Sustainable Development Of Natural Resources Research Articles

Examining the effect of urbanization on various land cover classes and environmental quality using remote sensing and GIS methods

It is vital for public awareness and decision-makers to investigate the impact caused by changes in urban land use and land cover on ecosystem service values (ESVs) in order to promote sustainable urban development, protect the environment, protect public health, and ensure communities’ long-term well-being. Changes in ecosystem services brought on by changes in land use and cover (LULC) are a crucial early indicator and warning sign of ecological shifts. Using remote sensing and GIS tools, this study examined the shifting dynamics of ESVs in the Haridwar district in Uttarakhand state, India. The evaluation of land use land cover (LULC) changes was carried out by analyzing satellite images of the research region from 2001 to 2021. In addition, we examined changes in ecosystem services according to the study area’s LULC classifications. Using a random forest machine learning classifier, satellite images were classified into five categories of land cover: water bodies, forests, built-up areas, agricultural land, and bare land. The findings showed that from 2001 to 2021, forest cover and water bodies fell by 15.35% and 41.50%, respectively, while urban area and agricultural area rose by 69.24% and 12.31%, respectively. Due to increased urbanization and degradation of water bodies and forest areas, ESV fell from 103.19 USD ha −1 year −1 in 2001 to 70.53 USD ha −1 year −1 in 2021. The combination of LULC with the value of ecosystem services may improve our knowledge of several difficulties in an urban ecosystem. As a result, we advocate for the incorporation of LULC and ESVs as a tool that might be useful to urban planners and land managers in the future for sustainable development of natural resources.

New Perspectives on the Impact of Human Activities on Natural Resources in Oasis Areas: A Case Study of Oasis in Wuwei, China

An accurate analysis of the relationship between humans and the land in oasis areas is essential for the formulation of policies for differentiated oasis urban development and resource management measures. Therefore, researchers have conducted numerous studies based on the linear relationship between “people and land” in oasis areas. To address this gap, this paper takes the Wuwei oasis as an example and re-examines the impact of human activities on the sustainability of natural capital from a new research perspective (nonlinear perspective). The study selected four variables, namely planted forests, scientific R&D investment, urbanization, and population density, as the main human activities affecting the Wuwei oasis area. The NARDL model, the nonlinear Granger causality test, is employed to investigate the interactions between the variables and the oasis natural capital in both the short and long term. The results indicate the following: (1) During the study period, the consumption of natural capital in the Wuwei oasis has been increasing annually and has long exceeded the local ecological carrying capacity. (2) In the short term, planting forests is the most beneficial human activity. The most beneficial human activity is the planting of trees, while in the long term, scientific R&D investment has the most positive effect on enhancing the oasis’ resource reserves. (3) Urbanization, population density, and planted forest land all have a direct effect on the sustainable development of natural resources in the oasis. The findings of the study indicate that the application of scientific and technological innovation to promote the sustainable development of resources and the environment is a more reliable approach for oasis cities with a high degree of industrialization.

Ultra-High-Performance Alkali-Activated Concrete: Effect of Waste Crumb Rubber Aggregate Proportions on Tensile and Flexural Properties

The declining availability of natural sand resources and the significant carbon footprint associated with the extensive use of cement are posing severe limitations on the advancement and application of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). In this study, waste tyre-derived recycled crumb rubber particles (CR) were employed to replace quartz sand, and an alkali-activated cementitious material was used to produce waste tyre-alkali-activated UHPC (T-UHPAC). The influence of different CR replacement ratios (0%, 5%, 20%, 35%, 50%) on the tensile and flexural performance of T-UHPAC was investigated, and a predictive model for the stress–strain response considering the CR replacement ratio was established. An optimization method for improving the tensile and flexural performance of T-UHPAC was proposed. The results indicate that the effect of rough-surfaced CR on the interfacial properties of concrete differs from that of smooth quartz sand. A CR replacement ratio exceeding 35% led to a reduction in both the tensile and flexural strengths of UHPAC, while a replacement ratio at or below 20% resulted in a superior tensile and flexural performance of T-UHPAC. The established predictive model for tensile performance accurately forecasts the stress–strain behaviour of T-UHPAC under varying CR replacement ratios, with the accuracy improving as the CR replacement ratio increases. By utilizing CR to replace quartz sand in proportions not exceeding 20%, the production of low-carbon UHPC with exceptional comprehensive mechanical properties is achievable. Moreover, the development of T-UHPAC through the comprehensive utilization of waste tyres presents a promising and innovative approach for the low-carbon and cost-effective production of UHPC, thereby facilitating the sustainable development of natural resources. This research represents a significant step towards the widespread adoption and application of UHPC and thus holds substantial importance.

