This paper presents a policy framework for student-led exchanges within UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserves (BRs) and Global Geoparks (UGGps), aiming to enhance Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Drawing on experiential learning theory, place-based education, and transformative learning, the framework was co-developed during an international symposium held at Kanazawa University in March 2025. It addresses institutional barriers such as administrative complexity and financial constraints, proposing a flexible, low-burden model that supports intercultural dialogue, field-based learning, and community engagement. The framework includes six components: student-led coordination, flexible exchange formats, recognition and learning assessment, sustainable funding, hybrid learning integration, and regional sustainability. Pilot programs across six countries will test the model's feasibility and impact. Student testimonials and institutional feedback highlight the transformative potential of immersive exchanges and the need for inclusive, digitally supported systems. This work contributes to sustainable education policy by offering actionable strategies for integrating youth mobility into UNESCO's MAB and Geopark networks while treating the recommendations as hypotheses under pilot testing rather than proven solutions.
{"title":"Empowering student-led exchanges in biosphere reserves and geoparks: A policy framework for sustainable education in multiple UNESCO designated areas","authors":"Aida Mammadova , Denise Margaret Matias , Bernadette Ekua Bedua Afful , Racheal Fosu Donkoh , Seira Harada , Saku Monden","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100332","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100332","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper presents a policy framework for student-led exchanges within UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserves (BRs) and Global Geoparks (UGGps), aiming to enhance Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Drawing on experiential learning theory, place-based education, and transformative learning, the framework was co-developed during an international symposium held at Kanazawa University in March 2025. It addresses institutional barriers such as administrative complexity and financial constraints, proposing a flexible, low-burden model that supports intercultural dialogue, field-based learning, and community engagement. The framework includes six components: student-led coordination, flexible exchange formats, recognition and learning assessment, sustainable funding, hybrid learning integration, and regional sustainability. Pilot programs across six countries will test the model's feasibility and impact. Student testimonials and institutional feedback highlight the transformative potential of immersive exchanges and the need for inclusive, digitally supported systems. This work contributes to sustainable education policy by offering actionable strategies for integrating youth mobility into UNESCO's MAB and Geopark networks while treating the recommendations as hypotheses under pilot testing rather than proven solutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100332"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145897883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2026.100333
Haotian Chen , Hao Yang , Xiaoyu Shi , Xuan Wang , Shuxian Dou , Xinyi Wang , Yang Su , Xin Huang , Aixing Deng , Zhenwei Song , Weijian Zhang
The agricultural application of sewage sludge offers potential for enhancing soil fertility and promoting soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, but also poses environmental risks due to the presence of pollutants. Given the growing volume of research and the complexity of its environmental implications, a systematic understanding of how this field has evolved is urgently needed. To clarify the evolution, research priorities, and knowledge gaps in this domain, this study conducted a systematic bibliometric analysis of 3794 articles published from 1991 to 2024. Results revealed exponential growth in publications, with a marked shift in research focus after 2010. China, the United States, and Spain were identified as leading contributors. Keyword co-occurrence and citation analyses revealed three dominant thematic clusters: 1) sludge stabilization and soil property improvement, 2) contaminant risk and remediation strategies, and 3) SOC dynamics and sequestration mechanisms. Highly cited studies highlighted the potential of composted and pyrolyzed sludge in enhancing SOC while mitigating ecological risks. However, most evidence remains limited to laboratory conditions, with a paucity of long-term field trials under realistic agronomic scenarios. Future research should address methodological limitations and strengthen interdisciplinary integration for balancing SOC sequestration goals with environmental safety in sludge-based agricultural practices.
