Natural Resources and Conservation Commons^™

Governing Human-Nature Harmony In Protected Area Communities: Global Lessons From Unesco’S Mab Network And Evidence From China’S Biosphere Reserves, Baorong Huang, Xuetian Hu, Ling Tang, Qingyu Lu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Building human-nature harmonious communities is foundational to effective protected-area governance. Drawing on fifty years of global practice under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, this study distills four practice-oriented insights: establishing co-management committees to secure the institutional basis; developing ecological branding to add value to ecological products and raise household incomes; cultivating ecological flagships to enhance international reputation and attract investment; and safeguarding cultural diversity to strengthen residents’ sense of belonging and support for management. Case materials are integrated from 34 biosphere reserves in China and an observational indicator framework is constructed and a survey-based assessment is conducted for …

Man And The Biosphere: Life Community Of Ethno-Biography, Zhaorong Peng

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Against the backdrop of escalating ecological crises and biodiversity loss, UNESCO’s “Man and the Biosphere Programme” highlights the interdisciplinary value of global ecological governance. As an epistemological projection of the concept of a “community of life” ethno-biography—a synthesis of anthropology and natural history—emphasizes interspecies reciprocity and systemic interconnection, articulating the underlying logic of life as a shared biosphere. This perspective advocates a shift from anthropocentrism toward an ecological ethic of restraint, underscoring the equal survival rights of all species. Through multilateral cooperation and localized implementation, the Man and the Biosphere framework offers a practical platform for the ethno-biographic approach, with …

Scientific Research Supports Biosphere’S Conservation —Case Study Of Dinghushan World Biosphere Reserve, Hanping Xia, Juxiu Liu, Xiankai Lu, Hai Ren

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Based on a brief review of the Dinghushan National Nature Reserve/Dinghushan World Biosphere Reserve, this study comprehensively reviews its scientific research progress in the past 70 years, including three stages: early ecological investigation and biodiversity monitoring; mid-term research on ecosystem structure, function, and dynamics; and recent comprehensive studies. The study also analyzes the role of scientific research in supporting biodiversity conservation, local community sustainable development, and mitigation and adaptation to global climate change in the reserve. Finally, five inspirations and suggestions are proposed to support biosphere conservation through scientific research: (1) research-based conservation has strong vitality; (2) enhancing the level …

Empowering Ecological Monitoring With Science And Technology, Driving Conservation And Development Through Innovation—A Case Study Of Wolong World Biosphere Reserve, Tingmei He, Shufeng Wang, Fan Wu, Yongfeng Wang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Ecological monitoring can provide basic data and decision-making support for ecological environment management and policy formulation. The technologies and methods adopted in ecological monitoring by the Wolong National Nature Reserve, located in Sichuan, China, hold extensive representativeness and influence on a global scale. Based on a review of the main monitoring practices of the Wolong World Biosphere Reserve, this paper presents the adoption of different technical paths and collaborative applications in the “sky-Earth-space integrated” monitoring, as well as the practices in promoting the “Five Ones” goals (i.e., one set of data, one platform, one set of algorithms, one cloud, and …

Integrating Protection And Development Issues Through Expansion: A Case Study Of Tianmushan-Qingliangfeng World Biosphere Reserve, Wei Wang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

In September 2025, the Fifth UNESCO World Congress of Biosphere Reserves will be held in Hangzhou, China. The delegates will engage in detailed discussions on key issues, including the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature, as well as balanced conservation and development. This congress will also develop a strategic and action plan for the next phase of the world biosphere reserves. The Tianmushan-Qingliangfeng World Biosphere Reserve represents China’s first successful application for world biosphere reserve achieved through an expansion process. Here, this study first elucidates the value and significance of expanding world biosphere reserves. Subsequently, drawing on the practical experience …

Transboundary Conservation Of Biosphere: Case Study From Xishuangbanna World Biosphere Reserve, Lin Wang, Lifan Wang, Xiaoyan Yi, Yun Yang, Ruichang Quan

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Transboundary conservation, as a pivotal strategy in addressing the global biodiversity crisis, plays a critical role in maintaining ecological connectivity and promoting regional ecological security and sustainable development. Under the initiative of the Xishuangbanna World Biosphere Reserve and with bilateral governmental support from China and Laos, a contiguous transboundary protected area spanning approximately 220 km and encompassing 200 000 hectares was established along their shared border in 2012. This study elucidates the importance of transboundary conservation. Using the Xishuangbanna World Biosphere Reserve as a case study, the joint efforts between China and Laos are examined, and the effectiveness in the …

