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The shortage of natural resources due to the progression of the human population and environmental pollution has become crucial concern topics to resolve. One of the best ways to resolve this is to develop renewable energy-based storage systems. Supercapacitors are emerging as promising storage systems via providing rapid charging/discharging and high power delivery, but there is a need to explore low-cost, environment-friendly, non-toxic, abundant, and biodegradable electrode materials for supercapacitors. In this regard, biopolymers are observed to be popular for storage applications as they are of high porosity, cost-effective, easily available, low-weight, and environment friendly and have biodegradability properties. The biopolymer-based electrode has a desirable morphology and high surface area and exhibits admirable electrochemical properties. The focus of this report is to highlight (i) the inclusive details of supercapacitors and their types along with strategies to improve their electrochemical performance, (ii) biopolymers and their types used for supercapacitor applications, (iii) various synthesis routes that could be adopted for designing electrode materials based on biopolymers for supercapacitors, and (iv) challenges and future scope of biopolymers as the electrode material in supercapacitor applications. The detailed study here in this report is found to be a topic of interest for the scientific community to fabricate and prepare low-cost, eco-friendly, high electrochemical performance exhibiting electrode materials for supercapacitor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As market economies develop, traditional social norms regarding common pool natural resource utilization can change. This study estimates how social norms of nomadic herders' communities, trust among the community's members, and individual social preferences (i.e., other-regarding behavior), such as altruism and willingness to pay for conservation, change with market integration and urbanization in Mongolia. This study reveals that market integration is positively correlated with altruism in communities. Urbanization, measured by proximity to an urban area, is negatively correlated with trust and willingness to pay for grassland use fees. These social preferences and trust are positively correlated with social norms regarding sustainable grassland utilization. This suggests that market integration indirectly contributes to natural resource conservation, while urbanization has a negative impact. Sustainable development requires policy programs that build mutual cooperation and improve individual awareness of grassland conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landowners who seek to manage ownership transitions while preserving conservation-related values must engage in the notoriously complex process of estate planning. Most scholarship on conservation-based estate planning has been undertaken from landowner perspectives, seeking to understand why some succeed whereas others do not. Here, we expand this scholarship by including perspectives from professional planners. Combining their insights with past literature, we offer a framework of conservation-based estate planning that describes and normalizes key elements within stages of the process. Interview results emphasized the unique needs of conservation-based estate planning around non-monetary values, the relational nature of the planning process, and the temporal challenges and disruptive life events landowners commonly confront while planning. Our findings synthesize the extant literature, raise questions and needs for future work, and empower landowners, planners, and natural resource professionals to persevere through this difficult process and achieve their conservation-related goals from which we all benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fisheries management and conservation require consideration of fish, habitat, and people. In fisheries science, a growing body of research on human values, perspectives, and behaviours around fish—known as 'human dimensions' research—has emerged from the realization that management and conservation require a better understanding of people. Surveys are a common and versatile tool in human dimensions research, but not all surveys are equal. Large-scale, probabilistic surveys draw random samples from known populations (e.g., all license-holding recreational fishers in a jurisdiction) and represent the 'gold standard' in survey research. However, these surveys may fall short of this standard for various reasons. Surveys using non-probabilistic sampling are also common in human dimensions research. Non-probabilistic surveys are attractive to researchers facing time, cost, and other constraints, but differ notably from their probabilistic counterparts: data from non-probabilistic samples are typically unfit for population estimates and other inferences due their uncertain representativeness. Nonetheless, a wealth of research with non-probabilistic data within and outside of fisheries (e.g., in health sciences) suggests that these methods have valid applications and advantages in some contexts. We reviewed the literature on non-probabilistic surveys and sampling in the human dimensions of fisheries, and explored seminal literature from other thematic areas where such methods are common, to better understand their strengths, weaknesses, and applications relative to probabilistic methods. Here, we describe (1) how researchers have used non-probabilistic methods to study the human dimensions of fisheries, (2) how mismatching research questions, objectives, and methods can produce 'awkward surveys,' and (3) how researchers can use non-probabilistic surveys in ways that invoke their methodological strengths. While uncertain representativeness may limit the utility of non-probabilistic data in some contexts, non-probabilistic methods are time- and cost-effective, and have distinct advantages in studies of niche groups and phenomena, emergent or understudied phenomena, and in supplementary roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In a world increasingly stressed by climate change and scarcity of natural resources, the prosocial behaviors of new generations become increasingly essential, especially when aimed at sustainability. This study aims to investigate the gamified system applied to the game-based educational program BLUTUBE, designed to promote better practices regarding virtuous water usage in the primary schools of the Municipality of Lucca. Methods: We analyze the self-reported sustainable behaviors of almost 800 students of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades, using a survey about water consumption and awareness of related topics. We examine the association between the increase in the self-reported prosocial behaviors, which occurs after the end of the educational program, and participation in different activities - measured by the number of accumulated points - stimulated through gamification. Results: We find that higher participation in gamified activities corresponds more likely to a higher increase in reported sustainable behaviors. Moreover, we observe that this result is led by specific activities - playing the board game Blutube at school, playing the urban game, and taking pictures of virtuous actions - rather than others - playing the board game at home. Lastly, given the difference between genders in the perceived benefits from gamification, we find that males increase more their awareness about sustainable behaviors by playing more the board game than females. In contrast, females raise their awareness when playing the urban game more. Discussion: We suggest that playing the board game in a broader social context, such as school, can enhance the perception of children's behaviors' impacts on the external environment. Also, to