Value Of Services Research Articles

Spatiotemporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of Coupling and Coordination between the Ecosystem Service Value and Economy in the Pearl River Delta Urban Agglomeration of China

In the context of pursuing high-quality development, the coupling and coordination of the ecosystem and economy has become the fundamental goal and inevitable choice for achieving the sustainable development of urban agglomerations. Based on remote sensing and statistical data for the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region from 2005 to 2020, in this paper, we construct an index system of the ecological and economic levels to assess the ecosystem service value (ESV). We use the equivalent factor method, entropy method, coupling coordination model, and relative development model to systematically grasp the spatial pattern of the levels of the two variables, analyse and evaluate their spatial and temporal coupling and coordination characteristics, and test the factors influencing their coupling and coordination using the geographical and temporal weighted regression (GTWR) model. The results show that ① the ESV in the PRD exhibited a fluctuating decreasing trend, while the level of the economy exhibited a fluctuating increasing trend; ② the coordination degree of the ESV and economy in the PRD exhibited a fluctuating increasing trend, and the region began to enter the basic coordination period in 2007; ③ in terms of the spatial distribution of the coordination degree, there was generally a circular pattern, with the Pearl River Estuary cities as the core and a decrease in the value towards the periphery; ④ the coordinated development model is divided into balanced development, economic guidance, and ESV guidance, among which balanced development is the major type; ⑤ the results of the GTWR reveal that the influencing factors exhibited significant spatial–temporal heterogeneity. Government intervention and openness were the dominant factors affecting the coordination, and the normalised difference vegetation index was the main negative influencing factor.

Construction, assessment, and protection of green infrastructure networks from a dynamic perspective: A case study of Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China

The green infrastructure (GI) network, an important nature-based solution (NBS) strategy, is pivotal for sustainable urban development. However, current research perspectives focus on constructing a static GI network, and research on evaluating and protecting GI networks in the context of spatiotemporal changes has been limited. This research aims to comprehensively characterise the spatio-temporal changes in the GI network and protect its efficiency. We selected Dalian City as a case study and applied the Future Land-use Simulation (FLUS) model to predict its land use for 2030 and 2040. Based on predicted and historical land-use data, the 1990–2040 GI network of Dalian City was constructed utilising the Integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs (InVEST), morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model, while its spatiotemporal changes were evaluated. The results revealed that the hub area exhibited positive growth over time, whereas the link lengths showed an opposite trend. Furthermore, the overall position of the GI network shifted toward the southwest. The flatness indicator detected that the direction of the GI network shape gradually became less pronounced. Consequently, the structure of the GI network shifted from multi-centre to mono-centre. Additionally, priority protection for hubs is mainly in the northeast, while links are primarily in the coastal regions. The urgency of protection for both increases over time. This research developed a dynamic GI network construction and assessment method, providing a scientific basis and reference for future rational GI network planning, ecological protection planning, and related land policy formulation.

Evaluation of the Ecosystem Services Value of Agricultural Industrial Parks under the Background of Tianfu Granary Construction - A Case Study of the Daoming and Longxing Districts in Chongzhou City

In the new era, China faces two major challenges of food security and ecological protection. The agricultural industrial parks constructed in the process of developing the Tianfu Granary play a significant role in China's food supply and ecological security as a special type of farmland ecosystem. Accurately calculating the value of ecosystem services in agricultural industrial parks is of great importance for achieving sustainable agricultural development and comprehensively realizing rural revitalization. This paper takes the Daoming and Longxing Agricultural Industrial Parks in Chongzhou City as the research subjects, constructs an evaluation index system for ecosystem service value, and assesses and calculates the supply, support, regulation, and cultural services of the agricultural industrial parks. The research findings show that the total value of ecosystem services reaches 260.64 million yuan, which is 4.65 times the value of the agricultural products supplied, and its significant ecosystem service value cannot be ignored. Among the ecosystem service values of the park, the cultural service value is the highest, followed by the social security service value. Based on the above conclusions, this paper discusses how to achieve high-standard construction of agricultural industrial parks, providing a scientific basis for the government and policymakers to make correct decisions in the rational use of resources, reduce and avoid short-term economic behaviors that damage ecosystem service functions, and promote sustainable agricultural development.