Developing Integrated Protected Area Communities: Insights From Gaoligongshan Unesco Biosphere Reserve, China, Jianwei Chen, Ling Tang, Ying’An Zhang, Shihai Yu, Hui Yang, Yuanmengran Chu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The integrated protected area community (IPAC) model is a Chinese innovation in protected area governance, emerging from the convergence of national policy support, local government implementation, and community participation. Rather than relying solely on administrative jurisdiction or geographic proximity, IPAC uses protected areas as institutional hubs to align ecological conservation with community development and regional collaboration. Based on the case of the Gaoligongshan UNESCO biosphere reserve, this study examines how policy coordination, stakeholder integration, and ecological value realization are operationalized under the IPAC approach, highlighting an integrated mechanism that combines state-led planning, multi-entity co-governance, and ecological product valorization. The Gaoligongshan …

Aesthetics Of Life’S Continuity: Local Experiences And Chinese Wisdom In Sustainable Development Of Maolan Biosphere Reserve, Ying Zhang, Jingcheng Ran, Dengli Yu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) emphasizes that biosphere reserves should serve as “learning sites for sustainable development”. Ecological conservation should not be separated from human life, but instead be integrated with community development, cultural continuity, and educational advancement. Guided by this principle, the Maolan Biosphere Reserve in Guizhou has grounded its efforts in the traditional ecological culture of its multi-ethnic local communities. It transforms ecological ethics and aesthetic experiences into shared ecological values and innovative governance mechanisms, thereby forging a path of ecological civilization that integrates nature conservation, cultural identity, and livelihood improvement.

Hu Baonan: Qingliangfeng National Nature Reserve—Scientific Conservation Of Endangered Species, Editorial Office Of Bulletin Of Chinese Academy Of Sciences

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

No abstract provided.

Dabuxilatu, Hong Meijing: Ecological And Cultural Symphony In Saihanwula World Biosphere Reserve, Inner Mongolia, Editorial Office Of Bulletin Of Chinese Academy Of Sciences

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

No abstract provided.

Shu Zufei: Exploration Of “Harmony Between Humans And Nature” In Chebaling World Biosphere Reserve, Editorial Office Of Bulletin Of Chinese Academy Of Sciences

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

No abstract provided.

Ma Yu: Niubeiliang World Biosphere Reserve: Nature Education For Future, Editorial Office Of Bulletin Of Chinese Academy Of Sciences

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

No abstract provided.

Yang Kun, Xing Huaibo: Ten Years’ Journey Of Hanma World Biosphere Reserve, Editorial Office Of Bulletin Of Chinese Academy Of Sciences

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

No abstract provided.

Appraising Groundwater Quality And Probabilistic Human Health Risks From Fluoride-Enriched Groundwater Using The Pollution Index Of Groundwater (Pig) And Gis: A Case Study Of Adama Town And Its Vicinities In The Central Main Ethiopian Rift Valley, Hassen Shube, Shankar Karuppannan, Muhammed Haji, Balamurugan Paneerselvam, Nafyad Kawo, Abraham Mechal, Ashu Fekadu

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

This research's main objective is to identify the level of contamination in drinking water in Adama town and its environs by employing PIG, GIS and HHRA. The physical–chemical parameters of groundwater were determined, and the results were compared to regional and global drinking water quality guidelines. The pH of groundwater is alkaline, and the contents of Ca₂⁺, Na⁺, HCO₃ ⁻, and F⁻ in the majority of samples surpassed the permissible drinking limit. The hydrochemical facies were identified in the following order: Ca–Mg–HCO₃, Na–Ca–HCO₃, and Na–HCO₃. Cation …

A Step By Step Shoreline Attribute Analysis For Selected Waterbodies In The Gulf Of Mexico To Promote The Use Of Living Shorelines, Christoper Boyd, Xutong Niu, Taylor R. Horn

Journal of Extension

Living Shorelines are being promoted by coastal extension professionals as a more resilient nature-based solution to control shoreline erosion. The Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences Living Shorelines Suitability Model was run in selected waterbodies within the Gulf of Mexico.

The locations of the selected water bodies, coastal data sets used, and shoreline protection recommendations generated by the Model are presented. A step-by-step statistical analysis conducted through ArcGIS Pro from these selected coastal shorelines will illustrate how extension professionals with novice GIS experience can use the model output to promote living shorelines to coastal property owners, city managers, and developers.

Ponca State Park Vascular Plant Species List, Robert F. Steinauer

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

A list of vascular plant species found in Ponca State Park. Arranged by plant family and then species name. Also included are descriptions of locations where the species is commonly found.

