Land Use Policy Research Articles

Unveiling the effects of landscape-fire interactions on functional diversity in a Southern European mountain.

Climate and land-use changes are contributing to impacts on global ecosystem functioning. These effects are particularly severe in areas undergoing land abandonment and extreme wildfire events, such as the Mediterranean regions of the Iberian Peninsula. Previous studies have evaluated the impacts of land management on fire mitigation and biodiversity (species distribution and species richness), but how such strategies influence functional diversity remains unexplored. This study investigates how alternative land-fire management strategies may affect functional diversity. We modeled for 2050 for the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Gerês-Xurés (Portugal-Spain). Land-use scenarios simulated processes of land abandonment ("business-as-usual"-BAU) and the implementation of EU rural policies ("high nature value farmlands"-HNVf), and were combined with three fire suppression levels. Species distribution models (102 vertebrates) were projected to each scenario, and functional diversity indices were consequently calculated. The highest functional richness was predicted for BAU scenarios, probably representing the benefits to unique species that deliver singular functions. The HNVf scenarios provided the highest functional divergence, probably indicating a high niche differentiation and low resource competition amongst agricultural communities. HNVf was the most beneficial scenario for ecosystem functioning, while fire suppression did not affect functional diversity. Despite the proneness to burn of our study area and the effects of firefighting on its fire regime, land-use policies are expected to have greater influence than fire suppression effects on functional diversity. These findings suggest that different facets of functional diversity will be unevenly influenced by fire-landscape dynamics driven by the land-use policies to be implemented in the upcoming decades.

Travel behaviours and built environments on school-runs

Excessive car-use by individuals and households poses significant challenges for regions attempting to develop and grow sustainably. School-runs are a staple trip for households and this consistency presents unique opportunities for policymakers to facilitate shifts toward more sustainable travel behaviours as these trips are highly sensitive to the implicit costs of travel – costs directly linked to land-use and transport policies. This research employs Generalised Structural Equation Modelling to analyse the determinants of travel mode choices of secondary school students (Middle and High School students) across the Republic of Ireland. Specifically, we focus on the relationships between individual socio-demographics, the built and social characteristics of residential locations, trip-specific considerations, and travel mode choices. We find that landscapes which reduce local time-space geographies (i.e., by reducing required travel distances) are associated with increased odds of students using active and public transport instead of cars. We also show that mode-specific infrastructure (i.e., roads) provision is associated with increased mode-specific (i.e., cars) use.

Out of Frame: Invisibilisation of Non-Human Nature in Media Framing of a Land Conflict Transformation Policy in Nigeria

ABSTRACT Public policy response to land-use conflict often exacerbates contestation rather than fostering consensus, further polarising stakeholders and darkening peacebuilding prospects. The Nigerian government conceived the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) to tackle the protracted land-use conflict between nomadic pastoralists and sedentary crop farmers. This study examined the framing of the policy in three select Nigerian newspapers, the Daily Sun, the Daily Trust, and Punch, published between January 2018 and June 2021. The findings revealed the preponderance of five anthropocentric frames. The environmental frame was absent from the newspaper framing of NLTP, reflecting a blind spot in the representation of a farmer–herder conflict rooted in the asymmetric visions of human–nature relations of the conflict parties. The voices of environmental actors and the scientific community did not feature in the discourse on the Plan. Their detachment from the framing contest contributed to the information blackout on the policy’s relationship with the natural environment. Nature is a stakeholder in land-use conflict, a reality that may be obscured, misrepresented, or underrepresented by human-centred news framing. Media framing of land-use conflict policy should aim at the nuanced reflection of the conflict universe and the embeddedness of biodiversity – the voiceless, non-aligned, and indispensable actants in ecological conflict.

Adivasi (Tea Tribe) worldviews of living close to wild Asian elephants in Assam, India.

