Long-term Resource Management Research Articles

Conservation benefits of a large marine protected area network that spans multiple ecosystems.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are widely implemented tools for long-term ocean conservation and resource management. Assessments of MPA performance have largely focused on specific ecosystems individually and have rarely evaluated performance across multiple ecosystems either in an individual MPA or across an MPA network. We evaluated the conservation performance of 59 MPAs in California's large MPA network, which encompasses 4 primary ecosystems (surf zone, kelp forest, shallow reef, deep reef) and 4 bioregions, and identified MPA attributes that best explain performance. Using a meta-analytic framework, we evaluated the ability of MPAs to conserve fish biomass, richness, and diversity. At the scale of the network and for 3 of 4 regions, the biomass of species targeted by fishing was positively associated with the level of regulatory protection and was greater inside no-take MPAs, whereas species not targeted by fishing had similar biomass in MPAs and areas open to fishing. In contrast, species richness and diversity were not as strongly enhanced by MPA protection. The key features of conservation effectiveness included MPA age, preimplementation fisheries pressure, and habitat diversity. Important drivers of MPA effectiveness for single MPAs were consistent across MPAs in the network, spanning regions and ecosystems. With international targets aimed at protecting 30% of the world's oceans by 2030, MPA design and assessment frameworks should consider conservation performance at multiple ecologically relevant scales, from individual MPAs to MPA networks.

Climate-resilient transportation policies for India: Strategies and challenges

The transportation sector in India, which is a vital engine for economic growth, is progressively facing challenges related to climate change. Increased temperature, extreme weather conditions, and rising seas threaten physical infrastructure, service delivery, and the economy. This research examines efforts towards improving the climate resilience of India’s transport sector through policy interventions. Strategies encompass broadening the focus to cover the integration of sustainability, innovative technology deployment, and adaptive infrastructure planning. Multi-sectoral measures are proposed to guarantee longevity, equity and environmental protection. National transport infrastructure will be secured, people will be enabled to move sustainably, and India will take its position in the world economy as a climate-resilient country. Long-term resource management and promoting inclusive governance are critical to agri-transportation systems that can withstand the changing climate.

Long-term resilience in wastewater management: Optimizing treated wastewater allocation with a dynamic multi-agent approach

Water scarcity poses a significant challenge to sustainable development, necessitating innovative approaches to manage limited resources efficiently. Effective water resource management involves not just the conservation and distribution of freshwater supplies but also the strategic reuse of treated wastewater (TWW). This study proposes a novel approach for the optimal allocation of treated wastewater among three key sectors (user agents): agriculture, industry, and urban green space. Recognizing the intricate interplays among these sectors, System Dynamics (SD) and Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) were integrated in a Complex Adaptive System (CAS) to capture the interactions and feedback mechanisms inherent within treated wastewater allocation systems. The Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) serves as the optimization tool, enabling the identification of optimal allocation strategies across various management scenarios over a 25-year simulation period. Our research navigates the complexities of long-term resource management, accounting for each sector's evolving its objectives and guidelines along the whole system objectives and strategies. The outcomes demonstrate how treated wastewater can be effectively distributed to support economic and social equity –as the system objectives-while supporting agricultural and industrial growth and enhancing efficiency and social well-being –reflecting individual agent objectives-within the CAS framework. The research explores four distinct management scenarios, each prioritizing different sectors to address water resource management challenges. Notably, all four scenarios align with the strategies required by the ruler (government), providing strategic guidance to water resource managers for decision-making. The simulation results reveal a scenario where all sectors' demands are met, with Scenario 4 emerging as the most effective. Scenario 4 aligned with the objectives and guidelines of each sector, demonstrating significant improvements in the CY (Agriculture agent index; increased from 0.2 to 0.68), IGI (Industry agent index; increased from 1 to 1.63), and GAI (Urban Green Space agent index; increased from 1 to 1.23) indices over the 25-year simulation period. By providing a strategic blueprint for policymakers and stakeholders, this study contributes significantly to the discourse on sustainable water resource management, presenting a replicable model for similar contexts globally, where judicious allocation of treated wastewater is paramount for achieving harmony between human activity and ecological preservation.

