Environmental Management最新文献

The adoption of sustainable land management practices (SLMPs) is crucial to improve soil health, and farm yield, and potentially limit the degradation of agricultural and ecological systems. However, farmers still encounter diverse challenges when trying to implement SLMPs. Research on the potential mitigation strategies to address the complex challenges to the adoption of SLMPs in the developing countries context is limited. Accordingly, this study investigates the constraints to adopting SLMPs using household survey data collected from 480 sampled farmers in erosion-prone areas of southeast Nigeria. Also, through focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders in the land sector, the study investigates the potential mitigation strategies to address the constraints. Descriptive statistics were used to explore the characteristics of the farmers, while Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to analyse the constraints to the adoption of SLMPs. The qualitative data collected were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The PCA result identified economic/financial factors as the principal constraint to the adoption of SLMPs. Other barriers to the adoption of SLMPs in the study area include constraints related to the characteristics of the SLMPs, institutional constraints and constraints related to land property rights. Based on the stakeholders' perspectives, financial and economic support, improved R&D, knowledge exchange and advisory system, policy and regulatory solutions, and multi-stakeholder engagement are important strategies to tackle the constraints to the adoption of SLMPs. Insights from this study could help practitioners, conservation planners and policymakers design more targeted and effective interventions to promote the widespread adoption of SLMPs.

This research assesses heavy metal contamination within the riparian zone of the Danro River, a tributary of the Ganges River basin in India, particularly impacted by sand mining activities. The study conducted analyses on major and trace elements in soil samples, focusing on those identified as ecologically hazardous by the Water Framework Directive of India. Utilizing a combination of indices (Enrichment Factor, Pollution Load Index, and Index of geo-accumulation) and statistical techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the investigation aimed to evaluate contamination severity, ecological risks, and pollution sources. Results revealed arsenic concentrations ranging from 0.00-0.54 mg/kg to 117-136 mg/kg, and ecological risks for cadmium exceeding 30. PCA identified three dominant factors explaining over 95% of variance. This study also employed the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to assess land use suitability. Results unveiled that chromium and nickel predominantly stemmed from natural origins, while arsenic, cadmium, lead, and zinc exhibited a mixed origin. While most sites displayed low to moderate contamination, south-western portion of the basin demonstrated significantly elevated copper concentrations. Cadmium emerged as a particular concern, posing downstream ecological risks alongside chromium, nickel, and zinc, surpassing established thresholds. Further examination using PCA analysis pinpointed three primary pollution sources: traffic emissions, industrial activities, and natural processes. The research concludes by proposing a novel approach for remediation, including the Miyawaki technique alongside traditional methods like electrokinetic remediation and soil leaching. Policy suggestions advocate for collaborative efforts between economic entities and governments to promote sustainable practices that minimize heavy metal pollution.

This study investigates urban river policies, emphasizing the gaps in understanding the interactions between riverine communities and governance systems. Using empirical and theoretical methods, the research applies multivariate analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to data from a representative sample of 1740 residents of Curitiba. The study maintains a 95% confidence level with a ±2.4% margin of error. Latent social, governmental, responsive, and environmental engagement variables are analyzed, highlighting the complexity of urban policies and the necessity for adaptable strategies. The findings suggest that greater social and governmental engagement correlates with more favorable perceptions of river quality. In contrast, responsive engagement exhibits a weaker relationship, while environmental engagement underscores ongoing challenges. The research introduces a theoretical framework supported by an analytical model, advocating for urban policies that account for contextual specificities and encourage collaborative engagement between governments and communities. The study concludes that implementing comprehensive strategies within this integrated framework is crucial for sustaining and enhancing urban river ecosystems, as demonstrated by the case of the Belém River in Curitiba.

