Management Action Plan Research Articles

Beliefs Regarding Asthma Management Relating to Asthma Action Plans (AAPs) of African American Caregivers Residing in Newark, New Jersey Public Housing Communities

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to explore the beliefs regarding asthma management and Asthma Action Plans (AAPs) of African American caregivers residing in three New Jersey public housing communities in Newark, New Jersey. DesignA qualitative methods design was accomplished using semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of nine African American caregivers of children with asthma. Information was coded using N'VIVO™; the textual analysis combined codes into categories, which were then assembled into themes. ResultsSelf-determination was found to be a fundamental goal of asthma management; however, three themes emerged as barriers and facilitators to this goal: challenges in the urban environment, preference of familial methods, and access to medical care. ConclusionsFindings from this study regarding minority caregivers' beliefs regarding difficulty navigating the health care system coupled with insurance instability, leading to use of Emergency Departments, are consistent with past research. Although caregivers expressed belief in use of prescribed medications as indicated on AAPs, familial methods, found to provide a sense of control over asthma, were preferred.

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.): Land use/land cover changes and community-based management in east Shoa zone, Ethiopia

Water hyacinth was officially reported in Ethiopia in 1956 at Koka Dam and Awash River and it is considered as a constraint to the development of the country. Thus, this study was undertaken to determine Water hyacinth and associated land cover/use changes, and capture perceptions regarding community-based management to enhance its proper control/eradication in Lume and Boa districts, east Shoa zone, Ethiopia using integrated approach. The method of study included Water hyacinth and associated land use/cover change analyses, focus group discussions, discussions with experts at the district, zone and region levels and undertaking consultative workshop. The land use/land cover change analyses revealed increased area coverage by Water hyacinth from about 145.53 ha in 1986 to 2319.48 ha in 2015 with decline in the area of water bodies and wetlands. The annual rate of increase in the area of the weed was about 51.51% while water bodies and wetlands declined by about 0.49% and 1.16%, respectively. Of the 10 group discussions undertaken in the study districts with the communities, 9 of them reported water hyacinth to increase in terms of area coverage since its appearance in their areas which concurs the results obtained from satellite image analyses and they reported the weed to be very harmful to their livelihood. Furthermore, the nine group discussants disclosed water hyacinth to be of no use to them. Recommendations included developing comprehensive management strategies and action plans, analysis and defining roles of each stakeholder, awareness creation, training, institutional linkages, co-management and reduction of nutrient load in water bodies.

Relative importance of anthropogenic landscape characteristics for Neotropical frugivores at multiple scales

AbstractFrugivores are key components of Neotropical forests, regulating plant communities, forest structure, and plant diversity; however, they are highly threatened by human impacts worldwide. To effectively conserve this group, maintain their ecological functions, and plan management actions or establish future protected areas, we need to gather information about their relationship with the landscape attributes. Here, we used camera traps and call surveys (April 2013 to March 2014) to estimate the occupancy of seven frugivores (a rodent, two ungulates, two primates and two ground‐dwelling birds) at 45 sampling sites distributed within a protected area of Atlantic Forest (35 000 ha) in south‐east Brazil. We evaluated the relative effects of anthropogenic landscape variables, environmental attributes and geomorphometry on their occupancy at multiple scales. To achieve this, we measured landscape metrics at three spatial scales (200, 500 and 1000 m) around each sampling site and used multi‐season occupancy modeling. Factors related to human presence or disturbance, such as human accessibility, proximity to the reserve, and forest cover, were the main predictors of occupancy by frugivorous game species (paca – Cuniculus paca; brocket deer – Mazama sp.; and collared peccary – Pecari tajacu). Strictly environmental and geomorphometric variables were weaker determinants of frugivore occupancy. Our results also suggest that weather, season and habitat‐related variables can equally influence animal detection probability. Moreover, different species of frugivores responded differently to landscape attributes, and their response depended on the spatial landscape scale at which they perceive their habitat. This highlights the importance of a multi‐taxa and multi‐scale approach when assessing species‐habitat relationships and planning wildlife management actions.

