Sustainable Management Policies Research Articles

Simulating the Impact of Urban Expansion on Ecological Security Pattern from a Multi-Scenario Perspective: A Case Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan Urban Agglomeration, China

Rapid urbanization has further expanded the scale of construction land in urban agglomerations. The encroachment of urban land on ecological land has led to severe ecological problems and threatened the stability of ecological security in urban agglomerations. Analyzing the characteristics of future urban multi-scenario expansion and its impacts on ecological security patterns (ESP) can provide guidance for formulating ecologically sustainable management and control Policies. Our study focuses on Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan (CZX) urban agglomeration as the study area and establishes an ESP. Additionally, a cellular automata (CA) was used to simulate future urban expansion patterns under three scenarios (i.e., natural development scenario, urban development scenario, and ecological conservation scenario). The subsequent analysis evaluates their impact on the ESP. The simulation results indicate that from 2020 to 2030, the CZX urban agglomeration will undergo rapid urban expansion under the natural development scenario and urban development scenario, characterized by outward growth surrounding the existing construction land. In the natural development scenario, urban expansion is primarily concentrated in the northwest and south directions of construction land, the proportion of construction land increased by 2.78%; in the urban development scenario, it is concentrated in the southeast direction of construction land, the proportion of construction land increased by 3.24%. Ecological conflicts in the aforementioned development scenarios primarily arise in the southwestern region of Changsha County, as well as the southern areas of Kaifu District and Furong District. Conversely, under the ecological conservation scenario, the rate of urban expansion has significantly decreased, environmental preservation is upheld at its highest level, and the proportion of construction land only increased by 0.04%. Based on the simulation results, we present targeted recommendations for urban land planning and growth management, as well as the protection, restoration, monitoring, and development of ecological land. These suggestions provide effective guidance for improving the stability of ESP in urban agglomerations and promoting high-quality development in Chinese urban agglomerations.

Economic assessment of ecosystem services with a novel concept of elevation: An application of the discrete choice experiment method

AbstractThis research was conducted in the Hei River Basin of China to understand respondents' willingness to pay (WTP) for ecological services towards sustainable river system management. A discrete choice experiment is used to gauge respondents' preferences. In addition, elevation was introduced as a novel spatial attribute to account for heterogeneity. Primary data from 1680 respondents were collected across the Hei River Basin. The elevation of the river was categorized into five ad hoc elevation ranges to analyze the potential effects of elevation on environmental attributes. These samples were stratified as 1000–1600 m, 1601–2200 m, 2201–2800 m, 2801–3400 m, and 3401–4000 m. Pooled data results showed that the maximum WTP was for water quality, that is, 142.05 RMB, without considering the effect of elevation. However, when the interaction with elevation was included, the amount decreased to 133.52 RMB. Likewise, elevation‐based group estimates showed a varied pattern of spatial preference, with different preferences for each distinguishing attribute. Group A prioritized water quality (92.81 RMB) and the East Juyan area (4.12 RMB). In contrast, Group B preferred the guaranteed rate of irrigation of farmland (3.50 RMB) and reduced sandstorm frequency (17.90 RMB). Leisure and entertainment conditions had the lowest WTP across all groups (0.09–0.50 RMB). These findings highlight the importance of incorporating respondents' preferences in restoring and maintaining river systems. Additionally, it emphasized the need to consider respondents' socioeconomic characteristics when developing sustainable management policies.

The Role of Government and Community Collaboration in the Implementation of Waste Management Policies in Palu City

Waste management is a crucial issue for the growing city of Palu. Collaboration between the government and the community is the key to effective and sustainable waste management policy implementation. This study aims to describe the collaborative role between the government and the community in the implementation of waste management policies in Palu City. The method used is descriptive, with data collection through observation, in-depth interviews with relevant parties, and analysis of waste management policy documents. The data obtained was analysed qualitatively to provide an overview of the dynamics of collaboration that occurred. The results showed that the Palu City government has played a role in formulating policies, providing waste management facilities and infrastructure, and building a supportive regulatory framework. The government also initiated waste management programmes such as waste banks and temporary disposal sites (TPS)). On the other hand, the role of the community is seen through active participation in these programmes, as well as involvement in waste reduction and recycling activities in their respective neighbourhoods. Nonetheless, challenges are still faced, including the low level of public awareness, the lack of supporting facilities, and inadequate law enforcement. This study concludes that good collaboration between the government and the community is essential in achieving more effective waste management in Palu City. Strengthening collaboration through education, improving facilities, and consistent law enforcement are needed so that waste management policies can be implemented optimally.

