Community Environment Research Articles

Moisture Seasonality Dominates the Plant Community Differentiation in Monsoon Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forests of Yunnan, China

Monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forests (MEBFs) represent one of the most species-rich and structurally complex vegetation types, and one of the most widely distributed forests in Yunnan Province, Southwest China. However, they have yet to undergo a comprehensive analysis on their community diversity, spatial differentiation patterns, and underlying drivers across Yunnan. Based on extensive field surveys during 2021–2024 with 548 MEBF plots, this study employed the Unweighted Pair Group Method for forest community classification and Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling for ordination and interpretation of community–environment association. A total of 3517 vascular plant species were recorded in the plots, including 1137 tree species, 1161 shrubs, and 1219 herbs. Numerical classification divided the plots into 3 alliance groups and 24 alliances: (1) Castanopsis–Schima (Lithocarpus) Forest Alliance Group (16 alliances), predominantly distributed west of 102°E in central-south and southwest Yunnan; (2) Castanopsis–Machilus (Beilschmiedia) Forest Alliance Group (6 alliances), concentrated east of 101°E in southeast Yunnan with limited latitudinal range; (3) Castanopsis–Camellia Forest Alliance Group (2 alliances), restricted to higher-elevation mountainous areas within 103–104° E and 22.5–23° N. Climatic variation accounted for 81.1% of the species compositional variation among alliance groups, with contributions of 83.5%, 57.6%, and 62.1% to alliance-level differentiation within alliance groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Precipitation days in the driest quarter (PDDQ) and precipitation seasonality (PS) emerged as the strongest predictors of community differentiation at both alliance group and alliance levels. Topography and soil features significantly influenced alliance differentiation in Groups 2 and 3. Collectively, the interaction between the monsoon climate and topography dominate the spatial differentiation of MEBF communities in Yunnan.

The impact of community children's playgrounds on neighborhood interactions and residents' mental health from an all-age sharing perspective

BackgroundThe outbreak of COVID-19 and rapid urbanization in China have put mental health at the forefront of societal concerns. Despite extensive studies on how community environments influence residents' mental health, the mechanisms underlying how community children's playgrounds within community environments influence residents' mental health across different age groups remain insufficiently studied.MethodsThe study is based on 1,159 questionnaire survey data from 14 districts in Shanghai in 2022. Descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling are used for the statistical analysis of the data.ResultsThe findings reveal variations in the mental health status of Shanghai residents across different ages, with depression rates being higher in the young and middle-aged groups than in the older adult groups. Moreover, there are differences in the influence of community children's playgrounds on the mental health of residents across different age groups. Community children's playground influences the mental health of residents in the young adult and middle-aged groups, while neighborhood interaction has a more pronounced influence on the mental health of middle aged and older adult groups. The influence of children's playgrounds on children's mental health is more realized through the intermediary role of neighborhood communication, and the influence on the mental health of the older adult is completely realized through the intermediary role of neighborhood communication.ConclusionIn future community planning, renovation, and development, it is essential not only to meet the distinct needs of various age groups but also to pay more attention to the needs of young adults to enhance their mental health and ultimately improve the mental health of all residents.

Pengaruh Lingkungan Sekolah, Kompetensi Guru Dan Pola Asuh Orang Tua Terhadap Motivasi Belajar Siswa Ma Al Fatich Tambak Osowilangun Surabaya

Learning activities and educational quality are at the center of educational stages. The quality of education can be assessed based on the discipline of students in the school or community environment and the competence of teachers and parenting patterns . This research aims to reveal the influence of the school environment , teacher competence and parenting patterns on student learning motivation. Quantitative research methods collect data through surveys with questionnaires and direct observation of students. The research results show that a conducive school environment , high teacher competence and parental parenting make a positive contribution to student learning motivation. Factors such as positive relationships between teachers and students, a supportive classroom atmosphere, adequate learning facilities, and the use of innovative teaching methods form a motivating environment for students. Teacher competence in understanding student needs, providing appropriate challenges, and creating positive relationships also plays an important role in increasing student learning motivation. It is hoped that these results can guide educational policies and teacher professional development to increase student learning motivation in the school environment. Parental parenting styles in guiding students also influence the motivation of each student, such as parents who really pay attention to each student's learning needs, communication style and emotional support as well as parental attention to student morals, all of which have an impact on student learning motivation.

