Search Results (10,050)

The transition to a low-carbon economy is the cornerstone of global sustainability, requiring high-emission enterprises to shift from carbon-intensive production to genuine green innovation. However, this study uncovers a significant structural impediment to this transition: the “defensive greenwashing” response to climate stress. Focusing on listed companies in China’s high-emission industries (2009–2024), we employ a Debiased Machine Learning (DML) framework and Causal Forest analysis to capture the non-linear impacts of multi-dimensional climate risks. Our findings reveal a robust “threshold-trigger” mechanism: once climate pressures—whether physical shocks or policy-induced transition risks—exceed corporate endurance levels, firms aggressively pivot toward strategic “information arbitrage” rather than substantive decarbonization. We identify a profound “capability paradox” in sustainability governance, where firms with higher digital maturity and resource slack leverage their technical prowess to “calibrate” sophisticated narratives, thereby widening the monitoring gap and distorting green asset pricing. Furthermore, CEO risk preference acts as a psychological accelerator, amplifying strategic decoupling, particularly under transition-risk-induced uncertainty. By demonstrating how climate stress inadvertently incentivizes symbolic compliance over sustainable transformation, this research offers critical micro-level insights for policymakers. These findings are vital for refining sustainability oversight and ensuring that capital allocation fosters a resilient, equitable transition toward true ecological and economic decoupling. Full article

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) constitute an important component of forest-based production systems and biomass supply chains in Türkiye. Despite their growing eco-nomic and ecological significance, the long-term structural dynamics of NTFP production remain insufficiently understood. This study examines temporal and structural changes in NTFP production in Türkiye during the period 1988–2024 using official production statistics and production support data. The analysis applies a quantitative framework that combines linear trend analysis, Shannon diversity and Herfindahl–Hirschman concentration indices, volatility measures based on the coefficient of variation, and regression models to evaluate production trends, structural transformations, stabilization patterns, and the effectiveness of production support mechanisms. The findings reveal a non-linear and multi-phase development pattern characterized by diversification and production growth after 2000, followed by increasing concentration and greater production volatility after 2018. Although total production volume increased substantially, portfolio diversity declined over time, and dependence on a limited number of high-volume products intensified, indicating growing structural vulnerability within the system. In addition, production support mechanisms showed a weak and heterogeneous relationship with production outcomes. A limited contextual comparison with Lithuania’s multifunctional NTFP system is also included to position the findings within a broader European context. Over-all, the results suggest that increasing production alone is insufficient to ensure long-term system stability. Instead, diversification-oriented and risk-sensitive resource management strategies that account for production risks, regional disparities, and product heterogeneity-ty are essential for developing sustainable and resilient NTFP production systems. Full article

The rapid urbanization of coastal zones has brought to light ecological and environmental issues at the junction between land and sea. Accurately identifying key areas for ecological restoration in coastal zones, as well as implementing projects for such protection and restoration, are effective strategies for addressing these challenges and ensuring the ecological security and stability of coastal zones. This study integrated terrestrial and marine spaces, employing the research logic of “patch (ecological sources)–network (ecological networks)–region (ecological restoration areas)” to establish a research framework for identifying key areas for ecological restoration of coastal zones. The findings presented in this paper demonstrate the following: (1) The ecological sources and ecological corridors in coastal ecological networks are primarily distributed across woodland, grassland, waters, and marine protected areas. This includes 19,233.48 km² of land ecological sources and 6099.52 km² of sea ecological sources, with the overall length of ecological corridors reaching 3154.59 km. (2) The ecological pinch points of the key areas are primarily situated in Jinzhou, Panjin, the southern part of Yingkou, and the Lushunkou district of Dalian. It is imperative to enhance the ecological functions within these regions. (3) The ecological barriers in the key areas are mainly concentrated in the central and western regions of Dalian. These areas should be rehabilitated based on land type and marine functional area classification in future endeavors. This study provides a scientific reference for the formulation and implementation of related coastal zone national ecological restoration plans. Full article

