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Climate change and desertification continue to threaten livelihoods in drylands across the globe. This study explores the relative importance of Sustainable Livelihoods Framework components in explaining variation in the adaptive capacity of agricultural households in three districts in the drylands of south Punjab, Pakistan, and to identify spatial patterns in adaptive capacity distribution. Questionnaire generated data were analyzed using Non-Linear Principal Component Analysis and spatial cluster mapping using the Global Moran's I and Anselin Local Moran's I. Natural assets were found to describe most variation among households, followed by physical, financial, human and social assets. Most households with high adaptive capacity were spatially clustered in Rahim Yar Khan, a district offering more employment opportunities and multiple income sources. Low adaptive capacity clusters were abundant in Rajanpur where respondents had negative loadings on all the principal components. Bahawalpur district lacked any significant adaptive capacity clusters. Spatial analyses can serve as a useful tool for policy makers in identifying the areas requiring government intervention to enhance adaptive capacity. The approach used here could usefully be applied to dryland regions in other parts of the world, and could help guide more targeted efforts to build adaptive capacity.
Nausheen Mazhar; Safdar Ali Shirazi; Lindsay C. Stringer; Rachael H. Carrie; Martin Dallimer. Spatial patterns in the adaptive capacity of dryland agricultural households in South Punjab, Pakistan. Journal of Arid Environments 2021, 194, 104610 .
AMA StyleNausheen Mazhar, Safdar Ali Shirazi, Lindsay C. Stringer, Rachael H. Carrie, Martin Dallimer. Spatial patterns in the adaptive capacity of dryland agricultural households in South Punjab, Pakistan. Journal of Arid Environments. 2021; 194 ():104610.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNausheen Mazhar; Safdar Ali Shirazi; Lindsay C. Stringer; Rachael H. Carrie; Martin Dallimer. 2021. "Spatial patterns in the adaptive capacity of dryland agricultural households in South Punjab, Pakistan." Journal of Arid Environments 194, no. : 104610.
Due to the combined effects of urban growth and climate change, rapid urbanisation is particularly challenging in African cities. Areas that will house a large proportion of the urban population in the future coincide with where natural hazards are expected to occur, and where hazard risk management institutions, knowledge, and capacity are often lacking. One of the challenges posed by rapid urbanisation is the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, whereby urban areas are warmer than the surrounding rural areas. This study investigates urbanisation patterns and alterations in surface UHI (SUHI) intensity for the Kampala urban cluster, Uganda. Analyses show that between 1995 and 2017, Kampala underwent extensive changes to its urban built-up area. From the centre of the city to adjoining non-built up areas in all directions, the urban land cover increased from 12,133 ha in 1995 to 25,389 ha in 2016. The area of SUHI intensity in Kampala expanded significantly over the 15-year period of study, expanding from 22,910 ha in 2003 to 27,900 ha in 2016, while the annual daytime SUHI of 2.2°C in 2003 had decreased to 1.9°C by 2017. Although SUHI intensity decreased in some parts of the city, elsewhere it increased, suggesting that urbanisation does not always lead to a deterioration of environmental conditions. We postulate that urban development may therefore not necessarily create an undesirable impact on local climate if it is properly managed. Rapidly growing cities in Africa and elsewhere should ensure that the dynamics of their development are directed towards mitigating potentially harmful environmental impacts, such as UHI effect through careful planning that considers both bluespaces and greenspaces.
Xueqin Li; Lindsay C. Stringer; Sarah Chapman; Martin Dallimer. How urbanisation alters the intensity of the urban heat island in a tropical African city. PLOS ONE 2021, 16, e0254371 .
AMA StyleXueqin Li, Lindsay C. Stringer, Sarah Chapman, Martin Dallimer. How urbanisation alters the intensity of the urban heat island in a tropical African city. PLOS ONE. 2021; 16 (7):e0254371.
Chicago/Turabian StyleXueqin Li; Lindsay C. Stringer; Sarah Chapman; Martin Dallimer. 2021. "How urbanisation alters the intensity of the urban heat island in a tropical African city." PLOS ONE 16, no. 7: e0254371.
Researchers, practitioners and policymakers have widely documented the multifarious ways that nature influences human well-being. However, we still have only a limited understanding of how the public interact with, respond to and talk about attributes of biodiversity. We used image-based Q methodology to explore the shared and contrasting perspectives people hold for biodiversity. This approach is a powerful way of allowing people to articulate what is, or is not, important to them, free from constraints associated with statement-based stimuli. We used British woodlands as a study system, as they are accessible and well-visited by the public. The elements of biodiversity incorporated in the Q methodology represented vertebrates, invertebrates, trees and understorey plants and fungi. The shared public perspectives varied, and the reasons underpinning those perspectives were rich and diverse. People articulated reasons related to an array of biodiversity attributes (e.g. functions, behaviours, colours, smells, shapes). Many of the perspectives transcended specific species or taxonomic groups. Although woodlands were used as a study system, people referenced perceptions and experiences external to this habitat (e.g. within their gardens) and associated with their everyday lives. Cultural influences and memories linked to particular people and places were also prominent. Few of the shared perspectives map onto the objective measures and dimensions that researchers use to describe and categorise biodiversity (e.g. rarity, ecosystem service provision). A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Gail E. Austen; Martin Dallimer; Katherine N. Irvine; Phoebe R. Maund; Robert D. Fish; Zoe G. Davies. Exploring shared public perspectives on biodiversity attributes. People and Nature 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleGail E. Austen, Martin Dallimer, Katherine N. Irvine, Phoebe R. Maund, Robert D. Fish, Zoe G. Davies. Exploring shared public perspectives on biodiversity attributes. People and Nature. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGail E. Austen; Martin Dallimer; Katherine N. Irvine; Phoebe R. Maund; Robert D. Fish; Zoe G. Davies. 2021. "Exploring shared public perspectives on biodiversity attributes." People and Nature , no. : 1.
