Understanding and managing the interactions of impacts from nature-based recreation and climate change

Disturbance to ecosystems in parks and protected areas from nature-based tourism and recreation is increasing in scale and severity, as are the impacts of climate change—but there is limited research examining the degree to which these anthropogenic disturbances interact. In this perspective paper, we draw on the available literature to expose complex recreation and climate interactions that may alter ecosystems of high conservation value such that important species and processes no longer persist. Our emphasis is on ecosystems in high demand for tourism and recreation that also are increasingly experiencing stress from climate change. We discuss the importance of developing predictive models of direct and indirect effects, including threshold and legacy effects at different levels of biological organization. We present a conceptual model of these interactions to initiate a dialog among researchers and managers so that new research approaches and managerial frameworks are advanced to address this emerging issue.     

People and biodiversity in the 21st century: This article belongs to Ambio’s 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Biodiversity conservation

Fifty years have elapsed since the first publication of Ambio. Throughout this period, fundamental changes have occurred in societal attitudes to biodiversity conservation. Ambio has published numerous papers that have aligned with these new approaches. High citations numbers suggest that Ambio papers have had a significant impact on conservation strategies. We review these publications and find that they align well with changed societal perspectives on biodiversity. Ambio papers have called for greater contributions of local and indigenous peoples and for conservation in multi-functional landscapes. The 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity built on these principles. Negotiations are now underway for a post-2020 framework for biodiversity. Ambio papers have argued for a stronger scientific basis for conservation and for the need to adapt to changing conditions and to the rich diversity of societal preferences for conservation. International processes favor simple, generalizable approaches to conservation but we call for recognition of the diversity of ecological and human conditions in which conservation occurs. There is a need to build capacity to support a diversity of conservation approaches that are adapted to changing local conditions and to the priorities of diverse human societies.     

Representative boreal forest habitats in northern Europe,and a revised model for ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation

The natural range of variation of ecosystems provides reference conditions for sustainable management and biodiversity conservation. We review how the understanding of natural reference conditions of boreal forests in northern Europe has changed from earlier perceptions of even-aged dynamics driven by stand-replacing disturbances towards current understanding highlighting the role of non-stand-replacing disturbances and the resultant complex forest dynamics and structures. We show how earlier views and conceptual models of forest disturbance dynamics, including the influential ASIO model, provide estimates of reference conditions that are outside the natural range of variation. Based on a research synthesis, we present a revised forest reference model incorporating the observed complexity of ecosystem dynamics and the prevalence of old forests. Finally, we outline a management model and demonstrate its use in forest ecosystem management and show how regional conservation area needs can be estimated. We conclude that attaining favourable conservation status in northern Europe’s boreal forests requires increasing emphasis on ecosystem management and conservation for old forest characteristics.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01444-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

A social–ecological framework and toolbox to help strengthening functional agrobiodiversity-supported ecosystem services at the landscape scale

Functional agrobiodiversity (FAB) has severely declined during the last decades. Current efforts to reinforce FAB are mainly focused on single-actor, parcel-based measures, whereas multi-actor landscape approaches are supposed to be more effective. In this paper, we propose a social–ecological framework that structures how different land users at both the parcel and landscape level interact with FAB as a natural resource. Furthermore, we introduce 1 m² FAB gardens as an interactive multipurpose measurement tool to gather data on ecosystem services in collaboration with land users. The presented action research approach provides new insights on motivations and interests of different land users in FAB and how knowledge exchange can result in a higher motivation to invest in FAB. Using a case study in Flanders, we illustrate the FAB-garden concept and highlight its strengths and necessary considerations to properly complement other research approaches in this social–ecological system.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01382-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

南昌市城市空气PM2.5和PM10时空变异特征及其与景观格局的关系

基于2013—2015年南昌市9个空气环境监测点的连续数据,分析了空气PM_(2.5)、PM_(10)质量浓度(以下简称浓度)的时空变异规律,并以景观格局指数为定量指标,研究了监测点的两种颗粒物浓度与其周边500 m半径、1000 m半径缓冲区的土地利用状况的关系.结果表明:(1)南昌市3年来PM_(2.5)和PM_(10)浓度逐年显著降低.(2)通过聚类分析,9个监测站依据颗粒物污染可分为4大类,表现出一致的城乡梯度差异.(3)在斑块类型水平上,PM_(2.5)和PM_(10)浓度与500、1000 m半径缓冲区的C-PLAND(建筑用地覆盖率)、C-SHDI(建筑用地多样性指数)显著正相关,与1000m缓冲区的F-ED(林地边界密度)显著正相关;与F-PLAND(林地覆盖率)、C-Fi(建筑用地分离度指数)、F-MPS(林地平均斑块面积)显著负相关.在景观水平上,PM_(2.5)和PM_(10)浓度在500 m缓冲区与LPI(最大斑块所占景观比例)显著负相关;与1000 m缓冲区的MPS(平均斑块面积)显著负相关.景观格局指数直接反映土地利用状况,它与PM_(2.5)和PM_(10)浓度的相关性,表现出生态学中典型的"源汇景观"关系.     

