This paper investigates a conservator’s approach to a particular subset of physical cultural property:clocks.It looks at established conservation frameworks and practical elements of codes of practice,and considers h...This paper investigates a conservator’s approach to a particular subset of physical cultural property:clocks.It looks at established conservation frameworks and practical elements of codes of practice,and considers how the conservator’s perspective will differ from that of a peer engaged solely with an approach to static objects.The paper considers,through examples of historic technological development,how what we mean by"clock"and how we consider clocks are in a state of constant change of context.Clocks are a diverse group of objects,some of which are technically complex.The conservator must draw together many influences in order to demonstrate professional competence in thinking,delivering an accountable decision-making process.In order to illustrate the breadth of the challenge the conservator faces when approaching clocks,the paper gives examples of three contrasting case study objects including one automaton and one electromechanical model.Clocks as a group comprise multimedia and multimedium objects.The perspective of the conservator will draw on professional networks within and without the immediate field,including at times the work of philosophers,scientists,sociologists,and historians in order to maintain objectivity,inform and engender new ideas.The paper concludes with the statement that the perspective of the conservator engaged with clocks should never be fixed,and that solutions to the challenges presented by clocks are never absolute and never permanent,but are in constant context-driven flux.展开更多
Tajikistan represents a core region of the biodiversity hotspot in Central Asian mountains and has exceptional vascular plant diversity.However,the species diversity of the country faces urgent conservation challenges...Tajikistan represents a core region of the biodiversity hotspot in Central Asian mountains and has exceptional vascular plant diversity.However,the species diversity of the country faces urgent conservation challenges.There has been a lack of a comprehensive and multidimensional assessment to inform strategic conservation planning.Therefore,this study integrated 4 key biodiversity indices including species richness(SR),phylogenetic diversity(PD),threatened species richness(TSR),and endemic species richness(ESR)to map species diversity distribution patterns,identify conservation gaps,and elucidate their effects of climatic factors.This study revealed that species diversity shows a clear trend of decreasing from the western region to the eastern region of Tajikistan.The central–western mountains(specifically the Gissar-Darvasian and Zeravshanian regions)emerge as irreplaceable biodiversity hotspots.However,we found a severe spatial mismatch between these priority areas and the existing protected areas(PAs).Protection coverage for all hotspots was alarmingly low,ranging from 31.00%to 38.00%.Consequently,a critical 64.80%of integrated priority areas fall outside of the current PAs,representing a major conservation gap.This study identified precipitation seasonality and isothermality as the principal drivers,collectively explaining over 50.00%of the diversity variation and suggesting high vulnerability to hydrological shifts.Furthermore,we detected significant geographic sampling bias in the public biodiversity databases,with the most critical hotspot being systematically under-sampled.This study provides a robust scientific basis for conservation action,highlighting the urgent need to strategically expand PAs in the under-protected southwestern region and to mitigate critical sampling gaps through targeted data digitization and field surveys.These measures are indispensable for securing Tajikistan’s unique biodiversity and achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3(“30×30 Protection”).展开更多
Effective conservation relies on robust assessments;however,the lack of waterbird data in the Yellow River Basin(YRB)has led to an underestimation of key habitat significance.This study addressed this gap by evaluatin...Effective conservation relies on robust assessments;however,the lack of waterbird data in the Yellow River Basin(YRB)has led to an underestimation of key habitat significance.This study addressed this gap by evaluating YRB wetland conservation importance using waterbirds as indicators and applying Ramsar,Important Bird Areas(IBA),and East Asian-Australasian Flyway(EAAF)criteria.We integrated coordinated surveys with citizen science data,creating a framework that tackles data deficiencies along the under-monitored Central Asian Flyway(CAF).Our analysis identified 75 priority wetlands,supporting 15 threatened species and 49 exceeding global/flyway 1%thresholds,highlighting the basin's biodiversity.We observed strong seasonal habitat use,with high-altitude wetlands vital for breeding and migration,and the Yellow River Delta providing year-round refuge.This research also provided data to refine Baer's Pochard population estimates.Alarmingly,one-third of the identified priority areas,primarily rivers and lakes,remain unprotected.To address this,we recommend systematic surveys,enhanced protected areas,OECMs,and targeted wetland restoration.This study underscores the YRB's role in regional conservation and provides essential data for adaptive management,particularly emphasizing the CAF's importance.展开更多
The Selenge River Basin(SRB)in Mongolia has faced ecosystem degradation because of climate change and overloading.The dynamics of the pastoral system and the extent of overload under future scenarios have not been doc...The Selenge River Basin(SRB)in Mongolia has faced ecosystem degradation because of climate change and overloading.The dynamics of the pastoral system and the extent of overload under future scenarios have not been documented.This study aims to answer the following questions:Will the typical soums in the SRB become more overgrazed in the future?What optimal strategy should be implemented?Multisource data were integrated and utilized to model the pastoral system of typical soums using a system dynamics approach.Future scenarios under three SSP-RCPs were projected using the model.The conclusions are as follows:(1)From upstream to downstream,rational scenarios for pastoral system transferred from SSP1-RCP2.6 to SSP2-RCP4.5,which reflect improved productivity at the expense of ecosystem stability.(2)Compared with that during the historical period of 2000-2020,the projected carrying capacity of the soums decreases by 15.2%-37.3%,whereas the number of livestock continues to increase.Consequently,the stocking rate is expected to increase from 0.32-1.16 during 2000-2020 to 1.26-2.02 during 2021-2050,indicating that rangeland will become more overloaded.(3)A livestock reduction strategy based on future livestock stock and grassland carrying capacity scenarios was proposed to maintain a dynamic forage-livestock equilibrium.It is suggested that reducing livestock is a practical option for harmonizing grassland conservation with livestock husbandry development.展开更多
In recent years,there has been a growing global demand for carbon neutrality and energy efficiency,which are expected to become long-term trends.In the field of architecture,an effective approach to achieve this is to...In recent years,there has been a growing global demand for carbon neutrality and energy efficiency,which are expected to become long-term trends.In the field of architecture,an effective approach to achieve this is to reduce heat loss in buildings.Vacuum insulation panels(VIPs),a type of high-performance insulation material,have been increasingly utilised in the construction industry and have played an increa-singly important role as their performance and manufacturing processes continue to improve.This paper provides a review of the factors affecting the thermal conductivity of VIPs and presents a detailed overview of the research progress on core materials,barrier films,and getters.The current research status of VIPs is summarised,including their thermal conductivity,service life,and thermal bridging effects,as well as their applications in the field of architecture.This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding for relevant practitioners on the factors influencing the thermal conductivity of VIPs,and based on which,measures can be taken to produce VIPs with lower thermal conductivity and longer service life.展开更多
