Search Results (6,532)

In China’s Erhai Lake basin, strict agricultural pollution control policies have reduced ecological degradation but severely disrupted smallholder livelihoods, creating an urgent need for institutional actors capable of mediating between state mandates and rural communities. This study examines Science and Technology Backyards (STBs), university-based knowledge intermediaries, as a distinctive governance mechanism embedded within China’s state-led environmental governance system. Drawing on 60 days of ethnographic fieldwork and 33 semi-structured interviews with 36 participants in Gusheng Village, Dali City, we develop a socio-technical institutional framework that conceptualizes STB effectiveness as depending on the joint operation of three dimensions: technological rationality, social embeddedness, and institutional access. Empirically, the findings show that STBs operate through three bridging mechanisms: technical correction, power adjustment, and market linkage. However, their influence is structurally uneven. Vertically, STB engagement is strong at the prefectural level but weakens sharply at township and village levels. Horizontally, technology diffusion concentrates in core villages and disproportionately benefits large-scale farmers over smallholders. Market linkage remains the weakest mechanism due to deep institutional deficits in cooperative development, supply chain infrastructure, and state–market coordination. These findings contribute to understanding how knowledge intermediaries produce uneven governance outcomes within hierarchical political systems. Full article

In an increasingly urbanized world, green spaces provide Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) that support human well-being and are often perceived as the most valued benefits in cities. Yet, their perception and co-occurrence remain underrepresented in Latin American regions. In this study, we assess the diversity and bundling of CES perceived by visitors across five urban parks in the Mexican city of Xalapa, Veracruz, and examine how park identity (synthesizing park-specific ecological and structural characteristics) and sociodemographic factors influence these perceptions. Using a mixed-methods approach, we analyzed 373 surveys using general linear models. We identified 13 CES, with an average of three services per park. ‘Recreation’, ‘Mental health’, ‘Physical health’, and ‘Contact with nature’, the most frequently mentioned services, together with ‘Social relations’, consistently formed a dominant CES bundle, suggesting patterns in how cultural benefits are co-experienced. Park identity, visitor Age, and Gender were key predictors of CES perception variation, highlighting joint spatial and social influences. By integrating CES bundles with park-specific characteristics and sociodemographic drivers, this study advances current understanding of CES perception comprehensively and demonstrates that CES are not uniformly experienced across urban green spaces, underscoring the need for context-sensitive planning and management that account for both place identity and user diversity. Full article

This article examines the voyage of the Leviathan, a brigantine that sailed from Newport, Rhode Island, in 1773, in search of new sperm whale grounds in the South Atlantic but ended its journey off the coast of Brazil. There, its crew was arrested and persuaded to teach sperm-whaling techniques under Portuguese colonial authorities. Bringing together the trajectories of a Jewish merchant, a New England captain, a Portuguese viceroy, and sperm whales themselves, the voyage marked the beginning of sperm whale hunting in Brazilian waters. At the same time, it triggered an unplanned process of technological and environmental knowledge transfer across imperial borders. Drawing on Environmental History, Blue Humanities, and Atlantic Studies, the article argues that the Leviathan functioned as both a borderscape and as a boundary-crossing device, linking human and nonhuman actors across political, ecological, social, and oceanic frontiers. By reconstructing this incidental voyage through a connected and more-than-human perspective, the article proposes a transdisciplinary approach to the writing of Early Modern Atlantic history. Full article

Emotion recognition is essential for social adaptation and mental health. However, existing measures still rely on limited stimulus materials or simplified task formats, which restricts ecological validity. The present study aimed to construct a localized multimodal emotion expression database in the Chinese context and to develop a multimodal emotion recognition ability test integrating emotion category and intensity recognition. In Study 1, a multimodal emotion expression database was established through actor performances, expert evaluation, and participant validation. The final database contained 2160 videos representing six basic emotions, five levels of emotional intensity, and two expression modes (vocal and non-vocal). In Study 2, 90 videos were selected under three recognition conditions (vocal-expression, muted vocal-expression, and muted non-vocal-expression). An integrated scoring approach combining emotion category and intensity was used to develop the test. A total of 236 valid participants completed the test. The results indicated that, after 61 video clips were retained, the test demonstrated good reliability and item discrimination. Evidence for criterion-related validity and construct validity was also obtained. Overall, the findings suggest that the present measure is a reliable and valid tool for assessing multimodal emotion recognition ability in the Chinese cultural context and offers the first empirical evidence that integrating category and intensity recognition can better capture the multidimensional nature of this ability. Full article