St. Galler Massnahmenplan Wald-Wild-Lebensraum (Essay)

The St. Gallen action plan “Forests-Wildlife-Habitat” (essay) Forests and wild ungulates coexist in nature and this coexistence is reflected in forest and hunting legislation. Planning for forestry and for hunting must ensure this coexistence with appropriate measures and optimize it in both time and space. Coexistence between forests and wild ungulates is a permanent area of tension, where escalation of tensions must be avoided. For this reason the Economy Department of the Canton of St. Gallen set up in 2012 a commission on Forests-Wildlife-Habitat, charged with preparing recommendations on how to address this issue. In the commission were represented hunting, forestry and – a new development – agriculture. In 2015, after a three-year process, the action plan for sustainable management of Forests-Wildlife-Habitat, signed by 18 cantonal associations of forestry, agriculture and hunting, could be approved by the Economy Department. The action plan proposes measures in nine areas, with the aim of optimizing ecological habitat quality, regulating game populations in function of the habitat, and improving communication, cooperation and training.

Tree senescence as a direct measure of habitat quality: Linking red-edge Vegetation Indices to space use by Magellanic woodpeckers

Accurate estimates of the quality and quantity of remnant habitats is critical for planning management activities for the conservation of threatened species. Although habitat quality usually is understood from a multidimensional niche space approach, the availability of foraging substrates can be a suitable and more proximate index of habitat quality for species with specialized habitat requirements, like woodpeckers that feed almost exclusively on larvae of wood-boring beetles in the trunks and branches of infested trees. Recent approaches use simple mathematical algorithms on spectral bands called Vegetation Indices (VI) to identify infestations, providing a new opportunity to assess habitat quality for woodpeckers. In this paper, we tested the ability of 102 VI to estimate tree attributes explaining habitat quality for Magellanic woodpeckers for its usage as a reliable foraging habitat quality estimator. We hypothesized that space use of Magellanic woodpeckers is positively associated with the spatial distribution of decayed trees in the landscape. We developed a methodological framework based on high-resolution, multispectral imagery with three basic steps. First, we mapped individual Nothofagus trees based on estimates of species composition from a supervised classification procedure, VI estimates and image segmentation. Second, we selected the best VI predicting the tree quality for Magellanic woodpeckers. Third, we tested these habitat quality predictors, the species composition and tree age, by using two Synoptic Models of Space Use (SMSU) of Magellanic woodpeckers based on very high-frequency (VHF) radio-telemetry and global positioning system (GPS) telemetry data.Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) showed that the VI that best predicted habitat quality at the tree-scale was the Plant Senescence Reflectance Index (PSRI, computed as [Red-Blue]/Red-edge), included in almost all the most parsimonious models. The most parsimonious SMSU included only PSRI as an independent covariate, with a strong positive relation. Although coefficient differences were found between telemetry data (VHF vs. GPS data) both showed a positive overall response. Consequently, Red-edge based PSRI can be considered a reliable estimator of tree-scale foraging habitat quality at landscape extents for future research and management activities including Magellanic woodpeckers living on heterogeneous Nothofagus forests.

DRINKING WATER SUPPLY IN RURAL INDIA: NEED FOR STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

Water scenario in India has been now fast changing because of increasing population, rising demand for irrigation to raise high-yielding varieties of crops, rapid urbanization and industrialization, electricity generation, impact of global warming, erratic rainfall, among others. Water for Life Decade [2005-15] and the annual World Water Day being celebrated on March 22 every year has significance to create awareness among all stakeholders that water is finite, scarce, costly, precious and has competing demand. Water should, therefore, be efficiently managed for country’s sustainable socio-economic development. Drinking water in India has been significantly dependent upon the monsoon rains and increased climate variability is expected to impact it. Despite Government’s several initiatives the current drinking water scenario needs strategic action plan to ensure that safe and quality drinking water is delivered in rural India by 2022. It is in this context this article highlights the Government’s initiatives, current scenario and performance under the rural drinking water supply system and suggests strategic action plan for efficient management of rural drinking water supply system.

Anticipating species distributions: Handling sampling effort bias under a Bayesian framework.

Anticipating species distributions in space and time is necessary for effective biodiversity conservation and for prioritising management interventions. This is especially true when considering invasive species. In such a case, anticipating their spread is important to effectively plan management actions. However, considering uncertainty in the output of species distribution models is critical for correctly interpreting results and avoiding inappropriate decision-making. In particular, when dealing with species inventories, the bias resulting from sampling effort may lead to an over- or under-estimation of the local density of occurrences of a species. In this paper we propose an innovative method to i) map sampling effort bias using cartogram models and ii) explicitly consider such uncertainty in the modeling procedure under a Bayesian framework, which allows the integration of multilevel input data with prior information to improve the anticipation species distributions.

