Abstract Countries are likely the most important subjects involved in the environmental control and response to global environmental issues, while the majority of the related metabolic analyses are focused on the metabolism at the city scale. A single city or a smaller area is hardly self-sufficient, and its sustainability needs the support of the surrounding environment. Nevertheless, at the country

Abstract Effective provision of ecosystem services (ES) and improvements in well-being of residents can be realized through policy interventions of stakeholder behavior. Among the many policies, market-based instruments (MBIs) have become the focus of global attention, despite a package of practical difficulties. As the market has the advantages of flexibility and low transaction costs, MBIs remain

Abstract Herbaceous species contribute to the largest proportion of the fodder. Despite the profound benefits obtained, anthropogenic disturbances are hindering its development. On the other hand, to ensure the sustainability of herbaceous species, communities and governments have been putting efforts in managing herbaceous species through the establishment of area exclosure (AE). Thus, the main importance

Abstract Accurate identification of the dominant factors affecting coastal wetlands can provide a reference for vegetation rehabilitation. In this study, quantitative analysis was performed on the Yancheng coastal wetland using ANOVA and geostatistical methods. Our objectives were to quantitatively reveal the relative contributions of human factors and natural factors to the spatial heterogeneity in

Tropical seagrass meadows and coral reefs often function as interconnected marine habitats, but they are often studied and managed as homogenous units. As macrohabitats, seagrass meadows provide important benefits to adjacent reef ecosystems by acting as natural filters of sediments and nutrients, and by providing critical feeding, nursery, and refuge habitats for reef fishes and other fauna. Whilst

This paper develops a risk table to facilitate incorporation of additional information into the fisheries stock assessment and management process. The risk table is designed to evaluate unanticipated ecosystem and environmental impacts on marine resources that may require a rapid management response. The risk table is a standardized framework to document concerns about the assessment model, population

As a type of tourist destination, Protected Areas (PAs) have been the focus of recreation ecology research since their establishment. The contradiction between recreation and ecological protection of PAs in China is more prominent than in other countries because of China’s large population density and complex PA management system. Thus, a review of related research is urgent for promoting sustainable

The existing criteria have failed to comprehensively measure sustainability in the apicultural industry due to the different nature of this industry, compared to the other agricultural sectors. This study aimed to determine the sustainability criteria of the beekeeping (apicultural) industry in Iran. This study, in terms of paradigm, purpose and type of research, is qualitative, applied and descriptive

Understanding the trophic interactions between plants and herbivorous insects is essential for managing the ecosystem health and sustainability in the context of climate change and anthropogenic disturbance. The Tamarix chinensis is a foundation plant species of salt marshes in northern China that provides a variety of ecological functions and services in coastal ecosystems such as withstanding storm

Globally, peatlands play an important role in the carbon (C) cycle. High water level is a key factor in maintaining C storage in peatlands, but water levels are vulnerable to climate change and anthropogenic disturbance. This review examines literature related to the effects of water level alteration on C cycling in peatlands to summarize new ideas and uncertainties emerging in this field. Peatland

We studied the feeding ecology of the Black Wood Pigeon (Columba janthina), a species endemic to the East Asian Pacific Islands, and determined the species’ dietary composition and food preferences on Ulleung Island, South Korea, through field observations. From March 2016 to February 2018, the diversity of food items consumed was low, with the 10 most common plant species (from a total of 33) accounting

(2020). Correction. Ecosystem Health and Sustainability. Ahead of Print.

Unprecedented changes in the shelf ecosystems of Alaska occurred during the period 2014-2019. These changes were linked to anomalous climate-atmosphere-ocean conditions including an extreme marine heatwave in the Gulf of Alaska from 2014 to 2016, and a marked reduction in sea ice in the northern Bering Sea during the winters of 2018 and 2019. Relatively strong changes in climate are projected in the

Abstract Over the past two decades, China has experienced rapid economic development, which has not only led to a rapid increase in the use of raw materials but has also created environmental problems. This research analyzes the environmental impacts of resource extraction in China at the provincial level, and fully considers the environmental impact of various resources extraction. In addition, it

ABSTRACT Assessing the temporal and spatial characteristics of cultivated land fragmentation is necessary to identify management practices that can reduce negative environmental effects. Thus, the purpose of this study was to use principal component analysis and spatial autocorrelation to analyze the dynamic characteristics of cultivated land fragmentation in different landform areas in Liaoning Province

ABSTRACT Sediment and nutrient retention have significant impacts on agricultural productivity and water quality. As a fragile region, obvious changes of climate and land-use in Guizhou Province have deeply affected freshwater ecosystem services in the last several decades. Nevertheless, it is unclear what the differences are in the impact of climate and land-use changes on freshwater ecosystem services

