Exploring the drivers of urban expansion in a medium-class urban agglomeration in India using the remote sensing techniques and geographically weighted models

Rapid urbanization urges the immediate attention of policymakers to ensure sustainable city development.Under-standing the urban growth drivers is essential to address effective strategies for urbanization-related challenges.This work aims to study Raiganj’s urban development and the factors associated with this expansion.This study employed global logistic regression(LR)and geographical weighted logistic regression(GWLR)to explore the role of different factors.The results showed that the role of the central business district(covariate>-1),commercial market(covariate>-3),and police station(covariate>-4)were significant to the development of new built-up areas.In the second period,major roads(covariate>-2)and new infrastructures(covariate>-4)became more relevant,particularly in the eastern and southern areas.GWLR was more accurate in assessing the different fac-tors’impact than LR.The results obtained are essential to understanding urban expansion in India’s medium-class cities,which is critical to effective policies for sustainable urbanization.

Natural climate solutions.The way forward

Climate change is a global challenge that threatens global ecological security and sustainable development.Find-ing ways to mitigate their impacts is paramount through engineering carbon storage,low-carbon energy tran-sition,or natural climate solutions(NCS).NCS involve a set of measures(e.g.,afforestation,land restoration,biochar reuse or sustainable land use practices).Implementing NCS increases carbon sequestration and mitigates climate change at the lowest costs and greenest ways.In addition,NCS practices can improve multiple ecosystem services(ES)such as air quality,flood and erosion regulation,pest control,water purification,wild food biomass,recreation or landscape aesthetics.However,unsustainable implementation of NCS,such as over-afforestation of dense mono-forest,can lead to tradeoffs with water supply,wildfire risk,and decreased grasslands and crop-lands.Therefore,to optimise the NCS implementation,reducing the tradeoffs associated and transforming the“expand ecosystem area”to“improve ecosystem management efficiency”is vital.Although NCS can contribute significantly to mitigating climate change,systematic climate actions must be accompanied by a transformation in the global society and investment in new technologies.This will be key to addressing global challenges such as the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs),such as SDG 13(Climate Action),SDG 15(Life on Land),SDG 2(Zero Hunger),SDG 3(Good Health and Wellbeing),SDG 6(Clean Water and Sanitation),and SDG 14(Life Bellow Water).

Integrate ecosystem services into socio-economic development to enhance achievement of sustainable development goals in the post-pandemic era

The COVID-19 pandemic has stalled and rolled back progress on Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).Ecosys-tem services(ESs),defined as the contributions of ecosystems to human well-being,underpin the achievement of SDGs.To promote SDG achievement in post-pandemic era,we teased out the links between ESs and SDGs while examining the impact of COVID-19.We found that ESs benefited all SDGs,yet man-made pressures led to degra-dation of ecosystems and their services.There is broad consensus that the virus lurks in degraded ecosystems and generates spillover due to human interference.The pandemic and global lockdown/restriction disrupted the flow of ESs and altered human ESs demand,threatening the efforts for the SDGs.We suggested:1)to study the association and traceability of ESs-SDGs under the pandemic;2)to prioritize pressing issues such as health care,livelihood,and resource security and in the long run,we should promote human-nature harmony to achieve the SDGs;and 3)to enhance ESs and to promote the SDGs through local community efforts,ESs accounting,and ecosystem restoration.This paper provides insights into the importance of ESs to the SDGs and the ways to integrate ESs into socio-economic development to promote the SDG achievement after the pandemic.

Ecosystem services and legal protection of private property.Problem or solution?