A systematic review on the associations between built environment and mental health among older people.

Numerous studies have examined the intricate correlation between community and residential environments, and their impact on health outcomes. However, the influence of built environment (BE) factors on the mental well-being of older individuals varies across different geographical regions. This comprehensive systematic review synthesizes research on the association between BE elements and the mental health (MH) of the older adult population. A pool of 2938 studies were reviewed, with 21 studies meeting the inclusion criteria: 17 cross-sectional studies and 4 longitudinal studies. Most of these investigations were conducted in Asian countries and published within the last five years. The findings reveal that the GDS-15 scale is the most commonly used tool for assessing MH outcomes. We have established a quantifiable evaluation framework for BE elements, addressing the limitations of previous studies that relied on subjective perception measurements. Furthermore, a higher proportion of green spaces, improved facility accessibility, and shorter travel times and distances to destinations are positively linked with better MH of older adults. While these associations are becoming increasingly evident, research on the effects of density, diversity, and design elements in relation to older adults' MH remains limited and may varied significantly across different regions. Future research should focus on designing quasi-natural experimental studies to enhance our understanding of the convoluted and elaborate relationship between the BE and MH.

Do coastal bacterioplankton communities hold the molecular key to the rapid biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) from shipping scrubber effluent?

Shipping scrubber effluents, containing a cocktail of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), show undisputed effects at single-species experiments while PAHs fate in the marine environment after effluent discharge is still investigated. Bacterioplankton, composed of abundant diverse taxa with xenobiotic-degrading capabilities, are the first responders to scrubber emissions and can affect PAHs impacts on marine life. This work aims to examine the fate of scrubber effluent PAHs and alkyl-PAHs in mesocosms of coastal bacterioplankton communities from a pristine (phytoplankton carbon biomass was 8.16 μg C L-1) and a eutrophic (105.35 μg C L-1) coastal site. High-throughput 16S rRNA metabarcoding revealed differential responses of the bacterioplankton linked to their initial community structure and population abundances. Taxa known for their PAHs-degrading capacity were retrieved, including the genera Roseobacter, Porticoccus, Marinomonas, Arcobacter, Lentibacter, Lacinutrix, Pseudospirillum, Glaciecola, Vibrio, Marivita, and Mycobacterium, and were found to have increased roles in shifted communities by increasing their relative abundances at least 5-fold in treatments with high scrubber effluent additions. Additionally, metagenomic analysis of shotgun sequencing, indicated an increase on the number of Clusters of Orthologous Genes (COGs) associated with pathways involved in PAHs degradation. Up to 198 more COGs involved in signal transduction were retrieved in scrubber effluent enriched mesocosms compared to controls, while 15, 86, and 136 more COGs associated with naphthalene, aromatic compound, and benzoate degradation, respectively, were detected in the pristine mesocosms after effluent additions. In both experiments, bacterioplankton responses towards xenobiotic degradation under increased PAHs and alkyl-PAHs were coupled with a drop in their concentrations, below the limit of detection by Day 3 of the experiment in the eutrophic community, and by half in Day 6 in the pristine environment's community. Our findings indicate that PAHs and alkyl-PAHs impacts can be rapidly reduced in natural systems of high bacterial activity.

Predicting cognitive function among Chinese community-dwelling older adults: A supervised machine learning approach.

Predicting cognitive function among Chinese community-dwelling older adults: A supervised machine learning approach.

