Environmental Management最新文献

Climate change and biodiversity losses have necessitated innovative approaches to peatland management. This study examines pivotal historical landmarks and the recent forces of change that have affected peatlands in Finland, Ireland and Scotland, highlighting how national contexts, such as land ownership, forestry, agriculture and the need for domestic energy sources, have shaped the peatland use in those countries. We further introduce national and EU policies, which include, for example, national peatland strategies, and identify barriers to sustainable management of these important ecosystems. We propose six key solutions that could improve peatland persistence more broadly in northern Europe: (1) adoption of an integrated, landscape-scale strategy for rewetting and restoration with multi-stakeholder collaboration, (2) enhancement of monitoring to improve outcomes and refine best practices, (3) alignment of both national and EU policies across relevant sectors (energy, climate change, biodiversity, land use) to promote sustainable peatland management, (4) minimisation of trade-offs between green energy transition and sustainable peatland management, (5) engagement with local communities in restoration efforts for better acceptability and outcomes, and (6) wider leverage of market-based mechanisms, such as carbon, biodiversity and water credits, to finance peatland restoration. Together, these measures provide a pathway for the sustainable management of northern peatlands by balancing environmental integrity with socio-economic needs.

Limited water availability poses critical threats to food production and social stability, especially across arid and semi-arid zones. Since agriculture accounts for the largest share of water use, improving efficiency in this sector is essential. Shifting toward drought-tolerant crops and implementing drip irrigation can mitigate pressure and strengthen rural resilience. Yet, these adaptations depend on individuals’ voluntary engagement, shaped by social and psychological determinants. This research employs a value-based behavioral framework to examine the drivers of water-saving practices among 103 cultivators in the Mahabad Plain, Iran - a vital watershed feeding Lake Urmia, severely depleted by excessive extraction. Path analysis reveals that awareness of water limitations exerts the strongest direct effect, explaining 55% of the variance in conservation-oriented actions, while collective values have the highest indirect influence (45%). Overall, the model accounts for 68% of total behavioral variance, emphasizing the importance of moral obligation, environmental concern, and awareness. These outcomes underline the necessity of demand-side management approaches integrating behavioral insights to encourage more sustainable irrigation practices in vulnerable rural systems.

Pacific salmon (Onchorhynchus spp.), which are endangered or threatened throughout the Puget Sound region (Washington, U.S.), are integral to healthy ecosystem functioning and contribute to the region’s human populations’ social, cultural, and economic well-being. Ongoing environmental change and degradation are affecting the success of salmon recovery. In this study, we examine the contribution of salmon to peoples’ senses of place and regional placemaking. Through the application of a regional survey (n = 407) and synthesis of social-ecological geospatial data, we demonstrate that salmon contribute to residents’ senses of place and Puget Sound’s social-ecological landscape. By providing information elevating local perspectives on salmon, people, and place, this work will allow managers to better tailor regional recovery efforts to align with local community priorities and residents’ connections to place.

The Natura 2000 Network, established under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC, is an essential ecological framework for conserving habitats and species within their natural range. However, due to environmental changes, climate change, and human activities, habitats are increasingly fragmented and losing connectivity. To mitigate these negative effects on biodiversity and improve habitat quality, it is crucial to implement systems that promote connectivity and facilitate exchange between isolated natural areas. This research aimed to identify optimal pathways to enhance connectivity within the Natura 2000 Network. We used the Nature Map of the Calabria region as a case study to map least-cost paths using Linkage Mapper and applied Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) through the Guidos Toolbox software. The priority of ecological connectors was determined by evaluating the Landscape Conservation Index (ILC) and conducting a detailed habitat analysis. Based on ILC values and habitat significance, connectors and proposed conservation actions were classified into three categories: Restoration, Conservation and Restoration, and Conservation. The methodology developed in this study enabled the identification of pathways that enhance connectivity within the Natura 2000 Network and highlight areas of high ecological value. These results address the need to define connectivity areas (ecological corridors) that are essential for structuring a functional ecological network at the regional scale. This approach supports a broader interpretation of biodiversity conservation and contributes to reducing the loss of habitat and species. The proposed methodology can be effectively applied to the entire Natura 2000 Network across Europe.

