Specific Ecosystem Services Research Articles

Cost-benefit research and potential solutions of ecological restoration programs in China

The value realization pathways of ecological products are major challenges for China’s ecological civilization construction, which plays a critical strategic and practical role. In the process of ecological restoration projects, the selection of value realization pathways provides a feasible basis for the practice of ecological restoration. Cost-benefit analysis can be used to select the best restoration measures or models for the government or businesses, maximizing the environmental and economic benefits of restoration projects. This paper reviewed the value accounting research related to cost-benefit assessment in China. Currently, traditional independent empirical studies on specific ecosystem services are the focus of research and some policies have been established from these. In the assessment, the relevant methods were seen to still have limitations in terms of data sources, reference systems, and database improvement. It is noted that the benefit transfer method is still underdeveloped in China but has good prospects. The paper analyzed the main role of benefit transfer in policy making and the method’s scientific development, as well as elucidating the problems and challenges of the benefit transfer method. This study also presents a review of current policies and research on ecosystem service valuation policies and potential ways for ecological restoration. Due to the great spatial variations in socio-economic conditions and resource endowments in different regions in China, it is necessary to consider regional differences and adjust ecological restoration to local conditions. Furthermore, relevant realization paths and future research perspectives were put forward.

The ecosystem services concept in freshwater conservation and restoration

Abstract Intense efforts have focused on ecosystem conservation and restoration (ECR) over the past decades, promoting considerable advances in science and practice in this field. However, the applications of the ecosystem services (ESs) concept are rarely considered in the literature when assessing the success and targets of ECR. The ECR literature was systematically reviewed to analyse the relevance of the ES concept in ECR research published from 2007 to 2019 and to assess how the ES concept is integrated into freshwater ECR. In general, the number of publications focusing on ECR and ESs shows a temporal increase (from 12 to 101 publications, 685 in total). The proportion of publications considering ESs as freshwater ECR targets increased from 33 to 70% until 2019, while the proportion of publications that prioritized ecosystem processes and functions as the target declined from 33 to 16%. Despite the clear upward trend, most studies have focused only on the conceptual framework. In addition, the idea of using market‐based approaches for ESs has spread quickly, but it has still not been broadly accepted. The number of academic researchers who have contributed to this research field varies substantially across different countries. A country's economic conditions and the extent of freshwater withdrawal can affect efforts devoted to studies on freshwater ECR and ESs. Some ecosystems, such as rivers and wetlands, have attracted much more attention than others. Although most studies have discussed ESs in general, the provisioning and regulation of ESs are mainly considered in studies that differentiate specific ES categories. Current limitations in applying the ES concept in ECR across different studies suggest that further collaboration is needed among ecologists, practitioners, stakeholders and policy‐makers to develop a broad mix of approaches for the best and widest use of the ES concept in protecting and enhancing freshwater ecosystems.

ПРОГРАММЫ ПЛАТЕЖЕЙ ЗА ПРЕДОСТАВЛЕНИЕ ЭКОСИСТЕМНЫХ УСЛУГ И РЕГЕНЕРАТИВНОЕ СЕЛЬСКОЕ ХОЗЯЙСТВО

Regenerative agriculture can bring numerous benefits, including improved food security and ecosystem conservation; however, this approach can be much more expensive for farmers than traditional methods. Payment for the ecosystem services provided by land-used agro-landscapes offers a potential solution of this dilemma. The author provides a brief review of the literature describing the theoretical aspects of payment programs for the provision of ecosystem services, as well as an analysis of case studies of completed and existing payment programs for the provision of ecosystem services in various contexts. On the basis of theoretical data, policy options have been formed and described for structuring a system of payments for the provision of ecosystem services that can properly and effectively stimulate regenerative agriculture. The policy options described include balancing market and government actors, avoiding strict and overly complex contracts, and drafting programs taking into account the specifics of the market. It is concluded that programs that target a specific ecosystem service and create effective measurement systems may be most effective. It is noted that payment programs for ecosystem services should be focused on creating coalitions with a large number of participants, as well as creating a feedback system f or interested land users.