effectively promote sustainable behaviors, educators should consider using game-based learning materials that incorporate rewards mechanisms into the activities. Conclusions: This work sheds light on the relationship between gamification and pro-environmental behaviors, laying the ground for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economies and livelihoods in the Caribbean strongly depend on the terrestrial and marine natural resource base. There are critical gaps in quantitative data and the contextual and compositional factors affecting perceptions of changes in ecosystems and natural resources. This paper used interview data from 441 households in Belize, Dominican Republic, and Suriname to explore the contextual and compositional determinants of perceptions of change in the quality of the terrestrial, coastal/marine environment and natural resources as a composite variable. The outcome variable comprised changes in fishing effort, marine and coastal environment, forest cover, agricultural land area, and soil fertility, and relationships with predictor variables were explored using univariate, bivariate, and three multivariate models. At the univariate level, most respondents in Belize and Suriname reported perceiving a significant increase in fishing effort (i.e. days and fuel spent at sea) and a decrease in forest cover, quality of the coastal/marine environment, area of agricultural land, and fertility and productivity of soils. Sex, marital status, household size, and years of experience were not significantly associated with the terrestrial variables and fishing effort. Sex was only significantly associated with the quality of the marine environment. At the multivariate level, the elderly, high school education, and household incomes were associated with a lower perception of the outcome variable. It is concluded that policy and interventions should strongly consider ethnicity and community, and improve education and household incomes to enhance perceptions of changes in the quality of the terrestrial and coastal/marine environment in the studied countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the extent to which green energy vectoring renewable energy and nuclear energy moderates the effects of natural resource dependence and digitalization on environmental sustainability (measured by carbon emissions per capita and ecological footprint) in selected emerging seven (E7) countries. The study considers the intervening roles of financial development, economic growth, and population growth from 1996 to 2019. The verification of the empirical hypotheses anchors on advanced estimating techniques comprising cross-sectional dependence autoregressive distributed lag and augmented mean group. Results reveal that natural resource dependence and financial development hinder the attainment of environmental sustainability by inducing significant rise in carbon emissions per capita and ecological footprint. Conversely, digitalization promotes the strides toward environmental sustainability by significantly mitigating the surge in both pollutants. The direct and indirect effects of green energy are observed to sufficiently promote environmental sustainability. Moreover, while economic growth in the selected economies displays a significant level of support for sustainability targets, population growth portrays otherwise. Besides, the country-level analyses anchored on Fully Modified OLS show that natural resource dependence significantly hinders sustainability targets in Russia alone. More so, the existence of EKC finds support in Brazil and Mexico. Policy insights emanate from the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concern that over-depleting natural resources (NAT) may somehow be costly for environmental quality is a recurrent topic in empirical analysis. However, the literature has predominantly focused on studying the effects of increases in NAT use on the environment, ignoring potential non-linear interactions. The current study seeks to expand the previous literature by examining the non-linear environmental ramifications of NAT in Russia, home to one of the world's richest natural resource reserves. In this regard, adopting the load capacity factor (LCF) as an environmental indicator, the study examines how the positive and negative changes in NAT affect the country's environmental well-being within the framework of the N-ARDL model for 1992–2021. This study uses artificial intelligence unit root and asymmetric Fourier causality approach for robustness analysis. Empirical evidence suggests that positive shocks to NAT have a deleterious influence on the LCF, while negative changes in NAT contribute to environmental well-being. Nonetheless, the long-term influence of a unit positive shock in NAT decreases the LCF by a greater amount than a unit negative shock increases it. The results also demonstrate a 'U-shaped' connection between income growth and ecological well-being, confirming the validity of the LCC hypothesis. Furthermore, the outcomes reveal that renewable energy consumption and human capital upgrade environmental quality. Therefore, Russian policymakers should focus on the SDG 7, 12, and 13 targets, which refer to substantially increasing the quality of primary and secondary education, the share of green energy in the total energy mix, and effective resource management and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to investigate how natural resources rents impact environmental sustainability measured by CO2 emissions and PM2.5 air pollution in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) economies from 1995 to 2019. To enhance robust policy implications, natural resources are decomposed into disaggregated (coal, gas, oil, forest, and mineral rents) and aggregated (total natural resources rents) indicators. Besides, the intervening roles of affluence, urbanization, and green policies vectoring green technological innovation, green finance, green energy, and waste management within the theoretical underpinning of STIRPAT model are considered. The empirical verification is anchored on second-generation estimators entailing Common Correlated Effects Mean Group, Augmented Mean Group, and Panel Quantile Regression. Similarly, Fully Modified OLS is employed to gauge the country-specific effects amidst varying robustness analyses. The fallouts from the analyses reveal that natural resources rents inhibit the attainments of environmental sustainability in BRICS economies by positively driving CO2 emissions and PM2.5 air pollution. Conversely, green policies are observed to substantially drive environmental sustainability by mitigating both pollutants whereas affluence and urbanization escalate them. The distributional effects from Panel Quantile Regression and Fully Modified OLS corroborate the main findings divergently. Additionally, two channels of causality, including unidirectional and bidirectional nexuses, are apparent from the estimated models. Policy measures are suggested based on the empirical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2011, the Government of Québec, Canada announced an ambitious twenty-five-year plan to develop the province's northern region—an area nearly twice the size of France. A centrepiece of the Plan Nord is to integrate the province's various Indigenous peoples in the sustainable development of the region. However, there are early warning signs of the potential for future conflict as some Indigenous groups mobilized opposition against proposed developments. This raises important questions: could the plan enhance prospects for improved cooperation between Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous groups or is it likely to engender conflict? Which factors explain the diverging levels of support for the plan between the region's principal Indigenous peoples (i.e. Cree, Inuit, Innu)? The paper uses the 'sons of the