Ecological conservation is at a crossroad as environmental stresses around the world intensify and traditional models of conservation exhibit intrinsic weaknesses in their response to present and future problems.In th...Ecological conservation is at a crossroad as environmental stresses around the world intensify and traditional models of conservation exhibit intrinsic weaknesses in their response to present and future problems.In the project,we evaluated novel approaches integrating adaptive management,technological innovations,and community-based action towards more efficient sustainable conservation results and ecosystem resilience.The multi-site experimental design was based on comparison between conventional reserve management and novel integrative models implemented in diverse ecological zones.Data were collected over a period of three years employing remote sensing technologies,in situ biodiversity assessments,and large socioeconomic surveys.These instruments enabled a robust and multi-dimensional measurement of variables such as species diversity,ecological resilience,community engagement,and stakeholder engagement.The results indicate that adaptive strategies significantly enhance real-time decision-making abilities and enhance long-term ecosystem resilience.Further,technology-driven monitoring greatly enhances data accuracy,responsiveness,and early warning capabilities.Besides that,community-based conservation initiatives were found to be pivotal in facilitating local stewardship,enhancing participatory governance,and enabling more adaptive and adaptive policy systems.This research rejects mainstream conservation paradigms by placing importance on flexibility,interdisciplinarity,and inclusivity of governance systems in effectively mitigating the impacts of climate change and loss of biodiversity.Our findings offer strong evidence that emerging paradigms of conservation can provide greater ecological and social sustainability than traditional methods.These results support the need for a paradigm shift towards conservation strategies that are dynamic,collaborative,and technologically integrated,with significant implications for policy formulation as well as operational environmental management.展开更多
Felid species hold critical ecological roles within tropical forest ecosystems and are particularly susceptible to human-induced disturbances.However,there is limited research on how sympatric felid species are distri...Felid species hold critical ecological roles within tropical forest ecosystems and are particularly susceptible to human-induced disturbances.However,there is limited research on how sympatric felid species are distributed and coexist in human-dominated habitats.Using a long-term camera trap survey conducted in the disturbed tropical habitats of Xishuangbanna,southwestern China,we assessed the occupancy and spatio-temporal segregation among four sympatric felid species(Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis,Marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata,Asiatic golden cat Catopuma temminckii,and Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa),and explored how these patterns correlate with similarities in species traits.We found that the occupancy probabilities of leopard cats and clouded leopards were primarily influenced by anthropogenic disturbances rather than natural factors,with both species negatively affected by croplands.Similar species responses to croplands and livestock may facilitate the co-occurrence of leopard cats with clouded leopards in areas farther from croplands and with golden cats in regions with higher livestock abundance.The lack of significant spatial segregation among species is likely due to the observed segregation in daily activity patterns,which positively correlated with species trait similarities.Our study enhances our understanding of felid community assembly in the face of expanding human activity,offering valuable insights for future conservation in the Xishuangbanna region.展开更多
The Himalayan monal(Lophophorus impejanus),Nepal’s national bird,is a protected species facing significant conservation challenges.Understanding the distribution and habitat preferences of the Himalayan monal(HM)is c...The Himalayan monal(Lophophorus impejanus),Nepal’s national bird,is a protected species facing significant conservation challenges.Understanding the distribution and habitat preferences of the Himalayan monal(HM)is crucial for its conservation.This study was conducted in the Langtang National Park(LNP),Nepal using the route census method during both winter(November/December 2022)and summer(June 2023)seasons to examine the seasonal variation in HM’s elevational distribution and habitat preference.Further,we assessed their conservation threats by conducting a semi-structured questionnaire survey with the local residents.During the winter period,the HMs preferred grassland habitats,while in the summer,their preference shifted to shrubland and barren area.HM abundance was negatively associated with the Normalized Differential Vegetation Index(NDVI)and the shortest distance from the survey trails in the winter.The HMs actively avoided areas with high anthropogenic pressure.In the summer,they showed a wider elevational range up to 4400 m above sea level(a.s.l.),with a higher sighting frequency between 3600 and 3900 m a.s.l.The questionnaire survey of the local residents revealed that anthropogenic pressure such as poaching and free-ranging livestock grazing are the major threats to the species in the study area.This study provides valuable insight into the complex habitat preferences and critical threats faced by the HMs in LNP and underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation action.展开更多
Global marine ecosystems are signiicantly endangered by microplastic pollution,leading to comprehensive investigations into its distribution and impacts on the health of ecosystem.This research employs the Alseamar Au...Global marine ecosystems are signiicantly endangered by microplastic pollution,leading to comprehensive investigations into its distribution and impacts on the health of ecosystem.This research employs the Alseamar Autonomous Underwater Vehicle(AUV)known as Glider to investigate microplastic concentrations within the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area(MPA).Our objective is to identify spatial patterns that reveal pollution hotspots and furnish data for targeted conservation efforts and pollution prevention.We aim to identify regions with elevated microplastic concentrations by meticulously analyzing microplastic level graphs,with a speciic focus on temporal variations.The results reveal notable patterns,such as increased densities aroundishing harbors and near urban centers,potentially linked to anthropogenic activities.Additionally,we observe variations in pollution levels throughout different glider operation cycles,underscoring the importance of understanding the spatio‑temporal dynamics of microplastic distribution.Al Hoceima Marine protected areas exhibiting lower microplastic concentrations illustrate the eficacy of such zones in alleviating pollution impacts,thereby underscoring the signiicance of conservation efforts in safeguarding marine biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.Ultimately,our research enhances our comprehension of the pressures exerted by humans on marine environments and underscores the necessity of proactive conservation measures to shield marine ecosystems from the threats posed by microplastic pollution.展开更多
Whilst phosphorus(P)in soil is considered to be abundant,the portion available for plant uptake constitutes less than 1%of the overall P present.To enhance crop productivity,the utilization of mineral P fertilizers ha...Whilst phosphorus(P)in soil is considered to be abundant,the portion available for plant uptake constitutes less than 1%of the overall P present.To enhance crop productivity,the utilization of mineral P fertilizers has become pervasive in agriculture.Nonetheless,the escalating prices of chemical fertilizers,coupled with new European regulations prohibiting the use of P fertilizers containing cadmium,have highlighted the urgency to identify environmentally friendly products and practices for P fertilization in agricultural soils.This comprehensive review delves into the current landscape of P fertilization from agricultural,political,and economic standpoints.We recognize the potential of microbes in mobilizing P,but emphasize the necessity for more robust research to establish their effectiveness in promoting plant P uptake under real-world conditions.Additionally,we explore the role of agricultural conservation practices,such as optimal tillage,diversified cropping systems,and increased organic carbon input,in conserving P.Furthermore,this review contemplates forthcoming innovations in research.These innovations encompass the development of enhanced formulations for biofertilizers and the undertaking of more comprehensive studies within the realm of conservation agriculture.All these endeavors collectively hold the potential to augment P accessibility to plants in a sustainable manner,thereby advancing agricultural sustainability and productivity.展开更多
