Showing papers in "International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology in 2017"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors test, quantify and model the inconsistency of SDGs and conclude that the SDG agenda will fail as a whole if we continue with business as usual.
Abstract: In 2015, the UN adopted a new set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to eradicate poverty, establish socioeconomic inclusion and protect the environment. Critical voices such as the International Council for Science (ICSU), however, have expressed concerns about the potential incompatibility of the SDGs, specifically the incompatibility of socio-economic development and environmental sustainability. In this paper, we test, quantify and model the alleged inconsistency of SDGs. Our analyses show which SDGs are consistent and which are conflicting. We measure the extent of inconsistency and conclude that the SDG agenda will fail as a whole if we continue with business as usual. We further explore the nature of the inconsistencies using dynamical systems models, which reveal that the focus on economic growth and consumption as a means for development underlies the inconsistency. Our models also show that there are factors which can contribute to development (health programmes, government investme...
204 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated short and long-run relationships between per capita carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, real gross domestic product (GDP), renewable and non-renewable energy consumption, trade openness ratio and agricultural value added (AVA) in Tunisia spanning the period 1980-2011.
Abstract: This paper uses the vector error correction model (VECM) and Granger causality tests to investigate short and long-run relationships between per capita carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, real gross domestic product (GDP), renewable and non-renewable energy consumption, trade openness ratio and agricultural value added (AVA) in Tunisia spanning the period 1980–2011. The Johansen-Juselius test shows that all our considered variables are cointegrated. Short-run Granger causality tests reveal the existence of bidirectional causalities between AVA and CO2 emissions, and between AVA and trade. There are short-run unidirectional causalities running from non-renewable energy and GDP to AVA and to renewable energy, and running from CO2 emissions to renewable energy. Interestingly, there are long-run bidirectional causalities between all considered variables. Our long-run parameters estimates show that non-renewable energy, trade and AVA increase CO2 emissions, whereas renewable energy reduces CO2 emissions. I...
125 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on the interplay between the mathematical forms of sustainability indices and the three sustainability perspectives: weak, strong, and absurdly strong sustainability, and show that the computational underpinning of a sustainability index defines what type of sustainability the index is capable of measuring.
Abstract: Sustainability is a grand challenge of our time. While there is a universal recognition that sustainability includes social, economic, and environmental components, the relationship and interchangeability between these components has been debated, resulting in three distinct sustainability perspectives: weak, strong, and absurdly strong sustainability. However, despite this active debate, few have questioned which types of sustainability commonly utilized index forms actually measure. Here we provide such an analysis, focusing on the interplay between the mathematical forms of sustainability indices and the three sustainability perspectives. We show that the computational underpinning of a sustainability index defines what type of sustainability the index is capable of measuring, while also providing alternative forms. We then provide a brief example of how these different sustainability perspectives can radically alter measured sustainability. We end with a call for sustainability researchers to ...
69 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, three prominent organizational theories, resource-based view, relational view, and institutional theory, are needed to explain the drivers of sustainability and to develop a hierarchical model for prioritization of the drivers.
Abstract: It is essential that the green supply chain management (GSCM) implementation is effectively supported by several strategic drivers for successful implementation and sustainability, especially for the ‘green’ start-ups with a sustainability-driven organizational strategy. This study aims to determine and prioritize the applicable drivers for GSCM implementation of sustainable development strategies in the electronics industry in Thailand. The applicable drivers and their priorities are obtained by applying the fuzzy group decision-making approaches including fuzzy Delphi and fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process, based on Thai experts’ perspectives. In this study, three prominent organizational theories, resource-based view, relational view, and institutional theory, are needed to explain the drivers of sustainability and to develop a hierarchical model for prioritization of the drivers. Finally, based on the findings of this study, several recommendations are made that may help to improve the sustainab...
67 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the impact of growth and environment in Southeast Asia on tourism, industrialization, and environment, and found that the impact on tourism and industrialization is positively correlated.
Abstract: The purpose of this article is to investigate the impact of growth and environment in Southeast Asia. Extending existing research, this research builds on variables such as tourism, industrializati...