ABSTRACT Nigeria has Africa’s biggest economy and a population of over 200 million people. Nigeria faces numerous challenges as it struggles to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with flooding being the most serious with wide-reaching impacts. This paper highlights the impact flooding has on Nigeria reaching SDGs and enumerates the specific SDGs most directly impacted. A systematic literature

ABSTRACT Introduction The development of coal power base (CPB) poses a severe challenge to the soil. We conducted a soil survey in Xilinhot CPB, to evaluate and analyze the pollution characteristics, potential ecological risk, and sources of six heavy metals (As, Pb, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Cd) in soil by using Geo-accumulation index, revised Nemerow integrated pollution index (RNIPI), and potential ecological

ABSTRACT Taking two typical grain producing areas of southern (Dongting Lake Region) and northern China (Shandong Province) as examples, this study used fault tree analysis and parametric estimation to provide a comparative analysis for environmental risks of intensive arable land use. The results show that (1) in the risks of eutrophication, toxicity, soil structure, greenhouse effect and air pollution

ABSTRACT Designing with Nature is an approach linking design and ecology, which focuses on living with nature, caring for nature, and aiming for a sustainable society. China has made eco-city development, eco-restoration, and eco-civilization its legislative priority and its national strategy, investing a US$618 billion in a 5-year period from 2011–2015 that could reach as high as US$1,124 billion

ABSTRACT The targets of China’s national park construction are to protect the authenticity and integrity of the ecosystems, and to achieve the harmonious development between humans and nature. Because of the high intensity of human activities, the authenticity of ecosystems has deviated over the past few decades. It is time to rewild the wildlife and restore the authenticity of these ecosystems. The

ABSTRACT Technology is an instrument to build BRI relationships, mitigate the environmental and climate impacts of BRI projects, as well as to enhance environmental sustainability in the regions. This study aims to reposition China in global climate technology transfer in BRI era and to obtain initial knowledge on needs, priorities, and barriers from the receivers’ perspective. Focus group method with

ABSTRACT Rural settlements serve as an important part of the rural landscape, and environmental conditions influence their spatial distribution. We hypothesize that there are variations in the spatial patterns of settlements across different farming–pastoral ecotones that exist in accordance with different human activities and environmental conditions. We used remote sensing imagery, digital elevation

ABSTRACT Industrial development has brought China both opportunities and challenges since the reform and opening up in 1978. Spatial and temporal analysis showed that rapid industrialization has made eastern China under a more serious pollution stress. The most serious effects of industrial pollution were reflected in aquatic and soil ecosystem degradation, and damage can be observed from species,

ABSTRACT Ecological footprint (EF) accounting system is widely used in assessing environmental sustainability at various spatial scales. To improve the EF performance, a new EF calculation framework was established in this study, in which HWP is considered as carbon sinks and the model was then applied to the Yangtze River basin of China. Results showed that (1) carbon sink in the basin is about 2

ABSTRACT Agriculture in Central Asia faces tremendous challenges due to climate change. International agricultural trade is seen in the literature as a potential adaption to climate change. However, little attention has been paid to the effect of climate change on cereal trade in Central Asia. This study takes Kazakhstan as an example to empirically analyze the effect of climate change on cereal trade

ABSTRACT Introduction One of the most striking features of urbanization is the replacement of the original natural land cover type by artificial impervious surface area (ISA). However, the extent of the contribution of various environmental factors, especially the growth of 3D space to ISA expansion, and the scope and mechanism of their influences in dramatically expanding cities, are yet to be determined

ABSTRACT Instruction The countries along the Belt and Road Initiative remain high exposure and vulnerability to climate extremes. Southeast Asia, a significant part of the Belt and Road Initiative, suffers a lot from flood disasters. This study assessed the flood disaster risk from 1990–2015 in all 11 Southeast Asian countries. A model integrating the coefficient of variation approach and the Technique

ABSTRACT Introduction China’s import bans on solid wastes starting from 2017 have challenged the global trade system of plastic wastes, which remains poorly characterized. This study chooses polyethylene (PE) as a case and aims to map out the global trade networks of PE waste (GPETN) from 1976 to 2017. Outcomes We find that the size and complexity of the GPETN had been growing until 2016. After the

ABSTRACT Flow regime is a key driver of invasive aquatic organisms, and the invasiveness of mangrove species may be simultaneously attributed to plant traits and flowing hydrological conditions at the estuary scale. We focused on hydrological and topographic conditions for a non-native mangrove species, Sonneratia apetala, in Zhangjiang Estuary of Fujian, China. A hydrological model and a micro-topographic