Small-Scale Environmental Heterogeneity Enhances Tree Recruitment through Carbon Recharge and Water Use Diversification

Studying regeneration processes in oak-dominated forests requires a multi-faceted approach that considers local factors, disturbances, management actions, and tree responses. Our aims were to quantify the carbon and water-use responses of saplings and evaluate ecological consequences at the early tree regeneration phase of a pedunculate oak-hornbeam forest. We measured plant eco-physiological parameters using an open-chamber IRGA equipment in large experimental canopy gaps (instantaneous field data) and greenhouse (climate-controlled reference data) conditions. We used the non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA test to analyze differences and similarities in the gas-exchange response. Functional fingerprints indicated shared resource use and efficiency functions at species-specific performance levels with temporal variations. Medium-level and seasonally balanced carbon uptake and water-use functions characterized pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.). In contrast, the response patterns in wild cherry (Prunus avium (L.) L.) and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall) were dominated by water use. Goat willow (Salix caprea L.) had consistently elevated gas-exchange levels with the largest seasonal variation among the study species. We found that trees could be ranked on a relative isohydric-to-anisohydric scale regarding their species–environment interaction. According to the carbon-gain response pattern coupling with a non-structural carbohydrate exchange scheme, we were able to classify tree species as having medium- and long-term carbon resource management. In conclusion, spatially heterogeneous and temporally balanced canopy gaps facilitate tree species’ development and mixed-stand regeneration by providing a functionally diversifying recruiting environment.

Sentinel-1 InSAR and GPS-Integrated Long-Term and Seasonal Subsidence Monitoring in Houston, Texas, USA

For approximately 100 years, the Houston region has been adversely impacted by land subsidence associated with excessive groundwater withdrawals. The rapidly growing population in the Houston region means the ongoing subsidence must be vigilantly monitored. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) has become a powerful tool for remotely mapping land-surface deformation over time and space. However, the humid weather and the heavy vegetation have significantly degraded the performance of InSAR techniques in the Houston region. This study introduced an approach integrating GPS and Sentinel-1 InSAR datasets for mapping long-term (2015–2019) and short-term (inter-annual, seasonal) subsidence within the greater Houston region. The root-mean-square (RMS) of the detrended InSAR-displacement time series is able to achieve a subcentimeter level, and the uncertainty (95% confidence interval) of the InSAR-derived subsidence rates is able to achieve a couple of millimeters per year for 5-year or longer datasets. The InSAR mapping results suggest the occurrence of moderate ongoing subsidence (~1 cm/year) in nothwestern Austin County, northern Waller County, western Liberty County, and the city of Mont Belvieu in Champers County. Subsidence in these areas was not recognized in previous GPS-based investigations. The InSAR mapping results also suggest that previous GPS-based investigations overestimated the ongoing subsidence in southwestern Montgomery County, but underestimated the ongoing subsidence in the northeastern portion of the county. We also compared the InSAR- and GPS-derived seasonal ground movements (subsidence and heave). The amplitudes of the seasonal signals from both datasets are comparable, below 4 mm within non-subsiding areas and over 6 mm in subsiding (>1 cm/year) areas. This study indicates that groundwater-level changes in the Evangeline aquifer are the primary reason for ongoing long-term and seasonal subsidence in the Houston region. The former is dominated by inelastic deformation, and the latter is dominated by elastic deformation. Both could cause infrastructure damage. This study demonstrated the potential of employing the GPS- and InSAR-integrated method (GInSAR) for near-real-time subsidence monitoring in the greater Houston region. The near-real-time monitoring would also provide timely information for understanding the dynamic of groundwater storage and improving both long-term and short-term groundwater resource management.

