The Mongolian Plateau (MP), situated in the transitional zone between the Siberian taiga and the arid grasslands of Central Asia, plays a significant role as an Ecological Barrier (EB) with crucial implications for ecological and resource security in Northeast Asia. EB is a vast concept and a complex issue related to many aspects such as water, land, air, vegetation, animals, and people, et al. It is very difficult to understand the whole of EB without a comprehensive perspective, that traditional diverse studies cannot cover. Big data and artificial intelligence (AI) have enabled a shift in the research paradigm. Faced with these requirements, this study identified issues in the construction of EB on MP from a big data perspective. This includes the issues, progress, and future recommendations for EB construction-related studies using big data and AI. Current issues cover the status of theoretical studies, technical bottlenecks, and insufficient synergistic analyses related to EB construction. Research progress introduces advances in scientific research driven by big data in three key areas of MP: natural resources, the ecological environment, and sustainable development. For the future development of EB construction on MP, it is recommended to utilize big data and intelligent computing technologies, integrate extensive regional data resources, develop precise algorithms and automated tools, and construct a big data collaborative innovation platform. This study aims to call for more attention to big data and AI applications in EB studies, thereby supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals in the MP and enhancing the research paradigm transforming in the fields of resources and the environment.

Under the conditions of climate warming, grassland degradation, frequent sandstorms, and fast increases in livestock numbers, coordinating animal husbandry and ecological protection is an important issue facing Mongolia. Using Khutag-Undur as an example, this study explores the dynamic process, future scenarios, and optimization strategies of the animal husbandry system in a typical Soum of Mongolia from 2015 to 2050 under three future climate socioeconomic scenarios of CMIP 6: SSP1-RCP2.6, SSP2-RCP4.5, and SSP5-RCP8.5. First, the animal husbandry system was deconstructed into three subsystems: grassland primary production, livestock secondary production, and herder consumption. Based on the negative feedback mechanism of forage-livestock balance, a system dynamics model for the Khutag-Undur Soum animal husbandry system was developed. This model integrates spatial data such as land cover and NPP, as well as statistical data on livestock, herder income and expenditures, sample plot surveys, and herder questionnaires. The model was used to simulate the historical changes (2015–2022) in forage production and carrying capacity, livestock stock, and livestock output of Khutag-Undur, and then to forecast the future scenarios of those variables for 2022–2050. Second, the most suitable future scenario for the Soum was identified by comparing the three future scenarios using a pastural system sustainability evaluation method. Finally, based on three indicators of livestock numbers, a two-step livestock reduction strategy was proposed. The main conclusions are that the rapid growth of livestock numbers in Khutag-Undur places considerable pressure on the grassland, and the SSP1-RCP2.6 scenario is the most suitable future scenario for the Soum. However, even in this suitable scenario, grassland overloading remains evident. The continuous implementation of a livestock reduction strategy is recommended to maintain the sustainable development of animal husbandry and grassland conservation.

Natural grasslands are increasingly subjected to the dual stresses of grazing pressures and climate change. However, the contribution of human activities, especially grassland ecology conservation projects, to grassland improvement remains ambiguous. Utilizing MODIS satellite data in conjunction with the VPM model, the gross primary productivity (GPP) changes in the Xilingol grassland from 2000 to 2020 were assessed. Based on GPP data derived from remote sensing, this study quantitatively assessed the spatiotemporal dynamics of the impacts of climate change and human activities on the productivity of grassland in the Xilingol League. From 2000 to 2020, the grasslands exhibited a greening trend characterized by a significant annual GPP increment of 2.66 gC m^–2 yr^–1 (P<0.05). Climate change and human activities jointly contributed to this greening trend, with relative contribution rates of 55% and 45%, respectively. However, the relative contributions of climate change and human activities to the trend of GPP varied greatly in different regions. Climate change emerged as the principal driver in the central and eastern regions of Xilingol League with robust grass growth, accounting for more than 65% of the GPP enhancement. Conversely, human activities were the dominant factors in less verdant western regions and the agro-pastoral ecotone, representing more than 60% of the GPP change. Grassland productivity was sensitive to grassland ecological restoration measures, with significant changes in the trends of grassland productivity attributed to human activities in pivotal policy implementation years such as 2005 and 2011. Specifically, measures such as the control of wind/sand sources and returning grazing land to grassland from 2000 to 2005 gradually alleviated the pressure of human activities on grassland productivity, as they significantly improved vegetation growth in high-quality grasslands. Under the forage-livestock balance policy from 2005 to 2011, inadequate compensation for grassland ecological protection led to a significant reduction in GPP, as some herders increased their livestock holdings despite grazing restrictions, and this particularly affected the high-quality grasslands. The implementation of the Grassland Ecological Protection Subsidy and Reward Program from 2011 to 2020 generally promoted the recovery of productivity in eastern and western Xilingol League grasslands, but significant ecological pressure persisted. This study provides theoretical support for optimizing grassland ecosystem management and forming a virtuous cycle of grassland conservation in pastoral areas.

