Ecosystem services research in mountainous regions: A systematic literature review on current knowledge and research gaps

The Beneficial Interaction Between Human Well-Being and Natural Healthy Ecosystems: An Integrative Narrative Approach

This study highlights the lack of research on the relationship between ecosystem services, climate change, and human well-being. The experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic show the value of the natural environment for people's well-being. We propose a framework that fosters an integrative approach to enhance our connection with nature, which is vital for tackling current environmental challenges. We reviewed over 70 articles and 160 references from databases such as Elsevier, ScienceDirect, Dialnet, MDPI, and Taylor & Francis, focusing on the correlation between pro-environmental behavior and emotional bonds with nature. Increasing our awareness of nature is crucial for fostering sustainable ecosystems. To deepen our understanding of how this connection influences human well-being and ecosystem health, we advocate for the application of specific neuroscience and artificial intelligence techniques. The study presents a compendium of prospective research topics for future investigation and analysis. In particular, it underscores the significance of this research for the development of effective policy and practical applications in the realm of conservation efforts.

Revealing the contribution of mountain ecosystem services research to sustainable development goals: A systematic and grounded theory driven review

Ecosystem services are the bridge between people and nature, especially for mountains, which cover more than two thirds of the world's territory, and are able to provide a diversity of ecosystem services and are significant for the enhancement of human well-being. Understanding how mountain ecosystem services (MES) support The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is critical to realizing effective benefits from mountain resources, yet the extent to which MES support the SDGs is currently unclear and needs to be further explored. This study systematically reviewed the current research works by using grounded theory. We searched the Web of Science platform for papers closely related to mountain ecosystem services (2008-2022) and obtained 2010 papers, and further streamlined the most representative 114 papers based on the direct correlation between typical mountains, ecosystem service, and SDGs in the literature. We then explored the relationship between MES and specific SDGs and focused on the most strongly linked goals. The study indicated: (1) 66 targets (39%) and 12 SDGs (71%) were found, and we categorized the linkages into three categories, benefit, synergize, benefit & synergize. SDG3, 11, 13, 15 are goals that most strongly link to the MES, Subclasses storage and soil conservation services of ES are the most studied; (2) There is a gap between research and specific SDGs, and we need to focus on specific goals with relevant MES that are poorly researched but emphasized in SDGs; (3) The extent and emphasis of attention to mountain ecosystem services varied globally across continental regions. Therefore, we summarized a sustainable management model for mountain features. Policy makers are advocated to use our recommendations as a reference based on the specific features of the local mountains in combination with the development aims.

Trajectories of socio-ecological systems: A case study in the tropical Andes

Scenario and policy assessments in socioeconomic and environmental studies face significant challenges in socio-ecological systems (SES). There are a limited number of studies that have looked at the impact of different scenarios within integrated approaches, and many have used a static approach with a single driver of change. The present work analyzes the SES dynamics for a strategic basin in the Colombian Andes when implementing and analyzing scenarios and policies related to land cover and land use change using a system dynamics simulation model. The model includes natural, ecosystem services, sociocultural, and economic components. Scenarios and policy options are analyzed both individually and jointly to identify synergies or trade-off effects between the different SES components. The results showed the different trajectories of the socio-ecological system according to the cases studied, and its impact on different variables in the analyzed components. Some counterintuitive effects were also identified, such as the importance of intrinsic motivations in decision-making processes, and determinants in land management and policy design.

Assessing sediment dynamics and retention services in the vulnerable mountain ecosystem of the Indian Himalayas

Sediment loss and export pose significant global environmental issues, profoundly affecting water quality, soil fertility, and ecosystem stability, particularly in vulnerable mountain ecosystems like the Indian Himalayas. The present study used remote sensing data and the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) sediment delivery ratio (SDR) model to analyze spatial-temporal variations in soil loss (SL), sediment export (SE), and sediment retention (SR) capabilities in the South Shimla watershed, Himachal Pradesh, India, from 1993 to 2023. The findings showed significant changes in land use and land cover (LULC): evergreen forest and scrub land decreased sharply by 11.53% and 36.43%, respectively, while agricultural areas and built-up areas increased notably by 71.16% and 215.76%, respectively. Despite a decline of 19.18% in SL and 24.43% in SE, sediment loss and export varied across the study area, highlighting the heterogeneous nature of sediment dynamics. The overall retention capacity increased by 2.59%, with scrub forests playing a critical role in SR, while built-up areas showed the lowest retention. Northern and central sub-watersheds (SWs) experienced a significant decrease in retention capacity (from - 1.92 to - 11.6%), whereas those in the southern and eastern regions saw an increase in SR (from 3.69 to 28.24%). These results underscore the complex interactions between LULC changes, sediment dynamics, and retention services, highlighting the importance of preserving natural ecosystems and informing policy for landscape-based conservation and development planning in the vulnerable Himalayan region.

Modeling the spatial relationship between landscape services and vulnerability assessment

Even though many studies have been thus far devoted to landscape services (LS) or vulnerability assessment (VA) alone, the relationship between these two concepts has been less investigated. The current study attempts to model the spatial relationship between LS and VA in the Tarhan area (west of Iran). For this purpose, a combination of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), remote sensing (RS), and geographic information system (GIS) techniques are applied to assess vulnerability. Variogram models and geostatistical simulations are used for mapping and evaluating landscape services. Moreover, the geographically weighted regression (GWR) is operated to predict the relationship between LS and VA. The results indicate that landform and socioeconomic variables are also two main factors shaping variations in VA. As well, the levels of services provided in the possible landscape are affected by the vulnerability. The assessment accordingly establishes that natural and cultural values have significant effects on services, in terms of their spatial distribution and nature. Exploring the relationship between LS and VA correspondingly depicts that VA has a direct influence on the capacity and entity of LS provision (adjusted R2 = 0.67). The outcomes of the study provide a foundation for nature management and conservation, although it is less able to analyze the trade-off between ecosystem degradation and future development trends. The nexus of LS and future ecological processes in an integrated system can be thus the subject of further research.

Modern finance through quantum computing-A systematic literature review

Human intellectual restlessness originates from the need for knowledge of the modern world. The financial world is struggling to prototype accurate and fast data at low risk. The quantum approach to finance can support this desire. The goal of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the literature on how quantum computing can be used in finance. This research aims to expose an architecture of the state of the art in quantum finance. In terms of methodology, the PSALSAR framework was used to conduct this systematic literature review. The selection procedure followed the PRISMA guidelines and was applied in two databases (Web of Science and Scopus) without time limit. In total, 94 out of 1646 articles were included for data extraction and assessment of content evaluation covering the period 2001-2023. The current review of quantum finance literature is structured around the following themes: journals, research methods, tested data series, research topics in quantum finance, and future research directions. Within the financial sector, quantum computing is used in three main areas: simulation, optimization, and machine learning. These areas are supported by algorithms that have been created in recent years. Finally, we propose to highlight the benefits and the applications of quantum finance and to stimulate the interest in the future prospects of the debates.

