Environmental Development最新文献_第3页

Valuing forest ecosystem services for environmental damage compensation: An adaptive management approach 评估森林生态系统服务对环境损害的补偿：一种适应性管理方法

IF 5.3 2区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental Development

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-22 DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101435

Bo-Cheng Yang , Chun-Hung Lee , Yi-Jun Wu , Thi Thanh Thuy Phan , Van Viet Nguyen

The increasing frequency of forest fires under climate change scenarios poses significant threats to Forest Ecosystem Services (FES). However, adaptive management strategies and compensation frameworks tailored to specific regional characteristics remain limited. This study employs a choice experiment methodology to investigate Taiwanese residents' preferences for fire-affected FES restoration and their marginal willingness to pay (WTP) for a conservation trust fund across various altitudinal regions. A total of 2984 residents were surveyed across different altitude zones in Taiwan. The results reveal significant spatial variation in WTP for FES restoration, with residents in medium-altitude areas exhibiting the highest WTP, followed by those in high- and low-altitude regions. Based on these findings, four adaptive management scenarios were developed to assess the welfare implications of different forest management strategies. The integrated ecosystem services scenario generated the highest welfare value across all regions, highlighting the need for spatially tailored and holistic approaches to forest management. Additionally, the study introduces a novel "Forest Ecosystem Service Value Restoration Quantification Model," addressing a critical gap in the literature by providing a framework to evaluate the economic impact of forest fires and the benefits of ecosystem restoration. This model quantifies the marginal WTP for restoring forest service functions to 50 % or full capacity. The findings demonstrate the crucial role of public valuation in informing sustainable forest management and policy-making. The approach offers valuable insights for designing conservation trust funds and compensation frameworks aimed at mitigating the ecological and economic impacts of forest fires, contributing to more effective forest conservation and adaptation strategies in response to climate change.

在气候变化情景下，森林火灾频率的增加对森林生态系统服务（FES）构成了重大威胁。然而，适合特定区域特征的适应性管理策略和薪酬框架仍然有限。摘要本研究采用选择实验方法，探讨不同海拔地区台湾居民对火灾影响下森林森林保育信托基金的偏好及边际支付意愿。共有2984名台湾不同海拔地区的居民接受了调查。结果表明，植被恢复WTP的空间差异显著，中海拔地区居民WTP最高，其次是高海拔地区和低海拔地区。基于这些发现，开发了四种适应性管理方案来评估不同森林管理策略对福利的影响。综合生态系统服务情景在所有区域产生了最高的福利价值，突出了对森林管理采取因地制宜的整体方法的必要性。此外，该研究引入了一种新的“森林生态系统服务价值恢复量化模型”，通过提供评估森林火灾的经济影响和生态系统恢复效益的框架，解决了文献中的一个关键空白。该模型量化了将森林服务功能恢复到50%或全部容量的边际WTP。调查结果表明，公共评价在为可持续森林管理和决策提供信息方面发挥了关键作用。该方法为设计旨在减轻森林火灾对生态和经济影响的保护信托基金和补偿框架提供了有价值的见解，有助于制定更有效的森林保护和适应战略以应对气候变化。

{"title":"Valuing forest ecosystem services for environmental damage compensation: An adaptive management approach","authors":"Bo-Cheng Yang , Chun-Hung Lee , Yi-Jun Wu , Thi Thanh Thuy Phan , Van Viet Nguyen","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101435","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101435","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing frequency of forest fires under climate change scenarios poses significant threats to Forest Ecosystem Services (FES). However, adaptive management strategies and compensation frameworks tailored to specific regional characteristics remain limited. This study employs a choice experiment methodology to investigate Taiwanese residents' preferences for fire-affected FES restoration and their marginal willingness to pay (WTP) for a conservation trust fund across various altitudinal regions. A total of 2984 residents were surveyed across different altitude zones in Taiwan. The results reveal significant spatial variation in WTP for FES restoration, with residents in medium-altitude areas exhibiting the highest WTP, followed by those in high- and low-altitude regions. Based on these findings, four adaptive management scenarios were developed to assess the welfare implications of different forest management strategies. The integrated ecosystem services scenario generated the highest welfare value across all regions, highlighting the need for spatially tailored and holistic approaches to forest management. Additionally, the study introduces a novel \"Forest Ecosystem Service Value Restoration Quantification Model,\" addressing a critical gap in the literature by providing a framework to evaluate the economic impact of forest fires and the benefits of ecosystem restoration. This model quantifies the marginal WTP for restoring forest service functions to 50 % or full capacity. The findings demonstrate the crucial role of public valuation in informing sustainable forest management and policy-making. The approach offers valuable insights for designing conservation trust funds and compensation frameworks aimed at mitigating the ecological and economic impacts of forest fires, contributing to more effective forest conservation and adaptation strategies in response to climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101435"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Optimizing the water energy food nexus in Lebanon: a case study of the nexus in a developing country context 优化黎巴嫩的水-能源-粮食关系：发展中国家关系的案例研究

IF 5.3 2区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental Development

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-22 DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101438

Fatima Mansour , Mahmoud Al-Hindi , Majdi Abou Najm , Ali Yassine

The increasing demand for resources has intensified the need for integrated management strategies that ensure resource sustainability and security. This study presents a holistic case study of the water-energy-food nexus (WEFN) in Lebanon, optimizing resource allocation to minimize water and energy consumption while maximizing food production. Leveraging a multi-objective optimization tool, this research examines scenarios reflecting Lebanon's resource dependencies, dietary preferences, and energy constraints. The findings underscore the role of renewable energy integration and dietary shifts in enhancing resource efficiency and achieving higher self-sufficiency. By simulating policy-driven scenarios, including renewable energy targets and natural gas exploration, the study highlights trade-offs between food production, energy consumption, and environmental constraints, such as carbon and nitrogen planetary boundaries. Beyond technical optimization, the study assesses economic implications, trade-offs, and progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The work provides a scientific foundation for integrated resource management and policymaking in Lebanon, offering a framework for future interdisciplinary investigations and applications across developing countries.