soil' (SoS) conflict framework to theorize the mechanisms that can give rise to—or prevent the escalation of—Indigenous and non-Indigenous conflict in northern Québec. Though typically applied to case studies in the Global South, the SoS conflict framework provides a novel approach for understanding the contentious politics surrounding land, territory, and natural resource development in settler-colonial contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Color of a food is one of the major factors influencing its acceptance by consumers. At presently synthetic dyes are the most commonly used food colorant in food industry by providing more esthetically appearance and as a means to quality control. However, the growing concern about health and environmental due to associated toxicity with synthetic food colorants has accelerated the global efforts to replace them with safer and healthy food colorants obtained from natural resources (plants, microorganisms, and animals). Further, many of these biocolorants not only provide myriad of colors to the food but also exert biological properties, thus they can be used as nutraceuticals in foods and beverages. In order to understand the importance of nature-derived pigments as food colorants, this review provides a thorough discussion on the natural origin of food colorants. Following this, different extraction methods for isolating biocolorants from plants and microbes were also discussed. Many of these biocolorants not only provide color, but also have many health promoting properties, for this reason their physicochemical and biological properties were also reviewed. Finally, current trends on the use of biocolorants in foods, and the challenges faced by the biocolorants in their effective utilization by food industry and possible solutions to these challenges were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of central government funding to regions depend on local investments. In regional autonomy, local governments are encouraged to be more self-reliant from the central government. For regions with high natural resource yields, they will not encounter difficulties in meeting their fiscal needs. Community welfare can be realized through fulfilling basic needs, one of which is infrastructure development. High-quality infrastructure will be able to contribute to further progress in trade, thus enhancing production efficiency. The objective of this research is to analyze the extent of the influence of central government transfer funds, especially the Natural Resource Revenue Sharing Funds (DBH SDA), on local government investments in infrastructure across 508 districts/cities in Indonesia. The method used is dynamic panel regression using the Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) Arellano-Bond approach. This study finds that the role of DBH SDA is still low in infrastructure spending. The role of the central government remains significant in determining infrastructure spending at the district/city level in Indonesia. This indicates that local governments rely more on other sectors in infrastructure investment. By enhancing the role of DBH SDA through technological advancements, it is hoped that the market value of natural resources can be higher through resource downstreaming. This strategy will have broader impacts, as labor needs can be absorbed not only in raw material production activities but also in the processing technology sector. Furthermore, the utilization of natural resources with modern technology can increase extraction efficiency, support sustainable development, and minimize environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural resource managers may utilize remotely sensed data to monitor vegetation within their decision-making frameworks for improving habitats. Under binational agreements between the United States and Mexico, seven reaches were targeted for riparian habitat enhancement. Monitoring was carried out using Landsat 8 16-day intervals of the two-band enhanced vegetation index 2 (EVI2) for greenness and actual evapotranspiration (ETa). In-channel water was delivered in 2021 and 2022 at four places in Reach 4. Three reaches (Reaches 4, 5 and 7) showed no discernable difference in EVI2 from reaches that did not receive in-channel water (Reaches 1, 2, 3 and 6). EVI2 in 2021 was higher than 2020 in all reaches except Reach 3, and EVI2 in 2022 was lower than 2021 in all reaches except Reach 7. ET(EVI2) was higher in 2020 than in 2021 and 2022 in all seven reaches; it was highest in Reach 4 (containing restoration sites) in all years. Excluding restoration sites, compared with 2020, unrestored reaches showed that EVI2 minimally increased in 2021 and 2022, while ET(EVI2) minimally decreased despite added water in 2021–2022. Difference maps comparing 2020 (no-flow year) to 2021 and 2022 (in-channel flows) reveal areas in Reaches 5 and 7 where the in-channel flows increased greenness and ET(EVI2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational drug-repositioning technology is an effective tool for speeding up drug development. As biological data resources continue to grow, it becomes more important to find effective methods to identify potential therapeutic drugs for diseases. The effective use of valuable data has become a more rational and efficient approach to drug repositioning. The disease–drug correlation method (DDCM) proposed in this study is a novel approach that integrates data from multiple sources and different levels to predict potential treatments for diseases, utilizing support-vector regression (SVR). The DDCM approach resulted in potential therapeutic drugs for neoplasms and cardiovascular diseases by constructing a correlation hybrid matrix containing the respective similarities of drugs and diseases, implementing the SVR algorithm to predict the correlation scores, and undergoing a randomized perturbation and stepwise screening pipeline. Some potential therapeutic drugs were predicted by this approach. The potential therapeutic ability of these drugs has been well-validated in terms of the literature, function, drug target, and survival-essential genes. The method's feasibility was confirmed by comparing the predicted results with the classical method and conducting a co-drug analysis of the sub-branch. Our method challenges the conventional approach to studying disease–drug correlations and presents a fresh perspective for understanding the pathogenesis of diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether mineral and natural resources (NR) are a blessing or a curse for economic growth (ECON_G) is still a debatable issue among scholars and policymakers. Therefore, the primary goal of the present study is to investigate the relationship between mineral resources (MR), NR, and ECON_G to re‐assess the “Resource Curse Theory.” For this purpose, a panel of six top resource‐rich developing economies (China, Brazil, Russia, Iran, the Republic of the Congo, and Saudi‐Arabia) over the 1995 to 2021 period is analyzed using dynamic ordinary least square, fully modifies ordinary least square and method of moments quantile regression approaches. The basic findings of the above‐mentioned techniques reveal the significantly positive impact of both NR and MR on ECON_G in the selected economies. The estimation outputs of the method of moments quantile regression also reveal the significant positive contribution of these resources in ECON_G at all quantiles (0.10–0.90). Thus, the study finds that the Resource Bless Hypothesis is valid as both NR and MR support the absence of the Resource Curse Hypothesis in these countries. Furthermore, the findings of the Granger Causality test reveal that bidirectional causal association is present between NR and ECON_G and MR and ECON_G. The study recommends that policymakers and governments in the resource‐rich countries should promote the development of the mining sector and