Agricultural sustainability assessment using multicriteria indicators and hierarchical tools - a review

Companies, as key actors in society, have been pressured to change the way they do business to integrate sustainability into their daily practices and to disclose their impacts and contributions to sustainable development. In this context, a new organizational competence – sustainability management – related to the way how companies manage and integrate sustainability issues in their core business, becomes relevant. Therefore, to understand how this competence is built or evolve over time is of major importance for their applicability. Sustainability or environmental management evolution is not new, however the extant literature points out that it is still incipient, it does not explain clearly how companies change their environmental stance over time or provide detailed definition or characteristics of each stage. In this context, this paper aims to understand the current state of sustainability management evolution models updating Kolk and Mauser (2002) work; and to present a consolidative evolution model for sustainability management derived from the complementarity of the identified models. We conclude that it is not indeed a consolidated discussion as there is not consensus regarding type of evolution, pathway followed and the very construct of sustainability.

As a pillar industry of the Chinese national economy, the construction sector needs to improve its level of management to embrace sustainable development. Sustainable construction project management (SCPM) performance evaluation can help to raise the level of management. However, the existing evaluation system that takes into account both the sustainable development and the dimension of traditional project management is meager. In order to address this problem, this study sets out an integrated sustainable performance evaluation method for SCPM, along with a comprehensive analysis of both traditional and future management directions. Through literature review and enterprise data analysis of the relevant factors of finance, schedule, quality, and safety, etc., indicators are filtered and classified. In order to determine the strength of each indicator, a questionnaire is administered to construction professionals within a large construction enterprise (group). From the result of the weight with an improved Group-G1 (iG1) method (finance 0.206, schedule 0.206, quality 0.185, safety 0.134, informatization 0.134, and greenization 0.134), it indicates that finance, schedule and quality management are still top three important dimensions in SCPM. However, amazingly, the greenization and informatization management is as significant as safety management. Finally, based on set pair analysis, the Guangzhou Metro Line 7 project is used as a verifying case, affirming the validity of the sustainable performance evaluation model. The above SCPM evaluation model can not only provide a guideline for construction companies’ sustainable management in China, but also serve as reference cases for other countries/regions to carry out relevant research work.

Introduction. The study assessed the impact of EU funds on sustainable tourism in the Lower Silesian region of Poland in the years 2014-2019. Material and methods. A literature review and the following research methods were used in the study: logical analysis and construction, as well as documentary and statistical analyses. A database was compiled containing statistical data on implemented tourism projects subsidized with EU funds in municipalities of Lower Silesia. Each project was then assigned to one of sustainable tourism sections in accordance with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Destination Criteria. Statistical analysis included structure analysis, basic statistics, and the Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test and post-hoc test. Results. The Kruskal-Wallis test results (H = 20.01 for project values, and H = 23.34 for the amount of EU funding) and the probability level (p = 0.001) demonstrated that project expenditures on tourism in each sustainable tourism section differed significantly. The multiple comparisons test (post-hoc test) revealed statistically significant differences between the values of projects implemented in the sections of cultural sustainability and sustainable management (p = 0.009), cultural sustainability and environmental sustainability (p = 0.009), socio-economic sustainability and sustainable management (p = 0.009), and socio-economic sustainability and environmental sustainability (p = 0.008). In terms of the amount of EU funding, statistically significant differences were found between cultural sustainability and environmental sustainability (p = 0.001), and socio-economic sustainability and environmental sustainability (p = 0.001). Conclusions. The allocation of EU funds for tourism projects did not contribute to the implementation of sustainable tourism. In the next EU programming period, i.e. 2021-2027, a more sustainable allocation of funds for tourism projects should be pursued. There is a clear need to increase the number and value of tourism projects implemented in the area of environmental sustainability.