A new framework to identify most suitable priority areas for soil-water conservation using coupling mechanism in Guwahati urban watershed, India, with future insight

The urban watershed of Guwahati, Assam, has witnessed a rapid urbanization in recent years, making it to one of the most deteriorated cities in terms of environmental issues. Therefore, this work focused on finding the most suitable soil-water conservation areas at a micro-scale using coupling coordination mechanism. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to create a priority model for sub-watershed basin based on nineteen morphometric parameters. We then quantified the soil erosion using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) for current and future scenarios based on the representative concentration pathway (RCP) 2.6 and 8.5 models (RCP2.6 and 8.5). In addition, we proposed the fuzzy logic and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) model-based soil-water conservation suitability (SWPC) model for current and future scenarios. Finally, the most suitable soil-water conservation areas for current and future scenarios were identified using coupling coordination degree model (CCD). To the author's knowledge, this is the first in-depth study that identifies the most suitable conservation areas by analyzing the watershed prioritization, soil erosion, and topographic, hydrologic, land cover, and climatic parameters-based soil-water conservation suitability models. Sub-watersheds comprising Silsako, Bharalu, Deepor Beel, and North Guwahati have been identified as high-priority sub-watersheds. According to the current RUSLE model, soil erosion in the study area varies from 140 to 181.64 tonnes per hectare per year. In contrast, soil erosion would continue to increase in the future as per the RCP8.5 model, which varies from 305 to 332 tonnes per hectare per year. The current SWPC model predicted 46.92 km2 area as high and 54.40 km2 area as very high suitable zones. However, under the RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5 models, the high and very high SWPC zones will experience extended areas in the future due to increased soil erosion intensity. According to the CCDM results, Bharalu, Deepor Beel, and North-Guwahati sub-watersheds have observed a very high to medium coupling degrees, which are considered the most suitable areas for conservation. The findings of this study will significantly help stakeholders and experts in long-term land-water resource management and effectively address environmental degradation issues in urban watersheds around the world.

Characterizing land transformation and densification using urban sprawl metrics in the South Bengal region of India

The impacts of uncontrolled development may be catastrophic in areas experiencing fast population expansion and climatic variability, so the South Bengal Region, adjacent to Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), is facing similar threats. It is essential to monitor such Land use and land cover changes (LULC) in a rapidly urbanizing country like India for long-term and efficient resource management. Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were used in this study to examine LULC dynamics in the South 24 Parganas district of the South Bengal Region during the past 30 years (1991-2021). Indices for urban sprawl monitoring, including patch size, density and growth, were determined statistically to analyze the urban typologies. It has also derived decadal growth rate and expansion efficiency metrics to assess the rate of changing peri-urban scenarios along the South 24 Parganas district. This research helps evaluate the quantitative aspects of urban expansion observed in eco-sensitive and cyclone-prone regions in the context of developing nations. It also helps to design guidelines based on the issues resulting from unsustainable urban sprawl. This study's findings depict substantial growth in population and built-up densities of immediate peri-urban areas to the core city by 70% at the expense of green and blue spaces.

The impacts of LULC and climate change scenarios on the hydrology and sediment yield of Rib watershed, Ethiopia.

Watershed-scale hydrology and soil erosion are the main environmental components that are greatly affected by environmental perturbations such as climate and land use and land cover (LULC) changes. The purpose of this study is to assess the impacts of scenario-based LULC change and climate change on hydrology and sediment at the watershed scale in Rib watershed, Ethiopia, using the empirical land-use change model, dynamic conversion of land use and its effects (Dyna-CLUE), and soil and water assessment tool (SWAT). Regional climate model (RCM) with Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES) and Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) outputs were bias-corrected and future climate from 2025 to 2099 was analyzed to assess climate changes. Analysis of the LULC change indicated that there has been a high increase in cultivated land at the expense of mixed forest and shrublands and a low and gradual increase in plantation and urban lands in the historical periods (1984-2016) and in the predictions (2016-2049). In general, the predicted climate change indicated that there will be a decrease in precipitation in all of the SRES and RCP scenarios except in the Bega (dry) season and an increase in temperature in all of the scenarios. The impact analysis indicated that there might be an increase in runoff, evapotranspiration (ET), sediment yield, and a decrease in lateral flow, groundwater flow, and water yield. The changing climate and LULC result in an increase in soil erosion and changes in surface and groundwater flow, which might have an impact on reducing crop yield, the main source of livelihood in the area. Therefore, short- and long-term watershed-scale resource management activities have to be designed and implemented to minimize erosion and increase groundwater recharge.

