Pub Date : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2024.100579
Cynthia Vásquez , Renato A. Quiñones , Oscar Díaz , Nicolas Rozbaczylo , Jorge Pérez-Schultheiss , Eduardo Hernández-Miranda
Mussel farms can introduce disturbances to the diversity of soft bottom benthic macroinvertebrate communities. This study aimed to evaluate the ecological processes and mechanisms underlying responses from communities in two mussel farming areas in Chile, which is the largest exporter in the world. Alpha diversity indices, additive beta partitioning, and the Raup-Crick null model were employed for analysis. Results indicate a significant impact of mussel farming on both alpha and beta diversity, primarily through species replacement processes, and neutral mechanisms of ecological drift and dispersal. Alpha diversity decreased, and beta diversity increased near the farm areas with reduced hypoxic sediments. These results have conservation implications, especially considering that mussel farming in Chile is concentrated in regions with high levels of endemism. Because ecological drift is more pronounced in small communities with low dispersal potential, endemic and rare species are more susceptible to local extinction. A metacommunity and neutral approach should be integrated into future studies and environmental regulations to improve the assessment of the impacts of mussel farming on diversity.
{"title":"Mussel farms drive species replacement through ecological drift and dispersal","authors":"Cynthia Vásquez , Renato A. Quiñones , Oscar Díaz , Nicolas Rozbaczylo , Jorge Pérez-Schultheiss , Eduardo Hernández-Miranda","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2024.100579","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2024.100579","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mussel farms can introduce disturbances to the diversity of soft bottom benthic macroinvertebrate communities. This study aimed to evaluate the ecological processes and mechanisms underlying responses from communities in two mussel farming areas in Chile, which is the largest exporter in the world. Alpha diversity indices, additive beta partitioning, and the Raup-Crick null model were employed for analysis. Results indicate a significant impact of mussel farming on both alpha and beta diversity, primarily through species replacement processes, and neutral mechanisms of ecological drift and dispersal. Alpha diversity decreased, and beta diversity increased near the farm areas with reduced hypoxic sediments. These results have conservation implications, especially considering that mussel farming in Chile is concentrated in regions with high levels of endemism. Because ecological drift is more pronounced in small communities with low dispersal potential, endemic and rare species are more susceptible to local extinction. A metacommunity and neutral approach should be integrated into future studies and environmental regulations to improve the assessment of the impacts of mussel farming on diversity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100579"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143179388","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 : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2024.100571
Siqi Li , Yang Zhang , Tianqi Liu , Jinbo Zhang , Huaicheng Guo , Xiao Pu , Lu Lu , Changbo Qin
Persistent dilemma of water resource is one of the most challenging environmental issues worldwide. The shortage of water quantity fundamentally restricts the sustainable development of the economy and society, and the deterioration of water quality further aggravates the shortage of water quantity. The water metabolic mechanism depicts how material elements interact and operate during the inflow and outflow of water resources and pollutants in regional water system contexts, so exploring it from the perspective of dual control of quantity and quality provides a new view for identifying efficient management pathways. Thus, the objective of this study is to predict and analyze the metabolic mechanism for regional water system from the perspective of quantity-quality collaborative control. In detail, the prediction of water metabolism network in future scenario is established based on the Grey Model-Biproportional Scaling Method (GM-RAS) and the Input-Output Analysis (IOA). Subsequently, the Ecological Network Analysis (ENA) is applied to execute water metabolism analysis under the water quantity-quality joint control perspective. The proposed framework is applied to water system management of Zhejiang Province, China. The regional water metabolism development trends are illustrated, water quantity-quality pollutants (COD, NH3-N) metabolism mechanisms are analyzed, and key industrial sectors for future scenario water system management are identified. The results indicated that: (a) in order to achieve joint improvement of water resource conservation and environmental conditions, agriculture (AGR), manufacturing (MAN), gas (GAS) and the other sectors (OSE) are identified the key industrial sectors. (b) Under the current economic development model, the water system network will evolve towards improving the whole efficiency. The comprehensive dynamic analysis of quality-quantity collaborative control will provide a scientific support to guide the dilemma of water resources in an attempt to promoting the healthy development of water system.
