Perspective Of Sustainable Management Research Articles

A Quality Perspective of Sustainable Management of Water Services: Insights of Citizens' Perceptions in Five Albanian Municipalities

This paper aims to explore citizens' perceptions of water services to inform policy-making and pressure service providers to improve efficiency and service quality using innovative solutions. Despite abundant water resource endowments, ongoing infrastructure upgrades, and technological advancements implemented for sustainable service management, the industry failed to deliver the expected results. However, more than 60% of produced water goes unbilled, service coverage disparities persist, service quality falls short of goals, and low water meter readings worsen resource utilisation and financial sustainability. As a result of poor and unsustainable social, environmental, and economic management of services, the industry witnessed a significant restructuring process, shifting from municipal to regional-level governance, overlooking citizen perceptions of water services as an element that may directly impact the sustainability and future developments of the water sector. The latter, coupled with research findings highlighting deficiencies of municipalities in Albania in local public services provision, triggered the in-depth investigation of water sector governance in Albania (from the citizens' point of view). The research sets a baseline in exploring citizens' perceptions of water services, using a representative sample-based survey in five Albanian municipalities and along five dimensions of service management: access and quality of the services, transparency and communication, satisfaction with services, value for money, and willingness to pay (WTP) for improved services. Our findings suggest a low satisfaction with water services offered by municipally-owned water utilities, primarily related to water supply duration and quality. Despite lacking trust in service improvement, WTP for improved services is positive. Received: 15 December 2023 / Accepted: 16 February 2024 / Published: 5 March 2024

Assessing avian diversity and conservation status in Dighal Wetlands, Haryana, India

Birds are considered sensitive indicators of ecosystem health and functionality in freshwater wetlands. Assessment of birdassemblages in wetland habitats is, therefore, emphasised from a sustainable management perspective. Bird surveys were conducted from October 2020 to September 2022. These surveys aimed to assess the community composition and status of avifauna in Dighal wetlands, an important bird area in the Jhajjar District of Haryana, India. Data collection employed point counts and opportunistic encounter methods. A total of 154 bird species belonging to 108 genera, 47 families, and 18 orders were recorded. Of these, 75 species were residents, 60 were winter migrants, and 10 were summer migrants. The greatest species richness was observed for the order Passeriformes (54), followed by Charadriiformes (22), Anseriformes (17), and the rest of the 15 orders. Anatidae was the most dominant family with 17 species, constituting 11% of the bird community in the study area. Data on local abundance revealed that 10 species were common, 23 were fairly common, 83 were uncommon, and 38 were rare in the study area. Among the recorded avifauna, one species is classified as Endangered, three as Vulnerable, and eight as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; 17 species are listed in the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES); and 11 are included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. These wetlands also support 40 species of birds, which have a declining population trend globally. The occurrence of migrants and species of global conservation priority underscores the importance of these wetlands as a conservation site and wintering ground for avifauna due to the extensive food resources and rich biodiversity they support. The present study provides baseline information for future research on monitoring bird assemblages and proper management of the Dighal wetlands of Haryana.

Mitigating marine hazardous contaminants: A sustainable management perspective

Marine hazardous contaminants, such as cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), pose significant risks to both human health and aquatic organisms. Traditional methods may not remove contaminants to safe levels, leading to the release of hazardous materials into marine environments. This research proposes polymeric membrane bioreactors as a potential solution to this problem. We determined Cd and Pb levels in three freshwater fish species (Rita, Ompok bimaculatus, and Heteropneustes fossils) from two distinctive regions (Zone 1 and Zone 2). Additionally, Cd and Pb concentrations in feeding materials, water, and sediments were analyzed to estimate daily intake and potential hazardous effects of these contaminants on the fish species. These findings underscore the need for effective regulatory measures and policies to reduce the discharge of hazardous contaminants into freshwater and marine environments, protecting both human health and the environment. Implementing polymeric membrane bioreactors in wastewater treatment and industrial facilities could mitigate the risks associated with consuming contaminated fish species. Significantly, the Cd and Pb levels in all three fish species from both fishponds exceeded the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) maximum permissible limits. These findings carry important implications for policymakers, regulators, and industries, urging them to act appropriately to ensure the safety of the environment and public health. This study suggests that polymeric membrane bioreactors are a promising technological approach to address marine contamination, emphasizing their potential role in safeguarding human health and aquatic ecosystems.

