Ecological Civilization Construction and natural conservatiorl and sustain- able resources use are three aspects of same object proposed from various angles of theory and practice. The paper intends to simply deal wit...Ecological Civilization Construction and natural conservatiorl and sustain- able resources use are three aspects of same object proposed from various angles of theory and practice. The paper intends to simply deal with some problems of this aspect and to propose corresponding suggestions for related departments.展开更多
People′s environmental tropism has an effect on their understanding of tourism-nature relationship,and also influences their attitudes to natural resources utilization and environmental protection.Taking Jiuzhaigou N...People′s environmental tropism has an effect on their understanding of tourism-nature relationship,and also influences their attitudes to natural resources utilization and environmental protection.Taking Jiuzhaigou National Park of China as a study case,the authors conducted some quantitative analyses with the tools of SPSS 16.0 and LISREL 8.7,to explore the influence of tourists′ environmental tropism on their attitudes to tourism and nature conservation in the natural tourist destination.Three hypotheses and the theoretic model of influences of tourists′ environmental tropism on their attitudes to tourism and nature conservation have been tested and accepted based on the Structural Equation Model analysis on survey data collected in Jiuzhaigou National Park of China.Some conclusions were drawn as follows: 1) tourists′ human-prioritized concept influences their cognition to tourism-nature relationship.This concept has a positive influence on their supportive attitudes to tourism,but a negative influence on their attitudes to nature conservation;2) tourists′ human-nature coordination concept has a positive influence on their supportive attitudes to both tourism and nature conservation,especially to the latter.This paper generally proves that human′s environmental tropism does have an influence on their attitudes to tourism and nature conservation in natural tourist destinations.展开更多
Traditional medicine,deeply rooted in cultural practices and historical wisdom,has faced surging challenges due to the escalating demand for plant-based remedies.This comprehensive review critically emphasizes the urg...Traditional medicine,deeply rooted in cultural practices and historical wisdom,has faced surging challenges due to the escalating demand for plant-based remedies.This comprehensive review critically emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable practices within traditional medicine,with a special focus on the potential of plant part substitution.Case studies that illuminate successful instances of substituting plant parts and providing a deep insight into viable alternatives to conventional practices are presented.Opportunities and challenges inherent in plant part substitution are discussed by addressing key considerations such as phytochemical and pharmacological aspects,safety and toxicity profiles,cultural insights,standardization,clinical validation,and regulatory compliance.This review serves as a guide for navigating the delicate balance between tradition and conservation within indigenous medicine practices.It underscores the importance of embracing sustainable approaches through plant part substitution,ensuring the preservation of cultural heritage while meeting the evolving healthcare needs of society.展开更多
The tropical timber trade faces significant sustainability challenges,including deforestation,illegal logging,and inadequate traceability.Inaccurate species identification further complicates these issues,leading to u...The tropical timber trade faces significant sustainability challenges,including deforestation,illegal logging,and inadequate traceability.Inaccurate species identification further complicates these issues,leading to unreliable trade statistics and enforcement challenges.The Lacey Act Amendment(LAA)of 2008 mandated declaring scientific names for timber shipments entering the United States.Therefore,this study assessed the implementation of the LAA using data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request to the United States Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for 4 tropical timber species including Keruing,Meranti,Acajou d’Afrique,and Mahogany from Indonesia,Malaysia,Brazil,Philippines,Cameroon,Ghana,Congo,Cote d’Ivoire,and Bolivia,with high rates of illegal logging.This study showed that the United States imported 49 species of Keruing species group,126 species of Meranti species group,6 species of Acajou d’Afrique species group,and 2 species of Mahogany species group during 2017-2023.Despite mandatory declarations,approximately 14.60%of timber import records lacked species-specific names.Conservation assessments identified 37 species of Keruing species group and 68 species of Meranti species group listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN)but absent from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES).Moreover,the principal component analysis(PCA)indicated that the first principal component was primarily driven by import value and import volume,reflecting the overall trade prominence,while the second principal component captured temporal pattern through import year.Further,this study developed a Trade-Adjusted Conservation Priority Index(TACPI)that integrated conservation status with trade prominence to prioritize species at risk.Species with high TACPI scores,such as Dipterocarpus coriaceus and Shorea balangeran,were identified as urgently needing regulatory focus.To strengthen sustainable trade and conservation,it is recommended to enforce the LAA more strictly,expand timber identification technologies,and mandate key supplier countries,who are the CITES’signatories,to list high-risk species in the CITES appendices.展开更多
In recent years bird hunting has become a topical issue in public debate in Poland.Some organizations and communities actively engaged in nature conservation efforts propose a complete ban on hunting,arguing it needs ...In recent years bird hunting has become a topical issue in public debate in Poland.Some organizations and communities actively engaged in nature conservation efforts propose a complete ban on hunting,arguing it needs to be introduced for ethical reasons and to ensure a more effective species protection.This discussion frequently involves cases when hunters break the law,illustrated by photographs published on social media,documenting culling of legally protected species.In response hunters mention the need to verify the sources and the context for published materials.展开更多
