Regional Sustainability最新文献

Climate change studies are diverse with no single study giving a comprehensive review of climate change impacts, adaptation strategies, and policy development in West Africa. The unavailability of an all-inclusive study to serve as a guide for practitioners affects the effectiveness of climate change adaptation strategies proposed and adopted in the West African sub-region. The purpose of this study was to review the impacts of climate change risks on the crop, fishery, and livestock sectors, as well as the climate change adaptation strategies and climate-related policies aimed at helping to build resilient agricultural production systems in West Africa. The review process followed a series of rigorous stages until the final selection of 56 articles published from 2009 to 2023. Generally, the results highlighted the adverse effects of climate change risks on food security. We found a continuous decline in food crop production. Additionally, the livestock sector experienced morbidity and mortality, as well as reduction in meat and milk production. The fishery sector recorded loss of fingerlings, reduction in fish stocks, and destruction of mariculture and aquaculture. In West Africa, climate-smart agriculture technologies, physical protection of fishing, and inclusion of gender perspectives in programs appear to be the major adaptation strategies. The study therefore recommends the inclusion of ecosystem and biodiversity restoration, weather insurance, replacement of unsafe vessels, and strengthening gender equality in all climate change mitigation programs, as these will help to secure enough food for present and future generations.

Global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and health crises necessitate a shift towards sustainable diets. Incorporating sustainability into food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) is essential for this shift, and cultural considerations also play a vital role, as food culture significantly influences dietary habits. Considering that Asia and Europe exhibit distinct food cultures, tailored approaches are necessary. Additionally, countries face diverse nutritional challenges, ranging from malnutrition to diet-related diseases, and regional variation in environmental impact necessitates context-specific strategies. Achieving sustainable nutrition depends on understanding cultural influences and regional dynamics. This paper compares China’s and Germany’s dietary guidelines and dietary patterns and their impact on sustainability. It shows that Chinese and German FBDGs only slightly differ, despite the different eating cultures and habits of each country. Alone the recommended amounts for eggs and fish are considerably higher in China than in Germany. However, in both China and Germany, actual dietary patterns deviate from the dietary guidelines. In China, concomitant with economic growth and urbanization, a dietary shift towards increased consumption of animal products and decreased consumption of vegetables and cereals has been observed in the last decades, which has led to a decline in nutritional deficiencies but an increase in obesity and overweight. Obesity and overweight are also on the rise in Germany. A dietary shift could therefore also be beneficial for public health. While following the respective national guidelines would benefit the environment, alternative diets such as a plant-based diet offer even lower environmental footprint. Revising guidelines to prioritize sustainability in addition to health aspects while considering regional contexts and cultural preferences is recommended to foster sustainable eating habits globally. This approach is pivotal for promoting dietary shift towards sustainability on a global scale.

Forest resources play a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of rural communities residing in forest-rich areas. In India, a forest-rich country, a significant proportion of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is consumed locally, supporting numerous rural communities relying on forests for essential resources, such as firewood, timber, and NTFPs. This study focuses on two forest-dominant districts in West Bengal of India, namely, Jhargram District and Paschim Medinipur District. Furthermore, this study aims to enhance the understanding of forest-dependent communities by comparing the standard of living among different village classes. Thus, we categorized villages into three classes based on the distance from home to forests, including inner villages, fringe villages, and outer villages. Through focus group discussions and household surveys, we explored the sources of local economy, income sources of household, and reasons for economic diversification in different village classes. The study findings confirm that substantial variations existed in the income sources and the standard of living in these villages. Forest income varied dramatically among the three village classes, with inner villages having greater forest income than fringe villages and outer villages. Meanwhile, households in outer villages depended on forests and engaged in diverse economic activities for their livelihoods. Compared with inner and fringe villages, households in outer villages derived a significant portion of their income from livestock. This discrepancy can be attributed to challenges, such as inadequate transportation, communication, and underdeveloped market chains in inner villages. Moreover, these findings emphasize the need to develop sustainable forest management practices, create alternative income-generation opportunities, and improve infrastructure and market access in inner villages, as well as promote economic diversification in outer villages. Through targeted policy measures, these forest-rich regions can achieve improved livelihoods, enhanced standard of living, and increased resilience for their communities.