对资源的需求日益增加，加强了确保资源可持续性和安全的综合管理战略的需要。本研究对黎巴嫩的水-能源-粮食关系（WEFN）进行了全面的案例研究，优化资源分配，以最大限度地减少水和能源消耗，同时最大限度地提高粮食产量。利用多目标优化工具，本研究考察了反映黎巴嫩资源依赖、饮食偏好和能源限制的情景。研究结果强调了可再生能源整合和饮食转变在提高资源效率和实现更高自给自足方面的作用。通过模拟政策驱动的情景，包括可再生能源目标和天然气勘探，该研究强调了粮食生产、能源消费和环境约束（如碳和氮的地球边界）之间的权衡。除了技术优化之外，该研究还评估了经济影响、权衡以及实现可持续发展目标（sdg）的进展。这项工作为黎巴嫩的综合资源管理和决策提供了科学基础，为今后在发展中国家开展跨学科调查和应用提供了框架。

{"title":"Optimizing the water energy food nexus in Lebanon: a case study of the nexus in a developing country context","authors":"Fatima Mansour , Mahmoud Al-Hindi , Majdi Abou Najm , Ali Yassine","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101438","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101438","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing demand for resources has intensified the need for integrated management strategies that ensure resource sustainability and security. This study presents a holistic case study of the water-energy-food nexus (WEFN) in Lebanon, optimizing resource allocation to minimize water and energy consumption while maximizing food production. Leveraging a multi-objective optimization tool, this research examines scenarios reflecting Lebanon's resource dependencies, dietary preferences, and energy constraints. The findings underscore the role of renewable energy integration and dietary shifts in enhancing resource efficiency and achieving higher self-sufficiency. By simulating policy-driven scenarios, including renewable energy targets and natural gas exploration, the study highlights trade-offs between food production, energy consumption, and environmental constraints, such as carbon and nitrogen planetary boundaries. Beyond technical optimization, the study assesses economic implications, trade-offs, and progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The work provides a scientific foundation for integrated resource management and policymaking in Lebanon, offering a framework for future interdisciplinary investigations and applications across developing countries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101438"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Sustainable development and the legacy of socio-ecological risk: the example of community forestry in Nepal 可持续发展和社会生态风险的遗留问题：尼泊尔社区林业的例子

IF 5.3 2区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental Development

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-19 DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101414

Douglas K. Bardsley , Edwin Cedamon , Naya Paudel , Ian Nuberg

Responses to risk have been insufficiently incorporated into sustainable development pathways. Development interventions can both generate new socio-ecological risks and fail to mitigate the risks experienced by rural communities. We analyse perceptions of socio-ecological risks within community forest user group households in Bagmati province in central Nepal across a three-year period. Community forestry has successfully returned the forest to the middle hills of Nepal, helping to mitigate landslide risks and conserve biodiversity, but other risks are being produced and reinforced within the forest as it transitions. Households are becoming less active in community forest management and are accessing smaller percentages of their income from agriculture and forestry. At the same time, wild animal and wildfire risks are increasing. Climate change is seen to be a key driver of a range of new risks in association with the forest. Perceived household food self-sufficiency has declined recently within all municipalities, with increasingly high levels of households going into debt to support food security. People are valuing the forest for the ecosystem services they provide, including improving biodiversity, supporting subsistence agriculture and stabilising landscapes, but most respondents were not using the forest either to mitigate food insecurity or generate financial incomes. Forests must be managed to continue to be part of the solution, not the problem. As new levels of risk become apparent, knowledge of risk perceptions and interactions with the forest need to be integrated reflexively within policy and practice to guide sustainable development outcomes.

对风险的反应没有充分纳入可持续发展途径。发展干预措施既可能产生新的社会生态风险，也无法减轻农村社区面临的风险。我们分析了尼泊尔中部巴格马蒂省社区森林用户群体家庭在三年期间对社会生态风险的看法。社区林业成功地将森林恢复到尼泊尔的中部山区，帮助减轻了山体滑坡的风险，保护了生物多样性，但随着森林的过渡，其他风险正在产生并加剧。家庭在社区森林管理中的活跃程度越来越低，农业和林业收入所占比例也越来越小。与此同时，野生动物和野火的风险也在增加。气候变化被视为与森林有关的一系列新风险的关键驱动因素。最近，所有城市的家庭粮食自给率都有所下降，越来越多的家庭为支持粮食安全而负债。人们重视森林提供的生态系统服务，包括改善生物多样性、支持自给农业和稳定景观，但大多数受访者既没有利用森林缓解粮食不安全，也没有利用森林创造经济收入。必须对森林进行管理，使其继续成为解决方案的一部分，而不是问题本身。随着新的风险水平变得明显，需要将对风险的认识和与森林的相互作用的知识反射性地纳入政策和实践，以指导可持续发展成果。

