Environmental Development最新文献

The introduction and expansion of large-scale modern irrigation technology is often justified on the grounds of agricultural productivity and, more recently, climate change adaptation. However, the impacts of its accompanying process of agricultural intensification are seldom analysed from a social-ecological lens. Here we explore the effects of a large-scale modern irrigation (LSMI) project on farming livelihoods in Navarre, Spain. We identify farmers’ main livelihood and land management strategies to show how they are affected by the adoption of LSMI technology. We show that the development of the LSMI project contributes to change farm management practices in ways that simplify cropping patterns while displacing some farmers towards drylands and forcing others to sell their arable lands. Furthermore, we suggest that the LSMI project adopters may become more sensitive to climate change in the long term. In light of these findings, we argue that LSMI projects, and irrigation policy more broadly, may be inadvertently eroding traditional and less intensive small-scale farming while contributing to land accumulation by large-scale and pro-intensification farmers. These processes may be sowing the seeds of future rural vulnerabilities under accelerating climate change.

Solid waste management is a pressing global issue, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 12. Despite increasing awareness, the annual rise in waste generation is expected to persist for decades. Efficient waste management is crucial for channeling valuable resources into circular economy flows while safeguarding health and the environment. While best practices are informative, localized actions tailored to specific contexts are essential. This study proposes a thematic framework, grounded in techno-policy, to prioritize actions for achieving sustainable solid waste management (SSWM) in Qatar, with potential applicability to other countries. The prioritized recommendations include enhancing research and policy coordination, harnessing value from waste, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and promoting awareness campaigns. The study underscores the significance of private sector training, plastic recycling, and addressing the impact of mega-events on waste management. It identifies key stakeholders, such as researchers, businesses, government, and the community, emphasizing their roles in implementing effective waste management strategies. Challenges, however, arise from the absence of comprehensive and up-to-date open data, hindering a full understanding of recent developments and identification of priority areas for future research. In summary, this study introduces a novel techno-policy-driven framework for prioritizing SSWM actions, emphasizing the need for targeted efforts in diverse contexts to address the escalating global waste challenge.

This paper uses field survey data to examine farm and non-farm income to reduce income inequality among tribal households in Sylhet district, Bangladesh. It uses a decomposition method and a regression-based decomposition method to measure income and expenditure inequality by source of income as well as by household and family characteristics. For this, non-farm income was considered as an external transfer of total income to decompose the Gini index and as a potential substitute for farm income, taking into account household preferences. The results indicate that income differences exist between farm and non-farm income, thereby increasing income inequality. The endowment effect on household characteristics was positive and significant, directly supporting the increase in non-farm income per capita daily household expenditure. On the other hand, in terms of its components, non-farm self-employment income reduces income inequality, while non-farm wage income increases income inequality. At the 50th quantile results, an additional year of age of the household head increases the per capita expenditure of farm and non-farm households by BDT 300 to BDT 400, respectively. Moreover, the education of household heads also positively and significantly affects the per capita expenditure of non-farm households. As estimated by the 50th quantile, farm and non-farm households with graduation had higher per capita daily expenditure than household heads with primary education. Raising household education level and total farm household income to a better level, adopting farm-income enhancement programs, and enacting policies to increase alternative income opportunities that will shift income from non-agricultural to agricultural tribal households, reduce income inequality, and bring about the well-being of tribal society.

Sustainable soil management methods that consider farmers' needs and soil conservation, require the integration of scientific knowledge and farming practices. Therefore, this study has asked a. How do farmers perceive fertility indicators in relation to their management in agriculture? b. What strategies do small farmers implement to maintain soil health on their farmland? c. Are there correlations between scientific findings and farmers' perceptions of soil management indicators and practices in the Ecuadorian Amazon? A total of 287 surveys were applied with 35 questions that covered the general data of the respondent, visible indicators of soil fertility, soil management and conservation practices, as well as knowledge acquisition. The soil scientific data were obtained from the map made by the MAG and FAO (2018) of the locations where the surveys were conducted. The results show that farmers have an in-depth knowledge with respect to soil fertility, identifying several visible indicators, including some plants that indicate productive soils, while utilizing various practices that degrade the soil and others that contribute to soil conservation at the local level. Although the indicators used by the farmers were mainly based on observation, in many respects they coincided with scientific assessments of fertile or infertile soils. These farmers, with their vast practical experience and knowledge accumulated over generations, developed a deep understanding of the telltale signs of soil fertility. There is not always concordance between the two forms of knowledge, however, the synergy between traditional and scientific knowledge illustrates the importance of integrating different forms of knowledge for effective and sustainable land management.

