Sustainable Development Benefits Research Articles

THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AS THE BASIS OF CONTINUOUS ECOLOGICAL TRAINING OF FUTURE TEACHERS

Increasing attention to the ecological training of young people in the system of modern education is one of the important problems nowadays. Guarantees of environmental protection are presented in ecological knowledge, abilities and skills, as well as in the socio-cultural behavior and worldview of the population. Therefore, one of the priority tasks of the educational system is the formation of the ecological culture of the younger generation through the implementation of a system of continuous environmental education based on the principles of sustainable development. The purpose of the article is to investigate the problem of continuous ecological training of future teachers based on sustainable development. Research methods: analysis and synthesis of scientific literature (to clarify key research concepts), systematization, and generalization (for the purpose of forming the author's conclusions). It is established that ensuring the sustainable development of society involves positive life activities of people through the creation of conditions that contribute to the harmonization of their relationships, development, and satisfaction of their needs in the socio-natural environment, providing opportunities for the formation of ecological culture in the educational sphere. The peculiarities of continuous ecological training of future teachers based on the concept of sustainable development are studied, and the content and results of this process are highlighted. The goal of continuous ecological training for sustainable development is to teach people to manage the quality of life; the formation of an ecological culture in the young generation, which involves the ecological orientation of the individual, the ability to increase their ecological education and literacy, to carry out social-ecological and ecological-project activities for the benefit of sustainable development. The main tasks of continuous ecological training are the formation of scientific knowledge and ecologically oriented knowledge, the development of environmental protection skills and abilities aimed at improving the state of the environment and improving the quality of life of people, and the upbringing of a highly educated and ecologically cultural personality. Continuous ecological education for the benefit of sustainable development originates in preschool education institutions, where for the first time children master the basics of environmental education and culture, and form an idea of their unity with nature. The next stage is general secondary education, where students form environmental competence and develop an environmental outlook. The next level of the continuous ecological education system is the higher school, where the professional ecological training of the future teacher is carried out, the value-meaning sphere of the individual is formed, social-ecological norms of professional activity are mastered.

Research on Life Cycle Quality Evaluation of Urban and Rural Distribution Intelligent Logistics Park Development

In urban and rural distribution, intelligent logistics parks are crucial, and the life cycle is the key to the long-term development of intelligent logistics parks. This paper combines the actual situation of urban and rural distribution intelligent logistics parks, through literature analysis, questionnaire research, etc., using the AHP and gray correlation method to systematically construct a life cycle development quality evaluation system and evaluation scheme for urban and rural distribution intelligent logistics parks that is operable, quantifiable and comparable, and innovatively starts from the digitization, intelligence and greening of urban and rural distribution intelligent logistics parks, and divides the evaluation system is divided into five major aspects (infrastructure and planning, operation management and service, intelligentization level, environmental impact and sustainable development, economic and social benefits). After analyzing the advantages and shortcomings of various single evaluation methods, through the combination and improvement of hierarchical analysis method and gray correlation method, it provides certain theoretical basis and methods with practicality and universality for the evaluation of the development quality of urban and rural distribution intelligent logistics parks, so that urban and rural distribution intelligent logistics parks can carry out the evaluation of the development life in an operable, quantitative and comparative way through this evaluation method, to understand their own This will enable the urban and rural distribution intelligent logistics parks to carry out development life evaluation in an operable, quantifiable and comparable way through this evaluation method, so that they can understand their own level and find out the deficiencies, so that they can clearly define the direction of improvement of the quality of logistics and improve their own level of development

Multi-objective ecological restoration priority in China: Cost-benefit optimization in different ecological performance regimes based on planetary boundaries