This research was done among communities living adjacent to Lake Victoria Shores in Mayuge District to generate knowledge on Shoebill, Grey Crowned Crane conservation status and linkage to livelihoods. This knowledge ...This research was done among communities living adjacent to Lake Victoria Shores in Mayuge District to generate knowledge on Shoebill, Grey Crowned Crane conservation status and linkage to livelihoods. This knowledge was necessary to guide design and implementation of interventions that would deliver on the species conservation and adjacent communities’ livelihood benefits at the same time. We obtained information through individual interviews with 101 members of households from targeted communities and key informers-technical officials from the district, and analysed this data using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) by Bryman and Cramer, (2011) Version 20. The results were then subjected to validation using focus group discussions with 10 groups of between 8 - 15 individuals representing the targeted communities and other stakeholders and the results from this further validated with ≥250 representatives of these stakeholders in a one day workshop and with evidences collected during field observations, before synthesis. The findings show: Grey Crowned Crane habitats declining due to mining, agriculture, fishing activities by adjacent communities for their livelihoods (food and income from sale of produce obtained from the species’ habitats). The communities say they need to be engaged in development and implementation of integrated interventions that will improve their livelihoods while securing conservation for Grey Crowned Cranes. They among others propose ecotourism enterprises, training and sensitization on environment and wildlife conservation practices, policies and laws to enhance their knowledge and compliance in management. The fisher folk say fish is often found within Grey Crowned Cranes’ habitats and breeding grounds in the Lake and to avoid destroying the habitats, they need engine boats and standard fishing nets to enable fishing far away in the deeper waters. Crop farming communities say they need commercial, soil fertility improving tree species to plant boundary to the buffer zones so that they can prevent cultivation encroachment on Grey Crowned Crane habitats in the Lake Shores. The findings also reveal need for Grey Crowned Crane population structure studies, and, that of shoebill presence to determine management strategies for their survival in habitats.展开更多
The preservation of the traditional subsistence farming systems and the conservation of natural values （habitats, fauna and flora）, in articulation with local development, was the key issues in this paper. The farme...The preservation of the traditional subsistence farming systems and the conservation of natural values （habitats, fauna and flora）, in articulation with local development, was the key issues in this paper. The farmers have been able to manage the systems so as to cope with adverse conditions, but their future is quite uncertain. The methodology included： （1） field observation visits and cartographic information analysis of land use; （2） structured interviews with animal production and agro-forestry specialists; and （3） meetings with the participation of stakeholders. The paper concludes that depopulation is responsible for the increasing decline of agriculture and livestock. The decrease in agricultural activity in general and the consequent practices and traditional systems of agriculture causes changes in the landscape and has negative effects on nature conservation and biodiversity. Thus, we believe that the preservation and development of traditional economic activities linked to agriculture, agro-forestry and food processing are essential to maintain the typical landscape and to preserve natural values of Montemuro Site. The paper shows that in mountain areas, particularly those classified as nature network sites, farming, economic development and nature conservation are not antagonistic objectives.展开更多
The intensification of anthropic uses (i.e., increase of the hemerobic condition) threatens the remnants of native vegetation due to the reduction of its self-regulation capacity. In this research, the Distance to Nat...The intensification of anthropic uses (i.e., increase of the hemerobic condition) threatens the remnants of native vegetation due to the reduction of its self-regulation capacity. In this research, the Distance to Nature (D2N) index for land use and land cover was applied in the Río Grande de Comitán watershed (Southern Mexico) to answer the following questions: 1) What were the land use dynamics observed in the Rio Grande de Comitán watershed in the trajectory through 1999, 2009 and 2019? 2) Does the subcategorization of the D2N allow one to identify which anthropic uses influence more the territorial expression of the watershed? To answer these questions, we performed a supervised classification of land use and land cover was performed in this watershed, and for the D2N index, the classification was simplified to three-category scale for the subcategorization of the anthropic component. Through Principal Component Analysis (PCA), we identified that agricultural anthropogenic use had the greatest influence on territorial expression. The reported scenario indicates a trend of gradual and continuous reduction of naturalness over the last 20 years. Additionally, the D2N index proved to be a useful tool to demonstrate both the anthropic impact, with the simplified scale, and the component that most influences the territory, by subcategorizing the anthropic scale.展开更多
Forest ecosystems are important for biodiversity conservation and human societies,but are under pressure due to climate change and human interventions.This applies to natural forests as well as tree plantations.The la...Forest ecosystems are important for biodiversity conservation and human societies,but are under pressure due to climate change and human interventions.This applies to natural forests as well as tree plantations.The latter are globally widespread and therefore gaining increasing importance for biodiversity conservation.However,even after dieback due to increasing disturbance frequencies,such plantations are primarily managed for economic returns,leading to growing conflicts among stakeholders.In particular,the impact of forest management on biodiversity is being discussed.This study investigates the effects of five management approaches in a landscape severely affected by spruce(Picea abies L.)dieback on beetle diversity,conservation,and community composition.We considered direct effects of management and indirect effects of environmental parameters separately in ground-dwelling and flight-active beetles.Beetle diversity was strongly affected by forest management,with nonintervention deadwood stands being most beneficial for beetles.In addition,we show indirect effects of environmental factors.In general,parameters related to salvage logging(e.g.open canopies,tree stumps)influenced beetle diversity and conservation negatively,while positive effects were found for soil nutrient availability and plant species richness.Community composition differed strongly among management categories and indicated a lack of landscape connectivity for open habitat species,as we found only low proportions of such species even on salvage-logged sites.We propose a mixture of management approaches after bark beetle outbreaks,including a substantial proportion of non-intervention deadwood stands,to increase landscape heterogeneity and connectivity.This may increase overall biodiversity while addressing the concerns of both forestry and species conservation.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
In November 2024,the famous British zoologist Jane Goodall,known as“the Mother of Chimpanzees”,visited China for the 17th time.During her trip,she celebrated the 30th anniversary of her“Roots&Shoots”project in...In November 2024,the famous British zoologist Jane Goodall,known as“the Mother of Chimpanzees”,visited China for the 17th time.During her trip,she celebrated the 30th anniversary of her“Roots&Shoots”project in China and participated in the 8th“It's Warm Winter”event organized by the Beijing It's Animal Protection Public Welfare Foundation(It's Fund).展开更多
