Nature-based recreation substantially benefits human wellbeing, for example, by improving physical and mental health. However, recreation can also have severe ecological impacts. The recreational value of landscapes and natural areas is often used to generate support for public spending in...

The main objectives of the European Union (EU) Bathing Water Directive (BWD) 2006/7/EC are to safeguard public health and protect designated aquatic environments from microbial pollution. The BWD is implemented through legislation by individual EU Member States and uses faecal indicator organisms...

Biosphere reserves have been studied around the world, but methods to elicit community's values, worldviews and perceptions are missing. A greater understanding of these can help avoid tension and improve successful management. This paper used a mixed-methods survey to elicit local community's...

This proceedings includes seven papers which try to elucidate recreation and tourism phenomena relevant for policy and management of forest and nature areas. These papers discuss policy and research on access of ethnic minority groups to natural areas, public preferences for structural attributes...

Aquaculture is an important industry for rural Scotland, in particular for the west coast and the islands. Tourism is also important to Scotland's economy and depends heavily on the country's landscape. Targeted research was undertaken to assess whether fish farming impacts tourism in coastal areas ...

It is widely recognized that healthy ecosystems can provide considerable benefits to people, including food, timber, freshwater, protection from floods and much of what we call quality of life. A global review of these ecosystem services carried out as part of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment...

This Technical Report details the methods used to estimate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the data on which estimates of each emission source are based, any assumptions used to fill gaps, discussion of issues associated with improvement in estimates and possible options and areas for focus for an...

Public rights of way (PROW) in England provide a range of social and economic benefits by allowing people to follow prescribed routes across land belonging to others. In urban areas they provide networks of mobility and interaction, helping to reduce reliance on motorised transport. In the rural...