Nano-bio convergence unveiled: Systematic review on quantum dots-protein interaction, their implications, and applications

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanocrystals (2-10 nm) with unique optical and electronic properties due to quantum confinement effects. They offer high photostability, narrow emission spectra, broad absorption spectrum, and high quantum yields, making them versatile in various applications. Due to their highly reactive surfaces, QDs can conjugate with biomolecules while being used, produced, or unintentionally released into the environment. This systematic review delves into intricate relationship between QDs and proteins, examining their interactions that influence their physicochemical properties, enzymatic activity, ligand binding affinity, and stability. The research utilized electronic databases like PubMed, WOS, and Proquest, along with manual reviews from 2013 to 2023 using relevant keywords, to identify suitable literature. After screening titles and abstracts, only articles meeting inclusion criteria were selected for full text readings. This systematic review of 395 articles identifies 125 articles meeting the inclusion criteria, categorized into five overarching themes, encompassing various mechanisms of QDs and proteins interactions, including adsorption to covalent binding, contingent on physicochemical properties of QDs. Through a meticulous analysis of existing literature, it unravels intricate nature of interaction, significant influence on nanomaterials and biological entities, and potential for synergistic applications harnessing both specific and nonspecific interactions across various fields.

Mapping ecosystem services in protected areas. A systematic review

Protected areas (PAs) supply ecosystem services (ES) essential for human wellbeing. Mapping is a critical exercise that allows an understanding of the spatial distribution of the different ES in PAs. This work aims to conduct a systematic literature review on mapping ES in PAs. In order to carry out this systematic review, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses method was applied. The results showed an increase in the number of works between 2012 and 2023, and they were especially conducted in Europe and Asia and less in North America, South America, and Oceania. Most studies were developed in terrestrial areas, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature classified them into types II and IV. Most of the works followed the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment classification and were mainly focused on the supply dimension. Regulating and maintenance and cultural ES were the most mapped dimensions in PAs. The most frequent provisioning ES mapped in PAs were Animals reared for nutritional purposes and Cultivated terrestrial plants grown for nutritional purposes. In regulating and maintenance, Maintaining nursery populations and habitats and Regulation of the chemical composition of the atmosphere and oceans were the most analysed. For cultural ES, Characteristics of living systems that enable activities promoting health, recuperation, or enjoyment through active or immersive interactions and Characteristics of living systems that enable aesthetic experiences were the most mapped ES in PAs. Most works followed a quantitative approach, although the number of qualitative studies is high. Finally, most of the works needed to be validated, which may hamper the credibility of mapping ES in PAs. Overall, this systematic review contributed to a global picture of studies distribution, the areas where they are needed, and the most popular dimensions and sections as the methodologies were applied.

Phylogenetic diversity and structure in moist and dry upland forests in the semi-arid region of Brazil

Understanding the factors influencing variation in the diversity and structure of rich biological communities (e.g., Neotropical upland forests) is essential in the context of climate change. In this study, we examine how environmental filters (temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and distinct habitats (moist upland forests - MUF and dry upland forests - DHF) influence the phylogenetic diversity and structure of 54 tree communities (28 MHF and 26 DHF). We used the standardized effect size (ses) of the metrics phylogenetic diversity (ses.PD), mean pairwise distance (ses.MPD), and mean nearest neighbor distance (ses.MNTD) to quantify changes in tree community diversity and structure. Then, we assessed the relationships of the phylogenetic metrics with the environmental filters as predictors using generalized linear models (GLMs). Our results indicate that increasing temperature negatively affects the phylogenetic indices analyzed, leading to less diverse and more clustered communities. In contrast, increasing precipitation and elevation showed a significant positive relationship with the analyzed indices, directing communities towards greater phylogenetic diversity and random or overdispersed structure. Our findings also reveal that phylogenetic diversity and structure vary with habitat type. For example, while MUFs exhibit higher phylogenetic diversity and random structure, DUFs display lower phylogenetic diversity and clustered structure. In conclusion, our results suggest that the phylogenetic patterns exhibited by upland communities in the semiarid region are strongly related to climatic conditions and the habitat in which they are found. Therefore, if the predicted temperature increases and precipitation decreases in climate change scenarios for the semi-arid region materialize, these communities may face significant biodiversity loss.

Preference, perceived change, and professed relationship among ecosystem services in the Himalayas

The demand side of ecosystem service (ES), especially preference and perception of supply and interactions among ES, is an important yet underexplored research area for landscape planning and management in human-dominated landscapes. Taking a case of multifunctional landscape in the Hindu-Kush Himalayan region, we carried out a social survey of ES, focusing on preference, perceived change, and observed relationship among six major ES from the local people's perspective. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, data collection was done from 300 households from 10 categories of human settlements, based on watershed and land cover types. Garrett mean score (GMS), ordinal logistic regression estimates, and Chi-square test were performed for quantitative data, while an inductive approach was adopted for qualitative data analysis. The results show that at the landscape level, local people preferred water yield (GMS = 70) and crop production (GMS = 66) as the most preferred ES, whereas habitat quality (GMS = 37) and carbon sequestration (GMS = 35) were among the least preferred ES. More than 70% of the respondents believed that the supply of crop production has decreased over the last two decades; however, the supply of other provisioning and non-provisioning ES has increased as observed by majority of the respondents. Among the 15 pairs of ES, local people believe that co-occurrence of ES is possible. Majority of the respondents said that there exist synergistic relationship among 13 pairs of ES, except crop production which is negatively related with timber production and carbon sequestration. Among the identified trade-offs in ES, majority of local people believed that direct trade-offs (i.e., linear inverse relationship) is dominant as observed in 8 pairs of ES, followed by concave and convex trade-offs. Based on our analysis, we argue that the preference and perceived change of ES is more dependent on spatial heterogeneity of communities (i.e., watershed type, municipal category, and land cover type of residence) than socio-economic determinants. Further, we have discussed and suggested few policy and management measures including place-based spatial assessment of the social demand and preference, embracing agroforestry practices in ecosystem management programs, mainstreaming non-local ES in local decision making by incentives, and optimizing the supply of desired ES though integrated biophysical and socio-economic assessment of the landscape.

FLAVIA-LCT - Framework for systematic literature review to analyse vast InformAtion in life cycle thinking studies

With the increasing interest in Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) applications for assessing the sustainability of processes, products and services, up-to-date syntheses and evidence-based critical outcomes analysis are required to guide future studies and policymakers. The systematic literature review is probably the most suitable approach for highlighting evidence of effects, impacts, and methodological choices, mapping the current knowledge and gaps in LCT fields, including methods such as Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Costing, Social Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment. Although several statements and guidelines for health care and ecology disciplines and one checklist for systematic literature review limited to Life Cycle Assessment (STARR-LCA) exist, it is still missing a framework for conducting systematic literature reviews in LCT field. This paper proposes a "Framework for systematic Literature review to Analyse Vast InformAtion in Life Cycle Thinking studies" (FLAVIA-LCT) to assist and guide researchers in structuring the processes of gathering, synthesising, and reporting outcomes from search strategy development to critical evaluation, considering the essential information to be included in a review manuscript. This framework can be used by anyone planning a literature review on one or more LCT methods.