Assessing Social Values for Ecosystem Services in Rural Areas Based on the SolVES Model: A Case Study from Nanjing, China

Assessing social values attributed to ecosystem services based on the Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) model helps ecosystems to provide services sustainably, including land and forest products and non-material services. Currently, urbanization has accelerated the deterioration of rural environments, which affects the supply of social values for rural ecosystem services. How to scientifically assess the social values for ecosystem services in rural areas remains to be studied. In addition, there are significant differences in the perceptions of social value among stakeholder groups. Therefore, this study aims to provide a complete and systematic approach to identify the social value of complex and specific rural ecosystem services and to fill the gap in the research of perceived differences among stakeholder groups in rural areas. On the basis of building environmental raster datasets on a village scale, this research applies the SolVES model to evaluate social values in the Paifang rural community. Results show that aesthetic, health care, recreation, and biodiversity values are highly regarded in rural areas. The normalized difference vegetation index, the distance to rural settlements, the distance to tourist attractions, and the distance to agricultural production spaces can improve the evaluation accuracy, and the level of social values can be predicted by certain environmental variables. The spatial distribution of social values and the degree of attention paid to the biodiversity value, and the trade-off between the aesthetic and biodiversity value are the main perception differences between villagers and tourists. This research contributes to ecological construction and sustainable development in rural areas.

Variations in stakeholders’ ecosystem service priorities for managing a marine protected area

Marine protected areas (MPA) increasingly focus on integrating ecosystem services in MPA management. Understanding how MPA stakeholders value and depend on marine ecosystem services is therefore important to account for local priorities in conservation design and management, and for identifying how different stakeholder groups might be affected by MPA management decisions. This study investigates the importance of MPA ecosystem services in Monterey Bay, California. We surveyed four marine stakeholders in eight communities to elicit stakeholders’ ecosystem service priorities and to identify how socio-economic variables relate to ecosystem service importance. We found that all stakeholder groups rated supporting and regulating services as more important than cultural and provisioning services, suggesting that marine conservation efforts could place more emphasis on protecting ecosystem services that are less easily observed and experienced. Identified differences in the importance of ecosystem services among the four groups demonstrate that stakeholders value marine ecosystems in different ways and thus might be affected differently by management actions that target specific ecosystem services. Differences were particularly evident between recreational and commercial fishers suggesting that these groups have a different understanding of how the MPA contributes to their well-being. We also found that the importance of services that are harder to experience and observe, including supporting and regulating services and the intrinsic value of the MPA, did not correlate with most socio-economic variables indicating that these services are less related to the socio-economic profile of MPA users compared to cultural and provisioning services.

Integrated assessment of the supply–demand relationship of ecosystem services in the Loess Plateau during 1992–2015

ABSTRACT Landscape alterations and ecosystem services (ES) are crucial elements that affect the socio-ecological development of ecologically fragile regions. To provide scientific support for the land-use planning and regional ecological restoration to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the Loess Plateau from 1992 to 2015, this study proposes an integrated assessment framework for assessing the supply – demand match and equilibrium of ES combining potential relationships between landscape alterations, ES, and sustainable development at the county and regional scales. Results show that more than 85% of local counties have a supply – demand mismatch in terms of ecosystem services. Supply – demand distributions for provisioning and supporting services were relatively balanced compared to cultural services, which were imbalanced. Although the overall supply – demand relationship is relatively balanced because of the significant influence of ecological restoration, it shows an increasing trend toward imbalance as human – land conflict is prominent in some regions. SDGs emphasize on specific ES information such as ecosystem conservation, sustainable agriculture, and urban construction. Furtherly, positive impacts from landscape dynamics can improve the supply capacity of the ES and contribute to regional sustainability.

Species Traits and Geomorphic Setting as Drivers of Global Soil Carbon Stocks in Seagrass Meadows

AbstractOur knowledge of the factors that can influence the stock of organic carbon (OC) that is stored in the soil of seagrass meadows is evolving, and several causal effects have been used to explain the variation of stocks observed at local to national scales. To gain a global‐scale appreciation of the drivers that cause variation in soil OC stocks, we compiled data on published species‐specific traits and OC stocks from monospecific and mixed meadows at multiple geomorphological settings. Species identity was recognized as an influential driver of soil OC stocks, despite their large intraspecific variation. The most important seagrass species traits associated with OC stocks were the number of leaves per seagrass shoot, belowground biomass, leaf lifespan, aboveground biomass, leaf lignin, leaf breaking force and leaf OC plus the coastal geomorphology of the area, particularly for lagoon environments. A revised estimate of the global average soil OC stock to 20 cm depth of 15.4 Mg C ha−1 is lower than previously reported. The largest stocks were still recorded in Mediterranean seagrass meadows. Our results specifically identify Posidonia oceanica from the Mediterranean and, more generally, large and persistent species as key in providing climate regulation services, and as priority species for conservation for this specific ecosystem service.

