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What happens once people have electricity has received far less analytical and policy attention than the provision of the infrastructure itself. For low-income settlements that have gained a connection to the grid, energy access challenges can still prevail, keeping many inhabitants in energy poverty. This paper analyses energy practices in three low-income neighbourhoods in Lima, Peru, with particular attention to inhabitants' responses in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, it seeks to draw lessons for energy policy and planning to enhance energy resilience in the transition towards more just and sustainable futures. Building on energy resilience scholarship and drawing links with justice debates, this paper discusses three community coping strategies: (1) fuel stacking; (2) collective practices and the shared economy; and (3) material and spatial changes. It analyses how these strategies relate to dominant policy directions, as well as their implications for energy resilience and justice more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the next decades, people will continue moving to urban areas all over the world, increasing infrastructure needs to satisfy economic, environmental, and social demands. The connection between civil urban infrastructure and smart cities is strong due to the common goal of fulfilling public service demands. Infrastructure management contributes to the development, evolution, and sustainability of smart cities. The main problem with traditional approaches to the development, evolution, and sustainability of smart cities is the lack of a holistic, integrated vision of infrastructure management. The main objective of this research is to introduce an infrastructure management humanistic approach with a smart city conceptual model that also considers an educational perspective. A mixed research methodology that combines quantitative and qualitative approaches was used, applying inductive-deductive tools. The paper concludes with the development of an infrastructure management framework for smart cities with five dimensions: (1) Environmental, (2) financial-economic, (3) political-governance, (4) social-people, and (5) technological. Two case studies for the cities of Lima and Piura in Perú illustrate how to incorporate this framework into practice. The research products are relevant because they foster an inclusive better quality of life for all citizens by preserving civil infrastructure systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean- and coastal-based economic activities are increasingly recognised as key drivers for supporting global economies. This move towards the "blue economy" is becoming globally widespread, with the recognition that if ocean-based activities are to be sustainable, they will need to move beyond solely extractive and exploitative endeavours, aligning more closely with marine conservation and effective marine spatial planning. In this paper we define the "blue economy" as a "platform for strategic, integrated and participatory coastal and ocean development and protection that incorporates a low carbon economy, the ecosystem approach and human well-being through advancing regional industries, services and activities". In Peru, while the seas contribute greatly to the national economy, the full potential of the blue economy has yet to be realised. This paper presents the findings of an early career scientist workshop in Lima, Peru, in March 2016. The workshop "Advancing Green Growth in Peru" brought together researchers to identify challenges and opportunities for green growth across three Peruvian economic sectors—tourism, transport and the blue economy with this paper exploring in detail the priorities generated from the "blue economy" stream. These priorities include themes such as marine spatial planning, detailed evaluations of existing maritime industries (e.g. guano collection and fisheries), development of an effective MPA network, support for sustainable coastal tourism, and better inclusion of social science disciplines in understanding societal and political support for a Peruvian blue economy. In addition, the paper discusses the research requirements associated with these priorities. While not a comprehensive list, these priorities provide a starting point for future dialogue on a co-ordinated scientific platform supporting the blue growth agenda in Peru, and in other regions working towards a successful "blue economy". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the traditional knowledge on the management of stingless bee colonies and the use of honey by Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities of the department of Loreto, in the Peruvian Amazon. Semi-structured interviews and collection of voucher bees were carried out from June to August 2016 and from November to December 2017. The informants were selected through intentional non-probabilistic sampling (snowball sampling). During the study, 21 communities were visited, of which some of the community members in thirteen communities kept stingless bees. A total of 17 species of stingless bees are reported as used in the communities for either rearing or harvesting of honey from the forest with Melipona eburnea being the most common species. The way communities classify, manage, and use bees depends on how they perceive these insects, informed by knowledge processed and incorporated from other communities. In these communities, they use honey and pollen, with honey being the main product. Fourteen health conditions are treated with honey, with the most treated conditions being related to respiratory ailments, fertility, and reproduction. The study provides a basis for incorporating stingless bees into conservation and sustainable production policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the methods used by the Princeton University Chapter of Engineers Without Borders to ensure the sustainability of a gravity-fed potable water system in rural northwestern Peru. While similar small scale development projects consider sustainability in their design process, some do not recognize the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability. This