Abundant Natural Resources Research Articles

Nature-Based Solutions: Sustainable Development of Latin America

Latin America is a region with abundant natural resources and diverse cultures, much of which lies between the tropics. Sustainable agriculture, pasture, and forestry practices can have a reduced environmental impact in this region compared to other parts of the world. These integrated systems practices can create a balanced use of chemical inputs, harmonious relations between humans and soil-plants-livestock, and even provide a nature-based solution to climate change by sequestering carbon emissions and are also less likely to lead to soil degradation. These practices are central to a new economic paradigm focused on a sustainable and circular bioeconomy and depend on public policies, incentives, financial mechanisms, and commitments from the business. Carbon farming sustainable agriculture focused on increasing soil health and reducing emissions can gain scale with market-driven mechanisms to surpass the various challenges. This paper presents condensed information from primary and secondary sources, representing established knowledge in the field of soil carbon sequestration in agricultural lands and its role in carbon neutrality. By implementing these strategies, we can support farmers while contributing to the objectives set by the Paris Agreement and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

Business Cycles in Africa: Unravelling the Dynamics of Sub-saharan Africa's Economic Growth

This research delves into the intricate dynamics of Africa's economic landscape against the backdrop of the global economic surge, surpassing rates unseen since the oil price shocks of the 1970s. The study shows a continuous period of robust global growth since 2004, characterized by low inflation and even distribution among nations, defying expectations given the increasing contribution of unstable emerging markets. The study sheds light on Africa's evolving economic scenario, marked by a growing awareness of sectoral fragmentation, oil price variation, and infrastructure development. Examining macroeconomic fundamentals in 2022, we note improvements in fiscal deficits but an increase in current account deficits, exchange rate fluctuations, and elevated inflation, driven by global factors. Moreover, the study unveils the enduring fragility of Africa's economic and social situation, affected by armed conflicts, unfavorable weather conditions, and declining trade. Despite abundant natural resources, the region contends with persistent poverty, positioning it as one of the most impoverished globally. The plots highlighted the historical economic gaps, emphasizing the formidable hurdles that have impeded Sub-Saharan Africa's growth, particularly in comparison to East Asia & Pacific and Latin America & Caribbean. The disparities underscore the need for strategic interventions, including diversifying export bases, strengthening fiscal management, and promoting inclusive growth. The study concludes with a call for coordinated efforts to address the complex challenges, fostering sustained and inclusive economic growth across the continent.

Potential Prospects for Population and Infrastructure in 2045 on Supporting Development in Nduga Regency

Adequate population and infrastructure are required for the growth of the economy. It is crucial for a country to have decent facilities since it is critical to home life as well as economic operations. The increase in population is a proportional enhancement of facilities and infrastructure. Nduga Regency is one of the districts in the Papua Pegunungan Province. It is an expansion area of Jayawijaya Regency in 2008 which has the potential for abundant population and natural resources. However, there is still a lack of research in this district. Therefore, this study aims to determine potential prospects for population and the availability of residential infrastructure in Nduga Regency to support development in 2045. The method used is population projection analysis and the projection of facilities and infrastructure of education, health, economy, and road. The expected output is the availability of residential facilities and infrastructure in Nduga Regency. In 2045, the population in Nduga Regency has the potential to increase to 172,876 people and with such a population. Hence, it is necessary to provide school buildings, health facilities, as well as additional economic facilities and road.

Crystallization-induced formation of two-dimensional carbon nanosheets derived from sodium lignosulfonate for fast lithium storage

Sodium lignosulfonate, an abundant natural resource, is regarded as an ideal precursor for the synthesis of hard carbon. The development of high-performance, low-cost and sustainable anode materials is a significant challenge facing lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The modulation of morphology and defect structure during thermal transformation is crucial to improve Li+ storage behavior. Synthesized using sodium lignosulfonate as a precursor, two-dimensional carbon nanosheets with a high density of defects were produced. The synergistic influence of ice templates and KCl was leveraged, where the ice prevented clumping of potassium chloride during drying, and the latter served as a skeletal support during pyrolysis. This resulted in the formation of an interconnected two-dimensional nanosheet structure through the combined action of both templates. The optimized sample has a charging capacity of 712.4 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, which is contributed by the slope region. After 200 cycles at 0.2 A g−1, the specific charge capacity remains 514.4 mA h g−1, and a high specific charge capacity of 333.8 mA h g−1 after 800 cycles at 2 A g−1. The proposed investigation offers a promising approach for developing high-performance, low-cost carbon-based anode materials that could be used in advanced lithium-ion batteries.