Assessing the impact of antineoplastic drugs in the aquatic environment: State of the art and future perspective for freshwater organisms

Since the late 70s, the continuous pharmaceuticals` input into the environment has raised concerns regarding the eventual risk posed by such compounds to human and environmental health. A major group of pharmaceuticals in terms of environmental impact are the antineoplastic agents (AAs). Herein, we followed a systematic review method to retrieve antineoplastic agents (AAs') ecotoxicological information regarding freshwater species. In this analysis, data from diverse taxonomic groups, from microorganisms to vertebrate species, looked at different levels of biological organization, including cell lines. Furthermore, this review gathers ecotoxicological parameters (EC₅₀ and LC₅₀) for imatinib (IM), cisplatin (CisPt), and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in species sensitivity distribution (SSD) curves and estimates the hazard concentration (HC₅) considering the protection of 95% of the ecological community. Lastly, we suggest how we can improve AAs' Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA), considering potential adoptable toxicity endpoints, test duration, AAs metabolites testing, and AAs mixture exposure.

Mapping Peer-Reviewed Scientific Studies on Plant Trait–Service Linkages Across Ecosystems: A Bibliometric Analysis

The concept of ‘ecosystem service’ has gained momentum in the twenty-first century to bridge the gap between human–nature interactions. However, the challenge remains to map the flow of ecosystem services (ES) for their efficient management. Among the multiple existing methods, biophysical assessments provide better knowledge of the state of the ecosystem and its mapping for complimentary services. Trait–service linkage is one of the tools to reliably link biodiversity with ES if we better understand the role functional traits play in the underlying ecosystem processes. In this paper, we have performed a bibliometric analysis of published literature on ES and plant functional traits to identify the current state of knowledge on trait–service linkage, biases, research gaps, and challenges. There was a skewed geographical basis for trait–service linkage studies; most studies were conducted in Europe and North America. The majority of the research focused on supporting and regulating ES, mainly carbon sequestration, biomass production, and climate regulation, using a particular set of vegetative traits, such as leaf, root, and plant height, and ignored most regeneration traits, except for a few flower traits. A matrix to quantify the association between ES and selected plant traits (specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf area, leaf nitrogen content, vegetation height, wood density, canopy density, root length, root density, flowering time, flower color and flower size) revealed that the two leaf traits (specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content) in the linkage have contrasting associations with multiple ES. The study illustrated that there is still a considerable research gap in linking plant traits with essential ES (biomass production, climate and water regulation). Thus, suggest future studies on ES should focus more on trait–service linkage across major ecosystems to underpin key ecosystem processes for better sustenance of ES and human well-being.

Distribución de plantas nativas y exóticas a lo largo de gradientes de elevación en senderos de montaña en los Andes de Mendoza, Argentina

Introducción y objetivos: El cambio climático, el ganado y el creciente uso turístico favorecen la dispersión de plantas exóticas, amenazando la conservación de los ecosistemas altoandinos. Estudiamos los patrones de distribución de plantas nativas y exóticas en senderos recreativos de montaña. M&M: Implementamos el protocolo MIREN en seis senderos (2400-3600 m s.n.m.) en dos áreas protegidas de los Andes centrales de Mendoza en las Cordilleras Frontal y Principal. Resultados: Encontramos 180 especies nativas y 41 exóticas. La riqueza de especies nativas fue máxima a elevaciones intermedias, mientras que la riqueza de exóticas disminuyó con la elevación. La riqueza regional de nativas fue mayor en la Cordillera Frontal que en la Principal (114 versus 71 nativas, respectivamente) mientras que la riqueza regional de exóticas fue menor en la Frontal que en la Principal (20 versus 28 exóticas, respectivamente). La riqueza de exóticas por parcela fue mayor en la Cordillera Frontal que en la Principal. El rango de distribución altitudinal de exóticas fue mayor en la Cordillera Frontal. Dos exóticas abundantes, Taraxacum officinale y Cerastium arvense, estuvieron a lo largo de todo el gradiente en la Cordillera Frontal, alcanzando los 3600 m s.n.m. Encontramos siete exóticas no citadas anteriormente. Conclusiones: Los nuevos registros amplían los rangos de distribución conocidos para algunas especies exóticas. A pesar de que el número de especies exóticas fue similar cerca y lejos de los senderos, cinco especies sólo estuvieron en los bordes de los mismos, lo que sugiere que los senderos favorecen los procesos de invasión.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic media of Turkey: A systematic review of cancer and ecological risk

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have gathered worldwide attention due to their carcinogenicity and toxicity. This paper aims to review and extend current knowledge on PAHs in aquatic environments in Turkey, where expansion of the marine industry has caused contamination concerns. To assess cancer and ecological risks associated with PAHs, we systematically reviewed 39 research articles. Mean measured concentrations of total PAHs ranged from 61 to 249,900 ng L^-1 in surface waters, 1 to 209,400 ng g^-1 in sediments, and 4 to 55,000 ng g^-1 in organisms. Estimated cancer risks from concentrations in organisms were higher than those from surface waters and sediments. Negative ecosystem impacts of petrogenic PAHs were estimated to be larger than those of pyrogenic origin, despite the predominance of the latter. Overall, the Marmara, Aegean, and Black seas are highly-polluted and need remedial action, while further study is needed to confirm the status of other water bodies.

Research Progress of Grassland Ecosystem Structure and Stability and Inspiration for Improving Its Service Capacity in the Karst Desertification Control

The structure and stability of grassland ecosystems have a significant impact on biodiversity, material cycling and productivity for ecosystem services. However, the issue of the structure and stability of grassland ecosystems has not been systematically reviewed. Based on the Web of Science (WOS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases, we used the systematic-review method and screened 133 papers to describe and analyze the frontiers of research into the structure and stability of grassland ecosystems. The research results showed that: (1) The number of articles about the structure and stability of grassland ecosystems is gradually increasing, and the research themes are becoming increasingly diverse. (2) There is a high degree of consistency between the study area and the spatial distribution of grassland. (3) Based on the changes in ecosystem patterns and their interrelationships with ecosystem processes, we reviewed the research progress and landmark results on the structure, stability, structure-stability relationship and their influencing factors of grassland ecosystems; among them, the study of structure is the main research focus (51.12%), followed by the study of the influencing factors of structure and stability (37.57%). (4) Key scientific questions on structural optimization, stability enhancement and harmonizing the relationship between structure and stability are explored. (5) Based on the background of karst desertification control (KDC) and its geographical characteristics, three insights are proposed to optimize the spatial allocation, enhance the stability of grassland for rocky desertification control and coordinate the regulation mechanism of grassland structure and stability. This study provided some references for grassland managers and relevant policy makers to optimize the structure and enhance the stability of grassland ecosystems. It also provided important insights to enhance the service capacity of grassland ecosystems in KDC.

