Integrating ecosystem markets to co-ordinate landscape-scale public benefits from nature

Ecosystem markets are proliferating around the world in response to increasing demand for climate change mitigation and provision of other public goods. However, this may lead to perverse outcomes, for example where public funding crowds out private investment or different schemes create trade-offs between the ecosystem services they each target. The integration of ecosystem markets could address some of these issues but to date there have been few attempts to do this, and there is limited understanding of either the opportunities or barriers to such integration. This paper reports on a comparative analysis of eleven ecosystem markets in operation or close to market in Europe, based on qualitative analysis of 25 interviews, scheme documentation and two focus groups. Our results indicate three distinct types of markets operating from the regional to national scale, with different modes of operation, funding and outcomes: regional ecosystem markets, national carbon markets and green finance. The typology provides new insights into the operation of ecosystem markets in practice, which may challenge traditionally held notions of Payment for Ecosystem Services. Regional ecosystem markets, in particular, represent a departure from traditional models, by using a risk-based funding model and aggregating both supply and demand to overcome issues of free-riding, ecosystem service trade-offs and land manager engagement. Central to all types of market were trusted intermediaries, brokers and platforms to aggregate supply and demand, build trust and lower transaction costs. The paper outlines six options for blending public and private funding for the provision of ecosystem services and proposes a framework for integrating national carbon markets and green finance with regional ecosystem markets. Such integration may significantly increase funding for regenerative agriculture and conservation across multiple habitats and services, whilst addressing issues of additionality and ecosystem service trade-offs between multiple schemes.

Dynamic Evolution of Service Trade Network Structure and Influence Mechanism in Countries along the “Belt and Road” with Big Data Analysis

With the accelerating process of economic globalization, the deep adjustment of the international industrial division of labor, and the continuous upgrading of the global value chain, the development of the service industry has entered into a new historical period. This study analyzes the dynamic evolution of trade network structure at three levels: macro, mesa, and micro, and empirically explores its influencing factors. Taking national service trade as the research object, this study analyzes the topological structural characteristics of the food trade network of “One Belt and One Road” countries by selecting indicators such as network point degree, average path length, trade intensity, intermediation degree, and aggregation coefficient, and further explores the characteristics of association network structure in national service trade network using block model. The topological structural characteristics of the “Belt and Road” trade network are analyzed from three aspects: overall, local, and individual. Then, we construct a regression model to analyze the factors influencing the dynamic evolution of the service trade network structure of the countries along the “Belt and Road” through the QAP method. Finally, based on the summary of the research findings, this study puts forward the corresponding considerations and policy recommendations from the perspectives of regional, directional, and reciprocal investment, to benefit more efficient and strategic national service trade under the framework of “Belt and Road.” Based on the results of this study, this study proposes the following policy recommendations: firstly, actively promote the service trade cooperation with other countries to optimize the market layout; secondly, promote the service industry reform to extend the length of the value chain and improve its position in the value chain; and thirdly, jointly promote the infrastructure construction of “Belt and Road” with other countries, promote trade liberalization, and reduce the trade volume. Secondly, we should promote the reform of the service industry, extend the length of the value chain, and improve our position in the value chain. Finally, we should vigorously promote the development of innovation, promote the two-way opening of new service industries, adhere to the “going out” strategy, and cultivate high-quality and excellent technical talents, to promote the overall improvement of the innovation-driven capacity of the service industry with a people-oriented approach.

A Framework for the Heterogeneity and Ecosystem Services of Farmland Landscapes: An Integrative Review

It is essential for the sustainable development of farmland landscapes to balance ecosystem service trade-offs and improve resource use efficiency during crop production. Thus, an integrative and concept-centric qualitative approach was applied by combining the patch–corridor–matrix model of landscape ecology and the crop layout theory of farming systems into a theoretical framework. The thesis concludes that a farmland landscape comprises three compositions: the crop (the main crop and the service crop), the non-crop, and the non-vegetation, leading to heterogeneous composition and configuration. The main crop, typically displayed as large patches with a high distribution ratio, provides most of the provisioning services, while the service crop performs many regulation services. The non-crop and non-vegetation compositions often appear as strips that can connect different patches as corridors and support the provisioning services of crops. Non-crop compositions mainly focus on support and regulation services, while non-vegetation compositions support farming operations. Further research is needed in several respects, including the ecological impact and ecosystem service trade-offs of the composition and configuration heterogeneity, and strategies for the adoption of cropping systems and agronomic measures at the landscape scale, which are essential to the evaluation, improvement, and redesign of farmland landscapes.

The Appraisal and Countermeasure Analysis of the International Competitiveness of Tourism Service Trade in Henan Province

With the continuous development of the macro-economy and the Internet of transportation and trade worldwide, the status of trade in tourism services is getting higher and higher. Henan has a long history and rich and colorful culture. As the birthplace of Central Plains Civilization, Henan has rich tourism resources. This paper analyzes the export status of the tourism service trade in Henan Province by using relevant data and analyzes the factors influencing the competitiveness of the tourism service trade in Henan Province by using the diamond model; this paper puts forward some suggestions to improve the export competitiveness of tourism service trade in Henan Province.