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Sustainable Community Development Based on Transdisciplinary Integration of Natural Resource Management Systems

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Resources and Sustainable Utilization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2023) | Viewed by 31484

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Tetsu Sato

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Guest Editor

SDGs Promotion Office, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790-8477, Japan
Interests: sustainability science; transdisciplinarity; transformation; leverage point; sustainable development

Prof. Dr. Ulli Vilsmaier

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Guest Editor

Leuphana University Lueneburg, D-21335 Lueneburg, Germany
Interests: transformation; inter- and transdisciplinary research; transdisciplinary education; boundary-work; collective action

Prof. Dr. Daud Kassam

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Guest Editor

Aquaculture and Fisheries Science Department, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Lilongwe, Malawi
Interests: integrated agriculture–aquaculture systems; inland fisheries; sustainable development; biodiversity conservation

Prof. Dr. Mitsutaku Makino

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Guest Editor

Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, the University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8564, Japan
Interests: marine conservation policy; integrated coastal zone management; sustainability; marine social–ecological systems; fisheries resource management; ecosystem approach
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable management practices of diverse natural resources are embedded in complex social–ecological systems with potentials of trade-offs and opportunities for synergies. Integrations of multiple approaches for monitoring, managing, and enhancing status of natural resources are required coupled with community developments, improved capacities of collective actions, and governance and institutional arrangements to promote sustainable and equitable natural resource managements in the era of drastic and unpredictable social–ecological transitions. Transdisciplinary research enables integration of various knowledge types emerging from academia and among societal actors. Such collaborative approaches are fundamental to designing collective actions, interventions, and policy implementations to achieve sustainability of resources, and eventually to transform the social–ecological systems toward sustainable directions through contributions to the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, transdisciplinary approaches are highly context dependent. Particularly when applied to natural resource management and community development, socio-cultural, historical, political, economic as well as organizational conditions impact the design, implementation, and outcomes of transdisciplinary research.

We are pleased to invite your contributions in the forms of theories, methodologies, qualitative and quantitative analyses, concept papers, case studies, and other types of creative research approaches in the studies of integrated natural resource managements in this Special Issue. The Special Issue aims to open a new window to integrate diverse approaches addressing sustainability of individual natural resources, as well as to create platforms and mechanisms of cross-cutting management efforts across different categories of natural resources by identifying leverage points to create synergies among practices targeting different resources. We are particularly interested in gathering contributions from around the world that take a critical and culturally sensitive approach to their own research. The collection of contributions in this Special Issue will certainly provide the readers with new insights to integrate fragmented resource management practices into wholistic and integrated approaches to tackle with the complexities and uncertainties associated with natural resource managements to co-create sustainable futures.

In this Special Issue, original research articles are welcome, both quantitative and qualitative, including descriptions of ground-breaking case studies in the form of narratives with empirical verifications. The contributions of original reviews regarding cutting-edge approaches in integrated natural resource managements are highly appreciated. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following: agricultural and land resources, agroecology, water, fisheries resources, forests, agroforestry, tourism resources, protected areas, ecosystem-based approaches, human well-being, and integrated approaches for synergistic management of different resources.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Tetsu Sato
Prof. Dr. Ulli Vilsmaier
Prof. Dr. Daud Kassam
Prof. Dr. Mitsutaku Makino
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

sustainable and equitable development
resource management systems
integration of different management practices
monitoring
resource enhancement
collective action
human well-being
community development
governance
Institutions
legitimacy
collaboration
bio-cultural diversity
complex social-ecological systems
transdisciplinarity
transformation
transformative research
trade-offs and synergies
leverage points
knowledge translation
boundary work

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

18 pages, 6328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Co-Designing Protected Areas Management with Small Island Developing States’ Local Stakeholders: A Case from Coastal Communities of Cabo Verde

by Naya Sena, Ana Veiga, Adilson Semedo, Mara Abu-Raya, Rute Semedo, Iwao Fujii and Mitsutaku Makino

Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 15178; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152015178 - 23 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1594