In the context of the “United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration”, optimizing spatiotemporal arrangements for ecological restoration is an important approach to enhancing overall socioecological benefits for sustainable development. However, against the background of ecological degradation caused by the human use of most natural resources at levels that have approached or exceeded the safe and sustainable boundaries of ecosystems, it is key to explain how to optimize ecological restoration by classified management and optimal total benefits. In response to these issues, we combined spatial heterogeneity and temporal dynamics at the national scale in China to construct five ecological performance regimes defined by indicators that use planetary boundaries and ecological pressures which served as the basis for prioritizing ecological restoration areas and implementing zoning control. By integrating habitat conservation, biodiversity, water supply, and restoration cost constraints, seven ecological restoration scenarios were simulated to optimize the spatial layout of ecological restoration projects (ERPs). The results indicated that the provinces with unsustainable freshwater use, climate change, and land use accounted for more than 25%, 66.7%, and 25%, respectively, of the total area. Only 30% of the provinces experienced a decrease in environmental pressure. Based on the ecological performance regimes, ERP sites spanning the past 20 years were identified, and more than 50% of the priority areas were clustered in regime areas with increased ecological stress. As the restoration area targets doubled (40%) from the baseline (20%), a multi-objective scenario presents a trade-off between expanded ERPs in areas with highly beneficial effects and minimal restoration costs. In conclusion, a reasonable classification and management regime is the basis for targeted restoration. Coordinating multiple objectives and costs in ecological restoration is the key to maximizing socio-ecological benefits. Our study offered new perspectives on systematic and sustainable planning for ecological restoration.

Impact of Market Orientation, Green Innovation on Creative Performance: The Mediating Role of Sustainable Competitive Advantage

The purpose of this study to examining the correlation between marketing orientation and green innovation with sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) and creative performance. Creative performance being a dependent variable in this research is measured by two independent variables. Many Pakistani companies are doing activities in order to provide sustainable social development benefits to the society in which they are operating. These companies are investing and managing their market orientation and green innovation initiatives for the wellbeing of the society. This study also SCA. Using empirical testing the data gathered from consumers and information collected on companies engaged in market orientation and green innovation activities the research found out that that there is a very strong correlation between marketing orientation and green innovation and SCA and creative performance. The companies who are investing on marketing orientation and green innovation activities are enjoying good consumer loyalty and the Brands they operate enjoy healthy profits and sustainable market position. It is envisaged that the model tested in this research will be implied in the future empirical research concerning marketing orientation and green innovation with SCA and creative performance.

Integrated Service Architecture to Promote the Circular Economy in Agriculture 4.0

Innovation has been the transforming tool of precision agriculture as a response to population growth and the demand for more food with quality, less waste, food security, and sustainable management of environmental resources. The challenges are to increase the productivity of cultivated areas, both for current and future areas, to manage the use of potable water, scarce in many regions, to keep the soil fertile, and to reduce waste through reuse, optimization, resource sharing, and operational and strategic management based on accurate information of planting, harvesting, and management of environmental conditions, which are also objectives of the Circular Economy. Therefore, using Industry 4.0 technologies in agriculture becomes fundamental to facing such challenges. This paper presents a systematic literature review on Industry 4.0 technologies adopted in agriculture for sustainable development, considering environmental, economic, and social benefits. The research pointed to the use of IoT in irrigation control systems by sending automatic commands, monitoring soil and weather conditions, in the use of machinery with some automation features and in cloud data storage systems, and with the use of Big Data analytical tools, with access by mobile devices, these uses contribute to operational and strategic decision making in the management of planting and harvesting. However, the literature review did not find a technological architecture for Integrated Services in Agriculture 4.0. Thus, this paper proposes a Service Architecture that enables the promotion of a Circular Economy in Agriculture 4.0. The contribution of this article to the theory is in the expansion of knowledge of the use of technologies in Agriculture 4.0. In terms of practice, this article provides an Integrated Service Architecture so that new products can be developed for Agriculture 4.0 and thus contribute to society in reducing food insecurity, generating environmental, economic, and social benefits, and promoting the Circular Economy in Agriculture 4.0.

