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Despite growing recognition of nature's impact on mental health, its specific effects on adolescents remain unclear. This gap hinders effective strategies for youth well-being in a world facing increasing environmental pressures. This study directly investigates the connections between coastal environments and subjective well-being in adolescents. We explore how interactions with coastal landscapes and associated cultural ecosystem services contribute to both personal and social dimensions of well-being in a sample of 202 adolescents (16 and 17 years old) from Sardinia, Italy. Our findings reveal a beneficial impact of coastal experiences, promoting positive affect, social integration, and physiological well-being. However, human pressures on these environments can lead to negative affect, while fostering a sense of social contribution. This research highlights the complex interplay between coastal environments, human impacts, and teenagers' well-being. Understanding these links empowers planners to craft coastal management strategies that balance adolescents' well-being with the long-term sustainability of coastal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the role of virtual immersive public art in improving the psychological well-being of urban residents. The research is set in the context of urban environments, where virtual immersive public art has the potential to foster innovation, integrate technology, and organically blend into public spaces. The study evaluates the impact of such art on psychological restoration by focusing on three key dimensions: interactive themes, interactive mechanisms, and artistic characteristics. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect participants' real-life experiences and reactions to these art installations. The results show that virtual immersive public art significantly contributes to the restorative experience of urban residents, offering valuable insights into how these installations can promote mental health. Based on the findings, the study provides practical design recommendations for incorporating virtual immersive public art into future urban planning and design projects to enhance urban living conditions and support psychological recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review focused on the benefits of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) for human well-being. It examines the intellectual structure of knowledge of these benefits to identify knowledge gaps for future research and explore sustainable management practices to manage IAPS. The screening of bibliometric data from 1601 publications in Scopus based on the PRISMA protocol resulted in the identification of 69 publications for detailed review. The findings show an increasing trend in studies on IAPS benefits for human well-being since 2009. These benefits include provisioning services (food, medicines, fodder, bioenergy, and construction materials), regulating services (bioagents and shades), cultural services (aesthetics and ornamentals) and supporting services (soil and land reclamation). Additionally, the findings reveal geographical disparity in the distribution of research produced by researchers from different regions, with most research produced in Europe and limited to Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. The findings also show skewness in the management practices of IAPS, though some of them enhance IAPS benefits. Furthermore, there are limited applications of interdisciplinary approaches to investigate the benefits of IAPS for human well-being. Employing interdisciplinary mixed methodologies may help to generate new knowledge with a better understanding of complex interactions between IAPS and human well-being. Given the unique sociocultural, economic, and ecological settings of the IAPS, future research is expected to include comparative perspectives on how different countries and regions use the IAPS for their benefit while considering both the positive and negative impacts of the IAPS on human well-being to develop sustainable management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Customers in resource-poor communities still grapple with many information and communication technology (ICT) failures as they strive to access goods and services in small and medium enterprises near them. From a customer perspective, these challenges often lead to stress-related issues such as frustrations and anxiety, which can even result in transaction abandonment. Extended ICT failures result in SMEs failing to achieve sustainable e-commerce. This study delves into the impact of ICT initiatives by SMEs in stress-inducing environments on customers' quality of life. The study further examines whether customer stress and happiness play a role in this association. Quantitative data were acquired using the mall intercept method, while the developed hypotheses were examined using structural equation modeling (SEM) in SMART-PLS 4. The results shed light on how customers navigate daily ICT-related failures experienced by SMEs operating in poor resource communities as they strive for happiness and stress-free lives, ultimately leading to an improved quality of life. The study recommends that the government, through its agencies, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies and the Department of Science and Technology, among others, not only create an environment supporting SME ICT initiatives but also find strategies for sustaining SME ICT adoption for improved human well-being and socio-economic development within resource-constrained communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces are crucial for alleviating psychological stress, but the effect of multi-sensory experiences on psychological restoration remains underexplored. This study, conducted in Edinburgh, Scotland, with 40 participants, compares the effects of walking and sitting in different urban environments—built environments, semi-natural green spaces, and natural green spaces—on psychological restoration. The results reveal that while sensory quality positively correlates with psychological well-being, sensory perception and variety do not always have a positive effect on restoration. Moreover, supplementing visual and hearing experiences with tactility and smell in urban green spaces is more effective in reducing stress and enhancing overall well-being, particularly in terms of vitality, which is largely affected by non-visual sensory inputs. This study highlights the importance of creating balanced sensory environments in urban green spaces, integrating a variety of sensory experiences to maximize psychological benefits. These findings provide valuable insights for urban planners and designers aiming to optimize green spaces for enhanced mental health and overall quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural Ecosystem Services (CESs), as non-material benefits and well-being provided by ecosystems to humans, possess the ability to bridge nature and human society and interpret their complex interrelationships. Coastal areas are regions with concentrated human activities, where coastal zones are often subject to human development, pollution, and degradation. Compared to other ecosystems, coastal ecosystems face greater pressures and threats, and the cultural services they provide are more vulnerable. Research on coastal ecosystem cultural services needs to consider ecosystem vulnerability and find ways to protect and restore ecosystem functions. Therefore, this paper explores the intrinsic logical system and feasibility of guiding natural resource management and enhancing human well-being through coastal CESs, discussing related research data acquisition, method analysis, and perceptual application. Based on this, this paper analyzes the development trends of coastal CESs in natural resource management and enhancing human well-being from aspects such as biodiversity, human–nature interaction processes, cultural heritage conservation, local economic development, and community management. Finally, it proposes advancing the in-depth research of coastal CESs from the perspectives of integrating multi-source data, interdisciplinary development, and incorporating CESs into policy making, providing theoretical support for the systematic study of rational resource utilization and sustainable ecosystem development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the complex relationship between ESSD and human well-being is of paramount significance to protecting regional ecology, enhancing human well-being and achieving sustainable development. We take the Yangtze River Economic Belt as an example and use multi-source data to analyse land use and cover change, as well as the spatiotemporal evolution of ESSD and human well-being. We explore and reveal the coupling coordination relationship between ESSD and human well-being. The results show that from 2000 to 2020, the overall trend in ESs in the region improved significantly, and the supply notably increased, whereas the demand growth rate was even more pronounced. The supply–demand ratio for water yield and soil conservation showed little change, with variations of <10%. However, the supply–demand ratio for carbon sequestration declined significantly by 41.83%, whereas that for food supply increased notably by 42.93%. The overall spatial pattern in ESSD presented a mismatch, which was characterised by 'low supply and high demand in the eastern region and high supply and low demand in the western region'. Overall, human well-being remained stable and was in line with the level of socio-economic development, thereby exhibiting a distinct trend of well-being 'polarisation between the rich and poor'. Well-being was higher in the eastern and central urban agglomerations and lower in the western plateau and mountainous areas. Over 20 years, the degree of coupling coordination between ESSD and human well-being increased by 0.0107, and the coupling level gradually transitioned from moderate imbalance to moderate coordination. Spatially, Hubei Province, Chongqing Municipality and the Yangtze River Delta were the main 'high–high' agglomeration areas, whereas the Sichuan Basin and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau were the main 'low–low' agglomeration areas. Based on these findings, we propose the following management recommendations for the Yangtze River Economic Belt and other related great river economic belts: optimise land use structure, rationally allocate natural resources, strengthen regional and external connections and promote regional coordinated development, enhance the implementation of policies for ecological and environmental protection, establish regional ecological compensation mechanisms and coordinate ecological protection in a full scope and focus on harmonising human–land relationships, build a multi-stakeholder collaborative governance mechanism and promote regional ecological protection and the elevation of human well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This systematic review focused on the benefits of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) for human well-being. It examines the intellectual structure of knowledge of these benefits to identify knowledge gaps for future research and explore sustainable management practices to manage IAPS. The screening of bibliometric data from 1601 publications in Scopus based on the PRISMA protocol resulted in the identification of 69 publications for detailed review. The findings show an increasing trend in studies on IAPS benefits for human well-being since 2009. These benefits include provisioning services (food, medicines, fodder, bioenergy, and construction materials), regulating services (bioagents and shades), cultural services (aesthetics and ornamentals) and supporting services (soil and land reclamation). Additionally, the findings reveal geographical disparity in the distribution of research produced by researchers from different regions, with most research produced in Europe and limited to Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. The findings also show skewness in the management practices of IAPS, though some of them enhance IAPS benefits. Furthermore, there are limited applications of interdisciplinary approaches to investigate the benefits of IAPS for human well-being. Employing interdisciplinary mixed methodologies may help to generate new knowledge with a better understanding of complex interactions between IAPS and human well-being. Given the unique sociocultural, economic, and ecological settings of the IAPS, future research is expected to include comparative perspectives on how different countries and regions use the IAPS for their benefit while considering both the positive and negative impacts of the IAPS on human well-being to develop sustainable management practices.

