Ecological Sustainability Research Articles

Engaged Amazigh Poetry in Meteor Airlines' "Agdal": Reviving Tradition while Addressing Global Environmental Issues

This paper analyzes Meteor Airlines' 2024 album Agdal, which revitalizes traditional Amazigh poetry through the emerging genre of Amazigh Rock. The study aims to explore how Agdal integrates the cultural heritage of pre-Saharan Amazigh oasis communities into global environmental discussions, with an emphasis on preserving nomadic and pastoral traditions. Using a qualitative analysis of the album’s lyrics, music style, and its reception, this research examines how the album marks a shift in Morocco's cultural industry from commercialized music production to efforts centered on cultural preservation and archiving. Findings suggest that Agdal, by merging traditional Amazigh poetry with contemporary rock elements, engages transnational audiences and contributes to an ongoing global dialogue on ecological and cultural sustainability. The study concludes that contemporary Amazigh music plays a crucial role in preserving historical memory, fostering cultural resilience, and raising environmental awareness, illustrating the impact of local cultural production on wider global issues

Violent sustainability: Blitzscale and counteraccounting in an Indian agtech start‐up

AbstractIn recent years, there has been rapid digitalization in agriculture, with India seeing a significant rise in agricultural technology (agtech) start‐ups. Many of these start‐ups promise to address the climate crisis by promoting the economic and ecological sustainability of agriculture through market‐driven business models. Using institutional ethnography and counteraccounting at an Indian agtech start‐up, this article illuminates social, economic, and ecological relationships that are obscured by one firm's accounting practices. It shows how, despite tech‐entrepreneurs intending to help farmers, violence remains built into the design and effects of rapidly scaled‐up (“blitzscaled”) sustainability programs. The article proposes violent sustainability as a concept to highlight the unintended harm caused to potential beneficiaries due to structural violence underlying tech‐entrepreneurialism and inherent design flaws in blitzscaled sustainability programs. In doing so, it challenges the normalization and monetization of recurrent failures prevalent in tech‐entrepreneurial ventures.

Many Little Hacks: Agroecological Plant Protection through Regenerative Potato Cropping

Abstract Typically potato farming practices are characterized by tight rotations, intensive tillage and fertilization. This leads to soil degradation, increased pest and disease pressure, and use of chemicals, thereby endangering ecosystem health and contaminating water supplies. Agroecological strategies were tested, including the strategic use of cover crops, reduced tillage, and organic fertilization by compost and transferred mulch of green manures. These practices were shown to improve soil structure, increase soil biodiversity, reduce the need for chemical inputs, and enhance crop resilience against pests and diseases. Findings underscore the effectiveness of agroecological management systems in increasing both ecological and economic sustainability in potato farming. The study argues for a change, away from individual measures and solutions and toward an interlocking ecoagricultural system and systemic thinking to reduce or avoid chemical pesticides, high fertilizer input, and tillage. Information © The Authors 2024

Research on the path of technological innovation and resource allocation optimization of state-owned enterprises from the perspective of ecological environment and biomechanics

In the evolving global landscape, competition among nations has increasingly centered on the allocation of innovation resources, which are crucial for enterprises to implement development strategies under supply-side reforms. The efficiency and rationality of resource allocation directly affect the innovation capacity and operational performance of enterprises. This paper examines the relationship between technological innovation and resource allocation in state-owned enterprises through the lens of the ecological environment, employing data from multiple sources and utilizing the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model to assess resource allocation efficiency. The study reveals that the proportion of R&D personnel invested in enterprises in China increased significantly from 46.35% to 73.38%, while the proportion in research institutions and universities declined to 11.48% and 11.36%, respectively. These shifts underscore the growing dominance of state-owned enterprises in driving technological innovation. The findings highlight that aligning technological innovation mechanisms with ecological sustainability not only enhances innovation capabilities and competitiveness but also accelerates industrial development and contributes to the sustainable growth of the national economy.

