Journal of Arid Environments最新文献

{"title":"The Safe and Just Space framework: Conceptual evolution, research progress and future directions","authors":"Zhengyang Wang,&nbsp;Wenwu Zhao,&nbsp;Zizhao Ni,&nbsp;Peishen Zhai,&nbsp;Michael E. Meadows","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105705","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105705","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Safe and Just Space (SJS) framework integrates ecological ceilings and social foundations to define the conditions under which human development can remain both environmentally sustainable and socially equitable. Although interest in SJS has grown rapidly, research remains fragmented across planetary boundaries, the doughnut economy, social–ecological systems governance and sustainability transitions. Consequently, a comprehensive synthesis of the conceptual evolution, research themes and future directions of SJS is still lacking. This study combines bibliometric analysis with a critical literature review to synthesize the conceptual evolution, thematic development, and major advances in SJS research, and to identify priorities for future research. The results show that SJS research began by defining ecological ceilings through the planetary boundaries and safe operating space frameworks, expanded to incorporate social foundations through the doughnut model, and subsequently evolved through concepts such as the safe and just corridor and safe and just Earth system boundaries, which emphasize transition pathways, justice principles, and human well-being. Research has evolved from identifying environmental limits to assessing coupled social–ecological systems, and more recently to translating SJS concepts into policy and place-based sustainability practice. Existing studies mainly focus on boundary quantification and localization of SJS, interaction mechanisms between ecological ceilings and social foundations, and scenario analysis for governance applications. However, several key challenges remain, including the equitable translation of global boundaries across spatial scales, limited understanding of boundary dynamics and long-term scenario simulation, unclear linkages among ecological safety, social justice, and human well-being, and inadequate representation of the dynamics of coupled human–nature system evolution. Future research should focus on developing equitable principles for translating global boundaries to regional and local scales, strengthening the identification of dynamic boundary changes and long-term sustainability pathways, clarifying the relationships between ecological safety, social justice, and human well-being, and advancing analytical frameworks for coupled human–nature systems. Collectively, these efforts will help shift SJS research from boundary identification towards understanding long-term sustainability transitions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 105705"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148737922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Provenance-dependent seed–fungus interactions enhance germination in the arid-zone cactus Opuntia streptacantha","authors":"Israel Cruz-Jiménez,&nbsp;María de la Luz Guerrero-González,&nbsp;Joel Flores,&nbsp;José Arturo De-Nova,&nbsp;Pablo Delgado-Sánchez","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105724","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105724","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seed dormancy limits recruitment in many cactus species by restricting germination even under favorable environmental conditions. In <em>Opuntia streptacantha</em>, dormancy is reinforced by physiological constraints and the lignified endocarp, which imposes a strong mechanical barrier. We evaluated whether seed-associated fungi influence germination across eight Mexican populations. In Experiment 1, germination was higher in non-surface-sterilized seeds than in surface-sterilized seeds, suggesting a facilitative role of naturally occurring seed-associated microorganisms. In Experiment 2, seeds were inoculated with <em>Trichoderma gamsii</em>, <em>Cladosporium cladosporioides</em>, and <em>Fusarium chlamydosporum</em>. Fungal treatments increased germination relative to controls, with <em>F. chlamydosporum</em> showing the strongest positive effect under experimental conditions (up to 78%). Significant provenance × treatment interactions indicated that the magnitude of fungal effects differed among seed sources, highlighting intraspecific variation in seed–microbe interactions. Scanning electron microscopy revealed fungal colonization and localized modifications of the endocarp surface, suggesting a potential interaction between fungal growth and seed coat structure; however, further studies quantifying seed biomechanics, water uptake, and fungal enzymatic activity are needed to confirm the mechanisms involved. These findings highlight the importance of considering seed provenance and microbial interactions when developing microbial-assisted restoration strategies for arid ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 105724"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148777443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Arbuscular mycorrhizal communities across Brazilian Caatinga ecoregions","authors":"José Hilton dos Passos,&nbsp;Daniele Magna Azevedo de Assis,&nbsp;Maria Tawana da Silva Guimarães,&nbsp;Fritz Oehl,&nbsp;Danny Coyne,&nbsp;Leonor Costa Maia","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105710","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105710","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Caatinga, a semiarid Brazilian biome, is the largest tropical dry savanna forest in South America. With a high environmental heterogeneity, it has a great complexity of communities and endemic species. Among the microorganisms found in the Caatinga, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbiotic associations that increase nutrient