Competition For Natural Resources Research Articles

Socio-demographic factors influencing locals’ responses to human-wildlife conflicts in societies living adjacent to Swagaswaga Game Reserve, Tanzania

Understanding the factors that shape local people responses is essential for developing effective strategies to mitigate and manage conflicts between humans and wildlife while safeguarding the well-being of both. This study assessed the factors that influence the locals’ responses regarding human wildlife conflicts (HWCs) in villages surrounding Swagaswaga Game Reserve in Tanzania, where human population growth has led to increased competition for natural resources between humans and wildlife. We found a substantial majority (71%) of respondents having experienced HWCs, while others (29%) have not encountered such conflicts. A logistic regression analysis tested various independent variables to determine their significance in predicting locals’ responses to HWCs. Our results indicated that the district of residence and the age category of respondents significantly influenced their reactions to HWCs, with district identity being the most significant predictor of these responses. Additionally, the study presents pairwise comparisons of measures taken by local people to mitigate HWCs, showing preferences for non-lethal strategies such as guiding (patrol) and growing alternative crops over lethal control. Moreover, the construction of physical barriers, such as fences and steel bars, was favored over lethal control methods. Unlike previous studies, this research provides targeted guidance for conservation and management strategies that are tailored to the unique needs and preferences of the local communities surrounding Swagaswaga Game Reserve and other areas globally with similar contexts. Therefore, this study extends our understanding of HWC in Tanzania by offering detailed insights into the specific factors that shape local responses and their preferences for mitigation measures.

Attributive analysis of the anthropophytes fraction as part of the urban flora of Kyiv urban area (the degree of naturalization, invasive status, threat assessment for local ecosystems and biotic diversity)

International ecological scientific community pays special attention to urbanized territories as separate locations of alien invasive species of biota. The results of the attributive analysis of the structure of the alien fraction of KUA flora according to three current European categories are presented. The basis of the analysis is the final list of alien vascular plants of KUA flora, which contains 718 species. 166 taxa of alien vascular plants that immigrated to KUA from 2003 to 2023 were added to the list. It was found that the degree of naturalization of immigrant species is dominated by casual alien species, which make up 59.0% of the taxonomic composition of the fraction. Species that are elements of man-make environments reach 35.5%. At the same time, alien species that grow and persist for a long time in natural habitats, including protected areas, do not exceed 5.0%. According to the categories of invasive activity, there are species that are naturalized and do not show a tendency to invasions — 32.0%. The most dangerous among invasive plants are transformer species, represented by 2.5%, actual invasive species — 4.0%, potentially invasive species — 2.0%. Based on the «Classification of alien species according to their impact on the environment», adapted by the IUCN: the massive impact is 1.5% of the total number and 4.0% of the number of naturalized ones; accordingly, the major impact — 2.2% (5.4%); the moderate impact — 5.2% (11.2%); the minor impact — 28.1% (68.6%); the minimal impact — 4.2% (10.8%). Based on the results of screening the negative effects of invasive species on the environment, examples of threats are given. This is competition for natural resources, displacement of native plant species; penetration into forests of plants whose climamorphotypes are absent in local forest ecosystems (tree vines), etc. Threatening cases of spontaneous hybridization of immigrant species with local species and with each other have been identified (repeated occurrences in the genera Bidens L., Populus L., Reynoutria Houtt., etc.). The need for an experimental study of the chemical and physical negative effects of invasive plants on local species of biota and human health is indicated. It is noted that the flora of KUA, on the background of the flora of Europe, is currently uniformly affected by phytoinvasions as an urbanized spatial unit of Ukraine.

Conflict Resolution through Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Abstract Indigenous knowledge is the local knowledge that is unique to a given culture or society. It is the basis for local decision-making in agriculture, medicine, food education, environmental management, craft skills, linguistics and conflict management. The study explored mengehacha, an indigenous system of conflict resolution among the Gumuz people in northwest Ethiopia, which aims to restore peace and harmony within the community when conflicts result from natural resource competition, exchange marriage, clan-based conflict and theft. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, non-participatory observation and document analysis, and analysed qualitatively. The indigenous mechanisms of conflict resolution were found to be relatively participatory and supplementary to the state justice system. It is recommended that indigenous systems of conflict management be supported and given equal treatment with the modern court system and that exchange marriage be curbed, since it is becoming a trigger for conflict eruption among the Gumuz.