A behaviouristic semantic approach to blockchain-based e-commerce

Electronic commerce and finance are progressively supporting and including decentralized, shared and public ledgers such as the blockchain. This is reshaping traditional commercial activities by advancing them towards Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and Commerce 3.0, thereby supporting the latter’s potential to outpace the hurdles of central authority controllers and lawgivers. The quantity and entropy of the information that must be sought and managed to become active participants in such a relentlessly evolving scenario are increasing at a steady pace. For example, that information comprises asset or service description, general rules of the game, and specific technologies involved for decentralization. Moreover, the relevant information ought to be shared among innumerable and heterogeneous stakeholders, such as producers, buyers, digital identity providers, valuation services, and shipment services, to just name a few. A clear semantic representation of such a complex and multifaceted blockchain-based e-Commerce ecosystem would contribute dramatically to make it more usable, namely more automatically accessible to virtually anyone wanting to play the role of a stakeholder, thereby reducing programmers’ effort. However, we feel that reaching that goal still requires substantial effort in the tailoring of Semantic Web technologies, hence this article sets out on such a route and advances a stack of OWL 2 ontologies for the semantic description of decentralized e-commerce. The stack includes a number of relevant features, ranging from the applicable stakeholders through the supply chain of the offerings for an asset, up to the Ethereum blockchain, its tokens and smart contracts. Ontologies are defined by taking a behaviouristic approach to represent the various participants as agents in terms of their actions, inspired by the Theory of Agents and the related mentalistic notions. The stack is validated through appropriate metrics and SPARQL queries implementing suitable competency questions, then demonstrated through the representation of a real world use case, namely, the iExec marketplace.

Land use dynamics and ecosystem service valuation in the Sanmenxia Reservoir wetland of the Yellow River

The Sanmenxia Reservoir wetland (SRW) serves as a critical ecological buffer in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. Ongoing population growth and changes in land use have placed significant pressure on the wetland’s ecosystems. However, existing research has yet to establish a spatiotemporal analysis method to assess the impact of land use change on the ecosystem service value (ESV). This gap hinders the precise regulation and sustainable development of land resources. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the land use dynamics and ecological functions of the SRW, this study introduced a refined ESV evaluation method. This method revised the equivalent factors from spatial, temporal, and hydrological perspectives, with an emphasis on the impact of sediment discharge. Furthermore, the Patch-level Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model was employed to project the land use structure in 2030, and the corresponding ESV was analyzed. The study revealed the following: (1) Cropland constituted the primary land type in the SRW. Over the last two decades, the build-up area exhibited the most significant single land use dynamics, with the transformation of bare land to cropland spanning the widest range and largest area. (2) From 2000 to 2020, the ESV increased by 0.64 billion CNY, with the water body contributing almost all the increase. (3) The projected ESV for 2030 is 2.94 billion CNY, indicating an increase in ecological functions in the near future. Policy makers should recognizethe impact of land use change on ESV and implement measures to rebalance land use structure. While ensuring the preservation of cropland and the protection of lives and property, it is advisable to consider expanding the water body area to facilitate comprehensive sustainable development within SRW.

Grassland ecosystem service value in the Tibetan Plateau has not recovered during 1995–2015

Grasslands in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) provide substantial ecosystem services (ESs) but face considerable challenges. Previous assessments of grassland ecosystem service value (GESV) have revealed substantial uncertainties due to inconsistencies in GES classifications, land use data, and assessment methods. Here, we propose a new classification system, present merged land use data, and develop integrated comprehensive assessment methods to reassess the GESV in the TP from 1995 to 2015, and then analyzed spatiotemporal changes and driving factors. Our findings indicate that: 1) grasslands dominate the TP, covering approximately 70 % of the land surface, but have been continuously declining, especially during 1995–2000. 2) The value equivalent factor method tends to overestimate GESV, and our reassessment further emphasized the critical role of grasslands. 3) Temporally, GESV exhibited a measured recovery post-2000, though it remained below initial levels. 4) Spatially, GESV declined from southeast to northwest, mainly influenced by precipitation, although this spatial gradient has gradually diminished. 5) Both climatic and anthropogenic factors significantly influenced changes in GESV, but even dual factors had limited explanatory power. Our reassessment sheds light on the spatiotemporal changes and drivers of GESV in the TP over two decades, which is important for grassland management in the region. However, methodological limitations remain, particularly with regard to data accuracy; and further exploration of spatial heterogeneity and multi-factor interactions are also required.