absorption and the tolerance of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses. This study aimed to determine the structuring factors of AMF communities across three Caatinga ecoregions (9 areas in total), which differ in soil and vegetation: Northern Sertaneja depression (shrub &amp; tree savanna), savanna-forest Borborema Plateau (most humid and elevated), and dry shrubland Raso da Catarina. These hypotheses were tested: (1) AMF communities differ in composition and structure among the ecoregions; (2) Raso da Catarina has the greatest AMF richness and diversity; (3) edaphic factors (pH and phosphorus content) are key determinants for differences among AMF communities. Multivariate analyses showed that richness, diversity, and composition of AMF communities differed among the ecoregions, represented by 73 species of 19 genera, predominantly <em>Acaulospora</em>, <em>Glomus</em>, and <em>Rhizoglomus</em>. The Northern Sertaneja depression had greater richness, diversity, and abundance of spores than the other areas. Soil moisture, aluminum, calcium, pH, sum of bases, and silt were the structuring elements of these AMF communities. This study highlights the importance to better understand the ecological aspects in the Caatinga ecoregions related to AMF, providing scientific bases for conservation strategies to protect these symbionts, which are fundamental to the resilience of semiarid ecosystems in the face of climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 105710"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148737921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating process-based and deep learning models to quantify climate and hydrological controls on streamflow variability in dryland mountains","authors":"Xudong Wang,&nbsp;Haojie Xu,&nbsp;Zhangwen Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105700","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105700","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate and landscape changes in dryland mountains are reshaping basin-wide streamflow patterns and directly affecting downstream irrigated agriculture. In this study, a coupled SWAT–LSTM modeling framework was developed to simulate monthly streamflow during the historical period (1990–2020) and to project future monthly streamflow during 2021–2060, while SHapley Additive exPlanations were used to identify major meteorological and hydrological drivers in the North Qilian Mountains of northwestern China. The coupled model outperformed the standalone SWAT and LSTM models in reproducing monthly discharge fluctuations, particularly during high-flow months. Dominant controls on streamflow varied spatially across river basins. In the west, precipitation, temperature, and soil moisture together explained approximately 64% of streamflow variability in the Dang and Shule Rivers, while precipitation and surface runoff explained 56% in the Taolai River. In central rivers such as the Hei and Datong, precipitation and actual evapotranspiration together explained nearly 65% of the variation. The eastern rivers, including the Xiying and Zamu, were affected by more balanced multi-factor controls, with roughly 84% of streamflow variability jointly attributed to precipitation, actual evapotranspiration, temperature, and surface runoff. Projections under the SSP scenarios suggest regional streamflow increases of 0.27–0.31 × 10⁸ m³ yr⁻¹ by 2060, with the largest increases occurring in the Shule and Hei Rivers. These findings highlight the need to strengthen flood-risk management in western basins and to regulate evapotranspiration through land use management in the central and eastern basins. Overall, this study provides a practical framework for streamflow simulation, driver attribution, and climate-adaptive water management in other dryland mountain regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 105700"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148644112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-decadal drought variability and regime dynamics in Darfur, Sudan (1981–2025)","authors":"Abdalrahman Ahmed,&nbsp;Kornel Czimber","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105708","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105708","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding drought dynamics in arid and semi-arid regions is essential for climate adaptation and sustainable resource management. This study assessed multi-decadal drought variability in Darfur, western Sudan, from 1981 to 2025 using the Standardized Precipitation–Evapotranspiration Index at a 12-month timescale (SPEI-12). Monthly precipitation and temperature records from North, West, and South Darfur were analysed using piecewise linear regression, Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC)-based breakpoint detection, and Breaks for Additive Seasonal and Trend (BFAST) analysis. A precipitation–temperature proxy was used for climatic water balance because potential evapotranspiration data were unavailable. Results revealed statistically significant positive SPEI-12 trends across all regions, indicating a gradual reduction in cumulative drought severity. West Darfur exhibited the strongest trend (0.0463 yr⁻¹; R² = 0.356), followed by South Darfur (0.0407 yr⁻¹; R² = 0.277), whereas North Darfur showed a weaker trend (0.0198 yr⁻¹; R² = 0.065) and greater interannual variability. Although piecewise regression detected no long-term structural breaks, BFAST identified episodic climatic transitions. Severe drought events persisted, particularly during the early 1980s and in recent years. Overall, drought evolution in Darfur is consistent with the broader post-1990s Sahelian hydroclimatic recovery while exhibiting pronounced spatial heterogeneity, providing a basis for drought monitoring and climate adaptation in arid environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 105708"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148658299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ground