The effect of changing heat use patterns on residential energy efficiency in a Japanese smart community

In light of the prospective development of smart communities and the significant effect of residential energy consumption on global CO2 emissions, addressing sustainable household energy efficiency solutions is extremely critical. Given the lack of properly designated energy models for residential energy reduction, the primary objective of this study is to implement integrated energy prediction models and occupant-related parameters in proposing human-centered energy-saving and low-carbon building solutions. Specifically, on-site electricity monitoring and behavioral questionnaires were conducted before inputting the real-time data into physics-based modeling for building energy forecasts. Calculated energy-saving ratios are used to assess the influence levels of heating usage patterns and discuss the potential of energy efficiency scenarios. The findings highlight that household attributes and energy management systems substantially enhance the dwelling’s energy efficiency. Prominent impact factors are family income, property ownership, and energy consumption patterns, which may also pertain to occupant habits. Consequently, a rigorous focus must be placed on these elements, including controlling setpoints and schedules for primary residential end-use systems such as Heating Setpoints and Schedule Modes, which significantly reduces up to 38% of energy consumption in heating systems and 14% in total household energy end-uses. The paper uncovers the significance of integrating multi-directional approaches, including physical and social elements in modeling, predicting, and implementing a holistic human-centered smart system. This system correlates occupant activities with household energy consumption patterns to optimize energy savings while maintaining occupant comfort and fostering a sustainable indoor environment in smart communities.

농산어촌 공공디자인 가이드라인의 방향성 기초연구

This study aims to examine the social and spatial challenges faced by rural areas, including agricultural and fishing communities, from the perspective of public design, and to propose the necessity and direction of spatial design guidelines to address these issues. Rural regions are experiencing structural crises such as population aging, population decline, and the weakening of community networks, which have led to the qualitative deterioration of spatial environments and a decline in residents' satisfaction with daily life. Existing development approaches focused primarily on expanding physical infrastructure are limited in their ability to effectively resolve these complex problems. Therefore, this study emphasizes the need for a more qualitative and integrated design approach, highlighting public design as an effective strategy for addressing the multifaceted challenges of rural areas. By presenting both theoretical and practical foundations for public design guidelines, this study aims to contribute to establishing future policy and design directions for improving the spatial environments of rural communities. Further research is necessary to explore the specific components and application methods of such guidelines in greater depth.

The importance of women’s leadership in human capital management: innovative perspectives and issues

Achieving gender parity in management structures and full integration of women into leadership positions is a critical factor in the continuity of social development. In the context of transforming management paradigms, the importance of women's leadership in modern management continues to grow, opening fundamentally new horizons for professional growth. The research interest in this issue unites the efforts of the academic community, political elite, and business environment representatives. The phenomenon of women's leadership is viewed as a powerful tool for overcoming established social stereotypes that hinder the full modernization of social institutions. The scientific research in the article focuses on conducting a comprehensive analysis of women's leadership through the prism of secondary and primary information sources obtained through desk research and empirical methodological approaches.The main analytical findings demonstrate fundamental differences in management strategies. Female leaders primarily form organizational culture based on principles of mutual respect, trust, and mutual support, paying attention to employees' professional achievements at a social level. Male managers, conversely, tend to construct incentive models mainly from the perspective of personal advantages. The scientific work makes a significant contribution to theoretical discourse in management and leadership, offering innovative research perspectives. The practical significance of the results lies in developing specific recommendations for organizations on maximizing women's administrative potential.