team, however, is inherently interdisciplinary in nature due to its unique subteam structure, which subsequently affects its approach to sustainability. By examining the technical, social, and financial considerations of the project conducted by the Princeton University Chapter of Engineers Without Borders, this paper argues for a three-pronged approach to sustainability. As can be seen through thoughtful design parameters, strong local partnerships, and strategic financial mechanisms, the project displays promise of future success with regards to sustainability. The main objective of the Princeton Chapter of Engineers Without Borders in this partnership is to ensure that the community has the knowledge, tools, and resources necessary to maintain the water system in a self-sufficient manner at the completion of the chapter's involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased incidences of pipe breaks worldwide are posing a serious threat to potable water security in urban communities. The consequences may involve water loss and service interruptions, compromised water quality, infrastructure disruptions, and loss of revenue. Thus, creating failure assessment models is quite crucial to sustain water distribution networks (WDNs) and to optimize maintenance spending. This research paper aims at developing an assessment framework for water systems, as well as modeling the failure phenomena toward sustainable management of underground infrastructure. The city of El Pedregal in Peru was chosen to exemplify the methodology of the research due to the rapid pace of urbanization and growing economic activities in the region, which make water infrastructure even more critical. The framework is based on the application of modeling techniques stemming from statistical regression analysis (RA) and 3D schematic representation. First, the influential factors that lead to the deterioration of the WDNs are determined. Second, the RA technique is leveraged to evaluate and model the failure rate through consecutive simulation operations and a 3D surface plot. Finally, the efficacy of the model is investigated using different performance metrics, in conjunction with a residual analysis scheme. The validation results revealed the robustness of the model with R‐squared (R2) and the sum of squares error (SSE) of 0.9767 and 0.0008, respectively. The developed model is a predictive tool that can be used by municipal engineers as a preemptive measure against future pipeline bursts or leaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cowpea production in the Peruvian Amazon is increasing due to its ability to adapt to diverse environments, its contribution to soil conservation, and its versatility of uses. This crop is particularly valuable in human nutrition due to its high nutritional quality and nutraceutical properties of its bioactive compounds. The aim of the study was to evaluate the physiology of cowpea plants in accessions PER1005854, PER1005851, and PER12645, under the influence of rice husk mulch, screw tree litter, and oil palm fiber, as well as to determine the bioactive compounds present in the grains. This study aims to promote sustainable cowpea production, expose the nutritional aspects of the grains, and foster their consumption both locally and nationally. The experiment was conducted from November 2022 to March 2023, in Yurimaguas, Loreto, Peru. The application of organic mulches demonstrates a significantly positive impact on the growth of cowpea accessions during their vegetative phase. This effect is possibly attributed to increased water availability, as the mulch reduces soil evaporation. In particular, cowpea accessions PER12645 and PER1005851 exhibit desirable physiological characteristics for grain production, with short cycles of 71 days and higher yields of 1141 and 1125 kg/ha respectively. In contrast, accession PER1005854 is distinguished by its higher biomass production, reaching a value of 14497 kg/ha, a relevant trait for foliage production and its contribution to soil conservation. The bioactive compounds, such as proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, present in the accessions PER1005854, PER1005851, and PER12645, are similar to those found in other legumes. However, the antioxidant activity of dark tegument cowpeas proved to be superior, particularly highlighted in accession PER12645 (black tegument) with 26.3 mmolTG/g, and in accession PER1005854 (dark red tegument) with 19.5 mmolTG/g. This characteristic is particularly important for consumption, as it is related to the ability to combat oxidative stress in the human body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an environmental accounting system in Peru that will improve the sustainability reporting of Peruvian corporations and have a positive impact on all the stakeholders (communities, stockholders, government, NGOs, etc.). This new environmental accounting system will allow companies to properly quantify and report environmental issues and have a more integral assessment and analysis of all the variables which affect their triple bottom line. Moreover, environmental issues in Peru will be partially solved when companies adhere to accurate measurement rules, timely submission of data, and fulfillment of government regulations. The principle behind the proposal is that accurate measurement, calculation and reporting on pollution levels will improve the ways companies address environmental and social issues, as well as enhance their financial results. This paper focuses on companies of the mining, gas and oil sectors, since they are arguably some of the main contributors to Peru's GDP, as well as some of the nation's largest polluters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the relevance of economic growth, currency depreciation, cost of public financing, inflation, and export prices on the sustainability of Peru's public debt. The measurements correspond to different specifications of autoregressive vectors (VAR) models applied to macro-fiscal data from 1999-2018. The results validate the relevance of all the factors for the short, medium, and long term. Furthermore, these results suggest that future macro-fiscal policy measures should