productivity of three cultivars of Brachiaria (Syn. Urochloa) forage grass is presented. Soil enhancers included: biochar - a carbon-rich product from biomass pyrolysis, moinha (local charcoal residue), traditional fertiliser containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, lime, and forage peanut (Arachis pintoi cv. Amarillo). Considering the total biomass produced over the experiment (sum of four harvests), the highest dry biomass production was observed for Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piatã (14.1 Mg ha−1) and cv. Marandu (12.7 Mg ha−1), for biochar application of 30 Mg ha−1. Paiaguás had the highest dry matter production (12.4 Mg ha−1) for the treatment with forage peanut plus 15 Mg ha−1 of biochar. The increases in dry mass production translated to additional income, as compared with the control, of U$ 1 291, U$ 1 183 and U$ 991 per year for Marandu, Piatã and Paiaguás, respectively. The increases in forage grass productivity were reflected by positive changes in soil characteristics such as improvement in cation exchange capacity, pH and nutrient contents. Improved management of tropical pasturelands holds opportunity for more sustainable food production, and for ecosystem services protection and recuperation, for example, biodiversity net-gain, water regulation and carbon sequestration.

Investigating groundwater and surface water interactions using remote sensing, hydrochemistry, and stable isotopes in the Barotse Floodplain, Zambia

ABSTRACT Groundwater and surface water are inseparably linked, thus the understanding of their interactions is indispensable toward developing effective conjunctive water resource management strategies, particularly for ecosystems, such as wetlands, which provide numerous ecosystem services. This study aimed to identify potential areas of Groundwater-surface water (GW-SW) interactions and mechanisms that facilitate them using remote sensing, hydrochemistry, and stable isotopes. The results of remote sensing analysis using Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) show that the vegetation is sensitive to the dynamics of groundwater level, with shallower levels (<10 m) in the lower reaches compared to deeper levels (>10 m) in the upper catchment. The study postulates that the near surface groundwater level, maybe due to the near proximity river system (Zambezi River) losing water to recharge the aquifer system, compared to upstream which may be discharging to floodplains (gaining system). Using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) of the hydrochemical data, surface, and groundwater showed three similarity clusters of hydrochemistry consisting of Ca-Mg-HCO3, Na-HCO3, and Na-Cl. These zones are further investigated and likely represent geological variability, aquifer confinement, and the degree of GW–SW interactions. The outcomes of this research provide critical input for integrated protection and conservation of ecosystem services in floodplain and aquifer systems.

Addressing barriers to proactive restoration of at‐risk sagebrush communities: a causal layered analysis

Restoration success in degraded rangelands often depends on a site's resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasive plants. Because it is more difficult to restore plant communities after they are dominated by invasive species, a potential approach is proactive restoration in sites at risk of crossing degradation thresholds (e.g. initiating restoration prior to invasive grass dominance). When developing a new restoration approach, it is important to consider operational feasibility, including social, budgetary, and environmental factors. Accordingly, we studied influences within land management agencies on the adoption of a specific proactive restoration approach: out‐planting native grass and forb seedlings into sagebrush stands before they are dominated by cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Managers from federal and state land management agencies across the Great Basin, U.S.A, were interviewed regarding perceived feasibility of these practices. Twelve in‐depth interviews were conducted, and responses were analyzed using a qualitative method, causal layered analysis, not previously applied in a land management context. In the most superficial (litany) layer, cost and scale were prominent. The next (systemic) layer was framed by policy and bureaucracy limitations as well as technical barriers to implementation. In the third (worldview) layer, lack of a proactive management tradition within agencies represented a principal barrier. In the deepest (myth/metaphor) layer, the central belief is that human intervention should be used to protect ecosystem services only after they are disrupted due to human activity. Based on the different obstacles found at each level, we suggest ways to overcome the barriers detected.