Internalization of Akhlakul Karimah Values Through a Humanistic Approach to Islamic Religious Education Learning for Generation Z

The moral crisis among Generation Z is a serious challenge in the context of 21st-century education, especially amidst the dominance of digital culture that influences their mindset, behavior, and ethical values. This generation grew up in a social environment dominated by value relativism, instant information consumption, and minimal moral role models from the family and community environment. In conditions like this, the normative and cognitive Islamic Religious Education (PAI) learning approach has proven unable to touch the affective and existential dimensions of students. This study uses a literature study method with a qualitative-descriptive approach to explore the relevance and effectiveness of the humanistic approach in internalizing the values of akhlakul karimah. The humanistic approach, which emphasizes respect for personal experience, self-reflection, and empathetic relationships, is considered more capable of bridging religious teachings with students' real lives. Strategies such as experiential learning, contextual teaching and learning (CTL), and value clarification techniques (VCT) are important instruments in presenting transformative and meaningful value education. This study recommends the need for curriculum reform, humanistic teacher training, and a school culture that supports active participation and moral awareness of students. Thus, Islamic Religious Education can be a space for character formation that is not only formally religious, but also socially and spiritually meaningful.

Psychological Review: The Development of Children's Religion and Its Influencing Factors

Introduction to The Problem: The development of religion occurs significantly in children, making it important for parents and educators to understand children's religious development. Purpose: This study aims to examine children's religious development from a developmental psychology perspective. Design/methods/ approach: This study is a quantitative study using a library research method. Data were collected from various written sources, including digital academic databases, and then analyzed using data triangulation and content analysis. Findings: The results of this study show that child development is influenced by both internal factors, including heredity and personality, and external factors, such as the family, school, and community environment. There are three theories of religious spiritual growth in children, including dependency theory, religious instinct theory, and fitrah theory. Furthermore, the stages of child development are divided based on Ernest Harms’s views, including the fairy tale stage, the reality stage, and the individual stage. In addition, Imam Bawani divides the phases of children's religious development into the phase in the womb, the baby phase, the childhood phase, and the school phase. This study indicates that parents and the environment have a crucial role in shaping children's faith from an early age.

Pendidikan Karakter Di Era Society 5.0 Pada Lembaga Pendidikan

This article aims to analyze character education in the era of society 5.0 in educational institutions. Character education is very important to instill in students in the current era. The era of society 5.0 is a concept that emphasizes the integration between technology and humans in achieving social and sustainable welfare. This research is a library research, where data is obtained through references to books, articles, and scientific papers related to the topic of discussion. The results showed that the development and implementation of character education in the era of society 5.0 in educational institutions brought significant changes to education and teachers must be ready to face changes by mastering technology and developing skills. It is also expected to form a young generation that has morals and Pancasila values which include honesty, creativity, discipline, communication skills, innovation, self-confidence, tolerance, and the ability to interact socially and communicate well in the school, home, and community environment.

Predation by a ciliate community mediates temperature and nutrient effects on a peatland prey prokaryotic community.

Temperature significantly impacts microbial communities' composition and function, which plays a vital role in the global carbon cycle that determines climate change. Nutrient influxes often accompany rising temperatures due to human activity. While ecological interactions between different microorganisms could shape their response to environmental change, we do not understand how predation may influence these responses in a warmer and increasingly nutrient-rich world. Here, we assess whether predation by a ciliate community of bacterial consumers influences changes in the diversity, biomass, and function of a freshwater prokaryotic community under different temperature and nutrient conditions. We found that predator presence mediates the effects of temperature and nutrients on the total prokaryotic community biomass and composition through various mechanisms, including direct and indirect effects. However, the total community function was resilient. Our study supports previous findings that temperature and nutrients are essential drivers of microbial community composition and function but also demonstrates how predation can mediate these effects, indicating that the biotic context is as important as the abiotic context to understanding microbial responses to novel climates.IMPORTANCEWhile the importance of the abiotic environment in microbial communities has long been acknowledged, how prevalent ecological interactions like predation may influence these microbial community responses to shifting abiotic conditions is largely unknown. Our study addresses the complex interplay between temperature, nutrients, predation, and their joint effects on microbial community diversity and function. Our findings suggest that while temperature and nutrients are fundamental drivers of microbial community dynamics, the presence of predators significantly alters these responses. Our study underscores the impact of abiotic factors on microbial communities and the importance of accounting for the biotic context in which these occur to understand, let alone predict, these responses properly.

