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Gao X, Zhang H, Huang L, Fan J, Liu X, Cao W, Liu H, Liu G. Where, When, and How Much Should We Pay for Wind Erosion Prevention Services of the Largest Chinese Grassland Reserve? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:2615-2626. [PMID: 38291963 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The large-scale and cross-regional payment for ecosystem services (PES) contributes positively to ecology-economy balance and thus helps prevent environmental challenges such as "sand storm". However, existing PES programs often overlook the connection between service-providing areas (SPAs) and service-benefiting areas (SBAs). Here, we developed an interregional PES framework based on the theory of ecosystem services flow and applied it to the largest Chinese grassland nature reserve, Xilingol Prairie, to quantitatively identify SPAs, SBAs, and flow paths of the ecosystem wind erosion prevention service (WEPS). We showed that, from 2000 to 2020, the grassland ecosystem of Xilingol Prairie had brought an annual WEPS benefit of 1.21 × 108 t/a and economic value of 12.44 × 108 CNY/a, accounting for approximately 107.71% of the GDP in the same area and year and with a slightly increasing trend in most areas. We reveal obvious seasonal (over half in the spring) and interannual variations in the benefit and that Inner Mongolia, Hebei, and Northeast China are the most important beneficiaries of WEPS, rather than Beijing and Tianjin as traditionally thought. Our results warn that the WEPS supply capacity will not last long and call for finer spatial (e.g., among cities) and temporal (e.g., focus on the spring) resolution for PES policy design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiongwei Gao
- Key Laboratory of Natural Resource Coupling Process and Effects, Ministry of Natural Resources, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Haiyan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Natural Resource Coupling Process and Effects, Ministry of Natural Resources, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Natural Resource Coupling Process and Effects, Ministry of Natural Resources, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jiangwen Fan
- Key Laboratory of Natural Resource Coupling Process and Effects, Ministry of Natural Resources, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiaojie Liu
- Key Laboratory of Natural Resource Coupling Process and Effects, Ministry of Natural Resources, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Wei Cao
- Key Laboratory of Natural Resource Coupling Process and Effects, Ministry of Natural Resources, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Huiming Liu
- Satellite Environment Center, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Gang Liu
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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Guan X, Xu Y, Meng Y, Xu W, Yan D. Quantifying multi-dimensional services of water ecosystems and breakpoint-based spatial radiation of typical regulating services considering the hierarchical clustering-based classification. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 351:119852. [PMID: 38159309 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
This study proposes a set of water ecosystem services (WES) research system, including classification, benefit quantification and spatial radiation effect, with the goal of promoting harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, as well as providing a theoretical foundation for optimizing water resources management. Hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to categorize WES taking in to account the four nature constraints of product nature, energy flow relationships, circularity, and human social utility. A multi-dimensional benefit quantification methodology system for WES was constructed by combining the emergy theory with multidisciplinary methods of ecology, economics, and sociology. Based on the theories of spatial autocorrelation and breaking point, we investigated the spatial radiation effects of typical services in the cyclic regulation category. The proposed methodology has been applied to Luoyang, China. The results show that the Resource Provisioning (RP) and Cultural Addition (CA) services change greatly over time, and drive the overall WES to increase and then decrease. The spatial and temporal distribution of water resources is uneven, with WES being slightly better in the southern region than the northern region. Additionally, spatial radiation effects of typical regulating services are most prominent in S County. This finding suggests the establishment of scientific and rational intra-basin or inter-basin water management systems to expand the beneficial impacts of water-rich areas on neighboring regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjian Guan
- School of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, PR China
| | - Yingjun Xu
- School of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, PR China
| | - Yu Meng
- School of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, PR China.
| | - Wenjing Xu
- School of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, PR China
| | - Denghua Yan
- School of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China; Yellow River Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, PR China
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Xiao R, Hao H, Zhang H, Liu Y, Liu M. The development of ecological civilization in China based on the economic-social-natural complex system. AMBIO 2023; 52:1910-1927. [PMID: 37889463 PMCID: PMC10654307 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01937-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
China is making great efforts to build an ecological civilization. To reveal the effectiveness and spatial characteristics of the ecological civilization development in China, we constructed an Ecological Civilization Evaluation Index (ECI) based on the economic-social-natural complex system. We evaluated the development level of the ecological civilization in China from 2004 to 2020 and discussed the coupling and coordination relationship between subsystems. We found that the ecological civilization of China has achieved remarkable results. The relationship among the three subsystems has been improved to some extent, but the high-quality development of the economic system still requires effort. The development level of the ecological civilization in China presents spatial heterogeneity. From east to west, 30 provinces can be classified into four different types of development. On the whole, the development of China's ecological civilization has provided experiences for the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Xiao
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No. 8 Dayangfang, Anwai Beiyuan, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Haiguang Hao
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No. 8 Dayangfang, Anwai Beiyuan, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Huiyuan Zhang
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No. 8 Dayangfang, Anwai Beiyuan, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100012, China.