{"title":"Prediction and Analysis of metabolic mechanism for regional water system from the perspective of quantity-quality collaborative control——A case study of Zhejiang Province, China","authors":"Siqi Li , Yang Zhang , Tianqi Liu , Jinbo Zhang , Huaicheng Guo , Xiao Pu , Lu Lu , Changbo Qin","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2024.100571","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2024.100571","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Persistent dilemma of water resource is one of the most challenging environmental issues worldwide. The shortage of water quantity fundamentally restricts the sustainable development of the economy and society, and the deterioration of water quality further aggravates the shortage of water quantity. The water metabolic mechanism depicts how material elements interact and operate during the inflow and outflow of water resources and pollutants in regional water system contexts, so exploring it from the perspective of dual control of quantity and quality provides a new view for identifying efficient management pathways. Thus, the objective of this study is to predict and analyze the metabolic mechanism for regional water system from the perspective of quantity-quality collaborative control. In detail, the prediction of water metabolism network in future scenario is established based on the Grey Model-Biproportional Scaling Method (GM-RAS) and the Input-Output Analysis (IOA). Subsequently, the Ecological Network Analysis (ENA) is applied to execute water metabolism analysis under the water quantity-quality joint control perspective. The proposed framework is applied to water system management of Zhejiang Province, China. The regional water metabolism development trends are illustrated, water quantity-quality pollutants (COD, NH<sub>3-N</sub>) metabolism mechanisms are analyzed, and key industrial sectors for future scenario water system management are identified. The results indicated that: (a) in order to achieve joint improvement of water resource conservation and environmental conditions, agriculture (AGR), manufacturing (MAN), gas (GAS) and the other sectors (OSE) are identified the key industrial sectors. (b) Under the current economic development model, the water system network will evolve towards improving the whole efficiency. The comprehensive dynamic analysis of quality-quantity collaborative control will provide a scientific support to guide the dilemma of water resources in an attempt to promoting the healthy development of water system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100571"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143180861","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 : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2025.100586
Anas Melethil , Nabil Ahmed Khan , Golam Kabir , Ahmad Yusuf Adhami , Irfan Ali
The study employed neutrosophic programming to optimize Canada's efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. It focused on maximizing GDP and employment while minimizing carbon emissions and electricity consumption. The findings indicated substantial progress in GDP and employment, with GDP projections aligning closely with ARIMA forecast values. However, the optimization results for reducing carbon emissions and electricity consumption were less favorable, as both exceeded the 2030 targets, though slightly below ARIMA forecasts. These outcomes underscore the ongoing challenge of balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability. Neutrosophic programming proved effective in managing uncertainties and imprecise data, particularly in addressing complex, sometimes conflicting objectives like those within the SDGs. Future strategies include advancing greener technologies in high-emission sectors, introducing policy measures such as incentives for renewable energy, stricter emissions regulations, subsidies for green technologies, and increasing investment in sustainable technology research and development.
{"title":"Enhancing Canada's sustainable development goals: Leveraging neutrosophic programming for agenda 2030","authors":"Anas Melethil , Nabil Ahmed Khan , Golam Kabir , Ahmad Yusuf Adhami , Irfan Ali","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100586","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100586","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study employed neutrosophic programming to optimize Canada's efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. It focused on maximizing GDP and employment while minimizing carbon emissions and electricity consumption. The findings indicated substantial progress in GDP and employment, with GDP projections aligning closely with ARIMA forecast values. However, the optimization results for reducing carbon emissions and electricity consumption were less favorable, as both exceeded the 2030 targets, though slightly below ARIMA forecasts. These outcomes underscore the ongoing challenge of balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability. Neutrosophic programming proved effective in managing uncertainties and imprecise data, particularly in addressing complex, sometimes conflicting objectives like those within the SDGs. Future strategies include advancing greener technologies in high-emission sectors, introducing policy measures such as incentives for renewable energy, stricter emissions regulations, subsidies for green technologies, and increasing investment in sustainable technology research and development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100586"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143180328","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 : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2024.100565
Xiaohui Ma , Li Zhang , Xiaochun Yang , Yue Fan , Fukuda Hiroatsu , Jiahao Zhang , Luyao Li
Societal “imbalance” and “injustice” are key concerns during heatwaves that are considered a typical climate change phenomenon. However, our understanding of precise ways to measure and respond to environmental justice needs remains limited. In this study, we develop an equity index to examine environmental justice problems with respect to social resource provisions during heatwave responses. A multi-source data integration approach and a synthetic population algorithm are used to construct a method to calculate environmental equity indices with 100∗100 m spatial resolution. The resultant integrated equity index map offers a comprehensive view of the urgent need for social resource provision during heatwave responses. Our findings reveal that, despite a higher demand for heatwave-related resources in central urban areas, some suburban regions, particularly emerging cross-boundary functional zones, exhibited lower levels of equity due to inadequate social resource supplies. Additionally, we explored the correlation between social media data based heatwave perception maps and environmental equity levels, confirming the potential of using the heatwave perception to validate the equity index. This study not only mapped out priority areas but also set the stage for targeted interventions to enhance resilience and justice in urban planning.
