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Despite changing paradigms in nature conservation, protected areas, such as national parks, remain key tools for nature conservation. Today, protected areas are perceived as socio-ecological systems, therefore using an ecosystem services approach may help in their designation. Here, we focus on the planned Turnicki National Park located in the far eastern part of the Polish Carpathian Mountains and conflict between proponents of the park establishment and local stakeholders. We used an ecosystem services-driven questionnaire survey among local communities to analyze interactions between the perception of ecosystem services and opinions about national parks, and the role of social and economic status in shaping these opinions. We found links between opinions towards national parks and other factors: age, life span in a municipality, level of education, and an average net income. Respondents who perceived benefits from nature were more positive towards national parks in general and the Turnicki National Park specifically; however, those who prioritized provisioning services were more skeptical. Also, we distinguished four Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis models which describe factors shaping opinions on national parks, respectively. The study has shown that the ecosystem services lens perspective can help in exploring the factors crucial while establishing the protected areas in specific social and economic context. The main implication for the study is careful consideration of the role of national park to protect the local environment in harmony with social needs and economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typical black soil regions in Northeastern China (TBSN) are facing problems of degradation of ecosystem services (ESs) and spatial conflicts between cropland and ecological land. Ecological Protection Redline (EPR) policy is one of the first national policies to utilizing multiple ESs. However, there is no standardized framework of delineation and validation for TBSN. In this study, the framework of Ecological Protection Redline delineation was further improved in three aspects of the ecosystem, namely, service function, ecological sensitivity, and biodiversity. Specifically, the framework considered the conflict between highquality cropland and ecological land in the TBSN. We examined EPR effectiveness by comparing ESs and trade-off/synergistic relationships of different land use scenarios for 2035. The results show that 1) the EPR delineation threshold for each key indicator was determined to be 15%, considering the quality level of cropland. The ecological redline area of 89,593.63 km2 was identified, which was concentrated in the southwestern part of the Mengdong typical black soil subzone and Songnen typical black soil subzone. 2) Compared to the current ecological protection scenario and current ecological protection redline scenario, the optimized EPR scenario was the best solution to guarantee the sustainable development of the TBSN, maximizing ESs, weakening trade-offs, and strengthening synergistic relationships between them. The results of the study provided a theoretical basis for land use planning and the scientific management of ecosystems in the TBSN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the impacts of shrub encroachment on the ecosystem processes have been well-documented, little is known about the extent to which socio-cultural values and perceptions might influence actions undertaken to manage shrub proliferation. Understanding stakeholder values is important because the ecosystem's capacity to supply a given service or suite of services must be balanced against the value society places on them. Research to date has emphasized supply with little consideration of value, making it difficult to comprehensively or objectively evaluate trade-offs and set priorities, particularly when managing for one particular service or a suite of services that may adversely affect other services. To address this, we conducted a case study in Southern Arizona and New Mexico (USA) to evaluate stakeholder perceptions of and preferences for various ecosystem services provided on semi-arid rangelands where shrub proliferation has impacted traditional livestock grazing. Perceptions of rangeland ecosystem services were elicited via a visually based landscape interpretation while preferences were quantified using best-worst scaling (BWS). Our findings suggest that stakeholders familiar with rangelands and their management generally perceive low shrub cover as providing a wider range of valued ecosystem services compared to rangelands with high shrub cover. Contrary to expectations, ecosystem service preferences in the context of shrub encroachment were generally uniform across all stakeholder groups (e.g., ranchers, state/federal governmental employees, non-governmental land managers, academicians, recreationists), with habitat for biodiversity and erosion control being identified as the most preferred. Accordingly, our results indicate that the widespread perception/assumption that ranchers in this region undertake brush management to enhance livestock production solely for economic gain is seen as too narrow. Our results also suggest an opportunity for brush management to serve as a potential win-win management action if framed as a way to maintain or promote rangeland biodiversity and mitigate erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic habitat loss is widely recognized as a primary environmental concern. By contrast, debates on the effects of habitat fragmentation persist. To facilitate overcoming these debates, here we: (i) review the state of the literature on habitat fragmentation, finding widespread confusion and stigma; (ii) identify consequences of this for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management; and (iii) suggest ways in which research can move forward to resolve these problems. Confusion is evident from the 25 most‐cited fragmentation articles published between 2017 and 2021. These articles use five distinct concepts of habitat fragmentation, only one of which clearly distinguishes habitat fragmentation from habitat area and other factors ('fragmentation per se'). Stigmatization is evident from our new findings that fragmentation papers are more charged with negative sentiments when compared to papers from other subfields in the environmental sciences, and that fragmentation papers with more negative sentiments are cited more. While most empirical studies of habitat fragmentation per se find neutral or positive effects on species and biodiversity outcomes, which implies that small habitat patches have a high cumulative value, confusion and stigma in reporting and discussing such results have led to suboptimal habitat protection policy. For example, government agencies, conservation organizations, and land trusts impose minimum habitat patch sizes on habitat protection. Given the high cumulative value of small patches, such policies mean that many opportunities for conservation are being missed. Our review highlights the importance of reducing confusion and stigma in habitat fragmentation research. To this end, we propose implementing study designs in which multiple sample landscapes are selected across independent gradients of habitat amount and fragmentation, measured as patch density. We show that such designs are possible for forest habitat across Earth's biomes. As such study designs are adopted, and as language becomes more precise, we expect that confusion and stigma in habitat fragmentation research will dissipate. We also expect important breakthroughs in understanding the situations where effects of habitat fragmentation per se are neutral, positive, or negative, and the reasons for these differences. Ultimately this will improve efficacy of area‐based conservation policies, to the benefit of biodiversity and people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change and coastal urbanization have significantly impacted the health and carbon storage of coastal zone ecosystems. Investigating the spatial and temporal variations in coastal carbon storage is crucial for developing effective strategies for land management and ecological protection. Current methods for evaluating carbon storage are hindered by insufficient accuracy and data acquisition challenges, necessitating solutions to enhance both reliability and precision. This study aims to assess the variations in carbon storage and annual carbon sequestration in the Jiaozhou Bay coastal zone from 1990 to 2020 and to identify the driving factors by integrating the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) and Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach (CASA) models with remote sensing data and geographic detector methods. The findings suggest that Jiaozhou Bay has experienced a substantial decrease in carbon storage, declining by 17.4% from 1990 to 2020, and annual carbon sequestration, decreasing by 35.5% from 1990 to 2016, but has stabilized recently. Vegetation cover and water bodies play critical roles in regional carbon storage. Furthermore, the dynamics of carbon storage and land use patterns are significantly influenced by socioeconomic factors, including GDP and population density. A comparison of the InVEST and CASA models demonstrates consistency in their carbon storage and annual carbon sequestration assessments. Combining these models in future assessments can enhance the scientific rigor and accuracy of the research, providing more reliable evidence for ecosystem management and policy making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of economy and society, decision-makers need a deep understanding of the role of sustainable ecosystem management in practical application, which is crucial to the sustainable development of ecosystems. Understanding the relationship between ecosystem supply and social demand is key in overcoming the contradiction between humans and the ecosystem, as well as achieving successful ecological restoration and healthy regional development. However, there is still a lack of multi-scale and multi-method research on the supply–demand relationship of ecosystem services for key ecological-restoration zone. In this study, a typical ecological barrier (i.e., Ganzhou City of southern China) was selected as the research area, and five ecosystem services (ESs) including water yield (WY), carbon sequestration (CS), crop production (CP), soil retention (SR) and recreation service (RE) were investigated at the pixel, township and county scale in 2020. The balance and coordination analysis of ESs supply and the quantitative analysis of the supply–demand relationship (using the coupling coordination degree (CD), matching degree (MD), and supply–demand ratio (SDR)) were executed under multiple scales. Finally, based on the MD at the township scale, Ganzhou City was divided into four areas: high-demand, low-demand, low-supply and high-supply areas. The results reveal a trade-off relationship between CP and CS at the pixel scale, with no trade-off relationships observed among the ESs at the other scales. The supply–demand relationships of different districts and counties in Ganzhou City are highly uncoordinated, with distinct spatial mismatching. Areas with high CD values are located in Chongyi County and Longnan County, while the