Low-carbon innovation efficiency of high-tech industries and its influencing factors

Abstract China has a vast territory, with an abundance of natural resources. Industrial investment of provinces promulgating and implementing state policies and measures on the basis of the various regions and industries are slowly widening the gap, which leads to significant differences in the level of industrial development. The imbalance between development at both provincial and municipal levels has become more prominent. The state has formulated a policy of coordinated development of the regional economy. There are differences between regions and industries in the demand for technological innovation of high-tech industry. This article is from the regional perspective, industry perspective and the perspective of the two. This paper, through the research of technology innovation and output data of China’s 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, finds the delivery rate is an independent variable of the average number of employees, R&D funds, R&D internal expenditure, external spending, new product sales income, the absorption of funding expenditure, technical transformation of funds for fixed assets, and gross profit as a technological low-carbon innovation efficiency measure. Using factor analysis, multiple regression methods and SPSS software, from the perspective of two regions and industries, enables empirical analysis of the influencing factors of this variable.

Community Strategy in Economic Improvement Based on the Utilization of Perlis Marine Natural Resources

The Perlis village is an oceanside community with abundant marine natural resources. However, the local economy needs to be better structured, contributing to the village's reputation as impoverished and undeveloped. As a result, the village's fishermen earn very little money, which is a shame because the village should be considered prosperous, particularly in the fishing industry. The researchers in this study set out to answer two questions: how can the people of Perlis Village enhance their economy? And second, what steps can they take to protect the sea and its marine biota so that they can use it to their advantage? They used a descriptive qualitative research approach to answer these questions and scoured academic journals, books, statistics, and BPS Langkat Regency for information. They then conducted in-depth interviews and observations with five fishermen and three UMKM seafood representatives. Data analysis by description to understand the field's, market's, and village's status; data validity through source triangulation through comparison with other sources. Based on the findings, the people of Perlis Village have improved their economic situation by implementing strategies that use marine products. These include increasing their fish catches, turning seawater into salt, creating shrimp paste artisans, making salted fish from unsold fish, and managing mangrove tourism. The plan implemented by the residents of Perlis Village has the potential to enhance the economic situation in Perlis Village.

Potential for on-grid hybrid renewable energy in a humid subtropical climatic zone: technological, economic, and environmental aspects

Abstract China’s abundant natural resources reveal inconsistencies in economics, environment, and society. Renewable energy sources can reduce environmental pollutants and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Using HOMER software, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, China, optimizes the economic, environmental, and technological aspects of creating an off-grid hybrid power system for 100 houses. According to the results, the most economically feasible photovoltaic (PV)–wind turbine (WT)–grid hybrid system is made up of one WT, 25.55 kW converters, and 80 kW PV panels. Its total net present cost (NPC) is $494 119, and its cost of energy (COE) is $0.043/kWh. However, because it has the greatest operation expenses, the PV–grid hybrid configuration has the highest NPC of $687 906 and COE of $0.068/kWh. Furthermore, according to the technical analysis’s findings, WT contributed 49.2% of the overall power generation, equivalent to $357 694/kWh. The optimal WT/PV/grid configuration, which is the suggested configuration, has the lowest yearly emissions of carbon dioxide (174 236 kg/year), whereas the PV–grid configuration has the highest carbon dioxide emissions (246 769 kg/year). The results of the sensitivity evaluation’s findings demonstrate that the COE and NPC amounts for the ideal configuration decline as solar irradiation and wind velocity increase. To clarify, raising the system’s velocity of wind or radiation from the sun can make it more economically viable. It may be concluded that the WT–PV–grid hybrid configuration is the more environmentally friendly and economical technology. Zhanjiang, China, has the potential to develop a sustainable alternative energy system combining WT and biomass power generation, but factors like fuel limitations and energy consumption must be considered.