{"title":"Developing an environmental equity index for urban heat wave event","authors":"Xiaohui Ma , Li Zhang , Xiaochun Yang , Yue Fan , Fukuda Hiroatsu , Jiahao Zhang , Luyao Li","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2024.100565","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2024.100565","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Societal “imbalance” and “injustice” are key concerns during heatwaves that are considered a typical climate change phenomenon. However, our understanding of precise ways to measure and respond to environmental justice needs remains limited. In this study, we develop an equity index to examine environmental justice problems with respect to social resource provisions during heatwave responses. A multi-source data integration approach and a synthetic population algorithm are used to construct a method to calculate environmental equity indices with 100∗100 m spatial resolution. The resultant integrated equity index map offers a comprehensive view of the urgent need for social resource provision during heatwave responses. Our findings reveal that, despite a higher demand for heatwave-related resources in central urban areas, some suburban regions, particularly emerging cross-boundary functional zones, exhibited lower levels of equity due to inadequate social resource supplies. Additionally, we explored the correlation between social media data based heatwave perception maps and environmental equity levels, confirming the potential of using the heatwave perception to validate the equity index. This study not only mapped out priority areas but also set the stage for targeted interventions to enhance resilience and justice in urban planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100565"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143180026","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 : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2025.100585
Mayank Pandey , Alka Mishra , Singam L. Swamy , James T. Anderson , Tarun Kumar Thakur
The rehabilitation of degraded coal-mined landscapes has recieved significant global attention due to its critical impact on ecological integrity, economic prosperity, and social development, aiming for zero net land degradation. This study examines the reclamation of coal mine overburdens through reforestation, using high-resolution Sentinel 2 satellite data classified by various Machine Learning (ML) algorithms. Support Vector Machine has been identified as a more accurate and effective ML algorithm compared to Random Forest and Maximum Likelihood Classifier in delineating land use and vegetation classes, particularly forests, and in distinguishing reclamation plantations into three age classes: young (4 ± 3 years), middle-aged (10 ± 2 years), and mature (15 ± 2 years). Significant areas of forests and agricultural land have been lost to coal mining, while a large portion of the overburden has been regenerated with plantations, leaving a small area barren for future mine expansion. The total standing biomass and carbon stock varied significantly (p ≤ 0.05) and increased with the age of reclamation plantations, ranging from 10.5 to 23.7 Mg ha-1 and 4.7–10.9 Mg ha-1, respectively. However, the biomass and carbon stocks in mature stands of mined sites were nearly three times lower than those in natural forests. The recovery rates of soil nutrients under plantations of these sites have surpassed halfway and may take a decade or two to reach levels equivalent to those of natural forests. By integrating crucial eco-technological and geospatial approaches employing ML algorithms, we effectively navigate interventions to reinvigorate the restoration process and reverse land degradation.