Against the background of green transformation and sustainable urban development, improving urban eco-environmental resilience (UER) is essential for enhancing ecological security and long-term urban sustainability. Using panel data from 260 Chinese cities from 2006 to 2023, this study constructs a new quality productive forces (NQPF) index based on new-quality laborers, new-quality means of labor, and new-quality labor objects, and measures UER from the dimensions of resistance, recovery, and adaptation. The results show that: (1) NQPF has a significant U-shaped effect on UER, indicating that it may inhibit UER in the early stage due to transformation costs and insufficient institutional adaptation but promotes UER after crossing a certain development level; (2) NQPF improves both green innovation level (GIL) and green innovation efficiency (GIE), while GIL faces short-term transformation constraints and GIE more directly enhances UER; (3) threshold, heterogeneity, and spatial analyses show that the positive effect of NQPF is stronger in cities with higher economic development levels and in the eastern region, and both NQPF and UER exhibit spatial clustering. This study provides empirical evidence for promoting productivity upgrading, ecological resilience, and sustainable urban transition. Full article

The Landscape of Outstanding Features of “Islands and Cliffs near Slankamen” (ICS) is a protected area in the Danube region, characterized by diverse forest and wetland habitats. Different forms of sustainable tourism (SUTO) can be developed in this area, including nature-based tourism, ecotourism, and scientific tourism. This study aims to examine the impact of SUTO dimensions on residents’ satisfaction in the settlements of Stari Slankamen and Novi Slankamen. The research is based on the Prism of Sustainability (PoS) model, which includes ecological, economic, socio-cultural, and institutional dimensions. A total of 1030 inhabitants participated in the survey. The results show that all four dimensions have a statistically significant impact on residents’ satisfaction. The economic and institutional dimensions have a stronger influence, while the socio-cultural and ecological dimensions were evaluated more positively by respondents. The results indicate the need for better coordination of tourism development and management activities in order to achieve a balance between nature protection, economic benefits, and the needs of the local community. Full article

Wild fruit species are key components of natural and semi-natural ecosystems, playing an important role in maintaining ecological balance and supporting biodiversity. This review aims to analyze these species from the perspective of their ecological functions, contribution to biodiversity conservation, and the ecosystem services they provide. Ecologically, wild fruit species contribute to soil stabilization, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration, while also serving as essential food sources and habitats for a wide range of organisms, including mammals, birds, insects, and microorganisms. Through these interactions, they support ecosystem functioning and resilience. Beyond their ecological role, these species provide significant socio-economic benefits, particularly in rural areas. They contribute to cultural ecosystem services and represent valuable resources for traditional medicine, while also offering opportunities for income generation through harvesting, processing, commercialization, and rural tourism. In the context of climate change, biodiversity loss, and increasing ecosystem degradation, wild fruit species represent multifunctional natural resources. Their conservation and sustainable use are essential for maintaining ecosystem functionality and promoting sustainable rural development. Full article

The use of non-native (alien) tree species in forestry involves trade-offs between ecological risks and potential economic benefits. This study assesses the distribution, naturalization, and invasion potential of non-native tree species in Lithuanian forests within a European context. The analysis integrates national forest inventory data with European datasets and applies a trait-based invasiveness assessment framework. Non-native tree species occupy only 0.6–0.7% of Lithuanian forest area, markedly lower than the European average (~4%). Only a small subset of species shows the capacity to transition from naturalization to invasion, with Acer negundo exhibiting the highest invasiveness potential. Most species remain confined to the naturalized stage and do not exhibit extensive spread under current conditions. The results demonstrate that invasiveness and silvicultural performance are not necessarily linked, as several species with high productivity exhibit limited invasion potential. These findings highlight the context-dependent role of non-native tree species in forest ecosystems and support the need for differentiated evidence-based approaches that integrate invasion risk, ecological characteristics, and management objective under changing environmental conditions. Full article