| | - Yujie Liu
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No. 8 Dayangfang, Anwai Beiyuan, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Mengxiao Liu
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No. 8 Dayangfang, Anwai Beiyuan, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100012, China
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Littles CJ, Lewis NS, DeWitt TH, Harwell MC. Recreational beneficiaries and their landscape dependencies across national estuary program sites: Tillamook Bay (OR) and Tampa Bay (FL), USA. ECOSYSTEMS AND PEOPLE (ABINGDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 19:1-21. [PMID: 38152719 PMCID: PMC10750853 DOI: 10.1080/26395916.2023.2276756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to characterize the value associated with nature-based recreational opportunities and identify estuarine attributes most valued by users. With the National Ecosystem Service Classification System as a framework, we assessed the relationship between recreational beneficiary subclasses and ecological end-products available to beneficiaries in Tillamook Bay, OR, and Tampa Bay, FL estuaries. We used the InVEST recreation model to assess the spatial distribution and intensity of recreation in both estuaries, then inform site selection in subsequent analyses. We evaluated photo content and collected observational data at sites with the highest utilization. Surveys of location attributes helped determine the availability of ecosystem service ecological end-products. Ordination techniques were employed to evaluate similarities in natural and human-made attributes across stations and establish groups of stations that could offer comparable recreational experiences. Recreational 'experiencers and viewers' were the dominant beneficiary group, as they took the most photos and were most often encountered during passive onsite observations. Composite features (e.g. viewscapes) were the predominant ecological end-products. Counter to hypothesized outcomes, there was no detectable difference in the number of recreational beneficiaries predicted between estuaries after accounting for site-scale variability. Locations with multiple natural and human-made attributes, including access points, had more recreational users. Onsite observations also revealed a potential need for more safe and equitable access options in high-use locations. Findings highlight the importance of recreational 'experiencers and viewers' valuing habitat mosaics, even across vastly different geographical settings. This exploration of how humans derive well-being from coastal landscapes is crucial to ecosystem-based management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanda Jones Littles
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellow, Environmental Protection Agency - Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Newport, OR, USA
- Environmental Resources Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Nathaniel S. Lewis
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellow, Environmental Protection Agency - Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Newport, OR, USA
- Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station (COMES), Oregon State University, Newport, OR, USA
| | - Theodore H. DeWitt
- Environmental Protection Agency - Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Newport, OR, USA
| | - Matthew C. Harwell
- Environmental Protection Agency - Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Newport, OR, USA
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Xu L, Tu Z, Yang J, Zhang C, Chen X, Gu Y, Yu G. A water pricing model for urban areas based on water accessibility. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 327:116880. [PMID: 36446192 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Water resource, with properties of scarcity, is one of the vital resource endowments. Like land resources, the prices of these resource endowments should be correlated to their locations to follow fair and reasonable principles. The current water price systems are mainly policy-oriented fixed regimes. And the water use was charged according to the regional-average situation with scarce consideration of the fine-scale geographical water accessibility. With a combination of the water accessibility and the current water pricing regime, this paper first proposed a novel water pricing model, the Water Price at Grid-scale (WPG) model, to dynamically allocate water prices to fine grids for urban residents. The WPG model was examined in the case study of the Han River Basin in the Hubei province of China. The specific results were: (1) the Pgrid of Tier I is between 0.66 and 3.94 yuan/m³, the Pgrid of Tier II is between 0.57 and 5.44 yuan/m³, and the Pgrid of Tier III is between 0.47 and 6.94 yuan/m³ in the study area. (2) the grids with more water acquisition generally have lower water prices than others and vice versa. (3) the average water prices in tiers obtained by the WPG model are generally higher than that derived from the current water pricing system. The results proved that the proposed WPG model spatially allocates the three-tier water prices into grids of urban areas. The WPG framework can be adopted in any society by involving its water price regimes and adjusting the scale of grids and the pricing year. This study provided a new viewpoint of domestic water pricing involving fine-scale water accessibility. The WPG model has great potential to ease water shortage pressure in water-limited societies and can be utilized and loaded into the current smart-city network for efficient and fine-scale water resource management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Xu
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China; Key Laboratory for Geographical Process Analysis & Simulation of Hubei Province, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Zhenfa Tu
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China; Key Laboratory for Geographical Process Analysis & Simulation of Hubei Province, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Jian Yang
- Faculty of Resource Environment and Tourism, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, 441053, China
| | - Chenlei Zhang
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Xiaoxu Chen
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Yinxue Gu
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Guangming Yu
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China; College of Life and Geographic Sciences, Kashi University, Kashi, 844000, China.
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6
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Wang B, Li X, Ma CF, Zhu GF, Luan WF, Zhong JT, Tan MB, Fu J. Uncertainty analysis of ecosystem services and implications for environmental management - An experiment in the Heihe River Basin, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 821:153481. [PMID: 35093363 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Integrating the economic values of ecosystem services provided by different land uses into decision analysis is critical to achieving effective environmental management in endorheic basins. However, policymaking often ignores the uncertainty related to the variability of parameters in ecosystem service values. To this end, we identified sensitive parameters in the ecosystem service values under four land uses using the global sensitivity analysis method and quantified the potential monetary outcomes based on the Monte Carlo method. The results indicated that only a few sensitive parameters, such as water yield (Qi) and treatment costs per unit of nitrogen (Cost_N), were the primary sources of uncertainty. Therefore, we suggest that improving the precision of sensitive parameters is essential for reducing uncertainty in the total ecosystem service value. Additionally, the overall monetary outcomes for cropland exhibited negative values and had higher risk and lower benefits than those for forest from the standpoint of ecosystem services. In addition, the nonmarketed service of landscape aesthetic made the monetary outcomes of water bodies higher than those of cropland, yet the value of landscape aesthetic was highly uncertain. Therefore, efforts should be made to improve total monetary outcomes by decreasing the negative values in food provisioning of cropland and the uncertainty in landscape aesthetic for water bodies. The sensitivity analysis and uncertainty analysis provide important guidelines for quantifying and reducing the related uncertainty and provide policy information for environmental management based on a comprehensive consideration of the potential ecosystem service values for various land uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Wang
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xin Li
- National Tibetan Plateau Data Center, Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environmental Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Chun-Feng Ma
- Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Gao-Feng Zhu
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Wen-Fei Luan
- School of Surveying and Land Information Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454003, China
| | - Jun-Tao Zhong
- College of Geography Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810001, China
| | - Mei-Bao Tan
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jing Fu
- Institute of Urban Study, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 201234, China
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7
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Sharmin M, Dey SR, Islam MT. Measuring economic, social and environmental wellbeing of Asian economies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:18591-18604. [PMID: 34697708 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16999-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to address the economic, social, and environmental wellbeing issues simultaneously by measuring the carbon intensity of wellbeing (CIWB) of Asian economies employing Prais-Winsten and pooled OLS estimator. The measure of CIWB is made taking into account a ratio of the two indicators-CO2 emissions per capita and life expectancy at birth. There is a paucity of studies that concentrate on human and social wellbeing indicators (i.e., water, sanitation, life expectancy) together applying the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. Therefore, we have also investigated the EKC hypothesis as this theory hypothesizes the link involving human and environmental wellbeing and development. The findings utilizing the two econometric techniques indicate that in both the estimation models urban population access to an improved water source and total population access to improved water source has consistently negative and significant effects on CIWB. The fertility rate and prevalence of HIV pose no threat to CIWB. These findings demonstrate that social and human wellbeing indicators of the Asian economies are sustainable to this moment as they are lowering CIWB which is desirable. Contrary, GDP per capita, exports as a percent of GDP, and urban population have a significant and positive impact on CIWB which poses a challenge for the sustainability issue. We also have found the existence of the EKC hypothesis indicating environmental quality will increase past a turning point. The findings of the paper are well matched with the view of the "Economic and ecological modernization" theory and "human ecology" theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mowshumi Sharmin
- Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM), Plot No: E-33, Agargaon Administrative Area, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh.