Sustainable achievements and future aspirations in the NHS

<p>Forests provide essential economic, social, cultural and environmental services. To be able to maintain the provision of these services, sustainable forest management (SFM) is a vital obligation. The maintenance of biodiversity, ranging from gene to ecosystem levels, is essential for functions and associated services, and it is one of the most important criterion for assessing sustainability in the Pan-European region. <br>Currently, the majority of SFM Criteria and Indicators focuses on attributes relative to tree species or to the whole forest. With reference to biodiversity conservation, this means that the collected information cannot fully assess whether forests are being managed sustainably. To understand the drivers of forest biodiversity and drive sustainable management, several taxonomic groups should be investigated, since they may respond differently to the same environmental pressures. However, up to now, broad multi-taxonomic analyses were mainly performed through reviews and meta-analyses which limit our holistic understanding on the effects of forest management on different facets of biodiversity. Recently, several research institutions took up the challenge of multi-taxonomic field sampling. These local efforts, however, have limited extrapolation power to infer trends at the European scale. It is high time to share, standardize and use existing multi-taxon data through a common platform to inform sound management and political decisions. Biodiversity indicators have also some potential to be used in evaluation of impact of forest management on soils and surface waters in terms of naturalness, degradation and reclamation.<br>We present the COST Action CA18207 “Biodiversity of Temperate forest Taxa Orienting Management Sustainability by Unifying Perspectives” (Bottoms-Up). It will gather the most comprehensive knowledge of European multitaxonomic forest biodiversity through the synergy of research groups that collected data locally in more than 2200 sampling units across approximately 300 sites covering nine different European forest types. For each sampling unit, information will be available on at least three taxonomic groups (vascular plants, fungi, lichens, birds and saproxylic beetles being the most represented) and on live stand structure and deadwood. Multi-taxon biodiversity will be associated with: (i) information on forest management based on observational studies at the coarse scale, and (ii) structural data deriving from forest manipulation experiments at the fine scale. </p><p>Specific objectives are:<br>• Developing a standardized platform of multi-taxon data;<br>• Establishing a network of forest sites with baseline information for future monitoring;<br>• Designing shared protocols for multi-taxon sampling;<br>• Assessing the relationships between multi-taxon biodiversity, structure and management;<br>• Creating a coordinated network of forest manipulation experiments;<br>• Evaluating indicators and thresholds of sustainability directly tested on biodiversity;<br>• Developing management guidelines defining sustainable management to be applied in forest certification and within protected areas.</p><p>The Action involves about 80 researchers and stakeholders from 29 countries and represents an outstanding opportunity to develop a strong network of collaboration for standardized broad-scale multitaxon studies in Europe.</p><p>Keywords:  Multi-taxon, Pan-European region, Sustainable Forest Management. </p><p> </p>

Abstract. Ekarini DF, Setiawati S, Gawi JM. 2022. Enabling sustainable community-based human-tiger conflict management in Seluma, Bengkulu, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 6404-6412. Human-wildlife conflict has emerged as one of the major threats to the global population of large carnivores. This condition applies to the endemic and Critically Endangered Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae). Although efforts to resolve conflict have been made from time to time, a sustainable solution is still very much needed, particularly given the unique characteristics of each case and area of conflict. A community-based approach to human-tiger conflict management can become a local-based solution towards a more sustainable management. This study aims to identify needs, gaps, and next steps related to collective action and sustainable community-based human-tiger conflict management in Seluma, Bengkulu, using a qualitative approach with literature review followed by semi-structure interview method. This study’s findings show that in the context of community-based human-tiger conflict management, the needs and gaps are still identified, particularly in: training and capacity building, adaptive management and applied research, communication and information exchange, policy frameworks and legal instruments, as well as funding. To make community-based human-tiger conflict management sustainable, the strength and sustainability of: coherent legal instruments; commitment, involvement, active role, communication, and support from all stakeholders, and; comprehensive environmental, social and economic data-based planning; need to be ensured.

The purpose of this paper is to outline strategies of sustainable stormwater management design and innovation for private developments and public infrastructure projects in urban areas. This paper will focus on urban stormwater management, with several examples of private and public projects recently completed that implement sustainable stormwater management design. Through examination of specific projects this paper will assist the audience in understanding current local trends for sustainable stormwater management, provide information on local agency requirements for their implementation, and foster a discussion of techniques to change the current way of thinking in their application in public and private infrastructure projects. This paper is based on the authors’ experience as an engineer and designer of sustainable stormwater management systems as well as review of current literature addressing sustainable stormwater management. I. Introduction Managing stormwater has been part of human’s interaction with their environment for millennia. Humans have used numerous methods to prevent damage from flooding and erosion caused by stormwater during rainfall events. Typical stormwater management controls consist of structural and non-structural elements that contain and convey stormwater during a rain event. These typical stormwater management controls can consist of wet and dry detention basins, large pipes, and concrete structures. Recently, new practices of managing stormwater have begun to develop that place the focus on preserving and maintaining the natural hydrology within a watershed. Maintaining and replicating natural hydrology provides sustainable benefits that include reductions in pollutant and nutrient loading to existing watersheds, groundwater recharge, decreasing erosion, and lowering the burden on existing sewer and stormwater management infrastructure. The new practice and understanding of stormwater management can be seen in large metropolitan areas in the United States such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle, as well as smaller municipalities and local communities (Newell, et al. 2012). In particular, the City of Chicago and surrounding area have recently developed codes and requirements that promote sustainable stormwater management for new developments within their jurisdiction. Examining the current trend in Chicago will