61 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the causes and consequences of the abandonment of agricultural land in the EU and propose a sustainable and balanced development of the land for agriculture purposes, also in areas where production conditions are difficult.
Abstract: The agriculture sector is the principal source of income for around 20% of the EU-26 population, which live in predominantly rural regions that would be devastated without its contribution. Moreover, the combined agricultural and food sector forms an important part of the EU economy, accounting for 15 million jobs (8.3% of total employment) and 4.4% of GDP. The 12 million active farmers across Europe today, have an average farm size of about 15 ha, and are expected to meet the needs of 500 million Europeans. In addition, they are also expected to promote a sustainable and balanced development of their land, also in areas where production conditions are difficult. Yet, despite the relevance of the sector, the use of land for agriculture purposes is not very sustainable. Among other issues, there is a serious problem in respect of the abandonment of agricultural land. Based on the perceived need for research on this topic, the aim of this paper is to examine the causes and consequences of agricultur...
57 citations
TL;DR: Many studies have examined the impact of climatic variability on agricultural productivity, although an understanding of these effects on farmland values and their relationship to farmers' decision has not been explored.
Abstract: Many studies have examined the impact of climatic variability on agricultural productivity, although an understanding of these effects on farmland values and their relationship to farmers’ decision...
57 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used generalized additive and logistic regression models to investigate the connectedness within the social-ecological system as a measure of resilience, and used published literature to help develop a system dynamic framework in order to investigate how ES and HWB are interlinked.
Abstract: Coupled social and ecological systems need to be understood from a dynamic perspective in order to operationalise complexity concepts, such as tipping points, for sustainable ecosystem management. In this study, we strive to achieve this type of conceptual understanding through the analysis of the relationships (e.g. strength, nonlinearity) between the trends of ecosystem services (ES) and human wellbeing (HWB) between 1960 and 2010 in the south-west Bangladesh delta using generalized additive and logistic regression models. We use sequential principal components analysis to investigate the connectedness within the social–ecological system as a measure of resilience. We also use published literature to help develop a system dynamic framework in order to investigate how ES and HWB are interlinked. Overall, our results support previous work, which depicts that material wellbeing (basic materials for a good life) having a strong relationship with provisioning services, which in turn, show a weak relationship with the quality of life (security and health). Moreover, our analysis confirms the ‘Environmentalist’s Paradox’ that HWB has increased despite the deterioration in ES. However, our results suggest that provisioning services are not the only important reason for the increases in observed HWB, as these have also been substantially influenced by technology and capital investment (aid and subsidy). In addition, worsening trends in regulation services and in ‘slow’ variables such as climate suggest that the resilience of the overall social-ecological system is decreasing. Such changes may have severe consequences if they continue, for example, if temperatures exceed the upper physiological limits of key provisioning services (e.g. rice, fish) in the Bangladesh delta. These indicators all suggest that although in terms of HWB the deltaic social–ecological system may be successfully adapting to environmental change, it may also be close to transgressing critical ecological boundaries in the near future.
56 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a review of the state of the art of carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) fiber recycling is presented, emphasizing the recycling processes, restrictions, and regulations.
Abstract: Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) have attracted attention from the aerospace industry due to their light weight, excellent mechanical properties, and resistance to corrosion. However, CFRP composites are difficult to recycle as their recycling process must be performed under extreme conditions; end-of-life regulations do not directly address the problem with reusing these composites. Thus, the objective of this study is to explore solutions that minimize the use of CFRPs and prolong their useful life in the airline industry. To achieve this goal, this work conducted a review of the state of the art of CFRP fiber recycling, emphasizing the recycling processes, restrictions, and regulations. One solution is to develop a CFRP recycling market that would allow the sequential use of recycled materials among industries in descending order of the required structural performance of the composite.
47 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate the aspects of sustainable procurement practices by Saudi Arabian public and private organisations, particularly the nature, extent and main barriers to implementing those practices at the organisational levels.