Ecosystem services(ES)delivery in quantity and quality are essential to improve human wellbeing.Nevertheless,often a considerable part of ES provisioning depends on the use of private land(e.g.,flood retention,carbon sequestration,water purification).In this context,the operationalization and implementation of ES concept may collide with legal property rights.Therefore,it is essential to find constructive mechanisms to engage and encour-age private owners to implement sustainable land uses to reduce the onsite and offsite impacts of their activities.This paper aims to identify if ES delivery can be constrained by legal private land and how it can be tackled.It is undeniable that land-use changes(e.g.,urbanization,agriculture intensification,and land abandonment)affect the territory’s capacity to deliver ES in quality and quantity.These changes,especially land abandonment,are in-creasing the tradeoffs among ES(e.g.,between carbon sequestration and water yield).Land-use planning should consider these aspects.Therefore,incorporating ES into spatial plans is crucial for stakeholders to understand the impacts of land-use change in the loss of ES value.This information can be transmitted through maps that communicate the message in a simplified way.Private owners can easily perceive the ES relevance that their land can provide if an understandable message is delivered.Although this can be a good solution,conflicts can appear even with the implementation of schemes such as Payment for ES(PES).PES is not always effective and can im-pose losses to farmers,disregard their cultural traditions,or not prevent poverty alleviation.In this context,it is crucial to consider local specificities to safeguard PES’s success,create a“win-win”and transform a problem into a solution.Private owners’active participation in implementing sustainable practices or a determined land-use in their properties is vital to achieving global targets such as sustainable development goals.

Spatial distribution of morphometric parameters of glacial cirques in the Central Pyrenees(Aran and Boí valleys)

Glacial cirques are typical landscape features of mid-latitude mountain environments like the Central Pyrenees. Their morphology as well as their spatial distribution provides insights about past glaciers and climates. In this study, we examine the distribution, morphometrical and topographical characteristics of glacial cirques in two U-shaped glacial valleys located in the Central Pyrenees – the Aran and the Boí valleys. They are located in different aspects of this mountain range(north vs south) under different climatic influences that promoted distinct glaciation patterns during the late Pleistocene. The spatial mapping of these landforms was carried out using high-resolution imagery and field observations. We analysed the data of the morphometrical and topographical variables of the glacial cirques by using different statistical and geospatial methods in order tounveil the factors controlling their formation and development. A total of 186 glacial cirques were mapped in the study area, including 119 in the Aran and 67 in the Boí valleys. The local topography and microclimate conditions lead to substantial differences in both areas in terms of the morphology and dimensions of the cirques. Glacial cirques in Boí are distributed at slightly higher elevations than in Aran and they are also larger, though their dimensions decrease with elevation in both valleys. Aran cirques are mostly oriented NE, while Boí landforms do not show any prevailing aspect. Even though lithology does not control the distribution of the glacial cirques, some specific lithological settings may favour the development of larger cirques. In general, glacial cirques in the Aran and the Boí valleys show morphometrical properties similar to those reported in other mid-latitude mountain ranges.

Long-term forest management after wildfire(Catalonia,NE Iberian Peninsula)

Studies of post-fire soil status in Mediterranean ecosystems are common;however,few have examined the effects of long-term forest management after a wildfire on physicochemical soil properties.Here,we analyzed differences in soil properties attributable to long-term postfire management and assessed the sustainability of these management practices in relation to the soil properties.The study area is located in Odena in the northeast region of the Iberian Peninsula consisted of the control forest(burned more than 30 years ago),low density forest(LD;burned in a wildfire in 1986 and managed in 2005)and high density forest(HD;burned in a wildfire in 1986 and no managed).For soils from each plot,we measured soil water repellency,aggregate stability,total nitrogen(TN),soil organic matter(SOM),inorganic carbon(IC),pH,electrical conductivity,extractable calcium,magnesium,sodium,potassium(K),phosphorus,aluminum(Al),manganese(Mn),iron(Fe),zinc,copper,boron,chrome,silicon and sulfur and calculated the ratios of C/N,Ca+Mg/(Na+K)^1/2,Ca/Al and Ca/Mg.Significant differences were found in TN,IC,SOM,pH,K,Al,Mn,Fe and C/N ratio(p<0.05).All soil properties were found to have largely recovered their pre-fire values.Soils were affected by the post-fire management practices implemented 20 years after the fire,as reflected in their respective physicochemical properties,so that soil properties at the control and LD sites are more similar today than those at the control and HD sites.Thus,sustainable forest management can overcome soil degradation in areas affected by wildfire in the medium-and long-term by improving soil properties.