In Assam state, northeastern India, human-elephant conflict mitigation has included technocentric measures, such as installation of barriers, alternative livelihoods, and afforestation. Such measures treat conflict as a technical problem with linear cause-effect relations and are usually ineffective over the long term because they do not consider how historical conditions have shaped present interactions between humans and elephants. Human-elephant encounters in South Asia, including in Assam, have arisen from colonial and postcolonial land-use policies, ethnic relations, and capital extraction. To disentangle these relations, we conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Udalguri district of Assam among the Adivasi (Tea Tribe) to examine their interactions with wild elephants. Through socioecological ruptures, caused by displacement and deforestation, Adivasi (Tea Tribe) and elephant lives have intersected through space and time. Adivasi (Tea Tribe) life narratives and observations of daily encounters with elephants revealed that their interactions are multifaceted and motivated by multiple factors. Myths and oral testimonies revealed that the community has created conceptualizations of the elephant by closely observing their behavior, especially their movements, diets, vocalizations, and interactions with humans. These conceptualizations are filled with vignettes of shared marginalized lives, caused by the loss of homeland, food poverty, and uncertain ways of living. The empathy, expressed by the Adivasi (Tea Tribe), highlights ways of living with elephants that are affective and reach beyond technocentric interventions. For Adivasi (Tea Tribe) members, cohabitation could thus be achieved by living close to elephants as uneasy neighbors. Concepts of cohabitation, we suggest, could be harnessed to inform conservation policy and bring into focus the critically important-and yet often underutilized-values, encompassed by bottom-up, place-centric understandings of what elephants are and how coexistence may be possible in increasingly anthropogenic landscapes.

The evolving landscape of urban logistics: A study of the Greater Golden Horseshoe

Urban supply chain efficiency relies heavily on the location of logistics facilities in metropolitan areas and their proximity to the receivers of goods. This research uses centro-graphic metrics and spatial statistics to research the behavior of warehouses in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area in Canada in the last decade. The research reported in this paper has four main results. First, it identifies how overall logistics sprawl in the region has decreased steadily over the last decade. Second, it distinguishes between warehouse facility types based on employment and identifies differences in location preferences. Third, it shows spatial autocorrelation in warehouse locations. This implies that warehouses with a similar number of employees tend to cluster together. Fourth, it identifies logistics clusters based on warehouse facility types. The distinction between warehouse types based on employment shows the opposing trends logistic operators face. Large warehouse facilities serve regional or national supply chains. In comparison, small warehouse facilities serve a dynamic urban freight market to fulfill expedited deliveries. This research shows that separate policies based on warehouse size are required to address the challenges of new supply chain technologies, changes in consumer behavior, and growing needs for freight transportation systems and land-use policies.

Climate change and land-use policies exacerbate run-off reduction in a semi-arid inland river basin

Semi-arid regions are characterized by scarce water resources and fragile ecosystems, making them highly sensitive to environmental changes. Assessing the impacts of climate change and human activity on hydrological processes in these areas is crucial for ecological conservation and social development. However, due to data limitations and the complex interactions between climate change and human activities, especially at seasonal scales, accurately quantifying their impacts on hydrological processes poses significant challenges. In the present study, the Budyko framework combined with the elasticity coefficient approach was adopted to assess the contribution of environmental changes to variations in annual and intra-annual runoff in the Xilin River Basin from 1963 to 2020. The results showed that annual runoff exhibited a significant declining trend at a rate of 0.05 mm/a (P < 0.05), with an abrupt change in 2001. The underlying surface characteristic parameters were the most sensitive factors affecting the changes in runoff; however, climate change was identified as the primary cause, accounting for 65.96 % of runoff reduction. Increased temperatures accelerated the melting of ice and snow, such that the highest runoff (36.24 % of the annual total) occurred during April. The impact of human activities on runoff varies across seasons, with the greatest impact observed during the snowmelt season, followed by the irrigation, rainy, and dry seasons, respectively. Based on our findings, we conclude that tailored land-use policies and science-based water management are required to mitigate the impacts of human activities on changes in runoff.

Expert perspectives on disaster risk reduction strategies in the tourist area of Borobudur-Yogyakarta-Prambanan in Indonesia

Tourism plays a crucial role in the economic growth of many countries. However, tourist destinations located in disaster-prone areas face increased vulnerability in the event of natural disasters. It is essential for these areas to have specific interventions, plans, and policies that focus on reducing disaster risk, while ensuring the safety of residents and tourists. This study proposes strategies for minimizing disaster risk using Indonesia's Borobudur-Yogyakarta-Prambanan (BYP) region as a case study. The study used an Analytical Hierarchial Process in a Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats (SWOT-AHP) analysis to prioritize factors through pairwise comparisons and develop strategic alternatives based on expert perspectives. Primary data were collected through aSWOT-AHP questionnaire that was provided to 22 experts in tourism and disaster management in Central Java and Yogyakarta Special Provinces. Secondary data were obtained from government documents, specifically the Disaster Risk Reduction Plan for the BYP regions (2023–2027). The results indicate that “implementing land-use policies to promote tourism development while considering disasters” is the most important strategy, based on expert judgment. The BYP tourist destinations provided a case study to identify strategies to reduce disaster risk in tourism areas.