Climate risk assessment of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima coastal Region (Morocco)

Coastal zones occupy a prominent position in the sustainable management perspective of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima (TTA) region because they accommodate a majority of the region’s population and contribute to the economic wellbeing of local communities. High demographic and economic pressures associated to climatic and environmental factors increase and intensify the vulnerability of these coastal areas. The latter are severely affected by climate change implications in the course of time, which lead to damage and loss in coastal low-lying zones. In practice, the risks related to climate change, as coastal risks, are frequently addressed, and assessing coastal risk in the context of climate change is a research priority. The aim of this work is to evaluate the flooding risk of TTA coasts, taking into account the inundation level related to the conditions of extreme wave (return period of 100-year) and extreme sea level rise. We firstly defined the coastal hazard zone that corresponds to the maximum inundation level of 13 m for the whole area. We then applied a Coastal Risk Index application at the Local Scale (CRI-LS) methodology to calculate forcing, vulnerability, exposure and risk indices using nineteen physical, environmental and socioeconomical variables. Findings show that coastal hazard zone of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region is extremely exposed to coastal forcing. More than 50% of the hazard zones indicates highly vulnerable zones and highest exposure is generally focused on the most populated urban zones. In the light of this, the coastal risk mapping shows hotspot zones in terms of climate change-related coastal risks located at Tangier Bay, south of Tangier city, Fnideq and Martil coasts, Tetouan city and north of Ksar El Kbir city. This paper corresponds to a useful support that can help policy-makers in decision-making to quietly follow coastal planning and management processes and participate in preserving coastal areas for future generations, which support the sustainable development goals of Agenda 2030 started by the United Nations with the goal of eradicating all kinds of poverty.

Hydrochemical indices as a proxy for assessing land-use impacts on water resources: a sustainable management perspective and case study of Can Tho City, Vietnam

Hydrochemical indices as a proxy for assessing land-use impacts on water resources: a sustainable management perspective and case study of Can Tho City, Vietnam

Buffer Green Patches around Urban Road Network as a Tool for Sustainable Soil Management

Urban areas are facing a range of environmental challenges including air, water and soil pollution as a result of industrial, domestic and traffic emissions. In addition, global climate change is likely to aggravate certain urban problems and disturb the urban ecology by increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. In the context of urbanization growth and the consequent impact on the environment, there is a growing interest in maintaining urban soil quality and functions as they are the medium for green infrastructure development. Furthermore, urban soils are becoming one of the key factors in the delivery of many ecosystem services such as carbon storage, climate regulation, water flow regulation, etc. On the other hand, urban soils are well-known to be a major sink of air pollutants due to the wet and dry atmospheric deposition and recirculation. Soil has the ability to degrade some chemical contaminants but when the levels are high, urban soils could hold on large amounts and pose a risk to human health. A cost-effective technological solution is to use the ability of some plant species to metabolize, accumulate and detoxify heavy metals or other harmful organic or inorganic compounds from the soil layer. The establishment of urban lawns (grass covered surfaces) is a helpful, environmentally friendly, economically sustainable and cost-effective approach to remove contaminants from polluted soils (terrains), which also has some aesthetic benefits. In this paper, an overview of the benefits and limitations of urban lawn construction is presented. The focus is on the perspectives for sustainable management of urban lawns, especially as buffer green patches in the road network surroundings, that can represent strategies to provide ecological and social multifunctionality of urban soils, and thus, increasing their ecosystem services capacity. Specifically, the paper highlights (i) the possibilities for phytoremediation of urban soils, (ii) potential of some perennial grasses and (iii) key issues that should be considered in the planning and design of urban lawns.