Urban greenspaces underpin ecosystem service provision in cities and are therefore indispensable for human well-being. Nevertheless, they are increasingly disappearing from cities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding how the stakeholders influencing urban greenspace management perceive the benefits provided by urban greenspaces and the challenges to its conservation and management is critical for reversing this trend. Using Malawi’s capital city, Lilongwe, as a case study, we conducted 44 semi-structured interviews to explore the profiles and perceptions of stakeholders who currently hold influence over greenspace planning, conservation and management. Stakeholders with influence over urban greenspace management described the main focus of their organisation as relating to urban planning, natural resources protection and management, development work, or the hospitality business sector. Critically, only a third of all stakeholders focused on natural resources protection and management. Stakeholders had nuanced and varied appreciations of the benefits that greenspaces provide. Regulation and maintenance ecosystem services, as well as cultural services were frequently mentioned. However, provisioning services were mostly mentioned by those in development work. Stakeholders also identified an additional suite of societal benefits that do not directly map onto ecosystem service frameworks, such as the generation of financial income and the provision of employment opportunities. Challenges identified as hampering the planning, conservation and management of greenspaces included inappropriate urbanisation, lack of coordination and participation, and population growth. Lack of coordination was however not widely acknowledged among those focusing on natural resources protection, who conversely identified population growth more often than any other groups. Highlighting how stakeholders with varying priorities perceive ecosystem services a first step towards improving greenspaces management both for their better acceptation and for improving their potential for biodiversity conservation. Specifically, we bring attention to need for stakeholders working with natural resources protection to recognise more the need for collaborations and engagement. Additional research is also necessary to understand how those different perspectives might be integrated into ongoing processes and procedures to manage greenspaces in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Solène Guenat; Gabriel Porras Lopez; David D Mkwambisi; Martin Dallimer. Unpacking Stakeholder Perceptions of the Benefits and Challenges Associated With Urban Greenspaces in Sub-Saharan Africa. Frontiers in Environmental Science 2021, 9, 1 .
AMA StyleSolène Guenat, Gabriel Porras Lopez, David D Mkwambisi, Martin Dallimer. Unpacking Stakeholder Perceptions of the Benefits and Challenges Associated With Urban Greenspaces in Sub-Saharan Africa. Frontiers in Environmental Science. 2021; 9 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSolène Guenat; Gabriel Porras Lopez; David D Mkwambisi; Martin Dallimer. 2021. "Unpacking Stakeholder Perceptions of the Benefits and Challenges Associated With Urban Greenspaces in Sub-Saharan Africa." Frontiers in Environmental Science 9, no. : 1.
Human attitudes and behaviours have been linked to the degradation of global biodiversity, particularly forest ecosystems. Indeed, effective conservation actions require that the attitudes and behaviours of affected individuals and communities are taken into account. While several studies have examined how human attitudes and behaviours affect conservation, it is still unclear which, and how, human value orientations influence conservation attitudes and behaviour. This is critical because attitudes and behaviours are underpinned by the complex concept of human values. Thus, effective management and conservation of environmental resources requires an in-depth knowledge and understanding of these values, and how they affect attitudinal and behavioural preferences towards the natural environment and their protection. Here we review the human value orientations influencing people's attitudes and behaviours towards forest conservation, and discuss how conservation projects can be more successful by aligning their goals and operations to people's values. To do this, we carried out a scoping review, using the sub-Saharan Africa region as a case study, and followed the PRISMA-ScR systematic review guidelines. A narrative synthesis was adopted for data analysis. We identified different value types that fall within three broad human value orientation domains influencing forest conservation attitudes and behaviours. Anthropocentric and relational value orientations emerged as most dominant, with both positive and negative influences on a number of forest conservation attitudes and behaviours, albeit with more evidence for positive influence. The positive attitudes and behaviours were linked to utilitarian motivations and cultural beliefs and include rural support for conservation, compliance to forest rules, sustainable forest use, and participation in forest management. The values linked to dependence on forest resources, low benefits from conservation, and conservation costs, tend to trigger negative conservation attitudes and behaviours. To effectively achieve forest conservation goals, environmental managers, conservationists, and decision-makers should understand the extent and directional influence of value orientations on conservation attitudes and behaviours.
Eberechukwu Johnpaul Ihemezie; Maximilian Nawrath; Lena Strauß; Lindsay C. Stringer; Martin Dallimer. The influence of human values on attitudes and behaviours towards forest conservation. Journal of Environmental Management 2021, 292, 112857 .
AMA StyleEberechukwu Johnpaul Ihemezie, Maximilian Nawrath, Lena Strauß, Lindsay C. Stringer, Martin Dallimer. The influence of human values on attitudes and behaviours towards forest conservation. Journal of Environmental Management. 2021; 292 ():112857.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEberechukwu Johnpaul Ihemezie; Maximilian Nawrath; Lena Strauß; Lindsay C. Stringer; Martin Dallimer. 2021. "The influence of human values on attitudes and behaviours towards forest conservation." Journal of Environmental Management 292, no. : 112857.
Due to the combination of climate change and the rapid growth in urban populations in Africa, many urban areas are encountering exacerbated urban heat island (UHI) effects. It is important to understand UHI effects in order to develop suitable adaptation and mitigation strategies. However, little work has been done in this regard in Africa. In this study, we compared surface UHI (SUHI) effects between cities located in different climate zones in East Africa, investigating how they change, both spatially and temporally. We quantified the annual daytime and night-time SUHI intensities in the five most populated cities in East Africa in 2003 and 2017, and investigated the links to urban area size. We consider the possible drivers of SUHI change and consider the implication for future development, highlighting the role of factors such as topography and building/construction materials. We suggest that UHI mitigation strategies targeting East African cities may benefit from more comprehensive analyses of blue and green infrastructure as this offers potential opportunities to enhance human comfort in areas where UHI effects are highest. However, this needs careful planning to avoid increasing associated issues such as disease risks linked to a changing climate.
Xueqin Li; Lindsay Stringer; Martin Dallimer. The Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Urban Heat Island Intensity: Implications for East Africa’s Urban Development. Climate 2021, 9, 51 .