Forest-based cultural heritage landscapes associated with traditional potash, tar, resin, and charcoal (PoTaRCh) production constitute valuable socio-ecological systems with considerable potential for sustainable tourism and rural development. However, little is known about how these destinations may evolve under future environmental, social, and governance uncertainties. The objective of this study was to identify the key drivers and critical uncertainties shaping the future development of PoTaRCh-based tourism systems in Europe by 2040 and to develop alternative scenarios to support strategic planning and adaptive governance. The research adopted the Intuitive Logics approach to scenario planning and the Scenario-Based Strategic Planning framework, combining a two-round Delphi study with 42 experts from 15 European countries and qualitative scenario development. Four key drivers were identified: forest ecosystem integrity, destination governance, community participation, and visitor experience and tourism demand. Their interaction resulted in five internally consistent scenarios: Forest Harmony, Guardians’ Forest, Tourist Forest, Forgotten Forest, and Regenerating Forest. The findings demonstrate that the resilience of PoTaRCh-based tourism systems depends on the dynamic interaction between ecological conditions, governance capacity, local stewardship, and tourism demand rather than on any single driver. To facilitate the practical application of the scenarios, the study also proposes a Scenario Monitoring Framework and Scenario Cockpit that translate qualitative scenario narratives into monitoring indicators for early detection of emerging development pathways. The study advances tourism futures research by providing one of the first comprehensive foresight analyses of forest-based cultural heritage tourism systems and offers practical guidance for destination managers and policy-makers seeking to strengthen the long-term sustainability and resilience of heritage landscapes. Full article

The compatibility between economic profitability and environmental commitment remains key in sustainable entrepreneurship research. This study presents a 20-year longitudinal case (2006–2026) of INAMSOS, S.A., a small Spanish environmental enterprise (31 shareholders; initial valuation of €262,500, i.e., the total nominal share capital contributed by shareholders between 2006 and 2009) promoted by an ecological restoration NGO (FIRE) and linked to the University of Alcalá (UAH). The aim is to assess whether a sustainability-inspired business model can simultaneously generate economic, social, and environmental value over time. Data include corporate records, shareholder information, project documentation, and institutional linkages. Economic performance is measured through valuation changes, inflation-adjusted returns, and total shareholder return (TSR). Social and environmental dimensions are assessed via stakeholder engagement, agroecological product distribution, and support for ecological restoration. Results show an accumulated revaluation of 41.4%, above cumulative inflation (~35%), indicating a positive real return. TSR reached 59.5% nominally. Additionally, shareholders received agroecological products valued at €37,495.25 and supported €9812.5 for ecological restoration via FIRE. The case suggests that such hybrid firms can strengthen interactions among the private sector, civil society, and academia, although academic links were weaker than expected. Findings suggest that small hybrid enterprises can create multiple value forms beyond financial metrics and support sustainability transitions. Diversified investments may enhance long-term financial resilience. Evidence supports the feasibility of sustainability-oriented entrepreneurship aligned with European and global ecological restoration targets. Full article

