This paper develops a framework for improved mainstreaming of ecosystem science in policy and decision-making within a spatial planning context. Ecosystem science is advanced as a collective umbrella to capture a body of work and approaches rooted in social-ecological systems thinking, spawning a distinctive ecosystem terminology: ecosystem approach, ecosystem services, ecosystem services framework and natural capital.

Where rights over natural resources are contested, the effectiveness of conservation may be undermined and it can be difficult to estimate the welfare impacts of conservation restrictions on local people. In particular, researchers face the dilemma of estimating respondents’ Willingness To Pay (WTP) for rights to resources, or their Willingness To Accept (WTA) compensation for foregoing these rights.

Forest conversion in the tropics is increasingly driven by global demand for agricultural forest-risk commodities such as soy, beef, palm oil and timber. In order to be effective, future forest conservation policies should include measures targeting both producers (the supply side) and consumers (the demand side) to address commodity-driven deforestation.

The focus in this paper is on two relatively large maize-based contract farming (CF) schemes with fixed input packages (Masara and Akate) and a number of smaller and more flexible CF schemes in a remote region in Ghana (Upper West). Results show that these schemes led to improved technology adoption and yield increases. In addition, a subset of maize farmers with high yield improvements due to CF participation had high gross margins. However, on average, yields were not high enough to compensate for higher input requirements and cost of capital.

As the area invaded by Sosnowsky’s hogweed increased in Rezekne Municipality, an increasing number of local residents, including agricultural land owners/managers could suffer from coming into contact with this plant. According to research studies, invasive species promote uncontrolled changes in the ecosystem, endangering agriculture and negatively affecting the economy. The research aim is to examine the spread of Sosnowsky's hogweed and the opinions of local residents on the control of this invasive species in Rezekne Municipality.

The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the influence of edge effect on vegetation succession in black alder forests. 30 permanent study plots with size of 20×50 m were established with strips at several distances from the edge towards the center of the stand. Stands in study plots fell into three categories – with adjacent clearcut to S or SW created up to 10, 20-40 or more than 41 year ago. In all study plots living trees and dead wood was measured and vegetation was described by layers and the presence of rare epiphytic lichens was recorded.

The paper presents the problematic of the merge and exchange processes of land under the following programmes of agricultural land consolidation. By consolidating of land, there was activity for better creation of rural space in order to achieve comprehensive improvement of conditions for farming. According to the Act (1982) there were taken activities to shape the structure of the area, the rational design of land distribution, adjust the boundaries of the property to the system of water management facilities, construction of roads and terrain.

Land as a production factor occupies a special position in the economic activities of the urban population. Land resources in big cities are not only territorial basis for placing industrial and production structures, but also a space for urban life in general. However, to assess the effectiveness of urban land use, primarily the ecological and economic potential of the use of the urban land resources should be determined aimed at sustainable development of urban agglomerations (Volodchenkov, 2010).