AMA StyleXueqin Li, Lindsay Stringer, Martin Dallimer. The Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Urban Heat Island Intensity: Implications for East Africa’s Urban Development. Climate. 2021; 9 (4):51.
Chicago/Turabian StyleXueqin Li; Lindsay Stringer; Martin Dallimer. 2021. "The Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Urban Heat Island Intensity: Implications for East Africa’s Urban Development." Climate 9, no. 4: 51.
Urbanization involves expansion of the amount of land covered by urban uses. Rural to urban land conversion (RULC) can satisfy demand for the additional space that growing cities require. However, there can be negative consequences, such as the loss of productive agricultural land and/or the destruction of natural habitats. Considerable interest therefore exists among policy makers and researchers regarding how the efficiency of RULC can be maximized. We used the Gini index and a data envelopment analysis to quantify the relationship between RULC and economic development for 17 metropolitan areas in China. We did this from two perspectives: (i) coordination; and (ii) efficiency. We found that economic agglomeration fosters the coordination of the amount of rural land that is allocated to be converted to urban uses. Similarly, economic agglomeration increases the efficiency of RULC in terms of the processes of socio-economic production. Through production technology innovation and readjustment in the scale of input factors, the productive efficiency of RULC can be promoted. Our findings suggest a need to strictly limit the amount of RULC, design differential land management policies according to location and development level, and adjust RULC allocation between different cities. Further, in harnessing the potential of intensive urban land use and restructuring, production factors, including land, can be enhanced through technological innovation. Research presented in this paper provides insights for areas of the world which are yet to undergo the rapid urbanization that China has experienced, but where it is projected to occur over the coming decades.
Ke Huang; Martin Dallimer; Lindsay Stringer; An-Lu Zhang; Ting Zhang. Does Economic Agglomeration Lead to Efficient Rural to Urban Land Conversion? An Examination of China’s Metropolitan Area Development Strategy. Sustainability 2021, 13, 2002 .
AMA StyleKe Huang, Martin Dallimer, Lindsay Stringer, An-Lu Zhang, Ting Zhang. Does Economic Agglomeration Lead to Efficient Rural to Urban Land Conversion? An Examination of China’s Metropolitan Area Development Strategy. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (4):2002.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKe Huang; Martin Dallimer; Lindsay Stringer; An-Lu Zhang; Ting Zhang. 2021. "Does Economic Agglomeration Lead to Efficient Rural to Urban Land Conversion? An Examination of China’s Metropolitan Area Development Strategy." Sustainability 13, no. 4: 2002.
The Urban Heat Island Effect (UHIE) is a widely recognised phenomenon that profoundly affects the quality of life for urban citizens. Urban greenspace can help mitigate the UHIE, but the characteristics that determine the extent to which any given greenspace can cool an urban area are not well understood. A key characteristic is likely to be the properties of trees that are found in a greenspace. Here, we explore the sensitivity of the strength of the cooling effect to tree community structure for greenspaces in Changzhou, China. Land surface temperatures were retrieved from Landsat 7 ETM+ and Landsat 8 TIRS and were used to evaluate the temperature drop amplitude (TDA) and cooling range (CR) of 15 greenspaces across each of the four seasons. Tree community structure of the greenspaces was investigated using 156 sample plots across the 15 greenspaces. We found that a number of plant community structure indicators of greenspaces have a significant impact on the strength of the cooling effect. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index, tree species richness and tree canopy coverage of greenspaces are all positively correlated with the magnitude of the temperature drop amplitude, with the strength of their influence varying seasonally. We also find that mean crown width is positively correlated with cooling range in summer and autumn, while greenspace tree density is negatively correlated with cooling range in winter. Our findings improve understanding of the relationship between plant community structure and the cooling effect of greenspaces. In particular, we highlight the important role that tree species diversity provides for mitigating the UHIE, and suggest that if planners wish to improve the role of urban greenspaces in cooling cities, they should include a higher diversity of trees species.
Xinjun Wang; Martin Dallimer; Catherine E. Scott; Weiting Shi; Jixi Gao. Tree species richness and diversity predicts the magnitude of urban heat island mitigation effects of greenspaces. Science of The Total Environment 2021, 770, 145211 .
AMA StyleXinjun Wang, Martin Dallimer, Catherine E. Scott, Weiting Shi, Jixi Gao. Tree species richness and diversity predicts the magnitude of urban heat island mitigation effects of greenspaces. Science of The Total Environment. 2021; 770 ():145211.
Chicago/Turabian StyleXinjun Wang; Martin Dallimer; Catherine E. Scott; Weiting Shi; Jixi Gao. 2021. "Tree species richness and diversity predicts the magnitude of urban heat island mitigation effects of greenspaces." Science of The Total Environment 770, no. : 145211.
Technology is transforming societies worldwide. A major innovation is the emergence of robotics and autonomous systems (RAS), which have the potential to revolutionize cities for both people and nature. Nonetheless, the opportunities and challenges associated with RAS for urban ecosystems have yet to be considered systematically. Here, we report the findings of an online horizon scan involving 170 expert participants from 35 countries. We conclude that RAS are likely to transform land use, transport systems and human–nature interactions. The prioritized opportunities were primarily centred on the deployment of RAS for the monitoring and management of biodiversity and ecosystems. Fewer challenges were prioritized. Those that were emphasized concerns surrounding waste from unrecovered RAS, and the quality and interpretation of RAS-collected data. Although the future impacts of RAS for urban ecosystems are difficult to predict, examining potentially important developments early is essential if we are to avoid detrimental consequences but fully realize the benefits. The future challenges and potential opportunities of robotics and autonomous systems in urban ecosystems, and how they may impact biodiversity, are explored and prioritized via a global horizon scan of 170 experts.
