Environmental Management Approach Research Articles

Potential of Plant Based Metallophytes for Phytoremediation in Agriculture

Metallophytes are the unique group of plants that have evolved to thrive in metal rich environments and have drawn plenty of attention. Remediating heavy metal contaminated places with plants is an effective choice due to phytoremediation, an environmentally friendly method that uses plants to mitigate the pollution. Metallophytes are ideal options for phytoremediation applications due to their inherent traits such as hyper-accumulation, efficient metal absorption and tolerance mechanisms impacting both the plant and soil. These plants absorb and translocate heavy metals, detoxifying the soil while accumulating them in tissues. This reduces metal toxicity in soil and holds potential for resources recovery. The role of metallophytes in phytoremediation is analysed in this review with particular focus given to their ways of metal absorption, translocation and detoxification. Metallophytes have high metal tolerance and accumulation capacities due to their unique physiological and biochemical adaptations including enhanced metal sequestration in vacuoles, metal chelation by phytochelatins and activation of anti-oxidant defence systems. This review also highlights the significance of metallophytes in enhancing the soil health, reducing metal bioavailability, and promoting the ecological sustainability as well as their potential for restoring contaminated ecosystems. Utilizing the unique capabilities of metallophytes obtained from plants possesses enormous possibilities to minimise the negative effects of heavy metal pollution, protect ecosystems, and promote sustainable development for future generations. Eventually, it outlines future research approaches that aim to enhance metallophytes based phytoremediation strategies, widen their implementation and include them in holistic approaches for environmental restoration and sustainable land management.

Highly efficient Cu-Fe containing prussian blue analogs (PBAs) for excellent electrocatalytic activity towards overall water splitting

Hydrogen generation by water electrolysis is considered a clean, green, and renewable approach for sustainable energy demands and environmental management. The efficient use of earth-abundant transition metal catalysts is cost-effective and limits the usage of noble metal catalysts like IrO2, RuO2, and Pt/C. The PBAs (Prussian Blue Analogs) are a class of transition metal hexacyanoferrates that can be tailored for specific electrochemical reactions. Both iron and copper are well-proven transition metals for catalytic activities owing to their aptitude to achieve much-pronounced reactant transformations under minor circumstances, as well as their environmental friendliness, cyclability, and long-term durability at 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH, the greenly synthesized Fe8Cu2CN (PBAs) on NF (Nickel foam) displays a low overpotential of 150 mV (118 mV dec−1) for HER (Hydrogen Evolution Reaction) and 290 mV (112 mV dec−1) for OER (Oxygen Evolution Reaction). Fe8Cu2CN displays ultra-stable behavior (150 h) with a slight current loss of 4.2 % for OER and 3.4 % for HER, respectively. The interaction of Fe, Cu, and CN (cyanide) enhances the rate of reaction kinetics. The designing of a water electrolyzer that delivers 10 mA cm−2 at 1.60 V is made possible with the help of the improved bifunctional catalyst Fe8Cu2CN/NF. The Fe8Cu2CN/NF//Fe8Cu2CN/NF exhibits long-last durability (over 180 h) with a negligible current reduction of 5.4 %. The improved effectiveness of the synthesized catalyst is demonstrated by the solar water splitting at 1.66 V. These findings suggest that Fe8Cu2CN/NF//Fe8Cu2CN/NF can be used to produce large quantities of H2 at very affordable prices.

Exploring local perceptions and drivers of engagement in biodiversity monitoring among participants in payments for ecosystem services schemes in southeastern Mexico.