Unlocking Nature's Bounty: Exploring the Ecotourism Potential of Batu Jongjong in Bahorok District, Langkat District

The research on community-based ecotourism in Batu Jongjong Village, Langkat Regency, explores its potential, inspired by rich natural and cultural resources. Located in Gunung Leuser National Park, the village benefits from biodiversity. Aimed at enhancing local welfare through sustainable ecotourism, the study stresses community participation and collaboration among stakeholders. Sustainability concepts, including resource protection, are crucial for long-term contributions. The unique aspect lies in empowering locals and ensuring shared responsibility for resource preservation. Batu Jong Jong Village, despite its potential, requires improvements in accessibility, management, and services for competitiveness. Challenges necessitate collaborative efforts, while opportunities lie in sustainable development, emphasizing economic, social, and environmental benefits. Designated as a tourist village, Batu Jong Jong holds promise for eco-tourism, utilizing its natural resources. Despite obstacles, the village's fertile soil and community involvement present a foundation for sustainable tourism, contributing to its long-term success.

NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

Natural resource management is an urgent matter for human survival, both in the form of renewable and non-renewable energy sources while still paying attention to the preservation of the function of the environment. The Quran letter Al-A'raf verse 56 reminds humans to preserve the environment. Development is essentially to improve the welfare and prosperity of society. Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the current generation without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. But in reality, current development activities tend to be exploitative without renewal.
 The purpose of this research is to analyze the management of natural resources to achieve sustainable development from an Islamic perspective. This research uses a normative juridical approach which aims to obtain library data as primary data in analyzing the legal provisions of resource utilization in an Islamic perspective. The conclusion is that Islam emphasizes the utilization of natural resources and sustainable development is frugally in order to realize the preservation of natural resources for the benefit of sustainable development in a way that humans are against anthropocentric attitudes that consider humans as the center of the system in the universe, which results in a luxurious human lifestyle and tends to be consumptive. This is the cause of over-exploitation of natural resources which has an impact on environmental damage and has a negative impact on sustainable development. This is contrary to the teachings of Islam, where humans are always commanded to live simply and economize in using natural resources. Recommendations for studies, regulations and enforcement as well as the enrichment of science and technology in natural resource management based on conservation for the community are urgent. This is done so that natural resources are sustainable even though many benefits are taken.

Evolution of housing energy-efficient retrofitting game: A perspective of heterogeneous expectations on retrofit effects

Energy-efficient retrofitting (EER) of existing residential buildings holds significant potential for addressing environment and energy related issues. However, this potential remains largely untapped due to low EER rates and unsatisfactory EER effects. The widespread EER promotion and its benefits for sustainable development are hindered by the inactive participating of homeowners and (or) contractors and the lack of government supervision. To address these challenges, this study develops a tripartite game model for the government, the contractor, and the homeowner by concentrating on their expected EER effects. The strategy interactions among these stakeholders and their dynamic evolution were explored, and the stable strategy states and their formation conditions were identified. It was found that (1) positive engagement of the tripartite stakeholders in housing EER can be a stable strategy in reality; (2) EER effects plays a significant impact on the strategy stability; (3) governments’ incentives are necessary in approaching the ideal EER strategy equilibrium point, with a more pronounced influence on contractors compared to homeowners. In line with the findings, policy implications were provided to enhance the adoption of housing EER. This study contributes to a better understanding of large-scale EER promotion and provides a solid foundation for the development of a sustainable EER market involving multiple stakeholders.