Natural resources management in the coastal strip of the Azov sea

The purpose of the article is to characterize features of the natural resource management in the coastal zone of the Sea of Azov taking into consideration natural and anthropogenic factors and to formulate a general vision of its integrated management. The method is based on the analysis of normative and legislative initiatives of Ukraine in the field of the territory management, in particular coastal marine zones, analysis of planned and introduced economical and conservation projects and their efficiency, analysis of the global experience in the effective management of coastal zones with an attempt to transmit it to the Azov Sea coastline. Results . During the 20 th century, the strategic planning and management of land and water areas was grounded on an economical component. A resource paradigm in science and society has changed since then to environmental one thus requiring the search for new integrated management approaches, including coastal marine areas. The latter are characterized by a high density and variety of natural conditions and resources, being the basis for the formation and development of human economic activity. The conflict in the exploitation of coastal natural resources lies between their excessive use and development of the territory, causing depletion of the resources and disruption of ecological balance in the environment. A significant diversity of natural conditions and resources of the Azov Sea coastal zone, high dynamism of natural processes, considerable anthropogenic development of the coastal land, high concentration of local population, and traditional practices of use of natural resources should be taken into account when planning management activities in the coastal marine zone. Analysis of introduced projects and programmes in the Azov Sea coastal zone in most cases has shown their economic and resource efficiency and effectiveness. However, these highly specialized departmental projects did not actually demonstrate an integrated approach. In our research, we analyzed a global experience in the spatial scale for the implementation of a management system. It is proposed to focus on the natural-economic systems, which take into account both natural, and economic components and all types of interactions between them. In this capacity, the justified boundaries (the watershed line on land and 10 m isobath in the sea) of the Azov Sea paradynamic landscape system are advisable to use. It is concluded that the legislative framework in Ukraine does not actually provide an integrated management of the coastal marine zones, and in existing reports and documents the information about the coastal zone of the Sea of Azov is virtually absent or sporadic. It is proposed to introduce a system of legislative and executive initiatives for the regulation of use of natural resources in the Azov Sea coastal zone and for its integrated management. Scientific novelty : application of the gained global experience in the management of coastal marine zones to land and water areas within the Azov Sea paradynamic landscape system. Practical value: possibility to implement the global experience in the costal marine zone management for the Ukrainian part of the Azov Sea region. Keywords : coastal marine zone, surf zone, paradynamic landscape system, contrast environments, interaction, optimisation and management of natural resources.

TRANSITION TO SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN RUSSIA: THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL BACKGROUNDS

The paper contains a short analysis of theoretical and methodological backgrounds of transition to sustainable forest management in Russia (SFM). It is concisely considered the current state of forest management in Russia which is estimated as critical; expected impacts of climate change on the country’s forests; and theoretical and methodological prerequisites, specifics and risks of transition to SFM including 1) concept and general methodological basis of transition to SFM; 2) specifics of the required information; 3) problem of forest protection in conditions of growing risks; 4) strategic prerequisites of adaptation of forests to climate change and their use as a tool of climate change mitigation; and 5) necessity of a harmonized estimation of diversity of resources and other forest ecosystem services within the paradigm of risk resilient forest management. A crucial role of models of different complexity and destination is considered as a basic methodological tool of long-term planning of forest management actions. It is shown that there is no single strategy, which would allow reaching all goals of SFM. The scale of objects within which SFM is implemented might play a crucial role in finding the optimal decisions. Similar to many other countries, Russia is late with consideration and implementation of SFM. The paper is limited by theoretical and methodological questions and does not touch upon managerial, institutional and political problems of the up-to-date forest sector of Russia.

Input Data for Tram Noise Analysis

The European Union passed the Environmental Noise Directive in 2002. The Directive deals with issues relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise in Member States. This main EU instrument requires that the information on environmental noise and its effects are predicted as accurately as possible. In general, the most accurate data on noise levels can be collected by measurement; however, it is a lengthy and complicated method, inapplicable to making predictions of noise levels in practice. The acoustic situation is therefore more easily determined by calculation. The Directive recommends the “Schall 03” Methodology for the calculations of tramway noise levels. Strategic noise maps are regularly produced to provide an overview on noise levels in residential areas and noise management action plans are prepared to reduce unacceptable exposures to noise. The article analyses input parameters used in the calculations of final levels of tramway noise. The basis for the analysis was a parametric study of input data, field measurements and the statistical evaluation of the measurement results. After making some generalizations and analyzing the influence of individual parameters on the calculation of tramway noise levels, it can be stated that the emphasis in calculations should be placed on the most accurate determination of the speed of a tram.