Marine plastic pollution is a growing environmental challenge that requires coordinated policy responses across multiple levels of governance. While international negotiations, including those for a Global Plastics Treaty, seek to establish shared commitments, implementation depends largely on national and subnational action. This study compares how plastic pollution is governed in Australia and Brazil, two federated systems facing similar pressures, but operating under different institutional arrangements. We examine how plastic pollution policies are developed, coordinated, and implemented across various levels of government in selected jurisdictions in Australia and Brazil. Our focus is on the interactions between federal, state, and municipal actors. All jurisdictions examined use a mix of governance approaches, including command-and-control, economic instruments, and enabling strategies, with different emphases shaped by institutional capacity and coordination. These differences affect how effectively plastic pollution policies are translated into action across levels of government. Building on these findings, the study proposes six strategic priorities for strengthening multilevel governance: (i) improving coordination, (ii) clarifying roles, (iii) supporting local implementation, (iv) strengthening data systems, (v) promoting inclusive governance, and (vi) leveraging national policy frameworks. These insights offer a grounded understanding of institutional dynamics in federated systems and may inform efforts to implement the Global Plastics Treaty at national and subnational levels.

Sand and gravel mining is a significant human activity essential for meeting the world’s infrastructure development and construction needs. This review compiles recent studies on the environmental and socio-economic effects of river sand and gravel mining. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for this study. The guideline emphasises thorough reporting of the review’s purpose and methodology, including research selection, data collection, data inclusion, exclusion and synthesis. This review highlights the problems and effects of sand and gravel mining using a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, specifically on the Indian context through the integration of detailed, region-specific case studies. Studies from all around the world that present an overview of the sand and gravel market, highlighting the main trends, production, export and import are included in this review. Riverbed morphological changes, habitat degradation, and alterations in aquatic biodiversity are among the physical and ecological effects examined. Hydrological effects include changes in river flow patterns, sedimentation, and water quality deterioration. Socio-economically, this practice can simultaneously offer and impede local economic advantages. Furthermore, the informal practices associated with sand and gravel mining can result in disputes, uncontrolled exploitation, and adverse socio-economic effects. Finally, a series of suggestions for developing a global agenda on sustainable sand and gravel extraction was provided for stakeholders’ informed decision-making in mitigating the challenges posed by river sand and gravel mining while fostering a harmonious coexistence between human development and nature.

Understanding how smallholder farmers perceive and respond to climate change is critical for informing adaptation strategies. Using survey data from 261 smallholder dairy farmers in Eritrea, this study applies the Model of Private Proactive Adaptation to Climate Change (MPPACC) to examine the perception of climate change. The objectives were to (i) develop and validate indices of perception, threat appraisal, and coping appraisal, (ii) explore factors associated with these indices, and (iii) examine associations among perception, threat appraisal, and coping appraisal. Reliability of constructs was assessed using Cronbach’s α, while validity was evaluated through principal axis factoring. A regression-based parallel mediation model with 5000 bootstrapped resamples was employed to estimate confidence intervals for the indirect effects. Results show that 93% of respondents linked climate change to shifting seasons, 76% to erratic rainfall, 88% to rising temperatures, and 41.6% identified greenhouse gas emissions as a cause. Perception scores were directly associated with extension services, education, and media exposure, and were negatively associated with higher altitude. The mediation analysis further showed indirect associations, with threat appraisal, though not coping appraisal, acting as an intervening variable in the relationships involving media exposure, heat stress and the interaction between age and farming experience. These findings highlight how institutional support, education, and communication efforts are associated with farmers’ climate change perception. By integrating socio-economic and environmental factors with cognitive processes within the MPPACC framework, this study offers insights relevant to strengthening smallholder resilience in Eritrea and comparable contexts.