Abstract

The Small Island Developing State, Cabo Verde, is one of the most important marine biodiverse hotspots in the North Atlantic. One of its national conservation strategies has been the declaration of protected areas, and currently, the country has 47 declared protected areas and only 26 have been fully implemented. The latest protected area, Baía do Inferno e Monte Angra Natural Park, is the first protected area proposed by a civil initiative, and the local people strongly support the declaration of this protected area. Therefore, this study aims to better understand the mechanisms behind strong local support, explore the lessons learned from this case and how it can help improve the implementation of other protected areas in Cabo Verde. We conducted 7 semi-structured interviews with previously identified community leaders and 480 questionnaires with the general population of the local communities. The results show that 78.6% of the questionnaire respondents chose co-management as the desired management model. We also found that non-governmental organizations and local leaders have played a crucial role in sharing knowledge with local populations and helping them to have a critical and informed view about the future implementation of the protected area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Community Development Based on Transdisciplinary Integration of Natural Resource Management Systems)

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20 pages, 4415 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“Future Compass”, a Tool That Allows Us to See the Right Horizon—Integration of Topic Modeling and Multiple-Factor Analysis

by Hiroaki Sugino, Tatsuya Sekiguchi, Yuuki Terada and Naoki Hayashi

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10175; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310175 - 27 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1409

Abstract

Coastal social–ecological systems (SES), particularly in large bays, are critical for fisheries, transportation, and disaster prevention in island and coastal countries. To achieve the sustainability of such bays, public involvement is recently considered inevitable for planning and management, but the increasing complexity of variables and future visions to be considered is one difficulty when trying to include many stakeholders and public opinions. To address this challenge, a free-associative description questionnaire survey was used in this study to extract holistic coastal residents’ future visions for Tokyo Bay, including both positive and negative outcomes. By integrating biterm topic modeling (BTM) and multiple-factor analysis (MFA), this study succeeded to aggregate and visualize the various future visions of Tokyo Bay with enhanced comprehensibility. As one outcome, the linkages and differences between the major topics in the positive and negative future visions were visualized as vectors in a correlation circle. Also, the study found that these two kinds of future vectors are not always polar opposites, but, rather, some of them are interlinked, pointing in the same direction. This highlights the importance of measuring the balance between two kinds of future vectors in consensus-building in order to search for the optimal future direction. Finally, the study discusses the potential of this method as a “Future Compass”, for implementing future-oriented consensus-building toward the sustainability of SES. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Community Development Based on Transdisciplinary Integration of Natural Resource Management Systems)

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26 pages, 7737 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Yeknemilis: Social Learning and Intercultural Transdisciplinary Collaboration for Sustainable Life

by Isabel Bueno, Ana Isabel Moreno-Calles and Juliana Merçon

Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9626; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129626 - 15 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1482

Abstract

Intercultural transdisciplinary research reinforces sustainable social-ecological systems in Latin America. Social learning (SL) is a crucial process within this type of research as it fosters collaboration among diverse groups of people, communities of practice, and cultures. Buen vivir (‘well living’), of the popular movements in America, promotes collective responsibility and respect for life. Yeknemilis (‘a good life’) is a value framework of the Masewal people of the Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico. Members of Tosepan, an organization of the Masewal and other indigenous peoples of this region, reflected on their cultural roots, ways of life, and relations with the territory to strengthen their alternative and self-determined lifeway. Involvement in participatory research within the transdisciplinary process allowed us to focus on the learnings and conditions that foster values and strategies for yeknemilis. Through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and participatory activities, we identified five key social learning areas that foster conditions for yeknemilis and life-sustaining relationships in intercultural transdisciplinary collaboration (ITC): collective action agenda, community capacities, intercultural transdisciplinarity, creative reflexivity, and a relational ontology horizon. Finally, we show how the collaborative construction of yeknemilis and social learning practices can be crucial in scaling up collective action toward sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Community Development Based on Transdisciplinary Integration of Natural Resource Management Systems)

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13 pages, 2404 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Community-Managed Fish Sanctuaries for Freshwater Fishery Biodiversity Conservation and Productivity in Malawi

by Daniel M. Jamu, Elin C. Torell and Essau Chisale

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4414; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054414 - 1 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2610