Payments for ecosystem services (PES) are widely applied incentive-based instruments with diverse objectives that increasingly include biodiversity conservation. Yet, there is a gap in understanding of how to best assess and monitor programs' biodiversity outcomes. We examined perceptions and drivers of engagement related to biodiversity monitoring through surveys among current PES participants in 7 communities in Mexico's Selva Lacandona. We conducted workshops among survey participants that included training and field deployment of tools used to monitor biodiversity and land cover, including visual transects, camera traps, acoustic recorders, and forest cover satellite images. We conducted pre- and postworkshop surveys in each community to evaluate changes in respondents' perceptions following exposure to biodiversity monitoring training and related field activities. We also reviewed existing research on participatory environmental management and monitoring approaches. One quarter of current PES participants in the study area participated in our surveys and workshops. The majority stated interest in engaging in diverse activities related to the procedural aspects of biodiversity monitoring (e.g., planning, field data collection, results dissemination) and acknowledged multiple benefits of introducing biodiversity monitoring into PES (e.g., knowledge and capacity building, improved natural resource management, and greater support for conservation). Household economic reliance on PES was positively associated with willingness to engage in monitoring. Technical expertise, time, and monetary constraints were deterrents. Respondents were most interested in monitoring mammals, birds, and plants and using visual transects, camera traps, and forest cover satellite images. Exposure to monitoring enhanced subsequent interest in monitoring by providing respondents with new insights from their communities related to deforestation and species' abundance and diversity. Respondents identified key strengths and weaknesses of applying different monitoring tools, which suggests that deploying multiple tools simultaneously can increase local engagement and produce complementary findings and data. Overall, our findings support the relevance and usefulness of incorporating participatory biodiversity monitoring into PES.

Analyzing recent trends in deep-learning approaches: a review on urban environmental hazards and disaster studies for monitoring, management, and mitigation toward sustainability

Abstract Deep learning has changed the approach of urban environmental risk assessment and management. These methods enable solid models for large data sets, enabling early identification, prediction, and description of environmental risks. The current work analyses the advances in deep learning for urban environmental hazard assessments and disaster studies to provide monitoring, management, and mitigation measures. It reports the improvement in self-supervised learning, transformer architectures, persistent learning, attention mechanisms, adversarial robustness, associated learning, meta-learning, and multimodal learning within the domain of urban environmental hazard analysis. These approaches allow the creation of robust models for handling vast data volumes, facilitating early detection, prediction, and characterisation of diverse environmental threats. This trends analysis for urban applications will bring insights for connecting deep-learning models for effective and proactive approaches to tackle urban environmental hazards and disasters.

Marine Macro- and Micro Plastic Litter on Beach Sediment of Northern Peninsular Malaysia

This paper investigates the spatial distribution of small plastic litter on the beach of Kuala Perlis and Pulau Langkawi in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. The objectives are to ascertain the categories of macro marine litter and macroplastic types, the amount of microplastic in the sediment layer, and the relationship between macroplastic and microplastic. Macro marine litter was collected in 100-meter transects at six different locations. Sediment samples for microplastic identification were collected using a quadrat measuring 0.5 m × 0.5 m with a depth of 0.05 m. Plastic accounts up most of the macro marine litter collected (73.8%), followed by glass (12%), fabric (7.8%), rubber (4.4%), wood (2%), and metal (0.07%). Between 2018 and 2020, the overall weight of macroplastic (>5 mm) litter and the amount of microplastic (<5 mm) litter on northern beaches were 80.371 g/m2 and 11.094 g/m3, respectively. In this investigation, macroplastic collected on the beach surface ranged from 0.02 g to 14.09 g/m2, while microplastic in the beach sediment ranged from 0 to 1.192 g/m3. The packaging category seems to have the highest percentage of collected macroplastic. At the 95% confidence level, the calculated R2 of 0.7444 indicates a substantial association between macroplastic and microplastic. The linear regression equation is y = 0.1927x + 0.0226, with y representing microplastic (g/m3) and x being macroplastic (g/m2). This strong link demonstrates that the presence of microplastic in sediment is strongly related to the abundance of macroplastic on the beach. This finding provides a good approximation of actual microplastic occurrence to macroplastic abundance, which will be useful in environmental evaluation and management approaches.

Nature Based Solutions: Carbon Sequestration by Standing Trees in Urban Parks and Gardens of Katni City in Madhya Pradesh, India

