Search Results (342)

Seabed mining has gained widespread attention under the blue economy concept, offering economic opportunities while posing significant environmental risks. In Sri Lanka, where mining of seabed resources is growing, understanding public perceptions and preferences for seabed conservation remain crucial to ensure sustainable resource management. This study, therefore, represents the first empirical assessment of public preference and Willingness to Pay (WTP) for seabed conservation in Sri Lanka. A Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE)-based approach was employed to assess public preferences for seabed conservation. Data were collected from 630 respondents across Sri Lanka using a pre-tested self-administered structured survey. The analysis employed Conditional Logit (CL) and Random Parameter Logit (RPL) models to estimate preference heterogeneity and attribute trade-offs. The findings of the study reported strong public support, with a WTP of Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR) 3532 per household per year for seabed conservation. Younger, well-educated individuals demonstrated a significantly higher preference for seabed conservation. Biodiversity loss (66.9%), physical damage to seabed (40.7%) and exploitation of natural resources (17.8%) were recognized as major consequences of sea bed mining, highlighting the need for stringent regulatory frameworks (34%) and public engagement (44%) in sustainable seabed conservation. The RPL model revealed significant preference heterogeneity for key attributes. A significant positive preference for a 30% reduction in mineral extraction (coefficient = 0.894, p < 0.05) reinforces public preference for stricter extraction limits. A 25% reduction for biodiversity and habitat destruction (coefficient = 0.010, p < 0.05) reflects public concern for seabed conservation in the context of ongoing marine resource related economic development activities. These results underscore the importance of integrating economic valuation into seabed conservation policies, ensuring that seabed mining activities align with sustainability goals. The study suggests targeted awareness campaigns, financial incentives, and inclusive policymaking to bridge socio-economic disparities and foster long-term public support for seabed conservation. These insights provide a critical foundation for policymakers to develop balanced approaches that promote economic benefits, while safeguarding marine ecosystems within Sri Lanka’s blue economy framework. Full article

The global literature underscores a set of human wellbeing challenges and opportunities for forestland exploitation, albeit the lack of region-specific evidence. This concerns the Congo Basin, the second-largest forest ecosystem in the world. This study uses the case of the Campo Ma’an Landscape to: (i) analyze the challenges linked to the exploitation of forestland resources, and (ii) explore forest resource exploitation opportunities in the landscape. The study employed a random sample of 200 natural resource-dependent households drawn from four study zones—Niete, Campo, Ma’an and Akom II. This was complemented by focus group discussions (n = 4), key informant (n = 6) and expert (n = 6) interviews. The descriptive and inferential analyses led to the following results: First, economic, technical, socio-cultural and institutional challenges affect the sustainable exploitation of forestland resources in the Campo Ma’an Landscape. The economic challenges of forest (B = −0.389, p = 0.01) and land resource exploitation (B = −0.423, p = 0.006) significantly affect sustainable exploitation compared to other challenges, leading to biodiversity loss and deforestation. These constitute a threat to planetary health systems. Almost all households rely on forestland resources for their livelihoods and development, with opportunities for land resource exploitation outweighing those in forest resource exploitation. Protected area management and agriculture are affected owing to competing interests among farmers, conservationists and other land users. Thus, short-term economic gains are prioritized over long-term sustainability, putting the resource landscape at risk of degradation and future uncertainties. Integrated stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and policy revision could enhance the planetary health approach by linking the social, economic and environmental dimensions of forestland resource management. Full article

Health tourism, including spa-based treatments, is an important segment of global travel, and its growth reflects increasing demand for experiences that combine physical well-being with contact with nature. Polish health spa resorts are rich in balneological resources such as mineral and thermal waters, peloids, and therapeutic gases, and they offer a variety of products and services based on geoheritage. This paper introduces the concept of geoproducts—goods and services inspired by abiotic nature—and explores their role in spa tourism and sustainable regional development. Through questionnaire surveys conducted in 48 Polish spa towns, the study examines how these resources are promoted and exploited, the forms and functions of local geoproducts, and the barriers to their dissemination. The results show that, although most spas acknowledge the value of geoheritage, promotion primarily employs traditional formats and is limited in educational content. Nevertheless, there is strong local interest in developing geotourism and geoeducation, especially through the creation of unique, regionally rooted products. The study underlines the potential of geoproducts to enhance spa attractiveness, support local economies, and contribute to broader environmental awareness. Full article