Multilevel Factors Associated With Hospitalizations in the First-Year Postpartum Among Persons With Opioid Use Disorder.

During the postpartum period, new parental responsibilities may compound changing social, community, and health care environments to increase risk of health and drug-related problems. This study examines both county-level and individual-level factors associated with hospitalization among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) throughout the first-year postpartum. A cohort of individuals with OUD at delivery were identified in Pennsylvania hospital discharge data (n = 1966). Multilevel logistic regression models examined county-level (median household income, rurality, jail rate, OUD treatment facilities, hospital beds) and individual-level (demographics, insurance, tobacco use, other substance use disorders, mental health conditions) factors associated with inpatient hospitalizations (all-cause, OUD-related, mental health-related) in the early (0-42 days) and late (43-365 days) postpartum periods. In total, 280 individuals (14%) with OUD had at least 1 hospitalization in the first-year postpartum. After adjustment, higher county densities of OUD treatment facilities were associated with lower odds of all 3 types of hospitalizations in early postpartum, including 80% to 86% reduced odds of OUD-related hospitalizations for those in counties with the 3 highest quartiles of treatment facility densities compared with the lowest quartile. These associations did not remain significant in late postpartum. All maternal age groups, compared with those aged 25 to 29, had increased odds of a mental health-related hospitalization in early postpartum, and the youngest age group (17-24 years) had increased odds in late postpartum. Experiencing any hospitalization from 0 to 42 days postpartum was positively associated with all 3 types of hospitalizations in late postpartum. County health care and drug treatment systems are associated with hospitalizations among individuals with OUD throughout the first-year postpartum. Addressing policy, sociocultural, and structural barriers to accessing these services should be a priority for improving postpartum health and reducing drug-related harms in this period.

Theological Educational Institutions of Dnieper Ukraine as Centers of the Protest Movement (Second Half of the 19th Century)

The article analyzes protest and revolutionary movements, the activities of underground circles and communities in the theological seminaries of the Ukrainian dioceses of the Orthodox Russian Church of the St. Petersburg Synod and the Kyiv Theological Academy in the second half of the 19th century. During the period under study, the clergy in the Ukrainian dioceses of the PRC was divided into Orthodox and liberal. The first group supported the positions of the higher spiritual authorities and autocracy, opposed the reform of the church and theological education, and implemented a policy of Russification. Representatives of the second group defended the ideas of the Ukrainization of theological education and the church, supported the development of Ukrainian traditions and culture, the liberalization of theological education, and were supporters of church reform. It was this group of clergy, including the youth of the theological schools that became an integral part of the Ukrainian national liberation movement and laid the foundations for the further struggle for the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Church. A feature of protest and revolutionary movements in theological educational institutions of Ukrainian dioceses was their relationship with the community environment and leaders of the Ukrainian movement: V. Antonovych, M. Hrushevskyi, I. Nechuy-Levytskyi, O. Konyskyi, V. Symyrenko etc. Among the main forms of protest activity of the students of theological educational institutions were the organization of protest actions and riots, the activities of underground circles and communities, the publication of illegal magazines, and the work of underground libraries. The main topics of the speeches and protests were the students’ dissatisfaction with the living conditions, the barracks lifestyle, the demands for changes in the statutes of theological education institutions, the cancellation of the ban on seminarians entering higher secular educational institutions. In addition, the seminarians made demands for democratic transformations, the Ukrainization of theological education and the church. The result of these processes was the upbringing of a common patriotic group of students of the seminaries and the Kyiv Theological Academy, who became figures of the Ukrainian liberation movement and national revival, in particular S. Petliura, V. Lypkivskyi, P. Zhytetskyi, L. Ilnytskyi, M. Leontovych, O. Lototskyi, Yu. Sitsinskyi and others.