Establishing and maintaining protected areas is a pivotal strategy for attaining the post-2020 biodiversity target. The conservation objectives of protected areas have shifted from a narrow emphasis on biodiversity to...Establishing and maintaining protected areas is a pivotal strategy for attaining the post-2020 biodiversity target. The conservation objectives of protected areas have shifted from a narrow emphasis on biodiversity to encompass broader considerations such as ecosystem stability, community resilience to climate change, and enhancement of human well-being. Given these multifaceted objectives, it is imperative to judiciously allocate resources to effectively conserve biodiversity by identifying strategically significant areas for conservation, particularly for mountainous areas. In this study, we evaluated the representativeness of the protected area network in the Qin ling Mountains concerning species diversity, ecosystem services, climate stability and ecological stability. The results indicate that some of the ecological indicators are spatially correlated with topographic gradient effects. The conservation priority areas predominantly lie in the northern foothills, the southeastern, and southwestern parts of the Qinling Mountain with areas concentrated at altitudes between 1,500-2,000 m and slopes between 40°-50° as hotspots. The conservation priority areas identified through the framework of inclusive conservation optimization account for 22.9 % of the Qinling Mountain. Existing protected areas comprise only 6.1 % of the Qinling Mountain and 13.18 % of the conservation priority areas. This will play an important role in achiev ing sustainable development in the region and in meeting the post-2020 biodiversity target. The framework can advance the different objectives of achieving a quadruple win and can also be extended to other regions.展开更多
A single nomenclature for national park terminology has evolved into a massive global data network from information gathered together from the past 140 years.This has been created using the most recent UNEP-WDPA data ...A single nomenclature for national park terminology has evolved into a massive global data network from information gathered together from the past 140 years.This has been created using the most recent UNEP-WDPA data and its 98483 national designation records from 192 countries,two other customized databases accommodating 2638 records of officially designated national parks from 184 jurisdictions around the globe,and 2064 records of extended Chinese national park sites.However,mushrooming designations and growing databases are posing significant challenges even though the IUCN and UNEP have both devoted efforts to build and promote a common language called the ＂System of Management Categories for Protected Areas＂.Thus conversely the best possible outcome and the worst confusion might have originated from the same objective that is known by the simple moniker as a national park.This is why much more work needs to be done to enhance communication among different stakeholders from the world.In this paper,the authors are intending to demonstrate that China＇s government agencies should boost a dialogue with the UNEP-WDPA operating staff in order that the current innovative national park programs are recognized by the global community.Meanwhile,the authors also recommend that IUCN needs to revise and refresh the current protected area classification system for the purpose of effectively servicing the diverse stakeholders in such a diversified world of national park systems around the globe.展开更多
Eeotourism aims to deliver the philosophy of sustainable development through environmental conservation as well as socio-economic development. Areas with rich biodiversity and scenic beauty, like the Indian Himalayan ...Eeotourism aims to deliver the philosophy of sustainable development through environmental conservation as well as socio-economic development. Areas with rich biodiversity and scenic beauty, like the Indian Himalayan region, have been one of the major destination centers for nature lovers from historical time. In view of conserving the rich biodiversity and natural heritage of the Himalayan region 92 protected areas have been set aside, of these Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve （NDBR） is a well known world heritage site. Over a period of time establishing NDBR has invited conficts between the local people and reserve authorities on the management approaches and utilization criteria of the natural resources, especially banning the traditional bio-resource collection rights of local community, expeditions, trekking, and other anthropogenic activities in the core zones. The present study aims to understand and analyze the various people - park conflicts, and also to suggest ways to mitigate such conflicts in view of biodiversity conservation and improvement of economic status of local people by promoting eeotourism. With this view the study further discusses the various aspects of eeotourism, its pros and cons, and the avenues of developing appropriate strategies for promotion of ecotourism in buffer zone areas of NDBR.展开更多
Wild fodder plants are valuable because they provide an important livestock feed resource globally,especially for smallholder farmers,and have important roles in natural resource management.In-depth knowledge of wild ...Wild fodder plants are valuable because they provide an important livestock feed resource globally,especially for smallholder farmers,and have important roles in natural resource management.In-depth knowledge of wild forage plants can motivate local people for feed resource and habitat conservation of threatened herbivores such as Mithun(Bos frontalis).Mithun occur in small patches in the mountains of Dulongjiang,nearby villagers domesticated this animal but left animal to freely graze in the mountains.Many fodder plants occur in these mountains,however,little is known about their nutritional value.We conducted an ethnobotanical survey to document important wild fodder plants consumed by mithun in the Dulongjiang Township.The nutritional content of 21 highly mentioned wild fodder plants in an ethnobotanical survey was examined.Laboratory analysis showed that Fagopyrum dibotrys were the fodder species with the highest crude protein(CP)content(26.89%),followed by Polygonum molle(21.88%)and Hydrangea longipes(21.12%).Synthesis of relative feed value index and grey relational grade,P.molle,H.longipes and Tetrastigma obtectum were ranked the top three nutritional fodders.There was a significant difference between 21 species on their in vitro digestibility and the most highly digestible fodder species was Elatostema hookerianum.Linear model analysis on relationship between frequency of citation of 21 wild forage plants by local farmers and their nutrient composition showed that the frequency was significantly positively correlated with the nutritional value of the feed(R2?0.28,P<0.05).We concluded that these species have high nutritional values to improve mithun production in integrated crop-livestock systems.Fodder species or mixtures of species with useful nutritional characters could be cultivated to improve livestock productivity,habitat conservation including that of mithun and wild forage resource management.展开更多