{"title":"Sustainable development and the legacy of socio-ecological risk: the example of community forestry in Nepal","authors":"Douglas K. Bardsley , Edwin Cedamon , Naya Paudel , Ian Nuberg","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101414","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101414","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Responses to risk have been insufficiently incorporated into sustainable development pathways. Development interventions can both generate new socio-ecological risks and fail to mitigate the risks experienced by rural communities. We analyse perceptions of socio-ecological risks within community forest user group households in Bagmati province in central Nepal across a three-year period. Community forestry has successfully returned the forest to the middle hills of Nepal, helping to mitigate landslide risks and conserve biodiversity, but other risks are being produced and reinforced within the forest as it transitions. Households are becoming less active in community forest management and are accessing smaller percentages of their income from agriculture and forestry. At the same time, wild animal and wildfire risks are increasing. Climate change is seen to be a key driver of a range of new risks in association with the forest. Perceived household food self-sufficiency has declined recently within all municipalities, with increasingly high levels of households going into debt to support food security. People are valuing the forest for the ecosystem services they provide, including improving biodiversity, supporting subsistence agriculture and stabilising landscapes, but most respondents were not using the forest either to mitigate food insecurity or generate financial incomes. Forests must be managed to continue to be part of the solution, not the problem. As new levels of risk become apparent, knowledge of risk perceptions and interactions with the forest need to be integrated reflexively within policy and practice to guide sustainable development outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101414"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Strengthening sustainability mindsets: Evidence from an analysis of the Human–Nature Connection and environmental behavior in Indonesia 加强可持续性思维：来自印度尼西亚人与自然关系和环境行为分析的证据

IF 5.3 2区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental Development

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-20 DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101417

Devi Mariya Sulfa , Hadi Suwono , Sofia Ery Rahayu

The Human–Nature Connection (HNC) has gained increasing relevance as a psychological construct linked to environmental behavior, particularly within rapidly urbanizing societies such as Indonesia. Despite growing research interest, variations in measurement models, cultural adaptation, and behavioral relevance remain insufficiently synthesized. This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 42 eligible empirical studies published between 2010 and November 2025 to evaluate the psychometric performance, structural validity, and behavioral associations of HNC measurement instruments, with a particular emphasis on their adaptation in Indonesia. Searches were performed across Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO, and regional repositories using PRISMA-based screening criteria. Reliability statistics demonstrated strong measurement stability across instruments, with Cronbach's Alpha ranging from 0.84 to 0.90 and Composite Reliability from 0.86 to 0.92. Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed a four-factor structure, explaining 57.6 % of the variance, with the affective and cognitive dimensions contributing the highest loadings. Meta-analytic modeling yielded a pooled correlation of r = 0.42 between HNC and pro-environmental behavior, with subgroup results indicating the most potent effects among children and young adults (r = 0.45–0.48) and among individuals with at least 120 min of weekly nature exposure. The findings suggest that HNC serves as both a measurable psychological construct and a meaningful behavioral predictor in educational and sustainability contexts. Overall, this review underscores the importance of culturally grounded measurement and highlights opportunities to integrate HNC into environmental education, policy design, and longitudinal intervention research, thereby strengthening ecological engagement across Indonesian society.

人与自然的联系（HNC）作为一种与环境行为相关的心理结构，尤其是在印度尼西亚等快速城市化的社会中，已经获得了越来越多的相关性。尽管研究兴趣不断增长，但测量模型、文化适应和行为相关性的变化仍然没有得到充分的综合。本研究对2010年至2025年11月发表的42项符合条件的实证研究进行了系统回顾和荟萃分析，以评估HNC测量工具的心理测量性能、结构效度和行为关联，并特别强调了它们在印度尼西亚的适应性。使用基于prisma的筛选标准，在Scopus、Web of Science、PubMed、PsycINFO和区域存储库中进行搜索。可靠性统计表明，不同仪器的测量具有很强的稳定性，Cronbach's Alpha在0.84至0.90之间，复合信度在0.86至0.92之间。探索性因子分析揭示了一个四因素结构，解释了57.6%的方差，其中情感和认知维度贡献了最高的负荷。荟萃分析模型显示，HNC与亲环境行为之间的相关性为r = 0.42，亚组结果表明，儿童和年轻人（r = 0.45-0.48）以及每周接触自然至少120分钟的个体的影响最大。研究结果表明，在教育和可持续性背景下，HNC既是一种可测量的心理结构，也是一种有意义的行为预测因子。总体而言，本综述强调了基于文化的测量的重要性，并强调了将HNC整合到环境教育、政策设计和纵向干预研究中的机会，从而加强了印度尼西亚社会的生态参与。

{"title":"Strengthening sustainability mindsets: Evidence from an analysis of the Human–Nature Connection and environmental behavior in Indonesia","authors":"Devi Mariya Sulfa , Hadi Suwono , Sofia Ery Rahayu","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101417","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101417","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Human–Nature Connection (HNC) has gained increasing relevance as a psychological construct linked to environmental behavior, particularly within rapidly urbanizing societies such as Indonesia. Despite growing research interest, variations in measurement models, cultural adaptation, and behavioral relevance remain insufficiently synthesized. This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 42 eligible empirical studies published between 2010 and November 2025 to evaluate the psychometric performance, structural validity, and behavioral associations of HNC measurement instruments, with a particular emphasis on their adaptation in Indonesia. Searches were performed across Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO, and regional repositories using PRISMA-based screening criteria. Reliability statistics demonstrated strong measurement stability across instruments, with Cronbach's Alpha ranging from 0.84 to 0.90 and Composite Reliability from 0.86 to 0.92. Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed a four-factor structure, explaining 57.6 % of the variance, with the affective and cognitive dimensions contributing the highest loadings. Meta-analytic modeling yielded a pooled correlation of r = 0.42 between HNC and pro-environmental behavior, with subgroup results indicating the most potent effects among children and young adults (r = 0.45–0.48) and among individuals with at least 120 min of weekly nature exposure. The findings suggest that HNC serves as both a measurable psychological construct and a meaningful behavioral predictor in educational and sustainability contexts. Overall, this review underscores the importance of culturally grounded measurement and highlights opportunities to integrate HNC into environmental education, policy design, and longitudinal intervention research, thereby strengthening ecological engagement across Indonesian society.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101417"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Territorial resource efficiency sustainability assessment based on production-living-ecological space in Sichuan Province, Southwest of China 基于生产-生活-生态空间的四川省国土资源效率可持续性评价