Green growth: Intellectual property conflicts and prospects in the extraction of natural resources for sustainable development

Considering the global issues of resource depletion and climate change, the need for sustainable development is more significant than ever. This study focuses on China and examines the complex dynamics of green growth and natural resource exploitation through the prism of intellectual property conflicts and prospects to strike a balance between sustainable development and economic growth from 2000 to 2020. Advanced econometric techniques are essential to this research, such as the Cross-sectional Augmented Dickey-Fuller (CADF) test, the Cross-sectional Im, Pesaran, and Shin (CIPS) test, and the Cross-sectionally Augmented Distributed Lag (CS-ARDL) model. The study clarifies how important it is for intellectual property rights to spur innovation in environmentally friendly resource extraction techniques. It also evaluates the impact of taxes on the energy sector on China's energy transition rate, weighing the need for economic growth against environmental protection. This study thoroughly explains the opportunities and challenges related to intellectual property in green growth. It also offers important insights and strategies for academics, industry stakeholders, and policymakers who navigate the intricate landscape of sustainable resource exploitation.

The importance of forests in the environment

The importance of forests in the environment

A New Remote Sensing Desert Vegetation Detection Index

Land desertification is a key environmental problem in China, especially in Northwest China, where it seriously affects the sustainable development of natural resources. In this paper, we combine high-resolution satellite remote sensing images and UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) visible light images to extract desert vegetation data and quickly locate and accurately monitor land desertification in relevant areas according to changes in vegetation coverage. Due to the strong light and dry climate of deserts in Northwest China, which results in deeper vegetation shadow texture and mostly dry shrubs with fewer stems and leaves, the accuracy of the vegetation index commonly used in visible remote sensing image classification is not able to meet the requirements for monitoring and evaluating land desertification. For this reason, in this paper, we took the Hangjin Banner in Bayannur as an example and constructed a new vegetation index, the HSVGVI (hue–saturation–value green enhancement vegetation index), based on the HSV (hue–saturation–value) color space using channel enhancement that can improve the extraction accuracy of desert vegetation and reduce misclassification. In addition, in order to further test the extraction accuracy, samples of densely vegetated and multi-shaded areas were divided in the study area according to the accuracy-influencing factors. At the same time, the HSVGVI was compared with the vegetation indices EXG (excess green index), RGBVI (red–green–blue vegetation index), MGRVI (modified green–red vegetation index), NGBDI (normalized green–red discrepancy index), and VDVI (visible-band discrepancy vegetation index) constructed based on the RGB (red–green–blue) color space. The experimental results show that the extraction accuracy of the EXG and other vegetation indices constructed in RGB color space can only reach 70%, while the extraction accuracy of the HSVGVI can reach more than 95%. In summary, the HSVGVI proposed in this paper can better realize the extraction of desert vegetation data and can provide a reliable technical tool for monitoring and evaluating land desertification.

