Resource Utilization Policies Research Articles

Do natural resources and economic components exhibit differential quantile environmental effects?

AbstractIn view of the resource curse assumption, the environmental aspects of resource utilization are arguably posing more dangers to human existence. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the region that holds more than 60% and 50% of the world's oil and gas reserves respectively, the need to examine the contribution of natural resources to environmental quality among other factors cannot be overemphasized. By leveraging on the novelty of observing the differential impact of natural resources and other economic components such as income and primary energy utilizations across the quantiles of carbon emission, this study implements the quantile regression approach alongside other relevant techniques to analyze data between 1990 and 2018 for selected countries in the MENA region including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, Algeria, Morocco, Oman, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The result posits that natural resource utilization generally hampers the environment across the quantiles. However, this negative effect decreases until the 50th quantile before starting to rise again toward the upper quantiles. Additionally, primary energy utilization and globalization respectively worsen and improve environmental quantile, especially toward the upper quantiles while income affirms the inverted U‐shaped hypothesis across the entire quantiles. Moreover, there is a statistically significant one‐way directional causality from natural resources, economic expansion, primary energy use, and globalization to carbon emission levels. Hence, the study offers environmentally friendly resource utilization policies to the MENA economies and other resource‐rich states by extension.

Spatial–Temporal Dynamic Evolution and Influencing Factors of Green Efficiency of Agricultural Water Use in the Yellow River Basin, China

The progression of agricultural production, ever-increasing industrialization, population boom, and more water-concentrated lifestyles has placed a severe burden on Yellow River Basin’s existing water resources, particularly in the current century. In the context of resource and environmental constraints, improving the green efficiency of agricultural water use (AWGE) is an important measure for alleviating the shortage of water resources as well as meeting the intrinsic requirement to promote the green transformation and upgrading of agriculture. This study used the Super Slack-Based Measure (Super-SBM) to measure the AWGE of 87 regions in the Yellow River Basin from 2000 to 2019. Based on spatial and temporal perspectives, it applied Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) to explore the dynamic evolution and regional differences in AWGE. Then, this study used a spatial econometric model to analyze the main factors that influence AWGE in the Yellow River Basin. The results show that, firstly, the AWGE of the Yellow River Basin shows a steady upward trend from 2000 to 2019, but the differences among regions were obvious. Secondly, the AWGE showed an obvious spatial autocorrelation in the Yellow River Basin and showed significant high–high and low–low agglomeration characteristics. Thirdly, rural per capita disposable income and effective irrigation have a positive influence on AWGE, while rural labor transfer, the input intensity of agricultural machinery and water structure have a negative influence. The spatial econometric model regression results show that the influence factors of AWGE in the Yellow River Basin showed significant spatial spillover effects and spatial heterogeneity in their effect. Finally, when improving AWGE in the Yellow River Basin, plans should be formulated according to local conditions. The results of this study can provide new ideas on the study of AWGE in the Yellow River Basin and provide references for the formulation of regional agricultural water resource utilization policies as well.

Coupling Coordination Analysis of Natural Resource Utilization Benefits in Beijing From 1978 to 2018

With the acceleration of economic and social development, the demand for natural resources has increased. To realize the sustainable utilization of natural resources (SUNRs), it is necessary to seek ways to improve natural resource utilization benefits (NRUBs) and promote the coordinated development of economic, social, and ecological benefits. This study explores the coupling coordination relationships of NRUBs in Beijing from 1978 to 2018 and analyzes the influencing factors. We first establish a comprehensive evaluation index system covering economic, social, and ecological benefits to quantify NRUBs. Then, a coupling coordination degree (CCD) model is applied to reveal the evolution characteristics of the coupling coordination relationships among the NRUB system. Finally, the main factors affecting the coordinated development of NRUBs are identified through gray relational analysis (GRA). Three main results are found: 1) from 1978 to 2018, the economic, social, ecological, and comprehensive benefits all have been significantly improved, although with some fluctuations. 2) The coupling coordination relationships of NRUBs show upward trends during the study period, and their coordination types transform from imbalance to coordination. 3) Urbanization, industrial structure, technology innovation, economic development, and environmental awareness all have significant impacts on the coupling coordination relationships of NRUBs. Measures such as transformation of the economic development mode, improvement of public facilities, construction of spiritual culture, ecological protection, and technological innovation need to be recognized to achieve coordinated development. This study can provide a reference for other comprehensive evaluations of natural resources and the formulation of natural resource utilization policies.