IF 5.3 2区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental Development

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-10 DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101441

Huixuan Wang , Min Fan

Efficient production-living-ecological space (PLES) utilization can promote economic development and reduce unreasonable territorial resource consumption. However, the integration of PLES resource efficiency into the assessment of territorial sustainable development is still unexplored. This study constructs a sustainable development level assessment framework to investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of PLES resource efficiency during 2000-2020 and its sustainability, through taking 21 cities (states) in Sichuan Province of China as a case. Unlike traditional sustainability evaluation methods that rely solely on single indicators, this study combines economics and resource management science methods to introduce the diversity index and coupling coordination degree (CCD) for sustainability evaluation. This innovative framework emphasizes the quantitative differences and interactive coordination among the respective efficiencies of PLES, providing a novel theoretical perspective for understanding spatial sustainability mechanisms. The results show that: 1) PLES resource efficiency fluctuated upward during the study period, with an overall improvement of 28.24%. 2) Spatial interactions among PLES reveal evident geographical differentiation, with a synergistic relationship between living space and ecological space, whereas production space exhibits a trade-off relationship with the other two spaces. 3) The regional sustainable development level of PLES steadily improves throughout the study period, with an average index ranging from 0.45 to 0.65, in which the sustainability of central and northeastern cities is mainly influenced by CCD, while western cities are more reliant on the diversity index. This study contributes to promoting the efficient utilization and coordinated development of territorial space and the findings provide scientific support for policymakers aiming to balance economic development with environmental sustainability.

高效利用生产-生活-生态空间可以促进经济发展，减少不合理的国土资源消耗。然而，如何将生态系统资源效率纳入区域可持续发展评价，目前尚无研究。本文以四川省21个市（州）为例，构建可持续发展水平评价框架，探讨2000-2020年城市基础设施资源效率的时空特征及其可持续性。与传统的单一指标可持续性评价方法不同，本研究结合经济学和资源管理科学的方法，引入多样性指数和耦合协调度（CCD）进行可持续性评价。这一创新框架强调了空间可持续性的数量差异和相互协调，为理解空间可持续性机制提供了新的理论视角。结果表明：1)研究期间，城市空间资源效率呈波动上升趋势，总体提升28.24%；(2)生态系统空间互动表现出明显的地理分异，生活空间与生态空间表现为协同关系，生产空间与生态空间表现为权衡关系。③研究期间，城市生态系统的区域可持续发展水平稳步提高，平均指数在0.45 ~ 0.65之间，其中中部和东北部城市的可持续性主要受CCD的影响，西部城市的可持续性更依赖于多样性指数。该研究有助于促进国土空间的高效利用和协调发展，并为政策制定者实现经济发展与环境可持续性的平衡提供科学支持。

{"title":"Territorial resource efficiency sustainability assessment based on production-living-ecological space in Sichuan Province, Southwest of China","authors":"Huixuan Wang , Min Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101441","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Efficient production-living-ecological space (PLES) utilization can promote economic development and reduce unreasonable territorial resource consumption. However, the integration of PLES resource efficiency into the assessment of territorial sustainable development is still unexplored. This study constructs a sustainable development level assessment framework to investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of PLES resource efficiency during 2000-2020 and its sustainability, through taking 21 cities (states) in Sichuan Province of China as a case. Unlike traditional sustainability evaluation methods that rely solely on single indicators, this study combines economics and resource management science methods to introduce the diversity index and coupling coordination degree (CCD) for sustainability evaluation. This innovative framework emphasizes the quantitative differences and interactive coordination among the respective efficiencies of PLES, providing a novel theoretical perspective for understanding spatial sustainability mechanisms. The results show that: 1) PLES resource efficiency fluctuated upward during the study period, with an overall improvement of 28.24%. 2) Spatial interactions among PLES reveal evident geographical differentiation, with a synergistic relationship between living space and ecological space, whereas production space exhibits a trade-off relationship with the other two spaces. 3) The regional sustainable development level of PLES steadily improves throughout the study period, with an average index ranging from 0.45 to 0.65, in which the sustainability of central and northeastern cities is mainly influenced by CCD, while western cities are more reliant on the diversity index. This study contributes to promoting the efficient utilization and coordinated development of territorial space and the findings provide scientific support for policymakers aiming to balance economic development with environmental sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101441"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147421013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Policy instruments and cultural currents shaping recycling behaviours: A systematic review 形成回收行为的政策工具和文化潮流：系统回顾

IF 5.3 2区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental Development

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-16 DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101432

Emma Etim , Joseph Eyo Duke , Busayo Qazeem Ibikunle , Kelechi Chijindu Nnamdi , Adewumi Otonne , Oluwasegun Odunlade , Olumuyiwa Adegorite , Ihunanya Ngozi Erondu , Isaiah Adisa , Olusegun Joseph Oguntimehin Jr. , Jonathan Ikeolumba , David C. Nwogbo