{"title":"Research landscape and emerging pathways of sewage sludge application for soil carbon sequestration","authors":"Haotian Chen , Hao Yang , Xiaoyu Shi , Xuan Wang , Shuxian Dou , Xinyi Wang , Yang Su , Xin Huang , Aixing Deng , Zhenwei Song , Weijian Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2026.100333","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crsust.2026.100333","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The agricultural application of sewage sludge offers potential for enhancing soil fertility and promoting soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, but also poses environmental risks due to the presence of pollutants. Given the growing volume of research and the complexity of its environmental implications, a systematic understanding of how this field has evolved is urgently needed. To clarify the evolution, research priorities, and knowledge gaps in this domain, this study conducted a systematic bibliometric analysis of 3794 articles published from 1991 to 2024. Results revealed exponential growth in publications, with a marked shift in research focus after 2010. China, the United States, and Spain were identified as leading contributors. Keyword co-occurrence and citation analyses revealed three dominant thematic clusters: 1) sludge stabilization and soil property improvement, 2) contaminant risk and remediation strategies, and 3) SOC dynamics and sequestration mechanisms. Highly cited studies highlighted the potential of composted and pyrolyzed sludge in enhancing SOC while mitigating ecological risks. However, most evidence remains limited to laboratory conditions, with a paucity of long-term field trials under realistic agronomic scenarios. Future research should address methodological limitations and strengthen interdisciplinary integration for balancing SOC sequestration goals with environmental safety in sludge-based agricultural practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100333"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The groundwater crisis in Iran, epitomized by a 22-m aquifer decline over three decades in the Kuhdasht Plain, underscores systemic socio-ecological failures driven by fragmented governance and misaligned incentives. This study investigates the interdependencies between policy, ecology, and user behavior through Ostrom's socio-ecological systems (SES) framework. Employing a qualitative, exploratory research paradigm and a non-experimental design, we analyzed secondary data, including scientific literature, gray documents, reports, and governmental publications. The sample comprised 83 participants, including 35 subject matter experts and 48 key farmers with significant experience in groundwater issues. Data collection primarily occurred through in-depth interviews. Findings indicate that the prevailing challenges stem from decades of unenforced extraction laws, fragmented institutional mandates, and politically driven water management. Factors such as unregulated extraction, political limitations in water management, and the absence of a systemic approach to integrated basin management, combined with ineffective enforcement of laws against violators, have exacerbated stress on water resources. Moreover, farmers prioritize water-intensive crops (e.g., sugar beet) due to market incentives and livelihood dependencies. Technical interventions alone are insufficient; restoring aquifer sustainability demands polycentric governance reforms, equitable enforcement, and livelihood diversification to align ecological and socio-economic priorities.
{"title":"Groundwater sustainability challenges in Iran's Kuhdasht Plain: A socio-ecological perspective using Ostrom's framework","authors":"Fatemeh Sepahvand , Karim Naderi Mahdei , Saeed Gholamrezai , Masoud Bijani","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100316","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100316","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The groundwater crisis in Iran, epitomized by a 22-m aquifer decline over three decades in the Kuhdasht Plain, underscores systemic socio-ecological failures driven by fragmented governance and misaligned incentives. This study investigates the interdependencies between policy, ecology, and user behavior through Ostrom's socio-ecological systems (SES) framework. Employing a qualitative, exploratory research paradigm and a non-experimental design, we analyzed secondary data, including scientific literature, gray documents, reports, and governmental publications. The sample comprised 83 participants, including 35 subject matter experts and 48 key farmers with significant experience in groundwater issues. Data collection primarily occurred through in-depth interviews. Findings indicate that the prevailing challenges stem from decades of unenforced extraction laws, fragmented institutional mandates, and politically driven water management. Factors such as unregulated extraction, political limitations in water management, and the absence of a systemic approach to integrated basin management, combined with ineffective enforcement of laws against violators, have exacerbated stress on water resources. Moreover, farmers prioritize water-intensive crops (e.g., sugar beet) due to market incentives and livelihood dependencies. Technical interventions alone are insufficient; restoring aquifer sustainability demands polycentric governance reforms, equitable enforcement, and livelihood diversification to align ecological and socio-economic priorities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100316"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145465148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carbon credit projects (CCPs) are promoted to finance the adoption of carbon farming practices, yet their success depends on farmers' confidence in the organizations that recruit, train, and pay them. We investigated how farmers perceive the main actors in CCPs and which of those actors are most likely to motivate uptake of sustainable technologies. We used a perception matrix survey with 500 rice- and livestock-based farmers (the two most significant sources of agricultural emissions) in southern India to identify which actors they trust most across eight functions – participation, information, training, inclusiveness, payment transparency, understanding of farmer realities, and overall trust. State Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, and Animal Husbandry received the highest composite score (>3.9/5), reflecting strong confidence in their technical advice, inclusive training, and fair handling of carbon credit payments. Progressive farmers and agricultural universities, including Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK - agricultural extension centers), formed the next tier, valued for peer demonstration and science-based support. Private companies, input dealers, and farmer-producer organizations were considered moderately reliable, while international organizations and non-governmental organizations ranked lowest due to limited village-level engagement and unclear benefits. Financial transparency emerged as the weakest function across all actors. The study underscores that public extension agencies, KVKs, and progressive farmers together constitute the trust infrastructure for credible and transparent carbon credit implementation. These findings indicate where credibility already exists and where it must be built. Embedding State Departments as nodal agencies and mandating transparent, Direct Benefit Transfer payments would institutionalize trust and accountability in future carbon projects. Project proponents can use the perception matrix framework at the design stage – and later as a diagnostic – to decide whether to deliver services through trusted public agencies and farmer networks or invest in correcting misperceptions when they stem from information gaps. Aligning CCP implementation with high-trust actors locally and publishing auditable payment schedules could accelerate the adoption of carbon farming practices, reduce disadoption, and enhance the effectiveness of India's forthcoming voluntary carbon market.
