Sustainability impacts of ecosystem approaches to small-scale aquaculture in Bangladesh

This study explores the sustainability impacts of adopting an ecosystem approach in underutilized homestead ponds (ecoponds) operated by women in Bangladesh. Households with ecoponds have significantly higher fish productivity, fish diversity, and income generation potential compared to households with similar underutilized ponds. Furthermore, certain dimensions of women’s empowerment are improved at the individual and household level (e.g., control of income and productive assets), without, however, addressing wider structural inequalities. Food security impacts are rather inconclusive, as despite the higher consumption of more diverse fish species among ecopond households, there is no significant effect on overall dietary diversity.

Problem issues of methodology of synecological diagnostics of anthropogenic transformation of forest ecosystems

Aim. The aim of the study was to identify and systematize methodological problems in the diagnosis of anthropogenic transformation of forest ecosystem. Methods. Theoretical methods of system-structural, retrospective analysis, interdisciplinary, ecosystem approaches, special methods of forestry, synecology, ornithology and mycology. Results. Changes in functional indicators and parameters of communities were recorded depending on the genesis of the anthropogenic factor, pattern, intensity and time-scale of its impact and reproducibility of ecosystems. These changes were established in the presence of close correlation between the most sensitive structural and functional components (grass layer, leaf-litter, surface of soil, stand) and preserving the integrity of consorted links. Conclusions. A conceptual model for diagnostic human transformation of forest ecosystems for various functional according to the state and development of consorted links of producers, consumers, reducers (for example, plants, fungi, birds) through qualitative and quantitative parameters of relevant diversity structures and principles of its application was proposed. Keywords: ecosystem, communities, anthropogenic factor, transformation, biodiversity, consorted links.

Leading or lagging: How well are climate change considerations being incorporated into Canadian fisheries management?

In response to fisheries declines and delayed population recoveries, many management agencies globally are integrating alternative strategies that incorporate precautionary and ecosystem considerations, increasingly focusing on climate variability and change. Here, we quantitatively evaluate how these themes have been incorporated into the science and management plans for Canada’s fisheries by analyzing the content of 905 research and management documents published by the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for the Atlantic and Eastern Arctic regions. We found that the precautionary approach was mentioned much more frequently (44%) than climate change (11%) or ecosystem approaches to fisheries management (1%). Of research documents that mentioned climate change, 61% contained only a single reference to it, suggesting that it is not quantitatively evaluated in the science that informs the advisory and decision-making processes. Most references to climate change in the DFO research documents expressed high uncertainty of how climate change would impact the stock dynamics. We propose explanations for this and discuss approaches for increasing the incorporation of these themes into Canada’s fishery management.

A New Look at the Natural Capital Concept: Approaches, Structure, and Evaluation Procedure

This article considers the concept of natural capital as a basic construct of sustainable development. However, after numerous studies, a number of aspects of accounting and valuation of natural capital remain unspecified. The relevance and imperfection of the guidelines used to assess natural capital make relevant the development of such issues as the conceptual apparatus and methods to natural capital assessment. Therefore, the core objectives of the paper are: (1) to substantiate the structure of natural capital, taking into account the natural resources and ecosystem approaches; (2) to clarify the concepts of “function” and “services” in relation to abiotic and biotic components of the environment; (3) to generalize and analyze the classifications of ecosystem services, and to develop the authors’ classification; (4) to identify the most common methods for the economic assessment of natural capital’s components, and to implement these methods within a specific territory. These methods have been tested on the Khanty–Mansi Autonomous Okrug (KhMAD, Russia). The most typical ecosystems of the region and their inherent ecosystem services have been identified. Assessment results are presented for (1) forest ecosystems, (2) mountain ecosystems, and (3) ecosystems of swamps, lakes, and rivers.

Ecosystem approaches in the protection of reserved forest areas from phytophagous insects

Ecosystem approaches are highly important for pest control in forest reserved areas. Their background is conservation of biodiversity, application of microbial pathogens (bacteria, viruses and fungi) and preparations. Selective and prophylactic natural remedies (attractants, repellents and deterrents) are preferable also. This complex can provide biological security of forest reservations.

ECOSYSTEM APPROACHES TO THE ORGANIZATION OF COMPENSATIVE MEASURES FOR LOSSES REFUND AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

The aim of the article is to introduce the up-to date approaches to the functioning of the compensation mechanism for the refund of the losses from ecosystems pollution and to elaborate proposals for its implementation in the local environmental policy. The paper identifies the main aspects of the formation of a compensation mechanism for refund of the losses from pollution and degradation of ecosystems at the local level, types of compensatory relations in the environmental sphere, levers of influence of local authorities and business on the implementation of an effective compensation mechanism. Ways and methods of compensation for the refund of the losses from the ecosystems decontamination are structured and instruments of the economic mechanism of compensation at different territorial levels of management are classified. It is proposed to take into account the configurations of reproduction processes in the territory ecosystems while introducing a compensation mechanism for the losses from their decontamination. The compensation mechanism for ecosystem decontamination losses at the local territorial level is proved to be a special type of institutional agreement as to protection and sustainable use of ecosystem services and ecosystems at the local level and adjusting the distribution of costs and benefits between different players and stakeholders mainly via economic means. The priority reforms in the sphere of liability for damage to ecosystems to form a compensation mechanism for compensation in Ukraine are outlined. Prospects for introduction of a compensation mechanism for the refund of the losses from the ecosystems decontamination at the local level are outlined. The reform of decentralization and extension of the local powers allows for the development and implementation of the regulations at the local level that would establish a procedure for the accumulation and use of compensation costs for the destroyed community ecosystems restoration. It will contribute to the receipt of significant compensatory financial resources in local budgets for communities, to be directed exclusively for the compensatory measures.