Mark A. Goddard; Zoe G. Davies; Solène Guenat; Mark J. Ferguson; Jessica C. Fisher; Adeniran Akanni; Teija Ahjokoski; Pippin M. L. Anderson; Fabio Angeoletto; Constantinos Antoniou; Adam J. Bates; Andrew Barkwith; Adam Berland; Christopher J. Bouch; Christine C. Rega-Brodsky; Loren B. Byrne; David Cameron; Rory Canavan; Tim Chapman; Stuart Connop; Steve Crossland; Marie C. Dade; David A. Dawson; Cynnamon Dobbs; Colleen T. Downs; Erle C. Ellis; Francisco J. Escobedo; Paul Gobster; Natalie Marie Gulsrud; Burak Guneralp; Amy K. Hahs; James D. Hale; Christopher Hassall; Marcus Hedblom; Dieter F. Hochuli; Tommi Inkinen; Ioan-Cristian Ioja; Dave Kendal; Tom Knowland; Ingo Kowarik; Simon J. Langdale; Susannah B. Lerman; Ian MacGregor-Fors; Peter Manning; Peter Massini; Stacey McLean; David D. Mkwambisi; Alessandro Ossola; Gabriel Pérez Luque; Luis Pérez-Urrestarazu; Katia Perini; Gad Perry; Tristan J. Pett; Kate E. Plummer; Raoufou A. Radji; Uri Roll; Simon G. Potts; Heather Rumble; Jon P. Sadler; Stevienna de Saille; Sebastian Sautter; Catherine E. Scott; Assaf Shwartz; Tracy Smith; Robbert P. H. Snep; Carl D. Soulsbury; Margaret C. Stanley; Tim Van de Voorde; Stephen J. Venn; Philip H. Warren; Carla-Leanne Washbourne; Mark Whitling; Nicholas S. G. Williams; Jun Yang; Kumelachew Yeshitela; Ken P. Yocom; Martin Dallimer. A global horizon scan of the future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on urban ecosystems. Nature Ecology & Evolution 2021, 5, 219 -230.
AMA StyleMark A. Goddard, Zoe G. Davies, Solène Guenat, Mark J. Ferguson, Jessica C. Fisher, Adeniran Akanni, Teija Ahjokoski, Pippin M. L. Anderson, Fabio Angeoletto, Constantinos Antoniou, Adam J. Bates, Andrew Barkwith, Adam Berland, Christopher J. Bouch, Christine C. Rega-Brodsky, Loren B. Byrne, David Cameron, Rory Canavan, Tim Chapman, Stuart Connop, Steve Crossland, Marie C. Dade, David A. Dawson, Cynnamon Dobbs, Colleen T. Downs, Erle C. Ellis, Francisco J. Escobedo, Paul Gobster, Natalie Marie Gulsrud, Burak Guneralp, Amy K. Hahs, James D. Hale, Christopher Hassall, Marcus Hedblom, Dieter F. Hochuli, Tommi Inkinen, Ioan-Cristian Ioja, Dave Kendal, Tom Knowland, Ingo Kowarik, Simon J. Langdale, Susannah B. Lerman, Ian MacGregor-Fors, Peter Manning, Peter Massini, Stacey McLean, David D. Mkwambisi, Alessandro Ossola, Gabriel Pérez Luque, Luis Pérez-Urrestarazu, Katia Perini, Gad Perry, Tristan J. Pett, Kate E. Plummer, Raoufou A. Radji, Uri Roll, Simon G. Potts, Heather Rumble, Jon P. Sadler, Stevienna de Saille, Sebastian Sautter, Catherine E. Scott, Assaf Shwartz, Tracy Smith, Robbert P. H. Snep, Carl D. Soulsbury, Margaret C. Stanley, Tim Van de Voorde, Stephen J. Venn, Philip H. Warren, Carla-Leanne Washbourne, Mark Whitling, Nicholas S. G. Williams, Jun Yang, Kumelachew Yeshitela, Ken P. Yocom, Martin Dallimer. A global horizon scan of the future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on urban ecosystems. Nature Ecology & Evolution. 2021; 5 (2):219-230.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMark A. Goddard; Zoe G. Davies; Solène Guenat; Mark J. Ferguson; Jessica C. Fisher; Adeniran Akanni; Teija Ahjokoski; Pippin M. L. Anderson; Fabio Angeoletto; Constantinos Antoniou; Adam J. Bates; Andrew Barkwith; Adam Berland; Christopher J. Bouch; Christine C. Rega-Brodsky; Loren B. Byrne; David Cameron; Rory Canavan; Tim Chapman; Stuart Connop; Steve Crossland; Marie C. Dade; David A. Dawson; Cynnamon Dobbs; Colleen T. Downs; Erle C. Ellis; Francisco J. Escobedo; Paul Gobster; Natalie Marie Gulsrud; Burak Guneralp; Amy K. Hahs; James D. Hale; Christopher Hassall; Marcus Hedblom; Dieter F. Hochuli; Tommi Inkinen; Ioan-Cristian Ioja; Dave Kendal; Tom Knowland; Ingo Kowarik; Simon J. Langdale; Susannah B. Lerman; Ian MacGregor-Fors; Peter Manning; Peter Massini; Stacey McLean; David D. Mkwambisi; Alessandro Ossola; Gabriel Pérez Luque; Luis Pérez-Urrestarazu; Katia Perini; Gad Perry; Tristan J. Pett; Kate E. Plummer; Raoufou A. Radji; Uri Roll; Simon G. Potts; Heather Rumble; Jon P. Sadler; Stevienna de Saille; Sebastian Sautter; Catherine E. Scott; Assaf Shwartz; Tracy Smith; Robbert P. H. Snep; Carl D. Soulsbury; Margaret C. Stanley; Tim Van de Voorde; Stephen J. Venn; Philip H. Warren; Carla-Leanne Washbourne; Mark Whitling; Nicholas S. G. Williams; Jun Yang; Kumelachew Yeshitela; Ken P. Yocom; Martin Dallimer. 2021. "A global horizon scan of the future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on urban ecosystems." Nature Ecology & Evolution 5, no. 2: 219-230.