{"title":"Understanding farmers' trust in stakeholders of carbon credit projects: A perception-based analysis","authors":"Vinaya Kumar Hebsale Mallappa , Sriharsha Gadde , Adeeth A.G. Cariappa","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100317","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100317","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Carbon credit projects (CCPs) are promoted to finance the adoption of carbon farming practices, yet their success depends on farmers' confidence in the organizations that recruit, train, and pay them. We investigated how farmers perceive the main actors in CCPs and which of those actors are most likely to motivate uptake of sustainable technologies. We used a perception matrix survey with 500 rice- and livestock-based farmers (the two most significant sources of agricultural emissions) in southern India to identify which actors they trust most across eight functions – participation, information, training, inclusiveness, payment transparency, understanding of farmer realities, and overall trust. State Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, and Animal Husbandry received the highest composite score (>3.9/5), reflecting strong confidence in their technical advice, inclusive training, and fair handling of carbon credit payments. Progressive farmers and agricultural universities, including Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK - agricultural extension centers), formed the next tier, valued for peer demonstration and science-based support. Private companies, input dealers, and farmer-producer organizations were considered moderately reliable, while international organizations and non-governmental organizations ranked lowest due to limited village-level engagement and unclear benefits. Financial transparency emerged as the weakest function across all actors. The study underscores that public extension agencies, KVKs, and progressive farmers together constitute the trust infrastructure for credible and transparent carbon credit implementation. These findings indicate where credibility already exists and where it must be built. Embedding State Departments as nodal agencies and mandating transparent, Direct Benefit Transfer payments would institutionalize trust and accountability in future carbon projects. Project proponents can use the perception matrix framework at the design stage – and later as a diagnostic – to decide whether to deliver services through trusted public agencies and farmer networks or invest in correcting misperceptions when they stem from information gaps. Aligning CCP implementation with high-trust actors locally and publishing auditable payment schedules could accelerate the adoption of carbon farming practices, reduce disadoption, and enhance the effectiveness of India's forthcoming voluntary carbon market.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100317"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145519711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100309
E. Bergami , V. Ferrari , M. Scaramelli , S. Righi , D. Prevedelli
Although microplastics (MP, < 5 mm) are pervasive in the atmosphere and soil, with most of their sources concentrated in urban areas, public perception on MP as an environmental issue is still confined mostly to seas and oceans. Outreach activities are thus necessary to instil individual consciousness about our role in spreading such contamination, fostering pro-environmental behaviours particularly in young people. The environmental education project «Taking microplastics into the class», carried out with Italian high school students, aimed at: (i) collecting data on MP passive deposition in school environments and (ii) raising awareness about MP contamination. First, a group of 20 students was engaged with different hands-on field-, laboratory-, and computer-based activities (i.e., clean-up, MP sampling and analysis, dataset assembly, bench-scale toxicity tests), using interactive learning methods. The outcomes of each activity were then presented through peer-to-peer learning and questionnaire surveys, assessing perception, knowledge and behaviour in 163 high school students. Our findings show how scientifically driven and well-structured educational projects are very effective in stimulating students' knowledge acquisition, environmental awareness but also self-efficacy and transdisciplinary skills. Peer-to-peer learning was proven as a valid method to encourage sustainable and pro-environmental behaviour in young citizens. All the methodologies are detailed to help developing future targeted outreach activities about MP sources and their transport in urban environments.
