Local Environmental Conservation Research Articles

Enhancing Livestock Detection: An Efficient Model Based on YOLOv8

Maintaining a harmonious balance between grassland ecology and local economic development necessitates effective management of livestock resources. Traditional approaches have proven inefficient, highlighting an urgent need for intelligent solutions. Accurate identification of livestock targets is pivotal for precise livestock farming management. However, the You Only Look Once version 8 (YOLOv8) model exhibits limitations in accuracy when confronted with complex backgrounds and densely clustered targets. To address these challenges, this study proposes an optimized CCS-YOLOv8 (Comprehensive Contextual Sensing YOLOv8) model. First, we curated a comprehensive livestock detection dataset encompassing the Qinghai region. Second, the YOLOv8n model underwent three key enhancements: (1) incorporating a Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) to accentuate salient image information, thereby boosting feature representational power; (2) integrating a Content-Aware ReAssembly of FEatures (CARAFE) operator to mitigate irrelevant interference, improving the integrity and accuracy of feature extraction; and (3) introducing a dedicated small object detection layer to capture finer livestock details, enhancing the recognition of smaller targets. Experimental results on our dataset demonstrate the CCS-YOLOv8 model’s superior performance, achieving 84.1% precision, 82.2% recall, 84.4% mAP@0.5, 60.3% mAP@0.75, 53.6% mAP@0.5:0.95, and 83.1% F1-score. These metrics reflect substantial improvements of 1.1%, 7.9%, 5.8%, 6.6%, 4.8%, and 4.7%, respectively, over the baseline model. Compared to mainstream object detection models, CCS-YOLOv8 strikes an optimal balance between accuracy and real-time processing capability. Its robustness is further validated on the VisDrone2019 dataset. The CCS-YOLOv8 model enables rapid and accurate identification of livestock age groups and species, effectively overcoming the challenges posed by complex grassland backgrounds and densely clustered targets. It offers a novel strategy for precise livestock population management and overgrazing prevention, aligning seamlessly with the demands of modern precision livestock farming. Moreover, it promotes local environmental conservation and fosters sustainable development within the livestock industry.

Citrus Specialization or Crop Diversification: The Role of Smallholder’s Subjective Risk Aversion and Case Evidence from Guangxi, China

Specialization may lead to higher income for small-scale farmers but comes with increased risks, while diversification can mitigate risks and foster agricultural sustainability. Considering the influences of complex risks and farmers’ subjective risk aversion, the decision for small-scale farmers to specialize in citrus cultivation or diversify with multiple crops remains uncertain. There is currently limited understanding of this issue among citrus smallholders in rural China. This study aims to fill this empirical gap by examining the impact of smallholder farmers’ subjective risk aversion on their choice between citrus monoculture and crop diversification. It utilizes a subjective risk assessment approach that incorporates farmers’ risk perceptions and risk attitudes towards citrus farming. Farm crop diversification is assessed through the utilization of both the count index and Shannon index. The empirical analysis employs survey data obtained from citrus growers in Guangxi, China, and applies an instrumental variable regression method with endogeneity consideration using the IV-Probit model and 2SLS model estimation. The results reveal that both risk perceptions and risk attitudes play important roles in citrus smallholders’ land allocation decisions. Specifically, citrus farmers who perceive higher risks and adopt risk-averse attitudes are statistically more inclined to engage in land use diversification practices, including the practice of growing citrus as well as other crops, which contributes to reducing the risks of citrus farming and promoting local environmental conservation. These results contribute to a better scholarly comprehension of the relationship between risk perceptions, risk attitudes, and crop diversification among small-scale citrus farmers. They provide valuable insights for enhancing the sustainability of land use systems with citrus farming while also emphasizing the importance of maintaining essential diversification in small-scale farming throughout the process of agricultural modernization.

Does Buddhist Tourism Successfully Result in Local Sustainable Development?

At nine of China’s most well-known Buddhist attractions, the role of Buddhist tourism is examined in terms of two major pillars of local sustainable development, which include local economic growth and local environmental quality. Using the year and city-fixed effect models, and by employing the panel data over the period 2010–2019, we performed an empirical analysis in this investigation. The empirical results suggest that Buddhist tourism positively affects local economic growth. Specifically, a 1% increase in Buddhist tourism results in a 0.053% increase in local economic growth. On the contrary, the empirical results suggest that Buddhist tourism negatively affects local environmental quality. Concretely, a 1% increase in Buddhist tourism leads to a 0.089% decline in local environmental quality. Furthermore, using the number of Buddhist tourists that arrived to replace the total Buddhist tourism revenue to re-estimate the effects of Buddhist tourism on local sustainable development as a robustness test, the new results support the previous results. Meanwhile, other factor with significant impacts on local sustainable development have been found. To conclude, because local economic growth and local environmental conservation are mutually exclusive, which limits local sustainable development, this paper provides evidence for local policymakers to realize local sustainable development from the perspective of Buddhist tourism.