| | - Sima Rani Dey
- Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM), Plot No: E-33, Agargaon Administrative Area, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Md Tariqul Islam
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham Geospatial Building, Jubilee Campus, Wollaton Road, Nottingham, NG8 1BB, UK
- Department of Arts and Humanities, Bishop Grosseteste University, Longdales Road, Lincoln, LN1 3DY, UK
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Haq SM, Yaqoob U, Calixto ES, Rahman IU, Hashem A, Abd_Allah EF, Alakeel MA, Alqarawi AA, Abdalla M, Hassan M, Bussmann RW, Abbasi AM, Ur Rahman S, Ijaz F. Plant Resources Utilization among Different Ethnic Groups of Ladakh in Trans-Himalayan Region. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10090827. [PMID: 34571704 PMCID: PMC8468708 DOI: 10.3390/biology10090827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Indigenous communities are a large resource of increasingly endangered, traditionally used medicinal plants and the associated ecological knowledge, which needs to be documented quickly as the base to establish sustainable livelihoods and healthcare systems. Through the interaction of indigenous knowledge, biodiversity, and the surrounding environment, these communities have developed their livelihoods over time. In this study, we tried to obtain an in-depth understanding of ethnomedicinal, cultural, and ritual perspectives on plant diversity in the Ladakh region and evaluated how the wild flora of Ladakh could improve local livelihoods and alleviate poverty. By surveying and applying open- and close-ended semi-structured interviews and group discussions in three communities, we documented 105 ethnobotanically important plants belonging to 39 families. The Balti and Brokpa ethnic groups showed greater similarity, whereas the least overlap in plant use was observed between Beda and Brokpa. Plants common to all cultures were mostly used for medicinal applications, while some were also used for religious purposes in the two major religions (Islam and Buddhism). A total of 37 species were shared by all cultures (Balti, Brokpa, and Beda). The cluster analysis elucidated three major clusters of different ethnobotanical usage. The first cluster included food and medicinal plants, the second included clusters of dye and flavor plants, and the third included plants used for fragrance, oil, fuel wood, and fodder. Plant parts were collected based on their availability in distinct pheno-phases according to the Tibetan traditional calendar. This study’s findings revealed that plants provide tangible economic benefits to indigenous communities, in addition to aiding in the treatment of various ailments. Sustainable use and management of wild resources can help improve livelihoods and food security and alleviate poverty. Abstract The nomadic pastoral indigenous communities of the Ladakhi people share roots with Tibetan culture in terms of food, clothing, religion, festivals, and habits, and rely widely on plant resources for survival and livelihood. This survey was conducted during 2019–2021 to document the indigenous knowledge about plant resources of the Balti, Beda, and Brokpa communities of the Ladakh region, trans-Himalayas. Open- and close-ended semi-structured interviews (N = 184) and group discussions (N = 17) were used to collect the data. Quantitative data was further analyzed using various statistical tools. A total of 105 plant species belonging to 82 genera and 39 families were used as medicine, fuel wood, fragrance, oil, food, flavor, fodder, decoration, and dye. Among these, medicinal use was most prevalent, with 70% of use reports, followed by fodder and fuel wood. Leaves (27%) were the most preferred plant part used, followed by roots and flowers. The principal component analysis revealed five clusters of ethnobotanical usage, i.e., food, medicine, fuel wood, fodder, and fragrance, oil, dye, and flavor. The maximum number of plant species used was reported by the Brokpa, while the Beda reported the minimum number of plant species uses. Delphinium brunonianum, Waldheimia tomentosa, and Juniperus indica played a significant role in the cultural and religious ritual aspects, whereas Allium przewalskianum, Waldheimia tomentosa, Juniperus indica, and Hippophae rhamnoides were commonly used as a livelihood source among Ladakhi communities. The local people collected most plants (65%) for self-consumption, while the rest (35%) were sold in markets as a source of income. The sustainable utilization and management of plant resources by local people is a strategy to boost livelihoods and food security and alleviate poverty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiekh Marifatul Haq
- Department of Botany, University of Kashmir Srinagar, Srinagar 190006, India; (S.M.H.); (U.Y.)