Recycling policies are now widely adopted; however, jurisdictions that implement similar instruments may report markedly different outcomes. This heterogeneity suggests that effectiveness depends not only on policy design and infrastructure, but also on the sociocultural conditions into which these instruments are introduced. Yet, most previous reviews have examined policy levers and cultural factors in isolation. This systematic literature review synthesised global evidence on how waste-policy instruments interact with sociocultural forces to shape recycling behaviours and outcomes. We followed the PRISMA guidelines, included 32 academic articles and six grey-literature from over 24 countries. We covered the period between 2006 and 2024. Our analyses show that legislation alone is insufficient; effective waste-policy instruments require clear accountability for operations and financing, enforceable regulations, and adaptation to local political and sociocultural contexts. This is illustrated by the contrasting experiences of Canada and Malaysia's EPR models. We also found that EPR can galvanise community identity when local actors are meaningfully involved; that DRS effectiveness depends on reducing logistical and social frictions; that PAYT encourages sorting at source (as in Belgium) but performs best when recycling is convenient, profitable, and supported by investment in basic waste-management infrastructure; and that landfill bans, while signalling strong societal commitment to circularity, deliver highly variable results depending on cultural legitimacy, social cohesion, and the surrounding policy ecosystem. Together, these findings show the need to move beyond generic legislation-only interventions toward context-sensitive policies calibrated to local sociocultural and infrastructural realities.

回收政策现已广泛采用；然而，实施类似文书的司法管辖区可能报告明显不同的结果。这种异质性表明，有效性不仅取决于政策设计和基础设施，还取决于引入这些工具的社会文化条件。然而，以前的大多数审查都是孤立地审查政策杠杆和文化因素。这篇系统的文献综述综合了关于废物政策工具如何与社会文化力量相互作用以塑造回收行为和结果的全球证据。我们遵循PRISMA指南，纳入了来自24个国家的32篇学术文章和6篇灰色文献。我们涵盖了2006年到2024年这段时间。我们的分析表明，仅靠立法是不够的；有效的废物政策工具需要明确的业务和融资问责制、可执行的法规以及适应当地的政治和社会文化背景。加拿大和马来西亚EPR模式的对比经验说明了这一点。我们还发现，当地方行动者有意义地参与时，环境责任可以激发社区认同；DRS的有效性取决于减少后勤和社会摩擦；PAYT鼓励从源头进行分类（如比利时），但当回收方便、有利可图，并得到基本废物管理基础设施投资的支持时，效果最好；垃圾填埋禁令虽然表明了社会对循环的坚定承诺，但根据文化合法性、社会凝聚力和周围的政策生态系统，产生了高度不同的结果。综上所述，这些研究结果表明，有必要超越仅靠一般立法的干预措施，转向根据当地社会文化和基础设施的现实情况制定对环境敏感的政策。

{"title":"Policy instruments and cultural currents shaping recycling behaviours: A systematic review","authors":"Emma Etim , Joseph Eyo Duke , Busayo Qazeem Ibikunle , Kelechi Chijindu Nnamdi , Adewumi Otonne , Oluwasegun Odunlade , Olumuyiwa Adegorite , Ihunanya Ngozi Erondu , Isaiah Adisa , Olusegun Joseph Oguntimehin Jr. , Jonathan Ikeolumba , David C. Nwogbo","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101432","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2026.101432","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recycling policies are now widely adopted; however, jurisdictions that implement similar instruments may report markedly different outcomes. This heterogeneity suggests that effectiveness depends not only on policy design and infrastructure, but also on the sociocultural conditions into which these instruments are introduced. Yet, most previous reviews have examined policy levers and cultural factors in isolation. This systematic literature review synthesised global evidence on how waste-policy instruments interact with sociocultural forces to shape recycling behaviours and outcomes. We followed the PRISMA guidelines, included 32 academic articles and six grey-literature from over 24 countries. We covered the period between 2006 and 2024. Our analyses show that legislation alone is insufficient; effective waste-policy instruments require clear accountability for operations and financing, enforceable regulations, and adaptation to local political and sociocultural contexts. This is illustrated by the contrasting experiences of Canada and Malaysia's EPR models. We also found that EPR can galvanise community identity when local actors are meaningfully involved; that DRS effectiveness depends on reducing logistical and social frictions; that PAYT encourages sorting at source (as in Belgium) but performs best when recycling is convenient, profitable, and supported by investment in basic waste-management infrastructure; and that landfill bans, while signalling strong societal commitment to circularity, deliver highly variable results depending on cultural legitimacy, social cohesion, and the surrounding policy ecosystem. Together, these findings show the need to move beyond generic legislation-only interventions toward context-sensitive policies calibrated to local sociocultural and infrastructural realities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101432"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Climate change and ecosystem services: bridging science, policy, and community insights in Himalayan mountain ecosystem 气候变化和生态系统服务：在喜马拉雅山脉生态系统中衔接科学、政策和社区见解

IF 5.3 2区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental Development

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-03 DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101428

Ashis Mandal , Arijit Das , Manob Das

The mountain ecosystems provide various ecosystem services (ES) crucial for human well-being. These fragile and vulnerable ecosystems face increasing threats from climate chang. This study aims to support ecosystem-based decision-making and enhance understanding of how climate change threatens ES in the Himalayan region to better inform management strategies and harmonize local actions with global sustainability goals. The Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) has been employed for classification framework. A total of 270 studies were reviewed, and 237 studies were removed based on the exclusion criteria and finally 33 studies were selected for review based on inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were published in 2019, and geographically, the highest studies were found in Nepal, followed by India. The provisioning ecosystem services (PES) were highly studied in HMR, followed by the regulating of ecosystem services (RES) and cultural ecosystem services (CES). Biomass and water were highly studied in provisioning ES. Most of the studies assessed one ES, followed by two ES. Climate change has had a significant adverse impact on provisioning, regulating, and cultural ES. Changes in temperature and rainfall will have a significant impact on food production systems, carbon sequestrations, temperature regulations and aesthetic quality. The annual temperature in HMR has significantly increased from 1901 to 2014, which will influence the provision of ES supply. Therefore, this study suggests ecosystem-based implications for effective strategies to mitigate climate change in mountainous ecosystems.