A Critical Analysis on Transformation of Renewable Energy to Green Chemicals: Opportunities and Challenges

AbstractThe abundant natural resources and rapidly falling prices to generate and store renewable energy create a remarkable opportunity for a new group of manufacturing industries to emerge. These technology pathways use abundant or waste resources to produce green chemicals and fuels like green hydrogen (H2), green ammonia (NH3), and green synthetic hydrocarbons (HCs). Integrating chemical processes and renewable energy can complete the carbon loop and bring substantial decarbonization along with economic opportunities around the globe. An evidence‐based and industry‐focused critical review of technologies to produce green chemicals and fuels from renewable energy is presented. It also discusses the market size and applications for these emerging industries and presents their development status, benefits, and challenges to commercialization. Green hydrogen production from renewable energy turns out to be the initial and key stage for all these technological advancements and is indispensable for their techno‐economic viability. Other environmentally friendly feedstocks, such as nitrogen (from the air) and wastes such as CO2 (from industrial flue gas), can produce green chemicals. Besides environmental benefits, several other benefits of producing green chemicals from renewable energy are identified. These include but are not limited to (i) accelerating the economy for renewable energy and hydrogen generation, (ii) savings in energy, costs, and natural resources, and (iii) creating millions of jobs. A perspective on opportunities to develop the green chemical industry and assist academia, industry, and policymakers is provided.

Daya Saing Ekspor Ikan Tuna Indonesia di Pasar Global

Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) analysis is a key tool in assessing a country's competitiveness compared to others. This study uses RCA to measure Indonesia's comparative advantage in the global tuna market. The calculated RCA values show Indonesia's superiority in tuna production and exports, especially with a focus on fresh or chilled yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) with HS Code 030232. The RCA values for Indonesia, Panama, the Philippines and the Netherlands are 200, 150, 50, 350, and 400, respectively. These results confirm that Indonesia has a comparative advantage in the international tuna market, which is supported by abundant natural resources, a large fishing workforce, and a history of successful tuna exports. Despite this, challenges remain, including overfishing, the impacts of climate change, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The decline in tuna production in Indonesia demands better fisheries management and international cooperation to address unsustainable practices. The Indonesian government's commitment to conservation is visible in the Tuna, Skipjack and Tuna Fisheries Management Plan. Overall, Indonesia's vibrant tuna export industry, supported by extensive marine resources, a large international market and robust infrastructure, shows significant potential. The government's commitment, combined with ongoing efforts to increase competitiveness through increased productivity, product quality, diversification and global promotion, positions Indonesia to strengthen its role as a major player in the global tuna export market.

Perancangan Media Informasi Berbasis Video Dokumenter Pengenalan Produk Bio Gas Kelompok Tani Simantri Sandakan, Sulangai, Petang

The province of Bali, Indonesia, as a tropical destination with abundant natural resources, exhibits a serious focus on the agriculture and livestock sectors. The Simantri program, as a local government innovation, aims to accelerate the adoption of agricultural technology in rural communities. Bio gas, as a renewable energy alternative, emerges as a crucial solution amid the challenges posed by unsustainable fossil fuels. The Simantri Farmers Group in Br. Sandakan, Sulangai Village, faces challenges in introducing their bio gas products to the community. In the Community Service activity, a documentary video was created as an effective informational medium, successfully introducing, enhancing understanding, and raising awareness about the use of bio gas among the community. The video not only promoted the product but also strengthened the role of Simantri in village development and tourism potential. The success of this activity reaffirms that utilizing video-based informational media is an effective step in introducing innovations, enhancing understanding, and supporting the well-being of the local community.

