A multi-framework analysis of stakeholders' perceptions in developing a localized blue carbon ecosystems strategy in Eastern Samar, Philippines

Blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) are vital for global climate change mitigation and offer diverse local ecosystem co-benefits. Despite existing literatures on integrating national and international BCE agendas at the local level, the development and implementation of localized BCE strategies often lag behind. To provide insights on this knowledge gap, we present a case study conducted in Eastern Samar, Philippines. Employing a multi-framework analysis- encompassing DPSIR (drivers, pressures, state, impact, responses), SOAR (strengths, opportunities, aspirations, results), and PESTLE (political, economic, social, technological, legal, environmental) frameworks, stakeholder perceptions collected from focus group discussions highlight issues and challenges in developing and implementing a BCE strategy. Findings reveal that the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 in the study sites stimulated conservation efforts and raised awareness, but governance structures and policy enforcement influence the success and longevity of management and conservation efforts. Through the integration of multiple frameworks, this study outlined a potential localized BCE strategy, emphasizing both internal priorities such as stakeholder engagement and alternative livelihoods and external priorities related to policy and technological supports. While developed based on a specific case study in the Philippines, the proposed strategy is presented in a general manner, enabling its potential replication in other provinces in the Philippines or in countries with similar geographic settings.

Cross-scale and integrative prioritization of multi-functionality in large river floodplains

Floodplains provide an extraordinary quantity and quality of ecosystem services (ES) but are among the most threatened ecosystems worldwide. The uses and transformations of floodplains differ widely within and between regions. In recent decades, the diverse pressures and requirements for flood protection, drinking water resource protection, biodiversity, and adaptation to climate change have shown that multi-functional floodplain management is necessary. Such an integrative approach has been hampered by the various interests of different sectors of society, as represented by multiple stakeholders and legal principles. We present an innovative framework for integrated floodplain management building up on ES multi-functionality and stakeholder involvement, forming a scientifically based decision-support to prioritize adaptive management measures responding at the basin and local scales. To demonstrate its potential and limitations, we applied this cross-scaled approach in the world's most international and culturally diverse basin, the Danube River Basin in Europe. We conducted large-scale evaluations of anthropogenic pressures and ES capacities on the one hand and participatory modelling of the local socio-ecohydrological systems on the other hand. Based on our assessments of 14 ES and 8 pressures, we recommend conservation measures along the lower and middle Danube, restoration measures along the upper-middle Danube and Sava, and mitigation measures in wide parts of the Yantra, Tisza and upper Danube rivers. In three case study areas across the basin, stakeholder perceptions were generally in line with the large-scale evaluations on ES and pressures. The positive outcomes of jointly modelled local measures and large-scale synergistic ES relationships suggest that multi-functionality can be enhanced across scales. Trade-offs were mainly present with terrestrial provisioning ES at the basin scale and locally with recreational activities. Utilizing the commonalities between top-down prioritizations and bottom-up participatory approaches and learning from their discrepancies could make ecosystem-based management more effective and inclusive.

Characterising proximal and distal drivers of antimicrobial resistance: An umbrella review

INTRODUCTION

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a multifactorial challenge driven by a complex interplay of proximal drivers, such as the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials and the high burden of infectious diseases, and distal factors, encompassing broader societal conditions such as poverty, inadequate sanitation, and healthcare system deficiencies. However, distinguishing between proximal and distal drivers remains a conceptual challenge.

OBJECTIVES

We conducted an umbrella review, aiming to systematically map current evidence about proximal and distal drivers of AMR and to investigate their relationships.

METHODS

Forty-seven reviews were analysed, and unique causal links were retained to construct a causality network of AMR. To distinguish between proximal and distal drivers, we calculated a 'driver distalness index (Di)', defined as an average relative position of a driver in its causal pathways to AMR.

RESULTS

The primary emphasis of the literature remained on proximal drivers, with fragmented existing evidence about distal drivers. The network analysis showed that proximal drivers of AMR are associated with risks of resistance transmission (Di = 0.49, SD = 0.14) and antibiotic use (Di = 0.58, SD = 0.2), which are worsened by intermediate drivers linked with challenges of antibiotic discovery (Di = 0.62, SD = 0.07), infection prevention (Di = 0.67, SD = 0.14) and surveillance (Di = 0.69, SD = 0.16). Distal drivers, such as living conditions, access to sanitation infrastructure, population growth and urbanisation, and gaps in policy implementation were development and governance challenges, acting as deep leverage points in the system in addressing AMR.

CONCLUSIONS

Comprehensive AMR strategies aiming to address multiple chronic AMR challenges must take advantage of opportunities for upstream interventions that specifically address distal drivers.

Factors impacting water quality and quantity in rapidly expanding urban areas based on the DPSIR model: experiences and challenges from Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia

Due to the increasing pressures of global change, such as urbanization, climate change, population growth, and socioeconomic changes, cities around the world are facing significant water challenges, both in terms of supply and quality. This emphasizes the need for concerted effort to manage water supplies effectively for sustainable development. The driver, pressure, state, impact, and response (DPSIR) model was applied in this study to determine the underlying causes of Addis Ababa's water supply and quality issues. Field observations, key informant interviews, and previously published reports were used to identify these variables, impacts, and coping mechanisms. The model suggests that issues with urban water are caused by inadequate waste management, fast urbanization, climate change, sociodemographic shifts, economic challenges, changes in land use and land cover, and institutional pressures. As a result, aquatic ecosystems endure damage and there is also an increase in water-related diseases and unmet water demand. Some of the responses to these effects include using bottled water, digging boreholes, harvesting rainwater, planting trees, and soliciting funds. The study concludes by recommending an integrated approach to managing the risks of declining water quality and shortage. This study will advance the important empirical understanding of how urban water supply and quality are impacted by environmental stresses on a global scale. It will also positively impact the development of sustainable water management policies and practices.

Applying the projection pursuit and DPSIR model for evaluation of ecological carrying capacity in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

The ecological carrying capacity (ECC) of Inner Mongolia is the foundation of its sustainable development. As a result, a comprehensive investigation of Inner Mongolia's ECC and its influencing factors is critical for promoting regional sustainable development. However, an ECC evaluation index system for the ecological environment and economic development features of Inner Mongolia has not yet been developed. In addition, as ECC attributes rise, traditional methods become ineffective at extracting the structural characteristics of high-dimensional data, leading to an incomplete evaluation. In view of this, based on the driver-pressure-state-impact-response (DPSIR) framework, we developed an ECC evaluation index system that takes into account the ecological environment and economic development features of Inner Mongolia. The projection pursuit model based on real coded accelerating genetic algorithm (RAGA-PP), which can analyze high-dimensional data, was applied to achieve ECC comprehensive assessment in Inner Mongolia. Finally, the analysis of the ECC obstacle factors in the study area was conducted. The findings reveal that (1) from 2000 to 2020, there was an average increase of 28.4% in the ECC for all of Inner Mongolia cities. The spatial divergence feature is obvious, and the northeastern cities' ECC is higher than the southwestern. (2) From 2000 to 2020, the value of the drive, pressure, and state subsystems primarily shows fluctuation. The impact and response subsystems both exhibit an increase, while the response subsystem's characteristic values are lower. (3) The obstacle degree of driving force subsystem is significant and ranges from 17.6 to 33.9% between 2000 and 2020. Main obstacles to ECC are the average annual temperature, the disposable income of farmers and herdsmen, the urban registered unemployment rate, and the seeded area per capita. The findings of the research can provide useful guidance to developing efficient policies that take into account the various ECC in different cities in order to improve ECC performance throughout Inner Mongolia.