Aims: This study aims at estimating contribution of urban Parks and gardens by carbon sequestration and suggests suitable strategies that can be helpful in reducing climate change impacts in urban centres. The challenges of climate change can be efficiently overcome by the storage of carbon in terrestrial carbon sinks viz. plants, plant products and soils for longer periods. Selection of appropriate trees can help mitigate climate impact.
 Study Design: Non-destructive sampling method of biomass estimation was used to measure to GBH of individual trees.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Katni city, Madhya Pradesh in 2020.
 Methodology: The parks and gardens in Katni were categorized into three groups based on their sizes: (A) large parks/gardens, (B) medium parks/gardens, and (C) small parks/gardens. The height of the trees was estimated using a relascope, while the girth classes of the trees were measured at different heights, including the basal area at Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) and at a 2-meter height.
 Results: 26 parks were systematically selected from a total of 62, encompassing small, medium, and large-sized areas, representing 42% of the city's green cover. The sampled parks sequestered 340 tons of carbon, projecting an annual sequestration of 414 tons by all parks combined. Among the planted trees in these spaces were (Hyophorbe lagenicaulis), Fishtailed palm (Carota urens) Ashok (Polyalthia longifolia), Neem (Azardirachta indica), Amaltas (Cassia fistula), Champa (Magnolia champaca), Saptaparni (Alstonia scholaris), etc. Furthermore, the study identified ten suitable tree species—Bargad (Ficus benghalensis), Gulmohar (Delonix regia), Karanj (Millettia pinnata), Kassod (Cassia siamea), Mahaneem (Ailanthus excelsa), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Umar (Ficus racemosa), Peepal (Ficus religiosa), Peltaforum (Peltophorum pterocarpum) and Shisham (Dalbergia sissoo) ideal for planting in parks for climate mitigation. The study advocates for widespread planting of these identified indigenous species in urban areas to enhance environmental quality and contribute significantly to climate improvement efforts.
 Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the nature of carbon sequestration in urban green spaces, stressing the need for selection of tree species based on multiple criteria discussed in the paper. Holistic approaches in environmental management and conservation will help mitigate climate impact.

Stakeholder engagement: the role of facilitators and gender in ‘opening up’ conversations and enabling participation

ABSTRACT A successful global transition to net-zero emissions requires complex transformational change involving stakeholders from across society. Traditionally, stakeholder engagement has been debated predominantly from a pragmatic, functionalist and instrumental perspective. Recent approaches in business communication, sustainability, energy and environmental management show that meaningful and ‘sustainable’ stakeholder engagement is helpful in maintaining an organisation’s social licence to operate. We problematise the notion of participation in deliberative processes and analyse whether the outcomes of an online Australian citizens’ panel are truly representative of all participants or whether specific cultural and demographic factors, particularly gender, influence participation, potentially shaping the outcome. The study shows how gender need to be considered and managed as part of a legitimate deliberation process. Applying Gastil’s input-process-outcome model as a framework, we examine the engagement achieved through deliberations conducted on Zoom. We focus on gender as a variable and the role of the facilitator in managing participation. The results suggest that participants’ contributions to discussions vary based on gender of both participants and facilitators. Based on findings, the challenges of achieving equality in participatory processes are identified. The facilitator’s role is re-defined as a curator of the stakeholder engagement processes, complementing existing theory on stakeholder participation and engagement.

Assessment of Clayey Soil Properties under the Influence of LDPE Waste

The inherent swelling and shrinking tendencies of clayey soil limit its applicability in subgrade construction. To address this issue and contribute to sustainable development, an experiment was conducted to explore the use of powdered LDPE plastic waste for stabilizing clayey soil. Various proportions of LDPE waste powder were added to the soil, revealing that a 4% LDPE waste powder content significantly increased the soil’s strength. Statistical analysis demonstrated a robust correlation between LDPE powder proportion, maximum dry unit weight, ideal moisture content, and unconfined compressive strength of the soil. Remarkably, the soil sample containing plastic waste outperformed the traditional sample, suggesting that integrating plastic waste with clayey soil is an effective strategy to enhance soil quality while concurrently reducing plastic waste through proper disposal. This study highlights a promising approach for sustainable subgrade construction Sand environmental waste management.