Inbreeding increases genome homozygosity within populations,which can exacerbate inbreeding depression by exposing homozygous deleterious alleles that are responsible for declines in fitness traits.In small population...Inbreeding increases genome homozygosity within populations,which can exacerbate inbreeding depression by exposing homozygous deleterious alleles that are responsible for declines in fitness traits.In small populations,genetic purging that occurs under the pressure of natural selection acts as an opposing force,contributing to a reduction of deleterious alleles.Both inbreeding and genetic purging are paramount in the field of conservation genomics.The Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)lives in small populations in the forests of Northeast Asia and is among the most endangered animals on the planet.Using genome-wide assessment and comparison,we reveal substantially higher and more extensive inbreeding in wild Amur tigers(F_(ROH)=0.50)than in captive individuals(F_(ROH)=0.24).However,a relatively reduced number of lossof-function mutations in wild Amur tigers is observed compared to captive individuals,indicating genetic purging of inbreeding load with relatively large-effect alleles.The higher ratio of homozygous mutation load and number of fixed damaging alleles in the wild population indicates a less-efficient genetic purging,with purifying selection also contributing to this process.These findings provide valuable insights for the future conservation of Amur tigers.展开更多
Preserving genetic diversity is crucial for the long-term survival of wild plant species,yet many remain at risk of genetic erosion due to small population sizes and habitat fragmentation.Here,we present a comparative...Preserving genetic diversity is crucial for the long-term survival of wild plant species,yet many remain at risk of genetic erosion due to small population sizes and habitat fragmentation.Here,we present a comparative genomic study of the critically endangered Oreocharis esquirolii(Gesneriaceae)and its widespread congener O.maximowiczii.We assembled and annotated chromosome-level reference genomes for both species and generated whole-genome resequencing data from 28 O.esquirolii and 79 O.maximowiczii individuals.Our analyses reveal substantially lower genetic diversity and higher inbreeding in O.esquirolii,despite its overall reduced mutational burden.Notably,O.esquirolii exhibits an elevated proportion of strongly deleterious mutations relative to O.maximowiczii,suggesting that limited opportunities for purging have allowed these variants to accumulate.These contrasting genomic profileslikely reflectdivergent demographic histories,with O.esquirolii having experienced severe bottlenecks and protracted population decline.Collectively,our findingshighlight the critically endangered status of O.esquirolii,characterized by diminished genetic diversity,pronounced inbreeding,and reduced ability to eliminate deleterious alleles.This study provides valuable genomic resources for the Gesneriaceae family and underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation measures,including habitat protection and ex situ preservation efforts,to mitigate the extinction risk facing O.esquirolii and potentially other threatened congeners.展开更多
Element Transfer Reaction(ETR)theory is a new fundamental theory guiding the design of synthetic routes.It analyses problems from a brand-new perspective of element circulation,decomposing the factors affecting synthe...Element Transfer Reaction(ETR)theory is a new fundamental theory guiding the design of synthetic routes.It analyses problems from a brand-new perspective of element circulation,decomposing the factors affecting synthetic efficiency into three elements:element sources,driving force,and output.Different from the retrosynthetic analysis method and the atom economy theory,the ETR theory places more emphasis on examining the problem as a whole and comprehensively considering various factors involved in industrial applications.This perspective intends to elaborate on the scientific connotation of the ETR theory and explore its characteristics by discussing the practical application cases.展开更多
Guangdong’s carbon emissions have surpassed the world’s 11th largest emitter.It is indispensable for this province to find a robust cost-effective strategy for reducing carbon emissions.This study employed the Low E...Guangdong’s carbon emissions have surpassed the world’s 11th largest emitter.It is indispensable for this province to find a robust cost-effective strategy for reducing carbon emissions.This study employed the Low Emissions Analysis Platform model,marginal cost curves,and Monte Carlo methods to simulate the energy consumption,carbon emissions,and economic benefits of emission reduction in Guangdong Province from 2020 to 2030 under the application of various structural optimization policies and energy-saving technologies.The main findings are as follows:In 2030,Guangdong Province is projected to achieve a carbon emission reduction of 273.6 to 304.6million t CO_(2eq),with a total reduction cost ranging from 1030.9 to 1452.2 billion yuan.Increasing the share of renewable energy,which still has significant growth potential,can lead to a 1.4 times greater reduction in carbon emissions compared to the application of energy-saving technologies,despite the latter yielding 2.3 times more energy savings.The emission reduction measures with net-cost can contribute 71.4%to the total carbon reduction of the province,being much larger than those with net benefits.The power sector plays a critical role in carbon emission reduction within Guangdong Province,with its various measures exerting the most substantial impact on emission reduction quantity and cost,contributing cumulative variance contributions of 90.1%and 84.3%,respectively.It has relatively large potential for emission reduction and relatively low cost of structural adjustment.展开更多
Assessing the threat status of species in response to global change is critical for biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts.However,current frameworks,even the IUCN Red List,often neglect critical factors suc...Assessing the threat status of species in response to global change is critical for biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts.However,current frameworks,even the IUCN Red List,often neglect critical factors such as genetic diversity and the impacts of climate and land-use changes,hindering effective conservation planning.To address these limitations,we developed an enhanced extinction risk assessment framework using Diploderma lizards as a model.This framework incorporates long-term field surveys,environmental data,and land-use information to predict distributional changes for 10 recently described Diploderma species on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,which hold ecological significance but remain underassessed in conservation assessment.By integrating the distribution data and genetically inferred effective population sizes(Ne),we conducted scenario analyses and used a rank-sum approach to calculate Risk ranking scores(RRS)for each species.This approach revealed significant discrepancies with the IUCN Red List assessments.Notably,D.yangi and D.qilin were identified as facing the highest extinction risk.Furthermore,D.vela,D.batangense,D.flaviceps,D.dymondi,D.yulongense,and D.laeviventre,currently classified as“Least Concern”,were found to warrant reclassification as“Vulnerable”due to considerable threat from projected range contractions.Exploring the relationship between morphology and RRS revealed that traits such as snout-vent length and relative tail length could serve as potential predictors of extinction risk,offering preliminary metrics for assessing species vulnerability when comprehensive data are unavailable.This study enhances the precision of extinction risk assessment frameworks and demonstrates their capacity to refine and update risk assessments,especially for lesser-known taxa.展开更多
Calcineurin(CN)is a calcium-and calmodulindependent serine/threonine that has been studied in many model organisms including yeast,filamentous fungi,plants,and mammals.Its biological functions range from ion homeostas...Calcineurin(CN)is a calcium-and calmodulindependent serine/threonine that has been studied in many model organisms including yeast,filamentous fungi,plants,and mammals.Its biological functions range from ion homeostasis and virulence in lower eukaryotes to T-cell activation in humans by human nuclear factors of activated T-cells.CN is a heterodimeric protein consisting of a catalytic subunit,calcineurin A(Cna1p),which contains an active site with a dinuclear metal center,and a regulatory Ca^(2+) binding subunit called calcineurin B(Cnb1p)required to activate Cna1p.The calcineurin B subunit has been highly conserved through evolution:For example,the mammalian calcineurin B shows 54%identity with calcineurin B from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.展开更多