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The accelerating pace of urbanization, coupled with the intensifying impacts of climate change, poses unprecedented challenges to both the environment and human well-being. In this review, we delved into the intricate interaction between climate change and urbanization and the various effects they have on the environment and human well-being, shedding light on the emergent urban climate crisis. Urban areas serve as epicenters for diverse socio-economic activities, yet they also contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. Through an interdisciplinary lens, we explored the root causes of the urban climate crisis, examining how rapid urbanization exacerbates climate change and vice versa. By synthesizing current research and case studies, we elucidate the various environmental and social ramifications of this nexus, ranging from urban heat island effects to heightened vulnerability to extreme weather events. Furthermore, we delve into the unequal distribution of climate risks within urban populations, highlighting the disproportionate burden borne by marginalized communities. Finally, the chapter presents strategies and interventions for mitigating and adapting to the urban climate crisis, emphasizing the imperative of holistic and equitable approaches that prioritize both environmental sustainability and human well-being. Overall, this review calls for concerted efforts to unravel the complexities of the urban climate crisis and forge a path toward resilient, sustainable, and equitable urban futures.

[Objective] Reducing carbon emissions while continuously improving the level of human well-being is the core connotation of human development.This study analyzed the spatial differences and driving mechanism of carbon-emission-sensitive human development index in Poyang Lake Basin, in an attempt to provide a theoretical basis for promoting the level of human well-being under the dual-carbon goals. [Methods] By incorporating the per capita net carbon emission index, this study constructed the carbon-emission-sensitive human development index (CHDI). Spatial Markov chain, Dagum Gini coefficient, LMDI method, and spatial Durbin model were used to analyze the spatial difference change of carbon-emission-sensitive development index in Poyang Lake Basin from 1990 to 2020. [Results] (1) The carbon-emission-sensitive development index of the Poyang Lake Basin increased from 0.5415 in 1990 to 0.7922 in 2020, realizing the leap from medium human development level to high human development level. (2) From 1990 to 2020, the spatial differences of carbon-emission-sensitive human development index in Poyang Lake Basin tended to shrink as a whole, intra-sub-basin differences shrank steadily, and the differences between the sub-basins decreased first and then increased. Narrowing the gaps between the sub-basins is the key to alleviate the spatial differences of human development level in Poyang Lake Basin. (3) The improvement of carbon-emission-sensitive human development index in Poyang Lake Basin was mainly driven by economic effect and technology effect, while social effect and environmental effect showed declining trends. (4) The regression results of the spatial econometric model show that increasing affluence, upgrading industrial structure, increasing public financial expenditures, and urbanization had a significant contributing effect on the enhancement of human development level in the Poyang Lake Basin, urbanization had a contributing effect on the enhancement of CHDI both locally and in the neighboring counties, while increasing energy intensity and population density had significant negative effects. [Conclusion] From 1990 to 2020, the low-carbon human development in Poyang Lake Basin tended to be balanced in the process of moving towards high human development. Narrowing the differences between the sub-basins and strengthening the dual-wheel drive of economic and technological effects are the focal points to further promote the balanced development of human well-being in Poyang Lake Basin.

This research investigates the intricate connection between indigenous knowledge and sustainable forest management, with two main objectives. It seeks to explore and outline indigenous knowledge, elements, and practices that support sustainable forest management (SFM). It aims to uncover the invaluable traditional insights and practices that have helped preserve and ensure the responsible use of forest ecosystems. Also, it investigated global environmental policies that support indigenous knowledge since the inception of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). A narrative review method was employed to review and analyse peer-reviewed contents and reports to deduce ancestral or traditional wisdom, knowledge, practices, and beliefs from existing studies. The paper extracted data from existing literature from scholarly peer-reviewed journals. It aims to provide useful information for policy-makers, forest managers, and indigenous communities, to promote SFM and the sustainable development goals related to a sustainable environment. The study found that indigenous knowledge (IK) which includes ethnobotanical knowledge and plant selection, mixed land use, seed banks, and cultural beliefs such as sacred groves and taboos are some traditional practices, beliefs, and cultural knowledge that support SFM and can be integrated into international and national environmental management policies which the two-eyed seeing framework (TESF) seeks to promote. The framework highlights the potential of implementing IK into SFM. Also, the Akwé: Kon Guidelines, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), are some global environment policies that recognise traditional people and indigenous knowledge since the commencement of the CBD in the nineties. The paper recommends, for a future study, investigating the applicability of the Akwé: Kon Guidelines in international and national projects and programs that impact traditional sacred lands, forests and rivers, and indigenous people. Also, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement need to fully acknowledge the supporting role of indigenous knowledge and people in climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions, especially in Africa, since the majority of the world's population constitutes indigenous people who inhabit healthy standing forests and ecosystems.