Delineation of Groundwater potential zone using Geospatial and AHP techniques in Ken River Basin (KRB) in Central India

Groundwater is the most salient and utilitarian water resource for living organisms. However, major parts of the Ken River Basin (KRB) in Central India are grappling with the overexploitation of groundwater resources, primarily due to extensive agricultural activities, raising problems in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 and 6. This study focused on delineating groundwater potential zones (GPZ) by employing remote sensing and GIS-based thematic datasets, complemented by the application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The thematic layers consisting of geomorphology, precipitation, geology, soil texture, lineament density, slope, LULC, and drainage density were considered and further weights were allocated with respect to their water storing capacity and characteristics to groundwater occurrences to develop GPZs. The zones were generated by classifying overlayed maps into four categories namely, very low, low, moderate, and high. The key findings indicated that 13.84%, 62.34%, 23.37%, and 45% of areas were found under high, moderate, low, and very low GPZs respectively. Furthermore, the zonation map was validated with 48 boreholes’ yield, which revealed a noteworthy 77.08% borewells in concurrence with predicted zones. Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUROC) curve showcased a commendable 70.1% accuracy using the ROC curve. These results were highly beneficial in formulating sustainable groundwater management plans and policies, contributing towards the attainment of targets outlined in SDGs 2 and 6, particularly in regions resembling the KRB.

Does Parking Type Preference Behavior Differ According to Whether It Is Paid or Free? A Case Study in Istanbul, Türkiye

Parking behavior depends on drivers’ choice of parking type and willingness to pay for parking. Generally, the parking type refers to off-street and on-street parking facilities. The main factors affecting the preference for parking types are driver, vehicle, travel, and parking characteristics. Understanding drivers’ parking type preference behavior and accurately modeling drivers’ tendencies helps develop sustainable parking management policies. This study examines the parking preferences of drivers in Istanbul with binary logit models according to whether they pay for parking. The results of the models show that the number of factors influencing parking type preference is higher for free parking than for paid parking, including driver, vehicle, travel, and parking characteristics. Moreover, some factors in the models affect drivers’ parking type preferences differently for paid and free parking. Namely, low-income individuals tend to use on-street parking when parking is free and off-street parking when it is paid. Conversely, individuals who drive small-size vehicles prefer off-street parking for free parking and on-street parking for paid parking. Individuals who prefer off-street parking for free parking expect shorter walking distances to the final destination and parking duration. On the contrary, individuals who choose on-street parking for paid parking anticipate shorter walking distances to the final destination and parking duration.

Tourism Village Management In Building The Local Economy Through Community Partnerships

Tourism village management is an important strategy in exploiting local tourism potential to help develop the economy at the local village level. In this context, partnerships between village governments, local stakeholders and communities play a key role in optimizing the economic benefits of the tourism industry. This research aims to investigate the role of tourism village management in strengthening the local economy through community partnerships. Using a qualitative approach, data will be collected through interviews, observations and documentation studies in the Mangli Tourism Village. It is hoped that the research results will provide a deeper understanding of the factors that influence the effectiveness of tourism village management in improving the local economy, as well as evaluating the impact of community partnerships on economic development at the village level. This research is expected to provide an important contribution to the development of sustainable tourism management policies and practices, as well as provide insight for village governments, non-government organizations and other related parties in efforts to strengthen the local economy through sustainable and inclusive tourism village management.

Uncovering Availability of the Secondary Iron Resources in China: Integrating Material Flow Analysis and Secondary Resources Reserve Assessment.