Transboundary water cooperation under SDG indicator 6.5.2: disaggregating data to provide additional insights at the aquifer level

Abstract The acceleration of transboundary water cooperation is essential to support water security and ensure mutual benefits of sustainable development. The way existing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) monitoring data is used to raise its importance further up political agendas and inform future reporting rounds is therefore crucial to acceleration. Using data extracted from national country reports of SDG indicator 6.5.2 on transboundary water cooperation, we showcase the level of cooperation, as reported, per aquifer to compliment the national approach currently followed by the official SDG framework. Our analysis uncovers a variety of insights and challenges to transboundary aquifer (TBA) cooperation that otherwise might be difficult to visualize through official national reports. Reported aquifer cooperation is often not harmonized across international borders. A lack of groundwater data and information is a major contributing factor to uncoordinated reporting, highlighting the importance of a sound scientific baseline. However, harmonization issues are also interlinked to a national-focused reporting process where Member States have the right to disagree over the status of their joint cooperation. These results can assist in improving future indicator coverage, both as an awareness raising tool for co-custodian agencies and by countries through direct interventions and coordination with neighbours.

Examining the linkages between ICTs, economic development and the sustainable development goals: evidence based on the ICT4D value chain

Purpose Globally, information and communication technology (ICT) is regarded as a reliable tool that facilitates economic development and propels sustainable development. However, little empirical work exists on the specific effects of ICT access and usage on economic and sustainable development. This paper aims to investigate the nexus between ICTs, economic and sustainable development at the global level. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents ICT for Development (ICT4D) value chain empirical evidence on the linkages between ICTs, economic development and sustainable development goals (SDGs). The research model based on the capability approach is validated by using archival data from 130 global countries and partial least squares–structural equation modelling. Findings The findings reveal that ICT access and usage significantly influence a country’s attainment of the SDGs. Whilst ICT access plays a crucial role in promoting economic development, ICT usage does not. Also, findings show that economic development significantly mediated the nexus between ICT access and SDGs but not between ICT usage and SDGs. This calls for countries to ensure that access to ICTs is accompanied by a low cost of usage to achieve the full benefits of economic and sustainable development. Originality/value Using the ICT4D value chain, this paper empirically shows how ICT readiness and availability in the form of ICT access and ICT uptake (individual ICT use) promote economic development and SDGs (impact). Furthermore, with many studies conducted on SDGs at the country level, this study provides a broader understanding of the roles of ICT access and use on SDGs at the global level. This allows for easy generalisability and reproducibility of results.

Plastic Deformation Characteristics and Calculation Models of Unbound Granular Materials under Repeated Load and Water Infiltration

Unbound granular materials (UGMs) have advantages in their water storage and drainage capabilities in permeable pavement, which is a benefit for urban sustainable development. The plastic strain of UGM is a crucial mechanical property that affects its design and construction. During its service life, repeated load only, repeated load after infiltration, and simultaneous action with load and infiltration are the three inevitable working conditions that will impact plastic strain, especially dynamic water infiltration. How these working conditions influence plastic strain needs to be focused on and solved. This study conducted laboratory tests to investigate plastic strain considering factors such as loading strength and repetitions, as well as infiltration number and duration. The results showed that the plastic strain and plastic strain rate exhibited similar variations during the repeated load only test and repeated load after infiltration test. The plastic strain changed significantly with different infiltration numbers but had relatively small variations in terms of the plastic strain rate. Longer infiltration duration led to greater plastic strain. With the simultaneous action, the plastic strain presented different variation to the other two conditions. The first and second infiltrations had a more obvious influence on the plastic strain when infiltration was applied. Calculation models were established to predict the effects of loading strength and repetitions as well as infiltration number and duration on plastic strains. For the repeated load only test, an error of 4.6% was observed. In terms of the infiltration number and duration, the errors were found to be 18.5% and 8.5%, respectively. The power function and Sigmoidal Logistic model were used to establish calculation models under the simultaneous action test with a maximum error of 11.5% ranging from 100 to 60,000 repetitions. The proposed calculation models can characterize plastic strain under the three working conditions very well, which can help in the design and construction of fully permeable pavement.