substrate properties are associated with contrasting health conditions of Populus euphratica forests in the lower Tarim River, China","authors":"Jingyu Liu,&nbsp;Zhiqiang Yin,&nbsp;Shuai Guo,&nbsp;Ling Peng,&nbsp;Weier Duguer","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105717","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105717","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In arid ecosystems, heterogeneity in ground substrate may influence vegetation dynamics. Along the lower Tarim River, we investigated whether shallow clay layers are associated with contrasting growth of <em>Populus euphratica</em> forests. We integrated microtremor surveys, high-resolution soil profiling at 20-cm intervals, and root investigations across three replicate plots per stand type using a paired-plot design. A consistent shallow clay layer at 180–240 cm depth was identified in declining stands but absent in thriving stands. Within this layer, bulk density reached 1.38 g/cm³, and coarse root weight density was reduced by 88% compared with thriving stands. Soil moisture in the root zone (0–180 cm, above the shallow clay layer) remained below 7%, whereas moisture below the layer (240–300 cm) was 11–12%, values similar to those in thriving stands at equivalent depths. The shallow clay layer also accumulated higher total organic carbon (0.37 g/kg), total nitrogen (225 mg/kg), total phosphorus (535 mg/kg) and total salts than overlying layers. These patterns suggest that the shallow clay layer may restrict root penetration and reduce vertical water connectivity between the root zone and deeper moisture sources. This subsurface perspective suggests that local ground substrate properties may help refine ecological water conveyance planning in arid regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 105717"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148777356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Greening of subtropical Argentina dry highlands: The effect of livestock reduction driven by rural outmigration","authors":"Emiliano Matias,&nbsp;Ana L. Dip Yordanoff,&nbsp;Leandro Macchi,&nbsp;Javier Foguet,&nbsp;Alejandro Nicolas Saravia,&nbsp;H. Ricardo Grau","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105716","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105716","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Greening is a global environmental change characterized by increasing photosynthetic activity and leaf area. Regional drivers of dry highland greening remain poorly understood, particularly in Latin America. We examined trends in the Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), a proxy of vegetation greenness, across 33 million hectares of Argentina's dry valleys and highlands over three decades, and explored relationships with livestock density, precipitation, and rural population trends. SAVI increased significantly in 43 of 44 evaluated municipalities between 1988 and 2022, while livestock density decreased by approximately 80%. Multiple linear regression showed that 23% of SAVI trend variability was explained by livestock density trends (negatively) and precipitation trends (positively). Partial correlation analysis confirmed that livestock density trends remained significantly and negatively associated with SAVI trends after controlling for precipitation (r = −0.35, p &lt; 0.05). Rural population density decreased by 78% between 1980 and 2022, significantly correlated with goat and sheep density decline (r² = 0.38, p &lt; 0.05). Despite the prevailing perception of regional desertification, Argentina's dry highlands show a clear and sustained greening pattern, consistent with an important role of rural out-migration and the associated reduction in extensive livestock pressure. Further research should assess ecological consequences, including opportunities for biodiversity recovery and carbon sequestration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 105716"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148777358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disentangling climatic and human drivers of Haloxylon shrubland greening (1982–2021): evidence from RESTREND and synthetic difference-in-differences","authors":"Xuefeng Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105701","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105701","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dryland greening has been widely reported, yet attributing observed vegetation trends to climate variability versus human interventions remains difficult because climate–vegetation relationships are nonlinear, spatially heterogeneous, and rarely evaluated against an explicit counterfactual. Focusing on Haloxylon shrublands in the western Junggar Basin (northwestern China), we combined long-term AVHRR-based Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) observations (1982–2021) with multi-source hydroclimate reanalysis to build a reproducible attribution and counterfactual-comparison workflow. The workflow includes: (i) pixel-wise trend and change-point detection (Theil–Sen/Mann–Kendall with false discovery rate control; Pettitt test with block-bootstrap validation), (ii) cross-model identification of dominant climatic drivers using stability selection, random forest with SHAP, and Model-X knockoffs, (iii) climate removal via segmented RESTREND using a generalized additive model (GAM) baseline driven by growing-season precipitation, temperature, and spring precipitation, and (iv) associational counterfactual comparisons using synthetic difference-in-differences (SDID) with event-study and placebo tests. We identify a spatially constrained greening pattern concentrated along oasis margins and the northern desert edge, with synchronized structural shifts emerging in the late 1990s to early 2000s. Across models, soil moisture is the main constraint on interannual NDVI variability, whereas the acceleration of greening is consistent with human water-related interventions. Under