As the largest iron and steel producer, China still cannot meet its demand of iron and steel only through domestic primary supply in the last few decades. Hence, secondary iron resources are increasingly significant in meeting China's iron supply and demand balance. However, the secondary iron resource availability in China and how it impacts the future supply demand balance were still insufficiently discussed. In this work, we developed a material flow analysis and secondary resources reserve assessment (MFA-SRRA) integrated model, assessed secondary iron resources availability, and conducted a supply demand analysis through nine scenarios for irons in China. The results showed that China's secondary iron reserves will increase from 8.9 Gt in 2021 to 14.04 to 19.01 Gt in 2050. With the increasing secondary iron supply, more than 60% of iron ore as a source of steelmaking can be replaced by 2050. Landfills, as a significant reserve of iron but always ignored, will accumulate 1.42-1.51 Gt secondary iron resources by 2050 and should be noticed to be mined and utilized in the future. Last, we suggest that promoting innovation in landfill mining technology and making sustainable material management policies are urgent to prevent these secondary iron resources from becoming real waste.

Sustainable environmental governance as the implementation of state defense policy

Background: Land waters in urban areas often become a source of problems if they are not managed wisely and firmly. The threat and risk of danger, disease and even death always haunt the people who live on the banks of the river. Poverty and slum areas are negative effects of less than optimal land water management in urban areas. The Indonesian government has taken various steps to address this, but the lack of urban land for settlement is the reason why immigrants from other regions reside and reside in dangerous areas such as riverbanks. The compulsion to live minimally in urban areas is a burden for local governments in their efforts to increase welfare as well as improve sustainable urban governance. Many other cities in developed countries have made efforts to improve inland water areas to alleviate poverty and at the same time beautify the urban landscape. The experts agreed to hold discussions to formulate the best policy steps for sustainable urban governance in Indonesia. Methods: In the process of data analysis and decision making related to sustainable environmental governance as implementation of national defense policy, this article utilizes the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Data Processing Method. Finding: The results of in-depth discussions and interviews with experts in the field of environment, urban governance, economic experts and poverty management experts from various institutions such as the Ministry of Social Affairs, PUPR Ministry, Spatial Planning and City Planning Services, Academics and also the Military were processed using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Conclusion: The best decision alternative will be a recommendation for policy makers regarding sustainable urban governance. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study is relevant to the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Method to formulate sustainable urban water management policies in Indonesia, involving various experts and related institutions to overcome poverty and improve urban landscapes. Therefore, this study can show policy recommendations based on various aspects and views.

Assessment of sustainable healthcare management policies and practices in Oman: A comprehensive analysis using an ai-based literature review

Health Vision 2050 Oman is a strategic plan to establish Oman as a regional leader and a research base for world-class health research. The vision emphasises prioritising health research to allocate and plan available resources appropriately. A sustainable healthcare management system is a holistic approach that seeks to balance economic, social, and environmental concerns to ensure the long-term viability and efficacy of healthcare services. There are numerous obstacles to implementing a sustainable healthcare management system in Oman. For example, assessing patient safety culture in primary healthcare settings in Muscat has revealed patient safety concerns throughout the healthcare system. It is critical to address these difficulties to improve the quality and safety of healthcare services, both of which are essential for sustainable healthcare management. The primary goal of this study is to identify the sustainable healthcare areas and policies required for Oman's Healthcare Management System. This research undertakes a comprehensive literature review using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse Oman's sustainable healthcare management policies and practices. This study uses two AI tools, Scite.ai and SciSpace, to discover areas and policies related to Oman's sustainable healthcare management system. The study highlighted environmental sustainability, public health initiatives, infrastructure development, waste management, and community engagement and education. Furthermore, a variety of interconnected policies are discernible within each domain. This study provides significant data about Oman's sustainable healthcare practices and can guide policymakers and healthcare sector stakeholders. This study contributes significantly to creating sustainable healthcare management strategies and establishing resilient healthcare systems in Oman by focusing on critical domains and policies.

