Search Results (34)

Kinmen Island, historically known as Quemoy, holds significant historical and geopolitical importance due to its strategic location in the Taiwan Strait, just a few kilometers from the Chinese mainland. This study presents the first comprehensive assessment of soil erosion and deposition on Kinmen, providing a scientific foundation for future land conservation and sustainable development initiatives. It also addresses the underrepresentation of small-island environments in soil erosion modeling by adapting the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Unit-Stream-Power-based Erosion Deposition (USPED) models for coarse-textured soils under limited rainfall conditions, offering insights into the reliability and limitations of these models in such contexts. The rainfall–runoff erosivity factor (${\mathrm{R}}_{\mathrm{m}}$) was derived from precipitation data at four stations, while soil samples from ten locations were analyzed for the Soil Erodibility Factor (${\mathrm{K}}_{\mathrm{m}}$). Topographic factors, including the Slope Length and Steepness ($\mathrm{LS}$) and the Topographic Sediment Transport (${\mathrm{LS}}_{\mathrm{T}}$) factors, were computed from a 20 m DEM (Digital Elevation Model), and the Cover-Management Factor ($\mathrm{C}$) was obtained from land use classification. The RUSLE estimated a mean soil erosion rate of 2.17 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, while the USPED results varied with parameterization, ranging from 0.87 to 3.79 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for erosion and 1.39 to 6.51 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for deposition. The results were compared with studies from the neighboring Fujian Province and contextualized through two field expeditions. This pioneering research advances the understanding of erosion and deposition processes in a strategically located island environment and supports evidence-based policies for land conservation, contributing to SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Full article

Land is a finite global resource supporting the growing population with food, shelter, recreation, and other environmental benefits. The United States has over 10% of global arable land, contributing to domestic and global food security. The number of farms in the United States has steadily declined with a relatively stable average farm size. Increasing population growth, pressure on food production and environmental sustainability are concerns for cropland decline and food security. This study analyzed the effects of competing land use, agricultural innovation and technology, climate change, and government policy on cropland. Seven decades (1945–2017) of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Census of Agriculture datasets were used as a case study to analyze drivers of cropland changes. The total amount of cropland recorded a 13% reduction in 2017 from 1945. Cropland used for pasture decreased by 72%, representing the most substantial proportional decline among the cropland categories. Competing land uses to cropland such as rural parks and wildlife increased over 1000%, urbanized land increased by 395%, and land designated for defense and industrial areas rose by 13% by 2017. The divergence between total factor productivity and farm inputs suggests that productivity gains were driven primarily by technological advancements rather than increased resource use. Linkages were drawn from several studies on climate change and population growth’s negative impact on cropland, whereas government policies and priorities can either influence cropland decline or increase, based on how the policies are structured. This study underscores a strategic planning approach that incorporates technological innovation, climate adaptation, and sustainable land management to balance agricultural output with competing land needs without compromising food security for the growing global population. Full article

The efficient management of urban parking systems has emerged as a pivotal issue in today’s smart cities, where increasing vehicle populations strain limited parking infrastructure and challenge sustainable urban mobility. Aligned with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the strategic goals of smart city planning, this study presents a sustainability-driven, multiagent simulation-based framework to model, analyze, and optimize smart parking dynamics in congested urban settings. The system architecture integrates ground-level IoT sensors installed in parking spaces, enabling real-time occupancy detection and communication with a centralized system using low-power wide-area communication protocols (LPWAN). This study introduces an intelligent parking guidance mechanism that dynamically directs drivers to the nearest available slots based on location, historical traffic flow, and predicted availability. To manage real-time data flow, the framework incorporates message queuing telemetry transport (MQTT) protocols and edge processing units for low-latency updates. A predictive algorithm, combining spatial data, usage patterns, and time-series forecasting, supports decision-making for future slot allocation and dynamic pricing policies. Field simulations, calibrated with sensor data in a representative high-density urban district, assess system performance under peak and off-peak conditions. A comparative evaluation against traditional first-come-first-served and static parking systems highlights significant gains: average parking search time is reduced by 42%, vehicular congestion near parking zones declines by 35%, and emissions from circling vehicles drop by 27%. The system also improves user satisfaction by enabling mobile app-based reservation and payment options. These findings contribute to broader sustainability goals by supporting efficient land use, reducing environmental impacts, and enhancing urban livability—key dimensions emphasized in sustainable smart city strategies. The proposed framework offers a scalable, interdisciplinary solution for urban planners and policymakers striving to design inclusive, resilient, and environmentally responsible urban mobility systems. Full article