Social innovation in a typical social‐ecological system in China: Identifying linkages between the dependence of key stakeholders on ecosystem services and the level of their multi‐dimensional human well‐being

AbstractLinkages between ecosystem services and human well‐being are complex. These linkages are of particular significance to disadvantaged communities, commonly residing in marginalized rural areas, and having difficulties regarding biophysical factors, infrastructure, housing, and aging populations. In this paper, we focused on such a typical area in Southwestern China, where we examined the linkages between ecosystem services and human well‐being, underpinning our investigation by the social innovation theory and a social‐ecological system framework. Going beyond what has been done by other scientists, we considered the heterogeneity of beneficiaries and assessed human well‐being as it was valued by people, on the ground. We did it with full realization that stakeholder evaluation is becoming a novel means and an important instrument for targeting sustainability. The identification of key stakeholders in the Wolong Nature Reserve was the first step in our research. We categorized and classified the stakeholders into groups based on their dependence on ecosystem services and their socio‐economic characteristics. Significant differentiations among human well‐being were found, and stakeholders with heterogeneous socio‐economic characteristics had a varied dependence on specific ecosystem services. Further, the regression analysis performed revealed key factors that would mediate the level of human well‐being at the local level. The factors identified included the dependence of people on regulating and cultural services, their level of education, knowledge and occupation. Our results have contributed to discerning key stakeholders for ecosystem management purposes and determining the driving factors mediating the linkages between ecosystem services and human well‐being. Thus, in addition to contribution to science, the results have potential practical implications for steering a more sustainable governance of nature in areas that are similar to this typical socio‐ecological system in China.

Functional composition of plant communities mediates biomass effects on ecosystem service recovery across an experimental dryland restoration network

Abstract Land degradation can result in a loss of critical ecosystem services that we often seek to restore through re‐establishment of desired plant communities. Trait‐based approaches have the potential to target specific ecosystem services based on associations between the functional composition of plant communities and ecosystem properties that serve as indicators of those services. The effect of functional composition on ecosystem recovery may depend on the amount of restored plant biomass, itself a supporting service frequently targeted in restoration efforts. Yet, interactions between functional composition and biomass are not formally integrated into trait‐based analytical frameworks. We tested the hypothesis that functional composition of plant communities both drives, and interacts with, biomass production to influence indicators of soil functioning and weed suppression across a network of degraded dryland restoration experiments. This networked approach allowed us to identify generalized effects of functional composition on ecosystem recovery across a range of dryland climate conditions. Climate had a substantial effect on ecosystem indicators, with weed cover and soil surface stability increasing in more arid climates, water infiltration increasing with precipitation, and aggregate structure increasing with less freezing. After accounting for climate effects across study sites, we found significant effects of community‐weighted mean (CWM) trait values on biomass, particularly a positive effect of leaf carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio, and of CWM‐biomass interactions on other ecosystem indicators. Cover of exotic species was reduced in restored communities with a combination of low leaf dry matter content and high biomass, soil water infiltration increased with lower specific root length and high biomass, and soil aggregate stability increased with higher root dry matter content and high biomass, among other effects. Functional diversity had no significant effects on any ecosystem indicators. Synthesis: The influence of community functional composition on ecosystem properties increases with community biomass, particularly in disturbed or low productivity systems. This suggests that active management should not only focus on trait values that optimize individual ecosystem indicators but also how those functional strategies are complementary or counter to those that increase biomass. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog

Local community attitudes towards mangrove forest conservation

Local communities have preferences and expectations regarding mangrove ecosystems that are typically underrepresented in valuation studies. Therefore, this study identifies how the local community of Mahahual (Mexico) perceives the ecosystem services provided by the mangrove forest and how these preferences differ between households. A survey was designed by one of the authors and local stakeholders building on previous knowledge and experts (local environmental research centre and non-governmental organisation Takata and its experts in biology and coastal conservation, ecotourism businesses’ owners, and the mayor of the village). The survey is used to cover a wide range of ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, recreation and cultural activities as well as improved connectivity with local seagrass beds and coral reefs. Ecosystem services were specifically chosen by biologists and ecologists of the local NGO to perfectly reflect the local mangroves ecosystem. The small land area of the village, its low population and its rapid expansion offer a unique context, aiming at preserving the natural environment while keeping in mind that the main economy is based on tourism. While mangroves are greatly appreciated for the local protective services they provide such as coastal protection, local inhabitants also care about services that have a wider impact such as biodiversity and carbon sequestration. We find that the educational background of local inhabitants plays an important role in determining the importance of local ecosystem services and that information provision can help to counterbalance this effect. We also observe that preferences for specific ecosystem services differ based on how close residents live to the mangroves and to the coast, which accentuates the different needs and ideas of the households based on their local neighbourhood.