{"title":"Having fun and raising awareness: Italian students monitor airborne microplastic in school environments","authors":"E. Bergami , V. Ferrari , M. Scaramelli , S. Righi , D. Prevedelli","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100309","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100309","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although microplastics (MP, < 5 mm) are pervasive in the atmosphere and soil, with most of their sources concentrated in urban areas, public perception on MP as an environmental issue is still confined mostly to seas and oceans. Outreach activities are thus necessary to instil individual consciousness about our role in spreading such contamination, fostering pro-environmental behaviours particularly in young people. The environmental education project «Taking microplastics into the class», carried out with Italian high school students, aimed at: (i) collecting data on MP passive deposition in school environments and (ii) raising awareness about MP contamination. First, a group of 20 students was engaged with different hands-on field-, laboratory-, and computer-based activities (i.e., clean-up, MP sampling and analysis, dataset assembly, bench-scale toxicity tests), using interactive learning methods. The outcomes of each activity were then presented through peer-to-peer learning and questionnaire surveys, assessing perception, knowledge and behaviour in 163 high school students. Our findings show how scientifically driven and well-structured educational projects are very effective in stimulating students' knowledge acquisition, environmental awareness but also self-efficacy and transdisciplinary skills. Peer-to-peer learning was proven as a valid method to encourage sustainable and pro-environmental behaviour in young citizens. All the methodologies are detailed to help developing future targeted outreach activities about MP sources and their transport in urban environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100309"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145361055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100273
Bruno Oliveira , Nuno V. Álvaro , Furqan Asif , Andrea Z. Botelho , João Canning-Clode , Daniela Casimiro , Candelaria Cecilia-Ruano , Catherine Chambers , Ana C. Costa , Ana Dinis , Jesús P. García , Ricardo Haroun , Unn Laksá , Gustavo M. Martins , Alexander H. McGrath , Caterina Mintrone , Mirjam Carlsdóttir Olsen , Manuela I. Parente , Paola Parretti , Sarai Pouso , Angel Borja
Current modeling practices for social-ecological systems (SES) are often qualitative and use causal loop diagrams (CLDs), as these models promote an evaluation of the systems loops and variable connectivity. Our literature review demonstrated that quality assurance of these models often lacks a consistent validation procedure. Therefore, a guide to improving the validation of qualitative models is presented. The presumed utility protocol is a multi-dimensional protocol with 26 criteria, organized into four dimensions, designed to assess specific parts of the modeling process and provide recommendations for improvement. This protocol was applied to three demonstration cases, located in the Arctic Northeast Atlantic Ocean, Macaronesia, and the Tuscan archipelago. The “Specific Model Tests” dimension, which focuses on the structure of the model, revealed positive evaluations of its structure, boundaries, and capacity to be scaled up. “Guidelines and Processes”, which focuses on the meaning and representativeness of the process, showed positive results regarding purpose, usefulness, presentation, and meaningfulness. “Policy Insights and Spillovers”, a dimension focused on the policy recommendations, revealed a high number of “not apply”, indicating that several criteria are too advanced for the status of the models tested. The “Administrative, Review, and Overview” dimension, which focused on the managerial overview, showed the models needed improvement in the documentation and replicability, while time and cost constraints were positively evaluated. The presumed utility protocol has shown to be a useful tool providing quantitative and qualitative evaluations for an intermediate evaluation of the model-building process, helping to substantiate confidence, with recommendations for improvements and applications elsewhere.