Exposure to urban greenspaces promotes an array of mental health benefits. Understanding these benefits is of paramount importance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where cities are expanding at an unprecedented rate. However, the existing evidence-base for the health benefits of greenspaces has a strong bias towards high-income countries. Here we systematically assess the emerging evidence regarding the mental health benefits provided by urban greenspaces in LMICs. We carried out a scoping review to assess the extent, type and quality of evidence investigating the relationship between greenspaces and mental health in LMICs. We systematically searched the literature databases Web of Science, Medline, Embase and CAB Abstracts using key terms related to greenspaces and mental health in LMICs. We analysed the resulting studies using a narrative synthesis approach, taking into account study quality, to assess the overall effects on mental health. 36 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the narrative synthesis. Studies were heterogeneous in design, study population, greenspace and mental health assessment. While more than 90% of LMICs remain unstudied, we found that eight out of ten studies using validated mental health screening tools detected positive associations between greenspaces and one or more mental health outcomes. These studies mostly took place in upper-middle-income countries. However, there still is a lack of evidence from regions with the highest levels of urbanisation, and only four studies assessed lower-middle and low-income countries. Furthermore, the analysis of mediating and moderating factors indicates that the relationship between greenspaces and mental health in LMICs is context dependent and needs to be assessed in relation to locally relevant environmental and cultural settings. Based on the evidence reviewed here, exposure to urban greenspaces can support multiple mental health outcomes in upper-middle-income countries. However, we still know little about poorer, rapidly urbanising countries. Our findings highlight the need for high-quality, context specific research in those urban areas with the highest levels of urbanisation, and the need to address specific challenges regarding mediating and moderating factors. Future studies should combine robust ecological assessments of greenspaces with validated mental health screening tools.
Maximilian Nawrath; Solène Guenat; Helen Elsey; Martin Dallimer. Exploring uncharted territory: Do urban greenspaces support mental health in low- and middle-income countries? Environmental Research 2020, 194, 110625 .
AMA StyleMaximilian Nawrath, Solène Guenat, Helen Elsey, Martin Dallimer. Exploring uncharted territory: Do urban greenspaces support mental health in low- and middle-income countries? Environmental Research. 2020; 194 ():110625.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaximilian Nawrath; Solène Guenat; Helen Elsey; Martin Dallimer. 2020. "Exploring uncharted territory: Do urban greenspaces support mental health in low- and middle-income countries?" Environmental Research 194, no. : 110625.
The quality, quantity and accessibility of urban greenspaces and green infrastructure offer multiple benefits for city dwellers, the environment and urban sustainability. Green infrastructure provides a wide range of environmental, social, cultural, climate change adaptation, and mitigation benefits. However, for green infrastructure to do so, it needs to be integrated into national policy and city-planning strategies in ways that recognize its value and importance. Consequently, consistency and coherence between policy sectors and levels is essential. The more prominent urban green infrastructure is in national level policy, the easier it will be to ensure coherence and consistency between sectors and levels, as well as avoid national and local initiatives hindering each other's effectiveness. Integrating urban green infrastructure into planning processes should be a priority for all cities, but even more so for those in sub-Saharan Africa, which are undergoing rapid expansion. Here we focus on Malawi, one of the most rapidly urbanizing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We collated and reviewed national-level and city-level policies and strategies, ranging from housing to transport to biodiversity, in order to determine, based on vertical and horizontal integration processes, whether urban greenspaces and green infrastructure have been incorporated into planning and management priorities. We found little evidence that urban greenspaces and green infrastructure are incorporated into national-level decision-making processes. In contrast, promoting and enhancing urban greenspace and green infrastructure was a priority in planning and strategy documents produced by the Lilongwe and Mzuzu City Councils. Better institutional coordination and policy coherence across national level sectors that affect urban greenspaces and green infrastructure is required if their multiple benefits are to be realized.
Stavros Afionis; David D. Mkwambisi; Martin Dallimer. Lack of Cross-Sector and Cross-Level Policy Coherence and Consistency Limits Urban Green Infrastructure Implementation in Malawi. Frontiers in Environmental Science 2020, 8, 1 .
AMA StyleStavros Afionis, David D. Mkwambisi, Martin Dallimer. Lack of Cross-Sector and Cross-Level Policy Coherence and Consistency Limits Urban Green Infrastructure Implementation in Malawi. Frontiers in Environmental Science. 2020; 8 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStavros Afionis; David D. Mkwambisi; Martin Dallimer. 2020. "Lack of Cross-Sector and Cross-Level Policy Coherence and Consistency Limits Urban Green Infrastructure Implementation in Malawi." Frontiers in Environmental Science 8, no. : 1.
Since the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment was published, a plethora of ecosystem service frameworks have been developed to conceptualise the links between the natural environment and society. The intended geographic scales of application, the policy/practice context, and the scientific disciplines involved have driven variations in how the frameworks are constructed. However, the frameworks are homogenous in that they have been created predominately based on expert opinions and views of how ecosystem services are structured. Here, we use the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) to examine the extent to which frameworks capture people’s values for British woodlands. Our findings reveal several disparities between how experts and the public conceptualise ecosystem services. The considerable refinement and specificity provided by CICES does not align with public values (e.g. some provisioning, and regulation and maintenance, services), which tend to be more generalised. We also demonstrate differences in values explained by social characteristics (e.g. ethnicity) that need to be accounted for in decision-making processes. Moving forwards, we need to consider how society views the services derived from nature and reflect this in frameworks to ensure ecosystem service approaches are effective, transparent and widely supported.
Phoebe R. Maund; Katherine N. Irvine; Martin Dallimer; Robert Fish; Gail E. Austen; Zoe G. Davies. Do ecosystem service frameworks represent people’s values? Ecosystem Services 2020, 46, 101221 .
AMA StylePhoebe R. Maund, Katherine N. Irvine, Martin Dallimer, Robert Fish, Gail E. Austen, Zoe G. Davies. Do ecosystem service frameworks represent people’s values? Ecosystem Services. 2020; 46 ():101221.