Urban green spaces accessibility in two European cities:Vilnius(Lithuania)and Coimbra(Portugal)

Urban green spaces(UGS)are essential for human well-being,contributing towards quality of life and promoting social interactions and inclusion.Accessibility to recreational UGS is key to human well-being in urban areas.However,there is a lack of works focused on recreational UGS accessibility in cities from different countries,using different types of transport.In this work,we studied the accessibility to recreational UGS in Vilnius(Lithuania)and Coimbra(Portugal)through four transport modes(foot,bike,bus and car)within 5-and 10-minute distance.The results showed important differences between cities.Vilnius had higher accessibility to recreational UGS than Coimbra in all transport modes.In both cities,the accessibility was highest by car and lowest by bus.Also,the percentage of population covered by 5-and 10-minute distance UGS accessibility in Vilnius is higher than in Coimbra,despite the lower population density in Vilnius.A large number of recreational UGS,their geographic distribution,the dispersed population pattern,and the location of several urbanizations near recreational UGS increased the inhabitant’s accessibility to recreational UGS in Vilnius.The differences in accessibility between cities were mainly attributed to the large number of recreational UGS and higher road network density,cycleways and footways density,and bus lines in Vilnius,compared to Coimbra.This work identified the areas where recreational UGS accessibility is difficult in using different transport modes and need to be improved in study areas.This is essential to support urban planners and increase cities’well-being.The findings of this work will be important for the management of the studied urban areas.

Ecosystem services of the Baltic Sea:An assessment and mapping perspective

The Baltic Sea is essential for marine ecosystem services(MES)provision and the region’s socio-economic dy-namics.It is considered one of the busiest and most polluted regional seas in Europe.In recent years a collective effort in enforcing European and regional environmental policies and directives(e.g.Water Framework Direc-tive 2000/60/EC,2000;Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC,2008;Maritime Spatial Planning Directive 2014/89/EU,2014)has been carried out.Ecosystem Services assessment and mapping is integrated into these directives.An increasing number of scientific studies,projects,and other works were developed in this context,generating a vast body of knowledge.Despite all efforts to improve the Baltic Sea’s environmental status,the targets established were not fulfilled.It is also important to analyze if current methodological approaches for assessing and mapping MES are robust enough to provide the needed results.This perspective paper analyses the status of assessment and mapping methodologies.The results showed that most of the studies were focused on qualitative assessments,with limited validation and reliability.Although the number of robust and quantitative works is increasing,more are needed.It is vital to carry out quantitative assessments to inform decision-makers better and standardize MES practices across the Baltic Sea.

Higher Education For Sustainability:A Global Perspective

Higher education institutions have an essential role in sustainability.They are key agents in the education of future leaders that will contribute to the successful United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)imple-mentation.The geography of SDGs this implementation is very heterogeneous,but it is clear that higher education institutions contribute decisively to creating a mindset that facilitates the dissemination of SDGs principle.This perspective paper analyses the impacts of higher education on sustainability and the challenges and barriers as-sociated with this process.Higher education contributes decisively to the SDGs implementation,but especially to Goal 1(end poverty in all its forms everywhere),Goal 3(ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages),Goal 5(gender equality),Goal 8(decent work and economic growth),Goal 12(responsible consumption and production),Goal 13(climate change)and Goal 16(peace,justice and strong institutions).As a transfor-mational agent,the higher education sector has a tremendous impact on students’habit and contribution to a prosperous society.However,to establish the required change in education,sustainability principles need to be at the heart of higher institutions strategy(e.g.,curricula,modus operandi)and is key to be incorporated in the organisational culture.Only by leading by example,the external influence in the society will be possible(e.g.,implementing SDGs key aspects such as gender quality,reduce waste reduction and energy consumption).For this to be a reality,different communication methods with students are needed(e.g.,different student academic levels).Nevertheless,critical challenges need to be tackled in the institutions inside and outside the institution environment,such as incorporating sustainability principles,political environment and stakeholders’interest.