Juniper formations are valuable habitats for fauna and flora and play an important role in protecting the ecosystem, where they grow, from erosion and degradation. Juniper habitats are included in the European Directive 92/43. Juniperus phoenicea is of great ecological importance in Mediterranean areas, as it is often among the only species that can survive under extremely unfavorable conditions. Along with other species, it forms the habitat 2250* “Coastal dunes with Juniperus spp.” Habitat 2250* is a priority habitat, and today, it is under threat due to several factors such as coastal erosion, forest fires, etc. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to investigate the factors that affect the rooting of J. phoenicea shoot cuttings collected from plants growing in their natural habitat. Specifically, the effects of the cutting collection season and the different concentrations (0, 3, 6, and 12 g·L⁻¹) of the plant growth regulator K-IBA (indole-3-butyric acid potassium salt) on the rooting of J. phoenicea shoot cuttings in two propagation systems (mist and fog) were investigated. The shoot cuttings of J. phoenicea rooted in high percentages reaching more than 90%. The factors studied played an important role, and significant differences in the rooting ability of cuttings were found, as well as in the number and length of roots. For the optimal results, cuttings should be collected in winter and treated with 6 g·L⁻¹ K-IBA under a mist system or in summer with 3 g·L⁻¹ K-IBA under a fog system. The results of the present study can be used to make up a basic step for conservation and restoration efforts and for sustainable exploitation strategies for this valuable phytogenetic resource. Full article

Coastal ecosystems are among the most biodiverse and economically valuable environments on Earth, yet they face escalating threats from climate change, development, and resource exploitation. Traditional conservation approaches have proven insufficient to address the systemic drivers of biodiversity loss, calling for transformative change that fundamentally reconfigures social–ecological systems. This semi-structured systematic literature review synthesizes current knowledge on transformative change in coastal biodiversity conservation, guided by the Social–Ecological Systems Framework (SESF) and expanded to include behavioral transformation as a central dimension. Behavioral transformation is defined as the sustained embedding of new attitudes, norms, and practices within governance, institutional, and community settings. Through a comprehensive review of academic databases (SCOPUS, Web of Science, CAB Abstracts) and gray literature, 134 studies published between 2010 and 2024 were analyzed. The synthesis identifies four interdependent pathways of transformation: (1) governance innovation and power redistribution, (2) behavioral change and stakeholder engagement, (3) socio-ecological restructuring, and (4) normative and cultural shifts in human–nature relations. Successful initiatives integrate trust-building, social justice, and participatory decision-making, linking behavioral change with institutional redesign and adaptive management. However, critical gaps remain in understanding long-term durability, equity outcomes, and scalability across governance levels. The review proposes three research priorities: (1) embedding behavioral science in conservation design, (2) employing longitudinal and cross-scale analyses, and (3) advancing adaptive, learning-based governance to enhance socio-ecological resilience. Full article

The utilization of treated dredged sludge as a partial replacement for natural sand and gravel in construction projects offers a promising approach to reducing the exploitation of natural resources. The conventional vacuum preloading (VP) method, while widely used for soft soil improvement, is often associated with prolonged consolidation periods and high energy consumption in its later stages. Conversely, the electroosmosis (EO) technique is effective in enhancing drainage in low-permeability soft clays but is constrained by issues including anode corrosion, high operational costs, and uneven soil reinforcement. This study presents an experimental investigation into an alternating vacuum preloading and electroosmosis method for sludge treatment based on the underlying reinforcement theory. A series of laboratory model tests was conducted using a self-made vacuum–electroosmosis alternating test device. The reinforcement efficiency was assessed through the continuous monitoring of key performance indicators during the tests, including water discharge, surface settlement, electric current, electrode corrosion, and energy consumption. Post-test evaluations of the final soil shear strength and moisture content were also performed. The test results demonstrate that the alternating vacuum–electroosmosis yielded more significant improvement than their synchronous application. Specifically, the alternating vacuum–electroosmosis increased total water discharge by 46.1%, reduced final moisture content by 20.8%, and enhanced shear strength by 35.6% relative to the synchronous mode. Furthermore, an alternating VP-EO mode was found to be particularly advantageous during the electroosmosis phases, facilitating a more stable and sustained dewatering process. In contrast, the application of vacuum preloading alone resulted in inefficient performance during the later stages, coupled with relatively high energy consumption. Full article