To tackle environmental challenges and in particular,the problems associated with the high demand for forests and resources,the consequence of which is the degradation of ecological systems,Russia has developed the bi...To tackle environmental challenges and in particular,the problems associated with the high demand for forests and resources,the consequence of which is the degradation of ecological systems,Russia has developed the biggest network of specially protected natural areas in the world.Although the scale of SPNA may look impressive,a recent comprehensive study of the period from 2001 to 2018 brought the spotlight on protected areas in Russia experiencing significant tree loss annually.Since Russia is confronting unprecedented fires that break records every year,the problem of preserving rare animal and plant species,their habitats,and natural ecosystems is acute.This paper is intended to assess the extent and effectiveness of SPNAs with regard to wilderness conservation in the Russian Federation based on the latest data;the main focus being on the period of 2014—2019,before and after the launch of the environmental safety strategies,along with additional analysis of available data for the following year of 2020.With due consideration of unique geographical,economic,and socio-cultural circumstances,as well as historical background and legislative reality of SPNAs in Russia,we have conducted a statistical analysis of data from the official annual reports from the Federal State Statistics Service on SPNAs by territories and significance,expenditures on maintenance and ecotourism,followed by RGB analysis of satellite imagery via means of GIS software for visualization of obtained data and further analytics.Despite the growth of the SPNA network in Russia,resulting in an astonishing 2402 Mha in 2020,an estimated 4 Mha of tree loss accounted for SPNAs over the period of 2014—2019,and 134 Mha in 2020 alone.Our findings indicate a need for the application of a comprehensive GIS approach for further development and effective management of the SPNA network in Russia.Furthermore,the results include recommendations on legislative changes,engagement of locals in SPNA protection,and popularization of ecotourism,all of which can be valuable for policymakers and SPNA development.展开更多
A checklist of the macrolichens (foliose, fruticose & squamulose) of Barluk Mountain National Nature Reserve located in northwestern China is presented. It was derived from 47 inventories of preserved and undevelo...A checklist of the macrolichens (foliose, fruticose & squamulose) of Barluk Mountain National Nature Reserve located in northwestern China is presented. It was derived from 47 inventories of preserved and undeveloped areas which yielded more than 670 collections containing 102 taxa (99 species, 1 subspecies, 2 varieties). Eight species were found that were new to Xinjiang, China. Twenty-eight species and 2 varieties were found on rock, 31 species on bark of deciduous and coniferous trees, 26 species on soil and 14 species and 1 subspecies over mosses. Foliose lichens were dominant with 76 species, followed by 16 species of squamulose lichens and 7 species of fruticose lichens.展开更多
Biodiversity loss is a significant problem at a global scale and may be amplified by climate change.In recent years,coniferous forests have had substantial die-back across Europe due to drought and subsequent bark-bee...Biodiversity loss is a significant problem at a global scale and may be amplified by climate change.In recent years,coniferous forests have had substantial die-back across Europe due to drought and subsequent bark-beetle outbreaks.As many studies on the consequences of disturbance and subsequent management have focused on natural stands,management implications for managed spruce stands are not well understood,even though such stands are widespread throughout Europe.In this study,beetle taxonomy,conservation value,and community com-position are compared among spruce plantations and four post-disturbance management approaches:standing dead-wood,lying deadwood,clear cuts,and long-term succession.Diversity and community composition differed significantly among management categories,while different beetle fami-lies responded similarly.Intact spruce stands harbored the lowest beetle diversity while the highest taxonomic diver-sity and conservation value was on clear cuts and stands with lying or standing deadwood.The proportion of forest specialists was highest in successional forests.In summary,different forest management categories harbored distinct beetle communities at the family-,species-,and ecological guild levels.Therefore,post-disturbance management should consider the landscape scale and include different management types.This enhances landscape heterogeneity and thus overall biodiversity but could also mitigate negative impacts of natural disturbances on ecosystem services.展开更多
An improved understanding of biodiversity-productivity relationships(BPRs)along environmental gradients is crucial for effective ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation.The stress-gradient hypothesis sugges...An improved understanding of biodiversity-productivity relationships(BPRs)along environmental gradients is crucial for effective ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation.The stress-gradient hypothesis suggests that BPRs are stronger in stressful environments compared to more favorable conditions.However,there is limited knowledge regarding the variation of BPRs along elevational gradients and their generality across different landscapes.To study how BPRs change with elevation,we harnessed inventory data on 6,431 trees from152 plots surveyed twice in eight to ten year intervals in mountain forests of temperate Europe and subtropical Asia.We quantified the relationship between aboveground productivity and different biodiversity measures,including taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic diversity.To elucidate the processes underlying BPRs,we studied the variation of different functional traits along elevation across landscapes.We found no general pattern of BPRs across landscapes and elevations.Relationships were neutral for all biodiversity measures in temperate forests,and negative for taxonomic and functional diversity in subtropical forests.BPRs were largely congruent between taxonomic,functional and phylogenetic diversity.We found only weak support for the stress-gradient hypothesis,with BPRs turning from negative to positive(effect not significant)close to the tree line in subtropical forests.In temperate forests,however,elevation patterns were strongly modulated by species identity effects as influenced by specific traits.The effect of traits such as community-weighted mean of maximum plant height and wood density on productivity was congruent across landscapes.Our study highlights the context-dependence of BPRs across elevation gradients and landscapes.Species traits are key modulating factors of BPRs and should be considered more explicitly in studies of the functional role of biodiversity.Furthermore,our findings highlight that potential trade-offs between conserving biodiversity and fostering ecosystem productivity exist,which require more attention in policy and management.展开更多
基金Supported by the"Strategic Priority Research Program"of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA05050300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41171041)~~
文摘Ecological Civilization Construction and natural conservatiorl and sustain- able resources use are three aspects of same object proposed from various angles of theory and practice. The paper intends to simply deal with some problems of this aspect and to propose corresponding suggestions for related departments.