Active management is required to regenerate the Caledonian forest: Alladale as a case study

Abstract Passive approaches to nature recovery have been hailed as a low‐cost approach to boosting biodiversity in ecologically degraded sites. But there remains little evidence of whether this generalises to all climatic and ecological contexts. To address this knowledge gap, we used satellite remote sensing to examine vegetation change in Alladale Wilderness Reserve, a remote rewilding site in Scotland where active and passive approaches have simultaneously taken place for the past decades. In contrast to enclosures and tree planting, more passive approaches did not help regenerate the native Caledonian forest, failing to lead to structural or functional change within Alladale, relative to the wider landscape. Observed changes under both approaches were moreover much less dramatic than those reported for the Knepp Estate, another established rewilding site in Southern England. Our results suggest that passive rewilding is unlikely to promote significant biodiversity change in areas where recent human forcing of ecological processes has been limited, even if past human pressures have intensively reshaped the ecosystem—as seen in Alladale. In such situations, active interventions are likely to be required to shift the system onto a new ecological trajectory. Altogether, our study illustrates how freely available satellite data can (1) help contrast the impacts of environmental management approaches on ecosystem structure and functioning, in ways that complement existing ground‐based studies; and (2) help distinguish areas likely to benefit from passive nature recovery approaches from those where specific active interventions are needed.

A sustainable and eco-friendly approach for environmental and energy management using biopolymers chitosan, lignin and cellulose — A review

Biopolymers are a naturally occurring alternative to synthetic polymers that are linked by covalent bonds, which includes cellular components such as proteins, nucleotides, lipids, and polysaccharides. Based on the extensive literature review it was found that chitosan, lignin, and cellulose were predominantly used in the energy and environmental sectors. Due to their vast array of qualities, including the adsorption, flocculation, anticoagulation, and furthermore, have made them useful for treating wastewater and pollutant removal. Chitosan and lignin have been used as a proton exchange membrane in the energy storage device of fuel cells. As these biopolymers develop strong coordination connections with metal surfaces, they act as an anticorrosive agent, which inhibiting the corrosion. Besides, there are a lot of recent developments in the application of biopolymers for energy and environmental fields. The present review provides a concise summary of recent developments in membrane-based biopolymers role in energy and environmental field. In addition, this review is drawn to a conclusion with a discussion of future trends in the real application of biopolymers in a variety of different industries, as well as the financial significance of these future trends.

The emergence of plastic-free grocery shopping: Understanding opportunities for practice transformation

Despite consumer concern for sustainability, avoiding plastic packaging, particularly in food shopping, is difficult due to its pervasiveness and usefulness. Yet achieving changes in consumer behaviour is an important part of environmental management approaches towards a circular economy and plastic reduction. This research explores how everyday food shopping practices might adapt and evolve to become more sustainable through consumers avoiding, reducing, or replacing plastic packaging in their grocery shopping. This qualitative research, based on eighteen semi-structured interviews with sustainably-oriented consumers, finds that plastic-free shopping practices are challenging for even committed practitioners. However, we illuminate four mechanisms representing ‘bright spots’ (i.e., points of optimism) that offer specific opportunities for environmental management. We define these as destabilisation, envisioning, emotional connection and adaptation. Destabilisation and envisioning help with recruitment of practitioners to plastic-free shopping, and emotional connection and adaptation help support practitioner loyalty and commitment. Further, consumer reflexivity and habituated sustainable-orientation supports practice recruitment, stabilisation and transition. We discuss the implications of our findings for environmental management approaches to ‘behaviour change’, focusing on the role of policymakers, social marketers, retailers, and manufacturers in fostering competitive, stable plastic-free grocery shopping.

Enhancing Science Knowledge in Early Childhood through Environmental Exploration-Based Learning Management

The introduction of the surrounding natural environment in the surrounding environment can attract the attention or interest of children with the media around them. This study aims to analyze and find out how nature-based learning management with an exploratory approach can increase scientific knowledge in students. The research method in this study uses a qualitative method with a case study type. This research was conducted at the Harapan Insan Kamil Kindergarten institution, located on the coast of Randutatah village, Probolinggo Regency. To get an overview of the object, the researcher made observations at the location and interviewed several components of the school, including the principal, two teachers at Harapan Insan Kamil Kindergarten, and two student guardians. The study results show that the management concept of the surrounding environment exploration approach in increasing scientific knowledge is carried out using program planning, implementation, and evaluation systems. The implications obtained through an exploratory environmental management approach can develop students' scientific knowledge, displayed through imaginative pictures and storytelling. Hence, this research improves students' science, carried out with environmental exploration techniques.