Invasive alien species are major driver of socio-ecological changes, and pose threats to protected areas (PAs) and native biodiversity globally. To reduce their impacts, management effort should be timely, and guided through stakeholder engagement. This study investigated the level of community awareness, and documented perceptions and stakeholder participation in management of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) in ten of Nepal’s twenty PAs (five from each Tarai-Siwalik and Mountain regions). It draws on focus group discussions (n = 60) and key informant interviews (n = 47). We found that people had substantial local knowledge of IAPS and had been substantially impacted by them without having knowledge of their exotic nature. Reported impacts included native species loss, increased weeding time, crop loss, reduced forage availability, and reduced forest regeneration. Lantana camara, Mikania micrantha, Ageratina adenophora and Ageratum houstonianum were the most problematic IAPS causing both ecological and socio-economic impacts. Management efforts were sporadic, inadequate and rarely guided by formal plans or programs. Regional analysis showed that the PAs located in the Tarai-Siwalik regions (southern lowland) experienced greater invasion impacts but received marginally more management than the mountain PAs. While efforts have been made to control IAPS both by local communities and PA authorities at few locations in the Tarai-Siwalik region, the lack of such efforts despite growing problems in the mountain PAs with unique biodiversity is a matter of great conservation concern. Overall, limited participation among stakeholders, along with very low resource mobilization are the key barriers to effective management of IAPS in Nepal’s PAs.

Wildfires pose an escalating threat to communities across California, with Spanish-speaking populations facing disproportionate vulnerabilities due to limited access to culturally and linguistically appropriate educational resources. This study examines the availability, accessibility, and spatial distribution of Spanish-language wildfire education materials across the state. We combined quantitative trend analysis with qualitative content and cluster analyses to identify key content gaps and geographic disparities. Results reveal that while the production of Spanish-language materials has increased in recent years, it remains inconsistent and significantly lags behind the availability of English-language resources. Outreach efforts are concentrated in wildfire-prone regions like Southern California, whereas other high-risk and socioeconomically disadvantaged regions, such as the Central Valley and parts of Northern California, are underserved. Thematic analysis of material content shows varying emphasis on preparedness, evacuation, and recovery, but limited coverage of long-term resilience and environmental justice concerns. Local agencies and non-profits have emerged as pivotal actors in addressing these gaps, yet their efforts are constrained by limited resources and coordination challenges. Systemic disparities in outreach stem from perceptions of audience demand and inconsistent funding mechanisms. Our findings underscore the urgent need for coordinated action across federal, state, and local agencies to ensure equitable dissemination of wildfire information. Strengthening collaborations and increasing investment in culturally relevant, Spanish-language materials will be essential for enhancing community resilience, improving wildfire preparedness, and closing critical communication gaps for at-risk populations. This study highlights actionable pathways for more inclusive and effective wildfire communication strategies across linguistically diverse regions of California.

Tourism is often promoted as a strategy for offsetting the social impacts on the lives and livelihoods of people in nearby host communities from conservation actions and the establishment of protected areas and national parks. However, the presence of tourists also creates significant negative social and environmental impacts on local people and communities. We examine the impacts created by rural tourism operators (specifically boutique rural hotels and bed-and-breakfast enterprises) on the residents of Longweiba village in the Wulingyuan Historic and Scenic Area, Hunan Province, China. The management arrangements for this World Heritage Site mean that residents are regulated by different management regimes depending on whether they are inside or outside the high conservation zone, which has created inequity and conflict. Using an ethnographic approach and interviews with 30 local residents and one government official, our results reveal that, while tourism has contributed to local economic development and improved the living environment, it has also led to a range of concerns about: protected area management; various environmental issues; inequitable regulations; inconsistent governance policies; unfair building restrictions; sewage; odor pollution; water shortages; and a fear of involuntary resettlement. The poor planning of tourism, inequitable policies, and inconsistent enforcement of regulations have exacerbated these issues. We conclude that, while tourism has some benefits for host communities, better governance and environmental management, more inclusive community engagement, and clear consistent policies are needed to ensure that tourism development within or near protected areas is sustainable and equitable.