Innovation, traditional knowledge and awareness lead to good practices for avoiding biodiversity loss in the Sahara

Food security and sustainable use of natural resources: a 2020 Vision

UNESCO has been required by its Member States to assist in implementing the recommendations of the World Conference on Science, held in Budapest in June 1999. In particular, UNESCO should identify national strategies for biodiversity protection in biosphere reserves and similarly managed areas, with special emphasis on coastal areas, small islands and mangroves, South-South technology transfer and intensive training for the management of renewable natural resources in selected case studies throughout specific developing countries. With generous support from the Government of Japan, UNESCO is now implementing the ASPACO project from January 2001 to December 2003, in close collaboration with MAB-Japan, ISME and the UNU. The project emphasises the role of biosphere reserves as catalysts for both conservation and development. The complementary roles of UNESCO, ISME and UNU in scientific issues of nature preservation and sustainable use of natural resources are eminent for action in (1) integrated management and sustainable development of coastal areas, including economic zones, and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage via "ethical tourism"; (2) mangrove forest environmental protection, (3) sustainable use and conservation of renewable natural resources under national jurisdiction; and (4) strengthening international, including regional, co-operation and co-ordination. This project will pay particular attention to those countries having or planning biosphere reserves and to those countries whose governments have strong relations with the MAB of UNESCO. Training, capacity building and increase of local capabilities for research and management of sustainable use of renewable natural resources are key elements of the project. In particular, through the involvement of ISME, the project will promote exchange of information, research results and scientists with respect to preservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. It will help to disseminate knowledge of comparative research through publications and/or network databases. Within the framework of action for poverty eradication, the project will try to identify how to improve living conditions for the inhabitants of concerned areas as a basic requirement for human security, with special attention to food and fodder production and the rational use of biodiversity for the benefit of local populations. Capacity building for the development of biosphere reserves will be through North-South exchanges; exchange of experience by training of biosphere reserve managers will be through South-South exchanges. This includes strengthening of existing capacities and increase of local capacity for carrying out management, natural resources assessment, research and training, with special emphasis on the education of young women. Project activities will be located in selected countries of the Pacific region, including small islands of the Pacific and the West Coast of Latin America.

Various decision support methods are used to support the sustainable use of natural resources, but there is little evidence about these methods' actual performances. In this study, 35 carefully selected papers assessing the sustainable use of natural resources were evaluated. The evaluated papers utilized one of the following methods: optimization, cost- benefit analysis (CBA) and monetary valuation methods, multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) or hybrid approaches. Each method supported sustainability in a different manner. Optimization and CBA case studies rarely involved stakeholders and social sustainability was less processed. Monetary valuation case studies showed a regular participation of the general public, but in a passive role. Experts and stakeholders with an active role were typical participants in MCDA and hybrid case studies. Internationally and nationally defined indicators of sustainability were scarcely used because indicators were frequently defined by stakeholders or the authors of the studied papers. It was presumed that international and national indicators were unsuitable for local use. Sustainability indicators typically took both the quantitative and qualitative form, including gaps and uncertainties. MCDA could be a suitable method for assessing sustainability because it has no strict requirements on the form of the data, and the participation of stakeholders is comprehensive. For the problem structuring phase, however, MCDA might not provide efficient tools. The ideal method for assessing the sustainable use of natural resources could be a hybrid of two methods with different approaches: qualitative methods could be used in the problem structuring process, whereas quantitative methods could be used when priorities and thresholds are assessed.

In the contemporary world, many environmental and social crises such as climate change, pollution, resource depletion, energy waste, deforestation, desertification, extinction of species, environmental racism, forced migration, waste trafficking, hazardous waste dumping, environmental injustice, etc. are cumulatively threatening the existence of humans and the planet itself as a result of irresponsible and immoral natural resources exploitation. Sustainable use of natural resources is a normative approach that advocates for responsible and wise use of natural resources to meet the needs of present and future generations. In Islam, the idea of sustainable use of natural resources is not new as the religious scripture Al-Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) instructed us to use the resources wisely in limits. Islam advocates for a harmonious and respectful relationship between humans and nature. Every element of the universe including humans is created by the Almighty one and only Allah in balance with a purpose. Humans are provided with everything needed to survive and flourish from nature by Allah but as vicegerent of Allah, they bear a special responsibility to take care of His creations. Islam advocates for sustainable use of natural resources so that natural resources can be distributed with justice and equity among generations and the natural equilibrium stays intact. This paper unravels the teachings of Islam regarding natural resource usage and shows how it promotes sustainable use of natural resources for future generations. In this paper, it will be shown that the Islamic perspective on natural resource usage can serve as a foundation to mitigate pollution, resource depletion, energy wastage, and other environmental crises prevailing in the current time and motivate the present generation to be cautious, moral, and responsible regarding natural resource usage. Philosophy and Progress, Vol#75-76; No#1-2; Jan-Dec 2024 P 309-334