Plant functional traits modulate the effects of soil acidification on above- and belowground biomass

Abstract. Atmospheric sulfur (S) deposition has been increasingly recognized as a major driver of soil acidification. However, little is known about how soil acidification influences above- and belowground biomass by altering leaf and root traits. We conducted a 3-year S-addition experiment to simulate soil acidification in a meadow. Grass (Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvelev) and sedge (Carex duriuscula C.A.Mey) species were chosen to evaluate the linkage between plant traits and biomass. Sulfur addition led to soil acidification and nutrient imbalances. Soil acidification decreased specific leaf area (SLA) but increased leaf dry-matter content (LDMC) in L. chinensis, showing a conservative strategy and thus suppressing aboveground instead of belowground biomass. However, in C. duriuscula, soil acidification increased plant height and root nutrients (N, P, S, and Mn), favoring competition for natural resources through enhanced above- and belowground biomass, i.e., adoption of an acquisitive strategy. Increased soil acidity resulted in an overall reduction in aboveground community biomass by 3 %–33 %, but it led to an increase in community root biomass by 11 %–22 % due to upregulation as a result of higher soil nutrient availability. Our results demonstrate that both above- and belowground plant biomass is affected by S-induced acidification. Understanding the linkage between plant biomass and functional traits contributes to a better understanding of plant–soil feedback in grassland ecosystems.

Life cycle assessment of hemp-based milk alternative production in Lower Saxony, Germany, based on a material flow analysis of a pilot scale

PurposeRecently, demand for plant-based milk products (PBMP) has increased for multiple reasons, such as the rapid population growth expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, health concerns such as lactose intolerance, nutritional aspects, ethical reasons, and environmental concerns. This leads to increased demand for food and competition for natural resources. Hemp-based milk is an emerging dairy alternative, and stakeholders in the supply chain are becoming increasingly interested in learning about the environmental effects of its production. This article aims for a comparative life cycle assessment of hemp-based and bovine milk with fat and protein correction to account for the differences in macronutrient content.MethodsThe cradle-to-factory gate LCA relied on experimental cultivation and milk production in Lower Saxony, Germany. Inventory was based on primary data from fields and the pilot plant of DIL e. V. and on literature and ecoinvent database to develop a life cycle assessment (LCA) model. The LCA was performed using Simapro 9.3 software and IMPACT 2002+ impact assessment method. The life cycle stages include cultivation, harvesting, and milk production. The study compared hemp-based milk to bovine milk based on 1 kg fat and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) as a functional unit (FU). Co-products are taken into consideration using mass-economic allocation.ResultsThe results showed that hemp cultivation accounted for the highest impact (99%) in the production chain of hemp milk production. The GWP of 1 kg of FPCM hemp-based milk is 0.42 kg CO2 eq. The energy consumption for 1 kg of FPCM hemp-based milk is 4.73 MJ (12.26% lower than bovine milk). The other main factors impacting hemp-based milk production were terrestrial ecotoxicity (6.444E2 kg TEG soil) and aquatic ecotoxicity (2.458E2 kg TEG water). Hemp fiber was the co-product with 40% of the allocated impacts. The results are sensitive to the changes in fat-protein contents, functional unit, and system boundaries. The results demonstrated that the impacts of hemp milk production were within the range indicated for other PBMP production and 51.7% lower than bovine milk production in terms of GWP. This range primarily stems from field emissions, fertilizer application, and machinery usage during cultivation and harvest.ConclusionThe results of the comparisons of bovine milk and hemp-based milk were dependable on the FU. The hemp-based milk has the potential to be a more sustainable alternative to bovine milk due to considerably lower impacts in impact categories—land occupation (99% lower than bovine milk), global warming (52% lower than bovine milk), and ionizing radiation (23% lower than bovine milk). It is primarily due to less use of agricultural machinery, less land requirement, and lower NH3 emissions than bovine milk in various stages of milk production.