基金Under the auspices of Sino-British Fellowship Trust by British Academy (No.SG-47266)National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.49571031)Foundation of China Scholarship Council (No.2008619067)
文摘People′s environmental tropism has an effect on their understanding of tourism-nature relationship,and also influences their attitudes to natural resources utilization and environmental protection.Taking Jiuzhaigou National Park of China as a study case,the authors conducted some quantitative analyses with the tools of SPSS 16.0 and LISREL 8.7,to explore the influence of tourists′ environmental tropism on their attitudes to tourism and nature conservation in the natural tourist destination.Three hypotheses and the theoretic model of influences of tourists′ environmental tropism on their attitudes to tourism and nature conservation have been tested and accepted based on the Structural Equation Model analysis on survey data collected in Jiuzhaigou National Park of China.Some conclusions were drawn as follows: 1) tourists′ human-prioritized concept influences their cognition to tourism-nature relationship.This concept has a positive influence on their supportive attitudes to tourism,but a negative influence on their attitudes to nature conservation;2) tourists′ human-nature coordination concept has a positive influence on their supportive attitudes to both tourism and nature conservation,especially to the latter.This paper generally proves that human′s environmental tropism does have an influence on their attitudes to tourism and nature conservation in natural tourist destinations.
文摘Traditional medicine,deeply rooted in cultural practices and historical wisdom,has faced surging challenges due to the escalating demand for plant-based remedies.This comprehensive review critically emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable practices within traditional medicine,with a special focus on the potential of plant part substitution.Case studies that illuminate successful instances of substituting plant parts and providing a deep insight into viable alternatives to conventional practices are presented.Opportunities and challenges inherent in plant part substitution are discussed by addressing key considerations such as phytochemical and pharmacological aspects,safety and toxicity profiles,cultural insights,standardization,clinical validation,and regulatory compliance.This review serves as a guide for navigating the delicate balance between tradition and conservation within indigenous medicine practices.It underscores the importance of embracing sustainable approaches through plant part substitution,ensuring the preservation of cultural heritage while meeting the evolving healthcare needs of society.
基金United States Endowment for Forestry and Communities in coordination with the Northern Forest Center for partial funding(No.91093)of the project.
文摘The tropical timber trade faces significant sustainability challenges,including deforestation,illegal logging,and inadequate traceability.Inaccurate species identification further complicates these issues,leading to unreliable trade statistics and enforcement challenges.The Lacey Act Amendment(LAA)of 2008 mandated declaring scientific names for timber shipments entering the United States.Therefore,this study assessed the implementation of the LAA using data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request to the United States Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for 4 tropical timber species including Keruing,Meranti,Acajou d’Afrique,and Mahogany from Indonesia,Malaysia,Brazil,Philippines,Cameroon,Ghana,Congo,Cote d’Ivoire,and Bolivia,with high rates of illegal logging.This study showed that the United States imported 49 species of Keruing species group,126 species of Meranti species group,6 species of Acajou d’Afrique species group,and 2 species of Mahogany species group during 2017-2023.Despite mandatory declarations,approximately 14.60%of timber import records lacked species-specific names.Conservation assessments identified 37 species of Keruing species group and 68 species of Meranti species group listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN)but absent from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES).Moreover,the principal component analysis(PCA)indicated that the first principal component was primarily driven by import value and import volume,reflecting the overall trade prominence,while the second principal component captured temporal pattern through import year.Further,this study developed a Trade-Adjusted Conservation Priority Index(TACPI)that integrated conservation status with trade prominence to prioritize species at risk.Species with high TACPI scores,such as Dipterocarpus coriaceus and Shorea balangeran,were identified as urgently needing regulatory focus.To strengthen sustainable trade and conservation,it is recommended to enforce the LAA more strictly,expand timber identification technologies,and mandate key supplier countries,who are the CITES’signatories,to list high-risk species in the CITES appendices.
文摘In recent years bird hunting has become a topical issue in public debate in Poland.Some organizations and communities actively engaged in nature conservation efforts propose a complete ban on hunting,arguing it needs to be introduced for ethical reasons and to ensure a more effective species protection.This discussion frequently involves cases when hunters break the law,illustrated by photographs published on social media,documenting culling of legally protected species.In response hunters mention the need to verify the sources and the context for published materials.