Urban green and blue space changes: A spatiotemporal evaluation of impacts on ecosystem service value in Bangladesh

The rapid decline in urban green (UGS) and blue space (UBS) in developing countries has led to a widespread degradation of available ecosystem services (ES). However, impacts of UGS and UBS changes on ES tend to vary over space and time, and to date these impacts have not been studied in sufficient detail in emerging economies. By comparing UGS and UBS change patterns with multitemporal Landsat data recorded during the past 30 years (1991–2021), this study has examined the impact of several factors on ES in some of the world's climate hotspots. Although obtaining relevant and accurate information on ES is difficult in many parts of the developing world, this work has developed baseline data suitable for assessing ES loss over five densely populated cities in Bangladesh – Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet. ES loss was quantified in monetary terms using adjusted value coefficients. The topographic and anthropogenic factors driving spatial differences in ES degradation in these cities were analyzed with a geographical detector. The results indicated that the cities experienced a combined monetary loss of USD 628.58 million as a result of specific ES degradation, primarily due to the decline of UGS and UBS. The value of ES loss was notably higher in Dhaka and Chattogram than in the other cities due to marked differences in anthropogenic activities. Population growth, extensive urban sprawl, and the development of dense road networks were identified as the major causes of urban green and blue space loss and consequent reduction of ES. The findings of this study provide important insights which can be used to support the formulation of public policies and management plans aimed at restoring and maintaining sustainable urban ecosystems.

Ecosystem condition underpins the generation of ecosystem services: an accounting perspective

There is a linkage between the condition of ecosystems and the services they provide. In the accounting framework set by the United Nations System of integrated Environmental Economic Accounting – Ecosystem Accounts (SEEA EA), two different sets of accounts assess and monitor ecosystem condition and ecosystem services, respectively. The former are reported as indicators in an asset account format, while the latter are reported as supply and use tables. Without a concrete linkage, the two sets of accounts run in parallel: only an ex-post correlation analysis could confirm (or not) a common path. On the other hand, a clear linkage could create a sequence that justifies and supports the statement that any change in ecosystem condition will affect services and, in turn, the benefits provided to economy and society. Concrete applications undertaken under the project “Integrated system for Natural Capital Accounts” demonstrate at which stage a direct connection can occur between ecosystem condition and ecosystem services accounting. The paper starts with a theoretical background meant to set the basic concepts underlying the transition from condition to services. Next, the accounting framework for condition accounts is briefly presented: the specific ecosystem services case studies concern flood control and crop pollination. In the discussion, a simple proposal is drafted to facilitate a possible procedure for those practitioners interested in having condition and ES accounts operationally linked.

“Old” is not precise enough: Airborne laser scanning reveals age-related structural diversity within old-growth forests

Old-growth forests of different ages provide specific structures, habitats and ecosystem services. Methods to distinguish this internal diversity are still rare, especially in boreal forests. This research therefore aims to determine the ability of Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) technology to identify age-related structural diversity in old-growth boreal forests. The study area was located in primary boreal forests in Quebec (Canada) dominated by black spruce (Picea mariana). This area contained 71.8 km2 of early old-growth forests (burned 110 years ago), 17.1 km2 of late old-growth forests (protected areas; unburned for at least 250 years) and 370 km2 of old-growth forests of unknown age (> 125-years-old). We divided the study area into 1 ha tiles, where we extracted seven ALS indices representing vertical and horizontal forest structure. We trained random forest models using an iterative approach to discriminate between early and late old-growth forests based on ALS indices. Model predictions were applied to the old-growth tiles of unknown age, and to 86 field plots (28 from provincial forest surveys and 58 from a dedicated survey of old-growth forests) to evaluate the predictive capacity of the models. The models very accurately distinguished early and late old-growth forests (error-rate = 4.9%). Old-growth survey plots confirmed model ability to discriminate early and late old-growth forests, but not provincial survey plots, possibly because of a lower reliability of these data when forest age exceeds 150 years. Model predictions for tiles of unknown age highlighted the presence of very large tracts of late old-growth forests within a matrix of old-growth forests of intermediate age (≈150–200 years). Overall, ALS-data can contribute to a finer structural age distinction and mapping of boreal old-growth forests. This enhanced knowledge of old-growth landscapes will greatly help to improve their protection, restoration and management. The scarcity of reliable field data for model evaluation is, however, a limitation to be addressed.