Obtaining High Yield Hydrogen from Sewage Sludge by Two-Stage Gasification: Alkaline Pyrolysis Coupled with Catalytic Reforming

Municipal sludge is a sizable byproduct of sewage treatment plants, and its treatment and disposal need to agree with both environmental protection and resource utilization policies. In this study, municipal sludge was treated to produce hydrogen as a resource. A two-stage reactor was employed, and alkaline pyrolysis was coupled with ex-situ catalytic gasification and optimized to promote hydrogen production from sludge. The gas production characteristics were analyzed under different gasification parameters, and the catalyst was characterized following the reaction. Optimal gasification conditions were found at a steam flow of 5 mL h–1 in which 34.23 mmol g–1 of hydrogen was produced from dry sludge. Results suggested that the increased amount of hydrogen produced was due to promoting the water gas shift reaction. A brief economic analysis showed that this process is feasible for use in future industrial applications and provides an effective process route for the resource treatment of sludge.

Do provincial energy policies and energy intensity targets help reduce CO2 emissions? Evidence from China

The effects of Chinese local governments' energy policies and top-down target management on CO2 emissions have received little attention to date. The current study uses 18 years of panel data from Chinese provinces to empirically investigate the impacts of provincial circular economy development policies, energy saving policies, comprehensive resource utilization policies, and energy intensity targets set by the central government on CO2 emissions. The results indicate that provincial circular economy development policies and energy intensity targets are conducive to reducing CO2 emissions, while provincial energy saving policies and comprehensive resource utilization policies have no significant impact. The findings confirm the effectiveness of China's target management tools in addressing climate change, and provide guidance for local governments on actively implementing local policies to promote local CO2 emission reduction.

Future land use change simulations for the Lepelle River Basin using Cellular Automata Markov model with Land Change Modeller-generated transition areas

Background: Land cover/land cover (LULC) change is one of the major contributors to global environmental and climate variations. The ability to predict future LULC is crucial for environmental engineers, civil engineers, urban designers, and natural resources managers for planning activities. Methods: TerrSet Geospatial Monitoring and Modelling System and ArcGIS Pro 2.8 were used to process LULC data for the region of the Lepelle River Basin (LRB) of South Africa. Driver variables such as population density, slope, elevation as well as the Euclidean distances of cities, roads, highways, railroads, parks and restricted areas, towns to the LRB in combination with LULC data were analysed using the Land Change Modeller (LCM) and Cellular-Automata Markov (CAM) model. Results: The results reveal an array of losses (-) and gains (+) for certain LULC classes in the LRB by the year 2040: natural vegetation (+8.5%), plantations (+3.5%), water bodies (-31.6%), bare ground (-8.8%), cultivated land (-29.3%), built-up areas (+10.6%) and mines (+14.4%). Conclusions: The results point to the conversion of land uses from natural to anthropogenic by 2040. These changes also highlight how the potential losses associated with resources such as water that will negatively impact society and ecosystem functioning in the LRB by exacerbating water scarcity driven by climate change. This modelling study provides a decision support system for the establishment of sustainable land resource utilization policies in the LRB.

Spatial–Temporal Evolution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Agricultural Water Use Efficiency in Northwest China—Based on a Super-DEA Model and a Spatial Panel Econometric Model

Improving agricultural water use efficiency (AWUE) is an important way to solve the shortage of water resources in arid and semi-arid regions. This study used the Super-DEA (data envelopment analysis) to measure the AWUE of 52 cities in Northwest China from 2000 to 2018. Based on spatial and temporal perspectives, it applied Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) to explore the dynamic evolution and regional differences of AWUE. A spatial econometric model was then used to analyze the main factors that influence the AWUE in Northwest China. The results showed firstly that the overall AWUE in Northwest China from 2000 to 2018 presented a steady upward trend. However, only a few cities achieved effective agricultural water usage by 2018, and the differences among cities were obvious. Secondly, AWUE showed an obvious spatial autocorrelation in Northwest China and showed significant high–high and low–low agglomeration characteristics. Thirdly, economic growth, urbanization development, and effective irrigation have significant, positive effects on AWUE, while per capita water resource has a significant, negative influence. Finally, when improving the AWUE in arid and semi-arid regions, plans should be formulated according to local conditions. The results of this study can provide new ideas on the study of AWUE in arid and semi-arid regions and provide references for the formulation of regional agricultural water resource utilization policies as well.