It is essential to emphasize the significant impacts of climate change, which are evident in the form of severe and prolonged droughts, hurricanes, snowstorms, and other climatic disturbances. These challenges are particularly pronounced in urban environments and among human populations. The situation is further aggravated by the increasing utilization of available open spaces for residential and industrial development, leading to heightened energy consumption, elevated pollution levels, and increased carbon emissions, all of which negatively affect public health. The primary objective of this review article is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of current research, with a particular focus on the innovative use of residual biomass from urban vegetation for biochar production in the United States. This research entails an exhaustive review of existing literature to assess the implementation of a carbon-negative wood biomass biochar system as a strategic approach to sustainable urban management. By transforming urban wood waste—including tree trimmings, construction debris, and storm-damaged timber—into biochar through pyrolysis, a thermochemical process that sequesters carbon while generating renewable energy, we can leverage this valuable resource. The resulting biochar offers a range of co-benefits: it enhances soil health, improves water retention, reduces stormwater runoff, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions when applied in urban green spaces, agriculture, and land restoration projects. This review highlights the advantages and potential of converting urban wood waste into biochar while exploring how municipalities can strengthen their green ecosystems. Furthermore, it aims to provide a thorough understanding of how the utilization of woody biomass biochar can contribute to mitigating urban carbon emissions across the United States. Full article

Rapid urbanization, climate variability, and land degradation are increasingly challenging traditional open-field farming systems. Soilless farming (SLF) has emerged as a complementary approach to enhance horticultural resilience in space-constrained and climate-stressed environments. This review critically evaluates the role of SLF within the broader framework of climate-smart agriculture (C-SA), with a particular focus on its applications in urban and peri-urban settings. Drawing on a systematic review of the existing literature, the study explores how SLF technologies contribute to efficient resource use, localized food production, and environmental sustainability. By decoupling crop cultivation from soil, SLF enables precise control over nutrient delivery and water use in enclosed environments, such as vertical farms, greenhouses, and container-based units. These systems offer notable advantages regarding water conservation, increased yield per unit area, and adaptability to non-arable or degraded land, making them particularly relevant for high-density cities, arid zones, and climate-sensitive regions. SLF systems are categorized into substrate-based (e.g., coco peat and rock wool) and water-based systems (e.g., hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics), each with distinct design requirements, nutrient management strategies, and crop compatibility. Emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and automation—further enhance SLF system efficiency through real-time data monitoring and precision control. Despite these advancements, challenges remain. High setup costs, energy demands, and the need for technical expertise continue to limit large-scale adoption. While SLF is not a replacement for traditional agriculture, it offers a strategic supplement to bolster localized food systems and address climate-related risks in horticultural production. Urban horticulture is no longer a peripheral activity; it is becoming an integral element of sustainable urban development. SLF should be embedded within broader resilience strategies, tailored to specific socioeconomic and environmental contexts. Full article

An increasing lack of raw materials, resource depletion, environmental impacts and other concerns have changed the way the population faces garbage disposal and municipalities implement waste management strategies. The aggravated global rise in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation has led to a new stage in full development, with objectives and targets set by the European Union regarding reducing the production of MSW. The targets also include the increasing selective collection, reuse, recycling and recovery (organic and energetic) of the waste produced. At the same time, the European Union has also set caps for the greenhouse gas emissions and for increasing the use of alternative renewable energy sources. In this context, one of the sources of renewable energy that is beginning to be used to produce electricity in our country is biogas. Finally, AD promotes the development of a circular economy. The present study introduces the formalism for a computer application that simulates the technical–economic behaviour of the short-term management of biogas for the conversion of electricity, and the mathematical model is formulated as a mathematical programming problem with constraints. A simulation for a case study of short-term management is given using the real landfill data available. The case study proves the ability of the LandGEM, despite some authors’ support that the Tabasaran–Rettenberger model provided a more reliable estimate, especially when compared to actual landfill data. The present paper is a contribution to the optimisation of the management of electricity from the use of biogas, namely the second phase of the Strategic Plan for Urban Waste. In addition to complying with the legislation in force, the use of biogas to produce electricity is an added value for the concessionaires of waste treatment and final destination units, as this alternative energy source can provide not only self-sufficiency in electricity for these units but also the export of surplus energy to the National Electricity Grid, thus contributing to the self-sustaining management and energy flexibility that is intended for these infrastructures. Full article