Phycoremediation - A Clean Technology for Water Pollution Abatement

Phycoremediation has been utilised to remediate wastewater and successfully lower nutrient levels. There isn’t many research, though, on how well phycoremediation works to lower nitrogen levels in eutrophic lakes. This review concentrates on the process and variables involved in using algae. Before considering the possibility of algal-based approaches in remediating lake eutrophication, to remove nutrients and contaminants from wastewater. Algal biofilm, algal grass scrubbers, high-rate algal ponds (HRAP), and immobilised algae are methods used in phycoremediation of wastewater. A wastewater treatment method based on microalgae lowers BOD, prevents coli forms, eliminates pollutants and nutrients, and removes heavy metals. The sixth sustainable development target of the UNDP cannot be attained without phytoremediation. Microalgae can effectively treat wastewater at a very low cost, and the biomass they produce can be used to produce biofuels. The cost-effective growing of microalgae and contaminants with wastewater can be replaced by the successful coupling of microalgae with wastewater, which can also scale up production of high-value products. This review mainly focused on the potential of algae and their specific mechanisms involved in wastewater treatment and energy recovery systems leading to important industrial precursors. The review is highly beneficial for scientists, wastewater treatment plant operators, freshwater managers, and industrial communities to support the sustainable development of natural resources. Keywords: Algae, Biodegradation, Pollutant removal, Phycoremediation, Wastewater treatment.

Extarction and charcterization of mucilage from Irvingia gabonensis seeds

This study focuses on the extraction and characterization of mucilage from Irvingia gabonensis seeds and its potential uses. The extraction process was carried out using water and the mucilage was characterized using various physicochemical and rheological parameters. All confirmatory tests for mucilage carried out (Molisch, iodine and ruthenium red test) were positive. The outcomes demonstrated that the mucilage had a yield of 52.6 %, a swelling capacity of 88.65 %, hydration capacity of 1.78 and a viscosity of 1.1805 mPa S. This study highlights the importance of utilizing natural resources for sustainable development and provides insights for further research on the potential uses of mucilage from other plant sources.

Unraveling the influence of green bonds on environmental sustainability and paving the way for sustainable energy projects in green finance.

The acceleration of renewable energy has emerged as a cornerstone strategy in mitigating climate change and advancing the sustainable stewardship of our natural resources. Nonetheless, financing renewable energy projects remains a challenging issue. In this context, green bonds have surfaced as a promising financial instrument to propel renewable energy projects forward and foster sustainable resource development. This study endeavors to evaluate the transformative impact of green bonds on renewable energy investments in China. Leveraging the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the fuzzy weighted aggregates sum product assessment (WASPAS) methods, we delve into the Chinese landscape to dissect the correlation between green bonds and renewable energy investment outcomes. Through extensive literature review, we have identified several factors, comprising nuanced sub-factors, alongside distinctive investment strategies pertinent to the effective utilization of green bonds in the renewable energy sector. The fuzzy AHP analysis reveals that financial, environmental, and regulatory are the most influential factors. Employing the fuzzy WASPAS method, our findings emphasize the transformative potential of green bonds in significantly accessing to capital of renewable energy projects in the context of Chinese. This research sheds light on the pivotal role green bonds play in driving sustainable natural resource development through substantial investments in renewable energy projects.

Determination of the potential soil losses and prioritization of sub-watersheds: Insight from North African highland system

Soil erosion has negative effects on people and property, hinders the sustainable development of natural resources, and poses a threat to the economic growth of territories worldwide, and is particularly acute for African countries. Consequently, identifying and prioritizing areas susceptible to this phenomenon is crucial for the implementation of efficient preventative measures. In this study, the empirical Erosion Potential Method (EPM) was used to quantify soil losses, and two Game Theory (GT) algorithms (Borda and Condorcet) were employed to identify locations prone to soil erosion and prioritize sub-watershed (SW) based on hydromorphometric characteristics in a hydrological system from High Atlas in Morocco. For this purpose, 26 factors were calculated, subsequently, a linear correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between potential soil erosion and various influencing factors. The EPM model findings indicated average loss rates of roughly 3356 m3/km2/year, which are corroborated by 217 inventory points gathered in the most productive sediment locations, with an AUC value of 80 %. The results of prioritization using GT algorithms show that the SW6 and SW8 are classified as areas with high vulnerability to soil erosion, and the sub-watersheds located upstream of the Lakhdar river watershed are the units that deserve prioritization in terms of planning intervention. The validation of results indicates that the Borda algorithm performed better (AUC= 92 %) than the Condorcet algorithm (AUC= 72 %). This innovative approach enhances our understanding of erosive processes within specific spatial units, enabling informed decision-making and making a substantial contribution to the sustainable and efficient management of water resources. This represents a significant advancement compared to previous studies in the region.