山地生态系统提供各种对人类福祉至关重要的生态系统服务。这些脆弱的生态系统面临着气候变化日益严重的威胁。本研究旨在支持基于生态系统的决策，增强对气候变化如何威胁喜马拉雅地区生态系统的理解，从而更好地为管理策略提供信息，并使地方行动与全球可持续发展目标相协调。采用国际生态系统服务共同分类（CICES）作为分类框架。共纳入270项研究，根据排除标准剔除237项研究，最终根据纳入标准筛选出33项研究。大多数研究发表于2019年，从地理上看，尼泊尔的研究最多，其次是印度。生态系统服务的供给（PES）、生态系统服务的调节（RES）和文化生态系统服务（CES）是HMR研究的重点。生物质和水是供给ES的重点研究对象。大多数研究评估的是一个ES，其次是两个ES。气候变化对生态系统的供应、调节和文化产生了重大的不利影响。温度和降雨的变化将对粮食生产系统、碳固存、温度调节和美学质量产生重大影响。1901 - 2014年HMR年气温显著升高，这将影响ES的供应。因此，本研究为缓解山地生态系统气候变化的有效策略提供了基于生态系统的启示。

{"title":"Climate change and ecosystem services: bridging science, policy, and community insights in Himalayan mountain ecosystem","authors":"Ashis Mandal , Arijit Das , Manob Das","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101428","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101428","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The mountain ecosystems provide various ecosystem services (ES) crucial for human well-being. These fragile and vulnerable ecosystems face increasing threats from climate chang. This study aims to support ecosystem-based decision-making and enhance understanding of how climate change threatens ES in the Himalayan region to better inform management strategies and harmonize local actions with global sustainability goals. The Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) has been employed for classification framework. A total of 270 studies were reviewed, and 237 studies were removed based on the exclusion criteria and finally 33 studies were selected for review based on inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were published in 2019, and geographically, the highest studies were found in Nepal, followed by India. The provisioning ecosystem services (PES) were highly studied in HMR, followed by the regulating of ecosystem services (RES) and cultural ecosystem services (CES). Biomass and water were highly studied in provisioning ES. Most of the studies assessed one ES, followed by two ES. Climate change has had a significant adverse impact on provisioning, regulating, and cultural ES. Changes in temperature and rainfall will have a significant impact on food production systems, carbon sequestrations, temperature regulations and aesthetic quality. The annual temperature in HMR has significantly increased from 1901 to 2014, which will influence the provision of ES supply. Therefore, this study suggests ecosystem-based implications for effective strategies to mitigate climate change in mountainous ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101428"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Climate hazards, migration, gendered exploitation, and the ‘sex-for-fish’ economy in Rwenzori region: Implications for development to Uganda 鲁文佐里地区的气候灾害、移民、性别剥削和“性换鱼”经济：对乌干达发展的影响

IF 5.3 2区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental Development

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-20 DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101415

Eria Serwajja , Yeeko Kisira , F.S. Nalwanga , Priscilla Mwondha , Herman Muhindo , Charlotte Nakakaawa Jjunju

Climate change has intensified the occurrence of natural hazards, leading to widespread forced relocations across the globe. These events have significantly reshaped socio-economic and livelihood pathways in both rural and urban landscapes. This study explores the gendered impacts of climate-induced migration and how women cope with and navigate these challenges in Muhokya resettlement village, Rwenzori region of western Uganda. A cross-sectional research design comprising of a survey of 171 households, 4 focus group discussions, and 20 key informant interviews was used. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequencies and one-sample t-test, while thematic and content analysis were applied to qualitative data. The findings reveal that most women were forcibly displaced after losing their homes to floods. The consequences of displacement have been severe, including increased school dropout rates among girls, early marriages, heightened vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, engagement in transactional sex, denial of conjugal rights, and rising cases of gender-based violence. Limited access to healthcare services, particularly antenatal, sexual, and reproductive health care has further exacerbated women's vulnerability. The coping mechanisms, such as survival-based practices like “sex for fish,” have proven unsustainable and harmful. The study proposes strengthening local women-led self-help groups to enhance access to livelihood assets, integrating gender-responsive livelihood training within resettlement programs, increasing access to government livelihood initiatives, and improving healthcare and psychosocial support services. Establishing inclusive community decision-making platforms can also enhance women's agency in adaptation planning. These interventions offer practical pathways for reducing gender disparities and promoting equitable resilience in line with Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 13.

气候变化加剧了自然灾害的发生，导致全球范围内广泛的被迫搬迁。这些事件极大地重塑了农村和城市景观的社会经济和生计途径。本研究探讨了气候导致的移民对性别的影响，以及乌干达西部鲁文佐里地区Muhokya安置村的妇女如何应对和应对这些挑战。采用横断面研究设计，包括对171个家庭的调查、4个焦点小组讨论和20个关键信息者访谈。定量数据采用频率分析和单样本t检验，定性数据采用主题分析和内容分析。调查结果显示，大多数妇女在洪水中失去家园后被迫流离失所。流离失所的后果非常严重，包括女童辍学率上升、早婚、更容易感染艾滋病毒/艾滋病、从事交易性行为、剥夺夫妻权利以及性别暴力案件增多。获得保健服务，特别是产前保健、性保健和生殖保健的机会有限，进一步加剧了妇女的脆弱性。应对机制，如以生存为基础的做法，如“为鱼做爱”，已被证明是不可持续和有害的。该研究建议加强当地妇女领导的自助团体，以增加获得生计资产的机会，在重新安置方案中纳入促进性别平等的生计培训，增加获得政府生计倡议的机会，并改善医疗保健和社会心理支持服务。建立包容性社区决策平台也可以增强妇女在适应规划中的能动性。这些干预措施为根据可持续发展目标11和13减少性别差异和促进公平抵御力提供了切实可行的途径。