Investigating the dynamic decoupling relationship between regional social economy and lake water environment: The application of DPSIR-Extended Tapio decoupling model

The water environmental problems associated with rapid socioeconomic growth have drawn widespread attention from the government and the public. Revealing the decoupling mechanism between the social economy and lake water environment has become an important breakthrough point to seek the pathways of sustainable economic development. To investigate the decoupling process of the social economy‒lake water environmental system, this study proposes a comprehensive evaluation model, which integrates the Driving force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) model, projection pursuit method, and Tapio decoupling model; and then applies it to the case study of Hefei City and Lake Chaohu in China in 2021-2035. Three typical scenarios of current, social economy, and water environment are designed and simulated using the DPSIR model to evaluate the dynamic decoupling relationships under various development patterns. We found that the DPSIR indexes had a fluctuating upward trend from 2009 to 2020, with a synchronous improvement trend of the social economy and lake water environment. Meanwhile, the Tapio decoupling analysis showed that the decoupling relationships between socioeconomic driver forces, response strategies and the status of lake water environment was mostly strongly decoupled and weakly decoupled during 2009-2020. However, there was still an inconsistency between the improvement rate of the lake water environment and the increase rate of the response strategies. During the 2021-2035 simulation period, the DPSIR indexes of all scenarios depicts an overall increasing trend. The decoupling states of S&I-D&P and S&I-R generally tend to be consistent under three regulation scenarios. Among them, the water environment scenario outperforms other scenarios, and the social economy scenario performs worst. Overall, the decoupling of the social economy and lake water environment can attribute to both the transformation of socioeconomic development patterns and the increase of water environmental protection efforts.

Microplastics and heavy metals in a tropical river: Understanding spatial and seasonal trends and developing response strategies using DPSIR framework

Microplastics (MPs) have become an increasingly popular topic in recent years due to the growing concern about their impact on human health and the environment. Rivers in Southeast Asia are the dominant source of plastics and MPs into the environment; however, research on MPs in rivers from the region is insufficient. This study aims to investigate the impacts of spatial and seasonal variations on the distribution of MPs with heavy metals in one of the top 15 rivers releasing plastics into oceans (Chao Phraya, Thailand). Findings from this study are analyzed using the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework for proposing strategies to minimize plastic and MPs in this tropical river. Spatially, most MPs were detected in the urban zone, while the lowest was in the agricultural zone. Also, MP levels in the dry season are higher than at the end but lower than at the beginning of the rainy season. MPs with fragment morphology were mainly found in the river (70-78 %). Polypropylene was found with the highest percentage (54-59 %). MPs in the river were mostly detected in the size range of 0.05-0.3 mm (36-60 %). Heavy metals were also found in all MPs collected from the river. Higher metal concentrations were detected in the agricultural and estuary zones in the rainy season. Potential responses, including regulatory and policy instruments, environmental education, and environmental cleanups, were drawn from the DPSIR framework.

Coupling SWAT and DPSIR models for groundwater management in Mediterranean catchments

Groundwater is an essential natural resource and has a significant role in human and environmental health as well as in the economy. Management of subsurface storage remains an important option to meet the combined demands of humans and ecosystems. The increasing need to find multi-purpose solutions to address water scarcity is a global challenge. Thus, the interactions leading to surface runoff and groundwater recharge have received particular attention over the last decades. Additionally, new methods are developed to incorporate the spatial-temporal variation of recharge in groundwater modeling. In this study, groundwater recharge was spatiotemporally quantified using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in the Upper Volturno-Calore hydrological basin in Italy and the results were compared with other two basins in Greece (Anthemountas and Mouriki). SWAT model was applied in actual and future projections (2022-2040) using the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 emissions scenario to evaluate changes in precipitation and assess the future hydrologic conditions, along with, the Driving Force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework that was applied in all the basins as a low-cost analysis of integrated physical, social, natural, and economic factors. According to the results, no significant variations in runoff are predicted in the Upper Volturno-Calore basin for the period 2020-2040 while the potential evapotranspiration percentage varies from 50.1% to 74.3% and infiltration around 5%. The limited primary data constitutes the main pressure in all sites and exaggerates the uncertainty of future projections.

Innovative actions in oceans and human health for Europe

Innovative actions are local initiatives which leverage the interactions between the ocean and human health to reduce the risks and enhance the benefits for the stakeholders and the natural environment. These initiatives can have strong positive effects on human health and wellbeing as well as on the marine environment. We analysed 150 such innovative actions in Europe. Using a combined case study and survey approach, innovative actions were identified using interviews and content analysis of websites and compiled into a database. Quantitative data were analysed according to the Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact and Response (DPSIR) framework, guided by selected in-depth interviews. Overall, the innovative actions provided a positive impact on the health of both the ocean and humans through increasing food provision, water quality and tourism opportunities; and addressing environmental issues such as commercial fish stock depletion, pollution and climate change. Innovative actions contributed to meeting various targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 13 and 14. These actions played a potential role ahead of and alongside policy. Some of the innovative actions may have potential to be put in place elsewhere. Such up-scaling would need to be adapted to local circumstances and could be facilitated by an innovative action exchange platform.

Introducing a temporal DPSIR (tDPSIR) framework and its application to marine pollution by PET bottles

Environmental governance is highly sensitive to temporal dynamics, due to the ever-accelerating rate of technological changes, the cumulative nature of environmental impacts and the complexity of multi-level environmental policy processes. Yet, temporality is generally only implicitly included in frameworks used for describing or assessing policy response in the broad context of social-ecological systems, such as the widely used Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework. As a result, the application of such frameworks often does not give due attention to questions of temporality, with potential negative impacts on attaining environmental goals. The current work proposes to modify the DPSIR framework to explicitly incorporate temporal aspects. We suggest two extensions of the common framework to account for time lags and allow for early response through a "response shift-left" mechanism. The potential of the modified framework-temporal DPSIR (tDPSIR)-to shed light on these temporal aspects is demonstrated through analysis of the European Union's response to pollution of the marine environment by plastic bottle waste. The analysis emphasizes the pronounced time lags between the initiation of this anthropogenic pressure and effective governance capable of curbing emissions. We discuss how tDPSIR can be applied to a range of environmental issues to populate databases of time lags in environmental governance, which, in turn, can be analysed for systemic patterns and chains of causality.

Marine litter in the Red Sea: Status and policy implications

The Red Sea's unique ecosystem is home to >1500 species. However, the presence of anthropogenic litter, whether from land-based or sea-based sources, may pose a potential risk to the Red Sea fauna and flora. This work analyzes marine litter in the Red Sea, utilizing the Drivers-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework to group findings in a survey of peer-reviewed studies. The review is further augmented with a survey of the current response, covering regional and national instruments. Although research addressing marine litter in the Red Sea is not as rich as for other seas, studies suggest marine litter is abundant and that the influx of litter is driven by recreational activity, fishing, and shipping. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the influx of marine litter to the Red Sea due to improper disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE). The response has intensified in recent years, with regional and national frameworks established and initiatives driven by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). We discuss whether the regional action plan addresses the specific concerns uncovered in marine litter studies while providing a comparison with plans of other regional seas.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Aquaculture Environments: Unravelling the Complexity and Connectivity of the Underlying Societal Drivers

Food production environments in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are recognized as posing significant and increasing risks to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one of the greatest threats to global public health and food security systems. In order to maximize and expedite action in mitigating AMR, the World Bank and AMR Global Leaders Group have recommended that AMR is integrated into wider sustainable development strategies. Thus, there is an urgent need for tools to support decision makers in unravelling the complex social and environmental factors driving AMR in LMIC food-producing environments and in demonstrating meaningful connectivity with other sustainable development issues. Here, we applied the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) conceptual framework to an aquaculture case study site in rural Bangladesh, through the analysis of distinct social, microbiological, and metagenomic data sets. We show how the DPSIR framework supports the integration of these diverse data sets, first to systematically characterize the complex network of societal drivers of AMR in these environments and second to delineate the connectivity between AMR and wider sustainable development issues. Our study illustrates the complexity and challenges of addressing AMR in rural aquaculture environments and supports efforts to implement global policy aimed at mitigating AMR in aquaculture and other rural LMIC food-producing environments.