Large-Scale Experimental Platform For Dynamic Simulation Of Mountain Hazards (Leads), Gongdan Zhou, Peng Cui, Hongwei Wu, Yong You, Wei Zhong, Dongri Song, Chuiyi Zhou, Hongwei Shen, Mingsheng Shang, Xuerui Zhang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Mountain hazards involve complex multiphase media composed of granular materials and fluids. The challenges related to scale effects and similarity issues in physical modelling of these hazards are key problems in both fundamental research on dynamics of granular materials and applied research in disaster prevention and mitigation. Supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ key scientific infrastructure construction project at the field station network, the National Dongchuan Debris Flow Observation and Research Station in Jiangjia Gully, Dongchuan District, Kunming City completed the construction of the large-scale experimental platform on dynamic simulation of mountain hazards (LEADS) in 2024. This platform is …

Scientifically Improving Integrated Water Governance For Resilient Flow Of The Yellow River, Shuai Wang, Shuang Song, Yanxu Liu, Xutong Wu, Enhui Jiang, Bojie Fu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The severe soil erosion and river channel disconnection along the Yellow River have been curbed. Still, the fundamental situation of prominent contradictions in the relationship between humans and water has not changed. Scientifically enhancing comprehensive management capabilities has become an important demand for high-quality development in the Yellow River basin during this new era. This study summarizes the fundamental ecological and hydrological changes in the Yellow River basin, and identifies three main characteristics, namely, sediment transport has significantly decreased, water resource shortages have intensified, and the relationship between humans and water has changed significantly. The four key challenges for sustainable …

Analysis Of International Carbon Budget Management Systems And Their Applicability To China, Wenjun Wang, Huiquan Huang, Xujie Zhao, Pengcheng Xie, Chonghui Fu, Qiaqia Zhang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

China is establishing a carbon budget management system at both provincial and municipal levels. The carbon budget system, as a policy tool for integrating total carbon emission management and economic planning, has already been effective in developed countries. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the concept, core elements, and practical experiences of the carbon budget system, and compares international practices with China’s low-carbon management system in the context of national circumstances. It extracts elements from international experiences that provide empirical insights, exhibit reference value, and require localization and innovation. Based on the analysis, this study proposes the following policy …

Chinese Tallow Long-Term Impact On Stand Dynamics In A Bottomland Hardwood Forest Following Vegetation Management, Nicklaus R. Langlois

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera (L.) Small) is an invasive tree known to have negative impacts on bottomland hardwood forests. Chinese tallow is proficient in reproducing and surviving in bottomland hardwood forests because it is more flood and shade tolerant than most native trees. The long-term effectiveness of Chinese tallow control is an important topic to research as only a few long-term studies of Chinese tallow control have been conducted. A 10-year re-measurement of 22 paired plots installed in 2012 on the Pineywoods Mitigation Bank near Diboll, Texas following herbicide treatments examined Chinese tallow and native tree stand structure. Each …

Returning Power To The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe: Energy Policy And Tribal Autonomy, Nicolas Land-Kazlauskas

Capstone Collection

This policy brief addresses tribal autonomy, energy policy, and the resources of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in Massachusetts. Tribal sovereignty has been a difficult and often painful area of discussion for many tribal communities. For generations, tribes have had to carefully navigate their interactions with colonial forces and the residues of colonialist legacies, especially tied to resource wealth and decision-making. Even with the best of efforts by the tribe, their actions often have not impacted the basic legal or economic situations on-the-ground. Their on-going relationships with states and companies continue to undermine tribal autonomy and sovereignty oftentimes simply because they …

Mapping Urban Tree Canopy Using Publicly Available Satellite Data, Rosemary Mcguinness

Theses and Dissertations

This project addresses the need for accessible, cost-effective tools for quantifying spatial and temporal changes in tree canopy cover in urban areas. Urban tree canopy provides a wide range of ecosystem services, including lowering air temperatures, reducing pollution, and mitigating stormwater runoff. Cities around the world have placed the expansion of their urban forests at the center of their sustainability goals. Consistent and timely data on urban tree canopy is essential for urban greening initiatives to succeed. Existing methods of accessing information about urban tree canopy are highly technical, costly, and labor-intensive, while the freely available source of tree canopy …

Assessing Regional Responsibility Of Plecoptera (Stoneflies) Across Two U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service Regions, Josie Griffith

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Developing an objective metric to designate taxa that are the responsibility of the region is imperative for the proper allocation of conservation funding. This project focused on stoneflies (Order Plecoptera), an imperiled group of aquatic insects at the global scale, in two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regions. At the regional scale, a baseline designation of Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need (RSGCN) was applied to each species where their range included at least 75% of states within either the Midwestern or Northeastern regions. Two sets of data were accumulated for each RSGCN. One, distributional information was collected from valid …

