Assessing Relations between Cultural Ecosystem Services, Physical Landscape Features and Accessibility in Central-Eastern Europe: A PPGIS Empirical Study from Hungary

Despite the growing quantity of ecosystem-services-related research, there is still a lack of deeper understanding on cultural ecosystem services (CES). This is mainly due to the perception of CES, which can vary by geographic location and population. In this study, we present a Public Participation Geographic Information System (PPGIS) method in a Hungarian microregion. Our goal is to increase understanding on how cultural services are perceived in this geographical context and level, and how this relative importance is related to biophysical landscape features. We also consider the influence of accessibility on the perceived landscape and compare our findings with the results of other studies with different sociocultural backgrounds. The research consists of participatory mapping with 184 persons that were digitized and analyzed with GIS and statistical software. During the analysis, we identified CES hotspots and compared CES with landscape features, as well as CES perception with accessibility. Our results showed positive correlation of CES with land covers related to built-up areas, as well as aesthetic and recreational services with water bodies. Compared to other studies, we found different spatial relationships in the case of spiritual services, and higher importance of agricultural land covers during the CES perception, thanks to the Central-Eastern European (CEE) sociocultural background. Our study highlights the effect of accessibility on CES perception; nevertheless, these relationships varied by different infrastructural elements. We conclude by discussing the implications and limitations of our study and encouraging future landscape research to apply the PPGIS method in this geographical context.

A Significance of Land Cover - Why Wisents Succeed to Outlive Aurochs?

Context Two native European large herbivores: the aurochs (Bos primigenius) and the wisent (Bison bonasus) lived simultaneously until late Medieval Ages. A rapid decline of aurochs occurred between XV and VII centuries, while wisents lived in the wild until early XX century. Aurochs went extinct despite their strict protection, imposed by Polish kings. Since XV century, radical changes in land cover occurred all over Europe, which could influence the survival of those species. Objectives We aimed to present differences in geographical distribution and occurrence of aurochs and wisents, and identify major changes in land cover of Europe since Medieval Ages. Considering those, we were trying to explain differences in the survival of so closely related and biologically similar species. Methods We compared distribution and incidence of traditional geographical names associated with both species in central-eastern Europe, with historical changes in land cover there. Considering biological differences between aurochs and wisents we attempted to identify possible reasons for such difference in their survival. Results Since aurochs were predominantly true grazers, having higher preference towards open landscapes, they apparently were stronger affected by the loss of suitable habitats due to the development of agriculture. Wisents being more flexible could survive in forests avoiding encounters and conflicts with people. Conclusions Changes in land cover may be critical for the survival of endangered species, even strictly protected. This issue has to be seriously considered in nature conservation planning and in the evaluation of habitat quality for wildlife.

Carbon accumulation rates of Holocene peatlands in central–eastern Europe document the driving role of human impact over the past 4000 years

Peatlands are one of the largest terrestrial carbon sinks on the planet, yet little is known about the carbon accumulation rates (CARs) of mountainous peatlands. The long-term variability in the size of the associated carbon sink and its drivers remain largely unconstrained, especially when the long-term anthropogenic impact is also considered. Here, we present a composite CAR record of nine peatlands from central–eastern Europe (Romania and Serbia) detailing variability in the rates of carbon accumulation during the Holocene. We show examples of extremely high long-term rates of carbon accumulation (LORCA>120 gCm-2yr-1), indicating that mountain peatlands constitute an efficient regional carbon sink at times. By comparing our data to modelled palaeoclimatic indices and to measures of anthropogenic impact we disentangle the drivers of peat carbon accumulation in the area. Variability in early- and mid-Holocene CARs is linked to hydroclimatic controls, with high CARs occurring during the early Holocene and lower CARs associated with the transition to cooler and moister mid-Holocene conditions. By contrast, after 4000 years (calibrated) before present (years BP), the trends in CARs indicate a divergence from hydroclimate proxies, suggesting that other processes became the dominant drivers of peat CARs. We propose that enhanced erosion following tree cover reduction as well as increased rates of long-distance atmospheric dust fallout might have played a role, as both processes would result in enhanced mineral and nutrient supply to bog surfaces, stimulating peatland productivity. Surprisingly though, for the last 1000 years, reconstructed temperature is significantly correlated with CARs, with rising temperatures linked to higher CARs. Under future climate conditions, which are predicted to be warmer in the region, we predict that peat growth may expand but that this is entirely dependent upon the scale of human impact directly affecting the sensitive hydrological budget of these peatlands.