A sustentabilidade e o Desenvolvimento do Programa Dinheiro Direto na Escola- Escolas Sustentáveis, em Aracaju, Sergipe

O Programa Dinheiro Direto na Escola-Escolas Sustentáveis (PDDE-ES), financia projetos em escolas públicas com o objetivo de transformar o ambiente escolar em espaços educadores sustentáveis. A pesquisa teve como objetivo descrever o desenvolvimento do PDDE-ES em escolas públicas de Aracaju, Sergipe, quanto aos aspectos de educação ambiental, sustentabilidade e Projeto Político Pedagógico (PPP). O método utilizado foi aplicação de questionários aos gestores e professores de doze escolas participantes. Foram realizadas análises de frequência e análises bivariadas das variáveis (1) conhecimento dos objetivos e (2) dificuldades encontradas na aplicação de práticas sustentáveis com variáveis sóciodemográficas e profissiográficas. Os resultados mostraram que 83,3% das escolas inscritas no programa ainda não haviam recebido o recurso. Sobre os objetivos propostos pelo programa, 83,3% dos gestores conheciam os objetivos, mas a maioria dos professores (61,2%) desconhecia e não participou da construção do plano de ação. Gestores e professores ressaltaram dificuldades na execução de práticas de Educação Ambiental e sustentabilidade, mostrando fragilidade na comunicação entre gestão e corpo docente, que aliada à falta de recurso financeiro e de planejamento, não contribuem para a efetiva realização das atividades e concretização do programa. Conclui-se que as fragilidades apontadas reforçam a necessidade da inserção de temas ambientais no PPP da escola além de capacitação e formação continuada para esses profissionais atuarem de forma mais efetiva. O PDDE-ES é de suma importância para que as escolas trabalhem as questões socioambientais estimulando a mudança de hábitos e ações da comunidade na busca por alternativas mais sustentáveis e conservação ambiental local.

Local Environmental Conservation Activities as a Key Factor for Social Interaction (Case Study: Bagh-Shater Local Community)

Local Environmental Conservation Activities as a Key Factor for Social Interaction (Case Study: Bagh-Shater Local Community)

Community’s Existing Practices and Knowledge on Recycling at Kundasang, Sabah

Recycling is known as the best approach to reduce disposal costs and prolongs the lifespan of landfill sites. However, the ignorance and negligence on the importance of recycling have lead to various solid waste management problems. This paper investigates the community willingness to participate in recycling practices through community waste bank in Kundasang, Sabah. Prior to the implementation of waste bank in Kundasang, a questionnaire survey was conducted to 300 households in four main villages. About 66.7% of respondents has agreed on the implementation of community waste bank as the community recyclables collection. The existing recycling activities were low as only 34.2% of the respondents practice solid waste separation at source. Other findings revealed that community’s recycling practices was influenced by their socio-economic background. Respondents’ education level was shown to influence their knowledge on solid waste separation and recycling practices. Although the majority of the respondent had completed their education in secondary school, about 61% of respondents were willing to participate in the waste bank. Moreover, 63% of respondents were interested in the waste bank program if incentives were given to the respondents as a reward. Additionally, the findings revealed younger generation in range 19 years old and below were likely to involve with the recycling activities compare to age range 20 years old to 49 years old. Hence, these findings suggested a positive community’s acceptance on waste bank implementation in Kundasang. The community waste bank was expected to create positive attitude towards recycling practices and therefore contribute to the local environmental conservation.