The issues of human well‐being and happiness have been a priority throughout the history of human development. Modern trends in sustainable development define human well‐being issues as one of the most important 17 goals (SDG No. 3 "Good human health and well‐being"). At the business and company level, human orientation and human needs manifested themselves in corporate employee well‐being programs at the beginning of the 20th century. In recent years, corporate employee welfare programs became particularly relevant in connection with the Covid‐19 pandemic and other global challenges and turbulence. Aim. To analyze modern corporate programs for the development of employee well‐being and identify the main trends in their development. Methods. Methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis of scientific publications on human corporate well‐being, as well as the method of case analysis of corporate well‐being programs of leading global and Russian companies. Results. Because of the conducted research, the authors revealed a steady increase in scientific publications on corporate policies in the field of employee well‐being, as well as an increase in the share of interdisciplinary research. An analysis of successful practices of Russian and international companies shown a predominance at the business level of interest in subjective methods for assessing employee well‐being and a high orientation of companies towards practices for the development of social well‐being of employees. Conclusions. Corporate employee well‐being programs are an urgent and actively developing tool for personnel management and the effectiveness of the company. A distinctive feature of modern corporate employee well‐being programs is an individual assessment of the level of employee well‐being with a predominance of subjective assessment methods. The assessment of the employee well‐being index allows companies to increase the efficiency of social spending and investments. The issue requiring further study on the topic of corporate employee welfare programs, in our opinion, is a comprehensive assessment of the impact of corporate employee welfare programs on business economic results and its effectiveness.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are widely promoted as effective tools for conserving biodiversity and safeguarding ecosystem services. However, MPA success can be hindered by a lack of legitimacy and low social support because of perceived negative effects on ecosystem services and human well-being. Despite these social challenges, the social dimensions of marine conservation, such as the effects of MPAs on coastal livelihoods and local communities' perceptions of these effects, are often overlooked in conservation initiatives. In this study, we use a mixed methods approach, combining qualitative thematic analysis and quantitative network analysis derived from interviews and focus group discussions, to examine the perceptions of key stakeholder groups about the Litoral Norte MPA in Portugal. Our findings reveal that most stakeholder groups hold more negative than positive views about the governance and management of the MPA. Key concerns include unsatisfactory participation in MPA decisions and perceptions that the MPA fails to deliver positive social and ecological outcomes, such as increased community involvement, fair income distribution, and enhanced fish abundance. Policy makers and managers need to address these negative perceptions to improve conservation governance and management. By considering the stakeholder feedback presented in this study, such as fostering better engagement with the local community and transforming conflicts into opportunities for co-developing new conservation actions with local resource users, policy makers and managers can increase support for Litoral Norte and enhance the social and ecological outcomes of the MPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accelerating pace of urbanization, coupled with the intensifying impacts of climate change, poses unprecedented challenges to both the environment and human well-being. In this review, we delved into the intricate interaction between climate change and urbanization and the various effects they have on the environment and human well-being, shedding light on the emergent urban climate crisis. Urban areas serve as epicenters for diverse socio-economic activities, yet they also contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. Through an interdisciplinary lens, we explored the root causes of the urban climate crisis, examining how rapid urbanization exacerbates climate change and vice versa. By synthesizing current research and case studies, we elucidate the various environmental and social ramifications of this nexus, ranging from urban heat island effects to heightened vulnerability to extreme weather events. Furthermore, we delve into the unequal distribution of climate risks within urban populations, highlighting the disproportionate burden borne by marginalized communities. Finally, the chapter presents strategies and interventions for mitigating and adapting to the urban climate crisis, emphasizing the imperative of holistic and equitable approaches that prioritize both environmental sustainability and human well-being. Overall, this review calls for concerted efforts to unravel the complexities of the urban climate crisis and forge a path toward resilient, sustainable, and equitable urban futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced understanding of environmental restoration can be achieved by examining how urban park visitors' perceptions of biodiversity contribute to their sense of environmental rejuvenation. In this study, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 554 visitors from five representative urban parks in Fuzhou, China, and a structural equation model was used to explore the interactions among perceived biodiversity, place attachment, and self-rated repair. The main findings were as follows: (1) Perceived biodiversity had significant positive and direct effects on place dependence and self-rated restoration, but not on place identity. It is worth noting that place dependence has a deep and direct impact on place identity. (2) Self-rated restoration could be directly influenced by perceived biodiversity and place dependence. The direct impact of perceived biodiversity showed more intensity than place dependence. (3) Place dependence can be the only intermediary or link in the chain between perceived biodiversity and self-rated restoration. Conversely, place identity may not act as an independent intermediary but can play a key role in the chain of intermediaries. The study not only advances our understanding of the complex relationship between perceived biodiversity, place attachment, and self-assessed restoration; it also provides practical implications for urban green eco-design initiatives, thereby contributing to the field of urban landscape planning and formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global environmental and health issues such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the weaknesses of current urban systems, including the poor availability and accessibility of green and public spaces in cities. Nature-based Solutions are configured as promising solutions to increase the resilience and health of the built environment by addressing climate and pandemic issues, promoting the psycho-physical well-being of users and proposing solutions for the protection of the environment and ecosystems. Following a systematic review of the scientific literature using the PRISMA methodology, this study aims to provide a taxonomic framework for Nature-based Solutions for the built environment that is applicable to the urban and building scales, highlighting key benefits in addressing pandemic and climate challenges and achieving urban resilience. This framework proposes a holistic and multifunctional approach that will prove to be a useful tool for researchers and policy makers to incorporate greening strategies into urban regeneration and redevelopment processes. The application of Nature-based Solutions still seems to be limited. It is therefore necessary to raise awareness of this issue among citizens and policy makers and to promote close co-operation between the different actors in territorial decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The aims of this study are to explore the mechanism of villages′ ecosystem services on human well-being, and to promote regional sustainable development, especially in ecologically fragile areas. [Methods] Based on biophysical indicators and human needs theory, the spatial distribution of village ecosystem services and well-being were analyzed. Based on structural equation model, the mechanism of village ecosystem services on well-being was revealed from the perspective of village endowment. [Results] (1) The spatial distribution of crops and meats was similar, and fruits supply concentrated; High soil conservation villages distributed in the southern hilly mountains, and both water conservation and habitat quality were higher in the west than in the east. Landscape aesthetics was higher in the east than in the west, and high recreation villages concentrated in urban areas. (2) The spatial distribution of needs and human well-being in each village was quite different. Villages with high well-being included Chuandao villages, most township centers villages, and rural revitalization model villages. Villages with low human well-being were mainly located in hilly areas in the east and west, and such villages need to be given priority attention by the government. (3) Village ecosystem services positively affected human well-being, with crops, meat, and water conservation being the key ecosystem services affecting village well-being. Village endowments positively influenced ecosystem services and human well-being. Village endowments could indirectly improve the level of village well-being by enhancing its ecosystem services. Height was the key natural endowment, while non-illiteracy rate and aging rate were the key social endowment. Distance from the county seat was the key location endowment. [Conclusion] Spatial differences in village ecosystem services and human well-being are evident, and the endowment-ecosystem service-well-being pathway of influence is significant. Policy implementation based on spatial differences and pathway differences is a necessary requirement to enhance the contribution of ecosystem services to well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ghana is currently grappling with a formidable electronic waste (e-waste) challenge that poses significant threats to both the ecosystem and human well-being. This study delves into the e-waste management and recycling practices within a crucial sector of the industry, aiming to shed light on the issue and formulate comprehensive strategies for policy implementation and recycling initiatives in the Ho municipality, the regional hub of the Volta region, as well as in Ghana as a whole. Between March and May of 2022, a meticulous sampling process identified 150 electronic service technicians for participation. The data gathered was processed and analyzed using SPSS v16. The analytical techniques employed included one sample T-test, Likert scale assessments, and binary logistic regression. The results unveiled a significant gap in knowledge among repairers regarding government laws and e-waste disposal protocols. Qualifications emerged as a noteworthy factor influencing awareness levels (5.066, 95% CI: 1.098-3.860, p = 0.024, <0.05). While respondents generally acknowledged the environmental impact of e-waste, they exhibited limited awareness concerning the hazardous substances contained within it. Notably, two predominant e-waste management strategies surfaced: storage and eventual sale to scrap dealers. Regarding recycling methodologies, a majority (52%) expressed a preference for a nominal fee-based approach. These gaps highlight the need for stakeholders to publicize appropriate methods to recycle ewaste and the associated legal framework across all members of the Ghana Electronic Service Technicians' Association (GESTA) social media platforms in conjunction with local government assemblies to reshape repairers' perceptions of e-waste and increase environmental awareness, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of Industry 5.0 is novel from many points of view, as it fosters the transition to a sustainable, human-centric, resilient European industry. To reach this ambitious goal, it is necessary to act simultaneously on many fronts, starting from guaranteeing basic human rights (e.g., privacy, independence, and dignity) and paying attention to the circular economy and energy efficiency. Despite being difficult to adopt in its general formulation, this concept can be scaled up to specific fields, thus producing increased value with repercussions to the whole industrial process. The winemaking industry puts Italy at the forefront globally, as it is also among the key components of the whole national agrifood/agritech value chain. However, the Italian winemaking industry is quite fragmented, with a heterogeneous mix of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and with large companies having opposite approaches to the production process, both in terms of involvement of human resources and seasonality of efforts, due to the existing climate differences nationwide. This fact makes the adoption of common practices even harder but makes the benefits of projects promoting this process innovation more tangible. In such a framework, CANTINA 5.0 seeks to fill in this important gap, promoting the Industry 5.0 principles in a selected group of SMEs and large companies from two different Italian areas featuring different climate conditions and different seasonality, hence characterized by different wine harvesting periods and types of wine production. The present article deals with the description of this paradigm in its single parts, including the use of questionnaires and smart tools to detect the health and well-being state of factory workers and winemakers, the use of well-grounded (including gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) and novel (e.g., based on the Internet-of-Things) environmental monitoring tools applied to the cellars/production departments, and the sensory analysis of the end-products, also leveraging the chemical and emotional characteristics of wines produced using the Industry 5.0 approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the intricate connection between indigenous knowledge and sustainable forest management, with two main objectives. It seeks to explore and outline indigenous knowledge, elements, and practices that support sustainable forest management (SFM). It aims to uncover the invaluable traditional insights and practices that have helped preserve and ensure the responsible use of forest ecosystems. Also, it investigated global environmental policies that support indigenous knowledge since the inception of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). A narrative review method was employed to review and analyse peer-reviewed contents and reports to deduce ancestral or traditional wisdom, knowledge, practices, and beliefs from existing studies. The paper extracted data from existing literature from scholarly peer-reviewed journals. It aims to provide useful information for policy-makers, forest managers, and indigenous communities, to promote SFM and the sustainable development goals related to a sustainable environment. The study found that indigenous knowledge (IK) which includes ethnobotanical knowledge and plant selection, mixed land use, seed banks, and cultural beliefs such as sacred groves and taboos are some traditional practices, beliefs, and cultural knowledge that support SFM and can be integrated into international and national environmental management policies which the two-eyed seeing framework (TESF) seeks to promote. The framework highlights the potential of implementing IK into SFM. Also, the Akwé: Kon Guidelines, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), are some global environment policies that recognise traditional people and indigenous knowledge since the commencement of the CBD in the nineties. The paper recommends, for a future study, investigating the applicability of the Akwé: Kon Guidelines in international and national projects and programs that impact traditional sacred lands, forests and rivers, and indigenous people. Also, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement need to fully acknowledge the supporting role of indigenous knowledge and people in climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions, especially in Africa, since the majority of the world's population constitutes indigenous people who inhabit healthy standing forests and ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the dawn of the industrial era, the relationship between human well-being and technological in-novation has become increasingly close. This study explores this intricate relationship to understand how technological advancements can be harnessed to promote sustained and improved well-being for all. Focusing on China as a case study, this study considers both human well-being and technological innovation as key research objects. An evaluation index system for well-being is established by leveraging the spatial Durbin model and existing literature. This study empirically calculates well-being levels and conducts a classification analysis of the coupling and coordination between well-being and technological innovation across 31 provinces and cities. Additionally, the factors driving the coupling and coordination relationships are further clarified. The results reveal that (1) the coordination between well-being and technological innovation varies significantly between provinces but, overall, is gradually increasing; (2) a significant positive correlation exists between well-being and the coupling and coordination of scientific and technological innovation, and the spatial aggregation of the coupling and coordination development is gradually strengthening; and (3) several key factors influence this relationship. Rationalisation of the industrial structure, inclusive digital finance, talent concentration, and consumption rate all yield positive and significant impacts. Conversely, government intervention appears to negatively influence the coordination between these two crucial aspects. Based on this study's results, a series of policy recommendations are proposed to coordinate the development of well-being and technological innovation.