Long-term changes in the French fisheries for crustaceans in the Eastern English Channel: 1901 to 2020

Abstract Small-scale crustacean fisheries in the English Channel have existed for centuries but have never been formally assessed; hence, concerns about their ecological and socio-economic sustainability could be raised. This study explores trends in this fishery’s landings from 1901 to 2021, based on historical and recent landings data in two of the main administrative fishing divisions of the area, Cherbourg and Boulogne-sur-Mer quartiers. Crustacean fisheries were reported for both divisions from the beginning to the end of the time period considered, demonstrating that a dedicated crustacean fishery existed in the area since at least the 20th century. The species composition of the crustacean’s catch (e.g., edible crab, Cancer pagurus Linnaeus, 1758; European lobster, Homarus gammarus (Linnaeus, 1758); European spider crab, Maja brachydactyla Balss, 1922) was almost impossible to track before the 2000s. Important fluctuations were observed in catch volume reports along time that might be related to two phenomena: technological advances that would have improved the fishery performances and the decline of some previously targeted species that might have led to a transfer in fishing effort.

Evaluation of Capital Utilization Efficiency in Agricultural Listed Firms Based on a Three-Stage Data Envelopment Analysis

Rural revitalization is intricately tied to national prosperity, with listed companies in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fisheries playing pivotal roles in driving this transformative agenda. However, these sectors face critical challenges, notably resource constraints and environmental pressures, which underscore the necessity of evaluating capital utilization efficiency. This study employs a combined three-stage DEA model and Malmquist index to analyze capital utilization efficiency across 85 listed companies within China’s agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery industries over the period 2018–2022. The primary objectives are to quantify capital utilization efficiency, identify pathways for industry optimization, advance ecological agricultural sustainability, and offer valuable insights to investors and policymakers. Key findings include: (1) When grouped by sub-sector and adjusted to account for external environmental factors and random disturbances, the initial comprehensive capital utilization efficiency in agricultural companies was found to be significantly overestimated. Subsequent third-stage adjustments revealed decreases in average comprehensive efficiency, technical efficiency, and scale efficiency by 29.79%, 3.03%, and 27.37%, respectively, largely driven by a marked decline in scale efficiency, ultimately diminishing overall efficiency. (2) The capital utilization efficiency in agricultural trading firms remains suboptimal, with scale efficiency posing a critical limitation. High dependency on government subsidies and excess specialized personnel further constrain efficiency improvements. (3) Dynamic analysis using the DEA-Malmquist model indicates low total factor productivity in the agricultural sub-sector, primarily due to inefficiencies in capital management and suboptimal scale allocation. These findings underscore the need for targeted strategies to enhance resource allocation and management, bolster talent development and financial management frameworks, and drive technological research and development, innovation, and efficient capital allocation across the agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery sectors.

Research on the coupled evolution of LULCC and habitat quality in the Ganqing section of the Yellow River Basin based on multi-scenario simulations

IntroductionThis study focuses on the Ganqing section of the Yellow River Basin, exploring four land use scenarios: natural development, cropland protection, ecological protection, and rapid development. Given the ecological importance of this area, the research aims to evaluate how each scenario impacts habitat quality and land use sustainability by 2030.MethodsThe Future Land Use Simulation (FLUS) model and the Integrated Valuation of Environmental Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model were applied to simulate land use for each scenario. A habitat quality pattern and coupling coordination degree model was used to assess the interactions between land use and land cover change (LULCC) and habitat quality under different scenarios.ResultsFindings show that over 70% of the Ganqing section of the Yellow River Basin is primarily grassland. By 2030, the ecological protection scenario is predicted to have the highest habitat quality, followed by the natural development, rapid development, and cropland protection scenarios. Between 1990 and 2030, the area demonstrates predominantly high or moderate coordination between land use and habitat quality. Spatial analysis reveals lower coordination values in the southeast and higher values in the northwest, with imbalanced recession zones distributed around valley basins.DiscussionThis study highlights the value of strategic scenario planning in enhancing habitat quality and promoting sustainable land management in the Ganqing section of the Yellow River Basin. The ecological protection scenario shows the most promise for balancing development with habitat preservation, underscoring the importance of adopting land use policies that support ecological sustainability in vulnerable areas.