Climate change and coastal erosion hotspots in West Africa: The case of Togo

Global warming is a worldwide phenomenon with disastrous implications ranging from ocean warming and glacier melting to sea level rise and coastal damage. This research assesses climate change trends, investigates coastal erosion hotspots and forecasts shoreline dynamics in West Africa. It also includes information on coastal erosion impacts and current coastal defence measures. The data set includes annual mean sea level anomaly, eddy kinetic energy, wave energy data and monthly climate data, such as precipitation, temperature, wind speed, and sunshine, from 1988 to 2023. Additionally, field survey data and Sentinel-2 satellite images were employed from 2015 to 2023 for coastal erosion monitoring. The Mann-Kendall test and Sen's slope test have been employed for climate trend analysis, while the DSAS tools have been used to identify coastal erosion hotspots and forecast future trends. The results revealed a significant increasing trend in annual sea level rise anomaly, annual wave energy, annual eddy kinetic energy, monthly temperature, and monthly sunshine. According to the shoreline dynamics investigation on Togolese coastal area, the Aflao-Port transect had significant accretion rates (up to 15 m/years), whereas the Port-Aneho transect experienced coastal erosion (up to −12 m/years). Climate change may increase wave energy intensity in certain regions, while coastal development can alter littoral transport and shoreline changes. Although there are soft and hard stabilisation solutions to counteract coastal erosion, such as groynes, sandbags, reforestation, and a series of nozzles in Togolese coast, the phenomenon of coastal erosion has evolved in recent years. Future projections in 2033 show that coastal erosion could move from 50 to 250 m inland. It is recommended that climate trend indicators, shoreline dynamics, and coastal stabilisation solutions be incorporated into all coastal and marine policies for sustainable management, with a view to ensuring minimal disruption to the ecosystem services provided by the sea and coast to people.

Groundwater-dependent ecosystem map exposes global dryland protection needs

Groundwater is the most ubiquitous source of liquid freshwater globally, yet its role in supporting diverse ecosystems is rarely acknowledged1,2. However, the location and extent of groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) are unknown in many geographies, and protection measures are lacking1,3. Here, we map GDEs at high-resolution (roughly 30 m) and find them present on more than one-third of global drylands analysed, including important global biodiversity hotspots4. GDEs are more extensive and contiguous in landscapes dominated by pastoralism with lower rates of groundwater depletion, suggesting that many GDEs are likely to have already been lost due to water and land use practices. Nevertheless, 53% of GDEs exist within regions showing declining groundwater trends, which highlights the urgent need to protect GDEs from the threat of groundwater depletion. However, we found that only 21% of GDEs exist on protected lands or in jurisdictions with sustainable groundwater management policies, invoking a call to action to protect these vital ecosystems. Furthermore, we examine the linkage of GDEs with cultural and socio-economic factors in the Greater Sahel region, where GDEs play an essential role in supporting biodiversity and rural livelihoods, to explore other means for protection of GDEs in politically unstable regions. Our GDE map provides critical information for prioritizing and developing policies and protection mechanisms across various local, regional or international scales to safeguard these important ecosystems and the societies dependent on them.

Managing ecosystem services in oleaginous forests for bioenergy provision and climate change mitigation

Oleaginous forests provide diverse ecosystem services, including timber, seed yield (a vital feedstock for biodiesel production), and substantial carbon savings. These carbon savings encompass carbon sequestration related to timber growth and carbon savings resulting from substituting fossil fuel with biodiesel. However, oleaginous forests are vulnerable to seed wasp attacks (disservice), which significantly threaten both seed yield and carbon savings. Using an integrated ecological-economic model that includes Faustmann's Land Expectation Value model and a pest damage control model, we aim to understand the intricate relationship among multiple ecosystem services and disservices of oleaginous forests. The results reveal four distinct phases contingent on varying pesticide application rates: the pesticide under-use phase, substitution phase, complementary phase, and over-use phase. Notably, a potential avenue to minimize pest damage is identified during the complementary phase by reducing the optimal rotation age at the expense of decreased carbon sequestration and bioenergy provision, posing a challenge to climate change mitigation. These findings have implications for formulating policies to manage conflicting ecosystem services of energy forests, offering valuable insights into the intersection of sustainable forest management and climate policy.

Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Synodontis schall (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), from Roseires Reservoir, Sudan

This study was carried out to investigate the length-weight relationship and condition factor of the Mochokid catfish S. schall, a commercially important fish species in the Roseires reservoir on the Blue Nile, Sudan. A total of 643 specimens were collected using the multi-filament gillnets of mesh sizes (4.0, 8.0, 10.0, and 12.0 cm) and twine (No. 2 and 12) during the period from November 2015 to October 2016; Samples were collected from four sites namely: Awal Bab, Elregiba, Kirma, and Wad El Mahi.; The length and weight of sampled fish were measured and recorded on the sampling sites and used to determine a length-weight relationship. The growth coefficient (b) ranged from 1.196 to 2.649, with moderate to high correlations (r) between 0.437 and 0.798. Values of (b) were less than 3 indicating a negative allometric growth pattern, whereas weight increased at a lower rate than length. The condition factor (K) ranged from 1.966 ± 0.696 to 3.856 ± 3.856, suggesting the fish were in good health condition throughout the sampling sites. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the biological aspects of S. schall, which can form the basis of sustainable management and conservation policy for the fishery resource of this economically important fish species in the Roseires reservoir.

Land use and land cover patterns as a reflection of subsurface architecture groundwater quality in a large urban center (Varanasi) in the Ganges river basin, India

Varanasi is an exponentially developing city in the Himalayan-sourced Ganges river basin. To understand the sustainable groundwater-sourced drinking water in Varanasi, it is essential to study the land use-land cover that reflects the surface geomorphology vis-a-vis sub-surface geology, and influence groundwater conditions. We incorporate lithological and groundwater data obtained from an extensive network of boreholes in and around the city at 110 sites, reaching a maximum depth of 100 m below ground level (bgl). The unconsolidated subsurface are primarily composed of sand, silt, clay, and gravel where, silty clay layer. Groundwater quality and stresses were determined through multi-dimensional hydrogeological approaches. The data were analyzed through multivariate statistics (Principal Component Analyses to identify the governing factor influencing the broad hydrogeochemistry. PC1 for urban areas has higher loading values for Fe, Cl− compared to Semi-urban areas highlighting contamination by municipal wastewater. PC2 for urban areas shows higher loading values for Mg2+ and HCO3− compared to semi-urban areas. Due to heavy urbanization in Varanasi, the aquifer suffers substantial groundwater abstraction during particular times of the day compared to the agricultural lands. An increase of about 9% in built-up areas within a span of 10 years (2012–2022) poses a threat to the aquifer system of our study area, jeopardizing access to sustainable drinking water. With the expansion of urbanization and unregulated groundwater extraction, the vulnerability of the aquifer system will probably increase in the foreseeable future. Implementation of sustainable water management policies, engaging all economic sectors of the population in Varanasi, can expedite the process and safeguard the aquifer from attaining its emerging vulnerability. Thus, comprehending evolving groundwater risks through non-invasive methods like that discussed in the present study, holds significant promise for effectively targeting safe groundwater availability in future.

Leveraging Life Cycle Assessment and System Dynamics Model Analysis for an Integrated Household E-Waste Management System in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Electronic waste (E-waste) is a global environmental issue and a contemporary challenge in developing countries, where implementing sustainable E-waste management policies is required to mitigate the adverse impacts of inappropriate treatment and disposal. This study assesses the environmental and human health impacts of the current E-waste management system in Yaoundé. The study then proposes an integrated E-waste management system (IEMS) with policy instruments for increased formal E-waste collection and reduced environmental impacts from informal E-waste treatment. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was utilized to identify high-impact contributing processes within the current E-waste management system (EMS) and to determine the optimum scenario for an integrated system. The system dynamics model (SDM) analysis ascertained the efficiency of the E-waste policy under the IEMS. Results show that the IEMS can reduce global warming potential, fine particulate matter formation, and human carcinogenic toxicity from one ton of E-waste treatment by 27%, 16.3%, and 34%, respectively. Regarding the policy efficiency simulation for the IEMS, the policy instrument (Policy 1), with levies on electronic appliance producers, proved environmentally efficient in reducing the quantity of informal recycling. It was also more economically viable for the recycling fund to increase formal E-waste collection and subsidize formal treatment within the context of the IEMS. The study outcome is informative for E-waste management policy planning in developing economies.