Challenging the Roma Structural Discrimination: Deterritorialization Practices in Romanian Cinema

This paper examines the cinematographic reworking of memory spaces associated with power relations and structural injustice. The way in which space is represented and used as a medium that reflects power relations allows to question the space itself in cultural productions from Central-Eastern Europe when associated with Romani people (space and power relations, memory of slavery and discrimination, space and freedom, territoriality, space and its inhabitants, non-belonging, segregation, etc.). The paper focuses on motion pictures produced in the last decade in Romania, a prolific period due to the increasing interest for memory activism and to the multiplication of the cultural exploration of challenging topics. It aims to identify narrative, visual, and aesthetic expressions used as deterritorialization practices to stimulate relational remembrance and engagement with ongoing social inequality and structural injustice. Two short films – Alina Șerban’ s Bilet de iertare (Letter of forgiveness) and Adrian Silișteanu’s Scris/Nescris (Written/Unwritten) – and a western type film – Radu Jude’s Aferim!, winner of the Silver Bear for Best director at Berlinale in 2015, are analysed here.

Od politycznej współpracy do gospodarczej konkurencji – przemysł obronny krajów Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej po upadku ZSRR

The paper presents the scope and scale of transformation of the defense industries of Central Eastern Europe (CEE) countries after the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the USSR. The starting point is the role and position of the armaments economy sector (armaments economy environment), embedded in the realities of the centrally planned economy, and its submission to the politics of the USSR. The turn of the centuries was a period of political and economic transformation conducted during the conditions of a deep economic recession. The defense industry was one of the economic sectors most affected by the crisis. The economic and defense policy of CEE countries was aimed at preserving the capabilities of the armaments sector. Restructuring activities initiated and forced by the change of the political and economic environment have already brought noticeable effects, even though the process has not yet been completed. Defense industry enterprises have become entities operating on the same terms and conditions as other companies on the competitive market. The method of comparative analysis and a case study supplemented with elements of descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the course of the processes. The study has been focused on the analysis of the course of the changes and examination of effects of the analyzed phenomena for the economy and defense of the CEE countries, taking into account primarily their scale and scope.

Are reported greenhouse gas emissions influencing corporate financial performance?

Research Question: This paper aims to analyse the impact of reported greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on financial performance of companies operating in the chemical industry from Central-Eastern Europe over the period 2015-2019. Motivation: Currently, the climate change and global warming have become highly topical due to their progressively visible destructive effects worldwide on the environment, society, and economic activity. Idea: To offer the suitable information to all its stakeholders, each company should identify the necessary information, measure it, make it useful, and take reasonable steps to ensure that it’s accurate; our research investigates the effect of reported greenhouse gas emissions on return on sales, as a measure of business performance. Data: The paper is based on panel data extracted from non-financial and/or annual reports for the top 10 largest companies operating in the chemical industry geographically located in Central-Eastern Europe covering the time frame 2015-2019. The final sample consists of 34 firms and 134 firm-year observations. Tools: A multiple linear regression model was designed and applied, having return on sales as the dependent variable and GHG emissions as the independent variable. Findings: The findings of our study confirm that a lower level of GHG emissions will generate an increase in return on sales, consequently, the environmental performance reported in terms of controlling for GHG emissions enhances the financial performance measured as return on sales ratio. Contribution: The paper contributes to the literature on climate change, revealing a negative, but significant effect of GHG emissions on financial performance and endorsing that companies which today pay less attention to this global concern, tomorrow will face difficulties in terms of sales.