The permafrost region is one of the most sensitive areas to climate change. With global warming, the Mongolian Plateau permafrost is rapidly degrading, and its vegetation ecosystem is seriously threatened. To address this challenge, it is essential to understand the impact of climate change on vegetation at different permafrost degradation stages on the Mongolian Plateau. Based on the general permafrost distribution, in this study，we divided different permafrost regions and explored the response of vegetation to climate change at different stages of permafrost degradation by the idea of “space instead of time” from 2014 to 2023. The results of the study showed that: (1) Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values showed a decreasing trend, and the proportion of the decreasing region was in the order of sporadic permafrost region > isolated and sparse permafrost region > continuous and discontinuous permafrost regions. (2) The main controlling factors of vegetation growth in permafrost regions are different, air temperature is the main controlling factor of vegetation growth in isolated and sparse permafrost region (r=–0.736) and sporadic permafrost regions (r=–0.522), and precipitation is the main controlling factor of vegetation growth in continuous and discontinuous permafrost region (r=–0.498). (3) The response of NDVI to climate change varies at different stages of permafrost degradation. In the early stages of permafrost degradation, increased land surface temperature (LST) and air temperature favored vegetation growth and increased vegetation cover, whereas increased precipitation impeded vegetation growth; as the permafrost degraded, increased LST and air temperature impeded vegetation growth, whereas increased precipitation promoted vegetation growth.

Rapid climate change and human disturbance have caused serious damage and shrinkage of the wetlands in the Mongolian Plateau, posing severe challenges to environmental development. Based on remote sensing images and DEM data, this study established a series of datasets for lakeside wetlands in the Mongolian Plateau in 2000, 2010 and 2020, and investigated the dynamic evolution of lakeside wetlands in the Mongolian Plateau through spatial and temporal analyses. The results showed that in 2000, there were 564 lakes (>1 km²⁾ in the Mongolian Plateau, with a total area of about 55216.47 km^2. Compared with 2000, the area of lakes in 2010 was significantly reduced, and there was a significant increase in the number of woody marshes and a reduction in the number of herbaceous marshes. In 2020, the lakes in the central part of the Mongolian Plateau were smaller than in 2010. The areas of lakes in the western, southern and eastern regions were increasing, and the areas of herbaceous swamps, woody marshes and meadows were increasing overall. Lakes, bare land and saline-alkali land decreased overall. The degree of salinization was reduced over the study period. There was a significant correlation between the Adaptive Palmer Drought Index (scPDSI) and lake area. In the past two decades, the climatic factors and human activities of the Mongolian Plateau have profoundly affected the evolution of the lakeside wetlands. We should prioritize the protection of lakes and wetland resources in order to achieve the dynamic balance of wetland ecology.

The Mongolian Plateau, a vital ecological barrier in northern China, is of great importance for studying vegetation dynamics in Mongolia against the background of climate warming. Such studies can enhance our understanding of regional vegetation responses to global warming and contribute to the establishment of a stronger ecological barrier in northern China. Here, we analyzed the spatial and temporal characteristics of the NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) in Mongolia using 8 km resolution GIMMS NDVI3g data from 1990 to 2022, along with temperature, precipitation, and elevation data. Trend analysis and correlation methods were used to examine the relationships between the NDVI and temperature, as well as precipitation. The results showed four important aspects of these relationships. (1) The NDVI in Mongolia increased significantly from 1990 to 2022 at a rate of 0.0015 yr^–1 (P<0.05). (2) Mongolia's NDVI increased from 1990 to 2022 in 60.73% of the country. Of this total, the area with a significant increase accounted for 31.67% and was concentrated on the eastern and western edges. The area experiencing a significant decrease accounted for 15.67% and was mainly located on the southwestern edges. (3) The NDVI analysis revealed significant increasing trends in all regions except for those at elevations of 1500–2000 m. The greatest rate of increase was observed between 500 and 1000 m, and the increasing trend weakened as elevation continued to increase before gradually becoming significant again. Additionally, the NDVI increased significantly across different slopes, and the rate of increase decreased as the slope increased. (4) From 1990 to 2022, Mongolia's NDVI was mostly negatively correlated with temperature. This occurred over 66.75% of the total land area, with 17.21% of the region exhibiting a significant negative correlation, mainly in the southwest. Conversely, the NDVI demonstrated a positive correlation with precipitation, encompassing 86.71% of the total land area. Approximately 40.44% of the region had a significant positive correlation, primarily in the southwest. In conclusion, throughout the experimental period, the vegetation state in Mongolia improved. However, due to the warming and drying climate, more attention should be paid to vegetation degradation in the south-central region.

