Search Results (757)

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of death in Bangladesh, disproportionately affecting low socio-economic status (SES) populations. This review, guided by the WHO Social Determinants of Health framework and Rockefeller-Lancet Planetary Health Report, examined how social, economic, and ecological factors link SES to TB burden. The first literature search identified 28 articles focused on SES-TB relationships in Bangladesh. A second search through snowballing and conceptual mapping yielded 55 more papers of diverse source types and disciplines. Low-SES groups face elevated TB risk due to smoking, biomass fuel use, malnutrition, limited education, stigma, financial barriers, and hazardous housing or workplaces. These factors delay care-seeking, worsen outcomes, and fuel transmission, especially among women. High-SES groups more often face comorbidities like diabetes, which increase TB risk. Broader contextual drivers include urbanisation, weak labour protections, cultural norms, and poor governance. Recommendations include housing and labour reform, gender parity in education, and integrating private providers into TB programmes. These align with the WHO End TB Strategy, UN SDGs and Planetary Health Quadruple Aims, which expand the traditional Triple Aim for health system design by integrating environmental sustainability alongside improved patient outcomes, population health, and cost efficiency. Future research should explore trust in frontline workers, reasons for consulting informal carers, links between makeshift housing and TB, and integrating ecological determinants into existing frameworks. Full article

The water-yield function in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) of China for maintaining the basin’s ecological water balance plays a crucial role. Understanding its spatiotemporal variation and the underlying drivers in the basin is crucial for the management, utilization, and development of water resources. Thus, we used the InVEST model to explore its spatiotemporal dynamics across multiple scales (“basin–county–pixel”). Then, we integrated socio-economic and natural factors to elucidate the driving forces and spatial heterogeneity of water-yield dynamics. Our findings indicated that water-yield trends increased in 71.76% of the YRB, and significant water-yield increases were detected in 13.9% of the basin over the past 40 years. A phase-wise comparison revealed a shift in water yield from a decreasing trend in the first two decades to a significant increasing trend in the last two decades. Hotspot analysis revealed that hotspots of increasing water-yield trends have shifted from the downstream section of the basin toward the southwest, while hotspots of decreasing water-yield trends first concentrated in the basin’s southern part and then disappeared. Both natural and socioeconomic factors have exerted positive and negative impacts on water-yield dynamics. Among them, the dynamics of water yield have been predominantly driven by natural variables. Full article

The impacts of land use transition on ecological environment quality (EEQ) during China’s rapid urbanization have attracted growing concern. However, existing studies predominantly focus on single-scale analyses, neglecting scale effects and driving mechanisms of EEQ changes under the coupling of administrative units and grid scales. Therefore, this study selects Zhejiang Province—a representative rapidly transforming region in China—to establish a “type-process-ecological effect” analytical framework. Utilizing four-period (2005–2020) 30 m resolution land use data alongside natural and socio-economic factors, four spatial scales (city, county, township, and 5 km grid) were selected to systematically evaluate multi-scale impacts of land use transition on EEQ and their driving mechanisms. The research reveals that the spatial distribution, changing trends, and driving factors of EEQ all exhibit significant scale dependence. The county scale demonstrates the strongest spatial agglomeration and heterogeneity, making it the most appropriate core unit for EEQ management and planning. City and county scales generally show degradation trends, while township and grid scales reveal heterogeneous patterns of local improvement, reflecting micro-scale changes obscured at coarse resolutions. Expansive land transition including conversions of forest ecological land (FEL), water ecological land (WEL), and agricultural production land (APL) to industrial and mining land (IML) primarily drove EEQ degradation, whereas restorative ecological transition such as transformation of WEL and IML to grassland ecological land (GEL) significantly enhanced EEQ. Regarding driving mechanisms, natural factors (particularly NDVI and precipitation) dominate across all scales with significant interactive effects, while socio-economic factors primarily operate at macro scales. This study elucidates the scale complexity of land use transition impacts on ecological environments, providing theoretical and empirical support for developing scale-specific, typology-differentiated ecological governance and spatial planning policies. Full article

This study explores the role of community-centered farm-based hospitality in promoting sustainable rural development, with a focus on South Tyrol, Italy. A survey of 461 local residents assessed perceptions of agritourism’s impact on agricultural heritage, environmental sustainability, and community well-being. Factor analysis identified two main constructs—Agroheritage Sustainability and Empowered Eco-Tourism—which together capture the multifaceted benefits of agritourism. Agroheritage Sustainability reflects the preservation of traditional farming practices, cultural landscapes, and intergenerational knowledge, emphasizing the role of tourism in maintaining cultural identity and preventing land abandonment. Empowered Eco-Tourism highlights the socio-economic benefits of sustainable tourism, including community empowerment, environmental stewardship, and the creation of new economic opportunities. The study’s findings indicate that local residents view agritourism as a holistic approach that supports rural livelihoods while preserving cultural heritage and promoting ecological resilience. The analysis further supports the potential of farm-based hospitality as a model for sustainable rural development, aligning closely with EU policies and global best practices. The Roter Hahn initiative in South Tyrol serves as a practical example of this approach, demonstrating the value of certification programs in enhancing transparency, quality, and sustainability. These insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers and tourism developers seeking to promote sustainable rural tourism globally. The contribution of this research lies in its empirical validation of a dual-construct model that links community engagement with agroecological and cultural sustainability, offering a transferable framework for evaluating agritourism as a lever for sustainable rural development in diverse regional contexts. Full article

