Natural Areas Research Articles

Analyzing China’s Marine Park Management System Under the Reform of National Institutions

Marine parks (MPs), a kind of multiple-use marine protected area (MPA), have been crucial in coordinating the relationship between marine ecosystem conservation and resource utilization, facilitating coastal sustainable development. However, an effective and sustainable approach to MP management in China is yet to be fully developed. In 2018, the Chinese government inaugurated the 2018 Reform to merge its MPAs and terrestrial protected areas into a new natural protected area (NPA) system under the unified management by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Therefore, it is an opportune moment to summarize management experience and propose new prospects for improving the management of MPs in China. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive review of China’s progress on its MPs and evaluated the management effectiveness, after which we identified the key issues hindering the effective conservation and management of China’s MPs. To address these challenges, we propose targeted strategic recommendations by examining new policy directives relating to the 2018 Reform. The results of this study have valuable theoretical and practical implications for China’s MP management. Furthermore, our findings may provide a potential empirical reference for related management research in other MPs, especially in developing countries.

Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in Popular Recreational Areas in Tallinn, Estonia: The Underestimated Risk of Tick-Borne Diseases.

This study reveals a significant presence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in urban recreational areas of Tallinn, Estonia. During the period of May-June 2018, 815 Ixodes ticks were collected from an area of 11,200 m2 using the flagging method. Tick density reached up to 18.8 ticks per 100 m2, indicating a high concentration of ticks in these urban green spaces. Pathogen analysis demonstrated that 34% of the collected ticks were infected with at least one pathogen. Specifically, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis, was detected in 17.4% of the ticks; Rickettsia spp. was detected in 13.5%; Neoehrlichia mikurensis was detected in 5.5%; Borrelia miyamotoi was detected in 2.6%; and Anaplasma phagocytophilum and tick-borne encephalitis virus were detected in 0.5% each. These findings indicate that the prevalence and abundance of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in these urban environments are comparable to or even exceed those observed in natural endemic areas. Given the increasing incidence of Lyme borreliosis in Central and Northern Europe, the risk of tick bites and subsequent infection in urban recreational sites should not be underestimated. Public health measures, including enhanced awareness and precautionary information, are essential to mitigate the risk of tick-borne diseases in these urban settings.

Developing a new tool to capture the nature dose to reduce loneliness and improve quality of life

Recognition of the health benefits of nature contact has increased. Simultaneously, growing numbers of people worldwide experience loneliness. There is a movement towards prescribing nature-based activities to improve/promote social connections, health, and quality of life. Yet, what constitutes a therapeutic nature dose is not well understood, due in part, to the lack of instruments that capture the characteristics of nature-based activities and measure ‘nature dose.’ We created a nature dose measurement tool to fill this gap by capturing various aspects of contact with nature and perceptions regarding park access, quality, naturalness, psychological distance to nature, and biodiversity. This tool will facilitate greater understanding of how natural areas, nature-based activities, and nature exposure reduce loneliness and promote health-related quality of life. Measuring nature dose with standardized tools and documenting benefits will generatethe evidence base needed to design, implement and evaluate nature-based social interventions for improving health and quality of life.•This tool captures the nature dose to reduce loneliness and promote quality of life.•Constructs range from park quality and access, to mood, to biodiversity perceptions.•The standardized nature dose tool will help design nature-based social interventions.