aim to continue actions to improve the public debt profile and diversify fiscal revenues, in order to reduce the vulnerability of fiscal sustainability due to unfavorable changes in export prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of a weak approach to sustainability, this paper evaluates whether the revenues earned on copper mining have translated into better educational, health, and roadway infrastructure in Peru's extractive zones, both at the district- and departmentwide level, between 2004 and 2013. The results reveal that the infrastructure in places that are home to the extractive industries has indeed improved to a greater degree than in other locations, but only on a small order of magnitude. This weak effect is tied to the State's shaky vision of sustainability and the fact that the regionalization process in Peru is still under way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the agricultural sustainability of the peasant community of Huapra, located in the Andes of Peru; this is a type of high land farming communities. The analysis has been made by applying the methodology framework for the evaluation of management systems of natural resources incorporating sustainability indicators (MESMIS). It has also been measured different performance indicators for the three dimensions considered. Among different results it has been found that Huapra community is based on a self-sufficient or peasant economy, mainly due to the low educational level of the inhabitants. On the other hand, it also has been found a high level of productive diversification. These results are similar to the results of other peasant communities like a study conducted in the peasant community of San José de Cusmapa - Nicaragua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research analyzes the determinants of the financial sustainability of the cooperative savings and credit sector in Peru. Design/methodology/approach: The econometric analysis uses a balanced data panel with a sample of 34 savings and credit cooperatives in Peru for the period 2010–2017. The estimates were considered using the static fixed-effects model to assess the financial sustainability. Findings: The results show that the interest rate differential, the number of years of activity, the size of assets and the return on assets are explanatory variables of the financial sustainability of savings and credit cooperatives in Peru. Research limitations/implications: This research promotes reflection and discussion for the design of policies that improve the level of competition for the Peruvian savings and credit cooperative model, based on the level of financial sustainability. Originality/value: This study is one of the first to identify the determinants of the financial sustainability of the savings and credit cooperative sector in Peru. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-01-2022-0064 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community-based forest monitoring is seen as a way both to improve community engagement and participation in national environmental payment schemes and climate mitigation priorities and to implement reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and foster conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+). There is a strong assumption among community-based monitoring advocates that community monitoring is a desirable approach. However, it is unclear why community members would want to participate in their own surveillance or be involved in a program likely to limit livelihood uses of forest areas and possibly even sanction them based on the data provided. This paper explores these issues by examining three communities involved in Peru's Conditional Direct Transfer Program, in which indigenous communities are compensated for protecting communal forests through various mechanisms, including forest monitoring. The case studies focus specifically on communities that received smartphones and were trained in their use for monitoring. The results affirm the importance that benefits outweigh the costs of local participation to sustain motivation. They also point to key factors supporting the legitimacy of the program, specifically to overcome historical tensions between the state and indigenous communities. These include the nature of engagement by program implementers and the importance of building trust over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we analyze the impact of 18 socioeconomic factors at individual, family, and locality levels to understand their influence on medicinal plant knowledge (MPK) in four provinces and 12 localities of the northern Andes of Peru. We interviewed 50 participants per locality (totaling 600 people) from lowlands and highlands ecoregions. The participants were balanced in terms of generations and gender. We performed multivariate statistical analyses—generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordinations—that showed the influence of each socioeconomic variable on the medicinal plant knowledge of people in the different sites. At the individual level, we found that most participants with higher MPK were women, elders, people with lower levels of education and job qualifications, non-migrants, and participants who have lived for a long period in the same region. At the family level, we found that participants living in low economic conditions with few material goods, including their means of transport, tools possession, access to technology, farm size, number of farm animals, and house quality, had higher MPK. At the locality level, we found that people living in more isolated areas with scarce regional services, such as access to paved roads, hospitals, big markets, tourist development, and chlorination of drinking water, had higher MPK. In short, people with less access to modern services and with low economic resources are the main depositaries of MPK. Policy makers and decision makers should consider the significance of MPK in alleviating health problems and diseases in Andean regions, especially for people with rural livelihoods. This local botanical knowledge of medicinal plants should be preserved in the area as a great natural heritage for humanity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fisheries