The Yellow River Basin in Sichuan Province(YRS)is undergoing severe soil erosion and exacerbated ecological vulnerability,which collectively pose formidable challenges for regional water conservation(WC)and sustainabl...The Yellow River Basin in Sichuan Province(YRS)is undergoing severe soil erosion and exacerbated ecological vulnerability,which collectively pose formidable challenges for regional water conservation(WC)and sustainable development.While effectively enhancing WC necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its driving factors and corresponding intervention strategies,existing studies have largely neglected the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of both natural and socio-economic drivers.Therefore,this study explored the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of WC drivers in YRS using multi-scale geographically weighted regression(MGWR)and geographically and temporally weighted regression(GTWR)models from an eco-hydrological perspective.We discovered that downstream regions,which are more developed,achieved significantly better WC than upstream regions.The results also demonstrated that the influence of temperature and wind speed is consistently dominant and temporally stable due to climate stability,while the influence of vegetation shifted from negative to positive around 2010,likely indicating greater benefits from understory vegetation.Economic growth positively impacted WC in upstream regions but had a negative effect in the more developed downstream regions.These findings highlight the importance of targeted water conservation strategies,including locally appropriate revegetation,optimization of agricultural and economic structures,and the establishment of eco-compensation mechanisms for ecological conservation and sustainable development.展开更多
1 Summary This presentation explores the principle of minimum intervention as a critical approach in the conservation of historic gardens and landscapes,where architectural heritage and natural ecosystems coexist.By e...1 Summary This presentation explores the principle of minimum intervention as a critical approach in the conservation of historic gardens and landscapes,where architectural heritage and natural ecosystems coexist.By examining both architectural conservation and nature conservation through this shared lens,we can identify their synergies and distinctions,guiding responsible stewardship of culturally and ecologically significant sites.The core premise is to undertake only what is absolutely necessary,allowing cultural significance and ecological processes to perform the primary work of preservation and regeneration.While both disciplines share a fundamental ethic of restraint,evidence-based decision-making,and long-term commitment,they diverge in their primary conservation objectives,thresholds for intervention,and philosophical approaches to time and change.Ultimately,the integration of these fields through strategic zoning,dynamic conservation frameworks,and community engagement offers a path toward sustainable landscape management that respects both cultural memory and ecological vitality.展开更多
Protecting rare,endemic,and endangered species requires careful habitat evaluation to set strategic plans for mitigating biodiversity loss and prioritizing conservation goals.The endangered Asian elephant(Elephas maxi...Protecting rare,endemic,and endangered species requires careful habitat evaluation to set strategic plans for mitigating biodiversity loss and prioritizing conservation goals.The endangered Asian elephant(Elephas maximus)exemplifies the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts,given its challenging habitat conditions.This study examines the impact of climate and land use changes on the suitable habitat distribution of Asian elephants.Utilizing ten predictor variables,including climatic,topographic,and land use data,and employing six ensemble Species Distribution Models(SDMs)alongside Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 data,the study estimates spatial changes and potential habitat expansions for Asian elephants across Tropical Asia.Occurrence data were gathered from field surveys in Bangladesh and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility database for Sri Lanka,Myanmar,Bhutan,Cambodia,India,Laos,Nepal,Thailand,and Vietnam.To evaluate habitat suitability,the analysis considered two distinct socioeconomic pathways(SSP 245 and SSP 370)across two future periods(2041–2060 and 2061–2080).Results reveal a strong correlation between isothermality and habitat suitability,with higher isothermality enhancing the habitat conditions for Asian elephants.Among the SDMs,the random forest model demonstrated the highest performance.Projected scenarios indicate significant habitat fragmentation by 2061–2080,heightening the risk of species’vulnerability.Specifically,in SSP 245,the north zone is anticipated to experience a higher rate of habitat loss(588.443 km^(2)/year),whereas,in SSP 370,the west zone is expected to face a more severe rate of habitat loss(1,798.56 km^(2)/year).The eastern zone,which includes Cambodia,Vietnam,Laos,Thailand,and southern Myanmar,is notably at risk,with an estimated habitat loss of 14.8 million hectares.Anticipated changes in climate and land cover will impact the availability of essential resources such as food,water,and shelter,potentially driving the species to relocate to different elevation belts.The outcomes of the consensus map highlighting critical habitats and future fragmentation scenarios will support effective conservation and management strategies for the species.展开更多
The Dhofar region of Oman,renowned for its unique monsoon-influenced climate and substantial agricultural potential,faces significant challenges in achieving sustainable agricultural practices that balance productivit...The Dhofar region of Oman,renowned for its unique monsoon-influenced climate and substantial agricultural potential,faces significant challenges in achieving sustainable agricultural practices that balance productivity with environmental conservation.This review critically explores a range of sustainable agricultural methods currently im-plemented in the region,including organic farming,water conservation techniques such as drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting,agroforestry systems,crop rotation,and soil conservation measures like terracing and composting.These strategies aim to mitigate pressing environmental concerns such as water scarcity,soil erosion,and land degradation while enhancing crop yield and farm profitability.The review further examines the economic implications of these practices, evaluating their cost-effectiveness, potential for long-term returns, and influence on the growing market demandfor organic and eco-friendly products. Despite their benefits, the broader adoption of these sustainable approaches ishindered by several challenges, including limited access to advanced technologies, inadequate financial resources, lackof technical knowledge, and minimal awareness among local farmers. The article also assesses the role of governmentalpolicies, subsidies, and extension services in promoting the adoption of sustainable agriculture in Dhofar. Finally, it offersstrategic recommendations for future research, policy development, and capacity-building initiatives. This reviewemphasizes the urgent need for continued investment in sustainable solutions to ensure long-term agricultural resilienceand environmental sustainability in the region.展开更多
文摘This paper investigates a conservator’s approach to a particular subset of physical cultural property:clocks.It looks at established conservation frameworks and practical elements of codes of practice,and considers how the conservator’s perspective will differ from that of a peer engaged solely with an approach to static objects.The paper considers,through examples of historic technological development,how what we mean by"clock"and how we consider clocks are in a state of constant change of context.Clocks are a diverse group of objects,some of which are technically complex.The conservator must draw together many influences in order to demonstrate professional competence in thinking,delivering an accountable decision-making process.In order to illustrate the breadth of the challenge the conservator faces when approaching clocks,the paper gives examples of three contrasting case study objects including one automaton and one electromechanical model.Clocks as a group comprise multimedia and multimedium objects.The perspective of the conservator will draw on professional networks within and without the immediate field,including at times the work of philosophers,scientists,sociologists,and historians in order to maintain objectivity,inform and engender new ideas.The paper concludes with the statement that the perspective of the conservator engaged with clocks should never be fixed,and that solutions to the challenges presented by clocks are never absolute and never permanent,but are in constant context-driven flux.