The 3th International Conference “Sustainable and Efficient Use of Energy, Water and Natural Resources” 19-24 April, 2019 in the School of Biotechnology and Cryogenic Systems of ITMO University, together with the Tomsk Polytechnic University. The conference has been held since 2018.The aim of the conference is to create an effective platform for discussing practical and theoretical issues of energy conservation and resource efficiency. The target audience of the conference is the representatives of the organizations from scientific and educational communities, the representatives of state authorities and industrial and commercial companies.The target audience of the conference is the representatives of organizations from the scientific and educational complex as well as the representatives of state authorities and production companies.Within the framework of eight sections, reports were presented on a wide range of issues in the following areas: Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency, Environmentally-Friendly Energy Conversion and Supply, Environmental Protection Systems, Clean Technologies, Clean water, Sustainable Use of Natural Resources, Sustainable cold chains, Food Biotechnology for Human Health.List of Scientific and Organizing Committee is available in this pdf.

Co-management approach to sustainable management of marine protected areas: The case of Malaysia

Eutrophication is a major threat to the Baltic Sea, causing algae blooms and hypoxic bottoms. Ecological engineering methods aiming at help mitigating the nutrient imbalance problems have already been initiated or are being planned in the coastal zones of the Baltic Sea. This includes harvesting of reed, macro algae and blue mussels as nutrient and energy natural resources. The potential and feasibility of such methods to form the basis for sustainable use of natural resources is governed by the ecological, technical, economic and social aspects associated with the whole chain of processes from biomass to end products, e.g. biogas, fertilizers, and wastes. As a first step in a sustainability assessment, we show that biogas production from algae and reed is associated with a net energy benefit. Blue mussels do not result in a net energy benefit if used for biogas production, but represent the most efficient way of removing nutrients. Based on these preliminary results, we suggest that biogas production from reed and macro algae is worthy of further investigation, whereas for blue mussels, an alternative product must be found.

In this chapter the fate of those species that have been directly exploited for human use, either as food, materials, pets or status symbols is considered. The reasons for use, patterns of exploitation and the reasons why the harvesting has often been non-sustainable are discussed. A series of examples and case studies are used to illustrate the wide range of species that are threatened in this way. By reading this chapter students will gain an understanding of what is meant by sustainable and non-sustainable use of natural resources; gain a knowledge of the extent of exploitation of wild species and of the different types of trade that result in exploitation. What is sustainable use? The concept of sustainable use has different meanings in different contexts, for example, it would have different interpretations in economics and ecology. In conservation terms it generally means the use of species or natural communities in such a way that ensures they will remain in a ‘healthy’ state and be available for use by subsequent generations. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 (commonly known as the ‘Earth Summit’; see Chapter 7) brought the idea of sustainable development to the centre of the world political agenda. Central to the idea of sustainable development is the sustainable use of natural resources, including wild populations of animals and plants. We saw in Chapter 3 that human societies and economic systems still operate under the ‘Frontier Ethic’: ‘there's always more and its all for us’.

The urgency of this article is to conduct a thorough analysis of the legal regulation of the right to receive public information about the state of use of natural resources in Ukraine, as well as to determine the peculiarities of access to such in-formation. The purpose of this article is to study the peculiarities of legal regulation of access and to receive information about the sustainable use of natural resources in Ukraine. Among the methods by which the study of this topic was con-ducted, one can distinguish: dialectical method, formalization method, legal method, formal-legal method, hermeneutical method, logical-legal method, sys-tematic, structural-functional method, axiomatical method, methods of induction and deduction, method of analysis and synthesis, etc. In the process of research the basic concepts, terms and phenomena, which are applied in the course of the given research, definition of the normative-legal base, which regulates the recep-tion of public information about the sustainable use of natural resources by the population, analysis of peculiarities of access to public information about the state of use of natural resources, were given; analysis of experience of regulation of the right to receive public information on the state of environment and use of natural resources in foreign countries and introduction of such experience in Ukrainian leg-islation. In the course of the research, author's definitions were formed, in particular, there are "public information", "environmental information", "right to access to public information about the use of natural resources", etc. The regulatory and legal framework for the regulation of access to public information was studied and the peculiarities of obtaining information about the state of use of natural re-sources in Ukraine were analysed; international experience of regulation of the rights of the population to receive public information has been studied. Forecasting the further development of the legal regulation of access to public information on the state of use of natural resources in Ukraine, it should be noted that the most expedient and effective way is to take into account the experience of regulation of this sphere in foreign countries. The practical significance of the research lies in de-veloping a strategy for improving the legal regulation of access to public infor-mation in Ukraine based on the obtained research results, in particular the use of experience of regulating access to public information in foreign countries.