文摘This research was done among communities living adjacent to Lake Victoria Shores in Mayuge District to generate knowledge on Shoebill, Grey Crowned Crane conservation status and linkage to livelihoods. This knowledge was necessary to guide design and implementation of interventions that would deliver on the species conservation and adjacent communities’ livelihood benefits at the same time. We obtained information through individual interviews with 101 members of households from targeted communities and key informers-technical officials from the district, and analysed this data using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) by Bryman and Cramer, (2011) Version 20. The results were then subjected to validation using focus group discussions with 10 groups of between 8 - 15 individuals representing the targeted communities and other stakeholders and the results from this further validated with ≥250 representatives of these stakeholders in a one day workshop and with evidences collected during field observations, before synthesis. The findings show: Grey Crowned Crane habitats declining due to mining, agriculture, fishing activities by adjacent communities for their livelihoods (food and income from sale of produce obtained from the species’ habitats). The communities say they need to be engaged in development and implementation of integrated interventions that will improve their livelihoods while securing conservation for Grey Crowned Cranes. They among others propose ecotourism enterprises, training and sensitization on environment and wildlife conservation practices, policies and laws to enhance their knowledge and compliance in management. The fisher folk say fish is often found within Grey Crowned Cranes’ habitats and breeding grounds in the Lake and to avoid destroying the habitats, they need engine boats and standard fishing nets to enable fishing far away in the deeper waters. Crop farming communities say they need commercial, soil fertility improving tree species to plant boundary to the buffer zones so that they can prevent cultivation encroachment on Grey Crowned Crane habitats in the Lake Shores. The findings also reveal need for Grey Crowned Crane population structure studies, and, that of shoebill presence to determine management strategies for their survival in habitats.
文摘The preservation of the traditional subsistence farming systems and the conservation of natural values （habitats, fauna and flora）, in articulation with local development, was the key issues in this paper. The farmers have been able to manage the systems so as to cope with adverse conditions, but their future is quite uncertain. The methodology included： （1） field observation visits and cartographic information analysis of land use; （2） structured interviews with animal production and agro-forestry specialists; and （3） meetings with the participation of stakeholders. The paper concludes that depopulation is responsible for the increasing decline of agriculture and livestock. The decrease in agricultural activity in general and the consequent practices and traditional systems of agriculture causes changes in the landscape and has negative effects on nature conservation and biodiversity. Thus, we believe that the preservation and development of traditional economic activities linked to agriculture, agro-forestry and food processing are essential to maintain the typical landscape and to preserve natural values of Montemuro Site. The paper shows that in mountain areas, particularly those classified as nature network sites, farming, economic development and nature conservation are not antagonistic objectives.
文摘The intensification of anthropic uses (i.e., increase of the hemerobic condition) threatens the remnants of native vegetation due to the reduction of its self-regulation capacity. In this research, the Distance to Nature (D2N) index for land use and land cover was applied in the Río Grande de Comitán watershed (Southern Mexico) to answer the following questions: 1) What were the land use dynamics observed in the Rio Grande de Comitán watershed in the trajectory through 1999, 2009 and 2019? 2) Does the subcategorization of the D2N allow one to identify which anthropic uses influence more the territorial expression of the watershed? To answer these questions, we performed a supervised classification of land use and land cover was performed in this watershed, and for the D2N index, the classification was simplified to three-category scale for the subcategorization of the anthropic component. Through Principal Component Analysis (PCA), we identified that agricultural anthropogenic use had the greatest influence on territorial expression. The reported scenario indicates a trend of gradual and continuous reduction of naturalness over the last 20 years. Additionally, the D2N index proved to be a useful tool to demonstrate both the anthropic impact, with the simplified scale, and the component that most influences the territory, by subcategorizing the anthropic scale.
基金supported by Forschungsanstalt für Waldo kologie und Forstwirtschaft(FAWF)of Landesforsten Rheinland-Pfalz(FF 5.3-01-2021)。
文摘Forest ecosystems are important for biodiversity conservation and human societies,but are under pressure due to climate change and human interventions.This applies to natural forests as well as tree plantations.The latter are globally widespread and therefore gaining increasing importance for biodiversity conservation.However,even after dieback due to increasing disturbance frequencies,such plantations are primarily managed for economic returns,leading to growing conflicts among stakeholders.In particular,the impact of forest management on biodiversity is being discussed.This study investigates the effects of five management approaches in a landscape severely affected by spruce(Picea abies L.)dieback on beetle diversity,conservation,and community composition.We considered direct effects of management and indirect effects of environmental parameters separately in ground-dwelling and flight-active beetles.Beetle diversity was strongly affected by forest management,with nonintervention deadwood stands being most beneficial for beetles.In addition,we show indirect effects of environmental factors.In general,parameters related to salvage logging(e.g.open canopies,tree stumps)influenced beetle diversity and conservation negatively,while positive effects were found for soil nutrient availability and plant species richness.Community composition differed strongly among management categories and indicated a lack of landscape connectivity for open habitat species,as we found only low proportions of such species even on salvage-logged sites.We propose a mixture of management approaches after bark beetle outbreaks,including a substantial proportion of non-intervention deadwood stands,to increase landscape heterogeneity and connectivity.This may increase overall biodiversity while addressing the concerns of both forestry and species conservation.
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.
文摘In November 2024,the famous British zoologist Jane Goodall,known as“the Mother of Chimpanzees”,visited China for the 17th time.During her trip,she celebrated the 30th anniversary of her“Roots&Shoots”project in China and participated in the 8th“It's Warm Winter”event organized by the Beijing It's Animal Protection Public Welfare Foundation(It's Fund).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foun-dation of China(Grant No.72349002).