The Role of Climate Change and Human Intervention in Shaping Vegetation Patterns in the Fen River Basin of China: Implications of the Grain for Green Program

The Fen River Basin (FRB), an ecologically fragile region in China, exemplifies the intricate interplay between vegetation dynamics and both climatic and human-driven factors. This study leverages a 40-year (1982–2022) dataset, utilizing the kernel-based normalized difference vegetation index (kNDVI) alongside key climatic variables—rainfall (PRE), temperature (TMP), and solar radiation (SRAD)—to investigate vegetation variations and their drivers in the FRB, particularly in relation to the Grain for Green Program (GGP). Our analysis highlights significant greening across the FRB, with the kNDVI slope increasing by 0.0028 yr−1 and green-covered areas expanding by 92.8% over the study period. The GGP facilitated the greening process, resulting in a notable increase in the kNDVI slope from 0.0005 yr−1 to 0.0052 yr−1 and a marked expansion in the area of significant greening from 24.6% to 95.8%. Regional climate shifts, characterized by increased warming, heightened humidity, and a slight rise in SRAD, have further driven vegetation growth, contributing 75%, 58.7%, and 23.6% to vegetation dynamics, respectively. Notably, the GGP has amplified vegetation’s sensitivity to climatic variables, with areas significantly impacted by multiple climate factors expanding from 4.8% to 37.5%. Specially, PRE is the primary climatic influence, impacting 71.3% of the pertinent regions, followed by TMP (60.1%) and SRAD (30%). The integrated effects of climatic and anthropogenic factors, accounting for 47.8% and 52.2% of kNDVI variations, respectively, collectively influence 96% of the region’s vegetation dynamics. These findings underscore the critical role of climate change and human interventions in shaping vegetation patterns and provide a robust foundation for refining ecological conservation strategies, particularly in the context of global warming and land-use policies.

Landscape metrics as predictors of water-related ecosystem services: Insights from hydrological modeling and data-based approaches applied on the Arno River Basin, Italy

The study addresses the challenge of integrating complex landscape-hydrological interactions into predictive models for improved water resource management. The aim is to investigate the effectiveness of landscape metrics—quantitative indices measuring landscape composition and configuration—as predictors of WES in the Arno River Basin, Italy. Utilizing two hydrological models alongside a random forest algorithm, we assessed spatial and temporal variations in water yield, runoff, and groundwater recharge. The findings indicate that landscape metrics derived from high-resolution land use data significantly impact WES outcomes. Specifically, the models demonstrated average landscape metric importances of 16.8 % for spatial and 17.8 % for temporal predictions concerning runoff. For water yield, these averages were 32.9 % spatially and 43.5 % temporally, while groundwater modeling showed importances of 14.09 % spatially and 33.8 % temporally. Key landscape metrics identified include the core area index for broad-leaved forests and the perimeter-to-area ratio for non-irrigated agricultural areas as critical spatial and temporal predictors of water yield and groundwater recharge. Thresholds were observed, indicating landscape configurations that minimize hydrological variability. For instance, runoff variation is minimal when the landscape exhibits high forest fragmentation (over 1000 coniferous patches), low aggregation (aggregation index <75), and reduced connectivity (cohesion index under 80). Similarly, groundwater variation is minimized with decreased boundary length of vegetation patches (perimeter-to-area ratio <0.8), agricultural lands (perimeter-to-area ratio under 1), and the presence of low core agricultural areas (core area index above 8). The identified thresholds could inform land-use policies, such as targeted afforestation or crop diversification strategies, to optimize WES provision.