The existing approaches for the design of tourist areas often lead to limited flexibility in project implementation. To realize a more flexible approach, in this study, we formulated a model for planning and designing tourist areas at the local level. Moreover, specific tools for analyzing tourist areas and ensuring sustainable development under changing conditions were developed. This study was conducted in two tourist regions, Biryuzovaya Katun tourist complex and Belokurikha destination (including Belokurikha City with Belokurikha 2 Gornaya tourist complex and surrounding areas), in the Altay Mountains. We employed the recreation opportunity spectrum and proposed a system-integrated programming approach for the design of tourist areas at the destination and site levels. The key of this approach was the collection and analysis of current spatial data, including the spatial distribution of attractions and visitor flows. We constructed heat maps using video recording and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) observation data. Moreover, we analyzed the video stream using an image-analyzing framework You Only Look Once (YOLO) v5 software. The heat map of visitor flows based on video recording data in the Andreevskaya Sloboda museum of Belokurikha 2 Gornaya tourist complex allowed us to highlight the most attractive sites in this area and classify them into one of three types: points of functional concentration, points of transitional concentration, and points of attractions. The heat maps in Biryuzovaya Katun tourist complex, created using UAV observation data, allowed us to determine the spatiotemporal patterns of visitor flows and tourists’ preferences throughout the day within four time intervals: 09:00–12:00, 13:00–14:00, 14:00–15:00, and 16:00–18:00 (LST). The maximum visitor flow density occurred from 16:00 to 18:00 in the beach area of the artificial lake. A comparison between the visitor-concentrated sites and the current facilities provided insights into the demand for attractions and facilities and the lacking areas. Heat maps are useful in analyzing the land use at the site level, while zoning based on the recreation opportunity spectrum can be used to design tourist areas at the destination level. The proposed methods for analyzing the use of tourist areas contribute to the development of adaptive tourism design.

Rapid urbanization creates complexity, results in dynamic changes in land and environment, and influences the land surface temperature (LST) in fast-developing cities. In this study, we examined the impact of land use/land cover (LULC) changes on LST and determined the intensity of urban heat island (UHI) in New Town Kolkata (a smart city), eastern India, from 1991 to 2021 at 10-a intervals using various series of Landsat multi-spectral and thermal bands. This study used the maximum likelihood algorithm for image classification and other methods like the correlation analysis and hotspot analysis (Getis–Ord Gi* method) to examine the impact of LULC changes on urban thermal environment. This study noticed that the area percentage of built-up land increased rapidly from 21.91% to 45.63% during 1991–2021, with a maximum positive change in built-up land and a maximum negative change in sparse vegetation. The mean temperature significantly increased during the study period (1991–2021), from 16.31°C to 22.48°C in winter, 29.18°C to 34.61°C in summer, and 19.18°C to 27.11°C in autumn. The result showed that impervious surfaces contribute to higher LST, whereas vegetation helps decrease it. Poor ecological status has been found in built-up land, and excellent ecological status has been found in vegetation and water body. The hot spot and cold spot areas shifted their locations every decade due to random LULC changes. Even after New Town Kolkata became a smart city, high LST has been observed. Overall, this study indicated that urbanization and changes in LULC patterns can influence the urban thermal environment, and appropriate planning is needed to reduce LST. This study can help policy-makers create sustainable smart cities.