Assessment and multi-scenario simulation of ecosystem service values in Southwest China’s mountainous and hilly region

Abstract The southwestern mountainous and hilly regions of China are vital ecological barriers upstream of the Yangtze River. Assessing and simulating changes in ecosystem service value (ESV) in this area is essential for ensuring sustainable ecological development. In this study, our purpose was to evaluate and simulate the spatial patterns as well as trends in the changes shown by the ESV in Yanting County, China, from 2020 to 2030 via a grid-scale using the equivalent factor method and the Markov–patch-generating land use simulation model. The results indicated that (1) from 2020 to 2030, forest, cultivated, and construction lands would be the main types of land use. (2) In 2030, the projected ESVs in Yanting County under the as-usual, low-carbon, and shared development scenarios were 5.31, 5.30, and 4.99 billion RMB, respectively. Compared to the 2020 ESV of Yanting County, the as-usual scenario and low-carbon scenario ESVs increased. The shared development scenario ESVs decreased. It reflects the contra-diction between urbanization, industrialization, agricultural production, and ecological protection in Yanting County. The spatial distribution of the ESVs of all three scenarios showed an agglomeration trend. (3) Given the background of national food security and carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, the setting of a low-carbon development scenario combined with a shared development scenario appears to be more suitable for the future development of Yanting County, which is conducive to the rational planning of land-use patterns and the sci-entific growth of ESV in Yanting County. This study underscores the critical importance of integrating ESVs in sustainable land-use planning and management, and provides a reference for the rational use of land resources, land spatial planning, and policy-making for ecological protection in Yanting County.

Land Cover Simulation and Carbon Storage Assessment in Daqing City based on FLUS-InVEST Model

Considering Daqing City as the research area, the impact of land cover change on carbon storage in the future was discussed, and the hot spots of carbon sequestration capacity were identified. The future land use simulation （FLUS） model was used to simulate the land cover pattern of a natural succession scenario, ecological protection scenario, urban development scenario, and comprehensive development scenario in 2030, and the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs （InVEST） model was combined to estimate carbon storage in 2010, 2020, and 2030. Finally, the hot spot analysis tool was used to identify the cold hot spots of carbon sequestration capacity. The results showed the following： ① From 2010 to 2020, the area of cultivated land, water, and artificial surface increased, whereas the area of other land cover types decreased, and the total carbon storage decreased by 8.6×105 t. ② The land cover change of the natural succession scenario and urban development scenario in 2030 was similar to that of 2010-2020, with carbon storage decreasing by 1.16×106 t and 1.20×106 t, respectively. The carbon storage of the comprehensive development scenario decreased by 1.00×106 t compared with that in 2020, and carbon storage of the ecological protection scenario was 5.677 7×108 t, which increased by 2.53×106 t compared with that in 2020. ③ The conversion of grassland and wetland to cultivated land was the main cause of carbon storage loss, and the main contributor of carbon storage in the ecological protection scenarios was wetland. ④ The hot spots of carbon sequestration capacity were mainly located in the wetland area, and the cold spots were mainly distributed in the central part of Daqing City. The carbon sequestration capacity of cultivated land was not significant. According to the research results, to realize the urban transformation of Daqing City, we should insist on returning farmland to forest and grass, increase the intensity of returning moisture, improve the utilization rate of urban land, and increase green infrastructure in the main urban area.

Spatiotemporal Eolution and Prediction of Ecosystem Service Value in Taihang Mountains Based on MCCA Land Use Scenario Simulation