The synergistic development of ecosystem services (ESs) and human well-being (HWB) is of utmost importance for the construction of sustainable development. In this study, we focus on the provinces of Qinghai and Tibet as our research area. To measure the value of ESs and HWB, we employ the per unit area value equivalence method and the Human Development Index method, respectively. Based on the feedback relationship between ESs and HWB, we establish a system dynamics model that considers economic, social, ecological, land use, and policy influencing factors. This model enables us to conduct multiscenario simulation predictions and system dynamics sensitivity analysis, aiming to explore the main factors driving the coupled relationship between ESs and HWB. The results show that: (1) From 2010 to 2020, the value of ESs in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau generally increased, from 6049.49 billion CNY in 2010 to 6210.65 billion CNY in 2020, with generally higher in the southeast and lower in the northwest, and local high-high and high-low aggregation patterns. (2) From 2010 to 2020, the HWB index in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau exhibited a continuous rise, from 0.19 in 2010 to 0.53 in 2020, indicating substantial development potential. (3) The system dynamics model established in this study demonstrates effectiveness with high fitting accuracy. From 2021 to 2050, the HWB index in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau displays an upward trend in all five scenarios, while the value of ESs shows a declining trend under the economic development priority scenario and an upward trend under the status quo, ecological protection priority, social development priority, and integrated development scenarios. Among these, the integrated development scenario proves optimal as it satisfies economic development needs, basic social security, and environmental protection requirements. (4) Grasslands, water areas, and environmental protection investment are identified as the main driving factors in the synergistic improvement of ESs and HWB. And the influence of different driving factors will change dynamically with time. Our study can guide the search for the optimal development model for the synergistic improvement of ESs and HWB in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, providing a theoretical foundation for future development planning.

