https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/964 2026-10-28T21:46:36Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3984 Soil development under different tree species in relation to tree properties, a case study from post-mining sites in Eastern Germany Buchbauerová, Lucie; Lange, C. A.; Heinkele, T.; Cajthaml, Tomáš; Frouz, Jan Mining, and open cast mining in particular, causes severe environmental damage. Original soils are excavated and/or buried under layers of overburden. Afforestation of degraded post-mining land may support de novo soil formation in the post-mining overburden. In this study, we explore properties of soils developing on sandy post-mining overburden in former opencast coal mine Domsdorf in the eastern part of Germany, planted with seven tree species, pine (Pinus sylvestris), larch (Larix decidua), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), red oak (Quercus rubra), birch (Betula pendula), lime (Tilia cordata), and alder (Alnus glutinosa). In these tree species-specific plots, we studied soil C and N stocks in the organic horizon and mineral soil, determined pH and content of available nutrients, and explored the microbial community using phospholipid fatty acids and earthworm activity in thin soil sections. Soil parameters were related to tree parameters, diameter at breast height (DBH), pigments, nitrogen balance index (NBI), and C:N ratio of the foliage. Foliage C:N ratio decreased in the order of the trees listed above, while red oak showed the highest DBH and sessile oak the lowest DBH. The highest C content was observed under pine with the highest foliage C:N ratio and organic horizon accumulation, followed by birch with the highest earthworm activity. The organic horizon mass closely correlated with foliage C:N ratio. C and N accumulation in the mineral soil was the highest under birch and closely correlated with DBH. Availability of Ca2+ and other basic cations as well as pH is particularly high under red oak and larch. The presence of fungi positively correlated with foliage C::N ratio. Earthworm bioturbation positively correlated with pH and Ca2+ content. The overall results suggest that trees with various properties support various prevailing mechanisms of soil formation and accumulation of soil organic matter. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3730 Education for Sustainable Consumption (ESC) Dlouhá, Jana Vaughter, Philip; Park, Jonghwi; Pham, Nancy The chapter describes the case study of the Czech educational program focused on sustainable consumption and production (SCP) that was realized in cooperation of two universities with a non-governmental organization.SCP is a critical aspect of sustainable development that addresses the negative environmental and social impacts of human activities that deplete natural resources and produce waste. This can help to ensure that the needs of the present generation are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It also creates a more resilient and equitable world by reducing poverty, promoting economic growth,and improving human wellbeing. The United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) has been actively working to advance SCP through several initiatives; this publication is one of them. It describes SCP as realized by the Regional Centres of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCEs). RCEs are a network of organisations and individuals working together to promote sustainable development through education. They work to integrate SCP principles into both formal and non-formal education systems and support the development of education initiatives that raise awareness, understanding, and effective implementation. By engaging a wide variety of stakeholders - including schools and universities, local businesses, government agencies, and community groups - RCEs demonstrate the benefits of SCP and encourage practical action. In formal education, RCEs are helping schools to integrate SCP into the curriculums for subjects such as geography, science, economics, and social studies, to raise awareness and understanding of the issue among students. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3071 National mapping and assessment of ecosystem services projects in Europe - Participants' experiences, state of the art and lessons learned Vari, Agnes; Adamescu, Cristian Mihai; Balzan, Mario; Gocheva, Kremena; Goetzl, Martin; Grunewald, Karsten; Inacio, Miguel; Linder, Madli; Obiang-Ndong, Gregory; Pereira, Paulo; Santos-Martin, Fernando; Sieber, Ina; Stepniewska, Malgorzata; Tanacs, Eszter; Termansen, Mette; Tromeur, Eric; Vačkářová, Davina Elena; Czucz, Balint Backed by the Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 and 2030, numerous 'Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystem Services' (MAES) projects have been completed in recent years in the member states of the European Union, with substantial results and insights accumulated. The experience from the different approaches is a valuable source of information for developing assessment processes further, especially with regard to their uptake into policy and more recently, into ecosystem accounting. Systematic approaches towards best practices and lessons learned from national MAES projects are yet lacking. This study presents the results of a survey conducted with participants of national MAES projects overviewing 13 European MAES processes. Focus hereby is put on the types of methods used, the assessed ecosystem services, and the perceived challenges and advancements. All MAES projects assessed ecosystem services at several levels of the ecosystem service cascade (69% at least three levels), using a diverse set of data sources and methods (with 4.7 types of methods on average). More accessible data was used more frequently (e.g., statistical and literature data being the most popular). Challenges regarding policy uptake, synthesizing results, and data gaps or reliability were perceived as the most severe. Insufficient evaluation of uncertainty was seen as a major critical point, and emphasized as crucial for uptake and implementation. Moving towards accounting for ES in the frame of environmental -economic accounts, considering uncertainties of ES assessments should be even more important. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14178/3070 Exploring Motivations for Cannabis Use in Casual Leisure: a German Perspective Ghvanidze, Sophie; Ščasný, Milan; Kang, Soo K.; Hanf, Jon H. Cannabis is a popular leisure activity in many cultures, especially in North America and Europe, where it is commonly used for socializing and entertainment. A recent German study employed the Marijuana Motives Measure to survey young adults, analyzing four motivational factors in the context of casual leisure. The research aimed to understand the reasons behind adults' daily cannabis use, its link to consumption frequency, and situations. The findings highlight cannabis use for hedonic pleasure, relaxation, and enhancing social experiences. Individuals driven by self-focused motives, seeking relaxation and hedonic pleasure, tend to use it more frequently, while other-focused motives, such as sociable conversation, are associated with less frequent and occasional consumption. The study further revealed that people who consume cannabis for self-focused motives typically do so alone or with someone at home, whereas those who use it for other-focused motives, such as sociable conversation, tend to do so in social settings. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z