Valuing Free-Flowing Rivers: The Influence of Social Value on Willingness to Pay for Ecosystem Services Protection

Free-flowing rivers (FFRs) provide valuable ecosystem services to society, but the construction of dams threatens to negatively impact many of these ecosystems worldwide by 2050. Economic valuation of FFRs can be an effective tool to make informed decisions about water resources management. Valuation of FFRs can be achieved through techniques such as contingent valuation in situations where markets do not exist. To better understand the influence of sociodemographic factors and social values on the willingness to pay (WTP) for the conservation of an FFR in western Mexico, we conducted a face-to-face survey with 179 residents from two localities—one upstream and the other downstream. We used a generalized linear model (GLM) to determine which of the independent variables were significantly correlated with WTP. Our results indicated that age, gender, education, and socioeconomic level have a slight impact on WTP, but we found differences in river valuation between the two localities. We observed that perceived values including future value, life-sustaining, recreation, and economic value exerted a stronger influence on WTP. These findings emphasize the need to integrate local residents’ holistic valuation of FFR into decision-making processes to protect these ecosystems for future generations.

The Role of Urban Cemeteries in Ecosystem Services and Habitat Protection

Cemeteries, like urban public parks, are an important part of the urban ecosystem, providing semi-natural habitats for many plant and animal species as well as a wide range of ecosystem services: they improve air quality, reduce the urban heat island phenomenon and provide aesthetic and recreational value. This paper explores the role of the cemeteries in the green infrastructure network beyond their sacred and memorial role and their importance as a habitat for urban flora and fauna. In our study, we compared two large public cemeteries of Budapest (Nemzeti Sírkert/National Graveyard and Új Köztemető/New Public Cemetery) with the Zentralfriedhof Wien (Central Cemetery of Vienna), the latter of which has been forward-looking in terms of green infrastructure development and habitat creation in the past years. Our goal was to determine which maintenance technologies and green space development methods are most beneficial in terms of sustainable habitat creation and the use of appropriate plant species in public cemeteries.

Spatiotemporal Characteristics of the Coupled Coordination Degree of Ecosystem Services Supply and Demand in Chinese National Nature Reserves

Nature reserves (NRs) are the main components of protected areas and geographic spaces, with unique natural and cultural resources. The establishment of nature reserves has not only strengthened the protection of specific species but has also played a vital role in the protection of ecosystem services (ESs). However, few studies have been conducted to systematically assess the effectiveness of nature reserves from the perspective of ecosystem services supply and demand (S&D) or make comparisons between the conservation effects of different types of nature reserves. This study analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of ecosystem service supply and demand in 412 Chinese national nature reserves. The results showed that both supply and demand for ecosystem services per unit area show a spatial pattern of increasing from west to east. The supply-demand matching pattern is dominated by high supply-high demand (H-H) and low supply-high demand (L-H) in the central and eastern regions, and high supply-low demand (H-L) and low supply-low demand (L-L) in the northeast, northwest, and southwest regions. The coupling coordination degree (CCD) of ecosystem services supply and demand increased from 0.53 in 2000 to 0.57 in 2020, and the number of NRs reaching the coordinated level (>0.5) increased by 15 from 2000 to 2020, representing 3.64% of the total number of protected areas. Steppe meadows, ocean coasts, forest ecosystems, wildlife, and wild plant types of nature reserves all improved more obviously. This provides a scientific basis for strengthening the ecological and environmental supervision of nature reserves, and the research methods and ideas can provide references for similar research.

Blooms and flows: Effects of variable hydrology and management on reservoir water quality

AbstractFlow management has the potential to significantly affect ecosystem condition. Shallow lakes in arid regions are especially susceptible to flow management changes, which can have important implications for the formation of cyanobacterial blooms. Here, we reveal water quality shifts associated with changing source water inflow management. Using in situ monitoring data, we studied a seven‐year time span during which inflows to a shallow, eutrophic drinking water reservoir transitioned from primarily natural landscape runoff (2014–2015) to managed flows from a larger upstream reservoir (Lake Diefenbaker; 2016–2020) and identified significant changes in cyanobacteria (as phycocyanin) using generalized additive models to classify cyanobacterial bloom formation. We then connected changes in water source with shifts in chemistry and the occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms using principal components analysis. Phycocyanin was greater in years with managed reservoir inflow from a mesotrophic upstream reservoir (2016–2020), but dissolved organic matter (DOM) and specific conductivity, important determinants of drinking water quality, were greatest in years when landscape runoff dominated lake water source (2014–2015). Most notably, despite changing rapidly, it took multiple years for lake water to return to a consistent and reduced level of DOM after managed inflows from the upstream reservoir were resumed, an observation that underscores how resilience may be hindered by weak resistance to change and slow recovery. Environmental flows for water quality are rarely defined, yet we show that trade‐offs exist between poor water quality via elevated conductivity and DOM and higher bloom risk, depending on water source. Our work highlights the importance of source water quality, not just quantity, to water security, and our findings have important implications for water managers who must protect ecosystem services while adapting to projected hydroclimatic change.