- Wildlife Crime Control Division, Wildlife Trust of India, Noida 201301, India
| | - Umer Yaqoob
- Department of Botany, University of Kashmir Srinagar, Srinagar 190006, India; (S.M.H.); (U.Y.)
| | | | - Inayat Ur Rahman
- Department of Botany, Hazara University, Mansehra 21300, Pakistan;
- Correspondence:
| | - Abeer Hashem
- Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.H.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah
- Department of Plant Production, College of Food and Agriculture Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (E.F.A.); (A.A.A.)
| | - Maha Abdullah Alakeel
- Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.H.); (M.A.A.)
| | - Abdulaziz A. Alqarawi
- Department of Plant Production, College of Food and Agriculture Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (E.F.A.); (A.A.A.)
| | - Mohnad Abdalla
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Cultural West Road, Jinan 250012, China;
| | | | - Rainer W. Bussmann
- Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, 1 Botanical Street, Tbilisi 0105, Georgia;
| | - Arshad Mehmood Abbasi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Abbottabad Campus, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad 22060, Pakistan;
| | - Sami Ur Rahman
- Nawaz Sharif Kidney Teaching Hospital and Postgraduate Institute Manglawar, Swat 19200, Pakistan;
| | - Farhana Ijaz
- Department of Botany, Hazara University, Mansehra 21300, Pakistan;
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Harwell MC, Jackson CA. Synthesis of Two Decades of US EPA's Ecosystem Services Research to Inform Environmental, Community, and Sustainability Decision Making. SUSTAINABILITY 2021; 13:1-8249. [PMID: 34804601 PMCID: PMC8597581 DOI: 10.3390/su13158249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
A conceptual framework is helpful to understand what types of ecosystem services (ES) information is needed to support decision making. Principles of structured decision making are helpful for articulating how ES consideration can influence different elements in a given decision context resulting in changes to the environment, human health, and well-being. This article presents a holistic view of an ES framework, summarizing two decades of the US EPA's ES research, including recent advances in final ES, those ES that provide benefits directly to people. Approximately 150 peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and book chapters characterize a large ES research portfolio. In introducing framework elements and the suite of relevant US EPA research for each element, both challenges and opportunities are identified. Lessons from research to advance each of the final ES elements can be useful for identifying gaps and future science needs. Ultimately, the goal of this article is to help the reader develop an operational understanding of the final ES conceptual framework, an understanding of the state of science for a number of ES elements, and an introduction to some ES tools, models, and frameworks that may be of use in their case-study applications or decision-making contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chloe A. Jackson
- US EPA, Gulf Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling Division, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, USA
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Harwell MC, Jackson C, Kravitz M, Lynch K, Tomasula J, Neale A, Mahoney M, Pachon C, Scheuermann K, Grissom G, Parry K. Ecosystem services consideration in the remediation process for contaminated sites. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 285:112102. [PMID: 33588170 PMCID: PMC8715514 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
In 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Science Advisory Board recommended activities to advance consideration of ecosystem services (ES) to enhance existing remediation and redevelopment processes in the U.S. This article examines advancements in the decade since, focusing on providing those involved in cleanup of contaminated sites a basic understanding of ES concepts and guidelines for considering ES at cleanup sites using a new, four-step transferable framework. Descriptions, including activities for site teams and case study applications of ES tools, are presented for each step: (1) identify site-specific ES; (2) quantify relevant ES; (3) examine how cleanup activities affect ES; and (4) identify, select, and implement solutions (e.g., Best Management Practices). The goal of this article is to provide site cleanup stakeholders, including project managers, contractors, and site responsible parties, with a stronger foundation and shared understanding to consider ES during the cleanup process for their given site. Anticipated outcomes include identifying ES benefits to inform management and tradeoff analyses, a reduction in unintended impacts on ES during site operations, and attention to developing a robust suite of ES relevant for site reuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Harwell
- U.S. EPA, Gulf Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling Division, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, United States.
| | - Chloe Jackson
- ORISE Research Participant, U.S. EPA, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, Newport, OR, 97365, United States
| | - Michael Kravitz
- U.S. EPA, Technical Support Coordination Division, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, United States
| | - Kira Lynch
- U.S. EPA, Superfund & Emergency Management Division, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
| | - Jewel Tomasula
- Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, United States
| | - Anne Neale
- U.S. EPA, Public Health & Environmental Systems Division, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, United States
| | - Michele Mahoney
- U.S. EPA, Technology Innovation & Field Services Division, Arlington, VA, 22202, United States
| | - Carlos Pachon
- U.S. EPA, Technology Innovation & Field Services Division, Arlington, VA, 22202, United States
| | - Karen Scheuermann
- U.S. EPA (Retired), Land Chemicals & Redevelopment Division, San Francisco, CA, 94105, United States
| | - Gregory Grissom
- ORISE Research Participant, U.S. EPA, Sustainable and Healthy Communities Research Program, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, United States
| | - Kristen Parry
- Tetra Tech, Inc., Owings Mills, MD, 21117, United States
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11
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Wang Q, Liu X, Li Z. Unraveling a Sustainable Process for the Production of High-Strength α-Gypsum Using Soda Residues and H 2SO 4. Ind Eng Chem Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.0c03305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoxin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xia Liu
- Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Zhibao Li
- Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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Zhang K, Shen J, He R, Fan B, Han H. Dynamic Analysis of the Coupling Coordination Relationship between Urbanization and Water Resource Security and Its Obstacle Factor. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16234765. [PMID: 31795105 PMCID: PMC6926553 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16234765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Water resource security is an important condition for socio-economic development. Recently, the process of urbanization brings increasing pressures on water resources. Thus, a good understanding of harmonious development of urbanization and water resource security (WRS) systems is necessary. This paper examined the coordination state between urbanization and WRS and its obstacle factors in Beijing city, utilizing the improved coupling coordination degree (ICCD) model, obstacle degree model, and indicator data from 2008 to 2017. Results indicated that: (1) The coupling coordination degree between WRS and urbanization displayed an overall upward tendency during the 2008-2017 period; the coupling coordination state has changed from an imbalanced state into a good coordination state, experiencing from a high-speed development stage (2008-2010), through a steady growth stage (2010-2014), towards a low-speed growth (2014-2017). (2) In urbanization system, both the social and spatial urbanizations have the greatest obstruction to the development of urbanization-WRS system. The subsystems of pressure and state are the domain obstacle subsystems in WRS system. These results can provide important support for urban planning and water resource protection in the future, and hold great significance for urban sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaize Zhang
- Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China; (K.Z.); (J.S.); (H.H.)
