As an important ecosystem type in the coastal zone, mangroves have important ecological functions, such as maintaining coastal biodiversity, preventing wind and consolidating the coast, promoting silt and building land. It is of great significance to understand the protected status of mangroves in the context of climate change and rapid urbanization. Based on the mangrove classification data from remote sensing interpretation, through vacancy analysis, the in-situ protection status of mangroves in China is analyzed. The results show that the total area of mangroves distributed in China is 264 km² (excluding the statistical data of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), of which 61.4% are protected in natural reserves. In terms of the main provinces where mangroves are distributed, the mangrove area distributed in Hainan Province is small but the protection proportion is high, while the mangrove area distributed in Guangxi and Guangdong Province is large but the proportion of protected areas is relatively low. Among the three mangrove types, Rhizophora apiculate-Xylocarpus granatum and Rhizophora stylosa-Bruguiera gymnorrhiza had high proportions (>90%) covered by reserves, but relatively small areas. In contrast, Kandelia candel-Aegiceras corniculatum-Avicennia marina had relatively low reserve coverage (52.6%), but a large area. The study puts forward the key areas of mangrove distribution outside the nature reserve, and suggests that they should be protected by delimiting ecological protection red lines.

This study investigates the escalating complexity and unpredictability of global supply chains, with a particular emphasis on resilience in the agricultural sector of Antioquia, Colombia. The aim of the study is to identify and analyze the dynamic capabilities, specifically flexibility and adaptability that significantly enhance resilience within agri-food supply chains. Given the sector’s vulnerability to external disruptions, such as climate change and economic volatility, a thorough understanding of these capabilities is imperative for the formulation of effective risk management strategies. This research is essential to provide empirical insights that can inform stakeholders on fortifying their supply chains, thereby contributing to enhanced competitiveness and sustainability. By presenting a comprehensive framework for evaluating dynamic capabilities, this study not only addresses existing gaps in the literature but also offers practical recommendations aimed at bolstering resilience in the agricultural sector.

The success of a city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) depends on a combination of interconnected factors that foster innovation, collaboration and growth. Urban planning, infrastructure management and an entrepreneurial culture are essential factors for the success of cities’ Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EEs). Land use and infrastructure management create opportunities for growth and industry expansion. EEs are local, social, business, institutional and cultural stakeholders that encourage and enhance the formation and growth of new businesses, which are supported by enabling infrastructure. The objective of this study was to investigate how urban planning affects EEs in the metropolitan region, Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB), South Africa. NMB is known for poor land use management, which hinders the management of diverse spatial needs, as well as bureaucratic processes for land rezoning for commercial activity. In order to better understand the fundamental issues, a qualitative case study was conducted. The data were collected from fifteen economic development role players from NMB using semi-structured interviews combined with secondary data from the NMB Integrated Development Plan (IDP). The data analysis included thematic analysis using Atlas.ti and Claude 2.0. In order to validate the findings, qualitative data were cross-referenced with secondary sources from the NMB IDP. The key themes that emerged effect the NMB metropole’s management of infrastructure to support the EE. These include, Land use issues, Poor oversight by metropolitan leadership, Lack of infrastructure maintenance and pushing out potential investment and economic growth. The results highlight that the NMB metropole fails to prioritise land use and infrastructure challenges, impacting the NMB metropolitan area’s economic development and worsening inequality among different groups. The findings from this study add to the current research on cities’ EEs and The Right to the City Theory, which supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals 8, 9 and 11.

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is profoundly transforming the information ecosystem, reshaping the ways in which information is produced, distributed, and consumed. This study explores the impact of AI on the information environment, examining the challenges and opportunities for sustainable development in the age of AI. The research is motivated by the need to address the growing concerns about the reliability and sustainability of the information ecosystem in the face of AI-driven changes. Through a comprehensive analysis of the current AI landscape, including a review of existing literature and case studies, the study diagnoses the social implications of AI-driven changes in information ecosystems. The findings reveal a complex interplay between technological innovation and social responsibility, highlighting the need for collaborative governance strategies to navigate the tensions between the benefits and risks of AI. The study contributes to the growing discourse on AI governance by proposing a multi-stakeholder framework that emphasizes the importance of inclusive participation, transparency, and accountability in shaping the future of information. The research offers actionable insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society organizations seeking to foster a trustworthy and inclusive information environment in the era of AI, while harnessing the potential of AI-driven innovations for sustainable development.

Ecological environment damage events will destroy or damage the balance between animal and plant habitats and ecosystems, and even pose a threat to China’s ecological security. However, at present, there are some problems in the identification and evaluation of forest ecosystem damage, such as imperfect evaluation system, insufficient quantitative evaluation methods, imperfect damage compensation management system, and lack of analysis of the overall damage of the interaction between human activities and forest ecosystem. Based on the damaged object, the system involves a total of four first-class indicators, including physical damage, mental damage, economic forest fruit loss, forest by-products loss, processing and manufacturing loss, forest tourism loss, scientific research literature and history loss, soil conservation loss, water conservation loss, wind prevention and sand fixation loss, carbon fixation and oxygen release loss, atmospheric purification loss. There are 14 secondary indicators of emergency treatment fee and investigation and evaluation fee, as well as 22 tertiary indicators, and the value quantification method of each indicator is clarified by using market value method, alternative cost method, shadow engineering method, recovery cost method and other methods. The article also discusses the management system of forest ecosystem damage from the two aspects of forestry technology department and judicial administration department. The purpose is to provide reference for the quantification and standardization of forest ecosystem damage assessment technology and the improvement of management system.

Nowadays, urban ecosystems require major transformations aimed at addressing the current challenges of urbanization. In recent decades, policy makers have increasingly turned their attention to the smart city paradigm, recognizing its potential to promote positive changes. The smart city, through the conscious use of technologies and sustainability principles, allows for urban development. The scientific literature on smart cities as catalysts of public value continues to develop rapidly and there is a need to systematize its knowledge structure. Through a three-phase methodological approach, combining bibliometric, network and content analyses, this study provides a systematic review of the scientific literature in this field. The bibliometric results showed that public value is experiencing an evolutionary trend in smart cities, representing a challenging research topic for scholars. Network analysis of keyword co-occurrences identified five different clusters of related topics in the analyzed field. Content analysis revealed a strong focus on stakeholder engagement as a lever to co-create public value and a greater emphasis on social equity over technological innovation and environmental protection. Furthermore, it was observed that although environmental concerns were prioritized during the policy planning phase, their importance steadily decreased as the operational phases progressed.