基金the Chinese Academy of Sciences Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia(RCEECA),the construction and joint research for the China-Tajikistan“Belt and Road”Joint Laboratory on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use(2024YFE0214200)the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Partnership and International Technology Cooperation Plan of Science and Technology Projects(2023E01018,2025E01056)the Chinese Academy of Sciences President’s International Fellowship Initiative(PIFI)(2024VBC0006).
文摘Tajikistan represents a core region of the biodiversity hotspot in Central Asian mountains and has exceptional vascular plant diversity.However,the species diversity of the country faces urgent conservation challenges.There has been a lack of a comprehensive and multidimensional assessment to inform strategic conservation planning.Therefore,this study integrated 4 key biodiversity indices including species richness(SR),phylogenetic diversity(PD),threatened species richness(TSR),and endemic species richness(ESR)to map species diversity distribution patterns,identify conservation gaps,and elucidate their effects of climatic factors.This study revealed that species diversity shows a clear trend of decreasing from the western region to the eastern region of Tajikistan.The central–western mountains(specifically the Gissar-Darvasian and Zeravshanian regions)emerge as irreplaceable biodiversity hotspots.However,we found a severe spatial mismatch between these priority areas and the existing protected areas(PAs).Protection coverage for all hotspots was alarmingly low,ranging from 31.00%to 38.00%.Consequently,a critical 64.80%of integrated priority areas fall outside of the current PAs,representing a major conservation gap.This study identified precipitation seasonality and isothermality as the principal drivers,collectively explaining over 50.00%of the diversity variation and suggesting high vulnerability to hydrological shifts.Furthermore,we detected significant geographic sampling bias in the public biodiversity databases,with the most critical hotspot being systematically under-sampled.This study provides a robust scientific basis for conservation action,highlighting the urgent need to strategically expand PAs in the under-protected southwestern region and to mitigate critical sampling gaps through targeted data digitization and field surveys.These measures are indispensable for securing Tajikistan’s unique biodiversity and achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3(“30×30 Protection”).
基金The Science and Technology Basic Resources Survey Project,No.2021FY101002Wetland Protection and Restoration in China Funded by the Palson Institute and Laoniu Foundation,UNDP-GEF Flyway Project,No.PIMS ID:6110。
文摘Effective conservation relies on robust assessments;however,the lack of waterbird data in the Yellow River Basin(YRB)has led to an underestimation of key habitat significance.This study addressed this gap by evaluating YRB wetland conservation importance using waterbirds as indicators and applying Ramsar,Important Bird Areas(IBA),and East Asian-Australasian Flyway(EAAF)criteria.We integrated coordinated surveys with citizen science data,creating a framework that tackles data deficiencies along the under-monitored Central Asian Flyway(CAF).Our analysis identified 75 priority wetlands,supporting 15 threatened species and 49 exceeding global/flyway 1%thresholds,highlighting the basin's biodiversity.We observed strong seasonal habitat use,with high-altitude wetlands vital for breeding and migration,and the Yellow River Delta providing year-round refuge.This research also provided data to refine Baer's Pochard population estimates.Alarmingly,one-third of the identified priority areas,primarily rivers and lakes,remain unprotected.To address this,we recommend systematic surveys,enhanced protected areas,OECMs,and targeted wetland restoration.This study underscores the YRB's role in regional conservation and provides essential data for adaptive management,particularly emphasizing the CAF's importance.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.32161143025,No.42371283,No.W2412155National Key R&D Program of China,No.2022YFE0119200。
文摘The Selenge River Basin(SRB)in Mongolia has faced ecosystem degradation because of climate change and overloading.The dynamics of the pastoral system and the extent of overload under future scenarios have not been documented.This study aims to answer the following questions:Will the typical soums in the SRB become more overgrazed in the future?What optimal strategy should be implemented?Multisource data were integrated and utilized to model the pastoral system of typical soums using a system dynamics approach.Future scenarios under three SSP-RCPs were projected using the model.The conclusions are as follows:(1)From upstream to downstream,rational scenarios for pastoral system transferred from SSP1-RCP2.6 to SSP2-RCP4.5,which reflect improved productivity at the expense of ecosystem stability.(2)Compared with that during the historical period of 2000-2020,the projected carrying capacity of the soums decreases by 15.2%-37.3%,whereas the number of livestock continues to increase.Consequently,the stocking rate is expected to increase from 0.32-1.16 during 2000-2020 to 1.26-2.02 during 2021-2050,indicating that rangeland will become more overloaded.(3)A livestock reduction strategy based on future livestock stock and grassland carrying capacity scenarios was proposed to maintain a dynamic forage-livestock equilibrium.It is suggested that reducing livestock is a practical option for harmonizing grassland conservation with livestock husbandry development.
文摘In recent years,there has been a growing global demand for carbon neutrality and energy efficiency,which are expected to become long-term trends.In the field of architecture,an effective approach to achieve this is to reduce heat loss in buildings.Vacuum insulation panels(VIPs),a type of high-performance insulation material,have been increasingly utilised in the construction industry and have played an increa-singly important role as their performance and manufacturing processes continue to improve.This paper provides a review of the factors affecting the thermal conductivity of VIPs and presents a detailed overview of the research progress on core materials,barrier films,and getters.The current research status of VIPs is summarised,including their thermal conductivity,service life,and thermal bridging effects,as well as their applications in the field of architecture.This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding for relevant practitioners on the factors influencing the thermal conductivity of VIPs,and based on which,measures can be taken to produce VIPs with lower thermal conductivity and longer service life.