low/value SDR area is located in Zhanggong District, with a relatively high population and GDP. The results of MD division based on township level in Ganzhou City show 17 townships are classified as high-demand areas (mainly in urban areas) and 23 townships are classified as low-demand areas (mainly in the suburbs); 77 townships are classified as low-supply areas and 167 townships are classified as high-supply areas, which are mainly distributed in forest areas. This study provides guide for regional ecological space planning, enhances the understanding of ESs management, and provides a more objective reference for decision makers to plan future ecological restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing areas of arable land, which is often heavily managed, negatively affect biological diversity in many ways, decreasing species richness and abundance. There is a substantial social demand for implementing agricultural management practices to preserve biological diversity locally. Here, we present the results of studies on the invertebrate diversity of woodland islets, which are small areas of forests surrounded by arable fields. Studies on invertebrate taxa show high values of diversity indices within such forest remnants, with a predominant presence of hymenopterans, collembolans, beetles, and spiders, which serve many ecosystem services, such as pollination or predation. A low abundance of herbivores and a high abundance of agile predators make such small woods a potential habitat for natural pest enemies. The results indicate a potential role for such woodland islets isolated from each other by a distance of ca. 1 km as an efficient substitute for extensive field management since they allow the maintenance of invertebrate diversity in the agricultural landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting a multi-criteria approach in forest management is essential for preserving or improving specific benefits while minimizing negative environmental impacts. Determining the appropriate long-term management approach for a forest requires considering heterogeneous environmental and social factors, as well as changes in forest characteristics over time. Conducting a strategic assessment of forest use suitability (FUS), namely productive, protective, conservation-oriented, social and multifunctional, at the national level, taking into account the dynamics in the provision of forest ecosystem services and the trade-offs between FUS alternatives, can guide the development of customized management strategies and policies that align with the specific requirements and conditions of the forest. In this study, we evaluate the supply and simulation-based changes over time of diverse ecosystem services of Pinus sylvestris stands in Spain and utilize a decision model to determine the most suitable FUS alternative that enhances the provision of these services. The assignment of the most appropriate FUS alternative aims to help in decision-making processes and in the selection of the most adequate management strategies. To achieve this, we utilize the last version of ecosystem management decision support (EMDS) system, a spatially focused decision support tool capable of generating precise results for multi-criteria assessment. Participatory planning actions based on Delphi principles and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis were applied and combined with geospatial logic-based modelling. According to the results, the dominant FUS is protective, followed by productive alternative, exhibiting high levels of multifunctionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal lagoons are valuable ecosystems, providing socioeconomic benefits and supporting human populations and biodiversity. However, these systems face several challenges, making them vulnerable to both natural and human factors. In this study, we apply the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) Approach to conduct a comprehensive socioeconomic and environmental assessment of the Khenifiss Lagoon to promote sustainable development and support decision-makers. Located on the southern Atlantic coast of Morocco, the lagoon was designated a natural reserve in 1962, a biological reserve in 1983, and a protected wetland under the Ramsar Convention since 1980. This study represents the initial endeavor to conduct a comprehensive global and multidisciplinary environmental assessment of the lagoon by using a wide range of data sources, including relevant publications and reports, satellite images and remote sensing data, field observations, and interviews, all analyzed under the DPSIR framework. Our findings show that both natural and human factors have an impact on the ecosystem. Natural Factors associated with the geomorphological features of the region likely contribute to the silting of the lagoon, possibly intensified by a large shipwreck stuck at its inlet. Meanwhile, human factors encompass population growth (at a rate of 2% per year), tourism, shellfish farming, fishing, shellfish harvesting, and salt extraction. Our results reveal significant changes in the lagoon's condition in recent years, including a reduction in water body extent, a probable decrease in depth, and an increase in the accumulation of solid waste, plastics, and wastewater in three sectors spanning a total surface area of 464 ha (equivalent to 7% of the lagoon), a substantial expansion of the salt mining area encompassing 368 ha, and a remarkable loss of biodiversity, manifested in declining fish stocks and seabird populations. This study showed that the lagoon is positioned as a potential site for economic growth and serves to alert stakeholders and the local population to the ecosystem's environmental issues. Based on the findings of this study, we highly recommend regulating human activities within the lagoon, the removal of the wreck at the entrance, proper waste management, community awareness programs, and strict monitoring and enforcement of regulations to protect the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological zoning management aims to ensure ecological functions and improve environmental quality, serving as an essential means to optimize the development and protection of territorial space. However, comprehensive research on ecological zoning management that combines human needs with natural resources is still relatively scarce. In this study, we selected water yield (WY), food provision (FP), and carbon sequestration (CS) as the critical ecosystem services (ES) in China. An InVEST model, ecosystem services supply–demand index (ESI), random forest (RF), and geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) were used to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics and influencing factors of ES supply and demand, and the four-quadrant model was used to analyze the spatial matching patterns. The results showed that: (1) from 2005 to 2020, the supply and demand of WY, FP, and CS increased. Among them, WY, FP, and CS supply increased by 16.06%, 34%, and 22.53%, respectively, while demand increased by 5.63%, 12.4%, and 83.02%, respectively; (2) the supply of WY and CS follow a "high in the southeast and low in the northwest" pattern, while all of the demands exhibit a "high in the east and low in the west" pattern; and (3) the average ecosystem service supply–demand index (ESI) values for WY, FP, and CS in China are 0.45, 0.12, and −0.24, respectively, showing an overall upward trend. The study identified three dominant functional zones for WY, FP, and CS, and four classification management zones, including protection zones, conservation zones, improvement zones, and reconstruction zones. These research findings provide a scientific basis for future territorial space planning in China and the application of ecosystem service supply and demand in sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thorough comprehension of distribution features of ecosystem services (ESs) and the influencing mechanisms can offer scientific guidance for the ecosystem management of small watersheds. We analyzed the spatial distribution patterns, interrelationships, and service hotspots of ESs across pixel and administrative scales using a multi-level statistical analysis approach in the Ashi River Basin. Through the quantitative calculation of the InVEST model, the findings revealed a decrease in soil retention, water yield, total nitrogen and phosphorus export, carbon storage, and habitat quality, while an increase in food production was observed during the period from 1995 to 2015. Through the geographical detector, the spatial heterogeneity of most individual ESs was influenced by land use patterns. Through redundancy analysis, terrain factors had the highest contribution rate to the integral ESs. Socio-economic factors and climate factors also drove the ESs' amount and spatial distribution. At the pixel scale and administrative scale, there were distinctions in the correlations between all ESs, reflected by the fact that the relationships between ESs at the administrative scale were generally weaker and no more significant than at the pixel scale. Based on the number and distribution of hotspots in ESs and the clustering results of influencing factors, the framework of ecosystem zoning was constructed. This basin was divided into three ecological zones, and the management policies were formulated according to the ecological environment. This study clarifies the internal and mutual connection between ESs and influencing factors across two scales, thus contributing to the advancement of management strategies for ecological conservation and socio-economic development within the context of small watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization inevitably interfered with the supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESs), which has a crucial impact on the ESs balance. Scientific exploration and clarification of the coupling and decoupling relationship between them can effectively reveal the disturbance of urbanization to the ecosystem, which can help to reasonably manage and protect the ecosystem. Previous studies have paid more attention to the coupling relationship but less attention to the decoupling relationship. This study comprehensively reflected urbanization from the three aspects of construction land, population, and economy and used the evaluation matrix to measure ESs. On this basis, coupling and decoupling analyses were taken to fully clarify the complex relationship between urbanization and ESs balance in China, so as to provide a reference for the formulation of relevant policies. Coupling aspect, the coupling degrees between the proportion of construction land (CLP) and ESs balance index (ESBI) were higher only in the central and eastern plains. The coupling degrees between population density (PD) and ESBI, economic density (ED) and ESBI, and land development index (LDI) and ESBI were only lower in the central and eastern plains than in other regions. Decoupling aspect, strong, weak negative, weak, and strong negative decoupling were the main decoupling types between urbanization and ESs balance in China. Among them, the proportion of the strong decoupling type is much higher than other types, which proves the opposite relationship between the two. Weak decoupling can not only promote economic growth and social development but also protect the ecological environment and biodiversity, which is a type of sustainable development and an ideal state that urbanization should pursue. The results can provide scientific guidance for the formulation of differentiated ecosystem management policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncovering the trade-offs and synergy relationship of multiple ecosystem services (ESs) is important for scientific ecosystem management and the improvement of ecological service functions. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal changes of four typical ES types (i.e., water yield (WY), carbon storage (CS), soil conservation (SC), and habitat quality (HQ)) from 2001 to 2020 in the Han River Basin (HRB). Meanwhile, the trade-offs and synergies between paired ESs and the socioecological drivers of these ESs were further explored. The results showed that grassland, cropland, and bare land decreased by 12,141.3 km2, 624.09 km2, and 22.1 km2 during the study period, respectively, which can be attributed to their conversion to forests in the HRB. Temporally, the WY, CS, and SC all showed a continuously increasing trend. Spatially, WY and HQ exhibited bipolar clustering characteristics, with WY exhibiting low-value clustering in the upstream and high-value clustering in the downstream, while CS showed the clustering characteristics of a scattered distribution of cold and hot spots from 2001 to 2020. The spatial patterns of aggregation locations in CS and HQ were relatively similar, with clusters of higher ES values mainly distributed in the western and central regions and clusters of lower ES values mainly located in the eastern and southeastern regions, while the aggregation of WY was spatially concentrated. Overall, the CS showed a significant positive correlation with HQ, but a significant negative correlation with WY. Spatially, WY and HQ, CS, and SC showed a substantial trade-off relationship in the northwest and southeast parts of the study area, while HQ, CS, and SC mainly exhibited a synergistic relationship in most parts of the study area. Slope and temperature had high influencing factor coefficients on multiple ESs; the mixed effect of terrain and natural factors was significantly greater than the impact of a single factor on ESs, and terrain factors played an essential role in the changes in ESs. The findings can provide technical and theoretical support for integrated scientific ecosystem management and sustainable development at the local scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The currently dominant types of land management are threatening the multifunctionality of ecosystems, which is vital for human well-being. Here, we present a novel ecological-economic assessment of how multifunctionality of agroecosystems in Central Germany depends on land-use type and climate. Our analysis includes 14 ecosystem variables in a large-scale field experiment with five different land-use types under two different climate scenarios (ambient and future climate). We consider ecological multifunctionality measures using averaging approaches with different weights, reflecting preferences of four relevant stakeholders based on adapted survey data. Additionally, we propose an economic multifunctionality measure based on the aggregate economic value of ecosystem services. Results show that intensive management and future climate decrease ecological multifunctionality for most scenarios in both grassland and cropland. Only under a weighting based on farmers' preferences, intensively-managed grassland shows higher multifunctionality than sustainably-managed grassland. The economic multifunctionality measure is about ~1.7 to 1.9 times higher for sustainable, compared to intensive, management for both grassland and cropland. Soil biodiversity correlates positively with ecological multifunctionality and is expected to be one of its drivers. As the currently prevailing land management provides high multifunctionality for farmers, but not for society at large, we suggest to promote and economically incentivise sustainable land management that enhances both ecological and economic multifunctionality, also under future climatic conditions. Land management impacts ecosystem functions. Here, the authors conduct field experiments in Germany assessing ecosystem variables in cropland and grasslands showing that sustainable agricultural practices enhance ecological and economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notwithstanding the continuing advancement of our understanding of the broader ecosystem functioning in Lake Ontario, emerging evidence suggests that there are fundamental knowledge gaps to accurately describe the relationship between exogenous phosphorus (P) loading and in-lake total phosphorus (TP) concentrations. The whole-lake load appears to frequently exceed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) interim target of 7000 metric tonnes·year−1, although the offshore-water P concentrations are consistently below the GLWQA interim substance concentration objective of 10 µg TP·L–1. Contrasting ecological conditions prevail in different locations of Lake Ontario, owing to the significant urban footprint along the shoreline but also the capacity of dreissenid mussels to sequester P in the littoral zone. Specifically, low ambient P levels threaten fisheries productivity in offshore waters, while nuisance benthic algae (predominantly Cladophora) and toxin-producing cyanobacteria blooms affect the water quality in the nearshore zone. The present study offers a technical analysis of the recent and ongoing modelling work that has been conducted in Lake Ontario and can be potentially used to address the multitude of ecosystem management challenges. Our aim is to provide an overview of all the major models developed by identifying their fundamental assumptions, structural attributes, and general consistency against empirical knowledge derived from the system. The existing modelling work has opted for parsimonious representations of the lower food web coupled with granular grid configurations to effectively link hydrodynamic processes and mass transport between nearshore and offshore waters. The establishment of comprehensive ecophysiological modules that will recreate the mechanisms underlying the interplay among bioavailable phosphorus, planktonic dynamics, dreissenid mussels, and Cladophora is a critical undertaking to reproduce the water quality conditions in the nearshore zone of Lake Ontario. Striving to integrate the lower food web with fisheries and ecosystem-service modelling, we also offer a technical analysis of knowledge gaps and monitoring-assessment objectives that should be addressed to ensure that ecosystem processes of management interest are adequately measured and the local modelling enterprise is focused on suitable performance indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, great research efforts have been made to understand how specific anthropogenic drivers impact coastal marine ecosystems and their services. Nevertheless, we still lack a synthesis of the existing knowledge on single and multiple anthropogenic drivers impacts to coastal marine systems, which is necessary to guide future work.The objective of this paper is to assess the current knowledge on the impacts of anthropogenic drivers and their interactions on coastal marine ecosystem services, with emphasis on abiotic drivers as dissolved nutrients (eutrophication or de‐eutrophication), temperature (warming), pH (acidification) and oxygen (hypoxia). We performed a systematic review of the literature consisting of 164 papers using the PRISMA method (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses). We only include English‐written papers, we exclude non‐English papers to avoid potential errors in representing or interpreting scientific information due to language limitations among the authors.The results show that coastal marine ecosystem service research has largely focused on single drivers, while multiple driver assessments are less common.Assessments partially integrate multiple driver complexity, but they do not consider (1) relations and feedbacks between drivers; 2() social processes dynamics; and (3) temporal and spatial scales.Synthesis and applications. We have reviewed the current scientific knowledge on how human drivers affect coastal marine ecosystem services. We found that understanding the combined effects of different drivers and considering various time and space scales is still a pending issue. Ignoring multiple drivers, their interactions and time and space scales limits our understanding of reality, and results in high levels of uncertainty. This affects policies and actions, as they rely on uncertain information. Thus, incomplete knowledge leads to poor management of coastal ecosystem services. To improve this, we propose research framework to better consider multiple drivers and time and space factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the response of the mechanisms driving ecosystem services (ESs) to socioecological factors is imperative for regional sustainable ecosystem management. However, previous studies of the mechanisms driving ESs have focused more on the degree and direction (positive and negative) of effects on ES supply or the supply–demand balance, while their nonlinear response processes have not been fully considered. In this study, a theoretical framework was developed through integrating land use/land cover data and supply and demand matrices with random forest models to assess response processes, including the relative importance and marginal effects, of essential factors that drive ES demand, supply, and supply–demand balance. Using the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) as an example, our results indicated that the ES deficit regions (332 of 1070 counties or 14.45% of the area) of the YREB were located mainly in the three national urban agglomerations. Moreover, this study indicated that natural environmental factors (such as slope and precipitation) significantly influence the supply and supply–demand balance of ESs, while socioeconomic factors (such as cropland ratios and population density) profoundly influence the demand for ESs. However, cropland ratios were the most important drivers of ES supply, demand, and supply–demand balance in the YREB. Moreover, three types of response processes were identified in this study: logarithmic increase, logarithmic decrease, and volatility increase. Specific driving factors (e.g., proportion of cropland area, precipitation, population density, and slope) had significant threshold effects on the supply–demand balance of ESs. The turning points that can be extracted from these response processes should be recommended for ecosystem restoration projects to maintain regional sustainable ecosystem management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Forest disturbances are projected to increase in intensity and frequency in the upcoming decades. The projected change in disturbance regimes is expected to alter the provision of ecosystem services and affect biodiversity. Both are critical for forest ecosystems to provide livelihoods for human societies. Forest management after natural disturbances shapes successional pathways of forest ecosystems. Therefore, the management of post-disturbance sites deserves critical attention to avoid negative effects of management interventions on ecosystem services and