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802, USA
| | - Juqin Shen
- Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China; (K.Z.); (J.S.); (H.H.)
| | - Ran He
- Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China; (K.Z.); (J.S.); (H.H.)
- Correspondence: (R.H.); (B.F.)
| | - Bihang Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
- Correspondence: (R.H.); (B.F.)
| | - Han Han
- Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China; (K.Z.); (J.S.); (H.H.)
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13
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Song M, Zhu S, Wang J, Wang S. China's natural resources balance sheet from the perspective of government oversight: Based on the analysis of governance and accounting attributes. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 248:109232. [PMID: 31319197 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
One of the top priorities of the Chinese government's oversight is to address the conflicts between economic growth and resource consumption and between economic development and ecological damage. In this regard, the advocacy and compilation of the natural resources balance sheet can boost the efficiency of the government's oversight and improve the quality of resource management. However, China's natural resources balance sheet is still at an exploratory stage, lacking the theoretical framework of balance sheet preparation, preparatory ideas, and a reporting system, which must be established urgently. First, the study states the purpose of compiling the natural resources balance sheet, and, subsequently, analyzes the theoretical basis, framework system, preparatory ideas, and sample sheet format, thereby offering theoretical and methodological support for its preparation. Moreover, the development, functions, deficits, and future development of the balance sheet are analyzed in the context of the Chinese system, which provides theoretical and methodological support for the preparation of the natural resources balance sheet and government oversight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin Song
- School of Statistics and Applied Mathematics, Anhui University of Finance and Economics, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, PR China
| | - Shuai Zhu
- School of Statistics and Applied Mathematics, Anhui University of Finance and Economics, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, PR China
| | - Jing Wang
- School of Management, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, PR China
| | - Shuhong Wang
- School of Economics, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, PR China; Institute of Marine Development, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, PR China.
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14
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Application of Set Pair Analysis in a Comprehensive Evaluation of Water Resource Assets: A Case Study of Wuhan City, China. WATER 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/w11081718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
With the rapid development of the social economy, China is suffering from severe water scarcity due to improper management. Evaluation of water resource value is a crucial issue for innovative management in regional water resources. In this paper, in consideration of the complexity and uncertainty of water resources, 15 indicators were selected to establish the assessment system for its value in Wuhan City from the following three aspects, namely the environment, resources, and society. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and Entropy Weight Method were combined to calculate the comprehensive weight. An improved set pair analysis (SPA) model was applied to evaluate water resource assets in the period of 2013–2017. For the sake of the dependability of these results, the James Pollution Loss model was utilized to compute loss of water resource value caused by the decline of water quality in the water pollution environment. The results show that the amount of water resource through physical quantitative accounting in Wuhan City fluctuates greatly. The initial change is relatively stable, then surges in 2015 and 2016, but slumps in 2017. The total water resource assets for Wuhan City from 2013 to 2017 are 14.221, 14.833, 28.375, 75.558, and 21.315 billion RMB, respectively. Therefore, water resource value accounting plays an indispensable role in the environmental protection and sustainable development of water, as well as provides a support for comprehensive calculation and management of various valuable natural resources.
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15
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Classification of the Relationship between Household Welfare and Ecosystem Reliance in the Miyun Reservoir Watershed, China. SUSTAINABILITY 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/su9122290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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16
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Interrelations of Ecosystem Services and Rural Population Wellbeing in an Ecologically-Fragile Area in North China. SUSTAINABILITY 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/su9050709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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17
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Zhou ZX, Li J, Zhang W. Coupled urbanization and agricultural ecosystem services in Guanzhong-Tianshui Economic Zone. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:15407-15417. [PMID: 27117147 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-6726-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystems offer material and environmental support for human habitation and development in those areas of the earth where people choose to live. However, urbanization is an inexorable trend of human social development and threatens the health of those ecosystems inhabited by humans. This study calculates the values of NPP (net primary productivity), carbon sequestration, water interception, soil conservation, and agricultural production in the Guanzhong-Tianshui Economic Zone. At the same time, we combined DMSP/OLS (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Operational Line Scanner) night lights remote sensing data and statistical data to analyze the level of urbanization. Quantitative analysis was performed on the interactions between the ecosystem service functions and urbanization based on the calculations of their coupled coordination degrees. The results were the following: (1) The values of NPP, carbon sequestration, and agricultural production showed a trend of increase. However, water interception decreased before increasing, while soil conservation showed the reverse trend; (2) Urbanization levels in the Guanzhong-Tianshui Economic Zone for the last 10 years have proceeded at a fast pace with comprehensive promotion; and (3) Coupled and coupled coordination degrees between urbanization and ecosystem services show increasing trends. This research can provide a theoretical basis for the region's rapid economic development in the balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z X Zhou
- Institute of Water Saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid Areas of Ministry of Education, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, People's Republic of China
- National Engineering Laboratory for Crop Water Efficient Use, Yangling, People's Republic of China