ESTABLISHING AND CONTROLLING A STABLE MORAL AND PSYCHOLOGICALCLIMATE IN FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC INSTITUTIONS AS A KEY SECURITYCOMPONENT

This article addresses the issues of forming and controlling a stable moral and psychological atmosphere in the foreign diplomatic institutions (FDI) of Ukraine, as well as preventing and localizing potential negative markers in FDI and their impact on security. The role of management and security officers (FDI SO) is emphasized. Modern negative global trends such as increased competition for natural resources, sustained tension in certain states and regions, acceleration of the arms race, manifestations of terrorism, organized crime, smuggling, drug and arms trafficking, illegal migration, human trafficking, the threat of escalation of frozen conflicts, and the emergence of new sources of international tension, including the undeclared aggressive hybrid war by the russian Federation against Ukraine and the activation of its intelligence services, impose on Ukraine's special bodies the task of most effectively ensuring the national security of the state, including the security of Ukrainian foreign diplomatic institutions, their staff, and family members, as well as Ukrainian state secret holders sent abroad. The comprehensive nature of addressing security issues in FDI, especially the potential impact of negative signs within diplomatic teams on their security, necessitates thorough scientific analysis. The results of such work will serve as a foundation for further improvement of state political and legal acts, departmental orders, instructions, and relevant practical recommendations for leadership and FDI SO for the proper fulfilment of their duties.

Persaingan Sumber Daya Alam: Konflik dan Intoleransi dalam Masyarakat

Competition for the use of natural resources often creates conflict between different communities and can lead to intolerance between them. This study aims to understand the competition for natural resources. This study uses a quantitative approach with data collection techniques through questionnaires with various people involved in the competition for natural resources in certain areas. The results of the research show that there has been competition for natural resources; this competition affects relations between communities; competition for natural resources creates intolerance; and intolerant attitudes and behaviors exacerbate resource competition. Intolerance is triggered by dissatisfaction and jealousy due to inequality in access to and utilization of natural resources, lack of participation in decision making, transparency and accountability in natural resource management. The effects of intolerance cause conflict, economic loss, and environmental damage.

Testing the Theory, Blessing or Resource Curse? The Effect of Natural Resources on Political Violence in Africa

Political conflicts in Africa have intensified due to the competition for natural resources by various conflicting parties and their conflict intensification. Previous studies have shown that cell phone coverage plays a significant role in the occurrence of these conflicts. This paper explores the impact of oil reserves and diamond abundance on cell phone coverage in Africa. The authors also investigate how rebels are motivated by these resources to engage in conflicts. The Scobit model (Nagler 1994) is used to analyse the cases of unbalanced conflict, which is found to be more accurate than the Logistic model. The results indicate that diamond abundance is a resource blessing, while oil reserves lead to a resource curse. However, the latter finding needs to be more consistent across robustness checks, suggesting that the effects of different natural resources on African political conflicts remain debatable.

Sustainable Nonfarm Approaches to Achieve Zero Hunger and Its Unveiled Reality.

Millions of people worldwide are deprived of sufficient, safe, and nutritious food required for an everyday and healthy life. The hunger crisis is worsening over time, even though many attempts have been made to minimize it. Increasing world population and competition for natural resources, climate change, natural disasters, urbanization, poverty, and illiteracy are the main causes that need to be addressed to reduce the hunger crisis. Various nonfarm technologies are being used to eradicate hunger but their long-term impact on the environment should also be considered. The real sustainability of several novel technologies being implemented to deal with hunger is an issue to tackle. This paper discusses the potential applications of storage facilities, underutilized crops, waste valorization, food preservation, nutritionally enriched novel food products, and technological advancement in food processing to achieve zero hunger. An attempt has also been made to address the sustainability of various nonfarm technology utilized to minimize the global hunger crisis.