An ecosystem service approach to the study of vineyard landscapes in the context of climate change: a review

Vineyard landscapes significantly contribute to the economy, identity, culture, and biodiversity of many regions worldwide. Climate change, however, is increasingly threatening the resilience of vineyard landscapes and of their ecological conditions, undermining the provision of multiple ecosystem services. Previous research has often focused on climate change impacts, ecosystem conditions and ecosystem services without systematically reviewing how they have been studied in the literature on viticulture. Here, we systematically review the literature on vineyard landscapes to identify how ecosystem conditions and services have been investigated, and whether an integrative approach to investigate the effects of climate change was adopted. Our results indicate that there are still very few studies that explicitly address multiple ecosystem conditions and services together. Only 28 and 18% of the reviewed studies considered more than two ecosystem conditions or services, respectively. Moreover, while more than 97% of the relationships between ecosystem conditions and services studied were addressing provisioning and regulating services, only 3% examined cultural services. Finally, this review found that there is a lack of integrative studies that address simultaneously the relationships between ecosystem condition, ecosystem services and climate change (only 15 out of 112 studies). To overcome these gaps and to better understand the functioning of vineyard socio-ecological systems under climate change, multidisciplinary, integrative, and comprehensive approaches should be adopted by future studies. A holistic understanding of vineyard landscapes will indeed be crucial to support researchers and decision makers in developing sustainable adaptation strategies that enhance the ecological condition of vineyards and ensure the provision of multiple ecosystem services under future climate scenarios.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11625-022-01223-x.

A review of agroforestry ecosystem services and its enlightenment on the ecosystem improvement of rocky desertification control

Agroforestry (AF) has become an important strategy in reconciling the contradictory requirements of environmental protection and economic development in ecologically fragile areas, and whose multiple ecosystem services provide effective ways to promote the restoration of degraded ecosystems in the region. However, agroforestry ecosystem services (AFES) are usually constrained by their generative elements (vulnerability, structure, function, and ecological assets) and service management-both crucial for informed decision-making which enhances AFES supply capacity and AF sustainable management. Karst rocky desertification (KRD) is a typical case in an ecologically fragile area, and within the KRD region greatly relevant for promoting AFES as a strategy for restoring degraded regional ecosystems and for achieving sustainable development goals. In this study, a total of 164 publications related to AFES that met a set of inclusion criteria were obtained through the Scopus database using the literature review method of searching, appraisal, synthesis, and analysis. From the systematic literature review results, (i) we found that the number of relevant publications generally exhibited a year-on-year growth trend, with AFES generation elements being the most common topic (68.11 % of publications), and service management research being the second most common (31.89 % of publications); (ii) we summarised the main progress and landmark results of AFES generation elements and service management research and explored the relevant key scientific questions; and (iii) the above information enlightened the key improvement areas of KRD control ecosystem within three aspects: natural environment, agricultural development, and human-environment relationship. This study provides agroforestry practitioners and relevant decision-makers with information for improving and managing the supply capacity of AFES, and also presents important insights on the KRD control ecosystem to land degradation restoration technicians.

Scientists' warning of the impacts of climate change on mountains

Mountains are highly diverse in areal extent, geological and climatic context, ecosystems and human activity. As such, mountain environments worldwide are particularly sensitive to the effects of anthropogenic climate change (global warming) as a result of their unique heat balance properties and the presence of climatically-sensitive snow, ice, permafrost and ecosystems. Consequently, mountain systems-in particular cryospheric ones-are currently undergoing unprecedented changes in the Anthropocene. This study identifies and discusses four of the major properties of mountains upon which anthropogenic climate change can impact, and indeed is already doing so. These properties are: the changing mountain cryosphere of glaciers and permafrost; mountain hazards and risk; mountain ecosystems and their services; and mountain communities and infrastructure. It is notable that changes in these different mountain properties do not follow a predictable trajectory of evolution in response to anthropogenic climate change. This demonstrates that different elements of mountain systems exhibit different sensitivities to forcing. The interconnections between these different properties highlight that mountains should be considered as integrated biophysical systems, of which human activity is part. Interrelationships between these mountain properties are discussed through a model of mountain socio-biophysical systems, which provides a framework for examining climate impacts and vulnerabilities. Managing the risks associated with ongoing climate change in mountains requires an integrated approach to climate change impacts monitoring and management.

Energy-space concept for the transition to a low-carbon energy society

Urban and regional development is indispensable from energy systems that function in a sustainable and resilient manner. The generation of renewable energy has seen significant upturn in the last decade. Renewables can be exploited to meet the global energy needs and climate change mitigation goals. Therefore, development of urban and regional energy systems must take into account the possibilities and challenges posed by the increasing penetration of the renewable. The achievement of goals of the energy system in the context of transition to low-carbon energy society rises numerous complex decisions over development of infrastructure and technologies. Although renewable energy devices generate clean energy, they also change landscape. The term of energy-scape encourages discussion about interactions between the energy system and the environment, and other ecosystem services at local level. The paper reviews previous studies analysing energy-scape elements and provides the insights towards the transition to low-carbon energy and low-carbon society in general. The systematic literature review allows clearly outlining the problem and gives reliable background for further studies. The main contribution of the article to the existing literature is the creation of framework for the analysis and assessment of new renewable energy technologies installation and infrastructure. The presented framework can be applied for all renewable energy technologies and infrastructure in both urban and rural areas and allows to attain a decision acceptable to the local community.

Research on the Optimal Allocation of Ecological Land from the Perspective of Human Needs-Taking Hechi City, Guangxi as an Example

The configuration of ecological land directly affects the structure and function of an ecosystem and, ultimately, its ability to meet human needs. From the perspective of human needs, this paper classified human needs into material needs, security needs and spiritual needs. Using Hechi City, Guangxi as the study area, we combined the Multi-objective planning (MOP) and PLUS models to study the quantity and spatial optimization of ecological land under different human needs scenarios, and the optimal allocation of ecological land within the ecological red line was also discussed. We conclude that: (1) Hechi City currently has less arable land, which cannot fully guarantee the material needs of human beings; there is more forest land than the amount needed to meet human needs, which reduces the efficiency of ecological land use. (2) In terms of quantity optimization, and considering the goals of different human needs, the area of grass to forest should be extended to satisfy security needs; the area of arable land should be significantly increased in line with material needs; the area of grass and water, with the goal of accommodating spiritual needs, is the largest compared with the rest of the goals. Under the comprehensive needs goal, the forest land area is greatly reduced, and the rest of the land area is increased; the goals of human material, spiritual and security needs are basically met. (3) In terms of spatial layout optimization, in order to meet the security needs target, grass to forest conversion should be carried out in the northern area to enhance the aggregation of forest land; to meet the material needs target, the southwestern gentle slope area should be concentrated toward continuous farming to guarantee the aggregation of arable land while increasing the area of arable land; to meet the spiritual needs target, the area of water in the northwestern area should be increased, and the rest of the changes are similar to the security needs target; to meet the comprehensive needs target, the overall land use connectivity becomes stronger, the fragmented land types become less and the concentrated continuous area of forest land, arable land and grass increases. (4) The results of the ecological land adjustment within the ecological red line indicate that the current ecological red line delineation is good, and a small amount of adjustment can meet human needs. Based on human demand, combined with the MOP-PLUS model for ecological land optimization, it can accurately portray the spatial and temporal evolution pattern of land use and reveal the optimization path of ecological land, which has important theoretical and practical values.