Effect of pre-and post-wildfire management practices on plant recovery after a wildfire in Northeast Iberian Peninsula

Fire and pre-or post-fire management practices shape the distribution and richness of plant species.Here,the effects of pre-and post-fire management on vegetation recovery were studied at different times,up to 18 months after a wildfire.Two months after a 2015 wildfire,18 study plots were established(three 4-m^2 plots for each treatment),vegetation regrowth was monitored and vegetal species richness(S),evenness(IT),density(D),diversity(H0)and maximum diversity(HMax)after 2,10 and 18 months.The treatments were(1)control,unaffected by 2015 wildfire;(2)no treatment(NT),burned in 2015 wildfire and not managed;(3)managed in 2005 and burned in 2015(M05B);(4)managed in 2015,2 months before wildfire(M15B);(5)cut and manual removal after the 2015 wildfire(CR);(6)cut and no trunk removal randomly deposited on topsoil after the 2015 wildfire(CL).All the treatments were carried out in a Pinus halepensis Miller forest.At 10 and 18 months after the wildfire,vegetation recovery was greater in NT,CR and CL plots than in M05B and M15B the plots.By 18 months after the wildfire,Brachypodium retusum(Pers.)P.Beauv.and Rosmarinus officinalis L.were still dominant,especially in M15B,corroborating the belief that pre-fire treatment reduced ecosystem resilience and vegetal recovery compared to the NT and post-fire managed plots.Richness was significantly lower 10 months after wildfire in control plots,and IT was significantly higher in that inventory than previously in M15B.Eighteen months after the wildfire,H0 was significantly lower in M15B.Ten months post-wildfire,HMax was significantly lower in the control plots.Eighteen months after the wildfire,HMax,was significantly higher in CR,CL and M05B than in the control and M15B plots.Overall,pre-fire management was detrimental to post-fire vegetation recovery,while manual post-fire management proved beneficial.

The Russian‐Ukrainian armed conflict will push back the sustainable development goals

The Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict is a dramatic world event. Apart from the loss of life, the present conflicthas tremendous impacts on the environment, economy, and society. The conflict provoked a ripple of events withimplications at the global level, especially in energy and food. The escalation of this conflict is imposing severethreats to achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) not only to the countries di-rectly involved in the conflict but also to other countries, especially the developing ones that are more vulnerableto the economic crisis. In this editorial, we assessed the impacts of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict on BiophysicalSDGs, Social SDGs, Economic SDGs and Partnership for the Goals SDG that consider all the previous dimensions.The Russian-Ukrainian conflict’s impact on the SDGs is variable. Biodiversity SDGs are mainly affected at theregional level (Russia, Ukraine, surrounding and European Union countries). Society SDGs are affected at local(e.g., SDG3 good health and wellbeing;SDG4 quality education) and global (e.g., SDG2 zero hunger) levels. Fi-nally, the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict has world-level implications for the economic SDGs. Nevertheless,the ongoing conflict’s impacts are not entirely understood, and several uncertainties exist. Peace is needed toachieve the UN’s SDGs in 2030.

The patients’ opinion on the use of information technologies at the Seskine Outpatient Clinic and “Centro poliklinika” Outpatient Clinic of the city of Vilnius according to the age of patients

Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess patients’ opinion of the information technologies (IT) electronic registration systems at the “Centro poliklinika” and Seskine outpatient clinics in Vilnius City. Material and Methods: The survey was conducted in May-June, 2012. In the course of the primary survey, one questionnaire was handed out to one in tenth of the newly arrived patients. Total number of 650 questionnaires was distributed. 563 respondents participated in the survey (feedback rate—86.6%). Statistical analysis of data was performed by means of personal computer using SPSS software package. Results: 54.7% of respondents state that they make use of the possibility of online registration with the family doctor. 85.05% of respondents indicate that a doctor, when making the next appointment or referring to the medical specialist, registers a patient on site by means of computer. Upon arrival of a respondent to the reception desk of the medical establishment, 90.3% of respondents are registered by means of computer. 72.4% of respondents say that they have a choice to telephone and inquire about the time of visit if they have forgotten the visit time or lost the appointment sheet. Majority of respondents using the online registration option belong to the age group between 21 and 40 years—35.3%. Conclusions: Answers by the respondents and the breakdown between “Centro poliklinika” and Seskine outpatient clinics are very similar and no essential differences have been determined.