Abstract

Key fish breeding and other biodiverse areas in Malawian lakes are under threat from illegal fishing, the siltation of key breeding areas (due to deforestation-induced soil erosion), and the clearing of shoreline aquatic vegetation. Freshwater protected areas, also called sanctuaries, have the potential to support the restoration of degraded aquatic environments and protect fisheries’ biodiversity. In Malawi, community-managed fish sanctuaries have been established by beach village committees (BVCs) throughout Lake Malawi, Lake Malombe, Lake Chilwa and Lake Chiuta. The sanctuaries were established to conserve exploited stocks, preserve biodiversity, and enhance fisheries’ yield. The BVCs are aligned with local decentralized village development committees linked to District Councils. Together, they constitute a defragmented decentralized ecosystem-based management of fishery resources. A monitoring study was conducted in sanctuaries in the four lakes during the wet and dry season over three years (2016–2019). The monitoring was carried out to evaluate the sanctuaries’ biological performance. The results showed that community-managed sanctuaries contributed to a 24% increase in the total number of observed species. The Shannon Diversity Index increased from an average 1.21 to 1.52. Small and mid-size (<50 ha) sanctuaries showed a higher performance improvement than large (>50 ha) sanctuaries. This is likely due to multiple factors, including a higher level of fish movement and the greater ability of communities to surveil and enforce smaller sanctuaries. The participation of communities in monitoring enhanced the demonstration effects of sanctuaries. This, in turn, encouraged communities to expand the number and size of the sanctuaries. The biological performance results indicate that community-managed freshwater sanctuaries can be used to protect and restore fish biodiversity in freshwater lakes in Africa. Linking the BVCs to defragmented decentralized structures ensures that the interconnectedness between ecosystem uses, including forestry, agriculture, and tourism, which impinge on fish productivity, are addressed holistically. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Community Development Based on Transdisciplinary Integration of Natural Resource Management Systems)

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24 pages, 4686 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Application of an Environmental Education Tool (Board Game) for Teaching Integrated Resource Management of the Water Cycle on Coral Reef Islands

by Miyuki Shimabukuro, Tomohiro Toki, Hitoshi Shimabukuro, Yoshiaki Kubo, Soyo Takahashi and Ryuichi Shinjo

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16562; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416562 - 10 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2086

Abstract

To solve resource issues on coral reef islands, an understanding of the water cycle is essential. Water resource management is intricately linked to diverse occupational industries and coral reef ecosystems on these islands. To effectively promote sustainable natural resource management, we developed a board game as an environmental education and communication tool for school students and people of all ages. The concept of the game is that “clean water will always be available if it is used properly”. The board game was designed based on an island with an underground freshwater lens as its main water resource. Role-playing was used to enhance islander livelihoods such as with vegetable and livestock farming, fishing, and tourism. Players, while working collaboratively, have to use the island’s groundwater adequately and conserve it for future generations. The game was developed through a transdisciplinary process in collaboration with scientists, administrative officers, civic groups, and students. Additionally, the board game was tested in diverse communities. In this study, we elaborated on the board game after it was played by students at an elementary school on Tarama Island. We observed that participants learned that cooperation is important for the sustainable use of water resources. Moreover, the participants proposed two methods for cooperation: joint discussion and ‘assembly decisions’. The board game has the potential to be used as an effective environmental education tool to promote sustainable water resource management on coral reef islands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Community Development Based on Transdisciplinary Integration of Natural Resource Management Systems)

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19 pages, 7655 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Three Automated Identification Methods for Ground Object Based on UAV Imagery

by Ke Zhang, Sarvesh Maskey, Hiromu Okazawa, Kiichiro Hayashi, Tamano Hayashi, Ayako Sekiyama, Sawahiko Shimada and Lameck Fiwa

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14603; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114603 - 7 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1723

Abstract

Identification and monitoring of diverse resources or wastes on the ground is important for integrated resource management. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), with its high resolution and facility, is the optimal tool for monitoring ground objects accurately and efficiently. However, previous studies have focused on applying classification methodology on land use and agronomy, and few studies have compared different classification methods using UAV imagery. It is necessary to fully utilize the high resolution of UAV by applying the classification methodology to ground object identification. This study compared three classification methods: A. NDVI threshold, B. RGB image-based machine learning, and C. object-based image analysis (OBIA). Method A was the least time-consuming and could identify vegetation and soil with high accuracy (user’s accuracy > 0.80), but had poor performance at classifying dead vegetation, plastic, and metal (user’s accuracy < 0.50). Both Methods B and C were time- and labor-consuming, but had very high accuracy in separating vegetation, soil, plastic, and metal (user’s accuracy ≥ 0.70 for all classes). Method B showed a good performance in identifying objects with bright colors, whereas Method C showed a high ability in separating objects with similar visual appearances. Scientifically, this study has verified the possibility of using the existing classification methods on identifying small ground objects with a size of less than 1 m, and has discussed the reasons for the different accuracy of the three methods. Practically, these results help users from different fields to choose an appropriate method that suits their target, so that different wastes or multiple resources can be monitored at the same time by combining different methods, which contributes to an improved integrated resource management system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Community Development Based on Transdisciplinary Integration of Natural Resource Management Systems)