Phytosociological survey of spontaneous plant communities in a conventional corn crop area in the region of Carajás, Pará, Brazil

The presence of spontaneous plants in agricultural cultivation areas can result in damage to the crop of interest due to competition for natural resources and allelopathy, requiring systematic monitoring for an adequate cultivation management. In this way, the objective was to identify the spontaneous plant communities species in an area of a one-year fallow conventional corn crop in the southeastern of Pará state, in the Brazilian amazon. A phytosociological survey of the plants in the experimental area of the Technological Center of Family Agriculture (CETAF) was carried out, by applying the inventory square method with 1.0 m2, randomly launched twenty times in an area corresponding to 1.1 hectare. The phytosociological parameters analyzed were frequency, relative frequency, density, relative density, abundance, relative abundance and importance value index (IRI). It was found 19 species of spontaneous plants distributed in 11 botanical families, being, Euphorbiaceae (4), Asteraceae (3), Amaranthaceae (2) and Poaceae (2) the most representative in numbers of species sampled. The most important species were Sorghum arundinaceum (IRI = 55.70), Commelina benghalensis (IRI = 47.78) and Synedrella nodiflora (IRI = 42.39). A high diversity of spontaneous plants was verified, emphasizing the need for phytosociological surveys for the definition of integrated control practices in face of the type of cultivation system adopted.

Review: The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. II: Architecture, Topography and Military Maps

Review: <i>The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. II: Architecture, Topography and Military Maps</i>

Potential of endophytic Trichoderma in controlling Phytophthora leaf fall disease in rubber (Hevea brasiliensis)

Fifty-nine endophytic Trichoderma spp., isolated from healthy rubber leaves collected in the eastern and southern parts of Thailand, were evaluated for their antagonistic activity against Phytophthora leaf fall disease, caused by Phytophthora palmivora. Three strains of T. asperellum, three strains of T. harzianum, three strains of T. hamatum, one strain of T. longibrachiatum, and two strains of T. virens were selected based on their potent antagonistic activity against P. palmivora when tested by dual culture. Among the endophytic Trichoderma strains tested, T. harzianum KUFA0436 and KUFA0437 showed potent biocontrol efficacy, suppressing the disease severity by 43 % and 48 %, respectively, under greenhouse conditions. Meanwhile, the other strains showed low to moderate suppression of the disease severity when tested in laboratory and under greenhouse conditions. Trichoderma harzianum KUFA0437 and KUFA0437 were selected to be tested under field conditions and were found to display a significant reduction in defoliation of 30–33 %; while metalaxyl (positive control) showed the best suppression of defoliation of up to 66 %. The antagonistic activities of Trichoderma spp. included fast growth, strong competition for natural resources, and production of antifungal crude extracts. Moreover, all Trichoderma strains showed compatibility with propineb (1,750 ppm), fosetyl-Al (1,600 ppm), and metalaxyl (500 ppm). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of endophytic Trichoderma spp. as potential biocontrol agents for controlling rubber diseases. These fungi can serve as alternative fungicides to reduce the use of synthetic fungicides or as part of an integrated pest management scheme in combination with fungicidal treatments.

Tantangan Komunikasi Antarbudaya Sekarang Dan Yang Akan Datang Di Indonesia

This paper discusses the challenges of intercultural communication now and in the future in Indonesia. The method used is a qualitative approach based on the literature which aims to examine the challenges of intercultural communication now and in the future in Indonesia. From the results of the study then narrated in descriptive form. It can be concluded that the current and future challenges of intercultural communication in Indonesia include globalization, international conflict and security, global competition for natural resources, global healthcare issues, and population change. It is hoped that the government and society can prevent and deal with the challenges of intercultural communication now and in the future in Indonesia, including globalization, international conflict and security, world competition for natural resources, world health care problems, and population change. Keywords: challenges, communication, intercultural, now, in the future

Livelihood Implication of Artisanal Mining on Herders in Jema’a and Sanga Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study assessed the livelihood implication of artisanal mining on herders in Jema’a and Sanga local government areas of Kaduna state, Nigeria, with a view to providing information for sustainable living. Data for this study was collected through questionnaire survey, in-depth interview and direct field observation. The result showed that herders are involved in artisanal mining due to economic hardship/poverty, quick/high income generation from mining, supplementing income generated from other sources, lack of livestock, availability of minerals, high level of insecurity and Covid-19 lockdown. The result also indicated that artisanal mining increases asset acquisition, empowerment and provision of job to herders, leads to new income generating opportunities, and increase in income due to high demand for animal products, but diminishes available land for grazing, forces herders to relocate to new areas, causes competition for natural resources, lures their younger ones away from herding, prostitution, armed robbery and kidnapping, loss of livestock, pollution of domestic water sources and loss of young herders. It is therefore important that adequate training be given to herders on modern methods of livestock keeping to discourage them from involving in mining of minerals. In order to reduce their vulnerability to mining of minerals, it is also recommended that government and private sectors should work towards reducing poverty and unemployment to all kinds of persons across the country.