{"title":"A multi-dimensional approach to improve validation practices for qualitative models of marine social-ecological systems","authors":"Bruno Oliveira , Nuno V. Álvaro , Furqan Asif , Andrea Z. Botelho , João Canning-Clode , Daniela Casimiro , Candelaria Cecilia-Ruano , Catherine Chambers , Ana C. Costa , Ana Dinis , Jesús P. García , Ricardo Haroun , Unn Laksá , Gustavo M. Martins , Alexander H. McGrath , Caterina Mintrone , Mirjam Carlsdóttir Olsen , Manuela I. Parente , Paola Parretti , Sarai Pouso , Angel Borja","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100273","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100273","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Current modeling practices for social-ecological systems (SES) are often qualitative and use causal loop diagrams (CLDs), as these models promote an evaluation of the systems loops and variable connectivity. Our literature review demonstrated that quality assurance of these models often lacks a consistent validation procedure. Therefore, a guide to improving the validation of qualitative models is presented. The presumed utility protocol is a multi-dimensional protocol with 26 criteria, organized into four dimensions, designed to assess specific parts of the modeling process and provide recommendations for improvement. This protocol was applied to three demonstration cases, located in the Arctic Northeast Atlantic Ocean, Macaronesia, and the Tuscan archipelago. The “Specific Model Tests” dimension, which focuses on the structure of the model, revealed positive evaluations of its structure, boundaries, and capacity to be scaled up. “Guidelines and Processes”, which focuses on the meaning and representativeness of the process, showed positive results regarding purpose, usefulness, presentation, and meaningfulness. “Policy Insights and Spillovers”, a dimension focused on the policy recommendations, revealed a high number of “not apply”, indicating that several criteria are too advanced for the status of the models tested. The “Administrative, Review, and Overview” dimension, which focused on the managerial overview, showed the models needed improvement in the documentation and replicability, while time and cost constraints were positively evaluated. The presumed utility protocol has shown to be a useful tool providing quantitative and qualitative evaluations for an intermediate evaluation of the model-building process, helping to substantiate confidence, with recommendations for improvements and applications elsewhere.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100273"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143161659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100278
Yoji Natori , Tomohiro Nakagawa , Tomomi Saito , Tatsuhiro Kato , Takashi Seo , Makoto Yata , Yusuke Sawa , Mika Yasuda , Akiko Enomoto , Asako Isobe
Conservation is necessary to achieve sustainable development, and building capacity of youth and having them participate in conservation is an urgent imperative. The SATO-YAMA-UMI Project was a conservation project operated in six countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The project conducted an internship program for Japanese youth in fiscal year 2018–2019, whose impacts were assessed by members of implementing organizations and former interns in 2024 through online questionnaire and a focus group discussion. The assessment sought answers to: What are the benefits of on-site internship, as opposed to classroom learning? What effects have the on-site internship had in the career of the participants? What program elements would facilitate youth participation in conservation? We found that the field internship provides participants with opportunities to see the environmental issues in their totality without screening, and to gain perspectives that will be difficult to obtain once in the corporate system. Results supported the theory of change that direct experiences lead to enhanced engagement in conservation, such that the participants would play stronger roles as agents of change in the society. Non-governmental organizations organizing and presenting field internship program can significantly lower the barriers that impede many youth members to take the critical step, and they can play a significant role in inter-sectoral collaboration in human resource development. We discuss the role of conservation organizations in mobilizing youth as agents of change for sustainable futures, both through their own activities and in collaborations with private sector and academia.
{"title":"Conservation education for sustainable development through field internship at NGOs","authors":"Yoji Natori , Tomohiro Nakagawa , Tomomi Saito , Tatsuhiro Kato , Takashi Seo , Makoto Yata , Yusuke Sawa , Mika Yasuda , Akiko Enomoto , Asako Isobe","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100278","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100278","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conservation is necessary to achieve sustainable development, and building capacity of youth and having them participate in conservation is an urgent imperative. The SATO-YAMA-UMI Project was a conservation project operated in six countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The project conducted an internship program for Japanese youth in fiscal year 2018–2019, whose impacts were assessed by members of implementing organizations and former interns in 2024 through online questionnaire and a focus group discussion. The assessment sought answers to: What are the benefits of on-site internship, as opposed to classroom learning? What effects have the on-site internship had in the career of the participants? What program elements would facilitate youth participation in conservation? We found that the field internship provides participants with opportunities to see the environmental issues in their totality without screening, and to gain perspectives that will be difficult to obtain once in the corporate system. Results supported the theory of change that direct experiences lead to enhanced engagement in conservation, such that the participants would play stronger roles as agents of change in the society. Non-governmental organizations organizing and presenting field internship program can significantly lower the barriers that impede many youth members to take the critical step, and they can play a significant role in inter-sectoral collaboration in human resource development. We discuss the role of conservation organizations in mobilizing youth as agents of change for sustainable futures, both through their own activities and in collaborations with private sector and academia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100278"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143161201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100276
Leonardo Medina , Grazia Pacillo , Peter Läderach , Stefan Sieber , Michelle Bonatti
Research on climate and conflict often emphasizes violence and its drivers, overlooking the prevalence of collaboration in shaping social relations. Addressing this gap, this study undertakes a comparative institutional analysis of community-level responses to climate threats in violence-prone settings. The research explores conditions that incentivize either cooperation or conflict, refraining from presuming one outcome as dominant. Using a structured analytical framework applied through a thematic analysis, it systematically examines environmental, relational, institutional, and systemic patterns across three case studies of localized collective adaptation to climate change under varying forms of violence. These case studies are located in Guatemala, Philippines and Kenya. The study identifies 18 factors that drive conflict or foster collaboration, revealing that while these factors are broadly consistent across contexts, their effects are highly context-dependent. In some cases, the same factor contributes to both conflict and collaboration within shared adaptation arenas, underscoring the complex interplay of drivers. These findings highlight the importance of analysing interactions among drivers when designing collective climate adaptation efforts, emphasizing opportunities to mitigate violence and foster collaboration. The study concludes that enhancing adaptive capacities and climate-resilient peace requires expanding adaptation strategies to address often-overlooked dynamics. These include the historical processes underpinning institutional multiplicity, the legitimacy of local security forces, and the cohesion among neighbouring communities. By realigning incentives toward collaboration, such interventions can simultaneously build resilience and advance peaceful relations, providing actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners working in violence-prone regions.