Ecosystem service value （ESV） is an important indicator related to regional ecological well-being, and understanding its evolution can provide references for regional ecological civilization construction and sustainable development. The Taihang Mountains, an important ecological security barrier in North China, were taken as an example. Based on land use data from 2000 to 2020, this study revealed the changes in land use and ecosystem service value in the Taihang Mountains and conducted multi-scenario simulations of ESV in 2035. Additionally, the land use transfer matrix, improved equivalent factor method, and mixed-cell cellular automata model were used. The results showed that： ① From 2000 to 2020, the main land use types in the Taihang Mountains were cropland, forest land, and grassland. The area of cropland and grassland significantly decreased, whereas the area of forest land and construction land remained stable. The scale of land use transfer was 2.06×104 km2, with a high intensity of transfer from cropland and grassland to other areas, mainly guided by ecological construction. ② The ecosystem service functions in the Taihang Mountains were mainly dominated by regulation services, and the overall ESV showed a stable upward trend, increasing by 1.51×1010 RMB from 2000 to 2020. The spatial distribution of ESV was uneven, and the polarization phenomenon was evident, with high-value areas concentrated in the high-altitude areas in the northern and central-southern parts and low-value areas mostly located in the flat foothills and central plateaus on both sides. They were greatly influenced by human activities. ③ By 2035, compared with that in 2020, the ESV in the Taihang Mountains was projected to increase by 5.37 billion RMB in the natural growth scenario, 4.34 billion RMB in the urban development scenario, and 7.64 billion RMB in the ecological tourism scenario, mainly due to the conversion from cropland and grassland to forest land. The natural growth scenario showed a high intensity of spatial transformation of ESV, the urban development scenario experienced severe ESV loss in cropland, and the ecological tourism scenario showed a significant increase in ESV, which was an effective path for promoting green development in the Taihang Mountains. The research results can provide scientific references for the healthy management and sustainable development of the ecosystem in the Taihang Mountains.

Evaluating Ecological Drought Vulnerability from Ecosystem Service Value Perspectives in North China

Existing studies on the vulnerability assessment of ecological drought often focus on analyzing vegetation phenotypic characteristics, overlooking the impact of drought on ecosystem services. This study proposes an ecosystem vulnerability assessment method under ecological drought stress from the perspective of ecosystem service value (ESV), considering the characteristics and interactions of hazard-causing factors and hazard-bearing bodies. The spatiotemporal evolution of ecological drought, the spatial characteristics of ecosystem vulnerability, and the vulnerability characteristics of different ecosystem types in the North China region from 1991 to 2021 were evaluated. The results showed that: (1) ecological drought exhibited a trend of intensification followed by alleviation, with the most severe droughts occurring between 2002 and 2011, affecting up to 64.3% of the region; (2) ESV was mainly influenced by vegetation cover and precipitation gradients, displaying a spatial pattern of high values in the southeast and low values in the northwest, with total ESV averaging CNY 18.23 trillion; (3) grasslands exhibited higher sensitivity to drought compared to forests, and the sensitivity was higher in summer and autumn than in winter and spring. This method assessed the vulnerability of ecological drought from the perspective of ecosystem services, providing a new approach for a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of drought on ecosystem service functions.

Spatiotemporal evolution and driving factors of ecosystem service value in the Upper Minjiang River of China.

The stability of ecosystems in high mountain canyon areas is poor, and the interaction between humans and the land is complex, making these ecosystems more vulnerable to destruction. Quantitatively assessing the ecosystem service value (ESV) in high mountain canyon areas and revealing its spatiotemporal evolution patterns and driving factors play a crucial role in the construction of regional ecological barriers and the assurance of ecological security. This study focuses on the Upper Minjiang River as the research area, using the InVEST model and the Equivalent Factor Method to estimate ESV. This combination aims to address the inadequacy of the Equivalent Factor Method in reflecting the variability of ESV across different regions, and the sensitivity of the InVEST model to data changes that results in insufficient accuracy of ESV assessments. By harnessing spatial au-tocorrelation and the geodetector method, we unravel the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and driving factors of ESV. The results show that: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the ESVs estimated by the two estimations increased by 31.28% and 22.47%, respectively, both indicating that the eco-environment quality of the upper Minjiang River has been continuously improved. (2) When Moran's I was greater than 0.5 (p < 0.05), the spatial clustering of "High-High" and "Low-Low" ESV was obvious. It is clear that the ESV varies geographically. High values are primarily found in the study area's center and southern regions, as well as on both banks of the Minjiang River, whereas low values are more common in the region's northern region. (3) Slope and human activity intensity (HAI) are the principal contributors to the spatial differentiation of the ESV, more than 60% of the interaction types between the two factors were classified as dual-factor enhancement. The synergistic reinforcing effects of HAI, slope, elevation, and temperature collectively shape the shifts in ESV spatial distribution. This study offers a novel evaluative lens on the ESV of the Upper Minjiang River area, supplying a sturdy data support for crafting specific ecological preservation and rejuvenation strategies in the coming years.