Human-Terrestrial Wildlife Conflict in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review

We conducted a review of 26 articles published between 2009 and 2021 to determine human-wildlife conflict based on spatial and temporal patterns, biological components, drivers of conflict, and mitigation methods used. We employed search, synthesis, appraisal, and analysis framework for review and VOSviewer software for network analysis. We included articles that only focused on relations between terrestrial wildlife and humans, while others deal with ecology, distribution, and biology of wildlife because it does not go with HWC. Forty-seven species of terrestrial vertebrates were reported in conflict-related studies, being Bovidae and Cercopithecidae the most frequently studied groups, of which eleven are found in threatened list species. The main drivers reported were land use change, proximity to protected areas, and illegal resource exploitation. In the management case, the use of traditional protection techniques such as fencing, guarding, and physical barriers was reported. About 178 keywords' analysis revealed a focus on “coexistence,” “mitigation,” and “food security.” The literature focused mainly on larger mammals, led by Ethiopian authors, and excluded the social dimensions of HWC. Therefore, identifying conflict-prone species focuses on the social dimensions of coexistence, such as human attitudes towards terrestrial wildlife, and broadening the taxonomic and cultural breadth of HWC is required.

Ecosystem Services: A Systematic Review of Provisioning and Cultural Ecosystem Services in Estuaries

It is widely argued that humans deteriorate and vandalize ecosystems, yet little is known about the advantages they receive from the same. The study employs the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach to identify studies on the value of ecosystems, with a focus on estuaries between the years 2000 to 2021. The review included a total of 61 studies, which highlighted: (a) the importance of estuarine ecosystem services; (b) the stress placed on estuaries as a result of human activity; and (c) the importance of ecosystem services to human well-being. These studies aid in our understanding of the provisioning and cultural services that ecosystems provide to humans, as well as how the ecosystem services assist individuals in diversifying their livelihoods. Our systematic review revealed that: (a) estuaries provide benefits to humans and are used for survival, (b) cultural ecosystem services are important and valuable; however, (c) as a result of human activities and climate change, ecosystem services face numerous threats such as pollution, overexploitation of resources, and poor water quality, among others. Future research should focus on how estuary users perceive the ecosystem services that estuaries provide, and there should be more publications and studies on the benefits that estuaries provide. The systematic review highlighted that most studies are outdated, there are few to no new studies on ecosystem services and estuaries, and those that are available do not directly address the importance of estuaries.

Integrating Land Use, Ecosystem Service, and Human Well-Being: A Systematic Review

Global change, population growth, and urbanization have been exerting a severe influence on the environment, including the social system and ecosystem. To find solutions based on nature, clarifying the complicated mechanisms and feedback among land use/land cover changes, ecosystem services, and human well-being, is increasingly crucial. However, the in-depth linkages among these three elements have not been clearly and systematically illustrated, present research paths have not been summarized well, and the future research trends on this topic have not been reasonably discussed. In this sense, the purpose of this paper is to provide an insight into how land use/land cover changes, ecosystem services, and human well-being are linked, as well as their relationships, interacting ways, applications in solving ecological and socioeconomic problems, and to reveal their future research trends. Here, we use a systematic literature review of the peer-reviewed literature to conclude the state of the art and the progress, emphasize the hotspot, and reveal the future trend of the nexus among the three aspects. Results show that (1) ecosystem services are generally altered by the changes in land use type, spatial pattern, and intensity; (2) the nexus among land use change, ecosystem services, and human well-being is usually used for supporting poverty alleviation, ecosystem health, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development; (3) future research on land use/land cover changes, ecosystem services, and human well-being should mainly focus on strengthening multiscale correlation, driving force analysis, the correlation among different group characteristics, land use types and ecosystem service preferences, and the impact of climate change on ecosystem services and human well-being. This study provides an enhanced understanding of the nexus among the three aspects and a reference for future studies to mitigate the relevant problems.

Cultural Values in Water Management and Governance: Where Do We Stand?

Research in water governance and management is a complex subject that involves the appraisal of social, economic, and environmental–biophysical aspects. Cultural and social values are regarded as key drivers in decision-making processes in both domains. Identifying relevant cultural values however is difficult given the interdisciplinary nature of theoretical frameworks and the implementation and operational needs of water governance/management research. In this work, we conduct a systematic literature review and thematic analysis of existing theories of culture (ToC) to identify common cultural values, theoretical frameworks, disciplinary trajectories and implementation trends relevant to water management and governance. Results indicate that the dominant ToC corresponds to Cultural Theory with its four defined categories (Egalitarian–Hierarchist–Individualist–Fatalist). In addition, results show emergent cultural values linked to “local” place-based knowledge perspectives indicating a more pluriversal understanding of cultural values. Cultural values associated with water management revolve around anthropocentrism, whereas values associated with water governance revolve around concepts of provenance/places. Implementation of ToC/cultural values is limited in practical applications, and we provide an example on how to improve on that. We suggest a succinct theory of culture such as Schwartz’s cultural values be considered to be an alternative to capture a greater heterogeneity across the breadth of water governance/management-related and basin-specific contexts.

Think globally, measure locally: The MIREN standardized protocol for monitoring plant species distributions along elevation gradients

Climate change and other global change drivers threaten plant diversity in mountains worldwide. A widely documented response to such environmental modifications is for plant species to change their elevational ranges. Range shifts are often idiosyncratic and difficult to generalize, partly due to variation in sampling methods. There is thus a need for a standardized monitoring strategy that can be applied across mountain regions to assess distribution changes and community turnover of native and non-native plant species over space and time. Here, we present a conceptually intuitive and standardized protocol developed by the Mountain Invasion Research Network (MIREN) to systematically quantify global patterns of native and non-native species distributions along elevation gradients and shifts arising from interactive effects of climate change and human disturbance. Usually repeated every five years, surveys consist of 20 sample sites located at equal elevation increments along three replicate roads per sampling region. At each site, three plots extend from the side of a mountain road into surrounding natural vegetation. The protocol has been successfully used in 18 regions worldwide from 2007 to present. Analyses of one point in time already generated some salient results, and revealed region-specific elevational patterns of native plant species richness, but a globally consistent elevational decline in non-native species richness. Non-native plants were also more abundant directly adjacent to road edges, suggesting that disturbed roadsides serve as a vector for invasions into mountains. From the upcoming analyses of time series, even more exciting results can be expected, especially about range shifts. Implementing the protocol in more mountain regions globally would help to generate a more complete picture of how global change alters species distributions. This would inform conservation policy in mountain ecosystems, where some conservation policies remain poorly implemented.

