Greenhouse gas emissions and control measures for constructed wetland: A systematic review.

Measuring hydrological alterations and landscape patterns for sustainable development through ecosystem connectivity in Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary, India.

Encapsulated nanomaterials: Exploring Cutting-edge horizons for sustainable approach in extraction processes: A review.

Application of environmental DNA metabarcoding in the ecological effect assessment of marine ranching-case study of Shuangdao Bay.

Estimation of seasonal ecological water demand in arid zone of Northwest China: An approach using the LSTM-random forest regression model.

This study examines the influence of soil types on building construction in Khana Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, Nigeria, and evaluates the implications for environmental economics and environmental sustainability. A mixed-methods survey design was adopted, involving laboratory analysis of soil samples focusing on grain size distribution, plasticity index, and shear strength and a questionnaire administered to 400 construction professionals, of which 320 responses were returned. Soil analysis revealed predominantly clay, sandy, and loamy soils, each posing distinct challenges for structural stability, foundation performance, and environmental impacts such as erosion, settlement, and biodiversity loss. Questionnaire findings indicate that soil-related construction failures increase environmental costs, reduce structural durability, and elevate long-term economic burdens. Sustainable practices such as soil-appropriate foundation designs, erosion control measures, rainwater harvesting, and the use of eco-friendly building materials were identified as effective mitigation strategies with economic and ecological benefits, including cost savings, reduced degradation, and improved public health. The study concludes that integrating soil science into construction planning is critical for sustainable development in Khana LGA and recommends strengthened building codes, enhanced professional training, sustainable material adoption, and GIS-based geotechnical mapping to improve construction outcomes and minimize environmental risks.

The article investigates the integration of green roofs into mixed-use buildings to enhance sustainability. It highlights their ecological, social, and spatial benefits, linking sustainable architecture with multifunctional design. Analysis of recent studies shows how green roof performance aligns with building strategies and spatial typologies, promoting healthier, more resilient, and environmentally responsible urban environments.

Improved forest management (IFM), particularly the transition of even-aged forests to continuous cover forestry (CCF), is gaining attention as a management approach that may contribute to climate change mitigation by enhancing forest carbon sequestration and maintaining soil carbon storage. CCF aims to maintain continuous tree cover over time by using selective harvesting and natural regeneration instead of clear-cutting (CC), and is promoted as a forest management method that enhances productivity, ecological, and social benefits. Using a Scots pine stand management in Poland, we evaluated the profitability, harvest rates, and carbon fluxes of CCF compared to traditional CC. We used discounted cash flow models to assess the potential benefits of transitioning even-aged Scots pine stands to a CCF regime. At the assumed 5% discount rate, CC management had higher Land Expectation Values (LEVs), while CCF had higher internal rates of return (IRR) for lower land acquisition prices of 8,000 EUR or less. For land prices ranging from 9,000 to 11,000 EUR, IRRs varied considerably depending on the age at which the stand was transitioned to CCF. Purchasing older forests, which then produced earlier harvest revenues, was more profitable. CC management consistently produced more wood per hectare than CCF, but since CCF had lower input costs, the costs per tonne of CO2e were similar between the two management regimes, as were the wood production costs. Our findings highlight important trade-offs, suggesting that while CCF may not always maximize wood yields, it can offer competitive financial performance under favorable land prices while simultaneously supporting climate mitigation objectives.

Considering the promising use of ethanol as an alternative energy source, it is important to understand how by-products such as vinasse can affect the environment, especially when they are applied directly to the environment as a fertilizer. Although treatments have been proposed for this wastewater, the focus has mainly been on the physical and chemical characteristics of vinasse. Therefore, ecotoxicology studies are necessary to confirm the efficiency of these treatments. Several studies have highlighted the acute toxicity potential of vinasse however very little is known about chronic exposure and ecologically relevant endpoints such as behaviour. In order to evaluate the toxicity of raw and phytoremediated vinasse, we exposed individuals of Gammarus pulex to raw, 7-day, and 15-day phytoremediated vinasses for 96 hours, recording mortality and behavioural endpoints. The animals exposed to the different vinasses showed alterations in the swimming pattern. Also, the mortality was higher in animals exposed to raw vinasse. Mortality and effects on swimming speed were related to differences in Biological and Chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD and COD), as well as low pH and zinc concentration. Our results suggest that, even after treatment, the toxic potential of vinasse remains, affecting animals' fitness. In this way, despite the ecological benefits of ethanol energy, its by-products' discharge must be evaluated to minimize effects on the biota.

Urban rewilding is increasingly recognized as a nature-based solution for restoring biodiversity, mitigating climate risks, and strengthening urban resilience. Yet, empirical evidence on how rewilding is perceived and supported by both policymakers and the public-particularly in post-socialist contexts-remains scarce. This study investigates expert and community perspectives on urban rewilding in Poland through a mixed-method design: a nationwide survey of 32 municipal environmental officials and a visual preference survey with 1,000 residents of the coastal city of Sopot. Expert responses highlight strong conceptual support for rewilding's ecological and social benefits, but also identify persistent concerns about institutional feasibility, funding, and integration into existing planning frameworks. Community results reveal consistent public endorsement of moderate rewilding, with more cautious acceptance of intensive ecological designs in highly symbolic civic spaces. Taken together, the findings suggest that urban rewilding in Central and Eastern Europe is both socially viable and ecologically desirable, but its successful implementation will depend on adaptive governance, participatory planning, and the strategic use of visual engagement tools to bridge policy ambition with public expectations.