Natural and anthropogenic disturbances accelerate land degradation (LD) in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas, leading to reduced land quality and productivity, loss of biodiversity, degradation of ecosystem services, and a decline in the quality of life of local people. To address this issue, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has set a target for LD neutrality (LDN). However, quantifying and comparing the status of LD at global or regional scales remains challenging due to the lack of coherent quantitative methods and tools. In this study, we focused on Mongolia, a region with significant LD problems, to examine patterns of LD and changes from 2015 to 2020, accounting for regional differences. Trends.Earth was used, as recommended by the UNCCD. The main findings are as follows: (1) Overall, the degraded land area in Mongolia accounted for 12.11% of the total land area, predominantly located in the southwest desert and desert steppe, gradually spreading to the northeast steppe. (2) The areas showing improvement in the land productivity index and degradation were 17.62% and 11.79%, respectively, with the most severely degraded areas concentrated in the southern desert and desert steppe regions. (3) The areas of improvement and degradation in the land cover index were 1.80% and 0.16%, respectively, with degraded areas scattered across regions of steppe, high mountains, and mountain taiga. (4) The areas of improvement and degradation in the land organic carbon index were 1.54% and 0.22%, respectively, with degradation primarily observed in adjacent areas of mountain taiga, steppe, and desert steppe. (5) The improved area (2.999×10⁵ km²) of LDN are more than the degraded area (1.895×10⁵ km²), indicating a positive trend toward LDN in Mongolia.

Wetlands are important for maintaining global ecosystem functions, mitigating global climate change, and regulating regional climate change. Ecological problems caused by global climate change have had serious impacts on plant distribution patterns in the wetlands of riparian zones, as well as on microbial community habitats in the soil. This study was based on a field sampling survey of the distribution characteristics of plant communities in the Ulson River, combined with remote sensing to obtain the spatial distribution pattern of vegetation in the riparian wetland. High-throughput sequencing technology combined with the characteristics of soil physicochemical factors were then used to explore the distribution characteristics of the community structures of soil bacteria and fungi under different vegetation types in the Ulson River Basin, in order to reveal the pattern of changes of soil microbial microorganisms under the different vegetation types in the wetlands of the riparian area and the factors driving those changes. The results showed an obvious banding phenomenon of wetland vegetation in the Ulson River Basin. Proteobacteria ranked first in relative abundance in all the sample plots and were the dominant bacteria in the study area. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the dominant fungi in the study area. In swamp areas, degenerate swamp soils, soil moisture content, and soil bulk density affected the microbial richness directly or indirectly by controlling soil nutrients. Plant aboveground biomass was the most significant factor influencing microbial diversity in a typical wet meadow sample. In salinized meadows and swamped meadows, electrical conductivity affected microbial richness and soil bulk density was the main factor influencing microbial diversity. The findings of this study can provide a theoretical basis for the ecological restoration of degraded riparian wetlands and further clarification of soil ecosystem functions in riparian wetlands.