Rural decline is a global concern, and Ecosystem Services (ES) play a crucial role in both rural revitalization and the Human Well-being (HW) of residents. This study investigated 9 revitalization cases in Shandong province, China, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods. It confirmed the effect on HW based on ES, using a comprehensive assessment framework covering local ecosystem services contribution and economic/social effect derived from the Millennium Ecosystem Service Assessment (MA) and Japan Biodiversity Outlook (JBO) and consolidated variations into four ES dimensions from a HW perspective. As a result, 4 common types of rural revitalization were identified: (A) Large-scale Agriculture, (B) Local Specialty/Brand Making, (C) Industry Integration, and (D) Urbanization Village, based on actors, core industries, and key revitalization activities. According to interviews with local residents, the residents express high levels of satisfaction with revitalization activities. Using TOPSIS analysis, we found that urbanization-led revitalization (D) excels in “economic/social” dimensions but falls short in “Interaction with nature and health'' and “Life and culture with nature.'' In contrast, agriculture-based revitalization activities (A and B) offer a more balanced impact across various ES dimensions. The well-being of residents varies depending on how they utilize and connect with nature. These findings underscore the potential of large-scale agricultural development to address rural population decline and suggest that fostering a positive exchange of ES, HW and capital between rural and urban areas can enhance the resilience of the rural-urban system. These insights are especially relevant for addressing the urban-rural imbalances in developing countries experiencing urban expansion and rural decline.

The security of the Earth system has been extensively discussed through the concept of planetary boundaries, which hypothesizes the Anthropocene as the crisis for pushing environmental variables beyond safe limits. Cities, as burgeoning population centers, warrant heightened attention to issues surrounding planetary boundaries and ecological security. While groundwork has been laid for environmental change detection, the acoustic or soundscape perspective is rarely considered. This paper presents abundant empirical evidence supporting the feasibility of leveraging the soundscape as a valuable lens for exploring ecosystem structures, functions, and their contribution to human well-being. Particularly, it proposes spatialized soundscape maps as practical tools to implement this innovative perspective. We elaborate on two key aspects: (i) soundscape as a reflection of ecosystem evolution, enabling evaluation of ecosystem structures, interactions, and the ecosystem's functions; (ii) soundscape has the attribution of providing cultural services, allowing assessment of its impact on human health. Consequently, we propose two paradigms: (i) “security in soundscape” and (ii) “security of soundscape”, thereby initiated the concept of “soundscape for security”. Furthermore, we outline two generalized pathways: (i) soundscape monitoring, encompassing long-term strategies for real-time tracking of ecosystem evolution, and (ii) soundscape perception, involving detailed surveys to investigate perception and public participatory sensing for large-scale evaluation of ecosystem cultural services. We argue that integrating soundscape considerations holds promise in urban ecological security initiatives and the pursuit of sustainable cities. Moving forward, collective efforts among academics are crucial to establish widely accepted protocols to maximize the value of soundscape for urban ecological security.

Forests provide a variety of ecosystem services that contribute in various ways to human well-being. In times of land-use pressures, urbanisation, and nature degradation, the societal demand for forest-based therapeutic uses is increasing. Although nature-related therapies and the beneficial effects of nature on health and well-being are an old concept in cultures such as Asia and, more recently, Europe, forest therapy offers are increasingly taking hold in the forest recreation landscape. This Commentary paper identifies recent forest therapy offers and research in Asia and Europe that focus on the therapeutic effects of forests and examine their underlying rationales, practices, and status. In particular, we elaborate the socioeconomic potential of forest therapy to contribute to human health and sustainable forest management. Based on a scoping review on forest therapy offers and research, we found that countries such as Japan and South Korea are ahead of European countries in the professionalization of forest therapy offers and respective studies. While the number of studies that demonstrate the positive health benefits of forests are increasing, there is a lack of understanding the link with forest management approaches and forest and health policies. A lack of socioeconomic evaluation hinders its successful integration into policy frameworks, and prevents its use as an alternative forestry product or preventive medical treatment. For forest therapy to become part of the forestry portfolio and a medical alternative, we recommend: • Interdisciplinary research approaches and new actor alliances that link societal demands for forest therapy with insights from forest management and medical health research, • Transdisciplinary research and multi-actor approaches to link insights from forest and medical research with practitioners’ skills for forest management, service design, and communication, • To identify trade-offs and conflict potentials with forest therapy, for example in relation to timber production or questions of insurance in case of injuries by falling branches etc., that allow to develop integrated and sustainable solutions, • Policy backup and economic support for forest managers and owners to compensate for their efforts to manage their forests for therapeutic purposes • Recognition of forest therapy as an explicit part of the forestry portfolio and an alternative medical offer for clinical treatments.

Human well-being is critically linked to the condition of marine ecosystems. Intangible services, benefits, and values derived from ecosystems play a vital role in human well-being and promote conservation efforts that ultimately support ecosystem sustainability. Similar to many regions, communities along the west coast of Hawai‘i Island are intertwined with their diverse and productive ecosystem. Though multiple resource management programs focus on operationalizing ecosystem-based management in this region, they lack adequate inclusion of connections between people and their environment. To address this, we used the Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) framework to investigate intangible connections and opportunities to include them in resource management. Through unstructured interviews with community members on Hawai‘i Island, we explored relationships between CES and human well-being. We found that certain CES seem to be strongly related and/or connected to a large number of other CES. We also describe emergent interview themes, which include the ecosystem’s influence on well-being, types of access to CES, and the values that people ascribe to their ecosystem-derived connections. Importantly, these themes represent necessary modifications to ecosystem assessment frameworks. Additionally, we suggest stepping away from discussing CES as if they exist in segregated categories that contribute to individual facets of human well-being. Taken collectively, our findings support deepening the scope of ecosystem assessments and improving sociocultural indicators for the benefit of marine ecosystems and human well-being alike.

