Socio-environmental Problems Research Articles

Analyzing knowledge integration in convergence research

A pragmatic concern guides this perspective piece: How might researchers charged with leading convergence research better plan, design, implement, and evaluate the integrative processes and products of their research? We use a self-evaluation approach to assess the integrative processes and products of the first two years of a five-year National Science Foundation Growing Convergence Research project on addressing inland freshwater salinization. To examine the linkages between integration approaches and products, we analyzed the integrative qualities of fifteen research products and the collaborative processes used to generate these products. We found that large, heterogeneous teams with a broad mix of disciplines and professional expertise produced more interdisciplinary research products, but they relied on skilled integration by the leader, more intensive forms of collaboration, and inclusive problem framing. Teams that relied on deliberation by experts and used more consultative or cooperative mechanisms for engagement produced research that was more uni- or multi-disciplinary. We consider the efficacy of the various knowledge integration approaches used in this research and share empirically derived recommendations for designing, implementing, and evaluating convergence research. Our findings and lessons provide researchers at the helm of large-scale convergence and transdisciplinary research projects that address complex socio-environmental problems guidance on: (1) the planning and designing of projects with the explicit goal of knowledge integration; (2) the selection and implementation of appropriate knowledge integration approaches and tools; and (3) how knowledge integration can be conceptualized and evaluated for socio-environmental problems.

Considerações sobre a paisagem sociocultural e ambiental do Rio Jaú

Despite fundamental roles of rivers in the history and evolution of urban centers, city design has often disregarded water networks in the midst of accelerated urban expansion. The lack of connection between rivers and the urban landscape has over time contributed to the exacerbation of socio-environmental problems. This research aims at understanding the relationship between the Jaú River and Jaú’s cityscape through the following perspectives proposed by Jean-Marc Besse (2014): historical, sociocultural and socio-environmental landscapes. The river landscape of Jaú is characterized based on information taken from scientific and documentary sources (textual, iconographic and cartographic). The results of analysis are then presented to systematically characterize challenges to landscape planning in this case study. This research pertains to the contemporary effort aiming at understanding landscapes by analyzing historical and current perspectives allowing us to restore connections between a city and its natural environment. In conclusion, it is argued that the neglect of the Jaú River valley throughout urban expansion contributed to the disconnection between the river landscape, the city and its inhabitants’ daily lives. As an alternative, we propose a landscape planning process that integrates the river’s environmental and social dimensions.

Some reflections on ethics in the Brazilian cartography and its consequences in socioenvironmental problems

Some reflections on ethics in the Brazilian cartography and its consequences in socioenvironmental problems

Metáfora conceptual y embodiment en la noción «Costa Rica verde» en Esencial Costa Rica

A semantic analysis is presented of the advertising language used by the brand Essential Costa Rica. A measurable strategy based on the conceptual metaphor “green is gold” is evident in these texts. It is examined using two macrocategories present in the words and expressions that make up the brand’s tourism advertising: “Costa Rica awaits a treasure” and “Costa Rica is a paradise.” They both generate an identity image of the region, apparently idyllic and paradisiacal, where socio-environmental problems typical of the reality that the country faces are distorted and become invisible.

Agroecological Pathways of Family Farmers in Northern Uruguay

In Uruguay, to address the socio-environmental problems generated by the production model resulting from the Green Revolution, several civil society organizations promoted the creation of a National Agroecology Plan (NAP) in 2015. The enactment of Law No.19.717, declaring a general interest and establishing a National Honorary Commission and a National Plan for the Promotion of Production with Agroecological Bases, along with recent calls from the “Senda Agroecológica” initiative, provide a favorable scenario to envision new production systems with agroecological foundations and pose a challenge for agronomic research. Despite this law defining family farmers as its main beneficiaries and the majority being livestock producers, there are few studies on the role of their technical and organizational practices in agroecological transition and the definition of agroecology. To contribute to filling this gap, the research aimed to identify the role of these practices, both individually and collectively, in defining agroecology and its trajectory. A theoretical framework and methodology were developed to analyze the practices and strategies of family livestock farmers and their relationships with technicians. Situations of change were identified, such as tick biological control and natural field management, through interviews and group work with farmers and technicians. Agroecological transition trajectories were analyzed, considering the role of territories in coordinating actions among diverse actors and establishing new identities and action devices, such as public policies and institutional projects. Results at both individual and collective levels indicate multiple transition paths, dependent on the specific situation of farms and projects. The analyzed cases reveal diversity in transitions without any prevailing. The challenge lies in turning these transformations into drivers of processes towards a strong agroecology, requiring support, assistance and guidance actions in the implementation of public policies.