Development of self-efficacy in high school students through soil analysis in the protected natural area "Estero El Soldado"

Teaching various scientific disciplines involves both hands-on and theoretical methods aimed at sparking students' curiosity in learning concepts. Students enhance their comprehension by actively engaging in direct activities rather than solely relying on explanations provided by teachers. The development of a research project carried out by 12th grade students during the semester allowed them to develop scientific or technological research to understand nature and act on it. The research project involved taking soil samples of natural protected area “Estero El Soldado” and analyzing it using a microscope, increasing student’s self-efficacy using the microscope. Self-efficacy was measured before and after the proposed research project using the General Self-Efficacy Scale instrument (Baessler and Schwarzer, 1996), which consists of 10 items and measures a person's perception when facing a variety of stressful situations. The participation of 43 12th grade students was analyzed. After the completion of the research project students, the results from the pre-test (M = 66.89, SD = 19.52) and post-test (M = 80.34, SD = 19.84) self-efficacy evaluation indicate that carrying out the research project resulted in an improvement in self-efficacy, t(84) = 2.01, p = 0.0008. We can conclude that integrating hands-on research projects like soil analysis using different laboratory equipment boosts 12th-grade students' scientific self-efficacy, as evidenced by improved scores on the General Self-Efficacy Scale. These findings underscore the value of experiential learning in nurturing both scientific skills and confidence in students.

A Current Trend in Efficient Biopolymer Coatings for Edible Fruits to Enhance Shelf Life.

In recent years, biopolymer coatings have emerged as an effective approach for extending the shelf life of edible fruits. The invention of biopolymer coverings has emerged as an innovation for extending fruit shelf life. Natural polymers, like chitosan, alginate, and pectin, are used to create these surfaces, which have several uses, including creating a barrier that prevents water evaporation, the spread of living microbes, and respiratory movement. These biopolymer coatings' primary benefits are their environmental friendliness and lack of damage. This study highlights the advancements made in the creation and usage of biopolymer coatings, highlighting how well they preserve fruit quality, reduce post-harvest losses, and satisfy consumer demand for natural preservation methods. This study discusses the usefulness of the biopolymer coating in terms of preserving fruit quality, reducing waste, and extending the product's shelf life. Biopolymer coatings' potential as a sustainable solution for synthetic preservatives in the fruit sector is highlighted as are formulation process advances that combine natural ingredients and environmental implications. This essay focuses on the essential methods, such as new natural additives, as well as the environmental effect of biopolymer coatings, which are safe and healthy commercial alternatives.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in agricultural fields is explained by the historical proximity to natural habitats

Soil microbes are essential to maintain terrestrial ecosystem functionality. However, their diversity is threatened by land-use change, such as agricultural expansion and intensification. One important microbial group mediating the exchange of nutrients between plants and soil is arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The response of microorganism diversity to present and past habitat amount has been poorly studied. Here, we evaluate the potential role of current and historical natural habitat availability in explaining the diversity of AM fungi in arable fields. We conducted a spatially intensive sampling of three agricultural fields in Estonia. Soil AM fungal diversity was determined by soil DNA metabarcoding. We related AM fungal species richness, along with beta diversity components (turnover and nestedness), to abiotic conditions and natural habitat area availability at different spatial scales and time periods. Our findings showed a positive relationship between AM fungal richness and the amount of natural habitat area. Specifically, current AM fungal species richness was best explained by the amount of natural habitat from 130 years earlier, indicating a legacy effect of past land use on current soil biodiversity. The amount of past natural areas was negatively related to the beta diversity turnover component, indicating a replacement of AM fungal species in disturbed sites. While biodiversity-friendly farming is useful in promoting diverse soil biota, historical legacies can be persistent. Maintaining natural habitats around agricultural fields can further promote soil AM fungal diversity for future generations.

Accurate identification of salt domes using deep learning techniques: Transformers, generative artificial intelligence and liquid state machines

AbstractAcross various global regions abundant in oil and natural gas reserves, the presence of substantial sub‐surface salt deposits holds significant relevance. Accurate identification of salt domes becomes crucial for enterprises engaged in oil and gas exploration. Our research introduces a precise method for the automatic detection of salt domes, leveraging advanced deep learning architectures such as U‐net, transformers, artificial intelligence generative models and liquid state machines. In comparison with state‐of‐the‐art techniques, our model demonstrates superior performance, achieving a stable and validated intersection over the union metric, indicating high accuracy and robustness. Furthermore, the Dice similarity coefficient attaining underscores the model's proficiency in closely aligning with ground truth across diverse scenarios. This evaluation, conducted on 1000 seismic images, reveals that our proposed architecture is not only comparable but often surpasses existing segmentation models in effectiveness and reliability.