Hydrogeochemical characterization and quality assessment of groundwater resource in Savar - an industrialized zone of Bangladesh.

Savar Upazila in the Dhaka District is a rapidly expanding city with a diverse range of industries and agricultural activities. This expansion poses environmental challenges including the threat to groundwater contamination. Based on these considerations, the objective of this research is to carry out ashallowgroundwater hydrogeochemical characterization and an assessment of the suitablity of the groundwaterfor drinking and irrigational purposes using a geochemical approach, multivariate statistical techniques, and some indices ofgroundwater quality. Thehydrogeochemical analyses of 42 groundwater samples from shallow depths (18 - 76m) showed that the order of concentrations of cations, anions, and metals was Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+, HCO3- > Cl- > SO42- > NO3-, and Cr > As > Pb > Mn > Fe, respectively. Weathering of silicates was found to be the most significant hydrogeochemical process governing the chemistry of groundwater. Cation exchange also plays a significant role in the evolution of thegroundwater chemistry. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis suggested that anthropogenic activities are influencing groundwater quality. A drinkingwater quality index map showed that about 91% of the groundwater samples were in the excellent category and suitable for human consumption, with only a few samples exceeding the standards of theWHO and Bangladesh for concentrations ofCa2+, Mg2+, HCO3-, Fe, Mn, and As. An analysis of irrigation quality parameters found that most of the groundwater samples were eitherexcellent or good for agricultural uses, except for one samplein the Tetuljhora Union that was unsuitable based on residual sodium carbonate. This finding may be useful to local governments in understanding the current status of groundwater quality, tracking potential threats of contamination, and initiating appropriate measures for long-term groundwater resource management.

Migration and Estuarine Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) Change along Ghana’s Coast

Estuaries are among the world’s most biologically productive ecosystems and have since generations attracted migrants due to their high biodiversity, natural beauty, and source of livelihood. Growing coastal populations and immigration have led to the deterioration of many coastal ecosystems globally. Overfishing, habitat fragmentation, and degradation have significantly compromised these estuaries’ natural environments and subsequently affected their ability to serve as breeding grounds for aquatic organisms. Thus, understanding landscape patterns, changes, and human–nature​ interactions is critical for long-term monitoring of estuarine ecosystems. This study analysed changes in three major river estuaries (Pra, Ankobra and the Volta Rivers) in Ghana using Landsat satellite data from 1986 to 2020 and population data. The results revealed that coastal flooding and erosion had changed the area of bare land/settlements in both Pra Estuary (−13.7%) and Ankobra Estuary (−18.8%) into water areas, respectively. Likewise, anthropogenic activities resulted in a 12.6% loss in vegetation in the Ankobra Estuary and 42.8% in the Volta Estuary. However, mangrove reforestation interventions at the Pra Estuary increased the vegetation area (10.8%). These observed LULC changes in these areas explain the effect of migration and its impact on long-term resource management and the survival of estuarine communities. Associated with the increased population (immigration) of estuarine communities are mangrove destruction, sand mining, and indiscriminate waste disposal activities, driving the degradation of the estuaries. Consequently, migrant, and local community interests should be harnessed to avoid undesirable LULC dynamics. Thus, an integrated approach to the management of the coastal zone and associated wetlands are paramount for the sustainability of the environment and local livelihoods.