Unlocking the role of biofuel energy consumption and democratic accountability on ecological sustainability in the United States: a quantile-based analysis

ABSTRACT Energy is vital for economic growth, but it concurrently generates CO2, the primary driver of climate change and environmental degradation. This study investigates the impact of biofuel energy consumption on CO2 emissions in the United States. The study also considers the role of government stability, renewable energy, and democratic accountability. Utilizing data from 1990 to 2019, the empirical analysis employs advanced quantile-based methodologies, providing an all-inclusive insight into the interrelationships at various quantiles of the data distribution. The results from the analysis highlight that government stability, democratic accountability, economic growth, and biofuel energy consumption collectively contribute to environmental sustainability in the United States. Lastly, all the variables can significantly predict CO2 emissions across all quantiles. Based on these results, policies were formulated.

Effect of Synthesis Temperature on Performance of Phenazine-Based Cathode for Sodium Dual-Ion Batteries.

Organic materials have attracted much attention in the field of electrochemical energy storage due to their ecological sustainability, abundant resources and structural designability. However, low electrical conductivity and severe agglomeration of organic materials lead to poor discharge capacity and reaction kinetics in batteries. Herein, the morphology of the phenazine-based organic polymer poly(5,10-diphenylphenazine) (PDPPZ) was modified by varying the synthesis temperature. PDPPZ-165 °C with an exceptional porous structure provides abundant reaction channels for rapid charge transfer and diffusion that improves the reaction kinetics in sodium dual-ion batteries. Therefore, PDPPZ-165 °C cathode possesses excellent rapid charge-discharge capability delivering a specific capacity of 119.2 mAh g-1 at 40 C. Furthermore, a high specific capacity of 124.7 mAh g-1 can be provided even at a high loading of 16 mg cm-2 at 0.5 C with a capacity retention of 86.4 % after 500 cycles. This work could afford new insights for optimizing the performance of organic cathode materials in sodium dual-ion batteries.

Integrated Framework for Enhancing Liveability and Ecological Sustainability in UAE Communities

Urban growth is vast in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to economic development, and there is a need to consider liveability and sustainable ecosystems for future urban expansion. Promising strategies for sustainability focus on minimizing a building’s effects on the environment and improving residents’ quality of life, which is important in the desert and when confronting the issues of water and climate change. Sustainable practices that impact the livelihood of people in the UAE include factors such as walkable areas, open space, policing, healthcare, education, housing, and ensuring friendly transport that enhance the overall quality of life of residents in the region. Recognizing and appreciating the UAE’s cultural values is crucial when incorporating these aspects, allowing references to the nation’s character when creating communal areas. The primary research included quantitative surveys of three identified communities, composed of fifty participants each, where the findings indicate partial to full compliance, with 85.7% of the liveability indices being about public transport and green space. Through this analysis, liveability and sustainability principles need to be trialed and incorporated into future urban development to embrace the ecology as well as the inhabitants. To realize these targets, the proposed study adopted a four-part approach. Initially, an analysis of related studies concerning the UAE or the Gulf area was carried out to obtain important liveability and quality-of-life factors. A total of 6 dimensions and 51 indicators were extracted from the literature to inform the next stage. Subsequently, the authors identified and evaluated the design of three chosen communities in various cities in the UAE concerning liveability and sustainability indices. Consequently, a conceptual redesign of a typical community was made, illustrating the improved quality of life and sustainability. Lastly, a survey with respective facets from an urban planning architect and environmental scientist cum environmental economist was conducted to evaluate the practicality of the proposed design. This research gives a comprehensive picture of how liveability and sustainable ecosystem concepts need to be implemented in the UAE urban context and offers a direction to develop lively, context-specific, culturally attached, and sustainable urban environments for the present day and for the future.