The Relationship between Natural Resource Abundance and Human Development in Belt and Road Initiative Countries: The Role of Financial Development

The goal of this study is to explore the relationship between natural resource abundance and human development. In particular, account for the role of financial development. This study uses data from 51 BRI countries over the period 2000-2018. Concerning the HDI, the results suggest U-shaped relationship between total natural resource rents and HDI. Similarly, gas rents, mineral rents and oil rents are non-linearly related to HDI in BRI countries. For example, in the case of total rents, once its share in GDP exceeds 42.8%, further dependence on natural resources leads to increase in HDI. In our sample, only Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman were above the turning points at some observation years. The interaction term is positive and significant. This implies that increase in natural resource rents in countries with higher levels of financial development does not lead to a reduction of human development. In a similar vein, domestic credit to private sector alleviates negative effect of oil and mineral rents.

Research on the Development Bottlenecks and Countermeasures of Ethnic Traditional Sports Tourism Industry in Gannan Western China Autonomous Prefecture

Currently, with the gradual realization of the goals of China's rural revitalization strategy, the national traditional sports tourism industry has rapidly developed, becoming a new format driving the growth of the sports industry. Gannan Prefecture possesses abundant natural resources for sports tourism and unique cultural resources in sports tourism, indicating the potential value of developing the national traditional sports tourism industry. However, the development of this industry is constrained by seasonality, insufficient exploration and development, poor accessibility, inadequate supporting infrastructure and services, and a lack of skilled personnel. This paper proposes various reasonable measures to address the bottlenecks hindering the development of the national traditional sports tourism industry.

From resource curse to green renaissance: Analyzing the dynamics of natural resource abundance on China's green total factor productivity during business cycles

The current body of research fails to thoroughly examine how the abundance of natural resources affects China's green total factor productivity during different phases of economic cycles. The interconnection between the natural resource abundance and the green total factor productivity in China, the second-biggest economy worldwide, offers valuable insights into the sustainable management of resources amidst fast economic expansion. This research aims to analyze how the abundance of natural resources influences China's total green factor productivity during different phases of business cycles. A fully modified and dynamic ordinary least squares methodology uses cyclical data from 1990Q1 to 2019Q4. The findings indicate that during boom periods, a surge in natural resource abundance, gross domestic product, financial development, foreign direct investment and renewable energy consumption are correlated with heightened levels of green total factor productivity, suggesting that resource-dependent industries experience positive effects due to improved availability and quality of resources. Conversely, the findings infer that a decline in these variables is observed during the recession period, leading to a decrease in green total factor productivity. The results indicate a pro-cyclical relationship between natural resource abundance, gross domestic product, financial development, foreign direct investment and renewable energy consumption during periods of expansion and contraction. Based on the research findings, the study suggests that legislators should emphasize measures that foster investments in clean energy, ethical resource management practices, and financial development during economic booms. In contrast, during economic contractions, attempts should be concentrated on sustaining or boosting investments in green technology, encouraging feasible resource utilization, and enacting policies that foster foreign direct investment.

On the conflict of natural resources abundance and export upgrading in upper-middle and high-income countries

Globalization created immense competition among economies in international markets, which spurs the need for export upgrading and the effective use of natural resources to avoid the Dutch Disease phenomenon. This study investigates the direct and indirect effect of natural resources via infrastructure development on export upgrading. This research constructs a panel of 55 countries with upper-middle-income (UM) and high-income (HI) economies from 2010 to 2018. Export upgrading is measured from export sophistication score based on SITC 3-digit level exports and GDP per capita (PPP, constant US$ 2017). Moreover, the principal component analysis is applied to logistic (LGC), banking (BNK), digitalization (DGT), and telecommunication (TLC) sectoral infrastructure to measure the development level of infrastructure. To overcome the problem of cross-sectional dependence, this study applies within estimator with Driscoll-Kraay standard errors. This study explores the indirect influence of natural resource rent as a moderator between export sophistication and infrastructure development. On the other hand, natural resources positively impact export upgrading via infrastructure development. The thought behind this indirect effect is that a country effectively boosts its production structure and exports when it uses the money it earns from natural resources and the government earnings collected during the boom in the aggregate economic activity generated by natural resources to develop its banking, telecommunication, logistics, and information technology. Our results suggest that to avoid the phenomenon of Dutch Disease, such countries should invest earnings earned from natural resources in developing sectoral infrastructure.