Relay cropping is a sustainable and efficient cropping system that allows two crops to share part of the growing season, enhancing land use, resource efficiency, and profitability, especially under zero-tillage practices. A three-year field study (2021–22, 2022-23 & 2023-24) was conducted at the Cotton Research Institute, Khanpur, Southern Punjab, to compare the agronomic and economic performance of relay cropping of Brassica juncea (Super Raya) into standing cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) with their respective sole cropping systems. The experiment included: (1) sole cotton cropping, (2) sole Brassica cropping after cotton harvest, and (3) relay cropping where Brassica was sown in early October into standing cotton. Standard agronomic practices were followed across all treatments. Performance metrics included yield, income, production costs, profit margins, and profitability ratios were recorded and analyzed using standard protocols. Results showed that relay cropping consistently increased cotton yield by 11–23% across the three years. While Brassica yield slightly declined (by 10–15%) under relay cropping, total farm profit improved due to higher cotton yields and reduced input costs. Net profits in the relay system ranged from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 8,000 higher per acre compared to sole cropping. Additionally, profit-to-cost ratios were superior in the relay system (up to 1.95) versus sole systems (as low as 1.01). Relay cropping also offered ecological benefits such as soil cover improvement and reduced erosion, while optimizing labor and input use. These findings indicated that relay cropping is a practical and economically viable approach for improving productivity and sustainability in semi-arid cotton-growing regions of Pakistan. In conclusion, relay cropping of cotton with Brassica (Super Raya) is a viable, sustainable, and economically superior alternative to conventional sole cropping systems in Southern Punjab. It increases cotton yields, enhances profitability, and supports resource conservation. This system is particularly suitable for small to medium-scale farmers seeking to improve income, productivity, and land use efficiency under semi-arid conditions.

Purpose This paper investigates how consumers across the European Union perceive and accept insect-based foods, aiming to determine which factors most significantly influence their willingness to adopt this sustainable dietary alternative. Design/methodology/approach A machine learning approach – specifically the Random Forest algorithm – was employed to analyze survey responses collected in six EU countries. The model's performance was assessed through classification metrics and the ranking of variable importance. Findings The classifier reached a strong predictive accuracy of 97.83%. Among the predictors, age stood out as the most impactful, followed by considerations related to price, health benefits and environmental motivations. The analysis also revealed a notable level of cultural consistency in attitudes toward entomophagy across countries. Research limitations/implications As the analysis relies on secondary data and non-random sampling, the ability to generalize the findings may be limited. Practical implications The results offer guidance for both industry stakeholders and public policy, highlighting the consumer segments most receptive to insect-based foods and identifying key themes for communication strategies. Social implications Understanding public attitudes toward edible insects can support the development of sustainable dietary norms across Europe. As food security and environmental concerns grow, this research may help normalize alternative protein sources and reduce cultural resistance. Enhancing awareness of health and ecological benefits could shift consumer mindsets and support broader social acceptance of entomophagy as a viable future food practice. Originality/value This research introduces a data-driven methodological perspective rarely seen in food acceptance studies by integrating machine learning into consumer research. It also provides fresh insights into how demographic and psychological variables interact in shaping European acceptance of insect consumption.

The promotion and utilization of agricultural organic waste derivatives represent a critical pathway toward achieving green agricultural transformation and efficient resource recycling. Drawing upon the TPB and NAM theories, this study develops a dual-path integrated behavioral model that encompasses both rational decision-making and moral motivation. Based on 661 valid survey responses collected in the Xinjiang region of China, the study employs SEM and DEMATEL method to systematically examine the influence mechanisms of subjective norms, behavioral attitude, perceived behavioral control, personal norms, consequence perception, and responsibility attribution on consumers' willingness to consume and their actual consumption behavior of agricultural organic waste derivatives. It further identifies the causal relationships and hierarchical structure among these key variables. The findings reveal that: (1) Subjective norms, behavioral attitude, and personal norms significantly and positively influence consumer willingness, thereby promoting actual consumption behavior. Perceived behavioral control not only directly enhances willingness but also facilitates behavioral conversion; (2) Consequence perception, responsibility attribution, and subjective norms indirectly influence consumer willingness by activating personal norms, while consequence perception also enhances willingness via improvements in behavioral attitude, thus validating the mediating role of the morally-driven pathway; (3) Consequence perception, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control emerge as the core factors within the causal structure. Their enhancement directly strengthens consumers' green consumption willingness and behaviors, while also indirectly activating other psychological mechanisms. Accordingly, the study recommends enhancing science popularization and demonstration projects to raise awareness of the ecological benefits of agricultural organic waste utilization, establishing regulations and fostering social norms to encourage green consumption, leveraging grassroots organizations to improve product accessibility, and using education and incentives to promote ethically driven, stable consumption of agricultural organic waste derivatives.