National parks are established to ensure ecological integrity and unified management. However, due to frequent human activities, complex land-tenure arrangements, and limited governance capacity, certain areas within park boundaries are excluded from centralized oversight, resulting in “non-contiguous management spaces.” At present, cross-national evidence on non-contiguous management spaces, particularly in developing countries, is quite limited. This study employs a qualitative comparative research design based on a literature review and policy analysis, taking Tianchuang in China’s Wuyishan National Park and Enclaves in Nigeria’s Gashaka-Gumti National Park as typical cases to compare their concept and characteristics, causes of formation, socio-ecological consequences, and governance models. The results show that: (1) In terms of concept and characteristics, Tianchuang and Enclaves are both land parcels inside park boundaries but outside unified park management. Tianchuang typically appear as numerous small, fragmented patches, whereas Enclaves are more often contiguous village blocks. Livelihoods associated with Tianchuang are more diverse, whereas those in Enclaves are mainly based on farming and herding. (2) In terms of formation, both stem from trade-offs in boundary delimitation to balance conservation and development. Tianchuang reflects an intentionally designed, proactive avoidance within a unified planning framework to mitigate conflicts and facilitate park establishment, whereas Enclaves embody a passive tolerance shaped by limited state capacity and respect for local pastoral livelihoods to prevent social conflict. (3) In terms of socio-ecological consequences, both Tianchuang and Enclaves provide room for local development but may weaken ecological connectivity, increase human—wildlife conflict, and affect community livelihoods and trust. Tianchuang reveals unclear mandates and complex coordination, whereas Enclaves expose regulatory capacity gaps and dependence on local and external actors. (4) In terms of governance models, both adopt a “co-existence” approach. Tianchuang are managed through a top-down, government-led governance model, whereas Enclaves rely on a bottom-up, multi-party deliberative governance model. Based on these findings, this study proposes policy implications for improving the governance of Tianchuang and Enclaves and provides broader insights into the governance of non-contiguous management spaces in developing-country national parks. Full article

This paper presents a systemic analysis of the global energy transition, framing it as the central thermodynamic and economic driver of the modern polycrisis. The primary research objective is to demonstrate how current decarbonization strategies, lacking a holistic view, inadvertently trigger nonlinear amplifying feedback loops that exacerbate geopolitical and market volatility. Methodologically, the research introduces a systemic control dashboard, operationalizing the anthropological concept of contact zones into measurable techno-ecological and socio-economic interfaces. This framework is preferable to existing socio-technical approaches because it operationally couples rigid physical limits (e.g., thermodynamics) with volatile socio-behavioral friction, eliminating the blind spots of siloed analyses. The main contribution of this study lies in its systemic validation: it proves that the energy transition operates as the master control node of the polycrisis and successfully identifies eight high-leverage control levers (comprising sixteen Key Performance Indicators) that govern the friction between physical boundaries and societal acceptance. Regarding policy implications, the findings demonstrate that securing a Social License to Operate (SLO) requires actively managing these specific interface tensions—such as balancing renewable deployment against baseload inertia—rather than relying on isolated cost–benefit metrics. Ultimately, this approach equips energy planners with a robust methodology to minimize systemic risk and guide the transition toward a resilient, low-entropy steady state. Full article

This Special Issue invites us to think about the conditions of possibility for sustainable welfare within the current political and ecological conjuncture. This paper approaches sustainable welfare through an analysis of transformative eco-social practices, highlighting the generative, experimental, situated, and territorial dimensions of ecological transition. Drawing on the case of Bologna, this study examines the initiatives of agroecological and food movements. This territorial case illustrates the intersection between welfare and agroecological transition, suggesting that welfare can play a proactive role in fostering socio-ecological transformation and reshaping key sectors such as agriculture and food systems. What I am calling agroecological welfare has the potential to connect diverse eco-social experiments with the emergence of new forms of social, economic, ecological, and regulatory governance. Full article