基金supported by the Lebanese International University(LIU)with a funding amount of$500.
文摘Ecological conservation is at a crossroad as environmental stresses around the world intensify and traditional models of conservation exhibit intrinsic weaknesses in their response to present and future problems.In the project,we evaluated novel approaches integrating adaptive management,technological innovations,and community-based action towards more efficient sustainable conservation results and ecosystem resilience.The multi-site experimental design was based on comparison between conventional reserve management and novel integrative models implemented in diverse ecological zones.Data were collected over a period of three years employing remote sensing technologies,in situ biodiversity assessments,and large socioeconomic surveys.These instruments enabled a robust and multi-dimensional measurement of variables such as species diversity,ecological resilience,community engagement,and stakeholder engagement.The results indicate that adaptive strategies significantly enhance real-time decision-making abilities and enhance long-term ecosystem resilience.Further,technology-driven monitoring greatly enhances data accuracy,responsiveness,and early warning capabilities.Besides that,community-based conservation initiatives were found to be pivotal in facilitating local stewardship,enhancing participatory governance,and enabling more adaptive and adaptive policy systems.This research rejects mainstream conservation paradigms by placing importance on flexibility,interdisciplinarity,and inclusivity of governance systems in effectively mitigating the impacts of climate change and loss of biodiversity.Our findings offer strong evidence that emerging paradigms of conservation can provide greater ecological and social sustainability than traditional methods.These results support the need for a paradigm shift towards conservation strategies that are dynamic,collaborative,and technologically integrated,with significant implications for policy formulation as well as operational environmental management.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32371745)the Transboundary Cooperation on Biodiversity Research and Conservation in Gaoligong Mountains(E1ZK251)+3 种基金the 14th Five-Year Plan of the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden,Chinese Academy of Sciences(E3ZKFF7B,E3ZKFF9B)the Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program“Innovation Team”Project(202405AS350019)Yunnan International Joint Laboratory for the Conservation and Utilization of Tropical Timber Tree Species(202403AP140004)the Postdoctoral Fellowship of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden,CAS。
文摘Felid species hold critical ecological roles within tropical forest ecosystems and are particularly susceptible to human-induced disturbances.However,there is limited research on how sympatric felid species are distributed and coexist in human-dominated habitats.Using a long-term camera trap survey conducted in the disturbed tropical habitats of Xishuangbanna,southwestern China,we assessed the occupancy and spatio-temporal segregation among four sympatric felid species(Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis,Marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata,Asiatic golden cat Catopuma temminckii,and Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa),and explored how these patterns correlate with similarities in species traits.We found that the occupancy probabilities of leopard cats and clouded leopards were primarily influenced by anthropogenic disturbances rather than natural factors,with both species negatively affected by croplands.Similar species responses to croplands and livestock may facilitate the co-occurrence of leopard cats with clouded leopards in areas farther from croplands and with golden cats in regions with higher livestock abundance.The lack of significant spatial segregation among species is likely due to the observed segregation in daily activity patterns,which positively correlated with species trait similarities.Our study enhances our understanding of felid community assembly in the face of expanding human activity,offering valuable insights for future conservation in the Xishuangbanna region.
基金an MSc thesis research grant from the Zoological Society of London(ZSL)Nepal.RCK’s effort was supported in part by the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs(ORIP)of the National Institutes of Health through grant number P51OD010425 to the Washington National Primate Research Center,USA。
文摘The Himalayan monal(Lophophorus impejanus),Nepal’s national bird,is a protected species facing significant conservation challenges.Understanding the distribution and habitat preferences of the Himalayan monal(HM)is crucial for its conservation.This study was conducted in the Langtang National Park(LNP),Nepal using the route census method during both winter(November/December 2022)and summer(June 2023)seasons to examine the seasonal variation in HM’s elevational distribution and habitat preference.Further,we assessed their conservation threats by conducting a semi-structured questionnaire survey with the local residents.During the winter period,the HMs preferred grassland habitats,while in the summer,their preference shifted to shrubland and barren area.HM abundance was negatively associated with the Normalized Differential Vegetation Index(NDVI)and the shortest distance from the survey trails in the winter.The HMs actively avoided areas with high anthropogenic pressure.In the summer,they showed a wider elevational range up to 4400 m above sea level(a.s.l.),with a higher sighting frequency between 3600 and 3900 m a.s.l.The questionnaire survey of the local residents revealed that anthropogenic pressure such as poaching and free-ranging livestock grazing are the major threats to the species in the study area.This study provides valuable insight into the complex habitat preferences and critical threats faced by the HMs in LNP and underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation action.
文摘Global marine ecosystems are signiicantly endangered by microplastic pollution,leading to comprehensive investigations into its distribution and impacts on the health of ecosystem.This research employs the Alseamar Autonomous Underwater Vehicle(AUV)known as Glider to investigate microplastic concentrations within the Al Hoceima Marine Protected Area(MPA).Our objective is to identify spatial patterns that reveal pollution hotspots and furnish data for targeted conservation efforts and pollution prevention.We aim to identify regions with elevated microplastic concentrations by meticulously analyzing microplastic level graphs,with a speciic focus on temporal variations.The results reveal notable patterns,such as increased densities aroundishing harbors and near urban centers,potentially linked to anthropogenic activities.Additionally,we observe variations in pollution levels throughout different glider operation cycles,underscoring the importance of understanding the spatio‑temporal dynamics of microplastic distribution.Al Hoceima Marine protected areas exhibiting lower microplastic concentrations illustrate the eficacy of such zones in alleviating pollution impacts,thereby underscoring the signiicance of conservation efforts in safeguarding marine biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.Ultimately,our research enhances our comprehension of the pressures exerted by humans on marine environments and underscores the necessity of proactive conservation measures to shield marine ecosystems from the threats posed by microplastic pollution.