Assessing the structure of primeval and managed beech forests in the Ukrainian Carpathians using remote sensing

Forest structure reflects the forest disturbance regime and can provide important information about the rate of human impact. A better understanding of the structural variability and large-scale dynamics of natural forests is crucial for “close to nature” forest management planning. In this study, we developed a partly automated approach to assess the structure of potential primeval and managed beech forests in the Ukrainian Carpathians using WorldView-2 imagery. We analyzed the local (50 m × 50 m scale) canopy closure of these forests by extracting the canopy gaps and determined four forest structure types ranging from very closed to low density. The occurrence and frequencies of these structure types were significantly different in the primeval and managed beech forests. The four forest structure types were predicted and mapped using multinomial logistic regression based on the textural features derived from the original image bands and two vegetation indices. A 10-fold cross-validation resulted in an overall accuracy of 83% and a kappa coefficient of 75%, with the highest agreement for the very closed structure type (87%) and the lowest agreement for the medium density and low density structure types (79%). The forest structure type maps can be helpful for planning management activities in beech forests.

Numerical estimation of nitrogen load from septic systems to surface water bodies in St. Lucie River and Estuary Basin, Florida

Nitrogen pollution is one of the most prevalent and challenging environmental problems worldwide. Wastewater treatment using onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems (aka septic systems) is one source of nitrogen sources in the environment. This study presents a numerical study for estimating nitrogen load from septic systems to surface water bodies in the St. Lucie River and Estuary Basin, Florida, USA. The load estimation is conducted using an ArcGIS-based nitrogen load estimation toolkit, a screening-level modeling software that considers key mechanisms (i.e., advection, dispersion, and denitrification) controlling nitrogen transport as well as spatial variability of model parameters (e.g., hydraulic conductivity, porosity, septic system locations, and surface water bodies). The simulated nitrogen plumes and load estimates demonstrate the importance of considering spatial variability in the load estimation for nitrogen pollution management. The load estimates are strongly correlated with nitrogen concentrations in surface water quality data, suggesting that septic systems are an important factor for water quality deterioration in the St. Lucie River. The estimates can be used directly to support Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP). Evaluating the load estimates in the BMAP context indicates that nitrogen load from septic systems is a significant nitrogen source in the St. Lucie River and Estuary Basin. It is found in this study that the load estimates depend on lengths of flow paths, groundwater flow velocities, and soil drainage conditions. These findings are useful for nitrogen pollution management in similar areas facing nitrogen pollution problems.

Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Wildfire Exposure in Mediterranean Areas.

We used simulation modeling to assess potential climate change impacts on wildfire exposure in Italy and Corsica (France). Weather data were obtained from a regional climate model for the period 1981-2070 using the IPCC A1B emissions scenario. Wildfire simulations were performed with the minimum travel time fire spread algorithm using predicted fuel moisture, wind speed, and wind direction to simulate expected changes in weather for three climatic periods (1981-2010, 2011-2040, and 2041-2070). Overall, the wildfire simulations showed very slight changes in flame length, while other outputs such as burn probability and fire size increased significantly in the second future period (2041-2070), especially in the southern portion of the study area. The projected changes fuel moisture could result in a lengthening of the fire season for the entire study area. This work represents the first application in Europe of a methodology based on high resolution (250 m) landscape wildfire modeling to assess potential impacts of climate changes on wildfire exposure at a national scale. The findings can provide information and support in wildfire management planning and fire risk mitigation activities.

Comparative life cycle assessment of biowaste to resource management systems – A Danish case study

Waste to Energy combustion plants currently process most of the organic fraction of the household waste. This study presents an assessment of the environmental performance of an increased circular bioresource management system obtained by reallocating the organic fraction of the household waste from combustion (Reference Scenario) to biogas and fertilizer production (Alternative Scenario). The goals defined in the Danish National resource action plan for waste management, i.e. 33% reduction of organic fraction household waste dry weight, is taken as a case study. A comparative life cycle assessment of the diverting of the organic fraction of the household waste away from a Waste to Energy combustion plant towards sludge- and manure-based biogas plants in North Zealand (Denmark) shows a net increase in renewable electricity production of 39% at the expense of a reduction in heat production of 8%. Moving up the waste hierarchy results in a net greenhouse gas emission reduction of 100 kg CO2eq. per ton of dry weight biowaste treated, corresponding to a 10% of reduction in CO2 emission. The latter accompanied by a net reduction in depletion of fossil resources of 11% and a reduction in the impacts on Freshwater and Marine Eutrophication of 4.8 t P eq. and 3.6 t N eq., respectively. As such, the modelled increased circular bioresource management indicates significant improvement of the efficiency in use of resources in biowaste. However, trade-offs occur due to the presence of micropollutants in the natural fertilizers that results in future increased damage cost on terrestrial ecosystems and human health exists.