Multi-Phase Environmental Impact Assessment of Marine Ecological Restoration Project Based on DPSIR-Cloud Model

In order to achieve a comprehensive evaluation of the environmental impact of ecological restoration projects (ERP) under the current destruction and restoration of coastal ecological areas, this paper takes into account the impact of positive and negative indicators on the environment; analyzes the positive and negative benefits of ERP; and establishes a comprehensive environmental impact index system for marine ERP from ecological, economic, and social perspectives through the DPSIR model. On this basis, the cloud model and Monte Carlo simulation are used to obtain the comprehensive assessment grade of the construction period, short-term operation, and long-term operation in the project life cycle. The results show that the benefits of ERP, considering the impact of negative factors, are significantly reduced, and the benefits of ERP will increase remarkably in the long-term operation period. In engineering practice, the environmental pressure factor caused by excessive human activities during construction and operation periods is a key negative factor affecting the overall benefits of ERP. For project decision makers and other stakeholders, the comprehensive assessment grade considering negative impacts is more practical. At the same time, decision makers should take active response measures in the framework of long-term sustainable development, set a tolerance threshold for negative pressure indicators, and strengthen the management of ERP.

Factors in enhancing environmental governance for marine plastic litter abatement in Manila, the Philippines: A combined structural equation modeling and DPSIR framework

This empirical study examines the factors enhancing environmental governance for marine plastic litter abatement in Manila, the Philippines. We use a combined covariance-based hybrid structural equation modeling (SEM) and DPSIR framework, with data collected via an online survey from 456 barangays in Manila, the Philippines. The survey was processed and analyzed using a combined model, validated through interviews and focused group discussions. With Higher-Order Model good internal consistency (0.917) and achieved measures of CFI (0.992), RMSEA (0.036), and SRMR (0.019), the findings revealed that environmental governance (COVID-19 waste), community participation, socio-economic factors, and solution measures have positively affected marine plastic litter (MPL) abatement. Notwithstanding, environmental governance (SWM policies and guidelines) has a negative impact on MPL abatement. There is, however, no link between waste infrastructure and MPL abatement. The findings provide significant perspectives in Manila to enhance environmental governance for MPL abatement. This paper presents policy-actions implications drawn from DPSIR-SEM.

An Assessment of Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Regional Water Resources Security in the DPSIR Framework in Jiangxi Province, China

Water resources are critical for the survival and prosperity of both natural and socioeconomic systems. A good and informational water resources evaluation system is substantial in monitoring and maintaining sustainable use of water. The Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework is a widely used general framework that enabled the measurement of water resources security in five different environmental and socioeconomic subsystems: driver, pressure, state, impact, and response. Methodologically, outcomes of water resources evaluation based on such framework and using fuzzy set pair analysis method and confidence interval rating method depend critically on a confidence threshold parameter which was often subjectively chosen in previous studies. In this work, we demonstrated that the subjectivity in the choice of this critical parameter can lead to contradicting conclusions about water resources security, and we addressed this caveat of subjectivity by proposing a simple modification in which we sample a range of thresholds and pool them to make more objective evaluations. We applied our modified method and used DPSIR framework to evaluate the regional water resource security in Jiangxi Province, China. The spatial-temporal analysis of water resources security level was carried out in the study area, despite the improvement in Pressure, Impact, and Response factors, the Driver factor is found to become less safe over the years. Significant variation of water security across cities are found notably in Pressure and Response factors. Furthermore, we assessed both cross-sectionally and longitudinally the inter-correlations among the DPSIR nodes in the DPSIR framework. The region-specific associations among the DPSIR nodes showed important deviances from the general DPSIR framework, and our analysis showed that in our study region, although Responses of regional government work effectively in improving Pressure and State security, more attention should be paid to improving Driver security in future regional water resources planning and management in Jiangxi Province, China.

A study on the marine ecological security assessment of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Great Bay Area

The construction of world-class Bay makes the marine ecology in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Great Bay Area in risk. Based on the DPSIR index framework, Lotka-Volterra symbiosis model is applied to calculate symbiosis degree between coastal socio-economic system and marine ecosystem in 9 coastal cities. It is found that the marine ecological pressure in this area have not been reversed in recent 20 years. Most cities are in the stage that socio-economic development and marine ecological damage coexist. In Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan and Zhongshan, the damaged marine ecology has begun to restrain the further expansion of economy and society. The massive population agglomeration in Hong Kong, Macao and other places has caused serious marine ecological stress. It is urgent to improve the marine ecological security by cultivating ecological industrial system and industrial clusters, establishing a land-sea ecological restoration, promoting joint-protection and co-governance across different administrative regions.

Conceptual model to analyze the effects caused by technological disaster on the physical-chemical state of the lower Doce River waters, Brazil

Research has shown the effort to develop conceptual models that relate anthropic stressors to changes in aquatic environment state. Several of these models come from the structure Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact and Response (DPSIR), which has been used since the 1990s. However, there is a lack of conceptual models that consider in its structure the connection between the damages caused in the aquatic environment and technological disasters. This research develops a general conceptual model based on the DPSIR structure incorporating technological disasters. Based on the general conceptual model guidelines and the methodological procedure associated with it, a model was developed to assess the Lower Doce River waters' state, by considering Fundão's iron-ore dam failure scenario, which took place in November 2015, in the municipality of Mariana, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The relevant aspects of this adaptation of the DPSIR structure were: I) it considers the combined effect of drivers and pressures that already existed in the study area with those originated from the technological disaster; and II) the causal relationships among elements of the model were explicited through a systemic conceptual map, allowing a more holistic and integrated view of the problem. The application of the conceptual model to Doce River's scenario before the disaster allowed us to verify that a set of environmental pressures was already acting in a way to stress it, making the river vulnerable. For the post-disaster scenario, it was possible to determine that the already existing vulnerability condition, caused by urbanization, agriculture¹ and mining, had been intensified by adding new pressures due to the tailings dam failure.