sustainable resource extraction by properly monitoring the resource sector. More importantly, implementing resource governance initiatives are needed to be prioritized for transforming resources as a blessing for the studied countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of waste plastic from waste electrical and electronic equipment as a substitute for natural aggregates in cementitious materials is an increasingly relevant issue. If proved to be suitable, this would allow the recycling of plastics destined for landfill and decrease the use of new natural resources. However, replacing sand with plastic tends to reduce the mechanical properties of mortars due to the different mechanical properties of natural aggregate and waste plastic and the poor interfacial compatibility between plastic and cement paste. Several strategies to improve the mechanical properties of mortars containing waste plastic were investigated in this study. The addition of 1% of superplasticiser coupled with a lower water/cement ratio was found to restore mechanical properties to values equal to a standard mortar prepared with natural aggregate, thus obtaining material that can be used in construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the meeting at the United Nations climate conference in late 2023, where strategies were proposed to address debt, climate change, and biodiversity loss. It highlights reforms to debt-for-nature swaps, highlighting challenges faced by developing countries and proposing measures aligning debt relief with global environmental goals.

Environmental stewardship is a term describing both the philosophy and the actions required to protect, restore, and sustainably use natural resources for the future benefit of the environment and society. In this paper, we review the environmental science literature to map the types of practical actions that are identified as 'environmental stewardship' using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for scoping reviews. We specifically mapped: 1) the type of actions and outcomes targeting the natural environment that have been categorized as environmental stewardship, 2) the main actors, and the underlying factors influencing their environmental stewardship actions, and 3) the methods used to mobilize environmental stewardship actions once these factors are known. From the 77 selected articles, we found the term environmental stewardship encompassed a multitude of different actions, undertaken by a range of actors and addressing an array of issues that impact biodiversity on the land and in the water. These stewardship actions were conducted on both privately-owned and publicly managed lands and waterways, and across rural and urban landscapes. Despite many studies identifying characteristics and underlying behavioral factors that predicted actors' participation in stewardship actions, there were few studies formally evaluating interventions to increase stewardship. Our review highlighted the term environmental stewardship is not embraced by all and is viewed by some as being inconsistent with aspects of indigenous worldviews. A better understanding of the concept of environmental stewardship and continued practical research into its practice is fundamental to empowering people to demand and enact environmental stewardship as well as for evaluating the success of their actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem restoration can increase the health and resilience of nature and humanity. As a result, the international community is championing habitat restoration as a primary solution to address the dual climate and biodiversity crises. Yet most ecosystem restoration efforts to date have underperformed, failed, or been burdened by high costs that prevent upscaling. To become a primary, scalable conservation strategy, restoration efficiency and success must increase dramatically. Here, we outline how integrating ten foundational ecological theories that have not previously received much attention — from hierarchical facilitation to macroecology — into ecosystem restoration planning and management can markedly enhance restoration success. We propose a simple, systematic approach to determining which theories best align with restoration goals and are most likely to bolster their success. Armed with a century of advances in ecological theory, restoration practitioners will be better positioned to more cost-efficiently and effectively rebuild the world's ecosystems and support the resilience of our natural resources. Silliman and colleagues outline how restoration practitioners can leverage insight from ecological theories to increase the scale, success, and resilience of habitat restorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews the use of natural resources in analytical chemistry throughout history. Plant extracts were employed as indicators in chemistry for identifying the acidity or alkalinity of liquids as early as the 1650s. Later, as the industrial revolution altered people’s lives, synthetic chemicals were used instead. Modern techniques of analysis have replaced conventional ones as a result of advancements in physics and technology. The industrial revolution was an era of excitement until the toxic pollutants released from industries severely damaged people and the environment. The concepts of green chemistry and green analytical chemistry were proposed as potential solutions to the problems. The use of natural extracts as chemical analysis reagents has been reconsidered recently as a sustainable alternative. While new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) will influence future trends in analytical chemistry development, the primary goal is to move toward sustainable analytical chemistry, which includes using natural reagents and reducing the amount of chemicals consumed and waste produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human beings exploit natural resources to fulfill their basic needs. Consequently, environmental conservation requires the implementation of a comprehensive system of social, socioeconomic, and technical-productive measures. These measures should be directed towards the judicious utilization of natural resources, preservation of natural ecosystems, and protection of the environment from pollution and degradation. This study aims to scrutinize the factors contributing to the irresponsible utilization of natural resources using neutrosophic statistics. The findings suggest the necessity of proposing environmental legislation reforms to regulate and prevent the overexploitation of natural resources. Additionally, promoting environmental education among the population is crucial to instill responsible ecological behavior in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity plays an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of the earth. The study of traditional knowledge related to biological resources is a hot issue in the field of international biodiversity conservation. Xishuangbanna is a key area of biodiversity and a cultural hotspot of international significance. According to the Technical Regulation for Classification, Investigation, and Inventory of Traditional Knowledge Relating to Biological Diversity issued by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, we investigated and catalogued the traditional knowledge related to biodiversity of the Jino people who have lived in Xishuangbanna for generations, and collected 490 entries of traditional knowledge related to biodiversity of the Jino people. Drawing on the traditional knowledge diversity index calculation method proposed by Wang Guoping, the overall traditional knowledge α-diversity index of the Jino people is 0.63, indicating that the richness of the traditional knowledge of the Jinuo people is relatively high. The traditional culture related to biodiversity, the traditional knowledge related to agricultural