Chicago/Turabian StylePhoebe R. Maund; Katherine N. Irvine; Martin Dallimer; Robert Fish; Gail E. Austen; Zoe G. Davies. 2020. "Do ecosystem service frameworks represent people’s values?" Ecosystem Services 46, no. : 101221.
New renewable energy infrastructure is essential to deliver net zero policies in response to climate change, but a lack of community acceptance is a potential barrier. It is therefore important to understand what shapes community acceptance and identify policy responses. This paper presents a case study of community acceptance of a large-scale solar farm in the UK, the first to be classified as 'nationally significant' infrastructure. In doing so, it provides the first empirical study of community acceptance of a large-scale solar farm in a developed country context, building on existing studies which use hypothetical approaches such as choice experiments, or surveys which measure general attitudes rather than responses to specific developments. The paper uses mixed methods (quantitative content analysis of online comments on the planning proposal; qualitative semi-structured interviews with local residents and key stakeholders; and participant observation) to identify determinants shaping community acceptance of large-scale solar farms. We discover 28 determinants which we group into eight categories: aesthetic, environmental, economic, project details, temporal, social, construction and process. We argue that these findings help to reveal broader issues underlying community acceptance of solar farms and other renewable energy infrastructure: 'green-on-green' tensions; issues of scale and place attachment; policy, process and justice. We also contribute a novel understanding of community acceptance as 'relational', by which we mean it is informed by the deployment of other energy technologies and the wider energy policy landscape, not just the specific project. We conclude with recommendations for how policymakers can respond to the issues identified by this article.
Philippa Roddis; Katy Roelich; Katherine Tran; Stephen Carver; Martin Dallimer; Guy Ziv. What shapes community acceptance of large-scale solar farms? A case study of the UK’s first ‘nationally significant’ solar farm. Solar Energy 2020, 209, 235 -244.
AMA StylePhilippa Roddis, Katy Roelich, Katherine Tran, Stephen Carver, Martin Dallimer, Guy Ziv. What shapes community acceptance of large-scale solar farms? A case study of the UK’s first ‘nationally significant’ solar farm. Solar Energy. 2020; 209 ():235-244.
Chicago/Turabian StylePhilippa Roddis; Katy Roelich; Katherine Tran; Stephen Carver; Martin Dallimer; Guy Ziv. 2020. "What shapes community acceptance of large-scale solar farms? A case study of the UK’s first ‘nationally significant’ solar farm." Solar Energy 209, no. : 235-244.
Retaining urban greenspaces is essential to ensure that cities remain liveable and resilient. However, greenspaces are usually given a low priority by many stakeholders. This means that greenspaces are often converted to other land-uses. Using social networks to understand how stakeholders interact, and influence one another, is increasingly acknowledged as a key tool in conservation and sustainable land management. Nevertheless, social networks are rarely studied in the context of urban greenspace conservation. We carry out a social network analysis of stakeholders affecting greenspace conservation in two fast growing cities in sub-Saharan Africa. We applied the Netmap method, which mixes visual networks with qualitative interviews, and carried out 23 interviews with stakeholders involved in urban planning and/or greenspace management. Although stakeholders such as non-governmental organisations were supportive of greenspace conservation, analyses revealed that no stakeholders actively protect greenspaces while having sufficient influence to change the plans or decision-making of others. Stakeholders thought that government and traditional leaders had negative, or at best, mixed impact on greenspace conservation. Even though some of these stakeholders recognised the multiple benefits that greenspaces provided, they were strongly influenced by economic pressures to develop land. A lack of support amongst influential stakeholders is undermining the conservation of greenspaces in African cities. To redress this, a better understanding of ways to change perceptions of greenspaces is needed. Additionally, governance structures that support collaboration and coordination should be promoted. Co-developing and communicating a context-specific evidence-base which emphasises the full economic benefits of greenspaces for multiple groups will also be essential to gain the support of influential stakeholders, and thus ensure that rapidly expanding cities in sub-Saharan African conserve greenspaces.
Solène Guenat; Andrew J. Dougill; Martin Dallimer. Social network analysis reveals a lack of support for greenspace conservation. Landscape and Urban Planning 2020, 204, 103928 .
AMA StyleSolène Guenat, Andrew J. Dougill, Martin Dallimer. Social network analysis reveals a lack of support for greenspace conservation. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2020; 204 ():103928.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSolène Guenat; Andrew J. Dougill; Martin Dallimer. 2020. "Social network analysis reveals a lack of support for greenspace conservation." Landscape and Urban Planning 204, no. : 103928.
Understanding the spatiotemporal characteristics of water yield and its influencing factors is important for water resources management. In this study, we used the seasonal water yield model (SWYM) to assess the spatiotemporal water yield changes of the Lhasa River Basin from 1990 to 2015, and analyzed its influencing factors by focusing on precipitation, land cover, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) change. We first examined the model through Morris screening sensitivity analysis and validated it with the observed flow data. Spatiotemporal variation of three indices of water yield, baseflow, quick flow, and local recharge were then assessed. Results showed that from 1990 to 2015, the baseflow, local recharge, and quick flow decreased by 67.03%, 80.21%, and 37.03%, respectively. The spatial pattern of water yield remained mostly unchanged. According to the contribution analysis, precipitation and NDVI change were the main factors affecting water yield in the Lhasa River Basin, while land cover change began to exert greater influence after 2010. A combination of climate change and human activities therefore drive water yield change, especially through vegetation change. Water resources management strategies should thus take into account the combination of rapidly changing climate and human activities.
Huiting Lu; Yan Yan; Jieyuan Zhu; Tiantian Jin; Guohua Liu; Gang Wu; Lindsay C. Stringer; Martin Dallimer. Spatiotemporal Water Yield Variations and Influencing Factors in the Lhasa River Basin, Tibetan Plateau. Water 2020, 12, 1498 .