Analysis of Environmental Management Characteristics Using Network Analysis of CEO Communication in the Automotive Industry

CEO messages in CEO communication are becoming increasingly important. From a sustainable management perspective, it is imperative to study environmental, social, and governance messages. Previous studies on CEO messages have focused on financial analyses. In contrast, this study (1) extracted environment-related words in the CEO messages of automotive companies, (2) selected high- and low-performing automotive manufacturers based on car sales data, (3) compared environment-related keywords used by high-performing (upper group) and low-performing (lower group) companies, and (4) performed a structural interpretation of the keywords to analyze the characteristics of environmental management. A comparison between the upper and lower groups revealed that six keywords—society, electric, technology, standards, contribute, and global—were exclusive to the upper group. The six keywords exclusive to the lower group were sales, target, promote, energy, efforts, and system. Environmental keywords and eco-innovation factors were subjected to keyword–factor mapping and network analysis. Normative pressures, technology, and environmental managerial concerns were the key factors with the highest centrality. Accordingly, the environmental management characteristics of the upper-group corporations can be used as benchmarks by lower groups.

Signature of mid-Pleistocene lineages in the European silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) at its geographic distribution margin.

In a conservation and sustainable management perspective, we identify the ecological, climatic, and demographic factors responsible for the genetic diversity patterns of the European silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) at its southwestern range margin (Pyrenees Mountains, France, Europe). We sampled 45 populations throughout the French Pyrenees and eight neighboring reference populations in the Massif Central, Alps, and Corsica. We genotyped 1,620 individuals at three chloroplast and ten nuclear microsatellite loci. We analyzed within‐ and among‐population genetic diversity using phylogeographic reconstructions, tests of isolation‐by‐distance, Bayesian population structure inference, modeling of demographic scenarios, and regression analyses of genetic variables with current and past environmental variables. Genetic diversity decreased from east to west suggesting isolation‐by‐distance from the Alps to the Pyrenees and from the Eastern to the Western Pyrenees. We identified two Pyrenean lineages that diverged from a third Alpine–Corsica–Massif Central lineage 0.8 to 1.1 M years ago and subsequently formed a secondary contact zone in the Central Pyrenees. Population sizes underwent contrasted changes, with a contraction in the west and an expansion in the east. Glacial climate affected the genetic composition of the populations, with the western genetic cluster only observed in locations corresponding to the coldest past climate and highest elevations. The eastern cluster was observed over a larger range of temperatures and elevations. All demographic events shaping the current spatial structure of genetic diversity took place during the Mid‐Pleistocene Transition, long before the onset of the Holocene. The Western Pyrenees lineage may require additional conservation efforts, whereas the eastern lineage is well protected in in situ gene conservation units. Due to past climate oscillations and the likely emergence of independent refugia, east–west oriented mountain ranges may be important reservoir of genetic diversity in a context of past and ongoing climate change in Europe.

Effect of Depreciation Method for Long-Term Tangible Assets on Sustainable Management: From a Nuclear Power Generation Cost Perspective under the Nuclear Phase-Out Policy

The Korean Government has been implementing a nuclear phase-out policy since 2017. Nuclear power plants accounted for 30.0% of the total power generation in 2016; this figure fell to 25.9% at the end of 2019, and the average Capacity Factor (CF) of a nuclear power plant approximately dropped from 89.1% to 69.2%. The nuclear phase-out policy presents severe consequences for the sustainable management of the nuclear power industry. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of a decrease in the nuclear capacity factor under the nuclear phase-out policy on the depreciation cost per unit using the Straight-Line Method (SLM) and Decelerated Depreciation Method (DDM) and to provide recommendations from a sustainable management perspective. The results show that the decrease in CF of nuclear power plants has a negative impact on sustainable development of the nuclear power industry. DDM is more beneficial than the SLM during this initial stage of depreciation under the nuclear phase-out policy. In addition, in the early stages of projects or immediately after attracting large-scale investments, DDM can offer more positive signs for stockholders by calculating a smaller net loss or a higher net profit.

Sustainable Management Models for Mangrove Forests Through Institutional Strengthening and the Development of Productive Business

The huge potential of the mangrove forest in Gulf of Prigi, Indonesia, is being threatened by the unsustainable management of four institutions, each of which have their own vision of the forest. Thus, this study aims to strengthen the sustainable management of mangrove forests through institutional reinforcement, analyzes the development of productive business as economic incentives, and finds sustainable management models for the mangrove forest. This study employs a focus group discussion and intensive negotiation. The data was analyzed by using GeSCA in order to determine products to develop under the value feasibility criteria of NPV, IRR, Net B/C, and Pay Back Periode. The result of the study shows that intensive negotiation is effective to change the perspective of sustainable management. It is then reinforced by the economic reinforcement approach through the development of productive mangrove-based businesses. The result also shows that there are several products worthy of development from mangrove fruits, brownies, crackers, dodol, palm sugar, and coconut milk.