Mineral resource exploitation poses substantial pressure on regional ecological environments. The Xiaoxing’anling mineral belt—a critical ecological functional area and a major mineral-rich zone in China—exemplifies such environmental vulnerability. Conducting a scientific assessment of ecological changes in mining-affected regions is essential for balancing resource development and environmental protection. Based on the DPSIR (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) model, this study developed a comprehensive indicator system tailored for evaluating ecological changes in mining areas. Using the Xiaoxing’anling mineral belt in Heilongjiang Province as a case study, we integrated remote sensing, geographic information, statistical yearbooks, and field survey data, and applied an objective weighting method to quantitatively assess ecological changes from 2010 to 2020. The results indicate the following: (1) Ecological evolution exhibits significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity, with persistently high ecological pressure in the eastern region leading to continued environmental degradation. (2) Socioeconomic transformation driven by new energy development has weakened the overall development driver, though Yichun City remains a core driver due to its super-large mineral deposits. (3) Ecological impacts demonstrate a spatial spillover effect, extending to urban residential areas, while ecological response measures lag severely and are misaligned with pressure distribution—nature reserves have become high-value response zones rather than the actual mining sites. (4) The comprehensive ecological restoration index is on a downward trend. The measures currently adopted by society to improve the ecology of mining areas, such as using greener mining methods and increasing vegetation coverage, are unable to counteract the adverse effects of previous mining activities. This study identifies passive and lagging responses as the key bottlenecks impeding ecological recovery. We emphasize that future management strategies must shift from passive remediation to proactive intervention, and propose clear spatial and institutional directions for sustainable governance in mining areas. Full article

The transition toward sustainable panel technologies is driving intensive research on binderless boards and self-bonded lignocellulosic composites. Particleboard, an engineered wood composite made by hot pressing wood particles with synthetic adhesives, is among the most widely produced wood-based panels due to cost-effectiveness and versatility. However, pressure on forest-derived raw materials and concern over formaldehyde emissions are accelerating the search for renewable resources and greener routes. Residues and underutilized materials from agro-industrial, food, and forestry sectors (such as cereal straws, sugarcane bagasse, brewer’s spent grain, and fruit-processing by-products) offer a sustainable alternative, enabling waste valorization, lowering environmental burdens, and supporting circular bioeconomy models. Binderless boards, produced without adhesives, exploit natural bonding among lignocellulosic components, including lignin softening, thermoplasticization, and covalent crosslinking during hot pressing. This review adopts a complex network approach to systematically map and analyze the scientific landscape of binderless board production. Using citation-based networks from curated seed papers and their first- and second-degree neighbors, we identify thematic clusters, with cluster “A” as the research core. The examination of this cluster, complemented by word-cloud analysis of titles and abstracts, highlights prevalent raw materials and key research lines, like raw-material sources and lignocellulosic composition, processing parameters, and pretreatment strategies. Based on these findings, brewer’s spent grain is selected as a representative case study for cost analysis. This approach synthesizes the state of the art and reveals emerging directions, research gaps, and influential works, providing a data-driven foundation for advancing self-bonded lignocellulosic composites. Full article

Within the innovation-driven development paradigm, transportation infrastructure is playing an increasingly prominent role in shaping innovative activity. This paper examines the impact of transportation infrastructure on firm innovation by exploiting the staggered expansion of China’s High-Speed Rail (HSR) network as a quasi-natural experiment. Using a difference-in-differences framework, we show that the introduction of HSR significantly increases firms’ patenting activity, and the effect remains robust across a battery of alternative specifications and checks. Mechanism analyses suggest that HSR alleviates financing constraints, facilitates the mobility of highly skilled workers, and enhances the efficiency of industry-level resource allocation, thereby fostering firm innovation. Heterogeneity analyses reveal that the effect is most pronounced among firms with stronger R&D capacity, located farther from banks, non-state-owned enterprises, and SMEs. Finally, we document that the innovation-enhancing effect of HSR translates into higher firm competitiveness and profitability, underscoring the broader economic implications of transportation infrastructure development. This study deepens understanding of the mechanisms through which transportation infrastructure shapes innovation and offers important implications for optimizing the HSR network and enhancing the efficiency of innovation resource allocation. These findings offer valuable insights into how enhancing transportation infrastructure can drive firm innovation, boost corporate competitiveness, and contribute to the coordinated and sustainable development of regional economies. Full article