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17 pages, 824 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transcending the Locality of Grassroots Initiatives: Diffusion of Sustainability Knowledge and Practice through Transdisciplinary Research

by Willington Ortiz and Ulli Vilsmaier

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12259; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912259 - 27 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1259

Abstract

Community-based approaches to natural resource management are being discussed and experienced as promising ways for pursuing ecological conservation and socio-economic development simultaneously. However, the multiplicity of levels, scales, objectives and actors that are involved in sustainability transformations tends to be challenging for such bottom-up approaches. Collaborative and polycentric governance schemes are proposed for dealing with those challenges. What has not been fully explored is how knowledge from local contexts of community-based initiatives can be diffused to influence practices on higher levels and/or in other local contexts. This study explores how theoretical advances in the diffusion of grassroots innovation can contribute to understanding and supporting the diffusion of knowledge and practices from community-based initiatives and proposes a transdisciplinary approach to diffusion. For that aim, we develop an analytical perspective on the diffusion of grassroots innovations that takes into consideration the multiplicity of actors, levels and scales, the different qualities/types of knowledge and practices, as well as their respective contributions. We focus on the multiplicity and situatedness of cognitive frames and conceptualize the diffusion of grassroots innovations as a transdisciplinary process. In this way three different diffusion pathways are derived in which the knowledge and practices of grassroots initiatives can be processed in order to promote their (re)interpretation and (re)application in situations and by actors that do not share the cognitive frame and the local context of the originating grassroots initiative. The application of the developed approach is illustrated through transdisciplinary research for the diffusion of sustainable family farming innovations in Colombia. This conceptualization accounts for the emergence of multiplicity as an outcome of diffusion by emphasizing difference as a core resource in building sustainable futures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Community Development Based on Transdisciplinary Integration of Natural Resource Management Systems)

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27 pages, 2861 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Autonomous Innovations in Rural Communities in Developing Countries III-Leverage Points of Innovations and Enablers of Social-Ecological Transformation

by Hidetomo Tajima, Shion Takemura, Juri Hori, Mitsutaku Makino and Tetsu Sato

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12192; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912192 - 26 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1256

Abstract

To address the complex and difficult challenges that are occurring in complex social-ecological systems, a transformation toward sustainable futures is required. Understanding the characteristics and functions of leverage points (LPs), which bring about significant changes in complex systems, will greatly contribute to the various practices toward achieving sustainable futures. We conducted a detailed analysis of 15 cases of autonomous innovations emerging among vulnerable sectors in six countries to contribute to understanding the mechanisms of transformation of social-ecological systems by identifying the characteristics and functions of LPs. We found that three types of LPs with different characteristics play their roles in a multi-layered and interrelated manner in the emergence processes of autonomous innovations. These LPs contributed to the improvement of various aspects of well-being and facilitated the transformation of the social-ecological systems by enhancing the five previously proposed enabler categories. The multi-layered and interrelated functioning of LPs promotes the enhancement of various aspects of human well-being and strengthens the enabler categories. These were found to be important mechanisms for the transformation of social-ecological systems. Based on these results, we derive nine guiding principles for the conditions and mechanisms of transformation. These results indicate that a deeper study of autonomous innovation through an LP lens could make a significant contribution to solving or mitigating the wicked problems faced by humanity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Community Development Based on Transdisciplinary Integration of Natural Resource Management Systems)

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16 pages, 2068 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Autonomous Innovations in Rural Communities of Developing Countries II—Causal Network and Leverage Point Analyses of Transformations

by Shion Takemura, Hidetomo Tajima, Juri Hori, Mitsutaku Makino, John Banana Matewere, Dorothea Agnes Rampisela and Tetsu Sato

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12054; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912054 - 23 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1502