New indices system for quantifying the nexus between economic-social development, natural resources consumption, and environmental pollution in China during 1978-2018

It is meaningful to study how China can maintain the sustainable utilization of natural resources and the continuous improvement of environmental conditions while ensuring the stable development of the economy and society. In this study, a new indices system was proposed for the analysis of nexus among social-economic-natural resource-environment complex systems following the DPSIR (Driving Force - Pressure - State - Impact - Respond) framework, CCD (Coupling Coordination Degree) analysis and VAR (Vector Auto-Regressive) model were applied for quantifying the synergy and trade-off of China in the nexus framework. Results showed that: (1) Although China's rapid development has caused big consumption of natural resources and increasing pollutants discharges during 1978-2018, China has not got into trouble of extreme resource depletion and ecosystem collapse. On the contrary, China guaranteed food supply, stopped forest degradation, and avoided pollution-induced healthy crises & life-shortening. (2) Adjustment of water pollution industries and the increase of wastewater treatment investment contributed 39% and 37% to the reduction of water pollutant discharge, respectively. The contribution of energy structure adjustment to acid rain control was 26%. The pollutants discharged in no less than 70% of the provinces are strictly controlled below the environmental capacity. The increase of fertilizer application and effective irrigated area contributed 32% to China's grain increase, and China's grain self-sufficiency rate has been maintained above 110%. The improvement of the water-saving irrigation rate contributed 28% to the reduction of water consumption. The reduction of comprehensive efficiency contributed 23.8% to the decrease in energy consumptions per GDP. The CCD assessment showed that China has entered a phase of pre-eminently coordinated development since 2013.

Prioritizing risk mitigation measures for binary heavy metal contamination emergencies at the watershed scale using bayesian decision networks

Water pollution accidents have the characteristics of high uncertainty, rapid evolution and are difficult to control, thus posing great threats to human health, ecological security, and social stability. During the last 10 years, China has faced the occurrence of six extraordinarily serious heavy metal contamination pollution events at the watershed scale. This has alerted governments and enterprises of the significance of emergency decision-making. To quantitatively prioritize risk mitigation strategies for heavy metal emergencies, a Bayesian Decision Network-based probabilistic model is proposed under the Drivers-Pressures-States-Impacts-Responses (DPSIR) framework. A Copula-based exposure risk model is embedded to simulate the fate of heavy metal ions for each risk reduction option, whose joint probability distributions can then be used as input parameters in the Bayesian Decision Network. This method was applied to the emergency response prioritization for acute Cr(VI)-Hg(II) contamination accidents in the Danshui River watershed. The results indicated that comprehensive measure (M5) was the best option for decreasing ecological and human health risks. As for a single risk mitigation strategy, risk source prevention (M1) was the best alternative compared to exposure pathway interruption (M2) and human/ecological receptor protection (M3-M4). This probabilistic method can not only address the uncertainties between certain risk sources and receptors in the BDN structure, but also realize the risk system optimization in a satisfactory/preferred mode under the DPSIR framework. Overall, it provides the probabilistic risk estimates for watershed-scale risk management and policy making for local risk managers and stakeholders.

Evaluating institutional fit for the conservation of threatened species

Recovery and conservation of threatened species require adequate institutional responses. We tested an approach to systematically identify and measure how an institutional framework acknowledges threats and required responses for the recovery of endangered species. We measured institutional functional fit with a drivers-pressure-state-impacts-response (DPSIR) model integrated with a quantitative text mining method and qualitative analysis of statutory instruments to examine regulatory responses that support the recovery of 2 endangered species native to Australia, the bridled nailtail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata) and the Eastern Bristlebird (Dasyornis brachypterus). The key components of the DPSIR model were present in the institutional framework at statutory and operational levels, but some institutional gaps remained in the protection and recovery of the Eastern Bristlebird, including feral predator control, weed control, and grazing management in some locations. However, regulatory frameworks varied in their geographic scope and the application and implementation of many instruments remained optional. Quantitative text mining can be used to quickly navigate a large volume of regulatory documents, but challenges remain in selection of terms, queries of co-occurrence, and interpretation of word frequency counts. To inform policy, we recommend that quantitative assessments of institutional fit be complemented with qualitative analysis and interpreted in light of the sociopolitical and institutional context.

A guideline to frame stressor effects in freshwater ecosystems

Environmental policies fall short in protecting freshwater ecosystems, which are heavily threatened by human pressures and their associated stressors. One reason is that stressor effects depend on the context in which they occur and it is difficult to extrapolate patterns to predict the effect of stressors without these being contextualized in a general frame. This study aims at improving existing decision-making frameworks such as the DPSIR approach (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) or ERA (Environmental Risk Assessment) in the context of stressors. Here, we delve into stressor-impact relationships in freshwater ecosystems and develop a guideline which includes key characteristics such as stressor type, stressor duration, location, the natural levels of environmental variables to which each ecosystem is used to, among others. This guideline is intended to be useful in a wide range of ecosystem conditions and stressors. Incorporating these guidelines may favor the comparability of scientific results and may lead to a substantial advancement in the efficacy of diagnosis and predictive approaches of impacts.

Evaluating toxic element contamination sources in groundwater bodies of two Mediterranean sites

The Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework is applied for assessing the pressures and impacts on groundwater bodies of two Mediterranean sites (Megara and Oropos-Kalamos basins). The study areas present joint driving forces (drivers) and pressures. The main driving forces in the areas studied mainly include geology, agricultural activities, and urban development, while the main pressures mainly include the weathering of ultramafic rock masses, application of agrochemicals, and groundwater abstractions for irrigation and drinking uses. Hexavalent chromium (Cr⁺⁶), chromium total (Cr_total), manganese (Mn), and nitrate (NO₃^-) contamination of groundwater bodies are attributed to both anthropogenic and lithological sources. Elevated Cr_total (up to 70.3 μg L^-1), Mn (up to 87.7 μg L^-1), and NO₃^- (up to 411 mg L^-1) contents are recorded for groundwater samples in Megara basin. High Cr_total (up to 34.3 μg L^-1), Cr⁶⁺ (up to 27.9 μg L^-1), Mn (up to 132.5 μg L^-1), and NO₃^- (up to 30 mg L^-1) are also observed for groundwater samples in the Oropos-Kalamos basin. The major response actions needed for the management options of groundwater bodies are discussed. Among the proposed remedial measures, the installation of a continuous groundwater monitoring network and the control in the usage of nitrogen fertilizers seems to be the most effective and tangible for immediate action.

Seagrass ecosystems of the Pacific Island Countries and Territories: A global bright spot

Seagrass ecosystems exist throughout Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). Despite this area covering nearly 8% of the global ocean, information on seagrass distribution, biogeography, and status remains largely absent from the scientific literature. We confirm 16 seagrass species occur across 17 of the 22 PICTs with the highest number in Melanesia, followed by Micronesia and Polynesia respectively. The greatest diversity of seagrass occurs in Papua New Guinea (13 species), and attenuates eastward across the Pacific to two species in French Polynesia. We conservatively estimate seagrass extent to be 1446.2 km², with the greatest extent (84%) in Melanesia. We find seagrass condition in 65% of PICTs increasing or displaying no discernible trend since records began. Marine conservation across the region overwhelmingly focuses on coral reefs, with seagrass ecosystems marginalised in conservation legislation and policy. Traditional knowledge is playing a greater role in managing local seagrass resources and these approaches are having greater success than contemporary conservation approaches. In a world where the future of seagrass ecosystems is looking progressively dire, the Pacific Islands appears as a global bright spot, where pressures remain relatively low and seagrass more resilient.