Abstract: While Saudi Arabia has demonstrated tremendous efforts in achieving the objective of sustainable development by encouraging sustainable procurement practices by the public and private organisations, there still exist significant hurdles blocking the full implementation of these practices. This study is an effort to empirically investigate the aspects of sustainable procurement practices by Saudi Arabian public and private organisations, particularly the nature, extent and main barriers to implementing those practices at the organisational levels. It also determines and analyses the relationship between an organisation’s, whether public or private, sustainable procurement practices and the barriers to implementing those practices. Using a structured questionnaire survey with 202 procurement directors/senior managers of those Saudi Arabian organisations, we employed multivariate and multiple regression techniques to achieve the study objectives. Our empirical results suggest that regardless of the o...
43 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors outline the historical evolution of ecotourism policy in Nepal, review the present global policy agenda of "ecotours for development" and offer a critique of modernist forms of eco-tourism, and conclude that to achieve sustainable development goals in Nepal and other poor countries of the global South, the focus should shift from modernist, "economist" forms of ecOTourism to more locally controlled, parti...
Abstract: Despite its popularity as a strategy for sustainable development in the global South, ecotourism has had a mixed record in enhancing the socio-economic conditions of the rural populace. We argue that part of this failure lies in the fact that the theory and practice of ecotourism, like conventional mass tourism, has been guided by a modernisation approach to development. In this paper, we outline the historical evolution of ecotourism policy in Nepal, review the present global policy agenda of ‘ecotourism for development’, and offer a critique of modernist forms of ecotourism. Using empirical research from secondary sources on ecotourism in Nepal, we then discuss the economic, social, educational, and environmental benefits of community-based ecotourism. We conclude that to achieve sustainable development goals in Nepal and other poor countries of the global South, the focus of ecotourism for development should shift from modernist, ‘economist’ forms of ecotourism to more locally controlled, parti...
TL;DR: In this paper, tourists on the Western Costa del Sol (Spain), a mature sun and sand destination that is currently restructuring and facing several developmental challenges associated with sustainability, were surveyed to determine current tourists' attitude toward sustainability and to identify explanatory variables that influence their willingness to pay to enjoy a more sustainable destination.
Abstract: The relationship between sustainability and tourists is complex. There has been little increase in the number of studies published over recent years focusing on the concept of ‘pro-sustainable’ tourists, or the tourist’s willingness to pay (WTP) for sustainability, making it increasingly difficult to identify key explanatory factors that determine tourists’ WTP for sustainable destinations.To provide a richer understanding of tourists’ heterogeneous preferences for sustainable destinations, this study allows us to determine current tourists’ attitude toward sustainability and to identify explanatory variables that influence their WTP to enjoy a more sustainable destination. This study surveyed tourists on the Western Costa del Sol (Spain), a mature sun and sand destination that is currently restructuring and facing several developmental challenges associated with sustainability.
TL;DR: In this article, the structural linkages of product quality, corporate image, store image, and price on customer satisfaction and loyalty towards green products usage in Malaysia were investigated using AMOS 21.0 computer program.
Abstract: This study investigates the structural linkages of product quality, corporate image, store image, and price on customer satisfaction and loyalty towards green products usage in Malaysia. The research used structural equation modelling technique via AMOS 21.0 computer program for data analysis across a sample of 200 university students who applies a green lifestyle, such as purchasing green products which are referring to only retail goods, using recyclable products, and ozone-free products. Empirical analysis divulged that product quality followed by corporate image, store image, and product price jointly affected customer satisfaction in using green products. They are highly concerned that the green store provides a variety of good quality products with good value for money. Marketers should aggressively promote the identification of green products and overcome the problem of just noticeable difference between green product and non-green product among consumers for business sustainability. Empirical findings provide valuable insights to put forth in outlining effective marketing strategies that widen the marketers’ understanding of consumer behaviour in using green products with regard to their satisfaction and loyalty levels from the perspective of product quality, corporate image, store image, and product prices in Malaysia markets.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the socioeconomic factors that affect people's attitude towards biodiversity conservation of Kaptai National Park and the level of their dependency on its resources and found that education, income, and forest dependency were positively linked to the likelihood of people's supports for management of KNP as a protected area.