Farm dams and the need for integrated water storage safety, equity and land-use policy: Comparative case study evidence from Australia

Farm dams that are not planned, designed and managed properly at the individual level can create water storage safety, equity and land-use planning threats to downstream communities and the environment that aggregate at the catchment level. The paper extends previous research and understanding into this threefold phenomenon by exploring the integrated policy needs within the Australian setting. This is achieved through comparative case studies involving assessments of farm dam policies and their integration, and on-site audit-style surveys of dam management practices that are related to the policies in two state jurisdictions, South Australia and Tasmania. These case studies represent weak versus strong farm dam safety, equity and land-use regulatory policies and integration. Survey results in South Australia find most hazardous farm dams studied are not built or maintained to an adequate standard and spillways are blocked and/or under-designed. This results in potentially storing more water than entitled and creating unsafe dams and potential water sharing equity and land-use planning threats at both the individual and cumulative levels in catchments. Survey results in Tasmania are in contrast and hence this state serves as an exemplar of feasible 3-fold integrated policy that is performing effectively. Analysis of results against international regulatory benchmarks finds that in addition to Tasmania's model there are other regulatory options that may better suit different jurisdictions, and cost-effective tools to help integrated policy implementation are also available. Based on these findings policy recommendations for South Australia are made. The paper represents indicative lessons and guidance for any jurisdiction internationally with similar circumstances on how to design suitable integrated policy that helps farm dams and proximate land-use be developed and managed safely and equitably.

Urban Agriculture: Exploring Its Potential, Challenges, and Socio-Economic Impacts

Urban agriculture, the practice of growing and cultivating food within urban and peri-urban areas, has garnered increasing attention in recent years due to its potential to address various challenges related to food security, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic development. This review article provides a comprehensive exploration of urban agriculture, examining its multifaceted potential, the challenges it faces, and its socio-economic impacts in greater detail. The article delves into the diverse forms of urban agriculture, ranging from rooftop gardens and community allotments to vertical farming and aquaponics, highlighting their contributions to local food production, green spaces, and community cohesion. Additionally, the review discusses the challenges and constraints associated with urban agriculture in more depth, including issues related to land availability, soil contamination, water management, and regulatory hurdles. Furthermore, it examines the socio-economic impacts of urban agriculture with a nuanced perspective, exploring how it can lead to improved access to fresh produce, job creation, poverty alleviation, and social empowerment at both individual and community levels. By shedding light on the complexities of urban agriculture and providing a more comprehensive analysis of its potential and challenges, this review aims to inform policymakers, urban planners, researchers, and practitioners about the transformative potential of urban agriculture and the need for supportive policies and interventions to foster its sustainable growth and maximize its benefits for urban communities, the review dives deeper into the various forms of urban agriculture, providing detailed insights into their unique characteristics, benefits, and challenges. Rooftop gardens, for example, are explored not only for their contribution to local food production but also for their role in mitigating urban heat island effects, improving air quality, and enhancing building energy efficiency. Community allotments are examined in the context of social cohesion, community engagement, and opportunities for education and skill-building. Vertical farming and aquaponics are discussed in terms of their innovative technologies, resource efficiency, and potential scalability to meet the growing demand for fresh produce in urban areas, the review delves into the challenges and constraints associated with urban agriculture, offering nuanced analyses of their underlying causes and potential solutions. Land availability issues are examined in relation to urban sprawl, land-use planning policies, and competing demands for space in densely populated cities. Soil contamination concerns are explored in light of industrial legacies, brownfield redevelopment, and strategies for soil remediation and regeneration. Water management challenges are discussed in the context of water scarcity, pollution, and the need for sustainable irrigation practices in urban agriculture. Regulatory hurdles are analyzed in terms of their impact on the viability and scalability of urban agriculture initiatives, highlighting the importance of supportive policy frameworks, zoning regulations, and land-use planning strategies. the review provides a comprehensive examination of the socio-economic impacts of urban agriculture, drawing on empirical evidence from case studies and research findings. It explores how urban agriculture can contribute to improved food access and nutrition outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations living in food deserts and low-income neighborhoods.