Identification of socio-environmental problems in the community

Diante do atual cenário que estamos vivendo de grande crise ambiental, que ameaça a vida, até de nós seres humanos, se faz necessária uma prática docente que priorize desenvolver nos alunos uma postura reflexiva, crítica, questionadora e investigativa acerca dos problemas socioambientais que nos cercam. Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar as contribuições de uma atividade sobre Educação Ambiental na perspectiva da Alfabetização Científica utilizando fotografias como ferramenta pedagógica. A análise desta atividade evidenciou o processo de construção do conhecimento científico, aproximando os alunos da importância e da realidade socioambiental que estamos vivendo.

IPlan: A Platform for Constructing Localized, Reduced-Form Models of Land-Use Impacts

To help young people understand socio-environmental systems and develop the confidence that meaningful action can be taken to address socio-environmental problems, young people need interactive simulations that enable them to take consequential actions in a familiar context and see the results. This can be achieved through reduced-form models with appropriate user interfaces, but it is a significant challenge to construct a system capable of producing educational models of socio-environmental systems that are localizable and customizable but accessible to educators and learners. In this paper, we present iPlan, a free, online educational software application designed to enable educators and middle- and high-school-aged learners to create custom, localized land-use simulations that can be used to frame, explore, and address complex land-use problems. We describe in detail the software application and its underlying computational models, and we present robust evidence that the accuracy of iPlan simulations is appropriate for educational contexts and preliminary evidence that educators are able to produce simulations suitable for their pedagogical goals and learner populations.

Participatory modeling for collaborative landscape and environmental planning: From potential to realization

Participatory modeling is a collaborative approach to formalize shared representations of a problem and, through the joint modeling process, design, and test solutions. This approach is particularly well-suited to address complex socio-environmental problems like climate change and its implications on equitable and sustainable resource management and landscape planning. Despite its potential to inform landscape and environmental planning and policy, participatory modeling has yet to become a mainstream practice in our field. The reasons are several. First, it is hard to standardize the approach, as it must be heavily tailored to the characteristics and context of each planning problem, including the stakeholders engaged in the process. It is also onerous, requiring long-term commitment and a broad range of skills that can only be attained through extensive training and collaboration. These and other barriers are currently being addressed with a resurgence of knowledge co-production and ethical participation in scholarship, in practice, and in funding agendas. While most of the participatory modeling scholarship has focused on modeling tools and engagement techniques, multiple other dimensions must be recognized and articulated for impactful planning support. Grounding this perspective on a more fully integrated picture of participatory modeling, I identify some of these gaps and suggest an interdisciplinary research agenda to further evolve and scale up this practice for landscape and environmental planning and policy. The agenda highlights aspects of interface design and model biases, value elicitation and inclusion, management of diversity and innovation through facilitation, and the potential of novel computer-assisted assessment methodologies.

Educar en memoria histórica y democrática a través de la educación patrimonial: el antipatrimonio

A decade ago we began a line of research on historical memory education that we have linked through controversial heritages with our work on heritage education, since heritage can be a carrier of memories of a conflictive nature. This article aims to be a review of the results of our research in this regard, proposing what heritage education can contribute, through anti-heritage, to the why, what and how of teaching historical memory, singularly in our country, but not exclusively. The relevant socio-environmental problems with which anti-heritage connects are linked to negative social values, discordant with democracy, human rights, peace and non-violence, hence its didactic potential for controversy, but also its difficulties for teaching and the learning; we will focus on disciplinary, didactic, curricular, textbooks and the development of critical thinking in students. Such difficulties and limitations have led many teachers, especially in our country, to choose to avoid teaching memory in formal education. Therefore, it is very necessary to introduce significant changes in the official curriculum and textbooks, but it is essential to improve classroom practices, because teachers have not been taught how to teach these topics. This training will help students learn critical thinking skills and educate themselves as citizens committed to the defense of Human Rights, peace and democratic coexistence.