genetic resources, and the traditional technology related to the sustainable utilization of biological resources are relatively rich and diverse. The diversity index is 0.86, 0.82 and 0.79, respectively. In addition, Xishuangbanna has invested a lot of energy in biodiversity protection, including the establishment of nature reserves, botanical gardens, zoos, ecological tea gardens and other species reserves, and the promulgation of laws and policies related to biodiversity protection, and has achieved remarkable results in in situ protection and ex situ protection. On the basis of analyzing the progress and achievements of biodiversity conservation in Xishuangbanna, this study points out that Xishuangbanna faces challenges such as the loss of traditional knowledge, insufficient conservation efforts, and great changes in land use, and puts forward corresponding suggestions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address ongoing threats from human pressures and climate changes, water managers and users require a visual tool that provides accurate information about the health of waterbodies for decision making. However, there is a lack of less sophisticated methods, such as biotic scoring, to assess the health of rivers in West Africa. To bridge this gap, we have developed a macroinvertebrate-based scoring system for monitoring the health of rivers in the Sahelian regions. We adopted a multi-habitat sampling approach to collect macroinvertebrates using hand nets, and these specimens were identified mostly to family taxonomic level using keys. We recorded more than 75 taxa of macroinvertebrates, each assigned relative sensitivity scores to human disturbances ranging from 1 (very tolerant) to 10 (highly sensitive). The Burkina Biotic Score System (BBIOSS) and the Average Score Per Taxa (ASPT) demonstrated a strong and significant correlation with environmental variables, including anthropogenic pressures types (r = 0.6; p < 0.01) making it a robust tool for monitoring rivers. Here, our findings revealed that all taxa scored are expected to be those reported in Western African freshwater. This study has produced an effective tool that can be used or adapted to monitor other riverine ecosystems in West Africa, potentially contributing to the preservation of water and biological resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global geoparks, i.e., the members of the UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp) network, possess highly valuable geoheritage resources, which can be used for the purposes of not only education and tourism, but also science. Five examples from four Latin American countries (Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru) were employed to realize the importance of these global geoparks as facilitators of international research. Journal articles devoted to these geoparks were selected with the major bibliographical databases, and the information from them was analyzed quantitatively. Particularly, the numbers of articles published before and after the UGGp membership, paying significant and marginal attention to geoparks, and published by international teams were calculated; the general themes of the articles were outlined. It was established that the total number of publications grew after the UGGp membership of these geoparks, but not steadily. The established dynamics of publishing are unstable and differ between the geoparks. Geoparks of Mexico (Mixteca Alta) and Peru (Colca y Volcanes de Andagua) are notable examples because they started to facilitate international research before the UGGp membership. Many articles consider geoparks only marginally (nonetheless, there are also articles paying significant attention to geoparks, especially in the cases of two Mexican geoparks). The author teams are often not restricted to Latin America. The research themes are rather diverse (geoheritage, geology, ecology, innovations, society, technology), although the majority of the publications are geoheritage-focused. Of special interest is the Colca y Volcanes de Andagua global geopark, which has been considered in the innovation-focused article. Generally, our results indicate a moderate importance of the considered global geoparks to international research activity and the incomplete exploitation of their scientific potential. Two Mexican geoparks (Comarca Minera and Mixteca Alta) seem to be the most successful in the facilitation of international research. Indeed, the scientific utility of global geoparks should be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research work introduces a novel mixture optimization methodology for biodiesel fuels using an Evolutionary Computation method inspired by biological evolution. Specifically, the optimal biodiesel composition is deduced from the application of a nature-inspired adaptive genetic algorithm that first examines percentages of the ingredients in the optimal mixtures. The innovative approach's effectiveness lies in problem simulation with improvements in the evaluation of the specific function and the way to define and tune the genetic algorithm. Environmental imperatives in the era of climate change currently impose the optimized production of alternative environmentally friendly biofuels to replace fossil fuels. Biodiesel in particular, appears to be more attractive in recent years, as it originates from renewable bio-derived resources. The main ingredients of the specific biofuel mixture investigated in this research are diesel and biodiesel (100% from bioresources). The assessment of the new biodiesel examined was performed using a fitness function that estimated both the density and cost of the fuel. Beyond the evaluation criterion of cost, density also influences the suitability of this biofuel for commercial use and market sale. The outcomes from the modeling process can be beneficial in saving cost and time for new biodiesel production by using this novel decision-making tool in comparison with randomized laboratory experimentations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: A challenge for the livestock sector is to improve the production and nutritive value of forage grasses through sustainable management strategies. Aims: This study evaluated the impact of management on the productive and nutritive value of five pasture-based production systems: irrigated pasture with 600 kg nitrogen (N) ha−1 (IP600); rainfed pasture with 400 kg N ha−1 (RP400); rainfed pasture with 200 kg N ha−1 (RP200); silvopastoral with 200 kg N ha−1 (SP200); and degraded pasture without N fertilisation (DP0). Methods: During two experimental years, samples were collected pre- and post-grazing to determine forage and nutritional parameters. Land-saving effects and efficiencies of N fertilisation and water use were calculated. Key results: For C4 grasses, forage mass accumulation was greater for IP600 and RP400. IP600 also presented the greatest leaf area index and crude protein concentration, whereas DP0 presented the lowest values of both. For C3 grasses in the IP600 treatment, greater forage mass accumulation and leaf area index were found in winter than in autumn; all nutritional characteristics were not affected by season of the year. For land-saving effect, and N- and water-use efficiencies, IP600, RP400 and RP200 presented higher values than DP0 and SP200. Conclusions: More intensified systems with proper management allowed better productive and nutritional characteristics than degraded pasture or silvopasture, especially during seasons with greater precipitation or when irrigated. Implications: Intensification practices make better use of natural resources (water and land) and agricultural inputs (N fertiliser) to ameliorate the effects of seasonality and improve quality and productivity of tropical grasses in pasture-based livestock production systems. A challenge for livestock farmers is to improve production and nutritive