A new analytical tool for the elastic/plastic buckling design of pressure vessels subjected to external pressure

The business practice of recent years could not do without the application of change and turnaround management, as well as the incorporation of sustainability principles into the management of companies. The goal is to examine the implementation of the EU directive, according to which companies can create long-term, sustainable values instead of short-term benefits. We are examining the possibilities and driving forces for making this a reality in the Hungarian agricultural sector. Our research questions: Why and how can corporate sustainable management, growth and value creation build on each other in practice? What are the necessary corporate quantitative and qualitative frameworks in today’s uncertain world? Why and how are corporate turnaround management and sustainability related? Does sustainable reorganization management technique exist in the Hungarian agricultural sector at all? Based on the results obtained from comparative financial and economic analysis of cases and benchmarks, we carry out sensitivity tests, which can even serve to replan the work of the decision-makers.

Solid waste management is a significant issue for sustainable development that involves the technical, socioeconomic, legal, ecological, political, and even cultural components. For this reason, systems analysis has been uniquely providing interdisciplinary support for policy analysis and decision making in solid waste management for the last few decades. Considering these challenges and accomplishments retrospectively, this paper presents a thorough literature review and in-depth discussions of systems analysis models that are promising for providing forward-looking, cost-effective, risk-informed, and environmentally benign decisions for sustainable solid waste management. To simplify the discussion, the spectrum of these systems analysis models was divided into three broadly based domains associated with fourteen categories, although some of them may be intertwined with each other. The first domain comprises systems engineering models including cost-benefit analysis, forecasting analysis, simulation analysis, optimization analysis, and integrated modeling system; the second domain introduces systems analysis platforms, such as management information systems/decision support systems/expert systems; and the third domain introduces system assessment tools including scenario development, material flow analysis, life-cycle assessment, risk assessment, environmental impact assessment, strategic environmental assessment, socioeconomic assessment, and sustainable assessment. While some models or tools may be elucidated with respect to multiple managerial purposes, such as integrated modeling system and sustainable assessment, others may cover extended foci of market-based instruments and regulatory requirements, such as socioeconomic assessment and environmental impact assessment. The authors use the term systems analysis as a placeholder for the disparate strands of research and practice at this intersection between environmental systems engineering and sustainability science. Given that the sustainable management is necessary at all phases of impact from the interactions among several prescribed paradigms, current and future solid waste management strategies in relation to systems analysis were particularly discussed. Such a critical review paper may aid the prediction of the possible challenges and the preparation of the appropriate tactics in dealing with large-scale complex solid waste management systems under normal operation and special conditions. It should lead the authors to echo some of their real world observational evidence in terms of cost-benefit-risk trade-off in decision analysis for solid waste management.

Plastic waste management is critical and essential for building sustainable cities in the world. This agenda has been backed by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11. Developed nations consider the impact of waste management and recognise it as a core marketing strategy for green business development, serving as an opportunity to propel a greener economy. However, solid waste management systems in developing countries have been characterised by ad-hoc strategies due to changes in political leadership and the absence of concerted effort and collaborative approaches. This chapter explores the conflicting goals among the government, firms, and consumers towards the management of plastic waste and proposes a tripartite approach towards its sustainable management. A desk-based review of relevant literature was undertaken to further knowledge on the roles and challenges of governments, firms, and consumers and their implications for sustainable plastic waste management. This chapter draws on waste management literature to propose strategies to transform behaviours and coordinated policies to achieve sustainable plastic waste management.

In this article, we cumulate previous research findings indicating that organizations advance to superior phases of environmental management development in order to attain corporate sustainability by the use of participative decision-making. We contribute to the literature on corporate sustainability management and performance by showing that the correlation between sustainable development governance, organizational knowledge, sustainable organizational development, and corporate sustainability, which shapes corporate environmental and sustainability management. Throughout June 2020, we conducted a quantitative literature review of ProQuest, Scopus, and the Web of Science databases, with search terms including “corporate sustainability”, “corporate sustainability management”, “corporate sustainability performance”, “sustainability reporting”, “sustainable supply chain management”, “sustainable corporate development”, and “environmental management systems”. As we inspected research published exclusively in the past two years, only 338 articles met the eligibility criteria. By eliminating the findings that were questionable, unsubstantiated by replication, or too general, and due to space limitations, we selected 93, mainly empirical, sources. Future research should investigate whether corporate governance systems, through organizational sustainability practices and performance reporting, can shape operational environmental sustainability and sustainable organizational culture.

Business models and sustainable plastic management: A systematic review of the literature

Development of a systematic framework for sustainability management of organizations

<strong></strong>Enabling Transparency Through Technology? Non-Governmental Satellite Imagery Analysis of North Korea<strong> </strong>