Background: Cyberbullying is a critical public health issue affecting adolescent well-being. This study adopted a socio-ecological framework to examine individual, family, and school-level risk factors associated with three cyberbullying roles—Cyberbullies, Cybervictims, and Cyberbully/Victims—with particular attention to the often-overlooked Cyberbully/Victim subgroup and gender pathways. Methods: A total of 4543 adolescents (Mage = 13.97 years; 52.5% girls) completed the Tabby Improved Checklist. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted separately for boys and girls to identify predictors of involvement in the three cyberbullying roles, including empathy dimensions, moral disengagement, antisocial behavior, aggression toward teachers, and social support, using non-involved adolescents as the reference group. Results: Cyberbully/Victims represented a high-risk profile characterized by elevated moral disengagement, antisocial behavior, and aggression toward teachers, irrespective of gender. Gender-specific patterns also emerged: male Cyberbullies exhibited high cognitive empathy and low affective empathy, whereas female Cybervictims and Cyberbully/Victims reported higher levels of affective empathy. Furthermore, low parental support and monitoring significantly predicted involvement among male Cyberbullies but not among females. Aggression toward teachers emerged as a common risk factor across all cyberbullying roles. Conclusions: These findings underscore the complexity of the Cyberbully/Victim role and support the need for gender-sensitive prevention strategies. Effective prevention efforts should adopt a multi-level approach addressing maladaptive cognitive processes, emotional regulation, and student–teacher relationships to reduce online aggression. Full article

Living shorelines are widely promoted as nature-based solutions to coastal erosion and wetland protection, yet hardened shoreline structures continue to dominate even in jurisdictions with explicit policy mandates prioritizing living shorelines. In this research, we examine why non-optimal shoreline modification outcomes persist in Virginia (USA) despite a regulatory framework designed to promote ecological alternatives. We use primary data from interviews with wetlands board members, marine contractors, and nonprofit organizations and findings from a secondary survey of shoreline property owners to analyze shoreline management as a multi-sector collaborative decision-making process. Findings show that shoreline outcomes are shaped less by individual regulatory decisions than by recurrent interaction mechanisms across sectors that operate upstream of permit review. Contractors play a critical agenda-setting role by shaping the alternatives presented to property owners, while social norms, anticipatory adaptation to regulatory expectations, and informal decision heuristics constrain option sets before projects reach wetlands boards. Formal co-management institutions are therefore asked to arbitrate projects that are already highly constrained, limiting their ability to advance policy goals. Improving policy fidelity requires attention to decision sequencing, intermediary incentives, and structural feedback dynamics, rather than simply refining permitting guidance. Targeting upstream decision points and interaction mechanisms offers greater potential to align shoreline management outcomes with living shoreline policy objectives. Full article

Background/Objectives: Authentic assessment—the systematic observation of naturally occurring social–emotional behavior by familiar caregivers—is increasingly mandated by international early childhood frameworks, yet the field lacks a comprehensive tool inventory, conceptual clarity on “authenticity,” and synthesized evidence on contextual coverage. This scoping review maps authentic social–emotional development (SED) assessment tools for children aged 0–8, examines how authenticity is conceptualized, and identifies gaps in cultural adaptation, disability inclusion, and age-range coverage. Methods: Following the Arksey and O’Malley framework enhanced by Levac et al. and JBI methodology, six databases (PsycINFO, ERIC, Education Source, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science) were searched for English-language peer-reviewed publications (2006–2026), supplemented by hand-searching and forward citation tracking. Inclusion criteria targeted children aged 0–8 assessed via authentic modalities (naturalistic observation, play-based assessment, portfolio, performance-based tasks, curriculum-embedded measurement) in any global setting. Data charting used an integrated sociocultural and interpretive assessment framework. Reporting followed PRISMA-ScR. Results: Thirty-three studies yielded 43 instruments, 29 meeting authentic assessment criteria. Naturalistic observation predominated (23 studies; 69.7%), followed by play-based assessment (10; 30.3%); portfolio and curriculum-embedded approaches were under-represented. Most studies originated from the United States (57.6%) and targeted preschoolers (3–5 years; 75.8%), with thin coverage of infants/toddlers and primary-grade children. “Authenticity” was operationalized across ecological, participatory, and cultural dimensions rarely integrated theoretically. Conclusions: This review provides the first systematic landscape map of authentic SED assessment for children aged 0–8, confirming feasibility and diversity while revealing gaps in age coverage, geographic reach, and cultural adaptation. The integrated framework offers a potentially transferable analytic model, and findings can inform equitable, contextually responsive assessment practice and policy. Full article