Mapping Ecological Security Patterns Based on Ecosystem Service Valuation in the Qinling-Daba Mountain Area, China: A Multi-Scenario Study for Development and Conservation Tradeoffs

When focusing on biodiversity maintenance, ecological security pattern (ESP) planning gradually becomes a multi-objective planning strategy for sustainable development; wildlife conservation and ecosystem health maintenance should be balanced with local economic development and people’s livelihood enhancement goals. This study focuses on ESP mapping in the Qinling-Daba Mountain area, which is an ecologically significant and socioeconomically underdeveloped area. The tradeoff between conservation and development is made by varying the area of ecological sources and incorporating ecosystem service tradeoffs into ecological source identification through multi-scenario designation. ESPs under six scenarios were generated based on the minimum resistance model, and the important ecological corridors and strategic points in each scenario were identified and compared. The results show the following: (1) The scenario that sets around 30 percent of the study area as ecological sources maintains the integrity of natural ecosystems and leaves space for food and material supply to residents. (2) In this scenario, the ecological sources are connected by 60 corridors that cross 137 townships with high population densities (&gt;100 people/km2) and intersect with major traffic lines at 71 points. Engineering, management, or education strategies must be taken in these townships or intersections to avoid human–wildlife conflicts. (3) The study area needs to construct both short (north–south) corridors linking proximate ecological sources for species’ daily movement and long (west–east) corridors connecting large and distant sources for species’ seasonal migration and gene flow. (4) The multi-scenario approach turns out to be an effective strategy for ESP planning with considerations for development–conservation tradeoffs.

Boater’s Preference for Coral Reef Restoration and Sustainable Resource Management in Florida

The Florida Reef is under intense pressure from excessive human disturbance and climate change. A group of Florida residents including boaters and fishers was surveyed about their concerns and willingness to pay (WTP) for restorative services. A discrete choice valuation experiment was conducted, involving nearly 1,300 respondents, to estimate WTP for coral reef restoration, wide beaches, and clean water. The boaters demonstrated a somewhat higher WTP for a more extensive beach size and coral restoration. The analysis allowed quantification of maritime transportation passengers’ preferences for sustainable resource management. The findings provide useful insights for maritime transportation and coastal management agencies wishing to finance conservation initiatives. Furthermore, the study offers valuable methodological contributions and policy relevant information to incorporate ecosystem service valuations into the decision-making process beyond the study areas.

Social Workers' Experiences of Working With Support Workers in Services for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities in Hong Kong.

Services for adults with intellectual disabilities in Hong Kong have a hierarchical staffing structure. Professional social workers, who performed as mid-level employees, work with frontline support workers to deliver services to clients. This qualitative study explored social workers' experiences of working with support workers through in-depth interviews with 13 participants. The study revealed that social workers perceived a significant variation between themselves and support workers in terms of working motivation, values and attitudes towards clients with intellectual disabilities. Despite the hierarchical relationships, social workers and support workers share the power of service decision-making. Social workers used firm and gentle approaches to facilitate changes in practices to uphold service values. These findings were compared with Western literature on this topic, indicating similarities and differences. The organisations need to facilitate an effective collaboration between social workers and support workers to enhance the quality of services for adults with intellectual disabilities in Hong Kong.

Discovering the Ecosystem Service Value Growth Characteristics of a Subtropical Soil Erosion Area Using a Remote-Sensing-Driven Mountainous Equivalent Factor Method