Exploration on the Evaluation of Guangdong's Marine Ecological Resources Asset Value

Ecological resources as maintenance system components essential human survival environment, due to its special shape has so far failed to incorporated into the national economic accounting system, to avoid unreasonable under accelerate the Marine resource utilization policy leads to the deterioration of the ecological sustainability further excessive development of Marine resources, this article from the perspective of whole ecosystem services function definition of Marine ecological resources assets, Taking Guangdong Ocean as an example to evaluate the value of its ecological resource assets and discuss its importance to sustainable development. The results show that the service value of Marine ecological resources in Guangdong province is 619.541 billion yuan, and the stock value of ecological resources assets is 166543.28 billion yuan. Oceans played a significant role in primary production, accounting for 79.62%, and also played an important role in species diversity, gene resources, disturbance regulation and climate regulation, accounting for 4.63%, 4.00%, 3.93% and 3.18% of the total value of resources, respectively. The regulating effect of Marine ecological resources can not be ignored, and pollution discharge still has a great impact on Marine water quality.

Using RS Data-Based CA–Markov Model for Dynamic Simulation of Historical and Future LUCC in Vientiane, Laos

Land use/cover change (LUCC) is one of the causes of global climate and environmental change. Understanding rapid LUCC in urbanized areas is vital for natural resources management for sustainable development. This study primarily considered Vientiane, the capital of Laos, which experienced rapid LUCC due to both natural and anthropogenic factors. The study used geographical information system (GIS) combined with ERDAS and TerrSet technologies to objectively process the ground surveyed and remotely obtained data in order to investigate the historical LUCC as well as predict future LUCC in the study area during the periods of 1995–2018 and 2030–2050, respectively. A comprehensive list of assessment factors comprised of both natural and anthropogenic factors was used for analysis using the cellular automata–Markov (CA–Markov) model. The results show a historical loss of intact forest of 24.36% and of bare land of 1.01%. There were also tremendous increases in degraded forest (11.36%), agricultural land (8.91%), built-up areas (4.49%) and water bodies (1.16%). Finally, the LUCC prediction results indicate the conversion of land use from one type to another, particularly from natural to anthropogenic use, in the near future. These changes demonstrate that the losses associated with ecosystem services will destructively impact human wellbeing in the city and other areas of the country. The study results provide the basic scientific knowledge for LUCC planners, urban designers and natural resources managers. They serve as a decision-making support tool for the establishment of sustainable land resource utilization policies in Vientiane and other cities of similar conditions.

IMPLEMENTASI KEBIJAKAN PEMANFAATAN SUMBER DAYA KEHUTANAN DI KABUPATEN KONAWE SELATAN

The purpose of this study is to analyze the implementation of forestry resource utilization policies, and the factors that influence the successful implementation of forestry resource utilization policies in Konawe Selatan District. This study uses a qualitative research approach to investigate and analyze three pillars of the implementation process, namely the elaboration of policies, organizing the implementing apparatus, and budgeting and spending; and the influence of resource factors, implementing organization characteristics, implementing attitudes, and the conditions of the target group, on the implementation process. Primary and secondary data were collected by interview, observation, and document study methods, then analyzed by interactive analysis procedures which included data reduction, data presentation, and conclusions/verification.The results of the study indicate that the implementation of the policy on the utilization of forestry resources which includes the elaboration of policies, the organizing of the implementing apparatus, and the preparation of budgets and expenditures, has not run effectively. In these three processes there are still gaps so that the achievement of policy objectives seen from the perspective of household welfare, the policy objectives have not been achieved well. The gap in the implementation of forestry resource utilization policies occurs because of the influence of budgetary resource factors that are lower than needed, implementing organizations that do not yet have adequate service standards and human resource competencies, implementation who do not understand the basic tasks and functions of the organization, and target groups who are still depressed by poverty and low education. Keywords: Implementation, Forestry Resources, Welfare

