Geography and Sustainability最新文献

The exponential growth of food demand due to the increasing global population has the potential to seriously threaten the quality and quantity of food supplies due to climate change. This study explores the utilisation of green urban spaces for achieving food self-sufficiency by investigating the extent to which sustainable urban farms could be used to reduce the consumption of imported produce in the UK. It also examines urban farming stakeholders’ perspective on how food self-sufficiency can help realise the SDGs especially SDG 2 (Zero hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate action). The study adopts a mixed method approach through a survey with 115 respondents and semi-structured interviews conducted with 12 respondents from 4 different urban farming stakeholder groups. The findings of this study presented a strong correlation between stakeholders who had concerns about where their food came from and the carbon footprint of imported produce. The research shows that, urban farms will no doubt play a vital role in the future of food security in our cities/communities and that the SDGs could be realised through sustainable urban farms implemented within the relevant planning regulations/policies.

In many countries agricultural land is a scarce resource, either due to natural conditions or because of competition over land. An increased need for food globally, changing environmental conditions and increased demand for environmentally sound agriculture and food systems, all require better integration of planning for rural land use and food production. A literature analysis was conducted including coding of 76 papers, to answer the question on how and to what extent, literature addresses the integration of land use policy and planning, and food system planning, in the context of sustainable rural development and agri-food production. The results indicate that land use and food system planning co-occur in literature, yet lacking the perspective of sustainable rural development, suggesting that integrated planning for sustainable rural land use and food systems needs to be strengthened. Food system research has largely focused on availability and access, or what can be associated with consumers, rather than rural land use. Likewise, the inclusion of food systems is neither common in rural land use planning nor in agricultural policies. Holistic planning for a sustainable food system may be suffering from a disjointed approach, e.g., planning for farmland may not have any links to planning for accessibility, consumer preferences or food marketing. Increased cooperation between stakeholders is necessary to break down the silos in the food system. Policies and plans for rural land use and agri-food production should be coordinated for the common goal of sustainability.

Inappropriate management of municipal solid waste dumpsites is a major cause of groundwater contamination in developing countries, but the extent of the problem is not known. This study investigated groundwater quality in the vicinity of Olusosun dumpsite in Lagos, Nigeria, the most populous city in sub-Saharan Africa. During 2020, monthly groundwater samples were collected in 17 wells and boreholes used as drinking water sources, and analysed for 20 physico-chemical parameters. Differences between sites and seasons were statistically assessed, together with changes in water quality index (WQI). The results indicated that heavy metals (Pb²⁺, Ni⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Cr⁶⁺), cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺), total hardness and pH were the main parameters impairing water quality. Drinking water quality standards from both the World Health Organization and Nigeria government were exceeded more often in the wet season than in the dry season. Some groundwater properties were negatively correlated with distance to dumpsite (e.g., Fe²⁺, Pb²⁺, NO₃⁻). Significant differences between sites were identified, but with no clear spatial trend. WQI varied from excellent (6%–24% of the sites over the study period) to unsuitable for drinking water purposes (12%–18%), with good quality prevailing at most sites (35%–47%). Although groundwater quality declined at 24% of the sites over 2020, the results indicated improvements compared with previous decades. Remediation strategies must be implemented to safeguard public health and the sustainability of water resources.

It is never an easy task for China to feed 1.4 billion people with only 7% of the world’s arable land. With nearly 30% of the world’s nitrogen (N) fertilizer applied, China achieves high crop yields while facing N pollution resulting from excessive N input. Here, we calculate the farmland N budget on the national and regional scales. The N use efficiency (NUE) in China increased by 28.0% during 2005–2018. This improvement is due to the reduction in fertilization and the improvement of crop management. The fragmented farmland is changing to large-scale farmland with the increase in cultivated land area per rural population and the development of agricultural mechanization. This opportunity brings more possibilities for precision farmland management, thus further improving NUE. The goal of an NUE of 0.6 may be achieved in the 2040s based on the current development trend. This striking N use shift in China has important implications for other developing countries.

Management of forest lands considering multi-functional approaches is the basis to sustain or enhance the provision of specific benefits, while minimizing negative impacts to the environment. Defining a desired management itinerary to a forest depends on a variety of factors, including the forest type, its ecological characteristics, and the social and economic needs of local communities. A strategic assessment of the forest use suitability (FUS) (namely productive, protective, conservation-oriented, social and multi-functional) at regional level, based on the provision of forest ecosystem services and trade-offs between FUS alternatives, can be used to develop management strategies that are tailored to the specific needs and conditions of the forest. The present study assesses the provision of multiple forest ecosystem services and employs a decision model to identify the FUS that supports the most present and productive ecosystem services in each stand in Catalonia. For this purpose, we apply the latest version of the Ecosystem Management Decision Support (EMDS) system, a spatially oriented decision support system that provides accurate results for multi-criteria management. We evaluate 32 metrics and 12 associated ecosystem services indicators to represent the spatial reality of the region. According to the results, the dominant primary use suitability is social, followed by protective and productive. Nevertheless, final assignment of uses is not straightforward and requires an exhaustive analysis of trade-offs between all alternative options, in many cases identifying flexible outcomes, and increasing the representativeness of multi-functional use. The assignment of forest use suitability aims to significantly improve the definition of the most adequate management strategy to be applied.