Caught On Camera: Evaluating Wood Duck (Aix Sponsa) Cavity Occurrence And Trapping Efficiency, Cindy L. Von Haugg

All Theses

Wood ducks (Aix sponsa) garner significant ecologic and economic importance as the second most harvested waterfowl species in two of the four migratory flyways in North America, but the accuracy of population monitoring, relative to other duck species, is stifled by the wood duck’s secretive nature and nesting habitat. As an alternate, population models would improve current assessments, but more data on the demographic vital rates of cavity-nesting wood ducks is needed. I aimed to help bridge this knowledge gap by developing a method to increase data collection efficiency, and with it, accomplish two objectives: 1) Calculate the relative abundance …

Transforming Grassland Conservation: Challenges And Opportunities Across Law, Policy, And Human Dimensions, Conor D. Barnes

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Great Plains social-ecological systems are facing growing pressure from complex, ‘wicked’ problems. Addressing these problems will require integrating ecological resilience and complex systems thinking concepts into our legal framework in order to better reflect the changing ecological reality of the Great Plains and promote flexibility and adaptability in the face of that change. In this dissertation, I examine how past and present policy priorities have affected social-ecological systems on the Great Plains, and how ecological resilience and complex systems thinking might be applied to grassland management policy. In Chapter 2, I examine the rapid progress made in the adoption of …

Applying Circuit Theory To Describe Changes In Structural Landscape Connectivity In Response To Wildfire, Christian Ross Nielsen

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Understanding and conserving ecological connectivity is critical to the preservation of vulnerable landscapes. Circuit theory, in which landscapes are imagined as circuit boards with varying resistances to the flow of current, is being increasingly used to model spatially explicit connectivity of landscapes and to inform land management and conservation decision-making. Utilizing continuous, quantitative estimates of percent cover by five land cover functional groups to create a conductance surface, this study expanded upon an established application of circuit theory that used the open-source software Circuitscape to model species-agnostic, omnidirectional connectivity. This model was automated using Python to create time-series connectivity maps …

Occurrence, Inputs, And Ecological Significance Of Antibiotics And Pharmaceuticals In Western Nebraska Streams, Katelyn F. Glause

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Few emerging environmental contaminants are as concerning as antibiotics. Human and animal health benefits greatly from the prudent use of antibiotics, yet we give little thought to environmental release of these biologically active compounds. Environmental occurrence of these and other pharmaceutical compounds must be measured in different environmental compartments such as municipal wastewater and in the vicinity of large animal feeding operations to understand potential effects. This study reports the results of a monitoring study in western Nebraska, with a large population of livestock and smaller but more concentrated population of humans, comparing the relative environmental concentrations and loading from …

Analysis Of Drought-Flood Abrupt Alternation Events And Their Impacts In Kenya, Betty Makena

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Drought-Flood Abrupt Alternation (DFAA) is a compound disaster event that refers to the abrupt shift of extreme drought events to extreme floods resulting in exacerbated impacts on already vulnerable communities and hindering their coping abilities. This study aimed to analyze drought-flood abrupt alternation events and their impacts in Kenya. The first chapter aimed to understand historical drought events in the Greater Horn of Africa and their impacts, while drawing comparisons with the recent 2020-2022 drought period, referred to as the ‘triple dip La Niña’. Datasets used in this study include the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS), Normalized …

Remotely Sensed Early Warning Of Algal Blooms In An Eastern Nebraska Reservoir: A Comparison Of Temporal And Spatial Indicators, Mercy Kipenda

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) detrimentally affect human, animal, and ecosystem health. Remotely sensed early warning systems for cyanoHABs in inland lakes could contribute to more proactive water quality monitoring and help mitigate negative impacts. Advances in freely available remote sensing imagery, with finer spatial, temporal, and spectral resolutions, present new opportunities for the development and comparative analysis of methods to detect sudden deterioration in lake water quality. In this thesis, I compared and tested for temporal and spatial early warning signals of cyanoHABs in field-based and remotely sensed datasets from 2019 to 2023 in Pawnee Lake in southeast Nebraska, …

Impacts Of Invasive Carp And Their Population Dynamics On Fish Communities In The Missouri River, Joshua F. Kocik

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Invasive Carp species: Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella, and Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus have both potential and realized abilities to negatively impact native species. Specifically, Bighead Carp and Silver Carp as filter feeders have been theorized to be detrimental not only to adult filter-feeding species, but to many fish which rely on plankton and algae in their early-life stages. The impact of Invasive Carp on the overall fish community remains underexplored. The fish communities below Gavins Point Dam (Invasive Carp present) and Fort Randall Dam (Invasive Carp absent) afford the …