Integrating System Perspectives to Optimize Ecosystem Service Provision in Urban Ecological Development

System-based approaches are critical for addressing the complex and interconnected nature of urban ecological development and restoration of ecosystem services. This study adopts a system perspective to investigate the spatiotemporal drivers of key ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, water conservation, sediment reduction, pollution mitigation, and stormwater regulation, within the Yangtze River Delta Eco-Green Integrated Development Demonstration Area (YRDDA) from 2000 to 2020. We propose a novel framework for defining enhanced-efficiency ecosystem service management regions (EESMR) to guide targeted restoration. Our analysis revealed the complex interplay of 11, 9, 6, 6, and 10 driving factors for selected ecosystem services, highlighting the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of these drivers. By overlaying these key factors, we identified high-efficiency restoration priority areas for EESMR that ensure high returns on investment and the efficient restoration of ecosystem functions. This system-oriented approach provided critical spatial guidance for integrated ecological restoration, green development, and eco-planning. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and planners in the Yangtze River Delta and other rapidly urbanizing regions, supporting the formulation of effective land-use policies that balance environmental sustainability and urban growth.

US urban land-use reform: a strategy for energy sufficiency

Policy approaches to the global energy transition often focus on technology-based solutions while ignoring challenges of overall energy demand. A sufficiency-first approach aims to limit superfluous consumption while achieving wellbeing for all. This study focuses on US built environment mechanisms of sufficiency under urban land-use policy. The historical context of US exclusionary and car-oriented planning is reviewed with an order-of-magnitude assessment of the effects on greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE). Using national vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) data derived from mobile device locations (Replica) and validated here with federal data, a hypothetical scenario explores the potential for state urban land-use reforms to enable energy sufficiency. Tenth percentile-VMT (per capita) neighborhoods are defined by state: in 47 states, the typical such neighborhood has less than 33% of its housing units in structures larger than four units. Assuming each state redresses its housing shortage while matching this VMT, 31 Mt CO2e (direct GHGE) and about 38 Mt CO2e (indirect and life-cycle GHGE) would be avoided in 2033. Texas, California, and Florida have the largest absolute emissions reduction opportunity. Urban land-use reforms comprise a logical starting point for a US sufficiency agenda. Key priorities for research, data collection, and technology and policy innovation are proposed. Policy relevance International climate policy is increasingly focused on enabling people to consume less energy: not just technological ‘efficiency’ but ‘sufficiency’ is needed. However, sufficiency has seen little uptake in the US. It may be more relevant to US policymakers if related to the growing momentum for reforming land-use planning and housing policy to address the housing shortage and affordability crisis. This crisis stems in part from the US prevalence of single-family zoning and car-centric planning, rooted in a history of racial segregation; these same laws effectively mandate people to maintain more polluting lifestyles. This study estimates how much climate pollution could be avoided with state-led land-use reform. If states committed to solving the housing shortage while building new housing in neighborhoods where people can drive less, the savings could be comparable with expanding electric vehicle policies. Policymakers and practitioners can enable these reforms while supporting complementary policy goals.

Study on Optimization of Land Use Structure in Fujian Province Based on Low-Carbon Perspective

Carbon peaking and carbon neutrality strategies are pivotal in addressing climate change. Optimizing land use structure is a fundamental approach to achieving low-carbon development within a given territory. This study focuses on Fujian Province as the research subject, predicting carbon emissions for the next decade by analyzing the correlation between land use types and carbon emissions using the gray model. This analysis is based on land use panel data spanning from 2007 to 2021. The study applies the FLUS-Markov model to simulate Fujian’s land use in 2030. A multi-objective optimization model is developed from a low-carbon perspective, integrating carbon emissions, economic, and ecological factors. The study explores land use under three scenarios: natural development scenario (NS), low carbon scenario (LCS), and comprehensive scenario (CS). Findings highlight the relationship between land use-related carbon emissions, urbanization, and relevant policies in Fujian. The FLUS-Markov simulations suggest that under the NS scenario, carbon emissions in 2030 will reach 77.829 million tons, an increase of 11.013 million tons from 2020. In contrast, the LCS demonstrates that optimizing land use structures can effectively balance carbon reduction, economic growth, and ecological preservation. Under the CS, 2030 emissions could be reduced by 7.2854 million tons while maintaining economic and ecological benefits. Despite variations in construction land expansion across these scenarios, all follow a “one belt, one core” development pattern. The study concludes with policy recommendations, including industrial layout optimization and clean energy promotion. These findings support the alignment of land use optimization with Fujian’s future development needs, offering guidance for land-use planning and policies focused on low-carbon objectives.