In karst regions (KRs), unique surface morphology and irrational human exploitation have led to increasingly prominent issues such as land fragmentation and rocky desertification. Understanding the spatiotemporal evolution of cultivated land (CL) in these areas is of great significance for supporting regional socioeconomic development, food security, and ecological sustainability. This study focuses on Guilin, combining GIS spatial analysis with methods including kernel density analysis, dynamic degree, spatial transfer matrix, and a Geodetector to examine the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics, evolution trends, and driving factors of land use based on five-phase of land use data from 2000 to 2020. The results show that: (1) over the past two decades, land use in Guilin has been dominated by CL and forest land, with CL exhibiting a spatial pattern of more in the east and south, and less in the west and north; (2) the CL transfer-out rate exceeded the transfer-in rate, mainly shifting to construction land and forest land; (3) the overall density of CL showed a declining trend, with a relatively stable spatial pattern; and (4) driving factor analysis indicates that the spatiotemporal changes in CL are jointly influenced by multiple factors, with natural factors exerting a stronger influence than socio-economic factors. Among them, the interaction between elevation and temperature had the greatest impact and served as the dominant factor. Although GDP and population were not dominant individually, their explanatory power and sensitivity increased significantly when interacting with other factors, making them key sensitive factors. The results can provide a scientific reference for the protection and rational utilization of CL resources in KR. Full article

In the context of global sustainable development, the construction of green mining facilities has emerged as a pivotal strategy for advancing sustainable mining practices. As a substantial mineral resource base in China, the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (QXP) is of significant concern due to its importance for mineral exploitation. However, the natural conditions of the region, such as freezing temperatures, low oxygen levels, frequent freeze–thaw cycles, and fragile ecology, pose substantial challenges to mining activities, making green mine construction an inevitable choice for mining development on the QXP. This study uses SWOT analysis to macroscopically evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of green mine construction on the QXP. This study adopts SWOT analysis to sort out, from a macro and systematic perspective, the internal resource endowments, technical reserves, external policy and market opportunities, as well as multiple challenges such as ecological vulnerability, harsh climate, regulation, and public opinion in the construction of green mining on the QXP. Furthermore, four typical cases, namely the Julong Copper Mine, Zhaxikang Lead–Zinc Mine, Zaozigou Gold Mine, and Duolong Copper Mine, are selected for analysis, and their differentiated paths in ecological restoration, digital mines, tailings disposal, and community-benefit sharing are summarized. International comparisons reveal the similarities and differences in policies, technologies, and other aspects between the QXP and other high-altitude regions. The study holds that it is necessary to promote the coordinated development of resource exploitation and ecological protection in green mining on the QXP through technological innovation, policy optimization, community collaboration, and the construction of a full-life-cycle environmental-monitoring system. At the same time, it points out the limitations of the current research in quantitative analysis and future research directions. Full article

Wellbore stability is a crucial factor affecting the safe exploitation of offshore natural gas hydrates. As a sustainable energy source, natural gas hydrate has significant reserves, high energy density, and low environmental impact, making it an important candidate for alternative energy. Although research on the stability of screen pipes during horizontal-well hydrate production is currently limited, its importance in sustainable energy extraction is growing. This study therefore considers the effects of hydrate phase change, gas–water seepage, energy and mass exchange, reservoir deformation, and screen pipe influence and develops a coupled thermal–fluid–solid–chemical field model for horizontal-well natural gas hydrate production. The model results were validated using experimental data and standard test cases from the literature. The results obtained by applying this model in COMSOL Multiphysics 6.1 showed that the errors in all simulations were less than 2%, with errors of 12% and 6% observed at effective stresses of 0.5 MPa and 3 MPa, respectively. The simulation results indicate that the presence of the screen pipe in the hydrate reservoir exerts little effect on the decomposition of gas hydrates, but it effectively mitigates stress concentration in the near-wellbore region, redistributing the effective stress and significantly reducing the instability risk of the hydrate reservoir. Furthermore, the distribution of mechanical parameters around the screen pipe is uneven, with maximum values of equivalent Mises stress, volumetric strain, and displacement generally occurring on the inner side of the screen pipe in the horizontal crustal stress direction, making plastic instability most likely to occur in this area. With other basic parameters held constant, the maximum equivalent Mises stress and the instability area within the screen increase with the rise in the production pressure drop and wellbore size, and the decrease in screen pipe thickness. The results of this study lay the foundation for wellbore instability control in the production of offshore natural gas hydrates via depressurization. The study provides new insights into sustainable energy extraction, as improving wellbore stability during the extraction process can enhance resource utilization, reduce environmental impact, and promote sustainable development in energy exploitation. Full article

