Contribution of Citizens to Preserving Local Freshwater Ecosystems

Feio, Maria João; Ranta, Elina; Odume, Oghenekaro Nelson

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-70061-8_188-1

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…To guarantee the success of any of these approaches it is also essential to promote and incentivize the values of nature and biodiversity across all sectors of society using integrative approaches drawing on diverse disciplines and integrating values and ethics (Feio, Ranta, et al, 2021 ; Odume & de Wet, 2019 ). Human societies are growing more disconnected from nature, however, environmental education, citizen science and citizen involvement in natural areas governance can increase ecosystem knowledge and improve the understanding of the services a healthy ecosystem provides humanity, reduce fears of nature, increase nature preservation, and improve social cohesion (Aslanimehr et al, 2018 ; Feio et al, 2022 ; Mattiijssen et al, 2018 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages reveal extensive degradation of the world's rivers

Feio

Hughes

Serra

et al. 2022

Global Change Biology

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Rivers suffer from multiple stressors acting simultaneously on their biota, but the consequences are poorly quantified at the global scale. We evaluated the biological condition of rivers globally, including the largest proportion of countries from the Global South published to date. We gathered macroinvertebrate‐ and fish‐based assessments from 72,275 and 37,676 sites, respectively, from 64 study regions across six continents and 45 nations. Because assessments were based on differing methods, different systems were consolidated into a 3‐class system: Good, Impaired, or Severely Impaired, following common guidelines. The proportion of sites in each class by study area was calculated and each region was assigned a Köppen‐Geiger climate type, Human Footprint score (addressing landscape alterations), Human Development Index (HDI) score (addressing social welfare), % rivers with good ambient water quality, % protected freshwater key biodiversity areas; and % of forest area net change rate. We found that 50% of macroinvertebrate sites and 42% of fish sites were in Good condition, whereas 21% and 29% were Severely Impaired, respectively. The poorest biological conditions occurred in Arid and Equatorial climates and the best conditions occurred in Snow climates. Severely Impaired conditions were associated (Pearson correlation coefficient) with higher HDI scores, poorer physico‐chemical water quality, and lower proportions of protected freshwater areas. Good biological conditions were associated with good water quality and increased forested areas. It is essential to implement statutory bioassessment programs in Asian, African, and South American countries, and continue them in Oceania, Europe, and North America. There is a need to invest in assessments based on fish, as there is less information globally and fish were strong indicators of degradation. Our study highlights a need to increase the extent and number of protected river catchments, preserve and restore natural forested areas in the catchments, treat wastewater discharges, and improve river connectivity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages reveal extensive degradation of the world's rivers

Feio

Hughes

Serra

et al. 2022

Global Change Biology

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“…Many authors emphasize the importance of high-quality data and digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, in monitoring healthcare from various perspectives: a more specific reference to their capacity to address One Health-related complex challenges can be found in Ho [16], who explores the potential of digital tools via the collection and processing of real-time data, in various domains such as agriculture and conservation biology, towards, e.g., early detection of infections. A similar point of view is also tackled by the survey paper of the special section, authored by Scott et al, in describing the role of digital technologies in surveillance systems as a pre-requisite for a "new wave" of public education (the so-called citizen science: see, e.g., [19]) to ensure societal preparedness for necessary tracing in future pandemics [20]. The improvement of health and healthcare through the use of information technology applications [17] is also analyzed in terms of correct access to health-related information.…”

Section: Health Improvement Via Digital Technologymentioning

confidence: 95%

Leveraging Data and Technology to Enhance Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Health Outcomes

Tamburis,

Benis

2023

Yearb Med Inform

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Objective: To give an overview of recent research and propose a selection of best papers published in 2022 in Informatics for One Health. Methods: An extensive search using PubMed and Web of Science was conducted to identify peer-reviewed articles published between December 2021 and December 2022, in order to find relevant publications in the ‘Informatics for One Health’ field. The selection process comprised three steps: (i) eight candidate best papers were first selected by the two section editors; (ii) external reviewers from internationally renowned research teams reviewed each candidate best paper; and (iii) the editorial committee of the Yearbook conducted the final best paper selection. Results: The candidate best papers represent studies that characterized significant challenges facing Informatics for One Health. Other trends of interest related to the deployment of medical artificial intelligence tools and the implementation of the FAIR principles within the One Health broad scenario. In general, papers identified in the search fell into one of the following categories: 1) Health improvement via digital technology; 2) Climate change/Environment/Biodiversity; and 3) Maturity of healthcare services. Conclusion: The topic turns extremely important in the next future for what concerns the need to understand complex interactions in order to safeguard the health of populations and ecosystems.

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“…In view of these, the environmental educational project CresceRio was created in 2018 in the city of Coimbra, Portugal, assuming the urgency to promote the preservation and restoration of urban streams, to reconnect the population of the city with nature, and the importance of children as present and future agents of transformation of societies ([ 34 ]; https://www.facebook.com/cresceriocoimbra/ ). During their primary school years, the same children participate in field and laboratory activities aiming to show them: 1) the unknown urban stream ecosystems near their schools and homes, their biodiversity and services; and 2) the problems of these streams resulting from anthropogenic pressures, and plan solutions through hands-on activities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of environmental education on the knowledge of aquatic ecosystems and reconnection with nature in early childhood

et al. 2022

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Blue and green ecosystems are considered a key for the improvement of cities sustainability, providing numerous ecosystem services and habitat for many species. However, urban streams are still neglected and degraded, specially in southern European countries. One important step towards the rehabilitation of these ecosystems is the awareness of their importance by citizens. This study aimed to assess the effect of 1-year of activities (field and laboratory) of an environmental education project on primary school children, in improving their knowledge on urban stream ecosystems and their problems. We analyzed students’ questionnaires before and after field and laboratory activities, drawings and group interviews. Initially, most children had incipient contact with rivers and streams, showing fears and lack of knowledge about them. As the project progressed, their perceptions changed, with a clear increase in the proportion of students recognizing the biodiversity associated to rivers (e.g., names of riparian trees, aquatic plants and invertebrates). Also, their fears decreased significantly, while their awareness to the impacts of artificialization and lack of riparian vegetation increased. Our results show that direct contact with nature have a positive role in the way it is understood by children, as well as promoting responsible and sustainable behaviors, being effective from the early primary-school years.

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Contribution of Citizens to Preserving Local Freshwater Ecosystems

Cited by 3 publications

References 35 publications

Fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages reveal extensive degradation of the world's rivers

Fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages reveal extensive degradation of the world's rivers

Leveraging Data and Technology to Enhance Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Health Outcomes

Effect of environmental education on the knowledge of aquatic ecosystems and reconnection with nature in early childhood

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