Transformation of Modern Urban Park Based on User’s Spatial Perceived Preferences: A Case Study of Kowloon Walled City Park in Hong Kong

Urban parks enhance residents’ quality of life and health by fostering a harmonious relationship between people and nature, so effective park design needs to prioritize ecological protection, sustainable landscapes, and practical spatial structures to achieve these benefits. This study takes the typical case of urban park renovation and reconstruction—Kowloon Walled City Park—as an example to conduct research and divides the interior of the park into four types of areas: contemporary built-up area; historical relic area; natural–folk custom area; and ecological conservation area. Based on 405 valid questionnaire data for respondents, this study conducts empirical research using a combination of the Semantic Differential (SD) method, Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) model, and unordered multivariate logit choice model, comprehensively describes and analyzes individual spatial perception and preferences, and further discusses the potential factors affecting individual perception preferences. The results show that there are differences in many characteristics between different areas in Kowloon Walled City Park. At the same time, people generally prefer park areas that integrate modern and traditional elements, natural and cultural environments, and pay attention to the balance between naturalness and sociality in park design. These results provide useful information for planners, developers, and others, as well as data for designing urban park construction with higher practical value and natural benefits.

High-accuracy and low-disturbance approach for identifying surface water and groundwater interactions in wetlands

Comprehending the hydrological conditions in wetlands is a critical aspect of successfully enhancing wetland conservation. The interaction between wetland surface water and groundwater is a complex process, requiring detailed onsite hydrological and soil surveys, laboratory experiments, and modeling to clarify this relationship. However, conventional investigation methods often cause significant disruptions and thus may affect the natural environment and compromise data reliability. In this study, a high-accuracy and low-environmental-disturbance (LED) approach was proposed involving modified falling head permeability and modified seepage meter tests to elucidate the groundwater characteristics in an ecological reserve. A water balance (WB) calculation method was employed to examine the performance of the proposed LED approach. The results revealed that the LED performed better than conventional methods in hydraulic conductivity and seepage velocity exploration, thereby improving the accuracy of quantifying groundwater flow. Moreover, the experimental findings and ecohydrological observations were used to assess the groundwater flow regime, and the data were consistent with the field survey results. The contradiction between conducting research and protecting ecological reserves can pose difficulties in the sustainable and effective management of wetlands. The LED approach can be applied broadly, especially in areas where significant disturbance should be avoided. The water budget model can thus be developed to help deduce the interaction between groundwater and surface water. We suggest that these innovative methods are effective tools and can assist both scientists and authorities in formulating corresponding habitat management strategies.

The Continued Presence of Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria and Heavy Metals at one of the World’s Most Important Green Turtles’ Nesting Location, Ras al-Jinz Reserve, Oman

Environmental contamination of marine habitats is a global concern, especially in areas that are crucial for endangered species’ life cycles. To gain a comprehensive understanding of environmental contamination, analyzing various biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems is necessary. Situated in the Arabian Peninsula, Ras al-Jinz Reserve serves as an invaluable nesting site for green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). There, the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant microbial strains and heavy metals was assessed by collecting samples from diverse components of this ecosystem, including sand from turtle nests, dead turtle hatchlings, fresh turtle eggs, oviductal fluids from nestling turtles, turtle carapace smears, live crabs, and seawater. Microbial fauna was identified using a MALDI-TOF Biotyper. The concentration of heavy metals was measured by an inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Among the isolated bacterial strains, 70 heterotrophic species belonging to eleven genera were identified, with over 46% of isolates belonging to the Pseudomonas species. More than 85% of isolates displayed antibiotic resistance but had negligible resistance to chloride. Of the 23 heavy metals assessed, Titanium and, in lesser measure Vanadium, were found in the highest concentrations, reaching up to 12 µg g-1. While such concentrations might not be immediately alarming, they are significant enough to warrant attention due to the potential health and environmental impacts. These results obtained over a decade after the last monitoring in the Reserve provide compelling evidence of the persistent presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Additionally, the study confirms the prevalence of heavy metals, the sources of which remain unknown but are likely from anthropogenic sources. It is crucial to implement measures that mitigate sea turtles’ exposure to contaminants in Ras al-Jinz Reserve. Regular monitoring efforts are required to assess the emergence of discernible contamination trends in this critically important area. Keywords: Chelonian conservation; Environmental contamination assessment; Microbial contamination; Biological reserve; Coastal pollution.