Using analytical pyrolysis and scanning electron microscopy to evaluate charcoal formation of four wood taxa from the caatinga of north-east Brazil

People in north-east Brazil mostly rely on fuelwood and charcoal for domestic energy consumption. Traditionally, four local wood taxa (Mimosa tenuiflora, Mimosa ophthalmocentra, Croton sonderianus and Cenostigma pyramidale) from the caatinga have been selected for this purpose. As the final quality of charcoal is directly related to the charring conditions, as well as the chemical composition of the raw materials and the behaviour of the lignocellulosic matrix during the charring process, the aim of this study was to investigate how far differences in these parameters exert a major control on the charcoal formation, in order to give a molecular insight as to why these particular wood species might be preferred for high-quality charcoal in the perspective of sustainable management and harvesting regimes.Pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to study the chemical composition and anatomical changes of the wood samples before and after charring experiments were carried out at 400 and 600 °C. The charring conditions were also reproduced in the controlled environment of the pyrolysis chamber and evolved gas analysis mass spectrometry (EGA-MS) was used for the first time to monitor the evolution of the thermal degradation products.The thermal behaviour of the wood components was different compared to other wood taxa for which comparable data are available. These differences were partially related to the particular nature of the carbohydrate-lignin interactions, to a relatively low level of lignin condensation, and to the substantial presence of gums or resins, which formed charred deposits. These characteristics, often neglected in charcoal analysis, imply that the wood components (especially cellulose) are released more slowly during the charring process, and this translates into the ability of these wood species to retain the main features of their anatomical structure even when exposed to high temperature for a relatively long time. The anatomical alterations observed, such as the loss of the middle lamella, the disappearance of the pit membranes, and the homogenisation of cell walls are ultimately in agreement with the formation of a particularly recalcitrant carbonaceous matrix upon charring at relatively low temperature (400 °C for 2 hours).This study presents the first molecular characterisation of these wood species and some methodological advancement on the use of EGA analysis using isothermal conditions is provided. The role of carbohydrate-lignin interactions and non-lignocellulosic wood components in charcoal production is discussed and the importance of combining chemical data and anatomical observations in wood research is underlined.

Investigating Consumers’ Perception of Discounted Suboptimal Products at Retail Stores

Following the increasing pressure to reduce food waste at supermarkets, many retailers are starting initiatives to prevent the disposal of food items or to manage the waste produced in a more sustainable way. The practice of applying discounts on close-to-date and other suboptimal products is becoming popular, as reducing price pushes consumers to accept small defects of food products. Here, the attitude of 218 supermarket customers towards these discounts is analysed, basing on a questionnaire survey. Two-thirds of the sample declare to be interested in discounts on close-to-date products; the determinants of this interest are studied through a Generalized Maximum Entropy model against a set of socio-demographic and behavioral factors. Results suggest that the interest towards discounts on close-to-date product is primarily driven by a general attitude to save money in food shopping. However, an interesting positive effect is observed for the use of a shopping list at the supermarket, which may be linked to a greater attention on food planning and, consequently, to a lower production of food waste at home. In conclusion, date-based pricing seems to be an effective strategy to address food waste reduction in a sustainable management perspective, for its attractive capacity on different profiles of consumers.

Application of Information Technology in Preschool Aesthetic Teaching from the Perspective of Sustainable Management

The present study investigates the current status of aesthetic education as implemented in information technology by preschool teachers in New Taipei City. To that end, stratified random sampling of preschool teachers in New Taipei City was conducted, and the selected teachers, 235 in total, then answered a questionnaire developed specifically for the study. The survey results indicated that “teacher” was the job title/position of most of the respondents, the largest percentage of whom were more than 41 years of age and had an education level consisting of a qualification received from a teacher’s college or university of education. Moreover, the results indicated that the teaching models employed by the majority of respondents focused on “thematic teaching.” In regards to their integration of information technology in their teaching of aesthetic education, the survey results indicated that the teachers obtained the highest average score for the “knowledge of information technology” dimension. Meanwhile, the dimension for which the respondents obtained the highest average score in terms of aesthetic teaching itself was the dimension pertaining to aesthetic cognition. Generally speaking, survey respondents from different backgrounds did not differ significantly in terms of their overall intentions regarding the use of aesthetic teaching, but there was a significant and positive relationship between those overall intentions and the current status of information technology integration into aesthetic education.

