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Ecosystem services and community gardens in Prague
Růžičková, Lucie ; Spilková, Jana (advisor) ; Frélichová, Jana (referee)
Community gardens are a new phenomenon which appeared in Prague quite recently. This thesis focuses on the topic of community gardens and its specific aim is to determine whether the Prague community gardens perform the functions of ecosystem services. The thesis consists of two main parts. The first part aims to create a theoretical framework necessary for the introduction to the study of ecosystem services and the concept of urban gardening. The second part tries to outline which ecosystem services are the most prominent in the researched community gardens and which are the least covered, thus which community gardens in this performance of ecosystem services evaluated best and which the worst. By applying the method of field research and interview it has been confirmed that cultural ecosystem services are the most prominent benefit of community gardening for local communities in Prague. Other important functions that community gardens in this survey performed were supporting and regulating ecosystem services. Equally important is also the finding that community gardens perform the function of producing healthy food for local gardeners. Key words: ekosystem secvices, urban gardering, community gardens
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Evaluation of ecosystem integrity and services on regional level with the use of participatory approaches
Zelený, Jakub ; Vačkářová, Davina Elena (advisor) ; Pechanec, Vilém (referee) ; Harmáčková, Veronika Zuzana (referee)
TITLE: Evaluation of ecosystem integrity and services on regional level with the use of participatory approaches AUTHOR: Mgr. Jakub Zelený DEPARTMENT: Environmental studies SUPERVISOR: Mgr. Davina Elena Vačkářová, Ph.D. ABSTRACT: The presented work proposes and applies a set of methods designed to describe ecosystem integrity, services and landscape values, including their interaction, on the example of several studied regions. The included publications describes 4 types of methods for evaluating these phenomena: remote sensing of the Earth, regional statistics, expert matrices, and qualitative interviews and mapping. Applied methods can be divided into natural sciences and social sciences, and part of the work is to evaluate the benefits and compare the compatibility between these very different methods in evaluating selected elements of landscapes. The methods are applied in a variety of ranges, ranging from urban areas (10 km2) to the federal states. Natural ecosystems and forests have been assessed best in terms of ecosystem integrity, with the relationship between ecosystem integrity and crop production being negative. Qualitative mapping of landscape values revealed that pristine and inaccessible areas, as well as single- purpose sites, had low societal value in terms of intensity and / or diversity...
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Assesing the complience of nature conservation in the Czech republic with international strategic objectives
Daněk, Jan ; Vačkářová, Davina Elena (advisor) ; Kružíková, Eva (referee)
The subject of the master thesis is the assessment of the compliance of nature conservation in the Czech Republic with international strategic objectives, analysing the mainstreaming of biodiversity across government and society and analysing the fulfilment of the commitments rising for the Czech Republic as a member of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The thesis is focused on an assessment of strategic goal A of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its 4 Aichi targets related to the mainstreaming of biodiversity and ecosystem services in society and policy. The methodology used is a systematic search of available relevant documents and other related sources, especially the national reports from the Ministry of the Environment to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and other associated analysis and reports. Another aim of the thesis is summarizing the current state of the mainstreaming of biodiversity to governance and decision making and identifying the areas which are not included in the national strategic documents or are not included sufficiently. In addition to the theoretical analysis, the thesis suggests specific actions and indicators for reaching the targets included in the international strategic documents, particularly the Strategic plan of...
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The Garden as an Ecosystem: Gardens ecosystem services in Aš area by Gen X and Y gardeners perspectives
Hronová, Magdalena ; Rynda, Ivan (advisor) ; Skripnik, Ondřej (referee)
This thesis presents the view of two generations of gardeners in Aš region. In the theoretical part it deals with ecosystem services and their dual valuation. It also focuses on gardens and their development in history. It moreover describes gardens as an ecosystem and summarizes the ways in which the stability of this garden ecosystem can be promoted or reduced. It also looks at descriptions of Generation X and Y and their differences. The practical part of the thesis presents the main methods of the research, which is based on a qualitative method and data collection through semi-structured interviews and data analysis through framework analysis. In the empirical part, the interpretations of the statements of gardeners of two generations are presented in relation to the theoretical basis and compared. The results of the research describe which ecosystem services gardens provide to gardeners in the Aš region and the differences between the generations studied. Key words: gardening, gardens, Generation X, Generation Y, ecosystem services
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Assessment of climate change impacts on selected ecosystem services in the Czech Republic: application of land use scenarios
Lorencová, Eliška ; Vačkářová, Davina Elena (advisor) ; Müller, Karel (referee) ; Cudlín, Pavel (referee)
Doctoral thesis abstract Assessment of climate change impacts on selected ecosystem services in the Czech Republic: Application of land use scenarios MSc Eliška Lorencová Climate and land use change are recognized as the greatest global environmental problems. Both considerably impact delivery of crucial ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, water flow regulation, erosion control, and food and fibre production. By combining future projections of ALARM scenarios (for years 2020, 2050 and 2080) with modelling of ecosystem services, the study aims to evaluate climate change impact on selected ecosystem services (carbon storage and sequestration, erosion control and sediment retention) in the Czech Republic. This study provides quantitative as well as spatially explicit analysis of the impacts on selected ecosystem services in the Czech Republic. Performed ecosystem service assessment indicates that spatial distribution of provision of ecosystem services, such as carbon storage and sequestration, sediment retention reflects the projected future land use changes. In case of carbon sequestration, SEDG scenario shows the lowest carbon sequestration rates accounting for 37,029.6 Gg C within the period 2000-2080. Stable vegetation cover is one of the factors that play important role in amount of sediment...