Sustainability 4.0 in services: a systematic review of the literature

PurposeThis paper aimed to identify the impact that Industry 4.0 can have on the service sector and how its combination can generate benefits for Sustainability 4.0 in the context of the Triple Bottom Line.Design/methodology/approachA Systematic Literature Review (RSL) was developed using the following combinations of keywords on the Web of Science and Scopus databases: Industry 4.0 And Sustainability, Industry 4.0 And Service, and Industry 4.0 And Sustainable Development, in which 24 papers were selected.FindingsAs a result, the authors found 100 benefits for sustainable development, which were further categorized into 54 advantages for the economic area, 25 for the social segment and 21 for environmental aspects. In this way, the results can help private companies understand the use of these technologies aimed at sustainable growth, plus bolstering the government to conduct public policies to encourage these practices in technology organizations.Practical implicationsAs a practical implication, this study offers insight into the evolution of sustainable development. It enables the emergence of works that wish to explore the service sector, providing relevant information for decision-making and influencing managers and policymakers on the importance of applying Industry 4.0 toward the sustainability of the service sector and its applications.Originality/valueThe originality of this study lies in expanding the understanding generated by 4.0 technologies, by diverting attention from the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, which have abundant literature on the subject. With this, this work demonstrated that modern technologies have greater possibilities of an action directed at the service sector, in addition to being able to contribute to Sustainability 4.0 from the perspective of the sustainability tripod.

SWOT Analysis of Sustainable Tourism Development in Tetebatu, East Lombok

Tete Batu is one of the Tourism Villages in East Lombok Regency that offers tourist attractions of natural beauty, culture, and local traditions that have developed and are expected to be able to become sustainable activities. However, in its implementation, tourism development can also pose challenges related to sustainable tourism development from various aspects, such as community involvement, economic progress, socio-cultural sustainability, and environmental conservation efforts. This research aims to examine the development of sustainable tourism in Tete Batu by analyzing the potential of sustainable tourism in Tete Batu using SWOT analysis to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges faced in realizing sustainable tourism in this region. The results of this study found that there are each strengths, weaknesses internally as well as the existence of opportunities and threats in the development of tourism in Tete Batu, especially in the awareness and involvement of local communities and how to maintain the surrounding environment, so that efforts are needed to increase awareness and involvement as well as the ability of the community as human resources who are directly involved in tourism activities, besides that a comprehensive policy is needed related to efforts to preserve the environment and the lifestyle of local people in maintaining the surrounding environment both in terms of cleanliness and hygiene. This research is expected to be a reference for implementation recommendations or policies in tourism activities to maximize the benefits of sustainable tourism development for the community, managers, and government as a policy regulator.

Effectiveness, Problems, and Transformation of Geographical Indications in the Context of Rural Revitalization: Evidence from Pengshui in Chongqing

In China, geographical indications (GIs) are seen as certificates or collective trademarks, as well as representations of quality agricultural products, and are important in revitalizing the countryside. Therefore, a combined qualitative and quantitative method was employed to examine the operational practices of GIs at the relatively micro-level of the municipality in order to identify their effectiveness and challenges in rural revitalization and propose more targeted optimization suggestions. Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County, located in the Wuling Mountains in southeastern Chongqing, is an excellent example of the positive impact GIs can have on rural development, boasting the highest number of GI trademarks in the region. Despite the large number of GIs in Pengshui, there are several issues that need to be addressed, including low brand awareness, lack of product enhancement, and poor market competitiveness. To overcome these challenges, there must be a shift from a quantity-based to a quality-based approach to GI trademark declarations. This requires promoting the transformation of traditional agriculture into modern agriculture, investing in rural infrastructure, and improving the efficiency and quality of GI product production. By doing so, individuals in the local community will be able to reap the benefits of GI trademarks, improving their income and standard of living. In view of the fact that administrative divisions and cultural regions overlap, it is important to promote interregional cooperation and encourage declarations of GI trademarks in neighboring counties. This will help to preserve the area’s local cultural heritage and promote its heritage through GIs. By taking a targeted approach to GI trademark declarations and promoting cooperation between regions, Pengshui, and other rural communities can maximize the benefits of GIs and support sustainable rural development.