Potential of Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria in Sustainably Enhancing the Agronomic and Physiological Performances of Rice

Cereal grains and tubers are among the highly consumed staple foods globally; however, due to unfavorable weather conditions and the competition for natural resources, the major staple cereal crops, such as rice, are under production threat. On the other hand, the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase crop yield is deteriorating the growing environment for plants and animals, including humans. As such, sustainable management practices are the key method that can be employed to increase crop production without harming the environment. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), such as the purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB), have recently gained much attention in crop production due to their ability to accumulate higher-value compounds that are highly beneficial to crops. Some of the major benefits PNSB holds are that it can fix atmospheric nitrogen, solubilize phosphate, remediate heavy metals, suppress methane emissions from waterlogged paddy fields, and assist in carbon sequestration. These benefits allow PNSB to be an important bacterium for improving plant growth and yield much more sustainably while benefiting the environment. This review article discusses the beneficial effects of PNSB on rice crop plants through careful screening of previous work in this area. The review also identifies the research gaps and suggests future research pathways to make PNSB an important bacteria for sustainable rice crop production. The review paper aims for the United Nation’s sustainable development goal number two, “Zero Hunger,” target 2.4, indicator 2.4.1, “Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture”.

An Intelligent Animal Repellent System for Crop Protection: A Deep Learning Approach

Human Wildlife Conflicts (HWC) refers to the negative interactions between human and wild animals, with undesirable consequences both for people and their resources, on the one hand, and wildlife and their habitats on the other (IUCN 2020).HWC, caused by competition for natural resources between humans and wildlife, influences human food security and the well-being of both humans and animals. As a result of human population growth and the transformation of land use in many regions, the number of these conflicts has increased in recent decades. HWC is a significant global threat to reliable development, food security, and conservation in urban and rural landscapes alike. In general, the consequences of HWC include crop destruction, reduced agricultural productivity, competition for grazing lands and water supply, livestock predation, injury and death to humans, damage to infrastructure, etc. From farmers’ perspectives, their main concern is to protect their crops from animal intrusion and crop destruction. It is necessary to have an affordable better technique for crop protection from animal attacks. Human-wildlife conflict is on the verge of its extremity. Because of the increased deforestation and human penetration into their area, the wild animals have to roam around aimlessly and intrude into the human habitats. While considering the safety of both humans and animals, it is necessary to think and act differently than the traditional solutions (like shooting, trapping, electric fences, etc). This work presents an intelligent animal repellent system, particularly for crop protection, with the advent of some deep learning techniques. This automatic intrusion and repellent system uses the MobileNet SSD model for better performance. On detection of the hazardous animal, the system produces an alarm sound and makes an alert notification to the responsible authorities to make an awareness of the detection. This rapid way of detection makes it more human-friendly and the harmless way of repulsion makes it more animal friendly at the same time.

Memorable tourism experiences and critical outcomes among nature-based visitors: a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis approach

ABSTRACT Intense global competition for natural resources, manifesting in negative environmental externalities, has forced hospitality and tourism stakeholders to adopt strategies that may result in economic growth in tandem with environmental conservation. One such strategy is to cultivate travellers’ loyalty to the tourism destinations and encourage them to participate in environmentally friendly activities. Using the affective theory of social exchange, social identity, stimulus–organism–response, tourism consumption system and attachment theories, this study proposes and tests a configurational model that predicts the antecedents of visitors’ pro-environmental behavioural intentions (PEBIs) regarding their desire to revisit (REVI) and recommend (RECI) the services that they experienced. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis was applied to assess the effect of memorable tourism experiences, place attachment, and demographics on these outcomes. The findings revealed that multiple configurations can predict visitors’ intentions at tourist destinations. This study’s implications for theory, practice, and future research directions are also discussed.