Does ecotourism in a Mangrove area at Klong Kone, Thailand, conform to sustainable tourism? A case study using SWOT and DPSIR

This study aimed to assess ecotourism in a mangrove area and whether it conformed with sustainable tourism. We were interested in exploring the demand for natural resources and the supply of areas for ecotourism. To achieve this, we integrated a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis with the DPSIR (driving forces, pressures, states, impacts, and responses) framework, based on questionnaire interviews with three target groups (tourists, homestay operators, and community residents), plus in-depth interviews with local scholars and officers of administrative organizations. Supplementary data recorded included the physical characteristics of local homestays and houses. The results were analyzed statistically and the ecotourism carrying capacity of the area was assessed, based on the SWOT analysis. Internal factors included key strengths, e.g., the income associated with nature-supporting tourism, and key weaknesses, e.g., local stakeholders' awareness and understanding of ecological mechanisms. External factors included opportunities arising from tourism policies and public relations and threats from town and urban planning and pollution from nearby areas. The DPSIR framework was used to rank the scores of each DPSIR dimension, with the responses identifying DPSIR indicators prioritized. Finally, a conceptual DPSIR model of ecotourism, which illustrated the ecotourism lifecycle, was developed.

Toward social-ecological coastal zone governance of Chiloé Island (Chile) based on the DPSIR framework

Coastal zones are complex systems where sustainability needs local participative governance, whose absence may result in conflicts between social actors. In its absence, the first step should be a diagnosis of the current situation based on integrative conceptual frameworks such as the DPSIR. However, in conflicting situations, the generated model needs validation from social actors. Chiloé Island is a critical Chilean coastal fishery and aquaculture area, coexisting with subsistence and cultural uses of marine resources. This article analyzes the current ecological state of the Chiloé coastal zone and its main social-ecological impact using a DPSIR model. We validated its results through a household survey and interviews with local experts and social actors. Results show that increased coastal fisheries and aquaculture generate a critical decrease of coastal species, eutrophication, and pollution that, along with harmful algal blooms, generate conflicts. Social validation showed that experts and local social actors have different perceptions of conflicting parties and conflict solutions. Following a post-normal approach, we propose three ideas to start social-ecological governance of Chiloé coastal marine ecosystems.

A DPSIR-TODIM Model Security Evaluation of China's Rare Earth Resources

Rare earth is an important strategic mineral resource for national economy and national security. As the largest producer and exporter of rare earth, China's rare earth industry has problems associated with excessive production, mismatched pricing power and environmental pollution. Therefore, an in-depth study of the rare earth industry security is necessary. Based on proposed definition for mineral resource security, this paper established a rare earth resource security evaluation model based on the "driver-pressure-state-impact-response" conceptual model using an extended TODIM (an acronym in Portuguese for interactive and multi-criteria decision-making) method combined with the E-DEMATEL (entropy and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory) method. The model was then applied to Chinese rare earth data from 2006-2015 to assess the security, from which it was found that while the security level was not high, the overall trend was improving. Moreover, some critical response factors affecting REEs (rare earth elements) security are identified, including tariffs, research investment, etc. This paper not only introduces a new evaluation of REEs security but also explores the crucial indicators and the response mechanism.

The role of ecosystems in mitigation and management of Covid-19 and other zoonoses

There is rising international concern about the zoonotic origins of many global pandemics. Increasing human-animal interactions are perceived as driving factors in pathogen transfer, emphasising the close relationships between human, animal and environmental health. Contemporary livelihood and market patterns tend to degrade ecosystems and their services, driving a cycle of degradation in increasingly tightly linked socio-ecological systems. This contributes to reductions in the natural regulating capacities of ecosystem services to limit disease transfer from animals to humans. It also undermines natural resource availability, compromising measures such as washing and sanitation that may be key to managing subsequent human-to-human disease transmission. Human activities driving this degrading cycle tend to convert beneficial ecosystem services into disservices, exacerbating risks related to zoonotic diseases. Conversely, measures to protect or restore ecosystems constitute investment in foundational capital, enhancing their capacities to provide for greater human security and opportunity. We use the DPSIR (Drivers-Pressures-State change-Impact-Response) framework to explore three aspects of zoonotic diseases: (1) the significance of disease regulation ecosystem services and their degradation in the emergence of Covid-19 and other zoonotic diseases; and of the protection of natural resources as mitigating contributions to both (2) regulating human-to-human disease transfer; and (3) treatment of disease outbreaks. From this analysis, we identify a set of appropriate response options, recognising the foundational roles of ecosystems and the services they provide in risk management. Zoonotic disease risks are ultimately interlinked with biodiversity crises and water insecurity. The need to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic ongoing at the time of writing creates an opportunity for systemic policy change, placing scientific knowledge of the value and services of ecosystems at the heart of societal concerns as a key foundation for a more secure future. Rapid political responses and unprecedented economic stimuli reacting to the pandemic demonstrate that systemic change is achievable at scale and pace, and is also therefore transferrable to other existential, global-scale threats including climate change and the 'biodiversity crisis'. This also highlights the need for concerted global action, and is also consistent with the duties, and ultimately the self-interests, of developed, donor nations.

Social-ecological assessment of Lake Manyara basin, Tanzania: A mixed method approach

The social-ecological system of the Lake Manyara basin (Northern Tanzania), a UNESCO Biosphere reserve (BR) suffers from social-economic and environmental problems due to decreasing water levels, erosion and land and water use conflicts. We propose an integrated assessment of the social-ecological interactions of the area to support future sustainable management. Within the Drivers-Pressures-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework an integrated literature review and several methods of knowledge collection were combined to identify future management priorities and challenges. During focus groups with farmers and pastoralists, stakeholders confirmed the role played by land use changes as driver and pressure in the landscape, e.g. through increased erosion rates and siltation of the lake. Moreover, economic and social issues were identified as prominent factors being influenced by, or influencing these processes. These statements match the scientific literature. During participatory mapping exercises different spatial and resource allocation perceptions appeared amongst pastoralists and farmers. The multidisciplinary approach proved to be useful to acquire an integrated and comprehensive understanding of the state, challenges and opportunities of Lake Manyara BR, to feed into a decision support system in service of an integrated management plan. Our assessment suggests that improved water governance in a multi-actor approach (with a focus on distribution of benefits, rights, and a specific role of the water authorities) should be a priority for future integrated management strategies. Also, awareness raising amongst decision makers, scientists and local communities is needed to demonstrate the advantages of an integrated approach. And finally, visible and fair mechanisms to share conservation revenues should be designed in a way that local benefits can be obtained together with incentive mechanisms for co-management and conservation.

Water allocation and governance in multi-stakeholder environments: Insight from Axios Delta, Greece

This article deals with stakeholders' interactions and institutional capacity influencing water resource management where competitive demands co-exist. For the case study area of Axios Delta, Northern Greece, a water deficit in the agricultural sector, an unmet environmental flow and a reduced capacity for urban supply during drought conditions are observed. An egocentric network analysis based on desk-study and a series of semi-structured stakeholder interviews reveals how weak stakeholder ties lead to ineffective multilevel governance and, as a result, low water efficiency practices. There is a lack of understanding of other users' priorities as well as of the risks related to climate change and/or seasonal variability. This is reflected in the flat rate abstraction licence for agricultural purposes which reduces environmental flow to below acceptable standards. There is no transboundary cooperation between Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia which hinders an integrated management approach. A limited exchange of information to support an evidence-based allocation plan is observed. Suitable interventions identified through a DPSIR approach are evaluated in a multi-criteria analysis considering cost effectiveness, delivered benefits as well as ease of implementation. Suitable technical practices include the development of a local and catchment-scale monitoring network for surface water and groundwater, climate-adaptive agriculture and treated-water reclamation. Updated management policies involve the institutional prioritisation of environmental flow through an adaptive allocation plan as well as the strengthening of transboundary cooperation. This research shows how the coordination of aggregated diverging interests in multilevel multi-stakeholder environments appears to be key in supporting positive water budgets in an uncertain climate future.