基金financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Regional Development Fund(ERDF)(No.PID20211234690BI00)the European Joint Program EJP_Soil(TRACE-Soils)(No.862695)+1 种基金the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation(RED2018-102624TMCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033)the Project PREPSOIL European Union(No.101070045,HORIZON CSA)。
文摘Whilst phosphorus(P)in soil is considered to be abundant,the portion available for plant uptake constitutes less than 1%of the overall P present.To enhance crop productivity,the utilization of mineral P fertilizers has become pervasive in agriculture.Nonetheless,the escalating prices of chemical fertilizers,coupled with new European regulations prohibiting the use of P fertilizers containing cadmium,have highlighted the urgency to identify environmentally friendly products and practices for P fertilization in agricultural soils.This comprehensive review delves into the current landscape of P fertilization from agricultural,political,and economic standpoints.We recognize the potential of microbes in mobilizing P,but emphasize the necessity for more robust research to establish their effectiveness in promoting plant P uptake under real-world conditions.Additionally,we explore the role of agricultural conservation practices,such as optimal tillage,diversified cropping systems,and increased organic carbon input,in conserving P.Furthermore,this review contemplates forthcoming innovations in research.These innovations encompass the development of enhanced formulations for biofertilizers and the undertaking of more comprehensive studies within the realm of conservation agriculture.All these endeavors collectively hold the potential to augment P accessibility to plants in a sustainable manner,thereby advancing agricultural sustainability and productivity.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(2572022DQ03)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32170517)+2 种基金the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write(2017B030301011)the Start-up Scientific Foundation of Northeast Forestry University(60201524043)supported by China National GeneBank(CNGB).
文摘Inbreeding increases genome homozygosity within populations,which can exacerbate inbreeding depression by exposing homozygous deleterious alleles that are responsible for declines in fitness traits.In small populations,genetic purging that occurs under the pressure of natural selection acts as an opposing force,contributing to a reduction of deleterious alleles.Both inbreeding and genetic purging are paramount in the field of conservation genomics.The Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica)lives in small populations in the forests of Northeast Asia and is among the most endangered animals on the planet.Using genome-wide assessment and comparison,we reveal substantially higher and more extensive inbreeding in wild Amur tigers(F_(ROH)=0.50)than in captive individuals(F_(ROH)=0.24).However,a relatively reduced number of lossof-function mutations in wild Amur tigers is observed compared to captive individuals,indicating genetic purging of inbreeding load with relatively large-effect alleles.The higher ratio of homozygous mutation load and number of fixed damaging alleles in the wild population indicates a less-efficient genetic purging,with purifying selection also contributing to this process.These findings provide valuable insights for the future conservation of Amur tigers.
基金supported by National Key R&D Program of China(2024YFF1307400)Guangdong S&T Program(2022B1111230001).
文摘Preserving genetic diversity is crucial for the long-term survival of wild plant species,yet many remain at risk of genetic erosion due to small population sizes and habitat fragmentation.Here,we present a comparative genomic study of the critically endangered Oreocharis esquirolii(Gesneriaceae)and its widespread congener O.maximowiczii.We assembled and annotated chromosome-level reference genomes for both species and generated whole-genome resequencing data from 28 O.esquirolii and 79 O.maximowiczii individuals.Our analyses reveal substantially lower genetic diversity and higher inbreeding in O.esquirolii,despite its overall reduced mutational burden.Notably,O.esquirolii exhibits an elevated proportion of strongly deleterious mutations relative to O.maximowiczii,suggesting that limited opportunities for purging have allowed these variants to accumulate.These contrasting genomic profileslikely reflectdivergent demographic histories,with O.esquirolii having experienced severe bottlenecks and protracted population decline.Collectively,our findingshighlight the critically endangered status of O.esquirolii,characterized by diminished genetic diversity,pronounced inbreeding,and reduced ability to eliminate deleterious alleles.This study provides valuable genomic resources for the Gesneriaceae family and underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation measures,including habitat protection and ex situ preservation efforts,to mitigate the extinction risk facing O.esquirolii and potentially other threatened congeners.
基金Industry Foresight and Key Core Technology(No.YZ2023019)Cooperation Project of Yangzhou City with Yangzhou University(No.YZ2023209)+3 种基金Sichuan Tianfu Talent Programme(No.A.2200732)Chengdu Rongpiao Talent Programme(No.1043)SeleValley Scholars Basic Research Project(No.2301)Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions(PAPD)for financial support。
文摘Element Transfer Reaction(ETR)theory is a new fundamental theory guiding the design of synthetic routes.It analyses problems from a brand-new perspective of element circulation,decomposing the factors affecting synthetic efficiency into three elements:element sources,driving force,and output.Different from the retrosynthetic analysis method and the atom economy theory,the ETR theory places more emphasis on examining the problem as a whole and comprehensively considering various factors involved in industrial applications.This perspective intends to elaborate on the scientific connotation of the ETR theory and explore its characteristics by discussing the practical application cases.
基金supported by Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.721RC525).
文摘Guangdong’s carbon emissions have surpassed the world’s 11th largest emitter.It is indispensable for this province to find a robust cost-effective strategy for reducing carbon emissions.This study employed the Low Emissions Analysis Platform model,marginal cost curves,and Monte Carlo methods to simulate the energy consumption,carbon emissions,and economic benefits of emission reduction in Guangdong Province from 2020 to 2030 under the application of various structural optimization policies and energy-saving technologies.The main findings are as follows:In 2030,Guangdong Province is projected to achieve a carbon emission reduction of 273.6 to 304.6million t CO_(2eq),with a total reduction cost ranging from 1030.9 to 1452.2 billion yuan.Increasing the share of renewable energy,which still has significant growth potential,can lead to a 1.4 times greater reduction in carbon emissions compared to the application of energy-saving technologies,despite the latter yielding 2.3 times more energy savings.The emission reduction measures with net-cost can contribute 71.4%to the total carbon reduction of the province,being much larger than those with net benefits.The power sector plays a critical role in carbon emission reduction within Guangdong Province,with its various measures exerting the most substantial impact on emission reduction quantity and cost,contributing cumulative variance contributions of 90.1%and 84.3%,respectively.It has relatively large potential for emission reduction and relatively low cost of structural adjustment.
基金supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (STEP,2019QZKK0402)Science and Technology Plan Project of Xizang Autonomous Region to Y.Q. (XZ202201ZY0030G)National Natural Science Foundation of China (32201424 to Z.Y.L.and 31872233 to Y.Q.)。
文摘Assessing the threat status of species in response to global change is critical for biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts.However,current frameworks,even the IUCN Red List,often neglect critical factors such as genetic diversity and the impacts of climate and land-use changes,hindering effective conservation planning.To address these limitations,we developed an enhanced extinction risk assessment framework using Diploderma lizards as a model.This framework incorporates long-term field surveys,environmental data,and land-use information to predict distributional changes for 10 recently described Diploderma species on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,which hold ecological significance but remain underassessed in conservation assessment.By integrating the distribution data and genetically inferred effective population sizes(Ne),we conducted scenario analyses and used a rank-sum approach to calculate Risk ranking scores(RRS)for each species.This approach revealed significant discrepancies with the IUCN Red List assessments.Notably,D.yangi and D.qilin were identified as facing the highest extinction risk.Furthermore,D.vela,D.batangense,D.flaviceps,D.dymondi,D.yulongense,and D.laeviventre,currently classified as“Least Concern”,were found to warrant reclassification as“Vulnerable”due to considerable threat from projected range contractions.Exploring the relationship between morphology and RRS revealed that traits such as snout-vent length and relative tail length could serve as potential predictors of extinction risk,offering preliminary metrics for assessing species vulnerability when comprehensive data are unavailable.This study enhances the precision of extinction risk assessment frameworks and demonstrates their capacity to refine and update risk assessments,especially for lesser-known taxa.