Assessing run-of-river small hydropower (SHP) potential requires balancing conflicting technical, economic, and socio-environmental criteria. Traditional assessment frameworks rely on discrete point-based site inventories, which often overlook regional landscape constraints and project overlap. To overcome this limitation, this study introduces the concept of a Feasibility Surface ($FS$), a novel, continuous spatial landscape that maps overall development viability across an entire drainage basin. Operating within a Geographic Information System ($GIS$), we integrated the Analytic Hierarchy Process ($AHP$) to systematically weight nine multi-dimensional variables across Economic, Ecological, and Social criteria. Input layers were max-normalized using criterion-specific rules and aggregated through a weighted linear combination to generate a continuous Feasibility Index ($FI$). Applied to the Huazuntlán River basin in Mexico, the resulting continuous surface successfully delineates optimal development corridors, moving beyond fixed-point targets. Local one-at-a-time sensitivity analyses confirmed that these spatial clusters are physically robust and highly stable under weight variations. Furthermore, an exhaustive combinatorial search was executed over the continuous surface to extract optimal, non-overlapping multi-plant portfolios that avoid hydraulic interference. Mathematically and practically, this continuous feasibility landscape provides a valuable macro-screening tool for sustainable water resource planning. It allows environmental managers and energy developers to prioritize alternative exploitation corridors, balance localized ecological constraints, and optimize distributed renewable energy portfolios without compromising basin-scale ecological integrity. Full article

The growing complexity of public policies and socio-ecological transitions demands evaluation tools that integrate environmental, economic, and social dimensions across multiple governance contexts. However, the main evaluation impact methods are fragmented and sector-specific, limiting their ability to capture cross-scale interdependencies and sustainability of trade-offs. While existing reviews address methods in isolation, no updated systematic framework is built upon joint epistemological and participatory dimensions, proposing an integrated and transformative framework. Through a common analytical framework—encompassing the type of impact assessed, territorial scale, methodological approach, degree of stakeholder participation, and operational complexity—the paper presents a systematic comparative review of eleven widely used evaluation methods, covering the environmental, economic, social, and multidimensional dimensions. These methods are selected through screening of peer-reviewed literature published between 2022 and 2025 using an AI-assisted text-mining protocol to support keyword extraction, methodological classification, and manual validation. Its focus is on the analysis and critique of their characteristics, complexity, and epistemological limitations, particularly focusing on measurability and participation. The comparative analysis reveals a structural epistemological gap between qualitative bottom-up perspectives and quantitative, top-down approaches, as well as structural fragmentation across evaluative dimensions. They also draw attention to the approaches’ inadequate ability to manage non-linear dynamics, uncertainty, and transformative scenarios, which affects the legitimacy, comparability, and general efficacy of decision-making processes. Building on these, the paper advances a paradigmatic shift toward three systemic integrated principles: (i) systemic evaluation grounded in methodological and epistemological integration; (ii) transformative evaluation oriented toward collective learning and the redefinition of development trajectories; and (iii) co-produced evaluation based on the active engagement of territorial actors. Full article

Amid shifting urban renewal approaches and industrial restructuring in China, small and medium-sized cities face the challenge of conserving industrial heritage through adaptive reuse. Drawing on gazetteers, planning documents, and interviews, this paper examines the transformation of the Anqing Baiqitun Cement Plant into a cultural and creative park across environmental, social, economic, and governance dimensions. The case is significant as a typical heavy industrial heritage in a smaller city, while the enterprise’s restructuring and relocation have produced a rupture in collective memory and identity. The study finds that minimal intervention in the heavy industrial remains achieved carbon sequestration and emission reduction, succeeded in ecological restoration, and attained financial viability by leveraging local markets and intangible assets. However, the industrial past has been selectively reconstructed, creating a divide between the former industrial community and the present one, partly due to an over-reliance on Authorised Heritage Discourse logic and insufficient collaboration with the existing enterprise. Participatory governance, driven mainly by government coordination and market capital, proved efficient but lacked public engagement. The paper argues that regenerating industrial heritage in small and medium-sized cities requires not only physical upgrading but also social mechanisms that enable public participation in conservation. Full article