Diagnosis of Integrated Coastal Management of Uruguay

In recent years, Uruguay has seen the need to address its coastal management due to a series of socio-environmental problems derived from the lack of action to protect its coastal areas. The impacts derived from unregulated activities led to the recent creation of an adaptation plan for its coasts whose application is relatively recent. This article analyzes Uruguay’s performance in the marine-coastal area. Keywords: ICZM Decalogue, Integrated coastal management, Uruguay.

The Flood Resilience Challenge serious role-playing game as an online education and engagement tool in a large engineering class

Complex socio-environmental problems, such as flooding, cannot be adequately addressed through technical engineering solutions alone. Limited curricular opportunities exist for engineering students to understand and gain skills towards working collaboratively to address such problems. To enhance engineering students’ learning on flooding and engagement in the classroom, they participated in the Flood Resilience Challenge (FRC) serious role-playing game. This research investigates two main hypotheses. First, the FRC game is effective in helping students’ meet their learning objectives: (a) Increase flood literacy; (b) Better understand differing flood stakeholders’ views and power; and (c) Make connections between the game and real-life. Second, the FRC role-playing game will increase students’ engagement in the classroom through experiential learning. These hypotheses were tested using pre-game and post-game questionnaires, and a debrief. The findings suggest that the FRC game is an effective teaching-learning tool for enhancing engineering students’ understanding of the socio-environmental complexities of flooding issues. Students also reported that the FRC game, as an experiential learning tool, is more effective than traditional approaches to engineering education, such as lectures and readings. The research findings on the FRC game have relevance for a range of disciplines focusing on complex socio-environmental problems and as a tool to provide engaging online educational activities.

Family farming in the Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza (RMF), Ceará

This article aims to deepen the discussion about agricultural activity in metropolitan cities. Our analysis focuses specifically on the Fortaleza Metropolitan Area (FMA), State of Ceará, Brazil, and allows us to further understand family farming in that area. For this purpose, we reviewed a set of primary and secondary data regarding the profile of the producers and agricultural and food processing establishments in the metropolitan area under analysis. This multifaceted approach helped us identify key issues related to production and food systems in the FMA, and showed the importance of a research agenda focused on evaluating the potential of family farming in this specific context. This study presents the production strategies adopted, the challenges faced and the opportunities identified by family farmers. Discussing agriculture in metropolitan areas help us connect socio-spatial and socio-environmental problems, in addition to enabling us to suggest the development of cross-sectoral public policies. By offering a comprehensive overview, this study aims to contribute to effective policy making, promoting the sustainability and resilience of family farming in metropolitan contexts. We hope that the reflection on agriculture developed in such areas and its characteristics in local and metropolitan scenarios will be helpful to researchers, managers and those responsible for the implementation and execution of public policies, as well as other agents and entities interested in family (and urban) agriculture.

Socio-Environmental Overview of The Main Sugarcane Producing Municipalities in Sergipe Between the Years of 2001 and 2022

Objective: Analysis of the socio-environmental situation of the main sugarcane producing municipalities in the state of Sergipe, in the period between 2001 and 2022. Theoretical Framework: Sugarcane cultivation represents an important economic role for communities and countries that produce this commodity. In this scenario, Brazil emerges as the main sugarcane producer on the planet and, along with the benefits arising from the agro-industrial sugarcane production chain, there are socio-environmental problems arising from the anthropization of the landscape and natural resources allocated in the production of co-products of this culture that need to be reviewed in light of climate emergencies and the demands of different social actors. Method: The research has an exploratory nature, using scientific articles available from Science Direct and Capes Periodical Platform and secondary data collected on the Mapbiomas and Terrabrasilis platforms. Results and conclusions: The results showed the dissonance between the global analysis of environmental degradation indicators, such as fires and deforestation, and the data relating to each municipality analyzed. And it was concluded that there is an urgent need to re-analyze public policies for monitoring and controlling socio-environmental indicators in order to contain the anthropization processes caused by sugarcane cultivation. Implications of the research: This research allows us to clearly understand the socio-environmental dynamics caused by sugarcane cultivation in the main sugarcane producing municipalities of Sergipe, in order to contribute to a realistic debate on the current stage of environmental degradation and on the construction of the near future due to social and environmental demands arising from changes in the climate. Originality/value: No analysis was found on the set of municipalities studied based on the main agricultural crop produced, which implies a scenario of exploration that is not only reflective and political but also open to new work that can be developed in each of these municipalities separately, or together, with the purpose of bringing quality of life and conscious and environmentally appropriate development to the communities in this group of municipalities and to the state of Sergipe.