Abstract

Solving complex system challenges such as natural resource management in social-ecological systems (SESs) is fraught with great uncertainty. To cope with these challenges, socially vulnerable people in developing countries have created various autonomous innovations. This study focuses on the concept of leverage point (LP) to understand the emergence of innovations and the transformation mechanism of SESs. An LP is a part of a complex system where a small change can cause transformations in the entire system and can be identified from causal networks in an SES. This study analyzed the emergence processes of autonomous innovations as causal networks through transdisciplinary collaboration with innovators in communities and succeeded in visualizing the initial conditions, outcomes, and challenges. We constructed a new definition of LPs based on graph theory and classified LPs into three types based on their characteristics. The network analysis of the causal networks of two innovations in developing countries revealed that the three types of LPs functioned synthetically in complex systems to promote transformation. Based on these results, we propose the potential ways of interventions for the transformation of complex system networks including plural LPs and discuss their effectiveness as boundary objects in transdisciplinary processes collaborating with diverse stakeholders. Further research is expected to accumulate knowledge for solving the various challenges faced by SESs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Community Development Based on Transdisciplinary Integration of Natural Resource Management Systems)

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19 pages, 276 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Autonomous Innovations in the Rural Communities of Developing Countries I—A Narrative Analysis of Innovations and Synergies for Integrated Natural Resource Management

by Hidetomo Tajima, Tetsu Sato, Shion Takemura, Juri Hori, Mitsutaku Makino, Dorothea Agnes Rampisela, Motoko Shimagami, John Banana Matewere and Brighten Ndawala

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11659; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811659 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1661

Abstract

Vulnerable sectors of the population living in poverty in developing countries are highly dependent on renewable natural resources for their livelihoods and daily lives. Sustainable resource management, improving the well-being of vulnerable people, and building resilience to shocks are global challenges. This study analyzed the outcomes of various autonomous innovations by the people themselves and the enablers of these innovations in the communities of developing countries. This analysis of 20 autonomous innovations from six countries revealed that these innovations produced outcomes that simultaneously improved multiple indicators of human well-being, including “basic materials for a good life”, “safety”, “health”, and “good social relations”. The process of promoting public values, such as education, health improvement, and landscape conservation as a by-product of collective actions was an important enabler of these innovations, as well as the innovator’s proactive attitude toward continuous improvement. Public values and supporting ecosystem services were emphasized from the early stages of collective actions, to realize synergies toward integrated natural resource management. It is also important to achieve conditions in which collective actions could be practiced autonomously and adaptively. These results revealed the great potential of autonomous innovations emerging among socially vulnerable groups and the important mechanisms for promoting autonomous innovations for the transformation of social-ecological systems toward sustainable futures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Community Development Based on Transdisciplinary Integration of Natural Resource Management Systems)

19 pages, 2684 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Agroecological Food Production, Ecological Restoration, Peasants’ Wellbeing, and Agri-Food Biocultural Heritage in Xochimilco, Mexico City

by Fernanda Figueroa, Martha B. Puente-Uribe, David Arteaga-Ledesma, Ana C. Espinosa-García, Marco A. Tapia-Palacios, Miguel A. Silva-Magaña, Marisa Mazari-Hiriart, Denise Arroyo-Lambaer, Daniel Revollo-Fernández, Carlos Sumano, Miguel I. Rivas, Alaíde Jiménez-Serna, Marco Covarrubias and Luis Zambrano

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9641; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159641 - 5 Aug 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2814

Abstract

Chinampería, a jeopardized precolonial agricultural practice, persists in the Xochimilco wetland, Mexico City. Agroecological chinampa production is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site, and contributes to the sustainability of both the urban wetland and the city. The ‘chinampa-refuge’ model (CRM) is a transdisciplinary effort to strengthen traditional agroecological practices and ecological restoration. Through an inter/transdisciplinary research framework, we addressed the model’s role in the sustainability of this socio-ecosystem concerning four significant drivers of the wetland’s transformation. The CRM has improved water quality locally, increased the suitable habitat for native aquatic biodiversity, and supported traditional agroecological practices, thus improving the quality and safety of food products. However, there are clear challenges regarding production and commercialization, some of which may be addressed through the strengthening of the social organization and collective action. However, other challenges are beyond the reach of chinampa producers’ efforts and the CRM, but are decisive in changing the degradation trends. In order to address these challenges, urgent and participatory government actions are needed based on the recognition of the causes of wetland degradation and the role of traditional chinampa production in its sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Community Development Based on Transdisciplinary Integration of Natural Resource Management Systems)

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21 pages, 10306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Ground Control Point Distribution for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Photogrammetry for Inaccessible Fields

by Ke Zhang, Hiromu Okazawa, Kiichiro Hayashi, Tamano Hayashi, Lameck Fiwa and Sarvesh Maskey