Decoupling and predicting natural gas deviation factor using machine learning methods

Accurately predicting the deviation factor (Z-factor) of natural gas is crucial for the estimation of natural gas reserves, evaluation of gas reservoir recovery, and assessment of natural gas transport in pipelines. Traditional machine learning algorithms, such as Support Vector Machine (SVM), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Neural Networks (BiLSTM), often lack accuracy and robustness in various situations due to their inability to generalize across different gas components and temperature-pressure conditions. To address this limitation, we propose a novel and efficient machine learning framework for predicting natural gas Z-factor. Our approach first utilizes a signal decomposition algorithm like Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD), Empirical Fourier Decomposition (EFD) and Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) to decouple the Z-factor into multiple components. Subsequently, traditional machine learning algorithms is employed to predict each decomposed Z-factor component, where combination of SVM and VMD achieved the best performance. Decoupling the Z-factors firstly and then predicting the decoupled components can significantly improve prediction accuracy of all traditional machine learning algorithms. We thoroughly evaluate the impact of the decoupling method and the number of decomposed components on the model’s performance. Compared to traditional machine learning models without decomposition, our framework achieves an average correlation coefficient exceeding 0.99 and an average mean absolute percentage error below 0.83% on 10 datasets with different natural gas components, high temperatures, and pressures. These results indicate that hybrid model effectively learns the patterns of Z-factor variations and can be applied to the prediction of natural gas Z-factors under various conditions. This study significantly advances methodologies for predicting natural gas properties, offering a unified and robust solution for precise estimations, thereby benefiting the natural gas industry in resource estimation and reservoir management.

Rethinking City Population Growth: How Reclassification Matters

AbstractCity populations grow due to natural change, migration, and areas that are reclassified as part of a city. Because a time series of city boundaries was not available, most analyses ignore reclassification. This paper measures reclassification in a harmonized and transparent manner by applying a new harmonized definition of cities, towns, and rural areas, called the degree of urbanization, to gridded population data between 1980 and 2020. Ignoring reclassification would attribute city population growth equally to natural change and migration. Including the effects of reclassification reveals that two‐thirds of the growth is due to natural change, followed by reclassification (29 percent), and the remainder to migration (4 percent). This demonstrates the importance of accounting for reclassification. It also underlines that discouraging migration to cities will not significantly reduce city population growth.

On the issue of implementation of biomonitoring of the state of phytocenoses of the Green Book in the habitats of specially protected natural areas of the Bryansk Region

On the issue of implementation of biomonitoring of the state of phytocenoses of the Green Book in the habitats of specially protected natural areas of the Bryansk Region

Heritage as a development engine for people in nature: A case study of Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, China

This paper explores strategies to promote sustainable tourism for people living in natural areas through a case study implemented in the renowned World Natural Heritage Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, a World Heritage Site inscribed for its natural values. The study is part of the UNESCO World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Program’s Chinese Pilot Studies. Various interventions, including understanding local values, revitalizing traditional handicrafts, and making culinary innovations, were implemented to enrich tourist experiences, empower local communities, and boost economic opportunities. Based on these interventions, this paper discusses community capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and conflict resolution as initiatives to enhance heritage conservation and promote sustainable tourism at the community level. On the level of the World Heritage property, a new management zone, the Traditional Eco-agricultural Heritage Zone, recognized the residency of the locals within the heritage site and fostered the harmonious co-existence of culture and nature. The successful integration of heritage conservation, community development, and sustainable tourism in Wulingyuan not only ensures the conservation of the site but also contributes to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This case study offers a model for sustainable development of Natural World Heritage Sites, emphasizing the importance of respecting and involving diverse local communities.