| | - J Li
- College of Tourism and Environment, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
| | - W Zhang
- College of Tourism and Environment, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
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18
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Coordinated Development Analysis of the “Resources-Environment-Ecology-Economy-Society” Complex System in China. SUSTAINABILITY 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/su8060582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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19
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Spence PL. Ecosystem Service and Environmental Health. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2016; 9:35-38. [PMID: 27147823 PMCID: PMC4847553 DOI: 10.4137/ehi.s38845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
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20
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Boithias L, Terrado M, Corominas L, Ziv G, Kumar V, Marqués M, Schuhmacher M, Acuña V. Analysis of the uncertainty in the monetary valuation of ecosystem services--A case study at the river basin scale. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 543:683-690. [PMID: 26615486 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.11.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Revised: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystem services provide multiple benefits to human wellbeing and are increasingly considered by policy-makers in environmental management. However, the uncertainty related with the monetary valuation of these benefits is not yet adequately defined or integrated by policy-makers. Given this background, our aim was to quantify different sources of uncertainty when performing monetary valuation of ecosystem services, in order to provide a series of guidelines to reduce them. With an example of 4 ecosystem services (i.e., water provisioning, waste treatment, erosion protection, and habitat for species) provided at the river basin scale, we quantified the uncertainty associated with the following sources: (1) the number of services considered, (2) the number of benefits considered for each service, (3) the valuation metrics (i.e. valuation methods) used to value benefits, and (4) the uncertainty of the parameters included in the valuation metrics. Results indicate that the highest uncertainty was caused by the number of services considered, as well as by the number of benefits considered for each service, whereas the parametric uncertainty was similar to the one related to the selection of valuation metric, thus suggesting that the parametric uncertainty, which is the only uncertainty type commonly considered, was less critical than the structural uncertainty, which is in turn mainly dependent on the decision-making context. Given the uncertainty associated to the valuation structure, special attention should be given to the selection of services, benefits and metrics according to a given context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie Boithias
- Catalan Institute for Water Research, Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; University of Toulouse, INPT, UPS, Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement (EcoLab), Avenue de l'Agrobiopole, 31326 Castanet Tolosan Cedex, France; CNRS, EcoLab, 31326 Castanet Tolosan Cedex, France
| | - Marta Terrado
- Catalan Institute for Water Research, Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Lluís Corominas
- Catalan Institute for Water Research, Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Guy Ziv
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Vikas Kumar
- Environmental Analysis and Management Group, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Montse Marqués
- Environmental Analysis and Management Group, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Marta Schuhmacher
- Environmental Analysis and Management Group, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Vicenç Acuña
- Catalan Institute for Water Research, Carrer Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain.
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21
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O’Donnell G, Oswald AJ. National well-being policy and a weighted approach to human feelings. ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS 2015; 120:59-70. [PMID: 28798536 PMCID: PMC5548146 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2015.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Governments are becoming interested in the concept of human well-being and how truly to assess it. As an alternative to traditional economic measures, some nations have begun to collect information on citizens' happiness, life satisfaction, and other psychological scores. Yet how could such data actually be used? This paper is a cautious attempt to contribute to thinking on that question. It suggests a possible weighting method to calculate first-order changes in society's well-being, discusses some of the potential principles of democratic 'well-being policy', and (as an illustrative example) reports data on how sub-samples of citizens believe feelings might be weighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gus O’Donnell
- House of Lords, London, SW1A 0PW, United Kingdom
- Frontier Economics, London, United Kingdom
- University College London and the London School of Economics, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J. Oswald
- University of Warwick, Department of Economics and CAGE Research Centre, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
- IZA Bonn, Germany
- Corresponding author at: University of Warwick, Department of Economics and CAGE Research Centre, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.
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22
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Monitoring local well-being in environmental interventions: a consideration of practical trade-offs. ORYX 2015. [DOI: 10.1017/s003060531500112x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractWithin the field of environmental management and conservation, the concept of well-being is starting to gain traction in monitoring the socio-economic and cultural impact of interventions on local people. Here we consider the practical trade-offs policy makers and practitioners must navigate when utilizing the concept of well-being in environmental interventions. We first review current concepts of well-being before considering the need to balance the complexity and practical applicability of the definition used and to consider both positive and negative components of well-being. A key determinant of how well-being is operationalized is the identity of the organization wishing to monitor it. We describe the trade-offs around the external and internal validity of different approaches to measuring well-being and the relative contributions of qualitative and quantitative information to understanding well-being. We explore how these trade-offs may be decided as a result of a power struggle between stakeholders. Well-being is a complex, multi-dimensional, dynamic concept that cannot be easily defined and measured. Local perspectives are often missed during the project design process as a result of the more powerful voices of national governments and international NGOs, so for equity and local relevance it is important to ensure these perspectives are represented at a high level in project design and implementation.