The security of the Earth system has been extensively discussed through the concept of planetary boundaries, which hypothesizes the Anthropocene as the crisis for pushing environmental variables beyond safe limits. Cities, as burgeoning population centers, warrant heightened attention to issues surrounding planetary boundaries and ecological security. While groundwork has been laid for environmental change detection, the acoustic or soundscape perspective is rarely considered. This paper presents abundant empirical evidence supporting the feasibility of leveraging the soundscape as a valuable lens for exploring ecosystem structures, functions, and their contribution to human well-being. Particularly, it proposes spatialized soundscape maps as practical tools to implement this innovative perspective. We elaborate on two key aspects: (i) soundscape as a reflection of ecosystem evolution, enabling evaluation of ecosystem structures, interactions, and the ecosystem's functions; (ii) soundscape has the attribution of providing cultural services, allowing assessment of its impact on human health. Consequently, we propose two paradigms: (i) "security in soundscape" and (ii) "security of soundscape", thereby initiated the concept of "soundscape for security". Furthermore, we outline two generalized pathways: (i) soundscape monitoring, encompassing long-term strategies for real-time tracking of ecosystem evolution, and (ii) soundscape perception, involving detailed surveys to investigate perception and public participatory sensing for large-scale evaluation of ecosystem cultural services. We argue that integrating soundscape considerations holds promise in urban ecological security initiatives and the pursuit of sustainable cities. Moving forward, collective efforts among academics are crucial to establish widely accepted protocols to maximize the value of soundscape for urban ecological security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community decision making based on the sustainability of ecosystem services is an integrated process that involves multiple complex decisions and is greatly aided by an understanding of how those decisions are interrelated. The interrelatedness of decisions can be understood and even measured based on connections between actions and services and influence of services on domains of human well-being. These connections can be formed into a network structure so that quantifiable properties of networks can be applied to understanding decision impacts. We developed an eco-decisional network based on weighted social-ecological networks as a tool for integrated decision making based on ecosystem services and human well-being. Nodes are actions, services, or domains of human well-being and they are linked by weighted influence derived from community stakeholder input. Examination of the eco-decisional network, as well as comparison to pattern in the random networks, suggest there are important patterns of influence among different influence pathways from actions to community well-being, which describe community priorities and define unique roles through which chosen sets of actions can influence human well-being. The eco-decisional network is generalized across communities but can also be made community specific, which provides a tool for comparison between communities in decisional priorities (network properties), as well as comparisons between proposed actions within a community (network paths). The well-studied properties of networks, well- established network theory, as well as established network metrics make this approach promising for application to integrated decision making and for communicating possible outcomes to stakeholders. The result is a guidance tool for connecting propose actions to ecosystem services and human well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, human well-being has emerged as a pivotal concern that affects not only quality of life but also social and economic dimensions. Lighting in office spaces is crucial for the health and cognitive function of occupants, and various methods are used to assess it. However, there is still a lack of research investigating the relationship between lighting satisfaction and its key factors in diverse spaces. This study focused on the office light environment, using quantitative and qualitative data analysis to understand occupants' satisfaction and the factors influenced by lighting characteristics. According to the results, occupant satisfaction was higher in light environments with illuminance levels exceeding the appropriate illuminance standard. Furthermore, the influx of daylight and its influencing factors, such as daylight exposure and window size, played a significant role in enhancing satisfaction. However, while daylight was a primary source of glare, its mitigation was not solely reliant on installations, such as blinds; architectural designs, including space arrangement, were also crucial in addressing it. Furthermore, the perception of the lighting environment varied based on work behaviors and spatial arrangements, influencing satisfaction with the lighting conditions. Therefore, a comprehensive approach that considers lighting elements, human behavior, and architectural design is essential in creating a lighting environment for office occupants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study identified the most common poisonous and allergenic plants occurring in Sicilian gardens and parks. Based on a survey conducted at 100 sites, a list was drawn up that reports the main biological and toxicological characteristics and ornamental uses of these plants. A total of 137 taxa were recorded, of which 108 were poisonous and 32 were allergenic. The most represented families were the Solanaceae, Moraceae, Apocynaceae and Fabaceae. The most represented geographical contingents were the European and the Mediterranean. A large number of toxic and allergenic plants recorded in Sicilian parks and gardens cause gastrointestinal disorders, 21 of which are deadly poisonous. Based on the results, actions for the management of existing gardens and the construction of new ones are discussed. The importance of environmental education for the population starting from school age is stressed. These recommendations aim to preserve cultivated biodiversity and, at the same time, protect human and pet health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem services (ES) embrace contributions of nature to human livelihood and well-being. Reef environments provide a range of ES with direct and indirect contributions to people. However, the health of reef environments is declining globally due to local and large-scale threats, affecting ES delivery in different ways. Mapping scientific knowledge and identifying research gaps on reefs' ES is critical to guide their management and conservation. We conducted a systematic assessment of peer-reviewed articles published between 2007 and 2022 to build an overview of ES research on reef environments. We analyzed the geographical distribution, reef types, approaches used to assess ES, and the potential drivers of change in ES delivery reported across these studies. Based on 115 articles, our results revealed that coral and oyster reefs are the most studied reef ecosystems. Cultural ES (e.g., subcategories recreation and tourism) was the most studied ES in high-income countries, while regulating and maintenance ES (e.g., subcategory life cycle maintenance) prevailed in low and middle-income countries. Research efforts on reef ES are biased toward the Global North, mainly North America and Oceania. Studies predominantly used observational approaches to assess ES, with a marked increase in the number of studies using statistical modeling during 2021 and 2022. The scale of studies was mostly local and regional, and the studies addressed mainly one or two subcategories of reefs' ES. Overexploitation, reef degradation, and pollution were the most commonly cited drivers affecting the delivery of provisioning, regulating and maintenance, and cultural ES. With increasing threats to reef environments, the growing demand for assessing the contributions to humans provided by reefs will benefit the projections on how these ES will be impacted by anthropogenic pressures. The incorporation of multiple and synergistic ecosystem mechanisms is paramount to providing a comprehensive ES assessment, and improving the understanding of functions, services, and benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the mid-1980s, forest bathing was established in Japan to improve citizens' physical and mental health. In the literature, many studies have investigated the role of forest bathing in decreasing people's stress and anxiety as well as in reducing hypertension and coronary artery disease. Forest bathing is also a practice with important social and economic implications at a local level. This study investigated the economic value of forest bathing in a case study in northern Italy (i.e., the Parco del Respiro, in Trentino-Alto Adige) using the Zonal Travel Cost Method. To achieve this aim, 243 forest bathers in the study area were interviewed in the summer of 2022. The findings highlighted that an actively managed forest with an average–low amount of deadwood and clean open areas is the scenario preferred by participants. In addition, the results of the Zonal Travel Cost Method showed a relevant annual consumer surplus of EUR 8700 for the forest bathing activity in the study area, corresponding to EUR 35.80 per visit per person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Scaffolds are 3D biomaterials that provide an environment for cell regeneration. In the context of bone remodeling, poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) combined with graphene has been developed as the scaffold. It is imperative for scaffolds to possess antibacterial properties in order to properly reduce the risk of potential infections.Therefore, this study aims to analyze the antibacterial characteristics of PCL/graphene scaffolds against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) in vitro. In this study, five different groups were used, including PCL (K-), Amoxicillin (K+), PCL/Graphene 0.5 wt%, PCL/graphene 1 wt% and PCL/Graphene 1.5 wt%. All experiments were performed in triplicates and were repeated three times, and the diffusion method by Kirby-Bauer test was used. The disc was incubated with S. aureus and P. gingivalis for 24 hours and then the diameter of the inhibition zone was measured. The results showed that the PCL/graphene scaffolds exhibited dose-dependent antibacterial activity against S. aureus and P. gingivalis. The inhibition zone diameter (IZD) against S. aureus of PCL/graphene 1 wt% was 9.53 ± 0.74 mm, and increased to 11.93 ± 0.92 mm at a concentration of 1.5 wt% of graphene. The PCL/graphene scaffold with 1.5 wt% exhibited a greater inhibitory effect, with an IZD of 12.56 ± 0.06 mm against P. gingivalis, while the inhibitory activity of the 1 wt% variant was relatively lower at 10.46 ± 0.24 mm. The negative control, PCL, and PCL/graphene 0.5 wt% exhibited no antibacterial activity sequentially (p = 1). Scaffolds of poly(e-caprolactone)/graphene exhibited an antibacterial activity at 1, and 1.5 wt% on S. aureus and P. gingivalis. The antibacterial properties of this scaffold make it a promising candidate for regenerating bone tissue.