Household Environmental Contamination with Soil-transmitted Helminths and Its Determinants Among Residents of Peri-urban Areas in Jimma City, Oromia, Ethiopia

Introduction: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are among the most common and widespread neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Ethiopia and globally. They are transmitted by eggs present in human faeces, which contaminate the soil in areas where sanitation is poor. This study aimed to determine soil contamination rate, and associated risk factors among residents of Peri-urban kebeles in Jimma city, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2021 Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Peri-urban kebeles of Jimma city from May to June 2021. A total of 459 soil samples were collected from 153 households compounds (children’s playground, toilet area, and Refused dumps site) using a systematic random sampling. The collected soil samples were then examined microscopically using optimized soil straining flotation method. Data on Socio-demographic and predisposing factors were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and checklist. The data were entered into Epidata and exported to SPSS for further analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize household characteristics. Logistic regression was performed to determine the risk factors associated with STH contamination. The level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The overall soil contamination rate in at least one location within a household was 39.2% with Ascaris was being the predominant species (35.9%). The most contaminated site with any of the Soil-transmitted helminth eggs was the refuse damp site (21.6%) followed by the Toilet area (18.3%), and the children’s playground (7.8%). Multivariate analysis confirmed that unimproved toilet facilities, having a domestic animal, and self-reported history of STH infection were a significant predictors of soil contamination with Soil-transmitted helminths. Conclusion and recommendation: The current study finding indicated that STH eggs were prevalent in the environments of a peri-urban community of Jimma city. This wide range of soil contamination suggested that the community was at a high risk of acquiring STH infection. This suggests a need to strengthening the existing comprehensive approaches aimed to prevent and control STH infection and STH environmental contamination. These approach should focus on large scale deworming to reduce the infection burden, improving WASH to reduce environmental contamination and promoting health education aimed to alter behavior to reduce environmental contamination and risk of infection.

Digital Communication Ethics in Law Enforcement in the Community Environment

The rapid development of digitalization has brought significant changes to all aspects of life, especially the way humans communicate and law enforcement. As a widespread and interactive digital platform, social media provides a space for people to express themselves publicly. However, this freedom also brings new challenges, such as the spread of misinformation, hate speech, and defamation, which often result in legal action. In Indonesia, regulations regarding digital communication practices are mainly regulated through the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE). Although the law is an important tool for maintaining social order, its implementation often triggers debate about the balance between protecting freedom of expression and the state's obligation to maintain social order. This article discusses the ethics of digital communication in the context of law enforcement, emphasizing the balance between protecting individual privacy and the public interest. The author discusses the various challenges faced in the implementation of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE) and considers its impact on human rights, especially in terms of freedom of expression and personal data protection. On the one hand, individuals have the right to maintain their privacy; on the other hand, the state has an obligation to maintain public security and control the spread of information that can disrupt public order. In this way, this article is expected to enrich the understanding of the dynamics of digital communication ethics in the legal field and provide input for better policy making in the future.

Implementation of Beginning Reading Activities at Bebandem State Kindergarten, Karangasem Regency, Bali Province

This study aims to describe the implementation of early reading activities at Bebandem State Kindergarten, Karangasem Regency, Bali District for Group B, children aged 5-6 years. The focus of this research is on the planning, implementation, evaluation, supporting factors, and inhibiting factors of early reading activities. This study employs a qualitative approach and descriptive research type. Data collection techniques include interviews, observations, and documentation. Data are analyzed qualitatively using the Miles and Huberman model, which involves data collection, data condensation, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The validity of the research data was re-evaluated using source triangulation and method triangulation. The results show that: 1) The planning of early reading learning activities at Bebandem State Kindergarten begins with a socialization activity through In-House Training (IHT), building a shared commitment where teachers are invited to prepare a lesson plan or teaching module that meets the needs of the students. 2) The implementation of learning uses picture and letter card games, where children are invited to play cards according to the current theme; 3) The evaluation of early reading activities at Bebandem State Kindergarten is conducted through observation, assessing the implementation of learning activities, and identifying actions to improve any shortcomings in the learning activities carried out. 4) The supporting factors of early reading learning activities at Bebandem State Kindergarten include guidance from parents and families in early reading activities. 5) The inhibiting factors in the implementation of learning include both internal and external factors. Internal factors include intelligence, interest, talent, and motivation, while external factors include family environment, school environment, and community environment.