{"title":"Climate hazards, migration, gendered exploitation, and the ‘sex-for-fish’ economy in Rwenzori region: Implications for development to Uganda","authors":"Eria Serwajja , Yeeko Kisira , F.S. Nalwanga , Priscilla Mwondha , Herman Muhindo , Charlotte Nakakaawa Jjunju","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101415","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101415","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change has intensified the occurrence of natural hazards, leading to widespread forced relocations across the globe. These events have significantly reshaped socio-economic and livelihood pathways in both rural and urban landscapes. This study explores the gendered impacts of climate-induced migration and how women cope with and navigate these challenges in Muhokya resettlement village, Rwenzori region of western Uganda. A cross-sectional research design comprising of a survey of 171 households, 4 focus group discussions, and 20 key informant interviews was used. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequencies and one-sample t-test, while thematic and content analysis were applied to qualitative data. The findings reveal that most women were forcibly displaced after losing their homes to floods. The consequences of displacement have been severe, including increased school dropout rates among girls, early marriages, heightened vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, engagement in transactional sex, denial of conjugal rights, and rising cases of gender-based violence. Limited access to healthcare services, particularly antenatal, sexual, and reproductive health care has further exacerbated women's vulnerability. The coping mechanisms, such as survival-based practices like “sex for fish,” have proven unsustainable and harmful. The study proposes strengthening local women-led self-help groups to enhance access to livelihood assets, integrating gender-responsive livelihood training within resettlement programs, increasing access to government livelihood initiatives, and improving healthcare and psychosocial support services. Establishing inclusive community decision-making platforms can also enhance women's agency in adaptation planning. These interventions offer practical pathways for reducing gender disparities and promoting equitable resilience in line with Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 13.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101415"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Pioneering small and medium-sized enterprises’ engagement in sustainability policy in Japan: Toward a new role in policymaking 日本中小企业参与可持续发展政策的先驱：走向政策制定中的新角色

IF 5.3 2区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental Development

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-27 DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101394

Mari Kosaka

While the engagement of large corporations in sustainability policy has been widely studied, the potential role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in this area remains underexplored. This qualitative study aims to clarify how SMEs can participate in sustainability-related policymaking within the context of political corporate social responsibility (CSR). To that end, interviews were conducted with 14 pioneering Japanese SMEs that had received recognition through one of two government-sponsored award programs for their implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To analyze the political activities of these firms, this study adopts the framework proposed by Westman et al. (2020), which conceptualizes SME political engagement through formal political participation, activism, civic engagement, and involvement. Based on this framework, the collected data were classified and analyzed to identify how SMEs engage in political processes. The findings reveal that SMEs influence both sustainability policymaking and informal rule-setting within sectors such as production and healthcare, often through participation in advocacy groups and other collective actions. These results suggest that SMEs are not merely passive recipients of policy but have the capacity to shape it through diverse forms of engagement, acting as policy actors. By positioning SMEs as a previously underexamined unit of analysis, the study contributes to the literature on political CSR and sustainability governance, offering a new perspective on the ways in which smaller firms can participate in and help shape public policy, particularly within the sustainability domain.

虽然大公司参与可持续政策的问题已得到广泛研究，但中小型企业在这一领域的潜在作用仍未得到充分探讨。本定性研究旨在阐明中小企业如何在政治企业社会责任（CSR）的背景下参与与可持续发展相关的政策制定。为此，我们采访了14家开创性的日本中小企业，这些企业因实施可持续发展目标（sdg）而获得了两个政府资助的奖励计划之一的认可。为了分析这些企业的政治活动，本研究采用了Westman等人（2020）提出的框架，该框架将中小企业的政治参与概念化为正式的政治参与、行动主义、公民参与和参与。基于这一框架，收集的数据被分类和分析，以确定中小企业如何参与政治进程。研究结果表明，中小企业通常通过参与倡导团体和其他集体行动，影响生产和医疗保健等部门的可持续性政策制定和非正式规则制定。这些结果表明，中小企业不仅是政策的被动接受者，而且有能力通过各种形式的参与，作为政策行动者来塑造政策。通过将中小企业定位为以前未被充分研究的分析单元，该研究为政治企业社会责任和可持续性治理的文献做出了贡献，为小型企业参与和帮助制定公共政策的方式提供了新的视角，特别是在可持续性领域。

{"title":"Pioneering small and medium-sized enterprises’ engagement in sustainability policy in Japan: Toward a new role in policymaking","authors":"Mari Kosaka","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101394","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101394","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>While the engagement of large corporations in sustainability policy has been widely studied, the potential role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in this area remains underexplored. This qualitative study aims to clarify how SMEs can participate in sustainability-related policymaking within the context of political corporate social responsibility (CSR). To that end, interviews were conducted with 14 pioneering Japanese SMEs that had received recognition through one of two government-sponsored award programs for their implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To analyze the political activities of these firms, this study adopts the framework proposed by Westman et al. (2020), which conceptualizes SME political engagement through formal political participation, activism, civic engagement, and involvement. Based on this framework, the collected data were classified and analyzed to identify how SMEs engage in political processes. The findings reveal that SMEs influence both sustainability policymaking and informal rule-setting within sectors such as production and healthcare, often through participation in advocacy groups and other collective actions. These results suggest that SMEs are not merely passive recipients of policy but have the capacity to shape it through diverse forms of engagement, acting as policy actors. By positioning SMEs as a previously underexamined unit of analysis, the study contributes to the literature on political CSR and sustainability governance, offering a new perspective on the ways in which smaller firms can participate in and help shape public policy, particularly within the sustainability domain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101394"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145652126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Fostering coastal beach hygiene in Ghana: Exploring the role of informal community women associations 促进加纳海岸海滩卫生：探讨非正式社区妇女协会的作用