ABSTRACT In order to understand better on medium-and long-term climate change issues in international cooperation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), this paper is meant to assess the implementation of National Determined Contributions (NDCs) of the BRI countries and the emission constraints under the Paris Agreement to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above

ABSTRACT Introduction: The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an important cooperative framework that increasingly affects the global economy, trade, and emission patterns. However, most existing studies pay insufficient attention to consumption-based emissions, embodied emissions, and non-CO2 greenhouse gases (GHGs). This study constructs a GHG emissions database to study the trends and variations

ABSTRACT The plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) has been engaged in pest control for many years based on the logic that the plateau pika is responsible for alpine grassland degradation and competes with livestock for forage resources. However, the plateau pika is an important species which has multiple benefits in Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, as it (i) makes burrows that are the primary homes for lizards

ABSTRACT Introduction: Although Brownfield greening (BG) can be a crucial solution to green space deficiency in dense urban areas, the potential benefits of different BG initiatives have rarely been quantitatively pre-evaluated. Here, the concept and main features of BG and its costs and benefits are firstly depicted. Next, a conceptual framework is presented which combines ecosystem service (ESS)

ABSTRACT Ventilation corridors in cities can decrease air pollution and alleviate heat island problems but there remains a need to fully assess their effectiveness. Few urban managers have been able to take city-scale approaches to the construction of urban ventilation corridors. This study aimed to introduced the Ventilation Corridor Planning (VCP) model, which is a multi-criteria evaluation method

ABSTRACT Introduction: Daily maximum (Tmax) and minimum (Tmin) temperatures and Diurnal temperature range (DTR) profoundly affect the ecological environment and socioeconomic systems. In this study, we project future changes in Tmax, Tmin and DTR for RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 using fine-resolution downscaled data from the 18global coupled models over the main regions of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

ABSTRACT Ecological restoration measures implemented in China have profoundly impacted vegetation NPP. This study aimed to estimate the effects of the land conversion and management measures on the grassland ecosystem in semi-arid regions. Land use data were employed from 2000 to 2015 to compare land conversion and coverage changes in Xilingol grassland. Then, the contributions of land conversion and

ABSTRACT Rapid urbanization in China has led to an excessive urban expansion of built-up areas, which makes quantitative research on compact city important. We adopted density and the degree of mixed land use to measure the compactness of 160 Chinese cities. Spatial autocorrelation analysis was performed to identify spatial clustering patterns, and the relationships between compactness and five variables

ABSTRACT Investment and construction of power infrastructure are directly related to the achievement of sustainable development goals. China's trade and investment with BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) countries have maintained growth trend. The development and construction of these investment projects certainly have impacts on the economic development mode and sustainable development goals of the countries

ABSTRACT Epidemiological investigation suggested that the current outbreak of COVID-19 virus was associated with a seafood market, and COVID-19 has been identified a probable bat origin. Similar to SARS event in 2003, such a zoonotic disease showed an animal-to-person and even more serious person-to-person spread, and posed a significant threat to the global health and socio-economic development. We

ABSTRACT Introduction: High mercury (Hg) concentrations affect the chlorophyll in leaves, thereby modifying leaf spectra. Hyperspectra is a promising technique for the rapid, nondestructive evaluation of leaf Hg content. In this study, we investigated Hg contents and reflective hyperspectra of reed leaves (Phragmites communis) in a gold mining (Jilin province, China). Spectral parameters sensitive

ABSTRACT The coastal area of China has faced major strategic planning and environmental pollution, including heavy metals pollution. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of Cd pollution on the ecology in coastal areas of China. A soil Cd pollution database of 300 counties or districts in coastal areas was screened from academic dissertations and academic journal papers

ABSTRACT Introduction: Wetland soil fauna support material cycling and restoration processes in wetland ecosystems. In our study, we observed variations in wetland soil fauna on the shores of Lake Taihu, China. We examined the relationships between fauna and major environmental factors, and looked at the short-and long-term changes in reed wetlands under restoration and in the natural reed lakeshore

ABSTRACT As a market-based instrument of transportation demand management, congestion charge can not only effectively reduce traffic congestion, but also improve air quality. However, due to its low public acceptability, this policy only has a few urban practices. As one of the fast-growing metropolises in emerging economies that are facing both traffic congestion and industrial pollution problems

ABSTRACT Ratoon is the stub or root of a perennial plant that is commonly retained after harvest to produce a following crop. This paper presents a review of ratoon cotton in relation to a broader framework that has been examining perennialization of agriculture for the benefit of ecology and economy. Cotton is botanically indeterminate, but has been treated as an annual after domestication, yet the