IMPACT OF FRUIT BATS (Rousettus leschenaulti AND Cynopterus sphinx) IN THE TROPICAL ECOSYSTEM OF TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

Fruit bat diversity available in the ecosystem of Tirunelveli District is important for pollinating flowers and seed dispersal. Two common megachiropterans Rousettus leschnaulti (fulvous fruit bat) and Cynopterus sphinx (greater short-nosed fruit bat) interacting in different agro and tropical forest ecosystem of Tirunelveli district has been selected as study animals for this impact analysis. Various food selections, processing strategies, the economical and ecological importance of bat dependent plants have provided a glimpse on the fruit bat’s bio-agent role in the ecosystem. Identification of left outs from the feeding roosts, observations with video recording and mist-netting in the foraging areas is the documented data for fruit bat–plant interdependence. Their species specific dietary preferences immensely help to retain the community structures and long time survival of specific taxa in the ecosystem. In spite of their special role they have attracted little recognition under Indian government legislations and policies. The documented species specific impact and ecosystem services of R. leschnaulti and C. sphinx in the Tropical ecosystem is the field proof data which can be of use to revise the status of fruit bats under Schedule V, Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

Identification of Priority Areas for Improving Urban Ecological Carrying Capacity: Based on Supply–Demand Matching of Ecosystem Services

As the most concentrated area of human activities, cities consume many natural resources and discharge a large amount of waste into the natural environment, which has a huge environmental impact. Most of the ecological and environmental problems, such as environmental pollution, global climate change, and loss of biodiversity, are related to urban systems. How to coordinate urban development with the urban ecological carrying capacity is related to the destiny of the city itself, and also to whether its surrounding areas can successfully achieve the goal of high environmental quality and sustainable development. At present, the theory and methods of urban ecological carrying capacity research are relatively new, which has caused problems for policy makers in practical applications. This paper proposes a theoretical framework for urban ecological carrying capacity assessment based on the analysis of ecosystem services supply and demand. Combined with multi-source spatial data and spatial model methods, the supply and demand of ecosystem services were spatially quantified. The capital city of China, Beijing, was the case study area for this research. The spatial differentiation of the supply–demand relationship of ecosystem services is formed. The priority areas for ecological carrying capacity improvement at pixel scale and at the administrative level are obtained, respectively. The results show that the first priority area is concentrated in the center of the urban area, accounting for 31.11% of the total area of Beijing. According to the secondary zone and the specific ecosystem service type, the ecological carrying capacity improvement strategy of different zones is proposed. This study provides a new perspective for investigating urban ecological carrying capacity and for identifying the priority areas for ecological carrying capacity improvement, and helps the policy-makers to design tailored policy actions.

Edge effects influence the composition and density of reef residents on subtidal restored oyster reefs

Within estuarine and coastal ecosystems globally, extensive habitat degradation and loss threaten critical ecosystem functions and necessitate widescale restoration efforts. There is abundant evidence that ecological processes and species interactions can vary with habitat characteristics, which has important implications for the design and implementation of restoration efforts aimed at enhancing specific ecosystem functions and services. We conducted an experiment examining how habitat characteristics (presence; edge vs. interior) influence the communities of resident fish and mobile invertebrates on restored oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reefs. Similar to previous studies, we found that restored reefs altered community composition and augmented total abundance and biomass relative to unstructured sand habitat. Community composition and biomass also differed between the edge and interior of individual reefs as a result of species‐specific patterns over small spatial scales. These patterns were only weakly linked to oyster density, suggesting that other factors that vary between edge and interior (e.g. predator access or species interactions) are likely more important for community structure on oyster reefs. Fine‐scale information on resident species' use of oyster reefs will help facilitate restoration by allowing decision makers to optimize the amount of edge versus interior habitat. To improve the prediction of faunal use and benefits from habitat restoration, we recommend investigations into the mechanisms shaping edge and interior preferences on oyster reefs.

Review of the Ecosystem Services of Temperate Wetlands and Their Valuation Tools

Wetlands constitute important habitats that provide several ecosystem services (ES). Wetlands have been termed the kidneys of the world for their water purification services and contain 20–25% of total soil organic carbon. This paper is a review of published studies dealing with the ES of temperate wetlands. Wetlands are among the ecosystems with the most valuable ES, with regulating services being the most important for inland wetlands. While the number of articles on the ES of wetlands has increased exponentially over the past 10 years, more research is needed to achieve a methodological homogenisation in the quantification and valuation of the ES of wetlands. More attention should also be targeted to specific ES of wetlands, and for the geographical distribution of studies. It is also evident that ES have not been valued for some categories of wetlands, such as intermittent karst lakes (poljes/turloughs) which may require more bespoke methodologies to quantify certain aspects of their ES due to their unique annual flooding behaviour.