Comparison of direct and indirect soil organic carbon prediction at farm field scale

To advance sustainable and resilient agricultural management policies, especially during land use changes, it is imperative to monitor, report, and verify soil organic carbon (SOC) content rigorously to inform its stock. However, conventional methods often entail challenging, time-consuming, and costly direct soil measurements. Integrating data from long-term experiments (LTEs) with freely available remote sensing (RS) techniques presents exciting prospects for assessing SOC temporal and spatial change. The objective of this study was to develop a low-cost, field-based statistical model that could be used as a decision-making aid to understand the temporal and spatial variation of SOC content in temperate farmland under different land use and management. A ten-year dataset from the North Wyke Farm Platform, a 20-field, LTE system established in southwestern England in 2010, was used as a case study in conjunction with an RS dataset. Linear, additive and mixed regression models were compared for predicting SOC content based upon combinations of environmental variables that are freely accessible (termed open) and those that require direct measurement or farmer questionnaires (termed closed). These included an RS-derived Ecosystem Services Provision Index (ESPI), topography (slope, aspect), weather (temperature, precipitation), soil (soil units, total nitrogen [TN], pH), and field management practices. Additive models (specifically Generalised Additive Models (GAMs)) were found to be the most effective at predicting space-time SOC variability. When the combined open and closed factors (excluding TN) were considered, significant predictors of SOC were: management related to ploughing being the most important predictor, soil unit (class), aspect, and temperature (GAM fit with a normalised RMSE = 9.1%, equivalent to 0.4% of SOC content). The relative strength of the best-fitting GAM with open data only, which included ESPI, aspect, and slope (normalised RMSE = 13.0%, equivalent to 0.6% of SOC content), suggested that this more practical and cost-effective model enables sufficiently accurate prediction of SOC.

The Kerch Peninsula in Transition: A Comprehensive Analysis and Prediction of Land Use and Land Cover Changes over Thirty Years

This study presents an in-depth analysis of land use and land cover change on the Kerch Peninsula over a period spanning three decades. Convolutional neural networks were employed in conjunction with satellite imagery analysis to map and quantify the changes in land use and cover. This revealed significant trends and transformations within the peninsula’s landscape. The analysis revealed a notable increase in urban expansion, particularly at the expense of natural ecosystems. Furthermore, there was a notable reversion of agricultural lands to grasslands, driven by economic downturns and reduced agricultural activity. These land cover changes underscore the urgency of implementing sustainable land management policies. The study recommends the establishment of conservation easements to protect remaining natural ecosystems, the initiation of reforestation programs to restore degraded lands, and the development of comprehensive water management strategies to address the peninsula’s hydrological challenges. Furthermore, the study underscores the pivotal importance of integrating change analysis and predictive modeling to anticipate future land cover scenarios and inform effective land management strategies. The model developed through this research, which employs advanced remote sensing and GIS technologies, provides a robust framework for understanding and managing land use and land cover change. This model can serve as a reference for similar regions globally, offering insights that can inform sustainable land use practices and policy decisions. The findings of this study have implications that extend beyond the Kerch Peninsula. They provide insights that can inform the management of land use changes and the conservation of natural landscapes in regions facing comparable socio-economic and environmental challenges.

Utilisation of Sentinel-2A Imagery for Estimation of Mangrove Carbon Stock in Mamminasata Area, South Sulawesi