地域環境保全活動への参加と社会関係資本――滋賀県守山市のNPO法人「びわこ豊穣の郷」を事例として――

地域環境保全活動への参加と社会関係資本――滋賀県守山市のNPO法人「びわこ豊穣の郷」を事例として――

Rubber specialization vs crop diversification: the roles of perceived risks

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of farmers’ risk perceptions regarding rubber farming on their land use choices, including rubber specialization and crop diversification.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey data of some 600 smallholder rubber farmers in Xishuangbanna in Southwest China is employed. This paper develops a general conceptual framework that incorporates a subjective risk item into a model of farmers’ land use choices, thereby developing four econometric models to estimate the role of risk perceptions, and applies instrumental variables to control for the endogeneity of risk perceptions.FindingsThe results demonstrate that risk perceptions play an important role in smallholders’ decision-making regarding land use strategies to address potential risks in rubber farming. Smallholders with higher risk perceptions specialize in rubber farming less often and are more likely to diversify their land use, thereby contributing to local environmental conservation in terms of agrobiodiversity. The land use choices of smallholder rubber farmers are also associated with ethnicity, household wealth, off-farm employment, land tenure status, altitude and rubber farming experience.Originality/valueThis study contributes to a better understanding of the implications of farmers’ risk perceptions and shows entry points for improving the sustainability of rubber-based land use systems.

An Analysis of the Effect of Social Entrepreneurial Tourism on Local Revitalisation

This study describes the characteristics and role of a walking tourism project, footpath tourism, in Japan. The role of this kind of project in revitalizing the local community is highlighted. Local residents involved in the active management of walking tourism may rediscover local attractions in the process. The author conducted simulations using a system dynamics model to visualize the project’s characteristics and its effects on the local area. The results of the analysis indicate that local community participation in such projects and local environmental conservation are indispensable for sustainable management.

Nebela jiuhuensis nov. sp. (Amoebozoa; Arcellinida; Hyalospheniidae): A New Member of the Nebela saccifera - equicalceus - ansata Group Described from Sphagnum Peatlands in South-Central China.

Hyalospheniids are among the most common and conspicuous testate amoebae in high-latitude peatlands and forest humus. These testate amoebae were widely studied as bioindicators and are increasingly used as models in microbial biogeography. However, data on their diversity and ecology are still very unevenly distributed geographically: notably, data are lacking for low-latitude peatlands. We describe here a new species, Nebela jiuhuensis, from peatlands near the Middle Yangtze River reach of south-central China with characteristic morphology. The test (shell) has hollow horn-like lateral extensions also found in N.saccifera, N.equicalceus (=N.hippocrepis), and N.ansata, three large species restricted mostly to Sphagnum peatlands of Eastern North America. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COI) data confirm that N.jiuhuensis is closely related to the morphologically very similar North American species N.saccifera and more distantly to N.ansata within the N.penardiana group. These species are all found in wet mosses growing in poor fens. Earlier reports of morphologically similar specimens found in South Korea peatlands suggest that N.jiuhuensis may be distributed in comparable peatlands in Eastern Asia (China and Korea). The discovery of such a conspicuous new species in Chinese peatlands suggests that many new testate amoebae species are yet to be discovered, including potential regional endemics. Furthermore, human activities (e.g., drainage, agriculture, and pollution) have reduced the known habitat of N.jiuhuensis, which can thus be considered as locally endangered. We, therefore, suggest that this very conspicuous micro-organism with a probably limited geographical distribution and specific habitat requirement should be considered as a flagship species for microbial biogeography as well as local environmental conservation and management.

S0830105 天売・焼尻島エコアイランドにむけたマイクログリッドの検討

In Teuri Island and Yagishiri Island, in Haboro, Hokkaido, local production for local consumption of energy has become a challenge from the points of view of fuel transportation and conservation of local environment. Due to this, the "Eco Island Concept Demonstration Project" has been launched in Haboro, and the introduction of renewable energy is being considered. Therefore, this study aims at the developing of an optimal clean energy system in Teuri Island and Yagishiri Island. In this paper, the study of the optimization of the installed capacity and the suppression of frequency variation in the microgrid comprising these two island is performed. For the optimization of the infrastructure capacity, the objective function of the economics of the system is considered, and the most economically advantageous system with the less environmental impact is found. Moreover, focusing on the moment of inertia of the generator, whether the frequency variation falls or not within the permitted range for this economically optimum capacity is evaluated. Furthermore, this study reveals the differences between the experimental results and the simulation results by performing experiments using a smart grid simulator.

Determinants of Tourist Behaviour in Coastal Environmental Protection

This study examines visitors’ willingness to support management policies regarding local environmental conservation issues. In particular, it explores the relative impacts of various antecedents on different types of specific behavioural intentions. Visitors to the Lulworth coastal area in England were studied using on-site questionnaire survey data. Results of the research highlight that most visitors had positive environmental attitudes and support for management policies related to specific responsible environmental behaviour, such as ‘not climbing the cliffs’ and ‘removing beach litter’. However, multiple regression analyses indicate that certain types of attitudes were not always the most important factor in explaining environmental behaviour. Other individual background factors, such as age, gender, environmental involvement and interpretative experiences, had different impacts on two types of specific behavioural intentions. This study suggests that management actions can be substantially improved by examining tourists’ perceptions of management policies and identifying which tourists are willing to engage in the types of conservation topic and the types of behaviour.