An Evaluation of Sustainable Woody Biomass Resource Utilization Policy in the West Tottori Region

From a viewpoint of local production of energy for local consumption, this study conducts regional economic analysis using an input-output table of a local area, and measures the socio-economic impacts of woody biomass utilization policies with a constraint of input resources amount for sustainable use. Two scenarios are analyzed. The one is “end material use policy of woody biomass”, which resulted in 1,234 (mil. yen/year) of total regional output increase, while the other is “small-scale electricity generation policy”, which resulted in 2,905 (mil. yen/year).

Federal Land and Resource Utilization Policy

The policy of the Federal Government in the context of energy seems amorphous and inconsistent, but almost all the trends seem in the direction of ensuring adequate and economic energy supplies; employing sound land management for wise and efficient use of public lands and energy resources underlying them; and protecting the public health and safety at the same time it protects the environment. Goals are clear but methods are controversial. From 1965 to 1975 emphasis has shifted from recreation and natural beauty to the environment and now to prime energy concerns. For the next decade it seems certain that demands from an industrialized energy system to fuel a suddenly stagnant economy will strengthen the role of the executive branch of the government. (PCS)

Management and Development of Fisheries in the Indian Ocean

Development is defined as utilization of a fishery resource to meet the objectives of the government concerned; management is organization of the course of development to meet the socioeconomic objectives and resource utilization policy of government, and to deal with allocation of common-use resources.The rate of increase in fishery production in the Indian Ocean is slightly greater than the rate for the world as a whole, but the absolute level relative to potential is much lower in the Indian Ocean than elsewhere. Indian Ocean catches by non-Indian Ocean countries amount to about 8% of the total and have been increasing rapidly, a trend that may be expected to continue.Development of inshore fisheries has been promoted by governments of Indian Ocean countries, the private sector of Indian Ocean countries, the private sector of some non-Indian Ocean countries, and bilateral and multilateral assistance agencies. Development of offshore fisheries, especially for tuna, has been carried out by the longline fleets of Japan, followed by Taiwan and Korea. Governments of Indian Ocean countries show great interest in developing those resources for which there is a world demand, including shrimp, tuna, lobster, cuttlefish, and fish meal. Joint ventures with the private sector of economically developed countries are a common mechanism to develop such resources, particularly those in inshore areas such as shrimp.Management tends to be concerned primarily with socioeconomic objectives, particularly the gradual upgrading of the artisanal fisheries. However, among existing international management mechanisms are: a bilateral agreement between Thailand and Malaysia, apparently effective in solving local problems; and the Indian Ocean Fishery Commission, an FAO Regional Commission with 31 member nations, of which 19 are Indian Ocean countries. It has a special charge to consider offshore resource management problems and although it has been reasonably effective in identifying these problems the appropriate political decisions will be more difficult to realize.The Indian Ocean Program arose from the IOFC, is supported by the UNDP as an InterRegional Project, and is executed by FAO. Its purpose is fishery development, promoted through a small professional staff plus consultants. Twenty-six feasibility and other studies have been published and in 1972, the first operational year, the Program initiated or was involved in proposals totalling about $37 million (US).The need for development is urgent and activities must be timely. Impediments to development include handling-distribution problems; specific bottlenecks, such as lack of ice; lack of infrastructure; transplantation of western fishery science, generally not development-oriented; lack of capital, technology and managerial skills; artificial currency-valuation and import restrictions; and poor communications.The need for management exists if mistakes made elsewhere are to be avoided. Attention needs to be given to schemes involving artisanal fisheries. Impediments to management include lack of information necessary to decision taking; lack of new methodology applicable in the absence of conventional data; problems of allocation of common-use resources; difficulties in enforcement; and the fear by countries not engaged in a fishery that management schemes will preclude their subsequent entry into the fishery.