are critically important for nutrition, food security, livelihoods, and culture of hundreds of millions of people globally. As climate impacts on ocean ecosystems increase, policy-makers are asking critical questions about how to implement reforms at local and national levels to reach goals around improving performance of management systems, sustainability, equity, and resilience to climate change. These goals can be achieved by enhancing the structure, function, and biodiversity of marine ecosystems as climate change proceeds, together with adaptive, sustainable management. However, resource, technical, and governance capacities vary widely across management systems. These capacities will determine, in part, the best policy approaches to build resilience and overcome systemic challenges to equity and sustainability to stressors such as climate change. To illuminate how fisheries resilience can be improved within the constraints imposed by these capacity limits, we present case studies from Myanmar, Belize, Peru, and Iceland, which offer a spectrum of capacity conditions to explore social–ecological resilience challenges and solutions. Using a set of nine social–ecological resilience criteria, we examine each system's attributes that may confer or undermine resilience and explore interactions between them. We use this assessment to identify policy approaches that can help build resilience in each particular context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water quality failure is a long-standing problem worldwide, causing illness, poisoning, disease outbreak, and claiming human lives in the urban communities. Potable water can be compromised due to a myriad of physical, operational, and environmental factors, such as contaminants intrusion into water pipelines, leaching, disinfection byproducts, chemical or microbial permeation, and pollution. The prediction of potable water quality has seldom been researched, while a novel automated model that offers a proactive approach can be developed to promote sustainability-based strategies. This paper elaborates the impacts of the aforementioned factors on the quality of potable water using the Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and risk analysis techniques. The ANN model was developed based on historical data obtained from the water distribution networks (WDNs) of the City of El Pedregal, Peru. The data were streamlined and fed to the neural network to be trained. Subsequent to multiple iterations via the scaled conjugate gradient algorithm, the optimized performance was generated and passed to the trained network to forecast the water quality failure in WDNs. The model performance was tested and validated against different statistical error terms and indicators. The mean absolute error and root-mean-squared error in the ANN failure prediction were computed as 0.08 and 0.15, whereas the average validity of the network was generated to be 92%. Based on the trained neural network, the degree of influence of each factor was determined through implementing a sensitivity analysis. It was found that water quality, water pressure, and operational and maintenance practices had the maximum influence on the risk of failure in water infrastructure. Policy makers and managers can benefit from the proposed model since ANN is already trained, by predicting water quality whenever new data become available. Prediction results will indicate the level of risk (low, moderate, high) to the inhabitants, thereby preemptive measures can be taken to avoid any illness or disease outbreak. • Prediction of water quality via artificial neural network and risk analysis model. • The model assessed water contamination and pipe sustainability with 92% average validity. • Sensitivity analysis assessed the influence of model's factors on the risk of failure. • Water quality and its related environmental factors had the highest influence rate. • Pipe diameter, and pipe thickness had the least influence rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tambos are small buildings that function as social platforms in Peruvian rural areas to provide essential services to the entire vulnerable and dispersed rural population. The Peruvian government intends to implement more than a thousand new tambos in the national territory. However, this social infrastructure program faces heterogeneous conditions and demands according to Peru's geographical and population complexity. This article proposes developing a systematic catalog of modular components as a design strategy for the architectural approach of future tambos. Georeferenced data and climate design guidelines were used to conduct this study. As a result, the systematic catalog synthesizes critical variables such as natural regions and programmatic requirements to generate diverse architectural configurations of the new tambos. Therefore, these future buildings would be optimally articulated in different areas of influence under a systematic vision of the Peruvian rural territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation expansion driven by a growing global food demand is threatening the sustainability of scarce water resources. An exemplar is the Ica Valley in Peru which has experienced significant agricultural transformation over the last three decades with uncontrolled abstractions leading to over-exploitation of the Ica-Villacuri aquifer. This paper critically assesses the impacts of agricultural expansion on the long-term sustainability of groundwater resources in the Ica Valley. We apply a combination of spatial analysis and irrigation modelling by farming type (large and small-scale), followed by a multi-criteria assessment on irrigation water use. Historical trends in cropped area were analysed using Landsat satellite imagery to identify agricultural expansion and the changing composition between large and small-scale farms. The blue water footprint (WF blue) for croplands was calculated distinguishing between surface and groundwater abstractions for eight disaggregated geographical zones within the Ica Valley. The economic benefits of water consumption were assessed using the water productivity indicator, and the environmental