Critical Factors and Trends in NFT Technology Innovations

Non-fungible token (NFT) products are important for industrial applications. In recent years, they have rapidly gained importance in the field of blockchain combined with metaverse. The concept of NFTs has developed gradually, as many industries have begun using NFTs creatively to raise new business innovation opportunities in entrepreneurship. However, few studies have been conducted analyzing critical features of NFTs for success, trends, and challenges in NFT products. In this study, group discussions, case analysis methods, and the OpenSea database were used to analyze fashion trends among NFT products. A mixed method was used in this study. Quantitative and qualitative data derived from the questionnaire and group discussions were analyzed using the case study method, and the actual historical trading data of NFT products obtained from the OpenSea platform were analyzed. This study analyzed NFT products, fashion characteristics, and trends in NFT artwork. The opportunities and challenges of NFT applications and sustainable NFTs are discussed in this study. Our research results show that the most attractive NFT product types are collectible digital works and creative artworks. The critical design characteristics are lovely (cute), beautiful, and interesting. We recommend that NFT makers use the above-mentioned characteristics to create NFT artworks with special design characteristics to increase NFT values. The advantage of NFTs is that makers can freely create their works through the NFT platform, which can decrease the limitations of traditional methods such as the need for venues, exhibition setup costs, and intermediaries’ commissions. The major challenges of current NFT applications include usability challenges, security and privacy issues, and governance considerations. We believe that our research results can provide useful directions and strategies for future researchers, makers, and ventures seeking to develop NFT applications. Our research results, such as identifying the critical design factors and current trends in NFTs, can provide guidelines for art design and innovation education. In addition, this study discusses the applications of NFTs in sustainable education, which can provide benefits for sustainable educational development to meet the goal of quality education in SDG4.

Impact of Shadow Economy on Sustainable Development in Africa

ABSTRACT This study contributes to the sustainable development literature by investigating the impact of the shadow economy on sustainable development in a panel of 30 African countries over a period of 2000–2017. The study employs parametric and nonparametric panel estimation techniques. The novel moment panel quantile regression method is also used to produce robust outcomes across the distribution of the explained variable in the presence of location shifters, scale variants, endogeneity, and outliers. The results reveal that the shadow economy reduces sustainable development in Africa. The study concludes that conscious efforts are needed to ensure that the shadow economy issue is addressed to enjoy the benefits of sustainable development in the African region.

On a competition model in stream environments: The effects of seasonal pulses and advection

A diffusion-advection competition model with different pulses has been investigated in order to understand how the impulsive intervention affects the dynamics and alters the competition state of two competitors in open advective environments. The threshold values are introduced as the principal eigenvalues of the periodic problems with pulses and defined by the spectral radius of a time-T map. We have obtained two critical advection curves depending on pulses that determine the stability of the periodic steady states and have computed these numerically. The dynamics of two competitors in open advective environments such as competition exclusion, co-extinction, coexistence and bistability have been classified. By applying different impulsive effects, simulation analysis shows interesting scenarios, and reveals that a tradeoff between two different impulsive interventions and movements can be found in order to improve sustainable ecological development and economic benefits.

Scuba diving tourism and the challenge of sustainability: evidence from an explorative study in North African-Mediterranean countries