In Luoyuan Bay, China, Sporobolus alterniflorus invasion has hindered mangrove restoration and disrupted faunal communities within mangrove habitats. This study investigated its impact on mollusk, crab, and fish assemblages across mangrove, mudflat, and invaded habitats from 2019 to 2020. Results showed that species diversity of three assemblages did not differ significantly between invaded and non-invaded mangrove habitats; however, assemblage structure was altered and functional traits declined markedly in invaded areas. Compared with non-invaded mangroves, invaded habitats showed decreases of 81.6% in mollusk density, 50.7% in mollusk biomass, 66.6% in crab density and 84.2% in crab biomass. Dominant fish species (Acanthogobius ommaturus, Liza carinata, Stolephorus chinensis) also exhibited lower body size, total size and biomass in invaded habitats. Given the close dependence of coastal residents on these faunal resources, a socioeconomic analysis of livelihood strategies was conducted, revealing Sinonovacula constricta aquaculture achieved the highest net income-to-investment ratio, 122.7% higher than nearshore fishery and 308.3% higher than shallow-sea oyster cultivation, while professional shellfish farming yielded the highest net income per hectare, 23.6% higher than oyster cultivation. Thus, both forms of shellfish aquaculture provide greater economic returns than other livelihood options. Based on these findings and niche theory, we propose a management framework: after removing S. alterniflorus, plant native mangroves (Kandelia obovata) in mid-to-high intertidal zones and lease lower flats for shellfish farming. This framework has the potential to integrate ecological restoration with local livelihoods and may inform similar efforts in other regions facing biological invasions and restoration challenges. Full article

Forest tourism represents an important pathway for promoting green consumption, with forest parks serving as the primary platform for its development. The coordinated development of forest parks is therefore essential for achieving integrated economic, social, and ecological benefits. Investigating the coordination and coupling between ecological resilience and tourism economy in forest parks of the Yellow River Basin along with driving factors carried substantial practical significance for balancing regional economic development with ecological conservation. The present research developed an indicator system that was comprehensive and dynamic for assessing ecological resilience across forest parks in nine provinces of the Yellow River Basin during 2013–2023. To investigate patterns of spatiotemporal evolution and uncover underlying driving mechanisms, exploratory spatial data analysis was combined with a spatiotemporal geographically weighted regression model. The main findings are as follows: (1) The integrated levels of ecological resilience and tourism economy across the Yellow River Basin showed significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity. From north to south, a high–low–high spatial pattern was exhibited by ecological resilience, while a core concentration and gradient diffusion pattern was demonstrated by the tourism economy. (2) The coupling coordination level between forest park ecosystems and the tourism economy increased, with a growing number of provinces transitioning toward coordinated and near–dysregulated states, although pronounced regional disparities persisted. (3) Kernel density analysis indicated an overall improvement in coordination, accompanied by strong regional differentiation. The upper reaches displayed a unipolar leading pattern, while the middle and lower reaches showed multipolar differentiation and a pronounced “Matthew effect”. (4) Technological innovation emerged as the core driving factor, though its influence varied considerably across regions. Overall, these findings provide theoretical support and empirical evidence for policy formulation aimed at achieving a balance between ecological conservation and economic development in forest park systems. Full article

The climate emergency in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has transformed sustainability from an aspirational goal into a strategic imperative, particularly in the context of decoupling economic growth from natural capital depletion. This research analyzes eco-innovation within the frameworks of the National Innovation System (NIS), open innovation, and absorptive capacity, with the objective of examining the moderating role of collaboration in overcoming financial, knowledge, and market-related obstacles to innovative behavior. Employing a quantitative methodology using firm-level microdata from the Latin American Harmonized Innovation Surveys (LAIS) between 2007 and 2017, this study focuses on eco-innovative outcomes specifically linked to reductions in energy and material consumption. By estimating models that assess the role of technical cooperation and public policy support, this study seeks to determine whether collaborative strategies operate as an effective buffer against uncertainty and the limitations of local innovation systems. Expanding the scope of previous analyses centered on a single country, this work provides a regional perspective that underscores institutional and sectoral disparities in emerging contexts. Ultimately, this research examines how integrating an environmental purpose into corporate strategy and strengthening absorptive capacity enable LAC firms to transform ecological pressures into sustainable competitive advantages, mitigating the barriers that traditionally hinder technological progress in the region. Full article