Tourism scenic spots serve as direct attractions for tourists and crucial drivers for the transformation and upgrading of the tourism industry, so they play an irreplaceable role in the development of the tourism sector. The quantity and grades of A-grade scenic spots are the mainstay of competition in various tourism markets, and their spatial layout is very important for the development of regional tourism. Using 11970 A-grade scenic spots in China as the research sample, and methods such as the Nearest Neighbor Index Method, Kernel Density Estimation Method, and Grid Dimension Method, the spatial distribution, typological structure, and influencing factors of A-grade tourist attractions were analyzed to identify the main natural, economic, and social factors influencing the spatiotemporal pattern of A-grade scenic spots. The results indicated that China's A-grade scenic spots exhibit clustering characteristics in their spatial distribution. The kernel density center shows a spatial pattern of “multiple cores, with secondary cores surrounding, and a gradual decrease”. The spatial structure is fractal and complex, with significant regional differences and a notable scale-free range. The types of tourist destinations and products exhibit distinct regional features, with a higher concentration of scenic spots in the regions in South China and East China, which are characterized by favorable natural and economic conditions and convenient transportation. A-grade scenic spots are densely distributed around the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the eastern regions such as Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu provinces. Analyzing the spatial distribution characteristics of A-grade scenic spots in China contributes to our understanding of the complexity of scenic spot layout and spatial connections, which provides a basis for optimizing the layout of tourism development within regions, the rational allocation of resources, enhancing the quality and efficiency of the tourism industry, and promoting sustained and healthy regional economic development. It is conducive to the strategic work of tourism development and rural revitalization in China, and serves as a reference for decision-making.

In the relationship between humans and the environment, all human activities depend on the geographical environment, which serves as the spatial place and material foundation for human life. This study provides a perspective on the human-environment relationship, using a case study of the Dashanbao Mountainous Outdoor Tourism Planning Area in Zhaotong, Yunnan. This study employed methods such as literature review, on-site investigation, and GIS spatial analysis to analyze the functional characteristics of the regional subject, spatial structuring, and spatiotemporally variable ordered processes of Dashanbao as a tourism destination from the perspective of human-environment relationships. The results indicate that under the guidance of the human-environment relationship system philosophy, the construction path of the “ecological space, production space, and living space” includes three main aspects: (1) The formation of five major project blocks and five functional zones to meet the diverse needs of different groups; (2) The establishment of a "multi-core module" structure optimizing the spatial layout of the tourism destination; and (3) With the changes in space and time, the convergence of elements in each block can form a composite mountainous outdoor tourism space with the characteristics of “ecology, life, and production”. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for promoting the sustainable development of tourism regional systems with mountainous characteristics.

The “toilet improvement” initiative has been actively responded to and implemented across China to improve the local sanitation environment and service quality since 2015.. This paper takes Yunnan Province as an example to evaluate the impact of this measure on the competitiveness of ecotourism in rural traditional villages. The ArcGIS tool was used to compare and screen the geographic environmental characteristics of six batches of 778 villages in Yunnan Province that were evaluated as national-level traditional villages in the early stage, and 37 villages with the same elevation changes and slope were selected for a comparative analysis, to reduce the impact of differences in three-dimensional topography and geomorphology. Combined with the TOPSIS comprehensive evaluation method and OLS econometric regression model, this study examined the ecotourism competitiveness of the 37 selected traditional villages and the impact of the toilet improvement initiative on their competitiveness. The results show that the ecotourism competitiveness of traditional villages in Yunnan Province is generally low, and there are obvious hierarchical characteristics. The road choice, regional distribution quantity, distance and service accessibility of public toilet construction have a significant influence on the overall ecotourism competitiveness of the villages in Yunnan Province. Therefore, three suggestions are put forward: strengthen the ecotourism construction of traditional villages in Yunnan Province as a whole and in each local area, pay attention to and strengthen the quantity and quality of construction of the public toilets relevant to ecotourism in traditional villages, and pay attention to the accessibility and service scope of the public toilets in the construction process.

Rural tourism plays a crucial role in promoting the process of urban-rural integration and regionally coordinated development. Drawing on theories of tourism system drive and system science, this study constructed a rural tourism system dynamics model with four subsystems: demand, supply, media, and support. Subsequently, we predicted the optimal mechanism for rural tourism development using scenario simulation methods. The findings were four-fold. (1) The rural tourism development dynamics system constructed in this study overcame the limitations of previous subsystem divisions. (2) Under the development scenarios of Natural development mechanism (NDM), Demand driven mechanism (DDM), Supply driven mechanism (SDMe), Media driven mechanism (MDM), Support driven mechanism (SDMu), and Synergistic driven mechanism (SDMy), the rural tourism development index values in 2035 were 0.678, 0.702, 0.755, 0.715, 0.776, and 0.836, respectively. Among these scenarios, SDMy emerged as the ideal mechanism for rural tourism development in Yangshuo County. (3) Based on the characteristics of the rural tourism development index, rural tourism in Yangshuo County has undergone three stages: fluctuating growth, rapid development, and recession. (4) Yangshuo County's rural tourism supply index grows slowly and is always below 0.8, which is a key link for future structural optimization. This study proposes a direction for rural tourism development in Yangshuo and a later impetus, which can accelerate the process of urban-rural integration in Yangshuo and similar areas.