The impact of land-use policy on household energy transition: Evidence from China's conversion of cropland to forestland program

The implementation of the Conversion of Cropland to Forestland Program (CCFP) has affected land-use patterns and biomass availability in China, consequently reshaping household energy consumption patterns. Utilizing data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, this study employs a multinomial logit model to examine the impact of CCFP subsidies on household energy transitions, analyzed through the lenses of the energy ladder and energy types. Additionally, this study differentiates the effects of CCFP subsidies across households with varying characteristics. The empirical results reveal that, from the energy ladder perspective, CCFP subsidies hinder household energy transitions from biomass to both traditional and advanced commercial energy sources. From the energy type perspective, the subsidies impede transitions from biomass energy to coal, electricity, and LPG/LNG. These adverse effects may be attributed to the CCFP subsidy's role in increasing biomass supply and encouraging the use of biomass energy equipment. Moreover, the impacts of CCFP subsidies differ among households based on education level, location, and degree of engagement in farming. Overall, this study highlights the importance of considering land use policies and patterns in the formulation of energy policies aimed at promoting energy transition and alleviating energy poverty.

Exploring the role of smallholder perceptions in shaping land-use decisions in a tropical agro-forest frontier in southern Mexico

Conversion of tropical forests into agricultural lands is increasing at a rapid pace. Smallholders are responsible for most of the world’s agricultural production, and thus are important land-use decision-makers and land-use change actors. In agro-forest frontiers, land-use changes are dynamic and short-term, and highly influenced by different social-ecological factors. We employed the Photovoice methodology to assess how the perceptions of 20 smallholder families about what they most value in their daily lives, influence farm land-use decisions in two villages in southern Mexico. Results indicate that what farmers perceive as the most valued in their daily lives are the household (including family and food) and the farm. Similar perceptions sometimes result in similar farm land-use composition (land-use type and proportion) decisions (agriculture, reforestation), but sometimes not (pasture, forest). Positive and negative perceptions about oil palm highly influence whether this land-use is adopted or not. In contrast, positive perceptions about rubber do not always translate in this crop being planted. We conclude that perceptions play an important role in smallholder land-use decisions. However, perceptions are influenced and operate along other factors at multiple levels, including survival motivations, culture, economic considerations, markets, farm size, institutional programs, local ecological knowledge, ecosystem services, and risk assessment. We suggest that smallholder perceptions should be taken into account as part of the set of social-ecological factors driving land-use decisions. Involving farmers in the co-design of land-use policies, planning, and rural development initiatives that address their perceptions, values, and livelihood needs will improve the effectiveness of such policies.

Modelling the drivers of land use and land cover change of the great Amanzule wetland ecosystem to inform the development policy of the southwestern oil-rich region of Ghana

This study focused on the current and future drivers of land-use change and its impact on the Amanzule wetland. It suggests policy implications for reviewing and strengthening existing policies for sustainable land use. This study employed remote sensing and GIS techniques, including participatory rural appraisal techniques. The administration of questionnaires and focus group discussions were conducted in the Ellembelle and Jomoro municipalities, where the Amanzule wetland provides economic and social services. The results showed increased land use over the last 32 years driven by various drivers, including food crop production, rubber plantations, oil and gas establishments, and infrastructure development. The study further revealed that these drivers could influence land-use change in 18 years (2018–2036). Urbanisation, cropland, rubber plantations, and shrubland will drive land-use change in the study area between 2036 and 2054. The Amanzule wetland area is expected to decrease from 272.34 ha in 2018 to 210.60 ha by 2036. The wetland area is expected to further decrease from 210.60 ha in 2036 to 174.33 ha by 2054. Other land use classes, such as mangrove and swamp forests, are also expected to decrease within the same period. The study recommends advocating for a wetland policy, enforcing the Land Use and Spatial Planning Act 925 and the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act 919 for sustainable development.

