Environmental Development最新文献

For decades, phytoremediation has been hailed as one of the most promising developing techniques for sustainable waste management. Despite certain shortcomings, proper implementation of this technique is the best alternative to the conventional waste management approach. Proper implementation of phytoremediation requires careful planning, following proper guidelines related to site assessment, plant selection, planting, maintenance, monitoring, harvesting and disposal, follow-up execution, and monitoring to ensure its effectiveness. In this study, it has been tried to create a foundation for an in-situ implementation of Phytoremediation in the mining areas of Asansol and Pandabeswar of West Bengal, India. Site conditions have been assessed in terms of pollution load and soil quality. Suitable sites have been identified using Geospatial techniques and following the guidelines found in different pieces of literature. Six variables i.e. pollution loads, soil quality, the proximity of pollution source, land use, and accessibility have been used to produce site suitability map. Active mining sites have been excluded from suitable sites. Site-specific suitable plants have been recommended which are either native or adaptable to current geophysical settings. The study identified certain villages e.g. Sonpur, Madanpur, Rashunpur, Dhasla, Joalbhanga, Bajari, Salanpur. Accessibility, water availability, and demographic parameters of those villages have been assessed. Finally, maintenance, monitoring, and implementation strategies have been discussed.

Greening and its drivers in the Loess Plateau of China have been extensively studied, but attributional explorations regarding vegetation restoration in different climatic zones remain unclear. This study quantitatively evaluated greening on the Loess Plateau based on Fraction Vegetation Cover (FVC) calculated by MOD13Q1 dataset, compared FVC in different climatic zones, and explored the relationship between greening and precipitation, evaporation, soil water content (SWC), surface water bodies, and human activities. The study found that FVC on the Loess Plateau increased significantly at a rate of 0.538% yr⁻¹ from 2000 to 2020, resulting in 94% greening. The greening rate was higher in the middle temperate zones (0.557% yr⁻¹) than in the southern temperate zones (0.532% yr⁻¹), but its average FVC was lower. This suggests that the greening rate (0.551% yr⁻¹) is higher within 5 km of water bodies. Cropland (15.26%), grassland (13.66%) and trees (12.57%) had higher FVC increment than other types, while the six-fold increase in urban area is a significant impediment to greening. Additionally, there is a significant positive correlation with FVC when the urban economy exceeds 100 billion. The interaction of natural factors and human activities made the greatest contribution to greening, as calculated by the GeoDetector. It is hypothesized that there is significant potential for greening in the middle temperate zones. However, large-scale tree planting may not have a catalytic effect and could even be counterproductive. To achieve sustainable greening of the Loess Plateau in the future, shrubs and artificial water storage facilities may be key.

Technological drought is caused by a lack of irrigation technology and a poor water management system. Here we present and analyse the results of a large survey of farmers in Bangladesh, designed to reveal their experience of and attitudes to, as well as factors and challenges of technological drought management. Also, we analysed the impact of water sources and the role of irrigation development to mitigate the technological drought taking North Bengal of Bangladesh as a case study. To explore the nature and characteristics of technological drought, we have used both qualitative and quantitative data from the study area. We used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to find out the underlying dimensions and factor loadings of the technological drought using the field data. Moreover, we compared the relations and associations between socio-demographic, water source characteristics and technological drought perceptions. PCA results indicated seven underlying dimensions (challenges) out of thirty-one factors of technological drought related to river water management, irrigation technology, socio-economic conditions, land use, and electricity and fuel supply. The high population, lack of modern irrigation technology, upstream management problems, inefficiencies in the system, electricity connections, load shedding, and poor socio-economic conditions prevent people from getting the water they desperately need in the case study area. We also found a significant relationship between farmers’ socio-demographic and water source characteristics with technological drought perceptions. Although there has been increasing use of irrigation technology and improved water resource management in recent years, it is essential to highlight that there will likely be more challenges in the future if this trend continues.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) are commonly grouped for service delivery planning, monitoring and policy, reflecting their many interconnecting impacts, but few studies articulate household-level WASH-solid waste interactions. We aim to assess mismanaged solid waste interactions with WASH that affect urban households and whether integrated waste-WASH indicators can be constructed to monitor these interactions. Via literature review, we identify three trade-offs and seven synergies between WASH and waste management for urban households. Trade-offs arise from consumption of water packaged in bottles or bags and disposable diapers (DDs), whilst synergies include opportunities for households with water services to wash separated waste or cloth diapers. One trade-off (packaged water consumption) has grown rapidly in southeast Asia and West Africa. Household surveys for Ghana and Kenya demonstrate that the urban population lacking waste collection services overlaps strongly with those lacking WASH services. In Kenya, 3.3 million people simultaneously lacked waste collection, hygiene, and basic sanitation services. Finally, we construct indicators from household survey micro-data to measure DD and packaged water consumption in households lacking waste services. Case studies show that from 2012–13 to 2016–17, packaged water consumption grew among Ghanaian households burning or dumping waste, whilst most urban Nigerian households consuming DD lack waste collection services. We conclude that household survey micro-data can be used to construct trade-off measures to inform policy and target services towards populations simultaneously exposed to uncollected waste and lacking WASH services. However, such analyses require an institutional mechanism to coordinate cross-goal monitoring and greater survey data harmonisation. In countries where large populations lack both waste collection and WASH services or with growing DD or packaged water consumption, balanced evidence is needed on DD and packaged water's impacts from both WASH and solid waste management perspectives.

As the circular economy (CE) grows, it is necessary for companies to prepare for their transition from linear to circular, targeted to generate a positive business impact. Therefore, the aim of this study is threefold. First, to map what high impact research on circularity indicators and CE actions is reporting. Second, to point out challenges and opportunities in the application of circularity indicators. Third, to discuss implications for businesses wanting to generate positive impacts. To that end, a systematic literature review was carried out on the ScienceDirect, Scopus and Web of Science databases. Existing research on circularity indicators is based on either circularity measurement indices (0–100%) or circularity assessment tools, which are developed for one or more levels of application within micro, meso, and macro. The main challenges for establishing circularity indicators are linked to the lack of standardization on how to measure circularity and on providing clear guidance on how the indicator can and should be used. The main opportunities lie on bringing to life the concept of circularity through practical applications and reveling opportunities for internalizing flows. Internalizing flows can lead to a positive business impact and measuring circularity can be a tool for business management on top of bringing about circular-economy-related benefits.

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.