Evaluation ecosystem service value (ESV) is critical, as “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”. To assess the incremental effects of ecological assets on soil and water conservation in subtropical mountains, we developed a remote-sensing-driven mountainous equivalent factor (RS-MEF) method to estimate the ESV of Changting County, China. This method is a hybrid of a conventional equivalent factor framework and remote sensing techniques for mountains, achieving several advancements, including spatial adjustment using vegetation activity merged with productivity, improved spatial resolution, and the removal of topographic effects. Using the RS-MEF method, we estimated that the ESV of Changting County was approximately CNY 15.80 billion in 2010 and CNY 34.83 billion in 2022. Specifically, the ESV per unit area of the major soil erosion area (MSEA) in the county was less than that of the non-major soil erosion area (n-MSEA); however, the ESV growth rate of the MSEA from 2010 to 2022 was faster than that of the n-MSEA. Therefore, the ESV gap between the two areas was reduced from 28.99% in 2010 to 15.83% in 2022. Topographic gradient analysis illustrates that areas with elevations of 385 to 658 m and steep slopes achieved a high ESV, while high-elevation areas with gentle slopes will be a focus of control in the next phase. Our study demonstrates that significant achievements have been made in ecological restoration from an ESV perspective, with a notable reduction in low-ESV areas in the MSEA; the insights gained into ESV growth and its underlying factors are valuable and instructive for future soil and water conservation efforts.

When to Measure Accessibility? Temporal Segmentation and Aggregation in Location-Based Public Transit Accessibility

Accessibility analyses are important for public transit (PT) planning, as they reveal possible deficits in PT services. Since such accessibility analyses are highly time-dependent, the Modifiable Temporal Unit Problem (MTUP) should be considered. In this context, one approach is to calculate accessibility continuously for an entire day and aggregate it appropriately. However, this approach is complex and computationally intensive and is therefore rarely, if ever, applied. Instead, practitioners and researchers rely on simplified methods without considering temporal effects in detail. This paper bridges this gap by developing a simple yet representative method to account for the temporal variability of PT services. For this purpose, we calculate and compare PT accessibility for different time windows and through different aggregation methods for Germany. The results show that PT analyses between 9–11 a.m. were most representative. Alternatively, the time windows between 7–9 a.m. and between 1–3 p.m. adequately reflected accessibility. The median was suitable for aggregating individual time intervals into a representative value for the PT service throughout a day, while the maximum or mean value distorted the results. For practical planning purposes, we therefore recommend using the 9–11 a.m. time window.

Exploration of the optimal low-carbon peanut rotation system in South China

CONTEXTPeanut is an important economic and oil crop that has the potential to contribute to low-carbon agriculture. However, there is scarcity of comprehensive evaluations regarding the impact of various peanut rotation systems and their contribution to low-carbon agriculture. OBJECTIVEThe research aims to comprehensively evaluate the contribution of peanut rotation systems to low-carbon agriculture in South China, and expected to explore the optimal low-carbon peanut rotation system in this area. METHODSThree cropping patterns were compared over a four-year experimental period: wheat–peanut (W-P) rotation, rape–peanut (R-P) rotation, and peanut monocropping (MP), under two types of initial fields (paddy and dryland). The carbon footprint (CF), product carbon footprint (PCF), carbon sequestration, food carbon cost (FCC), soil carbon characteristics, net economic benefit, and ecosystem service values of C sequestration of three rotation ecosystems were studied. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSOur findings reveal that R-P, WP, and MP had total CFs of 1.788, 3.882, and 1.096 t CO2-eq·hm−2, respectively. Agricultural material input, particularly N fertilizer, was the primary CF contributor. R-P had higher carbon sequestration amount and efficiency than WP. Notably, dryland-initial fields of both R-P and WP had higher carbon sequestration efficiency (71.1 % and 17.6 % higher, specifically). Our soil carbon analysis indicates that both plant residue quality and initial field type influence C sequestration. While WP had the highest PCF (0.552 t CO2-eq t−1) and FCC of protein (3.428 kg CO2-eq·kg−1), fat (3.791 kg CO2-eq·kg−1), and energy (0.135 kg CO2-eq·1000 kcal−1), R-P showed the highest net income (3333.3 US$·hm−2) and higher ecosystem service value of C sequestration (−5.6 US$·hm−2). Furthermore, our findings reveal that common crop rotations in South China have higher CFs than the tested peanut-based systems. Therefore, R-P rotation is the most suitable system for low-carbon agriculture in the research area among these three rotations due to its lower carbon cost and higher economic benefits. And the advantages, disadvantages and uncertainties of different low-carbon agricultural indicators have also been analyzed. SIGNIFICANCEOur study would contribute to exploring agroecosystems management ways and methods to mitigation climate change and provide references for the establishment of evaluation criteria for low-carbon agriculture.