Indications that fishers perceive socio-environmental problems related to hydroelectric plants in the Tocantins river, Brazil

Hydroelectric dams (HEDs) cause significant socio-environmental damage such as reduced fish diversity, population displacement and health problems. The fishers have extensive local ecological knowledge that can be used to improve understanding of the impacts of HEDs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to verify and evaluate the perceptions of fishers about the impacts caused by the HEDs in the Tocantins River. For this, 25 fishers were interviewed using a questionnaire with 22 questions. Data analyses were performed considering descriptive analysis of the responses. There was convergence in the responses of fishers who perceived the decrease in fish diversity after the construction of the HEDs, including fish of commercial interest, which is linked to a decrease in income and decreased food security for these families. In addition, the fishers noted symptoms that may be a consequence of mercury contamination, and diarrhea as a possible consequence of decreased water quality. Despite all these socio-environmental losses, the fishers report a lack of prior consultation, and low representativeness and transparency in the decision-making process that preceded the construction of HEDs. In general, the fishers perceived themselves as being strongly affected from the socio-environmental point of view and do not cite any benefits offered to the community from these projects.

SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF A PANDEMIC

The present study points out that for Humanity to achieve a satisfactory quality of life, it depends on the environment, and it is the duty of public authorities and the community to guarantee and enforce the right to this ecologically balanced environment. The year 2021 has been marked by an avalanche of socio-environmental problems, not only in health, but in terms of violence, deforestation, politics, among others. And the appeals, coming from all over the planet, pleading for vaccines to fight the life-scavenging virus. The new wave and its variants originating in South Africa, Brazil and the United Kingdom, have already reached 70 more countries. In view of this condition, this work is part of the study carried out in 2020, with teachers and students and of the current discussions held weekly in the online meetings of the Study Group on Education and Environment (GEMA) on campus XI of the University of the State of Bahia (UNEB), which aims to study and discuss social and environmental problems and the coronavirus in the sisal territory. It is supported by the qualitative approach, presents possible results and final considerations. Thus, aiming the feedback of GEMA's actions in formal and non-formal spaces in the community.

SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF A PANDEMIC

The present study points out that for Humanity to achieve a satisfactory quality of life, it depends on the environment, and it is the duty of public authorities and the community to guarantee and enforce the right to this ecologically balanced environment. The year 2021 has been marked by an avalanche of socio-environmental problems, not only in health, but in terms of violence, deforestation, politics, among others. And the appeals, coming from all over the planet, pleading for vaccines to fight the life-scavenging virus. The new wave and its variants originating in South Africa, Brazil and the United Kingdom, have already reached 70 more countries. In view of this condition, this work is partof the study carried out in 2020, with teachers and students and of the current discussions heldweekly in the online meetings of the Study Group on Education and Environment (GEMA) oncampus XI of the University of the State of Bahia (UNEB), which aims to study and discusssocial and environmental problems and the coronavirus in the sisal territory. It is supported bythe qualitative approach, presents possible results and final considerations. Thus, aiming thefeedback of GEMA's actions in formal and non-formal spaces in the community.