Pesticide licensing in the EU and protecting pollinators

Intensive agriculture is reliant on pesticides to control crop pests, but these chemicals can have negative environmental consequences. This has resulted in repeated calls for pesticide risk assessments to be modified to better protect ecosystem services such as pollination. However, the pesticide licensing process is complex, and consequently there is often confusion between risk assessments where the environmental impact of pesticide use is considered, and risk management where licensing decisions are made. Using bees as a case study, we provide a roadmap for how pesticides are licensed for use in the European Union. By outlining the regulatory process, we highlight key data gaps that need to be addressed to generate a holistic approach to environmental risk assessment. Such an approach is vital to protect pollinators and wildlife more broadly from the unintended consequences of pesticide use.

Ecological Restoration of Pinus Pinaster Woodlands, After Degradation with Focusing on Rehabilitation of Target Habitats

Ecological restoration plays a vital role in preserving and rehabilitating degraded habitats, especially those populated by endemic species. This abstract focuses on the restoration efforts of Pinus pinaster and other endemic species found in woodlands that have suffered degradation. The primary aim of this restoration project is to rehabilitate target habitats and promote the recovery of these native species in Portugal. The identification of key factors that have contributed to the degradation is crucial in developing effective restoration plans. Additionally, understanding the ecological requirements and preferences of the target species is essential to ensure successful rehabilitation. Ecological restoration of Pinus pinaster woodlands/forests, after degradation such as posed by recurrent fires and invasive species, Focusing on rehabilitation of target habitats, such as water lines and other key elements of the landscape (we have important areas of Pinus pinaster in the secondary coastal dunes) Using native species of the selected sites, that may be present in the vegetation or in the soil seed bank- Testing and evaluating the best propagation techniques for each species, vegetative cuttings, seeds germination, in situ or ex situ propagation, Evaluating the added value of the restoration actions in terms of 1) increasing or protecting ecosystem services, 2) increasing or protecting rare or potentially endangered plant species, etc. In conclusion, the ecological restoration of Pinus pinaster and other endemic species in degraded woodlands requires a multidimensional approach that addresses key factors contributing to habitat degradation. By focusing on the rehabilitation of target habitats, these restoration efforts contribute to the conservation and preservation of these important ecosystems, ultimately benefiting both the endemic species and the surrounding communities.

Crowdfunding Vs. Taxes: Does the Payment Vehicle Influence WTP for Ecosystem Services Protection?

Crowdfunding Vs. Taxes: Does the Payment Vehicle Influence WTP for Ecosystem Services Protection?

The connection with nature in Brazilian urban parks and its contribution to the wellness of the population and to child development

In the global environmental crisis, the importance of natural environments for society has been increasingly studied and incorporated into urban, environmental, leisure, and health public policies. The growing urbanization of the world population highlights the role played by green areas in the protection of diverse ecosystem services. Mostly, with emphasis on the benefits to health and well-being, both for the adult population and for children and adolescents. In thissense, this work aims to investigate the motivations and benefits perceived by visitors of urban parks in Brazil, related to ten dimensions of well-being, and child development. From a survey carried out with 816 visitors of parks located in the cities ofBrasília, Rio de Janeiro, and Juiz de Fora, a similar sociodemographic profile was identified. The motivations to visit and the perceived benefits of visiting urban parks were high for all dimensions of well-being, with emphasis on the emotional dimension, followed by physical, environmental, spiritual, and social well-being. Significant differences were identified between cities. Three out of four visitors agree or strongly agree that urban parks bring benefits to children's development, mainly physical, respiratory, social, cognitive development, and anxiety reduction. The results, therefore, highlight the importance of urban parks in Brazil, promoting the well-being of society and benefits to child development. This reinforces the need for investment in public policies aiming at the creation and implementation of accessible and suitable green areas to allow everyday enjoyment to all citizens, particularly in the urban context.