Raja asterias population assessment in FAO GFCM GSA17 area

Population structure and distribution of the starry ray, Raja asterias, were described based on data collected during yearly rapido trawl surveys (SoleMon), between 2005 and 2014 in the Northern and Central Adriatic Sea. A total of 306 individuals were caught, sex ratio was 1.04:1 in favor of males and length-weight relationships were obtained for the whole sample. Following the MEDITS scale, maturity was estimated, observing a higher number of immature individuals. Relative abundance significantly increased during the recent period with the highest values recorded at 5-30 m depths. Such increase could be related to the response of R. asterias to climatic change or to the decrease in fishing pressure in the area. Clear spatial segregation of individuals depending on their life stage was observed, with immature individuals inhabiting the coastal areas and adults more abundant at depths greater than 40 m. The comparison of the result of the present study with MEDITS survey outcomes in terms of distribution patterns, persistence areas of adults and juveniles and abundances indices, evidences that SoleMon survey seems to be more suitable in defining such features of the stock, likely due to the greater catchability of the rapido trawl in respect to the MEDITS trawl net. However, further investigations are needed to identify factors affecting the increasing abundance of this species, and develop an action plan for spatial management of fishing activities.

Contribution to Ecology of Brandts Bat, Myotis Brandtii (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae), in the North-Eastern Ukraine: Comparison of Local Summer and Winter Bat Assemblages

AbstractThe Brandt’s Bat (Myotis brandtii Eversmann, 1845) is one of the rarest bat species in Ukraine. There are only a few known locations of this species in summer and less known hibernacula in the whole country. Moreover, for territory of the north-eastern Ukraine are known only two underground bat hibernation sites with aggregation more than several tens of individuals. We undertook population surveys of winter aggregations in newly discovered and dug up abandoned sandstone mines in the Chuguev district of the Kharkiv Region (49°54′ N, 36°43′ E) from 2007 through 2015. We also surveyed summer bat assemblages in the forests surrounding these mines in 2012. The mines’ microclimate conditions were as follows: temperature +6 °C - +10 °C and humidity 60-80 %. M. brandtii, M. daubentonii (Kuhl, 1817) and Plecotus auritus (Linnaeus, 1758) hibernate in the mines; the first species is most abundant by number of individuals. In midsummer 9 bat species were recorded including the three previously mentioned. M. daubentonii and P. auritus breed in surrounding forest, but M. brandtii does not. One recaptured individual of M. brandtii was minimum 6 years old, providing us the first recorded information on longevity of this species for Ukraine. The total number of bats hibernating in these mines is estimated to be up to 100 individuals; a hibernaculum with several tens of M. brandtii could be classified as more numerous for this species in Ukraine. For this reason, the system of mines in the Kharkiv region needs species protection status and an action plan for monitoring and management.

Community forestry and sustainability research at The New York Botanical Garden

Research focused on community forestry and the sustainable use of tropical forest resources has been conducted at The New York Botanical Garden for over 30 years. Five of the projects are located in the Neotropics, six are in Southeast Asia, and three are in Tropical Africa; project sites include some of the largest remaining areas of tropical forest in the world, e.g. Amazonia, Borneo, northern Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea. All of the projects have had a training component, several have incorporated both training and the collection of baseline data, and much of the recent work has included training, baseline data collection, and community-based natural resource management (CBNRM). The CBNRM initiatives at NYBG are unique because (1) they are based on quantitative inventory and growth data, (2) they are conducted in intact forests as a conservation incentive, and (3) the data collection, management planning, and monitoring activities are conducted by the villagers themselves. Although a variety of different ecological, economic, and social factors can influence the success of a community forestry project, one of the major lessons learned from the NYBG interventions is that management programs specifically tailored to a given community and forest based on a preliminary assessment of the actual supply and demand of forest resources are most effective.

Implementation of Policies and Strategies for Control of Noncommunicable Diseases in Malawi: Challenges and Opportunities.