Understanding Social-Ecological Challenges of a Small-Scale Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) Fishery in Bangladesh

Small-scale fisheries (SSFs) have been playing a crucial role in meeting the basic needs of millions of people around the world. Despite this, the sustainability of global fisheries is a growing concern, and the factors enabling or constraining the sustainable management of small-scale fisheries remain poorly understood. Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) is the single most valuable species harvested in Bangladesh waters, serves nutrition, income, and employment to the large population. This study analyzed the state and challenges of hilsa fishery in the Gangetic River systems (Padma and Meghna Rivers) by using two frameworks, namely the social-ecological systems (SES) and drivers-pressure-state-impact-responses (DPSIR) frameworks. Primary data for this analysis were collected by in-depth interviews (n = 130) and focus group discussions (n = 8) with various stakeholders in the hilsa fisheries. The perspectives explored here have been both critical and constructive, including the identification of problems and suggestions for improving the management of this particular social-ecological system. Hilsa fisheries, however, have come under severe threat since 2003 because of population growth, overfishing, pollution, climate change, the disruption of migration routes due to siltation, etc. All these have caused reduced catches and less stable incomes for fishers. This, in turn, has led to poverty, malnutrition, social tensions, stakeholder conflicts, and debt cycles amongst more impoverished fishing communities. These problems have been compounded by improved fishing technology amongst larger-scale ventures, the use of illegal fishing gears, and the non-compliance of government fishery management programs. Recommendations include the promotion of community-supported fisheries, the enhancement of stakeholder’s social resilience, the introduction of co-management approach, an increase in incentives and formal financial supports, and possible community-managed sustainable ecotourism including hilsa fishing-based tourism.

Improved integrated water resource modelling by combining DPSIR and system dynamics conceptual modelling techniques

Similar to any modelling technique, system dynamics (SD) modelling should start with the essential step of scoping and identifying the problem of interest before further analysis and modelling. In practice, this first step is a challenging task, especially when wicked issues such as water management are being addressed. There is still a vital need for modelling methods and tools that can support modellers to identify and assemble essential data to inform problem scoping and boundary setting. This article aims to narrow this gap by presenting a methodology for combining a series of conceptual modelling techniques (extending the usually linear Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response framework with causal loop diagrams, system archetypes, stock and flow diagrams) towards the development of a quantitative SD model. A case study of the Gorganroud-Gharesu Basin, in Iran, is used to illustrate the benefits of the methodology. Our experience shows that combining multiple conceptual models provides complementary insights into the problem boundaries and model structure, as a basis for developing the SD model.

Using a systemic approach to address the requirement for Integrated Water Resource Management within the Water Framework Directive

Sustainable management of water resources calls for integration of ideas and approaches and revolves around assessment of causal-effect relationships as tools towards defining informed mitigation options and planning. The current paper presents a new holistic approach developed within the Globaqua Coordination Project that combines indicator-based well-established and tested concepts towards developing informed Programmes of Measures and River basin management plans: a. The DPSIR framework that has been engaged as central instrument to address the Water Framework Directive requirements and the concepts embedded in the Integrated Water Resource Management; b. The Ecosystem Services Approach emphasizing on the links between ecosystem services, changes in ecosystems and human well-being, c. Scenario assessment for valuation of future conditions to ensure the sustainability in the use of water resources. The implementation of the new combined framework in two river basins, Ebro in Spain and Evrotas in Greece, stressed the need for revised options targeting elimination of water pollution, measures to ensure water supply that covers the demand even under conditions of climate change and increased water stress and the need for improved valuation of environmental and resource use costs.

Groundwater depletion and contamination: Spatial distribution of groundwater resources sustainability in China

China is facing a groundwater depletion and deterioration crisis, culminating from long-term over-exploitation and groundwater contamination. Aggravating factors include population growth, unprecedented urbanization and climate change. Sustainable groundwater management is called for, however, a valid means for a national-scale assessment of groundwater resource sustainability does not currently exist. Here we present a drivers-pressures-states-impact-response (DPSIR) assessment framework. Based on this framework, groundwater sustainability indices for mainland China's 31 provinces and municipalities were derived, with an average score of 59.5 out of 100, ranging from 47.3 for Tianjin to 72.9 for Tibet. We found that due to fewer Drivers and better States, groundwater resources in southern China are far more sustainable than those in the northern and eastern areas. An appraisal of subcategories shed light on the importance of affording attention to externalities such as societal, economic and environmental factors, which are interrelated as complex systems. Based on the assessment findings, implications for policy and decision-making suggestions for sustainable management of China's groundwater resources are put forward.

Water and health: From environmental pressures to integrated responses

The water-related exposome is a significant determinant of human health. The disease burden through water results from water-associated communicable and non-communicable diseases and is influenced by water pollution with chemicals, solid waste (mainly plastics), pathogens, insects and other disease vectors. This paper analyses a range of water practitioner-driven health issues, including infectious diseases and chemical intoxication, using the conceptual framework of Drivers, Pressures, State, Impacts, and Responses (DPSIR), complemented with a selective literature review. Pressures in the environment result in changes in the State of the water body: chemical pollution, microbiological contamination and the presence of vectors. These and other health hazards affect the State of human health. The resulting Impacts in an exposed population or affected ecosystem, in turn incite Responses. Pathways from Drivers to Impacts are quite divergent for chemical pollution, microbiological contamination and the spread of antimicrobial resistance, in vectors of disease and for the combined effects of plastics. Potential Responses from the water sector, however, show remarkable similarities. Integrated water management interventions have the potential to address Drivers, Pressures, Impacts, and State of several health issues at the same time. Systematic and integrated planning and management of water resources, with an eye for human health, could contribute to reducing or preventing negative health impacts and enhancing the health benefits.

Translating Ecological Integrity terms into operational language to inform societies

It is crucial that societies are informed on the risks of impoverished ecosystem health for their well-being. For this purpose, Ecological Integrity (EI) is a useful concept that seeks to capture the complex nature of ecosystems and their interaction with social welfare. But the challenge remains to measure EI and translate scientific terminology into operational language to inform society. We propose an approach that simplifies marine ecosystem complexity by applying scientific knowledge to identify which components reflect the state or state change of ecosystems. It follows a bottom-up structure that identifies, based on expert knowledge, biological components related with past and present changing conditions. It is structured in 5 stages that interact in an adaptive way: stage 1, in situ observations suggest changes could be happening; stage 2 explores available data that represent EI; stage 3, experts' workshops target the identification of the minimum set of variables needed to define EI, or the risk of losing EI; an optative stage 4, where deviance from EI, or risk of deviance, is statistically assessed; stage 5, findings are communicated to society. We demonstrate the framework effectiveness in three case studies, including a data poor situation, an area where lack of reference sites hampers the identification of historical changes, and an area where diffuse sources of stress make it difficult to identify simple relationships with of ecological responses. The future challenge is to operationalise the approach and trigger desirable society actions to strengthen a social-nature link.