Promoting the coordinated development of ecological human settlements and the happiness levels of residents will help to promote people-centered high-quality development. This study was based on the 2011–2021 data of the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, and constructed an evaluation index system of ecological human settlements and the happiness levels of residents. The entropy value method, coupling coordination degree model, Dagum Gini coefficient and Geodetector model were used to explore the coupling coordination relationship and influencing factors of these two systems. The findings indicate that ecological human settlements and the happiness levels of residents in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration have shown an upward trend over time. By 2021, the overall level of the region had significantly improved. The coupling coordination level between these two systems has gradually increased, showing a spatial distribution pattern of high in the east and low in the west. The Dagum Gini coefficient shows a fluctuating downward trend in the overall and intra-regional differences, with the largest inter-regional difference between Shanghai and Anhui, and the inter-regional difference is the main source of the spatial differences. Economic development level (Eco) was the main factor influencing the coupling coordination of the two systems from 2011 to 2021. The results of this study provide references for constructing ecological human settlements and enhancing the happiness levels of residents.

The intersection of environmental conservation and urban development has garnered global attention. This study aims to contribute to the theoretical foundation and policy recommendations for the collaborative governance of territory and the natural environment in metropolitan agglomerations. Employing a comprehensive Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) approach, this research analyses and overlays various indicators, constructing an integrated evaluation system based on “natural resource management and conservation, land use, and ecological network assessment”. Our findings reveal that: (1) The overall collaborative degree between the spatial configuration and natural environment in the Ecological Green Integration Development Demonstration Zone (EGIDDZ) is relatively high and still needs improvement at the micro level. Notably, regions characterised by elevated synergy levels exhibit considerable spatial overlap with ecological green cores outlined in territorial planning. (2) The selection and distribution of land use patterns are pivotal factors influencing collaborative levels, with multiple land use types favouring enhanced collaboration. By exploring the interplay between metropolitan territory and the natural environment using MSPA, this study seeks to provide holistic evaluation methodologies and governance insights for advancing sustainable urban planning and development.

This study investigates the effects of tourism development perception, adaptive capacity, and transformation capacity on the residents' livelihood resilience in a national park. Using the Yellow River Source Park in Sanjiangyuan National Park, China as a case study, this study simultaneously used the partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fs/QCA) to explore the linear and nonlinear dynamic impacts among the variables. PLS-SEM analysis revealed that adaptive capacity and transformation capacity positively affect livelihood resilience; tourism development perception negatively affects livelihood resilience but positively affects adaptive capacity and transformation capacity. Tourism development perception and adaptive capacity can positively influence livelihood resilience through transformation capacity. The fs/QCA revealed that simple antecedent variables do not constitute a necessary condition for promoting residents' high livelihood resilience, which depends on the conditions combined with another element. The analysis identified two combination paths of high livelihood resilience and three combination paths of low livelihood resilience, where adaptive and transformation capacity are essential for triggering high livelihood resilience, and tourism development perception is a significant driver of low livelihood resilience.

Abuse of chemical fertilizer and pesticide will not only impair the quality of agricultural products, but also damage the agricultural ecological environment. From the perspective of cooperatives' socialized services, this paper studies agricultural households' chemical fertilizer and pesticide use behavior, attempting to provide references for the government's formulation of relevant policies and cooperatives' adjustment of their operation strategies. The survey data of 518 agricultural households in Zigui County and Badong County, Hubei Province, China are used to examine the influence of cooperatives and their socialized services on agricultural households' chemical fertilizer and pesticide use intensity via propensity score matching. Research reveals that: (1) Joining cooperatives has a significantly negative influence on agricultural households' chemical fertilizer and pesticide use intensity, and the average treatment effect is –341.505 yuan mu^–1. (2) Agricultural materials supply services and technical support services can significantly bring down agricultural households' chemical fertilizer and pesticide use intensity, and the average treatment effect is –225.966 yuan mu^–1 and –163.580 yuan mu^–1, respectively. While the influence of agricultural products sale services on chemical fertilizer and pesticide use intensity is not significant. (3) Grouped investigation is carried out by age, education years and planting scale, and the influence of socialized services on agricultural householders' chemical fertilizer and pesticide use intensity is obviously varied among different groups. The influence of agricultural materials supply services on agricultural households who are elder, with smaller education years and small planting scale is significant; the influence of technical support services on agricultural households who are younger, with higher education years and small planting scale is significant; the influence of agricultural products sale services on agricultural households who are elder is significant. It is necessary to improve the percentage of agricultural households joining cooperatives, increase the supply level of cooperatives' socialized services, and make socialized services of cooperatives more targeted. All this can contribute to further reduction of agricultural households' chemical fertilizer and pesticide use intensity.