Abstract Soil is central to the complex interplay among biodiversity, climate, and society. This paper examines the interconnectedness of soil biodiversity, climate change, and societal impacts, emphasizing the urgent need for integrated solutions. Human‐induced biodiversity loss and climate change intensify environmental degradation, threatening human well‐being. Soils, rich in biodiversity and vital for ecosystem function regulation, are highly vulnerable to these pressures, affecting nutrient cycling, soil fertility, and resilience. Soil also crucially regulates climate, influencing energy, water cycles, and carbon storage. Yet, climate change poses significant challenges to soil health and carbon dynamics, amplifying global warming. Integrated approaches are essential, including sustainable land management, policy interventions, technological innovations, and societal engagement. Practices like agroforestry and organic farming improve soil health and mitigate climate impacts. Effective policies and governance are crucial for promoting sustainable practices and soil conservation. Recent technologies aid in monitoring soil biodiversity and implementing sustainable land management. Societal engagement, through education and collective action, is vital for environmental stewardship. By prioritizing interdisciplinary research and addressing key frontiers, scientists can advance understanding of the soil biodiversity–climate change–society nexus, informing strategies for environmental sustainability and social equity.

Urban infrastructure critically influences how urban people carry their lives and mediates how services central to human well-being are accessed. Therefore, the main of this study is twofold: One, the study interrogates how the quality of urban infrastructural service accessibility influences human well-being, and two, how governance interactively with urban infrastructural services affects human well-being using balanced panel data from 2000 to 2020 from 22 Sub-Saharan African countries. Applying the Driscoll-Kraay and Two-Step Instrumental Variable Generalized Method of Moments (2SIV-GMM) in panel dynamic model setup, we uncover that increasing the quality of accessing urban infrastructural services results in enhanced human well-being. Interrogating the role of governance on human well-being, the findings depict a significant detrimental interactive effect between governance and urban infrastructural services on human well-being. Accounting for rapid urbanization in the Sub-Saharan African region, the results illustrate significant negative control effects of urbanization rate and aftermath urban agglomeration on human well-being. Conclusively, effective government policies that influence higher levels of human well-being in regions with large urban agglomerations are paramount. Thus, effective government investments in urban infrastructural services in Sub-Saharan Africa remain a vital sustainability policy agenda.

The article explores how modeling the human well-being benefits of ecosystem restoration and management can enhance environmental decision-making. Topics discussed include the integration of ecosystem services into decision processes, the use of various quantitative and qualitative tools to assess and manage these services, and the importance of stakeholder engagement and community involvement in successful restoration projects.

Abstract Globally, land and seascapes across the bioculturally diverse tropics are in transition. Impacted by the demands of distant consumers, the processes of global environmental change and numerous interventions seeking climate, conservation and development goals, these transitions have the potential to impact the relationships and plurality of values held between people and place. This paper is a Synthesis of seven empirical studies within the Special Feature (SF): ‘What is lost in transition? Capturing the impacts of conservation and development interventions on relational values and human wellbeing in the tropics’. Through two Open Forum workshops, and critical review, contributing authors explored emergent properties across the papers of the SF. Six core themes were identified and are subsumed within broad categories of: (i) the problem of reconciling scale and complexity, (ii) key challenges to be overcome for more plural understanding of social dimensions of landscape change and (iii) ways forward: the potential of an environmental justice framework, and a practical overview of methods available to do so. The Synthesis interprets disparate fields and complex academic work on relational values, human well‐being and de‐colonial approaches in impact appraisal. It offers a practical and actionable catalogue of methods for plural valuation in the field, and reflects on their combinations, strengths and weaknesses. The research contribution is policy relevant because it builds the case for why a more plural approach in intervention design and evaluation is essential for achieving more just and sustainable futures, and highlights some of the key actions points deemed necessary to achieve such a transition to conventional practice. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Informal green spaces (IGSs) play an essential role in enhancing urban well-being by offering restorative environments, yet the impact of visitor behaviors on perceived restorativeness (PR) remains underexplored. This study investigates how different spatio-temporal behaviors influence PR in IGS, providing urban planners with actionable insights to optimize these spaces for better user experiences. Using a visitor-employed photography (VEP) survey and post-visit PR assessments, K-means clustering was applied to identify distinct visitor behavior patterns. Correlation analysis further explored the relationships between these patterns and PR; the results reveal three unique clusters of visitor behaviors—fast, extensive exploration; moderate, focused exploration; and slow, thorough exploration—each showing distinct impacts on PR. Visitors who engage in rapid, broad exploration perceive larger, navigable spaces as more restorative, while those focusing on specific or in-depth exploration emphasize psychological aspects like escape and fascination. These behavioral patterns demonstrate varying strengths in their association with restorative experiences; This study underscores the importance of integrating spatio-temporal behavior data with PR assessments, highlighting how the physical and psychological features of IGS influence visitor experiences. These findings offer critical insights for designing and managing IGS to accommodate diverse user needs and promote urban well-being.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are widely promoted as effective tools for conserving biodiversity and safeguarding ecosystem services. However, MPA success can be hindered by a lack of legitimacy and low social support because of perceived negative effects on ecosystem services and human well-being. Despite these social challenges, the social dimensions of marine conservation, such as the effects of MPAs on coastal livelihoods and local communities’ perceptions of these effects, are often overlooked in conservation initiatives. In this study, we use a mixed methods approach, combining qualitative thematic analysis and quantitative network analysis derived from interviews and focus group discussions, to examine the perceptions of key stakeholder groups about the Litoral Norte MPA in Portugal. Our findings reveal that most stakeholder groups hold more negative than positive views about the governance and management of the MPA. Key concerns include unsatisfactory participation in MPA decisions and perceptions that the MPA fails to deliver positive social and ecological outcomes, such as increased community involvement, fair income distribution, and enhanced fish abundance. Policy makers and managers need to address these negative perceptions to improve conservation governance and management. By considering the stakeholder feedback presented in this study, such as fostering better engagement with the local community and transforming conflicts into opportunities for co-developing new conservation actions with local resource users, policy makers and managers can increase support for Litoral Norte and enhance the social and ecological outcomes of the MPA.