Advanced reference crop evapotranspiration prediction: a novel framework combining neural nets, bee optimization algorithm, and mode decomposition

AbstractVarious critical applications, spanning from watershed management to agricultural planning and ecological sustainability, hinge upon the accurate prediction of reference evapotranspiration (ETo). In this context, our study aimed to enhance the accuracy of ETo prediction models by combining a variety of signal decomposition techniques with an Artificial Bee Colony (ABC)–artificial neural network (ANN) (codename: ABC–ANN). To this end, historical (1979–2014) daily climate variables, including maximum temperature, minimum temperature, mean temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, solar radiation, and precipitation from four arid and semi-arid regions in Egypt: Al-Qalyubiyah, Cairo, Damietta, and Port Said, were used. Six techniques, namely, Empirical Mode Decomposition, Variational Mode Decomposition, Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition, Local Mean Decomposition, Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise, and Empirical Wavelet Transform were used to evaluate signal decomposition efficiency in ETo prediction. Our results showed that the highest ETo prediction accuracy was obtained with ABC-ANN (Train R2: 0.990 and Test R2: 0.989), (Train R2: 0.986 and Test R2: 0.986), (Train R2: 0.991 and Test R2: 0.989) and (Train R2: 0.988 and Test R2: 0.987) for Al-Qalyubiyah, Cairo, Damietta, and Port Said, respectively. The impressive results of our hybrid model attest to its importance as a powerful tool for tackling the problems associated with ETo prediction.

GREEN LOGISTICS PRACTICES AND FIRM PERFORMANCE: THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE AMONG LOGISTICS FIRMS IN KENYA

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of green logistics practices on performance and mediating effect of environmental performance on this relationship in logistics companies in Kenya. Theoretical Framework: This study is anchored on the resource-based view and the natural resource-based view. Method: The study employs cross-sectional survey research design. A structured questionnaire is used to collect data from a sample of 300 firms which is analyzed using CB-SEM. Results and Discussion: Study establishes a significant positive relationship between green logistics practices and performance which is in line with the argument of the natural resource-based view. Secondly, the mediating effect of environmental performance on the relationship between green logistics practices and firm performance is found to be non-significant. Research Implications: The study recommends that logistics firms should implement environment-friendly practices of green packaging, route optimization, fuel efficiency, carbon emission measurement and reverse logistics. The expenses associated with implementing these practices impede the firm’s ability to improve performance in the context of a developing country. The findings provide a basis for the development regulatory framework in pursuit of environmental sustainability. Originality/Value: Research on ecological sustainability has mainly concentrated on the entire supply chain. This study concentrates on the logistics aspect which is responsible for a quarter of emissions of Green House Gases (CHGs). The research employs a measurement model of green logistics practices construct in the service sector hence moving away from the manufacturing organizations.

Environmental health and human health-unifying strategies, conceptual framework and green prescriptions: a review

The intricate relationship between environmental conditions and human health is increasingly acknowledged as a critical area of public health research. As global challenges such as climate change, urbanization, and biodiversity loss become more pronounced, understanding the connections between these environmental factors and health outcomes is essential for developing effective public health strategies. This analysis delves into the complex interactions that exist between environmental influences and health, emphasizing the urgent need for integrated approaches that simultaneously promote ecological sustainability and enhance community well-being. Environmental degradation has significant implications for human health, with many deaths linked to preventable environmental health risks. These risks encompass a wide range of issues, including air and water pollution, exposure to hazardous substances, and the impacts of climate change, all of which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. A conceptual framework is proposed to elucidate the multifaceted connections between environmental exposures, health determinants, and health outcomes, enabling a clearer understanding of how these elements interrelate. Cohesive strategies, such as the one health approach, advocate for collaboration across various sectors, including public health, veterinary health, and environmental management, to address the shared challenges of health and environmental degradation. Additionally, the principles of planetary health highlight the interdependence of ecosystems and human well-being, underscoring the need for sustainable management of natural resources to safeguard health outcomes. This article also explores the concept of "green prescriptions," which involve recommending nature-based interventions to enhance physical, mental, and social well-being. These prescriptions have demonstrated effectiveness in promoting health while fostering a sense of environmental stewardship. By synthesizing current evidence and successful case studies, this review emphasizes the significance of adopting a holistic perspective that integrates environmental considerations into healthcare practices. Ultimately, fostering collaboration among various stakeholders will contribute to the development of resilient communities that are better equipped to navigate the intertwined challenges of health and environmental sustainability.