value of forage grasses through management strategies. This study evaluated the impact of management on productive and nutritive traits of forages during two experimental years on five pasture-based production systems. More intensified systems with proper management allowed better characteristics than degraded pasture, ameliorating the effects of seasonality and improving tropical grasses in pasture-based livestock production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by a problem of optimal harvesting of natural resources, we study a control problem for Volterra type dynamics driven by time-changed Lévy noises, which are in general not Markovian. To exploit the nature of the noise, we make use of different kind of information flows within a maximum principle approach. For this we work with backward stochastic differential equations (BSDE) with time-change and exploit the non-anticipating stochastic derivative introduced in Di Nunno and Eide (Stoch Anal Appl 28:54-85, 2009). We prove both a sufficient and necessary stochastic maximum principle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influence of recycled aggregate on the bond behaviour of reinforcing steel in concrete The use of recycled aggregates in common structural concretes is considered a promising approach to conserve natural resources. The present study focuses on investigating the bond behaviour of reinforcing steel in concrete with high portions of recycled aggregate from crushed concrete. To clarify a possible influence of the aggregate properties, 5 different aggregates were tested in 12 concretes. The results of the pull‐out tests were evaluated with the help of an analytical bond equation to be able to draw conclusions about the resulting design bond stress. A tendency towards a decrease in the maximum absorbable bond stress with high portions of recycled aggregate was observed. The resulting design values of the bond strength are lower than for the reference concrete, but above the specifications of Eurocode 2. The decrease in the design bond stress appears to correlate with the volume fractions of recycled aggregate and the concrete bulk density. Overall, the study shows that the bond behaviour of concrete with recycled aggregate is similar to that of normal concrete in terms of bond, shear and friction, although the actual effects also depend on the specific properties of the aggregate used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversion of lignocellulosic agricultural waste into biofuels and other economically valuable compounds can reduce dependence on fossil fuels, reduce harmful gas emissions, support the sustainability of natural resources, including water, and minimize the amount of waste in landfills, thus reducing environmental degradation. In this paper, the conversion of agricultural wastes into biomethane, biohydrogen, biodiesel, bioethanol, biobutanol, and bio-oil is reviewed, with special emphasis on primary and secondary agricultural residues as substrates. Some novel approaches are mentioned that offer opportunities to increase the efficiency of waste valorization, e.g., hybrid systems. In addition to physical, chemical, and biological pretreatment of waste, some combined methods to mitigate the negative effects of various recalcitrant compounds on waste processing (alkali-assisted thermal pretreatment, thermal hydrolysis pretreatment, and alkali pretreatment combined with bioaugmentation) are evaluated. In addition, the production of volatile fatty acids, polyhydroxyalkanoates, biochar, hydrochar, cellulosic nanomaterials, and selected platform chemicals from lignocellulosic waste is described. Finally, the potential uses of biofuels and other recovered products are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) equipped with integrated sensors are a tool valuable to several monitoring strategies, offering enhanced temporal and spatial coverage over specific timeframes, allowing for targeted examination of sites or events of interest. The elaboration of environmental monitoring programs has relied so far on periodic spot sampling at specific locations, followed by laboratory analysis, aiming at the evaluation of water quality at a catchment scale. For this purpose, automatic telemetric stations for specific parameters have been installed by the Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters of Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (IMBRIW-HCMR) within several Greek rivers and lakes, providing continuous and temporal monitoring possibilities. In the present work, USVs were deployed by the Athens Water and Sewerage Company (EYDAP) as a cost-effective tool for the environmental monitoring of surface water bodies of interest, with emphasis on the spatial fluctuations of chlorophyll α, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen and pH, observed in Koumoundourou Lake and the rivers Acheloos, Asopos and Kifissos. The effectiveness of an innovative heavy metal (HM) system installed in the USV for the in situ measurements of copper and lead was also evaluated herewith. The results obtained demonstrate the advantages of USVs, setting the base for their application in real-time monitoring of chemical parameters including metals. Simultaneously, the requirements for accuracy and sensitivity improvement of HM sensors were noted, in order to permit full exploitation of USVs' capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the impact of natural resource rent and corruption control on environmental quality (ecological footprint, carbon emissions), this paper uses the moment quantile regression method within the framework of the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis. Based on the availability of data, the research object is positioned as the sample data of 152 countries from 2002 to 2018 to obtain more in‐depth and comprehensive research conclusions. The empirical results show that: (1) Corruption control has a significant effect on improving the ecological environment in countries and regions with poor environmental quality. The impact of natural resource rent on environmental quality remains inconclusive, when environmental quality is relatively high, natural resource rent tends to promote the increase of carbon emissions, but there is a reduction effect on the ecological footprint. For countries and regions with better environmental quality, there will be an effect of increasing resource consumption and reducing pollutant emissions. (2) Increasing the consumption intensity of energy will lead to the deterioration of environmental quality, and increasing the proportion of renewable resources will increase and weaken this impact, so it is particularly important to improve the energy consumption structure and improve environmental quality. (3) The impact of urbanization on environmental quality dose not form a unified opinion, and the difference in the selection of environmental quality indicators brings variability to the results, which also prompts the adoption of multiple indicators or the establishment of a composite index that covers multiple perspectives of environmental quality to conduct comprehensive and in‐depth research on environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the causality between resource rents, openness, and economic growth was investigated using the quantile causality method and quarterly data (2006–2021) in Iran. The advantage of this method is that it makes it possible to investigate the relationships of variables in the conditional distribution tail and all quantiles by using quantile‐based conditional regressions. The results showed a bi‐direction causality between resource rents and growth in the tail of the distribution. Therefore, in the upper median quantiles, the causality is from the resources rent to growth, and in the lower quantiles, the causality is in the opposite direction. The results confirmed, in general, the