Citizen science has been increasingly utilized for monitoring resource conditions and visitor use in protected areas. However, the quality of data provided by citizen scientists remains a major concern that hinders wider applications in protected area management. We evaluated a prototype, citizen science-based trail assessment and monitoring program in Hong Kong using an integrated evaluative approach with a specific focus on the congruence of data collected by trained volunteers and managers. Datasets were evaluated in two ways. First, we compared differences in average values and standard deviations for measured trail indicators across all 30 sampling points. Second, we explored how result patterns characterized by the coefficients of variation and statistical significance differed for data collected by managers and volunteers at each sampling point or trail feature. Results revealed that the two trail assessment methods (one by volunteers, the other by managers) yielded incongruent data for some variables (e.g., trail width and maximum incision depth), but not others (e.g., Trail problems of erosions and multiple trail treads). Results of group interviews also revealed some possible factors that may have led to incongruent results, such as lack of experience and different perceptions between volunteers and managers in recognizing trail problems. While this study shows the potential value of citizen science-based monitoring programs, further steps are recommended to enhance the quality and usability of citizen science data to support effective trail monitoring and management.

The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) is a generalist predator that inhabits wide-ranging territories that are relatively stable throughout the year. These owls are also involved in a variety of human-owl conflicts, including killing of domestic poultry, predating colonially nesting seabirds and shorebirds, and pose a hazard to safe aircraft operations. Managing these conflict situations presents unique challenges as great horned owls are nocturnally active and occupy a wide range of habitats. We evaluated information about great horned owl collisions with civilian aircraft and found this is a contemporary and growing aviation safety issue. We conducted a study to determine whether a biological (e.g., age of the bird) and logistical factors (e.g., month and translocation distance) influenced the return rate of great horned owls following a mitigation translocation from 13 civil airports and three military airfields during 2013-2023. Great horned owls (n = 1,020) were live-captured, banded, and translocated various distances from the airfields which were then monitored for returning owls. We developed a set of candidate binomial-distributed generalized linear models [involving all possible subsets of three factors (age, month, and distance translocated) as well as interactions]. The return rate of translocated great horned owls was very low (i.e., 2.6%) and we found no evidence that these biological and logistical factors influenced great horned owl homing behavior. Management programs that use release sites 40 km from the conflict location and translocate individual owls only once would increase program efficacy by minimizing homing behavior and decreasing implementation costs.

Riverine flooding is increasing in frequency and intensity, requiring river management agencies to consider new approaches to working with communities on flood mitigation planning. Communication and information sharing between agencies and communities is complex, and mistrust and misinformation arise quickly when communities perceive that they are excluded from planning. Subsequently, riverfront community members create narratives that can be examined as truth regimes-truths created and repeated that indicate how flooding and its causes are understood, represented, and discussed within their communities-to explain why flooding occurs in their area. To better understand community perceptions of river management related to repeated flooding, we employed a qualitative methodology of semi-structured interviews with 112 community members in 3 communities on the Missouri River, USA. Discourse analysis of the interviews revealed three dominant truth regimes that shape perceptions of river management in these communities: (1) upstream reservoir releases are driven by recreational aims, such as fishing and boating within reservoirs, instead of downstream flood control; (2) endangered species protection surpasses other river values and flood management; and (3) river navigation for commerce is no longer prioritized. For environmental managers, understanding the truth regimes circulating within local affected communities can help moderate mistrust of and frustration with governing bodies, guide project messaging to disarm false truth regimes, and improve the communication of river science, management options and policy implementation.

Cyanobacterial blooms in shallow lakes pose a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems and public health worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for advanced predictive methodologies. As impounded lakes along the Eastern Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, Lakes Hongze and Luoma play a key role in water resource management, making the prediction of cyanobacterial blooms in these lakes particularly important. To address this, satellite remote sensing data were utilized to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of cyanobacterial blooms in these lakes. Subsequently, a precise machine learning model, integrating the Projection Pursuit Model and Random Forest (PP-RF) algorithms, was developed to predict the extent of cyanobacterial blooms, considering a range of influencing factors, including physical, chemical, climatic, and hydrologic variables. The findings indicated pronounced seasonal fluctuations in cyanobacterial blooms, with higher levels in summer than in other seasons. Key determinants for cyanobacterial blooms prediction included solar radiation, temperature and total nitrogen for Lake Hongze, while for Lake Luoma, significant predictors were identified as temperature, water temperature, and solar radiation. Compared with traditional data preprocessing methods, PP-RF model has advantages in addressing multicollinearity. This study provides a feasible method for predicting cyanobacterial blooms in impounded lakes within inter-basin water transfer projects. By inputting region-specific data, this model could be applied broadly, contributing to against the adverse effects of cyanobacterial blooms and provide scientific guidance for the protection and management of aquatic ecosystems.