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Assessing ecosystem services and the alternatives of their future development in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves
Harmáčková, Veronika Zuzana ; Vačkářová, Davina Elena (advisor) ; Cudlínová, Eva (referee) ; Pechanec, Vilém (referee)
The provision of ecosystem services within social-ecological systems is influenced by multiple environmental and anthropogenic driving forces, affecting natural ecosystems. At the same time, the capacity of ecosystems to concurrently provide different types of ecosystem services is inherently limited. Thus, ecosystem changes and their effect on ecosystem services have direct implications for human existence and well-being. The aim of this thesis is to present a modelling approach to assess regulating, provisioning and cultural ecosystem services and to quantify their potential trade-offs, illustrated by two case studies carried out in selected UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in the Czech Republic, Třeboň Basin Biosphere Reserve and Šumava Biosphere Reserve. Both of the selected case study areas are characterized by high levels of natural and cultural assets and challenges regarding future landscape management. In this study, first the social-ecological dynamics within the study areas was analysed by creating participative scenarios through collaboration with local stakeholders, eliciting their preferences regarding future landscape development to 2050. Second, the impact of the scenarios on ecosystem services and their trade-offs were assessed using a combination of spatially explicit models and...
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Contribution of arbuscular mycorrhiza to ecosystem services in agroecosystems
Šabatková, Zuzana ; Janoušková, Martina (advisor) ; Kohout, Petr (referee)
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are significant plant mutualists providing their host plants with many benefits. For efficient use of arbuscular mycorrhiza in agricultural systems, it is important to understand factors, which can influence the beneficial effects of the symbiosis, and how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi alter plant physiological mechanisms. If used correctly, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi could importantly contribute to various ecosystem services in agroecosystems and thus alleviate yield losses and decrease the negative impact of agriculture on ecosystems. This thesis summarizes the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on crop plants in agroecosystems, their occurence in agricultural systems, particularly in arable soils, as well as their contribution to selected ecosystem services in agroecosystems. Key words: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, ecosystem services, agroecosystem, soil formation, environmental stress, plant resistence
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Ecosystem services in environmental policy and decision-making in the Czech Republic
Daněk, Jan
In response to the increasing popularity of the ecosystem services concept among scholars and policy makers\non the international level, it has become time to analyse the current state and possibilities for national\npolicy and decision-making in reflecting this concept. This article presents a sneak preview of research\nfocused on content analysis of environmental policy documents. Two current and one outdated climate\nchange policy document are analysed regarding notions of the ecosystem services concept and other aspects\nof an ecosystem-based approach. The output data show contrasting results, with the Adaptation\nStrategy scoring very high compared to the Climate Protection Policy, which almost does not reflect the\necosystem services or related ecosystem approach. Implications of the results and the entire context of the\nresearch are discussed in respective sections.
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Urban ecosystem services in climate change mitigation
Štecová, I. ; Kluvánková, T. ; Pavelka, Marian
Climate change and global warming rapidly affect urban residents’ well-being. More than 72% of Europeans\nlive in urban environments, and their well-being is closely related to environmental quality. How cities are\nplanned and structured can exacerbate the negative effects of climate change even as natural elements and\ngreen areas are shrinking. The impact of high temperature on human health during heat waves will be one of\nthe most serious problems associated with climate change, and especially in large urban areas. Heat islands\nare mainly due to high concentration and large areas of impermeable surfaces, low moisture, few green areas,\nand poor ventilation. We present results from measuring heat islands at two locations in Bratislava and interview\nkey actors from three cities to identify risk perception regarding climate change. Expected results aim\nto mainstream ecosystem services into spatial planning in cities in support of operationalizing microclimatic\nfunction of green infrastructure to mitigate negative impact of climate change in cities.
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Defining the Basic Socio-ecological Landscapes Types in the Czech Republic in the Context of Ecosystem Service Provision
Spustová, Kateřina ; Vačkářová, Davina Elena (advisor) ; Romportl, Dušan (referee)
Current approaches of anthropogenic impact on the ecosystems and ecosystem services are within the scope of this master's thesis. The aim of the thesis is, on the basis of current landscape classifications, landscape typologies, and their combination with approaches of ecosystem services classification, to appoint socio-ecological units as functional socio-ecological types of the territory. In other words, on the basis of classification listed, this thesis attempts to prove, that socio-ecological units are functional socio-ecological types of the territory, which should be given proper attention. Socio-ecological landscapes are defined according to degree of anthropogenic impact, selected socioeconomic characteristics, and selected ecosystem services. The thesis focuses on three of four categories of ecosystem services defined in Millennium Ecosystem Assessment - provisioning services, regulating services, and cultural services. As a methodology, the quantitative research was chosen. The research was carried out by data collection and the analysis of statistical data of Czech Statistical Office, Czech Office for Surveying, Mapping and Cadastre, and Statistical Yearbook of Soil Services. The thesis main finding is that social and ecological components of socio-ecological systems are in mutual...
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