Extraction, Determination and Bioremediation of Heavy Metal Ions and Pesticide Residues from Lake Water

The natural or manmade water bodies in and near the settlements play very important role in improvement and conservation of local environment but many of them are on the way of eutrophication. This problem needs an urgent and sincere attention of environmentalists. The pollution due to heavy metal ions, pesticides and fertilizers has been investigated and analyzed by using atomic absorption spectrometer and Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry. The present study focuses on the determination of heavy metal ions from aquatic plants so as to evaluate its curative power as well as extraction method of pesticides from water and its determination using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Nearly 11 pesticides have been found in ppb level. The curative power and remediation of pesticide residues and heavy metal ions using microbial culture has also been tried and reported.

ASSESSING THE PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNITY-BASED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION PLANS

Community-based natural resources management (CBNRM) is increasingly perceived as a bottom-up alternative approach to the traditional top-down rational model of local environmental conservation planning. Although many studies have discussed the effectiveness of these two models in environmental planning, little research has been done to empirically determine the influence of these two principles on local environmental conservation planning. This study analyses 54 cities' local environmental conservation plans to quantitatively measure the conceptual plan components, then uses regression models to detect the factors influencing local environmental conservation plan quality. Descriptive results indicate that local plans have a relatively low awareness of strategic-level conservation items, a medium level of analysis for regional conservation items, and a high level of community-based conservation efforts. Regression results further highlight that the governance capacity has significant influence on local environmental conservation plan quality; however, the community-based participation capacity was not statistically significant.

그린투어리즘 포텐셜 분석을 위한 관광마을 수준의 월별 방문객 추정 - 하회마을을 중심으로 -

Summary and Conclusion In this study, ARIMA forecasting method which has not been widely applied to rural green tourism was used to build a general model and determine the optimal length of time series for village-based monthly tourist arrival forecasting and pattern analysis. The data gotten from Hahoe Village Superintendent's Office were monthly tourist arrival data that are significant rare data for tourism villages in Korea. Using four different lengths of time series and ten alternative models for each time series, this study found that 6-year time series with the highest R 2 values is the best length of time series and SARIMA(2,1,1)(1,1,2)12 model which exists in all the lengths of time series was selected as the general model to forecast village-based tourist arrivals. The proposed general model was verified using three 6-year time series for model building and the rest of years' data for model verification. The results show that most of R 2 values between observed and predicted data are more than 0.7 except two. This means that SARIMA(2,1,1)(1,1,2)12 model and 6-year data are adequate for village-based monthly tourist arrival forecasting. Although the number of tourist arrivals can be easily affected by social and economical factors, forecasting tourist arrivals is still necessary. The results of this study are very useful for local governments of village-based tourism attractions, expecially those that lack monthly tourist arrival data, to make timely and reasonable tourism policy. On the one hand, it’s necessary to improve the quality and range of general infrastructure, tourism facility and service for peak tourist season. On the other hand, it’s essential to develop new tourism resources and products to promote the local off-season tourism. What is more important is sustainable tourism which needs the conservation of local environment and natural and cultural heritage.

Local Environmental Conservation Strategies: Karanga Religion, Politics and Environmental Control

Abstract In southern and central Zimbabwe, religious and political authority is drawn from land guardianship cults. Intellectuals have emphasised the role of these cults in providing communal economic and ecological benefits. Schoffeleers, for example, stated: Territorial cults are rituals to counteract droughts, floods, blights, pests and epidemic disease afflicting cattle and man ... territorial cults function in respect of the well-being of the community, its fields and livestock ... and the general economic interests ... they also issue and enforce directives with regard to a community's use of the environment ... The impact of territorial cults on the ecological system is such that, borrowing Rappaport's phrase, we may justifiably speak of a 'ritually directed ecosystem'.1This article questions Schoffeleers' interpretation. It argues that local religious institutions are used by ruling lineages for political control, to grant preferential access to particular resources and to enhance political hegemony. The symbolism expressed in the rituals and environmental taboos is more powerful than the idiom of 'conservation'. Researchers should be more sceptical when they talk about a 'ritually controlled ecosystem'.