Measuring opportunities: Transforming Indonesia’s economy through utilizing natural resources for sustainable development through green economy indicators

Many countries with low to medium incomes need a long time to recover from the economic downturn caused by Covid-19. The impact of Covid-19 affects the main development priorities in Indonesia, such as poverty alleviation, the achievement of sustainable development, and the transformation of the green economy. The economic and fiscal constraints facing Indonesia need attention, and the Indonesian economy needs to establish policy criteria. The purpose of this article is to analyze the environmental problems in Indonesia and then identify the government policy related to sustainable development programs to release them. The Ministry of Finance has an essential role in the SDGs by allocating National Budget to environmental programs. Sustainable development is Indonesia’s commitment to the international community to reduce the use of carbon emissions to promote a green economy. The green economy indicators that we elaborate in supporting SDGs programs are low-carbon development, resource efficiency, and socially inclusive.

A dual risk perspective of China's resources market: Geopolitical risk and political risk

Currently, literature is exploring the factors affecting the economic growth of countries and regions. However, there is still a gap in empirical research regarding the connection between risk factors, natural resources, and economic growth, particularly in emerging economies. This study examines the influence of geopolitical risk, political risk, natural resources, and exports on China's economic development during 1983–2021. The Bayer-Hanck combined cointegration results verified the cointegration association between the variables. Using a novel method of movement quantile regression, this study found that geopolitical risk, mineral rents, and exports are positive, while political risk and oil rents adversely affect China's economic growth. These results are robust and consistent as validated by parametric (dynamic ordinary least square, canonical cointegration regression, and fully modified ordinary least square) and non-parametric (bootstrap quantile regression and simple quantile regression) estimators. Based on the empirical results, this study suggested lowering the risk factors and efficiently exploiting and utilizing natural resources for sustainable development.

Study on Multi-Scale Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Trade-Offs and Synergies between Ecosystem Services in Jiangxi Province

The trade-offs and synergies reveal the profit and loss relationship between ecosystem services, which is of great significance to the sustainable development of natural resources. The ecosystem services in Jiangxi Province, such as net primary productivity (NPP), soil conservation (SC) and water yield (WY) during 2000–2020, were estimated in this study. The correlation coefficient was adopted to analyze the trade-offs and synergies between the three ecosystem services by static space correlation and dynamic space correlation from such perspectives as Watershed, county and grid. Moreover, the influence of the three ecosystem services and the relations between them were explored from four aspects: landform, NDVI, accumulated temperature and precipitation. The results showed that the ecological environment quality in Jiangxi Province was improved and that the distribution of ecosystem services had significant regional characteristics. In the static analysis, ecosystem services at all scales were remarkably synergistic, and synergies weakened rapidly and even turned into trade-offs as the scale decreased. In the dynamic analysis, ecosystem services at all scales were mainly synergistic; the proportion of significant samples was much lower than that in the static analysis, the degree of trade-offs/synergies decreased with the decrease in scale, and the decrease was smaller than that in the static analysis. The major constraints for SC were landform and NDVI. The main constraint for WY was precipitation, and that for NPP was NDVI. Affected by various factors, NPP and SC were stably synergistic, NPP and WY were in a stable trade-off relationship, and the relationship between SC and WY was unstable. The trade-offs and synergies changed with factors and zoning.