AMA StyleHuiting Lu, Yan Yan, Jieyuan Zhu, Tiantian Jin, Guohua Liu, Gang Wu, Lindsay C. Stringer, Martin Dallimer. Spatiotemporal Water Yield Variations and Influencing Factors in the Lhasa River Basin, Tibetan Plateau. Water. 2020; 12 (5):1498.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHuiting Lu; Yan Yan; Jieyuan Zhu; Tiantian Jin; Guohua Liu; Gang Wu; Lindsay C. Stringer; Martin Dallimer. 2020. "Spatiotemporal Water Yield Variations and Influencing Factors in the Lhasa River Basin, Tibetan Plateau." Water 12, no. 5: 1498.
Nature-based health interventions (NBIs) for the treatment of poor mental health are becoming increasingly common, yet evidence to support their effectiveness is lacking. We conduct a pilot study of a six-week intervention, aiming to engage individuals with wetland nature for the treatment of anxiety and/or depression. We employed a mixed methods design, using questionnaires, focus groups and semi-structured interviews to evaluate the intervention from the perspective of participants (n = 16) and healthcare professionals (n = 2). Results demonstrate significant improvements in mental health across a range of indicators, including mental wellbeing (Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7), stress (Perceived Stress Scale) and emotional wellbeing (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule). Participants and healthcare professionals cited additional outcomes including improved physical health and reduced social isolation. The wetland site provided a sense of escape from participants’ everyday environments, facilitating relaxation and reductions in stress. Wetland staff knowledge of the natural world, transportation and group organisation also played a considerable role in the intervention’s success. These aspects should be considered in future and existing NBIs to maximise benefits to participants. We propose NBIs based in wetlands are an effective therapy option for individuals diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression.
Phoebe R. Maund; Katherine N. Irvine; Jonathan Reeves; Emily Strong; Ruth Cromie; Martin Dallimer; Zoe G. Davies. Wetlands for Wellbeing: Piloting a Nature-Based Health Intervention for the Management of Anxiety and Depression. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2019, 16, 4413 .
AMA StylePhoebe R. Maund, Katherine N. Irvine, Jonathan Reeves, Emily Strong, Ruth Cromie, Martin Dallimer, Zoe G. Davies. Wetlands for Wellbeing: Piloting a Nature-Based Health Intervention for the Management of Anxiety and Depression. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16 (22):4413.
Chicago/Turabian StylePhoebe R. Maund; Katherine N. Irvine; Jonathan Reeves; Emily Strong; Ruth Cromie; Martin Dallimer; Zoe G. Davies. 2019. "Wetlands for Wellbeing: Piloting a Nature-Based Health Intervention for the Management of Anxiety and Depression." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 22: 4413.
Urban green spaces (UGS) provide multiple ecosystem services to city residents and are often their only places to spend time in a natural environment. Rapid urbanisation poses difficult choices for city planners who frequently decide to prioritise built infrastructure over retaining or enhancing green spaces, not least because the value of green spaces is rarely recognised in policy and planning processes. This is particularly true in developing countries which face rapidly growing populations and trade-offs between the growing demand for built infrastructure and access to nature. We address the value of public UGS using both a monetary approach and a non-monetary approach. A Contingent Valuation (CV) survey was used to elicit householderś willingness-to-pay (WTP) for three different scenarios to enhance public UGS provision in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Scenarios were based on ongoing public debates on how to address the degradation and loss of existing park areas and on current plans to build new parks. The same survey also employed the Nature Relatedness (NR) scale, which measures individual cognitive attachment to nature, as a non-monetary valuation approach. Our findings showed that a high attachment to nature does not necessarily lead to higher WTP for improved provision of public UGS as WTP is constrained by household characteristics such as income, education and household size. We concluded that monetary valuation techniques could potentially underestimate the value attached to UGS by some population groups (e.g. rural migrants and pensioners) that attach great importance to UGS but whose values are not reflected in a high WTP. Thus, we argue that the assessment of the value of UGS would benefit from combining monetary and non-monetary approaches under various institutional contexts; and that this would be particularly important for cities in developing countries.
Rahat Sabyrbekov; Martin Dallimer; Stale Navrud. Nature affinity and willingness to pay for urban green spaces in a developing country. Landscape and Urban Planning 2019, 194, 103700 .
AMA StyleRahat Sabyrbekov, Martin Dallimer, Stale Navrud. Nature affinity and willingness to pay for urban green spaces in a developing country. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2019; 194 ():103700.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRahat Sabyrbekov; Martin Dallimer; Stale Navrud. 2019. "Nature affinity and willingness to pay for urban green spaces in a developing country." Landscape and Urban Planning 194, no. : 103700.
The conversion of natural, or seminatural, habitats to agricultural land and changes in agricultural land use are significant drivers of biodiversity loss. Within the context of land-sharing versus land-sparing debates, large-scale commercial agriculture is known to be detrimental to biodiversity, but the effects of small-scale subsistence farming on biodiversity are disputed. This poses a problem for sustainable land-use management in the Global South, where approximately 30% of farmland is small-scale. Following a rapid land redistribution program in Zimbabwe, we evaluated changes in avian biodiversity by examining richness, abundance, and functional diversity. Rapid land redistribution has, in the near term, resulted in increased avian abundance in newly farmed areas containing miombo woodland and open habitat. Conversion of seminatural ranched land to small-scale farms had a negative impact on larger-bodied birds, but species richness increased, and birds in some feeding guilds maintained or increased abundance. We found evidence that land-use change caused a shift in the functional traits of the communities present. However, functional analyses may not have adequately reflected the trait filtering effect of land redistribution on large species. Whether newly farmed landscapes in Zimbabwe can deliver multiple benefits in terms of food production and habitat for biodiversity in the longer term is an open question. When managing agricultural land transitions, relying on taxonomic measures of diversity, or abundance-weighted measures of function diversity, may obscure important information. If the value of smallholder-farmed land for birds is to be maintained or improved, it will be essential to ensure that a wide array of habitat types is retained alongside efforts to reduce hunting and persecution of large bird species.