Accurately uncovering the regional ecological restoration priorities: A multidimensional approach to eco-dynamic sustainable management

Accurate identification, projection and dynamic evaluation of ecological degradation priorities are important prerequisites for realizing ecological restoration and territorial protection. However, the complexity of ecological systems and environmental diversity often limit the effectiveness of single-model evaluation approaches. Utilizing Badong County as a case study, this paper integrated the InVEST-Circuit-PLUS model to comprehensively analyze the eco-dynamic sustainability and restoration needs. Through performing projection of land cover, construction of ecological source areas, calculation of ecological resistance characteristics and extraction of ecological elements, we were able to identify priority ecological restoration areas over a twenty-year period (2007–2027). The results revealed cyclical land cover transformations from forest to cropland and back to forest, with an overall trend of forest cover expansion. While the county's ecological quality showed a slight decline, the location and extent of high-value ecological source areas were mapped in detail. By integrating ecosystem service value assessments, driver factor analyses, and the development of a "One Belt, Two Axes, Three Sources and Four Zones" ecological management framework, we were able to uncover the nuanced spatial and temporal dynamics shaping the regional ecology. These findings provide an evidence-based foundation to guide targeted ecological restoration and sustainable land use planning, which has verified the feasibility of the framework.

Factors Influencing Outsourcing Of Valuation Services By Financial Institutions In Lagos State

This paper examines the factors that influence outsourcing of valuation by Financial Institutions (FI) in Lagos State, this with a view to enhance valuation services delivery. Primary data used for the study were obtained from the questionnaires administered on 101 financial institutions found within the scope of well-structured financial institutions and accessed through their head offices. A total of 78 questionnaires were retrieved and found useable for this study. The data were analyzed with the aid of inferential statistics such as mean rating using 5 points Likert scale. The study showed that ‘’ Reduce Management burden’’, ‘’ Allow Management to concentrate on core business’’, and ‘’Improve Accountability’’ are the top three related factors influencing outsourcing of Valuation services while ‘’to improve quality of work’’, ’to improve speed of work’’ and ‘’ to improve productivity’’ are the three least factors influencing valuation outsourcing and are even insignificant as the least three have mean rating less than 2.5. The study concluded that Estate Valuers are not known for quality work, in other word Estate Surveyors and Valuers are engaged by FI not really to improve quality of work, improve speed of work or to improve productivity but for FI to be able to concentrate on the core business. It is therefore essential for Estate Valuer to improve on their quality and speed of their work so as to enhance desired productivity for them to be able to compete favourably with their counterpart in the developed nations. The efficient service delivery will add value to financial institutions operations, better the lot of stakeholders and subsequently improve national economy

Impact of landscape pattern changes on ecosystem service values in the Fenhe River Basin in China

The evolution of landscape patterns affects the supply of ecosystem services. It is important to explore the relationship between them to improve regional ecological stability and maintain ecological health. The Fenhe River is the second largest tributary of the Yellow River and it represents a fragile ecological environment. Our study aimed to analyze the impact of changes in landscape patterns on the value of ecosystem services (ESV) in the Fenhe River Basin (FRB). Land use data from 2000, 2010, and 2020 were used to extract landscape pattern indices. Methods such as ecosystem service value accounting, sensitivity analysis, correlation analysis, and geodetector modeling were employed to investigate changes in landscape patterns and ESV, and to identify the driving forces and impacts of these changes on ESV. The results showed that (1) from 2000 to 2020, the dominant landscape in the FRB was cultivated land, followed by forestland and grassland, which together covered 92% of the total area. (2) Over the past 20 years, the extent of landscape fragmentation had continued to increase and ecological function had deteriorated. (3) ESV had continued to decrease. The ESV provided by the regulating service function was the largest, accounting for over 49% of the total ESV. Support service function was second, accounting for over 34%. (4) The total ESV had a strong negative correlation with Shannon's diversity index (SHDI) and Shannon's evenness index(SHEI), a significant positive correlation with Contagion index (CONTAG). (5)The Human Activity Index (HAI) had a significant impact on changes in ESV, with an influence value of 0.6192, and its synergistic effect with NDVI further enhances this impact, achieving a synergy score of 0.71. Additionally, natural factors such as topography and climate also had significant effects on ESV changes.This study provides an evidence-based theoretical reference to guide the enhancement of the natural environment of the FRB and maintain highquality development of regional landscapes.