Experiences of inequality in international collaborative research – Perspectives from environmental and sustainability scholars from Ghana, West Africa

Global north and south research partnerships are essential for building research capacity in the global south and for generating new knowledge to address complex socio-environmental problems. However, insights from various disciplines, particularly global health research, suggest that north-south research collaborations often reproduce unequal power relations and outcomes. To mitigate these, some international funding organizations have produced guidelines that promote ethical practice in collaborative research. Despite these measures, significant gaps exist in understanding how the experiences and perspectives of Global South scholars, particularly those in the field of environmental sciences, shapes discourses on unequal north-south research partnerships and the ethical guidelines developed to address disparities. To bridge this gap, we conducted explorative qualitative research focused on understanding the experiences of environmental science and sustainability researchers from Ghana in international collaborative research. Our findings revealed a general optimism among scientists regarding the benefits of international collaborative for making impactful contributions in the global south, expanding professional networks, opening opportunities to publish in high impact journals and developing new research skills. At the same time, our findings also indicate that pervasive forms of inequality centered around lack of recognition, poor clarity of roles, disrespect, unequal resource sharing, poor communication, and non-adherence to contractual agreements persist. We contribute to the ongoing scholarly debate on research inequality by proposing a framework to guide the management, design, and implementation of north-south research partnerships. Our proposed framework serves as a starting point toward identifying potential unequal and unethical issues that often arise in north-south research partnerships.

Maslow e o Meio Ambiente: Integrando Representação Social e Teoria das Necessidades e Motivações

Abstract In his Theory of Needs, Maslow argues that in the self- actualization stage the individual would have more developed B- values, which would involve, among other characteristics, the tendency to be mostly dedicated to causes of collective interest to the detriment of individual interests. It would also be in the self- actualization stage that the environment would have an intrinsic value, an important aspect if we consider the need for developing solutions to socio-environmental problems. Would the Social Representation of the environment have a relationship with the different stages of needs proposed by Maslow in his theory? Could the self-actualization stage reveal an individual with a globalizing representation of the environment? To answer these questions, an study was conducted with 134 participants adapting and using the Environmental Motivation Profile Test instrument and the results showed a significant correlation between the stage of self- actualization and a globalizing representation of the Environment.

Contribution of Argentinian B Corporations to Sustainable Development Goals: Empirical Analysis Based on Their Practices and Solutions to Socioenvironmental Problems

This study aims at examining how B Corporations advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their practices by analyzing the socioenvironmental problems they address and the solutions they provide to those problems. All Argentinian B Corporations, certified by early 2023 (135 companies), were investigated using a mixed approach, combining social network analysis with textual data analysis. The results showed that the environmental practices are primarily linked to waste, water, energy and chemical management, as well as product innovation. In turn, the social practices address the training, education, and well-being of employees and other stakeholders, diversity, equity and inclusion management, and the creation of an inclusive and fair environment, integrating local communities. Thus, in the flow of their sustainability practices, Argentinian B Corporations contribute to SDGs 8, 12, 13, 9, 6, 7, 5, 10, 11, 4, and 17, in line with the SDGs declared by these companies. Our findings contribute to the theoretical knowledge on the B Corp movement and have practical implications by providing input to improve the management of B Corporations and to guide public policies encouraging these companies to advance sustainable development dimensions lacking attention.

Burned area mapping in Different Data Products for the Southwest of the Brazilian Amazon

Fires affect the Amazon rainforest and cause various socio-environmental problems. Analyses of forest fire dynamics supporting actions to combat and prevent forest fires. However, many studies have reported discrepancies in the quantification of fire, especially in the tropics. We evaluated four operational products for estimating burned areas (MAPBIOMAS, MCD64A1, GABAM, and GWIS) in a part of the southwestern Brazilian Amazon. We used the year 2019 as a reference to assess the relative performance of each product through stratification by forest and non-forest areas. Statistical (Kolmogorov–Smirnov test) and geospatial analyses were performed using fuzzy similarity analysis and mapping of burned areas for forest and non-forest classes. The four products showed a divergence of up to 90.6% in the total area burned. MAPBIOMAS was the product with the largest area burned (3379 km²), and MCD64A1 detected the smallest area (325 km²). MAPBIOMAS and GABAM generally overestimates burn scars in forest areas compared to MCD64A1 and GWIS. Factors that influence the mapping of burned areas include cloud shadow, the spatial resolution of sensors, and external noises (drought and decomposition of bamboo forests). We highlight the importance of field validation when mapping imagery to differentiate the truly burned areas from targets with similar spectral behavior.