Creation of Business Environment in Local Self–Governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The main goal of this work is to research the creation of a favorable business environment in local self–governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It represents one of the main drivers and reasons that enable local communities to grow and develop faster, thus becoming a desirable modern activity that the local community wants to engage in. The process of creating a favorable business environment promises a bright future for the local economy as well as for the environment. Local self–governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina have a large number of solid potentials for creating a favorable business environment that can strongly contribute to their economic development, and thus to the development of cantons, entities and the state, thereby contributing to a better living standard of citizens. In order to create an attractive environment for domestic and foreign investors, it is necessary to develop the entire concept of activities in the area of ​​the local self–government with defined goals, priorities, implementation and strategy. Previous literature and experiences have shown that the favorable environment in the area of ​​the local community represents a new and rather unexplored area in the world, in Europe and in the region, and therefore also in Bosnia and Herzegovina. So there is a limited number of successful examples, but the number of examples at the local level is increasing year by year, and the practices of certain local self–governments can be successfully applied in other locations as well. This research paper aims to investigate the process of creating a business environment in the local community, through a quantitative analysis of newly collected data on the degree of development of the business environment and the role of the local administration and the municipal mayor in that process. The survey was conducted at the local level – according to the statistical method, and included employees of local self–governments, business entities and citizens. One of the main assumptions is that a developed business environment contributes to greater investment and increased employment in local self–governments. In addition, this research provides a detailed overview and theoretical analysis of the creation of a favorable business environment that includes the business sector, local administration and citizens of the local community, as well as the application of good practices from locations that have a developed business environment. This paper also contributes to a better understanding of the role of local administration in the process of creating a business environment and the analysis of local self–government performance in the area of ​​economic development. In addition, the work contributes to the assessment of the current state of local administration, the activities of local administration in the whole process and the relationship with the business community and the issue of employment. The research problem is reflected in the fact that modern processes are largely unknown, and although they exist, they are often imperceptible, but they still play an increasingly important role in local administrations. Changes in society with the help of advanced technologies and the constant desire for more employment of citizens have created realistic assumptions for starting the creation of a business environment, addressing municipal mayors and local administration towards strategic decisions and documents, and represent a realistic basis for greater investments and improving the living standards of the population. The subject of this research is the impact of creating a business environment as part of economic development because it attracts and increases the interest of domestic and foreign investors in investing at the local level, which aims to create new jobs and improve the living standards of citizens of a local community. Given that this topic is relatively new in the modern science, it is necessary to analyze the key areas in detail. The key questions investigated in this paper are to describe the state of local administration, whether the local self–government has created a business environment or is in the process of doing so, what are the benefits of this process and the application of good practices from other local administrations.

Do Religious Leaders Engage Community Environmental Problems?

ABSTRACT Much of the research about religious engagement with the environment has focused on individual citizens, leaving religious organizations and religious professionals (clergy) in the background or ignored; however, clergy are important actors in their own right, bringing issues to the attention of the congregation, devoting congregational resources to addressing problems, and shaping the beliefs and values of people in earshot. In this paper, we draw on gold-standard National Survey of Religious Leaders (NSRL) data from clergy and community environmental statistics from the federal government to understand the conditions that structure environmental engagement among religious leaders. A minority of clergy engage with environmental issues, though community circumstances play a conditional role in motivating them. We should not expect clergy to engage with the local environment, but it is more likely that they do when their worldview is consonant with the congregation and broader community.