Urban-rural integration (URI) is a global challenge that is highly related to inequalities, poverty, economic growth, and other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Existing research has evaluated the extent of URI and explored its influencing factors, but urban-rural linkages are seldom incorporated in evaluation systems, and geographical factors are rarely recognized as the influencing factors. We construct a URI framework including regional economy, rural development, urban-rural linkage, and urban-rural gap. Based on a dataset consisting of 1,669 counties in China in 2020, we reveal the spatial pattern of URI and find a high correlation between the spatial pattern of URI and the relief degree of land surface (RDLS). Using structural equation modeling, we discover that topography has direct (−0.18, p < 0.001) and indirect (−0.17, p < 0.001) effects on URI. The indirect negative effects are mediated through the infrastructure, and the combination of localized advantages and modern technical conditions could mitigate the negative impact of topography. Finally, we identify 742 counties as lagging regions in URI, which can be clustered into eight types. Our findings could facilitate policy designing for those countries striving for integrated and sustainable development of urban and rural areas.

Concerns for biodiversity loss, wildlife conservation, and habitat destruction have dominated the policy agenda worldwide for decades. Unsustainable human-induced development and negative interaction between humans and wildlife have emerged as predominant issues globally. The present study deals with human and elephant conflicts (HEC) in the Polpitigama Divisional Secretariat, Sri Lanka, which is located in the Kahalla-Pallekele elephant corridor and connects Wilpattu and Kaudulla wildlife sanctuaries. The research objectives are identifying spatial patterns of elephant habitat suitability and probable risk zones for HEC. The elephant habitat suitability and HEC risk zones were identified on spatial and temporal scales using Geographic Information System integrating Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. Different factors, including habitat suitability, distance to roads, distance to croplands, distance to forests and protected areas, settlements, and population density, were considered to determine HEC risk zones in the area. Topography, water, and vegetation criteria are considered when determining elephant habitat suitability. The results of the Analytic Hierarchy Process run the spatially explicit model. The results revealed that of the total area, 15.3% is very highly suitable for elephant habitats, while the least suitable areas contribute only 4%. About 33.8% of the area is moderately suitable for elephants. The risk map indicates that 23.7% of the total area is under very high risk for HEC, and the least risk areas only account for 5.4%. About 26.2% of the area falls under the moderate risk zone for HEC. Since the model considered three aspects of HEC, it will help policymakers in wildlife conservation to avoid and minimize the HEC.

Coastal zones, with their significant geodiversity, are vital areas for geotourism. Effective management is crucial to harness the geological interest of these sites as geotourism resources while ensuring their conservation. Manabí Province is one of the most representative regions along the Ecuadorian coast due to its beaches and coastal cliffs, offering a wealth of tourist attractions and cultural elements. This study aims to evaluate the geosite potential of six cliffs in Manabí Province through quantitative and qualitative analyses to propose geotourism promotion strategies. The methodology involves (i) inventory and characterisation of the cliffs, (ii) assessment of the sites by the Spanish Inventory of Places of Geological Interest method (IELIG), and (iii) qualitative evaluation through focus group discussions and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis. The results reveal that all six sites boast diverse geological assets, including geomorphological, stratigraphic, sedimentological, and tectonic elements. They are characterised by “high” scientific, didactic, and tourist interest, while also being susceptible to degradation due to natural and anthropic threats. The SWOT analysis demonstrates that the valuable geological and geomorphological heritage of potential geosites provides an opportunity to foster geotourism and boost the province’s economy, incorporating geoconservation and geoeducation strategies. This study proposes a georoute called “Ruta Acantilados del Sol”, a 245 km journey encompassing all six sites, incorporating diverse tourist and cultural activities. Our research lays the foundation for fostering geotourism along the Manabí coast and strengthening the connection between nature, heritage, and the welfare of residents within a global resilience plan.

Human activities have impacted 77% of the terrestrial ecosystems (excluding Antarctica), and the remaining areas are becoming increasingly endangered. Mapping spatiotemporal dynamics of Human Footprint has been used to evaluate the cumulative interference on terrestrial environments globally. However, fences and hydropower, two widespread and rapidly expanding infrastructures, have not been considered regarding Human Footprint, despite their complicated and extensive effects on ecosystem functioning and species survival. Previous work has proved that fences increase habitat fragmentation, disrupt migratory routes, inadvertently trap and kill wildlife, and hinder genetic exchange. Hydropower construction also caused habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation. These impacts have received global concern, but fences around the world are difficult to be detected due to the limitations of current cartographic technologies. Furthermore, the effect of hydropower on the terrestrial environment has been underestimated, making the research on this topic at a global scale still in its infancy. Therefore, building an observation network of global fences and hydropower is a necessary step to move forward in the assessment of the impact of human activities on our planet, but also to better provide scientific support for policy-making regarding global biodiversity conservation, the identification of protected areas, and the prioritization of ecological restoration areas.

The village of Wengding, ancestral home of the Wa ethnic group, considered as China’s last primitive tribe, suffered near-complete extinction due to a fire incident in 2021. Historical records indicate that stilt-style buildings, also in Wengding, are highly susceptible to fire. Nevertheless, this has not hindered the long-term existence of these distinctive architectural forms. This study analyses the reasons for the sustained existence of the traditional building forms in Wengding, from the perspective of resilience. The findings indicate that the requirements of the traditional nomadic civilization for rapid construction of dwellings, the communal consciousness toward disaster resistance, and the implementation of spatially oriented fire protection measures collectively account for the swift recovery and reconstruction observed in Wengding village after the disaster. These aspects are tangible manifestations of the capacity of the village for resilience. Overall, resilience is essential for the sustainability of such traditional villages in the long term.