IF 5.3 2区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental Development

Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-27 DOI: 10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101423

Adam Salifu , Ummu Markwei , Ama Boafo-Arthur , Rosemond Akpene Hiadzi , Abena Asomaning Antwi

Coastal litter remains a significant environmental and public health concern, negatively affecting tourism, marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities. Despite ongoing sanitation interventions, many beach-cleaning initiatives in Ghana are externally driven and lack long-term sustainability. This study examined the role of informal women's community groups in maintaining beach cleanliness in Ghana's Greater Accra Region and explored strategies to strengthen their contributions to sustainable, community-driven sanitation. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to 192 respondents, comprising 155 beach users and 37 community residents, alongside ten key informant interviews and eight focus group discussions conducted across nine purposefully selected beaches. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and chi-square tests to examine associations between sociodemographic characteristics, participation in clean-up activities, and perceptions of beach cleanliness. Qualitative data were analysed thematically. The results show that although over 80 % of respondents regarded beach cleanliness as highly important, only approximately one-third had ever participated in organised clean-up activities. Approximately 70 % reported that existing women's groups were not actively involved in beach-cleaning efforts, largely due to limited recognition, inadequate resources, and weak institutional coordination issues. Chi-square analyses indicated that participation in clean-up activities was significantly associated with stronger perceptions of shared responsibility for beach cleanliness, whereas educational level showed a modest association with pro-cleanliness attitudes. Qualitative findings further revealed that women's groups—often organised around religious, trade, and community networks—possess substantial social capital, organisational capacity, and culturally grounded commitments to cleanliness that remain largely underutilised. The study concludes that repositioning informal women's associations through targeted capacity building, material and financial support, and stronger institutional partnerships can enhance sustainable community-led coastal sanitation in Ghana.

沿海垃圾仍然是一个重大的环境和公共卫生问题，对旅游业、海洋生态系统和沿海社区的生计产生负面影响。尽管正在进行卫生干预，但加纳的许多海滩清洁举措是由外部驱动的，缺乏长期可持续性。本研究考察了加纳大阿克拉地区非正式妇女社区团体在保持海滩清洁方面的作用，并探讨了加强其对可持续的、社区驱动的卫生设施的贡献的战略。我们以结构化问卷的方式收集了192名受访者（包括155名泳滩使用者和37名社区居民）的数据，并在9个有目的地选择的泳滩进行了10次重要的信息访谈和8次焦点小组讨论。使用描述性统计（频率和百分比）和卡方检验对定量数据进行分析，以检验社会人口特征、参与清洁活动和对海滩清洁度的看法之间的关联。对定性数据进行专题分析。调查结果显示，虽然超过八成受访者认为泳滩清洁非常重要，但只有约三分之一的受访者曾参与有组织的清洁活动。大约70%的人报告说，现有的妇女团体没有积极参与海滩清洁工作，主要是由于认识有限、资源不足和机构协调薄弱等问题。卡方分析表明，参与清洁活动与更强烈的海滩清洁共同责任观念显著相关，而教育水平与支持清洁态度有适度关联。定性研究结果进一步表明，妇女团体——通常是围绕宗教、贸易和社区网络组织起来的——拥有大量的社会资本、组织能力和基于文化的清洁承诺，但这些承诺在很大程度上仍未得到充分利用。该研究的结论是，通过有针对性的能力建设、物质和财政支持以及更强有力的机构伙伴关系，重新定位非正式妇女协会，可以促进加纳社区主导的可持续沿海卫生。

{"title":"Fostering coastal beach hygiene in Ghana: Exploring the role of informal community women associations","authors":"Adam Salifu , Ummu Markwei , Ama Boafo-Arthur , Rosemond Akpene Hiadzi , Abena Asomaning Antwi","doi":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101423","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envdev.2025.101423","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coastal litter remains a significant environmental and public health concern, negatively affecting tourism, marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities. Despite ongoing sanitation interventions, many beach-cleaning initiatives in Ghana are externally driven and lack long-term sustainability. This study examined the role of informal women's community groups in maintaining beach cleanliness in Ghana's Greater Accra Region and explored strategies to strengthen their contributions to sustainable, community-driven sanitation. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to 192 respondents, comprising 155 beach users and 37 community residents, alongside ten key informant interviews and eight focus group discussions conducted across nine purposefully selected beaches. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and chi-square tests to examine associations between sociodemographic characteristics, participation in clean-up activities, and perceptions of beach cleanliness. Qualitative data were analysed thematically. The results show that although over 80 % of respondents regarded beach cleanliness as highly important, only approximately one-third had ever participated in organised clean-up activities. Approximately 70 % reported that existing women's groups were not actively involved in beach-cleaning efforts, largely due to limited recognition, inadequate resources, and weak institutional coordination issues. Chi-square analyses indicated that participation in clean-up activities was significantly associated with stronger perceptions of shared responsibility for beach cleanliness, whereas educational level showed a modest association with pro-cleanliness attitudes. Qualitative findings further revealed that women's groups—often organised around religious, trade, and community networks—possess substantial social capital, organisational capacity, and culturally grounded commitments to cleanliness that remain largely underutilised. The study concludes that repositioning informal women's associations through targeted capacity building, material and financial support, and stronger institutional partnerships can enhance sustainable community-led coastal sanitation in Ghana.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54269,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Development","volume":"58 ","pages":"Article 101423"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0