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9505; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159505 - 3 Aug 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3568

Abstract

Ground control point (GCP) is an important calibration factor when correcting position information during unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing. Studies of the optimal number and distribution shape of GCPs have been conducted worldwide in recent years. However, when conducting surveys at houses, construction sites, farming lands, forests, and some other locations, it is both difficult and destructive to install GCP inside the subject area. In many cases, it is only possible to install GCP at the outer edge around the area. Therefore, this study aims to suggest the optimal GCP distribution pattern, which can provide the highest accuracy, when only the outer edge of a particular area is available. In this research, 88 GCP patterns have been validated and compared at an 18 ha farm. Results show that the patterns with GCPs distributed evenly around the field provided the best calibration (RMSE = 0.15 m). If this kind of pattern is not achievable because of obstructions, patterns with GCPs distributed evenly around half of the field or forming an evenly distributed triangle can provide moderate accuracy (RMSE = 0.18 m and 0.43 m, respectively). Patterns with GCPs forming a straight line yielded the worst accuracy (RMSE = 2.10 m). This shows that GCP distributions of a two-dimensional shape, even if the surrounding area is small, are better calibrated than a long, straight line. These results strongly suggest that appropriate GCP distribution patterns in the study areas will provide satisfactory accuracy for constructing integrated monitoring systems of diverse resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Community Development Based on Transdisciplinary Integration of Natural Resource Management Systems)

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Review

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25 pages, 1385 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Sustainable Niche for Vegetable Production within the Contentious Sustainable Agriculture Discourse: Barriers, Opportunities and Future Approaches

by Dickson Mgangathweni Mazibuko, Hiroko Gono, Sarvesh Maskey, Hiromu Okazawa, Lameck Fiwa, Hidehiko Kikuno and Tetsu Sato

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 4747; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15064747 - 7 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3161

Abstract

Agricultural productivity impacts the environment and natural resources in various ways. The severity of these impacts has triggered the emergence of natural resource management and the related, highly criticized science of agroecology. Vegetable production has known environmental impacts. However, the extent of its participation in sustainable production has not been adequately explored. This review sought to explore the spaciotemporal position of vegetables in a suite of existing sustainable agricultural practices, explore regional variations and discover lessons that can guide the future of vegetable production. There are regional differences regarding sustainable production practices and the associated barriers to their adoption. Generally, sustainable agricultural practices with a societal history in a region tend to be successful, unlike when they are “new” innovations. The major barriers to sustainable agricultural practices in vegetable production are economy-related (total investment cost) and crop-related and are also related to the technology transmission approaches. Unfulfilled expectations and a lack of community participation in technology development are noted challenges, which have led to dis-adoption. A farmer-centered approach to technology promotion could help. Comparatively, southern Africa has the most challenges in the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. From the lessons learned from other regions, agroecology in vegetable cultivation is not unachievable in Africa. The projected challenges mean that sustainable vegetable production is inevitable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Community Development Based on Transdisciplinary Integration of Natural Resource Management Systems)

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21 pages, 1892 KiB

Open AccessReview

Satoumi Systems Promoting Integrated Coastal Resources Management: An Empirical Review

by Shinichiro Kakuma

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11702; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811702 - 18 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1561

Abstract

Coastal areas, eco-systems, biodiversity, and fisheries resources have been devastated worldwide because of diverse reasons. In Japan, to tackle these problems, various activities have been practiced, which deeply involve local people in Satoumi. The Satoumi activities are now spreading throughout the world. These Satoumi are extremely diverse, and it is difficult to capture them with a single definition or perspective. Because social–ecological systems in Satoumi areas are extremely complicated and highly uncertain, Satoumi co-creation requires transdisciplinary approaches in which diverse stakeholders including local residents, bilateral knowledge translators, and residential and visiting scientists play important roles. This paper reviews the various types of Satoumi in Japan and around the world, and Satoumi co-creation activities through the transdisciplinary approaches from multiple perspectives. The Satoumi co-creation includes not only the traditional single approach of resource management but also approaches to enhance the resources by direct human intervention, to conserve ecosystems that support the resources, and to survey and monitor the resources by fishers. This paper also reviews the synergy and integration of fisheries and other resource management, such as tourism-related activities in marine protected areas in Satoumi. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Community Development Based on Transdisciplinary Integration of Natural Resource Management Systems)

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