Over the years, numerous studies have identified factors influencing farmers’ adaptive behaviour in India, however, there is a dearth of studies with respect to determinants like institutions, incentives, and information. This study, therefore, aims to fill this gap by assessing role of these factors in driving climate-smart agriculture practices. In total, 1274 farmers were surveyed from the 11 disaster-prone districts of four coastal states, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra. From the survey, it is observed that farmers are adopting seven non-mutually exclusive options, and thus, a multivariate probit model is employed. Our findings are: (i) more than 90 percent of the farmers adopt at least one option, and the most preferred measures are shifting of the crops, disaster-resilient crops, water management, and soil management options; (ii) in line with previous studies, the major determinants under household characteristics are livelihood diversification, and assets and amenities; (iii) access to soil health card is observed as the crucial factor for uptake of various options; (iv) none of the variables under institutions and incentives, and information, except for access to agro-met advisory services, are viewed as a major cause for adoption of all climate-smart agriculture options, but the mixed causal association is noticed for some of the measures. Concerning policy implications, this study advocates diversification of income sources, scaling up programs related to soil health card and agro-met advisory services, and restructuring existing institutions, developmental interventions, incentive mechanisms, and communication channels. It is essential since the support of policies and institutions are needed for the diffusion of agricultural innovations.

The core of this paper is an evaluation of the willingness to pay for non-use values of the ecosystem services related to the Banc d'Arguin National Park in Mauritania. This coastal protected area, the largest in Africa, has existed for more than forty years and plays a major role in the conservation of biodiversity. We use contingent valuation to estimate the willingness to pay by Mauritanian populations for the protection of biodiversity in the park. Results show that the non-use value accounts for 12–29% of the total economic value attributed to the park's ecosystem services. Interestingly, a correlation exists between the familiarity with the park and the living conditions of people interviewed and their willingness to pay: rural and distant populations have a lower willingness to pay than closer or urban population. The results also highlight that the protection of biodiversity is compatible with the maintenance of the Imraguen way of life since their fishing practices are based on traditional sustainable catch techniques.

Among different possibilities to mitigate climate change, the utilisation of carbon sinks has rendered increased interest with the emergence of net-zero targets. In Sweden, despite large forest resources, the product category wood-based panels has turned from being a carbon sink to an emission source. Production data and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) accounting approach has been used in this paper to construct the pool of biogenic carbon sequestered in wood-based panels. We used indices to compare this development and found that it is unparalleled in other countries. We show that it is possible to achieve an increased carbon sink in harvested wood products in Sweden and argue that all options producing real and quantifiable carbon sinks should be given opportunities in the regulatory frameworks for climate change mitigation. We conclude that the increased importance of carbon sinks to mitigate climate change justifies a critical discussion of bioenergy policy in Sweden and the rest of Europe. Additionally, we suggest a policy direction that will promote the cascading use of by-products for wood-based panels without proposing a mandated hierarchy of biomass use.