Defining the risk to water and natural capital in cities with risk component analysis tool (DAPSET): Case study Łódź

Management of water resources poses a particular challenge in cities, due to the extensive degradation of the urban ecosystem and its limited self-regulatory capacity as compared to natural systems. Effective management requires an in-depth understanding of the sources (drivers) giving rise to such risk. This paper reports on a participatory identification of such factors driving the risk to urban water resources in the city of Łódź, Poland, carried out with the aim of testing a simple risk analysis tool (DAPSET - Drivers and Pressures - Strength Evaluation Tool), intended to yield the kind of complex data able to help assist city managers in decision-making processes. In the first part of the study, a number of selected public officials, students, researchers and NGO representatives were asked to rank the key socioeconomic drivers of water resources in the city. The four drivers identified as key (a low degree of environmental awareness among citizens, low law-enforcement efficiency, the city's low economic potential and land use changes) were then scrutinized in the second part of the study, which included a self-administered questionnaire designed to create a risk profile of drivers based on the DAPSET. Each of the four key drivers were analyzed with reference to eleven features. DAPSET revealed that all the key drivers share certain common features: they affect a large spatial scale, the damage they cause is persistent, and they involve either medium-high damage potential or probability of damage. The major differences between them stem from the dynamic features of the risk: societal attraction, invisibility, and availability of information. Analysis of the risk profiles so created against risk types pointed to the desirable directions of management and a need to go beyond standard actions.

Impacts of climate change adaptation options on soil functions: A review of European case-studies

Soils are vital for supporting food security and other ecosystem services. Climate change can affect soil functions both directly and indirectly. Direct effects include temperature, precipitation, and moisture regime changes. Indirect effects include those that are induced by adaptations such as irrigation, crop rotation changes, and tillage practices. Although extensive knowledge is available on the direct effects, an understanding of the indirect effects of agricultural adaptation options is less complete. A review of 20 agricultural adaptation case-studies across Europe was conducted to assess implications to soil threats and soil functions and the link to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The major findings are as follows: (a) adaptation options reflect local conditions; (b) reduced soil erosion threats and increased soil organic carbon are expected, although compaction may increase in some areas; (c) most adaptation options are anticipated to improve the soil functions of food and biomass production, soil organic carbon storage, and storing, filtering, transforming, and recycling capacities, whereas possible implications for soil biodiversity are largely unknown; and (d) the linkage between soil functions and the SDGs implies improvements to SDG 2 (achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture) and SDG 13 (taking action on climate change), whereas the relationship to SDG 15 (using terrestrial ecosystems sustainably) is largely unknown. The conclusion is drawn that agricultural adaptation options, even when focused on increasing yields, have the potential to outweigh the negative direct effects of climate change on soil degradation in many European regions.

Integrated and ecosystemic approaches for bridging the gap between environmental management and port management

The rapid exploitation of coastal and marine ecosystemic capital is on course to reach a critical point. The difficulty of implementing Integrated and ecosystem based management models, taking into the account the great complexity of the marine socio-ecological systems, has resulted in a significant gap between theory and practice. The majority of authors emphasize difficulties in engaging and convincing private stakeholders and a number of economic sectors involved in these processes. This reticence is traditionally more pronounced in the port sector, despite their important role in the transformation of coastal and marine areas. This paper seeks to establish bridges between the Environmental Management systems and Tools (EMT) of economic sectors and the Integrated and Ecosystem Based Management models (IEBM). To achieve this goal, an effort has been made to rethink concepts and principles traditionally used in EMT to bring them into line with those of IEBM. A DPSIR adapted framework is proposed and applied in a conceptual model, where the necessary elements for environmental management tools and ecosystemic models coexist. The logic of ecosystem services has been included, with special attention to the variable of human behaviour. How the proposals fit into the reality of the maritime-port sector was analysed in a transversal way, seeking Socio-Ecological Port System (SEPS) perspectives. This made it possible to move from Environmental Management Systems to an Integrated and Ecosystem Based Port Environmental Management System (PEMS-IEB). From a managerial perspective, it was also suggested that an additional DPSIR framework should be applied to the "response" component, the management system itself, understood as a system with its own elements, processes and interrelations.

Cultural dimensions of risk perceptions: A case study on cross-strait driftage pollution in a coastal area of Taiwan

Constant exploitations of the ocean render numerous present challenges as the ocean is linked to human development. The study focused on cross-strait driftage pollution that poses a great threat to coastal environment under climate change. Several hundred packs of herbicides drifting across the Taiwan Strait were discovered along the coastline of Guanyin District of Taiwan. We compared risk perceptions of the local ethnic groups, Hakka and Fulao, residing in a coastal area of Taiwan and exposed to the herbicide coastal incident under climate change. It is of concern that society's response to every dimension of global climate change is mediated by culture. The Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) cause-effect framework was applied in semi-structured interviews to explore coastal sensitivity and human adaptability. As a result, we indicated that despite the presence of two ethnic groups in the same place exposed to the incident they presented very different risk perceptions on both environmental degradation (ED) and adaptive capacity (AC) due to cultural values. We argued that the herbicide coastal incident involved people's risk perceptions and subsequently influenced their opinions and attitudes towards environmental problems. We concluded that the ethnic trait contributed to adaptive behaviors during environmental change. Culturally appropriate adaptations appeared to enhance risk perceptions and adaptation actions, suggesting a need for more rigorous cultural adaptation guidelines towards climate resilience when designing adaptation interventions for different ethnic groups.

Developing qualitative ecosystem service relationships with the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response framework: A case study on Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Understanding the effects of environmental management strategies on society and the environment is critical for evaluating their effectiveness, but is often impeded by limited data availability. In this article, we present a method that can help scientists to support resource managers' thinking about social-ecological relationships in coupled human and natural systems. Our method aims to model qualitative cause-effect relationships between management strategies and ecosystem services, using information provided by knowledgeable participants, and the tradeoffs between strategies. Social, environmental, and cultural indicators are organized using the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response, or DPSIR, framework. The relationships between indicators are evaluated using a decision tree and numerical representations of interaction strength. We use a matrix multiplication procedure to model direct and indirect interaction effects, and we provide guidelines for combining effects. Results include several data tables from which information can be visualized to understand the plausible interaction effects of implementing management strategies on ecosystem services. We illustrate our method with a water quality management case study on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Sustainability Assessment of indicators for integrated water resources management

The scientific community strongly recommends the adoption of indicators for the evaluation and monitoring of progress towards sustainable development. Furthermore, international organizations consider that indicators are powerful decision-making tools. Nevertheless, the quality and reliability of the indicators depends on the application of adequate and appropriate criteria to assess them. The general objective of this study was to evaluate how indicators related to water use and management perform against a set of sustainability criteria. Our research identified 170 indicators related to water use and management. These indicators were assessed by an international panel of experts that evaluated whether they fulfil the four sustainability criteria: social, economic, environmental, and institutional. We employed an evaluation matrix that classified all indicators according to the DPSIR (Driving Forces, Pressures, States, Impacts and Responses) framework. A pilot study served to test and approve the research methodology before carrying out the full implementation. The findings of the study show that 24 indicators comply with the majority of the sustainability criteria; 59 indicators are bi-dimensional (meaning that they comply with two sustainability criteria); 86 are one-dimensional indicators (fulfilling just one of the four sustainability criteria) and one indicator do not fulfil any of the sustainability criteria.

Drivers and pressures - Untangling the terms commonly used in marine science and policy

In the marine sciences an increasing number of studies on environmental changes, their causes, and environmental assessments emerged in recent years. Often authors use non-uniform and inconsistent definitions of key terms like driver, threats, pressures etc. Although all of these studies clearly define causal dependencies between the interacting socio-economic and environmental systems in an understandable way, still an overall imprecise wording could induce misunderstanding at higher policy levels when it comes to integrated ecosystems assessments. Therefore we recommend using unified definitions for a better communication between science and management within national, regional and international environmental policies, for example the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). With this article we provide definitions compatible with the driver-pressure-state-impact-response (DPSIR) approach. Although most examples are MSFD related and thus have a marine focus the definitions are intended to be equally applicable for other systems and are usable world-wide. We suggest sticking to these definitions for an easy and simplified knowledge transfer from science to management, since DPSIR model is already accepted as a helpful tool for structuring and communicating ecosystem analyses.