Karst aquifers are critical yet vulnerable water resources in semi-arid Mediterranean regions, where structural complexity, nonlinearity, and delayed hydrological responses pose significant modeling challenges under increasing climatic and anthropogenic pressures. This study examines the Jebel Zaghouan aquifer in northeastern Tunisia, aiming to simulate its natural discharge dynamics prior to intensive exploitation (1915–1944). Given the fragmented nature of historical datasets, meteorological inputs (rainfall, temperature, and pressure) were reconstructed using a data recovery process combining linear interpolation and statistical distribution fitting. The hyperparameters of the artificial neural network (ANN) model were optimized through a Bayesian search. Three deep learning architectures—Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)—were trained to model spring discharge. Model performance was evaluated using Kling–Gupta Efficiency (KGE′), Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), and R² metrics. Hydrodynamic characterization revealed moderate variability and delayed discharge response, while isotopic analyses (δ¹⁸O, δ²H, ³H, ¹⁴C) confirmed a dual recharge regime from both modern and older waters. LSTM outperformed other models at the weekly scale (KGE′ = 0.62; NSE = 0.48; R² = 0.68), effectively capturing memory effects. This study demonstrates the value of combining historical data rescue, ANN modeling, and hydrogeological insight to support sustainable groundwater management in data-scarce karst systems. Full article

Amid rapid industrialization and the growing integration of financial technologies, emerging economies face increasing pressure from rising ecological footprints (ECOF). This study examines the environmental impacts of natural resource rents (NRES) and digital financial technology (DFIN), emphasizing the moderating role of governance (INST), using data from the top 10 emerging economies between 1995 and 2023. The Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) approach is employed to capture heterogeneous effects across different levels of environmental stress. The results reveal that both NRES and DFIN exacerbate ECOF, particularly in economies facing higher ecological pressures. However, strong governance significantly reduces these adverse effects, especially at higher ECOF quantiles, highlighting its pivotal role in aligning resource management and digital innovation with environmental sustainability goals. Interaction terms further confirm that effective institutional quality can buffer the ecological risks associated with resource exploitation and FinTech expansion. Additionally, Dumitrescu–Hurlin panel causality tests reveal a unidirectional causality from NRES and economic growth (EGRO) to ECOF, while bidirectional relationships are observed between DFIN, INST, education, urbanization, renewable energy, and ECOF. These findings underscore the complex interlinkages between economic growth, technological advancement, and institutional frameworks. In the context of post-COP28 climate commitments and Sustainable Development Goals, this study provides timely policy recommendations to promote sustainable growth through robust governance, responsible resource utilization, and balanced FinTech integration. Full article

In the pursuit of sustainable development, optimizing water resources management while maintaining ecological balance is crucial. This study introduces a Chaos-enhanced Harris Hawks Optimizer (CEHHO) aimed at optimizing natural flow patterns in cascade reservoirs. First, an ecological scheduling model considering ensuring guaranteed output is established based on the similarity of ecological flows. Subsequently, the CEHHO algorithm is proposed, which uses tilted skew chaos mapping for population initialization, improving the quality of the initial population. In the exploration phase, an adaptive strategy enhances the efficiency of group search algorithms, enabling effective navigation of the complex solution space. A random difference mutation strategy, combined with the Q-learning algorithm, mitigates premature convergence and maintains algorithmic diversity. Comparative analysis with the existing technology under different typical hydrological frequency shows that the search accuracy and convergence efficiency of the proposed method are significantly improved. Under the guaranteed output limit of 1000 MW, the proposed method enhances the optimal, median, mean, and worst values by 293.92, 493.23, 422.14, and 381.15, respectively, compared to the HHO. Furthermore, the results of the multi-purpose guaranteed output scenario highlight the superior detection and exploitation capabilities of this algorithm. These findings highlight the great potential of the proposed method for practical engineering applications, providing a reliable tool for optimizing water resources management while maintaining ecological balance. Full article