PERI-URBAN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES: PERCEPTION OF THE VISITORS OF THE PARK OF FUNAAB ZOO, ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA

Zoo parks are mainly perceived as recreational areas. However, they could be suppliers of ecosystem services, which could enhance overall societal wellbeing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the visitors’ perception of the ecosystem services provided by FUNAAB recreational zoo park Abeokuta in the State of Ogun in the Republic of Nigeria. Primary data were collected from the visitors of the Zoo and a Likert scale technique was used to evaluate the visitors’ perception of the ecosystem services by the Zoo park. The findings showed that most visitors were aware of numerous specific ecosystem services provided by the Zoo park. Accordingly, most visitors were aware of medicinal and cosmetic plants, education/interpretation, soil purification as ecosystem services provided by the zoo park. However, only few visitors were aware of the microclimate regulation role of zoo park Abeokuta. Consequently, the study ends with some recommendations for the managers of Zoo Park to increase the awareness of visitors about the key role of Zoo Park in supplying numerous ecosystem services for overall society wellbeing. This study provides an insight, which constitutes a baseline situation to enable sustainable decision making via the incorporation of urban zoological park into policy. This can facilitate more effective planning and management of the FUNAAB zoological park.

Soils and landforms of war — Pedological investigations 75 years after World War II

Seventy-five years after World War II, the legacy of the last war in Germany is still visible in near-natural and anthropogenically shaped urban and rural soilscapes of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Area (BMA). Shooting ranges, trenches, and artificial mountains consisting of war debris can be identified across the study area. Our study has been carried out to show how acts of war influence the pedosphere and the geomorphology in the study area. Analysis of war-related landforms and soil profiles in the BMA has been conducted to achieve morphological and pedological characteristics of “soils of war”. Emphasis was placed on geochemical investigations on shooting ranges and war debris soils as acts of war may induce elevated soil heavy metal contents.Our study displays how humankind, by relocating and reworking natural soil material and depositing war debris, substantially altered the rural and urban landscapes within the BMA. Approximately, 4% of the BMA have been used for indirect or direct military purposes. Our research revealed that “soils of war” on anthropogenic landforms show distinct soil physical and chemical characteristics as well as pedoturbations. We furthermore found out that “soils of war” often contain elevated amounts of heavy metals. On the other hand, these ruderal soils are often habitats for endangered species of the red list and can provide specific ecosystem services. As studies on “landforms and soils of war” in urban areas are still insufficient, further efforts are needed in the future to research the characteristics of these specific landforms, evaluate their ecological risk but also the potential worth of protection.

Examining the Socioeconomic Benefits of Oysters: A Provisioning Ecosystem Service from the Mangroves of Guinea-Bissau, West Africa

Dias, G.A.; Vasconcelos, M.J., and Catarino, L., 2022. Examining the socioeconomic benefits of oysters: A provisioning ecosystem service from the mangroves of Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. Journal of Coastal Research, 38(2), 355–360. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. In Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, extensive patches of mangrove provide important resources for the subsistence of local populations. The objective of this work was to assess the relevance of oyster harvesting, consumption, and trade for local communities. For that purpose, a qualitative approach derived from rural diagnostic methodologies was applied in two coastal protected areas where extensive areas of mangrove are present. Ten animal species were found to be collected there by women, both for household consumption and for sale. The oyster, Crassostrea tulipa is the only species harvested in all the 12 inquired villages and, by far, the most available in local markets. Three types of oyster products are commercialized—fresh oysters with shell, fresh oysters without shell, and dry oysters—with the latter being the most traded and valued. These products are marketed in the villages, in local markets, and in the capital, Bissau, as well as exported to Senegal. The harvesting of oysters is practised during 20 weeks per year, providing households with an average annual income of 580–595€. This income, which represents a large proportion of the yearly income, is mostly managed by women and is used to cover basic family expenses, namely, to meet the needs of children. This study uncovers the socioeconomic benefits derived from a specific mangrove ecosystem service, which is directly used by coastal human communities, and highlights the importance of oysters for food security, for empowering women, and for securing household incomes.