Catalogue Search | MBRL
Are you sure you want to remove the book from the shelf?
{{itemTitle}}
32,982
result(s) for
"rural ecology"
Sort by:
The representation of greenery in the boundaries between the open landscape and residential areas in suburbanised rural settlements: development from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century
The rapid development of rural settlements into commuter towns in the hinterland of large cities, coupled with intensive agriculture and climate change, may negatively affect the prosperity of these areas. The presented analysis focused on randomly selected rapidly growing settlements in the Prague metropolitan area, examining their development with a focus on the peripheral parts of such settlements. Settlement margins constitute a specific part of rural settlements as it typically contributes to the rural character by providing the gradual gradient between the settlement and the open landscape. The representation of water-absorbing and non-water-absorbing areas and their suitability for the development of taller vegetation along the margins of three randomly selected suburbanised settlements in the hinterland of Prague are analysed from the perspective of the possibility to maintain the traditional character of the settlement margins. Historical maps, aerial photographs, spatial planning documents, and data on current land use and landscape cover were used for the analysis of the settlements’ development over the last approx. 200 years. In order to determine whether an area is water absorbing or not, a manual approach was used for historical maps and a machine learning process for present orthophoto maps. The automated machine learning classification process could be utilised, because the used orthophoto imagery includes a near-infrared portion of the spectrum (i.e. NIR imagery). We have observed the trend of decreasing plot size and of reduction in the water-absorbing surfaces suitable for planting taller vegetation, especially in the twenty-first century residential developments, which disrupts the traditional rural character of these settlements. The utilisation and stabilisation of the current vegetation in the historical areas, together with the creation of the vegetation belts along the margins of the newly developed areas, could improve the environmental quality of these settlements, promote ecosystem services, and increase biodiversity.
Journal Article
China's environmental challenges
China's huge environmental challenges affect not only the health and well-being of China but the very future of the planet. In this fully revised and updated third edition of her acclaimed book, noted scholar of Chinese environmentalism Judith Shapiro explores China's struggle to achieve the 'ecological civilization' championed by Xi Jinping since 2017. Drawing on six core analytical concepts - globalization, governance, national identity, civil society, environmental justice, and extractivism - Shapiro ably demonstrates the multifaceted and complex nature of this struggle.
BOOK
Unveiling the Richness and Socio-Cultural Importance of Homestead Agroforestry in Sivasagar District of Assam, India
This study examines the intricate interplay between species diversity and socio-cultural importance (SCI) in the homestead agroforestry (HAF) systems of Sivasagar, a floodplain district nestled in the upper Brahmaputra Valley Agro-climatic region of Assam, India. Over the past decade, the district has witnessed notable ecological, cultural, and economic shifts propelled by modern agricultural practices, market-driven economies, recurrent floods, and industrial and infrastructural activities. Thus, the study endeavors to unravel the main drivers of these changes and their impacts on species diversity and socio-cultural values of the homestead agroforestry, offering insights into the implications for the region’s rural ecology and culture. To achieve its aims, the research employs a range of methodologies, including in-depth field observations, household surveys, oral interviews, participatory rural appraisal, rapid rural appraisal, and focus group discussions to evaluate plant species diversity and their Socio-Cultural Importance (SCI) within HAF systems. The findings indicate a decline in indigenous plant species due to the transition from traditional to market-oriented agriculture, significantly affecting the socio-cultural fabric of the communities. This includes the displacement of traditional practices with market-based alternatives, erosion of traditional knowledge, and a threat to the region’s ecological and cultural integrity. These findings underscore the need for a balanced approach that honors traditions and ecological heritage while addressing challenges arising from modernization and external influences. Thus, this research serves as a crucial foundation for informed decision-making, providing insights to safeguard the unique ecology and culture of rural areas in the Brahmaputra Valley, with a specific focus on the Sivasagar district in Assam, India. It also directs efforts towards forging sustainable solutions to ensure the future well-being of these rural communities, offering valuable lessons for similar regions grappling with ecological and cultural transformations.
Journal Article
Research on Environmental Protection of Rural Ecotourism Based on PSR Model
This paper examines the relationship between rural ecotourism development and environmental protection in Province A, utilizing the PSR model and GAs. It employs a detailed evaluation of indicators in the tourism economy and ecological environment modules, using mathematical modeling and weight coefficient calculations to assess the impact of tourism activities. GAs are used to navigate the complex problem space inherent in balancing economic development with ecological sustainability. By analyzing data from 2005 to 2018, the coupling degree between tourism economy and ecological environment gradually increased from 0.1 to 0.6398. The results indicate a strengthening relationship between tourism economy and ecological environment, moving towards good or high-quality coordination. The degree of coupling, as measured by the PSR model, reflects the evolving interaction between rural tourism development and environmental protection. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability in rural areas.