Phewa Lake, Nepal’s second-largest natural lake, is under increasing ecological stress due to sedimentation, shoreline encroachment, and water quality decline driven by rapid urban growth, fragile mountainous catchments, and changing climate patterns. This study employs an integrated approach combining sediment yield estimation from its catchment using RUSLE, shoreline encroachment analysis via satellite imagery and historical records, and identification of pollution sources and socio-economic factors through field surveys and community consultations. The results show that steep, sparsely vegetated slopes are the primary sediment sources, with Harpan Khola (a tributary of Phewa Lake) contributing over 80% of the estimated 339,118 tons of annual sediment inflow. From 1962 to 2024, the lake has lost approximately 5.62 sq. km of surface area, primarily due to a combination of sediment deposition and human encroachment. Pollution from untreated sewage, urban runoff, and invasive aquatic weeds further degrades water quality and threatens biodiversity. Based on the findings, this study proposes a way forward to mitigate sedimentation, encroachment, and pollution, along with a sustainable revitalization plan. The approach of this study, along with the proposed sustainability measures, can be replicated in other lake systems within Nepal and in similar watersheds elsewhere. Full article

This literature review investigates how social, cultural, political, and psychological factors contribute to biodiversity loss in coastal ecosystems. While biodiversity decline is often analyzed from ecological or economic perspectives, this review focuses on the societal dimensions that shape environmental attitudes and behaviors. Using a semi-structured approach, we searched Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed studies that address social influences on biodiversity, particularly in coastal contexts. Boolean logic and targeted keywords guided the selection, complemented by snowballing techniques to identify additional relevant literature. From over 600 initial results, 57 studies were included in the final synthesis. The literature spans diverse disciplines, including sociology, political science, environmental psychology, and cultural studies. Although many studies do not explicitly focus on coastal areas, they provide transferable insights into conservation-related behavior and structural drivers of biodiversity pressure. The review identifies thematic clusters and theoretical gaps, particularly regarding underexplored social variables and insufficient attention to multi-level dynamics. Our findings underline the need for stronger integration of societal dimensions into biodiversity research and policy, especially in coastal regions facing complex socio-ecological challenges. Full article

Evaluating the economic value of carbon sinks is fundamental to advancing carbon market mechanisms and supporting sustainable regional development. This study focuses on Fujian Province in China, aiming to assess the spatiotemporal evolution of carbon sink value and analyze the influence of socio-economic drivers. Carbon sink values from 2000 to 2020 were estimated using Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) simulation combined with the carbon market valuation method. Eleven socio-economic variables were selected through correlation and multicollinearity testing, and their impacts were examined using Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) at the county level. The results indicate that the total carbon sink value in Fujian declined from CNY 3.212 billion in 2000 to CNY 2.837 billion in 2020, showing a spatial pattern of higher values in the southern region and lower values in the north. GTWR analysis reveals spatiotemporal heterogeneity in the effects of socio-economic factors. For example, the influence of urbanization and retail sales of consumer goods shifts direction over time, while the effects of industrial structure, population, road, and fixed asset investment vary across space. This study emphasizes the necessity of incorporating spatial and temporal dynamics into carbon sink valuation. The findings suggest that northern areas of Fujian should prioritize ecological restoration, rapidly urbanizing regions should adopt green development strategies, and counties guided by investment and consumption should focus on sustainable development pathways to maintain and enhance carbon sink capacity. Full article

This study was carried out to determine if macro-level factors (namely, demographic and ecological factors) influence self-perceived social distance and actual social practice with individuals of different faith communities among tertiary students in Australian universities. The response drew several critical revelations, including 2 key findings: 1. Muslim and non-Muslim respondents largely befriend individuals of similar faith backgrounds, although non-Muslims were far more likely to be indifferent towards the religious beliefs of their immediate social circle. 2. Respondents with highly religious social circles reported a clear preference against befriending individuals of different faiths. Muslims were mainly reluctant to befriend non-Muslims, whereas non-Muslims were slightly less apprehensive. The findings presented in this study demonstrate the complexity and dynamism of intergroup contact, traditionally termed social distance, that has distinct implications for social integration. Whereas negative attitudes provide insight into the affective evaluation of a particular group, measures of social distance directly assess the impact of contact on the structural integration of groups. Given its inherently relational focus, this is an important direction for work on intergroup contact. Full article