{"title":"Adapting to climate change under threats of violence: A comparative institutional analysis of incentives for conflict and collaboration","authors":"Leonardo Medina , Grazia Pacillo , Peter Läderach , Stefan Sieber , Michelle Bonatti","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100276","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crsust.2024.100276","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Research on climate and conflict often emphasizes violence and its drivers, overlooking the prevalence of collaboration in shaping social relations. Addressing this gap, this study undertakes a comparative institutional analysis of community-level responses to climate threats in violence-prone settings. The research explores conditions that incentivize either cooperation or conflict, refraining from presuming one outcome as dominant. Using a structured analytical framework applied through a thematic analysis, it systematically examines environmental, relational, institutional, and systemic patterns across three case studies of localized collective adaptation to climate change under varying forms of violence. These case studies are located in Guatemala, Philippines and Kenya. The study identifies 18 factors that drive conflict or foster collaboration, revealing that while these factors are broadly consistent across contexts, their effects are highly context-dependent. In some cases, the same factor contributes to both conflict and collaboration within shared adaptation arenas, underscoring the complex interplay of drivers. These findings highlight the importance of analysing interactions among drivers when designing collective climate adaptation efforts, emphasizing opportunities to mitigate violence and foster collaboration. The study concludes that enhancing adaptive capacities and climate-resilient peace requires expanding adaptation strategies to address often-overlooked dynamics. These include the historical processes underpinning institutional multiplicity, the legitimacy of local security forces, and the cohesion among neighbouring communities. By realigning incentives toward collaboration, such interventions can simultaneously build resilience and advance peaceful relations, providing actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners working in violence-prone regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100276"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143161202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100285
Negar Tayebzadeh Moghadam, Bahram Malekmohammadi
Quantitative response of climate change impacts to watershed health assessment provides valuable information for management of essential hydrological ecosystem services. Based on this, an integrated and quantitative index was developed using the combination of Reliability, Resilience and Vulnerability (RRV) framework, Standard Precipitation Index (SPI)-RRV and Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to assess watershed health trends by considering precipitation anomalies and drought index. The Taleghan mountain watershed in a semi-arid region of Iran was studied for the period 1999–2023 and the future period 2025–2040. The calculation was done for the past and two future emission scenarios, Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5, from the Dynamics Laboratory's Earth System Model 2 M (GFDL-ESM2M) (GCM). The reliability, resilience, vulnerability and SPI-RRV indicators in the health classification of the Taleghan Watershed had normal average values of 0.5, 0.57, 0.59 and 0.5 respectively, indicating a moderate health status. In the future period, average values for reliability, resilience, vulnerability, and SPI-RRV were 0.51, 0.54, 0.27, and 0.44 for RCP4.5, and 0.50, 0.56, 0.24, and 0.43 for RCP8.5. All indicators were classified as moderately healthy, except for the vulnerability index, which was classified as unhealthy. Therefore, the Taleghan Watershed will be more vulnerable to droughts in the future. The reductions in SPI-RRV indicated that the Watershed is not adapted to future droughts. This requires long-term management and conservation planning to sustain water resources. The research methodology is applicable to other regions to determine the health of watersheds in relation to drought.