biodiversity. The two most common management interventions after natural disturbances are salvage logging (comparator: no salvage logging) and tree planting (comparator: natural regeneration). This planned systematic map of reviews aims to aggregate the existing evidence syntheses on the implications of common forest management interventions after natural disturbances on successional trajectories with regard to selected ecosystem services and biodiversity. Evidence-based post-disturbance management is highly relevant for protected area management as well as for the management of commercial forests. Methods: We will systematically search the databases Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection and the Forest Science Collection of the CABI Digital Library for reviews and meta-analyses (after 2003). We will apply eligibility criteria for review selection and assess the evidence synthesis validity of selected reviews using the most recent version of CEESAT (Collaboration for Environmental Evidence Synthesis Assessment Tool). The results will be displayed in topic subgroups in summary of scope and summary of findings tables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystems are rapidly degraded by anthropogenic pressures, affecting the provision of ecosystem services. Therefore, it is increasingly important that we can quantify and manage ecosystem services to maintain human well‐being.Many ecosystem services are underpinned by ecosystem functions and processes that are driven by interspecific ecological interactions. Humans then benefit from ecosystem services through socio‐ecological interactions. Therefore, interaction network approaches can provide a unique understanding of ecosystem service flows.In this paper, we assess the current interface between network ecology and ecosystem services, before exploring how work linking these two fields could be enhanced.We emphasise the value of network approaches and explore network methods to improve the assessment and management of ecosystem services. Within this, we highlight the role of local and indigenous knowledge in operationalising network approaches in a useful ecosystem service context. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change triggers ecological transformations, altering ecosystem composition, functioning, and services globally. Many of these transformations may be irreversible on human timescales, posing challenges for ecosystem management and requiring new management paradigms. The RAD framework formalizes the management alternatives of resisting, accepting, or directing these transformations. The decision to resist, accept, or direct change may entail tradeoffs among ecological, sociocultural, and economic objectives (e.g., species conservation, ecosystem services, and ecological resilience). As RAD is implemented more widely, diverse knowledge systems, monitoring data, and manipulative experiments can improve our understanding of the conditions in which different RAD alternatives can successfully achieve multiple objectives. As climate change facilitates significant and persistent ecological transformations, managing ecosystems according to historical baseline conditions may no longer be feasible. The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework can guide climate-informed management interventions, but in its current implementations RAD has not yet fully accounted for potential tradeoffs between multiple – sometimes incompatible – ecological and societal goals. Key scientific challenges for informing climate-adapted ecosystem management include (i) advancing our predictive understanding of transformations and their socioecological impacts under novel climate conditions, and (ii) incorporating uncertainty around trajectories of ecological change and the potential success of RAD interventions into management decisions. To promote the implementation of RAD, practitioners can account for diverse objectives within just and equitable participatory decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetland ecosystems are important regulators of global climate change. Studying the spatiotemporal changes and driving mechanisms of their ecosystem service values ( ESV) is beneficial for the sustainable development of wetlands. This paper uses the equivalent factor method, based on land use changes, to reveal the spatiotemporal evolution of the ecosystem service value in the Caohai National Nature Reserve ( CNNR). The results show the following; (D from 2000 to 2020, there was a significant decrease in the core zone's arable land area, with an increase in forest and water areas. Construction land mainly increased in the experimental area, and the grassland area showed a fluctuating change of first increasing and then decreasing; in 2000, 2010, and 2020, the ecosystem service value of the study area was 302 million, 296 million, and 325 million yuan, respectively, showing a trend of fluctuating growth, with the value of wetland ecosystems playing a dominant role; regulatory services are the main contributors to the ecosystem service value in the study area, with a contribution rate of 60%. Hydrological regulation is the ecosystem function with the highest value in wetland ecosystem services, contributing more than 35% to the ESV in all three periods; in terms of spatial distribution, the core zone's ecosystem service value is dominant. Looking at the total ecosystem service value of the region, the core zone > the experimental area > the buffer zone. In terms of ESV per unit area, the core zone (89 000 yuan/hm²) is significantly higher than the buffer zone (39 100 yuan/hm²) and the experimental area ( 15 800 yuan/hm² ) . The study can provide a basis for research and spatial management of ecosystem services in wetland ecosystems and nature reserves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land cover change scenarios hold far-reaching implications for ecosystem services (ES), highlighting the need for understanding the trade-offs and synergies underlying the provision of multiple ES. The insufficient knowledge of the mechanisms governing the relationships among multiple ES, along with the lack of information on trade-offs among ES under different scenarios, restricts the ability to provide effective information for decision-makers. To fill this gap, we assessed the interplay among six ES: climate regulation, habitat creating and maintaining species diversity, cultivated crops, regulation of the chemical condition of freshwaters by living processes (water quality), water yield, and control of erosion rates, within three river basins in northwest Portugal. We employed the InVEST to map the state of these ES in 2018, along with three projected land cover scenarios for 2050: business-as-usual, farmland return, and afforestation. Our findings indicated the business-as-usual scenario could lead to detrimental impacts on climate regulation, habitat creating and maintaining species diversity, and control of erosion rates. In contrast, the farmland return scenario showed less drastic decreases in habitat-creating and maintaining species diversity and control of erosion rates compared to the business-as-usual scenario. Afforestation emerged as the most favorable scenario, with a 13.6% increase in climate regulation and a 1.3% improvement in habitat-creating and maintaining species diversity. Cluster analysis allowed the identification of six levels of spatial synergies between ES, with regions of high forest cover showing extreme synergy and populated areas exhibiting the lowest levels of synergy, suggesting that a well-planned combination of these practices could yield substantial benefits for future ES provision. These results provide crucial insights for decision-makers to enhance ecosystem management and promote societal well-being. Importantly, our findings underscore the significance of considering multiple ES and their interrelationships in land use planning to achieve sustainable development objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

Ecosystem services make substantial contributions to the economy and human well-being, but there can also be costly disservices. Animal behavior is a key process that may modulate a variety of ecosystem services and disservices. In the Anthropocene, as human–wildlife interactions increase from urbanization and development, many wild animals decrease their fearfulness and become more tolerant to humans. Incorporating an understanding of increased tolerance-modulated ecosystem service/disservices into ecosystem management may help in the development of management strategies that improve services while reducing disservices. Many animals can vary their behaviors to better utilize anthropogenic environments. Wildlife living in highly disturbed environments often show an increased tolerance towards humans. While animal behavior can play a vital role in producing and delivering ecosystem services, we know less about how variation in wildlife tolerance to humans can influence ecosystem services. Increased tolerance to humans changes a variety of animal behaviors, and these behavioral modifications, such as changes to foraging, habitat selection, and movement, can alter the supply and flow of both ecosystem services and disservices. We highlight the need to understand the links between increased tolerance to humans and ecosystem services to develop an effective tool to enhance services while minimizing the risk of creating disservices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific ecosystem management requires the clarification of the synergic and trade-off relationship between ecosystem services, particularly in the environmentally delicate Loess Plateau region. Previous studies have indirectly deduced that ecological restoration projects affect ESRs by analyzing their impacts on ecosystem services, but there is no direct evidence from the existing research to show whether and to what extent different ecological restoration projects have an impact on trade-off synergies, which weakens the explanatory strength of ecological restoration projects as an important factor affecting ESRs. In this study, based on the spatial mapping of three pairs of relationships between three typical ESs in Fugu County, Shaanxi Province, and the relative contribution of each ecological restoration projects, as well as Ecosystem services and the relationship between them, were explored through the boosted regression tree modeling (BRT). This study proved that different ecological restoration projects have different impacts on ESRs. The results indicated that the three pairs of ESRs obtained among the three ecosystem services in Fugu County could be categorized into two types. The relationship between carbon storage and soil conservation and the relationship between carbon storage and water conservation CS–WC were spatially predominantly trade-offs, and their spatial distributions were highly similar. Various ecological restoration projects have varying effects on ESRs. The connection between ecological restoration projects and ESRs involves a nonlinear transformation, and the change varies from project to project. Based on the above findings, this study further explores the influence process of various types of ecological restoration projects on ESRs, and provides scientific support for optimizing ecosystem management and comprehensive management of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasping