<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The ability of natural systems to provide services is critical to the sustainability of the environment. The increasing environmental pressures necessitate the creation of conditions conducive to the preservation and sustainability of natural ecosystems. A review of similar studies reveals that when evaluating ecosystem services, more consideration should be given to evaluating ecosystem stability. The Ukrainian Biosphere Reserve was chosen as the study polygon due to its importance as a conservation area and the diversity of natural ecosystems. The Analytical Hierarchy Method, in this case, provides a very straightforward way to analyze such complicated systems. The first step is to identify and value the services offered by the Biosphere Reserve’s wetland, forest, and aquatic ecosystems. Then, four criteria (C1–C4) and impacts (P1–Pn) that directly affect the ecological sustainability of a certain ecosystem within each criterion were identified. The overall weight of each impact on specific ecosystem sustainability was computed and estimated to reach the main goal (G). The integrated ecological stability evaluation index (CEI) was then calculated using the overall weight values. Wetland and forest ecosystem indices were calculated to be 0.63 and 0.64, indicating that these systems are moderately stable. The stability index for aquatic ecosystems is 0.75, indicating that the system is ecologically stable. As a result, it is critical to focus on reducing negative factors affecting wetlands and forest ecosystems, such as sylvatization and/or recreational activities, to strengthen ecosystem stability and the ability to provide services.</p>
</abstract>

The ability of natural systems to provide services is critical to the sustainability of the environment. The increasing environmental pressures necessitate the creation of conditions conducive to the preservation and sustainability of natural ecosystems. A review of similar studies reveals that when evaluating ecosystem services, more consideration should be given to evaluating ecosystem stability. The Ukrainian Biosphere Reserve was chosen as the study polygon due to its importance as a conservation area and the diversity of natural ecosystems. The Analytical Hierarchy Method, in this case, provides a very straightforward way to analyze such complicated systems. The first step is to identify and value the services offered by the Biosphere Reserve’s wetland, forest, and aquatic ecosystems. Then, four criteria (C1–C4) and impacts (P1–Pn) that directly affect the ecological sustainability of a certain ecosystem within each criterion were identified. The overall weight of each impact on specific ecosystem sustainability was computed and estimated to reach the main goal (G). The integrated ecological stability evaluation index (CEI) was then calculated using the overall weight values. Wetland and forest ecosystem indices were calculated to be 0.63 and 0.64, indicating that these systems are moderately stable. The stability index for aquatic ecosystems is 0.75, indicating that the system is ecologically stable. As a result, it is critical to focus on reducing negative factors affecting wetlands and forest ecosystems, such as sylvatization and/or recreational activities, to strengthen ecosystem stability and the ability to provide services.

Analytical Hierarchy Method for Evaluating the Environmental Sustainability in the Context of Ecosystem Services Enhancing: A Case Study of the Biosphere Reserve, Ukraine

Environmental and Climate Technologies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The ability of natural systems to provide services is critical to the sustainability of the environment. The increasing environmental pressures necessitate the...

Analytical Hierarchy Method for Evaluating the Environmental Sustainability in the Context of Ecosystem Services Enhancing: A Case Study of the Biosphere Reserve, Ukraine

Published Online: Dec 15, 2023

Page range: 912 - 927

Received: Feb 12, 2023

Accepted: Nov 01, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2023-0067

Keywords
Ecosystem stability, hierarchy structure, natural ecosystem, pairwise comparison, matrix

© 2023 Bohdan Rusyn et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Analytical Hierarchy Method for Evaluating the Environmental Sustainability in the Context of Ecosystem Services Enhancing: A Case Study of the Biosphere Reserve, Ukraine

Published Online: Dec 15, 2023

Page range: 912 - 927

Received: Feb 12, 2023

Accepted: Nov 01, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2023-0067

KeywordsEcosystem stability, hierarchy structure, natural ecosystem, pairwise comparison, matrix

© 2023 Bohdan Rusyn et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Ecosystem stability, hierarchy structure, natural ecosystem, pairwise comparison, matrix