{"title":"Machine learning-based monitoring of land cover and reclamation plantations on coal-mined landscape using Sentinel 2 data","authors":"Mayank Pandey , Alka Mishra , Singam L. Swamy , James T. Anderson , Tarun Kumar Thakur","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100585","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2025.100585","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rehabilitation of degraded coal-mined landscapes has recieved significant global attention due to its critical impact on ecological integrity, economic prosperity, and social development, aiming for zero net land degradation. This study examines the reclamation of coal mine overburdens through reforestation, using high-resolution Sentinel 2 satellite data classified by various Machine Learning (ML) algorithms. Support Vector Machine has been identified as a more accurate and effective ML algorithm compared to Random Forest and Maximum Likelihood Classifier in delineating land use and vegetation classes, particularly forests, and in distinguishing reclamation plantations into three age classes: young (4 ± 3 years), middle-aged (10 ± 2 years), and mature (15 ± 2 years). Significant areas of forests and agricultural land have been lost to coal mining, while a large portion of the overburden has been regenerated with plantations, leaving a small area barren for future mine expansion. The total standing biomass and carbon stock varied significantly (p ≤ 0.05) and increased with the age of reclamation plantations, ranging from 10.5 to 23.7 Mg ha-1 and 4.7–10.9 Mg ha-1, respectively. However, the biomass and carbon stocks in mature stands of mined sites were nearly three times lower than those in natural forests. The recovery rates of soil nutrients under plantations of these sites have surpassed halfway and may take a decade or two to reach levels equivalent to those of natural forests. By integrating crucial eco-technological and geospatial approaches employing ML algorithms, we effectively navigate interventions to reinvigorate the restoration process and reverse land degradation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100585"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143180326","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 : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2024.100556
Bárbara Baigorri, Antonio Montañés, María-Blanca Simón-Fernández
This paper studies the relationship between ecological footprint, economic growth and renewable energy use in 20 OECD countries from 1990 to 2019, paying special attention to the possible existence of structural changes in this relationship over the period studied. Our results provide evidence supporting the presence of breaks, with the Great Recession playing a very important role. Our analysis identified an initial phase of decoupling between economic growth and ecological footprint, which is accompanied by a negative estimation of the semi-elasticity between renewable energy and ecological footprint. Nevertheless, these patterns are becoming less evident after the Great Recession, which has been revealed as a negative factor for the environment. Our results alert us to the need to maintain the environment policies even in periods of crisis, the only way to guarantee a real transition towards a more sustainable economic growth.
{"title":"The influence of the Great Recession on the relationship between ecological footprint, renewable energy and economic growth","authors":"Bárbara Baigorri, Antonio Montañés, María-Blanca Simón-Fernández","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2024.100556","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2024.100556","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper studies the relationship between ecological footprint, economic growth and renewable energy use in 20 OECD countries from 1990 to 2019, paying special attention to the possible existence of structural changes in this relationship over the period studied. Our results provide evidence supporting the presence of breaks, with the Great Recession playing a very important role. Our analysis identified an initial phase of decoupling between economic growth and ecological footprint, which is accompanied by a negative estimation of the semi-elasticity between renewable energy and ecological footprint. Nevertheless, these patterns are becoming less evident after the Great Recession, which has been revealed as a negative factor for the environment. Our results alert us to the need to maintain the environment policies even in periods of crisis, the only way to guarantee a real transition towards a more sustainable economic growth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100556"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143180858","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}
This study presents an assessment of the Gross Environment Product (GEP) in Uttarakhand, India, evaluating the region's human efforts towards the ecology. Research examines the human efforts being made towards Uttarakhand's air, water, soil, and forest, balancing economic development with environmental sustainability. The GEP equation aggregates diverse environmental indicators to assess ecological efforts being made, showing substantial improvements from 2020 to 2022. Results of the analysis in Uttarakhand shows that Air GEP improved significantly, Soil GEP rose with successful organic farming transitions, Water GEP reflected enhanced conservation efforts, and Forest GEP highlighted effective afforestation measures. The study concludes that strategic sustainable practices can enable ecosystems in Uttarakhand to thrive under human pressures, advocating for the inclusion of GEP in environmental governance for evidence-based decision-making and promoting sustainable development globally. The paper also concludes that though a positive outlook is seen in Uttarakhand GEP but when compared to the pressure on economic activities the efforts needs to increase substantially.