Changes in land use and land cover (LULC) and climate increasingly influence flood occurrences in the Gumara watershed, located in the Upper Blue Nile (UBN) basin of Ethiopia. This study assesses how these factors impact return period-based peak floods, flood source areas, and future high-flow extremes. Merged rainfall data (1981–2019) and ensemble means of four CMIP5 and four CMIP6 models were used for historical (1981–2005), near-future (2031–2055), and far-future (2056–2080) periods under representative concentration pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) and shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). Historical LULC data for the years 1985, 2000, 2010, and 2019 and projected LULC data under business-as-usual (BAU) and governance (GOV) scenarios for the years 2035 and 2065 were used along with rainfall data to analyze flood peaks. Flood simulation was performed using a calibrated Hydrologic Engineering Center–Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) model. The unit flood response (UFR) approach ranked eight subwatersheds (W1–W8) by their contribution to peak flood magnitude at the main outlet, while flow duration curves (FDCs) of annual maximum (AM) flow series were used to analyze changes in high-flow extremes. For the observation period, maximum peak flood values of 211.7, 278.5, 359.5, 416.7, and 452.7 m³/s were estimated for 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year return periods, respectively, under the 2019 LULC condition. During this period, subwatersheds W4 and W6 were identified as major flood contributors with high flood index values. These findings highlight the need to prioritize these subwatersheds for targeted interventions to mitigate downstream flooding. In the future period, the highest flow is expected under the SSP5-8.5 (2056–2080) climate scenario combined with the BAU-2065 land use scenario. These findings underscore the importance of strategic land management and climate adaptation measures to reduce future flood risks. The methodology developed in this study, particularly the application of RF-MERGE data in flood studies, offers valuable insights into the existing knowledge base on flood modeling. Full article

Urban ecosystems, and the services they provide, are a key focus of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically SDG 11, which emphasizes making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Green infrastructure (GI) is crucial in enhancing citizens’ quality of life and achieving this goal and it can be defined as a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas designed to deliver a range of ecosystem services (ESs). These infrastructures improve ecosystem functioning, protect biodiversity, promote health, support sustainable land and water management, and boost the local green economy. This paper explores the scientific literature on GI and their ESs in cities using bibliometric science. By combining the keywords “Green Infrastructures”, “Ecosystem Services”, and “Cities” with VOSviewer software (1.6.20 version), we analyzed trends over time. Results show growing attention to these topics, emphasizing human well-being, urban resilience, and sustainability. The study also highlights that focusing exclusively on either “Green Infrastructure in Cities” or “Ecosystem Services in Cities” leads to fragmented insights. A more integrated examination of these three domains offers a holistic view and underscores the importance of considering ecosystem disservices. The study further identifies key research directions, including the need for a comprehensive evaluation of diverse GI types, especially those that are under-researched, such as green roofs, sports areas, and wetlands, and the underexplored role of cultural ecosystem services. Additionally, future research should consider both the benefits and disservices of GI to support better urban planning decisions. Finally, integrating biophysical, social, and economic values of ESs is critical for providing more holistic insights and enhancing sustainable urban development. The novelty of this paper lies in its integrated, holistic approach to examining GI and ESs in urban areas, with a focus on ecosystem disservices, insufficient attention to specific GI types, and the role of cultural ecosystem services—each contributing to the creation of more resilient and sustainable cities. Full article

Integrated ocean management (IOM) aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and serves as a crucial strategy for promoting the enduring health of marine ecosystems and the sustainable utilization of marine resources. An analysis of the evolution of China’s integrated ocean management policy (IOMP) is crucial for providing valuable guidance in achieving sustainable growth in marine management and the marine economy for both China and other coastal nations worldwide. This paper studies the evolution characteristics, challenges, and prospects of IOMP in China since 1978 using content analysis. The findings indicate that the evolution of IOMP can be categorized into four stages: the germination period (1978–1998), the construction period (1999–2009), the systematization period (2010–2017), and the strategization period (2018–present), based on the state of international marine management. The IOMP has transitioned over time from its initial emphasis on resource development during the germination period to a strategization period that prioritizes the full development of all parts of the system. However, the ultimate goal has consistently been to achieve harmonious coexistence between people and the sea. China’s IOMP has experienced a progressive development; nevertheless, it continues to encounter obstacles such as the pressing requirement to revise sea-related policies and the absence of policy alignment. The objective of this paper is to explore the evolution, challenges, and prospects of China’s IOMP to better improve the land–sea coordination policy, strengthen international judicial cooperation. and provide effective policy reference for other maritime countries. Full article