文摘Establishing and maintaining protected areas is a pivotal strategy for attaining the post-2020 biodiversity target. The conservation objectives of protected areas have shifted from a narrow emphasis on biodiversity to encompass broader considerations such as ecosystem stability, community resilience to climate change, and enhancement of human well-being. Given these multifaceted objectives, it is imperative to judiciously allocate resources to effectively conserve biodiversity by identifying strategically significant areas for conservation, particularly for mountainous areas. In this study, we evaluated the representativeness of the protected area network in the Qin ling Mountains concerning species diversity, ecosystem services, climate stability and ecological stability. The results indicate that some of the ecological indicators are spatially correlated with topographic gradient effects. The conservation priority areas predominantly lie in the northern foothills, the southeastern, and southwestern parts of the Qinling Mountain with areas concentrated at altitudes between 1,500-2,000 m and slopes between 40°-50° as hotspots. The conservation priority areas identified through the framework of inclusive conservation optimization account for 22.9 % of the Qinling Mountain. Existing protected areas comprise only 6.1 % of the Qinling Mountain and 13.18 % of the conservation priority areas. This will play an important role in achiev ing sustainable development in the region and in meeting the post-2020 biodiversity target. The framework can advance the different objectives of achieving a quadruple win and can also be extended to other regions.
基金Lab Construction Support Funding for Returned Oversea Scholars,Ministry of Education,No.[2003]18
文摘A single nomenclature for national park terminology has evolved into a massive global data network from information gathered together from the past 140 years.This has been created using the most recent UNEP-WDPA data and its 98483 national designation records from 192 countries,two other customized databases accommodating 2638 records of officially designated national parks from 184 jurisdictions around the globe,and 2064 records of extended Chinese national park sites.However,mushrooming designations and growing databases are posing significant challenges even though the IUCN and UNEP have both devoted efforts to build and promote a common language called the ＂System of Management Categories for Protected Areas＂.Thus conversely the best possible outcome and the worst confusion might have originated from the same objective that is known by the simple moniker as a national park.This is why much more work needs to be done to enhance communication among different stakeholders from the world.In this paper,the authors are intending to demonstrate that China＇s government agencies should boost a dialogue with the UNEP-WDPA operating staff in order that the current innovative national park programs are recognized by the global community.Meanwhile,the authors also recommend that IUCN needs to revise and refresh the current protected area classification system for the purpose of effectively servicing the diverse stakeholders in such a diversified world of national park systems around the globe.
文摘Eeotourism aims to deliver the philosophy of sustainable development through environmental conservation as well as socio-economic development. Areas with rich biodiversity and scenic beauty, like the Indian Himalayan region, have been one of the major destination centers for nature lovers from historical time. In view of conserving the rich biodiversity and natural heritage of the Himalayan region 92 protected areas have been set aside, of these Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve （NDBR） is a well known world heritage site. Over a period of time establishing NDBR has invited conficts between the local people and reserve authorities on the management approaches and utilization criteria of the natural resources, especially banning the traditional bio-resource collection rights of local community, expeditions, trekking, and other anthropogenic activities in the core zones. The present study aims to understand and analyze the various people - park conflicts, and also to suggest ways to mitigate such conflicts in view of biodiversity conservation and improvement of economic status of local people by promoting eeotourism. With this view the study further discusses the various aspects of eeotourism, its pros and cons, and the avenues of developing appropriate strategies for promotion of ecotourism in buffer zone areas of NDBR.
基金This research was funded by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program(CAASXTCX2016011-01ASTIP-IAS07)+1 种基金Talent Project of Guizhou University[(2018)06]and National Natural Science Foundation of China(31900275)We also acknowledge supports from CGIAR research programs on‘Forests,Trees and Agroforestry’(CRP6.2)and Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDA20050204,XDA19050303).
文摘Wild fodder plants are valuable because they provide an important livestock feed resource globally,especially for smallholder farmers,and have important roles in natural resource management.In-depth knowledge of wild forage plants can motivate local people for feed resource and habitat conservation of threatened herbivores such as Mithun(Bos frontalis).Mithun occur in small patches in the mountains of Dulongjiang,nearby villagers domesticated this animal but left animal to freely graze in the mountains.Many fodder plants occur in these mountains,however,little is known about their nutritional value.We conducted an ethnobotanical survey to document important wild fodder plants consumed by mithun in the Dulongjiang Township.The nutritional content of 21 highly mentioned wild fodder plants in an ethnobotanical survey was examined.Laboratory analysis showed that Fagopyrum dibotrys were the fodder species with the highest crude protein(CP)content(26.89%),followed by Polygonum molle(21.88%)and Hydrangea longipes(21.12%).Synthesis of relative feed value index and grey relational grade,P.molle,H.longipes and Tetrastigma obtectum were ranked the top three nutritional fodders.There was a significant difference between 21 species on their in vitro digestibility and the most highly digestible fodder species was Elatostema hookerianum.Linear model analysis on relationship between frequency of citation of 21 wild forage plants by local farmers and their nutrient composition showed that the frequency was significantly positively correlated with the nutritional value of the feed(R2?0.28,P<0.05).We concluded that these species have high nutritional values to improve mithun production in integrated crop-livestock systems.Fodder species or mixtures of species with useful nutritional characters could be cultivated to improve livestock productivity,habitat conservation including that of mithun and wild forage resource management.