the interrelationship between the supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESs) and spatial scale characteristics is the foundation for effective ecological zoning management, which helps to realize a win–win situation for both ecological protection and economic development. This paper focuses on the following three real problems: mismatch in ES supply and demand evaluation, mechanical and subjective delineation of ecological zoning, and rough management strategies, and constructs a multi-scale ecological zoning management framework for the "comprehensive evaluation of supply and demand, ecological zoning, and enhancement of human well-being". This study integrates the InVEST model, SOM, Z-score quadrant matching, and coordination degree method, and applies them to the ecological management zoning of Hangzhou. The results show that (1) the spatial differentiation of ESs in Hangzhou is significant. The spatial pattern of the five types of ES supply varies at the county scale and the grid scale on which ES demand is concentrated and is consistent at different scales. (2) ES supply–demand matching in Hangzhou is at the basic coordination and can be divided into four modes including HH, LH, LL, and HL at both the county and grid scales. On the small scale, the proportion of mismatches declines slightly, but the severity rises. (3) ES supply is divided into four categories as follows: the food production bundle, the carbon storage bundle, the ESs balancing bundle, and the ESs depleting bundle, and clarifies the priority of ES management. (4) Construct an ecological management practice path, delineates 6 ecological management zones at the county scale and 19 secondary management zones at the grid scale. Targeted measures are proposed in terms of supply–demand adjustment strategies, ecological management strategies, and key implementation areas. This study helps to incorporate the interaction between the supply and demand of ESs into the planning framework and provides decision-making support for refined ecological management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coupling effects created by transboundary and local factors on ecosystem services are often difficult to determine. This poses great challenges for ecosystem protection and management in border areas. To decrease uncertainty, it is crucial to quantify and spatialize the impact multiple factors have on ecosystem services within different scenarios. In this study, we identified key transboundary and local factors from a set of 15 sorted factors related to four main ecosystem services. We employed a Bayesian Network--Geographic Information System (BN-GIS) model to simulate 90 scenarios with multiple factors combinations, quantifying and spatializing the coupling effects on the main ecosystem services. These simulations were conducted in the Pu'er region, which is situated alongside three countries, and serves as a representative border area in southwest China. The results showed that: (1) The coupling effects of multiple factors yield significant variations when combined in different scenarios. Managers can optimize ecosystem services by strategically regulating factors within specific areas through the acquisition of various probabilistic distributions and combinations of key factors in positive coupling effect scenarios. The outcome is a positive coupling effect. (2) Among the four main ecosystem services in the Pu'er region, food availability and biodiversity were affected by key transboundary and local factors. This suggests that the coupling of transboundary and local factors is more likely to have a significant impact on these two ecosystem services. Of the 45 combination scenarios on food availability, the majority exhibit a negative coupling effect. In contrast, among the 45 combination scenarios on biodiversity, most scenarios have a positive coupling effect. This indicates that food availability is at a higher risk of being influenced by the coupling effects of multiple factors, while biodiversity faces a lower risk. (3) Transboundary pests & diseases, application of pesticides, fertilizer & filming, population density, and land use were the key factors affecting food availability. Bio-invasion, the normalized differential vegetation index, precipitation, and the landscape contagion index were the key factors affecting biodiversity. In this case, focusing on preventing transboundary factors such as transboundary pests & disease and bio-invasion should be the goal. (4) Attention should also be paid to the conditions under which these transboundary factors combine with local factors. In the areas where these negative coupling effects occur, enhanced monitoring of both transboundary and local factors is essential to prevent adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the understanding and management of ecosystem services (ESs) supply and demand under the influence of global change is crucial for sustaining human well‐being and promoting sustainable development. However, the comprehension of changes in ecosystem service dynamics in the face of complex human disturbances remains limited. This study focuses on four representative ESs in the northern Liaodong Bay, a typical global estuary wetland, to elucidate alterations in the supply and demand of these ESs and comprehend the impact mechanisms arising from reclamation activities. The findings reveal the following key insights: between 1993 and 2020, the supply and demand for water yield disparity became increasingly pronounced, while the equilibrium between supply and demand for carbon storage shifted from surplus to balance. In contrast, the excess supply–demand of food supply and landscape esthetics remained relatively consistent. This study delves deeper into the non‐linear relationship between reclamation activities and ESs supply–demand relationships, with each ecosystem service exhibiting distinct patterns. As reclamation intensity rises, the supply–demand ratio of ESs exhibits varying trends: food supply and carbon storage demonstrate an inverted U‐shaped relationship, water yield follows a U‐shaped pattern, and landscape esthetics progressively decline. By identifying reclamation thresholds, different management strategies should be applied to areas exceeding and falling below these thresholds, with constraints and guidance being necessary for the former and the latter, respectively. These findings advance our understanding of ESs dynamics in the context of human‐driven changes and provide practical implications for sustainable ecosystem management in coastal areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Korea is one of the countries with a significant proportion of its national territory covered by forests. However, it remains unclear what management strategies for providing forest ecosystem services are preferred by the residents. This study explores South Korean residents' preferences for managing local forest ecosystem services, with a focus on how these preferences vary by forest ownership. Using the choice experiment method, this research identified residents' willingness to pay for seven key local forest ecosystem services, along with a tax measure. The findings indicate a strong preference for biodiversity as the primary ecosystem service in both national/public and private forests, with residents willing to pay an average of KRW 28,370 (USD 21.80) per household per year and KRW 31,670 (USD 24.34) per household per year, respectively, for its enhancement. Preferences varied depending on forest ownership, with noticeable differences in perceptions of services like water supply, non-timber forest product supply, carbon storage, and recreation. Based on forest ownership, these variations in perceptions highlight the importance of managing ecosystem services in line with national/public forests and private forests, which significantly influences residents' preferences. The study emphasizes the necessity of formulating ecosystem service management policies that account for the region's unique natural resource characteristics, aiming to maximize ecological benefits for the local population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Uncovering the trade-offs among ecosystem services (ESs) is crucial for enhancing overall ES benefits and human well-being, as well as for improving regional landscape sustainability. However, research on whether relationships among ecosystem service (ES) change across spatial and temporal dimensions has been infrequent, particularly at fine scales. Objectives: Our study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the trade-off strength and their influencing factors in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. Methods: In this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution patterns of four ESs: food provision (FP), soil conservation (SC), carbon sequestration (CS), and water yield (WY) across the years 2000, 2010, and 2020. We utilized root mean square error, automatic linear models and geographically weighted regression to quantify the trade-off strengths among ESs and uncover the primary influences on the spatiotemporal evolution. Results: The trade-off strengths including FP_SC and CS_SC, were relatively high, particularly in the southwest region, surpassing 0.5. High-value regions for FP_WY and WY_CS were predominantly concentrated in the north, while WY_SC was mainly located in the south. Spatial heterogeneity was apparent in the factors influencing the trade-off strengths of ESs. NDVI positively influenced the degree of FP_WY in the western region but had a negative impact in the central region. Enhancing landscape configuration to reduce ES trade-offs involves diversifying and adding complexity to the landscape shape in the southwestern areas by adjusting landscape richness and shape. Regarding human activities, economic development would gradually encourage the coordination of FP_SC and FP_WY. Conclusions: Our study suggested that although the trade-offs among ESs may remain constant, the predominant type and intensity of their relationships vary across both space and time. Precipitation and NDVI emerged as the primary factors influencing the strength of ES relationships in this region. This research contributes to balancing the trade-off strengths among ESs and facilitates the pursuit of regional landscape sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the trade-offs/synergies of ecosystem services is crucial for achieving a win-win situation in economic development and ecological conservation. Past studies have lacked research on ecosystem service functional management zones that integrate socio-economic factors and ecological conservation, particularly based on predictive scenarios. Based on the above, this study innovatively established a multi scenario simulation model and framework (EST-EMZ) for the study of ecosystem service (ES) trade-off/synergy and ecological management zoning, combining remote sensing and socio-economic data from 2000 to 2020 in the Chang-Zhu-Tan Metropolitan Area (CZTMA). The model evaluates the dynamic trade-offs/synergies among different ecosystem services under various scenarios, aiming to seek the optimal management approach for enhancing the functionality and optimizing the structure of ESs in the future of the CZTMA. The results indicate the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the