Environmental Management最新文献

Effective water pollution assessment is essential for promoting sustainable development, especially in mining regions, where water resources are frequently degraded. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and satellite imagery offer valuable tools for monitoring and evaluating surface water quality. This study aimed to compare the results of on-site water sampling with data obtained from multispectral images captured by UAVs and Sentinel-2 satellites, while also identifying the limitations of these methods. A total of 54 water samples were collected from two locations in the Sokolov coal basin in the Czech Republic during two field campaigns, in spring and autumn 2020. Concurrently, multispectral images were taken on-site using UAVs, and satellite images from Sentinel-2 satellites were also analyzed. The water samples were examined using atomic spectrometry to measure concentrations of iron, manganese, and sulfate ions. Statistically significant correlations were observed between sulfate (SO₄²⁻) concentrations and all spectral bands of the Parrot Sequoia multispectral drone camera (positive correlation), as well as between total nitrogen (TN) and the B1 and B2 spectra (green and red) (negative correlation). This study has confirmed the effectiveness of remote sensing methods as faster and more cost-efficient tools for assessing the quality of surface water impacted by open-pit coal mining. UAVs were found to be more suitable for monitoring smaller areas (units of km²) due to their superior spatial resolution compared to satellite imagery, which makes them a valuable resource for detecting water pollution in localized environments.

Managing produced water in unconventional oil and gas (UOG) industry is a growing environmental challenge as shale development expands globally. This study evaluates the operational and economic impacts of restricting produced water disposal in southwestern Pennsylvania, where concerns over injection wells and evaporation ponds are rising. We develop a regional mixed-integer programming model calibrated using data from 11,217 wells between 2015 and 2022. The model evaluates regional UOG production response to three policy scenarios, including prohibition of evaporation ponds, injection wells, and both. Results show that these restrictions lead to some adjustments in operational strategies but do not significantly reduce gas production. Producers respond by changing the mix and timing of wells to be completed based on site specific characteristics. Across scenarios, cumulative shale gas production declines by at most 3.2%, and net revenues fall by up to 5.6%. Produced water recycling increases by up to 6.4%, while freshwater use decreases by up to 0.3%. These findings suggest that targeted produced water management regulations can support environmental protection without severely compromising shale gas production or regional profitability.

The “Netweave Approach” innovatively combines constructs from sociology, resource management, organizational psychology, and environmental psychology within a single framework and corresponding management tool to support regional management in facilitating effective interactions among environmental stakeholders. This interdisciplinary approach, uniting social network analysis, resource mapping, organizational culture assessment, environmental worldview evaluation and environmental risk perception measurement in a way previously unused, enables the development of a uniquely detailed database of environmental stakeholders. Through this system, regional managers can gain detailed insights into their stakeholder networks, which provides a robust foundation for a network consultation process that maximizes effective regional collaboration. In this paper, we present the theoretical foundations of the approach and the structure of the resulting framework and management tool. Furthermore, we explain the concept of network consultation operating in conjunction with the tool. As a practical summary, we compile the results of a preliminary implementation of a corresponding stakeholder platform in the city and district of Osnabrück in northwestern Germany. Finally, we discuss whether the Netweave Approach can be adapted to various regions and contexts, contributing to more coordinated and effective conservation initiatives in diverse regional contexts. We provide specific suggestions regarding aspects of the approach that would need to be adjusted when applied to other regions.

This study presents a novel approach to investigating the spatial relationship between land use and river water quality by applying Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), which explicitly accounts for the nested structure of sub-watersheds—a factor that has been frequently overlooked in previous studies. The Yura River watershed in Japan was selected as the study site, and electrical conductivity (EC) was used as a comprehensive indicator of water quality. To reflect local land-use impacts, we introduced the difference in EC between upstream and downstream sampling points (ΔEC) and allocated it to individual sub-watershed polygons. By analyzing both irrigation and non-irrigation seasons, the study found that key land-use types, such as paddy fields, water bodies, and evergreen broadleaved forests, exert varying influences on water quality depending on the season and location. The GWR model outperformed global regression models in capturing spatial heterogeneity and reduced residual spatial autocorrelation, thereby validating its effectiveness in watershed-scale environmental analysis. Importantly, this study is the first to integrate GWR with ΔEC while considering the hierarchical structure of sub-watersheds. This framework enables more accurate identification of localized land-use effects on water quality, which are often masked in global models. The findings underscore the need for region-specific land-use management and offer methodological insights for improving watershed conservation strategies in heterogeneous landscapes. By highlighting both seasonal variation and spatial dependency, this study provides a useful toolset for environmental monitoring and supports the development of targeted, evidence-based watershed policies.

The collection of environmental DNA (eDNA) is a relatively new, non-invasive and effective method for detecting the presence of rare or endangered species, invasive alien species, and monitoring fish and wildlife populations, thus contributing to better conservation of natural environments. Academic researchers are its main users. The reasons for its slow diffusion among other potential users remain poorly documented to date. This study aimed to characterize the barriers and levers to the adoption of eDNA by distinct types of end-users, depending on the contexts in which they operate. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 33 participants to document and analyze their perceptions of eDNA. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) inspired our analysis. Our findings revealed that potential end-users perceive the eDNA-based methods positively, although they are improvable. A lack of knowledge about its limitations and potential affects how useful eDNA is perceived to be and potential end-users’ confidence in its results. We propose action levers to increase potential end-users’ trust in the method and its compatibility with their current practices, and identify avenues to facilitate its diffusion.