The Nature Restoration Law adopted by the European Union in 2024 aims to implement measures to restore at least 20% of its land and sea by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050, focusing on among others agricultural land, forests, urban, marine, freshwater, and wetlands areas. The goal is to enhance the natural and semi-natural habitats' role in achieving climate targets and preserving biodiversity. Member States must submit detailed national restoration plans, outlining specific actions and mechanisms for monitoring progress. However, these plans should align with the ongoing Common Agricultural Policy and National Energy and Climate Plans objectives. Using data from European Commission reports and applying a semantic interval scale methodology, this study quantifies each Member State's ambitions and effectiveness under the National Energy Climate Plans and Common Agricultural Policy and establishes a benchmark for reporting under the Nature Restoration Law. The findings reveal the National Energy Climate Plans' wide disparities in implementing decarbonization measures, climate change adaptation and the implementation of nature-based solutions. The Common Agricultural Policy Plans exhibit only partial commitment to greening agriculture, yet their alignment with Nature Restoration Law objectives varies. Therefore, timely coordination between the three strategies is crucial to avoid conflicting goals, overlapping efforts, and wasting time and resources, ensuring the success of restoration actions.

Formulating a consistent standard for ecosystem service value (ESV) estimation and incorporating it into government decision-making is an important way to achieve balanced ecological-economic development. Taking the ecologically vulnerable areas in Northwest China as an example, this paper uses the value transfer method to estimate the ESV of cropland, forest, grassland, waters, and unused land; analyzes the spatio-temporal characteristics of the increment of ESV (△ESV) and ecological-economic harmony (EEH) index in each city; as well as identifies their key influential factors. The results suggest that value transfer is a feasible approach to developing a consistent standard for ESV estimation. The ecological-economic system is limited by the natural environment, economic growth, local government, population, and the development of agriculture and livestock. The main factors that affect unit ESV, total ESV, and EEH are connected but vary across space. The findings can provide a reference for estimating ESV across regions, formulating policies for land management and ecological protection, and promoting sustainable development.

As biodegradable and bio-based plastics increasingly replace conventional plastics, the need for a comprehensive understanding of their ecotoxicity becomes more pressing. This review systematically presents the ecotoxicity of the microplastics (MPs) from different biodegradable plastics and bioplastics on various animals and plants. High doses of polylactic acid (PLA) MPs (10%) have been found to reduce plant nitrogen content and biomass, and affect the accumulation of heavy metals in plants. Their phytotoxicity becomes more pronounced when blended with polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) MPs. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polybutylene succinate (PBS) MPs show lower phytotoxicity than PLA MPs. At high doses, PLA and PHB MPs may cause dose-dependent developmental toxicity to aquatic organisms. Nano-PLA could induce oxidative stress and genetic damage in insects, indicating its toxicity could be size-dependent and affected by weathering. PBAT MPs have been observed to affect plant growth at lower concentrations (0.1%) than PLA MPs, while polycaprolactone (PCL) affected seed germination only at high temperatures. PCL MPs and extracts could also cause developmental and reproductive toxicity, alter metabolisms, and induce oxidative stress in aquatic organisms at high concentrations. Polypropylene carbonate (PPC) ( > 40 g/kg) MPs have caused earthworm behavioral changes. Non-biodegradable bioplastics are potentially toxic to embryos, larvae, immune systems, reproductive systems, and endocrine systems of animals. However, it is important to note that toxicity studies are still lacking for biodegradable and bio-based plastics, particularly PHB, PBS, PCL, PPC, starch-based, and non-biodegradable bioplastics. More research into the MPs of these plastics is essential to better understand their ecotoxicity and applicability.