Accurately identifying the spatial differences in the response of regional runoff to climate and land use changes can clarify the mechanism of regional runoff changes and provide a scientific basis for adopting the appropriate water resource protection policies. In this study, based on the Budyko theory, we quantitatively evaluated the spatial differences in the response of runoff to climate and land use changes in the Yiluo River Basin after 2000; calculated the sensitivity of runoff changes to precipitation (P), potential evapotranspiration (E₀) and land use changes; and quantified the contributions of those three factors to runoff changes. The findings revealed that with decreasing elevation, precipitation gradually decreases, potential evapotranspiration gradually increases, and runoff gradually decreases in the Yiluo River basin. Influenced by the population density, both cultivated land and construction land are widely distributed with the middle and lower reaches of the basin, while the upper reaches are dominated by forest land. Compared with the base period (1985–1989), precipitation and potential evapotranspiration in the watershed during the change period (2000–2017) basically showed decreasing and increasing trends, respectively, with obvious spatial differentiation. P increased significantly in the upper reaches of the Yi River, with an average of 35.2 mm (–83.8–84.7 mm), while P increased and decreased in the other five subbasins, but the decreasing trend was more prominent. Among the subbasins, the upper and middle reaches of the Luo River showed the largest reductions in P, with an average of –34.2 mm (–145.9–20.6 mm), whereas the middle reaches of the Yi River showed the smallest reduction in P, with an average of –10.9 mm (–84.2–59.5 mm). The E₀ in the different regions during the change period showed an increasing trend, and the increase in E₀ gradually decreased from the upper reaches to the lower reaches. The E₀ in the upper reaches of the Luo River showed the largest change, with an average of 45.3 mm (38.2–48.3 mm), while the lower reaches of the Yiluo River showed the smallest change, with an average of 7.3 mm (–3.2–17.1 mm). Land use changes were primarily from cultivated to construction land in the middle and lower reaches. Runoff changes were positively correlated with precipitation changes and negatively correlated with potential evapotranspiration and land use changes. The absolute values of the sensitivity coefficients of runoff to these environmental factors decreased with lower altitude, indicating a reduced responsiveness of the basin runoff under a warming and drying climate trend. Reductions in precipitation and changes in potential evapotranspiration have led to reductions in runoff ranging from 4.7 to 17.4 mm and from 0.7 to 9.1 mm, respectively, while land use changes led to corresponding runoff reductions of 23.0 to 46.5 mm, suggesting that land use changes are more likely to trigger runoff changes in the basin than climatic fluctuations. Given the dominance of cultivated land, especially in the middle and lower reaches, and the region's high susceptibility to human activities, there has been a significant reduction in runoff in recent years. The contribution of land use change to the runoff reduction in the Yiluo River Basin was greater at lower elevations, up to 86.1%, while climatic effects were more significant at higher elevations, up to 27.8%. Therefore, promoting the implementation of projects such as water ecological restoration and returning farmland to forests are of great significance to curb the over-exploitation of groundwater, to formulate scientific management and scheduling policies in order to realize the transformation of the water balance in the river basin from a non-steady state to a steady state, and to promote the integrity of the ecosystem of the lower reaches of the Yellow River and ensure its sustainable development.

Cropland abandonment is common and widely distributed in hilly and mountainous areas. Clarifying the current situation and development of cropland abandonment can provide reference for the rational and classified management of cropland abandonment in hilly and mountainous areas. Taking Jiangxi Province as the study area, and using the Google Earth Engine and Landsat data, the scale and years of abandoned cropland from 2002 to 2020 were calculated by using the random forest classifier and rules for identifying cropland abandonment. The spatio-temporal pattern of cropland abandonment at the county level was analyzed. The results indicated that the overall accuracy of land use classification was over 90%. The cropland abandonment rate ranged from 3% to 5.5% from 2002 to 2020, while the cropland abandonment rate was highest in 2013 and showed a downward trend after 2017. Among the years, the area of first-time abandoned cropland was the largest in 2005. The distribution of the cropland abandonment rate was low in the middle and north, but high in the surrounding area and the south. A notable positive spatial correlation was observed in the cropland abandonment rate, with a gradual intensification of spatial clustering. The LISA cluster map revealed a significant north-south disparity, exhibiting an incremental trend over time in the characteristics of the “High-High” cluster in the Southeastern Mountainous Area and the “Low-Low” cluster in the Poyang Lake Hilly Plain in Jiangxi. The results of this study can provide data for extracting spatial information and analyzing the driving factors of cropland abandonment in hilly and mountainous areas, and they can also provide a basis for the development of policies for the utilization and classification management of abandoned cropland.