The vast majority of peatlands in Southeast Asia are located in Indonesia. They are currently classified as degraded and at risk of fire. Fire prevention and the restoration of degraded peatlands have therefore been part of the national government's agenda for the last two presidential terms. With the immense pressure of anthropogenic challenges, interventions to restore degraded peatlands and prevent fire combine biophysical and socioeconomic considerations. This paper explores the implementation of community-focused interventions and participatory processes in fire prevention, peatland restoration and sustainable livelihood improvement in Bengkalis Regency, Riau Province. We used Participatory Action Research (PAR) and an Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework to foster an on-the-ground and inclusive process for behavioral changes that result in not using fire in agricultural land preparation and to advance awareness of and participation in restoring degraded peatlands. Our findings reveal that PAR, with an IAD framing, can catalyze change. Four critical aspects are required for this: (a) demand for the intervention; (b) adequate political support; (c) community participation, leadership, social capital and local institutions; and (d) business models for sustainable livelihood transitions. This paper provides lessons on scientifically driven and evidence-based participatory processes for restoration.

Land use planning and climate change adaptation are critical for ensuring sustainable development and resilience in river-dependent communities in Nigeria. This study examines land use planning and climate adaptation in river-dependent communities in the Lower Niger River region of Nigeria. The research utilizes a mixed-methods approach. Data for the study were gathered from 198 households through surveys, complemented by 17 qualitative interviews and remote sensing techniques to assess land use changes and community perceptions. Findings reveal a notable trend where poor farmers face heightened vulnerability to climate change due to financial constraints, hindering their adoption of adaptive land use strategies. Specifically, more than half of the sampled households possess individual land for agricultural purposes yet lack the resources to effectively mitigate climate-related risks. Among the studied communities, Odekpe emerged as particularly vulnerable, with a prevalence of vulnerability at 32.3% and higher exposure to flood-prone zones.

The quantitative analysis delineates community engagement in land management practices, showcasing proactive resource allocation and conflict resolution efforts among over 60% of participants. However, a significant portion (57.6%) lacked awareness of hydrological changes, potentially impeding effective land use planning and adaptation measures.

Further analysis through remote sensing and mapping techniques revealed shifts in land use land cover, highlighting a transition from predominantly vegetated areas to built-up regions over the past three decades. The flood vulnerability assessment maps underscored substantial vulnerability across the Lower Niger basin, especially in downstream regions, indicating heightened risks due to proximity to the Niger River and heavy rainfall.

Qualitative insights from stakeholder interviews identified challenges impeding effective land use planning, including uncertain climate projections, insufficient data, institutional capacity constraints, and conflicting priorities. Additionally, participants emphasized the need for resilient land use decisions to address urbanization impacts, altered drainage patterns, and diminishing green spaces. The study recommends several key actions to enhance the effectiveness of land use planning and climate adaptation in the Lower Niger River region. These include the imperative to strengthen institutional capacities, improve stakeholder engagement processes, integrate traditional knowledge and practices into planning efforts, fortify legal frameworks governing land use, and prioritize the promotion of sustainable livelihoods among local communities.

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) on which there is high reliance by the local population are often highly threatened. Hence, the current study was carried out to assess the local governance of vulnerable NTFPs and to find prospective strategies for enhancing local governance using Garcinia kola Heckel, a Vulnerable NTFP highly solicited by local communities for their livelihoods in Eastern Cameroon. Focus group discussions were used to collect data in 14 villages adjacent to Belabo-Diang Communal Forest on the major constraints of local governance, and prospects for enhancing local governance to guarantee the conservation and sustainable management of G. kola through a key stakeholders engagement workshop. Synthesis and analysis of the data identified twelve major constraints of the local governance of G. kola. The study also revealed the low power of local authorities over the regulation of the resource rights and its sustainable use, and the laxity and poor participation of different stakeholders in the management of G. kola. The most feasible local governance strategies identified that can enhance the conservation and sustainable use of G. kola were: sensitization on its threats and need to conserve; build capacity of council forest managers and local people on sustainable harvesting practices and planting techniques; the use of incentives to promote regeneration and private plantation and ownership; value chain organisation and the enforcement of the customary regulations. The study concludes that for enhanced local governance to play a vital role in the conservation and sustainable use of vulnerable NTFPs, all key stakeholders need to play their respective roles in a collaborative and responsible manner within the confines of good policies and pragmatic institutional arrangements.