Malawi is a Sub-Saharan African country experiencing the epidemiological transition from predominantly infectious to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) with dramatically increasing prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Malawi's 2011-2016 Health Sector Strategic Plan included NCDs, and an NCD Control Program was established with subsequent development of a National Action Plan for prevention and management of NCDs launched in 2013. The current study was designed to identify gaps in implementation of NCD control program policies and action plan strategies by describing current efforts toward prevention and management of NCDs in Malawi with emphasis on challenges and opportunities. Semistructured questionnaires were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from Malawi Ministry of Health personnel (senior officers, service providers, health education officers, and nutritionists) in 10 health districts and 3 central hospitals. Frequencies were generated for quantitative data. Qualitative data were used to generate themes and most common responses. Results showed that current services focus on facility-based NCD screening and clinical services rather than active screening, prevention, and community awareness and outreach, although respondents emphasized the importance of prevention, lifestyle education, and community outreach. Respondents indicated inadequate resources for NCD services including financial capital, human resources, equipment and supplies, and transportation. While Malawi has begun to address NCDs, policy and practice implications include (a) better integration of services within the existing infrastructure with emphasis on capacity building; (b) greater implementation of planned NCD activities; (c) a stronger, more comprehensive data management system; and (d) innovative funding solutions.

Morphological variation in salamanders and their potential response to climate change.

Despite the recognition that some species might quickly adapt to new conditions under climate change, demonstrating and predicting such a fundamental response is challenging. Morphological variations in response to climate may be caused by evolutionary changes or phenotypic plasticity, or both, but teasing apart these processes is difficult. Here, we built on the number of thoracic vertebrae (NTV) in ectothermic vertebrates, a known genetically based feature, to establish a link with body size and evaluate how climate change might affect the future morphological response of this group of species. First, we show that in old-world salamanders, NTV variation is strongly related to changes in body size. Secondly, using 22 salamander species as a case study, we found support for relationships between the spatial variation in selected bioclimatic variables and NTV for most of species. For 44% of species, precipitation and aridity were the predominant drivers of geographical variation of the NTV. Temperature features were dominant for 31% of species, while for 19% temperature and precipitation played a comparable role. This two-step analysis demonstrates that ectothermic vertebrates may evolve in response to climate change by modifying the number of thoracic vertebrae. These findings allow to develop scenarios for potential morphological evolution under future climate change and to identify areas and species in which the most marked evolutionary responses are expected. Resistance to climate change estimated from species distribution models was positively related to present-day species morphological response, suggesting that the ability of morphological evolution may play a role for species' persistence under climate change. The possibility that present-day capacity for local adaptation might help the resistance response to climate change can be integrated into analyses of the impact of global changes and should also be considered when planning management actions favouring species persistence.

Modeling the barriers of service adoption in rural Indian telecom using integrated ISM-ANP

Purpose – This paper aims to understand and identify the various barriers in adopting new telecom services in rural areas for improving the penetration and revenue of the telecom companies. These barriers are modeled to study their inter-relationships and prioritize them for strategizing appropriate management action plans. Design/methodology/approach – Delphi technique has been used to form a consensus with the telecom managers working in rural areas to finalize the barriers. An integrated Interpretive Structural Modeling–Analytic Network Process (ISM–ANP) approach has been adopted to establish the complex relationships, cluster the relationships, to understand and prioritize the telecom service adoption barriers. Findings – The major contribution of this research is imposing directions and dominance of various barriers to promote better adoption of new telecom-based mobile services in rural areas. The proposed integrated method can aid in decision making by providing more informative, accurate and a better choice than using either ISM or ANP in isolation. Research limitations/implications – The generalizabilty of these research findings is limited, as it was generated specific to rural telecom service adoption barriers in Indian context. Because decision-making problems are usually complex and ill-structured, every decision is based on the decision-maker’s expertise, preferences and biasness of the experts who showed their interest to participate in the research. Practical implications – This paper forms the basis of identifying the reasons for poor adoption of telecom-based mobile services in rural India. This study would help the telecom companies and the managers to understand and develop strategies to target the rural audience by introducing action plans and innovative mobile services to overcome the identified barriers. By applying the proposed methodology, telecom companies can classify and prioritize their action plans as short-, medium- and long-term plans to systematically overcome the identified barriers. Originality/value – This paper provides a base for understanding various factors that affect the adoption of telecom-based mobile services. It demonstrates the use of an innovative approach to develop an integrated model to understand the barriers.