The planning and implementation of surveillance of state territory in forested border areas, especially mountainous areas, is considered to be highly complex. This is illustrated by the example of the difficulties the European Union faced in controlling the 2015 European migration crisis. Thereby, Croatia has the difficult task of protecting the borders of the Union because a particular problem on the Western Balkan Route is the so-called bottleneck to Slovenia in the area of the Municipality of Donji Lapac, which consists of the green border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Consequently, by using the example of planning multi-purpose forest roads, the aim of this paper is to propose the inclusion of the road network of border management units of mountain areas in the control system of the state’s green border, which, in this paper, includes its surveillance and protection by land for the purpose of national security. The research was conducted on the example of the Visočica–Lisac border management unit in the Municipality of Donji Lapac. The results of the research indicate a possible solution to the control of the border management unit by establishing a two-level surveillance system. The higher level consists of strategically defined surveillance points and corresponding multi-purpose forest roads designed on a tactical level. At this level, the priority is protection or, more precisely, defense of the state border. The lower level consists of tactically determined surveillance points with corresponding multi-purpose forest roads designed on the operational level. In addition to protecting the state border, this level would also have the task of protecting the forest, that is, monitoring the area of the management unit. Full article

Wildfire occurrences have increased and are projected to continue increasing globally. Strategic, evidence-based planning with diverse stakeholders, making use of diverse ecological and social data, is crucial for confronting and mitigating the associated risks. Prescribed fire, when planned and executed carefully, is a key management tool in this effort. Assessing where prescribed fire can be a particularly effective forest management tool can help prioritize efforts, reduce wildfire risk, and support fire-resilient lands and communities. We collaborated with expert stakeholders to develop a Bayesian network model that integrated a large variety of biophysical, socioecological, and socioeconomic spatial information for the Southeastern United States to quantify where risk is high and where prescribed fire would be efficient in mitigating risk. The model first estimated wildfire risk based on landscape-scale interactions among the likelihoods of fire occurrence and severity and the people and resources potentially exposed—accounting for socioeconomic vulnerabilities as well as key ecosystem services. The model then quantified the potential for risk reduction through prescribed fire, given the existing fuel load, climate, and other landscape conditions. The resulting expected risk estimates show high risk concentrated in the coastal plain and interior highland subregions of the Southern US, but there was considerable variation among risks to different ecosystem services and populations, including potential exposure to smoke emissions. The capacity to reduce risk through fuel reductions was spatially correlated with risk; where these diverged, the difference was largely explained by fuel load. We suggest that both risk and the capacity for risk reduction are important in identifying priorities for management interventions. The model serves as a decision support tool for stakeholders to coordinate large-landscape adaptive management initiatives in the Southern US. The model is flexible with regard to both empirical and expert-driven parameterizations and can be updated as new knowledge and data emerge. The resulting spatial information can help connect active management options to forest management goals and make management more efficient through targeted investments in priority landscapes. Full article

Karst is a peculiar natural landscape arising from high rock solubility and well-developed underground solutional channel porosity. It is unique for its surface relief (exokarst) and subsurface drainage, including cave systems (endokarst). In Portugal, karst areas mainly consist of marginal or low-density territories with great fragility and vulnerability and great geo-environmental richness that merits better policies and practices regarding their geo-conservation. Endokarst potential assessments can provide decision-makers and local authorities insight into present and future territorial management and planning. In this context, the main objective of this study was to produce a cartographic model to identify areas with a greater probability of containing karstic caves—i.e., a greater endokarst potential—in the northern sector of the Santo António Plateau (Estremadura Limestone Massif, Central Portugal). Geological, topographic, hydrogeological, and land cover data were collected, processed, and integrated into a spatial database using a Geographic Information System. The locations of known cave entrances in the study area were also identified from local public institutions and speleological team records. Subsequently, four conditioning factors were extracted from the data: lithostratigraphic units, fracture density, relief energy, and land cover. Using a multi-criteria decision-making analysis, each previously chosen conditioning factor and its respective classes were weighted using an analytic hierarchy process. The locations of known cave entrances served to evaluate the cartographic model built, with results showing an agreement of 81.9%. This prototype of the endokarst potential map for the study area may be used for strategic and operational environmental planning (at least on a local scale) to assist decision-makers, competent authorities, and local speleological teams. Its application may promote a more accurate and thoughtful definition of areas to be investigated, substantially reducing the time and costs associated with field prospecting. Full article