Ecological Implications Of Bacterial Degradation Of Alkanes In Petroleum-Contaminated Environments: A Review Of Microbial Community Dynamics And Functional Interactions


 This review explores the ecological implications of bacterial degradation of alkanes in petroleum-contaminated environments, with a focus on microbial community dynamics and functional interactions. The complex interplay between alkane-degrading bacteria and other microorganisms shapes the fate and behavior of petroleum hydrocarbons, influencing ecosystem functioning and stability. The microbial community structure in petroleum-contaminated environments is characterized by a diverse assemblage of alkane-degrading bacteria (Such as Pseudomonas sp., Alcaligenes sp., Bacillus sp., Acinetobacter sp). These bacteria exhibit varying abilities to degrade different hydrocarbon fractions, leading to distinct patterns in community composition. Factors such as hydrocarbon concentration, environmental conditions, and the presence of co-contaminants influence the abundance and distribution of alkane-degrading taxa, shaping the microbial community dynamics. Functional interactions among alkane-degrading bacteria are essential for efficient degradation processes. Synergistic interactions and metabolic cooperation between different microbial species enhance the degradation capabilities of the community as a whole. Co-metabolism and cross-feeding relationships among bacteria enable the degradation of complex hydrocarbon mixtures. Furthermore, non-degrading microorganisms contribute to the overall alkane degradation process by providing essential metabolic intermediates or modulating environmental conditions. The presence of alkane-degrading bacteria affects the diversity and abundance of other microbial communities, leading to cascading effects on the broader ecosystem. Molecular tools, such as high-throughput sequencing and metagenomics, have advanced our understanding of microbial community structure and function. This review provides valuable insights into the ecological implications of bacterial degradation of alkanes in petroleum-contaminated environments. It highlights the importance of microbial community dynamics and functional interactions in shaping the fate of petroleum hydrocarbons and emphasizes the potential of harnessing these interactions for effective bioremediation strategies. Further research is needed to unravel the complex ecological networks involved in alkane degradation and to develop innovative approaches for sustainable environmental management.

Multisensory Stimuli, Restorative Effect, and Satisfaction of Visits to Forest Recreation Destinations: A Case Study of the Jhihben National Forest Recreation Area in Taiwan.

The perceived quality of the restorative environment of forest resources should be a key consideration for forest recreational areas in managing ecosystem services to provide health benefits to visitors. However, previous studies on utilizing forests as a resource for restorative services have rarely explored the simultaneous integration of on-site sensory experiences from a multisensory perspective or evaluated visitor satisfaction from a service-oriented standpoint. Therefore, this study aimed to understand the association among multisensory stimuli, perceived restorativeness, and satisfaction with visits to forest recreation areas and clarify the mediating role of perceived restorativeness in the relationship between multisensory stimuli and satisfaction. This study deployed a questionnaire and collected 458 valid responses from visitors to the Jhihben National Forest Recreation Area in Taiwan. Structural equation modeling was conducted to test the study hypotheses. The results indicated that visual sensations, auditory sensations, olfactory sensations, and tactile sensations had significant positive effects on perceived restorativeness and satisfaction and that perceived restorativeness also had a significant positive effect on satisfaction. Perceived restorativeness played a partial mediating role in this causal model. This study verified the psychological model of the relationships among a natural setting's multisensory stimuli, perceived restorativeness, and satisfaction. In practice, the findings of this study offer guidance for forest recreation areas to develop strategies for ecological services, encompassing the establishment of restorative environmental management and visitor service management approaches.

The Environment in the Box of Cold-War Developmentalism: North Korea’s 1970s Discourse on Pollution (<i>konghae</i>)

This paper examines the unfolding of North Korean discourse on “<i>konghae (pollution)</i>” in the context of the Cold War and developmentalism during the 1970s. Scrutinizing how the North Korean regime justified its own environmental management approach by critiquing the handling of the <i>konghae</i> issue in capitalist states, this study elucidates the impact of North Korea’s Cold War framing on the intertwined dynamics of development and the environment. In particular, the import of Japanese polluting industries into South Korea triggered the introduction of the term <i>konghae</i> into the North Korean vernacular and the subsequent proliferation of related discourse, which may have also been influenced by the growing global consciousness of environmental matters and the corresponding dialogue on potential solutions.</br>While Cold War framing impeded North Korean acknowledgment of its own developing pollution problem, discourse on pollution expanded as it became harder to ignore the growing phenomenon of pollution within the country and awareness of pollution became more common. This led to efforts in the 1980s and 1990s to respond to environmental concerns in North Korea, such as the enactment of the Environmental Protection Law in 1986 and the incorporation of environmental rights into the Constitution in 1992. This paper highlights the significance of the 1970s as a pivotal pre-transition phase during which North Korea’s environmental discourse evolved from a confined focus on <i>konghae</i> to a broader, more comprehensive conception of the environment. Despite this progression, the developmentalist idea that technological advancement can resolve environmental challenges persists in the DPRK.