This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving mechanisms of Water Supply Ecosystem Service Value (ESV) in the North China Plain from 2002 to 2022. Addressing the critical challenges of water scarcity and ecological degradation in this densely populated and agriculturally intensive region, the research develops an integrated framework to quantify the relative contributions of multi-dimensional drivers to the water supply service (quantified by biophysical supply, W). A Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm was employed to automate hyperparameter tuning for XGBoost and Random Forest models, with model interpretability enhanced via SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) to elucidate non-linear feature importance and directional impacts. Results demonstrate that the PSO-XGBoost model outperforms PSO-Random Forest in predictive performance (R² = 0.8013 vs. 0.7443). The total water supply exhibited a significant annual decline of 1.98 billion m³ (p < 0.05), with 53.4% of the study area showing significant pixel-level temporal trends. The supply structure is dominated by soil moisture (80–90%), while externally transferred water, despite increasing rapidly, exhibits high interannual variability. SHAP analysis identifies vegetation cover (NDVI), clay content, GDP, and population density as the predominant drivers. Notably, GDP shows a strong negative correlation with water supply, reflecting a trade-off where intensive socio-economic expansion increases water consumption at the expense of ecosystem supply capacity. Methodologically, the PSO-XGBoost-SHAP framework enables both high predictive accuracy and detailed attribution of driving factors. These findings highlight the strategic importance of soil water (“Green Water”) conservation and offer actionable insights for adaptive water resource management, providing a replicable analytical approach for other regions facing similar hydrological challenges. Full article

Transitioning to a circular economy (CE) is now a strategic priority for countries to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. However, in developing contexts, the readiness of environmental resource sectors to adopt CE principles is unknown due to a lack of data and uneven institutional capacity. This study presents the first regional baseline assessment of circularity readiness in Vietnam’s environmental resource sectors, focusing on land, mining, water and waste. A five-dimensional readiness framework (policy, resource management, innovation, business, awareness) was developed and applied across Vietnam’s six ecological–economic regions. A Delphi process with 12 experts was conducted in three rounds to capture and refine expert judgments, supplemented by triangulated proxy indicators (e.g., plastic recycling rates, wastewater treatment coverage). Readiness scores were aggregated at dimension and regional levels and analyzed using radar charts, heatmaps and hierarchical clustering. Results showed significant regional disparities. The Southeast (SE) and Red River Delta (RRD) have high readiness due to clearer policy frameworks, stronger institutions and more dynamic business ecosystems. The Northern Midlands and Mountains (NMM) and Central Highlands (CH) have low readiness due to infrastructural gaps, weak innovation and limited public engagement. The Mekong Delta (MD) and North Central Coast (NCC) have medium readiness, reflecting partial progress but uneven implementation. The study made three contributions: (1) a new context-specific framework for CE readiness in environmental resource sectors; (2) the value of expert-based, proxy-informed methods in data-scarce contexts; and (3) a policy roadmap for different regional readiness levels. Findings suggest that the CE should be integrated into resource planning, regional observatories should be established and CE-related research and development (R&D) should receive investment. Future research should move towards standardized quantitative indicators and predictive models to track how readiness changes under policy interventions. Full article