Ecosystem Service Value (ESV) of the CZTMA gradually declined from 601.57 billion yuan to 584.65 billion yuan. Under the three future scenarios, the ESV also decreased, with the Ecological Conservation Scenario (ECS) experiencing the most minor decline, and the Economic Priority Scenario (EPS) witnessing the most substantial decrease. (2) In the historical period and the 2030 predicted scenarios, there is a predominant synergy among paired ESs in the CZTMA. Throughout the study period, the region's dominant ecosystem service bundle (ESB) is the high-service ecological regulation bundle, primarily located in the northeastern, western, and southern areas dominated by forests. (3) Based on ESV and urbanization intensity (UI), five different ecosystem management zones were identified: water balance zone (WBZ), coordinated improvement zone (CIZ), ecologically weak zone (EWZ), ecological conservation zone (ECZ), and ecological derivative zone (EDZ). Corresponding management and protection strategies for ecosystem services were proposed. The research findings offer potential solutions for optimizing land use and managing the trade-offs of ESs in metropolitan areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have been conducted on the extent and nature of silvopasture usage in Washington state. The goal of this research was to investigate the livestock, forages, and tree composition of the silvopasture systems currently being utilized and landowner goals for these systems. To accomplish this, we conducted a statewide survey administered via interviews of practitioners to determine the social, economic, and ecological drivers and demographics of farmers utilizing silvopasture. To identify landowners using silvopasture and gain insights into its perceived usage and impacts, we contacted and interviewed multiple state and federal agency representatives. The farms identified for the study ranged from 2 to 1100 acres in size and found on both sides of the Cascades. Of the 19 landowners utilizing silvopasture, 100% had goals of diversifying revenue streams and incorporating ecosystem services into their management systems. Benefits cited by practitioners included regular revenue streams from forest products and livestock sales. The challenges identified included limited regionally specific literature and a lack of trained professionals familiar with silvopasture and associated best management practices. This research provided evidence that landowners are utilizing and adapting silvopasture systems to a broad array of bioregions within Washington state to meet their objectives. The ecological adaptability of silvopasture is demonstrated by the variety of trees, forage, and livestock combinations found throughout the study sites. For silvopasture to advance as a land management practice in this region, our research showed the need for further studies to occur to determine the best practices, economic viability, and ecological effects of silvopasture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem services (ESs) play a crucial connecting role between human well-being and natural ecosystems. Investigating ESs and their interrelationships can aid in the rational distribution of resources and benefits and inform planning decisions that align with the principles of ecological civilization. Nonetheless, our current understanding of these relationships remains limited; thus, further theoretical exploration is required. This study employs the InVEST model to assess the key ESs in Guangdong Province for 2000 and 2018 and applies the multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) method to identify the primary drivers of ES changes and capture trends in spatial variations. The results showed that (1) from 2000 to 2018, the total carbon storage (CS) and habitat quality (HQ) decreased while the water yield (WY) and net primary productivity (NPP) increased. These ESs also showed spatial differences, with higher values observed in the hilly and mountainous areas of the north compared with the coastal and plain areas of the south. (2) Although the spatial distribution of ES trade-off strength varied, the overall pattern remained consistent from 2000 to 2018. The pairwise trade-off strength of CS-WY and WY-HQ decreased significantly in the northern region of Guangdong due to low rainfall, while that of CS-HQ decreased significantly in the Pearl River delta as a result of urbanization. Cultivated and forested land displayed higher and lower levels of NPP and WY, respectively, with forested land exhibiting greater trade-off strength than the other land use types. (3) Evident spatial heterogeneity was observed in the properties and intensity of the correlations between driving factors and changes in ES trade-offs. Natural factors were the primary determinants of trade-offs among ESs. However, at a regional scale, the landscape index and socioeconomic factors tended to represent stronger drivers. Based on these findings, we suggest that ecological management should be adjusted based on the geographic scale. This study offers a valuable approach to understanding the relationship between ES trade-offs and their drivers in geographic space and serves as a reference for the sustainable provisioning of ESs both locally and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unprecedented urbanisation in the Global South is transforming natural urban landscapes, impacting on the ability of nature to provide essential ecosystem services.Within the context of pressures facing many urban natural open spaces, particularly in Africa, we used a local municipality in South Africa as a case study to (i) identify local government priorities for a natural open space system; (ii) develop an understanding of whether, and how, ecosystem services are considered by local government, and the reasons thereof; and (iii) ascertain the extent of proactive planning regarding regulating and other ecosystem services, including the temporal and spatial scales, and implications. In‐depth qualitative interviews (n = 12) were undertaken with senior municipal officials representing departments whose work impacts the environment. Municipal decision‐support documents were also analysed for any direct and/or indirect references to ecosystem services.Planning for, and management of, ecosystem services provided by natural open spaces is influenced by interwoven infrastructure, municipal service delivery and equity challenges, complex institutional constraints and poverty, with little focus on the socio‐economic opportunities and other benefits of natural open space systems. Values, perceptions and knowledge also influence the management of ecosystem services.The study contributes to understanding the opportunities and challenges for the future governance of natural open space in the Global South, which require explicit consideration in municipal planning, management and budgeting processes.Policy and management implications identified include prioritisation of the regulating functions provided by natural open space systems, pivotal to the urban resilience agenda; building on the inherent appreciation of nature features as city assets, while achieving socio‐economic upliftment; improved (on‐site) collaborative management of natural open spaces; and involvement of local government officials in the preparation and updating of environmental policies and decision‐support documents, to ensure skills and knowledge transfer and interest are entrenched in local government departments. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conflict between grassland ecosystem conservation and economic development is an important but challenging question. Realizing the value of ecosystem services (ES) is considered to be a solution for the dual sustainability of ecology and economy. However, there is a lack of systematic understanding of value realization of grassland ES, especially in the karst desertification (KDC) area, which is still at an exploratory stage. We obtained 527 studies from 48 countries in the past 20 years through the Scopus database, and systematically reviewed the current understandings and practices by the content analysis method, and enlightened the inspiration for the grassland in the KDC area. Results showed that: (i) Over the past 20 years, the literature number showed a fluctuating growth trend, and the study areas are mainly concentrated in economically developed countries with rich grassland resources; (ii) Pathways such as grassland management and payment for ecosystem services (PES) are widely used to improve grassland ES and human well-being, and most studies have shown positive effects; (iii) Their performance is significantly impacted by stakeholders, governments, as well as the attributes of ES, and a path of government-led, stakeholder participation and market-oriented operation should be explored; and (iv) There are still some knowledge gaps, such as, uneven distribution of study areas, few effective pathways for realizing the public grassland ES value, and deficient linkage mechanisms of "grassland ES-industry developmenteconomic system feedback-ecosystem protection," and so on. Based on our findings, we not only make recommendations for the current dilemma of realizing the value of grassland ES, but also put forward the enlightenments to the grassland in the KDC area based on experiences and lessons learned from global practices. The results can provide theoretical guidance for the ecological protection and sustainable development of grasslands in fragile areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yangtze River Basin (YZRB) and the Yellow River Basin (YRB), which are crucial for ecology and economy in China, face growing challenges to ecosystem service (ES) functions due to global population growth, urbanization, and climate change. This study assessed the spatiotemporal dynamics of ESs in the YZRB and the YRB between 2001 and 2021, comprehensively encompassing essential aspects such as water yield (WY), carbon sequestration (CS), soil conservation (SC), and habitat quality (HQ) while also analyzing the trade-offs and synergies among these ESs at the grid cells. The GeoDetector was employed to ascertain individual or interactive effects of natural and anthropogenic factors on these ESs and their trade-offs/synergies. The results showed that (1) from 2001 to 2021, the four ESs exhibited significant spatial disparities in the distribution within two basins, with the overall trend of ESs mainly increasing. YZRB consistently exhibited substantially higher ES values than the YRB. (2) Complex trade-offs and synergies among these ESs were apparent in both basins, characterized by distinct spatial heterogeneity. The spatial relationships of WY–CS, WY–SC, CS–SC, and CS–HQ were mainly synergistic. (3) Precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, elevation, land use and land cover (LULC), and slope influenced ESs in both basins. Notably, interactive factors, particularly the interactions involving LULC and other factors, demonstrated more robust explanatory power for ESs and their trade-offs/synergies than individual drivers. These findings significantly affect the refined ecosystem management and sustainable development decision-making in large rivers or regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the role of landscape patterns in the trade-offs/synergies among ecosystem services (ESs) is helpful for