Analysis of Allocative Efficiency in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Farming in the Batu Alam Industrial Area, Cirebon Regency

This research analyzes the efficiency of farming costs and the factors influencing rice farming costs. The research method used was descriptive quantitative with data collection techniques through surveys and interviews with 176 rice farmer respondents in the natural stone industrial area of Cirebon district. The analysis used is frontier cost analysis using frontier4.1 software using the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) approach. This research shows that the average cost efficiency or allocative level in the natural stone industrial area is 0.20. The factor that influences the inefficiency of rice farming in natural stone industrial areas is age. Factors directly influencing farming costs are land area, urea, labor, rice selling price, land rental price, and labor wages.

Human impact on the scenic quality of coastal dunes: A study of the central Caribbean coast of Colombia

This paper provides a scenic assessment of 19 dune sites using the Dune Scenery Evaluation System (DSES). The DSES assesses values from a checklist of 18 physical and 8 human parameters and allows the calculation of a scenic evaluation index (D Value), which classifies D sites into five classes: Class I, usually natural areas of top scenic characteristics, to Class V, poor scenic dune areas with a greater impact of human interventions. Our findings reveal a predominance of coastal dune systems falling into middle to lower scenic quality classes (III, IV, and V), indicating considerable degradation due to intense human activities. Notably, these activities have adversely impacted the structural integrity and scenic value of these dunes, leading to a loss of biodiversity and increased vulnerability to natural hazards. This paper highlights the critical need for integrated coastal management strategies that balance conservation with sustainable development. Furthermore, our study proposes the enhancement of existing regulatory frameworks, community engagement in conservation efforts, and the implementation of ecological restoration projects aimed at reversing the degradation and restoring the ecological and scenic value of these vital landscapes. The findings underline the potential of using scenic quality as an ecological indicator to guide conservation and management practices, ensuring the preservation of coastal dunes, which are essential for ecological sustainability and local economic benefits. This multidisciplinary approach not only enriches our understanding of the complex interactions within dune ecosystems but also sets a precedent for future research and policymaking in coastal zone management.

Comunidades Pesqueras Artesanales en la conformación de áreas naturales protegidas en el Golfo de California

Communities' participation in the declaration and management of protected natural areas (ANP) is studied to determine whether their operation meets their inhabitants' requirements and economic needs. The research uses a quantitative approach based on applying a Likert-type survey, which was conducted on 323 fishermen and inhabitants of two fishing communities located in the Gulf of Baja, California, Mexico. The results show that interaction with government authorities is not constant, and the fishermen's opinion was not considered in decision-making, which limits the search for solutions for fishing communities. It is concluded that without the active participation and support of fishermen in the planning and operation of the ANPs, government initiatives for their conservation and good management will have little chance of being effective.