海南南渡江下游二维水动力及水生态数值模拟

为了模拟河流水生态系统演变,探讨热带河流浮游植物和浮游动物生物量在流量影响下的沿程变化规律,在求解河流二维浅水方程的基础上,考虑浮游动物、浮游植物、悬浮碎屑、无机氮、无机磷等输运和演变子模型以及各子模型间的耦合作用机制,构建水生态动力数学模型,并将该模型应用于我国热带河流—海南南渡江下游龙塘坝至入海口段（长约28 km）.数学模型采用ADI-QUICK格式差分方法对水动力学方程和对流扩散方程进行离散求解,进而驱动各类生物变量输运和演化.通过对河流水面线高程、营养盐含量、浮游生物生物量模拟值与实测值加以对比进行验证.实证结果表明,在生态参数合理率定前提下,忽略河流流量的时间变化,采用丰水期、平水期和枯水期工况下的代表流量加以概化,数值模拟仍能获得局部河段浮游生物生物量模拟值与实测值整体相符合的结果.浮游植物和浮游动物生物量均沿水流方向逐渐降低,但随流量的增大整体上呈降低趋势,丰水期上游浮游生物生物量为下游的1.6倍,枯水期达到9.3倍.受海水入侵、沿程污染排放等因素的影响,枯水期浮游生物生物量模拟值与实测值的偏差远大于丰水期.枯水期河道浮游植物和浮游动物生物量模拟值的最大值分别为77.71和38.56 mmol/m3（均以C计）,约为丰水期的3.8倍,说明枯水期水质富营养化风险远高于丰水期.      

一带一路背景下西部生态与绿色发展的改革与创新研究

西部地区资源开发、环境导向、经济发展等因素的制约下,西部地区的生态发展以及改革方案受到了严重的冲击,文中提出一带一路背景下西部生态与绿色发展的改革与创新方案.通过一带一路指示精神融合西部地区的特有生态水平,进行了综合分析,并根据实际的发展要求进行深入指导.对一带一路背景下西部生态与绿色发展的改革进行了详细的解读,把西部生态环境与绿色生态发展之间的矛盾进行分析,通过一带一路的思想和方针解决了现有改革中的矛盾.结合一带一路的实质路线对西部生态与绿色发展的创新进行了深入的探讨,基于"一带一路"战略带来各种促进的政策,确定了西部地区生态与绿色发展创新方向.     

Beyond the conventional: Meeting the challenges of landscape governance within the European Landscape Convention?

Academics and policy makers seeking to deconstruct landscape face major challenges conceptually, methodologically and institutionally. The meaning(s), identity(ies) and management of landscape are controversial and contested. The European Landscape Convention provides an opportunity for action and change set within new governance agendas addressing interdisciplinarity and spatial planning. This paper critically reviews the complex web of conceptual and methodological frameworks that characterise landscape planning and management and then focuses on emerging landscape governance in Scotland within a mixed method approach involving policy analyses, semi-structured interviews and best practice case studies. Using Dower's (2008) criteria from the Articles of the European Landscape Convention, the results show that whilst some progress has been made in landscape policy and practice, largely through the actions of key individuals and champions, there are significant institutional hurdles and resource limitations to overcome. The need to mainstream positive landscape outcomes requires a significant culture change where a one-size-fits-all approach does not work.     

Benefits, efforts and risks of participants in landscape co-management: an analytical framework and results from two case studies in Austria

Participatory processes in general and also in relation to managing landscape issues are gathering importance mostly due to arguments surrounding legitimacy and effectiveness in decision-making. The main aim of this research, based on a transaction costs perspective, is to present an integrated analytical framework in order to determine individual efforts (time, money), benefits and risks of participants in landscape co-management processes. Furthermore a reflection on the analytical approach developed and arising lessons to be learned for landscape co-management are presented. In the analytical framework benefit-components comprise of factors such as 'contributing to landscape maintenance/development and nature protection', 'representing one's interest group', 'co-deciding on relevant topics', 'providing and broadening one's knowledge' and 'building networks'. The risks of participation are related to a lack of information and agreements, missing support and actual decision-making power. The analytical framework is applied to two case studies in Austria: an EU LIFE-Nature project and a Cultural Landscape Project of the Provincial Government of Lower Austria. Analysis of the effort-benefit-relations provides an indication for a more effective design of co-management. Although the processes are rated as quite adequate, there is a low willingness of participants to commit additional time to co-management processes. In contrast to the Cultural Landscape Project, in the LIFE-Nature project, professionally involved persons participate next to partly and full volunteers. These uneven conditions of participation and an unfair distribution of transaction costs, jeopardize the promising chances co-management bears for landscape governance.     

Urban reconciliation ecology: the potential of living roofs and walls

Reconciling human and non-human use of urban regions to support biological conservation represents a major challenge for the 21st century. The concept of reconciliation ecology, by which the anthropogenic environment may be modified to encourage non-human use and biodiversity preservation without compromising societal utilization, potentially represents an appropriate paradigm for urban conservation given the generally poor opportunities that exist for reserve establishment and ecological restoration in urban areas. Two habitat improvement techniques with great potential for reconciliation ecology in urban areas are the installation of living roofs and walls, which have been shown to support a range of taxa at local scales. This paper evaluates the reconciliation potential of living roofs and walls, in particular highlighting both ecological and societal limitations that need to be overcome for application at the landscape scale. We further consider that successful utilization of living roofs and walls for urban reconciliation ecology will rely heavily on the participation of urban citizens, and that a 'citizen science' model is needed to facilitate public participation and support and to create an evidence base to determine their effectiveness. Living roofs and walls are just one aspect of urban reconciliation ecology, but are particularly important 'bottom-up' techniques for improving urban biodiversity that can be performed directly by the citizenry.