Abstract: Kaptai National Park (KNP) was declared a protected area (PA) in 1999 to protect its degrading biodiversity. This created conflicts between the forest-dependent communities and the KNP managers since in a PA everything is prohibited unless permitted. For the effective conservation of biodiversity resources of the PAs, Bangladesh has adopted forest co-management systems where forest-dependent people play an important role. Surveying a total of 150 households and using generalized logistic regressions, this study has investigated the socioeconomic factors that affect people’s attitude towards biodiversity conservation of KNP and the level of their dependency on its resources. The study revealed that education, income, and forest dependency were positively linked to the likelihood of people’s supports for management of KNP as a PA. However, the distance of household from KNP had a negative relationship with such perception. Similarly, people’s income from forest, permanent residency in the study area...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors summarize the progress of urban ecological risk assessment and propose an explicit framework to illumine future ERA based on UER identification, analysis, characterization, modeling, projection and early warning and management.
Abstract: Urban ecological risk (UER) caused by rapid urbanization means potential threat to urban ecosystem structure, pattern and services. The scales of ecological risk assessment (ERA) have been expanded from individual organisms to watersheds and regions. The types of stressor range from chemical to physical, biological and natural events. However, the application of ERA in urban ecosystems is relatively new. Here, we summarize the progress of urban ERA and propose an explicit framework to illumine future ERA based on UER identification, analysis, characterization, modeling, projection and early warning and management. The summary includes six urban ERA-relevant methods: weight-of-evidence (WoE), procedure for ecological tiered assessment of risks (PETAR), relative risk model (RRM), multimedia, multi-pathway, multi-receptor risk assessment (3MRA), landscape analysis and ecological models. Furthermore, we review critical cases of urban ERA in landscape ecology, soil, air, water and solid waste. Based on...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined some of the commonly used tools and the utilisation of these tools in Finnish companies, including multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), material flow analysis, life cycle assessment (LCA), input-output models, sustainability indicators and indices, cost-benefit analysis (CBA), and optimisation methods.
Abstract: Companies have a central role in the transition towards more sustainable economic systems, as they are one of the major sources of environmental impacts, economic activity and social development. Various tools are available to support sustainability assessments, but there is little information on how suitable they are for company-level assessments and how companies use them in real-life applications. The article examines some of the commonly used tools and the utilisation of these tools in Finnish companies. A sample of seven tools was compiled: multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), material flow analysis, life cycle assessment (LCA), input–output models, sustainability indicators and indices, cost–benefit analysis (CBA) and optimisation methods. MCDA, LCA, CBA and optimisation methods were found to be successful with respect to many of the criteria used in the evaluation, but none of them was comprehensive. The assessment indicates that MCDA has the greatest potential to be successfully applie...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on a representative region of the Mediterranean area with the objective to analyse the landscape's dynamics, to detect the spatial arrangement of class patches, to identify the main agroecosystem characters and to provide a framework to assess ecosystems services.
Abstract: Human activity shapes the levels of anthropogenic pressure that depend on the land management method adopted. This has a fundamental role in the transformation of traditional landscapes. This study focuses on a representative region of the Mediterranean area with the objective to analyse the landscape’s dynamics, to detect the spatial arrangement of class patches, to identify the main agroecosystem characters and to provide a framework to assess ecosystems services. In order to assess land use/land cover changes and landscape persistence, the period between 1960 and 2012 was analysed, taking into consideration the years 1960, 2000 and 2012 using comparable land use maps. Land use and land cover analysis show an urban area growth of 24% during 2000–2012 and of 523% over between 1960 and 2012. The very high levels of land abandonment up to the year 2000 (+7216%) have reversed their trend between 2000 and 2012 (−95%). The orchards showed a relevant increase, particularly after 2000, while the vineyar...