understanding ES generation and transmission processes and is of great significance for multiple ES management. However, few studies have addressed the potential spatial–temporal heterogeneity in the influence of landscape patterns on trade-offs/synergies among ESs. This study assessed the landscape patterns and five typical ESs (water retention (WR), food supply (FS), habitat quality (HQ), soil retention (SR), and landscape aesthetics (LA)) on the Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi and used the revised trade-off/synergy degree indicator to measure trade-offs/synergies among ESs. The multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model was constructed to determine the spatial–temporal heterogeneity in the influence of landscape patterns on the trade-offs/synergies. The results showed that (1) from 2000 to 2010, the increase in cultivated land and the decrease in forestland and grassland increased landscape diversity and decreased landscape heterogeneity and fragmentation. During 2010—2020, the change range decreased, the spatial distribution was homogeneous, and the landscape diversity and fragmentation in the northwestern area increased significantly. (2) The supply of the five ESs continued to increase from 2000 to 2020. During 2000—2010, FS—SR, FS—LA and SR—LA were dominated by synergies. From 2010 to 2020, the proportion of trade-off units in all relationships increased, and HQ—FS, HQ—SR and HQ—LA were dominated by trade-offs. (3) Landscape patterns had complex impacts on trade-offs/synergies, and the same landscape variable could have the opposite impact on specific trade-offs/synergies in different periods and areas. The results of this study will inform managers in developing regional sustainable ecosystem management strategies and advocating for more research to address ecological issues from a spatial–temporal perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) aids ecosystem conservation and management. While recognising the importance of Western science and knowledge, we argue that TEK practices are not appreciated resulting in continued and accelerated degradation of ecosystem services. This is prevalent among rural communities who are disadvantaged as their livelihoods depend on these ecosystem services. Taking the Capricorn District of Limpopo Province in South Africa as a case study, we explored the TEK practices employed to conserve and manage savanna ecosystem services. Employing the socio-ecological analysis (SEA) theory, we examined the perception and value of savanna ecosystem services. Data were initially collected from interviews with a professional biodiversity expert, an academic biodiversity expert, and a professional archaeologist and cultural expert (n = 4). In phase two, interviews were conducted with tribal representatives, traditional leaders, and community members (n = 43) in the four villages of Ga-Dikgale, Ga-Matlala, Moletlane and Ga-Malebogo across Capricorn District Municipality. Field observations were also undertaken. The findings highlighted the interrelated forms of sociocultural practices for the conservation and management of savanna ecosystem services, including norms, taboos, myths, rules, and cultural lifestyles. There were age differences in valuing and using TEK where younger people perceived TEK as backward. They relied on Western scientific knowledge, which they lauded as contemporary and not in opposition with their religious values. In conclusion, TEK continued to provide best practices for ecosystem conservation and management. This was identified by the respect and attention from the community who were aware of TEK even if they did not practice the processes. However, TEK is under threat as rural communities become more urbanized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem management aims at providing many ecosystem services simultaneously. Such ecosystem service multifunctionality can be limited by tradeoffs and increased by synergies among the underlying ecosystem functions (EF), which need to be understood to develop targeted management. Previous studies found differences in the correlation between EFs. We hypothesised that correlations between EFs are variable even under the controlled conditions of a field experiment and that seasonal and annual variation, plant species richness, and plot identity (identity effects of plots, such as the presence and proportion of functional groups) are drivers of these correlations. We used data on 31 EFs related to plants, consumers, and physical soil properties that were measured over 5 to 19 years, up to three times per year, in a temperate grassland experiment with 80 different plots, constituting six sown plant species richness levels (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 60 species). We found that correlations between pairs of EFs were variable, and correlations between two particular EFs could range from weak to strong or negative to positive correlations among the repeated measurements. To determine the drivers of pairwise EF correlations, the covariance between EFs was partitioned into contributions from species richness, plot identity, and time (including years and seasons). We found that most of the covariance for synergies was explained by species richness (26.5%), whereas for tradeoffs, most covariance was explained by plot identity (29.5%). Additionally, some EF pairs were more affected by differences among years and seasons, showing a higher temporal variation. Therefore, correlations between two EFs from single measurements are insufficient to draw conclusions on tradeoffs and synergies. Consequently, pairs of EFs need to be measured repeatedly under different conditions to describe their relationships with more certainty and be able to derive recommendations for the management of grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of environmental flows as a technique for the diagnosis and sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems in West Africa is relatively new and cautious, despite being broadly implemented for many years in Western countries and Southern Africa. The present study, the first to evaluate the environmental flows in Benin, concentrates on the deltaic region of the Ouémé River. The assessment utilises the Building Block Methodology approach, and incorporates ecological, socio-cultural, and religious dimensions. The assessment focuses on the alterations in river flows and the impact on local communities' livelihoods, beliefs, and cultural and religious practices. The results indicate that the population of the Ouémé Delta are significantly impacted by changes in the river's flow. Indeed, floods play a crucial role in people's daily routines and livelihoods, while a significant decrease in river flow results in economic instability. Moreover, there is a strong link between specific religious customs in the area and the river's flow. To maintain the current provisioning, regulating, and cultural ecosystem services in the Ouémé delta, The study recommended to allocate 100% of the River Ouémé's natural flow during low-water periods (December to May) and 50% of the natural flow during high-water periods (June to November). This allocation ensures that the environment's water needs are met and will contribute to preserve the Ouémé delta's ecosystem, ensuring the sustainability of its ecological habitats and biodiversity. However, the implementation of these recommendations would require more debate and a real consensus on the priority between development and environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are present within intricate ecological settings, exhibiting dynamic changes over time and across different areas with regard to their functional and structural diversity. Several approaches have been introduced for ecosystem analysis and management since 1990s, where Driver -- Pressure -- State -- Impact -- Response (DPSIR) framework is one of the widely used approaches for assessing and managing environmental problems. In this study, we proposed a DPSIR framework as a model in the Sebkhates of Aures wetland complex (SAWC, Northeast of Algeria), in order to create a regional wetland observatory to deliver ecosystem services within current state of changes resulted from socioeconomic drivers. DPSIR facilitates the identification of essential indicators to detect threats to the Sebkahtes of Aures wetlands complex (SAWC), influencing policymakers to enhance the protection and management of these wetlands. In line with the established DPSIR framework. This same approach and methodology could be applied to the other 15 wetlands complexes known in Algeria, culminating in the creation of a national wetland observatory. Furthermore, DPSIR can be employed as an analytical tool for policy making in the context of sustainable management of wetland ecosystems and can serve as a model in the establishment and development of various observatory programs in Algeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mangroves in Zanzibar are crucial to the survival of the local population, as they provide essential ecosystem goods and services. However, the actual value of mangrove products is not easily recognized. As a result, it is chiefly concluded that mangrove forests should be converted to uses that generate directly marketable products. This research sought to assess the perception and value of mangrove ecosystem services to the local communities around the Chwaka and Menai Bays. Key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and household surveys were used to collect data. The chi-squared test and one-way ANOVA were used to compare the awareness and perception of mangrove ecosystem services, respectively. The results show that provisioning services were the mangrove ecosystem services most identified by the household surveys, i.e., c. 84%. Supporting, regulating, and cultural services were rated in that order by 46.2%, 45.4%, and 21.0% of the respondents, respectively. This study found that there were statistically significant differences between Chwaka, Charawe, Ukongoroni, Unguja Ukuu, and Uzi wards in terms of households' awareness of regulating services (χ2 = 6.061, p = 0.014) and supporting services (χ2 = 6.006, p = 0.014). There were no significant differences in the identification of provisioning (χ2 = 1.510, p = 0.919) and cultural (χ2 = 1.601, p = 0.901) services. Occupations did not determine the reliance on mangrove ecosystem services (χ2 = 8.015; p = 0.1554). The approach used in this study can provide policymakers and land planners with a framework for the sustainable management of the ecosystem services provided by mangroves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relationships among the environment, species traits and ecosystem properties is important for developing management measures that optimize the delivery of ecosystem services (ESs). Here, we identify the most important relationships responsible for the delivery of two key ESs provided by tidal marshes: (1) nature-based shoreline protection through wave attenuation and (2) mitigation of climate change through soil carbon storage. In two tidal zones below and above the mean high water (MHW, Elbe Estuary, Germany) level, we measured environmental parameters, such as soil salinity and inundation, as well as plant traits representing adaptations to hydrodynamic stress and strongly influencing decomposition