sustainability of water resources spatially evaluated using a monthly blue water sustainability index and adapted version of the groundwater debt. The analyses showed that the groundwater footprint accounts for 87% of the total WF blue (483 Mm3) with 286 Mm3 groundwater consumed under unsustainable conditions (exceeding groundwater recharge). The highest water productivity (2.4–5.4 sol/ton) occurs in zones with intensive groundwater abstractions and where most large-farms are located, but it is also where the sustainability issue is most acute. Modelling showed that based on existing climate conditions and cropping patterns, irrigated agriculture is locally unsustainable throughout the valley, with the exception of small-scale farming in the peri-urban and middle valley areas. Around 10% of total aquifer recharge results from small-scale irrigated farming, whereas recharge from large scale farming is negligible. The greatest impacts occur in zones dominated by large-scale farms, where a period of 3.7–5.9 years is estimated to be needed to replenish water resources consumed by agricultural production. There is thus an urgent need to manage water resources more effectively and promote more sustainable use of water to protect both traditional and agro-export agricultural practices as well as allocations for urban water supply and the environment. Image 1 • Export-oriented agricultural expansion is exerting severe pressure on water resources. • Groundwater footprint accounts for nearly 90% of total irrigation demand (536 Mm3). • Large-scale farming comprises 83% of the groundwater footprint in the Ica Valley. • About 68% of the annual groundwater footprint exceeds groundwater renewability. • Around 18% of total aquifer recharge results from small-scale irrigated farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In rural communities throughout the developing world, lack of access to electricity can have far-reaching impacts. Students are often unable to study after sunset for want of adequate lighting; access to technology is limited or nonexistent for lack of power to charge devices. For one off-grid community in rural Peru, this was not a satisfactory situation, and they approached Engineers Without Borders-USA (EWB-USA) to work on a solution. Ultimately, after careful assessment and an enlightening false start, the Walla Walla University chapter of EWB-USA (EWB-WWU), in partnership with the community of Japura, designed and implemented standalone solar photovoltaic systems to electrify the community. The outline of this process is discussed in this article. A monitoring trip over a year after implementation allowed insight into the project's health and sustainability and also taught the team lessons about training, communication, socioeconomic impact, and community empowerment. This assessment and the resulting lessons are the focus of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to lack of economic resources and the geographical dispersion of the population, state and private for-profit water provision is not feasible in many remote rural areas of developing countries. In such instances, community-managed water systems emerge as an alternative mechanism to provide safe water. Despite their importance, little is known about this type of organizations. This article examines the Juntas Administradoras de Servicios de Saneamiento (JASS), communal organizations that provide water services to more than 3 million people in rural and peri-urban areas of Peru. We focus on two important and related dimensions of the JASS. First, we empirically identify the factors associated to their existence (economic resources of the municipalities, tradition of communal work, and ethnic homogeneity). And second, we examine their organization and how they manage the water systems, which is importantly affected by the socioeconomic characteristics of the communities. Using the Peruvian JASS as a showcase, this article sheds then some light on the potential viability of this type of organizations. We conclude that the JASS might be an important and effective alternative to organize the provision of water services in rural and isolated areas. However, the consolidation of these institutions requires adequate supervision to ensure that water systems are correctly designed and managed and that internal governance problems do not compromise their sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shark take, driven by vast demand for meat and fins, is increasing. We set out to gain insights into the impact of small-scale longline fisheries in Peru. Onboard observers were used to document catch from 145 longline fishing trips (1668 fishing days) originating from Ilo, southern Peru. Fishing effort is divided into two seasons: targeting dolphinfish ( Coryphaena hippurus; December to February) and sharks (March to November). A total of 16,610 sharks were observed caught, with 11,166 identified to species level. Of these, 70.6% were blue sharks ( Prionace glauca), 28.4% short-fin mako sharks ( Isurus oxyrinchus), and 1% were other species (including thresher ( Alopias vulpinus), hammerhead ( Sphyrna zygaena), porbeagle ( Lamnus nasus), and other Carcharhinidae species ( Carcharhinus brachyurus, Carcharhinus falciformis, Galeorhinus galeus). Mean ± SD catch per unit effort of 33.6 ± 10.9 sharks per 1000 hooks was calculated for the shark season and 1.9 ± 3.1 sharks per 1000 hooks were caught in the dolphinfish season. An average of 83.7% of sharks caught (74.7% blue sharks; 93.3% mako sharks) were deemed sexually immature and under the legal minimum landing size, which for species exhibiting k-selected life history traits can result in susceptibility to over exploitation. As these growing fisheries operate along the entire Peruvian coast and may catch millions of sharks per annum, we conclude that their continued expansion, along with ineffective legislative approaches resulting in removal of immature individuals, has the potential to threaten the sustainability of the fishery, its target species, and ecosystem. There is a need for additional monitoring and research to inform novel management strategies for sharks while maintaining fisher livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]