Assessing the supply and demand linkage of cultural ecosystem services in a typical county-level city with protected areas in China

The construction of protected areas (PAs) is not only the most effective way to preserve biodiversity resources and the natural heritage, but also provides important cultural ecosystem services (CESs) for satisfying human psychological and spiritual needs and improving human well-being. Knowledge of CESs at the county level is vital for the bottom-up promotion of the overall work of China’s PAs. The assessment and mapping of the spatial pattern of CESs, and their supply and demand relationship in PAs and their surrounding areas, are of great significance for high-quality development planning at the county scale. In our study, we developed an integrated approach to mapping the supply and demand of CESs, and then integrated the SolVES model with social media comments to explore the matching relationship between CESs’ (aesthetic inspiration, education humanities, and recreation and ecotourism) supply and demand using Wuyishan City, China, with its abundant PAs, as a case study. The results showed that the supply of three types of CESs accounting for approximately 70% of the study area was greater than the demand, and thus these CESs have significant future development prospects. The distribution of the three high-supply CESs and tourist destinations showed roughly the same spatial patterns, in which the high-demand hot spots were identified in the south of Wuyishan City. And the total supply and demand levels inside the PAs were much greater than those outside. Therefore, clarifying the matching relationship between supply and demand of CESs at the county level is not only conducive to promoting the sustainable development of natural resources, but also provides a reference for the planning of county-level protection of PAs under each county’s jurisdiction.

Governance for Sustainable Sand Mining in Two Selected Local Government Areas in the Central Region of Ghana

Governance systems are supposed to develop and manage natural resources for sustainable development. All groups of people with different interests can constructively contribute to sustainable sand mining for national development. This paper examines how governance processes affect sustainable sand mining in two local government areas in the Central Region of Ghana. Data were collected from household heads, core staff of the Assemblies, tipper truck drivers’ association, traditional authorities and farmer groups by the use of interview schedules, interview and focus group discussion guides. SPSS was used to analyze the quantitative data while content analysis was used for qualitative data. The study revealed that there were no coordinated institutional arrangements among the various stakeholders, limited enforcement and compliance of laws derail sustainable sand mining and livelihoods in the affected areas. It recommends that Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, the police and the Assemblies should partner to ensure reclamation and compensation packages.

Innovation, financial risk and natural resources for sustainable development: Fresh evidence from BRICS economies

The nexus between sustainable development, total natural resource rents (TNRR), technological innovation (ATI) and financial risk index (FRI) has been studied in this research. The objective of this study is to investigate this impact on the BRICS economies while employing the panel data from 1990 to 2020. The study utilized slope heterogeneity, cross-sectional dependency and cross-sectional augmented Im, Pesaran and Shin unit root tests to suggest an accurate method of regression. The study added its findings by utilizing a method of moment quantile regression, and found that TNRR and FRI are negatively related to the sustainable development. At the same time, its impact decreases with the increase in each quarter-based quantiles. Whereas, ATI is positively associated with sustainable development, the results also revealed that its impact decreases with the increase in each quarter-based quantile. Furthermore, the simple quantile regression and Dumitrescu-Hurlin Panel Causality Test were used as a robust method. Where, the simple quantile regression revealed that TNRR and FRI negatively affect sustainable development in BRICS countries while ATI has positive impact on sustainable development. According to this study, the BRICS economies will benefit from less TNRR dependence in two ways: first, as fossil fuel prices decline, money can be redirected to more environmentally friendly activities like renewable energy production, green technological advancement, and renewable energy research and development. Second, when fossil fuel use declines, especially in the industrial sector, growing use of renewable energy sources may lead to lower overall natural resource rents. Third, the BRICS nations' development process will be greatly accelerated and strengthened as a result of the greatest impact of the decrease in FRI.

Evaluation of Water—Energy—Food—Economy Coupling Efficiency Based on Three-Dimensional Network Data Envelopment Analysis Model

In the process of human survival and sustainable development, water security, energy security and food security have become the three most prominent issues, but they are interrelated and directly affect each other, that is, to form a Water–Energy–Food (WEF) nexus. Scientific understanding and correct response to the relationship between WEF is important to realize the sustainable development of natural resources. There are some deficiencies in the existing research on the input–output efficiency of WEF system. There are few articles that can study the efficiency relationship between internal and external factors (such as the economy and environment) of the WEF system at the same time, or the research is not perfect. In view of the shortcomings of the existing research, this paper establishes a three-dimensional network structure to describe the water–energy–food–economy (WEF-Eco) system and establishes the corresponding network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model. We use the data of 19 provinces in Northeast, East, and central China to show the application results of this model.