{"title":"Deciphering Uttarakhand's human efforts towards the ecology through Gross Environment Product (GEP) calculations","authors":"Anil Prakash Joshi , Shivam Joshi , Ramesh Kumar Sudhanshu , Durgesh Pant , Sushil Rai , Atul Rawat , Himani Purohit","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2024.100578","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2024.100578","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents an assessment of the Gross Environment Product (GEP) in Uttarakhand, India, evaluating the region's human efforts towards the ecology. Research examines the human efforts being made towards Uttarakhand's air, water, soil, and forest, balancing economic development with environmental sustainability. The GEP equation aggregates diverse environmental indicators to assess ecological efforts being made, showing substantial improvements from 2020 to 2022. Results of the analysis in Uttarakhand shows that Air GEP improved significantly, Soil GEP rose with successful organic farming transitions, Water GEP reflected enhanced conservation efforts, and Forest GEP highlighted effective afforestation measures. The study concludes that strategic sustainable practices can enable ecosystems in Uttarakhand to thrive under human pressures, advocating for the inclusion of GEP in environmental governance for evidence-based decision-making and promoting sustainable development globally. The paper also concludes that though a positive outlook is seen in Uttarakhand GEP but when compared to the pressure on economic activities the efforts needs to increase substantially.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100578"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143180859","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 : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2024.100569
Diriba Abdeta , Alemayehu N. Ayana
Coffee certification programs are emerging as potential tools to improve livelihoods and contribute to environmental sustainability. However, these programs have faced criticism, particularly regarding their impact on participants' livelihoods and resource conservation. This study evaluates the performance of the Forest Coffee Certification Program (FCCP), implemented in the Belete-Gera forest area over the past ten years (2011–2022), focusing on its contributions to household income and its effects on resource conservation. Additionally, it investigates whether premium payments resulting from the certification have incentivized households to comply with FCCP objectives and requirements. Multiple data collection methods were employed, including household surveys, key informant interviews, stakeholder workshops, and desk reviews. Results indicate a substantial increase in the total sales volume of forest coffee and revenues, whereas the volumes of forest coffee supplied to the cooperatives showed decreasing trends over the past ten years. Consequently, the premium payment received from certified forest coffee export also showed a substantial decreasing trend. The current premium payment of $0.87 (46 birr) per kg is identified as the optimal incentive for compliance with FCCP requirements. The results also indicate that the certification program contributed to forest conservation by creating incentives that fostered a sense of ownership within the local community, particularly during the early stages of its implementation. The study concludes that improving price differentials and ensuring fairer premium distribution could strengthen the FCCP's impact on livelihoods and forest conservation. Moreover, the program needs to address the decreasing trend in forest coffee cooperative supplies to sustain its long-term benefits.
{"title":"The contribution of forest coffee certification program to household income and resource conservation: Empirical evidences from Southwest Ethiopia","authors":"Diriba Abdeta , Alemayehu N. Ayana","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2024.100569","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2024.100569","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coffee certification programs are emerging as potential tools to improve livelihoods and contribute to environmental sustainability. However, these programs have faced criticism, particularly regarding their impact on participants' livelihoods and resource conservation. This study evaluates the performance of the Forest Coffee Certification Program (FCCP), implemented in the Belete-Gera forest area over the past ten years (2011–2022), focusing on its contributions to household income and its effects on resource conservation. Additionally, it investigates whether premium payments resulting from the certification have incentivized households to comply with FCCP objectives and requirements. Multiple data collection methods were employed, including household surveys, key informant interviews, stakeholder workshops, and desk reviews. Results indicate a substantial increase in the total sales volume of forest coffee and revenues, whereas the volumes of forest coffee supplied to the cooperatives showed decreasing trends over the past ten years. Consequently, the premium payment received from certified forest coffee export also showed a substantial decreasing trend. The current premium payment of $0.87 (46 birr) per kg is identified as the optimal incentive for compliance with FCCP requirements. The results also indicate that the certification program contributed to forest conservation by creating incentives that fostered a sense of ownership within the local community, particularly during the early stages of its implementation. The study concludes that improving price differentials and ensuring fairer premium distribution could strengthen the FCCP's impact on livelihoods and forest conservation. Moreover, the program needs to address the decreasing trend in forest coffee cooperative supplies to sustain its long-term benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100569"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143179959","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}
The goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa), historically widespread across the Middle East and Central Asia, is now facing a critical threat due to habitat fragmentation and population decline, particularly in Iran. To better understand the reason for the low genetic diversity of goitered gazelle populations, we combined a genetic analysis (cytb gene) like genetic diversity and demographic history using non-invasive sampling techniques with a land use/land cover study by land use dynamic degree models (LUDD) and landscape change process analysis. The selection study area is based on several populations of goitered gazelle that are located on the southern slope of the Alborz Mountain range in Iran. The results showed an alarming paucity of nucleotide diversity (0.0019) within these populations. At the same time, analysis of land use and land cover changes in the same area showed that over the past 30 years (1990–2020) urban areas have had the most increase among other land use classes (growth rate: 171%). The knowledge acquired from this research not only contributes to our understanding of the genetic makeup of goitered gazelle populations but also underscores the importance of addressing land use changes and their consequences on biodiversity. These findings emphasize the need for targeted conservation efforts to counteract the effects of urban growth on goitered gazelle habitats. Such strategies are crucial for securing the future of these populations in the southern slopes of the Alborz Mountain range and similar regions facing similar pressures.