Challenges for HR Professionals in the Post-COVID-19 Era

Because of the unexpected changes in business practices tempted by the COVID-19 pandemic, human resource (HR) specialists are working hard to guide and help employees in adapting to the new way of working. On the other hand, HR managers must be prepared to cope with the issues that may occur as businesses adjust to the new normal. The goal of this article is to look at the issues of human resources in the post-COVID-19 era. The study identifies and defines some unique problems that any organization's HR department will confront following the pandemic. Secondary data for this narrative literature study was acquired from various sources, including published articles, reports, and websites. The study's findings are the result of a rigorous review of pertinent data. Remote working concerns, workforce engagement, maintenance, more flexibility, maintaining work-life balance, and raising employee morale were highlighted as long-term Human Resource Management (HRM) challenges in the COVID-19 new normal by this study. The importance of this research lies in the implications it has for businesses as they respond to change. HR professionals can use the study's findings to develop successful methods for adapting to the new reality created by the COVID-19 epidemic. This could assist HR leaders in being better prepared for the post-pandemic new business age.

Strategic Management and Crises Management as the Main Pillars of Recovery in the International Tourism and Civil Aviation Transport

Abstract Tourism and air transport are among the sectors most affected by the covid-19 crisis. The pandemic lasting almost two years has been reflected in short-term effects in both sectors, but there are also serious long-term consequences including the impact on quantitative and qualitative employment change. National authorities will have to set recovery plans in accordance with the relevant policies and in international cooperation with public and private entities. The aim of the paper is to identify a set of strategic and crises measures to recover the international tourism and international civil aviation transport in the context of the long-term human resource management and the optimisation of future quality and quantity of human resources in both mentioned sectors. These strategic recommendations are intended for application in national tourism and transport policies. The methodology of the paper is based on current statistical data and strategic documents at the national and international level represented by the international organisations (esp. UNWTO, WTTC, IATA, ICAO, ECAC). Attention is focused on crises management of the public sector entities in terms of the definition and implementation of reconstruction strategies, on private sector stakeholders, on the interconnection of the tourism and air transport sectors, as well as cooperation in the international environment. Methods and tools for the renewal of both sectors are based on a strategic approach of the public sector, support for the introduction of new business models in the private sector, change in the product and marketing mix, digitization, innovation and education.

Feature tuning improves MAXENT predictions of the potential distribution of Pedicularis longiflora Rudolph and its variant.

Pedicularis longiflora Rudolph and its variant (P. longiflora var. tubiformis (Klotzsch) Tsoong) are alpine plants and traditional Chinese medicines with important medicinal value, and future climate changes may have an adverse impact on their geographic distribution. The maximum entropy (MAXENT) model has the outstanding ability to predict the potential distribution region of species under climate change. Therefore, given the importance of the parameter settings of feature classes (FCs) and the regularization multiplier (RM) of the MAXENT model and the importance of add indicators to evaluate model performance, we used ENMeval to improve the MAXENT niche model and conducted an in-depth study on the potential distributions of these two alpine medicinal plants. We adjusted the parameters of FC and RM in the MAXENT model, evaluated the adjusted MAXENT model using six indicators, determined the most important ecogeographical factors (EGFs) that affect the potential distributions of these plants, and compared their current potential distributions between the adjusted model and the default model. The adjusted model performed better; thus, we used the improved MAXENT model to predict their future potential distributions. The model predicted that P. longiflora Rudolph and its variant (P. longiflora var. tubiformis (Klotzsch) Tsoong) would move northward and showed a decrease in extent under future climate scenarios. This result is important to predict their potential distribution regions under changing climate scenarios to develop effective long-term resource conservation and management plans for these species.