Traditional villages are critical to preserving cultural heritage and promoting sustainable rural development. This study evaluates the development potential of 47 traditional villages in Jilin Province from the perspectives of spatial planning, architectural conservation, and rural real estate revitalization. A Development Potential Assessment (DPA) framework is constructed based on five dimensions: geographical position, cultural resources, socio-economic factors, natural ecology, and living environment. The AHP-entropy weighting method is applied to ensure objectivity in scoring, while kernel density analysis and coefficient of variation techniques identify spatial patterns and internal disparities. To further inform strategic planning and targeted investment, an Importance–Performance Analysis (IPA) model is introduced, aligning resource advantages with development performance. Key findings include the following: (1) significant spatial heterogeneity, with higher potential concentrated in the southeast and lower levels in the northwest; (2) cultural and socio-economic dimensions are the most influential factors in differentiating development types; and (3) a subset of villages shows a disconnect between resource endowment and realized potential, indicating the need for tailored design interventions and investment strategies. This research offers a visual and data-driven basis for differentiated revitalization strategies, integrating urban science methods, architectural thinking, and real estate development logic. It supports refined policy implementation, spatial design decisions, and the activation of underutilized rural assets through context-sensitive planning. Full article

In the context of the new developmental philosophy, this study aimed to address the bottleneck of regional sustainable development; it constructs a three-system evaluation indicator system for Industrial Structure Optimization (ISO), Ecological Environment Management (EEM), and Socio-economic Development (SED), based on panel data from 20 cities in the Western Taiwan Straits Economic Zone between 2011 and 2023. To reveal how the synergistic development of the three subsystems in different domains can achieve sustainable development through their interactions and to analyze the dynamic patterns of the three subsystems, this study employed the panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model to examine the interactions between subsystems. Additionally, drawing on the framework of evolutionary economics, the study quantified the temporal evolution and spatial characteristics of the coupling coordination level among the three subsystems based on the results of the degree of coupling coordination model. The results indicate the following: (1) ISO shows a significant upward trend, EEM slightly declines, and SED experiences minor fluctuations before accelerating. (2) ISO, EEM, and SED exhibited self-reinforcing effects. (3) The degree of coupling, coordination, and coupling coordination all exhibit a trend of “fluctuating and increasing initially, followed by steady growth”. The spatial patterns of the degree of coupling, coordination, and coupling coordination have shifted from “decentralized” to “centralized”, with clear signs of synergistic development. (4) The difference in the degree of coupling coordination along the north–south direction remained the primary factor contributing to inter-regional disparities. Regions with the higher degrees of coupling coordination were concentrated in the southeastern coastal areas, while those with the lower degrees of coupling coordination appeared in the northeastern mountainous areas and southwestern coastal areas. (5) The spatial connection in the strength of the degree of coupling coordination has gradually increased, with notable intra-provincial connections and weakened inter-city connections across the province. The study’s results provided decision-making references for the construction of a sustainable development community. Full article

Hazards stemming from extreme natural events have exhibited heightened prominence in recent years. The natural hazard management process adopts a comprehensive approach that encompasses all stakeholders involved in the disaster management cycle. “Actions for Resilience” (A4R) represents a standardised concept derived from ISO/TR 22370:2020 that integrates principles from various scientific disciplines to enhance resilience in systems, whether they are socio-ecological systems, communities, or organisations. A4R emphasises proactive measures and interventions aimed at fostering resilience rather than merely reacting to crises or disruptions. It recognises that resilience is a multifaceted concept influenced by various factors, including social, economic, environmental, and institutional dimensions. Central to A4R is the understanding of complex system dynamics. Also, A4R involves rigorous risk assessment to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities within a system, as well as to build adaptive capacity within systems. A4R advocates for the development of resilience metrics and monitoring systems to assess the effectiveness of interventions and track changes in resilience over time. These metrics may include indicators related to social cohesion, ecosystem health, economic stability, and public infrastructure resilience. In this context, the study aims to apply the proposed hierarchy of factors and group decision-making using fuzzy numbers to identify strategic priorities for improving the urban resilience of the pilot area. The identified priority factors are then analysed across different scenarios, and corresponding actions are described in detail. Full article