This study critically examines residential tourism in Isla Cortés within the context of the real estate boom and the growing sustainability challenges facing coastal regions. Driven by global mobility, investment flows, and lifestyle migration, residential tourism is reshaping coastlines through intensive urban expansion. The analysis highlights the socio-environmental consequences of this model, including habitat fragmentation, mangrove loss, increasing pressure on water resources, and the gradual privatization of coastal areas. Using a qualitative research design that combines literature review, comparative case analysis, and territorial assessment, the study identifies structural similarities between Isla Cortés and other coastal tourism enclaves while emphasizing locally specific processes shaped by Mexico’s political economy and regulatory context. Findings suggest the structurally unsustainable character of this development pathway. Although residential tourism has stimulated short-term economic growth, it has also intensified socio-spatial segregation, commodified coastal commons, and generated long-term ecological and social vulnerabilities. The study challenges dominant narratives that portray residential tourism as inherently sustainable and instead draws on ecological reflexivity and socio-ecological systems perspectives to outline alternative planning pathways. It underscores the need for stronger regulatory frameworks, nature-based solutions, participatory governance, and regenerative planning strategies capable of aligning economic activity with ecological integrity and social inclusion in coastal territories. Full article

Nepal has undergone significant land-use and land-cover (LULC) changes from 2000 to 2020, driven by urbanization, agricultural shifts, and broader socioeconomic dynamics. This study analyzes historical changes and projects LULC dynamics for 2030, 2040, and 2050 across four scenarios: Business-as-Usual (BAU), Rapid Urban Development (RUD), Forest Degradation and Terai Contraction (FDTC), and Agricultural Land Abandonment and Ecological Recovery (ALER). A CA–Markov modeling framework in TerrSet was used to simulate future land-use patterns, utilizing scenario-specific transition probability matrices and spatial constraints to reflect different socio-economic and policy assumptions. Under the BAU scenario, land-use change remains moderate, characterized by gradual urban expansion and limited forest decline. On the contrary, the RUD scenario predicts a drastic expansion of built-up areas by about 1.44 million ha, along with significant losses of cropland, bare soil, grassland, and forest, reflecting intensified development pressure. The FDTC scenario emphasizes agricultural expansion at the expense of forests, while urban growth remains limited. Conversely, the ALER scenario demonstrates strong ecological recovery driven by cropland abandonment and secondary vegetation regeneration, resulting in notable expansion of forest and other woody land. Overall, these four scenarios reveal sharply divergent land-use trajectories, ranging from rapid urban transformation to ecosystem restoration. These contrasting land-use pathways highlight the critical importance of integrated land-use policies that can proactively manage urban expansion, safeguard high-value agricultural and forest landscapes, and promote ecological restoration through incentives for agricultural land abandonment and secondary vegetation recovery, thereby ensuring long-term sustainability and climate resilience in Nepal. Full article

The Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) are key economic growth poles in China, playing a critical role in driving national economic development and facilitating international exchanges in commerce, culture, and ecology. However, rapid urbanization and industrialization have exerted considerable pressure on regional environments. In this study, we first assessed the dynamics of carbon storage (CS) and habitat quality (HQ) in the GBA and the YRD from 2000 to 2020 using the InVEST model and ArcGIS software, systematically analyzing their spatiotemporal changes and underlying driving mechanisms. Subsequently, we employed the PLUS model to predict land use changes by 2030 and evaluate their potential impacts on CS and HQ. The results indicate that: (1) Both regions have experienced increases in construction land and declines in cropland. (2) Between 2000 and 2020, CS in the GBA decreased by 33.65 × 10⁶ t and HQ declined by 0.0833, whereas in the YRD, CS decreased by 15.35 × 10⁶ t and HQ dropped by 0.0504. (3) By 2030, CS in the GBA is projected to decline further by 4.08%, with HQ decreasing to 0.4777, while in the YRD, CS is expected to fall by 2.71% and HQ decrease to 0.4115. (4) The spatial differentiation of CS and HQ in the GBA is primarily driven by anthropogenic processes, whereas in the YRD it is mainly constrained by natural factors such as topography. This study highlights the importance of understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of CS and HQ, which can help enhance ecosystem service functions, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and provide a scientific basis for regional sustainable development. Full article