presence of bi‐direction causality between economic growth and openness in quantiles. In the middle quantile, there is a uni‐direction causality relationship from growth to the trade openness, and in the upper quantile, there is causality from openness to economic growth. In addition, the results showed evidence of a tail dependency between resource rents and trade openness, in some quantiles, the causal relationship is from openness to the resources rent, and in the median quantiles, the causality is from rent to openness. These results show that the rent effect of natural resources can be considered as an opportunity for economic growth by adopting appropriate and flexible policies by governments. We recommend the implementation of more trade liberalization policies to maximize the benefits from trade openness, especially in the countries where the resource curse phenomenon reported. Important policy implications can be learned from the empirical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several developing markets, such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS), are facing challenges in attaining the targets set with regard to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While previous studies have extensively examined the Environmental Kuznets Curve in BRICS nations, focusing on other proxy of environmental degradation like CO2 emissions and ecological footprint, little attention has been given to the Load Capacity Curve (LCC) hypothesis specifically in relation to emerging economies. Consequently, there exists a gap in the literature regarding the validation of the LCC hypothesis for these economies. To bridge this gap, our research intends to assess the validity of the LCC hypothesis in the context of the BRICS countries. Specifically, we investigate the impact of biomass energy and social globalization on the load capacity factor (a proxy for ecological quality) in the BRICS countries from 1990 to 2018, while considering the roles of economic growth and natural resources. Additionally, we explore the development of an SDG framework tailored for the BRICS nations, which can serve as a blueprint for other emerging economies. To analyze the data, we employ the Method of Moments‐Quantile‐Regression (MMQR) approach along with long‐run estimators. The findings of the MMQR analysis reveal that natural resources, social globalization, and gross domestic product have adverse effects on ecological quality, while biomass energy exhibits a positive influence on ecological quality. Furthermore, our research validates the LCC hypothesis for the BRICS economies. We also observe evidence of causality between the load capacity factor and its determinants. Based on our investigation, we recommend a transition in energy policies from hydrocarbon energy to sustainable energy options by implementing innovative approaches to biomass technology that can enhance conversion efficiency. Implementing these policy changes will not only enhance ecological quality but also align the SDG targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of cyanobacterial diversity is an important step towards identifying new biological resources for production of bioactive compounds. In this study cyanobacterial surface coverage was assessed through satellite image analysis of Tehran drinking water reservoirs in late summer and early autumn of 2018. We also analysed freshwater cyanobacteria including seven local strains purified from surface water samples. Following a polyphasic taxonomic approach combining morphological and molecular methods the culturable strains were classified into Synechococcales and Oscillatoriales, representing at least three families and four genera. Similarity-based analysis of their partial 16S rRNA genes showed 93.4–97.0% sequence identity among the strains from different ecosystems. Considering 95–96% as the overall cut-off for discriminating bacterial species, strains UTMC6011 and UTMC6013 are likely to be new species. Physiological characterization of the new strains and nine others isolated previously by our group from another freshwater ecosystem led to identification of seven nitrogen-fixing, 11 sulphide-tolerant, three salt-tolerant and three heterotrophic strains. Further taxonomic analyses are needed to support investigation of their biotechnological potential. The biodiversity and physiology of cyanobacteria in the main drinking water reservoirs of the megacity, Tehran, were studied by remote sensing and sample analysis. Seven cyanobacterial strains were isolated from the two freshwater lakes. Similarity-based analysis of obtained 16S rRNA gene sequence showed 93.4–97.0% sequence similarity with the strains from other ecosystems. Cyanobacterial isolates of these freshwater reservoirs included seven N2-fixing, 11 sulphide-tolerant, three salt-tolerant and three heterotrophic strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking the Giant Panda National Park (Ya'an Area, Sichuan) as the research area, based on the current status of giant panda distribution points and comprehensive consideration of the impact of terrain, natural resources, climate, atmosphere, vegetation, and bamboo on giant panda distribution, a comprehensive evaluation index system for the living environment of giant pandas is constructed for evaluation, combined with on-site investigations, and the impact of abandoned mines on the distribution of giant pandas is judged, and finally an ecological restoration strategy for abandoned mines is obtained. The results are as follows: (1) priority should be given to restoration of abandoned mines in areas where the elevation, aspect, precipitation, and temperature are suitable for the survival of giant pandas. (2) During the restoration of the mine, a variety of bamboos, firs and shrubs with different flowering cycles are selected for mixed planting in the same area, within a controllable number of years, form a Closed evergreen needle-leaved forest (fc >0.4), and meet the NDVImax within the range of 0.8-1.0. (3) The pollution of the atmospheric environment by construction dust, vehicle exhaust, and asbestos mines will be prevented through manual intervention. (4) The slope should be trimmed within the range of 23-48° as much as possible, and the water source for giant pandas should be appropriately increased. This study provides an important basis for the restoration of abandoned mines in the Giant Panda National Park (Ya'an area, Sichuan), and will also provide a reference for the restoration of abandoned mines in other areas and the entire Giant Panda National Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The articles in this special section employ histories of cities to examine the relationship between human ambitions and the transformation of space, the development of power discrepancies, and unequal access to material and natural resources. They also reveal the relevance of this quintessential human creation to global dynamics on our planet by unveiling the complex and often messy intersection between urban trajectories, local, imperial, or national histories and longue durée global developments. More than a case study, each article delves into the details of the materiality of the urban history they examine to explain how cities exist in the world, or in Richard Harris's words, "how cities matter" to our shared planetary past and present. In this manner, they answer the call for new conversations about the historical relationship between our urban past and our broader global reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For poor women in rural areas, land is the most critical economic resource. It is essential to have policies that facilitate access to and effective control of land and other natural resources to achieve inclusive growth and eradicate poverty. It is the weaker variants of inequalities that stifle tenure security, reduce land use, and threaten food