rates. Multiple linear regression results showed that wave attenuation rates were positively related to aboveground community biomass and stem bending resistance, and soil organic carbon was positively related to stem specific density (below the MHW level). In the tidal zone above the MHW level, soil carbon density was governed by inundation duration and decomposition rates. Our study highlights that (1) ES delivery is not equally spread across tidal marshes and (2) ecosystem management should stimulate the development and persistence of habitat diversity (here, low and high marsh zones) to maximize ES delivery potential. Securing the delivery of the two studied ESs under climate change will depend on providing suitable (landward) space to sustain the functioning of the two marsh zones. In the studied marshes, these services are highly dependent on a few species (i.e., wave attenuation on Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani and Bolboschoenus maritimus and carbon storage on Phragmites australis), and as such, current and future ESs strongly depend on specific species' responses to changing environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal lagoons are valuable ecosystems, providing socioeconomic benefits and supporting human populations and biodiversity. However, these systems face several challenges, making them vulnerable to both natural and human factors. In this study, we apply the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) Approach to conduct a comprehensive socioeconomic and environmental assessment of the Khenifiss Lagoon to promote sustainable development and support decision-makers. Located on the southern Atlantic coast of Morocco, the lagoon was designated a natural reserve in 1962, a biological reserve in 1983, and a protected wetland under the Ramsar Convention since 1980. This study represents the initial endeavor to conduct a comprehensive global and multidisciplinary environmental assessment of the lagoon by using a wide range of data sources, including relevant publications and reports, satellite images and remote sensing data, field observations, and interviews, all analyzed under the DPSIR framework. Our findings show that both natural and human factors have an impact on the ecosystem. Natural Factors associated with the geomorphological features of the region likely contribute to the silting of the lagoon, possibly intensified by a large shipwreck stuck at its inlet. Meanwhile, human factors encompass population growth (at a rate of 2% per year), tourism, shellfish farming, fishing, shellfish harvesting, and salt extraction. Our results reveal significant changes in the lagoon’s condition in recent years, including a reduction in water body extent, a probable decrease in depth, and an increase in the accumulation of solid waste, plastics, and wastewater in three sectors spanning a total surface area of 464 ha (equivalent to 7% of the lagoon), a substantial expansion of the salt mining area encompassing 368 ha, and a remarkable loss of biodiversity, manifested in declining fish stocks and seabird populations. This study showed that the lagoon is positioned as a potential site for economic growth and serves to alert stakeholders and the local population to the ecosystem’s environmental issues. Based on the findings of this study, we highly recommend regulating human activities within the lagoon, the removal of the wreck at the entrance, proper waste management, community awareness programs, and strict monitoring and enforcement of regulations to protect the environment.

Coastal ecosystems are integral to global carbon cycling and are increasingly recognised for their role in mitigating climate change. Within these ecosystems, the dynamics of carbon storage are diverse, varying significantly across different habitats. However, existing management strategies often focus predominantly on vegetated habitats neglecting the contributions of non-vegetated areas. We address this knowledge gap by providing a quantitative spatial assessment of carbon storage across coastal seascapes varying in plant biomass. Our comprehensive multi-habitat inventory of carbon stocks in the United Arab Emirates confirmed that mangroves are the largest carbon-storing habitat per hectare (94.3 t/ha), followed by saltmarshes (63.6 t/ha), microbial mats (51.6 t/ ha), mudflats (46.8 t/ha), seagrass (32.5 t/ha), and coastal sabkha (31.0 t/ha).Mean carbon content in the top 50 cm of mangrove soils (53.9 t/ha) was similar to saltmarshes (52.7 t/ha), microbial mats (51.6 t/ha), and mudflats (46.8 t/ha). We highlight the importance of including non-vegetated habitats in carbon accounting and management strategies. Our findings suggest that a more context-specific whole-system approach is essential for guiding effective ecosystem management and designing ecologically meaningful Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Adopting this broader perspective in NbS can ensure more comprehensive conservation and restoration outcomes, which not only protect and enhance blue carbon ecosystems but also contribute to broader ecological and social benefits. This approach is pivotal for advancing our understanding of interconnected coastal ecosystems and their role in climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological protection and restoration helps reverse the ecological degradation caused by climate change and human activities. Accurately identifying the priority areas for ecological protection and restoration is key to achieving effective differentiated ecosystem management. Taking the Miyun Reservoir Basin as a case study, this study evaluated the spatial patterns of ecosystem service importance, ecosystem stability, and ecosystem quality degradation. Then, this study identified priority areas for ecological protection and restoration and proposed differentiated ecosystem management strategies for different restoration units. The results showed that: (1) the proportions of important and extremely important areas for water conservation, soil conservation, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation increased by 7.55%, 2.51%, 19.54%, and 16.78%, respectively, from 2000–2015, but there were obvious spatial differences among different ecosystem services; (2) the proportion of areas with low ecosystem stability reached 9.06% in 2015, and these sites were concentrated in the northwester and eastern mountainous areas; (3) this study further identified priority areas of 1961.51 km² for ecological conservation, and these areas was mainly concentrated in the western mountainous areas and the Miyun Reservoir and its periphery. Additionally, the identified key ecological restoration areas covered an area of 1138.27 km² . These regions were mainly concentrated in the northeastern mountains and southwestern plain of the study area. This study provides a new perspective for the systematic identification of the priority areas for ecological protection and restoration, and also offer important guidance for implementing differentiated ecosystem management strategies and effectively protecting water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document contains abstracts from various scientific journals and publications related to ecological restoration. The abstracts cover a range of topics, including climate change, coastal and marine communities, economics and ecosystem services, grasslands, invasive and pest species, monitoring and adaptive management, and other communities. Each abstract provides a brief summary of the research conducted and its findings. The document aims to provide library patrons with a concise overview of recent research in the field of ecological restoration, allowing them to explore specific topics further if desired. One specific abstract by Redmond et al. focuses on the management of pinyon-juniper ecosystems in western North America, which have experienced die-offs due to drought and invasive grasses. The authors propose a framework for managing these ecosystems to promote ecological resilience, taking into account historical woodland structure, current vegetation composition, future climate scenarios, and habitat value. The effective management of these woodlands is crucial for their restoration and maintenance in the face of climate change. [Extracted from the article]

One of the assumptions in stated preference studies is the stability of respondents' preferences. This assumption might be violated in situations of context dependence, i.e., when the contingent situation influences respondents' choices. Ambient weather conditions (AWCs) are one element of the context that may influence stated preferences. The literature suggests that AWCs affect people's emotions, behaviors, and decision-making processes; however, the potential AWCs impact in environmental preference studies has not yet been investigated. This aspect is of high importance because context-dependent choices return biased willingness to pay estimates and affect the subsequent welfare analysis that informs public policy. To shed light on this important aspect of non-market valuation studies, we explore the effect of AWCs on preferences elicited with a Discrete Choice Experiment for ecosystem services management of a Nature Park. Results of a generalized mixed logit model evidenced a significant effect of AWCs on respondents' choices, with good weather conditions leading to higher preferences and willingness to pay for ecosystem services management. This result, which is consistent with previous psychological studies, raises the issue of sampling design and reveals the importance of a sensitivity analysis of WTP. As this issue is still unexplored in stated preference studies, we also encourage undertaking similar studies to add a priori knowledge for more accurate ex-post calibration of WTP estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving sustainable resource management is essential to address the rising demand for ecosystem services. The absence of targeted vegetation restoration based on ecological function positioning has, nevertheless, made it challenging to effectively combat the ecological decline. This study attempted to classify four dominant ecological function areas based on the assessment of water conservation, soil retention, habitat quality, and food supply and determined the vegetation coverage threshold by exploring the trade‐offs among ecosystem services and constraint effects between ecosystem services and vegetation coverage. The results highlighted the impacts of ecosystem services on vegetation coverage across the years 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 and established differentiated ecological restoration targets. The optimal vegetation coverage in the water conservation area was found to be 58%–63%, in the soil retention area was 52%–56%, in the food supply area was 34%–40%, and in the habitat quality area was 65%–70%. Finally, the study identified the subwatersheds with reasonable vegetation coverage, excessive restoration, and those that failed to reach the optimal vegetation coverage to develop targeted restoration strategies for each subwatershed according to its unique vegetation conditions. This study provides valuable insights into the specification of differentiated vegetation coverage targets and serves as a useful tool for more effective ecosystem planning and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]