Southern Africa has a well-documented history of intentional plant introductions for ornamental purposes, but some of these plants have become widespread damaging invaders. Conflicts can arise when stakeholders’ attitudes differ towards ornamental invasive plants and their management. We examined the views of stakeholders involved in the ornamental sector and environmental management across Southern Africa in light of the strategic actions proposed by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services' thematic assessment on ‘Invasive Alien Species and their Control.’ Our analysis is based on semi-structured interviews, informal conversations, and observations with 78 environmental specialists, 30 ornamental-related industry staff, and 24 plant enthusiasts from Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Eswatini. Our analysis shows that significant efforts are ongoing in Southern Africa to address biological invasions from the ornamental sector. However, they need more integration and consideration of the broader geopolitical and socio-historical context. We reflected on these needs and recommend: 1) improving cohesion and collaboration amongst stakeholders, 2) ensuring pluralism by recognising and valuing marginalised groups, 3) addressing power differences and superiority-inferiority complexes, and 4) seeking alliances with existing sub-regional groups working in the realm of nature-society interplay. We believe that our recommendations contribute toward the necessary transformative change for tackling the underlying political and economic causes of plant invasions derived from the ornamental sector in the sub-region.

Globally, environmental mismanagement, overconsumption, population growth, and lifestyle changes disproportionately impact society, particularly affecting marginalized and vulnerable groups in developing nations. Despite progress in raising awareness and funding, many initiatives, including Youth Engagement Programs, Capacity Building, Gender (women) Mainstreaming, and Community-Based Approaches, have been limited or ineffective due to demographic variability. This study employed qualitative and quantitative methods to examine institutional factors that hinder the effective use of demographic variables in addressing global environmental challenges. It explores how institutional and structural factors obstruct the integration of demographic variables into global environmental policies and programs. The results show that over 65 percent of the global population, particularly youth, women, and marginalized groups, remain passive victims of environmental disasters and are largely excluded from national and international decision-making platforms. This study reveals significant gender disparities in environmental knowledge, interest, and decision-making across Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia, largely shaped by cultural traditions and norms. This study advocates for targeted capacity-building initiatives and the integration of indigenous knowledge to foster inclusive growth, enhance knowledge-sharing mechanisms, and address the underrepresentation of youth, women, and marginalized groups. These findings offer evidence-based insights for policymakers, researchers, and environmental organizations to enhance global environmental governance by promoting inclusivity and innovative solutions that empower these groups for active participation in policy decision-making.

Just like calcium, magnesium, and iron, water is vital for life on our planet. Alarming evidence indicates that water is becoming scarce. In this critical situation, the management of hydric systems turns out to be a bottleneck. Established modes focus on regulation through laws and rulings. This paper offers a methodological contribution to improving the governance of River Basin Organizations (RBOs): a cybernetic model is introduced for the diagnosis and (re-)design of water governance, which is new in this context: the Viable System Model (VSM). This model embodies both a theory and a methodology, incorporating a heuristic cybernetic framework. The theory it provides is unique in its claim to specify the necessary and sufficient preconditions for the viability of any social system. It gives access to the deep structures that ensure the viability of social, and thereby socio-ecological and socio-technical systems. The VSM also provides a methodology that is highly beneficial in environmental, social, and economic terms. Using the VSM in the field of water governance is unorthodox and challenging. It has the potential to balance the need and supply of water, and even to reframe the system-in-focus, ensuring its viability and sustainability. The theoretical claim of the model is underpinned by an extensive case study from the Tocantins-Araguaia Hydrographic Region in Brazil—the largest hydrographic basin completely within Brazil. The insights gained from this account allow for cautious generalization and enable impactful applications.

Intergenerational and intra-generational equity have gained increasing significance in the development of international environmental law, particularly in response to the accelerating loss of marine biodiversity. The landmark Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) introduces a novel legal framework for global ocean governance, recognizing the shared responsibility of States to manage and sustainably use marine biological diversity for both present and future generations. This article examines how the BBNJ Agreement incorporates and operationalizes sustainable equity principles and assesses the implications of the inter-/intra-generational principles for advancing environmental management across theory, policy, and practice. Specifically, it explores how the common heritage of humankind principle and the precautionary approach can inform an integrated, equitable system for managing marine genetic resources (MGRs) as global commons resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction. The analysis highlights pathways for embedding accountability and stewardship in international marine policy towards future generations, and offers a framework for balancing inter-/intra-generational equity asymmetries in decision and policy-making processes. By bridging legal principles with environmental management strategies, the article contributes to more inclusive, responsible, and forward-looking stewardship of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Oceans have been gaining attention as a solution to climate change, including as sites of renewable energy development. Thus, oceans are becoming increasingly important sites of the energy transitions necessary for countries to meet climate change commitments. However, oil remains deeply entrenched in many places, often making it difficult to envision and enact different energy futures. This paper addresses the potential of strategic environmetal assessments (SEAs) to play a role in ocean-based energy transitions, specifically exploring whether they provide the information needed to support decisions related to energy transitions. By drawing on 69 offshore energy-related SEAs done in 11 countries between 2000 and 2021, this paper takes a broad view of ocean energy SEAs across time and space. In particular, we explore whether these SEAs consider climate change, include the broader context of climate goals, and assess alternatives. Findings varied by jurisdiction but in many cases, SEAs were done in ways that limited their potential to contribute to energy transition decisions. This is important because countries around the world have climate commitments and SEAs represent an opportunity – specifically one that uses existing and familiar tools – to help with long term planning around offshore energy that can help meet these commitments.