文摘Calcineurin(CN)is a calcium-and calmodulindependent serine/threonine that has been studied in many model organisms including yeast,filamentous fungi,plants,and mammals.Its biological functions range from ion homeostasis and virulence in lower eukaryotes to T-cell activation in humans by human nuclear factors of activated T-cells.CN is a heterodimeric protein consisting of a catalytic subunit,calcineurin A(Cna1p),which contains an active site with a dinuclear metal center,and a regulatory Ca^(2+) binding subunit called calcineurin B(Cnb1p)required to activate Cna1p.The calcineurin B subunit has been highly conserved through evolution:For example,the mammalian calcineurin B shows 54%identity with calcineurin B from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
基金supported by the funding provided by the State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering(SKHL2210)National Natural Science Foundation of China(42171304)+1 种基金the Sichuan Science and Technology Program(2023YFS0380)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China(BK20242018)。
文摘The Yellow River Basin in Sichuan Province(YRS)is undergoing severe soil erosion and exacerbated ecological vulnerability,which collectively pose formidable challenges for regional water conservation(WC)and sustainable development.While effectively enhancing WC necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its driving factors and corresponding intervention strategies,existing studies have largely neglected the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of both natural and socio-economic drivers.Therefore,this study explored the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of WC drivers in YRS using multi-scale geographically weighted regression(MGWR)and geographically and temporally weighted regression(GTWR)models from an eco-hydrological perspective.We discovered that downstream regions,which are more developed,achieved significantly better WC than upstream regions.The results also demonstrated that the influence of temperature and wind speed is consistently dominant and temporally stable due to climate stability,while the influence of vegetation shifted from negative to positive around 2010,likely indicating greater benefits from understory vegetation.Economic growth positively impacted WC in upstream regions but had a negative effect in the more developed downstream regions.These findings highlight the importance of targeted water conservation strategies,including locally appropriate revegetation,optimization of agricultural and economic structures,and the establishment of eco-compensation mechanisms for ecological conservation and sustainable development.
文摘1 Summary This presentation explores the principle of minimum intervention as a critical approach in the conservation of historic gardens and landscapes,where architectural heritage and natural ecosystems coexist.By examining both architectural conservation and nature conservation through this shared lens,we can identify their synergies and distinctions,guiding responsible stewardship of culturally and ecologically significant sites.The core premise is to undertake only what is absolutely necessary,allowing cultural significance and ecological processes to perform the primary work of preservation and regeneration.While both disciplines share a fundamental ethic of restraint,evidence-based decision-making,and long-term commitment,they diverge in their primary conservation objectives,thresholds for intervention,and philosophical approaches to time and change.Ultimately,the integration of these fields through strategic zoning,dynamic conservation frameworks,and community engagement offers a path toward sustainable landscape management that respects both cultural memory and ecological vitality.
基金funded by USAID’s Community Partnerships to Strengthen Sustainable Development(Compass)Program implemented by U.S.Forest Service International Programs(Grant No.Compass-SA-2023-073).
文摘Protecting rare,endemic,and endangered species requires careful habitat evaluation to set strategic plans for mitigating biodiversity loss and prioritizing conservation goals.The endangered Asian elephant(Elephas maximus)exemplifies the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts,given its challenging habitat conditions.This study examines the impact of climate and land use changes on the suitable habitat distribution of Asian elephants.Utilizing ten predictor variables,including climatic,topographic,and land use data,and employing six ensemble Species Distribution Models(SDMs)alongside Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 data,the study estimates spatial changes and potential habitat expansions for Asian elephants across Tropical Asia.Occurrence data were gathered from field surveys in Bangladesh and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility database for Sri Lanka,Myanmar,Bhutan,Cambodia,India,Laos,Nepal,Thailand,and Vietnam.To evaluate habitat suitability,the analysis considered two distinct socioeconomic pathways(SSP 245 and SSP 370)across two future periods(2041–2060 and 2061–2080).Results reveal a strong correlation between isothermality and habitat suitability,with higher isothermality enhancing the habitat conditions for Asian elephants.Among the SDMs,the random forest model demonstrated the highest performance.Projected scenarios indicate significant habitat fragmentation by 2061–2080,heightening the risk of species’vulnerability.Specifically,in SSP 245,the north zone is anticipated to experience a higher rate of habitat loss(588.443 km^(2)/year),whereas,in SSP 370,the west zone is expected to face a more severe rate of habitat loss(1,798.56 km^(2)/year).The eastern zone,which includes Cambodia,Vietnam,Laos,Thailand,and southern Myanmar,is notably at risk,with an estimated habitat loss of 14.8 million hectares.Anticipated changes in climate and land cover will impact the availability of essential resources such as food,water,and shelter,potentially driving the species to relocate to different elevation belts.The outcomes of the consensus map highlighting critical habitats and future fragmentation scenarios will support effective conservation and management strategies for the species.
文摘The Dhofar region of Oman,renowned for its unique monsoon-influenced climate and substantial agricultural potential,faces significant challenges in achieving sustainable agricultural practices that balance productivity with environmental conservation.This review critically explores a range of sustainable agricultural methods currently im-plemented in the region,including organic farming,water conservation techniques such as drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting,agroforestry systems,crop rotation,and soil conservation measures like terracing and composting.These strategies aim to mitigate pressing environmental concerns such as water scarcity,soil erosion,and land degradation while enhancing crop yield and farm profitability.The review further examines the economic implications of these practices, evaluating their cost-effectiveness, potential for long-term returns, and influence on the growing market demandfor organic and eco-friendly products. Despite their benefits, the broader adoption of these sustainable approaches ishindered by several challenges, including limited access to advanced technologies, inadequate financial resources, lackof technical knowledge, and minimal awareness among local farmers. The article also assesses the role of governmentalpolicies, subsidies, and extension services in promoting the adoption of sustainable agriculture in Dhofar. Finally, it offersstrategic recommendations for future research, policy development, and capacity-building initiatives. This reviewemphasizes the urgent need for continued investment in sustainable solutions to ensure long-term agricultural resilienceand environmental sustainability in the region.