Journal Article
Utilization of human excrement in pre-modern China, its theoretical interpretations and ecological significance
● The use of human excrement as fertilizer is a characteristic of traditional Chinese agriculture. ● The application of excrement from urban residents in agriculture since the Song Dynasty has ensured the cleanliness and hygiene of ancient Chinese cities. ● As early as the Ming Dynasty, the Chinese people defined the principle of fertilizing fields with human excrement from the perspective of material circulation. ● The concept Peri-URban ecosystems (PURE) provides inspiration for urban-rural symbiosis regarding circular economy.
The use of human excrement in fertilization is a major attribute differentiating the Chinese traditional agriculture from the agriculture in other regions around the world. Despite the fact that the exact record showing that human excrement was used as fertilizer in China emerged in the Western Han Dynasty (B.C. 202–A.D. 8), such records did not become prevalent until the Southern Song Dynasty (A.D.1127−1279). In the Ming and Qing eras (A.D.1368−1912), human excrement was even considered “top-class fertilizer” and served as the most essential fertilizer in farmland fertilization. The importance of human excrement in the Ming and Qing was mainly reflected by farmers’ purchase of human excrement from urban areas. As fertilization practices became increasingly popular during the period, men of letters built a localized theoretical system centering on human excrement. Although the use of human excrement had both positive and negative impacts on public health and the ecological environment, the positive overshadowed the negative as a whole. Today, it is worth pondering on how the utilization of human excrement as an agricultural resource can be improved so that a material cycle system can be rebuilt to re-connect the urban and rural areas.
Journal Article
Spatiotemporal differentiation and optimizing decision of the “agricultural production-farmer life-rural ecology” system in county villages
为了因地施策促进乡村可持续发展，以山东省为例，构建县域乡村地域系统的农业生产、农民生活和农村生态的“三生”评价指标体系，运用空间分析技术和耦合模型开展县域乡村“三生”系统优化决策研究。结果表明：山东省县域乡村“三生”系统具有东北-西南地域分异特征，75.82%的县域乡村子系统处在磨合耦合阶段，乡村可持续性和协调性有待加强。乡村“三生”系统发展功能区具体分为低等协调持续发展区、中协调低持续发展区、低协调中持续发展区、中等协调持续发展区、高协调中持续发展区和高等协调持续发展区等六种类型，以中低协调发展区为主，占总量的72.6%。不同类型县域乡村“三生”系统功能区，应因地制宜、分类施策：鲁西南平原农区等低水平地区通过产业结构调整与转型，提高二三产业结构比例；胶东半岛等中等地区以产业集聚与技术创新为主，形成特色产业品牌；鲁北的高等协调地区以科学发展与示范建设为主，构建成熟乡村发展模式。乡村“三生”系统以耦合协调机理为依据，科学划分县域乡村发展功能区，对县域乡村振兴战略实施与乡村协调发展具有重要启示意义。 To implement local policies that promote rural sustainable development, this study constructed an evaluation index system for agricultural production-farmer life-rural ecologyin county villages, taking Shandong Province as an example, and analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of this rural system and the coupling coordination relationship between each subsystem using spatial analysis, an analytic hierarchy process, and a coupling model. The study also divided the development functional areas of the rural regional system in Shandong Province and suggested so
Journal Article
Current status of research on invasive risk assessment of alien plants in China from the perspective of rural ecological landscape planning
本研究从乡村生态景观规划视角，基于中国知网公开发表的外来入侵植物风险评估研究文献，通过信息挖掘与统计方法，归纳总结了外来入侵植物风险评估方法、评估指标体系、研究区分布和高风险外来入侵植物的研究现状。结果显示：目前国内对外来入侵植物风险评估的主流方法为有害生物风险分析法、多指标综合评价法和层次分析法；评价指标的权重计算以层次分析法计算判断矩阵为主，评价指标使用频次（大于10次）从高到低依次为危害与影响、防控难度、扩散能力、环境适应性和传入分析等10项；研究区域的空间尺度涉及全国、省级、市级、县级、乡镇级和其他，主要以省级和市级尺度的研究为主；评估结果为高风险（出现频次≥10次）的外来入侵植物包括小蓬草、一年蓬、凤眼莲、空心莲子草、反枝苋和加拿大一枝黄花等18种。研究表明，应基于景观生态学、入侵生态学、环境影响评价学以及环境规划学等多学科理论基础，构建外来入侵植物风险评估评价指标体系，利用气候参数、土壤和水环境质量等观测数据和3S技术，结合外来植物适生区预测模型、生态位模型、景观格局指数、生物多样性指数和生态指数等，开展外来入侵植物生态风险评估，为乡村生态景观规划提供补充依据。This study summarizes risk assessment methods, assessment index systems, distribution of study areas, and high-risk invasive alien plant species based on literature available in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure on the perspective of risk assessment of invasive alien plants in rural ecological landscape planning using information mining and statistical methods. The results showed that the mainstream risk assessment methods for invasive alien plants in China were pest risk analysis, multi-indicator comprehensive eva
Journal Article