Discussion of "Carbon benefits of wolfberry plantation on secondary saline land in Jingtai oasis, Gansu - A case study on application of the CBP model" by Yaolin Wang, Chuanyan Zhao, Quanlin Ma, Yingke Li, Hujia Jing, Tao Sun, Eleanor Milne, Mark Easter, Keith Paustian, Hoi Wen Au Yong, John McDonagh (2015) [Journal of Environmental Management 157, 303-310]

Wang et al. (2015) employed driving force-pressure-state-impact-response (DPSIR) framework to provide a robust decision-making structure for carbon emission reduction by use of wolfberry plantation in the Jingtai oasis, China. DPSIR appropriately identified the causes of problem along with adopting the responses to the barriers associated with wolfberry plantation. However, the discusser argues that, the paper could have prepared more viable outcomes, if the authors had used causal network rather than causal chains through the DPSIR framework. Furthermore, they could have quantified the mutual relationship among the relevant factors to provide a detailed economic assessment. With this knowledge in hand, the current discussion letter suggests eDPSIR and meDPSIR to address drawbacks regarding conventional DPSIR framework. Due to proper performance of eDPSIR and meDPSIR, they are recommended as practical tools in the future environmental studies.

Applying an ecosystem service approach to unravel links between ecosystems and society in the coast of central Chile

Ecosystem-based management implies understanding feedbacks between ecosystems and society. Such understanding can be approached with the Drivers-Pressures-State change-Impacts-Response framework (DPSIR), incorporating stakeholders' preferences for ecosystem services to assess impacts on society. This framework was adapted to six locations in the central coast of Chile, where artisanal fisheries coexist with an increasing influx of tourists, and a set of fisheries management areas alternate with open access areas and a no-take Marine Protected Area (MPA). The ecosystem services in the study area were quantified using biomass and species richness in intertidal and subtidal areas as biological indicators. The demand for ecosystem services was elicited by interviews to the principal groups of users. Our results evidenced decreasing landings and a negative perception of fishermen on temporal trends of catches. The occurrence of recreational fishing was negligible, although the consumption of seafood by tourists was relatively high. Nevertheless, the consumption of organisms associated to the study system was low, which could be linked, amongst other factors, to decreasing catches. The comparison of biological indicators between management regimens provided variable results, but a positive effect of management areas and the MPA on some of the metrics was observed. The prioritising of ecosystem attributes by tourists was highly homogenous across the six locations, with "scenic beauty" consistently selected as the preferred attribute, followed by "diversity". The DPSIR framework illustrated the complex interactions existing in these locations, with weak linkages between society's priorities, existing management objectives and the state of biological communities. Overall, this work improved our knowledge on relations between components of coastal areas in central Chile, of paramount importance to advance towards an ecosystem-based management in the area.

Carbon benefits of wolfberry plantation on secondary saline land in Jingtai oasis, Gansu--A case study on application of the CBP model

The largest global source of anthropogenic CO2 emissions comes from the burning of fossil fuel and approximately 30% of total net emissions come from land use and land use change. Forestation and reforestation are regarded worldwide as effective options of sequestering carbon to mitigate climate change with relatively low costs compared with industrial greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction efforts. Cash trees with a steady augmentation in size are recognized as a multiple-beneficial solution to climate change in China. The reporting of C changes and GHG emissions for sustainable land management (SLM) practices such as afforestation is required for a variety of reasons, such as devising land management options and making policy. The Carbon Benefit Project (CBP) Simple Assessment Tool was employed to estimate changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and GHG emissions for wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) planting on secondary salinized land over a 10 year period (2004-2014) in the Jingtai oasis in Gansu with salinized barren land as baseline scenario. Results show that wolfberry plantation, an intensively managed ecosystem, served as a carbon sink with a large potential for climate change mitigation, a restorative practice for saline land and income stream generator for farmers in soil salinized regions in Gansu province. However, an increase in wolfberry production, driven by economic demands, would bring environmental pressures associated with the use of N fertilizer and irrigation. With an understanding of all of the components of an ecosystem and their interconnections using the Drivers-Pressures-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework there comes a need for strategies to respond to them such as capacity building, judicious irrigation and institutional strengthening. Cost benefit analysis (CBA) suggests that wolfberry cultivation was economically profitable and socially beneficial and thus well-accepted locally in the context of carbon sequestration. This study has important implications for Gansu as it helps to understand the role cash trees can play in carbon emission reductions. Such information is necessary in devising management options for sustainable land management (SLM).

Socioeconomic influences on biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being: a quantitative application of the DPSIR model in Jiangsu, China

One focus of ecosystem service research is the connection between biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being as well as the socioeconomic influences on them. Despite existing investigations, exact impacts from the human system on the dynamics of biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being are still uncertain because of the insufficiency of the respective quantitative analyses. Our research aims are discerning the socioeconomic influences on biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being and demonstrating mutual impacts between these items. We propose a DPSIR framework coupling ecological integrity, ecosystem services as well as human well-being and suggest DPSIR indicators for the case study area Jiangsu, China. Based on available statistical and surveying data, we revealed the factors significantly impacting biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being in the research area through factor analysis and correlation analysis, using the 13 prefecture-level cities of Jiangsu as samples. The results show that urbanization and industrialization in the urban areas have predominant positive influences on regional biodiversity, agricultural productivity and tourism services as well as rural residents' living standards. Additionally, the knowledge, technology and finance inputs for agriculture also have generally positive impacts on these system components. Concerning regional carbon storage, non-cropland vegetation cover obviously plays a significant positive role. Contrarily, the expansion of farming land and the increase of total food production are two important negative influential factors of biodiversity, ecosystem's food provisioning service capacity, regional tourism income and the well-being of the rural population. Our study provides a promising approach based on the DPSIR model to quantitatively capture the socioeconomic influential factors of biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being for human-environmental systems at regional scales.

Systematic processes of land use/land cover change to identify relevant driving forces: implications on water quality

Land use and land cover (LULC) are driving forces that potentially exert pressures on water bodies, which are most commonly quantified by simply obtained aggregated data. However, this is insufficient to detect the drivers that arise from the landscape change itself. To achieve this objective one must distinguish between random and systematic transitions and identify the transitions that show strong signals of change, since these will make it possible to identify the transitions that have evolved due to population growth, industrial expansion and/or changes in land management policies. Our goal is to describe a method to characterize driving forces both from LULC and dominant LULC changes, recognizing that the presence of certain LULC classes as well as the processes of transition to other uses are both sources of stress with potential effects on the condition of water bodies. This paper first quantifies the driving forces from LULC and also from processes of LULC change for three nested regions within the Mondego river basin in 1990, 2000 and 2006. It then discusses the implications for the environmental water body condition and management policies. The fingerprint left on the landscape by some of the dominant changes found, such as urbanization and industrial expansion, is, as expected, low due to their proportion in the geographic regions under study, yet their magnitude of change and consistency reveal strong signals of change regarding the pressures acting in the system. Assessing dominant LULC changes is vital for a comprehensive study of driving forces with potential impacts on water condition.