Stephen Pringle; Ngoni Chiweshe; Peter R. Steward; Peter J. Mundy; Martin Dallimer. Rapid redistribution of agricultural land alters avian richness, abundance, and functional diversity. Ecology and Evolution 2019, 9, 12259 -12271.
AMA StyleStephen Pringle, Ngoni Chiweshe, Peter R. Steward, Peter J. Mundy, Martin Dallimer. Rapid redistribution of agricultural land alters avian richness, abundance, and functional diversity. Ecology and Evolution. 2019; 9 (21):12259-12271.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStephen Pringle; Ngoni Chiweshe; Peter R. Steward; Peter J. Mundy; Martin Dallimer. 2019. "Rapid redistribution of agricultural land alters avian richness, abundance, and functional diversity." Ecology and Evolution 9, no. 21: 12259-12271.
Ecosystems can buffer against adverse events and, by so doing, reduce the costs of risk-bearing to society; benefits which have been termed ‘insurance value’. Although the terminology is recent, the concept is older and has its roots in ecological resilience. However, a synthesis of studies through the lens of the insurance value concept is lacking. Here we fill this important knowledge gap by conducting a rapid evidence assessment on how, where and why the insurance value of ecosystems has been measured. The review highlighted the often substantial positive values that were associated with restoration, rehabilitation or avoidance of loss of natural ecosystems. However, many regions, ecosystems and hazards are not widely researched. Most studies focused on forests, agriculture and wetlands, often with an emphasis on habitat restoration to reduce flood risks. Over half the studies provided non-monetary or monetary estimates of value, reporting, for example, improved ecological function, achieved/achievable cost reductions or willingness-to-pay. Nevertheless, the evidence-base remains fragmentary and is characterised by inconsistent reporting of valuation methodologies. This precludes drawing general conclusions. We recommend that future studies of insurance value adopt a common approach to facilitate the development of a more robust evidence-base.
Martin Dallimer; Julia Martin-Ortega; Olivia Rendon; Stavros Afionis; Rosalind Bark; Iain J. Gordon; Jouni Paavola. Taking stock of the empirical evidence on the insurance value of ecosystems. Ecological Economics 2019, 167, 106451 .
AMA StyleMartin Dallimer, Julia Martin-Ortega, Olivia Rendon, Stavros Afionis, Rosalind Bark, Iain J. Gordon, Jouni Paavola. Taking stock of the empirical evidence on the insurance value of ecosystems. Ecological Economics. 2019; 167 ():106451.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMartin Dallimer; Julia Martin-Ortega; Olivia Rendon; Stavros Afionis; Rosalind Bark; Iain J. Gordon; Jouni Paavola. 2019. "Taking stock of the empirical evidence on the insurance value of ecosystems." Ecological Economics 167, no. : 106451.
Globally, the number of invasive alien species (IAS) continues to increase and management and policy responses typically need to be adopted before conclusive empirical evidence on their environmental and socioeconomic impacts are available. Consequently, numerous protocols exist for assessing IAS impacts and differ considerably in which evidence they include. However, inclusive strategies for building a transparent evidence base underlying IAS impact assessments are lacking, potentially affecting our ability to reliably identify priority IAS. Using alien parrots in Europe as a case study, here we apply an evidence-mapping scheme to classify impact evidence and evaluate the consequences of accepting different subsets of available evidence on impact assessment outcomes. We collected environmental and socioeconomic impact data in multiple languages using a “wiki-review” process, comprising a systematic evidence search and an online editing and consultation phase. Evidence was classified by parrot species, impact category (e.g. infrastructure), geographical area (e.g. native range), source type (e.g. peer-review), study design (e.g. experimental) and impact direction (deleterious, beneficial and no impact). Our comprehensive database comprised 386 impact entries from 233 sources. Most evidence was anecdotal (50%). A total of 42% of entries reported damage to agriculture (mainly in native ranges), while within Europe most entries concerned interspecific competition (39%). We demonstrate that the types of evidence included in assessments can strongly influence impact severity scores. For example, including evidence from the native range or anecdotal evidence resulted in an overall switch from minimal-moderate to moderate-major overall impact scores. We advise using such an evidence-mapping approach to create an inclusive and updatable database as the foundation for more transparent IAS impact assessments. When openly shared, such evidence-mapping can help better inform IAS research, management and policy.
Rachel L. White; Diederik Strubbe; Martin Dallimer; Zoe G. Davies; Amy Davis; Pim Edelaar; Jim Groombridge; Hazel A. Jackson; Mattia Menchetti; Emiliano Mori; Boris P. Nikolov; Liviu Parau; Živa F. Pečnikar; Tristan Pett; Luís Reino; Simon Tollington; Anne Turbé; Assaf Shwartz. Assessing the ecological and societal impacts of alien parrots in Europe using a transparent and inclusive evidence-mapping scheme. NeoBiota 2019, 48, 45 -69.
AMA StyleRachel L. White, Diederik Strubbe, Martin Dallimer, Zoe G. Davies, Amy Davis, Pim Edelaar, Jim Groombridge, Hazel A. Jackson, Mattia Menchetti, Emiliano Mori, Boris P. Nikolov, Liviu Parau, Živa F. Pečnikar, Tristan Pett, Luís Reino, Simon Tollington, Anne Turbé, Assaf Shwartz. Assessing the ecological and societal impacts of alien parrots in Europe using a transparent and inclusive evidence-mapping scheme. NeoBiota. 2019; 48 ():45-69.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRachel L. White; Diederik Strubbe; Martin Dallimer; Zoe G. Davies; Amy Davis; Pim Edelaar; Jim Groombridge; Hazel A. Jackson; Mattia Menchetti; Emiliano Mori; Boris P. Nikolov; Liviu Parau; Živa F. Pečnikar; Tristan Pett; Luís Reino; Simon Tollington; Anne Turbé; Assaf Shwartz. 2019. "Assessing the ecological and societal impacts of alien parrots in Europe using a transparent and inclusive evidence-mapping scheme." NeoBiota 48, no. : 45-69.