Impact of Temperature Changes on Groundwater Levels in Nzoia River Basin, Kenya

Climate change poses uncertainties to the supply and management of water resources under the observed increase in surface temperatures all over Africa. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of temperature changes on groundwater levels in Nzoia River Basin. Temperature and groundwater level variability and trends has been analyzed using the parametric test of Linear regression and the non-parametric Mann-Kendall statistical test. Temperature data was obtained from the Kenya meteorological department (KMD) whereas groundwater level data was collected from Water resources management agency (WRMA). Linear regression of the annual groundwater levels in Nzoia River Basin between 2011 and 2017 revealed a decreasing trend ranging from -0.49 ft/year (Kitale Golf Club) to -0.03 ft/year (Kakamega Tande School). Mann-Kendall statistical test also showed decreasing groundwater levels for all observation wells with the results for Kitale Golf Club and Mois Bridge Quarry observation wells being statistically significant, whereas those for Kapsabet Boys High School, Kakamega Mwikalikha School, Kakamega Tande School and Busia Town Prison were statistically insignificant at 5% significance level. The highest decline in groundwater levels was observed in the upper catchment of the basin.There are significant increases in annual tempratures for Kitale and Kakamega stations in the period 1979 - 2014. Kitale showed annual maximum temprature rising at 0.0006260C/year; annual minimum temperature rising at 0.0011630C/year and the annual mean temprature rising at 0.0008940C/year. Kakamega had annual maximum temprature rising at 0.0007710C/year; annual minimum tempratures rising at 0.0004710C/year and the annual mean tempratures rising at 0.0006230C/year. Eldoret showed falling maximum temprature at - 0.002020C/year; rising minimum temperature at 0.0008130C/year and falling mean temperatures at - 0.001420C/year. The results for Kitale and Eldoret stations showed statistically significant trends whereas those for Kakamega station had a statistically insignificant trend. In Nzoia River Basin, Kitale and Eldoret, annual minimum tempratures are rising faster than the maximum whereas in Kakamega it’s the annual maximum tempratures that are rising faster than the minimum. Kitale and Kakamega stations showed rising annual mean temperatures whereas Eldoret showed falling annual mean tempratures. As one would expect, temperatures in Nzoia River Basin are expected to be rising; however, the case of falling temperatures recorded at Eldoret international airport might occur because this region of Rift valley has highly protected natural resources and a high forest cover is available all the year round. Another possible explanation to this could be the changing cloudness around Eldoret station. Kitale and Kakamega showed annual mean tempratures rising at about 0.10C per century and Eldoret showed mean temperatures falling at about -1.40C per century. The findings for Kitale and Kakamega stations compare well with IPCC Third Assessment Report estimated global warming rate of 0.60C during the twentieth century and other studies from the African continent and East African region.The decreasing trend in groundwater levels in the basin appears to be linked to climate change. Increases in temperature have an impact on the hydrologic cycle because they enhance evaporation of accessible surface water and vegetation transpiration. As a result, these changes have an impact on precipitation volumes, timings, and intensity rates, as well as indirect effects on water flux and storage in surface and subsurface reservoirs. While changes in important long-term climatic factors such as air temperature, precipitation, and evapotranspiration directly affect surface water supplies, the interaction between changing climate variables and groundwater is more intricate and little understood. For efficient and long-term groundwater resource management, understanding long-term temperature variability and trends, as well as the corresponding reaction of groundwater levels, is critical. Despite the fact that groundwater level records are only available for a short period of time, they include essential information that may be utilized to establish strategies for managing the basin's limited groundwater resources.