Policy Paradoxes in Environmental Sustainability: The Interplay of Socio-Economic Factors, Policy Innovations, and Community Forestry in Thailand

Environmental sustainability and climate mitigation are global priorities requiring innovative policies that balance ecological conservation with socio-economic development. This study examines the interplay between Thailand's greenhouse gas emissions trading, community forestry, and their combined impact on sustainable development through multiple regression analysis. Results reveal a paradox: renewable energy consumption negatively impacts community forests, suggesting land-use competition and policy misalignment. Increased R&amp;D expenditure enhances community forestry, showing the transformative potential of targeted innovation. Income disparity undermines community forestry efforts, highlighting the need for inclusive policies addressing socio-economic inequalities. The positive correlation between CO2 emissions and community forestry extent questions the efficacy of current carbon offset initiatives. This study urges policymakers to adopt a nuanced approach, aligning renewable energy expansion with forestry conservation and addressing socio-economic disparities. These insights challenge conventional sustainability paradigms, advocating for comprehensive policy frameworks to achieve genuine sustainable development and effective climate mitigation.

Evaluating economic viability and environmental externalities of integrated tilapia-sugarcane farming in Maharashtra

In recent years, farmers in Maharashtra have engaged in aquaculture-sugarcane farming, with those from the Ujjani reservoir area practicing integrated sugarcane farming using tilapia farm discharge water. This study aims to systematically compare the economic viability and environmental externalities between sugarcane-only farms (SF) and tilapia-sugarcane farms (TSF) within the commanding area of the Ujjani reservoir. Primary data was collected from the 160 farmers (80 SF, 80 TSF), and Secondary data were collected from published literature, the Department of Fisheries, and fisheries cooperative societies. Data analysis used descriptive statistics to characterize demographic profile, farm performance (cost-benefit analysis, production function), and farmers' perceptions. Principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis, and two-way MANOVA were employed for environmental assessments. Results indicate that TSF yields higher profits across all cost scenarios, with a Benefit-Cost ratio of 1.69, surpassing SF's ratio of 1.55. The Cobb-Douglas production function analysis reveals increasing returns to scale for both SF and TSF, with the sum of coefficients exceeding one. The results of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) indicate that 31 variables rated by sugarcane growers were extracted into ten components, which explains 65 % of the total variance for SF and 62 % for TSF. K-means cluster analysis grouped these components into four clusters, termed externalities of irrigation. A Two-way MANOVA indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) between SF and TSF farmers' perceptions of these externalities, with further distinctions among four farmer categories and significant interaction effects. Policy recommendations include financial incentives and environmental regulations to support TSF adoption, sustainable land-use policies, and institutional interventions for management practices and market research. These measures address challenges and promote the transition to sustainable TSF practices.

Dynamics of land use and land cover changes in Amibara and Awash-fentale districts, Ethiopia

The analysis of land-use and land-cover (LULC) changes is crucial for rural development planning, food security monitoring, and natural resource conservation. This study focuses on detecting LULC changes in Amibara and Awash-Fentale districts from 1985 to 2021. We utilized five sets of Landsat data (Landsat 5 TM for 1985, 1995, 2002, and Landsat 8 OLI for 2015 & 2020) and applied supervised maximum likelihood classification. Accuracy assessments revealed overall accuracies ranging from 88.9% to 95.3% for Amibara and 89.5%–93.2% for Awash-Fentale. Both districts exhibited six main LULC classes: agriculture, bareland, built-up, mixed forest, shrubland, and water bodies. In Amibara LULC changes from 1985 to 2021 revealed significant shifts, maintaining its primary bareland characteristic, concentrated agriculture, and expanding Prosopis-dominated shrubland due to livestock-mediated seed dispersal. Conversely, in Awash-Fentale bareland dominance decreased from 92.28% to 67.02%, while agriculture, built-up areas, and shrubland expanded. Water bodies emerged between 2015 and 2021 which is associated with the construction of Kesem Kebena dam for sugar cane farm production. The net gains were observed in shrubland (12.9%), agriculture (5.8%), mixed forest (4.1%), water bodies (1.5%), and built-up areas (0.9%), with bareland experiencing a loss of 25.3%. In conclusion, Amibara and Awash-Fentale underwent both comparable and distinct LULC shifts, featuring prevalent bareland and central agriculture, alongside Prosopis-driven shrubland expansion due to livestock dispersal. While mixed forest exhibited fluctuations, built-up areas and water bodies remained limited. Notably, Awash-Fentale showed higher LULC variability. Understanding these land cover changes helps assess vulnerability to climate impacts like droughts and floods, enhancing climate resilience. Insights from this study can inform sustainable land-use planning, conservation strategies, and policy interventions in the Afar region and similar areas. These observations highlight the need for integrated land management approaches that balance socioeconomic development with environmental sustainability.