Urban green spaces are crucial for alleviating psychological stress, but the effect of multi-sensory experiences on psychological restoration remains underexplored. This study, conducted in Edinburgh, Scotland, with 40 participants, compares the effects of walking and sitting in different urban environments—built environments, semi-natural green spaces, and natural green spaces—on psychological restoration. The results reveal that while sensory quality positively correlates with psychological well-being, sensory perception and variety do not always have a positive effect on restoration. Moreover, supplementing visual and hearing experiences with tactility and smell in urban green spaces is more effective in reducing stress and enhancing overall well-being, particularly in terms of vitality, which is largely affected by non-visual sensory inputs. This study highlights the importance of creating balanced sensory environments in urban green spaces, integrating a variety of sensory experiences to maximize psychological benefits. These findings provide valuable insights for urban planners and designers aiming to optimize green spaces for enhanced mental health and overall quality of life.

It is widely acknowledged that biodiversity change is affecting human well‐being by altering the supply of Nature's Contributions to People (NCP). Nevertheless, the role of individual species in this relationship remains obscure. In this article, we present a framework that combines the cascade model from ecosystem services research with network theory from community ecology. This allows us to quantitatively link NCP demanded by people to the networks of interacting species that underpin them. We show that this "network cascade" framework can reveal the number, identity and importance of the individual species that drive NCP and of the environmental conditions that support them. This information is highly valuable in demonstrating the importance of biodiversity in supporting human well‐being and can help inform the management of biodiversity in social‐ecological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural transition and specialization in PUAs have reshaped the ecological landscape, economic structure, and rural cultural values worldwide. There is a gap in how to analyze the linkages of ecosystem services (ES) and human well-being (HWB) and how to clearly identify the differences on the dimension (primary concerns) of HWB from a comprehensive perspective. Thus, we selected three typical agricultural transformation modes in the Xi'an metropolitan zone in China, employing social surveys, field mapping, ecosystem service assessment methods, and qualitative analysis methods, and proposed an analytical framework from a comprehensive perspective of "ecological-social-cultural" contexts to examine the changes and mechanism between ES and HWB. The results indicated the following: (1) Agricultural transition has driven the changes not only in ecological landscape, agricultural structure planting and practice modes, and rural economic structure, but also the shift in rural social relationships and cultural values together restructured rural society during agricultural specialization. (2) Due to triggering by the agricultural transition and specialization, great changes occurred in "ecological-social-cultural" contexts in PUAs, the changes of HWB not only reflected in its degree (level), but more importantly, in its dimension (primary concerns). (3) With agricultural transition and specialization, the total value of ES increased, while the HWB rose in three transition modes. (4) The analytical frameworks proposed in the study are suitable to analyze the mechanisms of ES and HWB, and helpful to address the issues on the relation of ES to HWB inevitably being combined with the nature–land system. The approach proposed in the study on distinguishing the differences among the dimensions of well-being based on grounded theory could clearly identify the differences among different "ecological- social-cultural" contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the direct and positive impact of conservation incentive programs in the tropics is essential. Typically, conservation incentive programs in the tropics aim to enhance residents' access to material resources, with the ultimate goal of improving human well-being. These programs are also intended to reduce human-induced threats to wildlife. However, access to material livelihood resources as a means to improved life satisfaction is a human-centered goal that may or may not benefit wildlife conservation. Using structural equation modeling, this paper examines the potential of life satisfaction to significantly reduce illegal forest use behavior of residents neighboring the Virunga Landscape parks in Uganda and Rwanda. The findings indicate that improved life satisfaction significantly reduces livelihood-based illegal forest use. However, improved life satisfaction was not found to reduce illegal forest use driven by traditional values and practices. The findings also indicate that illegal forest use driven by traditional values and practices significantly increases illegal forest use for livelihoods. Ultimately, this study suggests that although incentive-based programs in the Virunga Landscape may be helping to reduce illegal forest use for livelihoods, they may not be addressing traditional forest use practices. This paper recommends supplementing conservation incentive programs with community education programs and law enforcement to effectively control the dimensions of illegal forest use and its negative impacts on wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal communities of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico have been affected by atypical influxes of pelagic macroalgae (Sargassum genus) since 2011, entailing ecological, economic and social impacts in need of characterization. We compiled and documented local ecological knowledge (LEK) and perceptions across diverse stakeholder groups from coastal communities in Mexico (Quintana Roo) (n=50 participants) and the United States (Florida) (n=36 participants) through on-site and online interviews and workshops undertaken from January to March of 2022, to understand how the knowledge of this phenomenon varies among communities and to characterize ecological and well-being impacts. Participants in Quintana Roo associated these influxes with both global phenomena (e.g., climate change) and local scale processes (e.g., currents/wind patterns) while Florida participants associated these events more with the latter. The communities in both regions perceived that the economy and the environment were the most impacted well-being categories. While influxes effects were mostly negative (80%) according to Quintana Roo participants (e.g., affected fisheries), Florida participants considered many positive effects of Sargassum (40%) on several well-being and ecological components (e.g., nursery habitat for marine species). In general, the perception of Sargassum as a problem was less pronounced in Florida, and these differences in perception are related to the magnitude of these influxes' effect on the daily life of these communities. Overall, macroalgae management is still mainly focused on beach cleanup. Documenting LEK is important to delineate scientific research priorities and to provide decision makers with resources to develop efficient public policies and coastal management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past three decades community-based natural resources management (CBNRM) has sought to address the concurrent needs of economic development and ecological protection at the local level, but there is often strong divergence between development and conservation interests and successes. In particular, CBNRM has not always led to expected socioeconomic outcomes, while information of its impact on human well-being at household level is sparse. In Botswana, most communities do not disburse benefits from CBNRM ventures to households. This leads to an inherent scale mismatch that arises because the costs of living with wildlife are felt at the household level, while the benefits are paid out at the community or village level. We use longitudinal data from two household surveys conducted 22 years apart to assess if benefits from the Botswana model of CBNRM have increased householdlevel adaptive capacity for those living with wildlife. We take a livelihoods capital approach to develop indicators of adaptive capacity and measure how livelihood diversity, inequality, and adaptive capacity have changed in five communities in northern Botswana between 1995 and 2017. Our analyses confirm the findings of qualitative reviews and suggest that CBNRM is under-performing in its contribution to improved household-level adaptive capacity. CBNRM cannot be said to benefit communities if the majority of community members do not experience increased well-being. We therefore recommend restructuring the governance models of CBNRM and other community conservation approaches to ensure that benefits are more directly targeted to actively participating households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]