Amphibian hotspots in Iran: Effectiveness of current protected area and priorities for conservation planning

The identification of conservation priority areas for amphibians in Iran remains unexplored. Although protected areas play a vital role in biodiversity conservation, 40 percent of amphibians are at risk of extinction. The present study aimed to identify the priority areas for amphibian conservation and assess the effectiveness of the current protected conservation areas. 2192 species occurrence points for 23 amphibians, including 16 species of Anura and 7 species of Caudata, were curated. These occurrence points in addition to bioclimatic, anthropogenic, and geographical variables were used to model the species distribution. Then, the richness and rarity maps of amphibians were determined and hotspots identified based on the top 10 % area of the country with the highest richness and rarity values. Finally, Iran's protected areas were overlaid to evaluate the current coverage of hotspots and identify future conservation priorities. Although approximately 12 % of Iran is currently protected, the present study findings indicate that the current network of protected areas is ineffective for amphibian conservation; over 90 % of hotspots for amphibians lie outside the current national protected area network. The most important hotspots are located in the Caspian Hyrcanian Mixed Forest, the western margin of the North Zagros, and the Central Zagros Mountains Forest-Steppe ecoregions of the country. Among different types of protected areas that overlap with amphibian hotspots, protected areas and wildlife refuges respectively ranked the highest in quantity and size, while national parks ranked the lowest. In the current study, a baseline of top candidate areas for expanding protected areas where habitats can be managed to protect amphibians in Iran was provided. To further improve protected areas' coverage, priority conservation areas in the Zagros Mountains Forest-Steppe hotspots were recommended.

From Securing the Border to Securing Nature: Homeland Security as an Emerging Environmental Actor in the U.S.–Mexico Borderlands

Hundreds of miles of barriers span the U.S.–Mexico border, not only blocking the migration of people, but also crisscrossing National Parks and Wildlife Refuges and bifurcating important wildlife corridors in the process. Despite their location within federally protected places, the past and present construction of these barriers has progressed unencumbered by federal oversight given the waiver of dozens of environmental regulations. This shift in regulation amid increased border militarization has not been fully evaluated for its environmental effects, as federal conservation agencies tasked with managing public borderlands are increasingly prohibited from studying how barriers will affect the landscape in the long term. This research examines how the state is shaping environmental governance and knowledge politics in the U.S.–Mexico borderlands, an environmentally significant and hyperpoliticized region integral to the maintenance of the United States as an imperial border-making institution. Bringing together theories on political ecologies of the settler colonial state with the racialization of nature, this article demonstrates how (1) the Department of Homeland Security has emerged as an environmental actor produced through a reconfiguration of settler state power; (2) knowledge claims about the environment are produced in ways that elide the ecological consequences of border barriers; and (3) racialized discourses of migrants are codified in environmental governing documents that support increased border militarization. I conclude with a discussion of how settler colonial technologies of environmental governance create new geographies of militarization and conservation in federally protected places along the U.S.–Mexico border.

Land use to agriculture and planted forests strongly affect the genetic diversity of Baccharis crispa Spreng., a native herb of South America

Abstract Human population growth constantly requires an increase in the production of food and products from the timber industry. To meet this demand, agriculture and planted forests are advancing over natural areas. In view of this, it is necessary to know the effects of land use for different purposes (grain production, pastures, planted forests, fruit production, among other uses) on the genetic diversity of populations of native species. This knowledge can assist in land use planning as well as in the development of conservation strategies for native species. In this study, we evaluated the effect of land use for agriculture (mainly for cereal production) and planted forests on the genetic diversity of Baccharis crispa Spreng., a herb native to South America. To achieve our goals, we compared population genetic data obtained with three molecular markers (microsatellites, ISSR [inter-simple sequence repeat] and isoenzymes) with data on land use for agriculture and planted forests from 15 different locations. Our results showed that regardless of the molecular marker used, the greater the use of land for agriculture and planted forests, the lower was the genetic diversity of B. crispa populations. Baccharis crispa is a semi-perennial species that needs at least one year to reach its reproductive period, which is prevented in agricultural areas due to the land being turned over or dissected with herbicides every six months. In the studied regions, the planted forests are of eucalypt and/or pine, which besides being species with a high production of allelopathic substances, produce strong shading and B. crispa is a species that inhabits open grassland that needs high incidence of sunlight for development. The data obtained in our study can assist in the decision-making to use land in order to reconcile the production of supplies for humanity and for the conservation of nature.