Population growth and land conversion have led to the degradation of mangrove forests on the southern coast of South Sulawesi, especially the Mamminasata area. Reduced mangroves increase carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, data on the potential carbon absorption of mangroves is still lacking. To overcome this, remote sensing is used to estimate carbon reserves. This reseach utilises Sentinel-2A imagery to estimate mangrove carbon stocks in Mamminasata. The image processing process includes radiometric correction, atmospheric correction, image classification, and extraction of NDVI values. The NDVI value is used to classify the density of mangroves into sparse, medium, and dense, covering 1,244.75 hectares. Field data collection was carried out through a survey of forest stand measurements. The results of NDVI transformation show a value range of 0.2 to 0.8 for mangrove objects in the Mamminasata area. The NDVI data on the analysed images were then made into three density classes. The rare density class has a carbon value of 3.56 – 21.16 Ton C/ha, the medium density class is between 21.17 – 31.49 Ton C/ha, and the dense density class is between 31.50 – 39.18 Ton C/ha. Regression analysis shows a strong correlation between NDVI and carbon stock (R² = 0.7134). This study confirms the effectiveness of remote sensing in environmental monitoring and mangrove conservation. These findings support conservation efforts and sustainable management policies by highlighting areas with high carbon sequestration potential.

Multi-objective optimization of forest ecosystem services under uncertainty

Forest ecosystems deliver multiple services crucial for human wellbeing and welfare, with complex relationships among forest ecosystem services (FESs). Implementing sustainable forest management (SFM) policy requires insights into trade-offs, conflicts and synergies among key FESs, necessitating decision-support tools for multiple objectives. However, uncertainty in key parameters adds complexity. We formulated a tri-objective optimization problem concentrating on three vital ecosystem services in Nordic boreal forests: timber supply, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, future timber price uncertainty was integrated into the optimization model. Utilizing the TreeSim individual-tree growth and yield simulator, we simulated forest growth and yields, carbon stocks, and biodiversity values. Pareto-optimal solutions were found for four distinct management strategies using the epsilon-constrain method to solve the optimization problem. These management strategies differed in spatial restrictions on harvest location and timing, including considerations like harvest adjacency, green-up and maximum harvest opening area (MOA). The analysis revealed trade-offs among all three objectives, with variations influenced by management intensity. Furthermore, within the Pareto solutions for each strategy, a compromise solution was identified based on the knee-point method. The study demonstrated nuanced impacts of green-up constraints related to harvest practices, showing minor effects on harvesting, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation when MOA was restricted to 35 hectares or less. However, more substantial impacts were observed with a MOA limited to 60 hectares or in a strategy without spatial restrictions. Our results underscore the importance of considering multiple objectives in forest management and policy under uncertain wood prices, preventing undesired effects from a singular or deterministic approach. This work provides insights into trade-offs and synergies, contributing to strategic planning and policy design.

Association Analysis of the Spatial and Temporal Changes in Vegetation Photosynthesis Levels with Land Cover Changes in China Based on Solar-Induced Fluorescence

Understanding the relationship between vegetation photosynthesis levels and land use changes is crucial for assessing ecosystem health and plant growth status. Existing studies have not fully considered temporal and spatial dimensions, resulting in an incomplete understanding of the relationship between vegetation photosynthesis levels and land use. Based on solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) data from 2001 to 2022, this study used the Mann-Kendall (MK) test and spatial association analysis to explore the associations between temporal and spatial changes in vegetation photosynthesis levels and land cover change (LCC) in China. The contributions and findings are as follows: (1) A computational framework was utilized to comprehensively measure the spatial correlation between LCCs and chlorophyll levels based on their spatial co-occurrence. (2) The MK test results of the annual and monthly average vegetation photosynthesis levels revealed that most regions in China exhibited increasing trends, accounting for 90.01% and 91.78%, respectively. Moreover, the vegetation photosynthesis levels in western China had a downward trend, indicating that the vegetation ecosystem in this region may be under a certain degree of pressure or may face the risk of degradation. (3) Some economically developed provinces are facing ecological pressures caused by urbanization and industrialization, which have led to the degradation of vegetation ecosystems and a decrease in vegetation photosynthesis levels. (4) Highly supportive areas of the land use–vegetation photosynthesis level association analysis were mainly distributed in grassland and forest areas, indicating the effectiveness of forest protection and grassland management policies. Moreover, the decrease in vegetation photosynthesis mainly occurred in barren areas, illustrating that the management and protection of this type of land still need to be strengthened. These findings underscore the complex interplay between land use and vegetation health, providing insights for sustainable land management policies.