Land Cover Mapping Using GIS and Remote Sensing Databases for Al Baha Region Saudi Arabia

Land cover assessment plays a vital role in both current and future planning and use of natural resources for sustainable development for any country. For the good practice of the vision 2030 in Al Baha region (south-western Saudi Arabia), land cover was assessed, classified, and analyzed using remote sensing databases and time series analysis combined with spatial analysis in geographic information system (GIS) based on high-resolution Landsat 8 OLI, Sentinel-2 satellite imagery between the period of study 2017/2018 and 2021/2022. Based on both an accuracy assessment and kappa test, the results indicate that Esri Sentinel-2 imagery gives the highest performance compared to Landsat 8 OLI with accuracy and kappa test equal to 87% and 84%, respectively. On the other hand, the land cover classification revealed that the large area of water bodies is localized on Alaqiq (1.45 km2), Baljurish (0.94 km2), and Elmelkhwah (1.57 km2). Furthermore, the built area of the Al Baha region between 2017 and 2021 was estimated to increase by 144 km2 (from 516.5 to 661.07 km2), which is especially significant for the Qelwah district (from 16.97 to 44.16 km2) which demonstrated a decrease in bare ground area of approximately 320 km2. The crop lands have been increased by 162.74% in the 2017–2021 period from 10.39 km2 to 16.90 km2, particularly at Qelwah and Elmelkhwah. Finally, the results obtained by this research can help decision-makers and managers for better natural resources management in the Al Baha region.

Mining and Sustainability in the Circumpolar North: The Role of Government in Advancing Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is recognized as important to fostering sustainable natural resource development in the Circumpolar North. Governments are playing an increasingly active role in promoting and shaping CSR initiatives, often in collaboration with Indigenous communities and industry. This paper explores the role of CSR in mining for improving socio-economic and environmental management practice. The article argues that government instituted regulations can lead to the development and implementation of CSR practices by mining companies. To examine the relationship between government requirements and CSR, we use two Northern case studies: Cameco Corporation’s uranium mining operations located in Saskatchewan, Canada and Northern Iron’s iron mining operation located in Troms and Finnmark county, Norway. Through an in-depth review of scholarly literature, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews, our findings suggest that the role of the state in the initiation and implementation of CSR is of much greater importance than is currently acknowledged in the literature. In the case of Cameco, the Mine Surface Lease Agreements agreed to by the corporation and the provincial government provided motivation for the development and implementation of their world-renowned CSR practices, resulting in a community-based environmental monitoring program and benefits for both the company and surrounding communities. With Northern Iron’s operations in Kirkenes, working hour requirements instituted by the Norwegian Government allowed for significantly higher levels of local employment. Our findings suggest a greater role exists for government to facilitate the adoption of CSR policies, contributing in turn to improved socio-economic and environmental outcomes for Northern communities.

Valuation of Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development of Hani Terraces: A Rice-Fish-Duck Integrated Farming Model.

As a complementary and symbiotic agro-ecological cycle system, a nature-based integrated rice–fish–duck farming ecosystem was developed in the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces. The main research objective was to evaluate the ecosystem services based on case studies of the Hani integrated rice–fish–duck terraced farming system and determine its potential and its importance as an ecological asset. We developed a valuation model to assess the value of the integrated farming system based on the three aspects of provisioning, regulation and maintenance, and cultural services; we selected eight groups and 10 indictors to evaluate the ecosystem services of the integrated ecosystem in Honghe Hani Rice Terraces was 3.316 billion CNY, of which the provisioning service value was 1.76 billion CNY, the regulation and maintenance service value was 1.32 billion CNY, and the cultural services value was 230.85 million CNY. The evaluation will be useful as a theoretical reference for poverty alleviation policy makers in similar poverty-stricken areas, enabling them to better protect and promote this mode of farming and further promote the protection of the natural environment and cultural heritage alongside the sustainable development of natural resources and human well-being.