PurposeScuba diving tourism is reputed to be a potential low-impact recreational activity that allow environmental conservation and socioeconomic benefits for local communities. Few studies have addressed the issue of sustainability of scuba diving tourism through the simultaneously investigation on the economic and socio-cultural aspects and its implications for tourism development. This study aims to examine the scuba diving tourism in three under-explored North African tourism destinations with high ecotourist potential. The authors present an exploratory picture of scuba diving tourist demand, divers' preferences, motivations for recreational diving experiences and their propensity towards conservation.Design/methodology/approachThe authors developed a case study research strategy collecting profile data on 123 divers. Furthermore, regression analysis was performed to investigate the divers' preferences, motivations and propensity towards conservation.FindingsThe divers' limited number, the presence of mainly local seasonal tourists and a moderate propensity towards conservation influence the potential of the diving tourism segment to generate significant socioeconomic benefits for local sustainable development in these destinations. However, establishing a marine protected area (MPA) could foster the development of a long-term strategy for scuba diving tourism, improve conservation awareness and increase divers' satisfaction.Practical implicationsDiverse profiles, preferences and motivations can provide tools to sustainably manage and preserve coastal and marine biodiversity, while also maximising the quality of the recreational experience. One of the most effective site-based strategies to orient the diving sector towards sustainability involves the design and strengthening of MPAs.Originality/valueThe research provides an original contribution to the debate on sustainable tourism strategies by demonstrating how the study of economic and socio-cultural aspects of scuba diving could provide guidelines to orient the tourism development of marine and coastal areas towards the principles of sustainability (also through the establishment of MPAs). The findings present an overview of the sustainability of the scuba diving tourism segment by investigating the preferences, motivations and inclination towards conservation among tourists for whom the diving experience is not a core holiday activity.

Post-drought moisture condition determines tree growth recovery after extreme drought events in the Tianshan Mountains, northwestern China

Recently, forests in the Tianshan Mountains have shown a marked decline in growth and an increased mortality rate because of the more frequent and severe effects of extreme drought, which threatens the ecosystem services they provide. To achieve forest conservation and sustainable development benefits, it is crucial to understand the post-drought recovery trajectory of tree growth and its driving factors. In this study, we quantified the growth recovery performance of dominant tree species in the Tianshan Mountains after extreme drought events and determined the influences of climate factors on forest growth resilience using tree-ring proxy data. The results showed that post-drought moisture conditions may determine the post-drought growth recovery of trees. The post-drought growth for 1997 was higher than that for 1974, which may be attributed to the subsequent period of 1997 experiencing very high precipitation, whereas the year following the 1974 drought was dry (Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index < 0). Because of the more favorable climate conditions in the post-drought period, the observed relationship between resistance and recovery in 1997 showed a closer fit to the hypothetical “line of full resilience” which sets resilience to a constant value of 1, allowing trees to recover fully at any given value of resistance. Trees showed lower mean values of the tree growth recovery index (RC) and average recovery rate (ARR) and higher mean values of total growth reduction (TGR) and recovery period (RE) for the drought event in 1974 than that in 1997. We distinguished the relative influence of temperature and precipitation on different drought phases using Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) model. The results showed that the climate conditions during the drought year and subsequent precipitation variation were most influential variables for tree growth recovery. Specifically, post-drought precipitation explained up to 20 % of the variance in RC, TGR, RE, and ARR. These findings deepen our understanding of the impacts of prolonged drought on tree growth, which could aid in developing forest management and conservation strategies to respond to extreme drought.

Effect of bamboo particle blending system on the properties of its composites

AbstractBamboo scrimber and carbonized bamboo scrimber are new green and sustainable materials that have recently gained widespread attention and application in construction and other fields. However, their production is accompanied by the generation of a large number of residues, such as bamboo particles (BPs) and carbonized bamboo particles (CBPs). In this study, we used BPs and CBPs as reinforcing phases and phenol‐formaldehyde (PF) resin, which is mainly used to manufacture bamboo scrimber, as the matrix to prepare bamboo particle composites (BPCs). The physical, flexural, and thermal properties of the composites were characterized, and the activation energies were analyzed and compared using Kissinger and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) methods. The results showed that the blending system composed of two types of bamboo processing residues demonstrated significant composite performance enhancement. The BPC performance met the standard requirements for furniture particleboard, and the potential exists to further improve its thermal properties. This study fills the current gap in the kinetic analysis of BPCs and contributes to the further understanding and application of this material, thus facilitating the industrial use of bamboo processing residues and bamboo scrimber for sustainable development and economic benefits.