security for those who depend on the land. Women's access to land and land resources has been a contested right and is still a serious concern in many countries. A mixedmethod case study methodology involving questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions was used to collect data. The study find that women were not allowed to take part in any land-related decision-making process, women's access to land resources was determined by other structural mechanisms and factors such as capital, labour and social relations not solely related to their relationships with their male counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife-related recreation is popular throughout the world with Americans spending over $150 billion dollars (U.S.) annually. I have conducted educational workshops (>200 events) to train U.S. landowners in natural resource enterprise management and operations offering recreational hunting, angling, and nature tourism excursions along with conservation management practices to enhance wildlife habitats on their lands. To measure impacts from these workshops, I conducted a comprehensive mail survey study with participants since 2010. Study findings revealed that private landowners who initiated wildlife-related recreational enterprises earned annual incomes and implemented conservation practices on their lands. More targeted training for landowners is recommended to enhance income diversification on privately owned lands and to increase conservation of wildlife habitats, land stewardship, and ecosystem services (i.e., clean water, biodiversity, and conservation zones) beneficial to society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to evaluate the effects of banana (Musa) peel and guava (Psidium guajava) leaves extract as mordants on jute–cotton union fabrics dyed with onion skin extract as a natural dye. Design/methodology/approach: The dye was extracted from the outer skin of onions by boiling in water and later concentrated. The bio-mordants were prepared by maceration using methanol and ethanol. The fabrics were pre-mordanted, simultaneously mordanted and post-mordanted with various concentrations according to the weight of the fabric. The dyed and mordanted fabrics were later subjected to measurement of color coordinates, color strength and colorfastness to the washing test. Furthermore, the dyed samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, and different chemical bonds were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. Findings: Significant improvement was obtained in colorfastness and color strength values in various instances using banana peel and guava leaves as bio mordants. Post-mordanted with banana peel provided the best results for wash fastness. Better color strength was achieved by fabric post-mordanted with guava leave extracts. Originality/value: Sustainable dyeing methods of natural dyes using banana peel and guava leaves as bio mordants were explored on jute–cotton union fabrics. Improvement in colorfastness and color strength for various instances was observed. Thus, this paper provides a promising alternative to metallic salt mordants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conserving the Earth System represents a public good, global as well local. In today’s kaleidoscopic world, we must engage all the actors to cooperate with the shared goal of caring for and maintaining planet Earth in trust for present and future generations. The UN Summit of the Future is an opportunity to embark on six critical strategies: commitment to consider the future and reaffirm intergenerational equity; representation to future generations; monitoring, assessment and collection of lessons learned; scientific and technological research and development; institutional development; and education and raising of public consciousness. The financial and commercial sectors must consider the future in decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is always a challenging job to compare forest resources as there is not a standardized spatial unit with location information. Google Plus Code, the newest alphanumeric geocoding system, uses 20 specifically selected letters and numbers to assign a unique global ID to every cell at different levels of a hierarchical grid system which is established based on latitude and longitude. It can be used as a standardized, unique global geospatial unit to segment, locate, quantitate, evaluate, and compare natural resources with area, boundary, and location information embedded. Results: For this proof-of-concept case study, forest inventory data from 1987, 2002, and 2019 for the Zijin Mountain National Forest Park in Jiangsu Province, China was analyzed based on Google Plus Code grid/cell. This enabled the quantification of carbon storage at each cell allowing for the comparison of estimated carbon storage at same or different locations over time. Conclusions: This methodology is used to quantify the impacts of changing forest conditions and forest management activities on carbon storage with high spatial accuracy through the 32-year study period. Furthermore, this technique could be used for providing technical support and validation of carbon credit quantification and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing global population is driving the development of alternative sources of food and energy, as well as better or new alternatives for health and environmental care, which represent key challenges in the field of biotechnology. Microalgae represent a very important source material to produce several high-value-added bioproducts. Due to the rapid changes in the modern world, there is a need to build new materials for use, including those in the nanometer size, although these developments may be chronological but often do not occur at a time. In the last few years, a new frontier has opened up at the interface of biotechnology and nanotechnology. This new frontier could help microalgae-based nanomaterials to possess new functions and abilities. Processes for the green synthesis of nanomaterials are being investigated, and the availability of biological resources such as microalgae is continuously being examined. The present review provides a concise overview of the recent advances in the synthesis, characterization, and applications of nanoparticles formed using a wide range of microalgae-based biosynthesis processes. Highlighting their innovative and sustainable potential in current research, our study contributes towards the in-depth understanding and provides latest updates on the alternatives offered by microalgae in the synthesis of nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to design and build a pilot home according to the United Nations sustainable development goals (UN SDGs). The research methodology is a nature‐oriented housing policy to promote renewable energy consumption in homes for cleaner environments. This study analyzes the structural elements of traditional homes in the eastern south of Iran. This study examines the UN SDGs in planning and designing the model to find the advantages of nature‐oriented constructions compared to the current harmful development projects damaging nature, environments, ecosystems, and the earth. The building model presented in this paper is in harmony with the UN SDGs. The model provides an architectural and planning procedure to prevent the earth from damaging fossil consumption‐built environments in the world. Calculations show that the housing pilot model saves USD 3600 in energy consumption per household on average. The outcomes of this study prove the hypothesis that the use of renewable energy in homes is beneficial economically and environmentally. This study implicates housing policies in shifting planning and design methods toward UN SDGs. Policies are applicable globally in the housing programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]