Occupation Humaine De La Réserve De Faune Et De Flore Du Haut Bandama : Diagnostic Et Perspectives Pour Une Gestion Durable

The Upper Bandama fauna and flora reserve, which is part of Côte d'Ivoire's biodiversity conservation strategy, is threatened by the pressure of human activities. The purpose of this article is to make a socio-economic assessment of the exploitation of the natural resources of this protected area. Specifically, it is question of knowing the forms of activities which are developed there, the actors, the strategies of infiltration, and to determine the factors related to this occupation. Based on a data collection work that combines documentary research, semi-structured interviews and direct observation, artisanal gold mining, farming, poaching, fishing and collection of non-timber forest products have been identified as the major forms of degradation of this reserve. These activities involve different profiles of actors who have accessed the reserve under various conditions. They can be explained by the economic dynamism of the peripheral zone, the recomposition of this zone in the face of demographic pressure and land issues, the non-integration of the legal status of the reserve and the invisibility of the key actors. The study ends with perspectives for sustainable management of this reserve.

Land grabbing. Podstawowe zagadnienia prawne

The present analysis focuses on the characteristics of the phenomenon of “land grabbing” which refers to the cross-border process of acquiring effective control over significant areas of agricultural land. Due to the extent and scale of the process, the issue of agricultural property trading leads to new challenges in the form of legal analysis, in particular with regard to the perspective of sustainable management of natural resources and food security. The assessment of the phenomenon is also important for the existing model of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy.

Comparing Past and Present Hydrologic Aspects of a Mediterranean Wetland from a Sustainable Management Perspective

Wetlands are significant examples of ecosystems with high biological diversity and ecological reserve. The quantity of water entering a wetland is a major driver that acts on the ecological state and proper functioning of the wetland ecosystem. Flows that contribute to the sustainability of aquatic habitats and water dependent ecosystem processes are often called environmental flows. There are a number of methods ranging from simple hydrologic assessments to holistic approaches for assessing ecosystem requirements and corresponding environmental flow quantities. These mainly differ by approach rationale, data requirements, addressed ecosystem type, computation time and prediction accuracy. This study introduces a methodological framework for assessing environmental flow potential of a river system with reference to natural hydrologic alteration in river hydrology and probable anthropogenic impacts arising from built-in storage and regulation facilities. It is principally aimed to guide water managers in making decisions for allocating water between the competing economic sectors as well as the environment itself for securing sustainable management. The method is applied to a significant Ramsar wetland selected from the Mediterranean transect of Turkey. The results given in terms of the deficit/surplus rates for the environmental flow potential in the river indicate that the change naturally experienced in hydrologic conditions presents a positive appearance with increased potential for environmental allocations. However, this view is completely reversed in the post-damming period as the storage and regulation effects of an operating dam significantly contribute to decrease in the environmental flow potential, while exacerbating the competition for water in the area.

Use of columnar cacti in the Tehuacán Valley, Mexico: perspectives for sustainable management of non-timber forest products.

BackgroundTEK, ecological and economic aspects of columnar cacti were studied in the Tehuacán Valley, Mexico to design sustainable regimes of fruit harvest. We analysed the amounts of edible fruit, seeds and flowers produced per hectare of cardonal, jiotillal and tetechera forests, their economic value and actual extraction rates, hypothesizing that the economic benefits of these NTFP would potentially be comparable to maize agriculture, which involves forest removal.MethodsOur study comprised the whole territory of the community of Quiotepec, Oaxaca. Sustainable gathering rates were analysed through population dynamics models and simulations of harvesting regimes (10%, 25%, and 50% of fruit gathered) per hectare of forest type. We used estimations on economic benefit and ecological impact of these scenarios to evaluate their relative sustainability, compared with maize agroforestry systems harbouring 2-47% of vegetation cover.ResultsFor the whole territory, the total annual fruit production is 509.3 ton of Pachycereus weberi, 267.4 ton of Neobuxbaumia tetetzo, 99.5 ton of Escontria chiotilla, and 8.1 ton of Myrtillocactus geometrizans. The total economic value of fruits per hectare was $315.00 U.S. dollars for cardonal, $244.60 for jiotillal, and $113.80 for tetechera, whereas rainfed agriculture of maize was on average $945.52. Demographic models for E. chiotilla and N. tetetzo indicate that 70% and 95% of fruit harvesting, respectively maintain λ > 1, but these harvest rates cannot be recommendable since the models do not consider the high inter-annual environmental variations and the non-estimated amount of fruit consumed by natural frugivorous. Extracting 25% of fruit is ecologically more sustainable, but with low economic benefits. Agroforestry systems maintaining the higher vegetation cover provide economic benefits from agriculture and forest resources.ConclusionsCombining forest extraction and agroforestry systems are ideal scenarios to sustainable fruit harvest programmes. In addition, fair commerce of transformed products would substantially favour goals of sustainable management.