ABSTRACT There is debating over the question of whether the large-scale ‘Grain for Green’ program on the Loess Plateau of China threatens regional food security. Self-sufficiency index and cropland pressure index were used to assess food security on the Loess Plateau after the implementation of revegetation program. The results showed that the ‘Grain for Green’ program initially had a considerable

This study was conducted in the KVRS to; evaluate the seasonal eco-toxicity of water, soil and sediment samples; establish the suitability of using temperate biotest batteries in tropical systems; classify the toxicity of samples using Fuzzy Rules to estimate potential ecological risks. 143 water, sediment, and soil samples were collected during dry and rainy seasons in plantation areas. Pseudokirchneriella

ABSTRACT Investigating the attributes of the dual oasis effect and oasis–desert interactions is crucial for understanding the climatic and ecological effects of oases. In this study, oasis effect intensity (OEI) was used as an indicator to investigate the factors that contribute to the dual oasis effect. The oasis effect has two attributes: the surface oasis heating effect (OHE) occurred in winter

Aiming at assessing the ecological stress of land urbanization comprehensively, three perspectives are considered and combined, i.e. the amount effect with the proportion of construction lands as the indicator, the intensity effect per the density of environmental pollutant emissions, and the location effect based on their spatial distribution in the heterogeneous landscape. The quantitative results

Introduction: Recent debates surrounding the application of natural capital accounting (NCA) have produced several approaches to further develop this system, as well as highlighted a number of conceptual and methodological issues that need to be resolved before mainstreaming NCA into policy and decision making. We argue that prolonged debate over the value concepts (i.e., exchange versus other values)

In order to explore the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in the rhizosphere of poisonous plants on the neighboring pasture grasses in the Tibetan Plateau Alpine meadow ecosystem, rhizosphere soils were collected from eight different poisonous plants in degraded grasslands and one from pasture grass in non-degraded grasslands (CK). The collected soils were used as inocula to assess the

Introduction: Large stocks of “blue carbon” exist in the ecosystems of coastal wetlands. This paper presents a case study of the Chinese city of Yancheng. First, through field surveys and laboratory analysis, changes in the organic carbon (OC) content in typical plant communities throughout the study area are described in detail. Second, an OC burial rate and economic value model is constructed to

Species composition, structure, and regeneration status of trees were assessed in five dry Afromontane forests. In each of the forests, trees having ≥5 cm diameter at breast height were identified and measured in 80 quadrats (20 × 20 m2). We compared tree species composition and similarities, stem densities, frequencies, basal area and importance value index of trees. Harvesting index was calculated

Ian McHarg’s 1969 book, Design with Nature, was grounded in earlier good practice, especially the European vision of fitting cities into the regional landscape and carrying thorough surveys before planning commenced. The book emerged in the wake of publications that worried about the ability of the earth to support expanding populations and their growing impact on the environment. McHarg argued that

The influence of typhoon and Kuroshio intrusion process on the natural phytoplankton assemblages in the northeastern South China Sea (neSCS) was examined during a cruise in summer 2017. One hundred ninety-six seawater samples were collected and analyzed in the neSCS. In total, 299 species were identified belonging to 82 genera, mostly dominated by Bacillariophyta (159), followed by Dinophyta (132)

The rotational symmetry connection between the Species-Area Relationship (SAR) and Endemics-Area Relationship (EAR) was discovered in the frame of Species-Area Theory. In this paper, this paired connection was applied into the impact of variation of number of species and area and dynamic change of species-abundance distribution on the curve shape of SAR and EAR, which can be integrated into the assessment

Introduction: Ecosystem services are the benefits delivering from the natural environment to human society. Ecosystem services are regarded as important tools for decision-makers to understand the impacts of land use and land cover (LULC) change. Outcomes: The dynamic of four primary ecosystem service indicators were assessed over 1984–2014 based on InVEST model and their responses to LULC changes

Mercury fate of sewage irrigation in farmlands deserves attention with increasing scarcity of freshwater resources for agriculture in the worldwide. Soil-air total gaseous mercury (TGM) fluxes from four-sewage and one-fresh water irrigated farmlands were determined simultaneously. During maize-wheat rotation, soil-air TGM fluxes showed patterns of both emission and deposition during different growth

Adjusting macroeconomic indicators to account for the depletion and degradation of natural capital has long been viewed as a way to show the linkages between nature and the economy and foster more sustainable paths of development. Here, we show how the System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA) Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (EEA) can be used to develop environmentally adjusted macroeconomic

Purpose of the research: To identify the gaps between the rhetoric and reality of the role of citizen participation and its role in maintenance and monitoring of heritages and resources (including biodiversity monitoring), we analyzed the discourse of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) at municipality level. Methods: As an analytical framework, text mining is applied to interviews