A novel culture-enriched metagenomic sequencing strategy effectively guarantee the microbial safety of drinking water by uncovering the low abundance pathogens

Assessing the presence of waterborne pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is crucial for managing the environmental quality of drinking water sources. However, detecting low abundance pathogens in such settings is challenging. In this study, a workflow was developed to enrich for broad spectrum pathogens from drinking water samples. A mock community was used to evaluate the effectiveness of various enrichment broths in detecting low-abundance pathogens. Monthly metagenomic surveillance was conducted in a drinking water source from May to September 2021, and water samples were subjected to five enrichment procedures for 6 h to recover the majority of waterborne bacterial pathogens. Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) was used for metagenomic sequencing of enriched samples to obtain high-quality pathogen genomes. The results showed that selective enrichment significantly increased the proportions of targeted bacterial pathogens. Compared to direct metagenomic sequencing of untreated water samples, targeted enrichment followed by ONT sequencing significantly improved the detection of waterborne pathogens and the quality of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Eighty-six high-quality MAGs, including 70 pathogen MAGs, were obtained from ONT sequencing, while only 12 MAGs representing 10 species were obtained from direct metagenomic sequencing of untreated water samples. In addition, ONT sequencing improved the recovery of mobile genetic elements and the accuracy of phylogenetic analysis. This study highlights the urgent need for efficient methodologies to detect and manage microbial risks in drinking water sources. The developed workflow provides a cost-effective approach for environmental management of drinking water sources with microbial risks. The study also uncovered pathogens that were not detected by traditional methods, thereby advancing microbial risk management of drinking water sources.

Combining discourses and maps to grasp nature perceptions: Insights from a PPGIS case study in Martinique (Lesser Antilles)

Understanding human-nature relationships has become both a theoretical and an operational issue with the increasing adoption of participatory approaches in environmental management. PPGIS methods are widely used for their ability to demonstrate these relationships as spatial patterns on a map and to reach a large and spatially distributed audience. The resulting spatial data are generally decoupled from participants' discourses, even though the latter can provide original and nuanced insights into what lies underneath the map, therefore human-nature relationships. Here, we conducted a web-mapping survey in Martinique (Lesser Antilles) to understand inhabitants’ relationships with nature. We proposed a quantitative method combining the spatial data sketched by inhabitants with their discourse data to investigate their perceptions of “rich nature”. Our results indicated a strong relationship between the “rich nature” perception and its spatial representation. The validity of the method was strengthened by good participation rates (n = 573) and geographical representativeness, although socio-demographic representativeness was not reached. This approach confirmed the added value of discourses in participatory mapping, hence supporting a PPGIS method that combines both mapping and participants' discourses.

Chinese cities as digital environmental governance innovators: Evidence from subnational low-Carbon plans

Research examining the rise of digital environmental governance, particularly at the subnational scale in China, is fairly limited. Critical questions regarding how digital technologies applied at the subnational level may shape or transform environmental governance are only beginning to be explored, given cities’ increasing role as sustainability experimenters and innovators. In this study, we investigate how smart city initiatives that incorporate big data, artificial intelligence, 5G, Internet of Things, and information communication technologies, may play a role in the transformation towards a “digital China.” We conceptualize three major pathways by which digital technology could transform environmental governance in China: through the generation of new data to address existing environmental data gaps; by enhancing the policy analytical capacity of environmental actors through the use of automation, digitalization, and machine learning/artificial intelligence; and last, through reshaping subnational-national, and state-society interactions that may shift balances of power. With its dual prioritization of digital technologies and climate change, China presents an opportunity for examining digitalization trends and to identify gaps in governance and implementation challenges that could present obstacles to realizing the transformative potential of digital environmental management approaches.