Climate change and increasing anthropogenic activities, such as over-exploitation of groundwater, are exerting unavoidable stress on groundwater resources. This study investigated the spatio-temporal variation of depth to groundwater level (DGWL) and the impacts of climatic (precipitation, maximum temperature, and minimum temperature) and anthropogenic (gross district product (GDP), population, and net irrigated area (NIA)) variables on DGWL during 1994–2020. The study considered DGWL in 113 observation wells and piezometers located in arid western plains (Barmer and Jodhpur districts) and semi-arid eastern plains (Jaipur, Ajmer, Dausa, and Tonk districts) of Rajasthan State, India. Statistical methods were employed to examine the annual and seasonal patterns of DGWL, and the generalized additive model (GAM) was used to determine the impacts of climatic and anthropogenic variables on DGWL. During 1994–2020, except for Barmer District, where the mean annual DGWL was almost constant (around 26.50 m), all other districts exhibited increase in DGWL, with Ajmer District experiencing the most increase. The results also revealed that 36 observation wells and piezometers showed a statistically significant annual increasing trend in DGWL and 34 observation wells and piezometers exhibited a statistically significant decreasing trend in DGWL. Similarly, 32 observation wells and piezometers showed an statistically significant increasing trend and 37 observation wells and piezometers showed a statistically significant decreasing trend in winter; 33 observation wells and piezometers indicated a statistically significant increasing trend and 34 had a statistically significant decreasing trend in post-monsoon; 35 observation wells and piezometers exhibited a statistically significant increasing trend and 32 observation wells and piezometers showed a statistically significant decreasing trend in pre-monsoon; and 36 observation wells and piezometers reflected a statistically significant increasing trend and 30 observation wells and piezometers reflected a statistically significant decreasing trend in monsoon. Interestingly, most of the observation wells and piezometers with increasing trends of DGWL were located in Dausa and Jaipur districts. Furthermore, the GAM analysis revealed that climatic variables, such as precipitation, significantly affected DGWL in Barmer District, and DGWL in all other districts was influenced by anthropogenic variables, including GDP, NIA, and population. As a result, stringent regulations should be implemented to curb excessive groundwater extraction, manage agricultural water demand, initiate proactive aquifer recharge programs, and strengthen sustainable management in these water-scarce regions.

With the population growth through natural growth and migration, coupled with the city expansion, it is the fact that Dehradun City in India faces severe water scarcity. Therefore, the Song Dam Drinking Water Project (SDDWP) is proposed to provide ample drinking water to Dehradun City and its suburban areas. This paper examined economic significance and environmental impacts of the SDDWP in Garhwal Himalaya, India. To conduct this study, we collected data from both primary and secondary sources. There are 12 villages and 3 forest divisions in the surrounding areas of the proposed dam project, of which 3 villages will be fully submerged and 50 households will be affected. For this study, 50 heads of the households were interviewed in the 3 submerged villages. The questions mainly focused on economic significance, environmental impacts, and rehabilitation issues of the dam project. The findings of this study indicate that economic significance of the dam project is substantial, including providing ample water for drinking and irrigation, contributing to groundwater recharge, creating job opportunities, and promoting the development of tourism and fisheries in the Doon Valley. In terms of the rehabilitation of the affected people, there are only 50 households in need of rehabilitation. Currently, the arable land of these affected people is not sufficient to sustain their livelihoods. The entire landscape is fragile, rugged, and precipitous; therefore, the affected people are willing to rehabilitate to more suitable areas in the Doon Valley. Moreover, it is essential to provide them with sufficient compensation packages including the compensation of arable land, houses, cash, common property resources, institutions, belongingness, and cultural adaptation. On the other hand, the proposed dam project will have adverse environmental impacts including arable land degradation, forest degradation, loss of fauna and flora, soil erosion, landslides, and soil siltation. These impacts will lead to the ecological imbalances in both upstream and downstream areas. This study suggests that the affected people should be given sufficient compensation packages in all respects. Afforestation programs can be launched in the degraded areas to compensate for the loss of forest in the affected areas.

This study examines the transformative role of self-help groups (SHGs) in the socioeconomic development of rural women in Cooch Behar District, India, and their contribution toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. In this study, we explored the effect of SHGs on rural women by specifically addressing SDGs, such as no poverty (SDG 1), zero hunger (SDG 2), good health and well-being (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), and gender equality (SDG 5). Given this issue, a cross-sectional survey and comparison analyses are needed to assess the socioeconomic development of rural women and their awareness level before and after the participation of rural women in SHGs. The survey conducted as part of this study was divided into three sections, namely, demographic characteristics, socioeconomic development, and awareness level, with each focusing on different aspects. A group of 400 individuals who were part of SHGs completed the questionnaire survey form. The results showed that the participation of rural women in SHGs significantly improved their socioeconomic development and awareness level, as supported by both mean values and t test results. Memberships in SHGs and microcredit programs were the major elements that boosted the socioeconomic development of rural women, which also achieves SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. This study revealed that participation in SHGs and related financial services significantly aided rural women in economically disadvantaged communities in accumulating savings and initiating entrepreneurial ventures. Moreover, participation in SHGs was instrumental in enhancing the self-confidence, self-efficacy, and overall self-esteem of rural women. Finally, doing so enabled them to move more freely for work and other activities and to make family and common decisions.

The Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) is an important ecological barrier in the Yangtze River Basin, China. Therefore, it is of great importance to understand the spatio-temporal variation and the driving factors of production-living-ecological spaces for sustainable and high-quality development in the TGRA. This study investigated the dynamic variation of production-living-ecological spaces in the TGRA by employing land use data in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2018, and detected the influencing factors by using the Geographic detector (GeoDetector). Results implied that the structure and dynamic trajectories of production-living-ecological spaces in the TGRA varied in both horizontal and vertical directions, and the study area was dominated by ecological space. A spatial orientation towards the northeast was detected in the evolution of production-living-ecological spaces during 2000–2018. In terms of quantity, the transition from ecological space (grassland and woodland) to agriculture land accounted for the largest proportion from 2000 to 2018. However, the reverse transition from agriculture land to ecological space has increased since 2000 with the efforts of “Grain for Green”. In terms of temporal scale, there was a fluctuating trend in production space with the continuous expansion of living space, while ecological space showed an inverted U-shaped trend during 2000–2018. The dynamic pattern of production-living-ecological spaces in the TGRA was influenced by both physical and socio-economic variables as basic determinants and dominant driving factors, respectively. Finally, the harmonization and protection of production-living-ecological spaces still require policy-makers’ efforts. This work may have potential in advancing our understanding about land use conflicts, and provide a reference for rational layout of spatial functions and the realization of sustainable development in the TGRA.

A surging population in Karnataka State, a semi-arid region in India, poses a threat to both food security and livelihood sustainability, necessitating a concentrated effort to bolster agricultural efficiency and achieve United Naton’s Sustainable Development Goal 2 (zero hunger). Therefore, in order to address the pressing issue of food scarcity in Karnataka, this study meticulously examined the spatio-temporal variation of agricultural efficiency and irrigation intensity in Karnataka, uncovering its significant dependence of agricultural efficiency on irrigation intensity. Specifically, this study used a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to ascertain significant differences in the means of agricultural efficiency and irrigation intensity during 2004–2005 and 2018–2019. This study showed that the maximum improvement in agricultural efficiency index was recorded in Belgaum (40.24), Gulbarga (24.77), and Yadgir districts (22.92) between 2004–2005 and 2018–2019, which indicated the progressing trend and better scope for agriculture extension. On the contrary, some districts expressed threat (a decline of above 20.00 of agricultural efficiency index) and needed special care for the improvement of agricultural efficiency in four northern districts (Bagalkot, Bidar, Raichur, and Bijapur), three southern districts (Chitradurga, Chikballapur and Hassan), and two southern districts (Koppal and Gadag) in Karnataka. During 2004–2005, irrigation intensity varied from 3.19% to 56.39%, with the lowest irrigation intensity in Kodagu District and the highest irrigation intensity in Shimoga District. During 2018–2019, irrigation intensity changed from 0.77% to 72.77%, with the lowest irrigation intensity in Kodagu District and the highest in Dakshin Kannad District. Moreover, the research scrutinized the complex relationship between agricultural efficiency and irrigation intensity, with the correlation coefficient increased from 0.162 during 2004–2005 to 0.255 during 2018–2019. It implies that in both periods, a low positive correlation existed between these two variables. Over time, several factors (high-yield seeds and chemical fertilizers) other than irrigation intensity gradually became essential for agricultural efficiency. This research offers a wealth of valuable insights for regional planners and policy-makers contending with comparable challenges in various regions of India and other developing countries.