Valorization of Pine Cones (Pinus nigras) for Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Crystal Violet Removal: A Sustainable Approach Based on Bio-Coagulants and a Bio-Adsorbent

Pine cones are a widely available and abundant natural resource in Algeria, and they are rich in active molecules. This study investigated the valorization of Pine cones as a natural and abundant bio-coagulant in raw form (powder) and extract form. The active components of the Pine cones were extracted using two solvents, distilled water (DW) and NaCl, to obtain coagulants (proteins, polyphenols, and carbohydrates) for the treatment and improvement of industrial water quality parameters (discharge from a processing plant and tomato production) and an adsorbent (residue extract, RE). The recovered bio-coagulant was used to remove turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and zeta potential. The formed adsorbent was used to remove crystal violet (CV). Coagulation-flocculation experiments were carried out in a jar test to evaluate the performance of the coagulant in powder and extract form. The use of pine cone powder (PCP), extract using NaCl (PC-NaCl), and extract using DW (PC-DW) resulted in turbidity reductions of 96%, 94%, and 98%, respectively. For the residue recovered after extraction, a CV removal percentage of 99.9% was achieved at the optimal conditions of pH 10, CV concentration of 20 mg/L, adsorbent dose of 20 mg/L, and contact time of 120 min, as determined using the Box–Behnken design (BBD). Furthermore, all the effects were significant in the process of the CV phase adsorption on the bio-adsorbent. The model designed for optimal design fit the experimental data well, with a coefficient of determination, R2, of 0.965 and an Adj-R2 of 0.926. The p-value of this model was 0.000, which indicated that the model was very significant. This confirmed the effectiveness of the bio-adsorbent in removing dyes from water.

Rapid and efficient preparation of cationized lignin for downstream high value-added utilization of biodegradable antimicrobial nanofibrous membranes

Industrial lignin is underutilized as an abundant natural aromatic resource, resulting in a serious waste of biomass resources. In this study, a strategy was developed to efficiently achieve cationization of industrial lignin, which not only could increase the water solubility of the industrial lignin for good compatibility with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), but also incorporated quaternary ammonium groups to improve the antimicrobial performance. The results showed that the cationized lignin products could be obtained by reacting at 75 °C for only 20 min and had good compatibility with PVA in aqueous systems, which not only shortened the lignin cationization time, but also reduced the amount of cationization reagent. By integrating the electrospinning technique, the nanofiber membranes with excellent antimicrobial performance can be produced for the field of medical dressing. With the addition of 7 wt% of the cationized lignin, the novel developed antimicrobial nano-medical dressing exhibited excellent breathability (61.08 mm/s), anti-UV properties, and compatibility with portable spinning technique. In addition, the cationized lignin-based nanofiber membranes had excellent antimicrobial performance, with an antimicrobial ratio of 100 % (Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli), as well as being biodegradable. In conclusion, this strategy could realize the cationization modification of industrial lignin while expanding the application in medical dressings and improving the economic sustainability of biorefinery strategies.

ELASTISITAS EKSPOR SEKTOR PERTANIAN TERHADAP IPM KETIMPANGAN, KEMISKINAN, TPT DAN PDRB PROVINSI SUMATERA UTARA

Indonesia is an agricultural country and has a large abundance of natural resources, especially in the agricultural sector. The abundance of resources in the agricultural sector is also balanced by high economic growth. However, at the same time, people's welfare is still relatively low. It is feared that there is a natural resource curse phenomenon in resource management in Indonesia. The purpose of this study was to determine the elasticity of exports of the agricultural sector to welfare indicators in North Sumatra Province. The data source is secondary data using time series data for 20 years and cross section data as many as 7 variables that produce 140 observations. The analytical technique used in this study is the distribution lag model. The results showed that the elasticity of exports of the agricultural sector to indicators of public welfare in the province of North Sumatra is inelastic. Exports of the Agricultural Sector also have a significant effect on indicators of inequality and the open unemployment rate when viewed from the side of the trend for 20 years. The community is expected to participate in every poverty alleviation effort, especially through the contribution of income to the income of poor households.