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23
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Combining vulnerability analysis and perceptions of ecosystem services in sensitive landscapes: A case from western Moroccan temporary wetlands. J Nat Conserv 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2015.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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24
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Hay L, Duffy A, Whitfield RI. The Sustainability Cycle and Loop: models for a more unified understanding of sustainability. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2014; 133:232-257. [PMID: 24388926 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.11.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2012] [Revised: 11/13/2013] [Accepted: 11/30/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In spite of the considerable research on sustainability, reports suggest that we are barely any closer to a more sustainable society. As such, there is an urgent need to improve the effectiveness of human efforts towards sustainability. A clearer and more unified understanding of sustainability among different people and sectors could help to facilitate this. This paper presents the results of an inductive literature investigation, aiming to develop models to explain the nature of sustainability in the Earth system, and how humans can effectively strive for it. The major contributions are two general and complementary models, that may be applied in any context to provide a common basis for understanding sustainability: the Sustainability Cycle (S-Cycle), and the Sustainability Loop (S-Loop). Literature spanning multiple sectors is examined from the perspective of three concepts, emerging as significant in relation to our aim. Systems are shown to provide the context for human action towards sustainability, and the nature of the Earth system and its sub-systems is explored. Activities are outlined as a fundamental target that humans need to sustain, since they produce the entities both needed and desired by society. The basic behaviour of activities operating in the Earth system is outlined. Finally, knowledge is positioned as the driver of human action towards sustainability, and the key components of knowledge involved are examined. The S-Cycle and S-Loop models are developed via a process of induction from the reviewed literature. The S-Cycle describes the operation of activities in a system from the perspective of sustainability. The sustainability of activities in a system depends upon the availability of resources, and the availability of resources depends upon the rate that activities consume and produce them. Humans may intervene in these dynamics via an iterative process of interpretation and action, described in the S-Loop model. The models are briefly applied to a system described in the literature. It is shown that the S-Loop may be used to guide efforts towards sustainability in a particular system of interest, by prescribing the basic activities involved. The S-Cycle may be applied complementary to the S-Loop, to support the interpretation of activity behaviour described in the latter. Given their general nature, the models provide the basis for a more unified understanding of sustainability. It is hoped that their use may go some way towards improving the effectiveness of human action towards sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Hay
- Department of Design, Manufacture, and Engineering Management, 131 Rottenrow, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, UK.
| | - Alex Duffy
- Department of Design, Manufacture, and Engineering Management, 131 Rottenrow, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, UK.
| | - R I Whitfield
- Department of Design, Manufacture, and Engineering Management, 131 Rottenrow, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, UK.
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25
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Dodds WK, Perkin JS, Gerken JE. Human impact on freshwater ecosystem services: a global perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2013; 47:9061-8. [PMID: 23885808 DOI: 10.1021/es4021052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Human environmental change influences freshwaters as well as the regulating, provisioning, and cultural services that ecosystems provide worldwide. Here, we assess the global human impact on the potential value of six freshwater ecosystem services (ES) and estimate the proportion of each used globally (the mean value across all countries is in parentheses): biodiversity (0.37), disturbance regulation (0.24), commodities (0.39), greenhouse gases (0.09), water availability (0.10), and water quality (0.33). We also created a composite index of the impact. Using different valuation schemes, we found that humans have used potential global freshwater ES scaled by a relative value of roughly 4-20%, with a median of 16%. All countries use a considerable amount of the potential ES value, invalidating the idea that wealthier countries have less impact on their ES once they have developed. The data suggest that humans have diminished the potential ES provided by freshwaters across the globe and that factors associated with high population growth rates are related to the overall degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter K Dodds
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University , 116 Ackert Hall, Manhattan 66506, Kansas, USA.
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26
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Carollo C, Allee RJ, Yoskowitz DW. Linking the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) to ecosystem services: an application to the US Gulf of Mexico. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIODIVERSITY SCIENCE, ECOSYSTEM SERVICES & MANAGEMENT 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/21513732.2013.811701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Carollo
- a Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5869, Corpus Christi , Texas , 78412 , USA
| | - Rebecca J. Allee
- b National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Gulf Coast Services Center, c/o EPA Gulf of Mexico Program, Stennis Space Center , Mississippi , 39529 , USA
| | - David W. Yoskowitz
- a Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5869, Corpus Christi , Texas , 78412 , USA
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Going beyond the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: an index system of human well-being. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64582. [PMID: 23717635 PMCID: PMC3661712 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2012] [Accepted: 04/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the linkages between ecosystem services (ES) and human well-being (HWB) is crucial to sustain the flow of ES for HWB. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) provided a state-of-the-art synthesis of such knowledge. However, due to the complexity of the linkages between ES and HWB, there are still many knowledge gaps, and in particular a lack of quantitative indicators and integrated models based on the MA framework. To fill some of these research needs, we developed a quantitative index system to measure HWB, and assessed the impacts of an external driver – the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake – on HWB. Our results suggest that our proposed index system of HWB is well-designed, valid and could be useful for better understanding the linkages between ES and HWB. The earthquake significantly affected households' well-being in our demonstration sites. Such impacts differed across space and across the five dimensions of the sub-index (i.e., the basic material for good life, security, health, good social relations, and freedom of choice and action). Since the conceptual framework is based on the generalizable MA framework, our methods should also be applicable to other study areas.