Ecosystem service indicators: data sources and conceptual frameworks for sustainable management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review, from a sustainable management perspective, a range of conceptual frameworks; determine the efficacy and utility of three different data sources in generating indicators collectively; and consider the utility of a single index of total ecosystem services (TESI). The ecosystem service (ES) concept has been discussed as an important model to aid sustainable land-use management. Design/methodology/approach – The historical development and the relative merits of sustainable management frameworks which can be implemented in a decision-making context were examined. The efficacy of a single index TESI was examined considering three data sources for 11 contrasting sites within the UK. Findings – The choice of conceptual framework and data source depends on the specific question and scale being addressed. Publicly available data through the Eurostat route is primarily limited to the assessment of the provisioning services. Research limitations/implications – Limitat...

Marsh management, reserve creation, hunting periods and carrying capacity for wintering ducks and coots

Many wild species, like waterbirds, are exploited for their economic interests. At present, the annual western Palearctic duck bag is at least 17 million birds. From a sustainable management perspective, wetland users and managers request predictions of spatial distribution and abundance variations of these bird populations. The objective of this study was to analyze local factors potentially influencing the diurnal distribution and population size of wintering ducks and coots, the main game species, in Camargue (southern France). First, we showed that marshland surface area, salinity and hunting disturbance were the principal variables explaining the duck and coot distribution. Secondly, we tested the hypothesis that hunting disturbance would reduce the carrying capacity of the Camargue with two analyses: the effect of creating a protected area and the change of the hunting closing date. This hypothesis was not validated. Our study therefore led us to reconsider the research orientations on the carrying capacity in this wetland. The surface of protected day roosts seems presently sufficient in the Rhone delta. Consequently, to increase the population size with the same level of hunting disturbance at the scale of the Camargue, alternative strategies should be envisaged, such as the creation of nature reserves on nocturnal feeding ground or the creation of large management units with limited disturbance.

Extent and characterisation of salt‐affected soils in Iran and strategies for their amelioration and management

AbstractSalinisation of land resources is a major impediment to their optimal utilisation in many arid and semi‐arid regions of the world including Iran. Estimates suggest that about 34 million ha, including 4·1 million ha of the irrigated land, are salt‐affected in Iran as the consequence of naturally occurring phenomena and anthropogenic activities. The annual economic losses due to salinisation in the country are more than US$ 1 billion. With variable levels of success, different approaches—salt leaching and drainage interventions, crop‐based management, chemical amendments and fertilisers and integrated application of these approaches—have been used to enhance the productivity of salt‐affected soils in the Country. From sustainable management perspective, it is revealed from the past research that integrated salinity management and mitigation approaches have the potential to successfully address the complex problems of salt‐induced land degradation in Iran. As the growing need to produce more food and fibre for the expanding Iranian population necessitates the increased use of salt‐affected land resources in the foreseeable future, there is an urgent need to develop and implement a pertinent National Strategic Plan. In addition to establishing networks for monitoring spatial and temporal changes in soil salinity and water quality, this plan should integrate the management of salt‐affected environments into the overall management of land and water resources in the country. It should also address different management aspects of salt‐affected land resources in a holistic manner by considering the biophysical and environmental conditions of the target areas as well as livelihoods of the affected communities. The involvement of the communities will facilitate in developing a greater understanding about the potential uses and markets of the agricultural products produced from salt‐affected areas. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.