TL;DR: A study on the trade and marketing of traditional plant medicines in the southern and central regions of Malawi was conducted to characterise the stakeholders of the regional medicinal plant trade and to identify species that are harvested and sold both locally and internationally as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Malawi is one of the world’s 48 least developed countries and the population are alleged to be mostly reliant on traditional medicines. Approximately 90% of Malawians are forced by circumstances of low income to depend on the natural resource base for a living and to trade-off long-term sustainable resource use for short-term consumption of stocks. A study on the trade and marketing of traditional plant medicines in the southern and central regions of Malawi was conducted to characterise the stakeholders of the regional medicinal plant trade and to identify species that are harvested and sold both locally and internationally. Thirty traders and six border post officials were interviewed in eight Malawian districts that border with the neighbouring countries of Zambia and Mozambique. Men were the predominant traders of traditional medicine in the markets, and 90% of the respondents reported that they derived more than 50% of their households’ income from selling medicinal plants. Approximately 123 ...
TL;DR: In this article, a case study was conducted in Himalayan watershed to understand traditional farming and socio-economic status of the people in Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India.
Abstract: This case study was conducted in Himalayan watershed to understand traditional farming and socio-economic status of the people in Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. In spite of high literacy rate in this area, their livelihood security is reliant on traditional farming practices that include agroforestry beside forest produce. More than 85% farming is rainfed and managed in a traditional way. Land holding size owned by farmers in the area extended from 0.57 to 2.57 ha but majority of farmers (51–80%) had farms of size less than 0.50 ha. The study revealed that forests provided 73–79% of required energy from fuelwood and more than 81% fodder. Agroforestry, livestock (dairy and poultry/goat rearing) and labour employment are the major sources of income to the people in the watershed. The income of people was positively correlated with livestock rearing and traditional farming.
TL;DR: In this paper, a set of common baseline parameters and principles is proposed as a method of evolving a common structural framework for strengthening sustainability of agriculture and rural contexts, supporting sustainable agriculture contexts as rural and urban.
Abstract: This article contributes to efforts to validate a common set of parameters and principles of sustainable agriculture. Comparisons between alternative forms of sustainable agriculture and rural-to-urban community resilience are investigated. Conclusions are drawn between multiple sustainable/alternative agriculture systems and evaluated. A set of common baseline parameters and principles is proposed as a method of evolving a common structural framework for strengthening sustainability of agriculture and rural contexts. Concepts of rural-to-urban community sustainability are proposed, supporting sustainable agriculture contexts as rural and urban. In the twenty-first century, agriculture is becoming more diversified and less typified as a rural occupation. Urban agriculture is expanding as the need for fresh, affordable, accessible agriculture produce increases in urban areas. Evidence supports symbiotic relationships between sustainable agriculture and rural/urban communities, although some claim t...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the relationship among per capita CO2 emissions, per capita GDP and international trade based on panel data spanning the period 1960-2008 for 150 countries and made a distinction between OECD and non-OECD countries.
Abstract: This paper examines the relationships among per capita CO2 emissions, per capita GDP and international trade based on panel data spanning the period 1960–2008 for 150 countries. A distinction is also made between OECD and non-OECD countries to capture the differences of this relationship between developed and developing economies. We apply panel unit root and cointegration tests and estimate a panel error correction model. The results from the error correction model suggest that there are long-term relationships between the variables for the whole sample and for non-OECD countries. Finally, Granger causality tests show that there is bidirectional short-term causality between per capita GDP and international trade for the whole sample and between per capita GDP and CO2 emissions for OECD countries.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors conducted an ethnobotanical study of the Critically Endangered Woodbush Granite Grassland (WGG) in Limpopo Province, South Africa.