Collaborative governance in action: driving ecological sustainability in the Yangtze River basin

Implementing a collaborative governance framework across administrative boundaries is crucial for preserving the Basin’s ecological integrity and mitigating institutional fragmentation. Based on 19 cases of inter-provincial collaborative governance of ecological environment in the Yangtze River Basin of China, this study uses the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis method to explore the influencing factors and complex causal mechanism of the effect of inter-provincial collaborative governance. The results show that technology empowers relationship driving, institutions reinforce interactive driving, and internal and external interaction driving modes promote collaborative governance. Perceived factors are essential in motivating provinces to participate in collaborative governance. External factors play a hygienic role in collaborative governance, and internal factors play a motivated role. The roles of the two types of factors are separate but complementary. In view of this, government should attention to regional environmental concerns, ensuring consistent alignment of internal and external factors and fostering synergies to improve governance effectiveness.

Thermal Comfort and Green Spaces: The Role of Temperature-Regulating Elements in Neighborhood Parks

According to current studies, the thermal effects of global warming will affect urban areas more intensely. In the face of this situation, strategies for the improvement and management of urban green spaces are becoming increasingly important in sustainable landscape design. These strategies promote social sustainability by positively affecting individuals’ physical and psychological well-being, taking into consideration ecological sustainability. Projections regarding global warming emphasize that the density of hardscapes and green spaces, the selection of plant species, and the distribution of plants considered within the scope of this study should be taken into account. This research was conducted in the Görükle neighborhood of Bursa, focusing on the role of temperature-regulating elements in 14 neighborhood parks. Systematic temperature measurements were carried out in the research area on the 10th, 20th, and 30th of July and August, specifically between 12:00 and 13:00, during peak temperature hours. The presence of parks that are close to each other and relatively far away from each other in the study area was seen as advantageous to filter the effects of plant differences in similar conditions. Furthermore, evaluating these various factors together highlights the multifaceted nature of thermal comfort. Designated temperature measurement points included three points (hard surfaces and hard surfaces surrounded by vegetation and planted green spaces) in each park. An analysis utilizing SPSS and the RayMan program revealed that parks with a softscape to hardscape ratio of approximately two to one experienced temperature reductions of 2.5 to 3 °C. Furthermore, the findings indicate that coniferous trees have a more significant impact on thermal comfort compared to deciduous trees. The significant differences identified in this study underscore essential considerations for urban design processes aimed at achieving sustainability.

The Implications of Plantation Forest-Driven Land Use/Land Cover Changes for Ecosystem Service Values in the Northwestern Highlands of Ethiopia

In the northwestern Highlands of Ethiopia, a region characterized by diverse ecosystems, significant land use and land cover (LULC) changes have occurred due to a combination of environmental fragility and human pressures. The implications of these changes for ecosystem service values remain underexplored. This study quantifies the impact of LULC changes, with an emphasis on the expansion of plantation forests, on ecosystem service values in monetary terms to promote sustainable land management practices. Using Landsat images and the Random Forest algorithm in R, LULC patterns from 1985 to 2020 were analyzed, with the ecosystem service values estimated using locally adapted coefficients. The Random Forest classification demonstrated a high accuracy, with values of 0.97, 0.98, 0.96, and 0.97 for the LULC maps of 1985, 2000, 2015, and 2020, respectively. Croplands consistently dominated the landscape, accounting for 53.66% of the area in 1985, peaking at 67.35% in 2000, and then declining to 52.86% by 2020. Grasslands, initially the second-largest category, significantly decreased, while wetlands diminished from 14.38% in 1985 to 1.87% by 2020. Conversely, plantation forests, particularly Acacia decurrens, expanded from 0.4% of the area in 2000 to 28.13% by 2020, becoming the second-largest land cover type. The total ecosystem service value in the district declined from USD 219.52 million in 1985 to USD 39.23 million in 2020, primarily due to wetland degradation. However, plantation forests contributed USD 17.37 million in 2020, highlighting their significant role in restoring ecosystem services, particularly in erosion control, soil formation, nutrient recycling, climate regulation, and habitat provision. This study underscores the need for sustainable land management practices, including wetland restoration and sustainable plantation forestry, to enhance ecosystem services and ensure long-term ecological and economic sustainability.