Cellulosic bioenergy feedstocks are needed to improve carbon (C) management while provisioning biomass for bioproducts and biofuel. The transition to increased cellulosic biomass production can be guided by land management plans designed to improve economic, environmental, and ecological performance. We constructed a sustainability model to compare landscape designs for biofuel production from corn (Zea mays L.) stover and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) in central Iowa, USA. We used the model to compare environmental and socioeconomic outcomes associated with four landscape management strategies, with and without cellulosic biomass markets. We evaluated (1) a fuelshed area containing over 1.2 million ha (3 million acres) of corn and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) within 80 km (50 miles) of a commercial-scale cellulosic biorefinery in Nevada, Iowa, and (2) the South Fork watershed containing over 72,000 ha (178,000 acres) of these row crops within eight north central Iowa HUC-12 (hydrologic unit code) watersheds. At both landscape scales, we found that it is possible to achieve multiple environmental and socioeconomic benefits concomitantly with cellulosic biomass production by strategically collecting corn stover and converting the 10% of the lowest-profitability row crop land to perennial switchgrass. Potential benefits from landscape design include increased biodiversity, soil and water quality improvements, increased soil carbon sequestration for climate change mitigation, and reduced fertilizer use and cost. Our model results showed that increasing benefits can accrue when complementary conservation practices (e.g., reduced tillage, use of a rye cover crop) are combined and integrated throughout a fuelshed or watershed area. We conclude that ecologically based landscape designs offer valuable insights about costs and benefits of land management alternatives, with relevance for achieving stakeholder goals. Full article

As a country with not only significant production potential but also fragmented land ownership, the Kyrgyz Republic struggles with environmental efficiency, which is a strategic element of environmental management in agricultural production. The objective of this study was to assess the environmental efficiency of sheep’s wool when used as a fertilizer in bean production in northern Kyrgyzstan. In this study, the efficiency indicator was taken to be GHG emissions per functional unit of product, using a proprietary methodology for calculating GHG emissions to determine the true value of this material as a source of soil nutrients and organic matter. Two experimental factors were used in the experiment: fertilizer type and fertilizer rate. Fertilization with sheep wool resulted in a 15% higher bean yield compared to when fertilized with mineral fertilizers at a comparable rate, converted to pure nitrogen. By using sheep wool as a source of mineral nutrients for the plants, the carbon footprint was reduced by almost 10% compared to a facility with mineral fertilization. Therefore, the use of sheep wool as a source of plant nutrients is environmentally justified. Full article

Wildfires in Indonesia are an annual phenomenon which peak in dry El Nino years, with up to 2.6 million ha of forest and land burnt in the drought year of 2015. This is an annual disaster for the country and surrounding region, with severe impacts on the environment, as well as human health, economic and social factors. Forest Management Units (FMUs, known locally as Kesatuan Pengelolaan Hutan, KPH) are the implementation agencies on the ground that play a strategic role in both the prevention and suppression of forest fires. FMUs are mandated to establish a local fire brigade, to provide adequate personnel and equipment, and to carry out fire prevention as well as suppression programs. This research aimed to analyze the performance of forest fire-related policy implementation. The study was based on five FMUs in fire-prone regions of Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra, Indonesia. The performance of the FMUs is measured by achievement of the policy objectives and effectiveness of policy implementation. Our analysis shows the policies, standards and objectives to manage fire are clear for FMUs, but there are challenges in their implementation, such that fire control activities have not been fully implemented. Most FMUs have limited capacity and resources, as well as complicated budget mechanisms and low community participation. Strengthening FMU capacity will significantly improve their performance in forest fire control, particularly in the initial stages. This can be done at three scales: personnel, organization and system. Full article