How much do we know about trade-offs in ecosystem services? A systematic review of empirical research observations

As an important domain of sustainability science, trade-offs in ecosystem services (ES) is crucial for spatial planning to sustainably manage natural resources while satisfying the needs of local and non-local beneficiaries. However, there is still a growing debate in understanding, characterization, and visualization of the trade-off relationships. This paper systematically reviews a total of 473 articles, published in the last 16 years (2005-2020) through 135 academic journals, based on empirical studies conducted in over 80 countries, and led by the researcher from over 50 countries. Trade-off relationships are often visualized as spatial associations of ES, but very few articles have characterized trade-offs as the causal interaction among ES. More than two-thirds of the studies were carried out in temperate and sub-tropical regions, but we depicted an under-representation of the critical ecosystems in tropics. About 90% of the articles were based on funded research but the involvement of government institutions was very low (<10%). Trade-off analysis was based only on biophysical constraints of the ecosystem, as observed in more than 80% of the selected articles, without due regards of the divergence in utility functions of different stakeholders and ecosystem beneficiaries. This study identifies a total of 198 pairs of conflicting ES, of which the trade-off between crop production and carbon/climate services has the highest records of observation (i.e., as identified by 20% of the total studies). Further, this study identifies the major drivers (i.e., ecological and social) and stakeholders (i.e., land users and government agencies) of trade-off in ES, and major gaps in the analytical approach to understand the trade-off relationships. Based on our findings, we have discussed and recommended a number of research trajectories, including trans-disciplinary research considering both biophysical constraints and utility functions, in order to guide the future direction of sustainability science through the creation of win-win scenarios.

Analysis of Near-Surface Temperature Lapse Rates in Mountain Ecosystems of Northern Mexico Using Landsat-8 Satellite Images and ECOSTRESS

Mountain ecosystems provide environmental goods, which can be threatened by climate change. Near-Surface Temperature Lapse Rate (NSTLR) is an essential factor used for thermal and hydrological analysis in mountain ecosystems. The aims of the present study were to estimate NSTLR and to identify its relationship with aspect, Local solar zenith angle (LSZA) and Evaporative Stress Index (ESI) for two seasons of the year in a mountain ecosystem at the North of Mexico. Normalized Land Surface Temperature (NLST) was estimated using environmental and topographical variables. LSZA was calculated from slope to consider the effect of solar position. NSTLR was estimated through simple linear models. Observed NSTLR was 9.4 °C km−1 for the winter and 14.3 °C km−1 for the summer. Our results showed variation in NSTLR by season. In addition, aspect, LSZA and ESI also influenced NSTLR regulation. In addition, Northwest and West aspects exhibited the highest NSTLR. LSZA angles closest to 90° were related with a decrease in NSTLR for both seasons. Finally, ESI values associated with less evaporative stress were related to lower NSTLR. These results suggest potential of Landsat-8 LST and ECOSTRESS ESI to capture interactions of temperature, topography, and water stress in complex ecosystems.

A synthesis and future research directions for tropical mountain ecosystem restoration

Many tropical mountain ecosystems (TME) are severely disturbed, requiring ecological restoration to recover biodiversity and ecosystem functions. However, the extent of restoration efforts across TMEs is not known due to the lack of syntheses on ecological restoration research. Here, based on a systematic review, we identify geographical and thematic research gaps, compare restoration interventions, and consolidate enabling factors and barriers of restoration success. We find that restoration research outside Latin-America, in non-forested ecosystems, and on socio-ecological questions is scarce. For most restoration interventions success is mixed and generally limited by dispersal and microhabitat conditions. Finally, we propose five directions for future research on tropical mountain restoration in the UN decade of restoration, ranging from scaling up restoration across mountain ranges, investigating restoration in mountain grasslands, to incorporating socio-economic and technological dimensions.

Impact of stigma and stigma-focused interventions on screening and treatment outcomes in cancer patients

Background

Stigma is known to negatively influence cancer patients’ psychosocial behaviour and treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to systematically review the current data on cancer-related stigma across different populations and identify effective interventions used to address it.

Methodology

The protocol, search, appraisal, synthesis, analysis and reporting framework was used for conducting this systematic literature review. CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO and Google Scholar databases were searched using the different combination of keywords that include ‘cancer stigma’. Articles publication period was set for 2010–2020. A total of 54 articles (31 quantitative, 19 qualitative, 2 mixed methods and 2 scoping reviews) that met inclusion criteria were reviewed out of the 958 articles initially identified. Quality assessment of included studies revealed the studies had varying levels of methodological quality. Extracted data were organised and narratively analysed.

Results

Cancer stigma was expressed across different segments of the society including amongst the elites and healthcare providers. Developing countries had higher rates of stigma reported and experience of stigma varied by cancer type. Cancer was consistently associated with imminent death in all studies reviewed. Cancer patients experiencing stigma were more inclined to conceal their diagnosis and to seek medical help later. Whilst cancer stigma majorly resulted in negative psychosocial outcomes in patients, there were also instances of posttraumatic growth emanating from the stigma experienced. Literature on cancer-related stigma interventions was scant.

Conclusion

Cancer related stigma remains high in both clinical settings and amongst the general public. There is need for more interventions to combat cancer stigma and its effect in both patient and non-patient population. Anti-cancer public enlightenment campaigns should be sensitively designed to not further fuel stigma against patients with certain types of cancers.

A Systematic Literature Review of Indices for Energy Poverty Assessment: A Household Perspective

Both developed and developing countries face energy poverty issues today. The growing interest over the last few years at the scientific level demonstrates the importance of the problem. It was a practice for many years to measure energy poverty by calculating the economic single indicators. In recent years, this practice was increasingly criticized and new, more comprehensive indices were developed. Review and analysis of indices developed can help scholars to dig deep into the specific aspects of the problem. The paper aims to review the indices for energy poverty assessment from households’ perspectives and to provide the main insights into the indicators selection process by providing the set of indicators for sustainable energy poverty assessment. The literature search and analysis follows the SALSA (Search, Appraisal, Synthesis and Analysis) and the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodologies. The literature search was carried out in the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database. The search covered the period 1994–2020. Thirty-four developed indexes for energy poverty were identified for assessment. In order to measure the most important dimensions and to reflect the modern concept of the energy poverty, the paper proposes a set of indicators for sustainable energy poverty assessment.

Ecosystem Services of Large Wood: Mapping the Research Gap

It is well known that large wood affects geomorphic processes and functions in rivers. It enhances the quality of the habitat but it can also cause a threat to the population. These processes and functions of the environment can be transformed into ecosystem (dis)services, which represent direct or indirect (dis)benefits that the society obtains from nature. The goal of this paper was to describe the current relations between large wood and ecosystem services and map the related knowledge gaps. Firstly, we conducted a systematic literature review that was elaborated according to the six-stage and PRISMA protocols and workflow diagram. We found 499 papers; however, only 137 were eligible for the following analyses. Secondly, we made a transformation of research information from the articles (n = 135) into ecosystem services. The highest number of ecosystem services detected in the articles belonged to the regulation and maintenance section (n = 126), followed by the provisioning (n = 15) and cultural (n = 11) sections. The detected classes with the highest frequency of studies were specific habitat creation and increased channel heterogeneity. The findings show that the number of research papers on this topic is still insufficient; however, anaylzing ecosystem services could be useful to advocate the presence of large wood in the rivers.