Nourishing Aquatic Life: A Comprehensive Reviewing of Fish Feed Strategies and Disease Combat in Aquaculture

With an increasing focus on creating sustainable methods that satisfy the nutritional requirements of aquatic life while successfully containing disease outbreaks, aquaculture has emerged as a crucial element of global food security. Nourishing Aquatic Life: A Comprehensive Review of Fish Feed Strategies and Disease Combat in Aquaculture explores the delicate balance between disease management and feed optimization, two crucial factors influencing the ecological sustainability and productivity of aquaculture systems. Innovative substitutes, including plant-based proteins, insect meal, and microbial sources, are being assessed alongside conventional fish feed formulations, which rely on fishmeal and fish oil to lessen environmental stresses while preserving high nutritional value. This article also covers how probiotics, prebiotics, and immunostimulants can improve fish immunity and resilience against common diseases, lowering the need for antibiotics and the likelihood of resistance. Additionally, we look at the most recent developments in fish feed formulation using biofloc, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology, emphasizing their implications for better fish health and disease resistance. These innovative strategies offer a hopeful vision for the future of aquaculture, inspiring us to continue our efforts in this field.

Organic–inorganic covalent–ionic network enabled all–in–one multifunctional coating for flexible displays

Touch displays are ubiquitous in modern technologies. However, current protective methods for emerging flexible displays against static, scratches, bending, and smudge rely on multilayer materials that impede progress towards flexible, lightweight, and multifunctional designs. Developing a single coating layer integrating all these functions remains challenging yet highly anticipated. Herein, we introduce an organic–inorganic covalent–ionic hybrid network that leverages the reorganizing interaction between siloxanes (i.e., trifluoropropyl–funtionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane and cyclotrisiloxane) and fluoride ions. This nanoscale organic–inorganic covalent–ionic hybridized crosslinked network, combined with a low surface energy trifluoropropyl group, offers a monolithic layer coating with excellent optical, antistatic, anti–smudge properties, flexibility, scratch resistance, and recyclability. Compared with existing protective materials, this all–in–one coating demonstrates comprehensive multifunctionality and closed–loop recyclability, making it ideal for future flexible displays and contributing to ecological sustainability in consumer electronics.

From Sustainable Agriculture to Sustainable Agrifood Systems: A Comparative Review of Alternative Models

This paper reviews, compares, and critically evaluates two broad groups of sustainable agriculture models: “sustainable agriculture” and “sustainable agrifood systems”. The “sustainable agriculture” models—comprising organic farming, regenerative agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, carbon-capture agriculture, and nature-based solutions—focus primarily on improving ecological sustainability through farm-level practices. These models emphasize reducing external, industrial inputs, enhancing biodiversity, and promoting climate resilience, relying on technological and market-based solutions to address environmental concerns. On the other hand, the “sustainable agrifood systems” models—agroecology, alternative food networks, and permaculture—offer more ambitious visions of systemic transformation. These approaches not only seek to implement environmentally sound practices but also aim to reconfigure the broader food system by challenging corporate power, promoting local governance, fostering food sovereignty, and prioritizing social justice. Grounded in grassroots movements, these models emphasize social justice and economic viability in addition to ecological sustainability. This paper’s contribution lies in its comparative analysis of the wide array of sustainable alternatives, highlighting both their strengths and limitations. Adopting an agrarian political economy perspective, it critiques the former camp for limited engagement with structural issues inherent in capitalist agriculture and the latter camp for underplaying the importance of industrial agriculture for national development in the Global South.

Optimization of the rural domestic waste recycling network based on the path planning site selection model

IntroductionIn the context of rural revitalization strategies, effectively managing rural waste is a critical task for achieving ecological environmental sustainability. The current state of garbage collection and transportation is examined in this paper, focusing on the rural waste management practices in Dongfeng County, Liaoyuan City, Jilin Province, through mathematical modeling.MethodsBy analyzing the rural domestic waste collection network, the volume of waste generated at various points is fuzzified using the fuzzy mathematical theory.ResultsThe results of path optimization for waste collection and transportation were derived from a case study, demonstrating the feasibility and practicality of the rural domestic waste recycling network model.DicussionAdditionally, sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the impact of changes on the total cost. Potential solutions for rural waste recycling and treatment are offered in this paper, providing valuable insights for the development of a rural domestic waste recycling network in Jilin Province.