基金The Second Comprehensive Scientific Investigation and Research on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau(No.2019QZKK0308)。
文摘To tackle environmental challenges and in particular,the problems associated with the high demand for forests and resources,the consequence of which is the degradation of ecological systems,Russia has developed the biggest network of specially protected natural areas in the world.Although the scale of SPNA may look impressive,a recent comprehensive study of the period from 2001 to 2018 brought the spotlight on protected areas in Russia experiencing significant tree loss annually.Since Russia is confronting unprecedented fires that break records every year,the problem of preserving rare animal and plant species,their habitats,and natural ecosystems is acute.This paper is intended to assess the extent and effectiveness of SPNAs with regard to wilderness conservation in the Russian Federation based on the latest data;the main focus being on the period of 2014—2019,before and after the launch of the environmental safety strategies,along with additional analysis of available data for the following year of 2020.With due consideration of unique geographical,economic,and socio-cultural circumstances,as well as historical background and legislative reality of SPNAs in Russia,we have conducted a statistical analysis of data from the official annual reports from the Federal State Statistics Service on SPNAs by territories and significance,expenditures on maintenance and ecotourism,followed by RGB analysis of satellite imagery via means of GIS software for visualization of obtained data and further analytics.Despite the growth of the SPNA network in Russia,resulting in an astonishing 2402 Mha in 2020,an estimated 4 Mha of tree loss accounted for SPNAs over the period of 2014—2019,and 134 Mha in 2020 alone.Our findings indicate a need for the application of a comprehensive GIS approach for further development and effective management of the SPNA network in Russia.Furthermore,the results include recommendations on legislative changes,engagement of locals in SPNA protection,and popularization of ecotourism,all of which can be valuable for policymakers and SPNA development.
文摘A checklist of the macrolichens (foliose, fruticose & squamulose) of Barluk Mountain National Nature Reserve located in northwestern China is presented. It was derived from 47 inventories of preserved and undeveloped areas which yielded more than 670 collections containing 102 taxa (99 species, 1 subspecies, 2 varieties). Eight species were found that were new to Xinjiang, China. Twenty-eight species and 2 varieties were found on rock, 31 species on bark of deciduous and coniferous trees, 26 species on soil and 14 species and 1 subspecies over mosses. Foliose lichens were dominant with 76 species, followed by 16 species of squamulose lichens and 7 species of fruticose lichens.
基金supported by Forschungsanstalt fur Waldokologie und Forstwirtschaft (FAWF)of Landesforsten Rheinland-Pfalz (FF5.3-01-2021).
文摘Biodiversity loss is a significant problem at a global scale and may be amplified by climate change.In recent years,coniferous forests have had substantial die-back across Europe due to drought and subsequent bark-beetle outbreaks.As many studies on the consequences of disturbance and subsequent management have focused on natural stands,management implications for managed spruce stands are not well understood,even though such stands are widespread throughout Europe.In this study,beetle taxonomy,conservation value,and community com-position are compared among spruce plantations and four post-disturbance management approaches:standing dead-wood,lying deadwood,clear cuts,and long-term succession.Diversity and community composition differed significantly among management categories,while different beetle fami-lies responded similarly.Intact spruce stands harbored the lowest beetle diversity while the highest taxonomic diver-sity and conservation value was on clear cuts and stands with lying or standing deadwood.The proportion of forest specialists was highest in successional forests.In summary,different forest management categories harbored distinct beetle communities at the family-,species-,and ecological guild levels.Therefore,post-disturbance management should consider the landscape scale and include different management types.This enhances landscape heterogeneity and thus overall biodiversity but could also mitigate negative impacts of natural disturbances on ecosystem services.
基金supported by the Sino-German Postdoc Scholarship Program of the China Scholarship Council(CSC)the German Academic Exchange Service(DAAD)+4 种基金supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32071541,41971071)the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(Nos.2021FY100200,2021FY100702,2023YFF0805802)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association,CAS(No.2021392)the International Partnership Program,CAS(No.151853KYSB20190027)the“Climate Change Research Initiative of the Bavarian National Parks”funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection.
文摘An improved understanding of biodiversity-productivity relationships(BPRs)along environmental gradients is crucial for effective ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation.The stress-gradient hypothesis suggests that BPRs are stronger in stressful environments compared to more favorable conditions.However,there is limited knowledge regarding the variation of BPRs along elevational gradients and their generality across different landscapes.To study how BPRs change with elevation,we harnessed inventory data on 6,431 trees from152 plots surveyed twice in eight to ten year intervals in mountain forests of temperate Europe and subtropical Asia.We quantified the relationship between aboveground productivity and different biodiversity measures,including taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic diversity.To elucidate the processes underlying BPRs,we studied the variation of different functional traits along elevation across landscapes.We found no general pattern of BPRs across landscapes and elevations.Relationships were neutral for all biodiversity measures in temperate forests,and negative for taxonomic and functional diversity in subtropical forests.BPRs were largely congruent between taxonomic,functional and phylogenetic diversity.We found only weak support for the stress-gradient hypothesis,with BPRs turning from negative to positive(effect not significant)close to the tree line in subtropical forests.In temperate forests,however,elevation patterns were strongly modulated by species identity effects as influenced by specific traits.The effect of traits such as community-weighted mean of maximum plant height and wood density on productivity was congruent across landscapes.Our study highlights the context-dependence of BPRs across elevation gradients and landscapes.Species traits are key modulating factors of BPRs and should be considered more explicitly in studies of the functional role of biodiversity.Furthermore,our findings highlight that potential trade-offs between conserving biodiversity and fostering ecosystem productivity exist,which require more attention in policy and management.