Wildfires are becoming an increasingly severe threat to European forests, driven by climate change, land use changes, and socio-economic factors. Integrated solutions for wildfire prevention, early detection, emergency management, and ecological restoration are urgently needed to enhance forest resilience. The Horizon 2020 SILVANUS project developed a comprehensive multi-sectoral platform combining technological innovation, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable forest management strategies. This report analyses the Slovak Republic’s participation in SILVANUS, applying a seven-criterion fit–gap framework (governance, legal, interoperability, staff capacity, ecological suitability, financial feasibility, and stakeholder acceptance) to evaluate the platform’s alignment with national conditions. Notable contributions include stakeholder-supported functional requirements for wildfire prevention, climate-sensitive forest models for long-term adaptation planning, IoT- and UAV-based early fire detection technologies, and decision support systems (DSS) for emergency response and forest-restoration activities. The Slovak pilot sites, particularly in the Podpoľanie region, served as important testbeds for the validation of these tools under real-world conditions. All SILVANUS modules scored ≥12/14 in the fit–gap assessment; early deployment reduced high-risk fuel polygons by 23%, increased stand-level structural diversity by 12%, and raised the national Sustainable Forest Management index by four points. Integrating SILVANUS outcomes into national forestry practices would enable better wildfire risk assessment, improved resilience planning, and more effective public engagement in wildfire management. Opportunities for adoption include capacity-building initiatives, technological deployments in fire-prone areas, and the incorporation of DSS outputs into strategic forest planning. Potential challenges, such as technological investment costs, inter-agency coordination, and public acceptance, are also discussed. Overall, the Slovak Republic’s engagement with SILVANUS demonstrates the value of participatory, technology-driven approaches to sustainable wildfire management and offers a replicable model for other European regions facing similar challenges. Full article

Youth violence—the deliberate use of physical force or harm by young people between the ages of 10 and 24 to intimidate or cause harm to others, both online and offline—is a critical public health issue in the United States. Yet, successfully predicting future violent offenders is a complex and challenging task, as the question of why some youths resort to extreme violence while others refrain from it—despite facing similar risk factors—remains widely debated. This article highlights both risk and protective factors of youth violence through a socio-ecological lens to offer a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted factors driving youth violence in the United States. To understand the interconnectedness between individual factors and the broader environments in which individuals are embedded, we outline the risk and protective factors related to youth violence across five socio-ecological levels: (1) individual, (2) interpersonal, (3) neighborhood, (4) cultural, and (5) life course. Approaching youth violence from a holistic lens offers a greater opportunity to mitigate contributing factors and to address the deleterious impacts of this complex issue. Practice and research implications are discussed. Full article

Rapid urban expansion has led to an increasing number of people relocating to Urban–Rural Fringe Areas (URFAs) in China, with related development placing pressure on ecosystems in these locations. Community parks (CPs) are a key category of urban public park (UPPs) in Chinese planning and play a vital role in improving residents’ quality of life and enhancing regional environment, whilst also promoting sustainable urban development. Consequently, CPs are considered by many to be integral components of “communities” in Chinese cities. Drawing on documentary analysis and field research, this paper explores the socio-economic and ecological values associated with CP investments in URFAs in China. It assesses governmental policies and expert perspectives concerning CPs’ development in URFAs and analyses the factors influencing their planning and delivery. The research highlights how policy and stakeholders’ viewpoints impact the development of sustainable green space in URFAs. To enhance the construction of multi-functional CPs in URFAs, we propose a series of characteristics that need to be considered in future developments, including stakeholder engagement, resident needs, and park design. These insights offer an evidence-based reference for decision-makers, aiming to better meet the requirements of residents and support the development of urban sustainability. Full article

Under the context of global climate change, sea-level rise and frequent storm surge events pose significant challenges to coastal areas. Protecting coastlines from erosion, mitigating socio-economic losses, and maintaining ecosystem balance are critical for the sustainable development of coastal zones. The concept of “living shorelines” based on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) employs near-natural ecological restoration and protection measures. In low-energy coastal segments, natural materials are prioritized, while high-energy segments are supplemented with artificial structures. This approach not only enhances disaster resilience but also preserves coastal ecosystem stability and ecological functionality. This study constructs a coastal vitality evaluation system for Fujian Province, China, using the entropy weight method, integrating three dimensions: protective safety, ecological resilience, and economic vitality. Data from 2010 and 2020 were analyzed to assess the spatiotemporal evolution of coastal vitality. Results indicate that coastal vitality initially exhibited a spatial pattern of “low in the north, high in the center, and low in the south,” with vitality values ranging from 0.20 to 0.67 (higher values indicate stronger vitality). Over the past decade, ecological restoration projects have significantly improved coastal vitality, particularly in central and southern regions, where high-vitality segments increased markedly. Key factors influencing coastal vitality include water quality, cyclone intensity, biological shoreline length, and wetland area. NbS-aligned coastal management strategies and soft revetment practices have generated substantial ecological and economic benefits. To further enhance coastal vitality, region-specific approaches are recommended, emphasizing rational resource utilization, optimization of ecological and economic values, and the establishment of a sustainable evaluation framework. This study provides scientific insights for improving coastal protection capacity, ecological resilience, and economic potential. Full article