Rationale for the creation and planning organization of the national nature park within the boundaries of the Borzhava mountain range


 
 
 To date, Transcarpathian region is where the conservation indicator in Ukraine is the highest (15.52%). However, the network of natural geosystems includes areas that – due to absence of well-established mechanisms of nature protection – are being harmed by by excessive economic development and use of outmoded environmental management approaches. One such important natural complex requiring protection of its biotic and landscape diversity is the Borzhava range. In this paper, the authors provide a rationale for the creation of the National Nature Park (NNP) within the boundaries of the Borzhava mountain range, taking into account the landscape and bioecological approaches, as well as accounting for the limiting factors of the existing manage- ment of natural resources. We determined the optimal location for the park, delineated its configuration, boundaries, and total area, and proposed a cartographic model of its functional zoning. We identified the NPP’s role in the regional econetwork and the main negative anthropogenic factors that must be regulated. In order to solve the aforesaid tasks, the authors clarified the boundaries of the Borzhava mountain range and high-landscape areas. We charted a schematic map and a supporting table «Existing environmental preservation territories within the Borzhava physical-geographical sub-district in the landscape areas» to the scale scale of 1: 500,000. To identify the functional and regime zones of the proposed park, we have compiled the «Species and age structure of forests, vegetation groups of meadows and other non-forest lands within the projected Borzhava NNP» map. In particular, it identifies species and age charac- teristics of forests, groups of shrubs and herbal phytocenoses in the meadows within the previously outlined NNP territory. To analyze the anthropogenic factors, economic and other functional zones influencing the park’s ecosystems, the authors charted the additional schematic maps of «Functional purposes and forms of ownership of land proposed to be included in the boundaries of the Borzhava NNP» and «Categories of land and forests suggested for inclusion in the Borzhava NNP». The authors believe that the research presented in this article gives ample reason for designing a Park’s project with further submission of necessary materials to be reviewed by the Department of ecology and natural resources of Transcarpathian region.
 
 

Green technologies and marketing tools in ensuring sustainable development of mining enterprises

The aim of the article. The purpose of the study is to determine the harmful impact on the environment and human health caused by the operation of the spatial diesel transport units at mining facilities and to prove the feasibility of transferring them to innovative green technologies in combination with the use of special marketing tools. Analysis results. In the 21st century, environmental crises in Ukraine and other countries around the world have been significantly intensified due to anthropogenic activities, slowing down the development of economies and harming the health and well-being of citizens. A number of concepts have been proposed to address environmental, social, and economic problems, among which the concepts of sustainable development and green economy have taken a special place. The last one is particularly important in the context of this study, as it aims to ensure a more harmonious relationship between economic, environmental, and social components, and is directly related to green marketing and environmental management approaches. Therefore, marketing and management tools play a significant role in ensuring the sustainable development of the biosphere and society. This investigation is dedicated, first of all, to the mining industry of Ukraine, but the results are relevant to other countries too. From one point of view, the mining industry is one of the major drivers of the Ukrainian economy, but from the other – it also has a significant negative impact on the environment. Therefore, increasing the efficiency of operation and ensuring sustainable, environmentally friendly development of mining enterprises through the active implementation of "green" technologies within the framework of the above-mentioned concepts is an extremely urgent task, especially given that a lot of special equipment and transport units are operating on such enterprises. Conclusions and directions for further research. As a result of the study, it was determined that the effectiveness of the application of marketing principles for the sustainable development of the mining enterprises’ transport units opens up wide opportunities for improving the management of natural resources and, as a result, meeting human needs, achieving the goals of decarbonization and sustainable development of industry, and preventing global climate change. The implementation of even seemingly insignificant environmental innovations in the mining industry, and especially in its freight transportation, is a significant and very important contribution to environmental protection, sustainable development of society and the biosphere, smart usage of natural resources, etc. And improving the logistics schemes of such enterprises, as well as making fundamental changes and transformations in this area based on the widespread use of modern digital technologies is another very important step towards ensuring the sustainable development of freight transportation at mining enterprises. In the context of green marketing, the implementation of the research results will make it possible to meet the demands of society for the greening of the mining industry as a whole, as well as the demand of individual consumers for environmentally acceptable products from specific mining companies.