{"title":"Assessing the potential of land use and land cover changes on the genetic diversity of goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) in the southern slopes of the Alborz Mountain range, Iran","authors":"Mojgan Asadollahi , Mostafa Keshtkar , Faraham Ahmadzadeh","doi":"10.1016/j.indic.2024.100557","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indic.2024.100557","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The goitered gazelle (<em>Gazella subgutturosa</em>), historically widespread across the Middle East and Central Asia, is now facing a critical threat due to habitat fragmentation and population decline, particularly in Iran. To better understand the reason for the low genetic diversity of goitered gazelle populations, we combined a genetic analysis (cyt<em>b</em> gene) like genetic diversity and demographic history using non-invasive sampling techniques with a land use/land cover study by land use dynamic degree models (LUDD) and landscape change process analysis. The selection study area is based on several populations of goitered gazelle that are located on the southern slope of the Alborz Mountain range in Iran. The results showed an alarming paucity of nucleotide diversity (0.0019) within these populations. At the same time, analysis of land use and land cover changes in the same area showed that over the past 30 years (1990–2020) urban areas have had the most increase among other land use classes (growth rate: 171%). The knowledge acquired from this research not only contributes to our understanding of the genetic makeup of goitered gazelle populations but also underscores the importance of addressing land use changes and their consequences on biodiversity. These findings emphasize the need for targeted conservation efforts to counteract the effects of urban growth on goitered gazelle habitats. Such strategies are crucial for securing the future of these populations in the southern slopes of the Alborz Mountain range and similar regions facing similar pressures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36171,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Sustainability Indicators","volume":"25 ","pages":"Article 100557"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143180025","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 : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.indic.2024.100536
Vicent Gasso , Andrew Barber , Henrik Moller , Enrique Bayonne , Frank W. Oudshoorn , Claus G. Sørensen
Sustainability benchmarking is the process of comparing indicators of performance with other organizations to identify, adapt and implement best practice approaches for sustainability improvement. The benchmarking process is more likely to incentivise and guide sustainable practice if it is based on fair and sensible comparisons, accommodating features such as local biophysical and economic constraints, in order to place all farmers on a “level playing field”. This study developed a benchmarking rationale accommodating local opportunities and constraints for effectively incentivising locally-tuned sustainability improvements. This was carried out by analysing energy and water use on the 1103 vineyards enrolled in the Sustainable Wine-growing New Zealand scheme. Regression models to predict spatial and temporal variations of energy and water use explained relatively large proportions of the resource use variance. Production area and region were common and significant predictors of resource efficiency. A 59% increase over time in fuel efficiency took place in vineyards instigating energy reduction plans and actions. The vineyards' rank performance differed widely when benchmarked within the entire sector or within other vineyards of equivalent characteristics, specifically for agroecological and production related characteristics influencing performance. For example, one vineyard ranked at the 20 percentile in fuel efficiency within the sector, yet at the 75 percentile when compared against vineyards in its own region and with a similar production area. Aggregated and non-locally tuned benchmarking might best suit consumers and national-level policy makers, but they do not capture the local and diverse challenges faced by the individual farmers. Use of locally-tuned benchmarking approaches can better identify actual sustainability improvement opportunities and may enhance farmers’ trust in the sustainability exercise, improve participation and better incentivise change towards sustainability.
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