Human-wildlife conflict in the roof of the world: Understanding multidimensional perspectives through a systematic review

Human-wildlife conflicts have intensified by many folds and at different levels in recent years. The same is true in the case of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), the roof of the world, and a region known for its wealth in biodiversity. We present a systematic literature review (SLR) using the search, appraisal, synthesis, and analysis (SALSA) framework; and for spatial and network analysis, we employed the VOSviewer software. The review-covering 240 peer-articles within a span of 27 years (from 1982 to 2019)-revealed that in the last decade, there was a 57% increase in publications but with a disproportionate geographical and thematic focus. About 82% of the research concentrated on protected areas and large carnivores and mega herbivores played a big role in such conflicts. About 53% of the studies were based on questionnaires, and the main driver reported was habitat disturbance of animals due to land-cover change, urbanization, and increase in human population. On the management front, the studies reported the use of traditional protection techniques like guarding and fencing. Our analysis of 681 keywords revealed a prominent focus on 'human-wildlife conflict,' 'Nepal,' 'Bhutan,' 'Snow Leopard,' and 'Leopard' indicating the issue linked with these species and countries. The involvement of 640 authors from 36 countries indicates increasing interest, and Nepal and India are playing key roles in the region. As for the spatial analysis that was conducted, while it showed regional variations, there were conspicuous limitations in terms of having a transboundary focus. Thus, particular attention ought to be paid to building transboundary partnerships and improving management interventions; there is also a pressing need to understand the patterns of human-wildlife convergence, especially involving meso-mammals.

A Review of Two Decades of Conservation Efforts on Tigers, Co-Predators and Prey at the Junction of Three Global Biodiversity Hotspots in the Transboundary Far-Eastern Himalayan Landscape

Simple Summary

The Far-Eastern Himalayan Landscape, a global biodiversity hotspot spread across parts of India, Myanmar, and China, holds great potential for the long-term conservation of tiger populations. National-level efforts aimed at tiger conservation, such as the creation of protected areas, have been critical for the survival of key tiger populations. However, for tigers to continue to survive into the future, it is important that these key populations remain connected with each other, particularly in this transboundary landscape. This requires greater regional and cross-border co-operation in conservation research, monitoring, and planning to protect habitats and corridors. Here, we review and synthesize the available literature on two decades of conservation efforts aimed at the study and conservation of tigers, their co-predators, and prey in the landscape to understand research trends, identify knowledge gaps, and suggest priority areas for future research and conservation interventions. This review could be useful for formulating conservation plans and actions that could help in the recovery of tiger populations; for identifying, restoring, and securing connectivity between key tiger habitats; and for addressing other key threats, such as habitat loss, poaching, and trade in wildlife parts.

Abstract

Addressing the effects of human-caused habitat destruction on free-ranging threatened large carnivores requires actions that go ‘beyond borders’ in conserving and protecting their habitat and prey base. In this review, we compiled information from available literature on 20 years of conservation efforts aimed at tigers, co-predators, and their prey in the Far-Eastern Himalayan Landscape that is situated at the confluence of three global biodiversity hotspots covering parts of India, Myanmar, and China. The vast area of the proven biodiversity-rich forested landscape is highly suitable for long-term survival of carnivores, such as tigers. Habitat loss, ritual hunting, commercial exploitation, and poaching are the prevailing threats that have resulted in low tiger, co-predator, and prey population densities. Studies suggest that tiger presence is confined to a few areas, while other tiger populations have been extirpated across most parts of the landscape. Past research also suggests that the landscape holds low abundance of diverse prey species richness (n = 22), and urgent conservation measures are required to improve their habitat and numbers. This calls for greater regional and transboundary co-operation on research and knowledge sharing, conservation awareness programs for locals, and cross-border co-operation on wildlife monitoring. Strict policies are also required to enable PA managers to develop strategic plans to conserve large predators and protect their habitats and corridors.

Understating complex interactions in socio-ecological systems using system dynamics: A case in the tropical Andes

The high dependence of human communities on ecosystems' well-functioning has transformed and degraded ecosystems at alarming rates. Strategies for sustainability are an urgent need and requires the understanding of the complex interactions between human and ecological systems in the territories. For such understanding several modelling approaches have been proposed, but still face important challenges. This manuscript contributes by examining the dynamics of land use and land cover change in a basin in Colombian Andes using the socio-ecological systems approach. We develop a system dynamics model for a basin socio-ecological system with four interrelated subsystems and ecosystem services. The ecosystem services considered are hydrological regulation and erosion as an inverse proxy for the regulation ecosystem service of erosion control. In the model different natural and social processes of multiple time and spatial scales are considered. The model contributes to fill the following gaps identified by recent scientific literature: (i) Analysis of spatiotemporal dynamics of ES and SES remains a major challenge (ii) There are very few studies on the dynamics of mountain ecosystem services in the south hemisphere (iii) There is need of studies that focus on more than one ecosystem service to allow the analysis of the interaction between different ES, (iv) Models are often developed to only work with biophysical data excluding socioeconomic aspects that contribute to understanding complexity of SES, (iv) includes a human decision making process modelling that considers multiple criteria to decide land use. The modeling approach presented here constitutes an advance in the challenges associated with socio-ecological systems modeling.

Assessment and prioritization of cultural ecosystem services in the Sahara-Sahelian region

Desert environments remain largely neglected by the society and their potential to provide benefits to people remain understudied. Hotspots of cultural ecosystem services have been identified in some deserts; yet, knowing which countries need to strengthen efforts to satisfy people's demand for those services is timely needed. Here, we show the performance of countries within the Earth's largest warm region - the Sahara-Sahel - in managing cultural ecosystem services. Using the most-advanced decision-support tools and updated databases on biodiversity features and constrains to ecosystem services and on socioeconomic indicators, we identified national priorities for cultural services management. We also identified countries that are missing opportunities for local sustainable development. About 34% of Sahara-Sahel is prioritized for cultural ecosystem services, particularly in the main mountains and waterbodies of the region and along the Western and Eastern coastal limits. Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia are performing better in managing their cultural services given the availability of such services in their territories. Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, and South Sudan need to urgently improve their ease of mobility, governance, safety, socioeconomic and health systems to foster ecosystem services demand. Cameroon, Eritrea, and Senegal are receiving far less tourists than what their ecosystems can handle and need to improve their local conditions for better marketing international tourists able to economically contribute to sustainable development through ecotourism programs. The approach developed here serves as a framework for conserving the last world wild ecosystems and is replicable to other contexts where regional planning for ecosystem management is compulsory.