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28
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Khan SM, Page S, Ahmad H, Shaheen H, Ullah Z, Ahmad M, Harper DM. Medicinal flora and ethnoecological knowledge in the Naran Valley, Western Himalaya, Pakistan. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2013; 9:4. [PMID: 23302393 PMCID: PMC3570439 DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-9-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2012] [Accepted: 01/07/2013] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mountain ecosystems all over the world support a high biological diversity and provide home and services to some 12% of the global human population, who use their traditional ecological knowledge to utilise local natural resources. The Himalayas are the world's youngest, highest and largest mountain range and support a high plant biodiversity. In this remote mountainous region of the Himalaya, people depend upon local plant resources to supply a range of goods and services, including grazing for livestock and medicinal supplies for themselves. Due to their remote location, harsh climate, rough terrain and topography, many areas within this region still remain poorly known for its floristic diversity, plant species distribution and vegetation ecosystem service. METHODS The Naran valley in the north-western Pakistan is among such valleys and occupies a distinctive geographical location on the edge of the Western Himalaya range, close to the Hindu Kush range to the west and the Karakorum Mountains to the north. It is also located on climatic and geological divides, which further add to its botanical interest. In the present project 120 informants were interviewed at 12 main localities along the 60 km long valley. This paper focuses on assessment of medicinal plant species valued by local communities using their traditional knowledge. RESULTS Results revealed that 101 species belonging to 52 families (51.5% of the total plants) were used for 97 prominent therapeutic purposes. The largest number of ailments cured with medicinal plants were associated with the digestive system (32.76% responses) followed by those associated with the respiratory and urinary systems (13.72% and 9.13% respectively). The ailments associated with the blood circulatory and reproductive systems and the skin were 7.37%, 7.04% and 7.03%, respectively. The results also indicate that whole plants were used in 54% of recipes followed by rhizomes (21%), fruits (9.5%) and roots (5.5%). CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate the range of ecosystem services that are provided by the vegetation and assess how utilisation of plants will impact on future resource sustainability. The study not only contributes to an improved understanding of traditional ethno-ecological knowledge amongst the peoples of the Western Himalaya but also identifies priorities at species and habitat level for local and regional plant conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujaul M Khan
- Department of Botany, Hazara University Mansehra, Pakistan
| | - Sue Page
- Department of Geography, University of Leicester, UK
| | - Habib Ahmad
- Department of Genetics, Hazara University Mansehra, Pakistan
| | - Hamayun Shaheen
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Zahid Ullah
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Mushtaq Ahmad
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
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29
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Landis WG, Durda JL, Brooks ML, Chapman PM, Menzie CA, Stahl RG, Stauber JL. Ecological risk assessment in the context of global climate change. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2013; 32:79-92. [PMID: 23161373 PMCID: PMC3601429 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2011] [Revised: 05/08/2012] [Accepted: 09/28/2012] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Changes to sources, stressors, habitats, and geographic ranges; toxicological effects; end points; and uncertainty estimation require significant changes in the implementation of ecological risk assessment (ERA). Because of the lack of analog systems and circumstances in historically studied sites, there is a likelihood of type III error. As a first step, the authors propose a decision key to aid managers and risk assessors in determining when and to what extent climate change should be incorporated. Next, when global climate change is an important factor, the authors recommend seven critical changes to ERA. First, develop conceptual cause-effect diagrams that consider relevant management decisions as well as appropriate spatial and temporal scales to include both direct and indirect effects of climate change and the stressor of management interest. Second, develop assessment end points that are expressed as ecosystem services. Third, evaluate multiple stressors and nonlinear responses-include the chemicals and the stressors related to climate change. Fourth, estimate how climate change will affect or modify management options as the impacts become manifest. Fifth, consider the direction and rate of change relative to management objectives, recognizing that both positive and negative outcomes can occur. Sixth, determine the major drivers of uncertainty, estimating and bounding stochastic uncertainty spatially, temporally, and progressively. Seventh, plan for adaptive management to account for changing environmental conditions and consequent changes to ecosystem services. Good communication is essential for making risk-related information understandable and useful for managers and stakeholders to implement a successful risk-assessment and decision-making process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne G Landis
- Western Washington University, Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Bellingham, WA, USA.
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Summers JK, Smith LM, Case JL, Linthurst RA. A review of the elements of human well-being with an emphasis on the contribution of ecosystem services. AMBIO 2012; 41:327-40. [PMID: 22581385 PMCID: PMC3393065 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-012-0256-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2011] [Revised: 09/16/2011] [Accepted: 01/31/2012] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Natural ecosystems perform fundamental life-support services upon which human civilization depends. However, many people believe that nature provides these services for free and therefore, they are of little or no value. While we do not pay for them, we pay significantly for their loss in terms of wastewater treatment facilities, moratoriums on greenhouse gases, increased illnesses, reduced soil fertility and losses in those images of nature that contribute to our basic happiness. Little is understood about the well-being benefits of the natural environment and its ecosystem services. The interwoven relationship of ecosystems and human well-being is insufficiently acknowledged in the wider philosophical, social, and economic well-being literature. In this article, we discuss an approach to examine human well-being and the interactions of its four primary elements-basic human needs, economic needs, environmental needs, and subjective well-being-and ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- J K Summers
- National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, USA.
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Carriger JF, Barron MG. Minimizing risks from spilled oil to ecosystem services using influence diagrams: the Deepwater Horizon spill response. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2011; 45:7631-9. [PMID: 21875054 DOI: 10.1021/es201037u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Decision science tools can be used in evaluating response options and making inferences on risks to ecosystem services (ES) from ecological disasters. Influence diagrams (IDs) are probabilistic networks that explicitly represent the decisions related to a problem and their influence on desired or undesired outcomes. To examine how IDs might be useful in probabilistic risk management for spill response efforts, an ID was constructed to display the potential interactions between exposure events and the trade-offs between costs and ES impacts from spilled oil and response decisions in the DWH spill event. Quantitative knowledge was not formally incorporated but an ID platform for doing this was examined. Probabilities were assigned for conditional relationships in the ID and scenarios examining the impact of different response actions on components of spilled oil were investigated in hypothetical scenarios. Given the structure of the ID, potential knowledge gaps included understanding of the movement of oil, the ecological risk of different spill-related stressors to key receptors (e.g., endangered species, fisheries), and the need for stakeholder valuation of the ES benefits that could be impacted by a spill. Framing the Deepwater Horizon problem domain in an ID conceptualized important variables and relationships that could be optimally accounted for in preparing and managing responses in future spills. These features of the developed IDs may assist in better investigating the uncertainty, costs, and the trade-offs if large-scale, deep ocean spills were to occur again.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Carriger
- National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Gulf Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1 Sabine Island Drive, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561, USA.
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Compton JE, Harrison JA, Dennis RL, Greaver TL, Hill BH, Jordan SJ, Walker H, Campbell HV. Ecosystem services altered by human changes in the nitrogen cycle: a new perspective for US decision making. Ecol Lett 2011; 14:804-15. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2011.01631.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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