Spatial-temporal and Factors Influencing the Distribution of Biodiversity: A Review

Ecosystem health and the accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals require biodiversity. However, the causes of biodiversity loss, as well as regional differences in their repercussions, remain poorly understood. We focused on the regional and temporal aspects that influence biodiversity distribution. Though transportable data is rarely convenient for providing accurate images of the proportions and distribution of all components of various ecosystems, there are certain patterns and strategies that call producers will employ to obtain useful assumptions of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The purpose of this term paper is to conduct systematic reviews to reflect the biodiversity distribution of different spatial and temporal dimensions in the biodiversity of plant species, animal species, microorganisms, and ecosystem diversity and the factors affecting biodiversity. Biodiversity is best defined by the patterns of the world around us, and these patterns are the source for understanding biodiversity. The distribution of biodiversity is uniform and inconsistent around the world. Therefore, the shift from the equator to the poles reduced biodiversity. These show that, unlike temperate regions, the tropics have more solar energy, water availability, and a relatively constant and predictable environment. The distribution of biodiversity is affected by a variety of environmental factors, including regional geological history, environmental stability, ecosystem productivity, habitat heterogeneity and suitability, competition, and predation. Therefore, understanding the spatial and temporal distribution of biodiversity is urgently needed to develop short-term and long-term resource management strategies, and biodiversity education and training activities are innovative.

The Role of Social Capital in Collective Action: The Case Study of Natural Resource Management

The main objective of this study is to examine the role of social capital on collective action in natural resource management. Based on investigating a series of updated theoretical and empirical evidences on the role of social capital in collective action, mainly in natural resource management areas, the following common key findings are worth drawn: Examined literatures generally indicated that natural resources need protection from destructive actions of people to achieve sustainable development. Thus far, communities have shown in the past and increasingly today that they can collaborate for long-term resource management. Social capital variables like heterogeneity index, bridging and linking social capital, civic engagement, cooperative norms, limited numbers of participants and formalized groups are found to be very significant and positively affecting collective action for community’s achieving sustainable natural resource development. Particularly, indicated that the aforementioned variables are playing a fundamental role in reducing transaction cost of exchange like reducing cost of enforcing rules and information asymmetry; and improve local authority performance by pooling them in the networks. This study is also aimed to review varies literatures to investigate whether there is positive relation between social capital and collective environmental action.Most study used model estimation of social capital variables in collective action revealed that the higher the social capital level, the more likely individual is willing to contribute in collective action to protect the natural resource. Results also found that individuals with higher degree of social capital are more likely to participate in collective actions because they can access more information, develop linkages and engage in decision making processes. Similarly, based on the findings, most literature also showed that in formalized groups, social capital is high, and people have the confidence to invest in collective activities in achieving their common natural resource goals. Keywords: Social capital and collective action DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-19-02 Publication date: October 31 st 2021

Marketing Tourism in the Digital Era and Determinants of Success Factors Influencing Tourist Destinations Preferences

Tourism development has economic benefits, but there also issues related to complex digital marketing and environmental impacts. Nowadays, customers want fast, accurate and friendly responses from the tourism agencies. Hence, the industry must be able to cope with the demands from the clients by using the latest digital technology. Moreover, economic and environmental sustainability are also essential for the long-term tourism resource management. Therefore, this paper explores sustainable tourism in relation to consumer preferences, which ultimately determines economic implications in terms of net value, contributed capital, and employment. Based on the surveys conducted on 75 travel agencies in Europe, it was found that the key factors to destination preferences are (in descending order): customers’ income (67.7%), the exchange rate (63.9%), digital marketing factors (53.4%), respect for the environment (38.6%), and sports activities (33.3%). Keywords: tourism, trip, destination, environment, sport, consumer income

Exploring the role of hydrological pathways in modulating multi-annual climate teleconnection periodicities from UK rainfall to streamflow