Giller, K. E., C. Leeuwis, J. A. Andersson, W. Andriesse, A. Brouwer, P. Frost, P. Hebinck, I. Heitkönig, M. K. van Ittersum, N. Koning, R. Ruben, M. Slingerland, H. Udo, T. Veldkamp, C. van de Vijver, M. T. van Wijk, and P. Windmeijer. 2008. Competing claims on natural resources: what role for science?. Ecology and Society 13(2): 34. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-02595-130234

discussed among the widerpublic. Pressure points in-cluding climate change,waterandfoodavailability,price surges for strategicraw materials, and peakingglobal oil supply are con-verging rapidly in an un-precedented manner. Thecurrent global patterns ofproduction and consump-tion are hitting the reallimitsofglobalecosystems.The global economy seems to be at a turningpoint where decisions are urgent while informa-tion is incomplete.The urgency of addressing issues of industrialmetabolism

The sustainable use of non-renewable natural resources is essential for ensuring economic development and preserving the environment for future generations. Non-renewable resources, such as metallic, non-metallic, and energy minerals, are the foundation of modern industry and the economy. However, their limited availability and the environmental impacts of their exploitation raise signifi cant concerns about sustainability. This paper explores approaches and strategies that can be applied to ensure the effi cient and responsible use of these resources. The integration of environmental standards into urban development planning and industrial production highlights the importance of minimizing negative environmental impacts. The concepts of the green agenda in planning, sustainable resource management, and technological innovation are analyzed as key factors for achieving sustainability. The paper also emphasizes the role of education and community awareness in promoting sustainable practices through a multidisciplinary approach that balances economic, social, and environmental aspects, thereby contributing to long-term sustainability. By implementing eff ective zoning, environmental impact assessments, resource management, and land rehabilitation, mineral resources can be utilized without compromising long-term ecological balance and social stability. Additionally, integrating legislative frameworks and policies into future planning can help protect the interests of local communities while supporting economic development based on the responsible use of natural resources.

As the economy and society develop and the population increases, there is an increasing demand for plant goods such as timber, food, medicine and so on. Because plant goods and services produced by original vegetation cannot meet the increasing need of people, most of the original vegetation has gradually become non-native vegetation, such as orchard, farmland, plantation and grass. Many exotic plant species were introduced to produce high-quality production and service. As plant grow, soil and vegetation degradation and crop failure will happen, which have to be resolved. According to my ten years of research, the results showed that Resources use limit by plants includes space resources use limit by plants, space vegetation carrying capacity and critical period of plant space relation regulation in soil water and nutrient rich regions, soil water resources use limit by plants, soil water vegetation carrying capacity and critical period of plant water relation regulation in water-limited regions and soil nutrient resources use limit by plants, soil nutrient vegetation carrying capacity and critical period of plant nutrient relation regulation in nutrient-limited regions. When the available amount of nature resources reduced to resources use limit by plants, the plant resources relation enters the critical period of plant resources relation regulation. The ending time of the critical period of plant resources relation regulation is the ineffective time of plant resources relation regulation, such as fruit mature or stopping service. The methods of sustainable use of nature resources and agriculture high-quality development is to select best plant species and varieties, take suitable initial plant density and take effect measure to ensure plant grow well and get maximal yield and beneficial effect. If the existing plant density is more than vegetation carrying capacity in the critical period of plant resources relation regulation, the plant resources relation must be regulated on the vegetation carrying capacity to ensure plant grow well and get maximal yield and beneficial effect and realize sustainable use of nature resources and agriculture high quality development.

Sustainable use of natural resources is one of the basic goals of sustainable spatial development, which could be achieved with the use of integrated planning. It includes comprehensive analyzes of all aspects of space in a unique planning methodology, involvement of participatory process, and institutional, financial and legislative support to the system of integrated planning. Integrated planning, due to its complexity and, to a largely extent, dependence on the system of socio-economic and administrative-political organization of the territory, is difficult to achieve in practice, even in developed countries. In the former socialist countries, such as the Republic of Srpska, there are numerous problems that need to be solved, in order to improve planning practices and create systemic preconditions for the implementation of integrated planning. Within this process, this paper also looks at the issue of sustainable use of natural resources in the territory of Republic of Srpska, which significantly participate in the potential of the Republic for sustainable future development. The paper deals in the first part with the theoretical assumptions and principles of sustainable development, through the prism of using natural resources, and then focuses on the methodology of integrated planning, with reference to legislation and planning practice in Republic of Srpska, with recommendations for their improvement.

The sustainable use of natural resources is one of the most critical challenges facing modern society. Chemical engineering plays a pivotal role in ensuring that natural resources are utilized efficiently and responsibly, minimizing waste and environmental impact. This article explores how chemical engineering contributes to the sustainable use of natural resources through process optimization, resource recovery, waste minimization, and the development of green technologies. The paper discusses key strategies for improving resource efficiency and examines the future directions of chemical engineering in addressing the challenges of sustainability and resource conservation.