Analysis of the business environment in the Colombian market

Colombia is a diverse and promising investment destination, with abundant natural resources, a gradually developing economy, opportunities in emerging markets, and a favorable government attitude towards foreign investment. Located in the northwest tip of South America, Colombia is strategically located near the Panama Canal, an international maritime artery. It is the only bi-oceanic country in South America and an essential gateway for land transportation in South America. However, investing in Colombia has risks and challenges, including political instability, security issues, and social inequality. Colombia has long been mired in civil war and armed conflict. In 2016, the Colombian Government reached a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the People’s Army of Colombia, ending a match that had lasted more than 50 years. Despite the achievements of the peace process, other competitions and armed groups still exist in the country. This paper aims to provide an overview of the investment environment in Colombia to assist investors in making informed decisions.

From riches to digitalization: The role of AMC in overcoming challenges of digital transformation in resource-rich regions

Regions with abundant natural resources often possess relatively stable economic structures, resulting in favourable economic development that may support regional digital transformation on the one hand. However, their strong dependence on the existing economic structure may hinder the pace of digital transformation. Few studies have thoroughly analysed the relationship between natural resources and digital transformation. Building on this gap, this study employs provincial-level data from China from 2000 to 2019 to examine the state of digital transformation in resource-rich regions. The findings indicate that digital transformation is relatively weak in resource-rich regions, as an increase of one billion tons in regional natural resources (coal) leads to a decrease in 0.364 digital patents. It also finds that this drawback of natural resources in digital transformation will likely be counteracted if the regional government possesses a strong awareness, motivation, and capability (awareness-motivation-capability) to seek digital transformation.

Strategic Planning for Development of Micro Enterprises at the Department of Trade, Industry, Cooperatives, and Small and Medium Enterprises, Soppeng Regency

MSMEs are businesses with a micro, small to medium production scale that can be owned by individuals or in the form of business entities of a certain type. In Indonesia, MSMEs are currently being worked on and continue to grow from year to year. This study aims to examine the strategic planning of micro-enterprise development in the Department of Trade, Industry, Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises, Soppeng Regency. This type of research is descriptive qualitative. Data collection techniques were carried out by observation, interviews, and documentation. The data analysis technique used consists of data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The results of the study show that Environmental Scanning (Environmental Analysis), in Soppeng Regency has abundant Natural Resources (SDA) which can be utilized by micro-entrepreneurs as a source of income by processing them into products that have sales value. Strategy formulation (Strategy Formulation), a strategic plan made by the PPK and UKM Office in accordance with the 2nd mission of the Regional Head, namely strengthening the realization of community welfare. Pay more attention to micro business actors so that they can prosper from the business they are involved in and develop. Strategy implementation (Implementation Strategy), the implementation of programs is inseparable from what has been stated in the strategic plan (renstra), but in implementing the programs researchers value it is still not optimal because of the lack of awareness of micro-entrepreneurs to register their business as fostered by the PPK Service and UKM. Evaluation and control (evaluation and supervision), evaluation of activities is carried out quarterly but for evaluation and supervision of micro business actors directly to the field the schedule is uncertain, this is due to the lack of funds to go directly to the field. Factors supporting the success of strategic planning are supported by the awareness of micro-entrepreneurs to register their businesses and complete all forms of licensing according to the type of business. The inhibiting factors for miscommunication between micro-entrepreneurs and the PPK and UKM Offices are that micro-business actors sometimes delay registering their businesses because they think that the management will be complicated and convoluted.
 Keywords: strategic planning, micro enterprises, department of trade, industry, cooperatives and small and medium enterprises