outcome-based timing, SDID gaps are consistent with a positive NDVI response associated with inferred human interventions, primarily via a resource-additive level shift; associated changes in climate sensitivity are secondary and heterogeneous, and in oasis-adjacent areas the benefits saturate and then decline after approximately a decade. Together, these results characterize an input-dependent restoration trajectory and suggest considering hydrological sustainability alongside vegetation metrics, without direct validation from pixel-scale water-use or groundwater measurements. Regional inference prioritizes functional-zone summaries (Oasis and Desert); pixel-level SDID on 67 treated cells is supplementary. Targeted 30 m Landsat diagnostics (1993–2021; Supplementary Section S6) and external timing/zone-level SDID robustness (Supplementary Section S7) support scale and timing interpretation without replacing the AVHRR design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 105701"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148658296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Differential carbon allocation in sandy ecosystems: Aboveground versus belowground herbaceous biomass mediated by vegetation coverage","authors":"Honghao Gan,&nbsp;Hongxiao Yang,&nbsp;Jianmin Chu","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105709","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105709","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding how climate and soil regulate plant biomass allocation is crucial for predicting carbon dynamics in water-limited sandy ecosystems. However, the pathways controlling herbaceous aboveground and belowground (0–20 cm soil layer) biomass remain poorly quantified. Based on surveys at 220 sites across four major sandy lands in northern China, the herbaceous community composition, aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, soil properties, and climatic variables were measured, and the direct and indirect effects were disentangled by using structural equation modeling to explore hypothesized associative pathways. Growing season precipitation enhanced aboveground biomass primarily by increasing herbaceous vegetation coverage, whereas mean annual temperature directly suppressed aboveground biomass but promoted belowground biomass, indicating a temperature-associated shift in biomass allocation. herbaceous vegetation coverage serves as an important integrative variable that integrates the effects of climate, soil texture, and geography, and transmits these signals to both the aboveground biomass and the belowground biomass. The community diversity index had a net negative effect on both types of biomass pools in these resource-limited communities, likely due to intensified interspecific competition. These findings reveal that herbaceous vegetation coverage functions as both an integrative ecosystem response variable and a key mediating variable through which environmental drivers are translated into divergent carbon allocation strategies. Therefore, targeted management of herbaceous vegetation coverage provides a viable intervention point to reshape biomass distribution patterns, thereby supporting the dual objectives of carbon sink enhancement and adaptive capacity under ongoing climate change in sandy lands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 105709"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148658353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disentangling the drivers of change affecting nature's contributions to people in dry rivers from social perception","authors":"Néstor Nicolás-Ruiz,&nbsp;María Luisa Suárez,&nbsp;María Rosario Vidal-Abarca","doi":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105707","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jaridenv.2026.105707","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dry rivers provide both benefits and detriments to people (NCP). However, the drivers of change governing this provision, particularly indirect drivers, and their effects remain poorly understood. Consequently, interactions between direct and indirect drivers are also unclear. Recent studies suggest that they could be reciprocal. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the drivers of change that affect the NCP of dry rivers, examining the components that make up the system as well as the interactions between them. Three dry rivers in south-eastern Spain were selected. A total of 37 interviews were conducted with representatives of the ten main social groups in the study area. Interviews were analysed qualitatively to identify drivers, their interactions, and their relationships with NCP. Interviewees cited both direct drivers (e.g., urban development, soil pollution) and indirect drivers (e.g., social capital, rural exodus). Drivers exhibited many-to-many relationships with NCP, exerting both enhancing and reducing effects. Driver perceptions varied according to interviewees’ values and interests. Nevertheless, three patters emerged: drivers with predominantly negative effects on NCP (e.g., cultural capital decoupling, precipitation change), drivers with predominantly positive effects (e.g., protected area changes, taxes and subsidies), and drivers with both positive and negative effects (e.g., values and beliefs, environmental policy). Interactions between direct and indirect drivers are multidirectional and many-to-many, with reinforcing or inhibiting effects generating feedback loops. These findings call for rethinking how conceptual frameworks represent relationships between drivers and NCP and for adopting methods better suited to analysing complex systems, including focus group interviews and systems mapping.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51080,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Arid Environments","volume":"237 ","pages":"Article 105707"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148658298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}