Abstract: Underprivileged communities rely on beneficial plants for medicinal and cultural purposes as well as income generation. They are marginalised by land use planners, politicians and municipalities, resulting in biased integrated development and increased poverty. A case in point, is the Critically Endangered Woodbush Granite Grassland (WGG) in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The WGG has high plant biodiversity (661 species in 192 ha), which includes 18 Red Listed taxa and 36 taxa protected by existing legislation. Although 18% of the plant species have medicinal properties and the area is a source of plants used for medicine and hand brushes, this is the first ethnobotanical study to be undertaken here. Structured interview schedules were conducted with 54 people who were using plants from the area, and a list of the top 20 medicinal plants was compiled. Respondents raised concerns regarding the impact of fire management and 69% of traditional healers noted increasing difficulty in finding useful pl...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed eight diachronic land cover maps and performed statistical data assessments of human pressure in the Tolfa-Cerite district (Northern Latium, central Italy) to investigate potential changes in the cultural landscape.
Abstract: Defining and understanding the long-term social and ecological evolution of rural cultural landscapes can provide insights into complex dynamics of landscape and environment changes. Land cover changes (LCCs) in Mediterranean-type ecosystems are mainly due to human-induced landscape transformations. Multi-scale spatial analysis can provide useful information in the interpretation of LCCs data and contribute to identifying underlying drivers of landscape change. In the present study, we analyze eight diachronic land cover maps and perform statistical data assessments of human pressure in the Tolfa–Cerite district (Northern Latium, central Italy) to investigate potential changes in the cultural landscape. The Tolfa–Cerite district is a generally dry area with subhumid–humid sites and an interesting mosaic of Mediterranean-temperate vegetation, agricultural and pastoral land, and a millenarian human presence. LCCs were assessed over a period of 57 years (1949–2006) using maps at both low-resolution (...
TL;DR: In this article, a sustainable community is defined and a holistic model of a sustainable place-based rural community is presented, which is used as the basis for analysing community sustainability, which was measured using mixed methods and scorecard assessment.
Abstract: Although sustainable development was defined in the Brundtland Report almost 30 years ago, the current usage of the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development remain highly equivocal. In the context of rural communities, multiple interpretations and weak definitions lead to confusion in understanding what comprises a sustainable rural community. Building on existing definitions (e.g. Baker’s, 2006, ‘Ladder of Sustainable Development’), models (principally, The Egan Review’s, 2004, ‘Components of Sustainable Communities’) and findings of this study, a sustainable community is defined and a holistic model of a sustainable place-based rural community is presented. This model, the sustainable community design (SCD) is used as the basis for analysing community sustainability, which is measured using mixed methods and scorecard assessment. Sensitivity of the method is demonstrated with inter- and intra-community variations in sustainability across three diverse Scottish rural communities. In...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors assessed subjective well-being and local perceptions of changes in forest cover and water provision among 78 rural families and assessed if the shifting baseline syndrome (SBS) affects the perceptions of environmental changes and their implications in SWB.
Abstract: Rural communities worldwide face a decrease of critical ecosystem services caused by replacement of native forests by commercial plantations. Replacement of native forest by commercial plantations decreases water provisioning, with possible negative impacts over well-being. We tested this hypothesis in Central Chile. We assessed subjective well-being (SWB) and local perceptions of changes in forest cover and water provision among 78 rural families. We also assessed if the Shifting Baseline Syndrome (SBS) affects the perceptions of environmental changes and their implications in SWB. Individuals perceived less forest cover than 20 years ago, and this is seen as a factor of decreased livelihood, availability of forest products, and water provisioning for households. People also reported less water available than 20 years ago. The main drivers associated with decreased water provision were the establishment of pine plantations (44% of individuals) and drought (44%). A better-off SWB was associated wi...
TL;DR: In this article, a theory for sustainability to achieve a three-dimensional balanced status in which the sustainability environment system (SES) is integrated by the dimensional environment subsystem and the stakeholder environment subsystem (SESS).
Abstract: Sustainability has been a popular heuristic concept used to describe the necessity for achieving a point of balance between social, economic, and environmental needs for the purpose of securing the survival of humankind and the planet. With the objective of meeting the interests of something or someone, the definition of the term has been subject to interpretation, generating confusion, and increasing the vagueness already embedded in the terminology. Revisiting sustainability definitions and departing from the roots of the issue, the theory of dimensional balance of needs proposes a framework for sustainability to attain full theoretical status. This article will explore and develop a theory for sustainability to achieve a three-dimensional balanced status in which the sustainability environment system (SES) is integrated by the dimensional environment subsystem (DESS) and the stakeholder environment subsystem (SESS). The DESS includes three dimensions representing the social, economic, and envir...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) images derived from a 16-day maximum-value composite of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data and employed the rate of change in greenness and coefficient of variation as indicators of the vegetation dynamics in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, from 2001 to 2013.