Urban forests play a vital role in sustainable cities by providing ecological, social, and climatic benefits. However, tree selection often emphasizes aesthetics and pollution control, overlooking resilience to extreme weather, particularly cyclones in coastal regions. This study proposes a climate-resilient tree selection framework that integrates ecological function and mechanical stability. Thirty-four commonly planted species in Bhubaneswar, a cyclone-prone city in Odisha, India, were evaluated using four indices: Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI), Cyclone Tolerance Index (CTI), Use Value Index (UVI), and Morphometric Character Index (MCI). APTI was derived from leaf physio-biochemical traits; CTI from cyclone damage reports and UVI and MCI from ethnobotanical surveys and morphological data. These indices were normalized and combined into an Integrated Resilience and Utility Index (IRUI) to rank species suitability for urban planting. Based on IRUI values, species were categorized into five suitability classes ranging from very high to unsuitable. Azadirachta indica was identified as very highly suitable, while eleven species including Mimusops elengi, Neolamarckia cadamba, Alstonia scholaris, and Ficus religiosa were highly suitable for cyclone-prone polluted urban environments. Regression analysis indicated positive contributions of all four indices to IRUI, ranked as CRI > APTI > MCI > UVI. This framework provides a data-driven basis for urban planners to design multifunctional, climate-resilient green spaces, supporting Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Wetlands provide critical ecological and socio-economic benefits, covering approximately 45% of the Athabasca Oil Sands Region in Alberta, Canada. However, open-pit oil sand mining has led to widespread wetland loss. While reclamation efforts are ongoing, the development of effective wetland monitoring methods remain essential. This paper presents a novel approach to tracking wetland dynamics in reclaimed and reference landscapes using Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery. We assess surface water extent and emergent vegetation, validating our satellite-based measurements against high-resolution UAV-derived wetland area data (R2=0.902). Our results reveal minor differences in intra-annual variability in wetland area between wetlands in reclaimed versus those in reference landscapes. Wetlands exhibit a positive log-linear relationship between maximum depth and variability in open-water area, a pattern that was consistent between landscape types. Intra- and interannual variability in spatial extent were both positively associated with wetland area. This paper introduces the first ground-truthed automated wetland monitoring approach for the region. These findings document the similarities in range of variation between wetlands developing in reclaimed and reference landscapes and provide a simple tool to support long-term monitoring to document the persistence of wetlands forming in reclaimed landscapes.

ABSTRACT Understanding land‑use change impacts on ecosystem service values (ESV) is essential for balancing ecological and socioeconomic needs in urbanizing basins. This study analyzes the Qiantang River Basin using 2000–2020 land‑use data, transition matrices, and dynamic degree methods, with ESV quantified via revised equivalent factors. A patch‑generating land‑use simulation model projects five 2030 scenarios: natural development, cropland protection, ecological protection, urban development, and sustainable development. Results show cropland declined 9.2% and construction land grew 126.3% from 2000 to 2020, causing a marked ESV reduction, mainly from cultivated land and water body loss. Scenario analysis indicates ecological protection and sustainable development pathways can alleviate ESV degradation, whereas natural development and urban expansion exacerbate ecosystem decline. The findings suggest that strict urban growth control combined with enhanced cropland and ecological protection can achieve synergistic ecological and economic benefits, offering actionable guidance for regional spatial planning and sustainable basin management.

Climate change has significantly intensified flood regimes in recent decades. While traditional flood management emphasizes disaster prevention through structural interventions, it often overlooks the ecological functions of flood pulses. This study first explores how flood frequency and phases affect riverine habitat quality, integrating two-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling with ecological habitat assessment. Using the Qingyi River as a case study, we quantified the habitat responses of multiple aquatic organisms under different flood frequencies and different hydrological stages. Results show that moderate floods (with a 10-year return period) enhanced fish habitat functionality (Weighted Usable Area, WUA) by up to 120% compared to multi-year average discharge, primarily by expanding shallow zones and improving lateral connectivity. Fish species reached peak habitat suitability during flood crests, while Benthic organisms favored recession phases, revealing phase-specific ecological responses. To further account for flood risks-often neglected in ecological evaluations-we introduced a Flood Assessment Method Coupling Ecology and Risk (FAMCER) and in this method we proposed the Flood Efficiency Index (FEI) to integrate ecological gains and hazard costs. This index identifies trade-offs between ecological benefits and flood risks, showing that 10-year floods achieve an optimal balance in our case study. The flexible FEI-based framework enables targeted evaluation across different conservation priorities and supports adaptive decision-making for ecological flow releases and floodplain restoration. These findings highlight the need to shift from purely defensive flood control to integrated flood management that balances ecological enhancement with risk mitigation.

Regulation of core-to-general individual ratio in termite tunnelling and its ecological benefit: a simulation study

Interspecific competition, ecological benefits, and productivity in maize/alfalfa strip intercropping systems on the Loess Plateau of China

Hydrogen-bonded lignin-acrylic copolymer/WPU composites with Integrated UV shielding, antioxidancy and degradability.