This study employs the Tourism Ecological Footprint Model to meticulously evaluate the green development status of mountainous scenic areas, specifically focusing on the Wenfeng Mountain Scenic Area. The overarching aim is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the ecological impact stemming from tourism activities. The evaluation encompasses complex calculations and analyses of the ecological footprint, ecological carrying capacity, and ecological surplus. In the case study of Wenfeng Mountain Scenic Area, the findings indicate a notable state of ecological surplus in the current stage of tourism development. The specific quantitative results reveal a surplus, indicating that the ecological impact of tourism activities is well within the sustainable carrying capacity of the region. This implies that despite substantial tourism activities, the ecological environment of the Wenfeng Mountain Scenic Area remains effectively protected and maintained. The ecological surplus signifies a balance between tourism development and the preservation of the local ecosystem, which is crucial for the sustainable development of the region. Moreover, this study delves into the nuances of the ecological components, providing detailed breakdowns of the ecological footprints attributed to various tourism-related activities, including accommodation, transportation, dining, sightseeing, and shopping. These specifics offer a nuanced understanding of the ecological dynamics associated with diverse tourism-related factors. The meticulous assessment of Wenfeng Mountain Scenic Area's green development status has several significant implications. Decision-makers can draw insights into the delicate balance that is required between tourism promotion and environmental conservation. The ecological surplus suggests that current practices align with sustainable development goals andprovide a positive model for similar regions. However, this study also draws attention to some critical limitations in the Tourism Ecological Footprint Model. The detailed results highlight challenges related to model applicability, data collection, and calculation methods, stressing the need for further refinement and validation. Acknowledging these limitations is crucial for refining the model and ensuring its robust application in diverse geographical contexts. In conclusion, this study delivers a granular understanding of the green development status of mountainous scenic areas, specifically the Wenfeng Mountain Scenic Area. The detailed results serve as a rich reference for decision-makers and researchers, offering new insights into specific aspects of tourism-related ecological impacts. As avenues for future research, refining the evaluation indicators and improving the data collection and analysis methodologies will be pivotal for advancing the precision and reliability of green development assessments.

Local community participation in forest management is pivotal since they are familiar with the forest environment. In the successful management of community forestry (CF), both males and females along with the representation of poor and disadvantaged groups are of vital importance. This research compares the users' perception in community forest management (CFM) activities, and socio-economic variables influencing participation in studied community forestry user groups (CFUGs). Primary data were collected through reconnaissance surveys, interviewing key informants, focus group discussions, and household surveys. Secondary data were collected from the division forest office, CFUGs' operational plan (OP) and Constitution, internet, and authenticated websites. The chi-square (χ²) test was applied to test separately association variables like gender, caste, age class, education level, and wealth ranking with participation. Using ordered logit regression, the variables affecting participation in OP and constitution-making, Silvicultural activities, Forest products collection, and CF fund mobilization were quantified. Gender and Education were found to be the most promising factor influencing participation in Jagriti CFUG and Jhankrikhola CFUG respectively. In general, higher caste, older age, and rich people dominate the major decision-making activities. However, lower caste and poor people have been involved comparatively more in Forest product collection.

Against the background of rapid climate warming, frequent and severe flooding disasters significantly impact socio-economic development and human life. In 2023, due to the northward movement of Typhoon Doksuri, extreme precipitation occurred in northern China, which resulted in a massive flood event in the Haihe River basin. Seven flood detention basins (FDBs) in North China were successfully implemented to effectively alleviate the downstream flood pressure. Leveraging all available Chinese satellite data, we monitored the flooding process daily, focusing on reviewing the flooding in the Dongdian FDB. The results indicate that since the activation of Dongdian FDB on August 1, the flood reached the urban area of Tianjin in just nine days and inundated the entire detention basin. Flooding persisted in the detention basin for about a week before gradually receding. The total maximum inundated area in the whole region was 307.5 km^2, including 240.5 km² of arable land, 7.0 km² of greenhouse land, and 9.7 km² of built-up land, with an average inundation duration of 19 days. The total cumulative inundated arable land area was 240.5 km^2, with an average inundation time of 21 days. This study shows that multi-source Chinese satellite data can provide comprehensive information and adequate references for post-disaster assessments.