Developing an integrated urban ecological efficiency framework for spatial ecological planning:A case on a tropical mega metropolitan area of the global south

Rapid urbanization has emerged as one of the most critical challenges to ecological sustainability in urban areas.In developing countries,the degradation of the ecosystem is more prominent due to the lack of urban planning.Thus,it has become urgent for researchers to identify the ecological efficiency(EE)changes imposed by urban expansion and promote sustainable land use planning.This study aims to develop a comprehensive urban ecological efficiency(UEE)framework in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area(KMA),India,from 2000 to 2020.Principal component analysis(PCA)was used to develop a remote sensing-based UEE index(UEEI)based on five effective ecological parameters(Greenness,Dryness,Heat,Wetness and vegetation health.A single sensitivity parameter was also calculated to determine the role of a single parameter based on which management strategies can be carried out.The findings showed that(i)there were substantial deteriorations of UEE in the last 20 years.In 2000 the areas with good EE were about 65.5%which declined to 53.72%in 2010 and 20.87%in 2020.The areas with good UEE decreased 68%and 61%from 2000 to 2020 and 2010 to 2020,respectively;(ii)the areas with good UEE were 52%in 2000,while 38%in 2010.Most urban centres(Bhadreshwar,Champdani,Srirampur,Bally,Howrah,Kamarhati,Baranagar,Dum Dum,South Dum Dum,Rajarhat,Bidhannagar)located around the Kolkata megacity are characterized by poor and very poor EE(ranges of 0.60-1.00).Thus,spatiotemporal pattern of UEE could assist to clarify the administrative responsibilities as well as obligations.In addition to this,the UEE framework can help for scientific guidance of urban ecosystem protection and restoration through comprehensive spatial landscape planning.

Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases demonstration project:aerosol pollution and its seasonal peculiarities in primary schools of Vilnius

Background:The growing public health concern caused by non-communicable diseases in urban surroundings cannot be solved by health care alone;therefore a multidisciplinary approach is mandatory.This study aimed to evaluate the airborne aerosol pollution level in primary schools as possible factor influencing origin and course of the diseases in children.Methods:Seasonal aerosol particle number concentration(PNC)and mass concentration(PMC)were studied in the randomly selected eleven primary schools in the Lithuanian capital,Vilnius,as model of a middle-size Eastern European city.Total PNC in the size range from 0.01 to>1.0μm in diameter was measured using a condensation particle counter.Using an optical particle sizer,PNC was measured and PMC estimated for particles from 0.3 to 10.0μm.A descriptive statistics was used to estimate the aerosol pollution levels.Results:During all seasons,local cafeterias in the absence of ventilation were the main sources of the elevated levels of indoor PMC and PNC(up to 97,500 particles/cm3).The other sources of airborne particulates were the children’s activity during the lesson breaks with PMC up to 586μg/m3.Soft furniture,carpets in the classrooms and corridors were responsible for PMC up to 200μg/m3.Outdoor aerosol pollution(up to 18,170 particles/cm3)was higher for schools in city center.Elevated air pollution in classrooms also resulted from intermittent sources,such as construction work during classes(200-1000μg/m3)and petrol-powered lawn trimmers(up to 66,400 particles/cm3).Conclusion:The results of our survey show that even in a relatively low polluted region of Eastern Europe there are big differences in aerosol pollution within middle-sized city.Additional efforts are needed to improve air quality in schools:more frequent wet cleaning,monitoring the operation of ventilation systems,a ban on construction works during school year,on a use of sandblasting mechanisms in the neighborhood of schools.