Assessment of the linkages between ecosystem service provision and land use/land cover change in Fincha watershed, North-Western Ethiopia

Fincha watershed is characterized by the presence of large scale government development projects, such as hydroelectric dam and sugarcane plantation. Within this watershed, land use/land cover (LULC) changes and its linkages with ecosystem services were analyzed for a period of more than three decades (1987-2019). The study first assessed LULC dynamics using ArcGIS software with a standard method. After data on LULC change was obtained, the study used a globally developed values coefficients to estimate the Ecosystem Service Values (ESVs) of the study watershed. The findings revealed that; cultivated land, water body, settlement and sugar cane plantation increased at a rate of 579.8 ha/yr, 199.7 ha/yr, 141.2 ha/yr and 137.1 ha/yr, respectively, whereas wetland, forest land and bare land reduced by 600 ha/y, 328.7 ha/yr and 60.3 ha/yr, respectively, for the study period (1987-2019) considered in the watershed. The increase in water body and sugar cane plantation is mainly attributed to large scale government development projects, while the increase in settlement and cultivated land is the result of small scale farming in the area. Both subsistence farming practices and large scale government projects compete on forest land and wetland. This has resulted in the decrease of the total NCV (Natural Capital Value) by 13.2%. The total ecosystem service values were dominated by cultivated land, which contributed 42.9% of the values in 2019. Elasticity of ESV change in relation to LULC showed the dominance of cultivated land in the overall values of the natural capital. To optimize the values of natural capital at the watershed, making synergies and tradeoffs between land uses is vital by all concerned stakeholders involved in modification of the land uses.

The Influence of Land Use Change on Key Ecosystem Services and Their Relationships in a Mountain Region from Past to Future (1995–2050)

The ecosystem services (ESs) provided by mountain regions can bring about benefits to people living in and around the mountains. Ecosystems in mountain areas are fragile and sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance. Understanding the effect of land use change on ESs and their relationships can lead to sustainable land use management in mountain regions with complex topography. Chongqing, as a typical mountain region, was selected as the site of this research. The long-term impacts of land use change on four key ESs (i.e., water yield (WY), soil conservation (SC), carbon storage (CS), and habitat quality (HQ)) and their relationships were assessed from the past to the future (at five-year intervals, 1995–2050). Three future scenarios were constructed to represent the ecological restoration policy and different socioeconomic developments. From 1995 to 2015, WY and SC experienced overall increases. CS and HQ increased slightly at first and then decreased significantly. A scenario analysis suggested that, if the urban area continues to increase at low altitudes, by 2050, CS and HQ are predicted to decrease moderately. However, great improvements in SC, HQ, and CS are expected to be achieved by the middle of the century if the government continues to make efforts towards vegetation restoration on the steep slopes.

Research on ecosystem services of water conservation and soil retention: a bibliometric analysis

Water conservation and soil retention are two essential regulating services that are closely related, and their relationship might produce synergies or trade-offs. Distinguishing the current status and evolution of research in this field could provide a scientific foundation for subsequent research. "Water conservation" and "soil retention" were selected as keywords for a search of Web of Science for publications during 1976-2018. A total of 4489 periodical articles were obtained. Using bibliometric and social network analysis tools, the scientific output performance, national research contributions, potential hot topics, and connections between keywords and the levels of cooperation between countries at different stages were explored to reveal the related development trends. The results showed that the literature on water conservation and soil retention increased rapidly, especially after 2008. The USA, China, and India were the most productive countries, and the USA, the UK, and Canada were the most influential countries regarding international cooperation. Agriculture, water resource utilization, water-soil erosion, and ecosystem services were closely related topics, and the connections between these topics have increased since 1998. In addition to sustainability, the response of water conservation and soil retention to global environmental change, such as water resource management, land use, and land conservation, are potential emerging research hotspots.

A Review of Changes in Mountain Land Use and Ecosystem Services: From Theory to Practice

Global changes impact the human-environment relationship, and, in particular, they affect the provision of ecosystem services. Mountain ecosystems provide a wide range of such services, but they are highly sensitive and vulnerable to change due to various human pressures and natural processes. We conducted a literature survey that focused on two main issues. The first was the identification of quantitative methods aimed at assessing the impact of land use changes in mountain regions and the related ecosystem services. The second was the analysis of the extent to which the outcomes of these assessments are useful and transferable to stakeholders. We selected papers through a keyword-driven search of the ISI Web of Knowledge and other international databases. The keywords used for the search were mountain land use change and ecosystem service. Quantitative approaches to ecosystem service assessment rely on suitable indicators, therefore land use/land cover can be used as an appropriate proxy. Landscape metrics are a powerful analytical tool; their use can increase the accuracy of assessments and facilitate the mitigation of specific phenomena, such as fragmentation or the reduction of core habitat areas. Mapping is essential: it is the basis for spatial analyzes and eases the interactions between stakeholders. Land use/land cover change is a temporal process, so both past and future approaches are meaningful. It is necessary to enhance information transfer from theory to practice. Increasing stakeholder awareness can lead to suitable management solutions, and, reciprocally, stakeholder feedback can help improve current assessment methodologies and contribute to developing new tools that are suitable for specific problems.

Tourists and Local Stakeholders’ Perception of Ecosystem Services Provided by Summer Farms in the Eastern Italian Alps

In the Alps, summer farms are temporary units, where cattle are moved during summer to graze on Alpine pastures, which provide multiple ecosystem services (ESs), many of which do not have a market value. This study aimed at understanding and comparing the perceptions of summer farms and of the associated ESs by local stakeholders and tourists in a study area of the province of Trento in the eastern Italian Alps. Thirty-five online questionnaires and two focus groups were realized with local stakeholders involved in the dairy value-chain. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 405 tourists in two representative summer farms. The perceptions of summer farms differed between local stakeholders, who mainly focused on provisioning ESs, and tourists, who mainly focused on cultural and regulating ESs. Both categories of actors rated positively eight different ESs associated with summer farms, but demonstrated a lack of knowledge of specific regulating ESs. This study showed that discussion among the different actors is required to increase mutual knowledge and to grasp the diversity of links between summer farms and ESs, in order to support public policies and private initiatives for promoting summer farm products and the sustainable development of mountain regions.

Method for conducting systematic literature review and meta-analysis for environmental science research

This paper presents a method to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) and meta-analysis studies on environmental science. SLR is a process that allowed to collect relevant evidence on the given topic that fits the pre-specified eligibility criteria and to have an answer for the formulated research questions. Meta-analysis needs the use of statistical methods that can be descriptive and/or inferential to summarizing data from several studies on the specific topic of interest. The techniques help to generate knowledge from multiple studies both in qualitative and quantitative ways. The usual method has four basic steps: search (define searching string and types of databases), appraisal (pre-defined literature inclusion and exclusion, and quality assessment criteria), synthesis (extract and categorized the data), and analysis (narrate the result and finally reach into conclusion) (SALSA). However, this work added two steps which are research protocol (define the research scope) and reporting results (stating the procedure followed and communicating the result to the public) at the initial and last step, respectively. As a result, the new method has six basic steps which are abbreviated as PSALSAR. Therefore, this method is applicable to assess the existing knowledge, trends, and gaps in ecosystem services.

In sum, this literature review method presents:

•

The PSALSAR method is an explicit, transferable and reproducible procedure to conduct systematic review work.

•

It helps to assess both quantitative and qualitative content analysis of the literature review.

•

The procedure listed here added two basic steps (protocol and reporting result) on a commonly known SALSA framework.