Agricultural eco-efficiency is a vital indicator for assessing the sustainability of agriculture. Conducting evaluations of agricultural eco-efficiency can provide critical information for policymaking, resource allocation, and the advancement of agricultural sustainable development. While there exists a substantial body of research on the evaluation of agricultural eco-efficiency, its influencing factors, and improvement paths, there remains a paucity of systematic reviews, evaluations, and prospective analyses in this area. This study employed the literature search method to analyze relevant scholarly articles. Chinese literature was sourced from the CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) database, while international literature was obtained from the Web of Science database. The literature search was conducted from 1998 to 2023. The study reviewed the progress of research on agricultural eco-efficiency and outlined the challenges and prospects that lie ahead. The findings of this study indicate that the primary challenges in the field of agricultural eco-efficiency research include refining the evaluation system, integrating macro and micro influencing factors, and ensuring the suitability of models employed. In the future, the research could expand in areas such as deepening the application of artificial intelligence technology in evaluation methods, clarifying the driving factors of agricultural eco-efficiency, and promoting the green transformation of agriculture. This study provides a comprehensive systematic review and could provide critical information for related research expansion.

This study measured the level of innovation achievement protection and the degree of internal structural upgrading of the productive service industry in 28 provinces of China from 2000 to 2022. Exploratory spatial analysis methods were used to test the spatial correlation between the two variables, and the spatial impact of innovation achievement protection on the optimization of the internal structure of the productive service industry was examined at the national and sectoral levels. The results showed three main aspects of this system. (1) The agglomeration level of innovation achievement protection and internal structure optimization of the productive service industry between regions in China continued to increase during the sample period, and there was a clear similarity and synchronicity in the spatial evolution of the two variables. (2) The overall improvement in the protection level of innovative achievements is conducive to promoting the internal structural upgrading of China's productive service industry. However, there are significant differences in the degree to which the protection of innovative achievements affects the internal structural upgrading of the productive service industry in the four major regions of the East, Central, Northeast, and West. The protection of innovative achievements in the East and Central regions significantly promotes the internal structural optimization of the productive service industry, while this effect is not significant in the western and northeastern regions. (3) The results of the robustness test indicate that the impact of internal structural upgrading of the productive service industry in the previous year on the level of innovation achievement protection is not significant. The interference from abnormal values of the internal structural upgrading of the productive service industry in various regions and the influence of municipalities directly under the central government on the regression results are not significant. After replacing the main variable, the coefficient of the innovation achievement protection level remained significantly positive. The conclusions of this study supplement and improve the theory of innovation achievement protection and industrial transformation and upgrading, providing decision-making support for improving the level of innovation achievement protection and promoting the internal structural upgrading of the productive service industries in China.

Phoenix species, recognized for their profound ecological, economic, and cultural significance, have garnered substantial attention in research across Asia. However, limited studies exist on research trends, status, distribution, ethnobotany, and pharmacological activities of Phoenix species in the region. The objective of this study is to compile pertinent information on these aspects for Phoenix species in Asia. We employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach to systematically examine the literature pertaining to Phoenix species in the Asian region. This comprehensive review analyzes research trends on Phoenix species in Asia from year 2000 to 2023. A total of 42 studies were identified, showcasing a growing interest, with a notable peak in publications in 2019. The temporal distribution suggests fluctuating attention over the years. Geographically, the concentration of studies is limited to 12 out of 48 Asian countries, emphasizing the need for more extensive exploration given the widespread availability of Phoenix species. The research primarily focuses on pharmacology, followed by ethnobotany, morphology, taxonomy, material science, environmental engineering, and ecology. Notably, studies disproportionately concentrate on Phoenix dactylifera, leaving other species underexplored. The analysis of research focus, species distribution, and geographical representation underscores the importance of diversifying research themes and exploring the ecological, economic, and cultural significance of lesser-studied Phoenix species across Asia. The findings highlight both the growing interest and existing gaps in our knowledge, urging for a more comprehensive exploration of the entire genus to unravel its full potential and significance across Asian landscapes.