Quantifying the land-based opportunity carbon costs of onshore wind farms

The development of onshore wind energy impacts the land where it is constructed, together with competition for natural resources between the energy and land sector. The loss of terrestrial carbon stocks and ecosystem services from land use change to wind farms can be interpreted as the opportunity cost that landowners give up by choosing to construct wind farms on their land. Here, we spatially quantify the impact onshore wind farms have on land when we factor in the opportunity carbon (C) costs. We found that, the construction of 3848 wind turbines in Scotland generated 4.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions from land use change. On average the emission intensity of land use change in peatland is 560 g CO 2 kWh −1 , in forestry is 88 g CO 2 kWh −1 , in cropland is 45 g CO 2 kWh −1 , and in pastureland is 30 g CO 2 kWh −1 . In the worst land use change scenario, the displacement of Dystrophic basin peat habitats generated 1760 g CO 2 kWh −1 , which is comparable to the life cycle emissions of fossil-fuel technologies such as coal and gas-fired electricity generation. In arable land, the loss of harvestable crop to wind power was forfeited for a gain in opportunity costs up to £15.4 million over a 25 year operating life. Considering the short-term value of CO 2 in the trading market, the opportunity carbon costs of onshore wind farms can range from £0.3 to £65.0 per MWh of electricity generated per year. These findings highlight that the preservation of terrestrial carbon stocks and crop production in the land sector require the development of new payment schemes that can compete economically against the monetary benefits that landowners can access from lease agreements agreed with energy companies. This ensures also that wind turbines are geographically placed to protect ecosystem C stocks, and to minimize the carbon intensity of the electricity generated. • The displacement of terrestrial carbon stocks is crucial to quantifying the environmental impact of onshore wind energy. • Direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions are quantified spatially based on land cover types and wind farm characteristics. • Emissions of land use change from the construction of 3848 wind turbines across Scotland vary from 16 g CO 2 kWh −1 in shrubland to 1760 g CO 2 kWh −1 in peatland. • Opportunity costs of onshore wind farms range from £0.30 to £65.0 per MWh of electricity generated per year.

Management of Agricultural Produces and Lifecycle

Abstract: The agricultural revolution was the key development in the rise of human civilization. It’s a varied field that produces a wide array of products which are important to us. As our global populations are growing faster the competition for natural resources will increase resulting in pressure on agricultural production of food, fiber, energy, various high-value by-products, etc. With upgraded concerns related to environmental impacts associated with the needs of a growing population, a life cycle assessment (LCA) framework will help to determine areas of greatest impact. The LCA methodology was mainly developed for industrial operations but we are using them in a wider range of fields which includes agriculture. Many factors increase the complexity of determining impacts associated with agricultural production The lack of consistent methodology of some impacts that are of major concern to agriculture (e.g., land and water usage) increases the difficulty or complications of this analysis. This paper attempts to review some of these issues and give perspective to the LCA expert in the field of agriculture. Keywords: Life cycle assessment, Ex-ante LCA, Technology assessment, New technology, Emerging technology

Sustainable Approach to Weed Management: The Role of Precision Weed Management

In the last few decades, the increase in the world’s population has created a need to produce more food, generating, consequently, greater pressure on agricultural production. In addition, problems related to climate change, water scarcity or decreasing amounts of arable land have serious implications for farming sustainability. Weeds can affect food production in agricultural systems, decreasing the product quality and productivity due to the competition for natural resources. On the other hand, weeds can also be considered to be valuable indicators of biodiversity because of their role in providing ecosystem services. In this sense, there is a need to carry out an effective and sustainable weed management process, integrating the various control methods (i.e., cultural, mechanical and chemical) in a harmonious way, without harming the entire agrarian ecosystem. Thus, intensive mechanization and herbicide use should be avoided. Herbicide resistance in some weed biotypes is a major concern today and must be tackled. On the other hand, the recent development of weed control technologies can promote higher levels of food production, lower the amount of inputs needed and reduce environmental damage, invariably bringing us closer to more sustainable agricultural systems. In this paper, we review the most common conventional and non-conventional weed control strategies from a sustainability perspective, highlighting the application of the precision and automated weed control technologies associated with precision weed management (PWM).