Abstract. An understanding of multi-annual behaviour in streamflow allows for better estimation of the risks associated with hydrological extremes. This can enable improved preparedness for streamflow-dependant services, such as freshwater ecology, drinking water supply and agriculture. Recently, efforts have focused on detecting relationships between long-term hydrological behaviour and oscillatory climate systems (such as the North Atlantic Oscillation – NAO). For instance, the approximate 7 year periodicity of the NAO has been detected in groundwater-level records in the North Atlantic region, providing potential improvements to the preparedness for future water resource extremes due to their repetitive, periodic nature. However, the extent to which these 7-year, NAO-like signals are propagated to streamflow, and the catchment processes that modulate this propagation, are currently unknown. Here, we show statistically significant evidence that these 7-year periodicities are present in streamflow (and associated catchment rainfall), by applying multi-resolution analysis to a large data set of streamflow and associated catchment rainfall across the UK. Our results provide new evidence for spatial patterns of NAO periodicities in UK rainfall, with areas of greatest NAO signal found in southwest England, south Wales, Northern Ireland and central Scotland, and show that NAO-like periodicities account for a greater proportion of streamflow variability in these areas. Furthermore, we find that catchments with greater subsurface pathway contribution, as characterised by the baseflow index (BFI), generally show increased NAO-like signal strength and that subsurface response times (as characterised by groundwater response time – GRT), of between 4 and 8 years, show a greater signal presence. Our results provide a foundation of understanding for the screening and use of streamflow teleconnections for improving the practice and policy of long-term streamflow resource management.

Canadian Continental-Scale Hydrology under a Changing Climate: A Review

Canada, like other high latitude cold regions on Earth, is experiencing some of the most accelerated and intense warming resulting from global climate change. In the northern regions, Arctic amplification has resulted in warming two to three times greater than global mean temperature trends. Unprecedented warming is matched by intensification of wet and dry regions and hydroclimatic cycles, which is altering the spatial and seasonal distribution of surface waters in Canada. Diagnosing and tracking hydrologic change across Canada requires the implementation of continental-scale prediction models owing the size of Canada’s drainage basins, their distribution across multiple eco- and climatic zones, and the scarcity and paucity of observational networks. This review examines the current state of continental-scale climate change across Canada and the anticipated impacts to freshwater availability, including the role of anthropogenic regulation. The review focuses on continental and regional-scale prediction that underpins operational design and long-term resource planning and management in Canada. While there are significant process-based changes being experienced within Canadian catchments that are equally—if not more so—critical for community water availability, the focus of this review is on the cumulative effects of climate change and anthropogenic regulation for the Canadian freshwater supply.

Career decision-making difficulties among university students: does employment status matter?

PurposeThe study adapted the Career Decision Making Difficulties Questionnaire for the Arab world. The purpose of the study was to test a popular but scientifically unverified belief that people who were employed could experience less CDD.Design/methodology/approachCareer Decision-Making Difficulties Questionnaire was administered to a sample of 500 university students to analyze CDD among full-time and part-time students and examine whether employment status determines to what extent they experience these difficulties. Univariate and bivariate analyses were used.FindingsEmployment status had no statistically significant effect on students' perceptions of CDD; 6 demographic variables were significantly correlated with CDD (gender, age, income, university grade-point average, satisfaction with the current major and social status); and students had dysfunctional beliefs about the career decision-making process, lack self-awareness, and had inconsistent information about internal and external difficulties.Research limitations/implicationsUniversities should design adequate career interventions before and after graduation and employers should implement human resource policies that reduce CDD and their negative impact on the workplace. Other methods of data collection and analysis could also be useful in the future, such as interviews. While scope of the study was acceptable, comparing countries and public versus private institutions could produce valuable findings.Practical implicationsThe study tested and validated ACDDQ which could be used as diagnostic instrument to design career interventions and training programs. Employers need to allocate resources in the recruitment process to help potential recruits to understand the nature of work, processes, and requirements. Educators need to provide better coaching and career education for students, especially those in senior years.Social implicationsUnderstanding career decision-making difficulties and factors that influence them will influence long-term human resource management, especially productivity, turn over and job satisfaction.Originality/valueThe study examined the important issue of difficulties in making career decisions among two groups of university students. With more employees go back to college for more education, it was not clear in the literature how career decisions might differ between the two groups. The issue was under-researched, especially within Arab countries.