Abstract: We monitored the vegetation dynamics in a large coal-fired power plant and investigated the factors influencing these dynamics. The findings improve the understanding of the impact of climate change and human activities on vulnerable ecosystems and contribute to the sustainable development of these regions. We used normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) images derived from a 16-day maximum-value composite of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data and employed the rate of change in greenness and coefficient of variation as indicators of the vegetation dynamics in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, from 2001 to 2013. We investigated the driving factors of vegetation dynamics in regions with different vegetation variations based on correlation and stepwise regression analyses. The results show that the vegetation dynamics of the study area have improved over the past 13 years. The vegetation dynamics were highly correlated with the average relative humidity of the current month. That is...
TL;DR: In this article, a map of energy and material flow was visualized with a Sankey diagram, and urban-rural linkages were quantified according to ecological networks, which reflected economic transformations during urbanization and formed a complex web of connections.
Abstract: Urban–rural linkages, which inevitably evolve over time, are influenced by economic, geographic, and demographic factors. In this paper, emergy accounting was used to calculate sustainability indicators and examine the metabolic processes that connect natural environments and rural–urban systems. A map of energy and material flow was visualized with a Sankey diagram, and urban–rural linkages were quantified according to ecological networks. Both rural and urban areas had open metabolic cycles, but the rural system was more dependent on the natural environment and showed better environmental performance. Urban–rural linkages reflected economic transformations during urbanization and formed a complex web of connections. The rural area’s economy and social system were unique in that they were not traditionally self-sufficient. Both rural and urban systems exploited the natural environment. From an ecological perspective, a competitive relationship exists between rural and urban systems, which may res...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors combine meteorological and satellite imagery for comparing local people's perception so that a more robust validation can be established, and they found that local people from Rara and Langtang shared their observations and perceptions on the changing climate for the last three decades and the effects on them and their local microclimate.
Abstract: Climatic variability and its effects have been experienced in the high-altitude regions of Nepal for some considerable time. Most of the studies on local people’s perception available so far in Nepal on climate include with respect to weather changes, and almost none have been verified with satellite imagery. This study thus attempts to combine meteorological and satellite imagery for comparing local people’s perception so that a more robust validation can be established. Both qualitative (transect walk, key informant interview, focus group discussion and institutional visit) and quantitative (meteorological and satellite image) data and techniques were employed. Local people from Rara and Langtang in Nepal shared their observations and perceptions on the changing climate for the last three decades and the effects on them and their local microclimate. Apart from temperature, rainfall and snowfall anomalies, locals observed changes in the water sources and increasing drought along with alteration i...
TL;DR: The authors explored the concerns and benefits of 10 adjacent communities surrounding Mole National Park in Ghana using key informants, focus groups and household surveys, and found that the strongest predictor of a community's attitude towards the park is whether it is involved in a community r...
Abstract: Protected areas are increasingly becoming islands of habitat surrounded by seas of cultivation and development. Communities experience both costs and benefits associated with nearby PAs, and perception of these influence support for PAs and subsequent conservation related behaviors. This paper explores the concerns and benefits of 10 adjacent communities surrounding Mole National Park in Ghana using key informants, focus groups and household surveys.Overall, most people have a positive attitude towards the park. Yet, in many communities respondents also have negative attitudes. Crop depredation, loss of farmlands, and lack of access to NTFPs are the top three concerns. Increased conservation awareness, provision of ecosystem services and maintenance of cultural identity are the top three benefits. This study examined a number of factors thought to influence attitudes to PAs, and found that the strongest predictor of a community’s attitude towards the park is whether it is involved in a community r...