{"title":"Assessment of drought change trends and watershed health using a reliability-resilience-vulnerability framework in mountainous watersheds","authors":"Negar Tayebzadeh Moghadam, Bahram Malekmohammadi","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100285","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100285","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Quantitative response of climate change impacts to watershed health assessment provides valuable information for management of essential hydrological ecosystem services. Based on this, an integrated and quantitative index was developed using the combination of Reliability, Resilience and Vulnerability (RRV) framework, Standard Precipitation Index (SPI)-RRV and Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to assess watershed health trends by considering precipitation anomalies and drought index. The Taleghan mountain watershed in a semi-arid region of Iran was studied for the period 1999–2023 and the future period 2025–2040. The calculation was done for the past and two future emission scenarios, Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5, from the Dynamics Laboratory's Earth System Model 2 M (GFDL-ESM2M) (GCM). The reliability, resilience, vulnerability and SPI-RRV indicators in the health classification of the Taleghan Watershed had normal average values of 0.5, 0.57, 0.59 and 0.5 respectively, indicating a moderate health status. In the future period, average values for reliability, resilience, vulnerability, and SPI-RRV were 0.51, 0.54, 0.27, and 0.44 for RCP4.5, and 0.50, 0.56, 0.24, and 0.43 for RCP8.5. All indicators were classified as moderately healthy, except for the vulnerability index, which was classified as unhealthy. Therefore, the Taleghan Watershed will be more vulnerable to droughts in the future. The reductions in SPI-RRV indicated that the Watershed is not adapted to future droughts. This requires long-term management and conservation planning to sustain water resources. The research methodology is applicable to other regions to determine the health of watersheds in relation to drought.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100285"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143601476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100294
Heather Barnes Truelove , Kam Leung Yeung , Amanda R. Carrico , Ash J. Gillis
Understanding how and when an initial pro-environmental behavior (PEB1) may spill over to increase or decrease later PEBs can contribute to the creation of more effective PEB interventions. This study investigated PEB spillover in a novel way by examining whether a prior PEB reminder that elicits identity would increase the likelihood of positive spillover from PEB1 to PEB2 through an indirect pathway mediated by environmental identity, and whether a reminder that elicits guilt would increase the likelihood of negative PEB spillover mediated through guilt/shame. Student participants (N = 229) completed a longitudinal study where they were exposed to an intervention eliciting guilt, identity, or neither (control conditions) and were asked to use reusable cups for a week. One week later, they were given an opportunity to perform a second observable PEB (agree to write a letter to a political leader advocating for alternative energy). Results provide some evidence for a positive spillover pathway through environmental identity following a guilt intervention but not an identity intervention and no support for an indirect pathway through guilt/shame for any condition. Additionally, the positive identity pathway was evident in the active control group, but not a nonactive control group, raising questions about demand characteristics in PEB spillover studies.
{"title":"Do identity or guilt-based appeals lead to environmental spillover effects?","authors":"Heather Barnes Truelove , Kam Leung Yeung , Amanda R. Carrico , Ash J. Gillis","doi":"10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100294","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.crsust.2025.100294","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding how and when an initial pro-environmental behavior (PEB1) may spill over to increase or decrease later PEBs can contribute to the creation of more effective PEB interventions. This study investigated PEB spillover in a novel way by examining whether a prior PEB reminder that elicits identity would increase the likelihood of positive spillover from PEB1 to PEB2 through an indirect pathway mediated by environmental identity, and whether a reminder that elicits guilt would increase the likelihood of negative PEB spillover mediated through guilt/shame. Student participants (<em>N</em> = 229) completed a longitudinal study where they were exposed to an intervention eliciting guilt, identity, or neither (control conditions) and were asked to use reusable cups for a week. One week later, they were given an opportunity to perform a second observable PEB (agree to write a letter to a political leader advocating for alternative energy). Results provide some evidence for a positive spillover pathway through environmental identity following a guilt intervention but not an identity intervention and no support for an indirect pathway through guilt/shame for any condition. Additionally, the positive identity pathway was evident in the active control group, but not a nonactive control group, raising questions about demand characteristics in PEB spillover studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34472,"journal":{"name":"Current Research in Environmental Sustainability","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100294"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143928398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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